《Why are the Talismans I Drawn Banned Again?!》 Chapter 1 - 1 I Really Didn’t Mean to Time Travel Chapter 1 I Really Didnt Mean to Time Travel Trantor: 549690339 The day before the game Immortal Gods was set tounch, the entire project team was as busy as a pot of popping popcorn. Every persons nerves were on edge, ready to explode at any moment. Night had fallen, yet the lights in the office building still shone brightly. The programming department was busy fixing bugs, the engine department was busy optimizing, the art department was still rushing to meet deadlines, the secretary in ck pantyhose made three trips to the reception asking why the water delivery hadnt arrived yetthe teapot was about to crack from the heat In the midst of this vigorous vitality, where everything strives to bud, at the back row of the nning department near the window, one person was ying a game alone. This person was named Jiang Cheng, a game bnce nner in the Immortal Gods project team, responsible for bncing the strength of various game mechanics. At this moment, he appeared to be ying a game, but in reality, he was not working at all. Unlike his colleagues who were cramming at thest minute, Jiang Cheng had finished his work early. He stayed at his desk working overtime for the sake ofpany unity. If not ying games, then what? Working? Jiang Cheng controlled a character in Immortal Gods, traveling through various scenes of the Immortal Gods, sometimes engaging inbat, sometimes purchasing items, and finally testing the games bnce once more. The story of Immortal Gods takes ce in argely peaceful world. In this world, the Five Great Immortal Sects ruled the Cultivation World, and the long-term peace allowed Immortal Law to spread to the mortal world and evolve with modern civilization. yers could choose to enter the Five Great Immortal Sects through examination to embark on the path of Cultivating Immortality. Or they could choose to be an ordinary person, living a life of studying for exams, buying houses, getting married, fishing, farminga mundane life. Yo! Brother Jiang? ying, huh? A person in a suit walked up behind Jiang Cheng, hands behind his back. Without looking up, Jiang Cheng pointed at the slogan on the wall and said, President Wang, please dont make loud noises at the workstation, otherwise theres a fine of two hundred. Generally speaking, rules are for employees, not for leaders. But President Wang just smiled, unconcerned with Jiang Chengs insolence. Everyone in thepany knew about Jiang Chengs temper. He was polite, amiable, but particrly logical. This behavior might be seen as low emotional intelligence, ack of flexibility, in others. But in a game bnce nner, its an exceptional quality. If the games values and mechanics were irrational and liked to mess around, then this game was most likely at its end. Brother Jiang, would you join Little Wang for a smoke? Sure. Jiang Cheng decided to give Little Wang some face, but as he stood up, he suddenly went blind. Jiang Cheng felt the sunlight was a bit dazzling; the sun seemed far away, an expanse of white, seeing nothing. A breeze brushed across his cheek, tickling pleasantly. The heaviness and fatigue of his body gradually disappeared, and his shoulders, neck, lower back, and spine no longer felt sore. His body felt rxed, breathing was easy, and his muscles were strong. Jiang Cheng had the illusion that he had been reborn and returned to his eighteen-year-old self. As his eyes gradually adjusted to his surroundings, Jiang Cheng strove to open them and saw a young girl wearing a pure white dress, with the rising sun hanging in the sky behind her. In the morning light, the girls hair and the hem of her dress fluttered in the wind, her pure face and slender figure, her clear, shy eyes, her cheeks blushed like the evening glow, and as she pinched the corner of her dress, she exuded an air of delicate and timid beauty that was beyondpare. Why is the sun so big? Jiang Cheng was born in the countryside, with vastnds and neat houses, and he had seen many sunrises; in his memory, the sun was not so big, it should be smaller than it was now. Whats going on? Premature sr ring? What about theary engines? At first, no one paid attention to this disaster Senior Brother Jiang, Yaoer is only sixteen. Hearing the young girls voice, Jiang Cheng reluctantly drew his thoughts back from space to the ground. The girl before him was beautiful, possibly the most beautiful person Jiang Cheng had seen in his ten plus years drifting through Shanghai. Yet, Jiang Cheng always felt she was familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before. It wasnt until a strange memory emerged in his mind that Jiang Cheng realized he had transmigrated. He had be a minor character in the game Immortal Gods who shared his name. The name simrity with the minor character was not a coincidence but an Easter egg. Jiang Cheng was one of the nners of Immortal Gods, mainly responsible for bncing the games numerical values. The copywriter who wrote the storyline often couldnt be bothered toe up with names, so they used the names of people they knew instead. His colleagues had long since be used to it. Jiang Cheng didnt know much about the plot, only remembering the gist of it. If he wasnt mistaken, the minor character Jiang Cheng was a pitifulp-dog character in the storyline of Lin Yao. He liked Lin Yao, but Lin Yao had always strung him along, continuously taking his time, energy, and money without ever so much as touching her hand. Indeed, one didnt need to wait until theter part of the plot; just during the early stages, this minor character Jiang Cheng had been thoroughly used by Lin Yao, disappearing into obscurity, never to appear again. Lin Yao, on the other hand, was the Plot Leading Lady in Immortal Gods with her own independent storyline. She appeared pure and beautiful, but was born with an enchanting body. In the early stages, her talents were not evident without a cultivation technique. Later, discovered by an Elder of the Hehuan Sect, she switched to cultivating an enchanting technique and rose to fame in one fell swoop. Simply put, she was a future Enchantress of the Demonic Tao. In the world of Immortal Gods, the Five Great Immortal Sects represented justice, while the Demonic Tao was reviled by everyone. Being too close to an Enchantress of the Demonic Tao brought not only trouble and danger but could also lead to being singled out by the righteous Immortal Sects and cklisted, thereby cutting off ones path to immortality. Jiang Cheng liked neither trouble nor danger. He needed to find a way to keep his distance from the Enchantress of the Demonic Tao. Jiang Cheng thought silently to himself. Brother Jiang, Yaoer just wants to be ordinary friends with you for now Really? Really, truly. Lets talk about other matters when Yaoer grows up Then put it in writing. Jiang Cheng took out paper and pen from his storage bag and handed them to Lin Yao. He had been wondering how to clear his rtionship with the enchantress from the Demon Sect, given that, true to character, Lin Yao was a difficult person to deal with and adept at confusing the minds of pure-hearted male cultivators. He hadnt expected it to be resolved so easily. Put it in writing? What writing? Lin Yao was obviously confused by Jiang Chengs words and actions. He meticulously arranged to meet me in the park to watch the sunrise, not to confess his feelings but to put it in writing? What kind of new tactic was this? Given his usual behavior, he seemed like a genuinely honest male cultivator, not the type to use such tactics Jiang Cheng stuffed the paper and pen into Lin Yaos hand and said earnestly, Its nothingplicated, just write down what you just said on the paper, sign your name, and press your handprint, and thatll be enough. What I just said? The just friends part. Lin Yao suddenly realized. It turns out he was jealous because I wanted to distance our rtionship. Among the many pursuers of Lin Yao, Jiang Cheng might not be the most outstanding one, but he was still not bad. He was quite tall, with a sunny and handsome appearance. Most importantly, his academic performance was good, and he had a strong chance of being admitted to a key Immortal Sect university. After graduation, he could join one of the Five Great Immortal Sects as an Inner Sect Disciple and make further progress on the path of cultivating immortality. Lin Yao certainly didnt want her favorite Brother Jiang to leave her casually. Moving like a lotus, Lin Yao fluttered to Jiang Chengs side as lightly as a butterfly. Standing there prettily with her little hand clutching the corner of Jiang Chengs clothing, she cooed yfully, Brother Jiang~ Yaoer didnt mean that~ The pouting and coquettishints of a beautiful young girl, few in the world could resist them. But Jiang Cheng just frowned and thought, darn, this enchantress isnt nning to back out, is she? Chapter 2: Spiritual Spring Chapter 2: Spiritual Spring Trantor: 549690339 Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving objects, please maintain some self-respect, Junior Sister. Jiang Cheng brushed away Lin Yaos small hand and immediately took a step back to draw a clear line between them, then shook his sleeve as if he found it distasteful that Lin Yao had touched his clothes. Lin Yao slightly widened her eyes in surprise, watching Jiang Chengs smooth movements. Ordinary male cultivators would spend countless spirit stones just to get closer to her, dreaming of a chance to bask in her fragrance. How could Jiang Cheng seem to despise her? This distant behavior of Jiang Cheng was something Lin Yaos proud heart found somewhat uneptable. He couldnt possibly be despising me! Its just his strategy of ying hard to get after a failed confession! Since she had always been beautiful from a young age, Lin Yao nevercked suitors. She had seen all sorts of male cultivators and although she was young, her emotional experience far surpassed that of ordinary people. Many male cultivators with a bit of self-respect or those with some tactics would y hard to get after a confession failed. Having seen it many times, Lin Yao naturally developed a set of strategies to deal with it. With just a little effort, she would be able to grasp the emotional limits of Jiang Cheng. Yaoer didnt say that theres no chance for Brother Jiang. With Brother Jiangs academic performance, getting into a key university would be a piece of cake. Yaoer ns to go to Qingxuan University, maybe Brother Jiang can consider it too. Once were at university, if Yaoer is looking for a daopanion, I will certainly consider Brother Jiang first! After Lin Yao said this, she looked at Jiang Cheng with twinkling, expectant eyes. She had absolute confidence in herself; no one could ever refuse her. Offer petty favors? Such low-level tricks wouldnt fool even a dog. Having worked for over ten years, Jiang Cheng had seen too many such favors. He now felt a physiological repulsion to this kind of food. It didnt matter if it was Jesus, God, The Almighty, or Li Yunlong; in short, Jiang Cheng no longer believed anyones empty promises. Junior Sister Lin, do you still intend to write that statement or not? Jiang Chengs tone was filled with sincerity as he asked Lin Yao for the document. Lin Yao, holding the paper and pen that Jiang Cheng had given her, stamped her foot in frustration. Oh! Brother Jiang! Lin Yao couldnt understand why her usual rhetoric didnt work on Jiang Cheng. Just a few days ago, she had used the same tactics on another male cultivator,pletely charming him into a daze, so excited that he wouldve given his life for her right then and there. Brother Jiang, Yaoer has already said so much, dont you understand? Lin Yao said, unwilling to give up. She felt that Jiang Cheng must have misunderstood her intentions, otherwise there was no way to exin why he was ignoring her advances. There was simply no other exnation. Jiang Cheng frowned at Lin Yao. He also couldnt understand why it was so difficult for her to write a statement dering they were just friends. Based on Lin Yaos role and characterization in the game, a woman who had been beautiful since childhood and who was high-spirited and proud would absolutely not have any romantic involvement with a nobody like Jiang Cheng. Moreover, she had no shortage of such fawning admirers. So why wouldnt she just let go? Jiang Cheng didnt understand, and he didnt intend to think about it. Adults make friends based on mutual interests; if they get along, they chat, if not, they keep a respectful distance, with no waste of words. Junior Sister Lin, since youre not willing to write the statement, please return the paper and pen to me. Jiang Cheng! Youre doing this on purpose, arent you! Im feeling so upset, and youre not even trying tofort me! You care more about your lousy pen and statement! Are they more important than me! Lin Yao looked at Jiang Cheng with grief, herrge eyes brimming with tears, ready to cry. Naturally gorgeous and with the appearance of a pure young girl, when she appeared aggrieved, she truly looked like a pitiable sight that would break the heart of any onlooker. Jiang Cheng thought to himself, isnt that obvious? Paper and pen are bought with money, and are officially mine to use as I please. How could you, a woman of the Demonic Tao, who only causes trouble, bepared with them? Seeing that Jiang Cheng was silent for a long time with no response, Lin Yao finally wiped away her tears. Yaoer once thought that Brother Jiang was a reliable man, but I didnt expect that Brother Jiang doesnt care about Yaoers feelings at all. Let it be, from now on, Yaoer has nothing more to say, and Brother Jiang wont believe her anyway. Brother Jiang, donte looking for Yaoer in the future! Lin Yao trotted away from the park, and before leaving, she turned back to give Jiang Cheng onest look. That expression was exactly like a lovestruck girl deeply wounded by her lover. It seemed that if only Jiang Cheng nodded, he could reconcile with the girls affections and embrace her for her easy constion. Humph! I dont believe you can resist this! Lin Yao noticed the astonishment on Jiang Chengs face, convinced that he must be regretting his decision now. Based on her understanding of male cultivators, Jiang Cheng would definitelye to her home to apologize within three days! Lin Yao couldnt wait to see Jiang Cheng abandon his pride, kneeling and begging her to change her mind! By then, she wasnt nning to forgive Jiang Cheng easily. She wanted to tease Jiang Cheng properly, to see him desperate and frustrated! At least return my pen before you go. Jiang Cheng said weakly, watching Lin Yaos retreating figure. The pen was a birthday gift from his frugal parents and was quite valuable. But using a pen in exchange for keeping the enchantress far from oneself isnt a loss, right? Jiang Cheng could onlyfort himself in this way. The family conditions of Supporting Role Jiang Cheng were not bad. His parents were merchants with apany that required them to travel for business, so they neglected Jiang Chengs upbringing. Since middle school, Jiang Cheng had lived at his aunt and uncles house in Wuyue City, along with a cousin named Sun Yuan. Jiang Chengs parents were hardly ever seen, but they never skimped on his living expenses. However, most of it was taken by his aunt and uncle to improve their own lifestyle. Even his cousin Sun Yuan had the reputation of being a Rich Second Generation. The money that finally ended up in Jiang Chengs hands was only enough for his pocket money. This family situation was not much different from Lu Mingfei, the protagonist of Dragon n. Supporting Role Jiang Chengs personality was also very simr to Lu Mingfeis. Listless, self-deprecating,cking love, and introverted. The radiant Lin Yao would casually suck up to him without offering any real benefits, and he had unsurprisingly be Lin Yaos most loyal follower. It was both tragic and pitiful. However, all of these were in the past. Jiang Cheng, now a nner, did not intend to be any kind of follower. Since he had transmigrated into the world of Immortal Gods, he wanted to live a life worth living. As a proud nner, if he couldnt even figure out the game, he would really end up being the child of those in the art department who draw risqu pictures. Whether he seeded in his career was one thing, but being the child of the art department was something Jiang Cheng absolutely did not want! To rebuild the glory of a nner, Jiang Cheng felt it was his unquestionable duty! The early morning in Wuyue City was somewhat chilly, and Jiang Cheng walked on the road back home. The supermarket by the road was not yet open, but many breakfast shops and convenience stores had started their business early. The modern world of Immortal Gods was a little different from that of Earth. The biggest difference was actually the absence of the inte. So there were no smartphones or shared bikes. To keep in touch with his ssmates, Jiang Cheng used a kind of Reusable Type Communication Talisman magical treasure. The talisman within this magical treasure could be used repeatedly to achieve functions simr to making calls and sending text messages. However, using this magical treasure even once was not cheap, so it was not used often if there was no need. Walking on the street, Jiang Cheng couldnt help butpare everything he now saw with what he remembered from the game. The buildings in reality definitely had more details, but overall, they werent much different. Shops that existed in the game would appear in corresponding spots in reality. If Jiang Cheng remembered correctly, at the next intersection, he would see Wuyue Citysndmark buildingthe Wuyue Spiritual Spring Factory. We dont produce Spiritual Liquid, were just natures porters. That was the iconic advertisement of Wuyue Spiritual Liquid. The Spiritual Liquid industry was also one of the pir industries of Wuyue City. Spiritual Liquid helped to enhance ones cultivation level; in this world, it was as valuable as oil. Wuyue City became nationally famous because an earthquake had revealed a Spiritual Spring. At the intersection, Jiang Cheng stood still, stunned. In front of him was a wastnd, with no sight of any Spiritual Spring Factory. Jiang Cheng instinctively searched his memory, and indeed, there was nothing about the Spiritual Spring in the original hosts recollection. Could it be that this world was actually different from the game? Or maybe Jiang Cheng suddenly had a bold guess. The appearance of the Spiritual Spring in Wuyue City was due to a minor earthquake. Typical small earthquakes wouldnt affect the houses built by cultivators, so the only consequence of this earthquake was bringing a Spiritual Spring to Wuyue City. If Wuyue City hadnt experienced an earthquake, naturally there would be no Spiritual Spring. But once an earthquake urred and the Spiritual Spring emerged Jiang Cheng had no thoughts of monopolizing the Spiritual Spring. His focus was on the houses near the Spiritual Spring! The Spiritual Spring would definitely be controlled by the officials of Wuyue, but the overflowing spiritual energy couldnt be contained. Once the Spiritual Spring appeared, the value of the nearby houses would skyrocket! The housing prices could quintuple or even increase tenfold in a short period! Chapter 3 - 3 Planning to Buy a House Chapter 3 nning to Buy a House Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng paced around the outskirts of the wastnd. He carefullypared Wuyue City in the game and the one in reality, and he could almost be certain that the location of the Spiritual Spring would definitely be within this wastnd. Todays date was June 12th, just a few days after the national high school exams had concluded throughout Liang Kingdom. If Jiang Chengs calctions were correct, an earthquake would ur at the beginning of September, three monthster, coinciding with the emergence of the Spiritual Spring and the skyrocketing housing prices. And at the end of September, after the earthquake, would be the enrollment examination period for the various major universities in Liang Kingdom. As long as he could earn a sum of money to buy a house before September, investing in the real estate market around the wastnd, he could enjoy tenfold profits andfortably attend the enrollment exams of prestigious universities. Cultivating immortality was an extremely expensive affair. Even if Jiang Cheng managed to attend a prestigious Immortal Sect university and graduated into one of the Five Great Immortal Sects, his path to immortality would still be difficult without a steady supply of Spirit Stones to improve his cultivation level. Jiang Cheng was clear-headed about it; putting future concerns aside, with a house that was about to surge in value right in front of him, there was no reason not to buy. So the current problem was where to get the money. Asking his parents was not very realistic. While Jiang Chengs family was not poor, they were also not wealthy enough to allow their child to y with buying a house. Morning came, and the sales offices around the wastnd opened one after another. Jiang Cheng walked around the wastnd and roughly understood the housing prices in its vicinity. There were three properties for sale surrounding the wastnd. Apartment buildings, detached vis, and duplex properties. From a price perspective, the apartment buildings were the cheapest, the duplexes were next, and the detached vis were the most expensive. The cheapest apartment had only three rooms, tworge and one small, covering about forty to fifty square meters. This was including the shared areas, and the actual usable space was probably less than that. This was more suitable for single cultivators to reside in, at most amodating a girlfriend, but kids and parents were out of the question. However, even so, the apartment buildings were beyond what Jiang Cheng could covet at the moment. The total price for a single apartment unit was 32,000 low-grade Spirit Stones, averaging out to 710 stones per square meter. Jiang Chengs entire worth didnt even amount to 200 Spirit Stones. As a high school student who had juste of age, without a job or social security, he wouldnt be able to get a mortgage loan. If he wanted to buy a house, he could only pay in full. To umte 32,000 low-grade Spirit Stones, even if Jiang Cheng worked three jobs a day earning 700 Spirit Stones a month, it would take forty-six months to save enough for the down payment. But he only had three months to raise funds. The pressure was immense. If only I could be reborn, this world of cultivating immortality has no lottery, no ser, the methods to specte and earn money almost always involve risking ones life, to live honestly and make arge amount of Spirit Stones in a short period is really too difficult. Despite that, Jiang Cheng still had no intention of giving up. In his past life on Earth, Jiang Cheng had watched his ssmates who had just graduated and taken out loans to buy houses be wealthy. In this life, within the world of Immortal Gods, he did not want to miss out on any house that could bring him financial freedom! After much thought, Jiang Cheng could only think of one way that was both safe and could quickly yield arge amount of Spirit Stonesborrowing money! Within Wuyue City, Jiang Cheng did not have many friends, and among these few friends, the only one he could truly call a brother was Cao Wang. Cao Wang came from a well-to-do family; his parents rented him a house in Wuyue City just so he could focus on his studies. But the guy managed to learn everything except studying. Cao Wang came from a wealthy family, never considered the cost of his spending, and was someone who never worried about money. Rental House. Cao Wang sat on the bed, scratching his head and ears. His mind was entirely upied by Jiang Cheng, and he didnt feel like sleeping at all. The two brothers shared everything with each other. Cao Wang knew all about Jiang Chengs attempt to confess his feelings to Lin Yao. Knowing how much Jiang Cheng liked Lin Yao made Cao Wang fear that if the confession failed, Jiang Cheng would take a hit and be unable to recover. But more than fearing Jiang Chengs possible failure to confess, Cao Wang feared Jiang Chengs sess even more. Cultivators need to cleanse their marrow and rid their bodies of impurities, so they often had impressive appearances, especially the beauty-loving female cultivators. Among the beautiful female cultivators, Lin Yaos appearance was exceptionally outstanding. The thought of Jiang Cheng sessfully confessing and bing intimate with Lin Yao made Cao Wang roll around with jealousy. Aside from being taller than him and slightly better-looking than him, did that dog Jiang Cheng have any other advantages? In terms of cultivation level, Cao Wang was at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation while Jiang Cheng was at the third; regarding family wealth, Cao Wangs father was a factory owner, and Jiang Cheng hesitated even when buying a popsiclehe couldnt be any higher than Jiang Cheng. Why would Lin Yao have feelings for Jiang Cheng? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! When Cao Wang heard footsteps outside the room, he quickly got up from the floor and sat upright at the desk. Although the university entrance exam had just ended, it didnt stop him from immediately starting to review the material. Mr. Caos strategy was that of the early bird struggling to fly. After entering the password, the door opened and Jiang Cheng walked in. How did it go? Cao Wangs tone was indifferent as if he truly didnt care and was just asking casually. Hmm? Jiang Cheng was a bit slow to react, then remembered that Cao Wang must be asking about his confession. Right now, his mind was filled with thoughts of buying a house, and if Cao Wang hadnt mentioned it, he wouldnt even remember who Lin Yao was. It failed, she and I arent suitable for each other. Jiang Cheng diplomatically spoke, sparing the face of the Enchantress of the Demonic Tao. Cao Wang found it harder to suppress a smile than suppressing an AK. He came up to Jiang Cheng and patted his shoulder with great regret. Ah, failure is just failure. To me, Lin Yao is just average, nothing special. Once you, brother, get admitted to a top university and be a core disciple of the Five Great Immortal Sects, what woman couldnt you pick? Cao, do you have any Spirit Stones? Jiang Cheng wasnt interested in women. What do you need them for? I want to buy a house. Buy a house? You, buy a house? No dog would believe that! Its mostly for Lin Yao again! Cao Wang was in a good mood and didnt point out the lie. He took out his storage bag and with a flick, ced two thousand Spirit Stones on the ground. Here you go, all my savings are here. Cao Wang knew Jiang Cheng inside out. Apart from Lin Yao, this guy had nowhere else to spend money, and he was trustworthy and hardworking, so there was no fear of him not paying back. Jiang Cheng wasnt pretentious and gave a formal bow of thanks. Thank you; Ill borrow these Spirit Stones for now and write you an IOU right away. Were brothers, do we really need an IOU? Separate matters ordingly. Jiang Cheng found some paper and a pen and properly wrote out an IOU. Cao Wang took the IOU from Jiang Cheng, noticing that it was more professional than his fathers business contracts. Not only did it include the basic information about the IOU, but it also specified the method of calcting interest, various uses of responsibility, and even detailed what possessions could be used as coteral if the debt couldnt be paid back and the person identally died. Such a simple IOU had practically considered all possibilities. Awesome! Cao Wang held back for a moment before he could only give Jiang Cheng a thumbs up. One had to admit, having the ability to write such a detailed IOU was a talent in its own right. Jiang, if you dont get into an Immortal Sect, you might as well be awyer in my dads factory. Jiang Cheng smiled and didnt take Cao Wangs joking seriously. He was a person who liked to reason things out. Instead of not making things clear in advance and having a crazy argumentter, it was better to put the rules on paper so that everything was clear and there would be no disputes. However, although he had borrowed the money, he was still far from the sum needed for a house. Two thousand Spirit Stones were only a fraction of the thirty-two thousand needed. He still needed to find a way to make money fast. Cao, do you know of any channels to get work? I want to draw more talismans to make money. Jiang Cheng was known for his handsome looks, decent academics, and his one skill in talisman drawing. He had represented his school in the Liang Kingdoms primary and secondary students talisman drawingpetition, winning a second-ce awarda feat that would consider him an entry-level Talisman Master in the Talisman Associations ranking system. Chapter 4 - 4 Taking Orders Chapter 4 Taking Orders Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng never expected that Cao Wangs channel would actually refer to an official Task Hall set up in Wuyue City by one of the Five Great Immortal Sectsthe Tongtian Sect. But thinking about it, it made sense. ording to the worldview of the game Immortal Gods, the vast Skypend Continent is jointly ruled by the five top Immortal Sects of the righteous path. Among the Five Great Immortal Sects, there is both cooperation andpetition. Mortal powers are free to choose any side of the Immortal Sect for protection. That is to say, if the Tongtian Sects branch in Wuyue City does not perform well, allowing all kinds of irregr ces to spread wantonly, then the cultivators of Wuyue City would naturally seek the shelter of other righteous sects. If this goes on for long, Wuyue City might change hands from the Tongtian Sect to be the domain of another righteous sect. Under such a policy, peace and stability reced the struggles for treasures and magical duels, bing the mainstream of the Cultivation World. The branches of the righteous sects in all ces are working very hard, fearing that any turmoil within the city would lead to a change of ownership. For the irregr ces, efforts were made to suppress and eliminate them as much as possible. Although it was impossible to eradicate thempletely, for an unsophisticated high school student like Jiang Cheng and Cao Wang without anyone to lead the way, finding an irregr ce was obviously not easy. Inside Wuyue Citys Task Hall, various types of tasks were written on wooden ques, sorted, and hung neatly on racks. There were those like My familys Spirit Cat has a litter of nine kittens, and I cant afford to feed them all, seeking adoption. And there were others like 1.8 meters tall, handsome features, gentle temperament, not picky eater. Such tasks rted to spiritual pets were all hung in the special Spiritual Beast Area for the convenience of cultivators who needed spiritual beasts. Jiang Cheng went straight into the Talisman Area. The tasks posted here were mostly rted to talismans. Talismans were categorized by strength, from first-grade to ninth-grade. First-grade was the weakest, ninth-grade the strongest. To correspond to the levels of talismans, the tasks in the Talisman Area were also divided by grade. Tasks rted to first-grade talismans were ced in the space marked with first-grade. Jiang Cheng had a second-ce level in the national middle and high school students talisman drawingpetition, which was equivalent to a Talisman Master of the first-grade, capable of drawing only first-grade talismans. Thus, he didnt even consider other areas and only looked in the first-grade section. Common, sought-after talismans would generally have shops seeking professional Talisman Masters for mass production, to then be sold in stores. Those talismans that appeared in the Task Hall were mostly rare or of the less popr variety. With the uncertainty in production difficulty, the scarcity of Talisman Masters who could make them, low sess rates, potentially unorthodox methods, and the potential for being illegal, these rare and unpopr talismans could often fetch higher prices. [Urgently seeking a Voice-Changing Talisman!!! Must turn my voice into a cute girls!!! I have a friend who likes his senior brother] A regr Voice-Changing Talisman randomly alters a cultivators voice, and a talisman like this, which requires specific voice changes, is much more challenging and demanding than the generic type. Jiang Cheng nced at the price tagged on this task. [Thirty low-grade Spirit Stones] Heres to hope you and your senior brother end up being together. Next. [Wisdom Talisman. Not sure if it exists, but Ill ask anyway. My dog is ten years old and still hasnt learned to speak. Every time we go out, I have to trante for it, which is very annoying. Im looking for a Wisdom Talisman that could increase its intelligence, so my dog can learn to buy groceries and cook] Jiang Cheng doesnt know of any Wisdom Talisman, but he can draw a Somnolence Talisman, which causes people to dream during the day. If this cultivator needs it, he could draw a few extra to give away. Next. [Powerful Immobilization Talisman needed! Note that Im asking for a Powerful Immobilization Talisman, not just an Immobilization Talisman! Look carefully! It should be a first-grade talisman that can immobilize someone for a minute. Thosemon Immobilization Talismans that onlyst for a few seconds, dont even bother!] Jiang Cheng can draw a first-grade Immobilization Talisman. When used on cultivators of the same realm, it should immobilize them for about five seconds or so. This duration varies and is generally divided ording to the strength of the cultivator. The stronger the cultivator, the shorter the immobilizationsts, and vice versa. If a Qi Cultivating cultivator uses a first-grade Immobilization Talisman on a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the enormous difference in strength means it will hardly have any effect. Jiang Cheng, as a numerical bnce designer for Immortal Gods, was very familiar with various game mechanics for judgements. In Immortal Gods, spells of the control, attack, and curse categories all follow the principle of might makes right. Lower-level spells are unlikely to affect higher-level targets, but the reverse can greatly enhance the effect. Immobilization Talisman is a well-developed control type talisman, and its potential had been nearly exhausted by generations of Talisman Masters. No matter how much a first-grade Immobilization Talisman is optimized and strengthened, it will still only have a few seconds of effect. If one wishes for a longer immobilization time, it is necessary to increase the level of the Immobilization Talisman to second-grade or even third-grade. A first-grade Immobilization Talisman that could immobilize someone for a full minute is impossible in the current Cultivation World system. It would be akin to expecting Stephen Hawking to knock out Uncle Dragon in a furniture store with a single punch. If someone could create a first-grade Immobilization Talisman thatsted a minute, all Talisman Masters would probably exim: Thews of Cultivation have ceased to exist! Jiang Cheng was about to skip this task, but gave it another thought and nced at the price tagged on it. [Fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones](crossed out) [One Hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones](crossed out) [Five Hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones](crossed out) [Three Thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones] Jiang Cheng: !!! Draw an Immobilization Talisman and earn three thousand Spirit Stones!? The constantly changing price indicated that the cultivator who posted the task was truly in a hurry. Moreover, Jiang Cheng wasnt worried about random price markings, as task posters had to deposit the task reward in advance at the Task Hall of the Tongtian Sect, managed by them, eliminating the possibility of false ims or refusal of payment. Three thousand Spirit Stones for a rank one talisman, that price is more expensive than many rank three talismans. If he could take on a few more tasks with such high rewards, the money Jiang Cheng had been longingly thinking of for buying a house might be achievable within three months! Making money to buy a house was not entirely hopeless! Jiang Cheng stood before this task lost in thought. He tried to use his experience as a game designer to judge whether a rank one Immobilization Talisman that can immobilize for one minute was at all feasible within the game mechanics of Immortal Gods. After all, it was worth three thousand Spirit Stones. Even if the existence of Cultivating Immortality was denied, Jiang Cheng still wanted to give it a try. Half an hourter, Jiang Cheng reached a conclusion. If the clients requirement was: [Name: Immobilization Talisman Rank: Rank One Type: Control Effect: Immobilize the target, preventing them from moving for one minute] Then there was no chance. Under the current mechanics of Immortal Gods, it was impossible to achieve. But if the clients requirement was: [Name: (Tentative) Rank: Rank One Type: (Tentative) Effect: Prevents the target from taking any effective action for one minute] Then Jiang Cheng was confident he could create it. His confidence stemmed from the self-assuredness of being the lead game designer for Immortal Gods! Jiang Cheng took the task que for the Immobilization Talisman and headed to the registration counter in the Talisman Area of the Task Hall. The registrar in the Talisman Area was a beautiful female cultivator with a polite smile. She wore the Outer Sect disciple uniform of the Tongtian Sect, primarily in blue and white colors, which wrapped her attractive figurepletely in the snug-fitting uniform. Being an Inner Sect Disciple of the Tongtian Sect meant hope for pursuing the path of Cultivating Immortality, while being an Outer Sect Disciple meant a stable job with high welfare and good treatment. Hello, Id like to ept this task, Jiang Cheng said politely. Most cultivators who came for tasks were not good folks, and a sunny and polite young male cultivator like Jiang Cheng was indeed very rare. The beautiful female cultivator checked Jiang Chengs credentials, and her eyes twitched when she saw the junior high school graduation certificate and the college entrance exam admission ticket. He didnt even have a high school diploma? Was he joking around by taking up this task? Out of caution, the beautiful cultivator asked, Do you have a Talisman Master qualification certificate issued by the Talisman Association? Jiang Cheng presented his second-ce certificate from the National Primary and Secondary School Talisman Drawing Competition, proving his ability to draw some basic talismans. Although Jiang Chengs certificate was eptable, it made the female cultivator question his level of talisman drawing even more. He didnt even have the professional qualifications of a Talisman Master Could he reallyplete this task worth three thousand Spirit Stones? This task, which many high-rank Talisman Masters wouldnt ept, was continually increasing in price. May I contact the client? Jiang Cheng inquired. The female cultivator smiled and said, The client has not chosen to hide their information, so it is possible. However, He suggests that you dont modify task conditions and rewards outside of the Task Hall. Agreements reached privately are not protected by the Tongtian Sect. After listening attentively, Jiang Cheng nodded and replied, Okay, thank you. He was taken aback for a moment; ordinary cultivators didnt deign to listen to her talk about tedious rules, and impatience was usually the best response she got while exining them. A cultivator like Jiang Cheng who listened attentively and even thanked her, could such a person really exist? She made a mental note of Jiang Chengs appearance and said with a smile, Youre wee~ Chapter 5: Talisman Project Chapter 5: Talisman Project Trantor: 549690339 ` In the rental house, Cao Wang watched Jiang Cheng, who was writing furiously, with an unreal feeling. Did Jiang really fall out of love with Lin Yao? How could he act like nothing was wrong after a breakup? Jiang was both borrowing money and earning it through part-time jobs; was he actually nning to save up and continue pursuing Lin Yao? Cao Wang didnt care whether Jiang Cheng used his money to buy a house or something else. Two thousand Spirit Stones were not a small amount, but not so much that losing them would be a crippling loss. Cao Wang was just worried that Jiang Chengs breakup had caused him to be mentally unstable. He looked at Jiang Chengs calm andposed demeanor and thought something was off. A man who has been through a breakup, even if he cries without dignity, thats normal. But Jiang Cheng seemed like nothing had happened. That was strange. It couldnt possibly be that he was the one who had dumped Lin Yao, right? Jiang, you really dont n to chase after Lin Yao anymore? While drafting a contract, Jiang Cheng replied, Mhm. You really dont like her anymore? Mhm. You fell out of love just like that, so easily? Mhm. Unable to bear Jiang Chengs perfunctory replies any longer, Cao Wang lost his patience and said, Jiang, say something! Please, say something! Jiang Cheng looked up, puzzled. Say what? Lin Yao. Lin Yao? Do you still n to continue chasing her? I havent nned on it. Youre really done chasing her? Im done. I dont believe it. Jiang Cheng: ? Jiang Cheng frowned as he looked at Cao Wang, pondered for a moment, and then decided to humor him. Alright, you guessed right. Cao Wang showed an I knew it expression and patted Jiang Cheng on the shoulder with brotherly concern. Jiang, no offense, but you havent seen the bigger picture. Women are nothing but obstacles on our path to cultivating immortality; they do nothing but slow us down. But I can understand why you like Lin Yao, for she really is beautiful. Although Cao Wang had never been in a rtionship, he had plenty of experience acting as Jiang Chengs emotional coach. Jiang, take my advice, the prettier the woman, the less you should indulge her. You were spoiling Lin Yao before, always revolving around her just like that thingwhats it called? A bootlicker? Right, a bootlicker! Jiang Cheng finished the contract in his hand, stood up, and said, Cao, its gettingte. Im heading home to sleep. Ill visit a clients house tomorrow, thene to see you afterwards. Cao Wang waved him off. Go, go. Cao Wang sighed softly as he watched Jiang Chengs retreating figure. They say its easy to change a state, but hard to alter ones nature. Cao Wang knew Jiang Cheng very well. Hence, he didnt have much hope that Jiang had stopped being a bootlicker. Hopefully, Jiang will soone to terms with reality. Lin Yao is beautiful, talented, and has a pleasant, clingy personality. Indeed, shes out of his league. The next morning, Jiang Cheng arrived at the entrance of Pan He Garden in the west of the city. Pan He Garden is a rather high-ss residential area in Wuyue City. Each household in the garden is equipped with its own Spirit Gathering Array, which greatly enhances a cultivators efficiency in training with abundant spiritual energyan essential feature for any self-proimed upscale residence. The real estate prices here are naturally steep. Its much more expensive than the ce near the wastnd that Jiang Cheng covets. However, the price difference only stands for now. Once the Spiritual Spring emerges, the real estate prices around the wastnd will skyrocket, leaving Pan He Garden no match for it. Jiang Cheng hesitated briefly at the entrance to Pan He Garden but eventually stepped in. It wasnt that he was afraid of meeting the client; he merely didnt want to run into Lin Yao since she also lived there. ` People shunned the Demonic Tao Enchantress at all costs, and anyone entangled with Lin Yao never met a good end. Hope I dont run into her. Jiang Cheng prayed silently. Perhaps the prayer was effective, for Jiang Cheng arrived smoothly at themissioners doorstep. The issuer of themission for an Immobilization Talisman was a youth of fifteen or sixteen, named Huang Wutong. Standing seven feet tall, with a face like Buddha and chubby from too much nutrition, one could tell at a nce that he was well-fed. Entering themissioners home, Jiang Cheng felt immenselyfortable surrounded by the rich spiritual energy from the Spirit Gathering Array. Being enveloped in the dense spiritual energy was like taking a hot bath in the dead of winter, a pleasure only those who have experienced it could understand. Jiang Cheng even felt that, even without meditating and cultivating, his cultivation level was slowly increasing. A residence conducive to cultivation, after all, was one of the many benefits it brought to a cultivator and came at a steep price. Before the dominion of the Five Great Immortal Sects over the maind, locations advantageous for cultivators could only be seized by force, but after the Sects took control, these ces required Spirit Stones to purchase. Can you really make a Powerful Immobilization Talisman!? Just as Jiang Cheng entered, he was eagerly grasped by Huang Wutong. Jiang Cheng gestured for Huang Wutong to calm down, and then methodically said, If what Huang friend needs is an enhanced version of the first-order control-type Talisman, the Immobilization Talisman, then Jiang cannot make it. Ah? Disappointment visibly washed over Huang Wutong. He sped his head with both hands, as if fearing some extremely horrible event. Jiang Cheng immediately added, However, if Huang friend merely wishes for a talisman that can temporarily impede someones movements, Jiang is confident he can draw one. Really!? Hope reignited in Huang Wutongs eyes. Really. But before that, please exin to Jiang your motives for needing this talisman and the scenario in which it will be used. Huang Wutong was somewhat embarrassed: Can I not say? You can. But if you dont, the talismans effect might not be maximized because Jiang needs to consider your usage scenario and optimize the talisman ordingly. Of course, Huang friend will also need to sign a contract to ensure the talismans proper use in legitimate circumstances, Jiang holds no responsibility for any illegal or rule-breaking use. After some thought, Huang Wutong decided to be honest with Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng took out a Memory Sphere, signaling that Huang Wutong could speak. Seeing Jiang Chengs meticulous manner, Huang Wutong grew more confident in him. He looks so professional! Definitely not his firstmission as a Talisman Master. Maybe he really can draw the Powerful Immobilization Talisman. Im a student at the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. Im graduating in half a month. To graduate from our Sword Cultivation Academy, there are three thresholds: Sword Debate, swordsmanship, and realbat. Ill have no problem with the first two assessments, but I have little confidence in the third, the realbat The more Huang Wutong spoke, the more uneasy he felt. Truthfully, his desire for a Powerful Immobilization Talisman stemmed from a wish to cheat. Because the first-order talismans allowed during exams at the academy couldnt achieve the effect of immobilizing for one minute. Using a talisman much more powerful than the academys rules allowed during an examination was, in essence, a form of gaming the system or cheating. Huang Wutong feared Jiang Cheng would refuse to draw it for him because of this. Observing Jiang, by all ounts, he was a rule-abiding, justice-minded exemry young man. Unexpectedly to Huang Wutong, not only did Jiang Cheng listen intently, but he also enthusiastically helped summarize, So, you want a first-order talisman thatplies with the schools exam regtions and can temporarily prevent your target from taking effective action, correct? Huang Wutong nodded vigorously! Jiang Cheng understood that toply with the rules, he needed to know what the rules were. He would avoid the Demonic Tao Enchantress at all costs, let alone engage in illegal activities for a bit of money. In this world, no one understood the power of the Five Great Immortal Sects better than Jiang Cheng. Those who follow the Immortal Sects prosper, those who oppose them perishthis saying was no joke. Do you have a copy of your schools examination rules and regtions with you? Huang Wutong was taken aback. Do you need to consider school regtions even when designing a talisman? And does anybody even read that stuff? Wait a moment. Huang Wutong went back to his bedroom and dug out a booklet. It was the set of school regtions issued to him when he first enrolled. This is the rulebook, the exam rules are posted on the school bulletin board, Ill copy them for you tomorrow. Ive registered my name at the entrance of your school, so I should be allowed ess, right? As far as Jiang Cheng recalled, most academies seemed quite open. Huang Wutong nodded without surprise: Mhm. Great, Jiang Cheng stood up, theres no time to lose, Id better go see for myself. Ill quickly provide you with a design proposal for the talisman, and if you find it satisfactory, we can sign the contract. Chapter 6 - 6 Reaching a Deal Chapter 6 Reaching a Deal Trantor: 549690339 ` Under the notice board of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, Jiang Cheng, holding a pen and paper, was intently copying the examination rules and exam hall discipline. Somemon boilerte, such as Late arrival will be considered forfeiture of the right to take the test and Cheating will result in an automatic zero, didnt concern Jiang Cheng. The content of the exam was very straightforward, basically an open-book exam: teams of three students would fight against the exam teacher, and withstanding thirty minutes against the teacher would be considered passing. Jiang Cheng nced over the exam rules and summarized three points that were worth noting. The first point was what Huang Wutong had mentioned before: candidates participating in the practical examination could only carry two first-level Taoist talismans. Using a talisman of a higher tier would be considered cheating. What Huang Wutong didnt mention was that under this rule, there was a line of supplementary exnation in small print: only control, healing, and attack talismans were allowed. Non-standard small categories like sealing and curse talismans could not be used. Fortunately, Jiang Cheng saw the small print; if he had blindly trusted Huang Wutong, he would have really fallen into a trap. The second point: during the practical examination, candidates were not allowed to use traps, formations, puppets, beast pets, or otherrge mechanisms, nor could they rely on external forces to enhance legal props, such as magical treasures or talismans. The third point: the duration of the practical exam was thirty minutes, and once it began, it could not be paused unless there was an irresistible external force or the exam ended early. On a campus bench, Jiang Cheng was lightly tapping the paper with the end of his pen. Tranted into talisman design requirements, these three exam regtions were: First, the talismans used by students must be selected from control, healing, or attack, one of the three types. It was known that control talismans could not achieve control for one minute, so they were excluded. Second, the props used by students to assist in the exam must be both small and low in energy consumption. It was known that the damage of attack talismans was directly proportional to their energy consumption, so attack talismans could not have both low energy and high damage. Attack talismans were therefore excluded. Third, the opponents in the practical exam could not rest until the end of the exam unless one party was defeated. It was known that students were less powerful than teachers, hence, the teacher did not need to rest, so students could not rest. Of course, there was the final requirement, which was Huang Wutongs own demand: to control the opponent for one minute. This necessitated a low-energy consumption healing talisman that could control a teacher with a higher cultivation level for a long time. Jiang Cheng roughly understood why Huang Wutongs task was worth three thousand Spirit Stones. The stack of contradictory requirements made the problem seem too hard to solve, even for a supeputerit would probably say it was an unsolvable problem. However, by now, Jiang Cheng already had a n. The tip of his pen moved slightly, and a project proposal quietly took shape. In the afternoon, in Pan He Garden. Jiang Cheng sat opposite Huang Wutong. Huang Wutong held the talisman project proposal that Jiang Cheng had given him, his eyes widened, his mouth slightly open. Jiang Cheng, meanwhile, picked up the white water on the table, gently blew away the dust on the surface, and drank a mouthful without hurry or panic. Jiang Cheng was quite gratified. He originally thought that young people nowadays were very impetuous and would not seriously study things like project proposals, contracts, and instruction manuals, which seemed useless but were important. He had not expected that Huang Wutong was an exception. Since earlier, Huang Wutong had been staring at his project proposal for a full ten minutes. During that time, he was focused and silent. This made Jiang Cheng feel that the effort he put into meticulously drafting the task contract and project document was worthwhile. Another five minutes passed, and Huang Wutong still did not speak. Jiang Cheng nced outside the window at the sky, noticing the yellowing sky; it was already evening. He had promised his aunt and uncle that he woulde home for dinner and it was not convenient to stay outte. Daoist Huang, is there anything you dont understand? Huang Wutong, holding the project proposal, hemmed and hawed. Master Jiang, this talisman you proposed What about this talisman? Seeing Jiang Chengs confident expression, Huang Wutong thought he had misunderstood the project proposal. He looked down at it again. [Name: Muscle Rxation Talisman Rank: First-level Type: Healing ` Effect: Rxes the targets muscles Precautions: During the muscle rxation period, strenuous exercise is not rmended, as it may lead to cramps, causing muscle spasms and inability to move. This effect willst for about a minute.] He wasnt wrong. Doubting this talisman, it really wasnt Huang Wutongs problem. Uh, I dont know how to describe it. What I need is a control-type talisman, but this one is for healing. And most importantly, its giving my opponent a boost in healing! Jiang Cheng pondered for a moment and said, Huang, let me repeat your request. You want your opponent to be unable to move for a minute, right? Right, but As long as your opponent is hit by this talisman, he will be unable to move. Thats not an issue, is it? Thats not the problem, but Jiang Cheng, though confident in his own talismans, also excelled at listening to his customers suggestions. Huang, please speak frankly. Huang Wutongs Adams apple bobbed, But is it truly a healing-type talisman? Can it really do the job? Fearing that Jiang Cheng wouldnt believe him, Huang Wutong opened his storage bag andid out all his cherished talismans on the table. Control, healing, attack He had every type one could think of. Master Jiang, look, Ive used many different talismans. I can be considered a veteran user in this area. But Ive never used, nor even heard of, a talisman like this. Jiang Cheng heard the worry in Huang Wutongs words. Huang, what exactly are you worried about? Huang Wutong clutched Jiang Chengs arm, his expression fervent, Master Jiang, Im not going to lie to you, this exam is very important to me. If I fail, my father will surely skin me alive! Im not joking, what I need is a control-type talisman! I only have one week until the exam, and if before that Jiang Cheng understood. This Huang was afraid that his talisman wouldnt work. Jiang Cheng asked Huang Wutong to calm down, then exined in detail the design concept of the Muscle Rxation Talisman. He proved to Huang Wutong theoretically that the Muscle Rxation Talisman was feasible. Huang, please calm down and listen In this world, the control mechanism and the healing mechanism are two separate codes In order to achieve bnce among various professions in the world, many mechanisms have targeted restrictions and nerfs Under the control mechanism, it is impossible to achieve a one-minute control duration with a first-order talisman. Imagine if you were ying a game, and the opponent controls you for a minute and then finishes you off, how bad would the yers gaming experience be? But under the healing mechanism, we can circumvent this restriction Huang, do you understand what Im saying? Huang Wutong was already bewildered. Terms like mechanism, code, and gaming experience were all alien to him. However, he was very certain of one conclusion. And that was, this Master Jiang, at the very least, could justify his approach! Huang Wutongs Powerful Immobilization Talisman had been hanging in the Task Hall for over two months. Although he was someone who liked to bluff his way through, the preparation he made for this bluff could be described as meticulous. The Powerful Immobilization Talisman had gone through several price increases over the two months, and, in the end, only Jiang Cheng was willing to take on the task. With only one week until the exam, Huang Wutong still didnt fully trust Jiang Cheng. Jiang Chengs ideas were too advanced. Using healing to achieve control instead of control? Could a human even conceive such a method? Despite this, Huang Wutong had no other choice. If he wanted to pass the exam, he could only put his trust in Jiang Cheng. A dead horse as a living horse doctor, as the saying goes. What if it worked? Huang Wutong took out a pen, signed his name on the contract provided by Jiang Cheng, and pressed his handprint. The transaction between the two was officially established. Jiang Cheng kindly reminded, Huang, you might want to read through those contracts carefully. Huang Wutong waved his hand dismissively, Forget it, whats done is done. Thank you for your trust. I will keep the contract and the Memory Sphere in the Tongtian Sect Task Hall for notarization. With the backing of Tongtian Sect, you dont have to worry about being cheated. I willplete the testing of the Muscle Rxation Talisman in five days and deliver it to your home. Here is my contact information; if you have any questions, you can contact me anytime. Jiang Cheng took out a rectangr, sleek crystal with faintly shimmering patterns inside itthis was the cultivator worlds version of a mobile phonea Reusable Type Communication Talisman. The two exchanged contact information, then bade each other farewell. Chapter 7: Feign Retreat to Lure the Enemy Chapter 7: Feign Retreat to Lure the Enemy Trantor: 549690339 Before heading to Pan He Garden, Lin Yaos best friend, Zhao Qin, knocked on the door of Lin Yaos home. Of course, a beautys friends are also beauties. Unlike the vibrant and youthful Lin Yao, Zhao Qin was more mature. She wore a pair of gold-framed sses, which made her look both beautiful and generous. The door opened, and the two girls hugged each other warmly. Seeing Lin Yao in pajamas, Zhao Qin asked curiously, Yaoyao, did you just wake up? What did you dost night? Lin Yao, rubbing her eyes, invited Zhao Qin into the house. Jiang Cheng asked me out to watch the sunrise, I only got back home yesterday morning, didnt sleep well all day, Im dead tired Zhao Qin changed shoes as if she owned the ce and sat down on the sofa in Lin Yaos house. She neither cared who Jiang Cheng was, nor did she ask about the oue of the confession. Because she knew that no matter who confessed, her best friend would never agree. Zhao Qin understood Lin Yao all too well. Some people date for the hormones, some flirt for the thrill, some meddle in rtionships for money. But Lin Yao was different from these people; she wasnt after money or excitement, she simply enjoyed the pleasure of ying with other peoples emotions. Zhao Qin nced around the empty room of the Lin family and let out a sigh. The extreme control Lin Yao exerted over her emotions was probably rted to her parents divorce in her childhood. Since theres no inte in the Immortal Gods world, the main information carriers were newspapers, magazines, and books. Zhao Qin took out several college magazines from her storage bag and called out to Lin Yao who was in the washroom, Yaoyao, I brought the magazines you wanted. Great~ Lin Yaos voice was somewhat muffled, sounding as if she was brushing her teeth. Momentster, Lin Yao appeared in the living room wearing a loose round-neck T-shirt and denim shorts. The oversized T-shirt revealed the girls delicate corbone, and the ultra-short denim shorts also disyed to Zhao Qin a generous expanse of righteous, snow-white skin. Zhao Qin nced at Lin Yaos thighs and joked, If you go out like this, Im afraid a few more people will ask you to watch the sunrise. Lin Yao pouted, disdainful of Zhao Qins suggestion, As if! They wish! Im not showing them anything! Lin Yao walked to the balcony of the living room, wanting to pull up the curtains of the balcony to turn the spacious living room into a private space for the two friends. But as she reached for the curtains, she saw a familiar figure appear downstairsJiang Cheng. Yaoyao? With curiosity, Zhao Qin walked to the balcony and happened to see the direction of Lin Yaos gaze toward a certain spot below. Following Lin Yaos gaze, Zhao Qin saw a male Cultivator. In Zhao Qins memory, there were hardly any male Cultivators that Lin Yao would bother to look at. Who is he? Jiang Cheng. The one who confessed to you this morning? Mhm. Zhao Qin knew that Lin Yao couldnt possibly like Jiang Cheng, yet she teased her anyway, Yaoyao, you couldnt possibly like him, could you? Zhao Qin had made this joke many times before, because many people liked Lin Yao, but Lin Yao always responded nonchntly with, No way. But this time, Lin Yao flew off the handle. How could I possibly! He, he got a harsh rejection from me this morning! I said I just wanted to be friends, but he insisted on me being his girlfriend! His being downstairs now is nothing but him not giving up, wanting to persuade me to mend our friendship! It was the first time Zhao Qin saw Lin Yao get so agitated when talking about a suitor. Yaoyao? Lin Yaos burgeoning chest rose and fell gently for a while before calming down again. Hes definitely going to contact me with amunication talismanter. I cant go down dressed like this. Lin Yao changed into a more normal outfit. Qin Qin, how does this look? Zhao Qin hadnt fully recovered from Lin Yaos abnormal reaction, and simply replied, It looks good. But Lin Yao pondered for a while and didnt feel quite right, so she went back to change again. After fussing two or three times, Lin Yao looked in the mirror and was barely satisfied with herself. White silk stockings + miniskirt + U-neck T-shirt + short jacket + crossbody mini purse. One-third innocence, one-third cuteness, one-third sweetness, with a touch of allure. The only imperfection was that the skirt was a bit too short, probably about fifteen centimeters above the knee. Although she was wearing shorts underneath and wouldnt reveal too much, it was Lin Yaos first time nning to wear such a short skirt out, and she felt a bit ufortable. Isnt it too short? As Lin Yao was hesitating, she thought about Jiang Chengs nonchnce towards her and his shameless demand for a written agreement. I definitely have to reject him firmlyter! How dare he do that to me this morning! But I cant be too harsh, or it wouldnt be fun if he stops paying attention to meter. After getting dressed, Lin Yao returned to the living room. Her effort in dressing up drew unbidden praise from her best friend, Zhao Qin. Yaoyao, you dressed up so beautifully? That guy named Jiang Cheng is in for a treat. Lin Yao felt a slight surge of pride inside. Even her best friend said so, which indicated she had indeed chosen her clothes very well. Lin Yao had been confident in her appearance since she was young and was not afraid that Jiang Cheng would not sumb to her beauty upon seeing her. Yaoyao, Jiang Cheng seems to be leaving, Zhao Qin said from the balcony. Lin Yao hurried to the balcony and sure enough, she saw Jiang Cheng leaving with his back towards them. Wasnt he here to see you? asked Zhao Qin. I Gazing at Jiang Chengs retreating figure, Lin Yaos mind involuntarily pictured the look of disdain he had for her She had received countless confessions, so many that she had lost track of the exact number. In every confession, it was always her rejecting others, never anyone rejecting her. But Jiang Cheng was an exception. Not only had he rejected her, but he also deeply humiliated her. The way Jiang Cheng swept away her hand and stepped back was like a thorn in Lin Yaos prideful heart. Whenever Lin Yao rxed, Jiang Cheng would appear in her mind. His existence seemed to constantly remind Lin Yao that the confidence and pride she had built by rejecting others since childhood seemed worthless in his eyes. In Jiang Chengs heart, she was nothing but an ordinary female cultivator. She couldnt even qualify as unremarkable, but rather, as a female cultivator he didnt want to bother with, someone annoying. Yaoyao? Ah? Jiang Cheng has left. Lin Yao became a bit panicked; she was afraid of repeating the situation in the park where Jiang Cheng decisively rejected her. He, hes just shy, thats all, afraid Ill reject him again. Ill use amunication talisman Lin Yao found an excuse for herself, then took out a reusablemunication talisman. Ignoring the many messages from admirers, she located Jiang Chengs number and dialed out. Themunication talisman began to glow brightly, signifying the call had gone through. But after just three shes, it stopped, indicating Jiang Cheng had cut off hermunication request. Lin Yao bit her lip and dialed again. Jiang Cheng still disconnected. Lin Yao dialed once more, and Jiang Cheng still did not answer. More panicked than before, Lin Yao dialed Jiang Chengs number yet again. This time, it finally connected! Themunication talisman you are calling is switched off and cannot be reached at the moment, please try againter Jiang Chengs mechanical voice came through themunication talisman in Lin Yaos hand. Lin Yaos eyes widened, and Zhao Qin was also stunned. Yaoyao, can themunication talisman still give a prompt after being switched off? It shouldnt have that right Lin Yao said uncertainly. But after listening several times, she finally recognized Jiang Chengs voice. Hello? Jiang? Click. Jiang Cheng hung up the call. Jiang Chengs action of cutting off themunication talisman first was like a p across Lin Yaos face. And it was in front of her best friend. There had been nothing more humiliating in her life than this! Lin Yao had only ever been slighted twice in her life when it came to love. Once was when Jiang Cheng made her sign a written promise! Once was when Jiang Cheng hung up her call! Lin Yao knelt on the ground, her head lowered, her expression unreadable. But her hands were clenched tight on her thighs, so tight that even when her long fingernails dug into her flesh, she did not care. Jiang Cheng! You wait for me! Lin Yao did not doubt her own beauty in the least. Jiang Cheng definitely liked her; there was no doubt about it. This time, she didnt anticipate that beneath Jiang Chengs ostensibly honest exteriory a heart capable of such restraint. Lin Yao had to admit, Jiang Chengs acting skills were good; he had fooled her. He was no honest man, but someone with a high level of emotional sophistication, skilled at manipting other peoples feelings! But so what if his level was high? In the end, its you who likes me, not me who likes you. I want to see who among us will crack first! Chapter 8: The Stock Market Wizard Uncle Chapter 8: The Stock Market Wizard Uncle Trantor: 549690339 Looking at themunication talisman in his hand, Jiang Cheng furrowed his brows in deep thought. In the message list of the talisman, there were daily greetings from Jiang Cheng to Lin Yao, such as Good morning and Nice weather today, just the kind of nd talk that Lin Yao rarely responded to. Beyond those, there was also the strikingmunication record that had juste in. It was Lin Yao who had initiated the call to him. In the memories of Jiang Cheng, Lin Yao seemed to rarely initiatemunication through the talisman. At least in the interactions between Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao, it had always been Jiang Cheng who took the initiative. While waiting for the bus by the roadside, Jiang Cheng tried to recall the plot details of the Lin Yao storyline to figure out the purpose of Lin Yaos call. Unfortunately, he had fast-forwarded through the plot originally and could hardly remember much, other than the fact that Lin Yaoter became a troublesome character, an enchantress of the Demonic Tao. In any case, it was necessary to keep a distance from the people of the Demonic Tao, and right now his priority was to draw talismans and buy property; other matters would have to wait. Half an hourter, Jiang Cheng got off the bus and arrived at Happiness Garden. Happiness Garden was an early development in Wuyue City; the quality of the buildings was decent, but the infrastructure was somewhatcking. At night, there werent even any streetlights. However, Jiang Cheng had lived there for several years and could find his uncle and aunts house even with his eyes closed. At the door of room 1001 in Building No. 2 of Happiness Garden, Jiang Cheng took out his keys and unlocked the security door. Upon entering, the familiar sights greeted him. His aunt was busy in the kitchen, while his uncle sat at the dining table, legs crossed, studying the newspaper. Jiang Cheng, youre back? His uncle, Sun Qing, called out. Mm. Jiang Cheng replied. Jiang Cheng wasnt actually introverted, but Jiang Cheng was a man of few words, and Jiang Cheng didnt want topletely overturn Jiang Chengs character so soon. On the contrary, Jiang Chengs low-profile nature also provided him with quite a few conveniences. At least Jiang Cheng didnt have many friends, so he didnt need to deal withplex social rtionships. After changing his shoes by the door, Jiang Cheng passed by the dining table and saw his uncle Sun Qing taking notes from the newspaper. With an air of concentration and a serious expression. A memory surfaced in Jiang Chengs mind; he remembered that his uncle held a stable government job and was never short of money. He liked to study the newspapers and dabble in small investments in his spare time. Over the years, he had made numerous investments, and it could be said that he had neither lost nor gained overall. Such a record, if ced in the A-share stock market, would be enough to earn the title of Stock God. Unfortunately, Liang Kingdom did not have a stock market. After thinking for a bit, Jiang Cheng walked up to Sun Qing. Uncle, I think the northern part of Wuyue City has potential. The north? Sun Qing looked up, pondered for a moment, and said, That ce is mostly wastnd, and there arent even many people. The less people and morend, the greater the potential for development. Sun Qing wasnt convinced by Jiang Chengs words. However, when it came to investments, he was full of interest and was happy to continue the conversation, not discouraged by Jiang Chengs perspective. The development direction of our Wuyue City is southward. The north isnt quite good. Im nning to invest in a high-end restaurant with some colleagues in the South Development Zone. What do you think of that? Jiang Cheng changed his approach, I still think the north is better. Uncle might consider putting a down payment on a house in the north; it could even be used for Sun Yuans wedding in the future. Sun Yuan is still young; theres no rush. What about my restaurant idea? Is it better to focus on specialty dishes or a themed atmosphere? I think putting a down payment on a house is better. Sun Qing looked at Jiang Cheng with the eyes of someone regarding a piece of uncarvable wood. The consensus in the investment circle was that Wuyue Citys real estate prices had peaked and wouldnt rise anymore, and if there were to be any increases, they would be in the properties of the South Development Zone. The north was a barren ce; without a meteor striking the earth and revealing an underground Spirit Vein, there was no chance of price increases. The prime time for investing in Wuyue Citys real estate had long passed; now, even dogs werent investing in real estate. Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng was just a child, and not even his own, so Sun Qing couldnt say much even if the childs ideas were oundish. A child should just focus on studying; what could they understand about investment? Jiang Cheng, the final exams areing up soon, have you finished your homework? Jiang Cheng: Uncle, I finished the college entrance exam three days ago. Oh. The atmosphere fell into an awkward silence. That said, Sun Yuan still hasnt taken the college entrance exam. Hes just in middle school. Could you help me take a look at his homework? Okay. The attempt to persuade his uncle to buy a house had failed. Jiang Cheng sighed. If there were no Spiritual Spring, Sun Qings judgment might have been right. But with the emergence of the Spiritual Spring, the focus of Wuyue City would definitely shift northward. The entire city would need to build industry around the Spiritual Spring factory. Investing in a high-end restaurant in the South Development Zone now would most likely lead to a total loss. But Jiang Cheng couldnt persuade him otherwise; investing was like fishing, and until the real air force arrived, the fish hook and the fish in the water were always filled with endless possibilities. Cousin Sun Yuans room. Sun Yuan was three years younger than Jiang Cheng. While Jiang Cheng was taking the college entrance exam, Sun Yuan was preparing for his middle school exams. However, the middle school exams were more than half a monthter than the college exams, so while Jiang Cheng was free after finishing his, Sun Yuan was still studying hard. In the Liang Kingdom, both the middle school and college entrance exams were mainly written tests. The use of spells was considered a pass-fail exam, requiring only a passing grade. With so many students, there simply werent enough teachers and schools to do it any other way. But in university, facing the pressure of graduating and joining the Immortal Sect, one had to add practicalbat and spell usage tests to the mix. Even though Jiang Chengs college exam scores were higher than the university cut-off line, he still had to pass the universitys admission assessment to get in. Jiang Cheng watched Sun Yuan do his homework for a while and noticed the kid was distracted. Something on your mind? Mind your own business, Sun Yuan grumbled, not really wanting to interact with Jiang Cheng. The rtionship between the two brothers couldnt be described as good or bad, but Sun Yuan actually looked down on Jiang Cheng a bit. Jiang Cheng was self-conscious and introverted, stuttering even when talking to girls. How could someone like that be considered his older cousin? Got a girlfriend? At that, Sun Yuan flinched, his cheeks turning bright red: Jiang Cheng! Dont talk nonsense! It seemed he had someone in his heart. The young guy was still too green to keep things hidden. Having gone through adolescence himself, Jiang Cheng had no ns to lecture Sun Yuan about things like puppy love. However, with the middle school exams only half a month away, he at least wanted to make sure Sun Yuan didnt slip up at a critical time. With your grades, do you think you can get into the same high school as her? Whats wrong with my grades? Isnt it just Wuyue Advanced Middle School? Cant I get in there easily? Jiang Cheng seized the crucial point: Didnt you just say you werent dating her? I Sun Yuans face turned even redder, unable toe up with a rebuttal as he realized Jiang Cheng had tricked him into admitting it. All he could do was re at Jiang Cheng, feeling that his cousin was somewhat strange. He didnt remember Jiang Cheng being so talkative usually; yet today, he took the initiative to discuss feelings with him. You better not tell my parents! Sun Yuan warned. Jiang Cheng simply shrugged, not taking the young kids threat seriously. Well see how your middle school exams go. If they dont go well, well need to find a reason. It has nothing to do with her anyway, Sun Yuan protested. Defending her already? What defense? Theres nothing going on, okay! Unrequited love? No, just a simple crush. Youll understand when you reach my age. Jiang Cheng: ??? So, you think youre a Tyrannosaurus Warrior? Give me some paper and a pen. What are you going to do? Jiang Cheng took the paper and pen and quickly drafted a contract. The basic content was that if Sun Yuan failed to get into Wuyue Advanced Middle School, Jiang Cheng would tell his parents about his puppy love. If he got in, everything would be as if nothing had happened. Make two copies and sign. Thats not fair. It was the first time Jiang Cheng had encountered someone saying his contract was unfair. Why is it unfair? Why do I have to pay the price in a bet, but you dont have to pay anything? This is a contract, not a bet. But if you want to sign a wager agreement with me, thats not a problem. Jiang Cheng was always willing to provide his clients with a variety of options. However, first I need to know what you want me to stake as my loss? Sun Yuan hesitated a bit and then said, Shes not from our middle school. Shes at Wuyue Advanced Middle School, the same one you attended, and she just finished her college exams. Jiang Cheng looked at Sun Yuan with a hint of surprise in his eyes. Liking an older girl? He didnt expect the kids body to be young, while his soul seemed rather mature. But it wasnt necessarily so. In the Liang Kingdom, middle schools did not strictly assign grades by age. For example, Jiang Cheng at eighteen was a senior, Lin Yao at sixteen was also a senior, and there were even fifteen-year-old seniors. And fifteen was Sun Yuans age, so it wasnt certain that he was into older girls. Whats her name? I might know her. Lin Yao. Ah? Chapter 9 - 9 Family Harmony Chapter 9 Family Harmony Trantor: 549690339 Sun Yuan pulled out a brand-new magazine from the bookshelf, titled Wu Yue Youth. The book was quite famous among students, and Jiang Cheng had also seen it when he was in school. Wu Yue Youth wasnt cheap, but the quality was high. It was full color printed, mainly featuring the pretty youngdies from various industries within Wuyue City. The issue that Sun Yuan took out had Lin Yaos beautiful face delivering a knockout on the cover. This enchantress of the Demonic Tao was youthful and beautiful, with brows and eyes like a painting, and her cover photos smile seemed to bring the entire Wuyue City back to spring. Jiang Cheng recalled that although Lin Yao had many suitors, she actually hadnt done anything outrageous, hadnt made big news, nor had she followed the route of a celebrity. Even so, her fame had spread to other middle schools. Even his cousin Sun Yuan had be her fan. It could only be said that being born with such charm was terrifying indeed. Sun Yuan pointed to the picture in the magazine, Lin Yao from your school, you know her, right? Ive seen her. Are you close? Not at the moment. Sun Yuan looked disappointed. But he soon got over it. His cousin, Jiang Cheng, was so honest and straightforward that he didnt seem like the type who would be close to Lin Yao. How could someone who hesitates so much in conversation possibly know Lin Yao? Keep this magazine here for now. When I get into high school, you help me get Lin Yaos autograph. If I dont, you can do whatever you want with me. How about it, deal or no deal? Getting Lin Yaos autograph wasnt difficult for Jiang Cheng. If anything, he could just buy it. Jiang Cheng didnt believe that if he proposed a fair trade and offered to buy it, Lin Yao would refuse. The only obstacle was that he really didnt want to have too much to do with Lin Yao. Lin Yao entered the Immortal Sect and waster discovered by the Demon Sect to be fit for the Demonic Tao. Before joining the Immortal Sect, there was a period of university life. Before that came the period right now, the summer holidays after the college entrance examination. As long as he didnt attend the same university as her, and only interacted with her once more during the summer holidays, it should be fine. Wanting his cousin to do well in his exams, Jiang Cheng decided to take a risk. Deal. Sun Yuan put up his little finger, Pinkie promise. Jiang Cheng didnt y such childish games; adults needed to resolve things in an adult way. I need another piece of paper to write a betting agreement. Sun Yuan: At the dinner table, Jiang Chengs aunt, Zhou Wen Yue, started a conversation. Jiang Cheng, which university are you nning to go to? There were not a few prestigious universities in Liang Kingdom, and each universitys main coboration was with a different Immortal Sect. The process of choosing a university was basically about choosing which Immortal Sect you wanted to go to, then selecting a key university that coborated with that Immortal Sect. This way, it would be much easier to enter the Immortal Sectter on. Jiang Cheng hadnt yet thought about these things;tely, he just wanted to think about buying a house. There was no issue that couldnt wait until after he had bought a house. Auntie, Im not sure yet. I n to wait for my scores toe out before deciding. But Ill definitely go to Capital; Ill choose from the universities there when the timees. Capital was the capital of Liang Kingdom and also the ce with the most prestigious universities in the entire country. Sun Yuan, look at your cousin. Zhou Wen Yue used the skill The Neighbors Child. Sun Yuan was hit by the skill The Neighbors Child, taking 30 points of mental damage, with an added silence effect. Jiang Cheng picked up his bowl, looking at Sun Yuan beside him silently eating his rice. Truthfully, Sun Yuans grades werent bad, but it depended on who they werepared to. Compared to Jiang Cheng, they were indeed a bitcking, butpared to his ssmates, they were considered excellent. With middle school examsing up soon for Sun Yuan,cking confidence was not an option. Of course, the main thing was, Jiang Cheng didnt like to be the bad guy. Seeing that he was about to be the bad guy in his cousins mind, Jiang Cheng thought, he needed to do something to change that image. The best way to transform an image in interpersonal rtionships is to say something with high emotional intelligence. Jiang Cheng felt his emotional intelligence was quite high, and he was particrly good at discovering others strengths. Sun Yuan, dont be depressed, your aunt was actuallyplimenting you. Sun Yuan looked up from his bowl of rice: Huh? Sun Qing put down his chopsticks: Should we go for an Immortal Sect theme for the new restaurant? Zhou Wen Yue waved her hands repeatedly: Its not like that, I didnt, stop making things up. Jiang Cheng exined, Aunt was praising your ability to learn, especially how good you are at learning from others. Sun Yuan rolled his eyes. Jiang Cheng, what my mom means is, Im nothingpared to you, just a useless son. Zhou Wen Yue thought to herself, the little rascal is going to be the death of me. She was about to explode when she heard Jiang Cheng calmly begin to exin. Auntie, Sun Yuan is willing topare himself to trash just to highlight your great maternal love. Sun Yuan is really too filial. When Sun Yuan heard Jiang Chengs exnation, he almost choked on a mouthful of rice. He swallowed hard, put down his bowl, and yelled at Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng, I didnt! Jiang Cheng nodded to show he understood, then took Sun Yuans bowl to serve him another full bowl of rice. There was silence at the dinner table. Jiang Cheng was quite satisfied with his high-EQ remarks. Today was another day of saving family rtionships. You can tell Sun Yuan is in a good mood today. Usually, he only eats one bowl of rice. Jiang Cheng enjoyed praising others. Sun Yuan didnt want to talk anymore. He felt that none of the three family members could outtalk his cousin. Forget it, might as well just eat. Zhou Wen Yue subtly kicked Sun Qing under the table, signaling him to say something to break the awkward silence. Sun Qing didnt know what to say and hesitated a long time. Jiang Cheng, youre not young either. Your uncle and aunt discussed with your parents before, not letting you date during high school. But once youre in university, they actually encourage you to have a rtionship. After graduation, your ssmates will either join society or the Immortal Sect, and it will be harder to find someone then. Jiang Cheng answered honestly, I understand, but I havent considered it for the time being. When I meet the right girl, I will definitely try. Uncle and aunt, dont worry. Sun Qing and his wife nodded slightly. Jiang Cheng had always been honest, even if he dated, he was not likely to cause any trouble in romantic rtionships. At least in terms of love life, Jiang Cheng was still very reassuring to the adults. After dinner, Jiang Cheng returned to his room and took out the textbooks he had bought for the Talismanpetition. He wanted to review the knowledge required for drawing talismans. Jiang Cheng could still easily draw talismans now. However, drawing talismans ording to the steps in the books and developing talismans ording to his own ideas were twopletely different things. The Muscle Rxation Talisman was clearly a brand new Healing Talisman. Developing it from scratch was not an easy task. But thanks to the bottom-line thinking of a numerical strategist, Jiang Cheng was optimistic about the difficulty of developing the Muscle Rxation Talisman. If he had no confidence at all, he wouldnt have taken on Huang Wutongs task. Jiang Cheng nned to use the rtivelymon auxiliary talisman Physical Enhancement as a blueprint for developing the Muscle Rxation Talisman. Physical Enhancement itself is an auxiliary talisman that works by acting on the human muscles, allowing physical strength to increase under the influence of the talisman. Jiang Cheng intended to take advantage of the convenient conditions provided by Physical Enhancement in its action on muscles, adding some electric shock effects that are beneficial for muscle rxation to the function of the talisman. If someone exercised vigorously during muscle rxation, it could rightfully, oh no, unfortunately lead to muscle cramps and the inability to move. Adding the electric shock effect wasnt difficult, but the challenge was controlling the strength and precision of the shock. After all, the heart is also a muscle, and its always performing vigorous exercise. If the electric shock affected the heart and caused someones heart to stop beating, that was clearly not Jiang Chengs intended therapeutic meaning of rxing muscles. He just wanted patients with tense muscles to stop moving and rest for a while. What bad intentions could be mixed into such humanitarian concern? We dont have any books about muscles at home, so it looks like Ill have to go to the library to borrow an Anatomy book for research tomorrow. Chapter 10: Warm-hearted Jiang Cheng Chapter 10: Warm-hearted Jiang Cheng Trantor: 549690339 The Cultivation Library was located in the eastern part of Wuyue City and was one of the top public libraries in the entire city. In Wuyue City, as well as in the entire Liang Kingdom, libraries were indispensable public facilities. In a world of cultivating immortality without the inte, they provided timely, abundant, and free knowledge to the public. If you wanted to learn about a certain academy, visiting the library first to gather information would be a good approach. Of course, such ces were not all called libraries; some were also known as Scripture Pavilions, Scripture Towers, or Academies. In a corner of the Cultivation Librarys lending area, an elderly but refined man holding a copy of Legend of the Sword God made his way to his usual seat. This spot was near a floor-to-ceiling window against the wall, outside of which was the small courtyard at the librarys center. From morning till afternoon, one could enjoy the peaceful and warm sunlight, making it his favored seat. However, today was somewhat different. Opposite this seat, a young male cultivator was already seated, who must have arrived quite early. The sunlight spilled over the young mans face, bathing his handsome features in a sanctified and radiant glow. Just by appearance, this young man didnt seem like a bad person at all. The elder was quite willing to share the seat with a studious and hardworking young man. He pulled out a chair, sat across from the young man, and dived into the historical ounts recorded in Legend of the Sword God. The elders name was Bai Wendao, a retired professor. However, he couldnt enjoy this leisurely retirement for much longer because his former employer, Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, was initiating an Upgrade Campaign to transition from a second-tier sword cultivation academy to a first-tier one. He had received a rehiring notice from his former employer a few weeks earlier and was about to return to the academy to shine once again. Precisely speaking, in a weeks time, he would appear in the examination halls of the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy as an invigtor. Bai Wendao didnt dislike teaching or students, but he did regret that his tranquil days wereing to an end. Luckily, he possessed the cultivation level of the Foundation Establishment Stage, with a lifespan of three hundred years. Even if he were to spend ten or twenty years shining back at the academy, he would still have many decades of leisure days to live. Sometimes, an old man really needs to interact more with the younger generation, and teaching or invigting at the academy, facing youthful cultivators, wasnt such a bad thing for him. Legend of the Sword God was a biographical novel that narrated the stories of various legendary sword gods from Liang Kingdoms history. Some of the powerful sword cultivators with incredible strength and exceptionally long lives were still alive to this day. Having spent his life studying and teaching the way of the sword, these formidable sword cultivators were no different from idols to Bai Wendao. However, the status of a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a professor at the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy was quite insignificant in front of true, formidable sword cultivators. As Bai Wendao was engrossed in Legend of the Sword God, the lending area of the Cultivation Library received some unwee visitors. These appeared to be high school seniors who had just finished their entrance exams, borrowed a few magazines, sat down in the lending area, and started to chatter about their future options. Bai Wendao frowned; he didnt dislike energetic youths, but the librarys lending area certainly wasnt a ce for discussions. Bai Wendao looked up at the young male cultivator across from him, who was studying intently, and couldnt help butment internally, If only everyone were as quiet,posed, and filled with sunshine as he is. That said, Bai Wendao happened to catch a glimpse of the books the young man had borrowed. Criminal Law, Human Anatomy, Neurology, The Truth Under the Forensic Scalpel Hmm Bai Wendao was stunned. Frankly, he found it difficult to connect such a sunny and handsome youth to morbid subjects like forensic, anatomy, and neuropsychiatry. The young cultivator gently set down his books, careful not to make a disruptive noise, and then gave Bai Wendao an apologetic smile. Afterward, Bai Wendao saw the young man get up gracefully and walk over to the group of female cultivators who were chattering about their futures. Bai Wendao didnt have high expectations of the young mans actions. After all, such a polite and genteel youth would hardly be intimidating to rule-breaking girls; at his age, there were plenty of guys who blushed simply talking to girls. But soon, the discussions ceased. The library returned to silence. And the young male cultivator settled back into his seat. Im very sorry if they disturbed your reading. Jiang Cheng took the initiative to express an apology to Bai Wendao on behalf of his ill-mannered schoolmates. Its okay. This word of forgiveness unconsciously slipped from Bai Wendaos mouth. Jiang Cheng smiled and did not engage in further conversation, immersing himself in the study of human muscture and nerves once again. Working in a gamepany, the ability to learn is indispensable. The reason Jiang Cheng assumed the position of Chief nner for Immortal Gods was not only due to his excellent personal charm and outstanding professional capabilities but also because sustained, long-term learning had provided great help in his continuing advancement on the nning path. Bai Wendao grew curious about this young man. As an educator, he had seen many students, but none possessed Jiang Chengsposed and assured temperament. The most valuable aspect was that he was not only exceptional but also well-behaved and full ofpassion for the elderly. From any perspective, he was a warm-hearted, ambitious, and radiant outstanding youthexcept for the books he held in his hand. Bai Wendao took the initiative to approach Jiang Cheng, Would you like to join me for a cup of tea outside? Jiang Cheng did not want to drink tea at the moment, but it seemed the elder might need help, as logically, very few would spontaneously invite a stranger to tea. Sure, but I need to return these books first. Bai Wendao pointed toward the librarys exit, Over there, theres a temporary storage rack for personal items, where you can leave your books for now. The two put away their books and, guided by Bai Wendao, arrived at a tea shop outside the library. Steaming green tea was ced before them. Bai Wendao opened the conversation, Young man, what is your name? I go by the surname Jiang and the name Cheng. Jiang Cheng? How would you interpret that name? Jiang Cheng himself did not know, since the name was chosen arbitrarily. But aftering to this world, he felt his name could have a whole new interpretation. Cheng, meaning to possess many houses, represents a modest aspiration. Bai Wendaoughed heartily, finding Jiang Chengs exnation most amusing. My name is Bai Wendao, a retired old man. I usually enjoy fishing, tea tasting, and researching sword cultivation. Noticing the calluses on Bai Wendaos palms, Jiang Chengmented, You must be a predecessor in the way of the sword. I wouldnt dare im such a title. The path of sword cultivation is as profound as the ocean, and I have spent my life merely glimpsing its threshold, hardly worthy of being called a predecessor. Im just an ordinary cultivator who wields a sword. Jiang Cheng nodded. He agreed with Bai Wendaos remark that the path of sword cultivation is as profound as the ocean. Indeed, sword cultivation was regarded as the mostplex of all cultivation paths in Immortal Gods. To bnce thebat power of sword cultivators, Jiang Cheng had lost more than a few hairs. Indeed, sword cultivation differs greatly from the traditional cultivation methods. Traditional cultivation advocates for shoring up weaknesses and progressing evenly, whereas sword cultivation is a path of specialized practice. Detrimentally, due to its excessive specialization, sword cultivators themselves are divided into countless factions. The Sword Control Faction, Sword Qi Faction, ughter Sword Faction each forms its own system, none acknowledging the others. Bai Wendaos eyes lit up, Young Brother Jiang has such insight into the way of the sword? Not wanting to overstate, Jiang Cheng modestly replied, I merely have a rudimentary understanding. Despite their substantial age difference, the two found their conversation highly congenial. Periodically, the sound of pleasantughter could be heard from the tea shop next to the Cultivation Library. Jiang Chengs politeness, eloquence, and appropriately profound knowledge left a good impression on Bai Wendao. Bai Wendao couldnt help but think that if he encountered a student like Jiang Cheng when he returned to teaching at the Sword Cultivation Academy, his post-retirement teaching career would likely be very enjoyable. Chapter 11: Animal Experiments Chapter 11: Animal Experiments Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Chengs principle was to finish the days work within that day. Unless absolutely necessary, he would not postpone todays tasks to tomorrow. Late at night, light still shone from the guest bedroom of apartment 1001 in building number two of Happiness Garden. At the desk, Jiang Cheng was deep in concentration, leaning over to draw a talisman. That day, he had learned much about muscles and nerves, and at the moment, he was attempting to create the first draft of a Muscle Rxation Talisman. Drawing talismans by a Talisman Master was akin to a lottery draw. There was a chance of sess and a chance of failure. Moreover, as the Muscle Rxation Talisman was apletely new type of talisman, the likelihood of failure was significantly higher than that of sess. However, with Jiang Chengs efforts, the very first Muscle Rxation Talisman was finally brought into being! This talisman used yellow talisman paper, which ismonly used for first-order talismans. The ink and brush used in the drawing were also standard models. At least in terms of the materials used for production, the Muscle Rxation Talisman looked utterly normal, not at all like a newly developed talisman. Jiang Cheng examined the thin talisman under the deskmp with care. He appeared to be checking its quality and craftsmanship. After a thorough scrutiny, Jiang Cheng was convinced that it was a sessful talisman. Putting aside its effectiveness upon use, this talisman was, at the very least, functional for now. But Jiang Cheng would not deliver a crude prototype to a customer. Reliability testing is also a very important aspect of product development. Many pharmaceuticals undergo animal trials before entering clinical tests to ensure they do not cause too many issues when used on humans. Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, Where can I find animals willing to volunteer for the experiment? It was indeed challenging. After some thought, Jiang Cheng decided that perhaps his good brother Cao Wang was the only one who fit the bill. The next day, at Cao Wangs rented apartment. Youre not trying to dupe me, are you? Cao Wang asked doubtfully as he looked at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng spoke with clear sincerity, Were brothers, how could I possibly dupe you? Thats true, Cao Wang conceded. Jiang Cheng then took out two first-order Purification Talismans. These talismans held a trace of purifying power and could be used to negate some of themon negative effects from other talismans. For example, when an Ice Soul Talisman wears off and the person is still cold throughout, thats when a Purification Talisman can be used. Seeing Jiang Cheng so well-prepared put Cao Wang at ease. Indeed, how could Jiang Cheng, an honest man, scheme to trick me? After bringing out the Purification Talismans, Jiang Cheng took the main attraction of today from his storage bagthe Muscle Rxation Talismans. There were two Muscle Rxation Talismans, corresponding with the Purification Talismans. Old Cao, you use this Muscle Rxation Talisman on me first so I can check its effect. After Ive tried it, then its your turn, how about that? Hearing Jiang Chengs words filled Cao Wang with guilt; he almost wanted to p himself. Jiang was honest and willing to put himself at risk, always considering me. Yet here I was, suspecting he wanted to trick me. Is this how a brother should act? I really deserve to die! Cao Wang nodded solemnly. Dont worry, Old Jiang. If anything goes wrong, Ill immediately use this Purification Talisman! Jiang Cheng nodded slightly. He wasnt worried about idents because he had avoided important muscle groups within the human body when designing the talisman. In any case, it shouldnt be lethal. He was just concerned that the effect of the Muscle Rxation Talisman might be stronger than he anticipated. Since he designed it with conservative values, it would be normal for the actual effect to slightly exceed the design parameters by fifty to sixty percent. As long as Cao didnt y any tricks in a moment, there shouldnt be any major problems. Use the talisman. Alright! A stream of spiritual energy from Cao Wangs fingertip flowed into the talisman. The Muscle Rxation Talisman was immediately activated, turning into a beam of healing green light that entered Jiang Chengs body. Jiang Cheng stood still, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air. How is it? Cao Wang asked anxiously. Jiang Cheng remained motionless. Not bad, my whole body feels tingly and numb, which is the expected effect of rxation. Cao Wang breathed a sigh of relief. Its my turn now, my turn now. Jiang Cheng kept still. Wait a moment, if I interrupt this talisman during the treatment, it might cause the muscles to cramp. Putting down the Purification Talisman in his hand, Cao Wang said indifferently, Is it that serious? Its just a cramp. Who hasnt had cramps since they were young? Can it kill someone? Jiang Cheng thought about it and felt that Cao Wang made sense. He tried to gently lift his arm, and sure enough, it triggered the cramping effect. His arm feltpletely immobile, and it was apanied by severe pain, as if it had been amputated. The effect was quite good. Jiang Cheng thought to himself. About one minute and thirty secondster, the effect of the Muscle Rxation Talisman ended, and Jiang Cheng regained his freedom to move. One minute thirty seconds, its half a minute longer than the client requested, I should take note of that. Next time I draw the talisman, I need to shorten the duration. Jiang, are you done? Is it my turn yet? Cao Wang was eager to try. Im done, but remember not to make any sudden movements during the muscle rxation period, or youll cramp up, Jiang Cheng cautioned. Got it, got it, hurry up! Jiang Cheng took thest Muscle Rxation Talisman of the day between his fingers and activated it towards Cao Wang. Once Cao Wang was affected by the talisman, his muscles instantly began to feel numb and tingly. Wow, Jiang, your talisman is really nice. It feels quitefortable. Draw me a fewter on. Jiang Cheng took out a pen and paper and recorded Cao Wangs current state. [Those affected by the talisman for the first time will feel pleasure] Hey, Jiang, you just said not to make any sudden movements, but does taking a couple steps count as a sudden movement? That depends on how you walk. What about walking like this? That would count. ? Cao Wang took a few steps, then, hearing Jiang Chengs affirmative answer, froze on the spot. But it was already toote. His leg muscles started having ideas of their own. Intense pain surged from his legs, like rebels storming into his brain. Damn it, my legs are cramping! Cao Wangs legs were rooted to the spot as though filled with lead, twitching continuously. His upper body swayed back and forth like a zombie. Thinking back to how Cao Wang voluntarily took those steps, Jiang Cheng was somewhat moved. Did Cao actually initiate the adverse effect himself? I cant let his contribution go to waste. Jiang Cheng silently noted Cao Wangs performance. [The side effects are somewhat severe, leading to cramps and apanied by pain] Soon, Cao Wangs upper body, swaying back and forth due to the sudden movement, also started cramping. So Jiang Cheng faithfully recorded this scene as well. [The side effects can affect the muscles in the waist, arms, and shoulders, even if the leg muscles were already affected] As Jiang Cheng was writing, he suddenly remembered, Cao Wang, whatever you do, dont yell out loud It freaking hurts!!! Cao Wang cried out. Subsequently, as expected, his face and vocal cords also cramped up. Cao Wang fell into a state of full-body cramps. The only thing he could move was his eyes. At that moment, he desperately signaled to Jiang Chenghurry the hell up and use the Purification Talisman! Jiang Cheng intuitively gave Cao Wang an affirming look. He must be wanting me to seize the opportunity, right? Indeed, after this, it would be difficult to observe such valuable experimental results again. Following that, the pen in Jiang Chengs hand moved even more swiftly. Cao is making a noble sacrifice, and I cant let his good intentions be in vain. [When affected by the talisman, the subjected person cannot speak or move, and will experience muscle twitches every one to three seconds] After Jiang Cheng finished writing thest sentence, he took out a Purification Talisman and applied a purification to Cao Wang directly. Now that the symptoms were all recorded, there was no need to let the talismans effects continue any longer. Then: [The side effects of the Muscle Rxation Talisman cannot be temporarily relieved by the purification effect, probably because cramps are a spontaneous muscr response, not considered among the negative effects caused by the talisman. Research is needed for a Special Effect Purification Talisman specifically for the Muscle Rxation Talisman.] Chapter 12 - 12 What is the purpose of the manual Chapter 12 What is the purpose of the manual Trantor: 549690339 Liang Calendar 3210, June 17, two days left until Huang Wutongs graduation exam. Today was also the day Jiang Cheng had agreed to deliver the talismans to Huang Wutong. In the early morning, Jiang Cheng finished his morning run and returned home. In the entrance exams for key universities of the Immortal Sect, there was a practicalbat section. Since it was actualbat, physical strength was in demand. Jiang Cheng had always been one for preparing early, and in order to prepare for the exams at the end of September, he began physical training in mid-June, which he thought was alreadyte. Over two months time might not be enough to transform a fragile high school student into one with high defense and thick blood. But even if it wasnt for the exam, and purely for physical training, Jiang Cheng would stick to his morning runs. Cultivating immortality was an activity that greatly taxed the body; the longer you live, the more impressive you are, and ultimately, the body is the capital for cultivating immortality. At his desk, Jiang Cheng opened an envelope and ced three Muscle Rxation Talismans, three Special Effect Purification Talismans, and a carefully prepared instruction manual inside. Jiang Cheng estimated the cost of developing the Muscle Rxation Talisman. Researching in the library was free, ordinary talisman paper and ink were not expensive, and although his initial sess rate for drawing the Muscle Rxation Talisman was quite low, once he got the hang of it, he managed to reach a sess rate of about 20%. A 20% sess rate was quite high for some of the rarer talismans. However,pared to the mature talismans in the market, which easily had an 80%, 90% sess rate, it wasnt much to look at. But Jiang Cheng was already very satisfied. The cost of the talisman paper and ink he used in the past few days was around ten Spirit Stones. And what he gained in return was a whopping three thousand Spirit Stones! That was a profit of thirty thousand percent! The only regret was that with Jiang Chengs current Cultivation Level at the third level of Qi Gathering, and the low sess rate of the Muscle Rxation Talisman, he couldnt produce them inrge quantities. Sessfully drawing two a day was about his limit. Fortunately, the market for Muscle Rxation Talismans probably wasnt very big. Apart from Huang Wutong, Jiang Cheng couldnt think of anyone else who would need such talismans. Therefore, this task was likely to be a one-time deal. As long as he could draw the talisman, there was no need to be too concerned about the sess rate. After all, it wasnt realistic for every student of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy toe seeking Muscle Rxation Talismans, was it? Clearly, that was not realistic. In Pan He Garden, inside Huang Wutongs home. Huang Wutong took the envelope from Jiang Cheng with trembling hands, inside which were three Muscle Rxation Talismans, three Special Effect Purification Talismans, and an instruction manual. As a regr user of talismans, Huang Wutong had a certain understanding of the standard and quality of talismans. Generally speaking, talismans were ranked from weakest to strongest from one to nine. But within the same rank and type of talisman, due to varying levels of proficiency among Talisman Masters, the effects of the drawn talismans could slightly differ. Therefore, even if it was the same kind of talisman, their qualities were divided into perfect, exceptional, fine, andmon grades. Belowmon grade were the failing, substandard products. The effect produced by a perfect-grade talisman could often exceed that of amon-grade talisman by thirty to forty percent. Whether a Talisman Master could produce high-quality talismans was also a standard for measuring their ability. And the six talismans Jiang Cheng gave to Huang Wutong were all, without exception, ofmon quality. Some were even on the verge of beingmon quality; their effectiveness was just a bit away from bing failing substandard products. Such quality of talismans made Huang Wutongs already scant confidence in the Muscle Rxation Talisman dwindle even further. Master Jiang, these talismans, there are no issues with them, right? Huang Wutong was trying to find some affirmation. Jiang Cheng confidently responded, No problem. After my testing and improvements, the Muscle Rxation Talismans have met all the expected metrics. Whatever effects we wrote in the proposal is what youll actually experience. You can rest assured about that. Anxious about his graduation, Huang Wutong was still not at ease. Master Jiang, can we test its effect right now? Its not that I dont trust you, but after all, these were bought for three thousand Spirit Stones. If it doesnt work Jiang Cheng had anticipated this, so he prepared three copies: one for use, one for backup, and one for testing. Its possible. Do you want to see me try, or would you like to do it yourself? Ill do it myself. Huang Wutong still chose to trust in himself. Jiang Cheng cautioned seriously, After you activate the talisman, do not move around recklessly, as it might cause muscle cramps. Will it hurt? Yes. How much? Better than amputation. Huang Wutong shrank his neck; although he had never experienced amputation, there was a time when stubbing his big toe against a wall edge had been unbearable. Amputation must be more painful, right? Huang Wutong decided that he would listen to Jiang Cheng and stay stillter on. Jiang Cheng used a Muscle Rxation Talisman on Huang Wutong. Huang Wutong felt his muscles indeed rxing. One minuteter. All done, how do you feel? Jiang Cheng asked. Huang Wutong twisted his neck, Veryfortable, but Huang Wutong stopped mid-sentence. He really wanted to try moving recklessly and experiencing a cramp; after all, the teacher in the exam room wouldnt listen to him and stay still. If the cramping effect wasnt as expected, and the teacher hit them while under the negative effects of the Muscle Rxation Talisman, his graduation would be in jeopardy. Forget it. Lets leave it at that. Ultimately, Huang Wutongcked the courage to take the first step towards inducing a cramp. Master Jiang, two days after my exam, Ill notify the Task Hall that the task ispleted. Jiang Cheng thoughtfully added, If the Muscle Rxation Talisman doesnt work, you can also choose to pay me only half the reward. Thats your right. Okay. Wishing you a pleasant use. Once Jiang Cheng left, Huang Wutong earnestly offered incense to the two Muscle Rxation Talismans. You two sirs, my graduation exam is all up to you! Please, make sure you dont fail me then! Huang Wutong was making offerings to the talismans on one side and began cleaning up the mess on the other. Things like envelope contracts had to be kept hidden from his parents at all costs. Whats this? Oh, the instruction manual. So many words, not going to read it. Huang Wutong casually tossed the Muscle Rxation Talismans instruction manual into the trash. Themercial street next to Wuyue Advanced Middle School. Jiang Cheng and Cao Wang entered a barbecue restaurant. The two found a corner to sit down. Jiang Cheng had a calm expression, but Cao Wang was noticeably thrilled. Three thousand? Sold just like that? Mhm. Fuck, awesome! Cao Wang gave a thumbs up. Jiang Cheng smiled, but he wasnt one to celebrate prematurely. Since this talisman was unprecedented, the task reward wont be settled until its sessfully used. To be precise, two days from now. If it were a regr talisman, I would have the money already. Its all the same. Waiter, bring the menu! Im going to choose the expensive dishes today! As the test subject for the Muscle Rxation Talisman , Cao Wang had made a significant contribution to the sess of this talisman. Jiang Cheng figured treating him to a meal was not too much. Besides, this restaurant was next to the school and wasnt expensive to begin with; it wouldnt cost much no matter what he ordered. Cao Wang was immersed in the joy of ordering, while Jiang Cheng rested his face on one hand, letting his thoughts drift far away. Three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones was certainly not a small amount, but it was still a long way off from the 32,000 needed for the house payment. He could only hope there would be simr tasks at the Task Hall. Hello, the two of you. A familiar voice drifted from afar. This voice wasnt loud in the noisy environment, but it surprised Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng turned his head towards the entrance of the barbecue restaurant. Greeting him was a gaze that sent chills down his spine. Lin Yao! What was she doing here? Chapter 13: It is not suitable to stay here for long. Chapter 13: It is not suitable to stay here for long. Trantor: 549690339 At dusk, two beautiful female cultivators walked arm in arm along themercial street adjacent to Wuyue Advanced Middle School. One of them was obviously prettier, to the extent that even the surrounding vendors recognized her. Lin Yao, my tropical fruits are half off today. If you want to buy, Ill definitely give you an even better price, the fruit vendor said enthusiastically. Lin Yao waved her hands in a ttered manner, her pure and stunning face showing a clear sense of apology as she bowed slightly to the vendor, saying politely and without losing her grace, Thank you, but I dont feel like eating fruit right now, sorry. An unnoticeable flush appeared on the vendors dark face. His heart started beating faster, unsure if it was because Lin Yao had spoken to him. After a brief daze, the usually straightforward vendor bashfully said, Ah, no problem, no problem. You dont need to worry about it. The scene of Lin Yao talking to the vendor was witnessed by many on themercial street. Some were amused by the vendors reaction, while others were astounded by Lin Yaos beauty. Among all the eyes on Lin Yao, only the one by her side was the mostplicated. That gaze belonged to Tang Qian, Lin Yaos ssmate, filled mostly with envy, and the rest with reluctance and jealousy. In junior high school, Tang Qian was the prettiest girl in ss, even in the entire school, with admirers lining up from the ssroom door all the way to the sports field. However, in high school, all the attention that used to be on her was now wholly taken by this female cultivator named Lin Yao by her side. Everyone only cared about Lin Yaos thoughts, no one paid any attention to her opinions. But these were not the things that made Tang Qian the most reluctant. What truly vexed Tang Qian was that even when she herself faced Lin Yao, the thought of Shes so beautiful, much more than me, no wonder everyone likes her would inevitably rise in her heart. For a long time, a sense of powerlessness surrounded Tang Qian, as if the whole world was telling her that she was just a nameless female ssmate beside Lin Yao. Until three days ago, Zhou Yiwen, Lin Yaos former pursuer, confessed his love for her. Zhou Yiwen was the son of a mysterious wealthy businessman from Wuyue City. Even among the illustrious Wuyue Advanced Middle School, Zhou Yiwen was one of the most outstanding male cultivators. Previously proud and never engaged in romances, Tang Qian this time agreed without hesitation to Zhou Yiwens confession. Tang Qian didnt actually like Zhou Yiwen, but his choice to give up on Lin Yao and turn to her meant she couldnt be much worse than Lin Yao. After all, taking something from Lin Yaos hands wasnt something just any female cultivator could do. If it meant overshadowing Lin Yao, even if it meant marrying Zhou Yiwen and bing his cultivation partner in the end, Tang Qian didnt care. Yaoyao, weve been shopping for so long, how about we find a restaurant and have a meal? Ill treat today. Did you know, half of thismercial street belongs to Yiwens family Yiwen Yiwen? Who is that? Is it Zhou Yiwen? Zhou Yiwen Lin Yaos mind gradually recalled what Zhou Yiwen looked like. It was around the second term of the first year of high school that Zhou Yiwen began to appear frequently in Lin Yaos sight. Lin Yao naturally understood the intentions of this guy, or rather, before Jiang Cheng appeared, she understood the thoughts of all male cultivators who hovered around her. Lin Yao didnt point it out, watching Zhou Yiwen float through until the second year and finally mustered the courage to confess to her. Im sorry, I dont like you, youre a good person, but I just want to be friends with you, Facing Zhou Yiwen, Lin Yao couldnt even be bothered to make up an excuse, she directly rejected him with the formic Good Person Card. In the third year, Zhou Yiwen confessed twice more and, unsurprisingly, was rejected by Lin Yao again. Still, sometimes Lin Yao would take the time to reply to the messages Zhou Yiwen sent her. In the words of Lin Yaos best friend Zhao Qin, Lin Yao was neither after money nor affection; she simply enjoyed the feeling of being liked and the attention. When Zhou Yiwen got tired, Lin Yao would encourage him appropriately. But she would never give him any real chance or advantage. She was like a mirage in the hearts of male cultivators, forever beautiful, forever out of reach. The turning point urred on June 12th. On this day, Jiang Cheng confessed his love to Lin Yao. Lin Yao had to admit, Jiang Cheng was impressive andpletely different from any other male cultivator she had met before. Jiang Cheng was an extremely skilled Cultivator at disguise, and he was very capable of enduring in silence. He could maintain the guise of an honest Cultivator for a long time in order to numb his own vignce. He could even suppress his affection in front of himself and exhibit feelings of disgust. So skilled he hardly seemed human. Compared to Jiang Cheng, other male Cultivators, whom he could manipte at will, were simply as naive as three-year-old children. The admiration of a three-year-old could no longer arouse even the slightest interest in Lin Yao now. All she could think about was Jiang Cheng! She must make Jiang Cheng fall at the hem of her skirt, willingly confessing his affection and admiration for her. Then, looking down from above, she would grant Jiang Cheng some attention and cruelly y with his emotions! As for Zhou Yiwen, it seemed he had sent too many messages and was cursed by her one night. Lin Yao couldnt remember exactly which day she had cursed at Zhou Yiwen, probably the 13th or 14th. Surprisingly, after she scolded him, he ended up pairing with Tang Qian. In the past, Lin Yao would likely have used some strategy to make Zhou Yiwene back to her of his own ord. But now, she felt that such casual, naive feelings werent worth fighting for at all. Let Tang Qian have him if she likes him. As long as she has Jiang Cheng Yaoyao, shall we eat at this barbecue ce? Yiwen has a gold membership here; we could get a private room Tang Qians words interrupted Lin Yaos thoughts. Lin Yao breathed a sigh of relief, temporarily banishing Jiang Cheng from her mind. She smiled faintly, indifferently saying, Im okay with anything, you decide. A cold sneer formed in Tang Qians heart: Hah, okay with anything, shes just jealous that I have Yiwen and is forcing a smile here. Lin Yao, Lin Yao, I didnt expect you to have this day! Without exposing her thoughts, Tang Qian affectionately took Lin Yaos arm and walked into the barbecue restaurant. But unexpectedly, just as she entered the restaurant, a waiter pped her in the face. The waiter directly ignored Tang Qian, turned to Lin Yao, and asked, Hello, how many? Lin Yao replied with a smile and poise, Hello, just the two of us. With her teeth tightly clenched, Tang Qian still smiled and said, Id like to use my boyfriends gold card to reserve a private room. The alert waiter asked, May I ask who your boyfriend is Proudly ncing at Lin Yao, Tang Qian noticed that Lin Yao wasnt paying attention to this side at all and was instead looking into the distance. Following her gaze, Tang Qian saw that Lin Yao was looking at a male Cultivator. She seemed to recognize the Cultivator; he appeared to be from the ss next door, and while handsome and sunny, he certainly wasnt as well-connected as Zhou Yiwen. Tang Qian, why dont we just eat in the hall? There are so many free tables, Lin Yao took the initiative to say. Ah? Well Before Tang Qian could say anything more, Lin Yao took the lead and said to the waiter, Lets just eat in the hall. Tang Qian, lets find a seat. Jiang Cheng was now sitting on pins and needles. What was Lin Yao, this Enchantress, doing appearing near the school for no reason? The person by her side looked like Tang Qian. Is she Lin Yaos ssmate? Wuyue Advanced Middle Schools senior year consisted of nine sses. Jiang Cheng was in ss Three, Lin Yao in ss Four. sses Three and Four were taught by the same teacher, so Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao were considered fellow disciples but not ssmates. Old Jiang, why arent you eating? Cao Wangs voice came from across Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng nced at Lin Yao and Tang Qian, who were not far behind Cao Wang, and said cautiously: Eat quickly; this is not a ce to stay for long. Chapter 14 - 14 Can You Stop Pretending? Chapter 14 Can You Stop Pretending? Trantor: 549690339 Lin Yao and Tang Qian sat not far from Jiang Cheng, but fortunately, it seemed they had no intention ofing over to look for Jiang Cheng. This made Jiang Cheng breathe a sigh of relief. To be fair, even though he was dining in the same restaurant as the Demonic Tao Enchantress, a clear conscience fears no usation, and he truly had no intentional contact with the Demonic Tao Enchantress. Dining in the same ce was entirely coincidental. He believed the righteous Immortal Sect would investigate and clear his name. Next, as long as Cao Wang could just eat his meal peacefully and then leave in the same manner, then everything would be perfectly fine. Cao Wang stuffed his mouth with lettuce and grilled meat, but didnt forget to chat with Jiang Cheng. Old Jiang, whats the deal with you and that Lin Yao? Since the distance wasnt great, Lin Yao, as well as Tang Qian, heard Cao Wangs words. Tang Qian looked up at Lin Yao for a moment, then turned to see the back of Cao Wang as well as Jiang Cheng attempting to hide behind him. Lin Yao maintained aposed expression, as if she hadnt heard Cao Wangs words, seemingly indifferent. However, her slender hand that rested on her thigh under the table couldnt help but grip tightly. Her heart was far from as tranquil as she appeared. Seeing Lin Yao with no reaction, Tang Qian also didnt take Cao Wangs words seriously. It was no surprise for a student from Wuyue Advanced Middle School to mention Lin Yao. Just then, Zhou Yiwen messaged Tang Qian, who quickly opened the message to reply. Zhou Yiwen: Are you at the barbecue? Tang Qian: Yeah, with Lin Yao. Tang Qian: Are youing? Zhou Yiwen: Sure, I just got off work from my dadspany. Tang Qian: Working hard, huh? It wouldnt be because a certain someone is also there, would it? Zhou Yiwen: How could that be? Ive long been uninvolved with her, wait for me. Ill be right there. Tang Qian: Remember to drive over, walking all day is exhausting. While Lin Yao sat expressionless and Tang Qian was busy replying to messages Jiang Cheng frantically signaled Cao Wang with his eyes. Lin Yao is sitting right behind you, stop talking! Cao Wang put on the airs of a rtionship guru. Old Jiang, its not that I want to criticize you, but you still, how shall I put it, you still cant see through it. Understand, you cant see through. Look at me, although I also have a handsome face, Ive never liked anyone or dated. Do you know why? Turn around, Jiang Cheng said. No, not right. Its not that I dont like eating my own words. Its that our path to bing immortals requires us to sever mortal ties and cut off romantic affections. Imagine, you are dating a girlfriend now, fifty yearster, you establish your Foundation and have a lifespan of three hundred years, while she only practices Qi and has a lifespan of a hundred years. Youll be healthy and vigorous, but shell be aged and wrinkled. What will you do then? Jiang Cheng rubbed his forehead. You turn around first. Its no use even if I turn around, you know my childhood sweetheart no, dont change the subject. Were discussing your rtionship with Lin Yao right now. Who is Lin Yao? She is the Fairy Lin in the hearts of all male students in our senior high school. Most importantly, shes sixteen and at the seventh level of Qi practicing. You, on the other hand, are eighteen and at the third level of Qi practice. Cao Wang spoke earnestly: Old Jiang, its very likely that Lin Yao will achieve Foundation Establishment. Joining an Immortal Sect wont be a problem for her. But us? Youre at the third level of Qi practice, Im at the fourth. Although you might get into a top university, when ites to cultivating immortality, top universities are not the end but the beginning. The gap between us and Lin Yao will only grow wider. No matter how much you like her, you two will not have a future together in the end. Lin Yaos eyes drooped, but the corners of her lips uncontrobly curled up slightly. Indeed, she had guessed correctlyJiang Cheng liked her! In the game of love, the one who falls in love is at an absolute disadvantage! Lin Yao could say without exaggeration the advantage is mine! Jiang Cheng gestured for Cao Wang to stop. It was one thing for him to be alone with Cao Wang, but today, in front of Lin Yao, Jiang Cheng had to make his stance clear. I dont like Lin Yao, nor do I want to have any rtionship with her. Cao Wang revealed an I understand expression. Alright, alright, you dont like her. If you dont like her, why did you borrow money? Are you nning to give her a surprise? No, I need to buy a house. Youre a high school student, what house could you possibly buy! Jiang Cheng reasoned: Im of age now, thew allows me to buy a house, and I can also register residency. Alright, youre amazing, you dont like Lin Yao. Then who the hell keeps telling me, Ah, Old Cao, I like her, I work hard in my studies just to go to the same university as her, and what about I will marry no one but her.'' Jiang Cheng was overwhelmed. Old Cao, Lin Yao is right behind you. Cao Wangughed. Youre pulling my leg. If Lin Yao were behind me, could you still speak so smoothly? You wouldve be a stutterer by now. Three years as ssmates, dont I know you? Jiang Cheng kept a serious face, not looking like he was joking. Cao Wang blinked and turned to look back. Lin Yao showed Cao Wang a smile. Cao Wangs eyes opened wider than the quail eggs on the grill. He turned his head stiffly: Old Jiang, why the hell didnt you say so earlier? Jiang Cheng said helplessly, Ive already said it before. Cao Wang curled up, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Lin Yao was the unanimously recognized Fairy Lin of their high school, the most beautiful female cultivator. He had died a social death in front of Lin Yao, his imagepletely shattered, and he had lost all hope for the rest of his life. Forget it, just let it be, I cant live on. After Cao Wang shrank away, Jiang Cheng faced Lin Yaos gaze directly. Lin Yaos eyes were filled with tender affection, but Jiang Cheng only felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Old Cao, lets get out of here, we cant stay in this ce. Seeing Jiang Cheng pulling Cao Wang to the cash register to pay, Lin Yao immediately became restless. Jiang, dont you have anything to say when you see Yaoyao? Jiang Cheng shuddered and pretended not to hear Lin Yaos call. How much? Jiang Cheng opened his storage bag and hurriedly paid. He had never felt such an intense desire to spend money in his life. Seeing Jiang Cheng about to leave, Lin Yao quickly followed him. At the entrance of the barbecue restaurant, Lin Yao blocked Jiang Chengs path. Jiang, can you stop pretending? Lin Yao chuckled mockingly, Brother Cao just said it, didnt he? You like Yaoyao, and you like her very much indeed. Jiang Cheng immediately extended his palm, disying the ssic stop gesture. Hold on. I admit, Jiang Cheng once liked you. But the past is the past, and now is now. Junior sister, dont keep treating the past as if its the present. Having said that, Jiang Cheng pulled Cao Wang and was about to leave. But unexpectedly, Lin Yao reached out to grab his sleeve. Jiang Cheng took a step back and shook off his hand to avoid Lin Yaos inappropriate move. But an enchantress is an enchantress, with no regard for propriety between men and women, insisting on taking advantage of him. Jiang Cheng parried left and right, intending to call for help loudly, but then remembered that this was a public street. With so many people on the street, if ordinary citizens saw him tussling with the demonic enchantress, it would provide a wealth of false testimony for the righteous Immortal Sects investigation team looking into his innocencehow would he exin that? The enchantress really has made me suffer! Yaoyao, whats going on with you two? Zhou Yiwen rolled down his car window and looked at Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng tugging at each other, his heart surging with shock. He couldnt even touch the hem of Lin Yaos clothes with his own initiative and the appeasement of Spirit Stones, so what was the background of this male cultivator who could make Lin Yao throw herself into his arms willingly? Lin Yao clearly noticed Tang Qian and Zhou Yiwens gaze. Under their watchful eyes, she had to restrain herself. Jiang Cheng seized the opportunity and turned to run. Lin Yao watched Jiang Chengs back disappear and, knowing she couldnt chase after him, stamped her foot in frustration. Yaoyao, who is he? Tang Qian approached with curiosity. Jiang Cheng! Lin Yao said almost through gritted teeth. Zhou Yiwen got out of the car and straightened his clothes. Ive been in charge of a project worth three hundred thousand Spirit Stonestely, so busy that Im dizzy. Even with my brand-new, limited-edition, pneumatic, third-generation spirit horsend vehicle Lin Yao ignored Zhou Yiwens childish antics. She watched Jiang Chengs retreating figure with her hands clenched tightly. Yaoyao, the food is all ready, lets talk while we eat Tang Qian came over to persuade Lin Yao. But Lin Yao waspletely out of the mood to eat. Lets eat another time. Thank you for today. Lin Yao said and then was about to chase after Jiang Cheng, but Zhou Yiwen wasnt willing to let her go. He hade specifically for Lin Yao; how could he let her leave so easily? Lin Yao, looking at the vanishing figure of Jiang Cheng in her sight, red fiercely at Zhou Yiwen. Zhou Yiwen immediately softened and didnt dare to stop her anymore. Recalling Lin Yaos gaze, Zhou Yiwen was still frightened: Tang Qian, whats Jiang Chengs background? Tang Qian shook her head nkly, Seems like hes from the ss next door, right? But somehow, I feel like Lin Yao really cares about Jiang Cheng. Ive never seen her take the initiative to get close to a male cultivator before. Could it be that she likes Jiang Cheng? Upon hearing this, Zhou Yiwen, despite still feeling weak in the knees, clenched his fists tightly. Lin Yao, who didnt even nce at someone with a brand-new, limited-edition, pneumatic, third-generation spirit horsend vehicle, why would she fancy Jiang Cheng? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Chapter 15 - 15 Graduation Hopeless Chapter 15 Graduation Hopeless Trantor: 549690339 In the year 3210 of the Liang Calendar, June 19th, the practicalbat assessment for the graduates of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy in Wuyue City officially began. Unlike Wuyue Advanced Middle School, Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy is a private institution that specializes in the professional training of sword cultivators and is considered a second-ss academy. In terms of the value of its diplomas, Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy is roughly equivalent to the lowest-ranked higher education institutions in the Liang Kingdom. It only serves to prove that its students have attended the school. However, the tuition fees of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy are not small, and the students who study here rarely need to rely on a diploma to find a job. On the schools sports ground, the academys graduates stood together in groups of three. They were not numerous, totaling roughly two to three hundred individuals. In front of them, the teachers floated alone, without relying on any external objects. The ability to fly is an important indicator of a cultivators cultivation level. Those in the Qi Cultivation Stage can only fly with the help of magical treasures, while those in the Foundation Establishment Stage can fly briefly. By the Core Formation Stage, one can turn the sky into the ground, freely traversing it. Therefore, the teachers standing in front of the students all have at least a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation level. And standing in front of all the teachers was the dean of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, as well as the strongest publicly acknowledgedbatant in the entire academyLei Buxiao, a Core Formation Stage great cultivator whose reputation was renowned throughout the academy. Without any amplification device, Lei Buxiaos voice, bolstered by his cultivation, naturally thundered like a rolling thunderstorm. Thank you, teachers. Today, the students have all gathered here on the beautiful campus of the Sword Cultivation Academy. In the zing June, flowers bloom inpetition. In this lovely season, I, Lei Buxiaothe dean of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, will say a few words While the principal was speaking above, the students whispered among themselves below. Huang Wutong stood with two pretty female cultivators. One tall one was called Shen Yueru, and the other, slightly shorter one, was called Huang Qingqing. Huang Qingqing was a distant rtive of Huang Wutong. Thanks to their family connection, Huang Wutong, who was clearly only a drag on the team, was able to form a group with them and participate in the practical assessment. Huang Wutong, are you up to this or not? Huang Qingqing demanded, hands on her hips, questioning Huang Wutong. I Huang Wutong stuttered, unable to articte his response. Shen Yueru stepped in to mediate, Qingqing, dont be anxious. Hell definitely be fine. Lets review our respective roles again. To increase its graduation rate, Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy always released the practical assessment tasks in advance every year, advocating open-book examinations. As long as students practiced targeted exercises in advance, there was a high probability that they would pass the final exam. Even so, there were still those who failed every year. There was nothing to be done about thatthey could only retake the course and the exam. For Huang Wutong, without the strong support of Huang Qingqing and Shen Yueru, even if he were to retake the exam a hundred times, he would still fail. Therefore, this year was his only chance to graduate! He had to pass the exam this time and then go home to enjoy a life of privilege. During the test, there will be a teacher at the Foundation Establishment Stage who will suppress his cultivation to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation and wear a second-tier magical treasure, the Golden Iron Robe, simting a Body Cultivation Cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation. Body cultivation cultivators have incredibly strong physical bodies, and even when facing peers with swords and des, they can remain uninjured. Im at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation; Qingqing is at the fifth level, Huang Wutong, you are at the second level. The three of us stand no chance against a Body Cultivation Cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation. But it doesnt matter, our standard for passing the practical assessment is to survive for half an hour under the teachers hand. The examination site will be within a battlefield constructed by the school. The site is random, and as long as we dont draw the worst grasnd battlefield, we have a great chance of winning. If its the mostplex rainforest battlefield, then Huang Wutong, you just need to hide from beginning to end and avoid being discovered by the teacher. If its the grasnd battlefield Shen Yueru paused for a moment, then said, Then we must confront the teacher head-on. ording to previous tests, Qingqing and I canst about twenty-seven or twenty-eight minutes under the teachers hand. For the final minute or two, it will all depend on you. Huang Wutong pinched the two Muscle Rxation Talismans in his pocket. He took a deep breath, No problem, leave thest minute to me. Shen Yueru nodded with satisfaction, During the exam, you are only allowed to bring one first-tier Magical Treasure, two first-tier Talismans, and three first-tier Elixirs. Everyone, pay attention, if you bring more, you will be directly disqualified. The rule allowed only two Talismans, and fearing that Jiang Cheng might sabotage him and the paralysis time wouldnt be sufficient, Huang Wutong brought two Muscle Rxation Talismans just to be safe. As for the Special Effect Purification Talisman that could undo the Muscle Rxation Talisman, he considered it a useless freebie and left it at home. Since the examination required groups of three, it wasnt possible for Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academys more than two hundred candidates to finish in one day. ording to the draw order from before, Huang Wutong and his group were scheduled to have their exam during thest slot of the first morning. The location of the exam was to be drawn randomly ten minutes before it began. In the waiting hall before the examination rooms, a giant fluorescent screen was broadcasting the content from the examination rooms live. To ensure fairness and justice, Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academys examinations used video recording equipment to preserve the footage of the exams, which was avable for the Imperial College to review at any time. Broadcasting the content of the examination to the candidates through arge screen served two purposes: firstly, to ensure fairness, and secondly, the live broadcast was a built-in function of the recording equipment, so there was no reason not to use it. At this moment, therge screen was divided into five sections, each broadcasting several examination sites, with the candidates who had drawn the grasnd terrain undoubtedly facing the toughest conditions. In this terrain, candidates had to rely solely on their brute strength to win, with no room for clever tricks. Half an hour passed, and the five examinations ended simultaneously. The screen first disyed the scores given by the invigtors in the five examination rooms, and then it showed the names of the candidates for the next round of exams. Once disyed, the students scores were entered into the academys real-time ranking system. Those who ranked high would be bestowed with the title of Outstanding Graduates. Only after the rankings were disyed would the examination room draw for the next round of candidate teams begin. This was undoubtedly the most nerve-wracking moment. Whether some people could pass the exam depended entirely on which examination room they drew. The selection of the examination room began on time. On the screen designated for the grasnd terrain, Huang Wutongs name appeared prominently! Its over, weve got the grasnd terrain. Huang Wutong felt utterly disheartened. Huang Qingqing was so angry she kicked Huang Wutong. Over what? Stop talking such nonsense! Focus on fighting well when its our turn! The teachers participating in the examinations would also rotate to ensure that their strength wasnt depleted during the exams, which might otherwise force them to show leniency. Therefore, the teachers for each examination were random. As he walked towards the examination room, Huang Wutong silently prayed. He hoped to get a kind female teacher or a benevolent male teacheranything but their bald department head! That bald man would kick a passing dog twice and shake a wild bird egg until the yolk mixed. He looked the most like a teacher among the Cultivators of the Demonic Tao and the most like a Demonic Cultivator among the teachers. Chapter 16: Making a Name with a Single Brilliant Feat Chapter 16: Making a Name with a Single Brilliant Feat Trantor: 549690339 The entrance to the grasnd examination venue, a teacher was in charge of checking the props brought by the students. Huang Qingqing and Shen Yueru sessively took out the magical treasures, talismans, and elixirs they were carrying, and the inspection process went very smoothly. When it came to Huang Wutong, the inspecting teacher couldnt help but frown. This was the Sword Cultivation Academy, where ordinary students would bring swords and magical treasures for the exams, yet Huang Wutong had actually brought a pair of shoes. What did that mean? Was he participating in a race? Of course, the examination rules didnt explicitly state that one couldnt bring shoe magical treasures, so after confirming Huang Wutongs shoesplied with the regtions, the inspecting teacher didnt ask further. However, the talismans that Huang Wutong disyed next were even more heavyweight. Two first-rank Nameless Talismans with healing effects. Cultivators with a slight understanding of talismans could generally deduce the function of a talisman from its design. As a result, the inspecting teacher, relying on a hundred years of experience and his Foundation Establishment cultivation level, waspletely stumped as to what abilities Huang Wutongs talisman had. He could only deduce that it was rted to healing and was of the first rank. Whats this talisman for? the inspecting teacher couldnt help but inquire aloud. Huang Wutong honestly replied, Its for rxing muscles. Rxing muscles? To rx after getting tired from running? Reasonable. Alright, you may pass, go take the exam, he said. Huang Wutong sighed in relief. The trio reached the examination field, facing a bald teacher cloaked in the Golden Iron Robe magical treasure. Huang Wutong was on the verge of tears. It was over; the grasnd terrain coupled with the mean-looking bald man, buffs werepletely stacked. Graduation seemed hopeless now. High above the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, teachers in groups of three each focused on their corresponding examination fields. They would grade the students practical exams based on judgments of the studentsbat strength and tactics. Passing the practical test was quite easy if one aimed for just a passing grade. If a trio formed by students could withstand the attacks of a teacher for half an hour, and at least one of them remained unbowed, they would pass. But if the students wanted to score high, they would need to trouble their teacher or even coborate to take the teacher down. Taking down a teacher was a theoretical possibility in the exams. Because not only were the teachers at the level of Foundation Establishment as opposed to the students ninth level of Qi refining, but they were also augmented by second-rank magical treasures, one tier higher than the students. Although there were three students, theycked the experience, cultivation level, and magical artifactspared to the teacher. Causing trouble for the teacher was an achievement at best; taking down the teacher was simply unrealistic. At the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, the majority of students best results were that all three were not taken down by a teacher. Those who could withstand the teachers onught and still cause trouble were already considered exceptionally outstanding students. As for those genius students who could beat those at the Foundation Establishment while at Qi refining, or Core Formation while at Foundation Establishment, it wasnt that they didnt exist, but they could enter the Immortal Sect directly with their innate talent or study in an affiliated high school of the Immortal Sect. With a bright future and grand prospects, there was no need for them to spend their days at the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. Dean Lei Buxiao and several counselors from the graduating ss formed an inspection group that shuttled between the various examination fields. If they encountered students showing outstanding performance in the exams, even the usually stern Dean Lei wouldnt skimp on giving praise. Not bad, knowing to use the lush nts to ambush in the rainforest. Theres also tactical coordination among these three. One in the open, one on a tree, and one hiding in the underbrush, encircling from three sidesquite thoughtful. I thought the young people nowadayscked blood qi, but it turns out some are even braver than I was back in the day. Whose students are these? A teacher replied with a smile, They are my foolish disciples. Dean Lei nodded in approval, Very good. If everyone in our academy had such a standard, why worry about not being promoted to a first-ss academy? In a couple of days, the inspection team from the Imperial College wille to inspect our academy for promotion conditions. Only if the inspection is passed can the official procedure for promotion begin. I hope all colleagues can work together with me, for the sake of the academy, and give it your all. The inspection group made their way to the grasnd examination field. There, on the t grasnd, two female cultivators were struggling against the bald teacher, while the sole male cultivator was running a marathon around the edge of the field. The two female cultivators were being pushed back by the bald teacher, and far from lending a hand, the male cultivator was running faster and faster. Dean Leis face turned dark. Huang Wutongs counselor broke out in a cold sweat, hastily stepping forward to smooth things over. Huang Wutong was born with defective spiritual roots, making cultivation difficult. This must have been a strategy the three of them came up with. Dean Leis expression soured, his tone displeased, Their strategy is to let a female cultivator kill the enemy while the male cultivators hide behind like cowards? Were a Sword Cultivation Academy, not a Cowardice Academy. What kind of sword cultivators are afraid of death? This Huang Wutongs counselor was at a loss for words after being scolded by the dean. Dean Lei continued, If our students dare not even draw their swords, once the people from the Imperial College arrive, not to mention rising in rank, we cant even preserve our current B grade title! The more Dean Lei looked at Huang Wutong, the angrier he became. A student from the prestigious Sword Cultivation Academy going to an examination without drawing their sword, just relying on running away? What kind of standard is this? Liu Qi! Dont go easy on them! The bald teacher Liu Qi that Huang Wutong mentioned stiffened his arms, and with two punches, knocked out Huang Qingqing and Shen Yueru. Now, there were still a full ten minutes left before the exam ended! Everyone at the examination site knew that the exam was already over. Alone, Huang Wutong simply couldntst ten minutes. Outside the examination site, many onlooking teachers felt it was a pity. Just moments ago, these three students might have passed the exam, but now with Dean Lei enraged, these three were definitely going to be sacrificed as an example. The so-called killing one to warn a hundred. Huang Wutong and his team were the chickens to be ughtered. Just as Dean Lei was about to say something else, he saw Huang Wutong toss a Healing Talisman at Liu Qi. Suddenly, all the teachers eyes widened. Healing the enemy? What kind of student would make such a move? Huang Wutongs counselors toes curled as if he had dug out a three-room apartment. The thing he regretted most in his life was having a genius student like Huang Wutong. On the examination field, the toppled Huang Qingqing cursed loudly. Huang Wutong! Have you gone mad? Why are you healing him? Run! Huang Wutong, watching Liu Qi approaching slowly, thought to himself, how could he still move when the Muscle Rxation Talisman was supposed to control him for a minute? Although Liu Qis movements were extremely slow and apanied by strange convulsions, the frightened Huang Wutong failed to notice these abnormalities. He only thought the Muscle Rxation Talisman had not worked. Instinctively, Huang Wutong cast another Muscle Rxation Talisman. Another Healing Talisman flew towards Liu Qi. A candidate healing the enemy twice in a row was unprecedented in the history of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. Huang Qingqing and Shen Yueru despaired, convinced that after failing the exam, they would probably have to retake it with Huang Wutong. But in another exam, they would definitely not bring Huang Wutong along! Outside the examination field, many teachers sympathized with Huang Wutongs counselor. Facing such a student was no longer an issue of counseling, but sheer bad luck. Just when everyone was certain of Huang Wutongs imminent defeat, on the grasnd exam field, the teacher Liu Qi, clothed in the second-tier Magical Treasure Golden Iron Robe, suddenly rolled his eyes back, foamed at the mouth, and copsed backward, fainting on the spot! Even as hey unconscious, Liu Qi convulsed on the ground as if his legs were frog legs shocked by electricity. 21 minutes and 31 seconds! On the grasnd exam field, candidate Huang Wutong knocked out his opponent, and Huang Wutongs team passed the exam ahead of time! Score: 30 (Full Marks) The news of Huang Wutongs full marks passing the exam shed across the big screen in the waiting hall. And Huang Wutongs teams score instantly topped the leaderboard, achieving a groundbreaking lead. Knocking out a teacher in an instant? How did he do it? Is this kid a genius? Dean Lei and the inspection team had not yet recovered from Huang Wutongs victory when they saw the teacher scheduled to rece Liu Qi hurriedly flying over. Dean, you must go see Director Liu Qi; he seems to have fainted from pain! Chapter 17 - 17 New Job Chapter 17 New Job Trantor: 549690339 In the afternoon, at the Task Hall of the Tongtian Sect branch in Wuyue City. Huang Wutong hugged Jiang Cheng with tear-filled eyes, and had it not been for Jiang Chengs support, he would have knelt down to give Jiang Cheng a kowtow of thanks. The female cultivator He, who had been working in Wuyue City for several years, had never seen such a spectacle. Someone had spent three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones on a first-tier Talisman, and instead of feeling like theyd been ripped off, they wanted to kneel and thank the Talisman Master whod just made three thousand stones off themwhat kind of world was this? He was only in her twenties, but she felt she had a deep generational gap with the young people of today. For the life of her, she could not understand what act Huang Wutong and Jiang Cheng were putting on. Even if Jiang Chengs skill in drawing Talismans was excellent, he surely couldnt make a first-tier Talisman better than a third-tier one, could he? After all, three thousand Spirit Stones could buy many third-tier Talismans. Jiang Chengs performance caught He by surprise. Before today, she had never imagined that a mission which many first-tier and second-tier Talisman Masters didnt dare to ept, would actually bepleted by this fellow who was not even a first-tier Talisman Master and only had a junior high school diploma and a second-ce certificate. It seemed a bit unbelievable. Huang Wutong wept on the spot, Brother Jiang, its all thanks to you that I was able to receive praise from the Counselor and the headmaster. Once, all I hoped for was to graduate, never daring to wish for anything like Outstanding Graduate, but now, the headmaster himself has bestowed this title upon me. If my dear mother has a spirit in heaven, she would definitely be smiling down at me. And that Huang Qingqing can no longer look down on me. And that guy who sits next to me Jiang Cheng patted Huang Wutongs shoulder. Its not me helping you; its your own effort that has made you who you are now. Ive only provided a slight bit of help for your achievements. Huang, you must believe in yourself. You deserve the title of Outstanding Graduate. With encouragement from Jiang Cheng, Huang Wutong pulled himself together. And Jiang Cheng, too, sessfully sent off the reinvigorated Huang Wutong, and through He, he received his lifes first taskpensationa full three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. Jiang Cheng counted the three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones to make sure the number was correct, and carefully stored them in his storage bag. These Spirit Stones, earned through his own hard work, held extraordinary significance as his first pot of gold. Jiang, if theres anything else you need, feel free to tell He anytime. He was in a good mood as well because Jiang Chengs taskpletion had added to her work performanceit was something to be happy about. Jiang Cheng didnt hold back and directly said, Sister He, Id like to ask if there are any more tasks simr to the Powerful Immobilization Talisman in the first-tier Talisman Area? He thought for a moment; working in the Task Hall, she was very familiar with the tasksing and going. There are quite a few, but Jiang, which specific type are you looking for? Jiang Cheng did not mince words, The type that can make a lot of money. He: Normally when people refer to types, they mean healing or control types. Only Jiang Cheng would say money-making type. However, Jiang Chengs honest remark did not elicit any annoyance from He. If anything, in this world where everyone pretentiously tters each other, Jiang Chengs frankness was like a beam of light shining into a prison cell. Speaking of making money, there was a first-tier Fluorescence Talisman two days ago that was put up for the high price of four thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. A first-tier Fluorescence Talisman for four thousand stones? Thats even more profitable than the Powerful Immobilization Talisman! Fluorescence Talismans are extremely cheap, much cheaper than a regr Immobilization Talisman. Huang Wutongs Immobilization Talisman, at least, had the word Powerful added to it, belonging to a modded version. This Fluorescence Talisman didnt even need modding. Yet, it could still sell for four thousand stonessimply more money-making than a minting machine. He added, But this task has already been taken by another Talisman Master. Jiang Cheng inwardlymented the missed opportunity to make big money. Besides that, there are a few others put up just this afternoon, worth between three to five hundred Spirit Stones. However, these tasks are time-sensitive and have very high time constraints, and the most urgent of these tasks He nced at the sun outside the great hall. Has only one more hour before the deadline. Without any better tasks to take on, Jiang Cheng decided to check out these time-sensitive ones. [Urgent request for a Healing Talisman! The effect must knock someone out with two hits! Im a student who has an exam this afternoon! If you have the Talisman, ept quickly! The price is negotiable!] [Two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones] A Healing Talisman that knocks someone out with two hits? Jiang Cheng remembered that in Immortal Gods, there was no such absurd Talisman. A single talisman that could heal and attack at the same time? If such a Talisman really existed, he, as the value designer, might as well not work and leave the job to a dog, for even a dog wouldnt create something that so destroys the bnce of the game. Jiang Cheng looked at the next task. [Looking for a Talisman! Can cause full-body convulsions, eyes rolling back, and frothing at the mouth! Should be a first-tier healing-type Talisman!] [Three hundred low-grade Spirit Stones] ` Healing talismans that cause full-body spasms, foaming at the mouth, and rolling eyes back? Are these really healing talismans? Jiang Cheng felt that this guy was joking. There must be too many idle rich people in Wuyue City, for someone to actually pawn three hundred Spirit Stones just to make a joke at the Task Hall. He had no idea what they were trying to achieve. Are they looking for fun? Jiang Cheng looked at thest mission. [High price for talisman! Im a student at Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, and Im facing graduation exams. I seek a talisman that will let me pass the exam with ease! Its a first-order talisman, the effects seem to be of the attack type or maybe rted to poisoning, Im not clear. But in any case, I want to defeat the teacher without any effort! Price negotiable!] [Five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones] Pass the exam with ease? First-order talisman? Attack? Poisoning? Defeat the teacher without any effort? Jiang Cheng carefully summarized this guys task request. He quickly deduced his purposeto cheat! What else could it be, if not cheating, to seek an effortless way to pass an exam? Although five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones were tempting. Although Jiang Cheng had the ability to make poisoning talismans. Although Jiang Cheng urgently needed to earn money. But, Jiang Cheng felt that one must not abandon their principles. Taking on tasks that break rules and attempt to cheat, no matter how poor he was, Jiang Cheng would never ept them! Unexpectedly, this guy turned out to be a student from Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, just like Jiang. Unfortunately, theres a vast difference between his character and Jiangs character. Although Jiangs cultivation level isnt high, he didnt give up, having thoroughly prepared and studied hard for the exams to earn the title of Outstanding Graduate. Jiangs unknown to outsiders, his strong will and persistent hard work are evident in this title. But this guy, all he thought about was cutting corners. He really wasnt worthy of studying at the same academy as Jiang. Jiang Cheng browsed around but didnt find any suitable tasks to take on. He nned to go to a nearby city to Wuyue tomorrow to look for opportunities; perhaps there would be missions like the Powerful Immobilization Talisman. In the evening, after dinner, Jiang Cheng received a message on his reusablemunication talisman. He: Out of the blue, several lucrative tasks havee in. Want to take them? Jiang Cheng: Ill head over now. At the Task Hall, Jiang Cheng studied the newly posted missions carefully. These tasks ranged from three hundred to six hundred Spirit Stones in value. The content of the tasks was surprisingly simple and consistent. [Urgently need a Muscle Rxation Talisman!!! Extremely urgent!!!] Muscle Rxation Talisman, it seemed, besides himself, only Cao Wang and Huang Wutong knew about it So who leaked the information? Most likely it was Huang Wutong. But its not definite, when ites to bragging, Cao Wang is also quite reliable. But Jiang Cheng didnt mind. The Muscle Rxation Talisman is reasonable and legal. Its not something shameful. Whats wrong with fellow cultivators using the Muscle Rxation Talisman to relieve stress during their study and work breaks? By all ounts, its a good thing. Jiang, you taking these tasks? He looked at Jiang Cheng expectantly, as all these tasks ounted for her work performance! Jiang Cheng nodded. epted! If Spirit Stones were being handed to him, he had no reason not to take them. Chapter 18: In Full Swing Chapter 18: In Full Swing Trantor: 549690339 ` In the year 3210 of the Liang Calendar, on the morning of June 21st, the Task Hall of the Tongtian Sects Wuyue branch saw an addition of over a dozen requests for Muscle Rxation Talismans. At the same time, the only person in the world who could create Muscle Rxation Talismans was resting with his eyes closed in Cao Wangs rental. The living room of Cao Wangs apartment had been specifically cleared out. The cluttered tables, chairs, and coffee tables were piled up to one side. In the center of the living room stood a table and chair, with a meditation cushion ced beside it. The table was covered with tools used for drawing talismans, while around the cushion were strewn various supplements for restoring spiritual energy and spiritual power. Starting from yesterday, Jiang Cheng had stayed at Cao Wangs home, except for when he was sleeping. For the past thirty hours or so, he had been doing only two things: drawing talismans and meditating to recover. Previously, Jiang Cheng could produce at most two Muscle Rxation Talismans a day. But under the fervent financial offensive of those seeking talismans, Jiang Cheng decided to challenge his limits and began creating talismans around the clock. With the assistance of costly supplements, Jiang Cheng had managed to double his efficiency in producing Muscle Rxation Talismans! He went from making two Muscle Rxation Talismans per day to producing four! Based on the current average listing price in the Task Hall, each Muscle Rxation Talisman was worth three hundred Spirit Stones. Jiang Cheng could earn up to twelve hundred low-grade Spirit Stones a day! Of course, that was just turnover. The actual profit wasnt that much; for example, the supplements were expensive, and since Cao Wang was running errands for Jiang Cheng, he had to share a portion of the earnings with Cao Wang. Even so, the daily revenue was still very substantial. If the current trend continued, Jiang Cheng only needed to persist for half a month more to collect enough money to purchase a house. As noon approached, Cao Wang came home carrying two boxes of takeout. It was June, the height of hot weather, and since Cao Wang had been delivering goods all morning, he waspletely drenched in sweat when he returned. Jiang, Ive epted the new tasks posted in the Task Hall for you, as well as the materials you mentioned for drawing talismans. Oh right, for lunch, we have rice with toppings. Theres one with minced pork and eggnt and another with shredded pork in garlic sauce. Which one do you want? Minced pork and eggnt, Jiang Cheng said. Jiang Cheng paused his meditation, took the takeout from Cao Wangs hands, and ced them on the dining table in the kitchen. He mentioned that tasks can be epted on behalf of others but the rewards must be collected personally. Youll have to pick them up when youre free. Cao Wang sat down at the table and began to devour his food. Running errands, epting tasks, and buying talisman-making tools kept Cao Wang on his feet all morning without a moments rest. This was the first time Cao Wang had worked a job to earn money since he was young. Although it was indeed exhausting, he found it exciting. Jiang Cheng acknowledged his point, then quickly joined Cao Wang for the meal. Time was of the essence, and he had to cut down his eating time as much as possible. After eating, Cao Wang said to Jiang Cheng, Jiang, I think we need to find another person. Jiang Cheng asked with curiosity, Cant you keep up with the running anymore? Its not that, Cao Wang said, scratching his head and looking a bit embarrassed. You know how I fare with my studies. Once the college entrance exam results are out in a few days, my dad will likely drag me away for a scolding, and its almost certain that I will have to retake the exam next year, so Im not sure how much longer I can help you. After pondering for a moment, Jiang Cheng considered that Cao Wang was not short of money and was merely selling talismans for the experience. Given that Cao Wang would probably have to attend a college entrance examination re-study program and wouldnt have much free time, it was indeed necessary to hire someone soon to help with purchasing and delivering talismans. I understand. Ill go talk to He tonight and ask for her help in looking for someone, Jiang Cheng said. After Huang Wutongs practical exam ended, the entire Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy was enshrouded in immense terror. Huang Wutong was somewhat famous in the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. Being open-handed was one aspect, but on the other, this fellow had imperfect spiritual roots, consistently ranking at the bottom of every ss, failing every subject. While others were enjoying a leisurely academy life, Huang Wutong spent every day wracking his brain, seeking to ingratiate himself with stronger ssmates to help him pass his exams. ` So essentially, many students with decent grades in the academy were aware of Huang Wutongs existence, and a considerable number had even helped him. In their eyes, Huang Wutong was just a cker in the academy, looking only to scrape through and get his diploma. It wasnt so much disdain, but there probably wasnt a student who truly respected Huang Wutongs academic achievements. That was until the 19th, the first morning of the practical skills assessment, when Huang Wutong took the top spot in the academysbat assessment rankingsfor a whole day! Many began to sense that something was off. On the morning of the 20th, another student, who typically went unnoticed and often ranked at the bottom of his ss, broke Huang Wutongs previous record with a time of 15 minutes and 11 seconds. By the afternoon of the 20th, this record was surpassed once again, first by a time of 14 minutes and 50 seconds, and then by 12 minutes and 1 second. And the students who set these new records were still those who were usually jokingly referred to as the tail-enders. They were once on the verge of failing to graduate, but now they began to surpass many top-ranking good students, not only set to graduate but also potentially finishing at the top of their ss! Some of the less scrupulous students even publicly gloated over those who had looked down on them before. Hahaha, times have changed, man! Who needs that outdated swordsmanship? With just one Muscle Rxation Talisman, I can beat you till you call me daddy! The humiliated students, watching their high-ranking graduation scores, were seething with anger but dared not speak out. Of course, among them were skeptics. A few had secretly informed their counselors about the existence of the Muscle Rxation Talisman, hoping the academy would crack down on such heaven-defying talismans. What the hell, just buy a talisman and easily graduate? Then what was the point in their past studies? Such heaven-defying talismans had to be considered cheating, right? One talisman couldnt possibly be both incredibly effective and fully legal andpliant, could it? It had to be against the rules! Now they just awaited the righteous strike from the academy, to annul all the grades obtained with illicit talismans! To restore the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy to its former rity and order! To give back fairness and justice to the many students of the academy! It must be said that the response speed of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy was rather rapid. On the very night many students reported the issue, all five examination arenas were equipped with high-tech spiritual energy detection devices. These detection devices,bined with the expertise of the Equipment Refining Departments teachers, formed a powerful alliance. The moment they discovered a student carrying illegal items beyond the examination rules, they would immediately apprehend them on the spot! Dere them as failing the exam! To serve as a warning to others! However, on the morning of the 21st, all student-held items were deemedpliant. Moreover, the previous days leading score of 12 minutes and 1 second was refreshed by a new record of 11 minutes and 11 seconds. By then, several examining teachers had begun to feel something was amiss. They often found themselves struck by a strange Healing Talisman and would instantly start cramping all over their bodies. And this kind of cramp couldnt be resolved by the usual Qi Cultivation Stage spellsit was downright bizarre. Unable to move, they would then be taken down by a swift kick from a student, ending the assessment. Teachers had many more connections than students. The moment they sensed something was wrong, they immediately sought out colleagues who were adept at drawing talismans. The result was predictable: A Healing Talisman that paralyzes the whole body, causing cramps? Impossible! Theres no such talisman! Im Lu Benwei, a second-order Talisman Masterwhy would I lie to you? If you can find me one such Healing Talisman today, that causes full-body cramps, Ill eat my second-order Talisman Master Certificate right here and now! Chapter 19 - 19 Recruitment Chapter 19 Recruitment Trantor: 549690339 Tongtian Sect Wuyues Task Hall. Jiang Cheng settled the task payment with He and then said to her, He, I want to hire someone to deliver talismans to clients for me. Can I post a job here? Ever since He met Jiang Cheng, she had been cheerful every day. Nowadays, she doesnt do anything but still manages toplete several tasks each day, each of which is quite valuable. Its almost like being a high school PE teacher whos always on sick leave, still gets a decent sry, and even earns a load of goodwill for free. Her life couldnt be morefortable and carefree. Hearing that Jiang Cheng wanted to hire someone, He didnt dare to neglect and quickly found paper and pen to record Jiang Chengs requirements. Our Task Hall can also recruit people. You tell me your needs, and Ill help you post the task. Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, Gender doesnt matter. Its best if theyre on the younger side. Okay. What else? They cant have a criminal record. And better not have any past criminal history either. Its best if they also dont have tooplicated interpersonal rtionships. Anything else? Id prefer them not to be too lively in character. He stuck her face halfway out from behind her notes, Why? Because you prefer gentle female cultivators? Jiang Cheng confessed, Im not good at being strict, so if her personality is too lively, it might cause me some unnecessary trouble. He nodded thoughtfully and said, So, you still prefer the more gentle female cultivators? Jiang Cheng paused for a second, not quite understanding why He was asking this. Uh, not really. Then which type of female cultivator do you like? I this doesnt seem rted to hiring, does it? Oh, haha, thats true. Go on, what are the other hiring conditions? After some careful thought, Jiang Cheng finally said, Theres nothing else, but if its possible to restrict academic qualifications, Id rather hire someone with a lower educational level and no skills. He: ? Everyone else wants to hire those with high education and many skills, why are you going against the grain? Jiang Cheng saw the confusion on Hes face and took the initiative to exin, Her work is just to deliver talismans and purchase items, as well as take over my tasks, so the sry wont be too high. I want to hire a down-to-earth employee, not those students whoe thinking of having some fun. He thoughtfully said, I understand. I will let you know if someonees. Do you want her toe to the Task Hall, or should she go to your home? Ill give you an address. Okay~ Perhaps afraid of affecting Jiang Chengs task eptance, He was surprisingly efficient. The next morning, she sent a message to Jiang Cheng. He: Theres a suitable candidate, Ive told her to go find you. He: Shes very pretty! Upon seeing Hes message, Jiang Chengs brow immediately furrowed. Pretty? It looks like she wont do. I need to find a way to turn her down. As everyone knows, women represent trouble, pretty women represent squared trouble, and very pretty women represent trouble to infinity. The biggest example of this is Lin Yao! Unless the womaning for the interview threatens my life with a knife, I absolutely wont take her on as an employee! Jiang Cheng nced at Cao Wangs messy rental and said to Cao Wang, who was lying on the sofa chatting through amunication talisman, Old Cao, clean up the room a bit. Cao Wang scratched his belly, Why? You getting married? Someone ising here for an interview. Let theme, were all grown men. A woman, supposedly very beautiful. Cao Wang whooshed to his feet from the sofa, then tidied up the room with a move called Tornado Destroys Parking Lot. He even found time to take a shower, shave his beard, spray some cologne, and change into a sharp and noticeably expensive casual outfit. Jiang, you have Lin Yao, you know. Im warning you, when she arrives, you better watch out for your bro. Jiang Cheng dered firmly, Lin Yao and I have absolutely nothing going on. Cao Wang waved his hand and said, Alright, alright, youve been seen pulling and dragging with her, and you still say theres nothing between you? Cut it out, you can fool your bro but dont fool yourself. I dont care whats going on between you and Lin Yao right now, but you better notpete with me for the girl whosing for the interview. Seeing Cao Wangs determined look, Jiang Cheng felt utterly helpless inside. The impression Jiang Cheng had left on people as a supporting character was deeply entrenched; it would be difficult to change his ambiguous rtionship with Lin Yao any time soon. But as long as he made it through this graduation season summer, it would be fine. Once he entered university, he and Lin Yao would go their separate ways and it was unlikely they would cross paths again. In the following time, Cao Wang meticulously prepared for the interview, while Jiang Cheng continued to take tonics to restore the spiritual power and Spiritual Power he had lost drawing talismans. Finally, there was a knock at the door. Jiang Cheng nced at Cao Wang, whose legs were trembling. Jiang, Im kind of nervous, what should I do? Jiang Cheng: It has to be said that Cao Wang, as a Rich Second Generation, had one great virtue: he was timid. This rare quality would normally be seen as pejorative in others, but for Cao Wang, it was definitely apliment. Although he didnt study, Cao Wang never caused troubles, and he was a very good kid that made his parents feel at ease. At least Cao Wang wouldnt end up being a ssic case of Rich Second Generation starts a business and in three years, sessfully runs it into the ground. With Cao Wang not being reliable, Jiang Cheng had to go open the door himself. The door swung open to reveal a girl dressed very simply on the outside. She didnt wear the fashionable leather shoes, high heels, or sneakers of the time, but what seemed to be self-made cloth shoes. Her pants and shirt also looked a bit out-of-date, making Jiang Cheng suspect that her clothes were styles preserved from twenty years ago. But from the intermittent snugness and tightness of the fabric of her clothes, this female cultivator was likely someone who didnt reveal her true wealth. Jiang Chengs gaze slowly shifted to the female cultivators face. He was stunned. This female cultivator truly had a ssic oval face, hair like a waterfall, skin fairer than snow, a delicate nose, and cherry lips, not to mention her eyebrows and eyes. Her eyebrows were like the willows of southern rivers, long and fitting, and beneath them were a pair of eyes as dark as night, serene, cool, like the refreshing ice of summer and the cold iron of winter. Jiang Cheng could say with surety that the female cultivators beauty was no less than Lin Yaos. But what shocked Jiang Cheng the most was not her beauty, but her identity! Jiang Cheng recognized her! Liu Qing! In a sense, Liu Qing, like Lin Yao, was a Plot Leading Lady in Immortal Gods. But unlike Lin Yao, Liu Qings storyline was rather short. Liu Qings story was mainly introduced for an event called the Beasts Tide of Mount Tian. In the plot, Liu Qing belonged to the conservative faction of the Demon Race. After traveling the human world for two hundred years, she thought that the Radical Faction of the Demon Race was still too conservative. Compete with humans? No! Humans should all be exterminated! Thus, she led the charge against the humans byunching the Beast Tide, and she battled many of the human realms top masters for years. She wasnt like Lin Yao, who needed guidance and only grew into her role as the story progressed. She was a big deal from the moment she appeared C a Monster! A Snake Demoness with a full two thousand years of cultivation level! Chapter 20: For the Future of Humanity Chapter 20: For the Future of Humanity Trantor: 549690339 The moment he saw Liu Qing, Jiang Chengs heart stopped beating. Honestly, among the many predecessors who had transmigrated, Jiang Cheng wasnt the bravest. This could be seen from how he had tried his best to avoid contact with Lin Yao. He had a good life, with both parents alive, a harmonious family, excellent academic performance, and handsome looks. With such great transmigration conditions, even if a Demoness of the Demonic Tao was as beautiful as a celestial, Jiang Cheng didnt want to stir up trouble; he just wanted to live a normal life under the rule of the Immortal Sects. Theres an old saying that one cannot live without some excitement. But excitement is predicated on being alive. If you cant even stay alive, what use is excitement? Just being stared at by Liu Qings serene eyes made Jiang Cheng break out in a sweat. His opponent seemed not to be a beautiful girl but a ferocious beasta top-tier, cold-blooded predator from Mount Tian! At this time, Cao Wang unexpectedly stood out. He had caught sight of Liu Qing from afar and braced himself for a long time. It wasnt until Jiang Cheng had been frozen for too long that he couldnt stand it anymore and walked to the door. Miss, hello, youre here for the interview, right? Please, go inside and have a seat, he said. Liu Qing turned her gaze toward Cao Wang, making him tense up. Shit! This girl is really pretty! Lin Yao, dont contact me anymore! Jiang Cheng thought to himself: Old Cao, do you still dare toe closer? Arent you going to think of a way to run? But contrary to Jiang Chengs expectations, Liu Qing did not react violently. She simply walked into the room at a measured pace, as if she truly was here for an interview. Cao Wang nudged Jiang Cheng with his elbow. Look at you, wheres your ambition? Cant walk straight after seeing a beautiful girl? Im telling you, when ites to romance, yourecking a lot. Practice makes perfect! Jiang Cheng bit his teeth and forced himself to calm down. Upon rational analysis, Liu Qings level in the game was 83, which, if converted to the human Cultivation Level, would be at the Mahayana Realm! The Cultivation Level setting in Immortal Gods has ten stages, ranked from low to high: Qi Training, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, Void Refinement, Integration, Tribtion Transcendence, Mahayana, and Ascension. These Cultivation Levels, when converted to a level system, correspond to levels 1 through 99 respectively. Jiang Cheng was at Qi Training thirdyer, which is equivalent to level 3. Cao Wang was at Qi Training fourthyer, equivalent to level 4. And Liu Qing was a proper level 83! It could be said that if Liu Qing wanted to kill him and Cao Wang, she would need only to breathe out, and they would be annihted, leaving no trace behind. Running and fighting were both dead ends. Now, he just hoped that Liu Qing was in a good mood and wouldnt make life difficult for him and Cao Wang, two high school students still wet behind the ears. Jiang Cheng took a deep breath, steadied his emotions, closed the door, and sat down at the interview table. Cao Wang kept making eyes at Jiang Cheng who understood his thoughts all too well. This guys mind was simple, simply infatuated with Liu Qings body. The problem was, Liu Qing was a Snake Demoness! If you dare to crave her, she dares to entangle you! So what should they do now? Jiang Cheng didnt know. In the face of absolute power, all cunning and strategies were in vain. Therefore, the only way to solve the current predicament was to figure out what Liu Qing really wanted to do. She was a powerful Demon Race being at level 83 in the Mahayana Realm; she couldnt possibly havee to the Human Race territory to work out of boredom, could she? Uh Maybe that was quite possible. Jiang Cheng tried hard to recall the storyline of the Beasts Tide of Mount Tian event. It seemed to say something about Liu Qing visiting the human world and being changed by the hardships of human life in the end Jiang Cheng didnt remember the storyline clearly, but he remembered very clearly the bnce of various factions. After all, he was a data nner, and maintaining bnce was his forte. In the various factions set up in Immortal Gods, On the Human Race side, bnce was maintained through mutual checks and bnces among the Five Great Immortal Sects. The Demon Race, on the other hand, did not divide their factions by race, since there were simply too many Demon Race species. The main division of Demon Race factions was by ideological groups. There were mainly three development factions within the Demon Race. The first was the conservative faction, advocating for maintaining the status quo, where humans lived in their world, and demons stayed in theirs without interference. The second was the moderate faction, advocating for limited contact and cooperation with humans and not beingpletely closed off. The third was the radical faction, advocating for attacking the Human Race to reim Demon Race territory. Liu Qing, since she was only two thousand years old and rtively young, seemed to belong to another faction outside of these three within the Demon Race. Namely the Descent Faction (strike through) Namely the Coexistence Faction. This faction was mainlyposed of many young members of the Demon Race. Its core idea was that the Demon Race was simply too backward and had to make drastic changes. They took the initiative to integrate themselves into human society, bing a part of it, and living in coexistence with the Human Race. Liu Qing was one of the main forces of the Coexistence Faction. Even to prove that her ideas were feasible, she had actively traveled to human society. Eventually, she was educated by various aspects of human society. For example, there were no holidays, and she didnt get paid for overtime Of course, there were also some strange phenomena that were untouchable slippery slopes. In the end, Liu Qing concluded that human society was beyond salvation, transforming from the Coexistence Faction to the Conservative Faction, and insisted that the Radical Faction was too conservative. When you think about it Jiang Cheng felt that Liu Qings transformation seemed quite reasonable. She, a powerful figure of the Demon Race, came to human society and was tormented by various unscrupulous bosses. If she didnt be conservative, who would? However, ording to the event storyline, Liu Qings dark turn seemed to be something that happened many yearster. Although Jiang Cheng didnt know how long Liu Qing had stayed in human society or how much she had been educated, as long as he wasnt an unscrupulous boss who had tormented Liu Qing, he wouldnt have any feuds with this powerful demon! With the Immortal Sects to shoulder the sky, as long as he had no personal hatred with the powerful demon, Jiang Cheng believed that after Liu Qing left, she would never look back for him. After all, he was just an ordinary citizen, and Liu Qing had no reason to go out of her way to kill him. Great! Now all he had to do was to refuse Liu Qing and everything would be perfect! Ahem. Jiang Cheng considered the pros and cons and then began the interview phase, Whats your name? Liu Qing. Nice name! Youre hired! Jiang, bring out the contract you wrote earlier! Cao Wang rubbed his hands together excitedly. Was Miss Liu signing the contract written by Jiang Cheng? No! Miss Liu was signing her fate with him, Cao Wang! No, Jiang Cheng was puzzled, and he whispered, Cao, calm down a bit, will you? I am calm, very calm, Cao Wang held Jiang Chengs arm tightly, Jiang, hear me out, in my whole life, Ive never liked anyone, but Ive really taken to her! Jiang Cheng: You say that about everyone you see! Cao Wang: Quickly get the contract! While the two brothers were disputing, Liu Qing spoke. Jiang Cheng. Her voice was cold and clear, like a shard of ice breaking on the ground under the eaves in winter. Present! Jiang Cheng from Stinky Tofu Jiang Cheng instantly lined up. Liu Qing went on, Do you have an opinion of me? Jiang Chengs throat bobbed, and after struggling for a while he said, No opinions. Cao Wang was overjoyed, No opinions? Then get the contract out quickly! Jiang Cheng tremulously took the contract from his storage bag, and Cao Wang snatched it away, cing it before Liu Qing. Come on, Miss Liu, once you sign the contract, you will be the legitimate employee of my brother Jiang Cheng. Liu Qing looked at the contract, her brows slightly furrowed, and she seemed a bit displeased. Jiang Chengs heart sank, thinking: Uh oh, she probably thinks the sry Im offering is too low! But to be honest, three hundred Spirit Stones a month just for running errands wasnt a small sum, considering that the real estate price in Wuyue City was only about six hundred per square meter. In the previous life, the average price in Shanghai was sixty thousand; which errandpany could pay thirty thousand a month? But looking at her expression, she wouldnt consider him some unscrupulous boss, right!? Thinking about his own life and the future of all mankind, Jiang Cheng finally bit the bullet and said, Miss Liu, the sry on this contract is negotiable, but at most I can only offer three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones a month. Any more and I really cant afford it. Cao Wang looked at Jiang Cheng in shock: Three thousand a month!? Why isnt the price the same when his buddies run errands? Liu Qing sat in the chair, her long and snow-white neck supporting her indifferent and exquisite face. With her serene gaze, she nced at Jiang Cheng. Deal. Her voice was crisp and chilly. But Jiang Cheng felt relieved. Although hiring this way was a slight loss, he had incidentally saved humanity. Chapter 21 - 21 Do a good deed every day Chapter 21 Do a good deed every day Trantor: 549690339 In the year 3210 of the Liang Calendar, on June 22nd, the elderly Professor Bai Wendao walked on the road to Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. Thest time Bai Wendao had been to the academy was thirty years ago. He was an old member of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy and still had quite some affection for it. His agreement toe out of retirement and teach again was partly due to his concern for the future development of the Sword Cultivation Academy. At his age, the chances of making a breakthrough to Core Formation were slim, plus he wasnt short on money. Unless out of love for the profession, there really was no need for him to take up a professorship again. Bai Wendao was originally supposed to start teaching at the beginning of the new academic term, at the end of September. But having been away from the academy for thirty years, he felt somewhat out of touch with its progress. Thus, Bai Wendao took the initiative and suggested to Lei Buxiao that he wanted to enter the academy early to limate himself. Which led to the arrangement for Bai Wendao to be the teacher for the graduates practicalbat assessment. The practicalbat assessment for graduates was rather simple. At least, it was for Bai Wendao. A veteran cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment Stage, handling a few little kids in the Qi Cultivation Stage was a piece of cake, wasnt it? Just a practicalbat assessment, what difficulty could there be? Even if his body was aging, it couldnt be that he wouldnt be able to handle a few youngsters, right? Because the game Immortal Gods included nd carsspiritual energy-driven cars, there were corresponding roads, zebra crossings, and traffic lights. Bai Wendao arrived at an intersection. Even as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he still had to wait for the traffic light. Misusing ones cultivation level in public ces to disrupt traffic would result in a corresponding fine. The fine wasnt much, but it would be embarrassing. High-ranking cultivators were respected figures everywhere, and nobody wanted to be caught for a public shaming and education session, ruining their reputation. Thus, everyone implicitly followed the rules. While waiting for the traffic light, Bai Wendao spotted a particrly beautiful female cultivator. This female cultivator was not only beautiful, but she also possessed a cool temperament rarely seen in cultivators her age. She stood there as if she were an ice sculpture exhaling chillness. From her expression to her movements, she radiated an aura of Keep away from me, strangers not wee. As a seasoned lecturer, Bai Wendao could tell upon seeing Liu Qing that she was a girl with a pure heart and if her talent was good, she could be an excellent practitioner of cultivation. As long as she diligently cultivated, her future achievements would surely not be low. At the very least, surpassing his Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment should not be a big problem. However Bai Wendao felt that this female cultivator, who was looking around as if lost and not crossing even when the light turned green, seemed to be in need of help. If it had been in the past, Bai Wendao probably wouldnt bother helping, especially with someone carrying a cool aura, as it was likely more trouble than it was worth. But after he met Jiang Cheng, he was influenced by this sunny and kind-hearted young man. If Jiang Cheng were here, he would probably not hesitate to help this female cultivator, right? Thats what Bai Wendao thought. Thinking this, he approached Liu Qing. Young student, do you need any help? he asked in a friendly tone. Liu Qing took a gentle sniff, and the scents of the surrounding environment rushed into her nostrils. Being a snake demoness with two thousand years of cultivation, she could easily distinguish various bits of information hidden in the environment. Including hostility, malice, danger, excitement Liu Qing confirmed that this elderly person with a modest cultivation level had no strange intentions. She took out a piece of paper, confirmed her destination, then asked, Excuse me, where is Lakeside Garden? Bai Wendao was taken aback. Considering how serious the female cultivator seemed, he thought some significant issue had arisen. But it turned out she was merely lost. Lakeside Garden Bai Wendao thought for a moment and came up with the location. Having lived for many years in Wuyue City, such a question about directions was no pressure for him. You just follow this Kangzhuang Road straight ahead, turn left at Waterfront Elite Residence, continue straight and then youll reach it. As a lecturer, Bai Wendao definitely had no issues with his eloquence. Plus, with his clear logic, he believed he described the route quite well. The female cultivator seemed not to have understood at all. After pondering for a while, she said, But this road, up ahead, it splits into three. Kangzhuang Road doesnt split into three; instead, another road crosses it, forming a crossroads. In short, you just need to follow this road straight ahead, and when youe across Waterfront Elite Residence, take a left, and then Waterfront Elite Residence, whats that? A residentialmunity. Residentialmunity, whats that? A residentialmunity is a bunch of houses gathered together, where a lot of people live. So, is this ce a residentialmunity? No, this is a hospital! Hospital, whats that? Had it been someone else asking, Bai Wendao would have let her experience just how fast his swordsmanship was. But this female cultivator was strange; she blinked her eyes, polite and seemingly sincere in asking some utterly bewildering questions. She appeared to know very little about the most fundamental aspects of modern society. Of course, what really eased Bai Wendaos irritation was that the female cultivator always paused to think before speaking, which gave her an elegant air, yet she somehow seemed not too bright. It wasnt a foolish kind of unintelligence but rather an exquisitely constrained mental capacity. In short, very strange! At the entrance of Waterfront Elite Residence. Thank you, Liu Qing said to Bai Wendao. She was genuinely thankful to this elderly man who had taken the trouble to apany her here, with his low cultivation level and not much remaining lifespan, a rather pitiable old man. Bai Wendao forced a smile. After realizing that the female cultivator was asking for directions due to work, he had already begun to silently curse her employer. Who could be so immoral! To actually employ a young woman with a mental deficiency! People these days really seem to have no bottom line at all! Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. There was a minor incident on the way, but Bai Wendao still arrived on time at the ce where he once worked. It had been thirty years since hest set foot here, and there hadnt been many changes at the Sword Cultivation Academy. The trees were still the old friends, the imposing teaching buildings still stood tall, but the vast majority of faces on campus were now unfamiliar. Thirty years were enough for many lecturers to be promoted or transferred,pletely renewing the academys lifeblood. Bai Wendao arrived at the examination hall for graduates. The equipment used for monitoring the exams had clearly been reced with brand-new models. The disys were bigger and clearer, much improved from his time. Bai Wendao nced at the leaderboard on the screen. The student ranked first had earned an impressive score of 8 minutes and 15 seconds. 8 minutes and 15 seconds! Such a level was much more formidable than the students he used to teach. Bai Wendao nodded with satisfaction. Not bad. No wonder that Lei Buxiao dared to organize the academys upgrade. It turned out that the teaching quality at the Sword Cultivation Academy had improved significantly after his departure. With such excellent lecturers and students, the academys upgrade this time should likely face no major issues. Bai Wendao was about to wander around when he saw Tao Weiping, his former student and now a lecturer at Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, approaching him. Teacher Bai, youve arrived! Bai Wendao looked approvingly at Tao Weiping and said, Weiping, you guys have done quite well in teaching these past few years. Just look at the scores on the leaderboard, our Sword Cultivation Academy seems to be churning out talents! Tao Weipings face turned pale, Teacher, theres a lot to say about that. Anyway, first let me discuss with you a few particrly important points to watch out for during the uing battles. This is very important! Chapter 22 - 22 Who on Earth Is It Chapter 22 Who on Earth Is It Trantor: 549690339 Exam scene. Bai Wendao, dressed in the second-order magical treasure Golden Iron Robe, walked to the center of the examination area. The practical assessment had many requirements for students, but the requirements for teachers were quite simple. The teachers needed to simte Body Cultivation, a task for which the magical treasure Golden Iron Robe alreadypensated. Therefore, all the teacher needed to do was suppress their cultivation level to Qi training and ensure not to release any spell that was above Qi training level and aggressive in nature. Generally, exams didnt require teachers to go all out. After all, teachers were at the Foundation Establishment stage and, with the aid of high-level magical treasures, even just throwing punches, they were not something the students could contend with. The teachers main task was essentially to get on the field and take the students hits, then chase them around when the time was almost up, just for show. If students could still be annihted by a teacher under these circumstances, they indeed had no necessity to graduate. However, Tao Weiping seriously reminded Bai Wendao. He said, Once attacked by a Healing Talisman,'' if your body feels numb and sore, dont move at all. Bai Wendao did not take Tao Weipings advice seriously. Wasnt this a joke? A Healing Talisman could attack? If the teachers body felt numb and didnt move, wouldnt this exam just be aplete capittion to the students? Bai Wendao prided himself on integrity, treating his students earnestly and responsibly. He absolutely would not water down an exam. Moreover, he also believed that students from the Sword Cultivation Academy were definitely not those in need of his leniency; cunning, advantage-seeking children. Sword cultivators not only cultivate swordsmanship but also temperament. If ones temperament was not upright, the path ahead would inevitably be short. After Bai Wendao arrived and took his position in the middle of the examination arena, his opponents, three students from Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, also arrived at the assessment field. Their exam area was the most challengingthe grasnd field. Here, teachers and students would confront each other in a bona fide face-off. There was no possibility of trickery. Bai Wendao had not taken action in a long time, and now facing a few wet-behind-the-ears kids, seeing them so young and full of vigor, a desire to fight also arose in him. Lads, attack boldly; theres no need to hold back! The three students split into three groups, encircling Bai Wendao. Bai Wendao nodded in approval. However, as the students unleashed several sword energies that struck his body, he shook his head. These sword energies were light and scattered, far too weak. If this was the extent of these threes abilities, then their graduation today seemed quite unlikely. Bai Wendao had no sympathy for these students. In his view, those who did not excel in their studies should return to reforge their skills; otherwise, letting them graduate would bring disgrace to the Sword Cultivation Academy. Bai Wendao, enduring the sword energies, began to chase after the three students. But to his surprise, these students seemed to be wearing magical treasure boots, running incredibly fast. With limited spiritual power at Qi training, magical treasure boots consume a lot, Old Master wants to see how long you can hold on. After a chase, the three students indeed began to slow down more and more. Bai Wendao shook his head with regret, Tricks will never suffice for great endeavors. He bent his elbow and swung his fist, poised to eliminate a student, when unexpectedly, the student clenched a talisman and turned to deploy it on him. It seemed to be the effects of a Healing Talisman applied to his body. Bai Wendao was astonished. Using the wrong talisman was a basic mistake that could not be more elementary. This student truly did not deserve to graduate. He was about to take action when he felt a numb soreness spreading over his body. At that moment, Bai Wendao remembered Tao Weipings words: if your body feels numb and sore, absolutely do not move. Not move? What a joke. Weiping, today Old Master will show you, this is not how a teacher should act! Bai Wendaos fist had already swung out, but who could have anticipated that his arm would start cramping! His fighting instinct prompted him to move his legs and step back, but even more unexpectedly, his legs also began to cramp! Bai Wendao looked down in shock, and then he discovered that it wasnt just his legs and feetevery small, intricate muscle from his shoulders to his neck, back, and waist, without exception, all sumbed to cramping! The intense pain apanying the muscle cramps flooded Bai Wendaos brain. But the pain was secondary to him; the crucial issue was that he found himselfpletely unable to move! It was as if he had been frozen in ce by a binding spell. If it were a binding spell, Bai Wendao believed that the effect couldntst for long. But who knew, he had waited for more than ten seconds, and the cramping effect still hadnt subsided. He didnt even know when this restricted state would end! This was too bizarre, truly too bizarre! What on earth was the Healing Talisman used by that student? While Bai Wendao was shocked by the effect of the talisman the three students who were participating in the assessment strolled over with their hands in their pockets, looking rxed. Is it about time? Lets wrap this up quickly. Thest student said, We originally wanted to keep a low profile, but Teacher, you were pursuing us too closely. We had to end the assessment early. Bai Wendao: ??? Bai Wendao: What do you mean? I havent been lenient, and now youre also pouring water into the mix? Before Bai Wendao could figure it out, the disrespectful students swept his legs, toppling him to the ground. Bai Wendao, the respected professor, wasid out on the ground in a twisted pose, like a mouse instantly frozen by the roadside in the northern winter. This resulted in the students scores for the practical assessment: 7 minutes and 50 seconds! A new record set! Outside the examination venue, Bai Wendao was furious. This practical assessment was just too disgraceful! The students cheated on the exam, and the teachers got knocked down cluelessly. If this was the ethos of the Sword Cultivation Academy, forget about upgrading to the A rank, they wouldnt even be able to maintain a B! Might as well disband on the spot! It infuriates me, what are these students doing! They show no respect for me at all. Weiping, what are you doing? How could you let them bring such an obviously illegal talisman into the exam!? Tao Weiping looked at his professor sympathetically. To be honest, he initially shared Bai Wendaos sentiments, but people always need a period to get used to changes. They also didnt ept it at first, trying all kinds of methods, but the talisman truly was peculiar, and they had no choice but to concede. Professor Bai, we checked, and this Muscle Rxation Talisman does indeedply with the rules. It fits our exam regtions perfectly in every sense. We cant do anything about it. Cant you find some spell, or talisman, or magical treasure to counter the effects of this muscle talisman? Teacher, please calm down. Weve considered what you suggested. But such measures, they wouldnt conform to our exam requirements. Take magical treasures, for example; we only allow teachers to carry one second-order magical treasure. Bringing more would be against the rules. Then, not only the students, but the Imperial College would also not let our academy off the hook. This Bai Wendao hadnt thought it through that thoroughly for a moment. The simplest way to ban illegal talismans would be to include a prohibition list in the exam rules. However, the examination regtions for the Sword Cultivation Academys graduation exam were set by the Imperial College. The academy had no right to unterally change them. And even if they were to change them, they couldnt just amend the rules halfway through an exam. Such action would not only be irregr from a legal standpoint but would also amount to the academy smacking its own face. Now they would have to find another way to implicitly ban use. Bai Wendao said, This talisman, it must have been drawn by a Talisman Master, right? You go and contact the Talisman Master Association of Tongtian Sect in Wuyue City, find the unscrupulous Talisman Master who can draw this talisman. Tell him to stop. Wouldnt that solve the problem? Tao Weiping smiled and said, Teacher and our dean thought of the same thing. However, our dean is from the Lin Sect. He disdains bowing down to seek help from the Talisman Master Association, Task Hall, and other influences of Tongtian Sect in Wuyue City. So he had trustworthy students specifically purchase the talisman to lure out the delivery person and nned to personally follow the talismans deliverer for a frank talk. Bai Wendao wasnt worried about Dean Lei losing the trail. Lei Buxiao, a Core Formation Cultivator, was among the small number of experts in Wuyue City. If he could lose track of a minor at most in the Foundation Establishment stage, he might as well smash his head at the base of the academic building. Following minors, if this gets out said Bai Wendao with concern. Tao Weiping said, Dont worry, Teacher. With Dean Leis methods, he will surely coincidentally encounter them. How could he follow a minor? Bai Wendao still felt it was inappropriate to track minors. However, considering the overt and covert struggles between the Five Great Immortal Sects, he understood why Lei Buxiao wouldnt want to ask Tongtian Sect for help. Tracking a minor would be a stain on Lei Buxiaos own face. But if the Imperial Colleges inspection team found out that students were freely using advanced talismans and the academy was powerless to intervene, allowing students to get away with it, it would be a stain on the face of the Sword Cultivation Academy. And if they were to seek help from the Tongtian Sect, it would be the Lin Sect losing face. In this situation, someone had to lose face, and the least impactful option was for Lei Buxiao to lose his own. While they were discussing this, teacher and pupil arrived at the base of the academic building, just to see Dean Lei surveying the building from below. Dean? Werent you Tao Weiping eximed in surprise. By rights, Dean Lei should have been tracking the minor at that moment. Why would he appear in the academy? Could it be that he had actually lost track of the minor? A flicker of embarrassment crossed Dean Leis face. To be fair, he had tried his best, but there was something indescribable about that woman who delivered the talisman. The moment his attentionpsed, he lost sight of herpletely. Unable to have a private chat with the Talisman Master as nned, Lei Buxiao had no choice but to change his strategy and directly seek out the leader of the Talisman Masters. With a strained face, he said, Professor Bai, I heard you have considerable connections in Wuyue City. I have an unfavorable request to make. Bai Wendao: ? Chapter 23 - 23 Worldly Desires Chapter 23 Worldly Desires Trantor: 549690339 Cao Wangs rental house. Liu Qing had just delivered the Talisman and returned to the house. Jiang Cheng, she said. Jiang Cheng had just drawn a new Muscle Rxation Talisman and wanted to continue drawing Talismans, but he was startled by Liu Qings call. Jiang Cheng asked cautiously, Whats wrong? He was afraid Liu Qing was dissatisfied with the job and would chop him up as a ruthless boss. Which heartless boss would pay a runner three thousand yuan in wages? Liu Qings beautiful eyes pondered slightly, and she said seriously, Being tracked. Cao Wang, who had recently be unemployed and was idle in his room, was confused by Liu Qings statement. Being tracked? What does that mean? Whos being tracked? And whos tracking who? So what exactly happened? Jiang Cheng looked as if he understood, You mean, you were followed by someone who seemed very suspicious? Cao Wang: ? Liu Qing nodded gently. Cao Wang: Damn, Jiang really guessed right? Jiang Cheng spected, The person tracking you probably didnt have any special characteristics, right? Liu Qing nodded again. Is that so? Well, I dont know what happened either. Maybe it was just a coincidence that someone was going the same way. Jiang Cheng spread his hands, not the least bit worried about Liu Qings safety. Not to mention the good public order under the Immortal Sects rule, if someone could threaten Liu Qing, Jiang Chengs only choice would be to run, not to help her. A Level 3 should have the awareness of a Level 3 and not meddle in Level 83 matters. Liu Qing slightly lowered her gaze to look at the Muscle Rxation Talisman Jiang Cheng had just finished drawing. Then she lifted her eyes again, looking at Jiang Cheng with confusion. Jiang Cheng quickly waved his hands, Dont worry, its definitely not the Talismans problem. We run a legitimate trade. All of our customerse through official channels. All tasks are backed up at the Task Hall. The Talismans I draw are sensible, legal, andpliant, with no issues at all. Of course, if you feel the job is not suitable, you can also choose to terminate the employment rtionship with me voluntarily. You dont need my consent; you just need to hand in your resignation letter one month in advance. Hmm. Liu Qing agreed softly. Her light voice seemed to contain not a trace of emotion. Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. Dealing with a Level 83 powerhouse was indeed a test for someone at Level 3. Fortunately, he often self-reflected and demanded his actions to be honest and upright; otherwise, it would be easy for Liu Qing to find many faults with him. If that happened, he would probably be in grave danger. However, once the employment rtionship was established, Jiang Cheng wasnt as scared of Liu Qing as he was at the beginning. Since Liu Qing had agreed to work for him and signed the employment contract, it indicated that she was also a person who liked to follow rules. As long as they kept to themselves, did their respective jobs, remained within their roles, and made sure Cao Wang didnt start any office romance drama, there shouldnt be any major problems. Hey, Jiang. Cao Wang crept over sneakily. What is it? How did you understand what Miss Liu just said? Howe I cant understand her at all? Cao Wang expressed his confusion. He couldnt make sense of Liu Qings words unless he deduced the meaning backwards from Jiang Chengs replies. Jiang Cheng frowned, Miss Liu speaks quite clearly, dont you understand? What can I understand? I feel like she only said half of it. Thats called being concise and efficient. I dont believe it. Prove it to me one more time! Jiang Cheng thought for a moment about a topic, then checked the time. It was almost noon. He then addressed Liu Qing, who was sitting quietly and sunbathing on the balcony, Liu Qing, lunch? Liu Qing turned her body to the side and pointed at herself with her finger. Jiang Cheng shook his head, pointing down at Cao Wang. Cao Wang: ??? So, what happened again? Liu Qing nodded gently. Jiang Cheng: Meat? Liu Qing nodded once more. Jiang Cheng turned to Cao Wang, Go buy some meat. Cao Wang was about to burst, No, first tell me, what did you two just talk about? I asked her if she wanted to eat. She asked if she should go and buy it. Its her job. I said no, its not work hours now, and told Cao Wang to go. I asked what she wanted to eat, meat? She said, yes, but shes not very hungry, no need to buy much. Cao Wang looked at Jiang Cheng with a shocked face. He felt that from a certain day on, his good buddy Jiang Cheng seemed a bit off. But what exactly was off, he couldnt tell. If one must say, Cao Wang felt that Jiang Chengs poprity with women seemed to suddenly improve much starting from a certain moment. In the past, Lin Yao barely paid him any mind, but thest time they met on the street, he had actually progressed to the point of clinginess with Lin Yao. And then there was this neer, Liu Qing. How did he manage tomunicate with her so effortlessly! Jiang Cheng took out ten Spirit Stones from his storage bag and handed them to Cao Wang. Cao, buy some nicer food to bring back. We cant have our employee meals be too shabby. Cao Wangined, Wait a second, Jiang, why is it when shees, we improve the meals, but when it was just me, we just ate whatever? Jiang Cheng wasnt a gourmet, nor did he want to spend a lot of money on food. The so-called delicacies were nothing but temporary cravings. But the problem was, if Liu Qing didnt get enough to eat, what if she got hungry and ate everything? What then? She was a monster, after all! Try reasoning with her? The key point was, if a monster was starving and then ate a human, she wouldnt be breaking thew because, legally, this was called necessity. Jiang Cheng definitely wouldnt give Liu Qing any chance for necessity. As long as he kept Liu Qing well-fed, thew would firmly protect his life, leaving no opportunity for any monster to take advantage of! After sending Cao Wang off to buy lunch, Jiang Cheng continued immersing himself in the state of painting talismans. The arrival of Liu Qing, though it brought a lot of economic pressure to Jiang Cheng who was not wealthy to begin with, did indeed make her a very suitable employee for Jiang Cheng. For example, at this very moment, as Jiang Cheng concentrated on painting talismans, Liu Qing quietly sat on the balcony basking in the sun. As long as Jiang Chengs talisman business could go on, making him hundreds to thousands of Spirit Stones a day, Liu Qings sry wouldnt pose much of a burden. Next, he just needed to ensure nothing went wrong with the Muscle Rxation Talismans. After Jiang Chengs stringent tests, it would be hard for there to be any problems with the talismans. They were almost guaranteed to be foolproof. Unless someone deliberately caused trouble. But who would be so idle as to nitpick a in old healing talisman, right? Half an hourter, Cao Wang returned home, carrying five dishes and one soup. The small startup team of three began to gather around the table to eat. Cao Wang and Jiang Cheng sat on one side, while Liu Qing sat by herself on the other. Jiang Cheng and Cao Wang werent picky about the dishes and ate whatever, but Liu Qing almost only ate meat. However, she didnt eat much; after a few bites of food and a sip of water, she went back to sunbathing. Cao Wang gave Jiang Cheng a meaningful look. Jiang Cheng warned him in a low voice, Dont mess with her; shes not easy to provoke. After all,pared to Liu Qing, Lin Yao seemed so harmless. But Cao Wang ignored Jiang Chengs warning, I, Cao Wang, like girls with personality. Just you watch me perform! He was prepared; taking out a rose from inside his clothes, he bit it and went to the balcony to find Liu Qing. Jiang Cheng watched Cao Wang on the balcony, feeling a bad premonition. A minuteter, Cao Wang came back with the rose. Cao Wang looked profound, as if he had seen through the worlds vanity and was now devoutly seeking the Dao. Jiang, Ive figured it out. Women are just skeletal remains in makeup. Only the Dao is worth pursuing. What, in your opinion, is the meaning of life? And where do the mysteries of the universe lie? Jiang Cheng: ??? How did Cao suddenly be enlightened? Jiang Cheng didnt quite understand why Cao Wang had such a drastic change, but at least he wouldnt bother Liu Qing anymore, which was indeed good news. On the balcony, Liu Qings delicate nose twitched slightly as she sniffed the air. The pheromones emitted by a male animal during courtship were fading from the air. This lifted Liu Qings mood a little. Cao Wang had been hit by her venom; for quite some time, he wouldnt have those worldly desires. Actually, Liu Qing had smelled Cao Wangs scent from the beginning. He was a poor male animal with strong pheromones but without a female partner. If it werent for Jiang Chengs scent being so clean, she might not have chosen to stay and work here. This was her first job among the Human Race, and so far, it felt pretty good. Chapter 24 - 24 The Influence of the Muscle Relaxation Talisman Is Out of Control Chapter 24 The Influence of the Muscle Rxation Talisman Is Out of Control Trantor: 549690339 As Jiang Chengs proficiency in drawing talismans improved, and with Liu Qing and Cao Wang taking over many of his tedious tasks, his output of Muscle Rxation Talismans had increased from four a day at the beginning to five or six a day recently. Jiang Chengs current life was a standard routine of two points and one line. Every night he would return home to sleep, and upon waking up, he woulde to Cao Wangs ce to draw talismans. Of course, no matter how busy he was, the amount of work he assigned to Liu Qing was always just a standard eight hours. If he ever needed Liu Qing to work overtime, he would also pay her 1.5 times the base wage for overtime. He was determined to be fair andwful, never giving Liu Qing the slightest chance to think he was an unscrupulous boss! Jiang Cheng so strictly adhered to thew for no other reason than the simple hope thatwful powers like the Immortal Sect would protect a kind,w-abiding citizen from the sharp ws of monsters. As Jiang Cheng concentrated on drawing talismans, themunication talisman suddenly rang. The message disyed on the talisman was from Sister He at the Tongtian Sect Task Hall. He had sent Jiang Cheng a few messages before, but this was the first time she was calling. There must be something important. Jiang Cheng stopped drawing talismans and answered themunication talisman. Hello? Sister He? Its me. A cool and clear voice came through themunication talisman. Jiang Cheng immediately became alert; he recognized the owner of the voiceLiu Qing! Wasnt Liu Qing supposed to have gone to the Task Hall to pick up tasks? Why was she using Hesmunication talisman to call? Oh, right, Liu Qing probably didnt have this kind of human technology like the reusablemunication talisman. Liu Qing? Whats wrong? There are a lot, should I ept them all? she asked. How many? Jiang Chengsmunication with Liu Qing was always this efficient. Over twenty. Over twenty requests for Muscle Rxation Talismans at the Task Hall? This number, once it was out, even startled Jiang Cheng himself. He had been drawing talismans with all his might these past few days, not expecting that not only could he not finish drawing them, but the number kept increasing! If the current trend continued, even if he worked himself to death, he wouldnt be able to keep up with the pace of tasks being posted! ept the ten with the nearest due dates first. Mm. Themunication talisman disconnected. Jiang Cheng temporarily set down the brush for drawing talismans. He now had to consider the mismatch between his slower talisman drawing speed and the growing demand for talismans. The demand for Muscle Rxation Talismans was extremely high, and relying solely on himself as a Talisman Master to draw them was definitely not enough to meet everyones needs. He would have to find a way to get more Talisman Masters to help him draw Muscle Rxation Talismans. The most convenient ce to find Talisman Masters was the Talisman Master Association. Wuyue City was within the sphere of influence of the Tongtian Sect, so the main Talisman Master Association in Wuyue City was the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association. The most important duty of the Talisman Master Association was to certify the level of Talisman Masters, that is, to organize talisman examinations and to issue them certificates of qualification for levels like first, second, and third order. If he wanted to contact other Talisman Masters, then reaching out through the Talisman Master Association would be a good idea. The process of drawing Muscle Rxation Talismans wasnt too difficult, and considering the high profit, Jiang Cheng believed that there would definitely be many like-minded Talisman Masters willing to coborate with him. Looks like I need to figure out a way to record the method for drawing the Muscle Rxation Talisman and have other Talisman Masters copy it for learning, Jiang Cheng muttered to himself, considering the matter of coborating on talisman drawing. The Liang Kingdom Imperial College inspection team sessfully arrived in Wuyue City. Upon their arrival, they were weed by a team from Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy that had been awaiting them for some time. The purpose of their visit was to inspect whether Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy indeed fulfilled the requirements to be upgraded to first rank. If the inspection was satisfactory, the Imperial College would initiate a three-year upgrade process for the academy. As long as Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy didnt encounter any major issues in the next three years, it would sessfully be upgraded to a first-rank academy. After bing a first-rank academy, Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy would receive much more funding and policy support than before. Of course, the most important thing was that students from a first-rank academy would have the qualifications to enter an Immortal Sect. The qualification for Immortal Sect was a recruitment banner, something many students dreamt of achieving. Naturally, all this was predicated on the sessful inspection by the inspection team. If the inspection team felt that Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy was just average, then there would be no follow-up. The academys upgrade to first rank was of the utmost importance to the school. As the dean, Lei Buxiao personally arrived at the inspection site and exined to the inspection team the achievements Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy had made over the years. Amunication talisman in his pocket began to ring. Lei Buxiao addressed the inspection team with a smile, Feel free to look around. I need to answer amunication talisman. Lei Buxiao walked to the side and took out themunication talisman. The disyed name on the talisman was Principal Zheng. Lei Buxiao clicked to answer and put it to his ear, Old Zheng? Whats up? Instantly, the angry voice of Principal Zheng came through themunication talisman: I mean, Lei, what kind of students are you teaching at your academy? Do you know about that Muscle Rxation Talisman? During the exams at our school yesterday, two students used that thing and sent the teacher to the hospital! I only found out today it was sold by your academies students! Lei, you have to give me an exnation for this! Lei Buxiao barely controlled his facial expression. He internally cursed the Muscle Rxation Talisman a hundred times. But the members of the inspection team were still not far away, so he had to maintain an appropriate smile. While smiling, Lei Buxiao responded, Zheng Qiang, calm the hell down! Our Sword Cultivation Academy is a victim of that talisman too! Our director Liu Qi sometimes twitches all of a sudden till now! You think youre the only one with a headache? So what do you suggest we do? We cant just ignore this, can we? Do we just not run the school anymore? Dont rush me! Lei Buxiao smiled at the doubting gaze of the inspection team members and waved them to continue looking around. The inspection team is still at our school! Ill just brush them off for now, and then Ill immediately find Lu Wang. As the association president, is this how he manages his Talisman Masters? The Talisman Masters from his association can even create such a despicable talisman! It must be sloppy management! The Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association must provide us with a solution! Okay! Lei Buxiao hung up themunication talisman and then cheerily apanied the members of the inspection team as they toured the academy. The inspection teams itinerary was set for one week. The contents of the inspection included Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academys infrastructure. Including physical infrastructure, cultural development, educational establishment, and demeanor construction. In particr, demeanor construction required inspection of the students mental states. Generally speaking, this involved observing their various expressions during exams. If it werent for the Muscle Rxation Talisman, this upgrade inspection for Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy would not be a surefire sess, but it would likely be a cinch. Who would have known that right before the inspection teams arrival, a Muscle Rxation Talisman would emerge out of nowhere! If the inspection team saw the various bizarre operations during the students practical exams, the n to upgrade to first rank wouldnt need consideration; it would definitely be ruined. The only thing to do now was to dy the inspection of the exams and have them look at other things first, then quickly resolve the issue with the Muscle Rxation Talisman! Every time Lei Buxiao thought about the Muscle Rxation Talisman, his fists the size of sandbags involuntarily clenched. Damn it! Who the hell is drawing that damn talisman! Im begging you, please stop drawing it! Chapter 25 - 25 Whose Problem Chapter 25 Whose Problem Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng led Liu Qing into the Treasure Pavilion. The Treasure Pavilion was a chain store within the borders of Liang Kingdom. It was somewhat akin to a 24-hour convenience store on Earth, mainly dealing in daily necessities with a variety of snacks and beverages, and prided itself on being small, yet exquisite. The staff at the Treasure Pavilion noticed a man and a woman walk in. The man was sunny and handsome, the woman had a serene temperament and was stunningly beautiful. The clerk secretly marveled at Liu Qings appearance and aura, and if not for her ordinary clothes, would have suspected her of being a core disciple of an Immortal Sect or perhaps a princess of Liang Kingdom. Jiang Chengs looks werent bad either, but it all depended on whom youpared him to. Standing next to Liu Qing, anyone would feel that he was the attendant of the young miss from the Liu family. Hello, may I ask what you need? The clerk, with a smile on her face, eagerly inquired about Liu Qings needs. Confusion flickered in Liu Qings beautiful eyes, then she turned her head slightly and nced at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng coughed awkwardly and said, Id like to buy a Reusable Type Communication Talisman. Oh, please follow me this way. The clerk smoothly dissolved the awkwardness, shifting her focus to Jiang Cheng, and then led him to where themunication talismans were sold. The Reusable Type Communication Talisman was a hybrid of a talisman and magical treasures. Strictly speaking, it was a talisman that could be used multiple times. At present, these products were mostly categorized under magical treasures, although in terms of functions and characteristics, they were an extension of talismans. The Treasure Pavilion didnt have many types ofmunication talismans, but they covered the mainstream models avable on the market. You definitely didnt have to worry about the basic functions amunication talisman should possess. Which one do you like? Jiang Cheng asked Liu Qing. Liu Qing blinked, thought for a moment, and pointed to a pale pink one, saying, This one. Okay. Jiang Cheng picked up themunication talisman and went to the cashier to pay. The clerk said with a smile, Hello, this model is 188 low-grade Spirit Stones. Jiang Cheng nodded and took out his storage bag to get the Spirit Stones. After the clerk counted the stones, she took them and packaged themunication talisman for Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng watched the clerks packing movements, and his heart couldnt help feeling somewhat dreamlike. He never thought that one day he could spend Spirit Stones without blinking an eye. After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Jiang Cheng handed the Reusable Type Communication Talisman to Liu Qing. This is for you, Ill tell you my numberter. You can use it to contact me directly from now on, and you wont have to trouble others. Jiang Cheng opened Liu Qingsmunication talisman and entered his number into it. At this moment, Liu Qingsmunication talisman had one contact, and it was the only one. Here, take it. Im going to the Talisman Master Associationter; I dont have any other work this afternoon. You can go back to Cao Wangs, or home, or just wander around Wuyue Street. If its not too much trouble, you can alsoe with me to the Talisman Master Association to have a look. After Jiang Cheng entered the number, he turned around and walked towards the residence of the Talisman Master Association. He heard light footsteps behind him, he turned to the side, and saw Liu Qing taking small steps to appear beside him. Jiang Cheng. Liu Qing stopped walking. Whats wrong? Jiang Cheng stopped as well and looked at her. This Liu Qing pointed to themunication talisman in her hand and blinked her eyes lightly. I think, I want to buy it myself, she said softly. You want to buy it yourself? Jiang Chengs tone wasced with quite a bit of surprise. Liu Qing pursed her lips and in an almost tentative tone said, Can I? Um She turned Jiang Cheng into a mystery. So, modern female cultivators can buy things by themselves and dont need male cultivators to buy for them? Yes, of course you can. If you buy it yourself, then Ill deduct the money from your sry. No problem, right? Mm. Liu Qing nodded in satisfaction. Phew! Jiang Cheng heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing her reaction. I didnt expect the great monster to be so reasonable. Its kind of a surprise. It seems my stereotype of monsters needs to change. Jiang Chengs impression of Liu Qing had greatly improved. Walking beside Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing sniffed and looked at him with curiosity. She had just caught a strange scenting from Jiang Cheng, faint and not spreading far, usually perceived among the elderly female seniors of her n. They liked to gather, discuss others shorings, and speak ill of them. Jiang Cheng was startled and asked, Whats wrong? Liu Qing shook her head, indicating it was nothing. She must have smelled it wrong. After all, Jiang Cheng looked like a young, kind-hearted good person, not like the elderly female seniors who would speak ill of her. Tongtian Sects Talisman Master Association, Wuyue branch. In the Presidents office. Lu Wang sat in the Presidents seat, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the table. He was pondering the current situation. The Five Great Immortal Sects each had a Talisman Master Association, and they mutually recognized the certificates issued by one another. However, there were only so many talented talisman masters, and the five associations often engaged in overt and covert battles over these talents. Normally, the association that controlled arger territory would be able to attract more talented talisman masters. Lu Wang had to consider carefully whether Lei Buxiao from Lin Sect was here for genuine business or was scouting on behalf of the Lin Talisman Master Association. If Lei Buxiao indeed had official business, then Lu Wang might help him. After all, everyone was working in Wuyue City, and Lei Buxiao was a Core Formation Stage cultivator with considerable influence; it was better to keep rtions amicable, since they would inevitably run into each other. But if Lei Buxiao was paving the way for the Lin Talisman Master Association to enter Wuyue City, then that was a favor Lu Wang would rather die than grant. A momentter, there was a knock on the door. Lu Wang stood up to answer it, not expecting that instead of Lei Buxiao, it was the secretary responsible for various tasks within the association, Yue Ran. Yue Ran handed a document to Lu Wang, saying, President, a young junior talisman master has invented a new talisman and needs you to assess its viability and grade before it can be included in our associations database. He seems rather urgent; please review it at your earliest convenience. I see. How old is he? Eighteen, he participated in the talismanpetition and hasnt yet obtained a first-stage Talisman Master Certificate. Lu Wang took the document, nodding in approval, Impressive. To create his own talisman at eighteen is quite fearsome. Lu Wang was the associations President, a cultivator at theter phase of Foundation Establishment, and also a third-stage Talisman Master. Typically, talisman masters in Wuyue City who developed new talismans would have them verified and recorded by him. Once a new talisman was sessfully recorded, it would be granted the title of Certified Talisman and enjoy some privileges within the association, such as using the associations channels to connect with other interested talisman masters, form research groups, and coborate on optimizing the talisman. Lu Wang had just returned to his seat and hadnt even opened the envelope when Lei Buxiao, apanied by several people, arrived at his office. Lu, long time no see! Lei Buxiaos voice was booming. Lei, Ive heard much about you. And these individuals? Lei Buxiao gritted his teeth as he introduced, This is Liu Qi, the head of our academy. This is Lu Benwei, a teacher of talisman studies at our academy. This gentleman needs no introduction, right? Bai Wendao and Lu Wang greeted each other with a cupped fist salute. They were old acquaintances, and Lei Buxiao had contacted Lu Wang through Bai Wendao, so no further exnation was needed. I hear, Dean Lei, youvee to inquire about a talisman master? Indeed. Lei Buxiao directly pped the Muscle Rxation Talisman he bought through a student onto Lu Wangs table. Which talisman master from your association drew this? Hand him over to me! Chapter 26 - 26 This Can Also Be a Chance Encounter Chapter 26 This Can Also Be a Chance Encounter Trantor: 549690339 Lu Wang was slightly startled by Lei Buxiaos attitude and tone. Although there was muchpetition among the Five Great Immortal Sects, they all cared about their faces and would give each other respect to avoid making everyone ufortable. Someone like Lei Buxiao, who started off with such a poor attitude, was almost unheard of in exchanges between Immortal Sects. However, Lu Wang was not serving his first day as the president of the Talisman Master Association, and Wuyue City was their Tongtian Sects territory after all. Seeing Lei Buxiao being so discourteous, Lu Wang had no intention of showing him any goodwill either. I thought Dean Lei hade to catch up with old times, but to think, Dean Lei is here to use our Tongtian Sects Talisman Association! Lu Wang scoffed, his wordsden with undisguised sarcasm. Lei Buxiao, with his straightforward personality, angrily retorted, Dont try to pressure me with your Tongtian Sect. The issue today is clearly with your Talisman Master Association. Even if your Tongtian Sect Leader came here personally, and he decided to be fair, he wouldnt shield you! Our sect leader has always been impartial, naturally he would not shield a traitor. But his elderliness definitely wouldnt tolerate someone elses disciple causing trouble under our roof! This issue is clearly the result of your Talisman Master Associationsx discipline, at fault from the beginning, yet you dare to wrongfully use me, Lei Buxiao! Your Tongtian Sect really is as rumored, skilled in showing partiality and sheltering the short-sighted Stop! Stop! Stop! Listen to me first! Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Bai Wendao quickly stepped forward to mediate. Dean Lei, please take a break. Old Lu, you take a seat too. Let me exin this matter. Bai Wendao picked up the Muscle Rxation Talisman on the table and started from Liu Qis plight, then spoke of Lu Benweis judgment, and finally mentioned the current state of the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. Old Lu, your association is full of talented people, and this talisman is so strange it has really brought hardship to our academy. Lu Wang was momentarily doubtful, Bai Wendao was an old acquaintance of many years; he might not trust Lei Buxiao, but Bai Wendao he had to believe. Let me take a look at this Muscle Rxation Talisman, to see what mystery it holds. Lu Wang took the Muscle Rxation Talisman and scrutinized it carefully. Lu Wang was a third-stage Talisman Master, equivalent to the strongest talisman-making expert in Wuyue City, more experienced and skilled than the second-stage Talisman Master Lu Benwei. The people from the Sword Cultivation Academy remained silent, waiting for Lu Wang to discern the results. After a moment, Lu Wang inhaled sharply. Strange. This talisman is very strange. The three people from the Sword Cultivation Academy sat up straight, listening intently to Lu Wangs words. The idea behind the drawing of this talisman is unlike any I have ever seen, Lu Wang sighed. Youve never seen it? Are you really never seen it, or are you trying to cover up Just as Lei Buxiao was about to erupt, he was stopped by Bai Wendao pressing down. Lu Benwei exined, The Talisman Master Association archives any unknown new talismans. If the Muscle Rxation Talisman has no record in the associations archives, then its possible that President Lu has truly never seen it. Dean, the associations records cannot be falsified. Bai Wendao also nodded. Lei Buxiaos anger had subsided, but he was still somewhat unconvinced, Well, if thats the case, then who drew this talisman? It couldnt possibly have been drawn out of thin air by some mysterious talisman master, right? Lu Wang handed the Muscle Rxation Talisman back to Bai Wendao. With his hands on his chin, he pondered aloud, The technique used in drawing this talisman doesnt resemble the orthodox teachings of talisman academies, its more like someone self-taught. But the effect this talisman achieves is indeed eye-opening. The person who drew this talisman might not necessarily be a genius, but he is definitely a maverick, an entric, a prodigy! To use the side effect of a treatment to cause muscle cramps, is this something a person could think of? Lu Wang paced back and forth, Do you know what the most terrifying aspect of this talisman is? It used healing as a substitute for low-level control techniques! If this talisman were to spread, many talisman masters specializing in control talismans might lose their jobs because of this! The curriculum of talisman academies might also need to be ordingly revised! The more Lu Wang thought about it, the more rmed he became. This Muscle Rxation Talisman seemed ordinary, but it seemingly provided apletely new idea for both control and healing fields of study. This idea even had the power to subvert the existing talisman industry. The matter was significant, and it must be handled with caution! It certainly couldnt be carelessly disclosed! Lei Buxiao had no interest in the talisman industry, President Lu, is the talisman master who drew this talisman from your association or not? No, Lu Wang asserted confidently, Our association doesnt have such talent. Forget it, forget it, Professor Bai, lets just go directly to Elder Sun who manages the Task Hall! Send amunication talisman to Elder Sun, have him help us check who is taking on the task of the Muscle Rxation Talisman, tell him its of significant importance and cant be dyed! Lei Buxiao and his associates rose to take their leave, but Lu Wang did not see them off. Lu Wang was very eager to meet the Talisman Master who drew the Muscle Rxation Talisman, but he did not want to apany Lei Buxiao and the others. It wasnt toote to inquire about the matter with Old Bai afterwards. Lu Wang returned to the presidents office, remembering that he still had a document he hadnt looked at. However, having just seen the Muscle Rxation Talisman, the new talisman created by this young man was unlikely to catch his eye again. Lu Wang opened the document bag, took out the enclosed certificate, applicant information, and sample of the self-created talisman. The previously indifferent mans eyes widened in a sh! The document bag contained none other than the Muscle Rxation Talisman! Lu Wang quickly picked up the applicants information and looked carefully. Jiang Cheng! Male, eighteen years old. A student at Wuyue Advanced Middle School. Talisman Master level: None. Has participated in talisman drawingpetitions, won second prize Remembering Lei Buxiao and others who hade with a questioning demeanor, Lu Wang immediately picked up a Reusable Typemunication talisman. This matter, he must exin to Lei Buxiao. Waiting for Lei Buxiao to see the Muscle Rxation Talisman included in the Talisman Master Association before exining might make things unclear. All in all, this person Jiang Cheng, he Lu Wang truly does not know well! Not long ago, Jiang Cheng had left the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association. He had slightly overestimated the efficiency of the Talisman Master Association. Filling in the new talisman certification information and providing samples of the new talisman was rtively straightforward; the key was that after submitting the application documents, they reportedly required processing. It could take as fast as two to three days, or as slow as one week to a month. With such efficiency, by the time he found other talisman masters to cooperative in drawing talismans, the opportunity would likely have passed. One really shouldnt ce too much hope in external forces after all. Liu Qing, youre here to work, go buy some talisman paper, cinnabar ink, and supplements for me, tonight I need to continue drawing talismans. Liu Qing nodded, not wasting any words, and went straight to run the errand for Jiang Cheng. After all, this was her job and needed to be taken seriously. Jiang Cheng watched Liu Qings retreating figure, with many thoughts in his mind. At least in terms of getting things done, Liu Qing was much more reliable than Cao Wang. Liu Qing never asked an extra question, nor did he need to entice her with promises, even to take care of her emotions. After parting with Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng went home alone. In two days, the academic results woulde out; he and Cao Wang would need to return to school to collect their scores and high school diplomas. This would be theirst chance to return to high school. Furthermore, after this, Cao Wangs parents would surely find out his performance; tutoring and repeating a year would be scheduled. At that time, Cao Wangs rented apartment would no longer be a convenient ce for Jiang Cheng to use as a talisman drawing base. He needed to find a new location. But all of this was forter; with high profits from the Muscle Rxation Talisman, renting a house wouldnt be too much of a burden. Due to theck of drawing materials, it made no sense for Jiang Cheng to go home early, since he couldnt draw talismans anyway. He didnt walk very fast. But the next second, Jiang Cheng regretted it. Brother Jiang Lin Yao and Zhao Qin were arm in arm, with small bags slung across their shoulders, seemingly out shopping. Jiang Chengs face was somber, and he quickened his pace without giving Lin Yao another nce, Miss, I think youve mistaken me for someone else. Chapter 27 - 27 I Don’t Believe It Chapter 27 I Dont Believe It Trantor: 549690339 Mistaken identity? Zhao Qin turned her face to look at Lin Yao. But unexpectedly, the male cultivator whom Lin Yao called Jiang Cheng suddenly strode away, attempting to escape. What was even more unexpected to Zhao Qin was that Lin Yao seemed to have a lot of experience, as she anticipated Jiang Chengs movements, promptly releasing their interlocked hands and instantly grabbing Jiang Chengs arm. So now, the scene had be: Zhao Qin standing aside, watching Lin Yao holding a male cultivators arm with both hands. Zhao Qins slender fingers lightly covered her surprised mouth. In modern Liang Kingdom, although male-female rtionships were more open than before, they were far from casually embracing each other. A female cultivator holding a male cultivators arm like this usually only happened in two situations. The first was when they were close siblings, typically with the sister sweetly holding her brothers arm. The second was couples or quasi-couple rtionships, usually young people in love who would be this intimate. However, it was clear that Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng belonged to neither category, yet they had engaged in an action simr to that of a couple. This situation was a bit of a challenge to Zhao Qins psychological defenses. Although Lin Yao was very popr among male cultivators, she was actually a person who cared about face and had never done anything to demean herself. Her initiative to hold Jiang Cheng was the first time she had contacted a male cultivator so intimately. Lin Yao knew this was inappropriate but, in order to regain her face in front of Zhao Qin after being hung up onst time, she simply refused to let go. Even if it might tarnish her reputation, she didnt care. As long as she could toy with Jiang Chengs feelings, sacrificing something was no big deal to her. Last time, in front of Tang Qian and Zhou Yiwen, she let Jiang Cheng go. After returning home, she regretted it for a long time. She thought that if she had not let go at that time, Jiang Cheng would definitely have sumbed to her. This time, having finally encountered him again, she would not let Jiang Cheng get away so easily! As Lin Yao refused to let go, Jiang Cheng felt his scalp tingle even more. Lin Yao was undeniably beautiful, and the soft sensation of her holding his arm was quite wonderful; all this Jiang Cheng wouldnt deny. But Lin Yao being very beautiful Jiang Cheng liking her. Enchantress or not, Jiang Cheng simply did not want to get mixed up with these troublesome beings! At least Liu Qing hade to the mortal realm incognito, without causing any disturbance. In the future, she would quietly resign and leave, and once Jiang Cheng settled her wages, no one could fault him for anything. But it was different with Lin Yao C she had a Natural Charm Body, which was very appealing, making her stand out wherever she went! Being with Lin Yao, putting aside whether he could have peace, once she was discovered by the Demonic Tao, transformed into an enchantress, and became infamous in the Immortal Sect, all of Jiang Chengs lifelong efforts to maintain his integrity would be utterly useless! Miss Lin, you really have the wrong person, Jiang Cheng said with a stiff face. Lin Yao simply wouldnt let go: Jiang, youre talking nonsense! If you dont know Yaoer, how can you know Yaoersst name is Lin? Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao were pulling and arguing, and the passing crowd on the street gradually gathered to watch the excitement. Some even began to goad: Young man, is there anything that you and your missus cant talk over? Yes, your girlfriend is so beautiful. Man up, big guy, why are you being so stubborn with a young girl? Just give in to her. If I had such a beautiful girlfriend, Id wake from my dreamsughing. Jiang Cheng was already sweating profusely. Thats why they say enchantresses are outrageous. It was clearly Lin Yao who wouldnt let go of him, yet in the eyes of the onlookers, it seemed as though he was bullying Lin Yao! Now it was only the early stages of the plot! If in theter stages this enchantress acquired powerful magical abilities from the Demonic Tao, just picture the disaster she could bring upon the Immortal Sect C Jiang Cheng didnt even dare to think of it! Lin Yao, lets go somewhere less crowded to talk, Jiang Cheng said calmly. No matter what, he must minimize the impact of the enchantress! Having been eluded by Jiang Cheng once, Lin Yao naturally became more cautious. How can you assure me you wont run away? she asked. I always keep my word; if I promise you something, I will abide by it, Jiang Cheng replied. Lin Yao pressed further: If you do run, then what? Jiang Cheng frowned, thinking of a persuasive solution: Ill write you a promissory note. Upon hearing the words promissory note, Lin Yaos mood instantly brightened, and even her expression became much more triumphant. The very first time Jiang Cheng had wounded her pride was by asking her to write a promissory note; now, she felt like she had gotten her revenge! She nced at Zhao Qin as if to unt: Look, hes writing me a promissory note! Lin Yao released her grip, letting go of Jiang Cheng, but still stood very close to him. Neither of the two principals noticed this detail, but it was caught by Zhao Qin, who had been observing the entire battle. Feigning magnanimity, Lin Yao said: Forget the promissory note. Where are you going? Ill go with you. Jiang Cheng felt the pressure on his arm ease as Lin Yao let go. He quickly withdrew his arm, fearing the enchantress would continue to besmirch his purity. Theres a milk tea shop on the left, lets talk inside the shop, Jiang Cheng casually chose a ce with few people. Ok. Lin Yao readily agreed and pulled Zhao Qin to follow behind Jiang Cheng. Feeling embarrassed to upy the milk tea shops seats for nothing, Jiang Cheng bought them a cup of lemon water. Because Lin Yao and Zhao Qin, the pair of beautiful sisters, indeed drew attention, the asional customers in the milk tea shop couldnt help but nce over at Jiang Chengs direction now and then. The milk tea shop employees were wondering what background this young man had, to be so fortunate and be able to hang out with two beauties. A new Rich Second Generation? They hadnt heard of him before. Lin Yao was in a good mood, smiling radiantly at Jiang Cheng. Unable to withstand the enchantresss gaze, Jiang Cheng took the initiative and asked, Lin, what exactly do you want? Just then, Lin Yao felt her face flush, sensing a great advantage over Jiang Cheng, and without realizing it, the arrogance she once had in front of Jiang Cheng returned. Jiang, Yaoer doesnt want anything in particr, I just want a word of truth from you. As long as you are honest with Yaoer, I promise I wont bother you again in the future. What truth? Naturally, the truth you hold in your heart about Yaoer. Jiang Cheng looked puzzled, for he had never heard such a strange request before. If thats the case, then Ill really speak my mind. Lin Yao curled up the corners of her mouth, tossed her head back, and puffed out her chest, looking like she had the situation well in hand. Come on, hurry up and tell me how much you like me! She could almost see Jiang Cheng professing his love to her again and, after being sweet-talked by her, joyfully ying with her emotions at her will! This time, she definitely wouldnt reject Jiang Cheng directly! She wanted to seize the opportunity, to give Jiang Cheng a sliver of hope about bing her Daopanion, and then bit by bit erode his emotional defenses, until hepletely let down his guard and willingly, wholeheartedly fell in love with her! Come on, hurry up and speak! Jiang Cheng cleared his throat and revealed his thoughts, Lin Yao, I wont deny you are beautiful and excellent, but I really dont like you, and I wish you would stop pestering me. Can we just be the most ordinary of junior brothers and sisters? Lin Yao stood stunned. Zhao Qin, too, was shockingly looking at Jiang Cheng. She had previously guessed that the rtionship between Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng was not simple. Most likely it was a turbulent love-hate rtionship. But she never expected Jiang Cheng to be so decisive! To reject Lin Yao outright, how much courage must that take? Youre lying! Lin Yao snapped back to reality. She had almost been fooled by Jiang Cheng! This guy was definitely affirming her beauty while firmly denying any feelings for her, which was clearly contradictory! Since Jiang Cheng admitted she was beautiful, how could he possibly not like her! Such a pathetic show of defiance! Naturally, Zhao Qin took her best friends side. She wasnt sure about Jiang Chengs actual feelings towards Lin Yao, but she could feel that Lin Yao truly cared about Jiang Cheng. She had no reason not to help Lin Yao. Jiang, even if you want to get Yaoyaos attention, you dont have to say such hurtful things, right? Jiang Cheng answered truthfully, But shes the one who asked me to speak my heart. Zhao Qin refused to back down, Youre just using your words to provoke her. Look at Yaoyao, do you dare say you dont like her? Lin Yao gently tilted her head up, locking eyes with Jiang Cheng. Her exceptionally stunning beauty was enough to stir an undeniable impulse in anyones heart. Sundry nces were cast their way from around the milk tea shop: some filled with envy, some as if looking at a scoundrel. The pressure on Jiang Cheng was bing unbearable. What to do if speaking the truth isnt believed? Just then, themunication charm in his pocket rang. Jiang Cheng promptly answered themunication charm. Alright, Ill be there immediately, he said. Miss Lin, the headmaster has asked me to go to the Tongtian Sect Task Hall right away. If fate allows, we shall meet again. Stop right there! Lin Yao blocked Jiang Chengs path, Even if the headmaster is looking for you, it should be at the senior high school; how could it possibly involve going to some great hall? Your excuse to leave is too poorly crafted! Jiang Cheng didnt know how to exin it, he himself found it strange, but the truth was as it was: It really is the headmaster who asked me to go. I dont believe you! Fine, suit yourself, Jiang Cheng didnt want to deal with her any longer. Lin Yao wasnt about to take Jiang Chengs word for it; she had to expose his lie herself: Ill go with you! Chapter 28 - 28 How Useless Chapter 28 How Useless Trantor: 549690339 Slightly earlier. Lei Buxiao rushed back to the Talisman Master Association as soon as he received themunication talisman from Lu Wang. The few from the Sword Cultivation Academy had Jiang Chengs dossier surrounded, making it imprable. Lei Buxiao wanted to see for himself who was opposing him. Liu Qi wanted to see the true face of the genius who had left him unconscious. Lu Benwei pondered over the taste of the Talisman Master Certificate in his heart. Bai Wendao, on the other hand, watched from the sidelines, not in a rush to see the dossier. With his advanced age and vast experience, he did not have the same impatience as the younger cultivators. Lu Wang stood beside Bai Wendao and sighed, This young cultivator named Jiang Cheng is really a genius! Bai Wendao was shocked, Who!? Jiang Cheng. You know Jiang Cheng too? I havent met him, but this Muscle Rxation Talisman is indeed his handiwork. Jiang Cheng drew the Muscle Rxation Talisman!? Bai Wendao widened his eyes, disbelieving what Lu Wang said. In his memory, the image of Jiang Cheng surfaced. How could this sunny, kind-hearted, knowledgeable, and humble youth be the one to draw such an extremely sinister and perverse talisman? Lei Buxiao said, The dossier has Jiang Chengs information. Old Lu, how about I directly summon him to the Talisman Master Association with amunication talisman for a face-to-face confrontation? No way! Lu Wang immediately refused. Lei Buxiao retorted angrily, Jiang Cheng isnt part of your Talisman Master Association, so why are you protecting him? Lu Wang thought to himself: Lei Buxiao is truly reckless, no wonder hes only the dean of a B-grade academy even at the Core Formation Stage. This Muscle Rxation Talisman incident has nothing to do with my Talisman Master Association. Now you have the dossier and want to summon Jiang Cheng to the Talisman Master Association for confrontation, putting the Talisman Master Association and me, the president, in a difficult position. I kindly inform you about the person behind the scene, yet not only do you not thank me, you want to implicate me instead! Before Lu Wang could speak in his own defense, Bai Wendao interjected, Indeed, this cannot be done. Everyone respected Bai Wendao. Even Lei Buxiao was willing to patiently ask for Bai Wendaos opinion, Professor Bai, the culprit is right before us, why cant we confront him? Bai Wendao still did not believe that Jiang Cheng was the one who drew the talisman. He stated, Its possible that Jiang Cheng created this talisman, but there is no evidence to prove that hes the one selling them in the Task Hall and causing chaos in the academy! The one selling the talismans might be someone else. We should first verify in the Task Hall. We must not wrong a good person. The crowd looked at each other, feeling that what Bai Wendao said was reasonable. It wouldnt be honorable to wrong a good person, and indeed, they should be more cautious. Lei Buxiao, a straightforward person, was willing to apologize to Lu Wang for the misunderstanding. As Dean Lei was a Core Formation cultivator, Lu Wang had no reason not to give him a way out. After a courteous exchange, the two seemed to get along harmoniously and joyously. With the misunderstanding resolved, Lei Buxiao wanted to borrow Jiang Chengs dossier to go verify at the Task Hall. However, Lu Wang couldnt give it to him. Lei Buxiao was an outsider, and if the information of a Tongtian Sect Talisman Master was given away casually, then what would be of Tongtian Sectsws and dignity? After some discussion, Lu Wang decided to personally carry the dossier and apany Lei Buxiao and his group to the Task Hall. That was the official reason. In reality, Lu Wang also wanted to meet Jiang Cheng in person and see who coulde up with such a heaven-defying thing like the Muscle Rxation Talisman. The Task Hall was part of the Outer Sect system in the Tongtian Sect. The general sect properties were under the jurisdiction of the Outer Sect, while Inner Sect disciples only needed to focus on cultivation and breakthroughs to maintain the sects strength. At the entrance of the Task Hall, Elder Sun Decai of the Tongtian Sect Wuyue branch had been waiting for a long time. Elder Sun, youve been waiting long. President Lu, Dean Lei, Daoist Bai There werent many high-level cultivators in Wuyue City, so even if they werent close, they recognized each other. After exchanging pleasantries, they immediately got down to business. Lu Wang pulled out Jiang Chengs dossier, and Elder Sun Decai checked the records of tasks taken from the Task Hall. Comparing them, they quickly concluded that Jiang Cheng was indeed Jiang Cheng. Lei Buxiao was instantly furious, Well, Jiang Cheng! Just wait and see how I deal with you! Since the Task Hall was ultimately under the management of Sun Decai, he didnt want to escte the issue. He preferred to resolve it privately, so as not to affect the operations of the Task Hall. Dean Lei, please be patient. Look at Jiang Cheng, hes only eighteen and still studying at Wuyue Advanced Middle School. Given his age, even if there was a mishap, could he really be held responsible? Lei Buxiao was taken aback and said, Elder Sun means Of course, we couldnt just me the student. We would need to bring in the parents, and the school that taught Jiang Cheng should also not be neglected. Didnt Jiang Cheng win second prize in a talisman-drawingpetition? The Wuyue Advanced Middle School that taught him and allowed him to enter thepetition surely cant be free from involvement, right? Indeed, thats true. Lei Buxiao opened Jiang Chengs file and dialed the emergency contact number Jiang Cheng had provided. Sun Decai felt relieved seeing this move. Students might be thoughtless, but parents and schools probably wouldnt be. With the parents and Wuyue Advanced Middle School stepping in to mediate, this matter would likely be resolved without much trouble. ording to Professor Bais exnation, Lei Buxiaos requirements were actually quite simple. As long as Jiang Cheng stopped making talismans and offered an apology to Dean Lei, this incident would probably be over. At this moment, Bai Wendao had aplicated expression on his face. Was the Muscle Rxation Talisman really drawn by Jiang Cheng? He felt life was full of disillusionment and uncertainty. If Jiang Cheng wasnt reliable, then were there any dependable students in this world? Bai Wendao still harbored a glimmer of hope, believing there must be more to the story with Jiang Cheng. Soon, Lei Buxiao connected with Jiang Chengs parents through themunication talisman. Lei Buxiao even turned on the speakerphone so that everyone could hear how Jiang Chengs parents would respond. Who is this? Are you Jiang Chengs father? Yes, I am. May I ask whos speaking? I am the dean of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy in Wuyue City, Lei Buxiao. Uh, what can I do for you? Your son, Jiang Cheng, created a talisman that severely disrupted our schools teaching order. Would it be convenient for you toe to the Task Hall in Wuyue City? Wed like to discuss something with you face-to-face. Jiang Cheng disrupted your schools teaching order? Thats right. Hes suspected of assisting arge number of students in cheating during exams. Did Jiang Cheng do this? Yes. Do you have any other questions? You cane and discuss them with us in person. Hahaha. Youre saying Jiang Cheng is affecting your school? Then, how ipetent must you all be to be influenced by him? I know my son, and youre trying to tell me hes disrupting your school? When he was in primary school, he couldnt even influence his deskmate. Next time you try to scam someone, pleasee up with a more believable excuse. Im very busy. Is there anything else? If not, Im hanging up. The call was disconnected. Everyone looked dumbfounded. Lei Buxiao held themunication talisman in one hand, still not having recovered from Jiang Chengs fathers mocking tone. How ipetent must you all be? This sentence echoed continuously in the ears of the people at the Sword Cultivation Academy. On the other side, Jiang Chengs real father, Jiang Lei, hung up the phone and said to a beautiful middle-aged woman next to him, Just a scam call. By the way, when shall we go back and see Jiang Cheng? It seems he just finished his college entrance exams, and the results should be out soon. The woman said, How about in a couple of months? Lets surprise him while hes still in Wuyue. Jiang Lei smiled, Okay. That kid, Jiang Cheng, may not have any big talents, but hes never caused any trouble since he was young, and hes never even been in a rtionship, which makes him so easy to raise. And youre happy hes not dating? We can talk about that in college. Hes young; theres no rush. The woman sighed, There are many temptations in college. Dont you know our son? Hes so honest, he wouldnt just go around being a yboy even in college. Dont worry. Chapter 29 - 29 Zhao Qin Dare Not Imagine Chapter 29 Zhao Qin Dare Not Imagine Trantor: 549690339 At the entrance of the Task Hall of Tongtian Sect, Wuyue, Jiang Cheng, Lin Yao, and Zhao Qin walked into the hall one after another. Jiang Cheng was the one in front. Lin Yao, holding Zhao Qins hand, followed behind Jiang Cheng. He, a female Cultivator of the Tongtian Sects Outer Sect, who usually took care of Jiang Chengs tasks, had been waiting at the door for a while. Upon seeing Jiang Cheng arrive, she immediately went up to him. Jiang Cheng, what have you done? Several high-ranking cultivators are waiting for you in the conference room, He asked anxiously. Several high-ranking cultivators? Wasnt there only the headmaster originally? Jiang Cheng had no idea why the high-ranking cultivators were looking for him. I dont know either. Which cultivators are they? He, do you recognize them? To He, Jiang Cheng was a treasure to bolster her performance; she genuinely hoped that nothing bad would happen to him. Theres Elder Sun from our Outer Sect, and there are others I dont recognize. Oh right, theres also a Core Formation Cultivator with a very fierce appearance! A Core Formation Cultivator with a very fierce appearance? Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief inside. It turned out the highest was only Core Formation. A Core Formation Stage cultivator, ording to the Immortal Gods ranking system, would equate to just over level thirty. When Jiang Cheng first heard the term high-ranking cultivators from He, he thought it might be someone like Liu Qing, who was in the seventies or eighties level. It was only in the thirties. Dont worry, He, were under the rule ofw in a society governed by the Immortal Sect now. If there was really a serious matter, they definitely wouldnt arrange to meet me in the Task Hall, Jiang Cheng reassured her. Jiang Chengforted He. It was then that He realized. Howe it started with you, Jiang Cheng, being called for a meeting, and now its youforting me? Theres a Core Formation Cultivator inside, are you not afraid at all? Looking at Jiang Chengsposed expression, Hes originally anxious heart inexplicably settled down. For some reason, she always had this strange confidence in Jiang Cheng. He was so self-assured; it was as if he had the entire situation under his control. Perhaps things would really be alright, just as he said. Then you better hurry to the conference room behind the great hall. Elder Sun and the others are waiting for you, said He. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Alright. Hey, wait a moment. He caught up with Jiang Cheng and whispered to him, The conference room in the Task Hall has recording equipment; you mustnt say anything careless. Jiang Cheng smiled, Of course. Dont worry, He. I love to tell the truth. He nodded her head and watched Jiang Cheng walk towards the conference room. Lin Yao and Zhao Qin followed behind Jiang Cheng. Unlike Jiang, they were not familiar with the Task Hall and were not as natural. This was their first time attending a gathering with adults from society, and they were a lot more reservedpared to others. While He and Jiang Cheng were whispering to each other, Lin Yao, walking behind them, couldnt help feeling annoyed. This Jiang Cheng, he seemed to be very kind and friendly to everyone else, but with her, Lin Yao, he was indifferent and even inexplicably dismissive. With these thoughts, Lin Yao became more convinced that Jiang Cheng was deliberately targeting her. She admitted that Jiang Chengs behavior was sessfulhe had thoroughly made her remember him now! Not only that, she wasnt finished with Jiang Cheng! Unless Jiang Cheng surrendered honestly, admitting his feelings for her! And promised that from then on, he would only like her, Lin Yao, and stay away from other women! Although Lin Yao was quite annoyed with Jiang Chengs conversation with He, Lin Yao actually did not take He seriously and didnt see her as a rival or a threat. The reason was simple. Although Hes appearance wasnt bad, and she could be considered a pretty female Cultivator, she undoubtedly fell far short whenpared to Lin Yao. In terms of appearance, temperament, talent, and future potential, Lin Yao was confident she couldpletely overpower He. With her around, Jiang Cheng had no reason to choose He. That was her confidence. Not to mention He, Lin Yao had never seen any female Cultivator who could rival her since she was young. Lin Yao was willing to admit that her personality might not be to Jiang Chengs liking, but in terms of appearance, she had an absolute advantage! Seeing Jiang Cheng leave He and walk towards the distance, Lin Yao quickly grabbed Zhao Qin and chased after him. As expected, she was intercepted by He. This was the first time He had seen Lin Yao. Even as a fellow female Cultivator, He couldnt help but be astonished by Lin Yaos beauty. Shes so beautiful, He thought. But as a fellow female Cultivator, He harbored both admiration and a sneaky sense ofpetition towards Lin Yao. Lin Yao looked quite young, whether it was her pretty face or her figure, which was far from fully developedher temperament too was that of a pure young girl. At least in terms of development, He stuck out her chest, regaining some of the confidence that an adult female Cultivator should have. Cultivator, halt! The meeting room is beyond this point, and it is not open to unrted persons, He stopped Lin Yao. Because of Jiang Cheng, Lin Yao didnt like He to begin with, and she was already harboring some displeasure. Now there was even less reason to show a pleasant face to her. I am Elder Brother Jiangs junior sister, not some unrted person,'' Lin Yao retorted. Faced with Hes obstruction, Lin Yao immediately asserted her status! Elder Sun didnt say that junior sisters could enter, He argued with reason. But he didnt say that junior sisters couldnt enter, did he? Elder Brother said the principal was looking for him, and Im also the principals student, so that means I can go in too! Lin Yao was always illogical in her reasoning, but it was nheless tightly constructed. Not even Jiang Cheng could find a w in Lin Yaos logic, let alone He. He was at a loss for words, but she just didnt want to let Lin Yao in. As the standoff persisted, Lin Yao pouted and called out directly to the retreating back of Jiang Cheng, Elder Brother Jiang~ she wont let Yaoyao in~ Women fighting was naturally an attention-grabber, and with Lin Yaos characteristics, it wasnt surprising that she drew the gaze of nearly all the Cultivators in the Task Hall. Furthermore, with Lin Yaos cry, the power of a young girls delicateint caused many of the onlookers hearts to tremble. It also made Jiang Cheng, who hadnt gone far, the focus of all the Cultivators attention. One could imagine that if this continued, Jiang Cheng would undoubtedly be famous by tomorrow. Shocking! Two beautiful female Cultivators in the Wuyue Task Hall fight over a male Cultivator! The truth is This enchantress! Jiang Cheng felt a headacheing on, and, feeling helpless, he turned back to He and said, Sister He, just let her in. Otherwise, shell make such a fuss that the hall wont have peace. The pressure from the onlookers, coupled with Jiang Chengs persuasion, led He to take a step back. But no sooner had she stepped back than Lin Yao took a provocative stand by Jiang Chengs side. Hes fists clenched subconsciously. But the matter was settled, and she couldnt make things difficult for Lin Yao anymore. Zhao Qin was still hesitating when He asked, Are you also Elder Brother Jiangs junior sister? Do you want to go in as well? Zhao Qin hastily waved her hands, No, no, no, I have nothing to do with Jiang Cheng. I came with Yaoyao; Ill just wait outside, she said. He let out a sigh of relief, You can sit in the resting room. Zhao Qin also breathed a sigh of relief and thought to herself: Why does this sister care so much about Cultivator Jiang? It seems that Cultivator Jiang hooking Yaoyao wasnt just random luck but because he truly has some capability. I hope Yaoyao doesnt fall too deeply for him. Otherwise, with Yaoyaos beauty, if in the end, hes used her up and she ends up giving birth to his child without bing Cultivators together The mere thought of Lin Yao appearing before her holding a child, her stunning face filled with sorrow and tears streaming down like rain Zhao Qin immediately shivered and didnt dare to continue the thought. Chapter 30 - 30 Jiang Cheng Regrets Chapter 30 Jiang Cheng Regrets Trantor: 549690339 Thinking that He might still be watching from behind, Lin Yao deliberately walked by Jiang Chengs side. Whenever Jiang Cheng tried to walk faster or slower to distance himself, Lin Yao always managed to keep pace with his changes and firmly upied the position beside him. This sense of control over Jiang Cheng made Lin Yao feel very good. Moreover, her recent encounters with Jiang Cheng deepened her understanding of romantic rtionships between men and women. She increasingly realized that teasing those boring male cultivators was pointless, but conquering the highly-ranked Jiang Cheng brought a greater sense of achievement. Lin Yao looked at Jiang Cheng with satisfaction and said, Jiang, where is the principal you mentioned? Jiang Cheng said, He said that the principal is in the conference room. He Lin Yao curled her lips, You sound quite close. It seems that you and she have a good rtionship, dont you? The area behind the Task Hall was quiet and deserted, which made Jiang Chengs attitude towards Lin Yao improve quite a bit. He casually replied, Its mainly a work rtionship. Hearing Jiang Cheng exin it like this, Lin Yao suddenly felt happy. Are you in a hurry to exin because youre afraid Yaoer might misunderstand? Why would I be afraid of your misunderstanding? How can you, an enchantress, be sopletelycking in self-awareness? Jiang Cheng really wanted to retort like this, but after all, he had a rtively high EQ. In hismunication with others, he had his own unique understanding. No, he said. Not afraid of misunderstanding? Such an impotent exnation. Actually, you are afraid that Ill misunderstand, right? Humph, still say you dont like me? It would have been better to admit it earlier. Lin Yao imed a phase victory and was overjoyed. Even her steps became bouncy and yful. Then, Jiang Cheng added, Actually, Im not in a rush to exin. Lin Yao: ??? From happiness, pride, to the joy that was doused with a bucket of cold water from head to toe, Lin Yao felt her emotions were roughly toyed with by Jiang Cheng again. She bit her lower lip, standing unwillingly where she was. If it had been anyone else, they would surely havee back tofort her properly, but Jiang Cheng seemingly did not see her, even walking faster and faster. Lin Yao stood there for a few seconds, not waiting for Jiang Cheng to look back, so she could only jog to catch up to him. Is his heart made of iron? Impervious to water and needle, neither soft nor hard approaches can sway him? Lin Yao didnt understand. But this only stoked herpetitive spirit even more. However, before Lin Yao could think of another way to test Jiang Cheng, they unwittingly arrived at the door of the conference room. Jiang Chengs actions showed no hesitation, he reached out and pushed open the conference room door. The door swung inward. Early Foundation Establishment, mid-Foundation Establishment,te Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Core Formation Stage! Such a number of high-ranking cultivators appearing before Lin Yao made her eyes widen slightly, and even her breathing paused at that moment. Although Wuyue Advanced Middle School was the best high school in Wuyue, it only had the principal and the vice-principal who were at the Foundation Establishment stage. And now Their high schools pride, the principal, was sitting on the edge of that row of cultivators, indeed at Foundation Establishment, but the weakest early Foundation Establishment! Those eyes watching her not only belonged to Foundation Establishers, but even included Core Formation cultivators! It was said that in the ancient battlefields, before the Five Great Immortal Sects ruled the continent, Core Formers could ughter Foundation Establishers as easily as a tiger kills a chicken, without exerting any effort! And if a Core Former decided to take action against someone still at Qi Condensing Perhaps with a single snap of the fingers, they could reduce her, Lin Yao, to ashes and smoke Moreover, that Core Formation cultivator seemed to be very angry The power disparity was too vast, and the moment Lin Yao faced that scene, an inescapable fear took root in her heart. A Qi-cultivating cultivator facing a Core Formation was like an unarmed person confronting a fifty-meter-tall giant. Fear uncontrobly rose from the depths of her heart! However, whatpletely surprised Lin Yao was that Jiang Cheng, standing beside her, not only showed no change in expression but also carried a faint smile, calmly andposedly walking towards the line of people who could easily determine his fate. Lin Yaos throat was dry, but she instinctively felt that standing by Jiang Chengs side was the only safe ce for her at this moment. Instinct drove her to act, and she subconsciously ran to Jiang Chengs side, gently tugging at the corner of his sleeve. Jiang Cheng turned his head and nced at her. In the incredibly tense atmosphere, Lin Yao felt as if time had suddenly slowed down, and she could clearly see the thick eyshes above Jiang Chengs eyes. She noticed that Jiang Cheng first slightly furrowed his brows, then rxed them, showing her a gentle smile that she had never seen before. Such a smile was gentle and sincere, like the soft sun in the afternoon, filled withforting and soothing light. Dont be afraid. Its okay. They are here for me, you can leave. Jiang Chengs voice at that moment was low but crystal clear, sounding like heavenly music to Lin Yao. Lin Yao was stunned, feeling her heart beat unrestrictedly, fast and rapid. Hot blood originated from her heart and uncontrobly flushed her cheeks and every corner of her body. Lin Yao was typically confident, but now, she couldnt meet Jiang Chengs gaze directly. His gaze was too intense for her to bear, and after barely resisting for a second, Lin Yao quickly lowered her head, like a startled little rabbit. She tried to hide her slightly flushed cheeks, her panicked eyes, her moist, restless eyes, and her long eyshes that fluttered like a butterflys wings with her bowed head. Jiang Cheng continued to walk forward, but Lin Yao, uncharacteristically meek, merely clutched at his sleeve, head lowered, following hesitantly behind him. Honestly, Jiang Cheng was somewhat regretful. He had thought that the conference room contained only his principal, an unnamed Core Formation cultivator, and Elder Sun from the Task Hallonly three cultivators. He never expected there to be so many people. It even included Professor Bai, whom he had coincidentally met before. If he had known there were so many high-level cultivators here, Jiang Cheng wouldnt have let Lin Yaoe with him under any circumstances. Bringing the enchantress, wasnt it the same as: Jiang Cheng kissing Yuan Yuan goodbye at the stationgoodbye (by mistake) leading to a misunderstanding? He had just hinted at Lin Yao to leave, but the enchantress pretended not to hear. Now, he could only hope they wouldnt misunderstand his rtionship with Lin Yao. Fortunately, the principal was here to testify on their behalf. After all, Lin Yao had a certain reputation at Wuyue Advanced Middle School, and it was well known she didnt date in high school; the principal was definitely aware of this. With the principal present, his innocence was powerfully safeguarded. Wuyue Advanced Middle Schools Principal Yang Lingbao had an extremelyplicated expression. He wasfortably sitting in his office at the school, listening to music and drinking tea, as leisurely as could be. Then, the Director of Education who oversaw Wuyues education called him with amunication talisman, berating him before he could even speak. Comining about a student severely disrupting the teaching order of several academies in Wuyue. Yang Lingbao was entirely confused, finding the situation incredibly strange. They were a high school! On the educational hierarchy, they ranked lower than something like the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. The Directors words were as though they were saying an eight-year-old child had beaten an eighteen-year-old adult ck and blue. Is this TM an eight-year-old? But after he arrived at the meeting room in the Task Hall and saw a room full of his educational colleagues, Yang Lingbao finally realized the severity of the issue. However, this kid Jiang Cheng was practically unknown at their school; even Jiang Chengs homeroom teacher didnt have a deep impression of him. Looking at Jiang Chengs photo, he seemed to have honest, thick eyebrows andrge eyes. Could he really have caused such a disturbance? It wasnt until just now, when Jiang Cheng appeared with Lin Yao, that Yang Lingbao finally believed it. Chapter 31 - 31 The Rights That Should Be Accorded Chapter 31 The Rights That Should Be orded Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng was not famous. But Lin Yao was famous beyondparison! Ever since she started high school in her first year, Principal Yang had heard that their school had weed the so-called most beautiful female student since the establishment of senior high schools. Superficial! Thats what Yang Lingbao initially thought. But after seeing Lin Yao by chance, he felt that the description was quite fitting, and it had some literary merit, especially in matching reality. Acting on the intuition of an excellent principal, Yang Lingbao sought out Lin Yaos homeroom teacher as soon as possible to have him pay special attention to Lin Yao. Because Yang Lingbao believed that high school boys were very capable when it came to matters of the heart. If anything happened because of Lin Yao, he, as the principal, wouldnt be able to cope with it. What Yang Lingbao did not expect was that the boys might have some skills, but Lin Yao seemed to have even more. Throughout the three years of high school, including Lin Yaos homeroom teacher, they hadnt heard of any scandal involving her. Not only that, she seemed to not be dating at all. It seemed she was not interested in high school boys. This made Yang Lingbao secretly relieved. The bomb was big, but it did not go off! But who could have thought that just a moment ago, a male student from their high school who was previously not famous at all, was seen outside the campus with Lin Yao! They looked as if their date had been interrupted as they hurried to the Task Hall. Yang Lingbao initially didnt believe that Lin Yao was dating. Her being seen outside of school could have been for other reasons. And why would she suddenly start liking someone at the end of high school after not dating for three years? But just now, Yang Lingbao saw the way Lin Yao looked at Jiang Cheng. Shepletely had the air of a young girl with a crush. He might have been skeptical before, but now he believed it. Because no one (pushing hands), other than a high school principal (spreading hands), understands (OK) the secret crushes (one index finger) among students better. Jiang Cheng,e, sit here. Yang Lingbaos tone was quiteplex. Jiang Cheng was indeed obedient, and he sat down where the principal had indicated. Lin Yao obediently found a spot to sit next to Jiang Cheng. The chairs in the Task Hall meeting room were quite spacious, but Lin Yao didnt sit in the center of the chair. Instead, she insisted on sitting on the side closer to Jiang Cheng. This subconscious bodynguage did not escape the eyes of the experienced and shrewd senior educators present. Various thoughts appeared in their minds. Lei Buxiao: Damn, what does this kid mean by bringing his girlfriend here? Does he not respect me at all? Lu Benwei: Tsk tsk, the boy has some good fortune with women. Bai Wendao: Jiang has good taste. But this girl doesnt seem like an easy one to handle. Yang Lingbao: You little rascal, you dont show it at school, but outside, you do have some skills! Jiang Cheng, Lin Yaos homeroom teacher is still on vacation and wont be able to return for now. Your uncle is busy with work, but hell be hereter, Yang Lingbao said. Oh, Jiang Cheng did not understand why the principal was telling him this. Tell me, what have you been doing these few days after the college entrance exam? I took on tasks at the Task Hall. What tasks? Designing talismans. All designed by yourself!? eximed the Talisman Master Association President, Lu Wang, as he suddenly stood up and shouted. Jiang Cheng looked towards Lu Wang and bowed: I referred to Physical Enhancement for a part of it. I also did some research at the Cultivation Library. I happened to run into Professor Bai there. Everyone looked at Bai Wendao. Bai Wendao felt conflicted, but he had no choice but to speak, I can testify for him on this point. Since Yang Lingbao was already aware of Jiang Chengs talisman drawing, he continued to ask, What talisman did you design? Jiang Cheng spoke the truth, Muscle Rxation Talisman. Yang Lingbao asked, Do you know what the Muscle Rxation Talisman is used for? Jiang Cheng looked at Yang Lingbao, puzzled. As the designer, how could he not know what it was used for? I know, he said. Yang Lingbao thought to himself what an idiot, at this moment, one should im to be unaware! However, once Jiang Chengs words were out, he could only continue to ask, What are they used for? For rxing muscles, Jiang Cheng replied. Nonsense! That talisman is clearly an overpowered control-type Talisman! Lei Buxiao stood up immediately. The crowd turned their attention to Lei Buxiao. Soon, Liu Qi and Lu Benwei, seated next to him, pressed him back down. Dean, calm down, you must stay calm! A Core Formation raged, and even Lin Yao, sitting next to Jiang Cheng, felt an immense pressure. Yet, Jiang Cheng, facing the pressure, was as steady as Mount Tai. He was calm andposed, unppable in the face of chaos, creating a stark contrast to the furious Lei Buxiao. Lin Yao pursed her lips, her beautiful eyes involuntarily staring intently at Jiang Cheng. Unmoved even if Mount Tai crumbles before him, undistracted even as a herd of deer frolics to his left. She had to admit now that Jiang Cheng was indeed quite handsome. The reason Jiang Cheng wasnt afraid of Lei Buxiao wasnt because he believed in Lei Buxiaos character, but because he believed in his own innocence. The Muscle Rxation Talisman made sense,wful andpliant; even if the Heavenly Dao itself arrived, the Heavenly Dao, thew, fairness, and justice would have to stand on his side. Lei Buxiao might be powerful, but was he as powerful as the Five Great Immortal Sects? Was he stronger than thews and order set by the Five Great Immortal Sects? Characters as formidable as Liu Qing could be suppressed by the Immortal Sect; what was a minor Core Formation cultivator inparison? Having said that much, Yang Lingbao no longer tested the waters and directly asked Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng, tell the Principal honestly, is the Muscle Rxation Talisman actually an overpowered control-type talisman? Preposterous. The Muscle Rxation Talisman is unquestionably a harmless Healing Talisman, Jiang Cheng said confidently. Now it was Liu Qi who couldnt sit still. A harmless Healing Talisman? Ive fainted from the pain, and youre telling me its harmless? Liu Qi shot up saying, Impossible! This talisman cannot possibly be a harmless Healing Talisman! The crowd looked towards Liu Qi. Soon, Lei Buxiao and Lu Wang seated beside him pressed him back down. Director Liu, stay calm, cool down a bit. After quelling Liu Qis anger, Lu Wang, an authority in the field of talismans, spoke definitively. Ahem, theoretically, based on the design of talismans, the Muscle Rxation Talisman should indeed be ssified among Healing Talismans, he said. When Lu Wang spoke, the others no longer argued. After all, the crux of the matter was not what type the Muscle Rxation Talisman belonged to, but whether it helped some students cheat during exams! Yang Lingbao asked again, Jiang Cheng, ording to some cultivators, they say the Muscle Rxation Talisman causes the person who applied it to twitch all over. Is that true? Jiang Cheng nodded, If used improperly, indeed it may have certain side effects, and in severe cases, its possible for one to experience full-body convulsions. Lu Benwei immediately stood up in objection, Impossible! There must be something fishy here. How can a Healing Talisman have such a strong side effect! Bai Wendao and Lei Buxiao coordinated to calm him down, Teacher Lu, calm down, lets cool down first. In the face of these doubts, Jiang Cheng responded confidently and with dignity, I have another Muscle Rxation Talisman here; perhaps the elders could try it themselves to see. No one wanted to try, creating a slightly awkward scene. Yang Lingbao spoke again, Lets set aside what properties the Muscle Rxation Talisman might have, and Jiang Cheng, answer me truthfully, is there any possibility that this talisman could disrupt the educational order and help certain students cheat on their exams? Jiang Cheng spokeposedly, Absolutely not. I have signed a talisman usage authorization agreement with each and every client, which clearly stiptes that any talismans from Jiang Cheng must not be used in any illegal scenarios. Moreover, I have also provided a detailed instruction manual for the use of the talismans, emphasizing its nature, function, usage, dosage, and potential adverse reactions. To ensure the veracity of his statement, Jiang Cheng especially opened his storage bag and took out the prepared documents. The instruction manual clearly records the consequences of misuse of the talisman. These include: vigorous exercise during the effective period can lead to muscle cramps. Excessive use of the talisman may cause a doubling of side effects In short Jiang Cheng sat up straight, his fingers inteced in front of him. If anyone disrupts the proper educational order, I am willing to assist all the elders in their investigation wholeheartedly. This is my duty as a resident of Wuyue City. But if anyone nders my reputation, I will also reserve the right to sue them, as granted by thew. Chapter 32 - 32 Who Can Control Jiang Cheng Chapter 32 Who Can Control Jiang Cheng Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Chengs words came out as if they were a discussion, but in reality, they were a threat, and Bai Wendaoughed. Previously, due to the appearance of the Muscle Rxation Talisman, he had begun to doubt whether Jiang Cheng was still the Jiang Cheng he knew. The gentle, kind, and sunny youth he remembered, how could he have created something as defying as the Muscle Rxation Talisman? Now, upon seeing him, he realized Jiang Cheng hadnt changed at all. He was still so calm,posed, and full of a sense of justice. Obviously, the Muscle Rxation Talisman being used for cheating was definitely not Jiang Chengs intention. Instead, those students were just too bad. Otherwise, why would Jiang Cheng confidently dere in front of several advanced cultivators that it was absolutely impossible? Bai Wendaos previously tense nerves rxed at this moment. No matter what, the situation had not fallen into the worst-case scenario. Next, it was time to see how Lei Buxiao and Yang Lingbao would handle things. Unlike Bai Wendaos rxation, Lei Buxiaos veins were throbbing with anger at this time. In his view, Jiang Cheng was clearly provoking them! Although he was caught helping students cheat, he insisted on loudly denying any connection. Did he think that by fabricating some evidence he would be off the hook? Lei Buxiao simply couldnt believe it; a mere Qi-practicing cultivator could fabricate wless evidence? Lei Buxiaos fingers twitched slightly, and the documents in Jiang Chengs hands immediately flew into his own. With another flick of his fingers, the documentsnded separately in the hands of Bai Wendao, Liu Qi, and Lu Benwei. Since all these individuals belonged to the Sword Cultivation Academy, Lei Buxiao was not afraid they would fail to find faults in Jiang Chengs documents. Lei Buxiao snorted coldly, Everyone take a good look to see if theres anything wrong with these documents. Seeing the Core Formation cultivators stance, Lin Yaos hands, tightly sped, began to sweat. It was clear to anyone with eyes that their flipping through the documents was surely meant to find ws in Jiang Chengs files. Where theres a will to condemn, theres always an excuse. Even if the documents had no issues, they could still be forced to find issues. Lin Yao nced at Jiang Cheng, who was still incredibly calm, and then turned to look at Principal Yang Lingbao. No matter what, Jiang Cheng was Principal Yangs student. If Jiang Cheng were in trouble, it would not reflect well on Wuyue Advanced Middle School either. This matter could only be resolved by Principal Yang stepping in. But if Principal Yang, for the sake of the bigger picture, didnt wish to protect Jiang Cheng Lin Yao bit her silver teeth lightly, her mind having already prepared for the worst. If Principal Yang didnt protect Jiang Cheng, she would go home and seek her fathers help. Although her father was strict, he had quite awork in Wuyue, and as long as he was willing, he could strike up conversations with many high-ranking cultivators. In short, Jiang Cheng could not have any trouble! Lin Yao wanted to y with Jiang Chengs emotions, but she wasnt foolish. Matters of the heart were one thing, and professional matters were another. She might bully Jiang Cheng emotionally, but if someone tried to trouble Jiang Cheng professionally, she would never agree to it. ying dirty tricks at work because of emotional setbacks in a rtionship such disgusting acts, Lin Yao couldnt do them. She wanted a fair and square showdown with Jiang Cheng in matters of the heart. Either Jiang Cheng would admit defeat and acknowledge his feelings for her, vowing to only like her and no one else from then on! Or There was no or. She was certain she wouldnt lose! So there were no other options! Principal Yangs mind was as clear as a mirror, how could he not know Lin Yao was hinting at him to protect Jiang Cheng? Before Jiang Cheng came, he had alreadymunicated with people like Lei Buxiao. Principal Yang knew very well what Lei Buxiao and the others were demanding; they didnt intend to charge Jiang Cheng with a crime, as that would blow things out of proportion. A bunch of Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators outwitted by a high school student even if they punished Jiang Cheng in the end, they wouldnt be able to save face. Lei Buxiaos main goal was for Jiang Cheng to stop drawing any Muscle Rxation Talismans. Yang Lingbao looked at Jiang Cheng and said in a low voice, Jiang Cheng, apologize to the seniorster, admit your mistake, and this matter will be considered over. Jiang Cheng did not hesitate, Principal, Im not in the wrong. You little brat, Yang Lingbao said quietly, Youre not in the wrong? Then are they in the wrong? Do you really want several Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators to apologize to you? Just lower your head, they wont make things difficult for you. Jiang Cheng still did not consider it. Principal, tasks, documents, contractsthey are not like discussing love between men and women, which can be casually debated about right and wrong. These things are clearly written in ck and white on paper, right is right, wrong is wrong, clear and obvious, known at a nce. I believe the seniors will not tarnish my integrity. This is not a matter of integrity; its about human rtions and social etiquette. In the face of justice and righteousness, there is no ce for human rtions and social etiquette. You! Yang Lingbao had not anticipated that Jiang Cheng would be so stubborn. What benefit could he possibly see in confronting Lei Buxiao head-on? After all, Lei Buxiao was a Core Formation cultivator! Who would court trouble, deliberately seeking to offend someone in Core Formation? Jiang Cheng had not considered that much; he simply felt that if ones head could be lowered at any time, then it can never be raised again. In the dispute over the Muscle Rxation Talisman, if he were to admit fault to Lei Buxiao, then even if he was not wrong, he would be in the wrong. Admitting fault now would be tantamount to giving up the initiative in the struggle, voluntarily ceding the moral high ground to the opposition. Both emotionally and rationally, Jiang Cheng would not admit wrongdoing. So? Have you found any loopholes? Lei Buxiao asked. Dean, his contract is indeed quite meticulous. The instruction manual is also fine, we could even refer to it in the future. The disimer is written very cleverly, especially this sentence, The final interpretation right of this talisman belongs to Jiang Cheng. Lei Buxiaos expression turned sour. Just as Yang Lingbao had guessed, Lei Buxiao did not intend to escte the situation; otherwise, he would not have chosen the Task Hall to resolve it. His ultimate goal was for Jiang Cheng to give up drawing Muscle Rxation Talismans. If Jiang Cheng kept doing so, other schools might be uncertain, but their Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy would definitely not be rated as top-tier. Now unable to find fault with Jiang Cheng, what could he use to make Jiang Cheng stop drawing? Elder Sun, can your Task Hall really allow the trade of unrecorded talismans? Lei Buxiao tried to find a breakthrough from the Task Hall. Sun Decai thought it was an undeserved disaster. For the management of talismans, go find Lu Wang, the President of the Talisman Master Association, why find me? Just as Sun Decai was thinking about how to pass the buck, Jiang Cheng unexpectedly took the initiative to speak up, Senior may not know, the Task Hall is merely a tform for cultivators to conduct transactions, and does not have the authority to scrutinize the specific content of the transactions between cultivators. Moreover, the Tongtian Sect Task Hall does not take a cut from the transactions of the cultivators; it is a nonprofit tform aimed at facilitating exchanges between cultivators. Upon hearing Jiang Chengs exnation, Sun Decais eyes lit up. Jiang Cheng was right, but this knowledge was rarely known, even by many cultivators within the Tongtian Sect, let alone a high school student like Jiang Cheng who seemed to understand it so thoroughly. It seemed he had indeed put in effort, and the Task Halls services had not been wasted on him. Sun Decai said to Lei Buxiao with a cupped fist, Indeed, Dean Lei, please bear with us; our Task Hall truly cannot interfere with talisman transactions. Having his fault-finding rebuffed for the second time, Lei Buxiao again held back the throbbing veins on his forehead wanting tosh out, and turned his spearhead towards Lu Wang. President Lu, since this incident arose because of the talismans, your Talisman Master Association must bear some responsibility, right? Lu Wang showed an embarrassed expression. He thought: Jiang Cheng hasnt even taken the Talisman Master Certificate exam, how should I intervene? Before Lu Wang could speak, Jiang Cheng took the initiative again, Senior Lei, this matter is irrelevant to President Lu; I am not a talisman master affiliated with the Talisman Master Association, and he has no authority to govern me. Seeing Jiang Cheng being so understanding, Lu Wangs countenance immediately improved, and he echoed repeatedly, Right, right, right. Our Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association can only govern the talisman masters within the Association. This student Jiang Cheng has no rtion with us. Lei Buxiao, barely containing the veins dancing on his forehead, said, Then Principal Yang, Jiang Cheng is a student of your school, right? You must manage him, mustnt you? Yang Lingbao, not daring to offend Lei Buxiao and as he was organizing his thoughts, heard Jiang Cheng speak again, Senior Lei, entering the Task Hall to ept tasks is a right granted by the Immortal Sect to every legitimate cultivator. Even the principal has no right to intervene. As soon as these words came out, Principal Yang immediately breathed a sigh of relief. That was indeed the reason. But Lei Buxiao nearly went mad upon hearing it. If this cant be managed and that cant be managed, who can actually govern Jiang Cheng! Chapter 33: Reaching Cooperation Chapter 33: Reaching Cooperation Trantor: 549690339 Bai Wendao watched the current scene as if he were watching a y. Compared to others, Bai Wendao was the most knowledgeable about Jiang Cheng among all present. Once this youngster firmly upied the moral high ground, even if Heavenly Dao himself descended, he wouldnt be able to argue against him. Watching the ever-changing expressions on Lei Buxiaos face, Bai Wendao understood that if he didnt step in to smooth things over soon, Dean Lei would probably be so angry hed suffer internal injuries. Young friend Jiang, do you still remember this old man? Jiang Cheng politely sped his hands together: Senior Bai is learned and wise, the conversation we had that day is still fresh in my memory to this day. Hearing Jiang Chengs words, many of the cultivators present thought simultaneously: so you do know how to say nice things, huh? Bai Wendao let out a heartyugh, getting straight to the point: Young friend Jiang, ever since the Five Great Immortal Sects joined hands to maintain order in the world, everyone has stayed in their ce and acted ording to the rules and regtions, thus creating a longsting peace. Since the Muscle Rxation Talisman you drew is legal andpliant, then our Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, indeed, has no right to interfere with you. Upon hearing Bai Wendaos words, Lei Buxiao immediately became anxious. Professor Bai, this matter concerns the academys critical upgrade, how can we allow such indulgence? The academys upgrade has been the focus of Leis and many colleagues efforts for more than a decade, how can we stop here? Bai Wendao signaled Lei Buxiao to calm down. He continued: Although the academy has no right to interfere, our Sword Cultivation Academy is also a legal entity under the governance of the Immortal Sect, and also has legal rights, doesnt it? Of course, Jiang Cheng said. Good. Then in that case, our academy can openly and honorably cooperate with young friend Jiang. If others can buy talismans, our academy can do the same. As soon as Bai Wendao said this, everyone caught on to his meaning. Lei Buxiao immediately understood Bai Wendaos intention. The Muscle Rxation Talisman, if students can buy it, the academy can also buy it. And which students have more money than the academy? As long as the academy buys all the talismans, then the students naturally wont be able to purchase them. If the students cant buy them, then in all the various exams of the academy, no one will be able to casually pass using such an odd thing! With this, the Imperial Colleges inspection for the upgrade would be foolproof! This move is indeed clever, but if Jiang Cheng starts making exorbitant demands Lei Buxiao looked towards Jiang Cheng. And Jiang Cheng was staring at Bai Wendao. Senior Bai means to say, the Sword Cultivation Academy wants to sign an exclusive supply agreement with me? Bai Wendao spoke frankly, without evasion, Whether you supply the academy or not, we dont care. We just want you not to sell the talismans to students. Whether its exclusive supply, monopoly, or embargo, you can interpret it as you will. We hope to pay a sum of money to ensure that, at least for the time being, the Muscle Rxation Talisman wont appear anymore. Understood, Jiang Cheng nodded. Bai Wendao had already made himself very clear. The Sword Cultivation Academy was nning to pay something akin to a silencing fee to temporarily embargo the Muscle Rxation Talisman. For Jiang Cheng, it didnt matter. He crafted talismans to make money, and it didnt matter whose pocket the money came from, as long as it was legal, he had no issues on his end. I still have several tasks at hand that I havent dealt with. If I were to cooperate with the academy, I would like the academy to take on the penalties for breach of contract, Jiang Cheng said. Lei Buxiao looked towards Sun Decai. Sun Decai said with a smile, The defaulting party needs to pay ten percent of the task amount as a penalty fee, which at most will be a hundred or two hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. Lei Buxiao nodded his head; he was a Core Formation cultivator, and a few hundred low-grade Spirit Stones truly meant nothing to him. You name your price, Lei Buxiao said. At this point, other than the price, there was nothing left to discuss. As long as Jiang Chengs asking price wasnt too outrageous, Lei Buxiao could ept it. As soon as Dean Leis words fell, everyones gaze converged on Jiang Cheng. Yang Lingbao, the Foundation Establishment cultivator closest to Jiang Cheng and principal of a high school, kept giving Jiang Cheng meaningful looks, signaling him to quit while he was ahead, to ask for less and not be too excessive. Lin Yao, seated next to Jiang Cheng, had never expected the situation to develop the way it had. A Qi training cultivator haggling with Core Formation powerhouses, not only leaving the Core Formation powerhouses speechless and angrily at a loss but also ending with the Core Formation powerhouses offering money to calm the situation. This If novelists dared to write like this, they would mostly be criticized for being brainless. But this actually happened. And it happened right beside her. Lin Yao had originally considered Jiang Cheng only a master of emotions, with nothing extraordinary in other aspects. Until today, until just moments ago, she realized that it was her own naivety before. A talisman technique surprising even the president of the Talisman Association. Maintainingposure in front of many high-ranking cultivators. Staying true to justice withoutpromise, even in adversity. Every merit that Jiang Cheng disyed, if ced among his peers, was enough to make him stand out. But all these merits were present in just one person: him. Lin Yao stared dumbfounded at Jiang Chengs profile, and even if she didnt want to admit it, she had to acknowledge that apart from a slightly lower cultivation level, Jiang Cheng was excellent in all other aspects Lin Yao couldnt help thinking, if Jiang Cheng confessed his feelings to her again today, would she still have the courage to reject him? She should have it right? She was no longer sure. Facing Lei Buxiaos offer, Jiang Cheng didnt hesitate much. He pondered for merely ten seconds before saying, Thirty-two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. How much!? Lei Buxiao stood up in shock. Uh, thirty-two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, Jiang Cheng repeated. The reason he mentioned this number was simply that it was the price of a set of apartments. It was also the goal he had been working towards these days. Jiang Cheng, seeing Lei Buxiao so shocked, thought he had asked for too much. But what he didnt realize was, he had actually asked for too little. Thirty-two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones was no small sum for a Qi Cultivation cultivator. Qi Cultivation cultivators made up the vast majority of the poption in Liang Kingdom. In Wuyue City, the sry of an average Qi Cultivation cultivator ranged between four hundred to seven hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. Six hundred-plus low-grade Spirit Stones was the average price of a house in Wuyue. However, thirty-two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones wasnt considered a lot for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. A Foundation Establishment Pill taken by a ninthyer Qi Cultivation cultivator to advance to the next stage cost ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. Many talented ninthyer Qi Cultivation cultivators, in order to level up to Foundation Establishment, would easily consume the equivalent of two houses worth, which was quitemon. Not to mention the Core Formation stage, one rank higher than Foundation Establishment. The higher the cultivation level of a cultivator, the more terrifying the consumption of resources. Conversely, the resources they possessed were also more plentiful. A mere thirty-two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones was a huge sum for a Qi Cultivation cultivator like Jiang Cheng, but for a Core Formation cultivator like Lei Buxiao, it was just a drop in the bucket. Seeing Jiang Cheng name such a generous price, even Lei Buxiao started to look at him more favorably. As for Jiang Chengs previous offense, Lei Buxiao didnt take it to heart. He had no need to hold a grudge over a small fry; that would be beneath him, and embarrassing to mention. Furthermore, the others present had not been the only ones at a disadvantage because of Jiang Cheng. If everyone was at a disadvantage, then no one was. Lei Buxiao waved his hand grandly, and four azure Spirit Stones appeared in front of Jiang Cheng. These were four high-grade Spirit Stones. ording to the exchange rate where one hundred low-grade Spirit Stones equaled one medium-grade Spirit Stone, and one hundred medium-grade Spirit Stones equaled one high-grade Spirit Stone, four high-grade Spirit Stones were equivalent to forty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones! No need for change. Watching Jiang Chengs slightly shocked expression, Lei Buxiao felt utterly satisfied. He took a long, relieved breath. Phew, he had spent the whole day watching this kid show off. Now it was finally his turn to strut! Fucking exhrating! Chapter 34 - 34 The situation is very wrong Chapter 34: The situation is very wrong Trantor: 549690339 Dean Lei Buxiao was growing more and more fond of Jiang Cheng. He found that this kid, Jiang Cheng, was just like a Muscle Rxation Talisman. When Jiang Cheng stood opposite you, as your adversary, he was an incredibly prickly and annoying presence. But when Jiang Cheng, or a Muscle Rxation Talisman, was in your hands, or he was your teammate, things tended to go extremely smoothly and were pleasing. Dean Lei Buxiao had previously regarded Jiang Cheng as someone who twisted facts to suit his purposes, seeing him as a kid who was ignorant of societal norms. Although Dean Lei Buxiao didnt care about Jiang Chengs offenses, he actually had no particr fondness for Jiang Cheng. However,ter when four high-grade Spirit Stones appeared and both parties were preparing to sign a contract, Jiang Cheng suddenly became very friendly and easy to talk to. He not only took the initiative to state that he would not take advantage of the academy, extending the exclusive period of the Talisman granted to the academy to two years. Moreover, he creatively proposed to provide the blueprint for drawing the Muscle Rxation Talisman to Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy and was willing to jointly apply for the Talisman certification with the Sword Cultivation Academy. That is to say, the applicant for the Muscle Rxation Talisman changed from Jiang Cheng to Jiang Cheng and Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. Although the Muscle Rxation Talisman had caused a lot of unnecessary trouble for Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. But no one denied the value of the Talisman itself. Even the third-rank Talisman Master, President Lu Wang of the Wuyue branch of the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association, said that the Muscle Rxation Talisman was a Talisman of significant pioneering, originality, and innovativeness. It even had the potential to revolutionize a part of the Talisman industry. Facing such a Talisman that might have a significant influence in the Immortal Research Field, Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy merely paid a very small sum of money and sessfully reached a close joint development agreement with Jiang Cheng. Without a doubt, this cooperation was a huge bargain for the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. If such an achievement urred during the academys process of leveling up, it would undoubtedly greatly increase the weight of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy in the internal ranking process of the Imperial College. It made the academys already highly probable leveling-up campaignpletely imprable! In the end, under the witness of Outer Sect Elder Sun Decai, Wuyue Advanced Middle School Principal Yang Lingbao, Talisman Master Association President Lu Wang, and the future Enchantress of the Demonic Tao Lin Yao, Jiang Cheng and Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy sessfully reconciled and signed the Talisman cross-licensing agreement, reaching a strategic partnership on the joint development of the Muscle Rxation Talisman. Afterward, the Task Hall made detailed records of this bteral meeting: Both sides fully exchanged opinions on this cooperation and engaged in cordial and friendly exchanges. Jiang Cheng expressed his willingness to fully respect the academys concerns about the serious challenges faced by its teaching order. Dean Lei Buxiao of the Sword Cultivation Academy pointed out that the meeting was beneficial, the development situation of the academy was stable and improving, and Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, as a responsible quasi-A-grade academy, should fully understand the concerns and suggestions of themunity regarding the future development of the academy Jiang Chengs uncle, Sun Qing, worked for the government. To be precise, he was a Chief Clerk in Wuyue Citys Forestry Bureau. Since the Forestry Bureau was a subordinate agency of the Liang States Ministry of Revenue, responsible for the nning and protection of undeveloped mountainous areas in the Liang Kingdom, simr to Earthsnd and resources bureau, Mr. Suns main duty was to register and catalogue the resource status of forested mountain areas around Wuyue City. Recently, with the Liang State Court initiating its quinquennial resource survey, Sun Qing did not need to personally travel through the mountains, but with the collection and recording of data and materials, he too became busy. But today, Sun Qing encountered something strange. Jiang Chengs homeroom teacher had contacted him through a Talisman, saying that Jiang Cheng had gotten into some trouble and advising him to make a trip to the Task Hall of Tongtian Sect. This matter was peculiar. In his eyes, Jiang Cheng was always straightforward and a well-behaved kid. Moreover, having alreadypleted his college entrance exams and started his vacation, how could Jiang Cheng possibly cause any trouble, let alone have his homeroom teacher notify him? But since the situation was reported by Jiang Chengs homeroom teacher, while unclear, he couldnt just ignore it. Jiang Chengs parents had entrusted his upbringing to their family, and they even provided a considerable amount of living expenses every month; if something had really happened, Sun Qing had no way of exining it to Jiang Chengs parents. However, the situation was not clear now, and it was not certain what had happened to Jiang Cheng, so it definitely wasnt a good idea to spread the word rashly. Sun Qing quickly finished his work at hand, wrote a leave slip for early departure, waited for his superior to finish a meeting, got approval for his leave, and then drove to the Task Hall. Sun Qing did not often visit ces like the Task Hall, as a civil servant on the governments payroll had no intersection with an Immortal Sect venue such as the Task Hall, where ie was unstable. In fact, although there were many Immortal Sect powers within Liang Kingdom, the Liang State Court and the Emperor of Liang himself were all trying their best to avoid and counterbnce the influence of the Immortal Sects on Liang Kingdom. It was an unwritten rule well known within the Liang State Court that civil servants should have minimal contact with Immortal Sect forces, especially specific Immortal Sects. At the entrance of the Task Hall, as soon as Sun Qing entered, he felt several extraordinary presences. It seemed there were several Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed there. A simple Task Hall had such a number of high-level cultivators in residence, demonstrating the unfathomable depth of the Immortal Sects. Sun Qing sighed with emotion, then quickly walked towards the center of the hall. Inside the hall, a few Foundation Establishment cultivators stood in a circle,ughing and talking with each other. Because it was an Immortal Sect venue, Sun Qing was not very familiar with these people, but he felt that one of them looked like Yang Lingbao, the principal of Wuyue Advanced Middle School. Wuyue Advanced Middle School was under the jurisdiction of the Wuyue Educational Administration Office, which, like Sun Qings Forestry Bureau, belonged to the influence of the Liang State Court, hence they had close connections. Is this Principal Yang? Sun Qing ventured to ask. Yang Lingbao was chatting up with Dean Lei Buxiao and others when he suddenly saw Sun Qing. With a hint of puzzlement, he asked, You are? Sun Qing, Jiang Chengs maternal uncle, Jiang Chengs homeroom teacher asked me to Before Sun Qing could finish, he saw several high-level cultivators around Yang Lingbao all turning their gaze towards him, including an especially profound Core Formation cultivator! Sun Qing, like the majority of Liang Kingdoms popce, with ordinary aptitude and only at the Qi Cultivation Stage, unconsciously started to get nervous being the focus of so many high-level cultivators. But what Sun Qing hadnt expected was that these high-level cultivators were not targeting him, instead, each offered him a friendly smile. Upon realizing he was Jiang Chengs uncle, Yang Lingbao immediately smiled and said, Youre Jiang Chengs parent, right? Theres been a misunderstanding. Your Jiang Cheng is very outstanding. Ive heard he also does well in school, right? I see no problem with him entering an Immortal Sect in the future. Seeing the principal giving such praise to Jiang Cheng, Sun Qing replied politely, You tter him. Our Jiang Cheng has always been a well-behaved child Liu Qi, Elder Sun Decai, and Lu Wang twitched at the corners of their mouths. As Foundation Establishment cultivators, they almost lost control of their expressions in front of Sun Qing. Jiang Cheng is considered a well-behaved child? Do you have some misunderstanding of the term well-behaved? On the contrary, Dean Lei Buxiao had a high opinion of Jiang Cheng and didnt find anything wrong with Sun Qings description of Jiang Cheng as well-behaved. If Jiang Cheng is willing to coborate with the Sword Cultivation Academy on talismans, hes not well-behaved, then who is? He had never seen a child as well-behaved as Jiang Cheng! Sun, your Jiang Cheng is really quite something. He has a boundless future! Haha! This was the first time in Sun Qings life that a Core Formation cultivator had addressed him with such respect. He was extremely flustered, responding with overwhelmed gratitude, I dont deserve such praise. Principal Yang, this is Owing to Jiang Cheng, today Yang Lingbao had made quite a few new connections, and was in an excellent mood. He carefully introduced each person to Sun Qing, This is Dean Lei Buxiao of Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. This is Elder Sun Decai of Tongtian Sect. This is the president of the Talisman Master Association Sun Qing: ? These individuals all had significant reputations upon hearing their titles. So exactly what on earth has this kid Jiang Cheng done! Chapter 35 - 35 Uncle’s Advice Chapter 35: Uncles Advice Trantor: 549690339 The coboration was sessful, and when everyone thought it was a win-win situation, Bai Wendao sought out Jiang Cheng alone. Jiang, did you hire a female cultivator to deliver your talismans? Liu Qing? Professor Bai had actually seen her? The contract Jiang Cheng signed with Liu Qing was formal and aboveboard; there was nothing secretive about it. Thats right, Jiang Cheng admitted. A female cultivator!? Lin Yaos radar picked up some extremely dangerous signals. