After consuming the White Dew Danhua and breaking through his realm, Li Xin returned the way he had come, only to find that the ice which had frozen the demonic beast solid had already melted away.

  "Huup!"

  Li Xin hoisted the massive corpse of the tiger demonic beast over his shoulder and stepped out of the cave. The battle within had been rather noisy, so this was to avoid any unforeseen danger. He moved deeper into the forest, searching for a more secluded location.

  This should be far enough, shouldn’t it?

  Arriving at a suitable spot, Li Xin set the corpse down. He immediately got to work. He hung the demonic beast’s body upside down from a sturdy tree, sliced open its neck, and placed a bowl beneath to collect the blood.

  After confirming that the thick crimson blood had pooled within the bowl, Li Xin poured a portion of it onto his Merit Token. The moment the demonic beast’s blood touched it, the Merit Token emitted a faint red glow in response, recording that Li Xin had hunted the beast. Now, as long as he submitted this demonic beast’s byproducts to the Daejin Sect and had his merits acknowledged, he would obtain the qualifications of a low-grade Demon Hunter.

  To do that, I’ll need to take this with me.

  Li Xin drew out a Flying Sword and carefully inserted it near the beast’s heart. Moments later, what appeared before him was a luminous orb tinged with blue light—the demon core. The demon core was the most valuable of all a demonic beast’s byproducts, the condensation of its entire essence. Within the Daejin Sect, as long as one properly submitted the demon core, the merit of hunting that beast would be acknowledged.

  There was a reason the cultivators of the Yangcheon Association only carried demon cores.

  After extracting the demon core, Li Xin continued with skinning the hide and separating the bones.

  His movements were skillful, efficient, devoid of unnecessary motion. By the time he had finished a fair portion of the work, enough blood from the Nether Shadow Tiger had collected in the bowl. The crimson, viscous demon blood seemed to exude a sticky vitality even within the darkness. Without hesitation, Li Xin lifted the bowl and poured the blood over his head in one go.

  The cold, metallic-scented demon blood streamed down his body. Li Xin immediately began reciting the incantation of the Demon Blood Tempering Steel Art. Far more potent than the blood of the Deathground Worm, the demon blood rapidly seeped into his body.

  "Khngh..."

  The familiar pain passed. Li Xin reached the Third Star of the Demon Blood Tempering Steel Art in a single breath. Perhaps it was because his realm had risen. The efficiency of his cultivation was incomparably greater than before. Feeling the power surging throughout his body, Li Xin clenched and unclenched his fists.

  It even felt as though the air caught in his grasp was being crushed. To test his newfound strength, Li Xin unleashed the Shattering Shock Fist into empty air.

  Where once only leaves would rustle, now each punch stirred a heavy gust of wind. Nearby branches snapped and fell to the ground.

  It feels several times stronger.

  A satisfying result.

  Taking advantage of the moment, Li Xin applied the Donghuang Paste he had obtained from the body cultivator onto his skin.

  The bronze-colored ointment released a wave of heat the instant it touched his flesh. His skin reddened and burned, yet compared to the agony he had endured while cultivating the Demon Blood Tempering Steel Art, this was tolerable.

  Crafting talismans is interesting, but body refinement has its own kind of pleasure.

  Sensing his body growing stronger, Li Xin allowed a satisfied smile to curve his lips.

  ***

  Just as the sun began to rise, Li Xin returned to the hut. As soon as he arrived, Xu Yul, who had been waiting outside, greeted him. As though he had already sensed the change in Li Xin’s aura, Xu Yul’s brows twitched faintly.

  "You’ve broken through.”

  Feigning indifference to Xu Yul’s reaction, Li Xin carefully drew the demon core from his robes and showed it to him.

  "I caught a rather decent one."

  After examining the demon core shimmering with blue light, Xu Yul spoke in a low voice.

  "It’s a Nether Shadow Tiger. A rather rare one. But how did this happen?"

  Xu Yul’s sharp gaze seemed to interrogate him.

