After buying his supplies from Aunt Mei, Chen Yu spent the rest of the afternoon helping her with her stall like he'd done many times before in this body's memories. It was simple work that didn't require much thought, moving heavy crates from one spot to another, arranging vegetables so they looked appealing to passing customers, occasionally helping elderly shoppers carry their purchases to their homes. The kind of odd jobs he'd been doing for the past year to scrape together whatever copper coins he could get.
Everything was going smoothly and peacefully until a rough-looking man approached the stall, clearly drunk despite it being early afternoon when most people were still working. He grabbed a bag of rice without even glancing at Aunt Mei and started to walk off like he owned the place.
"Hey! You need to pay for that!" Aunt Mei called out, her normally kind voice sharp with indignation.
The drunk turned around slowly, swaying slightly on his feet. "Pay? I don't have money today, old woman. Consider it a donation to someone in need, a charitable act on your part."
Chen Yu felt his stomach tighten with tension. The original Chen Yu's memories told him this kind of thing happened sometimes in the poorer parts of town, and usually people just let it go rather than cause trouble that might escalate. But Aunt Mei had been kind to him when no one else cared, had helped him survive when his parents vanished and left him alone.
"Sir," Chen Yu said, stepping forward despite the nervousness making his hands shake, "Aunt Mei works hard for her living. If you take that rice without paying, she won't be able to feed her own family tonight."
The drunk squinted at him with bloodshot eyes, then laughed harshly like Chen Yu had told a joke. "What're you gonna do about it, boy? You're just a skinny teenager who looks like he'd blow away in a strong wind."
Before things could escalate into actual violence, the meat seller from the neighboring stall stood up with a loud scrape of his chair. He was a big man with thick arms from years of butchering work, and he crossed them as he stared at the drunk with an expression that promised trouble.
"Put the rice back," the meat seller said quietly, his voice carrying weight. "Or we call the town guard and let them handle it."
The drunk looked between them with bleary eyes, seemed to calculate his odds of winning against two men even if one was just a teenager, then threw the rice bag back onto the counter with a curse and stumbled away muttering about ungrateful people.
Aunt Mei let out a relieved breath she'd been holding. "Thank you both. Chen Yu, you shouldn't have risked yourself like that for my sake, but... thank you for standing up."
Chen Yu just nodded, his heart still pounding hard in his chest from the confrontation. It hadn't been much really, barely even a fight, but it reminded him viscerally how vulnerable he was right now. Just a weak mortal who could be pushed around by anyone stronger, even a drunk who could barely stand straight.
By the time he finished helping Aunt Mei close up her stall for the day and started the long walk back to his shack, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon in shades of orange and purple.
The forest path felt longer in the fading light than it had that morning, and Chen Yu kept glancing nervously at the shadows between the trees, remembering with uncomfortable clarity how the original Chen Yu had died to a venomous snake bite just two nights ago.
He made it home just as true darkness was falling, grateful to be back inside his shabby little shack even if it barely qualified as shelter. His stomach was growling loudly now, reminding him insistently that he hadn't eaten anything all day except water.
Chen Yu grabbed the clay pot and set up a small fire outside using some dry wood he had stored under the eaves. As he poured rice and water into the pot and set it carefully over the flames, he found himself staring impatiently at it, willing it to cook faster.
It was taking forever.
Back on Earth, he would've just used a rice cooker that did everything automatically, or thrown something in the microwave for three minutes. Here, everything had to be done the slow primitive way, sitting and waiting for fire to gradually heat water to boiling over the course of what felt like hours.
Chen Yu's mind started wandering as he watched the pot, thinking about how he could improve this basic process. An array that generated heat automatically without needing wood? Some kind of formation carved into the bottom of a pot that would warm food without needing fire or fuel?
He shook his head with a slight smile at himself. Getting ahead of himself again, dreaming about innovations before he even understood the basics. First he needed to actually learn how arrays and talismans worked on a fundamental level before he could start trying to innovate and create new things.
While waiting for the rice to finally cook, Chen Yu pulled out the second manual, The Art of Talisman Making and Array Creation, from where he'd stored it. He opened it carefully and began reading by the flickering light of his small cooking fire.
The introduction was surprisingly thorough and well-written:
"Talismans and Arrays are two sides of the same coin, both drawing upon the fundamental principles of formation crafting. To understand either, one must first understand the nature of spiritual energy and how it can be guided, shaped, and commanded through precise patterns inscribed upon the material world.