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Jiang Cheng with caution, as if asking him, What kind of female cultivator is she? Bai Wendao didnt think Jiang Cheng was the kind of evil boss who would exploit his employees, so he carefully asked, Jiang, why did you hire her? I feel she might not be up to the job. After all, she has some regrettable deficiencies in certain areas. Jiang Cheng nodded slightly, agreeing with Bai Wendaosment. The cost-performance ratio of hiring Liu Qing was indeed very regrettable. More expensive than hiring four or five Cao Wangs! Not cost-effective at all. Senior Bai, I didnt want to use her, but there arepelling reasons why I had to. Upon hearing this, Bai Wendao knew it was inconvenient to pry further, and simply advised Jiang Cheng, Take good care of her. Dont treat her too unkindly. Jiang Chengs face was full of bitterness, looking like a boss being squeezed by his employee. Senior Bai, Im already taking care of her as much as I can in terms of sry. Three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones a month is truly the limit of what I can afford. Three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones a month!? Even Bai Wendao, who was at the Foundation Establishment Stage, was shocked at such remuneration. Good heavens, youre giving a runner three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones a month? This cant be called care, but outright charity! Are the Spirit Stones in your pocket endless? Though Lin Yao had never properly worked, she was not the untouched-by-worldly-concerns Holy Maiden of the Immortal Sect. She understood the concept of a sry of three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. Ordinary teachers at Wuyue Advanced Middle School usually had a sry of only five to six hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, with only senior teachers who had worked for twenty to thirty years possibly getting eight to nine hundred. Three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones amounted to more than three times the sry of senior teachers No ordinary person could have such a high sry level! Jiang, just who is this female cultivator to you? Lin Yaos tone carried a hint of questioning, along with a touch of jealousy. It was as if she wasining about Jiang Chengs reckless spending, as though his money should be managed by her. Someone I dont want to meet, but cant afford to offend, Jiang Cheng said truthfully. But who exactly is she? Lin Yao insisted on getting to the bottom of it. A Plot Leading Lady like you, youre an Enchantress, and shes a demoness. Jiang Cheng really wanted to say this, but he knew he couldnt; he had to be more emotionally intelligent. If you must know, shes somewhat like a daughter to a friend of mine, Jiang Cheng answered truthfully. Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng were walking back to the Task Hall. Bai Wendao had left earlier, leaving just the two of them. A friend? A male cultivator or a female cultivator? A male. Hes good at writing stories. This was how Jiang Cheng described his copywriting and nning colleague. Hearing it was a male cultivator, Lin Yao breathed a sigh of relief. So, Jiang Cheng hired a female employee just to help a friend. Looking at his attitude, he seemed to have little interest in that female cultivator. It seemed like she was nothing to worry about. Lin Yao didnt take Liu Qing seriously at all. A female employee, so what? Could she be more beautiful than herself? Thats just impossible. As they got closer to the Task Hall where more people were present, Jiang Cheng began to feel extremely ufortable being around Lin Yao. But he understood that shaking off the Enchantress was a difficult task. Sometimes, the more you try to shake her off intentionally, the more impossible it bes. He had to find a way to make her leave voluntarily or avoid appearing with her in front of many people. Just then, as they passed the rest area of the Task Hall, Zhao Qin and He were inside. Jiang Cheng pointed out, Lin, your friends seem to be looking for you. Lin Yao looked at Zhao Qin, who packed up her little bag upon seeing Lin Yaoe out, and left with He. Jiang Cheng added, Lin, I need to go handle a breach of contract for a task I previously epted. You go ahead and take a stroll with your friends. Jiang Seeing Jiang Cheng leave her to talk with He, Lin Yao suddenly felt an empty void inside. Watching Jiang Cheng talk andugh with He, seemingly happier than when with her, her mood involuntarily became irritable. Lin Yao hadnt noticed this feeling while she was by Jiang Chengs side and he hadnt interacted with other female cultivators. It was only when Jiang Cheng left her to interact with another woman that she realized she might not like it this way. Lin Yao didnt quite understand what this feeling represented. Because she had never felt this way before today. The only thing she could be sure of now was that the female Cultivator named He obviously had ill intentions towards Jiang Cheng. She had to do something. Jiang, Lin Yao said, pulling Zhao Qin to Jiang Chengs side. Jiang Cheng thought to himself, Im discussing work matters, how can the enchantress be so relentless? It seemed that He had also sensed Jiang Chengs predicament, or maybe she harbored a hint ofpetitiveness in her heart. He decisively stepped forward, subtly positioning herself even closer to Jiang Cheng and wedging herself between Lin Yao and him. Lin, He said, Jiang and I are discussing work matters. In Hes words, the intention to reject and expel Lin Yao was extremely strong. But Lin Yao didnt care about the work matters; she only knew this female Cultivator was trying to snatch Jiang Cheng from her! Lin Yao had no evidence, but her intuition wasnt lying to her! She directly ignored He and stood by Jiang Chengs side. Jiang, she said, that sister is so fierce, Yaoer hardly dares to speak. Zhao Qin took Lin Yaos side, Sister He, we wont cause any trouble. Jiang Cheng silently widened the distance between himself and Lin Yao. But Lin Yao was unyielding. He was not to be outdone either. Zhao Qin, being pulled by Lin Yao, couldnt escape either. Then, this scene was fully witnessed by Sun Qing, who had just finished exchanging pleasantries and hade to see his nephew. Frankly speaking, when a Core Formation Cultivator praised Jiang Cheng for drawing Talismans well and having a promising future, Sunni Qing could ept that. Who doesnt speak courteously in public? Moreover, Sun Qing, as the guardian, knew that Jiang Cheng had participated in the Talisman contest and his usual academic performance was good. Now, even if Jiang Cheng was exaggerating a bit on top of his former achievements, Sun Qing wouldnt be too surprised. Top fifty in the grade, asionally being in the top three, was also very possible, right? But when he saw Jiang Cheng tugging and pulling with three female Cultivators, Sun Qing started to get confused. Especially since all three female Cultivators had striking looks and an impressive demeanor. One of them was so beautiful it left one at a loss for words. Wasnt Jiang Cheng known to be an honest child? He had never been known to date during school. What was this scene of being surrounded by girls now? Oh, it wasnt him surrounding the girls, but those female Cultivators insisting on sticking to him Sun Qing was not against Jiang Cheng dating. Eighteen years old, an adult, about to enter universityit was normal for young people to date. The problem was, you shouldnt date too many at once! Jiang Cheng, your teacher has asked me to take you home, Sun Qing said with a numb expression. Jiang Cheng turned around, Uncle? Lin Yao reacted quickly, politely greeting Sun Qing. Hello, Uncle. Yes, hello, Sun Qing replied, maintaining a polite exterior while his mind was already cursing inwardly. Ah? This young girl is so beautiful, did she go blind to fall for Jiang Cheng? Sun Qing drove while Jiang Cheng sat in the passenger seat. All the way, Sun Qing seemed hesitant to speak. In theory, thews of the Liang Kingdom allowed for polygynous rtionships, one husband with one wife and multiple concubines, although nowadays, the vast majority adhered to monogamy, with just a few wealthy families being exceptions, like Emperor Liangs. Therefore, Sun Qing also didnt know how to bring this matter up with Jiang Cheng. At the entrance of Cao Wang Community, Jiang Cheng said, Uncle, you can stop here; I need to discuss the uing work with my friends. Seeing Jiang Cheng about to get off, Sun Qing coughed once, realizing he had to speak up. Ahem, Jiang Cheng, there is something your uncle needs to specifically remind you about. Oh okay, you tell me. This, you must take good care of your health. Dont overwork yourself. Jiang Cheng was touched by Sun Qings words. He had been indeed very busy recently, and he hadnt expected that his uncle had noticed. This must be the genuine family affection among ordinary people. Okay. I will, he responded. Chapter 36 - 36 Wait a Little Longer Chapter 36: Wait a Little Longer Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng was considering how to broach the topic with Liu Qing, telling her that he actually no longer needed any help. It wasnt really something one could me Jiang Cheng for, after all, no one had expected that he would be able to sell the copyright of the Muscle Rxation Talisman for a hefty sum of money, thereby resolving the issue with the housing funds. With the housing funds resolved, Jiang Cheng no longer needed to take on any tasks. With no tasks to undertake, naturally, there was no work for Liu Qing to run errands for. Moreover, with a sry of three thousand a month for Liu Qing and without the continuous high profits from the talismans, Jiang Cheng found it difficult to guarantee that he could alwayse up with the money. So, parting ways amicably with Liu Qing was probably the best course of action at the moment. Jiang Cheng wanted to live his peaceful days, Liu Qing wanted to experience the human life she chose for herself, and from then on, they would each go their separate ways under the vast sky, not interfering with each other, not affecting each other, a quiet and peaceful time, quite perfect indeed. But the problem was, Jiang Cheng didnt know how to exin the current situation to Liu Qing. Ifmunication broke down and Liu Qing got the wrong impression that he was a heartless boss, that would be a big problem. Jiang Cheng returned to Cao Wangs rental house. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Liu Qing, sitting quietly on the living room balcony, basking in the sun. In the evening, the golden sunlight of the sunset nted across Liu Qings body, casting a golden-red veil over her fair skin. Beautiful like a dream. Liu Qing turned her head, saw Jiang Cheng had returned, and then gracefully rose to her feet and walked over to him, pointing at the items on the table that Jiang Cheng used for drawing talismans. She had bought them all. Quitete, she said. Jiang Cheng understood Liu Qing was asking him why he hade back sote. Do you know about the talismans I draw? Mhm, she replied. After you left, a group of people called me. They are from the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, and they nned to buy out the copyright of my talismans. I quoted them a price, they epted, and then I sold the talismans, he exined. Liu Qing blinked and uttered an Oh. Then, she turned around and walked back to her seat on the balcony. Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng called out. Liu Qing stopped in her tracks and turned back to look at Jiang Cheng. You, uh, I, um, Jiang Cheng stammered, struggling to find the words. Whats wrong? She turned to face him. I made quite a bit of money today. Lets go out for dinner tonight. Invite Cao Wang as well, and the three of us can go together, he said. Sure. With sry, she responded. This time you dont need to spend any money. Ill treat you both, he offered. Why? she asked. Uh Jiang Cheng didnt know how to answer Liu Qings question. Why was he inviting Liu Qing and Cao Wang to dinner? Because he had made money? But why should a boss treat his employees to dinner just because he had made money? Considering the sry, he had already paid Liu Qing more than enough; there was no need for him to treat them to anything extra. Thump! Cao Wang pushed open the door,ing out from the bathroom. He spoke with a tone of exasperation, Jiang, I almost suffocated in there listening to you talk. Is it that hard to answer? Why? Because were friends, of course! Cao Wang pped Jiang Chengs shoulder, telling Liu Qing, When friends treat you to dinner, just eat, why so many whys? Right, Jiang? Jiang Cheng didnt know how to respond. But when he looked up and saw Liu Qings gaze, This monster who had lived for two thousand years was staring at him with wide eyes, attentively watching. Clean, beautiful. This was Jiang Chengs first impression of Liu Qings eyes. Friends? Liu Qing gently tilted her head, asking Jiang Cheng. Friends, Jiang Cheng said. At that moment, he felt a great sense of relief. Although answering this way meant that he couldnt take the initiative to dismiss Liu Qing, forcing him to wait for her to resign on her own, stepping back to consider that maintaing a good rtionship with Liu Qing meant at least his life wasnt in danger was worthwhile. As for the pressure of paying Liu Qings sry That didnt require immediate concern. Right now, Jiang Chengs savings were quite sufficient, and there was no pressure to pay the sry. Matters for the future could be left for the future. Trust in the wisdom of theter Jiang Cheng! Yes. Friends, Liu Qing nodded gently, seemingly epting Jiang Chengs statement. In human society, just as when she was on Mount Tian, she needed some friends. Jiang Cheng Not bad. The trio went out in search of food. Cao Wang walked between Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing, with one hand drooping over Jiang Chengs shoulder and the other attempting to rest on Liu Qings shoulder. But for some unknown reason, he couldnt manage it. Cao Wang didnt mind. Even though Liu Qing was very pretty, his body had been acting strangelytely, never really feeling any worldly desires. It was a bit of a shame. Speaking of which, Jiang, what rights did you sell this time, and how much money did you get for it? Forty thousand. Thats a bit little Wait, how much did you say? Forty thousand. How little!? Upon hearing the amount Jiang Cheng had made, Cao Wang immediately rolled up his sleeves. Damn it, Jiang, today we must go for something expensive! Ill make sure to eat you out of house and home before the entrance exam! To satisfy Cao Wangs ambition, Jiang Cheng decided to treat both Liu Qing and Cao Wang to a buffet. Before they even entered the restaurant, Jiang Cheng was already looking forward to seeing how Cao Wang was going to bankrupt him at the buffet. It wasnt that Jiang Cheng didnt trust Cao Wang; its just that he wanted to broaden his horizons today. Even though it was a buffet, it was the most expensive one in Wuyue, absolutely worthy of treating Cao Wang. This buffet, like most others, had cooked foods, half-cooked, and raw meats Each seat was also equipped with both hotpot and grilling options for cooking. Diners could choose to grab cooked food and eat it directly, or select half-cooked and raw meats, to enjoy the fun of cooking with hotpot and grilling. Since Liu Qing was indeed unfamiliar with the strange human societys dining methods, Jiang Cheng let her sit at their table by herself while he took care of getting the food. Jiang Cheng first selected some ready-made cooked food to bring to Liu Qing. Then he picked out some meat that needed to be boiled or grilled. Jiang Cheng and Cao Wang had an unspoken understanding; while Cao Wang went to fetch oysters, Jiang Cheng focused on the red meat section. He first brought over several tes of pork belly, then turned back to get somemb chops. But by the time themb chops were on his way back, the pork belly was gone. The weirdest thing was that there were no signs of anyone having touched either the hotpot or the grill. Jiang Cheng nced at Liu Qing, whose rosy lips were now lusciously moist. Jiang Cheng silently reached for a tissue and handed it to her. Liu Qing silently took the tissue and wiped her mouth. Jiang Cheng looked around and noticed that they hade early and the surrounding seats were empty, and nobody had noticed anything amiss at their spot. Lucky no one had seen. He breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Cheng sat down next to Liu Qing. This time, he dared not leave carelessly. Cough. You can put the meat in the hotpot to boil for a while, or grill it on the pan. Liu Qing looked at Jiang Cheng. Troublesome, she said. Jiang Cheng quickly waved his hands: Not troublesome, not at all. You cant think of it as troublesome in the slightest. Jiang Cheng then began to split the meat, throwing some into the hotpot and cing others on the grill. He organized his words for a moment, hinting as subtly as he could, Normal people generally prefer to eat cooked meat because it tastes better and is easier to digest. Liu Qings beautiful eyes first focused on the contents of the pot, then shifted back to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng truly feared that this great monster would eat raw meat again. He was now unable to decide whether Liu Qing was incredibly stubborn or just foolish. Didnt she fear revealing her identity to others? If you really find it troublesome, let me do it, and you can just eat, he said. Mhm. The two reached an agreement. Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, scooping up a few slices of freshly boiled meat from the pot and cing them on the te in front of Liu Qing. Its a bit hot, blow on it before eating. Smelling the scent of the freshly cooked meat, Liu Qings eyes twinkled slightly, and she nodded gently. Okay. Chapter 37: Going Home Chapter 37: Going Home Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng and his two friends left the buffet restaurant at nine oclock in the evening. Cao Wang, with his big belly, ultimately failed to achieve his goal of eating Jiang Cheng into bankruptcy. The day after tomorrow is thest time Wuyue Advanced Middle School will call students back. At that time, the school will issue the college entrance examination results and high school diplomas. Once the college entrance examination scorese out, Cao Wangs good days will be over. ording to him, he will inevitably be severely scolded by his parents and then dragged off to repeat the year! Afterward, its clear that Jiang Cheng will head off to Capital University, while Cao Wang stays behind in Wuyue, studying alone. With things having reached this point, its inappropriate not to drink a little. However, as always, Cao Wang couldnt hold his liquor, and after several cans of beer mixed with white spirits, he became so drunk he liked to slide as he walked. Old Cao, we should take you home first, Jiang Cheng said, not feeling reassured by Cao Wangs state. Even though Cao Wang was drunk, he hadnt lost his temper. Why do you need to take me? Im not drunk! Im not drunk, I tell you. You want to take me home? Fine, but lets drop Liu Qing off at her ce first. Then you and I, brother, can have a quiet, quiet chat. Jiang Cheng supported Cao Wang and nced at Liu Qing. Liu Qing had also drunk a bit, but the alcohol seemed to have no effect on her. She remained cool and quiet, standing peacefully beside Jiang Cheng. Okay, she said. Then you lead the way. Hmm. Walking ahead, Liu Qing led the way, with Jiang Cheng and Cao Wang following half a step behind. This seemed to be the first time Jiang Cheng walked behind Liu Qing, as she always used to follow him. Jiang Cheng didnt know where Liu Qing lived, but as the streets grew quieter and more deserted, he was sure Liu Qing didnt live in any fancy area. The three continued walking until the city quieted down in this neighborhood. The night wind was in a hurry to get home, moving swiftly, pressing the thin summer clothes against the bodies of theters. Even in the scorching heat of June, Liu Qing was still dressed in long sleeves and trousers, seemingly unaffected by the heat. The evening breeze first ttered Liu Qings figure, and then carried away the cool fragrance from her body, blowing it onto Jiang Chengs face who followed behind her. Under the pale yellow streetlights, the lingering effect of Jiang Chengs moderate drinking finally kicked in, and the hot alcohol made his cheeks slightly feverish. The normally carefree Cao Wang, hugging Jiang Chengs neck, suddenly noticed this abnormality. On a regr day, Cao Wang wouldnt even notice if Jiang Cheng changed clothes, but now, drunk, he had be incredibly perceptive. Old Jiang, are your cheeks flushing? Liu Qing also turned to look at Jiang Cheng. Her cool eyes were mixed with a hint of curiosity. Jiang Chengposed himself, Its because youre too heavy, Old Cao. Youre wearing me out. Really? Seems like I, the great lord, need to lose some weight. Lets keep walking, Jiang Cheng said to Liu Qing. Liu Qing sniffed lightlyapart from alcohol, there was a hint of lies in the air. Liu Qing was used to the smell of lies. This kind of scent usually came with the foul stench of hatred, which she hated very much. But the lies she smelled just now had nothing to do with hatred, instead, they had a bit of sweetness to them. It was a nice smell of lies. Sweet and fragrant, like having candy in your mouth, it made her mood much better. Why was this? She couldnt figure it out. Human friends, so strange. The three arrived at the edge of Wuyue City, where the area was overgrown with trees and weeds sprawled wildly. Were here, Liu Qing said to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng: Im really foolish, truly. I shouldnt have harbored any unrealistic expectations towards the Monster. She couldnt even be bothered to cook raw meat, yet I actually expected her to rent a ce to live on her own. Cao Wang mumbled in confusion, Where are we? Liu Qing seriously replied, My home. Cao Wang chuckled, Your home? This broken woond? Then where do you sleep? Liu Qing nced at the tree branches. Jiang Cheng took a deep breath. Thinking to himself: Cao Wang, if you keep asking, the two of us might not see tomorrows sun. But Cao Wang, far from panicking, was actually amused: Old Jiang, wouldnt have guessed our Liu Qing is actually a camping enthusiast. This ce is not bad, deste and uninhabited, perfect for getting rid of someone. Knowing he mustnt expose Liu Qings identity, Jiang Cheng forced calm andughed along with Cao Wang. Yeah, who would have thought Miss Liu liked camping, haha. Liu Qing shook her head at Jiang Cheng and then nced at the tree branches again. Jiang Cheng nodded hastily, Yes, yes, yes, branches are good for starting a fire! Liu Qing tilted her head slightly. She didnt understand why Jiang Cheng, who couldmunicate with her seamlessly on ordinary days, suddenly couldnt understand what she was saying now. I sleep, in the trees, she told Jiang Cheng. At this moment, Jiang Cheng was already sweating profusely. Is this guy for real? Not shying away from strangers at all? Does she really not know that talking like this would expose her identity as a monster? So is she deliberately testing me, or does she just not have a clue? The situation was extremely urgent, but fortunately, Jiang Chengs mental resilience was very strong, and he had done a lot of psychological preparation for Liu Qing being a monster. Trees? Oh, you mean a treehouse! Treehouses are great, cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and especially eco-friendly. Liu Qing blinked, Want to, together? Jiang Cheng forced himself to stay calm, Forget it, forget it, Cao Wang snores at night, louder than a tractor. Its gettingte, Miss Liu, I need to hurry and take Cao Wang home. Liu Qing stood by the roadside, with dark, deste woods behind her. Mhm, she nodded lightly, not trying to keep Jiang Cheng any longer. Cao Wang retorted, My snoring is clearly not as loud as a tractor. Jiang Cheng: Ah, right, right, right. Jiang Cheng, supporting Cao Wang, started walking back. After a few steps, he couldnt help looking back at Liu Qing. The silent moonlight showered the ground, and the coldly beautiful figure still stood there, quietly and a tad obediently watching them leave. Her lovely face bore the usualck of expression. But for some reason, Jiang Cheng could see a hint of loneliness in her eyes. Jiang Chengs heart tightened, and he said, Miss Liu, I dont need to draw talismans tomorrow. Cao Wang probably wont be up either; would you apany me to look at houses? Okay. She agreed without hesitation. Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. He slowly walked away, supporting Cao Wang. Once back in the bustling area, Cao Wang suddenly looked up, Old Jiang, theres one thing you got wrong. Whats that? I can get up tomorrow. Shut your mouth. Cao Wang had been drunk before, and true to his nature, he was bound to sleep till the afternoon tomorrow. Jiang Cheng was a million percent sure Cao Wang wouldnt get out of bed. Otherwise, Jiang Cheng wouldnt have thought to ask Liu Qing to apany him to look at houses. It was mainly because Cao Wang had drunk too much. This one was definitely Cao Wangs fault. After sending Cao Wang home, Jiang Cheng took the time to draw a calming talisman. There was no special reason, just to help his good brother sleep well. Greatness needs no words. At this moment, it was already half-past eleven at night. Walking on his way home, Jiang Cheng opened his Reusable Typemunication talisman and found Liu Qing. Heposed a message: Tomorrow morning, eight oclock, meet at the entrance of Cao Wangs residential area. Send. No sooner had Jiang Cheng put themunication talisman back in his pocket than the talisman rang. The caller was Liu Qing. Whats up? Jiang Cheng answered themunication talisman. Okay, Liu Qings cold voice came through the talisman. Jiang Cheng: ? Did you call just to say okay? Mhm. You could have replied to my message. I, cant. Jiang Cheng sighed, All right then. If theres nothing else, Im going to hang up Oh. In the outskirts of Wuyue, on a clean branch, sat a beautiful female cultivator with her long legs crossed lightly. From her gourd-shaped figure after sitting down, she was not frail. Yet the branch didnt bend in the slightest, as if what sat on it was not a gracefully charming beauty but a feather without any weight. With her hands holding an ice-pinkmunication talisman, she looked at it until its twinkling light slowly faded away. Thus, the moon once again became the only source of light in the forest. The moonlight was generous and bright tonight, but it had nothing to do with her. Chapter 38: The Strength of the Art Department Chapter 38: The Strength of the Art Department Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng was not a person who liked beingte. To avoid tardiness, he had made a point of arriving at the entrance of Cao Wangs residentialplex ten minutes early. Yet before he even reached theplex entrance, he saw from a distance, an exceptionally graceful beauty already standing there, tall and elegant, as if she had arrived early. Jiang Cheng had expected Liu Qing wouldnt bete, but he never imagined she could arrive even earlier than him. Rare. Indeed rare. Originally, when Jiang Cheng went to meet Lin Yao, it was normal for her to casually leave her house half an hour to an hourte. Even if Lin Yao was an outlier, it was amonce matter for ordinary girls to dawdle and drag their feet before stepping out. Good morning, Jiang Cheng greeted Liu Qing as he approached her. Mm. Good, morning. The voice of Liu Qing was crisp and cool; as she spoke, the heat of Jiang Chengs summer trek dissipated significantly. Have you had breakfast? As soon as Jiang Cheng asked, he felt a tinge of regret. How could Liu Qing possibly have had breakfast? If she really had, that would definitely be a problem, right? As expected, Liu Qing shook her head gently. Meaning she indeed hadnt eaten. Jiang Cheng sighed slightly. Normal people, even if they hadnt eaten, would politely im they had. But Liu Qingpletelycked such social graces, as honest as a creature of the world, cold and slippery like a reptile. ording to snake habits though, she shouldnt be hungry, right? However, having vocalized the concern, Jiang Cheng felt it would be rude to just ignore the fact that Liu Qing hadnt eaten. He said, Theres a breakfast ce next to the sales office; lets buy something there. Ill buy it myself, said Liu Qing. She clearly wanted to be self-sufficient, which seemed to be one of her goals in joining human society. Jiang Cheng nodded in agreement, fully approving of her idea. Alright, Ill front the cost for you, and we can deduct it from your sry at the end of the month. Mm. The two reached a consensus on expenditure, and what followed was the dull task of walking. Strictly speaking, walking with Liu Qing was not dull. Although Liu Qing was not a Natural Charm Body like Lin Yao, she was still one of the plot leadingdies of the game. Her figure, appearance, temperament, and posture were all results of the art departments numerous meetings, collective brainstorming, careful selection, followed by the meticulous refinements of talented (color-critical) artists, constantly polished and improved. The aim was to craft a game whose content was wholesome and above critique, with no issues for game reviewers to pick on, and a game that appealed to all age groups. Yet, the character design that emerged gave aplicated sense of being aloof and uninterested, inadvertently evoking subtle senses of sultriness. It could be said that they had reached the highest level of bncing on the edge: any more would fail the review, any less would not be as beautiful. At least in terms of passing reviews, the art department had reached the pinnacle. As a result of such design, when Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing walked along the street, she attracted significant attention. Regardless of whether they were male or female cultivators, everyone would take an extra nce at her. Liu Qing certainly noticed that many people took special interest in her. She had long realized that she often drew stares, yet she didnt understand why. Luckily, Jiang Cheng was right beside her today, and this kind-hearted human friend would surely answer her confusion. Thus, Liu Qing looked toward Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng: Cough, your outfit is a bit distinctive. If possible, change into something more ordinary, simr to what those passing female cultivators are wearing. Of course, this includes the shoes as well. Liu Qing looked down at her shoes, but her view was obstructed; she couldnt see them at all. She extended her foot forward, and the edge of her little cloth shoe just barely peeked out. Liu Qing looked at Jiang Cheng again. Jiang Cheng had no choice but to say, If you want to advance some of your sry to buy clothes, thats fine, but today, we need to prioritize buying the house first. Oh. The house is a bit more important. Oh. Ill try to make it quick. If everything goes smoothly, we should definitely go buy it tonight. Oh. Ill buy it even if theres an ident. Okay. Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. He had almost been forced by Liu Qing into buying clothes first. Fortunately, his mental fortitude was strong enough to withstand the pressure from Liu Qings perfunctory Oh. Unnoticed, the two finally arrived near the sales office of the apartment building surrounding the wastnd. Jiang Cheng hadnt forgotten what he said; he first bought Liu Qing meat buns and soy milk from a breakfast store before leading her to the sales office. Although Liu Qing clearly preferred meat, she wasnt picky. She could eat the meat buns made with dough and the hot soy milk. Moreover, despite her small mouth and taking little elegant bites, she actually ate quickly. The food seemed to go down instantly once it reached her mouth. It seemed like she could only tear with her teeth but didnt chew much with them. Its as if she wouldnt harm the things she took into her mouth, only performing the action of swallowing. Thanks to the innate attributes of a snake demoness, Liu Qing had a very discrete talent; it seemed that she was naturally without a gag reflex. No matter how big the cotton swab was for the nasal swab, she wouldnt feel difort. Jiang Cheng hadnt noticed before, but the more he got to know Liu Qing and Lin Yao, the more he understood the horror of the art department. No wonder yers of Immortal Gods liked to make the artists ride the nners to work. This demand, upon careful consideration, was indeed justified. At least those event nners who constantly organized major events deserved to be ridden by artists. However, the number nners who worked meticulously and had absolutely no issues with their professional skills. Although number nners and event nners were both nners, Jiang Cheng and those artist mounts werent really close. Fourrge meat buns and a cup of soy milk were gone before Jiang Cheng reached the sales office. This time, Jiang Cheng was wise. He didnt ask Liu Qing if she was full. Looking at Liu Qings t belly, he knew she was absolutely capable of carrying on Cao Wangs legacy of eating at buffets until bankruptcy. If Jiang Cheng remembered correctly, Liu Qings true form, that thousand-year-old giant snake, was sorge it could blot out the sun. But now Most likely, she would fall over at a single push. Of course, thats if she was willing. Liu Qing walked quietly beside Jiang Cheng. Sometimes she sniffed habitually, and the scent emanating from Jiang Cheng was clear to her. Since earlier, Jiang Cheng had been in an excited state. Liu Qing looked thoughtfully at the tall apartment building in the distance. Does he like houses that much? But whats so good about cold brick walls? You cant even curl up and sleep on them. She didnt understand. The apartment building Jiang Cheng wanted to buy was called Wuyue Residence. As it was located in the northern part of the city and not in the South Development Zone where Wuyue mainly focused, the business at the sales office of Wuyue Residence wasnt bustling, but rather sparse. When Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing walked in, the yawning greeter at the door almost didnt react. Are you here to see the house? Pleasee in,e in. The top seller at Wuyue Residence was a not-so-tall female cultivator, wearing a sharp uniform and warmly weing Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing. Typically, those who be top sellers are highly sociable and adept atworking. Uponying eyes on Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing, the top seller skillfully asked, What should I call you two? Are you daoistpanions, husband and wife, or boyfriend and girlfriend? Jiang Cheng thought to himself, whats the difference between those three options? Friends, Liu Qing said. Got it. Seeing Liu Qing engage, the top seller shifted her main focus onto Liu Qing. Miss, youre truly beautiful, the very definition of a stunning beauty. Of course, your boyfriend is very handsome too. Mainly because he was able to find such a beautiful girlfriend, he is really very lucky! Jiang Cheng: Chapter 39 - 39 Truly Incapable Chapter 39: Truly Incapable Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng looked at the salesperson sympathetically. It wasnt that he was so ttered by the salespersons praise that he was digging his toes into the ground and feeling unbearably awkward, but rather that the salesperson had clearly barked up the wrong tree. This string of ttering remarks, when directed at Liu Qing, was evidently as good as talking to the air. Liu Qing had no reaction whatsoever to the salespersons words. Not even half a word. She stood quietly by Jiang Chengs side, cold and detached like a white swan. Ordinary people would have some sort of reaction to praise, but Jiang Cheng had never seen someone like Liu Qing, who showed no response at all topliments. Her failure with Liu Qing left her no choice but to switch targets and refocus her attention on Jiang Cheng. Your girlfriend really has an air about her, she said with a smile, backhandedly plimenting Liu Qings aloofness. Jiang Cheng hurriedly stopped the salesperson, Shes not my girlfriend. At these words, Liu Qing, who previously hadnt reacted at all, suddenly looked towards Jiang Cheng. He quickly exined, Were just friends, not boyfriend and girlfriend. Boyfriend and girlfriend means friends who might be Daopanions in the future, but are not Daopanions yet. Thetter sentence was specifically exined for Liu Qing to hear. Why? Because, this is Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, searching for a good way to exin, a kind of contract. You understand a probation period, right? Being boyfriend and girlfriend is like a probation period before bing Daopanions. Liu Qing nodded slightly as if she understood but didnt quite grasp the concept. Seeing that the major monster had no issues, Jiang Cheng started discussing the main business. How may I address you? Jiang Chengs politeness made the salespersons smile grow richer. Pointing at the name tag on her chest she said, My surname is Jin, first name is Jing, the Jing from crystal. You can just call me Xiao Jin. Ill call you Sister Jin. Seeing that Jinjing appeared to be on the older side, Jiang Cheng, who always respected the elderly and cherished the young, really couldnt bring himself to call her Xiao Jin. As you like, do you have any property purchasing needs? Our apartmentyouts are quite suitable for couples without children. Like you and your girlfriend Jinjing, quick on the uptake, realized she had misspoken and immediately corrected herself, You and your female friend, the two of you would be just perfect. Liu Qing silently watched Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng wiped the sweat from his forehead. Youre the only female friend I have. Liu Qings delicate little nose twitched ever so slightly, immediately picking up on Jiang Chengs thoughts. He hadnt lied. She was indeed his only female friend. Just as he was also her only human friend. Okay, got it. Liu Qing rarely said a few more words than usual. Watching the exchange between Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing, even Jinjing the salesperson didnt know if she should speak up or not. She truly couldnt grasp what was going on with the younger generation these days. Their conversation was so cheesy it could be lethal. The male cultivator was considerate of the female cultivators feelings several times over, always afraid she might misunderstand something, and would especially exin things for her. And the male cultivator himself was the one who brought the female cultivator to see the house. He was clearly a handsome man with high emotional intelligence, from a wealthy family, and knew how to take care of others, the epitome of a quality boyfriend. As for the female cultivator, there was no need to mention how her beauty left one speechless. She appeared cold and detached, yet in reality, she was incredibly sensitive and cared a lot about the male cultivator by her side. She not only responded promptly to anything he said but also trusted him immensely, staying close to him at almost every step. And to think they still insist theyre not in a rtionship!? Who exactly is stopping you two from making your rtionship clear, huh? Is it Heavenly Dao? Or are you ying some kind of newfangled game? Although Jinjing could see the situation clearly, as a real estate salesperson with professional ethics, she definitely wouldnt transform into a shipper right there and then. With the economy not doing well and having finally found a customer, she had to give priority to her work. Jiang Cheng looked at the real estate model in the sales office and didnt notice that Jinjing, standing beside him, was already imagining the shameless life he and Liu Qing would lead at Wuyue Residence. On the other hand, Liu Qing was somewhat warily staring at a certain woman who had started to get excited, worried that she might harbor ill intentions towards Jiang Cheng. Sis Jin, I want to buy a house thats easy to sell, Jiang Cheng pondered for a moment before saying, Do you have any suggestions? Easy to sell? Jinjing was startled. Who buys a house with the intention of selling it? Dont you have any idea of the current real estate market situation? If youre in a hurry to sell, in general, houses in a good location, facing the sun, and fully furnished tend to sell better, she said. How much more expensive would a furnished house bepared to a bare shell? It depends on the extent of the furnishings, but usually its about five thousand low-grade Spirit Stones more. Of course, if its well-furnished, it could be about ten to twenty thousand Spirit Stones more expensive. Jiang Cheng nodded in agreement. His budget was quite sufficient. A purchased, furnished ce would be more convenient to sell in the future. Since emerging from the Spiritual Spring, there werent many days left until he went to college in the Capital. Obviously, the sooner he could sell the house, the better. Moreover, buying a furnished ce had an additional benefit. It would also allow Liu Qing to move in. Jiang Cheng was a bit concerned about her safety living in the wilderness. Of course, it wasnt for Liu Qings safety, but rather the safety of those passing through that wilderness. Do you have any furnished properties avable? Take me to see them. You are really lucky today! We just happen to have a few decorated model units. Moreover, if you dont mind a second-hand house, we also have a few consigned by owners! They all have their own renovations, and you dont have to worry about the quality, she exined. Jiang Cheng was definitely not worried. He wasnt nning to use it for long; as long as it was easy to sell, thats what mattered. Lets look at them all, starting with the ones that get plenty of sunlight, Jiang Cheng said to Jinjing after ncing at Liu Qing. Sales is mainly about interpersonal rtionships. Jiang Cheng had paid attention to Liu Qings actions; how could Jinjing not notice? Most likely, his girlfriend liked to bask in the sun, which was why he was particrly looking for a sunny ce. When Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing first entered the sales office, Jinjing had felt that in this new couple, the male cultivator was taking advantage of the female cultivator. After all, with the female cultivators appearance, to be honest, she had more than enough grace to be the Empress of Liang Kingdom, mother to the nation. But now it seemed that the male cultivator was meticulous and considerate, truly capable of taking care of others. As for the female cultivator, not being talkative,cking in emotional intelligence and cunning, she certainly wouldnt make an Empress. But marrying an ordinary person wouldnt be too bad. However, considering the young cultivator could already afford a house, he definitely wasnt ordinary. Looking carefully, this couple was indeed especially suitable. Jinjing enjoyed customers like Jiang Cheng, the young couples the most. Watching young people in love was much more interesting than those big-bellied men with mistresses or the old husbands and wives, not to mention the clients with only sons or only daughters. Jiang Cheng didnt particrly care about the house; after consulting with Liu Qing, they chose one she liked, and he prepared to enter the payment process. Liu Qing, seeing Jiang Cheng frequently asking for her opinion, probably understood his intentions. Jiang Cheng, buy it yourself, she said. This house isnt a gift for you. You dont need to buy it, Jiang Cheng exined. Asking me? Because you might be staying here for a while. Your previous home is a bit far from the city center, right? And its not safe for you to walk such a long distance home at night. This house will be empty anyway, so you can just live here. No charge, consider it as part of your work amodations. What about you? Ill go back to live with my aunt and uncle. Its the same. No no no, you cant live in my house; we dont have an extra bed. I dont need one. Even if you dont use a bed, its still not okay. Liu Qing frowned slightly, staring at Jiang Cheng, as if waiting for him to provide a reasonable exnation. Jiang Cheng wiped his sweat, Only boyfriends and girlfriends can live together. Since were not, we have to avoid any impropriety. Chapter 40 - 40 Encountering a Grudge Seed Chapter 40: Encountering a Grudge Seed Trantor: 549690339 In the afternoon, the office of the Dean of the Forestry Bureau in Wuyue City. The bright sunshine outside poured through therge floor-to-ceiling windows of the office, filling the entire room with abundant light, making it transparent and bright. Dean Chen Qimingzily leaned back in his exclusive leather chair, squinting his eyes as he read the newspaper in front of him. Sometimes, when he grew tired of reading the paper, he would neatly fold it and set it aside for a moment, stretching out his hand to lift the exquisitely crafted porcin cup that had been set out early on the rosewood desk, sipping the precious tea it contained, before continuing to unfold the newspaper and read the published articles. The position of the Dean of the Forestry Bureau was a cushy job. The work was simple, routine, and tedious. To cultivate the work capabilities of his subordinates, Chen Qiming assigned many of these tedious tasks to them to handle. As long as his subordinates did not make mistakes, there was essentially nothing for Chen Qiming to do. Each day involved holding a brief meeting, then reading newspapers, drinking tea, and waiting for the end of the workday. Quitefortable. Veryfortable. Though Chen Qiming seemed to be at ease, he was actually quite ambitious. However, hindered by his natural talent for cultivation, his cultivation level at the ninthyer of Qi Refinement was all he could achieve, limiting him to the position of Dean of the Forestry Bureau. Looking to advance further was impossible without reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage. But Foundation Establishment was by no means easy to achieve. For cultivators with average talent, establishing a foundation was a matter of using resources to force the processif one ate enough Foundation Establishment Pills and was willing to use natural treasures to refine their body, there would be no foundation that couldnt be built. The only downside to this approach was the expense. Ordinary people simply could not afford such costs. But Chen Qiming wasnt an ordinary person; he had some insights into investing and had saved a considerable amount of assets over the years. As long as he continued to work carefully and meticulously, he still had hope for reaching Foundation Establishment one day. There is no general who always wins; this is even truer in investing. Even Chen Qiming experienced investment failures. For instance, the apartment he bought in Wuyue Residence a few years agohe had intended to sell it at a higher price after it was fully refurbished, but unpredictably, the value of the property did not rise but instead fell. Not only did the price drop, but there was also no one willing to take it off his hands! And it wasnt selling well either! Forcing a sale would mean an even greater loss. This property had be a thorn in Chen Qimings side, an indelible stain on his investment career. Themunication talisman flickered and vibrated; Chen Qiming took it out and saw that it was from someone named Jinjing from the sales department of Wuyue Residence. Jinjing? Oh, that female salesperson. Why is she sending me amunication talisman? Doesnt she have some grudger to take the apartment off my hands? With a grudger willing to take over, Chen Qiming was in high spirits. Wuyue Residence had no potential for development, so as long as the buyers offer was fair, Chen Qiming was very willing to sell! He just felt a bit sorry for that grudger. It wouldve been so much better to buy property in the South Development Zone, where there was a great potential for appreciation, but they had to go north. Hello? Is this Mr. Chen? The apartment youve consigned with us has been sold. The price is quite good; the buyer is willing to pay 38,000. Could youe and sign the contract? Sure, Ill be right there. Dean Chen wasted no words; he had to sell the apartment and cut his losses before the grudger changed their mind. As he passed the Chief Clerks office, Chen Qiming casually knocked and opened the door. Sun Qing was engrossed in work and, seeing the Deane in, said, Dean Chen? Are we starting the meeting early? Chen Qimings face beamed with joy, We wont have it today. I have an urgent matter and need to step out for a while; tell everyone for me. Oh, okay. You look very happy today? Hey, the apartment up north has been sold. Wow, congrattions! Ill treat you all to dinner tonight! After exchanging a few pleasantries with Sun Qing, Chen Qiming got into his branded car and sped all the way to the sales office of Wuyue Residence. In the conference room at the sales office, where contracts were signed, Chen Qiming met the so-called grudger. What somewhat surprised him was that this grudger looked quite young, almost the same age as his son, Chen Shuai, who had justpleted his college entrance exams. Some people only know how to spend money and chase girls at eighteen, while others are already earning money to buy houses at the same age. Although Chen Shuai isnt bad among his peers, the children of other families are always superior. Even when ites to chasing girls Chen Qiming nced at Liu Qing sitting beside Jiang Cheng His son couldnt evenpare with other peoples children. Compared to this female cultivator, what kind of odd and inferior partners did Chen Shuai usually bring home? Hello, my surname is Jiang, first name Cheng. Seeing that the other party was older, Jiang Cheng greeted him politely and took the initiative to stand up and extend his hand. Chen Qiming shook it amiably and said, No need for formalities. My surname is Chen, first name Qiming. I must be quite a bit older than you, after all, my son is about your age. Haha. Then I should call you Uncle Chen, said Jiang Cheng. Look at that, Chen Qiming spoke to Jinjing, A fine young man, that is what you call high caliber, polite too. No wonder hes so aplished at a young age. After a mutual admiration session, the two finally started talking about the house. Chen Qimings house, which he bought for thirty-eight thousand originally, totaled forty-five thousand after renovations. Lately, the real estate market in Wuyue had been sluggish, prices had fallen, and with more sellers than buyers, prices had been pushed down even further. Jiang Chengs offer of thirty-eight thousand was rtively generous. It meant that Chen Qiming would only lose the money he spent on renovations. If he didnt sell now, he would lose even moreter. Chen Qiming had no objections to the thirty-eight thousand as long as Jiang Cheng paid he would sign. However, the only problem nowy not with Chen Qiming, but with the young man opposite him, who was scrutinizing the contract for who knows how long. The man had been reading it for nearly two hours now. Whats so interesting about a contract? And he was taking it so seriously. He wasnt memorizing it, was he? Jiang Cheng wasnt memorizing anything; he had discovered a clue in the contract. It wasnt that there was anything wrong with the contract itself, but that there was a certain issue with Chen Qimings identity. This Chen Qiming, ording to the information on the contract, seemed to be the father of his ssmate Chen Shuai. And ording to Chen Shuai, his dad was the Dean of the Forestry Bureau, who is a direct boss of Uncle Sun Qing. Sun Qings future advancements mostly depend on Dean Chens guidance. That was a bit delicate. Being Sun Qings nephew, if he rashly made payments to Chen Qiming, wouldnt the Liang State Court see it as bribing a leader? Jiang Cheng absolutely couldnt do anything illegal or undisciplined; this house purchase had to be reasonable andwful! I dont have any other problems, its just the price that I hope to reconsider, Jiang Cheng said firmly. Chen Qimings expression didnt change. Negotiating a lower price for a house was standard practice, nothing unusual there. I think we should have someone from the Price Bureaue and appraise the price of this house, Jiang Cheng added. Chen Qiming: ??? Jinjing: ??? Jinjing was dumbstruck; she suspected Jiang Cheng had gone mad! Asking the Price Bureau to appraise the value? Do you think the house is sold too cheaply? The authorities in Wuyue dont want the housing prices to fall too sharply, and the Price Bureau, as an official organization, usually estimates higher housing prices. The corners of Chen Qimings mouth twitched uncontrobly. He didnt know what kind of expression to use to convey his emotions at the moment. He needed to apologize for his previous nderousments about Jiang Cheng. This young man named Jiang Cheng wasnt a troublemaker but a huge victim! Asking the Price Bureau to appraise, a thirty-eight thousand Spirit Stone property could easily be estimated by the bureau to be worth an additional three to four thousand Spirit Stones! Only an idiot would ask the Price Bureau to appraise! Yet, if Chen Qiming didnt agree to Jiang Chengs request at this moment, it wouldnt be Jiang Cheng who was the idiot, but himself! An appraisal! There had to be an appraisal! Chapter 41: This Child is Terrifying as Such Chapter 41: This Child is Terrifying as Such Trantor: 549690339 Chen Qiming had some connections in Wuyues officialdom; otherwise, he wouldnt have secured the position of director of the Forestry Bureau with just the cultivation level of the ninth level of Qi-refining. It was not a difficult task for him to call in a few favors and ask some colleagues from the Price Bureau to make a trip to Wuyue Residence. Appraising the price was a job within the responsibilities of the Price Bureau, and estimating the price of a fully furnished house posed no difficulty for them. Soon, the house price was re-evaluated. Forty-three thousand! A full five thousand more than the thirty-eight thousand they had previously agreed on! The house that should have brought Chen Qiming a sure loss nearly broke even with Jiang Chengs maneuvers! This kid, Chen Qiming thought, not knowing which familys son he was, had never seen anyone spend money like him. A wave of secret tion washed over him. He discreetly observed Jiang Cheng, hoping to recognize which familys child he was by his appearance. Chen Qiming didnt im to know all the wealthy people in Wuyue, but he knew a good many, and he had never heard of a rich family surnamed Jiang in Wuyue City before. Jinjing saw off the people from the Price Bureau and then invited both the buyer and seller back to the conference room to sign the papers. Mr. Jiang, you dont have any problems now, do you? Jinjing asked. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, No problem now. Chen Qiming wore a smile. After the Price Bureaus calctions, the situation instantly shifted from being unfavorable to favorable for him. With the Price Bureaus endorsement, the appraised price of forty-three thousand meant that even if Jiang Cheng wanted to negotiate the price down, he could at most get it down to forty thousand. Assuming the kid was eloquent, at most he could bring it down to thirty-eight thousand. No matter what, Chen Qiming wouldnt consider himself at a loss this time. However, what Chen Qiming had not anticipated at all was that this time Jiang Cheng would decisively ept the price without even looking at the contract or bargaining, readily agreeing to the terms. Uncle Chen, since the Price Bureau has set the price at forty-three thousand, lets go with that. What do you think? Huh? Chen Qiming was truly startled this time. He could somewhat understand Jiang Cheng asking the Price Bureau to appraise the price. After all, the Price Bureau was an authoritative official institution. Having them as a standard and providing a reference was indisputable. But after the Price Bureaupleted the appraisal, Jiang Cheng didnt negotiate and calmly epted the higher price, which baffled Chen Qiming. He had seen people bargain when buying things but had never seen anyone do the reverse when bargaining! It seemed as if Jiang Chengs move to invite the Price Bureau was not to lower the price but specifically to buy his house at a higher price. But the key question was, what was this young man named Jiang Cheng after by doing so? Chen Qiming didnt understand, but he was greatly shaken. Uncle Chen, do you have any other issues? Jiang Cheng asked kindly, looking at Chen Qiming, whose face was filled with shock. I have no issues. Chen Qimings throat was dry; he watched as Jiang Cheng signed his name with deliberate strokes, feeling an unreal, dreamlike sensation. His house really sold without any loss? Could this be a dream? Was this man named Jiang Cheng sent by Heavenly Dao to save his investment record? After Jiang Cheng signed his name, he also sighed in relief. Although he had purchased his uncles superiors house at a higher price, the transaction waspletely reasonable and legal, with the property value estimation provided by the Price Bureau as the legal basis for his offer. In short, no one could find fault with this house purchase. Jiang Cheng didnt have any grand ambitions; he just wanted to be aw-abiding citizen. The contract was signed by both parties, and each kept a copy. Although the property title deed woulde a bitter after the transfer waspleted, from a practical standpoint, the ownership of the house now belonged to Jiang Cheng. After the transaction was concluded, everyone had a smile on their face. Jiang Cheng was happy to have bought the house. Jinjing was happy toplete the deal. Chen Qiming was happy that his assets broke even. Jiang Cheng and Chen Qiming left the sales office side by side. Having just reached a pleasant cooperation, it was awkward for them to ignore each other. Chen Qiming was interested in Jiang Chengs family background; he was curious about which genius in little Wuyue City could raise a son who knew how to reverse-bargain like Jiang Cheng. Jiang student, you look familiar to me. May I ask for your distinguished fathers name? Have I met him before? Jiang Cheng smiled and said, My fathers name is Jiang Lei, a businessman and merchant. Uncle Chen, you probably dont know him. That is rather regrettable, Chen Qiming said. However, you may not be familiar with my father, but as for my fathers brother-inw, my uncle, you might know him. Oh? Who is your uncle? Jiang Cheng smiled as ever, his tone extremely casual as if talking about a trivial matter. Sun Qing, the current Chief Clerk of the Wuyue Forestry Bureau. Sun Qing! This name exploded in Chen Qimings mind like a thunderp! Sun Qing was one of his subordinates; he knew him all too well. But what truly terrified Chen Qiming was not the rtionship between Sun Qing and Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Chengs previous initiative in requesting the involvement of the Pricing Bureau! If Jiang Cheng was Sun Qings nephew, then everything made sense! Jiang Cheng must have recognized me a long time ago He probably knew I was his uncles superior, so thats why he took the initiative to ask the Pricing Bureau to step in, leveraging their pricing authority to drive up the house prices And then logically buying it at a high price Chen Qimings earlier confusion was instantly enlightened the moment Jiang Cheng said the name Sun Qing. But he didnt feel any sense of rxation. Instead, he felt a surge of retrospective fear. Because Jiang Cheng was no fool; he, Chen Qiming, was the fool who inadvertently received five thousand Spirit Stones from Jiang Cheng, now at the mercy of his grip! This young man, had he not mentioned Sun Qings name, Chen Qiming would have continued to think he just got a good deal on selling a house. But as soon as Jiang Cheng voluntarily mentioned Sun Qings name, the nature of the matterpletely changed! The implication of Jiang Chengs actions couldnt be clearer. The extra five thousand Spirit Stones from the Pricing Bureaus valuation bought his uncle a smooth official career! And that wasnt even the most terrifying part for Chen Qiming. The most terrifying aspect was that this young man named Jiang Cheng seemed to thoroughly understand the various rules of the Liang Kingdoms officialdom. Giving money to a leader isnt difficult. The difficulty lies in giving it openly, rightfully, and reasonably! And he had effortlessly aplished what countless others wished but could not achieve! Throughout the entire process, he only needed to speak; even inviting the Pricing Bureau colleagues for valuation was based on his connections. Even if an investigation followed, it would have nothing to do with him. No matter from which angle, no matter who came to check, they could not find the slightest fault with Jiang Cheng himself. Terrifying indeed! This young man was simply terrifying! Seeing Chen Qiming suddenly halt and make no move to leave, Jiang Cheng also stopped and politely asked, Uncle Chen, are you well acquainted with my uncle? Not know but well acquainted, huh? His choice of words is truly as shrewd as theye for his age! Chen Qiming appreciated the artistry in Jiang Chengs speech and said, Ah, yes, we are quite familiar. I never expected you to be his nephew. Jiang Cheng continued smiling and said, Our families really do have a connection. However, Chen Qiming interpreted Jiang Chengs incredibly bright and kind smile in a different light. The brighter and kinder Jiang Cheng smiled, the more fear and tension gripped Chen Qiming. A connection? Is he reminding me? Or warning me? With his tactics Chen Qiming couldnt help but shiver. He thought about Jiang Chengs watertight methods and the five thousand Spirit Stones Jiang Cheng had voluntarily offered him. Your uncle works very hard, and hes not that old either. As long as he continues to strive without any major issues, theres a good chance he could be the director of the Forestry Bureau in the future. But my uncle only has a Qi Cultivation level. Doesnt a director at least need to reach Foundation Establishment? The Forestry Bureaus requirements arent that strict. I believe in him. Your uncle has the capabilities. Thats very good then. Jiang Cheng felt genuinely pleased about the bright future awaiting his uncle. His uncle had been working hardtely, often working overtime. Therefore, it was quite normal for him to win the appreciation of his superiors. Gold always shines no matter where it is. Indeed, there are still more good people in this world! Chapter 42: The Hairless Monster Chapter 42: The Hairless Monster Trantor: 549690339 In the evening, at Fanhua Shopping Center. Jiang Cheng kept his promise and brought Liu Qing here to buy clothes. The bright lights of the shopping center, the flowing crowd, and the dazzling array of goods made ones head spin and eyes dart around. Liu Qing seemed to be curious about everything in the shopping center. She followed behind Jiang Cheng, her beautiful eyes constantly sweeping over the surroundings. Although she hadnt been in human society for long, through her observations during this time, she had begun to understand why this single human race could continuously develop and eventually suppress the entire Demon Race with one hand. Creativity. Liu Qing felt that the problemy in creativity. Whether it was the various cultivation techniques or the dazzling array of goods, human creativity was something the Demon Race couldnt evene close to matching. While the Demon Race still took pride in the ancient ways of their ancestors, humans had already started a revolution in Immortal Law. Not to mention other humans, just her male friend Jiang Cheng alone possessed exceptional creativity unlike ordinary people. Even though Jiang Chengs cultivation level was only at the third level of Qi Practicing, Liu Qing inexplicably felt that Jiang Cheng was more formidable than many high-level cultivators. He would surely aplish something earth-shattering in the future. Jiang Chengs sense of smell was not keen at all, unlike Liu Qing who could directly smell information in the air, so he didnt notice the cunning thoughts of the great demoness beside him. His attention was mainly on selecting stores. The prevailing trends in modern Liang Kingdom had be rtively open. Clothes that revealed more skin or were tight enough to entuate the figure were avable in every clothing store. Liu Qing was already very beautiful, and if she dressed even more attractively, Jiang Cheng feared that he would be dragged into some undeserved disasters. Just like Lin Yao. Even if Jiang Cheng did nothing, as long as Lin Yao was by his side, he would inevitably be the focus of everyones attention, with no chance of living a peaceful life. After careful selection, Jiang Cheng set his sights on a store selling New-style Ancient Fashion for women. The clothes in this store were mainly modified ancient dresses that were dignified and elegant, not revealing the slightest bit, which was perfect for the physique of the Snake Demoness baby. Lets buy from this store, Jiang Cheng said. Mm, Liu Qing simply followed Jiang Cheng. As soon as the two entered the store, a female cultivator sales associate came up to greet them. Without waiting for the sales associate to speak, Jiang Cheng preemptively said, Shes my friend, were not in that kind of rtionship. The female cultivator was startled and thought to herself: The pot calling the kettle ck? Youre not in that kind of rtionship yet youre buying clothes for her? Do people really believe that theres such a thing as a tonic rtionship between men and women? No matter what the sales associate thought internally, her face was still brimming with enthusiasm as she greeted, Wee. What can I help you with? We have fairnd styles, former dynasty styles, and The sales associate rambled on while Liu Qing looked at Jiang Cheng with a perplexed expression on her face. Subsequently, the sales associate could only turn to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng cleared his throat and said, Find some simple and proper clothes. She doesnt like ones that are too progressive, preferably more conservative. The sales associate went off to work. Meanwhile, Liu Qing softly said, Jiang Cheng, progressive. No, youre not going to be progressive, Jiang Cheng interrupted bluntly. Liu Qing furrowed her brows slightly, apparently dissatisfied with Jiang Chengs decision. In her own eyes, she was certainly part of the progressive faction within the Demon Race, without a doubt. Jiang Cheng knew what she was thinking and exined, The progressiveness of thought and that of the body are two different things. Wearing conservative clothes does not conflict with doing progressive things. If you dont understand the contradiction and unity of opposition, then it means youre still far from true progressiveness. After listening to Jiang Cheng, Liu Qings beautiful brows did not rx; instead, they furrowed even tighter. She could faintly feel that within Jiang Chengs words, there was a power belonging to the Great Way. If she could grasp it, her cultivation level might reach an even higher level. Dont overthink it. Just live in the moment. The world will keep spinning without anyone. Please believe in the power of programmers, Jiang Chengforted. Programmer, is that some kind of monster? A very weak kind of monster, and also hairless. Liu Qing: ? Before long, the sales clerk found many clothes that met Jiang Chengs requirements. Liu Qing looked at these clothes, blinked her clear eyes, and turned to look at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng felt that Liu Qing was a bit too dependent on him. After all, she was the one with sky-high cultivation powers, a tremendous cultivator! Why does she always need him, a noob, to make decisions? Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng was a data nner and didnt know much about the plot or the character settings for leadingdies, so he couldnt guess what the enchantress was thinking. But one thing he was sure ofhe should never underestimate Liu Qing. Liu Qing was an impressive Level 83 boss, a creature who had lived for more than two thousand years, definitely not a fool! You choose for yourself. If you like something, take it to the fitting room and try it on, Jiang Cheng said. Then he quietly instructed the sales clerk, Please take extra care of her while shes changing. She might not be very good at putting on clothes. I mean, she is quite clumsy. Sure, no problem, the sales clerk agreed cheerfully. Even if Jiang Cheng hadnt mentioned it, the sales clerk would have paid extra attention to Liu Qing. After all, female cultivators might be even more fond of a pretty female cultivator, and Liu Qing was definitely in the very pretty category. Watching the sales clerk lead Liu Qing to the fitting rooms, Jiang Cheng sighed silently. Taking a woman out to buy clothes is really not easy. If he was going to look for a partner in the future, hed better find someone who was less trouble. While Jiang Cheng was waiting, bored, two unexpected people also came to the womens clothing store. Are you Jiang Cheng? A female cultivators voice suddenly rang out by Jiang Chengs ear. Jiang Cheng frowned slightly, finding the voice quite familiar. Turning around abruptly, he saw a young man and woman. The woman was beautiful, and the man was handsome, and Jiang Cheng happened to know both of them. Xie Linshan? Chen Shuai? This Chen Shuai was the son of Chen Qiming. He, too, was surprised: Jiang Cheng? What are you doing here? Just like every ss has a top student and a bottom student, every ss has a ss belle and a wealthy handsome boy. In Lin Yaos ss, the ss belle was naturally Lin Yao, and the wealthy handsome boy was Tang Qians boyfriend, Zhou Yiwen. When it came to Jiang Chengs ss, the ss belle was Xie Linshan, and the wealthy handsome boy was the generous son of the Forestry Bureau director, Chen Shuai. If Jiang Cheng remembered correctly, Chen Shuai was once one of the many valiant suitors chasing Lin Yao. With the academic performances of Zhou Yiwen and Chen Shuai, they were highly likely to attend the same university as Lin Yao. Then at university, they would continue to be led on by Lin Yao, acting as herpdogs. However, what was strange was that after the college entrance exam, both Zhou Yiwen and Chen Shuai inexplicably gave up on Lin Yao and chose other female cultivators instead. This was somewhat iprehensible to Jiang Cheng. Lin Yao hadnt changed during that time. Why did they both give up on her? Could it be that the enchantress of the Demonic Tao had suddenly be kind-hearted and didnt want to string them along anymore? She was an enchantress of the Demonic Tao, after all. Could she really be that benevolent? Chapter 43: My Bootlicker Friend Chapter 43: My Bootlicker Friend Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng, what are you doing here? Xie Linshan pointed at the womens ancient clothing around them and asked. In Xie Linshans impression, Jiang Cheng had always been a very honest and ordinary male cultivator. Considering what Xie Linshan knew about Jiang Cheng, she thought it unlikely for him to have any special hobbiesright? Jiang Cheng briefly exined, Im here to buy clothes for a friend. What about you guys? I Before Xie Linshan could speak, Chen Shuai brazenly wrapped his arm around her waist and hugged the beauty of their ss in his arms, right in front of Jiang Cheng. The intent, akin to that of male animals asserting their dominance and warning others in the animal kingdom, was very clear. A few days ago, Linshan agreed to be my girlfriend. I was free today, so I brought her out shopping for clothes. Tomorrow is ourst day returning to school anyway. Linshan, being my girlfriend, definitely has to dress up nicely, he said upromisingly, and it seemed he couldnt wait to whisper in Jiang Chengs ear that he had won Xie Linshans affection. Jiang Cheng just smiled. He understood the motive behind Chen Shuais actions. In truth, there was a covert rivalry between Extra Jiang Cheng and Chen Shuai. Theirpetition was, of course, for Lin Yao. Although Extra Jiang Cheng wasnt as wealthy as Chen Shuai, he was good at studying, handsome, had a solid character, and wasntpletely withoutpetitive strength. Given that both had a realistic chance with Lin Yao, the rtionship between Extra Jiang Cheng and Chen Shuai was naturally as ipatible as fire and water. It could be said, the grudge between Jiang Cheng and Chen Shuai was provoked by Lin Yaos fondness for fishkeeping. That enchantress, truly causing no small amount of harm. Even when she wasnt present, she could stir up trouble from afar. Jiang Cheng silently admired Lin Yaos beauty for a moment. Seeing that Jiang Cheng did not respond, Chen Shuai assumed he had shown off sessfully in front of Jiang Cheng. He felt extremely pleased with himself. Although he hadnt won Lin Yao, Xie Linshan was just as beautiful and was also the belle of their ss, enough to make Jiang Cheng envy him. In Jiang Chengs case, aside from his decent looks, he couldntpare to him in any other aspect. Take family background, for instance; there was noparison. His father was the director of the Forestry Bureau, while Jiang Chengs uncle was nothing more than one of his subordinates. In the whole Wuyue Advanced Middle School, aside from Zhou Yiwen from the ss next door whose family background was a notch above his, Chen Shuai didnt take anyone else seriously. As old rivals from high school, Chen Shuai, having gained an advantage in front of Jiang Cheng, naturally would not miss the chance to continue showing off. Chen Shuai, with his arm around Xie Linshan, moved closer to Jiang Cheng, looking at the clothes around and said, These styles seem expensive. Did you and your friend bring enough money to buy clothes? If not, I can lend you some. Were ssmates after all, if you dont have enough just say it, dont be a stranger. Xie Linshan frowned slightly upon hearing Chen Shuais words. Chen Shuais provocative intent was very clear, and the mockery in his words made even her ufortable. Xie Linshan knew why Chen Shuai wanted to humiliate Jiang Cheng; it was nothing more than to boast in front of an old rival. How childish, she thought. If it werent for Chen Shuais good family conditions, Xie Linshan probably would not have agreed to be his girlfriend. If only Xie Linshan raised her eyes to look at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Chengs indifferent demeanor unsettled her. It felt to her like the Jiang Cheng before her was different from the past. The Jiang Cheng of the past was just honest. To put it nicely, he was steadfast and sincere, not having many qualities that would attract a female cultivator. But the current Jiang Cheng was exuding a sunshine-filled, confident, and calm aura. He didnt seem like someone their age, and certainly didnt consider someone as young as Chen Shuai worth his attention. Although Jiang Chengs appearance had never changed, at this moment, Xie Linshan inexplicably found him very confident, very handsome, and far better than Chen Shuai beside her. Thanks, but I should have enough money, Jiang Cheng politely declined Chen Shuais offer. Even though he had spent quite a bit of money today, he still had a few thousand Spirit Stones left in his pocket, which should suffice for buying Liu Qing a few pieces of clothing, unlikely to cause any problem. Jiang Chengs amiable response left Chen Shuai, who wanted to see him embarrassed, deted. Chen Shuai was frustrated inside. He really wanted to know why Jiang Cheng could still smile after such mockery from him? Has Jiang Cheng lost his shame? Chen Shuai, with Xie Linshan in his arms, moved closer to Jiang Cheng again. He still had one killer move left, which, once deployed, would undoubtedly break through Jiang Chengs defenses on the spot! Smiling? Dont you like to smile? I want to see if you can still smile in just a minute! Jiang Cheng, has Lin Yao grown tired of you? Chen Shuai said with augh. Grown tired of by Lin Yao? Jiang Cheng was stunned. Seeing the change in Jiang Chengs expression, Chen Shuai was secretly delighted and immediately exaggerated, One night, you sent Lin Yao a message, thinking she would brush you off as usual, but unexpectedly, she erupted in anger and scolded you fiercely. She called you childish annoying disgusting, and told you to get lost and to never show up in front of her again. Didnt she? Jiang Cheng: ? Is there such good news? He quickly opened hismunication token, only to find it empty. s, why wouldnt Lin Yao scold him? Jiang Cheng couldnt wait for Lin Yao to cut ties with him. I hit the nail on the head, didnt I? Haha. Seeing Jiang Chengs expression, Chen Shuai burst into heartyughter. Jiang Cheng, puzzled, said, Not at all. By the way, how do you know so much? Could it be that Lin Yao scolded you? Chen Shuais face turned awkward as he covered up, Thats none of your business. Just tell me if Lin Yao has rejected you or not? No. Although Jiang Cheng really hoped Lin Yao would reject him, he loved to tell the truth, and indeed Lin Yao had not ended their rtionship yet. Impossible! Dare you let me see yourmunication token! Chen Shuai pointed at Jiang Cheng and demanded. Lin Yao not rejecting Jiang Cheng? Thats impossible! Lin Yao even scolded Zhou Yiwen! How could she possibly keep Jiang Cheng around! Take a look. Jiang Cheng handed hismunication token to Chen Shuai. He was always forthright in his actions, with nothing shameful to hide, including hismunication token. Chen Shuai stared at Jiang Chengsmunication token and found that Lin Yao had indeed not rejected Jiang Cheng. Not only had Lin Yao not rejected Jiang Cheng, but a few days ago, she even took the initiative to contact him once! Lin Yao took the initiative to reach out! Ah? What kind of treatment is this? Lin Yao contacted you? Thats right. What about it? Why didnt she contact me? How would I know. Jiang Cheng spread his hands helplessly. If he had the ability to know what Lin Yao was thinking, he would have ended their rtionship at the first chance, and then never have anything to do with her again. s, he couldnt. Chen Shuai was now in a state of extreme imbnce. He had intended to show off Xie Linshan to Jiang Cheng, but who knew that Jiang Cheng would use Lin Yao to counterattack him. But no matter. So what if Lin Yao didnt reject Jiang Cheng? Given Jiang Chengs family background, Lin Yao would never seriously consider him; at most, she was just stringing him along for her amusement. Poor Jiang Cheng. In this life, he was doomed to be nothing more than a bootlicker. Chapter 44: Everyone is Watching the Show (or Eating Melons) Chapter 44: Everyone is Watching the Show (or Eating Melons) Trantor: 549690339 Chen Shuai knew how to adjust his own mindset. Although he had suffered a small loss in thepetition of affections with Jiang Cheng, that loss could bepensated for in other ways. For instance, through family background. The clothes Jiang Cheng was wearing didnt total more than twenty Spirit Stones; by contrast, any womens outfit in this store would cost at least two hundred Spirit Stones. Even the Chen family wouldnt dare to buy many items, let alone someone from an ordinary family background like Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng bringing his friend over here was most likely just to try on some clotheshow could he possibly afford to actually buy them? Does he have the money? Does he dare toe to this store and buy clothes? At this moment, Chen Shuai had already calcted in his heart. He wouldter have Xie Linshan pick out a nice outfit and show off in front of Jiang Cheng! Have you chosen yet? Jiang Cheng suddenly spoke up, facing the distance. Chen Shuai and Xie Linshan instinctively followed Jiang Chengs gaze. At first, they were wondering who Jiang Cheng was talking to. But when the person of interest appeared, all the uncertainty on everyones faces disappeared, reced only by eyes widened to the max in shock. Liu Qing was wearing a light blue dress. It was designed in a neo-ssical style, blending the characteristics of ancient attire with modern simplicity. The beautiful chiffon outer garment floated around her like clouds, the loose clothing draping smoothly over her soft skin. The only w was that it didntpletely conceal her impressive figure. The solid swelling at the chest and hips added a somewhat provocative allure to what was originally a demure light-colored outfit. This touch of provocation, along with Liu Qings naturally cool beauty and indifferent demeanor, constantly challenged the restraint of those around her. Very beautiful. Jiang Cheng sincerelymented. He wasnt talking about the dress, but about Liu Qing. A beautiful person looks good in anythingclothing doesnt matter much. Of course, the clothing in this store was also exquisite, with details in workmanship and design both quite refined. Although the overall style was simple and understated, it didnt prevent the thoughtful design elements from reflecting the outfits likely expensive price tag. Liu Qing walked over to Jiang Cheng, silently looking at him, not speaking. Do you like it? Jiang Cheng asked. Liu Qing sniffed her nose, not detecting any unpleasant odor from Jiang Cheng. His scent was nice, which meant he was in a good mood, and seemed quite satisfied with the clothing. If Jiang Cheng was satisfied, then she could allow herself to like it. Liu Qing always cared about her friends opinions. So she nodded gently. How many items has she tried on? Jiang Cheng asked the sales assistant. The sales assistants cheeks were tinged with red, a bit flushed, as if she had just seen something frightening in the fitting room. Uh, your friend tried them all on. Dresses and shoes, if were talking about sets, then altogether about seven or eight pieces, I guess. Do you like all of them? Jiang Cheng asked Liu Qing for confirmation again. Mhm. Liu Qing nodded once more. Jiang Cheng had been mentally prepared, so it wasnt surprising to him at this point. After all, Liu Qing was spending her own sry on the clothes, and in this process, he was just her humanoid Alipay. If you like them all, then lets buy them all, Jiang Cheng said, hands in pockets, nodding. Buy them all!? Chen Shuai looked at Jiang Cheng in disbelief. The prices at this womens clothing store were not cheap at all. Even calcting at the lowest price of two hundred Spirit Stones per single item, buying seven or eight pieces all at once would cost at least sixteen hundred low-grade Spirit Stones! Chen Shuais family was well-off, and sixteen hundred was not an unreachable amount for him. But throughout this process, Jiang Cheng had maintained a nonchnt and breezy demeanor, as though he didnt care about the money at all. It was as if he wasnt spending his own money. What did it mean to not consider sixteen hundred a substantial amount? How had he suddenly be so wealthy? In the few short days since the college entrance examination had ended, Jiang Cheng had changed enormously. At this moment, Jiang Cheng had be frighteningly unrecognizable to Chen Shuai! Before Chen Shuai could figure out the depths of Jiang Chengs pockets, Jiang Cheng turned around and said to Chen Shuai and Xie Linshan, I beg your pardon, but I need to go help my friend with the payment. Friend? Thankfully, its just a friend. If that aloof beauty were Jiang Chengs girlfriend, Chen Shuai only wanted to find a column and smash his head against it to death right now. He couldnt ept it. Jiang Cheng! Xie Linshan called out to Jiang Cheng as he turned around. Whats up? Jiang Cheng had a good impression of the ss beauty and was quite patient with her. Xie Linshan pointed to Liu Qing, not far behind Jiang Cheng, and said with dissatisfaction, Is she, your friend? Yeah. Jiang Cheng nodded. Just a friend? No other rtionship? Xie Linshan pressed. Right. Xie Linshan bit her silver teeth gently. Her heart was extremely conflicted at that moment. Today, Jiang Cheng had impressed her. She wanted to ask for his contact information. But if her future rival were Jiang Chengs friend, Xie Linshan had no confidence she could win against her. Xie Linshan felt the same sense of powerlessness against Liu Qing as she had once faced with Lin Yao. However, if there were no romantic feelings between Jiang Cheng and his friend, then Xie Linshan felt she could give it a try and pursue Jiang Cheng. She might not be a match for Lin Yao or Liu Qing, but as long as the two had no special feelings for Jiang Cheng, her chances of winning were still quite big. I want yourmunication talisman number. I never added you before, Xie Linshan said softly. Oh, sure. Jiang Cheng then fulfilled the ss beautys wish and then pulled Liu Qing to the cashier to pay. After Jiang Cheng left, the situation between Chen Shuai and Xie Linshan did not improve but instead included asional arguing. Were all ssmates, whats wrong with asking for his contact information? Cant you be a little less petty? Is this about me being petty? In front of me, you ask for another male cultivators contact information, what are you really trying to say? Why cant I ask? Do you have to overthink it just because I did it in front of you? Cant you give me some freedom? Is this about freedom? Youve started to ask Jiang Cheng for his contact information, I dont even want to think about what might happen next! Chen Shuai! Stop using me! How many girls did you flirt with in high school, do you think Im blind? My rtionship with them was all a normal friendship! Swear it then! Do you dare? Fine, fine, fine, cant we both just back down a little? Delete Jiang Chengs contact information. Chen Shuai, if you dont want to talk, just say it. Dont disgust me like this! I the hell The clothing store went dead silent, with everyone watching the drama unfold until Chen Shuai and Xie Linshan left on bad terms. Liu Qing stared at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng quickly defended himself, I just added amunication talisman, it has nothing to do with me. Liu Qing eyed Jiang Chengs pocket. Jiang Cheng honestly took out themunication talisman and handed it to her. Liu Qing opened Jiang Chengsmunication talisman and soon frowned. Jiang Chengsmunication talisman was not at all clean, filled with many people, unlike hermunication talisman, which was neat and only had him. However, when Liu Qing saw all of Jiang Chengs recent calls and messages were from her, she returned themunication talisman intact to her only human friend. She felt she couldnt be too selfish. She had demon race friends unknown to Jiang Cheng, so Jiang Cheng could also have human friends unknown to her. This was fair. The big monster just now looked a bit scary, thankfully, nothing bad happened. Jiang Cheng silently breathed a sigh of relief. He then came back to reality and realized that the entire clothing stores staff seemed to be sneaking nces at him and Liu Qing. Some of the staff even had a puzzling aunt-like smile. Jiang Cheng: ? What exactly are theyughing at? Chapter 45: Jiang Cheng Draws Talismans Again Chapter 45: Jiang Cheng Draws Talismans Again Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng stood at the entrance of Wuyue Advanced Middle School, yawning. He had apanied Liu Qing shopping untilte the previous day, not only helping her buy clothes but also some daily necessities and bed sheets and thin quilts. In short, Liu Qing had been settled into the house Jiang Cheng had just bought, so there was no need to worry about her revealing her Snake Demoness identity by sleeping on tree branches anymore. In stark contrast to the drowsy Jiang Cheng, Cao Wang had slept soundly until nine oclock the evening after drinking himself drunk the day before yesterday. Even though he had stayed up all night, he was still full of energy now. It was only eight oclock in the morning, and Wuyue Advanced Middle School had not yet opened its doors to wee returning students. The reason Jiang Cheng and Cao Wang hade so early was that Cao Wang was too energetic, having been excited fromst night up until now. Jiang, were about to get our grades! Im so nervous! What are you nervous about? Youre going to repeat the year anyway. It doesnt make a difference what you score. Cao Wang refused to ept it, What kind of shitty talk is that? Cant you console a brother? Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, then with high emotional intelligence said, Actually, Cao, if you think about it carefully. Even if you study every day, do well on your exams, and get into university, wont you end up just like now, having to go back home to take over your dads factory? That makes sense! Cao Wang pondered deeply for a while and realized that things were indeed just as Jiang Cheng said. No matter what he aplished academically, he would have to return home and take over the factory. Whats the point of studying! Forget it! Jiang, I dont want to repeat the year anymore. Do you have a solution? Whether you repeat the year or not isnt the issue. The problem is what your parents think. If your parents tell you to repeat the year and you dont, they might think youre unreliable and might decide to have a younger brother while theyre still young Ahahaha, then I think repeating the year sounds pretty good. In the end, Cao Wang decided to firmly grasp onto the factory that was meant for him. Jiang Cheng was not worried about Cao Wang at all. As long as Cao Wang didnt mess up, he would live a worry-free, ordinary, and wealthy life for the rest of his days. Thats pretty good. Rather than worrying about Cao Wang, Jiang Cheng might as well worry about himself first. He had sold the copyright of the Muscle Rxation Talisman and received forty thousand yuan in royalties, which was a happy event for everyone involved. But who could have expected that he would go slightly over budget when buying the house? He had only nned to spend thirty-two thousand, but he ended up spending forty-three thousand. He had overspent by eleven thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. Fortunately, Jiang Cheng still had the extra seven thousand or so Spirit Stones he had earned from epting tasks before, which could be used to fill the shortage. Now, after deducting expenses for Liu Qings clothes shopping yesterday, along with the two thousand he lent to Cao Wang, Jiang Cheng only had a little more than three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones left on him. That amount of money was definitely not small for a high school student, even quite arge sum of wealth. But Jiang Cheng had to pay Liu Qing a high sry every month. And Liu Qing liked to spend her sry in advance on shopping. This bit of money might notst until September when he could sell the house and the capital would flow back in. Once, when Jiang Cheng had no money, he was indeed penniless. Now that he had some money, Jiang Cheng was still penniless. The more money you have, the more you spend. The more you spend, the less you have. So, the more you have, the less you have. Just as Jiang Cheng was thinking about how to earn some extra pocket money, hismunication talisman timely rang. Jiang Cheng picked it up and saw that the person looking for him was He. Hello? Jiang Cheng, are you free right now? Whats up, He? I mentioned a Fluorescence Talisman to you before. Do you remember? Jiang Cheng, of course, remembered. A Fluorescence Talisman for four thousand low-grade Spirit Stones was the kind of money-making task no one could forget. Of course. The client for the Fluorescence Talisman has put the task up again. Apparently, the previous Talisman Master simply couldnt solve the issue. Furthermore, the task reward has increased by two thousand, making it six thousand low-grade Spirit Stones now. Good heavens! Six thousand low-grade Spirit Stones for one Fluorescence Talisman? Jiang Cheng subconsciously touched his strong, youthful waist. If it werent for the Immortal Sects rule ensuring peace and order everywhere, he really wouldnt dare take on such ludicrously profitable missions. Hes voice sounded quite urgent, Jiang Cheng, if youre avable, hurry over. Theres a second-order Talisman Master in the Task Hall who wants to take on the Fluorescence Talisman mission! If yourete, I cant guarantee Ill be able to hold the task for you! Okay, Im on my way! Short of money and a mission at hand, there was no reason for Jiang Cheng not to take it! He hastily said to Cao Wang, Old Cao, I have a new task. Can you get my diploma and transcript for me? Cao Wang looked bewildered, Are youing back to school today? Ill try! Youve got toe back, were taking graduation photos today! Watching Jiang Chengs departing figure, Cao Wang wasnt sure if he had heard him. The Task Hall. Jiang Cheng saw He again. She was pulling him along, hurrying toward the small meeting room inside the Great Hall. The patron and another Talisman Master who wants to take on the task are already in the meeting room. Ill take you there right now. Do you have the patrons information? Jiang Cheng asked, as he never fought an unprepared battle. Yes, but we need to retrieve it from the archives. Then lets go to the archives first, Jiang Cheng said. Although He really wanted to help Jiang Cheng secure this mission since it was worth six thousand Spirit Stones in performance pay, since Jiang Cheng had said so, she couldnt argue and had no choice but to lead Jiang Cheng to the archives, to first show him the patrons information registered in the Task Hall. After such detours, Jiang Cheng confidently arrived at the door of the small meeting room. He politely knocked on the door and said to the two cultivators discussing inside, We have another Talisman Master here interested in the Fluorescence Talisman task. Would it be convenient to discuss this together? Sure, let hime in, a middle-aged mans voice came from the meeting room. He gave Jiang Cheng a meaningful look, and Jiang Cheng smiled to reassure her before walking into the meeting room. The meeting room waspact, with four chairs and one tablemuch smaller than the one used by Lei Buxiao and the others for their meetings. But the decor was by no means inferior, the setup virtually identical to that of therger meeting rooms. There were two people in the meeting room: a middle-aged man with a steady appearance and a young girl with her hair tied into a high ponytail. ording to what Jiang Cheng had learned on the way and in the archives, the middle-aged mans name was Zhou Yunshana very low-profile wealthy man in Wuyue. And the young girl, named Yue Linger, appeared to be a student at a prominent university in the Capital. The university had an early summer break, so Yue Linger could return to Wuyue at the end of June. Yue Linger had considerable talent in the art of talismans and was already a second-order Talisman Master at her young age. For this mission tender, she was undoubtedly a strongpetitor for Jiang Cheng. There were four seats in the meeting room, and following the usual convention of parties involved, Jiang Cheng took the seat opposite Zhou Yunshan, next to Yue Linger. Zhou Yunshan, though the patron, did not have a stern expression, instead, it was Yue Linger who looked unhappy, her brow furrowed. Junior fellow, how may I address you? Zhou Yunshan asked Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng replied, My family name is Jiang, given name Cheng, and I am eighteen years old. Zhou Yunshan smiled, Junior Jiang, youre so young, you must be a first-order Talisman Master, right? No, Im not, Jiang Cheng responded truthfully. Zhou Yunshans eyes lit up, and even the slightly unhappy Yue Linger beside Jiang Cheng turned to him with a look of mild surprise. Junior fellow is not a first-order Talisman Master, could it be youre a second-order one? Chapter 46 - 46 Accepting a Job Chapter 46: epting a Job Trantor: 549690339 In the Cultivation World, the speed at which cultivators progress in their cultivation mainly depends on their innate talent. Some could advance a thousand miles in a single day, while others could only cover a mile in a thousand days. Given all other conditions are equal, the former would achieve much greater heights than thetter. It is the same for Talisman Masters. Some people may only be able to draw first-level talismans all their lives, never managing to break through to the second level. But for some, drawing talismans is as easy as drinking water; as long as their cultivation level is sufficient and their spiritual power robust, they can effortlessly advance through the ranks of Talisman Masterswithout facing any challenges at all. Usually, cultivators who break through to the first level of Talisman Master before the age of fifteen and to the second level before the age of eighteen can be considered among the ranks of Talismanic Geniuses. Although Yue Linger was a second-level Talisman Master, she had only barely managed to break through at the age of neen after starting university. She was still far from what people would call a genius. However, this neer by her side, who went by the name Master Jiang Cheng, had actually reached the second level by the age of eighteen? Being second-level at eighteen was definitely genius material! Yue Linger was astonished by Jiang Chengs talent, while Zhou Yunshan across from her was staring at Jiang Cheng with eyes shining brightly. If Jiang Cheng was a Talismanic Genius with exceptional talent, then perhaps he could truly repair her own Fluorescence Talisman! Jiang, my friend, no, Brother Jiang. Are you really not first-level, but second-level!? Jiang Cheng replied with a puzzled face, I am neither first-level nor second-level. What Could it be He was actually third-level! Yue Linger frowned deeply. She was only shocked for a moment before she realized something was amiss. A third-level Talisman Master, limited by the strength of their spiritual power, could only be achieved by cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Jiang Cheng was still cultivating his Qi; how could he possibly be third-level? Zhou Yunshan, not knowing much about the way of talismans and unaware of the connection between the third level and Foundation Establishment, heard that Jiang Cheng was neither first-level nor second-level and immediately concluded that he must be third-level! Brother Jiang, please must repair my Fluorescence Talisman! If you think six thousand Spirit Stones is not enough, I can offer more! Zhou Yunshan took out a square Reusable Fluorescent Talisman and handed it over to Jiang Cheng with sincerity. Jiang Cheng absentmindedly epted it and said, Ill do my best, but I need to first see what the specific issue is with this talisman before I cane up with a repair n. Just as Zhou Yunshan thought everything was going well, Yue Linger suddenly spoke up: Jiang, my friend, you cannot possibly be a third-level Talisman Master; what level are you exactly? Jiang Cheng was contemtive; he hadnt imed to be a third-level Talisman Master, so why was Yue, his friend, attributing that title to him? However, since Yue Linger had doubts about his abilities, Jiang Cheng decided not to hide his skills any longer. He decisively took out his certificate of award and asked Yue Linger to take a look. Yue Linger took Jiang Chengs certificate and fell into deep thought. Seeing the unpredictable changes in Yue Lingers expression, Zhou Yunshan was also very curious about Jiang Chengs certificate. Yue, my friend, may I take a look at that? Zhou Yunshan got the certificate but did not understand the true value of it, so he turned to Yue Linger to ask, Yue, my friend, is this second-ce certificate really that hard to obtain? Yue Linger waspletely dumbfounded. She had just wildly brainstormed, trying to guess where Jiang Cheng had sprung from as an unknown and superior expert. Who would have thought that this guy was actually a pure rookie who hadnt even passed the first-level Talisman Master exam! Zhou, my elder, forgive my bluntness, but this kind of second-ce certificate in a talisman contest can be obtained by anyone who studies the knowledge of talismans seriously and practices a bit. Almost anyone could get it. Zhou Yunshan thought to himself: So, this means that Jiang Chengs certificate is just the proverbial paper tiger, huh? Facing Yue Lingers exnation, Jiang Cheng seriously refuted her, Yue, just now you said something that wasnt quite right. It wasnt that I practiced casually, but seriously and with diligence, and ultimately, it was with genuine strength that I earned that award certificate. Yue Linger sarcastically retorted: If serious practice gets you only a second-ss award, then thats where the real problem lies! You might as well not have exined at all! Although Zhou Yunshan didnt understand talismans, he wasnt foolish. Listening to the exchange between Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger, he roughly guessed Jiang Chengs proficiency in talisman crafting. Most likely, he had no proficiency whatsoever. Zhou Yunshan once again pinned his hopes of repairing the Fluorescence Talisman on Yue Linger. Compared to Jiang Chengs shoddy award certificate, Yue Lingers second-tier Talisman Master Certificate was the real deal. Yue, do you think theres any hope for this talisman of mine? Yue Linger took a deep breath and said, Zhou, what I am about to say might be a bit hurtful, so please bear with me. Zhou Yunshan: Speak freely. Yue Linger said, Zhou, your Fluorescence Talisman is meant to provide illumination and brightness near the fishhook when you fish at night, right? Thats right. Zhou Yunshan nodded. Your problem now is that you cant catch any fish with this talisman, right? Thats right. Zhou Yunshan nodded again. Yue Linger took a deep breath, calming herself, and slowly said, So, what I mean is, is there a possibility that this Fluorescence Talisman isnt actually broken, and that its just you who is failing to catch fish? Impossible! Zhou Yunshan immediately dismissed Yue Lingers spection. He added excitedly, Yue, you might not realize this, but I, Zhou Yunshan, was once the night fishing champion of Wuyue City! Back in the day, with this Fluorescence Talisman, I was unstoppable. Even the Dragon King of the East Sea, if it was in the water, I could fish it up. So how could it be my fault? Its definitely this talisman thats broken! Yue Linger wasnt someone with a bad temper, but facing the obstinate Zhou Yunshan, she always felt a fire burning inside her. Zhou, you must have talked to other Talisman Masters before, right? Did they, just like me, fail to find any problems with this talisman? Yes, but how did you know what they said? Because this talisman isnt broken! How can us Talisman Masters repair something that isnt broken? How can it not be broken? If it wasnt broken, why cant I catch fish anymore? Zhou, forgive my bluntness, but if you cant catch fish, you should look more into your own issues rather than avoiding reality and ming it on the fishing equipment! Zhou Yunshans face turned red, and his forehead veins throbbed as he argued, Yue, you dont understand fishing at all! The business of a fisherman, how could it be so simple? He went on with iprehensible words about position selection for fishing, air forces, and the like Yue Linger didnt want to argue with Zhou Yunshan anymore. She finally understood why a first-level Fluorescence Talisman couldmand such a high price of six thousand Spirit Stones. Because although Talisman Masters could craft talismans, they couldnt solve the spiritual problems of their clients. Tired, just let it be destroyed. I feel that this Fluorescence Talisman truly has some issues, Jiang Cheng spoke up. Like grasping at straws, Zhou Yunshan eximed, Jiang, you mean? As a game bnce designer, Jiang Cheng always prioritized bnce in his work. Fishing, in game terms, is essentially a lottery. Since its a lottery, naturally theres a corresponding drop rate program in the game to control the odds. Drop rates vary, but its impossible for there to be none! If Zhou Yunshan really couldnt catch any fish, then its likely a bug in the Immortal Gods system caused his fishing drop rate to plummet drastically. Jiang Cheng fiddled with the Reusable Fluorescent Talisman in his hand. My point is, this Fluorescence Talisman, which cant catch any fish, I can fix it. Chapter 47: I Don’t Want to Be Chapter 47: I Dont Want to Be Trantor: 549690339 Can you fix it? Fix what, ghosts? Before Jiang Cheng arrived, Yue Linger had already studied Zhou Yunshans Fluorescence Talisman several times over. She looked it from the left, the right, the front, the back, the top, the bottom, over and over, confirming it countless times, and each time her final conclusion was the samethe Fluorescence Talisman was intact! No problems whatsoever! If someone said they could repair a damaged second-level Talisman with the skills of a first-level Talisman Master, Yue Linger would give them a thumbs up. If someone said they could repair a Talisman that wasnt broken in the first ce, Yue Linger would also give them a thumbs up, and secretly curse in her heart, Wow, youre so great! How could there be someone in this world who repairs something that is good to begin with? If an undamaged Talisman could be fixed. Then wouldnt it be reasonable to use healing spells for crowd control? Reasonable my ghost! How could healing spells possibly be used for crowd control! Are you crazy! Any sane person would know thats impossible. Unfortunately Yue Linger looked at Jiang Cheng, who was discussing the repair process with Zhou Yunshan, with a look of pity. Truth be told, everyone has different talents. Some are suited for improving their cultivation levels, some for drawing Talismans, others for alchemy. Each person has their own brilliance. Even if Jiang Chengcked talent in the path of Talismans and had achieved nothing, Yue Linger wouldnt look down on him for that. But if Jiang Chengs brain wasnt working properly That was a different story. As a responsible young second-level Talisman Master, Yue Linger felt it necessary to remind Zhou Yunshan one more time. Zhou, you should give up. This Fluorescence Talisman is not broken at all, theres no possibility of fixing it. Please dont waste any more time and Spirit Stones. This Looking at Yue Lingers earnest persuasion, Zhou Yunshan wavered. He looked towards Jiang Cheng, seeking his opinion. Jiang Cheng wasnt confused by Yue Lingers melodrama; as the chief bnce nner of Immortal Gods, he trusted his own judgment even more. Yue, this Talisman could indeed be damaged. Then out with it, where is it damaged? Today, I really want to hear the esteemed opinions of Jiang! Jiang Cheng politely said, Yue, you overstate my status, Jiang Cheng is hardly an elder. Yue Linger snorted coldly, her voice dripping with sarcasm, Jiang, youre being too modest. If you truly can repair this Fluorescence Talisman, forget an elder, I wouldnt mind regarding you as my father! I dont want that, Jiang Cheng said candidly. Yue Linger clenched her delicate hands tightly, trembling slightly all over. She was about to be driven mad by Jiang Cheng! What do you mean you dont want that? Are you assuming you can definitely repair the Fluorescence Talisman!? And how am I, Yue Linger, not worthy? As the Department Beauty of Lotus Universitys Talisman Department, a neen-year-old second-level Talisman Master poised for direct admission into the Immortal Sect, am I degrading you by offering to be your daughter!? Although Yue Linger was nearly enraged to death by Jiang Cheng, As a neen-year-old adult, she still possessed basic emotional control. Her chest heaved with emotion as she took deep breaths to slowly calm herself down. Zhou, Jiang, Yue Linger has said all I can, take care. Yue Linger was about to leave when Jiang Cheng called out to her. Yue, you were joking about being my daughter just now, right? Jiang Cheng asked Yue Linger for confirmation. He always disliked trouble and was sincerely not interested in having a daughter. But to Yue Lingers ears, Jiang Chengs words carried a different meaning than what he intended. Yue Linger felt Jiang Cheng was mocking her! Jiang Cheng was clearly insinuating that she would break her word, go back on her promise! I wasnt joking! If you really can repair Zhous Fluorescence Talisman, whats wrong with being your daughter, Yue Linger? Jiang Cheng was shocked, hastily persuading her, Yue, lets end this conversation here, please dont say anything more. And definitely, do not do something foolish like swearing an oath to the Heavenly Dao! Without a second thought, Yue Linger raised three slender jade fingers, I, Yue Linger, swear to the Heavenly Dao, if Jiang Cheng Jiang Cheng saw the situation and eximed in his head that it was all over. Zhou Yunshan, on the other hand, watched Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger with the look of someone enjoying a show. He was bing more and more excited about the day Jiang Cheng would fix the Fluorescence Talisman. After making her oath, Yue Linger also felt a bit of regret. A Heavenly Dao oath was no trivial matter; if one went back on their promise, they would, at best, find it difficult to progress in their cultivation, and at worst, suffer bacsh from the Heavenly Dao, resulting in severe damage to their cultivation level. However, Yue Linger only regretted it for a moment. Because she really could not figure out how Jiang Cheng was going to fix something that wasnt broken. This oath might have been impulsive, but since it was impossible for her to lose, it didnt really matter. So it was fine. After Yue Linger left, the atmosphere in the small meeting room became slightly silent. Mainly because Jiang Cheng didnt really want to ept the task anymore. He was only supposed to take on a simple task and earn six thousand Spirit Stones with ease. Now, out of the blue, he was about to gain a daughter. Who could bear that? Although Yue Lingers appearance and temperament couldnt match Liu Qing and Lin Yao, she was only just a step behind them. Yue Linger was still very beautiful, and she also had an impressive talent for talismans. If he became involved with her over six thousand Spirit Stones, it was bound to cause troubleter on. Better to think of another way to make money. Zhou, I cant take on this task, Jiang Cheng said with regret. Zhou Yunshan was surprised, Brother Jiang, do you have any concerns? Or do you also think that the talisman cant be fixed? Jiang Cheng said, No, I can fix it. But just now, I made a bet with Yue, and I really dont want to take advantage of her. Zhou Yunshan understood. Doesnt want to take advantage? Nobody would believe that. Is it just about the money being too little? Eight thousand Spirit Stones, Zhou Yunshan said. Zhou, I Ten thousand Spirit Stones. Zhou, its not about the money. Twenty thousand Spirit Stones. Deal. Jiang Cheng agreed decisively. It wasnt that he loved money, but he thought of a way to avoid having a daughter. Zhou, I can take on this task, but I have one condition, Jiang Cheng started. What condition? As long as you can fix the Fluorescence Talisman, you can set any condition you like! Zhou Yunshan said grandly. He wasnt short on money, and he didnt have any particr hobbies except for fishing, which he was determined to do! Jiang Cheng said, I intend to redesign apletely new talisman based on your Fluorescence Talisman. That way, it wouldnt count as fixing the Fluorescence Talisman. As long as he didnt fix the Fluorescence Talisman, it shouldnt trigger Yue Lingers oath. Then he wouldnt end up with a daughter. In the Ganges Zhou Yunshan stroked his chin, Can this brand-new talisman you create help me catch fish? Jiang Cheng nodded, No problem, youll definitely catch some. Then its a deal, Zhou Yunshan agreed readily to Jiang Chengs condition. Its not that Zhou Yunshan had that much faith in Jiang Cheng, of course. After all, the value of Jiang Chengs second-ce certificate was about the same as the potato chips inside a Lays potato chip bag. Theyre there, but not many. Its just that Zhou Yunshan had basically contacted every Talisman Master in Wuyue who could still take on tasks, and it was only because Yue Linger had just gone home that he was willing to meet with her. If Jiang Cheng didnt take the task, there really wasnt anyone else in Wuyue who would. Why not let him try. Besides, Zhou Yunshan didnt have to work and had plenty of time. Since he had reached a cooperative agreement with Zhou Yunshan, Jiang Cheng began to follow the process of cooperation. He spoke very professionally, Zhou, please go home and wait for a while. Once Ive prepared the talisman design proposal and youve confirmed there are no issues, then we can officially start creating the talisman. Chapter 48 - 48 Graduation Photo Chapter 48: Graduation Photo Trantor: 549690339 Pan He Garden, Lin Yaos home. At this moment, Lin Yaos room looked as if it had been burrized. The huge wardrobe was flung open and tossed into disarray, with countless clothes, pants, skirts, shoes, and socks scattered all over the floor, bed, and chairs. In stark contrast to the messy room, Lin Yao sat neatly dressed in front of her makeup mirror, her delicate light makeup applied with precision. Ordinarily, Lin Yao didnt wear makeup because she was naturally beautiful. Both her features and skin condition were excellent, so she didnt need makeup to enhance her beauty. But today, she had no choice but to apply it. She had been somewhat insomniac the night before and hadnt slept well, leaving herplexion and skin looking slightly worse for wear. Even so, Lin Yao could still outshine the entire Wuyue Advanced Middle School, making all the female cultivators lose the nerve to even lift their heads in her presence. However, she was currently in the midst of a critical period in her struggle with Jiang Cheng. This was not the time for any slip-ups. She had to face Jiang Cheng in her best condition! Just thinking about Jiang Cheng made Lin Yao feel ufortable all over. Fromst night until now, every time she thought about soon seeing Jiang Cheng, she found her mood profoundly unsettled. And it wasnt just her mood. Even parts of her body, such as her breathing, heartbeat, and blood flow, seemed inclined to surrender to Jiang Cheng and obey hismands. Sitting in front of the makeup mirror, Lin Yao looked at her stunning reflection and bit her lip gently. Her appearance was, without a doubt, still incredibly beautiful. As long as she kept her wits about her, and with her beautiful features, she was fairly confident she could win over Jiang Cheng even if her body had partially surrendered to him! The goal ofpletely controlling Jiang Cheng, which she had initially aimed for, was now something Lin Yao scarcely dared think about. She decided to go easy on Jiang Cheng, not aiming topletely control him. Instead, she set a more modest goal, to have Jiang Cheng confess his feelings for her! That shouldnt be too hard, right? It was nearly time for school to open its doors, and Lin Yao walked to the entrance of the residentialplex and hailed a taxi, quickly arriving at the Advanced Middle School. Jiang Cheng was in ss Three, while Lin Yao was in ss Four; the two sses were next to each other, making it inevitable to pass by the next-door ssrooms corridor. Lin Yao was already a focal point at the Advanced Middle School, turning heads wherever she went. She never cared how others looked at her, though. But today, as she passed by Jiang Chengs ss, Lin Yao deliberately walked a bit slower. She tried to make sure Jiang Cheng saw that she had arrived at school. However, Jiang Cheng unexpectedly hadnt shown up! Given Jiang Chengs character of being a stickler for rules, Lin Yao didnt think he would bete. Something must have happened. After hesitating for a moment, Lin Yao stood at the entrance of ss Three and called out, Cao, could youe out for a minute? Cao Wang pointed to himself, Me? Yes. Cao Wang was puzzled, but the person calling him out was Lin Yao, and he saw no reason to refuse. Lin Yao was indeed beautiful, the kind whose beauty had no bad angles, whether one looked from afar or up close. Standing in front of Lin Yao, Cao Wang subconsciously felt nervous, and if he hadnt recently lost all secr desires, he might have struggled even to speak properly in front of her. Cao, didnt Jiange today? Cao Wang: ? He asked in surprise, Why are you too asking about Jiang Cheng? Too? Lin Yaos gaze suddenly sharpened. Has someone else been asking about Jiang too? From our ss, Xie Linshan. Xie Linshan? She seemed to be the universally acknowledged school beauty of ss Three. Lin Yaos eyes moved past Cao Wang and into the ssroom of ss Three. As expected, nearly everyone in ss Three was watching her conversation with Cao Wang, and naturally, that included Xie Linshan. Lin Yao didnt shy away from Xie Linshans gaze; instead, she locked eyes with her fiercely. Xie Linshan couldnt hold her gaze in front of Lin Yao for even a second before she had to lower her head and avert her eyes. The silent yet fierce shes between female cultivators were just like that. Lin Yao smiled gently and appropriately. However, inside she was discontent: Humph, what worthless weeds, daring to covet my Jiang? Cao, where on earth did Jiang go? she asked gently. Cao Wang was utterly captivated by Lin Yaos soft voice, and he filled her in on Jiang Chengs whereabouts inplete detail. Jiang Cheng said he has some new task and might not be able to make it to school today. Lin Yao nodded, feeling a twinge of regret over not being able to see Jiang Cheng, but more than that, she felt a pride welling up within her. While many clueless high school students were still giggling in the ssroom, Jiang Cheng was already making acquaintances with high-ranking cultivators and embarking on Talisman tasks. These high school brats didnt even qualify to carry Jiang Chengs shoes for him. Cao, could Yaoer ask for yourmunicator number? You are after all Jiangs good friend. Yaoer admires you quite a bit, Cao. Holy shit! Whats it like when the only goddess every high school male cultivator dreams of asks for your number? This is just too freaking amazing! As soon as Lin Yao asked, Cao Wang dared not refuse, hastily giving his number with a ttered look on his face. Even after Lin Yao bid him goodbye and returned to ss Four, Cao Wang still couldnt believe it. Lin Yao had asked for his contact info? And she said she admired him a lot? If this were before the college entrance exams, it wouldve been something he couldnt even dream of! In Cao Wangs wildest dreams, he only imagined holding Lin Yaos hand. He had heard of her reputation; countless people in advanced middle school pursued her, and among them were plenty of eligible, wealthy, and handsome men, but no one seeded in getting her to agree to date. Nobody had even managed to hold her hand. So, for Cao Wang, dreaming about holding Lin Yaos hand was already incredibly bold. But soon after, Cao Wang fell into a dilemma. If Lin Yao liked him, should he betray his good brother and ept Lin Yaos feelings? Love on one side, brotherhood on the other, what a difficult choice! Theres not much serious business for high school students returning to school after their college entrance exams. The main tasks are only three: Teacher version: Release college entrance exam results. Student version: The schr show-off convention is live on-site. Teacher version: Issue high school diplomas. Student version: n a meal after school, where the wealthy kids show off their prowess. Teacher version: Take a high school graduation group photo. Student version: Casual wear ytime starts now! Short sleeves! Skirts! Shorts! Sandals! Long live the summer! Cao Wang could handle the first two tasks for Jiang Cheng, but for thest one, the graduation group photo, he couldnt split himself to pose for Jiang Cheng. The graduation photo is a quite ceremonial activity for graduates in advanced middle schools. Basically, every graduating ss takes one. And its necessary to have all the subject teachers and school leaders join in as well. Most of the school leaders are grade directors and vice principals, as Principal Yang Lingbao usually prefers not to show up outside of teachers conferences. But today, Yang Lingbao made the rare decision to attend the teacher-student group photo session. His abnormal behavior caught many teachers off guard. Although the ss advisors were somewhat nervous and busy, having the principale still made it seem more presentable. What was supposed to be a happy and harmonious event for everyone turned into a surprise when it came to ss Three of senior year. Jiang Cheng didnt show up! The principal, vice principals, several subject teachers, and the whole ss were all waiting for Jiang Cheng. Jiang Chengs ss advisor, Ma Yu, was about to lose his mind trying to alleviate the awkwardness, and he led the principal and other leaders to ss Four for photos first. But this was only a temporary dy. All other sses had finished taking their photos, leaving only ss Three. Still, Jiang Cheng hadnt arrived. As a crowd of people waited for Jiang Cheng to take photos, Ma Yu, anxious like an ant on a hot pan, said, Cao Wang! Have you contacted Jiang Cheng yet? Is heing or not? Cao Wang was worried too: Jiang Cheng went to take on some task, he said he would be here soon. What task could he possibly have thats more important than returning to school after graduation? This is preposterous! After Ma Yu burst into a rage, he quickly whispered to Cao Wang, Get Jiang Cheng here fast; our principal is not someone to be trifled with! Hurry him up! Yang Lingbao had a formidable reputation among the teachers and was additionally a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage with a boundless future ahead. If Jiang Chengs action angered him, its likely that his newly acquired diploma would encounter an untimely little mishap. But unexpectedly, Yang Lingbao, who had been waiting under the sun for Jiang Cheng, didnt reprimand Ma Yu or the absent Jiang Cheng. Instead, he cheerfully said, Its pretty normal for students to be a bitte because they have things to do. Look at you, Mr. Ma, you cant keep yourposure. Chapter 49 - 49 The Outcast Jiang Cheng Chapter 49: The Outcast Jiang Cheng Trantor: 549690339 Ma Yu hadnt expected that Principal Yang, who was usually very serious, would be so amenable today. Given a way out by the principal, Ma Yu had to quickly seize it. Principal, why dont we just go ahead with the photo without waiting for Jiang Cheng. Seeing Jiang Cheng at a disadvantage, Chen Shuai in the back row was overjoyed and immediately started to egg on, Exactly! Why wait for Jiang Cheng if he doesnt want toe? Mr. Ma, lets take the picture quickly! As soon as Yang Lingbao heard this, his expression turned stern. He was the principal and normally didnt have to be hands-on with everything. He came out in the scorching sun for the photo session today just for Jiang Cheng, the Talisman-drawing genius. The boy was highly valued by Lei Buxiao and Lu Wang, and was bound to be a powerhouse in the future; it was essential to invest in him now. If Jiang Cheng were to achieve great things in the Helmsman Realm, then Wuyue Advanced Middle School could use his graduation photo for publicity. If this principal character Jiang Cheng didnt show up, then there was no point in taking a photo at all! Already feeling irritable about the wait, Yang Lingbao found an outlet for his frustration when Chen Shuai stuck his neck out: Who was just badmouthing their ssmate? Was it you? Youre Chen Shuai, right? I think you have too much energy to burn. Out you go, run twops around the athletic field. Cool down your brain. Chen Shuai: ??? Chen Shuai, on the field, was cursing his luck. It was Jiang Cheng who waste, so why was he the one being punished? Is there no logic in this world anymore? However, Chen Shuai soon stopped feeling gloomy. Because halfway through his run, he suddenly noticed his dream girl, the goddess admired by all the male cultivators in the entire advanced middle schoolLin Yaostanding in the shadows beneath the bleachers of the athletic field. Including Lin Yao, the students of ss Four who had just finished taking their pictures hadnt left yet, and it was unclear what they were up to. But it didnt matter to Chen Shuai, he didnt care about ss Four; he only cared about Lin Yao. With Lin Yao standing by the field, Chen Shuais limbs suddenly filled with strength, and he ran with even more vigor. Yet Lin Yao paid absolutely no attention to Chen Shuai; she was sending a message to Cao Wang using amunication talisman. Lin Yao: Wheres Jiang Cheng? Cao Wang: Almost at the school gate. This guy, hes been kept waiting for so long and hes still not hurrying up! Lin Yao couldnt help butin about Jiang Cheng. The reason ss Four hadnt left was that Zhou Yiwen from ss Four was nning to treat everybody to a meal. Considering that sses Three and Four had the same homeroom teacher and were all ssmates, and since Zhou Yiwen was known not to be short on cash, he decided to treat everyone. That was the official reason. The truth was, Zhou Yiwen wanted to use the dinner invitation for the whole ss as an excuse to ask Lin Yao out. As it turned out, Lin Yao said she would go if ss Three went. Having no choice, Zhou Yiwen contacted Wang Ze, the ss president of ss Three. ss Three was currently preparing for their photo session, so it wasnt convenient to discuss going out to eat, and thus the matter was left hanging, waiting to be settled after Jiang Cheng arrived. As countless eyes were eagerly waiting, Jiang Cheng jogged over to the school za where the photo was being taken. Although he ran quickly, his breathing and steps were impably steady and graceful. The homeroom teacher, Ma Yu, caught Jiang Cheng on the spot and scolded, You little rascal, youve really made me angry! Dont bete again next time! Jiang Cheng pondered for a moment before rationally analyzing, Mr. Ma, Im sorry to have kept you waiting. But I dont recall the photo session being mentioned in the schedule for returning to school, right? Since it wasnt mentioned, how can we define whats te or notte? Ma Yu was momentarily at a loss for words, caught off guard by Jiang Cheng. He certainly couldnt say, Because everyones waiting for you, yourete. By that logic, if everyone arrives early and you show up on time, does that mean youre te because youre punctual? Isnt that absurd? At that moment, Yang Lingbao intervened, Stop fussing, lets take the photo quickly. The students are all getting anxious. With the support of Principal Yangs words, Ma Yu said assertively, This time the principal has spoken and let you off the hook. Go get in line. Mr. Ma, you misunderstand, I was telling you to stop making a fuss, Yang Lingbao said firmly. Ma Yu: ? Ma Yu tried to exin, No, Principal, he waste, and I was just trying to give him a little education. Yang Lingbao said sternly, Where was hete? Its clearly your mistake for not informing everyone of the exact time for the graduation photo. Its normal for Student Jiang to have other things and arrive a littlete. Is there a problem with that? Ma Yu: But Principal, the school didnt specify a time for the graduation photo either. How could I notify them? Yang Lingbao: Who do you think is at fault if the school didnt announce it? Alright, lets get on with the photo. This student, go stand in the back, the vice principal spoke up. But then Yang Lingbao added, Theres no more room in the back, Jiang Cheng,e sit beside me. Right here. It took a moment for Ma Yu to realize and he then asked, Principal, if Jiang Cheng sits here, where do I sit? Youre tall, go squeeze in with the students at the back. As a homeroom teacher, you should learn to blend in with the students. Ma Yu: ??? With Lin Yao in mind, Chen Shuai forgot how manyps he had run until the photo session was over and everyone started to disperse. That was when Chen Shuai suddenly remembered something very important. Damn! I havent taken a picture yet? After ss Three scattered, Zhou Yiwen led ss Four to find ss Three. Wang Ze, the monitor of ss Three, began tallying up the number of people attending the dinner as agreed upon with Zhou Yiwen. Jiang, are youing to the dinner? Cao Wang asked. Jiang Cheng said, Im not. Why not? Just took on a new mission, a bit busy. Its thest high school reunion,e have some fun, especially since its Mr. Zhou whos treating, Cao Wang persuaded. Cao Wang was somewhat cowardly, and if Jiang Cheng didnt go, neither would he, which was a pity since it meant missing out on freeloading off Zhou Yiwen. Jiang Cheng was about toe up with a reason to decline when Lin Yao suddenly appeared at his side. Jiang, Yaoer is going too. Lin Yao blinked herrge eyes at Jiang Cheng. The enchantress is going Now there was no need to think of an excuse. Cao, Ive got something else to do, Im heading off first. Jiang Cheng promptly made a swift exit. So quick that even Lin Yao was caught off guard. Having had the experience where Jiang Cheng previously made a writtenmitment to her, Lin Yao thought he wouldnt run away this time. But he ran away again! Jiang! Jiang! Jiang Cheng! Lin Yao clenched her delicate hands and, annoyed, she stomped her little foot. She had woken up early today, spent half the day dressing up nicely, and Jiang Cheng didnt even want to take a second nce at her. It was so frustrating! Yaoer, most of ss Three are going to the dinner, shall we go now? Zhou Yiwen approached Lin Yao. Lin Yao gave him a nce and said angrily, Im not eating. If Jiang Cheng isnt going, Im not going either! And another thing, Yaoer is not for you to call. Please keep to yourself, Zhou. After saying that, Lin Yao left Zhou Yiwen standing there and walked away from the school without looking back. Lin? Lin? Zhou Yiwen felt quite distressed. He had gone to great lengths to organize a reunion mainly to connect with Lin Yao, only to find he couldnt even get her to attend. And what exactly did If Jiang Cheng doesnt go, she wont go mean? Could it be Those paying attention to Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao werent limited to Zhou Yiwen. Xie Linshan walked up to Zhou Yiwen and said, Zhou, you probably cant win over Lin Yao anymore. Tang Qian had seen the signs early on, but when she had spoken before, Mr. Zhou simply didnt believe her. Now she had no choice but to advise him again, Yiwen, stop thinking about Lin Yao. Shes not going to like you. Im your girlfriend, after all. Chen Shuai arrived at the scene, on the verge of tears: I can understand Lin Yao not liking me and wealthy Mr. Zhou, but why on earth does she have feelings for Jiang Cheng! Chen Shuais words indeed echoed the sentiments of many male cultivators. Yeah, why Jiang Cheng, anyway!? We all go out of our way to chat up Lin, but shes the one who approaches him. Not only does he fail to appreciate it, he actually snubs her. What gives him the right? Such a bnce disruptor, cant he die off first? At that moment, Cao Wang touched his nose. Is there a chance that Lin Yao actually likes me? Everyone: Zhou Yiwen patted Cao Wangs shoulder: Then Id rather she liked Jiang Cheng. At least Jiang Cheng is indeed quite handsome. Cao Wang: ? What do you mean by that, dude? Chapter 50 - 50 Talisman Plan 2.0 Chapter 50: Talisman n 2.0 Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng chose not to attend the dinner gathering for two main reasons. The first was his genuine dislike for socializing and the hassle thates with it. The second was the significant pressure he was facing, which left him with no interest in having fun. The primary source of Jiang Chengs pressure stemmed from two aspects. The first aspect came from his newly epted taskRepair Fluorescence Talisman. After all, this task was worth twenty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, nearly seven times that of the Powerful Immobilization Talisman task! Faced with a clients huge trust of twenty thousand stones, Jiang Cheng, who always held himself to high standards, must match that trust with an appropriate attitude! It couldnt be that a talisman costing three thousand stones and one costing twenty thousand stones shared the same quality, right? Wouldnt that make him an unscrupulous seller? Jiang Cheng never engaged in dishonest acts. He was a conscientious seller, known for the principle that you get what you pay for. Another source of pressure came from Jiang Chengs college entrance examination results. Jiang Cheng, a background character, had decent academic performance, and the original Jiang Cheng had thought that passing the college entrance examination was almost guaranteed, but the actual results turned out to be much lower than his usual level. In other words, the background character Jiang Cheng had failed the college entrance examination! The college admission method in Liang Kingdom was different from that on Earth. The Immortal Sects key universities in Liang Kingdom generally adopted aprehensive scoring method to recruit new students. Theprehensive scoring mainly consisted of three parts: college entrance examination results, practicalbat assessment, and special contributions. Theres no need to borate on the college entrance examination results; as long as ones scores met the threshold, one could participate in the schools own practicalbat assessments. The practicalbat assessment was simr to the graduation exam at Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, which required candidates to practice Immortal Skills in actualbat and then be graded by teachers. As for special contributions, they were more flexible. It could be a bag of high-grade Spirit Stones, an Immortal Skill Manual, or a rmendation letter from a notable alumnus. Jiang Cheng certainly didnt have the means to get a rmendation letter, so he had to work extra hard during the practicalbat assessment to earn a high score. Otherwise, with the original Jiang Chengs marginal and precarious college entrance examination scores, Jiang Cheng might have difficulty entering a key Immortal Sect university. Of course, the most pressing issue for Jiang Cheng at the moment was still Repair Fluorescence Talisman. As long as he finished the task quickly, he would have the money and time to study opponents for the universitys practicalbat assessment in advance! Wuyue Residence, Room 2-1906. Jiang Cheng sat in the small living room of his newly purchased apartment. On the table in front of himid Zhou Yunshans Reusable Fluorescent Talisman. The concept of Reusable Type in talismans is easy to understand. It refers to a talisman that can be used repeatedly. A normalmunication talisman, like the Sound Transmission Talisman, can only be used once to send a message. But a Reusable Type Communication Talisman can achieve repeated contact simr to a phone, which is the cleverness of Reusable Type. The Reusable Fluorescent Talisman works the same way. The user can touch it to choose whether to turn the Fluorescence Talisman on or off. During the day, the Fluorescence Talisman can be turned off so it doesnt function. At night, it can be turned on and attached above the fishhook and thrown into the water for fishing. Its main function is to provide a light source near the fishhook for night-time anglers, making it easier for them to tell if a fish has bitten the hook. Additionally, the fluorescence also attracts fish to bite, as some fish are phototactic and the light points can catch their attention. The practical function of the Reusable Fluorescent Talisman cant be said to be exactly the same as the glowing fishing floats on Earth, but ratherpletely identical. However, the problem Jiang Cheng faced was not how to create a new Fluorescent Talisman, but to solve the issue of Zhou Yunshan not catching any fish. Whether Zhou Yunshan could catch fish was the key to this task! Without addressing the fundamental problem, no matter what new talisman Jiang Cheng created, it would be useless. Jiang Cheng carefully examined the structure of the Reusable Fluorescent Talisman. This talisman was quite simple, consisting mainly of two parts. One was the glowing talisman body Fluorescence Talisman, and the other was the battery supplying power to itthe Button Spirit Stone. Yue Linger wasnt wrong; structurally and functionally, this Fluorescence Talisman indeed was not damaged. But the changes in the drop rate program controlling the fishing sess rate was something the indigenous people of the Immortal Gods world couldnt detect. Being adept at considering problems from the fundamental logic of the Immortal Gods world was Jiang Chengs advantage as a transmigrator! While ordinary Talisman Masters were still pondering whether the talisman was damaged, Jiang Cheng was already considering which items could enhance the fishing sess rate. Yes. In Immortal Gods, the draw probability, also known as luck, destiny, or blessing, can be enhanced. The simplest way to do this is to spend money. Top up for a guaranteed win, right? As long as you spend enough money, you canpletely empty the prize pool. But Jiang Cheng, being a transmigrator, obviously couldnt perform the act of topping up; he had to make use of the items already present in Immortal Gods to increase the fishing explosion rate. Luckily, as a statistician, Jiang Cheng managed the in-game economy by controlling the intion of aquatic products and maintaining the economic bnce of the game society; this was part of his job too. If Jiang Cheng remembered correctly, there were many items that could make yers fish efficiently, such as the famous Hero-grade item AK Fishing RodFire Kirin. This rods main feature was its supermodel design. It gave the yer an experience like shooting while fishing. However, this type of fishing rod obviously didnt meet Jiang Chengs needs. He needed a small and lightweight item to fit into the Reusable Fluorescent Talisman he was designing. The world of Immortal Gods was vast, with countless items, and even Jiang Cheng couldnt remember every single one. To find a suitable method to improve fishing probability, Jiang Cheng fell into deep thought. What are you thinking about? Liu Qing appeared beside Jiang Cheng. Since a moment ago, Liu Qing had sensed Jiang Chengs troubles. The gloominess of her friends mood made her, someone who enjoyed basking in the sun, unable to feel joy. She had willingly given up the beautiful afternoon sunlight to sit next to Jiang Cheng, wanting to ask if there was anything that she could help with. Say it again, Jiang Cheng said, looking at Liu Qing. What are you thinking about? Say it again. Liu Qing blinked and chose to continue trusting Jiang Cheng. Her voice was crisp and pleasant, like a cool breeze on a hot summers eve, stirring the chimes beneath the eaves. What are you thinking about? she repeated. Jiang Cheng pped his hands together, a lightbulb moment! Got it! he eximed. Got it? Liu Qing was a bit curious. She could clearly sense Jiang Chengs happiness. But her curiosity didnt matter much. As long as her friend was happy, that was enough for her. Liu Qing stood up gracefully from beside Jiang Cheng and walked back to her favorite spot on the balcony. Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng called her. She obligingly looked back at him. Their gazes met. One was fervent and tender, the other serene and pure. Thank you, Jiang Cheng said earnestly. Theres no need, Liu Qing shook her head. She was about to say something more, parting her cherry lips, but seeing Jiang Cheng excitedly lower his head to pick up a pen, she quietly closed her mouth and silently soaked up the sun. The reason Jiang Cheng was excited was that he had thought of a talisman that would perfectly meet Zhou Yunshans needs! The pen danced in his hand as he crafted a brand new talisman design! [Name: Animal Encouragement Talisman (Fish-Specific Edition) Rank: First Order Type: Blessing Effect: By emitting encouraging sound waves At your age, how can you possibly sleep, it inspires aquatic animals, making them forget their fear and charge bravely forward. Notes: To be supplemented and perfected with subsequent experiments.] Fish: I dont know anything, all I know is that Im about to go on a killing spree! Chapter 51: The Front of the Lovelorn Chapter 51: The Front of the Lovelorn Trantor: 549690339 Huafu Grand Hotel is a fairly upscale star-rated hotel in Wuyue City. Generally, only thosepanies in Wuyue City with good revenue and profit would choose this hotel for their annual meetings. Today, the second floor of Huafu weed more than a hundred guests. They werent from anypanies on a team-building trip, but a group of students who had just graduated. These students were from Wuyue Advanced Middle Schools senior year ss three and four. Its not umon for students to eat and drink, and Huafu had hosted students before. However, what was strange was the stark prization of the expressions on the faces of these fresh graduates. The male students showed not a trace of joy from graduating; instead, each one of them looked downcast and miserable, with hardly any of them smiling. Some of the boys, looking particrly pale, even had the demeanor of someone much older, as though they had been cuckolded. The female students, on the other hand, were the exact opposite; most of them were extremely happy, each one grinning from ear to ear, as if delighted like a best friends husband had died. Tang Qian was now very happy herself. The reason was simple. Thest time she invited Lin Yao to go shopping, she wanted to show off the strength of Zhou Yiwen in front of Lin Yao, since he was the only aspect in which she could outdo Lin Yao. However, she unexpectedly ran into Jiang Cheng and Cao Wang. Since she was a girl, Tang Qian was more perceptive. At that time, she vaguely noticed that Lin Yao liked Jiang Cheng, or at least had a considerable fondness for him. Today, returning to school, Lin Yao indeed went to find Jiang Cheng again! Such actions by Lin Yao were almost as if she had confirmed her crush on Jiang Cheng beyond any doubt! Lin Yao likes Jiang Cheng? Hahahaha, its sheer joy to hear! For Tang Qian, the most satisfying thing in her life was marrying into a wealthy family, bing a madam of considerable leisure, happy every day. In contrast, Lin Yao, who once trod on her ruthlessly, ended up with a powerless, unimportant, and incapable ordinary Cultivator! Tang Qian had even begun to imagine, twenty years down the line, Lin Yao struggling with life, her figure grown fat and her beauty faded, while she herself remained well-maintained and in good shape. When they met again, she would triumph over Lin Yao on the very aspect of appearance that Lin Yao had once been most confident and proud of! She was very much looking forward to that day, to the look on Lin Yaos face. Love? Naive. Oh, Lin Yao, to think that you too had a day of folly. If you had just taken a little interest in Zhou Yiwen, I wouldnt have been able to snatch him away. But now, hes in my hands! With your looks, couldnt you have your pick of any guy from the entire Advanced Middle School? But who did you choose, of all people? Jiang Cheng, a guy without any special talents and just an ordinary family background. Heh, lets just wait and see; theres a long life ahead of us, and youll regret it one day! Tang Qian would have liked tough out loud, but as Zhou Yiwens girlfriend, she had to restrain her joy since Zhou Yiwen wasnt happy. At the ss dinner, Tang Qian sat at a table with the other girls, surrounded by Xie Linshan from the neighboring ss three. Tang Qian had heard that it seemed Xie Linshan had agreed to be with Chen Shuai. Though Chen Shuai was not as impressive as Zhou Yiwen, he was still the only son of Dean Chen and would never be short of money. In Tang Qians view, whether it was Zhou Yiwen or Chen Shuai, let alone Wang Ze and Liu Ting, those second-rate male Cultivators, wasnt any of them better than Jiang Cheng? At least in the matter of choosing men, she, Tang Qian, was far superior to Lin Yao! From this moment on, she and Lin Yao were set to enter two different worlds, and probably wouldnt have much to do with each other in the future. Most of the girls at the dinner table shared simr thoughts to Tang Qians. Honestly speaking, Jiang Cheng wasnt bad in their eyes; he fit into the category slightly above average. But after all, he was just an ordinary male Cultivator with a reasonably handsome face and nothing else special to him. But Lin Yao was not an ordinary person. Her liking Jiang Cheng was like a princess who, instead of marrying a Crown Prince about to ascend the throne from another nation, insisted on marrying a eunuch from her own pce. Not only did this lower her own worth and invite mockery, but it also ruined the princesss happiness and future prospects. What future could a eunuch possibly have? He couldnt possibly be the male protagonist of a novel, could he? Since the mood among the female Cultivators was quite good, the atmosphere at their dinner table was also very pleasant. However, there was one exception, and that was Xie Linshan, who was sitting next to Tang Qian. Xie Linshan was not as excited as the other girls; she simply smiled calmly, appearing much cooler. Linshan, are you preupied with something? Tang Qian asked with concern. Xie Linshan offered a slight smile, casually saying, Not at all, how could you tell? I noticed youre not smiling much today. Ah? Whats there tough about? Are you for real? Tang Qian widened her eyes and whispered, Lin Yao likes Jiang Cheng, cant you see? I can tell. Then why arent youughing? Well, whats there tough about? Tang Qian curled her lips, Isnt it funny that she likes Jiang Cheng? Hes even from your ss. Just some mediocre male Cultivator. Lin Yao has really poor taste in men. I thought she was holding back for someone amazing since she didnt date all through high school. But it turns out, she was holding back for a Jiang Cheng. Thats hrious. Xie Linshan remembered the scene when she had bumped into Jiang Cheng at the shopping mall that night. Jiang Cheng probably couldntpare with Zhou Yiwen, but he was more than enoughpared to Chen Shuai. Jiang Cheng is actually not bad, she said. Tang Qian disdainfully said, Not bad? Look at the clothes he wears, the total doesnt even exceed twenty Spirit Stones. Xie Linshan silently added, Then you havent seen Jiang Cheng spend two thousand Spirit Stones without even blinking. However, Xie Linshan and Tang Qian were only acquaintances, and there was no need to inform Tang Qian about Jiang Chengs situation. Besides, even if she did tell her, Jiang Cheng couldntpare to Zhou Yiwen, so it was better not to humiliate herself. Moreover, although Lin Yao liked Jiang Cheng, it wasnt necessarily the case that Jiang Cheng would reciprocate her feelings, so it wasnt clear whether Lin Yao could actually marry Jiang Cheng. After all, there was a female Cultivator by Jiang Chengs side, who wasnt at all inferior to Lin Yao, and even had advantages over her in some aspects Amid the jubnt atmosphere of the female ssmates, the male counterparts seemed much more subdued. They were mostly drinking silently, barely touching the food on the table. Imagine, the goddess youve secretly loved for three years in high school, suddenly you learn she likes someone on thest day of graduation. If this person belongs to some influential second-generation or some big boss, then it would have been easier to ept because, honestly, you cantpare. But this person is that damn Jiang Cheng! All ssmates, everyone had a clear understanding of what Jiang Cheng was like; he was slightly better than the average male student, but not by much. What did he do to be liked by Lin Yao? What did he do? If it was a male Cultivator worse off than Jiang Cheng, that could have been more eptable because indeed, he wasnt as good as Jiang Cheng. But those who believed they were better than Jiang Cheng simply couldnt ept it. They racked their brains and still couldnt understand why Jiang Cheng could win Lin Yaos affection. ss Threes monitor Wang Ze, ss Fours monitor Liu Ting, Chen Shuai, Zhou Yiwen, and several other male ssmates were among those who couldnt ept it at all. These guys yed drinking games until it got dark. Even as most students from the hotel had left, they hadnt moved an inch. Originally, they maintained apetitive rtionship to the point of life and death. Since all of them liked Lin Yao, they might not have said anything outwardly but were definitelyparing themselves in secrecy, none willing to concede to the others. But now, with Jiang Chengs emergence, they suddenly found amon enemy and united like never before! Brothers, can we let Jiang Cheng off the hook? No way. Impossible. If he dares to touch Lin Yao, Im gonna have someone give him a good thrashing! Its a peaceful society now Whats there to be afraid of, my dad is the Chief Arrestor! Thats the spirit! Zhou Yiwen gave a thumbs-up and then gathered the guys together, We need to have a good talk with Jiang Cheng. We cant control Lin Yao liking him, but if he dares to agree to her Well deal with him! Well fight him! Yiwen bro, get me a truck, and Ill send Jiang Cheng to another world right on the spot! Chapter 52: Preparing to Draw Talismans Chapter 52: Preparing to Draw Talismans Trantor: 549690339 With previous experience creating the Muscle Rxation Talisman, Jiang Cheng now found writing up the contract for the Animal Encouragement Talisman to be extremely easy. As the sky outside the window gradually darkened and the moon rose, Jiang Cheng finally prepared the various contracts and materials for the Animal Encouragement Talisman (Fish-Specific Edition). There were many parts of the contracts that Jiang Cheng had left nk. He would need to consult the Liang Kingdoms Fisheries and Forest Resource Developmentws before he could fill them in. Jiang Cheng understood the principle of do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. He disliked trouble himself and naturally did not wish to create any for others. Helping other people to solve their troubles and fulfill their wishes was the great cause that Jiang Cheng had always strived to pursue. Although Jiang Cheng had no intention of causing trouble for others with the Muscle Rxation Talisman, the results showed that it had caused a minor inconvenience for the teachers at Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy. Always adept at learning, summarizing, and improving himself, Jiang Cheng decided that this time, the Animal Encouragement Talisman had to be better than the Muscle Rxation Talisman! Not only would he work hard to perfect it! He also wanted to make it a helpful, beloved talisman that brings joy to everyone! To spread happiness, joy,ughter, and love throughout the world! As evening came, without the sun outside, Liu Qing no longer stayed on the balcony. She now sat on the sofa next to Jiang Cheng, silently watching him work. Since a while ago, Liu Qing had been able to smell a strange scenting from Jiang Cheng. She had never encountered this scent before. So she was unclear about what the scent represented. She only instinctively felt that Jiang Chengs current scent was extremely dangerous. So dangerous that it posed a threat even to her, a cultivator of the Demon Race at the Mahayana Realm. And yet, Jiang Cheng was clearly only at the Qi Cultivation Stage, theoretically a very weak, pitiful, and fragile creature. Her high-quality human male friend might be pondering something worrying. Liu Qing, I need to step out for a bit and will bring you dinner when I return. What would you like to eat? Jiang Cheng said while gathering his materials. He nned to meet Zhou Yunshan to show him the Animal Encouragement Talisman proposal so that they could finalize the design n as soon as possible. If Zhou Yunshan found no issues upon reviewing it, he would start the talisman development project tomorrow! Together. Although the dangerous scent on Jiang Cheng hadpletely dissipated, Liu Qing was clearly not at ease with her only human friend. He was far too weak. And could die at any moment. Liu Qing couldnt understand how Jiang Cheng could be both weak and full of danger. Together? Alright then. Jiang Cheng nodded and then took out amunication talisman to contact Zhou Yunshan. Zhou seemed to be always avable, answering themunication talisman immediately, and after Jiang Cheng discussed the meeting ce with him, he set off with Liu Qing. The meeting ce Zhou Yunshan and Jiang Cheng agreed upon was called Huafu Grand Hotel. Jiang Cheng had some recollection of this hotel. It was quite famous in Wuyue and seemed rather expensive. Since Wuyue Residence was quite far from Huafu Hotel, Jiang Cheng, not wanting to keep his client waiting, chose not to save money and instead hopped into a taxi grandly. Upon arrival, Jiang Cheng asked the Huafu service staff for the private room booked by Zhou Yunshan. As soon as the staff heard Jiang Cheng was heading to the luxury suite, they did not dare to neglect him and personally led the way. Cultivators who could afford luxury suites at Huafu were generally either wealthy or noble, and deserved particr attention. Even if the staff did not consider this, the presence of Liu Qing beside Jiang Cheng, dressed impably and with an extraordinary demeanor, should have been enough for them to immediately realize that Jiang Cheng was no ordinary person. At the very least, he could be a kept man supported by a wealthy woman. Clothes make the man just as a saddle makes the horse. If your clothes are expensive, service staff will regard you highly. Though amon saying, it is particrly true. In the hotel corridor, Liu Qing slightly furrowed her brow. Compared with other times, she now stood even closer to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng, noticing Liu Qings unusual behavior, asked, Whats wrong? The scent, she replied. The Huafu Hotel was packed with people, and the variety of scents was overwhelming, many of which were negative and bothersome to Liu Qing. Right now, her only recourse was to rely on Jiang Cheng, a walking human air purifier, to cleanse the air around her. Scents? Did she dislike the smell here? Jiang Cheng sniffed, but he could only detect the faint fragrance of perfume in the hotel. There wasnt any unpleasant smell. However, a monsters sense of smell might be more sensitive than a normal persons, so her aversion to the scent of the perfume was probably normal. I can find the private room myself, please take her to a well-ventted ce on the rooftop, Jiang Cheng said to the waiter. The waiter obviously had no objections, but Liu Qing was unwilling to leave. Jiang Cheng took out a Talisman to show her and said, If anythinges up, send me a message through the Talisman. Go ahead. Ille to the rooftop to find you after I finish my business meeting. After sending Liu Qing off, Jiang Cheng pushed open the door to the private room and sessfully met with Zhou Yunshan. Zhou Yunshan took the matter of fishing very seriously and was not the least bit negligent. He didnt even go through the motions of inviting Jiang Cheng to order food first, but instead immediately grabbed the business n Jiang Cheng handed over and started to study it earnestly. And then Zhou Yunshan couldnt hold back anymore. Jiang, my fellow Daoist I have something to say, but Im not sure if I should, Zhou Yunshan hesitated. Feel free to speak, Jiang Cheng said with a smile. Smiling service was his way of showing respect to his clients. This Animal Encouragement Talisman of yours, are you serious about it? Zhou asked. Senior Zhou, its called the Animal Encouragement Talisman, Jiang Cheng corrected him seriously. Encouragement and motivation are different. One is a blessing type, and the other is an auxiliary type. The blessing-type Talisman focuses on being gentle, positive, and non-coercive, while the auxiliary type focuses on boosting a valuethe differences are quite significant. Zhou Yunshans expression changed, Okay, Encouragement Talisman. What I mean is, are you serious about creating this thing? Of course. But Zhou Yunshan paused for a moment and then rephrased his thoughts, What I need is a Fluorescence Talisman! Thats not a problem, Jiang Cheng said. He was well-prepared and calmly took out the original Reusable Fluorescent Talisman. Jiang Cheng pointed precisely at the structure of the Fluorescence Talisman and exined to Zhou Yunshan, I will retain the basic functions of the Fluorescence Talisman, so youll be able to use it normally. However, on top of its original framework, I will add an Encouragement Talisman. This Encouragement Talisman primarily aims to address the psychological issues of the fish. Address the psychological issues of the fish? Zhou Yunshans eyes widened, his tone full of amazement. He had been fishing for many years and had never heard of fish having psychological issues. Exactly, Jiang Cheng affirmed: Youre an experienced fisherman, and I believe your skills are indeed sublime. Since thats the case and youre still not catching fish, it must be a problem with the fish, not with you. This Talisman were talking about will focus on resolving the fishs issues. I see now! Upon hearing Jiang Chengs exnation, Zhou Yunshan had an epiphany! He hadnt caught a fish in quite some time. Initially, he was full of confidence, butter he couldnt help but doubt himself. Doubt whether there was really something wrong with his skills. Now, thanks to Jiang Chengs theory, Zhou Yunshan understoodpletely. All this time he had been misled by other fishermen who talked about upgrading equipment, improving skills, and enhancing luck. It was all crap! The problem was clearly with the fish, not with him! If the fish werent biting, it had to be a problem with the fish, right? Could it possibly be the fishermans fault? Otherwise, how could one exin those who managed to catch fish using a simple direct hook? Brilliant! This Jiang, my fellow Daoist No! This Master Jiang, is truly ingenious! Chapter 53: Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance Chapter 53: Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance Trantor: 549690339 Originally, Chen Shuai, Zhou Yiwen, and others were eating, drinking, and shooting the breeze at the ce Zhou Yiwen had booked. As they talked, they found they were hitting it off more and more and getting increasingly excited. Plus, with other students leaving, and as night fell, Zhou Yiwen simply decided to open up another private room. This newly reopened private room not only housed the original members of the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance from sses three and four, but they also usedmunication talismans to reach out to like-minded individuals from sses one and two. The scale and influence of the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance suddenly doubled! Basically, all the male students from Wuyue Advanced Middle Schools senior year with a bit of family background and influence had arrived. What drove their coboration was not any lofty ideals, but rather their dissatisfaction with Jiang Cheng. If the nobody Jiang Cheng managed to win over their goddess Lin Yao, it would be like sticking fresh flowers into cow dung right before their eyesa fate worse than death for them! To prevent such a nightmarish scene from bing reality, Zhou Yiwen and the others unanimously decided that they must do something to stop Jiang Cheng! For the male cultivators present, facilitating a match might require the right time, ce, and harmony, as well as various metaphysical factorsin short, it was very difficult. But if they wanted to destroy a match, like making Lin Yao hate Jiang Cheng, that was all too easy. When a female cultivator falls for a male cultivator, in the end, what she really likes is his excellence. If a beautiful female cultivator is with you, not for your handsome looks, not for your wealthy family, not for your youth and strength, not for your promising future, not for your humor and wit, then what is it for? Is it for your dirty hair? Or for your stinky body? Of course, there are those who are after money, but thats another story. In conclusion, as long as the people from the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance could thoroughly trample Jiang Chengs advantages into the ground before Lin Yao Then they believed that after Lin Yao saw Jiang Chengs true colors, it would be impossible for her to like him. A female cultivator, especially an outstanding one, with a sound mind would have no reason to like a worthless male cultivator who couldntpare to anyone. The dozens of members from the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance were among the best at Wuyue Advanced Middle School. Each of them had their own areas of strength, some in family background, others in innate talent, and some in wealth. As long as they all used their strengths against Jiang Chengs weaknesses, it was impossible not to surpass him, right? Ill take care of the money aspect. As for power, Chen Shuai, thats where youe in, Zhou Yiwen patted Chen Shuai on the shoulder. Chen Shuais father was Chen Qiming, the director of the Forestry Bureau. Although the Forestry Bureau was considered a minor office, ording to the division of power, it was still a direct institution under the jurisdiction of the Prefect Mansion of Wuyue. The Forestry Bureau was responsible for the protection and nning of Wuyues forestry andnd resources, and it had its own value. No problem, Chen Shuai agreed. Jiang Chengs uncle was a direct subordinate of Chen Qiming. With his fathers authority, for Chen Shuai to pressure Jiang Cheng was like a cat ying with a mousean easy task, right? After securing money and power firmly against Jiang Cheng, Zhou Yiwen skipped over appearances, ready to use talent to crush Jiang Cheng mercilessly. Wheres Brother Yue Ping? Yue Ping from ss one was the strongest in terms of cultivating talent at Wuyue Advanced Middle School. Not only had he achieved the cultivation level of the eighth Qi-trainingyer at a young age, but while he ranked in the top three in his academic performance, he also managed to win the first prize in the talisman drawing contest. He was unquestionably far superior to Jiang Cheng, who only got the second prize. Seems he went to the bathroom. Lets wait for him then. As they were speaking, Yue Ping just happened to return. However, there was a hint of dejection in Yue Pings expression at that moment. The dejection on his face didnt stem from pity over Lin Yaos liking for Jiang Cheng, but from regret over his own timidity. Earlier, Yue Ping had left the bathroom and was hurrying back to their private room. On the way, he happened to encounter a female cultivator. The female cultivator was dressed in a long-sleeved dress, with her sleek, ck hair cascading down to her slim waist. The tips of her hair fluttered gently with every step she took. Her walking posture was extremely graceful; to say that every nce was charming and every step bloomed like a lotus would not be an exaggeration. Without needing to see her face, Yue Ping was one hundred percent sure that the female cultivators looks would not disappoint. When the female cultivator reached the stairway corner and turned to go upstairs, Yue Ping just caught a glimpse of her profile. Her exquisite face, indifferent gaze, and cool temperament immediately stunned Yue Ping as if he had seen a celestial being! Yue Ping was one of Lin Yaos admirers, but if it came down to preference, Yue Ping favored mature women with character rather than youthful girls like Lin Yao. Pursuing Lin Yao was only because she absolutely outshone everyone else in terms of appearance. Other types of female cultivators paled inparison to Lin Yao. But now, Yue Ping was certain that the female cultivator he had just seen was no less stunning than Lin Yao! And she was exactly the type of cool beauty he liked! She was the kind of woman he could not even imagine in his dreams! The only regret was that he had been a coward and hadnt dared to follow her to ask for her contact details. Brother Yue Ping? Ah? Yue Ping looked at Zhou Yiwen before him and snapped back to reality. Oh, they were discussing how to deal with Jiang Cheng and protect Lin Yao. But after having seen that female cultivator, Yue Ping felt that Lin Yao was just so-so. Some might prefer young girls and continue to fancy Lin Yao. But given the choice, he would definitely pick the cool female cultivator. Its not like he could have them all, right? Since he had chosen the cool female cultivator, Lin Yao or not, it didnt matter much to Yue Ping anymore. If Lin Yao liked Jiang Cheng, then let her like him. As long as that cool female cultivator didnt fall for Jiang Cheng, it was fine. Brother Yue Ping, you are responsible for suppressing Jiang Cheng in academics and talent, no problem with that, right? Zhou Yiwen had high hopes for Yue Ping. Yue Pings talent was trustworthy. Especially in this college entrance examination, Yue Ping had performed very well, while it seemed that Jiang Cheng had suffered a setbackwasnt that a stable win? Yue Pings mind was filled with thoughts of that cool female cultivator, and he was not very interested in Lin Yao anymore, so he was not that keen on helping Zhou Yiwen. However, seeing the expectant looks from those around him, Yue Ping ultimately agreed to Zhou Yiwens request. For him, applying pressure to Jiang Cheng in studies or talisman drawing was just a small feat. Brother Zhou, although weve assigned tasks, what if Jiang Cheng refuses to ept the challenge, hiding like a turtle in its shell? What do we do then? Since a while back, many members of the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance had been concerned. They could have the best ns, but if Jiang Cheng didnt respond to their challenge, didnte out topete with them, or even avoided meeting them, leaving them with no way to exert their strength, what then? Zhou Yiwen looked at Chen Shuai. Chen Shuai smiled and said, Jiang Cheng has a cousin named Sun Yuan. Hes in ninth grade this year, and hes a decent student. Hes likely to be admitted to Wuyue Advanced Middle School after the middle school exams. My dad has a good rtionship with Jiang Chengs uncle and Sun Yuans dad. When the timees, Sun Yuans celebratory banquet for his school admission will surely invite our family. Moreover, as the older cousin, Jiang Cheng has to show up at his cousins banquet, right? A childs academic sess banquet is not about the childs grades, but about the connections of the adults in the family! When the Sun Family holds a banquet, the more important people they can invite, the more face the Sun Family gains. The parents of the male cultivators present, arent they all prominent figures in Wuyue City? Bringing a big red envelope to congratte the Sun Family, they couldnt possibly reject it, right? Jiang Cheng will attend the banquet, and the people from the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance can go too. Lin Yao will naturally attend as well. In such a highly public event, they nned to humiliate Jiang Cheng thoroughly and let Lin Yao see Jiang Chengs true colors of being fierce on the outside but weak on the inside. Would Lin Yao still like Jiang Cheng after that? It seemed impossible. The thought of Jiang Cheng being put in his ce in front of Lin Yao made Zhou Yiwen and many others feel exceedingly satisfied. Jiang Cheng being subdued, Lin Yao having a change of heart, everyoneughing and watching the emotional fool. Just the thought of that scene was exhrating! Chapter 54 - 54 Talking about Fishing Chapter 54 Talking about Fishing Trantor: 549690339 The Cultivation Library in the early morning was, as always, peaceful and harmonious. Opposite Senior Bais usual seat sat a young man with a gentle smile, radiant confidence, a reassuring presence. Counting from yesterday, today marked Jiang Chengs second day of reading at the library. After his morning run each day, he still had plenty of time to spare. It was too early to visit Liu Qing at Wuyue Residence, so Jiang Cheng would spend some time in the library instead. Here, he would take the opportunity to supplement his legal knowledge on matters rting to forestry and fishing, aquaculture, animal protection, angling, and so on, within Liang Kingdom, Immortal Sect, and even neighboring countries. Just like creating the Muscle Rxation Talisman, Jiang Cheng sincerely hoped that the Animal Encouragement Talisman would be a good, reasonable, legal, andpliant talisman. Under no circumstances would he, Jiang Cheng, engage in illegal activities. And certainly not be an enemy of the Immortal Sect! The might of the Immortal Sect was something Jiang Cheng, as a data nner, probably understood better than even the Sect Leader. Be it the Demonic Tao, the Demon Race, dynasties, or other forces, none were a match for a fraction of the Immortal Sects power. In the settings of Immortal Gods, only the Immortal Sect could oppose the Immortal Sect. But on the other hand. Thest Muscle Rxation Talisman, after all, was used during a school examination. Regardless of whether the Muscle Rxation Talisman was good or bad, the fact that it involved exams meant there would inevitably be dissatisfaction. However, this time, the Animal Encouragement Talisman was merely a talisman to aid fishermen in their fishing efforts. Its role was to regte the frustratingly low fishing catch rate for some anglers, bringing their probabilities back to normal. The function of the Animal Encouragement Talisman was not even to control whether the fish bit the hook, but merely to encourage the fish to learn to struggle and thus make their own choice to bite or not. The Animal Encouragement Talisman (Fish-Specific Edition) was, after all, just a first-order blessing-type talisman. How damaging could it be? The books Jiang Cheng had borrowed included not only those rted to ws and regtions, but also a copy of Rhythm Introductory. The design blueprint for the Muscle Rxation Talisman was based on amonly used auxiliary talisman, Physical Enhancement. Whereas the Animal Encouragement Talisman drew inspiration from a Sea Tribe magical treasure called the Song of Tides. The function of the Song of Tides was to use rhythm to grant collective buffs to Sea Tribe warriors, enhancing their overallbat effectiveness. The main idea behind the Animal Encouragement Talisman was to borrow certain rhythms from the Song of Tides to achieve the sole effect of encouraging schools of fish. For instance, if the Song of Tides was like: Snowkes fluttering, the north wind howling, the world a vast expanse of destion The Animal Encouragement Talisman would be: At your age, how can you possibly fall asleep? Themonality between these two pieces of rhythm is that both could touch ones heart. However, considering that Zhou Yunshan might fish with other anglers, and to minimize the rhythms disturbance to others, Jiang Cheng nned to change the spread of the rhythm into the form of infrasound. Transmitting the rhythm by infrasound was quick, far-reaching, and quiet, killing several birds with one stone. Young friend Jiang? Bai Wendaos voice came from the opposite side. Jiang Cheng looked up and saw his old friend. Senior Bai, youve finally arrived today. Bai Wendao smiled and said, Ive been busy with the academys affairs recently. I hardly have time for the library, let alone going home. Jiang Cheng nodded, saying, Is the academys upgrade to first rank going smoothly? Mhm, not bad. However, Dean Lei ns to hold back on your Muscle Rxation Talisman. He wants to submit it for certification at the end of September when school starts. Thats fine by me, said Jiang Cheng. Having sold the rights, it was all the same to Jiang Cheng. Bai Wendao, seeing Jiang Cheng again engrossed in strange legal texts, struggled to keep a straight face. Thinking of the impact of the Muscle Rxation Talisman, he felt it necessary to ask Jiang Cheng about his motive for reading. Simr to the Muscle Rxation Talisman, which extremely disrupts bnce, reasonable talismans, Bai Wendao would definitely not let Jiang Cheng draw anymore. Some people are afraid he will ck off, like a wallowing mess that cant stand tall. But others fear his daunting, intense ambition! Friend Jiang, are you looking at these books because youve taken on another task? Jiang Cheng didnt n to hide anything; he smiled and said, Senior Bai, you really have a divine intuition. Bai Wendao silently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cautiously asked, Friend Jiang, could you possibly share with this old man what task you have taken on? When it came to the clients information, Jiang Cheng naturally kept his lips sealed. But that didnt mean he couldnt share anything at all. I am creating a talisman rted to fishing. Upon hearing about fishing, Bai Wendaos eyes instantly lit up. Fishing was one of his few hobbies, aside from practicing swordsmanship and reading books. Exactly how is it rted to fishing? Could you perhaps reveal a bit more? Jiang Cheng said, The clients fishing gear is broken, and Im attempting to restore its proper function. I see. Bai Wendao felt relieved. So it was just repairing something, he had thought Jiang Cheng was about to invent something again. Plus, if it was just fishing gear, it likely wouldnt cause any more problems. Even if it did, at most it would affect the individual using the gear. The impact would be limited, hardly a concern. Listening to Bai Wendaos words, Jiang Cheng felt he might also have a keen interest in fishing. Senior Bai, do you also know about fishing? Whether in his past life or present, Jiang Cheng didnt know how to fish, so he urgently needed to gain some basic knowledge about it. For instance, how many fish a fisherman should catch in a day. Jiang Cheng needed to set a normal intensity for the Animal Encouragement Talisman, to ensure the fish neither struggled too hard nor grew too sluggish. His purpose was to help Zhou Yunshan regain a reasonable fishing rate, not to turn him into a fishing expert. Bai Wendaoughed and said, Fishing, well, I know a bit, just a bit. Jiang Cheng took out paper and pen, his expression turning serious, Senior Bai, may I ask how many fish or how much in weight you usually catch in a day? Bai Wendao pondered for a moment, recalling events from roughly eighty years ago, the splendid image still vivid in his mind. He said with considerable pride, There was a time outside of Wuyue City when I and several good friends That night, in about six hours, I caught a whole forty catties of fish! Jiang Chengs pen flew across the page, quickly figuring out Bai Wendaos fishing skill level. Six hours, forty catties. After some simple calctions, he came up with: twenty-four hours, one hundred and sixty catties. To be on the safe side, Jiang Cheng asked again, Senior Bai, do you have any other records? Maybe a little worse? Bai Wendao thought for a moment, Normally, if I fish for a day, I should catch at least ten to twenty catties. Its definitely impossible to catch nothing. Jiang Cheng faithfully recorded this. Afterward, he also inquired about themunication talisman numbers of Bai Wendaos fishing friends and conducted inquiries about their fishing results throughmunication talismans. Later, in order to obtain more realistic data, Jiang Cheng painstakingly visited the fishing spots around Wuyue City, interviewing fishermen who were actually there fishing. Id say at least ten catties a day. On a good day, catching several tens of catties is possible. Its certainly impossible to catch nothing at all, thats for sure. I just do a bit of casual fishing, but I definitely catch three to five fish. Hey, its just for fun. Fishing is no big deal, right? My dark circles? Thats from overtime work; it has absolutely nothing to do with fishing. Oh, dont rush me. The bucket is empty because I havent started putting in the effort yet. Its impossible for me to catch nothing, impossible in this lifetime. After extensive research and thorough verification, using the data provided by the fishermen, Jiang Cheng finally concluded the intended fishing strength for the Animal Encouragement Talisman (Fish-specific Edition). At least one to two fish per hour. Twenty-four hours should yield thirty to sixty catties of fish. This data was an aggregate of the experience of dozens of fishermen, and the entire process of gathering information was scientific and standardized, so there shouldnt be any problems. Chapter 55: The Mysterious Fishing Expert Chapter 55: The Mysterious Fishing Expert Trantor: 549690339 Last time he made the Muscle Rxation Talisman, Jiang Cheng had directly used another talisman as the blueprint for developing it. But this time, for the Animal Encouragement Talisman, Jiang Cheng was drawing inspiration from the magical treasures of the Sea Tribe. He couldnt see or touch the Sea Tribes magical treasures, only relying on his nning memories to replicate the Song of Tides. The difficulty of creating the two talismans was simply notparable. Fortunately, Jiang Cheng didnt need to fully replicate the Song of Tides. As a renowned and powerful 7th rank spell, Song of Tides could beunched at full force by a mighty member of the Sea Tribe, enhancing millions of sea warriors across an entire ocean region. Jiang Cheng only needed about one ten-thousandth to one hundred-thousandth of the power of the Song of Tides. The notes emitted by the Song of Tides were essentially the BGM of the Immortal Gods. Singing the entire song was difficult for Jiang Cheng, but humming the tune was quite easy. As long as he recorded this tune into the Animal Encouragement Talisman Then lowered the frequency of the song to make it into infrasound And addedplex, random noise to disguise the sound waves Soon, Jiang Cheng drew a strange pattern on the talisman paper. This patter was the initial version of Animal Encouragement Talisman (Fish Edition)! Without dy, Jiang Cheng sat on the sofa in the living room of his apartment and slowly infused his spiritual power into the talisman Animal Encouragement Talisman, activate! The lines on the talisman paper flickered with the faint glow of spiritual powerbustion. This indicated that the talisman had been activated. Then Until the talismans time ran out Nothing happened Only Liu Qing, sitting on the balcony, looked at Jiang Cheng with a curious gaze. If Jiang Cheng remembered correctly, snakes, it seemed, could hear infrasound. Liu Qing, did you hear any sound just now? Hmm. How was it? Unpleasant, Liu Qing replied without hesitation. Jiang Cheng: Liu Qing, you probably dont have many friends, do you? Liu Qing nodded. Indeed, she didnt have many friends, even among the Demon Race. Jiang Cheng wasnt surprised at all by Liu Qings answer. With Liu Qings way of speaking, others might say she has low EQ, no wonder her demon rtionships werent good. But Jiang Cheng was different; he only felt sorry for her hardly existing friends. Being friends with Liu Qing must be tough on you. Setting aside the topic of friends, Jiang Cheng refocused on his work. Liu Qing, after you heard that sound just now, did you feel ufortable anywhere other than your ears? My ears. Apart from your ears. Liu Qing thought for a moment, then shook her head. In theory, if the Song of Tides could provide buffs to the Sea Tribe, then conversely, it could also apply debuffs to other groups. As the cultivator who activated the talisman, Jiang Cheng was unaffected for the time being, so why wasnt Liu Qing affected even though she clearly heard the sound? There were only two exnations for this. One was that Jiang Chengs talisman had failed. The other was that Liu Qings power level was just too high. The battle power mechanism of the Immortal Gods follows the principle that the strong are ever strong; as long as ones power level is high enough, the effects of items and spells will be significantly reduced. For example, the Muscle Rxation Talisman can be used to train ones Qi and suppress a Foundation Establishment Stage teachers cultivation level to that of Qi training. But if it were truly used against a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage, its unlikely to have any significant effect. This is the charm of power levels. Sorry, having a high level truly allows one to do whatever they want. Liu Qings power level was too high, and such a small trinket wouldnt affect her, which waspletely normal. Jiang Cheng did not lose faith in the Animal Encouragement Talisman, and while he still had the energy that day, drew several more. Later, when he had some free time, he collected some materials needed to make the Reusable Type talisman. Once the single-use Animal Encouragement Talisman seeded, Jiang Cheng would move onto the next phase and develop the reusable type. Outside Wuyue City, by the river at the foot of Wu Mountain. This ce is densely wooded, with beautiful scenery, and the river flows gently, making it a great spot for fishing. Simr fishing spots in the mountains have all been trampled into existence by countless fishing enthusiasts. Not many people knew about this spot yet, and it was rich in fish, making the chances of getting a bite quite high. However, when ites to fishing, those in the know understand. Catching fish is the minority; the air force is the reality of life. Not a peep from fishing all day. Yue Lipeng and Shen Gengqin had been squatting here for the whole night. Its not that they caught nothing this night, but rather that it was very lonely. The water in the bucket had been changed three times, yet not a single fish was willing toe into the bucket for a drink. Shen Gengqin rubbed his eyes and said, Old Yue, lets pack it in ande back tomorrow. Ive been up all night and Im dying from sleepiness. Yue Lipeng, holding the fishing rod and staring with wide eyes, said, No way, we havent caught a single fish today, we cant be just air force! Air what? How could that be? The cars got supply, bought fresh from the marketst night. Two fish, one for you, one for me. Niiice. Yue Lipeng gave Shen Gengqin a thumbs-up. Hey, thats experience for you. If you didnt bring something home today, would your wife let you out tomorrow? Come on, enough bber, lets pack up. Im going to find a spot to deal with a water cirction issue. A momentter, Yue Lipeng was packing up the fishing rods, stool, and bucket when he heard Shen Gengqin running over to him in a panic. Old Yue,e quick! Whats up? No time to talk, juste with me! Yue Lipeng was pulled by Shen Gengqin into a jog until they finally hid behind a tree. Old Shen, what on earth is it? Look over there, but keep it down. Yue Lipeng followed Shen Gengqins pointing finger. Holy shit! Keep your voice down! Yue Lipeng didnt want to be loud, but what he saw was just too outrageous. Not far from them, there sat another pair of fishers. They were a young couple with just one fishing rod. The young man was holding the fishing rod while the young woman sat quietly beside him. They seemed very affectionate, quite the loving couple. But that wasnt the point. The point was the man had an extraordinary ability to catch fish! Every time he cast his line into the water, it took no more than five seconds to hook a big fish! Yue Lipeng and Shen Gengqin had been fishing for most of their lives and had never seen anything like this! Is this even fishing anymore? This is wholesale shopping in the river, isnt it! By the riverbank. Jiang Cheng skillfully lifted the fishing rod. Looking at therge crucian carp on the hook, Jiang Cheng let out a small sigh. Its you again? Youre too ambitious, buddy. Jiang Cheng removed the fish from the hook and threw it back into the water, then cast his line again. This time he didnt hook it again but instead met another old friend. Jiang Cheng had tried temporarily keeping the hooked fish in the bucket, but soon the bucket was too full to hold any more because of the sheer number of fish. As a human withpassion, Jiang Cheng had to consider the lives of the fish. He couldnt just watch them being squashed together in the bucket, so he had to throw them back into the river. Thus, the situation had turned into what it was now. Always the most ambitious fish managed to bite Jiang Chengs hook. Luckily, Jiang Cheng had roughly figured out the strength of the Animal Encouragement Talisman and nned to make some adjustments to its intensity when he got back. That should do the trick. Jiang Cheng. There are people, Liu Qing said. People? With Liu Qings cultivation level, her perceptual range was vast. Technically, there should be people everywhere to her. If she was specifically mentioning people now, it was likely not just there are people, but there are peopleing. Being good at thinking was the secret to Jiang Chengs unimpededmunication with big monsters. Brother! Brother! How do you catch fish like that? Teach us! a loud shout came from a distance. Chapter 56: Jiang Cheng’s Connections Expand Chapter 56: Jiang Chengs Connections Expand Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng: No, no, no. Yue Lipeng: Im a good guy, and a fishing old-timer, fisherfolk are all family around the world! Shen Gengqin: Good brother, teach us your tricks, we can pay! Yue Lipeng: Right, right, right, well pay, well pay. Jiang Cheng continued to shake his head: Thats not it. Shen Gengqin was obsessed with Jiang Chengs fishing technique, and even though Jiang Cheng had refused, he wasnt nning on giving up. What a champ, this guys fishing was as unceasing as a middle-aged mansworking. If they could learn a few tricks, theyd be the envy of other anglers! Shen Gengqin said: Then brother, name your price! As long as you can teach us a bit, well pool our money to learn from you. Jiang Cheng was overwhelmed by their enthusiasm. He thought about Zhou Yunshan, who had spent twenty thousand to cultivate a Fluorescence Talisman. Suddenly, he felt nothing but respect for the fishing old-timers. Do all people who like fishing have such kind, good-hearted, and generous natures? What I mean is, its not quite right for you guys to call me brother, said Jiang Cheng, pointing at himself. Im only eighteen. You two should probably be considered my uncles, right? Yue Lipeng nodded: Indeed, my daughter is neen, and my son seventeen. Shen Gengqin elbowed Yue Lipeng, signaling him to stop talking nonsense. In fishing, we dont care about age. The knowledgeable is the teacher. Brother, you teach us your tricks, and were willing to pay. What do you think is the best way to proceed? Well follow your lead, he said. Yue Lipeng nodded along. This young man was too good; whats a bit of money? To learn his techniques, it was worth every penny! A fishing old-timer is a simple single-cell organism, only capable of straightforward actions essential to life. In the fishingmunity, whoever catches fish is the boss and has prestige. Those who cant catch fish have to sit at the kids table during meals. Jiang Cheng told the truth: Actually, I dont know how to fish. Shen Gengqin and Yue Lipengs eyes widened; they had never seen a young person as good at bluffing as Jiang Cheng. What do you mean you cant fish? Jiang Cheng helplessly responded: I really dont know how to fish. Look, my bucket doesnt have a single fish in it. Thats because you damn well put the fish back into the river. You cant think we didnt see that, right! A master; this kid is ying dumb like a pro! Shen Gengqin and Yue Lipeng exchanged nces and asked: Young brother, what exactly will it take for you to be willing to teach us how to fish? Jiang Cheng could only give a wry smile: I truly dont know how, I really cant teach you. Hearing Jiang Cheng say this, Shen and Yue were no fools. If this young fellow was dead set against teaching them, there was nothing they could do. However, now having witnessed Jiang Chengs fishing skills, they could no longer face their own dismal fishing experiences. They could have lived with being part of the air force if they had never met Jiang Cheng. But now, Jiang Cheng had turned their air force into an even more woeful version. However As Jiang Chengs tone shifted, hope was rekindled in their eyes. If you guys keep failing to catch fish, I do have another method. What method! Jiang Cheng nced at the One-Time Animal Encouragement Talisman he had used on his fishing rod and said: I cant say yet, but you can give me your contact details. When I can tell you, Ill let you know right away. The two of them saw that Jiang Cheng looked serious and not as if he were joking. After considering it, they decided to hedge their bets and gave their contact information to Jiang Cheng. You must tell us, alright? Before leaving, Shen Gengqin made sure to remind Jiang Cheng once more. Okay. Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, pondering: It seems that Zhou Yunshan isnt the only middle-aged cultivator suffering from fishing futility syndrome. Fish, thats simple, he mused. You dont understand, they enjoy the process of fishing. If they really wanted to eat fish, they could just buy one from the market, why go through all the trouble of catching it themselves? Strange. Not strange at all, life is a process of enjoying processes. An affair with only a beginning and an endthat would be so boring. Liu Qing gently furrowed her brows. She felt that Jiang Cheng was really good at reasoning, even though he was only a teenager, and she was more than two thousand years old, she was no match for him when it came to reasoning. Furthermore, the more she listened to Jiang Chengs reasoning, the more she felt that he was right, and it seemed like things were exactly as he said. Lets also head back, I have a new idea for improving the talisman. Jiang Cheng began to pack up the fishing gear he had brought. Liu Qing squatted down and silently helped him with the packing. Even if the mud and mire on the fishing equipment dirtied her fair, slender hands, she didnt mind. This was her job, and she intended to do it well. Always, Jiang Cheng had earned money honestly and steadfastly through hisbor. Since Liu Qing hade to human society to train, she certainly had to learn from her friend Jiang Cheng and earn money honestly without stealing or robbing! Jiang Cheng might not know how to fish, but he was good at learning, and he tried to simte the situation of a fisherman as much as possible during this trial fishing. Fishing rods, hooks, baitnone of the basic equipment wascking. Especially the bait, which was surprisingly particr; just the basic types alone included several varieties, such as ground bait, and even the bait to catch different types of fish was specialized. Liu Qing reached out to pick up a bag of bait packaging from the ground, and as soon as her hand touched the bag, it was immediately covered by arger hand belonging to a male cultivator. Liu Qing looked up and met the nearly face-to-face gaze of Jiang Cheng. Jiang Chengs face was expressionless as he silently withdrew his hand. Ahem, the weather has been erratictely, so its quite normal for hands to be a bit cold. He was very nervous. Why was that? Through his scent, Liu Qing quickly understood Jiang Chengs mental state. But she didnt understand why just touching hands with her would make Jiang Cheng nervous. This nervousness was not born from fear, but rather it was a kind of embarrassment, difort, and confusion. Werent they friends? Liu Qing thought back to her friends of the Demon Race. Not only had they held hands with her, but some had even hugged her, and no one had felt nervous or uneasy, so why was this human friend of hers acting like this? Human friends, indeed, so strange. Phew, I almost gave myself away just now. Jiang Cheng let out a big sigh of relief. Although he had been psychologically prepared, when he actually touched Liu Qings body, that smooth, soft tenderness Ahem, that temperature lower than a normal human body still surprised him a bit. A snakes body temperature is quite low. But Liu Qing is a great power cultivating immortality. If she wanted to maintain a high body temperature, it should be no difficulty at all. Yet she didnt maintain it What could be the reason for that? Jiang Cheng did not understand the motive behind Liu Qings action at the moment. It couldnt possibly be that she didnt know the difference between human and snake body temperatures and simply forgot to adjust her temperature, could it? No way, that kind of basic mistake wouldnt even be made by a primary student. On second thought, Liu Qings motive for doing this was not actually important to Jiang Cheng. As long as he continued not to discover Liu Qings identity as a Snake Demoness, he would always be safe. How could someone asw-abiding as him possibly employ a member of the Demon Race who was smuggled into human society as illegalbor? If you dont discover a problem, then there is no problem. This round, its Forgive me, I cannot discover her mystery activated! Chapter 57 - 57 Mediocre Effect Chapter 57 Mediocre Effect Trantor: 549690339 The development difficulty of the Animal Encouragement Talisman was far greater than that of the Muscle Rxation Talisman by more than an order of magnitude. After testing the encouragement strength of the Animal Encouragement Talisman, Jiang Cheng still needed to select an appropriate reusable base as the carrier for painting reusable talismans. Fortunately, the talisman industry in the Cultivation World was quite developed, and these base materials had been tested by others long ago. Jiang Cheng only needed to specify the parameters, purchase a few materials he needed, and then conduct more experiments. Even so, it was not easy. However,pared to the task reward of 20,000 Spirit Stones, this bit of hardship was nothing. On the 8th of July, after just over a week of intensive development, Jiang Cheng finallypleted the upgrade and transformation of the Reusable Fluorescent Talisman! On the original structure of the Reusable Fluorescent Talisman, Jiang Cheng added an Animal Encouragement Talisman, turning it into the Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman. This talisman was the size of a palm, mainlyposed of an outer shell, a Button Spirit Stone, a Fluorescence Talisman, and an Animal Encouragement Talisman. With a density lower than water, it could float on the surface, fulfilling its basic function as a fluorescent fishing float. The usage method was exactly the same as the original Reusable Fluorescent Talisman. Touch the switch, the fluorescence lights up, indicating the talisman is in effect; the fluorescence goes out, indicating the talisman is temporarily turned off. As for the most important aspect of this talisman, the strength of animal encouragement, Jiang Cheng had also limited it to a reasonable range through numerous experiments. Once the talisman was activated, one to two fish would bite every hour. If the fish that bit were smaller in weight, the number of bites would increase ordingly. If the fish wererger, the number of bites would decrease ordingly. In short, with the use of this talisman, the users fishing explosion rate could reach the average level of a fishing enthusiast. After repeated confirmations that there were no issues, Jiang Cheng arranged a meeting time with Zhou Yunshan. On the outskirts of Wuyue City. Zhou Family Manor. Within the manor, there was a special pond. There were no elegant structures such as pavilions or waterside gazebos around the pond, but there were several specially constructed fishing spots. Ever since the Fluorescence Talisman became ineffective, Zhou Yunshans fishing ability had greatly diminished. Apart from the artificially stocked ponds, he was hardly able to catch any fish elsewhere. Thinking back to the glory days of frequent catches during wild and night fishing, Zhou Yunshan couldnt help but sigh. But all that was about to change because just a moment ago, Jiang Cheng had told himthe Fluorescence Talisman was fixed! Thinking about his soon-to-be-restored fishing ability, how could Zhou Yunshan not be excited? At his age, he didntck money, had no interest in women, and did not want to dabble in business. If not fishing, then what? Guessing that Jiang Cheng was about to arrive, Zhou Yunshan was restless, pacing back and forth on the tform of the fishing spot beside the pond. Finally, seeing a young man approaching across thewn in the distance, Zhou Yunshan hurried to meet him. Jiang, youve finally arrived! Is my Fluorescent Talisman truly fixed? Its fixed. Quick, let me try it out! Jiang Cheng took the talisman out of his storage bag and handed it to Zhou Yunshan. Seeing that he was about to attach it to a fish hook to test its effect, Jiang Cheng immediately spoke up to stop him. Elder Zhou, please wait a moment! Holding the talisman, Zhou Yunshan asked with confusion, Jiang, is there something else? Withposure, Jiang Cheng took out theplete contract and an instruction manual for the Animal Encouragement Talisman, saying, Elder Zhou, you can sign the contract after trying out the talisman, but I must ask you to carefully read the instruction manual before using the product. Arent Fluorescence Talismans simply about touching to turn on and touching again to turn off? Is there even a need to read an instruction manual for that? However, at Jiang Chengs insistence, Zhou Yunshan still managed to suppress the urge to fish immediately and began reading the instruction manual for the Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman. [Name: Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman (Fish Limited Edition) Product Category: Reusable Talisman (Belongs to the category of Magical Treasures) Product Positioning: Fishing Gear Product Function: To help improve the fishing rate for anglers with a low bite rate Product Structure: This product mainly consists of three parts] Though detailed, Zhou Yunshan didnt have the patience to read each word of the instruction manual thoroughly. He now wanted to try if his fishing abilities had actually returned. If they had, all would be well. If not, researching was pointless! Zhou Yunshans eyes slid down to the end of the instruction manual,nding on the boldly printed and erged warning. [Warning: Disassembling or modifying this product is strictly prohibited! Once disassembled or modified, the warranty is automatically voided, and the person responsible for the modification assumes all consequences and legal responsibilities that arise from the action.] The disimer seemed normal enough; after all, who would y around with disassembling a fluorescence talisman? Zhou Yunshan said indifferently, Ive finished reading. Can we try out the effect now? Jiang Cheng revealed a smile, Please, go ahead. Insisting Zhou Yunshan read the instructions was Jiang Chengs lesson learned from the previous incident with the muscle rxation talisman. If everyone used the muscle rxation talisman correctly, how could a teacher have ended up in the hospital? Jiang Cheng reflected: Sometimes, having too strong a product isnt a good thing. Because in this world, there were still too few people who, like him, strictly adhered to thew and liked to follow the rules. This time, by making Senior Zhou read the instructions carefully, there should be no more problems. Zhou Yunshan cast his line into the water, and soon enough, he immediately caught a big fish. The middle-aged cultivator abandoned his usualposure, eximing with insane joy, Awesome! It really works! Jiang Cheng watched Zhou Yunshan calmly, hisposure stemming from his consistent confidence in his products. Whether it was the muscle rxation talisman or the animal encouragement talisman, anything Jiang Cheng delivered was guaranteed to be mature, stable, and withstand the test. Following the first big catch, Zhou Yunshans fishing rod remained still for the next several minutes. The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Master Jiang, why arent the fish biting? Zhou Yunshan looked at Jiang Cheng. He was now beginning to suspect that the first catch was due to luck rather than the fluorescence talisman. Jiang Cheng replied as a matter of course, Senior Zhou, its impossible to catch fish at every moment when fishing. Just wait a little longer, there will definitely be more fish. Zhou Yunshan thought to himself: Youre not wrong, but this is my pond! Its full of fish and anyone could casually catch one. Ten minutester, as Jiang Cheng had said, another big fish took the bait! In the fishingmunity, the bigger the fish, the more prestigious it was. Although he was fishing in his own pond, which didnt count for much, catching two big fish in a row still brought Zhou Yunshan great pleasure. Time ticked away. Three hourster, Zhou Yunshans bucket duly had three more big fish in it. Honestly, Zhou Yunshan was a bit disappointed with Jiang Chengs new fluorescent talismans because they clearly hadnt met his expectations the peak of his fishing prowess from years ago. But indeed, the talisman did have an effect. Normally, when fishing in his own pond, he could only catch half the number he did today. Master Jiang, can this talisman be made a bit stronger? Zhou Yunshan ventured to ask. Jiang Cheng promptly refused, Senior Zhou, this is the best I can do. As someone from Earth, Jiang Cheng inherently understood the importance of sustainable development. It wasnt advisable to deplete an entire ponds worth of fish. From the start of creating talismans, Jiang Chengs goal was to restore the fish catch rate to average rather than greatly increase the catch rate. Zhou Yunshan, hearing Jiang Chengs words, couldnt help but feel it was a pity. He figured that was the limit of Jiang Chengs abilities and that he must have tried his best. Therefore, Zhou Yunshan, being a reasonable person, signed the contract ording to his agreement with Jiang Cheng and notified the Task Hall that the mission wasplete and the reward could be paid. After sending Jiang Cheng off, Zhou Yunshan continued to enjoy his fishing time. Although his strength had not returned to its peak, it was still pretty good. At least now he could catch fish at a normal level, which was a vast improvement from before when he couldnt catch any. However, fishing alone at home ultimatelycked excitement. Zhou Yunshan pulled out amunication talisman, ready to gather a few friends for some nocturnal fishing in the rivers outside Wuyue City! Night fishing was much more challenging than pond fishing. Where you might catch ten fish in a pond, you might only get one during night fishing. Zhou Yunshan thought to himself, even if he could only catch one or two fish tonight, even small ones, then the purchase of this new fluorescent talisman wouldnt have been in vain! Chapter 58 - 58 Zhou Yunshan’s Peak Moment Chapter 58 Zhou Yunshans Peak Moment Trantor: 549690339 The Zhou Familys dinner table was more vegetable heavy than loaded with meat, giving off a decidedly simple air. But that was just on the surface. In reality, those seemingly ordinary vegetables all came from a garden rich with spiritual energy. Vegetables suffused with spiritual energy may or may not help in increasing ones cultivation level, but they were certainly much more expensive than ordinary vegetables. However, the well-established and affluent Zhou Family didnt care about the cost of groceries. At the dinner table, Zhou Yunshans wife, Miao Xue, noticed that Zhou Yunshan seemed to be in a good mood and took the opportunity to start a conversation with Zhou Yiwen, Yiwen, I heard youve recently started dating a girlfriend, havent you? When are you bringing her home to meet your parents? Zhou Yiwen showed a troubled expression, Mom, we just confirmed our rtionship not long ago, dont rush it, let me spend a few more days with her to see. Miao Xue, quite excited, said, Whats there to wait for? Bring her home for Mom to see. Ill help you size her up. Right, Old Zhou? Zhou Yunshan was thinking about where to go fishing that evening and replied offhandedly, Yes, let your mom have a look. The daughter-inw of our Zhou Family cant just be any random girl. Zhou Yiwen wasnt unable to bring Tang Qian over, but in his heart, he still harbored a sliver of hope for Lin Yao. In terms of appearance, Tang Qian wasntcking, and as long as she behaved well, plus his reasoned advocacy, his parents would most likely agree. But Zhou Yiwen was dissatisfied; the person he liked, from start to finish, was only Lin Yao. To him, Tang Qian was nothing more than a poor substitute for Lin Yao. He felt that only Lin Yao was worthy to be his wife and the daughter-inw of the Zhou Family. As long as Lin Yao was willing to marry him, even if they had to entrust all of the Zhou Familys wealth to Lin Yao afterward, Zhou Yiwen would be happy to do so. Unfortunately, Lin Yao just happened to fancy Jiang Cheng Damn Jiang Cheng! But it wasnt a big problem, when the cousin Jiang Chengs exam celebration began, and Jiang Cheng showed his disgrace under their alliances attack, then Lin Yao wouldpletely lose heart in him. At that time, he, Zhou Yiwen, would swoop in when she was vulnerable, and he still had aplete chance of pursuing Lin Yao! Mom, lets talk about the girlfriend issue in half a month, Ill chat with her a bit more. ording to the information provided by Chen Shuai, the middle school exam results woulde out around July eleventh or twelfth, and the Sun Family would hold a celebration at the end of July. He could stall his mother for half a month, and after the celebration party, it would be clear whether Jiang Cheng or he, Zhou Yiwen, was the winner. You got it! Miao Xue said happily. Ive finished eating. Im going fishing with some friends tonight and will be back tomorrow morning, Zhou Yunshan said. Miao Xue hurriedly helped her husband pack his things. Old Zhou, be careful out there. I know. Dad, I want to go fishing with you too, Zhou Yiwen said, fully aware of Zhou Yunshans fondness for fishing. Gaining his fathers approval in fishing could make discussions easier for everything else in the future. Zhou Yunshan was unsure about the efficacy of the new Fluorescence Talisman, and he didnt want to embarrass himself in front of his son. As the head of the family, he still needed to save face. You stay home and keep your mompany tonight. Dont always be running around aimlessly, not keeping a respectable appearance. The name of Wuyue City came from the Wu Mountain and Yue Mountain nearby; Wuyue refers to a valley where the two mountains intersect. Outside Wuyue City, on a small path leading deep into Yue Mountain, two off-road vehicles were parked. The doors were open, and four people stood by the cars, chatting in a group. Before long, a third vehicle arrived right on time. Yo, Old Zhous here. What a rare guest. Whats the asion today? Old Zhous actually the one who called us out for fishing? If my memory serves me right, its been quite a few years since Old Zhou took the initiative like this, right? Zhou Yunshan got out of his car, cheerfully greeting a few old friends. He hadnt actively invited his old friends for fishing in a long time because of his frequent no-shows, which had been somewhat embarrassing. It wasmon for old friends to throw friendly jabs at each other, and the more one retaliated, the weaker they appeared. Naturally, Zhou Yunshan wouldnt foolishly subject himself to scorn, so he found an opening to shift the focus onto someone else. Dont just talk about me. Old Bai, he hasnte out in a while either, right? The group unanimously began to roast Bai Wendao. Bai Wendao waved his hand, Ive indeed been quite busy with the academytely. The higher-ups inspection today was almost done, so I thought Ide out to unwind. The few drove to the end of the path, then got out and walked for another twenty minutes. Along the way, they saw quite a few other anglers who also came for night fishing. Most were from the same circle, well acquainted, or at least familiar faces. Upon reaching the fixed fishing spot, the five of them spaced out and set up their gear, baited the hooks, and cast the lines into the water in one smooth motion! Each person had their own understanding of fishing equipment, methods, and techniques, with none conceding to the other. Ultimately, results would do the talking, and the one who caught the biggest fish would be in the right. Zhou Yunshans bait and equipment were, of course, meticulously prepared. Coming out for nighttime fishing with good friends, even if he couldnt snag first ce, he absolutely couldnt go home empty-handed again! Old Zhou, what are you sneaking around for? Are you nning to hook a fish you bought earlier and then pretend to catch it? Haha. Old Zhou doesnt care. Hes the boss at home, so even if hees back empty-handed, he can stille out to y whenever he wants. Damn it, cant you speak properly? Stop causing friendly fire! Zhou Yunshan, unable to contain his irritation, said, Niu, on what basis do you conclude that Ill definitelye back empty-handed tonight! The cultivator known as Niu said without any reservation, With the weather so nice tonight, someones got toe back empty-handed, right? It cant be that all four of us catch nothing while youre the only onending fish? Bai Wendao watched them argue in silence. Honestly, arguing like this could scare the fish away. But it didnt matter much to him; the river was full of smart, hard-to-catch big fish. And with Zhou Yunshan the perennial empty-hander there, Bai Wendao certainly wouldnt be thest one standing. Zhou Yunshan was about to make aeback when suddenly his fishing rod shook. His muscles moved reflexively, and with a fierce jerk, arge fish leapt out of the water! Zhou Yunshan held his breath and reeled in with skill. The big fish was strong and very likely to break free from the hook. But this fish seemed to have bitten quite firmly and struggled in vain to free itself. A few momentster, a fish as long as an adults army on the shore! The fish was not onlyrge but also had a superb appearanceit could easily be called top-grade! Catch one, boast for a year, no problem at all. Holy shit! Old Zhou, is this the one you caught? Awesome! Feeling the envious gazes of his old friends, Zhou Yunshanughed heartily. After being suppressed for several years, today he had finally turned the tables. Got a scale? Lets see how much this fish weighs. Twenty-one pounds! Bullshit! Its clearly twenty-one pounds and two ounces! Zhou Yunshan argued with justification. Alright, alright, my bad for missing out on two ounces. Thats how fishing is, whoever catches the bigger fish holds the floor. Zhou Yunshan, holding his fish as long as an adults arm and weighing twenty-one pounds and two ounces, said to hispanions, Im going to take the fish back to the car first. Keep an eye on my rod for me. Along the way. Wherever Zhou Yunshan passed with his fish, every angler stood up to see him off. Holy shit! Is this the one you caught? How big is it? Zhou Yunshan: Twenty-one pounds and two ounces. I didnt weigh it precisely, but if I did, itd be twenty-two pounds. Nice, brother, thats a good catch! Zhou Yunshan: Twenty-two pounds, its not that big. Dude, that fish must be nearly thirty pounds, right? Zhou Yunshan: No, no, at most twenty-five pounds. Bro, are you selling this fish? Ill buy it, name your price. Zhou Yunshan: Hey, its not that big, just under thirty pounds. Ill keep it for my family to eat. Zhou Yunshans triumphant start left Bai Wendao and the other four looking at each other in dismay. None of them had the heart to speak up; they were all holding their breath, fishing with all their might. The one who used to be the permanent deadst empty-handed pro, had suddenly turned the tables today. Now, it would be awkward for whoever didnt catch a fish next. However, it wasnt long before Zhou Yunshan came back, fish in tow. Old Zhou, werent you taking the fish to your car? Why bring it back again? Zhou Yunshan justified, Forgot to get a bucket. I came back for a bucket to put the fish in. Damn it! This damn guy definitely didnt get enough of showing off the first time and used the excuse ofing back for a bucket to show off again! Momentster, Zhou Yunshan came back yet again, fish in hand. This time it wasnt for a bucket but to say, Do you guys have any rope? The fish is too big. Im thinking of tying it to the outside of the car since it wont fit inside. Facing Zhou Yunshans shameless gloating, Bai Wendao and the four others were seething with anger, yet dared not to speak. Great, just great, show off like that, why dont you? Chapter 59 - 59 The Talisman is Broken Chapter 59 The Talisman is Broken Trantor: 549690339 In the early morning, Jiang Cheng jogged around Happiness Garden. Since his transmigration, he had never missed a morning run. He had always believed in a saying: the strong control themselves, the weak control others. Survival of the fittest was the life philosophy that Jiang Cheng adhered to. He neverined about the circumstances, but rather strove to adapt to the environment, trying to improve his life with what was avable. Of course, Jiang Cheng was not an adherent of social Darwinism; all his expectations were directed at himself rather than imposed on others. At least in dealing with others, especially the weaker ones, Jiang Cheng was always fair, gentle, patient, and sympathetic. In Jiang Chengs view, bullying the weaker ones was a behavior only the ipetent exhibited. Huff! Huff! Huff! The rhythmic, powerful breathing, in harmony with the steady, forceful heartbeat, drove away Jiang Chengs early morning fatigue. He currently had twenty-three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. About a month and a halfter, he would sell the recently purchased apartment and gain ten times the purchase priceabout four hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. At least for now, Jiang Cheng was by no means short of money. It was time to consider the university entrance exam. Researching thepetition in Capital in advance was not a bad idea. The Liang Kingdom was vast, epassing countless miles of territory. There were nine key Immortal Sect universities within the Liang Kingdom. Of these, the Capital, alone, was home to four! Jiang Chengs goal was to be admitted to one of these four. Getting into a key Immortal Sect university was very important to Jiang Cheng. It was rted to his three-step n. The first step: enter a key Immortal Sect university and sessfully graduate to join the Immortal Sect! The second step:nd a sinecure as an Elder in the Sectwell-paid, with little work and no responsibilities! The third step: leverage Sect resources to advance his Cultivation Level and lifespan as much as possible, spending aid-back and pleasant life! As Jiang Cheng jogged, pondering how to pursue higher education, His Talisman formunication chimed. Jiang Cheng paused his run and took out the Talisman. The call information disyed Zhou Yunshan, Elder. It was the early morning, when ordinary people wouldnt normally wake, leaving Jiang Cheng puzzled as to why Zhou Yunshan would call so early. Could it be that he hadnt slept all night and went fishing instead? Hello? Master Jiang! Elder Zhou, please stop teasing me. Master Jiang, I have a question regarding Talismans Id like to consult you on! Alright, go ahead. Providing after-sales service was Jiang Chengs duty. After all, a deal worth twenty thousand shouldnt result in a negligent provider, right? Jiang Cheng always earned his money conscientiously. I was fishingst night, and only caught one fish. After that, no more fish took the bait. Master Jiang, is there something wrong with this whats-its-name Talisman of yours? No more fish took the bait? Yeah, all night long, I only hooked one fish. As he listened to Zhou Yunshans tone, Jiang Cheng thought to himself: youre so happy about just one fish? With years of experiencemunicating with Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng subconsciously sensed that there might be more to Zhou Yunshans simple words than met the eye. Elder Zhou, how big is this one fish? Not too big, just under thirty pounds, heh heh! Just under thirty pounds? How many exactly? Twenty-one pounds and two taels three! Wow, twenty-one pounds and two taels three equates to almost thirty pounds? Is this how fishermen do their math? Ahem, Jiang Cheng cleared his throat and said gravely, Zhou, for now, our talisman can only catch this much. Youll probably have to wait another ten hours before you can catch more fish. Wait another ten hours! Isnt that asking for my life? Master Jiang, cant you make this talisman work a little harder and get me another fish? Im feeling terrible without being able to catch fish right now! Get me another one, please! Ill pay more! Doesnt more money do the trick? Get me another fish! I feel like there are ants crawling all over me! Jiang Cheng was always a man of principle. He firmly rejected Zhou Yunshans request. In fact, Jiang Cheng could indeed increase the power of the Animal Encouragement Talisman, allowing Zhou Yunshan to fish more quickly and even to catch only big fish if he wished. But doing so would undoubtedly disrupt the bnce of the fishing world. In the long run, it was a disadvantageous proposition. Jiang Cheng never killed the goose thatid the golden eggs. He would let the chickeny eggs, and the eggs hatch new chickens. Zhou, I cannot agree to your request as it falls outside the responsibilities agreed upon in our contract. I must inform you that if the talisman gets damaged, you cane to me for repair, and it will bepletely free. But your current request is not a function that my talisman is meant to fulfill. Im sorry, and I wish you happiness with its future use. On the other end of themunication talisman, Zhou Yunshan was incredibly anxious. But he really couldnt demand anything from Jiang Cheng because Jiang had given a well-reasoned and faultless refusal. Now, Zhou Yunshan only regretted not spending more money in the beginning. If he had given Jiang Cheng a hundred thousand Spirit Stones from the start, wouldnt he be catching big fish every day right now? What a pity! Compared to catching big fish, whats a hundred thousand Spirit Stones really worth? Regretfully staring at the Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman in his hand, Zhou Yunshan suddenly had a brainwave! Could it be possible that there were many Talisman Masters in Wuyue City? Could it be possible that other Talisman Masters could make a few adjustments to this new talisman as well? It wasnt about having them redraw it from scratch, but just to enhance it a bit based on Master Jiangs work. That should be possible, right? With that thought, the warnings that Jiang Cheng insisted he read from the instruction manual appeared in Zhou Yunshans mind. [Warning: Unauthorized disassembly or modification of this product is strictly forbidden! Any alteration will be considered a forfeiture of the right to free repair, and the modifying party will bear all consequences and legal responsibilities that arise from their actions.] No warranty, so what? Ill just pay someone else to fix it if anything happens. Zhou Yunshan certainly didntck money and never worried about things that could be solved with money. Right now, he was contemting which Talisman Master he knew and could trust to help him study the Animal Encouragement Talisman. After much thought, Zhou Yunshan remembered a colleague Bai Wendao had mentioned beforeLu Benwei! Lu Benwei was a talisman professor at Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, always at the forefront of talisman teaching and research, and had published numerous professional papers. Moreover, he was a seasoned second-tier Talisman Master. His skills shouldnt be too far off from Master Jiangs, who had a second-ce award. A seasoned second-tier Talisman Master surely wouldnt be stumped by a first-order talisman, right? After all, Master Jiang was just an eighteen-year-old who had never even passed the first-tier Talisman Master Certificate exam. Actually, with Zhou Yunshans connections in Wuyue, he could even contact the president of the Wuyue Talisman Master Association, Lu Wang. But to bring a first-order talisman to Lu Wang was like deliberately insulting him. Lu Wang wouldnt possibly ept it. Previously, when dealing with the repair of the Fluorescence Talisman, Zhou Yunshan had also contacted Lu Wang, only to be politely refused. At first, Zhou Yunshan thought he had made a low bid. Only after hearing Bai Wendaos message did he understand that its simply inappropriate to seek a third-tier Talisman Master for a first-order talisman. After mulling it over, Zhou Yunshan concluded that only Lu Benwei was suitable. Thats it! Ill go with him! Chapter 60 - 60 The Renowned Reputation of Jiang Cheng Chapter 60 The Renowned Reputation of Jiang Cheng Trantor: 549690339 People generally believe that entering the Immortal Sect is like securing a lifetime job. This statement isrgely correct. After entering the Immortal Sect, whether you are in the Outer Sect or the Inner Sect, as long as you do not create trouble or vite the Sect rules, even if you are not ambitious, you would not be expelled C at most, you would either be transferred elsewhere or maintain your current position. However, for cultivators in the Immortal Sect who are ambitious, the pressure from the Sect is quite significant. Since Hes family is in the Capital and her performance was average when she tested into the Outer Sect, she couldnt secure a position in the highlypetitive Capital. She had to be dispatched to Wuyue City instead. If she wanted to return home, she had to achieve some results to be transferred back to the Capital. And, as it happened, her recent performance was very impressive. During the internal meeting of the Outer Sect staff, Elder Sun Decai summarized the work enthusiasm of the Outer Sect employees over the past period and specifically singled out He for praise. Bai Xiaohe has been performing very well recently and is worth learning from by everyone. A female cultivator responsible for the Talisman Area has achieved even higher results than those in charge of the Magical Treasure Area and the Alchemy Area. Those in charge of these two areas should reflect on where the problem lies, said Elder Sun Decai. The crowd below was buzzing with many dissenting voices. They thought that Bai Xiaohe had actually done nothing but piggyback on a Talisman Master named Jiang Cheng to achieve her current results! That Jiang Cheng was simply a human taskpleting machine! So exaggerated! How could this even be apetition! Elder Sun Decai motioned for the crowd to quiet down, then continued, Next, lets summarize the particrly outstanding achievements of the first half of this year. The three best taskspleted in the first half of the year, the first of which being the task Repair Fluorescence Talisman valued at 20,000 low-grade Spirit Stones, was managed by Bai Xiaohe. The task was issued by a male cultivator with the surname Zhou, and thepleter was some unknown Talisman Master with the surname Jiang Elder Sun Decai: !!! A Talisman Master with the surname Jiang It couldnt be that kid again, could it! The outrageous situation with the Muscle Rxation Talisman dealt by that kid was still vivid in Elder Sun Decais mind to this day. The kid hade to take on tasks again, and it was one worth 20,000 Spirit Stones no less! Elder Sun Decai, as an experienced Elder of the Tongtian Sect, might not excel in achievements, but he was quite skilled in being cautious. After the meeting, Elder Sun Decai directly kept He aside for a separate talk. Bai Xiaohe, Jiang Cheng has taken on a task again? Yes. Why didnt you tell me, and just let him take it? He blinked, ording to the rules, I shouldnt have to tell you, right? Elder Sun Decai had a look of regret, You speak to that kid about rules? What rules can control him? Never mind that for now, tell me everything about this task he has taken on, in detail! Although He did indeed rely on Jiang Chengs prowess to boost her performance, she still possessed basic professionalpetence. Her Mandarin was standard and articte, and she ryed the entire process of the Repair Fluorescence Talisman task to Elder Sun Decai clearly and fluently. After listening, Elder Sun Decai, stroking his chin, asked, So, this is a task rted to fishing? Yes. Since he didnt have much regr work, Elder Sun Decai also enjoyed fishing in his spare time. Fishing and taking exams are notparable. Although Jiang Cheng had threatened an exam once, there was no evidence to suggest he would consistently produce heaven-defying items like the Muscle Rxation Talisman. If its just fishing, there shouldnt be any problem. This kid cant always bring us a big project every time, can he? Mhm mhm, He nodded eagerly. She was afraid Elder Sun wouldnt let Jiang Cheng take on tasks anymore, and if that happened, whose support could she seek? Before leaving, Elder Sun Decai especially instructed He: If there is any news from that Jiang Cheng, especially when his tasks suddenly increase, you must notify me immediately! He thought to herself: The task has already beenpleted, what else could happen? It couldnt be likest time with the Muscle Rxation Talisman, where a bunch of people came to buy the Reusable Type of some Encouragement Talisman, could it? Last time the Muscle Rxation Talisman cost just a few thousand, but this time it was 20,000! Who would spend so much money on a talisman? Elder Sun, how much is considered a sudden increase? He asked. If five tasks appear at the same time, no, three or more, as soon as it goes over three, you must notify me immediately, Elder Sun Decai said sternly. He left the meeting room and returned to her workstation. Then, she discovered that her Talisman Area had two additional tasks. [In need of Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman!]*2 [Task Price: 5,000 low-grade Spirit Stones] Two tasks, no need to alert the Elder for now. He expressionlessly took out hermunication talisman and with closed eyes, found Jiang Chengs name. She dialed Jiang Chengsmunication talisman with practiced ease. Hello? Jiang Cheng, a task hase up. Mm, I know, Ill be right there. You know? Yes, it was I who had it posted. He marveled silently. She really couldnt me those fellow sect brothers and sisters who used her of cheating. Because now even she felt that Jiang Cheng was preposterous. In the past, she had to pay attention and find tasks for Jiang Cheng, then notify him. Now even that was no longer necessary. Jiang Cheng had achieved full process automation: automatically finding tasks, epting tasks,pleting tasks, and automatically crediting the achievement to her ount. Jiang Cheng, He said. Ah? You must live well! Whatever you need, just tell me. As long as I can help you, I definitely will! He implored Jiang Cheng with tears in her eyes. On the other end of themunication talisman, Jiang Cheng paused and then said, Okay, thank you, He. After hanging up themunication talisman, a wave of warmth couldnt help but arise in Jiang Chengs heart. There are still so many good people in the world! He sighed. Do a good deed daily, and it will surely echo back. He must do more good deeds in the future! Since it wasnt merely about epting tasks, Jiang Cheng didnt let Liu Qing go by herself but went with her to the Task Hall. In a small meeting room of the Task Hall. Shen Gengqin and Yue Lipeng had been eagerly awaiting Jiang Cheng for quite some time. The moment Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing entered, Shen and Yue immediately rose and shook hands with Jiang Cheng. Brother Jiang, youre finally here! Their eagerness made it seem as if Jiang Cheng were the elder and they the juniors. Is this a junior sister? She really has an aura about her! Shen Gengqin said with a smile, reaching his hand out to Liu Qing as well. But Liu Qing showed no intention of shaking hands with Shen Gengqin; instead, she silently nced at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng had no choice but to exin for the umpteenth time, Were friends, not that kind of rtionship. Shes just a bit introverted, so please dont take it amiss, big brothers. Not at all, not at all. Its good to have friends. Friends are great. The atmosphere in the meeting room became awkward for a moment, but it was only for a moment. Because next, Jiang Cheng took out what they had been eagerly anticipating! Two Reusable Fluorescent Versions of Animal Encouragement Talismans! Shen and Yues eyes widened as they asked, With these, well be able to catch fish? Of course. Jiang Cheng led Liu Qing to sit opposite the clients and took out instruction manuals, disimers, contracts, and other legal agreements. Please make sure to read the content of the instruction manual thoroughly, Jiang Cheng stressed. Shen and Yue were more concerned with studying the contract who had time to read the instruction manual? They briefly nced over it and couldnt wait to get their hands on the Fishing Talisman. Not all fishermen were as wealthy as Zhou Yunshan. This talisman involved five thousand Spirit Stones, and Shen Gengqin still decided to y it safe. Brother Jiang, could we perhaps try out its effects first before deciding on the payment? Jiang Cheng smiled and said, Absolutely, this product supports a seven-day no-reason return policy, so feel free to try it out without worry. Chapter 61: Jiang Cheng’s Influence Continues to Grow Chapter 61: Jiang Chengs Influence Continues to Grow Trantor: 549690339 Having acquired the Fishing Talisman, Shen Gengqin and Yue Lipeng did not dare to dy even for a moment and hurriedly drove to the spot they had previously agreed upona secluded fishing spot within Wu Mountain, where they had oftene back empty-handed. An hourter, the pair reached the end of the road, and then they carried their fishing gear and switched to walking. A few more minutes passed, and they arrived at their predetermined location. It was a location on Wu Mountain where an unnamed river flows, shallow and rapid with scarce fish smoke. The fish that survive in harsh environments were usually strong, intelligent, cunning, and nimble. Even experienced anglers would often leave here with diminished spirits. Shen Gengqins expectation for the Fishing Talisman was that if it could catch fish in the worst fishing conditions, even if just one, then the talisman would be worth the purchase! Being seasoned partners, the two didnt need tomunicate much. Shen Gengqin took care of setting up and arranging the fishing rods while Yue Lipeng handled preparing the bait. Soon, the preparation work for fishing was proficientlypleted by the duo. Afterward, Shen Gengqin took out the Fishing Talisman with a sense of ceremony and solemnly attached it to the nylon line. He cast the hook into the water in one smooth motion! Yue Lipeng eximed, After all, its five thousand Spirit Stones; I hope the talisman is effective. If we can catch even one fish today, itll be a sess Before Shen Gengqin could finish his sentence, or even before he could sit on the folding stool, his fishing rod began to tremble with the pull of a fish! Awesome! Got a bite already! A fish biting within ten seconds of casting C what kind of miraculous talisman is this! Shen Gengqin and Yue Lipeng were instantly overjoyed. However, it was not until Shen Gengqin pulled up the fish that he realized Yue Lipeng hadnt prepared a bucket to hold the fish. Damn! This talisman is too strong! Way too strong! Watching Shen Gengqin catch fish, Yue Lipeng couldnt contain his envy. He immediately took out his own fishing rod, hung the Fishing Talisman, and cast it into the water. The moment the hook touched the water, Yue Lipeng instantly regretted his action, saying, Oh no! I forgot to put on the bait! Shen Gengqin was immensely pleased and said teasingly, Thats what you get for showing off. Embarrassed now, huh? How are you going to fish without bait? Stop making a fool of yourself. However, before Shen Gengqin could enjoy even a second of satisfaction, Yue Lipengs rod also started to shake with a fish on the line! Unbelievable! Even without bait, I caught one! Thats just absurd! While Yue Lipeng outwardly called it absurd, his face was already split into an ear-to-ear grin. Shen Gengqin was actually okay, but his friend Yue had always been the butt of the joke in the fishing circle. When he would hang out with fishing buddies, he hardly dared to speak up. Not catching fish could be quite humiliating. But now, with the Fishing Talisman, lets see who dares to look down on him! Moreover, they were not catching fish in just any ordinary waters but in hellishly difficult ones. Whats more, he had caught fish even without using bait! Invincible! Yue Lipeng could only describe the talisman as invincible! But soon, a long stretch without catching any fish made them cool down a bit. It cant just be capable of catching one fish, right? If it can only catch one, then it is indeed a bit pricey. Were talking about five thousand Spirit Stones here. Lets just wait a bit longer. The pair consoled each other, but before long, their rods began to shake one after another. Damn! Another ones on the line! Ive got one over here too! The second catch invigorated both Shen and Yue. They began to anticipate whether there would be a third catch! After all, this ce was no ordinary fishing spotif they could consistently catch fish here, that would be truly impressive. Compared to Zhou Yunshans one-time big catch, the experiences of Shen Gengqin and Yue Lipeng were closer to what Jiang Cheng had anticipated. Basically, they could reliably catch one or two fish every hour. The sizes of the fish varied, but the total catch for a day was roughly the same. Hey, honey? Its overtime at the office today; yeah, I wont being home tonight. Ill sleep at the office, so dont wait up. Okay, gotta go. Having secured leave with the head of his household, Yue Lipeng was ready to pull an all-nighter with Old Shen, aiming for a 24-hour non-stop fishing challenge to test the limit of the Fishing Talisman! Two dayster, on the banks of the Main Channel of the Wu River. Two ordinary-looking middle-aged men, carrying regr fishing gear, arrived at a section of the river crowded with local anglers. A few years ago, due to overfishing, the fish stocks in the Wu River had be scarce, leading to an eight-year ban onmercial fishing. The fishing ban was aimed atmercial harvesting and didnt forbid local anglers from fishing. The imperial court had done the math, figuring that anglers typically used ten-plus pounds of bait to catch just one pound of fish. Is this even fishing? This is sheer benevolence andpassion of the human Bodhisattva! Thanks to the Bodhisattvas, the fish poptions swiftly recovered, and thus the Main Channel of Wu River essentially became the guaranteed fishing spot for the local anglers. Catching a lot of fish wasnt easy, but as long as you put in the effort,ing up empty-handed was unlikely. However, Shen Gengqin and Yue Lipeng didnte here for the abundance of fish but for the abundance of people. Old Shen, let me take over tomorrow, Yue Lipeng whispered. Ah, dont worry! Ill definitely back you up tomorrow, Shen Gengqin assured. Shen and Yue only brought one set of fishing gear this time. Yue Lipeng kept his hands in his pockets, not intending to fish at all. Shen Gengqin set up his stool ordinarily, erected his fishing rod holder in amonce manner, mixed his bait unremarkably, and cast his line undistinguishedly. At least up to this point, he was indistinguishable from the countless average anglers around him. But from the moment his hook hit the water, Shen Gengqin suddenly became the center of attention. Because no more than thirty seconds after his hook entered the water, he immediately caught a decent-sized fish! This act drew frequent nces from nearby fishermen, but nobody found it too strange; after all, everyone has their lucky moments. Catching one fish isnt a big deal, right? Who hasnt caught a fish before? Everyone has their moment of glory; dont assume it willst forever. Yet, the problem arose here. Shen Gengqins luck seemed extraordinarily good; after catching a fish on his first cast, he almost instantly caught another on his second. And it didnt stop there; the third cast was the same! The fourth, too! Four fish on the hook within twenty minutes! Most crucially, within two hundred meters of Shen Gengqin, no one else could catch a fish! It was as though all the fish in this stretch of water were congregating under Shen Gengqins feet, just waiting to bite his hook! Now that was something! Countless people rushed over, disregarding their own rods, and just stood behind Shen Gengqin to watch him fish. Bro, youre awesome! How do you fish like that? Whose fishing gear did you buy? Big bro, can I try your bait? Are you teaching sses, bro? Teach me, please! After so many years in the fishingmunity, Shen Gengqin was respected like this for the first time. Man, that felt good! Those Spirit Stones were damn well spent! Struggling to keep his facial expression under control, he put on the air of a fishing master, Ahem, just a bit of luck today. Old Yue, is my new fishing rod ready? Yue Lipeng silently swapped out the old Fishing Talisman on the rod, which was on cooldown, for another new Fishing Talisman from his pocket that had its cooldown refreshed. They had bought two more Fishing Talismans from Jiang Cheng. In total, they had purchased four. Euphemistically called spares. Indeed, they were spares so when one talisman went on cooldown, you could immediately swap to a fresh one and continue fishing happily! With the new fishing rod prepared by Yue Lipeng, under the expectant gaze of the onlookers, Shen Gengqin cast his line into the water. And then, a fish bit immediately! The crowd was shocked. Amazing! Thats too incredible! Holy crap! A fish god! I, Wu Zhibo, acknowledge you as the strongest! Under the admiring gaze of everyone, Shen Gengqins legs shook with excitement, but he still tried his best to appear nonchnt, Im not a fish god. I, Shen Gengqin, am just an ordinary person who prefers not to reveal his name. Chapter 62 - 62 The Gold Content of Jiang Cheng Is Still Increasing Chapter 62 The Gold Content of Jiang Cheng Is Still Increasing Trantor: 549690339 Wuyue Residence 2-1906. In front of Jiang Cheng, several magazines and a stack of newspapers wereid out. All these four magazines and newspapers were about the key Immortal Sect universities in the Capital. There are four key Immortal Sect universities in Capital. They are: Qinghe Xuanran University,monly known as Qingxuan University. Capital University,monly known as Capital University. Lotus Cloud University,monly known as Lotus University. Hundred Peaks University,monly known as Ling University. Among those Jiang Cheng knew, Lin Yao seemed to n to go to Qingxuan University, while Yue Linger seemed to be at Lotus University. These universities appear to be referred to as key Immortal Sect universities, but in reality, each has its own focus. These focuses are also rted to the main supporting forces behind each university. For example, the supporting force behind Qinghe Xuanran University is the Immortal Sect Taixu Sect, which is known as the foremost Immortal Realm in the world. Taixu sounds like no ce for a male cultivator. And indeed, it is so. The Taixu Sect is the only one among the Five Great Immortal Sects that only epts female disciples. Leaving aside the question of strength, the Taixu Sects Cultivation Techniques, clothing, and sacred ces of the sect all emphasize one thing C beauty: mesmerizing, enchanting, and ravishing! The one thing the sect does notck is fine wine, beautiful scenery, and beautiful people. Disciples from other Immortal Sects who have visited the Taixu Sect all linger on and forget to return, utterly enjoying themselves without tiring. The title the foremost Immortal Realm in the world was thus earned. The reason Lin Yao wanted to go to Qingxuan University was simple: she wanted to join the Taixu Sect. This reason hardly needed exining, as the Taixu Sect ismonly recognized as the most suitable sect for female cultivators. Every year, it manages to take half of the female prodigies and nearly a third of the female disciples from other sects. Unlike the Taixu Sect, Qingxuan University is more secr, epting both male and female students. Male cultivators in the university can also apply for other Immortal Sects besides the Taixu Sect, although the chances are lower, so its not particrly rmended. Apart from the Taixu Sect, there are two other Immortal Sect powers stirring up the waters in the Capital. One is the Tongtian Sect, which envelops much of the city of Wuyue and much of the Liang Kingdom. The other is Lei Buxiaos sectthe Lin Sect. Initially, Capital University was a school independently established by the Liang State Court. Later, due to ack ofpetitiveness, and because the court wanted to counterbnce the Tongtian Sect, they brought in the power of the Lin Sect. With the strong support of the court, Capital University gradually gained momentum to challenge for the title of the top institution in the Liang Kingdom. The other two, Lotus Cloud University and Hundred Peaks University, fall under the influence of the Tongtian Sect. Choosing a university is a matter that requires careful consideration. Because the university you attend essentially means which Immortal Sect you will join in the future. Jiang Cheng couldnt consider the Taixu Sect, unless he nned not to be a male cultivator. The Earths mantra of Who are you to define my gender is like fodder before the Taixu Sect. Even pigs would fast before it. So the range of choices avable to Jiang Cheng was actually not wide. He could either go to Capital University and then join the Lin Sect after graduation, or go to Lotus or Hundred Peaks and join the Tongtian Sect after graduation. Of course, theoretically speaking, besides the Lin, Tongtian, and Taixu Sects, Jiang Cheng had two more Immortal Sects to choose from. But in practical terms, the influence of the other two is not even strong enough to get involved in the Liang Kingdom. If one wants to join one of the other two sects, one unavoidably faces a long and arduous journey across mountains and rivers, measuring the distance in thousands of miles, which seems a bit more loss than gain. In fact, if the Taixu Sect were willing to ept male disciples, Jiang Cheng would be quite interested in joining. Because ording to Jiang Chengs career pursuit, which is more money, less work, no responsibility, the Taixu Sect is the most suitable. Low work intensity, good benefits and treatment, and no worries about living conditions or environment. The title of the Taixu Sect as the foremost Immortal Realm in the world is not undeserved. Jiang Cheng also once tried to use his nning experience to determine which Immortal Sect he should join. Unfortunately, life in the Immortal Sect is something that only the brainless NPCs in the game would care about. When yers enter an Immortal Sect as disciples, they either undertake quests or engage in endless kill, kill, kill. No one would bother to care about what an NPC does daily or what kind of jobs and assessments they have. Jiang Cheng turned his head and looked at Liu Qing, who was closing her eyes to enjoy the sunlight on the apartments balcony, and couldnt help but feel a bit of envy in his heart. Being the plots leadingdy in the game is so much better, one is either a proud cultivator of immortality or in a position of high authority, and there are also beautiful and wealthy women. Like this huge monster, sunbathing every day without a single concern. Even so, her lifespan is still two to three times longer than that of human experts at the same cultivation level. Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng was just a minor character on the sidelines, who could only work step by step, through earnest effort to realize his dreams. Jiang Cheng took out amunication talisman and found Bai Wendao on his contact list. Professor Bai had many connections and was wellworked, he surely knew some insider information about Tongtian Sect and Lin Sect. Concerning the happiness of the lower half of his life, Jiang Cheng had to be extremely cautious. The life of a cultivator tends to be pretty regr, and there arent many who stay up all night without sleeping. However, in Wuyue City tonight, there was a man who was, contrary to usual,pletely unable to fall asleep. The household of Lu Benwei. In the dead of night, Lu Benweis eyes were wider than cowbells! Initially, when Zhou Yunshan gave the Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman to Lu Benwei, Master Lu was quite pleased. To fix a first-level talisman was like bending over to pick up silverwhat could be easier? How difficult could a first-level talisman be? Surely not, surely not, surely a second-level Talisman Master wouldnt break a sweat fixing a first-level talisman, right? Apart from that crap Muscle Rxation Talisman drawn by that darned Jiang Cheng, LuTalisman Specialist TeacherBenSeasoned Second-level Talisman MasterWei, was confident in handling all first-level talismans! The difficulty of drawing a talisman increases progressively with each level. For a second-level Talisman Master to draw a first-level talisman is no different than a high school student doing basic addition. But when Master Lu opened the Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman and saw the core Animal Encouragement Talisman, Lu Benwei fell silent. This first-level talisman was another he had never seen before! Right, why the another? Encountering an unfamiliar first-level talisman wasnt really a big deal in itself. There are numerous talismans in the world; one is bound toe across some theyve never encountered. However, this Animal Encouragement Talisman gave Master Lu a feelingpletely different from any he had experienced before! The drawing method for this talisman was quite imaginative, giving Lu Benwei an odd sense of naivety and a feeling of deja vu. If it were just the unconventional drawing method, in reality, that wouldnt have stumped Lu Benweihe was, after all, a second-level Talisman Master with rich experience and history on the frontline of education. But this Animal Encouragement Talisman, it was strange. Not strange in the method of drawing, but strange in its thought process. Upon close study, Lu Benwei was astounded to find that the actual effect of this Animal Encouragement Talisman was restricted by about eighty percent! Whether it was the activation interval, the spread distance, or the functional strength. All of it had been artificially neutered by half! It was as if someone had invented the car engine but refused to install it in the car, opting instead to use this high-powered engine for mowing thewn, then using the mowed grass to feed a donkey, ultimately having the donkey pull the vehicle. What the hell was he thinking? Cradling his head, Lu Benwei spent the entire night baffled by the intentions of the person who designed the Animal Encouragement Talisman. Thest time Lu Benwei encountered such an absurd talisman was the Muscle Rxation Talisman drawn by some unknown Jiang surname Talisman Master. Damn it, I really want to introduce this guy to Jiang Cheng! He and Jiang Cheng are a natural match made in heaven, the perfect match! Lu Benwei cursed, then saw that it was almost dawn outside, so he hurried to get on with revising the talisman. Making an absurd talisman was hard for him. But simply correcting those iprehensible strokes that limited the talismans functions was not too difficult. Lu Benwei wrote feverishly. Animal Encouragement Talisman, huh? Ill unshackle all your reserved hidden energy for you, Master Lu! Chapter 63 - 63 Target Determination Chapter 63 Target Determination Trantor: 549690339 Alright, alright, thank you, Senior Bai. Jiang Cheng hung up themunication talisman. Without a doubt, Bai Wendao was very reliable. After Jiang Cheng had asked him to inquire about Tongtian Sect and Lin Sect, Bai Wendao made excellent use of his connections in Wuyue, and within just one day, he had gathered all the information Jiang Cheng needed from various friends. Jiang Cheng had not simply asked Which is better, Tongtian Sect or Lin Sect?a question that is subjective and varies from person to person. He mainly had Bai Wendao inquire about the organizational structure of Tongtian Sect and Lin Sect. Based on the organizational structure of an Immortal Sect, one can more urately judge whether the sect is intense or not. If an Immortal Sect excels inbor dispatch and the number of core Inner Sect Disciples exceeds that of the ordinary Inner Sect Disciples, then it would be hard for that sect not to be intense. Fortunately, both Tongtian Sect and Lin Sect are not adept atbor dispatching. Their disciple divisions mainly consist of two categories: Inner Sect and Outer Sect. The Inner Sect focuses on cultivation while the Outer Sect focuses on industry, each without conflicting with the other. However, the organizational structures of these two Immortal Sects are stillpletely different. The structure of Tongtian Sect is simr to that of a milk tea shop franchise. A master would first lead many disciples, and as they grow, some of them inevitably aspire to start their own school. This mitosis,bined with the long-term istion of schools and the selection and perfection of cultivation techniques, gradually forms other schools and various cultivation traditions. Tongtian Sect can be considered arge alliance of many small sects that all share the same origin and each possesses considerable strength. The advantage of this approach is rapid expansion of the sects scale, ample room for individual initiative, and not overly strict sect rules. The disadvantage is that individual small schools have poor risk resistance, and the management of the schools entirely depends on the abilities of their respective masters. The capable are treated to the best, while the lesspetent have to make do with the worst. Its like a milk tea shop on a deserted street; its bound to close down due tock of business. However, the closure of this one shop will not affect the overall strategy and strength of Tongtian Sect, because as a whole it is a huge collective with thousands of milk tea shops. The structure of Lin Sect, on the other hand, is morepact than that of Tongtian Sect. Lin Sect is more like a gigantic university. Each batch of disciples has their own designated master. But the masters in Lin Sect are different from the all-around masters in Tongtian Sect; they are more like university counselors. They are responsible for the neers daily life in Lin Sect and also some of the Immortal Law teachings. If there is an issue with the disciples, the master will also bear some responsibility. If Lin Sects disciples want to learn spell knowledge, they need to attend specialized schools within the sect taught by dedicated teachers. Some schools are open to all disciples free of charge. Some schools are essible only if certain requirements are met, such as possessing a first-grade Talisman Master Certificate. And then there are schools that require spending sect Contribution Points to enter and study. To obtain Contribution Points, Lin Sects disciples mustplete tasks or directly exchange Spirit Stones that they cant use up. The advantage of Lin Sects structure is its unity, with all parts tightly interconnected. With a call to arms from the Sect Leader, arge number of disciples and sect resources can be mobilized, unlike Tongtian Sect, where there are many small factions and mobilization is difficult. But the downside is also clearit is verypetitive. Under Lin Sects contribution point system, outstanding disciples can obtain far more resources than ordinary disciples. Leveraging their initial abundance of Contribution Points, they learn better and stronger spells, which in turn earns them arge number of Contribution Points to continue their studies. After several rounds of snowballing, they create a substantial gap between themselves and others. Whereas average or subpar disciples of Lin Sect barely struggle along the poverty line of just enough Contribution Points. Unless fate takes a fortunate turn, its hard to change their destiny. Having understood the difference between Tongtian Sect and Lin Sect, Jiang Cheng did not hesitate to choose Tongtian Sect. The cultivation talent of extra Jiang Cheng is not onlyparable to losing a limb below the eyebrows but can also be likened to a paraplegic in a vegetative state. Even Cao Wang, who idles his days away, has reached the fourth level of Qi cultivation. Whereas the industrious extra Jiang Cheng has achieved merely the third level of Qi cultivation. The disparity lies in their cultivation talent. If Jiang Cheng were to join Lin Sect andpete with other cultivation geniuses, it would be akin to Chen Rui touching live wiresit would be shocking. Therefore, he could only opt for the rtively friendly Tongtian Sect. If he had the good fortune to be taken as a disciple by a wealthy master, Jiang Cheng could look forward to a greatly improved life. Having decided on the Immortal Sect, there were only two universities left for Jiang Cheng to consider. Lotus Cloud University and Hundred Peaks University. Lotus Cloud University had quite distinct advantages, as the schools professional skills were very strong. For example, Talismans, pill refining, and weapon forging, among others. Hundred Peaks University, on the other hand, leaned towards the traditional cultivating immortality faction, with main courses in spells, swordsmanship, and body refinement. Without a doubt, Jiang Cheng, with his sole specialty in drawing talismans, had only one choice C Lotus Cloud University. The good news was that at Lotus Cloud University, Jiang Cheng had an acquaintance whom he wasnt very close to Yue Linger. As the senior sister of Lotus University, if Jiang Cheng could establish a good rtionship with her in advance, his college life would surely go much smoother. Now that he had chosen Lotus Cloud University, what Jiang Cheng needed to consider was the universitys enrollments practical assessments. The universities practical assessments generally took ce at the end of September, starting after the 20th of the month andsting about seven to eight days. After that, the results were released, and students could start school at the beginning of October. Its worth noting that there was no military training in Liang Countrys universities. Students attended sses upon enrollment. The content of the universitys practical assessments was usually announced fifteen to twenty days in advance, at the beginning of September. Of course, Jiang Cheng wasnt going to naively wait until the beginning of September for the schools to announce the assessment details before he started studying for the practical assessments. He nned to find a way to get hold of the past exam papers from Lotus Cloud University and start preparing for the practical assessments two months in advance! To ensure the first step of his three-step retirement n, to enter a key Immortal Academy and graduate smoothly, was foolproof! Liu Qing, Im nning to go out to buy some books, you Jiang Cheng wanted to ask Liu Qing if she wanted to go too, but before he could finish his question, Liu Qingzily got up from her lounge chair. Well, that made it clear. She was definitely going. In a used bookstore in Wuyue City, Jiang Cheng roamed through the vast arrays of bookshelves, searching for what he needed: the past exam papers from previous practical assessments at Lotus Cloud University. The topics for the practical assessments were published in advance each year and would often be recorded in certain magazines or books by chance. However, among a mass of disorganized books, unearthing that bit of knowledge was obviously not easy. Jiang Cheng, at this moment, particrly missed the days when he used to surf the Inte. When it came to information retrieval, the inte was indeed easier. Found them! In a corner of a bookshelf, a pile of old magazines was ced. The name of the magazine was Dialogue with College Students, a minor publication unknown to Jiang Cheng. Naturally, its content included interviews with college students, and it just so happened to contain information about the new student assessments at Lotus Cloud University. Jiang Cheng quickly flipped through them, picked out a few he needed, and went to pay for them. About half an hourter, a bookstore employee came to the ce where Jiang Cheng had been searching for books, pushing a trolley. Looking at the neatly stacked pile of books on the floor, she scratched her head and said, Who organized these scam subsidy magazines so neatly? Arent they too free? After muttering herints, she began her work of loading the stack of fanciful nonsense papers, produced in bulk to scam subsidies, onto the trolley. The final destination for these nutrient-free, wildly fabricated magazines was the recycling station not far from the bookstore. Finding this trash among countless bookshelves was no easy task. If the bookstore hadnt beenined about for selling fake books, the manager wouldnt have bothered to clear them out. Sigh, I hope that no one else gets tricked by these rubbish magazines. I want to get off work early too! the employee grumbled. Chapter 64 - 64 Early Signs of Animal Encouragement Talisman Chapter 64 Early Signs of Animal Encouragement Talisman Trantor: 549690339 Waterfront Elite Residence Community. Yue Lipengs home. Within the spacious andfortable t, two graceful silhouettes were busy in the kitchen. One of the figures was slightly shorter and a bit plump, while the other was taller and more exquisitely shaped, brimming with youthful vitality. The shorter figure was Yue Lipengs wife, named Han Li. The taller figure was Yue Lipengs daughter, not very well-known among acquaintances in Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger. Linger, study hard at university, prioritize getting into the Immortal Sect, and dont you dare fall in love! Han Li seriously spoke while washing vegetables. Got it, Mom. Yue Linger replied helplessly. Female cultivators should wait until theyve entered the Immortal Sect before looking for a daopanion. If you find one in university, and he cant enter the Immortal Sectter, that would be a serious problem. You dont know, a friend of mine, her sons ssmates childhood friends younger brother, missed his chance to enter the Immortal Sect because he dated in university, and now Han Lis voice weighed on Yue Lingers head like a tightening spell. Yue Linger understood some things even better than Han Li. For instance, the matter of finding a daopanion. If daopanions are not well-matched in background or talent, its very easy to end up with one achieving Core Formation and the other only reaching Foundation Establishment. Core Formation and Foundation Establishment have lifespans that differ by more than double. A romance that aims to grow old together from the day they be daopanions is destined from the start. Its too cruel. Yue Linger understood all this, she just couldnt stand Han Lis nagging. It seemed to parents that only through repeating themselves over and over could they dispel their worries about their children far away. Han Li forbade Yue Linger from dating while cooking, but at mealtime, her tune suddenly switched directions. Yue Ping, Moms telling you, as a male cultivator in university, you should date if you can. Having a girlfriend early on is good for you. After graduating, everyone either enters the Immortal Sect or joins society; standards go up, and its hard to find someone then. Do you hear me? Yue Linger silentlyined, Mom, you dont let females date, but you want males to? Who are male cultivators supposed to date? Other males? Before, Yue Ping would have agreed to his moms words without hesitation, but now, with the memory of that cool female cultivator who had left a stunning impression on him, his words were not so resolute. I got it, Ill try. Han Li pouted, Youll try? I ask you to date and youre reluctant. Yue Ping quickly thought of a n, Mom, if you want me to date, you have to give me some money, right? How can I date without money? How much do you need? Two thousand. Two thousand? Might as well kill me now, Han Li tly refused. Yue Ping knew it would turn out this way, Then one thousand should be okay, right? Only five hundred. Deal. Mother and son came to an agreement. Yue Linger took the opportunity to say, Mom, I want money too. Facing her well-behaved daughter, Han Li sounded much more amiable. How much do you want? Five hundred should be enough for me. Ill give you two thousand. Yue Ping: ? Yue Ping looked towards Yue Lipeng, who was quietly eating. Yue Lipeng said without expression, I have no objections. Yue Ping: Is that having no opinion? More like you cant have an opinion, right? Before dinner was over, Han Li went back to the bedroom to get money for her children. The moment she opened the storage bag in her bedroom, her face darkened. Yue Lipeng,e here now. Yue Lipeng picked up a piece of meat and savored it as if it were hisst meal, then stood up to meet his fate! Why is our savings short by ten thousand? Did you go buy another fishing rod? Didnt buy a fishing rod. Then what did you buy? Bait? What kind of bait costs ten thousand bucks? Its not bait, its a special tool for fishing. Great, Yue Lipeng, youre talking back now, huh? I havent bought clothes for a whole year, and look at you spending ten thousand in one go! You must be really capable! The sound of arguing in the bedroom reached the dining room, where Yue Linger and Yue Ping exchanged looks. The Yue family can afford to live in arge t, so naturally they wouldnt be poor. But the problem was that Yue Lipeng had two children. The bigger issue was that both kids had pretty good talents for cultivating immortality. Cultivating immortality is an extremely costly pursuit. When ites to cultivation, you either give up and not spend a penny, or you throw in lots of Spirit Stones. What the Yue family faced was not just the burning of money, but the need to burn it twice over. Truly tough to handle. Yue Linger sighed. After all, she was a second-tier Talisman Master, and there were actually many things she could do. She decided not to rx this summer holiday and instead hurry to find a part-time job to make some Spirit Stones. Hopefully, she could find a job with a decent profit. The boss should be easy to talk to, kind, and a young Talisman Master easy tomunicate with. Every family has its own difficult scripture, especially for the mainly middle-aged group of fishing enthusiasts. There are plenty of anglers, but Emperor He Qiang, who fished alone for eternity, was hard toe by. Shu Path Mountain wasmon, but Emperor He Qiang, who had yet to return, was scarce. Deli Restaurant. Yue Lipeng, Shen Gengqin, and a few other angler friends with good rtions sat together for a meal. Mostly fish dishes on the table, and all were caught by themselves. This aplishment slightly diluted the gloom in Yue Lipengs heart. He might not have much status at home, but no matter what, with his secret weapon Fishing Talisman, he could now be considered a respected senior in the fishing circles. Shen Gengqin put his arm around Yue Lipengs shoulder and said, Old Yue, dont be upset, we can go fishing againter. I just found a ce yesterday where you can catch big fish, thirty pounds per rod, guaranteed to work. A fishing buddy said, Old Shen, you and Old Yue have been doing really welltely, Ive heard about your exploits back at my workce. Yeah, you two are amazing now. Shen Gengqin waved his hand and said, Hey, just luck. Seeing Shen Gengqin was reluctant to say more, everyone else didnt ask and just kept urging them to drink. After three rounds of drinks, Shen Gengqin and Yue Lipeng were tipsy, and the fishing buddies felt it was about the right time. One of the fishing buddies took the lead and said, Old Yue, how could you and Old Shen suddenly be so much better at fishing? This Yue Lipeng was reluctant to say. The fishing buddy immediately pulled out several medium-grade Spirit Stones and stuffed them into Yue Lipengs pocket, saying, Bro, dont think its too little, buy some bait with it. The other fishing buddies also showed their keenness, all pulling out Spirit Stones and giving them to Shen and Yue. The table was piled high with Spirit Stones, and Yue Lipengs will began to falter. Although Jiang Cheng didnt require customers to keep the Fishing Talisman a secret, anyone would want to keep such a good thing to themselves. One of the fishing buddies earnestly said, Old Yue, we really admire and are jealous of how you fish. Just what kind of practice did you and Old Shen go through? Teach us, brothers! Yeah, Lipeng. Im this old and havent asked anyone for favors in decades. Im asking you today, brother. Seeing the brothers and the Spirit Stones on the table were so sincere, Yue Lipeng and Shen Gengqin exchanged a silent nce. Yue Lipeng said, Fine, Ill open your eyester. But one thing, you must all keep this to yourselves and never leak it! Dont worry. We definitely wont tell anyone. You know me, right? Its always been just in, never out; Ive been constipated for years! Chapter 65: The Sudden Business Opportunity Chapter 65: The Sudden Business Opportunity Trantor: 549690339 Wuyue Residence, Jiang Chengs new house, living room. Jiang Cheng sat upright at the table, several open issues of Dialogue with College Students magazine scattered in front of him. He now entered a state of total absorption, feverishly reading the magazines, searching for content about Lotus Cloud Universitys freshman assessment. Upon finding relevant information, Jiang Cheng would temporarily mark it in the magazines, and once he had umted a certain number of marks, he would transfer the knowledge to his notebook through excerpts. Jiang Cheng hoped through this process to systematically summarize and cote the practical assessments for new students at Lotus Cloud University. And through scientific reasoning,prehensive analysis, and bold assumptions, he sought to uncover the design philosophy and solutions for the practical assessments from the snippets within the magazines. Only by understanding the core of Lotus Cloud Universitys practical assessments could he achieve a move that could break a hundred techniques, a strike that pierced through the forest of flowers! Possessing fundamental thinking had always been Jiang Chengs traditional advantage. While Jiang Cheng was engrossed in his studies, a cup of cold water was quietly ced beside his hand. Jiang Cheng suddenly looked up and saw Liu Qing and the cup of water she extended to him. The moment his intense focus was interrupted, Jiang Cheng suddenly felt thirsty. He looked at Liu Qing and said, Thank you. Liu Qing shook her head and said, Work. Ever since the Muscle Rxation Talisman had been canceled by the Sword Cultivation Academy in exchange for money, Liu Qing had essentially entered a state of no work. Although Jiang Cheng promised to continue paying her sry and provide room and board, with benefits just as before. But to Liu Qing, this was akin to receiving unearned support from Jiang Cheng with no difference. She was a great monster from Mount Tian who came to human society to experience human life, not to be Jiang Chengs pet. Under Liu Qings insistence, Jiang Cheng racked his brains to create a new job for her. The role of a house steward. Mainly managing Master Jiang Cheng and all the assets under the Masters name. Currently, there was only the Wuyue Residence. The job included all the tasks a steward should do, such as cleaning and serving Master tea and water. However, there was one task Liu Qing was exempt from. That was cooking. Liu Qing said she could cook. Jiang Cheng didnt deny that Liu Qing could cook, but he still insisted on depriving her of the right to cook. The main reason was that Jiang Cheng didnt dare to eat anything Liu Qing made. As ismonly known, the dietary habits of snakes and those of normal humans have a myriad of terrifying differences. Liu Qing performed her role as a steward excellently. She always managed to hand Jiang Cheng water just when he felt thirsty. Jiang Cheng even felt that Liu Qing knew better than he did about whether he was thirsty. After drinking the water Liu Qing handed him, Jiang Cheng was ready to dive back into his intense study session when hismunication talisman rang once more. Hello? He? Theres Jiang Cheng, are you free toe to the Task Hall? Jiang Cheng was startled and asked, He, do you need me for something? He seemed a bit embarrassed as she said, Im alright Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief; he thought there was a major issue with his Animal Encouragement Talisman again. But that seemed impossible. He had imposed many restrictions on the Animal Encouragement Talisman before actually selling itphysically, in design, through contracts, instruction manualsat every ce he could think of. As long as one of these restrictions worked, the Animal Encouragement Talisman would operate at the conservative power level Jiang Cheng had set. So, how could there possibly be a problem? Then He continued, Actually, its Elder Sun from our Task Hall who needs to speak to you. Jiang Cheng: ? Elder Sun Decai? What does he want with me? Work? Liu Qings voice sounded somewhat pleased. Still uncertain, shall we go and check it out? Mhm. Monster nods.jpg. Task Hall small meeting room. In front of Elder Sun Decai, five identical task quesy on the table. [Looking for a Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman Talisman!] The asking prices vary, ranging from one thousand to five thousand Spirit Stones. Although the name Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman was a bit of a mouthful, to Sun Decais ears, it was very, so very, extremelyear-piercingly loud! The very example he had used to praise Hes performance was this very task involving animal encouragement talismans! Sun Decai feared many things, but what he feared most was that this talisman would be a replica of the Muscle Rxation Talisman that went out of control before. And exactly what he worried about came to pass. The task rted to this talisman really started to emerge! Within a single day, the number had suddenly increased by five. As for how many there would be in a week, Sun Decai dared not even imagine! Thud, thud, thud. Someone knocked on the meeting room door. Sun Decai said, Come in. The first person to enter was He, followed by Jiang Cheng, whom Sun Decai didnt even wish to see, and finally a female cultivator who was especially beautiful. Her looks, temperament, and figure were all beyond reproach. Suddenly, Sun Decai remembered that thest time Jiang Cheng had brought a female cultivator, it didnt seem to be her, right? Alright, alright, changing partners every day, huh? The young really do know how to y! Its just not clear whether the two of them know each other or not. After seeing Liu Qing, Sun Decai suddenly had an intuition. He felt that Jiang Cheng would definitely suffer a major loss when it came to women in the future. The reasons are quite simple. Jiang Cheng was someone who liked to reason and was of good character, kind-hearted, easily trusting others. But as everyone knows, women are the most irrational of creatures. Once they enter into the state of love, they can do anything. After Jiang Cheng was seated, Sun Decai pushed the five identical talisman requests in front of him. Jiang Cheng, since we are acquaintances, I wont bother with too many pleasantries this time. Take a look at these first. Jiang Cheng took a nce. Hey, what a coincidence, he just happened to know how to draw the talismans from the tasks. Does Elder Sun want me to take on these tasks? Jiang Cheng asked. No, no, no! Sun Decai hurriedly stopped Jiang Chengs extremely dangerous thoughts. He quickly said, You exin to me first, what exactly is this Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman all about? Being the maker, exining the principle, function, and usage of the talisman was not at all difficult for Jiang Cheng. He went into great detail, breaking it down and exining the operational principles and targets of the animal encouragement talisman to Sun Decai. Sun Decai was dumbfounded after hearing the exnation. Last time it was muscle rxation, this time its encouraging animals, cant you draw talismans that regr people can create, young man? Elder Sun, is there something wrong with my talisman? asked Jiang Cheng amiably. Its not about whether its appropriate or not. Its just that its really that sort of that very rare kind you know what I mean? Sun Decai said, somewhat flustered. Jiang Cheng answered honestly, I dont understand. Sun Decai said with a headache, Your talisman if something goes wrong with it again you see right? Jiang Cheng nodded, indicating his understanding. Then he said calmly, Well then, Elder Sun, taking the asking price of the tasks as a standard, I will set aside half of the price for each task Iplete, to establish a Wuyue Fish Welfare Fund with the Task Hall. The Task Hall will lead the operation, specifically to guard against potential risks. What do you think? Half!? Sun Decai himself was also a fisherman, and he was all too aware of the prospects of disruptive fishing gear in the Wuyue fishingmunity! With these five tasks, averaging over two thousand asking price, the Task Hall would get half, which means at least a thousand Spirit Stones profit for each task! If Jiang Chengpletes a hundred tasks, then the Task Hall would have a profit of one hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones! And what if Jiang Chengpletes a thousand tasks? There are at least a few thousand fishermen in Wuyue! And in the entire Liang Kingdom, how many fishermen are there? And how many countries are there around Liang Kingdom? Terrifying! Thats too terrifying! Chapter 66 - 66 Talisman Certification Chapter 66 Talisman Certification Trantor: 549690339 Whether it was talent or fate, Sun Decai was always at the bottom among his fellow sect brothers. His Foundation Establishment had been achieved by exhausting all his efforts. As such, after his Foundation Establishment, there was basically no chance for him to advance further and ascend to Core Formation. Otherwise, no cultivator would be willing toe to a small ce like Wuyue to be an idle Elder. But now, an opportunityy before Sun Decai. The Animal Encouragement Talisman undoubtedly possessed tremendousmercial prospects. And most crucially, this young man named Jiang Cheng was willing to give up half of the Spirit Stones to cooperate with his Task Hall. To put it nicely, its called cooperation. To put it inly, its basically handing over money, paying a membership fee to the Tongtian Sect. If he could firmly seize this business opportunity and obtain considerable benefits for the Task Hall, and for the Tongtian Sect behind the Task Hall, Then With the deep heritage of an Immortal Sect The mere ascent from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation Sun Decai did not take long to make his decision. Even if the prospects of the Talisman werent looking optimistic, and Jiang Cheng was essentially offering him pie in the sky, He, Sun Decai, would ept it. This pie, he truly couldnt resist. While Sun Decai was lost in thought, Hes feelings were also incredibly conflicted. She hoped that Sun Decai would agree to Jiang Chengs proposal so that she could rack up a lot of achievements and be transferred back home. However, she was also afraid of what she would do without Jiang Cheng once she was back home. She had been reliant on Jiang Cheng all this time and felt as if she couldnt do without him anymore. Among all those present, Jiang Cheng himself was the most indifferent. This wasnt to say Jiang Cheng didnt like money, but he had always taken a casual approach to fate, which he considered a matter of chance. Jiang Chengs pursuit had always been things like safe and reliable, tried and true, durable, steady, not frivolous, a hit with soulall very solid things. If we can establish a foundation, our Task Hall will have no problem with that, Sun Decai finally agreed to Jiang Chengs idea. Jiang Cheng nodded, ready to discuss the details of the foundation, when Sun Decai went on, However, before that, your new Talisman needs to be registered and certified at the Talisman Master Association. As long as you can pass the Associations certification, I, Sun Decai, will fully cooperate with young friend to develop themercial value of the Talisman. If Lu Wang had been in the conference room, he would surely have cursed Sun Decai as a cunning old fox. Taking a Talisman to the Talisman Master Association for certification might seem unnecessary, but in reality, Sun Decai was passing the buck to Lu Wang. If something were to go awry with Jiang Chengs new Talisman, Lu Wang, who was responsible for certifying Talismans, would certainly not be able to escape me. After all, if you, a professional, say its okay, what else could the Task Hall possibly do? If the sky falls, its always better for two people to bear it than just one. Senior Sun thinks just like I do. I was indeed nning to get certification at the Association. To be honest, this Talisman is of the Reusable Type, which is much harder to draw than the regr type. I can only draw two of them per day at most. If the demand gap is toorge, we still need to make use of the power of the Talisman Master Association as soon as possible, Jiang Cheng exined. Jiang Cheng always portrayed himself as eager to learn. He had learned his lesson with the Muscle Rxation Talisman before, as it hadnt been certified; he could not afford to make the same mistake again. Good! Hearing Jiang Cheng say this, Sun Decai finally felt reassured. He was now somewhat looking forward to seeing the expression on Lu Wangs face when he met Jiang Cheng and saw the new Talismans he had drawn. Cousin, Ill leave it to you, Yue Linger said. Dont worry. If theres a suitable part-time job, your cousin will definitely inform you first, said Yue Ran, who worked as a secretary at the Wuyue Talisman Master Association, and was Yue Lingers cousin. As soon as Yue Linger decided to look for a part-time job, she went straight to her cousin for help. With her cousin taking care of things at the Talisman Master Association, she could just go home and wait for news. At the entrance of the Wuyue Talisman Master Association, Yue Linger ran into an acquaintance. Jiang Cheng. But it wasnt Jiang Cheng who surprised her the most; it was the presence of Liu Qing beside him. In the past, Yue Linger didnt believe that nation-toppling beauty depicted in books could be all that. Now, having seen Liu Qing in person, she instinctively felt that the appearance of the Holy Maiden of the Immortal Sect should be exactly like this female cultivators. Yue? What a coincidence, said Jiang Cheng, smiling as he greeted his future university senior sister. Jiang? Yue Linger was also surprised to see Jiang Cheng at the Talisman Master Association. But Yue Linger wasnt interested in Jiang Chengs affairs; she just wanted to know if Jiang Cheng had repaired the Fluorescence Talisman. Jiang, have you fixed Zhous Fluorescence Talisman? she asked. Jiang Cheng had anticipated Yue Linger would ask this and calmly replied, No. Jiang Cheng had not merely repaired it, he had made a new one entirely, and it had gained the approval of Zhou Yunshan. Upon hearing Jiang Cheng say No, Yue Linger revealed a victorious smile. But itsted only a moment, for as a second order Talisman Master, defeating a second prize held no pride whatsoever. Fellow Daoist should really hurry up and get the first order Talisman Master Certificate, Yue Linger advised. Jiang Cheng said, Lets not worry about that for now, I have a few more pressing matters to attend to recently. Yue Linger frowned, feeling as if Jiang Cheng was being incredibly stubborn. She had kindly shown him the way, so why wouldnt thisd take the hint? For a Talisman Master, could there be anything more important than obtaining a certificate? A Talisman Master Certificate was the most direct and reliable proof of a Talisman Masters strength, and it was tightly bound to the status of a Talisman Master. Ordinary people strived for the certificate as soon as possible, so who would go around saying its not important? Well, whatever, hes just a stranger after all, and it seemed unlikely that theyd have much interaction in the future. Fellow Daoist Jiang, Yue Linger will take her leave. Fellow Daoist Yue, safe travels. Since Jiang Cheng had a history, he was promptly invited to Lu Wangs office by the Association secretary, Yue Ran, upon his arrival. Ordinary people who wished to see the President of the Talisman Master Association could not avoid the procedures of making an appointment, queuing, and waiting. But Jiang Cheng was quite the exception, having been given priority by Lu Wang himself, his issues ranked in front of all other matters at the Talisman Master Association. Lu Wang wasnt afraid of dying other matters, only that he might miss out on attending to Jiang Cheng. Lu Wang feared that without his attention, Jiang Cheng could inadvertently stir up something big. Under Yue Rans guidance, Jiang Cheng went into Lu Wangs office alone. And met with the somewhat conflicted-looking President. Senior Lu, Jiang Cheng greeted very politely, as always. Lu Wang said with difort, Jiang Cheng, what is it do you have another matter? Jiang Cheng handed over the certification materials he had prepared and said, Senior Lu, Ive recentlye up with a new talisman and would like to trouble you to certify it for me. A new talisman? Lu Wang instantly captured the keyword and felt a sense of foreboding. But due to his duties as President, Lu Wang couldnt outright reject Jiang Chengs request for certification; he had to open the certification materials in front of Jiang Cheng. [Animal Encouragement Talisman (Fish-Specific Edition)] Lu Wangs vision dimmed, and he now really wanted to open up Jiang Chengs head to see what was stuffed inside. Out of respect for his position as a third order Talisman Master and the President of the Association, Lu Wang forced himself to maintain hisposure and continued to read the documents. After reading, Lu Wang actually thought it was decent enough. At least it wasnt as oundish as the Muscle Rxation Talisman. A talisman for fish use C even if there were some issues, were the fish going toe andin? In the end, Lu Wang opened the talisman sample within the document baga one-time Animal Encouragement Talisman. Lu Wang, as a third order Talisman Master, could see at a nce that there was still significant untapped potential in this talisman. Master Jiang, I think this talisman of yours still has quite a bit of power to be unearthed, doesnt it? PS: Having written over sixty chapters, the author hasnt gone off-topic, but after talking to the editor today, it seems the book is finally about to beunched. So, Im here to ramble a bit. Its going to hit the shelves in about eleven days, around the 17th. As is well-known, due to the need to grab rmendations during the new book period, almost all new books update twice a day, except for the works of famous authors. Hence, readers oftenin about the infrequent updates. Theres no helping it; thats just the system. But once the book goes on sale, there are no more restrictions on updates. Explosive updates are definitelying. Starting from now, Im saving up chapters; in ten days, I can definitely save up an extra ten chapters, and together with the manuscripts already in stock, the number is quite substantial, right? So, cough, followers, monthly tickets, first subscriptions, you know what to do. For now, though, you need to keep following. Everyone must continue to follow! Following is the lifeblood of both the book and its author! Praise be to following! Chapter 67: Jiang Cheng Gains Recognition Chapter 67: Jiang Cheng Gains Recognition Trantor: 549690339 Seeing that Lu Wang recognized the design of the talisman at a nce, Jiang Cheng was not surprised at all. He smiled and said, Senior Lu has sharp eyes indeed, my Animal Encouragement Talisman does indeed have some redundancy designed into it. Lu Wang: ??? After hearing Jiang Chengs words, Lu Wang waspletely baffled. Others design with ten percent, maybe five percent redundancy. Your redundancy is something like seventy or eighty percent, right? Lu Wang questioned, Master Jiang, dont you think the redundancy in your talisman is a bit too much? Jiang Cheng, quoting ssics, replied, As you said, senior, I didnt intend to design so much redundancy at first. Initially, I only nned to make it like the Muscle Rxation Talisman, with fifty percent redundancy. Lu Wang: Facing Jiang Chengs answer, Lu Wang was at a loss for words, mainly because there were too many points to criticize, and he didnt even know where to begin. Then he heard Jiang Cheng continue, Later, throughparative experiments, I found that fifty percent redundancy was still not enough. The effect of the Animal Encouragement Talisman is too strong; it leads fishermen to catch too many fish, thus disrupting the ecological bnce of the Wuyue rivers. The current strength is the harmless value I selected after conducting field surveys. Fishermen can fish with confidence at this intensity without worrying about damaging the aquatic ecology. Having said this, Jiang Cheng took out the previously gathered data on the average catch of fishermen from his storage bag and handed it to Lu Wang as evidence of his choice of the harmless value. Lu Wang opened Jiang Chengs data and started to carefully look through it. Immediately after, Jiang Cheng took out his carefully preserved Memory Sphere and the Reusable Audio Talisman, and submitted them to Lu Wang as evidence of the evidence. Then Jiang Cheng took out the taxi receipt from his ride to the research site, as evidence of the evidence of the evidence. These are the original materials I retained when researching the average fishing results, senior can confirm each one. Jiang Chengs series of moves left Lu Wang dumbfounded. He had originally wanted to find a reason to dy the certification of Jiang Chengs talisman. Now this young man had presented sound arguments, and he couldnt even find a reason to postpone the certification of the new talisman. Mainly, Lu Wang couldnt understand how Jiang Cheng, who looked so young and was just a high school graduate, could be so meticulous that even deliberately scrutinizing, nobody could find the slightest issue! However, Lu Wang, after all, was the president of a citys Talisman Master Association and had been involved in talisman master management for many years. He pondered hard and finally found a w in Jiang Chengs work. Master Jiang, you see, with such arge redundancy in your talisman, what if its exploited by someone with ill intentions? How will you deal with that situation? Since Jiang Cheng submitted to Lu Wang a One-Time Animal Encouragement Talisman, Jiang Cheng confidently presented his final result. Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman! As well as the apanying agreement, contract, and instruction manual when selling this talisman. Senior, rest assured, the issue you are concerned about, I already have a strategy in ce. In fact, the final product I will be selling is not just an Animal Encouragement Talisman, but this Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman. In our purchase agreement, I have made the following restrictive measures After a lengthy exnation, Jiang Cheng flipped the instruction manual to thest page. In summary, Jiang Cheng concluded, its nearly impossible for my reusable talisman to be exploited illegally. You have no reason to worry about that. By now, Lu Wang had run out of rebuttals. Jiang Chengs talisman was sensible, legal, andpliant, leaving him no choice but to pass the talisman certification. Moreover, Jiang Cheng seemed to care even more about the safety of the talisman than he did as the president, creating over a dozen defensive measures for this purpose. This was far more reliable than the previous Muscle Rxation Talisman. The earlier Muscle Rxation Talisman had only caused a bit of trouble during the Academy tests. How could this Animal Encouragement Talisman pose more serious problems than that, if at all? Impossible, what could go wrong with fishing? Lu Wang nodded his head, epting Jiang Chengs certification documents. In two days, once wevepleted the procedures, your Animal Encouragement Talisman will be included in our associations database. After the talisman was certified by the association, it could be used to find other Talisman Masters to coborate on drawing talismans. Only in this way could the production issue of the Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman be solved. Jiang Cheng smiled and said, Thats great, thank you for your efforts, Senior Lu. Lu Wang waved his hand and said, Dont get too excited yet. Although your Animal Encouragement Talisman is inpliance, your Reusable Talisman might not be. Reusable Talismans are ssified as Magical Treasures, you understand that, right? Jiang Cheng nodded. Lu Wang smiled knowingly and thought to himself: Its not that I, Lu Wang, want to trap you, old Yu, but the item Jiang Cheng is making is indeed a Magical Treasure, which is precisely your area of expertise, isnt it? Cough. This Reusable Talisman is also considered a new kind of Magical Treasure, so I suggest you better go to the Artifact Refiners Association for a reliability verification. Only then can you bepletely assured, dont you think? Understood, Ill head to the Artifact Refiners Association right away. Jiang Cheng was very good at taking advice from his seniors. Safe travels, Master Jiang, and dont hesitate to send me an audio talisman if you need anything, said Lu Wang with a smile on his face as he saw Jiang Cheng off. Then, he copsed dispiritedly into his chair. Phew! I thought this kid had caused some trouble again; it turns out he just made a little toy for fishing. You gave me quite a scare. Across from the Artifact Refiners Association, there was a milk tea shop. Jiang Cheng ced a ss of iced lemon water on Liu Qings table. Wait for me here. I have some business to attend to across the street at the association, and Ill be back soon. Oh, by the way, the cashier mentioned they might have added too much lemon, so it could be a bit sour. Mm-hmm, Liu Qing nodded softly. So, Ill be going then? Jiang Cheng asked tentatively. Mhmm. Employee Liu Qing approved the itinerary of her boss, Jiang Cheng. Once Jiang Cheng left the milk tea shop, Liu Qing sat alone next to a small table inside the ce. She watched Jiang Chengs receding figure until he disappearedpletely into the doors of the Artifact Refiners Association. Undoubtedly, Liu Qing was the focal point of everyones attention within the milk tea shop. However, she seemed utterly indifferent to the amazed gazes of the milk tea shop employees or the surrounding customers when they looked at her. In her eyes, there was only the ss of lemon water Jiang Cheng had queued up for to buy her. Liu Qing first pushed her hair back, draping a few smooth, fine strands behind her ear. Then, she leaned down to sniff the scent of the lemon water and, finding it pleasant, she began to gently savor it, wrapping her lips lightly around the edge of the straw Jiang Cheng had ced for her. Seeing Liu Qings series of actions, the milk tea shop employees were inwardly shaken: Holy shit! How can she drink a ss of lemon water with such grace!? What have I been drinking all this time? Is it the lemon waters fault, or mine? Liu Qing drew a forceful sip, and the cool lemon water slid into her mouth through the straw. The lemon water repeatedly brushed against her taste buds as she savored this gift from a friend. Liu Qing discovered that the lemon water wasnt sour at all; it was actually pleasantly cool and sweet. It was delicious. She liked it very much. Chapter 68: Fishing Talisman Upgrade Complete Chapter 68: Fishing Talisman Upgrade Complete Trantor: 549690339 Tongtian Sects Wuyue City Artifact Refiners Association, Presidents office. Foundation Establishment Cultivator, third-order Artifact Refiner and Association President Yu Hui was currently buried in reading documents. In the various businesses of cultivating immortality, alchemy and artifact crafting have always been the two most popr top industries. Compared to the talisman industry, the prospects and profits of these two industries are considerably higher and are the preferred professions for cultivators looking to develop a side business. Even in a medium-small-sized city like Wuyue, the workload for Yu Hui was extremely heavy. If it werent for the normally robust physical constitution of cultivators, which made sudden death unlikely, he would have been a constant hot topic. After three knocks on the door, President Yus secretary walked in. She said, President, there is a Talisman Master who has created a reusable type talisman and wishes to have our association verify the reliability of the product. Yu Hui furrowed his brows, apparently dissatisfied with the work of his secretary. Have him follow the rules, submit the product in line, and wait for verification. The secretary hesitated and said, Hes quite eager. Yu Hui was sternly unbiased: Who isnt eager? Just him? If everyone could just cut in line as they please, then whats the point of having rules? But What else is there to but about? That Talisman Master, well, he was introduced by President Lu of the Talisman Master Association. President Lu seems to value him quite a bit. Yu Huis expression became awkward. The secretary whispered, President, will he still need to queue? Cough. Rules are rules and cant be disregarded, but we also need to be practical and fact-oriented. We cant be rigid in our thinking or rules. Go ahead and call him in, Ill personally understand his situation. Momentster, Jiang Cheng entered Yu Huis office. Yu Hui sized up Jiang Cheng and thought: This young man looks quite promising, no wonder he has caught Elder Lus attention. Hes polite and a man of good appearance, looks destined for sess, especially suitable for joining the womans household. It just so happens I have a daughter about his age Jiang Cheng didnt beat around the bush and submitted his Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman to Yu Hui. With his rich experience, Yu Hui saw at a nce that Jiang Chengs sample and application were just a verymon mass-market reusable talisman. The shell, Button Spirit Stone, and even the Fluorescence Talisman were all extremelymon designs avable in the marketce, things that could be bought anywhere. The only slightly peculiar thing was the Animal Encouragement Talisman sandwiched in the middle; its function was to motivate fish to strive, which was somewhat interesting. Since the product Jiang Cheng submitted was too ordinary, Yu Hui asked with a frown, Youre validating this? Yes, Jiang Cheng nodded. Yu Hui found it odd: Others bring some cutting-edge products for validation, but your item is clearly just an assembly of mature parts, containing no technical content or production barrier. Whats there to validate? Tomatoes and eggs, no matter how you fancy it up, in the end, its just tomato scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs with tomato. Using an excuse to step out, Yu Hui found a secluded spot and took out amunication talisman to call Lu Wang. Hello? Elder Lu. Yu? Whats brought me to your mind today? Enough of the useless talk. Whats the deal with that Talisman Master Jiang Cheng? Nothing much, just stick to the rules. Youre still ying the bureaucrat with me? Haha, well, the mans in your territory now, so its up to you. Yu Hui went straight to the point: Elder Lu, I wont ask for anything else, just give me a straight answer. Whats Jiang Chengs character like? After some thought, Lu Wang figured that even though Jiang Chengs talisman drawing was outstanding, his character seemed to be truly without ws. Not only without ws, but shining with humanitys nobility and the glow of morality. His character is very good. As brothers of the same sect for many years, Yu Hui knew Lu Wang well. Very good was a phrase that was hard toe by from Lu Wang. If Jiang Chengs character was wless, then the reusable talismans he made would surely be without issues either. Lu Wangs face was one Yu Hui had to give. Tomato scrambled eggs, even if they ended up a bit unptable, couldnt possibly be lethal, right? And what could go wrong with a product assembled from matureponents? He would trust Elder Lu this once. They were taught by the same master, after all; could he really mislead me? Across from Zhou Yunshan, sat a cultivator with deep dark circles under his eyes. Master Lu, are you alright? Faced with the unsteady Lu Benwei, Zhou Yunshan hardly dared to speak loudly; he feared his voice might be so loud it would scare Lu Benwei to death. Lu Benwei stared with wide eyes, his lips quivering as he said, Im fine, Im fine, I just went to bed a bitte the day before yesterday. The day before yesterday, he went to bedte? Does that mean he didnt sleep at all yesterday and today? Master Lu is just too dedicated! Zhou Yunshan was moved by Lu Benwei. With Master Jiang and Master Lu as the pirs of the talisman industry in Wuyue, it truly was Wuyues greatest fortune! Lu Benwei took out the Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman that Zhou Yunshan had given him and said to Zhou, Zhou, Ive improved the talisman, look here On the original talisman by Jiang Cheng, Lu Benwei had added a sliding rod. Zhou, this sliding rod can adjust the intensity of the Animal Encouragement Talisman. However, I suggest you dont use it at its maximum power, Lu Benwei exined. Why? asked Zhou Yunshan, puzzled. In this world, is there actually someone who wouldin about fish being too big? Lu Benwei continued, Although Wuyue City is an ind city, its actually not too far from the sea. If you turn the power up too high, Im afraid it might cause some unnecessary trouble. From Wuyue to the sea is at least eight hundred li, four hundred kilometers; could the Animal Encouragement Talisman really have an effect from that far away? Zhou Yunshan didnt believe it. Anyone with somemon sense would know that sea fish cant live in freshwater. Master Lu was simply being overly cautious. Afterpleting the task handover with Lu Benwei, Zhou Yunshan immediately rushed to the riverside where he had caught the big fishst time. At night the ce was crowded with night anglers, but during the day there were rtively few. Zhou Yunshan greeted the few anglers he met along the way and hurried to his previous fishing spot. Once everything was prepared, Zhou Yunshan cautiously set the intensity of the Animal Encouragement Talisman to two-thirds of its capacity. After the fishhook hit the water, Zhou Yunshan waited in silence. A minute passed, and there was no movement in the water. He couldnt have imagined that the strengthened talisman would be even worse than before it was enhanced. Just as Zhou Yunshan was about to take out amunication talisman to find Master Lus after-sales service, his fishing rod suddenly bent sharply! The fish was so strong! It was at least more than twice the size of thest one! Zhou Yunshan was overjoyed and began to wrestle with the big fish in the water. After several minutes of shouting and pulling, a number of spectators, anglers who hadnt caught anything and hade specifically to watch, surrounded Zhou Yunshan. The attention of fellow anglers was, for a fisherman, even more beneficial than a Herculean Strength Talisman! Zhou Yunshan summoned all his energy and gave a strong pull, dragging a fish onto the bank, one that was longer than a human thigh. Holy shit! Thats brutal! How many pounds is that! The exmations of countless anglers came from all sides. Without a moment to celebrate, Zhou Yunshan quickly found a fish scale and, with the help of the watching anglers, lifted the fish to weigh it. Thirty-nine pounds! Almost twice the size of the one he had caught before! And this was just with two-thirds of the Fishing Talismans power! If he were to use full power on the Fishing Talisman! Zhou Yunshan couldnt even imagine the scene! This time, Zhou Yunshan couldnt care less about showing off with his catch. The only thought in his mind was to turn the Fishing Talisman to maximum power and test the limits of the Fishing Talisman! Chapter 69: Baffling Chapter 69: Baffling Trantor: 549690339 After the hook hit the water, the calm surface and the serene reality quickly cooled Zhou Yunshan down. Because when he turned the Fishing Talismans power all the way up, he was unable to catch any fish at all. Fishermen are known for their patience, yet Zhou Yunshan had waited for more than an hour without so much as a single fish biting the hook. Could it be that the power was too high and burnt out the Talisman? That shouldnt be the case, right? Zhou Yunshan reduced the power again and, sure enough, he was able to catch big fish again. When he turned the power all the way up once more, there was no response. Strange. This was too strange. He should consult Master Lu again, before he went to bed. Approximately four hundred li to the east of Wuyue, there is the confluence of Wu River and Ming River. As a tributary of the Ming River, Wu Rivers scale naturally cannot bepared with that of Ming River. Upon the broad expanse of the Ming River, a small boat drifted quietly. An old fisherman sat in the boat. After the start of the fishing ban, he could only row his boat out each day to fish, finding sce in the activity. Unlike other fishing enthusiasts, the old fisherman used a homemade rod, with a long bamboo pole and cotton line, and the hook was a bent needle; his bait was freshly caught earthworms. He believed in a karmic fishing method. The advantage of the karmic fishing method was that you never expect to actually catch a fish, so every time a fish was hooked, it was considered a gift from nature. Just as the old fisherman was sitting cross-legged in the boat, gazing at the calm waters of the Ming River, he suddenly noticed that the water beneath him turnedpletely dark in an instant. This abnormal situation immediately made the old fisherman stand up, holding his fishing rod and vigntly scanning his surroundings. His experience as a fisherman told him that this was definitely not anything ominous, for he was far too familiar with these waters. To get a better view, the old fisherman climbed onto the roof of the small boat. Looking down, he was shocked. The water had not turned ck! It had be shallow! The reason for the shallowness was that a giant fish was passing under his boat! What appeared to be the suddenly darkened water was actually the fishs back C long and wide, it looked like the deck of arge ship! Before the old fisherman could react further, the giant fish suddenly started, then turned and dived into the depths, disappearing in the direction of the sea currents. The surface of the calm river was left with only him, his soul still in shock. A day or twoter, several cities around the Ming River almost simultaneously gave birth to legends about a water monster in Ming River. Some said the fish were as big as ships, some imed they saw countless tentacles, and others alleged encountering white sharks and ck whales. However, hardly anyone believed these stories; after all, why would these sea creaturese to the Ming River? Were they too full and needed to exert themselves? Additionally, there were only a few witnesses, and each of their stories differed. So it was definitely those air force folks who couldnt catch fish and made up these stories to scare people. About three hundred li to the west of Wuyue. Beneath a certain mountain cliff with a waterfall, there was a Cultivator meditating. From the aura emanating from the Cultivators body, his Cultivation Level was at least at the mid-phase of the Foundation Establishment. What was strange, though, was that even with the waterfalls turbulent water sluicing over his body, his clothes, hair, and even his skin remained untouched by the moisture. What was even more astonishing was that on the Cultivators skin were faintly visible indentations, grid-like and resembling fish scales, spread across his entire body. This Cultivator, like an unmoving boulder, sat beneath the waterfall for several days and nights at a time. However, just a moment ago, the Cultivator suddenly opened his eyes, looking off into the distance. A few breathster, he closed his eyes again. This is ridiculous, he said. But before long, the Cultivator opened his eyes once more. This time, not only did he gaze into the distance, he also furrowed his brows deeply. Strange, why does it feel like someones talking to me from afar? This voice was very odd; even under the deafening waterfall, he could hear it quite clearly. It seemed as if these words were not conveyed through normal sound waves, but rather some more mystical force. It didnt affect him much, but the voice kept repeating itself, getting somewhat annoying. The Cultivator motioned towards the water, and a little fish flew into his hand. He imparted a Spell onto the small fish and released it back into the water before he sat down to resume his meditation. The small fish entered the water and slowly followed the school, swimming in the direction of Wuyue. Two dayster, at Yue Lipengs home. The living room. Yue Ping slumped on the living room sofa with a magazine that introduced the various universities in the Capital in front of him, but he had no intention of reading. He had just seen a picture of a female cultivator with a cool and detached demeanor on the magazine. This involuntarily made him think of the girl he couldnt forget, that day. Although the female cultivator in the magazine was pretty, she couldntpare to that one. She was simply too beautiful. She practically crushed Yue Pings sense of aesthetics underfoot! These days, Yue Ping had thought about a lot, and he knew, he probably wasnt good enough for that female cultivator. But he couldnt forget that brief glimpse he had caught that night. There was still a sliver of hope in Yue Pings heart. Because theres always a what-if. What if, what if he could really match up to her? What are you thinking about? Yue Lingers voice snapped Yue Ping out of his daydream. Yue Ping raised his head to see the fierce eyes of his sister. So, he obediently made room on the sofa, and wisely squeezed into a corner that wouldnt affect his sisters activities. Seeing her little brother being so sensible, Yue Linger didnt bother to bicker with him. The ranks within the Yue family were always very clear. Yue Linger = Han Li > Yue Lipeng > Wangcai >>> Yue Ping. Although Yue Ping had a bit of talent in cultivating immortality, this achievement was nothing in front of his sister, Yue Linger. Inymans terms, Yue Linger is the daughter of someone elses family that ordinary families talk about. Beautiful, diligent, gifted, well-mannered, sweet-talking, filial Basically, there was no fault to find. Yue Linger sat on the sofa with a Talisman Masters textbook in her hands and, seeing Yue Ping reading a magazine, she asked, Have you decided which university to attend? With your grades, any of the universities in the Capital should be easy to pick from, right? Yue Ping sighed and said, I feel like its only going to be Lotus University or Ling University. Yue Linger spoke with disdain, If you go to Lotus University, dont say youre my brother, I cant lose face like that. Yue Ping was used to being taunted by Yue Linger from childhood. And since his sister was better than him in every aspect, he didnt mind the teasing. After all, he couldnt match up, so he had to ept it. Yue Lingeryfortably on the sofa, opened her Talisman Masters textbook, and began to seriously review knowledge relevant to a second-level Talisman Master. Although Yue Linger was a second-level Talisman Master, she had only just passed the exam this year, not too long ago. The advice she gave to Jiang Cheng the other day was actually very practical. A Talisman Master needs to continuously upgrade their rank in order to have ess to and use more resources, so its best to take the exam and get certified as soon as possible. Take the simplest example of the price of Talismans. A general first-level Talisman is priced between several tens of Spirit Crystals and up to a dozen Low-grade Spirit Stones. Only a very few exceptionally difficult to draw and rare first-level Talismans could sell for tens to a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones. A random second-level Talisman could easily sell for a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones. The price of most second-level Talismans ranged between one hundred Spirit Stones and one thousand Spirit Stones. Above one thousand Spirit Stones is the price range for third-level Talismans. Yue Linger didnt have the ability to draw third-level Talismans. As a neer who had just stepped into the threshold of second-level, the second-level Talismans she could draw and knew how to draw were actually not many. So she had to seize the time to study Talismans. If a part-time job required her to draw a Talisman she didnt know how to, that would be bad. As for first-level Talismans, Yue Linger hadnt even thought about them. Not that she looked down on first-level Talismans. Its just that the profit from drawing first-level Talismans was not enough even to fill the gaps between her teeth. As Yue Linger was working hard studying Talismans, themunication Talisman in her bedroom suddenly sounded. Yue Linger hurried to the bedroom and picked up themunication Talisman. Hello? Cousin? Theres a great part-time job, do you want toe over to the association and have a look? Absolutely, Ill be right over! Chapter 70: Yue Linger Is Shocked Chapter 70: Yue Linger Is Shocked Trantor: 549690339 Hearing that it was a very good part-time job, Yue Linger didnt dare to ck off. To make a good impression on her future boss, she quickly went back to her room to choose a few outfits and eventually picked a light-colored dress that looked fresh and bright. A sun hat, the dress, and a pair of transparent sandals were the killer outfit Yue Linger threw together in a very short time. After repeatedly checking her skin condition and demeanor in the mirror, Yue Linger noticed her lips were a bit dry and not as pink and moist, so she hurried to the kitchen for a big gulp of water. Yue Ping watched the drama unfold, Sis, going out to meet a boyfriend? Yue Linger red at him and retorted, So what if I am? Yue Ping dared not make a sound. Because he knew that no matter how busy his sister was, she could always make time to beat him up. Even though Yue Ping was now taller and more robust than Yue Linger, regrettably, in the cultivation world, Yue Linger could beat him single-handedly with ease. The Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association in Wuyue City. Yue Linger jogged all the way into the Associations gate where, instead of finding her cousin Yue Ran, she ran into Jiang Cheng again. Jiang Cheng was sitting in the Associations lounge, appearing very rxed, leisurely, without a care in the world. Oh, its Yue. Long time no see. Jiang Cheng stood up politely when he caught sight of Yue Linger and greeted her. Yue Linger wasnt particrly interested in Jiang Cheng, but couldnt help but notice this young mans sunny and handsome appearance coupled with his impable manners. Now that Jiang Cheng was greeting her proactively, if she didnt respond, it might seem as though shecked manners, which would be quite rude. Yue Linger paused for a moment and said to Jiang, Jiang, are you here to take the Talisman Master exam today? No, Im waiting for someone, Jiang Cheng replied truthfully. Yue Linger once again admonished, Jiang, if you can take the exam, I advise you to do it sooner rather thanter. Thank you, Yue. After I finish up with my busy period, I definitely will, Jiang Cheng replied as honestly as always. Although Jiang Cheng was telling the truth, to Yue Linger this sounded like a brush-off. Clearly, Jiang Cheng looked very idle, not busy at all. Is this the Ill definitely take the exam next time brush-off? After repeated unsessful advisements, Yue Linger now had no intention of meddling in Jiang Chengs affairs any longer. After all, Jiang Cheng wasnt Yue Ping. Why should she bother with Jiang Cheng? Jiang, have you seen Secretary Yue Ran? Yue Linger asked. She went to the archives, she should be back soon, replied Jiang Cheng. Thank you. Yue Linger couldnt wait a moment longer; she didnt want to spend another minute with Jiang Cheng. She just wanted to find Yue Ran quickly and confirm the part-time job. In the archives, Yue Linger indeed found her cousin. Cousin? Linger? How did you find your way here? asked Yue Ran in surprise. Im in a hurry, hurry and take me to meet the client whos posting the job, Yue Linger pressed. Yue Ran smiled and said, Dont rush. Im looking for a contract temte for you. Yue Linger smiled and took Yue Rans hand affectionately, Cousin, is the task you found for me difficult? Ive only been at the second level for a short while, I cant draw difficult talismans. Its not difficult at all, very simple, you can still draw first-level talismans, cant you? Ah? First level? Yue Linger visibly disyed her disappointment. First-level talismans were high in quantity and low in price, offered little profit, and did not contribute to improving talisman drawing skills. To Yue Linger, this was no different from doing under-the-table work. Whats wrong with being a first-tier? This is a high-quality task that your cousin specifically reserved for you. Others wish they even had the chance to draw it, Oh, cousin, I want to draw a second-tier one, Yue Linger whined, shaking Yue Rans arm and taking advantage of the absence of others around to act coquettishly towards her cousin. Yue Linger also cared about her image; if there was a third person present, she would have been prim and proper, like a dignified and normal female cultivator. But now it was just her and her cousin, she could resort to some techniques beloved by young girls. After all, Yue Ran was her cousin, not a stranger. Yue Ran, who always doted on Yue Linger, this time showed no mercy and said, This is the task! Your cousin nearly worked herself to death to snatch it from someone elses grasp, so you better do a good job and not let down all the effort your cousin has put in. Yue Linger pouted, seemingly expressing her dissatisfaction. But at this point, with her cousin having said so, she had no other choice. She just hoped her boss wouldnt be too stingy and would give her a decentmission for drawing talismans. After gathering the materials, Yue Ran said, Come on, lets go meet your client. Yue Linger sighed, silently gathering her emotions and expressions. She was a grown woman and cultivator, and while it was okay to act spoiled in front of her cousin, in front of others, she still had to maintain basic decency andposure to avoid bing aughingstock. Yue Linger followed behind Yue Ran, heading to the resting room where Jiang Cheng was staying. Looking at the room which was empty except for Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger asked in confusion, Cousin, wheres the client? With a full smile facing Jiang Cheng, Yue Ran said, Your client is this person, Jiang Cheng, Master Jiang. Master Jiang, this is a very outstanding, very capable, and very promising new second-tier talisman master from our association, Yue Linger. Yue Linger: ??? Huh? Jiang Cheng? The client? What in the world? Upon hearing that his coborator was Yue Linger, Jiang Cheng was also slightly taken aback. But soon, Jiang Cheng stood up with respectful manners and extended his hand to Yue Linger. In any case, Jiang Cheng showed the most basic respect to his partner. Moreover, Yue Linger had reminded him several times about getting his certificate; she was a kind-hearted and good female cultivator. When Yue Ran saw Jiang Cheng extend his hand, she gave Yue Linger a look, but for some reason, Yue Linger just stood there like an idiot, not knowing to shake hands with Jiang Cheng. To avoid an awkward situation, Yue Ran forcibly pulled Yue Lingers delicate white hand and stuffed it into Jiang Chengs, making the twoplete the handshake ceremony that precedes cooperation. Yue Ran said, Master Jiang, here are all the agreements from our association, please take a look. Jiang Cheng nodded, took the agreements, and read through them one by one without finding any problems. The Talisman Master Association, after all, is an official Immortal Sect institution and wouldnt do anything bizarre. After reviewing the agreement, he pulled out a pen and in the use regarding the profit-sharing model, selected pure profit sharing with an equal split of fifty-fifty. Since it was their first coboration, and since Yue Linger was already a second-tier talisman master with her own value, Jiang Cheng chose a quite sincere profit ratio. Yue, please take a look at our contract and see if there is anything youd like to change? Jiang Cheng politely handed the agreement to Yue Linger. Yue Linger, still in shock from meeting Jiang Cheng, took the contract he handed over in a daze, and in the same daze saw the name of the talisman that Jiang Cheng needed drawn. [Name: Reusable Type Animal Encouragement Talisman (Fish-Specific Edition). Tier: First-tier Type: Blessing Effect: By emitting an encouraging sound wave At your age, how can you be sleeping!, it inspires aquatic animals, allowing them to forget fear and courageously move forward.] Yue Linger: ? At the glimpse of this talisman, Yue Linger trembled all over and instantly snapped back to reality. Chapter 71 - 71 Jiang Cheng’s Seniority Increases by One Chapter 71: Jiang Chengs Seniority Increases by One Trantor: 549690339 Reusable Animal Encouragement Talisman? Increase the chances of fishing? Isnt this exactly what Zhou needs? Could it be He actually fixed Zhous Fluorescence Talisman!? How is that possible!? Yue Lingers almond eyes were wide open, staring at Jiang Cheng. The astonishment in her eyes was iparable, and though she tried to hide it, she couldnt conceal it at all. Jiang Cheng was puzzled by Yue Lingers stare. Is she unsatisfied with the fifty-fifty split? Jiang Cheng wondered to himself. He said in a gentle tone, Yue, do you have something to say? We are in the midst of discussing our coboration. Feel free to speak your mind. I Yue Linger opened her mouth but couldnt make a sound. What could she say? Kowtow and recognize Jiang Cheng as her dad? Yue Ran looked at Yue Linger with concern. She noticed that her usually sharp and adorable cousin seemed to have her soul sucked away whenever she encountered Jiang Cheng. Yue Ran admitted that Jiang Cheng was highly valued by President Lu, and it wasnt surprising that such an excellent, distinguished male cultivator would appeal to Yue Linger. But as a female cultivator, shouldnt Yue Linger at least have some restraint? Being unable to speak upon seeing Jiang Cheng, how could that be eptable? Linger! Master Jiang is asking you a question. Quickly look at the contract and see if youre satisfied with the earnings from crafting talismans, Yue Ran urged. Jiang Cheng also nodded, Yue, if youre unsatisfied, we can still discuss the profit-sharing ratio. When dealing with partners, Jiang Cheng was always very easy to talk to. Besides, the main work of crafting talismans was done by Yue Linger; he was just lying back and getting paid, so a little more or less didnt matter to him. Yue Linger just felt her lips were dry, and her throat itchy, unable to speak. She slowly lowered her head to look at the contract and saw the fifty-fifty split on it. A fifty-fifty split in the context of first-grade talismans was considered a very low profit share. Since the profits from first-grade talismans were already low, taking only half was tantamount to earning nothing. However, Yue Linger had some experience with Zhou Yunshans Fluorescence Talisman task. That was a talisman worth six thousand! If they were to share fifty-fifty, that would be a full three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones! This was more than she could earn from crafting ten second-grade talismans! Yue Linger forced herself to calm down and went over the contract carefully. She realized she had been overthinking it. The price of a Reusable Animal Encouragement Talisman was indeed not as exaggerated as six thousand. But in the examples provided in Jiang Chengs contract, the average price for one Reusable Animal Encouragement Talisman was around twenty-five hundred! Two thousand five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones! Thats equivalent to a talisman being able to buy three to four square meters of housing in Wuyue! This profit margin was simply outrageous! As Yue Linger flipped through the contract, she became even moreposed. Jiang Chengs contract clearly recorded the profit distribution model for a Reusable Animal Encouragement Talisman. First off, half of the listed price of the talisman, which was over a thousand Spirit Stones, was to be invested with the Task Hall of Tongtian Sect to establish the Wuyue Fish Care Fund. This fund aimed to protect the aquatic animal resources of Wuyue. Of the remaining thousand or so, after deducting the cost for raw materials and outsourcing for other cultivators to assemble the finished product, there was still about twelve hundred Spirit Stones to be split between her and Jiang Cheng. After calcting, in essence, she could earn about six hundred low-grade Spirit Stones for every Reusable Animal Encouragement Talisman she crafted. For a second-grade Talisman Master, such daily ie isnt considered high. Yue Linger could earn four to five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones just by casually crafting two second-grade talismans. But the problem was, restricted by her Qi cultivation level, she could only craft two second-grade talismans per day. And she had just reviewed the encouragement talisman crafting tutorial blueprint. With her ninth level of Qi cultivation, the strength of her ninth level spiritual power, plus her second-grade Talisman Master skills, she could craft twenty to thirty encouragement talismans a day without a problem. Taking twenty a day for the calction A six-hundred Low-grade Spirit Stone talisman Helping Jiang Cheng draw talismans, her ie for one day was: Twelve thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones!!! At this very moment, Yue Linger finally understood her cousins good intentions. She owed her cousin a serious apology. Sorry, she had underestimated Jiang Cheng before. Taking tasks from Jiang Cheng was simply too tempting! It was as tempting as squatting on the ground and picking up money with a bup bag, hardly any different. The size of such profits would make not only a novice second-tier Talisman Master like her envious, but also many seasoned third-tier Talisman Masters. Jiang Cheng saw Yue Linger had been looking at the contract for a long time without speaking, so he figured she was too embarrassed to speak up. So he took the initiative and said, Yue, if you are not satisfied with the share of the profits Before Jiang Cheng could finish, Yue Linger hastily spoke up and cut him off. Im satisfied, very satisfied! When do we start work? Seeing Yue Lingers enthusiasm for the work, Jiang Cheng couldnt help but nod in appreciation. Indeed, trusting the Talisman Master Association was the right decision; the Yue Linger they rmended to him was a very useful second-tier Talisman Master. Aside from being pretty, which might attract trouble like an enchantress, there were no other problems. Jiang Cheng had always judged others based on their inner qualities, such as character and work capacity. Even though Yue Lingers outstanding appearance was quite a w, Jiang Cheng still chose to trust her moral character and signed an official contract with her to jointly develop a reusable Animal Encouragement Talisman. With Yue Ran as a witness, Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger reached a cooperation. Afterward, Yue Ran went to deal with storing the relevant contract. Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger remained in the rest room where the contract was signed. With the official business over, Jiang Cheng prepared to go home and continue studying Dialogue with College Students, and took the initiative to stand up and say to Yue Linger, Yue, you can take the blueprint home to practice tonight, Ill bring you the rted tasks tomorrow, how does that sound? Youre the boss, what you say goes. In the presence of Jiang Cheng, even the normally proud Yue Linger lost her temper. After all, as a second-tier Talisman Master, she needed to rely on Jiang Cheng, the second prize winner, for her livelihood. In that case, I will take my leave Wait a moment! Yue Linger also stood up and called out to Jiang Cheng who was about to leave. Jiang Cheng, have you forgotten something? Jiang Cheng said in confusion, No, I havent. Remember the bet we made in front of Zhou in the Task Hall? Yue Linger said slowly. Her tone was calm, but her full chest heaved slightly, suggesting otherwise. Jiang Cheng sensed something off in the atmosphere and said hastily, About that, Yue, you really dont need to worry. Our bet was to repair. In fact, I didnt repair it; I made a new one, so you won the bet. You dont have to force yourself. That matter is over. Jiang, do you understand the consequences of making a Heavenly Dao oath? If an oath is made but not honored, at the least ones cultivation level will stagnate, at worst Heavenly Dao will impose a Heavenly Punishment, scattering the soul and excluding it from reincarnation, Yue Linger said, her delicate hands clenched, her body trembling slightly. She took a deep breath and said, I dont want to bet. Jiang Cheng understood. For Yue Linger, this matter left no room for maneuver. Before the Heavenly Dao, all cunning was useless. He was definitely going to be a Dad today. Yue Linger, head bowed, stood in ce struggling for a long time, unable to get over the hurdle in her heart. But then she thought, Jiang Cheng was now her patron, handing her tons of Spirit Stones as if they cost him nothing; even a real father couldnt match up to him, right? Yue Linger, her face flushed with effort, her eyes brimming with tears, looked up, her lips moved, and in an extremely low voice she said to Jiang Cheng, Daddy Jiang Cheng, cringing to the tips of his toes, quickly said, The words have been said, and this matter ends here; let us never speak of it again! Yue, I must go now, goodbye! Having finally uttered the long-restrained words, Yue Linger felt no more embarrassment but a sense of relief. She watched Jiang Cheng awkwardly flee because of her words and suddenly, she felt less prejudiced against him. He was actually not bad, handsome, and quite cute in personality, wasnt he? Chapter 72 - 72 Today Sunny to Cloudy Chapter 72: Today Sunny to Cloudy Trantor: 549690339 For a second-tier Talisman Master, grasping the drawing method of a first-ranking Talisman was not at all a difficult task. After Jiang Cheng submitted the drawing blueprint to Yue Linger, Yue Linger managed to draw the Animal Encouragement Talisman effortlessly overnight. However, just like Lu Benwei, Yue Linger did not understand why Jiang Cheng wanted to restrict the capabilities of the Animal Encouragement Talisman. But when it came to making money, understanding wasnt important, as long as the cash was in hand. On the afternoon of July 15th, Yue Linger, carrying forty Reusable Type Animal Encouragement Talismans, arrived at Jiang Chengs apartment. Standing in front of the apartment door, Yue Linger, who had dressed up carefully, subconsciously took deep breaths. This was her first time visiting another male cultivators home. Although the public order of modern society was very good, there was still a bit of risk for a female cultivator to visit a male cultivators home alone. What if Jiang Cheng had prepared all sorts of strange Talismans and then used them on her Yue Linger shook her head, dispelling the wild thoughts in her mind. In her impression, Jiang Cheng was gentle and courteous, definitely not the type of disgusting male cultivator who would y dirty tricks on female cultivators. It was even less likely for there to be any strange rtions between men and women. If there had been even a speck of stain on Jiang Chengs record, her cousin would not have introduced him to her. After steeling her mentality, Yue Linger knocked on the door of Jiang Chengs home. The anti-theft door opened quietly. Yue Linger was greeted by Liu Qing, who opened the door for her. Yue Linger: Isnt this Jiang Chengs home? Why is she the one opening the door? Could it be? Ah? Yue Linger looked at Liu Qing with disbelief. She had just been trying to rationalize on behalf of Jiang Cheng, saying he was a man without ws in character. Unexpectedly You cant judge a book by its cover Damn Jiang Cheng for being able to charm such a beautiful female cultivator Hes really capable!!! Hello, pleasee in, Liu Qing said simply. Listening to Liu Qings ethereal voice, Yue Lingers heart bled. Everyone has aspirations toward beautiful things, and Yue Linger was no exception. She believed that a beautiful female cultivator like Liu Qing should be standing on the summit of mountains, ethereal and untainted, eternally beautiful for ten thousand years. But in reality, the fairy was brought down by Jiang Cheng. Although Jiang Cheng was quite decent, he obviously did not deserve the fairy. At most, he was only suitable for a beautiful female cultivator like herself, with just a bit of attractiveness. Thats what Yue Linger thought. Of course, this did not mean she liked Jiang Cheng; she was just stating the facts. As a current student at Lotus Cloud University in the Capital City, Yue Linger had seen quite the world and had a rather broad perspective. Male cultivators who were handsomer than Jiang Cheng, had a better character than Jiang Cheng, and were more capable of earning money than Jiang Cheng Although she hadnt met one yet, the world was so big, she should eventuallye across one right? Yue Linger was not very sure. The apartment was not very spacious, after all, it was only a little over forty square meters. After Yue Linger walked in, she almost immediately saw Jiang Cheng, who was hunched over the table writing. She went straight to Jiang Chengs side, took out a storage bag, and ced it on the table. Forty Talismans are all here, she said. Jiang Cheng, who had been abruptly disturbed, was forced out of his study mode. He looked up nkly, and upon seeing Yue Linger, he showed a smile, Yue, we had agreed on four in the afternoon, didnt we? Youve actuallye early. Yue Linger, seeing Jiang Chengs warm smile, felt somewhat ufortable, but thinking of Liu Qing, she immediately felt her blood rush to her head, and spoke in a rather unfriendly tone, I didnt want you to use punctuality as an excuse to knock off my pay. Jiang Cheng gently exined, Dont worry, our studio has always had a humane management style. We wont dock your pay, Yue. If you dont believe me, you can ask Liu Qing (Qing). Liu Qing? Yue Linger looked towards her hearts fairy. Liu Qing silently nodded. Shes also your employee? Yue Linger asked in surprise. Otherwise? Jiang Cheng asked, puzzled. So this ce Yue Linger gestured toward the floor. This apartment is temporarily serving as our studios office and employee dormitory. The apartment has two bedrooms, but they arent very big. If Yue is willing, you can also move in and live for free, however you like, Jiang Cheng exined with a smile. Ah, I see. Then its all good. Yue Linger sighed in relief. She thought as much; Jiang Chengs character was reliable. He definitely wouldnt have any improper rtionship with Liu Qing. What are you writing? Yue Linger saw the stack of books on Jiang Chengs table and asked curiously. Jiang Cheng said with a smile, You came at just the right time, Yue. I n to take the entrance exam for Lotus Cloud University, and Im studying the practical assessments for entering the university. Ah? It was the first time Yue Linger heard of someone studying for that. For the entrance assessment, isnt it just a simple test? she remembered thats how she did it. Jiang Cheng helplessly said, My college entrance exam scores werent high enough; I need to prepare properly. Yue, youre also from Lotus Cloud University, right? Could you tell me about your experience? I n to refer to these magazines as well. You really want to go to Lotus Cloud University? Mhm. Oh, Yue Linger pursed her lips, pulled out a chair, and naturally sat next to Jiang Cheng, recalling events from a year ago: Actually, that year Jiang Cheng listened and took notes seriously. With Yue Lingers firsthand experiencebined with the records from the magazines, he felt he was close to enlightenment. As long as he could grasp the inner logic of the practical assessments and pair that with the specialty Talismans he prepared in advance, entering Lotus Cloud University was nearly a sure thing. Seeing Jiang Cheng taking notes seriously, Yue Linger didnt make a sound to disturb him. She picked up a copy of Dialogue with College Students magazine from Jiang Chengs desk, wanting to read something to relieve her boredom. However, the well-known student interviewed in the magazine was someone she had never heard of at the school. But, with Lotus Cloud University having many departments and even several campuses, it was normal for her not to have heard about some fellow students. The magazine in Liang Kingdom was generally a reliable source of information, with strict scrutiny, so the chance of an error was very small. Basically, there werent any problems. While Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger discussed the university entrance assessment in the living room, Liu Qing stayed on her balcony the entire time. She was helping Jiang Cheng assemble the Fishing Talisman. It required using purchased finished parts like the Button Spirit Stone and the Fluorescence Talisman, among others. Combined with the Reusable Animal Encouragement Talisman drawn by Yue Linger, these were assembled into the Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman. This work was just simple repetitivebor, not interesting, and nothing was learned. But Liu Qing didnt say anything; she just silently helped Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng gave her an extramission of ten low-grade Spirit Stones per piece. She didnt know if this was a lot or a little, but she trusted that Jiang Cheng wouldnt shortchange her. After all, they were friends. With sunshine to bask in, a ce to stay, work to do, and Jiang Cheng who would buy her lemon water. Liu Qing was already very content with this kind of life. So there was really nothing toin about. Its just that Liu Qing sneaked a nce at Jiang Cheng, and at Yue Linger by his side. She felt a bit unhappy today. It must be because of the sunny weather turning to cloudy, perhaps. She looked up at the slowly drifting clouds in the sky. Go away. I hate it, a snake muttered under its breath. Chapter 73 - 73 Sea Tribe Celebration Chapter 73: Sea Tribe Celebration Trantor: 549690339 Under the strong support of the Task Hall of Tongtian Sect, Jiang Cheng held the delivery ceremony for the first batch of Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman in the conference room of Tongtian Sect. Bai Xiaohe acted as the host of the delivery ceremony. As the product developer, Jiang Cheng represented their studio in delivering the talismans to the users. Sun Decai, as the representative of the Task Hall, attended the delivery ceremony to support Jiang Cheng and the Fishing Talisman. Jiang Cheng personally handed the talisman to each purchaser and solemnly shook hands with them, taking photos as a memento. Of course, Jiang Cheng did not forget to instruct every user of the Fishing Talisman to read the manual carefully and use the talisman in ordance with regtions. After thepletion of the first batch of the ceremony, the Task Hall, in ordance with the previous agreement with Jiang Cheng, deposited half of the listed amount into the Fish Care Foundation, and the other half was given directly to Jiang Cheng. After receiving the payment and deducting a portion for the cost of materials and energy expenses, Jiang Cheng split the remaining Spirit Stones, about thirty-eight thousand, equally with Yue Linger. Each of them received an ie of neen thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. Yue, youve worked hard these past few days, but you cant ck off for now. In the future, youd better keep drawing talismans with all your might. However many you can draw, thats how many you should draw. On the way back to his studio, Jiang Cheng reminded Yue Linger. Yue Linger was naturally happy to receive the payment, but she didnt understand why she had to draw talismans with all her effort. But havent we alreadypleted the tasks from the Task Hall? Without new tasks, wont drawing more talismans be a waste? she asked. Drawing from the experience of the Muscle Rxation Talisman, Jiang Cheng analyzed, The influence of our talismans mainly depends on solid product quality, which spreads word of mouth among users. This method of promotion starts off slow, but once the reputation builds up, the speed of propagation can be terrifying. Today there might only be two tasks, tomorrow five, but the day after tomorrow there could be thirty, and two dayster a hundred. Yue Linger nodded her head, half-understanding, and said, So, I just need to focus on drawing the talismans, right? Yes, Jiang Cheng nodded, and then added, but dont push yourself too hard. Health is more important than making money. If the workload bes too great, well just have to ask the Talisman Master Association to find us a few more Talisman Masters. Upon hearing Jiang Chengs ns to hire new talisman masters, Yue Linger immediately became anxious. Although she was at the second tier and Jiang Cheng only had a second prize, their rtionship was not that of a second-tier guiding a second-prize recipient, it was theplete opposite. Yue Linger undoubtedly needed Jiang Cheng more, whereas to him it didnt matter much. He just needed someone to draw talismans for him, and it was not important whether that Talisman Master was her or not. Jiang, I will try my best, Yue Linger said, feeling insecure. Jiang Cheng was unaware of Yue Lingers thoughts. His earlier remarks were purely out of concern that his employee might copse from overwork. Jiang Cheng smiled gently and said, Work hard, but dont put too much pressure on yourself. When they reached the intersection, Yue Linger and Jiang Cheng parted ways with Liu Qing. She usually worked from home and only came to his apartment when she needed to deliver a batch of finished talismans. After the trio became a duo, Jiang Cheng continued walking forward with Liu Qing. They did not stop even after passing Wuyue Residence. Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing called out. Jiang Cheng turned around, looking at Liu Qing with a puzzled expression. Liu Qing quietly nced at a certain room on the neenth floor of Wuyue Residence across the street. Her intention was clear; she was asking Jiang Cheng why he wasnt taking her home. Jiang Cheng exined, Lets not go back for now. First, Ill take you to see something else. Where? Jiang Cheng pointed into the distance, his tone undisturbed, as if he was discussing a trivial matter. That vi area. Which one do you like? Liang Kingdom bordered the sea, which was known as the Chuanqi Sea, implying a ce where streams converge. Deep within the Chuanqi Sea, the Dragon King of the Dragon Pce ruled over his domain. Just as agricultural civilizations would build great walls to defend against nomadic tribes, in anticipation of possible attacks from the human race, representatives of the Sea Tribe, led by the Dragon King of Chuanqi, also constructed boundary fortresses and beacon towers in the shallow Seas to guard against the powerful humans. These ces served to defend against and repel human attacks and could also function as ports of entry on the border, offering limited ess to humans. However, humans seemed to have little interest in the deep-sea sovereignties. The mostmon urrences at the boundary fortresses were local fishermen venturing too deep when fishing, or the thundering passage of cargo ships carrying goods over the sea. In cases as minor as the Qi Cultivation Stage, the boundary fortresses would not intervene. After all, what trouble could cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Stage possibly cause? Let alone those at the Qi Cultivation Stage, even if they were at the Foundation Establishment or even Core Formation level, could they unleash all their might and send spells down to the ocean floor thousands of meters deep? Lets not joke about that. Seas thousands of meters deep serve as the mightiest shield for the Sea Tribe. As long as the Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation level elders of the Immortal Sects remain still, the power of the human dynasties surrounding the seas wouldnt pose any threat to the Sea Tribes control over the vast ocean territories. One hundred li east of Liang Kingdom, the continental shelf ends, and the water depth increases sharply. Within just three to five kilometers, the depth of the sea jumps from eighty meters to one thousand five hundred meters. The first frontier city established by the Dragon King of the Chuanqi SeaWuhuan Cityis situated here. The defending general of Wuhuan is a Nascent Soul stage Shark Demon known as Qi Chi. Normally, he operates in a human form created by illusion, but when its time to fight with all his might, he can transform back into his hundred-meter-long shark body. His power is unfathomably deep, terrifying to behold. A true deep-sea leviathan! But now, the Shark Demon Qi Chi has encountered a problem thats giving him a major headache. His wife is having a baby. For a Nascent Soul cultivator to have a child is usually a joyous asion, since many powerful cultivators are unable to have children at all. But the issue lies in whates after the birth. His wife is a Foundation Establishment stage female Shark Demon, which isnt a problem in itself, but the issue is that he married her, not caring about her cultivation level because he lusted after the trace of Dragon n bloodline in her. He thought it would be great if she could bear a Dragon Blood Shark. Heh. As it turned out, she actually did. Under normal circumstances, this would still be a cause for celebration. The problem arose when the Dragon n living in the deep-sea Dragon Pce got wind of it. Not only did the Dragon n find out, but they also began to propagate the idea that this was a symbol of unity and friendship between the dragon and shark species. You say they started a propaganda campaign, fine, but damned if the Dragon Kings third son didnt decide to personallye to Wuhuan Fortress to partake in the celebration feast for his little shark! To show the Dragon ns people-friendly side! Wuhuan City was a military fortress. Resources were scarce, and there werent many ces for entertainment. It couldnt hold a candle to the Underwater Fairnd that was the Dragon Pce! Of course, none of this was the main issue. The main issue was that it had been too long since thest war, and the garrison herewell, its not that military discipline wasx, but rather, what was military discipline? But you couldnt me Qi Chi for this; things were already like that when he took up his post! Fumbling the celebration feast and failing to entertain the Crown Prince was the lesser of his worries. If the esteemed Dragon n members noticed the frailty hidden behind the might of the Sea Tribe warriors, then the problem would be far more significant! The livelihoods of a million soldiers hung in the bnce, any slip-up could be disastrous To avoid such a situation, Qi Chi immediately ordered the entire garrison to startrge-scale public works half a year in advance, substitutingbor for relief. If the Crown Prince wasing, then a whole host of fortunate Sea Tribe nobility would surelye upon hearing the news. Parking lot, build it! Observation deck, build it! Amusement park, build it! A statue of the Dragon King, build it big and special! For the past half-year, Qi Chi had tirelessly overseen the construction sites prepared for the arrival of the Dragon ns Crown Prince. Every coral here, every brick, had been inspected by him multiple times. Now, the auspicious day was approaching. Those elders who loved lively events had already begun to arrive at Wuhuan in dribs and drabs. Qi Chi had no grand desires; he just wanted everyone toe safely and to return whole. These esteemed elders hadrge appetites and loved lively events; he only hoped they wouldnt cause any trouble on his territory! Chapter 74 - 74 Sun Yuan’s Dream Chapter 74: Sun Yuans Dream Trantor: 549690339 These past few days, the workload at the Forestry Bureau had been heavy, yet Sun Qing was quite happy. One reason for his happiness was that his son, Sun Yuan, had lived up to expectations and been epted to Wuyue Advanced Middle School. Another reason to be cheerful was that recently, Director Chen Qiming seemed to value him quite a bit; not only had he been frequently giving guidelines at work, but he also took good care of Sun Qing in daily life, showing a strong intention of grooming him to be the sessor at the Forestry Bureau. In the past, Sun Qing never expected to be the director of the Forestry Bureau. Because his talent for cultivation was average, and in his forties, he was only at the fifth level of Qi cultivation. With such strength, it was decent enough to be a Chief Clerk, basically waving goodbye to leadership positions like director. But the recent favor from Chen Qiming reignited Sun Qings hopes for promotion, and his life was also filled with a new drive. Before this, Sun Qings drive had always been to change his life through investment. Now, his work had shown significant improvement, and investment seemed less important. Chief Clerk, here are the records of changes in Wuyues fishery resources over the past few years, said an employee of the Forestry Bureau. Alright, just put it here, replied Sun Qing. Okay then. At this moment, Sun Qings office was piled with mountains of files,rge and smallthe newly delivered records of fishery resources looking quite endearing in front of those great piles. As the Chief Clerk, years of work experience allowed Sun Qing to have a pretty good idea about the resources surrounding Wuyue. For example, forest resources were generally on the decline. As for mineral resources, they were essentially facing exhaustion. As for fishery resources, they were generally on a steady increase. If thetest round of statistics from the Forestry Bureau did not vary much from previous years, then the Liang Kingdoms resource census had nothing to do with their Forestry Bureau. This was the advantage of a quiet job; while the power wasnt great, one almost never had to take the me. Mr. Sun? Director Chen Qiming arrived at Sun Qings office. Sun Qing stood up immediately and said, Director, do you have any orders for me? Chen Qiming waved his hand, No orders. Didnt you say at noon that you had a family dinner tonight? Its almost time to leave work. You go ahead, or you might get stuck in traffic. Director, this, it doesnt seem quite right, Sun Qing hesitated. Oh, its fine, everybody has emergencies from time to time. Go on, go on. Director, then I will take your kind offer and leave first, Sun Qing said. Wait, Chen Qiming stopped Sun Qing, pulling out two bottles of Spiritual Liquid from his storage bag, You have two kids at home, right? Jiang Cheng and Sun Yuan, isnt it? Here, this Spiritual Liquid was sent to me by a rtive from out of town, take it. Director, Spiritual Liquid is quite expensive, Sun Qing declined. Chen Qiming thought to himself: You think I want to give it away? If it wasnt for the fact that Jiang Cheng has something on me Take it, were colleagues after all. This Take it, take it. Its also a small token from your uncle. Jiang Cheng hadnt been home during normal human activity hours for many days now. But with the Muscle Rxation Talisman incident as a precedent, his aunt and uncle let him be, allowing him to start a talisman business outside ande home at any time he wanted. It had been two or three days since Sun Yuans middle school exam results were released. But due to Sun Qing being busy with work, they hadnt had time to celebrate, so today Sun Qing had specially taken leave to call out Jiang Cheng for the whole family to go out and enjoy a meal together. Jiang Cheng was rarely home early, but when he did return, he found himself constantly watched by Sun Yuan. Whats up? asked Jiang Cheng. Didnt you forget something? Sun Yuan said. Something? Yes. Whats that? The autograph! Upon hearing Sun Yuan mention it, Jiang Cheng remembered. He had been too busy with talisman drawing recently and almost forgot the promise he made to help Sun Yuan get Lin Yaos autograph. Jiang Cheng, always a man of his word, replied, Wait a moment, Ill ask her. Under Sun Yuans watchful gaze, Jiang Cheng went back to his room and took out amunication talisman. Jiang Cheng: My cousin wants an autograph from you, can you give him one? Lin Yao, on the other side of themunication talisman, almost instantly replied to Jiang Chengs message. Lin Yao: What autograph? Yaoers autograph? Lin Yao: Sure. Lin Yao: But for fairness, Jiang, you have to promise Yaoer one thing. Jiang Cheng: Can I just pay for it? Lin Yao: No! Jiang Cheng: Then forget it. Dont need it. Lin Yao: ? Jiang Cheng turned off themunication talisman, took out his storage bag, and retrieved three Medium-grade Spirit Stones. ording to the previous bet, if Jiang Cheng failed to get the autograph, he had topensate Sun Yuan with three hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, which were equivalent to three Medium-grade Spirit Stones. Just as Jiang Cheng was about to step out of the bedroom, Lin Yao initiated contact through the talisman once more. Jiang Cheng didnt want to deal with her, but thinking of the matter about the autograph, he still pressed to answer the call. Hello? Jiang. Jiang Cheng frowned and said, What is it? Yaoer has been quite freetely. Youre free, what does that have to do with me? I Jiang, you cane to visit Yaoer. You wont have to spend any money, as long as youre willing to spend some time with Yaoer and go for a walk, Yaoer will take care of the expenses. Im not free. Then, then Yaoer cane to visit you. Just being able to see you would be enough, I promise not to disturb anything important for you. No. There was silence on the other end of themunication talisman, so Jiang Cheng said, Hanging up. Wait! Dont hang up yet, Jiang! Hearing Jiang Cheng was about to hang up, Lin Yaos tone immediately became frantic. What else do you want to say? I Jiang, sometimes Yaoer wonders, that day when you confessed to Yaoer, if Yaoer hadnt rejected you, would we be a couple now? There are no ifs. Goodbye. After Jiang Cheng hung up, it wasnt more than a second before Lin Yao called back on themunication talisman. Jiang Cheng didnt n to answer, but Lin Yao kept calling. It seemed she had to say a few more words to him. What do you want? Jiang, recently when Yaoer sleeps at night, I always dream of you Nothing important, goodbye. Dont! Dont hang up, Jiang, Yaoer just wants to say onest thing! Jiang Cheng stayed silent, waiting for her to speak. But themunication talisman fell into a spell of silence. Just as Jiang Cheng thought the signal had been lost and was about to hang up, Lin Yaos extremely nervous voice came from the other side of the talisman: Jiang Cheng, if I say Ivee to like you, would you agree to be my be my boyfriend? Jiang Cheng didnt hesitate for a moment. He didnt answer whether he was willing or not, but instead said directly, I dont believe it. Goodbye. Jiang Cheng hung up themunication talisman and went outside to see Sun Yuan. Heres your Spirit Stone. I really couldnt get Lin Yaos autograph, Jiang Cheng admitted defeat. Sun Yuan held the Spirit Stone without a trace of joy in his eyes. He didnt want the Spirit Stone at all! What he wanted was Lin Yaos autograph! Unfortunately, his expectations for his cousin were too high. Maybe from the beginning, he shouldnt have expected Jiang Cheng to be able to strike up a conversation with Lin Yao. After all, Jiang Cheng used to stutter when speaking to female cultivators. How could he be expected to get Lin Yaos autograph? Lin Yao hugged her pillow tightly, curling up in a corner of the sofa. Large tears, apanied by sobbing, fell unstoppably from the corners of her eyes. In a moment, arge part of the pillow was soaked. Regardless of Jiang Chengs rejection, avoidance, or impatience, Lin Yao had been mentally prepared when she took the initiative to call him. Because it wasnt the first time that Jiang Cheng had rejected or avoided her. One more time made no difference. But when she had considered it for a long time and finally decided to follow the voice of her heart, to let go of her usual pride and face, and confess to Jiang Cheng, Jiang Chengs I dont believe it, instead of Im not willing or I dont like you, Completely prated all of Lin Yaos psychological defenses. It trampled her already crumbling dignity from head to toe. In Jiang Chengs heart, she didnt even have the most basic trust, so how could she dare to hope for his affection? Lin Yao buried her head in the pillow, full of regret. If she had just epted Jiang Chengs confession from the start, if she hadnt wanted to y with Jiang Chengs feelings, if she had been honest with Jiang Cheng from the beginning, if Time passed, and Lin Yao gradually stopped crying. The immense grief and regret were too much for her brain to bear, to think, a nk te. Now, Lin Yaos spirit was on the verge of copse, and if the situation continued to deteriorate, she might lose her mind and be someone unable to face reality. Whether it was her body or subconscious, everything Lin Yao possessed was striving for survival, attempting to save her dying soul. In the end, Lin Yaos subconscious grasped at a straw that could save her life and even change her fate. Her eyes slowly bing clear, at that moment, there was only one thought in Lin Yaos mind: If she could truly atone and change all the things Jiang Cheng disliked, might he forgive her and give her another chance? Chapter 75 - 75 The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea, Fishing Divine Skill Chapter 75: The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea, Fishing Divine Skill Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng, year 3210, July 21st. After many days of word-of-mouth fermentation, the Task Halls request to buy Fishing Talismans began to soar rapidly. At the same time, the Fishing Talismans already circting on the market had also taken on a substantial scale. Before, when no one had Fishing Talismans, those who possessed them were undoubtedly the center of attention. But now, when many people had Fishing Talismans, winning the Fishing Champion title required much more effort. By a small stream in the mountains. Two fishermen were huddled together, sneakily. Got the goods? Got em. How many did you get? Two. One for me and my colleague asked me to buy one for him. What about you? I got three. Good. Lets see them. Five Fishing Talismans were piled up together, and one of the young fishermen asked, Bro, the contract said everyone is limited to one. This wont cause any trouble, will it? What kind of trouble could fishing cause? Let me show you something fun! Watch closely! The older fisherman hung a talisman and threw it directly into the water. Then he immediately pulled up the line, and in an instant, he had caught a fish! Awesome! Encouraged by his youngerrades praise, the older fisherman couldnt help but show a pleased smile. Thats nothing. Ill catch another one! He promptly removed the old talisman, switched to a new one, and cast his line again! Secondster, he hooked a big fish! The young fisherman was dumbfounded: Damn, you can y it like this? Changing talismans with each catch is an old trick, not exciting. Let me show you something new Ive learned! Next, the older fisherman showcased thetest research findings from their circle. He took out a Three-Pronged Hook, which is a hook with three prongs. At its extreme, it could catch three fish at the same time and is therefore banned in no-fishing zones. However, this was an unknown small stream, with no such regtions. Even with multiple hooks, it was normally almost impossible to catch three fish at once under normal circumstances. But now, with the Fishing Talisman, everything was possible. The confident older fisherman cast his line into the water while the young one hastily reminded him, Bro, you havent tied the talisman yet! No rush. Watch carefully, and dont blink. The older fisherman took out a new Fishing Talisman, but he did not intend to tie the talisman to the nylon line; instead, he just held the talisman in his hand, gently leaning it against the line. Soon enough, the fishing rod was forcefully bent by a big pull! Damn! So the talisman doesnt have to be tied on; it just needs to be close to the line to work! The young fisherman waspletely shocked by his brothers session of moves. By now, he could not guess what other tricks could be yed with the Fishing Talisman Wu Mountain, Tuo Luo Reservoir. Three fishermen carrying bamboo rods and buckets walked up to the reservoir. Liu, why are we here at Tuo Luo Reservoir? I remember fishing is not allowed here, right? No need to remember, look at that warning sign over there. They definitely forbid fishing. If fishing isnt allowed, why did wee all this way? To have a pic? Or see who can drink more water? Stop, stop, stop, no more babbling. Hold your bamboo rods properly, and watch my moves in a moment, Liu confidently said. I really want to see what kind of stunt youre going to pull off today! Dont even start with that, you have no idea, Liu knows plenty of tricks. Have you tried it or something? Seeing the conversation veering off course, Liu, the leader of the group, immediately put a stop to it. Cut the crap. From now on, everyone keep your eyes peeled, and dont miss anything! As his two eager friends watched, Liu put down the bucket, set up the fishing rod, and took out two things from his pocket. One was a spool of nylon fishing line. The other was the famous Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman! The Fishing Talisman was practically a household name among the fishingmunity. In Wuyue City, fishermen now fell into two categories. The first kind were those who had bought a Fishing Talisman for the first time but had yet to receive it; the second were those who had bought one many times over, also yet to receive it. No way, Liu, taking out a Fishing Talisman wont help, were not allowed to fish here! a friend kindly reminded him. Liu looked at his friend, his face expressionless as if carved from rotten wood. He was now toozy to exin and simply hastened his movements. He first wound the nylon line around one end of the fishing rod, then tied the other end of the line to the Fishing Talisman. Then, Liu pressed the switch on the Fishing Talisman and threw it directly into the water. After that, Liu slowly reeled in the rod, gradually dragging the Fishing Talisman close to the shore. The scene that followed would forever be etched in the memories of the two onlookers. Arge swarm of fish thrashed around the Fishing Talisman, and Liu dragged them bit by bit to the shallow waters near the bank! Some fish even continued to struggle toward the Fishing Talisman after being stranded! Holy shit! You can actually do it like that! Thats freaking awesome! Its really awesome this time! Liuughed heartily, What are you two gawking at? Get in the water and pick up some fish! One hesitated, But were not allowed to fish in the reservoir. The other thought more clearly, Picking up fish! Were picking up fish! How can picking up fish be considered fishing? If youre not picking, I will! Move, the fish are practically swimming into my bucket themselves! In the backyard of the Treasure Talismans Store, there was a secret research room. As a renowned Talisman Shop in Wuyue City, the research room of Treasure Talismans wasvishly arranged. But at the moment, the two Talisman Masters inside wore stern faces, intently staring at a newly unsealed talisman on the table. This Talisman was the recently famous Fishing Talisman in the whole of Wuyue Citythe Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman! One of the junior Talisman Masters asked, So, what do you think? Can we replicate it? The other, a second-level Talisman Master, shook his head. The drawing method of this talisman is a bit peculiar, but after all, its just a first-level talisman, so its not too difficult. However The junior Talisman Master, a bit anxious, asked, However, what? This talisman has very distinct features, its approach to achieving functions is quite unusual. If we rashly replicate it, it will be easy to get caught, and the Talisman Master Association will surely intervene. The risk is too high. In the world of Immortal Gods, things rted to Cultivating Immortality, such as Talismans, Magical Treasures, Elixirs, Formations, Cultivation Techniques, and Immortal Law, all have copyrights. If someone in Jiang Cheng certified a talisman, its equivalent to dering ownership of that talisman type, and thus Jiang Cheng would then have the copyright. Of course, this copyright was limited tomercial copyright. It onlyes into effect whenmercial interests are involved. General activities like a Talisman Master creating a Fishing Talisman for personal fishing, or an association using the Fishing Talisman as a test for examinees, and other such nonmercial activities, werent restricted by copyright. The junior Talisman Master from Treasure Talismans, who clearly saw the vastmercial potential of the Fishing Talisman, could only pound the table in regret upon learning that they couldnt replicate it. Dont worry. If we cant imitate, we can still modify, said the second-level Talisman Master, running his hands over the grooves of the Reusable Animal Encouragement Talisman. This talisman has a lot of redundancy and great potential for modification! If we offer a paid modification service, we could make just as much, if not more, than from selling the talisman itself! Chapter 76 - 76 Order Explosion Chapter 76: Order Explosion Trantor: 549690339 Huff, huff, huff Themunication talisman rang. Hello? Jiang Cheng, are you awake yet? Huff, yeah, huff, Im awake. That, Hes voice sounded quite conflicted over themunication talisman, Are you free to talk now? Is Miss Liu by your side? Jiang Cheng: ? Jiang Cheng stopped his morning run, puzzled, Liu Qing isnt by my side. So, what are you doing now? Im running by the roadside. Really running? Of course. You scared me to death. He heaved a huge sigh of relief. He, you called me early in the morning, whats up? That Is Miss Liu really not beside you, huh? Really. Shes not. Jiang Cheng reiterated his assurance. He didnt understand why He kept asking about Liu Qing. Could it be that she called early in the morning just to ask about Liu Qings whereabouts? Oh right, I almost forgot the important matter. That is, the tasks for your talismans increased by over a hundredst night. I estimate there might be even more today, so keep it up. But dont overwork yourself, take care of your health, and if you dont feel like doing it, Ill find a way to help you turn them down. Over a hundred tasks suddenly weighed down on Jiang Cheng, and even if Yue Linger worked at full capacity to draw talismans, she could only manage about thirty a day at most. To deal with over a hundred tasks using only Yue Linger, they would need at least three or four days. But who could say there wouldnt be even more tasks tomorrow? Despite the pressure, Jiang Cheng still seemed very calm. Dont worry, He, Im starting to address the production issue these few days. I wont let the clients wait too long. Jiang Cheng hung up on Hes call and found Yue Lingers contact in themunication talisman, but then he checked the time. Seven in the morning, a bit too early. Let her sleep a little longer. At eight oclock, Jiang Cheng, carrying breakfast, knocked on the apartment door on time. Almost the instant he knocked, Liu Qing had already opened the door. During this time, they had quite the understanding between them, with each day passing much the same. Jiang Cheng handed over the breakfast, which Liu Qing naturally epted. Jiang Cheng entered the apartment, while Liu Qing stayed put, holding the breakfast, closing the door for him before she too entered. The morning sun was pleasant, and Jiang Cheng, feeling it was about time, called Yue Linger using themunication talisman. Hello A personszy voice, sounding half-asleep, came through themunication talisman. He told me there are over a hundred more tasks for talismans, Jiang Cheng stated the fact. Hmm The person continued in theirnguid tone. Im nning to find more talisman masters. Hmm!? Yue Lingers voice suddenly became sharp. Can youe over? Id like to discuss this with you in person, said Jiang Cheng. Sure, sure, Ill be right there! Yue Linger quickly hung up the call. She was now devoid of any sleepiness, her mind preupied with the thought of what if Jiang Cheng no longer needed her. A huge sense of crisis struck, and Yue Linger sat up in her pajamas, pondering on her bed. She found that her sole advantage over other second-order talisman masters seemed to be her daughter status! What was once a difficult matter for her to mention had now be her advantage. They say that fortune turns with time, do not look down on the young and poor. But this rule, when applied to Jiang Cheng, surely turned too quickly, didnt it? Liu Qing wouldnt bask in the sun while eating. She usually prefers eating in a cool, quiet ce with a sense of security. For instance, at this moment, as Jiang Cheng sorted out his strategy for the Lotus University practical assessment, Liu Qing sat quietly beside him, holding the breakfastmeat buns bought by Jiang Chengand ate with small bites. If it werent for the asional wafts of her cool scent, Jiang Cheng wouldnt even know that Liu Qing had gone off elsewhere. After spending some time together, not only had Liu Qing grown ustomed to Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Cheng had also be ustomed to Liu Qing. He didnt need to look; simply by the scent and its distance, he could tell what she was doing at the moment. As for thebat assessment strategy, with the relentless efforts Jiang Cheng put in during these days, he almost had itpletely organized. However, there was a little interlude when, after gathering Yue Lingers experiences, Jiang Cheng discovered while organizing that what Yue Linger had said differed somewhat from the records in Dialogue with College Students. A regr person might have raised doubts, but as a nner with some knowledge of psychology, Jiang Cheng knew it was entirely normal for different people to recount events differently. Because a persons subconscious mind always tries to either vilify or beautify past memories. This is a self-protection mechanism. After revising a portion of his notes, Yue Lingers description and the records from Dialogue with College Students now matched up perfectly. Next, Jiang Cheng focused on thoroughly studying the materials, striving to uncover the design ideas and underlying logic of Lotus Cloud Universitys practical assessments! Then, using these underlying thoughts, he nned to design special Talismans for the assessment in advance! Finally, he would confidently enter university and be a proud college student. Thud, thud, thud. The door was knocked. Without needing Jiang Cheng to say anything, the housekeeper of Liu University took the initiative to open the door. Yue Linger rushed in, covered in dust. Strapped for time, she had been jogging all the way and was slightly out of breath, but her face still wore light makeup that added to her charms, and she had even applied some lip balm. Yue Linger was not a female cultivator who liked to wear makeup; rather, every time she came to Jiang Chengs ce, she needed makeup to give her somefort. After all, she was facing a woman with the surname Liu! Only the person concerned knew how much pressure that was. Have you already found other Talisman Masters? Yue Linger asked as soon as she came in. Jiang Cheng shook his head, Not yet, I wanted to discuss it with Yue first. Yue Linger pulled out a chair and sat opposite Jiang Cheng, saying as calmly as possible, The Talisman is yours, you can decide who draws it, I have no right to interfere. Jiang Cheng nodded, Thats true, but Yue, after all, is a second-level Talisman Master, and you have much more experience and connections than I do. Hearing Jiang Chengs words, Yue Lingers beautiful eyes flickered slightly, What do you mean? Id like to ask Yue to help me find some Talisman Masters, and then have Yue manage them, such as checking the quality of their Talismans, arranging their drawing schedules, and assigning them tasks. How does that sound? You want me to? Yes. Why do you trust me so much? Arent you afraid Ill mess up your Talismans? Jiang Cheng smiled confidently, So, Yue, would you mess them up? I Yue Linger bit her lower lip lightly, knowing she couldnt refuse Jiang Cheng. If she refused Jiang Cheng, he could easily find a more experienced Talisman Master to rece her. I have no problem with it, Yue Linger said. Jiang Cheng nodded, Regarding the treatment of other Talisman Masters, I was thinking of keeping our previous agreement of a fifty-fifty split, and Ill hand it all to Yue, who can then pay them. Does that sound good? No, Yue Linger said. Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, What if we increase it a bit more Yue Linger spoke earnestly, No, no need to increase. Taking fifty percent is too much for me; I only want thirty percent, but I have a condition. Please, go ahead, Yue, Jiang Cheng said. In the future, if you have any Talismans, give them to me to draw first. Jiang Cheng was taken aback and then nodded, Of course, as long as youre willing. Yue Linger heaved a huge sigh of relief. In this deal, she went from fifty down to thirty percent, which may seem like a loss, but in reality, she had secured the right to a long-term partnership with Jiang Chengs future prospects unlimited. I also have a condition, Jiang Cheng said. Go on. Ill give you forty percent, and the other Talisman Masters will get thirty percent, youll take a ten-percent cut. Of course, if you draw them yourself, youll take the full forty percent. No, no, thirty percent is already enough, Yue Linger was well aware of the profits from Fishing Talisman, and thirty percent was actually quite a lot. Jiang Cheng exined, Its okay for the other Talisman Masters to take thirty percent, but youre different. You have the additional workload of management, which is harder, so you should get more. Yue Linger fixed her gaze on Jiang Cheng, struggling for a long while before reluctantly nodding her head. It was a situation she couldnt help! He was gentle and considerate. She simply couldnt resist his requests! Chapter 77: Who Says the Fish Race Has No Foundation Establishment? Chapter 77: Who Says the Fish Race Has No Foundation Establishment? Trantor: 549690339 Outrageous! This is simply outrageous! Below a cliffside waterfall, the Aquatic Tribes Foundation Establishment cultivator Ruolin, holding a small fish in his hands, burst into an indignant rage after perusing the memories of the fish. How dare the Human Race openly vite the peace treaty! Using bewitching spells, toe, deceive! To attack by stealth! Our younglings of the Aquatic Tribe! The burgeoning life force of our future! Aquatic Tribe broadly refers to all demon races that live in the water. However, it generally represents only those living in freshwater. Sea monsters, due to their vast numbers, are separately categorized as the Sea Tribe. Ruolin first tossed the little fish back into the water, fuming, If this fish hadnt been too small to grab the hook, I fear it wouldnt have made it back Damn it! With a casual flick of his hand, Ruolin unleashed a powerful spell that instantly sliced away arge swath of the ancient trees surrounding the waterfall! Although the Freshwater Fish Tribe has been weak in recent years, it doesnt mean you can bully us like this! It was one thing when you preyed on the foolish little fish, but now youre using bewitching spells to target the smart and brave fish for your consumption! If this continues, who among us will be able to awaken their intelligence and transform into monsters!? What a heinous n to cut off our lineage! The more Ruolin thought, the angrier he got. If humans were fishing normally, he wouldnt concern himself with it. There are numerous fish in the world, and of these vast numbers, only one in ten thousand might awaken intelligence and transform into monsters. These fish are extremely brave and intelligent and would never normally be caught by humans. So even if human fishing increased, it actually wouldnt affect the existence of the Freshwater Fish Tribe at its core. Moreover, in recent years, the Human Race had voluntarily imposed fishing bans to help the Aquatic Tribe recover and regain their strength, marking the best period of rtions between the two races. But now, Ruolin understood. The fishing ban was nothing but a cunning ruse by the deceitful Human Race! Their goal was to use this sinister bewitching method to ensnare all the young with the potential to awaken intelligence and transform, in one fell swoop! To eradicate the future of the Freshwater Fish Tribe at its roots! Fine, fine, fine, so this is how you want to y? Dont me me, Ruolin, for being unprincipled if you are unkind! I want to see just how many strange talismans you have up your sleeve! Ruolin dived into the water, transforming into a ck carp with a sh, darting away at incredible speed. After the Five Great Immortal Sects took control of the world, to maintain enduring peace between the Human Race and the various demon races, territories were divided based on actual distribution for both humans and demon races. For instance, Liu Qings hometown, Mount Tian. Officially, its the Mount Tian Demon Race Nature Reserve. It is currently thergest settlement area fornd demon races as well as the strongest and most well-preserved in terms of power. The ocean demon races collectively referred to as the Sea Tribe reside in various marine areas and the deep sea. Since the Human Race has limited exposure to the seas, the Sea Tribe and humans have remained uninvolved with one another. Compared to the ocean demon races, however, the Freshwater Fish Tribe has suffered much more. The area of freshwater is inherently iparable to that of the ocean, and the waters are shallower, leading to unavoidable conflicts with the Human Race without any depth to buffer them. Therefore, the Freshwater Fish Tribe has always had it rough, significantly weaker in strength than their oceanic distant rtives. Of course, this is a general statement. Individually speaking, there are powerful entities in the Freshwater Fish Tribe. Apart from the protected demon races within the reserves, there are also quite a few demon races with status legally residing in the human territories. The most famous among them are the guardian beasts of some sects or the dragon fish bred by royal pces. These demon races have lived alongside humans for a long time, eventually turning legitimate, not only enjoying human rights but, upon reaching the Nascent Soul Stage and attaining full transformation, even legally marrying into the Human Race. Compared to these legitimate demon races with status, Liu Qing, the Snake Demoness who sneaked out of the reserve, is unquestionably an undocumented resident among humans. And even though Jiang Cheng wouldnt like to admit it, he truly employs an illegal worker. It just so happens that the treatment his illegal worker receives would make the vast majority of people quite envious. Bai Wendao walked hands behind his back along the banks of Wu River. Its not that he didnt want to fish, but because he usually paid little attention to fishing circles, by the time he heard about the existence of Fishing Talismans, they had already sold out in Wuyue City. ording to Bai Xiaohe, there were at least two to three hundred cultivators waiting in line for a talisman ahead of him. Bai Xiaohe even covertly suggested to Bai Wendao that he should go to Jiang Cheng directly and buy a Fishing Talisman in private. However, Bai Wendao rejected this suggestion. Bai Wendao knew Jiang Cheng well; with their close personal rtionship, if he went to Jiang Cheng for a talisman, he likely wouldnt even have to pay. The problem alsoy there. Bai Wendao did not want to casually owe someone a favor over a Fishing Talisman that he could simply wait for. Its said that the production of Fishing Talismans is on the rise, and with just a few more days of waiting, one could get their hands on them. As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who has lived well over a century, he truly didnt mind waiting these extra few days. That being said Seeing countless fellow anglers passionately fishing with all sorts of techniques, Bai Wendao was quite envious. In the midst of a peaceful fishing atmosphere, a fisherman suddenly cried out, Hey! Wheres my Fishing Talisman?! Mines gone too!!! Ah? Mine as well! Following several screams, at the Wu River bank, the Fishing Talismans of five or six anglers suddenly disappeared. This incident frightened everyone too much to continue fishing. The talisman, worth several thousand Spirit Stones, was more precious than life itself and could not be taken lightly. As the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator present, Bai Wendao keenly sensed something amiss. Typically, loss or theft falls under the jurisdiction of the constables of the Six Fan Gate and is none of Bai Wendaos business. However, trouble caused by monsters would be a different matter. Bai Wendao stomped one foot on the ground, immediately taking to the air, hovering above the Wu River as the anglers watched on. He focused his energy into his lower abdomen and called out over the waters below, Which friend from the Demon Race took the liberty of visiting Wuyue today? Would you care to show yourself for a chat with Bai? Seeing no movement in the water, Bai Wendao scoffed, and with a flick of his sleeve, an invisible sword energy shed towards the water! Upon impact with the water surface, the waves erupted to a heightparable to seven or eight floors. Amid the multitude of sshing droplets, a ck carp struggled and flipped, transforming into a human shape! However, the human form of the ck carp was still seriously wed due to insufficient cultivation levels. Ruolin revealed himself, and being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator as well, he could also float in mid-air. Yet, faced with Bai Wendao, who possessed Great Perfection in Foundation Establishment, Ruolin, at a mid-stage level, seemed somewhat less imposing. You humans employ trickery to undermine the foundation of our race and still have the audacity to stand there and speak so righteously? Bai Wendao furrowed his brow, Friend, what makes you say that? Do these talismans belong to your Human Race? They do, what of it? These talismans ensnare my races excellent descendants in one fell swoop, how is that not targeting my race? Bai Wendao wondered, If the descendants of your race are truly excellent, then how could they be ensnared so easily? Isnt that the mark of the inept? Ruolin felt his blood boil with anger and retorted, Thats simply preposterous! Friend, dont speak deceitfully. Youve damaged the property of the Human Race, yet I havent even sought rpense from you. Oh? You abduct our races descendants and still expect me topensate you? The Human Races fishing is a natural principle of survival of the fittest. Even within the Fish Tribe itself, theres the matter of bigger fish eating smaller ones. If you disagree, friend, you may confront Bai and test your strength against mine. If you defeat me, I shall confine myself within the city walls, never again setting foot by the river. If you cannot do so, please respect the natural order. Ruolin held his breath for a moment, but he dared not make a move. Because, indeed, he could not win. He was a fish demon, not a fool. Dont underestimate our n, human. One day, Ruolin will surely return to seek your wise counsel! After Ruolins escape, the people praised Bai Wendaos righteous actions while pondering the meaning behind Ruolins words. Do you think, when that fish demon spoke of excellent descendants, it meant that the Fishing Talisman catches fish of good quality? Indeed, I ate one yesterday, and it seemed much more delicious than the usual fare. My cultivation improved a lotst night. Damn, it even invigorates your vitality! Its very possible. No need for maybes, the other day I had a sudden breakthrough and my power increased enormously. Those who understand, know what I mean. I need to catch more. As long as I can keep my partner satisfied at home, what fish cant I freely catch? Me too. Buddy, are you selling the fish you catch? How much for one? I dont want it for vitality, just want to taste how much more delicious the fish meat can be. Really, its not for vitality, its just that Ive always liked eating fish since I was a kid. Chapter 78: Plan for the Future Chapter 78: n for the Future Trantor: 549690339 Amid the hype from some unreliable rumors, people outside the angling circle began to pay attention to Jiang Chengs Fishing Talismans. As a result, the number of requests for Fishing Talismans at the Task Hall soared along with their strong reputation. So much so that He almost couldnt keep up by herself. To avoid dys in selling Fishing Talismans, Sun Decai had to temporarily assign other disciples to work under her. A mere month ago, He, an ordinary female disciple from the Tongtian Sects Outer Sect, was unknown, but after getting to know Jiang Cheng for a month, she suddenly became the sought-after hotcake and part of the management team in the Task Hall. Even the Task Halls top Elder, Sun Decai, had to speak to He in a pleasant and courteous manner. Because Sun Decai knew that Bai Xiaohe and Jiang Cheng had a close rtionship. Given Jiang Chengs habit of changing female cultivators every day, the exact nature of Bai Xiaohe and Jiang Chengs closeness was probably only known to them. After all, this was an open secret to any discerning observer, no need for further exnation. The Task Halls business was booming, and Yue Lingers talisman subcontracting work was also chaotic with busyness. After Jiang Cheng entrusted Yue Linger with the task of making Fishing Talismans, she used her connections in the Wuyue Talisman Realm to find talisman subcontractors for Jiang Cheng. Advancement in rank for Talisman Masters is simr to the cultivation level; the higher the rank, the more difficult it is to advance, and the number of Talisman Masters decreases correspondingly. In Wuyue, Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators are asmon as dogs, or even more numerous than the fish in the river. Once reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, theyre mostly the senior leaders of various colleges and government bodies. And when ites to the Core Formation Stage, they are few and far between. In all of Wuyue, the mighty Core Formation experts could be counted on ones fingers. Wuyues sole third-rank Talisman Master is Lu Wang, president of the Tongtian Sects Talisman Master Association, and the remaining second-rank Talisman Masters, when they are not the pirs of certain shops, are elite teachers like Lu Benwei. Therefore, the talisman subcontractors Yue Linger could find were all experienced first-rank Talisman Masters. As a second-rank Talisman Master, Yue Linger still managed to keep the first-rank Talisman Masters in check. Although each first-rank Talisman Masters output wasnt high, with the most productive one managing only eighteen talismans per day, the sheer number of Talisman Masters led to a considerable daily output. It was just that the Task Halls requests seemed to be growing even faster. So there were never enough Talisman Masters, and Yue Linger always had to help Jiang Cheng interview new ones. She was so busy that she even neglected her own makeup and attire. At night, Yue Pingy on the couch doing nothing, watching Yue Linger hurriedly tidy up after dinner and get ready to leave. Sis? Are you going out thiste at night? Shut up. You shoulde back early, or if mom finishes her square dance and finds out youre not home Shut up. Hey, Ive been eyeing a Messenger Talismantely. If someone bought it for me, I probably wouldnt be interested in anything else. Without another word, Yue Linger flicked her wrist and a dozen medium-grade Spirit Stones flew out of her storage bag,nding on Yue Ping. Yue Ping was dumbfounded. A dozen medium-grade Spirit Stones were worth over a thousand low-grade Spirit Stones! Sis, when did you be so rich? Can you shut up now? Absolutely, more than capable! Yue Linger sighed at her useless brother. Although she often mocked Yue Ping, she knew in her heart that he wasnt bad in terms of studies, talent, or looks; in fact, he could even be deemed very outstanding among his peers. But after she met Jiang Cheng, she realized the gap between her brother and Jiang Cheng was simply too vast. Some spend their summer break after college entrance exams doing nothing. Others start businesses during their summer break after exams, making even a proud, high-minded, second-rank Talisman Master like her willingly work for them. Was this Yue Pings problem? No, this was Jiang Chengs problem! Perhaps even Yue Linger hadnt noticed, but after meeting Jiang Cheng, she subconsciouslypared him with other male cultivators. Yue Lingers once rtively normal standards for a partner had been unknowingly influenced by Jiang Cheng to a level that other male cultivators would find daunting. Sis? Whats with that look? Yue Ping asked, puzzled by Yue Lingers expression. Yue Linger looked at her useless little brother and sighed, If youre ever short on money, just ask your sister. Jiang, *cough cough*, its not easy for mom and dad to make money either. Oh. Yue Ping nodded happily. Now that his sister had struck it rich, was he considered a Rich Second Generation too? At the confluence where Wu River met Ming River. Ruolin was swimming slowly underwater. He had been a bit too impulsive before. Although it was indeed hateful that the Human Race intended to exterminate their Freshwater Fish Tribe, to be fair and truthful, the current gap between the Freshwater Fish Tribe and the Human Race was very, very, veryrge. Whether it was overall strength or peakbat power, the Freshwater Fish Tribe couldnt hold a candle to the Human Race. Not to mention that among the humans, there were behemoths like the Five Great Immortal Sects looming high above. The disparity made him feel a deep sense of powerlessness and fear. Enough, this matter cannot be rushed; we must think in the long term. Brother Ruolin? Have you noticed it too? As Ruolin was thinking, an old friend swam up to him from across. Juya, a Nian Fish Demon, was at thete Foundation Establishment Stage of his cultivation. Brother Juya? Whats this about? Ah! Did you hear that noise? Im actually on my way to Wuyue to settle ounts with those humans! Such bewildering sorcery is definitely not normal! Many of the youngsters I had high hopes for have all been taken down by this strange magic! Brother Juya, I have juste back from Wuyue myself. We cannot be impulsive about this; we must n for the long term. n for the long term my ass! The humans are already shitting on my head, and Im supposed to n for the long term with them? In the cultivation world, whoever has the bigger fist is right! Once I teach them a lesson, those arrogant humans will remember this for a long time! Brother, will you join me? Ruolin hurriedly shook his head, saying, Ill pass. Juya snorted coldly, looking down on Ruolin a little. Then Ill go alone! Ruolin had intended to go to the ancestral temple in the heart of Ming River, but seeing Juyas departing back, he decided it was better to wait for Juya right there. Sure enough, it didnt take half a day for Juya to return, his face bruised and swollen. Brother Juya, what happened to you I just identally ran into a big rock. The weather today is bad, and the water is murky with low visibility. Plus, being a Nian, my vision is poor, so its normal to hit a rock, right? Indeed, indeed, Ruolin nodded, politely not asking further. Juya said awkwardly, About this sorcery thing, indeed we cannot be impulsive; we must think in the long term. As the two were talking, a dark-skinned, tall, and plump cultivator hurried over from afar. Hun River, a Yuyao Monster, at the early Foundation Establishment Stage of cultivation. Are the two seniors also heading to Wuyue? Hun River asked. Weve juste back. Although its urgent, dont rush; in any case, start by thinking in the long term Seeing the reticent demeanor of Ruolin and Juya, Hun River became indignant. Seniors, theres no need to exin further. I understand. This matter is about the honor of the fish tribe and the future of the younger generation. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I must do my duty! I take my leave! Watching Hun Rivers retreating back, Ruolin and Juya squatted in ce in tacit understanding. How long do you think itll take for him toe back? Since Yuyao swim slowly, I guess itll take a day. I guess ten hours. What shall we bet on? Lets bet my treasured copy of Taixu Goddess Record. Chapter 79: Jiang Cheng Already Has a Path to Certain Death Chapter 79: Jiang Cheng Already Has a Path to Certain Death Trantor: 549690339 Wuyue Residence. The apartment today wasnt much different from usual. Liu Qing stayed on her domaina balcony not far from Jiang Cheng, quietly basking in the sun, while Jiang Cheng sat alone at the living room table, organizing his books. After days of reading, summarizing, categorizing, and researching Dialogue with College Students magazine, Jiang Cheng finally understood the underlying logic of the Lotus Cloud University freshman practical exams. Although the questions for the Lotus Cloud University freshman practical exams change every year, the underlying logic has always been the same, unwavering. The underlying logic for the freshman practical exams is based on the schools hopeful expectations for its students. The school hopes to recruit freshmen who excel in all five areas: morals, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, andbor skills. After carefulparison by Jiang Cheng, all five rounds of practical exam questions from Lotus Cloud University, without exception, rte to morals, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, andbor skills. The only difference is the order in which theyre tested. Sometimes moralse first, sometimes physical fitness, and so on. Morals refers to the quality of ones character. Intelligence to ones level of intellect. Physical fitness to the strength of ones body. Aesthetics to ones level of artistic appreciation. Labor skills to ones hands-on ability. All are straightforward and honest desires. Attempting to solve practical exam questions purely based on their face value clearly falls short. Only by reasoning from the fundamental logic upward can you answer urately and efficiently. Jiang Cheng still remembered one year during the college entrance examination, the readingprehension was about a fish with a slightly sinister glint in its eyes. When this question was released, it created a sensation online, and even the original author didnt know why the fishs eyes were glittering. But if you used Jiang Chengs fundamental logic analysis method to decode it, it would be easy to interpret. As for the original author, theyre ayperson after all, what would they know about readingprehension? Why do fish eyes glitter? You would glitter too if you were encouraged by an Animal Encouragement Talisman! This glitter clearly represented the will of a fish that struggled, inherent and unique to its heart of perseverance! Answer: The author connects the preceding and following content. At the end of the article, he uses anthropomorphism vividly and vividly writes that even after the fishs death, its struggling will continues to shine indefatigably. Using anthropomorphism, he praises the protagonists tenacious and unyielding spirit in the face of lifes hardships. It highlights the core of the article, deepens the main theme of the whole text, and echoes the description of the environment at the beginning As long as you use Jiang Chengs fundamental logic analysis method to solve it, a so-called perfect score is merely the limit of the marks, not the limit of the answerers strength. After deducing the underlying logic in Lotus Cloud Universitys exam approach, Jiang Cheng also analyzed the examination rules for the Lotus Cloud University practical exams. The practical exams at Lotus Cloud University, simr to Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academys practical exams, have fairly strict regtions concerning Magical Treasures, Talismans, Elixirs, and other external tools. Both the number of items that exam candidates can bring and the kinds of items themselves, just like at the Sword Cultivation Academy, are explicitly regted. The good news is that although the regtions change from year to year, the overall changes are not significant. Magical Treasures, Elixirs, Formations, and other items are not within Jiang Chengs capability, so he doesnt n on delving into them. But Talismans are different. Talismans are Jiang Chengs traditional strength, and he must rely on them to secure his exam points steadily! However, there is a small problem. The Lotus Cloud University practical exams consist of five questions over five rounds. But ording to Lotus Cloud Universitys customary examination regtions in previous years, candidates can only bring three Talismans and one Magical Treasure. That means Jiang Cheng must use three one-time Talismans and one Reusable Type Talisman to tackle five exams! Essentially, for each exam, Jiang Cheng can only use 0.8 types of Talisman! Even though there is a Reusable Type Talisman, the total number of Talismans Jiang Cheng can use isnt small. However, due to the exam regtions, the types of Talismans he can use are severely limited. How to handle five exams with four types of Talismans, three of which are single-use ordinary Talismans and only one is reusable, is now the primary challenge Jiang Cheng faces. Hoo. He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. Jiang Cheng began brainstorming. In the game, many game characters skills have several modes that can produce different effects, such as a first-stage Q, a second-stage Q, and a third-stage Q. But upon closer analysis, one realizes that these multi-stage skills are essentially different manifestations of the same effect; they are still a single skill. What Jiang Cheng wanted was to achieve twopletely different effects on a single talisman. It was simr to the difference between physical and chemical changes. Physical change refers to a change in the form of a substance without altering its essence. Chemical change refers to a fundamental transformation of the substance, which also changes its form. Chemistry? Chemistry. Chemistry A spark of inspiration shed through Jiang Chengs mind, and he suddenlyprehended a brand-new concept for talisman crafting! He was willing to call it: Talisman Soul Fusion Skill! If substances could undergo chemical reactions to create new substances, then talismans should also be able to undergo chemical changes to produce new talismans! Logical! The principle waspletely usible! Although the Talisman Soul Fusion Skill could increase the variety of talismans, it still had one fatal wits multi-merge condition could only reduce the number of talismans from many to few. Imagine this: Jiang Cheng used two talismans to create a Fury Fire Lotus talisman. While its power was exceptional, Jiang Cheng, who had originally nned to use four talismans for five exams, had now spent two in just one exam. He needed to use the remaining two talismans to deal with the remaining four exams. Clearly, this was not feasible. Although it wasnt usable in exams, the Talisman Soul Fusion Skill did have great potential for development. Jiang Cheng decided to record this valuable idea and nned to further develop this skill when he had more time. He would keep it as his secret trump card. However, even though the Talisman Soul Fusion Skill didnt provide Jiang Cheng with direct help, it indirectly broadened his thinking! If talismans could go from many to one, then couldnt they also go from one to many? After all, nuclear power has both fusion and fission technology paths. So it would be logical if the Talisman Soul Fusion Skill had a younger sibling named Multiple Talisman Cloning Skill, right? This thought led Jiang Cheng to consider railway switching. On Earth, railway hubs consist of many intersecting tracks stacked together. Trains can switch tracks there, heading in apletely different direction from their original one. So, could reusable talismans ovep like railways? When a cultivator wanted to use one effect, they would activate the first setting. To use another effect, they would switch to the second setting. To use a third effect, they would activate the third setting. Jiang Cheng thought this should be achievable. The current problem was whether this kind of reusable talisman counted as one or three talismans. ording to the rules of Lotus Cloud University exams, students could only bring three talismans and one magical treasure. Bringing more was definitely a vition of the rules. Oh! Jiang Cheng pped his hands together as understanding dawned on him. No matter how many modes his reusable talisman could switch between, the reusable nature itself categorized it as a magical treasure, unrted to the talisman category. Thus, regardless of how many effects it had, it would count as a magical treasure, not as talismans. With this realization, a pleased smile spread across Jiang Chengs face. Alright, the theoretical issues were all resolved. Now he just needed to focus on developing talismans for the practical exams at Lotus University. On the balcony, Liu Qing silently watched Jiang Cheng. She had sensed the distinct, dangerous scent belonging to Jiang Cheng starting an hour ago. Her only human friend seemed to be pondering some particrly worrying matters. But no mattershe was very capable and would protect him well. Chapter 80: Have to Buy Chapter 80: Have to Buy Trantor: 549690339 Niu Xiangyang and Zhou Yunshan had been old friends for over a decade. But recently, Niu Xiangyang had grown reluctant to go fishing with Zhou Yunshan. The reason was somewhat embarrassing to mention. His luck had been terrible these past few days. Whenever he fished with Zhou Yunshan, he woulde up empty one hundred percent of the time. So empty that he couldnt even hook a de of grass. It was absurd. Whether it was fishing skill, records of catches, or experience, Niu Xiangyang could thump his chest and say that he was among the best in all of Wuyue City. And yet, despite his best efforts and trying every trick in the book, he couldnt catch even a single fish when he was next to Zhou Yunshan! Whereas Zhou Yunshan seemed to be possessed by a fishing deity, catching fish quickly and in abundance, including many that were impressive enough to show off to other anglers. After a few such fishing trips, Niu Xiangyang had developed a fear of Zhou Yunshan. When Zhou Yunshan invited him again, he had to use the excuse of visiting his hometown to avoid it. Today, Niu Xiangyang had returned from his hometown. It had been nearly two weeks since hest fished, and his craving was intense. The Main Channel of Wu River, a guaranteed fishing spot. Niu Xiangyang carried his fishing gear and found afortable ce to set up. The guaranteed fishing spot was quite famous in Wuyues fishing circles. Previously, Niu Xiangyang, considering himself an expert, disdained such a ce that neers favored. But now, he didnt care about that anymore, he just had to catch a fish quickly to regain some confidence. Then, reality dealt Niu Xiangyang a heavy blow. Even in the Main Channel of Wu River, even after he had gone to great efforts to bait the spot, even after he had frequently changed tactics, he still couldnt catch any fish! What made Niu Xiangyang feel even more devastated was that there was a young woman fishing nearby. Without any fuss or the array of equipment and tactics that he had, she was catching fish repeatedly! It was infuriatingly consistentlike the fish were watching their clocks in the river, waiting for the right time to bite and then getting caught by the woman. It was strange. Since he wasnt catching any fish anyway, Niu Xiangyang decided to stop fishing. He walked along the riverbank to see what the situation was like for others. It couldnt be possible that he was the only person in the whole world unable to catch fish, could it? With careful observation, Niu Xiangyang quickly discovered a peculiar phenomenon. In this river channel, which used to guarantee catches, it wasnt just him failing to catch fishmost anglers wereing up empty. However, those few who did manage to catch fish, always caught fish. Their fishing rhythms were all simr, calm and stable, without needing to do anything special; as soon as they threw their hooks into the water, fish would bite. Niu Xiangyang even noticed one angler who didnt bother with bait and still managed to catch fish! Since they also couldnt catch any fish, there were more and more aimless anglers strolling around. Among them, quite a few were observant and noticed the same situation that Niu Xiangyang had just discovered. Moreover, if one observed even more carefully, all those who managed to catch fish had one thing inmon: they were using the same kind of Fluorescence Talismans! Using a nighttime Fluorescence Talisman during the day was already odd, but the fact that all of them were using it made the situation even more bizarre! Niu Xiangyang looked at the Fluorescence Talisman, feeling it looked familiar, as if it were the same kind that his good friend Zhou Yunshan used. Could it be the Fluorescence Talisman that was making the difference? Once this thought crossed his mind, even Niu Xiangyang found it counterintuitive. What did fishing have to do with Fluorescence Talismans? But, with things being as they were and his desperation to catch a fish, he had to give it a try, no matter how counterintuitive it seemed. After an intense internal struggle, Niu Xiangyang finally swallowed his pride as a seasoned angler and approached a fellow fisher who was catching fish with ease. Buddy, where did you buy that Fluorescence Talisman? I want to buy one and try it myself. July 24th. Wuyue Residence. Jiang Cheng opened his storage bag and carefully counted the ie he had made from selling talismans in the past few days. In the first few days of talisman selling, the reputation of the Fishing Talisman wasnt prominent, and he only had a few orders per day, maybe a dozen. Latterly, the demand for Fishing Talismans began to increase significantly. It went from a dozen to several dozens of orders. From that point on, what limited the sale of talismans was Yue Lingers production capacity, not the quantity of orders. Later, he had Yue Linger recruit Talisman Masters to increase production again, which resulted in an even greater demand for talismans. Of course, these were matters for Yue Linger to consider now. Jiang Cheng had a great deal of trust in Yue Lingers working abilities. Although Yue Linger was quite attractive, as long as she was exceptionally capable, Jiang Cheng was very willing to overlook shorings in her appearance. Single, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand Do I already have two hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones? Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, wondering, Has the speed of making money been a bit too fasttely? A few days before, he had taken Liu Qing to look at vis near the wastnds real estate developments. Through the introduction of the real estate sales, Jiang Cheng had a rough idea of the price of a vi. Considering the near nine hundred low-grade Spirit Stones per square meter price tag, plus the vis size of around three hundred and fifty square meters, and the fact that Jiang Cheng wanted to buy a finished house ready for sale, as well as the taxes to be paid to the Liang Kingdom, the actual price for a vi came to around three hundred eighty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. With three hundred eighty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, given his current speed of earning money, it would only take another three or four days before he could buy another house. A thirty-eight-thousand-worth vi, when the Spiritual Spring emerged, would multiply its value by ten times, and by just flipping it, he could make three million eight hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. With that many Spirit Stones, even in the pricey Capital, buying a house would be stress-free. Houses really are the way to go, Jiang Cheng sighed. Back when he had just graduated, he plunged headfirst into the gaming industry. If he had been a little moreid back and listened to his familys advice to take out a loan and buy a house in the city, he could now even consider buying out Immortal Gods and bing the boss. Unfortunately, his rebirth failed, and he transmigrated instead. Since that was the case, he might as well settle down. No matter where, living well is the true principle. Nobody could stop Jiang Chengs yearning for a better life! Liu Qing, after you finish assembling the talismans youre working on, there wont be new ones, Jiang Cheng called to Liu Qing on the balcony. Liu Qing looked up nkly and blinked at Jiang Cheng. Ive outsourced the assembly tasks to the Artifact Refiners from the Artifact Refiners Association, Jiang Cheng exined. Work? she asked. In a few days, Im nning to buy the vi you liked before. Since the house will be bigger, Im worried that between making talismans and cleaning the house, youll be too busy. No need to sleep. No, you must sleep! Jiang Cheng said emphatically: You only have to work eight hours a day. Knock off when its time; its also fine if you want to leave early. If you find the work bothersome, just dont do ityou set the pace. The most important thing is never to overwork yourself. And, if you do work overtime, make sure you ask me for overtime pay. This is very important! Liu Qing thought for a moment and then nodded. She felt that Jiang Cheng took very good care of her. Are all bosses of the Human Race as nice as Jiang Cheng? Jiang Cheng was so kind to her that she was starting to not want to return to Mount Tian anymore. Chapter 81: Please Ask the Clan Uncle to Take Action Chapter 81: Please Ask the n Uncle to Take Action Trantor: 549690339 Ming River is a grand river that can be divided into the upper, middle, and lower reaches from its source. Wuyue City is situated in the lower basin of Ming River. At this moment, the bottom of the river at the lower reaches of Ming River is bustling with activity. Outsiders may be unaware, but the aquatic cultivators mingling near Ming River are well-known to everyone here. At the bottom of Ming River, eighty meters below the surface, stands a majestic ancient temple. This imposing ancient temple is the Ancestral Temple referred to by Ruolin! Three hundred meters outside the Ancestral Temple, five Foundation Establishment cultivators stand shoulder to shoulder, followed by dozens of Qi Cultivation Stage aquatic monsters a few meters behind them. Fellow daoists, lets go, Ruolin said. Including Juya and Hun River, the other four cultivators courteously responded: Lets go. Please, after you. Alright, lets go together. The fishy group engaged in polite back-and-forth, yet nobody moved, all standing still. The scene became very awkward for a moment. Ruolin mustered their courage and said, Im really leaving this time. Yes, Im moving my legs. Im really leaving as well. Ive already left. Still, not a single fish moved. In my opinion, why dont we ask Elder Changxi to take the lead? Among us, only he is the eldest and has the highest cultivation level. No, no, no, lets ask Brother Ruolin. He is younger and more promising, with unlimited potential. Or perhaps Hun River should take the lead, hes young and full of energy. If were talking about energy, Elder Juya has the most. I cant, my vision is poor, and I tend to get lost easily. The fish pushed the responsibility back and forth amongst themselves, appearingical but also somewhat helpless. Its not the most embarrassing when kids fight at school and the teacher calls the parents. The most embarrassing is when the parents themselves have never fought before. Even more embarrassing is for the parents to not onlyck fighting experience, but also to team up together, yet fail to even force out the opponents big move. They got solo killed while being full health, full mana, and with all skills ready. If it were up to a regr person, theyd smoothly surrender, exit with a click, and uninstall the game as a bacsh. Unfortunately, they couldnt afford to uninstall. After much indecision, Ruolin finally stepped forward, leading the rest of the cultivators towards the Ancestral Temples entrance. At the doorway of the Ancestral Temple, Ruolin whispered, One, two, three. Ssh! All five Foundation Establishment cultivators knelt down in unison. Ancestor, the human race has tantly broken the peace treaty set by the Immortal Sect. When we went to argue, they beat us and threw us out. Ancestor, the humans are too arrogant, they simply do not take our grand Aquatic Tribe seriously. Yes, ancestor, the humans use crafty spells to only catch the most promising of our young! If we keep letting them feast on us like this, our tribe will surely face extinction! Ancestor, we are truly out of options, please lend us your aid! Please, ancestor, take action! Please, ancestor, take action! Please, ancestor, take action! It wasnt just Ruolin and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, but also the dozens of Qi Cultivation aquatic cultivators bowed down, shouting in unison. Not only the fish tribe but also the shrimp, crabs, ms, and other members of the Aquatic Tribe, cultivators who lived underwater, came to this ce as well. In the face of life and death, all aquatic cultivators from Ming River territory reached an unprecedented level of unity! After countless shouts from everyone, the grand doors of the Ancestral Temple finally slowly opened. A middle-aged cultivator stepped out. This man had a tough appearance, with fewer monster traces on his bodypared to Ruolin and the others, indicating a higher cultivation level and a moreplete transformation. Silence! The voice of the middle-aged cultivator thundered, instantly spreading the aura of Core Formation across hundreds of meters! Ruolin and the others rejoiced and said, Its Uncle Lanye! Before hisst retreat, he was already at the early stages of Core Formation, certainly stronger now than ever before! Making noise outside the Ancestral Temple, disturbing the peace of the revered elders of our tribewhere is your decorum? Come and tell me what has happened, and quickly! Seeing this, Ruolin and the others immediately ran to Lanye to report the situation, exaggerating the details. After listening, Lanye immediately furrowed his brow. The Immortal Sect has always been true to their word. Why would they vite their own rules for some little fishes? Uncle, we witnessed this situation with our own eyes and heard it with our own ears. If you dont believe us,e with us to the Wu River area and listen carefully to the voices in the water to see if someone is whispering, In the Wu River, Uncle Lanye knitted his brows in silence. There really were voices. It seemed they were not talking nonsense. Uncle, please think of a solution quickly. If we dont take any action, the outstanding younger members that we have umted over the past dozen years will all be fished away by them! Yes, some of them I watched grow up. Lanye said, I know the Helmsman stationed here by the Tongtian Sect, but our rtionship is just so-so, and we havent been in contact for a long time. I dont know if hell be willing to do me this favor. Upon hearing Lanyes words, all the Foundation Establishment fish cultivators immediately cried out in unison, Please, Uncle, take action! Save our tribe from this crisis! Lanye didnt speak. The fish immediately repeated their plea three times, each time louder than thest. With the atmosphere fully charged, Lanye finally said with helplessness, Fine. It seems I must take action. The Ming River Aquatic Tribe might be on the decline, but we are not soft persimmons to be squeezed at will. I shall go! As soon as he finished speaking, Lanye disappeared on the spot. The fish, seeing the Core Formation Divine Skills, reassured one another, With Uncle Lanye taking action, this matter is most likely to be no problem. Exactly. Even if we Foundation Establishment cultivators dont carry enough weight, Uncle Lanye is a Core Formation great cultivator. Even if the Human Race is strong, could they still refuse the favor of a Core Formation great cultivator? Haha, exactly. Let those humans see just how formidable our Aquatic Tribe is. Wuyue Residence. Jiang Cheng carried a bunch of vegetables and meat he bought from the supermarket and stood at the door. Liu Qing walked in front of him intuitively and took out keys from Jiang Chengs pocket to unlock the door for him. After entering, Jiang Cheng began to put away the groceries he had just purchased. He washed the vegetables and prepared the meat in a bowl for marinating. Eat? Liu Qing asked. Are you hungry? Jiang Cheng asked in return. Liu Qing shook her head. She wasnt hungry. Not to mention she was now a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm and didnt need to eat. Even if she were only in the Qi Cultivation Stage, eating just a little each day, she wouldnt feel hungry. If Jiang Cheng found feeding her too troublesome, she could even eat less. In the Qi Cultivation Stage, she was already capable of absorbing spiritual energy, and even with just a small bite, she wouldnt feel very hungry. She was a monster that was easy to keep. I bought a lot, so if youre hungry, I can cook some for you now. If not, these are to be prepared in advance and put in the fridge for you to eat tomorrow noon, he said. Why? she asked. Tomorrow noon is my cousin Sun Yuans academic advancement banquet. I have to go and eat. So I cant be with you, Jiang Cheng exined. Together, she said. There will be lots of people there, and it will be noisy, even more chaotic than when we went to Huafu Hotel. You dont like that, Jiang Cheng pointed out. Liu Qing thought back to the scene when she and Jiang Cheng went to Huafu Hotel. She hadnt expected that Jiang Cheng would still remember she didnt like the smell of Huafu. Its okay, she said to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng was puzzled. It was rare for Jiang Cheng not to understand what Liu Qing was saying. But this time, he really didnt understand her statement. Its okay? Whats okay? Is it okay that there will be many people, or that it will be noisy? Do you want to go? Jiang Cheng asked. Liu Qing first shook her head, then looked at Jiang Cheng and nodded. Jiang Cheng was a bit confused, but he roughly grasped the big monsters meaning. She wanted to go, but she didnt want to sit together with the messy guests. That should be what she meant, right? Ill think of something, Jiang Cheng said. Okay, she replied, nodding. She really didnt like many things, but she knew being willful wasnt good and didnt want to cause trouble for her friend. Actually, as long as she was with Jiang Cheng, it didnt matter where she went. After all, she had a friend with her. Chapter 82: Jiang Cheng? Hmph, I will make sure he has a one-way trip! Chapter 82: Jiang Cheng? Hmph, I will make sure he has a one-way trip! Trantor: 549690339 On the morning of Sun Yuans academic advancement banquet on the 25th. Tang Qian sent amunication talisman to Lin Yao. Hello? Yaoyao? Yes, Im here. Hearing Lin Yaos voice through themunication talisman, Tang Qian couldnt help but feel a hint of confusion. In her impression, Lin Yao was the type of woman who seemed gentle but was actually proud, arrogant, and spiteful. Therefore, Lin Yaos voice was usually light and brimming with energy, quite simr to her personality, and not like now, gentle and with a bit of determination? Is this still Lin Yao? Are you really Lin Yao? Yes. Whats up? Oh, nothing, I just wanted to ask if youre going to Sun Yuans banquet at noon? Sun Yuan? Yeah, hes Jiang Chengs cousin, didnt you know? Zhou Yiwen and I n to join in the fun too, after all, were ssmates, and theres nothing much to do during summer vacation anyway. The ce is at Weishou Restaurant. Are youing? I Hearing the obvious trembling in Lin Yaos voice through themunication talisman, Tang Qian smiled knowingly. She knew that Lin Yao must have taken the bait. After a moment of hesitation. I will go, Lin Yao said. Great, great, then well meet there, Im going to hang up now. Tang Qian ended themunication talisman and gestured to Zhou Yiwen and the others not far away. Zhou Yiwen immediately smiled and said, Alright, our dramas leadingdy is ready, just waiting for the leading man to make his entrance! Chen Shuaiughed, Ha ha, Jiang Cheng, what leading man? Hes just a clown added forughs. Among the members of the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance, Yue Ping, due to his change of heart, was still rtively rational. Lets not get too excited too early, it would be bad if something unexpected happens along the way and the effect isnt as good as we anticipated. Chen Shuai said, There are more than a dozen of us, in perfect harmony, working closely together, each ying to their strengths,paring with Jiang Cheng in our areas of expertise. What could possibly go wrong? Exactly. Do you mean to say that all of us together are still not a match for Jiang Cheng alone? My cousin is good buddies with Sun Yuan in the same ss. Amunication talisman to him, and Jiang Chengs information is all in our hands! Jiang Cheng? Hmph, well make sure he wont be able to return after hees! Alright, alright. Seeing disagreement within the alliance, Zhou Yiwen, the leader, immediately stepped forward to smooth things over. Yue Ping was an extremely important member of the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance. Without Yue Ping, the rest couldnt ensure they would surpass Jiang Cheng in academic talent. Only with Yue Pings high exam scores, safely entering a key university of the Immortal Sect. Zhou Yiwen said, Lets review the n onest time, then head back home, and meet at Weishou Restaurant at noon. No problems, right? No problem. I dont have any problems. Neither do I. Seeing his brothers united with no issues, Zhou Yiwen began to borate on the n theyd discussed long ago. Zhou Yiwen: Zhao You, you have connections with Sun Yuans friends, youre in charge of informing us of Jiang Chengs location. Alright. Zhou Yiwen: Bao Jun, Song Zhang, you guys are good at body refinement, agile and quick. Once Jiang Cheng gets near the restaurants entrance, act immediately. You cant let him enter in clean clothes. But dont get his entire outfit dirty either; if you do, hell definitely go back home to change. Alright. Understood. Zhou Yiwen: Chen Shuai, its up to you once Jiang Cheng has entered and taken his seat. Chen Shuai confidently smiled and said, Dont worry, my dad is the head of the Forestry Bureau. Not just Jiang Cheng, even his maternal uncle Sun Qing has to show me some respect. When I mock Jiang Chengter, he will definitely be so ashamed that he cant lift his head. Zhou Yiwen instructed: Remember to steer the conversation towards academics, which is the only area where Jiang Cheng is somewhat decent. Chen Shuai: Consider it done. Zhou Yiwen: Once the topic shifts to academics, its time for our brother Yue Ping to take the stage. Yue Ping said: At that time, Ill just say a few modest words with hidden barbs, and Jiang Cheng will certainly be unable to respond, ending up humiliating himself. Zhou Yiwen nodded again and finally said: As for the rest of you, especially Wang Ze, since you are the ss monitor of Jiang Chengs ss, look for an opportunity to gather a few brothers to stand behind Jiang Cheng. Liu Ting, as the monitor of ss Four, you take the rest and stand behind Chen Shuai and Yue Ping. Once Jiang Cheng and Yue Ping, Chen Shuai confront each other, you all start to stir things up, it would be best if you could provoke Jiang Cheng into throwing the first punch. At this point, everyone showed a knowing smile. If Jiang Cheng ends up fighting at his cousins promotion banquet and we handle it properly, we might even get him to have tea for a few days. If things end up this way, Jiang Cheng will truly lose face. Zhou Yiwen concluded: Dong Qians dad is an arrest officer of the Six Fan Gate. With his connections, you dont have to worry about getting into trouble for fighting. When youve fought enough, Ill step in to settle the bill for the whole ce, help Jiang Cheng clean up the mess, quell the anger, and then treat everyone to food and drinks at Huafu. Great! Does everyone have it clear? If there are no issues, then lets all go home and meet up at Weishou Restaurant at noon! After dispersing, Tang Qian walked over from not far away. Yiwen, youre so cool, Tang Qian said, hugging Zhou Yiwens arm. Zhou Yiwen smiled and said, You go back too. Well meet at the restaurant at noon. Tang Qian was not very happy as she wanted to go home with Zhou Yiwen sooner to confirm their rtionship. Zhou Yiwen always dragged it out, not allowing her to meet Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou. Yiwen, arent you taking me home today? Next time for sure. I have to go home now. Zhou Yunshan and Miao Xue didnt really supervise Zhou Yiwen much, so he could go out whenever he wanted. However, he still had to show respect to his parents on the surface and let them know when he was going out to y. As noon approached, Zhou Yiwen said, Mom and Dad, Im going to a friends little brothers promotion banquet. Miao Xue asked curiously, What does your friends little brothers promotion banquet have to do with you? Which friend is it thats so close to you? Zhou Yiwen casually replied, Its Jiang Cheng from the ss next to mine. Zhou Yunshan nearly choked to death on his tea. Cough cough cough cough! Dad, take it easy with the tea. Zhou Yunshan didnt even bother to wipe his mouth before directly asking, Jiang Da cough that kid, is he from the ss next to yours in high school? Ah, yeah. Whats up, dad? Nothing, nothing, just where are you guys eating? Weishou Restaurant. Oh, Weishou, thats nice. It seems like a friend of mine owns it. Hearing this, Zhou Yiwen couldnt help but feel proud. Having friends throughout Wuyue thats the power of their Zhou Family! Dad, then Ill be heading over. Sure, go ahead, Zhou Yunshan gestured with his hand. This little rascal is going out to y again. Last time, I told him to bring his girlfriend home, but I dont know if he still remembers, Miao Xueined. Zhou Yunshan didnt care much about Zhou Yiwens girlfriend matters. What he was thinking about now was that this promotion banquet seemed like an opportunity to win favor with Master Jiang. The maximum power of the Fishing Talisman had been problematic, and Lu Benwei eventually removed the maximum power setting altogether. Even though he could still catch big fish that way, it just wasnt as satisfying. Now Fishing Talismans were found everywhere in Wuyue, and there were even quite a few modified versions that were nearly as good as those in his possession, making him feel no sense of achievement in fishing anymore. If he could make Master Jiang happy at this promotion banquet, is there a chance Master Jiang would take action again and draw a more powerful Fishing Talisman? One thats specifically designed for catching rare things! Chapter 83: It’s Not Jiang Cheng Again, Is It? Chapter 83: Its Not Jiang Cheng Again, Is It? Trantor: 549690339 The influence of Tongtian Sect in Liang Kingdom is all managed by the Tongtian Sects Liang Kingdoms main helmsman based in the Capital. Directly below the main helmsman, corresponding to Liang Kingdoms state-level administrative regions, there are helmsmen. One level down from the helmsmen, corresponding to Liang Kingdoms county-level administrative regions, there are sub-helmsmen. Since Wuyue City is a county-level city in Liang Kingdom, simr to a city below a province on Earth, the highest leader of Tongtian Sect in Wuyue is the sub-helmsman of Wuyue. In the midst of Wu Mountain, at an inconspicuous spot on the mountains waist, there is a thatched cottage. This thatched cottage is very simple, so much so that saying it has bare walls wouldnt be an exaggeration. Around the cottage there is a cleared patch of vegetable garden, but the soil fertility is mediocre, and even the green vegetables dont grow well. In front of the cottage, there is a stone tform constructed with t stones, on which some lines are drawn straight horizontally and vertically. With neen lines across and neen lines down, anyone who understands the game could recognize that this is a Go game board. Peng Jun? Where are you? Come out! Lei Buxiao flew from a distance to the entrance of the thatched cottage and, as soon as hended, started shouting, not caring at all about the tranquility of the ce or the wishes of its owner. Lei Daoist friend, youre here again. What is it this time? Havent had enough losing? The man named Peng Jun appeared from the cottage. Unlike Lei Buxiao, who was wearing modern clothes like other cultivators, Peng Juns attire was exactly what the average person would imagine a cultivator should wear. In fact, in the Immortal Sects, most cultivators still prefer to wear traditional clothing. Its just that in secr ces like Liang Kingdom, the number of cultivators who insist on wearing traditional clothing is very few. Times are different now. I, Lei, had an epiphany the other day and my game has greatly improved. Cut the crap and bring out the Go pieces; I shall crush you utterly! Peng Jun smiled, not taking Lei Buxiaos fierce words to heart. Mainly because Lei Buxiao always talked big like this, but each time he would end up utterly defeated. Even though Lei Buxiao was a novice in Go, Peng Jun would patiently y with him every time he came to challenge him. This wasnt because Peng Jun enjoyed bullying the weak, but because in all of Wuyue City, there were only five cultivators at the Core Formation Stage. Cultivators in Core Formation typically had a higher age and seniority than those at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and they also held positions of greater authority. Especially for Peng Jun, who served as the sub-helmsman of Tongtian Sects Wuyue branch, he was the highest leader of all of Tongtian Sects forces in Wuyue City. Aside from Lei Buxiao, who was also at Core Formation, there was hardly anyone else he couldmunicate with on equal footing. Lei Buxiao frequently came to y Go; it appeared that his situation must be simr. Half an hourter. Peng Jun: Lei Daoist friend, its time to admit defeat. You have no chance of winning this game. Lei Buxiao: We sword cultivators do not have the word defeat in our path! Peng Jun, with a sheepish look: Over a game of Go, is that really necessary? However, the rxed atmosphere didntst long, as an unfamiliar Core Formation aura suddenly arrived at the location. Cultivators at the Core Formation Stage all have strong perceptive abilities, naturally making them very alert to changes in their surrounding environment. As soon as Peng Jun detected the unfamiliar aura, he immediately stood up with a serious expression on his face. Lei Buxiaos fingers flicked and the great gameyout was instantly sent into disarray, pieces flying haphazardly. Ah, what a pity. The wind is too strong. I was about to beat youpletely in this round. Peng Jun: Daoist Peng, long time no see. I trust youve been well. Lanyes voice arrived before he appeared. Half a secondter, Lanye descended from the sky, his clothes fluttering, exuding the presence of a master. Uponnding, Lanye immediately furrowed his brows. He hadnt seen Lei Buxiao since he had been in seclusion for dozens of years. Lan Daoist friend? Peng Jun said with slight surprise, then eased his expression and introduced, Lan Daoist friend, this is Lei Buxiao Daoist friend from Wuyue Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, a disciple of Lin Sect, who has only been in Wuyue for over a decade. Lei Daoist friend, this is a great figure from the Ming River Aquatic Tribe, Lan Daoist friend Lanye. Lei Buxiao and Lanye greeted each other with a sped hands gesture, thus bing acquainted. Managing the rtionship between Tongtian Sects power and the domestic powers within Liang Kingdoms borders was indeed part of a helmsmans responsibilities. Peng Jun was no stranger to being approached by local powers and faced Lanye, who seemed to havee looking for trouble, with ease and experience. No matter what Lanye intended to do, it was always right to offer courteous hospitality first. With a wave of Peng Juns hand, out of his storage bag, a set of exquisite tables, chairs, and tea service flew out. Lei Daoist friend, Lan Daoist friend, please have a seat. Try the Spiritual Tea grown by our Tongtian Sect. Lei Buxiao nonchntly took a seat, but Lanye didnt give face and stood still. Brother Peng, forgive my rudeness, but someone has undermined the foundations of my Aquatic Tribe, leaving Lanye restless night and day. Such fine tea, I, Lanye, am not in the mood to drink. Undermined the foundation of the Aquatic Tribe? Sensing a whiff of serious business, Lei Buxiaos eyes lit up immediately, and he pricked up his ears. Wuyue City is part of Liang Kingdoms territory, within the sphere of influence of the Tongtian Sect. The Lin Sect, which Lei Buxiao represents, has weak influence here. Although it has two academies, its hard to shake the Tongtian Sects status. But theres also a benefit to this. That is, if theres trouble in Wuyue, hey, it has nothing to do with Lei Buxiao. Even if the sky in Wuyue were to fall, it would be Peng Jun and the Tongtian Sect whod have to deal with it. Lei Buxiao would just mind his own business, watch the show, and cheer them on. If the Tongtian Sect couldnt handle it, then all the better! Hed grab his belongings and scram in a heartbeat, leaving this territory for Lin Sect! Let yours truly, Old Lei, mix in as a minor sect leader for once. Peng Jun, upon hearing Lanyes words, eximed loudly in astonishment, Oh?! Someone dares to target the Aquatic Tribe and ruin the deep friendship between our two tribes? Brother Lanye, please inform me quickly. Whoever dares to disrupt peace, I, Peng Jun, assure you, the Tongtian Sect will not let it slide! Lanyes face looked much better after hearing Peng Juns assurance. The Peace Regtion that had caused various tribes to cease hostilities was initiated by the Immortal Sects and strictly adhered to first and foremost by themselves. This regtion had been maintained for thousands of years, and indeed there was no reason to believe that the Immortal Sects would go against their own principle and systematically target the river andke inhabitants of the Aquatic Tribe. Lanye sat down, pulling up a chair, and poured out everything he had seen and heard, along with the news he got from people like Ruolin. In the end, Lanye presented the evidencea Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman. This? Is this the thing intended to exterminate your Aquatic Tribe? asked Peng Jun. Indeed. But it is only a first-tier talisman? Peng Juns implication was clear: your vast Aquatic Tribe cant deal with a first-tier talisman? Lanyes face turned livid, and he argued defensively: This talisman is extremely malicious, targeting only the most promising young members of our tribe to capture and kill! Its utterlywless! Lei Buxiao had been watching the show all along without a word, thinking to himself: Whats so malicious about a Fishing Talisman? You havent seen truly vicious talismans! Most cultivators have some understanding of the art of the talisman, but to really get to the bottom of things, you must consult a professional Talisman Master. Peng Jun summoned Lu Wang with amunication talisman. Lu Wang said, This isnt my business. The Reusable Talismans are President Yus responsibility. Peng Jun called on Yu Hui with anothermunication talisman. Yu Hui said, This has nothing to do with me. We only handled the reliability verification and assembly. This kind of talisman was sold in Task Hall. Peng Jun called upon Sun Decai with yet anothermunication talisman. Sun Decai said, Its not rted to us either. Task Hall is only responsible for the sale of talismans. For specific effects of the talisman, one should seek an analysis from the relevant professionals. All eyes turned to Lu Wang. Lu Wang said innocently: Theres nothing wrong with this talisman. Its just for fishing. How can encouraging fish to strive be wrong? Upon hearing this, Lanye was almost ready to flip the table. Strive, strive, all you know is striving! All the fish in the river are going to strive themselves to death! Peng Juns head was spinning, and he waved his hands saying, Okay, okay, I see that youre all intentionally avoiding a clear exnation. President Lu, just tell me directly, who drew this talisman? Call him over to exin things clearly to Elder Lanye. Lu Wang carefully said, The talisman master, Elder Lei, is quite familiar with. Lei Buxiao was startled; since the beginning, he had this strange, familiar feeling. As if he had seen this scene before with his own eyes. It cant be Jiang Cheng again, can it!? Everyone hurriedly nodded in agreement. Peng Jun: ? Wait, who exactly is Jiang Cheng? Why do you all know Jiang Cheng? Chapter 84: The Shattered Dao Heart Chapter 84: The Shattered Dao Heart Trantor: 549690339 Lin Yao stood in front of the mirror, carefully examining herself. In the mirror, she was dressed conservatively in a round-neck T-shirt, a long-sleeved light jacket, and a high-waisted skirt that reached just above her ankles. This outfit made her appear fresh and pretty, yet it did not overtly show off her figure. It was the kind of versatile outfit that would make her boyfriend proud to be seen with her, her parents happy, and herself quite satisfied, taking into consideration the preferences of everyone involved. Jiang always had a low-key personality, he probably would want Yaoer to dress like this, Lin Yao blinked and murmured. In the past, Lin Yao dressed ording to her own desires when she went out; whatever she wanted to wear, she wore. Now, she had set her personal preferences aside, considering Jiang Chengs thoughts before her own. Even though what she considered Jiang Chengs ideas were based solely on her own conjectures about him. After getting dressed, Lin Yao did not rush to leave, but turned around to organize her room first. She tidied up the bed and wardrobe, which she had messed up while looking for her clothes. Even though Jiang hasnt forgiven Yaoer yet, when he does, and we be Daopanions, surely he will manage the external affairs while Yaoer takes care of the home. So Yaoer must learn housework well in advance, to not worry him, she pondered. After she had tidied up the room, it was only half past ten. But Lin Yao decided to leave anyway. She wanted to make a good impression and did not dare to have Jiang Cheng wait for her. Lin Yao arrived at the restaurant at only ten fifty. Zhou Yiwen, who was plotting mischief, had not even arrived yet. In the restaurant, only a few guests hade in scattered groups for the entrance-exam celebration banquet. Lin Yao handed in the gift money at the entrance and then found an inconspicuous seat to sit down. Although that was the case, she didnt touch the bowls and chopsticks on the table and kept her eyes fixed on the entrance. The mere thought of seeing Jiang Cheng again soon made her heart pound with nervousness. Jiang, Yaoer will work hard to earn your forgiveness, she whispered to herself. At this moment, a resolute glint shining only in the eyes of a novels protagonist flickered in her gaze. Compared to her oblivious peers, the still young Lin Yao seemed to have found the grand goal she could strive for throughout her life. Lin Yao was not the only one eager to avoid dying things; the diligent high school student Yue Ping was also among them. Just past eleven, Yue Ping made his way near Weishou Restaurant. Another block, a turn, and he would be at Weishou. Yue Ping had a simple task ording to Zhou Yiwens instructions, and as he no longer had any affection for Lin Yao, he felt no psychological pressure, remaining calm. But his good mood did notst long. As he stood waiting for the light to change at the intersection, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure! It was her! The aloof female cultivator he had seen at Huafu that day! Just as Yue Pings heart surged with excitement, he was shocked to discover that the female cultivator was not alone. There was a male cultivator by her side! Jiang Cheng? Yue Ping couldnt believe his eyes. Did Jiang Cheng know her? This? No, no, no! Dont jump to conclusions. They could be just ordinary friends. Its quite normal for ordinary friends to walk side by side. Yue Pingforted himself with these thoughts, but the way he stared intently at the female cultivator revealed the turmoil within him. The light blinked green, and Yue Ping hurriedly charged out of the crowd, following Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing who were ahead. However, being just a high school student, Yue Ping did not dare to follow too closely. He kept a distance of twenty or thirty meters behind Jiang Cheng. Yue Ping saw Jiang Cheng and the female cultivator casually stopping to buy food and drinks from stores on the street, just like a typical couple would do. But as he followed them all the way, the more he observed, the more at ease he felt. Though Jiang Cheng and the female cultivator acted somewhat like a couple, their behavior was very proper, without any inappropriate embracing or hugging. Jiang Cheng didnt even hold her hand. Why doesnt Jiang Cheng hold her hand? Does he not want to? Impossible! It must be because he cannot! Yue Ping put himself in Jiang Chengs shoes and thought it over. If he were in a rtionship with the female cultivator, he knew he couldnt resist holding her hand. If he couldnt resist, it made no sense for Jiang Cheng to be able to. So the answer was simple, Jiang Cheng and the female cultivator were definitely not in a romantic rtionship! At most they were friends! Thats why he couldnt hold hands with the female cultivator! Having figured all this out, Yue Ping felt relieved. He was even hesitating now about whether he should help Zhou Yiwenter. Perhaps he should just not help and let Jiang Cheng have Lin Yao, so Jiang Cheng would definitely not have the time to think about the aloof female cultivator. Just as Yue Ping was weighing the pros and cons, he saw Jiang Cheng walking into the hotel diagonally opposite to the Weishou Restaurant with the female cultivator. Yue Ping: Huh? Broad daylight, a man and a woman alone, entering a hotel Yue Pings eyes turned red with urgency, and he scrambled and rolled as he chased after them. At the hotel entrance, Yue Ping overheard the conversation between Jiang Cheng and the receptionist. Sir, is this the single king-sized room you booked? Mm-hmm, yes. Alright, sir, here is your room card. For the next three hours, dont let any outsiderse to my room, Jiang Cheng instructed. Certainly, sir. Three hours That really wasnt strange Leaning against the hotels outer wall, Yue Pings face was bloodless, his heart felt like ashes. He braced against the wall to stand up, limped and hobbled in the direction of home. At that moment, he seemed to have aged ten years. At such a young age, he was forced to experience the turmoil of emotions. Tired. Let it all fall apart. Jiang Cheng led Liu Qing into the room, pulled back the curtains, revealing the Weishou Restaurant across the window. Then, he moved the small round table and chairs to the window, opened the snacks he had bought along the way for Liu Qing, and arranged them on the table. Alright, that over there should end in at most three hours. You sit here for a while, Jiang Cheng said. Mmm, Liu Qing nodded. From this window, she could directly observe what was going on inside the Weishou Restaurant. If she was lucky, she could keep an eye on Jiang Cheng the whole time. Im heading out now. Okay. Having settled the monsterfortably, Jiang Cheng felt a weight off his shoulders. The Weishou Restaurant was just across the street, and it was not yet the peak dining time, so Jiang Cheng walked leisurely, not in a hurry at all. Jiang Cheng? A surprised voice came from behind him. Turning his head, Jiang Cheng saw it was his high school Principal Yang Lingbao. Principal Yang? What a coincidence. Seeing Jiang Cheng nce at the hotel, Yang Lingbao hastily exined, Im here to attend a promotion banquet. The restaurant didnt have any parking left, so I borrowed the hotel parking lot. Oh, sorry to trouble you. No trouble, no trouble at all. Although Sun Qing had only met Yang Lingbao a few times. But since Sun Yuan had to mingle in the high school, if he could connect with Yang Lingbao, that would certainly be for the best. Unexpectedly, even Sun Qing didnt anticipate that Yang Lingbao would reallye through without any hesitation, willing to give him face by attending Sun Yuans promotion banquet in person. Jiang fellow student, have you decided on a university yet? I have a few old ssmates in the Capital, all acquaintances. Maybe I could give you some advice, Yang Lingbao said as they walked towards the restaurant together. Although not interested in fishing, Yang Lingbao had heard about the Fishing Talisman. With just a single move, this youngster stirred up trouble throughout Wuyue. Dean Leis bet on Jiang Cheng was apparently not misced, after all, with Core Formation experience,es shrewdness. While Jiang Cheng chatted amiably with Yang Lingbao, Zhou Yiwen and the others outside the restaurant were already prepared. Chapter 85 - 85 Things Aren’t Going as Planned Chapter 85: Things Arent Going as nned Trantor: 549690339 Weishou Restaurant was across from the hotel, and Jiang Cheng and Yang Lingbao were waiting for the green light at the intersection on the hotel side. The talisman rang, and Jiang Cheng chose to answer. Sun Yuans voice came through the talisman, Jiang Cheng, where are you? Im already on my way, almost there. Jiang Cheng, I have one more intersection, about three minutes. Okay. As soon as Jiang Cheng finished reporting his location, Sun Yuans friends immediately passed on Jiang Chengs situation to the hands of the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance. At this moment, the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance, except for the unreachable Yue Ping, was fully in ce. Xie Linshan and Tang Qian were seated on either side of Lin Yao, tasked with protecting the leadingdy of the day. Zhou Yiwen, Chen Shuai, Wang Ze, Liu Ting, and other male ssmates sat at another table. Bao Jun and Song Zhang, who were nning to ambush Jiang Cheng outside, had also already taken up positions in the shadows on one side of the hotel, each holding a cup of milk tea. Zhou Yiwen nced at Lin Yao, who was seated at the table across from him, and silently began topose a text message. Jiang Cheng ising soon, everyone get ready for your assigned tasks. He hit send to the group. The pressure was greatest on Bao Jun and Song Zhang at the moment; they were to fire the first shot of the days action. If they did not do it well, it could inevitably affect the morale of their fellow brothers. So everyone could make mistakes, except for them! Jiang Cheng ising! Get ready, let hime a bit closer, and then we charge out. The person next to Jiang Cheng looks a bit like Principal Yang, doesnt he? Are you sure youre not seeing things? What does Yang Lingbao have to do with Jiang Chengs family? Who cares if it is or isnt, weve graduated anyway, whats there to fear? Charge! Charge! Jiang Cheng was about to reach the entrance of the hotel when Bao Jun and Song Zhang, gripping their milk tea, sprinted over. ording to their n, the milk tea in their hands would fly from their grasp as they approached Jiang Cheng, tracing a perfect parab tond at Jiang Chengs feet, sttering him with the sticky drink. However, before Bao and Song could reach Jiang Chengs vicinity, it was Yang Lingbao at Jiang Chengs side who first recognized them. Hey, arent you guys from Senior ss 2? Yang Lingbao said, slightly surprised. When the principal spoke up, the menacing momentum that Bao and Song had gathered up in desperation instantly dissipated. Oh, right. Hello, Principal. The two of them nodded and bowed. Hello there. Are you also here for the banquet? Yes, thats right. Yes, yes. Then lets go together. Come with me and Jiang Cheng. Oh, sure, sure. When Jiang Cheng appeared at the hotel entrance unharmed, side by side with Yang Lingbao, Zhou Yiwen and Chen Shuai, who had been observing from inside, were dumbfounded. Is it really that hard to ssh a cup of milk tea? At the entrance of the hotel, Yang Lingbao took out a spirit stone, preparing to give it as a gift. Bao Jun and Song Zhang sheepishly returned to their seats. Idiots, Zhou Yiwen could not help but curse. The unsessful start by Bao and Song indeed affected the morale of the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance. Chen Shuai, who was usually confident, began to feel anxious. Chen Shuai could only try to shift the me in advance, Wheres Yue Ping? Wheres he? Why hasnt he arrived yet? Zhou Yiwen bit his lip and said, Chen Shuai, you go first. Ill call Yue Ping right now with a talisman. Since Zhou Yiwen had put it that way, there was nothing Chen Shuai could do but force himself to stand up, ready to pick a fight with Jiang Cheng. But Jiang Cheng didnt even sit at the same table as these children! Jiang Cheng was pulled along by Yang Lingbao, talking andughing all the way to his father Chen Qimings table. As for their table in the corner of the hotel, Jiang Cheng seemed not to have noticed them at all. This can we even y like this? Chen Shuai, stick to the original n. Zhou Yiwen started putting pressure on Chen Shuai. Chen Shuais scalp tingled. If he approached, he might lose face; if he didnt, and acted cowardly, hed lose even more face. Torn between two options, Chen Shuai turned to look at the ultimate goal of their actions, Lin Yao at the neighboring table. The tender and affectionate gaze with which Lin Yao looked at Jiang Cheng deeply unsettled Chen Shuai. Fuck. Lets do this! Chen Shuai got up and followed behind Jiang Cheng and Yang Lingbao until Jiang Cheng arrived at the table reserved for the adults. Chen Shuai walked while brewing his emotions. The speech he had practiced was already burning his tongue. As long as he faced Jiang Cheng, he just needed to recite the well-rehearsed lines and it would be done! Chen Shuai, youvee at just the right time, you and Jiang Cheng are from the same school, arent you? Seeing the principal and not hurrying to toast together, Chen Qiming said with a smile, subtly nudging Chen Shuai next to Jiang Cheng. Chen Shuai, taken aback, held his wine ss and clinked it with Yang Lingbaos, beginning to toast. However, that was not the end, as many at the entrance examination banquet hade just for the sake of Jiang Chengs face. Among them, many were actually users of the Fishing Talisman. Now that the toasting had started, several prominent figures from the tables nearby, all holding their wine sses, came over to cozy up to Jiang Cheng. Whether or not they drank the wine wasnt important; a quick chat and the chance to buy a few more talismans were both good oues. Even if they didnt use them themselves, selling them directly as scalpers could them a good deal of favors and Spirit Stones. The Fishing Talisman was really hotmodity in Wuyue right now. Fishing Talisman, you could give one away based on someones interests. To an exhausted middle-aged leader, you could also give one. To the leaders wife, you most certainly could give one too. Compared to the poprity of Jiang Cheng, Sun Yuan, the very protagonist of the entrance examination, had just arrived at the banquet and hadnt even attracted the attention of a single person. Even his father, Sun Qing, was now defecting, watching Jiang Cheng. Chen Shuai was utterly unable to get a word in, not just that, but also losing a lot of face trying to squeeze out from the enclosure of adults. Dad, whats up with Jiang Cheng? Chen Shuai managed to get to Chen Qimings side. Chen Qiming was deeply wary of Jiang Cheng, including that apartment; he now wouldnt even mention it. He simply advised Chen Shuai, Hang out with Jiang Cheng more when you have the chance, ask dad directly if you need money. Chen Shuai: ? This was the first time his father had actively suggested he make friends. It was unusual. Totally unusual. The first wave of attacks, the second wave of attacks had all failed, and Yue Ping, who represented the third wave of attacks, waspletely out of contact, the Anti-Jiang Cheng Alliance was panic-stricken, everyone turned to look at theirst trump card, Zhou Yiwen. Chen Shuai, this trash. Zhou Yiwens fingers squeezing themunication talisman turned white; he was now clearer than anyone about the urgency of the situationif he didnt do something now, today would not be about making Jiang Cheng look like a fool, but rather putting him in the spotlight, trampling all the male cultivators from their high school beneath his feet! In doing so, it would be akin to clearly telling Lin Yao that she was right to like Jiang Cheng, because all the other guys were worthless. No, this absolutely couldnt happen! Eh? Yaoyao, where are you going? Tang Qian asked, seeing Lin Yao stand up from her seat. Lin Yao replied indifferently, Im going to help Jiang a bit. It was right when Jiang Cheng was at the peak of his poprity, Zhou Yiwen stepped out of his ce and blocked Lin Yaos path. Lin, Jiang Cheng is busy entertaining guests; he doesnt have time for you right now. Lin Yao showed no emotion towards Zhou Yiwen, indifferently saying, He doesnt like entertaining; I want to go help him. Lin, what do you mean? Zhou Yiwen hadntprehended yet when he saw Lin Yao making her way through the crowd towards Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng was being surrounded by a group of imposing gents for toasts, so naturally, Lin Yao couldnt just push through them. She saw the other side of the table was quite empty with just a kid sitting there. Hi, would you mind letting me through? Lin Yao asked Sun Yuan. When Sun Yuan saw Lin Yao, he froze. This was his idol, standing right in front of him so easily? His legs moved uncontrobly, and he instinctively stood up, making way for Lin Yao. Lin Yao borrowed the path from Sun Yuans side and smoothly circled around the table, arriving at Jiang Chengs side from behind him. Hello, dear uncles, my teacher brother cant really drink, so how about letting Yaoyao drink for him? Sun Yuan: Huh? What does my teacher brother mean? Meanwhile, across the street, a monster sitting in front of a pile of snacks suddenly set down the fries headed for its mouth, furrowing its brows slightly. PS1: Yesterday we crowd-funded for talismans, and a brother guessed the authors reserved talisman correctly. Although it doesnt count as the author taking advice from him, the author still ns to give out the sponsorship fees for Crazy Thursday. Not for anything else, just setting a leading example as a demonstrative benchmark, keeping ones word, saying it will be given and thus it will be given. The relevant reader will be notified in the corresponding chapter; remember to join the group and privately message the author to receive it. PS2: The author has seenments from some readers saying that the Fishing Talisman has doomed the Aquatic Tribe, even leading to their extinction. The author can only say not to worry, that wont happen; the Fishing Talisman is like a school teacher, no matter how hard the teacher encourages, not all students will be top achieversthere will always be many fish that slip through the. Besides, there are at least two more twists toe with the Fishing Talisman. Stay tuned. Chapter 86: Core Formation Visit Chapter 86: Core Formation Visit Trantor: 549690339 I must say, Lin Yaos move proved to be quite effective. By stepping forward to shield Jiang Cheng from drinking, not to mention whether she could hold her liquor, the gesture alone made it very clear that she was refusing social drinking on his behalf. All the adults around were sharp-witted; who wouldnt understand Lin Yaos intent? Or perhaps, was it Lin Yaos own idea to step forward, or was it Jiang Chengs? These matters were not fit for direct mention, but everyone understood implicitly. It was no longer appropriate to urge more drinking, but ribbing her a few times was still inevitable. Wow, who couldve guessed that young Jiang suffers from bronchitis? Ha ha, his little wife wont let him drink, huh. Tch, tch, its good to see young love. My wife, hey, shes practically got her fist imprinted on my face. Lets disperse, lets disperse. Well drink another time. Jiang Cheng hadnt thought much about attending the advancement celebration banquet. What could possibly happen just by eating a meal? It was just a bit unexpected to run into Principal Yang on the way. And then he got somewhat bewilderingly pulled to the adults table to eat. If Jiang Cheng had a choice, hed have preferred to sit at the kids table, as he didnt quite know how to drink alcohol and wasnt familiar with social interactions. But Lin Yaos appearance was even more bizarre. What was she doing at Sun Yuans celebration banquet? What exactly was her situation? What are you nning to do? Considering it was Sun Yuans celebration today, it wasnt nice for Jiang Cheng to just slip away, and it wasnt good to make a scene with Lin Yao, so he asked her softly. Yaoer noticed that Shixiong doesnt enjoy social drinking, so I took it upon myself to help Shixiong out. Lin Yao said with her head lowered, biting her lip. She was afraid she had done something wrong again, upsetting Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng found Lin Yaos submissive demeanor even more puzzling. He already thought it peculiar for Lin Yao to attend the advancement banquet, not to mention that the enchantress now spoke without arrogance, seemingly undergoing a drastic change in personality, as if she had be apletely different person. ssmate Lin, since youre here, dont leave just yet. Lets add a stool for you to sit next to Jiang Cheng, suggested Yang Lingbao. Yet, Lin Yao didnt directly heed Principal Yangs words; seeing that Jiang Cheng seemed unwilling, she quickly expressed her understanding: No need to trouble you, Principal. My ssmates are waiting for me over there. Then, Lin Yao turned her face towards Jiang Cheng, and the tenderness in her eyes tightened his brow. Jiang Shixiong, Yaoer is going back now. Mhm, Jiang Cheng nodded. Sun Yuan, who had been watching the drama unfold, was so shocked that his mouth remained open for a long time, unable to close it. The girl he had always admired, Lin Yao, the goddess of Wuyue Advanced Middle School, why did she seem like an obedient little wife in front of his cousin? Could someone exin to him what on earth was happening? Actually, not only Sun Yuan but even Jiang Cheng himself couldnt understand the situation. Based on what he knew of Lin Yaos character from before, she should have been insistent on causing a scene just now; how could she kindly help him out and then quietly leave without making a fuss? Could it be that the enchantresss tactics had upgraded? Witnessing Lin Yaos docile behavior in front of Jiang Cheng made Zhou Yiwens heart bleed. By this point, Zhou Yiwen had nothing left to hold back. He had to put on a big show, covering up all of Jiang Chengs earlier spotlight! Fortunately, the owner of Weishou Restaurant was a friend of his fathers, and using his fathers connections should not be a problem. Zhou Yiwen had already decided that even if using this influence meant he might get beaten up when he got home, he had to do it today no matter what! Zhou Yiwen walked out of the restaurant and took out hismunication talisman to call Zhou Yunshan. Dad, didnt you say you knew the owner of Weishou Restaurant? Give me his contact info; I need a small favor from him. What do you need him for? Arent we having my ssmates brothers advancement celebration? I was thinking of ordering a few more impressive dishes for him. Impressive dishes? Thats good, weve already prepared them. I cant talk much now, your father is busy. Already prepared? Zhou Yiwen was momentarily stunned, not quite processing the news, when he heard amotion inside the restaurant. Turns out a team of waiters had emerged from the kitchen and started serving dishes. And the dishes that came outst were rare and expensive delicacies, one after another. Zhou Yiwen was dumbfounded. How could someone have the same idea as him? He had also nned to splurge on good food and then ask the owner of Weishou Restaurant to personallye out and sing his praises Sure enough, whatever Zhou Yiwen thought came true. The owner of Weishou did indeed grab the microphone and assume the role of emcee. But unfortunately, it wasnt Zhou Yiwen whom the Weishou owner was praising, but Sun Qing, Sun Yuan, andJiang Cheng! What puzzled Zhou Yiwen even more was that his father, Zhou Yunshan, had personallye! Dad? Zhou Yiwen stood at the restaurant entrance, incredulously watching Zhou Yunshan walk out from the back kitchen of the restaurant. Yiwen? Why are you standing over there? Come on,e with Dad to toast to todays guest of honor. Zhou Yunshan was very pleased with the arrangements the owner of Weishou had set up and began to introduce Zhou Yiwen and Jiang Cheng to each other. Master Jiang. This must be Principal Yang, right? Dean Chen, Mr. Sun, this is my son Zhou Yiwen. Hes a bit mischievous usually, but he came specially today to apologize, so please be patient with him. Even though Zhou Yunshan was considerate of each person, his partiality towards Jiang Cheng was quite apparent in everything he said. It seemed that, to Zhou Yunshan, Zhou Yiwen was his son, but Jiang Cheng was not his sons ssmate, but his own friend. Zhou Yiwen was feeling quite ufortable now. He had nned to put on an air of importance, to elevate his image in Lin Yaos heart, but his dad came, his dad put on the air for him, and then his dad even treated Jiang Cheng as an equal. He was bewildered, and before he knew it, he had suddenly be a junior to Jiang Cheng! Zhou Yiwen felt extremely aggrieved, but there was someone who was even more aggrieved than Zhou Yiwen. It was Tang Qian. Tang Qian was sitting next to Lin Yao at that moment, wishing she could just crawl into a hole and hide. She came to this so-called promotion banquet hoping to see Jiang Cheng make a fool of himself and Lin Yao face humiliation for picking the wrong Cultivator as her partner. But as it turned out, Jiang Cheng unexpectedly showed strength. Not only did he appear quite at ease, but his connections were also deep and wide. What made Tang Qian feel even more embarrassed was that Jiang Cheng could converse as an equal with many middle-aged figures of considerable influence. If one were to consider seniority, both she, Tang Qian, and Chen Shuais girlfriend, Xie Linshan, turned out to be juniors to Lin Yao! What did being a junior mean? It meant that if Tang Qian wanted to observe proper etiquette and be a person of decorum, she would be put in her ce by Lin Yao, who was senior to her. And this gap in seniority was not something effort could bridge. As long as she married Zhou Yiwen and Lin Yao married Jiang Cheng, Tang Qian would be trampled underfoot by Lin Yao for the rest of her life! Tang Qian couldnt ept that. Especially when she saw Jiang Cheng confidently chatting with other Cultivators, while her boyfriend Zhou Yiwen was timidly hiding behind his father. She really wanted to call Zhou Yiwen a good-for-nothing! But then, Tang Qian soon came to terms with it because she would realize that it wasnt that Zhou Yiwen wasnt trying, it was just that he was no match for Jiang Cheng. In the midst of the eating, drinking, and chatting at Weishou Restaurant A middle-aged man dressed in ancient costumes slowly made his way into the restaurants entrance. The moment he entered, theughter in the ce involuntarily ceased. Since on him, there emanated a powerful aura unique to a Core Formation Cultivator, sweeping across all the space from the moment he stepped into the restaurant. But that wasnt all. Following him came one, two more. In total, three Core Formation Cultivators made an abrupt appearance inside the restaurant. No one in the entire ce spoke a word. There were only a few Core Formation elders in Wuyue to begin with, and now three had arrived, which likely meant that half of Wuyues Core Formation experts were present. Everyone was guessing the purpose of the Core Formation elders visit. In their minds, only a matter concerning the whole of Wuyue would warrant a personal visit from a Core Formation Cultivator. The first to break the silence among the three Core Formation cultivators, the one with the fiercest appearance, spoke up. Haha, Jiang, my friend, we meet again. Lei Buxiao was quite delighted at the moment; he had been on the receiving end of Jiang Chengs tormentst time, but now he was just a spectator. He was all about enjoying the drama to the fullest. And what could be more enjoyable than watching Jiang Cheng give someone else a hard time? Peng, when you encounter Jiang Cheng just ept it! Hahahahaha! Chapter 87 - 87 Trial of the Three Elixirs Chapter 87: Trial of the Three Elixirs Trantor: 549690339 Under normal circumstances, sending someone like Lu Wang or Yu Hui to find Jiang Cheng would suffice. After all, no matter what, Jiang Cheng was only a high school student in the Qi Cultivation Stage. A bona fide, powerless, and statuslessmoner. There was absolutely no need for the Helmsman of the Tongtian Sects branch to personally take a trip for this matter. However, Peng Jun was extremely curious about Jiang Cheng. Because all of them, including his Core Formation friend Lei Buxiao, knew Jiang Cheng! Not only did they know him, but there was also a sense of familiarity with Jiang Cheng in their conversations. It was as if everyone in their Wuyue Tongtian Sect had been invited to a party by Jiang Cheng, even Lei Buxiao from the neighboring Lin Sect, and yet the Branch Helmsman himself was the only one not called. Peng Jun really wanted to meet this young practitioner in the Qi Cultivation Stage, to see what kind of ability he had to lead a group of fellow sect members in the Tongtian Sect and ostracize him, the Branch Helmsman, in such a fairy-like bullying manner. Peng Jun wanted to meet Jiang Cheng. Lanye wanted to meet Jiang Cheng even more. He wanted to see which great power had reincarnated as Jiang Cheng, who, with just a body in the Qi Cultivation Stage, could cause such upheaval in vast bodies of water like the Wu River and the Ming River! Both Peng Jun and Lanye had their own motives for taking action personally. And there was even less need to mention Lei Buxiao. Lei Buxiao had to witness this drama from beginning to end today, regretting any second he missed for ten years. No, twenty years! Thus, with the tacit cooperation of the three Core Formation cultivators, the scene of the three of them entering Weishou Restaurant one after the other unfolded. There were not a few guests at Sun Yuans academic advancement banquet, all of whom were influential figures in their respective fields. However, not one of them could recognize Peng Jun. Because the power of the Immortal Sects was not the dynastic power of the Liang Kingdom, Immortal Sects did not need to y to the public; on the contrary, the more mysterious and unpredictable, the better. This gave them more prestige. Lanye was even more unfamiliar to everyone because thest time he came to Wuyue, the majority of the people in the room had not yet been born. Lei Buxiao was somewhat famous inparison. People like Sun Qing and Yang Lingbao had all met him once before. Although the guests could not identify Peng Jun and Lanye, even fools knew how rare Core Formation cultivators were in Wuyue, and not one of them should be taken lightly. May I ask who is Jiang Cheng, Jiang? Peng Jun spoke up. His words were polite, and his tone was as calm as still water, betraying no emotion, making it impossible to tell if he hade to celebrate or to trouble Jiang Cheng. Faced with a Core Formation cultivator, everyone in the room instinctively felt fear. Those who were not mentally stout, such as Chen Shuai, had their teeth keeping a beat, and their legs swaying, onlycking a lead singer to form a rock band. But Jiang Cheng stood up asposedly as always, speaking as though he was talking to an ordinary friend, neither servile nor overbearing, Senior, I am Jiang Cheng whom youre looking for. Peng Jun quickly nced at Jiang Cheng, feeling that this young cultivator seemed unusually normal, entirely unlike the cunning and deceitful kind who would threaten the Aquatic Tribe. Lanye looked displeased. Lei Buxiaos eyes twinkled with amusement. Three Core Formation cultivators, three different moods. In fact, it was not just the three Core Formation cultivators who had different moods, nearly everyone present had their own calctions. Sun Qing was worried that Jiang Cheng had caused trouble again. Sun Yuans mind had crashed,pletely overwhelmed by Jiang Chengs connections. Chen Qiming, Zhou Yunshan, Yang Lingbao, and others silently elevated Jiang Chengs status yet another level in their hearts. They had previously thought theyd given Jiang Cheng due importance, but as it turned out, even that was an underestimation. The prospect of this young mans future was simply boundless. Chen Shuai and Zhou Yiwen felt powerless, having originally thought it was outrageous enough that Jiang Cheng couldmunicate with their elders as equals. Little did they know, Jiang Cheng also had a Core Formation connection and was referred to as Jiang by Core Formation cultivators. To understand the gravity of this, Core Formation cultivators are possibly older than their great grandfathers! By this calction, wouldnt they be demoted from being Jiang Chengs sons to being his grandsons? Xie Linshan sighed in resignation, realizing that she probably had no chance with Jiang Cheng. Among the female cultivators she knew, probably only Lin Yao, with her top-tier beauty, could be a match for Jiang Cheng. Tang Qian clenched her silver teeth tightly, finally realizing that Lin Yaos choice to choose Jiang Cheng over Zhou Yiwen wasnt a matter of Lin Yaos poor taste in men. It was that Lin Yao was actually extremely discerning! With the level of power Jiang Cheng had shown, any female cultivator who managed to share his bed and serve him dedicatedly wouldnt worry about transforming from a sparrow to a phoenix! Lin Yao herself did not have as many thoughts as Tang Qian. She had once apanied Jiang Cheng through an ordeal with a Core Formation cultivator picking a quarrel, so she had confidence in Jiang Cheng this time around. No matter what, Brother Jiang definitely had no issues; if there was a mistake, it was others who were mistaken, attempting to frame and nder her Brother Jiang. Although Peng Jun was a Core Formation cultivator and the Branch Helmsman of the Immortal Sect, he did not carry himself with excessive arrogance. He put on airs only in front of Lei Buxiao and Lanye. As for the Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators in the room, who werent part of the Immortal Sects system, frankly, they werent even on the same level to make showing off necessary. If he intentionally acted superior to them, it would simply reveal him as domineering and petty, losing his high ground. Peng hase here this time, and I suppose thats intruding on everyones drinking, but I really have an urgent matter and would like to ask for Jiangs assistance. I wonder if Jiang is at your convenience? Surname Peng? It cant be that Peng Jun, could it? someone at the banquet whispered in surprise. What about Peng Jun? s, how many Core Formation cultivators do we have in Wuyue? And surnamed Peng, plus a Core Formation, that can only be the Branch Helmsman of the Tongtian Sects Wuyue branch! The Branch Helmsman of the Tongtian Sects Wuyue branch! The foremost authority of the Immortal Sect powers in Wuyue! Almost considered the most prestigious Core Formation cultivator in all of Wuyue! Ordinarily, anyone called upon by this Core Formation cultivator would feel honored and would not dare say a word of refusal. But Jiang Cheng said, Please wait for me a moment, I need to send a message. Everyone was at a loss for words: a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator making three Core Formation cultivators wait for him? How big could his ego be? But to everyones surprise, the Core Formation cultivators actually agreed. Lei Buxiao said confidently, Jiang, make it quick, well go out and wait for you. Come on, lets go, standing here like door gods. We dont want to disturb others meals. After the three Core Formation cultivators left, all eyes in the room were on Jiang Cheng. But Jiang Cheng calmly took out hismunication talisman, dialed Liu Qings number, andposed a message. A friend needs me for something, finish up the food and head home first when youre done. Send. Then he skilfully answered the phone. Liu Qing: Okay. Jiang Cheng: Alright, hanging up. After the iprehensible operation of themunication talisman to the observers, Jiang Cheng said, Uncle, Ill be heading off first. There probably wont be any issues, so dont worry. Sun Qing didnt know what to say, feeling that he was no longer in a position to educate Jiang Cheng, and could only say, If theres trouble, remember to send your uncle amunication talisman. Sure, Jiang Cheng agreed. Under everyones gaze, Jiang Cheng left the restaurant unhurriedly. At that moment, to many female cultivators in the restaurant, the sound of Jiang Chengs footsteps on the ground was more pleasing to the ear than the so-called music of the immortals. Across the street, Liu Qing silently watched Jiang Cheng leave with the three Core Formation cultivators. Chapter 88: A Master in the Water is Still a Master Chapter 88: A Master in the Water is Still a Master Trantor: 549690339 Task Hall, the grand conference room. Familiar scenes, familiar people, different talismans, and different moods. Three Core Formation cultivators sat at the head of the conference room. The host Peng Jun upied the foremost seat. Also representing the Immortal Sect, Lei Buxiao sat to the first seat on Peng Juns left. Representing the Aquatic Tribe, Lanye, sat to the first seat on Peng Juns right. Following them were the direct parties involved in this incident: Task Hall Elder Sun Decai, President of the Talisman Master Association Lu Wang, President of the Artifact Refiners Association Yu Hui, and the well-known talisman inventor from Jiang ChengWuyue. Beyond these direct parties, a good number of Tongtian Sect forces were also indirectly involved. The Enforcement Hall of Tongtian Sects Wuyue division was responsible for enforcing the Sects regtions. The Array Masters Association of Tongtian Sect was in charge of setting up monitoring formations at various associations and the Task Hall. The External Propaganda Department was tasked with maintaining the image of Tongtian Sect to external forces. Safety Hall was responsible for guarding the Sects interests and eliminating potential security threats. The Archives Department was charged with organizing and recording the Sects history. In short, during the tug of war process of pulling each other, all the departments under the Wuyue division of Tongtian Sect eventually gathered in full. Once all who should have arrived did. Peng Jun spoke with unwavering righteousness, Now that everyone is here, let me reintroduce to you all the cultivator on my right hand side. Lanye, Daoist Lanye. He is a Core Formation cultivator of the Ming River Aquatic Tribe, holding high status and reputation within his tribe, including the entire downstream area of the Ming River. Lanye stood up, bowed solemnly with hands sped, and said, Greetings to all the Daoist friends of the Human Race. Then, Peng Jun continued, ording to Daoist Lanye, someone from our Human Race has used a malicious talisman in vition of the rules. Their intention is to eradicate the descendants of the entire Ming River Aquatic Tribe. This reusable talisman is the evidence provided by Daoist Lanye. Peng Jun took out the Fishing Talisman, showed it clearly to everyone, and then ced it on the table. The Cultivator from the Archives Department, while activating the Memory Sphere, was also writing furiously! This was a historic event stemming from the dispute over talismans, potentially the fuse for arger-scale conflict! Not a single detail could be missed! Peng Juns eyes moved slightly as he surveyed the expressions of everyone present. Some were nervous, some were watching the drama unfoldall quite normal. The only exception was Jiang Cheng, the talisman drawer himself, who had an utterly righteous look on his face. It was as if he were the intiff and Lanye the defendant. Peng Jun even began to wonder if Lanye had made a mistake. After all, this young man looked every bit the good person. Daoist Lanye, do you have anything to add? Peng Jun asked Lanye. Lanye spoke with a resonant voice: In nature, survival of the fittest is thew of all creatures, the logic of nature. Therefore, even when the Human Race massively fished and killed fish in the past years, we from the Ming River Aquatic Tribe never objected. However, this talisman is entirely different from all previous fishing and killing! It specifically targets the potential young ones within our tribe! This is no longer a matter of naturalw but a targeted extermination! This act seriously vites the peace treaties established by the Immortal Sects. It constitutes an act of genocide against our Aquatic Tribe! I implore the Daoist friends of the Immortal Sect to speak up for our tribe! After Lanyes speech, many in the audience began nodding in agreement. What he said wasnt wrong. They werent forbidding fishing. It was just asking not to selectively prey on the fish with potential. A perfectly reasonable demand. Peng Jun looked towards the head of the Enforcement Hall: Daoist Zheng? Zheng Chun added, Lanyes request is both reasonable andwful. Citing the Peace Ordinance, Article 21, use 3, no power shall impose targeted, systematic restraints on another power, including blockades, ughter, envement Peng Jun nodded, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. Sun Decai, Lu Wang, and Yu Hui all had rather restrained and nervous expressions, fitting the mood of the moment. But it was only that Qi-cultivating cultivator named Jiang Cheng who gave Peng Jun the impression of being not only unafraid but actually eager to try something. Jiang, youre the mastermind, do you know that? Peng Jun had intended to call out Jiang Cheng and have him respond directly to Lanyes usations, but Jiang Chengs excitement made him a bit afraid. Something isnt right about this kid! To be safe, Peng Jun decided to first let the most cunning and experienced Lu Wang take the lead. President Lu, what do you think about what Lanye mentioned? Lu Wang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He knew it! The moment he had helped Jiang Cheng, he knew this day woulde! He never should have trusted Jiang Cheng in the first ce! He should have risked losing face and not certified Jiang Chengs talisman! But it was toote for such regrets now. He just had to think of a way to muddle through this. Helmsman, I, Lu Wang, am a Talisman Master. I dont understand the big picture or the friendship between the two races as well as the seniors here. But as Wuyues only third-grade Talisman Master, I think I do have some insights into talismans. From a talismanic perspective, the Animal Encouragement Talisman that Jiang Cheng submitted to our association for certification doesnt seem to be any problem. As soon as he finished, Lanye immediately showed his displeasure. The look from the Core Formation elder swept over Lu Wang, putting him under immense pressure. Peng Jun said in a timely manner, Lanye, lets hear him out. Lei Buxiao, who had a history with Lu Wang, also spoke up, Old Lu, just speak inly. Lu Wang continued, Although not everyone here is a Talisman Master, I believe you all have used talismans. Thanks to the efforts of many predecessors in the talismanic arts, the ssification of talismans is very clear. Offensive talismans are for attack. Healing talismans, well, the vast majority are for healing. Likewise, this Animal Encouragement Talisman is undoubtedly a first-grade blessing talisman. All talismans under the blessing category possess no coercive power, which is a unique feature of the blessing category. Fellow cultivators, thats all I have to say. Although Lu Wang did not spell it out, his meaning was quite clear. Its just an encouragement talisman; it naturallycks the conditions for extermination, because those fish voluntarily take the bait. You cant forbid fish from striving, can you? To draw a parallel: smartphone: carries risks; grandfather: insists on visiting. You cant me the smartphone if you fall victim to it, right? All who persist in visiting, who isnt willingly hooked? Let me tell you, dont be resentful. In the water, if it acts arrogantly, its because its ustomed to it, spending its days besides eating just taking the bait, nothing more. Why use chicken necks as bait? Who are you steaming for? Is it about life and death? Dont overdo it and be unptable. Nonsense! If theres nothing wrong with the talisman, why does it specifically target potential juniors? Lanye eximed angrily. Peng Jun signalled Lanye to calm down and continued, Yu, the reusable type talismans fall under your jurisdiction, do you have anything to say? Yu Hui nced at Lu Wang and, steeling himself, said, The reusable talisman Jiang Cheng submitted, apart from that encouragement talisman, all other parts are made ofmonly avable standardponents that are widely circted in the market. So, theres no question about it passing our associations reliability certification. As for our association helping to assemble the talisman afterwards, this is indeed a legal and standard coboration, with all rted documents avable in the associations archives for anyone to check. Chapter 89: Jiang Cheng Takes Action Chapter 89: Jiang Cheng Takes Action Trantor: 549690339 Yu Huis words sounded like nothing but sophistry to Lanyes ears. You, the head of the Artifact Refiners Association, who are specifically in charge of artifact refining and magical treasures, now that theres a problem with a magical treasure, instead of trying to find out where the issue lies, you im, Because the parts are all fine, so the magical treasure is also fine. Isnt that just nonsense? Does that mean just because the fish are all fine, the people who eat the fish are fine too? Its highly unlikely! Yu, just now the Talisman Master Associations Lu said he couldnt see any problem, and now the artifact refiners from the Artifact Refiners Association also say they cant see any problem. I, Lanye, have long heard of the prestige of the Immortal Sect, and all those who work in the Immortal Sect must be exceptional. It cant be that you are ipetent. So tell me, do you truly not see any problem, or do you not want to see any problem? Faced with Lanyes interrogation, Yu Hui silently swallowed. To be honest, when he validated the Fishing Talisman, he indeed cut Jiang Cheng some ck because of the face given to Lu Wang. Although the process wasnt standard, a Fishing Talisman made with matureponents and processes would not have any issues discovered. If one had to speak of a problem, it would be with the talisman itself and its effects, but thats not something the Artifact Refiners Association is responsible for. Artifact refiners only study artifact refinement, not talisman drawing! Elder Lanye, Yu Hui bowed with hands sped in a respectful gesture, and said, It is indeed a bit difficult for Yu to discuss the effects of talismans with Elder Lanye. As a third-tier Artifact Refiner, although I have some insights into artifact refining, I am indeed clueless and powerless when ites to talismans. I truly apologize. Lanyes eyes widened as he fiercely said, This is something your association approved, and now you tell me you dont understand it? With an embarrassed expression, Yu Hui replied, Elder Lanye, our association is only responsible for verifying the functionality of the finished products, not for researching the principles behind how the magical treasures work. The Reusable Type sample submitted by Jiang was made from qualified materials, had correct structure, passed the quality inspections, and the effect was also problem-free. Theres no reason for our association not to approve it. Hmph! Yu Hui adamantly imed no responsibility, angering Lanye to the point where he had nothing to say and could only pound the table in frustration to vent his emotions. At that moment, Peng Jun still wore a calm expression, but Lei Buxiao was a different story. Lei Buxiao sneakily nced at Lanyes expression, remembering the torment he had once suffered at the hands of Jiang Cheng. He wanted tough now, which seemed a bit disrespectful. But he couldnt hold back. He had to cover his mouth with his hand to restrain his frequently rising corners. Laughing out loud in such a serious situation would undermine the dignity of the Lin Sect. After all, Lei Buxiao was the highest-ranked cultivator stationed by Lin Sect in Wuyue. He represented Lin Sect as an objective and impartial third-party force involved in observing the dispute between the Tongtian Sect and the Ming River Aquatic Tribe. It wasnt appropriate tough too loudly. Sun, please share your thoughts, said Yu Hui, passing the question to Sun Decai. He hoped Sun Decai could provide Lanye with a satisfying answer. Compared to Lu Wang and Yu Hui, Sun Decai was far better prepared. Instead of focusing on whether theres a problem with the talisman, he directly addressed the essence of the issue with a single statement. Fellow Daoist Lanye, as you are aware, these talismans were indeed sold by our Task Hall. I, Sun Decai, do not intend to conceal this fact. But there is one more thing I hope Daoist Lanye understands, that in this world, it is not just your Aquatic Cultivators who care about fish and are concerned about the ecological bnce of Wuyue waters. Our Task Hall is no different. Despite his internal tension, Sun Decai forcefully maintained hisposure, looked around at all the cultivators present, and firmly said: Perhaps the esteemed assembly is unaware, for every talisman sold by our Task Hall, half the selling price is allocated into the Halls Wuyue Fish Care Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to protecting the ecological diversity and poption of Wuyue fish. It could be said that when ites to protecting aquatic life, not only does our Task Hall talk the talk, but we also walk the walkand with significant strides. After Sun Decai spoke, the cultivators who had initially sided with Lanyepletely changed their stance. Sun Decais words were logical. Yes, they were selling talismans, but they were not just selling them; they also remembered to protect aquatic life with a focus on sustainable development. Given this, the targeted fishing and extermination behavior Lanye spoke of were nothing but baseless ims, right? If the Task Hall really wanted to exterminate aquatic life, why would they establish a foundation? An unnecessary move? Self-contradictory? Fighting themselves? It just made no sense. Once Sun Decai finished speaking, he inwardly praised Jiang Cheng for his brilliance. This kid is truly formidable. With the Wuyue Fish Care Foundation at hand, he rendered the Core Formation cultivators from the Aquatic Tribe speechless. Could it be that Jiang Cheng had anticipated that the Aquatic Tribe would definitelye to make trouble, and so he had set up the foundation in advance? Its frightening upon careful thought! Faced with Sun Decais exnations and questioning, Lanye immediately retorted, Fellow Daoist, do not confuse the issue! Our tribe has never forbidden the Human Race from fishing, but you should noty hands on our tribes potential young! Ordinary small fish and shrimp, do whatever you like with them! But whoever harms our potential young is undermining our tribes foundation! Lu Wang, Yu Hui, and Sun Decai had all spoken. Now only the mastermind Jiang Cheng had yet to speak. At this moment, including those who were watching the drama and observing from the sidelines, including Lei Buxiao and Lanye, everyone turned their gaze upon Jiang Cheng. Peng Jun also couldnt defy the public sentiment, and even though he felt something was off about this kid, since everyone wanted to hear the mastermind speak, he might as well let him say his piece. Fellow Daoist Jiang Cheng, do you have anything to say to Fellow Daoist Lanye? Jiang Cheng stood up calmly, and instead of mentioning talismans right away, he bowed respectfully to everyone present. Elders, Jiang Cheng pays his respects. Jiang Chengs education is not high, and his speech may be biased. If there is any offense, Jiang Cheng apologizes in advance. The crowd, seeing Jiang Chengs attitude, couldnt help but nod slightly in praise. Putting everything else aside, the kid certainly had manners, which made him quite likable. After all, who doesnt appreciate respectful, polite, and handsome youths? Only those like Lei Buxiao, who had experienced the Muscle Rxation Talisman incident, understood that something big was definitely about to happen. Because Jiang Cheng had already used up all his politeness in one go. After that, no one could me him forcking politeness. Lei Buxiao covered his mouth, perked up his ears, and his eyes shone brightly. Here ites, the moment he had been eagerly anticipating! Jiang Cheng stood upright, showing no signs of nervousness even though his opponent was a Core Formation elder. In this aspect, even several Foundation Establishment cultivators who spoke before him couldntpare. His tone was gentle and steady, his enunciation clear and forceful. Elder Lanye, just now I heard you discussing with elders like Lu Wang, and there has been a doubt in my heart that remains unresolved. May I ask Elder Lanye to rify it? Go ahead and ask. Elder Lanyes view is that its natural for the Human Race to fish, is that correct? Indeed. And Elder Lanyes goal is to prevent the Reusable Fluorescent Version of Animal Encouragement Talisman from threatening the young of the Aquatic Tribe, is that also correct? Thats right. So what exactly are you trying to say? What I want to say is very simple. Elder, you keep saying that you are considering the young of the Aquatic Tribe, but have you really thought about the issue from the perspective of the young? Those potential young ones you talk about, do they really, as you say, aspire to be monsters? ording to my knowledge, the cultivation resources of the Aquatic Tribe should not be rich, and they may even be stretched thin. Is it possible that they dont want to be monsters at all, but just want to live as ordinary fish without worries? Without the need to strive in cultivation,pete for resources, or vie internally with tribe members, just simply living an ordinary fishs unremarkable life? PS5: Initially, the Fishing Talisman caused some losses to the young of the Aquatic Tribe. However, due to its feature of selecting the excellent, it willter help the long-weakened Aquatic Tribe to focus on nurturing their potential and thereby rise again. Thus, the Fishing Talisman is more beneficial than harmful to the Aquatic Tribe, with relevant plots appearing in Chapter 101. PS: To avoid misunderstanding, let me summarize the protagonists point: the protagonist means that Lanye does not understand the fishes thoughts, and neither does Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Cheng respects the fishes own choices since the encouragement from the talisman is just that, encouragement, notpulsion. Non-forced, non-forced, non-forced, emphasized three times. PS2: Fish and the Aquatic Tribe are two different things. Fish are not Aquatic Tribe members. Only those who have initially awakened their spirit and subsequently cultivated, and monsters with a Cultivation Level are considered part of the Aquatic Tribe. PS3: Fish are not human, they do not naturally have the same rights, and faced with natural predators, most do not live to a natural end. Some empathetic readers should not automatically put themselves in the ce of the fish. PS4: A portion of readers with extremely strong empathy insist on taking the stance of the fish, believing that fish should have rights equal to humans, and even that its not the Aquatic Tribe but the fish themselves who should have rights. For a better reading experience, these readers are advised to skip directly to Chapter 92. PS5: Initially, the Fishing Talisman caused some losses to the young of the Aquatic Tribe. However, due to its feature of selecting the excellent, it willter help the long-weakened Aquatic Tribe to focus on nurturing their potential and thereby rise again. Thus, the Fishing Talisman is more beneficial than harmful to the Aquatic Tribe, with relevant plots appearing in Chapter 101. PS6: The author admits this part of the story might not be well-written. Please be forgiving, treat it lightly and not too seriously, and go easy with the criticism. Chapter 90: Who is the Branch Helmsman After All? Chapter 90: Who is the Branch Helmsman After All? Trantor: 549690339 As Jiang Chengs words were spoken, many cultivators in the room were still savoring them, trying to fathom his intentions. And as the one with the highest cultivation level and strongestprehension in this ce, Peng Jun nearly understood the implication behind Jiang Chengs words in an instant. Originally, when Lu Wang faced Lanye, he emphasized the type of Talismans to prove their innocence and thus rebutted Lanyes usations of extermination actions against the Talismans. This strategy was defensive,cking in offense but higher in defense. But to think it could overturn Lanyes argument was a delusion. Later, when Yu Hui faced Lanye, he disintegrated the forced responsibility on him by emphasizing his own authority. This strategy was a self-harming one, an act of cutting off ones limb to survive, even worse than Lu Wangs approach. Afterward, Sun Decai deftly used the Wuyue Fish Care Foundation to elevate his own worth when facing Lanye, vying with Lanye for the moral high ground and discourse power of protecting the Aquatic Tribe. This strategy was like an ambush, with extremely high risks and rewards. Sessful, it wouldpletely defeat Lanye, leaving him speechless. But failure meant being suppressed by Lanye afterward, unable to retaliate. In the end, when Jiang Cheng faced Lanye, he didnt choose any conventional tactics but instead took a shovel and directly hit Lanyes ancestral grave. Jiang Chengs statement, boiled down to one sentence, was: Why do you think the descendants of the Aquatic Tribe want to be demons? This sentence was too urate, too fierce, and defied the heavens! Lanyes basis foring to Wuyue City to question and me was that the Human Race threatened the foundation of the Aquatic Tribethe fish with the potential to awaken intelligence and cultivate into demons. Jiang Chengs rhetorical question effectively deconstructed the legitimacy of Lanyes actions! Are you acting for the sake of the Aquatic Tribes descendants? But have you considered whether the Aquatic Tribes descendants themselves want to be demons? Would they be happy after bing demons? Is it possible that being an ordinary fish is their true desire? If this were applied to humans, it would be like: the parents say, Were doing this for your own good; the child says, I actually didnt want to be born at all. Do the Aquatic Tribes descendants really want to be demons? Cant the Aquatic Tribes descendants just be ordinary fish? Lanye, why do you make choices for other fish? Goodd! Your mouth is truly formidable! Peng Jun, after hearing Jiang Chengs statement, couldnt help but curl his lips in admiration. But he quickly realized that this was a solemn asion, inappropriate for smiling, so he hastilyposed his expression. Lei Buxiao was obviously a bit more unrestrained. He couldnt contain the smirk tugging at his lips. Had the others not frequently reminded him, Lei Buxiao might have even wanted to stand up and apud! Jiang Cheng was indeed still Jiang Cheng, living up to his expectations! Well said! So exhrating! Lanyesplexion was now terrible. He had originally thought that defeating three Foundation Establishment cultivators would render the Qi practitioners inconsequential, then he could rightfully demand the Immortal Sects stop using Talismans, and even requestpensation for their Aquatic Tribe. But who could have imagined, this young man surnamed Jiang and named Cheng, would be so formidable! The counterattacks by the three Foundation Establishment cultivators against him seemed like childs y in front of Jiang Chengs words. However, the current situation was still not enough to cause Lanye any panic. Lanye took a deep breath and spoke slowly, Jiang, your words may seem reasonable at first, but they are in fact a forcible argument. Is your Human Race powerful because you are naturally favored by the Heavenly Dao? No! Its simply because your Human Race can reproduce on arge scale, resulting in many geniuses as numerous as the stars. Thats how you suppress other races. If even your Human Race relies on poption to produce geniuses to maintainbat power, why cant we, the Aquatic Tribe, do the same? Jiang Cheng replied calmly, Senior Lanye, you are conting concepts. Regardless of how many geniuses our Human Race might have, each one is the result of their own struggle and effort. If a genius decides to ck off, no one forces them to cultivate and strive. But the Aquatic Tribe is different. You first need to awaken your sentience, then cultivate into demons. What you are doing, Senior, is making decisions for all sentient and non-sentient beings of the Aquatic Tribe. You force them all to awaken their intelligence, and once awakened they must be demons. This is akin to arranged marriages in our Human Race! You havepletely disregarded the will of an unborn baby and nned its entire fish life for it, which is undoubtedly a backward way of thinking. At this point, Lanye could no longer contain his anger and eximed furiously, So ording to you, I should just let go and watch as your talismans lure all the outstanding young members of my tribe up to the shore! Then just observe as my tribes future generations disappear and we head towards extinction? Jiang Cheng shook his head calmly. Jiang Cheng has never had such thoughts. Rather, it is to prevent such a scenario from urring that I have coborated with the Task Hall to establish the Fish Care Foundation. Lanye snorted coldly and said, Just now, you were adamantly saying that I shouldnt interfere with the younger generation, yet now you hypocritically talk of protecting fish. Do you really believe your Human Race understands the needs of my Aquatic Tribe better than we do? Jiang Cheng retorted word by word, First and foremost, I have not prevented you, Senior, from caring for your kin. My point is, if you truly care about your younger generation, you should consider their happiness from their own perspectives and truly think about whether bing demons after cultivation will actually make them happier. Instead of considering the issue from a leader of the Aquatic Tribes perspective, worrying about who to fill the ranks with should there be no one left. Thinking this way clearly shows that you view your younger members not as true fish but as a resource. Viewing the younger members as a resource, and not as true fish This statement hit Lanyes defenses hard. A famous hero once said: Lies cant hurt people; its the truth that cuts like a swift knife. Lanye had never thought about the topic of the younger generation and resources before. Now that Jiang Cheng brought it up and he thought deeply about it, he was startled to find that he was indeed as Jiang Cheng described: He never truly cared about an individual fishs own thoughts, always considering issues from the perspective of the whole Aquatic Tribe. If carps were diminishing today, he urged the carp tribe to reproduce quickly and inrge numbers. If tench decreased tomorrow, he would urge the tench tribe to try harder. If potential descendants decreased the day after, he would find a way to increase their number. As for the thoughts of each little fish, it seemed that no one had ever paid attention to or tried to understand them. Lanyes figure shook a little, and he seemed a bit unstable, gripping the arms of his chair tightly as he said sharply, Jiang, the fate of my Aquatic Tribe and how we govern our descendants is not your ce to dictate, is it? Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Indeed. Our Human Race always respects the choices of other races. However, our Animal Encouragement Talisman from the Human Race is also rational, legal, andpliant, and it has nothing to do with any intent to exterminate. Please, Senior Lanye, respect the internal affairs of the Human Race as well. This is the foundation of peaceful coexistence between our races. If you persist in making things difficult, Jiang Cheng does not exclude the possibility of equivalent sanctions by the Tongtian Sect. Peng Jun waspletely puzzled. What is this? Equivalent sanctions by the Tongtian Sect? Why dont I know about this? How can this young guy dare to make such boastful ims in front of another races powerhouse? What if he actually believes it? Who is the real Branch Helmsman here? Chapter 91: Jiang Cheng Makes a Move Chapter 91: Jiang Cheng Makes a Move Trantor: 549690339 What Peng Jun didnt expect was that Lanye, the powerful being of the Aquatic Tribe, actually took Jiang Chengs words seriously. Lanye fell silent. The current situation was crystal clear. In terms of reasoning, he couldnt out-argue Jiang Cheng. In confrontation, he didnt have the upper hand. In a fight, he didnt have much chance of winning. If he forced another argument or initiated an attack, it would definitely provoke an equivalent retaliation from the Tongtian Sect. The Immortal Sects are reasonable, but that doesnt mean they are weak. In fact, quite the opposite; the Immortal Sects are reasonable because they are both strong and confident. They dont care about many things, giving the illusion that they are easy to talk to and logical. Once a conflict with an Immortal Sect arose, with the current strength of the Ming Rivers Aquatic Tribe, it would undoubtedly lead to a catastrophe. Lanye stood up from his seat, and his sudden movement instantly triggered a strong reaction from the Tongtian Sect cultivators present. Many cultivators subconsciously stood up with him. Even the Core Formation cultivators Peng Jun and Lei Buxiao stood up almost at the same time. The three Foundation Establishment cultivators standing not far across from LanyeSun Decai, Lu Wang, and Yu Huialso stood up as he did. Originally, only Jiang Cheng was standing and speaking in the meeting room, but under the lead of Lanye, almost everyone had stood up. Seeing this, Lanye first gave a hehe, then burst into loudughter. Hahahaha! Fellow Daoists, is this how you view Lanye? Leaving other matters aside, as a Core Formation cultivator, I certainly do notck the dignity to stoop so low as tounch a sneak attack on a junior Qi Practitioner. There is no need for such tension, Lanye said. Peng Jun cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment. The moment Lanye stood up, he was truly afraid that Lanye might make a move on Jiang Cheng. After all, the words Jiang Cheng had just said didnt leave Lanye any face. Even if Lanye had directly attacked Jiang Cheng, Peng Jun wouldnt have been surprised. Putting himself in Lanyes shoes for a moment, Peng Jun found that if it were him, Jiang Cheng probably wouldnt have survived until now. Peng Jun silently sighed: Jiang Cheng was lucky toe at a good time, in an age of peace where killing and arson arentmon practices. Otherwise, with his talent for offending others, in the chaotic times of the past, who knows how many times he would have died quietly. Please, take a seat, Peng Jun said. All the Tongtian Sect cultivators in the room promptly sat back down in their seats. Lanye chuckled, then cupped his hands towards Jiang Cheng and said, Fellow Daoist Jiang, your recent remarks were quite insightful. Therefore, Lanye here dares to ask you, if you were in my position, facing such a situation, witnessing the loss of many potential juniors and shouldering the responsibility of revitalizing the Aquatic Tribe, how would you resolve this? Jiang Cheng replied with a smile and returned the gesture, Senior Lanye, you tter me too much. Your question concerns the concerns of those in power. You are a mighty leader of the Aquatic Tribe. As for me, Jiang Cheng, Im just an ordinary citizen. You have to worry about the development of your n, while Im only thinking about how to earn some money to increase my cultivation, attend a good university, and after graduation, join a good Immortal Sect. Lanye was extremely astonished, Are you saying youre not a member of an Immortal Sect? No, Im just a high school graduate, replied Jiang Cheng. Lanyes expression turned to one of solemn respect. He had thought that Jiang Cheng was within the Immortal Sects, holding some sort of office, which was why he was so capable. He didnt expect that Jiang Cheng had only graduated from high school. Fellow Daoist Jiang, with your talent, wont the Five Great Immortal Sects all be vying for you to choose from in the future? asked Lanye. Jiang Cheng, fearing the jinx of overpraise, hastily said, Senior, youre speaking too highly of me. I havent thought that far ahead. Peng Jun thought to himself: Indeed, as long as you donte to the Tongtian Sect, youre free to choose anywhere else. Lei Buxiao thought to himself: Indeed, as long as this kid doesnte bothering the Lin Sect, he can go wherever he wants. Taixu Sects Admissions Office breathed a sigh of relief: Its fortunate we only recruit female disciples, dodging a major cmity. Lanye shook his head, looking somewhat downcast, I never thought the small Wuyue would already be brimming with such outstanding talent. The Human Race, relying on the power of just one race to suppress the hundred others, is indeed no coincidence. Fellow Daoist Peng, let me ask you onest time, are you still nning to not intervene with the use of the Fishing Talismans? Peng Jun narrowed his eyes but didnt directly answer the question. Instead, he said, Although I am in charge of the Wuyue branch of the Tongtian Sect, it is only because fellow Daoists give me face. Since this Fishing Talisman concerns both our races and entails broad implications within our sect, we must act prudently. How about this: after seven days, I will give you a definitive answer, Fellow Daoist Lanye. Peng Juns insinuation was clear to Lanye. What seven dayster is just an excuse to avoid rejection to his face. In seven days, Peng Jun would, nine times out of ten, say, We have done thus and so, and then, having no other choice, he would hope that the daoist friend would understand or something of the sort. Since thats the case, I dont have much else to say. I only hope that you all will at least strictly control this talisman, not to reach a point of irrevocable consequences filled with regrets and rein in toote. Farewell! Lanye dropped these words and left the room on his own. Inside the conference room, a bunch of Tongtian Sect folks were left, and one beaming Lei Buxiao. Peng Jun looked at Lei Buxiao, Jiang Daoist, youve been an onlooker for the entire scene today. You didnt miss a single detail. Lei Buxiaoughed, Naturally, naturally. If there is a need in the future, feel free to seek Lei for testimony. The reason Peng Jun had Lei Buxiao watch the scene and not because he was close to Lei Buxiao, but because Lei Buxiao represented a third party. If Tongtian Sect and the Aquatic Tribe ever had a dispute, at least there would be one person who could speak impartially. It wouldnt be a case of me saying mine, and you saying yours, with the end result that no one could distinguish head from tail. Peng Jun then said, Jiang Daoist, we in the sect have a small meeting to attend to next, you should go busying yourself elsewhere for the time being. Knowing that Peng Jun was seeing him off, Lei Buxiao was not reluctant to leave. He had his fill of entertainment for the day and had noints. However, as he walked towards the door, passing by Jiang Cheng, he patted Jiang Cheng on the shoulder in front of all the Tongtian Sect people and said, Jiang, youre not a disciple of Tongtian Sect; their rules dont bind you, dont be afraid. If you need anything, just send amunication talisman to your Uncle Lei. Peng Jun and Zheng Chun of the Enforcement Hall both wore smiles. Whom Lei Buxiaos words were for, those who heard them knew perfectly well in their hearts. But Jiang Cheng responded very conscientiously, Senior Lei, rules represent fairness and justice, rooted in everyones heart. Jiang has always relied on the rules for protection; how could I be afraid? Lei Buxiao: Alright, alright. Even as Im about to leave, you have to show off in my face like this, right? Gentlemen, farewell. Lei Buxiao sped his hands together and strode away. After Lei Buxiao left, the conference room, besides Jiang Cheng, was left with only Tongtian Sect people. Peng Jun sighed, Whether we can continue to create this talisman or not, give me a definitive answer. Zheng Chun, youre in charge of the rules; you speak first. Zheng Chun from the Enforcement Hall blurted out, As long as the regtions dont prohibit it, it is permissible to create. Lu Wang said, There are still some risks involved. I think we better not continue. Yu Hui added, I agree with Elder Lu. Sun Decai countered, Of course, we should continue drawing; we have done nothing wrong in this matter. The Aquatic Tribe is the one picking faults. If we stop now, wouldnt that validate their usations? Finally, everyones gaze turned to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng furrowed his brow and said in confusion, Why is there even a need for discussion about this? The talisman I am creating is reasonable,wful, and adheres to the rules, so why shouldnt I make it? Peng Jun thought about it and agreed. This talisman indeed had no issues and could bring significant benefits to the sect. Peng Jun, as the Branch Helmsman, would certainly get a share of the achievements from the Task Hall. Moreover, since they had rebuffed the powerful members of the Aquatic Tribe, who else woulde to cause trouble? As the Helmsman, could I not decide on even this trivial matter? Proceed with the sign hanging, continue drawing! It was around eight in the evening by the time Jiang Cheng managed to free himself and head home. The Wuyue Residence faced south, with the bright moonlight illuminating the whole building, making it distinctly visible. Jiang Cheng looked up, his gaze passing through a dozen floors, andnded on his own balcony. A certain snake was standing upright on the balcony, seemingly busy with something. Hm? Does she have a habit of basking in the moonlight? Ive never noticed before. Truly quite the character, this monster. Chapter 92: Muscle Relaxation Talisman 2.0 Edition Chapter 92: Muscle Rxation Talisman 2.0 Edition Trantor: 549690339 The matter with Lanye hade to a temporary close. Jiang Cheng re-prioritized his preparation for the Lotus University freshman examination as the first item on his to-do list. Consistent with Jiang Chengs preference for a steady approach, he usually liked to assume various possibilities that could arise in the examination and design corresponding countermeasures. Simply put, Jiang Cheng was about to face five rounds of questions at Lotus University, and he nned to design fifteen talismans to have ready for any eventuality. For each round of questions, there would be one main talisman, one backup, and one trump card. Before the examination, he would select the most suitable talisman to bring with him to the examination based on the questions. However, it was already the end of July, and the Lotus University examination was at the end of September. Subtracting the time necessarily spent on traveling and other essentials, the timeframe to design the talismans was extremely tight. If Jiang Cheng truly nned to design fifteen new talismans, it meant that over the next two months, he would need to produce a new talisman every three to four days! This was practically impossible. Jiang Cheng was well aware of this, for designing a new talisman every three to four days was even more preposterous than asking for a raise from a stingy boss. Nevertheless, he still intended to aim for the goal of fifteen new talismans. Even if he ended up not designing fifteen but only ten, it was better than doing nothing right now. In the Wuyue Residence, Jiang Cheng sat at a desk and drank down the ss of clear water passed to him by Liu Qing. The Lotus University freshman examination consisted of five rounds of questions, corresponding respectively to the five basic inspection logics of virtue, intelligence, physicality, beauty, and bor. Jiang Cheng first chose the virtue category, which ranked first, to work on his theme-based talisman creation. Summarizing the records from Yue Linger and Dialogue with College Students, Jiang Cheng discovered that the content of the virtue category questions generally involved bat. Thats right, bat. Ordinary people might categorize bat under the physicality category. After all,bat is rted to physical fitness and quality. Using fighting, dueling, or martial contests to assess a students physical quality is very reasonable and appropriate. But if the examination setters were that simplistic, Jiang Cheng would say their scope was too limited. Usingbat to demonstrate physical quality, who wouldnt know that? But what kind of ce is Lotus Cloud University? Its a key institution of the Immortal Sect! If the standard of a key Immortal Sect institution is just to straightforwardly tell you: have a fight, Ill see whose body is in better shape, Then Jiang Cheng would rather not attend such a university. With standards so low, attending would be a waste of time. Therefore, the underlying logic of a bat category question definitely cannot be physical. It should be virtue instead! What kind of virtue? The virtue of Martial Virtue! Young people are high-spirited and full of blood and vigor, making them prone to impulsiveness. What theyck most is none other than Martial Virtue! In summary, Using his fundamental logic analysis method, Jiang Cheng easily deduced the design requirement for the talisman it must manifest Martial Virtue! With the design requirements in ce, The next problem followed closely behind. What is Martial Virtue? How can Martial Virtue be manifested? The answer is also quite straightforward. Traditional martial arts value the principle of stop upon contact. Contact represents martial ability, Stopping represents virtue. In the process of martial contest, you extend your right fist to an opponents nose without striking and then smile. That is an expression of Martial Virtue. In Jiang Chengs understanding, Martial Virtue is not so-called deference, but rather possessing great strength while still holding fairness and justice in ones heart, not aiming to defeat the opponent. It is about demonstrating an undeniable martial force to the opponent, helping them calm down, and creating conditions for a friendly negotiation that is Jiang Chengs understanding of Martial Virtue. Through the analysis of Martial Virtue, Jiang Cheng logically materialized the design requirement of the talisman to manifest Martial Virtue. First, the talisman itself needs to disy abat power that the opponent cant refuse. Second, the talismans function must be precise and controble, achieving a just-right touch. It cant make the opponent too embarrassed. Third, the effects of the talisman can help the opponent calm down, creating conditions for negotiation. Jiang Cheng looked at these design requirements, and the more he looked at them, the more they reminded him of a talisman he had once drawn. Isnt this just the Muscle Rxation Talisman? The healing effect of the Muscle Rxation Talisman is very strong, and this type of healing is something that the opponent cant refuse. The side effect of the Muscle Rxation Talisman is that it only works if not activated, because as long as one does not move, it wont be triggered. The Muscle Rxation Talisman can help the opponent stay calm; after all, if they cant move, all they have left is calmness. Jiang Chengs Muscle Rxation Talisman perfectly fits all the requirements to embody Martial Virtue, the only pity being that, ording to the agreement with the Sword Cultivation Academy, he couldnt draw this talisman for at least two more years. The ready-made answer cant be used, which is a bit of a problem. It looks like Ill have to think of another way to achieve a simr effect to the Muscle Rxation Talisman. Jiang Cheng pondered, stroking his chin. Without any leads for the moment, Jiang Chengs thoughts pulled away from deep contemtion. He noticed that Liu Qing was silently staring at him, so out of curiosity, he asked, Whats up? Do I have something on my face? Liu Qing shook her head. The reason she was looking at Jiang Cheng was that she had smelled that dangerous scent again. Her human friend, frail and dangerous, was always very good at thinking. A troublesome guy. But Jiang Cheng was very kind to her, so being a bit troublesome was no big deal. She had a long life and didnt mind the trouble. Jiang Cheng silently watched Liu Qing; the inspiration for hisst encouragement talisman hade from observing her. So this time, could he again gain something from her? As Jiang Cheng watched her, he suddenly remembered something. Liu Qing spent all day on the balcony, and he had been mixing with her for a month, during which he had never seen her go to the bathroom even once. Do snakes not need to excrete? Or is it because shes at the Mahayana Realm that she truly became a fairy who doesnt need to use thevatory? Although Jiang Cheng couldnt understand why Liu Qing didnt use the bathroom, he suddenly had a new inspiration for drawing talismans! Jiang Cheng named his newly thought-up talisman, Muscle Rxation Talisman 2.0! The focus of the new talisman wasnt on modifying or enhancing the traditional Muscle Rxation Talisman. Instead, it was a whole new approach! That isreverse rxation! The effect of the Muscle Rxation Talisman lies in controlling all the muscles in the body, including hands, legs, waist, neck, and so on. Originally, to avoid taking lives, Jiang Cheng deliberately skipped the effect of the Muscle Rxation Talisman on the cardiac muscle, smooth muscles, and other organ muscles. But now, Jiang Cheng thought these organ muscles could be put to use. For example, controlling the smooth muscles of the human respiratory and digestive systems. If the Muscle Rxation Talisman stops the muscles to achieve rxation, then the Muscle Rxation Talisman 2.0 makes muscles work faster,pleting the task ahead of time, achieving the same goal of muscle rxation! Jiang Cheng would like to call it: the Reverse Direction Rxation! Anyone who has lived in a dormitory should know, the most rebellious roommate bes the most agreeable at the moment they are in the toilet without paper. Even more agreeable than that is when they have diarrhea, and you are firmly upying the bathroom! With the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman that helps the opponent digest food faster, Jiang Cheng can disy his Martial Virtue with ease, confidence, and elegance: giving the opponent a chance to concede early and head to the restroom. PS: Book Friend 20221021113651134, please join the group via the link in the book description on the Qidian APP and contact the group owner to im your 50 yuan sponsorship fee for Crazy Thursday. Selection Reason: The principle of the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman coincides with the Unblock Talisman imagined by the book friend, which elerates intestinal peristalsis. Chapter 94 - 94 The Predicament of the Wuyue Prefect Chapter 94: The Predicament of the Wuyue Prefect Trantor: 549690339 Liang Calendar 3210, July 28th. Jiang Cheng had today cleared out all his previous savings and purchased a decorated vi in the outskirts of the wastnd. In the spacious vi, Jiang Cheng leaned back on the sofa, looking up at the crystal chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. And the one who really chose this vi, Liu Qing, just sat quietly by Jiang Chengs side. Her human friend, though always eager to buy property, didnt seem as happy after the purchase this time. What are you thinking about? Liu Qing asked. Jiang Cheng moved from leaning back to sitting upright and exined to Liu Qing, Ive spent all the money. Bing penniless all at once, theres always a sense of unease. Liu Qing nodded as though she understood, but not really. But she could not understand the meaning of Jiang Chengs words. To her, money or, say, Spirit Stones, were not important. As long as her cultivation level was there, such things were easily within her reach. After a thought, Jiang Cheng said with a smile to Liu Qing, Im out of money, so I cant pay your sry this month. Liu Qing shook her head indifferently. She said softly, It doesnt matter. Jiang Cheng pursed his lips helplessly and said, I just wanted to tease you. Here, Ive always kept your sry separate, its all here. Jiang Cheng took out a storage bag, which contained Liu Qings entirest months sry, including hermission for assembling Talismans, overtime pay, and of course, minus her expenses onmunication Talismans, clothes, and breakfast. Liu Qing took the storage bag that Jiang Cheng handed her, but she didnt even use her divine sense to check the amount before handing it back to Jiang Cheng. Whats the matter? Jiang Cheng asked, puzzled. For you, she blinked and said. Jiang Cheng looked confused. Giving back the sry to the boss right after receiving it, what kind of divine employee was this? Are there any more like Liu Qing in Mount Tian? Please send them all over quickly! Seeing that Jiang Cheng seemed not to understand, Liu Qing unusually said a few more words. No money, for you, dont mention it. Oh Jiang Cheng now understood the big monsters meaning. She was worried he was out of money. I dont want your money, Jiang Cheng said. Liu Qing tilted her head and thought for a while before bursting out with a word. Loan? Not a loan either. Keep it for yourself. In the future, when you want to buy something, you can pay for it yourself, Jiang Cheng reminded her. Earning her own money and spending it, no longer reliant on him, Jiang Cheng, the wallet. Thats great, the precious snake had finally grown up. But Liu Qing seemedpletely uninterested in this approach. She stubbornly ced the storage bag beside Jiang Cheng and said, You take it. Jiang Cheng: I dont want it. Take it. Dont want it. Take it. Fine, Ill tell you the truth. The money from selling Talismans is still at the Task Hall tonight. Well go get itter, and then Ill have money again. Im not really out of money; you dont have to worry about me. Take it, Liu Qing insisted. Jiang Cheng expressed his refusal to ept Liu Qings take it and threw the storage bag back to her side. Seeing this, Liu Qing seemed somewhat displeased. She bit her lips lightly, pouted slightly, her fine brows furrowed just a little, and her clear, unmatched eyes looked reproachfully at Jiang Cheng. This nce seemed to stare Jiang Cheng into another era. He felt as if his life thus far was being projected before his eyes, a slideshow of his past. Jiang Cheng silently lowered his head, silently picked up the storage bag next to Liu Qing containing her wages, and silently tucked it into his own bosom to keep. Im sorry, I forgot for a moment that youre actually at level 83 and not level 3. Seeing Jiang Cheng secure the storage bag, Liu Qing finally felt satisfied. She didnt want to carry such an ugly storage bag on her person. If she wanted to store something, she would simply tear open space and ce the items insidemuch simpler and more functional than a storage bag. Of course, the main reason was that she didnt want to go shopping alone. If Peng Jun, the Branch Helmsman of the Tongtian Sects Wuyue division, was considered the big boss of the Immortal Sects forces in Wuyue City, then Zuo Yuanhong, the Prefect of Wuyue, would be the equivalent authority figure for the Liang State Court in Wuyue City. Zuo Yuanhong, unlike Chen Qiming, was a cultivator in theter stages of Foundation Establishment. Although he was currently just the Prefect of Wuyue, given the right opportunity and enough political achievements to umte,bined with his cultivation talent, his future prospects could be said to be boundless. However, Wuyue City itself, not rich but not poor, not chaotic but utterly nondescript, was mainly known for itsck of distinct features. It was a ce Jiang Chengs brothers loved, ing from west of the river to avoid. For officials seeking to achieve political aplishments, poverty,ziness, and chaos were all manageable, but theck of distinctive features was the true dread! In Wuyue City, even if Zuo Yuanhong wanted to make his mark, there were no leads to follow. But recently, Zuo Yuanhong discovered a business opportunity! Fishing Talismans! The Fishing Talisman could be described as a revolutionary invention, utterly disrupting traditional fishing methods. And most importantly, its principle was simple, its production straightforward, and the profits were extraordinarily high! It was practically a golden goose dispensing Spirit Stones. In recent times, every Talisman Shop involved in modifying Fishing Talismans had been making a killing. With a keen sense for business opportunities, Zuo Yuanhong promptly invited a teacher from Wuyues Guangmao Academy, a specialist in talismans, to provide a professional analysis of the Fishing Talisman. Guangmaos teacher said, The principle of this talisman is quite simple: a talisman that operates by using Spiritual Power to generate a specific vibration, which then emits sonic waves. Zuo Yuanhong asked, So, can Wuyue have its own Fishing Talisman? Guangmaos teacher said, Its not possible. This talisman has already been certified by the Talisman Master Association of Tongtian Sect, and the simr sounding methods are protected by the Association. To imitate it rashly would certainly not be ignored by Tongtian Sect. Zuo Yuanhong inquired, Then, can we bypass this kind of sound and use another to achieve a simr fishing effect? Guangmaos teacher exined, In theory, yes. But we cannot grasp the design philosophy of this sound. If we resort to a brute force method, its uncertain how long it would take. Ultimately, Zuo Yuanhong came to understand. The Fishing Talisman was excellent, but it was in the hands of the Immortal Sect. To modify the Fishing Talismanfine, the Immortal Sect hadnt interfered for the time being. To counterfeit the Fishing Talismannot fine, the Immortal Sect would strike hard. Zuo Yuanhong felt indignant as he watched a high-value industry that might change Wuyues destiny being taken by the Immortal Sect. If the Wuyue Prefectural Government could control this industry, then his own promotion would essentially be a done deal. With the Liang Kingdoms treasury running deficits for consecutive years, whoever could earn Spirit Stones and catch the eye of Great Liangs Grand Secretary could rise rapidly. Zuo Yuanhong had initially thought about contacting the Task Hall of Tongtian Sect for coboration. But upon further thought, he realized how naive his idea was. Why would Tongtian Sect coborate with him? Because they thought they were making too much money? Just as Zuo Yuanhong was about to put the Fishing Talisman matter out of his mind, a special guest came calling. This individual imed to be Tun Sheng, a monster from the Aquatic Tribe of Ming River. Zuo Yuanhong said dismissively, Monsters without household registration are not managed by the court; the Tongtian Sects office is at the next intersection. Tun Sheng didnt say much but proceeded to bite Zuo Yuanhongs two-story building into a single story right before his eyes. Chapter 94 - 94 The Predicament of the Wuyue Prefect Chapter 94: The Predicament of the Wuyue Prefect Trantor: 549690339 Liang Calendar 3210, July 28th. Jiang Cheng had today cleared out all his previous savings and purchased a decorated vi in the outskirts of the wastnd. In the spacious vi, Jiang Cheng leaned back on the sofa, looking up at the crystal chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. And the one who really chose this vi, Liu Qing, just sat quietly by Jiang Chengs side. Her human friend, though always eager to buy property, didnt seem as happy after the purchase this time. What are you thinking about? Liu Qing asked. Jiang Cheng moved from leaning back to sitting upright and exined to Liu Qing, Ive spent all the money. Bing penniless all at once, theres always a sense of unease. Liu Qing nodded as though she understood, but not really. But she could not understand the meaning of Jiang Chengs words. To her, money or, say, Spirit Stones, were not important. As long as her cultivation level was there, such things were easily within her reach. After a thought, Jiang Cheng said with a smile to Liu Qing, Im out of money, so I cant pay your sry this month. Liu Qing shook her head indifferently. She said softly, It doesnt matter. Jiang Cheng pursed his lips helplessly and said, I just wanted to tease you. Here, Ive always kept your sry separate, its all here. Jiang Cheng took out a storage bag, which contained Liu Qings entirest months sry, including hermission for assembling Talismans, overtime pay, and of course, minus her expenses onmunication Talismans, clothes, and breakfast. Liu Qing took the storage bag that Jiang Cheng handed her, but she didnt even use her divine sense to check the amount before handing it back to Jiang Cheng. Whats the matter? Jiang Cheng asked, puzzled. For you, she blinked and said. Jiang Cheng looked confused. Giving back the sry to the boss right after receiving it, what kind of divine employee was this? Are there any more like Liu Qing in Mount Tian? Please send them all over quickly! Seeing that Jiang Cheng seemed not to understand, Liu Qing unusually said a few more words. No money, for you, dont mention it. Oh Jiang Cheng now understood the big monsters meaning. She was worried he was out of money. I dont want your money, Jiang Cheng said. Liu Qing tilted her head and thought for a while before bursting out with a word. Loan? Not a loan either. Keep it for yourself. In the future, when you want to buy something, you can pay for it yourself, Jiang Cheng reminded her. Earning her own money and spending it, no longer reliant on him, Jiang Cheng, the wallet. Thats great, the precious snake had finally grown up. But Liu Qing seemedpletely uninterested in this approach. She stubbornly ced the storage bag beside Jiang Cheng and said, You take it. Jiang Cheng: I dont want it. Take it. Dont want it. Take it. Fine, Ill tell you the truth. The money from selling Talismans is still at the Task Hall tonight. Well go get itter, and then Ill have money again. Im not really out of money; you dont have to worry about me. Take it, Liu Qing insisted. Jiang Cheng expressed his refusal to ept Liu Qings take it and threw the storage bag back to her side. Seeing this, Liu Qing seemed somewhat displeased. She bit her lips lightly, pouted slightly, her fine brows furrowed just a little, and her clear, unmatched eyes looked reproachfully at Jiang Cheng. This nce seemed to stare Jiang Cheng into another era. He felt as if his life thus far was being projected before his eyes, a slideshow of his past. Jiang Cheng silently lowered his head, silently picked up the storage bag next to Liu Qing containing her wages, and silently tucked it into his own bosom to keep. Im sorry, I forgot for a moment that youre actually at level 83 and not level 3. Seeing Jiang Cheng secure the storage bag, Liu Qing finally felt satisfied. She didnt want to carry such an ugly storage bag on her person. If she wanted to store something, she would simply tear open space and ce the items insidemuch simpler and more functional than a storage bag. Of course, the main reason was that she didnt want to go shopping alone. If Peng Jun, the Branch Helmsman of the Tongtian Sects Wuyue division, was considered the big boss of the Immortal Sects forces in Wuyue City, then Zuo Yuanhong, the Prefect of Wuyue, would be the equivalent authority figure for the Liang State Court in Wuyue City. Zuo Yuanhong, unlike Chen Qiming, was a cultivator in theter stages of Foundation Establishment. Although he was currently just the Prefect of Wuyue, given the right opportunity and enough political achievements to umte,bined with his cultivation talent, his future prospects could be said to be boundless. However, Wuyue City itself, not rich but not poor, not chaotic but utterly nondescript, was mainly known for itsck of distinct features. It was a ce Jiang Chengs brothers loved, ing from west of the river to avoid. For officials seeking to achieve political aplishments, poverty,ziness, and chaos were all manageable, but theck of distinctive features was the true dread! In Wuyue City, even if Zuo Yuanhong wanted to make his mark, there were no leads to follow. But recently, Zuo Yuanhong discovered a business opportunity! Fishing Talismans! The Fishing Talisman could be described as a revolutionary invention, utterly disrupting traditional fishing methods. And most importantly, its principle was simple, its production straightforward, and the profits were extraordinarily high! It was practically a golden goose dispensing Spirit Stones. In recent times, every Talisman Shop involved in modifying Fishing Talismans had been making a killing. With a keen sense for business opportunities, Zuo Yuanhong promptly invited a teacher from Wuyues Guangmao Academy, a specialist in talismans, to provide a professional analysis of the Fishing Talisman. Guangmaos teacher said, The principle of this talisman is quite simple: a talisman that operates by using Spiritual Power to generate a specific vibration, which then emits sonic waves. Zuo Yuanhong asked, So, can Wuyue have its own Fishing Talisman? Guangmaos teacher said, Its not possible. This talisman has already been certified by the Talisman Master Association of Tongtian Sect, and the simr sounding methods are protected by the Association. To imitate it rashly would certainly not be ignored by Tongtian Sect. Zuo Yuanhong inquired, Then, can we bypass this kind of sound and use another to achieve a simr fishing effect? Guangmaos teacher exined, In theory, yes. But we cannot grasp the design philosophy of this sound. If we resort to a brute force method, its uncertain how long it would take. Ultimately, Zuo Yuanhong came to understand. The Fishing Talisman was excellent, but it was in the hands of the Immortal Sect. To modify the Fishing Talismanfine, the Immortal Sect hadnt interfered for the time being. To counterfeit the Fishing Talismannot fine, the Immortal Sect would strike hard. Zuo Yuanhong felt indignant as he watched a high-value industry that might change Wuyues destiny being taken by the Immortal Sect. If the Wuyue Prefectural Government could control this industry, then his own promotion would essentially be a done deal. With the Liang Kingdoms treasury running deficits for consecutive years, whoever could earn Spirit Stones and catch the eye of Great Liangs Grand Secretary could rise rapidly. Zuo Yuanhong had initially thought about contacting the Task Hall of Tongtian Sect for coboration. But upon further thought, he realized how naive his idea was. Why would Tongtian Sect coborate with him? Because they thought they were making too much money? Just as Zuo Yuanhong was about to put the Fishing Talisman matter out of his mind, a special guest came calling. This individual imed to be Tun Sheng, a monster from the Aquatic Tribe of Ming River. Zuo Yuanhong said dismissively, Monsters without household registration are not managed by the court; the Tongtian Sects office is at the next intersection. Tun Sheng didnt say much but proceeded to bite Zuo Yuanhongs two-story building into a single story right before his eyes. Chapter 95: The Structure of Jiang Cheng is Still Too Big Chapter 95: The Structure of Jiang Cheng is Still Too Big Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng had been devoted to developing the Reverse Rxation Talisman these past few days. Since the foundation had beenid by the Muscle Rxation Talisman, developing the Reverse Rxation Talisman wasnt very difficult, not even half as difficult as the Animal Encouragement Talisman. However, the Reverse Rxation Talisman had a rather problematic issue. This issue was significant as it rted to the dignity of the spellcaster. As everyone knows, there are two methods to stop a flood. The first method is to reduce the amount of water flowing downstream; with less water, naturally there will be no flood. The second method is to increase the strength of the dam; as long as the dam isrge and strong enough, it can withstand even the greatest flood. Applying the flood theory to the Reverse Rxation Talisman meant that Jiang Cheng could increase the movement speed of the intestinal smooth muscles, but he also had to simultaneously strengthen the anal sphincter. If Jiang Cheng only increased the smooth muscle strength without bolstering the anal sphincter, the consequences of using the Reverse Rxation Talisman would be disastrous. ording to Yue Lingers description, the universitys practical exams are open to the public. In other words, there would be many entertained spectators during the exams. Imagine, if under the gaze of thousands, Jiang Chengs opponent was struck by a Reverse Rxation Talisman and then struggled to release their nature. Such a scene would probably be unforgettable to all. But Jiang Cheng would not do such unscrupulous things. After all, martialpetitions themselves test a persons Martial Virtue. Of course, more importantly, Jiang Cheng is both talented and virtuous. An uncivilizedpetition is not the victory Jiang Cheng seeks. Therefore, Jiang Cheng must take the strengthening of the anal sphincter into serious consideration when developing the Reverse Rxation Talisman. The effect achieved by the final version of the Reverse Rxation Talisman must be akin to the Sword of Damocles suspended over his opponents head. It should constantly make the opponent feel the danger, letting them know that danger could strike at any moment, yet the peril remains in a state of quantum superposition of arriving and not arriving. In short:ing! Like the Q ability of a robot in a game that never strikes. Or, like the controller of the Gravitational Wave Deterrence System, the Sword Holder, in novels. Jiang Cheng was confident that as long as he developed the Reverse Rxation Talisman properly, the skies above the Lotus University exams would see an indomitable specter manifest. This specter, born of the Muscle Rxation Talisman, would envelop the entire Lotus Cloud University, pushing the universitys practical exams into an era of deterrence! The exams at Lotus University are a Dark Forest where every student is a hunter armed with a Reverse Rxation Talisman, moving through the woods like a ghost, gently pushing aside any obstructing branches, striving to make no sound with their footsteps, even breathing carefully He must be cautious because there are students around him, all armed with Reverse Rxation Talismans just like him. ng. A ss of water was ced in front of Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng temporarily emerged from his wild thoughts, took the water Liu Qing handed him, and drank it down in one go. They were still living at Wuyue Residence. It wasnt that the newly purchased vi wasnt good enough, but rather that a certain snake who didnt know how to enjoy luxuryined that the vi was too big and too empty. The snakes exact words were, Dont like it. Fine, fine, you dont like the big vi, so you prefer to squeeze into a small apartment, right? But there was nothing Jiang Cheng could do; after all, when someone at level 83 speaks up, what can he, a mere level 3, say? Anyway, the small apartment was sufficient, and besides, it made it less likely for Yue Linger to not find the ce. After Liu Qing delivered the water to Jiang Cheng, she silently returned to her balcony. In Wuyue Residence, after delivering the water, she only needed to walk eleven steps back to her balcony. In the big vi, however, she would need to walk fifty-seven steps. Too far away, I dont like it. Jiang Chengsmunication talisman rang again. This time, the caller was not He or Yue Linger, but his principal, Yang Lingbao. Hello? Jiang Cheng? Principal Yang, Im here. Um, well, would it be convenient for you toe to the school? If Jiang Cheng remembered correctly, it was the end of July, and high schools, whether teachers or students, were already on vacation. What was there to do at school at this time? However, Jiang Cheng had always respected his teachers and their teachings, so he would definitely help out with a request from his former principal if he could. Alright, Ille over right away, Jiang Cheng said. Good, good, thene quickly, Ill hang up first. At the entrance of Wuyue Advanced Middle School, Yang Lingbao sat in his car, disconnecting themunication talisman, and breathed a sigh of relief. He was actually quite afraid that Jiang Cheng would not give him face. After all, he vividly remembered what happenedst time at Weishou Restaurant. Those were three Core Formation masters! With the Core Formation masters eyeing it and the fishing talismans selling like hotcakes, now even if Jiang Cheng put on airs in front of him, Yang Lingbao, he would just have to bear with it. But to his surprise, even though Jiang Cheng was in his heyday, he was still very courteous to him, the principal, and even responded readily to his request. Thinking about this, Yang Lingbao couldnt help but wipe the corner of his eyes. Jiang Cheng really was a good boy who never forgot his roots! As a principal and a teacher, the most joyful moment for Yang Lingbao was when students, after graduation, could still smile and greet him with a hello, teacher outside of school. A full sense of achievement. Jiang Cheng didnt keep Yang Lingbao waiting for long before he arrived at the gate of Wuyue Advanced Middle School with Liu Qing. Seeing Liu Qing behind Jiang Cheng, Yang Lingbao immediately understood most of the situation. Jiang Cheng was a man with big things to do; emotions were something only young boys cared about, and he must not get bogged down in trifles. Emotional kings never need to lift a finger because the car will automatically shift gears to match your rhythm. Yang Lingbao decisively erased Lin Yao from his memory and treated Liu Qing as the only girlfriend Jiang Cheng brought with him. Jiang Cheng let Liu Qing sit in the backseat of Yang Lingbaos car, while he himself sat in the passenger seat. Although it was apparent that Liu Qing wanted Jiang Cheng to sit with her in the back. When they were out and about, Jiang Cheng was Liu Qings lifesaver, providing her with a continuous supply of fresh air. But Jiang Cheng still refused Liu Qing. When riding in a friend or elders car, its best to have someone sit in the passenger seat to avoid treating the driver as your chauffeur, which isnt very polite. Yang Lingbao started the car and took Jiang Cheng to the Prefect Mansion of Zuo Yuanhong. On the way, Yang Lingbao kindly advised him, Jiang Cheng, this time its our Wuyues Prefect Zuo who wants to meet you. When the timees, speak your mind, but if theres something tricky, just smile and deflect, or if all else fails, me it on Tongtian Sect. Our Great Liangs court is quite sensible, you understand? Jiang Cheng nodded and said, I understand, when the timees, Ill just tell the truth. Hearing that Jiang Cheng intended to tell the truth, even though the car had air conditioning, Yang Lingbao started to sweat profusely. Cough, cough, I will go in with you, and if theres anything you cant say, just look at me, and your principal will figure something out for you. Jiang Cheng smiled and said, Dont worry, Principal, I, Jiang Cheng, have always been aw-abiding citizen of Great Liang. Our Prefect Zuo, who has governed Wuyue in such a peaceful and stable manner, is surely an enlightened official and wont make things difficult for me. Yang Lingbao: Im not afraid hell make it tough for you, Im afraid youll make it tough for him! Chapter 96: Negotiate Again Chapter 96: Negotiate Again Trantor: 549690339 Under the guidance of Yang Lingbao, the high school principal, Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing arrived at the guest room of the Prefect Mansion of Wuyue. This was not the official meeting room of Wuyues government office, but it was upied by a group of officials with no small positions. At the head was naturally the Prefect of Wuyue, Zuo Yuanhong, followed by the chieftain of the Aquatic Tribe of Ming River, Tun Sheng, and the General of Xiang State, Qi Huangyi. Further down were Yuan Shengfan, the director of the educational department managing Wuyues elementary and secondary schools, Lin Xiao, the Chief Arrestor of the Six Fan Gate of Wuyue, and Feng Jing, a talisman subject teacher at Guangmao Academy of Wuyue. Yang Lingbao led Jiang Cheng into the guest room, designated a seat for him, and then reintroduced the dignitaries present to him. Meanwhile, Liu Qing moved a small stool and sat down at a spot lower than Jiang Chengs. Alright, Zuo Yuanhong waved his hand, The reason were not in the conference room today is to be frank and direct, to avoid unnecessary courtesies. Of course, this was just an official excuse. The actual reason was that the matter involved the Aquatic Tribe of Ming River, and Zuo Yuanhong found it inconvenient to intervene with the identity of Wuyues government office. Zuo Yuanhong, having been an official for many years, was clear-minded as a mirror. This Tun Sheng, being a monster, should have approached the Immortal Sect with any issue, but instead, he abnormally came to them, which definitely meant he had no good intentions. It was very likely that the Immortal Sect had disregarded the Aquatic Tribe, and they had turned to them as a backup n. But the issue was, if the Immortal Sect couldnt resolve the matter, their government office surely couldnt either! If it werent for the fact that Tun Sheng had such a high cultivation level, Zuo Yuanhong wouldnt have wanted to bother with the Aquatic Tribes messy affairs at all. Putting on an official air, Zuo Yuanhong said, Jiang Cheng, the chieftain of the Aquatic Tribe, Tun Sheng, has reported to us that your talismans have severely interfered with the daily lives of his tribespeople. Is this the case? Absolutely not! Jiang Cheng refuted adamantly. As soon as Jiang Cheng spoke, it wasnt just Zuo Yuanhong and Qi Huangyi whose expressions changed; even Tun Sheng couldnt help but raise an eyebrow. Usually, a refutation begins cautiously and gradually, or one refutes only a part with some limitations. A full-blown denial like Jiang Chengs, cutting straight to the point, was almost unheard of. Zuo Yuanhong frowned and asked, Are you implying that Chieftain Tun Sheng is lying? Correct. To be precise, what Senior Tun has stated deviates significantly from the truth, Jiang Cheng said. Yang Lingbao, as Jiang Chengs principal, was sitting right next to him at this time. He had specifically instructed the young man to be cautious beforeing, but it seemed the young man hadnt taken any of it to heart! Even if Tun Sheng was lying, you cant just call him out directly! The guy is a monster at the Great Perfection Realm of Core Formation! Eating you would be like crunching on chips, one crunch at a time! Yang Lingbao subtly tugged at Jiang Cheng, signaling for him to be more cautious with his words. At the same time, Liu Qing was silently staring at Yang Lingbaos hand. Zuo Yuanhong smiled and said, Oh? Since you im that Chieftain Tun Sheng is lying, then where is your evidence? If you cant provide evidence, this would constitute defamation of another person. ording to thews of Great Liang, defamers can be jailed. Jiang Cheng corrected with reason and evidence, Lord Prefect, the Liangws do include defamation, thats correct. But defamation is a personalint crime. However, Chieftain Tun Sheng is not a subject of the Liang Kingdom and is not protected or governed by thews of Liang. Therefore, he cannot personallyin, and whatever I say does not constitute established defamation. Zuo Yuanhong: ? How can you understand this better than I do? Zuo Yuanhong had intended only to intimidate Jiang Cheng, to make him speak the truth faster, but who could have predicted that the young man would not only be well-versed in thews of Liang but also refute them with sound logic? Is this really a high school student? Are high school students now this formidable? Zuo Yuanhong looked towards the Chief Arrestor Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao nodded silently, indicating that Jiang Cheng was indeed correct in what he said. Ahem, thats not important. Quickly tell us about Chieftain Tun Shengs matter, Zuo Yuanhong smoothly changed the subject. Jiang Cheng nodded and exined the reason behind Tun Shengs lies, Just now, Senior Tun said that my talismans greatly interfered with the daily lives of his tribesfolk. Thats impossible for two reasons. First, not all aquatic creatures are considered members of the Aquatic Tribe; only those who have awakened their spiritual intelligence and have formallymenced cultivation are recognized as Aquatic Tribe members. These tribesfolk have at least reached the Qi Cultivation Stage, and shielding themselves from the influence of talismans is as easy as flipping their hand. Second, the range of influence of talismans is limited. Each time they take effect, theres a considerable time interval, so even if there are influences, the extent and degree would not be too significant, let alone cause severe effects on the Aquatic Tribe. After Jiang Cheng finished speaking, many of the onlookers in the area nodded slightly in agreement. Zuo Yuanhong, after hearing Jiang Chengs words, turned his gaze to Feng Jing, a teacher from Guangmao Academy. Feng Jing also nodded slightly, indicating that there were no issues with what Jiang Cheng had said. However, at that moment, Tun Sheng spoke up, Wuyue is at least four hundred miles away from Ming River, and I could still hear the sound of the talismans from there. Is this what Jiang refers to as limited range? Jiang Cheng calmly replied, Senior, the usage effects of my talismans are recorded by both the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association and the Artifact Refiners Association. Four hundred miles is already beyond the working range of my talismans. If you can hear it from that distance, it must not be from my talismans. Tun Sheng took out a Fishing Talisman and tossed it to Jiang Cheng. Had I not had evidence, you might have indeed fooled me. Take a look, isnt this talisman your work? It can easily emit sound waves that travel for a thousand miles. Dont tell me about Ming River, even after it flows into the sea its effects could be felt. Jiang Cheng took the talisman and immediately spotted the trickery. He opened the talisman, pulled out the Animal Encouragement Talisman within, and said to Tun Sheng, Senior Tun, this talisman was indeed originally produced by our workshop, but now it has been altered and is no longer my work. Look at the brushwork; it has clearly been illegally modified. Jiang Cheng took out the contract that had to be signed when purchasing a Fishing Talisman. ording to the agreement reached at the time of purchase, once a talisman is modified, it is considered an automatic waiver of warranty rights, and the person who modified it assumes all responsibilities and obligations for the talisman after its modification. Jiang Cheng handed the contract to Tun Sheng and added, I understand your concerns about the future development of the Aquatic Tribe. But as aw-abiding citizen, if a product from my business has been illegally altered and has produced undesirable effects, I am a victim just like you. And I regret your experience. Yang Lingbao: ??? Whats going on? What just happened? How did this kid suddenly end up on the same side as Tun Sheng? Not only was Yang Lingbao surprised, but even the organizer of this situation, Zuo Yuanhong, couldnt keep hisposure. Tun Sheng came to pick a fight with you. Yet after a few words, you somehow ended up sharing amon enemy with Tun Sheng. What about Tun Shengs demands? How will the conflict between the Aquatic Tribe and the talismans be resolved? Initially, when Tun Sheng heard about Jiang Cheng from Lanye, he merely thought of Jiang Cheng as a young man adept at rhetoric. After all, although Jiang Cheng verbally refuted Lanye, when Lanye asked Jiang Cheng for a solutionter on, Jiang Cheng sidestepped the question. To raise a problem is not difficult. To urately identify and raise a problem is hard. To raise a problem and contemte a solution is even more challenging. In Tun Shengs eyes, Jiang Cheng was only in the second phase, capable of identifying issues, but not yet possessing the ability toe up with brilliant strategies that bring peace. But now, Tun Sheng saw it for himself. This kid was capable. His mastery of deflecting conflict and unifying allies was impable. It wouldnt take much for an ordinary person to be led astray by his words. Tun Sheng narrowed his eyes, looking at Jiang Cheng who expressed his regret. Even having lived for hundreds of years and reached the Great Perfection Realm of Core Formation, he could not tell whether Jiang Cheng was genuinely expressing sympathy, or if he was being disingenuous with profound scheming. Chapter 97: Aquatic Tribe Reinforcements Chapter 97: Aquatic Tribe Reinforcements Trantor: 549690339 Compared to Lanye, Tun Sheng was much craftier. He didnt rush to rebut Jiang Chengs words but instead chose to agree with them and extend the conversation in Jiang Chengs direction. So, Jiang, do you also believe that we must put a stop to the illegal modification of Talismans? Jiang Cheng responded frankly, Senior Tun, I wont hide the fact that in our sales contracts, our studio has already transferred the responsibility of Talisman modification to the actual modifiers. Following the principle of equivalent rights and obligations, our studio has essentially forfeited the right to pursue any further responsibility for modifications. The meaning behind Jiang Chengs words was quite simple to understand. For Talismans sold normally, the studio would definitely be responsible for after-sales service during the warranty period. However, once a Talisman was modified, the situation would split into two scenarios. In the first, the modifier would bear the consequences of the modification. Under this situation, the modifier would be the first responsible party, so Jiang Chengs studio had no right to demand any specific actions from the modifier. In the second, the studio would bear the consequences of the modification. In this case, the studio would still be the first responsible party for the Talisman, so the studio would need to take responsibility for the consequences of the modifications but would also have the right to pursue the modifier for any repercussions. Jiang Chengs contract opted for the first scenario. Under the first model, Jiang Cheng could not interfere with the buyers freedom to modify and assume responsibility for their actions. Faced with Jiang Chengs argument, Tun Sheng simply smiled. Human Race cultivators were usually extremely adept at evading responsibilities, something Lanye had learned profoundly. Tun Sheng said, Jiang, Im not asking you to use your rights to hold the modifiers ountable. What I want to know is your personal stance on modification. Do you think modifiers should be held ountable? Jiang Cheng blurted out without any hesitation, If the modified Talismans contravene thew and infringe upon the rights of others, then its unquestionable that the modifiers should be held ountable using legal measures. Jiang Chengs words of righteousness greatly improved Tun Shengs impression of him. Setting aside whether this young man was sincere or cunning, he at least was consistent in his words and deeds, never contradicting himself. Human Race cultivators capable of this were practically nonexistent. Tun Sheng turned to Zuo Yuanhong and gave him a respectful bow, Lord Prefect, since thats the case, please take action. Zuo Yuanhong: ? Frozen hand? What frozen hand? Tun Sheng, leader of the Sea Tribe, Im afraid I dont quite understand what you mean, he said. Tun Sheng replied, These modified Fishing Talismans are extremely powerful and have a significant impact, which has de facto endangered the survival of our tribe in the waters of the Ming River. I kindly request that Wuyue government officials take action and punish those who recklessly modify Talismans. At this point, Zuo Yuanhong finally understood what Tun Sheng meant. Initially, Tun Sheng surely aimed to have Wuyue government officials ban the use of Fishing Talismans. But after some discussion, he realized that Jiang Cheng was imprable, and a ban on Fishing Talismans was simply impossible. So he settled for the next best thing, hoping the Wuyue government would crack down on the modifiers and the modification industry chain. My goodness! The Wuyue government was already unable to get a slice of the profits from Fishing Talismans; if they were to entirely knock down the modification business, wouldnt that mean they wouldnt even get the dregs of the benefits from the Fishing Talismans? And these Talismans sell for over two thousand Spirit Stones each. With modifications costing an extra thousand or two thousand, and the wealthy even willing to spend over five thousand Spirit Stones on the modifications. Are those who can spend so much just for their hobbies ordinary citizens of Wuyue City? Arent these people the very pirs of various industries in Wuyue? Banning modifications would affect the interests of the entire Wuyue Talisman industry and those of the elites of various industries in Wuyue And even if Wuyue bans modifications, wouldnt other cities still be able to modify as usual? So what practical effect does Wuyues ban on the Fishing Talisman have, apart from putting money into someone elses pocket? Zuo Yuanhong did not wish to shirk this issue, nor could heleast of all could he be the one to push it forward. Without the Immortal Sect standing at the forefront, having only him, Zuo Yuanhong, a Foundation Establishment cultivator to step out, he feared that his mind would wander far off at the slightest inattention. Even if we take ten thousand steps back, what concerns or conflicts the Aquatic Tribe might have are for the Immortal Sect to manage. What do they have to do with us in the Wuyue officialdom? Zuo Yuanhong said, Tun Sheng, patriarch, your question is indeed a matter that our Wuyue officialdom should take seriously. When faced with such significant issues, we say that we must keep a clear head. We should treat problems seriously, focusing on the main issue, that is, to tackle the primary problem. The key to solving a problem lies in addressing the crux of that problem Tun Sheng shook his head; seeing Zuo Yuanhongs attitude, he knew this matter was going nowhere. However, from the beginning, Tun Sheng had not held any unrealistic expectations of the Human Race. After all, for humans, the Fishing Talisman is purely beneficial and harmless. There is no reason to cut off their own advantages to kindly help the Aquatic Tribe by prohibiting the use of the Fishing Talisman. If there is me to be assigned, it could only be attributed to the weakness of the Aquatic Tribe and theirck of importance. Should the Sea Tribe have stepped in, these humans would never have dared to be so dismissive. Knowing it was futile, Tun Sheng saw no reason to stay any longer. He sped his hands towards those present and said, I have urgent matters to attend to and shall not trouble you all any further. Farewell. Seeing Tun Sheng leave, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Especially Qi Huangyi, who hade to keep order. As the General of Xiangzhou, he had been invited (deceived) by Zuo Yuanhong toe. Should a conflict arise, it would fall to him, with the highest cultivation level, to confront an adversary who was at the Great Perfection of Core Formation. The pressure was immense. Fortunately, nothing happened. As Tun Sheng took his leave from the Prefect Mansions guest room, he passed by Liu Qing and in that moment, he felt an instantaneous threat of death. Tun Sheng quickly turned his head, only to see the beautiful female cultivator at Jiang Chengs side who had not uttered a single word from start to finish. Noticing Tun Sheng looking back, Jiang Cheng asked, Elder, is there anything else you need? Tun Sheng said, Jiang Cheng, I have a question for you. Please ask, elder. If there were no fish in the water, could your talisman still catch any fish? Of course not. If you could not, what then? Jiang Cheng replied with surprise, It doesnt matter. I am just a seller of talismans. If they work, people will buy them; if they dont, then no one will buy. Hmm. Take care of yourself. With that, Tun Sheng left without looking back. However, the direction in which Tun Sheng departed was not toward the ancestral temple of the Ming River, but east of Wuyue! Eight hundred li east of Wuyue, the Ming River flows into the Chuanqi Sea! Tun Sheng flew above the vast expanse of the sea, leaving thend far behind him. Calcting his location roughly, Tun Sheng plunged into the sea, diving deeper and deeper until he reached a depth of fifteen hundred meters below the sea level. Here in the quiet, silent ocean depths, on the deste seabed in stood a deep-sea fortress. This was the stronghold of the Nascent Soul Shark Demon Qi Chi, the Wuhuan Fortress! Tun Sheng closed his eyes tightly and sent out a Divine Sense with his Core Formation cultivation level, a Divine Sense that automatically filtered out any cultivator below Nascent Soul. The message carried by his Divine Sense was: The Human Race harbors ill intentions, requesting kinsmen of our kind toe to our aid! Chapter 101: Prince San Doesn’t Want to Go on a Business Trip Chapter 101: Prince San Doesnt Want to Go on a Business Trip Trantor: 549690339 Chuanqi Sea. One thousand meters deep from the sea surface. At a depth of one thousand meters, due to abination of factors such as sunlight, salinity, and pressure, this area is sparsely popted by fish, a zone where they are few and far between. In this stretch of depth, aside from the marine creatures that naturally inhabit this region, only some monsters of the Sea Tribe with cultivation cane and go. Therefore, after weighing by experts of the Sea Tribe, this one thousand meter deep sea area is usually used as the high-speed seane for the Sea Tribe monsters. And now, there was a dragon carriage traveling on this sea road. The dragon carriage was pulled by fourrge and sturdy sea horses at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with about a dozen shrimp soldiers and crab generals at the Foundation Establishment Stage escorting it. Close to the dragon carriage, there were even four guards at thete Core Formation stage from the Dragon n closely protecting it. At the top of the dragon carriage sat a bearded elder, who was actually at the Nascent Soul cultivation level. The dragon carriage had a dragon-like shape, simr to the trains on Earth, with an overall slender design. The space inside the carriage was quite luxurious and spacious, with only jellyfish monsters serving as waiters and a young man and a girl sitting in the carriage. The young man looked sixteen or seventeen, not very old. The girl was even younger, appearing to be only six or seven years old, her little face not even outgrowing the baby fat stage. This young man was the third son of the Chuanqi Dragon King, the legendary Prince San named Ao Qi. The little girl was the daughter of Ao Qis older brother, the eldest son of the Dragon King, a young Commandery Princess of the Dragon n who had just hatched a few years ago, named Ao Lian. The Dragon n is an ancient and esteemed n with the protection of their ancestors. Unlike the Human Race, whose cultivation involves the arduous practice of absorbing spiritual energy, the ancient ns need only eat well and drink well, waiting for the power of the bloodline to awaken gradually and effortlessly increase their cultivation level. Therefore, although Ao Qi and Ao Lian seem young, one actually has a cultivation level of Core Formation, and the other has reached Foundation Establishment. The advantage of this method of cultivation relying on bloodline awakening is that it has no stress and starts at a high point. The disadvantage is also clear, its growth is weak in theter stages, and the upper limit is much lowerpared to the cultivation ceiling of the Human Race. After all, bloodline awakening is a kind of archeological behavior, but there is only so much passed down from the ancients, no matter how much you uncover, if the ancestors have nothing left, you cant create something from nothing, right? So although the Sea Tribe isrge and has many strong individuals at the upper levels, in terms of top-tier power, they have always been firmly suppressed by the Immortal Sects and have no way to challenge the dominance of the Five Great Immortal Sects. Wow, Uncle Three, what is that? Ao Lian eximed, curiously peering out the window of the dragon carriage. Thats an anglerfish. The light on its head is used to trick little fish intoing over so it can swallow them in one bite, Ao Qi exined with a headache. Uncle Three, Uncle Three, look, that octopus is so big! Yes, thats a giant octopus. Does adding giant make it bigger? Uncle Three, can you be a giant Uncle Three? No. Wow, Uncle Three, look, what is this? Ao Qi, rubbing his temples, said, Thats an anglerfish. Youve already asked about it. Uncle Three, Uncle Three Prince San, Ao Qi, clenched his fists tightly, attempting to calm himself down. Child care was too torturous, easily a more distressing endeavor than killing him. The reason for the journey to the Wuhuan fortress to attend the celebrations of the Dragon Blood Shark was something Ao Qi didnt want to partake in. But as Prince San, he knew he had no choice but to go. His father, the old Dragon King of Chuanqi, was in his waning years, and in order to ensure a smooth transition of the Dragon Pce to his big brothers hands, they currently must garner the support of as many Sea Tribe forces as possible. The Shark n was of paramount importance. Thats why Ao Qi didnt hesitate to travel thousands of miles to Wuhuan to express the Dragon ns high regard for the Shark n. Its just that Ah! He never should have agreed to his sister-inws request to bring Ao Lian with him! She said it would lighten my mood, but in reality, it seems Im brightening hers! Uncle Three, Uncle Three! What is it now? sighed Ao Qi helplessly. You hear that? Theres a sound. A sound? Yes, it seems like the Song of Tides. Ao Lian said seriously, her eyes wide open. The Song of Tides was in the Dragon Pce, so how could it be here? Ao Qi didnt hear anything anyway, but when he saw that Ao Lian fell silent, he was very pleased. Lianer, listen carefully, okay? Once you figure it out, tell Third Uncle. Okay! Ao Lian nodded earnestly, truly perking up her ears to discern the sound. Seeing the little rm clock stop causing trouble, Ao Qi breathed a sigh of relief. Wonderful, although they would soon arrive at Wuhuan and there would certainly be all kinds of social obligations, he could finally rx a bit for thisst small part of the journey. Ever since the grand formation of the Ming River Aquatic Tribe had been activated, most of the ambitious fish had been driven into the formation for protection. The fish left outside were those who, even if encouraged, couldnt struggle even a bit. Honestly, Hun River, who wholeheartedly considered the welfare of the Aquatic Tribe, wished those who only wasted aquatic resources and were of no use whatsoever would bite Wuyues hooks fiercely and then get eaten savagely by the Human Race! In the end, they would be fertilizer to feed back into nature! That was the only significant contribution they had. Of course, as someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage, Hun River didnt have the time for such trivial matters. He and Juya had recently discovered an interesting gamesitting at the mouth of the Ming River where it meets the sea and watching the spectacle! After the activation of the Aquatic Tribes grand formation, the number of sea fish swimming against the current into the Ming River began to skyrocket! And there were all kinds of species, all kinds of tribes! Hun River and Juya were now most interested in betting on when the Sea Tribe would go pick a fight with Wuyue. And they also enjoyed betting on whether the Sea Tribe would seed in their troublemaking. Because of this, the two of them had even fought several times. Even so, they would separate after the fights, but the guessing game would still continue. After all, it wasnt often that there was such fun to be had in their fishy lives. Having been put through a lot by Wuyues Human Race, and with the Sea Tribe choosing to stand by idly, it was essential to let the Sea Tribe also taste the bitterness of Jiang Cheng! Unlike Hun River and Juya, who were looking forward to the entertainment. Ruolin had recently begun studying the Fishing Talisman of Jiang Cheng. Standing excitedly at the entrance to the Ancestral Temple, Ruolin said, Lanzu Uncle, Tunzu Uncle, I have an idea! During this critical period of confrontation between the Human Race, the Aquatic Tribe, and the Sea Tribe, Lanye and Tun Sheng naturally didnt continue their seclusion for cultivation, as they were waiting for the final oue of the matter. The grand formation of the Aquatic Tribe could be activated, but they couldnt keep it active forever. The matter of the Fishing Talisman would eventually need a solution that all parties could ept. No need for mor. What is it, speak quickly. Lanye and Tun Sheng stepped out of the Ancestral Temple. Excitedly, Ruolin said, Please follow me, both of you uncles! Ruolin took Lanye and Tun Sheng to a small ind in the middle of the river, which happened to be located within the Aquatic Tribes grand formation. Under the water around this ce were the promising young ones of their tribe. Both of you uncles, please watch my performance! In front of Lanye and Tun Sheng, Ruolin directly took out a set of fishing gear, attached the Fishing Talisman, and started fishing! Lanye: However, Tun Sheng appeared thoughtful. A momentter, Ruolin sessfully caught a small carp! With excitement, Ruolin said, Two uncles, this carp stood out several times among the other fish! Its sure to achieve great things in the future! I want to focus on nurturing it! Murmuring to himself, Lanye said, So it is! So it is! Tun Sheng likewiseughed and said, Its said that misfortune may be an actual blessing, and a blessing may be a disaster in disguise. From this perspective, the Fishing Talisman is not only a danger to our n, but also an opportunity! Immediatelyughing delightedly, Lanye said, Haha, the Human Race may use this talisman to select the outstanding descendants of our tribe for ughter, but we Aquatic Tribe can also use this talisman to select the very best of our descendants and concentrate our resources on cultivating them! Good talisman, truly a good talisman! Heaven bless our tribe, the Aquatic Tribe shall thrive! Chapter 102: Jiang Cheng’s Unprecedented Understanding Chapter 102: Jiang Chengs Unprecedented Understanding Trantor: 549690339 After the development of the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman was a great sess, Jiang Cheng felt neither joy norcency; he immediately began working on the next talisman. ording to the five fundamental logic assessments of Lotus University: virtue, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, andbor. The next talisman Jiang Cheng needed to develop was for the intelligence test. Based on the data collected in Jiang Chengs notebook, the main content of Lotus Universitys numerous assessments of intelligence was character. At this point, some might argue that assessing character should be categorized under virtue isnt a persons character part of their morals? Jiang Chengs evaluation was that the perspective was still too narrow. Using character questions to test morality is just like using bat questions to test physical fitness a very straightforward and simple-minded logic. That is usually the case, but Jiang Cheng preferred to believe in the deeper meaning hidden within Lotus Cloud University teachers test questions. He preferred to believe that Lotus Cloud University was a formidable institution of higher learning. And not the little friends,e and y connect the dots from a kindergarten textbook. Take for example the cases provided in Dialogue with College Students. The first case: a runaway carriage, with five people on one side and one person on the otherwhich do you hit? The second case: an axe falls into a river, and a Kappa presents three axesgold, silver, and ironasking which one you dropped? The third case: climbing Mount Quesdao, the path is sticky and gets more tiring as you ascendhow do you persist to the summit? Themon answers to these three questions are typically: Solving the first problem: 1. I choose not to decide. 2. I choose to hit one person. 3. I choose to block the carriage myself. Solving the second problem: 1. I dropped the iron axe. 2. I dropped the axe that I dropped. 3. What axe? Listen up! Let me take a look! Solving the third problem: 1. Persevere, strive to climb. 2. Empty the mind, reduce stress. 3. My heart is like iron, unbreakable and unshakable. If this is the level of responses from the examinees, Jiang Cheng could only conclude that those who gave such answers have not grasped the deep meaning of the questions. They have not made good use of the Jiang Familys Fundamental Logic Analysis Method. Through fundamental logic analysis, one coulde to a crucial problem-solving approach. These three test questions, while seemingly answered by the examinees, showing character, actually did not solve any real problems! The next carriage would still hit someone, the axe would still fall into the river, and the mountain would remain arduous to climb. This is theck of intelligence; the fundamental logic of intelligence had not been thoroughly understood. If Jiang Cheng faced the runaway carriage, the first thing he would resolve would not be the problems caused by the carriages speed but the carriage that repeatedly caused problems! The carriage was speeding within the city, breaking trafficws, and about to hit someone, causing a major traffic ident. Jiang Cheng would leap into action, promptly stop the carriages illegal conduct, and escort the drunk driver to the government office, awaiting criminal detention. In doing so, not only were the lives of all protected, but the criminal was also brought to justice! Righteousness and justice were proimed! Jiang Chengs intelligence was perfectly disyed. Everyone rejoiced! If Jiang Cheng faced the problem of the axe falling into the river and the Kappa offering the three axes, he would not first choose to answer the Kappas question. Instead, he would promptly activate the Memory Sphere, collecting incontrovertible evidence of the Kappa holding the gold and silver axes and submit this evidence to the Enforcement Hall of the Tongtian Sect, reporting the Kappa for possession of huge unexined wealth. By dealing with the Kappa, not only passing the assessment but also helping the Tongtian Sect to purify and perfect itself, preserving the purity of the Immortal Sect. With this action, the merity with Jiang Cheng, the benefit with all examinees and Tongtian Sect. Without the Kappa, everyone need not worry about being extorted by it anymore. Everyone rejoiced! If Jiang Cheng faced Mount Quesdao, he would first inspect the tendering process of the Mount Quesdao project to check for any untold irregrities. Once found, he wouldunch a heavy blow without giving thewbreakers any opportunity to exploit! If the Mount Quesdao examination project tender was indeed formal, then Jiang Cheng would call upon all the candidates to unite and build a woodendder that leads directly to the peak, thus avoiding the sticky stone steps! Promoting the idea of Hand in hand, we walk together, never abandoning or giving up on each other. The predecessors nt trees so that the sessors enjoy the shade. Everyone is happy! After disassembling and analyzing three case studies, Jiang Cheng finally identified the design requirements for Wisdom rted exam question Talismans. First, the Talismans themselves needed the ability to collect and preserve evidence. Second, the Talismans needed to be versatile and capable of controlling and cutting trees to solve practical problems. Third, the Talismans needed to be persuasive, aiding Jiang Cheng in convincing others to work together at critical moments. Once he had summarized these three design requirements, Jiang Cheng felt his head was about to explode. The best solution for these three effects would be to use three different Talismans, rather than just one. If three Talismans were used, these effects would be easily achieved. However, due to the exam rules of Lotus University, Jiang Cheng had to try to use one Talisman to solve all potential problems in the Wisdom category of the exam. So difficult. Given the challenging nature of designing this Talisman, even Jiang Cheng couldnte up with a bnced solution in an instant. Last times Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman and the Fishing Talisman from the time before were both inspired by Liu Qing. So this time, was it possible to gain inspiration from her again? With this thought in mind, Jiang Cheng turned his gaze towards Liu Qing, who was lying on a sun lounger not far from him on the balcony. Liu Qing waszily basking in thefortable afternoon sun on the lounge chair, her exquisite form defenselessly exposed before Jiang Chengs eyes. Seemingly sensing Jiang Chengs gaze, Liu Qing opened her clear and moist eyes against the sunlight and looked at him with confusion. Jiang Cheng smiled at her and gestured for her to keep resting. Although Liu Qing continued to lie on the sun lounger, her eyes never closed again, watching Jiang Cheng with curiosity, just as he watched her. Jiang Cheng silentlymented the unfairness of fate. In the prime of summer vacation, some snakes did nothing, lying on the balcony enjoying the sun, without making any effort. But they were actually Mahayana cultivators. While others racked their brains trying to pass the freshman examination, working painstakingly hard. Yet they were merely on the third level of Qi cultivation, facing difficulties in their practice. For someone like Yue Linger, who scored high on the college entrance exam, she would pass the freshman practical test as long as she didnt miss it. And for a Plot Leading Lady like Liu Qing, whose setting was extremely unreasonable, the freshman examination would probably be a piece of cake for her. Suddenly, Jiang Cheng had a strange idea. That is to say, was there a possibility that Liu Qing could help him during the exam? Of course, if Jiang Cheng asked, Liu Qing would certainly help him, but relying on external help during the examination would undoubtedly be considered cheating. What Jiang Cheng meant was to have Liu Qing act as one of his abilities, allowing him to bring her into the exam. Liu Qing seemed to meet the requirements for the Wisdom exam category perfectly. First, Liu Qing was separate from Jiang Cheng, making it convenient to collect evidence. Secondly, Liu Qing was strong, managing horses and cutting trees with ease. Finally, Liu Qing naturallymanded deterrence, facilitating Jiang Chengs persuasion of other candidates. As he pondered, Jiang Cheng thought of an entirely new Talisman project. [Name: Substitute Messenger Talisman (Liu Qing Exclusive Special Unique Limited Edition) Rank: First Order Type: Summoning Effect: Through a token, summon a trace of the original bodys power to temporarily act as a substitute for the Talisman user Precautions: If the original body is unwilling, the Talisman user may encounter a catastrophe. Always consult with the original body before using it; otherwise, the original body mighte over through thework cable to beat the Talisman user to death.] Chapter 100 - 100 Fishing Competition Chapter 100: Fishing Competition Trantor: 549690339 Within Wuyue City, there were quite a few shops that specialized in selling talismans. Among these talisman specialty stores, three held considerable scale and local reputation, with significant influence within Wuyue. The first, known as Treasure Talismans, was overseen by a seasoned second-rank Talisman Master. The shop primarily sold first and second-rank talismans and even had channels to help customers acquire third-rank talismans. The second was called Guangde Talismans and was staffed by two second-rank Talisman Masters. The shop had partnerships with many colleges talisman majors, offering order services and internships to students, thus its strength was equally formidable. The third, Xinqing Talismans, also housed a seasoned second-rank Talisman Master. Having been established two hundred years ago, it was an old and well-respected talisman shop in Wuyue. In order to snatch a bite from the Immortal Sects, the fishing talisman retrofitting industry within Wuyue boomed, with the tacit approval of the local government officials. Every Talisman Master capable of retrofitting Fishing Talismans had joined the feast to earn Spirit Stones. By the riverside, the research and development team from Guangde Talismans had set up their operations, consisting of a seasoned second-rank Talisman Master and three experienced first-rank Talisman Masters. Boss, Xinqing has already unlocked 95% of the Fishing Talismans potential. Should we push it further? Fully unlocking it isnt difficult, but remember what happenedst time? When we output at full power, the Fishing Talisman didnt catch any fish. Look, Xinqing only dared to unlock 95%, acknowledging this issue as well. Boss, could it be that there are no fish left in the water? Ive heard some fishermenining that it is getting harder to catch fish without strengthening the talisman. The second-rank Talisman Masterughed, If there were truly no fish left in the water, then what use would a stronger Fishing Talisman be? The first-rank Talisman Master expressed his concern, But if we keep fishing like this, could we actually deplete all the fish in the water? The second-rank Talisman Master said without worry, Impossible. The amount of fish we catch with fishing is nothingpared torge-scale fishing. Not to mention, have you seen the price of fish drop in the Wuyue market? Okay, maybe a little. But its not enough yet. When the dayes that fish are as cheap as cabbage, lying on the ground and no one bothers to pick them up, thats when there will truly be no fish left in the river. The first-rank Talisman Master nodded and asked no more questions. Lets do another experiment, said the second-rank Talisman Master. This time, Ill adjust the Fishing Talismans power to 110% and see. The first-rank Talisman Master was surprised, Ah? Can the talisman be overclocked? Dont worry, the base material used for this talisman is very good; a small overclock shouldnt be a problem. It might deplete the Spiritual Power of the Button Spirit Stone ahead of time, but Button Spirit Stones are cheap. Just rece it and youll be fine. The second-rank Talisman Master quickly finished the overclocked Fishing Talisman and handed it over to the first-rank Talisman Master. Put this talisman in the river. Lets go have lunch first, and after we finish, welle back to see if the overclocked talisman can catch any fish. Alright. The R&D team left their work behind and went back to Wuyue to eat. Then, as expected, an unexpected event urred. The next morning when the R&D team reconvened at the riverside, they found that their temporary research station by the river had been forcefully destroyed. One of the first-rank Talisman Masters immediately said, This must be the work of Treasure Talismans, or Xinqing ying tricks on us! No, lets not jump to conclusions. Look here, said the more experienced second-rank Talisman Master, pointing toward a set of drag marks on the ground. Such heavy friction marks dont look like they were made by people but rather by something from the water Zhu Heng, did you retrieve the Fishing Talisman I asked you to test yesterday? Ah? I, after dinner, I kind of forgot about the overclocked talisman. Zhu Heng worried that his teacher would scold him, but instead, his teacher not only refrained from reprimanding him but patted him heartily on the shoulder. Good forgetfulness! Excellent, indeed! I have figured out why a full-power Fishing Talisman doesnt catch fish! Why? Yes, why is that? Because the real big fish are too far from Wuyue! If you want it to bite, you have to give it time to swim over here! Quickly, lets make a few more overclocked Fishing Talismans and experiment. This could be a huge business opportunity! Zhou Yunshan had extensive connections in Wuyue and, being quite wealthy, naturally became a valued guest at the citys major talisman shops. Once Guangde Talismans developed the Super Fishing Talisman, they immediately invited Zhou Yunshan to try it out. Zhou Yunshan was generous; faced with the asking price of ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, he purchased the Super Fishing Talisman without a second thought. He even monopolized the first batch produced by Guangde Talismans, buying five in one go. As Zhou Yunshan put it, the effectiveness of the talismans didnt matter; he purely wanted to support Wuyues fishing talisman modification enterprise. On a small path leading to the depths of Yue Mountain outside Wuyue City, the fishing party of fiveZhou Yunshan, Bai Wendao, Niu Xiangyang, and othersgathered once again. As soon as Zhou Yunshan arrived, he distributed the Super Fishing Talismans to his brothers. Everyone has a talisman now, today is a fairpetition. Whoever loses must ept it; no excuses allowed. Niu Xiangyangughed and said, Old Zhou, speaking of fairness, Ive never lost. Haha, you Old Niu always have the toughest mouth. The five joked around as they arrived at their fishing spots, all synchronously and proficiently attaching the Fishing Talismans and starting to fish. Clearly, as fishing experts from Wuyue, using Fishing Talismans had be a basic skill for them. An hourter, the rods of all five were perfectly still, without the slightest movement. Niu Xiangyang and the others were obviously getting anxious. After all, not catching any fish with the Fishing Talisman was somewhat embarrassing. But Zhou Yunshan, who had been instructed by people from Guangde Talismans, remained as steady as Mount Tai. No bites? Let the big fish swim a bit longer. An hour passed, and the group waited another hour. Finally, when the moon hung high and deep into the night, Zhou Yunshans fishing rod was suddenly pulled taut by a tremendous force. Zhou Yunshan was about to burst intoughter, but he had totally underestimated the power of the pull; it was so strong that it dragged him, who was fully braced on the bank, straight into the water! The moonlight was bright, making the water surface shimmer. Some of the shimmering was from the churning water, and some were from the scales of a giant fish. Damn! What is this thing!? It cant be a fish, right? Its so big? Unlike ordinary people who would be scared when encountering a giant fish, Niu Xiangyang and the others were exhrated at this moment! Niu Xiangyang immediately threw his own fishing rod aside, and while stripping off his clothes to get into the water, he shouted, Who dares to hurt my brother! Fear not, Brother Zhou, Ill take care of this fish for you! Bai Wendao, who had the highest Cultivation Level among the group, did not rush to take action. The fish seemed big, but its cultivation was merely at the fifthyer of Qi-Training. The four of them together had over thirtyyers of Qi-Training; dealing with one fish would be a piece of cake. Its just that the fish seemed a bit too big, didnt it? It didnt look like something that belonged in a river. Bai Wendao, unable to figure it out, let it be. After all, if the sky were to fall, the Immortal Sect would hold it up; it had little to do with him, a retired professor. Oh? Ive got a bite as well? Well then, lets struggle for a while. When its ashore, nobody can use me of bullying a young fish. Chapter 101: Prince San Doesn’t Want to Go on a Business Trip Chapter 101: Prince San Doesnt Want to Go on a Business Trip Trantor: 549690339 Chuanqi Sea. One thousand meters deep from the sea surface. At a depth of one thousand meters, due to abination of factors such as sunlight, salinity, and pressure, this area is sparsely popted by fish, a zone where they are few and far between. In this stretch of depth, aside from the marine creatures that naturally inhabit this region, only some monsters of the Sea Tribe with cultivation cane and go. Therefore, after weighing by experts of the Sea Tribe, this one thousand meter deep sea area is usually used as the high-speed seane for the Sea Tribe monsters. And now, there was a dragon carriage traveling on this sea road. The dragon carriage was pulled by fourrge and sturdy sea horses at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with about a dozen shrimp soldiers and crab generals at the Foundation Establishment Stage escorting it. Close to the dragon carriage, there were even four guards at thete Core Formation stage from the Dragon n closely protecting it. At the top of the dragon carriage sat a bearded elder, who was actually at the Nascent Soul cultivation level. The dragon carriage had a dragon-like shape, simr to the trains on Earth, with an overall slender design. The space inside the carriage was quite luxurious and spacious, with only jellyfish monsters serving as waiters and a young man and a girl sitting in the carriage. The young man looked sixteen or seventeen, not very old. The girl was even younger, appearing to be only six or seven years old, her little face not even outgrowing the baby fat stage. This young man was the third son of the Chuanqi Dragon King, the legendary Prince San named Ao Qi. The little girl was the daughter of Ao Qis older brother, the eldest son of the Dragon King, a young Commandery Princess of the Dragon n who had just hatched a few years ago, named Ao Lian. The Dragon n is an ancient and esteemed n with the protection of their ancestors. Unlike the Human Race, whose cultivation involves the arduous practice of absorbing spiritual energy, the ancient ns need only eat well and drink well, waiting for the power of the bloodline to awaken gradually and effortlessly increase their cultivation level. Therefore, although Ao Qi and Ao Lian seem young, one actually has a cultivation level of Core Formation, and the other has reached Foundation Establishment. The advantage of this method of cultivation relying on bloodline awakening is that it has no stress and starts at a high point. The disadvantage is also clear, its growth is weak in theter stages, and the upper limit is much lowerpared to the cultivation ceiling of the Human Race. After all, bloodline awakening is a kind of archeological behavior, but there is only so much passed down from the ancients, no matter how much you uncover, if the ancestors have nothing left, you cant create something from nothing, right? So although the Sea Tribe isrge and has many strong individuals at the upper levels, in terms of top-tier power, they have always been firmly suppressed by the Immortal Sects and have no way to challenge the dominance of the Five Great Immortal Sects. Wow, Uncle Three, what is that? Ao Lian eximed, curiously peering out the window of the dragon carriage. Thats an anglerfish. The light on its head is used to trick little fish intoing over so it can swallow them in one bite, Ao Qi exined with a headache. Uncle Three, Uncle Three, look, that octopus is so big! Yes, thats a giant octopus. Does adding giant make it bigger? Uncle Three, can you be a giant Uncle Three? No. Wow, Uncle Three, look, what is this? Ao Qi, rubbing his temples, said, Thats an anglerfish. Youve already asked about it. Uncle Three, Uncle Three Prince San, Ao Qi, clenched his fists tightly, attempting to calm himself down. Child care was too torturous, easily a more distressing endeavor than killing him. The reason for the journey to the Wuhuan fortress to attend the celebrations of the Dragon Blood Shark was something Ao Qi didnt want to partake in. But as Prince San, he knew he had no choice but to go. His father, the old Dragon King of Chuanqi, was in his waning years, and in order to ensure a smooth transition of the Dragon Pce to his big brothers hands, they currently must garner the support of as many Sea Tribe forces as possible. The Shark n was of paramount importance. Thats why Ao Qi didnt hesitate to travel thousands of miles to Wuhuan to express the Dragon ns high regard for the Shark n. Its just that Ah! He never should have agreed to his sister-inws request to bring Ao Lian with him! She said it would lighten my mood, but in reality, it seems Im brightening hers! Uncle Three, Uncle Three! What is it now? sighed Ao Qi helplessly. You hear that? Theres a sound. A sound? Yes, it seems like the Song of Tides. Ao Lian said seriously, her eyes wide open. The Song of Tides was in the Dragon Pce, so how could it be here? Ao Qi didnt hear anything anyway, but when he saw that Ao Lian fell silent, he was very pleased. Lianer, listen carefully, okay? Once you figure it out, tell Third Uncle. Okay! Ao Lian nodded earnestly, truly perking up her ears to discern the sound. Seeing the little rm clock stop causing trouble, Ao Qi breathed a sigh of relief. Wonderful, although they would soon arrive at Wuhuan and there would certainly be all kinds of social obligations, he could finally rx a bit for thisst small part of the journey. Ever since the grand formation of the Ming River Aquatic Tribe had been activated, most of the ambitious fish had been driven into the formation for protection. The fish left outside were those who, even if encouraged, couldnt struggle even a bit. Honestly, Hun River, who wholeheartedly considered the welfare of the Aquatic Tribe, wished those who only wasted aquatic resources and were of no use whatsoever would bite Wuyues hooks fiercely and then get eaten savagely by the Human Race! In the end, they would be fertilizer to feed back into nature! That was the only significant contribution they had. Of course, as someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage, Hun River didnt have the time for such trivial matters. He and Juya had recently discovered an interesting gamesitting at the mouth of the Ming River where it meets the sea and watching the spectacle! After the activation of the Aquatic Tribes grand formation, the number of sea fish swimming against the current into the Ming River began to skyrocket! And there were all kinds of species, all kinds of tribes! Hun River and Juya were now most interested in betting on when the Sea Tribe would go pick a fight with Wuyue. And they also enjoyed betting on whether the Sea Tribe would seed in their troublemaking. Because of this, the two of them had even fought several times. Even so, they would separate after the fights, but the guessing game would still continue. After all, it wasnt often that there was such fun to be had in their fishy lives. Having been put through a lot by Wuyues Human Race, and with the Sea Tribe choosing to stand by idly, it was essential to let the Sea Tribe also taste the bitterness of Jiang Cheng! Unlike Hun River and Juya, who were looking forward to the entertainment. Ruolin had recently begun studying the Fishing Talisman of Jiang Cheng. Standing excitedly at the entrance to the Ancestral Temple, Ruolin said, Lanzu Uncle, Tunzu Uncle, I have an idea! During this critical period of confrontation between the Human Race, the Aquatic Tribe, and the Sea Tribe, Lanye and Tun Sheng naturally didnt continue their seclusion for cultivation, as they were waiting for the final oue of the matter. The grand formation of the Aquatic Tribe could be activated, but they couldnt keep it active forever. The matter of the Fishing Talisman would eventually need a solution that all parties could ept. No need for mor. What is it, speak quickly. Lanye and Tun Sheng stepped out of the Ancestral Temple. Excitedly, Ruolin said, Please follow me, both of you uncles! Ruolin took Lanye and Tun Sheng to a small ind in the middle of the river, which happened to be located within the Aquatic Tribes grand formation. Under the water around this ce were the promising young ones of their tribe. Both of you uncles, please watch my performance! In front of Lanye and Tun Sheng, Ruolin directly took out a set of fishing gear, attached the Fishing Talisman, and started fishing! Lanye: However, Tun Sheng appeared thoughtful. A momentter, Ruolin sessfully caught a small carp! With excitement, Ruolin said, Two uncles, this carp stood out several times among the other fish! Its sure to achieve great things in the future! I want to focus on nurturing it! Murmuring to himself, Lanye said, So it is! So it is! Tun Sheng likewiseughed and said, Its said that misfortune may be an actual blessing, and a blessing may be a disaster in disguise. From this perspective, the Fishing Talisman is not only a danger to our n, but also an opportunity! Immediatelyughing delightedly, Lanye said, Haha, the Human Race may use this talisman to select the outstanding descendants of our tribe for ughter, but we Aquatic Tribe can also use this talisman to select the very best of our descendants and concentrate our resources on cultivating them! Good talisman, truly a good talisman! Heaven bless our tribe, the Aquatic Tribe shall thrive! Chapter 102: Jiang Cheng’s Unprecedented Understanding Chapter 102: Jiang Chengs Unprecedented Understanding Trantor: 549690339 After the development of the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman was a great sess, Jiang Cheng felt neither joy norcency; he immediately began working on the next talisman. ording to the five fundamental logic assessments of Lotus University: virtue, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, andbor. The next talisman Jiang Cheng needed to develop was for the intelligence test. Based on the data collected in Jiang Chengs notebook, the main content of Lotus Universitys numerous assessments of intelligence was character. At this point, some might argue that assessing character should be categorized under virtue isnt a persons character part of their morals? Jiang Chengs evaluation was that the perspective was still too narrow. Using character questions to test morality is just like using bat questions to test physical fitness a very straightforward and simple-minded logic. That is usually the case, but Jiang Cheng preferred to believe in the deeper meaning hidden within Lotus Cloud University teachers test questions. He preferred to believe that Lotus Cloud University was a formidable institution of higher learning. And not the little friends,e and y connect the dots from a kindergarten textbook. Take for example the cases provided in Dialogue with College Students. The first case: a runaway carriage, with five people on one side and one person on the otherwhich do you hit? The second case: an axe falls into a river, and a Kappa presents three axesgold, silver, and ironasking which one you dropped? The third case: climbing Mount Quesdao, the path is sticky and gets more tiring as you ascendhow do you persist to the summit? Themon answers to these three questions are typically: Solving the first problem: 1. I choose not to decide. 2. I choose to hit one person. 3. I choose to block the carriage myself. Solving the second problem: 1. I dropped the iron axe. 2. I dropped the axe that I dropped. 3. What axe? Listen up! Let me take a look! Solving the third problem: 1. Persevere, strive to climb. 2. Empty the mind, reduce stress. 