Hour of the Shadow Ox (07:00 PM - 08:00 PM)
Enchanted Everwood Farm
Returning to his isolated dimension, Aksai was greeted by the perpetually twilight sky.
Making his way into the wooden farmhouse nestled amidst the farm, he sought out his meditation spot.
Settling onto the mattress, he retrieved the jade slip bestowed upon him by Aunt Reta.
"2nd Order Talisman Inheritance," Aksai murmured as he examined the roughly five-inch-long and two-inch-wide jade slip, resembling a perfectly carved ruby-like gem.
Holding it up to his eyes, he noted its remarkable light refraction, akin to that of a glass slab of similar dimensions.
To ordinary mortals, this jade slip would serve as nothing more than a paperweight. Only the cultivators with Nascent Spirit Sense could discern the hidden contents within.
Regulating his breathing through a brief meditation, Aksai directed his Spirit Sense into the slip. Closing his eyes, he delved into the layers of texts and diagrams inscribed within.
The information stored inside the 2nd-order talisman inheritance jade slip was astounding in terms of quantity and quality, to say the least. Aksai found this to be the most comprehensive inheritance he had ever encountered.
The jade slip contained numerous chapters elucidating foundational concepts in talisman-making, detailing various methods and the selection of ingredients. It also explored the dos and don'ts of talisman crafting, as well as their applications in fields such as alchemy and Array Formations.
Moreover, it served as an encyclopedia on both common and rare cultivation resources, outlining their processing methods for talisman creation. It even touched upon stacking talisman effects to amplify their output.
Aksai stayed in a trance-like state reading through the information recorded on the jade slip. He wasn't trying to understand anything at this point. He only wanted to process everything so that the neural link fabric would take care of the rest.
Upon completing his scan of the entire jade slip, Aksai received a notification from the neural link fabric, appearing as a prompt on the Spectral Screen before his eyes. Although it took him more than 4 hours to process everything, the wait was worth it.
[ All data from the jade slip has been successfully copied and saved to the neural link fabric's core memory. No anomalies or data corruption detected. The knowledge can be divided into data packets and safely imprinted onto the hippocampus. ]
A faint smile graced Aksai's lips as he observed the notification appear before him. He carefully stowed away the jade slip into his storage ring, recognizing that it had fulfilled its purpose.
"It's no wonder Aunt Reta kept her late husband's talisman inheritance hidden," Aksai mused, exhaling deeply as he contemplated the gravity of the situation.
"The Spirit farming families in the neighborhood, myself included, assumed it to be a mere 1st-order mid-grade inheritance, but in reality, it's a 2nd-order low-grade one. With the potential to create three 2nd-order low-grade talismans, the implications of such knowledge becoming public... well, it's unsettling to consider.
Even the Lakir family might have been tempted to act against her. The consequences for Aunt Reta and her son could have been dire," Aksai sighed, shaking his head. "I guess I owe her one," he acknowledged silently.
Aksai could surmise why Aunt Reta had entrusted him with this 2nd order talisman inheritance. After a cursory examination, it became evident that Aunt Reta herself wouldn't have been able to fully utilize its potential.
Restricted by her mid-stage Spirit Refining cultivation and limited access to cultivation resources, Aunt Reta specialized in refining 1st order low and mid-grade talismans. This ensured maximum production success with minimal resource wastage.
Despite possessing a 2nd-order talisman inheritance, Aunt Reta's expertise was confined to crafting 1st-order late-stage talismans. To be considered a 2nd-order talisman maker, one must consistently produce 2nd-order talismans, a feat beyond her capabilities.
Thus, Aunt Reta decided to give the entire 2nd order inheritance to Aksai. She believed that he would be like her, restricted by his cultivation and accumulated resources. In the end, he would become an average talisman maker like her.
Even though Aksai had almost no chance of becoming a 2nd order talisman maker, the inheritance was enough for him to make a living. With Aksai acting as a big brother and path paver, Aunt Reta's son would also have a relatively easy time becoming a talisman maker. The two would be able to help each other out and earn together.
One could say that Aunt Reta had put a lot of thought into the gift. It was supposed to benefit Aksai and her biological son both.
Even with the complete recording of the 2nd-order talisman inheritance on his neural link fabric, Aksai couldn't claim the title of a 2nd-order talisman maker. At most, he possessed theoretical knowledge in the field, gaining invaluable insights into crafting 2nd order talismans.
Assimilating theoretical knowledge into practical skill was a protracted process, especially with 2nd order inheritances due to their complexity.
Although Aksai's progress would outpace others, he understood the importance of diligent practice and accumulating firsthand experience. Only when theory and practice harmonized could he rightfully claim the title of a 2nd order talisman maker.
"So, if Array Formations are the so-called big appliances, working on a constant supply of electricity with complicated Printed Circuit Boards in them, then the talismans are like the battery-operated small appliances."
Aksai mused to himself, recalling the information briefly recorded on the jade slip and comparing it with the concepts of his previous world.
"The talismans are small array formations that use simple and straightforward Essence Equations," Aksai continued to ponder, his mind delving deeper into the matter as various paragraphs, diagrams, and methods related to the 2nd-order talisman inheritance flashed before his eyes.
"The Essence Equations act as the Printed Circuit Boards, providing the base of the talisman with certain features and applications.
Change the Essence Equations and you'd end up with a talisman with a completely different use. Two talismans that made use of the same cultivation resources in their production can have two different applications based on their Essence Equations.
For example, the concept of electricity is consistent in both big and small appliances, yet it's the Printed Circuit Boards in them that dictate their respective applications, enabling users to utilize them according to their needs.
This is fascinating, but I suppose I should digest this inheritance slowly. I'll need to prioritize a few things before committing to promoting myself as a 2nd order talisman maker."
Aksai concluded, waving his hand to dismiss the Spectral Screen in front of him.