Immortality and Cultivation: I Have Too Many Talents

Chapter 1, Part 6: Marrying a Wife

Chapter 1 Marrying at Sixty (Please continue reading)

"Shen Xuan, inferior spiritual root!"

A cold voice sounded in my ears.

In his dream, Shen Xuan stood on a precipice, lost his footing, and suddenly woke up with a start.

The room was dimly lit.

Shen Xuan cast a spell to light up the night lamp hanging on the wall.

"Time flies so fast, more than forty years have passed in the blink of an eye."

He got up and listened to the sound of rain pouring down outside, as if it were striking the depths of his soul.

In his old age, listening to the rain in his lonely room, he is no longer young.

I've come to take a more detached view of the joys and sorrows of life.

Shen Xuan gazed at the dark night outside and sighed deeply.

More than forty years ago, he and six classmates, under the guidance of Master Yan, were full of youthful vigor and high spirits as they participated in the entrance examination for the Qingyun Sect.

The result was cruel.

Among the five elements of spiritual roots, the highest is the water spiritual root, but its spiritual energy sensitivity is only 8 points, making it an inferior spiritual root!

Let alone joining a sect, they won't even accept you as a servant!

Helpless, with the introduction of Master Yan, Shen Xuan came to Qinglong Bay Market alone, living cautiously and as if walking on thin ice.

Now, at the age of sixty, his cultivation level is still at the third level of Qi Refining.

His spiritual root aptitude was too poor; he reached the limit at the third level of Qi Refining.

Fortunately, he diligently cultivated himself and learned to make [Concealing Breath Talisman] and [Invisibility Talisman].

Even for low-grade talismans, the success rate exceeded 30%.

Shen Xuan survived in Qinglong Bay Market thanks to his talisman-making skills.

Unlike those unskilled rogue cultivators who lived in shantytowns on the outskirts of the market, struggling to make ends meet and relying on hunting monsters for survival.

Living on the edge of a knife, constantly on the verge of death, their lives are filled with unbearable suffering!

As an ordinary time traveler, Shen Xuan did his best.

He abstains from all vices, including eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring. He spends all his time, except for eating and sleeping, on cultivation and making talismans.

Difficult.

Even after being reduced to such a state, they could only afford to rent a small dwelling on the outskirts of the market, and eat two bowls of spirit rice mixed with refined rice every day.

Occasionally, buying a few pieces of low-grade monster meat is considered a way to improve one's life.

Outside, the rain was pouring down and the night air was cool.

Shen Xuan stared blankly at the winding, shimmering azure lightning in the sky, pondering to himself.

"Sixty years have passed in vain, I've seen all the beautiful flowers and enjoyed the fleeting years, it's time to accept my fate!"

The transmigrator, who came from a small town, always believed that hard work pays off.

Despite having inferior spiritual roots, he persisted in diligent cultivation.

After all, there are many legends in the cultivation world about people with inferior spiritual roots cultivating to become great masters.

He must have been incredibly lucky to be able to travel to a world of immortals and heroes.

In his youth, he possessed a remarkable memory and exceptional talent, overcoming numerous obstacles to enter Bailudong Academy and become a disciple of Master Yan.

The seven direct disciples are all people with great fortune, possessing spiritual roots and drawing energy into their bodies.

Sixty years have passed in a dream, and half a lifetime has been wasted.

"With such inferior spiritual roots, one will ultimately be unable to break through to the early stage of Qi Refining!"

Despite such diligence and self-discipline, he was still limited by his spiritual aptitude and could not see any hope for the path to enlightenment.

Shen Xuan finally understood, relaxed completely, and fell asleep again.

The next day.

The rain stopped and the sky cleared.

Holding the finished talisman, Shen Xuan walked along the main street of the market and entered the Ding family's shop.

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Shen, you've arrived so early!"

The familiar shopkeeper, Manager Ding, greeted them with a beaming smile.

"Ten Concealing Breath Talismans and ten Invisibility Talismans, exchange them for four spirit stones."

As soon as he finished speaking, Manager Ding asked in surprise, "Eh, Fellow Daoist Shen, you're not exchanging talismans and cinnabar anymore?"

"No, I still have some stock, enough to last me a while."

"OK then."

Shopkeeper Ding took out four crystal-clear spirit stones.

Shen Xuan carefully placed it into the storage bag.

"Wait a moment, Fellow Daoist Shen, there is something I need to discuss with you."

Shen Xuan followed Manager Ding into the shop's rest room.

“Fellow Daoist Shen, you have lived in our Ding family’s Qinglong Bay market for over forty years, haven’t you?”

Forty-three years.

