Cultivation Starting from Full Talent

Chapter 269: Chapter 267 Everyone in Immortal City Misses Talisman Master Lin Chapter 269: Chapter 267 Everyone in Immortal City Misses Talisman Master Lin Ning Daoran felt as if something was missing.

“Just up and leaving” was indeed Lin Man’s style, but to leave without any notice was too much of a departure from common courtesy.

He accepted the Storage Bag, and after maid Ying Xiu performed a curtsey, she left, having fulfilled her master’s final request.

Ning Daoran turned and returned to the Cave Mansion, sitting in a pavilion scattered with drifting leaves amid the autumn wind.

The seal on the Storage Bag could be opened directly.

Inside, there was a thick handbook, a full finger’s thickness, along with a letter.

“To Ning Daoran, handwritten by Lin Man.”

The handwriting on the envelope was quite elegant, fitting Lin Man’s temperament. Ning Daoran took out the letter, and immediately lines of text came into his view.

“Ning Daoran, please do not blame Lin Man for leaving without saying goodbye. I had no choice but to do so. Moreover, parting is an inevitable end to every meeting, and Lin Man does not wish to part in sorrowful reluctance. Thus, fading silently from your side is the best outcome.”

“At the time of writing, Lin Man realized her unwillingness to part, and not afraid of your mocking, I’ve developed feelings for you. If I lingered by your side, I fear I might lose my ambition and forget the promises I made to my sister. However, if we meet again, Lin Man does not wish to carry this regret and hopes to spend some time together with you.”

“Lin Man owns nothing worthy, and it’s laughable to say, I like you but have nothing to offer you. Physically, unable to be constantly by your side; emotionally, afraid to let feelings root deeply. The only thing I take pride in is my skill in the talismanic way, which is why I have compiled years of experience and insights on talisman making into this handbook for you.”

“In the future, without Lin Man by your side, you should learn to craft talismans on your own. After all, as a Golden Core Stage Great Cultivator, mastering the fundamentals should at least be possible. This heritage left behind, I hope it will be useful to you.”

“Oh, and one more thing, if you really want to pursue dual cultivation of magic and body, don’t practice those trifling skills popular in Jianghu. Back when we were at the Yun Meng Sect, that vile woman once said, the genuine body refining techniques consist of the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture, the Undying Golden Body Technique, and the Dragon Elephant Extreme Demon Technique; among them, both the Undying Golden Body Technique and Dragon Elephant Extreme Demon Technique are possessed by the Ten Great Immortal Sects. If you wish to pursue dual cultivation, you should head to Dragon Martial Mountain in Ningzhou Ji City to seek the Dragon Demon Heart Scripture.”

“May your path in immortality be eternally prosperous, Lin Man leaves this book.”

…

Putting down the letter.

Ning Daoran furrowed his brows, feeling an inexplicable sourness in his heart, he couldn’t help but slap his thigh, “Damn… how am I feeling as if I’ve gone through a breakup? This won’t do, there wasn’t even a start, so what’s there to lose!”

Thinking that it hadn’t even begun, he felt much more relieved.

Thus, he placed the thick handbook on the stone table, opening it, and inside was filled densely with Lin Man’s handwriting.

However, clearly, these notes weren’t written specifically for him; the first half primarily contained records of her experiences in crafting talismans and some unconventional insights.

It wasn’t until the final section that the handwriting was newer. This part was written specifically for Ning Daoran, detailing the process of crafting talismans. She was worried Ning Daoran might not understand, and so she wrote very detailed descriptions and marked everything, even including some witty remarks.

“Sigh…”

Ning Daoran let out a long sigh, feeling grateful for Lin Man’s kindness, but it was a pity…

He couldn’t understand any of it!

In terms of talismanic ways, Ning Daoran’s talent was truly indescribable.

However, since he now possessed the inheritance of a Third-tier High-grade Talisman Master, there wasn’t much to complain about. He’d find time to read more when idle—progressing to a Second Order Talisman Master should be possible.