3. My heart is like iron, unbreakable and unshakable. If this is the level of responses from the examinees, Jiang Cheng could only conclude that those who gave such answers have not grasped the deep meaning of the questions. They have not made good use of the Jiang Familys Fundamental Logic Analysis Method. Through fundamental logic analysis, one coulde to a crucial problem-solving approach. These three test questions, while seemingly answered by the examinees, showing character, actually did not solve any real problems! The next carriage would still hit someone, the axe would still fall into the river, and the mountain would remain arduous to climb. This is theck of intelligence; the fundamental logic of intelligence had not been thoroughly understood. If Jiang Cheng faced the runaway carriage, the first thing he would resolve would not be the problems caused by the carriages speed but the carriage that repeatedly caused problems! The carriage was speeding within the city, breaking trafficws, and about to hit someone, causing a major traffic ident. Jiang Cheng would leap into action, promptly stop the carriages illegal conduct, and escort the drunk driver to the government office, awaiting criminal detention. In doing so, not only were the lives of all protected, but the criminal was also brought to justice! Righteousness and justice were proimed! Jiang Chengs intelligence was perfectly disyed. Everyone rejoiced! If Jiang Cheng faced the problem of the axe falling into the river and the Kappa offering the three axes, he would not first choose to answer the Kappas question. Instead, he would promptly activate the Memory Sphere, collecting incontrovertible evidence of the Kappa holding the gold and silver axes and submit this evidence to the Enforcement Hall of the Tongtian Sect, reporting the Kappa for possession of huge unexined wealth. By dealing with the Kappa, not only passing the assessment but also helping the Tongtian Sect to purify and perfect itself, preserving the purity of the Immortal Sect. With this action, the merity with Jiang Cheng, the benefit with all examinees and Tongtian Sect. Without the Kappa, everyone need not worry about being extorted by it anymore. Everyone rejoiced! If Jiang Cheng faced Mount Quesdao, he would first inspect the tendering process of the Mount Quesdao project to check for any untold irregrities. Once found, he wouldunch a heavy blow without giving thewbreakers any opportunity to exploit! If the Mount Quesdao examination project tender was indeed formal, then Jiang Cheng would call upon all the candidates to unite and build a woodendder that leads directly to the peak, thus avoiding the sticky stone steps! Promoting the idea of Hand in hand, we walk together, never abandoning or giving up on each other. The predecessors nt trees so that the sessors enjoy the shade. Everyone is happy! After disassembling and analyzing three case studies, Jiang Cheng finally identified the design requirements for Wisdom rted exam question Talismans. First, the Talismans themselves needed the ability to collect and preserve evidence. Second, the Talismans needed to be versatile and capable of controlling and cutting trees to solve practical problems. Third, the Talismans needed to be persuasive, aiding Jiang Cheng in convincing others to work together at critical moments. Once he had summarized these three design requirements, Jiang Cheng felt his head was about to explode. The best solution for these three effects would be to use three different Talismans, rather than just one. If three Talismans were used, these effects would be easily achieved. However, due to the exam rules of Lotus University, Jiang Cheng had to try to use one Talisman to solve all potential problems in the Wisdom category of the exam. So difficult. Given the challenging nature of designing this Talisman, even Jiang Cheng couldnte up with a bnced solution in an instant. Last times Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman and the Fishing Talisman from the time before were both inspired by Liu Qing. So this time, was it possible to gain inspiration from her again? With this thought in mind, Jiang Cheng turned his gaze towards Liu Qing, who was lying on a sun lounger not far from him on the balcony. Liu Qing waszily basking in thefortable afternoon sun on the lounge chair, her exquisite form defenselessly exposed before Jiang Chengs eyes. Seemingly sensing Jiang Chengs gaze, Liu Qing opened her clear and moist eyes against the sunlight and looked at him with confusion. Jiang Cheng smiled at her and gestured for her to keep resting. Although Liu Qing continued to lie on the sun lounger, her eyes never closed again, watching Jiang Cheng with curiosity, just as he watched her. Jiang Cheng silentlymented the unfairness of fate. In the prime of summer vacation, some snakes did nothing, lying on the balcony enjoying the sun, without making any effort. But they were actually Mahayana cultivators. While others racked their brains trying to pass the freshman examination, working painstakingly hard. Yet they were merely on the third level of Qi cultivation, facing difficulties in their practice. For someone like Yue Linger, who scored high on the college entrance exam, she would pass the freshman practical test as long as she didnt miss it. And for a Plot Leading Lady like Liu Qing, whose setting was extremely unreasonable, the freshman examination would probably be a piece of cake for her. Suddenly, Jiang Cheng had a strange idea. That is to say, was there a possibility that Liu Qing could help him during the exam? Of course, if Jiang Cheng asked, Liu Qing would certainly help him, but relying on external help during the examination would undoubtedly be considered cheating. What Jiang Cheng meant was to have Liu Qing act as one of his abilities, allowing him to bring her into the exam. Liu Qing seemed to meet the requirements for the Wisdom exam category perfectly. First, Liu Qing was separate from Jiang Cheng, making it convenient to collect evidence. Secondly, Liu Qing was strong, managing horses and cutting trees with ease. Finally, Liu Qing naturallymanded deterrence, facilitating Jiang Chengs persuasion of other candidates. As he pondered, Jiang Cheng thought of an entirely new Talisman project. [Name: Substitute Messenger Talisman (Liu Qing Exclusive Special Unique Limited Edition) Rank: First Order Type: Summoning Effect: Through a token, summon a trace of the original bodys power to temporarily act as a substitute for the Talisman user Precautions: If the original body is unwilling, the Talisman user may encounter a catastrophe. Always consult with the original body before using it; otherwise, the original body mighte over through thework cable to beat the Talisman user to death.] Chapter 103: The new symbol has been banned in advance Chapter 103: The new symbol has been banned in advance Trantor: 549690339 The Substitute Messenger Talisman wasnt too difficult. Although a first-tier talismans ability to summon the gods was very limited, it was fortunate that Liu Qing was strong enough and close enough to Jiang Cheng, so the eventual effect should still be considerable. The biggest problem with the Substitute Messenger Talisman was how to get Liu Qings consent to allow Jiang Cheng to use a portion of her strength. Most importantly, the reason for Jiang Chengs summoning must not reveal Liu Qings identity as a powerful demon of the Demon Race. After all, Liu Qing was an enchantress and would likely not be fooled by any trivial deception, given her strength. Jiang Cheng, having thought through his wording in advance, said, Liu Qing,e here. A certain snake reluctantly left her chaise longue, walked inside, and sat down next to Jiang Cheng. Take a look at this. Jiang Cheng passed the Substitute Messenger Talisman to Liu Qing. Liu Qing nced at it, considered it seen, then looked at Jiang Cheng with confusion. Jiang Cheng then exined, Id like you to help me with a summoning talisman experiment, which might use part of your cultivation. Would that be okay? Liu Qing thought for a moment and nodded her head. Jiang Cheng hadnt expected Liu Qing to agree so easilywas this the confidence of a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm? Good, but theres no rush because I dont yet know how to draw summoning talismans. Liu Qing: ? One dayter, Jiang Cheng had figured out how to draw the Summoning Talisman, and he said to Liu Qing, Would a one-centimeter-long strand of your hair be all right? Generally speaking, cultivators do not give away parts of their body lightly. Because you never know what the other person might do with it. If it ended up in the hands of an enemy used for cursing, it could cause a great deal of trouble for the individual. However, due to her trust in Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing agreed to let him take a small section of her hair. Jiang Cheng took out scissors and then he realized that Qi-cultivating cultivators with ordinary scissors simply could not breach the defenses of a monster in the Mahayana Realm. He couldnt even cut off her hair. He had no choice but to let Liu Qing do it herself, taking a small section of her hair. With Liu Qings help, Jiang Cheng sessfully obtained a section of her hair, then promptly fixed that section onto the Summoning Talisman he had already drawn. After the Substitute Messenger Talisman (Liu Qing Exclusive Special Unique Edition) waspleted, Jiang Cheng couldnt wait to activate it. He wanted to see how much of Liu Qings own strength this first-tier talisman could exert. Talisman paper was infused with spiritual power by Jiang Cheng and then began to burn, but Liu Qings strand of hair seemed indestructible,pletely unaffected by the mes. As the talisman fully activated, the hair started to burst forth with spiritual power, spreading from a point to a surface, forming a blurry, translucent female figure. Possibly restricted by Jiang Chengs talisman-drawing skills, this figure did not resemble Liu Qing; one could only vaguely see it was a female cultivator. Liu Qing? Jiang Cheng tentatively called out. The real Liu Qing beside him was about to respond, but she saw that the figure turned its head to Jiang Cheng faster than her and nodded, acknowledging him. Jiang Cheng pped his hands happily, Not bad, its quite smart. The real Liu Qing frowned in bewilderment. Jiang Cheng was fully focused on the Substitute Liu Qing because they were in a critical phase of testing, and he couldnt overlook any potential issues with the Liu Talisman. Can you walk a few steps? Jiang Cheng asked. Liu Qing then obeyed Jiang Chengsmand and began to walk. How about marching? Can you do that? Liu Qing then began to march. Jiang Cheng took out the talisman he had prepared to test the strength of cultivation and tossed it to Liu Qing. Channel your full spiritual power into the talisman. Liu Qing did as instructed. Driven by Liu Qing, the testing talisman quickly started glowing brightly. Jiang Cheng praised cheerfully, Not bad, it actually has the strength of a peak ninth-level Qi cultivator. Next, lets test the strength of your body. Go to the kitchen, take the kitchen knife, and try chopping yourself with force? Liu Qing carried out Jiang Chengs orders precisely, a bit clumsily, but she seemed to understand the task at hand. Even when Liu Qing chopped herself with the strength of a ninth-level Qi cultivator, there was not even the slightest wound. This meant that the strength of Liu Qings shadowy figure far exceeded the ninth level of qi training she demonstrated. From the current performance of the Liu Tailisman, it was a first-order talisman whose actual effect was severely beyond standard. Jiang Cheng dared to say that ordinary second-order talismans were no match for the Liu Tailisman! As long as an effect simr to a Memory Spheres recording capability were added to the Liu Tailisman, then this talisman would perfectly solve all potential problems faced in intelligence-ss assessments! Whether it was collecting evidence, intercepting carriages, or chopping trees to build bridges, it would all be a piece of cake! Jiang Cheng couldnt help but reveal a satisfied and approving smile. He intended to share the results with the person involved, but when he turned his head, he saw Liu Qings pretty face, which wasnt looking too happy. Based on Jiang Chengs understanding of Liu Qing, Snake rarely showed her emotions. Especially happiness and joy, he had almost never seen her with such expressions. There was one instance of displeasure, which was a few days ago during the vi purchase; the second time was now. Liu Qing, are you unhappy? Jiang Cheng tentatively asked. But Liu Qing did not speak, nor did she look at him, just staring unwaveringly at the cloudless, clear sky outside the window. Why was Snake suddenly ignoring people? Jiang Cheng had never encountered this situation before. In his understanding, Liu Qing was not like Lin Yao, a high-maintenance enchantress from the Demonic Tao, right? After thinking it over, Jiang Cheng had no choice but to adopt the right attitude and sincerely said, Liu Qing, you are my employee, but we are also friends. If theres anything upsetting you, you can tell me. As long as I can help, Ill do my utmost. Hearing Jiang Chengs stance, Liu Qing, who had been viewing the scenery, finally showed a reaction. First, she lowered her head to look at the sunlit, bright floors of the apartment, and then slowly raised her head to look at Jiang Cheng. Who? What? Liu Qing, who? Jiang Cheng frowned and almost without thinking said, Of course, its you. Who else could it be? Liu Qing shifted her gaze, staring at the shadowy figure Jiang Cheng had conjured up. The implication was clear. Having hinted to this extent, Jiang Cheng finally remembered that he had, from the beginning, casually called this entity Liu Qing. Was it that she was unhappy with the name he had picked at random? Then Ill give it a new name. How about calling it Qing? Jiang Cheng asked tentatively. I dont like her, Liu Qing told Jiang Cheng straightforwardly. She didnt like this shadow, even though it was a small part of her cultivation manifested. Since Liu Qing said so, Jiang Cheng didnt think too much about it; he simply waved his hand and ended the summoning early, making the shadow disappearpletely. As for the lock of hair left behind by the shadows disappearance, Jiang Cheng found it and handed it back to Liu Qing in person. Liu Qing sat on the couch, holding her hair and looking at Jiang Cheng. What is it? Jiang Cheng asked her. Trouble? A little, I might need to rethink the design of a talisman, Jiang Cheng answered truthfully. Liu Qing pinched the hair, thought for a moment, then handed it back to Jiang Cheng. For you. Its okay, she said. Jiang Cheng looked into Liu Qings clear eyes and knew that she was making apromise for his sake. Jiang Cheng was not one to hesitate; after a brief moment of thought, he chose to ept Liu Qings forbearance. This talisman, I will only draw it onest time, Jiang Cheng promised personally. Mmm. Liu Qing nodded, and they reached their first agreement on the prohibition of a talisman. Chapter 104 - 104 Where is My Horse? Chapter 104: Where is My Horse? Trantor: 549690339 After Ao Qi and his party arrived at the Wuhuan fortress, the celebration that General Qi Chi had been preparing for six months was finally held sessfully and on schedule! First of all, the fine wines and sumptuous dishes, delicacies fromnd and sea, naturally went without saying. The undersea song and dance troupe hired for the performance had been carefully selected and invited from other cities, at great expense by Qi Chi, several months in advance. In addition, the lodgings for guests of all tribes had also been newly built by Qi Chi, mobilizing Wuhuans defensive force over these six months. The standard of the rooms,yout, and furnishings were all on par with a Starfish-level hotel, ensuring that the esteemed guestsing to Wuhuan would feelpletely at home, unable to experience even a hint of hardship. After such thorough arrangements, almost all the Sea Tribe dignitaries who came to Wuhuan were full of praise for Qi Chi. They spent their days immersed in the joyous Wuhuan paradise that Qi Chi had created, with no interest or intention to pay attention to any other aspects of the Wuhuan fortress. This situation truly allowed Qi Chi to breathe a sigh of relief. As long as these nobles did not discover the current state of neglect of the Wuhuan defense forces military preparations, everything would be easy to manage. Though the Sea Tribe warriors stationed in Wuhuan were not many, only three hundred thousand, once the Wuhuan defense force caught the attention of the Dragon ns Prince San, and he sniffed out something fishy, what would ensue could involve tens of millions of Sea Tribe soldiers and a vast, intricate industrial chain to sustain such military might. That would be too big a matter, beyond what Qi Chi alone, or even the entire Shark n, could withstand. General Qi! Wuhuans military Advisor Bai Ao approached Qi Chi. Advisor Bai, what brings you General Qi, these past two days, many monsters and creatures of the Sea Tribe from around Wuhuan have been swimming upstream to Ming River territories. I dispatched scouts to follow them yesterday, but they have not returned today. General, this is strange and cannot be ignored. Qi Chi, with hands sped behind his back, said solemnly, This indeed is unusual and should be taken seriously. However, at the moment, the celebration is at its peak, and our priority must be to ensure its smooth continuation. The matter of them swimming upstream to Ming River can be put on hold for now. Heres what well do: dispatch a few more people to contact the Aquatic Tribe of Ming Riverour distant kin always help in a crisis. Ask them for assistance in a joint investigation. Understood, Bai Ao acknowledged the order and went to carry it out. Shortly after, the leader of the undersea song and dance troupe, an Octopus Monster, found Qi Chi. General Qi! Leader of the Octopus Troupe, whats the matter now? General Qi, what is going on with Wuhuan? Why is there a continuous buzzing noise here? Buzzing noise? Upon listening carefully, Qi Chi could indeed hear it. He wondered aloud, There wasnt any noise in the past few days, howe now Where is this noiseing from? The Octopus Troupe Leader, already with a headache, felt it worsening. At first, our troupe thought our instruments were broken, but after searching for a long time, we realized the noise ising from the distant west. General Qi, I dont care how the noise came to be, but its disrupting our troupes performance. You must find a way to block the sound! Otherwise, we cannot continue with our performance. Upon hearing that the performance could not go on, Qi Chi immediately said, I will resolve the issue for you right away! Someone, quickly go and have Advisor Bai open the Protective City Array! The shrimp soldier tasked with the order hesitated, General, you want to activate the array now? Activate it! Yes, sir. Seeing Qi Chi open the citys defense mechanism meant to repel formidable enemies to support their performance, the Octopus Troupe Leader could no longer fault him and could only say, General, I will go prepare for the subsequent performance. Good, if you need anything, just let me know, Qi Chi said. After the Octopus left, Qi Chi let out a breath of relief. In order to keep the celebration going smoothly, he had sacrificed too much. He hoped that from then on, everything would proceed without incident. Thanks to the efforts of the undersea song and dance troupe, even though the waters outside Wuhuan City were turbulent, inside the city shielded by the Protective City Array, peace and joy reigned supreme. After several rounds of drinks, with the variety of dishes having passed, numerous intoxicated nobledies and gentlemen began to leave. Leveraging his Nascent Soul cultivation level and the formidable constitution of a shark, Qi Chi was able to remain clear-headed despite persuasions to drink from a group of people. Watching the guests gradually disperse, Qi Chi smiled with relief. The most challenging first day of the celebration had finallye to a close sessfully. In the following days, these people would remain in Wuhuan City, but there certainly wouldnt be suchrge-scale banquets anymore. The most difficult days had passed, and from now on, every step would be a step upwards. Just when Qi Chi finally decided to breathe a sigh of relief, a soldier hurried over with a report. General, theres trouble, many of the Lords horses are missing outside! What? Whose mother died? Shocked, Qi Chi wondered how he would exin to the various tribes of the Sea Tribe if the nobles caused a casualty on his watch. No, not that, the horses are gone, the mounts are missing. Oh. So it was just a matter of something being lost, a minor issue. Qi Chi once again exhaled a long breath of relief, Lead me there quickly! Outside Wuhuan City, Qi Chi and the others passed through the Protective City Array and arrived at the newly built parking lot outside. The parking lot had already gathered quite a crowd, mostly made up of onlookers, with a few who were without horses. From the seahorse-drawn carriages of Ao Qi and his niece, it appeared that the nobles of the Sea Tribe generally preferred to use seahorses as mounts, but not exclusively; many nobles likedrge shrimp, giant jellyfish, and other such sea monsters to pull their carriages. In any case, these were creatures that, though transformed into monsters, still had low intelligence. The parking lot was a new construction in Wuhuan and was built outside the city, unprotected by the Protective City Array. If the noble lords horses were mischievous and had not been secured properly, and had run off on their own, it would indeed be challenging to locate them in the vast sea. Moreover, even if someone were sent to look for them, there was no guarantee they would be found. Qi Chi simply decided not to search and directly had those who had lost their mountse to him to take count. He wouldpensate those who should bepensated with money, and plenty of it! If a new mount was needed, he would provide one, and it would be of good quality! With such a generous approach, this brief missing horses crisis was safely and uneventfully resolved. Although the loss of the horses was a bit strange, Qi Chi didnt give it much thought. For him, at that moment, as long as the festivities werent in danger, everything was negotiable. Ao Qi observed Qi Chi silently from the side. This Shark n general was decisive and acted with swift determination; he had a powerful way of handling matters, with every move carefully nned to ensure the smooth operation of the festivities. Indeed, he was an exceptional talent of the Sea Tribe. However Compared to Qi Chi, who was a pir of the new generation of the Sea Tribe, those other nobles who could even lose their horses were quite embarrassing for the Dragon n to speak of. How could they govern the ocean properly when mingled with such insects and worms! Ao Qi couldnt help but feel a tinge of worry for the future of the Sea Tribe. After all, if it had been him, Ao Qi, and he lost his mount, he would not have the face to make a fuss and end up having Qi Chipensate him. But no matter what, his eldest brother would be the future Master of the Dragon Pce, so it would be best to leave such matters for his brother to consider. It didnt concern him much, the third son of the Dragon King. Ao Qi approached his dragon carriage, opened the door, and said, Lian, its time for us to get on the carriage and head back to the hotel. No response. Ao Qi: ? Lian? Ao Lian! Ao Lian!!! Shit! Ao Qis eyes widened as he btedly realized that he hadnt seen Ao Lian for some time. Which meant He had somehow lost the only daughter of his elder brother, the current Commandery Princess of the Dragon n, the future Princess, his adorable niece Ao Qi swallowed hard in silence. At that moment, his hand holding the carriage door was shaking. It was all over! Chapter 105: Commencing Development of the “Physical Strength” Charm Chapter 105: Commencing Development of the Physical Strength Charm Trantor: 549690339 Not a moment of mourning for the banned Liu Talisman, the one busy with developing a new talisman was none other than C the second-ss Talisman Master Jiang Cheng! Having smoothly handled the Virtue and Intelligence categories, Jiang Cheng was about to tackle the Physical category. In the principle of Virtue, Intelligence, Physique, Art, Labor for admissions, Physique means strong body. ording to Dialogue with College Students, Jiang Cheng equally adeptly concluded Lotus Cloud Universitys testing content for the Physical category. The Physical category was thoughtfully summarized by Jiang Cheng as deciphering! From the case examples provided in Dialogue with College Students, the practical test subjects for deciphering usually consist of the same old three: Demonic Killing, the hidden Demonic Tao, and Demonic Escape. As for why its these old three, the answer is quite simple. Because deciphering type exams require students to enter an illusion realm created by Lotus Cloud University, assume the role of a character within, and follow directives toplete corresponding tasks. If you y a character from the righteous path, you need to identify and kill the hidden Demonic Tao practitioners. If youre ying as a Demonic Tao practitioner, you need to locate the designated righteous target and kill them. Since the illusion realm is a faithful reproduction of reality, and the narrative involves many characters in an open-world setting, it demands significantputational power to run, something that ordinary illusions cant achieve; it can only be maintained with the use of Magical Treasures. Lotus Cloud University possesses only three third-tier illusionary Magical Treasures; therefore, the deciphering exam questions truly consist of only these three subjects. Fortunately, the school can randomize questions and randomlybine identities and tasks for students in the illusion realm. Moreover, since the Cultivation Worldcks inte and information exchange isnt so fluid, these three subjects have not been systematically studied and solved, allowing them to be passed down through generations and used to this day. At this point, some clever students might ask: Shouldnt deciphering type questions be categorized under Intelligence? Why are they considered Physical instead? Is it because bat falls under Virtue; character under Intelligence; so, since deciphering couldnt be assigned to Intelligence, it was lumped with Physique? This ssification is not as hasty as it seems but is the result of Jiang Chengs thorough analysis and careful deliberation. First off, the grading criterion for deciphering type questions is the speed at which the studentpletes the task upon entering the illusion realm! That is to say, if the student is from the righteous path with the Demonic Tao as the target and the mission is to kill the Demonic Tao. The time the student takes to find and kill the Demonic Tao is the score for the deciphering exam. The shorter the time, the higher the score. Because this represents the students deciphering ability. So the question arises, how can oneplete the task in the shortest time possible? Is it like the idiot who watched the entire narrative, then took time and energy to analyze the plot, specte on the psychological motivations of the characters, and finally form aplete chain of evidence to identify the target? Afterward, even more thought must be given to designing a trap that leaves no trace, luring the target into it Jiang Cheng, for one, wouldnt do it that way. He nned to skip the narrative exnation the moment he entered the illusion realm and shark everyone inside! His reasoning was simple. Since its an illusion, there are no real people in it apart from Jiang Cheng himself. Since there are no real people, it doesnt matter how many he sharks, he is not actually sharking anyone. Since he hasnt sharked anyone, he hasnt broken thew. And as thew states that what is not forbidden is permitted, Jiang Chengs sharking ispletely legitimate and reasonable, without any issue at all. After this detailed chain of reasoning, the only thing Jiang Cheng needed to consider was how to efficiently clear the illusion realm. After all, Jiang Cheng in the illusion realm is a reflection of his real self. Whateverbat prowess he has in reality, he possesses the same in the illusion. The Talisman and Magical Treasures he brings in real life can be used in the illusion. Therefore, deciphering type questions should undoubtedly be ssified under Physical categories. Because what ultimately affects Jiang Chengs clearing speed is not any puzzle, deduction, or crime motive, but whether his arm swinging the de will be sore. Jiang Cheng needed a Talisman that could enhance his physical prowess andbat abilities. He wanted to avoid a situation where his arm would tire from all the shing, slowing him down and thus, negatively impacting his clearing time and score. Enhance physical prowess andbat ability Jiang Cheng keenly grasped the Talisman design requirement for the Physical category exam and began to think specifically about it. As a numerical strategist, Jiang Cheng was very familiar with the mechanisms of various types of Talisman in Immortal Gods. Whenever the Talisman design requirement included enhancement, it was heavily associated with support type Talisman. Even if not a support type, it should be a blessing type like the Fishing Talisman. But now, Jiang Cheng faced the same dilemma he had when initially designing the Immobilization Talisman. That is, support and blessing mechanisms, under the restriction of being first-tier, could hardly offer significant enhancement to the user. It was precisely because control type Talisman couldnt achieve immobilization for a minute that Jiang Cheng had to draw the curve and used a healing type Talisman, the Muscle Rxation Talisman, to realize the effect of immobilization for a minute. Now, neither support nor blessing types of Talisman could meet Jiang Chengs demand for an enhancement in figures. He had to refer to the design approach of the Muscle Rxation Talisman and break out from an unexpected type to fulfill the requirements of enhancing physical prowess andbat abilities! Thus, he would design a Talisman specifically for the Physical assessment at Lotus University! Thinking up a new Talisman is not easy, and even Jiang Cheng had to enter into deep contemtion. Honestly, if the Liu Talisman could be used twice, then simply letting the Liu Talisman act would make clearing the illusion realm effortlessly. Unfortunately, it couldnt be used. If Jiang Cheng were willing to ask Liu Qing for help, he could easily win the opportunity to use the Liu Talisman twice. But Jiang Cheng believed that since he promised Liu Qing, he would keep his word. He said he would only use it onest time, and thats exactly what he would do. Once a promise is made, it must be kept, as four horses cannot retrieve it. Finding excuses every time would only lower standards more and morea bad move. Enhance quality, increasebat power, no sore arms, enhance quality, increasebat power, no sore arms Jiang Cheng repeated the new Talisman design requirements to himself. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he quickly took out his notebook with notes from Dialogue with College Students. He opened the notebook, searched carefully, and atst, Jiang Cheng found a key piece of information he needed! [In the illusion realm, candidates dont feel pain and wont die even if attacked by other characters.] Chapter 106 - 106 Jiang Cheng is the Good Fortune of Lotus Cloud University Chapter 106: Jiang Cheng is the Good Fortune of Lotus Cloud University Trantor: 549690339 This setting was easy to understand; it was an optimization specifically made by Lotus University to reduce the difficulty of the examination! After all, thoseing to take their universitys exam were just teenagers, and it was now a peaceful era; there was no reason to create something with restricted content. Moreover, if candidates were killed in the Illusion Realm, it could inevitably leave them with mental trauma, something Lotus University didnt want to see. So, they simply made it so that candidates would neither feel pain nor be killed in the Illusion Realm. After all, the test was about deciphering, not about testing the students stress tolerance. To confirm the uracy of pain-free and immortal, Jiang Cheng immediately sent a message through a talisman to senior Yue Linger. Yes, thats exactly right. Yue Linger gave a firm response. Alright, thanks Yue for the trouble. Hold on, why are you asking this? Jiang Cheng said, Im designing a special Talisman for use in the exams. Yue Linger had a bad feeling and asked cautiously, Would you mind telling me its name? Smart Puppet Talisman, Jiang Cheng replied truthfully. It sounded quite normal, Yue Linger thought. She asked another question, Um, what kind of puppet are you nning to stick this Talisman on? Jiang Cheng immediately replied, On myself. Yue Linger: Although she couldnt understand what Jiang Cheng meant, she was certain of one thingLotus Cloud University was about to be extremely fortunate. Not just fortunate, but massively so! If she were the president of Lotus University, she would do whatever it took, even at the cost of her own position, to pass on the presidency to someone else before Jiang Cheng enrolled. Otherwise, during her tenure, Lotus Cloud University might, after Jiang Chengs enrollment, leave a remarkably significant mark in the history of Liang Kingdom in an astonishing way. As for the new Talisman, Jiang Chengs idea was actually quite simple. Since the three design requirements for the new Talisman were: First, enhance physical fitness. Second, increasebat effectiveness. Third, prevent hands from feeling sore due to excessive sword swinging. Then after a series of reasonable analyses, one could conclude: flesh is weak, machinery ascends! As long as ones body was reced with mechanical devices, the above three issues could be perfectly addressed. Of course, Jiang Cheng didnt know much about machinery; neither was the world of Immortal Gods some steampunk setting. However, in the world of cultivating immortality, Cultivators also have their own mechanical devices. That would bepuppets! Indeed, puppetry was a major branch of cultivation within the Immortal Gods setting. A powerful Cultivator from the Puppetry Department could easilymand thousands of troops, single-handedly facing down an entire army! As a major direction in cultivation, puppetry naturally had its achievements in Talismans as well. The Puppet Talisman was among them, the most basic and ssic work. The working principle of the Puppet Talisman was actually simple; it was akin to a munication module on the puppet, used to ry information between the Talisman and the Cultivators Divine Sense, allowing the Cultivator to control the puppets actions. Of course, more advanced Puppet Talismans might have some preset programs, turning puppets into something like vacuum cleaning robots. They would automatically avoid obstacles and recharge themselves when low on power. Though puppetry might seem to have limitless prospects, in reality, there were many almost insurmountable ws. First was the issue of material strength: materials that were too light made for weak puppets, while those that were too heavy resulted in high energy consumption and cumbersome movements. If one uses rare materials, then the puppet master must be wealthy enough; otherwise, they simply cant afford to use puppets. If one usesmon materials to make puppets, they can be easily targeted by enemies. For example, making a puppet out of iron, the enemy directly uses corrosive liquids. Make a puppet out of wood, the enemy directly starts a fire. Make a puppet out of y, the enemy directly uses water to let the puppet experience what its like for a y bodhisattva to cross a river. Beyond the issue of materials, the range of connection for puppets is also widely criticized. Low-grade puppets have a very short connection range, and if they run a little further, they be uncontroble. Moreover, due to the strength of spiritual power, low-grade puppet masters cant control multiple puppets at the same time. This leads to puppets being of limited usefulnessexpensive to create, difficult to master, weak in effect and unstable. Its even less useful than directly using two skills. However, all of these puppetry shorings do not exist for Jiang Cheng. Because in the Illusion Realm designed by Lotus University, first, one doesnt feel pain, second, one wont go far, and third, one cant be killed, making it an invincible Puppet Talisman carrier! Jiang Cheng just needs to study the drawing techniques for Puppet Talismans and design the most efficient shark-person program within the talisman. Then, when he enters the Illusion Realm and sticks the Puppet Talisman on himself, he can remove his hands from the keyboard and let the Puppet Talisman control him, turning into an emotionless, highly efficient machine for clearing levels! Jiang Cheng bent down to find paper and pen and, at the peak of his inspiration, he wrote down histest Talisman design proposal! [Name: Smart Puppet Talisman Grade: First-grade Type: Control Effect: Controls the person with the talisman, making them act ording to the Puppet Talismans preset program Caution: This talisman is quite dangerous; once controlled, it cannot be removed autonomously and requires another person to peel off the talisman to stop. Not rmended for use outside of Lotus Cloud Universitys Illusion Realm examinations.] In the setting of Immortal Gods, cars are not called cars but ground vehicles. Simrly, airnes are not called airnes but Flying Boats. At this moment, at the border between Liang Kingdom and Jin Kingdom, a Flying Boat was slowly flying over the tops of mountains. Looking down from the deck of the Flying Boat, one could see a seemingly endless forest, as vast as an ocean. The big winds blew, the branches swayed, and the green canopy rose and fell like ocean waves. At the cargo hold on the deck of the Flying Boat, Jiang Lei, Jiang Chengs real father, was directing the workers. Check the inventory again! Double-check everything. Our buyer this time is meticulous, so be extra careful and make sure there are no mistakes! Jiang Chengs parents, Jiang Lei and Zhou Wenqi, actually run a logisticspany, and what they do for work is somewhat unclear even to Sun Qing and Zhou Wen Yue. All they know is that this couple is always on the road, hardly returning home once a year. This cant be med on Sun Qing for not inquiring, because Jiang Lei and Zhou Wenqi are in the logistics business, mainly doing purchasing for clients. Simply put, they buy items required by their clients in Liang Kingdom from the neighboring countries. This time, Jiang Lei and his team were transporting top-notch Gold-Threaded Sandalwood. Its expensive, can be used for decoration, and also serves as a material for refining tools. Within Liang Kingdom, theres always a demand but no consistent supply. Having instructed the workers, Jiang Lei headed to the pilots cabin of the Flying Boat, where he said to his wife, After this delivery, well be just in time for Xiang State. Zhou Wenqi nodded, I wonder how Jiang Cheng is doing. Jiang Lei poured a ss of water for Zhou Wenqi and handed it over, saying, Thest time I heard from your cousins husband, Jiang Cheng drew some Talisman and made a small sum. I hope thed doesnt get carried away. Tens of thousands of Low-grade Spirit Stones actually arent much. For him, its already a lot. Besides, its better than when you were his age. I wouldnt be so sure, Jiang Lei said, wrapping his arm around his wifes waist, When I was his age, I had already found a wife. What about him? Can hepare to me? Zhou Wenqi replied discontentedly, Thats all the capability you have. Getting such a beautiful wife isnt a capability? Think about the guys in your ss back then; they nearly ughtered me! Zhou Wenqi rolled her eyes at Jiang Lei, Whats the use of a female Cultivator just being pretty? Right now, I just hope our Jiang Cheng finds an ordinary female Cultivator whos kind and caring. He doesnt need to aplish great things, just have a stable job and live a peaceful life. Chapter 107: The Pressure is on Wuyue Chapter 107: The Pressure is on Wuyue Trantor: 549690339 Liang Calendar 3210, August 5th. Sun Qing arrived at the Forestry Bureau as usual. First, he clocked in at the entrance of the Forestry Bureau, then passed by the main office, greeting his colleagues with a smile as he made his way to his personal office. As the Chief Registrar of the Forestry Bureau, Sun Qing did have some prestige. Plus, with Chen Qiming getting close to him recently, it was inevitable that everyone in the Forestry Bureau smelled a scent of opportunity. Although everyone was a colleague, there was a difference between those who followed the dragon and those who had merely crossed paths; their future opportunities would definitely bepletely different. Having sent away two colleagues who wanted to curry favor, Sun Qing sighed deeply. Being a leader wasnt easy, with so many subordinates. It was a subtle art to discern who was sincere and who was only good at taking the me. However, Sun Qing, after all, was an adult and didnt hesitate for too long before he plunged back into his work. The resource survey for Liang Kingdom was about done by their Wuyue Forestry Bureau. All they had to do was wait for the statistical data from the end of July toe out and integrate it into the overall trend chart, and then everything would be all set. Speaking of which, its already the fifth of August today, should the data from the end of July be out? Just as Sun Qing said this, his office door was knocked on. Mr. Sun! Mr. Sun! An employee of the Forestry Bureau rushed in with a stack of file bags. Little Li, its good to have enthusiasm for work, but try not to be too impulsive, Sun Qing assumed his Chief Clerks posture. He stood up to close the door for Little Li, and then poured him a cup of tea. Here, take a sip of tea and rx. No, no, Chief Clerk, you should look at the documents first! The documents can wait. Theres still more than half a month until the end of the resource survey. No, Chief Clerk, you really should look at the documents! Sun Qing opened the document pouch with skepticism and began to look through it. This batch of statistics was thest for this survey by the Forestry Bureau. Sun Qing skimmed over them briefly, and the new data matched the previous figures; nothing seemed amiss. These documents look quite good. Whats the issue? Chief Clerk! Look at the sheet for fishery resources!!! Sun Qing confidently said, Fisheries? Oh, you mean the Fishing Talisman. We assessed the Fishing Talisman; it has an impact but a minor one. Overall, our Wuyues fishery resources are still stable and improving Huh!? The statistics showed that the fishery resources of Wuyue had more than halvedpared tost year! Some fish species were even untraceable, apparently on the verge of extinction! Damn! Where are the fish? Sun Qing could no longer contain the shock in his heart! To be honest, the Forestry Bureau knew about the Fishing Talisman situation. The problem was that even with the use of the Fishing Talisman, the fish shouldnt have disappeared! The sudden drastic reduction in fish around Wuyue, with no abnormal natural phenomena, did not seem like extinction, but rather as if the fish had organized and disciplined themselves for a strategic migration! A little fluctuation in the Forestry Bureaus resource survey data each year was quite normal. But the current situation couldnt be described as fluctuation anymore. It was more appropriate to call it a ripple. Fish: This is my final ripple! Humans! The instantaneous decrease in Wuyues fish poption was no longer an issue the Forestry Bureau could resolve on its own. At the Prefect Mansion, Chen Qiming and Sun Qing handed thetest statistics over to Zuo Yuanhong. Zuo Yuanhong stared at the data for a long time and asked, In the past few years, we havent been fishing in Wuyue, have we? Chen Qiming answered quickly, No, Prefect. Since the fishing ban in Xiang State, Wuyue has always adhered to the policy and never crossed the line. The fish found on the dinner tables of the people of Wuyue alle from pond farming. Zuo Yuanhong nodded in acknowledgment. Since there were no fish caught, the disappearance of the fish naturally wouldnt have an impact on Wuyues economy. The only potential effect was on the sales of the Fishing Talismans. How have the Fishing Talismans been selling recently? Zuo Yuanhong asked. Chen Qiming thought for a moment, then said, It seems, there hasnt been any effect. Those talismans appear to have started catching sea fish. Oh, then its fine, Zuo Yuanhong sighed in relief and said, I will write a report about this phenomenon and send it to the Capital now. However, you all know the speed at which they work in the Capital. Since the disappearance of the fish doesnt affect anything, we dont need to hurry, lets take it slow. As long as we resolve the issue before the end of the fishing ban, wont it be fine as long as it doesnt dy the fishermens catch? Sun Qing cautiously asked, Then Prefect, about our resource survey, what do you think Fill it out truthfully. Zuo Yuanhong said. Outside the Prefect Mansion, Sun Qing looked troubled as he spoke with Chen Qiming. Dean Chen, if we really do fill in the data truthfully, what are we going to do when the Ministry of Revenue sends people to check? Chen Qiming had already thought of a strategy early on; the issue with the Fishing Talisman couldnt be med on Jiang Cheng. The issue with the Fishing Talisman is no small matter, and all of Wuyue has heard about it. Just me the disappearance of the fish on the Immortal Sectsx control over the Aquatic Tribe. After all, our imperial court also doesnt dare to provoke the Immortal Sect. This matter will most likely be settled like that. Zhou Yunshan didnt feel much like fishing recently. It wasnt that he had grown tired of it, but rather that he had been catchingrger fish recently, causing his arms to suffer from overuse injuries. During this period, not only had he caught big ck fish, but hed even caught octopuses, sharks, turtles, and jellyfish. Having continuously caught big ones, Zhou Yunshan actually began to miss the joy of catching a small fish in the beginning. So today when he went fishing, Zhou Yunshan exceptionally didnt use the Super Fishing Talisman, instead reverting to the regr version, longing to catch a small fish for fun. As soon as the fishhook hit the water, and a half-pound carp sessfully bit the bait half an hourter. Zhou Yunshan cheerfully lifted the fishhook, ready to put his catch of the day in the bucket. Thats when he noticed a little girl squatting next to the bucket. The little girl was well-dressed, clearly not from an average family. Little girl, where are your parents? Ao Lian lifted her head and honestly said, My parents didnte; they live in a ce very far away from here. Zhou Yunshan thought it a pity, such a good little girl, orphaned at such a young age. Ao Lian focused on the talisman attached to Zhou Yunshans fishhook and said, Uncle, did you make this thing that sings? No, I bought it. Then who made it? Jiang Cheng, Master Jiang. Do you like it? Here, its yours. Zhou Yunshan gave Ao Lian the original Fishing Talisman. What about you? Ao Lian asked, holding the Fishing Talisman. Ill just buy another one. Buy? Yes, they sell them in the Task Hall. Task Hall? The Tongtian Sect Task Hall, in that direction. Ao Lian looked in the distance indicated and waved to Zhou Yunshan, Goodbye, Uncle. Hey, you Zhou Yunshan wanted to ask where the little girl was nning to go, but when he looked up, she had already disappeared. In the Tongtian Sect Task Hall, He saw Ao Lian. Holding the Fishing Talisman and jumping around, Ao Lian said, Sister, sister, Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng. He: Chapter 108 - 108 The Sea Tribe Can’t Sit Still Anymore Chapter 108: The Sea Tribe Cant Sit Still Anymore Trantor: 549690339 General Qi, theres something I need to tell you, and I beg you not to get angry, Ao Qi stared attentively at Qi Chis expression. Honestly, Qi Chi was in a good mood. It was because the celebration for his newborn was finally drawing to a close. Thanks to his efforts, the entire event went very smoothly. Although the mounts of the noblemen went missing now and then, with his promptpensations, the oues were quite satisfying in the end. Please speak, Your Highness. Though I, Qi Chi, am of lesser status and humble capabilities, I am willing to serve you with the loyalty andbor of a dog and horse. What Qi Chi meant was: Enough with the pleasantries, Im just a minor official, and Im exhausted from overseeing this celebration. If you have something to say, say it quickly and hurry back to the Dragon Pce; lets make this easy for both of us. Its like this. When I wasing over from the Dragon Pce, my sister-inw was worried that Id find the journey boring, so she insisted on me bringing my niece, her daughter, along. Qi Chi, with his high EQ, responded with a smile: The arrival of the Commandery Princess has brought brilliance to Wuhuan. Ao Qi said with a guilty conscience, Cough, well, everything was fine at first, but the thing is, Ao Lian, shes quite a character. That is to say, shes a bit mischievous. Qi Chi continued to respond with high EQ: Your Highness, dragons love to soar; the Commandery Princesss bloodline is pure and her potential limitless. Uh, more or less, the main issue is that I cant find her now. Qi Chi: Your Highness, what did you say? Cough, the Commandery Princess has been lost for a while. How long exactly is a while, Your Highness? About a day, or maybe a day and a half, roughly. Qi Chi, with a smile, said, Ah haha, with the cultivation level of the Commandery Princess, traveling a thousand miles in a day should be no problem, right? Exactly, exactly. Oh ho ho. Qi Chis face still wore a smile, but his fists were clenched tight! A big, living dragon goes missing, and hes only told about it a dayterdid they really think hed be able to find her that way? What was supposed to be a sessful end to the festivities, turned into the biggest blunder at the veryst moment! Your Highness, I think wed best hurry and start looking, Qi Chi suggested. Ao Qi, knowing he was at fault, could only say, Im not familiar with the area around Wuhuan, so I must rely entirely on you, General. Qi Chi took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, Your Highness, just in caseI mean just in casethe Commandery Princess doesnte back, then Ao Qi said, Then the next time the high-ranking officials of the Immortal Secte to the Dragon Pce for a gathering, they will have the pleasure of feasting on dragon and shark meat. Understood, subordinate will go attend to it now. A quarter of an hourter, the entire garrison of Wuhuan was mobilized. Qi Chi himself led his Advisor, Left Vanguard General, and Right Vanguard General, all three Core Formation cultivators, straight to the Ming River! Ao Lian could have gone anywhere, but they feared she might wander into the Human Races territory. That was not a ce for dragons to wander freely! Dragons saw humans as weak. Humans saw dragons, and cried tears of joy! The ancestral temple of the Aquatic Tribe by the Ming River. Qi Chi, leading his three subordinates, rushed over hastily. One Nascent Soul, three Core Formationstheir arrival rmed all the masters of the Aquatic Tribe. Tun, my friend, its been days, yet it feels like years, Qi Chi said to Tun Sheng with a smile as they greeted each other. Seeing such a sincere disy from the Sea Tribe, Tun Sheng returned the gesture, Friend Qi, what brings you here? Qi Chi hurriedly said, To be frank, my friend Tun, Im here to ask for a favor. Tun Sheng, with a smile, repeated words Qi Chi had said before: Friend Qi, youre being too formal. We both belong to the Aquatic Tribe and should naturally help and support each other. Qi Chi didnt care about Tun Shengs implied criticism; all he wanted now was to find the Dragon ns Commandery Princess as quickly as possible! Friend Tun, tell me, which areas where the Human Race congregates in the Ming River territories would be more attractive to the younger members of our two ns? Which one? Its definitely the Wuyue City flooded with Fishing Talismans! Ruolin and the others from the Fish Heart grumbled internally. Tun Sheng said, If its nearby, then it must be Wuyue. However, its hard to say for certain, after all, there are many human cities and theyre pretty much all the same, any one would do. Qi Chi tugged at the corner of his mouth, how could he not know that the human cities were as numerous as stars in the sky? But if they couldnt pinpoint Ao Lians exact location, searching like this would take half a year and still not be done! Fellow Tun, a youngster from our n has mischievously gone missing. Could you see if its convenient to ask some of your ns Core Formation experts to join us and visit a few human cities? Tun Sheng then reiterated his own stance, Fellow Qi, its not that I, Tun, do not wish to help you, I truly am powerless. Look at this great protective formation of our n, which spot doesnt need patching up? Our experts really cant spare the time. Forget it, forget it, theres no use counting on others. Qi Chi sighed inwardly, gave Tun Sheng a cupped fist salute, and immediately led his three Core Formation subordinates, along with himself, splitting into four groups to conduct a carpet search of the cities near the Ming River at the greatest speed! Even if this would rm the Immortal Sect, they couldnt care less at this point. rming the Immortal Sect was, worst-case scenario, a matter of exining themselves and exchanging courtesies. If they couldnt find Ao Lian, Qi Chi would end up as shark fin in a shark fin soup! Above Wuyue, Qi Chi deployed his Nascent Soul Stage Divine Sense with a do-or-die attitude and started scanning the entire Wuyue! Meanwhile, at the Wuyue Residence. He, holding Ao Lians hand, knocked on the door of Jiang Chengs home. Liu Qing heard the noise and stood up from the balcony, then suddenly sensed something and looked back at the sky behind her. Seems like a little Nascent Soul is recklessly using Divine Sense. Liu Qing slightly expanded her own Divine Sense, enveloping the entire Wuyue Residence like applying ayer of invisibility coating, then dismissed it from her mind. The little fish was too weak; she had no interest in even greeting it. Liu Qing opened the door to see Bai Xiaohe and Ao Lian, who was holding Bai Xiaohes hand. She looked down curiously at Ao Lian, while Ao Lian, as if seeing a monster, suddenly clung to Bai Xiaohes thigh and wouldnt let go. From Liu Qing, Ao Lian felt a pressure stronger than her Dragon King grandfathers. A fear of bloodline suppression rose from the bottom of her heart. Wuu! This pretty sister is so scary! Bai Xiaohe, now clutching her thigh, felt a bit awkward. After all, she had to take leave and bring her here because the little girl kept calling for Jiang Cheng. Pleasee in, said Liu Qing. He smiled politely, then walked into the apartment with Ao Lian. Jiang Cheng? Jiang Cheng? Jiang Cheng was engrossed in thinking about how to efficiently preset programs within the Smart Puppet Talisman, but before he could grasp the concept, he was awakened by Hes calls. He? What brings you here? Bai Xiaohe thought to herself: Actually, Ive always been free, you just never called me! Although she was somewhat dissatisfied with Jiang Cheng, Bai Xiaohe didnt forget the purpose of her visit. She pulled Ao Lian off her leg and pushed her in front of Jiang Cheng, saying, Do you recognize her? Jiang Cheng nced at Ao Lian and shook his head nkly. Jiang Cheng? Ao Lian called out cautiously. Yes, thats me, Jiang Cheng responded politely. This. Ao Lian held up the Fishing Talisman. I drew it. It resembles. Resembles what? Song of Tides. Chapter 109: Must Find a Way to Protect Oneself Chapter 109: Must Find a Way to Protect Oneself Trantor: 549690339 Song of Tides? Jiang Cheng frowned and thought to himself, How would the little girl know about the Song of Tides? Have you ever seen the Song of Tides? he asked. Mhm, Ao Lian nodded. What does it look like? A pearl this big, it feels slippery to the touch, Ao Lian gestured. Where did you see it? Jiang Cheng asked again. At my home. Having seen the Song of Tides, having touched the Song of Tides, the Song of Tides being at her home. Then she is Jiang Chengs eyes slowly widened. If he hadnt guessed wrong, could this little girl be a young dragon maiden who had run away from the deep-sea Dragon Pce? Although at her age, she would only be considered a very young dragon maiden. The Dragon Pce was at least a hundred thousand li away from Liang Kingdom. Could the Fishing Talisman have drawn a young dragon maiden from a hundred thousand li away to shore? The current scenario was challenging the limits of Jiang Chengs understanding. Bai Xiaohe looked at Jiang Cheng and said, Jiang Cheng, do you know her? I suppose so, Jiang Cheng said uncertainly. Thats great, then could you help me take her hometer? I need to hurry back to the Task Hall now. Bai Xiaohe entrusted Ao Lian to Jiang Cheng and then immediately rushed back to work. In the Wuyue Residence, now only Jiang Cheng, Ao Lian, and Liu Qing were left. Because Ao Lian was a bit afraid of Liu Qing, she subconsciously moved closer to Jiang Cheng. But the closer she got to Jiang Cheng, the more Liu Qing stared at her, forcing her to get even closer to Jiang Cheng. Eventually, this looping process was interrupted by Jiang Cheng when she hugged his thigh. What is your name? Ao Lian. Lian as in evoking pity. Hmm. How did you get here? I swam over. From where did you swim over? Wuhuan. Wuhuan, a ce Jiang Cheng had not heard of, was probably some sea tribe city. Is it far from here? Not too far. Then Ill take you back, Jiang Cheng suggested. Um Ao Lian nced back at Liu Qing. Her survival instinct told her that this beautiful sister was very dangerous. Jiang Cheng noticed Ao Lians hesitation and looked toward the window behind Liu Qing, where the sunsety, and said, Indeed, its already getting dark, and traveling at night is inconvenient. How about this, you stay here tonight, sleep with this sister, and when its bright tomorrow, well go back, alright? No, no, no, no Ao Lian clung to Jiang Chengs thigh and shook her head desperately! Her survival instinct once again warned her that if she were alone in a room with the beautiful sister, she might very well get eaten. Jiang Cheng tried to ask, So should I take you away now? No, no, no, no Ao Lian continued to shake her head. Her survival instinct for the third time told her that a weak cub separated from its group was very likely to be preyed upon by predators. Jiang Cheng stroked his chin and thought deeply. Neither this nor that worked. Was dealing with a very young dragon maiden this troublesome? Jiang Cheng. Liu Qing spoke up. Jiang Cheng then looked up at her. Shes scared. Scared? Yes, scared. Scared? Jiang Cheng carefully recalled the settings of Immortal Gods and realized that monsters indeed tended to be more susceptible to fear than humans. That was because there was a theory of bloodline suppression among monsters. Higher-ranked monsters can suppress lower-ranked ones by causing innate fear in thetter, ensuring their obedience to the former. With that said, if Ao Lian is afraid of Liu Qing, then it would make sense. But would a dragon be afraid of a snake? Or is the gap in their cultivation levels toorge? Regardless of the reason, Jiang Cheng finally found the root of Ao Lians unusual behavior. He tried to pry Ao Lian off his leg and push her towards Liu Qings location. As expected, Ao Lian clung to his leg like glue, absolutely refusing to get close to Liu Qing. Dont be scared, sister Liu Qing is a good person, probably. Jiang Cheng said uncertainly. Consequently, Ao Lian became even more frightened. Jiang Cheng nced at Liu Qing and gestured her over: Come here, sit on the sofa. Liu Qing did so ordingly. Jiang Cheng told Ao Lian, You see, sister is very nice. Ao Lian still held onto Jiang Chengs leg and didnt let go. After some thought, Jiang Cheng dragged Ao Lian to sit next to Liu Qing and then yfully punched Liu Qings arm. Sister has a good temper. She wont get angry even if you hit her. Ao Lian clung to Jiang Chengs leg, blinked, and found that what Jiang Cheng said seemed quite true. This beautiful sister, despite triggering her innate sense of danger, was indeed emotionally stable, a hundred times more so than her third uncle. Jiang Cheng took the hair from the back of Liu Qings head, brought it to the front, and told Ao Lian, Look, its okay to mess up sisters hair. If youre thirsty, sister will pour you water as well. Jiang Cheng gave Liu Qing a look, and she went to pour some water. Jiang Cheng held out the water Liu Qing poured for him to Ao Lian, saying, Sister has poured water for you. Didnt I tell you the truth? Seeing Ao Lian seemed less afraid of Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng pressed his advantage: If you want some snacks, you can ask sister to fetch some for you. What would you like to eat? Anything, anything, Ao Lian whispered softly. Jiang Cheng told Liu Qing, Just grab any two bags. Okay. Liu Qing got up from the sofa, picked two bags of her favorite snacks from the drawer where she kept them, and handed them to Ao Lian. Ao Lian took them with caution. What else do you want sister Liu Qing to do for you? Sister is very capable and easy to talk to. Holding the snacks in one hand and clutching onto Jiang Chengs thigh with the other, Ao Lian asked curiously, Jiang Cheng, can we make sister do headstands, splits, and turn in circles? Jiang Cheng: ? Youre not right! In the early morning over the surface of Chuanqi Sea, a cluster of Sea Tribe powerhouses hovered. It was indeed a cluster. At the Nascent Soul Stage, there were two: an elder with a long beard, Ao Qis bodyguard, and the General Qi Chi, the militarymander of Wuhuan. In the Core Formation Stage, there were sixteen. This included four of Ao Qis personal guards; seven military leaders and advisors of the Wuhuan defense forces; four guards of closely rted nobles; and thest Core Formation was Ao Qi himself. The territory of the Sea Tribe was vast and their strength robust. Just from Wuhuan alone, the warriors assembled could match the force of a mid-sized human dynasty. However, even with all their efforts, after sweeping nearly thirty cities downstream of Ming River over the course of an afternoon and a night, they had not found a single scale of Ao Lian. At this moment, Qi Chi and Ao Qi had to start preparing for the worst. If Ao Lian truly was gone, how were they to exin this to the old Dragon King and the eldest son of the Dragon King? Neither Qi Chi nor Ao Qi desired to be a meal on someone elses te. The Advisor Bai Ao stepped forward, Third Prince, General, may I have a word in private? Qi Chi and Ao Qi exchanged a nce and followed Bai Ao to a secluded spot. Advisor Bai Ao, what do you want to say? General, at this point, Ill speak frankly. If anything did happen to Commandery Princess Ao Lian, Im afraid not only you, General, but all of us will not escape death. We are among ourselves here; speak freely. Bai Ao wiped his sweat, nced at Ao Qi, and said, Then Ill speak inly. With the way things stand, we have only one way to survive. What is it? Ao Qi and Qi Chi asked at once. Fight! Only by fighting! If we fight as if our lives depend on it, covered in wounds and scars, barely escaping with our lives, then we might have a chance to survive. Qi Chi was thoughtful, but Ao Qi did not understand. Old Advisor, what exactly do you mean? Third Prince, you didnt lose Commandery Princess Ao Lian; its those humans who are too cunning! They lured the princess ashore with a Fishing Talisman and then brutally mishandled her, ultimately causing her demise. Our fierce fight is in revenge for the princess! Chapter 110: The Little Dragon Maiden Doesn’t Want to Go Home Chapter 110: The Little Dragon Maiden Doesnt Want to Go Home Trantor: 549690339 Early in the morning, Jiang Cheng set out for his usual jog. But not long after he started, hismunication talisman began to buzz. The caller was actually Liu Qing? Hello? Jiang Cheng answered themunication talisman. Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng, when are youing over to y with us? I cant quite understand what Sister Liu Qing says. She always speaks so briefly, and and its weird, I just cant understand. Where did that thing called snacks go? Ao Lian wants to eat snacks, its my favorite, uhh my favorite Jiang Cheng silently moved themunication talisman a bit farther from his ear. Though it was a sparsely popted early morning, Jiang Cheng felt that the situation over themunication talisman was even more bustling than amercial street. Amid the lively atmosphere from themunication talisman, Jiang Cheng keenly caught Liu Qings words. Jiang Cheng,e over, she said. Even Liu Qing was urging him to hurry over, so the situation at Wuyue Residence must be quite serious. Alright, Im on my way. Jiang Cheng didnt waste anymore words and immediately changed his running direction, ready to make a dash while continuing his jog! At Wuyue Residence, Jiang Cheng pushed open the door and saw a scene ofplete disarray. Overturned water cups, fallen tables and stools, snacks and snack wrappers scattered all over the ce, and a pile of what must be Liu Qings clothes on the sofa Wah! Jiang Cheng, youre finally here! Ao Lian will show you something fun! Ao Lian dragged Jiang Cheng into the bathroom, where she turned on the shower faucet. Look! Wateres out of here! It flows! And if you press this, it changes shape! Seeing Ao Lians expectant face, waiting for praise, Jiang Cheng fulfilled her wish, Thats really impressive. Heh, no big deal, theres something even more fun! Ao Lian pressed the toilet flush and thus, she earned herself a circr water vortex. How about that? Impressive, right? Jiang Cheng maintained his patience, giving the child the praise she deserved: Yes, very impressive. Haha, wah, such fun, Jiang Cheng is so fun! Ao Lian happily ran around everywhere. She found Jiang Chengs ce too amazing! Not only was everything interesting, but Uncle Jiang Cheng and Sister Liu Qing were also very nice, very kind! Uncle Jiang Cheng was very friendly and gentle, and he even gavepliments. Although Sister Liu Qing didnt talk much, she never got angry! Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing said,ing out of the bedroom dressed in a silk nightgown. Compared to her usual clothes, her nightgown was much too progressive, although even so, it only revealed her arms, shoulders, corbones, and parts below the knees. However, Liu Qings figure was indeed unreasonable, so even such a modest nightgown was suspended in mid-air by her uniquely endowed physique, unable to cling to the skin of her lower abdomen or the back of her thighs. What should have been an unproblematic image suddenly became somewhat indecent. Sorry to trouble you, Jiang Cheng apologized to Liu Qing. Apart from asking Liu Qing to look after the child, Jiang Cheng couldnt think of how to deal with the little dragon girl. He couldnt just throw her out on the streets, could he? That would be considered littering! Liu Qing shook her head to indicate it was no trouble. Clothes, ruined, she said. Buy, Jiang Cheng replied bluntly. This counts as a sacrifice for me and Wuyue, I will personally fund the recement of your wardrobe. Snacks. Buy. Bowl. Buy. Water. Buy. Chair. Buy. Liu Qing thought about it, it seemed that everything problematic in their house was being bought by Jiang Cheng, so then there were no problems. She nodded and finally said, Ao Lian. Jiang Cheng looked at the little dragon girl crawling all over the floor and said, Ill send her back as soon as possible. Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng, what are you talking about? Buying what? Snacks? Ao Lian wants to eat snacks. How do you buy snacks? Can we go now? Is Sistering too? Ao Lians chattering voice was a continuous stream in Jiang Chengs ears. Jiang Cheng looked at Liu Qing and said, Shall we go? Liu Qing nodded her head. Jiang Cheng said, Then you should go change your clothes quickly. Liu Qing nodded again and went back to the bedroom. At this moment, Ao Lian tugged at Jiang Cheng and said, Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng, Ao Lian wants to tell you a secret. What is it? Big sister cant eat snacks anymore, Ao Lian said gravely. Jiang Cheng asked in confusion, Why? He had never heard that cultivators in the Mahayana Realm had any dietary restrictions. Ao Lian said earnestly, Big sister is already very fat, a little fatter than Ao Lians mother! Then, the little dragon girl looked down at herself and proudly said, Ao Lian is not fat, so Ao Lian can eat snacks. Lots and lots of them. Bang! Liu Qing, having changed her clothes, pushed the door open and stared at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng was sweating profusely. Nonsense, your sister is not fat at all. Hers is a beauty of affluence. Liu Qings beautiful eyes fluttered slightly, she let Jiang Cheng off the hook and looked towards Ao Lian. Ao Lian retorted, not convinced, She is fat, shes gained lots of flesh, and it doesnt look good at all. Liu Qing then turned her gaze back to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng seriously and earnestly pointed out Ao Lians mistake, saying, Ao Lian, my friend, no matter how the standards of beauty may change, the one value they should always conform to is health. Your sister Liu Qing, um, shes well-developed, her flesh is in all the right ces, which is a very healthy physique. So under any normal aesthetic, at any time, she is very beautiful. Finally, Jiang Cheng added, Regardless of how others view it, I have always found your sister Liu Qing to be very beautiful. After Jiang Cheng spoke, Liu Qing finally stopped staring at him and turned her gaze to the empty space, put her hands behind her back, and took small steps to his side. What about me, what about me? What about Ao Lian, what about Ao Lian? Ao Lian mored. Jiang Cheng kindly said, You just said your mother and sister Liu Qing look very much alike, so when you grow up, youll definitely be very beautiful too. This morning, the capital of Xiang State, Guo Yicheng, weed a special guest. Bai Ao, an Advisor of the Wuhuan garrison of the Sea Tribe, holding a sealed letter, entered the state government office. Ordinary people had to follow the rules when entering the government office, but as a cultivator at the Core Formation stage, Bai Ao was a rarity even in the provincial capital of Guo Yicheng. Please,e in. Esteemed neighbor and fellow Daoist, may I inquire how I should address you? Xin Youzhu, the states top official, greeted Bai Ao warmly. With a serious expression, Bai Ao said, This one is Bai Ao, Advisor of the Wuhuan garrison of the Chuanqi Sea Tribe, in theter stage of Core Formation. I have the honor of meeting your excellency, the Governor. I dare not ept such honors, replied Xin Youzhu as he waved his hands dismissively, feeling inferior before Bai Ao with his mere Foundation Establishment-stage cultivation level. Governor, Bai Ao will cut to the chase. I am here on behalf of our general and Prince San to deliver a message. Bai Ao handed over the sealed letter, which Xin Youzhu received with both hands. Xin Youzhu received the sealed letter, nced at Bai Aos expression, and then broke the seal to read it. The title of the letter: A Deration to the Human Race of the Liang Realm. Xin Youzhu read on. To his shock, the contents werepletely unexpected. The Fishing Talisman deceived the Dragon n Commandery Princess? A million Sea Tribe troops sharing amon hatred? The third son of the Dragon King seeking vengeance for his niece, an unending vendetta? Fellow Daoist Bai Ao, this I take my leave. Stay, fellow Daoist! Fellow Daoist! Bai Ao did not look back, leaving Xin Youzhu frozen in ce. The Dragon n Commandery Princess was gone, and the Sea Tribe was dering war on Liang Kingdom Why didnt they seek out the Immortal Sect? Could Liang Kingdom alone withstand the Sea Tribes might? Smack! Xin Youzhu pped himself, forcing himself to calm down. Whoever ended up in charge of this matter, it was certainly beyond the authority of him as the Governor of Xiang State! The only course of action now was to deliver the intelligence about the Sea Tribes impending war to the imperial court as swiftly as possible! Whether to wage war or seek peace, whether to ask for the Immortal Sects protection or tomunicate with the Sea Tribe, all had to be decided by the Emperor of Liang and the Grand Secretary! Chapter 111: The Third Ban on the Use of Talismans Chapter 111: The Third Ban on the Use of Talismans Trantor: 549690339 Liang Kingdom was not a traditional feudal dynasty. Adapting to the widespread trend of modernization among the popce, the structuralposition of the Liang State Court had transformed, either proactively or passively. The current Liang Kingdom more closely resembled a constitutional monarchy. The Emperor of Liang still existed, but he no longer possessed the ability to decide the fate of the nation with a single word. The Liang royal family retained Yu Jing and its surrounding counties as their fiefdom, kept the Imperial Guard Army, and maintained leading authority over certain industries in Liang As a trade-off, the emperor relinquished a series of powers including administration, legition, judiciary, diplomacy, and national defense, transferring them to the Cab, and only retained the veto power in personnel and legition to maintain the royal familys authority. To be precise, the current Liang Kingdom had two emperors. One was the Emperor of Liang, and the other was the Prime Minister. The Emperor of Liang was the symbolic monarch and central authority of the Liang Kingdom in name, while the Prime Minister truly held most of the power. Regarding matters of great importance, the memorandum from Xin Youzhu, the Governor of Xiang State, was delivered to Yu Jing at the fastest speed and ced before Prime Minister Qin Wentao. However, before the memorandum reached Yu Jing, the affairs between Xiang State and the Sea Tribe had been transmitted to the Prime Ministers ears even more swiftly through amunication talisman. Take a look, the memorandum from Governor Xin. During a meeting of the Cab, Qin Wentao tossed Xin Youzhus memorandum onto the table. The other six individuals around the table looked at one another, still unaware of the specifics of the situation. As the attendants handed the memorandum to the six for cirction, each face revealed deep confusion and shock. As far as I know, the offspring of the Dragon n are at the Foundation Establishment stage upon birth. To lure Foundation Establishment Dragons with a first-level talisman this this reason seems a bit far-fetched. It might not necessarily be about the talismanprobability is that the Sea Tribe is just looking for an excuse to make trouble for Great Liang. But the Chuanqi Sea Tribe and our people have coexisted peacefully for so many years, why would they suddenly stir up trouble? If the Sea Tribe had issues, they should have contacted the Immortal Sect first. We, the court officials, are merely secr forces. Isnt the Sea Tribemitting a taboo by taking arms against us? Could it be that the Sea Tribe doesnt want to fight either and is just putting on a show of force? After listening quietly, Qin Wentao spoke in an even tone, My colleagues, you have finished talking about the Sea Tribe. Can we talk about Great Liang? Can we afford to fight this war? The group had intentionally avoided the topic, but now, upon hearing what Qin Wentao said, someone finally understood the Prime Ministers meaning and voiced the answer that was in everyones hearts. Prime Minister Qin, our national treasury has been in deficit for a long time, Im afraid we cannot afford to wage this war. Dealing with the Sea Tribe should inherently be the responsibility of the Immortal Sect. Prime Minister, we shouldnt be the ones to start this. Even if we were to fight, we should follow the Immortal Sects lead. Exactly, if the Tongtian Sect doesnt react, we can use this as a pretext to ask the Lin Sect to act. Lin has been coveting our nation for a long time; this would be a legitimate reason to allow Lin Sect toe in and counterbnce Tongtian Sect. After hearing this, Qin Wentao said, As for the affairs of the Sea Tribe, theres always a solution, but my colleagues, how do we resolve the issue with Great Liangs national treasury? While there had been those who dared to understand the Prime Ministers intention just moments ago, now there was not a single person who dared to prehend the underlying meaning of the Prime Ministers words. To resolve the deficit in the national treasury, either the knife must fall on oneself, or it must fall on others; there was no other solution. But the problem was, once the knife was wielded, blood must be spilled. The consequences of bloodshed, however, were not something the average person could endure. Seeing no one daring to speak, Qin Wentao decided to drop the matter, I have arranged to meet with the Helmsman of Tongtian Sects Capital headquarters; I must take my leave first, please excuse me, gentlemen. Qin Wentao strode out the door. Liang Kingdom was no small nation and had the protection of the Immortal Sect. The Sea Tribe might be formidable, but they could not harm the foundation of Liang. However, if the continuous deficit in the national treasury was not addressed, the copse of the house could happen in an instant. Wuyue City. Jiang Cheng was leading Ao Lian, while Ao Lian was holding Liu Qing, and the three of them slowly made their way to the creek. Is this where you came from? Jiang Cheng asked, pointing at the small river. Right. But Jiang Cheng, I dont want to leave yet. Ao Lian clung to Jiang Chengs leg, pleading pitifully. Jiang Cheng had been tormented by Ao Lian for almost two days and had finally caught the chance to send her back, which he absolutely couldnt miss. Youve been out on your own for so long, wont your family be worried? You cant stay away forever, can you? Go back first, let your Third Uncle know youre safe, ande back to y when you have the chance, okay? Ao Lian was reluctant but after some thought, she realized that while her Third Uncle Ao Qi wouldnt hit her, her mother would. And it would be a severe punishment! If she stayed out ying for too long and her Third Uncle couldnt find her, he might tell her mother, and if her mother came looking for her herself, then she would really be in trouble. With Jiang Chengs pushiness, Ao Lian finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, Okay, Ill go back for now, and Ille to find you again to y in a little while. Jiang Cheng quickly nodded in agreement. Liu Qing also nodded firmly. Ao Lian waved goodbye to Jiang Cheng while heading towards the stream. Just then, Jiang Chengs talisman rang, and Ao Lian immediately stopped, waiting for Jiang Cheng to answer the talisman. It seemed that if Jiang Cheng didnt answer, she wouldnt leave. Seeing an important matter being interrupted, Jiang Cheng could only smile wryly and pull out the talisman. Hello? Peng Juns voice was very urgent, Jiang Cheng, where are you? Im by a small creek inside Wu Mountain, specifically Stand right there! Iming to find you now! Peng Jun said he wasing and he was quick about it, as he actually lived on Wu Mountain. A minuteter, Peng Jun arrived beside Jiang Cheng. He looked very anxious and said, Jiang Cheng, you cant draw the Fishing Talisman anymore! Do you know that a princess from the Dragon n went missing because of your Fishing Talisman!? The Helmsman is dispatching people to negotiate with the Sea Tribe, and no matter how the talks go, you cant continue to draw the Fishing Talisman! I Jiang Cheng didnt know what to say. Because the missing person was right in front of Peng Jun. Whos missing? inquired Ao Lian curiously. Peng Jun said offhandedly, A Dragon n princess, I think her name is Ao Lian. But Im not missing, said Ao Lian in confusion. Peng Jun: ??? He hadnt noticed earlier that the little girl seemed to have a quite high cultivation level. From that alone, he could deduce that she was most likely not from the Human Race. Gazing at Ao Lian, Peng Jun asked in disbelief, Are you, Ao Lian? Yes! Thats me! Now thats something, the Sea Tribe is going mad looking for her, to the point of issuing a challenge to the Liang Kingdom, and the Helmsman along with the sects around are on the verge of mobilizing for war. It turns out their numerous high-level cultivators have been in trouble for so long, and the person they are searching for was strolling in Wuyue, looking not at all panicked and even quite happy. You should go back now. Your family must be worried, Jiang Cheng urged. Alright, agreed Ao Lian. With that, Ao Lian nodded and under the witness of the three, Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing, and Peng Jun, dove into the water and disappeared without a trace. After Ao Lian left, Jiang Cheng then asked Peng Jun, Helmsman, whats the deal with my Animal Encouragement Talisman? Peng Jun looked embarrassed and nced away, recalling the excuse he had previously agreed on with Lu Wang. Ahem, on one hand, the Sea Tribe has strongly demanded it, and we are somewhat at fault in this matter. On the other hand, there is indeed an issue with that talisman of yours. I heard it shes with another talisman recorded by the association, with some very simr structures. Mainly its because Lu Wang wasnt thorough at first. For the specific reason, youll have to ask Lu Wang. Until the investigation is out, you cant draw your Encouragement Talisman anymore. Chapter 112: Does Jiang Cheng Have a Girlfriend? Chapter 112: Does Jiang Cheng Have a Girlfriend? Trantor: 549690339 The Sea Tribes deration of war eventually dissipated quietly following Ao Lians return home and the mediation of the Tongtian Sect. The main reason this incident was resolved peacefully was that none of the three parties actually wanted to go to war. The Sea Tribe was outwardly strong but internally weak, with neglected military preparations, fearing their bluff would be called if a real fight broke out. Moreover, with Ao Lian returning, they had no reason to fight. The treasury of the Great Liang Court was empty and could not support arge-scale war. The Tongtian Sects foundation in the Liang Kingdom faced challenges from the Taixu Sect and the Lin Sect. Should they go to war with the Sea Tribe, they would be very vulnerable to the remaining Immortal Sects exploiting the situation to act against them, ending up in a thankless predicament. After much ado about the deration of war, the biggest loser was actually Tongtian Sects Wuyue City branch. Because of Jiang Chengs Animal Encouragement Talisman, the Sea Tribe pinned the me of enticing the Dragon n Commandery Princess on him. Although using a first level talisman to entice a Commandery Princess of Foundation Establishment seemed far-fetched, prohibiting the encouragement talisman was the Sea Tribes primary condition for ceasing war, which the main branch of Tongtian Sect in the Liang Kingdom epted after assessment. As the instigator behind the fishing for the Dragon n Commandery Princess incident, Jiang Cheng should have borne most of the responsibility for the debacle. Unfortunately for them, first, Jiang Cheng did not vite any of the Liang Kingdomsws, leaving the court powerless; second, Jiang Cheng was not a disciple of the Tongtian Sect, so their sect rules did not apply to him. In the end, Lu Wang, the president of the Tongtian Sects Wuyue Talisman Master Association, took the fall for not rigorously certifying talismans, shouldering the me for Jiang Cheng. However, this misfortune turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Lu Wang. Because he was stripped of his presidency and reassigned to the Tongtian Sect as a talisman lecturer. Though it seemed like a demotion from president to lecturer, a decrease in authority, in reality, it was a move from the local to the central, a disguised promotion. If Lu Wang could make use of the sects resources to achieve Foundation Establishment Great Perfection or Core Formation, he might even qualify to challenge for the rank of fourth-level Talisman Master. So this demotion was actually the Tongtian Sects way ofpensating Lu Wang for being the scapegoat. As for the Fishing Talismans still in cirction on the market, all modified versions were recalled and confiscated, and the regr versions were restricted from being transferred, only to be used by the owners or sold back to Tongtian Sect at the original price. Overall, with the Sea Tribe pressuring the Human Race on the pretext of enticing the Commandery Princess, and the tacit cooperation of the Liang State Court and Tongtian Sect, the Fishing Talisman incident was reduced to an insignificant note in the history files of the Tongtian Sect Archive Department. Jiang Cheng now has no time to worry about the Animal Encouragement Talisman. Compared to Spirit Stones, what he is currently short on is time. The time he had already been cutting close for talisman development waspletely insufficient after Ao Lians meddling. Besides, the development of the Smart Puppet Talisman faced a very thorny issue. That is how to conveniently imnt preset actions. Drawing a Smart Puppet Talisman wasnt difficult; simr puppet talisman textbooks were easily obtainable from the library. If all else failed, Jiang Cheng could also directly ask Yue Linger. After all, she was a second-level Talisman Master and definitely had that capability. But the problem was that Jiang Cheng required not an ordinary Puppet Talisman but a Smart Puppet Talisman capable of Highly Efficient Sharkman performance within the Illusion Realm. The preset actions thate with a typical Puppet Talisman are slow, clumsy, and full of ws because they target the rigid puppets made of wood and iron, not humans with flexible muscles and joints. Using only built-in presets, Jiang Cheng, with a Smart Puppet Talisman, couldnt achieve Highly Efficient Sharkman in the Illusion Realm. Instead, he might end up being led around like a dog. Jiang Cheng wanted to quickly write excellent martial arts like Killing Sword Skills, One-Hit Kill, and Sneak Attack Victory into his Intelligent Puppet Talisman. With the traditional imntation method, just the content of Killing Sword Skills alone would take half a year to imnt. This efficiency was too low for Jiang Cheng to ept. Jiang Cheng needed a Trantion Talisman that could instantly trante his movements in reality into the Intelligent Puppet Talisman. That way, as soon as he had practiced Killing Sword Skills once, the Intelligent Puppet Talisman could remember it. It was convenient, simple, and quick. Most importantly, with a Trantion Talisman, modifying the preset actions of a Smart Puppet Talisman would be very easy. Even users who are not Talisman Masters could easily make changes to the Intelligent Puppet Talisman themselves. Enabling the Intelligent Puppet Talisman to execute specific actions required by the user. While the Intelligent Puppet Talisman wasnt difficult, the Trantion Talisman, which involved speaking with talismans, posed a significant challenge. Although Jiang Cheng had many innovative ideas, he had not formally studied talisman knowledge systematically. Therefore, the task of developing the specialized Trantion Talisman was handed over to Yue Linger by Jiang Cheng. Yue Linger had nothing to do after losing her job drawing Fishing Talismans. Jiang Cheng gave her a development task, the kind that would pay, so of course, she had no reason to refuse. With Jiang Chengs guidance, she quickly understood the focus of her work. She needed to convert the video data captured by the Memory Talisman into the talismanguage that the Intelligent Puppet Talisman could understand and remember. Once the design concept was resolved, all she had to do was to research the material and then implement the technology. Although it sounds simple, actually doing it is not easy, but Yue Linger had no choice but to join the army of Talisman Masters in their internal struggle to prove her worth to Jiang Cheng. Other peoples summer vacation: Love, y, and moonlit flowers. Yue Lingers summer vacation: Fishing, Jiang Cheng, developing Talismans. Its simply suffocating, excessively fulfilling! At Wuyue Residence, Jiang Cheng prepared lunch early for Liu Qing. My parents just got back from out of town this morning, and were having a family lunch at noon. I made lunch for you, so you can eat by yourself today. Together? Liu Qing asked. Um this is a family gathering, its not good to bring friends along, Jiang Cheng exined. Family? Yes, me, my parents, my aunt and uncle, and their son, my cousin Sun Yuan. Liu Qing blinked, she seemed to understand what Jiang Cheng meant. They were just friends, not yet family. Thinking of family, Liu Qings beautiful eyes slightly drooped. She had lived for two thousand years, and herst family member was long gone. She had no family now, only friends. Its just a meal, Ill be back in the afternoon. Ive left the food here for you, theres more in the pot if its not enough. Jiang Cheng made sure Liu Qings lunch was ready before he left with peace of mind to attend the family gathering. Making sure Liu Qing ate was always one of Jiang Chengs top priorities. Because as everyone knows, carnivores significantly reduce their aggressiveness and be more affectionate and gentle once they are full. The location Jiang Chengs family chose for this gathering was the buffet restaurant they had visitedst time with Liu Qing and Cao Wang. As the best buffet in Wuyue, it naturally came with six-person tables as standard. Jiang Lei, Jiang Cheng, and Zhou Wenqis family sat on one side, while Sun Qing, Sun Yuan, and Zhou Wen Yues family sat on the other, not more not less, perfectly even. When a big family eats together, discussing the children is inevitable. But in front of Jiang Cheng, Sun Yuan was utterly crushed, without even a single advantage to be found. Finally, it was Jiang Lei, with his high emotional intelligence, who said, Haha, our Sun Familys eldest son has grown a lot taller, hasnt he? Sun Yuan was already taking a Zen approach. After all, even his goddess Lin Yao liked Jiang Cheng, what else could he do? Surely he couldnt say the goddess had poor taste, right? While eating at the table, Jiang Chengsmunication Talisman rang. When Jiang Cheng saw it was Yue Linger, he got up to answer. The name Yue Linger, which obviously belonged to a female cultivator, immediately caught the attention of Jiang Chengs mother, Zhou Wenqi. Taking advantage of Jiang Chengs departure, she specifically asked Sun Yuan, Is your brother in a rtionship? Once the topic of gossip was brought up, the whole family suddenly became interested. Only Sun Qing, who had seen the big world, was a bit at a loss. Jiang Cheng should be in a rtionship, just not sure how many at the same time. Sun Yuan sighed and said, He should be. Who is his girlfriend? Lin Yao, I guess, said Sun Yuan. Lin Yao? Wasnt it Yue Linger? Zhou Wenqi was stunned. Chapter 113 - 113 Jiang Cheng’s Emotional State Is Worrisome Chapter 113: Jiang Chengs Emotional State Is Worrisome Trantor: 549690339 That Jiang Cheng, I have finished the Trantion Talisman you asked me to make a few days ago. When can youe and try it? Should I bring it over, or The sound from themunication talisman paused for a moment, youe to my house? Hmm, you can bring it to Wuyue Residence this afternoon, Jiang Cheng said. Yue Linger: Whats wrong? Hearing that Yue Linger had gone silent, Jiang Cheng spoke up and asked. Its nothing, what time in the afternoon? Two-thirty. Alright Hmm. See you this afternoon. Jiang Cheng disconnected themunication talisman and returned to the dining table. His whole family was staring at him, the only exception being his uncle Sun Qing, who pretended to be eating. Whats wrong? Jiang Cheng asked, puzzled. Zhou Wenqi watched Jiang Cheng, trying to decipher something from his expression. This move was very effective when dealing with dishonest merchants. But the experienced Zhou Wenqi couldnt glean anything from her son Jiang Cheng. Jiang Chengs state of mind was quite tranquil, like ake that never rippled, calm and serene. Are you in love? Zhou Wenqi asked. Nope, Jiang Cheng answered directly. Really? No. Then who is Yue Linger? Jiang Cheng was startled, wondering how his mom knew Yue Linger. However, Jiang Cheng was always forthright and simply said, A colleague. What about Lin Yao? Jiang Cheng was startled, then looked toward Sun Yuan. Sun Yuan spread his hands in a Ah right, it was me who told, I-give-up kind of way. A junior from high school, Jiang Cheng honestly replied. Even though Jiang Cheng answered very straightforwardly, as if he wasnt lying at all, Mrs. Zhou, with her shrewdness, still keenly noticed the pause before Jiang Cheng answered the questions. Mrs. Zhou could at least be certain that Jiang Cheng hadnt lied, but he definitely hadnt told the whole truth. At the very least, not all of it. Zhou Wenqi decided not to ask any further and said, I heard that youve opened a talisman drawing studio. Would it be convenient for mom and dad to take a look? Of course, Jiang Cheng nodded. When would it be convenient? How about tomorrow? Morning or afternoon works, Jiang Cheng considered that he needed to test talismans with Yue Linger in the afternoon and had arranged to have dinner with Bai Xiaohe in the evening, so he chose the time for tomorrow. Zhou Wenqi and Jiang Lei exchanged a look and silently understood each other without speaking. Jiang Lei knew that his wife wouldnt y by the rules because if they went when it was convenient for Jiang Cheng, what could they really see? Across the dining table, the clear-headed onlooker Sun Qing had already started to worry for Jiang Cheng. None of Jiang Chengs several girlfriends were easy to deal with. And he also wondered if Jiang Cheng had heeded his earlier advice not to overexert himself. He hoped Jiang Cheng wouldnt be caught in the act of a multi-person sport. However, Jiang Cheng seemedpletely unfazed by his parents potential inspection and ate as if nothing were amiss. Not wanting to stand Yue Linger up, Jiang Cheng left the family gathering early and returned to the studio. Before two-thirty, Yue Linger arrived. Because I need to collect your body movements, Ive made some special Fluorescence Talismans that need to be attached to your body. Yue Linger said, taking out many talismans from her storage bag, showing Jiang Cheng the results of her research over this period. This one is the Trantion Talisman you wanted. I havent optimized it yet. Im nning to first see how effective it is. Uh, are you ready? On the scene, Jiang Cheng, with Fluorescence Talismans attached, a Memory Talisman recording his movements, the Trantion Talisman for tranting, and the final BOSS Intelligent Puppet Talisman, were all lined up. Ill activate these three talismans, there, now start moving and give it a try, Yue Linger said. Jiang Cheng, following the content of the Killing Sword Skills, performed a few moves. Then Yue Linger temporarily stopped tranting and took the Intelligent Puppet Talisman that had recorded Jiang Chengs movements. Shall you try it, or shall I? Yue Linger asked. Ill try, you have a higher cultivation level, and Im afraid that if you start moving, I wont be able to contain you, Jiang Cheng said. Yue Linger, holding the Intelligent Puppet Talisman, stood in front of Jiang Cheng. She stood at a height of 1.68 meters, which was not short among girls, but still half a head shorterpared to Jiang Cheng. The difference in height made it not so easy for Yue Linger to attach a talisman to Jiang Chengs forehead. She needed to stand very close to Jiang Cheng and tip-toe in front of him, then raise her hand to ce the talisman on his forehead. In front of Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger seemed quite hesitant, even though she had already agreed with Jiang Cheng on the cement of the talisman, she still found it necessary to confirm it again with a bit of trouble. So, Im going to stick it on, she said. Hmm. Im really going to stick it on your head, she said. Hmm. Just as Yue Linger was about to actually stick the talisman on, her long-tipped toes suddenly softened, and she toppled over toward Jiang Cheng. Jiang Chengs reaction was online; he stretched out his hand to encircle Yue Lingers waist, stabilizing her. Are you okay, Yue? Jiang Cheng asked with concern. Yue Linger was lying in Jiang Chengs arms, and before she could indulge any further, she saw Liu Qing on the balcony behind him. Liu Qing had no expression and just looked at her with an indifferent gaze. Under Liu Qings stare, Yue Lingers pretty face instantly turned red. She hurriedly exined, No, I really didnt do it on purpose. Jiang Cheng thought Yue Linger was speaking to him, so he reassured her, Its okay, everyone makes mistakes. Just help me stick it on quickly. This time, Yue Linger didnt hesitate much. She tiptoed, raised her hand, and pressed the Intelligent Puppet Talisman onto Jiang Chengs forehead. After that, the talisman began to exert its power. Jiang Cheng felt his body lose control for a moment, as if he were watching a live-action movie. The Intelligent Puppet Talisman started to act ording to the movements Jiang Cheng had preset. Facing Yue Linger, the Intelligent Puppet Talisman directly picked up a stool nearby and smashed it at her. But Yue Linger was, after all, a two-ring Talisman Master with a cultivation level of nine levels of Qi, far beyond Jiang Chengs match. She immediately threw out a second-order Golden Light Talisman, creating a golden light shield in front of her. Seeing that it couldnt break the Golden Light Talisman, the Intelligent Puppet Talisman turned to go after Liu Qing. After all, Jiang Chengs preset for the Intelligent Puppet Talisman was Highly Efficient Sharkman. If he couldnt kill this one, he should kill the next. However, before the Intelligent Puppet Talisman could reach Liu Qing, it seemed to be triggered by some condition and turned back to go after Yue Linger. The duration of the Golden Light Talisman was about to pass, and Yue Linger anxiously asked Jiang Cheng, Shall we keep trying? In his mind, Jiang Cheng thought there was no need; a talisman of this level was sufficient for use in the Illusion Realm. Unfortunately, he was controlled by his own Intelligent Puppet Talisman and couldnt speak. Liu Qing was not to be relied upon, and with no one else left in the room but Yue Linger, she didnt hesitate and directly threw a second-order Binding Immortal Rope. The Binding Immortal Rope turned into two glowing ropes in mid-air, wrapping around Jiang Chengs arms and legs and tying him up tightly. Phew. Yue Linger breathed a sigh of relief. If she hadnt been much stronger than Jiang Cheng and had made preparations, she might have really fallen into the hands of the Intelligent Puppet Talisman today. People with an Intelligent Puppet Talisman attached to them knew no fear, felt no pain, sought to kill with a single strike, they were practically madmen! Thud, thud, thud. The room door was knocked abruptly. Liu Qing, who had only been able to watch the scene unfold until now, finally had a chance to act. She rose from the balcony, stepped over Jiang Cheng whoy on the ground, passed the just-catch-her-breath Yue Linger, and went to the door to open it. Liu Qing saw a middle-aged man and woman. They were quite ordinary, with not high cultivation levels, the only thing worth her attention was that this couple somewhat resembled Jiang Cheng. Are you Yue Linger? the middle-aged woman ventured. Liu Qing shook her head and said, Liu Qing. Shes not Yue Linger? Jiang Chengs parents were shocked speechless upon seeing Liu Qing. On one hand, the girl was stunningly beautiful, and on the other hand, she was not Yue Linger! Then where were Yue Linger and Lin Yao? So how many women exactly had Jiang Cheng hidden without telling them? Hello, may I ask if you need something from me? Yue Linger asked confusedly,ing to the doorway. Chapter 114 - 114 They Actually Provoked It Chapter 114: They Actually Provoked It Trantor: 549690339 Wuyue Residence, Jiang Lei and Zhou Wenqi sat on the sofa. Tied to the ground by Yue Lingers Binding Immortal Rope, Jiang Cheng had an Intelligent Puppet Talisman attached to him. Yue Linger and Liu Qing moved chairs honestly and sat between Jiang Cheng and his parents. Jiang Lei didnt know what to say, and pointed at Jiang Cheng on the ground, Are you guys, ying a game? Yue Linger hurriedly exined, Uncle, were testing new talismans. Its not what you think. We and Jiang Cheng are purely tonic. Friends, Liu Qing said. Right, right, just friends, Yue Linger quickly nodded. Youre not, Liu Qing said to Yue Linger. Liu Qing was certain that Yue Linger was not really Jiang Chengs friend, because Jiang Cheng had told her that she was his only female friend. Jiang Cheng wouldnt lie to her, so it must be Yue Linger who was talking nonsense. I Yue Linger nced at Liu Qing, then at Jiang Chengs parents. No, I just said it casually, after all, I cant call him Dad in front of his parents, can I? Unable to move, two pure friends started arguing right in front of his parents. Jiang Lei and Zhou Wenqi, although worldly, had never seen pure friends like these. And now, these two were already arguing over the title of friend. Could they still be just friends? Who ever fights over the position of being a friend? Jiang Lei, who had also been young once, was already sweating profusely. Checking up by parents + friends arguing + inability to exin oneself. It was a situation where one wrong step made it hard to end things properly. Could we first let Jiang Cheng loose? In the end, it was Zhou Wenqi who spoke up. Yue Linger quickly nodded, ran over to peel off the Intelligent Puppet Talisman, and then removed the Binding Immortal Rope. Jiang Cheng was freed from being controlled. To his surprise, he realized that while under control, he couldnt feel any fatigue in his body at all, but as soon as the control ended, fatigue would still sweep over him. This was quite a drawback. But it didnt matter, as he was using it in the Illusion Realm anyway, and no matter how tired one got in the Illusion Realm, it wouldnt kill them. As long as he didnt ce the Intelligent Puppet Talisman in reality to do things that seriously overtaxed the body, it shouldnt be a big deal. Jiang Lei kindly pointed out to Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng, arent you going to introduce these two to your mom? Jiang Cheng briefly introduced them, Oh. This is my friend Liu Qing, and this is Yue Linger, kind of a colleague. If I can get into Lotus University, shell also be my senior. Jiang Leiughed, Oh, all proper rtions, ah, dad gets it. Zhou Wenqi nced at Jiang Lei and asked Liu Qing and Yue Linger, How did you both get to know Jiang Cheng? Liu Qing and Yue Linger simultaneously looked towards Jiang Cheng. Jiang Lei swallowed nervously when he saw this. Enough already! Dont be so obvious with your actions! Which normal friends look to Jiang Cheng for cues before answering a question? Jiang Cheng, on the other hand, waspletely rxed, Just tell the truth. Liu Qing looked at Zhou Wenqi, Work. Yeah. I met her when I was looking to hire staff, Jiang Cheng exined. Yue Linger thought for a moment and said, I also got to know Jiang Cheng through work. Yeah. It just happened that we both wanted to take on the Fluorescence Talisman task, continued Jiang Cheng. Jiang Lei covered his face with both hands in dismay. He didnt know what to say. Two abnormal friends, both supposedly met through work, who would believe such a story? Zhou Wenqi certainly didnt. The more she asked, the more she felt that Jiang Chengs rtionship with these two female cultivators was not ordinary. Whether it was Jiang Lei or Jiang Cheng, Zhou Wenqi was against having several irons in the fire. Embracing left and right sounds wonderful, but in reality, its nothing but continuous trouble. Women, especially beautiful ones, are always the most troublesome. Not even the Emperor of Liang could suppress the beauties in his harem; its best for ordinary people to recognize their lot and not act up but to live a steady life instead. Zhou Wenqi sighed and decided not to lecture in front of Jiang Chengs two friends. She got up with Jiang Lei, preparing to say goodbye. Just then, the door of Jiang Chengs home was knocked on again. Liu Qing skillfully got up to open the door. Hello there, is Jiang Cheng here? Hey! Bai Xiaohe, who came to invite Jiang Cheng for a meal, walked in. Thanks to the sess of her Fishing Talismans, Bai Xiaohe had sessfully set a new performance record for the Tongtian Sect in the Liang Kingdom. As a result, being a top employee, He could apply for a transfer to any industry managed by the Outer Sect in the Liang Kingdom. After finding out that Jiang Cheng was also preparing to go to the Capital, He did not hesitate to apply to go home. Today, she was ready to treat Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing, and Yue Linger to a meal. After all, she owed her current sess entirely to Jiang Cheng. But when He walked into the apartments living room and saw Jiang Chengs parents, she was at a loss. Jiang Lei didnt know what to say at this moment. Zhou Wenqi looked at the new arrival, who was obviously thoughtfully dressed and had carefully applied light makeup, and she was mostly clear in her heart. This one was most likely involved with her son Jiang Cheng in some ambiguous way. Your name is, Lin Yao, right? Zhou Wenqi took the initiative to greet her. After all, ording to Sun Yuan, Lin Yao was Jiang Chengs official girlfriend. Bai Xiaohe shook her head and said, No, Im not. My surname is Bai, and my name is Bai Xiaohe. Jiang Lei thought: Okay, okay, so this is not Lin Yao, my son youre more capable than your father was back in the day. Zhou Wenqi was already numb. Jiang Chengs existence seriously challenged her worldview. She couldnt understand how, a seemingly honest male cultivator like her son Jiang Cheng, could be so popr with female cultivators. This one, two, three, and then theres that Lin Yao, not one of them looked like an ordinary female cultivator who could settle down for a simple life! Jiang Cheng, your mom and dad are going back first. Come home early tonight, dont stay out, toote. He was in shock; she never expected that these two were Jiang Chengs parents! She hurriedly said politely, Uncle, Auntie, goodbye! Mhm, goodbye, were leaving now. Yue Linger also said, Uncle, Auntie, goodbye. Mhm, goodbye to you too. Goodbye. Alright, alright, goodbye, goodbye. At the elevator entrance, Jiang Lei sighed, Ah, having too many daughters-inw is not good either, cant even greet them all properly. Zhou Wenqi gave Jiang Lei a look and said, I never thought your son would have such abilities! Out of those three in the house, the worst is also better than your wife. Jiang Leis will to live kicked in, Dont, dont. I think, only Liu Qing can stand up to my wife. The other two are still a bit short, just a bit. At best they are younger than you, but back in the day, you were right? Zhou Wenqi sighed and said, Aside from those three, theres at least one more! Oh right, Lin Yao, right? Zhou Wenqi entered the elevator and said to Jiang Lei, I dont care about other peoples kids, but ours definitely has to find a sensible, filial, and honest female cultivator. How about that Liu Qing? Jiang Lei suggested, She looks like shed be good at raising children. Her personality is a bit too dull. What about Yue Linger? She doesnt seem like the low-maintenance type. That Bai something or other? Shes alright, quite polite. Just seems a bit mature; I dont know how old she is. Its not good if shes too much older than Jiang Cheng. Jiang Lei sighed and said, I was quite worried about Jiang Chengs future rtionships, but I didnt expect that the two of us would have already started picking and choosing. And honestly, any one of those three in the house would be a cause for celebration if married into our family. Be content. There are so many young single male cultivators these days; its good enough that Jiang Cheng found someone. Its not just good, but three times, no, four times as good. Oh right, four times; I almost forgot about Lin Yao. Its not easy for us toe back this time. We have to find a way to get Jiang Cheng to bring Lin Yao over for a look. What if shes more suitable than the three in the house? Chapter 115: Do Not Deceive the Poor Young Girl Chapter 115: Do Not Deceive the Poor Young Girl Trantor: 549690339 Coaxed by his cousin and under the strong insistence of his parents, Jiang Cheng reluctantly contacted Lin Yao and arranged for her toe to the tea house for tea tasting. Nominally tea tasting, but in reality, Jiang Chengs parents insisted on meeting the perfect girlfriend Sun Yuan had described, whom Jiang Cheng had vehemently denied any romantic involvement with. Despite Jiang Chengs repeated denials about his rtionship with Lin Yao, Sun Yuan was so insistent, and his parents were naturally suspicious, inclined to suspect foul y in a pleasant dream, escting the rumor to the point where they had to meet Lin Yao. Jiang Cheng exined the situation to Lin Yao, who, without much hesitation, said she was willing toe. With parents insisting on a meeting and Lin Yao willing to visit, there was no stopping it from either side. Now, he could only hope that Lin Yaos enchantress nature would emerge quickly and make his parents regret meeting her. Jiang Cheng and his parents arrived early at the private room in the tea house to wait. Zhou Wenqi guessed that Lin Yao would arrive soon, and sent Jiang Cheng out to receive her. Jiang Cheng naturally had no desire to get close to the enchantress, but being an obedient son, he wasnt foolishly so. Yet he would try his best to fulfill his parents small wishes. Besides, it was only proper etiquette to wee Lin Yao, who hade all the way, at the entrance. Since they had invited her to meet, it wouldnt hurt to wee her at the door this once. At the entrance of the tea house, Jiang Cheng sessfully waited for Lin Yao to arrive. Lin Yaos attire today was simr to thest time she went to the restaurant: overall, it was appropriately and gently beautiful. Together with her inherent youthful charm, it kept her overall attractiveness at a consistently high level. One could only say that she was indeed a plot leadingdy on the same level as Liu Qing. One of the masterpieces of the art department. Did elder brother wait long for Yaoer? Lin Yao immediately asked upon seeing Jiang Cheng. About five minutes, Jiang Cheng replied truthfully. Lin Yao, holding her small bag in both hands, stood in front of Jiang Cheng with an extremely sincere tone, Im sorry, Yaoer shouldnt have kept elder brother waiting; I will change, it wont happen again next time. Jiang Chengs head started to ache. The previous Lin Yao was overpowering, and Jiang Cheng could refuse her strongly without any guilt. But the current Lin Yao gave Jiang Cheng a feeling of extreme sincerity, even to the point of being almost humble. Honestly speaking, Lin Yaos attitude hit Jiang Chengs moral standards hard. At least, ording to Jiang Chengs own moral standards, he really couldnt bring himself to speak harshly to the Lin Yao of now. Its alright, youre notte, its not your fault. Come in with me, he said. Jiang Cheng led Lin Yao into the tea house and to the private room where his parents were. This is my father, Jiang Lei, and mother, Zhou Wenqi. Mom and Dad, this is Lin Yao. After a brief introduction, Jiang Lei, Zhou Wenqi and Lin Yao greeted each other. Lin Yao took out her small bag and removed two small sachets from it. Uncle and Auntie, I didnt prepare much for meeting you this time; these are embroidered by myself, I hope you like them. Jiang Cheng saw Lin Yaos preparation and thought it was a bad sign. As expected, his mother Zhou Wenqi fell for it. She was quick to express her surprised thanks to Lin Yao. Zhou Wenqi, looking at the crude stitches on the sachet,mented, There are too few female cultivators who can do needlework these days. Miss Lin, let Auntie see your hand. Lin Yao nced at Jiang Cheng. Zhou Wenqi said, Never mind him, show Auntie your hand. Jiang Cheng kept silent, and Lin Yao didnt dare to extend her hand until Zhou Wenqi decisively went over and took Lin Yaos hand. Seeing the delicate, pampered hands resembling sheeps fat jade dotted with numerous small holes from needle pricks, Zhou Wenqi felt extremely distressed. Girl, why put yourself through this? she said. Lin Yao could only reply with her head lowered, Previously, Yaoer liked to y and didnt want to learn household tasks, but now I want to learn. Suffering this much is only right. Jiang Cheng closed his eyes, thinking to himself that it was over. If nothing unexpected happened, his mother Zhou Wenqi would like a female cultivator like Lin Yao. Beautiful beyond dispute, without a fault to pick. A character that was softly assertive, suitable for diligent household management. Appropriate age, suitable family background. Most importantly, her attitude and feelings towards Jiang Cheng were so evident it was as if he was everything to her. Jiang Lei, lets step out and leave the kids to chat by themselves. After half an hour of conversation, Zhou Wenqi was very satisfied with Lin Yao and pulled Jiang Lei away to give Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao a chance to be alone. Jiang Lei also found Lin Yao appealing, but he still preferred Liu Qing a little more. Lin Yaos personality seems to be too indulgent towards Jiang Cheng. Liu Qing, although she speaks less, doesnt seem to be as casual. Moreover, the most important thing is that Liu Qing clearly has great maternal qualities. Theres no worry about not having grandchildren. However, as much as parents may like someone, at most they can give a little push; the ultimate fate still depends on the children themselves. In the private room of the tea house, Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao faced each other. Lin Yao didnt want to miss out on the rare opportunity to be alone with Jiang Cheng, who also had something he wanted to ask Lin Yao. Lin, what exactly do you want to do? Jiang Cheng voiced the question that had been troubling him for many days. Brother, Yaoer has fully realized that her previous behavior was wrong. Now, she only wishes for Brothers forgiveness and another chance, Lin Yao replied with unwavering determination in her eyes, as though obtaining Jiang Chengs forgiveness and bing his Daopanion were her lifes ultimate pursuits. But why do you insist on clinging to me? I remember that you should care more about cultivation and not be too concerned with romantic rtionships, Jiang Cheng said with a headache. Without hesitation, Lin Yao asserted, Cultivation is important, but Brother is the most important in Yaoers heart. Cant you like someone else? Unto death unwavering. Holding his forehead, Jiang Cheng said, Youre not also nning to apply for Lotus Cloud University, are you? Yes. Lin Yao nodded. Jiang Cheng remembered that Lin Yaosst destination was the Taixu Sect, where she was discovered by people of the Demonic Tao and turned into an Enchantress of the Demonic Path. If she followed him to Lotus Cloud University, there would be a high chance shed end up at the Tongtian Sect. This wouldpletely mess up her plot line as the leadingdy. On the one hand, to prevent Lin Yao from going to Lotus University, and on the other, for the sake of the plotline, Jiang Cheng said, No, you should go to Qinghe Xuanran University, and after graduation, join the Taixu Sect as a disciple. Frowning in thought, Lin Yao asked, Brother, if Yaoer goes to the Taixu Sect, would you be willing to forgive her? Jiang Cheng had never really med her, apart from not wanting to be near an Enchantress. There wasnt really anything to forgive. After all, Lin Yaos character was designed by his colleague, the copy nner. If Lin Yao were normal, she couldnt y the role of an Enchantress. But the problem now was that if Jiang Cheng said I forgive you, then Lin Yao would surely take a mile after being given an inch and find an excuse to stick to him. This door couldnt be opened. He had to use a tactful reason to hand out a Good Person Card to Lin Yao. Jiang Cheng thought of something Lin Yao could never achieve and told her, Bing a disciple of Taixu Sect is not enough. If you can be the Sect Leader of the Taixu Sect, I will agree to anything you want. The Sect Leader of Taixu Sect is, at the very least, a cultivator of the Mahayana Realm on par with Liu Qing. Moreover, holdingmand over one of the Five Great Immortal Sects, they possess supreme personal strength that dominates the entire Cultivation World, along with boundless resources and overwhelming authority. If Lin Yao truly reached that position, whether Jiang Cheng was willing or not, he would be entirely at Lin Yaos mercy. Really! Lin Yaos tone could hardly conceal her excitement. It seemed to her that bing the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect was far simpler than obtaining Jiang Chengs forgiveness. Jiang Cheng, observing Lin Yaos determined eyes reminiscent of a novel protagonist, felt a bit scared. However, he then remembered that Lin Yaos plotline involved bing an Enchantress of the Demonic Path. Despite her strong constitution, without cultivating demonic techniques, she couldnt be considered a genius. It was impossible for her to ovee numerous chosen ones to achieve the position of Sect Leader of Taixu. And once she practiced demonic techniques, she would have no chance with the righteous Immortal Sects. She would only be an Enchantress whom everyone sought to kill. It was a dilemma without resolution. Truly, Jiang Cheng said, reassured. Good, its a deal, Lin Yao said with a resolute tone. Its a deal, Jiang Cheng also made a promise. That evening, Lin Yao returned home, the joy in her eyes speaking volumes. She finally had a clear goal. From now on, she could dedicate herself to striving on the path to bing a Sect Leader. One day, she would be the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect, obtain Jiang Chengs forgiveness, and be his Daopanion, living happily ever after! Today, Lin Yaos home was no longer empty; her father, Chief Arrestor Lin Xiao of the Six Fan Gate Wuyue, was also at home. Yaoyao, your mother has sent you a letter. She hopes you will attend university diligently and join the Taixu Sect after graduation. Lin Yao had no interest in reading her mothers letter. Her mother had abandoned her since she was a baby. She had never met her mother and didnt care to know about that woman. To her, her mother was no different from any other stranger she had never met. I will join the Taixu Sect, but not because of her. Chapter 116: Newcomers Generally Lack Reverence Chapter 116: Neers Generally Lack Reverence Trantor: 549690339 Liang Calendar year 3210, September 5th, at the Capital of Liang Kingdom, in front of Lotus Cloud University. Today was the registration day for new students at Lotus Cloud University. Prospective students wishing to enroll at Lotus Cloud University would begin registering at the universitys admissions office, starting from today. Registration wouldst ten days, ending on the 15th, with formal assessments for new studentsmencing on the 20th. Since the assessments at various universities in the Capital followed the principles of openness and transparency, theoretically, students in the second batch could gain experience by observing the first batch of students, increasing their chances of passing the assessment. However, there were still many students like Yue Linger and Yue Ping, whose scores were so outstanding that they didnt care about the assessment, and chose to participate in the first batch. Therefore, those who dared toe to the admissions office of Lotus Cloud University on the first day were mostly students with exceptional talent and strength, and who were very confident. The best performances in past years assessments often emerged from among these individuals. On the first day of registration, the director of Lotus Universitys admissions office, Li Youyuan, arrived at the registration site early. This first batch of students were the elite of the neers, cultivators with bright futures ahead of them. Building a good rapport with them held no disadvantage for Li Youyuan. Although Li Youyuan, the director of admissions for a key Immortal Sect university, had only reached Foundation Establishment in his cultivation, his eye for talent was extremely sharp. He quickly spotted a male student among the crowd. The student was merely queuing up in an orderly manner, but his inherent calmness, confidence, and sunny disposition made him stand out from the other new students around him. Li Youyuan only needed one nce to affirm that this youth had a promising future! The line for registration slowly moved forward, and finally, it was the turn of that male student to register. Li Youyuan silently approached the registration area and heard the conversation between the male student and the female cultivator handling the registration. Jiang Cheng, male, eighteen years old, school records from Wuyue in Xiang State, applying for the Treasure and Talismans Academy, Talisman Department, Talisman Drawing major at Lotus Cloud University. Is that correct? Thats correct. Please sign your name on the registration form, then provide us with copies of your university entrance exam results and your identification card. Alright. Good, here is your assessment que. After registration ends and before the assessments begin, from the 16th to the 19th, the admissions office will announce your examination schedule. The subjects for new student assessments are disyed in the square over there; you can prepare in advance. Thank you for applying to our school, and I wish you sess in the assessment. After Jiang Cheng walked away, Li Youyuan moved next to the female cultivator and picked up Jiang Chengs registration form. A university entrance exam score of 568 points? Li Youyuan eximed in surprise. Ordinary people wouldnt understand what this score meant, but Li Youyuan, as the director of admissions, knew all too well. With a score of 568, which was only three points above the cutoff line for Lotus University, it meant that this person had just met the requirements to participate in Lotus Universitys assessment. If he was unable to distinguish himself significantly from others during the practical assessment, his chances of entering Lotus University were essentially nil. However, seeing his confidence and knowing he was applying for the Talisman Department, he must have had considerable expertise in cultivation and talismans. By this logic, scoring high in the practical assessment wasnt an impossible task, Li Youyuan thought. Hmm? Third level of Qi Cultivation? And a second prize in a middle school talisman drawingpetition? This This persons talent in cultivation and talisman drawing couldnt be described as ordinary, more like a lump. The Talisman Department of Lotus University was considered a top program in the entire Liang Kingdom. Those who dared to apply for Lotus Universitys Talisman Department were, half the time, already at the level where they could pass for the first-order Talisman Master Certificate. In some years, there were even geniuses sporting a second-order Talisman Master Certificate among the new students. What was this talisman drawingpetition, if he only secured a second prize? It was generous to even say he was at the bottom. To put it unkindly, he was straight down the drain. And what surprised Li Youyuan most was the eighteen-year-old at the third level of Qi Cultivation. If a person had been cultivating for eighteen years and had only reached the third level of Qi Cultivation, Li Youyuan would typically suggest that they stop cultivating and find a regr ss to join. Talisman Drawing Three Basics: spiritual power, Spiritual Power, experience, and skills. Without cultivation level, there is no spiritual power or Spiritual Power; even if you are a genius, it is impossible to be a venerable Talisman Master. This is also the truth behind why third-tier Talisman Masters must reach the Foundation Establishment. This cultivator named Jiang Cheng, no matter how one looked at it, seemed to have no fate with Lotus Universitys signature programTalisman drawing. Not to mention, how dare he? How dare he apply for Lotus Cloud University! And to show up on the first day of registration with such confidence! Recalling Jiang Chengs calm and confident expression just now, Li Youyuan fell into a brief trance. Could it be that the exam questions issued by their admissions office in recent years have been too simple? Why do all sorts of strange students dare to sign up for the examination? Do students today have no reverence for the key Immortal Sect universities! Why cant they even learn such simple principles as knowing ones limits, retreating in the face of difficulty, and self-awareness? Li Youyuan calmed his emotions and deleted Jiang Cheng from his mind. What just happened would be considered as nothing, as if he had seen wrong. Selecting candidates was just one of Li Youyuans hobbies. As the head of the admissions office, his main job was to ensure the smooth running of Lotus Universitys enrollment examination. Compared to admiring outstanding individuals, being vignt against those students likely to resort to cheating was the primary task of the admissions office. However, as the saying goes, for every crafty trick there is a countermeasure. With the many years it had spent and the many Spirit Stones it had used to prepare numerous ns, wasnt Lotus Universitys admissions office doing it all just to prevent cheating? How could the short-lived clever tricks of the candidatespare to the well-established of heaven and earth that Lotus Universitys admissions office had woven over ten years? Li Youyuan sat on a wooden chair in the admissions office, picking up a teacup from the table beside him. He was not young anymore; with just a few more years of steady work, he could retire behind the scenes and enjoy a peaceful retirement life. Thinking that his life of walking on thin ice was finally about to reach the other side, Li Youyuan unconsciously revealed a contented smile, finding even the bitter taste of tea in his mouth sweet. On the square outside Lotus University, Jiang Cheng sessfully found this years Lotus Cloud University moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and bor assessment topics. Luckily, Ive prepared well. If these are the five questions, the talismans Ive previously drawn should be enough. Jiang Cheng murmured to himself. Currently, Jiang Cheng hadnt started preparing the Multi-Unity Compound Reusable Talisman; he was waiting for todays examination questions to be released. Having done his homework in advance, Jiang Cheng knew that, apart from the single-use Liu Talisman, the rest of the talismans could be oveid and drawn on his Composite Reusable Talisman. Limited by the durability of materials, a Composite Reusable Talisman had a shorter lifespan than ordinary Reusable Talismans. If a Reusable Fluorescent Talisman could be reused ten thousand times, the same material Composite Reusable Talisman could only be used about ten times. Only by using material that could withstand a hundred thousand repeats of an ordinary Reusable Talisman could the durability of a Composite Reusable Talisman be increased to barely one hundred times. A hundred uses were enough for Jiang Cheng. After confirming the topics, Jiang Cheng didnt rush to draw talismans but took out amunication talisman and called Liu Qing. Hello? Ive got everything ready here. Pack up ande downstairs. Yes, bring the storage bag with Spirit Stones from home. Fishing Talisman and flipping two sets of houses tenfold had made Jiang Cheng a good sum of money, and of course, it was more reassuring to have a certain Mahayana Realm cultivator manage it. Chapter 117: Jiang Cheng’s Strategic Layout Ability Chapter 117: Jiang Chengs Strategic Layout Ability Trantor: 549690339 Just two blocks away from Lotus University, Liu Qing stood by the roadside with Jiang Chengs storage bag in hand, waiting for him outside the entrance to the Jade Lake Mingan in the Lakeview District. As the Capital of Liang Kingdom, it was muchrger than Wuyue City and naturally had a denser poption. Correspondingly, Liu Qing found the odors he disliked bing more prevalent. Therefore, when Jiang Cheng first arrived at the Capital, he made it a priority to find a residence near Lotus University, one with a low poption density, good venttion, and ample sunlight. After much searching, only Jade Lake Mingan was most suitable for raising snakes. Besides the expensive rent, there were no other faults. However, Jiang Cheng was now wealthy and imposing, and he didnt care much about the amount of the rent. Spending more money was just spending more money. In conclusion, as long as the Mahayana cultivator was satisfied, that was what mattered. Here you go, Liu Qing handed the storage bag to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng received it and checked most of his belongings with his divine sense. There were a total of five top-grade Spirit Stones inside the storage bag. ording to the conversion where 100 low-grade equals 1 medium-grade, 100 medium-grade equals 1 high-grade, and 100 high-grade equals 1 top-grade, Five top-grade Spirit Stones were equivalent to five million low-grade Spirit Stones. This was most of Jiang Chengs assets, saved up after selling two properties and earning from the Fishing Talisman, following the earthquake that struck Wuyue and the emergence of the Spiritual Spring at the end of August. Besides these, Jiang Cheng also had two hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones for spending money and cultivation resources worth four hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. During his university years, he couldnt just focus on improving his talisman drawing skills; his cultivation level had to keep up as well. Otherwise, he would find himself in a predicament of being technically skilled but unable to draw talismans. By the time he realized he needed to improve his cultivation, it would be a bit toote. And with Jiang Chengs cultivation talent, there was no way to improve his cultivation level without spending a lot of money on resources. Where to? Liu Qing asked. Jiang Cheng gestured on the side of the road and hailed a taxi. Do you remember He? She is now the manager of a chain store under the Tongtian Sects Outer Sect. We are going to visit her today. Liu Qing nodded, indicating she knew. However, she still didnt quite understand why Jiang Cheng was going to see He with money in hand. The two got into the taxi, and after more than half an hour, they arrived smoothly at the Huayuan Road Store of Tongbao Pavilion managed by He. Tongbao Pavilion was a chain of stores set up within Liang Kingdom by the Tongtian Sects Outer Sect. Their main business areas ovepped highly with the strengths of Lotus Cloud University, including Talismans, Elixirs, Magical Treasures, Array gs, and all kinds of extraordinary materials needed for alchemy and tool refining. The goods supply channel naturally was established through the Tongtian Sect. The profits generated were mostly submitted to the Outer Sect of Tongtian Sect, with a fraction being used to distribute bonuses among the stores Outer Sect disciples. If a store suffered severe losses, they would either rece the manager as a mild measure or shut down entirely as a severe consequence. The reason He could be a manager out of the blue was due to her predecessorsck ofpetency, resulting in consecutive years of losses. Finally, the Outer Sects person in charge in the Capital couldnt stand it and directly removed her predecessor. At that point, exceptionally capable Bai Xiaohe applied for a transfer to the Capital. Adhering to the principle of making full use of good talent, Bai Xiaohe sessfully became the youngest and least experienced Tongbao Pavilion manager in the entire Great Liang at twenty-three years old and with just one year of tenure. However, Jiang Cheng was not here to buy anything from Hes store this time. The top floor of the Huayuan Road Store of Tongbao Pavilion was the office area for the employees, and Hes office was also located here. In the office, He personally brewed tea for Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing. As for her true capabilities, He was well aware; without Jiang Cheng, she might have had to stay in Wuyue for her entire life without the chance to return home, let alone be a manager and make her mother proud. Everything is here. Jiang Cheng ced the storage bag containing the five top-grade Spirit Stones on the table and pushed it towards He. He bit her lower lip lightly, looked up at Jiang Cheng with a raised gaze, and said, You, youre giving it all to me like this? Hmm. Youre not afraid Ill embezzle all your money and then run, run away? Sister He, youre not that kind of person. Both Liu Qing and I trust you a lot, Jiang Cheng said with a smile. Liu Qing also nodded. The reason she was willing to interview with Jiang Chengs family was that He smelled fresh and clean, so she believed that the boss He rmended wouldnt be bad. Indeed, she met Jiang Cheng. Experience had taught her that trusting her sense of smell was right. He was ttered by Jiang Chengs words. In fact, she hadnt done much at all. All along, she had been taken care of by Jiang Cheng, and the only thing she could count as an achievement was introducing Liu Qing as an employee to Jiang Cheng. No matter how one looked at it, Jiang Cheng was her benefactor. And Jiang Cheng trusted her so much. Even if she were to fall from grace and lose her reputation, she couldnt let down Jiang Chengs trust in her! He took out her notebook and went over his requirements with Jiang Cheng again. Lets go through it again. You n to use this money to invest in Capital, right? Right. It doesnt matter what industry. Right. But it must be strongly rted to the economy of female cultivators. Like cosmetics, sweets, clothing, beauty care Right. Jiang Cheng nodded again. After confirming the investment keywords, He was still very puzzled. But why do you want to invest in the female cultivator economy? The economy of Liang Kingdom is just so-so right now. With such investments, youre unlikely to see any returns. Jiang Cheng exined, Its mediocre now, but if Liang Kingdom had a female star, I mean a famous woman with a lot of fans, then the female cultivator economy there would surely ignite in an instant. He advised, That seems unlikely, doesnt it? Jiang Cheng, perhaps you shouldnt waste your money. Its entirely possible. Our current King of Liang has been reigning for two hundred years with his Foundation Establishment cultivation level. Adding the time before he became the Crown Prince, its indeed time for a change. Jiang Cheng said this not out of wishful thinking but based on a plot point from the game. That is, Great Liang Duan Yu. It refers to the third daughter of the Emperor of LiangPrincess Liang Pei. The Emperor of Liang, the mother of Princess Liang Pei, and the father of Princess Liang Pei, each yed the roles of Duan Zhengchun, Dao Baifeng, and Duan Yanqing. In short, Princess Liang Pei eventually became the first female Emperor of Liang Kingdom. And incidentally, her rise boosted the entire Liang Kingdoms female cultivator economy. Thats why Jiang Cheng confidently reassured He to invest in the Capitals female cultivator economy. The investment process might face some twists and turns, but the ultimate oue was bound to be bright. Seeing Jiang Chengs confidence, He could only choose to believe in him. After all, with Jiang Chengs talent for drawing talismans, earning back that five million wouldnt be too difficult if he wanted to make money. He might not have a great understanding of the bigger picture or know much about investments, but she understood one principle. Saving money and losing people means losing both; saving people and losing money means gaining both! Jiang Chengs coattails, she must cling to them tightly! On the morning of September 20th, the practical examination for new students at Lotus Cloud University began smoothly. Including Jiang Cheng, the first batch of new students had already arrived at the designated examination sites as instructed in the announcement from Lotus Cloud Universitys enrollment office. What they faced first this morning was a test of character! Chapter 118 - 118 Character Assessment Chapter 118: Character Assessment Trantor: 549690339 Character assessment was held at Lotus Universitys sports field. As the examinees arrived at the field one after another, many seniors and senior sisters from Lotus who wanted to enjoy the show also came to this ce. The sports field was surrounded by tall stands, a natural and convenient ce for spectators to enjoy the fun. Apart from those students who bore a game-like attitude, the organizers of the exam appeared much more serious, professional, and earnest. Lotus University conference center, meeting room number three. This meeting room wasntrge, suitable for about ten people. In meeting room number three sat five teachers from the Treasure and Talismans Academy, Talisman Department. These five were responsible for grading all the freshmen who were preparing to take the Talisman Departments entrance exam; they would ultimately decide which of these applicants could enter Lotus Cloud University and who would pack up their belongings and retake a year at home. In front of the five teachers was a projection screen showing live images of the examination field. This projection technology was developed by the Array Academy of Lotus University, called the Shadow Capture Array. This array required prior deployment to achieve high-definition picture transfer over short distances. Nearly a hundred teachers in more than a dozen conference rooms at the Lotus University conference center all relied on this array to view the students performances as their basis for scoring. This years Character assessment question is quite interesting. In the process of waiting for the exam to begin, a teacher from the Talisman Department started a conversation to relieve the boredom. Indeed. If I remember correctly, this years theme is gratitude, right? Character assessment questions are generally the simplest, yet the most difficult. For normal people, as long as they make the usual choices, getting a passing score is not hard at all. But for those with wed personalities, this test is too difficult. Whatever they do, its wrong. By the way, whats the specific topic for this year? Does anyone remember? During the exam, there will be a broadcast to remind the examinees. But I can tell you in advance, its an ethical question. Ethical? Simply put, if your beloved and your mother both fell into the water at the same time, who would you save first? As soon as the topic was mentioned, a cheerful atmosphere suddenly filled meeting room number three. To be honest, this group of teachers was also quite looking forward to seeing what choices the students would make. It felt like whatever choice was made, it would be full of spectacle. Entrance to the Lotus Cloud University sports field. A female cultivator d in sportswear, with her hair tied high in a ponytail, was looking around. The soft morning sunlight shone on her delicate face and her tall, curvy figure, creating an instantly captivating and youthfulndscape. It made many of the passing male and female cultivators take a second nce. This very eye-catching female cultivator was none other than the second-year student from Lotus Universitys Talisman Department, the Department Beauty, a newly promoted second-grade Talisman Master, important partner and daughter of Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger. Yue Lingers presence boosted the morale of many freshmen in the examination field. After all, in a university, teaching quality, faculty strength, facilities, and advancement rates are all abstract. Only a beautiful senior sister is the real deal. Yue Linger couldnt find the person she was waiting for, so she took out amunication talisman and urged them again, which finally brought another equally beautiful female cultivator hurrying over. Im here, Im here, Linger, Im here. Cheng Bingxin, rushed out of the dormitory at Yue Lingers urging and affectionately hugged her arm upon seeing her. Sorry to keep you waiting, Linger. Yue Linger had no choice but to reply, Lets go, the exam is about to start. Seeing Yue Lingers perfunctory attitude, Cheng Bingxin was suddenly dissatisfied and said, Linger, you were the one who said there were handsome junior brothers to see, which is why I took so long to pick out my clothes. Yue Linger held her forehead, I never said that. It was clearly I who wanted toe by myself, and you insisted on following. What, arent handsome junior brothers just for you to admire? Cant I? Cheng Bingxins hand, which was holding Yue Lingers arm, deliberately rubbed against Yue Lingers chest as she said, Big beauty,cking confidence? Afraid you cantpete with me? Teased by Cheng Bingxin like this, Yue Linger couldnt help but involuntarily picture Jiang Cheng before her eyes. Her pretty face immediately took on a hint of pink. Discussing this topic with her bestie any further wouldnt do, so Yue Linger turned her face away and said, There are empty seats over there; lets go sit there. Move quickly. Cheng Bingxin was pulled along by Yue Linger, but her thoughts were not on walking at all. Yue Lingers behavior was a bit strange just now. Because normally, jokes like handsome junior weremonce between them. Just like how a true lecher dares to face baseless nder. Gossip and nder cant hurt his noble pleasure. Yet just now, Yue Linger purposely shifted the topic and even turned her face away, as if she couldnt take a joke. Could it be Cheng Bingxins eyes widened. There really isnt some handsome junior, is there? Then Ill have to take a good look! Since Jiang Cheng registered early, his number te was also drawn early, which ced him rtively near the front of the queue. In front of Jiang Cheng, there were probably only a dozen or so students. Once these dozen or so passed their exams, then it would be his turn. To ensure the exams were open and transparent, the exam hallunder the powerful imaging capabilities of the Shadow Capture Arrayallowed candidates waiting for their examination to watch the live footage from the examination room along with the teachers in the conference room. As the first student entered the exam site set up by Lotus University, the loudspeakers in the exam hall repeated the exam question to everyone once more. You are a filial son and also a responsible husband. But now, your mother and your partner have both fallen into a weak water that will sap their cultivation levels, and your physical strength is only enough to save one person. Please make your choice swiftly. Since the content of the Lotus Cloud Universitys freshman assessment had been announced in advance, although the details were not asplete as now, it had given the candidates enough time to prepare beforehand. The first student didnt hesitate much and directly said, I choose to save my mother! My mothers kindness in raising me is higher than the mountains, deeper than the sea. I cannot betray her kindness because of personal love! After the first student spoke, he walked to the riverside constructed with magical treasures in the Lotus University exam hall, jumped into the river, and saved the dummy that represented his mother. Its within the norms, one said. A standard answer, another agreed. That ones from the Transmission Cultivation Department, I reckon theyll give him a passing score, someonemented. In Conference Room Three, the Talisman Department teachers were discussing fervently. Teachers, after all, know other teachers best. After the first student saved the dummy, on the screen powered by the Shadow Capture Array, the Transmission Cultivation Department teachers scores for the student who applied to their department were quickly disyed. 61. Barely above passing, but still only a passing answer. Candidate number 1002, please enter the examination room. Candidate number 1002 was a brawny cultivator with an imposing aura. One could tell at a nce that he came from a well-off family and was confident in his power. 1002! Once this number came up, all the teachers in Conference Room Three began to watch the screen attentively. This was a new student who applied to their Talisman Department! At the eighth level of Qi training, he had obtained a first-level Talisman Master Certificate two years ago! He was indeed a genuine prospect! They had to grade him well and not be sloppy, failing to meet the standard and bing aughing stock for other academies. You are a filial son and also a responsible husband. But now, your mother and your partner have both fallen into a weak water that will sap their cultivation levels, and your physical strength is only enough to save one person. Please make your choice swiftly, the voice repeating the exam question came through the loudspeakers. Everyone was waiting for number 1002s answer. In the queue of candidates, Jiang Cheng silently watched the screen. He was quite curious about how others would answer. I choose to save myself, said candidate number 1002. Chapter 119 - 119 Jiang Cheng’s Choice Chapter 119: Jiang Chengs Choice Trantor: 549690339 I choose to save myself. As soon as this answer came out, not only did the teachers responsible for scoring freeze, but even the hosts guiding the candidates in the examination hall were taken aback. To confirm the answer, the host repeated into the microphone, Your physical strength is only enough to save one person. Please make your choice as quickly as possible. Candidate number 1002 was unequivocal, I choose to save myself. You can save one person. Ive saved them, that person is myself. Apart from yourself, you can save one more. I cant swim, so I can only save myself. In the spectator stands outside the examination area, Cheng Bingxin opened her mouth in surprise and after a moment, she elbowed Yue Linger in the waist. Linger, I think he makes sense. If you cant swim, you really can only save yourself. Yue Linger immediately retorted, You think he makes sense, then you can go find a boyfriend who cant swim in the future. Upon hearing this, Cheng Bingxin hastily shook her head, No sense, no sense, I still prefer one who can swim; its better when they can swim. Yue Linger wasnt surprised by her best friends response; this person was always full of nonsense and never spoke a word of truth. However Yue Lingers beautiful eyes couldnt help but drift to Jiang Cheng in the arena. Even in the crowded crowd, he still stood out. So, Jiang Cheng, what would you choose? Yue Linger couldnt help wondering. If I fell into the weak water, would you choose to save me? You definitely would. If it were between me and Liu Qing Yue Linger bit her red lip, not so certain anymore. Linger? Huh? Who are you looking at? Cheng Bingxin looked at Yue Linger with suspicion. Nothing, oh, look, the score for candidate 1002 hase out. Cheng Bingxin thought to herself: Humph, changing the subject, huh? Watch me expose your little fox tail! The choice of candidate number 1002 left all the teachers of the Talisman Department in room number three in deep silence. You could say he didnt save anyone, so he should be given zero points forck of gratitude. But if you say he really didnt save anyone, he did indeed save one personhimself, who couldnt swim. So how should this score be given? Giving zero points doesnt seem right, but high points might set a bad example and lead others to not save anyone, spoiling the atmosphere at Lotus University. After much deliberation, everyone adopted the widely-favoredpromise policy. 50 points! Not too low, but also a warning to those students who dont want to save others that they should, at the very least, be like the first student who made sure to keep Mom safe first. However, the stagnant atmosphere in room number three didntst too long, as more experts were yet toe. The Shadow Capture Arrays broadcast showed that candidate number 1003 had entered the space. The host, as usual, posed the question, and the response from candidate number 1003 shocked the audience yet again. I wont save anyone! Why? Women, theyll only slow down my sword-drawing speed! In front of everyone, candidate number 1003 drew the sword from his waist, his face showing a look of obsession. It seemed that this sword was his true partner. The teachers in the adjacent room number four were going mad. Their shouting could be clearly heard throughout room number three. Damn it, you want to y with swords, go apply to the Sword Cultivation Academy! We in the Treasure Department dont need someone who shes women! Zero points! Youre supposed to save someone, not show off your love! Definitely zero points! The birdsong and fragrant flowers atmosphere of room number four made the teachers of the Talisman Department in room number three breathe a sigh of relief. They had thought candidate number 1002 from the Talisman Department was outrageous enough, but it turned out that candidate number 1003 from the Treasure Department was the real heavyweight. Thank goodness this entric student isnt from our department. Yes, indeed. Ah, I genuinely feel a bit sorry for the department next door, having to deal with such an oundish student. At the test site, Jiang Cheng thoughtfully eyed candidate number 1003s zero score. Everyone on the scene was concerned about candidate number 1003s act, but it was only Jiang Cheng who noticed something different. Could it be possible that hes confident about getting into Lotus University, which is why he casually gave any answer? Unfortunately, I dont have the luxury to y around like that, I must try to get a perfect score. Jiang Cheng thought to himself. When candidates like 1002 and 1003 kept appearing one after another, Li Youyuan, the head of the recruitment office, felt truly on edge. Li Youyuan even began to doubt whether there was a major error with this years recruitment work, otherwise how could there be so many outrageous students all at once? However, fortunately the next dozen or so candidates performed normally, allowing Li Youyuan to rx again. Students like 1002 and 1003 who were rather oundish were in the minority. He estimated there wouldnt be any more popping up. He had to firmly believe in the righteous atmosphere of the Cultivation World under the rule of the Immortal Sect. He also had to believe in his own ability, honed over many years of recruitment work. Just when Li Youyuan began to rx, he saw a familiar figure stepping onto the stage. It seemed to be that second prize Talisman Master. Named Jiang something. But the character test is very simple, as long as this kid is sane, he can just casually answer save mother to pass. Nothing worth paying attention to. The character test proceeded normally: You are a filial son, as well as a responsible husband. But now, your mother and your partner have both fallen into the weak water which can cause the loss of cultivation. Your strength is only enough to save one person, please make your choice quickly. Jiang Cheng: I choose to save both. Huh!? Li Youyuans eyes widened instantaneously. Within the test site. As if afraid that Jiang Cheng hadnt understood, the examiner reiterated: Your strength is only enough to save one person, please make your choice quickly. Jiang Cheng also repeated: I choose to save both. Your strength, is only enough to save one. the examiner emphasized. Jiang Cheng looked puzzled: Indeed, my strength is only enough to save one, but why must I use physical strength to save someone? This question seems to be about making a choice, testing a persons character. But in reality, the true purpose is to test a persons wisdom. How to save more people with limited strength is the answer to this question. Li Youyuan: Stop right there, this question is indeed testing character; wisdom will be tested in the following questions! The examiner, who had not anticipated Jiang Chengs answer, could only follow along: Uh, in that case, candidate number 1016, what do you intend to do? Of course, to save people, Jiang Cheng replied. But how will you save them? The rivers water is weak water, which suppresses a cultivators cultivation level. The examiner voiced the doubt that everyone had. Youve made big ims about saving both; now show us how youll do it! Are you just boasting? Some busybodies in the stands immediately started to jeer. Just boasting, right? How is it possible to save both at once? Exactly. Cut it out, we dont want to dy the next candidate. Yue Lingers eyes were fixed on Jiang Cheng in the test site. She knew that Jiang Cheng had made some preparations, but she didnt know whether Jiang Cheng had actually prepared a talisman capable of saving both dummies in the river. Cheng Bingxin looked at Yue Linger, then back at the distant Jiang Cheng, and pondered. Compared to the mor from the outside, Jiang Chengs heart was iparably calm. He drew out a talisman with ease. [Name: Crisis Calm Talisman Rank: First Order Type: Healing Effect: Duplicates the neural signals from oneself and transmits them to the key muscr groups in the other persons body, thereby causing the other person to be your shadow and mimic your movements. Cautions: The principal and the shadow must not be too far apart or the signal may be interrupted, leading to uncontroble twitching of the shadows muscles.] Chapter 120: Just a Snake’s Spare Tire After All Chapter 120: Just a Snakes Spare Tire After All Trantor: 549690339 ording to Jiang Chengs Basket of Talismans n, he would develop fifteen talismans, with each trio catering to an exam at Lotus Cloud University as the main, backup, and trump card. Although various reasonster thwarted the n, preventing him from creating fifteen talismans. But Jiang Cheng still produced ten! This Crisis Calm Talisman was the spare for the Substitute Messenger Talisman (Liu Qing exclusive limited edition) in the n! It belongs to another solution for the character category of questions at Lotus University. Character category questions, when analyzed using Jiangs Fundamental Logic Analysis Method, undoubtedly test ones intelligence! In character-category questions, morality is alwayspromised while intelligence is the essence of solving them! If the Liu Talisman represents a hard solution of intelligence, then the Crisis Calm Talisman represents a soft solution of intelligence. Because Jiang Cheng, through his study of character category questions, discovered a startling pattern in these questions! That is, the difficulty of character category questions is often caused by man-made disasters! For example, a runaway carriage, a wavering devotion, a greedy kappa, or, as now, a mother andpanion falling into the water. Theres a saying that might be somewhat biased, but its quite appropriate here: All the unfairness of this world is because of the inadequate capabilities of the concerned parties. Sometimes Jiang Cheng wondered, if he were involved, would incidents like the runaway carriage, wavering devotion, or falling into water happen? Obviously not. Sober when you drive, no driving when you drink. Frequenting the riverbanks. Reflecting daily, tofort the initial intentions. Jiang Cheng could easily do these things, but those who caused the troubles couldnt. So, Jiang Cheng thought, is there a possibility to make them be Jiang Cheng, so they can save themselves or avoid disaster? Possession! But possession is a divine skill and spell of Nascent Soul old monsters, and its also been listed as a forbidden art by the Immortal Sect. In such a situation, Jiang Cheng came up with the simplified version of the possession talisman. That isthe Crisis Calm Talisman! Crisis Calm: Let go of that girl! Ill handle this! Umm, you, this student, simply taking out the talisman is useless. We need to verify its actual effects before we can confirm your final grade, the presenter said. Jiang Cheng says, I cant verify it for now. Presenter: ? Talisman Department teachers: ? Li Youyuan: ? Spectators in the stands: ? Yue Linger silently closed her eyes and covered her cheeks with her hands as if she was too ashamed to show her face. The spectators in the stands suddenly felt like they had been yed by Jiang Cheng. They immediately began to curse loudly: If you cant verify it, what are you showing off for? Just a bluffer pretending to be important! We thought you could really save both! Get off the stage already! Stop dawdling! When Li Youyuan heard Jiang Cheng say he couldnt verify it, a huge weight finally lifted from his heart. It was right not to be able to verify it; verification would have been troublesome. If Jiang Cheng indeed could save both in one go, that would mean discovering a massive loophole in the character assessment. Because if he managed to save both, there would be no reason not to give full marks, as the drowning rescue was perfectly resolved, breaking the choose one reality from its foundation. I can save both? Why should I save only one? Anything less than a full mark wouldnt make sense. However, if Jiang Cheng got full marks, it would set a very bad precedent. The drowning rescue wouldpletely change its purpose, from a test of character to a test of intelligence. Then the entire style of the exam would immediately start to feel strange. The questioners want to test character, but the respondents disy divine skills, fetching people in various creative ways! In room number three, five teachers from the Talisman Department fell silent. Eventually, someone broke the silence: Hiss, what talisman is that kid holding? I dont recognize it? Ah, I dont recognize it either. Now that you mention it, I remember I dont recognize it, haha. It must be from some obscure textbook. Its not possible that he researched it himself, right? Impossible, impossible. These second-order Talisman Masters havent researched many new talismans; how could this freshman just whip out a new talisman right off the bat? Most likely, its because his teacher is more unorthodox, thats why he would draw unorthodox talismans. In the examination hall, the proctor said to Jiang Cheng, Student number 1016, if you are unable to validate your im, then, unfortunately, you will score zero on this test. Jiang Cheng retorted, This isnt fair. Its not that my talisman isnt working, but that this test isnt realistic enough. If it were an actual person falling into the water, my talisman could be used. His words immediately caused an uproar throughout the venue. Im not incapable; its not that Im incapable, but the person who set up this test did it so poorly that it hindered my performance! Acting! Such good acting! Never seen someone act like this before! Cheng Bingxin tugged at Yue Linger, This number 1016 isnt bad at all, quite imposing. Lets not discuss whether hes purposely making excuses. But at least he isnt daunted, brave enough to speak out! Yue Linger seemed unfazed as usual, her face expressionless, I think he didnt overthink it; he simply spoke the blunt truth. Cheng Bingxin stared into Yue Lingers eyes, You understand him that well? You know him? Yue Linger immediately backed down, No, I dont. After Jiang Cheng made his statement, the Talisman Department teachers who were ready to unanimously give Jiang Cheng zero had a hard time scoring him now. If it indeed was because the scene wasnt sufficiently realistic, causing the examinees abnormal performance, then they truly couldnt me the examinee. Li Youyuan, the Director of Admissions, was alreadyughing with frustration at Jiang Cheng. Questioning our Admissions Offices set-up skills, huh? Plenty of students from previous years have never questioned it, but you did, trying to show off your level, right? He personally flew to the examination site and said, 1016, youined about the setup not being realistic enough, right? Fine, Ill jump into this Weak Water River right now. I want to see how you use a single talisman to save two people! If you still cant use a talisman this time, dont look for excuses. Li Youyuan practised what he preached and immediately jumped into the Weak Water River. Under the cleansing of the Weak Water, his cultivation level gradually dissipated, turning him into an ordinary person. Jiang Cheng, always honest and trustworthy, confirmed that Li Youyuan had lost his cultivation, where the Crisis Calm Talisman could maximize its effect. He then immediately activated the Crisis Calm Talisman and applied it to Li Youyuan. Li Youyuan only felt a sharp pain in a bone in his spine, and then everything below his jaw was paralyzed, losing control over his body. Damn, whats happening? He saw that his body waspletely out of his control and was mirroring the movements of Jiang Cheng on the shoreswimming, grabbing the dummy, and dragging it to shore! Li Youyuan grabbed the dummy and reached the shore; the Weak Water disappeared, his Foundation Establishment cultivation returned, and he began to regain control of his own body. Yet, the shock brought by Jiang Chengs talisman lingered! Good fellow, making someone drowning go to save another person whos drowning, huh? Is this something a human could think of? Li Youyuan pulled the dummy ashore, which meant Jiang Cheng indeed turned the character test into an intelligence test! Li Youyuan had an ominous feeling in his heart. In the third conference room, five Talisman Department teachers widened their eyes. As teachers at Lotus University, even the least powerful among them possessed the strength of a second-order Talisman Master. Yet, they couldnt understand the principle behind the talisman Jiang Cheng used at all! How did he do it? That was a first-order Control Talisman, right? Can a Control Talismanst that long? Its impossible! Suchrge-scale control, plus needing to mimic actionseven a second-order Control Talisman would struggle with that, wouldnt it? Oh no, stumped here. Luckily were not in ss, or else wed lose all face. While the five Talisman Masters discussed the principle behind the mysterious talisman in Jiang Chengs hand, the anxious voice of the test proctor came through the loudspeaker, Teachers! Time to score! Please score quickly! Only then did they snap out of it, realizing they had to assign scores. But how should they grade? Zero, or full marks? After pondering, they each opened up the scoring guidelines provided by Lotus Universitys Admissions Office. Did the examinee demonstrate good character? For instance, was he subjectively willing to save someone? He did demonstrate it, he saved someone, and even saved two. Did the examinee show hesitation in his speech? No, he even directly questioned the Admissions Offices setup ability. Were the examinees actions in line with social decency? They were more than in line others saved one, he saved two. Double the decency. After a round of deliberation, Jiang Chengs character assessment score was released. Full marks: 100! Chapter 121 - 121 Jiang Cheng Effect Chapter 121: Jiang Cheng Effect Trantor: 549690339 Yearster, faced with the enrollment exam at Lotus University, the human behaviorist Li Youyuan would recall the morning in Jiang Cheng when he used a talisman to pass the examination. After sessfully rescuing two people who had fallen into the water, Jiang Cheng undoubtedly achieved a perfect score of 100. While a candidate scoring full marks should be a joyous asion, the mood of Director Li Youyuan of Lotus Universitys admissions office was as soaked as his clothes at that moment. He knew all too well these students adept at learning! If someone crossed thewn early to enter the schools convenience store, it wouldnt take long for a clearly defined dirt path to form on the grass. If a candidate named Jiang Cheng used a method to easily obtain a perfect score, it wouldnt take long before the examination room would be full of Jiang Chengs! The human behaviorist Li Youyuan dubbed this trend of following suit as the Jiang Cheng Effect. Director? How are you? Do we need to pause the exam? the host ran over to Li Youyuan and asked. Li Youyuan, after all, was an old-timer at Lotus University. He didnt panic and waved his hand at the host, Continue the exam, dont mind me. The examination proceeded as normal. The students queuing behind Jiang Cheng had no chance to adjust their tactics yet; they could only follow their original ns, methodically taking the exam. Most of them chose a safe answer to secure a safe score, aiming for mediocrity. However, the privilege of being mediocre without failure only applied to the first batch of candidates because they generally had high scores on the national college entrance exam and did not need to fight for every point in the freshman assessment. Aster batches of candidates began their evaluations, the situation was bound to deteriorate dramatically! In pursuit of full marks to increase their chances of getting into Lotus University, every person bing a Jiang Cheng was entirely possible! How could one prevent all this? How could the character assessment return to its original intent of merely examining character? Talismans! Yes! It was the Nameless Talisman that Jiang Cheng had used! Upon realizing the crux of the matter, Li Youyuan quivered, and his drenched clothes shook into a smooth and dry state as if they had gone through a spin-dry cycle. Determined to retire peacefully, Li Youyuans eyes zed with the fight! You scoundrels shall not ruin my assessment! Lotus Universitys five rounds of exams were held once in the morning and afternoon each. Jiang Cheng, havingpleted this mornings intelligence category assessment, was ready to tidy up, head home, have lunch with the snake, adjust his state, and continue the exam in the afternoon. Speaking of which, how is the Lotus University canteen? Why dont I pack two meals from the canteen and bring them back for Liu Qing? But its still early, and the canteen might not have started cooking lunch yet. As a neer, Jiang Cheng was far less familiar with the Capital than Wuyue, and even with money, he had no idea which restaurant was good to eat at. Jiang Cheng had just stepped out of Lotus Universitys sports field when he heard someone calling him from behind. Fellow student, Dao friend, please wait! Jiang Cheng turned around, and the caller was someone he didnt recognize. However, Jiang Cheng still bowed politely and asked, May I know what you need? Dao friend, Im also a candidate for Lotus University this year, just that Im in the third batch, and my exam is tomorrow morning. Jiang Cheng nodded to show he understood. The person continued, Dao friend, would you mind revealing which talisman you used in the examination room just now? In return, I wont make you talk for nothing. Take these ten Medium-grade Spirit Stones to buy some Spiritual Liquid to improve your Cultivation Level. The person took out ten Medium-grade Spirit Stones and handed them to Jiang Cheng. But Jiang Cheng did not ept them. Do you think the Spirit Stones are too few, Dao friend? Its not that. I dont need Spirit Stones, but I can tell you anyway. Thats great! You really are a good Samaritan, Dao friend! Jiang Cheng spoke indifferently, Its nothing praiseworthy. It was just a simple gesture of goodwill. The talisman I used in the exam is called the Crisis Calm Talisman. The person carefully memorized the name, then asked, Where can I buy it? You probably cant buy it. Why not? Because I drew the talisman myself. What? Drawing a talisman isnt difficult, but drawing ones own talisman and drawing a talisman are twopletely different concepts. The ability to draw ones own talisman isnt even strongly rted to a Talisman Masters rank; it mainly depends on a Talisman Masters talent. The man was startled by Jiang Chengs words, carefully examined Jiang Cheng, and then sighed with a certain resignation, Fellow Daoist, at such a young age, youre already able to draw talismans; truly, the Capital is a ce full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Fellow Daoist, are your talismans for sale? I would like to buy one! Jiang Cheng had indeed drawn several Crisis Calm Talismans and, having passed the examination, no longer needed them. If he were to sell them, it would also be a way of helping others and achieving a win-win situation. Jiang Cheng would gain Spirit Stones, and others would pass their examsa mutual benefit! I do still have a few left, and if you make a fair offer, Id have no objection to selling them to you, Jiang Cheng said. Two thousand! How about two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones? Just as Jiang Cheng was about to agree, a robust voice rang out from behind him, Ill offer five thousand! When both turned their heads to look, the one who had arrived was none other than Li Youyuan. Li Youyuan, afterprehending the hinge of a perfect score, immediately came searching for Jiang Cheng! Hastily making his way, fortunately, he arrived before Jiang Cheng sold his talismans! Five thousand I truly cannot afford that, s, I take my leave. The would-be buyer of the talismans left, leaving only Li Youyuan in front of Jiang Cheng. Without a second word, Li Youyuan took out three deep blue high-grade Spirit Stones and ced them in Jiang Chengs hand. How many of those talismans you used just now do you have? I want all of them! Although Jiang Cheng did not know why Li Youyuan, a recruiting director, would need Crisis Calm Talismansas he didnt seem like someone who would need themhe always made a point of respecting his customers privacy. If Li Youyuan wasnt saying, he wouldnt ask. Alright, Jiang Cheng agreed. I have another condition! Please speak, Jiang Cheng responded. During the character assessment period for new students at Lotus University, if anyone asks you to sell or give them such a talisman, you must not! You cant let others use them at all! This is Not enough money? Ill add more! Five stones, seven stones? Surely ten high-grade Spirit Stones would suffice! Jiang Cheng wanted to say that he hadnt intended to sell anyway as he was not short of money. It was only because someone had proactively approached him with the intention of helping that he considered selling. However, since Director Li was so generously forting, there was no reason for Jiang Cheng to dampen the mood. To haggle now would make him, Jiang Cheng, seem small-minded. Deal. After Li Youyuan spoke, he felt a slight pang of regret. Ten high-grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to one hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, even for him, was no small expenditure. But the money was well spent. At least, with this, there wouldnt be too much chaos in the uing character assessments. If everyone had such talismans and all scored perfect marks, the scene would be unprecedented since the founding of Lotus University. As the head of the recruitment office, hed likely have to spend far more Spirit Stones than now just to continue in his role. This was about nipping risks in the bud, spending a small sum to protect therger picture. Watching Jiang Chengs departing figure, Li Youyuan heaved a deep sigh of relief. Fortunately, Lotus Universitys recruitment examination rules stated that one could only bring one of any talisman, and each could be used only once. A Crisis Calm Talisman, once used, couldnt be used again. Apparently, the talisman perfectly solving the character assessment was likely an idental but fortunate discovery. He couldnt possibly have a strange talisman for every assessment, could he? If that were the case, wouldnt I be driven to bankruptcy? Li Youyuan had been at Lotus University long enough, knew enough people. Even the head of the Talisman Department, a fourth-tier Talisman Master, couldnt just produce talismans like that! Not to mention, Jiang Cheng was only a second-grade prize Talisman Master. Could he be stronger than the department head? Stop worrying needlessly. Its simply not possible, not even by a long shot! Chapter 122 - 122 Aesthetic Assessment Chapter 122: Aesthetic Assessment Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng rented a house at Jade Lake Mingan, which was a two-bedroom, two-living room apartment of eighty square meters. Two-bedroom, two-living room generally refers to a house that contains a master bedroom, a secondary bedroom, a living room, and a dining room. Since Snake particrly enjoyed basking in the sun, the well-lit master bedroom naturally went to her. Although Jiang Cheng was the boss, and it was he who paid for the house, letting Snake stay in the master bedroom seemed quite unfair. But to speak of fairness between a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator and a Mahayana Realm cultivator is something more surreal than Cao Wang getting a date. However, the more direct reason was that Jiang Cheng actually couldnt stay here for long. Once Lotus University officially started, Jiang Cheng would have to move to the dormitory. ording to Jiang Chengs n, he wouldnt be staying in the dormitory often in theter stages of university, because he needed to put in more effort to improve his cultivation level. As everyone knows, working hard in a dormitory can be quite cruel to roommates. Therefore, Jiang Cheng decided to work hard in stealth, so as not to burden his roommates minds. However, taking into ount the necessary interpersonal rtions and the image of a straightforward person, Jiang Cheng didnt want to stand out from the group or be entric right from the start of school. He was a person adept at blending into his environment. Standing against his ssmates was not something Jiang Cheng wanted to see. Noon. A breezy wind carrying moisture from theke gently lifted the curtain of the balcony window, blowing into the clean, tidy room. Jiang Cheng, carrying a packed lunch, called Liu Qing to the dining table to eat. Liu Qing was not picky about food; after all, she would eat whatever Jiang Cheng fed her. Picking up her chopsticks, Liu Qing asked a question that had been on her mind that morning. Assessment? Went smoothly, he said. Talisman? Didnt use it. Liu Qing looked at Jiang Cheng, puzzled. Ah, I mean I didnt use a talisman, not that the talisman is useless, Jiang Cheng exined, and opened his storage bag to take out the Liu Talisman. Look, its still here, he said. Why? Well on one hand, the assessment was fairly simple, so I didnt need it. On the other hand, theres only one of this talisman, and once used, its gone. I really didnt want to use it up, Jiang Cheng admitted. Actually, considering Jiang Chengs cautious character, using the Liu Talisman for a sure pass would have been the safest, but he truly didnt want to use it. After all, he had only one, and once used, he would never have it againit was a limited edition collectors item. After hearing Jiang Chengs exnation, Liu Qing did not say anything more. As usual, she ate her meal quickly but in small bites, then went back to lying on the balcony. It was only in the afternoon, when Jiang Cheng was packing up to go out for the assessment, that shezily got up to see him off. Then, Liu Qing went to the sofa Jiang Cheng had sat on and picked up a strand of his hair that had fallen. She continued to sit therein the spot where Jiang Cheng had beenand with her slender, jade fingers, traced mysterious patterns in the air in front of her. These patterns solidified into reality in the air, and with a pinch from Liu Qings ethereal hand, a sheet of talisman paper identical to the Liu Talisman materialized. In the end, Liu Qing ced Jiang Chengs hair on the talisman and crafted a Jiang Recement Talisman. Jiang Cheng has a talisman, and so does she, which is fair. In the afternoon, Jiang Cheng, following the guidance signs previously set up by the Lotus University enrollment office, arrived at the venue for the aesthetic assessment of new students at Lotus Cloud University. If the character assessment is the easiest of all assessments at Lotus University, then the aesthetic assessment is undoubtedly the most difficult. Aesthetics is a very abstract thing. It is a persons ability to filter for beautiful things in the world based on his or her sense of aesthetics. It forms a part of artistic perception. In a way, a persons artistry and a persons prehension are interrted. Take the Talisman Master as an example; some Talisman Masters have a natural sensitivity to lines, naturally blending specific things into abstract lines. This sharpness and imagination with lines is their prehension in drawing talismans. Therefore, the aesthetic assessment is, in fact, an assessment ofprehension. Butprehension is something innate, either you have it, or you dont. Thus, the questions in the aesthetic assessment are, to some extent, akin to math problems. When pushed to the limit, people can do anything, except for math problems. The same is true for the aesthetic assessment; if you can do it, you can do it; if not, you cant, and there are no two ways about it. This year, the venue for Lotus Universitys aesthetic assessment is on the za next to the man-madeke on the campus grounds. The assessment topic is The Beauty of Water. The director of the admissions office, Li Youyuan, didnt need to follow every single assessment closely. But this year was different; the students enrolled at Lotus University were somewhat unusual. Whether it was 1002, 1003, or 1016 (Jiang Cheng), or those who cameter, like 1065, 1082, etc. In short, this years freshmen were too remarkable, and Li Youyuan felt uneasy not being present to monitor the situation. Before the aesthetic assessment, the first group of one hundred candidates, assisted by volunteers, lined up and entered the examination area one after the other. The whole process was quiet and orderly, highlighting the high quality of excellent students. The volunteers in charge of maintaining order in the examination room heaved a sigh of relief. Judging by the performance of these candidates, their work should be quite rxed today. The volunteers were almost all upperssmen from Lotus University, everyone working for activity credits, which was pretty much enough. Unlike the character assessment, the aesthetic assessment grading team wasposed of professors from Lotus Universitys Media and Aesthetics Faculty. Inparison to other Immortal Law application faculties, the Media and Aesthetics Faculty, as the name implies, mainly handles two aspectsone is information dissemination, and the other is design aesthetics. Many Immortal Techniques were created with only practicality in mind, without considering visual appeal. The Media and Aesthetics Faculty is responsible for beautifying and upgrading Immortal Techniques. In this discipline, Qinghe Xuanran University currently boasts the highest level in Liang Kingdom. If we expand the scope to the entire Cultivation World, Taixu Sect is undoubtedly the pinnacle of aesthetic studies. In Taixu Sect, some Immortal Techniques have evolved to a point where they prioritize appearance over practicality. Although widely criticized by the major Immortal Sects for putting the cart before the horse, it is undeniable that Taixu Sects research on aesthetic cultivation is nothing short of extraordinary. It is also the holynd in the hearts of practitioners rted to aesthetic studies in the various Immortal Sects. Because the character assessment in the morning started with candidate number 1001, to ensure fairness, the aesthetic assessment in the afternoon started with candidate number 1100. Although its said to start with 1100, in reality, there are ten students being assessed simultaneously. These ten candidates, upon the cue from the examination host and the guidance of the volunteers, each approached one of the ten erected screensck cloths measuring one and a half meters wide and two meters tall, resembling ckboards. The canvases were ced close to the water of the man-madeke. Seeing that the ten candidates were ready, the examination host immediately read out the specific details of the Lotus University aesthetic assessment. The theme of this assessment is The Beauty of Water. Candidates are required to use the avableke water to paint on the ck cloths provided by the school. Content is unrestricted. The examination time is twenty minutes. Please note that the ck cloth lightens when wet, until it bespletely white. Let the examination begin! All candidates, please be mindful of the time! Chapter 123 - 123 Jiang Cheng Makes a Move Chapter 123: Jiang Cheng Makes a Move Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Chengs number was 1016, which meant he was in the second tost batch to take the stage during the entire examination. Although he was now in the examination hall, in truth, there wasnt much for him to do. Even so, Jiang Cheng was still different from most of the surrounding candidates. The average candidate, when having nothing to do, would either stare nkly, whisper secretly, or meditate in a sitting position. However, Jiang Chengs choice was to respect the examination, watching others exam pieces intently without wandering eyes. Honestly speaking, Jiang Chengs aesthetic sense really wasnt that great. This was precisely why he chose to deal with numbers, rather than joining the art department to deal with images. If it were an art departments color critic painter taking the aesthetic examination, as one of the gods of creation of the game, the art department painter would undoubtedly dominate thepetition without question. But Jiang Cheng couldnt. Therefore, he had to y to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses in this exam. Moreover, ording to Dialogue with College Students and the analysis of cases over the years, The underlying logic of the aesthetic assessment isnt the beauty in morality, intelligence, physical ability, aesthetics,bor, but bor! Hands-on ability! This is also easy to understand: because the beauty that can shake a persons heart foreveres from human hands! On this point, Jiang Cheng had already prepared early on There, with themand of the examination host, the ten students present immediately began their painting! Twenty minutes of painting time,pared to the duration required for most paintings, was extremely short! A typical painting exam would take about three hours. And at Lotus Universitys aesthetic assessment, only twenty minutes were given! Racing against the clock was one aspect, and on the other hand, painting with water required great skill. Compared to a brush, water drops are harder to control, which means one must focus on the big picture and forego the details when painting! Even due to the instability of water drops, the process of painting and the final results were full of random possibilities. However, fortunately, the examination topics had been publicly announced in advance, and the ten students present, although in a flurry, were all prepared. The more ruthless ones directly brought a brush Magical Treasures, as if assisted by a deity. The more casual ones were painting with their hands catching the water. After the twenty minutes, the five teachers of the scoring team entered to score. The scores of the first batch of ten students generally ranged between 5 and 40, and even the one who used the brush Magical Treasures could only score 40 points. It had to be said, the difficulty level of the aesthetic assessment,pared to the character assessment, was definitively higher by more than just one level. Thankfully, this first batch of candidates were rtively normal. Even with low scores, they had safelypleted the exam. But soon, the next batch of candidates from numbers 1090 to 1081 smoothly entered and began the exam! Li Youyuan paid special attention to candidate number 1082, who was among them. Li Youyuan stared intently at the second freshman from the left, fearing he would cause some sort of big scene again. Since Jiang Cheng had gone straight home after the morning exam, he didnt get to appreciate 1082s antics. If 1002 was save myself, 1003 was superman sword lover, and 1016 (Jiang Cheng) was intelligence has once again seized the moral high ground, then 1082 was Demonic Tao seedling. During the mornings character assessment, 1082 directly used a spell to turn a rope and threw it into the river, iming, I will only save one, which one of you wants toe ashore? When the exam host asked, What if your partner wanted toe ashore, what would you do? 1082 said, I would kill her, because she was not filial to my mother. The exam host asked again, What if your mother wanted toe ashore? 1082 said, The same, killed, because she doesnt understand the need to give way to the young. In either case, 1082 always stuck to his original intention,mitted to eliminating everyone. In the end, 1082 was delighted to receive zero points. Like Jiang Cheng, and the exam destroyer 1082, they were now the prime focus of Li Youyuans attention! Under Li Youyuans close scrutiny, 1082 reached his exam position and began painting. The other students were figuring out how to catch and use the water, but 1082 was different, he directly pulled out his Magical Treasure a sword! Li Youyuan caught a glimpse of the treasured sword and immediately thought something was amiss! Indeed, Number 1082 didnt disappoint Li Youyuan. While the other examinees were diligently painting, 1082 picked up his sword and, using Immortal Technique, began to dance on the surface of Lotus Universitys artificialke! Regardless of the result of the examination, the level of Number 1082s swordsmanship was indeed a delight to watch, clearly the kind that could im a life with every move. Dancing on theke with powerful and fierce moves, he instantly drew cheers from the onlookers watching the exam, eximing its brilliance. Seeing the crowd of onlookers grow while 1082s showmanship became more and more uncontroble, Li Youyuan tensed up all over, fearing that in his sword-dancing euphoria, the boy might charge into the crowd on a killing spree! Fortunately, the worst-case scenario Li Youyuan had anticipated didnt ur. As the person in charge of the assessment began to read the countdown to the end, 1082 suddenly came to a halt, took a fewrge strides to the shore, and then, in front of all the judges, examinees, and volunteers, he gave the ck canvas a kick. He kick shattered the easel supporting the canvas into pieces! The canvas itself flew off into the distance! Li Youyuans eyes widened; he had overseen Lotus Universitys new student assessments for many years and had never seen anyone answer a question like Number 1082 did! The person hosting the assessment picked up Number 1082s workapletely ck canvas, without a single drop of water or trace on it. They asked, What is the name of your work? Number 1082 said, Gu Sheng Practicing Sword on the Lake. But theres nothing on it? It doesnt have a single drop of water. Number 1082 spoke righteously, Doesnt that reflect how good my skills are? If it had water on it, it would mean my footwork hasnt been mastered yet. Li Youyuan thought Number 1082s work was already absurd, but what he didnt expect was that this Gu Sheng Practicing Sword on the Lake would even score an astonishing 75 points! That was several times higher than those who had seriously painted! Careful painting draws no attention, a single kick earns a seventy-five! You say you dont understand art? Im sorry, art doesnt understand itself either. Tired. Hopefully, the students that follow will save some trouble. This is what Li Youyuan hoped. Perhaps his wish came true, as the next few batches turned out to be much more normal. This greatly relieved Li Youyuan. But soon, the ninth batch of students prepared to enter the examination hall! The ninth batch was the penultimate batch for this years aesthetic assessments! Their numbers ranged from 1020 to 1011, including a certain Number 1016 (Jiang Cheng). It was his turn again! The sight of Jiang Cheng entering the examination area immediately made Li Youyuan anxious. However,pared to Number 1082, Jiang Cheng was much more normal. He was even more well-mannered and polite than the average person, appearing to be just a regr yet outstandingly honest student. Only Li Youyuan, who had witnessed Jiang Chengs capabilities, knew that beneath his mild and friendly facadey deceitfully twisted ideas! In the examination area, Jiang Cheng approached his assigned canvas. Following the hosts signal, the aesthetic assessment officially began! While the others either used tools or cast spells, showing off their Divine Skills in their painting with water, Jiang Cheng remained calm andposed. He took a deep breath, adjusting his mood before starting the artistic creation. Then, under Li Youyuans gaze filled with rm, Jiang Cheng took out the Talisman he had specially prepared for the Hands-on Ability section of the exam. [Name: Furniture War God Talisman (Reusable TypeNine Grades)] Tier: First Grade Type: Attack Effect: Precisely control objects around you with minimal energy consumption to attack targets. Precautions: This Talisman is optimized for energy efficiency, allowing it to be triggered multiple times consecutively. Rmended for use in ces with many attack props, such as a furniture store.] Chapter 124: Daring Not to Give Full Marks Chapter 124: Daring Not to Give Full Marks Trantor: 549690339 In the Talisman Drawing ss 3 of 3209, a certain high ponytail girl absentmindedly propped her cheek with her hand. If Yue Linger remembered correctly, this afternoon, Jiang Cheng would take the Aesthetics exam. Yue Linger clearly recalled that on the evening of September 5, fifteen days ago, Jiang Cheng, right after receiving the new student assessment topic, summoned her to his home by the Jade Lake in Mingan using amunication talisman. Visiting Jiang Chengs home was quite familiar to Yue Linger. After all, she had been to the Wuyue Residence countless times during her stay in Wuyue. However, it was the first time Yue Linger was visiting Jiang Chengs homete at night. In case Jiang Cheng didnt let her return to the dormitory, she had to prepare a wless excuse to exin to her roommates. Otherwise, with her reputation as the Talisman Department Beauty, rumors would definitely surge like stormy clouds. The first day they would say Yue Linger had a boyfriend, the second day they would say Yue Linger suffered a heartbreak from a scumbag boyfriend, and on the third day that she was four months pregnant but not showing yet. Yue, can you draw? Inside the residence by the Jade Lake, Jiang Cheng asked her. I can, to a degree. After all, as a Talisman Master, drawing skills are apulsory subject. But thats about it, just a bit, she replied. To what extent is a bit? Yue Linger thought for a moment, took out paper and a pen, and gave Jiang Cheng a quick sketch Lake Water Liu Qing Moon. Yue, you draw very well! Thats amazing! Jiang Cheng did not hesitate to praise her. Ah, thank you. But why are you asking about drawing? What do you want to do? Id like you to help me with a quick sketch, a portrait, just like the one you did of Liu Qing. It should have as few strokes as possible, but still capture the essence of the appearance, he exined. I can do it, but who do you want me to draw? Jiang Cheng took out a photo and handed it to Yue Linger. Yue Linger took the photo, and her eyes immediately widened. Her hands trembled, her tongue tied, she stuttered, Ji- Jiang Cheng, what do you want me to draw her for? Is she even drawable? Jiang Cheng gave a warm smile and said, Of course you can draw her, Yue, please do it. Do a good job, I have a big use for it. Time returned to the midst of the Talisman ss, with Yue Lingers curious best friend, Cheng Bingxin, lying beside her. Linger? Whats the exam about this afternoon? Yue Linger unconsciously muttered, Aesthetics, I guess. Who are you thinking about? Im thinking about Huh? What do you want? Oh? Youve been acting strangetely, little sister Linger. Yue Linger nced at the ssroom clock and whispered, I cant talk now, my stomach hurts, Im going to the restroom. Yue Linger stood up, asked the teacher for leave, and then dashed out the door. Half a minuteter, Cheng Bingxin also stood up to ask for leave. After she left, she headed straight for thekeside and the new students exam site without a second thought. As expected, she caught the stomach-aching Yue Linger red-handed! Wow, little sister Linger is so refined, having to go where its crowded even with a stomachache. Huh? How did you get here? Arent you going to ss? Cheng Bingxin shook her head and casually said, Why do you care? Arent you also skipping ss? I, Cheng, just like to watch handsome underssmen. Even if my stomach hurts, I have to look. Lla. Yue Linger could once chat idly with Cheng Bingxin for an entire afternoon, but now with Jiang Cheng nearby, she simply didnt have the energy to spar with Cheng Bingxin. Once a person has a weakness, they are open to attack at all fronts. Yue Lingers earlobes turned red from Cheng Bingxins teasing, but all she could do was pretend to be annoyed and say, Im not talking to you anymore! You always joke around! Cheng Bingxin originally wanted to tease Yue Linger a bit more, as a girl herself, she thoroughly enjoyed seeing her once cool and aloof best friend blush and be flustered. However, as Yue Lingers gaze shifted, a new student at the exam site caught Cheng Bingxins attention. How should I put it, he had a kind of peculiar confidence,posed, steady, and elegant. It was like this morning, that distinctive new student who answered that hed save two people. While the other nine examinees around him were frantically collecting water from theke, struggling to carry the water to the ck cloth, and then anxiously drawing on the ck cloth. That person simply held a reusable type talisman, with one hand in his pocket, and walked leisurely to thekeside. Before officially starting to paint, he even politely ced one hand on his chest and bowed to the canvas as a sign of respect. Kinda handsome. Cheng Bingxin thought to herself. Linger, Linger, look at that one, the one who bowed. Just from the back, he seems pretty handsome. I wonder what his face looks like Cheng Bingxin wanted to point out the handsome junior to Yue Linger, but her best friend wasnt distracted by her at all, and just kept gazing steadily at the guy. Cheng Bingxin: Crazy about him? Theres no need, right? Most boys younger than herself are quite immature and nothing much What the heck! Cheng Bingxin couldnt believe her eyes! While Cheng Bingxin was secretly ndering Yue Linger, Jiang Cheng activated his Furniture War God Talisman (Reusable Type Ninth Grade). With his back to theke and facing the paint board, Jiang Cheng held the talisman in his right hand, positioning it at a 45-degree angle in front of his body. The talisman was lifted to just near his chin. Very particr about it. An endless stream of Spiritual Power was infused by Jiang Cheng into the Dragon Talisman; the flickering lights of the talisman as it was activated, resembled a high-speed train cutting through the forest in the night! Behind Jiang Cheng, countlesske waters were magically controlled to fly, and then, like parallel rain, they poured down fiercely onto the ck cloth! The sound of water droplets hitting went pitter-patter, resounding throughout the entire examination venue! Jiang Cheng kept his eyes fixed on the canvas. The silhouette of a person, on the ck cloth, was quietly taking shape amidst the sh ofke waters. This is why Jiang Cheng chose to ce the Dragon Talisman within the Attack category of talismans, not among the Control type. Because the control of objects by attack talismans is much stronger than that of control talismans! If a control talisman could stop a bullet train, then an attack talisman could manage to shoot a bullet while the train navigates through eighteen bends of a mountain road, hitting the target right between the eyebrows! The unparalleled precision in handling objects is the advantage of attack talismans! And now, this advantage was fully disyed on Jiang Chengs painting through the water from theke, down to thest detail! Yue Linger stared at Jiang Cheng, at his canvas, her face a mixture of astonishment and conflict, her little hands nervously clutching beneath her. It wasnt that sheckedposure, but Jiang Chengs painting was a bit terrifying! Cheng Bingxin had no time to pay attention to Yue Linger anymore. She was now fixated on Jiang Cheng, her mind racing about what kind of talisman he was using. A water-controlling talisman? It didnt seem like it! Could it be a water-manipting talisman? That wasnt right either. The five grading teachers from the Media and Aesthetics Academy had all turned their attention to Jiang Cheng;pared to his work, the other nine candidates seemed like trash unworthy of a second nce. Only Li Youyuan had the full sensation of This is not good! Damn, damn, this guy has taken out another new talisman! But what frightened Li Youyuan even more at the moment wasnt that Jiang Cheng used another new talisman. It was his painting! The person he drew! Something wasnt quite right! As the torrential rain ceased, Jiang Chengs painting was perfectlypleted. In front of the canvas, Jiang Cheng showed a pleased smile. But Li Youyuan just wanted to toss Jiang Cheng into theke to drown! Damn, Master Ji Yueying you think you can just draw! Im sorry, Im sorry, Master Ji, Li Youyuan was bold and overstepped by calling your name so openly, it was utterly presumptuous. Please, considering both the Tongtian Sect and your Taixu Sect are Immortal Sects, dont take it to heart, give me a break. It wasnt intentional. Indeed. Jiang Cheng didnt draw just anyone. It was none other than the current Sect Leader of the Taixu Sect; a top-notch powerhouse in the Cultivation World who had reached the peak of the Great Perfection of the Mahayana Realm, someone who with a single thought, could decide the fate of the countless people in Liang KingdomMaster Ji Yueying! Chapter 125: Please Stop Chapter 125: Please Stop Trantor: 549690339 If one had to rank the strengths of Jiang Cheng, his learning ability would certainly be among the top few. Jiang Cheng deeply understood the principle of capitalizing on strengths and avoiding weaknesses. When he knew nothing about muscles and nerves while learning to draw the Muscle Rxation Talisman, he decisively went to the library to study. The aesthetic evaluation was no different. Jiang Cheng knew he was not particrly sensitive to beauty, so he sought ways to learn what beauty is. After mastering the essence of beauty, he would then use the strong hands-on ability enhanced by the Dragon Talisman to bring beauty into reality. With this approach, how could he be afraid of not scoring high marks? So, the crux of the issue now was to distinguish an authoritative version of beauty. If this were on Earth, the problem would be easily solved. All Jiang Cheng would have to do is take a few steps and ask the neighboring art department for an answer. After all, the Cultivation Worlds artistic style was controlled by the art department. Asking them directly would be more reliable than any study. But now, Jiang Cheng could not contact the art department. Therefore, he had to attempt to analyze the art departments interpretation of authoritative beauty left in the world of Immortal Gods to find the perfect answer for Lotus Universitys aesthetic evaluation. Beauty is a subjective personal sensation. There are as many Hamlets as there are readers, is to describe the subjectivity of people. Therefore, authority and beauty are actually antonyms and should not normally appear side by side. However, there are exceptions to everything, and there is indeed one person who can be described by both terms. She is both authoritative and beautiful. Most importantly, she is widely recognized for her authority and beauty. Yue Linger looked at Jiang Chengs painting, her face turning red and then white. To be honest, Jiang Chengs drawing was quite good; he must have repeatedly practiced using the sketch she provided him. But the issue now was not the skill of the drawing, but the person he drew! While there are no explicit rules in the Immortal Sect that forbid disciples from drawing the Sect Leader or Elders, avoidance has always been the most basic form of etiquette in the Cultivation World! Normally, one wouldnt dare draw the Sect Leader of the Immortal Sect, let alone call the Sect Leader by their name, without causingints about disrespect,ck of decorum, or even irreverence. Yet, this guy Jiang Cheng has now boldly drawn the esteemed Sect Leader of Taixu Sect right in front of everyone! Ling, Linger, that 1016, he drew the person from Tai, Taixu Sect, right? Cheng Bingxins voice trembled as she spoke. Mhm. Although the drawing was not Cheng Bingxins work, she already felt frightened on behalf of Jiang Cheng, He really has, such audacity Actually, the one under the most pressure right now wasnt Jiang Cheng. Instead, it was Li Youyuan and the five teachers responsible for grading the aesthetic evaluation. No matter what, Jiang Cheng could always use the excuse Hes still a child, he doesnt understand to muddle through; after all, he was indeed young and not within the Immortal Sect system. But it was different for Li Youyuan and the grading teachers. As disciples of Tongtian Sect, they had to face the Sect Leader of the neighboring Immortal Sect with the utmost respect and sincerity. If they mishandled the situation, it could easily turn into a significant diplomatic incident among Immortal Sects! Members of Taixu Sect: Weve heard that someone from Tongtian Sect has drawn our Sect Leader? Dont they know to avoid such things? It must be intentional. Lets go see what this is about. Due to practice making perfect, Jiang Cheng actually finished his drawing quite quickly. With twenty minutes allocated for the exam, he had still around fifteen minutes left afterpleting his work. But these fifteen minutes felt like a death sentence to the teachers! The five grading teachers could no longer sit still and immediately sought out Li Youyuan. Director Li, that, is it permissible to draw that? Director, hes breaking the rules, right? Hurry up and remove him and that painting! Li Youyuan was sweating profusely. He knew the rules of the new student evaluation like the back of his hand and could only respond, In theory, it is permissible to draw it, but our Admissions Office never anticipated that someone would dare to provoke such a taboo and actually draw her out! Stop talking about that, what should we do now? Give him a zero? Warn the other students to not have any crooked ideas? Are you out of your mind? You dare to give someone from the Taixu Sect a zero!? Just say we couldnt tell, who knows it was him from the Taixu Sect? That wont do, Ive looked closely, his drawing is a bit rough, but the essence is there, its impossible not to recognize. So, what exactly are we supposed to do now? As time ticked away for the examination, the students, who should have been extremely anxious, were now not so nervous. Because the grading teachers were more nervous than them! Anxiety doesnt vanish, it merely transfers. Once the examination time ended, they had to move on to the grading phase. The grading phase also had a time limit, and if they couldnt handle the assessment of Jiang Chengs drawing properly, then they would definitely be in trouble when the exams were over! The examination time is over! Grading teachers, please score! This voice ushered the grading teachers like the messengers of life and death. The immense pressure from Jiang Chengs drawing, like an invisible heavy hand, weighed them down so much that they couldnt lift their heads. What do we do? We must score now! What else can we do now? We have to give him full marks. But he doesnt deserve it! 1016s drawing is okay, but full marks seem too fake. Youre not giving full marks? Do you think the person from Taixu Sect isnt pretty enough? Do you have a death wish!? Stop fussing, everyone. Even if it were Taixu Sects own people grading, 1016s drawing wouldnt lose half a point. We have nothing to be embarrassed about. Plus, think about it; do you still want to go study at the Taixu Sects art academy in the future? Saying have a death wish is a bit extreme, but ruining your academic future is entirely possible. After a heated discussion among the grading teachers that could rival a deathmatch, the result of Jiang Chengs aesthetic evaluation was finally revealed! All five grading teachers unanimously acknowledged Jiang Chengs work. And they all gave him a perfect score of 100. One teacher even emphasized, One hundred is the limit of the score, not the limit of this drawing. I believe this drawing has even higher artistic value and rmend the school to protect it carefully and disy it in the exhibition hall. After Jiang Chengs results were out, all the onlookers had a feeling of unexpected yet reasonable. You say its outrageous, and indeed it is. But if you say its justifiable, it seems to be. After all, who wouldnt give full marks in this situation! Others give full marks out of appreciation. Jiang Chengs full markse from awe! Yue Linger let out a sigh of relief when she saw Jiang Chengs score. She had been worried that Jiang Chengs painting was too radical and would be outrightly suppressed by the teachers, causing him to miss the chance to get into Lotus University. Now that the dust had settled, there were no issues. Two perfect scores; as long as Jiang Cheng performed steadily, he should be able to easily get into university. Do you know that 1016? Cheng Bingxin asked with wide eyes, leaning in close to Yue Linger. The scent of gossip was detectable within a five-hundred-meter radius from her. Uh, yeah, were from the same town, both from Wuyue City, Yue Linger said, lightly skirting around the subject. Oh~ Cheng Bingxin couldnt tell much else, but she saw an interesting story filled in Yue Lingers evasive eyes. Since it was the second-tost batch, by the time Jiang Cheng finished his exam, the day was no longer young. After packing up briefly, he prepared to head home to feed the snakes. But just as he left the exam hall, Li Youyuan grabbed him and dragged him to a deserted corner. Li Youyuan pressed his hands together in a praying gesture to Jiang Cheng, Brother Jiang, Im begging you, please stop! Chapter 126 - 126 Jiang Cheng Never Cheats Chapter 126: Jiang Cheng Never Cheats Trantor: 549690339 Jiang Cheng has always been a representative of respecting the elderly and valuing the young, and holding teachers and their teachings in high esteem. He saw that Li Youyuan, despite his advanced age, was still striving on the front lines of the recruitment exams, and he felt great admiration for his dedication and professionalism. Many old people nowadays just upy positions without really working, behaving like vegetables, merely coasting until retirement. In contrast, Li Youyuans spirit of perseverance on the front lines shone brightly. Now, Director Li seemed to be in great distress, and Jiang Cheng felt it necessary to alleviate his worries. Mr. Li, have you encountered any difficulties? Jiang Cheng asked with concern. Difficulties? Do you still have the nerve to talk about difficulties? Li Youyuan really wanted to p Jiang Cheng t, hide him in some corner of Lotus University until the exams were over, and then dig him up and set him free. But he knew that was not an option. After two rounds of exams, Jiang Cheng had be somewhat of a minor celebrity at Lotus University. Moreover, his scores were good. His sudden disappearance would surely raise suspicions. The best approach at the moment was to solve the problem throughmunication. As long as he could ensure that Jiang Cheng stopped causing trouble afterward, such as no longer drawing the likes of a Sect Leader from Tongtian Sect, everything would be negotiable. Lotus Cloud University was simply an educational institution under the Liang Kingdoms branch of the Tongtian Sect. They were insignificant and had little authority; they only wanted to live a peaceful life and had no desire to stir up conflicts with the Immortal Sects. Li Youyuan took a deep breath and said, Jiang Cheng, you came here to attend Lotus University, right? Well, there is a chance in front of you now, a guaranteed opportunity to get into Lotus University. The question is whether you can seize it. What opportunity? You see, Lotus University always has a number of special admissions spots for students with particr talents every year. Considering your exceptional performance in thest two exams, you can strive for one of these spots. I find your character remarkable, and I feel we share a bond, so I will help you apply. How about it? He is willing to help me apply for a special admissions spot? Director Li really is a good person. Jiang Cheng thought. Mr. Li, may I ask if there is any cost to applying for a special admissions spot? Li Youyuan thought to himself, youre rather sharp. He said, Theres only one requirement. During the next three exams, youll just show up but not answer any questions. Leave when time is up; apart from that, there are no other requirements. Just show up and not answer any questions? Isnt that cheating? Jiang Cheng said. How could that be cheating? Youre already assured a spot as a student with special talents. Isnt it normal to not want to answer questions then? Jiang Cheng shook his head and said, I want to respect each exam. Li Youyuan was now close to being driven mad by Jiang Cheng! He felt that Jiang Cheng waspletely unreasonable! This guy talks about respecting each exam, but what on earth is he actually doing! A perfectly normal character assessment, honestly answering save mother would have sufficed, but he had to pull out a whatever talisman, and save two people? Was that a request for him to save someone? What was a simple character assessment was abruptly turned into a brainteaser by him! And then there was the recent aesthetic assessment. What harm would it have done toply with the rules and simply ssh water on the painting? Instead, he had to use a talisman to control the water, drawing his oh no, drawing the respected and beloved Master Ji. The moment that great figure appeared, who wouldnt give her full marks! A perfectly normal aesthetic assessment was forcibly warped into a Taixu Beauty Academy interview scene, with all the grading teachers wracking their brains, not daring to utter a single word of dissent. You respect exams? Is this your way of respecting exams? Do you have some sort of terrifying misunderstanding of the word respect? Patting Jiang Cheng on the shoulder, Li Youyuan spoke earnestly, Jiang Cheng, your intention to respect exams is good, but I hope you can hold off on taking action for now. Jiang Cheng said seriously, Mr. Li, thank you for being willing to help me apply for a special admissions spot, but I believe since Ive prepared extensively for new student assessments at Lotus University, I should take the exams earnestly. I cant fail to honor my own efforts. Li Youyuans eyes widened the moment he heard Jiang Chengs words, What youre saying is, the strange talisman you used today, you have more of them? You n to use them in the following exams? Jiang Cheng revealed a confident smile, Of course. Li Youyuan felt his heart had grown tired of beating. Didnt want to beat anymore. Wished for time off. The heart had been beating for a lifetime, whats wrong with a few days off? Actually, if Jiang Cheng were simply one of the students with odd ideas, like 1082 or 1003, Li Youyuan would definitely not have sought a private chat with him. But the most special thing about Jiang Cheng was that he could open up entirely new approaches for all the examinees! Simply put, his operations were outrageous, yet highly replicable! Whether it involved diving in to save someone or drawing portraits, anyone who wanted to copy No! Even without the intention to copy, as long as one could purchase the talismans he used, it was entirely possible to replicate his methods! And thus replicate his exam results! And thus force those who originally had no intention of replicating Jiang Chengs methods to do so too, or else they would be eliminated. And thus lead the entire exam into uncontroble chaos until itpletely degenerated in the process of continuous imitation of Jiang Cheng! The freshman assessment seemed to be sliding towards an uncontroble direction. Li Youyuan felt overwhelmed with helplessness. It was as if he faced an unsolvable situation. Now, his only hope was that Jiang Cheng wouldnt take the initiative to sell his talismans; otherwise, for every talisman he sold, there would emerge another Jiang Cheng in the examination hall. Where did you buy that talisman you just used? Li Youyuan asked. Just now? I made that one myself, Jiang Cheng said. The one you used in the morning was also made by yourself? Yes. So the talismans you n to use in the uing exams, youre not telling me you drew those yourself as well, are you? I did. At this moment, Li Youyuan didnt know how to describe his feelings. He finally understood why Jiang Cheng had the courage to sign up on the very first day of freshman assessment registration! This student named Jiang Cheng might only have a middle school talisman drawingpetitions second prize level skill, but in terms of talisman innovation, he possessed a terrifying talent! While still reeling from the shock, Li Youyuan suddenly fell into great joy! If all these talismans were drawn by Jiang Cheng himself, that meant these talismans were unique to him, and other examinees simply couldnt buy and use them to replicate Jiang Chengs results! Although others mightplete Jiang Chengs exam concepts using different methods, the scale and number would surely be very limited! As long as he could quell the source of the talisman distribution, the situation in the entire freshman assessment could be salvaged! In subsequent exams, they would just need to incorporate all the deeds and talismans Jiang Cheng had used directly into the examination rules and ban them to stabilize the situation! Li Youyuan fixed his gaze on Jiang Cheng and asked, Jiang, how do you sell your talismans? Just keep the ones you need for your own exams; Ill buy all the rest! Jiang Cheng still admired Director Lis work ethic, Mr. Li, if you like them, I can give you a few for free, no need to buy them. But to Li Youyuans surprise, he said decisively, No! I want to buy! The kind with a contract! Youre not allowed to sell or give your talismans to anyone else during the assessment period! Jiang Cheng didnt understand why Li Youyuan wanted to buy the talismans. If it had been a student, he could have understood that they needed them for exams, but teachers didnt need to take exams, so why buy talismans? However, faced with Li Youyuans reasonable request, he felt embarrassed to refuse, and so he reluctantly agreed, Alright. But if it involves an exclusive deal, the price might be pretty high. Chapter 127 - 127 There’s still a chance Chapter 127: Theres still a chance Trantor: 549690339 After the aesthetic assessment concluded, it was already gettingte. As college students, Yue Linger and Cheng Bingxin were confronted with a profoundly serious challengewhat to have for dinner? College is not high school. Not only are there many cafeterias in college, but each cafeteria also operates on a franchise basis, offering a wide variety of options. Moreover, college students are not restricted from leaving campus. Turn left at the gate and in a hundred meters, theres a snack street dedicated to serving college students. Even Yue Linger, who had been at Lotus University for a year, hadnt managed to eat at every shop. Whats more, college students tend to have more leisure time. Thus, its not strange at all that choosing a ce to eat could take longer than the meal itself. Linger, when are you going to bring that 1016 over for a look? I couldnt see his face clearly before because he was too far away, Cheng Bingxin said to Yue Linger. In her mind, Yue Linger thought: Spare me. I was busy all summer vacation, and every time I saw him, there was a bunch of stuff to do. Now that school has finally started again, cant I catch a break? Were not that close; its not convenient to call him over. Lets wait for an opportunity, Yue Linger decisively declined with three nos. An ordinary person might not understand, but Cheng Bingxin knew Yue Linger, and if Yue truly didnt want to do something, no amount of persuasion would work. She simply dropped the subject, as there was plenty of time in college and plenty of opportunities woulde. Just as they were about to find a ce to eat, Yue Lingersmunication talisman rang. Cheng Bingxin watched as Yue Linger took out the talisman and instinctively stood up straight and tensed. It seemed that whoever was calling Yue Linger on the talisman was some boss or elder worth her respect. Oh, alright, I have no issues, Yue Linger resignedly agreed in triple. Then she said to her bestie Cheng Bingxin, Sorry, Ive got something on tonight and cant join you for dinner, Ill treat you next time. Huh? Before Cheng Bingxin could react, Yue Linger had already hurried away in a fluster. Cheng Bingxin stood where she was. Watching Yue Lingers retreating figure, she couldnt help feeling that Yue Linger had changed a lot since the summer vacation. She seemed less arrogant and even a bit insecure. She stopped worrying about spending money and sometimes even splurged. Often daydreaming, sighing without reason, and asionally smiling to herself without exnation. Could all this have something to do with 1016? On the second floor of a grilled fish restaurant near the Jade Lake Mingan neighborhood. Yue Linger rushed to the appointment. Yue, Jiang Cheng called out with a smile as he greeted her. Seeing Jiang Cheng, Yue Lingers cheeks were rosy, and she was slightly out of breath, perhaps from the jogging. Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing looked the same as they always did, and of course, so did she, Yue Linger. After taking her seat, Yue Linger asked, What made you decide to invite me out for dinner today? We didnt just call you out to eat; we specifically invited you to dinner! Jiang Cheng corrected. Yue, Jiang Cheng said earnestly, We really inconvenienced you by asking you to draw all night the other time. Thankfully, with your help, I did well on my aesthetic assessment today, so I wanted to take you out to dinner to thank you. Yue Lingers gaze flickered, Ah, is that so? Its great that you did well. I had sses all afternoon, so I couldnt be there to support you. Sorry about that. Sniff, sniff. Liu Qing gently sniffed and then slowly lifted her head. In the air, she could sense a whiff of lies. Yue Linger was lying. But the lies emanating from Yue Linger werent malicious. It was a sweet lie. Liu Qing had smelled this scent before. It was on a night at the end of June when Jiang Cheng walked her home. She had picked it up from him. Back then, she was still sleeping in the trees. Afterward, once Jiang Cheng found out, she never slept on a branch again; instead, she always slept in the house Jiang Cheng had bought for her. Each house had warm sunshine and a big, soft bed. Liu Qing didnt think a bed was better than tree branches, but Jiang Cheng liked her to sleep in a bed, so thats what she did. Beside Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger were discussing something about talismans. And she, from beginning to end, just quietly sat beside him. Listening to Jiang Chengs voice, she blinked lightly and looked out the window. Under the hanging moonlight was the glistening water of Jade Lake. The circr shore of Jade Lake, dotted with the bright lights of homes. Yeah, its beautiful. Jiang Cheng, for the grilled fish, do we want it spicy or not spicy? Yue Linger asked. Not spicy. Liu Qing doesnt like spicy food. Oh. But I like it spicy, Yue Linger thought to herself. So, does the daughter really cantpare with a roommate? Yue Linger thought again. Its so annoying, Im supposed to be the protagonist of this gathering, right? Yue Linger thought once more. Yue, he said, handing her a small te with the seasoning adjusted. Jiang Cheng handed Yue Linger a small te with seasoning. Yue Linger nced at the chili in the small te and then looked up at Jiang Cheng. How did you know? she asked in surprise. Jiang Cheng said matter-of-factly, You told me yourself. Last time we ate with Sister He, you said you like spicy food, especially numb-spicy and then fragrant-spicy. But youre afraid that too much oil isnt good for the skin, so you always pretend to pour the oil back, but actually, you dont pour much back I just mentioned it offhand, you remembered all that? Jiang Cheng naturally said, Of course. Why wouldnt I remember? It wasnt that long ago, right? I Yue Linger herself had forgotten about her preference for spicy food, but she hadnt expected Jiang Cheng to remember her casual remarks all this time. Yue Linger propped her chin in her hands, her pretty face turning as red as if she had eaten chili, and heat seemed to emanate from her forehead. She nced at Jiang Chengs side, where Liu Qings face looked cold and distant as she gazed at theke. She was stunningly beautiful as if not of this world! Keep calm, Yue Linger, you dont stand much of a chance in front of her! But then Yue Linger gazed at the te of seasoned chili on the table in front of her. But that doesnt mean theres no chance at all, right? So, what subjects do you have for tomorrows exam? Yue Linger asked. Tomorrow is onlybat; my number is early, so Im in the morning session, Jiang Cheng said. Oh, if Im free tomorrow, I mighte to watch, Yue Linger murmured. Youre wee to, and Ill have to perform well. Because Ill be watching? Of course, I cant let Yue down. Yue Linger looked down: Oh. At the crossroads in front of Lotus Cloud University, Cheng Bingxin sessfully caught a little mother cat sneaking out on her own for a meal. Linger! Bingxin? Hey? What are you doing? Cheng Bingxin leaned on Yue Linger and took a sniff, mingling the pleasant scent of the girl with a hint of the aroma of food. She said, Oh look at you, iming youre busy but actually just sneaking out for a solo feast? Abandoning your family and messing around outside! Yue Linger, youve changed! Tell me, who were you eating with? Its not what you think. Just a friend, someone you dont know. I dont know them? Can I get to know them then? Why do you want to meet him? Oh? Let me guess Jiang Cheng! Cheng Bingxin whispered into Yue Lingers ear in a low but rapid voice. Yue Lingers eyes suddenly widened. Chapter 128: Not Refusing to Give Grass (A Plant) Chapter 128: Not Refusing to Give Grass (A nt) Trantor: 549690339 Attention to Lotus Universitys new student assessment wasnt solely on the students themselves but also on a part of the faculty soon to assume the role of Counselors. At Lotus Cloud University, Counselors are usually professors who also teach professional courses. That is to say, the position of the ss members often determines the future performance in professional courses. If the students are talented, the professional course results are strong, the Counselors performance is high, and their prospects andworks can be very promising. Conversely, if a Counselor ends up guiding a rtively poor ss, even if their teaching professionalism is strong, its difficult to achieve significant results. For cultivating immortality, its seventy percent up to the individual, thirty percent up to the teacher, and the remaining ny percent depends on talent and family conditions. The new student assessment involves the admissions office as well as numerous onlookers and spectators paying close attention, making it mostly impossible to be lenient. However, its a different story when ites to splitting students into sses of the same majorter on. Normally, the Talisman Department of Lotus University might enroll three sses for the Talisman creation major, with the third being the best, the second follow-up, and the first filled with ckers who got in through the backdoor. The young second-rank Talisman Master Yue Linger belonged to the top ss of the previous batch, and its value goes without saying. Theres quite a bit of room for maneuver when ites to sorting sses by major. For example, some long-established teachers, after spotting a few students in the new student assessment, could simply give the teachers responsible for sorting a heads up to include these students in their own ss. Then, they could rx their minds and casually teach, waiting for their students to soar. Its an epitome of choice being more crucial than effort. To put it harshly, even though Lotus Cloud University is among Liang Kingdoms most prestigious institutions, less than one percent of Lotus Universitys students will make a name for themselves in the Immortal Sect in the future. Whoever can pull that one percent into their ss can virtually secure their teaching caliber and performance levels for the next three to four years. There have been teachers who managed to scrape together all the top-notch students, facing unanimous resistance from other teachers! To prevent such scenarios, Lotus University first stipted that Counselors were not to watch the new student assessments, then introduced ss Sorting Rules emphasizing bnce, which hasrgely curbed the desire among teachers to coast. However, where there are policies, there are always counter-strategies, a traditional skill. Counselors may not watch, but they can serve as judges on the assessment panel! If the ss Sorting Rules emphasize bnce, then why not trade three mediocre students for one excellent and two average ones? And if one were to discuss which round of the five-round examination for new Lotus University students could best reveal a students professional talent, without a doubt, it would be the Combat Assessment! The evening before thebat assessment, third-rank Talisman Master Mao Lang made a special trip to Li Youyuans house. Old Li? Your home is so clean today, no cooking tonight? Li Youyuan thought, Cook my ass! All my money has gone to talismans! Do I even have money left for food? Seeing Li Youyuans plight, Mao Lang immediately dragged him out to dine at a restaurant. As they settled down in the restaurant, Mao Lang took out a box of rather expensive Spiritual Tea and offered, A student gave this to me, I have too much, want a box? Li Youyuan intended to refuse but the tea was indeed not cheap. Besides, Jiang Cheng scammed so much money from him; whats wrong with reiming a little from him? It was an utterly reasonable thing to do! Li Youyuans palm flipped, and the Spiritual Tea disappeared from the table. Mao Lang immediately dropped the act, asking directly, Brother, were you keeping an eye out today? Spot any good prospects? The first batch of new students werent bad, Li Youyuan hinted evasively. Dont be like that. Come on, tell me straight, Ive been stuck at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection for a long time, and Core Formation is within the next few years. A fourth-rank Talisman Master is just around the corner. With that said, Li Youyuan understood. In Liang Kingdom, and even at Lotus University, reaching the fourth rank as a Talisman Master is essentially hitting the ceiling. In the future, Mao Lang could either be the head of the Talisman Department at Lotus University or find a job at the Talisman Master Association. Either way, his achievements wouldnt be low. Thats why he must now pick a few good students to boost the departments performance and pave the way forter promotion. Ahem, theres someone named Jiang Cheng whom I find quite impressive. You could consider him. Jiang Cheng? The one who scored full marks in the character assessment? It was clear that Mao Lang had also inquired about him from colleagues who participated in the character scoring. There were many students who used Awesome Talismans; after all, if you cant draw them, buying them works just as well, since it doesnt affect their use. But using a type of talisman that even the teacher hadnt seen before made a distinct impression, especially when it scored full marks. Li Youyuan added, He also scored full marks in the aesthetic assessment this afternoon. Wow! Full marks in both assessments? That is indeed not simple! Mao Langs eyes lit up as he asked, Will hisbat assessment be tomorrow morning or afternoon? Brother, is it convenient to make some arrangements for him? Could this Jiang Cheng really be that strong? If he could secure him, wouldnt his performance be firmly assured? Mao Lang thought to himself. Thats not very convenient; the judges initially appointed are all without issues. How could we justify recing them? said Li Youyuan. Mao Lang tactfully dropped the subject. Some things are best left unsaid. If theres no problem with the judges, theres no reason to rece them, but if theres an issue, then it bes a different story, doesnt it? You have to see students with your own eyes to believe in them. Whether or not Jiang Cheng is truly capable, Mao Lang would find out by observing him tomorrow. On the morning of thebat assessment. The first batch of freshmen, including Jiang Cheng, arrived at the assessment site without a hitch. Thebat assessment was divided into five arenas, with teachers from the various academies individually scoring the participants. The order in which the examinees appeared was still based on their assigned numbers, but since each academy conducted its own assessments, the numbers didnt follow in sequence; for example, the number after 1001 could be 1022. This was primarily to let each academy make its own judgments. After all, no matter how excellent a students swordsmanship might be, if they are applying for the Treasure Department, theyre unlikely to catch the eye of the Treasure teachers. What the Treasure Department values is the use and creation of Magical Treasures, not the level of swordsmanship that Sword Cultivator teachers prefer to see. Disying swordsmanship before the Treasure and Talismans Academy is like feeding grass to a carnivorenot that the grass isnt provided, but they simply dont enjoy it. Behind the arena set up by the Treasure and Talismans Academy, five judges desks were neatly arranged. Outside of these five judges desks, there were three more tables for special invited guests. Beyond the special invited guests tables, two special invited referee tables were also ced. Following the recruitment offices usual style, at most, they would add one special invited referee table, but this year was differentLi Youyuan really was out of money. While the recruitment office still needed him, he nned to make what money he could. Thus, he sold the right to watch the matches at a very low price, basically arranging it for anyone who paid. ording to the rules of Lotus Universitysbat assessments, Jiang Chengs number 1016 put him fourth in line to appear. Mao Lang, along with several special invited guests, sat at their tables, looking around as if sizing up the students they were interested in. Jiang Cheng, at the front of the line, had clearly caught Mao Langs attention due to his exceptional demeanor. However, Mao Lang now felt a sense of having been tricked by Li Youyuan. This Jiang Cheng, howe he only seems to have reached the third level of qi cultivation? Is he really capable or not? But Li Youyuan epted the tea leaves; he wouldnt have any reason to deceive me. Could it be that Jiang Cheng has devoted so much energy to drawing talismans that it has dyed his cultivation? Thats probably the case. Chapter 129: The Formidability of Jiang Cheng Chapter 129: The Formidability of Jiang Cheng Trantor: 549690339 Yue Linger waste. The venue for Jiang Chengsbat assessment was the South Gymnasium at Lotus University. It was a long distance from Yue Lingers dormitory, but the distance wasnt the reason for her tardinessit was her best friend, Cheng Bingxin. Cheng Bingxin insisted on seeing Jiang Cheng, which Yue Linger was rather reluctant to do. After much back and forth, with the risk of beingte looming over them, Yue Linger had no choice but to agree to take Cheng Bingxin with her. Usually, if a girl has an exceptionally outstanding boyfriend, she would be eager for all her friends toe and see, followed by a unanimous wave of envy for her. But Yue Linger was different, as Jiang Cheng firstly was not her boyfriend. Even with Liu Qings presence, they couldnt quite consider themselves friendstheir surface-level rtionship was that of colleagues, and a senior and junior at school. Deeper down, it was like a father-daughter rtionship. In such a situation, Yue Linger really couldnt show off Jiang Cheng to her friends. How would she even begin to boast? Hello, this man is my dad. Or, Hello, this second prize Talisman Master is the boss of me, a second-tier Talisman Master. Alternatively, Hello, this man is the boyfriend of my friend. What about me? I am the loser in this love affair. It was simply impossible to say! At the South Gymnasium, Yue Linger and Cheng Bingxin, rushing and hustling, eventually made it in time. The first contestant had already taken the stage, a student from the Treasure Department, who was controlling a globe magical treasure, engaging in a magical duel with his opponent! The content of this years freshmanbat assessment was very straightforward. The volunteers, senior students there to earn credits, would fight against the freshmen. Both sides in the battle were required to wear the in Long Robe, a third-tier magical treasure developed by the Treasure and Talismans Academy. As a third-tier magical treasure powered by Core Formation teachers, the in Long Robe could fully absorb attacks from those in the Qi Cultivation Stage, and most importantly, the robe would change color at the position of impact depending on the strength of the attack. Without a mark, the robe remains elegantly white, but when attacked, it changes to a deeper color. The scoring teachers would evaluate based on the color changes of the in Long Robe and the usage of spells by both sides in the duel. The fierce battle was underway on the stage, but Cheng Bingxin and Yue Lingers attention was focused in the middle of the queue of freshmen. Because Jiang Cheng was there. In the past, they had only seen him from a distance, but at the gymnasium, they finally got a close-up view of Jiang Cheng. Cheng Bingxin kept clicking her tongue in appreciation, Tsk tsk, hes quite handsome actually. It seemed that Jiang Cheng also noticed Yue Linger and Cheng Bingxin, as he waved at them. Upon seeing this, Cheng Bingxin immediately tugged at Yue Linger, eximing, Hey, he saw us! Stop it, said Yue Linger. How could Cheng Bingxin stop? She hade to enjoy the show. Without making a fuss, how could she enjoy it? But suddenly, a surge ofmotion broke Cheng Bingxins n as everyones attention turned towards the stage belonging to the Treasure and Talismans Academy. Standing on that stage was the second contestant to appear. That person was very familiar to Li Youyuan1002! The guy who said, I cant swim, I have to save myself! He was one of Li Youyuans key subjects of interest! And this person had registered for the Talisman Department! On the stage, 1002 pulled out a Reusable Type Talisman and started with a full-force activation, severely thrashing his opponenta volunteer seniorthroughout the fight! The arena was notrge, which was meant to encourage students to face the battle head-on instead of evading. After all, with the protection of the in Long Robe, nothing could go awry no matter how hard they fought. However, the downside of a small arena was that when one side was at a disadvantage, it became very difficult to turn the tables! The volunteer senior was cornered by 1002 and ended up in a situation where aeback seemed nearly impossible! As seniors from the same Talisman Department, Cheng Bingxin and Yue Linger immediately recognized the Reusable Type Talisman that 1002 was using. Thats a Reusable Type Golden Sword Talisman, right? Cheng Bingxin said. Yue Linger nodded her head. The Golden Sword Talisman, among the attack Talismans, belongs to a category with particrly strong offensive power. This Talisman imitates the sword energy shed out by Sword Cultivators, with quick speed, high attack power, and a wide attack range. The only drawback is themon issue with attack talismanshigh energy consumption. But high energy consumption can be withstood with ones own cultivation level. For example, 1002, at the ninth stage of Qi Cultivation, whenbined with Elixirs Just as Yue Linger thought of Elixirs, 1002 predictably took out an Elixir and swallowed it. ording to the examination rules of Lotus University, you can bring three Talismans, one Magical Treasure, and two Elixirs. The knowledgeable Cheng Bingxin immediately recognized the Elixir that 1002 brought out. Purple? A Top-grade Rejuvenation Elixir? Not cheap, right? A first-tier Top-grade Elixir costs a few hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, doesnt it? Really generous. A few hundred Spirit Stones, thats not too bad, Lady Yue said. Cheng Bingxin: ??? Arent you just here to beughed at? How did you manage to show off? And how did Yue Linger suddenly be so wealthy? Not even caring about a few hundred Spirit Stones? It has to be said, 1002s tactics were highly sessful, with powerful firepower suppressing the senior right from the start. More than half of the examination time had passed, and his in Long Robe was still as white as snow! The judges, including Mao Lang who came to watch Jiang Cheng, nodded slightly, acknowledging 1002s performance. Character is something, as long as you can be something of a person, thats enoughthe key is the actualbat performance! Liu Hu! What the hell are you doing? Getting bullied by a junior like this? Get your act together! If youre this timid, dont have the gall to im to be my dad anymore. Tonight, be a good son and prepare the foot-washing water for your dormitory fathers. These two were clearly friends of the senior who was getting beaten up in the arena, and their dissertation on fatherhood prompted a round ofughter. However, such words also stirred Liu Hus desire to win! Credits can be fudged, but he cant really be a son! He simply gave up on defense, formed a Spell with both hands, and an Earth Dragon attacked from behind, targeting 1002s lower body. 1002 did react, but Liu Hu used a movement technique to close in instantly, and the upper, middle, and lower Flying de Skill were thrown out! 1002 dodged two of them, but the lowest de still left a mark. A conspicuous dark sh was left on the snow-white robe. When the exam time ended, the judges shook their heads in disappointment. 1002s performance had been outstanding, whether it was the use of Talismans, the strength of his Cultivation Level, or hisbat experience. It was a pity that he was still hit in the end. Although it wasnt perfect, 1002 still achieved a high score of 95. Cheng Bingxin sighed, No one should be able to surpass him today, right? This is a 95 in abat examination were talking about! Yue Linger remained silent. Cheng Bingxin continued, Youre not thinking about your Jiang Cheng, are you? Hes only at the third stage of Qi Cultivation. How can he fight? Even the Golden Sword Talisman used by 1002, he wouldnt be able to release it many times at the third stage. Yue Linger shed a faint smile. Golden Sword Talisman? Only a fool would use such a clumsy thing. The fearsomeness of Jiang Cheng Yue Linger seemed to recall something, her pretty face blushing slightly, unconsciously clenching her thighs tightly together. Its something you all cannot possibly imagine! Anyway, that feeling, she never wanted to experience it again! Chapter 130: Martial Virtue, Promoting Both Martial Skills and Virtue Chapter 130: Martial Virtue, Promoting Both Martial Skills and Virtue Trantor: 549690339 Under the gaze of Cheng Bingxin, Yue Linger, Mao Lang, and Li Youyuan, number 1016, Jiang Cheng, finally stepped onto the long-awaited martial arts tform. Dressed in a white shirt, whichplemented his refined, amiable temperament and handsome, sunny appearance, Jiang Cheng instantly became the focus of many older female students. Setting aside examination results, at least in terms of temperament and image, Jiang Cheng had already won hands down. Those who were more handsome than Jiang Chengcked his charisma. Those who had more charisma than him, Im sorry, the talisman you are trying to reach is currently out of the service area. And that was just his appearance. When ites to inner qualities, Yue Linger was the most qualified to speak among those present. Typically, when male cultivators invited Yue Linger to dine, she wouldnt even bother to respond. But when Jiang Cheng invited Yue Linger to dinner, she not only had to make sure not to bete, but she also tried to dress up prettily, and if dinner went toote, shed consciously take her ID card, thinking of an excuse to deceive her roommates that she had legitimate reasons for staying out overnight That was the inner value of Jiang Cheng: he could make a female cultivator willingly take her ID card when she went out. The in long robes you are wearing have far greater defense capabilities than those at the Qi Cultivation Stage, so you dont need to worry about the consequences of being hit by the others spells, the examiner on the tform said to Jiang Cheng and his opponent. Jiang Cheng nodded, indicating that he understood. Actually, this years Lotus Universitysbat examination rules were very simple. Whoever could keep their robe from changing color would score higher. If the robe remained unchanged, that would be a perfect score. The concept of the robe changing color coincided perfectly with Jiang Chengs conception of Martial Virtue. Martial Virtue is about stopping at the right moment, aligning with the idea that the long robe wont change color if its not attacked. Indeed, thebat exam was about testing Martial Virtue! The uracy of Jiangs Fundamental Logic Analysis Method was once again undeniably proven! The examination time is five minutes. Lets start now! With the examinersmand, the tense and excitingbat examination began smoothly! However, to everyones surprise, Jiang Cheng, as the examinee, remained nonchnt and stood still. Ah? Why isnt he making a move? Right, shouldnt he be seizing the initiative? Could it be that hes nning to fight defensively? Mao Lang narrowed his eyes at Jiang Chengs unusual behavior, unable to understand it as well. Logically, a suppressive fighting style like number 1002s was the secret to a damage-free pass in thebat examination. Offense is the best defense; to avoid injury, one must thoroughly suppress the opponent, leaving them no chance to catch their breath. But Jiang Cheng didnt strike immediatelycould it be that he had some unique winning trick? Quite possibly, since he was at the third level of Qi Cultivation, a direct confrontation would not work. After much consideration, Mao Lang realized that he might indeed have misjudged Li Youyuan. It seemed that Jiang Cheng truly had something up his sleeve. Jiang Chengs inaction led his opponent to doubtfully look at the examiner. The examiner quickly said, Contestant number 1016, the examination has begun! Jiang Cheng nodded and said, I know, Im just thinking of my lines. Lines? What lines? You came here to fight, not to give a speech, right? Li Youyuan swallowed nervously; he had bought several types of talismans from Jiang Cheng, each of which was something he had never seen before. He only knew Jiang Cheng was up to something, but he didnt know what that something was, or how big of an impact it would have! Actually, we dont have to fight at all, Jiang Cheng said amicably, as long as you are willing to concede voluntarily. Then, I can choose not to take action. This is beneficial for both of us and is, indeed, the best oue. As Jiang Cheng finished, the crowd below instantly erupted in astonishment. Cheng Bingxin nudged Yue Lingers waist and said, Wow, your fellow townsman, hes really something! How can he, being at the Qi Cultivation Third Level, say such things to a senior at the Ninth Level? And hes not even nervous, hes even smiling? Hes really good at putting on a show! Yue Linger sighed and repeated what she had told Cheng Bingxin before, Is there a possibility that Jiang Cheng is simply telling the truth? Cheng Bingxin didnt believe her at all, But hes only at the Third Level of Qi Cultivation, what right does he have to say such things? Its obvious that hes the weaker party! In her heart, Yue Linger thought, Yes, hes at the Third Level of Qi Cultivation, and not only that, hes also got a second-ss award. Doesnt he make me, a Second Rank Talisman Master, diligently work for him? In the end, Yue Linger didnt exin too much but simply remarked with a sigh, True geniuses are entities that defy all logic. Everyone who underestimates them has to pay the price. The senior on the stage was clearly one of those people Yue Linger referred to as underestimating him. Upon hearing the big talk from Jiang Cheng, the senior even gave up his habitualbat stance and stood rxed, saying, Come on, junior, make your move. No matter how impressive your words, once youre on the ground yelling ow, no school sister will like you. Jiang Cheng nodded and cupped his hands, If thats the case, then I must offend you, senior. The senior chuckled, Hey, youre quite polite. Ill go easy on you so you wont lose too much face. Jiang Cheng smiled slightly but secretly took the seniors words to heart. Go easy on me? Hold back? Thats not eptable, its unfair and even involves cheating. Since this senior sincerely intends to break the rules, then he, Jiang Cheng, has no reason to hold back either. All ouws must be brought to justice! Jiang Cheng took out a talisman, and in full view of everyone, pinched it in his hand, then infused it with spiritual power in front of everyone and hurled it out. The Talismans effect turned into a streak of green light, hitting the senior across from him. End of story. Nothing happened. But below the stage, amotion had already erupted. Damn! Did he just add a Healing Talisman to his opponent? No, does he not want to pass the exam? Who uses a healing spell like that? After all that big talk earlier, I thought he had some powerful move. Is this it? Just forughs? Mao Langs eyelids twitched uncontrobly. What? Healing spells on his opponent? Though he had never seen such a Healing Talisman before. But this was truly too outrageous, wasnt it? Was this the promising seedling Li Youyuan talked about? Cheng Bingxin looked at Yue Linger with a stunned face. Yue Linger asked in confusion, Whats wrong? Your townsman, hes a real piece of work, Cheng Bingxin raised her thumb. Dont worry, that guy is about to concede defeat. Huh? Concede to someone at the Third Level of Qi Cultivation who just cast a healing spell on their opponent? Was he bribed or something? I cant imagine why else he would surrender. Aside from being bought off, theres no other exnation. However, just five seconds after Yue Lingers words fell, the senior across from Jiang Cheng began to tremble all over. Down below the stage, Yue Linger watched the man on the stage with a sense of empathy. The power of the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman can only be understood by those who have experienced it. Its a desire that originates from the bodys instincts and requires great effort to resist. Especially under the scrutiny of an audience, that desire bes something one would die to withstand. I, I surrender! I cant fight anymore! Theres no way I can keep fighting! Chapter 131 - 131 A New Way of Fighting Chapter 131: A New Way of Fighting Trantor: 549690339 The host of thebat assessment was bbergasted. He had seen many interrupted assessments, but he had never seen a support person voluntarily give up. And the support person was clearly the stronger, the advantaged party, yet inexplicably chose to concede. The host immediately warned, This student, withdrawing midway through the assessment means you wont get any credit. What the hell kind of credit, I dont want it anymore! The senior student jumped off the arena, tore off the in Long Robe he was wearing, threw it on the ground, and then instantly disappeared. Its as if a step slower in running would cost him his life. What? Whats going on? Director Li, how should we score this? The few grading teachers were immediately troubled and looked towards Li Youyuan. Li Youyuan thought to himself, how the heck would I know, Ive never encountered this situation either? Although Li Youyuan had already tried his best to anticipate the consequences Jiang Cheng could cause, he truly didnt expect this scene. However, as the organizer and the highest leader of the freshman assessment, the responsibility still had to fall on Li Youyuan. Having no alternative, he had to negotiate with Jiang Cheng, Student Jiang, our colleague assisting with the test might be feeling unwell, which is why he had to abandon the test. Heres what well do, take a little time to recover, and well retest. Jiang Cheng was very reasonable; when he heard the other person was unwell, he immediately agreed, Okay. But Mr. Li, I used up my Talismans just now. If we retest, can my Talismans be refreshed as well? Of course, you can absolutely use them once again. Jiang Cheng nodded, no problem then. As long as the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman could still be used, there wouldnt be much of an issue. If the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman couldnt be used, he would have to rely on the standby Talisman for the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman. If even the standby for the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman couldnt be used, he would have to activate the presetbinations in theposite Reusable Type Talismans. After the host announced the recement of the support testing personnel, the crowd around watching the drama immediately burst into discussion. So he was just feeling unwell? I thought he was reced for cheating. Hey, actually, aiding in cheating is a trivial matter; if he really got taken out by 1016, that would be terrifying. All this talk is useless; anyway, 1016 wont be so lucky next. Beat him up hard once youre up! Damn it, a show-off punk like 1016 should be trampled underfoot! Lets see if he still pretends! Cheng Bingxin looked at Yue Linger and said, Your fellow townsman doesnt seem very popr, huh? Yue Linger nodded, If you dont know him, you would indeed find him quite annoying. And if you do know him? Not annoying anymore? Yue Linger thought about herself, Liu Qing, Bai Xiaohe, and was too embarrassed to tell Cheng Bingxin. Anyway, none of the female cultivators she knew who were close to Jiang Cheng disliked him. Even someone as beautiful as Liu Qing had also fallen hard for Jiang Cheng, right? Meanwhile, Li Youyuan was still highly efficient at his job. Since there were originally four seniors for the support testing, each would take a turn fighting and then rest, rotating among themselves. When one was not suitable, Li Youyuan simply found the next one in line and urgently pushed him onto the arena. Jiang Chengsbat assessment began anew! Repeating his old tactic, Jiang Cheng said, I think it would be best for everyone if you just admitted defeat. Less talk, this time I wont wait for you to make the first move! Senior number two had been instructed by Li Youyuan not to learn from his predecessors mistakes. So senior number two positioned himself to attack Jiang Cheng right from the start. Jiang Cheng shook his head, not expecting this young senior to be so full of vigor. Since that was the case, Jiang Cheng stopped wasting words. He threw a Rxation Talisman straight away and took two steps back to the edge of the arena. The crowd under the arena instantly started boiling over again. Some people yelled that Jiang Cheng was a coward. Others marveled that Jiang Cheng had managed to apply a Healing Talisman on his opponent again. As a result, no one noticed that Senior No. 2s stomach growled, and then he was rooted to the spot. Hey, why have you stopped fighting? Fight him! What are you afraid of at the third level of Qi training? Exactly, hit him! Get moving already, damn it! Oh no, dont tell me this guy is also feeling unwell? Indeed, just like the one before him, Senior No. 2 threw caution to the windcredits, the director, teachers, assessments, be damned! While running, he stripped off his in long robe, sprinting as if racing against some invisible force in a life-or-death chase. Has another one given up on testing with Jiang Cheng? How, how are we supposed to grade this? Director Liu, these senior students you might want to ask for help from the examiners at the next tform. Just to be safe. Li Youyuan had no choice but to invite over the examiners from the Traditional Cultivation Academy, namely the Traditional Immortal Cultivation Academy. He did so casually. Surely, they couldnt also have an issue or have colluded with Jiang Cheng beforehand, right? The senior student from Traditional Cultivation stepped onto the tform and exchanged greeting gestures with Jiang Cheng. The test began! For the third time, Jiang Cheng repeated his stance of not striking first. Respected senior, if you are willing to admit defeat voluntarily, then I can choose not to make a move. This would be in both of our best interests and, frankly, the best oue. The Traditional Cultivation senior couldnt help butugh. Huh? Are the students from the Treasure and Talismans Academy this courageous now? ording tobat strength, shouldnt students from the Talismans Academy be clobbered by those from the Traditional Cultivation Academy? Sure enough, half a minuteter, this traditional cultivation senior was shedding his armor and running faster than a rabbit! Jiang Cheng stood proudly on the dueling tform, untainted and in white, even after three consecutive battleshis garment still as pristine as snow,pletely unspoiled! Not a single person could withstand a minute in front of him! The area below the Treasure and Talismans Academys tform fell into an eerie silence. To be honest, one or two defeats could still be joked about, but three in a rowhow could anyone make light of that? Especially since thest examiner had been hastily invited, it couldnt be that he too had an issue, right? The grading teacher had never seen such a situation before, and Li Youyuan felt a great headacheing on. Finally, one of the grading teachers spoke up, Students seem unreliable. Perhaps, we should invite a teacher to have a go? If even a teacher cant withstand Jiang Cheng, then we must acknowledge his skill. That way, we can fairly award the score. With that said, Li Youyuan had to go back to recruit someone once again. Luckily, he had collected plenty of fees this time. Several observers were teachers who had attended the event. An unexpected boon indeed. Fellow colleagues, who would be willing to join Jiang Cheng in a bout? Under normal circumstances, such a minor request would undoubtedly be weed; after all, it was no more than lifting a finger. However, now that all of Jiang Chengs opponents had turned tail and fled, the teachers were hesitant. To fight was easy, but what if they lost, how embarrassing it would be; and if they too ran away in a panic, the shame would be immense. With no other option, Li Youyuan was forced to turn to Mao Lang. Mr. Mao, you are a Talisman Master too. For the sake of our academy, you must take action this time. Seeing that the situation hade to this, Mao Lang had no choice but to step forward. Alright, let me personally test the mettle of this promising seedling. The main reason spurring Mao Lang to action was curiosity, curiosity about the talismans Jiang Cheng used. As a fellow Talisman Master, nothing could pique ones curiosity more than talismans. Jiang Cheng had repeatedly applied a Healing Talisman on his opponents, and it surely wasnt by ident. Rather, his talismans likely possessed some bizarre ability, a kind of Healing Talisman used on the opponents. With a n in his mind, now that Mao Lang understood the peculiar nature of the Healing Talisman, how could he fall for the same trick as the students? Ill use a second-tier No! A third-tier Purification Talisman ahead of time to increase my bodys resistance. Lets see how your strange talisman affects me then. Jiangd, today you shall witness the power of a third-tier Talisman Master! Chapter 132: The Great Buddha of Jiang Cheng Chapter 132: The Great Buddha of Jiang Cheng Trantor: 549690339 Although Mao Lang was not a numerical nner like Jiang Cheng, as an experienced Talisman Master, he was actually able to perceive a part of the Heavenly Law. Generally speaking, the higher the rank of a Talisman, the more powerful it is. This power is not just an increase in numbers, but an all-around enhancement! For example, a first-level Purification Talisman can only remove the residual poison from other first-level Talismans, but cannot directly dispel the effects caused by the first-level Talismans. However, if reced with a second-level Purification Talisman, it can directly dispel the effects of a first-level Talisman. If one goes even higher and uses a third-level Purification Talisman, then a first-level Talisman wouldnt even be able to produce effects within the residual might remaining after the use of the third-level Purification Talisman. Simply put, after the use of a third-level Purification Talisman, antibodies are produced, allowing one to directly immunize against first-level Talismans for a period of time. This purification mechanism was also the source of Mao Langs confidence. No matter what first-level Talisman you use, Jiang Cheng, they are nothing in front of my third-level Purification Talisman! Under the watchful eyes of Li Youyuan seeing him off, the expectant grading teachers, and the enthusiastic audience, Mao Lang applied a third-level Purification Talisman to himself in advance, suppressed his cultivation level, put on the Magical Treasure in long robe, and slowly walked up to the arena. Mao Lang was already Jiang Chengs fourth opponent. If Jiang Cheng could emerge unscathed once more, then his battle assessment score would be the most golden of all neers battle assessment scores in the history of Lotus University. After all, Mao Lang was no mere senioring to mix credit points but a real Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator, as well as an experienced third-level Talisman Master! Although both were at the third level, Mao Lang had greater potential than Lu Wang because he was younger! It was such a formidable Talisman Master who stood opposite Jiang Cheng, bing his opponent in this battle assessment. Jiang Cheng, as always, remained as immovable as a mountain. He even wore a smile, reciting his usual deration of not taking the initiative to attack. Respected teacher, as long as you are willing to concede defeat voluntarily, then I can choose not to make a move, he said. Mad! Damn, the one opposite is a professional teacher, and you still dare to talk like this! Utterly arrogant to the point ofwlessness! Even though the crowd below all doubted Jiang Chengs words, what was different this time was that no one booed him anymore. They had booed him time after time before, but each time, Jiang Cheng had counter-killed the seniors, proving that he indeed had something special. He wasnt just a clown freshman who only boasted. Now, Jiang Cheng was facing a professional teacher, and even though the teacher had suppressed his cultivation to the Qi-training level, it was still unknown by how many grades he was stronger than Jiang Cheng. Compared to the teacher easily defeating Jiang Cheng, the crowd preferred to see Jiang Cheng fighting tenaciously against the teacher and then winning with great difficulty! The crowd was, after all, more fond of spectacles. Whats the fun in a teacher defeating a student in a regr manner? Theyd rather see the student win! No matter what, Jiang Cheng was a student just like them, and besides, Jiang Cheng was handsome. Compared to the greasy middle-aged Uncle Mao Lang, it was naturally the sunny and handsome Jiang Cheng who was more rtable! Jiang Cheng, give grandpa a ferocious kill! Wow, Linger, how can your fellow countryman still manage to smile? Im so nervous for him! Cheng Bingxin said. He is always like this, Yue Linger replied. Jiang Cheng was always calm and confident, as if everything was under his control. Just by being at Jiang Chengs side, Yue Linger would involuntarily rx. Because everything was considered by Jiang Cheng for her, all she needed to do was empty her mind, follow behind him, and create value for him. 1016,e on, use whatever moves you have, Mao Lang said indifferently to Jiang Cheng from the arena. Jiang Cheng was calm. How could Mao Lang be in a hurry? Under the protection of the third-level Purification Talisman, any malicious first-level Talisman was nowhere to hide! Go ahead and use them? Jiang Cheng had never heard such a strange request. Since Mr. Mao was so enthusiastic, it would indeed be disrespectful not to use the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman properly. Jiang Cheng politely sped his fists and took out his Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman. With sharp eyes, Mao Lang noticed some patterns on Jiang Chengs Talisman. This Talisman seemed to be rted to muscles. No problem. He had thought it was some kind of offbeat Healing Talisman. It turned out to be nothing more than a routine Physical Enhancement Healing Talisman. Just a petty trick. And you dare to make a fool of yourself before my third-level Purification Talisman? Under the watchful eyes of the spectators at Lotus University Stadium, Jiang Cheng applied a Healing Spell to his opponent for the fourth time. In order to show respect for his opponent, Jiang Cheng even cast an additional spell on Mao Lang to prove that he, Jiang Cheng, was capable of using spells too, not just Talismans. Mao Lang calmly epted Jiang Chengs Healing Spell. On one hand, most individual healings were targeted attacks, and apart from Magic Defense Shield and Purification Spell, there was really no dodging the effects of healing. On the other hand, Mao Lang was confident in his third-level Purification Talisman. Why couldnt a third-level defeat a first-level? A first-level Talisman couldnt possibly Gurgle. Mao Langs stomach made a noise. Then, he felt his intestinal muscles moving at a maddening pace! The consequences of this motion made themselves rmingly clear within three secondseach and every brick was straining to the utmost. Mao Langs face was a picture of shock, Fuck! Why isnt the Purification Talisman working? Of course, the Purification Talisman couldnt work because Cao Wang had previously suffered the misfortune of it being ineffective! As an experienced third-level Talisman Master, Mao Lang quickly understood the effect of Jiang Chengs Talisman. His Healing Talisman must be for repairing muscles! And this positive effect of repair was beyond any Purification Talismans ability to cleanse! After all, whose Purification Talisman was designed to stop positive effects? But the most terrifying thing was that this positive effect, which resulted in elerated intestinal movement, was considered a bodily voluntary action. This once again bypassed the range of cleansing by the Purification Talisman! After all, whose Purification Talisman would prevent normal physiological activities? Mao Lang now looked at Jiang Cheng with a look of disbelief. If all the above designs were not coincidences, but intentional, it meant that this student called Jiang Cheng had an unbelievably profound understanding of the principles and mechanics of Talismans and various spells! Of course, the most important thing was that this guy didnt observe any Martial Virtue! He truly personified the words despicable and shameless to the extreme! But now, Mao Lang had no time to think further. He had to do his utmost to suppress his physiological urge. Otherwise, his name would resound throughout the Capital! If he couldnt hold back, the following conversation would ur: Student 1: Senior, which year are you from? Student 2: Im from the year of Mr. Maos Buhuai Haoyi incident. Student 3: What a coincidence, me too. Student 4: I was there at the scene. I was the one handing the teacher paper. Li Youyuan! I cant fight anymore! I concede! Find someone else to take over! Mao Lang made an urgent retreat from the stage and then found out that his limbs wouldnt obey him! When he tried to extend his left hand, he would extend his right hand, and when he tried to extend his left leg, he extended his right leg! The entire coordination mechanism of his body was thrown into chaos! Jiang Cheng revealed a smile. It seemed that his casually researched little spell worked quite well. [Name: Hand-Foot Disorientation Skill Rank: Qi Cultivation Type: Healing Spell Effect: Resets the coordination ability of the targets hands and feet, allowing them to reacquaint themselves with their body. Precautions: Not rmended for use when the target is in a rush, as its likely to attract excessive enmity.] Seeing Mao Lang step down and wanting to leave, Li Youyuan quickly went to stop him, Mr. Mao, what exactly is going on with 1016? Mao Lang directly demonstrated his Foundation Establishment Cultivation and forcibly reversed Jiang Chengs little spell, and then hurriedly said, Do whatever you want, but I cant stand this Jiang Cheng any longer! Let me pass! Dont stop me! Ahhh! Chapter 133: Only Full Marks Chapter 133: Only Full Marks Trantor: 549690339 Mao Lang voluntarily gave up his match against Jiang Cheng, and the entire arena at the Treasure and Talismans Academy fell into a unified silence. This silencested so long that it even caught the attention of the arenas of other departments nearby. Mr. Li, may I ask if my score for this match is valid? Jiang Cheng, d in white, stood atop the high tform and politely inquired of Li Youyuan. Li Youyuan looked at the scoring teacher. The scoring teacher looked at Li Youyuan. Li Youyuan looked at the guest teacher. The guest teacher looked at Li Youyuan. Li Youyuan looked at Jiang Cheng on the tform. Jiang Cheng revealed a smile, understandingly saying, Its alright, I can certainly continue fighting. Those present took a sharp breath upon hearing Jiang Chengs tone. What do you mean, you can keep fighting until the end of time? Stop fighting, lets just leave it at that! Li Youyuan had grown fearful of Jiang Cheng. From the current situation, although it was unclear what despicable means Jiang Cheng had used, the oue was evident. No matter how many more matches were fought, Jiang Chengs opponents would always, as if under a powerful unbeatable influence, tacitly give up the match, thus securing Jiang Chengs victory. You all assign the score. If anyone objects, they cane up and fight Jiang Cheng! Li Youyuan told the few scoring teachers. Initially, there were indeed some scoring teachers who were not quite convinced, considering the way Jiang Cheng had won the matches was hardly something to be epted withoutint. However, the thought of objecting by getting up there to fight made them reconsider. On second thought, wasnt Jiang Chengs victory quite reasonable? Who said that inducing your opponent to give up didnt count as winning? Turning a blind eye, there was no need to be at odds with oneself. The scoring teachers nced at Jiang Chengs spotless white robe and, after a brief hesitation, all gave him perfect scores. It wasnt that they wanted to award Jiang Cheng full marks, but rather they simply couldnt find a reason to deduct any. Jiang Cheng had used only one talisman and one spell from start to finish, both of which hit their mark, and their effectiveness was significant C how could they deduct points for that? Although the scoring teachers very much disliked Jiang Chengs style ofbat and did not wish to encourage subsequent students to fight like him, they couldnt find any reason to deduct points. After all, this guy had even managed to be polite, respectful to opponents, and had put friendship first. It was as if he had taken the test precisely ording to the requirements for a perfect score. So, they had no choice but to give him full marks. Having sent away the formidable presence that was Jiang Cheng, thebat assessments at the Treasure and Talismans Academy continued. Even though the subsequent student fights were quite spectacr, the audience couldnt help but feel a sense of loss. It was as if, after witnessing Jiang Chengs courteous fighting, the other matches, with their grunts and swearing, seemed barbaric and crude. Jiang Cheng, dressed in white, one admonition, one talisman, one victory. The impression he left was indeed profound. Behold, what is the art ofbat C this, this is the art ofbat! Afterpleting his examination, Jiang Cheng did not hurry away but went to meet Yue Linger and Cheng Bingxin, who were waiting for him outside the gymnasium. Compared to Yue Linger, Cheng Bingxin even gave off an impression of being more familiar with Jiang Cheng. Hey! Your name is Jiang Cheng, right? Im Cheng Bingxin, Yue Lingers ssmate, roommate, and close friend whom she shares everything with! Cheng Bingxin reached out her hand to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng shook her hand gently and properly, saying, Nice to meet you, Senior Cheng. Cheng Bingxin patted Jiang Chengs arm, Little brother, I am your senior from the previous year, also specializing in Talismans! Jiang Cheng nodded, Yue mentioned that to me. Cheng Bingxin nced at Yue Linger, Arent you close with Linger? Why so distant with Yue this and Yue that? Jiang Cheng shook his head, Were quite familiar, but Ive always held Yue Linger in great esteem, so Ive been calling her Yue this whole time. Cheng Bingxin waved dismissively and said, No need to be so formal, from now on you can call her Senior Yue, or if you like, Linger Senior would also do. After saying this, Cheng Bingxin revealed a mischievous grin, Otherwise, you could just call her Linger, I wouldnt mind that either. Calling someone by their nickname is undoubtedly something that only very close people would do. Yue Linger pinched Cheng Bingxins soft flesh in secret, retaliating for her deliberate mischief. However, Jiang Cheng said to Yue Linger, Yue, may I call you that? Yue Linger thought to herself, No, no, if you call me like that, we wont be able to keep our rtionship a secret! Rumors will fly all over Lotus Universityter! But when it came to rejecting him, Yue Linger, with her eyes growing wider as she stared into Jiang Chengs eyes, found she couldnt utter a word. Her old problem had red up again. It seemed like she just couldnt refuse Jiang Cheng, no matter what he asked of her! Including the time Jiang Cheng called herte at night with amunication talisman, asking her toe over. She knew it wasnt proper for a female cultivator to be so casual, but in the end, she resigned herself to it, and found herself at Jiang Chengs house, at his beck and call. If you dont mind, then go ahead, she said, turning her head away and gritting her teeth. Cheng Bingxin, full of anticipation, said, Jiang, call her, lets hear it. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Yue. Cheng Bingxin: ? No, no, after all that back-and-forth with Yue Linger, shouldnt you have taken the opportunity to decisively call her Linger and absolutely corner her? Why are you calling her Yue at this pointare you brainless, or is your brain just not functioning? Do you even know how to flirt with a girl! Upon hearing Yue, Yue Linger felt a sense of loss, but externally, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. If Jiang Cheng had truly called her Linger, then she could forget about ever raising her head in front of Cheng Bingxin in her college life. But it was clear Cheng Bingxin wasnt going to let it go. There was definitely something fishy going on between Yue Linger and Jiang Cheng; their rtionship was absolutely more than just fellow townsfolk, senior-junior, or acquaintances. It had to be! At the very least, it was a case of unspoken affection! There had to be a grand emotional drama! Like Yue Linger, the senior who descended from the skies, meddling in the rtionship between Jiang Cheng and his childhood sweetheart or something like that! As Yue Lingers best friend, Cheng Bingxin naturally hoped for Yue Linger to win. Lovers should end up together! Yue Linger, go for it fiercely for Mama! But seeing how useless Yue Linger was acting, Cheng Bingxin was getting frustrated. If you like someone, just say it. If youre hesitant and beating around the bush, you deserve to be the loser! You, Yue Linger, have the looks, the body, the grades, and a clean te when ites to loveits foolproof. If you just confessed openly, how could anyone refuse you? Could it be Jiang Chengs issue? Does he not like women? Cheng Bingxin looked at Jiang Cheng skeptically. His gaze was particrly clear; he looked at her and Yue Linger, two great beauties, as if he hadnt seen them at all. Very strange. She had to test him. Jiang, Ill take you under my wing from now on. Dont you feel like showing some initiative? Cheng Bingxin said. Uh, how should I show it? he asked. How about the Immortal Sect Tea House outside of school? Both Linger and I have been at Lotus University for a year now and havent dared to go, she replied. Yue Linger tugged at Cheng Bingxin, signaling her to stop causing trouble. Immortal Sect Tea House was pricey; they didnt need to gouge Jiang Cheng like that. But Jiang Cheng nodded right away and said, Sure, whatever you say, senior. Cheng Bingxins eyes lit up. Thats my boyinviting her without a second thought. He must have real feelings for Yue Linger! And not just a little bit at that! Chapter 134: Jiang Cheng Carries His Own Traffic Chapter 134: Jiang Cheng Carries His Own Traffic Because Jiang Chengs exams were scheduled rtively early, even after treating Yue Linger and Cheng Bingxin to lunch, when he returned home, it was just noon. As an artist in time management, Jiang Cheng always managed and arranged his time well. For example, he usually fed Snake around noon, so he would subconsciously control the pace of his activities when outside. This led to his returning home around noon. Jiang Cheng ced the little cake he had packed from Immortal Sect Tea House on the table and said to Liu Qing, This is for lunch. I just ate with Yue, so I wont join you. Hearing Jiang Cheng would not be eating, Liu Qing on the balcony did not even feel the desire to move. She didnt need to eat anyway; if Jiang Cheng wasnt eating, there was no necessity for her to eat alone. Seeing Snake motionless, Jiang Cheng thought something was wrong. Liu Qing, this cake is quite tasty. If its left out too long, it will affect the vor. Its better to eat it now. Not hungry. Eating meals on time is a good habit. It prevents stomach diseases. Stomach disease? Liu Qing had never heard of the term stomach disease before, and as far as she knew, no snake had ever suffered from such an ailment. It wont happen, she said. Even though Jiang Cheng was officially the boss, he did not have the nerve to force a powerful monster to do anything. Without any other option, since Liu Qing didnt want to eat, Jiang Cheng put the cake in the refrigerator and said, Ive put it in the fridge. Remember to eat when youre hungry. There are no assessments this afternoon, so Im going to cultivate for a while in my room. Okay. Once Jiang Cheng returned to his room, Liu Qing on the balcony sun lounger turned over. She looked at the empty, quiet living room and unconsciously furrowed her brows slightly. Lately, Jiang Cheng was always out early and backte, and once home, he diligently practiced cultivation. With no one to talk to and nothing to work on, she felt quite bored. Liu Qing sat up from the sun lounger, stretching her slender arms upward, disying an unhealthy posture with abandon. Hmm~ She stretchednguidly, eyes on Jiang Chengs room. The walls were no impediment to her sight; if she wanted to, she could see everything Jiang Cheng was doing clearly. Watching Jiang Cheng diligently cultivating, Liu Qing wondered, could it be that once Jiang Cheng advanced in his practice, he would be free to spend time with her? Speeding up the cultivation of someone in the Qi Cultivation Stage was nothing more than the flick of a finger for Liu Qing. However, she knew that Jiang Cheng was a down-to-earth person who didnt like shortcuts. Helping him improve his cultivation level without his consent might lead to his dislike. Liu Qing thought it would be better to wait on her own rather than risking Jiang Chengs disapproval. She preferred to be bored herself than to cause trouble for a friend. Jiang Cheng had been so kind to her; she could not let her own whims disrupt him on the sly. Perhaps staying quiet was the best help she could offer him. Liu Qing thought so under the sun. Inside the bedroom, Jiang Cheng answered themunication talisman; it was a call from Yue Linger. Yue Linger: Jiang Cheng, sorry, my friend, shes too lively. No problem. Shes your friend after all, and its my responsibility to take good care of her. If you dont want to do it next time, just refuse her directly. Wouldnt that put you in a difficult position, Yue? No, no. As long as it doesnt inconvenience you. Jiang Cheng spoke sincerely, Its not a bother at all. The friend of Yue is also my friend, and shes wee to visit me anytime. Yue Linger quickly intervened to stop Jiang Chengs dangerous thought, Dont ever say that in front of her, shell take it seriously and actually go! On the balcony, Liu Qing blinked her eyes. Then, a small bird miraculously passed through the balconys ss andnded at Liu Qings feet. Chirp, chirp, it said. Im fine, Im doing well, Liu Qing told the little bird. Chirp, chirp, the bird spoke again. Dont worry. Chirp. Alright. The little bird hopped twice, passed through the ss again, and flew away under Liu Qings gaze. Communication talismans are amon method of contact among the Human Race, but theyre not suitable for all kinds ofmunication. For example, for long-distance and ultra-long-distancemunication, as well as for encrypted contacts, and so on. Simrly, the Demon Race naturally has its own means ofmunication. Especially in situations where stealthy encryption and long distances are required. After all,pared to the Human Race, the Demon Race is weaker and less keen on overt operations. Moreover, the distance between Liang Kingdom and Mount Tian is not a short one. On September 22nd, 3210 of the Liang Calendar, Jiang Cheng participated in the third day of the new student assessment. If nothing unexpected happens, today would also be thest day of his assessment as a new student. This morning, the assessment is for hands-on ability, and in the afternoon, decryption. After the assessments, new students from other batches will continue with their tests on scheduled dates, but Jiang Chengs first batch only needs to wait for the ss cement results on September 30th, and the official enrollment is on October 1st. Based on Jiang Chengs estimation, even with three perfect scores, his situation is still not optimistic. He needs to score at least sixty or higher in the next two assessments to confidently enter Lotus Cloud University. Now that the journey is more than halfwaypleted, there is certainly no reason to quit halfway. Free from arrogance and impatience, striving to pass the test with one final effort, is Jiang Chengs way of doing things. Before Jiang Cheng and a host of candidates arrived at the hands-on ability exam venue, Lotus Universitys venue for the hands-on ability test was already packed with people. College students, well, they understand. In all fields, some are busy to death, others idle to death, some parched to death, and some flooded to death. Some are busy with the student council, submitting homework,peting, or socializing. Some are one short of a foursome today, and tomorrow they wake upte, and the day after: Teacher, Im poor, please help.jpg. Not to mention romantic rtionships. Some can redeem their hotel spending points for a national travel ticket. Others scratch their heads and ask, Can I take the candy on the nightstand? How many eights in the secret love code? The news of Jiang Cheng taking on four people single-handedly and fighting so well that Mr. Mao admitted defeat voluntarily spread yesterday, immediately causing a sensation among the fun-loving crowd at Lotus University. It also quickly became a topic of conversation in many seniors and juniors dorms. Had Jiang Cheng simply been strong, in fact, no one would have cared. Lotus University,cking everything but exceptional students, would not be interested. But the most important thing about Jiang Cheng is that hes both handsome and funny, satisfying the vast publics desire for pleasant aesthetics, while also providing augh with his refined sensibilities. Students like Jiang Cheng, who inherently carry the germ of artistry and a natural talent for creating a stir, trulye once in a century. Just as the famous thinker Lei Buxiao realized in On Jiang Cheng. When Jiang Cheng is in front of you, you cant resist the urge to beat him; but when hes on your team, everything suddenly bes wonderful. Anyway, theyre here for entertainment, not as the recruiting teachers, so naturally, the more fun, the better. Chapter 135: Trust me, choose Jiang Cheng Chapter 135: Trust me, choose Jiang Cheng This years Hands-on Ability examination question involved Leap Over the Cliff, which required students to use theponents provided by the academy to assemble a device that could assist them in leaping over the cliff. The ready-madeponents provided by the academy, in theory, could be assembled into a basic Flying Boat or a Flying Backpack or simr devices. It allowed students to sessfully Leap Over the Cliff without relying on spells or their personal Magical Treasures. However, when put into practice in the actual assessment, students could fully utilize their own spells or Magical Treasures, in addition to theponents provided by the academy, toplete the assessment together. The more stable,posed, and safe the students abilities to Leap Over the Cliff were, the more it demonstrated their active thinking, problem-solving abilities, and hands-on ability, and naturally, they could obtain higher scores. As the Leap Over the Cliff topic required a cliff, the location for this question was set in the back mountain of Lotus University. The school-built artificial mountain served as one cliff, and the rooftop of the teaching building as the other, thus efficiently securing the examination venue under the leadership of Li Youyuan from the admissions office. At this time, the area outside the back mountains examination site was bustling with onlookers. They were all there for entertainment. The senior students who arrivedte could hardly see the situation in front. Unfortunately, Yue Linger and Cheng Bingxin were among those who arrivedte. Standing on tiptoes and still unable to see Jiang Cheng in front, Yue Linger said to Cheng Bingxin, Why dont we forget it, Jiang Cheng has already gotten three full marks, hes sure to get into Lotus University. Cheng Bingxin looked around and, spotting the nearby Immortal Research Building of Lotus University, suggested, Lets go to the rooftop to watch! The two sneakily entered the Immortal Research Building, which housed many of the senior students workshops and quite a few teachersboratories, mainly engaged in the innovative research of Immortal Law. Of course, thesebs couldntpare with the monstrous creations of someone like Jiang Cheng, but the process of Immortal Law innovation was typically trialed over and over again in such environments. When Cheng Bingxin and Yue Linger got to the top of the Immortal Research Building, they discovered to their surprise that others had already upied the area! Several teachers had arrived early and settled in to watch the grandeur of the freshman assessment from afar. Mao Lang introduced Jiang Cheng enthusiastically to his colleague Liu Lingshen, saying, Lingshen, believe me, Jiang Cheng is absolutely the most outstanding student in this batchs Talisman drawing specialty. An essential choice for the department! Liu Lingshen, a third-order Talisman Master, was this years Counselor for the second ss of the Talisman drawing specialty. As colleagues, how could Liu Lingshen not know Mao Lang? If Jiang Cheng were truly some kind of talent, Mao Lang would have secretly transferred him to his own ss long ago. Why would he still be rmending him? It was more likely that Mao Lang had ulterior motives. Although Liu Lingshen was prepared to be extra cautious, to deceive his rival, he still responded with a smile, Thats wonderful! With Brother Maos rmendation, could there be any doubt? Well certainly take Jiang Cheng for our ss! Mao Lang was taken aback, thinking how could he agree so readily? He felt a bit of regret at the moment. But he soon came to a realization. Jiang Cheng was a talent, butpared to his talent for drawing Talismans, he had two significant, indelible weaknesses! The first was inferior aptitude! Cultivating for eighteen years and still only at the third level of Qi training, such aptitude meant an end to his path in Cultivating Immortality. A Cultivator stuck at Qi training stage, no matter how much they were hyped up, would at best be a second-order Talisman Master, not even on par with Mao Lang himself, certainly not worth the investment. Unless some expert decided to invest in Jiang Cheng without counting the cost and forcefully lifted his Cultivation Level, his achievements in the way of Talismans would be directly limited by his cultivation. But obviously, that was impossible. Not being rted, why would anyone spend so much money on Jiang Cheng? The second point, he didnt act like a proper person! There was no doubting Jiang Chengs natural talent for drawing Talismans. But, what kind of talismans did he draw? Was there even one that was proper? If he continued like this, sooner orter he would cause big trouble! As a university Counselor, Mao Lang naturally had a duty of responsibility linked to his students. If Jiang Cheng were only causing trouble at school, that would be one thing, but if this kid managed to offend other powers outside the school during his time here, such as the Sea Tribe in the eastern seas. Then his Counselor would be in for a world of hurt! After carefully assessing the risks and rewards, Mao Lang felt that Jiang Cheng was still a better fit for Liu Lingshens ss. Counselor Liu was bold yet meticulous, making him very suitable for a talent inpliance with the Immortal Law like Jiang Cheng. He specialized in handling all kinds of nonpliance. His temple was too small to amodate a Buddha as grand as Jiang Cheng. In the midst of heated discussions among Talisman Creation Counselors, the first batch of students, including Jiang Cheng, began the official assessment of their hands-on ability! Simr to the aesthetics assessment, the format of the hands-on ability assessment was also batch-based. Groups of ten students would craft their tools at the same time, and then proceed to Leap Over the Cliff in the order of their number tags. Since thebat assessment was divided by departments, the order of thebat exam didnt count. Based on the reverse order of batches in the aesthetic assessment, the order for the hands-on ability assessment reasonably became front to back. Jiang Cheng, with number 1016, was scheduled in the second batch of this morning. Before Jiang Cheng, fifteen candidates had already attempted to Leap Over the Cliff. At themand of the assessment host, the first batch of ten candidates dashed to the parts disy table prepared by the admissions office. The table showcased various parts, simple ones like ropes, hooks, and springs. Andplex ones, such as pre-packaged Spiritual Power Jet Modules, wooden boards fitted with miniature Buoyancy Arrays, and Magical Treasures in the form of chairs capable of directional ejection. Half an hour passed, and the first batch of students began to enter the results presentation phase. in Jane candidate number 1001 was first to appear. He created a run-of-the-mill Flying Chair, strapping two Spiritual Power Jet Modules to the Magical Treasure chair. Activating the jet modules and controlling their direction, he wobbled and hovered in mid-air. Although he ultimately did notplete the Leap Over the Cliff objective, he had achieved the purpose of demonstrating hands-on ability. Candidate 1001 ultimately scored 55 points. The second to perform was the powerful candidate 1002, who tied a rope around a rectangr Spiritual Power Jet Module and then stuck a Herculean Strength Talisman to himself. His strength surged instantaneously, allowing him to throw the jet module onto the rooftop of the opposite teaching building. It must be said that candidate 1002 had quite a knack for throwing, as the jet module hooked perfectly onto the railing, and then candidate 1002 publicly reverted to his ancestry, transforming into Tarzan and climbing to the opposite side along the rope. Candidate 1002pleted the Leap Over the Cliff. Candidate 1002 ultimately received 15 points. The evaluation read, Zero points for hands-on ability, 15 points in recognition of courage. Following 1002 was the Sword-Loving Superman candidate 1003. Candidate 1003, who registered for the Treasure Department, whipped out his most cherished sword Magical Treasure. Unlike others who used the parts provided by the admissions office to assemble a tool, 1003s approach centered around his Magical Treasure, utilizing the parts to modify it. This was a better strategy. After all, candidates were not familiar with others parts, and even if they managed to assemble them, they would not be easy to control. It would be better to use a familiar Magical Treasure as the main body and modify it toplete the exam task. However, what no one expected was that 1003s modification was to beautify and upgrade his sword with the parts! As a Magical Treasure in the form of a sword, it already possessed the ability to fly! Clearing the Leap Over the Cliff was effortless! Li Youyuan gave candidate 1003 a thumbs up. Well done, staying true to your original aspiration, huh? Candidate 1003 finally scored 25 points. The evaluation read, Fifty points for hands-on ability, -25 points awarded to the candidate who loves to show off on the examination field. Chapter 136: Jiang Cheng’s Understanding Is Still Perfect Chapter 136: Jiang Chengs Understanding Is Still Perfect Although the performance of some candidates in the first batch was rather ludicrous, fortunately, their scores were reliably tallied. You exhausted all your tricks, and I scored as if divinely assisted. Everyone has a bright future ahead. However, the candidates in the second batch were different. Among them was the much-anticipated 1016Jiang Cheng! The wonder of this contendery in the fact that he could use the Shackled Servant in his performance and still receive an outrageous score! As the host announced the start of the assessment, the ten candidates of the second batch immediately rushed to the designated area for cingponents and tool development. While everyone else busied themselves with gusto, Jiang Cheng stood still, just like in the aesthetic assessment, and slowly exhaled. Honing the axe will not dy the work of cutting firewood; rather than diving straight into the task, Jiang Cheng nned to rify his thoughts onest time and thenplete his work in one go. ording to Jiangs Fundamental Logic Analysis Method, this Leap Over the Cliff undoubtedly tested a candidates pursuit of beauty and art. If one were to simply assemble a bunch of parts andbine them with Magical Treasures and Talismans to achieve the leap, that would be far too simple. Isnt it the same if 1002, the barbarian, just throws it toplete the mission? So why didnt 1002 score high? The answer is obvious, because its not beautiful, not pretty, not elegant, andcks artistic quality! Therefore, this assessment is undoubtedly about the beauty in morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics, andbor! That raises the question. What is beauty? How can leap be demonstrated with elegance and artistic quality? Art, first and foremost, was not Jiang Chengs strong suit. Except for the abstract. However, Jiang Chengs strength remained his ability to learn. As a game designer on Earth, he had seen and known a lot, so why not just learn a process of leaping? Having conceived a design concept for the prop, Jiang Cheng immediately took out his Composite Reusable Talisman to get down to business! Jiang Chengs Composite Reusable had a total of nine grades designed. The ninth grade was the previously used Furniture War God Talisman. And now, Jiang Cheng touched the Composite Reusable, switching its mode to the seventh grade! [Name: Talisman Army Training Talisman (Composite Reusable Type?Grade Seven) Rank: First Order Type: Summoning Effect: Grants simple spirit to an object through the talisman, enabling it to understand simplemands and carry out basic movements. Notice: After using this talisman, be wary of the threat from the Non-living Object Protection Organization.] Jiang Cheng used the Spell Training Talisman three times in a row to endow three wooden boards with temporary spirits. And then Li Youyuan charged over! Jiang Cheng! Li Youyuan said with an aggressive air. At the same time, his face disyed a cruel smile that seemed associated with phrases such as exacting vengeance and ying the murderer. Haha! Youve met your match today! Ive finally caught you slipping! Jiang Cheng, stop what youre doing! Facing the head of the admissions office, Jiang Cheng, although confused, chose to respectfully halt his activities. Whats the matter, Mr. Li? Jiang Cheng asked amicably. Whats the deal with this reusable talisman? What? Still ying dumb, huh? During your artistic examination earlier, was this the talisman you used? Thats right. Jiang Cheng nodded. There, now youve admitted itcaught red-handed! Li Youyuan eximed loudly. With Li Youyuans mor, Jiang Cheng, who was already very conspicuous, now became the center of attention for everyone present. Even the candidates who were still taking their exams had to nce over at Jiang Chengs situation asionally, managing to watch the spectacle without missing a beat in their exam. Caught red-handed? What are you talking about? Jiang Cheng didnt understand. Still trying to argue your way out, huh? During your artistic examination, you used a reusable talisman that could control water, but now, your reusable talisman has changed to one that enhances wood! Theres nothing wrong with using a reusable talisman, but, ording to the examination rulesid out by our admissions office, you are only allowed to use one magical treasure, which is a single reusable talisman! Li Youyuans voice was firm and powerful, the kind that one listens to and immediately recognizes as belonging to the morally upright. Jiang Cheng just smiled and didnt stoop to Li Youyuans level. He exined in a calm and gentle tone, Mr. Li, I did indeed use only one reusable talisman. Its just that my talisman can switch effects. Upon hearing this, Li Youyuan was so shocked that his eyes widened. A reusable talisman that can switch effects? Stop pulling my leg! Its as if nobody has ever used a reusable talisman before! Around them, some onlooking seniors started to chime in righteously, Im a Talisman Master major, howe I dont know that a reusable talisman can switch effects? A female student retorted, No, no, I think there really is such a thing. Its just that reusable talismans capable of switching effects are generally not very practical, since material wear and tear issues have never been solved, so they cant bemercialized. Its not rmended for study. Then why havent I heard about it, and why hasnt the teacher taught it? Is it possible that the teacher cant draw it? What the fuck, our third-order Talisman Master teacher cant draw it? Hes what, a 1016th order Talisman Master and he can?! What makes you think he cant? Do you know him? Theres no way he can draw it! The audiences arguments grew more and more intense while Jiang Cheng snapped back to reality, as if waking from a dream. ording to that senior sister, did he essentially reinvent the wheel under his cloistered efforts? Could it be that the Composite Reusable Talisman had already been invented before? Jiang Cheng thought about it and then dropped the issue. He has always pursued practicality, not titles like xx inventor or xx founder. Who invented the Composite Reusable Talisman doesnt matterits good as long as it works. Jiang Cheng raised the Composite Reusable Talisman in his hand and addressed Li Youyuan, including those who were enjoying the spectacle of the exam, Alright, alright, lets stop arguing. Ill demonstrate to everyone that this Composite Reusable Talisman in my hand can indeed achieve many different talisman effects. Having said that, Jiang Cheng adjusted the Composite Reusable Talisman back to the ninth setting and then smoothly activated the Dragon Talisman feature. The Dragon Talisman picked up a nk, controlled its flight, and then suspended it in mid-air. Mr. Li, look, this is the talisman I used during the artistic examination. Ive named it the Furniture War God Talisman. Since Ive put this talisman in the Composite Reusable Talisman, its not on our ban list. Li Youyuan swallowed nervously to himself, thinking it was lucky that it wasnt on the list, or hed have to sell his house. After finishing, Jiang Cheng switched the Composite Reusable Talisman to the sixth setting to show Li Youyuan another effect. The sixth setting of the Composite Reusable Talisman is a conventional Call Fire Talisman, which wasnt invented by Jiang Cheng. However, he optimized it to make the firerger and more spectacr in shape but less powerful. In short, it became a cool but useless talisman. After demonstrating three effects in a row, Jiang Cheng wanted to continue the exam, so he stopped temporarily to conserve some spiritual power. Mr. Li, I didnt lie to you, did I? Li Youyuan nodded. He admitted that he had been a bit arrogant just a moment ago. He hoped Jiang Cheng was magnanimous and wouldnt decide to sell individual talismans from his reusable talisman during freshmen assessments. It wasnt easy even for him, who had been a director for so many years, to buy a set of rooms in the Capital. Dont just fleece him! Mr. Li, now that youve confirmed theres nothing wrong with my talisman, can I continue with the examination? Jiang Cheng asked. Li Youyuan of course nodded and said Yes, and even prepared to extend Jiang Chengs examination time. After all, just proving the effectiveness of his talismans had taken quite a bit of effort. But Jiang Cheng confidently waved his hand and said, No need, the remaining time is enough for me to prepare. The onlookers with a penchant for amusement muttered, Damn it, hes going to show off again, isnt he? Chapter 137 - 137 Uncertain, Have Another Look Chapter 137: Uncertain, Have Another Look After a brief interlude, the Leap Over the Cliff examination proceeded as usual! Following a frenzied thirty minutes of props preparation, it was time for the candidates to present their results one by one. In Jiang Chengs batch, the first contestant was number 1011. 1011 was a new student at the Traditional Cultivation Academy. He had made a pair of wings using parts provided by the admissions office. It seemed he nned to rely on his strength advantage, imitating a bird with a rge force flings a brick tactic, and forcefully flutter himself across to the other side. However, this n clearly fell through. 1011 leapt off the mountaintop with great momentum, plunging down all the way. ording to his n, he should have borrowed the light wind to ascend to the high skies! But in reality, the wings dered the dream of 200 pounds too heavy to carry. 1011pleted the first gravity eleration test experiment of his life with a near textbook-perfect verticalnding. Fortunately, with Core Formation Stage teachers supervising, such hijinks werent a big issue. When 1011s head was just five centimeters from the ground, a teacher grabbed him by the ankle and hoisted him back up. To everyones delight, 1011 scored an impressive 60 points! He had clearly outscored ancestral regression candidate 1002 and skin painting for you candidate 1003. Logically, although 1002 and 1003 had different methods, they both sessfully leaped over the cliff; hence, their scores should have been higher than 1011s. Yet, the failed 1011 ended up with a higher score than both 1002 and 1003. To the average person, this might seem inexplicable. But by applying Jiangs Fundamental Logic Analysis Method, the conclusion bes clear: the hands-on ability examination evaluates artistry and aesthetics in their achievements. Therefore, its not difficult toe to the same scoring conclusion. In ancient times, Icarus regretfully fell into the sea when the sun melted his wings; and now we have 1011, struggling to fly while pulled by Earths gravity. One with astronomy, the other with geography, truly understanding the invisible wings like the match of Crouching Dragon, Hidden Phoenix. After the appetizer came to a close, the main courseJiang Cheng, number 1016was finally served. Jiang Cheng didnt conjure up anything bizarre; the props he prepared were inly disyed before everyone all along. Three wooden nks, three wooden sticks, one thin wooden board. The wooden board was a simple magical treasure with a floating formation. Its sole function was to hover; it couldnt even change direction or move. But such a clumsy magical treasure wasnt difficult for Jiang Cheng to use. With the Talisman Army Training Talisman, any small, non-living object could be endowed with a mechanical soul for a short period. Jiang Cheng went to the presentation spot. Here, only a step away from the cliff edge of Leap Over the Cliff, and on the other side, thirty meters across, was the rooftop of the teaching buildingthe endpoint of this journey. This candidate, you can rest assured and demonstrate; there are Core Formation Stage teachers for protection, you dont have to worry about life-threatening danger. Jiang Cheng nodded, didnt waste words, and immediately tossed out the wooden nks he had been training with. The first to position itself was therge hovering wooden nk, followed by the three thicker sticks. The well-trained sticks automatically settled into the slots Jiang Cheng had carved on therge nk. Thest three thin nks then consecutively fell onto the sticks. Jiang Cheng walked to the edge of the cliff and, under the gaze of all, he lifted a foot and stepped onto the first wooden nk. Then, something exhrating happenedJiang Cheng stood on one foot atop the strange flying device he had crafted. There was no wobble, nor was there a fall; at least he managed to hover sessfully! With this fundamental effect, Jiang Chengs minimum score for the examination was secure. Without daring to hope for more, at least thirty points were within reach. That alone was enough to trounce candidates 1002 and 1003. However, Jiang Chengs performance was not yet over. He attempted to ce his other foot on the second wooden nk ahead. As expected, he sessfully took his first step on his wooden flying machine! Then, Jiang Cheng lifted his foot again. He lifted, stepped down, andnded on the third nk, which was also thest one! At the same time, the true purpose of the flying machine began to unfold! When Jiang Cheng stepped on the third nk, the first nk and the wooden pir that supported it cleverly flew to the front, forming a fourth step! One, two, three, one, two, three The three nks cycled in this way. Each time Jiang Cheng stepped forward, a new nk would appear under his feet. And after Jiang Chengpleted two cycles, the lowest floating nk would rotate around a wooden pir as its center, resetting the slots used by the advancing wooden pirs. In the process where the small nks and pirs cycled, and therge temte rotated on schedule. Jiang Cheng walked as if on t ground, strolling leisurely toward the rooftop of the teaching building some thirty meters away. He was in perfect sync with the training nks, his movements smooth and continuous, even silkier than a lubricated Dove chocte. As a result, Jiang Chengs entire Leap Over the Cliff seemed quite effortless. He was just walking, moving forward, and before anyone knew it, he arrived. When Jiang Cheng finished the examination, the quickest to react among the onlookers turned out to be the next examinee, number 1017. 1017: Hey, hes finished, can I go now? The host, as if waking from a dream, hastily said, Please, judges, score him! No sooner had these words been spoken than the previously silent mountaintop erupted into noise. Many senior students from the Treasure Department and Talisman Department began discussing the principles behind Jiang Chengs talisman. Meanwhile, seniors from the Traditional Cultivation Department tried to use spells to replicate the silky effect of Jiang Chengs rotating nks. The judges were fervently debating what score to give Jiang Cheng. After much noise, they could only consult the scoring handbook provided by the admissions office. 1. Did the examineeplete the crafting of the prop independently? Too independent he even managed to deal with the directors skepticism during the crafting process. 2. Does the examinees prop have originality? Is there any sign of imitation? Too original who would have thought of cycling nks? 3. Did the examinees traversal demonstrate the props stability,posure, and safety? Smooth switching of nks without stuttering equals stability. Jiang Cheng had his hands in his pockets the whole time, no need for manual assistance equalsposure. He walked the entire way equals safety. The judges scoured the scoring handbook but couldnt find any reason to deduct points from Jiang Cheng. Thest judge said, Dont feel bad, hes not the first person to get full marks in this assessment. The judges thought about it and realized that indeed, Jiang Cheng had been getting full marks all along, so whats one more? Anything less than full marks would have been strange! On the rooftop of the Immortal Research Building, counselors Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen watched Jiang Chengs performance, each with their own schemes. Mao Lang: This kid truly has talent! If only he could act a bit more normal. Theres another testter, which is an intelligence puzzle. As long as he acts like a normal person in thest test, I want him on my team! Sure, hes risky, but the rewards are big! Liu Lingshen: Somethings not right. Jiang Cheng seems quite outstanding, so why would Mao Lang hand over such a good talent to me? Somethings fishy! It just so happens that theres an Illusion Breaking test this afternoon. If he does well in that, even if its a trap, Im jumping in! Chapter 138: Jiang Cheng Feels Relieved Chapter 138: Jiang Cheng Feels Relieved After obtaining his fourth full score, Jiang Cheng revealed a satisfied smile. His performance in the freshman assessment had met his expectations and did not betray the extensive preparations he had made over the summer of his senior year. The experience of the freshman assessment at Lotus University had also made Jiang Cheng deeply understand two things. The first thing was that before making an effort, one must find the right direction for their efforts. This was thanks to Jiangs Fundamental Logic Analysis Method; with the right direction, one could achieve twice the result with half the effort. The second thing was that once the direction was correct, the harder one worked, the more rewards one would reap. He had developed so many talismans and made so many contingency ns, securing several full scores was like taking candy from a baby. With four full scores, even if Jiang Chengs college entrance exam results were not ideal, and without a rmendation letter from a Lotus University alumnus, his admission to Lotus University was a sure thing. As a test-taker in the second group of the morning, Jiang Cheng had finished the exam early. After the scores were released, he did not choose to linger in school but hurried back home to cultivate. Both the production of Fishing Talismans and todays freshman assessment had made Jiang Cheng realize the importance of cultivation level. For a Talisman Master, cultivation level is the foundation for drawing and using talismans. It determines the rank of the talismans one can draw and the number of times one can use them. Although Jiang Cheng aimed for an efficient one-hit kill, sometimes, reality would not be reasonable. Jiang Cheng had to consider what to do in extreme situations when faced with a multitude of foes and his one-hit kills were not enough? Jiang Cheng thought carefully again and realized that the only solution was not to improve his cultivation level, but to constantly self-reflect and take care not to stand against the public. He should not go against the trend of the times and the current of history. He should be a noble Talisman Master, one detached from low-level tastes. Jiang Cheng casually bought lunch from a roadside restaurant and carried it back to his house in Jade Lake Mingan. Upon opening the door, what greeted him was a small foyer, a corridor-style kitchen, a spacious living room, the sunlit balcony, and Liu Qing, who was sleeping on the balcony. Upon hearing the door open, Liu Qingzily rose from the balcony sun lounger, walked over to Jiang Cheng, took the lunch from his hand, ced it on the dining table, and thenzilyy back on the sun lounger. She lived like an utterly dreamless salted fish, idly waiting for each day to pass. Jiang Cheng thought she seemed bored. Maybe it was time to find something for Snake to do? Jiang Cheng pondered. But with He being away from the task hall of the Tongtian Sect, he wondered if he would still be able to take on suitable tasks. Jiang Cheng returned to his room to start his cultivation but was still thinking about taking on tasks. He had always been good at learning and summarizing experiences, and both the Muscle Rxation Talisman and the Animal Encouragement Talisman had significantmercial prospects. However, due to various odd reasons, they had been nipped in the bud prematurely. It was such a pity. Initially, Jiang Cheng thought it was an issue of users misusing talismans. So, he focused on improving the protective measures for the Animal Encouragement Talisman. Butter on, Jiang Cheng realized that even with the protection, it was useless, as users had their interpretations of how to use the talismans and were even willing to waive warranties and take responsibility. Jiang Cheng respected the users choices, but it also made it easy for his talismans to spiral out of control once they were used. How to effectively manage talismans and reduce risks was a primary challenge for Jiang Cheng in themercialization of his talismans in the future. But for now, Jiang Cheng decided to put this matter aside temporarily. He would at least wait until after the decryption exam in the afternoon to think about it. Since the freshman assessment involved many scenarios, magical treasures, and prop coordination, before each exam, the teachers from the admissions office would ask the people who set up the assessment scenes to conduct multiple rounds of testing on the exam content. For example, during thebat assessment, they would test the sturdiness of the arena and whether the in Long Robes could properly disy colors after being attacked, and so on. Ensure that once the examinees arrive at the examination hall and the official examination begins, the test can proceed smoothly. Otherwise, making a batch of one hundred examinees wait idly would be indefensible for the admissions office. Moreover, if the problem with the examination scene is not solved, it will not only affect the first batch of students but all subsequent examinees attending this test. This could further impact the fairness and authority of Lotus Universitys admissions assessments, and then its external image, eventually leading to a decline in the universitys influence and its attractiveness to candidates, and ultimately to its overall decline. Facing the thriving Capital University, supported by the imperial court, institutions like Lotus University and Ling University of the Tongtian Sect were already overstretched and struggling to cope. If there were problems with the admissions assessment, it would undoubtedly be an excellent point of ridicule for Capital University against Lotus University. After all, what confidence could anyone have in the teaching quality of a university that cant even organize an exam properly? Every speck of dust produced by the strife within the Immortal Sects felt like a mountain on the shoulders of the admissions office director. Li Youyuan could not afford the consequences of problems arising in the admissions assessment, so he had to give his all. At the scene of the Leap Over the Cliff assessment, Li Youyuan kept a close eye on several students who were prone to causing trouble. Although the greatest challenge (Jiang Cheng) had been ovee, among the examinees in the subsequent batches, there were also those capable of causing a stir. He could not rx just yet. While Li Youyuan was presiding over the first batch of examinees test scene, a teacher responsible for checking the Decryption assessment in the afternoon sent him amunication talisman. Director Li, theres a bit of an issue with the Array for the Decryption test. Do you want toe and take a look? Alright, Ill be right there. Li Youyuan instructed his subordinates to keep a tight watch on a few troublemaking thorns and then hastened to the Decryption assessment scene without dy. This years Decryption examination topic for Lotus University was Hidden Demonic Tao. The content of the exam was simple; candidates had to enter an illusion created by a magical treasure and be a character in the storyline. The examinees needed to y their storyline characters well and follow the advancing plot of the illusion toplete their tasks. Hidden Demonic Tao told the story of a peaceful town which a serial killer had breached. A group of children, several families, arrest officers, constables, and schoolteachers all got wrapped up in the act of capturing the murderer. A demon of the Demonic Tao, cunning and elusive, was hidden among the storyline characters. He could be the murderer or anyone in the town. Whats the problem? What happened? The admissions office director Li Youyuan reached the site of the Decryption assessment. This ce contained not only the magical treasure that created the illusion but also an auxiliary formation to expand the number of magical treasure connections, a projection array to project the consciousness of the grading teachers, and a Shadow Capture Array to extract images from within the illusion realm, among others. Because time flows differently within the illusionpared to the real world, the grading teachers would also enter the illusion to mark the papers, ensuring that an entire batch of candidates could be examined in less than half an hour. Director, theres a slight issue with our Array. You see here, the Array was supposed to create a special space for grading teachers within the illusion. But this space Array is now rather unstable, with a one in three probability of losing connection, and we cant find the reason for the moment. Li Youyuan frowned, Who made this array? Call him to research it himself. He cant possibly be unable to identify the problem. The admissions office teacher said awkwardly, Director, weve contacted him, but he was reassigned back to the headquarters two years ago. Its probably toote to ask him toe now. What about other Array Masters? There are other Array Masters, but its uncertain if they can fix the array before the afternoon. Li Youyuan, experienced in admissions and no stranger to issues with formations, pondered for a moment and said, Lets not have a separate space then. Project the grading teachers directly into the storyline, and let them y the roles during the day and discuss the grading in a meeting at night. Taking teachers into the storyline wasnt without precedent; the relevant Array had been used before, so there was an existing one to use. All right, Ill start preparing now. Chapter 139: What’s so hard about role-playing? Chapter 139: Whats so hard about role-ying? Under the full-force repair by Li Youyuan and the Admissions Office, the first batch of new students decryption assessments began smoothly in the afternoon! Following the mornings hands-on ability assessment, which proceeded from front to back, the order for the afternoons decryption assessment was sensibly reversed from back to front. Just as he did during the aesthetic assessment, Jiang Cheng would perform as the second-tost candidate, closing the show. Before the official arrival of the candidates at the examination venue, the teachers participating in grading the decryption assessment were already prepared in the examination hall. Because the teachers tasks shifted from simply grading to role-ying during the day, grading at night. The original rotation of two groups of teachers became too stressful. Seizing this opportunity, Li Youyuan smoothly added a third group of teachers, implementing a three-group rotation system. Each group of teachers would participate in one round and rest for two, ensuring both the teachers rest time and the fairness of the examination results, while incidentally fattening Li Youyuans wallet, which Jiang Cheng had previously swindled. Mr. Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen from the Talisman Department, thanks to their outstanding teaching experience and traceless personalworking, were smoothly absorbed into the third group of teachers by Li Youyuan. ording to the pattern that candidates 1100 to 1091 were the responsibility of the first group of teachers, 1090 to 1081 of the second group, and 1080 to 1071 of the third, The batch containing Jiang Cheng, from 1020 to 1011, which was both the second-tost and the ninth in order, was precisely to be graded by the third group of teachersnone other than Mr. Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen from the Talisman Department! The grievances between Mao Lang and Jiang Cheng were well remembered by the joyful senior students who were fortunate to have witnessed thebat assessment. After all, thebat assessment had happened just yesterday. And with such explosive results, it was hard to forget. Mao Lang participating in Jiang Chengs assessment was truly a masterful move by the Admissions Office, maximizing the drama of the decryption assessment! Everybody was wondering how Mao Lang would score Jiang Chengwould he be impartial or biased? Or would Jiang Cheng once again strongly counter Mao Langs face? Step on Mr. Mao and im his fifth perfect score in the freshmen assessment? Seeing the eager crowd outside the examination hall, waiting to see the show, the budget-conscious Director Li Youyuan suddenly had an inspired idea. If Lotus University were to recruit students next year, would it be possible to build a stage and sell tickets to the audience who enjoy the show? If next year there is another entertaining candidate like Jiang Cheng, full of showmanship, then the Admissions Office could make a significant ie just from selling tickets. Li Youyuan considered his idea carefully, and it seemedpletely feasible! Lotus University would gain Spirit Stone revenue. Director Li would promote educational reform, a great achievement. The audience who enjoy watching would get a better viewing experience. A triple win! Winning all around! As the examination time arrived on schedule, Jiang Cheng and the other first batch of candidates also made it to the examination site smoothly. Being thest event for the first batch of candidates, the decryption assessment undoubtedly received unanimous attention from all the students! On the one hand, some candidates who had not performed well before hoped to turn the tide with the decryption assessment. On the other hand, the experience of the Illusion Realm was an extremely novel affair. Core Formation teachers, third-tier Magical Treasures, all sorts of dazzling supporting Formations werent they like a bunch of high-level toys serving Foundation Establishment candidates? How could such fortune be considered small? Along with the announcersmand to start the exam, the first batch of candidates entering the Illusion Realm were already prepared at their respective positions. Different from previous exams, when the Illusion Breaking assessment began, the onlookers who had not joined the Illusion Realm couldnt peek into what was happening inside. Firstly, because the flow of time was different, it wasnt possible to disy it synchronously. Secondly, the Illusion Breaking assessment required secrecy of the solution, so it could not be disyed throughout. Otherwise, if the solution were told to the subsequent batches of candidates, what would be the point of assessing their decryption ability? Only after the assessment concluded, and the Shadow Capture Array collected the images unfolding within the Illusion Realm, would a segment akin to a promotional video be automatically generated and show some of the events that urred inside. The promotional video only disyed some interesting scenes without revealing the story details, hence it could be released to the public. As the first group of ten examinees entered the Illusion Realm to begin their examination, the five teachers responsible for grading them also entered the Illusion Realm. The grading teachers all had at least Foundation Establishment cultivation level, so they were very strong at multitasking. In ten identical Illusion Realms, they yed the same NPC character, which was no pressure at all. If the examinees didnt reach the scene where they were ying an NPC, they could ck off on the spot just like how a game engine doesnt render whats off-screen, and then take the opportunity to summon the Shadow Capture Array to grant the teachers intelligence interface, checking what the examinees were doing at the moment, who they were interacting with, and what approach they were using to crack the illusions. They would then consider how many points to give. Eight minutes after the first group of ten examinees entered the Illusion Realm, the first one cleared the challenge! She had spent three days and nights in the Illusion Realm and finally found and sessfully killed the concealed Demonic Tao cultivator! The Shadow Capture Array created a highlight reel for her. Three days of experience were condensed into a minute,plemented with Illusion Realm sound effects so realistic that the audience was thoroughly entertained! Following the first one to pass, the second sessful candidate emerged twelve minutes after the Illusion Realm opened! He spent five days and nights in the Illusion Realm and alsopleted his mission sessfully, vanquishing the Demonic Tao! Of course, there were sess stories and also failures. Examinees who didnt find the Demonic Tao cultivator within thirty minutes of the Illusion Realm opening were automatically deemed to have failed, and the grading teachers would score them ordingly. In the end, the examinee who cleared the challenge in eight minutes received a high score of 85! The one who cleared it in twelve minutes received a score of 75! The scoring criteria for the Illusion Breaking matched exactly with what Jiang Cheng had guessed: essentially, the less time used, the higher the score. So this Illusion Breaking exam, though it seemed to test intellect, was actually a test of physical strength! Speed-run, speed-run, how can one speed-run without physical strength? Jiang Cheng looked up, watching the highlights of the other examinees, and slowly let out a breath of relief. During the three days of freshman exams, he had consecutively used the Crisis Calm Talisman, Furniture War God Talisman, Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman, and Talisman Army Training Talisman. He now had only one disposable talisman left, and it was the Smart Puppet Talisman that had a bit of martial arts recorded in it. He hoped the Intelligent Puppet Talisman would perform well and bring his freshman exam to a perfect close. After the first group of ten freshmen came out from the Illusion Realm, the teachers responsible for grading them also exited the Illusion Realm. The second group of teachers would take over from the first group and enter the Illusion Realm to grade the second batch of ten freshmen. After the first group of teachers came out, they rxed and rested in the lounge with the third group of teachers who had not been to the Illusion Realm. The two groups of teachers started to chat leisurely, inevitably talking about experiences in the Illusion Realm. In most cases, its pretty idle. The examineese, you just deal with them, and thats it. Pretty much, it mainly depends on which role youre assigned, but most roles dont require much. Quite idle. Whats so hard about ying a random role? Even if theres a minor oversight, those examinees wont know were acting, whats there to fear? Mao Lang, Im not afraid, whos afraid? Are you scared? Liu Lingshen, Im not scared, what normal person would be afraid? Mao Lang, Exactly. Jiang Chengs talismans may have mixed reviews, but as a person, hes quite reasonable and polite. Thats right, who would be afraid of Jiang Cheng? Hisbat exam was so-so. Besides, this is the Illushion Realm were talking about. We might as well worry about the second group of teachers. Oh, that student whos fierce in a fight. 1082! Gu Sheng! Right, thats the one! Chapter 140: There’s actually a master? Chapter 140: Theres actually a master? On the day of thebat assessment, although Jiang Chengs performance left a deep impression on the teachers and students of the Treasure and Talismans Academy, when the perspective was broadened to all five arenas, Jiang Cheng was not the only standout new student. 1082 was also a thorn in the side of Director Li from the recruitment office. In the character assessment, 1082 stayed true to his nature, dedicated to ughtering everyone who fell into the water. In the aesthetic assessment, 1082 performed a sword dance on theke, and with a kick, he produced a painting that scored 75 points, Gu Sheng Practicing Sword on the Lake. During yesterdaysbat assessment, as a candidate from the Sword Cultivation Department of Lotus Universitys Special Cultivation Academy, 1082 stepped onto the arena prepared by the Special Cultivation Academy. Then, with a sword in one hand and not using a single spell, he defeated his senior opponent without giving them a chance to fight back! In the end, d in white, he unquestionably achieved a perfect score. Although 1082 did not like being human, there was no doubt about his strength within the Sword Cultivation Department. And the Sword Cultivation Department did not care whether 1082 wanted to be human or not. Because the nickname for the Special Cultivation Academy was Special Mental Asylum. Whether they were Body Cultivators, Sword Cultivators, Poison Cultivators, or Puppeteers, anyone who entered the Special Cultivation Academy and still wanted to be human was someone whose practice had not yet reached perfection. When someone like 1082 entered the Illusion Breaking exam with elements of the Demonic Tao, the teachers in the resting room all felt that 1082 might be more like the Demonic Tao than the Demonic Tao itself! Six minutes after the start of the illusion assessment, a clear prompt sounded throughout the examination venue, indicating someone had justpleted the Illusion Breaking assessment in only six minutes! The candidates awaiting their turns, the spectators gathered outside for amusement, and the teachers in the resting room, all spontaneously turned their attention to the ongoing examination arena. One candidate slowly began to wake up. Just as everyone had anticipated, he was none other than 1082, who seemed more like the Demonic Tao than the Demonic Tao itself! After 1082 woke up, the Shadow Capture Array, uncharacteristically, did not begin with a highlight reel. It appeared the content may have been too inappropriate for young audiences and was stuck in review. The Shadow Capture Arrays light screen first disyed 1082s exam score. A dazzling 90 points appeared before the crowd. For just six minutes, 90 points is indeed about right. Yes,pleting it in six minutes means 1082 only stayed two days in the illusion. Finding the Demonic Tao in two days is already quite impressive. Its about right, I remember in the past sessions, the fastest ones took two to three days to find it. After all, you have to get ustomed to the identity and the environment upon entering, then casually investigate and collect evidence. Two days would pass just like that. Ah, the fastest was only two days? Was there no one who cleared it in one day? One day? How could that be possible! Unless they cheated, I cant imagine finding and defeating the concealed Demonic Tao in one day. Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen could not get a word in edgewise, mainly because they were not interested in 1082. They were Talisman Masters and did not sharemon ground with the lunatics of the mental asylum. Sword Cultivators, Body Cultivators, Puppeteers formed their own cultivation factions. Talisman Masters, Pill Masters, Artifact Refiners, Array Masters were professions branching off the traditional Cultivating Immortality system. No matter how extraordinary 1082 was, the Treasure and Talismans Academy remained unaffected. Instead of listening to teachers from other departments bragging, it would be better to pay attention to which promising new students had emerged besides Jiang Cheng. It looked like 1002 was quite impressive. Although his mind might not be much better, he was still much more honest than Jiang Cheng. After a slight dy of more than a minute, 1082s performance in the illusion finally began to unfold before everyone through the highlight reel. The first thing everyone saw was a young man with a delicate and handsome face within the illusion. That must be the identity 1082 had assumed in the illusion. The handsome youth took out a storage bag. This was allowed because the items that candidates brought with them could be used within the illusion. All right, 1082 took out his signature magical sword treasure from the storage bag! Unlike the pretty swords of the Treasure Departments beloved 1003, 1082s sword treasure looked tough enough to cut through iron like mud. We saw 1082 walking down the street with his sword in hand. 1082 grabbed a person. 1082 dragged them into an alley. Torture begins! The teachers of groups one and three in the rest area: ??? 1082 obtained a vital clue through torture! The teachers: Huh? 1082 got a clue! 1082 dashed onto the streets! 1082 caught another person again! Torture begins! The highlight reel of 1082s record-breaking run,sting just over a minute, was dazzling to watch. Throughout the course, 1082 kept repeating the cycle of capturing people, torturing, capturing more people, torturing, fiercely capturing people, and fiercely torturing them. In the end, 1082 reced the murderer and was frantically chased by all the constables of the town! Then there was an encounter battle where all the cultivators of the town ambushed 1082. Thest cut ends. I take back what I said earlier, 1082 finding Demonic Tao and killing it was purely luck! He doesnt deserve the 90 points at all! a teacher said indignantly. Although most of 1082s torture was futile, he did indeed find quite a few clues, so we cant say his actions were entirely ineffective. Of course, the most important thing is that the scores for the Illusion Breaking test are strongly corrted with time. The faster you clear it, the easier it is to score high, another teacher stepped in to exin. Dont you think its unreasonable to score based on clearing time? Didnt 1083 just pass through sheer luck and brute force? How does that test the students intelligence? Calm down. A student who blindly charges through like 1082 is, after all, a very rare exception. Look at our first batch of test-takers, besides him, who else would clear it in that manner? We have to admit it, luck is also a part of strength. Hey? The teachers from group two are back! Quickly ask them how it felt to be tormented by 1082! Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen, who had been spectating the whole time, pricked up their ears to listen. They found it quite interesting to encounter a student like 1082 who didnt y by the rules. But there was only one 1082, and since group two had encountered him, they in group three would not. They could only listen to their experiences and satisfy their curiosity through stories. The teachers from group two, when mentioning 1082, waved their hands dismissively, Lets not talk about him, thankfully, hes not from our department. Otherwise, we wouldnt have peaceful days for the next few years. He really can fight! Running through three streets without even gasping for breath! Really? Why would I lie to you? That kid is a natural-born fighter! The Special Cultivation Academy hit the jackpot this year. Shortly after the teachers from group two returned to the rest area, Mao Lang and Liu Lingshens group three rushed to the testing site, ready to enter the Illusion Realm and begin their journey of evaluation. The afternoon time passed by slowly. As rounds of test-takers awoke from the Illusion Realm, their freshman evaluations also came to an end at this moment. However, its a pity that no one managed to break the record of 1082s six-minute speedrun through the Illusion Realm, which had earned him 90 points. Many people turned their attention to Jiang Cheng, who frequently created miracles. And Jiang Cheng, now under the watchful eyes of everyone, came into the Illusion Realm testing area and slowly closed his eyes. Not just the students, but the teachers from groups one and two in the rest area, were also looking forward to Jiang Chengs performance. After all, with Jiang Chengs previous four full scores on record, everyone was expecting whether he could get five full scores. Five full scores is not unheard of in the history of Lotus University, its just that it hasnt happened in a very long time. A teacher said, You guys keep watching, Im thirsty, Im going to make some tea. Youre going to drink tea now? Arent you afraid of missing out on the excitement? Im just making tea, not performing a full tea ceremony. Making a tea, its a matter of two minutes, I dont believe that Ring. The alert sounded, a student had cleared the Illusion Realm! The teachers in the rest area widened their eyes in shock: Huh? Theres actually another master? Chapter 141 - 141 The Fastest Legend of Lotus University Chapter 141: The Fastest Legend of Lotus University Under the influence of a third-level illusion spell, Jiang Chengs consciousness gradually entered chaos. Jiang Cheng had originally wanted to challenge his weakness, like holding out against a third-level magical treasure and then suddenly awakening some golden finger that made him immune to illusions. But unfortunately, under the onught of the third-level magical treasure, Jiang Cheng quickly realized the allure of numerical values. A third-level magical treasure, equivalent to a Core Formation Stage cultivator, controlling a mere Qi Cultivation Stage junior like him, wasnt it as easy as picking something up? His consciousness gradually blurred, but the scenes before his eyes became clearer and clearer. Jiang Cheng found himself in a vast space, where hollow voices asionally transmitted, announcing mission objectives. In the Illusion Realm, you will be Zhang Wuxin. Your mission is to find the hidden Demonic Tao in the town and y it. The mission was simple and straightforward. Although Jiang Cheng did not understand who Zhang Wuxin was or who the hidden Demonic Tao was, it did not matter, the Smart Puppet Talisman was intelligent enough to handle everything for him. The scenes before Jiang Chengs eyes once again went from clear to blurry and then from blurry to clear. This time, what appeared before him was an extremely realistic scene crafted by the illusion magical treasure. Xin! Why didnt you go to school today? a child ran around Jiang Chengs feet. You rogue, Zhang Wuxin! You are skipping school and hiding here, right? Come back with me! Otherwise, Ill use amunication talisman to summon your parents to school and let them have a good talk with you! Im not a traitor; its the teacher who insisted I bring him to find you. The information from the outside world was overwhelming, but Jiang Cheng waspletely unaffected by the threats of the Illusion Realm. He slowly took out a talisman from his pocket and said to everyone around him, If its convenient for you, you might want to step back quickly. What are you doing? Youre nning on skipping school again, arent you? No, Im about to embark on a killing spree. Outside the Illusion Realm, in the teachers lounge. The teachers from group one and group two were utterly shocked as they watched Jiang Cheng, who had only been unconscious for two minutes, quickly wake up. One should know that even the infamous 1082 took six minutes, two days, and nights to find the Demonic Tao he needed to kill within the Illusion Realm. Jiang Cheng took only two minutes to y the Demonic Tao, which was equivalent to finding and killing the Demonic Tao within a half day of entering the Illusion Realm. How on earth did he manage that? Several teachers immediately felt Jiang Cheng must have cheated! Because other than cheating, they couldnt think of any way that Jiang Cheng could so precisely locate and y the Demonic Tao. Could it be that Jiang Cheng has some special spell for locating Demonic Tao? If there were such a spell, why would the Immortal Sect organize a demon-ying campaign every year? Why not just use the spell to find and kill the Demonic Tao? Then how do you exin what Jiang Cheng did? Dont rush, lets wait for the Shadow Capture Array to get ready. Wont we find out after watching the highlights? Thats right; if Jiang Cheng really does have some special means, the highlights will surely reveal it. If his score is not obtained legitimately, then the teachers from group three also have the right to cancel his score. Like what happened with 1082, Jiang Chengs results came out before the highlights. If a six-minute speed run could score 90 points, then Jiang Chengs two-minute speed run should rightfully score 100 points. As many had predicted, Jiang Cheng scored another perfect score in his fifth freshman assessment. Butpared to 1082s perfect score, Jiang Chengs didnt cause as much of a stir it was just his fifth perfect score, and everyone was bing a bit numb to it. It would seem abnormal if Jiang Cheng didnt get a perfect score. The Shadow Capture Array didnt make those expecting Jiang Chengs performance wait too long. Just five minutes after Jiang Chengs results came out, a ten-minute highlight reel began ying before everyones eyes. In the footage, Jiang Cheng took out a peculiar talisman. Just as everyone was wondering how it would be used, Jiang Cheng, without a word, stuck the talisman to his forehead! Then, an unexpected development began. The Jiang Cheng with the talisman attached, as though he had be a different person, not only moved with extreme efficiency, without any hesitation or dy, but also acted with a very clear purposehe seemed to be hunting everyone! Thats right! The smart Jiang Cheng was hunting everyone! Anything ced within Jiang Chengs reach could be used by him as a tool. He could pick up a stick to help passersby enjoy the sleep of a baby. He could also grab chopsticks from a restaurant and make a reassuring throw. Watching the whole process, the teachers realized that smart Jiang Cheng was not targeting anyone in particr but was equally creating death for everyone he saw. If the term Demonic Tao is used to describe those cultivators who do not follow the rules and like to do bad things, Then the word Jiang Cheng represents the apocalypse! The apocalypse of the entire Illusion Realm! The fake people automatically generated by the Illusion Realm were not much of an issue, but among these fakes were five teacher evaluators from three groups who had infiltrated! This included two counselors: Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen! The teachers in the resting room, just by watching the footage, already felt sweat drenching their backs. It was terrifying; this Jiang Cheng was too terrifying! All else aside, how could he be so skilled when preying on people! Knife up, knife down, knife up, knife down, his movements were crisp and precise as if he had been ughtering fish at a big store for ten years! Oh! That character, he can actually draw talismans! He must be a teacher from our school! Great! A Core Formation Stage cultivator taking action personally, even if he doesnt have the Cultivation Level of Core Formation, it should be not too hard to deal with a student, right? We really cant let 1016 continue killing like this! The teachers in the resting room had just gotten excited when they saw in the highlights, smart Jiang Cheng performing a 720-degree spinning kick, directly exploding the talisman-drawing character! Damn! Did he just break his own arm? This, this is just too brutal! However, more brutality was yet toe. Smart Jiang Cheng pursued the ultimate speedrun! Some movements that normal people simply couldnt do were a piece of cake in smart Jiang Chengs view. Phantom body punch through, spine-twisting kick, brain-rotating sh All at his fingertips! Since one couldnt die or feel pain in the Illusion Realm, the goal was definitely to be as efficient as possible! Suddenly I feel that 1082 is quite civilized, said a teacher in the resting room. Indeed, at least 1082 will talk a bit with others. He doesnt just start with violence. If I had a choice, Id rather die by 1082s hand. Me too. I hope the teachers of Group Three can still sleep tonight. I think for next years recruitment, we need to add a psychological test question. Twenty minutester, the Illusion Realm came to aplete end. Mao Lang, Liu Lingshen, and others returned to the resting room with a dispirited look. Their colleagues immediately expressed concern: Are you guys okay? Mao Lang, with a vacant stare: Lingshen, is Capital University next door still hiring? Lets switch jobs, I cant do this for another day as a counselor at Lotus University! Chapter 142: Jiang Cheng’s Cultivation Level Increases Chapter 142: Jiang Chengs Cultivation Level Increases After the first batch of freshmen at Jiang Cheng had finished their exams, Admissions Director Li Youyuan heaved a huge sigh of relief. Without another word, he immediately gathered the other teachers from the admissions office; they worked through the night, using the exam recordings of the first batch of freshmen to remake next years admission standards for Lotus University. Character assessment must strictly define the questions! The aesthetic assessment must absolutely not include contemporary celebrities in the drawings! Thebat assessment must eliminate any methods of victory that dont involve fighting! For thebor assessment, the use of strange Magical Treasures and props is forbidden! The decryption assessment should add a point deduction mechanism for idental injuries, and under no circumstances should candidates be allowed to recklessly kill! In addition, all the Magical Treasures and Talismans used by Jiang Cheng must be put on the restricted list! Under no circumstances are the new students allowed to emte Jiang Chengs examination methods! One Jiang Cheng had already drained all of Li Youyuans savings; he could hardly imagine the scene if everyone were like Jiang Cheng. September 24th, morning. Liu Qing woke up from her dream. She stretchednguidly while sitting on the bed. Then she got off the spacious double bed and changed out of her soft, snug pajamas into the proper clothes that Jiang Cheng had bought for her. Then, still bleary-eyed, she went to the washroom to wash and brush her teeth. The towel she used was one Jiang Cheng had bought for her, as were the toothbrush and toothpaste. After finishing her morning routine, Liu Qing left the bathroom, passed by the kitchen and refrigerator, and casually took milk and the cake Jiang Cheng had boughtst time, which she hadnt finished. Finally, Liu Qing walked out to the balcony of the house rented by Jiang Cheng. She sat in the lounge chair Jiang Cheng had expressly given to her and quickly finished her breakfast. After that, she waited for the sun to rise from behind the clouds and basked under it for the entire day, until the moon came up and Jiang Cheng returned home in the evening. If everything went as usual, such a leisurely and idle day was the daily routine of a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm. Fairly speaking, when Liu Qing was at Mount Tian, although she often meditated and practiced for long periods, she was definitely not a homebody. After each practice session, she still liked to wander around. But ever sinceing to the human world, Liu Qing hardly ever went out voluntarily. When she left the house, it was either for work or because Jiang Cheng was with her. The former was necessary since she valued her work. Thetter was because she didnt mind going out with Jiang Cheng. Although human societys smells were unpleasant, with Jiang Cheng, her air purifier, she could bear it. At least by Jiang Chengs side, she could always maintain a good mood and condition. Otherwise, always smelling those foul odors, even if they didnt harm the body, it would be hard to feel happy. If even Snake was unhappy, what was the point of wandering about? Was it just to make oneself miserable? Snake might not be very smart, but she wasnt masochistic. Basically, as long as Jiang Cheng didnt take her out, she would probably stay at home and not budge, even to the point of enduring hunger without moving. Perhaps even Liu Qing herself didnt realize that since she met Jiang Cheng, her life had been filled by him without her noticing. Maybe she had noticed, but she didnt mind the feeling of being filled by Jiang Cheng. Because Jiang Cheng was her good friend. Good friends are supposed to help each other. The sun today didnt seem to know better and was slow toe out. Bored, Liu Qing looked towards her good friend Jiang Chengs room and suddenly noticed that Jiang Cheng had gotten up at some point. Much earlier than her. At this moment, Jiang Cheng was secretly cultivating in his room. Considering the speed at which he was cultivating, it seemed like he was finally about to break through to the fourth level of Qi training. Oh, he has broken through. Liu Qing blinked her eyes. Her fingers moved slightly, and a circr barrier enveloped her and Jiang Cheng. Cultivators were usually unstable right after a breakthrough, and if they didnt consolidate quickly, it was easy to fall back down, rendering all their efforts in vain. Although Liu Qing wasnt nning to help Jiang Cheng forcibly increase his cultivation level, cautiously creating a safe space for him to cultivate was something she could do as his friend. Moreover, as long as she was careful about it, Jiang Cheng wouldnt find out she was secretly helping him. It was just a protective barrier, it shouldnt be a problem. She thought. Half a day passed, and after taking several elixirs, Jiang Cheng finally stabilized his Level Four Qi cultivation. At the same time, Liu Qing on the balcony silently turned off her barrier and turned over on the lounge chair as if nothing had happened. Having broken through his cultivation, Jiang Cheng felt refreshed; he had been stuck at Level Three Qi for many years. If it werent for his no-cost-barred use of Spiritual Liquid and elixirs, who knows how much longer hed be stuck at Level Three Qi. Fortunately, hed made some moneytely, and currently had enough elixirs and Spiritual Liquid for his cultivation. Cultivating immortality was extremely expensive for a cultivator with mediocre talent like him. Jiang Cheng walked out of his room and into the living room, where he saw Snake on the balcony. Snake seemed a bit odd today; the sky was overcast, so why was she still on the balcony? Based on Jiang Chengs past observations, Snake usually preferred to lie on the sofa on cloudy days, as the sofa was softer than the lounge chair. It would better conform to the undting curves of a certain snakes body. It wasnt that Jiang Cheng was paying special attention. It was just that, after spending so much time with Snake, hed gotten a clear understanding of her habits. Liu Qing, its cloudy today, theres no sun, Jiang Cheng reminded her. Liu Qing lifted her head and nced at the sky, suddenly realizing that there really was no sun today. She hadnt noticed before and had assumed shed been basking in the sun all along. With Jiang Chengs reminder, Liu Qing shifted her position from sleeping on the balcony lounge chair to sleeping on the living room sofa. Watching Liu Qing sprawl out in such a carefree manner, Jiang Cheng couldnt help but recall why he had hired her in the first ce. At first, he was afraid Liu Qing would see him as a ruthless boss, so he had to pacify her vigorously. Now, it seemed the pacification worked quite well. He had managed to spoil the hardworking snake, who hade to the Human Race to strive for more. Now, Snake did nothing but eat, drink, and sleep. No work, no chores, no signs of practicing cultivation. Compared to Snake, Cao Wang had be a model of diligence! This wont do; he had to find something for her to do. Jiang Cheng thought. However, before finding tasks, Jiang Cheng had to ask Liu Qing about her own wishes. If Liu Qing didnt want to work and preferred toze about, Jiang Cheng would have to continue supporting her like this. What else could he do? Spend some money, so be it. After all, keeping Liu Qing wasnt expensive, and it was better than making a powerful figure angry, right? Liu Qing, do you want to work? Shall we go and ask He if she has any suitable tasks that we can do? Upon hearing work, Liu Qing immediately lifted her head. Her eyes sparkled. She looked at Jiang Cheng with a face full of anticipation. Sure. Liu Qing wanted to work. She was an ambitious snake and couldnt keepzing around in Jiang Chengs house, living off him without contributing. Chapter 143: The Dilemma of Tongbao Pavilion Chapter 143: The Dilemma of Tongbao Pavilion Hearing that Liu Qing wanted to work, Jiang Cheng secretly heaved a sigh of relief. Good, good, Snake still had some ambition. She hadntpletely given up. Mm. He is working at Tongbao Pavilion, and I just so happen to be nning to buy a Portable Spirit Gathering Array to assist with my cultivation. Do you want anything? We might as well buy it all together while were out today. Jiang Cheng specifically asked Liu Qing if she wanted to buy anything. Because all of Liu Qings money was being kept with him. She didnt have a single Spirit Stone on her and couldnt go out and buy anything by herself. After thinking for a while, Liu Qing said, Snacks. Snake especially liked to eat junk food, such as chips with extremely high calories, various candies, cream, and so on. They were all calorie bombs. But relying on her constitution that was different from ordinary people, Snake couldnt gain weight no matter what she ate, so Jiang Cheng had no intention of controlling her. After all, she cultivated in the deep mountains for two thousand years, finally reaching the Mahayana Realm. Eating some snacks, basking in the sun, and enjoying life, whats wrong with that? Taking the three hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones he had just earned from Li Youyuan, Jiang Cheng led Liu Qing out, heading to the Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store where He worked. The Tongbao Pavilion Huayuan Road Store was a medium-sized retail store covering three hundred and fifty square meters, split into upper, middle, and lower three floors. However, in such arge store, the employees were pitifully few. Including the manager Bai Xiaohe, there were only eight people. Four salespeople, one ountant, one warehouse manager, one assistant manager, plus the manager Bai Xiaohe. What was even more heartbreaking was that there were fewer customers in the store than employees. Most of the time, there would only be one or two customers in the store, and it was only during the peak hours after work in the evening that the number of people in the store might just surpass five! Before Bai Xiaohe arrived, the assistant manager Tao Fang had been wishing on stars, longing for the legendary Wuyue Task King and Liang Kingdom Task Hall Sales Record Creator toe to their store, to raise the store from the dead with her miraculous sales techniques! At the end of August, Tao Fang finally got her wish and Bai Xiaohe came. The day Bai Xiaohe started working at the store, she was undoubtedly the hero of all the employees at the Huayuan Road Store! But now a month had passed. The business of Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store was even worse than before! Tao Fang, the assistant manager, was nearly going insane! She felt certain that Head Office must have made a mistake! This Bai Xiaohe was no different from those fresh grads who were blissfully unaware, whose eyes were clear and untainted by knowledge! No different! No different! Management experience, none. Sales n, nonexistent. Reform measures, clueless. Alright, alright, is this how ones supposed to manage a store? Initially, Tao Fang thought that Bai Xiaohe might have a profound background, perhaps an illegitimate daughter of some Elder, but after asking around, she couldnt find any close rtionship between Bai Xiaohe and anyone else. She only knew that Bai Xiaohe had some connection with the Liang State Court and was the daughter born to a concubine of some official. Later, Tao Fang shifted her investigation to Bai Xiaohes performance records. She felt sure that Bai Xiaohes records must have been falsified! Otherwise, how could one exin her ignorance, yet still being transferred here as a manager? And then she found out they were indeed not falsified. Not only were they not falsified, but the figures were so ridiculously high it was as if they were artificially inted by hired inte trolls! The case is cracked, this new store manager doesnt have any abilities, and managed to climb to the position of Tongbao Pavilions store manager by faking performance data. Tao Fang felt that she was truly cursed with bad luck. The first store manager was absolutely clueless,pletely incapable of handling the business of the store. The second manager, Bai Xiaohe, was all about cking off! She was passable as an employee, a pretty nice person, but as a leader she just had to drive the whole store into a ditch! No matter what others thought, Tao Fang nned to give up the game. She had no choice anyway; even a deity couldnt save the stores performance now. Tao Fang had already mapped out the rest of her life: the store would close, the employees would be reimed by the Outer Sect and redistributed, shed be sent to an even more obscure ce due to the poor results, and so it would go until she retired and lived out her final years in peace. Hopefully, she could live until retirement. At present, Tao Fang couldnt think of anything other than marrying a wealthy man that could change her fate. However, she didnt have much hope for marrying into wealth. Tao Fang was well aware of her own mediocrity; her looks were average, and not even a blind rich man would spare her a second nce. On the other hand, Bai Xiaohe indeed looked quite good. Not only was she pretty-faced and had a gentle personality, but most importantly, her physique was particrly well-suited for breastfeeding. Even if she had triplets, their father wouldnt have to worry about them going hungry. She did have a real chance of finding a high-status, rich, and handsome partner. Wee to Tongbao Pavilion! Upon hearing the salespersons greeting, Tao Fang raised her head and saw a tall, rich, and handsome man entering the store. Unfortunately, this high-quality customer was already with a woman. Hiss Crap, that female cultivator is so beautiful! Tao Fang was taken aback by Liu Qing. She had missed Liu Qing thest time Jiang Cheng came, as Tao Fang wasnt there. To be fair, Tao Fang thought Bai Xiaohe was beautiful enough. Someone like Bai Xiaohe, with her level of attractiveness, could easily be the beauty queen of her ss or the whole university. After all, her mother was a concubine of a high-ranking official. Setting other matters aside, her looks certainly wouldnt becking. But Tao Fang had never expected someone to be even more beautiful than Bai Xiaohe. Today, shed truly broadened her horizons. Though Tao Fang hadnt seen Jiang Cheng before, three of the salespeople had. They also knew that Jiang Cheng was a friend of Manager Bai. Mr. Jiang, would you like me to call the manager for you? Yes, please, that would be kind of you, Jiang Cheng said politely. Another salesperson asked, Mr. Jiang, is there anything that we can assist you with over here? Jiang Cheng replied, Im looking to buy a Portable Spirit Gathering Array; do you have any here? The salesperson immediately said, We do, theyre on the second floor. Please follow me to have a look. Jiang Cheng nodded and walked to the second floor of Tongbao Pavilion with Liu Qing. On the second floor of Tongbao Pavilion, the salesperson was introducing several portable Spirit Gathering Arrays they had in the store. This model can be activated just by cing the Array gs in the positions indicated in the manual. This one is foldable; you need to unfold the parchment with the array drawn on it. This one is fully automatic; simply ce the main unit on the ground, and itll unfold by itself and start gathering spiritual energy After listening, Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Theyre all quite good. How much do they cost? The salesperson showed a slightly embarrassed smile; the products in their store were indeed good, butpared to other stores, their prices were not as appealing. It wasnt that they didnt want to lower their prices, but the cost price was already quite high, and furthermore, the Capitals head office controlled the pricing, leaving no room for discounts. If they could lower their prices a little, their stores business wouldnt be so bleak. Youre a friend of the manager, so I will definitely offer you the lowest price possible, the salesperson said. Jiang Cheng, however, shook his head. He might not be the owner of Tongbao Pavilion, but as its store manager, Bai Xiaohe didnt own it either. Moreover, Jiang Cheng was always straightforward and didnt like under-the-table internal pricing. No need. Theres no need for any special treatment because of your store manager. Whatever the listed price is in Spirit Stones, thats the price I will pay. Chapter 144 - 144 New Mission Chapter 144: New Mission The six arts of a gentleman: Rites, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Writing, Arithmetic. The Six Arts of Cultivation: Elixir Refining, Weapon Refining, Formation, Talisman Crafting, Spirit nt Cultivating, Beast Taming. Formation and Talisman Crafting, as important skills in the Cultivation World, have also developed specialized Array Masters and Talisman Masters. The Portable Spirit Gathering Array that Jiang Cheng bought from the Tongbao Pavilion was crafted by a Talisman Master from the Tongtian Sect. Compared to the simple and easy-to-use talismans, formations are oftenrger in scale, more effective andplex, with higher production costs and difficulty levels, leading to higher prices. The third-tier Portable Spirit Gathering Array that Jiang Cheng just purchased was valued at 110,000 low-grade Spirit Stones. It basically equates to eleven of the most expensive second-tier elixirs, Foundation Establishment Pills, or eighty of the more expensive second-tier talismans, the Giant Talisman. In terms of unit price, within the same tier, its definitely Formation > Elixirs > Talismans. But thats not necessarily the case when ites to profit. Because from a cost perspective, the hierarchy is Talismans Although talismans are sold cheaply, their production costs are rtively low too. Compared to formations and elixir refining that often require rare and precious materials and millennia-old spirit nts, the material cost for crafting talismans is practically negligible. Jiang Chengs timing wasnt great today. Bai Xiaohe usually spent every day in the store, but just today, she happened to be out discussing business, so Jiang Chengs visit was in vain. However, it was fortunate that the store clerk contacted Bai Xiaohe, saying that the manager would return soon. Jiang Cheng? Bai Xiaohe rushed back in a hurry, carrying her bag. The current predicaments of the Tongbao Pavilion Huayuan Road Store were crystal clear to Bai Xiaohe. There were mainly two issues: The first issue was the stores remote location, and although its premises wererge, the foot traffic around it was insufficient, attracting too few visitors. The second issue was thatpared to other stores, Tongbao Pavilion had no special distinctions; it had neither exclusive products to boast nor a pricing advantage. Tongbao Pavilion used to have the backing of the Tongtian Sects reputation. But now, with the Taixu Sect and Lin Sect expanding within Liang Kingdom and the Tongtian Sects influence continuously weakeningcoupled with the Liang State Courts direct involvement in opening state-run shopsTongbao Pavilions brand power took a serious hit. Faced with the current situation, He had her own thoughts. Her father was the Minister of the Army, holding a position at the Third Rank. Essentially, he was the second or third most significant figure in Liang Kingdoms military. You would think that with her fathers prestigious position, she would have no worries about food and clothing, but that was not the case. Bai Xiaohes mother was born into a decent family,cking in background, education, and temperament. She was taken in as a concubine solely for her beauty, akin to a beautiful sparrow that flew onto a high branch overnight. Then came the pce drama that everyone loves to watch. Bai Xiaohes mother stood no chance against the experienced primary wife of the Bai family, and her own weaker family background provided no help. Later on, as the only child her mother gave birth to was a girl, there was no opportunity forpeting for power; the two of them practically vanished from the scene in the grand Bai family mansion. Its often said that education can change ones fate, and Bai Xiaohe was quitepetitive, making her way to Ling University. After graduation, she entered the Taixu Sects Outer Sect, and could havepletely broken away from her family to stand on her own. However, the reality was that Bai Xiaohe ultimately could not extricate herself from her family. With no businessing to the Tongbao Pavilion, Bai Xiaohe had no choice but to leverage her fathers reputation, wondering if she could secure some government orders. Thanks to her fathers clout, an officer from the Weapon Department in charge of military supplies, holding a Fifth Rank, agreed to meet with her smoothly today. As for the result, an order was ced! The officer gave Bai Xiaohe a business deal. But Bai Xiaohe couldnt fulfill it. The price offered by the Weapon Department for the elixirs was so low that it was already 10 to 20 percent below the purchase price of Tongbao Pavilion. The profit margin for Tongbao Pavilion was negative. It meant that every elixir Bai Xiaohe sold would result in a substantial loss. So, this business simply wasnt feasible. Nevertheless, these were all work-rted problems, and He didnt intend to let her work frustrations affect Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing were happy toe and visit her for a y. After chatting briefly with Jiang Cheng about recent events, it was already gettingte. Now its almost evening, and you guys havent eaten yet, have you? Let me treat you to dinner, He said to Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing. Let me treat you instead, Jiang Cheng said. No, no, let me do it. He, I recently closed two more contracts, Im not short on money, so dont argue with me about it, Jiang Cheng said with a smile. Having spent the afternoon at Tongbao Pavilion, Jiang Cheng had observed everything that was going on there. He may not be clear about the specifics, but Hes situation was certainly not looking optimistic. Seeing Jiang Chengs determined attitude, He did not continue to argue with him. The three of them went to a restaurant near Tongbao Pavilion, found a private room, and casually ordered some homestyle dishes. Liu Qing sniffed her nose, nced at He, then at Jiang Cheng, and finally whispered, Unhappy. Jiang Cheng: ? Snake is unhappy? Ive been behaving quite welltely, even bought her enough snacks for an elephant today, why is she unhappy? Liu Qing: ? She suddenly smelled a strange scent on Jiang Cheng, he must be thinking of something that greatly upset her, something very bad. But the scent only appeared for a moment before dissipating on its own. Jiang Cheng looked into Liu Qings eyes, trying to ask why she was unhappy. Liu Qings eyes shifted slightly, looking towards He. Oh, she means He is unhappy. In fact, Jiang Cheng could also see that He was not in a good mood, but he had never directly asked before. Now that Liu Qing had opened the subject, he couldnt let down his teammate and had to follow up with his response. He, have you encountered any difficulties? Difficulties? No, not at all, Im doing pretty good. Thats not right, He, you used to smile when you talked. You havent smiled much today. You must have run into some trouble, right? Upon hearing Jiang Chengs words, tears welled up in Hes eyes, and her mouth puckered like a duck. She had been under such enormous pressure recently, carrying the whole store on her shoulders. Her mother was indecisive, and her father didnt like her. She couldnt count on other rtives either. It could be said that she only had Jiang Cheng as a reliable friend. Jiang Cheng, can you teach me what to do? Woo. He didnt want to cry, but she couldnt help it and shed tworge teardrops. Jiang Cheng did not rush to reply but instead said to Liu Qing, Go close the door of the room. A level 4 boss skillfully ordering a level 83 employee around. As a Mahayana realm cultivator, Liu Qing didnt feel anything wrong with Jiang Chengs Qi Cultivation Stage behavior. Without saying a word the entire time, she obediently stood up, went to the door and closed it, then obediently returned to Jiang Chengs side. Jiang Cheng said gently, He, its okay, were all friends here. Whatever you want to say, just tell me and Liu Qing. He had been wanting to confide in someone about her troubles, and now that Jiang Cheng had taken the initiative to ask, she immediately poured out all the recent events she had encountered. Although Hes narrative was quite fragmented, Jiang Cheng still managed to extract key information from it. The situation at Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store was not optimistic. He had found a deal, but the negotiation for the purchase price was nowhere near agreeable. Beyond that, He had no other solutions. Chapter 145 - 145 The Possibilities of Jiang Cheng Chapter 145: The Possibilities of Jiang Cheng After graduating from university in his previous life, Jiang Cheng had muddled through working at a gamepany. When it came to how to run a store, how to promote products, he couldnt say he had it at his fingertips, he could only say he didnt understand at all. Therefore, he actually had no clue how to help He sell things. As a result, Jiang Chengs focus fell on the orders that He hadnt negotiated sessfully. In theory, doing business with the court meant there was considerable profit to be made, even if it was a small profit margin from bulk sales. It was unlikely, as He said, that the court would press prices below the cost to the merchant. He, can you tell me more about the military supply order? Jiang Cheng asked. Normally, the business of Tongbao Pavilion definitely wouldnt be shared with an outsider like Jiang Cheng. There would be some secrets of the Tongtian Sects Outer Sect involved in the business. But the orders from the Weapon Department were negotiated by Bai Xiaohe herself, relying on her fathers connections, and had nothing to do with the Tongtian Sects Outer Sect. The leak would be of the courts secrets. As for the court, well, they didnt really care. Its a batch of Qi Blood Pills, said He, her watery eyes looking at Jiang Cheng. You know what Qi Blood Pills are, right? Jiang Cheng nodded, indicating that he knew. Qi Blood Pills were quite mature first-grade elixirs. Their main use was to be taken by cultivators undergoing body refinement to recover the qi and blood they had exhausted from overtraining. Some cultivators who were sick and physically weak could also take them as appropriate to boost their vital energy. In reality, it was an auxiliary pill for cultivation, with a slight healing effect added on. Because of their high versatility and wide range of users, the production methods for Qi Blood Pills and the associated pill-making industry were very mature. They belonged to a type of elixir with a rtively transparent price that could hardly be marked up, at most earning a little hard-earned money. The downside was the low entry threshold, low profit, and highpetition. The upside was therge and stable market demand. Because our Huayuan Road Stores business has always been struggling, I thought, never mind if we dont make a profit, as long as theres turnover, at least it would look better on the books. And if we order inrge quantities, we could also talk to the Tongtian Sect about getting a better price for the goods. Maybe then thered be a profit. So, I arranged to meet with someone from the Weapon Department to try and secure an order, said He. Jiang Cheng thought that so far, it seemed normal. As I was discussing with this person, at first everything went well, but then, when we got to the purchase price um I did some calctions, and the price offered by the Weapon Department amounted to just under forty-one Spirit Stones per Qi Blood Pill, only a bit over forty. But the cost price for our store is fifty Spirit Stones! We generally sell them for fifty-five or fifty-six each, He exined, feeling quite aggrieved. She clearly had already given up on making a profit, so why couldnt she secure any orders? Was it really expected of her to run a business at a loss? But their Tongbao Pavilion Huayuan Road Store was already on the verge of copse; they couldnt afford to lose any more. Jiang Cheng furrowed his brow and said, He, do you know how much other stores are selling the Qi Blood Pills for? He replied, Ive also inquired about that, and throughout Wuyue, shops generally charge around fifty-five low-grade Spirit Stones each. Considering the pill furnace, Pill Masters, Spiritual Materials, and store overheads, unless everyone works for free without making a profit, its impossible to get the cost down to thirty or forty low-grade Spirit Stones. But thats impossible, right! How could everyone possibly work for nothing? Jiang Cheng, rubbing his chin, pondered, That person might be using an unattainable price to tactfully decline your offer. Bai Xiaohe, biting her lip, said with uncertainty, But even if he doesnt choose us, he still needs to find a supplier. The Liang Kingdoms military definitely needs Qi Blood Pills; its impossible for the Weapon Department not to buy them. The question is, how can others make the price so low and still earn money? I cant figure it out. Unless Unless what? Unless Bai Xiaohe said in a low voice, they are passing off inferior products as superior ones. Passing off inferior products as superior ones? Jiang Chengs expression suddenly turned serious. Bai Xiaohe nodded and said, Yeah. They could be using low-quality medicinal materials to make low-grade pills and mixing them in with the good ones to sell. Some substandard pills that are supposed to be thrown away basically cost nothing. As long as you mix one good pill with one bad pill, you could reduce the price of two pills to about half! Bai Xiaohe continued to specte, If thats the case, then based on the Weapon Departments purchase price, pill sellers could not only make money but also earn a lot. The profit might even be greater than selling high-quality pills! Because the cost has been halved! Hes spection made Jiang Cheng frown deeply. He had always been strict with himself but lenient towards others. Without evidence, Jiang Cheng would never suspect someone on his own ord. Even if Hes spection was logically consistent, he still did not wish to categorize others as bad people subconsciously. Man, at birth, is fundamentally good. Jiang Cheng firmly believed in truth, goodness, and beauty. He, do you have any evidence? No, its just a guess, He said softly. Apart from passing off inferior products as superior ones, He couldnt think of any other reason that could lower the prices. Moreover, she was born into the family of the Minister of the Army; even as a less regarded illegitimate daughter, she overheard more rumors and secrets in the mansion than the average person. There were indeed many problems with the court. It was not unlikely, but entirely possible, for unscrupulous merchants to exploit loopholes in military supplies! Since theres no evidence, lets not specte about others with malice. Perhaps the shops that previously supplied Qi Blood Pills to the Weapon Department had some special, cost-saving technology, Jiang Cheng shared his guess. But, He said, feeling quite troubled, if Tongtian Sect cant lower the prices, its unlikely that other shops have better technology than Tongtian Sect, right? Jiang Cheng shook his head, Although Tongtian Sects technology is strong, its not perfect. For example, like themon illnesses of the great sectstheir internal strife, bloated organizations, low efficiency in handling matters, and so on. Therefore, if a small shop possesses a unique technique, its entirely possible to have apetitive advantage over the Immortal Sects in a single product. Upon hearing this, He felt even more hopeless. Their shop was already doing poorly, and now they were also at a disadvantage in terms of costs. It looked like they were headed for bankruptcy. Actually, being the shop manager didnt matter much to He. What she really wanted was to find a stable job near her home so she could take care of her mother while also seeing Jiang Cheng often. As long as she could achieve these two things, she would be satisfied. But if the Huayuan Road Store closed down because of her, she didnt know where the Outer Sect would transfer her to work. They had agreed toe to the Capital together while they were still in Wuyue. Jiang Cheng would attend college, and she would continue to work in the Outer Sect. But now she was about to break her word Wuu wuu wuu, she didnt want to leave. He, dont worry. Is there still a chance for us with the Qi Blood Pills? A chance? What chance? I mean, if we could also bring down the price of elixirs to below forty Spirit Stones through technological innovation, do we still stand a chance of getting the Weapon Departments order? Of course, theres a chance! But, Jiang Cheng, I remember you dont know how to make pills, He looked at Jiang Cheng with a puzzled expression. She knew Jiang Cheng was great at creating talismans, but right now, the problem they were facing was with elixirs! No matter how good Jiang Chengs talismans were, they couldnt possibly solve the problem with the pills, could they? No If it was Jiang Cheng, with his talents Perhaps everything was possible! Jiang Cheng smiled. He had faced difficulties before but never said he couldnt do it before even trying. I indeed dont know how to make pills, but I can learn. He, dont worry too much. Ill think of a solution for the Qi Blood Pills when I get back. Wait for my good news. Chapter 146: The Connections of Jiang Cheng People Chapter 146: The Connections of Jiang Cheng People He returned to her Tongbao Pavilion. With little business, the employees had nothing to keep them upied, so they could only look at He with eager eyes like a flock of hungrymbs. Bai Xiaohe sighed and said, I have some bad news to tell everyone. The order I mentioned before is unlikely toe through. The price theyre offering is too low; we really cant take it. However, Ive asked a friend for help, and there might be a turnaround in a few days. Including Tao Fang and several other clerks, no one was a fool. Everyone could tell there was little chance of a turnaround from the fact that the store manager couldnt muster a smile. The military supply order was basically a lost cause. No need to hold out hope. Still, the atmosphere in the store couldnt remain stagnant. With everyone wearing a frown, how would they make any sales to the customers who came in? Tao Fang said, Everyone, dont worry too much. If theres any trouble, you have me and the store manager. Concentrate on your work, fulfill your roles, and dont overthink it. As long as everyone does their job well, business is bound to pick up. A salesman said, Right, our store sold a Portable Spirit Gathering Array today! Todays sales arent bad. Hearing this, Bai Xiaohe cheered up a bit and asked, Really? Who was the kind person who bought it? Store manager, it was your friend, a Mr. Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng As the store manager, He had a clear inventory of what the store had. Backed by the Tongtian Sect, the quality of their products was certainly good, but the prices were not cheap either. Compared to others, they really didnt have muchpetitive edge. Jiang Cheng could have easily gone to a store that offered a good bargain for his purchase. But he still chose to buy from her, surely out of consideration for her, intentionally bringing her the business. The key point was, he kept it a secret At that moment, He felt as though something was stuck in her throat. Jiang Cheng was too good to herso much so that even devoting herself to him wouldnt seem enough to repay his kindness. If Jiang Cheng continued to treat her well like this, she estimated it would take ten lifetimes of devotion to pay back his kindness. Miaodan Workshop was a considerable alchemist shop in the Capital. Its main business was the sale of various kinds of elixirs. From the lowest rank bleeding stoppers and Qi-gathering powders to third-stage spiritual pills, all were sold in the Miaodan Workshop. Previously, the business of Qi Blood Pills for the Armys Weapon Department had always been handled by Miaodan Workshop. After a long partnership, both sides maintained an understanding that went unspoken. At the entrance of the Miaodan Workshop, a servant handed a letter to a clerk, who then delivered it to the hands of the shopkeeper. The shopkeepers face changed immediately upon reading it, and he rushed to the house of the owner of the Miaodan Workshop. The owner of Miaodan Workshop was a third-level Alchemist at the Core Formation Stage. His name was Shen Mi. He began as an apprentice under his master during the Qi Cultivation Stage and, through his exceptional talent for alchemy, married the masters daughter, took over the Miaodan Workshop, and, by being well-connected, expanded the business significantly in the Capital. Master, take a look at this! said the shopkeeper as he handed the letter to Shen Mi. Shen Mi paused from his drawing, pinched the letter and scanned its contents with a squint. The letter was abrupt, stating just one sentenceThe concubines daughter from Tongbao Pavilion intends to meddle in the Qi Blood Pill business. Shen Mi chuckled, flicked his finger, and a me ignited from his fingertip, burning the letter to ashes. No matter, its of no concern, he said. The anxious shopkeeper said, Master, the contract is not a small deal. Are we just going to watch someone else snatch it away? Shen Mi replied with a smile, If it were someone else trying to snatch it, I might be a bit nervous, but Tongbao Pavilion doesnt have the capabilities. Those shops under the Immortal Sects are most concerned with reputation. Theyd rather lose money than tarnish their brand, so they cant match our prices. Shen Mi patted the shopkeeper on the shoulder and said earnestly, Dont worry, Tongbao Pavilion is no rival for us. As the shopkeeper knew about the Qi Blood Pill deal between Miaodan Workshop and the Weapon Department, he had some insight into the matter. The cost of the Qi Blood Pill on the market was usually over forty-five Low-grade Spirit Stones, and a little better ingredient could raise the price to fifty. Taking such prices to sign a contract with the Weapon Department meant a loss for any amount produced. But the special supply Qi Blood Pills provided by their Miaodan Workshop to the Weapon Department could cut costs down to thirty Low-grade Spirit Stones. The profit margin left over was an entire two times higher than that of the non-special supply Qi Blood Pills on the market! Even if it meant spending more money on bribes. This was Master Shens specialty. Otherwise, how could Miaodan Workshop thrive in the Capital and achieve new glories? Is it by virtue of their conscience? Dont joke, how much is conscience worth? Tongbao Pavilion does have a conscience. But who can Tongbao Pavilion fight against? Their current state is so lifeless, who knows how long they can struggle to stay aliveitsughable to even think about. The dormitory at Lotus University is a four-person room. The standard configuration includes a lofted bed with a desk underneath, private bathroom, and a small balcony. Yue Linger and Cheng Bingxin were not only roommates but also best friends; their friendship stood the test of time among groups of four and five people. It was the kind ofradeship formed through sharing hardships and saving each others lives. Not like the superficial sisterhood of Lin Yao and Tang Qian. Around nine oclock in the evening, Yue Linger, dressed in her pajamas, was lying on her bed, reading a book. What she read was not some leisure book, but genuine professional texts for Talisman studies. It wasnt even the textbook for their course, but rather self-study material she had borrowed from the university library. Jiang Cheng used five different Talismans in the five freshmen assessments and scored full points with each. The types of Talismans coveredpletely different categories including Attack, Control, Puppetry, Healing, and Summoning. He could be called a decathlete! Though Yue Linger was already one of the top students in their ss, she still felt an immense pressure from Jiang Cheng. Compared to the real genius, her modest talents were frankly quite pitiful. The only constion was that Jiang Cheng was her father. With this father-daughter bond, even if she took a step back, as long as she didnt actively cast aside her rtionship with Jiang Cheng, his character suggested that he would never give up on her no matter what! But all this was under the precondition that she could not be a burden to Jiang Cheng! She had to be useful! Therefore, she could only study hard, aiming to reach the threshold of the third rank as soon as possible and continue serving dutifully in the second ce. Just as Yue Linger was about to refocus on her book, hermunication talisman on the bedside suddenly rang. Someone was disturbing her study, which displeased Yue Linger immensely. But the moment she picked up themunication talisman, the annoyance in her heart vanished instantly. There was only one person who could interrupt her at any time. Jiang Cheng! Yue Linger grabbed themunication talisman and jumped down from her bed, running quickly to the balcony before answering. Hello? Senior Yue? Yue Linger let out a sigh of relief, not minding Jiang Chengs formality: Just call me by my name. All right, Senior Yue Linger. The beauty sighed. Sometimes, Yue Linger thought that if Jiang Cheng had any ulterior motives, she would probably have fallen prey to him long ago. One summer was more than enough for Jiang Cheng to understand her from head to toe, inside and out, thoroughly. But if Jiang Cheng were really that kind of person, would he still be likable? Of course not. Senior Yue Linger You dont need to add Senior. Okay, Yue Linger Daoistpanion, do you know any Alchemists? Im looking for an experienced Alchemist to consult with on some issues. Yue Linger: ? What does he need an Alchemist for? He couldnt be nning to delve into the Elixir industry, could he! Chapter 147: Preparations for the Talisman Project Chapter 147: Preparations for the Talisman Project I must say, a daughter really is a fathers intimate little cotton-padded jacket. Yue Linger not only guessed Jiang Chengs evil n right away, but also had to solve a problem for Jiang Chengfinding an experienced alchemist. At Lotus University, finding an alchemist is an easy task. The alchemists at the Alchemy and Spiritual nting Institute, if not in abundance, certainly ensure that youll find one among any three people you happen to knock over with a stick. The problem isnt finding an alchemist, but finding an experienced alchemist. What defines an experienced alchemist? Is it having great talent? Or having a high rank? Or having participated in manypetitions? Or having a wealth of alchemy experience? Yue Linger, though young and yet to enter society, had already prematurely experienced the difficulties of being someones worker through dealing with Jiang Cheng. Daddy gives the orders, and the daughter runs her legs off. Bingxin? Yue Linger called out. Cheng Bingxin was reading a magazine, that kind of ordinary youth campus magazine. But from just a few pictures in the magazine, Cheng Bingxin always managed to concoct some bizarre CPs and then ship them incessantly. Like senior-junior romances, upperssmen and underssmen, willow trees near benches, or the teaching building and the stone seats below it. Whats called the cutest height difference? (Tactically leans back) Cheng Bingxin! Yue Linger called out again. What is it? Cheng Bingxin turned over. Do you know the alchemists at our school? You dont know an alchemist? Just go outside now, grab any random person, repeat it ten times, and youre sure to catch an alchemist. Come on, be serious! I am serious. I really have something important. Hah, what could you possibly have Cheng Bingxins CP radar immediately detected a trace of a romantic pairing. Based on her understanding of Yue Linger, theres an eighty percent chance that she wouldnt look for an alchemist herself, and shes likely helping someone else. Who is she helping? Is that even a question! Who else could it be that she cares so much about, other than Jiang Cheng! Are you really looking for an alchemist? Really am! Do you want a male or a female? Male Yue Linger subconsciously wanted to find a male cultivator for Jiang Cheng who could make elixirs. But she immediately realized, would bringing a male cultivator to Jiang Cheng give him the wrong impression about her rtionship with that male cultivator? For instance, that aside from Jiang Cheng, she has other male cultivator friends she fancied and so on. No, no! That absolutely wont do! Female! Female! It has to be a female! Yue Linger told Cheng Bingxin. Although introducing a female alchemist to Jiang Cheng might pose a certain risk to her own status, Butpared to losing all her status after losing her innocence, a female alchemist is definitely better. Female? Besides being female, any other requirements? Cheng Bingxin asked. It would be best if she has a boyfriend. That way she wont have any designs on Jiang Cheng. Yue Linger thought. A female alchemist needs to have a boyfriend too, oh, wasnt it your department head? Department head? Ah yes, the head of the Publicity Department of the Lotus University Student Union, I forgot her name, its just, shes a third-year student, an alchemist, female, and allegedly has a boyfriend now. All the conditions fit perfectly. The Student Union is actually not very useful. But freshmen always overestimate their diligence, ambition, and initiative. For the sake of trying something new, they join the Student Union. Yue Linger was like this in her first year. And because of her appearance, she joined the Publicity Department without any pressure. The person who recruited her at that time is now the head of the Publicity Department, a second-tier alchemist from the Alchemy Department of the Alchemy and Spiritual nting Institute, Shen Menghan. Immortal Sect Tea House. Jiang Cheng picked up themunication talisman. Hello? Jiang Cheng, have you arrived? Well be there soon. Jiang Cheng replied with a reassuring smile, Ive already arrived, but dont rush, just take your time. Five minutester, the elegantly decorated Immortal Sect Tea House suddenly burst into a riot of colors. Three stunningly beautiful female cultivators entered the shop one after the other. The one at the forefront was naturally Yue Linger, the one Jiang Cheng was most familiar with. Her light pink top paired with a cinched waist pleated skirtplemented her delicate and fair skin, and the twin ponytails swinging with each step perfectly encapsted the essence of youthful beauty. Following Yue Linger was a woman with a fairly serious demeanor and a beautiful melon-seed shaped face. She must be the Alchemist Shen Menghan that she had mentioned. Shen Menghan was d in a light blue short jacket and a dark knee-length dress. The mix of lengths and colors not only made her look pretty but also gave her the mature and intellectual vibe of a third-year senior. And then there was Cheng Bingxin. She was about to summon the Earth Tiger of Land Oh no, thats not right. She was also quite beautiful. The three female cultivators found Jiang Cheng in the Immortal Sect Tea House. With Liu Qing absent, Yue Linger naturally took the seat next to Jiang Cheng. Opposite them sat Shen Menghan and Cheng Bingxin respectively. Senior sister, this is Jiang Cheng, the freshman who wanted to meet you, introduced Yue Linger. Hello. Hello, senior sister. The two greeted each other politely. Shen Menghan went straight to the point, Junior brother Jiang Cheng, you wanted to inquire about Qi Blood Pills? Thats right. I want to know how exactly to refine them, what the sess rate is, and what the costs are. As a second-rank Pill Master, answering questions about basic first-rank elixirs posed no difficulty for Shen Menghan. If I remember correctly, there are about thirty-one forms for Qi Blood Pill currently, but the mainstream forms really onlye down to two. The first form requires Blood Orange Fruit, Dried Cinnamon The second one needs Blood Orange Fruit, White Bamboo Leaves Jiang Cheng listened and took notes like an extremely attentive student in ss. Finally, Shen Menghan finished exining, and Jiang Cheng had taken all the notes. After that, in front of the three female cultivators, Jiang Cheng took out the list of spiritual material prices he had prepared for today. After checking against what Shen Menghan had said, Jiang Cheng finally drew his conclusion. Without considering the wages andmission ie of the alchemist, the material cost of a Qi Blood Pill is around thirty-seven low-grade Spirit Stones. If we take into ount the alchemists sry and the wear and tear on the pill furnace, then the production cost for each Qi Blood Pilles to forty-eight low-grade Spirit Stones. Am I correct, Senior Shen? Shen Menghan was stunned by Jiang Chengs question. She had been invited out by Yue Linger, thinking that Jiang Cheng had some question about the way of pills. But he didnt ask about any techniques, just straight to the price? Who would calcte the cost so meticulously? I suppose so, Ive never really calcted it myself, so Im not quite sure, Shen Menghan replied. To secure an order for He, it was essential to reduce the cost of a Qi Blood Pill to below forty Spirit Stones withoutpromising the quality of the elixirs. To lower the price, the focus had to be on reducing either the material costs orbor. Jiang Cheng was not willing to exploit the alchemists, so his only option was to try to bring down the cost of the spiritual materials. After a moments reflection, Jiang Cheng asked a key question, Senior Shen, is it possible to further optimize the form of the Qi Blood Pill? For example, could we make a virtually identical pill using only half the materials? Shen Menghan: She nced at Yue Linger and calmed herself before responding, Theres basically no chance of that happening, as the current forms are already the best. Jiang Cheng continued, Then, about these spiritual materials, like the Blood Orange Fruit, can the price be reduced? The material cost of a Qi Blood Pill was thirty-seven low-grade Spirit Stones. Just the Blood Orange Fruit alone ounted for twenty-five of those Spirit Stones. If the price of the Blood Orange Fruit could be reduced, then wouldnt the profit margin for the Qi Blood Pills appear? Shen Menghan straightforwardly told Jiang Cheng, Its impossible. The Qi Blood Pill requires Blood Orange Fruits that are at least ten years old, and the Spirit nt Garden of Liang Kingdom produces only so much every year. Unless you can conjure spiritual materials out of thin air, the price wont change. Jiang Cheng earnestly asked, Do you mean that if I just produce them, then naturally the price of the Qi Blood Pills will go down? If Yue Linger hadnt been watching, Shen Menghan would have stood up and given this freshman named Jiang Cheng a good scolding! What did he mean by just produce them? Why could this man make something extremely difficult seem so easy? If you really had the ability to increase production, it would be more fitting for you to be the dean of the Lotus University Spiritual nting Department. Chapter 148: The Next Victim Confirmed Chapter 148: The Next Victim Confirmed Juniors in their third year at Lotus University face a rather intense curriculum. In the first semester of their junior year, theyplete the full years courses and then immediately start preparing their graduation thesis in the next semester. By senior year, due to the coboration with the Immortal Sect, Lotus University students have the opportunity to study within the Sect. Of course, not everyone gets this chance, but for those who dont enter the Immortal Sect, arrangements are made for them to work in local enterprises within Liang Kingdom. In a word, Shen Menghan was pretty strapped for time. She could only take time out to meet with Jiang Cheng today as a favor for Yue Linger. Regarding the Qi Blood Pill, Shen Menghan didnt want to give Jiang Cheng a vague answer or unrealistic hope, like a key person would. So she was quite straightforward when she said to Jiang Cheng, Jiang, although Im not from the Spiritual nting Department but the Alchemy Department, our institute is the Alchemy and Spiritual nting Institute. Knowledge of spiritual nts is alsopulsory for us alchemy students. I can say with responsibility that your idea to increase the yield of the Blood Orange Fruit is not nearly impossible; it is simply impossible. After listening attentively, Jiang Cheng said, But senior, as far as I know, thanks to the many years of cultivation by Spiritual nt Masters, the Blood Orange Fruit has greatly increased its yieldpared to its original generation. Why do you say its impossible? Thats exactly because it has been cultivated by generations of Spiritual nt Masters that it has nearly reached its potential for yield improvement. In fact, not just the Blood Orange Fruit, but allmon spirit nts are hardly able to increase in yield anymore. I have something else to take care of, so Ill be leaving first, sorry. Seeing that Jiang Cheng was unaware of even the most basic spiritual nting knowledge, Shen Menghan quickly lost her patience with him. She offered a forced apologetic smile to Yue Linger, saying, Im really too busy, sorry, before standing up and leaving. Yue Linger, pulling Cheng Bingxin along, stood up to see Shen Menghan off, then asked Cheng Bingxin to keep the seniorpany for a bit longer. Then she herself turned back to the store, sat down next to Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng, what on earth are you up to? Yue Linger asked with concern. She trusted Jiang Cheng quite a bit, unlike Shen Menghans skepticism. However, Yue Linger was equally familiar with Jiang Chengs ability to stir up trouble. Im nning to increase the production of the Blood Orange Fruit, Jiang Cheng stated inly about his intent. Do you have an idea how? Not yet. Yue Linger let out a sigh of relief and said, If you need help, just let me know. Sure. Theres one more thing, Jiang Cheng, good at listening, said, Hmm, tell me. Yue Linger scooted closer to him, drawing her chair towards Jiang Cheng. The fresh fragrance of the neen-year-old girl, like a lotus after rain, filled Jiang Chengs senses instantly. The new term is about to start, make sure you get along well with your roommates. Stop saying all that weird stuff. Of course, Jiang Cheng replied. He was always confident in his emotional intelligence. Seeing Jiang Chengs self-assured demeanor made Yue Linger even more worried. But her concern was not for Jiang Cheng, but for his three roommates. I ask you all to bear with him a little. And then, good luck to you. The apartment Jiang Cheng rented at Jade Lake Mingan was not very big. It only seemed spacious because a certain snake took over the balcony all day long, leaving Jiang Cheng as the sole user of the shared spaces such as the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. At this moment, Jiang Cheng was sitting cross-legged on the couch, holding a picture and studying it carefully. On the picture was the very thing Jiang Cheng needed: the Blood Orange Fruit. But it was not just the Blood Orange Fruit; it was a Blood Orange Tree. The Blood Orange Fruit might sound like a type of orange, but its not. Its shape is more simr to a hawthorn, a spherical fruit slightlyrger than a human thumb. And the Blood Orange Tree, despite its name, is not a tree either. The Blood Orange Tree is more akin to nts like small tomato vines from the nightshade family, a type of perennial herb. The nts are small and, when it is time to bear fruit, they produce the Blood Orange Fruit. The ten-year Blood Orange Fruit needed for the Qi Blood Pill doesnt refer to a fruit that has grown for ten years, but to a Blood Orange Fruit of a quality that meets the ten-year standard. In the early days of the Human Race, before the Immortal Sect took control of the Cultivation World, At that time, the quality of the spirit nt was almost tied to the number of years it had grown. But now, after the cultivation and selection by the spiritual nt masters, the rtionship between the quality of the spirit nt and its age had greatly diminished. With the current technology, Blood Orange Fruit that normally takes ten years to mature could essentially grow within just one year. But for Jiang Cheng, even one year to grow was a bit too slow. Just a few fruits per nt, and theyre prone to dying too, such low yields were no wonder the Blood Orange Fruit was quite expensive. So, was there a method that could make the Blood Orange Trees work a bit harder? Jiang Cheng immediately thought of a certain encouragement talisman. But the encouragement talisman was meant for motivating animals, and it was limited to fish at that, useless for nts. Since nts dont have brains, theyre basically illiterate. Instantly, the situation became extremely tricky. Jiang Cheng, looking at the picture of the Blood Orange Tree in his hands, fell into deep thought. How exactly could he help increase the production of the Blood Orange Fruit? Methods like using some medicine or casting a spell must have already been tried by the spiritual nt masters. Jiang Cheng wouldnt be foolish enough to reuse what others had tried before, it was pointless. Jiang Cheng on the sofa fell once again into ack of inspiration for drawing runes. His gaze wandered around the room and finally settled on Liu Qing. Liu Qing was also looking at Jiang Cheng because she had caught that very dangerous scent again. Usually, as soon as Jiang Cheng emitted that smell, it meant he was about to start drawing talismans. Look? Liu Qing pointed at herself and said. Jiang Cheng nodded and exined, I want to draw a talisman, but Imcking some inspiration. Liu Qing thought for a moment, then rose from the sun lounger on the balcony and sat down on the sofa. Now? No inspiration. Liu Qing shifted her bottom a bit, sitting even closer to Jiang Cheng. Now? The two were now sitting practically shoulder to shoulder. No inspiration wait a second, youre too close. Jiang Cheng quickly stopped Liu Qings dangerous attempt to sit on hisp. He was looking at Liu Qing for inspiration, not for a beating! Jiang Cheng silently maintained a safe distance from Liu Qingabout three centimeters apart. Liu Qing was somewhat baffled by Jiang Chengs behavior. He himself said that seeing her could inspire him, so shouldnt closer be better? Why was he now not letting her get too close? With Liu Qings interruption, Jiang Cheng actually seemed to have an idea! The reason Liu Qing could be a Mahayana Realm cultivator at the young age of two thousand years, although was inseparable from her own exceptional talent, was even more becauseshe was self-disciplined! Aside from eating, there was sleeping, aside from the sun lounger, there was the sofa! Her self-discipline was maddening! She must have been the same during her cultivation. Years of intensive training had forged her lofty cultivation level! What if the Blood Orange Trees could be a bit more self-disciplined? Could it be done? It seemed feasible! Jiang Cheng had an idea, so he quickly jotted down the new talisman he had in mind onto paper. [Name: nt Autonomy Talisman (Smart Puppet TalismanModified)] Rank: First Order Type: Control Effect: The nt version of the Smart Puppet Talisman, it learns from the self-discipline experiences of other nts, helping the Blood Orange Tree correct itszy habits. Cautions: To be experimented.] Chapter 149 - 149 Planting for Me, I for the Planting Chapter 149: nting for Me, I for the nting Theoretically speaking, a Puppet Talisman is for controlling puppets. And the majority of puppets are made of wood and iron. Therefore, a Puppet Talisman canpletely control wooden items. And the Blood Orange Tree is also a nt. Thus, it is entirely possible that with the help of a nt Autonomy Talisman, it can achieve autonomy! An autonomous Blood Orange Tree should grow faster, taller, and stronger than other Blood Orange Trees! Other trees are thin and fragile, whereas the autonomous tree is all muscle! To verify this idea, Jiang Cheng urgently purchased two seeds, a bag of nting soil, and two flower pots. The two seeds Jiang Cheng bought were named Half-day Bamboo and Gold-Iron Wood. True to its name, Half-day Bamboo is a variety of rapid-growth seed, which grows extremely quickly. It can poke out of the soil in half a day, and in another half, it can grow to half an adults height. Is it the nt equivalent of This TM is an eight-year-old? Gold-Iron Wood, byparison, is on the other end of the spectrum. Gold-Iron Wood grows extremely slowly, but its advantage is that its very solid and the wood hard as iron. If the nt Autonomy Talisman could transfer the rapid growth characteristics of the Half-day Bamboo to the Gold-Iron Wood, then such growth rate should also be transferrable to the Blood Orange Tree! After buying the Half-day Bamboo and Gold-Iron Wood, Jiang Cheng immediately started his experiment. As the Smart Puppet Talisman and the apanying Trantion Talisman were Jiang Chengs early summer projects, and given that he had input several top-notch martial arts secrets thereafter, he had a deep understanding of the Intelligent Puppet Talisman and its Trantion Talisman. With a minor modification to the Intelligent Puppet Talisman and optimization of the Trantion Talismans information gathering, to allow it to capture the state of nt growth, the Intelligent Puppet Talisman could fully assume the role of assisting nt self-regtion! Jiang Cheng nted both the Half-day Bamboo and the Gold-Iron Wood seeds in the flower pots and then attached the Trantion Talisman to the Half-day Bamboos pot to collect its growth state. Half a dayter, as expected, a vibrant green bamboo sprout grew in the Half-day Bamboo pot! Without any dy, Jiang Cheng directly attached the Intelligent Puppet Talisman, which had gathered the Half-day Bamboos growth information, onto the motionless Gold-Iron Wood pot next to it. But half a dayter, there was no movement at all in the Gold-Iron Wood pot. Why isnt it growing? Could it be a failure? Jiang Cheng pondered. Since nting requires abundant sunlight, both pots were ced on Liu Qings balcony. They were essentially under Liu Qings watchful eye as they grew. Jiang Cheng. Liu Qing squatted next to the Gold-Iron Wood pot and pointed at the center of the pot. Whats wrong? Its trying hard, Liu Qing said. Trying hard? Jiang Cheng also squatted down and looked at the center of the pot. After thinking, Jiang Cheng used his hands to clear away the soil covering the Gold-Iron Wood seed. He saw a seed that had germinated. However, judging by the state of this seed, it would probably take several days to break through the soil. Could it be that this Gold-Iron Wood is already growing fast enough, but due to the different species, it cannot break through the soil in half a day like bamboo? Jiang Cheng felt his conjecture was very likely. Because the essence of autonomy is self-regtion, not imitation. The Gold-Iron Wood, even if autonomous, cannot transform itself into Half-day Bamboo that shoots up in half a day, and grows to the size of a small bamboo in a day! The nt Autonomy Talisman is an Autonomy Talisman, not a transformation talisman. As long as this Gold-Iron Wood grows faster than other Gold-Iron Wood, his experiment should be considered a sess. Without any hesitation, Jiang Cheng immediately went to a nearby library and researched information on Gold-Iron Wood. After Gold-Iron Wood seeds are sown in the soil, under suitable climate and soil conditions, they usually take about half a month to germinate and roughly one month to break through the soil. Jiang Cheng recalled the germinated Gold-Iron Wood seed he saw andpared it with pictures in books. Based on the state of the germinated Gold-Iron Wood seed, his nt Autonomy Talisman could elerate the growth of Gold-Iron Wood by 5 to 10 times. ` If a Blood Orange Tree typically requires one year from nting to bear fruit, then with the use of a nt Autonomy Talisman during its first six months of growth, the period could be shortened by at least 5 to 10 times. That is to say, the fruiting time could be reduced from one year to seven months. This represents a reduction of approximately forty percent in growth time! However, considering the use of talismans on the tree simr to applying pesticides, it would increase the cost of the Blood Orange Fruit. So, if the Autonomy Talisman only shortens the growth period by four months, the cost savings from using the talisman may not be lower than not using it at all. Such an oue would be putting the cart before the horse. Jiang Cheng initially wanted to use the talisman to reduce costs, but as a result, the costs have escted instead. That wont do, no, the Autonomy Talisman must be further optimized! Five to ten times is definitely not the limit of the Autonomy Talisman! If the growth period can be elerated, then the flowering period should be too, as well as the fruiting period. And since Half-day Bamboo is not the fastest growing nt, if the information from even faster-growing nts can be gathered, couldnt the five to ten times be increased to ten to twenty times? Jiang Cheng pondered, and it seemed entirely possible. Compared to those monsters that take tens of thousands of years to reach the Mahayana Realm, Liu Qing reached it in just two thousand years. If Liu Qing could shorten the cultivation time by more than a dozen times, there should be no problem doing the same with nts. That shouldnt be too much to ask, right? Jiang Cheng thought. So, the problem now before Jiang Cheng was how to obtain a vast amount of nt information, so that the Autonomy Talisman could draw on the strengths of various nts, converging them on the Blood Orange Tree. Jiang Cheng recalled what Shen Menghan had said. Lotus University has a Spiritual nting Department, right? Usually, there would be a Spirit nt Garden. Otherwise, how would they experiment andplete their assignments? Jiang Cheng took out a Communication Talisman and contacted his little padded coat. Hello? Yue The next morning, Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger, and a female cultivator from the Spiritual nting Department arrived together at the Lotus University Spirit nt Garden. Since it was a garden shared by the entire department, the Lotus University Spirit nt Garden covered a vast area of several hundred acres. The garden contained plots of various soil types, to mimic the growth soils of different spirit nts. There were also facilities such as stic greenhouses to alter temperature and humidity, simting the growth environments of different climate spirit nts. One could only say that Lotus University indeed targeted immortals, at least in terms of hardware facilities, they were fully equipped. Junior brother, you may observe these nts, but do not touch them. Better yet, dont touch any of them at all. Moreover, that area over there Jiang Cheng followed the pointing direction of the Spiritual nting Department senior sister. It was an area separated from the rest of the Spirit nt Garden by a transparent ss wall. The variety of nts within were growing quite lushly. That area is a special plot solely for our department heads use. Normally, no one is allowed to approach it. Its best for you to stay away from there, the senior sister from the Spiritual nting Department said. Jiang Cheng always liked to abide by the rules; since the senior sister said not to go there, he would certainly co-operate with her. Dont worry, we wont go there. Good, then you can look around here. Ill be going now. Remember, dont touch any of these spirit nts. No problem. Yue, let us begin sampling, Jiang Cheng said to Yue Linger. The two of them, holding several Trantion Talismans and Autonomy Talismans, began collecting samples from the nts they had previously taken an interest in. Since sampling was a lengthy process, taking at least half a day or more, Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger did not continue to stay in the Spirit nt Garden after setting up the talismans; they could juste back the next day to retrieve the talismans. As night fell, the vast Spirit nt Garden quieted down. However, within the silent ss wall, there was a sound of nts being dug out of the soil. An unremarkable Foxtail Grass pulled itself out of the ground. Chapter 150: Main Focus on a Comeback Chapter 150: Main Focus on a Comeback Most students from the Alchemy and Spiritual nting Institute recognized the head of the Spiritual nting Department. All the students from the Spiritual nting Department knew that there was a plot ofnd in the Spirit nt Garden that was exclusively for the department heads experiments. However, in fact, only a very few senior members of Lotus University, including the head of the Spiritual nting Department, knew that the true owner of the Lotus Universitys Spirit nt Garden was not some department head but another grass. The Foxtail Grass that pulled itself out of the ground was named Yusheng. During the day, he was the least noticeable nt in the Spirit nt Garden. But at night, he was the most dazzling d in the entire Spirit nt Garden. Because only he could be considered a d in the whole Spirit nt Garden; the others were all just nts. After Yusheng left the soil, he quickly transformed into human form. He became a cultivator, a human of short stature, thin build, and with an appearance that seemed old. Despite Yushengs unimpressive appearance, the aura of his cultivation level was extremely robust and solid, indicating he was a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator. In the natural world, for a nt to transform into a monster and take on a form, it first requires a long period of time, gradually umting spiritual energy before it can awaken its spiritual intellect and embark on the path of cultivation. This process usually takes nearly a thousand years. Thus, many nts with short lifespans never have the chance to cultivate and be monsters. Clearly, Foxtail Grass cannot live for a thousand years. Therefore, Yusheng did not originate from the natural world, nor was he the protagonist of a novel who changed his fate through his own efforts. The cultivation of Yusheng was purely idental. Within the forbiddennds of Tongtian Sect, there was an ancient elm tree that had lived for an unknown number of years, and Yusheng was fortunate enough to be a grass under that elm tree. Then, whether it was intentional or idental, a dewdrop full of spirituality fell onto Yushengs head. Having been enlightened by this, Yusheng then awakened his spiritual intelligence and, thanks to the protection of the elm tree and the resources of the forbiddennds, was able to cultivate to Nascent Soul without any pressure. But Tongtian Sect would not allow a Nascent Soul monster to roam freely within their sect. Thus, they gave Yusheng a position, making him a monster with official duties, legal and legitimate. Yusheng was initially quite happy, as having a position meant he could roam legally. But what he never expected was that with a position, he would actually have to work! Luckily for him, his duties were the ultimate in idlenessguarding the Lotus University Spirit nt Garden. These days, peace abounded, and the students of Lotus University were very well-behaved, so Yusheng had absolutely nothing to do. Having been there for over a hundred years, the owners of the sshouses had changed several times, and he did not know how much longer he would have to stay. Fortunately, no one in the Capital paid much attention to him, and even those who knew of his existence were few and far between. As long as he didnt cause trouble, and colluded with the owners of the sshouses, he could easily go out and y for a few years without any problems. Yusheng walked around the Spirit nt Garden, hands tucked into his sleeves and neck retracted, ambling about like a little old man. He saw the Spirit nt Garden every day. He had grown bored of every nt in there; it really wasnt much fun. However, today, Yusheng found an intriguing toy. It seemed that some student had left behind a Talisman in the Spirit nt Garden. And it was a Talisman that Yusheng had never seen before! Not only had he never seen it before, but he had never ever seen it before! This was getting interesting. The two unseen Talismans were ced on a stick, facing a Seeking Sun Grass, doing something that seemed rather purposeful. Yusheng took the Talismans from the stick, one in each hand, and examined them carefully. A first-order Control Talisman? No, thats wrong, its not a simple Control Talisman. It looks like a Control Talisman from the puppeteers cultivation system. But this Talisman doesnt seem to control puppets Strange How can I, a Nascent Soul, not understand a first-order Talisman? Has Talisman technology really developed to this extent? Yusheng was shocked. First-order Talismans were toys for those in the Qi Training phase. He was, after all, at the Nascent Soul level! Not understanding a toy for Qi Training was somewhat embarrassing, wasnt it? I really dont believe this! A small Talisman, and I cant make sense of it!? Yusheng did not sleep all night. In the morning, Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger hurried to the Spirit nt Garden to collect the Talismans. Their job was notplete after the collection; they still needed to organize the data recorded from the different Talismans. Yue, pay attention to where our Talismans were previously ced. If they were blown away by the wind, we need to collect samples again, Jiang Cheng cautioned. Sure. Yue Linger hummed a tune as she went over to the Seeking Sun Grass, happily putting the Trantion Talisman and Autonomy Talisman meant for the grass into her bosom. What she did not notice was that a Foxtail Grass had grown on the side of the road beneath her feet. The freshman assessment at Qinghe Xuanran University waspletely different from Lotus Cloud University. Qingxuan University only had four rounds. They respectively tested survival, talent, prehension, and willpower. Today was thest round of assessments for the first batch of freshmen at Qingxuan University. Willpower assessment! The willpower assessment at Qingxuan University was called Chaotic Heart Mountain. Chaotic Heart Mountain had twenty levels of steps. Each level was imbued with an illusion art. The moment one stepped onto the steps, they would fall into an illusion realm; whether they could see through the illusion to climb to the top or be trapped by the illusion and end their assessment depended entirely on the willpower level of each candidate. Above the assessment grounds of Chaotic Heart Mountain, five cultivators were floating. Among them, four were at the Core Formation stage and one at the Nascent Soul stage. All of them were female cultivators from the Taixu Sect. Below them, in the assessment fields, more than two-thirds of the candidates were female. The vast majority of them would apply for the Taixu Sect after graduation. However, as one of the Five Great Immortal Sects, the Taixu Sect would only pick the best of the best from Qingxuan University. Chaotic Heart Mountain will start soon; tell me, who are you looking forward to? the Nascent Soul female cultivator said. If were going by the scores of the previous three rounds, naturally it would be Tianji Third. Indeed, she scored full marks in the previous three rounds, and for this round at Chaotic Heart Mountain, she must also be aiming for a full score. On the contrary, I think Tianji Third is somewhat better. Her average score is 90, and her character is not self-satisfied. Thest Core Formation stage cultivator said, I fancy Tianxuan Eleven. Her average score in the previous three rounds was 80, which may not be the best, but she has a fighting spirit in her. The Nascent Soul female cultivator smiled, I feel the same way as you do. The Chaotic Heart Mountain assessment officially began. The first batch of one hundred freshmen from Qingxuan University started ascending the steps of Chaotic Heart Mountain one after another. Some walked quickly, others slowly, but the vast majority were stopped short at the mountainside. There were but a few cultivators above the mountainside. A female cultivator dressed in a bright red robe was leading everyone. She was graceful and exceptionally beautiful, a rare beauty indeed. Her chest bore the mark Tianji Third, which was the full marks in three rounds spoken of by the Core Formation cultivators. But at this moment, facing the illusion realm of Chaotic Heart Mountain, even she could barely move a step. Cultivation level could be boosted by resources and talent, techniques could be learned from master teachers, but willpower was something that only came from within. Tianji Third took difficult steps towards the peak of Chaotic Heart Mountain. If she couldplete five more steps, she would undoubtedly be the top student of her ss at Qingxuan University. Ordinary people might not be sopetitive, but she was a princess of Great Liang, bearing the dignity of the royal family. She couldnt lose! Tianji Third struggled to lift her foot, but before she could set it down, a female cultivator who had been behind her suddenly passed her by. This female cultivator walked quickly and steadily, as if no illusion could cause her the slightest trouble. How is that possible? How did she do it? Tianji Third looked up, watching the back of the female cultivator, staring dumbfounded as shepleted all the steps and reached the peak of Chaotic Heart Mountain, earning a full score in the final round of assessments at Qingxuan University. And her badge read Tianxuan Eleven. The favorite candidate of the Nascent Soul female cultivator. Could you tell me your name? Tianji Third asked, looking up. The female cultivator at the top of the mountain turned around, presenting her stunningly beautiful face unreservedly to Tianji Thirds eyes. Her expression was indifferent, and her tone was cold, apparently not considering anything such as full marks in three rounds to be significant. Lin Yao, she said simply. Chapter 151: You Humans Are Quite Good (3k4) Chapter 151: You Humans Are Quite Good (3k4) After sampling the data of many nts, Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger hurried back home without stopping to integrate the sampling data. The growth of a nt is generally divided into six stages. Germination, seedling, growth, flowering, fruiting, aging. Among them, germination, seedling, growth, and aging stages only need to be experienced once, while the flowering and fruiting stages can be repeated multiple times. Considering the ten-year lifespan of a Blood Orange Tree, it can repeat the flowering and fruiting process about ten, or even nine times throughout its life. Of course, as a Spirit nt, the Blood Orange Fruit is different from normal nts. After normal nts bear fruit, the ripe fruit naturally falls off and turns into seeds, but the Blood Orange Fruit does not fall off normally. If not harvested, the fruit of the Blood Orange will continue to grow without getting bigger, but its age will increase. The Blood Orange Fruit that grows in one year is of ten-year quality, and if the fruit is not shed and is allowed to grow for ten years, one can obtain a hundred-year quality Blood Orange Fruit. However, the medicinal properties of Spirit nts have diminishing marginal benefits. A hundred-year quality Blood Orange Fruit is not much stronger than a ten-year quality one, so for the sake of maximizing profits, the fruit of the Blood Orange Tree is harvested once a year. Before going to Lotus Universitys Spirit nt Garden, Jiang Cheng had done his homework thoroughly. The information he collected on the nts was from the best performers at each growth stage in the Spirit nt Garden. For example, the fastest germinators, the fastest-growing seedlings, and the ones that flower and bear fruit the quickest. The Blood Orange Tree must learn from the best nts in the entire Spirit nt Garden. As is well-known, just as humans need iron and food made of steel, the same is true for nts. Enforcing self-discipline in nts may speed up their growth, but their nutrition must keep up as well. Otherwise, it would be likened to pulling up seedlings to make them grow taller, resulting in a skinny and actually frail sapling. To ensure the Blood Orange Tree gets enough nutrients, Jiang Cheng specifically collected information on Seeking Sun Grass. To help the Blood Orange Tree speed up photosynthesis and umte enough energy for growth. Jiang Cheng, the information about the Seeking Sun Grass is here. Yue Linger handed over an Autonomy Talisman marked to Jiang Cheng. This Autonomy Talisman recorded how the Seeking Sun Grass conducts photosynthesis, and its known that even at night, it can perform efficient photosynthesis with very low light, which shows how strong its capability is. Jiang Cheng took the Autonomy Talisman and extracted the relevant parts about photosynthesis ability. But soon, Jiang Cheng furrowed his brow. Why does this talisman record so much information? Could it be that the photosynthesis of Seeking Sun Grass is a veryplex ability? That must be the case, after all. With Seeking Sun Grasss powerful abilities, how could its information be unremarkable? Liu Qing was originally just observing Jiang Cheng and Yue Lingers work, but when Yue Linger took out the Seeking Sun Grass Autonomy Talisman, she noticed something was off. There was a faint hint of Nascent Soul aura on the talisman, weak and without malice, but the aura was indeed present. The talisman might have been touched by a Nascent Soul cultivator. However, it seemed to be undamaged; presumably, there was nothing wrong with it. Seeing Jiang Cheng focused on studying the talisman, Liu Qing quietly sat beside him, keeping silent all the while. Although her cultivation level was high, she was not adept at pondering over things. Most of the time, she made decisions based on her intuition. In fact, from the time she started interacting with Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing had always been unable to keep up with his thoughts. So, she felt that not causing trouble for Jiang Cheng was the greatest help she could offer. After a morning, plus most of an afternoons hard work by Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger, the ultimate version of the nt Autonomy Talisman,bining all the best features of multiple nts, was finally sessfullypleted! ording to Jiang Chengs calctions, the self-disciplined Blood Orange Tree could grow nearly fifteen times faster than one without an Autonomy Talisman! Originally, it would take a whole year for a Blood Orange Tree to go from nting to fruiting, but with the support of Jiang Chengs Autonomy Talisman, this process was shortened to just 24 days! A harvest of Blood Orange Fruit every 24 days means fifteen harvests a year! Under ideal conditions, the annual yield of the Blood Orange Fruit could increase by 15 times! But this is only under ideal conditions, and whether the Blood Orange Tree can sessfully self-regte still depends on the use of a Talisman, and you have to wait 24 days before you know. Any ident could happen in the meantime, Jiang Cheng could not take it lightly. The next day, an ident urred. If Jiang Cheng didnte to y with her at night, Liu Qing usually went to bed early and correspondingly, she woke up early in the morning. Today, after she got up and washed up as usual, taking her breakfast to the balcony, she noticed something was off about the sapling of the Blood Orange Tree. Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing knocked on the door of Jiang Chengs room. What is it? Jiang Cheng, wearing striped pajamas, asked as he opened the door. It doesnt look right. Not right? Because this was about the nt Autonomy Talisman and the Blood Orange Fruit, Jiang Cheng didnt dare to be careless, and squatting down in front of the Blood Orange Trees flower pot without even changing his clothes. The sapling in the flowerpot was barely alive, and while it did grow sizable, it conspicuously looked half-dead. Moreover, Jiang Cheng always felt that the trees hairstyle was a bit sloppy, like roadside Foxtail Grass. Jiang Cheng observed the state of the sapling for a while, then grabbed a handful of soil from the flowerpot. Has the soil turned to yellow sandIt seems like it grew too fast, and the soils nutrients were insufficient. But that shouldnt be the case, right? Does it have the ability of Seeking Sun Grass yet still suffers from nutrient deficiency? Jiang Cheng always felt there was something wrong with his Blood Orange Tree, but he couldnt put his finger on it. Actually, solving the issue of nutrient deficiency in the tree was easy, simply changing the soil would do. Jiang Cheng took out another flowerpot and transnted the tree into it. Sure enough, an hourter, his tree perked up once again. But this time, Jiang Cheng watched the state of the soil in the second pot closely, and noted that as the tree grew rapidly, the nutrients in the soil were quickly depleted. He estimated that in less than half a day, he would have to change the soil and pot again. Rapid growth brings rapid consumption, which makes sense, but changing soil every half day is a bit too troublesome. Water. Liu Qing crouched next to Jiang Cheng with a cup of water in her hand. She still hadnt forgotten her housekeeper dutiesbringing water to the master when he was thirsty. Looking at Liu Qing and the water she offered, Jiang Cheng wondered whether he could delegate the task of changing the soil for the tree to her? That way, Snake would have a job, and he wouldnt be troubled. The best of both worlds. Liu Qing, this tree probably needs its soil changed every half day, can you help with that? A job? A job. Okay. Liu Qing nodded her head. She wasnt particrly interested in changing soil or trees, but if it was a task given by Jiang Cheng, shed be very willing to do it. She handed the water over to Jiang Cheng and then rolled up her sleeves, ready to reach out and help change the soil for the tree. Her snow-white delicate hands, contrasted with the dark soil of the flower pot, formed an extremely stark contrast. It was as if someone was using a hoe made of white jade to plow thend. To say it was a waste of heavens gifts would be an understatement; it was purely ruining good things. Hold on. Jiang Cheng grabbed her hand before Liu Qing could touch the sand. Thest time they held hands like this was when they were testing the Fishing Talisman. The feel of Liu Qings little hand was the same as before, soft and smooth,bined with a gentle coolness. You dont need to help with the repotting, Jiang Cheng said. Why not? You can help with one now, but what about when I nt ten? Can you repot them all? Liu Qing blinked and said without hesitation, I can. What about a hundred? I can. What about ten thousand? I can. A hundred thousand. I can. I nt the entire Capital. I can. Jiang Cheng felt a bit embarrassed. If anyone else had imed they could repot so much, there would be no doubt they were bragging, but it seemed a certain Mahayana Realm Monster could really do it. I get it, you dont need to say more. You dont need to help with the repotting. I havee up with a better idea. Bring me the brush for drawing talismans, he concluded. Jiang Cheng finished speaking, but Liu Qing still crouched motionless beside him. Why arent you going? he asked. This seemed to be the first time Snake hadnt moved. She wasnt like this before. Hand, Liu Qing said. Hand? Jiang Cheng looked down. Oh, he was still holding it. He hadnt let go. Jiang Cheng quickly released Liu Qings hand, saying, Sorry, I wasnt paying attention. Liu Qing shook her head and said, No need. Then she silently went to fetch things for Jiang Cheng. Isnt it very normal for friends to hold hands? Why did he apologize? Liu Qing couldnt understand. Jiang Cheng, on the other hand, fell into thought. Why had he made the beginners mistake of forgetting to let go? Strange, had he been cultivating too hard recently? After Liu Qing brought Jiang Cheng the brush for drawing talismans, he started modifying the nt Autonomy Talisman. As a self-disciplined fruit tree, it would be normal to repot itself, right? If it could change soil, then watering itself wouldnt be too difficult either, would it? After changing the soil and watering, if the ground wasnt clean, it wouldnt be too troublesome to tidy up, would it? If it could sweep the floor, then getting up early to prepare three dishes and a soup Lets forget about that. After all, fire does somewhat restrain nts. Messy little fruit tree: Youre quite decent. This year, Lotus Cloud Universitys Talisman Department still had three sses. Following the tacit understanding of previous years, the students of ss 3 had the highest configuration, followed by ss 2, and ss 1 took in special admission students, such as those with rmendation letters, weird contributions, or who donated a bunch of Spirit Stones. Based on Jiang Chengs perfect scores in five subjects, he shouldve been in ss 3. But Mao Lang, the counselor of ss 3, shuddered at the sight of Jiang Cheng, as if Jiang Cheng had once dismembered him piece by piece. Mao Lang stated: Jiang Cheng coulde to ss 3, but I would transfer to Capital University. Lotus University didnt object to transferring, but with the start of the academic year imminent, a missing teacher was hard to rece. Reluctantly, they had to move Jiang Cheng to ss 2. Liu Lingshen dered: Jiang Cheng coulde to ss 2, but Ill teach ss 1 instead, or Ill advance to Core Formation and battle the Heavenly Tribtion to the death! The counselor of ss 1, who hadnt attended the freshman assessment but was horrified by his colleagues, stated: Its not that I dont want to teach Jiang Cheng, its mainly because Im getting old, my health isnt good. My kidney has performed Core Formation first, and Id like to request medical leave. Finally, Guo Xiuyuan, the head of the Talisman Department at Lotus University, a Core Formation Cultivator, and a fourth-order Talisman Master, personally visited the young teacher who had just transferred to their college to teach C a second-order Talisman Master, Cui Zhifei. Zhifei, I see great potential in you, Guo Xiuyuan said, patting the shoulders of Cui Talisman Master emphatically. Cui Zhifei was ttered. There is a senior teacher in our department who is unwell, and he has vacated the position of ss 1 counselor. I think youre quite suitable. What do you think? Me? Cui Zhifei pointed to himself in surprise. Indeed. Among the new teachers in our college, I value you the most. Let me tell you something in private, in our school, bing a counselor is a necessary step for promotion. It happens that a senior teacher has retired due to illness, leaving a vacancy. Am I qualified? Cui Zhifei hesitated. He was young, with little experience, but felt that this counselor position was an opportunity he should seize. Believe in yourself. Ive already discussed with the counselors of the other two sses and asked them to support your work. For the new students this year, you pick first, and they choose from those youve left over. Guo Xiuyuan took out this years ranking of the freshman assessments. Cui Zhifei saw Jiang Chengs name ranked first at a nce. Perfect scores in all five assessments! What a prodigy of a Talisman Master! You pick first, urged Guo Xiuyuan. Really? Of course. Cui Zhifei thought to himself: Hey, letting a neer like me pick first, youre really quite nice. A fool wouldnt take advantage of a good deal. Cui Zhifei wasnt going to be polite; he immediately pointed to Jiang Chengs name on the list and said, Him. Chapter 152: Giving You Another Chance to Speak (3k8) Chapter 152: Giving You Another Chance to Speak (3k8) On the day sses started, Jiang Cheng got up early. After checking on the state of his messy little fruit tree, he said to Liu Qing lying beside him, Liu Qing, I wont being back to sleep tonight. The first semester of university, Jiang Cheng didnt want to be too aloof. He aimed to try blending in with the group. Liu Qing seemed to not have heard, lying on her side seductively on her lounging chair, not uttering a word. Her graceful jade-like body revealed enchanting curves, resembling the undting ridges of a mysterious mountain range, tantalizing to the mind yet unreachable. Seeing that Liu Qing ignored him, with his Snake Tongue at level ten, how could Jiang Cheng not understand her meaning? Snake Tonguenguage: Okay = Good. Hmm = Fine. Oh = not so good, but alright. Nodding without speaking = eptable. Not nodding, not speaking = unwilling. Not looking, not nodding, not speaking = you try and see what happens. Jiang Cheng swallowed nervously. Liu Qing was a Mahayana realm cultivator, she couldnt possibly fail to hear what he said. Her pretense of not hearing was a clear message: Ill pretend I didnt hear what you just said, giving you a chance to speak again. Liu Qing, I am nning to sleep in the dormitory tonight, Jiang Cheng repeated, steeling himself. He really didnt want to detach himself from the group right at the start of university. Not counting internships in the fourth year, there were still at least three years of college life left. After all, he had to cultivate rtionships with other students, right? Liu Qing still didnt hear. Ill deliver lunch and dinner to you on time every day, Jiang Cheng raised the stakes. I wont stay at school for too long. I still need toe back to cultivate, and that portable Spirit Gathering Array will definitely be kept at home, Jiang Cheng raised the stakes again. Ille home to sleep on the weekends, Jiang Cheng added a third time. Here. Jiang Cheng increased the stakes for the fourth time, taking out a palm-sized small puppet. Liu Qings attention was finally captured by the puppet, and she deigned to nce at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and showed her his creation. I modified this little toy with an Intelligent Puppet Talisman. It doesnt have a name yet, but its function includes short-distance video calls. Although the image isnt very clear, theres another feature Jiang Cheng took out another small puppet identical to the first. He waved the arm of the puppet in his hand, and the other puppet also lifted its arm, mimicking the same motion. Do you want to try it? Jiang Cheng offered the small puppet to Liu Qing. Jiang Cheng understood why Liu Qing was reluctant for him to stay in the dorms. In human society, Liu Qing had only him as a friend. If he were to leave her, then she would truly be left with nothing. Liu Qing hesitated, but finally took the small puppet Jiang Cheng handed to her. She tried moving the arm of the puppet, and sure enough, the one in Jiang Chengs hand mirrored the action. Liu Qing continued to move the puppets arm, and the other little puppet started to punch and kick Jiang Cheng mercilessly. Is it fun? Jiang Cheng asked. Not fun, Liu Qing said petntly. She imed it wasnt fun, but she was actually holding it tightly and had no intention of letting go. Jiang Cheng exined patiently, I need to attend university, and then I can qualify for joining an Immortal Sect. Only then can I raise my cultivation level high, and only then can I have lots and lots of time, where I can do whatever I want, go wherever I want. Mount Tian? she asked. If you want me to go there, I will definitely go, Jiang Cheng assured her. Liu Qings beautiful eyes flickered, her white teeth lightly biting her pink lips as shey back down on the lounging chair. Jiang Cheng said to her back, I wont being back to sleep tonight. Liu Qing hugged the small puppet, her delicate body on the lounging chair curling up slightly. By the way, the puppets video calling can be left on all night. I forgot to tell you just now, Jiang Cheng added. Oh. So I wonte back tonight? Liu Qing took out amunication talisman. I will pick up straight away, Jiang Cheng promised. Oh. Noting back? Jiang Cheng continued to probe. Mm. Snake nodded gently. Jiang Cheng breathed a huge sigh of relief. If he hadnt prepared the little puppet to mollify Snake in advance, he might have had topletely iste himself from his peers during his three years of university because of her. Apart from being overly dependent on friends and disliking being alone, Snake didnt really have other ws. At least she was extremely emotionally stable and wasnt going to eat him in one bite. In any case, Jiang Cheng was very satisfied with the Mahayana realm employee he hired with three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. After all, most of the time, it was Jiang Cheng who ordered her around. Although on very rare asions it might be the other way round, it was already an exceptionally good deal. While Jiang Cheng was cajoling Snake, in dormitory 316 of block number seven at Lotus University, three impressive individuals had already gathered. Ding Guangming, tall and skinny from Jingzhou, from a local influential family, with a Qi cultivation of the eighthyer, a half-step Talisman Master. Entered school with a rmendation letter. Song Junsheng, handsome and dignified from Capital, well-off family background, with a Qi cultivation of the sixthyer, a first-rank Talisman Master. Entered school with a rmendation letter. Zhu Hongcai, sturdy young man from a region near Capital, parents wealthy, with a Qi cultivation of the seventhyer, able to use talismans. Enrolled with a hefty sum of Spirit Stones. Freshmen, always easy to talk to, and soon Ding, Song, and Zhu became well-acquainted. Ding Guangming looked at his two new roommates curiously, asking, What do you n to do in the future? Song Junsheng smiled, Draw talismans, what else? Dreams, like any dreams or something? Song Junsheng thought a moment and said, My family is a Talisman Master noble house from Liang Kingdom. Coming to Lotus University, mainly I want topare the Immortal Sects talismans with my familys. To see which is stronger or weaker. Cool! Ding Guangming immediately gave a thumbs up, then said, You must be pretty good at drawing talismans, right? Song Junsheng smiled modestly, So-so. In a few months, I n to attempt to reach second-rank Talisman Master. But my talents are too weakpared to my grandfather. He was already a second-rank by the time he was eighteen. Chapter 153 - 152: Giving You Another Chance to Speak (3k8)_2 Chapter 153: Chapter 152: Giving You Another Chance to Speak (3k8)_2 Ding Pengthe continued to tter, So your grandfather must be at the level of a third-order Talisman Master now, right? Song Junsheng shook his head and said leisurely, Fourth order. But his talent for cultivating immortality isnt very good. If he could reach Nascent Soul, fifth order wouldnt be impossible. Ding Guangming eximed, Holy shit, thats awesome! Watching Song Junsheng show off, Zhu Hongcais face was filled with annoyance. He hated it the most when someone showed off in front of him. But soon, Ding Pengthe turned his attention and the opportunity to show off to Zhu Hongcai. Brother Zhu, what are your dreams? Zhu Hongcai said disdainfully, Im just a filthy rich second-generation that doesnt have any dreams. This Talisman stuff, I dont want to draw. Knowing how to use them is enough for me, why bother drawing them myself when I can just buy with money, its too much trouble. Ding Guangming was taken aback, Then why are you attending university? Looking for a wife. I just like female college students. With my conditions, only school beauties will do, even ss beauties chasing after me wont cut it. Song Junshengughed and said, Youre looking for a wife and you came to Lotus University? Shouldnt you have gone to the neighboring Qingxuan University? There are more female cultivators there, and the quality is higher. Zhu Hongcai got upset, I wanted to go there too, but they wouldnt take my dads Spirit Stones! In the end, I had to settle for Lotus University. Ding Guangming was shocked, So you guys didnt get in by examination either? Song Junsheng said, My grandfather knows the president of the university. Zhu Hongcai said, My dad has money. Ding Guangming touched his head and said, Actually, I didnt get in by examination either; my ancestors were founding heroes, and we still have some connections. Song Junshengplimented with high EQ, Thats pretty impressive too. Ding Guangming said sheepishly, Not at all, my family has fallen on hard times, and this year, I had to pull a lot of strings just to get a rmendation letter. Zhu Hongcai, both showing off and being generous, said, If youre short on money, just talk to me; were all roommates. My home is empty, I have nothing, except a lot of money. Song Junsheng smiled and didnt want to stoop to Zhu Hongcais level. In the cultivation world, strength is the foundation, and those with a lot of money are just fat sheep waiting to be ughtered. Therefore, the importance of Talisman skills far exceeds that of money. Their Song family might not have as much money as Zhu Hongcai, but in terms of Talisman skills, they absolutely thrashed Zhu Hongcai. By the way, isnt there one more person who hasnt arrived? Zhu Hongcai asked. He had just been showing off, missing an audience, which made him feel ufortable. Speak of Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Cheng would appear. Thanks to his storage bag, Jiang Cheng didnt need to carry luggage and arrived at the dormitory empty-handed. Upon entering the room and seeing his three roommates, he immediately greeted them with high EQ, Hello everyone, my name is Jiang Cheng from Xiang State. Zhu Hongcai immediatelyughed and said, Haha, brother, did you get that backwards? Jiang Cheng smiled, stepped forward, and shook hands with each roommate solemnly. Its mainly because of your excellence that I feel a bit nervous. Zhu Hongcai thought to himself: Your words are nice, but why is this handshake so formal? Like meeting a head of state. Holy shit, are you THAT 1016? Ding Guangming recognized Jiang Cheng and suddenly eximed in shock. Whats 1016? Both Zhu Hongcai and Song Junsheng didnt understand. Didnt you watch the freshmen assessment? Hes 1016, Jiang Cheng, perfect scores in all five subjects! Five subjects, man! Perfect scores in all five subjects? Song Junsheng might not have watched the new student assessments, but as someone from the Capital, he was aware of the significance of Lotus Universitys new student assessments. Perfect scores werentmon, and perfect scores in all five subjects were even rarer. Jiang Chengs cultivation level wasnt high; most likely, he got perfect scores through his Talisman drawing skills. He might be a formidable rival in the Talisman Department. Song Junsheng thought, looking at Jiang Cheng with more respect. Being good at uniting others, Jiang Cheng added, Its mainly because my high school exam results were not good, so I had to prepare some tricks for the freshman assessment. Ding Guangming said excitedly, Thats so awesome! I never dreamed Id be roommates with 1016. Seeing his little follower who was good at ttering running off to tter someone else, Zhu Hongcai was not very pleased. He had just been showing off when Jiang Cheng wasnt present. Now that Jiang Cheng was showing off, he could see it all too clearly, and it felt unfair. He had to feign that swagger again. Zhu Hongcai started off by ying coy, Did you guys see the senior sister hanging banners for the admissions office when you entered the campus today? Saw her. Hmm. I saw her too. Heh heh, as long as everyone saw her, thats good. Zhu Hongcais teasing was longer than his own height, making Ding Guangming itch with curiosity. Zhu Hongcai, just spill it already, we saw her and then what? Zhu Hongcai took out his Spirit Stone, clicked on the contacts list, and showed it clearly to the three Jiang Chengs. She asked me for my contact information proactively, but I am not going to pay her any attention. I admit, shes pretty good looking, but she still doesnt meet my standards for a wife. Awesome! Ding Guangming gave a thumbs up. When ites to showing off, in this dorm, Hong Cai reigns supreme. Zhu Hongcai, seeing Ding Guangmings reaction, felt overjoyed. Hes Rich Second Generation, so if hes not going to show off, then what? Only Jiang Cheng earnestly analyzed, I think she might just want to sell you something, like a membership card for some restaurant outside the school. Zhu Hongcai had seen too many individuals like Jiang Cheng who act sour when they cant get the grapes. What membership card? Grasping at straws, unwilling to acknowledge a roommates charisma. Zhu Hongcai shot back, Jiang Cheng, youve got full marks in five courses, has anyone asked you for your contact info? No, Jiang Cheng honestly replied. Zhu Hongcai, patting Jiang Chengs shoulder, generously said, No worries, once I find a Campus Queen as a girlfriend, Ill have her introduce one of her close friends to you. The close friends of prettydy cultivators are usually not bad either. Jiang Cheng thought of Yue Lingers close friend, Cheng Bingxin. He nodded, Indeed. Ding Guangming, seeing Zhu Hongcais generosity, suddenly felt tempted, Hong Cai, what about me? Zhu Hongcai waved it off, No biggie, youre included too. The Campus Queen cant possibly just have one close friend, right? Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, It seems she only has one. Zhu Hongcai thought to himself: How do you sound as if you know her so well? Were all freshmen, who knows the Campus Queen? Saying this is just showing off pointlessly, unimpressive, too low level. At that moment, Jiang Chengs Spirit Stone rang. After a couple of hums upon answering, he said to his roommates, Sorry guys, a senior sister needs me for something, I have to step out for a bit. Watching Jiang Chengs departing figure, Ding Guangming wondered, Huh? How does Jiang Cheng have a senior sisters contact information? Zhu Hongcai disdainfully said, Pure show off. I dont believe he can really contact a senior sister. Didnt he just go down? Lets go to the balcony and have some fun watching. The three of them went to the balcony, just in time to see Jiang Cheng heading downstairs. Zhu Hongcai immediatelyughed, Look, I told you he was Huh? The three roommates eyes widened because they actually saw Jiang Cheng heading toward a senior sister! Although the face of this senior sister wasnt clear, her figure was great, featuring a busty chest, a slender waist, and long, straight legsfar superior to the senior sister hanging banners for the admissions office. Zhu Hongcais forehead began to sweat. Hes just being dragged off to get a card, nothing to be envious of. Wait a moment, my Spirit Stone is ringing. Zhu Hongcai pulled out his Spirit Stone, and the caller was the same senior sister who had added him! The scene was his once more. Zhu Hongcais face glowed as he answered the Spirit Stone, and conveniently hit the speaker button, saying loudly, Hello? Is this the junior brother? Yes, Im Zhu Hongcai. Junior brother, theres a restaurant outside of school thats quite good, and their membership cards are on discount now. Would you consider it? Chapter 154 - 153 It’s Just More Self-Disciplined Chapter 154: Chapter 153 Its Just More Self-Disciplined Along the roadsides of Lotus University, new students came and went in an endless stream. Some walked hurriedly, while others asionally stopped, curious about everything on campus. Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger were mingled in the crowd. Jiang Cheng, Ive arranged the empty plot ofnd you wanted. However, a teacher from the Spiritual nting Department wants you to personallye over and sign the rental agreement yourself, Yue Linger said. Jiang Cheng nodded, No problem. Jiang Cheng nned to rent a piece ofnd in the Spirit nt Garden of the Spiritual nting Department at Lotus University, especially to cultivate the Blood Orange Tree. The reason was that he found the Blood Orange Tree he nted on the balcony could indeed self-sufficiently change its soil and water itself. But the problem was, even the most capable little tree needs soil to change into. Jiang Chengs balcony naturallycked soil. If he kept buying new potting soil, it would defy his original intention of keeping costs down, after all, potting soil isnt cheap. So, Jiang Cheng nned to enclose a piece ofnd, directly letting his scrappy little trees grow free-range. The Spirit nt Garden of Lotus University was a perfect ce, not only was the soil fertile, there was also no need to worry about security issues. As long as the price was right, renting somend would be much more cost-effective than continuously buying potting soil. Outside the Spirit nt Garden, Jiang Cheng ran into Mr. Zhang of the Spiritual nting Department. Mr. Zhang shook hands with Jiang Cheng very warmly. Are you Jiang Cheng? Ive heard about you. You did quite well in the freshmen assessment. A promising future you have, indeed! It was indeedplicated to rent outnd in the Spirit nt Garden to outsiders. If it werent for Yue Lingers influence, coupled with Jiang Chengs reputation for achieving full marks, Mr. Zhang wouldnt want to bother with it. Jiang Cheng humbly replied, You tter me. I just have a bit of insight into talismans and was lucky to perform well. Mr. Zhang led Jiang Cheng to a neat plot ofnd and said, This is it, twenty meters long and wide each, one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones per year. If you think thats alright, you can sign now. The soil of thend looked good, but it was a bit small and pricey; suitable for experiments but not conducive to reducing the cost of Blood Orange Fruits. Besides, it didnt seem like it could amodate many scrappy little trees. Jiang Cheng said, Mr. Zhang, is there anynd thats bigger and a bit cheaper? I dont mind if its farther away or the soil quality is a bit poorer. My trees will strive to live on their own. Mr. Zhang: ? What does he mean, Trees will strive on their own? He must mean that trees are very resilient, right? After teaching for over a decade, Mr. Zhang had never heard such creatively anthropomorphic rhetoricparing trees to people as Jiang Cheng had just done. It felt quite fresh to him. After thinking for a moment, Mr. Zhang said, There is actually a piece of wastnd, about twenty acres. It was originally nned to be left fallow to enrich the soil, but with the Spiritual nting Department reducing admissions in recent years, we probably wont need itter. You can take it if you need it, just pay one hundred Spirit Stones for the rental process. Okay. Since there wasnt much to do on the first day of school, Jiang Cheng took the opportunity to move his scrappy little trees to his newly rented wastnd while returning home to feed his snake at noon. The scrappy little trees now had self-regting watering, soil changing, sweeping, and weed removal functionalities. Furthermore, they had been autonomously growing for five days. The growth period of the Blood Orange Tree was nearly over, with its size basically set; now all that was left was to wait for blossoming and fruiting, to see the quality and yield of the Blood Orange Fruits. Although twenty-four days was the final harvest time for the Blood Orange Fruits, around the tenth day, the number and size of the fruits would be mostly set, and they could be harvested for use. Further growth would actually only serve to age them. So, in just five more days, Jiang Cheng would be able to give He an answer and determine whether Tongbao Pavilion could indeedpete for the Qi Blood Pill order. Having fed his snake in the evening and fearing she might change her mind and not let him stay in the dormitory, Jiang Cheng deliberately moved the Portable Spirit Gathering Array to the living room. Essentially, he used the break in his cultivation to spend some more time with her. While one diligently cultivated, another snake lounged barefoot on the sofa, munching on snacks. Having devoured plenty of snacks, the snake even figured out how to lick her fingers on her own, a skill that saved a trifling amount of food. Yet the sight of her earnestly licking her fingers and the frequent sticky strands somehow seemed likely to cause malnutrition in onlookers. Perhaps because of the excellent security, Lotus University had no curfew, but Jiang Cheng didnt want to return to the dormitory toote and disturb his roommates rest. At around nine-thirty, Jiang Cheng stopped cultivating, bid farewell to Liu Qing, and went back to his dormitory. Liu Qing was quite trustworthy and not prone to reneging like many female cultivators. She had allowed Jiang Cheng to stay in the dormitory and indeed let him go, but she watched him eagerly as he left theplex, leaving behind a sense of guilt in Jiang Chengs heart. Strange, why do I feel such a sense of tragic separation, just going back to school a couple of streets away? Jade Lake Mingan wasnt far from Lotus University, half an hour on foot, just over ten minutes by bike. Jiang Cheng returned to his dormitory before ten oclock that night. However, the atmosphere in the dormitory was a bit off. The three roommates looked at Jiang Cheng as if they were grieving widows. Jiang Cheng: ? Whats with those looks? What happened? Zhu Hongcai, who came to Lotus University in search of a wife, said sourly, Jiang Cheng, is that senior you went to see your girlfriend? No, Jiang Cheng answered immediately. The other three didnt seem to think he was lying. Zhu Hongcai asked again, Then do you have a girlfriend? No. So you were just hanging out with the senior? Didnt hang out. You dont have a girlfriend and werent with the senior, so where did you go today? Zhu Hongcais tone was noticeably poor. Ding Guangming quickly pulled Jiang Cheng to sit down, exining, 1016, no, Jiang Cheng, its like this, today our dorm went to the cafeteria to eat, and you werent there; we were only three, but the other dorms were in groups of four. Hong Cai tried to exin that you were busy, but identally got mocked by the guys next door. They said that you, uh, might look down on us a bit. Why would I look down upon you? Jiang Cheng was puzzled. He had never looked down on anyone. Except for Cao Wang. Song Junsheng had his own strength and was, of course, not afraid of rumors. With a teasing smile, he said, Isnt it just because we three got in through connections and Spirit Stones, while you were the top of the new students assessment? Its quite normal to have such rumors. I really didnt mean it that way, Jiang Cheng said. You didnt mean it, just out of sight for a day and then not joining us for meals, Zhu Hongcai said bluntly. Jiang Cheng felt Zhu Hongcai seemed to have someints about him, but he didnt know why. He didnt remember offending Zhu Hongcai. Dormitory unity truly is an art. Jiang Cheng took the initiative and suggested, The night market outside Lotus University is pretty good. How about I treat you guys to ate-night snack? Ding Guangmings eyes lit up, and Song Junsheng had no objections either. Zhu Hongcai sniffed an opportunity to show off and immediately produced his membership card for an off-campus restaurant. Guys, Im a member, Ill treat, its cheaper when I pay. Lets go. No sooner had the four of them left the building than Jiang Cheng received a talismanmunication from Mr. Zhang Wen. Mr. Zhangs panicked voice transmitted through the talisman: Jiang Cheng, I just happened to pass by the wastnd youre renting. Did you nt a Blood Orange Tree there? Yes. Your Blood Orange Tree doesnt quite fit with how I remember them to be. Its grown almost taller than a person! Jiang Cheng exined calmly, Its always had a big appetite. I think I just saw it running on the ground. No worries, it must be getting some exercise. Are you sure? How can a tree move about? Compared to other trees, its just more disciplined. Dont worry, teacher, it knows its limits and wont cause any trouble. Trees dont have brains, how can it know its limits? No, why am I suddenly epting the fact that trees can run? Mr. Zhang was now somewhat regretting renting thend to Jiang Cheng. It wasnt that the rent was too little, it was mainly that a fruit tree running around in the middle of the night was too frightening. Despite being less famous than the neighboring Alchemy Department, the Spiritual nting Department couldnt just pursue any kind of fame! Holy shit! Its started digging holes in the ground! Mr. Zhang eximed. Thats normal. It gets hungry after running and needs to eat, Jiang Cheng reassured. Mr. Zhang: Why do I feel like what hes saying makes sense? Jiang Cheng, I havent left yet, could youe over and take a look? Alright. Jiang Cheng could prioritize urgency and importance. When serious matters called, dining had to wait. Jiang Cheng apologetically said to his roommates, Sorry, but a tree I nted is acting up, and a teacher from the Spiritual nting Department asked me toe over. Ding, Song, and Zhu: ? Ding Guangming asked, What tree bark? Song Junsheng queried, Spiritual nting Department? Arent you in the Talisman Department like us? Zhu Hongcai asked, Teacher? A man or a woman? Pretty or not? Im really sorry, lets reschedule our meal for another time, Jiang Cheng said sincerely. I want to see your tree, one said. I want to broaden my horizons, added another. Ah? Youre all going? Zhu Hongcai was surprised. Brother Hong Cai, are youing with us? Ding Guangming asked. Zhu Hongcai had zero interest in the tree; he wanted to go to the night market to see long legs, but with no roommates around, his showing off would have no audience, and that wouldnt do. Lets go, lets go. The Spirit nt Garden was a good distance from the student dormitories. But Lotus University had a mini train on campus, with a service running every ten minutes directly to the Spirit nt Garden. Forty minutester, the four roommates arrived at the wastnd Jiang Cheng had rented. The Spirit nt Garden was eerily quiet at night, save for the sound of the wind rustling the leaves. Mr. Zhang, Im here, Jiang Cheng called out. Mr. Zhang wiped sweat from his brow and said, Jiang Cheng, I risked my life to check on your tree just now. Why is there a talisman attached to it? Jiang Cheng answered, I drew an Autonomy Talisman. It helps nts achieve autonomy. Everyone was dumbfounded. nts? Autonomy? How on earth could you connect those two? Ding Guangming turned to Song Junsheng and asked, Junsheng, have you ever heard of an Autonomy Talisman? Song Junsheng shook his head in confusion. Although born into a Liang Kingdom Talisman family, he could swear he had never heard of a talisman that could help nts achieve autonomy in this life, the life before, or even the life before that. Zhu Hongcai was even more perplexed, scratching his head, I have a question, Jiang Cheng. If nts can be self-disciplined, does that mean nt people can be too? Not to mention the neers; even Mr. Zhang Wen, the teacher from the Spiritual nting Department, had no idea that nts could be self-disciplined. Mr. Zhang couldnt help but sigh internally: Its no surprise that Jiang Cheng is the one who scored full marks in five subjects. Hes only been at Lotus University for a day, and hes already challenging the understanding of nts Ive built up over decades. Chapter 155 - 154: The Legend of the Relaxation Charm Continues (3k8) Chapter 155: Chapter 154: The Legend of the Rxation Charm Continues (3k8) After the misunderstanding of the Frightened Fruit Tree had been resolved, Jiang Cheng and the others set off back to the dormitory. On the way, Song Junsheng was utterly baffled. He racked his brain for all the talisman knowledge he had umted over the past eighteen years but couldnt figure out how Jiang Cheng had managed to make a nt autonomous with just a first-level talisman. It was quite easy to fell a tree with a first-level talisman. But controlling a tree, especially one nearly as tall as a person, to make it autonomous, was impossible! Jiang Cheng, how did you do it? Huh? How did you manage to control the tree and make it autonomous? Ordinary control talismans cant do that, right? Jiang Cheng nodded and enthusiastically exined to Song Junsheng, An ordinary Control Talisman indeed wont cut it, but a Puppet Talisman is also counted under control talismans. Dont think of the tree as a tree, think of it as a puppet. Doesnt that make it much easier toprehend? Song Junsheng was shocked. Thinking of a perfectly good tree as a puppet? Could a human evene up with such an idea? What exactly was Jiang Cheng filling his head with? However, after calming down, Song Junsheng thought it through with the talisman knowledge he had and found that it might actually be feasible. Under the puppeteer cultivation system, a Puppet Talisman had much stronger control over puppets than a Control Talisman had over objects. Song Junsheng realized for the second time that Jiang Cheng was not simple and looked at him in a new light for the second time. Coming to Lotus University was the right choice. After their adventure in the Spirit nt Garden, the four of them didnt return to the dormitory until after midnight. Zhu Hongcai and Ding Guangming were so exhausted that as soon as their heads hit the pillows, they were out cold. Since there were sses the next morning, Jiang Cheng and Song Junsheng silently finished their nighttime routines and turned off the lights before lying down in bed. Jiang Cheng took out his little puppet and activated the Video Transmission Feature. A faint glow lit up from the puppets belly, revealing a tiny screen that showed the viewpoint of another puppet that saw. He saw a patch of pink silk fabric, which must be Liu Qings pajamas, but it was unclear which part of the pajamas it was. Jiang Cheng moved the little puppets arm. There was no reaction on the other sidethe Snake must have been asleep. Jiang Cheng then breathed a sigh of relief, turned off the puppets video function, ced it by the bed, and fell asleep. After Jiang Cheng had fallen asleep, the puppet on the bed sneakily turned over to face him andy still. Jiang Cheng had always been an early riser, not exempt even after ate night. He woke before the sun had even entered the dormitory. Since his first university ss wasnt until 8:30 am, Jiang Cheng decided to use his early morning run as an opportunity to buy Snake some steaming hot breakfast from the cafeteria. But when he arrived home, there was no Snake on the balcony, and Liu Qing was still not upa rare urrence. She usually went to bed early and rose even earlier, never one to linger in bed. Jiang Cheng left the breakfast on the table for her, along with a note, and then headed back to school. In the dormitory, his three roommates were all full of energy, each preparing for their first ss of the semester. Ding Guangming brushed his teeth vigorously. Zhu Hongcai had changed into an outfit that looked expensive at first nce. Song Junsheng specifically pulled out his folding fan. He didnt open it, but holding it in his hand added to his elegance. Only Jiang Cheng dressed as usual. When Zhu Hongcai saw Jiang Cheng return to the dormitory, he couldnt help but let out a curse. Ding Guangming, ever the jokester, promptly asked with concern, Whats wrong, Hong Cai? Damn it, why does Jiang Cheng look good in anything he wears? This outfit of mine cost eight thousand! Compared to Jiang Cheng, I look like a fool, Zhu Hongcai griped. Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and said, How about I lend you an outfit? Zhu Hongcai wasnt shy about taking him up on the offer and promptly changed into Jiang Chengs clothes. However, due to his shorter stature, Jiang Chengs clothes were a bitrge on him. He suddenly seemed about ten years younger, as if hed returned to his prime in elementary school. Damn it! Ill just stick to my eight-thousand-dor outfit! Zhu Hongcai eximed. At 8:15, in ssroom 4-312 of the South Teaching Building at Lotus University, the freshmen of Talisman Drawing ss 1 entered in groups of four, as sorted by their dormitories. The female cultivators dormitories were closer to the teaching building, so they generally arrived early. Zhu Hongcai led the way on the road, but upon reaching the ssroom door and hearing the cheerful chatter andughter of women inside, he suddenly felt stage fright. Guangming, you go in first, he instructed. Ding Guangming was also a bit timid and turned to Song Junsheng, Junsheng, you go ahead, please. Song Junsheng smiled and took the lead into the ssroom. The twittering andughter inside immediately halved. Song Junsheng,ing from a family versed in talismans, had an appearance and charisma that stood out among the male cultivators. Zhu Hongcai and Ding Guangming then looked towards Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng, feeling helplesshis roommates were too polite, not only respecting their elders and loving the young but even in something as simple as entering a ssroom, they insisted on yielding to each otherhe stepped forward to enter. The remaining half of theughter among the female cultivators ceased. Seeing the effect his entrance hadpared to Jiang Cheng and Song Junsheng, Zhu Hongcai regained his confidence. He went in third, and the female cultivators lowered their heads, resuming their noisy chats. Zhu Hongcai: ??? Ding Guangming followed behind Zhu Hongcai, not missing a chance to tease, Hong Cai, why arent they looking at you? Zhu Hongcais face turned steely as he took a seat behind Jiang Cheng and Song Junsheng. They just dont appreciate whats before them. They have no idea how much my clothes are worth! he retorted. Ding Guangming nodded, agreeing that Zhu Hongcai might have a point. However, he soon realized that quite a few female cultivators were indeed stealing nces at Zhu Hongcai, with even one of them boldly approaching him. Hong Cai, isnt sheing over to you? Ding Guangming chimed in. Zhu Hongcai scoffed with an arrogant expression, Hmph, do I look like someone whos easy? Wanting to find me just like that? Im not even interested in acknowledging her. Excuse me, are you Jiang Cheng? I was in the group of candidates behind you. I saw your character assessment and barely scored over ny. Um, if its okay, could I add yourmunication talisman? Thank you. Chapter 156 - 154: The Legend of the Relaxation Charm Continues (3k8)_2 Chapter 156: Chapter 154: The Legend of the Rxation Charm Continues (3k8)_2 The female cultivator came to Jiang Chengs seat with a very polite attitude. Ding Guangming suddenly realized, Hong Cai, shes not looking for you, shes looking for Cheng! She even took the initiative to ask for Chengs contact information! Zhu Hongcai was nearly driven mad by Ding Guangming, Can you just shut up! I could have pretended I didnt see it! At 8:30, the counselor of Talisman Drawing ss 1, Cui Zhifei, arrived in the ssroom on time. He introduced himself first and then asked the ssmates to introduce themselves to each other. Talisman Drawing ss 1 had a total of 42 people, 22 females and 20 males, which was about the same ratio as the male to female ratio in the talisman industry. After everyone had introduced themselves, Cui Zhifei began to rmend acting ss representatives. The acting ss representatives would temporarily manage the ss, and a new vote would be organized after a month to decide whether to elect someone new or to continue with the current representatives. ss Leader, does anyone volunteer? asked Cui Zhifei. A few hands were scattered throughout the ss. Cui Zhifei nodded and pretended that Jiang Cheng also raised his hand, saying, I think Jiang Cheng is very suitable. If no one has any objections, lets let Jiang Cheng be the acting ss representative. Jiang Cheng was handsome and sunny, and he seemed easy to talk to, so the female ssmates had no objections. The male students didnt make a sound. It felt like they had objections, but they were too embarrassed to say anything. Just as Cui Zhifei was about to hand over the heavy responsibility of ss leader to Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng stood up and said, Im sorry, Teacher, but I dont want to do it. Why not? Cui Zhifei was confused. He had good intentions in cultivating Jiang Cheng; why wasnt the boy grateful? Jiang Cheng exined logically, Im not good at rejecting people. If my ssmates ask me for leave, I will definitely approve it. Cui Zhifei thought to himself that indeed wouldnt work, so he handed the heavy responsibility of studymittee member to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng refused again, Not skilled at imparting learning experiences. Activitymittee member. Not good at forcing ssmates. Publicitymittee member. Not good at exaggerating. Lifemittee member. Not good at managing others. Cui Zhifei was sweating profusely. In the end, to save face, he had to give up on making Jiang Cheng a ss representative and shifted the topic to their major C the technique of talisman drawing. Cui Zhifei, as usual, emphasized the importance of talisman drawing technique to a Talisman Master. Then he began to share his own experiences and insights. Finally, he took out a magazine, Talisman Weekly. Cui Zhifei ced the magazine under the ssroom projector, so that everyone could see it clearly. The talisman industry is thriving and changing day by day. You cant just stick to the old textbooks, you have to keep up with the times and the trends in talisman changes. This magazine is published by the Talisman Master Association of Liang Kingdoms Tongtian Sect and is considered the industrys most valuable. You dont have to subscribe yourself; our schools library has it. The issue I have here is thetest, and I havent even read it yet. We can skip some of the news in the magazine, but we should focus on the Technical Innovation and Cutting-edge Talisman sections at the back. They contain the most recent drafting techniques in the country and new talismans that may lead a new trend. Lets take a look at the technology section, oh, this week it discusses the impact of brush material on the sess rate of talisman drawing. ss is about to end, so I wont take up more of your time. Lets quickly check out the Cutting-edge Talisman. This weeks cutting-edge talisman isa muscle, uh, rxation talisman? Thats quite interesting. Its main function is to rx muscles via electrotherapy, but muscle movement can lead to cramps, thereby limiting movement? Wow, this idea seems pretty badass. If it can make someones whole body cramp up, I guess it could have a better control effect than a Control Talisman! Cui Zhifei couldnt help but heap praise on the Muscle Rxation Talisman. Even Talisman Weekly might not be able to feature a talisman with such innovative thinking like the Muscle Rxation Talisman more than once a year. Cui Zhifei himself was a Talisman Master and couldnt help but fantasize about the applications of the Muscle Rxation Talisman. ssmates, imagine this, since the talisman can cause muscle cramps, couldnt it directly control an enemys muscles? Standing beside Jiang Cheng, Song Junsheng said, Exactly. If we could use this talisman to directly control the opponents muscles, we could even skip the cramping and waiting for ughter step. At this point, a student objected, How is that possible? No matter how amazing its cramping effect, couldnt I just use a Purification Talisman to counter it? You would have been killed already, what purification would there be? Even if you control the muscles, can you control all the muscles in my body at once? Remember, this is a first-level, first-level, dont forget. Seeing the students below arguing and noticing Jiang Cheng looking like he was about to speak, Cui Zhifei directly called on him, Jiang Cheng, what do you think about the Muscle Rxation Talisman? After all, Jiang Cheng had the reputation of a full scorer, and anyone who had seen the new student assessment knew about Jiang Chengs talisman level. Some people, like Zhu Hongcai, although not particrly fond of Jiang Cheng, had no way to question his talisman skills. Even Song Junsheng, who came from a talisman family, maintained enough respect for Jiang Cheng. When Jiang Cheng stood up, Song Junsheng stopped arguing. The whole ss quieted down, waiting for Jiang Cheng to speak. Jiang Cheng: Ill just make a couple of points. This Muscle Rxation Talisman evolved from an ordinary Physical Strength Enhancement Talisman. So although it can cause muscle cramps, its underlying design is not sophisticated enough to support fine operations like controlling muscles. Cui Zhifei: Now, thats professionalism! At that moment, Cui Zhifei deeply felt that choosing Jiang Cheng as his student was the right decision. Everyone should learn from Jiang Cheng; he clearly has a good habit of reading magazines. Jiang Cheng apologetically said, Im sorry, Teacher, but I actually havent read Talisman Weekly. Not read it? Cui Zhifei was startled. Song Junsheng, sitting next to Jiang Cheng, took a closer look at the Muscle Rxation Talisman and couldnt help but think about the theory of control with the Puppet Talisman someone mentioned the night before, feeling a sense of foreboding. Zhu Hongcai looked around, his show-off radar detecting an opportunity to boast, but unfortunately, it was not meant for him. On the stage, Cui Zhifei wondered, Jiang Cheng, if you havent read the magazine, how do you know the detailed information about the Muscle Rxation Talisman? Jiang Cheng responded calmly, Because Im the one who drew the talisman. The whole ss fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Cui Zhifeis eyes widened with shock, and after a long moment, he hurriedly flipped to thest page of the magazine. Under the projector, the content of the magazine was Every Detail Revealed. Creator of the Muscle Rxation Talisman: Wuyue Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy and Jiang Cheng. Zhu Hongcai, the least knowledgeable about talismans in the entire room, was the first to exim, Damn, it really was drawn by Jiang Cheng! Song Junsheng couldnt help but gasp. It seemed that he had to re-evaluate Jiang Cheng yet again, after the previous two times. A full score in all five subjects of the new student assessments, plus a talisman that made it onto the most prestigious magazine Quite a few female students in the ss couldnt help but mix a touch of admiration into their gazes when they looked at Jiang Cheng. But now, the most miserable person had to be Zhu Hongcai. Zhu Hongcai held his head in his hands, his face showing fear as he fretted internally: Ive only known Jiang Cheng for a day and a half! Hes already shown off three times! If he keeps this up, how am I ever going to be able to show off in front of him? Chapter 157 - 155: Sorry, I Gave You the Wrong Idea Chapter 157: Chapter 155: Sorry, I Gave You the Wrong Idea When there were no sses at school, Jiang Cheng generally wouldnt stay in the dorm. He would either go home and cultivate using the Portable Spirit Gathering Array or visit the Spirit nt Garden to check on his sloppily grown fruit trees. Under the increasingly perfected autonomous mechanism of the nt Autonomy Talisman, the growth of the sloppily grown fruit trees was very good. Basically changing day by day. Its just that the bigger they grew, the sloppier they looked, more and more resembling Foxtail GrassJiang Cheng himself didnt know why. Theoretically, an Autonomy Talisman should only regte autonomously, not perform cosmetic surgery. However, appearances did not hinder them from blossoming and bearing fruit, so Jiang Cheng didnt bother with it. Jiang Cheng always valued the inner qualities and didnt judge a tree by its appearance. In Talisman Drawing ss 1, although most students got in through connections, like Zhu Hongcai, there were also those like Song Junsheng, who genuinely possessed talent and wanted to learn talismans properly. In the dormitory, Song Junsheng held thetest issue of Talisman Weekly, carefully studying the blueprint for the Muscle Rxation Talisman provided in the magazine. Hiss! It can be done this way too? Oh! That is indeed quite interesting. Wow! This is a bit too disgusting. Song Junsheng asionally let out exmations of amazement. The more he studied the Muscle Rxation Talisman, the deeper his understanding, and the more he discovered the subtleties within. This talisman exuded a sense of profound simplicity, clumsy ingenuity, an edgeless heavy sword, and the mystery of skilled artlessness. From Song Junshengs perspective in drawing talismans, the craftsmanship of the Muscle Rxation Talisman couldnt even be described as mediocre; it was rather poor. Yet, what was bizarre about it was its ingeniously conceived design, utilizing therapeutic effects to achieve a control-like result. Such forward-thinking ideas were enough topensate for the shorings in the talismans drawing quality. No wonder it was selected for Talisman Weekly. Song Junsheng couldnt help but suspect if Jiang Cheng deliberately made the talisman rough because its muscle cramping effect was so effective that it could easily cause a person to cramp uppletely. If you asked Song Junsheng, the only downside of the Muscle Rxation Talisman was that it was too disgusting. If he didnt know Jiang Cheng, Song Junsheng would definitely think this talisman was drawn by a psychopath. Compared with Song Junsheng, Ding Guangming clearlycked the initiative to study on his own. Having nothing to do, he wandered over to Song Junshengs spot and found it strange to see him studying Jiang Chengs talisman. Junsheng, isnt this talisman drawn by Cheng? If theres anything you dont understand, why not just ask him directly? Why bother with a book? Song Junshengs face turned slightly awkward. After all, he was the heir to a Talisman Master family, the eldest grandchild of his grandfather. He had to save some face. Asking people was fine. But since Jiang Cheng was about the same age as him, he had just asked about the Puppet Talisman yesterday and really couldnt bring himself to ask about the Rxation Talisman today. Asking back and forth, it would make it seem like their familys talisman technique was inferior to Jiang Chengs. Im just casually looking, Song Junsheng closed the magazine. Ding Guangming wondered to himself: Junsheng has been staring at Chengs talisman all morning and it was just casual ncing? Truly worthy of someone from a Talisman Master family, so impressive! Around noon, Jiang Cheng ended his cultivation at Jade Lake Mingan ahead of schedule and rushed back to the dorm. He had just fed Snake, but he himself hadnt eaten enough, still having half an appetite left, ready to join his roommates for another meal. Uniting the dorm is an art form. Shall we go eat together? Jiang Cheng asked. Lets go. Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng agreed, and the reluctant Zhu Hongcai also got up. For once, Dorm 316 finally gathered all four members and walked side by side towards the cafeteria. Although there might be conflicts in the future, and they might make new friends, at least at the start of their school life, freshmen always liked to move out as a dorm group. Alongside the road from the dormitory to the cafeteria, many clever Lotus University student clubs had already begun to set up stalls to recruit new members. Because they needed to show a good front, the clubs had sent out good-looking senior brothers and sisters to recruit. Ding Guangming and Zhu Hongcai looked around, their eyes not enough to take everything in, wishing they could instantly transform into Eng Shen. A sweet-smiling senior sister from the Watercolor Painting Society said to Jiang Cheng and the others, Junior brother, would you like to take a look at our Watercolor Painting Society? Zhu Hongcai found himself unable to move on. Without thinking, his feet had already carried him over to the Watercolor Painting Societys stall. As brothers from the same dorm, since Zhu Hongcai didnt move on, naturally Jiang Cheng and the others couldnt leave him behind, and since Ding Guangming also wanted to join the fun, they all gathered around the Watercolor Painting Societys spot. Zhu Hongcai touched his nose and said, Senior sister, can I join the club even if I cant paint? The senior sister from the society nodded, Of course, our club is for personal interest, so as long as you are interested, we dont require any specific skill level. Interested is good enough? Skill level doesnt matter? Wasnt she straightforwardly inviting me? Zhu Hongcai thought to himself, if he couldnt seize such an opportunity that presented itself, how would he ever find a wife in the future? Even though he couldnt paint and wasnt interested in painting, Zhu Hongcai, motivated by the senior sisters attractiveness, stepped forward decisively! Okay, Ill join the painting society! Then just fill out this form, junior brother, and pay a fifty Low-grade Spirit Stone fee, she said. Zhu Hongcai generously took out a Medium-grade Spirit Stone,menting, Ah, I really dont have any Low-grade Spirit Stones on me. Can I just pay with a Medium-grade Spirit Stone instead? The senior sister from the painting society smiled sweetly, Thats fine. Looking at the senior sisters smile, Zhu Hongcai was instantly smitten. She was gentle, cultured, and could paintthis senior sister clearly qualified to be his girlfriend! Ding Guangming scratched his head and said, Hong Cai, the extra fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones youre paying, can they count for me too? I also want to join the Watercolor Painting Society. The senior sister looked at Zhu Hongcai. Zhu Hongcai immediately straightened up and dered, No need for that trouble, my treat. With that, he took out another Medium-grade Spirit Stone. Ding Guangming immediately eximed, Wow, Hong Cai is so awesome. Zhu Hongcai chuckled and said, Its just a small amount of money. Having said that, Zhu Hongcai nced at Jiang Cheng from the corner of his eye. He, Zhu Hongcai, always returned a favor and paid back tenfold; not a speck of dust could reside in his eye. The boasting he had witnessed on Jiang Chengs face, he must firmly remember in his heart and return it one by one! After Zhu and Ding joined the Watercolor Painting Society, the senior sister turned her attention to Jiang Cheng and Song Junsheng. Are you guys interested in joining? the senior asked. Song Junsheng looked at Jiang Cheng, who shook his head and said, Sorry, senior, I dont have time. Song Junsheng said, Then count me out too. Seeing Jiang Cheng decline, the senior from the painting society seemed a bit anxious. Its okay, junior, our society doesnt have any tasks; were not busy at all. Jiang Cheng still shook his head, Im really sorry, I genuinely dont have time. If you want to join the painting society, we can waive the membership fee for you. No membership fee? Zhu Hongcais eyes widened in surprise; he felt the senior, who he thought he understood well, now seemedpletely alien to him. Why doesnt Jiang Cheng have to pay the membership fee? Zhu Hongcai didnt understand. Because his painting was collected by the universitys exhibition hall! Didnt you know? the senior exined. Painting? Collected? Zhu Hongcai looked at Jiang Cheng, his face filled with disbelief. Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and said, I thought that teacher was just speaking off the cuff, I didnt expect Ding Guangming promptly filled Zhu Hongcai in on the background: Hong Cai bro, you didnt know about the freshman assessment, so youre unaware. Cheng here created a painting during the aesthetic assessment, scoring full marks. The teacher grading it said it was so good that they wanted to collect it in the exhibition hall. Zhu Hongcai looked at the painting society senior and muttered, So when you were asking him to join the society, you werent calling me? The painting society senior replied with a hint of apology, Im sorry for the misunderstanding. Upon hearing this, Zhu Hongcai, who was already not tall, seemed to shrink a little more. Jiang Cheng indeed had no intention of joining the society and ultimately said, Senior, I truly dont have the spare time, Im very sorry. The painting society senior took out a piece of paper and a pen and passed them to Jiang Cheng, Then could you please give me an autograph? That would be alright, wouldnt it? No problem, Jiang Cheng readily agreed. After all, he was always willing to help others. Watching the sweet senior standing beside Jiang Cheng, waiting for his autograph, Zhu Hongcai felt his heart twist in agony. Even though he had no romantic entanglement with the senior from the start and she wasnt his girlfriend, he couldnt help feeling a strange illusion as if Jiang Cheng had stolen her away from him. It hurt, it hurt so much! After the club recruitment interlude, the four roommates in Jiang Chengs dorm finally came together for their first meal. Even though it was just a meal in the cafeteria, it carried a certain ceremonial significance. Aside from Zhu Hongcais persistent gloominess, everything else was perfect. After lunch, Jiang Cheng nned to check on the carelessly raised small fruit trees he was cultivating; the other three roommates didnt join him because the Spirit nt Garden was far away and they had seen it before. On the way back to the dormitory, Zhu Hongcai, not wanting to take that heartbreaking path again, suggested taking a detour to walk off the meal. Ding Guangming had no objection, and Song Junsheng nodded, There seem to be quite a few societies over there as well; lets go have a look. Zhu Hongcai said irritably, If I join another society, then Im a dog! The three arrived at another recruitment area for societies. This ce was bustling with people, with many appealing societies actively seeking new members. Ding Guangming spotted something exciting and pointed to the distance, Look over there, Hong Cai bro. That senior is really pretty. Zhu Hongcai, just having had his love snatched away by Jiang Cheng, had already lost faith in love. But his eyes were out of his control. They automatically followed where Ding Guangming pointed. Under the Talisman Drawing Society sign stood a senior who was even more beautiful than the one from the Watercolor Painting Society. But not by much. Zhu Hongcai snorted with aloof disdain, Shes alright. Ding Guangming said, Not her, Hong Cai bro, youre looking at the wrong person, over there, the one handing out flyers! Zhu Hongcai looked again. This time he couldnt help but exim, Damn! The senior helping the Talisman Drawing Society hand out flyers was arguably the most beautiful female cultivator Zhu Hongcai had seen at Lotus University. Not only were her features exquisite, with bright eyes and white teeth, but she also had a tall figure and long legs, and even her skin shone with a lustrous glow under the sun. Zhu Hongcai instantly felt his love returning. Watercolor Painting Society, dont contact me anymore, Im afraid the Talisman Drawing Society might misunderstand. Ding Guangming, I want to join the Talisman Drawing Society! Zhu Hongcais eyes zed with fiery determination! Song Junsheng nodded and said, Im actually quite interested too, lets go ask. The three approached Cheng Bingxin, who was handing out flyers, and took three flyers from her. The flyer had a brief promotion of the Talisman Drawing Society, especially highlighting the formidable strength of the society. Just the second-tier Talisman Masters affiliated with the society numbered three! Two third-year seniors and one second-year senior Yue Linger. Song Junsheng interestedly asked, Senior, are they all second-tier Talisman Masters? Cheng Bingxin nodded, confirming, Yes, they are. Song Junsheng then asked his most pressing question, If I join the Talisman Drawing Society, can I directly ask the senior members about anything I dont understand regarding talismans? Cheng Bingxin continued to nod, Of course. But our Talisman Drawing Society does have entrance criteria. Zhu Hongcai was rmed, Criteria? What kind of criteria? A first-tier Talisman Master Certificate, or a prize certificate from a talismanpetition. What if I dont have either of those? Can I just pay a higher membership fee? That wont quite work. Song Junsheng took out his first-tier Talisman Master Certificate, Senior, I want to join the Talisman Drawing Society. Ding Guangming pulled out the first prize award from the Jingzhou Talisman Competition, Me too. Zhu Hongcai: You guys have them? What about me? Chapter 158 - 156: Spirit Plant Garden? Spirit Plant Ranch! Chapter 158: Chapter 156: Spirit nt Garden? Spirit nt Ranch! Due to the haphazardly grown small fruit trees existence being too abstract. After the small fruit tree moved into the Spirit nt Garden, within two days, the news had spread among the sophomores and juniors of the Spiritual nting Department. Some senior students, even without tasks at hand, would squat outside the wastnd just to see what kind of nt performance the small fruit tree could put on next. Outside the wastnd leased in Jiang Cheng, more than a dozen students from the Spiritual nting Department were orderly squatting on small stools. Some held melons in their hands, some clutched sunflower seeds, and others brought out Eyesight Enhancement Talismans, ready to observe any movements from the small fruit tree. It moved two hours ago; I bet its going to move again soon. I bet it will move in ten minutes! I bet half an hour! Damn it, I also want to raise one; do you guys know how to get one? I dont know! Seems like its a new variety. Its not a new variety; I heard Mr. Zhang say its about talismans! That one drawn by whats his name, the freshman who won against the teacher in a one-on-one without even drawing a talisman. Oh yeah, I heard about it too, the freshman assessment, right? Whats his name? His name is Jiang Cheng, said Jiang Cheng. Ah right, brothers awesome! How do you know holy shit! Jiang Cheng! Jiang Cheng instinctively took a step back, but the dozen or so seniors and juniors around him from the Spiritual nting Department all stood up at once, surrounding him in a circle. They were serious-faced, most at the ninth level of Qi cultivation, with two at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Unless Jiang Cheng used a Liu Talisman to summon his true body for salvation, there was no way he could wipe them all out. Seniors, what do you want to do? That Blood Orange Tree, do you know how to grow it? I know, he said truthfully. The previously serious-faced senior suddenly showed a warm and friendly smile. Hehe, Junior Jiang Cheng, can you raise one for me to y with? Yeah, yeah, we also want to raise one to y with. Dont be shy, just tell us how many Spirit Stones you need. Exactly, money is no issue. Although Jiang Cheng was always happy to help others, he also upheld professional ethics. Selling semi-finished talismans that were still in experimental stages for money was disrespectful to clients, something Jiang Cheng would not do. After Jiang Cheng exined the situation, the seniors also expressed their understanding. Their only request was to pay a deposit in advance, ensuring that once the experiment seeded, they would be the first to receive the product. As the nt Autonomy Talisman was an updated version of the Smart Puppet Talisman, both the production cost and development cost were very low, so for the time being, Jiang Cheng had not decided on a price. Previously when he sold talismans, it was the buyers in the Task Hall who set the price; all he had to do was ept the task. He didnt need to worry about pricing. In the end, Jiang Cheng symbolically epted a single low-grade Spirit Stone as a deposit. After sending off the seniors, Jiang Cheng went to check on the growth state of the haphazardly grown small fruit tree. Good news: flower buds were appearing; the Blood Orange Tree was entering the flowering stage. Bad news: there seemed to be too many flower buds. Having grown the Blood Orange Tree for so many days, Jiang Cheng had already made sure to replenish his knowledge on Blood Orange Fruits. Ordinarily, a Blood Orange Tree growing in the wild would produce two to three fruits, while under human cultivation with ample nutrients, it would yield four to five fruits. The haphazardly grown small fruit tree had sprouted thirty-three flower buds. This meant it could bear thirty-three fruits. It was a bit outrageous. But that wasnt the most outrageous part. The most outrageous part was that these flower buds were all growing on a single branch. Making it look like a string of flowers or like the panicle atop the head of grass family nts. In any case, it was peculiar! Jiang Cheng pondered: Could it be that autonomy also introduces mutations? Or, did the Trantion Talisman collect some information that it wasnt supposed to during data collection? Since the haphazardly grown small fruit tree had already been growing for so many days, Jiang Cheng decided to let it continue to grow and see what it would turn out to be in the end. After checking the small fruit tree, Jiang Cheng hurried back to the dormitory; he had sses in the afternoon and couldnt linger in the Spirit nt Garden for too long. In the dormitory, there were no changes in Song Junsheng and Ding Guangming, but Zhu Hongcai had undergone a significant transformationhe suddenly became quiet and started to study hard. Guangming, whats happened to Hong Cai? Jiang Cheng asked. Ding Guangming replied, Hong Cai, brother, has fallen for a senior sister from the Talisman Drawing Society. Now he is trying to find a way to join the society. I see. After learning of the situation, Jiang Cheng was happy for Zhu Hongcai, but then put the matter out of his mind. He had no interest in joining clubs and didnt know anyone from the Talisman Drawing Society. This wasnt really rted to him. The priority was still to focus on the Blood Orange Fruits and the Qi Blood Pills. Taking advantage of the time before he had to attend ss, Jiang Cheng assumed the productivity of the haphazardly grown small fruit tree to be thirty fruits and then, based on this yield and the time it took to achieve it, excluding the cost ofnd and talisman drawing, calcted how low the price of Blood Orange Fruits, which originally cost twenty-five low-grade Spirit Stones each, could be pressed down with the aid of the Autonomy Talismans. After crunching the numbers, Jiang Cheng arrived at a conclusion: 0.28! Excludingnd rent and talismans, the cost per Blood Orange Fruit was less than 0.3 low-grade Spirit Stones! A 24-day cycle, with a yield of 30 fruits per tree, could press down the price this much? Jiang Cheng, taking the median value between Muscle Rxation Talisman and Animal Encouragement Talisman, set the price of the nt Autonomy Talisman at one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones and then factored it into the cost of the Blood Orange Fruit. He ended up calcting the cost of Blood Orange Fruit to be: 34 low-grade Spirit Stones. Jiang Cheng was taken aback; the Blood Orange Fruit originally cost only twenty-five, so how could his use of talismans raise the cost even more? Could he have been unwittingly driving prices down in reverse? After carefully examining the calction form, Jiang Cheng found he had ced the cost of the nt Autonomy Talisman entirely on one cycle of Blood Orange Fruits. Yet a Blood Orange Tree can bloom and bear fruit ten times in its lifetime, producing ten cycles of Blood Orange Fruits. After adjusting the calction form, Jiang Cheng found the cost of Blood Orange Fruit to be: 3.63 low-grade Spirit Stones. Even withnd rent, seeds, andbor included, the cost of Blood Orange Fruits cultivated with Autonomy Talismans should not exceed five low-grade Spirit Stones. Thats effectively a reduction of a full twenty low-grade Spirit Stones per fruitpared to the original price. With this in mind, as long as Jiang Cheng provided nt Autonomy Talismans to the Tongbao Pavilion, the cost for them to produce a single Qi Blood Pill could drop from forty-seven or forty-eight to twenty-seven or twenty-eight low-grade Spirit Stones! They couldpletely take on the Weapon Departments order for Qi Blood Pills! Jiang Cheng just needed to calmly wait for the fruit trees to blossom and bear fruit, and then all difficulties would be readily solved. One dayter, the fruit trees bloomed. Three dayster, the fruits were full. Five dayster, the Blood Orange Fruits were preliminarily mature, of one-year quality. Jiang Cheng picked two Blood Orange Fruits and went to consult Mr. Zhang from the Spiritual nting Department, received the answer indeed they are one-year quality, and then took the fruits to find He. The Tongbao Pavilion on Huayuan Road was as deste as ever. Under thebined factors of a weakened overall brand power of Tongbao Pavilion,ck of pricing advantage in themodity channels of the Tongtian Sect, and the mistake in the choice of location for the shop, the oue of the Tongbao Pavilion on Huayuan Road was foreseeable. Bai Xiaohe had tried to take on other orders from the Weapon Department but the results were no different from the Qi Blood Pill. The prices given by the Weapon Department were even lower than the cost for Tongbao Pavilion; Bai Xiaohe simply could not take on the orders. Avenues for business with ordinary cultivators and the court were both impassable. Now, the only things that could save the Tongbao Pavilion on Huayuan Road were Jiang Cheng and a miracle. Pat! Bai Xiaohe heard the sound of something being ced on the table. He, you cant be sleeping during work hours, Jiang Cheng said seriously. Bai Xiaohe lifted her head nkly from the desk, first noticing a brocaded pouch that wasnt there before, and then two familiar figures. Jiang Cheng, and Liu Qing. Jiang Cheng? Howe youre here? Ive found a solution for the Qi Blood Pills. Youve found a solution!? Bai Xiaohes eyes widened, her voice soaring octaves higher. The order for Qi Blood Pills from the court was not a small deal! Despite overall peace in the realm, in order to maintain the defense of eight provinces, three prefectures, and ny-one counties, Liang Kingdom still kept a military force close to two million strong. This time the order from the Weapon Department, involving only six hundred thousand, was still six hundred thousand pills, and that too, one every month, amounting to seven million two hundred thousand pills a year! Even if they earned one low-grade Spirit Stone per pill, that would mean an ie of seven million two hundred thousand a year. If converted into Spirit Stone turnover, it would create a revenue of two hundred eighty-eight million for the Tongbao Pavilion on Huayuan Road! Even if Tongbao Pavilion on Huayuan Road did not profit from this order, they could use the turnover of this scale as a bargaining chip to get better prices from the Tongtian Sects channels. In short, as long as they could secure the order for Qi Blood Pills, Tongbao Pavilion on Huayuan Road could turn things right around, transforming from being thest in the Capital to one of the top in terms of turnover. And they would no longer have to worry about bankruptcy and staff reassignments! Jiang Cheng pulled out the employee handbook of Tongbao Pavilion from a stack of books on Bai Xiaohes desk, casually flipped through it, and said, He, ording to the employee handbook, sleeping on the job results in a deduction from performance. Oh, alright. Deputy manager Tao Fang stood in the corner, thinking: This male cultivator has hardly visited the store a few times, so why do his words and demeanor seem even more like a manager than Bai Xiaohe? Hes an outsider, so why does he have the audacity to pick up the employee handbook and instruct the manager on what to do? Jiang Cheng put down the handbook and picked up the brocaded pouch, the seriousness on his face giving way to a smile. Take a look. Whats inside? Bai Xiaohe opened the brocaded pouch and saw two one-year Blood Orange Fruits. Blood Orange Fruits? Right. What does this mean? They are very cheap, to be precise, less than five Spirit Stones each. Bai Xiaohe nodded, Indeed, one-year quality is not expensive, but the Qi Blood Pills require ten-year Blood Orange Fruits, which are about twenty-five each. Jiang Cheng helplessly said, These two are just samples. What I mean is, I can reduce the price of Blood Orange Fruits, ten-year ones for just five Spirit Stones each. Wha What! Tao Fangs voice was even louder than Bai Xiaohes. She disregarded propriety and rushed directly from the corner to Jiang Cheng. Liu Qing had been standing by cidly the whole time until Tao Fang became excited, and, at that moment, her gaze turned exceptionally sharp. She was confident that she could erase Tao Fang from this space without a trace before she couldy a hand on Jiang Cheng. But the subsequent scent told her that Tao Fang meant no harm. Tao Fang, having reached Jiang Chengs side, said with excitement, The price of Blood Orange Fruits has always been stable in Liang Kingdom, twenty-five low-grade Spirit Stones for a decade, unchanged for years. How could it now be five? Jiang Cheng confidently produced his new invention: the nt Autonomy Talisman. I know what Im about to say might sound a bit fantastical, but its okay, we can test it with this Memory Sphere to understand the current functions of this new talisman. In the half hour that followed, Jiang Cheng, with his narration and corroborating evidence from the Memory Sphere, managed to articte the conclusion of getting Blood Orange Fruits for five Spirit Stones each. Tao Fang murmured in wonder, Does that mean our Tongbao Pavilion on Huayuan Road is finally saved? Jiang Cheng smiled, Yes, with the nt Autonomy Talisman, we can bring down the cost of each Qi Blood Pill to thirty low-grade Spirit Stones. Tao Fang could hardly believe her ears. A cost of thirty Spirit Stones each! That would mean their store would have a profit of ten Spirit Stones for every pill! Just the order from the Weapon Department would generate a profit of six million a month! Thats seventy-two million a year! Were soaring! While Jiang Chengs smile and Tao Fangs joy were evident, Liu Qing, who was indifferent to wealth, remained unaffected throughout. Her heartbeat was steady and her expression unchanged. Seventy-two million meant far less to her than the little puppet Jiang Cheng gave her. Amidst many scents of joy and happiness, a whiff that represented worry caught her attention. This faint scent of worry was stable, unlike the intermittent scent that sometimes came from Jiang Cheng. Liu Qings gaze followed the direction of the faint worry,nding on Bai Xiaohe not far away. Bai Xiaohe sat upright, smiling as well, but her mood was far from as joyful as her expression. Why was that? Liu Qing couldnt understand. Hadnt Jiang Cheng already solved the problem for her? Could it be that even if they made affordable Qi Blood Pills, they still couldnt secure the courts order? Chapter 159 - 157 Demonic Tao Must Keep Up with the Times Chapter 159: Chapter 157 Demonic Tao Must Keep Up with the Times The problem of the Qi Blood Pills cost has been solved through the use of nt Autonomy Talismans. However, there remains a crucial link away from Tongbao Pavilion securing the order from the Weapon Departmentbidding! There are quite a few alchemist shops in the Capital capable of making Qi Blood Pills, and if several shops contact the Weapon Department at the same time to take the order for the Qi Blood Pills, for fairness and justice, the Weapon Department will ask each shop to provide a batch of samples. Ultimately, judges will determine the supplier of the Qi Blood Pills based on the quality of the samples and the final quotes offered by the shops. Still, the processes of alchemy, quoting, and bidding are not for Jiang Cheng to concern himself with. What he needs to do is ensure the carelessly nted Blood Orange Tree remains self-regting and by the twenty-fourth day, when the Blood Orange Fruit reaches the ten-year quality, he must pick the fruit and submit it to He, who will then refine it into pills and bid for the order. As for whether they will be sessful in the end will depend on the quality of the pills and the choices of the Weapon Department. These are not things that a freshman like Jiang Cheng needs to concern himself with. When Miaodan Workshop was still small, Master Shen Mi often needed to start the furnace and refine elixirs himself, to ensure the quality and yield of the pills produced by Miaodan Workshop. But now, having taken on court business, Miaodan Workshop has grown into one of the top three alchemist shops in the Capital. For Shen Mi to personally refine elixirs now would seem somewhat like a publicity stunt. Shen Mis main job now is to use his political connections to secure stable orders for elixirs for Miaodan Workshop. This is a very simple yet extremely difficult task, which greatly tests a persons emotional quotient and tactics. Some officials like Spirit Stones, some have a fondness for women, some value their offspring, some arent tempted by bribes but love ttery In order to maintain rtionships at the court, Miaodan Workshop had to offer a lot of benefits every year. However,pared with the orders for elixirs, these expenditures were well worth it. For instance, on the day that He stated her intention to participate in the Qi Blood Pill bidding for the Weapon Department, Qi Huaizhu, a Rank Five Official of the court, and the manager of the Weapon Department, personally visited the Shen Residence. Brother Shen, Qi Huaizhu bowed with hands sped. Please, Lord Qi, Shen Mi efficiently hosted this old friend. Ive been to your residence several times. Lets skip the formalities today. Shall we talk here? Impable under Divinity Transformation. Thats good, I found your favoured concubines daughter to be troublesome again today. Tongbao Pavilion has decided to join the bidding for the Qi Blood Pills. Shen Mi was startled and asked incredulously, Have they gone mad? Apart from our Miaodan Workshop, who else in Liang Kingdom can push the price of a Qi Blood Pill below forty? Qi Huaizhu said gravely, She didnt seem to be joking; she must be truly prepared. I assume shes quite confident. Shen Mi frowned thoughtfully. With his understanding of the Immortal Sects, Tongbao Pavilion would definitely not engage in the act of substituting inferior goods for good ones, hurting their reputation. Plus, while the business of Qi Blood Pills is not insignificant,pared to the scale of Immortal Sects, the value of Qi Blood Pills doesnt even amount to a hair on nine bulls. Theres no need for them to stoop so low for that. Brother Shen, Qi Huaizhu sped his hands and said, You are the expert when ites to alchemy, which I dont understand. Im just here to convey the Weapon Departments stance. Weve coborated well before, and I, personally, definitely favor continuing to procure pills from Miaodan Workshop. But if theres a substantial gap between the samples provided by the two shops, that would be a different story. Shen Mi remained silent. He understood the unspoken rules of the court all too well. Some things dont weigh much until theyre scaled, and when they are, they can be heavier than a thousand catties. The Special Supply Qi and Blood Pill was an unspoken agreement between the Weapon Department and Miaodan Workshop because the Weapon Departments budget was limited, and Miaodan Workshop could lower the price, making it beneficial for both. But if someonees out with a High-grade Qi Blood Pill costing less than forty Spirit Stones, that previous understanding would be ineffective. It would also mean that Miaodan Workshop would lose the significant order for Qi Blood Pills. I understand, said Shen Mi. After sending off Qi Huaizhu, Shen Mi without another word summoned his trusted subordinates. Find out the source of Tongbao Pavilions Qi Blood Pills! Cost is no object, the faster, the better. Although the Five Great Immortal Sects together maintained the overall peace of the Cultivation World, where theres demand, theres a market. Forces like Demonic Tao and heretical cultivators, representing the special demands of a part of cultivators, cannot bepletely suppressed, and persist endlessly. To counter the strong eradication by orthodox forces such as Immortal Sects, the Demonic Tao forces generally formed two developmental factions. One faction is more moderate, voluntarily adapting to the changes of the era. By studyingws and following the rules, they find living space in the gaps between Immortal Sects and mundane forces. The other faction is more radical, usually lying low and cultivating, striking the Immortal Sects with a backstab at critical moments, then continuing to lie low, aiming to overthrow the rule of Immortal Sects. The true masters of the Demonic Tao mostlye from this faction. Come nightfall, two silhouettes from the Pursuit of Life Sect, associated with the Demonic Tao, appeared on the outskirts of Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store. One of them was an old man, carrying the Thousand Mechanisms Compass, his appearance kind and benevolent. The other was a young man, sporting a Mohawk, hands in pockets, pants riddled with holes, obviously not someone to be trifled with. Master, do we just charge in? asked the young man. The old man set down the Thousand Mechanisms Compass and replied, That would be too slow; observe my Life-iming Compass! As spiritual power was infused into thepass by the old man, it suddenly sprang to life! Numerous cube mechanisms churned within thepass, and the customer traffic in the Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store from the past few days began to be reyed on thepass! One customer in the morning, one in the afternoon, one in the evening. Even the Mohawk-sporting young man couldnt help butment, Is business really that bad? With such a big storefront, can they even make enough to pay the rent? The old man didnt reply, calmlyposed; he had found a critical piece of informationthere were two people who had stayed in Tongbao Pavilion for a long time, obviously not appearing like customers. Most likely, these were the people Master Shen had been looking for! The old man twisted thepass, attempting to use it to pick up details left by these two individuals in Tongbao Pavilion, and in turn, deduce the direction from which they hade. Thispass wasnt some high-end device for deducing spells, but rather a deductive magical tool that utilized leftover information. Some experienced arrest officers, skilled in the use of partial tracking spells, could actually achieve the same effect as apass. This method of tracking people was far inferior to extraption spells, but its advantage was that it consumed less energy, was very primitive, and did not touch upon the heavenly secrets, thus avoiding the attention of powerful cultivators. Following the guidance of thepass, two members of the Pursuit of Life Sect confirmed two locations. One was Lotus Cloud University, and the other was the Jade Lake Minganmunity. The two members of the Pursuit of Life Sect kept watch at the entrance of Jade Lake Mingan and discovered a student from Lotus University who tirelessly traveled between the university and Jade Lake Mingan every day, which was highly suspicious. At the entrance of Lotus University, the two members of the Pursuit of Life Sect watched Jiang Cheng enter the school. The mohawk youth said, Master, Lotus University is under the influence of an Immortal Sect. How do we get in? Should we use the invisibility spell you taught me? The old man said enigmatically, Theres no need for such trouble; I have a cunning n. The mohawk youth thought: As expected of Master! Even the high and mighty Immortal Sects can easily be infiltrated! The old man took the youth to the entrance of Lotus University and confidently told the gatekeeper, We are here for a delivery. Gatekeeper: Come in and register. Do you have a work ID? Yes, here it is. Ive been doing this for over ten years. Mohawk youth: He suddenly didnt feel like working for the Pursuit of Life Sect any longer. As the scrappy little fruit tree gradually entered its fruit ripening phase, Jiang Cheng discovered that its relocation frequency was bing more frequent. During the earliest sprouting and growth phases, the scrappy little fruit tree changed the soil only once every half day. Later, as it grewrger and was left to grow wild in the wastnd, the scrappy little fruit tree moved about every three to four hours. As it bloomed and produced thirty fruits, its moving frequency almost tripled or quadrupled. Almost every hour, the scrappy little fruit tree had to dig a new hole to absorb nutrients from different areas. And like a web novel author, it only cared about digging and not covering up, showing no quality at all. Looking at the wastnd pocked with holes dug by the scrappy little fruit tree, Jiang Cheng realized that although the tree grew quickly and bore many fruits, its demand for resources was also extremely terrifying. The undisciplined Blood Orange Tree could basically maintain a bnce between photosynthesis and fruit growth. But the scrappy little fruit tree couldnt; it needed to frequently dig holes, relying on the nutrients and spiritual energy within the soil for additional energy. Why do I feel like the information on Seeking Sun Grass that I specially collected seems to have had no effect at all? Jiang Cheng murmured as he watched the little tree digging. It could also be that it did have an effect, but it still isnt enough to sustain the growth needs of thirty fruits. So the question now is, how can we help the Blood Orange Tree obtain more energy that doesnt cost anything? Jiang Cheng looked at the cheap weeds all over the wastnd, which no one wanted, and a bold idea came to mind. Eating grass has got to be more nutritious than eating soil, right? What if we found a way to make the little fruit tree eat grass directly? If animals can eat grass, why cant fruit trees? Where are the rights of fruit trees? All trees are born equal! Trees should have the right to eat grass, too! Having gained a direction to solve the problem, what Jiang Cheng needed to do next was to find a method to implement it. Is there any spell that can refine other objects, absorbing their power for oneself? Or can directly snatch energy from other objects? The two members of the Pursuit of Life Sect who secretly followed along: ? What kind of Demonic Tao speech is this? Is this guy Jiang Cheng really a student from Lotus University? Why does he sound more like a person from the Demonic Tao than we do!? Jiang Cheng momentarily stepped out of his contemtion mode and noticed the two members of the Pursuit of Life Sect beside him. The two men looked hesitant, clearly the shy, introverted honest types. Are you here to preorder talismans from me? Jiang Cheng asked, as many seniors had been preordering talismans from him recently. Although these two didnt quite look like students from Lotus University, the ce did have many oddly shaped seniors. Compared to those with mental illnesses and perverts, these two just had a slightly unique appearance. But Jiang Cheng never judged people by their looks. The talismans you mentioned, are they something that can make the Blood Orange Tree dance? the old man asked, pointing at the scrappy little fruit tree in the distance. Its not dancing. Its just digging holes, trying to bury itself, Jiang Cheng exined. Digging holes to bury itself? Why does everything this person says sound so terribly frightening? The old man swallowed hard and said, So that Blood Orange Tree can bear many fruits because of your talismans? Right? Do you need one? You can pre-order for one spirit stone. Then Id like to pre-order one. When can I get it? Jiang Cheng estimated the date and replied, The basic version should be avable in about ten days, I guess. The enhanced version will take a few days longer. Chapter 160 - 158: Jiang Cheng Shows Off from Afar Chapter 160: Chapter 158: Jiang Cheng Shows Off from Afar Lotus Cloud Universitys Talisman Department new student Jiang Cheng? New student scoring full marks in all five assessments? The nt Autonomy Talisman, a talisman capable of massively increasing the yield of the Blood Orange Trees? Shen Mi looked at the investigation report submitted by his confidant, and his heart nearly stopped. If it werent for the pictures in the report as evidence, Shen Mi would want to immediately dismiss the person responsible for the investigation. After all, he was a Core Formation Stage Cultivator, a third-grade Alchemist, who had been stumbling through alchemy for over two hundred years. As for Spirit nts, he wouldnt say he was very familiar with them, but he understood them like the back of his hand. The Blood Orange Fruit was a verymon Spiritual Material, with a very mature industry. How could its production massively increase just by a talisman? It was only when Shen Mi saw the pictures of the fruit trees taken by someone from the Pursuit of Life Sect that he waspletely at a loss for words. The unkempt little trees in the photographs made him feel bewildered. He even began to doubt himself, wondering if he had really understood the Blood Orange Tree, a type of Spirit nt, before. Otherwise, how could he exin the species in the pictures that looked extremely peculiar and not the least bit like a normal Blood Orange Tree? The Pursuit of Life Sect provided pictures from various angles. Only when Shen Mi saw the Blood Orange Fruit he was all too familiar with, did he truly dare to confirm that this unkempt-looking tree indeed appeared to be a Blood Orange Tree. So, how exactly did it grow to look like that? Abbot, do you need to have someone from the Pursuit of Life Sect conduct a more detailed investigation? No. You may go. I have my ns for this matter. After sending his subordinate away, Shen Mi went to a secluded ce and took out amunication talisman. His daughter was a junior at Lotus University. Asking her to inquire about Jiang Cheng under the guise of a senior was far more reliable than using someone from the Pursuit of Life Sect. Hello? Hanhan? In the study room of Lotus Universitys library, Shen Menghan answered themunication talisman. Hello, Dad. Is it inconvenient to talk? Im in the library. Just keep your voice down, go ahead. Im listening. In the girls dormitory at Lotus University, Yue Linger held the nt Autonomy Talisman, her brows furrowed into knots. Jiang Cheng had asked her to think about how to modify the Autonomy Talisman to achieve the function of trees eating grass. At first, Yue Linger thought she had heard wrong. After repeatedly confirming with Jiang Cheng, she realized she indeed hadnt misheard. It really was trees eating grass. Even for Yue Linger, who had personally participated in the development of many of Jiang Chengs talismans, she still couldnt ept Jiang Chengstest idea for a while. Was asking trees to eat grass a bit too imaginative? Were trees and grass rtives? Would there be ethical issues? Why could Jiang Cheng alwayse up with so many ideas that were incongruous with this world? What on earth was in his mind? Faced with Jiang Chengs request for ideas, Yue Lingers rational mind: No, no, no, this wont work. The idea is too preposterous. Im just an ordinary person. I cant think of a solution! Yue Lingers body: Okay, Ill help you think of a solution. Yue Linger slumped over her dorm desk, almost in tears. Great, today is yet another day where I couldnt say no to Jiang Cheng. Yue Linger hugged her head, lying on the desk, and she couldnt think of a solution no matter what. In desperation, she saw Cheng Bingxin next to her doing nothing, messaging someone, chatting overmunication talisman. Bingxin, I want to ask you something. Ask away. Im busy right now, Cheng Bingxin didnt even look up. You know, trees and grass, do you know if they have any rtionship? What? Youre shipping this pair too? Not a CP. Im asking about the trees and wait, CP? I think I have found a way! Yue Linger, like Cheng Bingxin, quickly took out hermunication talisman and found the top contact, typing swiftly with her jade-like fingers. Yue Linger: Jiang Cheng, I have an idea! Trees and grass represent nts,monly associated with vitality. Vitality, in the theory of talisman design, is generally categorized under healing. In healing talismans, there is a Bridge-crossing Talisman, which can transfer the same origin of power at close range between two objects. This talisman is usually used to provide emergency aid to cultivators exhausted of Spiritual Power. Jiang Cheng: I understand your idea. Youre nning to design a reverse Bridge-crossing Talisman, changing the original from more to less transfer pattern to from less to more. This way, the Blood Orange Tree would gain strength from the weeds while simultaneously helping to clear the wastnd of the Spirit nt Garden, achieving a win-win situation. Yue Linger, staring at the message from Jiang Cheng on themunication talisman, felt astonished by his genius once again. It was not surprising that Jiang Cheng could understand her idea. What surprised Yue Linger was that he had, in such a short span of time, found a moral high ground and achieved a win-win situation. It was something she hadnt anticipated at all. She felt finding a moral high ground had be an innate instinct for Jiang Cheng. What did you want to ask just now? What trees, what grass? Cheng Bingxin, catching on, said to Yue Linger. Yue Linger instinctively covered themunication talisman to keep Cheng Bingxin from seeing her chat with Jiang Cheng. Its nothing. By the way, what were you doing just now? You didnt lift your head, and you were ignoring me. Oh, its just a junior who wants to join the Talisman Drawing Society, quite interesting. His family seems to be pretty wealthy, and he keeps trying to show off to impress me, cracked me up. Hahaha. Cheng Bingxinughed heartily. Yue Linger, who previously had no intention of dating, always kept a respectful distance from male cultivators mentioned by Cheng Bingxin. If anyone showed interest in her, she rejected them quite bluntly. Now that she had Jiang Cheng, she cherished her reputation all the more, and couldnt possibly chat and brag with juniors like Cheng Bingxin did. If you dont like him, then dont lead him on, Yue Linger advised Cheng Bingxin. Cheng Bingxin was no less attractive than she was. If she deliberately yed with the junior, it would be all too easy. Wow, he was clearly just trying to bribe me so that Id let him sneak into the Talisman Drawing Society through the back door. Whats all this about like or dislike? Yue Linger, Ive noticed that ever since you met Jiang Cheng, youve got like on the tip of your tongue at the drop of a hat. What are you trying to say, huh? I didnt! Im not talking to you anymore, Im going to collect my clothes! Humph humph. Cheng Bingxin let out a victorious cheer. She now had Yue Lingers Achilles heel firmly in her grasp; just mention Jiang Cheng, and within three sentences, little miss Yue would crumble on the spot. A female cultivator with a man on her mind is just this vulnerable. Gazing at the graceful figure of Yue Linger collecting clothes on the balcony, Cheng Bingxin fell into a wistful haze. Why in the world is Yue Linger so afraid to confess her feelings to Jiang Cheng? What exactly is she afraid of? Doesnt she realize shes the beauty queen of Lotus University? Could she be afraid that Jiang Cheng would reject her? Impossible, what would Jiang Cheng have to reject her for? Putting herself in Jiang Chengs shoes, Cheng Bingxin thought about how if Yue Linger confessed to her, she would without a doubt ept immediately. Then, she would take the beauty queen of the university straight to a hotel off campus, set the record straight, and have Yue Linger utterly convinced, calling her Daddy. Wouldnt that be thrilling? So theres no way Jiang Cheng could possibly reject Yue Linger! Then why is Yue Linger being such a wuss, afraid of what exactly? As a major university of the Immortal Sect, the Lotus University Library certainly had clout. The overall shape of the library was like a book resting on a desk. It seemed small from afar, but when you approached, you could only crane your neck to take in its height. The Lotus University Library offered numerous functions, including the most basic library services like storing and lending books, as well as providing study spaces, conducting experiments, and hosting events. Man, our universitys library is so luxurious! Ding Guangming walked around inside the library like he had never seen anything like it before. Song Junsheng chuckled, Guangming, ask your buddy Hongcai how much hes donated here, and youll understand why its so fancy. Ding Guangming: Hongcai, how much did you spend? Bullshit. As of now, I, Zhu Hongcai, am not the same person I used to be, Zhu Hongcai dered confidently. He took out hismunication talisman and showed the chat history between him and Cheng Bingxin to Song Junsheng and Ding Guangming. I havent even be a certified Talisman Master yet and have already won the favor of a senior. Humph. Wait until I get my Talisman Master Certificate and join the Talisman Drawing Society. Then, Ill show you what cruelty means! Instantly envious, Ding Guangming marvelled, Wow, Hongcai, youve already chatted with the senior this much? Song Junsheng shook his head helplessly. If only Zhu Hongcai would focus even a bit of his attention on the right path, he wouldnt be mistaking a talisman brush for a calligraphy brush. The three borrowed a few books rted to talismans from the librarys collection and went to a study room inside the library to study. Cheng Bingxin had told Zhu Hongcai about the free study rooms in the library, and as soon as Zhu Hongcai found out, he was keen to brag to his roommates. Sorry, but the Zhu family has to show off whenever they get the chance. Inside the study room, everyone was quietly studying, and only the sound of pages turning could be heard from time to time. Even someone like Zhu Hongcai, who never studies, was influenced by this atmosphere, further solidifying his goal of attaining his Talisman Master Certificate. Zhu Hongcai and his friends found a row of seats, but as soon as he sat down, Zhu Hongcai froze. Ding Guangming touched Zhu Hongcais arm, puzzled, Hongcai, why are you all stiff? Zhu Hongcai solemnly said, Dont talk, look to the left. Ding Guangming looked to the left and saw a beautiful and elegant girl sitting not far from his buddy Hongcai. Even her profile was as striking as that of their Talisman Drawing Societys senior. She was currently engrossed in a book about alchemy. Guangming, do you think I can double cultivate pill and talisman arts? Ive had a fiery temper since I was a child, and I feel like I have a talent for alchemy. Ding Guangming: Song Junsheng: Zhu Hongcais shifts in focus were so fast that even Ding Guangming couldnt stand it anymore. Just yesterday, no, this very morning, Zhu Hongcai had sworn to devote himself to talismanship, aiming to pass the first stage Talisman Master exam within a month. Hongcai, first try opening the Talisman Masters Introduction youve just borrowed and take a look! Zhu Hongcai slowly shook his head, Thats too small, Guangming. Your mindset is too narrow. For a genius like me, just the pressure of talismanship isnt enough to unleash my true potential. I think its crucial for me to learn alchemy at the same time. Ding Guangming wanted to say more, but Song Junsheng pulled him back, whispering, Dont let Zhu Hongcais pretense fool you. Hes always been true to his spirit. Remember his dream? Finding a wife? Right. All this talk of talisman drawing and alchemy is just fluff; your Hongcai buddy only ever fancied beautiful girls. Dont try to convince him. Hes actually doing pretty well for himselfignorance is bliss. Ding Guangming thought it over and realized that at least Zhu Hongcai still had a dream, unlike him; he just followed the crowd without any aspirations of his own. Currently at half-stage Talisman Master strength, Ding Guangming felt he should follow Junsheng and Chengs example and quickly be a certified first-stage Talisman Master. I mean, with Chengs strong skills in talisman drawing, he mustve already got his second-stage Talisman Master Certificate, right? Just as Ding Guangming was about to begin his studies, the beautiful alchemist girl that Zhu Hongcai had been watching suddenly eximed in a hushed tone, Jiang Cheng!? Why is it him!? Zhu Hongcai: Ignoring the curious gazes of the other students, Shen Menghan quickly gathered her things and left the study room in a hurry. Zhu Hongcai was in disbelief, Why is it always Jiang Cheng! What does he have that I dont!? It seemed unfathomable to him how Jiang Cheng, not even present in the library, could unsettle a beautiful Pill Master. Such a diabolical charm exercised from a distance! Jiang Cheng! I, Zhu Hongcai, admit you are strong, but if, and I say if, I pass the first stage of the Talisman Master Certificate exam and join the Talisman Drawing Society, and if I win Chengs heart, Id like to ask, what will you do then? Zhu Hongcai, fueled by a burning ambition, flipped to the first page of Talisman Masters Introduction and started reading intently. Witnessing this scene, Ding Guangming nced at Song Junsheng. Song Junsheng nodded. Ding Guangming also nodded. All was said without words. Chapter 161 - 159: The Plant Autonomy Talisman? Mine! Chapter 161: Chapter 159: The nt Autonomy Talisman? Mine! After getting the idea about the Bridge-crossing Talisman from Yue Linger, Jiang Cheng immediately rushed to Lotus Universitys library without stopping. The Bridge-crossing Talisman was not a name, but a general term for a type of talisman that could transmit power. Such talismans were umon, and ordinary textbooks hardly mentioned them, making them a niche and obscure type of talisman. However, with the collection size of Lotus Universitys library, Jiang Cheng wasnt worried about not finding the appropriate references. But just as Jiang Cheng arrived at the library, he received amunication talisman from Yue Linger. Hello? Jiang Cheng, do you remember Shen Menghan, the Alchemy Department senior I introduced you tost time? Yeah, what about her? She needs to see you, are you avable to meet her? Jiang Cheng actually wanted to deal with the issue of the Bridge-crossing Talisman first, but as an excellent young person of the new era, Jiang Cheng always understood the principle of repaying a drop of kindness with a spring of water. Last time, Shen had helped him with the ingredients of the Qi Blood Pill, and this time, he should also lend a hand to her. Sure. Okay, then Ill give her your number. Sure. Um, do you need me toe with you? Yue Linger tentatively asked. Jiang Cheng didnt want to trouble Yue Linger, so he said, It shouldnt be necessary. Yue Linger: I knew it! I should have just said I wanted to go! After hanging up themunication talisman, Shen Menghan soon called Jiang Cheng, and they agreed to meet in the librarys rest area. Shen Menghan had learned from her father that Jiang Cheng seemed to have invented a talisman that could increase the yield of Blood Orange Trees. As a fellow Alchemist, Shen Menghan naturally understood the importance of this. For individual Alchemists, the price of alchemy materials wasnt very sensitive, as individual Alchemists wouldnt be producing the same elixirs continuously over the long term. But for Alchemist Shops, fluctuations in material costs often meant huge profits and business opportunities. If Jiang Cheng had reallye up with something revolutionary, then Miaodan Workshop had to seize the opportunity! Jiang Cheng arrived first at the librarys rest area, and soon, Shen Menghan also appeared. Different from theirst meeting where she was blunt, this time upon seeing Jiang Cheng again, Shen Menghan smiled the entire time, her face practically broadcasting the word pleasing. Jiang, long time no see. Shen. You dont need to be so formal, just call me Menghan. Since Shen Menghan was Yue Lingers friend, and because she had helped him before, and considering that Jiang Cheng always disliked failing to reciprocate warmth and kindness. After weighing the pros and cons, Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Okay, Menghan. Junior, I hear youve created a talisman? One rted to Spirit nts. Right. Can you tell me more about it? Jiang Cheng didnt think much of it; after all, it was normal for an Alchemist to be interested in Spirit nts. He simply said, No problem. In the library study room, Zhu Hongcais fighting spirit burned out after ten minutes. His progress in reading Talisman Masters Introduction stopped on the third page of the index, which meant that after ten minutes, he still didnt know where the door was. Guangming, reading is too brain-consuming, its made me hungry. Wanna go out and grab something to eat? My treat. Ding Guangming said speechlessly, Hong Cai, are you afraid of learning too much and it entering your brain? What are you saying? I, Zhu Hongcai, have never been afraid! By the way, what vor did you say cheese was? Is it tasty? Ding Guangming felt that Zhu Hongcai was a good guy, never stingy and not a stickler for details, though he did have a minor wdoing everything except what he should. Song Junsheng stood up and said, Study for another twenty minutes, then go out for a walk to rx, its good to alternate work and leisure. Seeing that both his roommates had decided to continue studying, Zhu Hongcai also had to uphold the spirit of dormitory unity and made an effort to return to reading Talisman Masters Introduction. Then, ten minutester, Zhu Hongcai dreamt he was holding hands with a senior sister. The adjacent Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng couldnt bear it any longer. It was one thing for Zhu Hongcai to sleep, but the key issue was his snoring! They were directlybeled the enemies of the quiet study room, leaving them with no choice but to leave. Hong Cai, I beg you, please stop studying for now, lets go out and take a break, maybe get something to eat, urged Ding Guangming, pulling Zhu Hongcai out of the study room. Five minutester, the three arrived at the librarys rest area. Here, there were quite a few small shops selling milk tea, coffee, and desserts. It wasnt enough for a full meal, but it sufficed to stave off hunger. As Ding Guangming lined up for milk tea, he suddenly noticed a familiar face not far away: Hey? Isnt that Cheng over there? Zhu Hongcai, without looking back, said: You must be mistaken. When would Jiang Cheng have the time toe to the library? Doesnt he have trees to nt? Song Junsheng said, The cultivator opposite Jiang Cheng is quite pretty. Zhu Hongcai immediately turned his head: Where? Ding Guangming secretly admired Song Junshengs approach. After purchasing their milk tea, the three found a spot to sit not too far from Jiang Cheng in the rest area. Jiang Cheng and Shen Menghan seemed to be talking about something rted to alchemy, so the three tactfully did not disturb them. Even so, Zhu Hongcais gaze never strayed from Jiang Chengs direction from start to finish. Seeing the beautiful Shen interact closely with Jiang Cheng every so often, the envy in Zhu Hongcais eyes was almost tangible. Eventually, even Song Junsheng couldnt stand it and took the initiative to say, Hong Cai, why dont we go and sit over there? Zhu Hongcai immediately scoffed and said, Hmph, shes just an Alchemy Department senior. She just looks like that, nowhere near as good as our Talisman Departments Cheng. Its like who cares anyway. After speaking, Zhu Hongcai still worried his roommates wouldnt believe him and couldnt resist adding, And even if he has an Alchemy Department senior, its only a tie against me. Keep in mind, school has just started, and I havent even begun to try yet. Chapter 162 - 159: The Plant Autonomy Talisman? Mine!_2 Chapter 162: Chapter 159: The nt Autonomy Talisman? Mine!_2 Ding Guangming silentlyined, Hong Cai, stop staring, just bow your head and have a sip of your bubble tea already, itspletely cold. Ding Guangming looked at Zhu Hongcais bubble tea, then lowered his head and took a sip of his own, only to find his bubble tea was gone, and he immediately felt a bit of regret. However, as soon as he raised his head, he saw a female cultivator with outstanding temperament approaching from afar. Hong Cai, turn around, look behind you! Zhu Hongcai had originally no intention of paying attention to Ding Guangming, but when his ears caught the sound of high heels kissing the floor, his neck acted as if it received the highestmand C bypassing his brain, it instinctively turned. Then he saw what could be called the ceiling of beauty at Lotus Universitya female cultivator. She wore a high-waisted, light-colored floral dress with a pastel gold mini leather bag over her shoulder, and a pair of strapped high-heeled sandals that revealed a set of delicacy-grade tender white jade feet. She didnt walk quickly, but her presence wasmanding, her long jade legs moving in a cadence, the floral dress fluttering up and down. Combined with the ample sunlight in the library, she shimmered with a radiant glow. Seeing the beautiful female cultivator walking toward him, Zhu Hongcais expression quickly changed from awe to horror! Mostly because he had not yet thought of what to name his child, how was he going to exin this to his parents? But soon, Zhu Hongcai didnt have to worry about the childs name anymore. Because what to name the child had nothing to do with him. Yue Linger didnt recognize Jiang Chengs roommates; she just regarded Zhu Hongcai as an ordinary freshman, walked past them, and sat down opposite Shen Menghan with a hint of warning, next to Jiang Cheng. Setting aside their work rtionship, she, Yue Linger, still had a certain standing in Jiang Chengs heart. After all, no matter what, she also had the identity of a good daughter, something not any random female cultivator could match. Seeing the top beauty of Lotus University voluntarily sit next to Jiang Cheng, Zhu Hongcai went stiff all over, as if struck by lightning! At this moment, he had begun to question his life. What exactly was the issue with Lotus Cloud University? Howe all the good-looking female cultivators, one by one, can be rted to Jiang Cheng? However, dont panic just yet, not all of them, at least theres still Cheng! Cheng definitely has nothing to do with Jiang Cheng! Just as Zhu Hongcai was praying for Cheng Bingxin, she came walking over carrying four cups of bubble tea. Cheng Bingxin sat next to Shen Menghan, distributed bubble tea to the three of them, and didnt forget to tease the beautiful couple she favored. Zhu Hongcai, witnessing this scene, felt utterly disheartened. His sturdy back now expressed an indescribable sense of destion. If Jiang is to exist, why should Cai exist? How unfair fate is! Cheng Bingxin sat opposite Jiang Cheng, next to Shen Menghan, in a position where she could clearly see Zhu Hongcai and the other two sitting behind Jiang Cheng. After all, as a member of the Talisman Drawing Society, Cheng Bingxin waved at the three of them. Linger, thats the junior I told you about before, the one who tried to bribe me. Yue Linger and Jiang Cheng turned to look over. Jiang Cheng was surprised and said, Zhu Hongcai? Arent they my roommates? Zhu Hongcai, who had nearly given up hope, suddenly perked up upon realizing all three senior sisters had noticed him. What are you doing here? Jiang Cheng asked, puzzled. With newfound conviction, Zhu Hongcai said, Just taking a break from studying to grab something to eat. Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng: As more and more people started gathering, Shen Menghan knew it wasnt the right time to continue her conversation with Jiang Cheng and made an excuse to take her leave. Yue Linger had demonstrated her standing in front of Shen Menghan and exchanged a few polite words with the two junior members of the Talisman Drawing Society. Since she had a ss to attend, it wasnt convenient to stay longer, so she left with Cheng Bingxin. Finally, only the four from Jiang Chengs group remained in the library. Jiang Cheng stayed to look for information on the Bridge-crossing Talisman and didnt leave. As for Zhu Hongcai, he stayed because he was intent on inquiring about the rtionship between Jiang Cheng and Cheng Bingxin. Jiang Cheng, are you very familiar with Cheng? Not really. What about Yue Linger? Im quite familiar with her, since were both from Wuyue City. Oh Zhu Hongcai finally understood. Jiang Cheng seemed to have a good rapport with women, but in reality, he was just a paper tiger. His rtionships with several senior sisters were confined to mere acquaintances. He probably couldnt even count them as ordinary friends. Dyed by Shen Menghan, Jiang Cheng now had even less time today. He simply didnt have the time to consider what Zhu Hongcai might be thinking; he needed to quickly add the Bridge-crossing Talismans function to the nt Autonomy Talisman to achieve the win-win of feeding trees and weeding as soon as possible! Hello? Dad? In a secluded spot, Shen Menghan dialed her father through amunication talisman. Yes, go ahead. Ive found out everything you asked me to look into. The talisman is called nt Autonomy Talisman. Its developed by Jiang Cheng himself and has nothing to do with Lotus Cloud University. The talisman is still in the testing phase, with two versions expected: a basic version and an enhanced version. The basic versions ability shortens the Blood Orange Trees annual yield cycle to just 24 days. The enhanced version of the Autonomy Talisman isnt out yet. But ording to Jiang Cheng, he already has a n and will be revising it soon C probably within a day or two. The enhanced version is expected to cut the 24 days down by a third. Oh right, after using the talisman, a Blood Orange Tree can yield thirty fruits, which is about twenty-five morepared to without the talisman. Dad? Why are you silent? Are you still listening? On the other end of the talisman, Shen Mis hands were shaking as he held themunication device. His daughter, Shen Menghan, although the young mistress of the Miaodan Workshop, had never actually dealt with the affairs of the workshop. She knew the nt Autonomy Talisman was very effective, but she didnt know just how powerful it was. With the current scale of the Miaodan Workshop, if the nt Autonomy Talisman were used to increase the production of Blood Orange Fruit and reduce the cost of pill production, they could earn an extra 150 million low-grade Spirit Stones each year! Just the Qi Blood Pill orders alone could contribute eighty to ny million low-grade Spirit Stones! Although these profits were short-term and might not be sustainable once the talismans became widespread, the short-term figures were outrageous enough! Dad? Dad, are you there? Yes. Hanhan, did you ask Jiang Cheng how much he ns to sell his talismans for? The basic version is one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, and the enhanced version is one thousand five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. Thats roughly the price range. Shen Mi was stunned; he thought he had heard wrong. One thousand? Isnt the nt Autonomy Talisman a first-order talisman? Hes selling it for one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones? Yes, Ive confirmed it with Jiang Cheng, its one thousand. One thousand for one, ten thousand for ten, one hundred thousand for a hundred, one million for a thousand, ten million for ten thousand! After doing the math, Shen Mi realized that if he bought talismans from Jiang Cheng to use, the bulk of the profits from Blood Orange Fruit would be spent on purchasing talismans! His painstakingly managed Miaodan Workshop would end up being a mereborer for Jiang Cheng! Dad? Do you have anything else to discuss? If not, Im going to hang up. Yes, thats fine. After the increased production of Blood Orange Fruit, the profit per fruit would surely drop, and it wouldnt be as profitable as the early stages. But with the nt Autonomy Talisman, it was as though they could control the entire Blood Orange Fruit industry in Liang Kingdom! Shen Mis expression darkened, and a bold idea emerged in his mind. If he wasnt mistaken, a talisman still in testing wouldnt be registered for certification with the Talisman Master Association. That meant that with a little maniption, the owner of the Autonomy Talisman could be Jiang Cheng or it could be him, Shen Mi! As a merchant who had been in the capital for more than two hundred years, Shen Mi knew better than anyone that kindness, goodness, honesty, and sympathy were detriments to a sessful person. Chapter 163 - 160: Snake Never Eats Meat in Vain Chapter 163: Chapter 160: Snake Never Eats Meat in Vain In the Capital, alongside the more moderate Demonic Tao sects like the Pursuit of Life Sect, there are also the more radical ones that excel in assassination and plunder. At Delight Restaurant, Shen Mi was furious upon finding a strand of hair in his meat dish! I spent hundreds of Spirit Stones, and this is what you serve me? Go, call your head chef here! I want him on his knees apologizing today! The head chef of Delight Restaurant hurried over immediately, spat in hand, wearing an apron. He was a burly man with a muscr build, big arms and a broad waist, capable of beheading a pig with one cut and splitting it in half with the second. My apologies to the distinguished guest. Go, close the door. Ill apologize to Master Shen in private. After ensuring they were alone, Shen Mi and the head chef exchanged smiles. Delight Restaurant, one of the properties of the Blood Fiend Sect from the Demonic Tao sect, was managed solely by the sect master and the head chef who were disciples of the Blood Fiend Sect. The head chef was named Chen Shen, known in the underworld as Blood Mountain Shen, a cultivator who had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment with countless blood debts and murders under his belt, known for his meticulousness and guaranteed lethality. Chen Shen said, Master, are you in such a hurry that you cant even wait until tonight? Without saying another word, Shen Mi pulled out a storage bag and threw it onto the table. Help me kill someone. Who? Jiang Cheng. A freshman at Lotus Cloud University. The old rule, we cant kill someone from the Immortal Sect. Hes just an ordinary college student, not considered someone from the Immortal Sect. Each year, the students from Lotus Cloud University who qualify for the Immortal Sect make up less than ten percent. The risk is too great. There are two million low-grade Spirit Stones in the storage bag. Chen Shens eyes narrowed, and after a moment of silence, he shook his head and said, Cant do it. Sorry. Looking Chen Shen in the eye, Shen Mi said unflinchingly, Two million is just the deposit. Once the job is done, Ill give you another three million. Five million low-grade Spirit Stones was a significant sum even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Consider that in Wuyue City, a vi of three to four hundred square meters costs just over three hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, and housing prices in the Capital are six to eight times higher than in Wuyue. With five million, one could afford two vis in the Capital. With the temptation of five million Spirit Stones, Chen Shen fell into an even deeper silence. He sat down, picked up Shen Mis wine pot, and took a few swigs. Lotus University is teeming with experts, not just at the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation, but even Nascent Soul masters by the handful. Killing someone there is akin to a suicide mission. Shen Mi spoke deliberately, Theres no need to enter Lotus University. His habits are extremely regr. Every weekend, he rests at Mingan by Jade Lake, just outside of Lotus University. It seems hes renting a ce off campus to keep a mistress. But dont worry about her; she has just a Qi cultivation level and poses no threat. You can take her out easily if you wish, or leave her beits your choice. Chen Shen pondered the information Shen Mi provided. Jiang Cheng, an ordinary university student, often lived off campus, and had a powerless girlfriend. As long as he acted decisively and thoroughly cleaned up any evidence, disguising the murder as a suicide or crime of passion, it seemed feasible. The only issue was whether Lotus University would investigate thoroughly. If Lotus University didnt dig too deep, everything would be simple. But if they did, that would be problematic. Seeing Chen Shen still hesitant, Shen Mi finally produced his trump card. A golden elixir. Dust Settling Pill! Simr to Foundation Establishment Pills, Dust Settling Pills aid Foundation Establishment cultivators in achieving Core Formation. They are expensive and rare, particrly scarce for Demonic Tao cultivators. Upon seeing the Dust Settling Pill, Chen Shen made up his mind. Worst case scenario, hed flee after the kill and hide in the wilderness for a hundred years until he achieved Core Formation. Deal. Within three days, I will present you with Jiang Chengs head, he said. Shen Mi cautioned, Not just the head. I want all of his storage bags, every single one. Understood. In the overgrown section of the Spirit nt Garden, Jiang Cheng was giving his nt Autonomy Talisman its final upgrade. The Enhanced Version of nt Autonomy Talisman would now have the ability to consume weeds like the Bridge-crossing Talisman. Moreover, Jiang Cheng had also programmed some self-defense martial arts into the Enhanced Version of nt Autonomy Talisman. Thus, a in little fruit tree had transformed into a Kung Fu Fruit Tree. If an electric scooter on Earth cried out when its battery was stolen, wouldnt it be reasonable for a fruit tree to defend itself from fruit theft using martial arts? It made perfect sense. Finally, Jiang Cheng changed the base material used to draw the nt Autonomy Talismans to a more durable and sharp-edged material. Now, the little fruit tree even had a weapon. It could hold the talisman in its branch, using it as a brick or a knife. Imagine intruding into an orchard, intending tomit the crime of theftplucking Blood Orange Fruits. And the opponent standing against you is an orchard full of Kung Fu Fruit Trees wielding knives and skilled in martial arts, feeling no pain. What would you do? Continue stealing or give yourself up on the spot? The answer is clear. Therefore, functionalities like martial arts and knives might seem useless, but in truth, they are redundancy features Jiang Cheng had specially included to protect the fruit farmers property. Thinking of his little fruit trees braving the path of chivalry, Jiang Cheng couldnt help but beam with pride. Making peoples lives happier had always been his initial intention in creating talismans. Now it seemed that every talisman he drew stayed true to that intention, aplishing this task very well. Today is Friday, and after finishing his work at the Spirit nt Garden, Jiang Cheng did not return to his dormitory. Instead, he packed two meals from the cafeteria and headed straight to Mingan by Jade Lake. Previously, when school was not in session, Jiang Cheng would either cook meals himself after buying groceries or simply pack food from a nearby restaurant. But once school started, with sses to attend, dorm camaraderie to maintain, and the development of the nt Autonomy Talisman to bnce, there simply wasnt enough time. So most of the time, he resorted to packing meals from the cafeteria to feed Snake. The cafeteria food at Lotus University was not bad, but for a cultivator at the Mahayana Realm, it was indeed a little frugal. Other Mahayana cultivators enjoyed exquisite delicacies, while Snakes Mahayana diet consisted of steamed buns and potato chips. Fortunately, Snake was not picky and had neverined to Jiang Cheng. It very much felt like a snake not minding a poor home. As Jiang Cheng opened the security door, Liu Qing stood obediently at the entrance, waiting for him toe in and then took the nights meal from his hands. While changing his shoes, Jiang Cheng said, There are two different dishes, you pick first, Im fine with anything. Liu Qing took out the two meals Jiang Cheng had packed from the bag, one was chicken steak + greens + meatballs, and the other was braised pork + Chinese cabbage + stir-fried pork. After thinking for a moment, Liu Qing left the stir-fried pork for Jiang Cheng. Although she quite liked this dish, she remembered that Jiang Cheng also enjoyed it. As a cultivator at the Mahayana Realm, she actually didnt need to eat anything. So this multiple-choice question couldnt have been easier. Jiang Cheng finished changing shoes, washed his hands, and sat down at the dining table, seeing the stir-fried pork ced in front of him. Liu Qing, dont you like stir-fried pork? I remember you enjoyed it a lot. Liu Qing was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head slightly. You dont like it? Jiang Cheng asked again. Liu Qing nodded. Oh? Is that so? But Ive been getting pimples recently, and I cant eat spicy food. Snake stealthily nced at the stir-fried pork on Jiang Chengs te, then quickly withdrew her gaze. How about we swap meals, you eat mine, hows that? Liu Qing thought about it and ultimately couldnt resist the temptation and chose to nod. When Jiang Cheng exchanged their tes and sat down ready to eat, he saw a certain pretenders first chopsticks heading straight for the stir-fried pork. Liu Qing, I thought you didnt like stir-fried pork? Jiang Cheng said teasingly. The chopsticks in Liu Qings hand holding the stir-fried pork suddenly paused mid-air. First, her eyes flickered numerous times, then she gently bit her lip and red at Jiang Cheng with slight irritation. Jiang Cheng touched his nose and earnestly bowed his head to eat. Truth be told, Jiang Cheng actually knew the consequences of teasing a cultivator of the Mahayana Realm, but he really couldnt help himself. It was mainly because Snake seemed harmless to both humans and animals and even her personality was very stable, making it easy for someone to have the illusion that she was easy to bully. As Jiang Cheng bowed his head to eat, suddenly a pair of chopsticks appeared in his field of vision, holding arge piece of stir-fried pork. Jiang Cheng looked up and saw Liu Qing serving him the dish. Liu Qing expressionlessly put down the meat, quickly withdrew her chopsticks, and then continued to eat without any expression. Liu Qing, I really did get a pimple, see. Jiang Cheng pointed to the pimple on his chin. Liu Qing said without expression, Its gone now. Jiang Cheng: ? Jiang Cheng quickly ran to the mirror and found that the pimple had indeed disappeared! She used a spell to help me adjust my body, just so I would eat a piece of stir-fried pork? What is this domineering female CEO plot!? Previously, Jiang Cheng had wanted to return the stir-fried pork to Liu Qing, but seeing the determination in her use of a spell, he knew he had no choice but to eat the meat. Liu Qing saw Jiang Cheng obediently eat the meat and the corners of her mouth curved up imperceptibly. It was he who deliberately yed a trick first. But now, they were even. This was fair. After dinner, Jiang Cheng started fussing with his Portable Spirit Gathering Array. The dinner tes and chopsticks on the table were left for the snake maid to clean up. They had always divided thebor like this, cooperating with tacit understanding. While Jiang Cheng sat in meditation to cultivate, the bored Liu Qing would sit on the sofa, sometimes eating a snack, sometimes fiddling with the small puppets Jiang Cheng had made. Like a remote-controlled toy car, she controlled the puppet representing Jiang Cheng to run around chaotically. Compared to their creator Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing clearly had a deeper understanding of this toy. Jiang Cheng didnt even know how she managed to develop the skill to control the puppet so well. Around eleven at night, Jiang Cheng packed up the Spirit Gathering Array and sent the night-owl Snake off to bed. Good night. Mm, good night. After exchanging greetings, they each returned to their rooms to change into their pajamas and crawled into bed. Jiang Cheng, having been busy all day, hit the pillow and immediately fell into aa. Whereas Liu Qing was unusually alert, her eyes blinking rapidly, she suddenly sat up and changed her pajamas back into the clothes she wore when going out. At two in the morning, even the bustling Capital had quieted down, but the window on the balcony of Jiang Chengs home made a squeaking noise as it opened. Liu Qing got up from the bed, put on her slippers, and opened the door leisurely. She came face to face with Chen Shen from the Blood Fiend Sect, who was just about to make his move. Chen Shen was initially shocked by Liu Qings appearance, then thought to himself why hadnt he noticed the womans movements? Hesitating for less than a fifth of a second, Chen Shen instantly attacked Liu Qing! Chen Shen lived up to his reputation as an experienced assassin. He didnt underestimate Liu Qings sixth-level Qi training cultivation and struck with the full force of Foundation Establishment perfection! Liu Qings expression remained unchanged as she slowly extended a finger. Sshh! Facing Liu Qings full-force attack, Chen Shen was suddenly filled with immense fear! Before he could even cry out, his body, soul, and even any causative existence that might have been extrapted by foresight magic, all disappearedpletely from this space with the fall of Liu Qings finger. Liu Qing expressionlessly took out the small puppet, nced at the screen on its belly, and Jiang Cheng was sleeping soundly. She went to the door, softly opened it, then gently closed the security door behind her. She took the elevator downstairs, and finally vanished into the vast night of the Capital. Chapter 164 - 161: The Emperor is Gone Chapter 164: Chapter 161: The Emperor is Gone Jiang Cheng always had a misconception. He believed that Liu Qing, disliking certain odors, wouldnt expose herself to them, as picky eaters are selective with vors. But in truth, it wasnt so. Snakes sensitivity to scents was as inherent and continuous as breathing. She would always smell odors, unable to choose but only to distinguish whatever filled the space. Thats why she genuinely enjoyed being with Jiang Cheng. After all, no snake likes the stench of rotting trashthey too prefer things that are refreshing, clean, and sweet. In the middle of the night, Liu Qing appeared in the heart of the Capital City, unusually taking a deep breath. Causal connections are a double-edged sword, while she could use causality to find others, they too could use it to find her. To be entangled with too much causality was dangerously risky. But scents were different. Scents were her exclusive skill, undetectable by Human Race cultivators. With the airs flow, all sorts of odors within the entire Capital City were read by her, one after another. All pleasant scents were disregarded, cast aside from analysis. She wasnt in a good mood tonight and sought the source of these foul smells, to take care of the stinking trash in the Capital City. Normally, Liu Qing would not bother with the affairs of the Human Race, but tonight, some trash had audaciously slipped into her home. She was somewhat angry now. There were too many in the Capital City emitting foul odors. Being rational, Liu Qing knew she couldnt cause too muchmotion to avoid drawing attention from the Immortal Sects. Liu Qing wasnt actually afraid of the Immortal Sects, considering her level; even they had to show her respect. What she feared was the Immortal Sects bing aware of her existence and disturbing the tranquil life she had with Jiang Cheng. So, Liu Qing only sought out those scents that disgusted her the most. The Blood Fiend Sects base, behind Delight Restaurant. Chen Shens senior brother was practicing a cultivation technique. In front of him were many animal viscera, the smell of blood suffocating. Who? Sensing something, he turned sharply only to see a stunningly frigid woman gently pointing at him. Chen Shens senior brother had no time to react, and in an instant, he vanished. At the Demon Pattern Sects base, a demonic cultivator whose body was covered with strange patterns was meditating. The demon patterns on his body writhed like living creatures, incessantly moving about. Suddenly, he seemed to notice something, eyes snapping open to see a devastatingly beautiful girl. Her cultivation was only at the sixthyer of Qi practice, yet it terrified every demon pattern on his body to the extreme! He saw the girl extend her hand gently, and then his consciousness disappeared in an instant. Every demon pattern on the male cultivator was screaming, trying to flee his body, but they were utterly powerless against Liu Qings forceful point. At the Hehuan Sects base, a seductive beauty was soaking in a bath filled with floating petals. Her leisure didntst long before she saw the icy Liu Qing. The beauty was first startled by Liu Qings looks, as even within their Hehuan Sect, there were scarcely any women who couldpare to the one before her. But soon, the beauty could no longer smile. Seeing Liu Qing slowly raise her hand, she instinctively felt something was amiss. The beauty, without even putting on her clothes, hurriedly knelt before Liu Qing. I beg the senior to spare my life! I am willing to work like an ox or a horse for the senior! Liu Qing paused with her finger. Pleased, the beauty said, Thank you for sparing me, senior! Senior, Ie from the Hehuan Sect, and I am highly skilled at serving male cultivators. If you keep me Before the beauty could finish, Liu Qing pressed down her finger fiercely, and she disappeared from the world in an instant. The night in the Capital was destined to be unforgettable for those in the Demonic Tao. Having casually dealt with the nearby trash, Liu Qing headed straight for the most foul-smelling ce in the entire Capitalthe Great Liang Imperial Pce. Songs and dances still filled the pce throughout the night. Watching the aged Emperor of Liang, who was soon reaching his end but currently on the dragon bed, using young female cultivators to sustain himself night after night. Young female cultivators used by the Emperor of Liang would at best have their talents damaged and cultivation regressed, or at worst, have their lifespans shortened and left with lingering illnesses. The talent of Emperor Liang was mediocre, and forced Core Formation would certainly lead to his demise. To prolong his life, he turned to every possible method during Foundation Establishment. Cultivators do not fall ill and their lifespan is usually predictable. Decades ago, Emperor Liang foresaw his approaching end and began trying various life-extending methods, now reduced to employing the Hehuan Sects demonic technique of replenishing yang with yin. Liu Qing appeared within the sleeping quarters, where the immense stench and licentious scenes made her frown. Even among the same human male cultivators, some differed from Jiang Cheng as much as dogs do from humans. Seeing the emaciated Emperor Liang with white hair approach Liu Qing, he immediately abandoned the females he had used, staggering towards her. Despite having a harem of three thousand beauties, Liu Qings appearance, temperament, and figure were truly one in a million, easily rivalling the splendor of an entire pce. Beauty, which of my consorts are you? Grant me a chance, and I will immediately proim your child the next emperor! Then, my empire will all be yours! Liu Qing remained expressionless, raising her delicate hand and resting a jade finger lightly on Emperor Liang. With Jiang Cheng away, she already found the two-bedroom, two-living-room residence by Jade Lake spaciouswhat would she do with an even bigger empire? With a press of her finger, Liang Kingdom was emperorless. The Emperor of Liang, because of a certain snakes negative emotions towards trashy people, vanished from this world along with those individuals. With thergest piece of trash in Capital City gone, Liu Qing turned around and reappeared in the luxurious residence of Jade Lake. She changed into her pajamas, crawled into bed, and quickly fell asleep while cuddling the little puppet. After Liu Qing left, the entire imperial pce was rmed. Even the strongest in the Great Liang, the Divinity Transformation Realm ancestor who suppressed the royal familys national fortune, was no exception. There had been cases of emperors of Liang passing away before, but todays Emperor Liang was different; he vanished without a trace, the culprit nowhere to be found, not even leaving bones behind. Only an extinguished soulmp silently informed everyone that the Emperor Liang was no more. But these were not the most crucial issues; the most vital point was that Emperor Liang had not designated an heir. Any of his five sons and four daughters could possibly be the new Emperor of Liang. The selection of the new emperor, in theory, should have been decided by the Divinity Transformation Realm ancestor. But times were different now. The contemporary Liang Kingdom was following the path of constitutional monarchy, and the Cab, which essentially controlled most of the power in Great Liang, equally had the duty to advise on the new emperor. With the Emperors disappearance, the royal power became headless; the new emperor would most likely be appointed by the Cab. In doing so, the new emperor would be a puppet of the Cab and was bound toply with it, further squeezing the already limited interests of the royal family. The Divinity Transformation ancestor and the remaining n elders discussed and decided to first seal the news of the Emperors disappearance, then quickly select a suitable sessor to smoothly transition the throne into his hands. Jiang Cheng slept very wellst night. He even dreamed that he and Liu Qing, fighting side by side, were invincible under the heavens! But dreams are just dreams, and in reality, he was merely a fourthyer Qi Practitioner, still not out of the beginners tutorial. Jiang Cheng checked his cultivation level and found that cultivating with wealth indeed makes things easier. With the aid of a Spirit Gathering Array worth one hundred and ten thousand, plus countless Spiritual Liquids and Elixirs, his fourthyer Qi Practitioner status had be exceedingly solid. He estimated that it wouldnt take long to touch the threshold of the fifthyer. This cultivation speed was not bad at allpared to some young geniuses. Jiang Cheng changed his clothes and went out, only to find that Liu Qing was already enjoying her breakfast on the balcony. Snake had butter cake and pure milk for breakfast this morning. Due to the cherry lips unique to a beautiful woman, some cream inevitably smeared on her face. But she seemedpletely unaware and just continued eating in small bites. Jiang Cheng took a paper napkin and walked over, squatting down to hand it to her. Snake looked puzzled. Jiang Cheng sighed and had no choice but to take the extra step. He took the paper napkin himself and meticulously wiped the cream from the corners of her mouth. There, its clean now. Oh. Eat slowly, no one is racing you. Oh. Jiang Cheng: Why do I have the feeling that Im taking care of a daughter? The real daughter: Liu Qing. The fake daughter: Yue Linger. The air became weird again, and Liu Qing blinked at Jiang Cheng. He seemed to be thinking something that could affect her image again. Shen Mi was always cautious, and even though he knew the Blood Fiend Sect took swift actions, he made a special trip to Miaodan Workshops garden outside of Capital City to create some alibis. But this time, Shen Mi miscalcted. He ounted for Chen Shen possibly failing, but he did not anticipate Chen Shen and his fellow sect brother would simply take the deposit and flee without a trace! The Demonic Tao trulycked any creditworthiness at all! It seems that the Immortal Sects deterrent against the Demonic Tao is still too great. It appears killing Jiang Cheng outright might not be feasible. Ill need to think of another method. Shen Mi found a notoriously second-rank Talisman Master in Capital City. This persons talisman-making skills were mediocre, but he was extremely good at exploiting loopholes in the Talisman industry, taking on cases such as preemptively registering talisman names, obtaining early certification for talismans, and engaging in talisman patent disputes. He was known as a Talisman hooligan in Capital City. His greatest feat was drawing a nuisance talisman when apetitors business was thriving, initiatingwsuits that led to the temporary ban of thepetitors talismans, severely impacting their business and forcing them to pay a settlement fee for peace. First-grade Talisman? Thats easy, you dont even need to find me a blueprint. Just bring me the talisman directly, and Ill handle the rest. Can you snatch the ownership rights? asked Shen Mi. Its not certain; it mainly depends on when he submits for certification and how fast the certification is. If he had some issues with the Talisman Master Association before and they dont want to help him with certification, then we are in luck. At worst, well end up in court. You just need to find someone to draw the talisman quickly. Even if you have to stop producing because of thewsuit, youll still have a considerable stockpile to use. Shen Mi nodded his head. Acting first and reportingter was indeed a good strategy. No matter what, this move could at least let him reap the initial dividends of the Blood Orange Fruits. As for snatching talisman certification, Shen Mi didnt hold out much hope. Jiang Cheng was merely a college freshman; how could he have any issues with the Talisman Master Association? It wouldnt make sense for the lofty Immortal Sect Association to lose face by targeting him, would it? Chapter 165 - 162: Is Jiang Cheng an Illegitimate Child? Chapter 165: Chapter 162: Is Jiang Cheng an Illegitimate Child? Half a month after Jiang Cheng enrolled at Lotus University, his first batch of Blood Orange Fruits was finally harvested sessfully from the trees. The first batch of Blood Orange Fruits not only signified that Hes Tongbao Pavilion was officially qualified topete for the Qi Blood Pill orders, but also meant that Jiang Chengs nt Autonomy Talisman had achievedplete sess! Because the difference between the effects of the original Autonomy Talisman and the Enhanced Version was so vast, basically, all the buyers who had previously ced pre-orders for the Autonomy Talisman were willing to pay an extra five hundred Spirit Stones for the Enhanced Version! Just five hundred Spirit Stones more could teach the little fruit trees skills like martial arts, weeding, knife handling, self-defense, and moreit was incredibly good value for money! At Mingan by Jade Lake, Yue Linger sat on the sofa at Jiang Chengs house, holding a list in her hand. Yue, this is all the pre-order information, Jiang Cheng said. Yue Linger nced quickly over the list of names; there were fifty-two in total, the vast majority from the Spiritual nting Department. Is this, is this all the orders? Yue Linger asked in surprise. Jiang Cheng said with a tone of satisfaction, Of course, our schools Spiritual nting Department doesnt have many people to begin with, having fifty-two orders is already quite good. But Yue Linger frowned, she wanted to say, but thats still far less than the Fishing Talisman, right? As the chief technical director of the Fishing Talisman, Yue Linger knew even better than Jiang Cheng how many talismans were drawn. That was because in theter stages, she had been in charge of overseeing the production of Fishing Talismans for Jiang Cheng, who didnt manage anything else; his only task each day was to go to the Task Hall to collect money. Yue Linger remembered clearly that, throughout its entire life cycle, about two thousand four hundred Fishing Talismans were made in total. With an average price of two thousand five hundred per talisman, a total revenue of six million Low-grade Spirit Stones was generated. Half of that, three million Spirit Stones, went to the Wuyue Fish Care Foundation. Of the remaining three million, sixty percent, a total of one million eight hundred thousand went to Jiang Cheng; twenty percent, a total of six hundred thousand went to her. With the Fishing Talisman as a shining example, the current nt Autonomy Talisman seemed pale inparison, not only in terms of the quantity of orders but also because the price per talisman was just over half that of the Fishing Talisman. Althoughpared to an ordinary first-level Talisman, the profit margin for the nt Autonomy Talisman was already quite substantial. But Yue Linger always felt that the Autonomy Talismancked a certain somethingit shouldnt have just this much potential. Yue, is there something you want to say? Jiang Cheng noticed Yue Lingers hesitation. As his trustworthy partner, she had every right to share her doubts with him. Jiang Cheng, dont you n to sell the nt Autonomy Talisman outside the school? I mean, not just in the campus, but in the Capitals spiritual nt market. Of course were going to sell it. Ive already been in touch with He, as soon as she secures the Qi Blood Pill orders, well immediately start supplying them to her. Well provide the talismans, and shell be responsible for producing the Blood Orange Fruits and making elixirs to fulfill the orders. Yue Linger asked with foresight, Will the volume berge? Should I contact talisman masters in advance? Jiang Cheng estimated and said, I reckon she might generate around twenty thousand Autonomy Talisman orders for us. Twenty thousand!? The Fishing Talisman only had two thousand! Yue Linger silently breathed a sigh of relief. She was at fault for underestimating Jiang Cheng again; he was still the same Jiang Cheng she knew. However, Yue, we cant get too excited yet. These estimates only count once He secures the Qi Blood Pill orders. Ill goter with Liu Qing to deliver the first batch of trial-produced Blood Orange Fruits to He. The fifty-two orders on the list will depend on Yues hard work. Well stick to the usual rule of sixty-forty profit sharing. As a second-level Talisman Master, Yue Linger would be able to draw all fifty or so first-level talismans in at most three days. She calcted the ie for the next three days. The Enhanced Version of the nt Autonomy Talisman cost fifteen hundred per piece, and she had to draw fifty-two pieces; taking forty percent of the profits amounted to thirty-one thousand two hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones. Equivalent to a daily ie of ten thousand. Terrifying! What was even more terrifying was that Yue Linger had lost the ability to be surprised by a daily ie of ten thousand. She sighed and looked at Jiang Cheng with aplex expression. She had only known Jiang Cheng for just over two months. In these two months, Jiang Cheng had continuously used various methods to stimte her senses, causing her to gradually lose the cognitions that a person of her age and cultivation level should have. For example, Cheng Bingxin would be happy for a week if she found a Medium-grade Spirit Stone, while Yue Linger wouldnt even notice a Spirit Stone on the ground. For example, Cheng Bingxin would take a second look at a handsome junior, whereas Yue Linger would only subconsciouslypare that person to Jiang Cheng, resulting in judgments like nothing special, nothing outstanding. Yue Linger felt that she had be deeply attached to Jiang Cheng. Developed a strong addiction to him. If Jiang Cheng left her for too long, she would probably experience withdrawal symptomsunable to be interested in things around her, finding everyone else mundane, unable to gain positive emotions, and eventually bing depressed. Yue Linger looked at a figure on the balcony, feeling somewhat consoled. After all, she wasnt the only one addicted to Jiang Cheng, so there was nothing to be scared of. At the Tongbao Pavilion store on Huayuan Road, as soon as Jiang Cheng entered, he was greeted with the highest honors by the entire store. A few sales associates lined up at the door to wee him, and the deputy manager, Tao Fang, personally apanied him throughout, serving tea and being extremely attentive. Even Bai Xiaohe couldnt stand to watch. She knew Jiang Cheng well and knew that he didnt like special treatment. Stop it, everyone, go back to work, she said. No one obeyed. Jiang Cheng said, Alright now, thats enough. Listen to your store manager and go back to work. Everyone returned to their workstations. Bai Xiaohe: Bai Xiaohe felt like her days as the store manager had been for nothing. But then she thought again, thedy of her Bai family mightmand the entire household in public, but when her father, the patriarch of the Bai family, came home from work, both thedy and all the servants had to listen to him. Wasnt this exactly the same as the situation in her store? With this thought, Bai Xiaohe not only stopped feeling upset but actually started to feel happy. Jiang Cheng took out a storage bag containing the first batch of Blood Orange Fruits from the Kung Fu Fruit Tree. He, the first batch of Blood Orange Fruits are all here. Bai Xiaohe carefully epted the storage bag. This was the hope of the whole store, meant to be used to bid for elixir production; she couldnt afford to be careless. Jiang Cheng hadpleted his mission perfectly. Now, it all depended on the quality of the elixirs and the choice of the Weapon Department. Jiang Cheng, should we maybe Bai Xiaohe hesitated. Should we maybe what? Jiang Cheng asked. Bai Xiaohe nervously said, You know, give the officials from the Weapon Department some sort of gratuity. Upon hearing this, Jiang Chengs expression quickly turned serious. He, ording to the Great Liang code ofw, bribery is illegal. Depending on the amount of the bribe, the punishment can be as minimal as one month of imprisonment or as severe as the death penalty with confiscation of all assets. I think you might simply be unaware of thew, which is why you suggested it. Now that Ive told you, you must never entertain illegal thoughts again. Oh, I understand now. Good. Go home and copy the Great Liang code ofw after work. Ill inspect it in a while. Ill copy it right away. During work hours, youre to focus on store tasks, no copying allowed. Copy the code ofw after work at home. For every half an hour of writing, take a ten-minute break to move around and rx your eyes. Ill listen to you on everything, she said. Tao Fang watched Manager Bai act like a little wife in front of Jiang Cheng and was even more determined in her goal to follow him. Who is Bai Xiaohe? Totally unfamiliar. Theres only one manager of the Tongbao Pavilion Huayuan Road Storeand that is the great Mr. Jiang Cheng. Loyalty! After leaving Tongbao Pavilion, Jiang Cheng didnt rush home but took Liu Qing by taxi to the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association in the capital. Wuyue City, being a small city under Tongtian Sects influence, had only one Talisman Master Association affiliated with Tongtian Sect. But as the capital of Liang Kingdom and a foothold for various powers, the Capital housed Talisman Master Associations belonging to Taixu Sect, Lin Sect, and Tongtian Sect. As a new student of Lotus University intending to join Tongtian Sect, Jiang Cheng naturally maintained a distance from associations of other Immortal Sects, so he chose Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association for the certification of his nt Autonomy Talisman! The capitals association was naturally much more imposing than those in smaller cities. The Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association in the Capital upied an entire building as its office premises. Besides serving talisman masters basic functions, the association also needed to keep backups of arge number of talismans, hence the sizable space requirement. After entering the association, Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing found the receptionist who was in charge of greeting visitors. Jiang Cheng politely said, Hello, I would like to meet the president. Receptionist Secretary: Okay, do you have an appointment? Jiang Cheng: No. Im sorry then, you cant meet the president without an appointment. Jiang Cheng wondered, When I was in Wuyue, I didnt need an appointment to see the president. The secretary knew the association rules better than Jiang Cheng. In theory, you should have an appointment wherever you want to meet the president. But something in Jiang Chengs tone suggested he wasnt bluffing. Excuse me, may I have your name? I will check for you. Jiang Cheng, Jiang of rivers and Cheng of cities. Please wait a moment. The receptionist secretary turned and sent amunication talisman to the Chief Secretary. Hello? Secretary Wu, do you know a talisman master named Jiang Cheng? He Secretary Wu thought to herself: Jiang Cheng? It sounds familiar Oh my! Isnt that the Jiang Cheng who drew the Fishing Talisman! The receptionist secretary, as an employee, wasnt aware of the associations secrets, but Secretary Wu, being a leader, had her fingers on the pulse of many matters. Lu Wang, the president of the Wuyue Talisman Master Association, was dismissed for covering up for this young man. The main body of the Talisman Master Association had specially sent amunication talisman, rebuking the president of their Capital branch, President Gao. President Gao had been gloomy for days, and no one in the entire association dared to even crack a smile. All because of this talisman master named Jiang Cheng! Although Jiang Cheng wasnt even a first-rank talisman master, he was de facto nobility across all talisman master associations. Second-rank, third-rank, fourth-rank talisman mastersif Jiang Cheng wanted to scold you, even The Almighty had to brace for it! Donty a finger on him, I will personally take care of this, Secretary Wu said. The receptionist secretary looked at Jiang Cheng with shock on her face. Personal attention from Secretary Wu? Wasnt that a bit too much? Could this guy be the presidents illegitimate child? Chapter 166 - 163: Jiang Cheng, The Nemesis of a Whole New Generation of Leaders Chapter 166: Chapter 163: Jiang Cheng, The Nemesis of a Whole New Generation of Leaders Capital Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association. Behind the presidents office desk, fourth-tier Talisman Master and Association President Gao Miao looked at Jiang Chengs submitted talisman certification application withplicated feelings. Previously, he had constantlyined about Lu Wangs negligence, which ultimately led to the Talisman Master Association suffering an undeserved disaster. But now, as Jiang Cheng sat in front of him, he finally understood Lu Wangs grievances and difficulties. The talisman certification application submitted by Jiang Cheng was wless, even by Gao Miaos most nitpicking standards; he couldnt find even the slightest issue! It was as if Jiang Cheng, more than he as the president, knew how to apply for talisman certification! The faultless application meant that, ording to the rules and regtions of the Talisman Master Association, Gao Miao was obliged to approve Jiang Chengs talisman certification within a month at thetest! Given Capitals Talisman Associations efficiency, ordinary talisman certifications would take less than a week, mostly five or six days at most, to pass. But today, it was Jiang Cheng applying for the certification! Gao Miao felt that even a month was too short a time; it was entirely unreasonable. Others would get a stay of execution for two years, but his, Gao Miaos stay of execution, was only a month! President Gao, is there any problem with my application? Jiang Cheng, seeing Gao Miao not speaking for a long time, kindly asked. Gao Miao nced at the introduction of Jiang Chengs new talisman and internally screamed: what do you mean any problem? There are problems everywhere! [Name: nt Autonomy Talisman] [Tier: First-tier] [Type: Control] [Effect: Help the Blood Orange Tree achieve self-discipline in its life by learning from the self-discipline experiences of other nts.] [Precautions: 1. The tree does not have specific soil requirements, but please try to let the tree free-roam in areas with lots of weeds; it will weed by itself. 2. The tree may move at night, dont worry, this is normal. 3. The tree knows some martial arts, featuring functions like auto theft-deterrence and automatic capturing of thieves. 4. The tree will not harm people, but it will run away, so please do not attempt to do any strange things to it.] Gao Miao now really wanted to ask Jiang Cheng, why on earth would you make a perfectly good fruit tree so self-disciplined? And why would a tree need self-discipline? Isnt it better to let it grow quietly? Combining Jiang Chengs two previous creations, the Muscle Rxation Talisman and the Animal Encouragement Talisman, Gao Miao could actually confirm that the Autonomy Talisman did indeede from Jiang Cheng. Because a normal talisman master, let alone create, wouldnt even think of such a nonsensical thing. The only issue now was that it was impossible to predict what kind of trouble Jiang Chengs new talisman would cause. If he managed to offend some powerful force again, the Talisman Master Association would definitely be in trouble. By then, the one to be dismissed wouldnt be Lu Wang, but him, Gao Miao. Your application materials are fine, its just that this type of control talisman is quite rare, and the association needs more time to assess your talisman application materials, Gao Miao said as calmly as he could. How long will that take? A month at thetest. Because a month was the longest period of stay of execution the Talisman Master Association allowed. Jiang Cheng nodded; President Gaos argument seemed reasonable, and he saw no issue with it. Moreover, bidding at the Weapon Department also required plenty of time; waiting a month to receive the talisman certification would not cause any dy. Upon seeing Jiang Chengs applicationplete, Secretary Wu stepped forward to ask him to leave. At this moment, Gao Miao took the initiative to say, Jiang Cheng, wait a moment. Gao Miao pulled out a piece of paper, quickly wrote a number on it, and handed it to Jiang Cheng. This is my contact information. If you feel uncertain about anything, you must firstmunicate with me through amunication talisman, and consult with me! Alright, thank you, Senior Gao, Jiang Cheng gratefully said. No matter whether it was Lu Wang or Gao Miao, each chairman he had met was so kind and sincere. This scene made Jiang Cheng prematurely feel the warmth of the big Tongtian Sect family. When heter entered the Tongtian Sect, he would definitely get along very well with his fellow Tongtian Sect brothers and sisters. Gao Miao held his forehead, giving Secretary Wu a gesture to hurry up and take Jiang Cheng out. After all, he was a distinguished fourth-tier Talisman Master, the supreme leader of Liang Kingdoms Talisman Master Association, yet today he voluntarily offered his contact information to a rankless talisman master; it would be humiliating to speak of. But the current Gao Miao had be resigned. He didnt care about losing face, as long as Jiang Cheng didnt recreate the fiasco of the Fishing Talisman in Capital; he would willingly call Jiang Cheng his big brother. A small loss of face is better than a big one. His, Gao Miaos, tolerance today was for the peace and stability of all Liang Kingdom! In the womens dormitory of Lotus University, Yue Linger found Cheng Bingxin. Bingxin, Ive got a talisman drawing job; are you interested? Cheng Bingxiny on the bed, her feet up in the air, ying with hermunication talisman: Im not interested. The pay is very high, Yue Linger added. Cheng Bingxin thought to herself: how high could it be? Drawing talismans is so tiring, not to mention less enjoyable than shipping a couples fantasy. Besides, she wasnt short on spending money. Even if its high, Im not interested, Linger, I advise you not to take it either. College should be about having fun becauseter in life there will be plenty of opportunities to work. Yue Linger agreed with Cheng Bingxins view. But she didnt draw talismans primarily for money; her main reason was that it wasJiang Chengs task. Now that she had gotten involved with Jiang Cheng, if she didnt work hard, and Jiang Cheng ignored her, what would she do when her Jiang Cheng addiction red upter? In the end, Yue Linger had to give up leisure time to draw talismans in her dorm, forcing herself to produce over ten thousand in a single day. Cheng Bingxins fingers fluttered on themunication talisman. Cheng Bingxin: Jiang Cheng doesnt oftene back to the dorm, does he? Zhu Hongcai: Of course not, our dormitory is ruled by me. He wouldnt dare to stay there, would he? Cheng Bingxin: Have you guys ever discussed emotional problems with Jiang Cheng? Zhu Hongcai: We have, but the kid is too emotionally unintelligent, like talking to a brick wall; its hard to imagine anyone liking him. Cheng Bingxin: That is indeed hard to imagine. Zhu Hongcai: Senior sister, I took Ding Guangming to the Immortal Sect Tea House outside the campus yesterday and identally spent several medium-grade Spirit Stones, earning a discount coupon. The Immortal Sect Tea House is so stingy, only giving a 10% discount with the coupon. I found it annoying, so I just threw it away. As soon as Cheng Bingxin saw Zhu Hongcaisst message, she burst outughing. Doesnt this kid realize how childish he sounds? Anyway, if it were me, Cheng Bingxin, wanting to show off my wealth, I definitely wouldnt resort to such crude and childish methods. The truly cultivated and wealthy are usually inconspicuous for a long time, hardly any different from ordinary people, and then suddenly something happens that astonishes you with their affluence. Cheng Bingxin swayed her feet and saw that Yue Linger under the bed had been quietly drawing talismans all afternoon. Linger, youre still drawing? Arent you tired? Im not tired. Stop drawing,e out with me for a walk. Dont be silly, wait until I finish this batch. Cheng Bingxin jumped off the bed and saw Yue Linger was painting a first-order talisman, and immediately eximed in annoyance, A first-order talisman? I thought you were painting second-order ones! How much money can a first-order talisman make? Stop drawing! Come out and have fun with me! Yue Linger, focused on painting talismans, then answered, Six hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. Six hundred? Cheng Bingxin estimated the number of unused talisman paper and said, That must be around fifty or sixty sheets, right? Six hundred for fifty or sixty sheets isnt too bad. Without looking up, Yue Linger said, Huh? You mean in total? I thought you were asking how much one costs. Altogether, its a little over thirty thousand. Cheng Bingxins eyes went wide, Snatch less!? Thirty thousand. No, Linger, are you sure you dont have a fever? Can first-order talismans really be this valuable? Who gave you this task? The person handing out the tasks must be a big sucker, right? Yue Linger casually mentioned, Got it from Jiang Cheng. Cheng Bingxins voice caught in her throat, and she found herself speechless. Damn, Jiang Cheng really is loaded. To woo the Lotus University belle, hes even subsidizing the price of talismans out of his own pocket. To spend thirty thousand at the drop of a hat! What is showing off wealth? This is exactly how to do it! Zhu Hongcai, take a good lesson from Jiang Cheng! How can the gap be sorge when were from the same dorm? Thanks to Yue Lingers hard work, the first batch of twenty Enhanced Version of nt Autonomy Talismans was quickly delivered to the students who had pre-ordered them. Following Jiang Chengs previous experience with selling Muscle Rxation Talismans and Animal Encouragement Talismans. Instruction manuals, talisman purchase agreements, and warranty services were not skimped on, everything wasplete. The key selling point was being crime-proof, absolutely foolproof. At the talisman delivery meeting, Jiang Cheng particrly warned each purchaser not to tamper with the effects of the talisman on their own, and also not to apply the talisman to other nts. Because the current nt Autonomy Talisman was a special version tailored for Blood Orange Fruits, not a universal type that could be applied to any nt. Compared to the Task Hall in Wuyue that catered to the general public, the clients for the nt Autonomy Talisman were all Lotus University students, and overall, they had higher standards. After the talisman delivery ceremony was over, Yue Linger came over to Jiang Cheng on the sly to ask. Jiang Cheng, hows the certification for the nt Autonomy Talisman going? President Gao said the Autonomy Talismans certification needs more time for evaluation. Whats up? Im worried that someone might take advantage of the fact your talismans arent certified yet. Jiang Cheng exined with a smile, Dont worry, the effective date for a talismans patent starts from the day you submit it for certification. Also, the same talisman cant be submitted for certification twice. Finally, I believe that our Lotus University students are allw-abiding good youths; why would they do anything illegally? Faced with the optimistic Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger didnt know whether that was good or bad. Jiang Chengs advantage was his positive attitude. His w was being too positive. Because he didnt break thew, he always thought that everyone else was good too and wouldnt break thew. Forget it, Im probably just overthinking it, murmured Yue Linger. In a dark alley just outside Lotus University, an upperssman from the Spiritual nting Department who had just bought an Enhanced Version of nt Autonomy Talisman strode to the location. Damn, who chose this ce? Why does selling a second-hand talisman feel like smuggling contraband? the upperssman from the Spiritual nting Department quietlyined to himself. The notorious talisman thug from the Capital, a second-order Talisman Master, Wang Xiaoqiu, suddenly appeared. With a flick of his finger, five thousand low-grade Spirit Stones appeared on the ground. Wheres my merchandise? Here it is. Take it. Im off. The upperssman from the Spiritual nting Department took the five thousand low-grade Spirit Stones and left with a feeling of contentment. Selling a talisman that cost fifteen hundred for five thousand meant earning three thousand five hundred in half an hour! Being a scalper was too blissful! Wang Xiaoqiu, having gotten his hands on the first batch of freshly minted Enhanced Version of Autonomy Talismans, immediately went home to deduce the structure of the talisman. A first-order talisman that wasnt encrypted on purpose wasnt difficult to crack for a second-order Talisman Master. But for Wang Xiaoqiu, difficulty wasnt important, speed was. He had to quickly figure out the structure of the nt Autonomy Talisman and then prepare the certification materials to take to the Talisman Master Association for certification. If he was fast enough, he might even beat Jiang Cheng to certification sess! That would give him the leverage to sue Jiang Cheng over the ownership of the talismans. Once thewsuit started, it would be an extremely lengthy process. Winning or losing thewsuit didnt matter, as long as they could get Miaodan Workshop to produce a batch of goods for yielding Blood Orange Fruits, that would be enough. If Jiang Cheng wasnt happy with Miaodan Workshop using the talismans to produce Blood Orange Fruits, they would just continue thewsuit. After the first trial, they could appeal for a second trial, and even appeal again, and keep appealing. With the right maneuvers, thewsuits could go on indefinitely. One side was Miaodan Workshop with annual sales possibly reaching hundreds of millions of Spirit Stones, the other was an unknown Qi-training Talisman Master. It was clear to anyone with eyes which side to support. As for the most crucial part, the certification of the pirated Autonomy Talismans, Wang Xiaoqiu naturally had his methods. Two hundred miles from the Capital was a small city within the influence of Lin Sect, he would go there to the Lin Talisman Master Association for certification, and if nothing went awry, it could be approved within a day. Much more efficient than the Capitals Talisman Master Association. Chapter 167 - 164: The Autonomy Talisman Strikes Hard Chapter 167: Chapter 164: The Autonomy Talisman Strikes Hard Three days allocated for talisman delivery flew by, and before long, over forty Blood Orange Trees in the Spirit nt Garden at Lotus University were all using nt Autonomy Talismans. Some senior students followed Jiang Chengs approach, starting with seeds and gradually nurturing them to grow with the Autonomy Talismans. Other impatient seniors partly affixed Autonomy Talismans on the saplings of Blood Orange Trees and partly directly on mature Blood Orange Trees. Thus, all sorts of Blood Orange Trees began emerging in the Spirit nt Garden at Lotus University. There were saplings temporarily growing silently without the help of weeds. There were also short but fast-moving Baoqiang Fruit Trees with still decent hairdos and capable of Kung Fu. The Spirit nt Garden at Lotus University, originally quiet and removed from the main campus, became extraordinarily lively with the introduction of the nt Autonomy Talismans. The Spirit nt Garden was bustling, but with that came problems. To be precise, not one of the other seniors had a whole wastnd like Jiang Cheng did. They grew theirs in their own small plots, some even in their groups experimental fields. Due to the limited space, the nutrients in the plots were quickly exhausted by the Blood Orange Trees, and then, some of the trees began the weeding operation. They started with the weeds, then the grass, followed by the tall grass, and finally the green-leafed grass. When a second-year student from the Spiritual nting Department arrived at the Spirit nt Garden the next day, what faced him was a barrennd, verging on desertification. Holy shit, wheres my homework? A third-year student from the Spiritual nting Department came to the Spirit nt Garden. Witnessing a piece ofnd that looked as though wild boars had ravaged it, Holy shit! Who ate my graduation project! Facing the tragedy of their peers from the same major, some foresighted students from the Spiritual nting Department secretly rejoiced. Fortunately, my research is on tuberous Spirit nts. Its not a problem if the branches and leaves are gone; as long as the roots and stems are still there Holy shit! Wheres my Spirit Potato?! Shriveled Spirit Potatoesy scattered about, each looking as though it had been wrung dry,pletely exhausted, making it hard to imagine the torments they had suffered while alive. Just as the students from the Spiritual nting Department werementing the injustice of their fates, the culprits continued weeding. One student from the Spiritual nting Department could no longer bear it. Damn it, bullied by parents at home, bullied by a girlfriend at school, and now even by a fruit tree when nting a Spirit nt! Too pathetic! It was just too damn pathetic! Determined to show some backbone, he rushed toward a Kung Fu Fruit Tree and shouted, Stop! I wont allow you to destroy the Spirit nts in the garden anymore! The fruit tree remained oblivious to his cries. But you cant me the fruit tree. It had neither ears nor a brain. The enemy with a gift of the gab: like a river of words, knowledgeable about the past and the present, citing ssics and arguing with reason. Fruit Tree: I dont get it. Stop or Ill freeze your hands! After several unsessful warnings, the student from the Spiritual nting Department finally lost his patience and attacked the fruit tree. But the fruit tree, as if it had eyes, dodged the students spells with a cunning move. Then it raised its kitchen knife. The student smirked in disdain. Merely a tree, even if it held a weapon and knew some martial arts, could it beat him, a cultivator at the seventh level of Qi practice? Does he not understand the value of being at the seventh level of Qi practice? However, what the student from the Spiritual nting Department didnt expect was that a certain Jiang surnamed Talisman Master, who wished to remain unnamed, had already optimized the nt Autonomy Talismans specifically for the possibility of thieves being too strong. Martial Virtue, a fine human quality. Fruit Tree: Heh heh, Im not human. Seeing over forty fruit trees in the Spirit nt Gardene wielding kitchen knives from all directions after the first tree was attacked, surrounding the thief trying to steal fruit, was an impressive sight indeed. A single tree might look weak, but over forty trees made for a dense and overwhelming mass. Tree after tree holding a kitchen knife, the pressure of being surrounded by thug-like trees was imaginable. The surrounded student was so frightened that he wet himself right there. Who had seen such a scene in peaceful times? Fortunately, he was not the only one in the Spirit nt Garden at the time. Several ssmates were watching nearby. Seeing a fellow student in trouble, numerous brave students from the Spiritual nting Department stood up. They each used their spells to confront the crowd of Kung Fu Fruit Trees! The once tranquil Spirit nt Garden instantly became a battlefield. Although the trees had no brains, under the control of the pre-set programs of the Autonomy Talismans, their coordination was seamless. The first wave of fruit trees went in to absorb some damage, followed immediately by the second wave taking advantage of the cultivators skills being on cooldown to go on a chopping spree. The third wave of trees stood back, pelting the cultivators with rocks to strike and disrupt them. The Spiritual nting Department students who had not taken action earlier, upon seeing this scene, were dumbfounded. Are these really just fruit trees? Or is this some fearless nt legion? Cui Zhifei, the counselor of Talisman Drawing ss 1 from the 3210th year, was cheerfully humming in the counselors office at that moment. This office belonged to the counselors from the Talisman Drawing specialty. There were just three people. One was Cui Zhifei, the counselor of ss 1. Another was Liu Lingshen, the counselor of ss 2. Another one was Mao Lang, counselor of ss 3. Among the three people, Cui Zhifei was the youngest, least experienced and held the lowest rank as a Talisman Master. However, he now sat as an equal with the other two senior teachers, which made him feel pretty good. At the very least, he had won at the starting line, andpared to his seniors, his teaching career should be a lot easier. Mao Lang exchanged a nce with Liu Lingshen, and Mao Lang asked, Zhifei, hows Jiang Cheng from your ss been doing? Cui Zhifei immediately said with pride, Hes been doing really well and never caused me any worry. I heard some people call Jiang Cheng a troublemaker, but I never felt that way. I think hes very honest, kind-hearted and sincere, easy to talk to, and particrly talented in talismans. Cui Zhifei took out a previous issue of Talisman Weekly and flipped to the page featuring the Muscle Rxation Talisman. His tone and gestures were full of show-off: Our sss Jiang Cheng is indeed very capable. Look, even the weekly published his talisman. Actually, this talisman didnt have much to do with me, I was just lucky to have stumbled upon a talisman genius. Upon hearing the words stumbled upon, the faces of Liu Lingshen and Mao Lang turned green. If it werent for their firm refusal to take Jiang Cheng initially, how could Cui Zhifei have stumbled upon him? In hindsight, their worries about Jiang Cheng were excessive; he was clearly very honest! His performance in the new student assessment was just slightly aggressive, thats all. Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen were filled with regretthey could have imed the genius Jiang Cheng for themselves if they had but spoken up at the start of term. Such a pity! A real pity! While Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen were consumed with regret, the door to the counselors office was suddenly flung open. A teacher from Lotus Universitys security office said, Counselor Cui! Its bad, Jiang Cheng from your ss drew some talisman, and it has kidnapped four or five students from the Spiritual nting Department! Cui Zhifei: ??? Liu Lingshen and Mao Lang: Yes, yes, yes, that familiar feeling is back again. Cui Zhifei hurried to the scene of the incident and found many teachers had arrived, but no one dared to take action. At the moment, the situation in the Spirit nt Garden was: A bunch of Blood Orange Trees wielding kitchen knives were guarding five students who had been pinned to the ground amongst the ravaged dirt where spirit nts had been uprooted; many teachers and students from the Spiritual nting Department were onlookers, but none dared to intervene. Who knew if taking action might infuriate the trees, causing them tosh out violently? Should that happen, all the responsibility would fall on the person who acted, so no one dared to make a move. As soon as Cui Zhifei arrived on the scene, he asked, Whats going on here? Wheres Jiang Cheng? The teacher from the security office said, Weve notified Jiang Cheng, he said hes on his way. Ten minutester, Jiang Cheng rushed to the scene. At this moment, Cui Zhifei couldnt care about anything else; at Lotus University, student safety was definitely the top priority. If a student were to die, the counselor would be in big trouble. Jiang Cheng, whats up with your talisman, think of something quick! Jiang Cheng nced at the situation, let out a sigh of relief and said, I thought something serious had happened, it turns out its only a few people being captured. Cui Zhifei: Huh? You dont think this is serious when its almost a matter of life and death? Jiang Cheng exined to the bewildered crowd, Heres what happened: the trees learned some martial arts for self-defense to protect their fruit. But dont worry, the trees wont harm people; they only counterattack in self-defense. Most likely, these students provoked the trees and were then caught as thieves. Everyone was shocked: Trees? Learning martial arts? Self-defense counterattacks? Catching thieves? Youre telling us your trees not only learn but understand thew, and now they even act heroically? Jiang Cheng calmly said, Dont worry everyone, its okay. As long as the thieves exhaust their spiritual power, they wont trigger the trees defense mechanism. The counselor of the kidnapped students from the Spiritual nting Department immediately shouted, What are you waiting for, you guys? Hurry up and follow Jiang Chengs instructions, dissipate all your spiritual power! Jiang Cheng added, You dont need to dissipate itpletely, retaining a trace to stabilize your condition is fine. Ultimately, under Jiang Chengs calm and orderlymand, all the thieves who were kidnapped by the trees were safely rescued. But, while the people were saved, the incident was far from over. Because of the trees weeding, coupled with the students fight with the trees, arge part of the Spirit nt Garden of the Spiritual nting Department was destroyed. Allocating responsibility and handling the aftermath were both very troublesome matters. All in all, its good that no ones hurt, Jiang Cheng consoled Cui Zhifei. Cui Zhifei felt like crying without tears. It looked like he would be busy for the next few days. Is it still possible to not be the counselor of ss 1 now? In the Capitals Shen Residence, second-order Talisman Master Wang Xiaoqiu excitedly sought out Shen Mi. Master Shen, Master Shen, I have something big to tell you! Shen Mi, seeing Wang Xiaoqius agitated appearance, felt disdainful in his heart. He thought to himself that a cultivator at Foundation Establishment should be able to control their emotions, remain calm andposed; otherwise, they had little hope of achieving greatness. Wang Xiaoqiu happily eximed, Master Shen, our nt Empowerment Talisman has passed the certification of Lin Sects Talisman Master Association! Shen Mi was taken aback, not quite grasping it, What? It passed the certification! I suppose Jiang Cheng forgot to send his talisman for certification at the Association, letting us find a loophole! Shen Mi was suddenly overjoyed! He even jumped on the spot, disregarding his image. He knew better than anyone what it meant for a talisman to pass certification. It meant that even if they had to fight a legal battle over talismans with Jiang Cheng in the future, Miaodan Workshop had a good chance of winning! But right now, what mattered most wasnt thinking about the future, but to draw as many talismans as possible! Then they needed to demarcate territory, nt saplings, and immediately start producing Blood Orange Fruit! And they had to do everything possible to block the news about the autonomy talisman, sopetitors would find out about the Self-Empowerment Talisman a bitter. Blocking the news was to ensure that Miaodan Workshop could reap all of the low price Blood Orange Fruit first-mover advantages to the fullest! ording to Shen Mis estimate, if he yed his cards right, this venture could Miaodan Workshop at least hundreds of millions of Spirit Stones in profit! It might even be possible to be the number one alchemist shop in the entire Liang Kingdom! Chapter 168 - 165 Impending Storm Chapter 168: Chapter 165 Impending Storm Initially, Jiang Cheng was just an obscure second-tier Talisman Master. Let alone in the Capital, even in his hometown Wuyue City, he could basically be considered invisible in the world of Talisman Masters. He had no fame and nowork; when he went out, nobody recognized him. Latterly, with the poprity of the Fishing Talisman, he outsourced the production of the talisman, relying almost entirely on the connections of Yue Linger to find people for the work. Even Yue Linger herself wasnt someone Jiang Cheng knew personally; their meeting was mediated through an introduction by the Talisman Master Association. Compared to the unknown Jiang Cheng, Shen Mi in the Capital was a well-known, well-regarded personage. Shen Mi had struggled and fought in the Capital for over two hundred years. Although he was a Pill Master and mixed in the elixir industry, hiswork within the Capitals Talisman industry far surpassed that of Jiang Cheng. The very night he obtained the nt Empowerment Talisman certification, Shen Mi urgently contacted multiple talisman shops in the Capital, demanding they produce the nt Empowerment Talisman at full capacity, even if it required paying a premium. Compared to the value of the nt Empowerment Talisman, the extra Spirit Stones were trivial. The next morning, Shen Mi, carrying arge amount of Spirit Stones and treasures, started his Elixir Diplomacy. Firstly, he had to secure the order for the Qi Blood Pill from the Weapon Department; if he failed to get it, the Blood Orange Fruit produced using the Self-Enhancement Talisman would face the awkward situation of having stock with no sales. Secondly, he had to try to grasp all the rted orders from the court and other organizations andpanies in the Capital; even if it meant lowering the price a bit. After all, the cost of producing Blood Orange Fruit was reduced even more, increasing the profits considerably. The Miaodan Workshop had to secure as many orders as possible to ensure the maximization of profits from the initial wave of cheap Blood Orange Fruit. Moreover, the Miaodan Workshop already had some gardens for cultivating Spirit nts, but with the advent of the Self-Enhancement Talisman, the original scale of the gardens would no longer suffice. The Miaodan Workshop must lease or purchasend swiftly to nt more Blood Orange Trees. This step had to be taken quickly and could not wait for the talisman painting to take ce before dealing withnd transactions. Furthermore, the Miaodan Workshop needed to recruit some Talisman Masters. After the initial wave of profits from the Blood Orange Fruit, they would use the outsold nt Empowerment Talisman to help others produce Blood Orange Fruit andpensate for their own profit shortfalls. Lastly, Shen Mi sent amunication talisman to his lovely daughter. Hello? Hanhan? Shen Menghan was groggy in bed. Hello? Dad? Its the middle of the night, cant it wait until tomorrow? Shen Mi had been excited all day and hadnt noticed that it was already the middle of the night. Hanhan, how are things between you and Jiang Cheng? So-so, we just chatted oncest time and havent been in touch since. That wont do. I was hoping you could do me a favor. What is it? Get Jiang Cheng to sell me the rights to his Autonomy Talisman. Shen Menghan rubbed her eyes. Okay, Ill talk to him. How much are you prepared to spend? Two million low-grade Spirit Stones. How much!? Shen Menghans surprised voice woke up her roommate, and she quickly put on her clothes and slipped onto the balcony. Dad? Are you all right? Two million for a first-tier talisman? Isnt that a bit pricey? Shen Mi chuckled. Although Menghan had been raised in wealth from a young age, because she had never dealt with business matters, shecked understanding of many things. Jiang Chengs talisman, at two million, was an absolute bargain. He was willing to spend two million now just to give Jiang Cheng a taste of sweetness and to avoid awsuit in the future. He hoped that Jiang Cheng was a man who understands the times. Otherwise, if it came to awsuitter on, he might not get even a single Spirit Stone. Try not to exceed three million. If you can make a deal, I will allow you to go to the Tongtian Sect, and I wont push you to marry Xuechen. Zhao Xuechen, the second son of the Nation Duke from Liang Kingdom. During the rapid development of the Miaodan Workshop, it inevitably offended many local powers in the Capital, and Shen Mi had to submit a deration of fealty to the Dukes Mansion. In addition to the marriage arrangement with the Dukes Mansion, he also promised to make Shen Menghan the sole heir of the Miaodan Workshop. However, as Shen Menghan grew up, she had always been indifferent to her so-called fianc and strongly resisted the marriage arrangement. If not for her filial nature, she would have rebelled long ago. But times have changed. The Dukes Mansions influence has gradually weakened, and with the Miaodan Workshops unlimited potential because of the Self-Enhancement Talisman, the marriage arrangement should also be nullified. Really? Yes. When have I ever lied to you? Okay! Determined, Shen Menghan resolved to persuade Jiang Cheng to sell her the Autonomy Talismanfor the sake of her freedom and future ess to the Tongtian Sect! For ss 1 Counselor Cui Zhifei, there were several pieces of good and bad news before him. Good news: Jiang Cheng is a Talisman genius. Bad news: Too much of a genius, has brought trouble for the Spiritual nting Department. Good news: Jiang Cheng had previously signed a waiver agreement; if the trees were damaged due to no restraint, it was entirely the tree owners responsibility. Bad news: The situation has gotten a bit out of hand, and the Spiritual nting Department wants an exnation. Good news: Its the beginning of a new semester, the impact on the destroyed Spirit nts isnt significant, theres time to remedy. This wont dy students assignments and graduation. Bad news: More people are now eying Jiang Chengs talismans, including the head of the Spiritual nting Department, teachers from the Special Cultivation Academy Puppetry Department, and others. The head of the Spiritual nting Departments idea is to have Jiang Cheng remove all those messy martial arts and weeding functions, keeping only the core rapid growth feature to facilitate the cultivation of Spirit nts in the department. The idea from the Puppetry Department is to have Jiang Cheng remove the messy growth, fruiting, and development functions, and retain the core control, martial arts, and tactical synergy features to assist puppet masters. Cui Zhifei felt his job was extraordinarily difficult. The pressure from two major departments was all on himwhoever wanted this fortune could have it! Fortunately, however, Jiang Cheng was easy to talk to. He understood the difficulties of the counselors job and was willing to wait until he was free to develop various functional nt Autonomy Talismans for the Spiritual nting Department and Puppetry Department to research. Strange, how does this kid seem even busier than me? Hes not nning to use the Autonomy Talismans outside the school, is he? At this thought, Cui Zhifei shivered. Messing up with Autonomy Talismans within the school was one thing since the school was all insiders, and he could smooth it over, but if the Autonomy Talismans caused trouble outside the school, that was not something a small counselor like him could handle! Cui Zhifei took out amunication talisman and contacted Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng, are you nning to sell those Autonomy Talismans outside the school? Dont do anything for now, Ill get a few teachers together to look into the talisman issue, Cui Zhifei said. Jiang Cheng, Dont worry, teacher. I sent the talismans for authentication a few days ago, and President Gao from the Talisman Association is already studying them. Cui Zhifei:??? Cui Zhifei ended the call with a sense of impending storm brewing in his heart. Forty-some Autonomy Talismans had already caused unrest in the Spiritual nting Departmentif there were thousands, wouldnt that cause a beast tide and consume the Capital alive! He hurriedly contacted Director Guo Xiuyuan from their Talisman Department. It was Guo Xiuyuan who had tricked him into bing Jiang Chengs counselor. Now, everyone else could shake off any involvement, but as the primary responsible person, Director Guo couldnt simply ignore it! In themunication talisman, Cui Zhifei exaggerated the situation to Guo Xiuyuan. Guo Xiuyuan said gravely, Alright, I get it. Ill check with President Gao in a bit. Seeing that the department director had stepped in, Cui Zhifei finally felt relieved. In the Capital, there were only three fourth-order Talisman Masters among the Tongtian Sects influence, which were the heads of the Talisman Departments at Lotus University, Ling University, and the president of the Capital Talisman Master Association. Director Guo essentially represented the highestbat power of Capitals talisman masters; with him watching over, things were stable. As one of the only three fourth-order Talisman Masters of the Tongtian Sect in the Capital, Guo Xiuyuan was much higher in rank than Cui Zhifei. He knew some of the inside stories about the Fishing Talismans. So facing the new Autonomy Talismans, Guo Xiuyuan didnt dare take it lightly. This matter had to be discussed with the other fellows; if any hint of trouble was found, it needed to be crushed as soon as possible! Guo Xiuyuan immediately went to find Gao Miao and transferred the pressure he and Cui Zhifei felt onto Gao Miao. Gao Miao was half-dead with anger after being pressured by Guo Xiuyuan. Damn it, Jiang Cheng was a student from your school, and since youre inadequate, now youre pressuring me with the talismans he drew well! Is the Talisman Association my personal tyrannical domain? Dont I have to follow the rules too? After Guo Xiuyuan left, Gao Miao took a moment topose himself, ready to dive back into work. Then he found a talisman very simr to the nt Autonomy Talisman, named nt Empowerment Talisman, in the list of authenticated talismans recently updated by the Lin Sect. Not only were the names simr, but the structure and effects were strikingly simr as well. It seemed like the Autonomy Talisman had just been renamed to the Empowerment Talisman. Gao Miao instantly felt a major problem looming and immediately contacted President Zeng Shian of the Lin Sects Talisman Master Association. President Zeng, did you authenticate a nt Empowerment Talisman a few days ago? Gao Miao asked. Zeng Shian, having not heard of this talisman, flipped through thetest list of talisman authentications and found the record. Yes, what about it? Is President Gao also interested in our associations talisman master? Zeng Shian asked. Gao Miao responded, That talisman was drawn by a student from the Talisman Department of Lotus University. Ill exin moreter, but in short, youd better review it again now! Zeng Shian wondered, Lotus University student? Shouldnt he go to your association for authentication? He did, and we havent passed him yet. That Empowerment Talisman of yours is probably a rebranded talisman. Be careful, you cant take this lightly, replied Gao Miao. Hearing this, Zeng Shians eyebrows furrowed. He thought to himself that it had been a while since hest saw Gao Miao, who had suddenly be so impulsive? What do you mean our Empowerment Talisman is just a rebranded talisman? As if only your associations talisman masters can produce good talismans and the rest of us can only copy, right? We are all associations under the Immortal Sect and fourth-order Talisman Masters. Dont we know to be vignt? Do you need to tell us to be careful? Are you teaching me how to do my job? Zeng Shian hung up on Gao Miaosmunication talisman. Out of the blue, a first-order talisman causing such fussI think the people from Tongtian Sect have all gone mad from drawing talismans. Master Shen, what do you think of this mountain top? A real estate agent enthusiastically introduced thend beneath their feet to Shen Mi. This ce is backed by mountains and water, with fertilendit was previously reserved for developing royal gardens. But as you know, the Liang Kingdoms economy is so-so, and the court is short on money. These sorts of face-saving but costly projects have been put on hold. Shen Mi had a fair understanding of geomancy and, surveying the surroundings, found that the location was indeed excellent, a geomantic treasure. The only w Shen Mi looked towards the distance and sawrge buildings partially hidden among the mountains and forests. The w was that it was too close to the royal tombs. While the geomancy was favorable, the royal tombs were still burial grounds, which were not considered auspicious. Seeing Shen Mis hesitation, the estate agent immediately cut to the chase with a hefty price. If youre really interested in this ce, I can offer a t rate100,000 Spirit Stones for a three-year lease. Shen Mi stopped hesitating;nd around the Capital was generally expensive, and it was hard to find a more suitable ce for nting Blood Orange Trees. Deal. Chapter 169 - 166 Jiang Cheng Doesn’t Know What’s Good for Him Chapter 169: Chapter 166 Jiang Cheng Doesnt Know Whats Good for Him Because Lotus University didnt have military training, students could only get to know each other in everyday life. Toward the end of October was generally when ss officers were confirmed and when the student council recruited new members. Jiang Cheng, free from any official duties, had no rtion to the ss officers. But the student council recruitment did involve him somewhat. The student council at Lotus University was usuallyposed of the most outstanding students from each department. Leaving aside the future potential of student council members, the council itself served as an excellent cross-specialty and inter-departmentalmunication tform. Moreover, the student council indeed had some resources and power, and it was also a bonus forter applications to Immortal Sects, so the whole student council registration scene was very lively. It was even more intense than the senior year job fairs in the autumn. The four roommates from dorm 316 also arrived at the student council registration site, located on one floor of the teaching building. Each department of the student council had its name posted on various ssrooms of the floor. At the entrance of each ssroom were upperssmen responsible for registration. New students who wanted to join the student council would sign up at the door and then wait for their number to be called for the interview. The interview process was usually divided into preliminary and secondary rounds. The preliminary results were announced immediately to not give candidates false hope. A more targeted interview was conducted several dayster for the secondary round, and upon passing, one could join the student council. Hong Cai, which department are you nning to apply for? Ding Guangming asked, looking at the bustling interview scene. Zhu Hongcai said confidently, Of course the Public Rtions Department. Dont you know there are lots of beauties there? Ding Guangming said enviously, Hong Cai, how do you know so much? Zhu Hongcai said even more confidently, Hmph, Cheng told me all about it. How about you, Junsheng? Song Junsheng wasnt interested in the Public Rtions Department. Apart from beauties, there was basically nothing worth signing up for in that department. I n to go to the External Rtions Department to improve mymunication skills. Guangming, which department are you thinking about? Ding Guangming scratched his head, undecided, and could only look to Jiang Cheng for advice. Cheng, which department are you signing up for? Jiang Cheng shook his head and said, Im not signing up; Im waiting for someone here. Oh, then Ill think about it some more. Zhu Hongcai and Song Junsheng went to sign up and then attended their interviews. Song Junshengs side went smoothly, and he came back soon after, announcing that he passed the preliminary round and would attend the External Rtions Department secondary interview in a few days. On the other hand, Zhu Hongcai didnt do too well. Damn! I didnt pass the Public Rtions Departments preliminary! But I discovered a secret. What secret? That female Pill Master we met in the libraryst time, shes actually the head of the student councils Public Rtions Department! Really? Why would I lie to you? Although I didnt pass, I must say, there really are a lot of beauties in the Public Rtions Department. Even Chengs best friend is inside. Thats Jiang Chengs fellow townsman. Jiang Cheng nodded, acknowledging Yue Linger was indeed his fellow townsman. After this conversation, the four guys from dorm 316 stood there, staring nkly at each other. Zhu Hongcai asked, Why arent you two leaving? Ding Guangming continued scratching his head: I still cant decide which department to apply for. Jiang Cheng repeated, Im waiting for someone here. Waiting for someone? Could it be Zhu Hongcai had a bad feeling. It wasnt just the male students from Talisman ss 1 who came to join the student council recruitment; the female students did as well. From dorm 512, three female cultivators huddled together, eagerly sharing their experiences. Wang Min said excitedly, Wow, I just interviewed with the External Rtions Department, and there was this super handsome upperssman there! Sun Qiaoqiaos eyes shone: How handsome? How handsome? Its like, like, Wang Min thought for a moment and said, like a cool version of Jiang Cheng youve seen, with thick brows, long eyes, and even the skin is so white, super handsome! Sun Qiaoqiao tried to imagine but couldnt quite figure out how handsome he could be. But since he was a cool version of Jiang Cheng, she guessed he must be not too far off. At that moment, Qiu Yue pointed to a nearby spot: Hey, isnt that Jiang Cheng over there? They all looked and saw that it was indeed him. It was mainly Jiang Chengs ability to remain calm,posed, and unppable, even amidst the vast crowds, which stood out overly and made it difficult to not notice him. The guys next to Jiang Cheng, arent they our ssmates? It seems so, theres Song Junsheng, Ding Guangming, plus another guy, I forgot his name. Me too, never mind, hes not important. Hey, its almost mealtime, do you guys want to arrange a get-together with their dorm? Yes, definitely! Jiang Cheng and Song Junsheng from their dorm are quite nice. Yeah, didnt Yuan Yuan ask Jiang Cheng for his contact info before? I think she quite likes him. Oh right, wheres Yuan Yuan? She just went to interview with the Public Rtions Department, she hasnte out yet, oh, here shees! Yuan Yuan saw her roommates waving and immediately jogged over. How did it go? Yuan Yuan shook her head and said, I barely passed the preliminary, the secondary will be tough. The uppersswomen have such a strong presence, I was too scared to speak. Wang Min said, Its that scary? My External Rtions interview was pretty good. Sun Qiaoqiao, who came out earlier than Yuan Yuan, said, Im not lying to you, the Public Rtions uppersswomen are pretty but a bit serious, kind of intimidating. They remind me of our high school head teacher. Having said that, Sun Qiaoqiao added, Forget it, its all over now. Getting together with them is whats most important right now. Im starving. Yuan Yuan asked, Who? What get-together? Then she was dragged by her roommates to the front of dorm 316. Sun Qiaoqiao: Hey, Jiang Cheng. As soon as Jiang Cheng saw it was a ssmate, he smiled and said, Hey there. Sun Qiaoqiao continued, Do you guys have some timeter? Our two dorms could go out for a meal together, how about it? When Zhu Hongcai heard there was a chance to dine with the girls, he immediately perked up. He silently pulled out the restaurant membership card he had purchased, holding it in his hand without drawing attention. Just as Zhu Hongcai was about to show off his strength and unt a little, Jiang Cheng said, Sorry, I have something to doter and probably cant join you for the meal. Unwilling to give up, Sun Qiaoqiao pulled Yuan Yuan to her side and said, Yuan Yuan is going too. She was even asking for your contact information before. Are you really not going toe? Zhu Hongcai thought to himself: Of course, we should go. The hint couldnt be more obvious; surely nobody would refuse, right? Jiang Cheng remained firm, shaking his head and saying, Sorry, I really have something to do. Yuan Yuan also said, Lets not trouble Jiang Cheng anymore. Sun Qiaoqiao, still not convinced, said, Jiang Cheng, cant your thing be postponed? Its so rare for us to take the initiative to ask you guys out. Before Jiang Cheng could reply, a voice that was all too familiar to both Sun Qiaoqiao and Yuan Yuan suddenly rang in their ears. Sorry, I also managed to invite him only after great difficulty, Shen Menghan said with a smile. Upon seeing Shen Menghan, Sun Qiaoqiao exploded with an expletive: F*ck! The recently interviewed Yuan Yuan was also stunned. She remembered this senior vividlythe Student Unions Publicity Department head, who maintained an indifferent expression throughout the interview, posed tricky and venomous questions, a senior to be feared. But now, this senior was actually smiling, and she smiled rather tenderly at that. She was apletely different person from the one at the interviews. With her good looks that were right on the money, being a Department Beauty level within the Alchemy Department, coupled with her seniority and role as the head of the Publicity Departmentdouble buffs, her appearance instantly oppressed all the girls from Talisman Drawing ss 1 from raising their heads. Even the previously assertive Sun Qiaoqiao couldnt dare to so much as breathe heavily in front of Shen Menghan. Jiang Cheng, shall we go? Shen Menghan asked with a gentle tone. