YM778.TV Chapter 48: Comprehensive Enhancement
The fourth floor catered to Nascent Soul Cultivators.
After leaving the Cai residence, Lu Qingshan headed straight for the Great Xia Commercial Firm.
Upon entering the store, he found the facade stretched nearly a hundred meters, with dozens of clerks in green robes and many customers inside.
It was indeed the largest and most trustworthy merchant in the entire Zhenjiang City.
After killing Crying Soul True Man and seizing two Storage Rings, Lu Qingshan’s assets reached unimaginable levels.
He currently had over twenty Fourth Grade Spirit Stones and more than a hundred Third Grade Spirit Stones on him alone.
As for the remaining handful of First and Second Grade Spirit Stones, Lu Qingshan didn’t even bother to consider them anymore.
Keeping the Spirit Stones was not meaningful; instead, Lu Qingshan needed to convert these stones into combat power.
Since Yuanshan City was ultimately just a Prefecture City, he couldn’t acquire top-quality Magic Artifacts, Pills, or Talismans there.
Thus, Lu Qingshan had been waiting until he arrived in Zhenjiang City to indulge in a shopping spree.
After entering the Great Xia Commercial Firm, Lu Qingshan did not linger on the first floor but proceeded directly to the second floor.
The items on the first floor were no longer meaningful for him at this point.
Compared to the first floor, the second floor was noticeably less crowded.
The second floor catered to Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Even in Zhenjiang City, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were not a common sight.
Yet as a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, Lu Qingshan quickly drew the sideways attention of some customers upon reaching the second floor.
Could he be a young master from some major family?
A cultivator mumbled to himself.
It was commonly assumed that Qi Refining Cultivators shopping on the second floor must be wealthy scions of major families.
"Young Master, may I know what you need?" A Qi Refining Level 5 clerk in a green robe approached respectfully.
Lu Qingshan glanced at the clerk and said indifferently, "I need to purchase some Magic Artifacts as well as some Talismans and Pills, but I want the best items available on this floor!"
The green-robed clerk was slightly taken aback but after carefully sizing up Lu Qingshan and confirming that he was not joking, his face immediately broke into a wide smile.
They had caught a big spender—it was just unclear which family’s young master he was.
"Young Master, this way please. Have a seat inside, and I will call the manager to discuss the details with you," the green-robed clerk hastily led Lu Qingshan into one of the elegant private rooms on the second floor.
Many customers on the second floor had already noticed Lu Qingshan’s presence.
Seeing Lu Qingshan being led into a private room reserved for valued clients, some quietly discussed among themselves while others’ eyes flickered craftily, wondering what was being plotted.
Inside the private room.
The furniture was antique and elegant, arranged in a comfortable and pleasant manner.
There was also an incense burner in one corner of the room, slowly burning a stick of sandalwood incense, filling the room with a faint sandalwood fragrance.
Soon after Lu Qingshan had taken his seat, a genteel middle-aged man accompanied by a maid entered.
The maid carried a teapot and several cups.
"I am the manager of the second floor of the Great Xia Commercial Firm, may I know how to address you, Young Master?" the middle-aged man asked with a smile.
"Lu Qingshan."
"So you are Young Master Lu," the middle-aged man turned and instructed the maid, "Quickly pour some tea for Young Master Lu."
After the maid had poured the tea, Lu Qingshan, without any hesitation, picked up the cup, took a light sip, and politely commented, "Excellent tea!"
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "I heard Young Master Lu is looking for the best Magic Artifacts and Talismans on the second floor. I have already instructed the clerks to bring out a few treasures from our vault that have been in collection for a long time. I assure you that you will not be disappointed, Young Master Lu. Please wait a moment."
Lu Qingshan nodded slightly.
After a while, six or seven clerks entered, each carrying a tray. On each tray was an antique brocade box.
The middle-aged man placed the boxes on the table and opened each one, introducing them to Lu Qingshan one by one.
