Immortality: Starting with Plundering the Talents of Monsters

The "Gengjin Qi-Guiding Technique" draws in Qi that belongs to the metal element, is of a strong nature, and is adept at combat and killing.

If one practices this technique to a high level, a murderous aura will naturally arise, and one's Geng metal spiritual power will be unstoppable.

With his palms facing upwards and his tongue touching the upper palate, Xu Mo channeled the surrounding metallic spiritual energy into his body through the "Gengjin Qi Guiding Technique".

Strands of spiritual energy flowed into the body, circulating throughout the body under the guidance of the cultivation technique, and finally settled into the dantian, transforming into spiritual power.

"The speed at which I absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth has increased slightly... My cultivation efficiency has also improved a little."

Furthermore, the spiritual energy within his body has become even purer.

His metal spiritual root was enhanced after he first plundered the metal-attribute talent.

Therefore, Xu Mo found it easier to cultivate metal-attribute techniques at this time than before.

"At this rate, I should be able to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining in less than six months."

Xu Mo clearly sensed the changes brought about by the improvement of his spiritual root, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Since the first time I plunder a talent, it can improve my spiritual root attributes... then the Golden Scale Lizard's [Sharp Metal Breath] must also be mine!"

"Once I repay the spirit stones I borrowed from the gambling den, I will definitely take it down."

Just as Xu Mo was planning for the future, a cold voice came from behind him.

"Xu Mo, the rogue cultivator, your week is up. It's time to hand over your immortal residence fee!"

Xu Mo shook off his thoughts, interrupted the flow of his cultivation technique, got up and went out the door.

"Don't worry, Steward Sun, I have already raised the funds for the Immortal Abode."

The storage pouch at his waist glowed, and five low-grade spirit stones appeared in his palm.

"Here you go, five low-grade spirit stones, not one less."

Xu Mo handed over the spirit stones with a gentle attitude.

"Tsk..."

Manager Sun took the spirit stone and glanced at Xu Mo with slight surprise.

As a member of the Zhou family, Steward Sun naturally has the responsibility to recruit talented individuals for the family.

Although the cultivators in the shantytowns are of poor aptitude and cannot be considered "talented," they at least have spiritual roots. If they marry and have children, they can eventually give birth to offspring with spiritual roots.

In this way, not only will the strength of the clan be enhanced, but it will also be a good outcome for the mortal women in the clan.

After Steward Sun's maneuvering, many rogue cultivators, even with the extended grace period, were still unable to pay their abode fees and ended up marrying into the Zhou family.

I thought Xu Mo would suffer the same fate, but I never expected that he would actually collect enough spirit stones.

"You're quite capable, kid... Did you borrow these spirit stones?"

  

A cold glint flashed in Steward Sun's eyes, as if he was dissatisfied that Xu Mo was able to pay the spirit stones.

He gave Xu Mo a cold glare, his sharp voice carrying a hint of threat:

"Most of the independent cultivators here cannot afford the high cost of immortal abodes, and have now married into the Zhou family..."

I just don't know if you can afford to pay the monthly celestial abode fee.

Good guy!

Xu Mo finally understood that Manager Sun and Manager Zhou of the talisman shop were playing good cop and bad cop respectively.

They wanted to use a combination of soft and hard tactics to force all the independent repairmen in the shantytowns to marry into the family and become diligent "breeding pigs".

"I am a talisman master. Although my talisman-making skills have stagnated for many years and have not improved, I can still afford the celestial residence fee."

The spirit stones were certainly not borrowed.

Xu Mo did not show any fear, but answered calmly and confidently:

"As for whether I will be able to afford the Immortal Abode Fee in the future, that's none of Steward Sun's concern."

Based on the abilities of a first-tier low-grade talisman master, even if he can't draw high-quality talismans in a month or so, he can barely scrape together five low-grade spirit stones after covering his living expenses.

Therefore, what Xu Mo said was not unfounded, and at the same time, he did not reveal that he was already able to draw exquisite talismans.

Xu Mo had just sold the premium talisman to Manager Zhou, and Manager Sun was unaware of this information at the moment.

