The daily lives of ordinary people indeed differ greatly from those of cultivators, brimming with joys, sorrows, partings, and reunions. Within just a few years of observation, Han Li had come to feel many emotions he had long since forgotten—both positive and negative. Regardless of the nature of these emotions, they had made a tangible impact on his inner state, allowing him to reexperience them and then reflect upon and contemplate them from the perspective of a cultivator. At the same time, his skill in crafting artifacts and his understanding of阵法 had steadily improved over time. Most notably, Han Li's family-run shop, "Qingzhu XiaoXuan," had gradually gained a reputation within the region after just one or two years. This was because many cultivators frequently found affordable yet high-performing artifacts at his shop. Even some fortunate visitors managed to stumble upon rare mid-level scroll items while shopping in-store. Once this word spread within the local community, several lower-level cultivators quickly began flocking to the shop. The ritual implements and talismans were naturally crafted by Han Li himself. Since entering the Jiadian stage, he had finally been able to cast several mid-level spells that he had long admired. Though these were only the most basic among mid-level spells, Han Li was exceedingly satisfied. While ordinary talisman paper made from older, more common spiritual herbs could suffice for mid-level talismans, using rare beast skins as raw materials would yield even better results—enhancing both the power and the success rate of the talismans. However, each type of talisman had its own unique requirements for the spiritual skin, and not all beast skins were universally applicable. Fortunately, when Han Li sold his batch of beast materials, he had already anticipated this need and had carefully preserved a large quantity of suitable materials. Otherwise, even after mastering the spells, he would still have been unable to produce talismans. Han Li first practiced with less premium beast skins, and only when he felt his condition was stable and optimal would he proceed to craft several special talismans using rare materials. The practice scrolls were mostly offensive spells. Han Li would occasionally attach one or two of them every one or two months, and whoever spotted them first would claim them. Given Han Li's Ji Dan stage cultivation level, these scrolls and artifacts seemed rather insignificant in comparison—like mere side dishes—offering little practical value. Yet Han Li had underestimated the appeal of mid-level scrolls among cultivators at the Qi and Ji Jian stages. Even after repeatedly raising their prices, many practitioners still bought them without hesitation, bringing Han Li a modest fortune. Unfortunately, mid-level scrolls were extremely difficult to produce. Despite having numerous beast skins to experiment with, the success rate remained disappointingly low—almost one success for every twenty or thirty attempts. Compared to the success rate of the beginner scrolls, Han Li could only shake his head in amusement. Perhaps, with only mid-level scrolls, Han Li could become a prosperous landowner among cultivators. Moreover, as Han Li's craftsmanship in crafting artifacts improved, more mid-tier and high-tier items began appearing in the shop, further enhancing the reputation of "Qingzhu XiaoXuan." However, this growing recognition remained primarily within a smaller circle of lower-tier cultivators, so Han Li need not worry about any disturbances. By the ninth year since his arrival, Han Li began experimenting with crafting array flags and array discs, drawing on the relevant insights provided by Qi Yunxiao and Xin Ruoyin, which allowed him to avoid many detours and master several key techniques. Nevertheless, even with these advantages, crafting a complete set of array equipment remained an extremely challenging endeavor for someone new to the field, requiring a considerable amount of time to see tangible results. Yet Han Li remained unhurried. As a post-Jingdan cultivator, he had ample time to gradually accumulate experience and deepen his understanding. Moreover, right now the most important thing is to carefully study the method of crafting the "Green Bamboo Honey Cloud Sword" while producing various items, to ensure a successful first attempt—after all, when crafting this artifact, there would be no extra materials left for him to try again. Day after day, time slipped by as Han Li devoted himself to crafting tools and studying array techniques. ...Spring turned to autumn! Unconsciously, Han Li's modestly renowned "Green Bamboo Pavilion" had now been in operation for over twenty years, and Han Li himself had grown into a man of about fifty. Of course, this was not his true appearance—he had been compelled, over time, to age his outward appearance in order to conceal his youthful, ever-young face. Now, standing in the back courtyard of his shop, Han Li gazed around him, filled with a sense of unusual emotion. Just yesterday, he had transferred the shop to another person, finally concluding his life of active engagement in the world. Because just a few days