CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: WALKING ON THIN ICE

The host’s voice had just fallen.

Many cultivators looked fervently.

The Fiery Flame Divine Eagle is a Tier Two fire attribute magical bird.

Its essence blood is a main material for many spirit pills.

Indeed, the Ding Family has deep foundations.

Even such spiritual objects are brought out for auction.

"Starting price: 300 spirit stones!"

"Each increase must not be less than 10 spirit stones!"

Upon hearing the price.

Shen Xuan shook his head.

He simply couldn’t afford it.

"300!"

"400!"

"500!"

The voices were increasingly high-pitched.

Shen Xuan was completely flabbergasted.

Just a small bottle of Tier Two magical bird essence blood was auctioned for the price of 680 spirit stones!

Shen Xuan felt a revelation in his heart.

It seems that purchasing demon beast essence blood is not so uncommon.

In the past, he had been too cautious.

Many cultivators use demon beast essence blood for cultivation and alchemy.

Just as "Master Qingxu’s Essays" described, cultivators practice by absorbing Spiritual Qi for their own use.

Demon beast essence blood, like demon beast meat, is one of the sources of Spiritual Qi absorption for cultivators.

"So, I can directly purchase water attribute demon beast essence blood and need not be limited to live demon beast."

"However..."

Shen Xuan sighed lightly.

Even Middle Grade Tier One demon beast essence blood is not cheap.

With the hundred or so spirit stones in his storage pouch, buying one or two bottles wouldn’t gather enough to plunder bloodline talent.

It’s best to earn spirit stones first.

At his current stage, his main goals are to elevate his realm through cultivation, make talismans to earn spirit stones, and practice "Longevity Technique" to increase skill level.

Next, several kinds of cultivation spiritual objects, difficult to purchase outside, such as pill arrays, talismans, magical artifacts, swords, plants, etc., were auctioned off one by one.

Shen Xuan watched like an audience, wide-eyed in wonder.

Especially when a Tier One Upper Grade flying sword was auctioned for as high as 1,300 spirit stones, leaving him utterly amazed. The auction ended.

Over two hundred cultivators gradually exited the auction hall.

Shen Xuan had left the venue early.

Returning home.

Reflecting on the cultivation spiritual objects at the auction, he couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned.

"Still too poor!"

Originally, he thought having two Middle Grade magical artifacts on him was pretty decent.

The result was, their value didn’t even measure up to a fraction of an Upper Grade flying sword.

This made Shen Xuan deeply doubt.

Could it be that, as a Middle Grade Talisman Master, I am still among the bottom tier in the Cultivation Realm?

Returning from the auction, having seen the prices of various cultivation spiritual objects, Shen Xuan finally awakened.

Without a doubt, with recent smooth sailing, he was indeed a little too complacent.

Not as cool and cautious as before.

Any lapse in attention.

Could lead to a catastrophe!

Recently, the Ding Family valued him so highly, not just because of his status as a Middle Grade Talisman Master.

But also because of a sect Foundation Establishment classmate friend.

Only he knew.

The so-called classmate friend was merely a causality from years ago.

If truly faced with an issue, he couldn’t fool the other side.

His vigilance also noticeably lowered when going out.

Within Cyan Dragon Bay Market, security truly is good.

Since he moved to a Second-class Mansion, his activity range had been limited to the Inner City, Outer City of the market, and hadn’t gone to the outskirts again.

But that wasn’t his reason for relaxing vigilance.

A life is only once.

Even Zhao Chunsheng knows life is more important than anything.

"Focus on cultivating and making talismans, be cautious and prudent, safety first!"

In the evening, after practice and talisman making, Shen Xuan walked to the backyard and instructed Ding Yuyao in whip technique cultivation.

When Ding Yijin gifted the Barbarian Bull Whip, accompanied in the brocade box was a copy of "Spiritual Snake Whip Technique," an excellent martial art among the mundane.

Ding Yuyao had cultivated "Jade Maiden Scripture" for six years, developing inner strength of Daoism, infused into the Barbarian Bull Whip, showing considerable power.

At this time, her level of martial arts was comparable to the top masters in the mundane world, with much more self-defense prowess.

"Husband, do you also know whip techniques?"