Time was abundant; there was no rush.

Thus, Ning Daoran began the longest seclusion in history.

He was aiming for the Mid-stage Golden Core!

…

As time passed fleetingly, vines had already overgrown the exterior of the Cave Mansion.

This seclusion of Ning Daoran’s had lasted for thirteen years!

This year, Ning Daoran was 195 years old, already an elderly Golden Core cultivator nearing two centuries of age.

When he emerged from the Cave Mansion, after enduring over a decade under the influence of the Eternal Green Technique, his demeanor became even more extraordinary and transcendent. Dressed in a green robe, his appearance still resembled that of an eighteen-year-old boy, yet his aura was like a vast abyss, serene and indifferent.

Unfortunately, despite his excellent talent, he still had not broken through to the Mid-stage Golden Core!

However, his inner foundation had become sufficiently solid. He had reached the pinnacle of the Early Stage Golden Core, just a step away from the Mid-stage, effectively at a “Half-step Mid-stage Golden Core.”

With one hand behind his back, he started to inspect his own territory within the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven.

The spring breeze was blowing, and the Purple Jade Spirit Rice was vibrant and swaying with the wind.

In the medicine garden, numerous spiritual medicines emitted fragrant aromas, consuming spiritual energy while also nourishing this part of the world with their essence qi.

Not far away, golden bamboo swayed, and the Golden Silk Bamboo had grown into a bamboo forest. As time accumulated, the age of these Golden Silk Bamboos continued to increase.

The first batch of ten-thousand-year-old Golden Silk Bamboo was nearly mature!

However, Ning Daoran was not in a hurry. The first qualitative transformation of Golden Silk Bamboo occurred at one thousand years, possessing a thousand years of age that could foster Geng Metal Essence Qi. The next transformation… should be at one hundred thousand years!

Though he did not know how much change a hundred-thousand-year Golden Silk Bamboo might undergo, Ning Daoran was patient. His life span was long, and once he achieved Nascent Soul, several hundred years would pass in a blink, enduring for a hundred-thousand-year Golden Silk Bamboo seemed achievable.

One could imagine, the Golden Silk Sword crafted from hundred-thousand-year Golden Silk Bamboo… might surpass magical treasures and directly advance to be a Fourth-tier Spiritual Treasure. After all, one must always have dreams!

On the left, a towering Heavenly Frost Glass Tree swayed its branches, emitting powerful Yin Qi.

The older this item, the better. As the age of the Heavenly Frost Glass Tree increased, using its sap as a material to craft Paper Substitutes would also result in stronger products. If in the future Ning Daoran advanced to Late-stage Nascent Soul, the Class A Paperfolk he crafted might have the combat power of Early-stage Nascent Souls, and casually throwing out dozens of Early-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators would indeed be explosive!

Unfortunately, the boundary war had passed many years ago; otherwise… if Sangyu Country attacked again, he, Ning Daoran, would unquestionably step forward to fight for Xia Country’s Cultivation World!

Jade Spirit Spring.

Little Blackie was coiled up in the spring. Seeing Ning Daoran approaching, he immediately sprang out and transformed into a black-clothed young lad, flattering, “Brother Ran, your aura seems to have grown stronger again. You’re just a step away from the mid-stage Golden Core!”

“Little Blackie, it seems like your cultivation has become quite sluggish lately, hasn’t it?”

“No, absolutely not…”

“When I say it has, you dare to say it hasn’t?” Ning Daoran looked at him sternly.

“Cough cough…”

Little Blackie quickly conceded, “Since Brother Ran says it has, then there must be some truth to it. I’ll definitely work twice as hard.”

“Mm.”

Ning Daoran nodded, looked down at the spring, and noticed that the Green Water Turtle, which had a staggering gait, now had strands of golden patterns on its back and its aura had completely transformed.

During these thirteen years, it had actually advanced to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment!