  "After hunting it, I discovered a strange flower nearby. Its petals were clear like dew, with a crimson heart at the center. It looked as though it would vanish once the sun rose… so I consumed it immediately."

  Xu Yul showed a flicker of surprise.

  "That was the White Dew Danhua!"

  "White Dew Danhua… so that was the name of the spirit herb I consumed."

  "It was once one of the ingredients used to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill. It is especially known for its purifying effect, cleansing the body and improving one’s aptitude."

  Xu Yul was not entirely pleased that Li Xin had broken through on his own accord. But if Li Xin had stumbled upon the White Dew Danhua by chance and broken through because of it…

  Xu Yul also knew that fortuitous encounters were ultimately the will of the heavens. Rather, if the White Dew Danhua had improved Li Xin’s aptitude, the results he achieved might lead to even better outcomes. Seeing Xu Yul’s expression soften slightly, Li Xin added one more remark.

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  "While fighting the Nether Shadow Tiger, I think I gained some insight into the Demonic Beast Talisman."

  "It is fortunate that you had an epiphany.”

  For a cultivator at the third layer of Tier One, the Nether Shadow Tiger would certainly have been a burdensome opponent. If the insight was gained after defeating such a foe, its weight would not be light. After a moment of thought, Xu Yul instructed him.

  "For the time being, cease all other cultivation. Focus solely on talisman crafting."

  Li Xin nodded and readily agreed.

  ***

  On the way back to the Immortal City, Li Xin presented his Merit Token to the gatekeeper. After verifying it, the gatekeeper received the demonic beast byproducts Li Xin had brought.

  What Li Xin submitted were the demon core, bones, and hide. However, as an Ungraded Demon Hunter, he was required to surrender ninety percent of the spoils, so aside from the hide, everything else was claimed by the Daejin Sect.

  Though some regret lingered, having his merits acknowledged was the priority. From this hunt, Li Xin earned five merit points. Low-grade Demon Hunters could use these merit points to obtain food or clothing. Yet in reality, few did so. From mid-grade Demon Hunter onward, one gained the authority to process demonic beast byproducts, so most conserved their merit points in preparation for that time.

  "Li Xin, the opportunity given to you is not limitless. You must prove yourself with results."

  Xu Yul’s words were unmistakable pressure. Yet Li Xin understood his intent. He had already received considerable support, including the Five-Element Converging Array Plate and the Dusk Pouch.

  If there is no efficiency worthy of the investment… they can only be disappointed.

  Li Xin resolved to present proper results to the Xu Clan. With the five years of lifespan gained from the White Dew Danhua and the breakthrough to the Third Star of the Demon Blood Tempering Steel Art, he now had the leeway to draw a few more Demonic Beast Talismans.

  I need to show sufficient talent and results to continue receiving support.

  Li Xin told Xu Yul that if the demonic beast’s blood and hide were prepared for him, he would immediately begin crafting the Demonic Beast Talisman.

  Though surprised by his confidence, Xu Yul’s eyes held expectation.

  "Very well. I will prepare the necessary materials by tomorrow."

  Seizing the moment, Li Xin asked whether there was a One-Stroke Talisman Crafting Method available. However, Xu Yul shook his head.

  "To find that, you must go to the Archive Pavilion of the Talisman Union."

  Hearing this, Li Xin instinctively realized something. No matter how prestigious the Xu Clan was, its standing did not rival the power of the Talisman Union. That was likely why Xu Hui had given him merit points from the Union instead of personally teaching him the principles of strokes.

  Li Xin asked whether he might visit the Archive Pavilion within Qingshan Valley to search for materials, but Xu Yul firmly shook his head.

  "Not yet."

  "Then how can I obtain related materials?"

  Of course, copies could be purchased in the outer city, but without understanding the principles contained within the strokes, they were meaningless.

  "Even without going in person, you can access materials from the Talisman Union within the Immortal City."

  "Without going in person?"

  Li Xin’s eyes flashed.

