Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Lin Zhao sat down opposite her father and recounted what had happened at the auction that day.

When discussing how Liu Yifeng deliberately inflated prices, causing even ordinary pills to rise in value,

His tone remained calm, but his clenched fist betrayed the turmoil within him.

"Five bottles of Yellow Dragon Pills cost 120 spirit stones. Ten bottles of Everlasting Spring Pills cost 200 spirit stones."

Lin Zhao's voice was low and deep, "The Hundred Herbs Pill that I want most doesn't even qualify me to bid for."

He paused, then continued, "While Liu Yifeng is dealing with other forces on the second floor, we cultivators sitting on the first floor have to pay the price for their feuds."

Lin's father finally put down the talisman brush and let out a long sigh.

He looked at his son, his eyes filled with both heartache and relief: "I'm so glad you can see this."

The cultivation world has always been like this: the strong prey on the weak. Strength is everything. Remember what happened today.

He stood up and patted Lin Zhao on the shoulder: "Don't take it too seriously. The path of cultivation is long, don't worry about short-term gains or losses."

Seeing that Lin Zhao's brows were still furrowed, Lin's father suddenly smiled and pointed to the blank talisman paper on the table that had not yet been written on.

"Since you can't calm down, why not change your mindset? Here are the materials for a top-grade first-tier [Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman]. Give it a try."

Lin Zhao was taken aback: "Father, I don't have that ability yet."

A first-grade high-quality talisman is far superior to a mid- or low-quality talisman.

"It's alright." Lin's father waved his hand. "This [Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman] is extremely difficult to draw. Even your grandfather could only manage to draw it once or twice out of ten attempts."

I obtained these materials by chance, and I can't recreate them successfully. Just give it a try, consider it a way to relax.

Lin Zhao no longer declined.

The Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman was something Lin's father had taught him not long ago, but even Lin's father had never completed it.

This was his first attempt. He walked to the table and picked up the heavy wolf-hair talisman brush. He infused the tip with spiritual energy.

He closed his eyes, and scenes from the auction involuntarily flashed through his mind.

Liu Yifeng's contemptuous gaze, his condescending attitude, and his helpless anger.

A chilling killing intent surged within him, sharp as a knife.

Perhaps some grudges can only be settled in a more direct and ruthless way.

At this very moment! He suddenly opened his eyes, and the pen fell to the ground.

The spiritual energy surged forth, but it was not as gentle and smooth as when drawing talismans in the past.

Instead, it possessed an unprecedented decisiveness and sharpness, its strokes flowing like dragons and snakes.

Sharp runes appeared on the talisman paper, each stroke like a sword being drawn from its sheath, carrying the will to cut through everything.

He was completely immersed in that state of mind, pouring all his anger and murderous intent into his writing.

The entire talisman emitted a faint golden light, and sharp sword energy flowed within the runes, faintly producing a clanging sound.

Lin's father suddenly stood up, his gaze fixed on the talisman written by Lin Zhao.

When Lin Zhao finished drawing the fifth layer, his spiritual power suddenly went out of control, and the unfinished [Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman] shattered with a crash, and sharp sword qi scattered in all directions!

The protective array around the workbench lit up instantly, colliding fiercely with the violent sword energy and emitting a piercing buzz.

With quick reflexes, Lin's father pulled Lin Zhao out of the work area.

When the sword energy finally subsided, Lin Zhao's face turned pale, clearly indicating that he had suffered a significant shock.

The father and son looked at each other in silence.

After a long silence, Lin's father finally spoke slowly: "I never expected you could do this much."

To complete 50% on the first attempt has far exceeded my expectations.

He paused for a moment, then said, "You should first regulate your breathing and recover. Once your spiritual energy has recovered, try again."

Lin Zhao closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for a moment, his face still pale as he spoke.

"The fifth level of Qi Refining is still too low. If my cultivation could reach the sixth level of Qi Refining, I might be able to complete it."

Lin Zhao then asked, "This [Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman] is so powerful, even before it was completed, its power was no less than that of the [Lihuo Talisman]."

Lin's father exclaimed, "This is the [Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman], the number one offensive and lethal talisman among first-grade high-level talismans!"

It adopts the path of sword cultivation, transforming spiritual energy into indestructible sword energy.

Simply put, if a Qi Refining Stage 7 cultivator were hit head-on by this talisman, there would be absolutely no chance of survival.

Even someone at the ninth level of Qi Refining would pay a heavy price if they didn't use a magical artifact to withstand the attack head-on.

"What's even more remarkable is that," Lin's father continued, "that drawing this talisman requires an unwavering belief that can overcome anything, something that ordinary talisman masters simply cannot handle."

I never expected that you and this talisman would be so compatible.

"Furthermore, this talisman is extremely difficult to draw, making it the most outstanding of the first-tier high-grade talismans."

Its core lies in the ability to simulate the sharpness of "sword energy" with one's own spiritual power, and then seal the spiritual power into sword energy through special means.

An ordinary Tier 1 high-grade talisman master would never be able to successfully draw it. Even a Tier 1 peak talisman master like your grandfather might not be able to complete it once or twice out of ten attempts.

"You managed to complete 50% on your first try; perhaps you have the talent to become a swordsman."

Lin's father paced back and forth in the room for a long time before saying, "You recover your magic power first. I'm going out for a bit, and I'll continue drawing when I get back. We must finish it."

After finishing speaking, Lin's father turned around and left.

While meditating, Lin Zhao was also pondering why he had drawn this talisman so smoothly. Was it because of its high compatibility? Lin Zhao fell into deep thought.

He did indeed hold this belief: the great upheaval in his past life, the change of dynasties...

He swept away all the old rules and regulations of the old era; having descended from that era, he naturally bore its mark.

For example, his innate contempt for rules and his yearning to break them had already left a deep mark on his soul.

The humiliation he suffered at today's auction and his anger towards Liu Yifeng further fueled his murderous intent.

Perhaps it was this very quality that caused him to resonate with the Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman.

Several hours later, Lin's father hurriedly returned with his eldest uncle.

The eldest uncle took out a yellow pearl and handed it to Lin Zhao: "This is a first-grade high-quality magic artifact, the Earth Element Pearl, which can help you quickly restore your spiritual power when drawing talismans."

With the help of this magical artifact, Lin Zhao completed the painting of the seventh layer on his second attempt.

This time, instead of using a protective array, my uncle directly used his Qi Refining Level 8 cultivation to withstand the sword energy.

He clearly wanted to experience the power of this talisman for himself.

The clash between the sword energy and the protective true energy caused beads of sweat to appear on Uncle's forehead in the blink of an eye, and it took quite a while for the two forces to dissipate.

"As expected of the number one offensive talisman, I've finally witnessed it today."

The uncle couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Keep going, you have a very good chance of finishing it."

"Has Uncle never used it?" Lin Zhao asked.

The uncle replied, "This talisman is extremely difficult to draw, and it is hard to buy outside. Moreover, it is very expensive. Major families generally use it as a foundation."

Continue. When you finish it, you'll be a Tier 1 High-Grade Talisman Master.

Lin Zhao shook his head and said, "My spiritual energy is too depleted and needs to recover. I'm afraid I can't continue today. Let's continue tomorrow."

Over the next two weeks, under the protection of his uncle and the protective array, Lin Zhao tried five more times.

Finally, a complete [Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman] was successfully drawn.