I Live Forever With My Proficiency

Chapter 12: Proficient in Talisman Parchment

Chen Ping walked out of the tool shop, carrying the Law Weapon he exchanged for 79 spirit stones, and restrained his joy. After confirming that he wasn't being followed, he hurriedly blended into the crowd.

He then spent another 5 spirit stones at the bookstore to buy a book called "Bone-Shifting Technique".

Today, every time he spent money shopping in the market, he felt anxious, afraid of exposing his wealth and being targeted. So he decided to buy the book "Bone-Shifting Technique" on a whim. After learning the technique, he would feel more at ease in the market. At least he wouldn't be easily traced back to his home.

He had originally wanted to buy a good sword, but now he changed his mind. He could buy it later after learning the Bone-Shifting Technique.

As Chen Ping walked back from the bookstore, he passed by a rouge shop and happened to run into Zhang Zheng, who was buying rouge.

The two chatted for a while.

This guy was actually buying rouge for his maid.

Curious, Chen Ping accompanied Zhang Zheng to look at the rouge and powder.

After Zhang Zheng picked a set and went to pay, Chen Ping hesitated for a moment and said to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, the set that the previous customer chose, give me one too."

The shopkeeper was taken aback, looked at Zhang Zheng's back, then looked at Chen Ping, and immediately showed a knowing expression.

"Alright, I'll get it for you."

Chen Ping was about to say "thank you" when he saw the shopkeeper's smug look. "Keep it a secret, I understand, I understand."

Chen Ping: ...

Understood my ass.

He was innocent.

He just wanted to buy a set of rouge and powder in various colors to go with the Bone-Shifting Technique.

But he didn't understand rouge, so he could only follow Zhang Zheng's lead.

After all, the Bone-Shifting Technique could only change one's appearance and body shape, but it couldn't add wrinkles, moles, and other physical features. That required the art of makeup.

The two techniques complemented each other and created the perfect disguise.

While they were shopping, there was suddenly a commotion outside the shop.

It seemed like everyone was rushing towards the west side of the market.

Chen Ping's heart skipped a beat.

An inexplicable nervousness arose, and he grabbed a passerby who was hurrying by and asked, "Excuse me, what's happening?"

"Don't you know? It's all over the place. People from the western district's family have come to set up a challenge platform, aiming to break through the realm barrier. As long as you step on the stage, there will be rewards, and they are quite generous." The passerby, annoyed at being delayed from seizing an opportunity by Chen Ping, finished speaking and immediately broke free from Chen Ping's hand, rushing into the crowd.

A challenge platform to break through the realm barrier?

Chen Ping naturally knew about this.

Some cultivators from prominent families practiced the Hegemonic Body Technique. When they encountered a bottleneck in breaking through the realm barrier, they believed in the philosophy of "fighting to the death" to temper their state of mind through actual combat.

The best way to do that was through a grand competition. And it had to be with a strong opponent at the same realm.

But killing people indiscriminately was not allowed.

Hence, the challenge platform was created.

Only by fighting on the stage, where every move could be lethal and life and death were at stake, could one truly temper their state of mind.

And precisely because of this, every competition offered generous rewards.

Money was secondary.

Various precious pills and Law Weapons were what martial artists truly desired.

Therefore, every time a challenge platform appeared, it would be bustling with excitement.

"Chen Fellow Daoist, let's go and take a look. Maybe we can earn some rare treasures. Opportunities like this are rare." Zhang Zheng had already finished buying the rouge and, seeing Chen Ping gazing at the door, patted his shoulder with excitement in his eyes, and plunged into the crowd.

Chen Ping didn't even have a chance to speak.

He furrowed his brows slightly and quietly took two steps back.

The rewards were indeed generous.

But the money you could take away was your own money.

Not to mention the life and death on the challenge platform, even if you survived and obtained the prize, could you really take it away in front of hundreds of people's eyes?

It was too dangerous.

He retreated back into the shop, quickly paid for the rouge, took his belongings, and turned to leave.

He walked against the crowd to the east first, then hurried back along the same path.

He deliberately avoided the cultivators whose eyes were shining with excitement along the way.

It wasn't until he returned home and closed the door that he felt completely relaxed.

This kind of competition, let alone stepping on the challenge platform, even if it caused chaos in the entire market, it was enough to attract looters. It was better to stay away from it.

I'm only at the Qi Refining stage, there's no need for me to join in the excitement.

Such opportunities, I'll wait until I reach the Gold Core stage... no, the Soul Formation stage... no, the Mahayana stage...

Then I'll go... and watch.

He closed the door.

