Morning mist drifted across Qingzhu Mountain, pale and cool. Lin Fei sat beneath the plum tree, eyes half‑closed, circulating the Saint Demonic Body.
His appearance had refined again overnight.
Sharper.
Colder.
More striking.
Mei paused when she saw him, her breath catching for a moment before she bowed and continued her tasks.
Lin Fei ignored the reactions.
Strength commands respect. Let them see.
A servant approached, bowing deeply.
"Young Master Lin, Steward Lin Bo requests your presence at the Crafting Hall."
Lin Fei rose.
Crafting?
He followed without hesitation.
---
The hall smelled of ink, herbs, and faint spiritual energy. Rows of talisman paper hung from wooden racks, each shimmering with a weak spiritual glow.
Lin Bo stood beside a long table, hands behind his back.
"Fei," he said, "you have wives, a child on the way, and a growing household. You will need spirit stones."
Lin Fei nodded.
Lin Bo continued:
"The Lin Family encourages new cultivators to learn a craft. Talisman making is the simplest. If you succeed, you can earn stones quickly."
He gestured to the table.
Ink.
Brush.
Talisman paper.
A faintly glowing cinnabar stone.
Lin Fei stepped forward.
Inside, his thoughts stirred.
In my past life, I was a peak fourth‑grade Talisman Master.
My talismans could shatter mountains, seal souls, and kill from a thousand li away.
Compared to that… this is child's play.
---
Lin Bo demonstrated the basic stroke pattern.
"Follow the flow of qi. Do not force it. A beginner's talisman is weak, but useful."
Lin Fei picked up the brush.
His hand moved steadily.
Too steadily.
Lin Bo blinked.
"…Your control is quite good for a beginner."
Lin Fei said nothing.
Inside—
The Saint Demonic Body refines more than flesh.
It steadies the hand, sharpens the mind, calms the breath.
And my soul remembers the strokes of a thousand talismans.
He drew the final stroke.
The talisman glowed faintly.
A successful Low‑Grade Spirit Gathering Talisman.
Lin Bo's eyes widened.
"On your first try…?"
Lin Fei placed the talisman aside.
"I will make more."
---
He made another.
Then another.
Each one successful.
Lin Bo stared, speechless.
"Fei… you may have talent for the Hundred Arts."
Lin Fei remained calm.
Inside—
Talent? No.
This is the residue of a lifetime at the peak.
Even stripped of my Heavenly Spirit Root, my soul has not forgotten.
He continued drawing.
By noon, ten talismans lay neatly on the table.
Lin Bo finally exhaled.
"…You will earn spirit stones quickly at this rate."
Lin Fei nodded.
Good. I will need them.
---
When he returned to the courtyard, Shuyin and Shulan were preparing lunch.
Shulan gasped softly.
"Husband… your aura feels different."
Shuyin nodded.
"Stronger. Sharper."
Mei bowed as he passed, her eyes lingering for a moment longer than usual.
Lin Fei said nothing.
Inside—
The acquired physique grows with each cycle.
Let them notice.
Let them adapt.
He placed the stack of talismans on the table.
Shuyin blinked.
"You made these?"
"Yes."
Shulan's eyes widened.
"You can sell them for spirit stones!"
Lin Fei nodded.
"That is the plan."
---
That night, Lin Fei cultivated beneath the moonlight.
The Saint Demonic Body circulated through him, polishing bone and flesh, sharpening his presence.
No awakening.
No dragon stirring.
Only steady refinement.
Spirit stones will accelerate this.
And talismans will provide them.
Just as they did in my past life.
He opened his eyes.
Cold.
Steady.
Unshaken.
A quiet night.
A forgotten craft reborn.
A step forward on the long road ahead.