Xiang Yu's eyes widened as he observed the information displayed by his system:
[Professions: Cook: 4th Grade (20/600), Talisman Maker: 9th Grade (10/100), Appraiser: 9th Grade (2/100)]
The Talisman Maker profession wasn't a surprise—he had already managed to create a talisman so he had expected that. But the Appraiser profession caught him completely off guard. He hadn't specifically tried to develop this skill, yet somehow it had manifested.
After a moment's reflection, understanding dawned on him. When he had concentrated his qi sense to analyze the pill and talismans in minute detail, he had unknowingly been performing appraisals.
But with its current ninth-grade level, the Appraiser profession only allowed him to identify basic item names. Still, it wasn't all bad, with further development, he could potentially discern intricate details about objects and—most importantly—he could see through the old monsters playing the pig.
Dismissing his system interface, Xiang Yu settled into a meditative posture. He regulated his breathing, allowing his energy to recover while calming his racing thoughts. The cool stone against his back anchored him as his heartbeat gradually steadied.
After several minutes of meditation, his mind cleared enough to properly assess his situation. While his current hiding spot provided temporary safety, he couldn't hide forever. If the intruders conducted a thorough search of the entire pavilion, they would eventually discover him.
He needed to either find an escape route or somehow eliminate the Core Formation cultivator and his companions.
Xiang Yu surveyed his cramped surroundings. The cave barely allowed him to sit comfortably, measuring roughly one meter wide and three meters deep, with a ceiling so low he couldn't stand upright. His gaze drifted to the back of the cave, where something unusual caught his attention.
[Soft Rock]
He identified it after activating his appraisal. He was currently spamming it continuously to farm experience points, after all, it didn't cost much to use so it would be a waste not to take advantage of it.
Curiosity piqued, he rose to a hunched position and cautiously approached. He wondered if there was something beyond the rock.
Extending his hand, he pressed his palm against the soft stone surface. Channeling his qi sense into the material, he detected a distinct space beyond. Applying gentle pressure, he watched as the rock crumbled away like dried clay, revealing a hidden realm that took his breath away.
It turns out that hidden in the small cave was an even bigger cave. The air inside was concentrated with qi so dense it manifested as colorful mist, swirling in gentle currents throughout the space. Massive flowers and lush vegetation flourished in this hidden sanctuary, their vibrant colors almost otherworldly in intensity.
At the center of this cavern was a small spring approximately five meters in radius. The water itself wasn't clear but instead rippled with strange colors. From the spring's center grew an enormous tree.
Without hesitation, Xiang Yu leapt into this larger area. The moment he crossed the threshold, rich qi enveloped him, tingling against his skin and seeping into his meridians. The density of spiritual energy here far surpassed anything he had experienced in the outside world.
Activating his Appraiser ability once more, he examined his surroundings.
[Herb] * 22
Every plant growing in this hidden cave appeared to be a medicinal herb, and quite high level ones at that. It seemed they had been nurtured by this concentrated spiritual qi for quite some time.
Xiang Yu advanced slowly toward the center, wondering if his master knew about this extraordinary place hidden within the pavilion. As he approached the massive tree rising from the spring's center, he focused his Appraiser ability on it.
[Spirit Vein]
...
This was actually a spirit vein? Xiang Yu stared in disbelief at the magnificent tree rising from the spring. Spirit veins were natural treasures that rarely occurred in the cultivation world. They were a phenomenon where concentrated qi flowed through the earth, creating pockets of extraordinary spiritual energy. These natural phenomena were coveted throughout the cultivation world, often becoming the foundation for powerful sects.
No wonder such impressive herbs flourished here. The continuous flow of rich spiritual energy had nurtured these plants to this point. If other sects or powerful cultivators discovered this place, the Azure Cloud Sect would face far greater threats than just the Wuming Cult. Such a treasure would attract covetous gazes from across the entire cultivation world.
Before exploring further, Xiang Yu returned to the cave entrance. With careful movements to avoid making any audible noises, he used a huge stone to seal the opening. He couldn't risk someone accidentally stumbling upon this secret realm.
With the entrance secured, Xiang Yu walked back toward the center of the cavern. Despite its impressive energy concentration, he realized that the qi here wasn't actually that overwhelming for his cultivation.
Although this place could be considered a sect holy land, the benefits of the qi here were nowhere near what he got by cultivating using spirit food.