Looking at the spoils he had purchased today, his mood turned into joy.

When he bought the tools for making talisman parchment, Chen Ping had felt a pang of extravagance. After all, it was the first time he had spent so much money.

But he didn't expect that the first expensive thing he bought wouldn't be pills, swords, or robes...

But it is a set of tools.

However, at this moment, after receiving the tool set, Chen Ping was satisfied and delighted.

Most of the tools are made of mysterious iron, with moderate thickness and a faint cold light. The handles of all the tools are plain without any carvings, but they exude an indescribable sense of dignity. The sword blades are extremely sharp, as sharp as autumn frost.

Good stuff.

Expensive for a reason.

As for Master Qi's set,

It's nothing special.

But it costs money.

After today's shopping, his spiritual stones have greatly diminished, and he only has 88 disposable spiritual stones left.

It has returned to a two-digit number.

In a while, he will need to buy leather, buy a sword, and buy a robe.

He also needs to double his cultivation level and also needs spiritual stones.

Money is never enough.

Earn money, earn money!

Two months later.

Leatherworking room.

The soft sunlight shines through the window, casting a slanted light on the desk. Time seems to be carved in the breeze.

Chen Ping holds the tool knife in his hand and, relying on his feeling, swiftly cuts a piece of leather without any hesitation or pause.

Proficiency +1.

"The leatherworking skill has finally reached the mastery level!"

"Perfect!"

He looked at the piece of leather and couldn't help but feel extremely relaxed.

After practicing these days, this set of actions has become quite proficient.

Of course, the new tools also played a supporting role.

The new leatherworking tools are Law Weapons, which have a bonus effect on leatherworking. Chen Ping feels as if he has divine assistance when operating them.

Every movement seems much smoother.

It makes him more immersed in the joy of making leather and unable to extricate himself.

This immersion lasted for two months.

During these two months, he not only made leather, but also practiced the "Bone-Shifting Technique" and makeup skills.

He experimented on himself and tried to switch between Wu Yanju and Huang Bo smoothly.

Barely enough.

Of course, to achieve a seamless transition, he still needs to further practice and improve his proficiency.

In terms of cultivation level.

There seems to be no shortcut. He can only continue to practice the Evergreen Technique, constantly meditate and breathe, and gradually push his cultivation level up through this series of bonuses.

At this moment, sitting in front of the desk, Chen Ping brought up the panel.

[Name: Chen Ping.]

[Lifespan: 22/71.]

[Cultivation Level: Qi Refining (First Layer): 39/100.]

[Cultivation Technique: Evergreen Technique (Beginner): 72/100.]

[Spells: Micro-Wind Nine Swords (Six Forms): 1000/1000. Bone-Shifting Technique (Proficient): 243/1000.]

[Skills: Dissection (Expert): 234/1000. Leatherworking (Mastery): 1/1000. Cooking (Proficient): 168/1000. Makeup (Proficient): 4/1000.]

When Chen Ping first awakened the panel, his cultivation level proficiency was '25/100', and now it is '39/100'.

In fact, it's already quite fast.

He always felt it was slow because his spells and skills were growing too fast, giving him the illusion that his cultivation level was progressing slowly.

But in reality, in the past few years, his cultivation level has only been '25' points, and now in less than three months, he has increased by '14' points.

This is already considered fast compared to his past self.

Calculating like this, he can reach the second layer in at most a year.

This is purely through practicing the Evergreen Technique and meditating.

He calculated that after the first batch of leather produces income, he will give himself a boost in alchemy and body tempering, so that his cultivation level can improve faster.

Chen Ping wiped away the light from the panel and then looked at the pile of waste leather in the leatherworking room...

...he needs to buy more leather.

But tomorrow, he will first sell these pieces of leather, on one hand to test the market, and on the other hand, he really needs to generate income.

During this month, he went out again and bought 300 pieces of leather from Zhang Zheng. Now, his 500 pieces of leather have all been used up. According to the highest conversion rate, he can produce 2500 pieces of leather.

On average, he can produce 500-1000 pieces of leather.

But he is still a beginner.

Just stepping out of the beginner village.

The scrap rate is high. And he won't settle for anything less. Any piece of leather with the slightest defect will be scrapped.

So the success rate of leather production is not high.

He has only prepared 62 sellable pieces of leather.

Although it's not much.

But it's significant.

He can't wait to try it out tomorrow.

Fellow Daoists, please support the new book by reading and voting. The initial period of a new book is crucial, otherwise there won't be any recommendations. Chen Ping, a small Qi Refining cultivator, begs everyone in Cloud Link City for support!

(End of this chapter)