CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54 THE END OF THE WAR_1

Inject essence, energy, and spirit?

Consider it as creating a living being?

Jia Ren’s realm was too far behind Elder Wu’s, and when he tried to comprehend it by himself, he could not grasp the essence for a long time.

This piece of advice could save him from taking many detours.

"In talisman crafting, you must start with the basics, and each spiritual power node is the foundation."

"Without a solid foundation, how can you expect to construct a high building?"

Elder Wu taught with all his heart and did not withhold any secrets.

If it were a loose cultivator with ulterior motives, they would have hidden their knowledge and hoped you learned as slowly as possible.

After several attempts at crafting, with Elder Wu providing guidance from the side, Jia Ren made significant progress, able to create up to seven standard spiritual power nodes.

"It’s getting late, I won’t keep you for dinner."

Elder Wu, who had been talking for half a day and was parched and tired, issued an eviction order.

Having someone to point out the way is indeed different from having no guidance at all.

Jia Ren felt mentally exhausted, as focusing his mind on crafting talismans was completely different from high imitation and especially tiring.

For the following days, he focused on self-study.

Building spiritual power nodes was the main focus, with connecting them secondary to lay down the foundation.

After seven consecutive days, he successfully created twenty-four flawless spiritual power nodes.

The next challenge was to connect these spiritual power nodes seamlessly in one go.

This proved to be difficult for Jia Ren, who tried ten times without success and went to inquire further.

Unlike the previous time, there would be a fee.

"You managed to create twenty-four flawless spiritual power nodes?"

Seeing Jia Ren’s arrival and the prospect of spirit rice, Elder Wu’s initial joy quickly solidified on his face.

Wasn’t that progress too fast?

It took him nearly two years to reach that level.

Is this the gap between a genius and an ordinary person?

The taste of the rice didn’t seem as appealing anymore.

Elder Wu silently added leaves, grass roots, and corner worm corpses into the rice pot...

"The circulation of spiritual power is like the circulation of the human body. You should treat talisman crafting as cultivation, and remember how you started your cultivation technique, recalling that feeling and applying it to talisman crafting."

Elder Wu gave him hands-on instruction, without holding anything back.

It’s hard to go from zero to one, but it’s much easier to go from one to two.

Having someone to guide you can save you from many detours.

After one day of practicing, Jia Ren progressed at an astonishing rate, managing to connect up to nine spiritual power nodes.

"Thank you, Daoist Wu, for your guidance."

"This is the rightful fee."

Without asking the price, Jia Ren took out two hundred corner worm corpses and five pounds of spirit rice and handed them over.

The favor of guidance was worth much more.

He did not know when the war would end, and since it was not good to use too much spirit rice from his reserves, he had to prioritize his own needs.

Jia Ren had a hunch that he wasn’t far from mastering the Demon-Spottng Talisman, and he feared... there would be no next time to seek advice.

Elder Wu seemed to understand something, his smile a bit forced.

He’d accidentally smashed his own rice bowl...

"Ah, it took me five and a half years to get started back in the day."

Elder Wu watched Jia Ren’s departing figure, speechless for a long time.

Jia Ren consumed the Great Origin Pill for cultivation, practiced the Turtle Prime Spirit Armor, and practiced the Demon-Spottng Talisman.

He took the Great Origin Pill once, then refrained for three days, repeating the process.

「Time flew by, and half a month passed.」

Demon-Spottng Talisman Proficiency +3.

Holding a Demon-Spottng Talisman that radiated spiritual light, Jia Ren’s face was beaming with joy.

I finally succeeded!

Jia Ren repeatedly recalled the key points of success, increasing the number of Demon-Spottng Talismans he produced, with a success rate of around twenty percent at best.

His supply of blank talisman paper was used up; he needed to replenish his talisman-making materials.

When Elder Wu saw Jia Ren come to visit, carrying gifts, his face was full of smiles.

"Come in, come in, there’s no need to bring gifts!"

In the Northern District, besides the two of them, there were no other loose cultivators; Jia Ren was also the only person Elder Wu could talk to.

The two got along harmoniously and had a good relationship.

It was somewhat a mix of being both teacher and friend.

When Elder Wu saw the gifts Jia Ren had opened, the corners of his eyes twitched uncontrollably.

Leaves, tree bark, grass roots... oh, and fifty Corner Worm corpses.