A Talisman is a formation inscribed upon a medium, most commonly paper, but also cloth, leather, or thin wood, that stores spiritual energy in a specific pattern. When activated, this pattern releases the stored energy in a predetermined effect. Talismans are temporary by nature, collapsing after single use, but their portability and ease of activation make them invaluable to cultivators and mortals alike.
An Array is a formation inscribed upon a fixed location, the ground, walls, or specially prepared plates, that draws upon ambient spiritual energy or spirit stones to power its effects continuously. Arrays are permanent structures that can operate continuously or be activated repeatedly. Their fixed nature limits portability but allows for far more complex and powerful effects than talismans can achieve.
Both rely on Formation Patterns, geometric designs that channel spiritual energy in specific ways. These patterns are the language through which we communicate our intent to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Proficiency in Talisman and Array creation is measured in Tiers, corresponding to the cultivation realms. A Tier 1 practitioner can craft items useful to Body Refining and Qi Refining cultivators. Tier 2 for Foundation Establishment, and so forth. This manual contains only Tier 1 knowledge, suitable for beginners.
An important limitation exists for all formation crafters, mental and spiritual exhaustion limits daily output. A Tier 1 Talisman Master can typically produce 5 to 10 Tier 1 talismans per day before exhaustion sets in. However, they can produce more talismans of lower complexity, though Tier 1 is already the lowest tier. As one advances, a Tier 2 master might create 5-10 Tier 2 talismans, or 15 Tier 1 talismans, or even 20 basic talismans per day. The mental strain of crafting higher tier items is significantly greater."
Chen Yu's eyes lit up as he read, recognition sparking in his mind. This was exactly like circuit design from his old job. Formation patterns were like circuit diagrams, channels for energy flow. Talismans were like single-use electronic devices you threw away after use, while arrays were like permanent installations in buildings. The terminology was different but the underlying logic felt familiar and almost comforting.
He kept reading eagerly:
"The process of creating a Tier 1 Talisman requires three components:
First, a suitable medium. Talisman paper is most common, made from Spirit Bamboo pulp treated with diluted spirit beast blood to make it receptive to spiritual energy. Quality varies greatly, common Tier 1 talisman paper costs 50 copper coins per sheet, while higher quality versions can cost up to 2 silver coins per sheet.
Second, spiritual ink. Created by grinding Spirit Ink Stones and mixing the powder with spirit beast blood and spiritual herbs. Basic Tier 1 spiritual ink costs 5 silver coins per bottle, enough for approximately 30 talismans with careful use.
Third, the formation pattern itself. Drawn with absolute precision using a talisman brush, typically made from spirit beast hair. A basic Tier 1 talisman brush costs 10 silver coins and will last for thousands of uses with proper care and maintenance.
The most common Tier 1 talismans and their typical market prices:
Fireball Talisman: Projects a fist-sized ball of flame capable of injuring Body Refining cultivators. Cost to create: 70 copper coins (paper and ink). Market price: 5 silver coins.
Ice Arrow Talisman: Launches a sharp projectile of ice with penetrating power. Cost to create: 70 copper coins. Market price: 5 silver coins.
Light Talisman: Produces bright illumination for one hour, useful in dark places or night operations. Cost to create: 60 copper coins. Market price: 3 silver coins.
Barrier Talisman: Creates a small defensive shield lasting 10 breaths, can block attacks from early Body Refining realm. Cost to create: 1 silver coin and 20 copper coins. Market price: 8 silver coins.
Haste Talisman: Temporarily increases movement speed by half for 15 breaths. Cost to create: 90 copper coins. Market price: 6 silver coins."
Chen Yu's hands trembled slightly as he read the prices and did quick mental calculations. The profit margins were actually really good if you could produce them consistently. A Light Talisman cost 60 copper coins to make but sold for 300 copper coins. That was 240 copper coins profit per talisman, a four hundred percent markup. But the startup costs were enormous and completely out of reach. Twenty silver coins meant 2000 copper coins just to get the basic tools and materials needed to start.
He currently had 6 copper coins to his name.
Chen Yu felt his excitement deflate like a punctured balloon, but then he reminded himself about the spirit stones still hidden under his mat. He had four and a half left after using some to test the space. If low-grade spirit stones were valuable enough, maybe he could sell one or two to get the startup capital he desperately needed.
