Establishing a Clan in the Eastern Wilderness: A Daily Divination, Cultivating Longevity in a Grotto

Several days later, in a quiet room.

Hu Xiaoyue stood in front of Li Changsheng, her face showing both nervousness and anticipation.

After the strange phenomenon at the Spirit Testing Platform that day, Li Changsheng told her about the "Blood Talisman Spirit Body".

Now is the time to awaken.

Li Changsheng instructed Li Changle to set up a blood sacrifice array in the quiet room.

"Go in and sit down," Li Changsheng said. "Cut your fingertip and drip blood into the array's eye."

Hu Xiaoyue entered the formation and gently traced a line of spiritual energy on her index finger. A few drops of crimson blood dripped into the formation's eye and were instantly absorbed by the formation's patterns.

The formation lit up.

A faint crimson light rose from the base of the array, enveloping Hu Xiaoyue.

The blood-red light grew stronger and stronger, eventually transforming into countless fine, blood-red threads that seeped into Hu Xiaoyue's body through her pores.

"Guide that power and let it flow along the meridians."

I don't know how much time passed.

boom--

Hu Xiaoyue felt a burst of blood-red light suddenly erupt deep within her consciousness.

Within that light, countless illusory runes surged and emerged, some she recognized, others she had never seen before. Those runes seemed to come alive, swirling and dancing in her sea of ​​consciousness, finally condensing into a profound mark, imprinted deep within her soul.

Awakening.

She opened her eyes.

Those eyes, which were originally clear as water, now faintly revealed a hint of bloodshot color.

But it vanished in an instant.

And in just a few days, her aura rose from the second level of Qi Refining to the fifth level.

"This spirit is truly a monstrous existence!"

Li Changsheng was overjoyed, but also felt a pang of regret.

Activate the spirit.

It cost a full three thousand spirit stones.

The clan's eight thousand spirit stones were reduced to five thousand.

Just then, a familiar vibration came from Li Changsheng's sea of ​​consciousness.

[A family member has been detected to have awakened a special physique; their luck value has increased accordingly.]

[Family Luck Value +300]

[Current Family Luck Value: 4700/5000]

"Great, at least we've recovered!"

Moreover, Hu Xiaoyue will definitely excel in the talisman-making industry in the future, not only making a fortune but also developing the Li family's talisman-making hall.

This is an incredibly profitable business!

Li Changsheng took out several items from his storage bag and handed them to Hu Xiaoyue.

A book titled "Basic Introduction to Talisman Making".

A book titled "Complete Collection of First-Order Talismans".

A talisman brush, entirely blue-green with a faint glow at the tip—a top-grade first-tier brush—was obtained from a bandit raid.

There was also a thick stack of talisman paper, and dozens of already drawn talismans—ranging from low-grade to mid-grade, with more than a dozen varieties.

"From today onwards," Li Changsheng looked at her, "you will focus on talisman making."

"Yes, Chieftain, Xiaoyue will certainly not let you down!"

Seeing the three thousand spirit stones turn to dust, Hu Xiaoyue wished she could immediately rush into her quiet room and start making talismans. She would have to work hard to earn those three thousand spirit stones back for the clan leader.

Seeing the fighting spirit in the other person's eyes, Li Changsheng shook his head and chuckled.

"Making talismans is your primary path to enlightenment; there's no need to rush, take your time!"

He paused for a moment.

Li Changsheng's expression turned solemn:

"Your Blood Talisman Spirit Body is naturally suited for talisman making. Using blood as ink, the talismans you create are far more powerful than those of the same level. If you can advance to a second-level talisman maker in the future, it will be one of the reasons why my Li family is able to advance to a ninth-rank family."

What gives them the confidence to be promoted to a ninth-rank aristocratic family?

she?

A young girl who almost ended up in a brothel?

For the first time, Hu Xiaoyue felt so valued:

"Clan leader... Xiaoyue... Xiaoyue will... will definitely study talisman making diligently... and become a second-tier talisman maker as soon as possible!"

...

...

Three days later, a letter with gold lettering was delivered to Qinglan Mountain.

Li Changsheng opened it, his gaze swept over it, and his expression slightly hardened.

The grand competition for aristocratic families in Anyang Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of the Yun family, is scheduled to officially take place in March. Anyang Prefecture comprises five counties, with five Qi-refining families from each county, totaling twenty-five participating families. Each family will send three representatives to participate in three rounds of competition.

Of the twenty-five Qi-refining families, only five were ultimately able to enter the Five Dragons Mountain Range.

The competition was fiercer than expected.

He summoned Chen Wenyuan, Li Changle, Li Chang'an and others, gave them a few brief instructions, and then announced that he would be going into seclusion.