Not too outrageous.

Seeing Elder Wu’s miserable condition, Jia Ren’s concern for food supplies grew, and his daily food ration was reduced to one pound of Spirit Rice.

He used the Turtle Breath Technique daily to reduce consumption, with one pound of Spirit Rice enough to maintain high energy levels.

The number of Corner Worms that ate Spirit Rice liquid mixed with tree sap decreased to thirty.

Only four Poisonous Spine Insects were left; the rest were slaughtered and de-spined.

The three Exotic Black Mosquitoes that fed on insect blood were the most low-maintenance Spirit Insects, requiring no food supply.

The expense of Spirit Rice was minimal, a state that could be maintained without a problem for two years.

"Daoist Jia’s talent is unmatched, and I am ashamed," said Elder Wu.

Seeing the Demon-Spottng Talismans Jia Ren had produced, Elder Wu was stunned for a long while.

He had known that Jia Ren was talented, but to see a finished Demon-Spottng Talisman in less than a month was still quite shocking.

Thinking that he was the one who had taught him, he felt slightly better.

"We’re running low on talisman paper and talisman ink."

With a face full of shame, Elder Wu took out all he had left: one hundred eighty pieces of Blank Talisman Paper and twenty boxes of Spirit Ink.

He could attempt crafting up to one hundred eighty times, and with the current success rate, it was enough to elevate the Seeking Demon Talisman Technique to a Skilled Level.

"Thank you, Daoist Wu, this is the compensation for purchasing talisman paper and spirit ink," said Jia Ren.

He took out over a hundred Corner Worm corpses and five pounds of Spirit Rice, then left with the Blank Talisman Paper and Spirit Ink.

Elder Wu was a good man, sincere in his dealings, and Jia Ren didn’t mind giving him a helping hand.

Having a bit more food meant a greater hope of survival.

Jia Ren felt he had provided enough help; the rest was up to fate.

Elder Wu looked towards the rice pot, with less than half an ounce of rice at the bottom, the rest being grass roots, leaves, and Corner Worm corpses.

Despite feeling nauseous, he had to grit his teeth and endure for the sake of survival.

He hoped the war would end soon...

「Three months passed in a flash.」

The one hundred eighty pieces of Blank Talisman Paper were already used up in talisman crafting, and miraculously, he had managed to create forty-two Demon-Spottng Talismans.

The level of the Seeking Demon Talisman Technique had increased to Skilled, with a crafting success rate of nearly forty percent.

Unable to make any more Demon-Spottng Talismans, he focused more of his energy on improving his strength and the Turtle Prime Spirit Armor.

The Elixirs were all used up, and the Turtle Prime Spirit Armor, Spirit Shield, and Spirit Eye Technique had all advanced to Grandmaster Level.

Jia Ren was still in closed-door cultivation when there was a knock on the stone cottage’s door.

He didn’t need to guess who it was.

It was unlikely there were many survivors left in the Outer City.

At least, Jia Ren had never seen anyone from the Northern District other than Elder Wu.

"Daoist Jia, great news," Elder Wu exclaimed. "The war between the Five Elements Sect and Thousand Beasts Mountain is over!"

"Haha, I’ve finally lived to see this day!"

Jia Ren was startled by the news, suspecting that Elder Wu might be delirious from hunger, dreaming that the war was over and running over to report the good news to him...

That must have been hard for him.

Relying on sixty pounds of rice and Corner Worm corpses, he had managed to survive for one hundred and twenty days.

During that time, Elder Wu also received a little help.

Jia Ren couldn’t bear to give away the Spirit Rice, and he gave all the Corner Worm corpses he had to Elder Wu, keeping none for himself.

Nevertheless, a mosquito leg was still flesh.

Eating too many Corner Worm corpses, Elder Wu came up with new ideas.

Roasted until crisp and golden, the Corner Worms became his favorite snack.

When someone is starved, anything can become a delicacy.

"Would I lie to you?"

"I often eavesdrop around the Inner City; word has it everyone inside is going crazy with the news," he said.

"The Five Elements Sect has won, slaying the Golden Core Stage Spirit Beasts of Thousand Beasts Mountain."

Jia Ren stepped out of the stone cottage and could see far away the Flying Boats bearing Five Elements insignias flying towards the Great Wilderness Market.

"Victory to the Five Elements Sect!"

Cheers from the boats were deafening.