Chapter 129: Spirit Stones and Spirit Talismans

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Another more common method of exchange uses items called “Spirit Stones” as currency for buying and selling goods among cultivators.

As the name suggests, “Spirit Stones” are stones filled with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The spiritual energy they contain is extremely beneficial for cultivators.

During daily meditation and cultivation, absorbing the spiritual energy from Spirit Stones can dramatically accelerate a cultivator’s progress. After all, there’s a significant difference between cultivators absorbing and refining scattered spiritual energy on their own, and having pure spiritual energy readily available for them to absorb and extract at will.

However, the greatest efficacy of Spirit Stones isn't found here. Their primary use lies in the consumption for setting up magic formations and casting spells.

The success and effectiveness of a high-level magic formation often depend on the quality of the Spirit Stones used. Good Spirit Stones not only ensure the formation’s success but also significantly increase its power.

The quantity of Spirit Stones consumed for casting spells far exceeds their use in formations. Generally, the level and effectiveness of spells a cultivator can cast are determined by their own magical power. It's highly unlikely they could cast an over-level spell solely based on their own cultivation. Thus, Spirit Stones become the best magical power amplification tool.

If a cultivator holds a Spirit Stone while casting a powerful spell, the spiritual energy within the stone will continuously replenish the magical power depleted during the casting. This allows the caster to forcibly unleash spells they would otherwise be unable to use.

Therefore, Spirit Stones have become an excellent choice for cultivators to assert dominance, win against stronger opponents, and are also the best restorative item for quickly recovering original strength after significant magical power depletion, greatly increasing their chances of survival in conflicts.

With so many practical and incredible uses, Spirit Stones naturally saw their value soar.

However, with massive consumption, excessive mining, and the increasing scarcity of Spirit Stone veins, Spirit Stones have gradually become precious luxuries in today’s cultivation world. They serve as the best guarantee for cultivators’ transactions, their exclusive circulating currency, and their specifications and grades have been meticulously standardized.

Spirit Stones are divided into four grades based on their spiritual energy content: low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and super-grade. Furthermore, according to the differing elemental attributes of the spiritual energy they contain, Spirit Stones can also be categorized into Five-Element Spirit Stones: Gold, Wood, Water, Earth, and Fire. In addition, there are some very rare Spirit Stones with unique attributes like Wind and Thunder, though these are even scarcer.

Despite how valuable Spirit Stones are, Han Li didn’t possess even half a piece.

He felt he had nothing exchangeable on him, so from the start, he adopted the mindset of simply broadening his horizons, leisurely strolling along, looking at everything.

Although Han Li appeared calm and unhurried, many items at these stalls truly made him envious and deeply tempted.

Among other things, just consider the stacks of blank talismans available at every stall! While these items were common, they were one of the most needed items for Han Li at the moment.

Although Han Li didn't yet know what the different grades and tiers of talismans meant or their specific distinctions, he knew that with his current cultivation, a low-grade, basic talisman would certainly be sufficient for him to cast the “Calming Spell.”

So, if he could acquire some talismans, he would immediately have another spell at his disposal, instantly boosting his strength.

Of course, besides blank talismans, various other colorful spirit talismans like “Thunderfire Talismans,” “Fire Dragon Talismans,” and “Might Talismans” also greatly intrigued Han Li.

Han Li even spotted a spirit talisman identical to his own golden-shield-emitting talisman at an inconspicuous stall. The price tag next to it clearly read: "Vajra Talisman, Gold attribute, basic mid-grade defensive spirit talisman, valued at nine low-grade Spirit Stones."

Having browsed so many stalls, Han Li had gained some understanding of talisman prices. A stack of basic low-grade blank talismans could be bought for one low-grade Spirit Stone, while completed basic low-grade spirit talismans, depending on the type of spell, sold for one to two low-grade Spirit Stones.

As for basic mid-grade spirit talismans, their price immediately soared several times, selling for six to ten Spirit Stones, with defensive talismans being slightly more expensive than offensive ones.

Since he possessed a similar item, Han Li naturally paid attention.