  "But for that, you must formally join the Talisman Union and obtain qualification, not remain merely a Talisman Hand."

  "Formal qualification…"

  "The requirements are not particularly strict. You only need to be able to draw a Proper Grade Four-Stroke Talisman."

  "A Proper Grade Four-Stroke Talisman…"

  As Xu Yul said, the condition was not especially difficult for Li Xin. However, learning a Four-Stroke Talisman first deviated from his original plan.

  "Is there perhaps another way?"

  "If you can craft a Three-Stroke Talisman of Extreme Grade, you may also obtain qualification. But few talisman masters gain qualification this way. Extreme Grade talismans are not something one can produce at will."

  An Extreme Grade Three-Stroke Talisman….

  At that moment, Li Xin’s next objective was set.

  ***

  The following morning, Xu Yul delivered the demonic beast byproducts to him as promised. He had even arranged a separate workshop, allowing Li Xin to prepare without restraint. This time, he neither rushed nor sought shortcuts. He processed the hide exactly as Xu Hui had taught him.

  Of course, demon blood is another matter, since it aids cultivation.

  Many a little makes a mickle. Li Xin did not waste even a single drop of vicious blood.

  "Today’s work is done… next is the talisman."

  Even while waiting for the hide to dry, Li Xin did not squander time. Though he had not acquired a new Crafting Method, he had already thoroughly grasped the principles of the Water Binding Talisman, Diffusion Talisman, and Resonance Talisman strokes. He focused on fully mastering these three strokes to the level of Three-Stroke.

  By day, he refined the hide and cultivated the Demon Blood Tempering Steel Art; by night, he drew talismans. Thus time flowed on, and Li Xin finally embodied all three strokes to the Three-Stroke level. By then, the processing of materials was nearly complete as well.

  Tomorrow I can craft the Demonic Beast Talisman. But before that, there is something I must do first.

  As his next step, Li Xin planned the crafting of the 'Extreme Grade Ice Shadow Talisman.'

  In the past, he had once drawn an Extreme Grade Flame Blaze Talisman, but that had been nothing more than a trick. This would be his first time formally crafting an Extreme Grade talisman by perfectly understanding the principles of strokes and regulating spiritual power. For the creation of the Extreme Grade Ice Shadow Talisman, Li Xin laid out the finest materials he had purchased at great expense from the outer city upon the table.

  After going this far, failing would be stranger still.

  He had already embodied the three strokes used in the Ice Shadow Talisman and comprehended their fundamental principles. All that remained was to precisely harmonize the structure of the strokes.

  Begin.

  Taking a deep breath, Li Xin moved his hand in earnest. The energy blooming at his fingertips flowed along the brush and into the paper.

  Li Xin controlled each strand of spiritual power perfectly, striving to embed the principle of Ice Shadow within the strokes.

  Of course, one could not be sated with the first mouthful. To draw an Extreme Grade talisman required such delicacy in harmonizing strokes that not a single margin of error could be permitted. In his first two attempts, Li Xin sensed the slightest imbalance between strokes, or a momentary lapse in concentration. The completed talismans shone with vivid blue light, yet he instinctively knew they had not reached the realm of 'Extreme Grade.'

  "Another Upper-Upper Grade…"

  He did not feel regret at this result. Failure brought him greater insight.

  This time, I will succeed.

  On the third attempt, Li Xin gathered all his senses at the tip of the brush. With the insights gained from failure, he perfectly adjusted the spacing between strokes, the density of spiritual power, and the flow of energy.

  The first stroke slid across the paper as if gliding. The line, suffused with blue light, formed a flawless curve and seemed to gain life. The second stroke followed, spiritual power flowing along the brush, achieving perfect harmony with the first. His movements were as precise as a master artisan crafting a work of art.

  Beads of sweat formed on his brow, yet his gaze did not waver. His mind was wholly immersed in the world of the talisman. And the moment he drew the final, third stroke, Li Xin knew instinctively. The talisman about to be completed would contain power that had reached the pinnacle of Three-Stroke.