Chapter 37: The Formation of Combat Power Often Requires Only a Flash of Inspiration

"???" Feng Xue was completely bewildered by Liu Yunxi's remark. When on earth did he ever refine a life-bound magical artifact? However, his eyes darted as realization struck him.

"Oh, you mean yourself! Now that you mention it, that does sort of make sense..."

"Who says I'm your life-bound artifact?" Liu Yunxi bristled immediately. She absolutely refused to acknowledge such a claim and quickly retorted, "I'm talking about that seal! The seal!"

"The seal? Oh, you mean this?" Feng Xue reached into his pocket and produced the jade seal he had used to practice the Spirit-Attachment Curse last night. It had come from a ghost-rearing kit gifted by the owner of the Ink Rain Pavilion. Having been subjected to dozens of iterations of the curse yesterday, it was still saturated with a significant amount of spiritual power. Based on his tests, it would take roughly half a year for that energy to dissipate completely.

However, being "saturated" was merely a technicality; it was essentially a charged battery. Without being connected to an appliance, it was entirely useless.

"You call this thing a life-bound artifact?"

"Why not? My skin is just an ordinary snake molt! Isn't a life-bound artifact just something you continuously nourish with demonic energy or spiritual power until it becomes an extension of your own body?" Liu Yunxi responded as if stating that food was meant to be eaten, while simultaneously grabbing another piece of squirrel-shaped mandarin fish and popping it into her mouth with delight.

Feng Xue pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt that the concept of "life-bound artifacts" in this world was vastly different from the high-stakes, life-and-soul-linked weapons he had imagined. He asked tentatively, "Then what is the use of this thing? Just to serve as clothing after you transform? Does it have no other mystical properties?"

"Isn't being clothing enough?" Liu Yunxi waved her "chopsticks," seemingly unable to grasp Feng Xue's line of thinking. "A life-bound artifact is just the most convenient tool you have. I heard from Grandma Fox Fairy that some top-tier martial artists in the world nourish their weapons with their own *qi* and blood, but that only makes them sharper and easier to handle. Still, you could call those life-bound artifacts too. As for mystical properties? If you want them, add them in yourself!"

"..." Although he knew he shouldn't mix worldviews, Feng Xue found it hard to pivot his mindset so quickly. Nevertheless, he looked down at the jade seal and subconsciously channeled a bit of spiritual power into it.

It was just a small movement, yet it made him notice something different.

On the surface, it still looked like an ordinary jade seal, but the moment his spiritual power touched it, the sensation was entirely distinct.

It felt as if he had suddenly transitioned from a traffic-clogged city street onto a high-speed expressway. The ease with which his spiritual power shifted and responded to his thoughts gave him the fleeting illusion that he had achieved ultimate mastery.

But, it was just an illusion.

The seal hadn't actually improved his efficiency; rather, because his own spiritual power already existed within it, it was easily mobilized when he touched it. Furthermore, because that energy had been solidified into the seal by the [Spirit-Attachment], he didn't need to worry about maintenance or stability, making it much easier to command.

However, Feng Xue had yet to master a single complete incantation. Even with the medium, he didn't know how to shape this solidified energy. He could only stow the seal away again, though he now harbored a glimmer of anticipation for these so-called life-bound artifacts.

Though his control and technical experience were currently abysmal, the existence of "Destiny Setting" allowed him to mass-produce spiritual power with ease. Using that as a foundation, he could create countless life-bound artifacts.

If he could solidify a different spell into each one...

Thinking of this, Feng Xue gasped. He suddenly realized how he should go about fighting!

With his mind racing, he became eager to test his theories, feeling so restless he could barely sit still, wishing he could put his ideas into practice immediately.

Noticing the shift in Feng Xue's mood, Liu Yunxi didn't know exactly what he was thinking, but she realized their meal was likely coming to an end and began waving her chopsticks even faster.

Watching the chopsticks dance into a blur on the table, Feng Xue caught on to her intent and couldn't help but laugh. "Don't rush, don't rush. I'm not lacking in composure!"

Despite his words, the man and the snake finished their lunch quickly. After turning Liu Yunxi back into a ring, Feng Xue headed straight for the century-old rice shop the waiter had mentioned.

The inquiry process was not complicated. Since this was a standard brokerage business serving ordinary folks, there was no need for secret codes. Once Feng Xue provided the payment, the shopkeeper immediately instructed a clerk to lead him through the back door of the rice shop, down a small alley, and to a secluded office.

Although Lucheng County was significantly larger than Ping'an County, this office was far less impressive than Nine Aunt's. On reflection, however, outside of the "Foreign Monk," there were only three spiritual practitioners in all of Ping'an County, and Nine Aunt was the only one with a professional establishment, making it the only "office" in the entire county.

In Lucheng, there were five such places for "rice-asking," plus various temples and churches, so the market share for each shop was naturally smaller.

Stepping into the office sideways, Feng Xue raised an eyebrow. The practitioner sitting there was also a woman, but she was older, appearing to be in her forties. He gauged her remaining lifespan—over twenty thousand days. She clearly possessed some cultivation, though likely not on par with Nine Aunt's.

"Young guest, you are also a practitioner. You've come to my office, so surely it's not to ask for rice or summon spirits, is it?"

Before Feng Xue could speak, the middle-aged woman took the initiative. Feng Xue didn't show any trepidation and nodded. "Fair Immortal, I am a newcomer and unfamiliar with local taboos. I have come to seek peace of mind."

As he spoke, he drew out the payment as per custom. Seeing that he wasn't looking for trouble, the woman relaxed. She didn't take the money, though her tone became slightly more courteous.

"Don't call me 'Fair Immortal.' You can just call me Aunt Liu. As for the business, it depends on what you want to ask."

Feng Xue nodded and sat down in the direction Aunt Liu indicated. "First, I'd like to ask which experts in the mystical arts are in Lucheng, so I can avoid offending them. Second, I'd like to inquire where to purchase supplies for cultivation. Third, I'd like to ask where I might learn spells—not by becoming an apprentice, but a straightforward, paid transaction."

"So, you're a traveling scholar." Hearing his clear and logical questions, Aunt Liu understood his intent immediately. She nodded.

"There are about twenty spiritual practitioners in total, but only five can be called experts. The most powerful are the old monk at Tianfu Temple and his neighbor, the Taoist. The Foreign Monk in the south of the city also has some tricks up his sleeve.

"Then there is the young girl from the Deng family. She herself is nothing special, but the Gray Immortal enshrined in her home has quite a bit of cultivation. If you're looking to do business, you could go ask her.

"As for the fifth, I only know of their existence, but I have never met them; I only know they are a great senior.

"For supplies, I have incense and ritual items here. For jade and magical artifacts, go to the Bird Market in the west of the city. If you trust your eye for quality, you can also head to the Ghost Market outside the city at the Hour of the Rat every night to hunt for useful things."

With that, Aunt Liu formed a seal with three fingers, and a black shadow swept seven or eight books onto the table.

"As for spells, this is all I can sell you. The others are likely the same. If you see anything you like, a *guan* of cash per book—take them as you please."