After carefully examining the Vajra Talisman at the stall, he noticed that its spiritual energy was far more abundant than the one he carried, clearly indicating it was a new, unused item. He estimated his worn-out one would fetch at most a third of its price.

Upon reaching this conclusion, Han Li gave a bitter smile. It seemed he was indeed a pauper among these cultivators. He couldn't help but touch the items on his person, and suddenly, an idea struck him: the spirit talisman with the small sword drawing he carried.

Though he still didn't know its name, Han Li believed this talisman was definitely worth more than the Vajra Talisman.

With this thought, Han Li began scrutinizing every stall, looking for spirit talismans identical to the one with the small sword drawing.

Unfortunately, after visiting multiple stalls, he still hadn't found a similar item. However, at a spot surrounded by five or six cultivators, he noticed someone selling a basic high-grade spirit talisman.

The sign next to the talisman read: “Flying Talisman, Wind attribute, basic high-grade flight-type spirit talisman, valued at thirty low-grade Spirit Stones, or exchange for medicinal pills of equivalent value that strengthen the foundation and cultivate essence.”

Han Li was startled when he saw this sign.

It was the first high-grade basic spirit talisman he had seen after visiting so many stalls. He couldn't help but observe it closely. Indeed, the spiritual energy on the talisman was astonishingly dense, incomparable to the low or mid-grade talismans he had previously seen.

“Twenty Spirit Stones, will you exchange?” an unshod, horse-faced man among the onlookers couldn't help but ask.

The owner of this stall, a lean and capable young man wearing a straw hat, simply pointed to the sign and ignored the man.

“It's just a flying talisman, not an offensive or defensive one. Twenty is already a lot!” the horse-faced man said, unwilling to give up.

“Hmph! If it were an attack or defense talisman, would I only sell it for thirty? Without fifty, I wouldn't even let you look at it! If you want a bargain, go somewhere else! You're not welcome here.” The young man finally spoke, his cold words making the horse-faced man's face turn crimson with anger.

“Good kid! I, Ye Bao of Qinye Ridge, will remember you. If you've got guts, let's have a good spar after the assembly.” The horse-faced man said furiously.

“Qinye Ridge?” Han Li, who had been happily watching from the side with a smile, was startled to hear the place name.

"Isn't that where the dwarf I killed claimed to be from? Although I don't know if the dwarf was telling the truth, since this man claims to be from the Ye family, I should be careful!"

Thinking this, Han Li instinctively stepped back a few paces and quietly left the area, moving to the next stall. However, the mention on the sign about exchanging for pills that strengthen the foundation and cultivate essence had caught his attention.

He remembered he still had quite a few unused “Yellow Dragon Pills” and “Golden Marrow Pellets.” He wondered if they would meet the young man's requirements. He decided to go back and ask when there were fewer people. If it worked out, he would have some capital to exchange for needed items.

As Han Li considered this, he looked back at the young man’s stall, only to find Ye Bao no longer there, having disappeared somewhere. Among the remaining few people, one pulled out a bottle and handed it to the young man.

The young man opened the bottle, sniffed it, then gently shook his head and returned the bottle to its owner. The original owner of the bottle left with a look of regret, and the other few people, who seemed to be with him, also left immediately. The stall was now empty.

Seeing this, Han Li was secretly pleased. He slowly ambled back to the young man's stall. The young man, seeing Han Li, was slightly surprised, clearly recognizing him as someone who had been there before.

Han Li, unconcerned, smiled at the young man and said:

“I have two types of medicinal drugs. See if they meet your requirements?”

With that, he took out two small porcelain bottles, one green and one blue, and placed them in front of the young man.

The young man didn't waste words. He took the two bottles, opened their lids one by one, brought his nose close to the openings, and sniffed them thoroughly, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

After a moment of contemplation, the young man did not reply immediately. Instead, he gently placed the porcelain bottles back in front of Han Li.

“Well?” Han Li blinked and asked.

“To be honest, the pills in these two bottles of yours are a bit better than what the previous people showed me, but they’re still not quite enough for my needs,” the young man hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and refused.

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