He assumed that the spirit stones were collected by Xu Mo through hard work in making talismans, so he snorted and turned around to continue collecting the immortal residence fees from other rogue cultivators.

"If the Zhou family is determined to force the scattered repairmen in the shantytown to comply... I estimate that the Xianju fee may rise again next month."

"We need to find a way out as soon as possible... otherwise, we'll only be fit to be 'studs'."

Xu Mo sat back on the meditation cushion, shook his head and sighed softly.

"Being able to create a first-grade low-quality talisman is not enough to qualify as a family guest elder... one must at least become a first-grade mid-quality talisman master to meet the minimum requirements."

"I still need to keep working hard and improve my spellcasting skills."

…………

half a month later.

On the talisman-making table, there were forty golden talismans gleaming with golden light, and a few scattered water arrow talismans and lightness talismans.

During this period, Xu Mo focused on drawing exquisite golden light talismans.

After all, of the four elements—wealth, law, companions, and land—wealth comes first.

In the world of cultivation, one cannot move an inch without spiritual stones.

Moreover, he now needs a large amount of spirit stones to purchase the Demon Beast Plundering Talent.

This will further improve the art of talisman making.

Of course, in addition to making talismans, he also diligently cultivated his skills, and his cultivation level was steadily improving.

It can be said that skill and spiritual practice progressed simultaneously.

"To improve one's talisman-making skills to the middle grade of the first rank, one must first break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining."

Xu Mo was not a genius in the art of talisman making, unlike those exceptionally talented talisman masters who could draw talismans of a higher level with a lower level of skill.

Therefore, without sufficiently powerful magic, he cannot create a mid-grade first-tier talisman and cannot become a mid-grade talisman master.

"The spirit stones from selling these talismans, combined with what I had saved up before, are enough for me to buy several golden-scaled lizards."

Xu Mo went to the Zhou family's talisman shop and sold forty high-quality Golden Light Talismans and several Water Arrow Talismans and Lightness Talismans, earning forty-two low-grade spirit stones.

Then, he disguised himself and bought two juvenile golden lizards from a vendor and a treasure shop.

"Today, there is only one vendor selling golden lizards, and he only has one."

But I dared not buy too much from the Treasure Pavilion, lest it arouse suspicion.

Xu Mo brought back two juvenile golden lizards and killed them.

"Next time, I really have to buy it on the black market."

[Plunderable Talents: Golden Light (White), Sharp Metal Breath (White), choose one to refine.]

"First, plunder the [Sharp Metal Breath] to increase the purity of the metal spiritual root."

[Looting Successful]

[Talent: Golden Light (Green 0/10), Sharp Golden Breath (White 0/10)]

[Golden Spiritual Root Purity +1]

[Spiritual Root: Metal (14/100)]

"Next, plunder the Golden Light Talent."

With a thought, Xu Mo chose to plunder the [Golden Light].

"Um?"

On the gilded jade talisman, the section for the second juvenile golden-scaled lizard that could plunder talents still lingered in the void.

Nothing has changed.

"The attempt to steal his talent... failed?"

After observing for a moment, Xu Mo figured out why the plunder had failed.

His [Golden Light] talent rank had already reached the green level, while the young golden scale lizard's [Golden Light] talent rank was only white.

If the talent tiers are not equal, it is naturally impossible to plunder and stack them.

"It seems... the only way to advance the [Golden Light] talent is to buy an adult Golden Scale Lizard."

"Fine, we can't waste this golden-scaled lizard. Let's plunder [Sharp Gold Breath] again this time."

[Talents: Golden Light (Green 0/10), Sharp Golden Breath (White 1/10)]

"The Golden Scale Lizard's Sharp Golden Breath is a golden stream of light that is exhaled from its mouth to achieve an offensive effect."

After successfully looting, Xu Mo naturally wanted to test out the [Sharp Metal Breath].

However, at this moment, he was somewhat confused.

"So, in what way does the [Sharp Metal Breath] manifest on a person?"

"I can't possibly... spit it out of my mouth too, can I?"