The lives of ordinary people were indeed vastly different from those of cultivators, filled with joys and sorrows, partings and reunions, as well as the cycles of life, aging, illness, and death.
In just a few short years of observation, Han Li experienced many long-forgotten emotions—both positive and negative. Each of these stirred his state of mind, allowing him to re-experience them from a mortal perspective before reflecting and gaining new insights as a cultivator.
At the same time, his skills in artifact refinement and his understanding of formation arrays gradually improved over time. Most notably, within a year or two, his shop, “Green Bamboo Retreat,” began to gain a small reputation in the area.
Cultivators often found affordable yet effective magical tools at Han Li’s shop. Some even had the luck to stumble upon rare mid-level talismans.
Once this news spread within a small circle, low-level cultivators flocked to his shop in droves.
The magical tools and talismans were, of course, crafted by Han Li himself. After reaching the Core Formation stage, he was finally able to cast some mid-level spells he had long admired. Although they were only the most basic of mid-level spells, Han Li was extremely satisfied.
However, mid-level talismans couldn’t be crafted using ordinary talisman paper; they required rare demon beast hides as materials. Moreover, each type of mid-level talisman had strict and unique requirements for the hides, meaning not all demon beast hides were universally suitable.
Fortunately, when Han Li sold his batch of demon beast materials, he had anticipated this need and withheld a large amount of usable materials for talisman-making. Otherwise, even if he had learned the spells, he would have had no way to craft the talismans.
Han Li first practiced with lower-quality demon beast hides. Only on days when he felt particularly focused would he use rare materials to craft a few special talismans.
The practice talismans were mostly offensive spells. Every month or two, Han Li would put one or two up for sale, available to whoever saw them first.
From the perspective of Han Li’s Core Formation cultivation, these talismans were almost trivial compared to the power of magic treasures, making them nearly useless to keep.
However, Han Li had clearly underestimated the allure of mid-level talismans for Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even after repeatedly raising the prices, cultivators still eagerly spent spirit stones to buy them, allowing Han Li to earn a small fortune.
Unfortunately, mid-level talismans were extremely difficult to craft. Even with so many demon beast hides to practice with, his success rate was pitifully low—succeeding only once every twenty or thirty attempts.
Compared to the success rate of low-level talismans, Han Li could only smile wryly.
Otherwise, he could have become a wealthy figure among cultivators just by selling mid-level talismans.
Additionally, as Han Li’s artifact refinement skills improved, mid-tier and high-tier magical tools began appearing more frequently in his shop, further boosting the reputation of “Green Bamboo Retreat.” Fortunately, this fame remained confined to a small circle of low-level cultivators, so Han Li didn’t have to worry about attracting trouble.
By the ninth year, Han Li began experimenting with crafting formation flags and plates, combining them with some simple formation arrays he had comprehended.
Thanks to the insights provided by Qi Xiaoyao and Xin Ruyin, Han Li avoided many pitfalls and mastered some key techniques. Even so, for someone like him who was new to this craft, refining a complete set of array tools remained an extremely challenging task—one that could not be accomplished quickly.
Even so, for someone new to this path, crafting a complete set of formation tools was an extremely challenging task, not something that could be achieved quickly.
But Han Li was in no hurry. After reaching Core Formation, he had plenty of time to slowly accumulate experience and insights.
Moreover, his current priority was to study the refinement method of the “Green Bamboo Cloud-Swarm Sword” while crafting other items, ensuring he could succeed on the first attempt. After all, when refining this magic treasure, there would be no extra materials for a second try.
Time passed day by day as Han Li refined magical tools and delved into formation arrays.
Seasons came and went, and before he knew it, Han Li’s somewhat famous “Green Bamboo Retreat” had been open for over twenty years. Han Li now appeared as an elderly man in his fifties.
This, of course, was not his true appearance. To conceal his ageless face, he had gradually disguised himself to look older as time passed.
Now, Han Li stood in the backyard of his shop, gazing at his surroundings with a complex mix of emotions.