Nevertheless, the spirit vein possessed tremendous value for herb cultivation. If he ever advanced his pill refining skills, he could grow rare ingredients here, ensuring a stable supply of high-quality materials without needing to venture into dangerous territories or pay exorbitant prices.
But survival came first. Settling into a meditative posture at a comfortable distance from the spring, Xiang Yu retrieved a stack of blank papers from his spatial ring. His lips curved into a thoughtful smile as a plan formed in his mind.
"At my current level, talismans are the only way I can harm the Core Formation expert," he reasoned. "Now that I've become a 9th grade Talisman Maker, I should put this skill to use."
A rather wicked grin spread across his face. "So what if you're in the Core Formation realm? I don't believe you won't die if I hit you with a thousand talismans!"
Focusing his concentration, Xiang Yu closed his eyes and directed energy from his spiritual sea toward the blank paper in his hands. He visualized the explosion talisman blueprint he had memorized earlier, recalling every intricate line and connection clearly.
Slowly, the pattern began etching itself onto the paper, glowing faintly as spiritual energy infused the material. After several seconds of intense concentration, the design was complete—a fully functional explosion talisman.
Examining his creation with satisfaction, Xiang Yu noted that while successful, the process wasn't effortless. He could feel a slight strain in his spiritual sea, it was the first time he had strained his spiritual sea so much since its formation. It wasn't debilitating, but he could tell that mass-producing talismans would require significant mental endurance.
Undeterred by this minor fatigue, he picked up another blank sheet and began the process again. With each successful talisman, his confidence grew alongside his arsenal of explosive surprises for the unwelcome visitors.
...
Minutes passed as Xiang Yu continued crafting talismans. By now, he had produced more than twenty explosive talismans. However, fatigue was beginning to set in. When he examined his spiritual sea, he noticed it was starting to dry up as the continuous channeling of energy took its toll.
After making a few more talismans, he decided to take a rest, setting aside the stack of completed talismans.
As his concentration relaxed, Xiang Yu finally took proper notice of the water surrounding the core of the spiritual vein.
In cultivation novels, something like this would be a holy spring or something similar, he reasoned to himself.
Curious, he approached the spring's edge and activated his appraisal.
[Spirit Spring]
The description confirmed his suspicions. From his memories, spirit springs were springs filled with concentrated spiritual energy that could aid in cultivation or recovery. But a question remained: how should he use it? Should he scoop some up for a drink, or should he immerse himself completely?
Deciding to test it first, Xiang Yu knelt by the edge and cupped his hand, scooping up a small amount of the iridescent liquid. He brought it to his lips and took a cautious sip—only to immediately spit it out with a grimace. The liquid was intensely bitter, almost caustic, and seemed to thrash violently inside his mouth.
"I guess it's soaking then," he muttered, somewhat embarrassed despite having no audience.
After quickly removing his clothes, Xiang Yu cautiously lowered himself into the spring. The moment his body submerged, a wave of refreshing energy coursed through him. Every cell seemed to tingle with revitalization as the spring's essence penetrated his skin, muscles, and meridians. He could feel subtle changes occurring within his body. He wondered if the spring also possessed body-refining properties.
Taking advantage of the spirit spring's rejuvenating effects, Xiang Yu settled into a meditative posture within the water. While the spring naturally replenished his qi and strengthened his body, he turned his attention inward to recover his depleted spiritual sea. As he deepened his meditation, he could sense the vast expanse of his spiritual sea gradually refilling with energy.
Time lost all meaning as Xiang Yu became completely absorbed in his cultivation. The outside world faded away, his awareness focused entirely on the harmonious circulation of energy within his body. He remained in this blissful state of deep meditation until the system notification suddenly appeared before him, jolting him back to reality.
