CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: DIVINE EAGLE ESSENCE BLOOD

The days that followed.

Shen Xuan focused entirely on cultivation and talisman making.

Occasionally, he would train his little wife to maintain a peaceful mindset.

This seemingly monotonous life for Shen Xuan was leisurely.

Every day of cultivation brought gains, which motivated him to cultivate even more diligently.

He was already sixty-six years old.

In the Cultivation Realm, the best age to establish a Dao Foundation is before sixty.

After eighty, it becomes very difficult to achieve Foundation Establishment.

Now, with his Spirit Root elevated to Middle Grade, he saw a glimmer of hope for Foundation Establishment.

"Spending four hours every morning and evening on cultivation, four hours on talisman making, and the remaining four hours on meals, sleep, summarizing experiences in cultivation and talisman making, and reading cultivation classics..."

Shen Xuan secretly sighed, finding the schedule too tight.

After cultivation, talisman making, and sleep, he only had half an hour of time that he could arrange freely.

Fortunately, the Ding Family shop was right in the market, making it convenient to visit.

"How about reducing the time for talisman making, making fewer Rejuvenation Talismans?"

Shen Xuan quickly dismissed this idea.

Spending four hours a day on talisman making, including rest and recovery, used up materials for 360 Rejuvenation Talismans a month, producing around 150 talismans, 30 of them top quality.

At the current price of Rejuvenation Talismans, he could earn a net profit of ninety Spirit Stones a month through talisman making.

Just activating the Spirit Gathering Array for two hours a day costs thirty Spirit Stones a month.

Then there’s rent, and living expenses for him and Ding Yuyao.

Recently, he spent all his Spirit Stones to seize a young Water Cloud Turtle’s bloodline talent.

He could only save fifty Spirit Stones a month; to seize a Mid-Grade Tier One Demon Beast bloodline talent, he would need at least a hundred Spirit Stones!

"Forget it, better save some Spirit Stones first!"

With only half an hour of free time, he could only cut back on the time for dual cultivation with his wife.

Every time, he quickened the pace to finish the intense exercise as soon as possible!

Shen Xuan shook his head.

Disciplining his thoughts, he continued to diligently cultivate and make talismans.

...

Ten days later.

Zhao Chunsheng returned home with a smug look.

He had gone out to participate in a demon hunting activity and had quite the harvest.

Reportedly, he earned over ten Spirit Stones.

"Talisman Master Shen, how about I take you along for the next demon hunting?"

"No, it’s too dangerous, and I’m not good at magical combat."

"It’s okay. You just need to stay behind and provide Rejuvenation Talismans to the teammates."

Shen Xuan seriously considered it.

But still decisively refused.

Zhao Chunsheng was a cautious person.

The demon hunting team he joined was always conservative and not very dangerous.

But Shen Xuan felt there was no need for him to earn money this way.

After finally settling down, moving into a second-class mansion, and achieving a harmonious and stable life,

he cherished such a life and didn’t want to take any risks.

With the Longevity talent, Shen Xuan conservatively estimated that, with Qi Cultivation Stage perfection, his lifespan could reach a hundred and fifty years.

His Spirit Root talent had risen to Middle Grade.

He had opportunities to achieve Foundation Establishment before a hundred years old.

Now, he was only sixty-six.

He still had over thirty years, so there was no need to rush.

...

Two months later.

In the Ding Family shop.

After selling ordinary Rejuvenation Talismans and exchanging for talisman-making materials, Shen Xuan was about to leave.

The shopkeeper Ding called after him.

"Talisman Master Shen, do you have any extra top-quality Rejuvenation Talismans?"

Out of old friendship, Shen Xuan sold him ten top-quality Rejuvenation Talismans.

"All my top-quality Rejuvenation Talismans are purchased by the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion every month; these are my reserved stock."

The shopkeeper Ding smiled bitterly.

Times had changed.

He dared not show any temper to Talisman Master Shen.

News from the clan confirmed that Shen Xuan indeed had a schoolmate in the Cyan Cloud Sect who successfully achieved Foundation Establishment.

Moreover, she was a female cultivator.