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Ill go ahead with the senior. Zhu Hongcai felt like his heart was racing. As soon as he heard Jiang Cheng and the others, he had a bad feeling. But he never expected that, no matter how cautious and prepared he was, he would still get outdone by Jiang Cheng! Ding Guangming watched Jiang Cheng and Shen Menghans retreating figures, and sighed, Cheng is so impressive, managing to get a meal with the senior. He didnt invite her; it was Shen Menghan who took the initiative to invite him, Yue Linger said, appearing beside them and sternly correcting Ding Guangmings mistake. Ding Guangming, Song Junsheng, and Yue Linger all belonged to the Talisman Drawing Society. Ding Guangming asked, Then what about you now, Senior Yue? Yue Linger puffed out her chest slightly, with a hint of showing off, Jiang Cheng didnt invite Shen Menghan, but he invited me. Im off to dine with him; see you next time. The girls from Talisman Drawing ss 1 were at a loss for words throughout the entire encounter. Neither Shen nor Yue were within their reach. Zhu Hongcai, holding back tears: Jiang Cheng, please stop it! Are you ever going to let up?! With Jiang Cheng gone, Ding Guangming unreliable, and Zhu Hongcai numbed, the girls were still immersed in shock. The only one still normal, Song Junsheng, said, So, are we still going to eat together, or should we just forget it? Zhu Hongcai snapped out of it and said, How can we forget it? I, for one The girls interrupted one after another, Yeah, without Jiang Cheng, lets just not. Lets forget it, well socialize some other time. Sun Qiaoqiao said, Lets exchange contact information. We can arrange another time next time. By the way, what was your name again? Let me note it down. Zhu Hongcai: ? Shen Menghan inviting Jiang Cheng out had nothing to do with wanting to eat, but rather, she wanted to discuss the price of the nt Autonomy Talisman with him. As the main force in Jiang Chengs workshop, Yue Linger naturally also had the right to join in the discussion. Junior Jiang Cheng, three million Low-grade Spirit Stones is the highest price I can offer, Shen Menghan said earnestly. She wanted to finalize the deal from the bottom of her heart in order to cancel her engagement agreement. So she didnt y any games with Jiang Cheng and directly showed her utmost sincerity. However, Jiang Chengs response was unexpectedly a shake of his head. No, thats too little. Then, junior, how much do you think would be a fair price? she asked. Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and said, Thirty million. Jiang Cheng wasnt just throwing out a random number. Thirty million Low-grade Spirit Stones was exactly the price for the twenty thousand units demanded after He received an order for Qi Blood Pills. Thirty million? Shen Menghan couldnt believe her ears. Thirty million for a first-grade Talismanwas Jiang Cheng out of his mind? Thirty million, Jiang Cheng nodded. Junior, we cant negotiate like this with your price, she said. Then lets not negotiate, Yue Linger interjected. Were not desperate to sell the talisman. Shen Menghan, anxious, said, If its four million, I can still try to discuss it with my father. Jiang Cheng, four millionwont you reconsider? Jiang Cheng smiled, Sorry, senior; four million is too far from our expected price. Shen Menghan bit her lip, looking unwillingly at the departing Jiang Cheng. If Jiang Cheng wouldnt sell the talisman, what would she do about her marriage engagement? With Miaodan Workshop at its peak, the Dukes Mansion would definitely not take the initiative to call off the engagement. Only if one day, the grand Miaodan Workshop copsed suddenly, turning into fish on the chopping board for others to devour,. Only then there might be a chance for the Dukes Mansion to take the initiative to call off the engagement and sever ties with Miaodan Workshop. But how could that possibly happen? Chapter 170 - 167 Outlaw Madman Miaodan Workshop Chapter 170: Chapter 167 Ouw Madman Miaodan Workshop Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store, Jiang Cheng stared at the Qi Blood Pills in front of him, deep in thought. Although Jiang Cheng was not an Alchemist, as a Cultivator, he had definitely consumed and used Elixirs before. Some basic abilities to distinguish the quality of Elixirs were certainly notcking in him. The Qi Blood Pills in front of him had a very highpletion degree; if one were to ssify them using the Talisman quality levels: Perfect, Excellent, Fine, Ordinary, they would at least be of Excellent quality. Our Qi Blood Pills didnt make the cut? asked Jiang Cheng. Bai Xiaohe nodded. The reason? If such good Elixirs cant be selected, the Weapon Department should give us an exnation, right? Bai Xiaohe looked at Jiang Cheng cautiously and said, They said the Elixirs are good, but the Miaodan Workshop offered a lower price. Jiang Cheng, I feel that our Elixirs being rejected is not really about the Elixirs. Its mainly because we did not spend more Spirit Stones. Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, You mean, Miaodan Workshop secured the order through bribing? Bai Xiaohe nodded again and again: Although I dont have direct evidence, this is almost certainly the case. Instead of reacting with impotent fury like an ordinary person after losing the order due to the opponents foul y, Jiang Cheng remainedpletely unangered. After a while, Jiang Cheng chuckled in self-mockery, The of Heaven is wide. Miaodan Workshop has such disdain for thew and acts so recklessly, do they not fear that their improper position will backfire on them? In a soft voice, Bai Xiaohe said, Ive heard that Miaodan Workshop has a very strong backing. Jiang Chengughed, He, the strongest backing one can have is justice, righteousness, and the support of the people. Miaodan Workshop has none of these three, and wont be able to leap about for much longer. He really wanted to say that she hoped that was the case. But looking at the present situation, it was clear that those who would not be able to leap about for much longer were them, Tongbao Pavilion. Moreover, He felt that if justice, righteousness, and the support of the people were really effective, then the one to fall first should not be Miaodan Workshop, but the Emperor of Liang. Forcing himself on peasant girls, treating lives like grass, harsh and tyrannical governance The Emperor of Liang had done too many bad things. And now, the Emperor of Liang was still alive and well. Miaodan Workshop would probably not be their turn, right? The pce of Great Liang. Several women, dressed in sumptuous pce attire, knelt en masse in front of the Emperors sleeping chamber. Your concubines beg Your Majesty to stand up for us! Please, Your Majesty, intervene! After a moment, the Emperors sleeping chamber emitted a deep yet strong voice. Get lost! The leading beauty in pce dress persistently pleaded, Your Majesty! Pleasee out and see your concubine! It has been half a month since your concubinest saw Your Majesty. The deep voice changed its tone, My love, I am tired. I will visit you tomorrow, return to your pce for now. Only then did the beauty in pce dress slowly rise and, leading her sisters, left the entrance of the sleeping chamber. Inside the chamber, several old eunuchs were guarding the empty pce, staring nkly at each other. The eunuch who had just spoken said, What are you all staring at me for? One eunuch asked, Feels good, doesnt it? The speaking eunuch touched his nose and said, Indeed, it is somewhat satisfying. Another eunuch, who appeared to hold a higher status, said sternly, Everyone, be serious. Our ancestor tasked us with staying here to deal with outsiders, not to mock the concubines! You just now, that was poorly done, too many ws. The Emperor has been weak for many years, how could he speak with such vitality? Next time let me do it. The other eunuchs: The changes in the pce naturally did not escape the ears and eyes of Prime Minister Qin Wentao of the Cab. Its just that the current state of the Emperor of Liang is in a kind of quantum superposition of multiple possibilities. The present Cab only knows that the Emperor of Liang is not making public appearances, but there are many possible reasons for this. He might be seriously ill, he might be in seclusion practicing perverse cultivation, or he might even be dead. Although it sounds quite malicious to hope for someones death, the death of the Emperor of Liang would be beneficial to almost everyone, especially the Cab that has always been fettered by the imperial power. Prime Minister, Consort Li sent a message that she heard the Emperors voice. But she still did not see him, said a subordinate. I know, responded Qin Wentao. Having dismissed his subordinate, Qin Wentao paced back and forth by the window with his hands behind his back. Now, he had to think of a way to force the Emperor of Liang to show himself. No matter what tricks are used in the pce, as long as the Emperor of Liang shows up, whether alive, dead, sick, or possessed, everything will be settled. Qin Wentao nced outside the window, thinking that this time during the golden autumn was an excellent day for ancestor worship. He raised his hand, took out some paper, picked up his brush, and a Prayer for Ancestor Worship quietly took shape under Qin Wentaos hand. Song Junshengs home was in the Capital, which made it especially convenient for him to return. So sometimes, on a whim, he would go home to stay. On this Saturday, when Song Junsheng got home, he saw his cousin Song Junqi stealthily staring at a flowerpot. Cousin, are you studying the soil? Song Junqi was startled, but seeing that it was his cousin Song Junsheng, he immediately rxed. Oh, its Junsheng, no, Im nting a tree. Song Junsheng was full of question marks, nting a tree? Youre staring at it, could it be youre cheering on the seed? Song Junqi, putting his arm around Song Junshengs shoulder, looked around to make sure no one was nearby, and then said, Junsheng, let me tell you something, but you mustnt tell anyone. Our familys shop took an order recently, its a Talisman that can make nts grow rapidly, and it can also perform acrobatics, sweep floors, cook meals, and even pick up children. Song Junsheng: Are you sure youre not talking about your mom? Tsk, what are you saying? Im not joking. Here, I took this from the shop, a gift for you. Song Junqi handed Song Junsheng a talisman. Song Junsheng received the talisman, finding it somewhat familiar, and said, Cousin, is the tree youre growing a Blood Orange Fruit tree? Ah? How did you know? Does Lotus Universitys Talisman Department teach fortune-telling now? Song Junsheng thought of Jiang Cheng and said with a hint of show-off, This nt Autonomy Talisman was drawn by my roommate. What, did he ce an order at our familys shop? What nt Autonomy Talisman? Its a nt Empowerment Talisman! And it wasnt your roommate who ced the order, it was the Miaodan Workshop. The Shen Familys Miaodan Workshop. Song Junsheng was stunned; he clearly remembered that the talisman Jiang Cheng was recently working on was indeed the nt Autonomy Talisman. He had even visited the Spirit nt Garden to see the shabby little fruit tree. How had it turned into a nt Empowerment Talisman, and what was its connection to the Miaodan Workshop? Song Junsheng sensed something was amiss, so he found a secluded spot and immediately sent Jiang Cheng a message using an Audio Talisman. Hello? Hey, Jiang Cheng, is the talisman youve been working on called the nt Autonomy Talisman? Right. Have you partnered with the Miaodan Workshop? Eh, they came to see me, but I refused. Whats up? Song Junsheng felt a sense of foreboding. Jiang Cheng, our familys Talisman Shop recently took an urgent order from the Miaodan Workshop. They provided the design blueprint and requested the production of a talisman called nt Empowerment Talisman. I looked at the sample, and it seems very simr to your Autonomy Talisman. However, due to the procurement contract, I cant provide you with any evidence. Its best you check with the Miaodan Workshop again to see if theres been some misunderstanding. The other end of the message fell silent, and Song Junsheng added, Hello? Jiang Cheng, are you listening? Jiang Chengs voice was calm butced with doubt, Hmm, Im listening. If I remember correctly, exploiting someone elses talisman for profit is a serious illegal act, isnt it? Of course. Then its odd. Is the Miaodan Workshop not afraid of breaking thew? Ive heard that their Master Shen has quite thework within the court. For minor legal offenses, the Miaodan Workshop probably doesnt care at all. Jiang Cheng understood what Song Junsheng meant. I get it, you mean to say, just make themmit an extraordinary crime, right? Song Junsheng was bewildered. No, what I mean is dont be rash, the Miaodan Workshop has considerable influence. Even if they used your talisman, dont confront them head-on. Jiang Cheng found it odd, Of course, I wont confront them head-on. They are the ones breaking thew, not me. Im not in a hurry. Upon hearing Jiang Chengs words, Song Junsheng felt uneasy. Why did he have the impression that Jiang Cheng seemed nonchnt, as though he had already anticipated the Miaodan Workshop would face significant losses? After ending themunication with Song Junsheng, Jiang Cheng immediately called Shen Menghan. Hello? Shen. Jiang Cheng? Are you ready to sell talismans? No, I would like to talk to your father. Could you help us schedule a time? Two hourster, Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger, led by Shen Menghan, arrived at the Shen Residence. At this time in the Shen Residence, the Workshop Master Shen Mi and the Talisman Gangster Wang Xiaoqiu had been waiting for Jiang Cheng for quite a while. Dad, Jiang Cheng is here, Shen Menghan said. Shen Mi greeted him with a smile, expressing approval, Master Jiang indeed has an impressive bearing. Wang Xiaoqiu followed with a sarcasticment, Indeed, not only is he handsome, but his talismans are also very beautiful and useful. I like them a lot. Hahaha. Yue Linger clenched her hands tightly. The people from the Miaodan Workshop were truly outrageous! It was bad enough that they stole Jiang Chengs talismans, but they didnt even show a hint of remorse and even mocked him to his face! How could these talisman thieves be so shameless? Facing Wang Xiaoqius mockery, Jiang Cheng acted as if he didnt understand and responded with a casual smile, Thank you for thepliment, Senior. Wang Xiaoqiu initially wanted to see Jiang Cheng panicking like that impatient female Talisman Master, but Jiang Chengs calm demeanor truly disappointed him. It was like being nipped by a dog and, instead of getting angry, responding indulgently, Havent had your meal? Please bite harder. It feels like massage. He felt frustrated by Jiang Cheng. Sitting solemnly in the center, Shen Mi teased with a smile, Jiang Cheng, I had Hanhan talk to you before. She offered four million low-grade Spirit Stones, and you were still not satisfied. Today, you came to us personally, and we at the Miaodan Workshop want to show respect to Lotus University. Six millionif youre willing to sell the talisman, you can take the money and leave now. With a sweep of Shen Mis sleeve, six top-grade Spirit Stones swirling with thick Spiritual Energy appeared before Jiang Cheng. Yue Linger felt a flicker of temptation upon seeing the Spirit Stones. It was mainly because the Qi Blood Pill order from Tongbao Pavilion was gone, and she and Jiang Cheng had lost their most stable talisman order. Even if they relied on selling the Autonomy Talismans, it would be difficult to reach six millionter on. Getting six million all at once now might also be a decent oue. At least it wouldnt end with nothing. Jiang Cheng didnt even nce at Shen Mis Spirit Stones. He didnte to the Shen Residence to discuss cooperation; he was there to urge the Miaodan Workshop to back off while they could. Senior Shen, Id like to ask about the Empowerment Talisman. I have some friends in the Capitals talisman industry. They told me that recently, a kind of Empowerment Talisman thats almost identical to my Autonomy Talisman appeared on the market. Shen Mi looked at Wang Xiaoqiu, fearing making a slip, he preferred not to answer. Wang Xiaoqiu sneered, Jiang Cheng, you seem to be fishing for answers, arent you? Let me guess, did you bring an Audio Talisman? Thinking that if you record our conversation, you can prove the connection between the Empowerment and Autonomy Talismans, and then sue and win against us? Let me tell you, its pointless, I will not give you that chance! While Wang Xiaoqiu raged in the void, Jiang Cheng could only respond with a helpless smile. Senior, I just wanted to kindly remind you that my talismans are easy to get banned. If you n on making counterfeits, please be sure to copy my talisman selling contract as well. Just counterfeiting the talisman and not the contract is a sure way to run into trouble. Chapter 171 - 168 Plants vs. Zombies Chapter 171: Chapter 168 nts vs. Zombies What does that mean? Shen Mi obviously didnt understand the words of Jiang Cheng. A normal person whose talismans were pirated would be furious, gather evidence, or negotiate in person. But this young man named Jiang Cheng, not only did not fight for the rights of his talismans, but specially visited to kindly remind. Shen Mi had rolled in the bureaucratic andmercial spheres of the Capital for more than two hundred years, iming to have seen countless people was not an exaggeration, but he had never seen someone handle things like Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng stood up, ready to leave, but before he left, he turned to Shen Menghan and said, Shen, your father probably wont believe my words, but I am serious. Shen Menghan wasnt foolish, although Shen Mi did not make it explicit, she could see that her father must have giarized the talismans Jiang Cheng had invented. Moreover, she seemed to have helped her father steal Jiang Chengs talismans without knowing it. Shen Menghans emotions were extremelyplicated at the moment, she was unsure whether she should stand by kin or principle, or by principle rather than kin. Jiang Cheng, why dont you just keep the six million, urged Shen Menghan. If Jiang Cheng could take the six million, she would feel much better about it. Jiang Cheng shook his head and said, Shen, as for the talisman giarism, I believe you were probably unaware. So were still more or less friends, especially since you have helped me before, and I have always remembered that. However, today I really just came to warn your father, theres still time if he stops now. After finishing his words, Jiang Cheng greeted Shen Mi and Wang Xiaoqiu, then left. Yue Linger took a deep look at Shen Menghan before she left. She could have said more, but she chose to keep silent. Others might not understand Jiang Chengs gentle reminder, but as someone who had been involved in the Fishing Talisman incident from start to finish, Yue Linger understood all too well. Some people might think that Jiang Cheng was just a bit strange in his approach to creating talismans, nothing too impressive. How powerful could a rank one talisman be? Any rank two Talisman Master could modify it or solve it at will, whats so impressive about that? Is this the protagonist of the novel? Too weak, no sense of identification. Those who think that way truly dont understand Jiang Cheng. The most formidable thing about Jiang Cheng was not his ability to create talismans. It was his despair-inducing,w-abiding consciousness. As the Fishing Talisman incident escted, it not only dragged in the Aquatic Tribe and the Sea Tribe, but also made the Liang Kingdom and the Tongtian Sect like ants on a hot pan, incredibly anxious. Countless high-level Cultivators were led around by the nose by Jiang Chengs Fishing Talismans. In the end, those who were dismissed were dismissed, those who were scolded were scolded, and those who were punished were punished. The only true culprit, the inventor of the Fishing Talisman Jiang Cheng, was left untouched. The Court and the Tongtian Sectbed through thews and couldnt find the slightest fault with him. Jiang Chengs talismans were very powerful. But these powerful talismans could only be controlled by Jiang Cheng himself. If others dared to covet them, they would likely not even be able to keep their whole corpse. Because theycked Jiang Chengs talent to embody thew and rules and still do as he pleased. Yue Linger finally understood why Jiang Cheng had never worried after learning that his talismans had been giarized. Because there was simply nothing to worry about. Letting fruit trees roam without a leash, the trees themselves would bite the untouchable people from Miaodan Workshop. In a world where the Five Great Immortal Sects work together to maintain order, those who do not respect the rules only get bitten back by them. After Jiang Cheng left, the atmosphere in the Shen Residence became very tense. Shen Menghan couldnt lose her temper in front of Jiang Cheng, but now that he was gone, she had nothing to worry about. Dad! When you asked me to inquire about the talismans from Jiang Cheng, was it for the purpose of pirating the nt Autonomy Talisman? Shen Mi rubbed his temples and said, Hanhan, Dad didnt pirate anything, Dad used your Uncle Wangs Self-Enhancement Talisman. Shen Menghan wasnt a fool, and she directly said, Dont think that I dont know you two are in this together! Shen Mi no longer pretended, Hanhan, Jiang Cheng sells a talisman for fifteen hundred, he never really wanted to cooperate properly with Dads Miaodan Workshop. Dad already gave him six million, and he was ungrateful. Is that Dads fault? Jiang Cheng is too greedy, his appetite is too big, Dad cant satisfy him. The Self-Enhancement Talisman was only forced out by Jiang Cheng, Dad had no choice. Shen Menghan choked out, But you cant giarize Jiang Cheng! He also worked hard to research it. Shen Mi ran out of nice things to say and bluntly stated, Then go side with Jiang Cheng and sue Dad at the government office. Dad deserves to go to prison for this family, for you. Shen Menghan gritted her teeth and said, I will sue, just wait! Watching Shen Menghans retreating back, Wang Xiaoqiu got a bit panicked. Master Shen, your daughter, she wont Shen Mi pressed his palm and said, She wont, I know exactly what kind of person Hanhan is. Cold on the outside but warm on the inside, indecisive, a girls mentality is all. She made a bigger fuss in the past when she was forced to marry, remember? What happened in the end? If she had the heart to leave me and her mother, she would have run away from home a long time ago. Right now, she is probably hiding somewhere crying, shell be alright in a while. However, what Jiang Cheng said earlier, it makes me a bit concerned, Shen Mi looked at Wang Xiaoqiu, What do you think he meant by that? Wang Xiaoqiu, who had fought countless talismanwsuits, didnt take a kid like Jiang Cheng seriously at all. What could he mean? He knows he cant win, so hes just dropping a harsh line. Shen Mi nodded, he also felt that Jiang Cheng was just saving face, saying a few iprehensible things to salvage his honor. In this deceitful world, how could there possibly be someone who would actually warn their opponent? Miaodan Workshop giarized Jiang Chengs talismans, Jiang Cheng not taking his revenge on them would already make him a saint, would he really kindly warn Miaodan Workshop? Chapter 172 - 168 Plants vs. Zombies_2 Chapter 172: Chapter 168 nts vs. Zombies_2 This talk is for the ghosts, even ghosts wouldugh themselves back to life. Two days after the trip to the Shen Residence, Shen Menghan took the initiative to find Jiang Cheng again. In front of Jiang Cheng, she took out two storage bags. Jiang, this bag contains six top-grade Spirit Stones, and this one holds twenty Foundation Establishment Pills, along with some other elixirs useful for Foundation Establishment. Take them. Jiang Cheng sensed Shen Menghans ninth level Qi cultivation, then nced at the storage bag filled with elixirs. Sister Shen, these elixirs, they were meant for your own Foundation Establishment, werent they? I wont be establishing my foundation just yet. The pills are of no use to me. You take them, and if you cant use them all, you can sell them for money. I dont want them. Jiang Cheng, stop dreaming about your nt Autonomy Talisman. I know my father better than you do. He wont change his mind. Take this money so at least you havent been busy for nothing. Sister Shen, have you ever heard this saying, Sess does not have toe to me, but my efforts will not be in vain. Although the nt Autonomy Talisman might not bring me direct benefits, its advent will still change many things, and my efforts wont be wasted. Shen Menghan frowned, unable to think of anything more valuable than six million low-grade Spirit Stonesbined with twenty Foundation Establishment Pills. How about this, Sister Shen, if you really want to help me out, then help me keep an eye on the promising young Pill Masters at the Miaodan Workshop, along with some of the more important certified pills, especially those rted to female cultivators, such as skin whitening, beauty treatments, slimming, body sculpting, beauty preserving, and the like. The Miaodan Workshop, as an old-time alchemist shop in the Capital, had been handed down through several generations, and while the umted patents for elixirs were not incredibly numerous, there were still quite a few, with no shortage of beauty-rted ones. But Shen Menghan couldnt understand why Jiang Cheng would ask her to take note of these things. Could a few young Pill Masters, along with a host of beauty patents, really be worth more than six million low-grade Spirit Stones? What are you nning to do? Shen Menghan asked. Jiang Cheng smiled and said, I wont tell you just yet, but when the timees, you wille looking for me. Shen Menghan: Riddle-talking, be damned! Under the full st of the Talisman Shops work in the Capital, the nt Empowerment Talisman custom-ordered by the Miaodan Workshop was growing at an exponential rate. In order to maximize the production of the Blood Orange Fruit, the Miaodan Workshop resolutely adopted a method of nting while producing. The first day, the first batch of five thousand Blood Orange Tree saplings, equipped with Self-Enhancement Talismans, was arranged in ce. The second day, the second batch of five thousand Blood Orange Tree saplings, equipped with Self-Enhancement Talismans, was arranged in ce. The third day, the third batch of ten thousand Blood Orange Tree saplings, equipped with Self-Enhancement Talismans, was arranged in ce. Although the saplings and talismans were in ce, nting them one by one was still quite troublesome. Even with Immortal Law to help, the task was not easy. Fortunately, the Miaodan Workshop was very generous this time, offering substantial rewards, so that many nting cultivators were even willing to work overnight for the Workshop. Old Zhang, why is one of the trees you nted crooked? Which one is crooked? Ive always nted them this way, dont just say anything without seeing. nting trees is hard. You should look for your own mistakes. The two teased each other a bit and continued to work with their heads down. Two hourster, when they looked up again, they realized not a single tree was straight. Could our tree nting skills be that bad? It cant be that the trees grew legs and walked crooked on their own, right? Shit, Old Zhang, look at the trees! Making a mountain out of a molehillnot just a shit! Under the silent moonlight in the outskirts of the Capital, the hills full of Blood Orange Trees suddenly stood up and moved locations, either left or right by one spot. The two tree-nting cultivators dared not breathe too heavily. Old Zhang, what do we do? How about we run? Lets go! Ill count one, two, three. One, three! Damn it! Wait for me! Qi cultivation practitioners couldnt fly, so the two could only run wildly up the mountain. The result was obvious, for having knocked down a few newly nted fruit trees, the two instantly became thieves attempting to steal saplings. In their field of vision, endless Blood Orange Trees stood up, holding kitchen knives, in a menacing stance. The two cultivators were sweating profusely, Respected Trees, lets talk this out. The extraordinarily agile Blood Orange Trees effortlessly captured the two thieves. Due to the high nting density of the Blood Orange Trees within the grounds of the Miaodan Workshop, coupled with the stronger effect of the nt Autonomy Talisman, the soils nutrients were drained by the tens of thousands of Blood Orange Trees in less than one night. To replenish nutrients, the Blood Orange Trees started weeding ording to Jiang Chengs preset instructions. First were the short grasses on the ground. Then the medium height grasses on the ground. Then the grasses as thick as ones arm. And then the grasses that looked much likerge trees. The forest around the grounds of the Miaodan Workshop was disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye. Among the Emperor of Liangs few remaining military rights, the Mausoleum Guard Squad dedicated to the imperial tomb was one of them. However, due to the long-standing peace and their location within the Capital, center of the Liang Kingdom, the mostmon task of the Mausoleum Guard Squad was cleaning the mausoleum. Beyond that, there was also the symbolic standing guard. Early in the morning, two soldiers yawning came to the edge of the mausoleum to change the guard. Stop sleeping, stop sleeping, time to change the guard! Yawn, alright, Im going to take a leak. Wait for me a bit. A quarter of an hourter. Guoping, does your constipation also affect your peeing? The soldier arrived at the bushes and saw Guoping pinned to the ground and a row of strange trees holding kitchen knives. The soldiers Adams apple bobbed, hesitated for three and one-third seconds, then turned and ran! Tree monsters areing! Tree monsters areing! With the soldiers shouts, rms instantly rang throughout the entire mausoleum. More than two hundred soldiers from the Mausoleum Guard Squad rushed over from all directions. Then, they were faced with what seemed like an endless army of strange trees, each holding a kitchen knife. The individual attack power of the strange trees wasnt high, but what was odd about these trees was that they were exceptionally good at working together, using various tactics, and were sly and despicable! Some trees would even y dead on the spot. The soldiers thought they had killed the trees and let down their guard. But after a while, the dead trees would suddenly rise up,unching a shameless sneak attack! A fair number of the guards were thus hit and taken captive by the trees. Damn! What on earth are these trees! Boss! Hurry up and think of something! The captain of the Mausoleum Guard Squad was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Although he could overpower all the trees, the despicable and shameless trees would use the captured soldiers as hostages, making it impossible for him to exert his full strength. Dont be afraid! Ive already contacted our allies. For now, lets retreat into the mausoleum. Hold firm, and we will find a way! PS: For those who havent joined the group, you can join the readers group through the link in the books introduction. (Avable only on Qidian tform) There will be red envelopes given out on New Years Eve in the readers group. (200 RMB, 100 packets) Chapter 173 - 169: Bravery Laced with Foolishness (Happy New Year) Chapter 173: Chapter 169: Bravery Laced with Foolishness (Happy New Year) The Mausoleum Guard Squad, which originally numbered over two hundred, had been decimated in a fierce encounter with the Fruit Tree Army. Over a hundred had been captured, leaving fewer than a hundred remaining. Facing the seemingly endless Fruit Tree Army, capable of alternating resistance tactics, the Guard Squad knew they were outmatched and were forced to shift their strategy, starting to attack towards the rear. During the squads hasty retreat, another forty to fifty men were captured by the trees for not running fast enough. Finally, at the entrance to the forehall of the royal mausoleum, the Mausoleum Guard Squad did another headcount and discovered that they had only forty to fifty men left. Fortunately, the squad leader was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, able to temporarily erect a defensive barrier to prevent the Fruit Trees from also rushing into the mausoleum. Having secured temporary safety, not a single face among the squad members showed any sign of rxation. Each time they recalled the recent battle with the Fruit Trees, they felt a chill down their spine. If the Fruit Trees had been out for blood, rather than capturing them, the number of survivors would have been even less, and the entire royal mausoleum would have run red with blood. Captain, what exactly is up with those Fruit Trees? Theyre unbelievably cunning! Its not a matter of the Fruit Trees being cunning; its that they are united in a way thats shameless, intelligent in a way thats despicable, brave in a way thats idioticits a veryplex feeling. Do you understand? The members of the Guard Squad nodded frantically. Having fought the Fruit Trees themselves, they felt these descriptions were spot on. If they had to describe these mysterious Fruit Trees with one term, it would bedespicable, shameless, disgusting, and low! They never wanted to battle Fruit Trees in their lives again! You simply never knew what trick they would pull next! The Mausoleum Guard Squad hadnt been safe for twenty minutes when a soldier with keen hearing suddenly said, Listen, is that the sound of stone being chiseled and earth being dug? Upon listening, it was indeed the case. Are those Fruit Trees chopping and digging? For real? This is a royal mausoleum, arent they afraid of retribution? Captain, when can our reinforcements arrive? With the sound of digging, the already restive spirit of the Mausoleum Guard Squad totally disintegrated. They were currently in the main hall at the entrance to the mausoleum. Ahead were the traps and Formations protecting the mausoleum, behind them an innumerable amount of despicable Fruit Trees. The sound of digging above their heads grew louder, but the reinforcements were nowhere in sight. Despair! Anymander knew that morale was more crucial than equipment or tactics in warfare. The morale of the Mausoleum Guard Squad was on the verge of copse. If he did not do something to boost their spirits, once the Fruit Trees burrowed through the mountain, the remaining soldiers would likely crumble at a single blow from the Fruit Tree Army! In this critical moment, the squads only Foundation Establishment cultivator, the captain, bravely stepped forward. Brothers, I have a bold n! Everyone knows that its not only us, the Mausoleum Guard Squad, that protect the royal descendants mausoleum. There are also the thousands of Irond Figurines crafted by our royal ancestors! Irond Figurines? Arent they just a legend? Damn, are those the things that were made using the bodies of criminals back when Great Liang was founded? What? Really? The Irond Figurines are not just a legend, but a reality. It is said that back during the founding period of Great Liang, there were countless rebellions. The First Emperor of Liang acted with thunderous might, employing exceedingly ruthless means. He not only suppressed the rebels but also used the bodies of the condemned and the rebels, pouring in molten iron, to create thousands of invulnerable Irond Figurines! Together with the Drive Array buried beneath the mausoleum, these Irond Figurines are unbeatable in the surrounding area of the mausoleum! Captain, what youre saying is We might be able to employ a strategy to set a tiger to fight a wolf! We can lure out the Irond Figurines to fight against the Fruit Trees! The captains words immediately kindled a me of hope for victory in the surviving soldiers of the Mausoleum Guard Squad! With the Irond Figurines taking action, everything would get better! Good! I think this n is feasible! We can only try this method now! I have a question, raised a disheveled soldier, What if the Irond Figurines are lured out and they dont fight the demonic trees, what shall we do then? The captain smiled confidently and said, Theres no need to worry, the Irond Figurines will prioritize attacking strong creatures. With so many tree spirits outside the house, the Irond Figurines wont bother with us. Once the Irond Figurines and the tree spirits are embroiled in battle, well seize the opportunity to break out! After deciding on their breakout n, the Mausoleum Guard Squad captain walked to the depths of the tomb, swiftly triggered a mechanism, and then ran back to the tombs entrance at lightning speed. In the presence of forty to fifty of the guard soldiers, the green stone floor of the royal tomb began to tremble. From the depths of the tomb, a sound of huge boulders rubbing against the floor could be heard. A momentter, countless heavy footsteps emanated from the depths of the tomb. These were not the muffled sounds of valiant men stamping on the floor but the nging sounds of fine iron striking stones. Irond Figurines of various heights and builds appeared in the sight of the guard soldiers, their bodies textured like muscle and skin but gleaming with a metallic luster. The captain shouted, Brothers, open the barrier and charge out with the Irond Figurines! Alright! Under the lead of their Foundation Establishment captain, the forty to fifty members of the Mausoleum Guard Squad burst out of the tombs entrance in one breath, brandishing swords and charging onto the za in front of the tomb. But what they saw next left them stunned. The lush forest that once surrounded the royal tomb hadpletely vanished, reced by barren, yellowed hills. In the distance, they could see an area still green, being frenziedly devoured by arge group of trees with red fruits atop their heads. The forests surrounding the Capital were rapidly withering away before their very eyes. Soon, the Fruit Trees stopped what they were doing and reconverged around the tomb from all directions. The forty to fifty members of the Mausoleum Guard Squad huddled back-to-back in a tight cluster. Faced with the apocalyptic scene of the forest stripped to a desert, each soldier felt uneasy at heart. Dont be afraid, brothers, we have the Irond Figurines! Yes, we have the Irond Figurines! The Irond Figurines from the depths of the tomb were now pouring out of the entrance like a tide. But they seemed uninterested in the Fruit Trees littering the ground and headed straight for the members of the Mausoleum Guard Squad. The sharp noise of fine iron striking the green stone floor was enough to capture the soul. Damn it! Why are the Irond Figurines charging at us! Why arent they fighting the tree spirits! Shit, we misjudged! These trees arent tree spirits! Theyre damn, moving, ordinary fruit trees! One man yelled at the deforested and sandy ground, You call this ordinary! But now no one was interested in debating what exactly the Fruit Trees were, as caught between the dual onught of the Fruit Trees and the Irond Figurines, the remaining members of the Mausoleum Guard Squad were either smashed by the Irond Figurines or captured by the Fruit Trees. Then the Fruit and Iron sides began fighting over the captives once again. The Irond Figurines needed to exterminate intruders. However, the Fruit Trees aim was to control the thieves, not eliminate them. On one side were the invulnerable Irond Soldiers, on the other were the Kung Fu Fruit Trees that could continually regenerate and heal by absorbing nutrients. This was essentially the Green Giants vs. Kong Tree. An endless battle continued inside the royal familys tomb. No one knew how to stop them, nor did anyone know how long they would fight. Two hours after the Mausoleum Guard Squad sent out a distress call, the Capitals City Defense Force arrived to support them. Since the Capital didnt have much of a city defense to speak of, the City Defense Force only numbered two thousand. This time, nearly half, or seven to eight hundred, hade. The City Defense Force could have arrived earlier, but upon seeing the barren mountaintop en route, they thought they had taken the wrong path. They had to confirm repeatedly that this ce, clearer than a bald head, was indeed the renowned royal familys tomb. What the hell happened here? Halfway up the mountain, the grand tomb had been turned into ruins, and above the ruins, hundreds of Irond Figurines and tens of thousands of Fruit Trees were locked in ferociousbat. The only surviving Foundation Establishment captain of the Mausoleum Guard Squad flew over from not far away. His eyes filled with horror, he asked, Is this all the people youve brought? Wheres the Guard Army? The Imperial Army? They asked us toe and check first. The captain held his head in his hands, Its over! The ancestral tomb has fallen, the nations fate has suffered, Great Liang is doomed! Chapter 174 - 170: Triggering Annulment (Happy New Year) Chapter 174: Chapter 170: Triggering Annulment (Happy New Year) If a Qi Cultivation cultivators perceptive abilities could cover a ssroom, then a Foundation Establishment cultivators perceptive abilities could cover several academic buildings. ordingly, a Core Formation cultivators perceptive abilities could cover an entire university campus. A Nascent Soul cultivator could investigate a county-level small city in an instant. And above the Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation cultivators perceptive abilities are enough to epass most of the Capital City. In the pce, an old ancestor of Divinity Transformation, who was meditating and resting, suddenly opened his eyes and looked into the distance. Has something happened to the mausoleum? The royal mausoleum, the eternal resting ce for the emperors of the Liang Kingdom, was where the national fortunes of the Liang Kingdom converged. If anything went amiss, the consequences would be incalcble. Given the gravity of the situation, it was imperative to investigate. Just as the Divinity Transformation elder was about to rise to check, the pce under his watch stirred intomotion first. Prime Minister Qin Wentao, leading the civil and military officials, personally visited the Emperors sleeping quarters. He held Prayer for Ancestor Worship in his hand, his expression earnest and his reasons well-founded, obviously well-prepared for this course of action. In his speech, terms like ancestors, fortunes, and governance appeared frequently, as if he made clear his intention to drag the Emperor out of his sleeping quarters. It had been more than half a month since the Emperor of Liang vanished, and countless rumors swirled within the pce. Mainly because the Emperor was known for his high-profile behavior, not only reveling day and night but also fond of hosting grand banquets. However, his sudden disappearance, disinterest in food and women, and drastic change of demeanor overnight were truly unconvincing to people. Today, Qin Wentao personally pressured the pce; inly speaking, he wanted to test the bottom line of the royal family. If he really managed to gauge their depth, the days ahead for the royal family would be challenging. Your subjects request the Emperor to personally preside over the ancestor worship! Please, your Majesty, conduct the ancestor worship! The voices of a hundred officials pressed down on the Emperors sleeping quarters like a tidal wave of shouts. The pce, constructed of massive timbers and stones, seemed on the verge of copse under the mor of the officials. The few eunuchs in the sleeping quarters who were ying tricks, could not dare to speak out at this time. They had the nerve to tease the concubines but certainly not the courage to provoke the Prime Minister. Qin Wentao was not a slow-witted woman; once he spotted a w, the entire empty fortress strategy deployed by the old ancestor wouldpletely fall apart. On one side was the troubled royal tomb; on the other, the pce that was at itsst gasp, strangled by a chokehold. The Divinity Transformation elders eyes narrowed, and he swiftly projected an avatar to the mausoleum, while his own body moved to the Emperors sleeping quarters. Transforming into the appearance of the Emperor of Liang, he opened the pce doors and made his presence known to all. Upon the Emperors appearance, the officials suddenly fell silent. However, the Divinity Transformation cultivator, now disguised as the Emperor, did not dare to approach the officials too closely. For Prime Minister Qin Wentao, being the head of the officials, had a cultivation level at theter stage of Nascent Soul. If he were to notice any discrepancies, the consequences would be unimaginable. Qin Wentaos face was grave, and as he was about to step forward, a loud and resonant announcement echoed through the pces main avenue. Report! Prime Minister, theres been a grave incident at the mausoleum! The Divinity Transformation elder snorted coldly and said, What is the meaning of this? The mausoleum is in peril, and you report to the Prime Minister before the Emperor? Qin Wentao said indifferently, Tell the Emperor loudly, what happened at the mausoleum? A group of unidentified tree demons haspletely uprooted the royal tomb and the surroundingnd. The Divinity Transformation elder, enraged, said, What do you mean by pletely uprooted? It means not a de of grass is left. Hearing this, the Divinity Transformation elder staggered back two steps, then tripped over the threshold of the sleeping quarters and fell to the ground, coughing uprge mouthfuls of blood. Several old eunuchs who had been waiting inside the sleeping quarters for a long time hurriedly surrounded the elder to shield him from others. What are you all standing around for? Summon the imperial physician! Hurry, summon the imperial physician! The strange case of the furious tree demons digging up the royal mausoleum became the most explosive headline in the Liang Kingdom overnight. Compared to the outside world, those within the court had ess to more informed news. Especially those who knew who nted the tree and understood the consequences of digging up the mausoleum. In the Capital City, at the Nation Duke Mansion. Nation Duke Zhao Yuanling pped his son Zhao Xuechen across the face. Had he not deliberately held back, that p could have killed his youngest son on the spot. You must immediately apany me to the Shen Residence to call off the engagement! Zhao Xuechen clutched his face, Dad, I wont back down! I truly like Menghan! Zhao Yuanling grabbed Zhao Xuechens cor with one hand, his anger evident as he said, Is that what you call liking? Youre just lusting after her body! Youre despicable! Do you have any idea how much trouble Miaodan Workshop has caused? Theyve dug up the Emperors ancestral grave! With the crime theyvemitted, even if the Shen Family had eighteen ns, it wouldnt be enough to appease the punishment. And you still want to keep the marriage arrangement? Do you think there are too many of us in the Nation Duke Mansion? Lets go, were heading to the Shen Residence right now to make a clean break with them! The decisive action of the Nation Duke scared Shen Mi. Logically, with Miaodan Workshop on the rise and the Dukes Mansion on the decline, it should have been the Dukes Mansion striving to hold onto the marriage contract. But now, the words of the Dukes Mansion in breaking off the engagement were more resolute than anyones, with no room for negotiations, as if all ties of kindness and justice were cut off. Even a fool would know that Miaodan Workshop was in deep trouble. Brother Zhao, please hold on. Although the marriage has been called off, our families have still known each other. I beseech Brother Zhao for guidance C where exactly did I go wrong? Zhao Yuanling didnt even turn his head as he replied, Go look at the fruit trees you nted. Fruit trees? The cultivation and care of the fruit trees were managed by Wang Xiaoqiu, who giarized the Autonomy Talisman. Wang Xiaoqiu was a Talisman Master, more knowledgeable with Talismans than anyone. Shen Mi and the Miaodan Workshop mainly provided the funds for encircling thend and drawing the Talismans, and were involved in the production of Elixirs. Shen Mi took out an Autonomy Talisman and tried to contact Wang Xiaoqiu on the spot. But Wang Xiaoqius Autonomy Talisman was no longer reachable. There are only two possibilities when an Autonomy Talisman cant be reached: being cklisted, or Wang Xiaoqiu had fled beyond the borders of Liang Kingdom. Shen Mis hands trembled, a Core Formation Cultivator unable to hold a mere Autonomy Talisman steady at this moment. Shen Mi pped himself hard, forcing himself to calm down. Then, he bent down to pick up the Autonomy Talisman and frantically searched through his connections in the court. The first call didnt go through. The second one connected but was instantly hung up. The third one had been cklisted. After searching for a while, he finally found a contact willing to speak with him a little more. Shen Brother, you were good to me before, and so I offer you this advice: if you can send your family out of Liang Kingdom, do it quickly. Sir, please, just tell me straight, which high official has Miaodan Workshop offended? The Autonomy Talisman was silent for a moment. Have you been to the royal mausoleum outside the Capital City? Theyre preparing to rebuild it. Thats all, take care of yourself. Shen Mi felt as if struck by lightning. Preparing to rebuild the royal mausoleum? Could it be that the Blood Orange Trees were responsible At this very moment, the image of Jiang Cheng involuntarily appeared in Shen Mis mind. The helpless smile of Jiang Cheng that day was still fresh in his memory. Jiang Cheng once said with profound meaning, Senior, I just came specifically to remind you that my Talismans are easy to ban. If you want to giarize them, please counterfeit my contract for selling the Talismans as well. giarizing just the Talismans without the contracts can easily lead to trouble. Faced with a life-and-death crisis, Shen Mis mind was unexpectedly clear. The contract! Its all about the contract! Jiang Chengs point wasnt to stop me from counterfeiting, but he was saying that he has a way to deal with the troubles caused by the Talismans! With the fruit trees upsetting the imperial mausoleum, the Shen Family was on a path to doom. Jiang Cheng was thest lifeline. Shen Mi frantically reached out to Shen Menghan to get Jiang Chengs contact information, and he contacted him directly, rushing to Jade Lake Mingan with utmost speed. Even with Miaodan Workshops situation being extremely urgent, Shen Mi still knocked on Jiang Chengs door gently with trembling hands. The door opened, and Shen Mi saw Liu Qing. Startled by Liu Qing first, Shen Mi then cautiously enquired, Hello, may I ask if Jiang Cheng is at home? Liu Qing nodded and let Shen Mi in. Shen Mi saw Jiang Cheng in the living room, packing up a Spirit Gathering Array. Jiang Cheng was still asposed as he had been the first time they met. Senior Shen, please have a seat. Liu Qing, pour a ss of water for Senior Shen, Jiang Cheng said in an unhurried tone. Shen Mi nced at Liu Qing before saying to Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng, could you please ask your girlfriend to step out for a moment? Jiang Cheng intended to rify that Liu Qing wasnt his girlfriend, but seeing that she had already proactively gone inside to make way, there was no longer any need to say what he had intended. Senior Shen, you may Before Jiang Cheng could finish his sentence, Shen Mis knees buckled, and he knelt directly in front of Jiang Cheng. He clutched Jiang Chengs sleeve, looking up at him with a face full of abject misery, Jiang Cheng, I beg you to save the Shen Family! I know I wronged you before, but in light of Hanhans face, please save her life at least! Chapter 175 - 171: Master Jiang Saves Me Chapter 175: Chapter 171: Master Jiang Saves Me Looking at the once arrogant and unyielding Master Shen of the Miaodan Workshop, now bowing and scraping before him, Jiang Cheng couldnt help but sigh. Life was so unpredictable, he had never imagined that a cultivator at the Core Formation Stage, a third-tier Pill Master, would one day kneel before him. However, Jiang Cheng was not the type to kick someone when they were down, nor did he enjoy ttery from others. Honesty and mutual aid were the principles that Jiang Cheng had always abided by. Jiang Cheng said earnestly, Senior Shen, I actually prefer your previous defiant demeanor, please revert to that. Shen Mi was taken aback, he looked at Jiang Chengs earnest and serious expression, but what he heard was thenguage of extreme irony. He couldnt even discern Jiang Chengs true intention. Is Jiang Cheng mocking me? Or does he really want me to stand up and speak properly? Once, Shen Mis subordinates would ponder over his words for a long time. Now, however, he had to carefully gauge Jiang Chengs meaning, fearing the slightest mistake. Senior Shen, Jiang Cheng said helplessly, lets not talk about asking for help yet. If youe to me, you at least have to tell me what youve done, right? Im just a freshman in the Talisman Department, I cant predict the future. Shen Mi, hearing these words, thought there might be a chance. He quickly shared his suspicions, that the fruit trees might have uprooted a princely tomb, without omitting a single detail to Jiang Cheng. After listening, Jiang Cheng, without joking, said, Senior, lets not even talk about the crime of insulting the imperial family in the legal code. Just the charge of endangering national security alone, the tombs are generally linked to the nations destiny. If youve dug up the tombs, the imperial family of Great Liang can fully charge you with endangering national security. Shen Mi was well aware of everything Jiang Cheng said. No matter what the charge was, the royal family whose tombs were disturbed would never let him off. He quickly asked, So, is there any hope for me? Jiang Cheng said bluntly, No, there isnt. To have dug up the ancestral graves of the royal family and still expect to live was purely wishful thinking. In the current situation, unless Shen Mi himself was an ancestor of the Great Liang imperial family, there was simply no chance at all. Of course, even if he wanted to be an ancestor, it wouldnt matter. The Great Liang imperial family would have to kill him no matter what. When Shen Mi heard Jiang Chengs verdict, his already unstable mind faltered once again, and his knees softened for the second time, kneeling in front of Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng, Master Jiang, please show me a clear path! Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and then said, There is a way out, do you really want to know? As soon as Shen Mi heard that Jiang Cheng was willing to help, he immediately knocked his head on the floor in gratitude. Master Jiang, as long as you can save the Shen Family, I, Shen Mi, will from now on follow your lead! From this day onward, your word isw in my household! Jiang Cheng, ttered, said, Senior Shen, thats not necessary, it is just a simple effort. Every good-hearted citizen of Capital City would be willing to help just like me. Shen Mi was shocked to hear this! A simple effort? To stifle the imperial familys rage was just a simple effort for Jiang Cheng? No wonder he could draw such heaven-defying Talismans! His background was unimaginably powerful! Shen Mi now regretted it to his guts. If he had initially bought Talismans from Jiang Cheng and used them properly, with Jiang Cheng taking the lead, would his family and the Miaodan Workshop have fallen to such dire straits? But it was not toote to realize this! As long as he clung to Master Jiangs coattails, there would be nock of opportunities to turn things around! Shen Mi looked at Jiang Cheng expectantly, waiting to see how he would effortlessly quell the imperial familys fury. He watched as Jiang Cheng calmly took out amunication talisman and dialled a number. Hello? Yes, I am a concerned citizen, currently at 30 Block, 1134 Room, Mingan District in Jade Lake. Right, right, the Master Shen of the Miaodan Workshop is currently at my ce. Yep. His fruit trees have uprooted a princely tomb, yes, he is prepared to turn himself in now, you should hurry over to arrest him. Okay, okay. After making the report with themunication talisman, Jiang Cheng patted Shen Mis shoulder with a meaningful gesture. Master Shen, dont worry, Ive already turned you in myself, and the Six Fan Gate is on its way. Remember, once you go in, you must cooperate fully with the governments investigation. Speak the truth about what you know and dont try to be too clever. Leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resistaim for a more lenient treatment. Shen Mi: ??? I literally just kowtowed to you, and you turn around and sell me out? Shen Mi originally wanted to curse out loud, even considering using his Core Formation cultivation to kill Jiang Cheng on the spot and then flee. But when Shen Mi saw Jiang Chengs calm, peaceful, and confident smile, his heart skipped a beat. Does Jiang Cheng not know that I am at the Core Formation Stage? Does he not realize that I could snuff out his life in the blink of an eye? Yet why would he dare to do this in front of me and still wear such aposed smile? Could it be that he has another move up his sleeve, hence he doesnt take me seriously at all? Could it be that Chen Shen of the Blood Fiend Sect and his Core Formation Stage senior brother didnt actually flee with the money, but were killed by people Jiang Cheng sent after a failed assassination attempt? Having figured some things out, Shen Mis back was already soaked in cold sweat. Jiang Chengs connections are probably not minor. The biggest mistake Miaodan Workshop made was not offending the royal family, but touching Jiang Chengs interests! Based on these spections, Shen Mi wasnt angered by Jiang Cheng helping him to turn himself in. His brain was working rapidly, regarding Jiang Chengs words as an imperial edict, analyzing them sentence by sentence. Cooperate with the government, speak the truth about what you know, leniency for those who confess, aim for a more lenient treatment Jiang Cheng looked at Shen Mi who had a grim expression and was kneeling motionless on the ground, and he also felt a sense of relief. If Shen Mi had lost his mind and attacked him then and there, he probably would have been taken down by Snake on the spot. But if Shen Mi came to his senses, then he would be taken away by the Six Fan Gate to be judged by thew. As for Shen Mi, the Shen Family, and the Miaodan Workshop, what their respective oues would be depended on the roles they each yed in the grave digging at the fruit tree incident. Although Jiang Cheng was well-versed in thew, since he only heard Shen Mis side of the story, he couldnt predict the final oue. However, Jiang Cheng believed that the government would investigate thoroughly and give Shen Mi a fair verdict. Jiang Cheng always believed that a persons greatest background is not having a powerful backer, but justice, righteousness, and the publics support. Since the incident happened unexpectedly, and Shen Mi had gotten wind of it in advance through the Nation Dukes channels, Six Fan Gate hadnt received any orders to arrest Shen Mi. However, the matter of excavating the imperial tomb was too outrageous, and facing Jiang Chengs report, Six Fan Gate couldnt pretend they hadnt seen it. After a brief internal discussion at Six Fan Gate, they decided it was best to act quickly, control Shen Mi first and avoid him escaping secretly, which could lead to failing to capture him in a timely manner and jeopardize the investigation. As the head of the Miaodan Workshop and the inw of the Nation Duke Mansion, Shen Mi had a certain status in Capital City. Furthermore, throughout the entire turning oneself in process, Shen Mi was quite cooperative, so Six Fan Gate didnt throw him into a detention cell like an ordinary criminal. Instead, they found him a resting room within the government office of the Six Fan Gate and let him stay there. After squatting in the resting room for half a day, Shen Mi suddenly made a request. I want to see Prime Minister Qin! The arrest officer from Six Fan Gate seemed quite ustomed to Shen Mis rhetoric. He cleaned his ears while saying, Master Shen, its not that I dont want to help you, but its simply impossible to see him. Every three high-ranking individuals we arrest in this government office, one wants to see the Grand Secretary. Even if he knew how to duplicate himself, he couldnt meet so many important figures, right? If youd like, I can try to contact the Chief Arrestor for you. Half an hourter, the Chief Arrestor of Six Fan Gate in Capital City arrived at Shen Mis resting room. Lord Shen, you are not charged with any crime at this moment, so theres no need to be nervous, the Chief Arrestor said politely. Shen Mi stared and said, I want to see Prime Minister Qin! Im afraid thats beyond my power, the Chief Arrestor replied. I have records of dozens of court officials epting bribes! I also have evidence of a Princemitting treason! I want to see Prime Minister Qin! The Chief Arrestor was shocked and distressed: Stop shouting, damn it! I dont want to hear it! Chapter 176 - 172: So It’s Just F*cking You, Jiang Cheng, Huh? Chapter 176: Chapter 172: So Its Just F*cking You, Jiang Cheng, Huh? Ten minutes after Shen Mi was taken away by the Six Fan Gate, Shen Menghan sent amunication talisman to Jiang Cheng. From themunication talisman, Shen Menghans voice sounded quite anxious. Jiang, what did my dad say to you? He didnt give you a hard time, did he? If hes trying to force you to do something, just tell me. Ill help you figure a way out, she said. Jiang Cheng exined with a smile, He didnt give me a hard time. Senior Shens attitude was really good, we had a pleasant conversation, and he recognized my viewpoints. Shen Menghan was taken aback, wondering to herself: Pleasant? Did Jiang mistake something? Werent they supposed to be trading threats, tripping each other up, and standing against each other? Howe, ording to Jiang, it sounded like they had be good friends? Was everything before just a dream of mine? So, what exactly was wrong? Shen Menghan was originally nning tofort Jiang Cheng, thinking that even if Jiang scolded her, she was prepared to take it for Shen Mi. After all, if Jiang scolded her, it was her own fault. But she never expected that the interaction between Jiang Cheng and Shen Mi would result in a pleasant oue. Oh, thats good then, thats good, she said. Um, Sister Shen, Im going to hang up if theres nothing else? Jiang Cheng asked. Shen Menghan paused for a moment, then said, Jiang Cheng, the issue with the Autonomy Talisman was my mistake, but regarding my fathers and Miaodan Workshops decision, Im really powerless. Anyway, if you need my help with anything in the future, just ask. As long as its within my power, I will definitely help you. After Shen Menghan finished speaking, there was no response from Jiangs end for a long time. She had thought Jiang was considering what to ask her to do. After all, she was the daughter of the Miaodan Workshop leader, a second-tier Alchemist, the Department Beauty of the Alchemy Department at Lotus University, and the head of the Student Unions Publicity Department. Although she was young and her connections werent vast, there were actually quite a few things she could do. However, when Jiang Chengs voice came through themunication talisman again, Shen Menghan broke downpletely. Sister Shen, you probably havent had much good sleep recently, have you? If you really want to help me, give yourself a break. Its not all on you regarding the talisman, and I dont me you. Dont overthink it and be happy. You have great potential, and your future aplishments wont be less than your fathers, he said. Next to themunication talisman, Shen Menghan closed her eyes, her chin slightly raised, as two lines of tears slid down swiftly. She had indeed been under immense pressuretely. She frequently wondered if she had asked her father one more question at the beginning, could she have prevented her father from stealing Jiangs talisman. If she had been more assertive, could she have negotiated morepensation for Jiang from her father? No matter what, what Shen Menghan never expected was that the person tofort her and care about her mental burden in the end was not her parents or friends, but Jiang Cheng, whom she had wronged. If Jiang had hysterically scolded her, she might have been able to let go. But Jiang was the only one who truly cared about her, causing her already taut emotions to finally snap. Jiang, thank you, youre a good person, Shen Menghan said, her tone carrying a sob and a hint ofughter. Jiang Cheng replied with a bit of goosebumps, Sister Shen, I know youreplimenting me, but can you not use good person to do it? Shen Menghan asked in confusion, Why not? Saying Im a good person makes me feel like Ive just been rejected in a love confession, he said. On the other end of themunication talisman, Shen Menghans voice was visibly flustered: I thats not what I meant, I mean, I didnt, she stammered. Jiang Chengughed it off, saying, Of course, Im just kidding. Get some more rest these days, Sister. Youre going to be quite busy in a few days. After hanging up themunication talisman, with Jiang Chengs voice fading from her ears, Shen Menghan suddenly felt a sense of loss. Shey dispirited on her dormitory desk, a hint of sunset blush unknowingly on her cheeks. At this moment, her desire to break off her engagement with her father was incredibly strong. She had thought about sacrificing herself for her parents and living with someone she didnt like at the Dukes Mansion, but now she couldnt imagine what that life would be like. Although she had failed to persuade Jiang to sell the talisman, she had to think of another way to call off the marriage. Shen Menghan thought for a while, then took out amunication talisman again, ready to talk to her mother about it. Hello? Mom? Miss, its me, Shen Menghan frowned: Aunt Wang? Wheres my mom? The madam just fainted a while ago, and the master isnt at home either. Miss, perhaps you shoulde home and take a look, the voice suggested. Cui Zhifei, the counselor of Talisman ss 1 at Lotus University, was in a particrly good mood recently. Although Jiangs Autonomy Talisman had caused him a lot of trouble previously, the potential of the talisman itself was clear to anyone in the field. For example, it could help nts reduce their growth time, making it easier for Spiritual nt Masters to conduct experiments, or assist Puppetry Masters in developing the skill Casting Talismans to Create Soldiers. As a result, Cui Zhifei was well-regarded by both the Spiritual nting Department and the Puppetry Department. It was quite a case of bathing in the glory of ones son or the lowly teacher being uplifted by a high-achieving student. Even in the eyes of the department head, Guo Xiuyuan, Cuis status subtly surpassed that of the old teachers Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen. After all, the worst Guo Xiuyuan risked with Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen was a soured collegial rtionship. But if Guo ignored Cui Zhifei, it wouldnt just be a matter of workce rtionsit could potentially escte into a diplomatic incident between Lotus University and the Tongtian Sect! Who was more important, Guo Xiuyuan could still distinguish. Cui Zhifei was humming a tune in his office, thinking that the Autonomy Talisman storm had finally passed. Then, he received amunication talisman from Guo Xiuyuan. Cui Teacher, bring Jiang Cheng, ande to the Lin Sect Talisman Master Association immediately. Cui Zhifei: ? Talisman Master Association? And its Lin Sects? Whats happened to Jiang Cheng again? At the entrance of the Lin Sect Talisman Master Association, Cui Zhifei and Jiang Cheng walked in together. No sooner had they entered than they were warmly weed by the talisman masters of Lin Sect, who escorted the two of them all the way to the Presidents Office. As if worried they might be ambushed with a sack over their heads and dragged into an alley to be beaten to death. In the Presidents Office, four fourth-order talisman masters watched them take their seats. Cui Zhifei swallowed nervously. Having worked in the Capitals talisman circle, he could naturally recognize who these four were. Guo Xiuyuan, a Core Formation cultivator, fourth-order talisman master, Head of the Talisman Department at Lotus Cloud University. Zeng Shian, a Core Formation cultivator, fourth-order talisman master, President of the Capitals Lin Sect Talisman Master Association, and also the Head of the Talisman Department at Capital University. Gao Miao, a Core Formation cultivator, fourth-order talisman master, President of the Capitals Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association. Li Qingge, a Core Formation cultivator, fourth-order talisman master, President of the Capitals Taixu Sect Talisman Master Association, and also the Head of the Talisman Department at Qinghe Xuanran University. In total, there were five fourth-order talisman masters among the Immortal Sect powers in the Capital, and four of them were here now, excluding the one from Hundred Peaks University. The disy of force was indeed a bit frightening. As the direct superior of Jiang Cheng and Cui Zhifei, Guo Xiuyuan took the initiative to speak, Jiang Cheng, Senior Zeng from Lin Sect has a few questions to ask you, just answer truthfully. No problem, Jiang Cheng nodded calmly. Seeing how collected Jiang Cheng was, Cui Zhifei couldnt help but worry internally. It was the same with the Spirit nt Gardenst time, and now with Lin Sect; this kid doesnt even bat an eyelid, how is he so brave? Isnt he afraid at all? Zeng Shians tone carried little emotion: Jiang Cheng, do you know about the nt Empowerment Talisman? I know. How do you know about it? Song Junsheng told me. Then I went to the Shen Residence and met Shen Mi and Wang Xiaoqiu, confirming the existence of the nt Empowerment Talisman. Who is Song Junsheng? Zeng Shian looked towards Guo Xiuyuan. Guo Xiuyuan said, The grandson of Song Hai. Song Hai, the grandfather of Song Junsheng, a fourth-order talisman master from Liang Kingdoms native roots. Zeng Shian nodded slightly, as it wasnt surprising for the grandson of Song Hai to know the nt Empowerment Talisman. Zeng Shian took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible, Jiang Cheng, the nt Empowerment Talisman has recently caused an ident, are you aware of this? I know a little. Let me tell you directly. Miaodan Workshop used the nt Empowerment Talisman to grow Blood Orange Trees on arge scale. Then the trees went out of control and shed with the royal mausoleums guards. After that, they entangled the Irond Figurines from the mausoleum, and in the end, not only was the mausoleum turned to ruins, but more than ten kilometers of forest and soil around the mausoleum were destroyed. Zeng Shian tapped his fingers on the desktop and continued, The destruction of the mausoleum has damaged the nations fortunes; the Liang State Court and public are enraged, and citizens everywhere are filled with righteous indignation. Our Immortal Sect Talisman Master Association needs to give an exnation to the Liang State Court. Jiang Cheng nodded, Of course. Thats only right. Zeng Shian looked deeply at him, So you also believe that your Autonomy Talisman should be held ountable for this? Gao Miao, Guo Xiuyuan, Cui Zhifei, and several other Tongtian Sect talisman masters all had their gazes fixed on Jiang Cheng at this moment. They were well aware of Zeng Shians intentionto use the rtionship between the Self-Enhancement Talisman and the Autonomy Talisman to push Tongtian Sect to take the me. Gao Miao had already prepared his rebuttal, ready to distance himself from any responsibility the moment Jiang Cheng couldnt withstand Zeng Shians pressure. Yet unexpectedly, Jiang Cheng straightforwardly shook his head in refusal, Senior Zeng, my Autonomy Talisman has absolutely nothing to do with this incident. Zeng Shian remained unflustered, The Self-Enhancement Talisman and the Autonomy Talisman are fundamentally the same. They are not the same. The Autonomy Talisman is an original talisman that I developed myself, and I hold one hundred percent of the intellectual property rights. The Self-Enhancement Talisman, on the other hand, is a counterfeit talisman drawn in imitation of the Autonomy Talisman. Both I and the Autonomy Talisman are victims of the counterfeit. Zeng Shian replied without changing his expression, This isnt about original versus counterfeit. Its about the risk of loss of control inherent in the talisman youve drawn. Whether its the Autonomy Talisman or the Self-Enhancement Talisman, if you could have managed the risks from the beginning of drawing the talisman, even the counterfeit Self-Enhancement Talisman wouldnt have caused such severe consequences. You may not be the mastermind behind the mausoleum incident, but as the creator of the talisman, bearing some responsibility is not unjust. Upon Zeng Shians statement, Cui Zhifeis left eyelid began to twitch. Damn it, theyre trying to find fault where there is none; President Zeng truly lives up to his reputation as a fourth-order talisman master, his me-shifting skills are unparalleled! At this rate, Jiang Cheng might have to take the me. But unexpectedly, Jiang Cheng calmly provided an example. President Zeng, speaking of risk management, something just urred to me. My Autonomy Talismans certification has never been approved by the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association. However, the nt Empowerment Talisman, which is identical to my Autonomy Talisman, how did it quickly get certified by the Lin Sect Talisman Master Association? Upon hearing this, Zeng Shians face darkened. Chapter 177 - 173: You Can’t Just Say Anything! Chapter 177: Chapter 173: You Cant Just Say Anything! The Self-Enhancement Talisman could be quickly certified by the Lin Sect due to the unspoken rules within the Immortal Sect Talisman Master Association. As is well-known, within the borders of the Liang Kingdom, it has always been the traditional sphere of influence of the Tongtian Sect. Having operated in the Liang Kingdom for many years, whether in terms of influence, recognition, or public reputation, the Tongtian Sect far surpasses other Immortal Sects. Under such circumstances, other Immortal Sects wanting to get a share of the Liang Kingdom market have had to find alternative paths, resorting to various tricks. The Taixu Sect keeps things rtively simple; they founded Qinghe Xuanran University and rely solely on the appeal of their teaching staffs looks and the Taixu Sects reputation as the number one fairnd in the world to attract arge number of enthusiasts. Of course, the fundamental reason the Taixu Sect could gain a foothold in the Liang Kingdom is that their corepetitiveness is strong enough. After years of operation, the Taixu Sects understanding and achievements in female-oriented and Yin-soft cultivation techniques far exceed those of other Immortal Sects. Therefore, as long as Qingxuan University conducts normal teaching, they do not worry about attracting students. Compared to the Taixu Sect, the Lin Sect has a harder time. Whenpared to the Tongtian Sect, the Lin Sect does not have an outstanding specialty like the Taixu Sect, so they have to rely on actual strength to snatch up resources right from the jaws of the Tongtian Sect. Take the Talisman Master Association, for example. If the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association requires a week to pass the certification, then the Lin Sect Talisman Master Association, in order to snatch practitioners from them, often only takes three days to achieve certification. Even though the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association has greater influence, there will always be some impetuous Talisman Masters who, unable to wait a few days, choose the Lin Sect Talisman Master Association. In this way, the Lin Sect Talisman Master Association can smoothly siphon off quite a number of Talisman Masters from the Tongtian Sect. Over time, the Lin Sect has, like the Taixu Sect, established a firm foothold in the Liang Kingdom. As for the moves by the Taixu Sect and the Lin Sect, the Tongtian Sect is aware but does not interfere much. The reason is that if you leave them be, they will continue to nibble away on a small scale, which wont cause significant damage in the short term. If you intervene, its tantamount to bringing thepetition between Immortal Sects into the spotlight, likely exacerbating tensions and leading to a situation where both sides suffer losses. In the end, it would benefit the onlookers who stand by and watch the drama unfold. The example Master Jiang just gave about the speed of Talisman certification actually brought the covertpetition within the Immortal Sects into the ring light. And he implied with a hint that the issue with the Self-Enhancement Talisman wasnt due to anything else but the fact that the Lin Sect Talisman Master Association, inpetition with their counterparts from the Tongtian Sect, intentionally loosened their scrutiny and simplified procedures, which ultimately led to the negligence that caused the incident. All the fourth-level Talisman Masters present were shrewd individuals; they certainly could read between the lines of Master Jiangs implication. Gao Miao and Guo Xiuyuan, the two fourth-level Talisman Masters from the Tongtian Sect, were visibly pleased at the moment. They thought to themselves: Elder Zeng, do you think the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association intentionally dys the certification of the Autonomy Talisman? Its all because Master Jiangs me-shifting skills have reached the Mahayana level. Whoever dares to approve his talismans will end up taking the me for him. On one hand, Gao and Guo were relieved that they had been cautious at the start and had not casually approved the Autonomy Talisman. On the other, they reveled in Schadenfreude, seeing that although Master Jiang was associated with the Tongtian Sects influence, it did not prevent him from bringing a significant impact with his Jiang-style Talismans on the Lin Sects peers. Li Qingge from the Taixu Sect looked amused. She had been watching the drama unfold from the start, and regardless of who ended up embarrassed or at a loss, the Taixu Sect would be pleased to see it. Zeng Shians expression was solemn. As a Core Formation Cultivator and the President of the Association, he did not falter due to Master Jiangs provocation. Directly addressing the opponents challenge is often the most foolish choice. Because no matter how perfect your answers and exnations are, the mere act of responding means handing over the control of the conversation. Zeng Shian countered directly, Master Jiang, your doubts are irrelevant to the issue we are discussing. What we need to determine now is whether your Autonomy Talisman poses any uncontroble risks and how much responsibility you should bear for these risks. Cui Zhifei, standing next to Master Jiang, was already sweating profusely. Zeng Shians question was utterly unreasonable. Because theoretically, any Talisman can carry the risk of losing control; its just a matter of degree. If Master Jiang stubbornly denies any risk associated with the Autonomy Talisman, he will face an endless stream of hypotheticals from Zeng Shian, ultimately being forced to acknowledge the existence of risk. If Jiang Cheng admitted that the Autonomy Talisman indeed posed risks, he would automatically be implicated in the stage of apportioning me. In other words, under the current context set by Zeng Shian, Jiang Cheng was sure to take the fall! Cui Zhifei couldnt help but look at Guo Xiuyuan and Gao Miao, thinking to himself that the two of you should y some role! Jiang Cheng may be the scapegoat, but as a university student, he alone cant solve the problemultimately the me would still fall on the Tongtian Sect! Seeing Jiang Cheng remain silent, Zeng Shian revealed a smile as if everything was already decided. Digging up the imperial mausoleum was indeed a grave matter; if Lin Sect were to bear it alone, it would inevitably cause serious harm. However, if they could drag the Tongtian Sect into the mess, then even serious harm might be eptable. Jiang Cheng, all you need to do is answer whether your talisman contains risks. Yes or no, its that simple. Seeing that Jiang Cheng didnt respond, Zeng Shian spoke again, If you dont speak up, I will take your silence as an admission that there are risks. Pushed into a corner like this, Jiang Cheng finally spoke up. Elder Zeng, Ive carefully recalled just now, and I realized that all talismans do indeed carry varying degrees of risk. There isnt a single talisman that ispletely safe and reliable, which is a consensus in the industry, isnt it? Zeng Shian furrowed his brows, What are you trying to say? Elder Zeng, you are a fourth-level Talisman Master, right? The frown on Zeng Shians face deepened, What exactly are you trying to say? Jiang Cheng let out an enlightened smile, Since you are so curious, I will speak inly. In front of the four fourth-level Talisman Masters, Jiang Cheng straightened his attire and confidently said, I suspect that your level as a fourth-level Talisman Master might be somewhat exaggerated. As soon as Jiang Cheng said this, everyone in the room instantly widened their eyes. Cui Zhifei secretly tugged at the corner of Jiang Chengs clothes and whispered, Jiang Cheng, you really shouldnt be saying this kind of thing willy-nilly! Jiang Cheng confidently retorted, Im not speaking without basis. I have evidence. Cui Zhifei became even more astonished, Where the hell did you get evidence from? The risk inherent in talismans is industry consensus, but Elder Zeng kept questioning me about the risks. I dont think Elder Zeng would go so far as to target me, an innocent junior, therefore, it proves that Elder Zeng is really not clear about the consensus. Thats why you keep asking. Elder Zeng is a fourth-level Talisman Master who is unclear about the consensus. Therefore, I suspect there might be a mismatch between your level and your status. Hearing this, the President of the Tongtian Sects Talisman Master Association, Gao Miao, finally showed a look of realization and relief. Before, when Zeng Shian was giving Jiang Cheng a chance to choose risk, it seemed like a choice was offered, but in reality, there was no choiceforcing Jiang Cheng into a trap to admit there were risks and then to take the me. But Jiang Cheng was quickly prepared to counter-attack, using a matter ofmon understanding to question Zeng Shians level. He also set a trap for Zeng Shian to choose between two options. Either deny knowing the consensus and admit targeting Jiang Cheng, in which case, once you admit the targeting, Jiang Cheng, being targeted, naturally wouldnt carry the me. Or admit ignorance of the consensus and deny targeting Jiang Cheng, in which case, if youre ignorant of the consensus, then theres definitely a question ofpetence, and Jiang Cheng would remain meless. Gao Miao thought to himself, Today I really saw why this kid could walk away unscathed from the Fishing Talisman incident. If anyone wanted to hold him ountable, they needed to be prepared to have the tables turned on them! This kid is just too ruthless! Zeng Shian initially nned to share the me with Jiang Cheng, but as it turned out, while trying to pass the me, he might end up unable to safeguard his own position as a fourth-level Talisman Master and president! Gao Miao had been ready to step in and smooth things over, as it wasnt decent to let President Zeng be humiliated, right? Who knew that Jiang Chengs abilities were yet to be fully unleashed! Jiang Cheng skillfully took out a Memory Sphere. Chapter 178 - 174: Jiang Cheng? The Sect Leader of Linlan Sect! Chapter 178: Chapter 174: Jiang Cheng? The Sect Leader of Lin Sect! Fellow seniors, the entire conversation just now has been recorded in this Memory Sphere. I do not target any of the seniors present here. What I want to say is that maintaining the dignity and respect of the Immortal Sect is the duty and obligation of every justice-minded Cultivator in the Cultivation World, Jiang Cheng paused for a moment and continued, I will make three copies of this Memory Sphere and submit them intact to the Enforcement Halls of Tongtian Sect, Lin Sect, and Taixu Sect. I believe their legal literacy and sense of duty will not be inferior to mine. In the end, Jiang Cheng turned to Zeng Shian, asking very politely and humbly, By the way, Senior Zeng, I almost forgot to ask you, do you have any more questions for me? Zeng Shian was nowpletely flustered. His fourth-grade Talisman Master certification was obtained through legitimate examination, and he certainly wasnt afraid of Jiang Cheng checking it. But the crux of the problem wasnt whether he cheated on his Talisman Master exam; instead, it was that this moment in time was very delicate. A major incident had just urred with the Self-Enhancement Talisman under his watch. Then, he was being reported for faking his abilities and not being up to standard. This damn thing, even if there was no problem, was bound to seem problematic after an investigation! Zeng Shians head was throbbing. His original intention was merely to drag Tongtian Sect down with Jiang Cheng. After all, Jiang Cheng was just a rankless Talisman Master and a freshman at university, young and naive, very suitable for taking the me, the kind of grunt work that made it difficult to let him off the hook. But who could have anticipated that Jiang Cheng would seem like the most troublesome of all the Talisman Masters in Tongtian Sect? Zeng Shian was already regretting causing trouble for Jiang Cheng. Without targeting Jiang Cheng, Lin Sect would take the me alone, and at most they would just fire the sub-branch president responsible for the Self-Enhancement Talisman certification. By creating trouble for Jiang Cheng and implicating Tongtian Sect, his status as the Talisman Master Association President would be hard to maintain. Because the me not only wasnt shared out, it multiplied and grew bigger! Who the hell should he turn to make sense of this mess? Cough, cough, Jiang Cheng, as a fourth-grade Talisman Master, how could I not be aware of some basic knowledge? I was merely testing you just now, he said. Jiang Chengs face showed a sudden realization, So thats how it is. Then Senior Zeng, what about the matter concerning my Autonomy Talisman? Zeng Shian, with some difficulty, responded, Well, this Ill discuss it with a few fellow daoistster on. However, you are also a victim of pirated talismans, this point we all acknowledge. Then how should the responsibility for the Self-Enhancement Talisman be allocated? The primary responsible person is undoubtedly Wang Xiaoqiu, this is beyond doubt. He not only pirated others talismans but also exploited special loopholes in our Associations talisman certification, a truly heinous crime! Once Lin Sects Enforcement Hall captures him from abroad, he will be executed immediately. Jiang Cheng nodded, expressing satisfaction with Zeng Shians response. Wang Xiaoqiu, as one of the masterminds behind the grave digging incident with the fruit trees, being sentenced to execution was reasonable and in ordance with thew and regtions. Evil for evil, a cause for celebration among the people. Senior Zeng, regarding the loopholes in Lin Sects Talisman Master Association certification process, do you have any ns for improvement? Zeng Shian answered earnestly, First of all, of course, is to perfect the internal certification mechanism for Talisman Masters within the Association Cui Zhifei watched the back-and-forth between Jiang Cheng and Zeng Shian, and he couldnt help but have some strange thoughts. Zeng Shian, after all, was a fourth-grade Talisman Master, President of the Lin Sects Talisman Master Association, yet now it seemed as if he were reporting his work to Jiang Cheng. After hearing Zeng Shians report, Jiang Cheng gave the following instructions. While there are indeed certain issues with Lin Sects talisman certification process, it was not the main cause in this incident. Through my investigation and observation, I believe that the most crucial factor allowing the Self-Enhancement Talisman to pass certification was themunication issues among the various Talisman Master Associations. If every association couldmunicate and interact more efficiently, it would surely prevent simr incidents to the Self-Enhancement Talisman from urring in the future. Therefore, I suggest that all associations jointly establish a cooling-off period for talisman certification. Once a talisman is certified, it should not be put to immediate use, but instead, enter this cooling-off period. Whenmunication among all associations is error-free, only then should the talisman be released from the cooling-off period. At this moment, Cui Zhifei was sweating profusely. As a second-grade Talisman Master, he did not dare to speak loudly in front of the department head, but his student Jiang Cheng, someone who did not even have a first-grade Talisman Master Certificate, dared to directly instruct the various presidents on what to do! Is this reasonable? Reform of the Talisman Master Associations system was not a small matter. Even Zeng Shian wasnt able to directly respond to Jiang Chengs idea. But for some unknown reason, President Li of the Taixu Sect was the first to express a willingness to give Jiang Chengs idea a try. Li Qingge said, I think Jiang Chengs idea is quite good. What do you all think? Seeing an ally leading the charge, Zeng Shian had no choice but to follow suit, I also think its quite good. Gao Miao: ? Gao Miao sent a voice transmission to Guo Xiuyuan, Whats with your student? Arent we on the same side? Why is the pressure now on Tongtian Sect? Guo Xiuyuan replied through a voice transmission, If I could control him, would I be sitting here? Gao Miao held his forehead in pain. Jiang Cheng made it sound so easy, but in the end, wasnt it him leaving and patting his butt, leaving them to figure out the specifics? However, since both the Taixu Sect and Lin Sect had spoken, the Tongtian Sect had no choice but to express its stance as well. I also think we can give it a try, Gao Miao said. Seeing this, Jiang Cheng nodded in satisfaction. Today, he had once again made a negligible contribution to the advancement of the talisman industry. If theres nothing else, seniors, I shall take my leave first. Jiang Cheng stood up as he spoke. Guo Xiuyuan looked at Gao Miao, who turned to look at Zeng Shian. Zeng Shian could not wait for Jiang Cheng to leave. Theres nothing else, you can go. Hold on a second. With a smile on her face, Li Qingge waved her hand, and a card instantly flew into Jiang Chengs hand. Jiang Cheng, puzzled, asked, Senior Li, whats this? A Visitor Card for Qingxuan University. Its for entering and exiting campus grounds. Come visit when you have time. Jiang Cheng nodded, Alright, I definitely will when I have some free time. On the way back to Lotus University, Cui Zhifei rubbed his chin and wondered, Strange, why did President Li give you a Visitor Card? Li Qingge actually wanted to invite Jiang Cheng to Qingxuan University? Wasnt she afraid Jiang Cheng would turn Qingxuan University upside down? Im not sure. Should I ask her? Jiang Cheng said. How would you ask her? Do you have President Lis contact information? I dont even have her contact information, said Cui Zhifei. I didnt have it before, but, it seems she wrote her contact information, and home address, on the back of the card, said Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng flipped the card Li Qingge had given him, showing the information she left for him to Cui Zhifei. Cui Zhifei: Leaving her contact information was one thing, but why did Li Qingge give Jiang Cheng her home address? She couldnt possibly be hoping for Jiang Cheng to personally pay her a visit on a dark and stormy night, to have a one-on-one exchange about talisman knowledge in her home, could she? PS: The Spring Festival was too busy with all sorts of rtives, friends, and gatherings. Ill update more as soon as the Spring Festival holiday is over. Chapter 179 - 175 Oh Mighty Snake, Please Grant Me Inspiration! Chapter 179: Chapter 175 Oh Mighty Snake, Please Grant Me Inspiration! At Jade Lake Mingan, Jiang Cheng unusually did not enter his cultivation state. Instead, he sat on the sofa in a daze. The emergence of the nt Empowerment Talismanpletely disrupted Jiang Chengs original n. In his original n, he would use the nt Autonomy Talisman to help Tongbao Pavilion lower the cost of Blood Orange Fruits, thereby helping them secure an order for Qi Blood Pills. Once Tongbao Pavilion secured an order for Qi Blood Pills, they could then purchase nt Autonomy Talismans from him in bulk. This would create a win-win-win situation where he would earn money selling talismans, Tongbao Pavilion would secure orders, and the Weapon Department would receive high-quality Qi Blood Pills. However, with the appearance of the nt Empowerment Talisman, Miaodan Workshop oupeted Tongbao Pavilion and secured the Qi Blood Pill order. Consequently, Tongbao Pavilion, without any orders, could not purchase nt Autonomy Talismans. But these were not the key issues, the key was Miaodan Workshops Self-Enhancement Talismans had issues. Although the main culprits Shen Mi and Wang Xiaoqiu could not escape death, based on Jiang Chengs previous symbol drawing experience, talismans that caused trouble were difficult to be released again by the court and the Immortal Sect. There was a 99.9% chance they would be banned. Autonomy Talismans, which were exactly like the Self-Enhancement Talismans, likely wouldnt escape unscathed and would probably be banned as well. As a result, the Huayuan Road Store of Tongbao Pavilion, without Autonomy Talismans or Qi Blood Pills, returned to the initial situationno business and on the verge of closing down. Throughmunication with He, Jiang Cheng learned the main reasons why Tongbao Pavilion had no business. First, the store location was poor, with low customer traffic around it. Second, the stores product channels did not have a cost advantage, leading to low cost-performance ratio. The first reason was unchangeable because the store location was managed by the Outer Sect. Therefore, if Jiang Cheng wanted to resolve Tongbao Pavilions difficulties, he could only start from the second reason, the angle of the products. To increase the cost-performance ratio of a product, there were generally two approaches. The first was to lower the price. The second was to improve the quality. Pricing down was clearly not an option, because if Tongbao Pavilion could afford to drop their prices, they would have done so long ago, instead of waiting till they were about to go under without doing that. Thereby, the only path left before Jiang Cheng was to draw a new talisman to help Tongbao Pavilion increase product quality or performance. Taking talismans as an example, the simplest way to enhance a talismans performance was to upgrade it. A second-tier talismans performance could overwhelmingly beat a first-tier talisman, but correspondingly, its price could also overwhelmingly beat a first-tier talismans. In this way, not only did the cost-performance ratio of Tongbao Pavilions talismans not improve, but it actually got worse. Stronger but more expensive was not the result that Jiang Cheng wanted. Therefore, Jiang Cheng had to find a way to enhance the performance of talismans without changing their tier. But how could this be achieved? Common methods must have already been tried by countless predecessors in the path of immortality. If Jiang Cheng wanted to improve the performance of Tongbao Pavilions products to a visibly significant extent, he had to ze a new trail and not follow the worn paths of his predecessors. However, zing a new trail is easier said than doneit is extremely challenging. The current Jiang Cheng, let alone doing, didnt even have an idea for designing a new talisman. What should he do now? Time and again, Jiang Cheng found himself without inspiration in talisman drawing. At such times, his eyes would involuntarily look towards the balcony. Although Dora Aqing couldnt provide him with inspiration for drawing talismans every time, at least six or seven out of ten times, his inspiration came from her. The most typical talismans, such as the Animal Encouragement Talisman and the nt Autonomy Talisman, without exception, all originated from Snake. All-powerful Snake, please grant me inspiration! Jiang Cheng silently cried out. Seemingly sensing a familiar scent and noticing a familiar gaze, Liu Qing turned over on her lounge chair and her clear, beautiful eyes locked with Jiang Chengs for two seconds before she consciously got down from the lounge chair and took a seat on the sofa, closer to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng continued to watch Liu Qing, trying to awaken the storm of inspiration deep within him through Snake. Liu Qing blinked. She felt that Jiang Cheng was inviting her toe closer. But uncertain, she could only cautiously shuffle on the sofa. Jiang Cheng did not react. After sensing that Jiang Cheng didnt reject her approach, Liu Qing continued to shift her buttocks slightly. Jiang Cheng frowned. Thereupon, Liu Qing immediately ceased her movements. Jiang Chengs brows smoothed. Liu Qing continued to shift covertly. Ten minutester, Liu Qing finally arrived just three centimeters away from Jiang Chengs thigh. Just as she was about to move closer, she heard Jiang Cheng say helplessly, Liu Qing, thats too close. What? Youre too close to me. Thats not true. Wait, dont move yet. Jiang Cheng immediately stopped Liu Qing from moving any closer. Although Liu Qing indeed didnt move any closer, her tranquil eyes fixated on Jiang Cheng without wavering. It was as if she was demanding a reasonable exnation from him. Why couldnt she move closer? Jiang Cheng said with a slight embarrassment, You are a female cultivator, and I am a male cultivator, men and women should not touch each other; thats one aspect. On the other hand I am actually a healthy male cultivator without any dysfunction. Do you understand what Im saying? Liu Qing shook her head, clearly not understanding. To her, Jiang Cheng was a friend, and she didnt dislike him. Just being a bit closer, why was that not allowed? She naturally liked to cling to things she was fond of. Jiang Cheng sighed and exined in a way that even a snake could understand, Its just that if you are too close to me, I might lose control and emit a sort of smelly scent unique to male animals. In heat? Liu Qing said. Jiang Cheng closed his eyes and admitted, Very blunt, but more or less the same meaning. Liu Qing gently sniffed. Among the countless scents in the air, she swiftly pinpointed Jiang Chengs. At the moment, although Jiang Cheng still had the clean and fresh scent she liked, it was also mingled with a trace of the aggressive scent characteristic of male animals. Jiang Cheng had always been perceived by Liu Qing as gentle, polite, easy to talk to, and reasonable. Liu Qing had a very pleasant rtionship with Jiang Cheng, which caused her to often forget the fact that their genders were different. Today, she finally realized that Jiang Cheng was not a saint without desires or needs. He, too, could release those pheromones that she hated, the ones associated with male creatures. However, the difference between Jiang Cheng and other males was that Jiang Cheng had always been very self-controlled and maintained a respectful and polite distance from her. This was entirely out of respect for her, not because Jiang Cheng disliked her. Because from the pheromones that Jiang Cheng emitted, it was clear that, deep inside, he actually didnt mind physical contact with her. Jiang Chengs eyes, mouth, and brain might deceive a snake, but his scent would not. Just sit here, and Ill take a look around to find some inspiration for drawing talismans, said Jiang Cheng. Liu Qing nodded and made no other moves. Neither of them spoke, sitting silently with three centimeters of safe distance between them. Half an hourter, Jiang Cheng scratched his head and said, Its finished, I might have developed resistance from looking at you for inspiration every time before. Now its no longer effective. Liu Qing didnt speak and listened silently. Jiang Cheng without inspiration to draw talismans was a very serious matter. Without new talismans from Jiang Cheng, there would be no ie for the household. Consequently, she would have no work, only able to sunbathe every day, freeloading off Jiang Cheng for food, shelter, and sry. If theres resistance, what should we do? she asked. Jiang Cheng analyzed rationally, The simplest method is to increase the dosage, that is, use something stronger to stimte the brain. Stimte the brain? He used to look at me just to stimte his brain? So what could provide a stronger stimulus? Recalling past events, Liu Qing silently stretched out her hand. Chapter 180 - 176: From Today, Beware of Snakes! Chapter 180: Chapter 176: From Today, Beware of Snakes! I cannot rely on Liu Qing anymore! Jiang Cheng thought to himself. If I always rely on watching the snake to draw talismans, wouldnt I be useless in talisman drawing without it? From today onward, I will quit relying on the snake! No sooner had Jiang Cheng made the resolution than something soft, cool, and gently squishy suddenly crept into his palm. This gentle piece, as if sentient, found afortable position and firmly grasped his hand. Jiang Cheng was startled and looked at his palm, only to find that it was Liu Qing who had taken the initiative to hold his hand! Liu Qing? What, what are you doing? he asked. Stimting the brain, she simply replied. Jiang Cheng thought to himself, I was just kidding. Having inspiration from looking at you must be a coincidence. Though its happened a few too many times to be a coincidence, it doesnt stop it from being one. However, when he saw the serious look in Liu Qings eyes, he was dumbstruck, at a loss for words. She reached out her hand, wanting to help me find inspiration for drawing talismans, out of good intentions. Well then, since thats the case, I shouldnt repay kindness with ingratitude and let down her good intentions and efforts. For now, lets just assume holding hands really is effective. Holding her hand isnt about taking advantage of her, but rather to use a critical perspective to analyze the rtionship between the snake and the inspiration for drawing talismans. After fully preparing himself mentally, Jiang Cheng tremulously held Liu Qings small hand. After all, Liu Qing was a Monster of the Mahayana Realm. The slightest bit of emotion from her was enough to send Jiang Cheng back to square one. Ten minutes into holding her hand carefully, nothing untoward had happened. The only change was that Liu Qings small hand had be warm from his own. The situation naturally made Jiang Cheng rx. He began to carefully savor the feeling of holding the hand of a Cultivator from the Mahayana Realm. Overall, Liu Qings hand felt like a piece of boneless, tender, soft jade. Her entire small hand was incredibly soft and silky, without a single rough spot to it. Initially, her hand carried her unique body temperature, which was on the cooler side. After holding it for a while and as her temperature rose, the gentle coolness would temporarily vanish, turning into a soft, pliable little toy that one could freely knead in the palm of their hand. Bymon understanding, the most sensitive parts of a persons hand are the palm and the pads of the fingers. But Jiang Cheng didnt know if this was the same for Liu Qing. So, the ever-practical Jiang Cheng flipped Liu Qings hand over and began to gently, slowly massage her palm with his thumb. Liu Qing felt Jiang Chengs movements and slightly furrowed her brows. Jiang Cheng realized then, at least in the structure of her hands, Liu Qing should be no different from a normal person. Jiang Cheng was about to try some other ideas when Liu Qing spoke up: Jiang Cheng, inspiration? she asked. Jiang Cheng paused. Inspiration? What inspiration? Is there a part of the hand called inspiration? Did I forget something? Oh! She wanted me to hold her hand to help me find inspiration for drawing talismans! Jiang Cheng finally remembered his main task. He began to think about what kind of talisman could improve the performance of Tongbao Pavilions products. His mind, previously as nk as empty space, was now a swirling storm of ideas, crackling with the sparks of new thoughts. Tongbao Pavilion had a wide array of products, including Magical Treasures, Formations, Elixirs, Talismans, Spirit nts, etc. Jiang Cheng was only proficient in Talismans, unfamiliar with the othersif he had to find a way to improve each kind of product, hed exhaust himself before finishing any. Therefore, it wasnt possible to target the products for performance improvement. Instead, the improvement should be targeted towards the people using the products! The same gun could be in the hands of a sharpshooter with an impable aim or an artist skilled at outlining the human form. Hence, improving the person is better than improving the tool! Rather than enhancing the guns performance, it would be better to help the person make better use of it, to shoot more urately. Drawing from Jiang Chengs hand-touching experience, he realized when he was fully focused on touching the hand, he would subconsciously concentrate on the tactile sensations in his hand. His body would follow his attention, greatly enhancing the sensitivity of his sense of touch while temporarily ignoring unrted senses such as smell, hearing, and taste. Thus, theoretically, it would be possible to enhance ones physical potential through the concentration of willpower and attention. Therefore, by focusing attention, one should be able to use talismans, absorb elixirs, and employ spells to an extraordinary degree. Although Jiang Cheng had not yet thought of a way to help cultivators focus their attention, it did not prevent him from recording his thoughts first. Liu Qing, help me get some paper and a pen. Hand. Oh, sorry. Jiang Cheng reluctantly let go of Liu Qings hand, watching her as she went to fetch the items for him. Right now, there was a strange feeling in Jiang Chengs heart. He had just gotten used to holding Liu Qings hand and the moment he let go, he was immediately struck with a sense of emptiness. It was as if he was reluctant to let go of her hand. She is Mahayana, she is Mahayana, she is Mahayana After chanting the Enchantment of Devotion several times, the feeling of emptiness in Jiang Chengs heart subsided significantly. Taking the paper and pen that Liu Qing handed him, Jiang Cheng bowed his head and began to record his inspiration for the talisman, not missing a single detail. [Name: Willpower Empowerment Talisman Rank: First Order Type: To be determined Effect: By concentrating willpower, one can stimte the bodys potential, enabling better performance when consuming elixirs, casting spells, and using talismans. Precautions: To be tested.] After recording his inspiration, Jiang Cheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Now that he had a new design idea for a talisman, all that remained was to consider how to achieve this effect. Jiang Cheng, a text message, Liu Qing reminded him. A text message? Jiang Cheng took out hismunication talisman and discovered that fifteen minutes ago, President Li from the Taixu Sect had sent him a message. Fifteen minutes ago, Jiang Cheng was in a state of enhanced touch and temporarily deprived of hearing. It was normal that he didnt hear themunication talisman ringing. Jiang Cheng opened the message. Li Qingge: Do you remember how many times I blinked? Jiang Cheng: Sorry, President Li, your eyes are very beautiful, but I dont remember. Li Qingge: Li Qingge: Remember toe alone tonight, dont make me wait for you another night. Also, it would be best not to let outsiders know youreing to my house. Li Qingge: Furthermore, remember to delete these messages. See you tonight. Looking up at Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng said awkwardly, Ahem, youre not an outsider. Liu Qing nodded slightly and asked, Together? Pointing to themunication talisman, Jiang Cheng said, But she asked me toe alone Liu Qing quietly stared at Jiang Cheng. There were no words of threat, no threatening expressions, no threatening gestures. Jiang Cheng, staying calm and with good sense, thought of apromise: Ill go alone, but you can follow me. I voluntarily give up my right to privacy regarding your following me. After nightfall, Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing, one after the other, walked into a detached vi district. The address Li Qingge gave Jiang Cheng was here. Jiang Cheng first settled Liu Qing in a small pavilion in the vi district, then went alone to Li Qingges house for the meeting. Outside the vis fence, Jiang Cheng rang the doorbell, and the gate opened immediately. Jiang Cheng walked into the courtyard and directly approached President Lis house. He knocked politely on the door. The door opened to reveal bright lights and a neatly dressed Li Qingge. Li Qingge smiled at Jiang Cheng, Pleasee in. Jiang Cheng politely responded, I hope Im not bothering you. Take a seat on the sofa, Ill pour you a cup of tea. A fourth-order Talisman Master and the President of the Immortal Sect Association pouring tea personally, Jiang Cheng dared not ept such an honor. He quickly said, Theres no need to trouble yourself, senior. Carrying the tea, Li Qingge ced it in front of Jiang Cheng. She sat down on the sofa, crossed her long legs neatly, and leaned towards Jiang Cheng. Its no trouble, I have something I need to ask of you. Have you heard about Emperor Liang appointing his heir? Chapter 181 - 177: Jiang Cheng Refuses Dual Cultivation Chapter 181: Chapter 177: Jiang Cheng Refuses Dual Cultivation Li Qingge was a Core Formation cultivator of Taixu Sect. Although she appeared to be in her twenties, in the Cultivation World, appearance and age had no necessary corrtion. She was undoubtedly one of Jiang Chengs elders; the exact extent of her elderliness was unknown. Faced with Elder Lis request, Jiang Cheng, who always respected his elders and cared for the young, naturally had no reason to refuse. If Elder Li needs something, Jiang Cheng will certainly do his best to assist. However, as for the matters of the pce and the selection of the heir, Ive heard nothing about it. Li Qingge chuckled lightly and said, Its normal that you havent heard of it. Simply put, the current Emperor of Liangs life span ising to an end, and an heir urgently needs to be established to ensure the imperial power continues. The current Emperor of Liang has nine children in total, five sons and four daughters. In theory, all nine have the right to seed the throne. However, in reality, some are too young and some have married into other families, so not all of them are truly contenders for the throne. Listening to Li Qingge, Jiang Cheng felt something was off. For a cultivator from an Immortal Sect, she knew just a bit too much about the Liang royal family. Jiang Cheng frowned and said, Elder Li, if I remember correctly, it is a well-known rule of the Immortal Sect that disciples are forbidden to intervene in secr power struggles. Li Qingge spread her clean, pale hands with a smile, As you can see, the hands of Taixu Sect are clean; we havent done anything. Then why did Elder Li mention this to me? What is the implication? The second princess of Emperor Liang, who is your age, is now a freshman at Qinghe Xuanran University. Jiang Cheng bluntly asked, Elder Li, I dont see what this has to do with me. Li Qingge pointed at the ceiling and said, Do you know why I had to call you to my house? Because here, Ive set up a Formation that prevents Divine Sense from intruding. Advanced cultivators cant inspect this ce, so we can speak inly. The Snake, eavesdropping from not far away: Uninspectable? What does that mean? Li Qingge continued, In theory, Immortal Sect is indeed unable to interfere with the imperial session, but you should know that as a student of Qingxuan University, which educates the second princess, it has the obligation to teach her. Moreover, a student like you, with strong abilities, affiliated with an Immortal Sect but not governed by its rules, will have much more flexibility in actions. At this point, Jiang Cheng finally understood Li Qingges intention. Although Taixu Sect could not directly intercede in selecting an heir, they could help the second princess by recruiting staff and enhancing her factions strength, indirectly influencing the oue of the session. If the second princess ascended the throne, the benefits for Taixu Sect were obviously immense. Being a female cultivator herself, the second princess was also a student at Qingxuan University; it was inevitable that she would be a Taixu Sect sympathizer,ying the foundation for Taixu Sects development in Liang for hundreds of years. The ns of Taixu Sect were indeedmendable, but all these efforts would be in vain in the end. Because no matter how hard the second princess tried, she couldnt match the third princess, who would ascend the throne through her fathers influence. Jiang Cheng, who roughly knew the plot, had already seen through everything. Elder Li, I have no interest in the princes struggle for power and dont intend to join the second princesss camp to help her ascend to the throne. Moreover, I am under the protection of Tongtian Sect, so assisting Taixu Sect at this time seems rather inappropriate. Li Qingge smiled and said, No, Jiang Cheng, you misunderstand. We do indeed n to ask for your help, but not for you to betray Tongtian Sect. What then, does Elder Li mean? The Emperor of Liang has five sons. Two of them graduated from Lotus Cloud University and are your seniors. Naturally, you are in the same camp. In the face of the struggle for the session, Tongtian Sect will not sit idly by either. Therefore, we hope you will join the opposing side and be an adviser to the princes. Jiang Cheng: ??? Li Qingge looked at Jiang Cheng with approving eyes and said, Jiang Cheng, Ive inquired about your situation with Wuyue. Did you know that you have a particr talent for offending a lot of people anding out unscathed in the end? If you join your seniors faction, they will surely stand no chance of bing the Emperor of Liang. Jiang Cheng: Jiang Cheng said embarrassingly, Elder Li, I will take it as apliment. Li Qingge, giggling, said, Of course its apliment. Rest assured and be an adviser to the princes. If trouble arises, Taixu Sect will stand up for you. Remember the nt Autonomy Talisman incident? We were the first from Taixu Sect to support you. Immortal Sect backing you up carried significant weight. This meant that as long as Jiang Cheng didnt go too far, to the extent that heaven and people were enraged, he would generally be safe. Simrly, the promise of Immortal Sect backing you up revealed that within Taixu Sect, the second princess was deemed very important. They likely assessed her as having the potential for Core Formation. If Princess Liang Lu could cultivate to the Core Formation stage and possess a lifespan of five to six hundred years, she would ensure the healthy development of Taixu Sect in Liang Kingdom for half a millennium! Once Princess Liang Lu reached the Nascent Soul stage, she could even provide various conveniences to Taixu Sect for the following thousand years. With such an extensive span of time, Taixu Sect would have ample opportunity topletely erode the influence of Tongtian Sect and Lin Sect within Liang Kingdom. After considering the pros and cons, Jiang Cheng understood Taixu Sects behavior. Who wouldnt want their own sect to flourish? However, Jiang Cheng still decisively refused, Senior Li, I currently have no intention of getting involved in the struggle for heirship, not even to help the elder from Lotus University. Li Qingge still wore a smile, confidently saying, Jiang Cheng, dont be too hasty to refuse. Take a look at this before you make your decision. Li Qingge took out a secret tome from her storage bag. The tomes binding was rustic and grand, exuding an extraordinary presence in every aspect. It was titled with eight bold characters Dual Cultivation Secret Method: Meridian Coordination. Upon seeing the book, Jiang Cheng was instantly rattled. This isnt the book I wanted to see, he immediately rified. Li Qingge waspletely befuddled, not clear on who Jiang Chengs statement was meant for. Seeing Jiang Chengs hesitation, Li Qingge took the initiative to exin, Dont misunderstand; this is a legitimate cultivation technique, not the indecent kind from Hehuan Sect. ording to what we know, you have a great talent for talismans, but only average talent for cultivation. This Meridian Coordination can achieve the effect of sharing your partners meridians. With your achievements in talismans, finding a female cultivator with a good cultivation talent should not be difficult. As long as you diligently cultivate using this method, your cultivation speed could potentially match some prodigies. In the end, Li Qingge teased with twinkling eyes, Jiang Cheng, you dont want to spend your lifetime only able to draw first-order talismans, do you? Although there are countless cultivation techniques in the world, Li Qingge believed that there wouldnt be another technique simpler, more joyful, and easier to grasp than Meridian Coordination. Could there be a more rxed way to cultivate than cuddling and hugging your beautiful partner and thereby increasing your cultivation level? If Jiang Cheng wished to improve his cultivation speed, epting Taixu Sects Meridian Coordination was the simplest method. This was the basis for Taixu Sects confidence in seeking Jiang Chengs help. In Li Qingges view, Jiang Cheng actually needed to do nothing but openly join the Princes faction and perform normally to receive Taixu Sects advanced secret method Meridian Coordination. Basically, it was like getting a freebie from Taixu Sect; only a fool would refuse. Jiang Cheng stood up and said, Sorry, Senior Li, I still dont want to get involved in the struggle for heirship. If you have no other matters, Ill take my leave now. Wait, are you truly not considering it? Meridian Coordination is also considered a rare cultivation technique in Taixu Sect. Jiang Cheng exined, Sorry, Senior Li, Im not someone who takes such matters lightly. When looking for a partner, I dont ce much importance on talent, and Meridian Coordination would be difficult for me to utilize even if you gave it to me. Li Qingge frowned and said, It doesnt have to be your partner, with your qualifications, finding a female cultivator to cultivate together and make mutual progress shouldnt be difficult, right? Jiang Chengs attitude was very firm, with a sense of resoluteness as if any wrong word might cause instant death on the spot. Im sorry, Senior, but I cant ept this technique. Farewell. Li Qingge watched Jiang Chengs retreating figure, deep in thought. In todays times, male cultivators like Jiang Cheng, who valued their reputations and prized moral integrity, were indeed very rare. It was a pity that Taixu Sect did not ept male disciples. Otherwise, letting Jiang Cheng enter Taixu Sect and mix within a bevy of beauties, that would have been an interesting sight. Li Qingge suddenly smiled, as if she could already picture Jiang Cheng in Taixu Sect, dodging left and right among the crowd of women, continually avoiding their advances. With an expression of panic, Jiang Cheng eximed, Absolutely not, absolutely not, its not permissible, Lady benefactor! Chapter 182 - 178 Willpower Empowerment Chapter 182: Chapter 178 Willpower Empowerment After rejecting the invitation from the Taixu Sect, Jiang Chengs life entered a stable phase. The case of the Miaodan Workshop was still under review, and Wang Xiaoqiu, the runaway, was reportedly captured and brought back by the Enforcement Hall of the Lin Sect. Because of the Self-Enhancement Talisman, the Lin Sect shouldered the me for the fruit tree grave-digging incident, and everyone from top to bottom was very angry. However, Lei Buxiao, who was also from the Lin Sect, was very happy. It seemed that due to the influence of the Muscle Rxation Talisman, the process of upgrading their academys armor went exceptionally smooth. Anyway, he was in Wuyue, and no matter how muchmotion was caused in the Capital, it couldnt be shoved onto his head. Jiang Chengs current focus was on developing new talismans. He was pondering how to force people to concentrate their will, to achieve the effect of stimting the bodys potential. Cheng, what are you thinking about? In the dormitory, Ding Guangming asked curiously. Jiang Cheng replied, Im thinking of a way to help people concentrate. Do you have any good ideas? Ding Guangming thought for a moment, then said, Thats simple, just follow me to the balcony in ten minutes. Jiang Cheng thought to himself, theres indeed some truth in the saying that among any three walkers, one is my teacher. The thing he was racking his brains over, Ding Guangming had called simple. Ten minutester, Jiang Cheng and Ding Guangming arrived at the dormitory balcony. It was the end of ss time for Lotus University students, and a dense crowd of students was heading back to the dormitory buildings from the academic buildings. Jiang Cheng asked in surprise, Guangming, what does concentration have to do with the end of ss? Ding Guangming said with a smile, Dont rush, Cheng. Hong Cai hasnt made an appearance yet. As the crowd of students getting out of ss approached, Zhu Hongcai appeared on schedule, scratching his belly, and leaning over the balcony railing to gaze into the distance. The majority of the students leaving ss were female cultivators, some wearing short skirts and shorts, their white thighs highly eye-catching. Ding Guangming said at the right moment, Hong Cai, I want to borrow your scissors. Zhu Hongcai, without turning his head, waved his hand, Use. Ding Guangming didnt move but said again, Hong Cai, lend me your shampoo. Use. The fruits I just bought. Use. Yesterdays homework. Use. No matter what Ding Guangming said, Zhu Hongcais response was the same one word: Use. Ding Guangming said triumphantly to Jiang Cheng, Cheng, you see, concentrating attention is that easy. Jiang Cheng reflected thoughtfully, then stepped forward and patted Zhu Hongcai on the back. Zhu Hongcai turned a deaf ear, appearing to indeed be in a highly concentrated state of attention. Normally, its very difficult for a person to highly concentrate their attention. The mostmon moment of concentration is the life-before-eyes shback just before death. But for Zhu Hongcai, high concentration seemed to be unusually simple. Jiang Cheng thought to himself: Lotus Cloud University is indeed the top educational institution of the Liang Kingdom; not a single student who enters Lotus Cloud University is a simple character. Five minutester, the beautiful female cultivators disappeared around the corner of the dormitory building. Zhu Hongcai smacked his lips as if wishing for more, then turned and walked in from the balcony to the dormitory. What the heck! Cheng, why are you staring at me like that? Zhu Hongcai eximed in surprise. Daoist brother Zhu Hongcai, do you have time right now? There are a few questions I would like to ask you, Jiang Cheng said politely. Seeing Jiang Chengs polite and humble demeanor, Zhu Hongcai was inwardly perplexed. Is Jiang Cheng asking me for advice? Could it be that he has discovered that I, Zhu Hongcai, am indeed the most awesome hidden boss of Lotus University? Damn it! Jiang Cheng really has some skills; I was camouged so well, yet he found out! Zhu Hongcai straightened his chest, sat down across from Jiang Cheng, and said, Ask away. Since youre my roommate, Ill give you three chances to ask questions. Alright. Jiang Cheng asked his first question, Daoist brother Zhu, what were you looking at just now? Ding Guangming interjected, Big white legs! Shallow! Zhu Hongcai immediately shouted down the shallow Ding Guangming. What I saw was clearly the lingering first snow in my heart that never melts away. Jiang Cheng posed the second question, Brother Zhu, what motivated you to look at the legs? Ding Guangming continued to blurt out an answer, Lust! You cant teach a fool! Zhu Hongcai shouted loudly. He exined, I looked at the legs, no, I mean the early snow, to fill a void in my heart that cant be mended. Jiang Cheng posed the third question, Brother Zhu, what did you gain from your actions just now? Ding Guangming said, Got an eyeful. Zhu Hongcai was furious, Dont nder me! What I gained was a sublimation of the soul! Jiang Cheng wrote down Zhu Hongcais answers on a piece of paper, trying to parse out the thoughts of this roommate good at focusing. If he could crack the secret of Zhu Hongcais casual focusing ability, then the Willpower Empowerment Talisman would be halfway to sess. The early snow in the heart an irreparable void sublimation of the soul Zhu Hongcais answers might seem illogical, but they actually held profound meanings. Because all of his answers pointed deep inside the heart. As a game designer, psychology was one of Jiang Chengs required subjects. ording to the psychoanalytic school of thought, the id, ego, and superego represent the conscious mind, with the id standing for desire. Based on this theory, the so-called focus is essentially letting a certain desire momentarily control the bodys actions. The life-shing-before-eyes moment before death is a desire to survive. Zhu Hongcais biological clock represents a sultry desire. My own behavior of touching hands is clearly driven by a desire for knowledge. Having thought this, Jiang Cheng hadid the theoretical foundation for the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. Now, the question was how to pull out the id and make use of it. After pondering, Jiang Cheng thought of a mediocre spell, ying Dead. ying Dead could make a persons vital energy fade away, simting actual death. But now, in peaceful times, there were almost no scenarios to use ying Dead, hence it was gradually forgotten. Jiang Cheng felt that he could definitely use part of ying Dead to trick out the survival desire from the id and exploit it fiercely! Two dayster, Yue Linger was called by Jiang Cheng to the Jade Lake shores for talisman testing. Friend Yue, dont worry, I have used this talisman several times myself, theres no problem, Jiang Cheng reassured. Yue Linger thought to herself: When do you not say that? Resigning to her fate, she sighed and said, Alright, just tell me what I need to do. Jiang Cheng took out a Willpower Empowerment Talisman and a second-level Spirit Gathering Pill. Friend Yue, first take this pill, then use this talisman, and you will feel a warm energy emerge from within your body. You need to control this energy and make it rest in the spleen and intestinal tract. At that point, your digestive system will be empowered by your will, speeding up and efficiently using the medicinal effects of the Spirit Gathering Pill. It sounded very much like the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman. Both elerated digestion. There probably wasnt any difference. Without giving it much thought, Yue Linger took the elixirs and then activated the Willpower Empowerment Talisman on herself. Indeed, as Jiang Cheng had said, a burning sensation rose within her, and initially scattered throughout her body. Once she collected it in her lower abdomen, it actually did enhance the efficiency of the Spirit Gathering Pill at an elerated and efficient rate! After a rough estimation by Yue Linger, the increased effectiveness of the Spirit Gathering Pill after using the Willpower Empowerment Talisman was around fifty percent. As a second-level elixir, the Spirit Gathering Pill was quite expensive. As long as the price of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman was less than half the price of the Spirit Gathering Pill, then without any doubt, the talisman would have an extremely broad market. Yue Linger thought happily,pletely oblivious to the slight eerieness and foreboding change in her mindset. Jiang Cheng, the effect of this talisman is indeed good, Yue Linger said with a smile. Jiang Cheng said, Friend Yue, arent you going to wait until the effects of the talisman are over and the medicinal effects of the Spirit Gathering Pill are fully absorbed before speaking? Im already at the ninth level of Qi cultivation, I wont make much progress anymore, it doesnt matter, she replied. Hearing this, Yue Linger suddenly noticed Liu Qing standing on the balcony behind Jiang Cheng. She frowned and said discontentedly, Jiang Cheng, myck of progress is due to reaching the bottleneck in my cultivation level, making it impossible to progress. But there are somezy female cultivators who loaf around all day, and theyre the ones who should seriously think about making some progress. Jiang Cheng: ? How dare you say that? Are you seeking death?! Chapter 183 - 179: Yue Linger Resigns Herself to Death Chapter 183: Chapter 179: Yue Linger Resigns Herself to Death Due to Yue Lingers words containing quite a few sarcastic implications. Therefore, Liu Qing, who is always straightforward and doesnt understand subtleties, did not understand what Yue Linger was getting at. Nevertheless, Jiang Cheng, for the sake of family harmony, still tried his best to patch things up for Yue Linger. What Yue means is to strike a bnce between work and rest, right? I, for one, do not advocate only focusing on cultivating immortality or working all the time. In my opinion, a carefree and leisurely lifestyle is truly the best. Yue Linger dissatisfiedly said, What carefree and leisurely? Thats just idling about. Jiang Cheng, she eats and drinks yours all day long, not working at all, how long do you n to provide for her? Jiang Chengs eyes widened slightly thinking, Yue, please stop talking! If you go on, well be in big trouble! Jiang Cheng, in a low voice, reminded, Yue, please calm down. Yue Linger snorted, Hmph, Jiang Cheng, the one who needs to calm down is you, isnt it? Havent you noticed that shes overly pretty? Look at her waist, like a serpents, thats not something a human could have! In my opinion, shes most likely a demoness mmm Jiang Cheng quickly took a step forward and mped his hand over Yue Lingers mouth! In his life, treading on thin ice, moments when he broke out in a cold sweat were few and far between. But now, this was certainly one of the unforgettable sweat-dripping moments. If his hand had been a bit slower, and had let Yue Linger finish her sentence, they both would have most likely been doomed. Liu Qing silently walked over from the balcony and quietly stood beside Jiang Cheng. Demoness, what? she asked. Demoness, demoness! Demoness! Jiang Cheng hastily said, Yue Linger means that youre too beautiful! Like a devilishly unreasonable beauty. Right, Yue Linger? Jiang Cheng gave Yue Linger a meaningful look. With her mouth covered, Yue Linger could not speak and had to nod desperately. Liu Qing looked up at Jiang Cheng and said, Is she scolding me? No, not at all. Although demoness is usually a derogatory term, in the context just now, it was used positively. She is envious and jealous of your beauty, so she used demoness, a typically derogatory term, in description. Her attitude precisely highlights your beauty even more. In short, Yue Linger meant to say you are very, very good-looking. Upon hearing Jiang Chengs exnation, Liu Qing nodded her head, somewhat understandingly. She had just heard the word demoness and thought that Yue Linger had discovered she came from Mount Tian. If that were the case, it would have been a bit troublesome. Fortunately, it was not. Well, thank you. Liu Qing thanked Yue Linger. With her mouth still covered, Yue Linger could only continue nodding. After the small interlude, Liu Qing went back to her own territory. Jiang Cheng watched Yue Linger warily and said, Yue, have you calmed down? If so, blink twice. Yue Linger blinked twice. Jiang Cheng slowly loosened his grip, all the while not letting down his guard. If Yue Linger showed the slightest sign of acting out, he was ready to immediately mp her mouth shut again. Its not only Jiang Cheng who felt that Yue Linger was a bit strange. Yue Linger herself also felt that she was behaving oddly. Yue Linger admitted that she was a bit envious of Liu Qingafter all, Liu Qing got to share living quarters with Jiang Cheng and was also so beautiful. To say she wasnt envious would be a lie. But though she was envious and a little jealous, she wasnt without social awareness. Under normal circumstances, she would never have spoken those words out loud; at most, she would have kept them to herself. However, for some strange reason, her emotional intelligence seemed to have plummeted to a negative figure at a certain point. Or perhaps, she suddenly didnt care about anyone in this world, lost her will to live, and became a social terrorist. Yue Linger didnt know why this was happening. Could it be that she had been under too much pressure recently, and with her emotions repressed for too long, they had exploded all of a sudden? That must be it. It couldnt be because of the use of Jiang Chengs talisman, could it? The description of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman says it enhances physical potential, so it couldnt possibly have anything to do with emotional intelligence. Seeing Yue Linger regain herposure, Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, Friend Yue, you just scared me to death. Yue Lingers face showed remorse, Im sorry, Jiang Cheng, I may have been under a bit too much pressure recently. Thats why I said some strange things. Jiang Cheng waved his hand,forting her, It doesnt matter, its all in the past now. Its good that youre feeling better. By the way, about that Willpower Empowerment Talisman we discussed just now, do you have any thoughts or suggestions? Like any ws that need improvement? Yue Linger thought for a moment and said, ws? I dont think so. As for suggestions, I think the most important thing is the pricing. If the talisman is priced too high, buyers might as well purchase two elixirs instead. I suggest setting its price a little less than half of that of mainstream elixirs. Thats the only way to attract buyers to purchase the talisman. Jiang Cheng nodded in agreement and said, Hmm, your suggestion is quite good, the pricing of the talisman does need careful consideration. Capital, Qin Residence. Grand Secretary Qin Wentao was in his study, reviewing memorials. Because of the public outrage stemming from the fruit tree grave digging incident, a good portion of the recent memorials he had received mentioned terms like Lin Sect, talisman, Miaodan Workshop, Shen Family, and Wang Xiaoqiu, among others. Most of them demanded severe punishment for Lin Sect and Shen Family, calling for the court to im arge amount of Spirit Stones from Lin Sect aspensation, and to directly confiscate the Shen Familys property, in order to alleviate the treasurys deficit. Qin Wentao picked up one such memorial and, seeing simr rhetoric, scoffed and said, Superficial arguments. Madame Qin, Qin Wentaos wife, Dong Yuqiu, entered the study with a cup of tea. You seem unhappy again today, my lord. With a court full of mediocrities, how could I be content? Its likely because their memorials arent aligning with your thoughts, my lord. Thats indeed the case. Qin Wentao had long nned his approach to handling the fruit tree grave digging incident, which is why he found those calling for severe punishment to be extremely naive. Starting with severe punishment for Lin Sectthis was utterlyughable. What is the caliber of the Immortal Sect? What is the caliber of Liang Kingdom? Do they have any sense at all? Moreover, Lin Sect was intentionally brought into Liang Kingdom to counterbnce the power of Tongtian Sect. If for the sake of venting anger, a single severe punishment sent Lin Sect away and allowed Tongtian Sect to dominate unchecked, that would be the eternal sin of Liang Kingdom. The handling of Lin Sect should be all thunder and little rain; the disy must be grand, but the damage minimal. A mere formality. Then there were Miaodan Workshop and Shen Family. Miaodan Workshop and Shen Family were among the masterminds behind this incident. Logically, they should have their assets confiscated and their lineage eradicated. The mastermind Shen Mi should be beheaded for all to see, the male family members should be exiled to remote borders, and the women should be sent to the Jiaofang Division. However, Shen Mi actively provided quite a bit of useful information. Not only did he supply evidence of bribery among several dozen officials, he even touched upon serious matters such as the Princes collusion with the Demonic Tao and secretmunications with enemy nations, which counted as admittance of guilt and a minor meritorious act. Though this merit couldnt override his crimes, it gave Qin Wentao a reason to spare the Shen Family. This, of course, was not out of sympathy. Rather, Qin Wentao did not want to confiscate assets. Asset confiscation, though convenient, often turned one million Spirit Stones into five hundred thousand, with only four hundred thousand ultimately reaching the treasury. With the treasury in deficit, even if all of the Shen Familys property was seized, it still wouldnt suffice, let alone the variousyers of exploitation by the courts factions. Instead of asset confiscation, it would be better to put the main me on Wang Xiaoqius head, give the Shen Family a chance to survive, and then let the Shen Family actively sell off their assets to buy their own lives. For Shen Mi himself, he could be granted a swift end, to die a dignified death. As for the main culprit of this event, Wang Xiaoqiu, being someone with neither money nor backing, was best suited to be publicly executed to serve as a warning to others. Chapter 184: 180: It’s Over, You’ve Picked Up Jiang Cheng In the normal order of business inheritance, the enterprise should be inherited by the wife after the husbands death. However, Miaodan Workshop was different. Previously, in order to enter into a marriage alliance with Nation Duke Mansion, Shen Mi had changed the first in line to inherit Miaodan Workshop to Shen Menghan. Thus, after Shen Mi was arrested and sentenced to death, Shen Menghan became the actual helmsman of Miaodan Workshop. But being at the helm of Miaodan Workshop wasnt necessarily a good thing. Under the double pressures of the fruit tree digging up graves incident and the astronomical fines from the court, Miaodan Workshop was now like a thatched hut on the verge of copse; a single kick could bring it all down! Who is now in charge of Miaodan Workshop? A middle-aged man d in brocade, with arge head and fat ears, barged into Shen Residence. The servants and apprentices at Shen Residence were all in panic, with no mind to attend to guests. Hey? Ignoring me, are you? Mr. Li, call someone over. The middle-aged man spoke to the bodyguard beside him.
Mr. Li, with his voice grounded in his dantian and using his Core Formation cultivation level, emitted a voice with apelling presence: Please have the person in charge of Miaodan Workshope over to talk! A few breathster, Shen Menghan hurried to the reception room. Hello, Im Shen Menghan, the current owner of Miaodan Workshop. May I ask how to address you? You dont know who I am? Just ask around on the next street, who doesnt recognize me? Shen Menghan showed an embarrassed expression: So, how may I address you? Hmph, dont know whats good for you, huh? Mr. Li, let this green girl have a lesson in respect! Mr. Li: Standing before you is the founder of Wuheng Real Estate, the future husband of Pingning Princess, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who reached Foundation Establishment at thirty-seven, Zhu Huanyang. Rolling out such a long string of titles. He doesnt think he looks cool, does he? Shen Menghan felt so awkward that she almost dug a fortress beneath her feet on the spot. Putting on airs is a job that seems brainless but actually requires a lot of skill. If done poorly, like how Zhu Huanyang is doing, its a test of the beholders character. Done well, like Jiang Cheng, its refreshing and astonishing, earning apuse and admiration. Mr. Zhu, please take a seat. Ill have someone serve you tea right away, Shen Menghan tried her best to be hospitable. No need. Im here to withdraw my stake today, take the Spirit Stones, and leave. Zhu Huanyang pulled out a contract and pped it down on the table beside Shen Menghan. He bluntly said, Little Miss Shen, I wont lie to you, Miaodan Workshop is 99% finished. You should settle up while there is still money in the ount, return my capital, and then we can go our separate ways, no more involvement. ording to Miaodan Workshops share offering contract, outside funding into Miaodan Workshop was entitled to share in the dividends. If the workshop ran into trouble, it was required to return the invested capital first.
Shen Menghan tried to persuade: Mr. Zhu, as you see, our Miaodan Workshop is going through tough times, but if only If only what? You think we dont know how much the court has fined you? 1.2 billion! Even if you sold the whole of Miaodan Workshop, its questionable if that would be enough, and you say if only. No if only. Return my capital now! Pay back the money! Shen Menghan trembled with anger; when Miaodan Workshop was doing well, these people hade fawning to her father wanting to invest. Now that times were hard for Miaodan Workshop, they were all showing their true predatory nature. Mr. Zhu, there is something I must make clear to you. If you withdraw your stake today, then youll never have the chance to invest in Miaodan Workshop again, she said.
Zhu Huanyang replied with disdain, Think of again in the future? Stop dreaming; worry about how youll cover the fine first. Maybe you can discuss it with the brother in Jiaofang Division all night long. After dealing with Zhu Huanyang and a group of shareholders demanding their stakes back, Shen Menghan waspletely overwhelmed. But for her, the nightmare was far from over. Miss Shen, we went to deliver goods to Lingbao Pavilion today and intended to collectst years final payment, but it seems Lingbao Pavilion doesnt n to pay. Miss, over at Number Three Alchemist Shop, a dozen Pill Masters have resigned together. What do you think we should do? Owner, our shop on Huayang Avenue is being maliciously undercut; should we continue to sell? Hanhan? Mom? Hanhan, my dear daughter, if your mother hadnt helped your father fight for Miaodan Workshop, perhaps our family wouldnt have encountered such a big problem. Its all my fault; your father is gone now, and I dont want to live anymore. Mom, please calm down for a moment! Aunt Wang, you must keep an eye on her! Owner, this is the list of Certified Pills umted by Miaodan Workshop over many years. Should we sell all the pill recipes or keep some? Shen Menghan, rubbing her temples which were starting to ache, said, Sell them all. Alright.
Before her subordinate could leave, Shen Menghan suddenly remembered something. Wait! Let me see the booklet. Shen Menghan took the booklet recording Miaodan Workshops Certified Pills, which listed the intellectual property of Miaodan Workshop umted over hundreds of years in the field of Elixirs. Now, in their desperation, they had to sell these fruits of wisdom to other Alchemist Shops. This was undeniably the most humiliating thing for any Pill Master. Shen Menghan picked up a pen and carefully searched the booklet for all the Elixirs rted to Beauty, Body Shaping, and Beauty Preserving. Resigned, Shen Menghan handed back the booklet and said, Apart from the ones circled, the rest can be sold. It was just after dawn, Jiang Cheng hadnt even gotten up for his morning exercises when he received amunication talisman from Shen Menghan. Hello? Shen? Jiang Cheng, the time you mentioned, is it now? If you think so, then it is. I want to talk to you face to face. Okay, Ill wait for you on the first floor of the second cafeteria at school. Shen Menghan didnt understand why Jiang Cheng wanted to meet in the cafeteria.
But she knew that she had no choice but to go. Yue Linger sat beside Jiang Cheng, yawning. She had received amunication talisman from Jiang Cheng early in the morning, her mind was still groggy, but her body had already started following Jiang Chengs instructions. Jiang Cheng, who are we waiting for? Shen. Who!? The issue with the Shen family had caused a hugemotion, and Lotus University naturally heard about it. Many well-informed students such as Yue Linger knew the ins and outs and the final oue early on. Is she okay now? Jiang Cheng shook his head and said, She probably didnt sleep at allst night. Yue Linger sighed, with such a big issue at home, it would be strange if Shen Menghan could sleep. The two didnt wait for more than ten minutes before Shen Menghan hurried into the cafeteria. Shen Menghan looked visibly haggard, she hadnt even put on makeup. As soon as she saw Jiang Cheng, she asked, Jiang Cheng, when you told me to keep some Pill Masters and Elixirs, I did. What now?
Jiang Cheng spoke bluntly, Im very interested in pill refining and am willing to invest in your Miaodan Workshop. You provide the personnel and the technology, and Yue Linger and I will provide the cash flow. Yue Linger was full of confusion: What? Im investing in Miaodan Workshop? Why didnt I know? Shen Menghan looked at Yue Linger in surprise. It was no shock to her that Jiang Cheng had money, but she never expected Yue Linger to be wealthy as well. Although Yue Linger didnt know what Jiang Cheng was up to, she still nodded immediately, Right, Im in. Jiang Cheng continued to borate, Of course, Yue Lingers and my investment is predicated on your Miaodan Workshop paying off the court fines and settling all legal disputes. But most importantly, we need to see your sincerity. What would you like for breakfast? Its on me. Shen Menghan couldnt understand and said, You asked me toe to the cafeteria just for breakfast? Of course. The breakfast at the second cafeteria is currently the tastiest. I particrly rmend their millet porridge, would you like some? Shen Menghan looked at Jiang Chengs back at the cafeteria window and said to Yue Linger, Has he always been like this? Yue Linger helplessly said, Always. Hes someone who works hard but doesnt forget to enjoy life. After pondering for a moment, Shen Menghan asked, Yue Linger, what does Jiang Cheng mean by sincerity? This Yue Linger hesitated. She didnt want to say it, but Shen Menghans predicament made her feel a bit of sympathy. The rough meaning of sincerity is some kind of unequal rtionship between a man and a woman, you understand. Its like, well, there are some secrets between you that you cant tell anyone else. As long as Jiang Cheng spills them, youre done for. Shen Menghans eyes widened as she looked at Yue Linger, Yue Linger, do you mean you also have that kind of leverage in Jiang Chengs hands? Yue Linger sighed and resignedly nodded. At first, she couldnt judge people well and spoke arrogantly; now she could only obey Jiang Cheng like a well-behaved daughter whenever he called. Although Jiang Cheng treated her quite well, that was a side point. Shen Menghans face began to flush with an unusual rosiness because of Yue Lingers words. She had never imagined that Yue Linger had already given her innocence to Jiang Cheng so early! Now Jiang Cheng was asking her for sincerity. What should she do? To give? Or not to give? Photos? Or videos? Shen Menghan hesitated for a long time before biting her silver teeth. She was no longer the same as before, her family was not only dealing with legal issues but also facing substantial fines. Apart from her clean integrity, indeed, she had nothing impressive to offer anymore. Moreover, she didnt dislike Jiang Cheng, who knew what might happen in the future Right? Yue Linger, sitting opposite, saw Shen Menghans constantly changing expressions. She inwardly eximed in dismay: Oh no! Youve got a thing for Jiang Cheng! Chapter 185: 181: From Now On, Our Own Ways Before the semester started, Jiang Cheng sensed something when Yue Linger was about to introduce Shen Menghan to him. She already had a premonition. Because for someone like Jiang Cheng, his allure to female cultivators was indeed quite strong. To avoid the worst-case scenario, Yue Linger even specifically chose Shen Menghan, who had a boyfriend, to introduce to Jiang Cheng. What Yue Linger never expected was that Shen Menghan would still fall into Jiang Chengs hands within a mere month, even though she had a boyfriend. However, Yue Linger herself didnt have the right to mock Shen Menghan. After all, she was even worse back then, nearly surrendering to Jiang Cheng without evensting a month under his influence. Sigh! Yue Linger sighed deeply. She knew that liking someone like Jiang Cheng wasnt entirely Shen Menghans fault. If anyone was to me, it was Jiang Cheng for being so addictively toxic! If you only had a casual acquaintance with Jiang Cheng, you wouldnt find anything too special about him.
But if you were foolish enough to deeply engage with Jiang Cheng inmunication, life, and work, you would find that he was truly extraordinary! All other male cultivators paled inparison to Jiang Cheng, appearing utterly mediocre, superficial, sordid, and boring. Just like someone who has eaten divine peaches wouldnt want to eat rotten ones again, perhaps Shen Menghan broke up with her boyfriend because of Jiang Cheng? Yue Lingers mind wandered for a long while before she snapped back to reality. She realized she really had no right to judge the rtionship between Jiang Cheng and Shen Menghan. At least Liu Qing could still throw a tantrum at Jiang Cheng, but what right did she have, as a daughter, to nitpick her stepmother? Wait a second! Yue Linger realized a serious problemtheir family hierarchy would be a mess if Shen Menghan joined! She couldntin about Liu Qing overpowering her because, apart from her talent in talisman drawing, she wasnt a match for her everywhere else. But the neer Shen Menghan couldnt possibly lord over her as her stepmother either! Yue, what are you thinking about? Jiang Cheng said as he returned to the table with breakfast he had just bought. Yue Linger quickly lowered her head, fearing that Jiang Cheng would notice that she was thinking about something rebellious. Nothing, nothing. I wasnt thinking about anything. Oh. Jiang Cheng didnt care. Yue Linger and he were old friends, and he was quite confident in her character. People should have some secrets and privacy, after all. Yue Linger wasnt his pet; prying into everything would just be disrespectful to her. Eat it while its hot.
Jiang Cheng shared the breakfast with Yue Linger and Shen Menghan. Shen Menghan began to bring a steamed bun to her mouth when Jiang Cheng kindly reminded her, Sister Shen, the bun is fresh out of the oven. Be careful, its hot. Upon hearing this, Shen Menghan bit her lip, her eyes flickering and her cheeks growing more charming as she lowered her head even further. A momentter, she spoke softly, Jiang Cheng, when do you want the sincerity?
The sooner the better, Jiang Cheng said. The bankruptcy and reorganization of the Miaodan Workshop would take quite a while. Jiang Cheng had no previous experience in managing a business, and could only rely on his knowledge from his previous life, groping his way forward as he went. Okay, I understand. How about tomorrow? Shen Menghan asked in a low voice. That works. Just go to the Immortal Sect Tea House outside school tomorrow, and well sign the contract there. Alright. The next day. Outside Lotus University, at Immortal Sect Tea House. Shen Menghan was the earliest arrival, sitting upright and nervously at the dining table, clutching the bag beside her. She still remembered that just over a month ago, she had sat here, high and mighty as a senior, giving Jiang Cheng pointers. But unexpectedly, in just a month, her status with Jiang Cheng hadpletely reversed, and she was now the one who had to curry favor with him. Fortunately, Jiang Cheng wasnt the unreasonable type, so her days ahead shouldnt be too hard. Jiang Cheng was the second to arrive, and upon entering the private room, he greeted Shen Menghan with a smile.
Sister Shen, youve arrived quite early. Jiang Cheng, Linger hasnt arrived yet, has she? Shes not usuallyte, so she should be here soon, I guess. Hearing that the others would arrive soon, Shen Menghan knew she didnt have much time to hesitate. So, she clenched her teeth and mustered tremendous courage, pulling out a Memory Sphere from the bag beside her. My sincerity is all in here, said Shen Menghan, her face reddening. Inside the Memory Sphere was her innocence. Just as Yue Linger had mentioned, if Jiang Cheng were to publicize the content of the Memory Sphere, no matter what aplishments she, Shen Menghan, might achieve, she would be utterly ruined in an instant. Jiang Cheng: What did sincerity have to do with the Memory Sphere? Could it be that it contained their Miaodan Workshop contract? Sister Shen, may I see the content? Jiang Cheng asked. Hearing Jiang Cheng intended to inspect the goods, Shen Menghan knew she had no grounds to refuse. But the thought of Jiang Cheng appraising her from head to toe, Every Detail Revealed, right in front of her, filled her with unspeakable shame. Can you wait until youre home to look at it? At least dont do it in front of me Shen Menghan pleaded softly.
Well, I can, but you have to tell me whats inside, right? My clea Clea? My weakness, my lifeline, in short, my greatest sincerity. Take good care of it. Ill cooperate with you from now on. Also, its best not to tell anyone else. Besides you, I dont trust anyone. Nobody except you is allowed to see whats inside the Memory Sphere. Oh, okay, Jiang Cheng agreed. But he still found it a bit strange in his heart. Werent they in a partnership? One provided the capital and the other the technology, so why did it now seem as though Shen Menghan was selling herself to him as a maid? Perhaps it was due to the recent major family upheaval, which made her overly sensitive. Thats what Jiang Cheng thought. There was nothing one could do about a family disaster except wait for time to slowly heal the wounds. All Jiang Cheng could do was to stay true to his original aspirations and treat her with sincerity, just as he would treat Yue. You all arrived so early? Yue Linger had also hurried over.
With a flick of his finger, Jiang Cheng discreetly tucked Shen Menghans Memory Sphere into his storage bag. Shen Menghan had earnestly instructed him not to show it to anyone else, and that certainly included Yue Linger. After Yue Linger arrived, the signing ceremony had yet to begin. Shen Menghan asked in confusion, Is someone elseing? Yue Linger replied, Bai Xiaohe is alsoing; all of Jiang Chengs money is with her. Shen Menghan eximed in surprise, She wouldnt also Yue Linger said awkwardly, I dont know, but I think its probably about the same. Two minutester, Bai Xiaohe arrived at the Miaodan Workshops Angel Round financing event, bringing with her the Top-grade Spirit Stones that Jiang Cheng had previously given her. Shen Menghan nced at Bai Xiaohe and couldnt help admiring Jiang Chengs excellence. As the Department Beauty of the Alchemy Department at Lotus University, she was also considered a rare beauty. Yet in Jiang Chengspany, she had yet to spot anyone who was clearly inferior to her. There was no need to mention Yue Linger, and this new arrival, Bai Xiaohe, also seemed far from ordinary. The esteemed Department Beauty of Lotus University, who was the center of attention on campus and frequently faced a queue of suitors, almost risked being the bottom of the pile around Jiang Cheng. Who would believe this if it were told? Totally unwinding! Its just too intense! After an afternoon of discussion, atst, Shen Menghan, representing Miaodan Workshop, reached an investment agreement with Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger. The agreement stipted that Jiang Cheng would provide financing of five million Low-grade Spirit Stones to Miaodan Workshop in exchange for sixty percent of the Workshops shares, with the majority being ss A shares and a small portion being ss B shares. Yue Linger would provide financing of five hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones for six percent of Miaodan Workshops shares, the vast majority of which were ss A shares. Because the voting rights of ss B shares were ten times that of ss A shares, and Shen Menghan held the majority of ss B shares. Therefore, even though most of Miaodan Workshops future profits would go to Jiang Cheng, the apparent owner and decision-maker of Miaodan Workshop was still Shen Menghan, representing the Shen Family. But that was just on the surface. In reality, Shen Menghan herself had to listen to Jiang Cheng. After all, her Memory Sphere was obediently lying in Jiang Chengs storage bag. After the financing agreement was signed, Shen Menghan felt a huge relief. The courts precise fines had already punished Miaodan Workshop to the brink of bankruptcy, with everything that could be sold, including long-term orders previously signed, basically all sold off. If she couldnt get Jiang Chengs financing today, the now drafty Miaodan Workshop probably wouldnt survive the week. However, even with Jiang Chengs five million, Miaodan Workshop still wouldntst very long. Miaodan Workshop must urgentlye up with profitable products and continuously provide financial support for the Workshop, otherwise, it would still copse. On the way back to school, Yue Linger pulled Shen Menghan aside. Shen Senior. Linger Junior? Do you have something else? Yue Linger asked in a low voice, Do you also have a handle in Jiang Chengs hands now? Shen Menghans face turned slightly red, and she nodded, Yeah. Yue Linger said gravely, In that case, were all on the same side now. There are some things that I need to say up front. Go ahead. Shen Senior, although youre a year older than me and youre a third-year Senior at Lotus University, and even my department head in the student council; here with Jiang Cheng, my seniority is older than yours. So by all ounts, Im actually your Senior. Hearing Yue Lingers words, Shen Menghans eyes suddenly widened. She had never considered the issue of seniority before, but upon hearing Yue Lingers speech, she suddenly felt that it seemed to make sense. In Liang Kingdom, many high households had concubines, and the seniority in their backyards was not determined by age but by seniority, ording to the order of entry. Though Yue Linger was younger, her early encounter with Jiang Cheng meant she entered earlier and had older seniority; indeed, she could be considered Shen Menghans Senior. Yue Linger looped her arm through Shen Menghans and said, Senior, lets keep to our own terms in the future. Ill call you Senior, and you call me Senior Sister. But Ive called you Senior so many times today, so it wouldnt be too much to call me Senior Sister just once, right? I Shen Menghan found it hard to say. Call me Senior Sister. Yue Linger crossed her arms and acted intimidatingly, Jiang Cheng hates indecisive female cultivators the most, and I might have a chance to Upon hearing Jiang Chengs name, Shen Menghans attitude immediately softened. Senior Sister. Yue Senior Sister is beautiful and kind-hearted, please spare your junior sister this time. At that moment, Yue Linger felt utterly refreshed. She had never dreamed that she would one day be called Senior Sister by the lofty department head Shen Menghan. It was just too exhrating! What if she became addicted? Should she introduce a few more to Jiang Cheng? PS: Ive noticed that many readers are guessing about the side effects of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. To avoid misunderstandings in the subsequent plot, Ill give an official exnation from the author. The principle behind the Willpower Empowerment Talisman is to trick out the desire to survive and empower it; during the use of the talisman, the usercks the desire to survive, so they often engage in suicidal actions. The specific effect varies from person to person. Chapter 186: 182: The Dilemma of the New Talisman After two consecutive weeks of intense development and refinement, Jiang Chengstest creation the Willpower Empowerment Talisman was finally a great sess! [Name: Willpower Empowerment Talisman Rank: First Order Type: Control Effect: By concentrating willpower, it stimtes the bodys potential, allowing the bearer to perform better when consuming elixirs, casting spells, and using talismans. Precautions: Frequent use can lead to fatigue in the empowered organs, which may then affect the function of the organs afterwards. It is rmended to rest for over forty-eight hours after every ten minutes of talisman use.] Though Jiang Cheng had sessfully created the talisman, there was still one crucial step before the talisman could be sold at Tongbao Pavilion certification of the talisman! The Talisman Master Associations certification is essentially a quality assurance for talisman products. Without certification, not only might merchants be reluctant to ept the talisman, but it is also prone to counterfeiting, which could then lead to a vicious cycle of price wars. If the Willpower Empowerment Talisman could not pass the Talisman Master Associations certification, it wouldnt be able to be sold in regr shops and would have to be sold privately or used toplete tasks. Although this wouldnt stop Jiang Cheng from making money, his initial purpose in creating talismans to help Tongbao Pavilion recover its business would be utterly lost.
Jiang Cheng pondered, I still need to find a way to get the Willpower Empowerment Talisman certified by the Talisman Master Association. Given the precedent set by the Animal Encouragement Talisman and the nt Autonomy Talisman, one can imagine the difficulty in getting the Willpower Empowerment Talisman certified. A dy of at least a month should be expected. And after the dy, whether it will be certified is still up for debate. In fact, if Jiang Cheng were so inclined, he could ask for help from President Li of the Taixu Sect. If the Taixu Sect was willing to cover for him, making sure his talisman gets certified should be no big deal. But if he sought help from the Taixu Sect, hed inevitably have to agree to assist their Princess Liang Lu to seize the throne. Jiang Cheng did not want to get involved in court affairs, so that path through the Taixu Sect was also blocked. I need to figure out a way to get President Gao of the Tongtian Sects Talisman Master Association to certify my talisman for me. The next day, Jiang Cheng went alone to the Talisman Master Association of the Capital. The moment the receptionist saw Jiang Cheng, she instantly became extremely vignt! At that moment, a second-order Talisman Master approached the reception desk and politely asked, Excuse me, I would like to inquire Im sorry, Im not avable right now. Second-order Talisman Master: ? The receptionist left her desk and scurried over to Jiang Cheng with a big smile, saying, Master Jiang, what brings you here today? Our Secretary-General will be right over to attend to you personally. If you would please step this way and wait for a moment. Two minutester, Wu Yue, the Secretary-General of the Talisman Master Association of the Capital, arrived in front of Jiang Cheng. Master Jiang, please. Whatever you need, just tell me directly. Seeing her boss taking over, the receptionist finally let out a huge sigh of relief.
As she returned to her post, the second-order Talisman Master she had previously brushed off asked in confusion, Who is that kid? Your bosss illegitimate son? Worse than an illegitimate son. Second-order Talisman Master: He cant possibly be his real father, right? Not really, but its pretty much the same thing.
Jiang Chengs purpose for visiting the Talisman Master Association was straightforward he hade to have his talisman certified. So he didnt beat around the bush and directly requested to see President Gao. Then, Jiang Cheng made his way unhindered to see Gao Miao. At that moment, the expression on Gao Miaos face was one of extreme reluctance masked by a forced smile. It was an unabashed disy of the high professional standards of an association president. Jiang Cheng, youre here today. Does your counselor know about this? President Gao, today is Saturday. Oh right, does your department head know? They dont know. The department head is usually very busy and hard to find. Ahaha, I see, thats how it is. So may I know if theres something particrly important that brings you to the Talisman Master Association today? Jiang Cheng took out a set of materials from his storage bag. Its like this, President Gao, I would like to get my talisman certified. Gao Miao: !!!
Youve made a new talisman? Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Yes, please take a look. Gao Miao rubbed his hands together and said, Sure, sure, its good you made a new talisman. Gao Miao reached out his hands, trembling, to take the certification materials Jiang Cheng handed over. Upon opening them, he saw: [Name: Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman Rank: First Order Type: Healing Effect: Rxes the muscles of the digestive tract Precautions: Digestive waste will be processed faster, rmend using in a convenient ce for physiological needs or nearby. Remember to bring enough paper.] Gao Miaos eyes bulged wide open. He repeatedly checked the Name, Effect, and Precautions of the talisman, making sure he wasnt seeing things. Dammit, what the hell is this talisman?
Was it drawn by a human being? If this talisman gets certified for Jiang Cheng, wouldnt every cultivator have to buy one just to be on the safe side? A million methods to reject Jiang Cheng surged in Gao Miaos mind, but they all condensed into a single sentence. He was about to speak when he heard Jiang Cheng saying, President Gao, have you finished looking? Just in time, I have another one here. Another one?! In Gao Miaos astonished gaze, Jiang Cheng pulled out a second talisman certification form. Gao Miao took it and looked. [Name: Smart Puppet Talisman Rank: First Order Type: Control Effect: Controls the target, causing them to act in line with the preset program of the puppet talisman Precautions: This talisman is quite dangerous; once controlled, one cannot free oneself, and it requires someone else to remove the talisman to stop. It is not rmended for use outside the Lotus Cloud University Illusion Realm exams.] This talisman made Gao Miao exim, Good gracious!
Others puppet talismans control objects, control others. Your puppet talisman, Master Jiang, is quite something, actually controlling oneself, turning oneself into a puppet! And youve even marked it as quite dangerous, and yet you still bring it in for certification! Are you implying that Im not doing a good job as president? If its no good, just say it! If you, Master Jiang, say one word, I, Gao Miao, will immediately write a transfer request! Gao Miao was organizing his words when he heard Jiang Cheng speak again, President Gao, to be honest, I still have other talismans to be certified. Still more?! Gao Miao immediately rose to his feet and grabbed Jiang Chengs hand. Master Jiang, please hold on a moment. With just these two talismans, our association is already under great pressure. Jiang Cheng spoke four words of truth: Since Im here, since Ive brought them, its not easy, theyre still young, please take a look, Senior Gao. Under the pressure of those four words of truth, Jiang Cheng pulled out a third certification form and handed it to Gao Miao. Gao Miao took the third one, but he dared not look at it. After all, the first two were so explosive, who knows what kind of outrageous thing the third one would be. But it was not eptable to not look at it. In the end, with a do-or-die attitude, Gao Miao opened the third certification form. [Name: Willpower Empowerment Talisman Rank: First Order Type: Control Effect: By focusing willpower, one can stimte the bodys potential, allowing the person with the talisman to perform better when consuming elixirs, using spells, or utilizing talismans. Precautions: High-frequency use may cause fatigue in the empowered bodily organs, affecting subsequent organ function. It is rmended to rest for over forty-eight hours after every ten minutes of talisman use.] Hey. Dont say anything. Seriously, dont speak. Compared to the previous two, this Willpower Empowerment Talisman is much more normal! So normal it doesnt seem like it was drawn by Jiang Cheng. However, thinking about it, even an exam genius cannot get perfect scores every time; its very possible for Jiang Cheng to draw a normal talisman asionally. Senior Gao, Ive submitted all three materials to you. Please help me with the certification as soon as possible. Ill be leaving first, Jiang Cheng said. After sending Jiang Cheng away, Gao Miao returned to his desk. To be honest, Gao Miao really didnt want to certify Jiang Chengs talismans. The object lessons of Lu Wang and Zeng Shian were vivid in his mind. But Jiang Cheng had submitted three forms at once; he couldnt just fail all of them, could he? If he did that, it would be too obvious that he, Gao Miao, was deliberately targeting Jiang Cheng. No matter what, he had to pass at least one talisman for the kid. That would spare the Talisman Master Associations face a bit. He would just pass the one that looked the most normal the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. Worst case, hed have Lotus University keep a closer eye on things. With so many eyes at Lotus University watching, nothing could go wrong. Chapter 187: 183: There Must Be No Problem with Jiang Cheng’s New Charm Jiang Cheng came to the Talisman Master Association for certification in the morning. Without waiting until the afternoon, Guo Xiuyuan, the head of Lotus Universitys Talisman Department, sent amunication talisman to Gao Miao. Gao Miao, whats the meaning of the information you sent to me? Are you nning to approve Jiang Chengs talisman for certification? Gao Miao exined, Jiang Cheng submitted three applications, and Ive already blocked two of them. Guo Xiuyuan was not lightly angry, Why did you let one go through? Why didnt you block all of them together? Jiang Chengs materials are legal andpliant. Normally, all three should pass. Ive already stopped two, what more do you want? Its not about what I want, its about what Jiang Cheng wants! If you let one go and something happens with that one, who is going to take the responsibility? You are, Jiang Cheng is your student. But the talisman is certified by you, so you will definitely carry the main me for this matter. Gao Miao took a deep breath and said slowly, Guo, lets both calm down first. I dont think things have gotten so serious that we need to discuss who takes the me. Of the three talismans Jiang Cheng submitted for certification, I chose the most normal one to help him with the certification. So far, this talisman has been tested by us more than a dozen times. Its function, principle, and side effects, not a single thing is overlooked. Although its a bit strangepared to ordinary talismans, I believe that its efficacy is already within the eptable range for the Talisman Master Association.
Guo, I tell you frankly. Our Talisman Master Association also has rules and regtions. We cant always drag our feet and not give Jiang Cheng talisman certification. So, when we finally found a talisman that we could certify and that seemed quite normal, our association didnt want to miss this opportunity. Guo Xiuyuan on the other side of themunication talisman fell silent for a while and then said, Wait for me toe and see for myself. An hourter, Guo Xiuyuan appeared in Gao Miaos office. In Guo Xiuyuans hand were Jiang Chengs certification materials, which included the blueprint for the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. Using a feigned death spell to stimte the will, forcing one to focus and achieve the effect of unlocking potential. Tsk tsk, what imagination is this toe up with such an idea? Gao Miao remarked, If were talking about imagination, many Talisman Masters arentcking in that, but only Jiang Cheng can turn his imagination into reality. So you mean to say, this talisman is pretty good? More than just good. With just a Control Talisman, he achieved an ability increase of close to fifty percent. Thats already higher than the vast majority of enhancement talismans. Lead the way to the testing ground, I want to try this talisman myself, said Guo Xiuyuan. The testing ground of the Talisman Master Association was arge t space where talisman masters dedicated to testing talismans tirelessly used talismans. Guo Xiuyuan and Gao Miao arrived at the testing ground for the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. There happened to be a talisman master testing the talisman. He first used the Empowerment Talisman on himself, then immediately afterward released a first-order Ice Cone Talisman. Under the enhancement of the Empowerment Talisman, the Ice Cone Talisman indeed moved faster and dealt more damage than normal. Guo Xiuyuan praised, Nicely used. The testing talisman master disdainfully said, Nicely used, but whats the use? That damn Gao Miao ying president, he knows nothing but to flirt with the secretary all day, and he doesnt give me a raise. Guo Xiuyuan almost couldnt keep hisposure. Gao Miao sternly said, Ill give careful consideration to your promotion and raise.
Once the testing talisman master cooled down, he said, President Gao? President Gao, listen to my exnation! After dismissing the testing talisman master, Guo Xiuyuan personally took to the field to test the talismans. Old Gao, with your qualifications, if you want to settle down just find someone, why do you need to flirt with others? Gao Miao replied helplessly, Its just a rumor, I dont even know how it started.
Guo Xiuyuan chuckled and said nothing more, using the Willpower Empowerment Talisman himself and also casting a first-order Ice Cone Spell. Guo Xiuyuan found that the Willpower Empowerment Talisman was indeed very effective. Although it wasbeled as a control type, it should actually be considered a type of enhancement talisman. Stable and safe. Apart from fatigue, there were no other side effects. Right, Old Gao, I remember when you first joined the Tongtian Sect, wasnt it because your fiance dumped you, and you were depressed for several years? The sects Secretary Wu looks quite like your ex-fiance, doesnt she? It cant be that youre still carrying a torch for her? Gao Miaos eyes widened, and he said, Guo Xiuyuan! Have you lost your mind? Shut your mouth! Guo Xiuyuan was taken aback and thought to himself, How did I speak my mind? Isnt Gao Miao going to have it out with me? And indeed, Gao Miao did have it out with him, as he immediately sprang into action, and a batch of third and fourth grade Talismans popped out from his storage bag, raining down on Guo Xiuyuan. Guo Xiuyuan didnt have time to think further and immediately retaliated with Talismans! The two fourth-grade Talisman Masters were instantly embroiled in a brawl, their Talismans shing and spells flying everywhere, making it impossible for ordinary people to dare to intervene. Three dayster, after an actualbat test conducted personally by the two fourth-grade Talisman Masters, the Willpower Empowerment Talisman was finally certified by the Immortal Sect. Of course, the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman and the Intelligent Puppet Talisman that were sent along for certification became coteral damage and have been missing in action ever since. But Jiang Cheng didnt care. Without the desire for business profit, it didnt matter to him whether the Talismans were certified.
Jiang Cheng nned to sell the Willpower Empowerment Talismans in Tongbao Pavilion and Miaodan Workshop, so certification was essential. Hey Yue, you can start making the Talismans now, the Willpower Empowerment Talismans have passed certification. They passed? Yue Linger was incredibly surprised. What means did Jiang Cheng use to make the Talisman Master Association certify his Talismans for him? He couldnt possibly be the secret child of some big shot, could he? Yes, they passed. Lets start with twenty for the first batch to test the market response. Im en route to Tongbao Pavilion to discuss the pricing of the Talismans with He. In Tongbao Pavilion, Bai Xiaoheid out all the mainstream Elixirs, Talismans, and Magical Treasures on the market in front of Jiang Cheng. Among these three, Magical Treasures averaged the highest price, Elixirs came second, and Talismans had the lowest average price. Somemonly used first-grade Talismans were priced between a few to several dozen Spirit Stones. Only second-grade Talismans reached into the hundreds. Jiang Cheng decisively abandoned the idea of using Talismans as a pricing anchor for the Willpower Empowerment Talismans. If he used Talismans as a reference for pricing, the Willpower Empowerment Talismans could at most fetch two to three hundred Spirit Stones, which was far too low for a Talisman that could improve effectiveness by fifty percent. After careful selection, Jiang Cheng finally decided to use the second-grade Spirit Gathering Pill as the price anchor for the Willpower Empowerment Talismans. The second-grade Spirit Gathering Pill, as a mainstream Elixir, had be a staple among Cultivators from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment stages. Not only was demand high and quality guaranteed, but most importantly, the pill sold for one thousand six hundred low-grade Spirit Stones.
The pricing for the Willpower Empowerment Talismans was set at half the price of Spirit Gathering Pills, which was eight hundred Spirit Stones. He, whats the cost of producing a Spirit Gathering Pill? Bai Xiaohe immediately replied, Around one thousand five hundred and fifty Spirit Stones. Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, thinking: So theres a profit margin of fifty Spirit Stones. I need to include any potential price reductions in my calctions. In the end, Jiang Cheng decided that a one-time Willpower Empowerment Talisman would be priced at six hundred and fifty low-grade Spirit Stones. This meant that at Tongbao Pavilion, you could buy fifty percent more pill efficacy for 140% of the price of a Spirit Gathering Pill. The cost-effectiveness of Tongbao Pavilions goods suddenly became evident. Moreover, this cost-effectiveness increased with the price of the Elixirs; purchasing the Willpower Empowerment Talisman became a better deal with pricier Elixirs. A Foundation Establishment Pill cost ten thousand Spirit Stones each. With a fifty percent increase from using a Willpower Empowerment Talisman, it was like paying six hundred and fifty Spirit Stones for an additional five thousand Spirit Stones worth of Elixir efficacy. The cost-effectiveness went through the roof! Eventually, the trend in the Capital would be: whoever doesnt use a Willpower Empowerment Talisman before consuming a Foundation Establishment Pill is cursed. Chapter 188: 184 The Situation is Excellent Due to the need for good reputation to ferment over time, the Willpower Empowerment Talismans did not immediately create a sensation or a buying frenzy when they went on sale at Tongbao Pavilion. It took over a week for the first batch of twenty Willpower Empowerment Talismans drawn by Yue Linger to sell out at Tongbao Pavilion. However, as time went by, more and more people learned about the Willpower Empowerment Talismans, and business at Tongbao Pavilion gradually picked up. Many Cultivators adopted a since Im here mindset and purchased other necessary items at the Huayuan Road Store of Tongbao Pavilion. Therefore, not only the sales of Talismans, but also the sales of other goods in the store improved. Jiang Chengs current task was to develop a Reusable Type of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. ording to feedback from some customers, many Elixirs released their effects over a much longer period than the duration of the Willpower Empowerment Talismans. This meant that they often needed two to three Talismans topletely absorb a single Elixir. Thus, they urgently required Reusable Type Willpower Empowerment Talismans that couldst longer. That day, Jiang Cheng returned to his dormitory as usual. But he found all three of his roommates engrossed in drawing Talismans.
Even Zhu Hongcai was writing furiously. Guangming, what are you all drawing? I dont remember having this much homework, Jiang Cheng asked. Ding Guangming did not even lift his head as he replied, Oh, Cheng, you dont have to draw because you didnt join the Talisman Drawing Society. This is homework from the Society. Jiang Cheng nodded, then sensed something was off. He looked more closely at what they were drawing. Good Lord! Wasnt Ding Guangming drawing his Willpower Empowerment Talisman? Guangming, this is homework? Yes. So, do you get paid by the Society for doing homework? Ding Guangming looked up, puzzled, and said, Cheng, youve confused me. Why would anyone get paid for doing homework? We bought this Talisman Paper and ink with our own money. Jiang Cheng: So, not only do you not get paid, but you also have to put your own money into it, right? The real pay-to-work job. Both the capitalists and the production teams donkeys would hang their heads in shame if they heard about this. Is this what they call being sold and still counting the money for the trafficker? Who, exactly, came up with the devious idea of assigning such homework? However, the situation in the dormitory made Jiang Cheng realize another problem.
That was, Yue Lingers capacity for drawing Talismans might already be nearing its limit. There were many students in the Talisman Department at Lotus University, but not many were interested in part-time jobs. Most students who could afford to attend Lotus University were from wealthy or noble families. Additionally, with sses and homework, even if many students were willing to draw, they didnt have much time to earn money by drawing Talismans. Given the varying levels of student skills andck of work experience, the inevitable result was a substantial number of defective products. This increased the pressure on Yue Linger to review and check the Talismans.
It seemed he couldnt rely on Yue Linger to handle the pressure of drawing Talismans like during the summer break. Instead, he should learn from the advanced experiences of Miaodan Workshop and have professionals do professional work. Junsheng, Jiang Cheng called softly. Song Junsheng, fully focused on drawing a Talisman, did not hear Jiang Chengs words. Song Junsheng? Jiang Cheng said again. Song Junsheng did not respond, but Zhu Hongcai, who was sitting next to him, was the first to express dissatisfaction. Cheng, keep it down! Youre disturbing my Talisman drawing! Zhu Hongcai yelled, startling the nearby Song Junsheng. Jiang Cheng: Zhu Hongcai said very discontentedly, I was just about to grasp how to draw this Talisman! Its all your fault! Seeing the awkward atmosphere in the dormitory, Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng rushed to smooth things over. Ding Guangming said, Hong Cai, dont be angry. Cheng didnt do it on purpose. Song Junsheng: This is my fault, I was too focused just now. Jiang Cheng scratched his head and said, Sorry, Hong Cai, indeed, its my fault.
Seeing Jiang Cheng apologize, Zhu Hongcai didnt take it to heart and said, Its nothing, I dont me you. I was a bit impulsive just now. I was actually close to understanding it, but then your voice came, and snap, my train of thought was gone. Jiang Cheng said with unusual sincerity, It really is my fault. Its not your fault, really, its not your fault. It really is my fault. Its really not your fault! Jiang Cheng, dont be like this, youre making me feel embarrassed. Jiang Cheng waved his hand and said, Im not joking, it really is my fault, mainly because I made it tooplicated. If I were just a bit more skilled, this talisman could have been optimized further. That way, even Zhu Hongcai would have almost been able to understand it. Zhu Hongcai: ? Song Junsheng: ? Ding Guangming: ? Zhu Hongcai said incredulously, Wait, this empowerment talisman, you drew it? Jiang Cheng: Yes. My recent new work, I havent had the chance to tell everyone. I didnt expect it to already be homework. After hearing this, Zhu Hongcai immediately ran his hands through his hair, sculpting a slicked-back hairstyle. Then he carelessly opened a drawer, took out a lollipop, and pretended to smoke on the balcony. If sadness had a shape, it would be Zhu Hongcai at this moment.
Ding Guangming had been siding with Jiang Cheng just now, but couldnt help feeling sympathy for his Hong Cai Bro. Cheng, next time, can you, like, not show off in front of Hong Cai Bro? Im worried Hong Cai Bro might not be able to handle it. Jiang Cheng thought carefully about what he had just said and replied, I wasnt showing off. Everything I said was the truth. Ding Guangming took a deep breath and said, Cheng, do you know? You just showed off again. Jiang Cheng: ??? In the end, it was Song Junsheng who stepped up. Jiang Cheng, did you call me for something just now? Right, Im looking to contact a talisman shop to help with drawing talismans. My familys? Song Junsheng pointed to himself. Is that okay? Its okay, but the price definitely cant be the lowest. Our shop has always been focused on reputation and quality. Jiang Chengughed and said, So am I. Ocean Talisman Studio, Fuyang Road Store.
Song Junsheng brought Jiang Cheng into the store, and many people greeted Song Junsheng, obviously recognizing him as the young master of the Song family. Uncle Three? Is Uncle Three here? My dads not here, but you can talk to me if you need anything. A male cultivator with thick eyebrows and a buzz cut walked out from the back room. Song Junsheng said in surprise, Cousin? Arent you supposed to be in ss today? Song Junhu, a second-tier Talisman Master, and a junior at Capital University. Came home to prepare some materials for the graduation project, Song Junhu said sinctly. Song Junsheng turned aside to reveal Jiang Cheng standing behind him. Cousin, this is my roommate, Jiang Cheng, who is currently, um, not yet certified as a Talisman Master. But hes really good at drawing talismans. Today were nning to discuss some outsourced talisman business with our shop. Hello, Im Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng said politely, extending his hand. Song Junhu shook it perfunctorily and said, We dont do business with university students, you guys can leave. Also, Junsheng, are you at Lotus University just to y? Dont get distracted by trivial matters and miss out on your second-tier Talisman Master Certificate this year. Song Junsheng, of course, understood the subtext in his cousins words. It was advising him not to waste time ying with Jiang Cheng. Just as Song Junsheng was about to exin on behalf of Jiang Cheng, he heard Jiang Cheng take the initiative to squat on the ground and say to Song Junhu, The talisman on the ground that youre nning for your graduation project, it seems to have a fundamental w. Youd better not continue with it. Song Junhu looked sideways in a cantaloupe-stall manner: Are you picking a fight on purpose? Chapter 189: 185: The Livelihood of a Million Pill Masters Before formally drawing a talisman, a Talisman Master would generally choose to first sketch a draft with a pencil on paper. On one hand, the draft made it easier to rify thoughts and to make revisions, and on the other, it could effectively reduce the waste of talisman paper and spiritual power. Once talisman paper was used up, it could be bought with money. When spiritual power was exhausted, there was nothing to do but wait for it to slowly recover over time. The talisman sketch that Song Junhu dropped on the ground could, from its general structure, be discerned to be a kind of healing talisman. However, what Song Junhu was nning to draw was not a simple healing talisman. It somewhat resembled a Muscle Rxation Talisman, categorized as having added certain effects to healing. It aimed to achieve effects beyond simple healing. Junsheng, if youre not busy, take your friend to y elsewhere. Your cousin still has things to do. Without waiting for Song Junsheng to reply, Jiang Cheng, who more or less understood the talisman sketch, spoke up, Brother Song, your graduation project involves designing a new type of healing talisman, right? Are you trying to incorporate some toxin into it, releasing the poison through the healing process to poison the enemy? In his heart, Song Junhu thought: This Talisman Master named Jiang Cheng, although he didnt take the Talisman Master Certificate exam, his response just now was quite urate. He wasnt some college cker who knew nothing about talismans. Song Junhu couldnt help but look at Jiang Cheng in a new light. More or less.
Jiang Cheng nodded, Your line of thought is not wrong, but you have chosen the wrong type of talisman. While healing talismans have a high hit rate, ensuring that your toxin hits, the healing ability itself would weaken the potency of the toxin. Going back and forth like this is somewhat counterproductive. I suggest you change from healing with added poison to support with added poison. To give a simple example, for instance, you could mix a nerve toxin into the Concentration Talisman, which aims to help cultivators focus. This way, the frenzied nervous system of the affected person would actually facilitate the effectiveness of the toxin, achieving abined effect greater than the sum of its parts. Or, you could mix a muscle toxin into the Agility Talisman, which helps cultivators increase their speed. Letting them unwittingly wear out and kill their own muscles in the midst of activity After Jiang Cheng simply gave a few examples, Song Junhu swallowed hard. Junsheng, tell your brother the truth, what kind of university did you attend? I feel like the things they teach at your school dont seem quite like the righteous path of the Immortal Sects. Song Junsheng: Is there a possibility that its not the schools fault? Although Jiang Chengs remarks made Song Junhu feel apprehensive. Song Junhu had to admit that the ideas Jiang Cheng casually mentioned were clearly much stronger than his own painstakingly conceived ones. Just the switch from healing type to support type was a stroke of genius. Many challenges hard to solve within the realm of healing talismans, once shifted to support, not only disappeared but also produced better effects. Song Junhu began to take seriously the young man named Jiang Cheng standing before him. Are you nning to have our Ocean Talisman Studio draw up the talismans? Yes, Id like to ask you to help me produce a batch of talismans, Jiang Cheng said. Thene in. Song Junhu led Jiang Cheng and Song Junsheng into the inner room. What kind of talisman do you want to produce? We at Ocean Talisman Studio dont ept talismans that havent gone through authentication, Song Junhu stated. Of course, Jiang Cheng replied as he took out his prepared proof of certification and handed a sample to Song Junhu. Song Junhu went quiet when he saw Jiang Chengs Willpower Empowerment Talisman.
Jiang Cheng had nced at his talisman and understood it right away, but he now couldntprehend the effects of Jiang Chengs talisman at all. Fortunately, the materials Jiang Cheng provided included an exnation of the talisman. After reading the exnation of the talisman, Song Junhu grew even more silent. Using a feigned death tactic to improve concentration? What kind of thing was this?
Later, when Song Junhu saw the performance data for the Willpower Empowerment Talisman in the materials. He found he had lost the ability to speak. How should he put it? It was rather sudden. His own graduation project talisman, which had preupied him for nearly two months, had been pointed out for its key ws in just a few sentences by Jiang Cheng and waspletely overshadowed by his Willpower Talisman. Is there a problem? Jiang Cheng asked considerately. No problem. Did you draw this talisman yourself? Yes. Didnt ask a teacher? No. Completely independent? Yeah. Song Junhu sighed, Alright, I have nothing to say. Lets discuss the production fee.
Jiang Cheng smiled, Just go by the market price. Please dont give me any special treatment just because Im Junshengs ssmate. Song Junhu nced at Song Junsheng. Song Junsheng could not fathom Jiang Chengs intentions. When Jiang Cheng said those words, was he suggesting to look after it, or not? Song Junsheng scratched his head, sometimes feeling Jiang Cheng was straightforward, but other times he seemed incrediblyplicated. Just like the talismans he created. In the native rankings of alchemist shops in Liang Kingdom, Miaodan Workshop ranked third before the fine. First to fourth were, respectively: Pill Cauldron Pavilion, Pill Treasure Workshop, Miaodan Workshop, Secret Pill Pavilion. After the disaster at Miaodan Workshop, the Shen Family, desperate to survive, continuously sold off the workshops high-quality assets. Most of these assets were swallowed up by Pill Treasure Workshop and Secret Pill Pavilion. Leveraging the benefits of Miaodan Workshops downfall, Secret Pill Pavilion purchased arge amount of high-quality shops, medicinal gardens, spirit nts, pill recipes, and pill masters. Currently, theres a faint trend of fighting to maintain the third ce or even aiming for the second. Perhaps it wont be long before they should defend second ce or evenpete for the first. Normally, this would be a cause for celebration.
But Yu Jing, the master of Secret Pill Pavilion, had no joy whatsoever. In the past two weeks, nearly all the shops of Secret Pill Pavilion in the capital had experienced varying degrees of performance decline. Performance fluctuations are normal. But a universal decline is rare. Whats more strange is that the decline of Secret Pill Pavilions shop performance had a pattern. On the map of the capital, it presented a pattern of dispersion centered around Huayuan Road, diminishing outwardly. The closer the shop was to Huayuan Road, the more severe the decline in performance. What kind of trick is hidden on Huayuan Road? After pacing for a while, Yu Jing said, We need to send someone to investigate thoroughly No, Ill go personally. Yu Jing changed into casual clothes and headed to Huayuan Road with a low profile. Huayuan Road appeared quite normal, with its streets clean and tidy which didnt seem like it was hiding any demonic cultivators or monsters. Finally, Yu Jing arrived at the entrance of Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store. He saw a long line of customers, standing against the wall, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Yu Jing looked incredulously at the stores name again. It was indeed Tongbao Pavilion, wasnt it? How could Tongbao Pavilion have so many customers? Were they giving away money? Yu Jing approached a cultivator standing in the queue and asked, What are they selling here to have such a long line of people waiting? Its the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, of course. Dont you know? Yu Jing was taken aback and asked, Willpower what? Does it have any use? It can enhance the absorption rate and effect of elixirs by about fifty percent. If you eat those expensive elixirs without using a Willpower Empowerment Talisman to boost the effect, thats frankly a waste. Fifty percent? Yu Jing found it hard to believe. As the master of Secret Pill Pavilion, Yu Jings way of thinking was not the same as that of an ordinary cultivator buying elixirs. In the current peaceful societal environment, cultivators had a very stable demand for various elixirs. Thepetitions among alchemist shops relied on existing market share. If a talisman could improve the effectiveness of elixirs, it wouldnt lead to major development in the Cultivation World. It would be a massive decline! The entire alchemy industry would face a great recession! A significant portion of alchemy demands would be offset by the enhancements brought by talismans. Without demand, countless alchemists would be unemployed, then be forced topete on pricing, reducing profits topete through volume sales. The elixir market would be oversupplied, with too many elixirs unable to sell. Then more alchemists would be unemployed. This vicious cycle would continue perpetually. Eventually, the entire alchemy industry would enter into a destructive price war with endless losses. Resulting in forsaken research and development and no sessors willing to learn alchemy. Chapter 190: 186 Must be Banned! Without a doubt, the Willpower Empowerment Talisman is public enemy number one for the alchemy industry! After realizing the severity of the issue, Yu Jing immediately leveraged his interpersonal rtionships to call together the owners of all the alchemist shops in the Capital, big and small, for a meeting and briefing. Of course, this did not include Tongbao Pavilion, which represented the Outer Sect of the Immortal Sect, and the Miaodan Workshop which had just been named by the imperial court and was now imunicado. What do you all think about the Willpower Empowerment Talisman? Yu Jing asked. As the interests of all Pill Masters were at stake, the response from the various alchemist shops was very consistentthey could not allow these talismans to be sold any longer! At this moment, a worried voice said, If the talismans are being sold within Tongbao Pavilion and if this is the intent of Tongtian Sect it would be difficult for us alone to handle this. Yu Jing had already considered this problem, Even if it is Tongtian Sect, it doesnt matter. Not to mention that there are five Immortal Sects, outwardly united but inwardly divided, each harboring their own schemes. Even if it were the Tongtian Sect on its own, theyre not necessarily united. I dont believe that with the emergence of such a talisman, the Alchemist Association of Tongtian Sect could ignore the life and death of the Pill Masters. Yu Jing looked towards Manager Wang, who represented Pill Cauldron Pavilion at the meeting, and Manager Zhang, who represented Pill Treasure Workshop. Both of you managers, who is willing to apany Yu to the Alchemist Association to make a stern representation of our stakes? This matter is of great importance; please allow me to report back to my superior, one said. Same here, the other followed.
Of course, of course, Yu Jing responded understandingly. Under the expectant gazes of many alchemist shops in the Capital, the owners of Pill Cauldron Pavilion and Pill Treasure Workshop finally replied, expressing their willingness to maintain a unified stance with Secret Pill Pavilion on the issue of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. After clearing the internal contradictions, the next day, Yu Jing took Pill Cauldron Pavilion and Pill Treasure Workshop to the Alchemist Association of Tongtian Sect in the Capital. As Yu Jing had expected, the Alchemist Association also paid high attention to this talisman. President Chen Nanyi, in the presence of Yu Jing and the others, personally used amunication talisman to speak with Gao Miao from the Talisman Master Association. The stance from the Talisman Master Association is that the Willpower Empowerment Talisman ispletely legal, and it has passed their strictest testing conditions. Therefore, asking the Talisman Master Association to ban the talisman is practically an impossible task, he ryed. Yu Jing frowned, President Chen, we Chen Nanyi gestured with his hand, saying, I am aware of your concerns since I am also an alchemist myself. However, we cant be unreasonable and ban a talisman that has no issues, can we? Addressing your concerns, the Talisman Master Association has expressed willingness to hold an exchange meeting for you to discuss with the creator of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. Would you like to go? Of course we want to go, Yu Jing replied. Talisman Master Association conference room. During the entire exchange meeting, what surprised Yu Jing the most was Jiang Chengs age. He never expected that the creator of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman would be such a young man. Truly the younger generation is to be feared, Yu Jing remarked. The seniors praise is too generous. May I ask if the senior has any other doubts concerning the Willpower Empowerment Talisman? Yu Jing took out his speech and, from start to finish, detailed the consequences of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. Jiang Cheng summarized, Senior, let me see if I understand you correctly. Because this talisman threatens the interests of the alchemy industry, it needs to be banned, right? Yu Jing added, Its not just about interests, but also the potential for future development. Jiang Cheng nodded in understanding, In that case, let me give an example. Suppose there is a Magical Treasure that can refine elixirs more efficiently than an alchemy furnace and can work ceaselessly day and night, producing an endless supply of elixirs. I would like to ask you, should such a Magical Treasure be banned?
Yu Jing pondered for a moment before responding, It would make arge number of Pill Masters unemployed and cause social unrest, so it should be banned. After hearing this, Jiang Cheng then spoke to Gao Miao, who had been observing, President Gao, could you contact the Sect Leader of Tongtian Sect? Tell him to stop using it. Cough, cough, cough, cough! With a strategic coughing fit, Gao Miao interrupted Jiang Cheng. He felt the need to speak up, as based on his understanding of Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng would probably start dragging the Sect Leaders of the Five Great Immortal Sects into this, one by one.
Sect Head Yu, we need to develop our talismans just as you need to develop your alchemy. You cant just stop our development because it endangers alchemy, he said. Chen Nanyi added, I support President Gaos philosophy, but I think, no matter the industry, its development shouldnt be fueled by mortgaging the future of another industry. Gao Miao refuted, Any industry that resists change is going to suffer. Only by actively embracing the advancement of new technologies can we maintain strong vitality. Facing Jiang Cheng, Yu Jing felt a headacheing on. After all, he was one of the top pill cauldron pavilion masters in the Capital, and only with that clout could he persuade President Chen to help him ban the use of talismans. But this Jiang Cheng, so young and with such a low cultivation level, what was his background? How could he manage to make the President of the Talisman Master Association go to such lengths to protect him? Yu Jing realized it now. The Tongtian Sects Talisman Master Association was dead set on protecting Jiang Cheng and his Willpower Empowerment Talismans. They insisted there was nothing wrong with the talismans and refused to help ban them. It seemed there was no chance the Talisman Master Association would agree to a ban. But even if the Immortal Sects wouldnt budge, wasnt there still the imperial court? The imperial court wouldnt help? That just meant they hadnt spent enough spirit stones.
A heavy bag of spirit stones was ced in front of Prince Liang Chu. The prince picked it up, swept it with his divine sense, and immediately grinned, revealing a delighted smile. Pavilion Master Yu, its not that I dont want to help you, but, you see, if we are to ban something, we need a valid reason. Even going to war requires a just cause, right? Your Highness, theres no shortage of pill masters engaged in the alchemy trade in Liang Kingdom. If Willpower Empowerment Talismans be popr, at the very least they will kill off a third of the employment positions. The courts tax revenue is bound to be greatly affected. Arent these reasons enough? Not enough, not enough. These reasons are all too abstract. Please enlighten me, Your Highness! Simple. You just need to bring about two deaths, then me it on the talismans, right? Yu Jings face showed difficulty. It wasnt that he didnt want to frame the Willpower Empowerment Talismans. The main issue was that these talismans were indeed quite safe. And it seemed that Jiang Cheng was like the favored son of the Talisman Master Association. If he went too far and the Talisman Master Association intervened, and something amiss was discovered, wouldnt he, Yu Jing, be implicated as well? Seeing the troubled look on Yu Jings face, Prince Liang Chu furrowed his brows and said, Whats the purpose of this talisman? Does it have any side effects? Why dont you just focus on the side effects, wouldnt that solve the problem?
Yu Jing exined one by one, and finally said, At most it causes fatigue, which can be recovered from with some rest. After listening, Prince Liang Chu pondered, This talisman, its used to stimte the bodys potential, isnt it? So tell me, could it enhance my prowess during dual cultivation? Yu Jing had long heard that Prince Liang Chu was greedy and lecherous, but he hadnt expected him to think about that aspect even when it came to serious matters. I dont know about that. Dont know? Why not just try it and find out? Do you have a talisman? Let me try it. Do you want one thatsts a long time, or a short time? Of course, I want the long one! Forget it, give me all of them, Ill test their effects for you tonight. Yu Jing hesitated, Your Highness, what about my matter Prince Liang Chu waved his hand nonchntly, Hey, once I help you figure out the side effects, wouldnt all ideas be within easy reach? Its just a matter of banning a talisman, how hard could it be? Go back and wait for news. The next day. Prince Liang Chu, deceased. Chapter 191: 187: What on Earth Happened That Night? Prince Liang Chu was overjoyed when he learned of the effects of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, as if he had received divine assistance. Lately, he had indeed been feeling somewhat overwhelmed. He often suffered from sore waist and back pain, night sweats, and gasping for breath. With the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, he could once again rejuvenate his vigor and find his confidence! After obtaining the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, Prince Liang Chu couldnt even wait until evening before calling several concubines to his room to join him in celebration! At the same time, the ancient ancestor from the Divinity Transformation Realm in the pce was full of worry. Previously, the emperor had vanished suddenly, and the ancient ancestor had no choice but to leave his retreat to oversee the situation. Since the pce could not be left without a ruler for a day, he had no option but to instruct several eunuchs to impersonate the emperor in the emperors sleeping chambers. Later, this trick was likely seen through, leading to Prime Minister Qin Wentaos ancestral worship ceremony pressuring the pce. But fortunately, a group took advantage of the situation to attack the ancestral tomb, which not only distracted the attention of civil and military officials but also gave a reason for Emperor of Liang to be furious and heart-stricken and unable to rise due to illness. By now, they had temporarily managed to cover up the emperors absence.
However, the matter was far from over. Emperor of Liang had to designate a Crown Prince to take on the role of the next Emperor of Liang. This was supposed to be a task for the ablest person. But because the beam above was not straight, the beams below were also not able. They were basically crooked melons and cracked dates, each with their own ugliness. The slightly better ones were a few princesses. But a female emperor, the ancient ancestor stated he could not ept. He Liang Heng had painstakingly protected the kingdom of Great Liang for more than a thousand years. To protect it so just to give it to someone elses son, that was certainly not eptable. If they were to choose a prince, they still needed to choose from among the princes. It was just that he was having difficulty making a choice. As a Divinity Transformation Realm powerhouse with a long standby time and strong Divine Sense, Liang Heng actually knew many of the sordid affairs of the pce, including those of the princes. Things like a liking for beautiful women, coveting someones wife, or enjoying ying cards were all minor faults. Actions like colluding with enemy states, conspiring with Demonic Tao, or regarding human life as grass, these also didnt constitute major problems. As long as they had the ability to stabilize the situation, confront the Cab, and strive for the interests of the royal family, they would be considered a qualified Emperor of Liang. But the problem was that these bottom line requirements were allcking in the five princes. Putting them on the throne would be like sending heads to Prime Minister Qin Wentao, letting the Cab develop early and be invincible in group fightster on. This multiple-choice question was too difficult. Liang Heng kept pacing in the ancestral temple within the pces forbidden grounds.
Here were ced the Spirit Lamps of hundreds of main royal family members. The emperors disappearance and ultimate death were also known through the extinguishing of his Spirit Lamp. At this moment, the Spirit Lamp belonging to Liang Luan suddenly moved without wind, its light flickering uncertainly. Liang Hengs gaze sharpened, and he instantly located Prince Liang Luan through the Spirit Lamp, then sent a stream of Divine Sense over. A momentter, after roughly understanding the situation, Liang Heng revealed a smile.
Not bad, not bad. Having ws as an emperor is eptable, but whats frightening is theck of ambition. Jiang Cheng, where are you? Bai Xiaohes voice came through themunication talisman. Im at Miaodan Workshops Fuyang Road Store, whats wrong, He? Jiang Chengs voice was as ever, kind and steady. Our stores Willpower Empowerment Talismans are selling out again. Can you send over more stock? Of course, but todays Miaodan Workshops new store opening should divert quite a few clients interested in the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. Your store should be much better tomorrow. Bai Xiaohe sighed and said, Thest time Miaodan Workshop opened a new store, you said the same thing. When Jiang Cheng was preparing to invest in Miaodan Workshop, he had discussed it with Liu Qing, her, and Yue Linger. At that time, Miaodan Workshop was at a low point, even suffering from the debuff of being fined and sanctioned by the court, and normal people would not have been optimistic about Miaodan Workshops future. But Jiang Cheng said, Investing, huh, where is there a surefire business? Bai Xiaohe thought about it and concluded; if they were to incur a loss, so be it. Relying on Jiang Chengs talent for drawing talismans, earning five million low-grade Spirit Stones again would not be a difficult task.
As it turned out, Bai Xiaohes judgment was absolutely correct. The sales of the Willpower Empowerment Talismans were incredibly booming, and the sales figures climbed to new records every day. The Tongbao Pavilion at Huayuan Road Store was at a level where they sold as much stock as they had. Now the only option was to urge Jiang Cheng to supply more goods to their Tongbao Pavilion. After all, he now had his feet in two boats, having taken on another talisman distributorMiaodan Workshop. Previously, Bai Xiaohes pressure mainly stemmed from Tongbao Pavilions lifeless business, but now with the hot sales at Tongbao Pavilion, an additionalyer of pressurended upon herShen Menghan. No matter how good business was at Tongbao Pavilion, they only had one store. However, Miaodan Workshop could keep opening new stores. Over time, Tongbao Pavilions position in Jiang Chengs view would undoubtedly decline. This in turn could indirectly lead to her position by Jiang Chengs side being gradually reced by Shen Menghan! No, I have to think of a way to be the manager of the Capitals gship store, Bai Xiaohe murmured softly. He, what did you just say? From the other side of themunication talisman, Jiang Chengs voice came through. Oh, its nothing, nothing. The talismans are selling quite well, Bai Xiaohe said, her face flushing red. Yeah, the sales are indeed pretty good. But I always feel like theyre selling a bit too well? I remember calcting the Capital cultivators demand for pills back then, and based on those estimates, I ced orders with Ocean Talisman Studio to draw the talismans. It shouldnt be this red-hot, right? Its good that business is good; dont think too much about it, she reassured.
Hmm, I hope this time they will sell for a longer period, he responded. Bai Xiaoheforted him in a soft voice, Dont be so pessimistic. It cant be that every talisman you draw brings trouble, right? That would be too coincidental. The next day, rumors of Prince Liang Chu dying from using a talisman swept through the Capital. The Pce, atypically, chose not to suppress the news of Prince Liang Chus death through talisman usage but allowed it to ferment and spread freely. Most people spected that the Emperor was still outraged over the previous ancestral tomb incident and had not yet recovered. Nevertheless, after two days of spreading, the news had reached every corner of the Capital. No matter what, a prince was still a prince, and it was death by the usage of a talisman. Bai Xiaohe immediately used amunication talisman to reach out to Jiang Cheng. I am fine, Jiang Cheng said, You should be more concerned about how todays business is going. If theres a drop in sales, Ill need to contact Ocean Talisman Studio to reduce production. Bai Xiaohe urged anxiously, You still have the mind to worry about business? Arent you afraid the authorities wille to arrest you? Theres nothing to worry about; its definitely not the talismans fault, Jiang Cheng said confidently. Being unable to convince Jiang Cheng, Bai Xiaohe could only go downstairs to check whether todays business at Tongbao Pavilion was affected by the rumors about Prince Liang Chu. Then she discovered that todays sales were more than double what they had been the day before.
No customerined about their talismans being expensive anymore. If it hadnt been for Tongbao Pavilions purchase limit policy, those customers would have loved to buy dozens of Willpower Empowerment Talismans each. Tao Fang, whats going on? she asked. It seems rted to the news from the Pce, Tao Fang replied. Bai Xiaohe voiced her astonishment, Yeah, didnt someone die? Why are sales still so good? Tao Fang said somewhat awkwardly, Yes, there was a death, but manager, do you know how the Fourth Prince died? Bai Xiaohe answered, They said he died in bed. Tao Fang shook his head and said, Not quite urate. To be precise, he died of exhaustion. Died of exhaustion? How could that even An old ox, plowing dozens of acres ofnd in one night without even pausing to catch its breathif it were you, youd die of exhaustion too, right? Bai Xiaohes eyes widened, and she covered her mouth. Although she had never experienced such a thing, she understood some basicmon sense. Theres an old saying: no field is too tough to plow, only oxen that die of exhaustion. It fittingly describes the rtionship between the field and the ox. If the Fourth Prince truly plowed dozens of acres in one night, dying of exhaustion was indeed entirely possible. Manager, now you understand why so many people are queuing to buy talismans, right? Tao Fangmented, With the Fourth Princes death, who knows how long we can still sell these talismans. And with such effective results, people are worried they might miss out on buying them. But what Bai Xiaohe was concerned about right now was not the matter of the death from exhaustion, but Jiang Cheng. If the Fourth Prince really did die from exhaustion, then the Willpower Empowerment Talisman must have a w. In that case, wouldnt Jiang Cheng be in trouble He could be facing cmity! Chapter 192: 188: Jiang Cheng, Do You Know Your Crime? Chapter 192: Chapter 188: Jiang Cheng, Do You Know Your Crime? The Emperor of Liang had no direct administrative power, only the right to veto. Therefore, even with the death of Prince Liang Chu, the Emperor could not directly order The Ministry of Justice and other institutions to investigate the case. However, the Emperor could write a letter to the Prime Minister, allowing the Prime Minister tomand the civil and military officials. If the Prime Minister did not ept the Emperors suggestion, then the Emperor might intentionally use his veto power to make things difficult for the Cab in future administrative and judicial matters. If you dont give me face, naturally I see no need to give you face Moreover, the death of a prince was no small matter; even without the Emperors suggestion, the Cab could not simply turn a blind eye. Under the Emperor of Liangs suggestion, the Cab, in response to the incident involving Prince Liang Chu, rapidly convened officials from The Ministry of Punishments, The Ministry of Justice, and The Censorate to form a joint investigation team, implementing the highest level of judicial review in the court known as Three Ministries Joint Trial. From the pce side, a peak Core Formation member of the Imperial Armys Deputy Commander was dispatched to protect the investigation team officials. For the investigation team officials, investigating the case, analyzing the circumstances, and determining guilt were all part of their job and not difficult. The difficultyy in pinning the crime on someone.
Prince Liang Chus reputation was not very good; he had offended a fair number of people. And he had also offended his brothers, who were also princes. If it turned out that a certain prince intentionally caused Prince Liang Chus death in order to fight for the throne, Would they want this result, or not? Prince Liang Chu was already dead and couldnt be Emperor, but the prince who hadnt died could potentially be the Emperor. Once he became Emperor, he could veto the Cabs personnel appointments. He could even threaten the Prime Minister, forcing him to rece officials. He could even arrange assassinations, and as Emperor, he would have the power to veto the verdict of his own case. These were the special privileges that the royal family had traded for during the Constitutional Monarchy. This job is too difficult, said Pang Yuan, Minister of The Ministry of Justice, with a sigh. If it were easy, they wouldnt have called on us deputies, Wei Chenhan from The Censorateined. Speak cautiously; the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army is still waiting in the room, Wang Weien of The Ministry of Punishments reminded in a low voice. Its best to find a mastermind with a clean identity, and then this matter cane to an end. We all have elders above and children below, theres no need to dig too deep. Hmm. Alright. The three swiftly reached a consensus. In the current bureaucratic atmosphere of Liang Kingdom, it was hard enough to protect oneself. Wanting to aplish something significant was too difficult; it was simply not possible. As for digging deeper, that was purely suicidal behavior. Because if you dig deep enough, you will always uncover someone you should not provoke.
The three main members of the investigation team returned to the temporary office constructed for the Three Ministries Joint Trial at the court. The arrest officers from Six Fan Gate were responsible for the actual gathering of evidence and solving the case. At this point, quite a few case-rted files had been ced on the desks of the investigation teams office. Among them were statements from several of Prince Liang Chus concubines.
There were also many witness statements and testimonies from maids and servants within the Prince Mansion. Upon reading the concubines statements, Pang Yuan of The Ministry of Justice took in a cold breath. Damn, Willpower Empowerment Talismans are this powerful? Almostplete firepower suppression. Do you know where theyre sold? I want to make my own contribution to solving the case. Wang Weien of The Ministry of Punishments reminded in a low voice, Ahem. We can talk about this after work. Theres a historian nearby. The three nodded in understanding and returned to their work. The situation pieced together from the statements roughly went as follows: Prince Liang Chu obtained many Willpower Empowerment Talismans from a friend and, armed with the talismans, waged daylight warfare with several of his concubines until eight oclock at night. He had not left his room during that time, and all concubines could attest to this. Buoyed by his remarkable military achievements, Prince Liang Chu grew increasingly confident. Thus, he left his chambers, and, based on the estimates of his concubines and the maids of the Prince Mansion, he most likely went to the Jiaofang Division. In the end, Prince Liang Chu was indeed found in the Jiaofang Division. Otherwise, the news could not have spread throughout the Capital so quickly. Further, ording to the autopsy report on Prince Liang Chus body by the coroner, it was determined that he did indeed die from exhaustion. With the above information, one could easily construct a narrative for the case: Prince Liang Chu obtained talismans that could improve his virility from a friend, then, relying on the talismans, he gained an excessive amount of confidence. In the end, he exhausted himself to death in the Jiaofang Division. Undoubtedly, the key to the issue lies with the friend and the friends provided talismans! The identity of Prince Liang Chus friend is still under investigation, but the creator of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman has already been identified.
ording to the file information, the creator of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman isa freshman from Lotus Cloud University, a resident of Wuyue in Xiang State, an 18-year-old young man, male, unmarried, Jiang Cheng! Such pristine information was ideal for the investigation team, portraying the perfect person responsible for the case. The main me was ced on the head of the university student with the surname Jiang, while the essory me was reserved for the friend. Case solved! Everyone is happy! Summon Jiang Cheng! I, myself, will interrogate him! At Lotus University, in the Talisman Drawing ss 1 sketch course. Jiang Cheng, is Jiang Cheng here? If hes absent, itll be marked as a missed ss, the teacher said. Ding Guangming: Eh? Wheres Cheng? Hes never missed a ss. Song Junsheng responded, Jiang Cheng has been quite busy recently. He ordered a batch of talismans from my familys shop, and it was a sizeable amount. College students should focus on studying and enjoying life; making money is just a side hustle, Zhu Hongcai said scornfully. Ding Guangming retorted, Hong Cai, but you havent been studying well either, have you? Zhu Hongcai angrily shot back, Just mentioning that makes me angry. Did I not study well? People always say, establish a family and a career. Havent I not yet established a family?
Chapter 193: 188: Jiang Cheng, Do You Know Your Crime?_2 Chapter 193: Chapter 188: Jiang Cheng, Do You Know Your Crime?_2 Ding Guangming thought to himself, Cheng hasnt settled down either! No, thats not right, Cheng always stays outside on Saturdays and Sundays, and he often takes away meals for two from the cafeteria. Rumors say he has rented a ce outside, could it be Song Junsheng, knowing that Jiang Cheng was low-key, did not reveal the number of Talismans he ordered to Zhu Hongcai. The quality requirement for the Talismans ordered by Jiang Cheng was quite high, so the price was not cheap either. The disposable ones from the Ocean Talisman Studio were priced at 20 Spirit Stones each, and the Reusable Type was even more expensive, at about 80 Spirit Stones each. If Jiang Cheng were unscrupulous and sold these Talismans for double the price, he would make a profit of eight hundred thousand! No matter how one looked at it, it wasnt a small sum of money. Song Junsheng sighed silently in his heart; he felt that the gap between him and Jiang Cheng was growing wider and wider. Previously, he felt that his Talisman drawing skill was slightly inferior to Jiang Chengs. Later on, he felt that the gap between his Talisman drawing and Jiang Chengs was at least the difference of a second-order Talisman Master like Cui Zhifei. Now, he felt that Talisman drawing might be the smallest gap between him and Jiang Cheng.
When Jiang Cheng was earning eight hundred thousand, he was still living on the eight hundred Spirit Stones his family gave him for living expenses. Junsheng, should we inform the Counselor? I feel that even if Cheng was really busy before, he would ask for leave from the teacher. Today he didnt ask for leave; could something have happened? Ding Guangming pondered. Thats unlikely. Jiang Cheng is usually very cautious. What could possibly happen to him? Hes not Zhu Hongcai after all. Zhu Hongcai: What? You had to step on me too, huh? After careful consideration, Song Junsheng still said, To be safe, Ill ask the ss leader to send a message to the Counselor. Just say that Jiang Cheng did not ask for leave and is suddenly skipping ss. When Jiang Cheng was arrested, he was in the only remaining research institute of Miaodan Workshop, discussing thetest Elixirs that Miaodan Workshop was preparing tounch with Shen Menghan. During the most critical period for Miaodan Workshop, Shen Menghan followed Jiang Chengs advice and even sold the family estate, securing a dozen passionate young second-order Pill Masters, and almost all the Certified Pills rted to female cultivators for the new Miaodan Workshop. This preservation was the confidence that allowed the new Miaodan Workshop to immediately engage in the research and development of new Elixirs after Jiang Cheng invested. Simply enhancing the effects of detoxification and Beauty Preserving is not enough; it fundamentally has no difference from the old Beauty Preserving Pill, Jiang Cheng issued a sharp critique of Miaodan Workshops new Beauty Preserving Pill. Then how should we improve it? Shen Menghan asked. Jiang Cheng frowned and pondered, while Shen Menghan silently watched him with her chin rested on her hands. Suddenly, Jiang Cheng looked up and said, Yes, just like that. Like what? Like you. Me? Yes, that kind of subtle smile, with eyes sparkling brightly. Shen Menghans eyes widened, and she quickly lowered her head. Oh no, was my expression that obvious? Did he notice? Jiang Cheng gave a sharp critique, We can add some ingredients that brighten and refresh the eyes, along with something for aiding sleep, relieving stress, making one feel light, and reducing pain and fatigue. When ones mood improves, their mental state and appearance naturally get better.
Shen Menghan, with an expressionless face: Ah, I think I somewhat understand Yue Linger now. Can it be done? Jiang Cheng asked. Shen Menghan came back to her senses and said, Yes! But the price will The price doesnt matter, as long as we upgrade the packaging, the price is not a problem.
All right then. At this point, Shen Menghan had no other choice but to listen to Jiang Cheng. Otherwise, what could she do? All her leverage was in his hands. But did he actually look or not? Jiang Cheng, that Memory Sphere, did you look at it? Shen Menghan quietly asked. Jiang Cheng said, Didnt you say it was very important? So I didnt look. But Ive put it in a very safe ce. No one will find it.pointing to Liu Qings bedroom Oh. Shen Menghan felt a mix of relief and disappointment. Which one of you is Jiang Cheng? Several constables strode into the research room of the Miaodan Workshop. I am Jiang Cheng. Good, you are suspected of causing death to a member of the royal family by negligence, and we ask you toe to the government office for questioning, take him away. The arrest officer waved his hand grandly, and several constables swarmed in. In her panic, Shen Menghan yelled, Someone help! I dare you to touch him!
At that moment, Miaodan Workshop had more than ten second-order Pill Masters. In both number and Cultivation Level, they absolutely overwhelmed the constables. The arrest officers expression grew stern, about to warn them, when he heard Jiang Cheng speak before him. ording to thews of Great Liang, violently resisting arrest involves the crime of obstructing official duties and can be sentenced to up to three years of prison, Jiang Cheng spoke like a frontier of thew, champion of legal enlightenment. Didnt expect you to be someone in the know, said the arrest officer with a chuckle. Jiang Cheng then said to Shen Menghan, Just let the President of the Talisman Master Association know, that would be helping me enough. Shen Menghan grabbed Jiang Chengs hand, her emotions running high, Jiang Cheng! Jiang Chengs face turned palebecause Shen Menghan, at the ninth level of Qi cultivation, had a rather strong grip, it hurt him so much that his face turned white. Dont get agitated, and definitely dont cry. In front of so many employees, if you show weakness, how can you be a boss? Rest assured, I havent broken anyws. Unless something unexpected happens, I should be able to return home before dark. The constable taking him away tugged at his ear and said, Are you done dawdling? You can still visit the prison even after being locked up, they wont behead you any time soon. Take him away, take away! The Ministry of Justice. Under the Bright Mirror Hung High signboard, there was an impressive broad desk in the hall. Instead of one chair behind the desk, there were three, representing a joint trial by the three departments.
In the center sat Pang Yuan, the Minister of The Ministry of Justice, while Wang Weien from The Ministry of Punishments and Wei Chenhan from The Censorate sat on either side. Below the three were the historians responsible for record-keeping and the Chief Clerk in charge of documenting case details. Further behind them stood the government offices staff wielding long staves. Chapter 194: 188: Jiang Cheng, Do You Know Your Crime?_3 Chapter 194: Chapter 188: Jiang Cheng, Do You Know Your Crime?_3 Bring in the suspect Jiang Cheng,manded Pang Yuan. Jiang Cheng was led into the hall by two constables. Jiang Cheng, Prince Liang Chu is dead. Do you know that? With a calm expression, Jiang Cheng replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, I know. He died from your Talisman. Do you know that? Its impossible for him to die from my Talisman. Pang Yuan didnt want to waste words and said to the advisor beside him, Read. The advisor took out a scroll and began, ording to the testimony of Sun from the Prince Mansion, His Highness held several Talismans, which immobilized me and my sisters Enough, enough, no need for such detail. Next, Pang Yuan hastily gestured. ording to the testimony of the lead courtesan of Jiaofang Division, Huayang, The Fourth Prince had a kind of Talisman, I recognize it, its some kind of Willpower Empowerment Talisman, its effects extremely fierce, with the Talisman unexpired, he was invincible. I had heard other sisters mention it, I didnt believe it at the time
Stop! Jiang Cheng, these are the remaining Talismans we found inside the Fourth Princes clothes, Pang Yuan picked up the evidence in the stic bag and continued, They have the Fourth Princes fingerprints on them. It can be proved he used your Talisman. Now that we have both the culprit and the evidence, what more sophistry can you offer? Jiang Cheng argued logically, Just because he used my Talisman doesnt necessarily mean the Talisman caused his death. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that I am responsible for the death of the Fourth Prince. Wei Chenhan felt irritable looking at how Jiang Cheng was arguing. They had been pushed by their superiors to handle the situation, already under enough pressure, yet this obstinate civilian showed not a hint of consideration for officials. Wei Chenhan transmitted his thoughts telepathically: Why waste words with him? A few strikes from a nk, and hell confess to everything. Pang Yuan thought the same. Jiang Cheng had no backing, so why bother being polite? Lets deal with the punishment first. The suspect roars in the court, disrespectful to the officials, twenty beatings! Jiang Cheng warned, Your Honor, please be prudent. ording to Liang Law, the misuse of punishment will be held to ount afterward. Depending on the severity, one could be dismissed and imprisoned at the highest penalty. Pang Yuanughed angrily, Are you an official of the court? Do you understand Liang Law better than I do? So you wish to hold me responsible? Fine, if you can, then do so. Guards, the suspect shows contempt for the court, no respect for thew, add another twenty! Just as an officer grabbed Jiang Chengs arm, a clear shout came from a distance: Id like to see who dares to touch him! Li Qingge descended like a meteor, thrusting her hand forward, and the two officers beside Jiang Cheng were instantly sent flying, coughing up blood and retreating non-stop! Furious, Pang Yuan shouted, Where did this wild Core Formation cultivatore from? How dare they make trouble in the Ministry of Justice! Call Vice Commander Han to suppress them! Vice Commander Han Zhengyu of the Imperial Army was about to take action, but suddenly felt an overwhelming Nascent Soul-level pressure enveloping the court! Who are you calling a wild breed? A stern-faced woman of stunning appearance appeared within the court. Pang Yuan and the others didnt recognize Li Qingge, but they recognized this woman the Helmsman of Taixu Sect in Liang Kingdom, also Chancellor of Qinghe Xuanran University, ate-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, Shang Yufeng. Pang Yuan, such authority, do you remember me, Shang? Shang Yufeng said with a cold smile. Weak at the knees, Pang Yuan thought to himself that it was over.
Desperately, he sought help through Divine Sense: Who said Jiang Cheng had no backing? Dammit, the head of the university had been rmed! Now that a Nascent Soul Cultivator had arrived, what should we do? Thankfully, its just the Taixu Sect; they dont have deep roots in our kingdom, they cant shake us. There shouldnt be a problem, said Wei Chenhan with relief. Wang Weien: If I remember correctly, Jiang Cheng isnt a student from Qingxuan University; hes from Lotus University. Wei Chenhan, Pang Yuan: ???
Could it be Three figures crashed into the Ministry of Justice like meteors. They were Guo Xiuyuan, Gao Miao, and the Dean of Lotus Universitys Treasure and Talismans Academy, a mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, Jian Youqiu. Jian Youqiu was a sprightly old man who, stroking his beard, said, Look at this, we meet fellow cultivators from another sect here. What? Did your school also have a student apprehended? Pang Yuan and the others felt tingling on their scalps. They had seen the Immortal Sects protect their own before. But the protection by two major Immortal Sects together was indeed a first! Just what was Jiang Chengs background? Could it be that both major Immortal Sects were here for him alone? Honorable Lords, Jiang Cheng spoke, drawing the gaze of everyone present. After all, it was because of him that they all had gathered. Jiang Cheng was polite, Honorable Lords, you mentioned earlier that I roared in the court, showing no respect for thew, a im I disagree with. But the ones who cameter, in my view, certainly roared in the court and showed no regard for thew. Now that we have both the suspects and the evidence, I request you to order them to be punished! The hall fell silent.
Jiang Chengs voice was firm, Please issue the order! Pang Yuan stood frozen, daring not to make a move. Chapter 195: 189: Minors Not Allowed Entry Chapter 195: Chapter 189: Minors Not Allowed Entry Pang Yuan and his two associates were already regretting their decision. They had originally intended to find someone with no significant background to take the fall, which led them to choose Jiang Cheng, a university student with a clean record. Jiang Cheng had no connections to power, no influence, and no talent. A textbook example of a scapegoat, silent under the burden of me. But who could have expected that Jiang Cheng would be such a hard nut to crack! When they kicked against him, Jiang Cheng emerged unscathed, while their own feet sufferedminuted fractures. Facing Jiang Chengs ordering questioning, Pang Yuan had no idea what to do. To sentence the Immortal Sect to punishment by rod was out of the question, as it would be impossible and would be a p in the face to both him and thews of Liang Kingdom. To not sentence the Immortal Sect to punishment would mean allowing the sect members to continue their disturbances, which was still a p in the face to him and thews of Liang Kingdom. But this wasnt Pang Yuans fault! The rules of Great Liang simply did not apply to the disciples of the Immortal Sect!
From beneath the hall, Dean Jian Youqiu of the Treasure and Talismans Academy watched Jiang Chengs retreating back and secretly sent a message to Guo Xiuyuan. Jian Youqiu: Are all the students from your Talisman Department so full of character? Guo Xiuyuan wiped his sweat: Dean, Jiang Chengs personality is actually quite easygoing. Jian Youqiu widened his eyes: With the support of his Immortal Sect elders, his few words have put the court officials in a spot where they cant step down. And you call this easygoing? Guo Xiuyuan wiped his sweat again: Theres no need to worry, Dean. Although Jiang Cheng is easygoing, he likes to speak the unvarnished truth. I believe he means exactly what he sayshe just wants those officials to be punished. Jian Youqiu was startled once more: He wants others to punish us? Is he trying to betray his mentors and ancestors, this boy! As Guo Xiuyuan tried to exin further, he only made things worse, so he simply gave up on exining. Once Dean Jian has dealt with a few more talisman disputes involving Jiang Cheng, he will understand. After all, Jiang Cheng is only a freshman nowDean Jian will have plenty of opportunities to step in on his behalf in the future. Suspecting him of killing a prince? Whats the big deal? Didnt Jiang Cheng previously allure the Dragon n Commandery Princess and furiously excavate the Emperor of Liangs royal tomb, creating a situation far more dire than this? The Dean stillcks experience and cant keep hisposure. He needs more practice. The officials from the Ministry of Punishments have quicker wits, with Wang Weien asking Pang Yuan in front of everyone, Minister Pang, did you call Open Court just now? Did I call it? I didnt call it! Yes, I did not call for the court to be opened; the interrogation just now was not official. Lets start over! Pang Yuan, pale as a ghost, thought to himself how fortunate he was that Minister Wang was quick-thinking enough to provide a way out. Otherwise, their shameful performance would have left an eternal stain. The court historian wrote with divine inspiration beneath the hall: The suspect Jiang Cheng stood imposingly like a deity, while the court officials above scurried like rats, incapable of responding. With the Grand Secretary and mean ratsing together, how could they govern Great Liang properly? Open Court! Pang Yuan reconvened the court, and it was as if the previous events had never happened.
Immortal Sect disciples breaking into the court? That never happened. The court wasnt even officially in session yetwhere was there a court? As long as the baseline of thew plunges quickly enough, Immortal Sect disciples will never break it.
Liang Kingdom remains a respected rule-ofw country. Jiang Cheng, I ask you, Prince Liang Chu died because of your talismans, are you aware of this? Pang Yuan rallied. I am. Pang Yuans eyes bulged, Didnt you just say you were unaware? Who told you? You did, sir. Oh, that was just hushed gossip before the court was opened. It doesnt count. Pang Yuan smoothed things over, Since you are unaware, our evidence is also insufficient on this side. We just wanted to inform you about it. Alright, once Six Fan Gate has collected more evidence, well call you again for a trial. Court dismissed! Wait a moment! Jiang Cheng stood up and said, Sir, ording to standard courtroom procedure, even if the evidence is insufficient, its still necessary to inquire about the suspects motive, alibi, and self-defense. Your decision to close court was too hasty, please open court and proceed with the trial again! At this point, Pang Yuan was dumbfounded. It was the first time in his life that he had seen two great Immortal Sectse together to protect someone. It was also the first time he had seen a suspect who, despite his intentions to close court, actively called for a retrial. So who exactly is the Minister of Justice here? Pang Yuan used his divine sense tomunicate: This kid doesnt let me close court. It feels deliberate. You dont think that Prince Liang Chus death could actually be rted to the Immortal Sect, do you? Wang Weien: Very likely.
Wei Chenhan: So do we continue the investigation? Pang Yuan: Thats about enough, which of these powerful figures can we afford to provoke? Pang Yuan, bracing himself, followed the procedures of Jiang Cheng to a tee, and finally announced the adjournment of the court. The result: Your Honor, please wait, theres one more matter you havent inquired about. Jiang Cheng timely reminded. Pang Yuan felt sweat soaking his back; in front of Jiang Cheng, he felt like a student taking a judicial exam, unable to answer a single question yet under the intense scrutiny of the invigting teacher. Jiang Cheng, if theres anything Ive done poorly, please tell me directly, and I will definitely make amends. You havent asked about the reliability of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. You should entrust it to a reliable third-party testing institution to assess whether it poses any potential safety risks that could result in death. If there are any, you should immediately report to the Grand Secretary and ban its use nationwide. Pang Yuan: Speaking of banning talismans, why are you so familiar with this? Alright, alright, let the court reconvene. Just so happens the person in charge of the Taixu Sect is here, and we will send the remaining talismans that Prince Liang Chu used to the Taixu Sects Talisman Master Association for testing right away. Jiang Cheng, if you have any other requests, please dont be polite, just say it. Thats all, Jiang Cheng nodded. Court adjourned! Everyone from Tongtian Sect breathed a sigh of relief.
When they first heard that Jiang Cheng was taken away by the government office, Gao Miao thought he was going to take the me again. They had tested the Willpower Empowerment Talisman hundreds of times without a single issue; by rights, no mishaps should have urred. But judging by the current situation, the major me for the death of the Prince shouldnt fall on their heads. Jian Youqiu curiously remarked, Xiuyuan, does our academy also teachw? The way Jiang Cheng handled that, it feels like he knows more than the officials from The Ministry of Punishments. Guo Xiuyuan replied awkwardly, Dean, our academys students usually have very good self-learning abilities. Having a bit of a hobby in their spare time, like filingwsuits, is quite normal. Jian Youqiu stroked his beard and said, Students nowadays really are strange, with a fondness for litigation. When I was in school, everyone liked to visit the Jiaofang Division and sleep with big sisters. But we couldnt wear the school uniform, especially the high school ones. Guo Xiuyuan: Whys that? Underage, they werent allowed in. Gao Miao: Where werent they allowed in? Guo Xiuyuan: The Jiaofang Division, of course. Dean Jian Yourself exined: The Jiaofang Division did allow entry. I usually just filled in my dads name. Gao Miao, Guo Xiuyuan: Huh? Then where werent they allowed in? Compared to Dean Jian, Jiang Chengs interests seemed a lot more normal.
At least, Jiang Cheng was legal. Li Qingge from the Taixu Sect swiftly approached Jiang Cheng. She whispered, I didnt expect you to be quite tsundere. Jiang Chengs mouth twitched, Senior Li, the adjectives you choose to describe me sure are imaginative. Li Qingge said teasingly, Isnt it true? Just over half a month ago, you swore you wouldnt help us. But in the blink of an eye, you took down Prince Liang Chu. Isnt that tsundere? Jiang Cheng was shocked, Senior Li, how can you nder me out of thin air? The matter with Prince Liang Chu has nothing to do with me! Li Qingge winked, I know. Youre all about obeying thew, right? She held out her hand, We all said wed protect you, and were not joking. Look, Im the first toe, right? More reliable than Tongtian Sect. Keep it up, little brother Jiang Cheng. Although Li Qingge was his senior, Jiang Cheng had no intention of shaking hands. Once he shook hands, he would be thoroughly unable to clear his name. Jiang Cheng, called Shang Yufeng as she approached, she was both the Dean of Qingxuan University and the Helmsman of the Taixu Sects chapters in Liang Kingdom, essentially the highest leader of all Taixu Sects forces in Liang Kingdom. To save Jiang Cheng, Tongtian Sect only sent the dean of the Treasure and Talismans Academy. But the Taixu Sect had their top leader attend. The implications were clear at a nce. Senior Shang, Jiang Cheng respectfully greeted. Shang Yufeng nodded and transmitted her voice, You did well, keep it up. Taixu Sect is your firmest support in Liang Kingdom. Go ahead with your endeavors without hesitation; we will always stand by your side. Jiang Cheng, at a loss for words, was about to exin when he heard Dean Jian from Lotus University say, Fellow Daoist Shang, youve arrived so early, why dont I see any students from Qingxuan University here? Chapter 196: 190: Death Again, Talisman Banned Chapter 196: Chapter 190: Death Again, Talisman Banned Although at first nce, it seems Jian Youqiu is the older one; after all, his figure is hunched, and his hair is streaked with white. But Shang Yufeng, as the face of the Taixu Sect in the Liang Kingdom, doesnt intend to give Jian Youqiu any respect. She is the president of Qingxuan University and the helmsman of the Taixu Sects Liangguo Subrudder; just from her titles alone, she is at least two levels above Jian Youqiu. Being polite to Jian Youqiu would be like undermining the reputation of the Taixu Sect. Does Senior Jian hope for us to arriveter so we can watch the Lotus University students get flogged by the government office together? Its unusual to see the Taixu Sect so enthusiastic on regr days. To see a pearl covered in dust and yet feel reluctant to brush it away is amon human emotion. From what Senior Shang is saying, is the Taixu Sect nning to make an exception to recruit male disciples? I, Shang Yufeng, cannot decide for the Taixu Sect, but in Qingxuan University, my word isw. Is Senior Jian nning to give us a grand gift for Qingxuan University? Jiang Cheng watched the Treasure and Talismans Academys Academy Chief and the Qingxuan Universitys President exchange verbal jabs and thought to himself how the Immortal Sects only appeared harmonious on the surface; in private, it was a constant battle of overt and covert schemes, and no holds were barred. Jiang Cheng, lets go, Guo Xiuyuan signaled to Jiang Cheng with a nce.
Jiang Cheng immediately excused himself politely, bidding farewell to Li Qingge and the others. On the way back to school, Jian Youqiu didnt mention the Willpower Empowerment Talisman or the interrogation by the government office at all. Instead, he spoke with earnest gravity, Jiang Cheng, a womans heart is unfathomable like the depths of the ocean. The waters of the Taixu Sect are deeper than those of the other four sectsbined. Dean, I understand, Jiang Cheng replied. Jian Youqiu thought to himself that you dont understand a thing. At your age, youre exactly at the time when women can easily manipte you. It would already be good if you dont turn into a pathetic fawner, and you im to understand? Even I, after encountering countless people, came to a profound realization only afterwards. Have you ever heard of the Lieyang Sect? Jian Youqiu asked with his hands sped behind his back. Jiang Cheng nodded, I have. You havent heard, have you? I usually dont discuss such secrets of the sects Eh? You have? Jian Youqiu was startled. As a nner, Jiang Cheng had, of course, heard of the Lieyang Sect. Although the Five Great Immortal Sects are the topmost sects, they are not the only ones. Below them, there are many first-rate sects, with the Lieyang Sect being one of them. I generally do not discuss matters of the Lieyang Sect with others, but today is your lucky day. In the past, the Sect Master of the Lieyang Sect was the junior brother of the Sect Leader of the Tongtian Sect. Initially, the two were very close, but they turned against each other over a holy maiden of the Taixu Sect. In the end, incensed for the sake of his beloved, the Sect Master of the Lieyang Sect led away many core members of the Tongtian Sect to establish the Lieyang Sect. The Tongtian Sect suffered greatly from this and took a long time to recover. What knowledge did you gain from the story of your senior? Jian Youqiu asked. Jiang Cheng answered immediately, Before recruiting disciples, make sure to have them sign nonpete agreements to prevent them from joining other sects and using the resources of their own sect to establish new ones. Otherwise, you could face legitimate ims from the Tongtian Sect. What are you talking about? Its about not believing the sweet nothings women say! That Taixu Sects Holy Maiden tricked the Lieyang Sect Master into leaving and then broke up with him! The Taixu Sect never gave the resources they promised to the Lieyang Sect! Now the Lieyang Sect only recruits male disciples and no female disciples because of what happened back then! Now I understand, Jiang Cheng said. Jian Youqiu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that although Jiang Chengs interests were peculiar, his understanding was still eptable. Good, as long as you understand, Jian Youqiu said.
Jiang Cheng nodded, speaking with assurance, Yes, this is mainly because the Sect Master of the Lieyang Sectcked legal awareness and did not sign a wager agreement with the Taixu Sects Holy Maiden. Before establishing his own sect, he should have first secured a marital alliance with the Holy Maiden, ensuring a union of shared interests for mutual defense and offense. Then, he needed to sign a wager agreement with the Taixu Sect Leader, stipting the amount of resources the Lieyang Sect would take and the assistance the Taixu Sect was to provide. Gao Miao asked, What if the Taixu Sect decided to go back on their word? Naturally, ording to the agreement, they would demand reparation from the Taixu Sect, Jiang Cheng replied. And if the Taixu Sect refused to pay up? Gao Miao inquired.
Jiang Cheng said quite naturally, If the Taixu Sect resorted to nder and reneged on their promise, they would lose the peoples hearts first and moral high ground second. As cultivators, all of us despise wickedness. If the Sect Master of the Lieyang Sect called to arms, wouldnt the other sects rally to his cause, and with one call, the whole world would unite in support? Gao Miao pped his hands in excitement, What a brilliant scheme in the open light! With this, facing the overwhelming trend of the world, the Taixu Sect would have no choice but to yield! Guo Xiuyuan also nodded, saying, Thats indeed the case. Compared to Jiang Cheng, the Sect Master of the Lieyang Sect is still too naive. Jiang Cheng humbly replied, No no, the Sect Master is just more romantic, and tends to trust others too much. With just a little guidance, I believe the Sect Master would definitelye to understand quickly. And the meaning of thew is to protect us ordinary cultivators who believe in truth, goodness, and beauty. Gao Miao empathized as if he too had been wronged by a woman before: Well said. It seems necessary to consider suggesting to the school the addition of essential legal knowledge courses, Guo Xiuyuan expressed his agreement. Jian Youqiu looked at the three of them, his face full of astonishment: Wait, my point was to keep Jiang Cheng away from Shang Yufeng and her group. What are you all even talking about? After Jiang Cheng returned home, everyone thought that the storm surrounding Prince Liang Chu had already passed. Even Jiang Cheng himself, who was always cautious, believed this to be the case. Because the Willpower Empowerment Talisman is of a safe standard and its principle is feigning death, it inherently has no offensive nature and could not have led to the death of Prince Liang Chu. Even if tested by the Taixu Sects Talisman Association, the result would not change. However, on the third day after Jiang Cheng was summoned, another explosive piece of news once again swept through the Capital.
A son from a fifth-grade officials family had died. The cause of death was exactly like that of Prince Liang Chu! Exhausted by endless toil, he had died of sheer fatigue. This time it was not at the Jiaofang Division, but at another privately-operated brothel. With two identical cases, it was evident that the death of Prince Liang Chu was no mere coincidence, and the court was in an uproar in an instant. Setting aside the test results from the Taixu Sects Talisman Association for the moment, the court urgently halted the sale of all Willpower Empowerment Talismans on the market to stabilize the situation. And they urged all customers who had purchased Willpower Empowerment Talismans, especially the Reusable Type, not to use them during sexual activities. This time, however, it seemed Pang Yuan and the others had learned their lesson and did not summon Jiang Cheng. They just found some talisman experts to analyze and authenticate the Willpower Empowerment Talismans, attempting to find amon link apart from exhaustion that led to the deaths of Prince Liang Chu and the officials son. On Saturday, Jiang Cheng stayed at home, reading the Capital Daily. The newspaper had thetest developments in the case, updated daily. Jiang Cheng peeked out from behind the newspaper, looking at Liu Qing on the balcony, who was manually packaging the Willpower Empowerment Talismans. Liu Qing, you dont need to work anymore. The talismans have been banned again.
Liu Qing didnt listen to Jiang Chengs words and stubbornly wanted to finish packaging the remaining Willpower Empowerment Talismans. She had finally obtained a chance to work, and not long after, the talismans were banned again, resulting in the loss of her job. Unhappy. Jiang Cheng, looking at the newspaper, felt a hint of unease in his heart. If the death of Prince Liang Chu could still be called a coincidence, then the death of the officials son couldnt really be considered a coincidence anymore. Before, Jiang Cheng was quite certain that the death of Prince Liang Chu had nothing to do with the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. But now, Jiang Cheng wasnt so sure. Even if it wasnt the Willpower Empowerment Talisman that directly caused it, it was definitely rted to the talisman, much like the rtionship between fireworks and gunpowder. Someone must have discovered a special use for the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. Under certain special circumstances, the Willpower Empowerment Talisman could potentially endanger the life of the user. If my guess is not wrong, the next one, is happening soon. Just as Jiang Cheng had surmised, two dayster, the third person to use a Willpower Empowerment Talisman and die appeared!
Chapter 197: 191: Hehuan Sect Takes the Blame Chapter 197: Chapter 191: Hehuan Sect Takes the me Jiang Cheng, the Willpower Empowerment Talisman doesnt have any problems, does it? Song Junsheng cautiously asked. Last time with the nt Empowerment Talisman, when his Ocean Talisman Studio was halfway through subcontracting work, the Self-Enhancement Talisman-boosted fruit trees uprooted the imperial tombs. The enormous Miaodan Workshop copsed with a bang, and they didnt even finish paying the final payment. The Ocean Talisman Studio suffered a small loss. This time, with the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, the Ocean Talisman Studio continued subcontracting, and although the work waspleted and the final payment settled, they made a tidy profit. But coincidentally, the Willpower Empowerment Talisman got entangled in a series of murders. If the imperial court decides to trace it back and impose a small fine, the Ocean Talisman Studio would once again lose money. The economy in Liang Kingdom is depressed; the business of drawing talismans is too difficult. If you had asked me a few days ago, I would have told you the talisman definitely had no issues, but now Im not so certain, Jiang Cheng said frankly. Song Junshengs heart tightened, Could we go to prison for this?
That depends on what the problem is. For example, a kitchen knife, if it was just because its sharp enough to make killing more convenient, then surely its not the manufacturers fault. But if the material of the kitchen knife is toxic, then the manufacturer needs to be held ountable, Jiang Cheng exined. Ding Guangming said worriedly, Cheng, maybe you should pack up and run for it. Jiang Cheng exined, It hasnte to that yet. I suspect someone used the empowerment talisman to stimte potential and enhance the bodys mechanisms, overexerting themselves in a short period of time, resulting in a huge deficit and sudden death. Essentially, its like a drunk driving incident; it has nothing to do with the liquor manufacturers, car factories, or the crematorium. What would I run for? Song Junshengmented, A perfectly good talisman, now it cant be sold anymore. I hope no more people die. The following day, the fourth user of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman died! This time it was a third-rank imperial court official, at the Foundation Establishment Stage, a 250-year-old Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The ce of death was his home, and the reason was the same: using the Willpower Empowerment Talisman during intimate rtions. ording to Capital Daily, this Mr. Gao used the Willpower Empowerment Talisman and experienced the feelings of his youth. He became unstoppable from that point on. In the end, he died atop the belly of his 33-year-old concubine, Concubine Lu. Zhu Hongcai, who normally didnt read newspapers, started doing so because of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. After reading thetest update on the case, Zhu Hongcai deeply regretted it. Ah! Why didnt I learn how to draw this talisman when I had the chance! Now that its banned from being sold, theres nowhere to buy it! Ding Guangming teased, Hong Cai, even if you had learned it, you wouldnt have anywhere to use it. Zhu Hongcai tossed the newspaper aside, Crap! Song Junsheng, however, noticed a key detail in the paper: Mr. Gaos concubine, Concubine Lu, has been arrested, and preliminary conjecture suggests she seems to be a disciple of the Hehuan Sect. Jiang Cheng put down the newspaper, It seems the case of Prince Liang Chu is about to be closed. Ding Guangming scratched his head, Why? Song Junsheng said, The previous victims all died in brothels, and the suspect female cultivators either disappeared ormitted suicide by jumping into wells. Six Fan Gate couldnt catch the culprit. This time, Mr. Gao died at home, and he had only one concubine who hadnte into contact with anyone else before his death. Its likely that Concubine Lu did it.
Thats not the reason, Jiang Cheng said. I think the case is dragging on for too long. If they dont close the case quickly, the Three Departments investigative team wont withstand pressure from all sides. Moreover, sects like the Hehuan Sect and other Demonic Tao are natural criminals. They do evil things without needing a reason. If Concubine Lu is connected to the Hehuan Sect, she bes the natural scapegoat. Most importantly, all parties including the public can ept this oue. Ding Guangming expressed surprise, Cheng, how do you know so much? Jiang Cheng casually replied, I took some time to skim through the major case records of Liang Kingdom over thest five hundred years, and over eighty percent involved the Demonic Tao. All just showing off, I dont believe it was the work of the Demonic Tao! Zhu Hongcai always refused to acknowledge Jiang Cheng, Five hundred years of major case records, and he just flipped through them? Totally blowing his own trumpet without drafting a lie.
The next day, the Three Departments investigative team announced the closure of Prince Liang Chus case! The reason given by the team was: The Hehuan Sect did it! The motive: dissatisfaction with the courts anti-demon policy, deliberately seeking revenge on the court! The method: using the Hehuan Sects unique cultivation technique to over-harvest the yang energy from male cultivators, causing them to overexert and die suddenly. The verdict was: First, the court would increase its efforts to eliminate demons. Second, Concubine Lu, the Demonic Tao enchantress who caused Mr. Gaos death, was sentenced to death. Third, Mr. Yu, the owner of the Secret Pill Pavilion indirectly responsible for Prince Liang Chus death, was fined 500 million low-grade Spirit Stones. Fourth, the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, due to its enhancement effect on the Hehuan Sects techniques, was upgraded from a nationwide ban on sales to aplete prohibition on production and sales, and its use was forbidden outside private residences. Shops that had sold the Willpower Empowerment Talisman were each fined three million low-grade Spirit Stones. Miaodan Workshop, three locations, and Tongbao Pavilion, one location, Jiang Cheng was facing a total fine of twelve million Spirit Stones! That was almost half the total ie from the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. However, the roommates were unaware of Jiang Chengs rtionship with Miaodan Workshop. Ding Guangming gleefully said, Hong Cai, Cheng was right after all, it really was the Demonic Taos doing! Zhu Hongcai couldnt care less about being proved wrong by Jiang Cheng; what he regretted most was that the Willpower Empowerment Talismans had been banned, and he never even got a chance to use one!
Such a major loss! Song Junsheng consoled Jiang Cheng, Dont be sad that the talismans are banned, as long as were okay, thats what matters. Jiang Cheng was mildly dissatisfied with the courts indiscriminate fining. He could ept the banning of the talismans as part of the demon-elimination efforts, but not the fines. Is it easy for an honest man to make an honest living these days? Chapter 198: 191: Hehuan Sect Takes the Blame_2 Chapter 198: Chapter 191: Hehuan Sect Takes the me_2 Punishment thates without cause? He furrowed his brow and said, Junsheng, dont you feel somethings off? Whats wrong? Tell me, why would the Lu Family of Hehuan Sect want to kill Mr. Gao? Song Junsheng thought for a moment, then said, Of course its revenge against the courts policy of exterminating demons. Its verymon for the Demonic Tao to take drastic actions in retaliation against the righteous path. Thats where the problem lies, Jiang Cheng said with one hand on his chest and the other stroking his chin. Think about it carefully, what are Liang State Courts actual policies on demon extermination? Song Junsheng followed Jiang Chengs line of thought and carefully recalled. In the end, he realized, hey, he really knew nothing about any court policies on demon extermination. Guangming, do you remember any of the courts policies on demon extermination? Ding Guangming pondered and said, Discovering a clue pointing to a Foundation Establishment Stage demon grants a reward of fifty thousand Spirit Stones? Zhu Hongcaiughed and said, Ha ha, thats Tongtian Sects policy. Even I know that!
Ding Guangming felt utterly disheartened: Ah? Even Hong Cai knows about it? Zhu Hongcai flew into a rage: Fuck! Ding Guangming, what do you mean by that!? As a result, everyone in dorm room 316 fell silent for ten minutes, and they couldnte up with a single court policy on demon extermination. Song Junsheng felt a chill run down his spine. Jiang Cheng, could it be that the Liang State Court doesnt actually exterminate demons at all? Jiang Cheng said with finality, They do have policies, but they are not very strong, better than nothing. The main force in the fight against demons has always been the Immortal Sect. Mundane dynastic powers tend to act as a protective umbre for the Demonic Tao to a certain extent to keep the Immortal Sect in check, and rarely go as far as to actively exterminate demons. Ah? At Jiang Chengs words, the pupils of the other three in the dormitory shook violently. It seemed like they had just learnt something astounding. Ding Guangming clutched his head saying, Doesnt that mean weve been living alongside the Demonic Tao all this time? Dont be too nervous, at least Lotus University is still very safe, Jiang Cheng consoled. Quick-witted Song Junsheng was the first to react. He picked up the newspaper and read it again. If, ording to Jiang Cheng, the court does not exterminate demons, then why would the Demonic Tao seek revenge against the court? And if not for revenge, why would the Lu Family of Hehuan Sect want to kill Mr. Gao? Ding Guangming said in agony, Junsheng, stop talking; my head is so itchy, I think its about to grow a brain! Zhu Hongcai stared and said, Guangming, what did Junsheng just say? I didnt understand a thing! Jiang Cheng asked, Hong Cai, I have a question for you. If you were to take a concubine, would you go for someone in her twenties, or thirties? With the querynding in Zhu Hongcais area of expertise, he instantly grasped the concept. I wouldnt take either! I only like them eighteen years old! Oh, neen is also fine. Cheng is neen years old. Im willing to make that concession for her. Song Junsheng, not understanding, said, Jiang Cheng, what does Mr. Gaos case have to do with the age of the Lu Family?
Jiang Cheng exined, The Lu Family is thirty-three years old, and I guess Mr. Gao didnt just marry her. Zhu Hongcai pped his thigh in anguish, Thats definitely impossible! If you can pick twenty, why pick thirty, or pick eighteen, why choose twenty! Mr. Gao has lived for more than two hundred years, how could he not understand such a simple thing? Im only eighteen, and I already get it! Enlightenment dawned on Song Junsheng, What Jiang Cheng means is, the Lu Family wasnt married off recently, but has been for quite a number of years. Given how Mr. Gao didnt frequent the Jiaofang Division, it seems his rtionship with the Lu Family wasnt bad. Ding Guangming scratched his head continuously, So what does all this information indicate? Jiang Cheng, stop keeping us in suspense and give it to me straight!
Jiang Cheng said with a smile, It indicates that the Lu Family had no reason to kill Mr. Gao. If Mr. Gao died, the Lu Family would lose its protective umbre and have to live at the mercy of Mr. Gaos wife. No concubine would wish for that. Hence, she wouldnt have wanted Mr. Gao to die too early. Moreover, based on a normal Foundation Establishment cultivators lifespan, Mr. Gao could have lived around fifty more years, which would have been enough to shelter the Lu Family for the rest of her life. Realization hit Ding Guangming, I get it. Youre saying, the case of Prince Liang Chu is far from over! The killer is very likely not from the Demonic Tao! Jiang Cheng shook his head, I dont know about that, but this case is full of mysteries. The investigation team from the three government offices hasnt figured it out at all. Song Junsheng suddenly grabbed Jiang Chengs hand and said, Jiang Cheng, I know you dont want talismans to be banned. But first, calm down, this isnt something we students should be touching if even the investigation team is afraid to handle it! It has nothing to do with talismans. Im just purely curious. Regarding the banning of talismans, Jiang Cheng was actually indifferent. After all, on his side, the history-making mission of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman had been aplished. It not only revitalized the three new stores of the Miaodan Workshop, but also helped the Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store make aeback. Plus, earning nearly thirty million was more than enough. Even if it was banned, he wouldnt be at a loss. The most important thing was, Jiang Cheng didnt want to stand by idly. He nned to find out the real mastermind behind the scenes, overturn the previous judgment, and clear the Lu Family of her wrongful charges, while at the same time, conveniently, by coincidence, avoid paying the fine. Jiang Cheng continued, Dont you guys think that the Lu Family was unfairly made the scapegoat in the case of Prince Liang Chu? If she wasnt intentionally murdering, she shouldnt be deserving of the death penalty. Song Junsheng nodded, Thats indeed the case. Prince Liang Chu often broke thew, and his death was well-deserved. But this Ms. Lu, it seems she hasnt done anything bad. Zhu Hongcaiughed loudly, Hrious, you guys dont n to help someone elses concubine overturn a conviction, do you? Are university students so idle these days? Why not go to the park with me to see 18-year-old female university students? Youthful and full of cogen. Obsessing over a woman in her thirties, are you sick in the head?
Ding Guangming spoke up for justice, Hong Cai, you havent even seen her, how do you know Ms. Lu isnt up to par? Zhu Hongcai sneered, A woman in her thirties, how can shepare to an 18-year-old? But Minister Gao died in his own bed. So what wait a minute! Zhu Hongcai also realized this point. Minister Gao, being a high-ranking official of the Liang State Court,cked neither money nor power. As long as his aesthetic sense wasnt terribly off, his concubines couldnt be too bad. And while everyone else died in the Jiaofang Division or brothels, he died at home Could it be Zhu Hongcai changed his tune, speaking with solemn gravity, I think Jiang Cheng is right. Ms. Lu doesnt deserve the death penalty. We cant just stand by and do nothing! Ding Guangming: Song Junsheng: Jiang Cheng: Zhu Hongcai was filled with righteous indignation, Jiang Cheng! How are we going to save her? A prison break or what? You think of the n, Junsheng and Guangming will provide the muscle, and Ill provide the money! Afterward, well split the benefits 70-30. Ill ride her, and you three can go y elsewhere.
Song Junsheng and Ding Guangming looked at Jiang Cheng, waiting for him to speak. However, the first to speak, Jiang Cheng, shook his head, No rescue. The nature of this matter is that the investigation group from the three departments has made a wrongful conviction. Our correct course of action is to write whistleblowing letters to the government office, The Censorate, and the Cab Schr. Breaking into a jail is a criminal act, if caught, youre facing a minimum of three years, up to life imprisonment. Song Junsheng frowned, But Jiang Cheng, if the investigative group dared to do this, its very likely theyre in cahoots with other officials. Our whistleblowing letters will probably sink like stones to the bottom of the sea. We still have to write them, Jiang Cheng said, We must follow the legal process. Zhu Hongcai anxiously interjected, Whats the use of beingwful! If the officials themselves are uwful, by beingwful, arent we just tying our own hands and asking for trouble? Hong Cai, cut it out, Ding Guangming urged. Jiang Chengpletely ignored the red-faced and anxious Zhu Hongcai, calmly saying, Its not about tying our hands, but about having a clear conscience. Zhu Hongcai closed his eyes in anguish, Jiang Cheng, can you stop being so pretentious? Im just telling the truth. Why do you make telling the truth sound as pretentious as you can? Jiang Cheng pondered for a moment, then said, Maybe because I always do what I say. Zhu Hongcais scalp tingled. Hed been outdone by him again!
Damn it, how is Jiang Cheng so good at this! Hes practically the epitome of speaking pretentiously! When will I ever be like him, where pretentiousness follows my every word! With the collective effort of Room 316, Jiang Cheng wrote a case analysis pointing out some key doubts and handed it over to Counselor Cui Zhifei. Cui Zhifei earnestly advised Jiang Cheng and the others not to meddle in affairs too much and to learn to protect themselves wisely. Then, Room 316 sent the case analysis in the name of Counselor Cui Zhifei to more than a dozen units or individuals including the government office, The Censorate, and the Cab Schr. Since Cui Zhifei could be considered the guardian of Talisman Drawing ss 1 at Lotus University. Therefore, there was no problem using his name for Room 316s case analysis. As expected, the letters went unanswered. Jiang Cheng sent out over a dozen, but three whole days passed with no response whatsoever. Zhu Hongcai was burning with impatience because, in thest couple of days, he had seen Ms. Lus photo in the newspaper. Upon seeing her face, Zhu Hongcai knew immediately that she must be innocent! Zhu, always eager to do good deeds, couldnt bear to see a beautiful woman suffer unjustly in prison. This woman, he, Zhu Hongcai, was determined to save! Jiang Cheng, theres no reply, what do we do? Jiang Cheng casually said, This afternoon a reporter is going to Ms. Lus prison for a visit, well pay to apany them and go have a look. Chapter 199: 192: The Jiaofang Division Investigates Chapter 199: Chapter 192: The Jiaofang Division Investigates Why are there so many of you? the warden asked, looking at the four people from Jiang Cheng behind the reporter. I am Wang Chen, a columnist for the Jade Lake Evening News, and these four are my assistants, Wang Chen said very politely. Then he pulled the warden aside, took out a dozen or so medium-grade Spirit Stones, and stuffed them into the wardens hand. Please make things convenient for an officer. We all have tough jobs. Zhu Hongcai saw this and muttered under his breath, Damn! I gave him a high-grade one, but he only gave the warden a few medium-grade Spirit Stones! How much of a kickback is he taking! A reporters ie is ridiculously high! Hong Cai, keep it down, Ding Guangming reminded him. Zhu Hongcai thought about it and realized it was true. He was a Rich Second Generation, fussing over just one high-grade Spirit Stone, not acting like one at all. Psh, small change! The warden led Jiang Cheng and the others to the cell of Mr. Gaos concubine Lu, opened the door, and instructed, Just half an hour, dont dawdle.
Reporter Wang Chen, very professional, took Zhu Hongcais money and resolutely said, Ill keep watch at the door for you; ask whatever you want quickly. Jiang Chengs group stood in the cell, two or three meters away from Lu Ran. Lu Ran, wearing the prison uniform, leaned against the wall, with her disheveled hair sticking to her face. Herplexion was very poor, and she wasnt young anymore, but it was still easy to see the beauty she possessed when she was younger. Even now, in her suffering and fallen state, with delicate features and tender white skin, although she looked haggard, she could still be described as extremely beautiful. When Zhu Hongcai saw Lu Ran, he immediately dered, I, Zhu Hongcai, detest evil like an enemy. If you have any grievances, sister, just tell me! Lu Ran didnt even raise her eyelids. Honest Ding Guangming said, Sister Lu, youre beautiful, and Hong Cai will definitely not abandon you. Zhu Hongcai: Lu Ran was still unmoved. Song Junsheng nced at Jiang Cheng and said, This person is called Jiang Cheng, he has some influence in the Immortal Sect; we might be able to save you. Lu Ran just lifted her eyelids slightly. Finally, Jiang Cheng squatted down, looking straight at Lu Ran. He looked at Lu Rans clean hands, devoid of any roughness, and said, Madam Lu, Mr. Gao treated you quite well, didnt he? Lu Ran bit her lip and turned her face away. His death was an ident, wasnt it? You learned the Hehuan Sects cultivation techniques, but you are not a disciple of the Hehuan Sect, right? What exactly are you trying to say? Lu Rans voice was a bit hoarse. It might have been rted to the tear stains on her face. We want to clear your name. I dont need that.
Song Junshengs heart tightened. If the party involved didnt want to clear their name, there was nothing they, the outsiders, could do. But, unlike Song Junsheng, when Jiang Cheng heard Lu Rans answer, he showed a warm smile. He said gently, So, Sister Lu, you also believe that you are innocent, right? Lu Rans eyes suddenly reddened, and with a bitterugh, she said, Hah, who would care?
I care! Zhu Hongcai, upon seeing a beautiful woman in tears, was instantly torn apart, eximing indignantly, Dammit, Im going to fight it out with those corrupt officials! Ding Guangming quickly grabbed him, Hong Cai, calm down! You cant even draw a talisman! Going there would be suicide! Zhu Hongcai was furious, Ding Guangming! Cant you stop exposing me in front of strangers! Dont I deserve some face? Even in the depths of the prison, Zhu Hongcai kept making a fuss, while Jiang Cheng remained as calm as ever. Sister Lu, since youve already hit rock bottom, why not let us give it a try? Lu Ran didnt say a word. Do you have any family outside? Are they threatening you with your family? Sister Lu, we are university students from the Lotus Cloud University. If you dont trust us, do you trust those who want to harm you? Lu Ran sighed, Youre just a bunch of students, without power or strength, how can I trust you? When Jiang Cheng heard this, his spirits suddenly lifted. If Talisman Drawing ss 1 wascking in anything, it sure wasnt connections. This one, Song Junsheng, the only fourth-rank Talisman Master in Liang Kingdom, is the grandson of Song Hai. Ocean Talisman Studio is their family business. This one, Ding Guangming,es from a family of founding war heroes, a local power in Jingzhou with the most connections. And this one, Zhu Hongcai,es from a very wealthy family. Zhu Hongcai stood tall and proud, finally getting his chance to show off.
My family runs a tradingpany; Yujun Datong Trading Company is our property. Lu Ran looked at Jiang Cheng skeptically; she seemed a bit baffled. Why do you want to help me? Jiang Cheng tugged at Zhu Hongcai and said, Young Master Zhu likes you, and the feelings of the young often defy logic. Zhu Hongcai: Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng quickly nodded and kept jabbing Zhu Hongcai in the back to get him to admit it. Zhu Hongcai hurriedly nodded. Lu Ran looked at Zhu Hongcai and said, Then lets forget about it. Zhu Hongcai really wanted to wail: love moves too fast like a tornado~ Alright then, I can only tell the truth now. You know, since Prince Liang Chu died, some Immortal Sects think they have a chance to interfere with the session struggle, so were investigating Prince Liang Chus case to see if theres an opportunity, Jiang Cheng briefly introduced the background. The mention of the Immortal Sect finally touched Lu Ran. I indeed learned the cultivation technique of the Hehuan Sect. At first, I took the risk to learn it to win over my masters favor. Later, when my master was no longer willing, I stopped using it. But a few days ago, he obtained a Willpower Empowerment Talisman and suddenly became unusually brave. At first, I was happy, but eventually, I couldnt bear it anymore, so I had to use the technique again, and then Mr. Gao died?
Lu nodded, then shook her head and said, Im not very clear either, you should know that at the time, I couldnt afford to think too much. Jiang Cheng and his friends: My sister is overthinking, our dorm is full of virgin singles. We dont know anything. In the end, Lu said, In any case, that day my Hehuan Sect cultivation technique worked incredibly smoothly, with effects far surpassing previous attempts. In about an hour, I had already broken through from the seventh level of Qi cultivation to the eighth. Just when I was vaguely approaching the ninth level, the master passed away. Song Junsheng and the others took a sharp intake of breath. No wonder many cultivators risk being hunted by the Immortal Sects to practice Demonic Tao techniques. The cultivation effect is outrageously good! To rise two levels in one night andfortably enhance ones cultivation levelwho wouldnt want to practice this! After listening, Jiang Cheng gave a slight nod. Lus situation wasrgely consistent with his guess. Hehuan Sects techniques are numerous, yet their essence is harvesting and replenishing, depleting yin to benefit yang or vice versa. The Willpower Empowerment Talisman fools the desire to survive and enhances the body, leading to an overabundance of yang energy in certain parts of the body. Although it appears to make one stronger, it is actually a type of overdraft. Furthermore, the Hehuan Sects techniques drain excessively, leading to an overdraft on top of an overdraft. Finally, when the desire to survive is no longer in the body and the body maintains overdrive intensity without yielding, it ispletely drained by the Hehuan Sects technique, leaving not a drop behind.
The Willpower Empowerment Talisman sounds dangerous, but in reality, there would be no harm as long as Mr. Gao didnt use it for so long. Just like how cold medicine should not be overdosed, any substance can be deadly in excess. The Willpower Empowerment Talisman is no exception. However, confidence, once found, can easily turn into arrogance. Mr. Gao must have been unable to hold his head up in front of Lu for a long time. Thats why he was so eager to surpass the peak with the help of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. To rify Lus situation, vindicate her, and overturn the judgment of the three departments investigation team, relying on her own word alone wont suffice. Because she has neither witness nor physical evidence,cks backing, and practiced demonic techniques, shes the perfect scapegoat. The most direct method is to root out the Hehuan Sects influence in the Capitalpletely! By using the testimonies of their higher-ups and the list of disciples, one can prove that Lu is indeed not a disciple of the Hehuan Sect, and thereby prove she had no motive to kill Mr. Gao, which would help exonerate her and demonstrate the investigation teams judgment as unreasonable. No matter what, Lu used her techniques as a means of self-protection, not with the intention of draining Mr. Gao dry. Even if she is guilty, her crime does not deserve death. Of course, the Willpower Empowerment Talisman ispletely legal too; banning it to prevent demonic practices is understandable, but theres no option to pay a fine to the court. Jiang Chengs right to not pay the fine is legal, but in the end, it must be won by his own efforts to solve the case. Sister Lu, where did this cultivation techniquee from? asked Jiang Cheng. I was originally a traitors daughter, butter, I was fortunate enough for the old master to redeem me and take me as his concubine. This technique, I bought it foolishly from my sister. Dont be too surprised, its an open secret that the Jiaofang Division uses some Demonic Tao techniques to retain customers. As for whether there are members of the Hehuan Sect in the Jiaofang Division, I really dont know. In the dormitory, Zhu Hongcai analyzed, So, the key issue is to find Sister Lus sister, Lu Ran. Then through Lu Ran, locate the disciples of the Hehuan Sect hidden in the Jiaofang Division. And through the Hehuan Sects disciples, we can root out the entire Hehuan Sect in the Capital. Finally, we can clear Sister Lus name. Jiang Cheng shook his head and said, All of this will fall into ce in due course. The hardest part is the beginning; right now, the key is who will apany me to the Jiaofang Division. Actually, Jiang Chengs most reliable partners were not his roommates. However, bringing girls such as Liu Qing, Yue Linger, and Shen Menghan to the Jiaofang Division would not be discreet and was very unfavorable for the investigation. Upon hearing Jiaofang Division, Zhu Hongcais eyes gleamed. To restore justice in Great Liang is a duty that cannot be shirked! he dered. Ding Guangming followed the crowd, saying, Ill see what Junsheng thinks. Song Junsheng was not too enthusiastic about upholding justice; he preferred to keep himself safe. However, as he saw the gulf between him and Jiang Cheng growing wider, he felt it was necessary to learn more from Jiang Cheng. Alright, lets go check out the Jiaofang Division together, he said. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, The imperial mausoleum is being reconstructed recently, and its not appropriate to kill, so Sister Lus life is not in danger for the time being. We dont have to rush into the Jiaofang Division just yet. Preparing some simple yet protective talismans is the real task at hand. Three dayster, Jiang Cheng and three others, dressed in casual clothes, arrived not far from the entrance to the Jiaofang Division in the Capital. Managed by the Ministry of Rites, the Jiaofang Division is Liang Kingdoms official courtesan house. In the Capital, it upies nearly a thousand acres ofnd and has nearly a hundred pavilions and towers,parable to a university campus. Half of thedies in the Jiaofang Divisione from the families of criminals, and they are among the top in Liang Kingdom both in terms of beauty and skills. At the same time, consumption within the Jiaofang Division is extremely expensive, making it a true gold pit of the Capital. Jiang Cheng, we wont be discovered, will we? asked Zhu Hongcai with a hint of trepidation. Jiang Cheng said, No, as long as you dont show fear and let them realize its our first time here, well be fine. Ding Guangming asked curiously, What happens if they find out its our first time? They will be very enthusiastic, and then fleece you thoroughly. Zhu Hongcai warned, Guangming, its up to youter, dont chicken out! Ding Guangming swallowed nervously, Ill try my best. Lets go. The four dorm mates walked up to the entrance of the Jiaofang Division. The weing girl at the Jiaofang Division greeted them warmly, Are you gentlemen visiting for the first time? Which university are you from? Freshmen this year, right? Zhu Hongcais body shook, How, how did you know? The other three from Jiang Chengs dorm: The girl hooked Zhu Hongcais arm, Its easy for first-timers, let me rmend some fun activities for you. I assure youll be yearning for more after you go back. Song Junsheng quickly declined, No, we are just Zhu Hongcai, not caring about that, boasted, That sounds great, follow me, guys! Im paying tonight! The other three from Jiang Chengs dorm: Chapter 200: 193: Who Can’t Withstand This Test? Chapter 200: Chapter 193: Who Cant Withstand This Test? Zhu Hongcai was nked by two attractively dressed, cool-looking youngdies from the Jiaofang Division and led the way at the front. The three from Jiang Cheng followed behind. Ding Guangming worried, Cheng, Hong Cai got trapped in an instant, what do we do? Song Junsheng said, What about sacrificing a pawn to save the chariot? Jiang Cheng shook his head, No, the true art of acting is to be oneself. Lets follow. Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng exchanged nces, unclear about Jiang Chengs intentions. Logically, they really shouldnt have brought Zhu Hongcai to the Jiaofang Division. With Zhu Hongcais character, wouldnt he be easily deceived by the youngdies of the Jiaofang Division? But Jiang Cheng still brought Zhu Hongcai along. Could it be that Jiang Cheng had some sort of miraculous strategy? Now they had no choice but to trust Jiang Cheng.
As Jiang Cheng had predicted, the youngdies from the Jiaofang Division, seeing it was Zhu Hongcais first visit, directly invited him into one of the Divisions expensive private rooms. They not only ordered a pricey fruit tter but also served extravagantly presented and surely expensive food and drinks. The two youngdies sat beside Zhu Hongcai, one on each side, serving him dishes on the left and pouring wine on the right, pampering him to the point of floating on cloud nine, inplete bliss. The three from Jiang Cheng sat politely on the other side of the wine table, watching Zhu Hongcai sink deeper into an irresistible enchantment. Under Ding Guangming and Song Junshengs watchful eyes, Jiang Cheng silently took out the Memory Sphere and secretly started recording the scene inside the private room as evidence. You three little brothers, why just sit there without eating? Could it be you want to be fed? Zhu Hongcai, tipsy but not drunk, said, Brothers, just call for someone, tonights bill is on me. Come on, Master Zhu, have another drink. Sister, you smell so nice. If you order two more sets of Capital Dew, we sisters can take you upstairs for some fun. Then lets have two more sets! Seeing Zhu Hongcai so generous, the Jiaofang Division girls were overjoyed. To them, Zhu Hongcai was a rare fat sheep! He was the kind that was quite proper, spending a fortune without even getting friskywhat a unique pure-hearted young man! Ahem, Jiang Cheng saw that the timing was about right, and finally stood up. Two sisters, to be honest, the four of us came to the Jiaofang Division to find someone. Have either of you heard of Miss Lu Ran? Never heard of her. Me neither. Jiang Cheng continued, Then, do you know where the Cultivation Technique of the Hehuan Sect originates? Hehuan Sects Cultivation Technique? We at the Jiaofang Division dont have such things.
Exactly, dont go falsely using good people. Since the sisters dont wish to have a proper conversation, I have no choice but to offend you two. Jiang Cheng took out the Memory Sphere, Everything that just happened has been fully recorded in this Memory Sphere. The purple-d woman on Zhu Hongcais left put her hands on her hips, Ha, thats funny. Our Jiaofang Division has always conducted business with this level of service; even if you take that Memory Sphere to the Emperor, we are not afraid. Jiang Cheng coughed slightly, By rights it should be so, but this Master Zhu Hongcai, he is actually underage.
The two Jiaofang Divisiondies: ? Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng: ? Even Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng hadnt expected that Zhu Hongcai, who looked the oldest in their dormitory, was actually the youngest. Zhu Hongcai objected, Jiang Cheng, youre talking nonsense! Im eighteen! The Jiaofang Divisiondies exhaled in relief. Jiang Cheng exined, Thats your nominal age. Youre actually seventeen this year, indeed underage. Zhu Hongcai asked, Oh, really? What happens when youre underage? ording to thews of Liang Kingdom, practitioners of the customs trade who engage in improper rtions with minors shall be sentenced to no less than three years and no more than ten years of fixed-term imprisonment. We havent even reached that point yet! You wont ckmail us with the recording! the woman in purple protested steadfastly. Jiang Cheng continued to exin, Caterers who encourage minors to drink or sell them alcohol products shall be sentenced to no less than one year and no more than ten years of fixed-term imprisonment, depending on the quantity and alcohol content. Faced with the adverse situation, the woman in purple revealed desperately, The alcohol we gave him was counterfeit! Thew doesnt apply to us! Jiang Cheng indifferently said, Counterfeit alcohol is still alcohol, and moreover, its alcohol content is higher, which leads to harsher sentencing. Additionally, it involves the crime ofmercial fraud.
Although ordinary people wouldnt sue for just a small drink, if Jiang Cheng specialized in setting up such traps, they really might end up in jail because of him. Once in jail, spending three to five years there, their lives would pretty much be over. The woman in purple signaled to the woman in green sitting on the other side of Zhu Hongcai, and the two women instantly agreed to suddenly burst from their seats and try to snatch the Memory Sphere from Jiang Chengs hand. As long as they got the Memory Sphere, Jiang Cheng would have no evidence to sue them! At this critical juncture, Jiang Cheng remained calm, hisposure unwavering like Mount Tai. Stop! At Jiang Chengsmand, the two women of the Jiaofang Division were instantly immobilized by a spell, frozen in ce, unable to move. Where did that spelle from!? It seemed toe from behind! Could it be Heh, heh, heh Zhu Hongcai let out a viinousugh. He stood up and walked over to the two immobilized women of the Jiaofang Division. Dont underestimate me! Even I, Zhu Hongcai, have things I would risk my life to protect!
Zhu Hongcai mmed the table in anger and said, So youre testing me with just your looks? Who cant withstand such a test!? Jiang Cheng patted Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng on the shoulders and said, Get to work. Your brother Hong Cai is finished showing off. Ding Guangming and Song Junsheng immediately understood and each produced a second-level Binding Immortal Rope to tightly bind the two women of the Jiaofang Division. Jiang Cheng took out a bottle of makeup remover and set it on the table, saying, I dont mean to threaten you, but if youre not willing to tell the truth, I think your future business might suffer. Facing the makeup remover, the two women of the Jiaofang Division finally caved. Kind sir, well tell, well tell you anything. Please, just dont use the makeup remover! Thanks to information from the two women of the Jiaofang Division, Jiang Cheng and his group smoothly located Lu Ran, the younger sister of the Lu family. Lu Rans alias in the Jiaofang Division was Liuran, and she bore a seventy percent resemnce to her sister. She was currently a top courtesan of the Jiaofang Division, equivalent to a first-tier female performer right beneath the top attractions. Perhaps because she was nearly thirty, Lu Ran led a rather leisurely life and was even willing to chat a bit more with Jiang Cheng and hispany. After all, it had cost Zhu Hongcai quite a sum to meet her. The Cultivation Technique from the Hehuan Sect was indeed given to her by me. She had just entered the Gao Residence then and her position was not stable; she wanted Mr. Gao to pay more attention to her, Lu Ran admitted. Jiang Cheng inquired, Then where did you get this Cultivation Technique from?
It was sold to me by a manager in the Jiaofang Division called Madam Tan. However However what? Madam Tan disappearedst month. Suddenly, just gone, no idea where she went. Can you still contact the Hehuan Sect? Lu Ran shook her head and said, That was probably twenty years ago when I had juste to the Jiaofang Division. They invited me to join the sect, but I refused. I just bought the Cultivation Technique with money, and then I never contacted them again. Now that I am older and no longer as attractive, the Hehuan Sect wouldnt be interested in me. They only like young girls, especially beautiful ones with exceptional talents as female cultivators. Jiang Cheng thought of Lin Yao. ording to the original storyline of the game, Lin Yao was discovered by the Hehuan Sect after entering the Taixu Sect, taken in, and fully groomed to be a notorious enchantress of the Demonic Tao. The Hehuan Sect likes beautiful ones? Jiang Cheng confirmed. Lu Ran nodded affirmatively, Yes, the more beautiful the female cultivator, the greater their attraction to the sect. Chapter 201: 194: Jiang Cheng was rejected by the snake Chapter 201: Chapter 194: Jiang Cheng was rejected by the snake Cheng, what should we do now? On the way back to school, Ding Guangming asked. ording to Jiang Chengs original n, they were supposed to obtain information on the disciples of the Hehuan Sect through Lu Ran. Then, they would use that information to find the entire branch of the Hehuan Sect in the Capital. Unexpectedly, the Hehuan Sect disciple who provided the cultivation technique to Lu Ran mysteriously disappeared! Her disappearance urred over a month ago, which didnt seem to be rted to the case of Prince Liang Chu. With this lead stalled, Jiang Chengs n could not advance any further. Lets take a day off, Ill go back and think of some other way, Jiang Cheng said. Eh? Cheng, where are you going? Arent youing back to the dormitory? Ding Guangming asked. Its Saturday today, Im going back to stay there. You all go back to the dormitory. Ding Guangmings eyes lit up: Cheng, youre renting a ce outside, do you have a girlfriend? Do you go back every Saturday and Sunday to be with your girlfriend? Jiang Cheng dared not joke about this with Ding Guangming.
Dont talk nonsense, just an ordinary roommate. No other rtionship. Jade Lake Mingan. Jiang Cheng stood at the door of his home, took out his keys, thought for a moment, then put the keys back. He gently knocked on the door. Soon, the door opened. Jiang Cheng moved forward to enter the house smoothly and naturally, as he was used to doing. ording to past habits, Liu Qing would step aside to let him in, wait for him to change his shoes, then help arrange them, and finally close the door. But today was different. Liu Qing unusually stood at the door, blocking the way and not giving way. Liu Qing? Jiang Cheng looked at her in surprise. Liu Qings expression was wary; one foot inside, one foot outside the door, her hand gripping the door frame, she leaned toward Jiang Cheng and sniffed him lightly. On Jiang Cheng, she detected a tremendous amount of scents belonging to other females. Many of them were in heat, their pheromones designed to attract males were extremely strong. Liu Qing stood inside the door, staring at Jiang Cheng with an unfriendly gaze. Exin yourself immediately! She didnt speak, but the message in her eyes seemed to say so. Jiang Cheng nervously swallowed. He ventured, This is a bitplicated, lets go inside and talk about it. Liu Qing still didnt move aside, and her stance was firm; Jiang Cheng wasnt getting through the door without a clear exnation. I went to the Jiaofang Division, Jiang Cheng blurted out a bombshell.
Liu Qing indifferently closed the door. Wait a minute! Jiang Cheng caught the closing anti-theft door. Its not what you think, I had legitimate business. The court fined our family more than ten million! I discovered some doubts in the case, and I was looking for evidence to appeal to the court for a retrial! That way, our family wouldnt have to pay the fine!
Liu Qings grip tightened. She wasnt an unreasonable snake, but Jiang Chengs scent told her that he wasnt telling the truth. She knew Jiang Cheng; he liked money, but he didnt like it that much. Jiang Cheng braced against the anti-theft door and continued, I havent finished. Theres a suspect in the case; shes not guilty of a capital offense. If I dont handle this case, she will be sentenced to death! Knowing there are so many doubts, I couldnt just stand by and do nothing, could I? Liu Qing continued to push. How could Jiang Chengpete in strength with a Mahayana Realm Snake Snake? The door was gradually being closed by Liu Qing, and Jiang Cheng was still outside. My hand! Its about to get caught! Liu Qing instantly stopped applying force when she heard this. But when she looked up, she was met with Jiang Chengs smile that wasnt quite a smilethe distance between Jiang Chengs hand and the door was still quite significant. Jiang Cheng took this opportunity to sidle through the crack in the door. In the small entryway, a man and a woman stood facing each other. Phew, I almost had to sleep on the streets today.
Hmph. Liu Qing closed the door forcefully and ran to the balcony to open all the windows, sitting cross-legged on her lounge chair. Jiang Cheng let out a sigh, silently changed his shoes for himself, grabbed a stool, and also headed to sit on Liu Qings balcony. Liu Qing just looked out over theke, fixated. Looking at her profile, Jiang Cheng spoke in a doting tone, Alright, Ill only tell you this reason. Seeing Liu Qing still unresponsive, Jiang Cheng said with great disappointment, Well, if you dont want to hear it, thats fine. He pretended to get up but then immediately sat back down. At that moment, he happened to see a certain Snake quickly turning her face towards him. They looked into each others eyes. Silence. Liu Qing blinked, thought for a moment, and finally realized that Jiang Cheng was teasing her again! It was like this when they ate the stir-fried pork, like this when he closed the door just now, and still like this now! She got up from the lounge chair, nning to go back to her room to sleep, and to ignore Jiang Cheng ruthlessly for the entire next day.