"What do you mean by that! How can a husband not know whip techniques? A soft whip most important is to possess both soft and hard traits, shifting between soft and hard. Entangle, whirl, sweep, hang, throw, strike, lash, bind, hook, etc., separated and reassembled, are just these fundamental techniques, arranged and combined."

Shen Xuan held Ding Yuyao’s hand, infused a strand of spiritual power into the Barbarian Bull Whip, making it dance swiftly like a spiritual snake.

"Husband, you’re really amazing!"

Ding Yuyao’s eyes were filled with shining little stars.

Six years after getting married, Shen Xuan not only didn’t appear aged, but instead grew more spirited and vigorous.

In every aspect, he increasingly pleased Ding Yuyao.

"Go back and bathe. Later, I’ll let you experience another kind of whip technique!"

Ding Yuyao’s ears turned red.

Husband is great everywhere, except that sometimes he says some odd words that make her heart skip inexplicably.

Yet, in terms of marital life, she does her utmost to fulfill husband’s various desires.

"Husband is a Middle Grade Talisman Master, yet he married me, a mere mortal as his wife. If I can’t satisfy him, what right do I have to stop him from taking more wives or concubines?"

Ding Yuyao pondered in her heart.

Late at night.

Shen Xuan vigorously demonstrated whip techniques.

Ding Yuyao’s cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, gasping intermittently, her voice soft and tender.

After the fact.

She collapsed limply embracing Shen Xuan.

"Yuyao, how was husband’s whip technique?"

"So good..."

Ding Yuyao murmured dreamily.

...

Days passed by one after another.

In the blink of an eye, autumn arrived.

Everything withered.

The market also became somber.

Zhao Chunsheng returned from hunting.

This trip wasn’t very fruitful, leaving him somewhat anxious.

Shen Xuan’s premium talismans were procured by Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.

Recently, they hadn’t commissioned him to source demon beasts.

His income relied entirely on hunting gains outside.

If it were just him and his wife Jiang Xueqi, they wouldn’t need to spend many spirit stones.

But each son’s tuition is as high as ten spirit stones per month per person.

For apprentices in alchemy and artifact refining, achieving mastery and becoming independent isn’t so easy!

He found Shen Xuan.

"Master Shen, recently we’ve detected the traces of an adult Water Cloud Turtle!"

Shen Xuan looked puzzled.

Having discovered it, just go hunting; an adult Water Cloud Turtle is worth 700-800 spirit stones!

Even in a team of seven or eight, each member could get over a hundred spirit stones.

Zhao Chunsheng explained: "That adult Water Cloud Turtle is at the bottom of Longze River, quite large, possibly reaching Tier One Upper Grade!"

"Our team only has one water cultivator, and is in the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation. Dealing with this Water Cloud Turtle poses some difficulty."

A Tier One Upper Grade Water Cloud Turtle, wouldn’t that be sold for thousands of spirit stones?

Shen Xuan felt somewhat tempted.

The essence blood of an adult Water Cloud Turtle should increase his "Longevity" talent skill level.

But considering the difficulty of hunting in water, he still shook his head and declined.

"Friend Zhao, I’m not skilled in combat, can’t be of help, better let it go."

The "Longevity" talent slowly cultivated will eventually advance.

The Water Cloud Turtle not only has outstanding defense but also controls water and conceals breath, with teeth and jaws strong and clenching power, not easily dealt with.

When demon hunters go out hunting, opponents are not only demon beasts but also scheming cultivators.

As a Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer Healing System Talisman Master, in the chaos, he would surely become the primary target of the other side.

"If you hunt down that Water Cloud Turtle, just sell me some essence blood."

Zhao Chunsheng looked disappointed.

After a few days, he went out.

According to Jiang Xueqi, their team found two experts to hunt Water Cloud Turtles together.

"Hope Zhao Chunsheng has good fortune."

Shen Xuan could understand Zhao Chunsheng’s feelings.

The poorer the person, the more they want to get rich overnight.

For this, the always cautious Zhao Chunsheng, upon seeing a chance for sudden wealth, would also rush forward recklessly.

Shen Xuan stayed at home, practiced and made talismans daily, occasionally having a friendly match with his beloved wife to adjust life.

A month later, Zhao Chunsheng returned home full of scars, holding a small barrel of demon beast blood in his hand.

"Master Shen, this is Water Cloud Turtle’s fresh blood. How much do you think it’s worth in spirit stones?"