Chapter 933: Future Plans P4

Aksai put the jade scroll containing Kalina’s Connate cultivation technique aside.

There were still five jade scrolls left.

His expectations had already risen considerably after discovering the value hidden within the first one.

He picked up the second jade scroll.

"Let’s see what Kalina’s imperial faction has generously prepared for me this time."

Aksai injected a strand of Spirit Essence into it before sending his Spirit Sense inside.

The jade scroll immediately lit up.

Unlike the previous scroll, there were no complicated cultivation diagrams or profound explanations regarding elemental laws.

Instead, what appeared before Aksai was a massive collection of talismanic knowledge.

His eyes brightened.

"Talisman crafting?"

He immediately sat up straighter.

Nuri quickly began processing and recording the information alongside him, enriching her database akin to a dry sponge sucking water.

The first section recorded various methods of preparing special talismanic inks.

Some recipes required the blood of specific demon beasts.

Others used extracts from Spirit plants.

There were also recipes involving Spirit minerals, refined beast materials, poisonous substances, and several other Spirit resources.

Each recipe was categorized according to its required quality and intended use.

More importantly, the inheritance didn’t merely record how to produce low-grade talismanic ink.

It also contained methods for upgrading the ink.

There was a complete procedure for refining 1st Order talismanic ink into 2nd Order ink.

And another method for refining 2nd Order ink into 3rd Order ink.

Even the complete upgradation method of talismanic ink made Aksai’s killing of Kalina despite all the hidden dangers worth it. One had to know that there were no such methods available in the subcontinent. At least Aksai did not possess such methods.

He had to process 3rd Order talismanic ink using 3rd Order Spirit resources. This was a complicated and expensive process with a high failure rate. The only reason Aksai could afford it was because he possessed Nuri who lowered his failure rate to its minimum and the resources provided by the Enchanted Everwood Farm.

However, Aksai didn’t like to overspend on something that could be done cheaper, that too while enhancing the quantity and quality of the end product. The upgradation of the talismanic ink just required longer processing time, safe space, and a bit of knowledge regarding the array formations. Aksai had all those things checked.

As such, Aksai’s expression became increasingly satisfying as he read the inheritance.

"Damn... this... this is already useful. Had I known that woman possessed this scroll sooner, I would have attacked her before she even met with Old Purple."

He chuckled to himself in excitement and continued reading. Surprisingly, the inheritance did not just stop at the Chapters that involved spirit ink. It went even further.

The next section concerned talismanic paper.

There was only a single primary material mentioned.

Yellow Spirit Bamboo.

But the method of processing it was surprisingly elaborate.

The inheritance explained how to harvest Yellow Spirit Bamboo at the appropriate stage of growth, remove impurities without damaging its Spirit nature, process its fibers, and refine them into talismanic paper.

More importantly, the inheritance contained detailed procedures for producing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Order talismanic paper.

Aksai’s eyes gleamed.

"Kekeke. This scroll is even more profitable than I thought. So the ink and paper can both be upgraded systematically. Nuri, did you record and process everything?"

[Yes, my liege.]

Nuri quickly confirmed his observation.

[The inheritance has established a relatively complete processing chain for the primary materials required for talisman crafting. My database regarding the talismanic profession is now more complete than ever.]

Aksai nodded.

That was precisely what he liked about it.

He continued reading.

After the sections on talismanic ink and paper came the actual talisman recipes.

There were quite a few.

The lowest were 1st Order talismans.

Then came 2nd Order talismans.

And finally, there were several low-grade 3rd Order talismans.

Some were offensive.

Some were defensive.

Others focused on movement, concealment, tracking, communication, reconnaissance, binding, and various auxiliary functions.

None of them were particularly extraordinary. At least, not compared to the highest-level resources Aksai had already encountered. But that wasn’t the point.

Aksai slowly flipped through the inheritance with a satisfied expression.

"This scroll can serve as a complete inheritance for any cultivation clan. I wonder if Kalina came from a cultivation clan that possessed this inheritance."

Aksai’s guess was right on the mark. However, Kalina did not only come from a talisman-making clan, she was a talisman creator herself. That’s how she earned her Spirit resources while staying inside the imperial faction.

