4%... 27%... 49%... 88%... 100%!
[Magic technique auto-update complete. This is a minor version update. The technique effects have been adjusted as follows:]
[Basic Sword Qi: New tracking effect added. The Sword Qi will lock onto a target and track it three times!]
Holy crap...
The new effect added to his Sword Qi made Qi Yun's eyes widen. He stared blankly for a moment before breaking into a grin.
"Damn, this Sword Qi of mine has no stats, only mechanics."
The first update removed the pre-casting windup, like hand seals and incantations.
And now, it even has a tracking effect.
No one would ever guess this was the Cultivation Realm's most common and ordinary Basic Sword Qi technique.
'This is good. My Basic Sword Qi might have had its casting windup removed, but it's still the most basic of techniques.
Its power, speed, and range all have shortcomings.
Now that it has a tracking effect, the margin for error is much higher.
I don't even need to aim.
I can just raise my hand and fire, and they won't be able to dodge.'
Qi Yun was extremely satisfied with the update to his [Basic Sword Qi] and grew even more expectant for the update to his [Clear Wind Technique].
He picked up the [Zhiwu Vine], and the Magic Technique Panel refined it once again.
[Magic technique auto-update complete. This is a minor version update. The technique effects have been adjusted as follows:]
[Clear Wind Technique: New evasion effect added. While in the Clear Wind state, evade one attack. The Clear Wind state is dispelled after evasion.]
'Invincible Golden Body?'
The update to the [Clear Wind Technique] made Qi Yun subconsciously think of life-saving items from games in his past life.
'If I'd had this effect back when Tang Shun cornered me in that cave, I could have tanked one of his attacks and then cast a spell to escape.
I just don't know what the limit is for this "evade one attack" effect.
I'm guessing it probably can't exceed my own limits.
It's not like it can dodge an attack from a True Monarch Power that could flatten ten thousand li with a casual wave of their hand, right?
But in any case, with this effect, my ability to protect myself has increased considerably.'
Qi Yun was very satisfied with the new effects from both updates.
To get such an upgrade for just twenty Holy Essences was an incredible bargain.
'Everything is settled. Now, it's all up to me.'
His gaze fell upon the two Dharma Transmission Jade Talismans on the table. Qi Yun first picked up the one for the "Innate Qi Heart Method," sat cross-legged, immersed his Heart and Spirit into the Jade Talisman, and began to circulate the Heart Skill.
He guided the mixed and impure "Sanwu" True Qi within his body, forcing it to flow and scour along a new, profound path. Bit by bit, it was cleansed and transformed, converting into the purest, most quintessential "Innate Qi."
...
In the blink of an eye, three months passed.
Time flew by. The vines on the grape trellis were now lush and green, casting mottled shadows of light.
Before a low table that had been moved to the center of the courtyard, a pale-faced Qi Yun held a Talisman Brush. He lightly dipped it into the vermilion Spiritual Ink in the inkstone, took a deep breath, and slowly brought the brush down!
The moment the brush tip touched the Talisman Paper, Qi Yun's eyes focused. With a slight tremble of his wrist, vermilion lines flowed and meandered across the paper, outlining profound and complex patterns.
Each stroke seemed to drain a sliver of his Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead, trickled down his temples, and dripped onto his collar, staining a small patch a darker shade.
The world around him seemed to fall silent, leaving only the faint RUSTLE of the brush tip against the Talisman Paper and Qi Yun's own heavy, suppressed breaths.
Finally, with a flick of the brush!
BUZZ—
An imperceptible yet incredibly clear pinpoint of light flashed across the Talisman Paper.
From the unseen depths of existence, a strand of formless Dao Rhyme from Heaven and Earth was drawn down, silently merging into the vermilion Talisman.
The once-ordinary yellow paper instantly gained an indescribable Spiritual Rhyme, its Daoist Intent now hidden within!
Gazing at the Talisman Paper, which appeared unchanged but now concealed Daoist Intent, Qi Yun let out a long breath of Muddy Qi.
"Boundless Saint Venerable, I finally did it!"
Wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, Qi Yun plopped down on a nearby stone stool. He looked at the Talisman on the table and couldn't help but reveal a smile that was both relieved and resigned.
The difficulty of Talisman Making was far, far greater than he had ever imagined.
For the past three months, he had spent all his time—aside from eating, sleeping, and cultivating his True Qi Heart Method—practicing how to draw Talismans.
Day and night, he toiled. After three months of painstaking effort, he had finally succeeded in drawing his first Talisman.
Catching his breath, Qi Yun called out the Magic Technique Panel with a thought.
[Mastered Magic Techniques]
[Clear Wind Technique: Auto-updating (Progress: 11%)]
[Basic Sword Qi: Auto-updating (Progress: 7%)]
[Talisman Skill: Auto-updating (Progress: 1%)]
Seeing that the Talisman Skill had appeared on his Magic Technique Panel, Qi Yun rubbed the bridge of his nose, took out his Storage Pouch, and reached inside.
He pulled out a neat stack of already-drawn Talismans, numbering over a hundred.
These were purchased with all his savings.
The next second.
A familiar throbbing sensation emerged.
A smile tugged at the corners of Qi Yun's mouth.
He had guessed right...
'The Magic Technique Panel can use Refinement on Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects to absorb their Daoist Intent and advance the update process.
These successfully drawn Talismans, although the Daoist Intent they contain is far less vast and pure than that of Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects—like a thin mist compared to a raging river...
...they too carry traces of the "Dao."
As long as it contains Daoist Intent, the panel can refine and absorb it.'
With a thought, the stack of Talismans in Qi Yun's hand was instantly refined by the Magic Technique Panel.
'The Magic Technique Panel's Refinement targets Daoist Intent. This means that besides Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects, the Magic Technique Panel can refine anything that possesses Daoist Intent.
That opens up a lot of possibilities.
If Talismans can be refined, does that mean Magical Artifacts can be, too?'
A flicker in his eyes showed Qi Yun's mind racing.
'Anything refined by the Magic Technique Panel turns to nothing. If that's the case, then in future Magical Combat, I can wait for an opportunity to snatch my opponent's Magical Artifact and refine it directly.
Not only would I get the Daoist Intent from it, but I could also destroy their Magical Artifact in the process.
What does that make me?
A human Magical Artifact pulverizer?
'I'll have to try it when I get the chance.' Mentally noting this discovery, Qi Yun looked at the text on his Magic Technique Panel.
[Talisman Skill: Auto-updating (93%)]
'Not enough?'
He hadn't expected that over a hundred Talismans wouldn't be enough to push the [Talisman Skill]'s update progress to 100%. Qi Yun pressed his lips together and frowned.
'I've already spent all my Holy Essences, so I can't buy any more Talismans.
In that case, does that mean I can only...'
He stiffly turned his head to look at the piles of Talisman Paper and Spiritual Ink in the room. Recalling the feeling of drawing a Talisman just now, Qi Yun's mouth twitched. He suddenly felt that maybe he could take a little break.
'In any case, even without refining Spiritual Objects, the Magic Technique Panel's auto-update progress will increase on its own.
It'll just take a bit longer, that's all.
Maybe I should just take a little break?'
...
...