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Lan Rui was just an overworked office worker struggling to meet deadlines,until one fateful day, his life was cut short by a sudden heart attack. But death wasn’t the end. Instead, he woke up in a mysterious cultivation world, inhabiting the body of a failed cultivator who had nearly perished due to Qi Deviation.

Now, in the vast Cloud Market, a city built atop a powerful Second Rank spirit vein, Lan Rui must navigate the treacherous path of cultivation. His new identity is that of a low-tier Qi Refining Realm cultivator, living in the outer area, where only the weakest Loose Cultivators reside. With mediocre talent but an unexpected advantage, a floating game-like status panel. He must find a way to rise above his circumstances.

Can he defy fate and break free from the shackles of mediocrity? Or will he remain stuck at the bottom of the cultivation world, forever struggling to survive?

In a realm where only the strong thrive, Lan Rui’s journey to immortality begins!

Worn and Torn of Immortal Cultivation World

After a few minutes of sightseeing, he decided to head back home.

"I barely have any spirit stones left. After paying rent and buying materials for talisman drawing, I only have two pitiful pieces left."

There was no point in wandering around. Even if he found something valuable or intriguing, he couldn't afford it. He was broke.

With a final glance at the bustling market, he turned away, swiftly making his way toward the entrance. The towering gates loomed ahead, and after stepping through, he continued straight back to his small residence.

Inside the quiet room, he sat at his table, carefully laying out all the materials he had bought earlier.

Taking a deep breath, he calmed his mind, steadying his thoughts and focusing his spirit.

"Let's continue yesterday's work."

Time passed, marked by the slow burning of incense. Stroke by stroke, he meticulously drew each symbol, his spirit energy flowing steadily into the talisman paper.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally took a step back and glanced at the floating status panel before him.

[Skills]: First Order Talisman Master: Cleaning Talisman (Beginner Level 199/200)

"Just one more," he murmured. "And then I'll see what happens next."

Determined to succeed, he steadied his breath. This time, every motion of his brush was deliberate, infused with utmost precision. Spirit energy coursed through the ink, and his divine sense sharpened, guiding his hand as he inscribed the intricate talisman script.

Time trickled by, a cup of tea's worth.

Finally, he set down his brush. His heart pounded in anticipation as he watched the talisman before him.

A soft glow flickered to life, illuminating the paper for a fleeting moment before fading away. Success.

His gaze immediately snapped to the status panel.

[Skills]: First Order Talisman Master: Cleaning Talisman (Beginner Level 200/200)

"Huh? No changes? Do I need to…"

Before he could finish his thought, a sudden shock coursed through his mind.

A surge of information flooded his divine sense, overwhelming him. It felt as though something deep within him was being unlocked. Knowledge new, refined, and profound poured into his consciousness, sinking deep into his very core.

It lasted an incense stick's worth of time before he finally exhaled, his chest rising and falling as he processed what had just occurred.

"Haaa… That was unexpected. But the benefits are immense!"

Without hesitation, he picked up his brush once more. His hand moved instinctively, his strokes faster, smoother, as if he had practiced this countless times before.

After a cup of tea's worth of effort, he completed another talisman. This time, the glow was noticeably brighter, pulsing with refined energy.

[Skills]: First Order Talisman Master: Cleaning Talisman (Minor Achievement 1/300)

The breakthrough had transformed his understanding of talisman drawing. Concepts that had previously been vague or incomplete in the previous owner's memories were now crystal clear.

"So that's the effect of a skill breakthrough… I see now."

"Let's keep going. As they say, strike the iron while it's hot!"

Time flew by as he immersed himself in drawing talismans, capitalizing on his newfound clarity.

An hour later, he finally set his brush down, stretching his sore fingers as he examined the neatly stacked talismans before him.

"My success rate has increased from less than 20% to about 40%. That's a huge improvement." His voice carried a newfound confidence. "The future ahead… it's not bleak."

Feeling satisfied with his progress, he was about to get up to recover his spiritual energy and divine sense when something caught his eye.

Chapter 9: Minor Achievement