Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, Lin Chang'an, who had been holed up at home, slowly opened his eyes and smiled.
"As expected, progress you can actually see is addictive."
In these past few days, he had basically been eating and sleeping—sleeping and eating—spending three full days recuperating before resuming his cultivation.
It wasn't laziness, but rather the fact that talisman crafting itself drained his energy and spirit.
"That night, I was too greedy, and it took me three whole days to fully recover."
Though he sighed with feeling, there was no hint of regret on Lin Chang'an's face.
The "golden finger" was a catalyst, but more importantly, the insight gained from the breakthrough of the golden light talisman that night was intoxicating.
At the moment of breakthrough, he gripped that feeling tightly, continuously crafting talismans, determined to lock in and remember that sensation—that was only human nature.
So even with dark circles under his eyes and a worn-out look from overexertion, when he went to sell talismans, Shopkeeper Miao was not at all surprised.
Many people longed for exactly this kind of opportunity but never got it.
"Turns out the proficiency in a technique refers to how deeply you understand it—in plain terms, how much you have comprehended."
After cultivating at home these days, Lin Chang'an's proficiency in the Changchun Technique increased by 1.2, and he gained a lot of insight into the method.
In other words, the deeper your comprehension, the better the cultivation results.
Reflecting on cultivation conditions, Lin Chang'an nodded silently.
"Besides the limitations of spiritual roots, there's also the difference in comprehension and悟性 (perception)."
With the same spiritual root talent, the level of悟性 (intelligence and insight) also determines a cultivator's future.
[Realm: Qi Refining, Level 3 (95.1/100)]
Seeing his cultivation progress, Lin Chang'an smiled.
"With this spiritual meat and spiritual rice, plus the aid of spirit stones, cultivation really speeds up."
This clearly visible percentage of progress made Lin Chang'an deeply grateful.
Of course, he knew well that this was all thanks to spirit stones cushioning his cultivation—living a frugal life, even if he had a high-grade spiritual root, he would still lag behind without them.
As the saying goes, wealth supports cultivation, and wealth comes first.
"Cultivation has only just begun. For now, I still need to quickly earn more spirit stones—to repay the two oxen debts, and to prepare spirit stones for the labor tax—only then can I cultivate in peace."
In the days that followed, Lin Chang'an didn't leave his home, living a strict, reclusive life of hard cultivation.
Every day was spent crafting talismans and refining qi.
Whenever he felt mentally fatigued, he rested to recover qi, unwilling to waste even a bit of talisman material.
Life was incredibly fulfilling. After his talisman crafting skill improved, he found he could produce one premium golden light talisman for every five made.
In a good mood, the success rate rose; even the otherwise dull cultivation became a deep enjoyment for Lin Chang'an.
…
"Bang bang!"
"Friend Lin, it's me."
One day, a familiar voice came from outside the door. When Lin Chang'an opened it, he greeted the visitor with a smile.
"Old He, you're a rare guest."
Old He was a neighbor and an old friend—his gaunt, aged face revealing a familiar grin with a few missing yellow teeth.
"Lin kid, don't say that—we're neighbors. I heard recently you're planning to return to the mortal world, so I was worried about you."
Looking at Old He, Lin Chang'an's mouth twitched but said nothing, inviting the old man inside.
Although fellow practitioners can be rivals, Old He specialized in crafting firebomb talismans, so they weren't in competition.
As soon as Old He entered, his red nose sniffed sharply, his aged face changing expression.
"I knew it—someone has been stewing spiritual meat every day these past few days, making this old man almost drool."
Old He looked hungry; Lin Chang'an teased him:
"Well then, let's eat together here later."
Hearing the offer of a free meal, Old He shook his head repeatedly.
"Go on, I'm not falling for that. Where in this world is there a free lunch?"
Old He often acted greedy for small gains, but those who knew him understood he was quite cunning.
After brewing tea and having two cups, Old He, impatient as always, finally slapped down his teacup.
"Alright, alright. You've got more patience than me. I've wasted sixty-plus years of my life."
Seeing this, Lin Chang'an smiled.
"Old He, everyone knows you're always either saving spirit stones for your grandson or for yourself."
Lin Chang'an joked, but inside he felt moved—Old He had once been a Level 6 Qi Refining expert.
When Lin Chang'an first came to the marketplace, he joined Old He's monster hunting squad.
Unfortunately, during a monster hunt, their squad was ambushed; most were killed or injured, and Old He was left heavily wounded.
With age catching up, now in his sixties but looking like an eighty-year-old, his cultivation fell to Level 5 Qi Refining.
Given a cultivator's physique, aging so prematurely showed how many hidden injuries he carried.
This was the harsh reality for cultivators who constantly risked life and limb.
"Lin kid, have you heard? The authorities are increasing the effort to develop the wild lands. This time it's unprecedented—even the labor tax is this high!"
Old He showed a pained expression, forming a cross with his two index fingers.
"Ten spirit stones!"
Though expected, hearing it still stung Lin Chang'an.
Ten spirit stones was a lot for an average cultivator to part with, so most would likely choose to take the risk and go develop the wild lands instead.
"Old He, your talisman crafting skills are quite good. What brings you here this time?"
Though Lin Chang'an had a hunch, he still asked.
Old He rubbed his thin hands and gave an embarrassed laugh.
"My grandson has decent talent—he can't waste his life here like I did. I'm preparing to send him to the Li Huo Palace."
When mentioning his grandson, Old He's old face showed pride.
Pitiful is every parent's heart; Old He had only one grandson, and all his spirit stones earned were invested in laying a foundation for him.
Lin Chang'an knew this well, and had even felt a little envious.
"Old man, I came to borrow two golden light talismans from you."
"Borrow talismans?!" Lin Chang'an's expression turned serious.
Old He awkwardly scratched his head. Who would have thought this thin, yellow-toothed old man was once a powerful, imposing figure?
Back in the day, his blazing fire saber was well-known.
Seeing the once iron-blooded warrior bowed down by life into the current Old He was bittersweet.
"Old He, at your age, do you really think you're still young? Are you crazy!?"
When Old He asked to borrow talismans, Lin Chang'an immediately understood his intentions and stiffened.
"Lin kid, we're both wandering cultivators. If an opportunity is right in front of you, would you give it up?"
Old He said softly, and Lin Chang'an fell silent.
If he hadn't awakened his "golden finger," and faced the same choice, would he walk away?
He shook his head and said nothing, only turning Old He's teacup over and refilling it.
"Go on, Lin kid. You're not here to bury me."
Old He chuckled and scolded, but next to the teacup lay two premium golden light talismans and one swift talisman, making his old eyes glisten.
Lin Chang'an smiled but didn't even glance at the talismans.
"Two spirit stones. Don't try to renege after this is done."
They exchanged a look and both smiled.
Under the fading sunset, they seemed to return to their youth—a strong man wielding a large saber, and a greenhorn just stepping into the world.