But Jiang Cheng grabbed her hand, saying, Wrong. Youre too cute, I always cant help myself. After saying this, Jiang Cheng felt embarrassed himself, Cough, about that reason would it be convenient for you to sit down and listen? Liu Qings silhouette paused, then she shook off Jiang Chengs hand and ran back to her bedroom in the blink of an eye. Shes mad, I really did go too far today. Jiang Cheng pped his head, I should be more careful in the future, I cant always joke with her. I must remember shes a Mahayana Realm Cultivator, and not always think about teasing her. The next morning, Jiang Cheng came out of his room. He hadnt slept wellst night, mainly because hed joked with Liu Qing and felt guilty. Seeing that the balcony was snake-less, Jiang Cheng subconsciously thought that Liu Qing was still not up. But once he reached the living room, he found that Liu Qing had actually been sitting silently on the couch the whole time. The reason, say it. Her face was expressionless. This time, Jiang Cheng didnt dare to joke. He sat down honestly on the couch beside Liu Qing and told her his reason, word for word. Ive always respected thew because it represents fairness and justice. Its always been impartial, not bullying the weak, not worshipping the strong. It protects those who abide by thew and punishes those who dont. But in todays Liang Kingdom, things arepletely reversed.
Thew in Liang Kingdom is punishing those who obey it. Meanwhile, those who dont are protected by thew. I think this is wrong. This is not thew I should obey. I want to restore justice to thew. The Lu family, they dont need to die. But the person who colluded with the Demonic Tao, who killed the witness after Prince Liang Chus death and destroyed the body to eliminate traces, cannot live. Liu Qing said quietly, There are many viins. I know, but when I see it, I cant just pretend I didnt. Doing that makes me feel like someone who pays lip service to respecting thew but chooses to turn a blind eye to injustice, and I find that really disgusting. Having finished speaking, Jiang Cheng scratched his head awkwardly, Haha, it does sound a bit naive, so I was embarrassed to say it. I was just thinking and doing things casually; if its too much trouble, Ill let it be. Because Ive always disliked trouble. Youre very weak, Liu Qing said. Jiang Cheng: Just wait! Today Im going to break through to the fifth level of Qi cultivation! Ill be a not-to-be-ignored, fifth-level Qi strength cultivator! Watching Jiang Cheng hastily begin to cultivate, Liu Qing on the sofa hesitated before speaking. She said softly, But I am strong. Jiang Cheng didnt hear her, but it didnt matter. She would always be there for him. Chapter 202: 195: The Unmentionable Fragility Chapter 202: Chapter 195: The Unmentionable Fragility Under the protection of Liu Qings shield, Jiang Cheng was able to advance from the fourth level to the fifth level of Qi cultivation within half a semester of enrollment at Lotus University. Ever since the Fishing Talisman earned him his first pot of gold, Jiang Cheng intentionally set aside a considerable amount of Spirit Stones to purchase cultivation resources and enhance his cultivation level. The effect of blindly cramming in cultivation resources was very significant. First, it took just over a month to help Jiang Cheng ascend from the third level to the fourth level of Qi cultivation; then, nearly three more months to elevate him from the fourth level to the fifth level of Qi cultivation. Advancing two levels in less than half a year, this rate of cultivation was already quite fast. At the current rate, before entering Tongtian Sect, Jiang Cheng was even confident in making a rush for Foundation Establishment. In the past, such a thing was unthinkable. Indeed, cultivating with money truly made a difference. Jiang Cheng swallowed a Spirit Gathering Pill and briefly consolidated his newly improved cultivation level. His primary task at the moment wasnt to enhance his cultivation level, but the case of the fourth prince! The fourth prince died in the Jiaofang Division, and on the night of his death, the associated female cultivators either threw themselves into wells or disappeared, leaving not a single witness. In the end, by connecting it with the case of Minister Gao from the Ministry of Revenue who had learned the Joyous Union Skill from Concubine Lu, it was inferred that the Hehuan Sect assassinated both the fourth prince and Minister Gao, pinning the me on Hehuan Sect, thus closing the case.
But Concubine Lu had no reason or motive to kill Minister Gao. The Hehuan Sect also had no reason to retaliate against the court. The case of the fourth prince was forcibly closed, full of doubts. To eliminate witnesses, resulting in the female cultivators of the Jiaofang Division mitting suicide by throwing themselves into wells, the real culprit was still atrge. The legal system of Liang Kingdom faced an unprecedented challenge. The only good news now was that due to the recentmencement of construction work in the royal mausoleum, it was not appropriate to kill, hence Concubine Lus life was temporarily not in danger. Jiang Cheng could slowly investigate the case. Following Jiang Chengs previous line of thought, the key to solving the casey within the Hehuan Sect. However, Madam Tan from the Jiaofang Division, who had ties with Hehuan Sect, had mysteriously disappeared, resulting in the abrupt end of the trail leading to Hehuan Sect. Hehuan Sect, a notoriously infamous sect of the Demonic Tao, had been lying low under the rule of Immortal Sects for thousands of years. Due to its non-killing cultivation philosophy and rtively moderate actions, disciples of Hehuan Sect could easily blend into the diverse crowd. A group of handsome men and beautiful women appeared even more normal than typical people. Even the Immortal Sect powers couldnt eradicate Hehuan Sect, let alone Jiang Cheng alone. So how to find Hehuan Sect? Jiang Cheng fell into deep thought. At that moment, Jiang Chengsmunication talisman rang. It was Bai Xiaohe calling. Hello, Elder Sister He? Jiang Cheng, can youe to our store for a bit? What is it? Um my leader wants to meet you.
Leader? Bai Xiaohes leader is either from the Capitals main store of Tongbao Pavilion or an Elder from the Outer Sect. They want to see me? Jiang Cheng didnt quite understand, but he chose to make the trip. After all, being called upon for a face-to-face conversation by someone high up in Tongtian Sect was an honor he should not refuse.
Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store. Store Manager Jiang Cheng arrived at his loyal store with his roommate Liu Qing in tow. Although in name, Jiang Cheng had no subordinate rtionship with Tongbao Pavilions Huayuan Road Store. But after the nt Autonomy Talisman and Willpower Empowerment Talisman, everyone at Huayuan Road Store had witnessed Jiang Chengs miraculous strength to revive the dead. It could be said that as long as Jiang Cheng made a move, their Huayuan Road Store could easily be number one in the Capital. It was outrageously powerful. As for Bai Xiaohe, she was nothing more than a humanoidmunication talisman used by their store to contact Manager Jiang. Jiang Cheng, Elder Wei Qin is in my office, Bai Xiaohe approached Jiang Cheng. Hmm. Jiang Cheng nodded. He asked for you to go in and see him alone. Alone? Yeah. He seems to be quite serious.
Okay, I got it. Liu Qing, you stay outside with Elder Sister He. I will go in and have a private chat with Elder Wei. Liu Qing nced at Bai Xiaohe. Bai Xiaohe said, Dont worry. Jiang Cheng isnt from the Immortal Sect, so Elder Wei wont do anything to him. Liu Qing wasnt worried about Jiang Cheng; as long as she was there, nothing would happen to him. Jiang Cheng pushed open the door to Bai Xiaohes office and saw the Elder Wei Qin she mentioned. Elder Wei was a middle-aged man with a well-proportioned physique and at the Core Formation cultivation level, currently sitting on the sofa in Bai Xiaohes office. Jiang Cheng, right? Come and sit, just to have a casual chat. Its nothing too important, he said. Alright. Jiang Cheng politely took a seat opposite Wei Qin. Jiang Cheng, you made the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, didnt you? Yes. Not bad, having such talent in Tongtian Sect bodes well for a bright future, hemented. Thank you for thepliment, Elder Wei.
After the pleasantries, the conversation turned serious. Actually Elder Weis tone lengthened, and after hesitating for a minute, he said somewhat sheepishly, Actually, I am also a user of your talismans. Jiang Cheng: ? Realizing something was off, Jiang Cheng confirmed, Senior, the Willpower Empowerment Talisman is a first-grade talisman which offers very little enhancement to third-grade elixirs. You shouldnt be using it much, right? Cough, well, let me exin first to avoid any misunderstandings, After saying that, Wei Qin looked at Jiang Cheng with a serious expression, My partner, shes a teacher in the Physical Cultivation Department at Hundred Peaks University. Simply put, she is a body cultivator. She doesnt use spells, just trains her body; you know what I mean? Jiang Cheng nodded, I know. Because of her cultivation technique and body, ever since we became partners, shes actually been quite dissatisfied with me. Wei Qin nced at Jiang Chengs strained face and immediately emphasized with seriousness, You mustnt misunderstand! Its mainly a problem with her body refinement; my abilities arepletely normal and can even be said to be quite good. Uh, I understand. You dont need to stress it, Senior. I must stress it! There cant be the slightest misunderstanding about this! Wei Qin insisted stubbornly, feeling a sore point had been prodded by Jiang Cheng. With no other option, Jiang Cheng consoled, Okay, I get it. Theres no problem with you, its all your partners issue. So, what happened next? After that, you know, your talisman appeared, and I heard it was quite effective, so I bought one to try at home.
At this point, Wei Qin patted Jiang Chengs shoulder with tearful eyes. Jiang Cheng, your talisman really did me a huge favor! Wei Qin said, wiping away a tear, Ever since we got married, Ive never felt so tough at home! Jiang Cheng didnt even know what to say, Anyway, as long as youre satisfied. But about Prince Liang Chus incident afterward I heard about it, I didnt use the talisman much when that issue urred. Only about twice a day. But after that, wasnt the case closed? The talisman itself wasnt the issue; the primary cause was the Joyous Union Skill of the Hehuan Sect. Right, so you? As soon as I heard it wasnt a talisman issue and I had been restraining myself for several days, I got somewhat carried away afterward. Mainly because my partner was very satisfied, and I couldnt say I was incapable. You can understand the difficulties of a married male cultivator, right? With a kindly smile, Wei Qin added, You understand, right? I do. Of course, I do. Faced with Elder Weis sincere gaze, Jiang Cheng couldnt help but sympathize. Wei Qin said, I originally thought this blissful life would continue, but a few days ago, I suddenly discovered I couldnt perform. You couldnt perform? Your partner hasnt practiced the Joyous Union Skill, has she? Its not that I couldnt perform due to time, but I felt numb. Do you understand what I mean? Jiang Cheng really wanted to say he didnt understand, but faced with Elder Weis sincere gaze, he had no choice but to understand. So you mean you feel very dull to the sensation? Correct, Wei Qin nodded, Its more urate to say I hardly feel anything at all, even a hammer strike wouldnt hurt. I still suggest you not try a hammer. I havent, but thats what my wife thinks. She didnt believe it and wanted to test it with a hammer. Jiang Chengs face twitched involuntarily, thinking to himself, Is this how body cultivators y? I must never choose a body cultivator as my partner in the future! I came to you this time to ask if theres any way you can help me rise to the asion again? Wei Qin asked with genuine sincerity. Jiang Cheng replied just as earnestly, You should stop using it, rest more, and dont take any medicine; you should be able to recover on your own in a few years. Upon hearing the answer, Wei Qin became even more sincere, almost pleading, No! Jiang Cheng, you must think of a solution for me. I cant hold out for years! Next time, if she doesnt take a hammer but switches to a sword, then Im done for! A literal sense of being done for. Jiang Cheng quickly exined, Its just that, the mechanism of the talisman is such. Youve simply used it too much, causing your body to be desensitized. Youre at the Core Formation stage, although your yang energy is overdrawn, eating some restoratives and using them less, you should still be able to hold up. But desensitization is a kind of self-protection of the body, and I really, dont have a solution for that. No! Youre Jiang Cheng, you must have a way! Wei Qin said through clenched teeth, pulling out a top-grade spirit stone and cing it on the table. Is this enough? I can find another way if its not. Jiang Cheng hurriedly refused, No, its not about the money. Wei Qin earnestly persuaded, Jiang Cheng, listen to me. So many of your Willpower Empowerment Talismans have been sold, there must be many people like me in the same situation. You could just release a new talisman to address the insensitivity issue, specially tailored for us; theres definitely a big market for it! Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng was taken aback. He thought Wei Qins suggestion actually made a lot of sense. Although the intended purpose of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman was to aid in digesting elixirs and enhancing the effects of other talismans, due to its potential to tap into the bodys potential, quite a few buyers used it for bedroom activities. After Prince Liang Chus incident, such bedroom behavior should have been curtailed. Those who were still using the talisman extensively, like Wei Qin who didnt fear overexerting himself, or the male disciples of the Hehuan Sect who relied on cultivation through dual cultivation, would end up desensitized. The Immortal Sect might not be able to find the Hehuan Sect, but the Willpower Empowerment Talisman could lead to them! If I could develop a talisman that helps those desensitized recover their sensitivity, the male disciples of the Hehuan Sect would have no reason not to buy, and they shoulde to me on their own initiative. Elder Wei, I will consider the creation of a new talisman, Jiang Cheng said. Wei Qin was overjoyed and urged Jiang Cheng to notify him immediately if there was any news. Just as Jiang Cheng let out a sigh of relief, Shen Menghan sent him amunication talisman. Jiang Cheng, can youe to the Miaodan Workshop store on Fuyang Road? Is someone looking for me? Shen Menghans voice was full of surprise, How did you know? Is it because of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman? Are you, learning divination? I think I know what its about. Wait for me; Ill be there soon. Wei Qin was quite right about one thing. Theres a significant demand for a new talisman that helps a portion of empowered users address their embarrassingly delicate issue. Its the kind of product that practically sells itself. Chapter 203: 196: She’s Fine Now Chapter 203: Chapter 196: Shes Fine Now Jade Lakes Mingan. Jiang Cheng was seated on the sofa, starting to conceive of a new talisman required by Wei Qin. In some sense, the new talisman could be referred to as Fishing Talisman 2.0, but this time the target was not fish in water, but the Demonic Taos Hehuan Sect. The design requirements for the new talisman were clearit needed to help cultivators who had be desensitized due to excessive use of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman to restore their bodily sensations. Although he had an idea, designing it was not easy. Because desensitization is a kind of bodily protective mechanism, the Purification Talisman couldnt undo it, and talismans that increase sensation would see greatly diminished effects due to the existence of this protective mechanism. It was like the dam in the reservoir was closed; no water wasing upstream, and no amount of rain downstream could create a flood. Jiang Cheng had to think of a kind of talisman that could bypass the bodys protective mechanisms and still enhance sensation. There was no inspiration for drawing the talisman. Look at Snake. Still no inspiration.
Stop looking! Close your eyes! I must rely on my own strength! Why isnt Snakeing over? No, I cant rely on her anymore! Footsteps, she was walking over. So what? Let the winds blow from all directions, I stand unshaken! She sat down on the sofa, and the air wasnt too fragrant. It must be the other side of the sofa. A good distance, I can almost remain unaffected by her! She moved a bit closer. Such aughable position, unable to shake my will in designing the talisman! Very close now. Ha, just a mere Snake trying to shake my resolve to draw talismans independently? You underestimate my conviction! Holding hands. Theres something there, but thats all! Her hand is so soft, just touching it once. Gurgle. Jiang Chengs stomach made a sound. He felt extremely weak, as though he hadnt eaten all day. Jiang Cheng opened his eyes and discovered that it was already dark outside the window. Strange, didnt I just have breakfast?
Jiang Cheng looked at the night sky of the Capital, unable to understand what had happened. I was just thinking about the talisman for a moment, and the day turned to night? I really am too focused on drawing talismans. Ill pay attention next time. Dinner? Liu Qing asked. Hmm. There should be leftovers from yesterday; warm them up.
Hand. Oh. I forgot. Jiang Cheng watched Liu Qings back as she opened the fridge and said, Is there a talisman that would let her cook without having to let go of my hand? What am I thinking? Shouldnt I be focused on how to entrap the Hehuan Sect? So where is my inspiration for drawing talismans? Where did it go along with the time? Jiang Cheng watched Liu Qing take yesterdays leftovers from the fridge, then carry them to the microwave, turn the knob, and start reheating the food. Microwave, microwave, microwave A novel idea gradually took shape in Jiang Chengs mind. From a scientific perspective on Earth, sensation is a kind of electrical signal sent by the body to the brain, with desensitization meaning the signal isnt sent or received anymore. But in the world of Xianxia, the brain isnt the only sensory organ for cultivators, who have a Spirit Space and Spiritual Power. When one reaches the Nascent Soul Stage in their cultivation, they condense their spirit into a tangible Nascent Soul. If the brain bes desensitized, then couldnt one use a talisman to send the signal directly into the Spirit Space?
Spiritual Power attacks are not umon in battles among cultivators. However, they mostly ur in the fights of high-level cultivators. Low-level cultivators,cking a Nascent Soul, usually dont have strong Spiritual Power and struggle tounch effective attacks. A first-level Spiritual Power attack talisman is utterly useless. The amount of damage it inflicts is even less stimting than the bright light emitted by an Incandescent Talisman to the eyes. But that is predicated on the assumption that A is attacking B, and B is on guard. If A attacks A, and one is not guarding against oneself, then a Spiritual Power attack can have quite a significant effect. New talisman, if it can transmit bodily sensations through attacks on the spiritual power, it should be able to perform the function of restoring sensitivity. Liu Qing watched Jiang Cheng brainstorming with great curiosity in her heart. He had been touching hands all day, from morning to afternoon, with his mindpletely nk. Now that hes not touching hands and is about to eat, inspiration is bursting forth. Liu Qing knew how important the current inspiration was for Jiang Cheng, so she didnt interrupt, deciding if the food got cold, shed reheat it. She didnt need to eat. So waiting for Jiang Cheng was just fine.
Finally, taking advantage of his precious brainstorming, Jiang Chengpleted his design for a new talisman to ovee desensitization! [Name: Perception Transmission Talisman Rank: First Rank Type: Attack Effects: Through weak but high-frequency spiritual attacks, it conveys bodily sensations, allowing one to freely adjust the sensitivity of various senses such as smell, taste, pain, touch, hearing, etc. Precautions: Do not use too high a sensitivity for a long time, as it can trigger the spirit spaces protective mechanism and lead to unconsciousness.] Time to eat! Jiang Cheng came to the dining table and devoured his food. Aside from breakfast, he hadnt had anything else today and was truly starving. But as he was halfway through his meal, he suddenly realized Liu Qing wasnt eating. Strange, she wasnt like this before. Liu Qing, why arent you eating? Liu Qing shook her head and said, Im not hungry.
Not hungry? Thats not right! Her not eating definitely wasnt because she wasnt hungry! Jiang Cheng frowned, carefully examined the dining table, and finally understood why Liu Qing wasnt eatingthe food leftover from yesterday wasnt enough for two people. Jiang Cheng was silent for a moment before he suddenly stood up. He walked over and took Liu Qings hand. Come on, Ill take you out to eat, you can have whatever you want today. Im not hungry. Liu Qing said softly, as if she had done something wrong. Jiang Cheng shook his head, No, youre hungry. Liu Qing looked down at their sped hands and felt that this was the tightest Jiang Cheng had ever held her hand. What would you like to eat? Jiang Cheng asked again. The grilled fish at the entrance. Can we have something more expensive? No need for something expensive. In Jiang Chengs memory, Liu Qing clearly preferred grilled meat, but today she chose the grilled fish ce at the entrance of the neighborhood. He asked, Why? Liu Qing didnt speak. Shaking her hand gently, Jiang Cheng asked again, Why? Liu Qing nced at the talisman design just finished by Jiang Cheng on the couch. At that moment, Jiang Cheng felt a tightness in his chest, his mind cleared of everything else as he silently recited the Enchantment of Devotion. She is Mahayana, she is Mahayana, she is Mahayana She is a monster, she is a monster, she is a monster Calm down, calm down, calm down In Jiang Chengs original n, Liu Qing was supposed to stay with him for a while and then leave to look for another job when she found it uninteresting, thus repeating her plot mission as the plot leadingdy. Whether it was Lin Yao or Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng didnt want to interfere with their plotlines. Who knows what changes would happen to the world after that? But now, there seemed to be a dangerously turbulent change in the situation. Putting Lin Yao aside, Liu Qings plot probably couldnt bepleted anymore. She likely didnt want to leave Jiang Cheng to find other work. Jiang Cheng also didnt want to see her turn dark and then get hurt fighting against the strong cultivators of the Immortal Sect, eventually getting ruthlessly suppressed by the sect. She was good the way she was now. Very good. Chapter 204: 197: Jiang Cheng, Hehuan Sect Strategic Partner Chapter 204: Chapter 197: Jiang Cheng, Hehuan Sect Strategic Partner At the entrance to Lotus University, Shen Menghan sent amunication talisman to Yue Linger. Hello? Linger? Junior, please call me Sister in private. For some reason, Yue Linger was particrly keen on being called Sister, as if she had once been at a great disadvantage regarding seniority and now that she finally had a younger sister, she was determined to make up for it. Yue Sister, Im at the school gate now. When will youe over? Right away, right away. Soon, Shen Menghan saw the meticulously dressed Yue Linger. Working together in the publicity department, Shen Menghan had known Yue Linger for a long time. Although female cultivators typically love to look beautiful, Shen Menghan had never seen Yue Linger prepare herself with such care in school. Looking at Yue Linger, decked out to the teeth, Shen Menghan felt she was not going to visit Jiang Chengs house but to the battlefield to have a life-and-death fight with a major viin. Senior, whats wrong?
Shen Menghan shook her head. Nothing. By the way, whats Jiang Cheng asking us to do at his house? Is this your first time going? Hmm. Yue Linger looped her arm through Shen Menghans and said, Congrattions, Senior, going to Jiang Chengs house to help him test new talismans is the first step of him acknowledging you. From what I know about Jiang Cheng, he doesnt like to bother strangers. So if hes willing to trouble you, it means he doesnt consider you an outsider, understand? Upon hearing Yue Lingers exnation, Shen Menghan felt a touch of sweetness in her heart. Have you helped Jiang Cheng test many talismans? Of course. Yue Linger first boasted a little, then deted, saying, But dont get your hopes up too high. His house isnt some fun ce, and his talismans arent simple things. Why? Youll understand once we get there. After about fifteen minutes, the two arrived at the entrance to Jiang Chengs house. Yue Linger knocked on the door with practiced ease, while Shen Menghan felt somewhat nervous. It was her first timeing to Jiang Chengs house, and it was impossible not to feel anxious. Then the door opened, and she saw a fairy-like figure. Seeing the woman inside Jiang Chengs house, Shen Menghan felt for the first time that she herself wasnt beautiful enough. If beauty had ranks, that woman was at least Mahayana Realm! Senior? Yue Linger looked at Shen Menghans inexperienced state. Ah? Shen Menghan snapped back to reality. Dont just stand there,e in. Oh, this is Liu Qing, another employee of Jiang Chengs. Yue Linger introduced her proficiently. Hello.
Liu Qing reached out her hand in greeting, yet she was quite aloof, with little expression on her face. You, hello. Shen Menghan had been exposed to grand scenes since childhood alongside her father, but today, in front of Liu Qing, she experienced unparalleled pressure. Stealing a nce at the perfectly made-up Yue Linger, Shen Menghan finally understood why her Sister Yue had prepared so thoroughly beforeing to Jiang Chengs house, and why she was armed to the teeth.
With makeup on, she might not necessarily be more beautiful than Liu Qing, but at the very least, she could have a bit more confidence when facing her. However, the pressure in Shen Menghans heart was greatly relieved with the appearance of Jiang Cheng. Wee, Senior, to my humble home! Jiang Cheng said with a smile. Shen Menghans face turned a bit red. Not at all, your house is quite nice. Its just a rental. Oh, right, let me give you your remuneration for the talisman testing. Jiang Cheng took out three high-grade spirit stones and handed one to each of them: Yue Linger, Shen Menghan, and Liu Qing. Shen Menghan received a high-grade spirit stone and eximed in surprise, Ten thousand low-grade spirit stones? Isnt that a bit too much? Not at all, trust me, Yue Linger imparted her experience as someone who had been through it to her younger sister. Watching Yue Linger casually ept the spirit stones without any psychological burden, Shen Menghan hesitated for a moment but also epted Jiang Chengs remuneration. Liu Qing, however, silently stored the spirit stone in her payment vault. Following the traditional talisman-testing procedure, Jiang Cheng first gave the three of them instruction manuals for the Perception Transmission Talisman. When Shen Menghan saw the instruction manual, her face reddened noticeably. But her two seniorsYue Linger and Liu Qingwere veryposed, with no change in expression.
Unperturbed by it all. Shen Menghan thought to herself: Is this theposure of sisters? Too strong. Have you all finished reading it? Jiang Cheng asked. All three nodded. Jiang Cheng pulled out a magical treasure capable of silencing an area and said, Take these three talismans. Lets first test your hearing. You need to let go of the protection of your spirit space, then use the talisman on yourselves, and increase the sensitivity of your hearing by twenty times. As Jiang Cheng activated the magical treasure, Yue Linger and the other two used the talismans on themselves. Hu, dong, hu, dong! The once unnoticeable sounds of breathing and heartbeats became incredibly clear in their ears. The sound of breathing was like the panting of a wild beast, and the heartbeat resounded like war drums next to their ears! How does it feel? Ah! Shen Menghan and Yue Linger immediately covered their ears; what was a casual phrase from Jiang Cheng sounded to them like a deafening thunderp! Although Liu Qing could also hear any subtle sound, the reason she could hear was her Mahayana level of cultivation, not Jiang Chengs talisman.
In the face of the overpowering strength of Mahayana, Jiang Chengs first-order talismans would have no effect on her. Talismans that could affect her had to be at least seventh-order or above. You can stop the talismans effect now, Jiang Cheng said again. Yue Linger covered her ears, but she found out that her ears were not the source of the sounds she heard, and covering her ears had no effect! Under the twentyfold enhancement of hearing, any sound became a disaster for the one affected by the talisman! After the experiment ended, Shen Menghan eximed, The Perception Transmission Talismans effect is so exaggerated. As long as it works, traditional defenses are almost ineffective. Is this really the power that a first-order talisman can unleash? The effect is so strong, its almost unreasonable! Yue Linger simply summarized the extraordinary behavior of this talisman as, This is Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng took out three more talismans, distributed them to the three of them, and held out a towel saying, Next, lets test touch by enhancing your tactile sense twentyfold. Under Jiang Chengs instruction, Yue Linger and Shen Menghan enhanced their sense of touch as well. They then discovered that with their touch magnified twenty times, their bodies became extremely sensitive. Even the air currents produced by breathing were enough to stimte their bodies. Jiang Cheng, can I not continue with the experiment? Yue Linger looked at the towel in Jiang Chengs hand and said somewhat fearfully.
Youvee all this way, Jiang Cheng spoke the truth. He then gently swept the towel across the back of Yue Lingers hand. Yue Linger blushed, tensed up all over, and tried her best not to cry out. She didnt understand the sensation, a mix of pain and itching, as the mere tactile information from the towels sweep over her hand was enough to overwhelm her sensory processor. After being stimted by the towel, Yue Lingers brain felt like it was overclocked; she was blushing and gasping for breath. Shen Menghan, seeing the devilish towel, finally understood why Yue Linger said ten thousand Spirit Stones really isnt much, and realized that testing talismans for Jiang Cheng was truly an unbearable job! As night approached, thest item on Jiang Chengs talisman testing C taste C was finallypleted. Recalling the sour-tasting water, Yue Linger swore not to drink any more water that day. The water tasted worse than the bitterest herbal medicine. Too sharp a perception is not necessarily a good thing after all. No wonder the ancients often said a married couple should not be too sensitive, lest domestic peace be disturbed. Afterpleting the tests for the Perception Transmission Talisman, and all the indicators met Jiang Chengs expectations, he was in an excellent mood. Lets go, Ill treat you to dinner tonight. Consider it a celebration for the sess of the new talisman. On the way, Yue Linger asked, Jiang Cheng, what do you n to do with these new talismans? Fishing. Huh? Yue Linger felt she was hallucinating from all the talisman testing. What kind of fish could a sensory-enhancing talisman catch? Mermaids? I n to fish for the people from the Hehuan Sect. They will definitely not be able to resist this talisman of mine, Jiang Cheng exined. Shen Menghan expressed her concerns, But, you only have Qi Training. Although the Hehuan Sect is constantly suppressed, their Demonic Tao cultivation techniques are all about quick results. They may not have many high-ranking fighters, but they should have quite a few at the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation levels. While their opponent was not to be underestimated, Jiang Cheng confidently said, As long as the Immortal Sects are around, when will it be my turn to personally catch people? Dont worry, at most Ill act as an undercover or something. Yue Linger and Shen Menghan, who had been ready to rx, now felt even more worried. In the office of the president of the Talisman Master Association of the Tongtian Sect. Gao Miao frowned at Jiang Chengs Perception Transmission Talisman as if he was looking at a twisty knot. This Perception Transmission Talisman seemed strangely tailor-made for the cultivation techniques of the Hehuan Sect. Jiang Cheng, I need to ask you a question, and you must answer me honestly. Please go ahead. Ever since you came to the Capital, youve been creating talismans with high intensity. What exactly are you trying to do? Jiang Cheng summarized his motivations for creating talismans over the past few months, I have a friend named Bai Xiaohe; she works at a Tongbao Pavilion store affiliated with the Outer Sect. The store she manages is about to close, and I want to help her improve the business. Gao Miaos eyes bulged; you turned the Capital upside down just for this little favor!? To Gao Miao, Jiang Chengs words were no different from Im not happy because my sweater got stuck on my neck when I put it on backward today, so I intend to destroy the world. Just give me a moment, I need to make a talisman call, he said. Gao Miao walked out with the talisman, and returned half an hourter, looking refreshed and sitting back down. There, Ive sorted out your friends work issue. Does that mean we dont have to certify this new talisman of yours? Elder Gao, youve misunderstood; Im not here to certify a talisman today. Gao Miaos fists were clenched tight. He had gone out to pull strings, using up quite a bit of goodwill, and after much persuasion had managed to get Bai Xiaohe promoted from the Tongbao Pavilion branch to the main store. And now youre telling me youre not here to certify a talisman!? Really, this could only be Jiang Cheng. If it had been his son who pulled such a stunt, Gao Miao would have made sure that his son learned what fatherly love like earth-shattering mountains truly meant. As a Core Formation cultivator, Gao Miao managed his emotions quite well. Although he might have just done a pointless chore, at least, fortunately, Jiang Cheng wasnt there to certify a talisman. As long as Jiang Cheng did not certify any talismans, everything was negotiable. After self-soothing, Gao Miao felt much better. He thought Jiang Cheng was asionally quite considerate. For instance, today, knowing there was something off about his Perception Transmission Talisman, he simply decided not to certify it. Very good, he had grown up, matured, gained insight, and learned to alleviate the leaders worries. Upon further reflection, although Jiang Chengs talismans were often troublesome, he himself was very well-behaved, never actively causing trouble. He was quite the rule-abiding Talisman Master. So, what did youe for today? Well, Elder Gao, I n topletely round up the disciples of the Hehuan Sect in the Capital. What? Chapter 205: 198: Jiang Taigong Fishing Chapter 205: Chapter 198: Jiang Taigong Fishing Gao Miao looked stunned, What did you say? Im nning to wipe out all the Hehuan Sect disciples in Capital at once, Jiang Cheng said simply. Gao Miao took back his earlier praise for Jiang Cheng. This kid is off the rails! As the saying goes, a talisman reflects its creator! Jiang Chengs talismans are preposterous, indeed, its not a matter of luck, but rather that he himself is preposterous! Gao Miao advised earnestly and kindly, Jiang Cheng, eradicating the Demon Sect is the duty of the Immortal Sects. Youre currently just a student at Lotus University, attending sses well is the greatest contribution you can make to society. Do you understand? Gao Senior, with great poweres great responsibility. If I can wipe out the Hehuan Sect in one fell swoop, naturally, I cannot sit idly by. But youre only at the Qi Cultivation Stage. You cant defeat anyone. But Senior is not at the Qi Cultivation Stage. Senior is not only a Core Formationte-stage cultivator but also a fourth-tier Talisman Master, with extremely potentbat power. More importantly,pared to Director Guo, Senior has significant advantages. Seniors subordinates manage many talisman masters in Capital, and could easily level a small country with just a bit of organization. Upon hearing this, Gao Miao unconsciously straightened his back a little.
Indeed, although Jiang Cheng tends to cause trouble, he has always been one to speak the truth. Though Gao Miao and Guo Xiuyuan are both fourth-tiers, I am the esteemed president of the Liang Kingdoms Talisman Master Association of Tongtian Sect; am I not head and shoulders above that director of Lotus University? Gao Miao broke into a smile, saying, Alright, theres no need to speak so many truths, just tell me straight what you want to do. Jiang Cheng earnestly said, As long as Senior is willing to follow mymands, wiping out Hehuan Sect in Capital wont be a problem. Gao Miaos smile gradually faded. Yes, he hadughed too soon again. Damn it, Jiang Cheng had been ttering him just to get him to follow Jiang Chengsmands? He, a dignified Core Formation cultivator, fourth-tier Talisman Master, take orders from a Qi Cultivation Stage like Jiang Cheng? The key point being this guy hasnt even passed the Talisman Master Certificate exam; he doesnt even qualify as one of their associations talisman masters! On what grounds!? Forget about Jiang Cheng; even if the Helmsman of Tongtian Sects Capital branch wanted tomand Gao Miao, they would have to ask nicely and negotiate! With a pained expression, Gao Miao said, Jiang Cheng, do you want to listen to what youre saying? Wiping out Hehuan Sect is not a problem. The sentence before that. As long as Senior is willing to follow mymands. Exactly! That sentence! Gao Miao mmed the table and stood up, shouting angrily, Why should I listen to you! Jiang Cheng, surprised, said, Dont you want the credit for dealing a heavy blow to the Demonic Tao? Then Ill go discuss it with President Li of the Taixu Sect. Senior, Ill take my leave. Having said that, Jiang Cheng got up to leave, exuding the air of someone shopping in a physical store, ready to move to the next one if you dont cut the price in half. The credit for dealing a heavy blow to the Demonic Tao!?
If this could indeed be achieved, it would indeed be a great aplishment! Gao Miao watched Jiang Chengs retreating figure, feeling a chill in his heart. Damn it, I got angry too early again. He swiftly converted his anger into a gentle drizzle of kindness, saying affectionately, Hold on,e back, lets talk this through carefully.
Jiang Cheng turned around on the spot and returned to his seat. The Tongtian Sects Talisman Master Association was indeed Jiang Chengs first consideration. The main reason is that the Taixu Sects influence in Capital is too weak; although Li Qingge would support him with all her might, for one thing, all-out support might not be enough; for another, if he interacts too much with Taixu Sect, if they mistakenly think he wants to help them interfere with their session struggle, that wouldnt be good. Jiang Cheng simply told Gao Miao about the Willpower Empowerment Talisman and the function of the Perception Transmission Talisman. After listening, Gao Miao analyzed carefully and found that Jiang Chengs points indeed made sense. Capturing the Hehuan Sect was not a wild goose chase, but rather a feasible y. ording to Jiang Chengs n, they would first use a Perception Transmission Talisman to lure a Hehuan Sect disciple into their trap. And through persuasion, they would make the Hehuan Sect disciple align with the righteous path, voluntarily confess information, and cooperate with Tongtian Sects actions. Ultimately, they aim to find the other members of the Hehuan Sect and capture them all in one fell swoop! Catching someone isnt hard, but even the Immortal Sects struggle to distinguish those from the Demonic Tao. How can you ensure that you can definitely identify a talisman buyer as a disciple of the Hehuan Sect? Other righteous cultivators could also possibly buy Perception Transmission Talismans, right? Jiang Cheng said, Senior Gao, have you ever seen any other users of Willpower Empowerment Talismans? Well, no, have you? Thinking back to Wei Qins appearance, Jiang Cheng said, I have. Users of Willpower Empowerment Talismans often suffer from a deficiency of yang energy,ck vitality, appear dispirited, and have dark circles under their eyes. The Hehuan Sect is different, however; they practice through absorption, so after using the empowerment talismans, their spirits are actually better!
Gao Miao pped his hands in admiration, Brilliant! Your method is truly brilliant! Then, Gao Miao raised another question, But how can you be sure that you can persuade a Hehuan Sect disciple? There are quite a few tough nuts in the Demon Sect who refuse to speak the truth after being captured by the Tongtian Sect. Jiang Cheng smiled and said, In terms of persuading people to be righteous, I do have some experience. Gao Miao pondered and concluded that, with Jiang Chengs level of talisman drawing, persuading (coercing) people (through harsh measures) to be righteous (forced to confess) was indeed possible. Gao Miao looked at the Perception Transmission Talisman Jiang Cheng had, and felt increasingly convinced that fishing for the Hehuan Sect members was possible. The Hehuan Sect was one of the representative sects of the Demonic Tao; if they could truly uproot the Hehuan Sect in the Capital, it would definitely be considered a glorious achievement! Worth the risk! How do you want me to assist you? Jiang Cheng said, I need Senior Gao to help me find some people. Two third-tier Talisman Masters will suffice for the initial phase. As for theter stage, it will depend on the actual size of the Hehuan Sect in the Capital. Gao Miao nodded his head. Finding two third-tier Talisman Masters wasnt difficult, as their association had the necessary personnel. If you need anything else, just let me know with amunication talisman. Understood.
As everyone knows, before fishing, one must chum the water. Having secured the martial support, Jiang Cheng then began to work on expanding the influence of the Perception Transmission Talisman. They must build the reputation of the Perception Transmission Talisman first to make it easier for the fish to bite. Jiang Cheng chose his specially encrypted version of the Perception Transmission Talisman which only allowed for three minutes of transmission time. Its main selling point was trying something new. Jiang Cheng also adjusted the transmission strength to a reasonable threefold increase, ensuring it wouldnt cause addiction. In order to avoid suspicion, Jiang Cheng even spent money to hire students from Lotus University to hand out flyers on the streets. He handed out trial talismans along with flyers that provided instructions to passersby, inviting them to try for free. After creating a buzz, Jiang Cheng, to ay the Hehuan Sect disciples suspicions, did not choose Tongbao Pavilion with Tongtian Sects backing as the spot for releasing the talismans, but instead opted for the newly opened Miaodan Workshop. On the first day of the Perception Transmission Talismans release, Jiang Cheng, along with Shen Menghan, Yue Linger, and two third-tier Talisman Masters from the Talisman Master Association,y in ambush inside Miaodan Workshop. They would act on Jiang Chengs signal of dropping a cup. If Hehuan Sect disciples below the Foundation Establishment came, the third-tier Talisman Masters would apprehend them on the spot! As for Core Formation Stage disciples of the Hehuan Sect, they would pretend not to see them.
This wasnt out of fear; rather, Core Formation Stage cultivators possess a certain ability to escape. Acting rashly and failing to capture them could easily rm the others. Jiang Cheng stayed at the front desk of Miaodan Workshop, quickly weing their first customer of the day to buy a talisman! The first visitor was a cultivatress with rosy cheeks and a healthy body, not seeming to be drained by a Willpower Empowerment Talisman. Her arrival instantly tightened the atmosphere in Miaodan Workshops Fuyang Road Store! ording to Jiang Chengs deduction, the cultivator with a rosyplexion and using the Willpower Empowerment Talisman was mostly likely a disciple of the Hehuan Sect who relied on a cultivation technique of nourishing recement! Only disciples of the Hehuan Sect would look more spirited the more they used it. Other cultivators using the Willpower Empowerment Talisman would hardly avoid having dark circles under their eyes. The Miaodan Workshop had arranged a formation that could hide ones aura, and Shen Menghan and Yue Linger were watching the female cultivator who entered. What is her cultivation level? Can we make a move? Dont know, cant feel it. Elder Wu, can you sense it? Wu Renshan, at thete stage of Foundation Establishment, a third-order Talisman Master. He had been arranged by Gao Miao to assist Jiang Cheng. Even I cannot perceive it, she is probably at the Core Formation Stage. Core Formation! The first one is a Core Formation Stage disciple of the Hehuan Sect! The renowned Demonic Hehuan Sect is indeed not simple! Jiang Cheng has to be careful Hello, what would you like to buy? At the Miaodan Workshop counter, Jiang Cheng greeted with a smile. The female cultivator said, Perception Transmission Talisman. Jiang Cheng took out a disposable one, saying, Two thousand Spirit Stones. The female cultivator was taken aback, That expensive? Of course, its effective. Do you have a Reusable Type? Not at the moment. The female cultivator thought for a moment, then asked, Can I use an official ount here? Everyone: ??? An official ount? Does the Hehuan Sect always purchase things so formally? Jiang Cheng remained veryposed, saying, May I ask what type of official ount it is? A schools official ount, said the female cultivator. May I ask which school it is? Hmm, Hundred Peaks University. Hundred Peaks University! Everyone involuntarily took in a breath of cold air. No wonder the efforts of the Immortal Sects to exterminate demons were always so ineffective. It was unexpected that the Demon Sect had infiltrated so deeply! Even the key university under the banner of the Immortal Sects had been infiltrated! Still smiling, Jiang Cheng asked, May I ask what the purpose is? The female cultivator nodded, Hmm, I am a practitioner of Body Cultivation, and Ive found that the Perception Transmission Talisman can elerate the cultivation speed of Body Cultivation. Especially in tempering the body Whats that look on your face? Jiang Cheng, struggling to maintainposure, said, Is your husbands name Wei Qin? The female cultivator expressed surprise, How did you know? Ha, ha, nevermind. We currently are not selling this talisman to customers who dont use the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. If you wish to purchase it, you could have Mr. Weie over to buy it. Thats a weird rule. The female cultivator was quite dissatisfied, but she didnt say anything else. After the female cultivator left, another male cultivator who was also full of energy and without dark circles entered. This mans cultivation level was in the Qi Cultivation Stage, falling within the range that Jiang Cheng and the others could capture among the Hehuan Sect disciples! Yue Linger, Shen Menghan, Wu Renshan, and the others were ready for battle. As soon as Jiang Cheng gave the signal by dropping a cup, they would rush out to apprehend him! But unexpectedly, the male cultivator didnt speak. Only Jiang Cheng knew what was happeningthe male cultivator was using Divine Sense to transmit his voice. Male cultivator: Hello, Id like to buy a Perception Transmission Talisman. Jiang Cheng: Hello, you can speak to me directly, no need for Divine Sense transmission. Male cultivator: I am sorry, I am deaf. The Perception Transmission Talisman allowed me to hear sounds again Ten minutester, the male cultivator left. Yue Linger urgently transmitted her voice to Jiang Cheng: Why did you let him go! Are we not moving in for the capture? In silence, Jiang Cheng transmitted back: He is not a disciple of the Hehuan Sect, he is deaf. He was just thanking me because my Talisman allowed him to hear again. Yue Linger was taken aback, she hadnt expected the situation to be like this. Although hearing loss is usually self-healing after Foundation Establishment, guilt still filled Yue Lingers heart. Im sorry. Its okay. You didnt mean it, dont take it to heart. A few minutester, Yue Linger regained her spirits and said with an uneasy feeling, Strange! Shen Menghan asked, Whats wrong? Senior Sister, have you noticed that whenever Jiang Cheng intends to make a good talisman, things go out of control. But when he prepares to make a bad talisman, he starts doing good deeds again! Shen Menghan fell silent. Because she realized that it indeed seemed to be the case. How about, we follow him and join the Demon Sect? Yue Linger burst into tears, Senior Sister, if Jiang Cheng joins the Demon Sect, would you follow him? Is this love? Shen Menghan felt embarrassed. She hadnt thought that much; after all, following Jiang Cheng was also about doing good deeds, and it wasnt possible to join the Demon Sect and be a bad person. Moreover, the main point was following Jiang Cheng; if he didnt go, who would want to live a life of hiding and secrecy in the Demon Sect? Youre not going? Shen Menghan asked. Going, replied Yue Linger without hesitation. As someone deeply affected by Jiang Cheng Syndrome, Yue Linger couldnt imagine a life without him. So wherever Jiang Cheng went, she would follow, in and simple. Today, Wu Renshan and his colleague Xia Changfu truly had their eyes opened! They had long heard that Jiang Cheng was brilliant at making talismans. But they never thought that his ability to control the chaotic scene was a hundred times more impressive than his talisman-making skills! Seduction of a campus belle might be brag-worthy. But the issue was that Jiang Cheng had clearly won over not just one but two, and there wasnt even the slightest conflict between them; their rtionship was as good as that of real sisters. How in the world did he manage to do this? Wouldnt learning this skill of living off women be more useful than learning how to make talismans? Chapter 206: 199: It’s Illegal to Abuse Prisoners, but Not to Offer Them a Meal Chapter 206: Chapter 199: Its Illegal to Abuse Prisoners, but Not to Offer Them a Meal After the Body Refinement and Hearing Aid functions had been developed, the subsequent customers then sessively revealed multiple uses for the Perception Transmission Talisman, such as Search and Rescue, Drug Sweeping, and Tea Tasting. Although these were all good developments, the original purpose of the Perception Transmission Talismanto catch the Hehuan Secthad no hope of being achieved so far. Time imperceptibly reached the evening, and Yue Linger finished her dinner before taking over for Jiang Cheng so he could have his meal. With their nerves strung tight all day, the folks from the Hehuan Sect were now somewhat exhausted. Yue Linger, sitting at the counter of the Miaodan Workshop, propped her cheek in her hand, listlessly drawing circles on the tabletop with her slender jade fingers. Suddenly, as if sensing something, she lifted her head and her eyes met those of a customer who had just walked in. As usual, this spirited Qi Cultivation Stage male cultivator was likely not a disciple of the Hehuan Sect but rather another capable person who had discovered the benefits of the Perception Transmission Talisman. However, this particr customer gave Yue Linger an unusual feeling. As a female cultivator, her subconscious immediately detected something; the mans gaze was extremely lewd. Although his expression seemed quite serious, that dirty look in his eyes made her very ufortable. Yue Linger quickly transmitted her thoughts: Jiang Cheng! Something isnt right about this man!
Jiang Cheng put down the steamed bun he was holding, took out a talisman, and replied with his divine sense: Stay calm. Stick to the n. Yue Linger was not Jiang Cheng; she did not possess such a strong mental fortitude. But still, she did her best to maintain herposure, engaging in normal conversation with the male cultivator. The Perception Transmission Talisman is currently only being sold to customers who possess a Willpower Empowerment Talisman, she said. Is this it? The male cultivator took out a reusable type Willpower Empowerment Talisman and ced it on the table. Yue Linger replied, Yes, I need to examine it. Please, go ahead. Yue Linger reached out to take the Willpower Empowerment Talisman on the table, but the man did the same, clearly trying to take advantage of her. Fortunately, she was prepared and swiftly withdrew her hand. Little beauty, dont you want to check the talisman? This talisman here is a fine item, the male cultivator spoke in a husky voice, his intent to seduce quite obvious. Yue Linger forced a smile: Is that so? The male cultivator revealed an ambiguous smile: Of course. Dont believe me? Want brother to prove it to you? I guarantee youll want it again. Yue Linger was on the verge of losing it. Internally, sheined: Do you really think youre that charming? Do you think youre Jiang Cheng or something? The male cultivator leaned forward, resting his arm on the counter: Brothers not lying to you, when do you get off work? Yue Linger, holding her teacup, replied: Now! The teacup hit the ground, and in an instant, Jiang Cheng and the others rushed out from the back of the Miaodan Workshop! Two third-ranked and two second-ranked talismans were activated in a sh. The ground sunk swiftly, trapping the male cultivators legs, followed by a cage of vines, plus an Immobilization Talisman and a curse talisman that added negative effects.
The four talismans instantly subdued the male cultivator, ensnaring him in a tight. But that wasnt the end; the steady Jiang Cheng immediately used a magical treasure for interference, temporarily isting nearbymunication talisman signals. Then he used a Trace Duplication Talisman to erase any trace of the male cultivators visit to the Miaodan Workshop. Next, he used a Special Effect Purification Talisman to remove any potential blessings or curses that might have been on the male cultivator.
Subsequently, he conducted a manual search, taking the male cultivators storage bag, and checked whether any poison sacs for suicide had been nted on his body. Jiang Chengs thorough procedures not only shocked Yue Linger and Shen Menghan, but even the experienced members of the Talisman Master Association, Wu Renshan and Xia Changfu, were staggered. Miss Shen, did Jiang Cheng study case investigation before? As the newbie beside Jiang Cheng, Shen Menghan didnt know about this, and could only turn to her Senior Sister Yue. Yue Linger shook her head repeatedly. Wu Renshan scratched his head: If he didnt study it, why is Jiang Cheng so familiar with this procedure? Doesnt his technique seem a bit too professional? Yue Linger said, Maybe its just natural talent. Once Jiang Cheng confirmed the male cultivator was harmless, he called on Wu and Xia, who had assisted him, to move the male cultivator to a warehouse provided by the Talisman Master Association. Name? Jiang Cheng asked as he held a pen. This is illegal detention! Once I get out, I will sue you into bankruptcy! The male cultivator was tied to a chair yet still screaming defiantly. Jiang Cheng with an impassive face: Catching a Demonic Tao disciple doesnt count as illegal detention, its considered an act of valor and may even bemended, possibly earning you the title of Outstanding Citizen. The male cultivator continued to yell, I am not a disciple of the Demonic Tao! You have no proof! Jiang Cheng then pulled out a colorful stone: I took the liberty of conducting a diversity test on your spiritual energy just now. The result came back positive, meaning your spiritual energy is quite mottled, which is consistent with the results of cultivating the Hehuan Sects techniques.
The male cultivator still argued: Thats not evidence! But its grounds for further investigation. Name? Bullshit! Jiang Cheng nodded and wrote Bull Shit on the record sheet. Gender? Youre asking deliberately! What do I look like to you? Its hard to say. Damn it! The male cultivator felt he was being insulted like never before. Gender? Jiang Cheng asked again. Male! Though extremely reluctant, the male cultivator still gave an honest answer to Jiang Chengs question to avoid misunderstandings. ce of origin?
Jingzhou. Political affiliation? The masses. To the side, Wu Renshan and Xia Changfu were beyond astonished. In the past, although the Tongtian Sect had caught disciples of the Demon Sect, it always took a great deal of effort to extract any information from them. But Jiang Cheng, with just a few words, made the Demon Sect disciplepliant, even actively cooperating in filling out his personal information. What kind of ability was this? Friend Bull Shit, weve recorded your details, Jiang Cheng said. The male cultivators head was spinning. This Jiang Cheng was truly outrageous, believing and dering whatever he wanted! He probably even dared to officially record Bull Shit for posterity, etching it into history for all time! From now on, no matter what he did, others would call him Bull Shit. He was truly afraid of people calling him Gou Shi.
Even disciples of the Demonic Tao care about their reputation! My name is Qian Feng, not Gou Shi! For the sake of his reputation, Qian Feng had no choice but to confess. Fellow Daoist Qian Feng, we have registered your information, Jiang Cheng continued. Its all in vain. Jiang Cheng ignored him and continued to ask, Can you please briefly describe the Hehuan Sect from your memory? I am not a disciple of the Hehuan Sect! Then which Demon Sect are you a disciple of? Noment! Jiang Cheng frowned and said, I think its in your best interest to cooperate with my work, so we can all save a lot of effort. Qian Feng revealed a mocking smile and said, Haha! If you have the ability, go ahead! Your grandpa will apany you all the way! Seeing Qian Fengs arrogant demeanor, Yue Linger asked curiously, Hes been captured; why does he still dare to be so rampant? Mainly because the Immortal Sect is too humane. For demonic disciples without conclusive evidence, there is basically nothing that can be done, Wu Renshan exined. But he has already been proven to practice demonic cultivation techniques. The test results only prove that his spiritual energy is mottled, not that he definitely practices demonic techniques. Even if we knew he practiced demonic techniques, we couldnt prove he is a demonic disciple. Moreover, even if we knew he was a disciple of the Demonic Tao, we couldnt prove that he hasmitted any crimes. Ah? Yue Linger widened her eyes and said, Doesnt that mean we have no way to deal with him? Wu Renshan said with a wry smile, Being unable to convict has always been one of the reasons why the Immortal Sect is hindered from eradicating the Demonic Tao. The Demonic Tao does not y by the rules, but the Immortal Sect has to adhere to them. Thats why many from the Demonic Tao will turn around and use the Immortal Sects rules to restrain the Immortal Sect. We had better get the results within a day; if we drag on for too long, the Hehuan Sect might notice Qian Fengs disappearance and be cautious, Xia Changfu added. One day, to extract information through legal means, the difficulty is indeed quite high! Yue Linger looked at Jiang Cheng anxiously. But Jiang Chengs face was surprisingly calm. Youre from Jingzhou, and I had a roommate from there who should like spicy food, Jiang Cheng said. What are you trying to do? Even without evidence, using torture to extract a confession is illegal! I advise you to think twice, Qian Feng warned Jiang Cheng. Youre thinking too much. Its midnight, arent you going to have a midnight snack? So, do you eat spicy food or not? I do. Good. Fellow Daoist Yue. Present! Go buy some rice noodle rolls, and remember to make Fellow Daoist Qians portion extra spicy. Yue Linger was dumbfounded and said, Are you really going to buy it? Of course. Oh. Watching Jiang Cheng casually order Yue Linger around, Qian Fengs face couldnt help but reveal a hint of envy. You young man are quite thedies man. I see shes still a maiden; you must have a lot of self-control, or is it that youre impotent? Jiang Chengs expression remained unchanged, Would you like some water? Qian Feng scoffed and said, Sure, but do you dare to let me go? Senior sister, get me a bottle of water. Shen Menghan ran over and handed the water to Jiang Cheng. Seeing Shen Menghan, the envy in Qian Fengs eyes intensified. He could not resist mocking, Another virgin. Jiang, youre not really a eunuch, are you? Please untie Fellow Daoist Qian Feng, Jiang Cheng requested. Wu and Xia obeyed and untied Qian Feng. Qian Feng flexed his fists, his eyes filled with even thicker scorn for Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng nced at Qian Feng and said in a low voice to Shen Menghan, Senior sister, I apologize for the offense. After speaking, he took her hand and brought the water to Qian Feng. Shen Menghan, already smitten with Jiang Cheng and like Yue Linger a sufferer of Jiang Cheng syndrome, plus having never been touched by a male cultivator, was all of a sudden led by the hand by Jiang Cheng in front of everyone. She immediately became shy and timid, blushing deeply. Although Qian Feng knew this was Jiang Cheng provoking him, he couldnt help but feel angry. Water. Jiang Cheng handed the water to Qian Feng. Qian Feng took the water, twisted his wrist, and a stream of water squirted out of the bottle straight at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng dodged to the side, but as a result, he pulled Shen Menghan closer to Qian Feng. With lust clouding his thoughts, Qian Fengs ck Tiger Heart Pluck headed straight for Shen Menghan. He was looking forward to the beautys reaction after being attacked, and Jiang Chengs response. But what awaited him was Jiang Chengs well-prepared knee strike! Direct hit to the vital organs! Qian Feng felt a surge of stomach acid, but before he knew what happened, Jiang Chengs fist had already hit his face! After taking two hits, Qian Feng tried to react, but Wu and Xia pressed him back into his seat. Furiously impotent, he raged, You assaulted a civilian! Ill use you of provoking trouble! Jiang Cheng released Shen Menghans hand and said, You struck first, and I only responded to prevent a crime from happening. Thats called justified defense. Standing behind Jiang Cheng, Shen Menghan watched him protect her intentionally or not, with her heart pounding nonstop. Done for, now she would be more infatuated with Jiang Cheng! Then she resignedly thought: Whats a bit more? I couldnt quit anyway. Jiang Cheng, Ive bought the rice noodle rolls. Yue Linger had just returned,pletely unaware of what had just transpired. Jiang Cheng took the rice noodle rolls and nodded, Itste, lets not question anymore. Have a nighttime snack first. This one is yours. Jiang Cheng ced the rice noodle roll Yue Linger bought next to Qian Fengs feet. Qian Feng nced at the rice noodle rolls but didnt move. Afraid well harm you? Theres no need for that, we still need you to talk about the Hehuan Sect. If you dont trust it, Ill swap with you. Mine is also extra spicy. Jiang Cheng switched his rice noodle roll with Qian Fengs. Then, in front of Qian Feng, he started eating his midnight snack. Qian Feng thought, why not? Eat if its free, especially since its Jiang Cheng buying. So, he picked up the rice noodle roll and began to eat. Chapter 207: 200: The Demon Sect is still too kind compared to Jiang Cheng Chapter 207: Chapter 200: The Demon Sect is still too kindpared to Jiang Cheng Since it was the middle of the night, and after Jiang Chengs interrogation, Qian Feng was indeed starving. Therefore, he found the simple rice noodle roll prepared by Jiang Cheng very delicious. The only downside was that there wasnt much chili in the rice noodle roll, it wasnt spicy, and itcked punch. Hiss, its slightly spicy, Jiang Chengmented on his rice noodle roll. Trash, Qian Feng didnt miss the opportunity to mock Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng, unbothered, said, Could it be that Fellow Daoist Qian is quite an expert in eating spicy food? Qian Feng sneered, Average, but far better than you, trash! You! Yue Linger wanted to hit someone but was held back by Shen Menghan. Senior Sister! Calm down, she urged.
Why should we be polite to him! Shen Menghan nced at Jiang Cheng and said, Be good, Linger, dont cause trouble for Jiang Cheng. Yue Linger: ??? Wait, whats with this stepmother speech? Im obviously the big sister here! However, Shen Menghans interjection took much of the wind out of Yue Lingers sails. Knowing Jiang Cheng as she did, he never expended effort in vain; inviting Qian Feng for a meal definitely had a purpose. Jiang Cheng said to Qian Feng, We dont have chili here, but I do have another way to make it spicier. Would you like to try? Qian Feng didnt respond. He felt Jiang Cheng was up to no good. Jiang Cheng spread his hands and said, Oh, it appears you were just boasting. I thought you really dared to eat spicy. Whats there to fear about chilies? Youre underestimating me, Qian Feng retorted. Jiang Cheng took out a Perception Transmission Talisman and said, Want to try? Qian Feng squinted his eyes and thought: Triple the spiciness, merely that. Bring it on! Do you think you can scare me? Jiang Cheng applied a talisman to Qian Feng. Qian Feng grabbed a piece of rice noodle roll and took a big bite! Then, he regretted it. It felt like his mouth was not filled with rice noodles but a bomb!
Ergah! Qian Feng spat out the rice noodle roll in his mouth, fell to the ground gasping for breath, feeling even the air he inhaled was slicing his mouth like des! Jiang Cheng frowned, Fellow Daoist Qian, why waste food? Someone, please feed Fellow Daoist Qian the noodles! Wu and Xia finally found their opportunity to act, each grabbing one of Qian Fengs arms, poured the remaining noodles into his mouth, then plugged it up.
Shrieks that could deafen emanated from the Talisman Master Associations storage room! The scene was too cruel to behold. Five minutester, the effect of the talisman wore off. Qian Feng copsed, convulsing all over, drooling uncontrobly, like a soulless lump of white flesh. Wu and Xia looked at the white-eyed Qian Feng and were deeply shaken. What kind of methods was Jiang Cheng using? Even the Sect Master of a Demon Sect wouldnt be this cruel, would they? Scary! As dawn approached, Qian Feng finally recovered to some extent, incessantly using Jiang Cheng of mistreating him! Jiang Cheng justified withpelling arguments, You wanted to eat spicy food yourself, how does my urging you not to waste food qualify as mistreatment? Despicable and shameless! Jiang Cheng replied calmly, Ill take that as apliment. Regarding the work ahead, I hope Fellow Daoist Qian will continue to cooperate. Qian Feng shouted, Go to hell, I would rather die than betray the Holy Sect!
Fellow Daoist Qian, you seem a bit tense; how about we go take a bath to rx. Senior Wu, since youre at theter stage of Foundation Establishment, youre quite strong. When the timees, Ill trouble you to scrub Qian Daoists back. If you get tired, Xia Daoist can take over. Remembering the Perception Transmission Talisman in Jiang Chengs possession and the rice noodle roll that could numb a person with spiciness, Qian Feng trembled. If the noodles were like that, wouldnt getting his back scrubbed be akin to traversing a mountain of knives or a sea of mes? Dont touch me, Im warning you, youre a member of an Immortal Sect; you cant mistreat a captive like this! Jiang Chengs smile emerged, Fellow Daoist Qian, how could bathing be associated with mistreatment? Lets rx a bit, maybe then youll start recalling things about Hehuan Sect. Twenty minutester, blood-curdling screams came from the bathhouse! Fellow Daoist Qian, how rxed do you feel? Jiang Cheng patted Qian Fengs face and asked. Wu Renshan, looking at the contorted Qian Feng on the ground, said uneasily, I dont think he can hear what youre saying right now, Jiang Cheng. Cant hear? Thats an easy fix. Jiang Cheng took out another Perception Transmission Talisman, used it on Qian Feng, setting the hearing transmission to maximum! Hello? Fellow Daoist Qian, can you hear me? Watching on, Wu Renshan and Xia Changfu saw Qian Fengs eyes roll back and then there was no more movement from him. Both of them swallowed nervously, their respect for Jiang Cheng growing by the moment.
Way too ruthless. In the future, they could provoke anyone but must never provoke Jiang Cheng. It seemed thatpared to Jiang Cheng, the Demon Sect was practically agreeable. That afternoon, Jiang Cheng, holding a report with detailed information on Hehuan Sect, pped Qian Fengs shoulder and said, Fellow Daoist Qian, wee to the light. However, for the great n of our righteous path to eliminate demons, could you please continue to go back to the Hehuan Sect and be an undercover for a few more days? No problem, right? Qian Feng nodded repeatedly, No problem, no problem at all. Good, here are a few Perception Transmission Talismans, as your gains from this trip. With these, dealing with Hehuan Sects scrutiny shouldnt be a problem, right? Qian Feng nodded repeatedly, No problem, no problem. Jiang Cheng saw how cooperative Qian Feng was and couldnt help but nod in approval. If Qian Feng performed well, he was even willing to personally write a letter to help reduce his sentence, allowing Qian Feng to spend a couple of years less in the Tongtian Sect dungeon. After sending Qian Feng away, Jiang Cheng held the intelligence in his hand and fell into deep thought. ording to Qian Fengs confession, the scale of the Hehuan Sect in Capital was not small, with at least one Core Formation Stage cultivator and at least ten at the Foundation Establishment Stage, not to mention countless Qi Cultivation Stage disciples.
And this was merely the conservative estimate of the Hehuan Sects power that Qian Feng was aware of. Furthermore, ording to Qian Feng, the Hehuan Sect had deep ties with the imperial family of Great Liang. However, just how deep those ties were, Qian Feng didnt know, after all, he was just a Qi Cultivation Stage disciple. It seemed that theplexity of the Hehuan Sect in Capital far exceeded Jiang Chengs initial assumptions. If he were to rashly take action against the Hehuan Sect, not only would it be impossible to eliminate thempletely, but it might also very likely alert the sect, causing the remnants of Hehuan to be wary. This matter couldnt be rushed, and he had to strategize for the long term. On the way back to Lotus University, Shen Menghan and Yue Linger walked one on each side of Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng, called Shen Menghan. Hmm? The Hehuan Sect disciples have been captured, and the intelligence has been extracted. Are you going to continue selling your Perception Transmission Talismans? Jiang Cheng was startled. Shen Menghan continued, The Perception Transmission Talismans are selling quite well. Ive heard from the staff that some customers are even willing to pay up to four thousand Spirit Stones for one. Four thousand? Yue Linger eximed. Four thousand. Oh, and theres one more thing. Do you know about the Secret Pill Pavilion? They previously took over a lot of assets from the Miaodan Workshop, so they are now very short on cash. Later, because their boss bribed Prince Liang Chu, he was fined 500 million by the court and is currently selling shops to raise money. If we are going to do the Beauty Pill business in the future, the Secret Pill Pavilion has a lot of certified pills. Perhaps we could take this opportunity to buy from them Shen Menghan shared some recent developments from the Miaodan Workshop with Jiang Cheng. But Jiang Chengs attention was actually on the Perception Transmission Talisman. The Perception Transmission Talisman was a talisman specifically designed by Jiang Cheng for the Hehuan Sect, and with this talisman, the Hehuan Sects cultivation technique would be significantly enhanced. Putting himself in the position of the Hehuan Sect, Jiang Cheng thought that once the Hehuan Sect realized the power of the Perception Transmission Talisman, they would surely do everything possible to obtain it. If that was the case Senpai, if were going to buy the certified pills from the Secret Pill Pavilion, its going to cost a lot of money, right? Yue Linger asked. Shen Menghan nodded, Well need tens of millions of Spirit Stones. Yue Linger smacked her lips. Half of the money they had earned from selling the Willpower Empowerment Talisman had been paid as a fine to the court. The rest of the money might barely be enough for a single transaction of pills with the Secret Pill Pavilion. Among the shops being sold by the Secret Pill Pavilion this time, there are a few with very good locations. If possible, we should try our best topete for them. But we dont have that much money. Shen Menghan stole a nce at Jiang Cheng. Yue Linger said helplessly, He doesnt have it either. How do you know? Yue Linger huffed, then naturally took Jiang Chengs arm. Dont you see who I am? Shen Menghan hesitated for a moment, but eventually decided to take Jiang Chengs other arm. Jiang Cheng: ? What are you doing? Jiang Cheng, who had been distracted, said with a confused expression. Senpai is asking you for money. No, wasnt. Jiang Cheng looked at Shen Menghan and asked, How much do you want? Shen Menghan pursed her lips, Twenty million, can you do that? Jiang Cheng nodded, Ill think of something. Shen Menghan looked at Jiang Chengs profile, her eyes reddening as she felt she had made an excessive request. Even though Jiang Cheng clearly didnt have that much money, he still agreed to her request. Yue Linger, seeing Shen Menghans expression, knew that someone was probably ready to devote herself wholeheartedly. Once someone got involved with Jiang Cheng, they would only sink deeper into his vortex. Jiang Cheng, I want twenty million too, Yue Linger said. Hmm, Jiang Cheng nodded. Seeing this, Yue Linger asked, Do you have a n? Im nning to sell the rights to the Perception Transmission Talisman, Jiang Cheng said. Ah? Then I dont want it! I, I dont want it either. Jiang Cheng shook his head, It doesnt matter, I was indeed nning to sell. Yue Linger was puzzled, Why? Arent we selling it well? Although the Miaodan Workshop isnt part of the Immortal Sect, its still a legitimate shop. For the Hehuan Sect, the risk is still too great. What do you mean? Both Yue Linger and Shen Menghan didnt understand what Jiang Cheng was saying. Having the Miaodan Workshop sell the Perception Transmission Talisman isnt conducive to the Hehuan Sects aims. Im nning to sell the talisman to a shop with Demon Sect backing. Yue Lingers pupils shrank in shock, Youre nning to let the Demon Sect bite each other?! Jiang Cheng nodded, Ive been thinking about how to wipe out the Hehuan Sectpletely. Later I realized that thinking from the perspective of the Immortal Sect would never allow me to fully solve the problem with Hehuan. Therefore, its better to consider it from the perspective of the Demonic Tao, letting them eliminate themselves. I will sell the talismans to a shop with a Demon Sect background and, ording to the contract, have them adopt a high pricing strategy. The Hehuan Sect will have to pay a steep price to get the talismans. One side will bleed heavily, the other will make a fortune, surely sparking a conflict between them and Hehuan. Both sides belong to the Demonic Tao, neither protected byw nor bound by rules. In the end, ites down to who has the bigger fist. To ensure that Hehuan definitely takes action, I must choose a Demon Sect that is weaker than Hehuan, but not by too much Yue Linger listened with a tingling scalp. Wow, one talisman takes out two demons. It was initially a simpleting, but now there are too many fish for the, so youre nning to kill some off beforeting the rest, is that it? What kind of karma did the Hehuan Sect rue to be targeted by Jiang Cheng? Better to surrender quickly. Thats the smallest loss. Chapter 208: 201: Our Sect Prospers Day by Day Chapter 208: Chapter 201: Our Sect Prospers Day by Day Capital Citys Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association. President Gao Miao rubbed his temples with both hands. After a long while, Gao Miao adjusted his emotions and tried his best to maintain a stable mindset. Jiang Cheng, repeat your request to me once more. This time, dont rush, speak slowly, I am afraid I might not hear clearly or understand. Jiang Cheng nodded and, using standard Mandarin, told Gao Miao his requirementspletely and clearly. I want Tongtian Sect to list me as a wanted fugitive. Although Gao Miao had heard it several times before, he still couldnt keep up with Jiang Chengs train of thought. Due to his high position, in fact, a considerable number of talisman masters throughout the Capital would seek Gao Miaos assistance. Such as pulling some strings to enter the Tongtian Sect system; or erasing some unfavorable records in the association; or giving them a leg up during the Talisman Master Certificate examination. But the request to help someone be a wanted fugitive, Gao Miao was encountering this for the first time in his life. However, once he thought of the fact that this request was made by Jiang Cheng, Gao Miao suddenly felt it made sense.
After all, it was Jiang Cheng, and upon reflection, it was quite understandable. Think about it, given the talisman Jiang Cheng has drawn in the past half year, shouldnt he have already be a wanted criminal!? Seducing the Dragon n Commandery Princess, abusing nts, participating in serial killings, colluding with the Demonic Tao Hehuan Sect Jiang Cheng was still atrge only because thews of the Immortal Sect were well-established. If thews of the Immortal Sect were less refined and more flexible, the Enforcement Hall would have already brought Jiang Cheng to justice! Gao Miao said with a pained expression, Jiang Cheng, why do you want to be a wanted criminal? You must give me a reason, right? Although you are fully qualified to be wanted, the Immortal Sect still has to do things with reason. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Its like this, Senior Gao, I n to Jiang Cheng briefly told Gao Miao his n. So what you mean is, youre nning to disguise yourself as a member of the Demonic Tao and trade talisman with them? Right. Cant you just sell it to them directly? Its possible, but Im worried that the people of the Demonic Tao are too rule-abiding, which is not conducive to advancing the n. Gao Miao broke into a sweat, You might be the first person since the founding of the Immortal Sect to worry that the Demonic Tao is too rule-abiding. Jiang Cheng argued logically, Senior, you should know that although the Demonic Tao isnt as rule-abiding as the orthodox path, to confront the Immortal Sect and stop internal struggles, they often maintain a certain understanding among themselves. The benefits of the Perception Transmission Talisman would definitely cause conflicts within the Demonic Tao. But if their understanding outweighs the conflict, our n to capture the Hehuan Sect woulde to naught. Gao Miao pondered, So your n is to intensify their internal conflict? No, Jiang Cheng said with a smile. I am just trying to persuade them to mend their ways. Gao Miao advised sincerely as someone who had been through a lot, I suggest that you persuade them in a formal setting, otherwise the arrest officers in the Capital might not believe your tall tales. Besides the Hehuan Sect and the Demon Pattern Sect with their vast intercontinental scale, the Capital City also hosts some smaller, lesspetitive local demon sects.
The Shadow Puppet Sect is one of them. At the beginning of the founding of the Liang Kingdom, the Shadow Puppet Sect could still throw its weight around. The spell that the Shadow Puppet Sect was best at was refining a living person into a puppet and then manipting this puppet to battle others. The puppet was a bit weaker than cultivators of the same cultivation level, but they had numbers on their side.
If the opponents were defeated, the Shadow Puppet Sect disciples would add one more puppet, fostering a scenario where they grew stronger with each battle by fueling war with war. Later, after the Liang Kingdom had passed through the turmoil of its founding years and entered a peaceful era, the Shadow Puppet Sect wasnt as popr anymore. Because of the brutal nature of refining living people into puppets, coupled with the governments need to strike hard at the overreaching, the Shadow Puppet Sect faced unanimous suppression from both the government and the Immortal Sect and nearly perished! Subsequently, facing the overwhelming tide, the Shadow Puppet Sect had no choice but to change, shifting from refining living people to refining the dead into puppets. Even though they were often used of desecrating corpses, once the corpses were refined into puppets and could prove that they hadnt been desecrated, the usations fell through, and the sect managed to survive. The current Shadow Puppet Sect had be rtively morew-abiding. Its unclear how many bad deeds hes done behind the scenes, but his publicly recognized sect industries were still paying taxes regrly. Deputy Sect Master Fan Yue of the Shadow Puppet Sect was feeling quite troubledtely. He had achieved Core Formation at two hundred years old and rose through the ranks with pay increases; now he held the position of Deputy Sect Master, managing the sects businesses in Capital City, supposedly at the pinnacle of his life. But fate is fair; his career might be thriving, but his love life was full of bumps. He recently found a partner, a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment level with decent looks, which satisfied Fan Yue quite a bit, having nearly reached the stage of discussing marriage. But it was at this time that an unexpected issue cropped up in his love life. The reason was that his partners brother was jobless and was introduced to their sect to be a disciple. Fan Yue thought it would be easy as a piece of cake, for his status as Deputy Sect Master certainly allowed him to arrange a disciples position with no trouble.
But to his great surprise, his brother-inw just couldnt get promoted. Even though his talent and cultivation level were quite decent, promotion was out of reach. Even when Fan Yue pulled strings here and there, it was to no avail. Later, after transferring his brother-inw to work directly under him, Fan Yue finally discovered the biggest reason why he couldnt get promotedhe wasnt bad enough! In the Demon Sect, you canck a background, you canck talent, but you cantck wickedness! Disciples of the Demon Sect who cant be bad enough are only considered as undercover agents from the Immortal Sects. Forget about getting promoted; youd be lucky not to be captured for interrogation and torture. At the Riverside Hotel, Fan Yue patted his brother-inw Zhao Jun on the shoulder and said, Do you know what we Demon Sect disciples enjoy doing the most? Bad things? Thats too general. Murder and arson? Tsk, I asked you about the method, not the results. Zhao Jun, who couldnt figure it out, said, Brother-inw, I cant think of anything! Fan Yue sighed and said, Remember this, the thing we Demon Sect disciples love most is to bully the weak and fear the strong! Bullying the weak demonstrates our Demon Sects consistent style. Fearing the strong reflects our Demon Sects cautious philosophy. Thebination of both is the way of survival for us Demonic Taoists.
Zhao Junmented, Being a disciple of the Demon Sect is really not easy. Fan Yue proudly said, Every line produces its own top schr. Fan Yue wrapped an arm around Zhao Juns shoulder, looking toward the dining hall of the Riverside Hotel, and said, Take a look, among the guests in this hall, which one looks easy to bully? Zhao Jun looked around and pointed at Jiang Cheng, saying, That one looks like a college student, easy to bully. Good. Dy his meal, show him some colors! Okay! Upon hearing he was going to do something bad, Zhao Jun couldnt help feeling excited. He thought: My brother-inw is so malicious! Not serving the ordered food and letting the customer repeatedly experience the torment of hunger is just too wicked! But what Zhao Jun had not anticipated was that, ten minutester, the seemingly easy-to-bully Jiang Cheng proactively approached the hotels front desk. Why hasnt my meal been served after such a long time? Jiang Cheng asked. Fan Yue signaled Zhao Jun with his eyes, and Zhao Jun confidently said, The kitchen is too busy. Please go back and wait, we will serve your meal as soon as its ready. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, You guys are disciples of the Shadow Puppet Sect, right? The service attitude is not bad; Ill give you a good reviewter. After Jiang Cheng left, Zhao Jun proudly said, Brother-inw, I did pretty well, didnt I?
Fan Yue pped Zhao Jun on the head, leaving Zhao Jun bewildered. Pretty well, my foot! Didnt you hear he wants to give you a good review? Do you still want to get promoted or not? I do. This person knows youre a disciple of the Shadow Puppet Sect and still wants to give you a good review; hes clearly trying to harm you, hinting to the sect that youre an undercover agent from the Immortal Sects! Learn from him! Casually, he has done a bad deed! Chapter 209: 202: Jiang Cheng Looks Like a Natural Born Bad Seed Chapter 209: Chapter 202: Jiang Cheng Looks Like a Natural Born Bad Seed Brother-inw, what should I do now? Fan Yue was indeed an old hand in Jianghu, and he instantly saw through Jiang Chengs facade. This mans emotions dont show on his face; he looks like someone who could handle big affairs. What did I just teach you? Zhao Jun said, Dy his meal service to give him a lesson? What lesson? Its about bullying the soft and fearing the hard! Oh, hes a tough nut, we wont provoke him then. Fan Yue sighed and said, Thats more like it. Have the kitchen serve him and get him out quickly. Avoid any friction. Zhao Jun nodded in agreement and then hurried to urge the kitchen to serve the food. After urging the kitchen, Zhao Jun felt a sense of relief. Thankfully, he was apanied by his brother-inw today, who personally guided him. Otherwise, if he had done something foolish by himself, he would have been doomed if he had actuallye across a real tough nut. Its better to do less evil. But if one does less, its harder to turn over a new leaf.
Doing more, on the other hand, makes it easier to meet ones doom. Neither option was right. s, life is hard, Zhao Junmented. With the economy of Liang Kingdom being so bleak, finding a job was incredibly difficult. Waiter! Jiang Cheng called out. Upon seeing that the tough nut had spoken, Zhao Jun hurried over to serve, Here I am, what may I do for you? Is your hotels owner around? I have a little matter to discuss with him. Zhao Jun said with an apologetic smile, The service was a bit slow just now, but perhaps theres no need to trouble the owner, right? It has nothing to do with the meal service, I have another matter. How about we offer you an additional dish then? No need for an extra dish, I want to see the owner. If youre really dissatisfied, we can also waive your bill. I really want to see the owner. Zhao Jun thought to himself, how tough can this customer be, not even a waived bill would make him budge? How about we offer you some discount coupons? Jiang Cheng, stroking his chin, said, Why cant you understand what Im saying? Could it be that youre not actually a person, but a puppet? Hehe, you do have a sense of humor. Jiang Cheng took out his Intelligent Puppet Talisman, ready to test Zhao Jun. A puppet could not be controlled twice, so if the Intelligent Puppet Talisman worked, then this waiter was not a puppet; if it didnt work, then he was a puppet.
If he was indeed a puppet, it would mean that the puppetry skills of the Shadow Puppet Sect were quite advanced. Being able to craft a timid, cautious waiter with such lifelike detail. Making a few more such puppets would even be enough to make a movie. Once Fan Yue saw Jiang Cheng taking out a talisman, he sensed something was wrong and hurried to protect his brother-inw.
Zhao Jun getting into trouble was a minor issue, but it would be serious if he couldnt get married. Esteemed fellow Daoist, theres no need for talismans. Consider this meal on me, what do you think? How do I contact your hotels owner? Jiang Cheng did not lose sight of his goal. What do you need the owner for? Jiang Cheng kindly said, Your rank is too low, knowing too much is not good for you. Fan Yue: ? The statement was correct, but why was iting from the mouth of a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator? Fan Yue confirmed, Do you truly wish to find the restaurants owner? Jiang Cheng frowned, Do I look like Im joking? If thats the case, may I trouble you to step aside for a word? Fan Yue led Jiang Cheng to the back courtyard of the hotel and thenid his cards on the table. Ill stop pretending, Illy it all out; I am the owner of the Riverside Hotel. Jiang Cheng sized up Fan Yue.
The Riverside Hotel is the property of the Shadow Puppet Sect; at the very least, the hotels owner would be a high-ranking member. How do you prove that? Fan Yue demonstrated his Core Formation cultivation level and said, Is this enough? Jiang Cheng nodded, Almost. What is it that you wish to discuss with me, fellow Daoist? Jiang Cheng smiled and said, To be frank, I am a member of the Demonic Tao just like you. Oh? Fan Yue did not readily believe Jiang Chengs words. It was highly likely that Jiang Cheng, a mysterious figure from the Demonic Tao, was a spy sent by the Immortal Sect. After so many years of conflict with the Immortal Sect, Fan Yues counter-espionage consciousness was very much in ce. Jiang Cheng introduced himself, My name is Chen Jiang, using Jiang Cheng as an alias, and I am a disciple of the famous Dayan Sect of the Demonic Tao in Yu Country. Fan Yue had heard of Yu Country, but he had never heard of Dayan Sect. Nevertheless, even though he had not heard of it, Fan Yue pretended to understand. His brother-inw was still watching; he couldnt admit hisck of knowledge or unfamiliarity with his fellow Daoists, could he?
What do you want from me? Id trouble you to introduce me to the Sect Master. I have a transaction I would like to discuss with him. The Sect Master is not here, you can talk to me directly. Jiang Cheng understood Fan Yues caution and said, Alright then. Have you heard of ancient ruins? Ancient ruins were a type of independent small space. They often contained treasures, Immortal Laws, and the like from the ancient era within them, usually powerful and valuable. Of course. Jiang Cheng continued, My sect discovered a set of ruins in Yu Country, but the information was somehow leaked, attracting the covetous eyes of the Immortal Sect and the catastrophe of our sects near-extinction Jiang Cheng began to feed Fan Yue the backstory of the Perception Transmission Talisman. Being the plotter himself, Jiang Cheng concocted a story so wless, it left Fan Yuepletely stunned. Once he had whet Fan Yues appetite just enough, Jiang Cheng produced the Perception Transmission Talisman. This is something I risked my life to snatch from under the Immortal Sects nose. Ivee to your sect hoping to sell it for a good price, he said. Fan Yue took a look at the Perception Transmission Talisman and was immediately startled.
The abilities of the talisman were truly a bit extraordinary, and itspatibility with the Hehuan Sect was extremely good; calling it an ancient treasure was no exaggeration whatsoever. Jiang Cheng continued, To not hide anything from my senior, I have approached several parties, but none offered a satisfying price, which is why Ivee to take a risk with your sect. Fan Yue questioned, perplexed, Shouldnt you go directly to the Hehuan Sect with such a talisman? Isnting to us doing something superfluous? Jiang Cheng spoke with genuine sincerity, Senior may not be aware, but though I am a member of the Demonic Tao, I have not been in Liang Kingdom for long. The whereabouts of the Hehuan Sect are hard to grasp, and I am ashamed to say, I really couldnt get in touch with them. Fan Yue nodded, seemingly convinced by Jiang Chengs exnation. Jiang Cheng added, If senior could share the whereabouts of the Hehuan Sect with me, I would be eternally grateful. Fan Yue gave a slight smile; he could certainly contact the Hehuan Sect, but he had no reason to tell Jiang Cheng. Haha, indeed, the Hehuan Sect is hard to find. I too do not know their whereabouts, he replied. Regretfully, Jiang Cheng said, If thats the case, would your sect be willing to buy the talisman? As long as the price is right, Id be willing to sell. The Shadow Puppet Sect, in fact, had no talisman business, but the attributes of the Perception Transmission Talisman were too incredible, not to mention its exceptionalpatibility with the Hehuan Sect and its potential for addiction. Even a fool could see that themercial prospects of the talisman were extremely promising. If they could mass-produce it, the profits would undoubtedly be substantial. How much do you intend to sell it for? Fan Yue asked tentatively. Jiang Cheng held up five fingers. Five million? No, fifty million. Fifty million? You sure have the nerve to ask! Arent you afraid you wont make it out of this hotel? Our Shadow Puppet Sect may have been weak for many years, but we are still a Demon Sect. Murder and plunder are not beneath us; cant you show us some respect? Nevertheless, Jiang Chengsposed demeanor made Fan Yue calm down. Its easy to steal a talisman, but creating one is hard. Its tough to say whether ancient talismans might not have some strange structures. If they were to kill this Chen Jiang and then fail to reproduce the talisman, it would be empty gain. Fan Yue decided to stabilize Jiang Cheng first and see whether they could decode the talisman. After all, a talisman of the Demonic Tao couldnt possibly be taken to the Immortal Sect Association for certification; if they could decode it and reproduce it, there was no need to spend Spirit Stones to buy from him. Thered be no harm in making other ns only if they truly couldnt decode it. I am quite fond of your talisman, but fifty million is no small amount. I need to consult with other higher-ups of my sect, said Fan Yue. No problem, Jiang Cheng agreed readily. He had encrypted the Perception Transmission Talisman long ago, not worried about the Shadow Puppet Sect tampering with it. Moreover, the renowned high-grade Talisman Masters in the Capital had all been forewarned by Gao Miao; they knew exactly what to say when faced with the Perception Transmission Talisman sent by the Shadow Puppet Sect. Seeing how agreeable Jiang Cheng was, a surge of secret delight rose in Fan Yues heart. This kid is too naive. Cant he see that this is just dying tactics? It seems there was a reason for Dayan Sects downfall indeed. A mere first-order talisman dares to be sold for fifty million Spirit Stones? Now that I have a sample, wouldnt it be easy to find a third-order Talisman Master and offer him five hundred thousand Spirit Stones to break the code? Fan Yue had already nned that, once the Perception Transmission Talisman was sessfully cracked, he would immediately send this talisman to the Immortal Sect for certification. Although Shadow Puppet Sect belongs to the Demonic Tao, it is nevertheless a tax-paying sect of Liang Kingdom, unlike the destroyed Dayan Sect, and Shadow Puppet Sect has the right to certify talismans. Facing the suddenly appeared Jiang Cheng, the extremely tempting Perception Transmission Talisman, and the promising development prospects of his sect, Fan Yue did notpletely lose his rationale. He secretly messaged his brother-inw: Ill keep Chen Jiang stable, you go and let the Great Elder check his background. Chen, choosing to cooperate with our Shadow Puppet Sect is truly a wise decision. In the Capital, our sects foundations are second to none. Jiang Chengughed and said, I was fortunate to learn of your sect. Haha, its all fate. Come, let me show you around. Fan Yue first took Jiang Cheng on a tour of Shadow Puppet Sects industries, beginning with the kitchen of Riverside Hotel. It was the lunch rush, and the kitchen was bustling with activity. However, Jiang Cheng astutely noticed that the employees working in the kitchen on tasks like washing vegetables, chopping vegetables, and washing dishes seemed to be not ordinary people, but were, in fact, puppets. In order to improve cooking efficiency, we use puppets for these repetitive tasks at our sect, Fan Yue proudly exined. After all, puppetry was the Shadow Puppet Sects signature skill. Even when facing the Immortal Sect, they possessed the strength to contend. Jiang Cheng closely observed a dishwashing puppet and said, Sect Master Fan, a puppet like this one must note cheap, right? Indeed, this Qi Cultivation Stage puppet, not counting thebor, needs about a hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones for materials alone. Jiang Cheng had heard that puppets were expensive, but he didnt expect them to be so costly. Using a puppet that costs a hundred thousand Spirit Stones just to wash dishes is a bit wasteful. I have a cheaper alternative. Oh? Lets hear it. Jiang Cheng took out his Smart Puppet Talisman and said, This talisman of mine can turn oneself into a puppet, which is most suitable for repetitive work. Sect Master Fan, you could go to the market and hire a recent college graduate for five hundred Spirit Stones a month. Then, stick this talisman on him and let him wash dishes in the kitchen non-stop. Fan Yue was taken aback. Jiang Cheng continued to analyze, Let me do the math for you, the Smart Puppet Talisman sells for a thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, and a college graduates sry is five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. This means that you only have to spend seven thousand a year to have a versatile dishwashing puppet. In his free time, he could also deliver meals. At the same time, hes not afraid of damage, and he will seek medical attention on his own. If hes not good enough, hes easily receable, and if he quits, there are plenty of others willing to take the job Fan Yue, upon hearing Jiang Chengs thoughts, internally eximed in admiration. So the Demonic Tao in Yu Country has be this ruthless? No wonder they are being targeted by the Immortal Sect. Everything lines up now. That evening, Zhao Jun rushed to his brother-inw to report what he had found about Chen Jiang. But to his surprise, Fan Yue confidently said, No need to say more, Chen Jiang cant possibly be from the Immortal Sect. Brother-inw, how can you tell? Zhao Jun asked. When have I ever misjudged someone? Chen Jiang is obviously a natural-born bad seed, a true Demonic Taoist. How could someone like him possibly join the Immortal Sect? To put it bluntly, in terms of being bad, even our Sect Master isnt his match! Chapter 210 - 203: This Man Has a Heart of Iron, He Can’t Possibly Be an Undercover Agent Chapter 210: Chapter 203: This Man Has a Heart of Iron, He Cant Possibly Be an Undercover Agent Clearly, the Perception Transmission Talisman represented a rare opportunity for the Shadow Puppet Sect! Even though Jiang Chengs asking price was steep, themercial value of the talisman was evidently much higher! As the Deputy Sect Master, Fan Yue attached great importance to the Perception Transmission Talisman. It concerned whether the Shadow Puppet Sect could upgrade from a second-rate Demon Sect within the Liang Kingdom to a first-rate international Demon Sect! Fan Yue called together several elders of the Shadow Puppet Sect in the Capital that very night to discuss the development of the Perception Transmission Talisman. I have made contact with a few famous Talisman Masters in the Capital, and they have already started to decipher the Perception Transmission Talisman, Fan Yue said. Elder Erplimented with his hands sped, Deputy Sect Master Fans discovery of the Perception Transmission Talisman has indeed made a great contribution to our sect! No, no, its all part of my duties. Fan Yue said modestly, but he knew in his heart that if the Perception Transmission Talisman could be sold sessfully, it would definitely create significant benefits for the sect. His bid for the position of the next Sect Master was very likely as well. Generally speaking, the decryption of a first-level talisman shouldnt pose much of a problem. Thus, the high-ranking officials of the Shadow Puppet Sect couldnt help but fantasize about the future development of the sect. In the puppet craftsman industry, the biggest shortages were not manpower nor cultivation techniques, but money! The problem that the Perception Transmission Talisman could solve was precisely that of money! It seems there is a problem with this talisman. The Great Elder spoke, dampening the optimistic mood of the people of the Shadow Puppet Sect. Whats the problem? Great Elder, this is no joking matter! The Great Elder spected, Looking at the brushstrokes of this talisman, it greatly resembles the technique of the Immortal Sect! Look at these curves here; this is how they are drawn by the Immortal Sect. Elder Er was startled and said, You mean, Chen Jiang is from the Immortal Sect? Elder San countered, Not necessarily. Just because he uses techniques from the Immortal Sect doesnt mean he is one of them. Doesnt a considerable part of our own puppetry also originate from the Immortal Sect? Chen Jiang could not possibly be a person from the Immortal Sect! Fan Yue eximed. He then shared Jiang Chengs dishwashing theory with everyone present. Most of them bowed their heads in shame after hearing it, realizing that they, as elders of a great Demon Sect, had not thought of Jiang Chengs method! Truly, there is always a higher demon outside, and the demonic path is endless. The Great Elder said, The matter of this talisman is critical to our grand ns and cannot be taken lightly. We must test Chen Jiang one more time to ensure absolute certainty! Everyone nodded, agreeing with the Great Elders view. Being cautious was not a mistakeit would spell the end for the Shadow Puppet Sect if Chen Jiang really was sent by the Immortal Sect. Since he was to discuss the cooperation matters regarding the Perception Transmission Talisman, Jiang Cheng stayed tonight at the Riverside Hotel owned by the Shadow Puppet Sect. Downstairs in the hotel, all the high-ranking members of the Shadow Puppet Sect from the Capital were gathered. Great Elder, how shall we test him? Elder Er asked. The Great Elder said, The biggest difference between disciples of the Immortal Sect and us of the Demonic Path is their superfluouspassion. Chen Jiangs next-door neighbor is a pregnant woman. In a moment, I will have a disciple sound the fire rm, then have that pregnant woman fall in front of Chen Jiang. Well see if he saves her or not! The people of the Shadow Puppet Sect nodded in approval of the Great Elders n when they heard it. The Great Elder was the Great Elder indeed, especially cunning and ruthless when it came to schemes! If Chen Jiang really was a disciple from the Immortal Sect, he would definitelye to the aid of the pregnant woman! Room 6-103 of the Riverside Hotel. Jiang Cheng took out a Portable Spirit Gathering Array from his storage bag and began to enter his cultivation state. To enhance his cultivation efficiency, Jiang Cheng also ingested a Spirit Gathering Pill as an aid. The abundance of spiritual energy allowed him, even with mediocre talent and extremely low cultivation efficiency, to maintain a rtively high speed of cultivation. However, this method still had one unavoidable wconcentration was easily exhausting. Qi cultivators were no different from ordinary people and still needed to eat and sleep. If he slept for eight hours a day, he would lose eight hours of cultivation time. Sleeping felt like such a waste of time to Jiang Cheng, and he found it a pity. With his own poor talents, he should be grasping every second. Thus, Jiang Cheng thought of a way to cultivate without getting tired. He attached a Smart Puppet Talisman for cultivation to himself so his body could cultivate on its own, which meant he wouldnt get tired. However, the downside was that once the talisman was attached, his body would be uncontroble. But that was no problem, designing a countdown pause and a touch pause would sufficesmall issues, easily solved. Shortly after Jiang Cheng entered his cultivation state, the fire rm at the Riverside Hotel began to ring. Jiang Cheng, who had the Smart Puppet Talisman on, didnt move a muscle. Seeing this, the people downstairs nodded in approval. This man hears the rm but does not stir, his mental fortitude is evident, someonemented. The Great Elderughed and said, The Immortal Sects undercover agents indeed need a mental strength far beyond ordinary people. However, the real test for him ising. I hope he doesnt give himself away. As the fire rm grew increasingly urgent, the pregnant woman in the room next to Jiang Cheng hurriedly packed her things and rushed to evacuate. The Great Elder, with his Core Formation cultivation, willed his spiritual sense and cast Boulder Roll Art stealthily into the Riverside Hotel. The fleeing pregnant woman stumbled suddenly, falling right in front of Jiang Chengs door. She couldnt help moaning in pain, crying out aiya, aiya. With the n sessful, the Great Elder and all the high-ranking members of the Shadow Puppet Sect smiled. Next, they would see whether Chen Jiang of the Dayan Sect was a cold-hearted individual from the Demonic Tao or a pretender from the Immortal Sect! Among all those watching, Fan Yue was the most nervous. If Chen Jiang truly was an undercover agent, then he would be to me for nearly causing a disaster due to his inability to judge people. By then, let alonepeting for the position of Sect Master, it would be uncertain if he could even retain his seat as Deputy Sect Master. However, the naturally wicked Jiang Cheng didnt disappoint him. Despite the pregnant womans constant moans of pain outside the room, Jiang Cheng inside remainedpletely still, without any intention of getting up to help. He was so indifferent it was chilling! What a disy of turning a deaf ear, he doesnt even care to watch the spectacle, someone remarked. Indeed,pletely indifferent, only caring for his own cultivation, such selfishness, this man truly has the style of our Demon Sect! another praised. Didnt the Dayan Sect get destroyed? Just in time, Ive been looking for a disciple recently, and I think Chen Jiang is pretty good, another chimed in. Seeing the Elders starting to consider taking him as a disciple due to their admiration for talent, the Great Elder frowned and said, This test is not yet conclusive, my friends, please be patient! The Great Elder took out a bottle of water, cast a few incantations, and immediately the water flew from the bottle and sshed onto the pregnant woman. The woman immediately cried out even more pitifully. Fan Yue, upon seeing this, frowned and said, Great Elder, the hotel does good business, dont cause a death here. Hehe, there wont be any loss of life, just wait and see how Chen Jiang reacts! the Great Elder replied. Facing the increasingly pitiful cries of the pregnant woman outside, seemingly on the verge of giving birth, Jiang Cheng within still did not budge. Jiang Chengs excessivelyposed demeanor made the Elders doubt him. Hes not moving at all? Could it be that he hasnt heard it? one questioned. Yes, even if hes from the Dayan Sect, shouldnt he at least go out and check with all thismotion? another wondered aloud. Just when the high-ranking members of the Shadow Puppet Sect became suspicious, the unmoving Jiang Cheng suddenly acted. He casually took out his storage bag, fetched an Elixir from it, and then, with equal nonchnce, ingested it and continued cultivating. With Jiang Cheng taking an Elixir as proof, the spection that he couldnt hear shattered. This convinced the higher-ups of the Shadow Puppet Sect. Hes taken an Elixir, it seems that he can hear, but simply chooses not to get involved, someone observed. Such a heart of stone, he cannot possibly be a member of the Immortal Sect, another concluded. Fan Yue, who had been tense all along,ughed heartily with relief, Haha, I told you he couldnt be an undercover agent from the Immortal Sect. If Chen Jiang were from the Immortal Sect, wouldnt that mean the Immortal Sect is even more exploitative than the Demon Sect? And they call that a so-called Immortal Sect? Even the ever-cautious Great Elder had nothing more to say. It seems, indeed, that Chen Jiang is unlikely to be a disciple of the Immortal Sect, he stated. Chapter 211 - 204: He’s a Talent, Maybe He Can Unify the Demonic Tao Chapter 211: Chapter 204: Hes a Talent, Maybe He Can Unify the Demonic Tao Several dayster, the Shadow Puppet Sect, unable to decipher the Perception Transmission Talisman, finally agreed to discuss the purchase of talismans with Jiang Cheng. However, the higher echelons of the Shadow Puppet Sect generally could not ept Jiang Chengs starting price of fifty million. Fifty million low-grade Spirit Stones were not something the Shadow Puppet Sect couldnt produce, they simply didnt want to cough it up. After all, they were a Demon Sect, and they were ustomed to acquiring things through plunder. Faced with no alternatives, they were now willing to purchase the Perception Transmission Talisman from Jiang Cheng. If they paid up honestly, could they still call themselves a Demon Sect? Fifty million is too much. We can only offer thirty million, Fan Yue cut the price by nearly half in one go. He was currently waiting for Jiang Cheng to counteroffer, after which he nned to keep cutting it down. ording to the Shadow Puppet Sects internal estimates, the final deal should be around forty million. But to his surprise, Jiang Cheng immediately agreed: Alright, thirty million it is. Fan Yues mentality of making a small profit exploded in an instant. Damn it, I cut too much! How could he agree to a straight sale for thirty million? Cough. This thirty million, well pay it in three installments, ten million per installment. Okay, Jiang Cheng still agreed very decisively. Fan Yue secretly gloated and suggested, Then lets sign the contract. The two immediately signed the transfer contract for the Perception Transmission Talisman. The reason Fan Yue chose to pay in three installments was because the Shadow Puppet Sect had no intention of making the full payment! They nned to pay the first installment, deceive Jiang Cheng into producing the talismans, then learn the method of drawing talismans by sticking close to him, and finally, when the time was right, they would dispose of Jiang Cheng, seizing the talismans and their ten million for themselves! Jiang Chengs reason for agreeing to the Shadow Puppet Sects payment in installments was also simple. The Shadow Puppet Sect had so many industries in the Capital that he wasnt worried about them running off. Firstly, ording to Jiang Chengs prediction, the Shadow Puppet Sect wouldntst long enough to reach the time of the second installment payment. Moreover, under thews of the Liang Kingdom, creditors rights supersede shareholders rights. So if the Shadow Puppet Sect went under, their assets would be sold off, and the cash flow obtained would prioritize settling their debts, like the money owed to Jiang Cheng. In the signing ceremony, which both the Shadow Puppet Sect and Jiang Cheng were very satisfied with, the production of the Perception Transmission Talisman was officially scheduled! Since the Perception Transmission Talisman was not protected by the Immortal Sect Association, the Shadow Puppet Sect was extremely cautious about its production. They specially recruited several Talisman Masters into the Shadow Puppet Sect to follow Jiang Cheng closely in the production of talismans, rather than rashly outsourcing the task of drawing talismans. With the Talisman Masters working overtime, the first batch of Perception Transmission Talismans was quickly produced. Deputy Sect Master, what price do you think we should set for these talismans? an Elder asked. After thinking, Fan Yue said, Chen Jiang suggested I sell them at a higher price. What do you think about three hundred Spirit Stones each? Three hundred Spirit Stones? The Elders were stunned. Three hundred Spirit Stones for a low-level talisman was indeed not cheap. Three hundred Spirit Stones is a bit expensive, said Elder Er. Elder San disagreed, Its not expensive. We spent tens of millions of Spirit Stones to buy the talismans, selling them for only three hundred Spirit Stones each is not expensive at all. Elder Er also had his own opinion, Thats not the right way to think about it. The group of people using talismans is strongly rted to the price. If we set it too high, only high-ie cultivators will buy them. Our market will naturally lose arge segment. Although we could gain a higher profit per talisman, the overall ie may not be as high as it would be selling them for thin profit but high turnover. I disagree. The Perception Transmission Talisman isnt exactly a mainstream talisman to begin with; how could we sell them on arge scale? Its better to raise the unit price and quickly recoup the money we spent on purchasing the talismans. Although the Great Elder had a significant standing within the sect, he knew nothing about product marketing and at this moment found it inappropriate to offer an opinion. Deputy Sect Master Fan, how much do you think we should sell the Perception Transmission Talisman for? Fan Yue originally wanted to sell for three hundred Spirit Stones, but looking at the situation now, if he just threw out a random number and the sales werent good, he would have to take the me. What do I think? Chen Jiang? Yes, why not ask for Chen Jiangs opinion. Lets see how the Dayan Sect people handle this. The members of the Shadow Puppet Sect arrived at the Talisman production workshop and found the workshop director, Jiang Cheng. Talisman pricing? The more expensive, the better, of course, Jiang Cheng said. Seeing that Jiang Cheng supported his view, Elder San was overjoyed, What do you think, how much should a Perception Transmission Talisman sell for? I think five thousand pieces each sounds about right, Jiang Cheng said. Goodness! Five thousand a piece? The members of the Shadow Puppet Sect all wore expressions of shock. While they were still discussing the pricing of Talismans at the hundred-yuan level, debating whether they were expensive or cheap, Dayan Sects expert Chen Jiang casually set the Talisman price at the five thousand-yuan level. Looking at his expression, it seemed as if he thought buying a first-order talisman for five thousand was a verymon affair. Even Elder San, who supported a high pricing, became unsettled with the five thousand-yuan price point. Chen my friend, wont five thousand be too expensive? At such a price, not many from the Hehuan Sect, even the wealthy, will be able to afford it. Yes, with such a high price, its not conducive to promoting the Talisman. Five thousand a piece, isnt this ying a joke? Jiang Cheng said without concern, The price of a product is not determined by the rank of the Talisman, but by the supply and demand. The Hehuan Sect has arge demand, we have fewer Talismans, so the price naturally goes up. If we dont make the five thousand, scalpers will, so why should we let others benefit? Elder Er raised a doubt, But with such an expensive price, the Hehuan Sect wont buy at all! If they dont buy, wheres the demand for Talismans? Jiang Cheng chuckled lightly, Gentlemen, dont rush. Five thousand is the final price, not the initial price. What we need to do initially is sell the Perception Transmission Talismans at an extremely low price, even giving them away is fine. Once the market has developed the habit of using Talismans, we can gradually raise the price. By then, we wont have to worry about not having buyers. Perception Transmission Talismans not only enhance the Hehuan Sects cultivation techniques but also have substantial addictiveness. Once one starts using Perception Transmission Talismans, its very hard to go back to not using them. This point, the members of the Shadow Puppet Sect had no doubt about. The reason they unanimously agreed to buy Talismans from Jiang Cheng was precisely because they saw the potential addictiveness of Talismans. However, the members of the Shadow Puppet Sect never imagined there would be an operation of giving away Talismans initially to cultivate user habits, then directly raising the priceter on. With thisbination attack, wouldnt the Shadow Puppet Sect have the Hehuan Sectpletely at their mercy? Whats with the expressions, everyone? Jiang Cheng looked at the Elders of the Shadow Puppet Sect, puzzled. Elder Er and Elder San showed embarrassed faces. The Great Elder felt particrly ashamed. They wanted to apologize for originally doubting Jiang Cheng was an Immortal Sect spy. Damn, this kid casually thought up a Talisman pricing strategy and dug a meteor-size crater for the Hehuan Sect. One that the entire Hehuan Sect couldnt climb out of. He had reached a certain level of craftiness and cunning! Setting traps without even blinking an eye. Clearly, he felt absolutely no moral burden. Obviously, a Cultivator of the Demonic Tao without any moral qualms. How could he possibly be with the Immortal Sect? This kid is a talent; why not absorb him into the Shadow Puppet Sect, nurture him with care for a few years, and he might even be a Sect Master in the future! Even uniting the Demonic Tao of the Liang Kingdom is not impossible! Chapter 212: 205: The Good Days Are All Ahead Chapter 212: Chapter 205: The Good Days Are All Ahead It turned out Jiang Chengs strategy of stock up first, raise pricester was extremely effective. In the first week, a massive amount of Perception Transmission Talismans flooded the market at very low prices. In the second week, once users got used to it, the Shadow Puppet Sect began to raise prices. By the third week, the price of the Perception Transmission Talisman had gradually been raised to five thousand per piece, and Spirit Stones poured into the Shadow Puppet Sects warehouse like rain. The turnover of the Shadow Puppet Sect almost doubled every few days. Since the production cost of the talismans was already low, these turnovers were essentially pure profit. What did that mean? If the current trend continued, within a few years the Shadow Puppet Sect would amass a sizable sect fortune. Within a few decades, they could spread their subdivision sects all around the Liang Kingdom, and ascend from a second-tier Demon Sect to a first-tier one! In light of these excellent prospects, everyone in the Shadow Puppet Sect was pleased with themselves, even the sries of the ordinary disciples had increased by a lot. However, there were still some clear-headed disciples within the Shadow Puppet Sect who had a certain sense of crisis.
They noticed that the current performance of the Shadow Puppet Sect relied entirely on the Perception Transmission Talisman and, should this stream of ie stop, the prospering Shadow Puppet Sect would be beaten back to its original shape in an instant. Deputy Sect Master, should we establish a new sect solely dedicated to the operation of Perception Transmission Talismans? What do you mean? Fan Yue didnt understand. After all, the Perception Transmission Talisman is just a first-tier talisman; its bound to be cracked by someone eventually, which would sever our ie. Better to establish a new sect with a clean background and apply for talisman certification from the Immortal Sect Association in its name. That way, we wouldnt have to worry about it being cracked. Thats superfluous, Fan Yue chuckled, Ive had people try to crack the Perception Transmission Talisman before. Its ancient inscription technique is so profound that modern Talisman Masters have no idea where to even begin. Unless we provide the blueprint for its creation, its impossible to crack it. Youre worrying too much. With this assurance, that Shadow Puppet Sect disciple finally felt at ease. The next day, the talisman revenue of the Shadow Puppet Sect did not increase but decreased. On the third day, the sales of the Perception Transmission Talisman continued to plummet. After two consecutive days of sharp declines, the higher-ups of the Shadow Puppet Sect realized something was wrong. As they were also a Demon Sect, the Shadow Puppet Sects investigation into the Hehuan Sect was much easier than it would have been with an Immortal Sect. Within a day, they concludedthe Hehuan Sect had cracked the Perception Transmission Talisman! Thats impossible! Fan Yue mmed the table, eximing, I had several third-tier Talisman Masters try, and they all said it was impossible to crack. Theres no way the Hehuan Sect could have cracked the talisman! Elder San suggested, What if the Hehuan Sect could get in touch with a fourth-tier Talisman Master? The Great Elder said calmly, All of the fourth-tier Talisman Masters in the Capital except for Song Hai are from the Immortal Sects, how could they possibly help the Hehuan Sect? Is Song Hai a possibility? Unlikely, his Song family has always been good at staying out of trouble and wouldnt touch anything that could offend others. Besides, this involves the Demon Sects and could easily make them a target for others. The only possibility then, is that someone inside our sect leaked the method of drawing the talismans. Elder Er, who was in charge of making the talismans, shook his head, Thats also impossible. Chen Jiang and those few Talisman Masters havent even left the production workshop, how could they leak it? Unless Chen Jiang had given the drawing method to the Hehuan Sect before he came to us.
That doesnt make sense! If Chen Jiang could contact the Hehuan Sect, why would hee to us? Isnt that doing unnecessary work? And what would he gain from providing two sets of drawing methods? It cant possibly be because hes afraid that the talismans are selling too well, right? The Shadow Puppet Sect members discussed for half a day without being able to find a motive for Jiang Cheng to leak the Perception Transmission Talisman. Unless Jiang Cheng came with the intention of causing trouble, there was no reason for him to leak the Perception Transmission Talisman to the Hehuan Sect. The Great Elder tapped the table and said, Enough, instead of specting wildly here, we should consider how to deal with the leaked talisman issue.
Everyone was at a loss for what to do. The Hehuan Sect was super first-rate within the Demonic Tao, not only with profound resources but also with numerous disciples. Their Cultivation Techniques made them intricately involved with various powers around the world. Although the Shadow Puppet Sect couldpete with the Hehuan Sect in the Capital, when looking at the entire continent, the two sects were not on the same level at all. Fan Yue said, I suggest we call for a Capital Demon Sect Conference and condemn the Hehuan Sects piracy in front of all the sect members! Elder San remarked, My suggestion is not to hold a conference; merely mouthing off is too embarrassing. Elder Er suggested, Why not send someone to negotiate with the Hehuan Sect to try to recover some of our losses? The Great Elder shook his head, No, negotiating with them shows weakness; its like admitting defeat before negotiations even start. They should be the onesing to us. After an afternoon of discussion, the Shadow Puppet Sect members couldnt think of any good strategies. Finally, it was Fan Yue who spoke up, Why dont we ask Chen Jiang? See how the Dayan Sect deals with situations like this. Given Jiang Chengs previous impressive performances, everyone in the Shadow Puppet Sect felt it wouldnt hurt to ask. After all, there was no cost to trying. Fan Yue led the Elders to the production workshop and found Jiang Cheng. After listening, Jiang Cheng looked quite puzzled.
You know, your methods are all so upright and proper, he said. Upon hearing this, several Elders of the Shadow Puppet Sect felt they couldnt save face. In the Demonic Tao, there is no adjective with a greater killing power than you are a good person. Jiang Cheng said, Since the Hehuan Sect is in the wrong for stealing the talisman, why are you being polite with them? Just disable their ability to draw the talisman, wont that solve it? Chapter 213: 205: The Good Days Are All Ahead_2 Chapter 213: Chapter 205: The Good Days Are All Ahead_2 Fan Yue never expected the Dayan Sect to be so resolute. They came straight up wanting to teach Hehuan Sect a lesson. Chen, you are not aware. There is a slight gap between the strength of my Shadow Puppet Sect and that of Hehuan Sect. Its not very convenient for us to cause trouble at Hehuan Sect, said the Elder. Jiang Cheng said, I think Hehuan Sect is also aware of this point. The members of the Shadow Puppet Sect were startled, thinking to themselves: it seems to be true! Hehuan Sect probably did not expect them to dare make a move. Jiang Cheng spoke again, If you think attacking Hehuan Sect is too risky, Ill teach you a foolproof strategy. What foolproof strategy? The Demonic Tao is not just Hehuan Sect alone; you can find another major sect and join forces with them to strike at Hehuan Sect. The Great Elder hesitated, But we might not be able to keep the benefits from the talismans then. Everyone nodded in agreement.
Other Demon Sects arent fools either, why would they join you against Hehuan Sect without sufficient benefits? Jiang Cheng curiously said, But if you dont find allies, and let Hehuan Sect be self-sufficient, wouldnt you end up without any benefits? Rather than not getting anything, its better to share half, find a protector. In case theres trouble with selling talismans, youll have an ally to shoulder it with you. Fan Yue listened more and more, and felt there was something to it. Good idea! Chen Jiang, how did youe up with that solution? Jiang Cheng waved his hand, Nothing much, just talking from experience. Jiang Chengs nonchnt demeanor made everyone yearn for the Dayan Sect. The disciples from the Dayan Sect, whether in terms of ability to handle matters or in foresight, far exceeded the average person from the Demonic Tao! If Dayan Sect were still around, could it hold up half the sky in the Demonic Tao and carry the banner in the fight against the Immortal Sects? The members of the Shadow Puppet Sect, guided by Jiang Cheng, quickly grasped the pain points of their sect, optimized their situational awareness, found the enemys barriers, and achieved industry linkage. Targeting the encroaching actions of Hehuan Sect, they joined forces with Demon Pattern Sect tounch abination punch that broke through Hehuan Sects business model and achieved a closed loop in their own talisman profits. Simply put: The Shadow Puppet Sect found the Demon Pattern Sect andunched a surprise attack on Hehuan Sect! They destroyed several of Hehuan Sects potential talisman-making locations. With their talisman-creating capability gone, Hehuan Sect could only continue to buy talismans from the Shadow Puppet Sect. The Shadow Puppet Sect returned to a carefree talisman-selling life. But that was just on the surface. Because of the Perception Transmission Talisman, there was an irreconcble structural conflict between the Shadow Puppet Sect and Hehuan Sect, and this was not something the Shadow Puppet Sect could solve by bringing in any ally. Unless the strength of the Shadow Puppet Sect reached the level of an Immortal Sect, Hehuan Sect would not sit idly by and watch arge amount of Spirit Stone flow out of their sect. After work, dont just rest; also draw some life-saving talismans, Jiang Cheng instructed the Talisman Masters under him in the production workshop. These Talisman Masters were hired by the Shadow Puppet Sect at a high price and did not count as disciples. They needed to be taken care of. True to Jiang Chengs prediction, Hehuan Sect could not stay quiet for two weeks before they organized their forces andunched a counterattack on the Shadow Puppet Sect! The struggle in the Demonic Tao was quite fierce. Because both sides were not bound byw, once they started fighting, it was often with lethal intent! One evening, members of Hehuan Sect suddenly attacked the Shadow Puppet Sect headquarters, throwing the entire Shadow Puppet Sect into chaos!
Some low-level disciples were directly killed by Hehuan Sect on the spot, but thankfully, there were many Elders stationed at the headquarters, and with the abundance of Shadow Puppet Sect puppets, they managed to hold off Hehuan Sects offensive for the time being. Chen Jiang! Take your people ande with me! Fan Yue rushed to the production workshop. The Perception Transmission Talisman was currently the Shadow Puppet Sects greatest asset, and it had to be protected first and foremost. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Everyone, take the blueprints and retreat in an orderly fashion.
Then Fan Yue saw the Talisman Masters in the workshop calmly packing their things, ready to evacuate. The atmosphere in the workshop was out of step with the urgent situation outside. It was as if they had rehearsed it. Sect Master Fan, arent you leaving? Jiang Cheng asked. Fan Yue then came to his senses and said, Lets go. Under the Shadow Puppet Sects priority protection, Jiang Cheng and the other Talisman Masters smoothly transferred to the Shadow Puppet Sects backup stronghold. The stronghold was steadily receiving Shadow Puppet Sect disciples, some wounded, some promising youngsters. But they hadnt been at the backup location for 24 hours when fighting broke out again outside. The sounds ofbat were even clearly audible inside the room. Haha! No matter who is fighting, my Blood Fiend Sect will always lend a hand! In the battles of high-ranking Cultivators, disciples at the Qi Cultivation Stage couldnt get involved; a mere ripple from thebat could be fatal to the lower-level Cultivators. After a while, Fan Yue appeared again outside. This time he was not soposed, and said to the disciples in the stronghold, Pack up, get ready to move again!
Jiang Cheng then stepped forward. Sect Master Fan, Hehuan Sect hase knocking several times, and they probably know all about Shadow Puppet Sects strongholds. Moving on may not help, he said. Chen Jiang, do you have a good n? I know of a safe location, guaranteed that even if Hehuan Sects forces were ten timesrger, they wont be able to break in. Fan Yues eyes lit up. This was precisely what the Shadow Puppet Sect wasckinga secure rear base. As long as they could ensure the safety of their sects disciples and assets, even though they, the Core Formation and Foundation Establishment cultivators, might not be able to defeat the enemy, escape would be much easier. Quick, lead us there immediately, Fan Yue urged. Under Jiang Chengs guidance, the Shadow Puppet Sect members quickly relocated, gradually reaching the outskirts of the Capital. There stood an old factory building that appeared quite unremarkable. The surroundings of the factory were very quiet; it did not seem like there were workers working inside. Chapter 214: 205: The Good Days Are All Ahead_3 Chapter 214: Chapter 205: The Good Days Are All Ahead_3 ` However, only Fan Yue, who was in the Core Formation stage, could detect the peculiarity here. The old man tasked with guarding the gate at this factory entrance actually had a cultivation level in thete stages of Core Formation! The security patrol that seemed random consisted of individuals who were at least in thete stages of Foundation Establishment! The factory leader who specifically came to receive Jiang Cheng was even more incredible, possessing the cultivation level of the Nascent Soul stage! This ce was indeed safe! So Fan Yue thought. This kind of staffing with such cultivation levels, even the Immortal Sect may not necessarily be able to take down, let alone the Hehuan Sect! If it werent for Chen Jiangs personal rmendation, he might seriously suspect that such a ce was a trap set by the Immortal Sect. Sect Master Fan, lets get inside quickly. Ive already discussed with them, and theyll help us defend against the Hehuan Sects attacks, said Jiang Cheng. Fan Yue replied in a low voice, Chen, staying in this ce for a day must not be cheap, right?
After thinking it over, Jiang Cheng said, That I havent asked about. Should I inquire for you? Fan Yue waved his hand, No need, its definitely not cheap. But I have a good idea that might save us some money. Whats that? Our Shadow Puppet Sect is currently allied with the Demon Pattern Sect, Ghostme Sect, and Thousand Souls Sect, and they too are worried about relocating their disciples. Ill call them all over. Firstly, it will be safe, and secondly, they can help us share the cost. Its a win-win. Jiang Chengs eyes lit up upon hearing this. Fan Yue indeed had the talents to manage a sect; even Jiang Cheng himself hadnt thought of such an orderly solution. Then lets leave it to Sect Master Fan, Jiang Cheng expressed his gratitude. Why be so polite with me? We should be thanking you for finding such a safe haven for us, Fan Yue said. Jiang Cheng continued, Its the least I could do, the least I could do. Fan Yue thought to himself: The people from the Dayan Sect are so courteous. Im finding a safe haven for our sect members, and yet he keeps saying its the least I could do. Whats with that? Upon learning of the factorys existence, the various Demon Sects didnt say a word and immediately started moving their disciples. Soon, half of the Demon Sect disciples in the Capital had gathered in the factory. With the burden of protecting their own disciples lifted, many high-ranking members of the Demon Sects fought aggressively, ughtering disciples of the Hehuan Sect and their allies at will! The offensive and defensive roles suddenly reversed. The Hehuan Sect, which had been on the offensive, had to withdraw arge number of mid to high-ranking fighters to protect their disciples. This dragged down theirbat effectiveness, making the situation difficult to sustain. After all, most of the main force cultivators of the Hehuan Sect in the Capital were temporarily transferred from other branches to provide support. If they failed to annihte the Shadow Puppet Sect and failed to seize the Perception Transmission Talisman, there was no way they could exin themselves to their Capital branch. Facing the difficulties encountered by the sect, Qian Feng promptly suggested to the sect master, Sect Master, I know a location that is very safe. Not to mention the Demon Pattern Sect and the Shadow Puppet Sect, even if the Immortal Sect took action personally, they wouldnt be able to conquer it. As the battle with the Shadow Puppet Sect became more fierce, the Hehuan Sects Sect Master couldnt manage that much anymore.
He immediately let Qian Feng lead the way, personally escorting the sect disciples to a safe location. Thus, the disciples of the Hehuan Sect also began relocating to the old factory. Some of the Hehuan Sect disciples felt the factory looked very familiar; wasnt this the ce where the Shadow Puppet Sect was staying? Sure enough, they had just arrived when they encountered the Shadow Puppet Sect disciples who were also resting there.
Both sides were on the verge of breaking out into a fight on the spot, but luckily the factory security staff maintained order and stopped the conflict. Seeing this, the Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect felt relieved. The sudden appearance of a powerful factory force in the Capital made him suspect its intent. After all, only the Immortal Sect could gather so many high-level cultivators in a short period of time. This factory could well be an Immortal Sect trap. But seeing the Shadow Puppet Sect also present, the Hehuan Sects Sect Master knew it couldnt be a trap set by the Immortal Sect. He might not trust the Immortal Sect or Qian Feng, but he trusted the Shadow Puppet Sect, which was also part of the Devil Gate. After all, the Shadow Puppet Sect wouldnt likely joke around with their own lives, would they? Once the Hehuan Sect settled in the factory, their high-rankingbat power was instantly released. The Shadow Puppet Sect and other Demon Sects like the Demon Pattern Sect, which had just gained the upper hand, fell back into being on the receiving end of attacks. But this time, they had the factory as their support. When they couldnt beat the Hehuan Sect, they would rest and recover in the factory, then go out to fight again. The Hehuan Sect did the same.
It was easy to be a target for the Shadow Puppet Sects ambush when resting outside. It was better to rest in the factory, just like them. The two sides pulled at each other for half a month, until the Sect Master of the Shadow Puppet Sect rushed back from afar. With their Sect Master back, the morale of the Shadow Puppet Sect skyrocketed. As they were about to call the Hehuan Sect out for a fight, they were informed that they were not allowed to leave. Whats going on? We were allowed toe and go as we pleased before, Fan Yue approached and questioned the factory gatekeeper. The gatekeeper shrugged and said, Not sure, the orders from above state that entry is permitted, but not exit. Orders from above? Which above? The Enforcement Hall of Gen Mountain Sub-sect. Gen Mountain Sub-sect? Fan Yue didnt react for a moment: Why does this name sound somewhat familiar? The name Gen Mountain is derived from one of the eight trigrams, representing the northeast direction. Gen Mountain Sub-sect is what we call the Northeast Sub-sect, exined a cultivator dressed in Confucian robes who appeared in front of the Shadow Puppet Sect cultivators. Fan Yue frowned: And you are?
The man in Confucian robes was quite enthusiastic, Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My surname is Qi, my given name is Changle, I am a thousand and one hundred years old, an Elder in the Enforcement Hall of Tongtian Sects Gen Mountain Sub-sect, and have reached thete stages of Divinity Transformation. I warmly wee all fellow cultivators from the Demon Sects for supporting the work of Tongtian Sects Enforcement Hall. After fighting for half a month, everyone must be exhausted. When you get to the prison of our Gen Mountain Sub-sect, you all can stop fighting and get a good nights sleep. As he spoke of prison, Qi Changle couldnt help but introduce it further: Our sub-sects prison is quite decent. Not only will you stay in single rooms, but youll also receive free silver bracelets. If youre lucky enough to get life imprisonment, you can choose to work in prison. Most of the work earnings go to the individual, and our prison only takes a ny-five percent cut, which is very humane. Im sure you all must be looking forward to your new life, right? No need to rush, as the good days are all ahead. ` Chapter 215: 206: Expand and Strengthen, Reach New Heights Chapter 215: Chapter 206: Expand and Strengthen, Reach New Heights ording tomon sense, there should be a substantial verification period between the arrest of a suspect and the conviction. The Immortal Sect is a ce that values reasoning; one cant convict someone without evidence, right? But the Capital Exorcism case was different because the captured Demonic Tao cultivators werent fleeing to a factory for refuge; they brought their treasures (evidence) with them. Such things as Demon Sect disciple rosters, meritorious service records, sect meeting minutes Including various unounted for Spirit Stones, Magical Treasures, and Elixirs And of course, illicit Cultivation Techniques, Formations, and Talismans Naturally, the most explosive find was that many Demon Sect disciples liked to keep diaries. They say normal people dont keep diaries, so the abnormal ones have to. On such and such a year, such and such a month, such and such a day, because of something, I did something terrible, ultimately leading to such and such a result. Today was very fulfilling, tomorrow I must continue to strive. More detailed than any recorded confession extracted through torture. Of course, torture still has to be applied, otherwise, it seems like the Enforcement Halls process is not very professional.
This time, the captured cultivators from the Capitals Demonic Tao had all sorts of incriminating evidence, dazzlinglyprehensive. Not only detailed but also authentic. There was simply no worry about their inability to establish guilt. The only thing the Enforcement Hall of Gen Mountain Sub-sect had to consider was what to do with Demon Sect disciples whomitted too many crimes. Take a Qi Cultivation Stage disciple from the Hehuan Sect as an example. He hadmitted various crimes like forging identity, bribing Immortal Sect elders, cheating on exams, illegally obtaining sects cultivation methods, destroying sect unity, overstepping sect rules, indecent acts towards a female fellow disciple, forcing rtions with others, participation in a murder, inciting others to transfer sect property, and so on. Although what he ruined and transferred were all rules and assets of the Hehuan Sect. But the Immortal Sects Enforcement Hall doesnt care about these things; transferring Hehuan Sects assets also counts as transferring sect property, viting Tongtian Sects rules, and warrants severe punishment! So, the issue arises. This person, although guilty of many crimes, none of them warrant the death penalty. The cumtive fixed-term imprisonment exceeds more than two hundred years. But this persons cultivation level is at the Qi Cultivation Stage, and he has only a hundred years of lifespan. All things considered, after his death, he will still owe Tongtian Sect prison a hundred years worth of imprisonment time. Tricky! Enforcement Hall disciple Zhou Ziyu of Gen Mountain Branch sighed. Every year their prison receives many simr Demon Sect disciples. Causing the prisons time served deficit to growrger andrger. Once, a smart warden came up with a method, turning the time-owing Demon Sect disciples into specimens to continue their time in prison. This resolved the prison time deficit, but widened the fiscal deficit. The prison had an additional expense for making the specimens.
Later, an even smarter warden came up with a foolproof n. He had the Demon Sect disciples in prison learn to make specimens themselves, then promote a spirit of mutual aid and turn their well-rted fellow inmates into specimens. This solved the fiscal deficit of the prison. The fiscal deficit was solved, but a new problem promptly emerged: does mutual specimen-making among the prisoners count as fighting and brawling?
After all, only the losing side ends up as specimens. The winning side typically takes charge of making the specimen. After deliberation by the Enforcement Hall Elders, mutual specimen-making among prisoners was not deemed to be fighting and brawling. It was considered murder. Murder can be sentenced to death. In this way, the issue of non-discipline in the prison was also resolved. It is a bit of a waste of wardens though. Because the warden was judged by the Enforcement Hall to be the mastermind. With this lesson in mind,ter wardens never again entertained the idea of making specimens. But that intractable problemthe prison time deficithas resurfaced. The Immortal Sect might be powerful, but when a Demon Sect disciples lifespan is up, surely they cant be prevented from dying, right? But what to do with the prison time thats not been served upon a Demon Sect disciples death? Catching Demonic Taoists is a good thing, isnt it? Zhou, why the long face?
Gao Miao, along with Jiang Cheng, found Zhou Ziyu of the Gen Mountain Branch. Zhou Ziyu sighed and shared the difficulties of their prison with Gao Miao and Jiang Cheng. After pondering for a moment, Gao Miao said, Birth, aging, sickness, and death are naturalws, indeed unsolvable. Zhou Ziyu replied, Isnt that the truth? Its tough on usw enforcers. The prison deficit keeps growing every year, with no bonuses to give out. Gao Miao asked, Is it possible you simply dont want to give out the bonuses and it has nothing to do with the prison deficit? Why would you say that, Brother Gao? Gao Miao casually said, Oh, because I often find excuses to deduct my subordinates bonuses. Zhou Ziyu: Jiang Cheng: I do have an idea that Senior Zhou could try out back home, said Jiang Cheng. Zhou Ziyu looked at Jiang Cheng, thinking to himself that even they at the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages had no solutions, so what reliable idea could he, at the Qi Cultivation stage, possibly have? But out of respect for Gao Miao, Zhou Ziyu responded, Lets hear it. Jiang Cheng analyzed, Look, the problem with your prison is that prisoners have too short a lifespan, right?
Exactly. But in our Cultivation World, there is a way to extend life and help prisoners serve their full sentences. Zhou Ziyu felt uneasy, What way? By increasing their cultivation level! What? Zhou Ziyus eyes widened: You mean to say, our prison should help the prisoners increase their cultivation level? Precisely. Is this what, a prison stay or a sabbatical? Jiang Cheng sternly stated, Senior Zhou, who says prisoners cant make progress? Theres no rule within the Immortal Sect that states prisoners cant increase their cultivation level. Whats not forbidden is permitted, and by not forbidding it, the Immortal Sect tacitly agrees you can do so. After hearing Jiang Chengs words, Zhou Ziyu felt his brain wasnt quite functioning. However, even if they are cultivation geniuses, they need resources to increase their cultivation level. But who will provide the resources for the prisoners? If our prison covers it, wouldnt the fiscal deficit be even greater than the cost of making specimens? Chapter 216: 206: Expand and Strengthen, Achieve Greater Glory_2 Chapter 216: Chapter 206: Expand and Strengthen, Achieve Greater Glory_2 Zhou, youve hit a dead end. Who said the prison must provide the cultivation resources for the disciples of the Demonic Tao? Even if the disciples of the Demonic Tao are imprisoned, they are still of the Demonic Tao, and their resources must surely be paid for by the Demon Sect! Zhou Ziyu was taken aback, unable to understand Jiang Chengs meaning for a moment. Jiang Cheng continued to exin, Look, your prison is struggling because prisoners are not serving their full sentences, and the Devil Gate is suffering because their disciples are being captured. Each of you has needs, isnt this a perfect match? The Devil Gate can provide resources, allowing their disciples to cultivate in prison, and in the end, as their cultivation levels increase and their lifespans extend, the sentences you require will be fully served, and their disciples will have cultivated. Wouldnt that be killing two birds with one stone, achieving a win-win situation? Jiang Cheng was still adding, Of course, the prison, in transferring cultivation resources for the disciples of the Demonic Tao, should ask for a transportation fee from the demon sects. This amount of money cant be too much, as too much would be judged as soliciting a bribe by the sect rules. But you can use the prisons finances to set up an insurancepany, specifically insuring the improvement of the cultivation levels of the disciples of the Demonic Tao. This part of the ie would be legal. Just as long as its operated correctly Zhou Ziyu was so shocked by Jiang Chengs method that he was left speechless. He felt that Jiang Cheng made a lot of sense, but there was something slightly off about it. But he couldnt put his finger on what exactly was strange. Gao Miao, who had been through a lot, patted Zhou Ziyu on the shoulder. He said earnestly, Zhou, dont think too much. Do you know of Chen Jiang? I do. The name of Chen Jiang was well known to Zhou Ziyu.
It was said that this cultivator from the Dayan Sect had an ambiguous stance between good and evil, having low cultivation levels but covered the skies with one hand in the Liang Kingdom. Hiswork spread throughout the court and politics, including both the Demon Sect and the Immortal Sect. Just a single sentence from him could decide the direction of the rtions among the three parties. The reason the Tongtian Sect was able to eradicate the Demonic Tao of the Capital this time was precisely because the Hehuan Sect had offended Chen Jiang. Thats Chen Jiang, Gao Miao said, pointing at Jiang Cheng. Shit! Zhou Ziyu cursed loudly. He finally realized where Jiang Chengs proposal was faulty. Damn, its about making the prison earn the Demon Sects money! Compared with Jiang Cheng, the Demon Sect seemed so innocuous! A single idea could bring about a win-win situation for the Immortal Sect prison and the Demon Sect. Is this the power of the Dayan Sect? It was terrifying! Inside the temporary materials room of the factory, all the intelligence rted to the Devil Gate of the Capital seized this time wasid out. Everything is here, the originals cant be taken out, Zhou Ziyu instructed before leaving Jiang Cheng and Gao Miao to look through them. As personnel outside of the Enforcement Hall, Jiang Cheng and Gao Miao actually did not have the right to peruse the evidence. But, obtaining the intelligence on the Hehuan Sect was a prerequisite for Jiang Cheng to carry out the demon-eradicating mission, sanctioned by the upper echelons of the Tongtian Sect, allowing the two of them to enter the temporary materials room and check the fruits of this operation. Gao, please pass me that Beast Skin Booklet on your left hand side, Jiang Cheng said while holding a Hehuan Sect disciple registry. Alright, said Gao Miao, bending down to pick up the booklet, suddenly sensing something amiss. Isnt he the president of the Talisman Master Association?
Not only a fourth-tier Talisman Master but also a cultivator in the Core Formation Stage, and over two hundred years older than Jiang Cheng. He could easily be Jiang Chengs grandfather, or even his ancestor. So why could Jiang Cheng ask him to do things without any burden on his conscience? Given his understanding of Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng wasnt someone whocked manners.
But why did Jiang Chengmand high-tier cultivators so casually! Gao Miao decided to let it go. Passing a booklet or two was no big deal. Mainly because this demon-extermination was exceptionally sessful, Jiang Cheng had given him a big favor! He had no reason to quibble over these petty matters with Jiang Cheng. Instead, it would have made him seem petty. Gao Miao handed the Beast Skin Booklet to Jiang Cheng, who looked it over with great concentration. Jiang Cheng was searching for evidence rted to the Prince Liang Chu Case. Most importantly, the registry of Hehuan Sect disciples. The registry could prove the Lu family was not part of the Demon Sect, thereby prompting the imperial court to re-examine the Minister Gao Case. Without the supporting logic of the Minister Gao Case, the Prince Liang Chu Case would naturallyck evidence. But that was not enough. Closing a case is easy, overturning one is difficult. There had to be more solid evidence, something that would leave all parties speechless, and preferably sway public opinion to form an overwhelming trend of ring truth.
More solid evidence Jiang Cheng thought about it and said to Gao Miao, Gao, have you seen the financial ounts of the Hehuan Sect? No. Could you help me look for it? In light of Jiang Chengs achievement, although Gao Miao was speechless, he still stooped to help Jiang Cheng search. Mainly because the favor Jiang Cheng had done for him was genuinely significant, and his gesture of returning the favor wasnt because Gao Miaocked dignity or was easy to talk to. Financial ounts are usually a sects secret. This is because ounts often involve a sects entire supply chain and rtionships with partners. Some sects appear to be enemies on the surface but trade frequently behind the scenes. So the bigger the sect, the less it can be simply defined as having good or bad rtionships. Through the Hehuan Sects ounts, Jiang Cheng could easily find out who was dealing with them. Who was coborating with the Hehuan Sect and who was secretly providing them with benefits?
There were numerous ount books belonging to the Hehuan Sect, detailing various expenditures. Jiang Cheng ignored the minor expenses and focused only on the significant disbursements of the Hehuan Sect. Finally, in the Disciple Donations section, he discovered substantial support for the Hehuan Sect from the royal family of the Liang Kingdom. This was almost irrefutable evidence of the royal familys collusion with the Demonic Tao. After studying the flow of funds carefully, Jiang Cheng found that the royal familys support was not unified. Half of it came from the imperial pce, that is, from the Emperor of Liang, with the resting from several Prince Mansions. Chapter 217: 206: Expand and Strengthen, Achieve New Brilliance_3 Chapter 217: Chapter 206: Expand and Strengthen, Achieve New Brilliance_3 Among these prince mansions, even the Prince Liang Chu Mansion was included. If an average person saw Prince Liang Chu supporting the Hehuan Sect, they would probably immediately conclude: Its just dogs biting one another, after all, Prince Liang Chu died at the hands of the Hehuan Sect, the Demonic Tao is ungrateful, and the like. But Jiang Cheng was very calm. It wasmon knowledge in the Capital that Prince Liang Chu was greedy and lecherous. His collusion with the Hehuan Sect was not surprising, but what was strange was that he donated money to them, and not a small amount: millions of low-grade Spirit Stones. Such generosity didnt fit Prince Liang Chus character. With Prince Liang Chus personality, he should have been more interested in freeloading. Given the limited time, Jiang Cheng didnt waste the precious opportunity to research on lengthy pondering. He collected the relevant evidence at lightning speed and told Gao Miao to prepare for retreat. Gao Miao was somewhat surprised by how fast Jiang Cheng was moving, Not going to look at other things? Jiang Cheng shook his head, Seeing the information on the Hehuan Sect is enough, leave the rest to the Enforcement Hall.
Makes sense. Specialization is key. After this battle, the Demonic Tao in the Capital will be wiped clean, and Liang Kingdom should be at peace for a long time. Gao Miao was spirited. Jiang Cheng, about that bounty on you Jiang Cheng? Gao Miao turned back and found Jiang Cheng standing still, seemingly deep in thought. Jiang Cheng, whats wrong? Do you want to look at more information? Jiang Cheng? A bead of cold sweat crossed Jiang Chengs forehead, Senior Gao, do you know why the Immortal Sects have always been unable to eradicate the Demonic Tao? Without a second thought, Gao Miao responded, Of course, its because the Demonic Tao is too cunning! In fact, we also know that some forces provide convenience for the Demonic Tao, but for various reasons, the Immortal Sects cant just unleash a heavy blow to sweep the Demon Sects. No, the reason the Demonic Tao cant be eradicated isbnce. I get your point. Like two sides of a coin, where there is light, there must be shadows. Dont overthink it, such is the Heavenly Law, the natural rules, we cant change that. Jiang Cheng shook his head, thinking to himself that Gao Miao simply didnt understand. The reason why the Demonic Tao could never be uprooted by the Immortal Sects was not anything else, but precisely because ofbnce. This bnce was not what Gao Miao referred to as natural bnce, coin bnce, or light and shadow bnce. It was a numerical bnce. Immortal Gods was just an online game, so where could all those great principlese from? In the game, the Immortal Sects, the Demon Race, the Demonic Tao, the Sea Tribe, and other factions all had a strength value. This value was always maintained in dynamic equilibrium through the underlying code design in the game. If the power of the Demon Race was squeezed, they would have the chance to give birth to more prodigies, enabling the Demon Races strength to return to the value it was designed for. The same went for the Demonic Tao. No matter how hard the Immortal Sects tried, the Demonic Tao would always thrive because the Demonic Tao also had its own strength value.
Though the Demonic Tao in the Capital seemed to have been swept away, it wouldnt take long before they would rise from the dust again. Or they wouldnt even need to rise again, as they would gain more opportunities in other ces, spawning more prodigies, and by pressuring the Immortal Sects elsewhere, the overall strength of the Demonic Tao wouldnt be affected by the purging in the Capital. The reason why Jiang Cheng understood the concept of force bnce so thoroughly was because the setting of force bnce was his own work.
Handling bnce as a numerical nner was part of the job. But who could have anticipated that one might transmigrate when designing bnce? Force bnce was a massive trap! The existence of this mechanism meant that no matter how hard the Immortal Sects worked, they would never be able to annihte the Demonic Tao. They couldnt even weaken the forces of the Demonic Tao. Headache. Jiang Cheng never expected that the one who always yed with mechanisms would one day be yed by the mechanisms himself. And it was a mechanism he had set up himself. However, Jiang Cheng quickly thought of a solution. Senior Gao, I need to find some other materials. I wont be going out just yet, said Jiang Cheng. Do we need to extend the time with Zhou? No need, but I do need you toe over and help me. Oh.
Gao Miao came over to Jiang Cheng and saw him flipping through the cultivation techniques and secret manuals of the Hehuan Sect. Gao Miao: ? Not only was Jiang Cheng reviewing the Demon Sects cultivation techniques, but he was also nning to photograph them all. Gao Miao, who had always imed to understand Jiang Cheng, was now baffled by Jiang Chengs actions. What are you trying to do? he asked warily. Stockpiling the library. What do you mean? The Dayan Sect is considered a top-tier Demon Sect, after all; it cant be without a single secret manual, right? Hold on, wait a minute. Isnt the Dayan Sect fake? Wasnt it something you made up to deceive the Shadow Puppet Sect? Jiang Cheng, unchanging in expression: Now its real. Ill first be the Sect Master, then appoint a Deputy Sect Master, with passionate souls well grow and strengthen, creating a new era of glory. Gao Miao, with a face filled with shock: Ah? Chapter 218: 207 Dayan Art Chapter 218: Chapter 207 Dayan Art As a veteran in the Capital, Gao Miao had considered the possibility of the Demonic Tao making a swifteback after being eradicated by the Immortal Sects. But he hadnt expected it to be so soon! Hehuan Sect and Shadow Puppet Sect had been taken down in less than a day, and the Dayan Sect had suddenly emerged! Jiang Cheng, are you serious? Gao Miao hoped to hear a denial from Jiang Cheng. But without hesitation, Jiang Cheng replied, Of course. Gao Miao couldnt understand, Why? What are you after by establishing a Demon Sect? Since a Demon Sect is bound to return to the Capital, if I establish one in advance and take over the territory, wont that prevent their return? Hiss, that kind of makes sense hell no! If any Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivator had said this, Gao Miao might actually have believed it. But Jiang Cheng was merely at the fifth level of Qi practicing, what territory could he possibly hold?
As a cultivator of the Immortal Sects, Gao Miaos stance was firm: Jiang Cheng, if you really intend to establish a Demon Sect, then I cant let you take these cultivation techniques and secret manuals from Hehuan Sect and Demon Pattern Sect. Although cultivators under the rule of the Immortal Sects had the freedom to choose their sect, as the president of the Tongtian Sects Talisman Master Association, Gao Miao also had the duty to protect the interests of his own sect. Allowing a Demon Sect to grow was definitely not a good thing. However, Gao Miao hadnt anticipated being left speechless by Jiang Chengs words. Senior Gao, we came here to snatch the secret manuals, isnt that something tacitly approved by the higher-ups? If theres an issue, its on them, not on the two Dayan Sect cultivators like us. Wait a minute, who did you say is a Dayan Sect cultivator? Jiang Cheng answered in confusion, The two of us, Senior. You havent forgotten, have you? When we applied for the arrest warrant, it was you who personally acted as the legal representative of Dayan Sect. Damn it! Gao Miao remembered. At that time, Jiang Cheng was nning to infiltrate the Shadow Puppet Sect, so he needed the identity of a Tongtian Sect fugitive. But the Tongtian Sect couldnt issue a bounty out of thin air; therefore, the Dayan Sect had to be established first so that Jiang Cheng could be listed under its name, and then he could be dered a fugitive. Since Jiang Cheng had just arrived in the Capital and hadnt enrolled in local social security, he couldnt use the fast track to establish a sect. To not dy Jiang Chengs undercover work, Gao Miao took matters into his own hands and applied for a shell sect for Jiang Cheng. Great, Ive turned full circle to be the founder of a Demon Sect! Jiang Cheng handed Gao Miao a Memory Sphere, saying, Senior Gao, go photograph the Blood Fiend Sects cultivation techniques, and be quick about it. Gao Miao struggled internally. He felt that once he started helping Jiang Cheng, he would continue to be sucked into doing more tasks, eventually getting trapped by Jiang Cheng and finding it impossible to disentangle himself. This couldnt go on! Jiang Cheng, this is wrong! Gao Miao reprimanded loudly. Jiang Cheng, while snapping up cultivation techniques, responded, Whats wrong with it?
Gao Miao paused. Upon closer consideration, he realized that although establishing a Demon Sect was both abstract and outrageous, when asked to pinpoint the problem, it didnt seem like there was one. Firstly, Dayan Sect was just a shell sect with nothing really in it, just a ruse to deceive people. It was even legally registered with the Honglu Temple in Liang Kingdom, having paid a registration fee of fifty Spirit Stones. Next, the act of seizing the Demon Sects cultivation techniques had also been discussed with the leaders of Tongtian Sect early on and sanctioned by the higher-ups, so there was no problem there.
Finally, Jiang Cheng himself had the right to freely choose his sect, and no one stipted that he couldnt be the Sect Master of Dayan Sect. All in all, the establishment of Dayan Sect by Jiang Cheng was shrouded in mystery, yet there appeared to be nothing explicitly wrong! Uh, you ask whats wrong, mainly the techniques are not suitable! Gao Miao pped his hands, pinpointing the crux of the issue: You are Dayan Sect, not Hehuan Sect, Demon Pattern Sect, or Blood Fiend Sect. What use do you have for other sects techniques? Instead of answering directly, Jiang Cheng posed Gao Miao a question, Senior Gao, in your opinion, what is the shortest time needed for a sect to nurture a Nascent Soul cultivator? This was an easy question to answer because there were real-life examples in the Immortal Sects. Gao Miao confidently stated, Twenty-three years! This record has been held by the inaugural Sect Leader of Taixu Sect for eight thousand years, unbeaten till now! No, Jiang Cheng shook his head, Our Dayan Sect can raise a Nascent Soul cultivator in an instant. When Gao Miao heard Jiang Chengs answer, he was dumbfounded. Wha youre joking, right? Im not joking. Imagine if there were a sect that could offer you stronger cultivation techniques, more resources, and broader opportunities for growth. Additionally, within this sect, you could legally hold assets, without the need to assume aliases or frequently travel incognito, and without worrying about the Immortal Sects causing trouble. How would you choose? Without a second thought, Gao Miao said, I would switch sects. Jiang Cheng nodded approvingly, Thats the right choice. Those who understand the times are outstanding. Our Dayan Sect can nurture a Nascent Soul cultivator in an instant.
Isnt this just poaching talent? Before Gao Miao could react, Jiang Cheng continued, The corepetitiveness of our Dayan Sect is called Dayan Art, but we need to collect enough techniques to perform it. Gao Miao asked curiously, What can be achieved after learning this Dayan Art? It makes one invincible, Jiang Cheng simply stated. Invincible? Goodness, even the closely guarded techniques of the Five Great Immortal Sects didnt boast such audacity! Jiang Cheng resumed his busyness, Senior Gao, the cultivation techniques of Blood Fiend Sect are up to you. Oh, alright. Through the efforts of Jiang Cheng and Gao Miao, the various cultivation techniques of more than a dozen demonic sects in the Capital were all seized by Dayan Sect. After carefully studying the techniques of the demonic path, Jiang Cheng understood why there were always those willing to take great risks to nourish the demon with their own bodies. The speed of cultivation of the Demonic Tao techniques far exceeded that of equivalent righteous path techniques.
Chapter 219: 207 Dayan Art_2 Chapter 219: Chapter 207 Dayan Art_2 For example, orthodox cultivation techniques are akin to a nts photosynthesis, where the energy source is clean and pure, but the downside is low efficiency. The Demonic Tao techniques, on the other hand, are like herbivores that umte energy rapidly within the body by directly consuming nts, aiming for a swift increase in cultivation level. The Blood Fiend Sects Bloodthirsty Skill enhances ones cultivation level by absorbing the energy within blood qi. The Hehuan Sects Pure Essence Skill enhances cultivation level by absorbing the yin energy or yang energy of the human body. Without exception, all involve obtaining energy by eating grass. The advantages of these techniques are their fast cultivation speed; the disadvantages are unstable foundations, patchy spiritual power, prone to hitting bottlenecks, or getting struck down by heavenly tribtions. Jiang Cheng pondered whether he should try to improve a demonic technique to speed up his own cultivation. It seemed promising. Themunication talisman buzzed; it was Shen Menghan calling. Hello? Jiang Cheng, I have the results of the ounts you asked me to check. Who is it?
Prince Qis Mansion. Most of the funds in Hehuan Sects ounts from imperial donations can be traced back to Prince Qis Mansion. Prince Qi is the Emperor of Liangs eldest son and his title as the crown prince. Prince Qi, with a Foundation Establishment cultivation level and nearing a hundred years in age, is considered the strongest contender for session among the emperors children, most likely to seed. The Emperor of Liangs dy in abdication, coupled with Prince Qis collusion with the Demonic Tao in his eagerness to ascend the throne, makes sense. Because the longer it takes, the better the other princes and princesses develop, decreasing Prince Qis chances of ascension. However, merely proving the source of the funds is not enough evidence to use Prince Qi of murdering Prince Liang Chu. But this wasnt something Jiang Cheng couldnt handle. After arranging a meeting with Li Qingge of the Taixu Sect, Jiang Cheng visited President Li once again. In dealing with the Taixu Sect, Jiang Cheng had no intention of concealing anything. He directly presented the evidence he had collected from the Hehuan Sect, and asked Li Qingge to review it. After looking over it, Li Qingge said, You want to use this to bring down the crown prince? Jiang Cheng shook his head, I want to bring the criminal to justice. This isnt enough. Thats why Ivee to President Li. Li Qingges stance was clear; although they had been devising ways to support Princess Liang Lus rise, whatever the means, the Immortal Sects bottom line of non-interference in mortal affairs could not be crossed. The Taixu Sect will not take the field against the prince. Of course, Im aware of that. Li Qingge frowned, What do you mean then? I hope the Taixu Sect will denounce the Tongtian Sect.
Li Qingge: ? Even with mental preparation, Li Qingge still couldnt keep up with Jiang Chengs elusive thinking. What do you want us to do exactly? I hope President Li, on behalf of Taixu Sect, will denounce the Tongtian Sect.
Li Qingge took a deep breath, making an effort to appear as if she understood. Ultimately, the effort failed. Jiang Cheng, the rtionships between Immortal Sects are not a trifling matter, not something to denounce on a whim. Besides, why should our Taixu Sect provoke the Tongtian Sect for no reason? Has the Tongtian Sect offended you? Not at all, Jiang Cheng exined, President Li, isnt it that your Immortal Sects cannot interfere with mortal forces? Then lets not interfere with mortal forces and instead target other Immortal Sects. That should be eptable, right? Li Qingge felt her brain wasnt quite up to keeping pace while speaking to Jiang Cheng. She wasnt sure if it was her problem, or Jiang Chengs problem. Its possible, but why should we interfere with the Tongtian Sect? Jiang Cheng picked up the Hehuan Sects ounts, Did you know that the Tongtian Sect recently rounded up the Hehuan Sect in the Capital? Li Qingge nodded, I am aware. And did you know about the Hehuan Sects collusion with the royal family? I do. We have the ounts, but they are still not enough to confirm who the colluding party is, right? Correct.
Okay, so heres the question, who can confirm the colluding party? Without hesitation, Li Qingge blurted out, Who can? Jiang Cheng sighed, Them themselves. Only the parties involved in the collusion know who has contacted whom and what deals have been struck. And then? The Tongtian Sect has captured members of the Hehuan Sect; theoretically, those of the Hehuan Sect rted to the royal family should have been apprehended as well. Its possible to extract information about the deals between the Hehuan Sect and the royal family from them. Therefore, the prince who has truly colluded with the Demonic Tao must be extremely anxious at this moment. As Jiang Cheng finished speaking, a flicker of realization appeared in Li Qingges eyes. Jiang Cheng continued, Most of Hehuan Sects disciples are female cultivators, naturally rted to the Taixu Sect. It wouldnt be hard to find some Talisman Masters and Pill Masters among them. The Taixu Sect could use this as a pretext to make trouble for the Tongtian Sect, demanding they release the innocent Hehuan Sect cultivators. At this point, Li Qingge finally understood. She said, The Tongtian Sect certainly wont release them, but with the Taixu Sect stepping out, other people intent on preserving the Hehuan Sect will inevitably swarm to join. Among them, there will likely be a certain prince. To prevent the collusion with the Demon Sect from being exposed, he will definitely cooperate fully with the Taixu Sect to rescue the Hehuan Sect cultivators! Jiang Cheng nodded, In doing so, we can use his cooperation to obtain evidence of his collusion with the Demon Sect. Brilliant! Li Qingge couldnt help wanting to apud Jiang Cheng. What a clever strategy, to openly mend the nk road while secretly crossing through Chen Cang.
If they couldnt meddle with the mortal realm, then directly interfere with the Immortal Sects, making the mortal forces feel an opportunity was at hand ande knocking themselves. Choosing him was indeed the right decision! If the n went smoothly, another prince was about to be pulled under by Jiang Cheng! Has it only been a few months? To think he could take down two princes in session! Jiang Chengs professional capabilities were rmingly strong! Realizing Jiang Chengs strength, Li Qingge couldnt help but feel a sense of admiration for talent. Chapter 220: 207 Dayan Art_3 Chapter 220: Chapter 207 Dayan Art_3 With a capable subordinate like Jiang Cheng, Taixu Sect must have saved a great deal of energy and resources. Its a pity he is a male cultivator; if he were a female cultivator, they would have done everything possible to poach him from Tongtian Sect. Immortal Sect Skill is advanced, and some techniques can change ones sex, but theyre too harmful to the body, with losses outweighing gains. However, facing a practical talent like Jiang Cheng, Taixu Sect also has corresponding strategies to win him over. Immortal Sects always advocate for free love. Jiang Cheng himself is not a Taixu Sect disciple, but his daopanion can certainly be one! As the saying goes, even a hero finds it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman. The beauty trick is a unique advantage of Taixu Sect, a move tried and true, never failing to seed. Especially against those cultivators who are focused solely on cultivation and seldom interact with female cultivators, as long as their preferences are ascertained and appropriate disciples are sent to mingle with them, they almost never fail. If you talk about the greatest achievement of the beauty trick, it was when Holy Maiden Ling Huan, relying solely on her own abilities, moved between Tongtian Sect Leader and his junior brother, eventually causing the brothers to split, forcibly dividing Lieyang Sect from Tongtian Sect, severely weakening Tongtian Sect. This strategy established the strong position of Taixu Sect for nearly a thousand years.
Its a ssic example in the history of Immortal Sects where an individual was able to influence the tide of history. Li Qingge carefully observed Jiang Cheng. Her impression of Jiang Cheng was very good. He was the kind of man whose thoughts were unconventional yet very polite and showed great respect for female cultivators. Based on Li Qingges experience in judging people, Jiang Cheng was someone with high self-standards and a heavy moral burden, not one to be irresponsible or to love them and leave them. He was the perfect target for the beauty trick. As long as she picked the right candidate on her side, allowing the beauty to interact more with Jiang Cheng, there was no worry about not capturing Jiang Chengs heart! Although Li Qingge had no daopanion, based on her experiences, she knew that male cultivators were most approachable when they were emotionally or physically vulnerable. With a deliberate whisper in their ear at just the right moment, theres nothing that cant be done. Good, Ill go to Helmsman Shang to discuss interfering with Tongtian Sects matters in a moment. As long as she agrees, our Taixu Sect Talisman Master Association will certainlymit all our efforts, Li Qingge promised. Jiang Cheng smiled and said, In that case, I will trouble President Li. Li Qingge, intending to establish Taixu Sects image for Jiang Cheng, said, Our Taixu Sect has always valued promises. When we say we will support you, we mean it. Jiang Cheng remained nomittal. While Li Qingge was intelligent and attractive, he would not thus be na?ve about Taixu Sect. Taixu Sect supported him strongly because his current goals aligned highly with the interests of Taixu Sect. Once his goals diverged from the interests of Taixu Sect, it was unsure whether Taixu Sect would still value promises. Jiang Cheng was very clear in his thinking; Immortal Sect cultivators might be flesh and blood, but the Immortal Sect as a whole was a cold, calcting machine of interests. President Li, I have another matter Id like to ask for your help with, Jiang Cheng said. Li Qingge smiled and responded, What is it? Just say the word, and if its within our power, we will help.
Jiang Cheng pulled out a register and said, Heres the thing, Ive recently founded a Demon Sect and would like to invite you to join as an Elder. Li Qingge: ??? Our Sect supports dual Sect membership, so joining Dayan Sect wont affect your life and work with Taixu Sect. Our Sect will grant all disciples free ess to the library, and of course, we wee the voluntary donation of Cultivation Techniques and secret manuals. If youre willing, just sign your name on this register, he said. Li Qingge nced down at Jiang Chengs register and noticed that many people had already signed before her.
Shen Menghan, Yue Linger She didnt recognize these names. But she did recognize the first person to signGao Miao! President of Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association! If Gao Miao was willing to join Dayan Sect, then perhaps there should be no problem for her to join as well right? Chapter 221: 208: The Beauties’ Scheme of the Taixu Sect Chapter 221: Chapter 208: The Beauties Scheme of the Taixu Sect Immortal Sects have a tradition of not interfering with mortal forces, but on specific issues, its inevitable for them to intersect with these worldly powers. For example, arent the assets of Immortal Sects assessed by the Ministry of Revenue? Dont Immortal Sects transactions have to be taxed? When Immortal Sects wish to eliminate demons, dont they need cooperation from the local forces? Under the intricate web of interests, many secrets within the Immortal Sects would invariably leak out. To pursue the highest sess rate for the Taixu Sects Protest n, represented by Li Qingge, they, without notifying the Tongtian Sect, suddenly initiated a challenge to the Tongtian Sects Demon Elimination n! They used the Tongtian Sect of violent demon elimination, framing the innocent, and having ulterior motives! Li Qingge personally organized the Talismans Masters from her association to sit in silent protest outside the Tongtian Sects Talisman Master Association. They unveiled banners that read Reject violent demon elimination, release all the innocent. Gao Miao, having been celebrated for his achievements in demon elimination for barely two days, became instantly flustered at the sight of Taixu Sects strong stance. Most people might not see anything wrong with the Taixu Sects protest. Sit-ins, unfurling banners, theycked any force and at most, disturbed the citys appearance.
But Gao Miao was an old hand in the world of Immortal Sects; he understood all too well. Normally, disputes within Immortal Sects werent aired in public. As members of Immortal Sects, they all cared about their reputations. A small meeting and a pleasant agreement on a resolution would usually suffice. But once a dispute was brought into the open, it was a sign that someone wanted to escte the situation, making it not so easily resolved. Taixu Sect was one of the righteous Five Great Immortal Sects, not a hollow force like the Liang State Court. They indeed had the means to make trouble. Moreover, if it really came down to it, the overall strength of the Taixu Sect might even surpass that of the Tongtian Sect. President Li, may I have a word with you? Gao Miao pulled Li Qingge aside, President Li, we are all cultivators of the Immortal Sect. Whats the meaning of this? If theres an issue, you could just seek Helmsman Li for a negotiated solution. Your Sects grand disy will only exacerbate the conflict, which doesnt help resolve the situation, President Li. Li Qingge thought to herself: We never intended to resolve the issue; our goal was to intensify the conflict. President Gao, please immediately release the innocent Hehuan Sect cultivators youve detained! Otherwise, Taixu Sect will not budge an inch. Gao Miao was speechless. He spent a long time trying to fathom why Taixu Sect would stand up for the Hehuan Sect. Could the rumor that Taixu Sect originally branched out from Hehuan Sect actually be true? President Li, we captured Demon Sect disciples! President Gao, dont assume that Taixu Sect is ignorant of sect rules. Being a Demon Sect disciple is not a reason for you to apprehend them. If you have no sufficient evidence of their crimes, please release them immediately! Theoretically speaking, Demon Sect disciples who haventmitted a crime, having just joined the Demon Sect and practiced demonic arts, cant really be arrested. But in practice, the rule is often ignored, as the Demon Sect is not known for doing good deeds, and if you join them, a reason can usually be found to detain you. President Li, lets discuss this matter amicably. Please take your people back first. Gao Miao suggested.
Li Qingge appeared uninterested in discussion, clearly determined to make a big deal out of the situation. Gao Miao felt an immense headache and thought, Jiang City has just settled down, and now Taixu Sect seems even more troublesome! Gao Miao immediately contacted his immediate superior, the Helmsman of the Liangguo Subrudder of the Tongtian Sect Li Ancheng. Helmsman, Taixu Sect seems quite dissatisfied with our demon elimination campaign.
I know. You know!? Just found out. Not only your Talisman Master Association, but the Alchemist Association and Artifact Refiners Association are also surrounded near the main rudder, including at the gates of Lotus University and Ling University, all by Taixu Sect members. Such a grand disy by Taixu Sect! This is full-scale protest! Helmsman, Taixu Sect didnt even give a heads-up before blocking our doors, have they gone mad? Thanks for your concern, President Gao. Our people are in perfect mental health, came the voice of Helmsman Shang Yufeng from Li Anchengsmunication talisman. Gao Miaos expression suddenly stiffened. I am in the midst of discussing the demon elimination n with Helmsman Shang. Hang up if theres nothing else; prioritize stabilizing the situation, said Li Ancheng before disconnecting Gao Miaosmunication talisman. Gao Miao thought to himself that he was doomed; women generally held grudges the longest, and after calling Taixu Sect crazy in front of Shang Yufeng, hed likely struggle to find a haven in Liang Kingdom in the future. In fact, based on his achievements in this demon elimination event, Gao Miao could have requested a transfer back to the main sect. But now, with theplication of Taixu Sects protest, it was debatable whether his merits would even count, should the situation be mishandled. Gao Miao racked his brains, pondering who in the Capital could persuade Li Qingge to give face and cease her antics. Could the Lin Sect be the one?
No, that wouldnt do! After the incident with the Autonomy Talisman, Lin Sect suffered a significant setback at the hands of Jiang Cheng. With Tongtian Sect in trouble this time, it would be lucky if the Lin Sect didnt rush to gloat right away. If Tongtian Sect didnt work, Taixu Sect didnt work, and Lin Sect didnt work, were there any capable forces of Cultivating Immortality left in Capital? Gao Miaos expression became increasingly strange as he pondered. Then an entirely new force in the world of Cultivating Immortality crossed his mind Dayan Sect. Logically, the newly established and virtually unknown Dayan Sect wouldnt be able to influence Taixu Sect. One was a fledgling sect, while the other boasted a millennium-old foundation as a top Immortal Sect. But Jiang Cheng was not known for ying by the rules. What if? It was worth a try to call him over. Chapter 222: 208: The Beauties’ Scheme of the Taixu Sect_2 Chapter 222: Chapter 208: The Beauties Scheme of the Taixu Sect_2 Gao Miao took out themunication talisman and pressed the dial button for Jiang Chengs number. Three minutester, Li Qinggesmunication talisman rang. President Li, have you arrived at the doorstep of the Talisman Master Association? Jiang Cheng asked. Mmm, did Gao Miao look for you? President Li, youve anticipated perfectly. Li Qingge nced at the several disciples beside her, I guessed he would look for you. How about it, will you give him some face? There was a moment of silence from themunication talisman before Jiang Chengs voice came through, Ill go over and take a look myself. Li Qingge smiled, Alright. She ended the call on themunication talisman and said to the Taixu Sect disciples around her, Jiang Cheng will being soon. Be smartter on. Try to be seen more around him. Several female disciples of various styles stood beside Li Qingge. Some were cute and charming, some were youthful and beautiful, and others were quiet and dignified.
As for the mature and intellectual type, there was no need to find specific female disciples because Li Qingge herself embodied that. But after several encounters with Jiang Cheng, she felt that he didnt have any extra interest in her, probably not favoring an older sister type. Upon hearing Li Qingges words, the several female disciples had varying expressions. The quiet female cultivator hesitated, President Li, I really cant bring myself to seduce male cultivators. Li Qingge frowned sternly, Its just about seeing Jiang Cheng; if you feel its right, then chat more and try to foster some affection. Taixu Sect isnt Hehuan Sect; you dont need to seduce anyone. The cute female disciple murmured, Isnt it still seduction, whats the difference? Li Qingge replied, You dont have to flutter and fawn, isnt that a difference? The female cultivators lowered their heads, none of them eager to approach Jiang Cheng. Li Qingge sighed internally, thinking that these days, disciples no longer took the interests of the sect seriously. You are young now and dont understand the importance of Jiang Cheng. Let me make it clear today, listen carefully. If Taixu Sect disciples marry someone who can make a significant contribution to the sect, the sect will also remember your merits. Because you are the true disciples of Taixu Sect, you are our own people, not your Daopanions. Can you understand the difference? The female cultivators looked at each other. The quiet one said, President Li, are you saying that sect interests are more important than our personal feelings, right? Although Im reluctant to burst your bubble, its obvious that as Immortal Sect disciples, you should put the interests of the sect first. Then why dont you go looking for Jiang Cheng? Youre prettier than us! Li Qingge thought to herself: If Jiang Cheng liked older sisters, none of this would involve you. She sighed and said indifferently, Forget it, I wont force you if youre unwilling, but dont regret it and say I didnt give you a chance. After saying this, Li Qingge left them be. The three stood in ce, exchanging nces. Do you think she will make things difficult for us?
Even if she does, so what? Do you really want to get close to someone you dont like? I never expected there would be so much social intrigue even in the Immortal Sects. Anyway, I believe in fate and would never marry a stranger for the sake of the sects interests. Same here. I have a phobia of filth. Hey, isnt that cultivator Jiang Cheng?
Following the pointing finger of the young female cultivator, they all looked towards the entrance of the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association. They saw a youth with a sunny and handsome appearance standing very confidently between President Gao and President Li, speaking andughing easily, facing two Core Formation cultivators of higher cultivation without any sign of being intimidated. Whats more, with a few words, he dispelled the animosity between Taixu Sect and Tongtian Sect, achieving what a Nascent Soul Stage Helmsman couldnt do! The three female cultivators were at a loss for words. Their gazes werepletely captivated by Jiang Cheng. I think President Li is right; sect interests really are more important than personal feelings. What if Im starting to regret? Can someonefort me? Illfort you. Look, hes not giving President Li a second nce; even if you dont regret, he probably wont take a liking to you. Stop dreaming. Youre veryforting, dontfort me again next time. After several days of deliberate publicity by Taixu Sect, the feud between Tongtian Sect and Taixu Sect had be almostmon knowledge in the Capital. One side clung on, insisting on letting people go. The other side refused to back down.
Actually, Tongtian Sect was willing to negotiate with Taixu Sect. Out of respect for both being part of the Immortal Sects, releasing a few people wasnt a problem. But Taixu Sect, right when an agreement was about to be reached, would suddenly turn hostile and renege, leading to negotiations to be infeasible. Some perceptive cultivators from Tongtian Sect could roughly discern Taixu Sects intentions. But they couldnt understand what Taixu Sect was trying to achieve with all this drama? Jiang Cheng, Prince Qi has contacted us, Li Qingges voice came from themunication talisman. Jiang Cheng could hear the relief in her tone. The standoff between Taixu Sect and Tongtian Sect wasnt just pressure for Tongtian Sect; Taixu Sect in the Capital also faced pressure from their superiors. Now that the big fish had taken the bait, it was finally time to close the. Jiang Cheng asked, When do you n to talk with Prince Qi? You decide. The sooner, the better. Then tonight.
That evening, at the entrance of Five Saints Restaurant, an expensive-looking ground vehicle slowly stopped in front of the restaurant. A brocaded guard with a sword opened the door, and a middle-aged man with a stern face stepped out. Chapter 223: 208: The Beauties’ Scheme of the Taixu Sect_3 Chapter 223: Chapter 208: The Beauties Scheme of the Taixu Sect_3 This person was none other than the Emperor of Liangs first son,monly known as Prince Qi, Liang Chun. Liang Chun entered the Five Saints Restaurant and asked the owner in a low voice. Have the people from the Taixu Sect arrived yet? Not yet. Hmm, lets go upstairs and wait. Although the imperial family had been in a weakened position for many years, it still wielded significant influence in the Capital and the surrounding counties. The royal familys businesses were widespread throughout the Capital, generating enormous profits for the royal house every year. The fact that people from the Taixu Sect could make Prince Qi wait showed the worth of the Immortal Sect. Before long, Jiang Cheng arrived at the Five Saints Restaurant. The moment the owner heard he was looking for Prince Qi, he did not dare to neglect him and promptly sent him upstairs with the utmost respect. In the private room of the restaurant, Jiang Cheng finally met Liang Chun.
Liang Chun was quite surprised by Jiang Chengs arrival. He was expecting to meet someone from the Taixu Sect today, but he had never heard of the Taixu Sect recruiting male disciples. Who are you? I am Chen Jiang, Sect Master of the Dayan Sect. What the hell is the Dayan Sect? Liang Chun frowned and said, You are not from the Taixu Sect, what are you doing here? Jiang Cheng spoke the truth: President Li of the Taixu Sect sent me, she said that tonight she would discuss matters concerning the Hehuan Sect with His Highness Prince Qi. So I came. Liang Chun said displeasedly, The Taixu Sect is too unreliable, why do they call all sorts of strange people here? However, at the moment he needed the Taixu Sect and had to swallow his pride temporarily. Once he sessfully ascends the throne, he will make these arrogant Immortal Sects suffer. Shortly after, Shang Yufeng and Li Qingge arrived punctually at the private room in the restaurant. Shang Yufengs presence, the Helmsman of the Taixu Sect, was enough to show how seriously the Taixu Sect took cooperating with Prince Qis Mansion. Liang Chun dared to give Jiang Cheng a hard time, but he did not dare to act high and mighty in front of Shang Yufeng. After all, Helmsman Shang was a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and with her level of skill, she could practically do as she pleased in Liang Kingdom. Helmsman Shang, please take the seat of honor, Liang Chun said as he rose to his feet. Shang Yufeng did not want to bother with such formalities, No need, Ill just sit next to Chen Jiang. Liang Chun looked at Jiang Cheng in surprise, but what astonished him even more was that Jiang Cheng calmly epted the reality of Shang Yufeng sitting next to him! Without a hint of being overly ttered. As if it was something he was used to.
Liang Chun chose his words carefully and said, Helmsman Shang, do you think theres a possibility that Tongtian Sect might relent? Do we need our royal family to cooperate with the Taixu Sect and jointly pressurize the Tongtian Sect? Shang Yufeng replied, You can talk to Chen Jiang directly about that. Talk to him? Liang Chun was full of confusion. Yes, the idea to have the Taixu Sect seek out the Tongtian Sect for people was his idea.
After hearing this, Liang Chun immediately took in a breath of cold air. Good fellow, what kind of sect was the Dayan Sect, being able to casually order the Taixu Sect, one of the Five Great Immortal Sects, around? Jiang Cheng took out a Memory Sphere and a notebook. He spoke in a very professional manner, The main reason why the Tongtian Sect wont release people is that the Taixu Sect doesnt have enough evidence. We cant prove the innocence of the Hehuan Sect female cultivators youre acquainted with. But if Your Highness can provide us with sufficient evidence, the situation would bepletely different. As long as Your Highnesss evidence is persuasive, whoever you want to save, we can save. Jiang Chengs tone made Liang Chun respect him deeply. Although he did not understand the Dayan Sect, Jiang Chengs casual manner in dealing with the Tongtian Sect allowed him to indirectlyprehend the Dayan Sects power. This young man has unlimited prospects. He must be treated with caution. Anyone can be saved? Liang Chun sought confirmation. Of course, Jiang Cheng said with a smile, because our Liang Kingdom is a nation with a sound legal system. Please believe in Liang Lv, it wont wrongly use the innocent. Chapter 224: 209: Jiang Cheng Cultivates Demonic Techniques Chapter 224: Chapter 209: Jiang Cheng Cultivates Demonic Techniques Dayan Sect chose to coborate with Taixu Sect in order to rescue innocent cultivators persecuted by evil forces, Jiang Cheng briefly outlined their coborative vision, which dispelled some of Liang Chuns doubts about Dayan Sect. Afterward, Jiang Cheng showed a kind smile to Liang Chun. Do you think among those captured by Tongtian Sect, which ones are innocent victims? Liang Chun cautiously asked, Do I have to name them all? Of course, if you dont tell us who is innocent, how can we negotiate with Tongtian Sect? This notebook of yours Its for meeting records, to distill your central ideas, Seeing Jiang Chengs serious and professional demeanor, Liang Chun thought no further. Taixu Sect wanted to rescue people, and he wanted to rescue them too. They hit it off and should work together with one heart. Even if the coboration didnt work out, they wouldnt be backstabbed by Taixu Sect and Dayan Sect, right? If he were working with the Demon Sect, Liang Chun would have been more vignt. But after all, Taixu Sect was a well-known and righteous sect. Birds of a feather flock together; he thought Dayan Sect wouldnt be much different since they were coborating with Taixu Sect.
They wouldnt stoop to the despicable tactic of betraying allies, he thought. At least three disciples from Hehuan Sect who were taken by Tongtian Sect are innocent, said Liang Chun. Jiang Cheng nodded, Who are they? What are their names? What are their backgrounds? Do they hold any positions within Hehuan Sect? Well, they are Qiu Shui, Xiang He, and You Hong. Qiu Shui is from Chu State, had a life filled with hardships, her mother is severely ill, her father is a gambler, her brother is still studying Why are you making that face? Jiang Cheng, with a serious expression and holding his notebook, said, Keep talking, Im listening. Xiang He because After Liang Chun finished speaking about the three individuals circumstances, Jiang Chengs pen danced rapidly, making a sinct summaryPrince Qi showed sympathy for disciples of the Demon Sect. What positions do they hold in Hehuan Sect? Qiu Shui has reached the Foundation Establishment level and is an Elder of Hehuan Sect, while Xiang He and You Hong are disciples. Jiang Cheng continued to writePrince Qis control over Hehuan Sect includes but is not limited to Elders. What exactly is your rtionship with them? Well Liang Chun nced at the people from Taixu Sect. Jiang Cheng said bureaucratically, There are no outsiders here, Your Highness need not worry. Liang Chun thought it over and decided it was fine. After all, having contact with Hehuan Sect, could it still be a pure friendship? Mainly a romantic rtionship. Could you borate? No, I couldnt. Jiang Cheng wrote downPrince Qi and Hehuan Sect have secrets that can not be told. After asking several inconsequential questions, Jiang Cheng changed the subject, Some cultivation forces suspect that Qiu Shui and others are rted to the death of Prince Liang Chu. They believe that the killer of Prince Liang Chu is from Hehuan Sect. Do you have anything to say?
Nonsense! eximed Liang Chun, The fourth brother screwed up himself! It has nothing to do with anyone else! Jiang Cheng was not surprised by such an answer, he added, However, all the girls from the Jiaofang Division that Prince Liang Chu met that night are dead. This This has nothing to do with getting Tongtian Sect to release people, right? Its not entirely unrted. As far as I know, if the girls Prince Liang Chu met werent dead, Tongtian Sect probably wouldnt carry out demon extermination afterward,
This statement by Jiang Chengpletely fried Liang Chuns brain. The death of Prince Liang Chu couldnt count as his doing, at least not intentionally. Initially, Liang Chuns goal was to use Hehuan Sect to erode his fourth brothers willpower. After all, given Prince Liang Chus inclination, as long as he continued to immerse himself in thepany of women, he would do just that. And for the throne, it had basically nothing to do with such a useless person like Prince Liang Chu. But Liang Chun did not expect that the Hehuan Sect disciple he sent to seduce Prince Liang Chu identally killed him because of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman! This oue threw his entire n off course. Prince Liang Chu alive was a waste, but dead, he was no longer a waste! He became an unbreakable sword! The crime of harming ones siblings once confirmed would instantly disqualify him, Liang Chun, from seeding to the throne. In the second half of his life, he couldnt even think of having a fief, let alone not being exiled to the borders, even if his father showed mercy beyond thew. To ensure that no word got out, Liang Chun could not care less about other concerns. Everyone from the Jiaofang Division that came into contact with Prince Liang Chu that night, no matter if they weremoners or Hehuan Sect disciples, were all quietly killed by him,pletely silenced. Logically speaking, as long as there is a crime, there must be evidence left behind. Initially, Liang Chun was also worried that he might have left some loose ends for his second brother, Prince Han, to catch and investigate to the end.
Butter, with continuous problems caused by the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, which significantly drew the publics attention and the constables gaze, he used his influence to manipte the situation and sessfully closed the chapter on the Prince Liang Chu case. It went so smoothly it was as if someone deliberately covered up the truth for him! So at this moment, Liang Chun simply could not understand how the Prince Liang Chu case and Tongtian Sects demon extermination could be rted in any way. Could it be that someone, wanting to overturn Prince Liang Chus case, therefore, colluded with Tongtian Sect to wipe out Hehuan Sect in one fell swoop? Impossible, absolutely impossible. Sect Master Chen, Ive said all that I came to say, may I ask when you can let me see Qiu Shui and the others? asked Liang Chun. Jiang Cheng put away his notebook and said, If nothing unexpected happens, the day after tomorrow. The day after tomorrow? Looking out at the night, Liang Chun was startled. If today was not counted, wouldnt Chen Jiang need merely one day to fish people out from the hands of Tongtian Sect? The power of Dayan Sect was far beyond Liang Chuns imagination. Thank you for the information and evidence youve provided, Your Highness. Leave the rest to us, said Jiang Cheng as he stood up and shook hands with Liang Chun. Liang Chun hastily grasped it, feeling ttered and said, Sect Master Chen, if theres anything else you need me to do, justmand me.
Chapter 225: 209: Jiang Cheng Cultivates Demonic Arts_2 Chapter 225: Chapter 209: Jiang Cheng Cultivates Demonic Arts_2 Jiang Cheng said with a smile, That will be all, Your Highness. Just wait for the notification. Very well, very well. Liang Chun was very satisfied with Jiang Chengs attitude. How could one say otherwise, when dealing with the Immortal Sect is smooth sailing? The Sect Master of the mighty Dayan Sect didnt put on any airs at all, the righteousness surely signifies high quality! At the entrance of the hotel, Li Qingge felt extremely bewildered. She remembered how cordially Jiang Cheng and Liang Chun were negotiating and couldnt help but question their purpose for being there. They were supposed to be there to gather evidence, right? Feeling uncertain, Li Qingge asked, Jiang Cheng, what notification are you asking Prince Qi to wait for? With a calm face, Jiang Cheng said, Of course, the notification from The Ministry of Justice. Oh, then its fine. Li Qingge breathed a sigh of relief. Given their recent jovial interaction, it wouldnt have surprised her if Jiang Cheng told her that the Dayan Sect had turned against them on the spot.
After leaving the restaurant, Jiang Cheng didnt go straight home. Instead, he sent amunication talisman to meet with a special friend. The columnist for the Jade Lake Evening News Wang Chen. After ying the Memory Sphere once, Wang Chen, who had initially seemed uninterested, suddenly became passionate. My goodness, a tangle of love and hate between a Prince and the Demon Sect, wouldnt this require a hundred columns? However, as an experienced journalist, Wang Chen knew the principle of noting to the temple without a cause. What do you want me to write? he asked Jiang Cheng bluntly. Jiang Cheng said, Ive read your Jade Lake Evening News. And? The writing is very imaginative, the plots full of innovation, each article challenges peoples values in just a few words. Er Wang Chen was not sure whether Jiang Cheng was praising him or being sarcastic. You wouldnt send me the news about Prince Qi just to be charitable, right? What exactly do you want us to write? Just tone it down a bit when you write, Jiang Cheng said sincerely. Thanks to the information from Liang Chun. The interrogation pressure on the Tongtian Sect was greatly reduced. The Enforcement Hall had originally needed to hold open auditions, but now there was no need; candidates like Qiu Shui were pre-selected and fast-tracked to the finals. Qiu Shui and the others were not high in cultivation, and with Liang Chuns defection, they didntst long under the Enforcement Halls interrogation before confessing. Then, it was the Jade Lake Evening Newss turn to exert its power.
Shocking! Prince Liang Chu did not die over a woman! He died over a man! Witch reveals: The reason Prince Qi can keep up his strength is actually this! Too horrifying! The feud between two brothers turned out to be caused by her carelessness!
In the courtroom, Liang Chuns heart sank to rock bottom! He screamed hysterically, Where is Chen Jiang! He promised to let me see Qiu Shui and the others! Hes ying dirty! How could he do this to me! Minister Pang Yuan of The Ministry of Justice had an immense headache. The case of Prince Liang Chu was now attracting considerable attention, and stuck between public opinion and the royal family, he was in a no-win situation. Your Highness, Prince Qi, please stop shouting. Isnt Qiu Shui also in the courtroom? Where is Chen Jiang! Summon him to see me! He broke his promise and went back on his word! Your Highness, please dont worry about where you saw Qiu Shui for now. Just tell us whether you saw her or not? Liang Chuns neck stiffened, feeling like he was about to suffer a stroke from frustration. The Dayan Sect, so-called upright and honorable! How could they turn around and betray him! The thing he regretted most in his life was trusting Chen Jiang! Even the Hehuan Sect was more trustworthy than him!
Sitting on the couch in Jade Lake Mingan, Jiang Cheng crossed his legs and read the newspaper in his hand. The cases of Prince Liang Chu and Minister Gao were sessfully overturned. Prince Qi, Liang Chun got deeply entangled in legal proceedings, and none of his brothers, including the Taixu Sect, would let him go easily. Even if Liang Chun didnt die, he would at least have to spend decades in prison. In any case, he definitely had nothing to do with the throne anymore. The penalties that Miaodan Workshop submitted to the court were said to be in the process of being refunded, but who knows how long that would take. Shen Menghan is currently negotiating with Secret Pill Pavilion on transferring pill forms and shop sales. The Secret Pill Pavilion is probably the unluckiest faction besides Prince Qi. They had capitalized on the troubles of Miaodan Workshop, acquired most of its assets, and gained significant strength. However, with the death of Prince Liang Chu, Secret Pill Pavilion was hit hard and returned to square one, and it would likely be years before they could hold their heads up high again. Having finished the newspaper, Jiang Cheng casually took out the Dayan Sect Disciple Roster. ording to the famous Bnce of Power Hypothesis, the various forces of the Cultivation World will neither be stronger nor weaker but will always maintain a dynamic bnce through constant adjustments. Based on Jiang Chengs calctions, the power of the Demonic Tao in the Capital of Liang Kingdom was currently at an all-time low.
This means, at this particr point in time in the Capital, the Demon Sect cultivators are the favored ones; they will receive more Heavenly Daos favor than the cultivators of righteousness. When Demonic Tao weakens, they will be strengthened. Conversely, when righteousness weakens, it too will be strengthened. Individual cultivators or a single faction could be stronger or weaker, but overall, righteousness and Demonic Tao maintain an extremely delicate, yet unbreakable bnce. Jiang Cheng was the only person in the entire Cultivation World who knew this rule. Heavenly Daos favor manifests in many ways. The simplest is smooth cultivation. Moreplex aspects include better luck and acquiring opportunities. Even more intricate are things like the awakening of spirit children and the emergence of more innate constitutions. Jiang Cheng opened the Dayan Sect Disciple Roster, containing names of people he recognized and was familiar with. Such as Bai Xiaohe, Shen Menghan, Yue Linger, and others. And of course, there were higher-level cultivators like Gao Miao and Li Qingge. However, the strangest and most important person in this roster was Liu Qing.
That is Liu Qing and not Liu Qing. Chapter 226: 209: Jiang Cheng Cultivates Demonic Arts_3 Chapter 226: Chapter 209: Jiang Cheng Cultivates Demonic Arts_3 Liu Qing is a pseudonym a certain snake used in human society. When she and Jiang Cheng signed thebor contract, it was with a stroke for stroke that she wrote down Liu Qing. In a certain sense, the name Liu Qing represents a cause and effect. It is a bridge that connects the snake to human society. As Liu Qings boss, Jiang Cheng could control and use this causality. Therefore, the signature of Liu Qing in the Dayan Sect Disciple roster was actually not written by the snake herself, but by Jiang Cheng on her behalf. Jiang Chengs goal was also very simplefor bnce. The bnce of righteous and demonic forces in the Capital is severely imbnced; as the Capitals possibly only Demon Sect, under the adjustment of the bncing hand, there is no doubt that it will gain massive development opportunities! However, the Dayan Sect has an inherent defectthere are too few people! Even if all the disciples of the Dayan Sect encounter continuous opportunities and their cultivation levels surge, they cannot avoid the ongoing imbnce of righteous and demonic forces. Therefore, ording to the Bnce of Power Hypothesis, other demonic paths would continue to arrive at the Capital to bnce the righteous and demonic forces.
This is something Jiang Cheng did not wish to see. Therefore, the Dayan Sect needed a bast stone, and Liu Qing, as a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm, was heavy enough to serve as bast. But the problem with Liu Qing was that she was too much of a bast. Once she joined the Dayan Sect, she would reverse the situation, causing the Capitals demonic power to far exceed the righteous power. In this case, the other members of the Dayan Sect would likely be castaway pawns of the Heavenly Dao. At the very least, they would drop money while walking. In severe cases, they might deviate into the Demonic Tao. In even more extreme cases, they might sneeze and die on the spot. Liu Qing could not join the Dayan Sect, but even if she did not join, the Demonic Tao would still continue to arrive at the Capital unceasingly. Faced with a nearly unsolvable situation, Jiang Cheng thought of a solutionLiu Qing. Liu Qing, as the lower-equipped version of Liu Qing in the causality rtionship, should not be able to tilt the Capitals bnce of righteous and demonic forces alone. Indeed, as Jiang Cheng predicted. After writing Liu Qing on the roster, his strange behavior of picking up money finally stopped, which at least indicated that the Capitals rtionship between righteous and demonic had rtively bnced and the Heavenly Dao stopped favoring the Dayan Sect. Moreover, writing Liu Qing had another benefit. That was, use it as soon as you wipe it. By adding or deleting Liu Qing from the Dayan Sect Disciple roster, the bnce of righteous and demonic forces in the Capital could be adjusted at any time. Jiang Cheng wiped Liu Qing from the disciple roster and practiced cultivation in silence without deploying the Spirit Gathering Array or taking Spiritual Liquid Elixirs. As the Sect Master of the Dayan Sect, he in fact had more of the favor. Jiang Cheng gradually entered a state of cultivation, while Liu Qing, who was basking in the sun on the balcony, suddenly became very vignt. She could vaguely feel that something in the world had changed, and the vortex center of this change was right beside her!
Liu Qing stood up from the balcony and faced the boundlesske outside the balcony, retreating step by step towards Jiang Cheng. She did not know whether this change was good or bad, she only knew that she did not want opportunities, she just wanted to live a quiet life with Jiang Cheng. However Liu Qing noticed that Jiang Cheng seemed to have entered a strange state of cultivation.
This state of cultivation would greatly increase his natural affinity and, consequently, greatly speed up his cultivation rate. The sixthyer of Qi refining, broken through. But it was not over yet. Because Jiang Chengs cultivation level was still growing at a rate visible to the naked eye. The seventhyer of Qi refining, continued to be broken! Just as Liu Qing was about to sit down to protect the Dao for Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng voluntarily interrupted this wonderful state of cultivation. Its done, the cultivation level has improved too quickly. Wont such a fast rate of cultivation make others suspect that Ive practiced demonic arts? Jiang Cheng rubbed his chin, murmuring to himself, Forget it, instead of letting them misunderstand, I might as well really find a few demonic arts to practice. That way there will be no misunderstandings. Liu Qing: Chapter 227: 210 Lure the Enemy onto the Roof Chapter 227: Chapter 210 Lure the Enemy onto the Roof Jiang Chengs worries were not without reason. Because the cultivation speed of an ordinary person is actually quite slow. To reach the ninth level of Qi Cultivation before the age of thirty is already considered above average. Someone with a bit of talent in cultivation, like Yue Linger, could reach the ninth level of Qi Cultivation before turning eighteen. Take Yue Linger as an example, assuming she started cultivating at the age of six and reached the ninth level at eighteen, she would need an average of a year and a half to advance one cultivation level. Yet Jiang Cheng, in just a few short minutes, had consecutively improved by two cultivation levels. This almost shattered the general perception of cultivating immortality. Amoner is not guilty, but possessing a jade makes one a target. Improving strength at a speed beyondmon sense is not only not a good thing, but it also easily makes one a target for all. As someone who had always been good at taking the mass line, Jiang Cheng naturally knew the consequences of stepping out of the masses. The power bnce mechanism is very useful, but attracting the attention of some high-level figures in the Cultivation World would be more trouble than its worth.
To restore the bnce of righteous and demonic forces in the Capital, Jiang Cheng wrote Liu Qing on the Dayan Sect Disciple Roster. What he currently faced was the need to make his cultivation growth seem reasonable. And cultivating demonic arts was a good smokescreen. Moreover, as the Sect Master of the Dayan Sect, it would seem quite unreasonable not to cultivate demonic arts. However, with the sheer variety of demonic arts avable, and each withpletely different focuses, choosing a suitable demonic cultivation technique for the Sect Master of Dayan Sect became Jiang Chengs biggest problem at the moment. The techniques of the Hehuan Sect often needed the power of another person. Jiang Cheng sneakily nced at Liu Qing, who had just returned to the balcony, and in his heart, he knew he did not meet the conditions to cultivate the Hehuan Sect techniques. Hehuan Sect cultivation technique, excluded. The cultivation techniques of the Blood Fiend Sect are extremely overbearing. Not only are they powerful in attack, but also they allow for very fast advancement in cultivation level. The downside is that they most often require the swallowing of blood qi. Human blood is best, followed by animal blood, in short, the higher the spirituality and cultivation level of the consumed, the better the effect of the cultivation. Jiang Cheng sneaked another nce at Liu Qing on the balcony. A certain snake was quite sensitive to smells, and if he were to cultivate the Blood Fiend Sect techniques, he might not even be able to enter his own home, just as it had happened the day he came back from the Jiaofang Division. Blood Fiend Sect cultivation technique, excluded. Next up is the Demon Pattern Sect. The Demon Pattern Sect cultivates by nurturing qi into patterns. The demon patterns on a cultivators body are a type of special spirit body. Lower-level demon patterns possess only instinct, controlled by the host and attack based on that instinct. Higher-level demon patterns can develop spiritual intelligence, bing an independent entity. Both the intensity and versatility of their attacks significantly increase.
However, the downside of Demon Pattern Sect techniques is that sometimes the demon patterns can be uncontroble like pets. They might make noises, destroy things around the host, or indiscriminately release cultivation waste. It is well known that a certain snake has always preferred quietness. Therefore, Jiang Cheng couldnt cultivate demon patterns either.
Demon Pattern Sect cultivation technique, excluded. After considering several mainstream Demon Sect techniques, Jiang Cheng found they always touched upon what Liu Qing disliked. This made his already limited selection even more constrained! Damn it! Liu Qing causes me trouble! Who knew raising a snake could be such an inconvenient task! Liu Qing seemed to sense something, gracefully got up from the lounge chair on the balcony, sat down beside Jiang Cheng, and grabbed his hand. Jiang Cheng suddenly turned his head and saw the stunningly beautiful face of Liu Qing. With her beautiful eyes open and eyshes trembling slightly, her clear eyes seemed to hold some secrets known to no one else. Liu Qings cool hand was like a bucket of cold water poured over Jiang Chengs head. It made him extremely calm in an instant. Between cultivating and caring for a snake, he now fully understood which was more important. It wouldnt be a problem to postpone practicing demonic arts temporarily.
But neglect the snake for a day, and she would turn dark on the spot. I wasnt thinking about Talismans just now, Jiang Cheng exined. You, are troubled, Liu Qing said. It was the smell she had detected that made her sit down next to Jiang Cheng. Hmm, Jiang Cheng didnt deny it. Why? Because its a bit difficult to choose a technique from the Devil Gate Wait! Jiang Cheng suddenly had an idea. Since choosing a technique himself always seemed to be disliked by Liu Qing, why not let Liu Qing pick one for him to practice? Liu Qing was a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm, and her understanding of techniques far surpassed his at the Qi Cultivation Stage! Any technique that caught her eye would definitely not be too shabby. Jiang Cheng let go of Liu Qings hand and said, Go get my storage bag.
Liu Qing lightly nodded, went into Jiang Chengs bedroom, and brought back his storage bag. Jiang Cheng took the storage bag and pulled out nearly a hundred photographs. All were photos of Demon Sect techniques from the archives. They recorded the umtion of over a hundred years from more than a dozen Demon Sects in the Capital. Which one do you like? Jiang Cheng asked. Liu Qing blinked, seemingly not understanding what Jiang Cheng meant. You choose one you like, Im preparing to practice a demonic technique. Whatever you choose, Ill practice that, Jiang Cheng said. Oh, Liu Qing responded. Liu Qing lowered her head and began picking out technique photos carefully. Soon, the first batch of Demon Sect techniques was eliminated by her. The ones from the Hehuan Sect. Jiang Cheng was not surprised at all. Having cared for the snake so long, he understood her temperament quite well.
Seemingly aware of the importance of a technique to Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing was especially serious in her selection. She sat on the sofa, her beautiful eyes fixed on the pictures Jiang Cheng had given her, silent and without unnecessary movements, asionally forgetting even to blink. Suddenly, Liu Qing set down the photos in her hand. Jiang Cheng asked, Have you chosen? She shook her head, then poured a ss of water and handed it to Jiang Cheng. Chapter 228: 210 Following Their Plan_2 Chapter 228: Chapter 210 Following Their n_2 Pouring water for the master is one of her daily tasks. I can pour the water myself. Work. She said simply. Watching Liu Qings meticulous manner. Jiang Cheng silently swallowed his saliva. In the future, he must be extremely cautious when assigning her tasks, because she takes her work very seriously. As the day gradually turned to evening, only three pictures remained in Liu Qings hands. Jiang Cheng stole a nce and discovered that these three pictures were of the Shadow Puppet Sects Multi-Shadow Easy Travel Art, the Blood de Sects Blood Family de-Waving Technique, and the Magpie Beast Sects Postnatal Care for Snakes. Jiang Cheng: ??? Cough, this doesnt count; President Gao must have photographed it by mistake. Jiang Cheng snatched the snake care picture from Liu Qings hands.
How could President Gao be so careless as to mix general knowledge books with cultivation techniques? It is a cultivation technique. Liu Qing said. How could this possibly be a cultivation technique It seems it actually is. The Magpie Beast Sect is a beast-taming Demon Sect. This snake care book is a supplement to the serpent-taming methods of the sect. I will not practice this one, which of the remaining two do you prefer? This one. Liu Qing handed the Shadow Puppet Sects Multi-Shadow Easy Travel Art to Jiang Cheng. As a sect that requires controlling puppets, the Shadow Puppet Sects Multi-Shadow Easy Travel Art is a rare Demon Gate technique that can train spiritual power. With Jiang Cheng currently at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation Stage, as long as he has sufficient spiritual power, he could even try to draw a second-tier talisman during the Qi Cultivation Stage, just like Yue Linger. The atmosphere at the high-level meeting of the Tongtian Sect was extremely somber. Li Ancheng, the current Helmsman of the Tongtian Sects Liangguo Subrudder, had a stern face, his eyebrows knitted in deep concern. Taixu Sects recent actions are very unusual. Do you all remember? A few days ago, they came to our Tongtian Sect to force a showdown with great fanfare, acting as if they were enforcing justice and would not rest until they had done so. But recently, they suddenly became quiet. All interactions between the two sides have silently returned to how they were before the protests. Helmsman, isnt that because we made concessions and released the people they wanted? The Alchemy Association President shook his head: No, its definitely not for that reason. They only asked for three people. These three are now locked up in Liang Kingdoms prison, their fates uncertain. If they truly wanted to save them, why would they leap out of the dragons den only to enter the tigers cave? Li Ancheng said, Think about the consequences of us releasing those three Hehuan Sect disciples. Helmsman, are you suggesting that Taixu Sect used the Hehuan Sect disciples to bring down Prince Qi? Its not without possibility.
Why would Taixu Sect want to take down Prince Qi? Yeah, dont the Immortal Sects have a tradition of not interfering with the mortal world? The president of Ling University spoke up: You all might not know this, but Taixu Sects university admitted a special student this year. She is the second daughter of Emperor Liang and in theory, she could ascend to the throne. Upon hearing this, the meeting erupted into a flurry of discussion.
A woman ascending the throne seems a bit too fanciful, doesnt it? We cant be careless. While Liang Kingdom has no precedent, other countries have had female emperors. Besides, the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect is a woman; its entirely possible theyd want to support a female monarch. The probability of a woman bing emperor is too low. Even if we dont intervene, relying solely on Taixu Sects power, they will mostly be unable to settle the nobility of the entire court. Dont underestimate the Taixu Sect. Theyve just brought down Prince Qi. Its just a coincidence. I think its a coincidence too. Without the opportunity created by our Tongtian Sects demon eradication, what could Taixu Sect do to a prince? They might have the ability to take advantage of the situation, but not necessarily the capability to go against it. Yu Mo, the president of Lotus University, nodded: Thats right. The heroes of this demon elimination are our schools student Jiang Cheng and the President of Talisman Master Association, President Gao. I have great trust in our schools students. Jiang Cheng would absolutely not collude with Taixu Sect. Taixu Sects ability to eliminate Prince Qi is mostly just taking advantage of the situation, hitching a ride. After Yu Mo spoke, everyone in the hall nodded in agreement. Jiang Cheng and Gao Miao are both bona fide Tongtian Sect members; the demon eradication campaign they led surely couldnt have been to help Taixu Sect, right? Li Ancheng didnt speak, but gave the Elder of the Enforcement Hall a meaningful look. The Elder of the Enforcement Hall promptly activated the projection formation, which disyed Jiang Chengs first visit to Li Qingges house. A Lotus University studentste-night meeting with a high-ranking official of Taixu Sect carries an obvious implication. This
The faces of many Tongtian Sect cultivators, including Yu Mo, president of Lotus University, changed dramatically. Although Jiang Cheng is not officially a disciple of Tongtian Sect, he is a student of Lotus University and has long been under the care of Tongtian Sects influence. If Jiang Cheng truly switched allegiance to Taixu Sect, it would amount to a minor betrayal for those present. Does anyone else have something to say? Li Ancheng asked calmly. The hall was silent. With a student under him causing such a scene, Yu Mo, the president of Lotus University, and Guo Xiuyuan, the head of the Talisman Department, suddenly felt that they had lost face. Gao Miao hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. President Gao, what do you want to say? Gao Miao coughed and said, Well, I think this trajectory cant be taken as evidence that Jiang Cheng has joined Taixu Sect. Oh? Gao Miao, just speak directly. Why are you beating around the bush in front of the Helmsman? Guo Xiuyuan said. Taking a leap of faith, Gao Miao shared his spection.
I believe, based on my observations of Jiang Cheng and Li, that Jiang Chengs visit to Lis home might not be an attempt to join Taixu Sect. Li Ancheng, seated at the head, took a sip of tea and calmly asked, Why not? All eyes turned to Gao Miao. Chapter 229: 210 Following Their Plan_3 Chapter 229: Chapter 210 Following Their n_3 Gao Miao took a deep breath and said, Because, Jiang Cheng might have just gone to Lis ce to talk about feelings. Pfft! Li Ancheng immediately sprayed out the mouthful of tea he had just drunk. Guo Xiuyuan was furious, Gao Miao, what kind of joke is this! Li Qingge is a Core Formation Cultivator. Do you have any idea how many years older she is than Jiang Cheng? Gao Miao responded with reason and evidence, Thats exactly why hes going in the middle of the night! Otherwise, why would there be a secret rendezvous at that hour? When the others heard this, they found Gao Miaos exnation to be surprisingly usible. Indeed, old cows grazing on tender grass must hide and tuck away. Moreover, Li Qingge was the head of the Talisman Department at Qingxuan University, a bona fide senior teacher. Her romance with a student from the neighboring Lotus University, if discovered, would definitely be the hottest scoop in the Capitals Cultivation World. Yu Mo breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Chengs love problems, outrageous as they were, were still better than him being a traitor to the Tongtian Sect. Little Gao, you wouldnt say this unless you were quite certain, right?
Gao Miao continued, It started when we were dealing with the nt Autonomy Talisman, Old Guo was also there. Li Qingge expressed a keen interest in Jiang Cheng at the time, right, Old Guo? Guo Xiuyuan recalled and added, It does seem like it. Gao Miao showed an See, I wasnt lying expression. Later, during the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, when Jiang Cheng was taken away by The Ministry of Justice, it was Li Qingge who went to rescue Jiang Cheng first. She even got there faster than Old Guo and me. In full public view, Li Qingge and Jiang Cheng were seen acting intimately, but lets not even mention that. The most recent incident was the protest. I, well, not I, but I discussed it at length with Li, and she wouldnt budge an inch, wouldnt give any face. Yet when Jiang Cheng came, with just a few words, he managed to persuade Li Qingge to back down. After Gao Miao finished speaking, the Tongtian Sect meeting room fell into an eerie silence. In the end, it was the president of Ling University who broke the silence first, Old Yu, your students really have some skill. How do you teach them? Share some tips with us brother schools. Yu Mos face was expressionless, I think Jiang Cheng must have defected. We should order a thorough investigation. No need. Li Ancheng signaled the elder of the Enforcement Hall to switch the projection images. The new image showed Liang Chun, Jiang Cheng, Shang Yufeng, and Li Qingge, entering the Five Saints Restaurant one after another. This imagees from before Gen Mountain Branch interrogated Hehuan Sects disciples. The protest by Taixu Sect was clearly to cooperate with Jiang Cheng. Or alternatively, Jiang Chengs undercover work with the Demonic Tao could very well be to aid Taixu Sect to get evidence that could be used against Prince Qi. And before that, Prince Liang Chu had died because of the Willpower Empowerment Talisman. Upon understanding this causal rtionship, everyones heart was a mix of emotions. Yu Mo was joking just now, hoping for a thorough investigation of Jiang Cheng, but actually, he didnt want Jiang Cheng to really switch sides to Taixu Sect. Not to mention anything else, just the act of defecting to Taixu Sect itself. Defecting to Taixu Sect was a very silly move. Because Taixu Sect didnt ept male disciples and had no suitable Cultivation Techniques for male cultivators. If Jiang Cheng really wanted to defect, he might as well turn to Lin Sect, which at least had more to offer. As the president of Lotus University, Yu Mo took the lead, While the current evidence doesnt prove Jiang Chengs actions, our Lotus University will never tolerate any traitor and will investigate thoroughly. Everyone nodded in agreement with Yu Mos attitude.
At this point, there wasnt much more to say. If an investigation was warranted, it should be done, and if there were consequences to face, then they should be faced. The stance of the Immortal Sects towards traitors was always harsh. If Jiang Chengs defection was confirmed, he might not be punished harshly because after all, he had merit in vanquishing demons, but he definitely wouldnt be able to test into the Tongtian Sect. Only Gao Miao seemed hesitant to speak. He truly believed that Jiang Cheng hadnt defected and was merely having an improper rtionship with Li Qingge.
Li Anchengughed, Haha, dont be so serious. These images were deliberately sent over by Taixu Sect. Their purpose, you dont need me to say it, do you? Everyone was astute. Taixu Sect deliberately leaking evidence indicated that they wanted to use a strategy of division, making Tongtian Sect and Jiang Cheng be enemies. This on the contrary could prove Jiang Chengs innocence. If Jiang Cheng had truly defected, Taixu Sect would have no need for division tactics. I think Jiang Cheng indeed may have coborated with Taixu Sect, but the content of the coboration likely isnt to the degree of defection. However, what can be asserted is that Taixu Sect definitely has designs on the new Emperor of Liang. They probably want to use Jiang Cheng to eliminate all the princes, and then ce their own princess on the throne, Li Ancheng summarized. Helmsman, then what should we do Li Ancheng pointed at Gao Miao and said, I think President Gaos analysis makes a lot of sense. Jiang Cheng indeed has a lot of potentials. I remember he was in the same ss as that princess from Taixu Sect, right? Young peoples conversations sure must be much more diverse than Core Formation Stage topics. Chapter 230 - 211: Let Jiang Cheng Choose for Himself Chapter 230: Chapter 211: Let Jiang Cheng Choose for Himself Almost at the same time as the Tongtian Sect meeting, the Taixu Sect also held a closed-door meeting. Branch Helmsman Shang Yufeng sat at the head of the table, nked on both sides by the core forces of the Taixu Sect in Liang Kingdom. However,pared to the assembly at the Tongtian Sect meeting, the personnel arrangement of the Taixu Sect fell short by quite a margin. But this was also not difficult to understand, for Liang Kingdom was not the traditional sphere of influence for the Taixu Sect. The staff of Taixu Sect in the Capital were mainly built around Qinghe Xuanran University. For example, Li Qingge, who was not only the head of the Talisman Department at Qingxuan University but also juggling the role of Chairwoman of the Taixu Sects Capital Talisman Master Association. Although holding multiple positions, she was actually not as busy as Gao Miao, the full-time Chairwoman. The reason was simple: fewer people, a smaller scope of power, naturally resulting in being less busy. But being in a position with less responsibility also had its risksif you couldnt produce results after a long time, the Taixu Sects Liangguo Subrudder would inevitably face closure from the headquarters. The Immortal Sects are strong but not foolish; they do not foster idleness. Our n has been quite sessful, Shang Yufeng said. In just two months, Jiang Cheng has sessively dealt with both Prince Liang Chu and Prince Qi. Since the Eldest Princess is already married off, Princess Liang Pei is still underage, and Princess Si is too young, the only ones remaining before us are just Prince Liang Wu, Prince Liang Hong, and Prince Liang Qing. After Shang Yufeng finished speaking, the cultivators of the Taixu Sect below instantly breathed a sigh of relief. The Princess Ascension n did indeed seem a bit whimsical, and when Li Qingge first proposed it, practically no one in the subrudder supported it. Fortunately, as the Helmsman, Shang Yufeng overrode the opposition and agreed to let Li Qingge try, leading to subsequent events. But now it was different. The n had not only gone smoothly, but it had also been quite fruitful. Jiang Cheng took down two princes in two months. Even the Demonic Tao wouldpliment, Brother, your efficiency in handling affairs is truly high. ording to Shang Yufengs description, thepetitors currently standing before Princess Liang Lu were fundamentally only these three individuals. As long as they took care of these three, Princess Liang Lus ascension to the throne would be as certain as a nail hammered into a board. The rest would be simple: the Taixu Sect, under the guise of teaching, would actively cultivate Princess Liang Lu, helping her improve her cultivation level as much as possible. In return for the peach, she would reciprocate with plums, facilitating the Taixu Sects activities within the borders of Liang Kingdom. Then the Taixu Sect would continue to develop and eventually rece the Tongtian Sect, bringing Liang Kingdom into the Taixu Sects sphere of influence. Although Jiang Cheng is capable, his personal motivation is very weak. He doesnt want to get involved in the royal struggle for session. For the remaining three princes, we must find an irresistible reason for Jiang Cheng to continue participating in the n and help Princess Liang Lu clear the obstacles, Shang Yufeng said. All under heaven are attracted by profit. Why dont we promise Jiang Cheng substantial benefits? a female cultivator of the Taixu Sect suggested. Li Qingge shook her head: Ive tried that approach already; he isnt even interested in our Meridian Synergy. Heroes often falter at the beauty pass. Find a beautiful female disciple to interact with him and see, someone suggested. Li Qingge continued shaking her head: Ive tried that as well, it was useless. What about finding someone even more beautiful? Li Qingge sighed and said, Although our school does have more beautiful female disciples, love requires mutual affection. Nowadays, most female disciples do not possess the same resolve as the Holy Maiden Ling Huan who once split the Tongtian Sect. Benefits and beauty are an invincible sword. But they all shattered and sank like brokennces against Jiang Cheng,pletely losing their effect. The Taixu Sect meeting room fell into a long silence. Li Qingge pondered: Considering that Jiang Cheng was admitted to Lotus Cloud University, he would probably like to join the Immortal Sect in the future. But this point is precisely what we in the Taixu Sect cannot satisfy. Helmsman, is there really no way for the Taixu Sect to recruit male disciples? Not even through special recruitment? Shang Yufeng replied, Thats not something we can decide. A female cultivator voiced her headache: No one is perfect; Jiang Cheng must have some weaknesses, right? What was his motivation for bringing down Prince Liang Chu and Prince Qi? Her question immediately captured the attention of everyone present. Indeed, why did Jiang Cheng want to topple Prince Liang Chu and Prince Qi in the first ce? Li Qingge, as the sole person involved in both incidents, naturally received the gazes of all the senior members of the Taixu Sect. Let me think. Liqingge carefully recalled Jiang Chengs motives. Jiang Cheng originally refused the Meridian Synergy, iming that he will not participate in the struggle for session. So why did he suddenly bring down both Prince Liang Chu and Prince Qi? Whatmonalities existed between the two incidents involving Prince Liang Chu and Prince Qi? If I remember correctly, after the incident with Prince Liang Chu, Jiang Chengs Willpower Empowerment Talisman was urgently banned by the court, Li Qingge said. Shang Yufeng frowned and asked, Are you suggesting that Prince Liang Chus fate was due to Jiang Chengs talisman? Li Qingges line of thought became clearer, Right, do you remember Zeng Shian from the Lin Sect? Their Talisman Master Association was punished by both the court and the Lin Sect for carelessly certifying Jiang Chengs talisman. And what about Prince Qi? Its also because of the talisman! Jiang Cheng coborated with the Shadow Puppet Sect on the Perception Transmission Talisman. The Hehuan Sect actually became covetous and attempted to snatch it. After that, the whole Demonic Tao started fighting because of it, giving the Tongtian Sect the opportunity to seize them all in one fell swoop. So, Jiang Chengs key action point is talisman crafting? Exactly, Li Qingge analyzed: While Jiang Chengs weakness may not be obvious, the weaknesses of the princes areid bare for all to see. If we cant persuade Jiang Cheng, cant we persuade the princes? Makes sense. Indeed feasible. Prince Liang Wu and Prince Liang Hong both graduated from Lotus Cloud University, they are Jiang Chengs seniors. Prince Liang Qing is currently a junior at Capital University. Who shall we take care of first? They all looked toward Shang Yufeng. Chapter 231 - 211: Let Jiang Cheng Choose for Himself_2 Chapter 231: Chapter 211: Let Jiang Cheng Choose for Himself_2 Shang Yufeng decided to respect Li Qingges opinion, Qingge, what do you think? Li Qingge thought for a moment, then said, Why not let Jiang Cheng choose for himself. Lotus University had begun its winter break yesterday, but Jiang Cheng had no intention of returning to Wuyue. The Miaodan Workshop was currently in the midst of continuous research and development of elixirs, frequently requiring his input, which made it impossible for him to leave. Hello? Jiang Cheng. His Counselor, Cui Zhifei, called him. Im here, whats up, teacher? Oh, youre still in the dorm? Can youe to my office? Someone wants to talk to you in person. Sure, Ill be right there. Jiang Cheng promptly agreed. Although he wasnt at the dorm, his home was not far from the college, so ast-minute trip to the school was no hassle. Arriving at Cui Zhifeis office, Jiang Cheng met the person who was looking for him. Hello, my name is Liang Hong. I guess you can say Im one of Teacher Cuis first batch of students at Lotus University. Nice to meet you, senior. Jiang Cheng was very polite. However, looking at Liang Hongs appearance, Jiang felt a sense of familiarity. Your surname is Liang; you wouldnt happen to be a royal, would you? Cui Zhifei proudly said, I knew youd figure it out. Liang Hong is the third son of the current Emperor of Liang, the pride of our Lotus University, a strong contender for the future throne. Not at all, not at all, teacher, you tter me. Liang Hong was well aware of his own standing. Without the title of Prince, he wouldnt even be able to attend Lotus University, let alone any college. Of course, he wasnt the worst among his brothers either. The worst was his younger brother, Prince Liang Chu. He didnt even finish high school, as he was expelled for mistreating a fellow student. Alright then, you two have a chat, senior and junior; Ill go take care of some matters, Cui Zhifei said. With the current emperor bedridden, potentially passing away any moment, everyone in the Capital knew that the struggle among the princes for the throne had reached a fever pitch. Not to mention, the recent incidents involving Prince Liang Chu and the Crown Prince certainly werent coincidences; it was likely the work of other princes sabotaging them. Cui Zhifei himself was a disciple of the Immortal Sect, albeit low ranked with little power, and thus couldnt extend a helping hand to mundane affairs. But since Liang Hong was his student, and given that he hade to him specifically to meet with Jiang Cheng, he, as a teacher, had to help whenever he could. Moreover, should Liang Hong ascend to the throne, his own status as a teacher would surely rise significantly. After Cui Zhifei left, only Jiang Cheng and Prince Liang Hong remained in the office. Jiang, Ive heard that your talent in drawing talismans is nothing short of miraculous. To be honest, thats why Im here; I was hoping you could draw a talisman for me, Liang Hong said with a sincere expression, not as if he were joking. Jiang Cheng was taken aback, not quite understanding the current situation. It was quite strange. The Prince was seeking him out to draw a talisman, as though he were involved in some inheritance power system,pleting tasks for the system. Teacher Cui is also a Talisman Master, if you want a talisman drawn, why not ask him? I was Teacher Cuis student back in the day. Yes, I know, and then? Liang Hong repeated, I was Teacher Cuis student. Er Jiang Cheng seemed to understand. With numerous talented Talisman Masters in Liang Kingdom, why must youe to me? Jiang Cheng changed his question. Liang Hong exhaled deeply and said, This matter wasnt supposed to be shared with you, but if you must know, then Ill make an exception and reveal to you a hint of fate. Do you know why my eldest brother was imprisoned and why my youngest brother died? Because of the Hehuan Sect, Jiang Cheng replied confidently. After all, he had firsthand knowledge as someone who had experienced it. No, its because they were abandoned by the Void Venerable. What? Jiang Cheng really wanted to ask, What is this Void Venerable? Liang Hongs face showed admiration, People only know of the Five Great Immortal Sects, unaware of the Void Venerable, which is trulymentable for mankind. The Void Venerable is the real master behind the Five Great Immortal Sects. Countless empires rise and fall at the whim of the Void Venerable. As for the righteous and demonic paths, they are but two sides of the scale on the Void Venerables table. The Void Venerable is the supreme being beyond our world! He can manipte the Heavenly Dao and Heavenly Tribtion at will. The more Jiang Cheng heard, the more rmed he became. And the more he listened, the more he felt that Liang Hong was describing him. This Void Venerables job sounded exactly like that of a strategist. He wondered what the sry and benefits were like. ` Will there be social insurance and housing fund? Is there overtime pay? Whats the true name of the Void Venerable? How many characters is it? Jiang Cheng tentatively asked. The Venerable doesnt have a true name. He is known as the Void Venerable, Prince Liang Hong said. Jiang Cheng was quite certain there were no Immortal Gods called something Venerable; the concept could aptly describe their nners, yes, but to put it directly into the game would lead to catastrophic imbnces, wouldnt it? Leaving that aside, as long as it was in the hands of him, the data strategist, any so-called Venerable would need to be appropriately weakened. Prince Liang Hong believed unquestioningly in the existence of the Void Venerable because he had witnessed the Venerablemand cultivators of the Immortal Sect with the ease of moving chess pieces. The Nascent Soul Core Formation cultivators, who were arrogant elsewhere, didnt dare to so much as breathe heavily in the presence of the Void Venerable. Wasnt this sufficient to prove the strength of the Void Venerable? In short, the Venerable has showed me a clear path. He told me that Ick one of the Five Elements and cannot be emperor. To ascend to the throne, I must face north and sit south and find someone who canplete the missing elements in my destiny. Ive searched for days and found that in the entire Lotus University, only you are the most suitable! The Venerable truly leaves no stone unturned! Were cultivating immortality, and yet were still indulging in feudal superstitions? Jiang Cheng felt powerless to retort. What kind of talisman do you want me to help you draw? Jiang Cheng prepared to firmly refuse Prince Liang Hongs request. Upon hearing Jiang Chengs implied agreement, Prince Liang Hong was overjoyed. He hadnt originally intended to fight for session because his abilities were only slightly better than those of Prince Liang Chu, not to mention his older brothers Prince Qi and Prince Han; he couldnt evenpare with his youngest brother. But now things were different. With the most eligible Prince Qi disqualified and guided by the Void Venerable, the seat of Emperor of Liang was worth a try for him! Prince Liang Hong expressed his request, The Venerable said that my fathers illness is due to evil spirit possession. If you help me draw an Evil-Expelling Talisman and I cure my father and be the Crown Prince, Ill definitely appoint you as the State Preceptor! Its too difficult. Im just a second-prize Talisman Master; I cant draw very high-level talismans, Jiang Cheng decisively refused. Prince Liang Hong was shocked. If Jiang Cheng didnt help him and agree to be his advisor, he would alwaysck the Water and Earth elements in his destiny. ording to the Void Venerable, with an iplete set of Five Elements, not only would ascending the throne be impossible, but he would also be gued with endless disasters and wouldnt even live for long. Prince Liang Hong remembered his pastdrifting along passively, ipetent, cowardly, timid, andzyand suddenly felt an infinite surge of courage. Theres a saying, A man stands on his own at thirty. This year, he was already twenty-nine. A persons life should not always be spent in cowardice; at least once, one must stand up boldly! Jiang Cheng, will you help me or not! Prince Liang Hong roared. Jiang Cheng had always been one to respond to kindness but resist force. If Prince Liang Hong thought of forcing him intopliance, Jiang Cheng naturally had his own countermeasures Prince Liang Hongs face darkened, and he spoke in a threatening tone, grinding his teeth, Jiang Cheng, were brothers from the same sect; dont force me to kneel and beg you! Jiang Cheng: Dont push me! Ill really kneel! Thud. Jiang Cheng took a deep breath; he had never seen such a spectacle in his life. The talismans I draw are usually very expensive. Ill mortgage the Prince Mansion to you! Prince Liang Hong was ecstatic inside; with Jiang Cheng stepping in, wasnt his ascension to the throne almost guaranteed? Having just left Lotus University, Jiang Cheng wanted to go home and think over the matter of the talisman. But his troubles were not over yet. Themunication talisman buzzed; this time the caller was Li Youyuan from the admissions office. Hello, Jiang Cheng, do you have a moment? Director Li? Theres a distinguished guest in my family who wishes to meet you. Jiang Cheng had a bad feeling. Li Youyuan continued, If youre avable,e over to my ce; if not, welle to you. Ille over. At Li Youyuans house, Jiang Cheng met the distinguished guest he spoke ofPrince Liang Wu. Jiang Cheng got straight to the point: Your Highness, you havent also encountered some strange venerable figure, have you? Prince Liang Wu looked to be in his thirties, much more mature andposed than Prince Liang Hong. Not at all, not at all, Prince Liang Wu waved his hand. Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief: Thats good to hear. So, what can I do for you? Its like this, Id like to request that you draw a talisman for me. ` Chapter 232 - 212: This Child Is Not a Concern Chapter 232: Chapter 212: This Child Is Not a Concern ` Prince Liang Wu, over seventy years old this year, had a cultivation level of just the initial stage of Foundation Establishmentbuilt up purely through the use of resources, just like his elder brother, Liang Chun. In the Cultivation World, advancing to each major realm requires surviving the Heavenly Tribtion in order to gain recognition from the Heavenly Dao and permission to ascend. So, while theres only one level between the ninth level of Qi Cultivation and the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, from level 9 to 10. The difference in lifespan between the two, due to the Heavenly Tribtion, is almost threefold. However, the lifespan of someone in the initial stage of Foundation Establishmentpared to someone at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection isnt nearly as disparate. Therefore, quite a few wealthy individuals, such as Prince Qi Liang Chun and Prince Liang Wu, would use their resources to pile up their cultivation to the initial stage of Foundation Establishment. Of course, there are those who fail to do so, because transcending the Heavenly Tribtion carries a great risk and can easily lead to immediate demise. Ever since he began his journey to Foundation Establishment, Prince Liang Wu deeply understood one truth. In the Cultivation World, resources are king! If you have enough resources, even someone with no talent for cultivation like him could surpass many of his peers and advance to Foundation Establishment! This principle applies just as well to the struggle for imperial session! His elder brother, Liang Chun, was born over thirty years before him. Whether it was connections, status, or capital, Liang Chun was far superior to him. But in the end, it was because Liang Chun had more money! With moneyes connections, with moneyes status, and with money, one naturally doesnt have to worry about resources for cultivation. While others focused on currying favor with the powerful and expanding their influence, Liang Wu resolutely discarded all ineffective socializing and focused solely on making money! To put it in more modern terms, it was called raising funds for ascension to the throne. Liang Wu first approached the most profitable shop in the CapitalPill Cauldron Pavilion. He said, Hello, I am Prince Han Liang Wu, and Im preparing to run for Crown Prince. Im still short of some capital for ascension. If you invest some money in me, once I be the Emperor of Liang, I will definitely make Pill Cauldron Pavilion the royal supplier. The manager of Pill Cauldron Pavilion replied simply, Im sorry, fellow Daoist, but weve sold out of Dream-Deciphering Pills. We do have some elixirs for treating brain injury-induced mental disorders, do you need any of those? I dont need them. Right now, the shop is having a promotion, the second pill is half-off. The average sale price is a third below the market price. Its a limited-time offer, once its gone, there wont be another chance like this. Not wanting to leave empty-handed and hearing there was a profit to be made, Liang Wu said, Then Ill take two. The manager of Pill Cauldron Pavilion took Liang Wus money and handed him one elixir. Liang Wu asked in surprise, Didnt we agree the second elixir would be half-off? Why only one? The manager of Pill Cauldron Pavilion exined, Our policy is half-price for the second head. If you dont have two heads with brain injuries, we suggest that you find a friend to give you a chop. Prince Liang Wu failed his first attempt at raising investments and then approached the second most profitable shopPill Treasure Workshop. This time he changed his approach to something more reliable: I have a surefire moneymaking opportunity, would you be interested in joining? Manager of Pill Treasure Workshop: What opportunity? You put in money, I provide the manpower. I be the emperor, and you will be the dragon ministers who follow. After hearing this, the manager of Pill Treasure Workshop treated Liang Wu with great respect, providing fine food and drink and behaving with utmost courtesy. Although the manager did not mention anything about money, Liang Wu felt confident that he had secured the funds for his ascension this time. Hard work pays off. The harder you work, the luckier you bethat was said of the manager of Pill Treasure Workshop. After a heroic bargaining effort by the manager of Pill Treasure Workshop, Liang Wu was arrested for treason by Six Fan Gate half a dayter. Although Liang Wu had dered his identity early on, the professionalism of the Six Fan Gate arrest officers was so good that they never cracked a smile. The constables acknowledged Liang Wu as a Prince, but that didnt stop their handcuffs. Eventually, it was Liang Wus wife who realized he was missing and found him in a Six Fan Gate detention facility. Prince Hans Mansion wasnt short on money, but they didnt have the spare funds to bribe officials and campaign for the position of Crown Prince either. Just when Prince Liang Wus path to the throne seemed utterly hopeless, a highly skilled person appeared. Not only did the highly skilled person believe in Liang Wus abilities, but also invested five million Spirit Stones in him for free. More importantly, he showed Liang Wu the way forwardget Jiang Cheng to draw a Talisman. He recounted to Liang Wu the talismans that Jiang Cheng had drawn in the Capital. Each one possessed tremendousmercial potential. Exactly how much money Jiang Cheng had made wasnt disclosed by the skilled person, and Liang Wu wasnt sure either. But judging by the fact that the skilled person casually took out five million and called Jiang Cheng able to make money, Jiang Chengs talismans surely had already made millions in low-grade Spirit Stones! Keep in mind, these are just first-level talismans! First-level talismans worth just over a dozen Spirit Stones each! As long as he found Jiang Cheng to draw talismans, the throne of the Emperor of Liang was within easy reach! Liang Wu felt that the highly skilled person was simply his soulmate! Could a soulmate ever be wrong? Without a second thought, he immediately contacted Jiang Cheng through his connectionthe head of the recruitment office, Li Youyuan. At Li Youyuans home, Liang Wu got straight to the point: Its like this, Id like tomission you to draw a Talisman for me. With the five million in ascension funds from the skilled person, offering fifty million to have Jiang Cheng draw a first-level talisman shouldnt be difficult. After all, the fifty million would be paid in one lump sum. But to Liang Wusplete surprise, Jiang Cheng tly refused him without a second word. Im sorry, Second Highness, but my schedule is fully booked, Jiang Cheng said. Ill give you fifty million! Liang Wu dered, quite authoritatively. Fifty million for a Qi Cultivation stage cultivator was no doubt an enormous sum. Jiang Cheng remained unmoved: The schedule is really full. One hundred million! Liang Wu upped the ante once again. He did not believe that Jiang Cheng could refuse him this time. Im not lying, its truly packed. Even if Jiang Cheng had hesitated for a moment, it would have been a show of disrespect towards the mortgage of Liang Hongs Prince Mansion. Although the location of Prince Liang Hongs mansion was modest, itsrgend area meant that a genuine sale would undoubtedly involve transactions in the tens of millions. Chapter 233 - 212: This Child Is Not a Concern_2 Chapter 233: Chapter 212: This Child Is Not a Concern_2 Seeing Jiang Chengs resolute attitude, Liang Wu couldnt help but suspect Jiang Chengs motives. Normal people wouldnt pass up the chance to make money. One million Spirit Stones would be enough for a Ninth Level Qi Practitioner to prepare elixirs and magical treasures for Foundation Establishment. It made no sense for Jiang Cheng not to ept his offer. Second Prince, may I have a word with you? Li Youyuan spoke up. Liang Wu followed Li Youyuan onto the balcony of his house. Li Youyuan whispered mysteriously, Second Prince, what kind of talisman do you want to draw? Can I draw it? Liang Wu: Li Youyuan added, I only ask for five hundred thousand. No, only Jiang Cheng can draw it. Why? Its just drawing talismans, whats the difference? Liang Wu thought to himself, How would I know? The expert specifically asked for Jiang Cheng to draw the talisman. If theres nothing else, Second Prince, I will take my leave, Jiang Cheng said. Wait! Liang Wu stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Cheng, saying, What will it take for you to help me draw the talisman? Is the money not enough? I can add more, just name your price. Its not about the money. Then whats the issue? I have connections on both sides of thew, I can easily solve any problem for you. Jiang Cheng replied helplessly, As Ive already said, Second Prince, I am fully booked. If you really need the talisman, you can wait until Ive finished the current ones I am working on. How about that? That works. Liang Wu wasnt in a hurry. After Prince Qi, Liang Chun, had been arrested, hispetitors were down to just his third and fifth brothers. Neither of them posed a great threat, so waiting for Jiang Cheng was no issue. What kind of talisman were you nning to have drawn? Jiang Cheng asked. Liang Wu confidently exined, As the Cultivation Level of the citizens of Liang Kingdom improves, the challenges of fertility and parenting be increasingly severe, leading to an inevitable trend of aging within the kingdom. Therefore, I believe the funeral industry has great potential for the future. So, you n to have a talisman rted to the dead drawn? No, I n to have a talisman rted to the living drawn. Jiang Cheng didnt immediately follow the logic, If the funeral industry has potential, why draw a talisman rted to the living? Because the dead have no money. Makes sense. Jiang Cheng approved of Liang Wus business acumen. In any case, its about a talisman that can help people dig graves. Can you draw it? Yes. Jiang Cheng could not only draw it, he already had a ready-made talisman at handthe Smart Puppet Talisman. The Intelligent Puppet Talisman was quite useful; by tweaking the preset program and affixing it to oneself, one could transform into a relentless grave-digging machine. Originally, Jiang Cheng had wanted to rmend this talisman to the Shadow Puppet Sect, to help them save money on puppet creation and to increase employment opportunities for college graduates. His idea was to create a win-win-win situation with selling talismans, savings, and employment! However, unfortunately, the Shadow Puppet Sect had rejected the idea for the reason that it might viteborws. At the time, Jiang Cheng had asked, Arent you a Demon Sect? Since when do you care aboutborws? Fan Yue had replied, What do you think? Its precisely because were a Demon Sect that were strictly scrutinized! After confirming the requirements for the talisman, Jiang Cheng began to negotiate the price with Liang Wu. No more than one million five hundred thousand! Liang Wu insisted firmly. Jiang Cheng shook his head and said, Thats too little. One million five hundred thousand is too little!? Li Youyuan was taken aback by the deal between Jiang Cheng and Liang Wu. His house was worth about one million, and even with renovations, it wouldnt require one million five hundred thousand. Yet Jiang Cheng had said it was too little. Is this the kind of wealth a student of Lotus University should be dealing with? Then name your price, Liang Wu said. Three million. The smart grave-digging talisman, as a minor modification of the Smart Puppet Talisman, Jiang Cheng felt it wouldnt be right to sell it for too high a price. Three million was a rtively fair price. No. Liang Wu rejected the offer outright. He had only been given five million by the expert, and Jiang Cheng was asking for three million right off the bat, which was more torturous than killing him. Liang Wu bluntly stated the maximum he could ept. No more than two million. Otherwise, forget it. After saying this, even Liang Wu felt a twinge of pain. He was even afraid Jiang Cheng would immediately agree and take away his two million on the spot. But Jiang Cheng was just as firm, No, Second Prince, it seems we are not destined to cooperate this time. Farewell. Liang Wu remembered the experts words and thought to detain Jiang Cheng, but then he thought of the two million Spirit Stones and simply let it be. After all, it was just drawing a talisman, and with Li Youyuans Foundation Establishment Cultivation Level, he couldnt be much worse than Jiang Cheng, could he? He would just have Li Youyuan draw one and tell the expert that it was done by Jiang Cheng, could the expert really tell the difference? Impossible. Director Li, you can draw talismans, right? Liang Wu inquired. Li Youyuan was overjoyed inside. He could draw, but not many, yet with his widework of contacts, even if he didnt know how, he could outsource it, finding a professional Talisman Master to do the work. Ill do it for one million five hundred thousand, Li Youyuan offered proactively, lowering the price. Liang Wu, adept in the art of bargaining, said, Five hundred thousand. Li Youyuan: So Im only worth a quarter of Jiang Cheng? After returning home, Jiang Cheng immediately began to contemte the Evil-Expelling Talisman for Prince Liang Hong. ording to Liang Hong himself, Emperor of Liangs grave illness and bedridden state were due to Evil Spirit Possession, which was why he needed the Evil-Expelling Talisman. Expelling evil was not a difficult type of talisman to draw. Essentially it belonged to a category of attack talismans, more specifically, it was a special attack talisman targeting the spirit. This was because Evil Spirit Possession was itself a type of spiritual attack. But the current question was: Can Liang Hongs information be trusted? Is Evil Spirit Possession objectively described or subjectively interpreted? After all, many users of Willpower Empowerment Talismans, when overexerted, also experience a delusion of being possessed by an evil spirit. That kind of ailment cant be cured no matter how many times one uses the Evil-Expelling Talisman. Jiang Cheng always insisted on the right remedy for the problem. Now, without even having seen Emperor of Liang or knowing the details of his condition, he couldnt possibly open the gates of heaven with a talisman and cure the illness even if he returned to being a nning genius. Chapter 234 - 212: This Child Is Not a Concern_3 Chapter 234: Chapter 212: This Child Is Not a Concern_3 Jiang Cheng pondered for a moment, then took out amunication talisman for Prince Liang Hong. Hey, Your Highness, he said. Junior Brother Jiang! Have you finished drawing my Evil-Expelling Talisman? Not yet, I want to see your father in person to understand his specific symptoms and then draw the talisman ordingly. Thats probably not possible, he replied. Why not? Prince Liang Hong exined, My father hasnt seen any outsiders for some time now. He wont even see his own son? Not even me, let alone Liang Chun. Jiang Cheng frowned and said, If I cant see the patient, I really cant draw the talisman. What? Prince Liang Hong had not realized the seriousness of the problem until Jiang Cheng mentioned he couldnt draw the talisman; then he instantly became aware of it. What should we do then? Since falling ill, my fathers temperament has changed drastically, he even refuses to see his favorite Noble Consorts. As for me, his adopted son, he couldnt care less. Jiang Cheng analyzed, If hes ill, the Imperial Physician has to see him at some point, right? My mother had someone inquire, and the Imperial Physician also diagnoses from a distance, through a barrier. Jiang Chengs brows deepened upon hearing this. The Emperor of Liangs actions were quite strange. Not even wanting to see a doctor when ill, he seemed to prioritize privacy over treatment. There could be many reasons the emperor didnt want to see anyone, and Jiang Cheng couldnt be sure which it was. He decided to investigate in person. Your Highness, if the emperor cant be seen, can I still enter the Imperial Pce? Thats simple. The next day, Jiang Cheng and Prince Liang Hong were walking in the pce of Great Liang. The pce of Great Liang was grand and splendid, but it was just like the image from a historical drama on Earth, hardly special. That wasnt the fault of the architects of Liang Kingdom, its probably better to me their art department for beingzy. Prince Liang Hong, surprised at Jiang Chengs calm demeanor, asked, Junior Brother Jiang, have you been here before? No, its my first time entering. Strange, most people cant help but marvel the first time theye. Junior Brother Jiang acts like hes used to it. Jiang Cheng didnt continue the topic, he asked, Where does your father reside? Follow me. Half an hourter, the two arrived at the entrance of the Emperors sleeping quarters. At the very outskirts of the Emperors sleeping quarters, there was a circle of Imperial Army guards, while closer in, only two eunuchs stood at the doors. The Imperial Army naturally couldnt stop Prince Liang Hong, but at the entrance to the sleeping quarters, the two eunuchs unanimously blocked Jiang Cheng and Prince Liang Hong. Greetings, Prince Chu, said the two eunuchs. Eunuch Liu, Eunuch Zhang. And who is this? This is my junior from Lotus University, Jiang Cheng, Mr. Jiang. Eunuch Liu said with a smile, Mr. Jiang is so young and talented, truly fortunate. Jiang Cheng gave a polite nod, then heard Liang Hong ask, May I inquire if its convenient to see my father today, Eunuchs? Eunuch Liu replied almost in a rehearsed fashion, His Majesty is unwell and requires tranquility. Its really inconvenient. Liang Hong led Jiang Cheng away from the sleeping quarters, saying, You see, what did I tell you? They wont let us in. Jiang Cheng mused, Would it be impossible to force our way in? Those two eunuchs have at least Foundation Establishment cultivation levels. Inside, there must be trusted followers of my father. Forcing our way in definitely wont work. Jiang Cheng, pulling Liang Hong back to the entrance of the sleeping quarters, said, Eunuchs, would it be okay if His Highness and I just walked around here, without entering? Eunuch Liu replied with a smile, Since you are a friend of Prince Chu, its naturally no problem. Eunuch Zhang, please lead His Highness and the esteemed guest to stroll around. Liang Hong didnt know what Jiang Cheng was nning. But since he was the one chosen by the Void Venerable, every action he took must have had a deeper meaning. Inside the sleeping quarters, three aged eunuchs casually yed cards, bored. As for the Divinity Transformation elder Liang Heng, his whereabouts were unknown. Just let them wander like that? Blind opposition might backfire. Everyone here is aware of the Princes power level. Let him create amotion, he cant really stir up any trouble. But isnt there a new cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Stage with him? What trouble can someone at the Qi Cultivation Stage cause? He is not a matter of concern. Chapter 235 - 213: Stay Away from Jiang Cheng Chapter 235: Chapter 213: Stay Away from Jiang Cheng Outside the Emperors sleeping quarters, Mr. Jiang Cheng, Prince Liang Hong, and Eunuch Zhang walked together. Mr. Jiang Cheng walked in the front, Prince Liang Hong was slightly behind Jiang Cheng, and Eunuch Zhang trailed at the back. The purpose of having Eunuch Zhang from the Sleeping Pce Faction apany them was obviousto keep an eye on Liang Hong and Jiang Cheng and prevent them from causing any trouble. With Eunuch Zhangs Foundation Establishment cultivation level, he was sufficiently equipped to deal with both Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong, who were in the Qi Cultivation Stage. However, as they walked on, even Eunuch Zhang himself began to doubt whether he should be wary of Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong. For Mr. Jiang Cheng, who was visiting the imperial pce for the first time, behavedpletely normally throughout the journey. He strolled around the vicinity of the sleeping quarters with his hands behind his back as if sightseeing. Prince Liang Hong, meanwhile, seemed quite interested in ying the role of a tour guide. One moment he was exining the purpose of a certain hall, the next he was recounting the history behind a particr tree, talking excitedly with spittle flying. With its considerable size, the tour around the Emperors sleeping quarters was leisurely for the trio, but eventually, even leisurely walkse to an end. At the entrance to the sleeping quarters, Eunuch Liu, who had been left in charge, said with augh, Prince Chu, Mr. Jiang, have you seen everything you wanted to see? Mr. Jiang Cheng replied, Hmm, Ive taken a full stroll around. Eunuch Liu continued with augh, Haha, if youre tired of it here, Eunuch Zhang can take you elsewhere to look around, its no trouble. No need, said Mr. Jiang Cheng. Eunuch Liu felt a surge of relief, pondering that the troublemakers were finally about to leave. They could finally rx their taut nerves. Yet Mr. Jiang Cheng casually mentioned, Im not tired of it yet. Ill go for another round. Eunuch Lius smile stiffened on his face. He had only meant to be polite, but Jiang Cheng had taken him entirely at his word. Seeing Mr. Jiang Cheng set off again, Eunuch Liu quickly gave Eunuch Zhang a meaningful look, signaling him to follow closely in case Liang Hong and Jiang Cheng did anything drastic, such as breaking a window to force entry or the like. Eunuch Zhang inwardly groaned. He was hoping Jiang Cheng would just leave and spare them all this trouble. On their second circuit, Liang Hong remained much more silent due to his earlier exnations, but this time, Mr. Jiang Cheng didnt walk with hands behind his back; instead, he touched the walls and wooden windows of the Emperors sleeping quarters, asionally tapping and knocking as if testing the hardness of the walls. Mr. Jiang, you mustnt knock. His Majesty is still sleeping inside, said Eunuch Zhang hastily, trying to stop Jiang Cheng. Seizing the chance, Mr. Jiang Cheng asked, Eunuch Zhang, you still know what the Emperor is doing, dont you? Eunuch Zhang replied with a forced smile, I was just saying; hes ill, after all, and certainly needs plenty of bed rest. Does the Emperor usually abstain from certain foods? How would I know? Im just an old thing that guards His Majestys door, replied Eunuch Zhang. Other than us, does anyone else frequentlye here? Oh, Mr. Jiang, I really have no idea about thatmy mind is not what it used to be with age. Upon seeing this, Prince Liang Hongmunicated telepathically to Mr. Jiang, Dont ask anymore. The eunuchs who manage to survive in the pce all have a knack for staying out of trouble. You wont get any information from them about the pce; better to inquire with my mother. After silentlypleting another round, Mr. Jiang Cheng returned to the entrance of the sleeping quarters once more. Eunuch Liu said with a smile, Mr. Jiang, youve spent quite some time on this round; you must have examined every nook and cranny by now, right? Eunuch Liu meant to suggest that Mr. Jiang Cheng stop wandering. But Mr. Jiang Cheng followed Eunuch Lius lead, saying, I hadnt really noticed the seams in the wall; surely the Emperors sleeping chambers shouldnt have any gaps. Ill go look again ande back to tell you if I find any. Eunuch Liu had seen his fair share of stubborn people, but none quite like Jiang Cheng! Hed already told you that you wont see the Emperor of Liang! Even the Grand Secretary cant get an audience if hees in person! Youre just a friend hanging around Prince Chus periphery; cant you be a bit more self-aware? Eunuch Liu frowned and gestured to Eunuch Zhang once again. Eunuch Zhang had no choice but to follow Mr. Jiang Cheng again. This time, Mr. Jiang Chengpleted the tour quickly. He then expressed his thanks to Eunuch Liu with a smile on his face. Thank you for your care, Mr. Jiang Cheng has learned a lot from this visit, my leave then, he said. You take care, I have official duties to attend to, so I wont see you out, Eunuch Liu replied. After Mr. Jiang Cheng left, Eunuch Zhang immediately asked with concern, Eunuch Liu, he said has learned a lot from this visit; it wont cause trouble, will it? Eunuch Lius face showed contempt, What trouble could there be? The Empress, the Noble Consort, the Grand Secretarythey cant even get an audience when theye. Why worry? We just have to stand our post. If the sky falls, we have our ancestral master to support it. At the mention of their ancestral master, Eunuch Zhangs wrinkled face showed a confident look. Yes. They had the Divinity Transformation Realm ancestral master. That was the mighty, invincible Divinity Transformation Realm. With power to prate heaven and earth! ying Nascent Souls like ughtering dogs! Cutting down Core Formation Cultivators like killing chickens! As long as they were within the Liang Kingdom, what was there that couldnt be solved by Divinity Transformation? Mr. Jiang Cheng and Prince Liang Hong left the range of the sleeping pce. With an excited expression, Prince Liang Hong said, Jiang, you mentioned has learned a lot; could it be that youve found a way to enter the sleeping pce, to see my father? Mr. Jiang Cheng shook his head, No, the surroundings of the sleeping pce are very open, and the materials used to build the pce have been treated to block Divine Sense. Unless you enter through the main door, or someone inside coborates from within, theres no way to get in. Liang Hong sighed disappointedly, s, dont be disheartened. Ive heard from my mother that even the Empress cant manage to see my father. Its perfectly normal for us not to be able to with our capabilities. Ah? Im not disheartened at all. Then have you figured out a way with your talismans? I dont have a method yet; I need to understand your fathers illness before I can create a talisman. But you cant get in, how do you n to understand? Mr. Jiang Cheng replied, Indeed, I cant get in, but your father cane out to meet me willingly. What? Prince Liang Hong felt like he must have misheard. Chapter 236: 213: Stay Away from Jiang Cheng_2 Chapter 236: Chapter 213: Stay Away from Jiang Cheng_2 His father took the initiative to see Jiang Cheng? The empress doesnt hold such influence, could it be that Jiang Cheng is actually the Grand Empress Dowager? You have an idea? Liang Hong asked anxiously. Still thinking, I need to find a reason your father cannot refuse. My father doesnt care about anything, you know. He neithercks women nor money, and hes the second most powerful man in the whole Liang Kingdom. Right now, hes only concerned about living a bit longer as his lifespan ising to an end. Jiang Cheng pondered, Continue. Continue what? About the Emperor of Liang. Hmm thats all I know. Just go to the Jinyu Pceter and ask my mother directly, said Liang Hong. It was nearing noon, and leaving the imperial pce was going to be quite the effort, so Liang Hong suggested that Jiang Cheng visit the harem, to mooch a meal in his mother, Consort Jins pce. Jiang Cheng naturally had no objections.
He needed to understand the Emperor of Liang, and the best way to do that was to meet his concubines. Liang Hong was close to thirty years of age, and his birth mother, Consort Jin, was probably not young, but she looked very youthful. Standing together with Liang Hong, she seemed more like his older sister. Mother, this is Jiang Cheng, my junior from Lotus University. He wants to ask you some things about father emperor, tell him everything you can, Liang Hong said. Consort Jin looked Jiang Cheng up and down, This pce does not receive favor, I probably cant help you. Liang Hong became anxious, Mother, this is the helper designated by the Void Venerable to assist me! What Venerable? Youve been deceived again. I havent, believe me! You are my son, this pce has confidence in you. Consort Jin, Jiang Cheng spoke up, I wish to meet his majesty. Consort Jin shook her head: Thats impossible. Mother, were not asking you to arrange it, Jiang Cheng just wants to inquire about fathers situation. After listening, whether its possible or not, we can discuss it then. Hmm. Jiang Cheng nodded. At this point in the conversation, Consort Jin finally gave in, What do you want to ask? I want to know, after the emperor fell seriously ill, has anyone seen him? No one, Consort Jin said decisively. Not a single person? Perhaps some have, but as far as I know, definitely no one from the harem. Why?
Consort Jin nced at Liang Hong and said: Women are jealous by nature, the strife in the harem is no less fierce than the swordy on the battlefield. If anybody has had a special audience with his majesty alone, the entire harem would be turned upside down. But nothing is stirring in any pce, so thats why Im certain no one from the harem has seen him. After listening, Jiang Cheng fell into thought. Seeing this, Liang Hong nudged Jiang Cheng, Got any ideas? Somewhat, Jiang Cheng admitted.
Liang Hong was overjoyed, thinking to himself that the Void Venerable was reliable after all! His mother had said he was deceived, how could that be possible? What idea!? It might not work, I need to verify it further, Jiang Cheng yed coy. What does that mean? To ask some others. Okay. Just as the two were about to visit other concubines, they were stopped by Consort Jin. Its rude to call on someone at noon. Have lunch first, rest a bit, then go in the afternoon. The afternoon. Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong set out once again. Since it was Jiang Chengs first visit to the harem, Liang Hong led the way no matter where they went. Although Jiang Cheng had seen his fair share of the world, only by walking through the harem could he truly understand the difficulty of being an emperor.
The entire harem was like a connected district of vis, one pce after another. The concubines of the harem were not only numerous but also ranked. The highest-ranking was naturally the empress, followed by the noble consorts, consorts, concubines, and various other ranks, much like the Cultivation Realms. A cultivators Cultivation Realm could be advanced individually. But the advancement of the harem beauties rank depended solely on the emperor. At this thought, Jiang Cheng suddenly felt that the emperor was somewhat simr to a strategist. After all, both were about ying the bnce game. Who shall we visit next? asked Liang Hong. Someone close by who is rtively favored, Jiang Cheng replied. Alright. Liang Hong agreed at once. Although he wasnt good at social interactions, Jiang Cheng had social anxiety. All he needed to do was to take Jiang Cheng to the right ce, and the rest could be left to Jiang Chengs maneuvering.
In the meeting room of Qinghe Xuanran University, Li Qingge sat in the main seat, with the rest of the cultivators mostly at the Core Formation and Foundation Establishment Cultivation Levels. This meeting wasnt Taixu Sects high-level strategic meeting. It was merely a routine meeting for the Princess Ascension n, led by Li Qingge. Du, Mei, and Zhong, synchronize the ns progress with everyone, Li Qingge instructed. The female cultivator surnamed Du said, Im responsible for mobilizing Prince Liang Wu. Weve sessfully nted the idea of a master in his mind. The day before yesterday, he met with Jiang Cheng, and because it involved the head of admissions at Lotus University, we didnt attempt to eavesdrop rashly. However, judging from their expressions, its highly likely that Jiang Cheng has already agreed to help him make talismans. The female cultivator surnamed Mei followed, Im in charge of influencing Prince Liang Hong. He is weak-willed and indecisive, so we created a Void Venerable to give him guidance, set his goals, and direct him to Jiang Cheng. Currently, theyve headed to the imperial pce, and theyre probably in the talisman production stage. The female cultivator surnamed Zhong concluded, Prince Liang Qing is staying at Capital University, which is under the influence of the Lin Sect. We do not act recklessly there. The n is to wait until Capital Universitys vacation, then, based on Prince Liang Qings personality, perform the necessary incitement. Li Qingge nodded and said, Zhong, take your time with this. We must not be hasty and give Lin Sect any material to use against us. If we raise their suspicions, well be in trouble. Understood. Ning, you continue to monitor Jiang Chengs movements. Dont keep too close a watch, just knowing roughly where he is and what hes doing will suffice, Li Qingge instructed. Chapter 237: 213: Stay Away from Jiang Cheng_3 Chapter 237: Chapter 213: Stay Away from Jiang Cheng_3 ` Mm. Mo, Qingxuan University has already started their holiday, but Liang Lus studies and cultivation cannot be neglected. She is the absolute core of our current n. Her future upper limit concerns the development of our branch for the next thousand years. I entrust this to you. Mo Ningdan possessed the cultivation level of thete Core Formation stage, and her capabilities were on par with the heads of major departments at Immortal Sect universities. Evenpared to Li Qingge, she was not inferior. But the Taixu Sect, aiming to nurture Princess Liang Lu, specially assigned Mo Ningdan as Liang Lus counselor, to facilitate her legitimate guidance for Liang Lu. This was a matter of great importance, and Mo Ningdan readily agreed without any hesitation. Good. With Liang Lus current abilities, she can advance to Foundation Establishment at any time. Li Qingge said, Foundation Establishment is not urgent. Now is the time for her to lie low and wait for the right moment. Once the obstacles ahead of her are cleared, it wont be toote for her to advance to Foundation Establishment. Mm. Mo Ningdan nodded.
Putting aside the sects mission, Mo Ningdan herself actually held Liang Lu in high esteem. Although Liang Lu was a princess, she had an unyielding determination that was rare to find. This spirit was precisely what modern cultivatorscked the most. On the other hand, if Liang Lucked talent or had a poor character, the Taixu Sect definitely would not haveid so much groundwork for her ascension to the throne. It was precisely because Liang Lu herself had great potentialFoundation Establishment was no obstacle, Core Formation was a solid base, and even Nascent Soul was not out of the questionthat Li Qingge and others were willing to risk the branchs fortune for the long-term development of the sect. Mo, a moment please. Li Qingge called out to Mo Ningdan after the meeting. Li. Mo, theres something I am not at liberty to discuss openly, so I must inform you privately. Please do not take offense. Please speak. Li Qingge took a deep breath and said, Mo, if possible, try to keep Liang Lu away from Jiang Cheng. Mo Ningdan looked puzzled: Why? Jiang Cheng should be considered one of our own, right? Hes certainly one of us, yes. But he is, to put it politely, quite popr among the female cultivators. I am afraid that if Liang Lu interacts too much with Jiang Cheng, it might jeopardize our ns. After hearing this, Mo Ningdans brows unwound, and she smiled. She had thought Li Qingge had something serious to convey. It turned out to be just a trivial matter of romance. Li, have you forgotten that during the new students assessment at Chaotic Heart Mountain, Liang Lu achieved the second ce, second only to Lin Yao! Li Qingge said, If it were Lin Yao interacting with Jiang Cheng, I indeed wouldnt worry. But Liang Lu is still somewhatcking in will and temperament. Li is worrying too much. Even if Liang Lu is ordinary in temperament, she should be able to discern what is more important between a throne and a man, shouldnt she? Li Qingge said sternly, Mo, you must not underestimate Jiang Cheng. He is not a typical male cultivator. If you take him lightly, it could result in a severe loss.
Seeing the presidents seriousness, Mo Ningdan was not in a position to make light of the matter anymore. Thank you for the advice. I will inform Liang Lu right away. Mm. Thank you for the trouble. Inside Qingxuan Universitys special activity room, a female cultivator sat cross-legged in cultivation, silently drawing in her breath.
The female cultivators cultivation level was at the ninth level of Qi training, and no amount of cultivation would bring about any further increase in her cultivation level. Yet she continued to practice tirelessly, not for the sake of cultivation, but to remember the pathways of energy flow, seeking a faster, more proficient way of channeling her energy. Huff. Slowly exhaling a turbid breath, the female cultivator opened her eyes. Even among the bevy of beauties at Qinghe Xuanran University, her appearance was outstanding. Apart from her peer Lin Yao, it was hard to find any rival. Liang Lu. Mo Ningdan appeared in the special activity room. Teacher. Seeing Mo Ningdan, Liang Lu promptly stood up and bowed respectfully. Mo Ningdan treated her as her own, never holding back any cultivation techniques, making her a truly respectable and good teacher. Qingxuan University is on holiday now, so pack up your things and go home. Ill inform you of the following cultivation content through amunication charm. Alright, then I shall take my leave first. Wait a moment. Mo Ningdan called out to Liang Lu, Jiang Cheng, do you know him?
Never heard of him. Mm. If you encounter him, make sure to keep your distance. Liang Lu was momentarily puzzled, but she did not ask for the reason and simply agreed. Yes. Chapter 238: 214: Someone Has to be the Emperor Chapter 238: Chapter 214: Someone Has to be the Emperor Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong arrived at the entrance of Miaoren Pce. Is anyone here? The maid of Miaoren Pce saw that it was Liang Hong, with surprise and confusion: Prince Chu? What brings you here today? Liang Hong chuckled: My friend here would like to see Consort Shu. Could you please announce our visit? The maid sized up Jiang Cheng, saw he was dressed inly but carried an umon air, and thought that he must not be an ordinarymoner, so she said, Gentlemen, please wait a moment, Ill be right back. Miaoren Pce was superior in both decor and size to Jinyu Pce. This suggested that the status of Consort Shu must be higher than that of Liang Hongs mother, Consort Jin. Prince Liang Chus mother? Jiang Cheng asked curiously, They say ones status is elevated by ones offspring. Prince Liang Chu is ignorant and unlearned, yet Miaoren Pce is so grand and luxurious. Does Consort Shu really enjoy such favor? Liang Hong exined, Thats not exactly the case. Consort Shu is the daughter of the Duke of the State. Her grandfather, father, and brothers all hold office in the court. With her familys strong connections, she naturally doesnt need to curry favor with others in the pce. I see.
Jiang Chengs face showed sudden realization. Liang Hong couldnt be bothered to ask Jiang Cheng anymore. Every time he shared a piece of knowledge, Jiang Cheng would have a moment of realization. The problem was, he was talking about basic knowledge, the kind even the pce maids knew, so what was there to realize all of a sudden? Why did Jiang Cheng seem a bit slow on the uptake? Was his previous method to see the Emperor of Liang really reliable? Prince Chu, the noble son, my mistress invites you in, said the maid who had earlier gone to announce them, returning to usher Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong inside the pce. On the way, Liang Hong whispered to Jiang Cheng, Jiang, Prince Liang Chu passed away just a few months ago, so Consort Shu might be in a poor mood. Be careful not to rub her the wrong way. Jiang Cheng replied, Dont worry, Prince, Im aware of that. Relieved, Liang Hong let out a sigh of relief. As long as Jiang Cheng didnt touch upon any sore subjects and didnt broach the topic of Prince Liang Chu unbidden, Consort Shu probably wouldnt send them away. The maid led the two men to a small pavilion in the garden of the pce, where they were served with fine tea and water. Before long, a beautiful woman in in clothes and a stern face approached. Perhaps because of Prince Liang Chus death, Consort Shus attire was unusually simple, making her look less like a noble consort of the pce and more like the style of the new ancient costume that Liu Qing wore. Liang Hong pays his respects to Consort Shu, said Liang Hong as he saw Consort Shu approaching, quickly pulling Jiang Cheng up to greet her. No need for formalities. What business do you have with me? said Consort Shu, expressionless as she sat across from the two, picking up her teacup and taking a slow sip. Its not me who wishes to speak with Your Highness, but my junior here, Jiang Cheng. He has a few questions he would like to ask you for answers, said Liang Hong. Speak. Jiang Cheng spoke in a serious tone, Id like to ask what do you think about Prince Qi murdering Prince Liang Chu?
Liang Hongs eyes widened, Didnt I just tell you not to bring this up? Consort Shu mmed her teacup onto the table, and the tea that flew out sshed all over Liang Hong. The reason Jiang Cheng didnt get sshed was that he had promptly taken a step back after speaking, cing Liang Hong in front of him. Consort Shu angrily said, It must be that whore who sent you to probe my intentions, right?
Liang Hong hastily waved his hands, No, no, thats not it Show the guests out! Without waiting for Liang Hong to start exining, Consort Shu red at Jiang Cheng and another person and left without looking back. At the entrance of Miaoren Pce, Liang Hong let out a sigh. Jiang Cheng, as a senior, I sincerely advise you to learn how to read people and situations when youre outside, he said. Jiang Chen replied calmly, Thank you, senior, I did read the situation just now. Liang Hong: ? What do you mean? Jiang Cheng answered indirectly, The whore Consort Shu mentioned, thats the birth mother of Prince Qi, the Empress, right? Liang Hong was shocked, Shh! Keep it down! If we were characters in a teahouse story, talking like this, youd definitely not live for two days. Jiang Cheng nced at the sky and said, If we move quickly, we should be able to see your father within two days. Really? Liang Hong grabbed Jiang Chengs arm, full of suspicion.
How could what concubines and aplished officials couldnt do seem so simple in Jiang Chengs mouth? Hmm. Next one. Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong, using Consort Jins Jinyu Pce as the center, visited each of the concubines around Jinyu Pce one by one. Jiang Chengs questions were often very efficient, capable of turning the corners of the concubines mouths downwards with just a sentence or two. They never had to worry about dragging on, dallying, or not being able to extricate themselves from conversations. This is Wenrui Pce, Consort Lis pce, and Consort Li is Princess Liang Lus birth mother, Liang Hong offered a brief background. Jiang Cheng observed Wenrui Pce and saw that the pce was as grand and exquisite as Consort Shus Miaoren Pce, he then asked, Does Consort Lis family also hold great power? Not really. Consort Li came from a humble background but was exceptionally beautiful and favored. This pce is a reward from my father, Liang Hong exined. With a sense of relief, Liang Hong continued, Jiang, you dont understand. Liang Lu has the best cultivation talent among all our siblings. Her mother is favored, almost getting whatever she asks from father. If it werent for her gender, the title of Crown Prince would likely be in Liang Lus pocket. What about Princess Liang Pei? Jiang Cheng asked. The third sister? Theres nothing surprising about her. Why do you ask about her? Do you think Princess Liang Pei could ascend to the throne? Impossible. Even if there werent any of us princes, theres still Liang Lu. And if Liang Lu isnt avable, theres still our eldest sister. Its never going to be her turn.
Jiang Cheng just nodded, it was unclear whether he agreed or was simply acknowledging the statement. Princess Liang Pei was known as Great Liangs Duan Yu; if Jiang Cheng hadnt seen the plot, he wouldnt have believed that Princess Liang Pei could ascend the throne and be Emperor. But reality is often that absurd. Chapter 239: 214: Someone Has to be the Emperor_2 Chapter 239: Chapter 214: Someone Has to be the Emperor_2 ` Some people fight tooth and nail, while others wake up one day adorned in an imperial robe, as if by destinys will. Soon, a pce maid from Wenrui Pce received Consort Lis order to invite Jiang Cheng and hispanion inside. Consort Li was indeed a rare beauty, fair-skinned and lovely, with a svelte figure. Her only w seemed to be ack of spirit, as she appeared unwell andnguid. Please, take a seat. What would you like to ask? Consort Li greeted the two juniors. Jiang Cheng went straight for the jugr, Noble Consort, when was thest time you shared a bed with His Majesty? Liang Hongs forehead vein throbbed violently, and he crazily jabbed Jiang Chengs arm with his elbow, signaling him to stop talking, stop talking. Was that a question one could ask? Consort Lis eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she exchanged a look with her personal maid. Why do you ask that? Consort Li said. Liang Hong tugged at Jiang Chengs sleeve, hinting that he should be more cautious.
But as if he didnt notice, Jiang Cheng bluntly stated, I have seen records from the Hehuan Sect, and it seems that about a year ago, the Emperor of Liang became keen on practicing the Joyous Union Skill. Cough cough cough. Consort Li coughed for a while and waved her hands to dismiss the attendants. She looked at Jiang Cheng, About a year and a half ago, my health started to deteriorate. Afterwards, His Majesty, out of pity, allowed me to rest and from then on, we have not shared a bed. Jiang Cheng nodded, Thats close to what I suspected. Consort Li gave a tired smile, Such spection about the concubines, if spread outside, is a capital offense. Liang Hong quickly tried to clear himself, This matter has nothing to do with me. I was merely joking. His Majesty is now not seeing anyone, alive or dead, the harem is but a mere disy piece. Consort, do you wish to see His Majesty? Jiang Cheng asked again. No. Consort Lis answer was crisp, as if shecked any emotional attachment to the Emperor of Liang. Jiang Cheng was not surprised at this; through his inquiries, he found that most of the concubines in the harem had little affection for the Emperor of Liang. The attitude of many was almost like punching in for a job. However, not liking the Emperor did not mean the concubines did notpete and struggle with one another. The most intense struggle in the harem at present was between the mother of Prince Liang Chu, Consort Shu, and the mother of Prince Qi, the Empress. With Prince Liang Chu dead, Consort Shu would not let things rest. But Prince Qi was alive, and the Empress would certainly use her connections to alleviate some of his burdens. Back and forth, the conflict between the Empress and Consort Shu was almost beyond resolution. The harem seemed stable only because the arbitrator, the Emperor of Liang, made no appearance; had he done so, Consort Shu and the Empress might have stopped exerting themselves altogether. Some concubines spected that the reason the Emperor did not show himself was precisely because he did not wish to deal with the Empress and Consort Shu.
But after Jiang Chengs analysis, this spection did not hold up. Since the era of nt Autonomy Talismans, the Emperor had been out of sight. Hisck of appearance had nothing at all to do with the demise of Prince Liang Chu due to the Willpower Empowerment Talisman; one could say there was no rtion whatsoever. Liang Hong? A pleasant voice rang out from behind Jiang Cheng.
Consort Lis face lit up with joy, and Liang Hong turned around abruptly. Liang Lu? Luer! Why have you returned? Liang Lu strode over to Consort Li with a cold expression. Im on winter break. Liang Lu was pulled into a warm embrace by Consort Li, her guard still apparent on her face. Liang Hong, who told you toe see my mother? No one, I was just Liang Lus expression turned sour, Liar. You blink too much when telling lies, havent you broken that bad habit yet? Facing Liang Lu, all Liang Hong could do was offer an awkward smile. Although Liang Lu was his sister, he was no match for hermanding presence. It was Consort Li who stepped in to speak for Liang Hong, Liang Hong just came to see me. Liang Lu didnt believe it, hitting the nail on the head, Mother, you know what kind of person Liang Hong is. If he had no business, he wouldnt even help ants move house, let alone inquire about your wellbeing. If he came to see you today, its either because he was directed by someone, or he needs you to do something for him.
Cough cough. With an awkward cough, Liang Hong could only admit to himself that Liang Lu was right, without Jiang Cheng, he would never visit Consort Li. It was I who asked the Third Prince toe. Jiang Cheng said. Liang Lus gaze settled on Jiang Cheng. This was a young man with a peaceful and confident demeanor, handsome and sunny in appearance. Based solely on looks, he was quite likable and disarming. However, Liang Lu was never one to judge by appearances. Having lived in the harem with her mother for years, Liang Lu trusted no one but her own cultivation level and strength! Getting admitted to Qingxuan University and joining Taixu Sect was the fastest and most straightforward path for female cultivators of Liang Kingdom to pursue strength. At Qingxuan, Liang Lu respected only one person, Lin Yao because Lin Yao was the only one who had ever defeated her in the Chaotic Heart Mountain assessment. Later, once the semester officially started, Liang Lu proactively sought out Lin Yao and privately challenged her many times. Not your average female cultivator looking for simple social outings with Lin Yao, she sought topete and spar. Liang Lu and Lin Yao had fought many times.