Just the day before, he had transferred the shop to another person, finally concluding his life among mortals. A few days prior, the long-awaited sixth “Golden Lightning Bamboo” had matured to ten thousand years, so he had to return to his cave abode to refine the magic treasure.
Having lived here for over twenty years, even Han Li, with his usually calm heart, felt a tinge of nostalgia at this departure. He believed this period of life in the market would become a rare and tranquil experience in his life.
Just then, loud shouts came from next door. Han Li couldn’t help but smile knowingly. Without using his spiritual sense, he knew the neighboring shop owner was once again promoting his “treasured item,” which had remained unsold for seven or eight years.
This neighbor had inherited the business from his father. The old shop owner, who had been there when Han Li first moved in, had retired four years earlier to enjoy his remaining years in peace.
Although the old shop owner’s son had a fiery temper, he was an honest person. However, when it came to business, he often boasted loudly about his goods, astonishing many out-of-town cultivators with his exaggerated claims.
Han Li sighed softly and shook his head. Then, accompanied by Qu Hun, who had been waiting in the front hall, he walked out of “Green Bamboo Retreat.” Soon, their figures vanished completely from the corner of the market.
Upon returning to his cave abode, Han Li immediately entered a secret chamber with his numerous refinement materials and set up a small formation array he had developed over the years. This formation had no other function but effectively concealed spiritual energy fluctuations, making it perfect for refining magic treasures. He didn’t want anyone spying on him mid-process.
Then, Han Li meditated quietly for three days and nights, ensuring his spirit and magic power were in peak condition before beginning the refinement.
First, he took out the jade box from his storage bag and placed it on the ground in front of him. He opened the lid, revealing six emerald-green Golden Lightning Bamboos inside.
Han Li gazed solemnly at the bamboos, took a deep breath, and pointed a finger at one of them. Instantly, a foot-long bamboo flew out of the box and hovered motionlessly before his chest.
With a serious expression, Han Li formed a hand seal. A faint green glow surfaced on his face, growing increasingly intense.
As the green light intensified, Han Li opened his mouth and exhaled a thread-like stream of green core flame, directing it precisely at the Golden Lightning Bamboo.
A *crackle* sounded as a faint golden arc of electricity appeared on the bamboo’s surface, unceremoniously blocking the core flame and preventing it from getting closer.
Seeing this, a glint of sharp light flashed in Han Li’s eyes. The green core flame thickened instantly, enveloping both the arc and the bamboo in green fire, beginning the long process of refinement.
The core flame consumed spiritual energy rapidly, but Han Li had prepared for this. As he released the flame, he gripped a dark green spirit stone in each hand, absorbing their spiritual energy. When even the spirit stones couldn’t replenish his energy fast enough, he casually took out a pill and swallowed it.
Although these pills couldn’t immediately convert into magic power, their abundant spiritual energy ensured Han Li could sustain the prolonged refinement without worry.
After three days, the arcs of electricity on the Golden Lightning Bamboo’s surface finally dissipated as the bamboo’s spiritual energy depleted. Unhindered, the green core flame began refining the bamboo directly.
A few days later, signs of melting appeared on the bamboo’s surface. Some areas began to glow faintly, exuding densely packed droplets of various colors.
After more than ten days, the entire Golden Lightning Bamboo was finally purified of impurities, refined by Han Li into a fist-sized, viscous mass of emerald-green liquid.
Looking at this small mass of liquid, Han Li breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the Golden Lightning Bamboo was refined, the rest would be much easier.
With this thought, Han Li stopped the core flame and put away the spirit stones in his hands. Then, he spread his ten fingers, and ten spirit threads, fine as strings, shot out and inserted into the green liquid.
His fingers began to move incessantly, and under the guidance of the spirit threads, the liquid mass started to rotate and transform.
Guided by the spirit threads, a small portion of the green liquid separated from the main mass, floating in the air nearby.
Then a second portion, a third…
By the time the last portion separated, twelve identical-sized liquid masses floated in the air.
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