In the Cultivation Realm, female cultivators were generally rarer than male cultivators and were more valued in sects.

"Thank you, Talisman Master Shen, for supporting my business,"

The shopkeeper Ding lowered his voice and said, "Talisman Master Shen, the Ding Family will be organizing a small auction soon. This is the entrance identity jade token, and we specially reserved one for you."

"The items at the auction are rare spiritual objects, difficult to buy in shops."

Shen Xuan glanced at the auction jade token.

"Shopkeeper Ding, attending an auction doesn’t mean I have to bid on cultivation spiritual objects, right?"

"What do you mean! Of course, you only bid if you’re interested; if not, it’s a chance to gain some knowledge."

"Then thank you, Shopkeeper Ding,"

Shen Xuan took the jade token and left the Ding Family shop.

Now, he only had about a hundred Spirit Stones, not enough to buy spiritual objects at the auction.

Fortunately, other than Demon Beast Essence Blood, he had no urgent need for spiritual objects.

Middle Grade Spirit Root was enough to break through to the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation.

He was an optimistic person.

Although sixty is considered the best age for Foundation Establishment,

for him, it was possible even until a hundred.

Why risk everything to obtain various cultivation spiritual objects?

Besides, the most crucial Foundation Establishment Pill was not available from the Ding Family either.

This precious Rank-Breaking Spirit Pill had always been a rare resource, firmly controlled by the sects.

During the last reclamation, the Cyan Cloud Sect had unprecedentedly taken out ten Foundation Establishment Pills to encourage loose cultivators to join the labor.

It was said that as many as twenty percent of the cultivators perished in the reclamation labor.

The cultivators affiliated with the Ding Family hadn’t amassed enough sect merit to exchange for that precious Foundation Establishment Pill.

"No harm in just taking a look, consider it as broadening my horizons."

Soon, the day of the Ding Family auction arrived.

Shen Xuan disguised his aura to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer and walked to the designated auction building.

Along the way, the cultivators he encountered were scarcely less powerful than Shen Xuan.

In the Cyan Dragon Bay Market, the inner city, outer city, and periphery had clearly defined boundaries.

The auction building was located in the market’s inner city.

Usually, those residing and operating here were mostly in the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation.

A small number in the Middle Stage also had special status.

Like Shen Xuan, a Middle Grade Talisman Master.

"In the Cultivation Realm, hierarchy is strict."

"Strength is respected. Only when you are strong will others respect you."

Shen Xuan mentally cautioned himself.

He took out the auction identity jade token, and after registering it, a Ding Family attendant approached respectfully, saying, "Talisman Master Shen, please follow me."

Entering a secret chamber, the Ding Family attendant took out a mask.

"Talisman Master Shen, this mask is specially made by the Ding Family. Wearing it can block Divine Sense detection. After the auction, you can leave first, and simply return the mask to the Ding Family shop."

Hearing this, Shen Xuan couldn’t help but nod in approval.

The Ding Family truly lived up to being a Foundation Establishment Clan with a thousand-year legacy.

They were indeed considerate in their dealings.

With the mask on, participating cultivators at the auction didn’t need to worry about their identity being exposed.

Shen Xuan put on the mask and followed the Ding Family attendant into the auction hall.

It was orderly inside, with about two hundred people, all very silent.

Most wore masks, suppressing their aura, and understood the way of low-profile living.

A few didn’t wear masks.

They were all at least in the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation.

Shen Xuan found a secluded corner and watched quietly.

This time, he was just here to observe and not planning to buy anything.

To gain experience and observe prices.

To prepare for future purchases.

After not sitting for long, the auction started.

After the auctioneer’s formal preamble, the auction began.

The items auctioned were a variety of Spirit Pills, Magical Artifacts, Cultivation Techniques, Array Flags, Spirit Plants, and more, with cheap starting prices that attracted many participating loose cultivators to bid actively, creating a lively atmosphere.

There were many things he had only heard of and never seen before.

Shen Xuan hadn’t expected to see Demon Beast Essence Blood at the auction!

"A vial of Flaming Divine Eagle Essence Blood!"