“You’ve never participated in the triennial corvée labor, have you?”

“I’m not good at fighting. I always paid a substitute tax for every day I was conscripted for labor.”

According to the Ding family's regulations, unaffiliated cultivators living in the market area were required to pay rent and perform corvée labor.

Those who are unwilling to participate can use spirit stones instead.

Each corvée tax is six spirit stones.

For forty-three years, Shen Xuan never volunteered for corvée labor.

In fact, he followed the path of survival and never left Qinglong Bay Market, except for trying farming when he first arrived.

“This time it’s different. There’s an order from above that spirit stones cannot be used as a substitute. All the independent cultivators in the market who are assigned to participate must do so.” “Unless…”

Shen Xuan smiled bitterly.

“Fellow Daoist Shen, I’m not trying to criticize you, but you’re already sixty years old and still only at the third level of Qi Refining. It’s time to let go.”

"Twelve spirit stones are not an insurmountable expense for you!"

"Think about it, if you marry a girl from the Ding family, you won't have to do corvée labor. You'll recoup your investment in six years, and you'll also get a sweet and obedient little beauty to warm your bed for free. What a bargain!"

Shen Xuan said helplessly, "Alright, Manager Ding, stop talking. I promise you."

"Recommend someone to me!"

After saying that, he counted out twelve spirit stones from his storage bag, and, suppressing his heartache, handed them to Manager Ding.

After accepting the spirit stones, Manager Ding's smile became even brighter: "Don't worry, with our over forty-year-old friendship, I won't treat you unfairly!"

For ordinary independent cultivators, twelve spirit stones are not a small amount.

It is the annual rent for a residence on the outskirts of the market.

Given his current circumstances and wealth, the only people the Ding family could recommend to him were ordinary people.

Since Shen Xuan had decided to get married, he wanted to find his ideal lover who was not only gentle and virtuous, but also young and beautiful.

At least, it can make him act impulsively.

Shopkeeper Ding took out a picture album containing over a hundred young and beautiful women from the Ding family.

Shen Xuan flipped through the pages one by one.

Soon, he set his sights on a stunningly beautiful young woman.

She was at least 1.65 meters tall, with long legs, a full bust, a curvy bottom and a slim waist, and skin as white as snow.

"Have vision!"

Shopkeeper Ding gave a thumbs up and said, "Her name is Ding Yuyao. Her great-grandfather was once a cultivator. Although she has no spiritual root, she comes from an official family and is well-educated and courteous."

"Could we meet?"

"Of course, Fellow Daoist Shen, please wait a moment."

Manager Ding left in a hurry.

Half an hour later, he appeared before Shen Xuan with Ding Yuyao.

Shen Xuan looked him up and down a few times; his figure and appearance were even better than those in the picture book.

"This humble girl, Ding Yuyao, greets Master Shen Fu."

The voice is very pleasant, ethereal and melodious, like a clear spring flowing.

"If I were to marry you, would you be willing?"

Her delicate cheeks were flushed.

A low voice came from behind.

"I am willing."

Shen Xuan nodded.

"I will send betrothal gifts."

Shen Xuan gave Ding Yuyao plenty of face, with a betrothal gift worth six spirit stones.

Ten days later, Shen Xuan held a wedding banquet at his home.

The guests were only some neighbors.

Manager Ding, representing the Ding family, presented a talisman worth one spirit stone.

In the deep of night, they entwine like mandarin ducks, their brocade quilt rippling like red waves.

Shen Xuan spurred his horse and indulged in unrestrained revelry all night.

So what if I'm sixty!
As a cultivator, he was still vigorous despite his advanced age, and his time was just right!
Early in the morning.

After the storm subsided, the exhausted Ding Yuyao drifted off to sleep.

Shen Xuan, however, felt no sleepiness whatsoever.

Before his eyes appeared a mysterious jade talisman that was both real and illusory, its Taoist charm flowing, its aura majestic, and its mystery profound! Several lines of ancient golden characters gradually appeared on the mysterious jade talisman, shimmering with a faint light.

[Rune Master: Shen Xuan]

【Shouyuan: 60/108】

[Technique: Proficient in Divine Hidden Ocean Technique (199/200)]

[Realm Level: Qi Refining Level 3: 99/100]

[Spiritual Root: Water 8/100]

[Spiritual Root: Wood 7/100]

[Spiritual Root: Fire 6/100]

[Spiritual Root: Metal 5/100]

[Spiritual Root: Earth 5/100]

[Conceal Breath Talisman: Proficient (199/200)]

【Invisibility Charm: Proficient (199/200)】

[Plunderable Talents: None]