"Acupoint Sealing King Needle, Low Grade Spiritual Artifact, made from Frost Soul Cold Iron...."
"Skip this; I am not interested in this artifact," Lu Qingshan quickly swept over the needle-like artifact that glistened coldly in the box and said indifferently.
He already had the Crying Soul Sword and did not need another attack artifact.
Moreover, what kind of Sword Cultivator would use needle-like artifacts? Isn’t that embarrassing?
The middle-aged man’s expression remained the same, and he opened another brocade box, revealing yet another Talisman inside.
Lu Qingshan’s eyes lit up.
Because he recognized this talisman—it was a Beast Talisman!
Lu Qingshan picked up the Beast Talisman.
[Beast Talisman: Spirit Leaf Ape]
Level: Second Grade Beast Talisman
Description: Crafted by a Talisman Master by sealing the spirit soul of a demon beast into the talisman.
Talisman Effect: Can summon the spirit soul of the Second Grade demon beast, Spirit Leaf Ape.
Duration: 30 minutes
Usage: 1/1
Basic Attributes of Spirit Leaf Ape: Strength 20, Agility 5,...
Talents: [Exceptionally Strong](Health Points +100), [Spirit Soul Body](Physical damage reduction 20%, increased magic damage taken by 20%), ...
Skills: ... (omitted)
——————
Beast Talismans are among the most practical and precious talismans. Once used to summon the beast spirit, the spirit will instinctively attack under the cultivator’s command.
It’s essentially a budget version of a demon pet.
That’s why even though it was only a Second Grade Talisman, the Great Xia Commercial Firm took great care to keep it in a brocade box.
Without waiting for the middle-aged man to explain, Lu Qingshan immediately said, "I’ll take this Beast Talisman."
The middle-aged man’s face twitched slightly: "Young Master Lu is truly generous..."
The middle-aged man then opened another brocade box, which contained yet another Talisman.
"This is the Concealment Talisman, one of the few Third Grade Talismans we have on the second floor..."
[Concealment Talisman]
Grade: Third Grade
Talisman Effect: Can conceal one’s aura, making oneself less detectable. It also greatly shields against the Divine Sense of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
...
With this talisman, even the Divine Sense of Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find it difficult to detect oneself.
—A life-saving talisman.
Lu Qingshan silently nodded her head.
"I’ll take this Concealment Talisman too!"
...
After a long while, Lu Qingshan emerged from the Great Xia Commercial Firm fully loaded.
This time, he could say he had armored himself with spirit stones from head to toe, inside and out.
He felt that at this moment, his whole body was exuding the fragrance of a whaling tycoon.
...
Besides the "Beast Talisman: Spirit Leaf Ape" and the "Concealment Talisman," he also purchased many attack talismans inscribed with Second Grade Five Elements Magic from the Great Xia Commercial Firm.
As for pills, he didn’t buy many. Some common healing pills or pills that restore spiritual power were already present in the Storage Ring of True Master Crying Soul, so there was no need for him to stock up on those.
The only pill he bought was the "Snow Lotus Pill."
"Snow Lotus Pill"
Level: Second Grade Pill
Description: Crafted using snow lotus that can heal damage to the Divine Soul, thus it provides certain enhancements to the cultivator’s Divine Soul.
Pill Effects: After consumption, for the next three hours, the Divine Soul will gain a layer of protection, providing some resistance against Divine Soul attack techniques.
...
Anything related to the Divine Soul could multiply its value many times over.
This bottle of "Snow Lotus Pill" was no exception. Although it was just a Second Grade pill, Lu Qingshan spent five times the usual price of a Second Grade pill to acquire it.
But it was worth it.
Though at the Lower Grade, few cultivators possess the technique of Divine Soul attacks, the "Snow Lotus Pill" might end up being unnecessary.
But Lu Qingshan never relied on luck.
This was his way of preparing a defense against Divine Soul attacks.
Before learning the Divine Soul Secret Art, he could only rely on these external aids to cope with some cultivators’ Divine Soul attacks.