The book continued with detailed information about arrays:
"Tier 1 Arrays require greater investment but offer more versatility and long-term value. The simplest arrays are carved or painted onto surfaces using spiritual materials. More complex arrays require spirit stones to power them continuously, formation flags to anchor their boundaries, or specialized materials to enhance their effects.
Common Tier 1 arrays include:
Basic Gathering Array - Draws ambient spiritual energy to a central point, accelerating cultivation for Body Refining and early Qi Refining practitioners by approximately 50%.
Simple Defensive Array - Creates a barrier that can withstand attacks from Body Refining realm cultivators.
Minor Illusion Array - Confuses the senses of mortals and weak cultivators, making them perceive false images or lose their way. Often used to hide small residences or storage areas.
The formation patterns for arrays are significantly more complex than those for talismans, requiring greater understanding of energy flow and spatial relationships. However, a well-constructed array can serve for years or even decades with proper maintenance, making the initial investment worthwhile for those who can afford it."
Chen Yu's mind was racing as he absorbed all this information like a sponge. The more he read, the more convinced he became that this was just like electrical engineering from his old job, but with spiritual energy instead of electricity flowing through the circuits. Formation patterns were circuit diagrams. Talisman paper was like a PCB board. Spiritual ink was the conductive material that carried the energy.
He understood this on a fundamental level. The problem was just money. Everything required money he didn't have.
A hissing sound brought his attention snapping back to the present moment. The rice water was boiling over the edge of the pot. Chen Yu quickly adjusted it and added his vegetables to cook alongside the rice before more water was wasted.
While the food finished cooking, he skimmed through more of the manual, looking carefully at the diagrams of formation patterns printed on the pages. They were beautiful in their complexity, geometric shapes, flowing lines, carefully positioned symbols that reminded him of mandalas. Each element had specific meaning, directing the flow of spiritual energy in precise ways to achieve the desired effect.
It really was like looking at circuit schematics from his old job, except prettier and more artistic.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the food was ready. Chen Yu scooped rice and vegetables into a crude wooden bowl and started eating ravenously. He was so hungry that he wolfed it down without really tasting anything, nearly choking twice when he tried to swallow too much at once in his eagerness.
The food helped immensely though. His stomach stopped aching and complaining, and he felt some energy returning to his exhausted body. Not much, he was still severely malnourished and weak after a year of poverty, but it was better than nothing.
After finishing his meal and cleaning up the pot with water from his clay jar, Chen Yu sat down on his sleeping mat and tried to enter meditation like the cultivation manual had instructed. He closed his eyes, tried to clear his mind of all thoughts, attempted to sense the spiritual energy supposedly flowing around him.
Nothing happened.
His thoughts kept wandering despite his efforts. His body felt tired and sore from walking all day and helping at the stall with heavy lifting. His mind was exhausted from everything that had happened, discovering the space, learning about cultivation, planning for the future, dealing with the drunk. He couldn't focus at all no matter how hard he tried.
Chen Yu opened his eyes with a frustrated sigh. This wasn't working at all.
Then an idea struck him like lightning. What if he didn't need to cultivate personally? What if he could have his clone do it in the space?
He closed his eyes again, but this time his consciousness reached deliberately toward that inner space instead of trying to meditate normally. His awareness slipped inside easily and he found his original body still standing there in the void, exactly where he'd left it hours ago.
Chen Yu gave it a clear mental command: "Sit down and meditate. Try to sense spiritual energy. Keep trying until you succeed."
The clone body immediately complied without hesitation, sitting cross-legged and entering a proper meditative posture. Chen Yu could sense it beginning to follow the instructions from the cultivation manual, clearing its mind and reaching out with its awareness to try sensing qi.
Satisfied with the arrangement, Chen Yu withdrew his consciousness from the space and opened his eyes in his real body. He felt the connection still there between them, a thin thread linking him to his clone like an umbilical cord. Even without spending energy to accelerate time, the clone would continue following his command indefinitely, meditating and attempting to sense qi while he did other things.
Chen Yu lay down on his thin sleeping mat, exhaustion finally catching up with him completely. As his eyes drifted closed, his mind wandered to pleasant fantasies about the future. Maybe someday, when he'd brought technological advancement to this backward world, there would be immortals sitting in their mountain peaks playing video games he designed. Sect elders browsing the internet on spiritual jade slips. Ancient monsters who'd lived for millennia posting complaints on social media about the younger generation.
The image made him smile as sleep finally claimed him while his poor clone worked tirelessly in that little space.