Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Time flies, winter gives way to spring.

In the blink of an eye, it was the season when the ice and snow melted and all things revived.

During this period, Chen Li successively mastered the First Order Sixth Level Disease Expelling Skill, First Order First Level Cleaning Skill, First Order First Level Far Sight Skill, First Order First Level Insect Repelling Skill, and First Order Second Level Earth Listening Technique.

Apart from the Disease Expelling Skill, the lower-ranked skills were now completely effortless for the current Chen Li, offering no difficulty, and he had learned most of them in just an hour or two.

Far Sight Skill: Channel spiritual power to the acupoints of the eyes to see distant places.

Insect Repelling Skill: Dispel the insects and mosquitoes around.

Earth Listening Technique: Listen to the faint movements in the distance through the earth.

Of course, the above skills were considered useful by Chen Li, possibly for occasional use, yet not very significant. He did not plan to practice them to a very high level of proficiency.

As for learning the Cleaning Skill, it was purely because he was too lazy to draw Cleaning Talismans.

He was also curious about what a Grandmaster-level Cleaning Skill, equivalent to a First Order Fifth Level Skill, would be like after being practiced to the top.

In the meantime, Zhou Hong, who had been stuck at the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation for nearly three years, finally reached the Sixth Layer.

To advance to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation before the age of thirty, and to be only one step away from the late stage of Qi Cultivation, was already considered quite talented among Loose Cultivators.

Of course, she was no match for a ’genius’ like Chen Li.

...

This world also has its New Year’s celebration, which is about half a month before the spring plowing.

Those living in the Green River District were Loose Cultivators who did not care much about these customs, but the New Year’s atmosphere in Luoluo City was quite strong.

The first day of the New Year.

Zhao Lin, Zhang Yan, and others followed the local customs and paid visits without prior arrangement, bringing New Year gifts.

"Why bother with such empty gestures, a waste of money, and you guys aren’t living that comfortably either," Chen Li said, looking at the New Year gifts, which were all items like Spiritual Wine, Spiritual Tea, and various pastries, and smiled.

"Rituals must not be neglected, if not for Big Brother’s care, we might not be here, and perhaps would have died in the Green River District long ago," Zhao Lin respectfully said, "Big Brother’s kindness, Zhao Lin will always keep in mind."

"Yes, yes!"

"If not for Big Brother offering us business, we might have turned to robbing as our livelihood long ago."

Gu Mengqing, Guo Wu and a few others hurriedly chirped in.

Zhang Yan, awkward with words and prideful, struggled to say something appreciative but couldn’t let go of his ego, his mouth moved a few times, but in the end, he could only join in with a forced laugh, his face stiff, feeling out of place.

Chen Li chuckled. The flattery from these people was clearly excessive.

They just needed something from him after all.

But he didn’t mind.

Relationships based on mutual benefit may seem insincere, yet they are the most reliable.

"You guys came just in time today, after a while, I would have had to look for you," Chen Li said, "I wonder if you are still interested in the business of selling Magical Artifacts and Talismans?"

During this time, the prices of Magical Artifacts had obviously rebounded.

Mid-grade Magical Artifacts were already above 2.5 Mid-grade Spirit Stones on average, and Low-grade Magical Artifacts had risen to 1.3 stones.

The prices were not far off from the normal rates of the previous years.

Chen Li didn’t want to wait any longer.

He was ready to secure his gains.

"Look at what you’re saying, this is Big Brother giving us a bowl of rice to eat, we couldn’t ask for more!" Zhao Lin quickly said, his face beaming with joy.

"Okay! Then let’s start after the New Year," Chen Li decided.

...

A few days later, Chen Li visited Zhao Lin’s home, giving Zhao Lin a Mid-grade Magical Instrument, three Low-grade Magical Instruments, and twenty Amulets to test the waters.

Unexpectedly, they sold out in just two days.

In this manner, Chen Li began to gradually unload his stock, and the Spirit Stones in his possession quickly became substantial.

One month later.

Late at night.

In a quiet room carved out of the basement.

Chen Li opened his eyes, his face showing delight.

"I’ve finally reached the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation!"

He calculated that it took him seven months in total.

"The pace keeps slowing down, it’ll probably take about a year to reach the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation," he muttered.

He opened his attribute panel.

[Name: Chen Li]

[Lifespan: 42/138 years]

[Realm: Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation: 1/100]

[Cultivation Technique: Longevity Skill Master: 1517/1600]

[Skills:]

Talisman-making: Cleaning Talisman Expert: 121/800; Silencing Talisman Proficient: 21/400; Guiding Talisman Proficient: 11/400; Evil-Repelling Talisman Proficient: 185/400; Arrow-Evasion Talisman Skilled: 54/200, Featherweight Talisman Skilled: 35/200, Amulet Skilled: 185/200

Spell: Cleaning Skill Proficient: 3/200; Far Sight Skill Proficient: 3/200; Insect Repelling Skill Proficient: 5/200, Spiritual Power Snap Grandmaster: 3200/3200; Earth Listening Technique Proficient: 8/200; Scolding Skill Master: 1215/1600; Flash Skill Expert: 321/800; Palm Thunder Master: 535/1600; Traction Skill Master: 123/1600; Hemostasis Healing Skill Skilled: 15/200; Disease Expelling Skill Novice: 85/100; Ice Skill Skilled: 15/200, Body Protection Skill Proficient: 125/400

Swordsmanship: Basic Swordsmanship Master: 475/1600;

[Divine Skills: None]

Chen Li glanced at his spells.

"Scolding Skill, Palm Thunder, and Traction Skill have all been trained to Master level, and there’s still only one Grandmaster-level Spiritual Power Snap, while the Flash Skill that I’ve been focusing on has reached Expert, and Body Protection Skill has progressed to Proficient," he observed.

"I fear no one in the Qi Cultivation Stage, but if I were to face someone in the Foundation Establishment..." Chen Li shook his head.

Last time, slaying a Second Order Demon Beast was purely because of the terrain advantage.

And having a sharp blade in hand.

It was complete luck.

Not a true reflection of his own strength.

Challenging someone of a higher level was difficult!

Extremely difficult.

Nearly impossible.

Despite practicing so many spells, whether they are at Expert level or Master level, they are still only low-level spells, and the power of any single one of them has not exceeded the First Order Seventh Level. They might be useful for sneak attacks.

If a Foundation Establishment cultivator were prepared, it’s likely that even their defenses would be hard to break.

He got up from the meditation cushion.

"Ah, time to sleep, time to sleep!"