“Little Gui, reached the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, huh? Not bad, not bad~~~” Ning Daoran squinted his eyes.

The Green Water Turtle said, “All thanks to Brother Ran’s True Blood Pill. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been this fast. It’s all Brother Ran’s doing…”

Ning Daoran greatly enjoyed the credit.

“Ow ow~~~”
Beside him, Big Stupid Deer also howled loudly, indicating that Brother Ran was the head of the family, and it was all Brother Ran’s effort that the Ning Family Army had come this far.

Ning Daoran gladly accepted the praise.

Beside him, Little Bai covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Although flattery was constant in this Spirit Garden Cave Heaven, she had gotten used to it. Sometimes, she truly believed it — without Ning Daoran, this family would inevitably fall apart, but with him, the Ning Family Army was invincible.

“Old Lu, when will the Wanxiang Cloud Thunder Hammer Technique return to nature?” Ning Daoran asked.

“Ow ow~~”
Big Stupid Deer nudged his shoulder, indicating that it would be soon, definitely within two or three years.

“Alright, then I’ll go into seclusion for a while longer!”

Ning Daoran wasn’t much interested in the affairs of Immortal White Dragon City, so he entered seclusion again.

As for matters like renewing the lease for the cave mansion and managing it, he left them to Little Bai to handle.

…

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

As expected, Big Stupid Deer, with his full talent in hammering technique, truly mastered the Wanxiang Cloud Thunder Hammer Technique to perfection!

Ning Daoran decided to reforge the Qiushui Sword, the sword gifted by his Junior Sister, which needed to keep up with the updates.

In the city, Qingfu Square.

At this time, Qingfu Square finally had Deep Water Qingjin in stock. Ning Daoran spent forty thousand spirit stones to buy a batch, plus what he had already obtained, which was enough to reforge a new Qiushui Sword.

“Senior Ning.”

Qingfu Square’s Master Zhao Yuanlong frowned, “This Immortal White Dragon City, without Lin Man, truly feels like it lacks many things, becoming bland and dull.”

“Oh?”

Ning Daoran smiled faintly, “Master seems to miss Talisman Master Lin?”

“Talisman Master Lin has always been graceful and gifted in the talismanic way. It’s been over a decade since she last visited. Humans aren’t emotionless like plants, and although I am a rough man, naturally, I sometimes miss Talisman Master Lin too.”

Zhao Yuanlong gave Ning Daoran a meaningful look, “Senior Ning, there have been rumors previously, claiming that an affection had grown between you and Talisman Master Lin, and that after her Core Formation, she would likely become your Daoist couple. But why did Talisman Master Lin suddenly relinquish her lease on the cave mansion and disappear from the human world? Senior Ning, you must know where she is now, right?”

“To be honest, I don’t know either.”

Ning Daoran shook his head, “Talisman Master Lin left without saying goodbye. Just like you, I didn’t even have a chance to bid her farewell. Perhaps she had something more important that forced her to do so.”

“I see…”

Zhao Yuanlong sighed deeply, “For decades, people have come and gone in the Immortal City, with continuous changes between the old and new, but I always feel that those from the past were better. Sometimes, I truly miss them… Master Ning, you’ve been in seclusion for so long, are you also planning to leave Immortal White Dragon City?”

“Master has foresight.”

Ning Daoran smiled lightly, “I suppose, it will be within these few years.”

“Sigh…”

After bidding farewell to Ning Daoran, Zhao Yuanlong sat in the loft counting spirit stones while heaving long sighs.

…

Returning to the cave mansion, ready to reforge the Qiushui Sword!

“Roll up your sleeves and get to work!”

Big Stupid Deer started forging, with Ning Daoran, Little Blackie, Green Water Turtle, and Little Bai acting as cheerleaders. Immediately, as Big Stupid Deer dropped each hammer blow, the charisma of Deep Water Qingjin enveloped the air, tensing every sinew in Big Stupid Deer’s body, accompanied by sparks flying in a passionate display.