The life of ordinary people is truly vastly different from that of cultivators, filled with joy and sorrow, partings and reunions, birth, old age, sickness, and death.
In just a few short years of observation, Han Li had regained feelings long forgotten, experiencing both positive emotions and negative sentiments.
Regardless of the type, each had touched his state of mind, allowing him to re-experience them and then comprehend and reflect upon them once more from a cultivator's perspective.
At the same time, his skill in crafting magical tools and his understanding of array formations had also gradually improved, day by day.
The most noticeable change was that Han Li's "Green Bamboo Pavilion," after one or two years, had actually gained a bit of local fame in this region.
This was because cultivators who visited Han Li's shop could often find some affordable yet decent-quality magical tools. Some particularly lucky individuals even managed to acquire some rare mid-grade talismans by chance.
Once this news spread within a small circle, it immediately drew numerous low-level cultivators like moths to a flame.
The magical tools and talismans were, of course, crafted by Han Li himself. After advancing to the Core Formation stage, he could finally cast some long-envied mid-grade spells.
Although they were only the most elementary among mid-grade spells, Han Li was still immensely satisfied.
Mid-grade talismans could be crafted using ordinary talisman paper made from spiritually mature herbs, but using the skin of rare spirit beasts as a raw material would be even better. Not only could this increase the talisman's power, but it could also improve the success rate of creation. However, each type of talisman had its own unique requirements for spirit beast skin, and not all beast hides were universally applicable.
Fortunately, when Han Li had sold that batch of spirit beast materials earlier, he had already thought of this possibility and had set aside a large quantity of materials suitable for talisman crafting.
Otherwise, even if he learned the spells, he would still have no way to actually produce the talismans.
Han Li initially practiced using lower-quality beast hides. Only on days when he felt his condition was particularly good would he use precious materials to craft a few special talismans.
Those practice talismans were mostly offensive spell talismans. Every month or two, Han Li would place one or two up for sale, and whoever saw them first could have them.
From Han Li's perspective as a Core Formation cultivator, the power of these talismans compared to his magic treasures was really something akin to chicken ribs—having little real use, so there was no point in keeping them.
However, Han Li had clearly underestimated the allure of mid-grade talismans for those Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even after he repeatedly raised their prices, there were still cultivators who would buy them without hesitation. This allowed Han Li to make a tidy little fortune.
But the problem was that mid-grade talismans were extremely difficult to craft. Even with the large number of spirit beast hides Han Li had for practice, the success rate was pitifully low—it seemed he succeeded only once every twenty or thirty attempts.
Comparing this to the success rate of basic talismans, Han Li could only smile wryly.
Otherwise, Han Li could have become a wealthy cultivator just by selling mid-grade talismans.
Furthermore, as Han Li's crafting skills improved, a greater number of mid-grade and even high-grade magical tools also began appearing in his shop, making the "Green Bamboo Pavilion's" reputation even more widespread.
Fortunately, this fame was confined to a small circle of low-level cultivators, so Han Li didn't need to worry about attracting serious trouble.
By his ninth year in this place, Han Li, incorporating some simple array principles he had grasped, began experimenting with crafting formation flags and formation disks.
Thanks to the relevant experiences provided by Qi Yunxiao and Xin Ruyin, Han Li avoided many detours and was able to master some key, subtle techniques.
Even so, crafting a complete set of array-formation tools was still an extremely difficult task for someone just starting down this path, not something that could be achieved in a short time.
But Han Li was not impatient. After reaching Core Formation, he had plenty of time to slowly accumulate experience and insight.
Moreover, the most important thing right now was to use the crafting process to further study the method for refining the "Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Swords," ensuring he could succeed on the first attempt.
After all, when crafting this magic treasure, he didn't have any excess materials to allow for a second try.
Time passed, day by day, amidst Han Li's crafting of magical tools and his study of array formations.
…
Spring went, autumn came!
Unconsciously, Han Li's slightly famous "Green Bamboo Pavilion" had been open for over twenty years, and Han Li himself had taken on the appearance of a man in his fifties.
This was, of course, not his true appearance. It was merely a disguise to conceal his agelessness, aging his outward appearance as time passed to avoid suspicion.
And now, Han Li stood in the shop's backyard, gazing at everything around him with a strange mix of emotions in his heart.
Just yesterday, he had transferred the shop to another person, finally ending his life in the mundane world.
This was because, a few days ago, the long-awaited sixth stalk of "Gold Lightning Bamboo" had finally been nurtured to maturity. Therefore, he had to return to his cave dwelling to refine his magic treasure.