Half a year later.

 

“Second Stage of Qi Refining!”

 

In the training room, Lu Changsheng’s robe fluttered without wind as he woke up from the meditation state. 

 

He exhaled a breath of impure air, a joyful expression on his face.

 

After a year and a half of hard cultivation, he finally broke through from Qi Refining First Stage to Qi Refining Second Stage.

 

It took so long because he was delayed by making babies and creating talismans.

 

Otherwise, with his current monthly resources of five spirit stones, occasionally buying some spiritual tea and medicine would also be beneficial to his cultivation.

 

However, the time spent, in Lu Changsheng’s view, was well worth it.

 

In the past six months, Lu Changsheng took his seventh concubine and the two Lu family women sent by Uncle Fu as his concubines, and both of them were successfully pregnant.

 

Meanwhile, Lu Lanshu, Lu Zier, and Lu Qinger were all pregnant with their second child.

 

In half a year, Lu Changsheng had six more children about to be born.

 

This drew the attention of the housekeeper, who came to advise Lu Changsheng to exercise restraint in matters of women; there was no need to be so hasty in having children.

 

As for talisman making, in the past six months, he had drawn more than two hundred talismans. Fifty of them were crafted into basic talismans, which were sold to the Bai Bao Pavilion to supplement household expenses.

 

He also told the housekeeper that he was already about sixty percent confident in making peace talismans.

 

He estimated that in a few more months, he could try making first-grade talismans.

 

As long as he could successfully draw a first-grade low-quality talisman, he would be considered an entry-level talisman master.

 

“Qi Refining Second Stage, the spiritual power is nearly twice as profound as Qi Refining First Stage.”

 

“Now, drawing a first-grade medium-quality talisman is no longer difficult for me. Unlike before, drawing one would almost exhaust me, and too challenging talismans would directly fail.”

 

“If there are materials, I might even try drawing some first-grade high-quality talismans for self-defense.”

 

Lu Changsheng stood up and felt the spiritual power in the sea of ​​​​dantian.

 

What hinders him from drawing talismans is not the skill but his own cultivation.

 

As long as his cultivation reaches the threshold of talisman crafting, he can successfully draw talismans.

 

But for now, with his tools and materials, he can only draw first-grade medium-quality talismans, and he cannot attempt to draw first-grade high-quality talismans.

 

Even with his second-level high grade talisman crafting skill, without materials, it’s impossible to make something out of nothing.

 

If he were to buy advanced talisman crafting materials at Bai Bao Pavilion, he didn’t know how to explain it and didn’t have the spare money.

 

“Now I can also try practicing spells.”

 

“Otherwise, besides talismans, I have no other means.”

 

Lu Changsheng said to himself.

 

He has not practiced any spells yet.

 

Apart from using talismans, he basically has no combat power.

 

On the path of cultivation, conflicts and battles are unavoidable.

 

Even if Lu Changsheng doesn’t want to fight, just wants to peacefully marry and have children, trouble will find its way to him.

 

It is impossible to rely on luck to walk the path steadily. It is undoubtedly self-deception.

 

“But there’s no need to rush. As long as I don’t leave the Lu family, there shouldn’t be any danger for now.”

 

Lu Changsheng shook his head, walked out of the training room, and went to play and relax with his children.

 

Just as he lifted a child into the courtyard, Lu Changsheng saw Li Feiyu coming.

 

He teased his eldest son in his arms, “Come, call Uncle Li.”

 

The child is just over a year old, only capable of babbling incoherent words.

 

“Changsheng, congratulations on breaking through to the Second Stage of Qi refinement,” Li Feiyu congratulated Lu Changsheng.

 

He lived next door to Lu Changsheng.

 

He was practicing martial arts in the courtyard, and when he sensed the spiritual energy fluctuations here he knew that Lu Changsheng had broken through to the Second Stage of Qi refinement.

 

“Hehe, it’s been a while, and it’s about time for a breakthrough,” Lu Changsheng said with a smile.

 

Li Feiyu, a seventh-grade spiritual root, devoted himself to cultivation and did not waste any time on romantic affairs. He had broken through to the Second Stage of Qi refinement half a year ago.