He only purchased one magic artifact.
"Water Cloud Eight Gates Shield"
Level: Low Grade Spiritual Artifact
Description: Crafted by cutting a whole piece of water cloud stone into eight refined pieces, it is extremely sturdy and indestructible.
This magic artifact comprises eight water cloud shields that can surround the body for defense once driven by a spell.
Magic Artifact Effects: Durability +4
Active Effects: "Eight Gates Shield Armor"
Driving the eight pieces of water cloud shield to assemble into a piece of shield armor, which has a durability value.
Durability: 100/100
Additional Information: Once the durability value is exhausted, the "Eight Gates Shield Armor" can no longer be used, and the magic artifact effect will also become invalid.
...
With the Water Cloud Eight Gates Shield, Lu Qingshan’s meager health points finally gained a bit more security.
With +4 durability, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would find it quite tough.
The skill effect of the "Eight Gates Shield Armor", if translated in plain terms, is equivalent to giving Lu Qingshan an extra hundred armor.
Last of all, Lu Qingshan spent a vast sum to buy thirteen pill-sized purple Thunder Beads.
"Thunder Bead"
Description: A consumable item, condensed from heaven and earth’s thunder and lightning by Dharma Cultivators using a special technique, it possesses tremendous power.
Effects: Releases compressed Thunder Force, bursting out with immense damage.
...
The power of the Thunder Bead is extremely tremendous; even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, if not careful to strongly resist a Thunder Bead, will instantly be obliterated.
Additionally, the Thunder Beads are simple to use, requiring only a slight activation of spiritual power to detonate, practically zero consumption.
Of course, they are not without drawbacks; while the Thunder Bead’s power is great, there is a brief three-second delay from activation to explosion.
To ordinary people, three seconds may not seem like much.
But for cultivators, these three seconds of delay are enough for them to escape the blast radius of the Thunder Bead.
A single Thunder Bead costs five Third Grade spirit stones.
The wealthy Lu Qingshan did not hesitate to buy all thirteen Thunder Beads.
These thirteen Thunder Beads could be saved for use as a trump card.
...
The gains were not small, but the cost was not small either.
Lu Qingshan’s massive amount of spirit stone assets was almost entirely depleted.
After organizing his gains, Lu Qingshan turned his gaze to the Attribute Panel.
Without hesitation, he spent all his accumulated experience points.
"[Qi Drawing Technique] upgraded to lv9, Spiritual Power Value +10!"
"[Qi Drawing Technique] upgraded to lv10 (0/1000), Spiritual Power Value +10!"
"[Qi Drawing Technique] upgraded to lv10 (1000/1000) max! This Cultivation Technique has been upgraded to its maximum level, gaining a special effect: Spiritual Power Value +50!"
"Detection completed, you have reached the level cap for your current rank, obtained advancement mission [Foundation Establishment]!"
"[Foundation Establishment]: Learn a Foundation Establishment Technique."
After half a month, it was finally time to make a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Lu Qingshan felt a flood of emotions.
It was not easy.
Lu Qingshan (Human Race)
Occupation: Sword Cultivator
Cultivation Technique: "[Qi Drawing Technique]Lv10 (max!) —[Spiritual Power +150]"
Rank: Qi Refinement
Experience Points: 968
Spiritual Power Value: 150/150
Talent: "[Innate Swordseed]" (Legendary Talent), "[Expertise]," "[Trapped in Formation]," "[Sword Technique Affinity] (Primary Level)," "[Thick-skinned]"
Skills: "[Heavenly Eye Technique]" (Universal), "[Falling Bright Sword Technique] Lv10 (max), "[Secret Sword: Wind Slash] Lv1 (0/2000)"
Faction:
Yuanshan Tower: Enthusiastic (200)
Guardian Tower: Friendly (20)
Heavenly Secret Pavillion: Friendly (10)
Next, he needed to obtain a Foundation Establishment Technique, then prepare for advancement to Foundation Establishment.