One had to note that Aksai’s own talismanic knowledge wasn’t lacking. He could already create 3rd Order talismans even without using Nuri’s help.

But his knowledge had been gathered from countless sources.

A little from one inheritance.

Another technique from somewhere else.

A special talisman recipe obtained from a dead cultivator.

A method extracted from an ancient jade slip that he bought from Neutral State Haan Di.

A few useful tricks learned through experimentation.

His talismanic knowledge was therefore scattered. This was the sorrow of all drifting cultivators and Aksai wasn’t exception to this rule either.

It was like having thousands of pieces of a puzzle without having the complete picture.

He could still create powerful talismans.

But there was always something missing.

A proper foundation.

A systematic method.

A seamless connection between the various stages.

However, this inheritance was different. It started from the basics and explained the Spirit resources required in the production in great detail.

From the processing methods to the actual talisman crafting techniques, everything in the inheritance was so well connected. Each stage naturally led into the next.

Aksai couldn’t help but sigh.

"No wonder the Shinayin Empire is so ahead of native cultivators. We are no match for something like this."

Nuri remained silent for a moment.

Then she highlighted another section.

[My Liege, there is additional information regarding Intent integration.]

"Intent?"

Aksai immediately focused on the relevant section.

His eyes moved rapidly across the jade scroll.

His expression gradually changed.

The inheritance recorded several methods of integrating certain types of Intent into talismans.

The process was delicate.

The maker needed sufficient control over their Intent and had to synchronize it with the talismanic structure during the crafting process.

If successful, the talisman could gain an additional increase in power without requiring additional Spirit resources.

Aksai’s eyes widened.

"The Intent Integration once again. I guess possessing an Intent is no different from breathing for all the imperial cultivators."

This was an entirely different concept from simply adding more Spirit Essence or supplying it with Spirit stones as external power source to strengthen a talisman.

The Spirit resources used to create a talisman determined its basic quality. But Intent could act as an additional layer of enhancement.

In other words, a skilled talisman master could potentially produce a stronger talisman without proportionally increasing the material cost.

Aksai immediately understood the economic implications.

"That’s valuable."

Very valuable.

Especially for someone like him.

Thanks to his Aether cultivation base, Aksai was sure that he’d be able to cultivate powerful Intents. And he also possessed an upgraded talisman laboratory inside Enchanted Everwood Farm.

The combination was practically perfect.

Aksai closed his eyes for a moment.

He began calculating.

If he could reproduce the talismanic ink using the resources available within Enchanted Everwood Farm...

If he could first plant and then process Yellow Spirit Bamboo into high-quality talismanic paper...

If he could refine 1st and 2nd Order materials upward...

And if he could integrate his own Intent into the finished products...

Then his talisman production capability would increase considerably.

He could make talismans for himself, stock up on backup talismans, distribute auxiliary and low-grade talismans for his subordinates.

And anything left even after the distribution is over could be sold.

Aksai’s lips slowly curved upward.

"Looks like I won’t have to worry about earning Spirit Stones in the future."

He wasn’t joking.

Wherever he went in the future, as long as he had access to basic Spirit resources and his Enchanted Everwood Farm remained with him, he could establish a small-scale talisman production operation.

The upgraded talisman laboratory would handle much of the tedious work.

He would only need to provide the necessary Spirit resources, supervise the process, and personally handle the more complicated steps.

Even if he left the Shinayin Empire’s sphere of influence and traveled into the Eternal Sea...

The inheritance would remain useful.

Aksai carefully stored the jade scroll.

Although it was only a low-grade 3rd Order talismanic inheritance, its value to him was far greater than its grade suggested.

Of course, possessing such an inheritance and actually mastering it were two different things. It would take many years, possibly a decade or two, for Aksai to achieve initial mastery. As such, there was no need to rush.

Aksai carefully put the second jade scroll aside.

His satisfaction had yet to fade. However, he suppressed his feelings and reached for the third one.

"Let’s see what this one contains."

He injected Spirit Essence into the jade scroll.

The moment the restriction opened, Aksai’s expression changed.