ago, the much-anticipated sixth "Golden Thunder Bamboo" had also ripened to a thousand-year age, he had to return to his cave to refine his divine artifacts. Having lived here for over twenty years, even though he remained calm and composed, he still felt a touch of nostalgia at the moment of parting. He was certain that this period of life in the marketplace would become a rare and peaceful chapter in his life. At that moment, a loud, animated voice came from across the way, and Han Li couldn't help but smile with heartfelt recognition. Without needing to use his spiritual awareness, he knew it was the store owner next door once again recommending to his customers that very item—his store's prized possession—which had remained unsold for seven or eight years. This neighbor had inherited the business from his father. When Han Li first moved in, the original store owner had already retired four years prior to enjoy a peaceful life at home. Though the son was known for his fiery temperament, he was still a straightforward and honest man. Yet, whenever he was doing business, he'd constantly raise his voice to boast about the goods in his shop, often leaving many foreign cultivators stunned and speechless. Han Li sighed, gently shook his head, and then took the Qu Hun who had been standing at the front hall, and together they stepped out of the "Qingzhu Xiao Xuan." Not long after, their figures completely vanished from that corner of the marketplace. ...Upon returning to his dwelling, Han Li immediately brought a large number of crafting materials into the inner chamber and set up a small array he had refined over the years outside. While this array served no other purpose, it effectively masked the fluctuations of spiritual energy—perfectly suited for Han Li's work on crafting artifacts. He certainly didn't want others to notice his progress halfway through. After quietly meditating in his inner chamber for three days and three nights, allowing his spirit and inner energy to reach their peak, he began the process of crafting his artifacts. First, he retrieved the ointment jade box from his storage bag and placed it gently on the ground before him. Then, opening the lid, he revealed six emerald-colored Tian Lei bamboo stalks inside. Han Li gazed solemnly at the bamboo, took a deep breath, and then extended a finger, lightly tapping one of the green stalks within the box. Instantly, the bamboo stalk—about a foot long—flew out of the box and hovered steadily before his chest. Han Li performed a serious hand seal, his face glowing with a steady radiance that gradually took on a silvery-green hue. As the glow intensified, he opened his mouth, and a fine, thread-like streak of green pill-fire emerged, precisely landing upon the bamboo before him. A crisp "crack" sounded, and a faint golden electric arc appeared on the surface of the bamboo, firmly separating the pill-fire and preventing it from approaching even an inch. Upon witnessing this, Han Li's eyes flashed with sharp brilliance. Immediately, the green pill-fire swelled and branched out, swiftly enveloping both the electric arc and the bamboo itself, beginning a long process of refinement. The Dan Fire consumed a considerable amount of spiritual energy, but fortunately, Han Li had prepared for this well. As soon as he released the Dan Fire, he simultaneously grasped two deep green spiritual stones in his hands, beginning to absorb their spiritual energy. When even the stones themselves could no longer supply sufficient energy, he simply pulled out a pill and swallowed it. Although these pills did not immediately convert into spiritual power, the ample spiritual energy they contained gave Han Li, who was preparing for a prolonged battle, confidence and assurance. Three days passed, and finally, the electric arcs on the surface of the Thunder Bamboo faded as the bamboo's own spiritual energy was depleted. The clear Dan Fire, unimpeded, directly scorched through to the bamboo's core. Several days later, signs of melting appeared on the bamboo's surface, with certain areas beginning to glow faintly and releasing numerous small droplets of various colors. Over the course of ten consecutive days, the Thunder Bamboo was finally purified of all impurities and fully transformed by Han Li into a thick, fist-sized emerald-green liquid—appearing remarkably viscous! Looking at this relatively small pool of liquid, Han Li exhaled deeply, feeling a great relief. As long as he could refine the Celestial Thunder Bamboo, the rest would be much easier. With this thought in mind, Han Li stopped the flow of his pill-fire and retrieved the two stones from his hands. Then, he spread his fingers wide, and ten slender threads of spirit silk shot out, precisely inserting themselves into the green liquid. As his fingers continuously tapped and moved, the liquid mass began to rotate and transform under the guidance of the silk threads. Under the pull of the spirit silk, a small portion of the green liquid separated from the main body and floated steadily in the air nearby. Then another, then another… When the final piece had detached, twelve identical liquid masses floated in the air.