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Another, more common method was to use something called "Spirit Stones" as currency for trading goods among cultivators.
A "Spirit Stone," as the name implies, is a stone filled with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The spiritual energy contained within them is an extremely nourishing thing for cultivators.
When meditating and practicing, if one absorbed the spiritual energy from a Spirit Stone, their cultivation speed would become astonishing. After all, there's a world of difference between a cultivator refining the scattered spiritual energy on their own, and having pure spiritual energy right beside them, ready to be absorbed and extracted at will.
But the greatest function of Spirit Stones was not here. Their primary use was in setting up spell formations and as consumables for casting spells.
Whether a high-level spell formation succeeded or not, and how effective it was, often depended on the grade of the Spirit Stone used. High-quality Spirit Stones not only ensured the success of the formation, but could also greatly increase its power.
The number of Spirit Stones consumed in spellcasting was far greater than that used in formations. Because the level and effectiveness of a cultivator's spells were generally determined by their own magical power and cultivation base; they could not rely solely on their own to cast spells beyond their level. Thus, Spirit Stones became the best amplifiers of magical power.
If a cultivator held a Spirit Stone in their hand while casting a powerful spell, the spiritual energy inside would continuously replenish the magical power consumed during casting, allowing the caster to forcefully unleash a spell they otherwise could not use.
Thus, Spirit Stones became an excellent choice for cultivators to battle fiercely, to overcome the strong with the weak. They were also the best tonic to immediately restore one's original strength after heavy magical power loss, greatly increasing their chances of survival in conflict.
With so many practical and incredible functions, the value of Spirit Stones naturally soared.
But with the massive consumption of Spirit Stones, over-exploitation, and the increasing scarcity of Spirit Stone mines, in today's cultivation world, Spirit Stones had gradually become a precious luxury. They became the best guarantee for cultivators' transactions, the unique currency of cultivators, and they jointly established detailed specifications and grades for Spirit Stones.
According to the amount of spiritual power they contained, Spirit Stones were divided into four levels: Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, High-Grade Spirit Stones, and Ultra-Grade Spirit Stones. And according to the different attributes of the spiritual power they contained, Spirit Stones could also be divided into the Five Element Spirit Stones—Metal Spirit Stones, Wood Spirit Stones, Water Spirit Stones, Earth Spirit Stones, and Fire Spirit Stones. There were also some very rare Wind Spirit Stones, Lightning Spirit Stones, and other rare attribute Spirit Stones. Naturally, these were even fewer.
As for such a wonderful thing as Spirit Stones,
He thought that he didn't have anything on him worth trading anyway, so from the start he had the idea of just taking in the sights, and so he strolled along casually, looking here and there.
Though Han Li appeared composed and unhurried, there were indeed many things at these stalls that made his eyes burn with desire and his heart leap.
Not to mention anything else, just the sheaves of blank talisman paper that every stall had! These were very ordinary, but they were one of the things Han Li needed most at the moment.
Though Han Li didn't yet know what the grades and ranks of talisman paper meant, or how they specifically differed, he knew that with his current cultivation, the low-level, low-grade talisman paper would certainly be enough for him to use the "Soul-Stabilization Technique."
So if he could get some talisman paper, he would immediately be able to use another spell, increasing his strength by a notch.
Of course, besides talisman paper, all kinds of spirit talismans, such as "Thunder Fire Talisman," "Fire Dragon Talisman," "Great Strength Talisman," also greatly tempted Han Li.
In fact, Han Li even saw at an inconspicuous stall a spirit talisman identical to the one that could produce a golden shield. The price tag next to it clearly stated: "Vajra Talisman, metal-element, low-mid grade defensive spirit talisman, price: nine low-grade Spirit Stones."
Having browsed so many stalls, Han Li had gained some understanding of the prices of these talismans. One quire of low-grade blank talisman paper could be bought for one low-grade Spirit Stone. Already-made low-grade talismans sold for one or two low-grade Spirit Stones depending on the type of spell.
As for mid-grade talismans, the price immediately multiplied, selling for six to ten Spirit Stones, with defensive talismans being a bit more expensive than offensive ones.
Since he himself possessed a similar item, Han Li naturally paid attention.
After carefully examining the Vajra Talisman at the stall, he found that the talisman's spiritual energy was much more abundant than the one he had in his bosom. It was clearly an unused new product. He estimated that his old, worn-out one could at most sell for a third of that price.
After reaching this conclusion, Han Li smiled wryly. It seemed that among these cultivators, he was truly poor. He couldn't help but touch the items on his person, and suddenly had a thought, recalling the talisman with a small sword drawn on it that he carried in his bosom.
Although he still didn't know the name of that talisman, Han Li believed that its value must exceed that of the Vajra Talisman.