 

“Changsheng, why do I feel that you look much fairer and more attractive than before? What have you been up to?” Li Feiyu suddenly remarked, looking at Lu Changsheng holding the child.

 

Although they lived next door, they only gathered once every month or two.

 

“Oh, really?” Lu Changsheng paused slightly upon hearing Li Feiyu’s words.

 

Immediately, he thought it might be the effect of practicing the Immortal Beauty Technique.

 

Although he didn’t pay much attention to this cultivation technique, he would practice it occasionally.

 

Although cultivating immortality and refining Qi had the effect of rejuvenation and beautifying the skin, there wasn’t much improvement in appearance, facial features, or skin whitening in the early stages.

 

Casually, Lu Changsheng said, “Maybe it’s because I used to do farm work, and now I’ve been living comfortably and growing up, naturally, I’ve improved a bit.”

 

“Tsk tsk tsk, originally, we were like red flowers and green leaves together. If you continue like this, won’t I be overshadowed?” Li Feiyu teased.

 

“Get lost! Give me a few more years, and you’ll be the green leaf to compliment me, you brat,” Lu Changsheng laughed and scolded.

 

The next day, Lu Changsheng went to the Lu family’s book tower, spent a spirit stone, and rented a book called “Introduction to Basic Spells” to start practicing spells.

 

“Sizzle!”

 

In the practice room, Lu Changsheng stretched out a finger, and sparks continuously appeared half an inch above the fingertip but extinguished as soon as they formed into a fireball.

 

Lu Changsheng was practicing one of the basic spells, Fireball Technique, which could release a small fireball and shoot it out.

 

However, this spell was not easy to practice. It required coordination of spiritual power and the recitation of an incantation, a complex ancient syllable, not a simple shout like “Fireball Technique.”

 

The coordination of spiritual power and chanting was awkward, so despite practicing for a long time, Lu Changsheng still hadn’t mastered it.

 

After an hour of practice, Lu Changsheng’s internal spiritual power was almost depleted, and he began to meditate and rest.

 

In this way, Lu Changsheng added another activity to his daily life—practicing spells.

 

One month later,

 

“Sizzle!”

 

On Li Changsheng’s fingertip, a thumb-sized red fireball appeared.

 

The fireball was not large, but it emitted a scorching heat that raised the temperature in the training room.

 

Looking at the small fireball on his fingertip, Lu Changsheng continued to infuse Spiritual Qi into it, making the flame of the fireball grow larger.

 

When the small fireball reached the size of an egg, Lu Changsheng’s fingertip trembled slightly.

 

He pointed sharply at the target in front, releasing the fireball.

 

“Boom!”

 

The fireball landed on the target, instantly melting the finely crafted iron target into molten metal.

 

“Phew!”

 

“No wonder Feiyu said that the innate strength of martial arts is only comparable to the Third Stage of Qi refining.”

 

“In the face of such fireballs, no matter how high your martial arts skills are, once you are hit, you are bound to die.”

 

After witnessing the power of the fireball technique, Lu Changsheng felt somewhat emotional.

 

He thought about the previous battle between the Lu family and the Chen family on the way to Qingzhu Mountain.

 

The speed at which both sides released spells was much faster than his own.

 

Moreover, they could release multiple fireballs, water arrows, and wind blades at once, making it difficult to defend against.

 

“But this spell is too difficult. In the past month, I’ve only mastered the Fireball technique.”

 

“There are still basic spells like Wind Control, Object Manipulation, Clairvoyance, Sound Transmission, and Breath Concealment. When will I be able to master all of them?”

 

Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and shook his head with a sigh.

 

It took so much time to get started with a small spell. What if this was a more advanced spell?

 

Cultivation is truly time and energy-consuming.

 

This made him think of the Talisman making skill he had acquired.

 

He somewhat understood why this skill was so precious and in high demand.

 

It’s not just because it’s difficult.

 

Cultivation itself already requires a significant amount of time, energy, and money.

 

Each additional skill to be cultivated requires more time, energy, and money.

 

Most cultivators simply don’t have the time, energy, and money to cultivate multiple skills.

 

They can only focus on cultivating one path.