The stone door to the quiet room closed.

Li Changsheng took out the top-grade first-tier short sword he had seized from the male cultivator. The sword was as black as ink, icy to the touch, and faintly exuded a chilling aura.

After the ritual.

His eyes lit up.

This short sword actually has a hidden restriction—[Concealment].

With the activation of spiritual power, the sword can briefly blend into the shadows, making it silent and perfect for a sneak attack.

He sheathed the short sword in his sleeve.

Li Changsheng took out the yellowed book, "The Iron Bone Forging Technique".

This cultivation technique is divided into five realms: skin refining, flesh refining, tendon refining, bone refining, and marrow refining. Each realm is further divided into three levels: minor success, major success, and perfection. If one can achieve perfection in all five realms, one's physical body alone is sufficient to directly contend with a peak Qi Refining cultivator without being at a disadvantage.

This means you've reached the first hurdle in Foundation Building: the Qi and Blood Barrier!

Now, with the blessing of the "Dragon Spirit and Tiger Might" destiny, his vitality far surpasses that of his peers, making it the perfect time for him to cultivate body-tempering techniques.

"Let's begin."

He closed his eyes and, following the first level of the "Iron Bone Forging Technique," guided the surging power of his blood and qi to wash over his skin inch by inch.

Cultivating the Skin Refining Realm is neither particularly difficult nor easy. It is difficult because it requires consistent nourishment of Qi and blood, but easy because as long as there is enough Qi and blood, persistent effort will eventually yield results.

What Li Changsheng has in abundance is qi and blood.

His destiny, characterized by "Dragon's Essence and Tiger's Ferocity," is like an inexhaustible furnace of vital energy, constantly providing him with a continuous source of power. While others typically need three to five years to achieve mastery in the Skin Refining Realm, he—

A thousand miles a day.

The spiritual energy from the Spirit Spring Well circulated around his body, merging and blending with the surging blood and qi within him. A faint bronze luster began to appear on the surface of his skin, an outward manifestation of his blood and qi reaching their peak.

One day.

Ten days.

January.

……

Three months later.

In the quiet room, Li Changsheng slowly opened his eyes.

He looked down at his hands—his skin was still fair, but upon closer inspection, one could see a faint golden luster flowing beneath it, as if it were coated with a thin layer of metal.

He stretched out his finger and lightly traced a line on the bluestone ground.

"laugh--"

His fingernail even scratched a shallow groove into the hard, iron-like bluestone ground.

A look of satisfaction flashed in Li Changsheng's eyes.

Skin Refining Realm, Great Success.

He stood up, pushed open the stone door of the meditation room, and went to the training ground on the back mountain.

"Akaba," he called out.

A crimson figure swept in from the direction of the aviary and landed steadily in front of him. Three months had passed, and Chi Yu's broken leg had long since healed, his feathers were even brighter, and his aura had become more solid.

"Use a mid-grade first-tier spell to attack me," Li Changsheng said.

Akabane tilted his head, seemingly puzzled.

"Don't worry, you can't hurt me." Li Changsheng smiled. "Go ahead."

Without further hesitation, Chi Yu opened its mouth and unleashed a crimson fireball, roughly the size of a human head, its most proficient mid-grade first-tier fireball technique.

The fireball roared towards him, but Li Changsheng neither dodged nor avoided it. He simply activated the Skin Refining Realm's cultivation technique, pushing the power of blood and qi on the surface of his skin to its limit.

A layer of pale golden light emerged from the surface of his skin, like an invisible armor.

The fireball struck his chest.

"boom--"

Flames exploded, and heat waves spread out. Li Changsheng only felt a slight warmth in his chest, as if a warm towel had been applied, and he didn't even feel any pain.

As the fireball dissipated, he looked down—his robe had a hole burned in it, but his skin was completely unharmed, without even a red mark.

Akabane was stunned.

It unleashed another wind blade.

The wind blade struck his arm with a soft clang, as if it had struck iron. The wind blade shattered and dissipated, leaving only a shallow white mark on his arm, which was instantly smoothed over by his blood and qi.

Akabane stared wide-eyed at Li Changsheng's arm, then at his own claws, and fell into deep self-doubt.

Li Changsheng patted its head: "Not bad, the power is enough. I was too tough."

Akabane: "..."

Once the Skin Refining Realm is fully mastered, one can resist mid-grade first-tier spells.

If one can break through to the Flesh Refining Realm, one can withstand even a first-grade high-level spell.

However, the next level requires a deeper accumulation of Qi and blood, which cannot be achieved overnight.

With the grand competition among aristocratic families imminent, the most urgent task is to secure a spot to enter the Five Dragons Mountain Range.

"It's time to emerge from seclusion!"