His eyes snapped open as the system's reset screen materialized:
[Body Refining: 11th Layer (420/11,000) (+60/11,000)]
[Qi Gathering: 3rd Layer (150/300) (+150/300)]
[Mind: Level 4 (308/4000) (+60/4000)]
[Transcendent Dao Body: Level 1 (25/1,000,000) (+1/1,000,000)]
[Enlightenment: High (760/3000) (+46/3000)]
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 6th Grade (5075/40,000) (+5/40,000)]
[High-grade Lightning Strike & Palm: Beginner (20/100)]
[High-grade Fire Palm: Minor Success (2/200) (+2/200)]
[High-grade Water, Wood, Earth, Metal Palm: Beginner (60/100)]
[Cook: 4th Grade (20/600) (+20/600)]
[Appraiser: 9th Grade (50/100) (+50/100)]
[Talisman Maker: 9th Grade (30/100) (+30/100)]
[Experience Points Doubled]
[Talisman Maker: 9th Grade (30/100) → 9th Grade (60/100)]
[Appraiser: 9th Grade (50/100) → 8th Grade (0/200)]
[Cook: 4th Grade (20/600) → 4th Grade (40/600)]
[High-grade Water, Wood, Earth, Metal Palm: Beginner (60/100) → Minor Success (0/200)]
[High-grade Fire Palm: Minor Success (2/200) → Minor Success (4/200)]
[High-grade Lightning Strike & Palm: Beginner (20/100) → Beginner (40/100)]
[Spirit Flame: Abyssal Void Flame: 6th Grade (5075/40,000) → 6th Grade (10,150/40,000)]
[Enlightenment: High (760/3000) → High (1520/3000)]
[Transcendent Dao Body: Level 1 (25/1,000,000) → Level 1 (50/1,000,000)]
[Mind: Level 4 (308/4000) → Level 4 (616/4000)] 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
[Qi Gathering: 3rd Layer (150/300) → 4th Layer (0/400)]
[Body Refining: 11th Layer (420/11,000) → 11th Layer (840/11,000)]
...
Xiang Yu noticed that the spring seemed to be more useful than he had expected. Though it had only slightly enhanced his Body Refining realm, its impact on his Qi cultivation had been substantial. His normal daily practice had already given him a hundred experience points, yet merely soaking in this spring for a brief period had given him an additional fifty points.
He realized that the spring was actually more effective than spiritual food. Unlike consuming spirit food, where his limited spiritual root could only absorb a fraction of the available energy while the rest dissipated uselessly, the spring's qi was naturally absorbed through his skin and meridians, allowing for a much higher utilization rate. As for the excess, it would just remain in the spring, meaning nothing was wasted.
The process was also gentler, avoiding the violent energy surges that sometimes accompanied spirit food consumption. This way, he could focus on other things while still cultivating his qi.
However, as Xiang Yu assessed the spring more carefully, he noticed its energy had been nearly depleted. The water that had once shimmered with multicolored energy now resembled ordinary river water, its spiritual essence exhausted.
He wasn't particularly concerned—the spring would eventually recharge as the spirit vein beneath continued to produce energy—but it did suggest the spirit vein wasn't as powerful as he had initially hoped. He guessed the spirit vein was probably not that high level.
Though the spring hadn't fully restored his spiritual sea, the subsequent doubling of his Mind cultivation experience had completed the process, even expanding the area in his spiritual sea further. As always, his system was still the best.
As for his other stats, there wasn't much difference, except his four elemental palm techniques that had advanced to the Minor Success stage. Most surprising was his Appraiser profession, after spamming it earlier, it had reached the halfway point of 9th Grade, then jumped directly to 8th Grade after the doubling effect.
Eager to test this advancement, Xiang Yu immediately picked up one of his handcrafted talismans and activated his Appraisal skill:
[9th Grade Talisman]
A sigh of disappointment escaped his lips. Though the skill had indeed advanced, the improvement wasn't that great. It could now identify the grade of the item but still failed to specify the talisman's type—arguably the most crucial information.
Undeterred, Xiang Yu turned his attention to the surrounding herbs, applying his Appraisal skill to each of them:
[9th Grade Herb] * 12
[8th Grade Herb] * 5
[7th Grade Herb] * 2
His eyebrows rose with genuine surprise. He hadn't expected such high-quality medicinal herbs to be growing in this place.
Finally, he directed his Appraisal toward the spirit vein itself:
[Low-Grade Spirit Vein]
The assessment confirmed his earlier suspicion. While not particularly powerful by cultivation world standards, even a low-grade spirit vein remained an extraordinary find. The fact that it could nurture herbs up to the seventh grade was quite impressive.
But this wasn't the time for herb gathering or spirit vein analysis, he reminded himself. With enemies still searching for him throughout the pavilion, survival remained his priority.
He examined the twenty-eight talismans he had already created. Though the number was quite impressive, it still fell short of what he needed. To ensure victory against a Core Formation cultivator—even an injured one—he would require many more.