At least at the same level of cultivation, she had never won once. Though not reconciled to this, Liang Lu genuinely respected Lin Yao, whose determination to win was far beyond her own. As for the young man seated next to Liang Hong, named Jiang Cheng, he simply couldnt arouse in her the slightest bit of interest, not even a flicker. Liang Lus standards for a mate were straightforward. She made no demands regarding appearance, background, family wealth, or money. The person must be kind-hearted, good-natured,w-abiding, and have the right set of morals. Most importantly, they must be powerful. Preferably stronger than Lin Yao, able topletely best her through repeated battles. Liang Lu wouldnt take an interest in a weak male cultivator. And Jiang Cheng, with his clean and polite demeanor, a Level Seven Qi Cultivator, was exactly that kind of man. ` Chapter 240 - 214: Someone Has to be the Emperor_3 Chapter 240: Chapter 214: Someone Has to be the Emperor_3 Although she admitted Jiang Cheng was quite handsome, that was all there was to it. What do you want with my mother? Liang Lus tone toward Jiang Cheng was clearly more amiable. She didnt know Jiang Cheng, so she maintained basic courtesy. As for Liang Hong, he wasnt worthy at all. Princess, its like this. His Majesty is bedridden, and the Third Prince asked me to draw a talisman to treat him. However, I dont understand His Majestys condition and cant see him for now, so I can only try to learn about the Emperor of Liang indirectly through your mother, exined Jiang Cheng with reasoned logic. Liang Lu looked at Consort Li, who nodded. Liang Lu said, I advise you not to waste your effort. You wont be able to cure him. Your Highness, why would you say that? Liang Lu sneered, That old man, as long as he could move, wasnt he indulging in endless revelry every night? Now hes been well-behaved for several months, probably because his time is running out, truly done for. Just now, when Jiang Cheng spoke out of turn, Liang Hong still dared to offer a word of counsel. Now that Liang Lu directly called him that old man, Liang Hong didnt dare to advise. Jiang Cheng scratched his head, feeling that the children of the Emperor of Liang were each more filial than thest. However, with the Emperor of Liang being responsible for Consort Lis lingering illness, Liang Lus hatred for him was understandable. Jiang Cheng had no interest in meddling with someone elses family affairs; he just wanted to see the Emperor of Liang, then draw the talismans for exorcism to get the reward he was due. Jiang Cheng stood up, cupped his fists toward Liang Lu, and said, Thank you, Princess, Noble Consort, we will ask elsewhere. Liang Hong also cupped his fists in respect. However, Liang Lu only returned the gesture to Jiang Cheng, as a polite response to his civility. Watching Jiang Chengs departing figure, Consort Li sighed, Luer, your mother often thinks, if you were like Jiang Cheng, a man, perhaps our lives, mother and daughter, would be much easier. Liang Lu was startled and asked, Mother, who did you say he is? Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng? The same Jiang Cheng my teacher warned me to stay away from? Liang Lu recalled Jiang Chengs appearance in her mind, thinking, He doesnt seem special, just an ordinary male cultivator, not even blessed with good talent for cultivation. Why did my teacher tell me to stay away from him? Luer, how long will you stay this time when youe home? Consort Li asked. Liang Lu replied, I probably wont go back to school in the next few days. Thats wonderful, Ill have Qiao make more of your favorite dishes. Alright. Liang Lu kept Consort Lipany, talking. As for Jiang Cheng, she left him out of her mind. After leaving Consort Lis pce, Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong went straight to the residence of the Empress. Her Majesty the Empress has been restless recently and is not seeing guests for now, said a pce maid. Because of Prince Qis affair? Jiang Cheng looked at Liang Hong. Liang Hong replied in a low voice, Most likely. Eh? Where are you going? To find Consort Shu. Didnt we visit Miaoren Pce already? Jiang Cheng revealed a smile and said, I have a strategy to ask your father toe out of seclusion, but I still need an assistant. Liang Hong was suddenly startled, What exactly do you want to do? The following day, Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong visited the Emperors sleeping chamber again. The eunuchs on duty were still Eunuch Liu and Eunuch Zhang from yesterday. Upon seeing Jiang Cheng, both eunuchs felt a headacheing on. Others had hearts like finely tuned instruments, quick to grasp and understand with just a hint. Jiang Cheng seemed to have a heart sealed with cement, unclear whether he was sincere or just stubbornly forceful. Prince Chu, Mr. Jiang, are you visiting this ce for a walk again today? Eunuch Liu asked with a seemingly respectful tone,ced with a note of sarcasm. Liang Hong could pick up on Eunuch Lius implications, but he was helpless. Despite his status, he had no power or influence, unable to evenmand the eunuchs in the pce. To have Jiang Chenge out of seclusion, he had to rely on coteral from the Prince Mansion. Jiang Cheng remainedposed, saying, Leiang Hong and I are not here for a stroll but to ask His Majesty to intervene. Eunuch Liu smiled, Im afraid that wont be possible, Mr. Jiang. You should please go back. Jiang Cheng cleared his throat and spoke out loud, The death of Prince Liang Chu has wide implications. Im asking His Majesty to preside over justice. Upon hearing this, Eunuch Liu immediately intervened, Mr. Jiang, His Majesty needs rest, and one mustnt make noise at the entrance of the sleeping chamber! If you insist on causing a disturbance, then I can only call on the Imperial Army to escort you to a side chamber to calm down. Although Liang Hong knew about Jiang Chengs n, the mention of the Imperial Army still made him visibly tense. Yet, Jiang Cheng remained unfazed, calmly pulling out a scroll of silk in the presence of the two eunuchs and Liang Hong. The appearance of this scroll made Eunuch Liu and Eunuch Zhangs eyes widen like eggs! The silk in Jiang Chengs hands, why did it look so simr to the silk used for imperial edicts? Jiang Cheng had Liang Hong hold the scroll open for him and muttered to himself, Alright, I understand your meaning. I will draft the imperial edict right now. Chapter 241 - 215: What’s the situation with this junior? Chapter 241: Chapter 215: Whats the situation with this junior? I shall draft the imperial decree right away. Having said this, Jiang Cheng picked up his brush and began to write on the silk paper. Jiang Cheng, who was facing the silk paper, had a focused expression and a solemn demeanor; he didnt seem to be joking at all. Eunuchs Liu and Zhang were somewhat taken aback. As the guardians of the sleeping quarters, the two of them were aware of the insider details of the Emperors refusal to see visitors. The mysterious disappearance of the Emperor of Liang, the Divinity Transformation Ancestor had emerged to stabilize the situation. Logically, with the Emperor gone, it would have been impossible for him to send a Sound Transmission Talisman to let Jiang Cheng draft the imperial decree. But the problem alsoy here. Because Liu and Zhang, who had spent years in the pce, were experts at interpreting peoples expressions and words, and Jiang Chengs utterly serious face didnt seem fake at all. At the very least, Liu and Zhang couldnt spot any ws in performance on Jiang Chengs face. Moreover, not having high enough ranks, they knew the Emperor was absent but couldnt contact the Divinity Transformation Ancestor, unaware of the Ancestors thoughts and intentions. Whatever moves the Ancestor made, he would usually not inform the two of them. Therefore, there was indeed a possibility that Jiang Chengs drafting of the imperial decree was authentic. Eunuch Zhang urgently sent a sound transmission: Eunuch Liu, what should we do? Could Jiang Cheng have truly received a message from the Ancestor? Eunuch Liu replied calmly, Dont panic. Let me send a sound transmission to inquire with the stewards inside. There were three Eunuch Stewards inside the sleeping quarters, in charge of Rites, Judicial issues, and Logistics, each with Core Formation cultivation-level. After Eunuch Liu sent the sound transmission, the three who were originally ying cards fellpletely silent. The Judicial Steward said, Have you heard anything from the Ancestor regarding the imperial decree? Both shook their heads. The Rites Steward swept his Divine Sense out and immediately saw Jiang Cheng writing the imperial decree. However, because spying on the imperial decree was punishable by death, the content of the decree was not within the realm of investigation of the Rites Stewards Divine Sense. That Jiangd is indeed writing, and by his expression, it doesnt seem false. The Logistics Steward said, Its still best to inquire with the Ancestor about this matter. But the Ancestor instructed us not to disturb him with trivial matters. An imperial decree is no trivial matter. If there is a mistake, we cant bear the responsibility. The Judicial Steward, feeling somewhat troubled, said, Whats the deal with Jiang Cheng? A mere Qi Practitioner, and hes making things so difficult for us? Forget it, the matter of the imperial decree is too important. Even if we get scolded, we must rify this. He took out a Golden Talisman, muttered a few words, and as the Talisman burned, it turned into a streak of light and disappeared without a trace. The royal mausoleum of Liang Kingdom. The Divinity Transformation Ancestor, Liang Heng, was staring distantly at the construction site. After the tree disaster, the court immediately began the reconstruction of the royal mausoleum. The mausoleum was crucial to the fate of the Liang Kingdom and could not be taken lightly. However, reconstructing the mausoleum was not a task that could bepleted overnight. Although work progressed swiftly, the actual construction phase had only started recently. A Sound Transmission Talisman flew towards Liang Heng. After listening, he quickly furrowed his brow. What are these juniors thinking? With the Emperor missing and the Cab eyeing greedily, now is the time when the imperial family most needs a peaceful transition. How could I possibly issue an imperial decree personally and sabotage my own position? The more Liang Heng thought about it, the angrier he became: These younger generations are truly getting worse! If there was a deserving Prince amongst my children, would I, an old man, have dragged on with this session matter? Liang Heng took out a Sound Transmission Talisman, said a few words, and let it fly off. In the Emperors sleeping quarters, the three Eunuch Stewards waited restlessly for Liang Hengs message. Liang Heng didnt disappoint them; the reply came flying back extremely quickly. The Judicial Steward hurriedly activated the Talisman so everyone could hear what Liang Heng had to say. A bunch of ipetents! Cant you even understand this!? Liang Hengs voice was deafening, and the three stewards almost wet themselves in fear. After the shock, the three still didnt understand what Liang Heng meant. So did the Ancestor actually send an imperial decree or not? That, I dont know Should we ask again? You going to ask? Im not asking. So you will? Cough, Im not convenient at the moment. The three of them looked at each other; none dared to be the lead bird. Just then, Eunuch Liu sent another sound transmission: Steward, what do we do about Jiang Cheng writing the imperial decree? Do we interfere or not? After some thought, the Judicial Steward decided to convey Liang Hengs words, unaltered, to Eunuch Liu. That way, if something went wrong, he could at least bear less me. A bunch of ipetents! Cant you even understand this!? Outside the sleeping quarters, Eunuch Liu and Eunuch Zhang were utterly dumbfounded. Eunuch Zhang: Eunuch Liu, what does the Steward mean by that? Eunuch Liu thought to himself, how would I know? But Jiang Chengs imperial decree was nearlyplete, and Eunuch Liu had to make a decision whether he felt ready or not. Eunuch Liu decided to test Jiang Cheng onest time to see whether he was really authorized to draft the decree or if it was a counterfeit. Mr. Jiang, I have something to say, but Im not sure if its appropriate to speak it. Speak. Jiang Cheng stopped writing. Eunuch Liu cautiously said, When you write, make sure not to write any incorrect characters. If someone misunderstands the meaning of the imperial decree because of an error, you could face the death penalty for Issuing a false decree. Jiang Cheng sped his hands together and smiled, Thank you for your kind advice, Eunuch Liu. I will make sure there are no mistakes. Seeing Jiang Cheng knew that Issuing a false decree was punishable by death and yet remained calm and supremely confident, Eunuch Liu made up his mind. Jiang Cheng wouldnt be writing recklessly. Who would knowinglymit a capital offense by issuing a false decree? Wasnt that simply courting death? Jiang Cheng stopped writing and said, Third Prince, the decree is for Consort Shu. Lets proceed to deliver the decree. Liang Hong had no objections; his role was to be Jiang Chengs guide in the pce, and all he had to do was his job well. Anything beyond that was beyond his cognitive capacity. Inner court, Wenrui Pce. Liang Lu held a thin sword, performing a dance of sword flowers reminiscent of lotus blossoms in full summer bloom, endless like skies reaching lily pads. Her sword y,bined with her continuously changing footwork, gave her the grace and lightness of a swift in flight. Chapter 242: 215: What’s the situation with this junior?_2 Chapter 242: Chapter 215: Whats the situation with this junior?_2 ` Liang Lu was the epitome of a traditional cultivator, one who mainly pursued the mastery of cultivation techniques and spells, striving forprehensive development and personal strength. As for talismans, magical treasures, and formations, she sought not specialization but a basic understanding. Thebination she currently used was the Bishui Sword Technique mixed with the Shadow Step Skill. It belonged to the Taixu Sects Qi Cultivation Stage signaturebination of cultivation techniques. It provided both offense and defense, allowing for flexible engagement and disengagement. At the same time, it was aesthetically pleasing, with flowing movements that were a delight to the eye. Not far from where Liang Lu was practicing martial arts, Consort Li watched her daughter with contentment. Anyone with a bit of knowledge could see that Liang Lus moves, cultivation techniques, and the various spells interwoven within them were executed with great proficiency. Such a level of skill could only be achieved through extensive and arduous practice. Havingpleted a full set of movements, Liang Lu took the towel offered by a maid to wipe her sweat. Just then, a pce maid rushed over and whispered a few words to Consort Li, who then abruptly rose to her feet.
Whats the matter, Mother? Consort Li said, Something has happened in the pce. What? Something worthy of such fuss? After several months, His Majesty has issued a decree again. This time its for Consort Shu. As soon as Consort Shu received the imperial edict, she immediately went to settle ounts with the Empress. Liang Lu had heard a little about the issues concerning Prince Qi and Prince Liang Chu. Hearing that Consort Shu and the Empress were confronting each other, she was not surprised. In her impression, her mother, Consort Li, was not one for gossip. The dispute between Consort Shu and the Empress was none of their business, yet someone hade to inform them explicitly. The only possibility was that someone wanted to draw them into their faction. Does Consort Shu want you to support her? Hmm. Luer, should I go? Liang Lu shook her head and said, Dont go. Consort Shu has the support of her father and brothers; we do not. Dont go. Consort Li nodded and said, Thats what I was thinking, but theres one thing I dont understand, Luer. Do you think theres a particr reason why His Majesty had the Third Prince deliver the decree? Liang Hong? Liang Lu would never believe that Liang Hong had the ability to trouble Emperor of Liang to send a decree on his behalf. Jiang Chengs image reced that of Liang Hong, unconsciously appearing in her mind. Liang Hong might not be capable, but Jiang Cheng could well be a different story. What is he nning to do? The more Liang Lu pondered, the more she heard Mo Ningdans words ringing in her ears, If you encounter him, be sure to keep your distance. Why did my teacher advise me to stay away from Jiang Cheng? Could it be that she already knew about Jiang Chengs extraordinary nature?
Had it been only Consort Shu and the Empress fighting, Liang Lu wouldnt have been the slightest bit interested. But with Jiang Cheng involved, especially as a catalyst, her curiosity was piqued. Especially the cryptic words from Mo Ningdan weighed heavily on her curiosity. One should know that her teacher, Mo Ningdan, was a powerful cultivator in thete Core Formation stage. She would usually only mention Lin Yao to encourage her in her cultivation. However, Jiang Cheng was special enough to warrant individual emphasis from Mo Ningdan.
I want to go have a look. Liang Lu thought to herself. But she always remembered Mo Ningdans words, suppressing that curiosity within her heart. Things unrted to cultivation should be avoided, Liang Lu reminded herself in silence. Lin Yao had also reached the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation. If I dont work hard, Ill keep getting beaten by Lin Yao. Thinking of Lin Yao, Liang Lu immediately focused and returned to her training. As for Consort Shu, the Empress, and Jiang Cheng, they were just passersby on her path of cultivation, irrelevant to her journey. Although Consort Shu had the backing of her family within the Inner Pce, her poprity was actually quite average C this was evident from the fact that Consort Li was unwilling to assist her. However, Consort Shu had one unique advantage at this timeshe had an imperial edict! It was the only edict issued by the Emperor of Liang since he had closed his doors months ago!
Many cunning concubines sensed the shift and directly sided with Consort Shu, joining her in denouncing the Empress. The Empress, as the head of the six pces, naturally had her own faction too. But they all knew well that, no matter how strong the Empress was, she had to act ording to the Emperor of Liangs wishes. And with the Emperor having issued a decree, he clearly stood on the side of Consort Shu! The Consort Shu factions momentum was vast, while the Empresss faction was in a state of unease. Fuzi, go quickly to the sleeping chamber and find out what exactly the imperial edict entails! the Empress instructed. The eunuch named Fuzi immediatelyplied and hurried all the way to the door of the sleeping chamber. Your Excellencies, is His Majesty in good health? Eunuch Liu said, His Majesty enjoys longevity as enduring as the southern mountains, but he sees no outsiders. Fuzi, you should go back. Fuzi said with a smile, Eunuch Liu, you are a favorite close to the Emperor. I have a matter I would like to ask about. Eunuch Liu, with unyielding integrity, said, I dare not say such things. I am but a loyal dog in His Majestys presence. Fuzi slipped a jade hairpin into Eunuch Lius hand. Eunuch Liu originally didnt want to take it, but the hairpin was clearly meant for a woman, and considering Fuzis master was the Empress, it was clear who was inquiring for information, and Eunuch Liu knew it well.
Speak your business. Under the broad daylight, at the Emperors door, theres no need to be so secretive. Ah, I wish to inquire about the imperial edict. Eunuch Lius demeanor became stern, Do you really want to know? Please enlighten me, Eunuch. Eunuch Lius emotions seemed genuine as he loudly reprimanded, What a bunch of ipetents! Cant you figure this out on your own!? Fuzi: ??? The situation in the Inner Pce was gradually spiraling out of control with the instigation of various factions. When logic fails to resolve issues, pulling hair can be a very effective method. And when even pulling hair proves ineffective, the cultivators would begin to cast spells. Although the cultivation levels andbat strength of thedies in the harem were generally not high, even the weakest amongst them were at the Foundation Establishment stage, and each had their own talismans and magical treasures, making their fighting power not to be underestimated. The Imperial Army arrived promptly to maintain order.
Chapter 243: 215: What’s the situation with this junior?_3 Chapter 243: Chapter 215: Whats the situation with this junior?_3 Women fighting was something the Imperial Army had seen before. But witnessing both sides of the harem readying their stances and fighting with spells was truly an unprecedented scene for the Imperial Army. Many of the Imperial Army soldiers Cultivation Levels werent even as high as some of the concubines, so rushing in recklessly would be akin to seeking death. The Great Commander of the Imperial Army, Pang Chi, was a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator; in terms of Cultivation Level, he could overpower all thedies of the harem. But in terms of status, he couldnt initiate an attack on the Emperors women. Pang Chi had no choice but to personally ask for instructions from Liang Heng. In the current Imperial Pce, only Liang Heng could make decisions. Upon receiving Pang Chis Sound Transmission Talisman, Liang Hengs mind couldnt quite catch up. When he had left in the morning, everything had been fine. How had the Imperial Pce descended into chaos in just half a day? Whats going on? Liang Hengs voice appeared in Pang Chis mind.
Pang Chi hurriedly exined, Consort Shu received Your Majestys imperial edict and called together her friends Wait a second. Whose imperial edict? Pang Chi quickly corrected himself, The Emperors. That grandson is no more, dont you know? Oh, then its Your Majestys imperial edict. Liang Heng rubbed his head, wondering if he had amnesia. My imperial edict? I dont recall ever writing one! Pang Chi said, Didnt you send a message to Mr. Jiang Cheng, asking him to write it on your behalf? Liang Heng remembered then. The Eunuch Steward had told him that a little Cultivator named Jiang Cheng imed to have heard a transmission and then wrote the imperial edict on his behalf. Hadnt he already said he hadnt sent a transmission and that the edict Jiang Cheng wrote was false? Could it be that the eunuchs didnt understand? Taken aback, Liang Heng grew more angry the more he thought about it. Hed been cultivating for so many years and had never been this angry. What on earth was going on with Jiang Cheng? To forge an imperial edict, to throw the harem into chaos, to be incredibly audaciousdid he no longer wish to live? Liang Heng appeared in the Emperors bedchambers, startling the three Eunuch Stewards. Summon Jiang Cheng! And then have Pang Chi bring the false imperial edict that Jiang Cheng wrote! The eunuchs immediately left to carry out the orders. When he heard that Jiang Cheng was summoned by the Emperor of Liang, Liang Hong couldnt help but curse out loud.
Brother, you are really something. You said you could see our father within two days, and indeed you managed to make it happen! Jiang Cheng waved his hand nonchntly, Its a small matter. Im off then. In the Emperors bedchamber, Jiang Cheng finally met the Emperor of Liang whom he had long wished to see. The Emperor of Liang was wearing his imperial robe and sat in front of a table, his expression and demeanor normal, not at all like someone who was sick and nearing his end.
The person present was Liang Heng masquerading as the Emperor of Liang. Liang Heng was willing to meet Jiang Cheng face to face not because he was kind-hearted, but because he wanted to make an example out of him. Jiang Cheng had forged an imperial edict and caused chaos in the harem. He must be strictly punished! Liang Heng pped the table, producing a dull thud, clearly audible in the empty chamber. Jiang Cheng, you presumed to know the imperial intent, transmitted a false imperial edict that led to Consort Shu and the Empress fighting fiercely, with a terrible influence. Do you admit your guilt? Jiang Cheng remainedposed, I am not guilty. Thats quite the im of innocence! Even if you havent read the Liang Lv, you should know that transmitting a false imperial edict is a capital offense! Jiang Cheng continued calmly, I did not transmit a false imperial edict. Liang Heng had no desire for further talk. With the human and material evidence at hand, and yet Jiang Cheng still dared to be obstinate? It seemed he wouldnt shed tears until he saw the coffin. Pang Chi, bring forth the imperial edict written by Jiang Cheng. Pang Chi presented it with both hands.
Liang Heng took the imperial edict and tossed it to the Judicial Steward. Read it! Read it out loud. Let this fool who doesnt know the immensity of heaven and earth have a good listen to what he has written! The Judicial Steward unfolded the imperial edict, prepared to read it aloud, but instead his mouth fell open in shock, rendered speechless. Well, read it! Why have you stopped? Liang Heng asked with surprise. The Judicial Steward replied with a trembling voice, Your Majesty, theres not a single word on this imperial edict. Liang Hengs mind went nk. What does it mean not a single word? Jiang Cheng was used of transmitting a false imperial edict, wasnt he? How could a false imperial edict bepletely nk? Could it be Jiang Cheng smiled, neither servile nor overbearing, polite and restrained, he said, Your Majestys discernment is clear. I, Jiang Cheng, have never written any imperial edict, so how could I possibly have transmitted a false one? Chapter 244: 216: What if We Get Divorced? Chapter 244: Chapter 216: What if We Get Divorced? Never written an imperial edict? Liang Heng looked towards the Judicial Steward who had brought him the news. The Judicial Steward looked at Eunuch Liu, who was in charge of guarding the sleeping quarters. With no one else to turn to, Eunuch Liu, with a hardened face, said, Mr. Jiang, I personally heard you say, I understand your meaning, I will draft the Imperial Decree for you. Thats right, Jiang Cheng did not deny having said this. Eunuch Lius heart rejoiced slightly, as he had never expected Jiang Cheng to admit it so readily. You see, you also admit to having written an unofficial edict, he said. Jiang Cheng calmly asked, May I dare ask Your Majesty, have you ever discussed the matters of the Imperial Decree with me? Liang Heng: No! Following Liang Hengs words, Jiang Cheng said to Eunuch Liu, Eunuch, look, His Majesty has not said a word, and since I was to write on his behalf, naturally I havent written a single word. Eunuch Lius mouth hung open, unable to speak.
He didnt know what to say. Because, deep down, he felt that what Jiang Cheng said didnt seem to have any w. I was supposed to write, but since he didnt say a word, of course I would hand in a nk paper. Eunuch Liu experienced auditory hallucinations, and Jiang Chengs seemingly smiling face appeared to be mocking his intelligence. Written on behalf, but not fully so. As if! Not right! I remember I reminded Mr. Jiang not to write the wrong characters, and Mr. Jiang agreed, Eunuch Liu tried to counterattack. Jiang Cheng leisurely said, I indeed promised you, and I kept my word; from beginning to end, I did not write a single wrong character. Eunuch Liu angrily said, But you clearly didnt write any characters! Just tell me if there were any mistakes. Eunuch Lius neck stiffened, and he wanted to cough up blood and flee, but his Foundation Establishment cultivation level did not permit him to cough up blood. Your Majesty, this official is confused about something, said Pang Chi, the head of the Imperial Guards. Speak. Since Jiang Cheng had no Imperial Decree, then why did the argument arise among the Empress and the concubines in the harem? Pang Chi hit the nail on the head, bringing back some disadvantage to Liang Hengs situation. Eunuch Liu also seemed to realize something but did not dare to interject. The Judicial Steward chimed in, Could it be, General Pangs meaning is, Jiang Cheng prepared two sets of Imperial Decrees, one nk just to deal with us, and the other with content specifically to deceive thedies in the harem? The logistics manager followed up with his input, vociferously saying, If this is true, that would be a crime of deceiving the emperor! Liang Heng, seated in the principal seat, indifferently said, Jiang Cheng, how do you exin this? Jiang Cheng remained quiteposed, Whoever makes the im must provide the proof. I have not written two sets of Imperial Decrees. Those who think Im deceiving both superiors and subordinates may find the second set of Imperial Decrees to use as evidence against me.
Upon hearing this, several eunuchs, Pang Chi, and Liang Heng did not bring it up again. Because there was no indication that a second set of Imperial Decrees existed. Liang Heng nced at the Judicial Steward and transmitted a message, Ask Jiang Cheng why Consort Shu would cause trouble with a nk Imperial Decree. The Judicial Steward said, puzzled, Ancestor, why should I ask?
Liang Heng: Because its a bit embarrassing for me to ask personally. The Judicial Steward thought to himself: If I ask, I would also lose face! However, he was clear on the rtive importance of his facepared to that of his ancestor. Ahem. Mr. Jiang, since the Imperial Decree you gave to Consort Shu was utterly nk, why did she take it to the Empress and cause a disturbance? Because she wanted an exnation from the Empress, he said. Then why didnt she seek one before? She did, but to little avail. Your Majesty, Consort Shu entrusted me to report that the Empress had abused her power for personal gain. Your wise judgment is requested. Liang Heng suddenly felt overwhelmed. He dared not ask any further. He was afraid that the more he questioned, the more troublesome matters Jiang Cheng would reveal. The harem was usually quite dull. The topics discussed by the maids were mostly various gossips.
Such as whose family member was getting cozy with which eunuch and simr subjects. As for gossip involving concubines, the pce maids and eunuchs did not dare to speak rashly about their masters, so they often exchanged whispers in private. Recently, the most topical event in the harem was the conflict between the Empress and Consort Shu. From the rank of concubines to the pce maids and eunuchs, all were discussing it. I heard that the Empresss face was injured by Consort Shu, said Consort Lin to Consort Li. Consort Li said, With such family manners, its not surprising she can hit. Whos saying otherwise. Ah, has Consort Jine to see you? Consort Jin? Has she also gotten involved? Consort Lin said, Shes involved, but she didnt go to fight. Consort Jin has been quite ostentatious recently; her third son was the first Prince summoned by His Majesty. While listening to their elders, Liang Lu sipped his tea quietly, not joining in the conversation. What else has Prince Chu been up to? Consort Li asked. He himself has been alright, its mainly his retainer, known as Jiang Cheng, who is truly outrageous. Did you know, the Imperial Decree that Consort Shu was holding was forged by this Jiang Cheng! Hearing this, Liang Lu silently set down his teacup.
Forging an Imperial Decree was a capital offense. Was Jiang Cheng truly that foolish? However, if he intended to use this move to pave the way for Prince Chu, he could be considered a loyal and righteous person. Its just that Prince Chu had little chance of shouldering Great Liang, and he might die in vain. Little did he know, Consort Lin added, Afterward, His Majesty summoned Jiang Cheng to the pce for a face-to-face talk, saying You forged the Imperial Decree, there is no doubt you must die. Can you guess how Jiang Cheng responded? Hard to guess. Jiang Cheng kept saying he didnt forge the Imperial Decree. Consort Li shook her head: Physical and testimonial evidence against him, he cant deny it. Liang Lu thought the same. If Jiang Cheng had nobly epted his death, Liang Lu would have thought more highly of him. But his repeated denials were truly unbing. She picked up her teacup once again, taking a light sip. She was considering an excuse to leave to practice her cultivation; listening to these gossips trulycked interest. Consort Linughed, I too thought Jiang Cheng had no way out, but who would have guessed, the Imperial Decree he handed to Consort Shu turned out to be empty! He hadnt written a single word, so how could it be considered a forgery? Everyone from the sleeping quarters to the Empress and others were all yed by his nk sheet of paper! Chapter 245: 216 What if we get divorced_2 Chapter 245: Chapter 216 What if we get divorced_2 Consort Lis eyes widened slightly in shock at Jiang Chengs maneuver. Cough, cough, cough. Liang Lu let out a choking cough. The sudden twist from Consort Lin caught her off guard. nk Imperial Decree? What kind of mind coulde up with such a maneuver? And then? Liang Lu asked. Consort Lin replied, Then His Majesty let Jiang Cheng go. Without charging him with any crime? Liang Lu frowned. No. Thats not his style.
The main reason was that Prince Chu immediately spread the news of His Majesty opening his doors to the court and the streets, attracting arge group of key court officials eager to request an audience. Liang Lu nodded, Thats not surprising. The battle over the nk imperial decree forced the old veteran to step forward, then used his influence to gather important officials, leaving the old veteran overstretched. Jiang Cheng indeed had both courage and strategy, was bold yet meticulous. Its just a pity hes an aide to Liang Hong. Your father seems quite normal, unlike someone possessed by an evil spirit, Jiang Cheng told Liang Hong. However, Liang Hong refuted decisively, Impossible, in the past few months, my father has acted out of character, not only staying behind closed doors but not even visiting the harem. There is no other exnation but evil spirit possession. Jiang Cheng thought back to Emperor Liangs mental state and felt there was some truth to what Liang Hong said. ording to the games plot, the Emperors life was nearing its end, to the point of pinning hopes on the Joyous Union Skill to prolong his life. He couldnt possibly be as lively as a normal person. Prince Liang Wu is determined to get the Evil-Expelling Talisman, isnt he? Liang Hong thought of his second brother, fifth brother, and even Liang Lu, each of whom was better suited to ascend the throne than he was. If he did not strive now, then when? Besides, the Void Venerable had specifically named Jiang Cheng to draw the talisman. Would the Void Venerable harm him? Liang Hong made up his mind, Ive betted everything on my Prince Mansion, how could I give up halfway? Understood. Jiang Cheng nodded. Since Liang Hong wanted it, he would draw it.
It wasnt as if Liang Hong wasnt going to pay. In that case, Prince Liang Wu, Ill return home to design the n and immediately let you review it once I have a talisman proposal. Alright. After making their arrangement, Jiang Cheng went back home.
He hadnt expected Yue Linger to be there as well. Yue? Seeing Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger breathed a sigh of relief and said, I tried to contact you through amunication talisman earlier, but it said you were out of range. You gave me quite a scare. Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, it was probably because there was no signal in the Emperors sleeping quarters. There might be no signal in the pce. Yue, did you need me for something? This winter vacation, like Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger hadnt returned to Wuyue. The reason was that her talisman drawing was excellent, and her teacher had retained her to participate in the pre-research ss for some bigpetition. At least, thats what Yue Linger imed. Yue Linger said, Its no big deal really, my teacher just gave me a task. The requirement is to draw a talisman, with the price of one hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones each. One hundred thousand each? Thats definitely worth drawing, Jiang Chengmented. Of all the talismans he had drawn, none was worth one hundred thousand. I thought it could be worth a try too, so I came to you to ask for your opinion, Yue Linger said. Jiang Cheng replied cautiously, I havent drawn second-order talismans yet, how can I give you advice? Wouldnt that be misleading? Yue Lingerughed, Of course it wouldnt be a second-order talisman. Its just that my teachers request is a bit strange, and I wanted to ask how you would think about reducing costs from a conceptual standpoint.
Jiang Cheng frowned, Your teacher wants you to create a new talisman? Of course, why else would they be willing to pay one hundred thousand per talisman? If its a new talisman worth one hundred thousand, thats indeed not a lot. Go on, what are your teachers requirements? Yue Linger had provided Jiang Cheng with many valuable suggestions regarding talisman drawing, and he felt it was only right to help each other. He was therefore very willing to provide Yue Linger with some inspiration. Yue Linger took out a piece of paper and handed it to Jiang Cheng. The format on the paper was the nning format Jiang Cheng often used for his talismans. Yue Linger had truly mastered the essence of talisman drawing. Upon looking at the content on the paper, Jiang Cheng immediately furrowed his brow. Put simply, Yue Lingers teacher believed that due to the increase in Cultivators Cultivation Levels in Liang Kingdom, it had be increasingly difficult to sire offspring, exacerbating the aging trend in Liang Kingdom, leading to a promising outlook for the funeral industry. A sense of dj vu washed over him. ` Isnt that perspective exactly the idea of that business prodigy, Prince Liang Wu?
Jiang Cheng continued to read. What followed were the design requirements for a talisman. They wanted Yue Linger to draw a convenient and quick Grave-Digging Talisman. Just like Prince Liang Wus idea. The only difference was that Prince Liang Wu dared to offer two million low-grade Spirit Stones, while Yue Lingers mentor could only offer one hundred thousand. Where did the missing one million nine hundred thousand go? Whats wrong, Jiang Cheng? Yue Linger saw that Jiang Cheng had a strange look on his face and thought he was encountering difficulties with his ideas. Its nothing, are you really thinking of drawing? Jiang Cheng confirmed. Yeah, I cant be of help over at Miaodan Workshop. Youve been disappearing like a ghost recently, and I have nothing to do. I cant just Yue Linger nced at a certain snake and said with envy, I cant just be incapable and rely on others to take care of me in the future, right? Liu Qing sniffed her nose, she smelled a scent of envy and jealousy on Yue Linger. But Liu Qing didnt care. Because she often smelled these scents.
Sometimes, when she and Jiang Cheng were merely walking down the street, these scents would easily fill the air around her. Most of it directed at Jiang Cheng, and a lesser part at her. At Mount Tian, she could often smell simr scentsing from elders. Usually when she had a breakthrough or learned a new spell. Jiang Cheng made a fair suggestion about Yue Lingers Talisman: Actually, the simplest method is to take a Smart Puppet Talisman and modify it, re-enter the actions, and with some specialized optimization, you can make the new talisman you need in just three days. Yue Linger shook her head: No, the Intelligent Puppet Talisman is yours, I cant sell it to my mentor. Without the Intelligent Puppet Talisman, things do be a lot moreplicated. Jiang Cheng frowned in thought. Yue Linger rested her chin on her palm and watched Jiang Cheng, her eyes wide as if she could never get enough of him. Excuse me. The cool voice came from behind. Yue Linger turned her head to look and was surprised to see Liu Qing? What are you going to do? Honestly, Yue Linger didnt want to move aside. For someone with Jiang Cheng syndrome, the ce by his side was priceless. Help him, Liu Qing said. How will you help? Move aside. In the end, Yue Linger still moved aside. She wanted to see how Liu Qing was going to help Jiang Cheng. And then she witnessed a scene she would never forget in her life. Liu Qing took the initiative to extend her hand, ced it in Jiang Chengs palm, and he instinctively grasped it, beginning to knead her small hand. The movements were smooth and practiced; clearly, it wasnt the first time. Ah? Yue Linger couldnt believe it. What had she just seen? The usually cold and aloof fairy proactively making physical contact with a man. The usually respectful and polite to female cultivators man, unabashedly toying with someone elses body. And they werent even doing this in private, they were doing it right in front of me, huh? Yue Linger was angry but also powerless. If Jiang Cheng was really going to find her a stepmother, what could she as a daughter do! She would just have to deal with it, what else could she do. Using an attack Talisman to create a rectangr pit is too difficult, Jiang Cheng murmured to himself. Yue Linger: Even though I really dont want to see office romance. But can you not contemte work while fondling a female employees hand? Looks like we still have to rely on digging? Jiang Cheng pondered again. Yue Linger: Are you actually thinking about the talisman? So it turns out Im more important to you, right? Yue Linger felt like she had scored one over Liu Qing. Jiang Cheng was in the throes of a brainstorm. Liu Qing sat quietly by his side, letting him seek inspiration. After cooperating many times, Liu Qing was no longer surprised by Jiang Chengs state of thought. A convenient way to dig without using Intelligent Puppet Talisman Jiang Cheng vaguely grasped a thread of inspiration. ` Chapter 246: 217: Praise the Snake! Chapter 246: Chapter 217: Praise the Snake! Yue, I think Ive figured out a method. Jiang Chengs brows rxed, and for some reason, he was especially brimming with inspiration this time. Yue Lingers face remained expressionless, Thinking about the symbol is important, but could you let go of my hand before talking to me? Jiang Cheng looked at Yue Lingers hands, puzzled, But Yue, Im not holding your hand. Yue Linger said exasperatedly, Im talking about Liu Qings hand! Its not even dark yet, can we pay attention to the impact, please? Jiang Cheng earnestly corrected Yues misunderstanding, Liu Qing and I are innocent. Liu Qing also nodded in agreement. Indeed, there was nothing strange between her and Jiang Cheng; they were just friends. She was unashamed of this fact, with no need to hide or be secretive. Yue Linger gritted her teeth, Alright, alright, innocent hand-holding, right? Friends, Liu Qing said.
Then Im also Jiang Chengs friend! I want to hold hands too. Yue Linger strode to Jiang Chengs other side, took his hand without a word, and red triumphantly at Liu Qing. ording to Yue Lingers assumption, if Liu Qing truly had feelings beyond friendship for Jiang Cheng, she would be furious to see Yue Linger holding hands with him. Then, knowing Jiang Cheng as she did, she was certain he would never stand by and let Liu Qing bully her. Jiang Cheng was not the type to y dead and ignore a friend. That way, she could naturally segue into, Brother, shes so mean, yet I can only feel sorry for Brother. If Liu Qing didnt mind her holding hands with Jiang Cheng, then all the better. At least that would mean Liu Qing could ept her as a sister. As for bing Mrs. Jiang, Yue Linger dared not ponder too deeply. Jiang Cheng was indeed too outstanding; she felt she couldnt assert dominance over someone like Liu Qing. In fact, it was Liu Qing who could suppress her and her school sister without any effort. However, reality did not unfold as Yue Linger had imagined. When she held hands with Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing did not react violentlyin fact, her expression barely changed, and she just looked calmly at Jiang Cheng. It seemed as if she was asking for Jiang Chengs opinion. Yue Linger thought to herself: Could it be she doesnt dislike me? Is there a chance? Only Jiang Cheng, who understood Snake Tongue, knew what Liu Qing truly meant. A snake with an expressionless face and calm eyes, staring intently at you = The snake doesnt like it, but chooses not to say so. Keeping employees in a good mood during work was something he, as a conscientious boss, should do. Yue, as I was saying, Ive thought of a method for drawing symbols. Jiang Cheng quickly steered the conversation elsewhere. He gracefully let go of Yue Lingers hand first, then Liu Qings.
What method? Yue Linger asked innocently. She clearly hadnt noticed some subtleties. Use the Storage Bag. Storage Bag? Yue Linger echoed, clearly not understanding.
Jiang Cheng patiently exined, Havent you noticed? Why would such a powerful space magical treasure like the Storage Bag be an ordinary item that even low-level Cultivators can easily buy? Why? Because thats how Cultivating Immortality novels wrote it, which then became a widely epted concept in the world of Cultivating Immortality, and ultimately, Cultivating Immortality games followed suit. The origins of the Storage Bag are an ancient secret, difficult to trace, so lets not discuss that. Essentially, what I want to say is, the Storage Bag, being the only space magical treasure that low-level Cultivators can buy, has abilities that most Cultivators greatly underestimate. Yue Linger shook her head, I dont understand. Indeed, the Storage Bag was very convenient, but it also had many limitations. For instance, it couldnt store living creatures, ownerless objects, or things that didnt belong to oneself. Using it required expending spiritual power and Spiritual Power, and it was easy to lose items if attacked, among other restrictions. Jiang Cheng said to Liu Qing, Go grab one of your clothes and my Storage Bag. Liu Qing didnt nod but got up to do as asked. She first went to the master bedroom for one of her clothes and then to Jiang Chengs room, bringing out his Storage Bag. Jiang Cheng took the Storage Bag and aimed it at Liu Qings clothes. No reaction. Yue, do you know why the Storage Bag isnt working? Yue Linger furrowed her brows, Because thats Liu Qings clothing, not yours, thus it cant be stored.
Jiang Cheng nodded, Exactly, then said to Liu Qing, Liu Qing, gift me that piece of clothing. Liu Qing nced at Yue Linger. Yue Linger: ? Jiang Cheng helplessly said, Not for her. Its just for an experiment, and Ill return it immediately. Oh. Take it! After Liu Qing agreed, Jiang Cheng again used the Storage Bag on her clothes, and this time, the clothes went smoothly into his Storage Bag. Yue Linger seemed to grasp the concept: You mean to have me use the Storage Bag to dig a hole? But as for the ownerlessnd, the Storage Bag wont work. If the Storage Bag doesnt work onnd, then why can it store stones? Because stones are small, while thend is too big. No, Jiang Cheng shook his head, its because stones have boundaries, while thend does not. If, Yue, you could tell the Storage Bag: this patch of earth is mine, help me store it. Then naturally, the Storage Bag can do it. This is no different from storing clothes. Yue Linger was stunned by Jiang Chengs idea. She had been using the Storage Bag for at least a decade but never thought, as Jiang Cheng did, that it could be used in such a way.
You want me to deceive the Storage Bag Not deceive, but assist the Storage Bag, helping it more urately locate the thing it needs to store. Hiss! Yue Linger inhaled sharply. Chapter 247: 217: Praise the Snake!_2 Chapter 247: Chapter 217: Praise the Snake!_2 She couldnt help but imagine, If a storage bag could containnd, would it also be possible to directly snatch someone elses magical treasures? For instance, during a battle, suddenly snatching the opponents magical treasure. Magical treasures would be somewhat difficult, since they have recognized their masters. However However what? However, we can expand on the Land Naming Charm and add the ability to block a magical treasure frommunicating with its owner, to create an upgraded version called the Magical Treasure Naming Talisman. But considering the issue of the blocking effect, the Magical Treasure Naming Talisman would at least need to be of a second-order level. A second-order talisman should easily control a first-order magical treasure. Wow! Yue Linger thought to herself how ridiculous this all was. In just one short hour, Jiang Cheng had not only solved her excavation problem but also casually named this type of talisman, and logically fleshed out its upgraded version and subsequent method of use. I feel like the potential of this kind of talisman is huge! Yue Linger eximed. Not to mention, talismans are much cheaper than magical treasures, even a second-order talisman is often cheaper than a first-order magical treasure. Third-order talismans are almost always cheaper than second-order magical treasures.
Imagine two cultivators encountering each other on a narrow path. One pulls out his precious magical treasure, ready for a showdown where the brave win on a narrow path. The other takes out a Magical Treasure Naming Talisman and snatches the opponents magical treasure in the blink of an eye, then turns tail and runs. Yue Linger felt that if her hard-earned magical treasure was snatched away in an instant, she would probably explode on the spot. The Magical Treasure Naming Talisman indeed has huge potential, but the Land Naming Charm is just fine. Your teacher only needs you to dig holes, right? Yes. Then just let the Land Naming Charm be able to dig holes. Dont make the effects too strong. Why not? Other Talisman Masters were always trying to improve the effects, but with Jiang Cheng, it was Dont make the effects too strong. Jiang Cheng scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, If the talismans effects are too good, especially since its made by our school, it might alert the Talisman Master Association, and then it wouldnt pass certification. Yue Linger said in confusion, Im just submitting an assignment. Why would I need certification? Jiang Cheng said with a smile, Perhaps others might want certification? Yue Linger thought: The Land Naming Charm is my hard-earned talisman, why would I let someone else take it for certification? But she immediately realized Jiang Cheng had her best interests at heart. In name, it was her who painted the charm well, but in reality, it was truly Jiang Cheng who hade up with it. It contained a heavy dose of Jiang Chengs style. As far as Yue Linger knew, none of Jiang Chengs talismans had ever managed to stand alone. Without exception, all had made a grand name for themselves on the prohibition list. The most recent Perception Transmission Talisman, due to its enhancement of Demonic Tao cultivation techniques and notable addictiveness, was directly ssified as a first-level controlled talisman by the Immortal Sects. At a young age, Jiang Cheng had made a prominent mark in the history of the Talisman development of Tongtian Sect.
Whoever wants to certify the Land Naming Charm can go ahead. Yue Linger did not want to wade into these murky waters anymore. Logically, after receiving inspiration for a talisman, Yue Linger should have hurried back to draw and experiment with the talisman toplete her assignment as soon as possible. But Yue Linger truly didnt want to leave.
She had finally seized an opportunity to find Jiang Cheng, and now to leave hastily, what would she do when Jiang Chengs addiction red up? Yue, Hmm? It just so happens you havent left yet, and I have a talisman I would like to discuss with you. It was like delivering a pillow to someone who wanted to sleep; Yue Linger promptly agreed. Of course! Just tell me. Jiang Cheng spoke slowly, Its like this, I have a senior who wants me to help him draw an Evil-Expelling Talisman. An Evil-Expelling Talisman? Expelling what kind of evil? Im not sure. ? To be precise, I feel that the person in need of exorcism has no evil to be expelled. But my senior doesnt think so; he believes the person whose behavior is abnormal must be possessed by an evil spirit. Ah? That does sound challenging. Yue Linger thought for a moment and said, His meaning is that he wants you to draw a universal type of Evil-Expelling Talisman. However, as far as I know, current Evil-Expelling Talismans onlye in specific types, there is no universal one.
Yes. Jiang Cheng was aware of this as well. The so-called exorcism is essentially an attack on soul-based creatures. Evil spirits of darkness need a Pure Yang Series Evil-Expelling Talisman. Whereas soul cultivators and ghost cultivators arent afraid of the Pure Yang talisman, they are more vulnerable to mental attack types. There are also some Demon Race with special talents, such as the Dream Tapir and worms, who arent bothered by Pure Yang or mental attacks, but are more susceptible to Purification Type talismans. If the symptoms are not known, one cant prescribe the right cure, so the talisman that Jiang Cheng draws could well be ineffective. A universal talisman that covers all exorcism types does not exist. Because the various exorcism effects not only cannot beyered, but they can also weaken and conflict with each other. Its like the Five Element Spells; each is powerful on its own, but if you mix them all together, strange issues like soil erosion, forest fires, and metal wear can ur. Can we do exorcism without a talisman? Yue Linger asked. Exin in detail. Im at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and Ive been looking into Foundation Establishment knowledgetely. The Heavenly Tribtion that cultivators trigger upon advancing to a higher realm is actually a way of cleansing the body and mind. The Tribtion refines your body and spirit, washing away all negative effects including control, curses, charms, and evil spirits. If that person is capable of Foundation Establishment or Core Formation, then undergoing a Heavenly Tribtion would naturally break any supposed evil spirit possession. Jiang Cheng had some understanding of Emperor of Liangs talents.
If Emperor of Liang was confident in achieving Core Formation to prolong his life, he wouldnt have turned to the Hehuan Sect to use the Joyous Union Skill to increase his lifespan. Chapter 248: 217: Praise the Snake!_3 Chapter 248: Chapter 217: Praise the Snake!_3 ` He probably cant form his core. Yue Linger sighed, Then theres nothing I can do. No, Yue, your approach is good, Jiang Cheng said approvingly, having not thought of it before, that the Heavenly Tribtion also had this effect. To be honest, the effect of being struck by lightning is better than any Pure Yang Talisman or Purification Talisman. Thats because the purification priority of Heavenly Tribtion is extremely high. Just the Foundation Establishment Stage of Thunder Tribtion is equivalent to purification above Divinity Transformation, in the Void Refinement Realm. It belongs to the 10th level of Thunder Tribtion having a 50th level purification effect. Unless the Emperor of Liang is afflicted with Evil Spirit Possession of the Unity Realm or above, it would vanish into nothingness under the Foundation Establishment Thunder Tribtion. I n to draw a Heaven Thunder Exorcism Talisman Before Jiang Cheng could finish his sentence, Yue Linger urgently interrupted him!
Hold on! Whats the matter, Yue? Yue Linger spoke very seriously, Jiang Cheng, you havent learned about Foundation Establishment, and you dont know. Im telling you, you better not mess with Thunder Tribtion! Why? Jiang Cheng didnt quite understand. Do you know that Thunder Tribtions are ssified into ranks? Jiang Cheng nodded. As someone who ns numerical values, how could he not know that Thunder Tribtions are ssified? ording to the Cultivator Ascender, also known as the Heavenly Tao Testee, Thunder Tribtions are divided into seven major levels, each with three sub-levels. The strongest is known as Purple-Gold Thunder Tribtion. Usually, only the prodigies of the Immortal Sect are worthy of being struck by such Thunder Tribtion. Of course, the after-effects are the best, which is the case of misfortune and fortune depending on each other. Yue Linger gravely stated, The intensity of the Thunder Tribtion is closely rted to how much the ascender is favored by the Heavenly Dao. Observing Thunder Tribtion from a close distance will increase the rank of the Thunder Tribtion that strikes you when you ascend. Not to mention you want to use a talisman to actively invite Thunder Tribtion! If you invoke Thunder Tribtion even once, even if you were to survive by luck, when youter reach Foundation Establishment, the intensity of the Thunder Tribtion will be far beyond what you can bear! Yue Linger grabbed Jiang Chengs arm, Jiang Cheng, promise me, never touch anything rted to the Heavenly Dao! Only the strongest prodigies in the Immortal Sect can defy the heavens. We ordinary cultivators must maintain our reverence for the Heavenly Dao. Jiang Chengs face showed embarrassment, thinking to himself: Its not that I dont want to revere the Heavenly Dao, its just that the chief of the Heavenly Dao code programming department used my photo for online dating. The girl chatted with him for half a year and couldnt wait any longer to meet up, then it was a goblin meeting sunlight, the rtionship soured before the food was even served. In thepany, Jiang Cheng wasnt someone who gossiped. It was just that this incident was so outrageous because afterward, people in the programming department who knew about it didnt believe in bad luck, and they used his photo for online dating too. Astonishingly, whoever talked, seeded. For a while, everyone in the programming department was no longer single. There were even cases of people ying the field, gloriously. Later, a girl who was scammed made a scene at thepany, and the matter couldnt be hidden anymore. In the end, it took the original owner of the photo adding the girls contact information to settle this relentless drama.
Ill try my best to respect the Heavenly Dao, Jiang Cheng said to Yue Linger. Just as Yue Linger breathed a sigh of relief, she heard Jiang Cheng continue: However, Yue, theres something you misunderstood. Whats that?
I dont n to bring on the Thunder Tribtion. Yue Linger asked in confusion, Then what do you mean? I n to help others to bring their own Thunder Tribtion. Yue Linger: ??? Jiang Cheng confidently stated, Its not me whos possessed by an evil spirit, so why should I invoke Thunder Tribtion? Im preparing to make the Heaven Thunder Exorcism Talisman into a treatment type of talisman. Specifically helping others to bring their own Thunder Tribtion, thereby curing a series of negative effects caused by evil spirits. Yue Lingers lips parted, dry-mouthed and speechless. Is there a possibility that others are just fine with evil spirit possession, but your Thunder Tribtiones along and gets them all killed? Erm, invoking Thunder Tribtion, that cant be done with a first order talisman, right? What Yue Linger meant was, should I stay and help you? But then, Jiang Cheng confidently said, Ive already reached the seventh level of Qi cultivation, and Ive practiced a Cultivation Technique to strengthen spiritual power. Its time to attempt drawing second order talismans. Ah, if thats the case, I dont have anything else to say, just call me directly if you have any problems, Yue Linger said. Of course, youre not an outsider, Yue, Yue Linger felt a thrill of joy upon hearing Jiang Chengs words.
Worth it! With his words, Im definitely going to be the seconddy of the Jiang Family! Seeing that it was gettingte and having thought up two talismans today with great gains, Jiang Cheng invited Liu Qing and Yue Linger out to eat. After a satisfying meal, Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing returned to Jade Lake Mingan. Liu Qing stood at the door, looking at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng habitually took out his keys and handed them to her. Liu Qing took the keys, unlocked the door, switched the keys to her other hand, and then gave a fistful of air back to Jiang Cheng. Looking at the air in the palm of his hand, Jiang Cheng wondered what she meant by that? Then, as Jiang Cheng looked up, the door was closed by Liu Qing without hesitation. The sound of the door shutting echoed along the empty corridor. Jiang Cheng: ??? When did I make her unhappy again? Could it be
Remembering what happened with Yue Linger during the day So its not that she wasnt bothered, she just wanted to save face for me in front of others? Hisss. Jiang Cheng felt a headacheing on. Because Liu Qing isnt the main female lead in the game, Jiang Cheng didnt pay much attention to her. He was now very curious about which colleague in thepany are Liu Qings parents. With such an alluring character like Liu Qing, why hasnt she been given a main storyline? Knock, knock, knock. Jiang Cheng knocked on the door. Liu Qing? Liu Qing? No response from Snake. Jiang Cheng called out a few more times, still no response from Snake. Jiang Cheng didnt dare to leave; he was afraid that once he left, Liu Qing would never let hime back home.
Leaning against the door, Jiang Cheng tried to console himself. She could easily take my life, but she just wouldnt open the door for me, which is already pretty good. No sooner had Jiang Cheng reassured himself than the door burst open at lightning speed, and a nket was thrown out. Liu The door closed instantaneously. Forget it, looks like Ill have to spend the night outside. Jiang Cheng opened the nket, and to his surprise, his keys fell clinking to the ground. O Snake, the ancient Greek god that governs soft-heartedness! Praise be to Snake! Chapter 249: 218: Lightning Tribulation Strikes Once More Chapter 249: Chapter 218: Lightning Tribtion Strikes Once More Jiang Cheng picked up the keys, gently opened the front door, and tried to control the sound as much as possible. The house was pitch ck, and the snake wasnt in the living room or on the balcony. Jiang Cheng quietly entered, silently changing his shoes, then tiptoed out of the entryway and into the living room. The living room was still lit, the lighting from Liu Qings room, through the crack under the door of the master bedroom. Liu Qing still had the light on, which meant she hadnt gone to sleep yet. Jiang Cheng, with level ten Snake Tongue, silently searched his mind for relevant phrases. Not allowing inside the house = the snake is unhappy. Not allowing inside the house but giving keys = the snake is unhappy, but wants to give you a chance. No lights inside the house = the snake doesnt wee your return. No lights inside the house but the bedroom is lit = the snake doesnt wee you, but she hasnt gone to sleep yet. Although Liu Qing hadnt said anything from start to finish, Jiang Cheng felt, she meant what he had guessed.
Liu Qings greatest strength was her simplicity, her easy-going nature, and her stable emotions. Her biggest weakness was that she wasnt very good at speaking humannguage. But there was no helping it, she wasnt human after all. Whats wrong with a top predator not speaking a foreignnguage? Liu Qing? What would you like for breakfast tomorrow? Jiang Cheng stood at Liu Qings bedroom door and tentatively asked. No response from the snake. Jiang Cheng tried another question. How about we go out for a walk tomorrow? All was quiet. After some thought, Jiang Cheng added, Tomorrow, I n to visit my seniors ce. Its a bit of a journey, and Id like to have a good friend with me. Would you like toe along? Silence. If a good friend doesnt want to go, Ill have to invite Shen or Yue instead. Too bad. Ill go. Phew. Upon hearing Liu Qings response, Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. Based on his understanding of snake behavior, if she was willing to acknowledge you, it signified the end of this cold war among friends. To confirm the situation, Jiang Cheng repeated the first question. What would you like for breakfast tomorrow? No reply.
Jiang Cheng doubted his Snake Tongue: Could I have guessed wrong? Meat pie, cake, came Liu Qings voice from the bedroom. That breakfast made Jiang Cheng frown. Quite thebination of high calories, fat, and sugar.
She still loved junk food so much. But if Liu Qing wished to eat that way, at least it indicated she was in a good mood. Jiang Cheng respected Liu Qings choice. After all, she was a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm, and particrly a snake skilled at digestion among Mahayana cultivators. High calories were the least of her problems; she could probably eat Capital City in one bite without getting a stomachache. In order to fulfill his promise to Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng did not sleep much that night, instead staying up all night toplete the Heaven Thunder Exorcism Talisman design proposal and contract. Inside the master bedroom, Liu Qing was lying on the bed covered with a thin nket. Her body, lying on its side, was like a winding range of hills, stunningly beautiful. In her hands, Liu Qing held a small puppet specially made for her by Jiang Cheng, controlling another puppet on Jiang Chengs bed in the second bedroom, making it rise and throw shadow punches at Jiang Chengs back. Hitting you. Hitting you, she whispered softly, not wanting to disturb the person working at the desk. Liang Hongs Chu Royal Mansion was located in the suburbs of Capital City. The location was average, but its advantage was its vastnd area. Combining the mansion with the surroundingwns and gardens, they covered an area of fifty or sixty acres.
Liang Hong, aware that Jiang Cheng wasing, promptly put the mansion on first-level alert. Jiang Cheng hade all this way; the least he could do was invite him to stay for lunch, right? Princess Consort, I have a junioring over. Bring out the Spring White Dew from your dowry, he said. You dare! eximed the Princess Consort from the Hai family, her eyes widened. Liang Hong, that is my dowry! A single bottle is worth ten thousand Spirit Stones. Is your junior a saint from the Immortal Sect? Can he even afford such expensive wine? Listen to me. I wont listen. No, just listen to me first. I just wont listen! Liang Hong showed a wry smile; the Princess Consort wouldnt listen to him, and he was at a loss. This junior of mine is not ordinary. You know about my father shutting himself away? Just three days after my junior entered the pce, only three days, he threw the harem into chaos to the extent that my father had no choice but to confront him face to face. With my eldest brother in jail, my second brother powerless, my fifth brother too young, and my sisters not a concern, whether I can seize the throne and ascend depends on this juniors support! Your junior, is he Jiang Cheng? The name Jiang Cheng was somewhat known to the Hai family.
Yes, yes, thats him. Liang Hong persisted, sweet-talking her, Whether you can be the Empress depends on him. You understand? Bring out the wine. Hai nodded her head. If Jiang Cheng could help Liang Hong ascend the throne, then he deserved to drink that wine. I have a condition, said Hai. What is it? Ask Jiang Cheng if he has a Daopanion. What for? Tsk, have you forgotten about my sisters situation? Shes getting on in years and shes beautiful; she wouldnt be a bad match for Jiang Cheng. Liang Hong looked troubled; his aunt was no pushover, a woman who aimed high butcked the matching capability. She was of the Howling Celestial Dog caliber, but with the standards of Eng Shen. Seeing Liang Hong hesitant, Hai spoke inly, What? Is it too difficult for you? Im thinking of your interests too. Just imagine, if my sister could actually marry Jiang Cheng, then you and Jiang Cheng would be rtives. Wouldnt he work hard to help you ascend? Liang Hong thought about it and it made sense. Okay, Ill ask him during the meal. You go prepare a table of good dishes. And remember to bring out the Spring White Dew!
Before long, Jiang Cheng arrived at the Chu Royal Mansion with Liu Qing. Liang Hong personally came to the mansions gate to wee them. Hahaha, Jiang, its been days since west met, as if years have passed. And this is holy shit! Upon seeing Liu Qing, Liang Hong was taken aback. As a prince, he naturally had seen many sights, but even so, Liu Qing was still a beauty he had rarely encountered in his life. Chapter 250: 218: Lightning Tribulation Strikes Once More_2 Chapter 250: Chapter 218: Lightning Tribtion Strikes Once More_2 When Noble Consort Li first entered the harem, she had already outshined all the other beauties. Following her, Princess Liang Lu surpassed even Noble Consort Li by half in terms of beauty. But the woman Liang Hong saw today did not pale inparison to Liang Lu; she even seemed somewhat superior. At least temperamentally, Liu Qing was a total triumph. She had an air of aloofness and purity, unlike that of a woman who had grown up in the mortal realm. This is Liu Qing, an employee of our studio, Jiang Cheng introduced. Hello, hello. Liang Hong reached out his hand, but Liu Qing had no intention of shaking hands with him, leaving Liang Hong somewhat at a loss for how to react. Its okay, though. He often found himself in awkward situations and had plenty of experience dealing with them. Only, his niece, the sister of the Princess Consort, in front of Liu Qing, would probably reveal her true uncouth naturepletely.
Pleasee in, pleasee in. Liang Hong led Jiang Cheng into his long-neglected study. Aside from books, it contained a bit of everything. Jiang Cheng got straight to the point and handed over his Talisman design project to Liang Hong. Liang Hong opened it withposure. Then he was dumbfounded. [Name: Electro-Purification Talisman Rank: Second-order Type: Healing Effect: By summoning special lightning, it can drive away demons, ward off evils, and purify oneself. Precautions: Not rmended for frequent use, please take protective measures before using.] Because the Heaven Thunder Exorcism Talisman was too obviously aggressive, Jiang Cheng reconsidered and felt the name did not fit the healing category. Thus, he changed Heaven Thunder Exorcism Talisman into the therapeutically sounding Electro-Purification Talisman. Liang Hong didnt understand Talismans. He didnt understand spells. He didnt even understand cultivation. Jiang Chengs Talisman project made him feel it was impressively profound. This is excellent, your thought process for creating Talismans is incredibly ingeniouslets go ahead as per your n, Liang Hong expressed his approval.
Jiang Cheng was surprised; he thought Liang Hong would surely have a lot of questions, but he hadnt expected Liang Hong to have such discerning taste. He actually saw through the ingenious design of the Electro-Purification Talisman at a nce. Here is the contract, please take a look. Oh, Ill sign it.
I suggest you read the contract thoroughly, it can prevent many conflicts, Jiang Cheng reminded. Liang Hong couldnt be bothered to read it, how could he go wrong with someone rmended by the Void Venerable? After quickly signing the contract, Liang Hong invited Jiang Cheng to stay for dinner. Jiang Cheng intended to decline, but couldnt withstand Liang Hongs heartfelt pleas apanied by tears. Jiang, if you dont stay for a meal, Ill never get to drink Spring White Dew in my life! Jiang Cheng: Dont force me to kneel down and beg you! Jiang Cheng: Princess Consort Hai was supervising the kitchen when an excited Liang Hong ran in to ask when they would eat. Hai gave him a disdainful nce and asked, Have you asked about Hai Lans matter? What matter? Does Jiang Cheng have a Dao Companion? He probably does.
Seeing through Liang Hongs hesitation, Hai pressed, What do you mean he probably does? Did you or did you not ask? Liang Hong thought about Liu Qing. In his mind, such a beautiful girl, if Jiang Cheng werent a follower of Yangwei or Nantong, it would be unreasonable not to pursue her. He definitely has one. You havent asked, have you? I did ask, Liang Hong attempted to prevaricate. You definitely didnt ask! Liang Hong, dont I know you? Ill ask him myself, No, no, no, theres no need, Jiang Cheng probably wont be interested in Hai Lan. Upon hearing this, Hai red up, What do you mean? You despise my sister, right? Without the Hai familys full support, could you have be Prince Chu? Liang Hong found himself at a loss for words, No, Im not looking down on her, just stating the truth truthfully. Hai snapped, Youre talking nonsense! My sister might not have the best personality, but shes still a noble youngdy from a prominent family! She has the looks and the demeanor. What right does Jiang Cheng have to not be interested in her! Wheres Jiang Cheng? Youre not askingI, the Princess Consort, will go ask myself! Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing were taking a walk, and they turned around to see the Prince Chu couple approaching.
Hai caught sight of Liu Qing and was utterly stunned. She had never heard of this female cultivator, but in terms of appearance, figure, or temperament, there was nothing to fault, she was simply perfect. Liang Hong, with a headache, said, I already told you, Im not disparaging Hai Lan, Im just stating the truth. You tell me, how can Hai Lanpare to her? Yet Hai, being a more observant woman than Liang Hong, noticed the subtle distance between Liu Qing and Jiang Cheng, evidently not that of a couple in love. Jiang, do you have a Daopanion? Hais words came with a sink-or-swim urgency. Ah? No, I dont. Jiang Cheng was puzzled. The hanging heart of the Hai family finally settled, Ah haha, thats good. The dishes are almost ready, lets dine. Sure. At the old Hai family residence, Princess Consort Hai Lan of Prince Chu sought out Hai Lan. After the interaction at noon, Hai was quite satisfied with Jiang Cheng.
Hai even felt that in the future, male cultivators would be divided into three species. One type was Liang Hong, who had a vengeance against being useful. Another was the average male cultivator, who typically embodied the role of a male cultivator. Thest type was Jiang Cheng, who was wless. Jiang Cheng was just too perfect! He had knowledge, manners, humor, ambition, and an appearance that was sunny and handsome. The only downside was that he had no notable ancestors. But that wasnt a problem either; as long as Liang Hong ascended the throne, he could grant Jiang Cheng any title he wished. Jiang Cheng is really great, Hai encouraged. Does he have a house in the Capital? Hai Lan asked. Seems like he doesnt. But your brother-inw said Jiang Cheng isnt short of money, he could definitely afford to buy one if he wants. Hai Lan rolled her eyes, Anyone can brag. If he doesnt have a house, he must at least have a car, right? Seems like he doesnt have that either. Hai Lan frowned, Sis, although I dont have a job yet, my requirements arent high: Foundation Establishment cultivation, a stable job, a house, a car, an annual ie of a million Spirit Stones. If hes handsome and young, he can earn a little less. Is that too much to ask? Not at all, not at all. Which of these does your highly praised Jiang Cheng meet? Hai was immediately like, Hes handsome. Even your brother-inw praises his looks. Hai Lan said, Im not that shallow. I really value a persons inner qualities. Hes got a great personality, polite and witty. Thats uninteresting. Meeting him wouldnt be a loss for you. Youre almost thirty, and if you dont see him, Mom and Dad will arrange for you to meet someone else. Hai Lan thought about it and reluctantly agreed. Hai, remembering Liu Qing, took the opportunity to prep Hai Lan in advance, He has a pretty female employee at his studio. Dress up nicely so you dont get overshadowed. Hai Lan was very confident in her looks; otherwise, she wouldnt have waited for so long. I know, Im not afraid of anyone, she said confidently. Hai teased, Your ssmates already have kids in elementary school. Jiang Cheng is really suitable; you better grab the chance. Hai Lan was unconcerned. If Jiang Cheng were really in demand, he would be too busy to go on blind dates. If the female employee at his studio hadnt fallen for him, how outstanding could he be? Jiang Cheng had been spending his recent days immersed in Lotus Universitys library. Although Lotus University had already started winter break, many students chose to stay on campus and didnt go home. Some, like Yue Linger, stayed to prepare for variouspetitions. Others, who were seniors, spent their days in the library studying cultivation knowledge for a smooth entry into their preferred Immortal Sects after graduation. `At the moment, Jiang Cheng was only at the seventh level of the Qi Cultivation Stage. However, with the presence of the Dayan Sect, he could level up to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation at any time and attempt the Foundation Establishment. Thus, his current perusal of Foundation Establishment knowledge was partly for the Electro-Purification Talisman and partly to prepare for his own Foundation Establishment. The study room was sparsely popted. In a corner, the studious Jiang Cheng was buried in a book, while the not-so-studious Liu Qing was holding a milk tea bought by Jiang Cheng. In the Capital, where the winter temperature hovered around zero degrees, the study room was warmed by a formation, neither too hot nor too cold. Yet, Liu Qings hot milk tea remained warm even after a half-hour, and it seemed inexhaustible. Being an undocumented immigrant from the Tianshan Demon n, Liu Qing had so many ws that Jiang Cheng had grown used to ignoring her abnormalities. The book stated that ascending from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Establishment wasnt only a level-up in cultivation but also a transformation of the form of spiritual power. The form of spiritual power during the Qi Cultivation Stage was a high-concentration gas. During the Foundation Establishment Stage, this gas would condense into a liquid. The change in the form of spiritual power and the baptism of the Heavenly Tribtion brought about a stark difference in strength between the two levels. So, for cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation who wanted to ascend to Foundation Establishment, it was simple: they just needed to trypressing the spiritual whirlwind at their dantian. Oncepressed to a certain degree, they could invite the Heavenly Tribtion of Foundation Establishment. So I just need to use the Electro-Purification Talisman to create an illusion ofpressing spiritual power to invite the tribtion? But getting external help topress spiritual power was no easy feat. Qi Cultivators needed years of diligent practice and umtion, finally reaching the ninth level of Qi Cultivation before they could begin the attempt ofpression. Jiang Cheng pped his forehead, chastising himself for his wayward thoughts. His Level 2 Talisman wasnt supposed to help Qi Cultivators expel evil. The Electro-Purification Talisman was specially prepared for Emperor Liang at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Right now, what Jiang Cheng needed to do was just to let the Heavenly Tribtion of Foundation Establishment strike him once more. Chapter 251: 219: Hundred Thousand Special Marks Chapter 251: Chapter 219: Hundred Thousand Special Marks Since the spiritual power of cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage was alreadypressed to the level of Foundation Establishment, there was no need for the Electro-Purification Talisman to simte the illusion ofpressed spiritual power. In other words, cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage naturally fulfilled all the hardware requirements to summon a Foundation Establishment Heavenly Tribtion. The only problem was, they had already been struck by lightning once and been marked as exempt from further strikes. So, Jiang Chengs main mission now was to figure out a way to remove this exemption mark. Removing the exemption mark sounded quite far-fetched. In the entire Cultivation World, it was estimated that nobody had ever thought about getting struck by Heavenly Tribtion a second time. However, for Jiang Cheng, the exemption mark was nothing more than a piece of code. Find it, block or delete it, and naturally, you can create the illusion of not having been struck, thus drawing the Heavenly Tribtion once more. But after careful consideration, Jiang Cheng realized that despite being able to use the system to create many high-performance talismans, code-level operations were simply beyond his capability in his current state. What to do then? Liu Qing, sipping on her milk tea, noticed Jiang Cheng in thought and stretched out a hand to ce in his.
Because she had been holding the warm milk tea, Liu Qings small, white hand was warm and felt veryfortable to the touch. Ahem, this is a library, mind the influence. Yue Linger appeared beside Jiang Cheng at some point. Soundbox? What soundbox? Jiang Cheng looked up confusedly. Yue Linger sat on the other side of Jiang Cheng, her eyes signaling him to look around. Jiang Cheng looked up and immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Turns out this was the library, not his own house! Jiang Cheng quickly let go of Liu Qings hand and whispered, We shouldnt get too close in public. Liu Qing tilted her head slightly, Why? Im afraid I might identally get killed by someone. Liu Qing sniffed Jiang Cheng and discovered he was not lying. He indeed feared being killed. But why? Why would someone want to kill him? Isnt it normal for friends to hold hands? Would that also make others envious and jealous? Human society is so strange. It wasnt like this when she held hands with her friends on Mount Tian.
Yue Linger opened a book and said, Jiang Cheng, regarding Land Naming Charms, I have thought of a way to tell the size of thend in a storage bag. What way? Yue Linger pointed to a talisman in the book and said, Look at this. Jiang Cheng leaned closer to Yue Linger to see the book she was holding.
Slow Movement Talisman? Right, Yue Linger introduced, This type of talisman works by forming a thin film-like that envelops the opponent, simting the resistance of moving in water to slow down and inconvenience the opponents movementsa control system talisman. Yue Lingers thoughts opened up, The Land Naming Charm could also take inspiration from the Slow Movement Talismans idea, creating an invisible, rectangr thin film the same size as a coffin. Then, cing this block under the ground, its possible to determine the size of a plot ofnd, and finally, by collecting it in a storage bag, a burial pit could be dug out at the speed of light. If youre practiced at it, I reckon the process of using the charm and collecting the earth with the storage bag could bepleted within a second, Yue Linger counted on her fingers. Compared to traditional methods of digging pits, Yue Lingers method of using and collecting within just a second was indeed much faster. Not bad. Your idea is good, and I think my Electro-Purification Talisman can also use the film covering method, Jiang Cheng briefly introduced his talisman drawing approach to Yue Linger. In general, he nned to cover the middle of the talisman with ayer. Simr to the Dayan Sects fitted identities. Then, Heavenly Dao would take a look and think, Hey, youve been at Foundation Establishment for so long, why havent you been struck yet? I feel like striking today! You must be struck today! Finally, the Emperor of Liang was cleansed by the Heavenly Tribtion and the evil repelled. Uh, Yue Linger brought up a key question, Arent you afraid the talisman is too powerful and might kill the emperor?
Jiang Cheng wasnt worried and replied, If the Foundation Establishment Heavenly Tribtion could kill a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage, then he wouldnt have been able to reach Foundation Establishment. If he couldnt withstand the Heavenly Tribtion, he should have perished during the Qi Cultivation Stage. It makes no sense that a cultivator, having grown much stronger after reaching Foundation Establishment, couldnt withstand a Heavenly Tribtion that he could survive during the Qi Cultivation Stage. Yue Linger thought so too and didnt ask any further. Jiang Chengs actions were always reassuring, so there was no need for her to worry excessively. Due to the difficulty of drawing talismans, Yue Lingers assignment, a first-grade Land Naming Charm, was quicklypleted. After verifying there were no errors, Yue Linger then submitted the Land Naming Charm to her counselor, Jiang Ming. Teacher, my assignment, please have a look. Jiang Ming thought to herself, assignment? What assignment? However, seeing that Yue Linger didnt seem to be jesting, she took Yue Lingers talisman with a serious face. After seeing the function of the Land Naming Charm, she then remembered that indeed there had been such a matter. Originally, when Li Youyuan contacted her to ask for her help to draw talismans, the spirit stones he offered werent much, and it wasnt a school research project, so she didnt take it seriously and casually passed it to the idle Yue Linger. She hadnt expected Yue Linger toplete the task so quickly. Looking at the design specifications and described effects, it seemed that Yue Linger had even exceeded Li Youyuans requirements. Come with me to the empty ground downstairs, lets test the effect.
Okay, Yue Linger agreed promptly. She inherited Jiang Chengs trait very well, never revealing a talisman without verifying its function repeatedly to avoid embarrassment. Jiang Cheng once told her, The optimal state in talisman research is to use one generation, research one generation, pre-research one generation, explore one generation. The Land Naming Charm is the equipment of one generation. Chapter 252: 219: Hundred Thousand Special Marks_2 Chapter 252: Chapter 219: Hundred Thousand Special Marks_2 The Magical Treasure Naming Talisman that follows the Land Naming Charm is called a Generation Research item. In thewn under the Research Building, Jiang Ming stood by with his hands sped behind his back and said, Lets try it out right here. Yue Linger nodded, a talisman in one hand and a storage bag in the other. With a sh of the talisman and a swoosh of the storage bag, a perfectly square pit ideal for burying someone appeared on the ground in the blink of an eye. The efficiency was so high that Jiang Ming didnt even react in time. Finished? Yes. This talisman can also adjust its length, width, and height as needed. Teacher, if you think lying down isntfortable, I can make it bigger for you. Cough, theres no need for now, I can still live for over three hundred years. So, my assignment No problem,terpile a drawing blueprint. Oh, have you filed for certification for this talisman? Yue Linger shook her head in a hurry, No need to apply, no need to apply.
It would still be better to apply for it, to prevent others from selling it for money. Its fine, really no need to apply. Since Yue Linger insisted, Jiang Ming had no further advice to offer. She nned to find some time to send the Land Naming Charm to the enrollment office director, Li Youyuan. After all, Li Youyuan had promised 200,000 in research and development funding. Its not something to be turned down. Finding a cover identity for the Electro-Purification Talisman was originally quite challenging. But Tongtian Sect had just recently captured arge batch of Demonic Tao cultivators, most of whom were at the Qi Cultivation Stage, with hundreds at the ninth level alone. Jiang Cheng chose a deficit-ridden arsonist and murderer sentenced to one-hundred and fifty years. He prepared to use him as the cover identity for the Electro-Purification Talisman. The working principle of the Electro-Purification Talisman is quite simple; the preliminary work involves signing a contract with disciples of the Demon Sect to achieve a causal connection simr to that between Liu Qing and Liu Qing. Then this causal connection is infused into the target that needs to be purified. Because the mechanisms of healing talismans automatically bypass certain defenses, such as the Golden Light Talisman that stops spells but not healing arts, so if everything goes as expected, a person hit by the Electro-Purification Talisman will gain an additional identity of a Demonic Tao disciple. A ninth level Qi Cultivation Stage Demonic Tao disciple + spiritual energypressed into a liquid = Heavenly Tribtion iing. Although the theoretical aspects of talisman creation are worked out, a talisman cant just be handed over to a user without experimentation. Jiang Cheng needed an appropriate subject for the experiment. This individual would ideally be at the Foundation Establishment stage, and because the Heavenly Tribtion adds up to the Heavenly Daos scrutiny, he would preferably not n to advance to Core Formation. The first person Jiang Cheng thought of was his counselor, Cui Zhifei.
Cui Zhifei, indeed, had an admirable Foundation Establishment cultivation level, but considering Cui Zhifeis young age, he might eventually aim for Core Formation. If experimenting with the Electro-Purification Talisman increased the difficulty of his advancement, it would be a loss rather than a gain. Aside from Cui Zhifei, Jiang Cheng was also acquainted with high-level cultivators like Gao Miao and Li Qingge. But Gao Miao and Li Qingge were both at Core Formation stage, which didnt fit the target group for the Electro-Purification Talisman. After much consideration, Jiang Cheng thought of Li Youyuan!
Li Youyuan wasnt young, and stuck in theter stages of Foundation Establishment for quite a while with little progress, he likely did not n to advance to Core Formation. Having him test the Electro-Purification Talisman would be most suitable. Jiang Cheng took out amunication talisman and contacted Li Youyuan. Director Li, I have drawn a second-level Healing Talisman and would like to invite you to test it. I offer fifty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones for one try, what do you think? Fifty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones? Jiang Cheng is very generous! Li Youyuan did the math. He had outsourced the talisman drawing request from Prince Liang Wu to Jiang Ming of Lotus University, a third-level Talisman Master. Liang Wu provided him with five hundred thousand for this task, twenty thousand of which he outsourced,ting him a profit of three hundred thousand. With the addition of Jiang Chengs fifty thousand, in the past ten or so days, he earned enough for a house! Although Li Youyuan knew that Jiang Chengs talismans were somewhat outrageous, he had great confidence in his ownte-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level. Fortune favors the bold; he, Li Youyuan, would take these fifty thousand! Alright. Come to thewn behind Lotus Universitys teaching building tomorrow. The ce is spacious, and I just happen to be meeting someone there as well. Jiang Cheng did not expect Li Youyuan to agree so decisively and enthusiastically. He even thoughtfully picked the location for the experiment for him.
Jiang Cheng firmly replied, Good, lets not miss the appointment tomorrow. The next day, Li Youyuan and Prince Liang Wu met at the appointed ce behind the Lotus University teaching building. Li Youyuan demonstrated the usage and effect of the Land Naming Charm to Prince Liang Wu. A pit one and a half meters wide, two meters long, and one meter deep, appeared on the twn in an instant between the cement and retrieval motion of Li Youyuans talisman and storage bag. Prince Liang Wu rubbed his eyes in amazement and eximed, Thats amazing, how did you do that? Not only is it incredibly fast, but its also so precise! Damn, such a big pit, even if I were to smash it with a giant sword technique, it would still take a while! Li Youyuan stood with his hands behind his back and smiled, When His Highness first entrusted the task to me, I was also very apprehensive and worried about not doing a good job. Im fortunate not to have failed today, and Im d His Highness is satisfied. Satisfied, very satisfied. With this digging speed, contracting the entire Capitals burial services would be no sweat! After Prince Liang Wu finished his praise, he felt very fortunate and said, All this for five hundred thousand, and Jiang Cheng actually dared to ask for three million? Im lucky I didnt go with Jiang Cheng for talisman drawing, otherwise I wouldve made a huge loss. Jiang Cheng arrived at the agreed-upon location. Li Youyuans eyelid twitched as he tried to defend Jiang Cheng for Prince Liang Wu, Its not fair to say that, perhaps Jiang Cheng would have had a better way. Bah, you did it in just one second with a release and a retrieval, what better way could he possibly have? Jiang Cheng does indeed have a deep understanding when ites to talisman drawing. Prince Liang Wu, harboring grand ambitions of unifying the funeral industry, generously instructed him, Youre exaggerating.
Chapter 253: 219: Hundred Thousand Special Marks_3 Chapter 253: Chapter 219: Hundred Thousand Special Marks_3 Li Youyuan gave Liang Wu a look, signaling that Jiang Cheng was right behind them. However, seeing Jiang Cheng did not make Liang Wu restrain himself, it made him even more smug instead. Jiang, thanks to you insisting on not budging below three million, I was able to purchase a Land Naming Charm with an amazing cost-performance ratio. Jiang Cheng nced at Li Youyuan, roughly understanding the situation. Curiously, he asked, How much did you pay for that charm? Five hundred thousand! Liang Wu said confidently. He believed that Jiang Cheng would regret not lowering the price when he heard how much he had paid. But Jiang Cheng did not regret it at all; instead, he said with pity, Thats overpriced. It should be around one hundred thousand. Liang Wu:? One hundred thousand? How could it be only one hundred thousand? Are you picking a fight? Jiang Cheng shrugged and said, Your Highness, I always like to speak the truth, and there is no need for me to oppose you. Alright, alright, lets all talk less. Business not done is no reason to forget courtesy. Your Highness, you should hurry and go for the Talisman certification. Dont let anyone steal a march on you, Li Youyuan intervened to smooth things over.
Liang Wu snorted coldly and strode off. There was indeed no need to mock Jiang Cheng at the moment. Once his funeral service business became big and strong, he could always make a triumphant return to Jiang Chengs presence without rush. Jiang Cheng looked at Liang Wu with sympathy. It was said that before Liang Wu, someone else had taken their Talisman for certification and ended up selling quite a few. No one knew if that cultivator had drank Mengpo Soup, what their current gender was, or how many months old they were now. Jiang Cheng, do you have the Talisman that needs testing? asked Li Youyuan. As it involved his fifty thousand yuan, he was even more concerned about it than Jiang Cheng. Of course, Jiang Cheng hade prepared and had also arranged an idental insurance policy for Li Youyuan. The beneficiary was Lotus University. Thepensation would primarily be used to repair the equipment at Lotus University that had been damaged by lightning. Lets do it. Li Youyuan stood in an open area, eager to see just how strong Jiang Chengs Electro-Purification Talisman was! Jiang Cheng did not dawdle, took out the Electro-Purification Talisman, activated it with his finger, and released it toward Li Youyuan. Being a healing-ss Talisman, the effect was point-to-point with automatic aiming, so no worry about missing the target. Li Youyuan was hit by the Electro-Purification Talisman. He felt neither the shock nor the purification. Jiang Cheng, your Talisman has no effect, could it have failed? Li Youyuan began to worry about his testing fee. If the Talisman was ineffective, Jiang Cheng wouldnt refuse to pay him, would he? Jiang Cheng didnt respond but ran off a good distance and sent Li Youyuan amunication Talisman.
Hey, Director Li, stay put, the shock is about to hit. Oh. Okay, Ill wait. The dy in the expected shock allowed Li Youyuan to rxpletely. He thought to himself that testing Talismans for Jiang Cheng was a nice gig, getting paid for just standing around.
It seemed a bit too easy. The sky over Lotus University gradually darkened. Li Youyuan looked up at the sky, where dark clouds that had appeared from nowhere began to churn, looking like it might rain soon. The weather forecast said it was going to be clear today, right? No, these clouds seem to have formed suddenly, and the area isntrge. Could it be that someone is about to achieve Foundation Establishment? Not bad, I wonder which sss student it is, theyre really promising. Huh? Judging by the distance of the clouds, that student seems to be quite close to me. Wait! Why the hell is the Tribtion above my head!? Li Youyuan waspletely confused. He had never heard of a cultivator going through Foundation Establishment Tribtion twice. Besides, whats the point of undergoing the Tribtion twice? The first round of Tribtion was for Foundation Establishment. The second round of Tribtion was still Foundation Establishment. Isnt that just Foundation Establishment in vain? Li Youyuan remembered Jiang Chengs Talisman and felt increasingly uneasy. He quickly took out amunication Talisman to contact Jiang Cheng: Jiang Cheng, whats going on with this Tribtion?
Dont panic, its just part of our Electro-Purification test. Li Youyuan pointed to the massive thunderclouds above him and yelled, You call this a shock!? Jiang Cheng kindly reminded him, Director, dont run around when the purification starts. ording to school regtions, faculty and students who undergo Tribtion on campus and damage school facilities will have to pay for the damages. Can we stop the test now, is it still possible? I can agree to that. But youll also have to negotiate with the Tribtion to see if it agrees. Chapter 254: 220 What Level? Chapter 254: Chapter 220 What Level? Li Youyuan stared at the rolling dark clouds above him, including the faintly emerging white shes within, and silently swallowed his saliva. His cultivation level was at thete Foundation Establishment stage, much stronger than the ninth level of Qi practicing. He wasnt worried about being directly struck dead by the Heavenly Tribtion. But that didnt stop the fact that getting hit by the Heavenly Tribtion hurts like hell! Just imagine, bolts of lightning as thick as an arm striking down at you with the speed of thunderno sane person would want to experience that a second time. Li Youyuan yelled into themunication talisman, Jiang Cheng, dont you have any magical treasures for transcending tribtions? Indeed, I have prepared something. Li Youyuan felt a burst of joy and was about to ask Jiang Cheng what he had prepared for him. Then, he saw Jiang Cheng putting on a pair of sunsses from afar. Thanks for the reminder, Ive got my sunsses on, Director Li, you can start your performance whenever youre ready. Li Youyuans retort got stuck in his throat.
He said, Prepare for me! Not yourself! Didnt you prepare any magical treasures for me? Jiang Cheng responded with surprise, Director Li, do you need additional preparation even at thete Foundation Establishment stage? I am ate Foundation Establishment who sits in an office! Its been nearly two hundred years since Ivest thrown a punch! Li Youyuan didnt say thest sentence, valuing his face. Jiang Cheng was taken aback; he really hadnt considered that there would be a difference between office-worker cultivators and others at thete Foundation Establishment stage. Heres what well do, Director Li. When youre getting electrocuted, feel free to scream out loud. Scream out loud? What kind of technique is that? Its not a special technique, its mainly for helping you vent your emotions. Li Youyuans mouth twitched. Thank you so much, Jiang Cheng, for your thoughtful preparation. But it was toote to talk about these things now. The Heavenly Tribtion wasnt something only he could endure alone; Li Youyuan could have dragged Jiang Cheng over to get struck together. But Jiang Cheng was sly. He still owed fifty thousand for the talisman tests. If Jiang Cheng got killed by the tribtion, Li Youyuan would truly end up with nothingstruck by lightning and penniless. So be it. A mere Heavenly Tribtion. We Foundation Establishment cultivators dont even take it seriously.
Li Youyuan summoned the magical treasures he had used in his youth. Under the Heavenly Tribtion, his figure was tall and straight, his garments fluttering without wind. His face, framed by graying temples, was full of fighting spirit; at this moment, his cultivation seemed to advance even further, stepping into the realm ofplete Foundation Establishment! In a short while, the shes of the tribtion lightning repeatedly lit up the buildings next to the open space of Lotus University.
Li Youyuan emitted a scream like that of Tom the cat. Afterward. Jiang Cheng duly paid the fifty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. The Electro-Purification Talisman experiment was aplete sess with his and Director Lis efforts. It was time to report their results. Armed with the Land Naming Charm, Liang Wu immediately set out to integrate the funeral industry of the Capital. After being guided by a high person, Liang Wu didnt sit idle and steeped himself deeply in the knowledge of doing business. The first step to making money, start small to win big. Liang Wu tried using the funds given by the high person to acquire several funeral businesses in the Capital. However, he failed due to the low prices he offered. Liang Wu pinpointed the pain points, iterated his strategy, achieved a dimensionality reduction attack on downstream enterprises through top-level design, and sessfully acquired funeral enterprises in the Capital at low prices,pleting resource integration. The second step to making money, optimize the structure.
The operations of the acquired funeral businesses highly ovepped. With the Land Naming Charm in hand, Liang Wu thought it unnecessary to maintain arge number of underworld construction teams. So by supplying outstanding talents to society, he downsized the underworld construction team to just two people. One to use the charm, one to carry the storage bag, two people were enough. The third step to making money, control costs. To motivate the two-person construction team, Liang Wu designed a sry structure with a base wage plusmission for them. Ten low-grade Spirit Stones per job. As a result, the two peoplepleted six hundred jobs in one day. They earned six thousand low-grade Spirit Stones! Liang Wu thought, no, this wont do. Six thousand a day, wouldnt that be sixty thousand in ten days, and one hundred eighty thousand in a month? So he reduced themission from ten Spirit Stones per job to half a Spirit Stone. This way, the monthly wage expense for the construction team was only nine thousand Spirit Stones, saving a total of one hundred seventy-one thousand Spirit Stones!
I am a genius. Liang Wu admired his own business acumen. At night, in a certain cemetery. Fuck! I dont want to do this anymore! One member of the construction team threw the talisman he was holding onto the ground. Before thepany was acquired, their treatment was passable; right after the acquisition and the implementation of the talisman reform, he saw a bright future. Ten Spirit Stones per job. Earn a small hundred thousand in a month. Thepany was like his reborn parents. Then Liang Wu cut theirmission. After a month of hard work, they could only earn a few thousand. Whats the point! Hey, if you dont want to do it, dont do it, but dont mistreat the charms, these are good stuff.
The other member of the team picked up the Land Naming Charm from the ground. How good can it be for digging holes? Do you know how much this thing sells for in the ck market? How much? The man held up five fingers. Five? Fifty! Holy shit! Its worth that much? The man said mysteriously, Since this charm can be used for digging, obviously it can also be used for tunneling. Think about it, those tomb raiders who used to spend a month digging tunnels can now go in and out in a day and make several trips! All major tombs and noble ancestral mausoleums are a piece of cake. Hearing about the lucrative profit from selling charms, the two construction team members entertained many ideas. Since honest work didnt pay much anyway, they might as well take a risk for potentially greater rewards! After the Electro-Purification Talisman test seeded, Jiang Cheng immediately informed Liang Hong of the good news. Naturally, Liang Hong was overjoyed. Chapter 255: 220 What Level?_2 Chapter 255: Chapter 220 What Level?_2 With this talisman in hand, wouldnt his position as Emperor of Liang be as easy as reaching into a bag? Good, when shall I bring the talisman to you? Jiang Cheng asked. Liang Hong was about to say as soon as possible, but then he thought of something, Wait, I need to ask the Princess Consort first. Liang Hong activated amunication talisman and asked Hai: Im preparing to meet with Jiang Cheng, is Hai Lan going or not? She will definitely go, Hai stated definitively. Hai Lans natural talent for cultivation is rather poor, and shes not very diligent, so she hasnt achieved Foundation Establishment yet. For a Qi Cultivation Cultivator, her age is not considered young. Now, including Hais parents, they just want to quickly send Hai Lan away. Hais parents initially had the idea of raising children for the sake of security in old age, but now it seemed that the only thing they had secured was angering themselves into a shorter life. Oh, then when and where should I arrange to meet with Jiang Cheng? Liang Hong asked again. Hai said, Dont be in a hurry, let me ask.
An afternoon passed, and Hai hung up themunication talisman, patting the already snoozing Liang Hong at the table. She said the day after tomorrow. To our mansion? How could that be possible? Hongyan Restaurant, have a meal then let Jiang Cheng take her out for a stroll, cultivate some affection. Oh. A meal at Hongyan Restaurant is not cheap. But Liang Hong immediately thought that he was about to fight for his rightful inheritance and ascend the throne, which broadened his horizons and elevated his thinking, so he didnt care about this trifling amount of money. Hongyan Restaurant, Jiang Cheng arrived as promised. However, he hadnt expected that Liang Hong would bring along a female Cultivator. Jiang, this is my sister-inw. Her surname is Hai, first name Lan, her father is Elder Hai, the Assistant Minister of Rites. Hai Lan, this is Jiang Cheng, a student at Lotus University and a very outstanding Talisman Master, he introduced. Jiang Cheng, although not quite understanding the situation, still greeted Hai Lan politely. Hello. Hai Lan sized Jiang Cheng up and down, finding him to her liking, with an appearance that met her standards. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Jiang Cheng: ? Wasnt today about signing a contract and exchanging talismans? Was this Hai Lan specially brought by Liang Hong to vet him? Jiang Cheng couldnt figure out Hai Lans intentions, so he looked toward Liang Hong. Liang Hong also had an ufortable expression, whispering, Shes not very smart, take care of her.
Jiang Cheng suddenly understood. So he spoke theplete truth, I dont have any brothers or sisters. An only child? Yes.
Thats not bad, there wont be any disputes over inheritance in the future. Jiang Cheng nodded, Legally speaking, thats correct. I can inherit all of my parents estates. So, how much in assets can your parents leave you? Im not sure, I never asked. But they are healthy, so I dont need to consider this for the time being. Hai Lan said, The point isnt about inheritance, its about the assets. My family is also well-respected in the Capital, I look quite alright to you, but Im not interested in marrying beneath me. Jiang Cheng thought to himself, what does whether you marry or not have to do with me? He looked at Liang Hong. Liang Hong had a bitter expression and desperately gestured with his eyes to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng said, I probably wont need you to marry beneath yourself. Upon hearing these words, Hai Lan immediately sent a sound transmission to Liang Hong: He said I wont need to marry beneath myself? His family is that influential? Liang Hong thought: Is it possible that hes actually rejecting you because youre older and have a bad temper and he doesnt even want to discuss it with you, and not because his family is rich? However, outwardly, Liang Hong did not dare to provoke this little aunt of his. A few instigations to her sister were enough to make Liang Hong miserable.
Liang Hong sent a sound transmission back: Lets talk more about it, theres no certainty yet. Ever since Hai Lan felt that Jiang Chengs family was not poor, her attitude towards him significantly improved. At least from what she could see, Jiang Cheng met her standards in appearance and family background, and she was quite satisfied. When are you nning to buy a house in the Capital? Hai Lan asked. Jiang Cheng replied truthfully, I probably wont buy a house in the Capital; Im quite happy with the ce Im renting right now. Hai Lan frowned and said, Youre not buying a house, but what will you do about getting married in the future? Without a house, what will you do when the kids go to school? Although my family can afford it, youre also supposed to buy your own ce. Concerning marriage, Jiang Cheng had long had ns. I n to settle in the Immortal Sect. If my partner cannot enter the Immortal Sect, I should be able to apply for a special pass for her after marriage. Upon hearing this, Hai Lans eyes immediately lit up. She hadnt expected Jiang Cheng to propose something so grand. Settling in the Immortal Sect, even bringing his partner, was not something anyone could easily aplish. You can get into the Immortal Sect? Ill try my best, it shouldnt be a problem.
Settling in the Immortal Sect with a partner was much more impressive than buying a house in the Capital. It was said that the children of Immortal Sect disciples naturally get into the Immortal Sect without needing to take exams. As for a house in the Capital, it only provided a slight advantage when applying for key universities to enter the Immortal Sect. The difference in privileges was like that between heaven and earth. Hai Lan also heard that in the Immortal Sect the concentration of Spiritual Energy was so high that merely breathing could increase ones Cultivation Level. Treasures of heaven and earth were all over the mountains, and wild dogs running around the mountains all had the Cultivation Level of Foundation Establishment! She happily transmitted to Liang Hong: Brother-inw, Jiang Cheng is not bad! Im quite satisfied with him. Liang Hong sighed: It hase to this, lets eat first. The three of them had a pleasant meal. Jiang Cheng didnt act like an outsider and ate normally. It was Hai Lan who kept putting on airs, constantly trying to engage Jiang Cheng in conversation, which made Liang Hong wish he could p her twice. The transfer of the talisman, which should have been the highlight of the day, wasrgely overlooked due to Hai Lans presence. Liang Hong said, Heres 500,000 Spirit Stones, the rest will be paid in installments. Jiang Cheng nodded, No problem. The Electro-Purification Talisman sold to Jiang Cheng totaled fifteen million Spirit Stones. Liang Hong didnt have that much money, so he could only mortgage the Prince Mansion to Jiang Cheng, then slowly pay him off in installments.
If he could ascend to the throne, this amount of money would be nothing. But if he couldnt, that would be difficult. However, Liang Hong didnt consider the possibility of failure, because the Void Venerable had said he would ascend the thronecould there be any idents? Chapter 256: 220 What Level?_3 Chapter 256: Chapter 220 What Level?_3 Along with the talisman, Jiang Cheng also provided Liang Hong with two contracts identical to those of Li Youyuan, one of which was a liability waiver for using the Electro-Purification Talisman, and the other was a personal ident insurance. If anything ever happened to Emperor of Liang, it would be normal for the beneficiary of the personal ident insurance policy to be the Prince. With minor matters resolved, Liang Hong moved on to more important business, Jiang Cheng, help me take her out for a walk. Just casually show her around. Ah? Ive never asked anyone for favors in my life, Liang Hong yed the emotional card. Do you even believe what youre saying? Its thest time! Dont force me to get down on my knees and beg you! Its a deal. Out of consideration for the Prince Mansion, Jiang Cheng decided he would help Liang Hong onest time. Since he was nning to visit Miaodan Workshop in the afternoon anyway, he might as well take someone on a tour. Where are we going?
Downstairs at Hongyan Restaurant, Hai Lan asked Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng hailed a taxi and said, Going to a friends shop to look around. Hai Lan saw the taxi and frowned, asking, Arent you going to buy a car? No need. But youll definitely need one when you get married, wont you? Are you nning to always take taxis with your partner? Jiang Cheng thought about it, feeling that his partners cultivation level definitely wouldnt be low. Because one could hover for a short period at Foundation Establishment, and fly freely after Core Formation. If I were to get married, I probably wouldnt always take taxis. That sounds more like it, Hai Lan was barely satisfied. The two arrived at Miaodan Workshop. Since Miaodan Workshop had a prominent reputation in the Capital, Hai Lan naturally knew about it. Even though the Miaodan Workshop had suffered greatly due to the incident with the nt Autonomy Talisman, the brand-new and stylish facade indicated that Miaodan Workshop still had significant resources and definitely was not amon small shop. Does your friend work at Miaodan Workshop? She would probably be considered the boss, said Jiang Cheng. You know the boss of Miaodan Workshop? You really have some impressive connections! Hai Lan couldnt help but look at Jiang Cheng with newfound respect. Master Shen, hello! A Miaodan Workshop employee actively greeted Jiang Cheng. This took Hai Lan by surprise. Youre the boss? Hai Lan asked, delighted.
Im not. Hai Lan was disappointed. Im just an investor in Miaodan Workshop, Jiang Cheng exined. Hai Lan cheered up again, thinking to herself that Jiang Cheng was quite a catch. She decided she might give him the opportunity to invite her for dinner and possibly to further develop their rtionship that evening.
However, a voiceing from the back of the shop made Hai Lan feel extremely ufortable. Madam Boss, the boss is here! Hai Lans eyes widened and she asked, Madam Boss, youre married? No, theyre just shouting nonsense. The owner of this shop is my senior, exined Jiang Cheng. Although Jiang Cheng exined, Hai Lan was still not reassured until Shen Menghan appeared. Then, her hopes finally died. Being a female cultivator herself, Hai Lan could tell the way Shen Menghan looked at Jiang Cheng. Their rtionship was certainly not simple. Jiang Cheng, she is A friends younger sister, Hai Lan. This is Master Shen of Miaodan Workshop, Jiang Cheng introduced them briefly. Facing Shen Menghan, Hai Lan couldnt help but stand a bit taller. Shen Menghan was indeed young and beautiful, but Hai Lan prided herself on not being outshined in beauty, thinking youth didnt count for much. A green kid, how can shepete with me? she thought. Shen Menghan, of course, noticed Hai Lans improper intent. But as the owner of Miaodan Workshop, she needed to maintain her image in front of her employees; in a public setting, how could she afford to be too intimate with Jiang Cheng?
However, Shen Menghan had her own clever n. If she was too embarrassed, someone else might not be. Twenty minutester, Yue Linger arrived at Miaodan Workshop. Yue Linger had no qualms about being close and stood right next to Jiang Cheng upon arrival, squeezing Hai Lan out ufortably. First Shen Menghan, then Yue Linger, all stunningly beautiful. Hai Lan didnt understand; she had finally taken an interest in someone, so why was he so popr? Yue, youre still young, theres no need to be so aggressive just yet, Hai Lan remarked with hidden mockery. Yue Lingerughed, Do you really think tigers and wolves are the ultimate predators? It was obvious Hai Lan didnt understand. Shen Menghan whispered, Sister Yue, shes still not giving up. What should we do? Yue Linger sneered, She still harbors hope because she has lucked out so far. Whats her caliber? How dare she harbor the same thoughts about Jiang Cheng as I do? Just follow my leadter, well get up close and pull a big move. Alright.
Chapter 257: 221 Steal Home Chapter 257: Chapter 221 Steal Home As evening approached, Jiang Cheng figured it was about time for Hai Lan to head home. Hai, its getting dark, let me arrange for someone to send you home. While Jiang Cheng didnt have a car, Shen Menghan did. Both the Shen Family and Miaodan Workshop had needs for travel and business. Therefore, as soon as Miaodan Workshop caught its breath, they gradually equipped themselves with thesefort facilities. Jiang Cheng was ready to see his guest out, and Hai Lan didnt wish to overstay her wee either. She was quite satisfied with Jiang Cheng, but those two greenhorn girls from Miaodan Workshop were constantly opposing her, which was extremely annoying. Hai Lan was about to agree when Yue Linger preemptively invited, Jiang Cheng, Hai doesnte over often, arent you going to invite her to dinner? Jiang Cheng looked at Yue Linger strangely, thinking to himself, why are you suddenly so generous? Even Shen Menghan, who was always upied with numerous tasks and scarcely had any free time, chimed in, Yeah, why not have dinner before leaving? Jiang Cheng turned to Hai Lan and said, What do you think, Hai?
Hai Lan nced at Yue Linger and Shen Menghan, thinking to herself: a weasel paying New Years visit to a chicken. The little girl isnt old but has more schemes than hairs on her head. Maybe not this time? Jiang Cheng nodded, as he didnt n on inviting Hai Lan to dinner either. Just as things were about to settle, Yue Linger shifted her strategy and prepared to unleash a big move. Is Hai afraid of being in the limelight? Were all friends here, whats there to feel embarrassed about? Besides, even if you donte, Jiang Cheng was nning to treat us to dinner anyway. Jiang Cheng looked at Yue Linger with a confused face, not knowing what she was up to. The tactic of provoking by challenge really worked, for although Hai Lan knew Yue Linger probably had ulterior motives, she wanted to see what tricks the younger girl had up her sleeve. Thinking that just a meal would persuade her to leave Jiang Cheng? No chance. Fine, lets eat. The threedy cultivators turned their gaze to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng was full of question marks. He hadnt done anything, so how had everything been arranged already? Jiang Cheng, where shall we eat? Yue Linger asked. After some thought, Jiang Cheng felt that since they were all eating together, it couldnt be too casual. Then Shen Menghan spoke up for him, Theres a good seafood barbecue ce across from Lotus University, lets go there. Yue Linger readily agreed in unison, Alright, lets settle on that ce. Its close to your house, and Liu hasnt eaten either, right? Lets call her over. Jiang Cheng: Ill ask Liu Qing Shell definitelye! Shen, could you arrange the car, and then we can head out.
Okay. Shen Menghan agreed immediately. Huh? Jiang Cheng was dragged by Yue Linger out of the Miaodan Workshop. He now very much felt like a new emperor under the regency of Empress Dowager Yue.
The key point: Empress Dowager Yue had no pressure inmanding her Shen, and Jiang Cheng didnt understand how their rtionship seemed to be so good. Moreover, Jiang Cheng felt that Shen seemed to be somewhat subdued by Yue Linger. This wasnt right at all. In terms of cultivation level, looks, and proficiency in alchemy, Shen Menghan was not inferior to Yue Linger. In age, student council position, and family background, she was definitely stronger than Yue Linger. By all ounts, it should be Yue Linger listening to Shen Menghan, so why was the reality the opposite? Could it be that Yue Linger had some hidden advantage? Jiang Cheng didnt understand. In the car, Hai Lan found herself squeezed into the front passenger seat by Yue Linger. Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger sat in the back. The Empress Dowager now had an air of using Jiang Cheng tomand the nobles. She directly called Liu Qing. Hello?
There was no sound from the other end of the talisman, but based on Yue Lingers understanding of Liu Qing, she was surely listening. Yue Linger nced at Jiang Cheng, deliberately not mentioning him. We n to eat seafood barbecue this evening. Do you want toe? The other side of the talisman was quiet. Yue Linger nced at Jiang Cheng again. This time she hesitated a bit. Ahem, Jiang Cheng is here too, do you want toe, sister? Mhm. Alright, then Ill ask Shen to drive over and pick you up. Phew. At the affirmative answer from the other side of the talisman, Yue Linger breathed a sigh of relief. The pressure from being Jiang Chengs roommate was indeed something else, managing to make her quell her rebellious heart even through the talisman. Hai Lan, sitting in the front, heard the soft tone of Yue Linger, and her lips curled into a disdainful smile.
She had thought Yue Linger was some sort of formidable independent woman. But this was it? Yue has quite a temper, huh. I thought you were straightforward by nature and not one to submit to others. Yue Linger just smiled and didnt say a word. In her heart, she thought: Keepughing, keepughing. Youll onlyugh a little while longer. Once Jiang Chengs roommate arrives, Ill see if you can still smile. Jiang Cheng andpany, led by Yue Linger, soon arrived at the seafood barbecue restaurant across from Lotus University. Yue Linger confidently ordered dishes and shamelessly took the seat next to Jiang Cheng, which made Hai Lan grind her teeth. In Hai Lans view, the one called Shen Menghan was still somewhat modest. But this Yue Linger, she actedpletely at ease, as if she had no care for appearances. She didnt seem like Jiang Chengs friend, more like his personal maid, ready to warm his bed at his slightest beckon. Hai Lan just couldntprehend it. Yue had the looks and the figure. Although Hai Lan felt Yue Linger definitely couldnt match her, she wasnt bad either.
Why was she so attentive to Jiang Cheng? I can handle these myself, Yue. said Jiang Cheng. Yue Linger argued confidently, Were friends, whats wrong with helping you tidy up the tes? Dont be too formal. Jiang Cheng: Why did those words sound so familiar? Soon after, Yue Lingers talisman vibrated. Yue Linger took it out and immediately saw a message from Shen Menghan. Shen Menghan: Two minutes. No more words necessary, sisterly understanding didnt need to be spelled out. Yue Linger quickly tidied and arranged the tes on the table, and got up from her seat next to Jiang Cheng a minute early. Chapter 258: 221 Steal Home_2 Chapter 258: Chapter 221 Steal Home_2 What are you doing? Hai Lan asked, puzzled. Yue Linger had finally managed to snatch a seat next to Jiang Cheng, right in front of her. Now she was giving it up voluntarily? Why? Yue Linger smiled and said, Just watch the entranceter. The entrance? Hai Lan didnt understand what Yue Linger wanted her to watch for. Could there be someone elseing? The sister she had mentioned in the carriage? Was Yue Linger afraid of her sister? Talk about pathetic, so cowardly.
Hai Lan considered herself worldly. She had even seen Consort Li, who outshone all others in the harem. How much prettier could Yue Lingers sister be than Consort Li? But then, a woman cultivator wearing a light cyan body-hugging qipao and a loose, embroidered overcoat walked through the shops door. Shen Menghan from the Miaodan Workshop followed closely behind the woman cultivator. Shen Menghan, who easily qualified as a great beauty, seemed like nothing more than a little maid carrying the bags for thedy of the house under the aura of the woman cultivator. As soon as this woman cultivator appeared in the barbecue shop, it felt as if the lights had been turned off, leaving only one shining upon her. Hai Lans eyes were wide, her mouth half-open, staring at Liu Qing as she walked towards her in shock. But to Liu Qing, Hai Lan seemed like nothing, not even deserving of a ce in her field of vision. She walked straight up to Jiang Cheng, settled herself down effortlessly by his side, exuding an overwhelming presence, and didnt bother to say a word with her cold demeanor. Shen Menghan quietly slipped up to Yue Linger and said, Hows the effect of the clothes I picked out? Yue Linger nced at Hai Lan and gave Shen Menghan a thumbs-up. Liu Qings entrance had quite the dramatic effect. Hai Lan was sopletely immersed in shock that she couldnt recover for a long while. Move over, Hai, Im going to sit next to my senior sister, Yue Linger said with a triumphant smile. Oh, oh. Hai Lan stood up to let Yue Linger sit down. After Liu Qings appearance, she felt that her previous querrels with Yue Linger were as childish as ying house. What was the point of fighting Yue Linger tooth and nail?
How could she possibly surmount the mountain that sat next to Jiang Cheng? Jiang Cheng, arent you going to introduce Hai to your friend? Yue Linger seized the opportunity to fan the mes. Jiang Cheng then realized and smiled, Hai, this is Liu Qing, an employee from our studio. Liu Qing, this is Hai Lan, the sister of Daoist Liang Hong. Hai Lan forced a smile and extended a pale hand towards Liu Qing.
Hello. Liu Qing nced at Hai Lan and had no desire to exchange pleasantries with her. This woman cultivator smelled bad, which she found very displeasing. Seeing this, Jiang Cheng quickly served Liu Qing some meat he had just grilled. Lets eat, eat up. What else would you like? Ill grill it for you. Liu Qing looked at thergest piece of meat on the table. Jiang Cheng didnt hesitate and got to work immediately. Feeding a snake is not demeaning. At this moment, Yue Linger was extremely proud of herself. She had insisted on having this meal with Hai Lan just to witness this very scene. Seeing Hai Lan make no move to pick up her chopsticks, Yue Linger proactively grabbed a scallop and ced it in front of Hai Lan. Hai, dont just stand there. Eat up! Hai Lan, thinking back on how Yue Linger had catered to Jiang Cheng and now seeing Jiang Cheng catering to Liu Qing, seemed to have an epiphany.
It wasnt a big deal that Liu Qing had a higher status. But Liu Qings beauty, poise, and figure made the usually proud Hai Lan feel a sense of self-destructive inferiority, feeling like a real loser. Liu Qing was like a mountain weighing on Hai Lans heart. For the first time in her life, she experienced a strong sense of inferiority. Yue Linger, seeing the ugly look on Hai Lans face, couldnt help butugh out loud. Pine after Jiang Cheng? You think youre worthy? Hai, with your qualifications, youre not even fit to be my sister. At that moment, Hai Lan finally understood why Yue Linger had insisted on having this meal with her. Yue Linger had wrapped up this bitter lesson just for her! She whispered in a low voice, What are you so proud of? I might notpare to her, but do you? Yue Linger was in a very good mood. The first reason was that she had gotten used to being around Liu Qing; too much pressure was like having none at all.
The second was that no matter what, she was still considered Jiang Chengs daughter, prepared for attack or defense, andpletely fearless. Im not trying topete, but why should I? I have no need, Yue Linger said to Hai Lan before turning to Liu Qing andplimenting, Sister, youre really beautiful today. Liu Qing paused, sniffed, then picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks that Jiang Cheng has just passed to her. Here, have some meat. Thank you, sister. Hai Lan, witnessing this scene, was filled with disbelief. She challenged, Youre content with calling her sister? Yue Linger responded with surprise, Hai, what does it have to do with you, an outsider? I Hai Lan was lost for words, unable to respond to Yue Lingers retort. Yue Linger had every right to share in the meat, while Hai Lan didnt even have the privilege to partake. So what makes him deserve it? Hai Lan asked. Yue Lingerughed and said, Let me tell you why.
After finishing the meat on her te, Yue Linger spoke to Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng, did the Lu you mentioned youd help get out of prison get released? Yes. Ive already asked President Li to take care of her, Jiang Cheng replied. Hai Lan asked with confusion, President Li? Which President Li? Yue Linger exined, Li Qingge, the President of the Talisman Master Association of the Taixu Sect. Hai Lans lips twitched uncontrobly. She had underestimated Jiang Cheng after all. She hadnt expected his connections to extend to the higher ranks of the Immortal Sect. To think that even her father, the Assistant Minister of Rites, couldnt connect with those at the top of the Immortal Sect. Could it be that the coboration between Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong was not Liang Hong extending an opportunity to Jiang Cheng, but Jiang Cheng giving an opportunity to Liang Hong? Aftering to this realization, Hai Lan stiffened. She thought back on her initial attitude towards Jiang Cheng and wished she could crawl into a hole and hide. Chapter 259: 221 Steal Home_3 Chapter 259: Chapter 221 Steal Home_3 Jiang Cheng looked at Hai Lan who hadnt touched a single bite of food since earlier and asked with concern, Hai, why arent you eating? Are you feeling unwell? Hai Lans face was filled with bitterness, You all go ahead and eat, Im going home first. Liang Hong was overjoyed after receiving the Electro-Purification Talisman. He was now rubbing his hands together in anticipation, preparing to expel the evil spirits and ascend to the throne. Holding the Talisman firmly in his hands, Liang Hong walked with head held high and chest out, striding towards the Emperors bedchamber. The ones guarding the entrance to the bedchamber were still Eunuch Liu and Eunuch Zhang. Your Highness, Prince Chu. Although the two eunuchs did not wish to see Liang Hong, their years of professional training were without question. A standard eunuchs face was at their fingertips. I want to see Father Emperor, Liang Hong said arrogantly.
His Majesty has only just recovered from a severe illness; it is not convenient. I dont care, I want to see Father Emperor. Your Highness, Prince Chu, its really not convenient. Liang Hong thought to himself,st time when Jiang Cheng came, you didnt say this, so why cant I do the same? Ive specifically prepared the Talisman to expel evil spirits, I must see Father Emperor! Eunuch Liu put on a stern face and said, Please, Your Highness, do not raise your voice and disturb His Majestys rest. Today, Liang Hong simply refused to believe in this nonsense. If you dont step aside, I will force my way through. Eunuch Liu replied, If Your Highness has nothing to do, you can join our Imperial Army soldiers and rest in the side hall. Liang Hong insisted, I am not afraid, I must enter today! Escorted by the Imperial Army, Liang Hong sessfully entered the side hall to rest. Eunuch Zhang wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, Prince Chu is so domineering, Eunuch Liu, you really have the patience. Eunuch Liu chuckled, Without Jiang Cheng here, he alone cant stir up any trouble. The old ancestor isnt around today, right? Mind your own business about the old ancestor. Just guard the door, thats enough. At nightfall, the bustling activity at the royal tombs finally drew to a close. Despite the fierce battle between the Blood Orange Tree and the Irond Figurines that seemed to have left the royal tombs in ruins, in reality, bothcked intelligence. The destruction was quite superficial.
The ruins of the royal tombs were only superficial structures. The truly valuable treasures underground were almostpletely preserved. ording to the burial customs of the Liang Kingdom, each emperor would be interred with a multitude of exotic and precious treasures.
Among them were various natural treasures greatly beneficial to cultivating immortality. The things stored in the royal tombs were the treasured resources of the Great Liang royal family. Since the reconstruction work required a temporary shutdown of the tombs defense Formation, Liang Heng needed to keep a close watch on the tomb, to prevent any mishaps. Taking advantage of the unattended night, Liang Heng approached the underground entrance of the royal tomb. He ced his palm on the chamber mechanism, and the tombs grand doors slowly opened. Liang Heng walked along the winding underground corridors. Each chamber he passed disyed the remains of acquaintances. As an individual of ancient heritage, none of Liang Hengs friends from his era remained in this world. In the end, cultivating immortality was destined to be apanied by loneliness. As Liang Heng walked, he heard some noises, swept the area with his Divine Sense, and quickly furrowed his brow. The lively tomb-raiding scene. Every face was brimming with the joy of their finds. What are you doing?
Tomb robbing! Cant you see? The Tomb Robber was unashamed and then pped a stack of Talismans into Liang Hengs hands. You must be Cousin Zhou Qi, right? Youre a bitte. Go and start on the next chamber. How should I dig? How? With Talismans of course! Didnt Zhou Qi tell you? Come on, watch this. The Tomb Robber demonstrated the power of the Land Naming Charm for Liang Heng. Instantly, arge hole could be made in the limestone wall. The Tomb Robber boasted proudly, How about that? Impressive, right? Fifty pieces per charm, today if we dont bring more, this trip is a total loss, hurry up and get to work. Liang Heng was indeed shocked Not shocked that someone was robbing a tomb. But shocked by the Talisman. He recalled thest time he emerged from seclusion was two hundred years ago. Back then, everything was normal.
How had a perfectly good Talisman be like this in just two hundred years? Who the hell did this? Chapter 260: 222 Cultivation Chapter 260: Chapter 222 Cultivation In the special activity room of Qingxuan University, Jiang Cheng sat cross-legged on the floor. After Qinghe Xuanran University started the winter break, there were indeed students like Yue Linger who stayed on campus. However, as a first-year student, Jiang Cheng did not meet the conditions to stay on campus. Her freedom toe and go from the university during the winter break, and her ess to the schools facilities and resources, were entirely due to the special care from the Taixu Sect. Students with potential like Jiang Cheng are quietly nurtured in batches by Qingxuan University every year. They not only have the reserved spots to enter the Taixu Sect in advance, but if they perform exceptionally well, they might even be directly rmended to join a strong lineage within the Taixu Sect. From beginning to end, Mo Ningdan only allowed Jiang Cheng to call her teacher, not master, precisely for this reason. The fact that Mo Ningdan came to the Liangguo Subrudder of the Taixu Sect indicates that her own cultivation talent was not outstanding and was not enough for her to stay and enjoy the resources of the main sect. But Jiang Cheng was different. Foundation Establishment was a breeze for her, Core Formation was the baseline expectation, Nascent Soul was not impossible, and anything beyond that was already beyond the predictive range of their Liangguo Subrudder. In other words, Mo Ningdan could be Jiang Chengs teacher, but she was not quite qualified to be her master.
The door to the activity room opened, and Mo Ningdan walked over to Jiang Cheng, who was sitting in meditation. Jiang Cheng remained with closed eyes, utterly still, as if she hadnt detected Mo Ningdans arrival at all. Mo Ningdan used her Divine Sense to scan Jiang Chengs body and found no fluctuations in her spiritual energy, and nodded approvingly. Looking at the current situation, the Taixu Sect made an extremely right decision to focus on nurturing Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng had also made significant progress. In just one term, her willpower had grown considerably. However, Jiang Cheng wasnt the greatest surprise to the high-ranking members of the Taixu Sect. The biggest surprise among the new students to the Taixu Sects higher-ups was Lin Yao! Lin Yaos cultivation talent could only be considered excellent, far inferior to Jiang Chengs from the same period. Butter, following the end of the Chaotic Heart Mountain assessment, Lin Yao managed to surpass Jiang Cheng to take the top spot, causing the Taixu Sects leadership to take notice of this female cultivator from Wuyue. After that, the understated contest between Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao was keenly captured by Mo Ningdan, who suggested to Principal Shang Yufeng that they also increase investment in resources for Lin Yao, to serve as a whetstone for Jiang Cheng. Shang Yufeng agreed. However, what surprised everyone was that the whetstone seemed to be growing even faster than the knife. At present, Lin Yao has already shown signs of potentially surpassing Jiang Cheng. But this was not necessarily a bad thing; geniuses only grow faster throughpetition with other geniuses. Moreover, Shang Yufeng, Mo Ningdan, and other executors were all from the main sect, where each of the favored ones from the orthodox Immortal Sects were considered exceptional, one in a million, with talents so formidable it was nauseating. The small squabbles between Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao were hardly noteworthy inparison. Mrs. Mo? Jiang Cheng opened her eyes, sounding a bit surprised. Mo Ningdan said, Good, you managed to maintain your concentration for half an hour this time, not a small improvement.
Just as Jiang Cheng was about to be pleased, she heard Mo Ningdan continue, However, you cannot becent. I just came from next door, and Lin Yao has managed to maintain two hours of focused cultivation. Yes, Teacher, I will try even harder, Jiang Cheng said, not entirely convinced. After Mo Ningdan finished suppressing her, she added, Each person has a different constitution, and there are various methods of cultivation. Lin Yaos willpower is tenacious; its not strange that youre not like her. There have been precedents of Holy Maidens in our sect cultivating the Red Dust techniques and reaching the Unity Realm, so whats important is to find your own path, not to constantlypete with others. Yes.
Mo Ningdan, hearing Jiang Chengs tone soften a bit, nodded gently and said, I told you before to keep your distance from Jiang Cheng. Have you taken it to heart? I have kept it in mind, Teacher. Hmm. Lately, its not only Jiang Cheng you need to stay away from, but also from your several imperial brothers, especially your second brother, Liang Wu. Jiang Cheng was taken aback, not understanding why Mo Ningdan would say such a thing. She was already virtually estranged from her imperial brothers, so why would her teacher specifically remind her to keep a distance from them? But as a princess, Jiang Cheng, who was brought up in the pce from a young age, naturally wouldnt ask too many questions. I understand, Teacher, she replied. Mo Ningdan was quite satisfied with Jiang Cheng as a student. She was obedient, diligent, sensible, and talented, indeed a fine piece of jade worth sculpting, potentially a future pir of the Taixu Sect. Alright. Just now, I discussed with Yan and decided to arrange for you and Lin Yao to practice through actualbat. This mornings cultivation will end here, go back and rest at noon, and in the afternoon well start training. Jiang Cheng, hearing that she could spar with Lin Yao again, joyfully said, Fine. Last time, she was at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, and Lin Yao was at the eighth; theypeted at the eighth level, and she narrowly lost. Now that Lin Yao had also reached the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, she finally could fully engage and have a proper fight with Lin Yao!
This time, she absolutely would not lose! At noon, Jiang Cheng returned to Consort Lis pce for a meal. Resultingly, Consort Li asked her with a stern face, Luer, have you seen Prince Han recently? Prince Han was Jiang Chengs second imperial brother, Liang Wu. Upon hearing her mother ask like this, Jiang Cheng immediately remembered what her teacher, Mo Ningdan, had instructed. No, whats wrong with Liang Wu? she asked. Consort Li exhaling in relief, said, I knew you couldnt possibly be entangled with him, now I can finally be at ease. Jiang Cheng frowned and asked, Mother, tell me what exactly happened to Liang Wu? Consort Li, still agitated, said, Do you remember the recent trouble at the imperial mausoleum? They had to dig it up all over again, and unexpectedly, a group of tomb robbers actually set their sights on the imperial mausoleum. Tomb robbing? Isnt the imperial mausoleum protected by formations? Ordinary tomb robbers wouldnt have the skill, would they? Chapter 261: 222 Cultivation_2 Chapter 261: Chapter 222 Cultivation_2 ` Silly girl, how can you activate the formation if you dig up and rebuild it? If you open the formation, who would be willing to risk working around the imperial tomb? Jiang Cheng wasnt concerned about the imperial tomb. She only cared about whether Consort Li was doing well or not. And then, what does the incident at the imperial tomb have to do with Liang Wu? Consort Li slowly exined, Prince Han somehow got his hands on some special talismans that could dig holes at an incredibly fast speed. These talismans somehow ended up with the tomb robbers. Using the talisman from behind the mountain, they dug into the imperial tomb in just one night. The speed was too fast, and the patrolling soldiers had no chance to discover it. If it werent for someone inspecting the imperial tomb by chance, most of the treasures inside would probably no longer be safe. Dig through a mountain in one night? How is that possible? In the Cultivation World, there are great cultivators who can move mountains and fill seas. However, such high-level cultivators would not bother with the treasures in the royal mausoleums. The defenses of the imperial tomb were only there to guard against low-ranking cultivators who might covet the mausoleum. Jiang Cheng couldnt understand who could possibly dig into the imperial tomb overnight.
However, these werent important. What mattered was that Liang Wu was in trouble. If Prince Liang Wu fell, the only princes left who couldpete with her for the throne would be Prince Liang Hong and Prince Liang Qing. Prince Liang Hong was aplete imbecile and not a concern. It was Prince Liang Qing who was taken quite seriously by the Lin Sect. He was currently a junior at Capital University and had advanced to early Foundation Establishment with the universitys help. Jiang Cheng didnt know why, but it seemed as if the obstacles to her ascension were mysteriously falling one after another. First, it was Prince Liang Chu, then Prince Qi, and now it was Prince Liang Wus turn. Lately, you should also keep your distance from your imperial brothers, especially Prince Liang Wu. The words of Mrs. Mo echoed in Jiang Chengs ears again. Why did the teacher specifically instruct me to stay away from them? Jiang Cheng frowned deeply. Did Mrs. Mo know some secrets? Otherwise, why would she suddenly remind me so seriously? Why had Jiang Cheng been singled out several times by Mrs. Mo? What exactly set him apart from others? Jiang Cheng took out amunication talisman, wanting to contact Prince Liang Hong to ask about Jiang Cheng. But when she activated the talisman, she realized she didnt have Prince Liang Hongs contact information. After thinking it over, Jiang Cheng, unable to suppress her curiosity, decided to go find Prince Liang Hongs mother, Consort Jin. However, at the entrance to Consort Jins pce, Jiang Cheng hesitated. The teacher repeatedly told me to stay away from Jiang Cheng and the princes. She wouldnt harm me; I mustnt knowinglymit an error.
Jiang Cheng suppressed her curiosity and turned to head back to her pce. Just then, a mans voice called out to her. Jiang Cheng? Your timing is perfect, I was just about to visit Consort Li. Jiang Cheng turned around, and the person calling her was none other than Prince Liang Hong.
What do you want with my mother? Jiang Cheng asked coldly. Prince Liang Hong said, These past few days, I have been trying to see our father, but without sess. I wanted to ask Consort Li if she knew of any way. Jiang Cheng looked at Prince Liang Hong coldly. Prince Liang Hong added, There will be a generous reward if the matter is sessful. Jiang Cheng didnt care about Prince Liang Hongs promise of a reward, but she was indeed very curious about Jiang Cheng. She should have refused Prince Liang Hongs request, but instead she inexplicably agreed. Inside Consort Lis pce, Prince Liang Hong stated his purpose: Please help me see our father. Consort Li didnt refuse outright: Didnt Jiang Cheng see himst time? Why dont you ask him to help you? Recalling his st grand deration, Prince Liang Hong said, Jiang Cheng isnt actually my staff. I had him help me draw a talisman, and now that he has finished, it wouldnt be right to trouble him further. A talisman? What kind of talisman? Jiang Cheng suddenly became vignt. Liang Wu was brought down by a talisman; now Prince Liang Hong also had a talisman? Although Prince Liang Hong wasnt adept at handling affairs, he wasnt foolish.
The Electro-Purification Talisman was his secret to ascending the throne; if Jiang Cheng saw it, how could he ascend? Just an ordinary talisman, Consort Li. Do you have a way to help me? Consort Li shook her head: No, as far as I know, aside from Jiang Cheng, His Majesty hasnt seen anyone else. Ah, this Prince Liang Hong didnt know what to say. Did he have to ask Jiang Cheng toe out of retirement again? He had sworn that thest time he asked for Jiang Chengs help would indeed be thest. If he went back on his word now and asked for Jiang Chengs help again, where would he, Prince Liang Hong of the Great Liang, his highness the Prince of Chu, ce his dignity? ` There really is no need. Just find Jiang Cheng! Prince Liang Hong thought very clearly. As the saying goes, Its better to rely on others than on oneself.
If you can trouble someone else, why bother using your own brain? Youre preparing to find Jiang Cheng now? Prince Liang Lu saw through Prince Liang Hongs mind at a nce. Prince Liang Hong said indifferently, Right, since Consort Li cant do it, I have no choice but to turn to him. Prince Liang Lu said coldly, Always relying on others, even if you ascend to the throne, it will be hard to achieve greatness. Prince Liang Hong said as a matter of course, Whether or not I can achieve greatness, at least I would have ascended the throne. An emperor who hasnt achieved greatness is still better than a prince who hasnt, right? If youre not convinced, go find someone to help you. No one is stopping you. Get out, Wenrui Pce does not wee you. Hey, you should treat your imperial brother better. The only princes left who can still be emperor are me and Prince Liang Qing. If I ascend the throne, even Wenrui Pce will have to listen to me. Prince Liang Lu didnt speak, her beautiful eyes ring at Prince Liang Hong. Prince Liang Hong was actually afraid of her, because if it really came to a fight, he would definitely not be able to beat Prince Liang Lu. Fine, fine, your imperial brother is leaving. Watching Prince Liang Hongs retreating figure, Prince Liang Lu couldnt understand why, despite her own hard work, she had to be subordinate to a brother who always relied on others help? Was her effort not enough? Or was the world just like this?
In the afternoon, Prince Liang Lu arrived at Qingxuan University on time. Even without Mrs. Mo watching her, she was very disciplined in meditating to adjust her state. She must face Lin Yao in full glory and beat her resoundingly! At three-thirty in the afternoon, Mrs. Mo appeared in the special activities room. The smooth implementation of the Princess Ascension n pleased many high-level cultivators at the Taixu Sect. Mrs. Mo was no exception. As long as the n achieved its intended goal, there was no reason for the Taixu Sect headquarters not to increase investment in the Liang Kingdom. At that time, all Taixu Sect cultivators of the Liangguo Subrudder would benefit. This was a joyous matter for all involved. Prince Liang Lu, its about time. Lets go to the trial pavilion, said Mrs. Mo. Alright. The two went to the trial pavilion at Qingxuan University, a ce specifically built for trials, with many venues designed forbat. Soon after, Lin Yao and her counselor Yan Yue also appeared in the trial pavilion. Yan Yue was a cultivator who seemed quite gentle and kind, also at the Core Formation cultivation level. Compared to Yan Yue, Lin Yao, who was following behind her, attracted a lot more attention. Compared to Wuyue, Lin Yao had grown another half-year older today. The young girls immature body was growing rapidly like budding willow branches. Not only had she grown a little taller, her waist and hips had begun to take shape, but they were still far from reaching the full bloom of a naturally enchanting body. As a plot leadingdy on the same level as Liu Qing, Lin Yaos level of beauty naturally needed no further boration. A naturally enchanting body coupled with a pair of captivating eyes made male cultivators of the same age virtually powerless against her. However, Lin Yao was even more diligent than Prince Liang Lu. Despite being busy, Prince Liang Lu always chose good-looking clothes, whereas Lin Yao mostly just wore her hair in a simply refreshing ponytail, donned in conservative clothes, or even the standard uniform of Qingxuan University. Lin Yao and Prince Liang Lu were old rivals. Without saying a word, she walked in front of Prince Liang Lu, took out a long sword from her storage bag, and held it steadily with her bare hands. Compared to Prince Liang Lus young and beautiful face, Lin Yaos features were innocent yet charming, but at this moment, their eyes werepletely contrasting. Prince Liang Lu was stunning with vignt eyes, even appearing somewhat hesitant. Lin Yao was innocently seductive but her expression was cold, her eyes containing ruthlessness and a hint of murderous intent. Below the stage, Mrs. Mos expression was serious, while Lin Yaos counselor Yan Yue still wore a smile. Lin Yao has just entered the ninth level of Qi training, suddenly facing Prince Liang Lu who is always in top condition. Arent you worried at all? asked Mrs. Mo. Yan Yue said with a smile, Im not worried. Mrs. Mo frowned, In my opinion, Lin Yao still cant achieve more than a fifty percent chance of winning, right? Winning or losing doesnt matter; I wouldnt be afraid even if our Yaoer lost a hundred times. I understand Lin Yao is resolute, but a hundred times is still too much. She could easily lose until her morale copses, and never be able to recover. Its not too much. If she wants to be the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect, even losing ten thousand times wouldnt be considered much. Wait a second, what did you say she wants to be? The Sect Leader of Taixu Sect, replied Yan Yue. Mrs. Mo looked as if shed seen a ghost. But Yan Yue didnt seem to be joking. Are you serious? Yan Yue sighed softly and said, I dont know. But she seems serious about it, no joke. Chapter 262: 223: The Palace Coup Chapter 262: Chapter 223: The Pce Coup Liang Lu and Lin Yao on the dueling tform didnt hear the conversation of the teachers. They each took out their weapons. Liang Lu used a delicate and slender sword. While Lin Yaos sword was more traditional, broader and thicker. The swords used by cultivators are generally categorized as magical treasures. Regarding magical treasures, their thickness and size do not determine their strength. However, the appearance of a magical treasure can reflect the users personality to some degree. Liang Lus sword was light and quick, and while beautiful, it did not impede the casting of spells. It could even serve as mere decoration during battle if necessary. But Lin Yaos sword clearly focused more on practicality and, to some extent, its wider de could help her fend off attacks. Compete with confidence and dont hold back. Get ready, begin, As Mo Ningdan gave themand, the two representatives of the new generation of Qingxuan University officially began their contest. Since they were old rivals, neither was in a hurry.
Liang Lu changed her usual aggressive approach, simply standing with sword in hand, watching Lin Yaos movements. Lin Yao didnt move either, but after a moment, she got the gist and advanced step by step towards Liang Lu with sword in hand. As the distance between them closed, the pressure between them sharply increased. The closer the distance meant that the reaction time for both sword movements and spells became even shorter. Lin Yaos move was forcing Liang Lu to y a game of chicken, to see who would lose their cool and make the first move. Mo Ningdan, watching from below, frowned and said, Yan, did you teach her this move? No, I just told her that the most important thing in battle is to y to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses. Prolong the confrontation until you can fight in the arena youre best at, doing what you excel in. Mo Ningdan then turned her gaze back to the dueling tform. Originally, she thought Lin Yao had a forty percent chance of winning today, but now, she believed Lin Yao had at least a fifty percent chance. Lin Yao was steadily closing the distance between her and Liang Lu. The pressure of betting on the opponent to make the first move was growingrger andrger. However, Mo Ningdan knew that Lin Yao had a stronger willpowerpared to Liang Lu. In other words, this test of courage looked like a mutual gamble, but it was actually Lin Yao putting unteral pressure on Liang Lu to force her hand. The question now was how long Liang Lu could withstand the pressure. The answer came quickly. When they were less than one and a half meters apart, Liang Lu, who had been motionless, suddenly made her move. The slender sword thrust forward with the sound of tearing wind, aiming straight at Lin Yaos chest. Lin Yao was just as upromising, taking a step in her embroidered shoes and swinging her sword to meet the attack. The two swords shed, emitting a piercing screech. Lin Yao flicked her wrist, leaned slightly to the side, and the killing intent of the slender sword immediately missed its mark.
The sparks from the shing swords illuminated Lin Yaos cheek on one side. In the blink of an eye, the two women collided. Liang Lu abandoned the slender sword without hesitation, pinched a talisman between two fingers, and then formed hand signs with both hands. Counterwind Curse!
With the activation of the spell, a terrifying pressure formed around Liang Lu, causing all movable objects nearby to fly towards her. Lin Yao was already extremely close to her, and with the Counterwind Curse in effect, Lin Yao was nearly irresistibly drawn to Liang Lu. At this moment, the light from the talisman in Liang Lus hand surged. Second-order Talisman: Binding Immortal Rope! At such a close distance, coupled with the instant activation of the Binding Immortal Rope If Lin Yao were to be entangled by the rope, there would be little suspense left in the duel. Lin Yao furrowed her brow. She was now extremely close to Liang Lu. At this distance, even swinging a sword would be too slow to injure someone. And the Binding Immortal Rope had already been triggered. If she wanted to counterattack, there wasnt much time left. Therefore, Lin Yao chose to take the initiative and reach out to grab the Binding Immortal Rope! As soon as the Binding Immortal Rope touched Lin Yaos hand, it immediately wound up her arm. Seeing this, Liang Lus heart leapt with joy. She had thought that todays duel with Lin Yao would be a fierce one, but could she have anticipated the victorying this quickly?
No matter how you looked at it, Lin Yao, being a cultivator who practices Qi, would struggle to free herself from a second-order talisman in a short time. In realbat, any momentary opening in the opponents defenses usually means the end of the fight. Liang Lu didnt n to go easy or run her mouth; as soon as Lin Yao was bound, she would immediately end the duel, giving Lin Yao no chance to turn the tables. Liang Lu reached for her slender sword that she had just released, but she found that not only could she not move her body, she also couldnt channel her spiritual power. Why couldnt she move her body? How could Lin Yao cast such a powerful spell? No, thats not right. A teacher had intervened! The duel ends here, said Mo Ningdan. Todays victory goes to Lin Yao. Liang Lus eyes widened. How is this possible? Hadnt the Binding Immortal Rope already entangled Lin Yao? Why had Lin Yao won again?
Mo Ningdans binding spell was still in effect, as if waiting for bothpetitors to grasp the current state of affairs. Liang Lu looked at Lin Yao in front of her. She noticed that Lin Yaos sword was suspended in midair, with the hilt touching the back of her hand, as if it was about to rotate around her wrist. And along the path the sword de would have followed, there were Lin Yaos left hand, which had just been entangled by the Binding Immortal Rope, as well as her, Liang Lus, delicate neck. Liang Lus pupils contracted. She understood Lin Yaos intention in an instant. To sever her own arm, break free from the Binding Immortal Rope, and then follow through with a sword strike to her death. Liang Lu broke into a cold sweat. She had never imagined that Lin Yao would have such a strategy for breaking the stalemate! Lin Yao could get her broken arm set, but once her neck was sliced by the sword, unless a powerful cultivator intervened on the spot, there would be no salvation. Do you understand how you lost? asked Mo Ningdan. With aplex expression, Liang Lu replied, I understand.
Chapter 263: 223: The Palace Coup_2 Chapter 263: Chapter 223: The Pce Coup_2 Mo Ningdan released the confinement spell, and only then were Lin Yao and Liang Lu able to move freely again. Lin Yao didnt say anything, she just sped her hands towards Liang Lu and then stepped down from the tform to prepare to leave. Liang Lu couldnt understand C Lin Yao looked even younger than her; she wondered who was older, her or her younger sister, Princess Liang Pei. Girls of that age should be innocent and carefree, so why was Lin Yao fighting so desperately? Fellow Daoist Lin. Lin Yao turned around. Why do you go so far as to sever your own arm just to beat me? I didnt intend to win against you, Im just ustomed to giving it my all. Liang Lus expression darkened and she said, So you youve actually never taken me seriously? Just as Lin Yao was about to speak, Mo Ningdan said, Liang Lu, I have something to tell you. Yan Yue tugged on Lin Yaos arm and whispered, Lets go. By the way, have you prepared the elixirs for treating your severed limb?
Lin Yao shook her head: No. You dare to fight like this without them? I didnt think that much. Yan Yue sighed and said, Ill go back and get you some life-saving elixirs. Ill also prepare some that remove scars. With the way you cut down, even if it can be reattached, have you thought about the potential ugliness? It was not until Yan Yue mentioned it that Lin Yao remembered that improper handling of a severed limb indeed could leave scars. If her arm were scarred, it wouldnt look nice, and Senior Brother Jiang certainly wouldnt like it if Yaoer were not pleasant to look at. Yaoer should pay more attention to taking care of her body in the future; she cant let down Senior Brother Jiang. I understand, Teacher. Next time Ill just concede defeat directly, Lin Yao said frankly. After all, for her, winning or losing thepetition with Liang Lu wasnt important. What mattered were Jiang Chengs opinions and feelings. If Jiang Cheng disliked her getting injured and bing unsightly, then she would simply concede. Although Yan Yue intended to persuade Lin Yao, he had not anticipated her to adapt and ept so quickly. Ah, just dont push yourself too hard next time, he said. Lin Yao nodded in profound agreement: Mm, I will take good care of my body. Meanwhile. Mo Ningdan took the initiative to stop Liang Lu to prevent Lin Yao from further agitating her. The whetstone that was Lin Yao was too hard. If mishandled, it might end up breaking the precious sword that was Liang Lu. What Immortal Sectcked the least were geniuses; what theycked most were those cultivators who could keep fighting after repeated defeats. Teacher, you called for me.
Liang Lu was visibly not in high spirits. But Mo Ningdan understood it wasnt Liang Lus fault. Lin Yao was too ruthless; during their contest, she willingly chose to win by severing her arm, her will as solid as to be almost scary. If Lin Yaos talent were a bit stronger, Mo Ningdan even felt that, maybe not the Sect Leader position, but the Holy Maiden title of Taixu Sect could have been within her reach.
You did well today, you nearly won, Mo Ningdan chose tofort Liang Lu. But Dont dwell on Lin Yao, the viciousness she embodies is something even Helmsman Shang couldnt match. Your judgment during thepetition was correct, and your spell coordination was spot on, thats good enough. Yes. Liang Lu verbally agreed, but she still couldnt let go in her heart. Lin Yao, what does it take to defeat you? Jiang Cheng! Dont make me get down on my knees to beg you! Liang Hong used his trump card towards themunication talisman. Who knew, Jiang Cheng this time firmly declined, Third Prince, our contract has already ended. Meeting with the Emperor is not part of my job description. Liang Hong said, Thats what you say, but if I cant see my imperial father, how can I use the talisman? Jiang Cheng: Good luck. Liang Hong:
Third Prince, if theres nothing else, Ill hang up now. No no no, wait, Jiang Cheng, just hear me out. If you like signing contracts so much, we can sign a new one. As long as you help me meet the Emperor, anything is negotiable. Jiang Cheng honestly replied, I am really powerless here. You definitely have a way! You are the chosen one of Void Venerable! Not really familiar. Since Liang Hong couldnt persuade Jiang Cheng, he could only say, Then think about it for an hour, and I will call you with themunication talisman again. Jiang Cheng looked at the already disconnectedmunication talisman, thinking to himself that Liang Hong wouldnt really call him in an hour, would he? Unlikely, given Liang Hongs personality, he would probably forget. An hourter, Liang Hong called right on schedule. Junior Brother Jiang, have you thought it over? Jiang Cheng repeated his stance. Liang Hong said, Then think about it for another hour. Jiang Cheng looked at themunication talisman with a sense of foreboding.
Afterward, Liang Hong called Jiang Cheng every hour. This persistent spirit of asking for help even surprised Jiang Cheng. Third Prince, is there any chance that the effort youre putting into asking people for help right now, if you put the same into seeking an audience, you would have already met your father? Liang Hong hesitated, But every time I try to meet him, I get taken away directly by the Imperial Army, he said. Then just stand there, dont speak. Would that work? Definitely more useful than calling me, Jiang Cheng assessed. Upon hearing it was more effective than asking Jiang Cheng, Liang Hong immediately felt assured. He got his things ready, and early the next morning, he arrived in front of the Emperors chamber. Eunuch Liu and Eunuch Zhang greeted him, and he just smiled without saying a word. After the greetings were over, Liang Hong followed Jiang Chengs instructions, just standing there as if he wanted topete with the two door-guarding eunuchs for their job. Eunuch Zhangmunicated to Eunuch Liu: I had heard that the outside economy was rough, but seeing is believing even our job as doorkeepers is coveted by a prince. Eunuch Liu replied with a hint of pride: Our profession has high standards. Its not something just anyone can do thoughtlessly.
At first, Eunuch Zhang and Eunuch Liu didnt take Liang Hongs actions to heart. Chapter 264: 223: The Palace Coup_3 Chapter 264: Chapter 223: The Pce Coup_3 Who knew that Liang Hong had the unique skill of sleeping while standing! He actually managed to oust both of them! This left the two men in agony. Its not like the princes can just leave without the eunuchs clocking out first, right? Its just watching a door, is there really a need for suchpetition? In the end, Liu and Zhang really couldnt take it anymore, so they tried to report Liang Hongs situation to the Eunuch Steward inside the room. The Eunuch Stewards couldnt decide what to do and could only wait to report to Liang Heng when he returned. He has been waiting at the door for more than ten days, what exactly does he want to do? The Rites Steward hurriedly said, Replying to Your Ancestor, our people went to inquire about it. It is said that Prince Chu has found an Evil-Expelling Talisman and wishes to offer it to the Emperor of Liang to eliminate evil from His Majestys body. After hearing this, Liang Heng said, At least he has some filial piety. But his father has long passed away, I dont need it; send him away. The Judicial Steward said, Replying to Your Ancestor, Prince Chu did not say hees to seek an audience with His Majesty, nor did he say what he wants to do, he just stands at the door. Its inconvenient for us to just send him away directly.
Liang Heng wondered, Who taught him this trick? Why does it feel so familiar? Nobody answered. Nevermind, have him send the talisman in, and then please escort him out. Yes. Sending things into the sleeping quarters had precedent, so when Liang Hongs talisman was sent in, nobody found it strange. However, as the talisman entered the sleeping quarters, Liang Hong, originally to be sent away, was urgently retained and invited inside! Liang Hong became the second individual to enter the Emperors sleeping quarters after Jiang Cheng! Liu and Zhang showed looks of surprise, but Liang Hong himself was not surprised. Jiang Cheng had said, Its more useful than sending amunication talisman, so wasnt it only natural for his father to invite him into the sleeping quarters because of this? In the sleeping quarters, Liang Hong saw his father again after many months, but he always felt his fathers demeanor was off. This inexplicable feeling was also the motivation for Liang Hongs insistence on having Jiang Cheng make the Evil-Expelling Talisman. Liang Heng tossed the Electro-Purification Talisman in front of Liang Hong and said, You call this an Evil-Expelling Talisman? Replying to Father, this is precisely the talisman that your son had someone especially draw up for you. Liang Heng burst outughing. Do not think that I am ignorant; this talisman is clearly a weak Healing Talisman, it couldnt possibly have the effect of expelling evil. You have been deceived by someone. Liang Hong said, Father, Jiang Cheng would not deceive me. Jiang Cheng? Why would you trust him? That boy has been swindling everywhere with a nk Imperial Decree; he is the least trustworthy. But Liang Hong had great confidence in Jiang Cheng. After all, during this time, Jiang Chengs words almost always turned into reality, leaving a deep impression on him. Father, Jiang Cheng would not deceive me, not to mention that he is also the designated choice by the Void Venerable.
What kind of nonsense is this Void Venerable? Liang Heng looked down at Liang Hong and could roughly understand why the Emperor of Liang had been so hesitant to establish a Crown Prince. Not a single useful son among them; how could he choose? Liang Heng no longer wanted to argue with Liang Hong, Enough, Ill give you a chance to prove it. If this talisman has no effect of expelling evil, you will be punished by being forbidden from the pce for ten years.
Liang Hong was overjoyed and immediately took the talisman and used it on Liang Heng. A faint healing effect appeared on Liang Hengs body, and then there was no other movement. Liang Heng waved his hand, Send him Hm? Who among you is going to undergo Foundation Establishment? Wait, it seems to be myself! Liang Heng was shocked. He was undergoing Foundation Establishment? Did the Heavenly Dao make a mistake? He was a Divinity Transformation cultivator, and today he was suddenly targeted by the Foundation Establishment Heavenly Tribtion? Could it be that the tricks he yed during his breakthrough to Divinity Transformation were discovered? Was the Heavenly Dao forcing him to dissipate his cultivation and start over? How else could one exin the Foundation Establishment Heavenly Tribtion? Though Liang Heng was of Divinity Transformation cultivation level, getting to where he was today indeed involved a lot of luck. If he had to start over, he had no confidence that he could reach his current status again. This is bad! The Heavenly Tribtion ising! I must not be struck by it! Liang Heng took a step and appeared on the edge of the Capital. However, the Heavenly Tribtion seemed to have a lock on him and chased after him directly.
Liang Heng kept moving, and the tribtion kept following! With one man and one cloud in pursuit, the skies over Liang Kingdom were clear for thousands of miles. In the pce, Liang Hong pondered; his father was nimble in form, which must mean the expelling of evil was sessful, right? Isnt the throne secured for him now? Listening to the Void Venerable was indeed correct. Chapter 265: 224: Why Is the Pigeon So Big? Chapter 265: Chapter 224: Why Is the Pigeon So Big? After the consecutive incidents involving Prince Liang Chu, Prince Qi, and Prince Liang Wu, disciples from the Lin Sects Capital subrudder decisively sniffed out a hint of opportunity. Due to the agreement that Immortal Sects do not interfere with worldly matters, from the start, the Lin Sects subrudder had never even considered the thought of vying for the throne. Because the Lin Sects situation in Liang Kingdom was different from that of the Taixu Sect. Although the Taixu Sect had established a foothold more swiftly than the Lin Sect, after gaining its footing, it remained subdued due to the strength of the Tongtian Sect. However, the Lin Sect was a sect actively introduced by the Liang State Court. In order to struggle against the influence of the Tongtian Sect, the court secretly facilitated the operation of the Lin Sect in various ways. For instance, Capital University, initially wholly funded by the court,ter opened up for Lin Sect to upy and rejuvenate. Simrly, for Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy in Wuyue, the Lin Sects cultivators were even allowed to be the dean. The Liang State Courts actions allowed the Lin Sect to develop smoothly, and in such a favorable situation, there seemed to be no need for the sect to touch the forbidden zone of imperial session. If they vited the agreement and the Tongtian Sect caught them doing so, stirring up trouble, then the territories they hadboriously developed might copse utterly at a disadvantage. But recently, as several princes consecutively met with troubles and fell from power, essentially losing any opportunity to ascend the throne, the Lin Sect, which had always ignored royal affairs, couldnt help but sense a chance to grow and strengthen. There had never been a precedent for a female emperor in Liang Kingdom. Therefore, the only prince currently able topete with their Capital Universitys Prince Liang Qing was Prince Liang Hong.
And upon a slight inquiry about Prince Liang Hong, one would find him to be of exceptionally poorpetence. Evenpared to the cunning and slippery Prince Liang Qing, Prince Liang Hong appeared knowledgeable and extremely talented. The Lin Sects Liangguo Subrudder Branch Helmsman, Cai Wenzhangs home, was extremely lively. Officially, today marked the 350th birthday of Cai Wenzhang, but in reality, his birthday noodle dish had not yet been served. At this moment, Cai Wenzhangs home was filled with many of the core members of the Lin Sects Capital sub-branch. This naturally included an old acquaintance from Jiang Cheng, the president of the Lin Sects Talisman Master Association, Zeng Shian. Gentlemen, we are all aware of our branchs current situation. Ever since we entered Liang Kingdom, our branch has developed rapidly, but this is because of the deliberate support from the Liang State Court. With the Emperor of Liang nearing the end of his lifespan and the new emperor yet undetermined, what if this support suddenly shifts when the new emperor takes the throne? How should our Liangguo Subrudder respond? A cultivator said, Helmsman, supporting Lin Sect is in the long-term interests of the Liang State Court. I believe that, in the short term, this policy should not waver. Cai Wenzhang nodded in approval and said, I know thats what everyone thinks, but what if the new Emperor of Liang is a puppet of the Tongtian Sect? Can the policy of supporting the Lin Sect continue smoothly? Others might be hard to say, but Prince Liang Hong definitelyes from Lotus Cloud University, and he has been in repeated contact with it recently. With the old Emperor of Liang nearing the end of his lifespan, Prince Liang Hongsmunication with his alma mater cant be just a coincidence, right? Upon Cai Wenzhangs statement, the Lin Sects members fell silent instantly. What Cai Wenzhang said was quite reasonable, indicating that their vignce had beencking. Moreover, there has been an incident recently that you all must be clearer about than me, said Cai Wenzhang as he turned to Zeng Shian. Elder Zeng, you were involved in the matter; please share. Zeng Shian internally cursed his luck. Wasnt it just the issue with the nt Autonomy Talisman? Months had passed, and yet here it was being dug up again! Zeng Shian had treaded on thin ice all his life, only to unexpectedly fall into Jiang Chengs trap without a word! Still, when the Branch Helmsman asked him to speak, Zeng Shian knew well what to say. After the incident with the nt Empowerment Talisman, our Lin Sect faced significant pressure from the court. I agree with the Helmsmans view. If Lin Sect can gain more influence in the court, it would be hugely beneficial to our subrudders future development. At the very least, we would avoid being called out and criticized, sparing us the shame of such incidents, Zeng Shian said. Zeng Shians remarks led to a moment of enlightenment among many Lin Sect cultivators present.
After all, nobody wanted to be singled out for criticism like Zeng Shian. Having a tarnished history is a terrifying prospect for a cultivator. This is because cultivators live much longer than ordinary people, with higher-level cultivators even more so. If someone has a tarnished history, it often follows them for thetter part of their lifea life spanning hundreds or thousands of years!
Then, as new cultivators learn about their dark past through various channels, the way neers look at them starts to get odd. If theres a new batch every year, this dissemination of a tarnished history could be repeated a thousand times! Just the thought of it is chilling. Rather than socially dying a thousand timester, it is better to make asting impact now, for the benefit of oneself and the future! Once the sects opinion was unified, the subsequent actions became much simpler. Cai Wenzhang directly addressed the head of Capital Universitys Traditional Cultivation Academy: Elder Gu, Prince Liang Qing is a student of your academy. The task of helping Prince Liang Qing to ascend the throne is fully entrusted to you. You may freely utilize the resources of our subrudder; my personal assistance will also be at your disposal for your endeavors. Gu Dongsheng was reluctant to ept this troublesome task, but given the mood, he couldnt refuse and had to agree begrudgingly. Cai Wenzhang cautioned, Be extremely careful in your actions, Elder Gu. Remember not to get directly involved in the struggle for the throne so you do not give other Immortal Sects a handle against us. I understand, Elder Gu replied. In the backyard of Prince Yue Mansion. A man in brocade robes stood opposite a man in in clothes.
Chapter 266: 224 Why is the pigeon so big_2 Chapter 266: Chapter 224 Why is the pigeon so big_2 The brocaded-robed man was none other than the legendary Prince Liang Qing. And the nonchntly dressed man was a retained student from the Treasure and Talismans Academy at Capital University. Standing ten meters away from the two men were two Core Formation cultivators. One of them, ate-stage Core Formation named Gan Zhong, was under the employ of Gu Dongsheng, specifically responsible for training Prince Liang Qing from Capital University. Thepetition begins! As soon as Mr. Gan announced the start of thepetition, Prince Liang Qing and the retained student immediately entered a state ofbat readiness. Both were at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and their strengths were evenly matched; theoretically, they were well-matched opponents. However, from their wary movements, it was clear that they were not old rivals like Lin Yao and Liang Lu. This was their first time crossing hands! Prince Liang Qings demeanor was noticeably more restless. Even Lin Yao, not to mention his sister Liang Lu, was far from his equal. After a dozen seconds without any action from the retained student, Prince Liang Qing chose to abandon observation and took the initiative to attack!
Earthfall Skill! Prince Liang Qing started with a control spell. Generally speaking, inbat, its a no-brainer to first gain control and then attack. Rarely would anyone attack first; once an attack misses and spiritual power is depleted, it turns to control. The retained student clearly anticipated that Prince Liang Qing would release a control spell. He jumped up and flew into the air, avoiding Prince Liang Qings Earthfall Skill. Giant Spike Skill! Seeing his opponent in the air, Prince Liang Qing immediately weed him with a giant earth spike without a second word. But this action caused Mr. Gan to shake his head repeatedly. Too impetuous, he said. Mr. Gans colleague also said, In the absence of knowing the opponents cards, blindly releasingrge spells that could block ones own field of vision shows that Prince Liang Qing has too littlebat experience. Thements from the two teachers seemed to foretell the future, as events unfolded exactly as they said. As Prince Liang Qing released the Giant Spike Skill and the spikes flew towards the retained student, the student from the Treasure and Talismans Academy took out his magical treasurethe Light-Attracting Cloth. This magical treasure had the effect of guiding light, allowing the user to be optically invisible. Coupled with the Turtle Breathing Skill that conceals ones presence, one could temporarily hide. The giant spike relentlessly passed through the position where the retained student had been. Hit him! Prince Liang Qing eximed with joy. But he failed to notice the dust quietly rising from the ground not far from him. Prince Liang, youve lost, came the voice. In front of Prince Liang Qing, the retained student unfolded his Light-Attracting Cloth, revealing his true form.
Surprised, Prince Liang Qing was about to make another move when the retained student pped his hands and instantly, a de, like the fin of a shark, began to travel along the surface of the ground. In a sh, the de-fin submerged into the ground and then leapt out abruptly! The jumping point was precisely beneath Prince Liang Qings feet! It wasnt a single de but a sharks bitea giant mouth made up of dozens of des, encircling Prince Liang Qing at the center.
Under the sun, each de glistened with a dangerous chill. However, luckily for him, these offensive iron weapons all stopped mid-air. If not, Prince Liang Qings fate would have been death by a thousand cuts. Mr. Gan walked over to Prince Liang Qing and gestured for the retained student to put away his magical treasure. Hes a student from the Treasure and Talismans Academy; what they are most proficient in is not talismans, then its magical treasures. The magical treasure he used just now is named Sword Traveling Shark. It mimics the behavior of a shark. Made of several dozen des, each inscribed with Earth Escape Inscriptions, allowing these metallic des to travel underground. The first mistake you made was allowing your opponent to disappear from your sight. The second mistake was not staying alert immediately after he vanished. The third mistake is your insufficient reserve of spells. If you were proficient in the Earth Escape Skill, you could have evaded as soon as the Sword Traveling Shark surfaced. Mr. Gan critically pinpointed Prince Liang Qings shorings. But Prince Liang Qing was not convinced. Mr. Gan, if he didnt have his magical treasure, I would have defeated him already. Hes specialized in magical treasures from the Treasure and Talismans Academy. I know, but if he hadnt used his magical treasure, I wouldnt have lost. Hes from the Treasure and Talismans Academy; they study magical treasures. I understand what youre saying, teacher, but without his magical treasure, he wouldnt have been able to defeat me.
No matter what Mr. Gan said, Prince Liang Qing stuck to his guns, refusing to be satisfied. Although Mr. Gans reasoning was sound, Prince Liang Qing was stubborn to a fault. No matter how the pigeon gets big, I, Prince Liang Qing, just want to know why the pigeon is so big. In the end, Mr. Gan could only say, Then Ill find someone who doesnt use a magical treasure. The next day. Prince Liang Qing: Fire Engulfs the Prairie! Opponent: Wind Control Skill! Prince Liang Qing nearly self-immted, and the match ended. Mr. Gan: Your problem xxx Prince Liang Qing: I understand all that, but his spell obviously counters mine. Its not fair. Mr. Gan: Okay, okay. The following day. Prince Liang Qing: Meteor Fall Skill!
The opponent dodged again and again, avoiding Prince Liang Qings attacks, then closed the distance with footwork, ending the fight with a single sword strike. Mr. Gan: This time, he didnt use a magical treasure, his spell didnt counter you, and hes even one grade below you. What else do you want to say? Prince Liang Qing: This ce is too small, and he naturally has the advantage in closebat. Its not fair! Mr. Gan: Then lets go to the Capital University field and try again. At the Capital University field, Prince Liang Qing was defeated. Mr. Gan: Do you have any moreints now? Prince Liang Qing: I couldnt hit him with my spells; hes just too lucky. This match doesnt count. Under pressure for many days, Mr. Gan finally couldnt take it anymore: Damn it, let whoever wants to teach him do it! I cant teach him at all! Mr. Gan, calm down, Mr. Gan, please calm down! The Sword Cultivators teacher quickly stopped Mr. Gan and tossed amunication talisman to the Sword Cultivator, urging him to contact Dean Gu Dongsheng immediately. When Dean Gu arrived, he spouted the same refrain: Mr. Gan, you must calm down! Prince Liang Qing is key to Lin Sects great ns; we cannot hastily give up on him. Besides, this is also an opportunity! If you can sessfully train Prince Liang Qing, Lin Sects Liangguo Subrudder will surely remember your great service, Mr. Gan! Chapter 267: 224: Why Is the Pigeon So Big?_3 Chapter 267: Chapter 224: Why Is the Pigeon So Big?_3 Mr. Gan had reached his limit, Its not that I dont want to teach, its that I really cant. Headmaster, Ive done my best, please find someone more capable. Gu Dongsheng said, Since he was able to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, his talent cant be too shabby. Is he really that hard to teach? How about I try teaching him for two days to test his depth? Two dayster. Gu Dongsheng: Ive been wanting to quit this headmaster job for a long time! Mr. Gan quickly hugged Headmaster Gu, Headmaster, dont be rash! We definitely still have a chance! A teacher from Capital University who was called in to help with the training said, Although Prince Liang Qing is stubborn, his spells are also quite good. Why dont you ask his counselor or his teachers? Gu Dongsheng suddenly realized and quickly contacted Prince Liang Qings ss counselor. The counselor exined, Headmaster, hes quitemunicative when hes winning. Its now the winter break, and the students who stayed at school are all exceptional. Youre only finding him opponents he cant beat; of course, hes going to be as unyielding as the mooncakes the school distributes! With this, Gu Dongsheng and Mr. Gan finally found the key to the problem. But a new difficulty arose. That was how to let Prince Liang Qing win.
Mr. Gan, but if we let others intentionally throw the match, that wouldnt be proper either. Mr. Gan remembered a previous battle of Prince Liang Qing, where he lost to the formidable Sword Traveling Shark. Headmaster, Magical Treasures and other external forces can, in fact, often have the most impact on the oue of a duel. If we equip Prince Liang Qing with a few powerful Magical Treasures, it shouldnt be hard for him to be invincible among his peers. That makes sense! Ill go talk to Old Yang right away. This is crucial for the branchs n. As the head of the Treasure and Talismans Academy, he must make a contribution! Two dayster, the training for Prince Liang Qing resumed. This time, his opponent was a Cultivator at the mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, quite a bit more powerful than Prince Liang Qings raw strength. Opponent: Whale Sea Fury! Prince Liang Qing: Golden Might Pearl! The opponent was shocked, A third-tier Magical Treasure! Arent we only supposed to use second-tier ones? This is too shameless, right? How can my Foundation Establishment Stage spells match this? Prince Liang Qing let out a cacklingugh, Young man, do you think this is the extent of my strength? Then Prince Liang Qing took out the Thousand Wooden Swords and the Ice Light Mirror as well, showcasing defense, offense, controlall in one. With the enhancement of three third-tier Magical Treasures, only those in thete Foundation Establishment Stage could challenge Prince Liang Qing; those in the mid and early stages stood no chance at all. Moreover, Prince Liang Qing always made sure to loudly mock his opponents, damaging his reputation among the students who stayed at Capital University. Its not that others couldnt ept defeat. Its mainly that Prince Liang Qing relied on higher-tier Magical Treasures to shamelessly triumph, which was unbearable for anyone. Soon, no one from the students staying at Capital University wanted to spar with Prince Liang Qing anymore. Just as Mr. Gan struggled to find opponents, Qingxuan University took the initiative toe forward. Not only were they willing to provide people for Prince Liang Qing to practice with, but they also didnt charge any fees. Mr. Gan saw no reason to refuse such an opportunity handed to him on a tter.
Mainly because Qingxuan University is affiliated with the Taixu Sect, which isnt involved with the Tongtian Sects struggle for session, posing no threat to the Lin Sect. After considering all aspects, the practice duels for Prince Liang Qing started anew! Prince Liang Qings first opponent was a female Cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment Stage from Qingxuan University. Since Prince Liang Qing wasnt familiar with the folks from Qingxuan University, he started off cautiously. Upon realizing that his opponent couldnt breach the defense of the Golden Might Pearl, Prince Liang Qing immediately became more confident.
He directly used the Ice Light Mirror to control his opponent, then activated the Thousand Wooden Swords to end the duel. The whole process was smooth as flowing water. If he hadnt cackled so mockingly, he might have gained some favor from the female Cultivators of Qingxuan University. After winning against two Cultivators from Qingxuan University, Prince Liang Qing couldnt help feeling proud. He felt that Qingxuan Universitys level wasnt as good as Capital Universitys; at least the students from Capital University could struggle a bit longer. Seeing this, Mr. Gan hastened to offer an apology, Zhong Daoist friend, Im sorry, our schools student was lucky to win two rounds. The woman leading Qingxuan Universitys team was named Zhong Yan. Coincidentally, Zhong Yan, too, worked under Li Qingge, and her primary task was to encourage Prince Liang Qing. Zhong Yan smiled and said, No worries, our main force hasnt taken the field yet. Chapter 268: 225: The Legendary Jiang Cheng Chapter 268: Chapter 225: The Legendary Jiang Cheng ` Qingxuan Universitysst contestant against Liang Qing was a young female cultivator. Here, not very old is not a statement but an adjective. Visibly not very old. Calling her a middle school student wouldnt be out of ce. Not only was this girl not old, but her cultivation level was also tottering at the early stages of Foundation Establishment. It seemed she had just entered Foundation Establishment not long ago. Although Liang Qing loved to bully the weak, taking pleasure in overpowering a female cultivator as evidently weak as this one held no interest for him. Mr. Gan, do we really need to y out this round? Liang Qing said to Gan Zhong. Just now, Liang Qing had won two rounds in a row, leaving Qingxuan University without any face to save. Gan Zhong, seeking to maintain the friendship between the two schools and to facilitate future challenges, took the initiative to offer a truce: Were all tired, I think we really dont need to y this round. How about we call it a draw, Li Daoist friend? Normally, if the stronger party expressed goodwill for a draw, the weaker party should take the chance to dismount gracefully and quickly end the contest. But Zhong Yan, at this moment, acted out of character. Not only did she decline Gan Zhongs invitation for a draw, but she also took a keen interest in introducing the student she brought.
Gan Daoist friend, I dont think a draw is necessary. Li Qing may seem young, but shes actually a second-year student at our school, a proper 18-year-old adult. Her cultivation level recently broke through to the early stages of Foundation Establishment, and shes particrly adept at using talismans. Prince Yue, you mustnt underestimate her. Liang Qing was puzzled. He had three third-tier magical treasures at his disposal and could even beat those at theter stages of Foundation Establishment. What difference did it make whether he underestimated an opponent like Li Qing who was just a lowly beginner at Foundation Establishment? He, a third-year student, was facing off against a second-year. A 22-year-old was fighting an 18-year-old, a Foundation Establishment veteran waspeting with a Foundation Establishment novice, three magical treasures against none. He had the advantage across the board. Frankly, Liang Qing didnt know how he could lose. Liang Qing, dont go too hard, Gan Zhong warned. He was afraid that if Liang Qing caused Qingxuan University to be too disheartened, it would be inconvenient to arrange practice matches in the future. Liang Qing, having won several fights in a row, was brimming with confidence. Li Daoist friend, Ill give you the benefit, you make the first move, Liang Qing said confidently thanks to the third-tier defensive magical treasure he possessed. Li Qing was not pretentious and saluted: Please, Daoist friend, enlighten me. Liang Qing yawned, already thinking about what to have for dinner that evening. Let the contest begin. At Gan Zhongsmand, thest match of the friendship exchange between Liang Qing and Qingxuan University officially started. Li Qing took out a talisman, while Liang Qing looked around bored. Li Qing activated the talisman in her hand, tossed it to the ground, and it instantly exploded, creating a cloud of grey smoke. Mist Barrier Talisman? Gan Zhong couldnt help but exim upon seeing the talisman. The smoke released by the Mist Barrier Talisman not only obscured vision but also blocked off the scanning of the Divine Sense, creating an area of information obscurity.
In the mist, if you shoot at me, Ill shoot at you; the gap in cultivation levels could be leveled as much as possible. Starting with a smoke screen, why was this Li Qings tactic so experienced? Gan Zhong had reached Core Formation, so his Divine Sense could naturally prate the second-tier Mist Barrier Talismans interference and see the situation on the battlefield clearly. Within the mist, Li Qing approached Liang Qing swiftly.
Liang Qing was clueless. A spark flew by, signifying the activation of some talisman, and in an instant, Liang Qing was engulfed in a surge of mes. For a moment, the mes died down, revealing the glow of the Golden Might Pearl and an unscathed Liang Qing. I thought it was some brilliant move, turns out it was just a burst of me. Li Daoist friend, your second-tier fire cant burn through my third-tier magical treasure! Ha-ha. Liang Qing couldnt help but feel triumphant. Sorry, being boosted by a higher-tier magical treasure indeed lets one do as they please. Li Qing then threw out three more talismans. One was a first-tier Ice Soul Talisman, another was a first-tier Earth Swamp Talisman, and there was also a second-tier Gravity Talisman. The attack from the Ice Soul Talisman was, unsurprisingly, blocked by Liang Qings magical treasures, but at the same time, the Earth Swamp Talisman and the Gravity Talisman quickly took effect in tandem. Before Liang Qing could react, his feet were trapped in the earth swamp, and under the pressure of the Gravity Talisman, he couldnt free himself. Meanwhile, his Ice Light Mirror and Thousand Wooden Swords, which required targeting for their attacks, were rendered useless by the Mist Barrier Talisman. Under the influence of the Gravity Talisman, Liang Qing sank deeper and deeper. Gan Zhong called a halt to the contest in time.
Zhong Daoist friend, your student Li Qing is truly impressive. With just second-tier and first-tier talismans, she managed to defeat Liang Qing who had three third-tier magical treasures. Zhong Yan smiled; she was not surprised by Li Qings performance at all. Her expression remained calm, clearly full of confidence in Li Qing. Although Gan Zhong was impressed, Liang Qing was not convinced. So, at Zhong Yans suggestion, Liang Qing and Li Qing rested for a while and began topete again. This time, Li Qing switched tactics. The Wooden Body Talisman neutralized Liang Qings control, then a series of first-tier talismans pressured him with their firepower. Finally, she used the Cloud Explosion Talisman floating around Liang Qing, ready to explode the moment he let down his guard, effectively draining his spiritual power dry. In the days that followed, theypeted frequently. Even if Liang Qing gave up his magical treasures and used the talismans provided by the Lin Sect Talisman Master Association, he was still no match for Li Qing. In the end, Li Qing achieved the feat of Capturing Liang Qing Seven Times. After the seventh capture, Liang Qings mentality was on the verge of exploding. He was superior in every aspect, yet no matter what, he just couldnt beat Li Qing. If it were someone else, Liang Qing might have found some excuses, but Li Qing was inferior to him in every way, and still, he lost, moreover in a streak of crushing defeats, which was almost making him question his life.
You are indeed strong, Liang Qing admitted. Chapter 269: 225: The Legendary Jiang Cheng_2 Chapter 269: Chapter 225: The Legendary Jiang Cheng_2 Li Qing casually said, It was just okay, winning you so many times, actually my talismans had quite the advantage. Liang Qings eyes lit up and he said, Does Fellow Lis talismans contain some kind of secret trick? Li Qing said indifferently, Theres no secret trick, its just that I had Jiang Cheng custom-make a few for me. Jiang Chengs second-tier talismans are extremely powerful, and ordinary third-tier ones cant beat them. You didnt lose unjustly. Second-tier beating third-tier? So this is the secret to her being able to defeat me? I wondered why it was so difficult to fight her, turns out my tools are just not as strong as hers! Having understood this, Liang Qing realized that the talisman masters from Lin Sect were no good; their third-tier talismans were no match for the second-tier talismans Li Qing had. I still have to find Jiang Cheng, have Jiang Cheng personally take on the job, and draw talismans the same as Li Qings, no, stronger than Li Qings! Once I have those new talismans, wont I be able to easily beat Li Qing? On the way back to Qingxuan University, Zhong Yan didnt walk in front of Li Qing, but alongside her. Li fellow Daoist, our mission should be consideredplete, right?
Li Qing nodded and said, Almost, given Liang Qings character, he wont settle down to cultivate. He will just seek out Jiang Cheng for talismans that instantly increasebat power and winning chances. Zhong Yan revealed a rxed smile, If thats the case, then we just need to wait for things to unfold. Li fellow Daoist, youve worked hard these past few days. Li Qing took off the inconspicuous hair ornament from her head, and then, her body began to grow gradually. A few momentster, Li Qingge reced Li Qing, walking beside Zhong Yan. It wasnt too much trouble. Li Qingge reminisced, Being young is great, using a lightweight body is very convenient. Li fellow Daoist, I suspect you are bragging. No need to suspect. Having tasted the sweetness of magical treasures and talismans, Liang Qing naturally would not return to dedicated cultivation. In fact, he had not been very diligent in cultivating; it was merely that he had passable talent, and with resources being plentiful since he was young, he inadvertently reached the Foundation Establishment Stage. Moreover, now that magical treasures and talismans can so absurdly enhancebat capabilities, his three third-tier magical treasures are enough to contend againstte-stage Foundation Establishment. If he had ten third-tier magical treasures, plus talismans drawn by Jiang Cheng, wouldnt he be the number one person in Foundation Establishment in the Liang Kingdom? Liang Qing, magical treasures and talismans are ultimately external objects, Gan Zhong said seriously. With their enhancement, you can indeed be stronger, but these things arent exclusively avable to you. Others with stronger fundamentals buy the same magical treasures, and you still wont be able to beat them. I understand the principle, so when are we going to stock up from Jiang Cheng? Liang Qing said bluntly. Upon hearing these words, Gan Zhong knew that Liang Qing was going to repeat his pigeon theory again. Eventually, Gan Zhong decided not to trouble himself; Liang Qing didnty the foundation, so what if he seeks a shortcut with talismans? After all, the Emperor of Liang doesnt have many years left, and normal cultivation would not bring much improvement. In the end, wouldnt he still rely on external objects to increasebat power? Lets do this, we leave the professional judgments to the professionals. If President Zeng from the Talisman Master Association also approves of Jiang Chengs talismans, I wont stop you. Zeng Shian: Jiang Cheng is indeed awesome. Gan Zhong:
Zeng Shian countered his past mistake, If Jiang Cheng didnt have the skills, why would the nt Autonomy Talisman cause such a hugemotion? Liang Qings eyes brightened, So you mean, President Zeng, you agree to me going to Jiang Cheng to request talismans? Zeng Shian: I dont agree. Gan Zhong:
Liang Qing: Im not refusing this without cause! Zeng Shian emphasized, You see the talismans Jiang Cheng has drawn, which one didnt trick people? The nt Autonomy Talisman, right, it tricked the elders and the whole sect. And then the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, directly cooperating with the Hehuan Sect to go on a killing spree, leading to your brother Prince Liang Chu You should understand what Im implying. Liang Qing: To be fair, taking out Prince Liang Chu cant be considered tricking anybody, right? That guy totally deserved it. I heard that after he died, many in the Prince Mansion bought firecrackers to celebrate. Lets not count Prince Liang Chu for now. To sum up, my attitude is clear, its best not to get involved too much with Jiang Chengs talismans. Liang Qing didnt hold back, President Zeng, if you tell me not to go to Jiang Cheng, fine, but then you have to draw two second-tier talismans for me. My request isnt high, just need them to be able to beat Li Qing when used. About the talismans, when Liang Qing kept losing, Gan Zhong had sought out Zeng Shian on his behalf once before. At that time, Zeng Shian, in the pursuit of victory, even took out third-tier talismans. But Liang Qing couldnt beat Li Qings second-tier talismans even with a third-tier talisman; the issue was no longer the talismans. It was Liang Qings own issue! I cant do that, Zeng Shian clearly refused Liang Qing. If a third-tier talisman cant beat her second-tier talisman, how could a second-tier talisman possibly beat her second-tier talisman? Liang Qing said, Jiang Cheng can do it, Li Qing told me herself. Hearing Liang Qing question his talisman mastery, Zeng Shian felt a surge of frustration in his heart.
He was a fourth-tier Talisman Master! If they dont believe the words of a fourth-tier Talisman Master, they believe Li Qing? Believe Jiang Cheng? Good words cant persuade a determined ghost, let Liang Qing be convinced by whomever is willing to convince him! If Jiang Cheng can do it, just go directly to Jiang Cheng! Liang Qing pped his hands and said to Gan Zhong, Mr. Gan, you see, he agreed by himself, nobody forced him to say that. Zeng Shian: ? Gan Zhong, tasked with the mission of making Liang Qing stronger, had no choice but to say, President Zeng, why dont you step back and send Jiang Cheng amunication talisman? Zeng Shian, furious, said, Me step back? Why should I step back? Gan Zhong contacted Gu Dongsheng, who contacted Cai Wenzhang. Cai Wenzhang said, Shian, you have to prioritize the big picture of the Helmsman. Look, when you were in trouble, the Helmsman didnt abandon you, so now, when the Helmsman is in trouble, you should also show the spirit of fighting for the Helmsman, am I right? Zeng Shian nodded repeatedly, Yes, yes, Helmsman, what you said is absolutely correct. I can step back a hundred steps, no problem. After sessively researching the Land Naming Charm and the Electro-Purification Talisman, Jiang Chengs life of talisman drawing was far from over.
Because there was still a Magical Treasure Naming Talisman waiting for him. The Magical Treasure Naming Talisman, as an evolved version of the Land Naming Charm, was much more powerful in terms of functionality, but its design difficulty had also sharply increased by several levels. In the design principles of the Land Naming Charm, the frame selection of thend was realized by an invisible film of Spiritual Power. But on the Magical Treasure Naming Talisman, the invisible film couldnt act as a shield for the magical treasures. Therefore, although the Magical Treasure Naming Talisman was simr in design concept to the Land Naming Charm, the details in realizing its effects werepletely different. Jiang Cheng had to rethink a way that could shield the magical treasures. The best oue would be to achieve a same-level shield, meaning a second-level talisman shielding a second-level magical treasure. Otherwise, a second-level talisman taking over a first-level magical treasure, although profitable, would not be very meaningful in realbat. Generally,batants dont use lower-level magical treasures, and even if they do, losing them wouldnt affect their fighting strength. Jiang Cheng entered into contemtion as usual. Upon sensing the whiff of Jiang Chengs pondering, Liu Qing on the balcony stood up as if on cue. However, before she could approach Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger, who really didnt want to be shown up, quickly shook Jiang Chengs arm to interrupt his thought. Whats the matter, Yue? Jiang Cheng asked.
Were not in a rush to draw this talisman, you dont have to strain yourself thinking about it. The most important task for you right now is to focus on improving your cultivation level. As your cultivation level rises, your spiritual power can also improve, and the stronger your spiritual power, the more it helps with drawing talismans, Yue Linger said. Although her true aim was not wanting to be shown up, her words werent wrong. The Magical Treasure Naming Talisman wasnt urgent; it wasnt a new task that needed rushpletion to meet KPIs. Youre right, but I have a n for my cultivation level, so dont worry too much, Jiang Cheng exined. At least until the Demonic Tao in Capital was bnced, Jiang Cheng didnt need to worry about his cultivation level. He just needed to temporarily remove Liu Qing from the Dayan Sect disciple roster to enter a mysterious state of cultivation that would allow him to quickly improve his cultivation level in a short period of time. Seeing that Jiang Cheng was confident, Yue Linger decided not to nag any further. Then if theres nothing else, Ill head back first. Hmm. After Yue Linger left, Jiang Cheng turned his gaze to Liu Qing on the balcony. Snake had been on the balcony all day, but Jiang Cheng always felt that Snakes mood seemed quite ordinary. For some unknown reason. Perhaps it was just an overcast day. Indeed, it had be overcast outside of Jiang Chengs window. However, the overcast skies today werent because of typical weather patterns, but rather due to someone running a marathon that encircled Liang Kingdom and finally returned to Capital once again. A thundercloud followed him. It was the kind of thundercloud that grewrger the more he ran. Liu Qing sat in the balcony lounge chair, ring ominously at the distant Liang Heng. Her nice sunny day had beenpletely ruined by Liang Heng. Dont run. At the Mahayana Realm, ones word becamew. Liang Heng, who was trying to dodge the Heavenly Tribtion, suddenly found his feet rooted to the spot, unable to move. Whats going on? Wait, damn it! The Heavenly Tribtion, having been pent up for over ten days, was even more fierce than usual. Chapter 270: 226 Jiang Cheng Worse than a Beast Chapter 270: Chapter 226 Jiang Cheng Worse than a Beast Jiang Cheng purchased severalrge storage bags. The winter vacation was more than half over, and there was still a month left before Lotus University started the new semester; the remaining time was his rare rest period. During this time, he didnt need to cultivate, study talismans, or worry about Miaodan Workshops affairs. All day with nothing to do, as idle as Liu Qing. However, Jiang Cheng didnt like to bask in the sun, he was someone who couldnt sit still. Taking advantage of the rare rest period, Jiang Cheng nned to systematically sort through the Dayan Sects inventory of cultivation techniques. Previously, in the abandoned factory, he and Gao Miao didnt have much time and could only hurriedly record the Demon Sect techniques confiscated by the Tongtian Sect. There was no time to categorize and organize them. Now that he finally had time, he must startying the groundwork for the Dayan Sect. ording to Jiang Chengs estimate, the version benefits brought by the Capitals demon removal would at mostst him until the peak of the Core Formation Stage. If lucky, he might stretch it to Nascent Soul, but it was uncertain.
Because the Demonic Tao in the Capital didnt have a Nascent Soul Stage leader. After reaching the Core Formation Stage, Jiang Cheng had to consider reshaping the version benefits, which simply put, meant letting the Dayan Sect go to other ces to take over territory discarded by the Demon Sect. As long as the territory upied by the Dayan Sect continued to expand, the disciples of the Dayan Sect would always be in the version advantage period. Once the Dayan Sect developed to ater stage, Jiang Cheng could even establish a specialized team to take over territory. The team would follow behind the Immortal Sects demon removal army, picking up territories left unimed by other Demon Sects after demon removal. Dayan Sect: I reckon this is unwanted by others. To wee more new disciples, it was essential to improve the basic infrastructure of the Dayan Sect. If you want disciples, first build pavilions. The Scripture Pavilion was the foundation within the foundation; even Wuyues B-ranked academythe Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy, had its own library. One of the conditions for a Sword Cultivation Academy to be upgraded to A-rank was the assessment of the librarys collection size. The importance of the Scripture Pavilion to a sect was evident from this. Since Jiang Cheng wasnt the only one idle around Jade Lakes Mingan, it was no surprise that Liu Qing, after several months, once again got the job of sorting through cultivation techniques. Liu Qing needed to cooperate with Jiang Cheng to properly categorize the Demon Sect techniques he had collected and then store them in therge storage bags. The entire process was tedious and boring, but Liu Qing felt incredibly fulfilled. Because Jiang Cheng only let her work for eight hours, he would get up early in the morning and go out with her to buy breakfast, at noon they would make food at home, and in the evenings they mostly ate out, following it with a stroll along the edge of Jade Lake. For several days in a row, every day was the same. Although the process was always repetitive, Liu Qing didnt find it boring at all. Being with Jiang Cheng, even if he casually said a word, was much more interesting than her staying on the balcony by herself. But the good times alwayse to an end; that day, while Jiang Cheng continued categorizing the cultivation techniques, he unexpectedly received amunication talisman from a familiar stranger.
Zeng Shian: Jiang Cheng, do you still remember who I am? Jiang Cheng: President Zeng? Upon hearing Jiang Cheng remembered him, Zeng Shian felt that Jiang Cheng was a rather decent person. I didnt expect you to still remember this old man.
President Zeng, I heard you were criticized in an announcement within your door. Zeng Shians heart raced: Damn it, why does everyone have to mention this? Is the nt Autonomy Talisman matter not going to go away? Lets not talk about that matter for now, are you free recently? Jiang Cheng nced at the cultivation techniques scattered all around the floor and said, I shouldnt be. Hmm, then Ille to find you personally. What if I am free? Then youe to find me. Jiang Cheng decided it was better to have time, so he wouldnt trouble President Zeng toe looking for him with a bigmotion. Ill go down to the Lin Sects Talisman Master Association, I should be back soon, Jiang Cheng told Liu Qing. Oh. Seeing Liu Qing acknowledge, Jiang Cheng quickly tidied up and immediately left, his actions swift and decisive. Once Jiang Cheng left, only Liu Qing was left in the room. She, who was originally enthusiastic about organizing the cultivation techniques, suddenly didnt want to do it anymore.
Now she only wanted to lie down and bask in the sun. But, it was working hours. However, Jiang Cheng had also said that even during working hours, she could rest whenever she wanted. After thinking about it, Liu Qing decided it was better to ask Jiang Cheng first. She activated themunication talisman. Whats wrong? Jiang Chengs voice came through. Tired. Ah? If youre tired, then rest, rest immediately, dont do any more work! Did you hear me? Uh-huh. Is that all then? Liu Qing didnt speak, and Jiang Cheng didnt dare to hang up. Who would dare to hang up on a Mahayana cultivatorsmunication talisman? What if he got locked outside?
Without a word from either of them, they maintained the connection until Jiang Cheng entered the Lin Sects Talisman Master Association. The various sounds from the Talisman Master Association constantly filtered through themunication talisman. Then, Jiang Cheng had to speak, Ive arrived at the ce. Can I hang up now? Uh-huh. Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and sessfully disconnected themunication talisman. He felt Liu Qing did it on purpose, but he had no evidence. Jiang Cheng expected Zeng Shian to wait for him, but he didnt expect, besides Zeng Shian, several other cultivators were also waiting for him in the presidents office. Liang Qing, Gu Dongsheng, Gan Zhong. Jiang Cheng recognized Liang Qing at a nce. He wasnt originally concerned about the prince, but ever since he made talismans for Liang Hong, he made a point of remembering the appearances of the main royal disciples. Liang Qing was quite enthusiastic; as soon as he saw Jiang Cheng, he didnt waste any words, Youre Jiang Cheng, right? Id like to ask you to draw a talisman. Jiang Cheng immediately stepped back and said, Excuse me. Young friend Jiang, wait!
Gu Dongsheng shed to Jiang Chengs side and pulled him into the office. The speed of Gu Dongshengs movement was so fast that Jiang Cheng was unaware, almost instantaneouslypleted. Chapter 271: 226 Jiang Cheng Worse than a Beast_2 Chapter 271: Chapter 226 Jiang Cheng Worse than a Beast_2 Regardless, Jiang Cheng could not see through Gu Dongshengs cultivation level, and he conservatively estimated that Gu was at least at the Core Formation Stage. We sincerely wish to request that you draw a talisman for us, they said. Gu Dongshengs expression was kindly. Please sit, please sit. Gu Dongsheng invited Jiang Cheng to the seat of honor. Gan Zhong personally poured the tea. Gu Dongsheng smiled and said, Young friend, theres no need to refuse in haste. Wee with utmost sincerity, so whatever conditions you have, feel free to state them. Zeng Shian also said, This is our President Gu from Capital University, a Nascent Soul early stage cultivator. His promises are as solid as gold. Jiang Cheng, you can rest assured. Jiang Cheng could tell by Lin Sects stance that if he didnt agree today, he might not be able to return home. Dealing with Zeng Shian and the others, Jiang Cheng wasnt afraid. After all, he had been missing for so long that not just Tongtian Sect, but even Taixu Sect would have to actively seek him out.
But the issue was that he had just promised Liu Qing he would return home soon. If he went back on his word immediately, knowing the nature of snakes, she would probably be upset again. Faced with a choice between Nascent Soul and Mahayana, Jiang Cheng could still tell which was lighter and which heavier. Although Jiang Cheng could agree to draw a talisman, there was something he still couldnt understand. Elder Gu, there is something I dont understand. Speak up, dont hesitate to ask. President Zengs skills in drawing talismans far exceed mine. If you wish to have a talisman drawn, why not ask President Zeng directly? Ah Gu Dongsheng did not know how to respond, as he couldnt very well tell the truth, could he? Its because Ive tested President Zengs talismans, and they cant win, Liang Qing said. Gu Dongsheng: There are still too many good people in this world. Zeng Shians expression was awkward. Is it possible that the inability to win is not an issue with the talismans, but with the person? Alright, alright, all of that is unimportant. Liang Qing, just tell Jiang directly what your requirements are for the talisman. Gu Dongsheng stepped in to smooth things over. He couldnt just sit back and let Zeng Shian and Liang Qing get into a quarrel, providing Jiang Cheng with the entertainment of witnessing Lin Sects farce, could he? I dont have many requirements, said Liang Qing. Just help me draw a talisman thats stronger than the one Li Qing has. Forget it, that might sound a bitplicated. In short, I want to defeat Li Qing, do you understand? I dont understand, Jiang Cheng said straightforwardly. Liang Qing asked, puzzled, Ive made it very clear, what dont you understand? I dont understand who Li Qing is.
Thats easy to fix, said Gan Zhong, taking out the Memory Sphere and starting the yback in front of everyone. The Memory Sphere was originally prepared for Liang Qing to review his battles, but it ended up recording only scenes of Liang Qing getting thrashed. The scenes of the battle between Liang Qing and Li Qing were clearly visible on the screen above the Memory Sphere. People watched in silence as Liang Qing Captured Seven Times yed out.
How about it? Do you have a way to defeat Li Qing now? asked Liang Qing. Jiang Cheng analyzed seriously, Li Qingsbat skills are very strong. Even if you have an advantage in magical treasures and talismans, its normal to be defeated if yourbat skills are inferior to hers. You need a type of talisman that is extremely simple to use, has a very high hit rate, and can determine the oue of the battle instantly upon being deployed. Upon hearing Jiang Chengs analysis, Liang Qing felt like he had found a kindred spirit in his high expectations. Jiang Cheng understood him so well! Truly worthy of being the person rmended by Li Qing! See, this is professionalism. Gan Zhong was used to Liang Qings deceitful and sly ways. Zeng Shian was used to Jiang Chengs startling remarks. Only Gu Dongsheng obstinately said, If there really was such a talisman, then why would our Traditional Cultivation Academy bother teachingbat at all? Wouldnt it be enough to just buy talismans from a talisman master? Jiang Cheng responded, Elder Gu, your statement is wed. You can buy talismans, and so can your opponent. If both sides buy talismans, youd still have to rely onbat prowess in the end. Therefore, we cant neglect the development of cutting-edge talismans, nor can we forsake strengthening our own power. This is about doing two things at once and being tough on both fronts. Gu Dongsheng, not understanding, said, But if everyone buys talismans, doesnt that just benefit the talisman masters? Exactly, I am a Talisman Master. The talismans I draw, of course, should benefit the industry of talismans, Jiang Cheng dered matter-of-factly. I think Jiang Cheng makes a lot of sense, Zeng Shian interjected.
Since it concerned the talisman industry, Zeng Shian felt obliged to back Jiang Cheng up. Although Jiang Cheng had tricked him before, Zeng Shian was willing to admit that thed was a talismanic prodigy. Gu Dongsheng wanted to say more, but Gan Zhong quickly tugged at him, President, the struggle for inheritance is what matters. Everything else is unimportant. Alright then, Jiang, as long as you can draw the talisman that Liang Qing needs, I have no objections, Gu Dongsheng chose to prioritize the big picture. For Lin Sect at this moment, nothing was more important than Liang Qing ascending the throne. Although Liang Qing didnt seem very capable, he was still better than Liang Hong of the Tongtian Sect taking power. If Liang Qing and Li Qing were both at the Qi Cultivation Stage, Jiang Cheng would not hesitate to produce a Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman. The Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman perfectly met all of Liang Qings requirements. Regrettably, both Liang Qing and Li Qing were at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Foundation Establishment cultivators, having undergone the baptism of Heavenly Tribtion, were already able to strongly control their bodies and didnt need to eat daily, only requiring Fasting Pills to sustain their lives. The muscle control technique was useless against Foundation Establishment cultivators. Ive already got an idea for the talisman, I just need to carefully consider the details, Jiang Cheng said. Anxious to defeat Li Qing, Liang Qing asked, How long do you need to contemte it? Within a week.
Ah? That slow? Zeng Shians mouth twitched as he said, Your Highness, normally we call a Talisman Master who can produce one new talisman a day a beast. But Jiang Cheng is saying one week for one talisman! So, he is worse than a beast! Do you know that for normal people, even given ten years, they might not be able to create a new talisman! All the Talisman Masters at Capital Universitybined might not be able to produce a new talisman in a week. And youin that Jiang Cheng is slow? His pace is so fast that calling him worse than a beast is letting him off easy! I want to curse him to death! Gu Dongsheng quickly held Zeng Shian back, Elder Zeng, Elder Zeng, dont be hasty, we must focus on the bigger picture. Having calmed down, Gu Dongsheng made the decision, A week then, young friend Jiang, just work on your talisman. Jiang Cheng nodded, Drawing the talisman is no problem, but Id like to settle the matter ofpensation in advance. Of course, do you want Spirit Stones, elixirs, or to barter goods? Cultivation techniques. Gu Dongsheng became wary, fearing that Jiang Cheng would ask for a secret cultivation technique from Lin Sect. Not that he wasnt willing to give it, but it was not for him to decide. Which cultivation technique? One from the Demon Sect. Ah?
At Capital University, Liang Qing and Li Qing shed frequently. Meanwhile, at Qingxuan University, neither Liang Lu nor Lin Yao were idle. They were far from the only first-year students who stayed on campus at Qingxuan University, butpared to the others, Liang Lu and Lin Yaos strengths could be said to lead by a distinct margin. In the afternoon, Liang Lu easily defeated another staying student without expending much effort. Her way of winning was very standardposed, graceful, and her movements were aesthetically pleasing, whether in victory or defeat, revealing at a nce she was a disciple of the Taixu Sect. But Liang Lu felt no joy in victory because shortly after her win, Lin Yao also emerged victorious. You did well today, Mo Ningdan said. Liang Lu nced at Lin Yao and asked, Teacher, when can I fight against Lin Yao again? Yan and I are still discussing this matter, you should go home and rest for now. Yes. Liang Lu was unwilling to ept it, but frankly, after her consecutive defeats, she had no confidence facing Lin Yao. But she had to fight! She didnt want to keep losing to Lin Yao! Returning to Wenrui Pce, Liang Lu was received by Consort Li, who tried to cheer her up by sharing an amusing incident. Luer, let me tell you something fun, she said. What is it? Do you remember Prince Chu who said he was going to treat the Emperor? Liang Hong? What happened to him? Prince Chu somehow got a hold of a talisman, and he actually managed to see the Emperor and used it on him. Consort Li could hardly keep fromughing, After it was used, the Emperors chamber was quiet for several days, and then today, His Majesty suddenly issued an imperial edict. Hemended Prince Chu for his filial piety and bestowed upon him a fief, making him a minor lord. Liang Lus brow furrowed. Being made a lord was not necessarily a good thing. This meant Emperor of Liang had personally stripped Liang Hong of the possibility of seeding the throne. And so, the only prince left with the chance to ascend was Liang Qing. Again, talismans. Liang Hong, too, had lost the chance to ascend due to talismans. Jiang Cheng, what on earth are you trying to do? Chapter 272: 227 Winter Is Not Bad Either Chapter 272: Chapter 227 Winter Is Not Bad Either The nights at Wenrui Pce were still and quiet. Liang Luy curled up in her quilt, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Jiang Cheng loomed in her mind like a nightmare. She kept recalling words rted to Talisman, Prince, Jiang Cheng, Immortal Sect and the more she thought, the more she felt something was amiss. Prince Liang Chus exit was directly rted to Jiang Chengs talisman. Without the Willpower Empowerment Talisman, Prince Liang Chu wouldnt have died due to lechery. Although there was no direct evidence that Prince Qis exit was rted to Jiang Cheng and talisman, as a student of Qingxuan University, Liang Lu naturally knew about the Taixu Sects organizing students and sect members to protest against the Tongtian Sect. Back at the university, the protest was significant, but then inexplicably it stopped, and then Prince Qi was used of conspiring with the Hehuan Sect, leading to Prince Liang Chus death, and was ultimately thrown into prison. The sudden rise and end of the protests at Qingxuan University were highly suspicious. It felt like it was being manipted. Prince Liang Wus exit was quite dramatic too. It was said that he had someone buy a Pit-digging Talisman at Lotus University, which ended up digging up his own ancestors graves, causing an uproar amongst the royal rtives. But Liang Lu sharply noticed that Jiang Cheng was a student at Lotus University during Prince Liang Wus incident and was also one of the few who didnt go home for the winter vacation. The timing of Jiang Chengs activities coincided highly with when Prince Liang Wu bought the talisman at Lotus University.
Finally, there was Prince Liang Hong. No need to say more about Prince Liang Hong, he personally invited Jiang Cheng to draw a talisman, and once even came to Wenrui Pce with Jiang Cheng and met Liang Lu herself. All the princes who have lost the opportunity to ascend to the throne, even if not directly rted to Jiang Cheng, are indirectly connected to him. One or two connections might be a coincidence. But all four? It is hard not to suspect a secret behind these events. Especially since Mo Ningdan repeatedly warned her, making Liang Lus curiosity about Jiang Cheng climb to a new level. What had Jiang Cheng done to merit Mo Ningdan mentioning him so often and with such cautions? The most conservative exnation wasMo Ningdan paid more attention to Jiang Cheng! Knew him better! So, why was Mo Ningdan so interested in Jiang Cheng? Liang Lu had a sleepless night, and as soon as the sky was dimly lit, she had already gotten up, dressed, and finished her makeup. She had an extremely bold guess. She needed to find Liang Qing immediately to help her verify her conjecture! Leaving Wenrui Pce, it took her half an hour to walk out of the pce, then she hailed a cab on the roadside and headed straight for Prince Liang Qings Prince Yue Mansion. As a male member of the royal family, although Liang Qings mother was still in the harem, Liang Lv stipted that princes couldnt stay in the harem overnight after the age of twelve. Princes that were conferred titles were given a mansion by the court. Those not conferred titles were also provided with residences by the court. As for a princess like Liang Lu, there were no such rules; she could stay in the harem with her mother or reside at the university. Prince Liang Qings Yue mansion was simr to Liang Hongs Chu Royal Mansionboth were located in the outskirts of Capital. They werent small in size, but their locations were average, and it took at least forty to fifty minutes by taxi from the pce.
When Liang Lu got out of the taxi at the Yue mansion, the sky waspletely bright. Liang Lu didnt hold back, pounding heavily on the gates of the Yue mansion. A servant appeared and said discontentedly, Who are you? What do you want? Liang Lu said, Im looking for Liang Qing.
Do you have an appointment? What appointment? Im his sister. Which one? Liang Lu frowned, What do you mean which one? Which sister from where? Liang Lus face darkened as she said, My surname is Liang, tell Liang Qing to roll out here quickly. Liang Lu had the confidence to say this because Liang Qing was three years younger than her, and they had fought a lot growing up. After Liang Qing moved out, they hadnt had much contact. After a dozen minutes or so, Liang Qing came out of the mansion. Liang Lu? What brings you here? Liang Lu looked at Prince Liang Qing and said, Im going to ask you something, and you must tell the truth. Go ahead and ask. Has Jiang Cheng ever looked for you? No, he hasnt.
He hasnt? Liang Lus brow furrowed deeply. How could he have not looked for him? Could she have guessed wrong? But unexpectedly, Liang Qing said with high spirits, Jiang Cheng didnt look for me, but weve looked for him! Liang Lus emotions fluctuated like a roller coaster. She quickly asked, Who is we? And what did you want with him? Liang Qing recounted to Liang Lu in detail how he narrowly lost to Li Qing, and even cheerfully said, Just wait until Jiang Cheng finishes making the talisman for me; that little Li Qing will be no match for me. Unfortunately, Liang Qings excitement could not infect Liang Lu at the moment. Li Qing from Qingxuan University, Jiang Chengs talisman Just like the other princes, these seemingly unrted elements were again involved with a prince who could potentially im the throne! However, what troubled Liang Lu the most was Li Qings existence! From Liang Qings descriptions, Li Qing was incredibly powerful! Even with the capacity to beat those in theter stages of Foundation Establishment, Liang Qing wasnt a match for Li Qing, and could only narrowly lose to him. As someone whom Mo Ningdan took special care of, Liang Lu not only sparred with Lin Yao frequently but also with other sophomores and seniors.
If Li Qing was truly that strong, so exceptional, why had she never heard of Li Qings name at Qingxuan University? This Li Qing seemed like someone who popped out of a stone just to defeat Liang Qing. By the way, Liang Qing said, why are you asking about Jiang Cheng? Liang Lu internally felt a storm surging, but her face remained calm, I also have a friend I cant beat. Oh, so you want to ask Jiang Cheng for a talisman too, huh? Yes, brother, can you give me Jiang Chengs contact information? Chapter 273: 227 Winter Is Not Bad Either_2 Chapter 273: Chapter 227 Winter Is Not Bad Either_2 Whats the difficulty in that? Liang Qing didnt hesitate to give Jiang Chengs contact information to Liang Lu. Even though their rtionship was just so-so, they didnt have any grudges. Moreover, Liang Lu was a woman and was unlike the other brothers who could threaten his throne. Along the banks of Jade Lake, Jiang Cheng led Liu Qing on a leisurely stroll. His main tasks at the moment were to sort through the Dayan Sects collection of cultivation techniques and toe up with infallible talismans for Liang Qing. Actually, the sorting of the cultivation techniques was primarily done by Liu Qing, but Jiang Cheng also lent a hand. Given their harmonious rtionship and great synergy when working together, they often found themselves engrossed in sorting through the techniques, letting the afternoons slip away unnoticed. This work efficiency was putting quite a bit of pressure on Jiang Chengs talisman drawing. The snake could help him with inspiration. But when the snake wasnt helping, it was totally a hindrance.
She herself had no concept of time, often staying motionless for long periods. However, it was primarily because of her steady temperament, pleasing appearance, and that she neverined about you not working or doing chores, content to just stick close to you. Therefore, as long as Jiang Cheng was with Liu Qing, he found it easy to letrge chunks of time slip by, a veritable devourer of time. Topensate for the lost opportunities to think, Jiang Cheng had no choice but to ponder new talismans while taking walks. Liu Qing walked beside Jiang Cheng, quickly picking up on the scent of contemtion emanating from him. Thus, she reached out reflexively to hold Jiang Chengs hand. However, this time, Liu Qings gesture did not aid Jiang Chengs thinking but rather interrupted it. So cold, Jiang Cheng blurted out without thinking. Hmm? Liu Qing tilted her head, notprehending what Jiang Cheng meant. Jiang Cheng exined, I mean, your hand Hiss! Your hand is really cold? Is that something you can say? Isnt that implying her body temperature is lower than that of a normal person? Which then suggests shes a snake demoness? And then she would have every reason to end my dog life! Er, what I mean is, its winter now, and its gotten a bit colder today. The environment is cold, so your hands are a bit cold too. Of course, my hands are also a bit cold, how about we dont hold hands for now? Liu Qing blinked and seemed to grasp what Jiang Cheng was saying. Its cold, so no holding hands.
So, if its not cold, that would be fine then? Winter is such a hassle, summer is better. In the summer, Jiang Cheng was very willing to hold hands with her. Jiang Cheng was pondering whether to continue holding Liu Qings hand.
But he quickly found his answer. Because he noticed that the grass around them wasing back to life at a visible rate. Not far away, the trees began to sprout and bud. The temperature around them rose swiftly. In an instant, the climate where they were changed from winter to summer. What was more frightening was that this abnormal change was expanding in scope. If left unchecked, the entire Capital could change from winter to summer overnight! Outrageous! What on earth was this monster trying to do? Was she not afraid of revealing her cultivation level and identity? This would make it obvious even to a fool that there was something wrong with her! But sorry. Jiang Cheng decided not to notice.
Its just a case of Wisdom is precious, but the bottom line is more valuable; for the sake of life, both can be cast aside. Ahem, its winter now, isnt it a bit early for this grass to be growing and for everything toe back to life? Hands cold. Liu Qings response was short and to the point. Hands cold There are ways to deal with cold hands in winter. Just watch. Jiang Cheng, holding Liu Qings hand, stuffed both their hands into his pocket. The down jackets pocket was warm from Jiang Chengs body heat, and even if Liu Qings body temperature was slightly lower, Jiang Cheng could ept it. On the surface, Jiang Cheng said, See, isnt this better? Winter should have its own way, dont mix it up with other seasons. In his heart, Jiang Cheng thought, Ancestors, please withdraw your divine skills now! Liu Qing looked at Jiang Chengs pocket; her hands were now warm andfortable. If thats the case, then winter isnt so bad, and theres no need to rush it along, she thought. Seeing the strangeness around them gradually dissipating, Jiang Cheng finally let out a sigh of relief. Theres no such thing as tranquil days, its just him, Jiang Cheng, shouldering the burden for humanity.
After the climate crisis was resolved, Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing continued to walk along thekeshore. At this moment, Jiang Cheng wasnt thinking about talismans, so technically, Liu Qing didnt have to keep holding his hand. However, Jiang Cheng had no intention of letting go of her hand, still holding it as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Liu Qing didnt say a word. She felt that whether Jiang Cheng was thinking about talismans or not was irrelevant. If Jiang Cheng simply wanted to hold hands, she was willing to let him do so unconditionally. She didnt dislike Jiang Cheng. At the same time, she was willing to offer help to a friend as much as she could. They were friends, and helping each other was only naturalno one could say otherwise. The next day, Jiang Cheng decided to stop wasting time! He handed over all the tasks of organizing the Dayan Sects cultivation techniques to Liu Qing and shut himself in his room. Even though doing so would greatly reduce the efficiency of contemting new talismans, it was still better than exchanging a few words with Liu Qing and then being left with nothing as the day turned to night.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Cheng decided to enter a state of inspiration storm. Calm the mind, focus the breath, heart like still water Good, he felt as if the new talisman was beckoning to him. The talisman formunication rang. Jiang Chengs focus was interrupted, and he picked up the talisman with slight annoyance. Thismunication talisman had an eighty percent chance ofing from Yue Linger, and a ten percent chance of being from Shen Menghan. It wasnt. Instead, it was a strange number that Jiang Cheng had never seen before. Liang Kingdom is not like the modern world;munication talisman scams are not rampant in Liang Kingdom, so normal people are rarely harassed by strange numbers. Jiang Cheng answered themunication talisman. On the other side was a pleasant female voice. Jiang Cheng? she said. I am Jiang Cheng, may I ask what you need? Is it convenient to meet in person? Jiang Cheng didnt agree readily, May I ask who this is? Do I know you? My name is Liang Lu. You should have heard of me, right? Liang Lu? The second princess? The princess whom the Taixu Sect strained their brains to put on the throne? Why would it be her? What do you want from me? Do you really want me to talk about it over themunication talisman? Jiang Cheng hesitated, If it cant be said over themunication talisman Are you nning to get me to do something illegal and criminal? Liang Lu was silent for a moment then said, Havent you already done so? Jiang Cheng replied sternly, Princess, one should not joke about such matters. Im not joking. Have you heard about the agreement that the Immortal Sect should not interfere with mortal powers? You helped the Taixu Sect meddle with the royal session of Liang Kingdom, and you say Im joking? Jiang Cheng spoke gravely, Firstly, I did not help the Taixu Sect, and secondly, I have not interfered with the royal session. Moreover, Liang Kingdom is a nation ruled byw, and even though you are a princess, your words must be based on evidence. I have started recording this conversation, and I reserve the right to sue for defamation based on your previousments. The Liang Lu in front of themunication talisman was bewildered; she couldnt understand Jiang Chengs train of thought. Hold on, why are you so nervous? It is I who should be thanking you for aiding my ascension to the throne! Jiang Cheng dered righteously, I did not aid your ascension. I reiterate, I did not interfere with Liang Kingdoms royal session. Theres no one else beside me. Heaven watches all that we do; as Jiang Cheng, I strive not for perfection but for a clear conscience. Your Highness, please stop ndering me. After another moment of silence from Liang Lu, she said, You have served the dragon well; when I ascend the throne, I will grant you a title of nobility. Be careful with your words, Your Highness. Yourment just now involves the transaction of titles, which ording to Liang Lv, when proven true, can lead to the death penalty for both parties involved. Liang Lu: Perhaps we should meet in person then. Is the Lianghua Restaurant outside Qingxuan University okay? No. Why not? Its too expensive; it might involve bribery. Liang Lu didnt know what to say; she had topromise, Then you suggest a ce. How about the sports stadium of Qingxuan University. The school doesnt allow outsiders during the winter break. Its fine, I have a visitor card. Liang Lu: ??? You just said a bunch, and I almost believed you. And now youre telling me you cane and go at Qingxuan University as you please? Yet you still insist youre not involved with the Taixu Sect? Not even a dog would believe that! Chapter 274: 228: The Martial Virtue Combat Method Re-emerges in the Jianghu Chapter 274: Chapter 228: The Martial Virtue Combat Method Re-emerges in the Jianghu Hello, unauthorized individuals are not permitted to enter our school. At the entrance of Qingxuan University, the security personnel stopped Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing. Compared to Lotus University, Capital University, and other schools, the level of restriction at Qingxuan University was evidently higher. At Lotus University, Jiang Cheng could stay overnight at Jade Lake Mingan instead of returning to the dormitory, but he couldnt do that at Qingxuan University. Not only did Qingxuan University have ess control, limiting entry and exit, but there was also a dormitory supervisor who called roll every night. If a student disappeared several times without reason, they might even be expelled from the school. Jiang Cheng showed his Visitor Card, actively cooperating with the security department. Then, he was stopped again. You cannot go in, the security guard said. Ive already shown my Visitor Card. The Visitor Card only allows one person through, and weve already let her in, the security guard pointed at Liu Qing. Jiang Cheng: Uh
The security guard looked puzzled for a moment, then said, I thought you were her butler. Seeing how beautifully shes dressed, I assumed she was a young mistress from some family. Sorry for the confusion, please register again. Jiang Cheng was not surprised. Nine out of ten times he went out with Liu Qing, they would encounter misunderstandings. Mainly because Liu Qing had a strong presence, dressed beautifully and expensively, added to her reluctance to talk and her graceful manner, it was easy for others to mistake her for a high-born young mistress from a noble family. Wait a moment. Jiang Cheng stepped into Qingxuan University and pulled Liu Qing out with him. Since Qingxuan University wouldnt allow two people in, he could only temporarily leave Liu Qing outside the campus. After all, he couldnt let her just stand at the school gate waiting, could he? Jiang Cheng looked around and spotted a cake shop, then led Liu Qing inside. You wait here for me. Oh. After instructing Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng said to the waitress at the cake shop: Ille back to pay for her expenses. Sure, no problem. The waitress readily agreed, then passed the menu to Liu Qing, Heres the menu, what would you like to eat? Liu Qing extended her slender, jade-like finger and pointed at a dark dessert cake on the menu. Would you like this one? asked the waitress enthusiastically. Because that cake was not cheap. I dont want this one, Liu Qing said. The waitress appeared slightly confused, Okay, then what would you like?
I dont want this one. The waitresss face showed embarrassment, I know, so what would you like? Liu Qing slightly frowned, feeling that this woman was rather slow. She had made herself very clear, yet the waitress still couldnt understand. Liu Qing blinked her eyes, took out a talisman, dialed Jiang Chengs number, and then ced the talisman on the table.
Hello? I do not want this one, she said. The waitress forced a smile: Haha, I know you dont want it. On the other end of the talisman, Jiang Cheng, as if he could read her mind, said: Hello, what she means is, she wants everything except the one she said she doesnt want. Liu Qing looked at the talisman and nodded slightly. She had spoken very clearly; Jiang Cheng was always able to understand her. The waitress, so clueless. The waitress, looking at the menu which was neither thick nor thin, said to Jiang Cheng with an incredulous tone: Are you sure? Your girlfriend just ordered nearly a hundred different cakes. Is that a bit too much? Jiang Cheng asked. Its indeed a bit too much. Well, then take your time making them. Its okay, she can eat slowly. The waitress: ? Are you focusing on the right thing here?
Take it slow, Liu Qing said. Oh, okay, the waitress understood this time. Liu Qing silently retracted her previous judgment as she watched the waitress walk away. The waitress, not clueless. A good person. Although there were someplications in entering the campus, Jiang Cheng still arrived at the gymnasium of Qingxuan University ahead of time. The good news was that Liang Lu also arrived early and didnt make Jiang Cheng wait for her. Since it wasnt their first meeting, there was no awkwardness between them. Liang Lu got straight to the point: Why do you want to help me? Jiang Cheng reiterated his positionhe had merely drawn the talisman legally and systematically; he hadnt done anything else. Liang Lu had heard enough of Jiang Chengs exnations. She decided to start from the beginning: What does the death of Prince Liang Chu have to do with you?
A pure ident. And Prince Qi? His case was not an ident, mainly because of Jiang Cheng briefly described the situation at the time. Liang Lu was staggered. Because he didnt want to turn a blind eye, he ended up wiping out the entire Demon Sect? Why was the truth more outrageous than the stories she had imagined! However, while Jiang Cheng had shifted the me for interfering with the royal session, his special rtionship with the Taixu Sect was further confirmed. As for Prince Liang Wu and Prince Liang Hong, to be honest, Im not sure why they insisted on asking me to draw talismans, Jiang Cheng exined. The talisman for Prince Liang Wu was not drawn by me but by a senior of mine. The talisman for Prince Liang Hong was indeed drawn by me. By the way, Prince Liang Qing also came to me recently for a talisman. Because of Li Qing? Liang Lu asked. Exactly, how did you know? Oh, right, youre from Qingxuan University, so its not surprising that youve heard of Li Qing. But I havent heard of Li Qings great reputation.
Hm? Liang Lu smiled: If Im not mistaken, I know why the three princes came to you. Jiang Cheng asked with curiosity: So what are you trying to say? We can make a deal, Liang Lu said. What do you mean? Liang Lu seemed confident in her leverage over Jiang Cheng, slowly saying: I tell you the reason the princes came to you, and you draw me a talisman. Jiang Cheng,pletely unconcerned and with a smile barely concealing a smirk, said: But I dont want to know why the princes came to me. Liang Lu: ? Jiang Cheng shrugged his shoulders, Im not interested in your siblings affairs. I agreed to draw a talisman for Liang Qing only because the Lin Sect was willing to let me ess their library. Chapter 275: 228: The Martial Virtue Combat Method Re-emerges in the Jianghu_2 Chapter 275: Chapter 228: The Martial Virtue Combat Method Re-emerges in the Jianghu_2 Liang Lu didnt quite understand, But you were so desperate to see His Majesty before. Thats because if I cant see someone, I cant tailor-make a talisman ording to the person. Liang Hong mortgaged his Prince Mansion to me, so I definitely need to work hard to create a satisfying talisman. Otherwise, wouldnt that be letting down his Prince Mansion? What about your willpower empowerment talisman Jiang Cheng said helplessly, The thing about the willpower empowerment talisman was truly an ident. I also didnt expect that its aphrodisiac effect would be so good. And I never imagined your fourth brother, er, liked to challenge the extreme, and identally stumbled upon someone from the Hehuan Sect. Liang Lus mood turned from joy to sorrow. She had originally thought Jiang Cheng was her covert aide, silently helping her eliminate obstacles before her ascension; she hadnt expected that it was all coincidental, and Jiang Cheng really didnt care about the struggle for the throne at all. The fight for session among the princes of Liang Kingdom, a matter that even the Immortal Sect couldnt keep their hands off, mattered little in Jiang Chengs eyespared to his talismans. Even if you dont care about the throne, dont you have a connection with the Taixu Sect at least? Jiang Cheng continued shaking his head, No connections, the only connection ismymunication talisman has President Lis contact, does that count? Liang Lu took a step back. She felt that Jiang Cheng, who appeared amiable and easy to negotiate with, was surprisingly impregnable once you got to know him better!
At least thats what Liang Lu believed. In the face of Jiang Cheng, she had used all her tactics, yet hadnt managed to find even a sliver of weakness, a handle to grab onto. It seemed that other than talismans, he cared about nothing else. What exactly do you want in order to help me make a talisman? Do you have money? Jiang Cheng asked. A little. How much is a little? Nine hundred thousand. Jiang Cheng shook his head and said, Thats not enough. Liang Lu gritted her teeth, Besides money, what else do you want? Cultivation techniques. Preferably from the Demon Sect, do you have any? No. Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, then said, Pill recipes are also okay. No. Does the Prince Mansion have any? No. Jiang Cheng scratched his head and said, Princess, if you dont have anything, even installment payment wont work because theres nothing for coteral. Liang Lu fell silent. She indeed had nothing of value at hand.
But the future would be different. Through the existence of Li Qing, she had already guessed the Taixu Sects intentions. The Taixu Sect probably wanted to support her ascension and make her the first Empress of Liang Kingdom. I will be the Emperor of Liang. At that time, I will be able to allocate the imperial familys assets to pay you for the talisman, effortlessly. Youre so confident, Your Highness?
Of course. Yet Jiang Cheng said, I feel that Your Highness wont be the Emperor of Liang. Why not? Because your sister is Great Liangs Duan Yu. However, concerning the spoiler, Jiang Cheng didnt say it, simply shaking his head. This made Liang Lu unable to understand. Currently, there was only Prince Liang Qing left among the princes, but since the Taixu Sect needed her to ascend, Liang Qing would probably be taken care of by the Taixu Sect, not something she had to worry about. Besides Liang Qing, there were still four princesses. The eldest princess was about to be a grandmother, Princess Liang Pei hadnt even graduated from high school, and Princess Si was still in elementary school. If one had to say, apart from herself Liang Lu, only Princess Liang Pei had a slight chance. But Princess Liang Pei was far inferior to her in every aspect, and she, Liang Lu, had the endorsement of the Taixu Sect; she should be the most popr candidate for the throne, right? Why didnt Jiang Cheng believe in her? Do you think Im too weak?
After thinking it over, that was the only reason Liang Lu coulde up with. Actually, being weak or not depends on who youpare yourself to, Jiang Cheng objectively assessed. After all, he was with Liu Qing every day, and being exposed daily to the gaze of a Mahayana cultivator, his sense of high-level cultivators had be somewhat numb. In the end, no one was stronger than Liu Qing. Yet Jiang Chengs words deeply struck Liang Lus sore spot. Liang Lu was not weak. In Qingxuan Universitys Qi Cultivation Stage, she was virtually unbeatable, except for Lin Yao. But the problemy precisely in those words except for Lin Yao. Liang Lu simply wanted to ask Jiang Cheng to make a talisman that would increase her chances of defeating Lin Yao, but to her surprise, not only had no talisman been made, she was nearly defenseless against the truthful hits of Jiang Cheng. Ive heard that you scored full marks in every subject during Lotus Universitys freshman assessment, including bat assessment. That did happen. Are you interested inparing strengths with me? Liang Lu asked seriously, I wont bully you, Ill only use seventy percent of my strength. Jiang Cheng looked at the time and said, Thats fine, but I have a condition. A single battle to determine the winner, no foul y allowed. `
No problem. ` ` Liang Lu readily agreed. ` ` Although Jiang Cheng scored full marks in thebat assessment, Liang Lu didnt feel like she would lose. ` ` After all, even Lin Yao, who was at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation Stage, couldnt beat her back then, not to mention Jiang Cheng, who appeared tock any offensive capability. ` ` Jiang Cheng then made another request.
` ` Lets test our skills over there. ` ` Although Liang Lu didnt understand why Jiang Cheng wanted to change the location, she had enough confidence in her own strength and wasnt worried about him looking for a battleground with advantages. ` ` However, the location Jiang Cheng chose was still inside the gym; it was just closer to the restroom and nothing special. ` ` Jiang, I specialize in Traditional Cultivation, which means Im quite good at movement techniques, sword techniques, and spells. Youd better be careful. ` ` Jiang Cheng replied amiably, Liang, I specialize in Talismans and am only good at Talismans. You should be careful, too. ` ` Liang Lu took out a wooden sword from her storage bag, confident that this alone would be enough to defeat Jiang Cheng. ` ` Moreover, this was a duel between students, and without the protection of high-level cultivators, it wouldnt be appropriate to use a real sword and risk injuring someone. ` ` Jiang, Im ready, you make the first move. ` ` Jiang Cheng wasnt about to stand on ceremony; he immediately took out a healing-type Talisman and applied it to Liang Lu without a second word. ` ` Liang Lu frowned. ` ` A healing boost for me? ` ` Is this a provocation? ` ` Does he look down on me that much? ` ` Liang Lu decided she was going to show Jiang Cheng a thing or two. ` ` With extremely highbat prowess, she warmed up her body in an instant, ready for the fight, and quickly used her movement skill to close in on Jiang Cheng! ` ` Hes not even trying to dodge? ` ` Liang Lu frowned again, sensing something was off. ` ` But with the arrow already on the string, she had to shoot. Even now sensing something amiss, she was set on ending the fight quickly! ` ` Jiang Cheng remained motionless the whole time. ` ` Just as he had during thebat assessment. ` ` However, Jiang Cheng had to admit, Liang Lusbat capability was truly not bad. ` ` Even though she was only at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, she was stronger than those seniors at the ninth level back in the arena. ` ` But it didnt matter. ` ` As long as it was the Qi Cultivation Stage, they were all the same to Jiang Cheng. ` ` At this moment, Liang Lu was only two steps away from Jiang Cheng. ` ` Jiang Cheng stepped back calmly and said softly: ` ` Hand-Foot Disorientation Skill. ` ` Take this sword! ` ` Liang Lu concentrated, bing one with her sword; she took a big step forward, intending to end the duel with one strike. ` ` Then she found herself stepping into thin air! ` ` Her body instantly lost bnce! ` ` The momentum she had built up for her sword technique had crumbled to nothing! ` ` Whats going on! ` ` Why the missed step? ` ` What actually happened? ` ` Liang Lus ability to react on the spot was excellent; even with her body off-bnce, she was quick to make a decisionto spring up using her hands to push off the ground! ` ` Without a seconds hesitation, Liang Lu made her move with a palm strike. ` ` But to her shock, she swung with her right handthe one holding the sword! ` ` Liang Lu: ??? ` ` Liang Lu tried to reach out with her left hand again, but again, it was her right hand that moved! ` ` The opportunity to brace herself on the ground was fleeting, and after two attempts and failures, there was no longer a chance to do so. ` ` She could only defend herself with her hands in front of her face and fall to the ground with a thud. ` ` Why cant I control my own hands and feet? Although Liang Lu was a princess, she wasnt vain; a fall was just a fall. ` ` Because of the Hand-Foot Disorientation Skill. Its a little spell I developed myself that temporarily swaps the control of the opposite sides of the body, Jiang Cheng exined patiently. ` ` I see. Its very effective, albeit a bit sneaky, Liang Lu acknowledged. ` ` Jiang Cheng smiled, Im a pragmatist. ` ` Liang Lu bent down to pick up the wooden sword from the ground, Thanks for the generous introduction, but that trick wont work on me anymore. ` ` Jiang Cheng replied leisurely, What goes aroundes around, Your Highness. You were also generous enough to chat with me. ` ` What do you mean? ` ` Before Liang Lus words had even ended, her stomach suddenly growled, followed by an overwhelming and uncontroble physiological urge that transmitted clearly into her mind. ` ` Her eyes widened in disbelief. ` ` Just moments of stupefactionter, a blush as red as burning clouds uncontrobly crawled up her cheeks. ` ` Liang Lu gritted her teeth, Jiang Cheng! What have you done to me! Chapter 276: 229: The Unbeatable Jiang Cheng Chapter 276: Chapter 229: The Unbeatable Jiang Cheng ` The Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman, its principle is to help the opponent quickly digest food, achieving victory in a friendly manner during apetition. Jiang Cheng simply introduced his proud talisman. The Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman currently has a hundred percent win rate. Its cheap to make, costs little energy, and since its for healing, its sure to hit the target every time. Moreover, its very humane towards the enemy, causing no permanent harm. Except for mental health. It is an exceptionally outstanding first-level talisman. Quick digestion of food friendly victory How is that friendly at all? Liang Lu gritted her teeth. Jiang Cheng said, Isnt it friendly enough to decide the winner without anyone getting hurt? You think youve already won? I wont give up so easily! Liang Lu, holding a wooden sword, was filled with an ardent fighting spirit. Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, saying, I dont really care, but theres something I should tell Your Highness in advance.
Liang Lu stared at Jiang Cheng, as if searching for any weakness in him. Jiang Cheng kindly said, Your Highness, you need to reserve some energy for the restroom. Liang Lus eyes widened suddenly. Despicable! Youre threatening me! Just a friendly reminder. Liang Lus delicate hand tightly gripped the hilt of her sword as if she were about to crush it. Jiang Cheng was not wrong; she indeed still had energy to spare, but she couldnt guarantee she would still have any left after another bout with Jiang Cheng. And if she ran out of energy, the consequences This duel doesnt count! Liang Lu tantly reneged. Now it was Jiang Chengs turn to be surprised, Your Highness, you agreed not to go back on your word. Liang Lu was nearly driven mad with anger by Jiang Cheng. He had started the duel withxatives and still had the nerve to tell her not to cheat? Where did he get the gall? Wait for me toe back and fight again! Dont, dont leave! By the end, Liang Lus tone had weakened, not because she was afraid of Jiang Cheng, but because the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman was still silently taking effect. She secretly rejoiced that she hadnt blindly engaged Jiang Cheng just then. Otherwise, she would have been socially annihted. Liang Lu walked with small steps out of the duel area, then slowly made her way to the restroom of the sports hall, leaning on the wall. Then something suddenly urred to her, and she abruptly turned her head, only to see Jiang Cheng with his back turned to her, not witnessing her humiliating state, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Liang Lu truly couldnt understand. Jiang Cheng seemed so polite, so why were the talismans he drew so unlike him, so utterly despicable and shameless! Half an hourter, Liang Lu returned to Jiang Cheng unharmed. This time I wont go easy on you. Im going all out.
Liang Lu slowly regained her ninth-level Qi cultivation strength. Aside from holding a wooden sword, still not using a real magical weapon, everything else was exactly like when she fought Lin Yao. Anyone with a bit of insight would know she wasnt joking around; she was getting serious. Jiang Cheng still appeared nonchnt. It seemed to him that it didnt make a difference whether Liang Lu was serious or not. Hmm. I also dont n on using the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman. You dont need to let me win. I wont fall for the same trick twice. Your Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman is indeed powerful, but it takes some time to take effect. If I defeat you within that time, I can secure the victory. Um, Im not using the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman because I only brought one in my storage bag, and Ive already used it. Liang Lu: So if you still have talismans, you dont really n to keep using them, do you? Im a pragmatist, Jiang Cheng confessed. Alright, alright, I wont argue with you. Actions will prove everything. Good. The banter before the duel ended, and both Jiang Cheng and Liang Lu put away their yful hearts.
No matter what Jiang Chengs attitude was, at least Liang Lu was very serious. This time, Liang Lu abandoned her previous closebat style, intending to wear down Jiang Cheng with spells. She was at the ninth Qi cultivation level, while Jiang Cheng was only at the seventh; her reserve of spiritual power was far greater than Jiang Chengs. With spell consumption, Jiang Cheng was bound to lose without a doubt. Earthen Prison Skill! With a crispmand, Liang Lu activated the spell control. The ground near Jiang Chengs feet trembled, and stone shackles grew from beneath, half a circle on each side. They then closed around Jiang Chengs ankles perfectly. Earthen Prison Skill was a spell with strong control capabilities. Usually, it was difficult to hit and control the opponent. Liang Lu had used it with a try-it-and-see attitude, not expecting to control Jiang Cheng so easily. Why didnt you dodge? Jiang Cheng replied, If I dodged, you would cast other spells. In that moment, Liang Lu actually felt Jiang Chengs reasoning made a lot of sense. Indeed, if Jiang Cheng avoided the Earthen Prison Skill, she had other spells prepared for him, but if Jiang Cheng didnt dodge, there was no need for the rest.
Youre caught by the Earthen Prison Skill now, with nowhere to hide. Jiang Cheng spoke indifferently, Even if I werent caught by the Earthen Prison Skill, I still wouldnt n on hiding. Why not? Because Im not skilled in evasion techniques, and whether running or dodging, I cant outpace you. Its better to stay where I am and save some energy, Jiang Cheng analyzed logically. Strange. Very strange. Liang Lu had never encountered an opponent like Jiang Cheng. But the problem wasnt big; she didnt believe Jiang Cheng could remain so calm when attacked. Six Harmonies Sword Meteor! Liang Lu called out again. This spell was extremely powerful in terms of attack. Using spiritual power to form phantom des, it attacked the target from six directions all at once. Based on Jiang Chengs cultivation level, if he took the full brunt of Six Harmonies Sword Meteor, he would undoubtedly lose the duel.
Phantom des began to condense in the air, dense sword points all aiming directly at Jiang Cheng in the center. Yet, there was not the slightest bit of panic on Jiang Chengs face. Conversely, it was Liang Lu, the attacker, who showed signs of nervousness. Chapter 277: 229 Unbeatable Jiang Cheng_2 Chapter 277: Chapter 229 Unbeatable Jiang Cheng_2 ` Why is he soposed? Does he have some odd Talisman like the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman? I mustnt take him lightly! Liang Lu stared intently at Jiang Cheng, trying to see what trick he was preparing to use next. Jiang Cheng indeed did not disappoint Liang Lu; faced with the myriad des of Spiritual Power, he slowly took out a Talisman. Judging by the material of the Talisman, it was a Reusable Type, not a single-use one like the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman. Jiang Cheng channeled his Spiritual Power into the Reusable Type Talisman, and then, right in front of Liang Lu, he tossed it onto the ground. Liang Lu pushed forward with one palm, saying, Eight-Sided Linglong Wall. A jade-colored light screen unfolded from the center of Liang Lus palm, quickly expanding into a greenish light screen. This light screen was clearly a defensive spell in nature. However, to Liang Lus surprise, after Jiang Cheng threw the Reusable Type Talisman on the ground, nothing happened.
Her light screen was not attacked by anything. No! It wasnt that nothing happened! Liang Lus eyes widened as she discovered that her recently cast Six Harmonies Sword Meteor was starting to crumble! Above Jiang Chengs head, the dense des of Spiritual Power began to shatter, each fragment falling to the ground and vanishing. The originally imposing and powerful attack spell had not even exhibited its might before it waspletely dissolved by Jiang Cheng with some unknown move! What exactly happened? On the other side, Jiang Cheng said mockingly, Liang, dont be scared. I didnt use an attack Talisman. Liang Lu retracted the Eight-Sided Linglong Wall, her slender fingers gripping the wooden sword. What move did you use just now? How could it dissolve my Six Harmonies Sword Meteor? Jiang Cheng said, If you concede, Liang, Ill tell you. Dream on! Liang Lu did not want to concede. She had already lost to Lin Yao too many times; she couldnt keep losing to Jiang Cheng as well! At least Lin Yao had a strong will and dared to fight fiercely; her losses to Lin Yao were not unjust. But what about Jiang Cheng? Jiang Cheng was only at the seventh level of Qi cultivation, a full two levels below her. If she couldnt even beat Jiang Cheng, then she might as well give up. Liang Lu held the wooden sword, employing her movement technique, her entire being transforming into a pleasing arc as she circled around to approach Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng was caught by the Earthen Prison Skill, so as long as she didnt get too close, it should be very safe. Explosive me Skill!
Liang Lu pointed her sword tip at Jiang Cheng, using a simple yet practical attack spell. Some spells required incantations and gestures to coordinate, some needed the right time and ce, but others, like the Explosive me Skill, could be unleashed just with the wooden sword. Many traditional cultivators would intersperse spells with swordsmanship and movement techniques to achieve the goal of continuous attacks and constant pressure on the opponent. Liang Lu was very proficient in connecting these small skills, but today, her Explosive me Skill was like a torch in the rain, leaving behind only a wisp of smoke.
Explosive me Skill! Liang Lu tried to initiate the spell again, but still, there was only smoke. Why had her spell failed? Before Liang Lu had time to ponder, Jiang Cheng on the other side slowly took out a second Talisman. Liang Lu watched helplessly as Jiang Cheng activated the Talisman, its effect turning into a ray of light that shot into her body. Such speed! Impossible to dodge! But it shouldnt be a big issue; attack Talismans are usually fast, but their attack power isnt typically high. Liang Lu stomped her foot, ready to abandon the spell and directly attack with the wooden sword, but at this moment, a sharp pain suddenly shot through the sole of her foot! Ah! Liang Lus long legs trembled and cold sweat appeared on her forehead; she couldnt understand what move Jiang Cheng had used to directly attack the soles of her feet. Fighting with Jiang Cheng waspletely different from fighting with Lin Yao. With Jiang Cheng, Liang Lu couldnt even understand his moves.
The entire duel had given her the illusion that she had cultivated falsely. Jiang Cheng broke free from the Earthen Prison Skill, squatted down, and looked at Liang Lu, Liang, we dont have to keep fighting, do we? Liang Lu frowned, Why stop? I havent lost yet. Try to grip your sword tightly, said Jiang Cheng. Liang Lu exerted strength in her hand, and then she also felt a severe pain in her palm. You! What on earth is going on? ` Its still one of my inventions, the Perception Transmission Talisman. It can amplify your sense of pain, making the mere act of stepping on the ground or gripping a sword feel unbearably painful. It can also directly amplify your sense of hearing, but doing that would knock you out on the spot because of my loud voice, so I chose to amplify the sense of pain. I can still use spells! Liang Lu protested. Jiang Cheng smiled and asked, Can you really? Liang Lu was stunned, the Explosive me Skill that she couldnt perform just a moment ago suddenly shed before her eyes. Why has my spell failed? Jiang Cheng calmly picked up the Reusable Type Talisman from the ground, held it up and introduced it to Liang Lu, This is the Spiritual Energy Blockage Talisman, a first-grade offensive talisman. However, its target isnt people, but the spiritual energy in the natural world. The inspirationes from radio jamming, of course, you dont know what radio is. In short, you can still cast a spell, but you cant borrow power from the world around you. You must rely entirely on your own spiritual power to release it.
Liang Lu sped her head with both hands. The Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman, Perception Transmission Talisman, Spiritual Energy Blockage Talisman, what are all these unheard-of things! Do you have any normal talismans on you? Jiang Cheng stroked his chin and thought for a moment. Liang Lu was on the verge of copse, Do you really need to think hard to answer that question? There are some, Jiang Cheng said. After all, I am a Talisman Master, how could I not use normal talismans? Look. Jiang Cheng took out his Reusable Type Communication Talisman. Liang Lu gave him a look of speechlessness. Jiang Cheng nced at the time on the Communication Talisman and said, Liang, do you still intend to y tricks in thispetition? Liang Lus face flushed red, and her mouth was filled with iprehensible mutterings. Phrases like How can this be considered losing, Its clearly you who yed tricks, I wasnt prepared this time, Ill let you have this one, filled the air of the gym with a lively atmosphere. Liang. What now? I always thought you were quite serious, but youre actually quite cute when youre being stubborn.
Liang Lus already flushed face turned so red it seemed it could drip blood. You, youre mocking the princess, whats the punishment for that! Jiang Cheng hurriedly defended himself, I wasplimenting you, not mocking you. Youre stillughing! Youre clearlyughing! Jiang Cheng suddenly felt a headache, he had just been honest, reallyplimenting her, he didnt understand why Liang Lu was angry. The thoughts of a female cultivator are so hard to guess, much more difficult than drawing talismans. Lets have another match! Liang Lu stood up and said to Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng said, No more matches. Are you afraid Ill win back? You cant beat me. How can I not beat you, my cultivation is at the ninth level, my technique is meticulous Jiang Cheng killed off Liang Lus fantasy with a single sentence, What if I still have the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman, how do you n to fight then? Purification! As long as I have the Purification Talisman, your Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman wont work at all. Purification is for eliminating after-effects, but the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman is a healing ss talisman, elerating digestion is a spontaneous action of your bodys muscles, the Purification Talisman wont solve it. But, but there must be other ways. Jiang Cheng said with a smile, But you cant think of any at the moment, can you? Liang Lu fell silent. On Jiang Cheng, she felt a sense of powerlessness that she felt when facing Lin Yao. She couldnt win no matter what. What to do? Wait a minute! If Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao were topete, who would be stronger? No, thats not right! Jiang Cheng doesnt need to fight Lin Yao, but what if I took Jiang Chengs talismans and went to fight Lin Yao? Jiang Chengs talismans dont have a high casting difficulty; anyone with hands can use them. As long as Jiang Cheng is willing to draw some for me. Liang Lus thoughts and perspective suddenly broadened at this idea! First, use Jiang Chengs talismans against Lin Yao and see how Lin Yao copes. If Lin Yao can cope, then I can learn Lin Yaos coping methods and then turn back to deal with Jiang Cheng. If Lin Yao cant cope, then I can directly defeat Lin Yao and wash away my humiliation! Jiang Cheng! The talismans you used just now, can you draw some for me? Liang Lu asked politely. Jiang Cheng looked at Liang Lu who had taken such an abrupt turn in her attitude and asked carefully, What are you nning to do with them? I want to take them to torment, no, I mean to test them out in a match with others. Chapter 278: 230 Victory is Surprisingly Simple Chapter 278: Chapter 230 Victory is Surprisingly Simple In the special activity room, Liang Lu was restless. Yesterday, she had purchased over a dozen talismans from Jiang Cheng, including the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman and the Spiritual Energy Blockage Talisman, which had caused her great difficulty. If it werent for personally testing the talismans, Liang Lu wouldnt have had so much confidence in Jiang Chengs talismans. Now that she possessed Jiang Chengs talismans, it was as if she had acquired Jiang Chengs fighting ability. Theoretically, she was fully qualified to challenge Lin Yao and avenge her previous humiliation. Mo Ningdan would take time out every day to guide Liang Lus cultivation, and today was no exception. However, what puzzled Mo Ningdan was that Liang Lu was unusually fidgety and seemed to be greatly disturbed in spirit. But this was to be expected. The Immortal Sect gathered the entire Cultivation Worlds genius cultivators, but only eleven or twelve could truly stand at the pinnacle among the stars. In the Immortal Sect, where talents weremon, what determined a persons ultimate cultivation level wasnt their talent but their will and temperament. Having encountered Lin Yao, Liang Lu was, in a sense, getting an early taste of life in the Immortal Sect. Theres always someone better out there; who in the Immortal Sect could guarantee an undefeated record?
Its not scary to lose; its a time of peace, and losing doesnt mean death. What is terrifying is to be unable to recover from a series of defeats. If consecutive losses turn Lin Yao into Liang Lus inner demon, then Liang Lus potential would be all too clear. Liang Lu, havent you practiced today? Mo Ningdan reminded her. Upon seeing her teacher, Liang Lu said urgently, Teacher, I want to fight Lin Yao again. Mo Ningdan had anticipated Liang Lu saying this, No, your state today is even worse than before, and you wont change the oue. Teacher, I have confidence! Youre too impatient. Knowing that Mo Ningdan disapproved of her getting talismans from Jiang Cheng, Liang Lu simply said, Teacher, Ive found some very effective talismans, and now I have at least a fifty percent, no, at least a sixty percent chance of winning! Mo Ningdan still shook her head, Talismans, magical treasures, they are but minor tools. We traditional cultivators represent the most orthodox and pure Cultivating Immortality. Half of all high-level cultivators in the Immortal Secte from traditional cultivation; this is the irond proof of our strength. If you want to go further on the path of cultivating immortality, its best not to rely too much on external objects. Liang Lu exined, Teacher, I understand, but now Im confident I can beat Lin Yao. I want to give it a try. For the third time, Mo Ningdan shook her head, Youre too agitated now. You found those talismans today and defeated Lin Yao, but what about tomorrow? Will you be able to find such suitable talismans again? And the day after? What will you do after you enter the Immortal Sect? Are you going to rely on talismans for the rest of your life? How could there be so many talismans for you to use? If this advice hade earlier, Liang Lu would have had no doubt believed it. But now, she wasnt so sure. At least she had a pocket full of various talismans drawn by Jiang Cheng. Who knows how many more unknown stocks Jiang Cheng has. Moreover, it was said that Jiang Cheng was also going to draw a talisman for Liang Qing that would make him invincible in the Foundation Establishment Stage. So, when Jiang Chengs cultivation level rose further, could he then start drawing talismans that guaranteed victory in the Core Formation Stage? In the past, Liang Lu believed that diligent cultivation would make her stronger. Even after she was unable to defeat Lin Yao, she still firmly believed in thisLin Yao was also diligent, very diligent, perhaps even more so than she was.
But yesterdays battle with Jiang Cheng had somewhat shattered Liang Lus worldview. Because Jiang Chengs talismans were utterly unreasonable! No matter whether you were at the third or ninth level of qi practice, as long as you hadnt been struck by Heavenly Tribtion and your cultivation hadnt undergone a qualitative change, his talismans treated everyone the same! Teacher, I still want to fight Lin Yao. I can ept losing, and I can ept winning too, said Liang Lu.
Mo Ningdan looked at Liang Lu, her brow furrowing slightly. In her memory, Liang Lu was a very sensible student who was diligent, down-to-earth, hardworking, and hardly ever talked back. For some reason today, her personality had be so stubborn that she insisted onpeting against Lin Yao. You canpete against Lin Yao if you like, but only if you get past me first, she stated. Mo Ningdan slowly suppressed her cultivation level, her aura falling fromte-stage Core Formation all the way to the ninth level of qi practice, the same as Liang Lu. If you cant defeat me, youll still have no chance against Lin Yao. Mo Ningdan herself stepped into the fray, hoping to make Liang Lu see the gap and retreat, recognizing that, although her cultivation level had decreased, herbat experience and spell reserves far exceeded a qi practitioners. That was why Liang Qing, even with a third-grade magical treasure, couldnt defeat Li Qingge. However, Liang Lus response took Mo Ningdan by surprise. Alright. Liang Lu agreed briskly. Now Mo Ningdan felt a bit caught between a rock and a hard ce; she believed that with Liang Lus current mindset, she simply couldnt fight Lin Yao again. If she lost to Lin Yao once more, cultivating an inner demon prematurely could very well ruin Liang Lus cultivation potential.
But as a teacher, it wouldnt do to go back on her word in front of her student. Her only option now was to defeat Liang Lu, making her realize the disparity and settle down to cultivate in earnest. This room isnt big enough; lets change locations. Mo Ningdan took Liang Lu to the gymnasium, and Liang Lu felt a bit overwhelmed. It was here that she was soundly beaten by Jiang Cheng just yesterday, and now, in just one day, the tables had turned? What are you standing there dazed for? In that state, you cant defeat anyone, Mo Ningdan criticized sternly. Yes. Liang Lu quickly adjusted her state, choosing to stand in the spot where Jiang Cheng had stood the day before. Then she hesitated, looking at Mo Ningdan. Mo Ningdan asked, Do you have something else to say? Ahem, Mrs. Mo, could you move a bit to the left? About two meters from the white line, Liang Lu requested. Chapter 279: 230 Victory is Surprisingly Simple_2 Chapter 279: Chapter 230 Victory is Surprisingly Simple_2 Is there something special about this position? It feels like the student has a greater chance of winning with the teacher standing there. Mo Ningdan didnt notice anything peculiar about the position, but to satisfy Liang Lus small request and put her heart at ease, she decided toply. Are you ready? Shall we start now? Im ready! Mm, take this! Although they were in the same position, Mo Ningdans spell proficiency was higher than Liang Lus. Root Binding Spell! Liang Lu saw Mo Ningdans lips move slightly, and then green nts rapidly grew at her feet, their stems wrapping around her feet and thighs, nearly immobilizing her lower half. Mo Ningdan had confidence that she was stronger than Liang Lu, but still, gaining control over Liang Lu with one move was beyond her expectations. Based on her understanding of Liang Lu, a new standout student, it shouldnt have been possible for her to fail to dodge the Root Binding Spell.
Why didnt you dodge? Clearing her throat, Liang Lu said, Because I dont know any movement techniques, and I cant outrun or dodge you. I might as well stay put and conserve some energy. Mo Ningdan: ??? Confounded, she asked, You dont know any movement techniques? Liang Lu hesitated, thinking she had made a mistake. Too busy copying Jiang Chengs homework, she had forgotten to change the name! Teacher, I was just saying anything, dont ask anymore, hurry up and use your spell. Mo Ningdan thought to herself that Liang Lu, indeed her own student, had a mastery of spells. To control and then follow up with a powerful attack was abination that didnt require a second thought. Six Harmonies Sword Meteor! Countless des formed from spiritual energy were rapidly gathering around Liang Lu. Seeing the Six Harmonies Sword Meteor, Liang Lu suppressed her excitement, took a deep breath, and then threw out a reusable type talisman. It was the Spiritual Energy Blockage Talisman! What! How did you do that! The mighty Six Harmonies Sword Meteor began dissipating uncontrobly, and Mo Ningdan, despite being a Core Formation cultivator, had no idea how Liang Lu had managed it. Liang Lu felt a secret thrill, but outwardly, she disyed aposed smile, much like someone familiar: Teacher, I told you I could beat Lin Yao. Mo Ningdans brow furrowed as she said, Its still too early to draw conclusions! Mo Ningdan used movement techniques, attacking in a curved arc. Liang Lu didnt waste words and simply copied Jiang Chengs tactic, throwing a Perception Transmission Talisman.
However, unlike Jiang Cheng, she didnt hold back and directly enhanced her hearing twentyfold! Mo Ningdan was a Core Formation cultivator, not easy to exhaust. At that moment, without any additional noise from Liang Lu, the mere sound of Mo Ningdan moving was like a deafening roar, simr to a mighty tsunami or avnche. Ah!
Mo Ningdan was shaken to her core, losing her bnce and falling to the ground. Mrs. Mo! Liang Lu quickly went to check on Mo Ningdans condition. Once Mo Ningdan removed the suppression on her cultivation level, restoring it to Core Formation strength, her difort gradually abated. Liang Lu, what exactly were those things you just used? Liang Lu briefly introduced the two talismans from Jiang Cheng. After hearing the exnation, Mo Ningdan was dumbfounded. Her nearly two-hundred years of experience in the Cultivation World were like a nk te before Liang Lus talismans. Unheard of, unseen! Where did you get these talismans? I got them from, well, a friend. Liang Lu could only be vague about it. Mo Ningdan, holding her forehead, said, The talismans are indeed formidable, but that friend of yours isnt very respectable. You better not associate with him too much in the future.
Liang Lu stuck out her tongue slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her teachers advice. She found Jiang Cheng quite nice. Not at all like the shady character her teacher had described. Although there was something off about the talismans he drew, the effects of the talismans had nothing to do with the level of a Talisman Master. Teacher, can I challenge Lin Yao now? Mo Ningdan sighed, Ill get in touch with Yan. Since youre confident, youd better beat Lin Yao this time. Great! At the Qingxuan University Trial Pavilion, Liang Lu once again faced off against Lin Yao. Although it was winter break, the grudge match between the two popr female cultivators still attracted many students who stayed on campus to stop and watch. Mo Ningdan and Yan Yue, the two teachers, were still watching from below, ready to intervene if anything unforeseen happened. Liang Lu and Lin Yao, as the twin stars among the new students of Qingxuan University, were far stronger than ordinary ninth-level Qi cultivators, making it all too normal for them to go too far in a fight. Yan Yue looked at the two on the stage andmented, I originally thought Liang Lu would be down for quite some time, yet she recovered so quickly. She hasnt recovered, has she? But its possible shes recovered from a strange angle, I dont know how to describe it. Mo Ningdan had a hard time articting Liang Lus current state.
Do you think shes improved? No, she has even regressed. But, do you think she can beat Lin Yao? She can win, and even has a good chance at it. Both weak and strong! Utterly absurd! Yan, you keep an eye on them this time. Alright. Let thepetition begin! With Yan Yuesmand, the atmosphere on the stage became extremely tense. Lin Yao was asposed as ever, while Liang Lu could not hide the panic in her heart. Mo Ningdans judgment wasnt wrong; Lin Yao indeed was a thorn in Liang Lus side. Lin, I wont show you any mercy. Watch the talisman! Liang Lus first move was a killing stroke, Jiang Chengs Hundred Percent Victory Talismanthe Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman!
Without any surprise, Lin Yao was hit by the talisman, and a healing effect briefly emerged on her. The onlookers below the stage were all astonished. Even the two well-informed teachers were shocked. Yan Yue: Mo, did you teach Liang Lu to throw healing spells at her opponent? It wasnt me; I didnt do it, dont talk nonsense. Mo Ningdan quickly dissociated herself from it. However, before the people below the stage could analyze further, the two on the stage suddenly began to chase each other. The strengths of Liang Lu and Lin Yao were evenly matched; if Liang Lu didnt want to be caught by Lin Yao, then Lin Yao couldnt really do much about it. Although they were in a cat-and-mouse chase, Liang Lus expression was calm, while Lin Yaos brow was deeply furrowed. Lin Yao, just give up. Stop making futile efforts. Lin Yao clenched her delicate hand and spoke harshly, Liang Lu, where did you get those despicable talismans! Hmph, what about the talismans? They are also a part of my strength. Are you dissatisfied? Lin Yao fumed, You are contemptible and shameless! Liang Lu thought to herself that she had also cursed Jiang Cheng with those words, but what use was it? In the end, wasnt she still defeated and left to prop against the wall? However, seeing Lin Yao in distress, cleared the gloom in Liang Lus heart. She kindly reminded, Lin Yao, youd better save some energy for yourself, since the restroom here is not exactly nearby. Lin Yao frowned and felt the condition of her body. Between victory and face, she decisively chose her dignity. On one hand, she could afford to lose, but more importantly, she intended to be Jiang Chengs Dao partner, and she wouldnt allow a speck of impurity on herself, both physically and reputation-wise. Lin Yao halted her pursuit and said resentfully, You win this time, I hope you still have such despicable talismans in your nextpetition. Liang Luughed, Then youd better be psychologically prepared, it might exceed your imagination. Liang, you werent like this before. Could someone have led you astray? Thank you for the reminder; I fancy myself as someone who can distinguish right from wrong. Then I wish you good luck. Lin Yao walked down from thepetition stage and silently headed for the restroom. Liang Lu breathed a sigh of relief; although she had relied on Jiang Chengs talismans, she had finally ovee Lin Yao! As for the future Shell just have to keep working hard. If all else fails, she could also ask Jiang Cheng to draw new talismans. Jade Lake Mingan. Jiang Cheng carelessly massaged his hand. Lately, it was both organizing cultivation techniques and dealing with the princess that greatly dyed his time for conceiving new talismans. With the submission deadline for the project only a few days away, he had to quicklye up with ideas for talismans that could wreak havoc during the Foundation Establishment Stage. Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage differed greatly from those in the Qi Cultivation Stage. Take, for example, talismans that control muscles; it is almost impossible for them to have much effect anymore. Offensive talismans find difficulty in bncing speed, uracy, and damage, always having a fatal weakness that cant deliver a one-hit kill. The difficulty of devising new talismans was immense, causing Jiang Cheng to fall into the hardship of contemtion. Hence, intertwining his fingers to elerate inspiration was inevitable. This certainly wasnt him trying to take advantage of Liu Qing. It was all in the name of work, after all. Chapter 280 - 231 Plan Success! Chapter 280: Chapter 231 n Sess! Initially, Jiang Cheng tried toe up with a talisman that could quickly secure an advantage, such as the Muscle Rxation Talisman. Using a talisman to control an opponent for a full minute, even a fool could secure victory and win the match within that minute of control. Then Jiang Cheng discovered that this approach, which worked well in the Qi Cultivation Stage, was hard to pull off during the Foundation Establishment Stage. The reason being, a cultivators overall strength on their panel increased, leading to a decline in the efficacy of a single talisman. Simply put, in a match during the Qi Cultivation Stage, a single move could determine the oue. For instance, if you have a powerful spell that the opponent cant defend against, they naturally have no choice but to surrender. But in a match during the Foundation Establishment Stage, if a cultivator cant defend against one spell, they could use two; if spells dont suffice, they have defensive magical treasures. Some cultivators rely on their agile movements to evade without blocking, avoiding injury just the same. Somebinations of moves that only exceptional individuals like Liang Lu could use in the Qi Cultivation Stage be standard for cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage. The same is true in the Core Formation Stage. Those outstanding in Foundation Establishment soar across the skies, while Core Formation cultivators gracefully rise through the ranks of the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, Jiang Chengs idea of learning from the Qi Cultivation Stage, hoping that Liang Qing could gain an overwhelming advantage with a single talisman, was wishful thinking. Whenever Jiang Cheng faced a difficulty in talisman creation, he would always review the clients needs. Liang Qings need was simple: to win the match against Li Qing. So, aside from obtaining an overwhelming advantage, was there another way to win the match? Yes. Bribing Li Qing before the match to throw the fight. Just kidding. Of course, Jiang Cheng wouldnt engage in anything that disrupted the rules. However, the idea of throwing a match did give Jiang Cheng a new line of thought. Was there a talisman that could lead to the opponents defeat even while they had the upper hand? During the freshmenbat assessment, Jiang Cheng had also learned about the general rules ofpetition. There were mainly three ways to concede: 1. concede voluntarily, 2. leave the range of thepetition stage, 3. be unable to continue fighting. Naturally, specificpetition events had certain rules for disqualification, such as the prohibition of illegal elixirs and forbidden techniques, among others. Jiang Cheng first considered the concede voluntarily aspect. To make the opponent voluntarily concede when at a disadvantage, apart from throwing the match or the opponent giving away the win, Jiang Cheng couldnt think of any other method at the moment. Next was leaving the range of thepetition stage. Jiang Cheng pondered whether it was possible to move thepetition stage itself, making the opponent lose just by standing still? Later, he realized this was unfeasible because he didnt know the exact size of the petition stage. If it turned out to be the size of a small hill, a second-rank talisman couldnt handle it. Lastly, there was only being unable to continue fighting. This seemed incredibly stringent, but in fact, upon deeper thought, it was indeed quite difficult. The mostmon reason for being unable to continue fighting was being knocked out cold, unconscious. But ording to Liang Qings description, he was usually the one ending up unconscious when facing Li Qing. So, were there situations where the dominant party would be unable to continue fighting? Indeed, there were! That would beEnlightenment! Enlightenment is a manifestation of ones affinity with the Heavenly Dao, usually urring to the prodigies of the Immortal Sect. The main signs are phenomena between heaven and earth, coupled with ones sudden enlightenment on the path of cultivating immortality. Enlightenment is a chance encounter that cannot be sought after. Even the prodigies of the Immortal Sect knew how rare the opportunity for enlightenment was, and dared not squander it lightly. Suppose Li Qing suddenly had the chance for enlightenment while fighting against Liang Qing. Li Qing would then face two choices, one to give up enlightenment and defeat Liang Qing, or two to forsake defeating Liang Qing and achieve enlightenment on the spot. Jiang Cheng didnt need to think twice to know Li Qings choiceonly a fool would give up on enlightenment! Besides, Li Qing had already caught Liang Qing seven times, what difference would winning one more time make? Inparison, enlightenment could be considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and everyone would know how much to treasure it; no one would give it up easily. After rifying the logical sequence, Jiang Cheng grasped the new design concept for the talisman. The clients requirement was victory The method for victory was to make the opponent unable to continue fighting The client uses the Enlightenment Experience Talisman The opponent enters the enlightenment state and automatically forfeits the match Client wins, the mission ispleted, and the talisman is a sess. With a clear design concept, Jiang Chengs next task was to recreate the process of enlightenment. After all, enlightenment is a rare phenomenon, which the vast majority of cultivators have only heard of, never seen. Jiang Cheng was an exception; he had seen it, but he wasnt sure if the game graphics differed from reality. Since it was the Enlightenment Experience Talisman, the conscientious Jiang Cheng did not n to skimp on the effort. He was creating a talisman for a genuine experience, not one to make money off a lousy production. So he decided to go to Lotus Universitys library to look for material on enlightenment, to authentically recreate the scene of enlightenment, allowing the one who activated the talisman to experience the joy of enlightenment as if they were truly there. Heading to the Lotus University library, are you? Jiang Cheng asked his roommate. Liu Qing nced at the night sky outside the window, indicating that it was toote. There was no room inspection in Jade Lake Mingan, but the Lotus University library closed at nine, and it was already past that time. The brain suddenly rxed, and drowsiness immediately came over him. Jiang Cheng yawned, stood up, and said, It is indeed toote, lets go to bed early today and check the library for materials tomorrow. Before the words were out of his mouth, Jiang Cheng yawned again as he headed towards the bedroom, but oddly enough, Liu Qing kept following him, seemingly intending to share a room with him for the night. Realizing the situation, Jiang Chengs sleepiness disappeared instantly. Jiang Cheng carefully assessed the difference inbat power between him and Liu Qing and ultimately concluded there was no chance of winning. Chapter 281 - 231 Plan Success!_2 Chapter 281: Chapter 231 n Sess!_2 His throat moved, and Jiang Cheng asked Liu Qing in a trembling voice, Youve been following me, what are you trying to do? Liu Qing blinked in puzzlement. She didnt understand why Jiang Cheng was asking a question to which he already knew the answer. After all, it was Jiang Cheng who had taken her hand and led her all the way here. Liu Qing looked down at their hands, and Jiang Cheng followed her gaze. The truth became clear. It turned out it was just that they had been holding hands for too long and forgot to let go. Jiang Cheng had even thought Liu Qing harbored some inappropriate thoughts. Ah! Sorry, I forgot, Jiang Cheng quickly released her hand. Liu Qing shook her head, indicating it was nothing. After all, it wasnt the first time Jiang Cheng had forgotten to let go, and she was used to it by now. Friends should be amodating to one another. Good night. Yeah, good night. The night passed without incident. The next morning, the two woke up in tacit agreement. After a quick tidy up and breakfast, they walked shoulder to shoulder to Lotus Universitys library. Since Jiang Cheng often came to the library to do research, he was quite familiar with the ce. Finding books and seats was a piece of cake for him. Jiang Cheng found himself several reference books on Enlightenment, as well as autobiographies of prodigies from the Immortal Sects, which contained subjective descriptions of their experiences with Enlightenment. In front of Liu Qing, however, therey a book titled Language Skills: The Art of Conversation. A day went by, and Jiang Cheng learned a great deal. He summarized nearly twenty different experiences of Enlightenment and the apanying heavenly phenomena from the descriptive tool books on Enlightenment and the autobiographies of over a dozen prodigies from the Immortal Sects. As Jiang Chengs study partner, Liu Qing also reaped considerable benefits. Language Skills, with its moderate thickness and protective stic cover, proved quite suitable for propping up her milk tea. Two more days passed, and Jiang Cheng developed the Enlightenment Experience Talisman based on his collected information about Enlightenment! The Enlightenment Experience Talisman included over a dozen different Enlightenment scenarios, which would randomly manifest one kind of Enlightenment phenomenon when cast upon the target. For example, Purple Qi Comes from the East, Wind Arises from a Clear Sky, Mist Entwined, Torrential Rains, and so on. Besides Enlightenment phenomena, it also integrated functions from other talismans to realize the subjective experiences of the Enlightened, such as Every Detail Revealed, Spiritually Uplifted, Heart Clear as a Mirror, and Keen of Hearing and Clear of Sight. Understanding Liang Qings urgent mood, Jiang Cheng immediately informed him of the good news as soon as the new talisman waspleted. Liang Qing was even more excited than Jiang Cheng. In the past, if he wanted to triumph, he would have to go through the motions of using three third-level Magical Treasures to crush his opponent. If he was unlucky and encountered a master like Li Qing, he couldnt take any chances and had to be fully alert and treat the matter seriously. But now, things were different. With Jiang Chengs talisman, his winning process was simplified from three Magical Treasures to just one talisman. Wasnt this progress? Who could say that Liang Qing hadnt made an effort? At Jade Lake Mingan, Jiang Cheng carried the Enlightenment Experience Talisman as he stepped out, heading to Prince Liang Qings residence at Prince Yue Mansion. His move did not escape the eyes of a female cultivator from the Taixu Sect stationed across the neighborhood, tasked with monitoring his activities. The cultivator promptly notified Li Qingge, the person in charge of the Ascension of the Holy Maiden n. Li, Jiang Cheng has left his home! He took a taxi at the neighborhood entrance, and based on the timing, hes most likely going to Liang Qings ce to deliver the talisman! Hearing thetest update, Li Qingge couldnt help but smile relievedly. If Jiang Cheng delivered the new talisman to Liang Qing, their Taixu Sects n would be sessful by arge margin! Zhong Yan happened to be next to Li Qingge, Li, why are you suddenly so happy? Liang Qing has taken the bait, our efforts havent been in vain! Hes thest Prince, and were only one step away from the ascension of Princess Liang Lu! Indeed, its something to be happy about, but Zhong Yan paused and said, Li, once Liang Qing gets the talisman, hell surely challenge you again. Should we ept or not? ept! Of course we should ept! But what if you, supported by Jiang Chengs talisman, still defeat him? Or has Li already prepared to throw the fight? Li Qingge shook her head and said, Youre asking this because you dont understand Jiang Cheng at all. Jiang Cheng is meticulous in his actions. If he wasnt confident that his new talisman could defeat Li Qing, he wouldnt have left to deliver the talisman to Liang Qing. Zhong Yan frowned, saying, Li, I know Jiang Cheng is formidable, but for him to draw a talisman that can help Liang Qing beat you, that seems a bit far-fetched. How could a talisman be decisive in a Foundation Establishment Stage battle? Not to mention youre a Core Formation Cultivator! A fourth-order Talisman Master! Far superior to an ordinary Foundation Establishment practitioner! Li Qingge revealed a bitter smile, saying, If I knew what Jiang Cheng was thinking, I would have been preparing topete for the position of Holy Maiden by now. Holy Maiden? Isnt that an exaggeration, Li? Zhong, youre not a Talisman Master, you dont realize how formidable Jiang Cheng is. His gift for creating talismans is extremely rare in this world. At least when ites to causing trouble, the young talents of the Five Great Immortal Sects put together cant match one of his fingers. Zhong Yan found it hard to believe: Really? Li Qingge sighed, Why would I lie to you? If Jiang Cheng werent a male cultivator, otherwise, Id definitely try to entice him to join Taixu Sect. Although the throne of Liang Kingdom is precious,pared to the seat of the Holy Maiden, it is nothing. As a member of the Taixu Sect, Zhong Yan naturally understood the weight of being the Taixu Holy Maiden. The Holy Maiden was essentially a reserve for the Sect Master position; even if one didnt make it to Sect Master, at the very least, they would be an Elder with real power. A figure who could decide the fate of their Liangguo Subrudder with just a breath. In Prince Yue Mansion, Liang Qing warmly weed Jiang Cheng. Jiang, where is my talisman? My sure-win talisman? Chapter 282 - 231 Plan Success!_3 Chapter 282: Chapter 231 n Sess!_3 Your Highness, dont worry, I have already brought the Talisman. Good, hurry and let me try it. Jiang Cheng said with a smile, Allow me to keep you guessing. Liang Qings teacher, Gan Zhong, twitched at the corner of his mouth. In order to obtain this Talisman, their Lin Sect had given up over a hundred Demonic Tao Cultivation Techniques from their collection, many of which were secrets not passed outside the Demon Sect, acquired by Lin Sect through all means and with great effort. The loss was not insignificant. And now Jiang Cheng wanted to keep them guessing? His attitude seemed a bit too much. Jiang Cheng, if you dont tell us the effects of the Talisman, how can we use it to deal with Li Qing? Jiang Cheng exined calmly, Hearing is not as good as seeing. I am prepared to have a trial with the Fifth Prince, and at that time, the effects of the Talisman will be evident. Liang Qing said, A trial? You are at the Qi Cultivation Stage, do you want me to try the Talisman while at the Qi Stage? Theres no need for that, I can activate a second-order Talisman just as well while in Qi Cultivation, Your Highness just needs to maintain your peak condition. Gan Zhong fell silent upon hearing this. For Jiang Cheng, a Qi Cultivation level facing Foundation Establishment sounded good in theory, but anyone with a bit of sense knew it was too much of a stretch. Besides, Liang Qing also had a third-order Magical Treasure for protection, his strength far surpassing an average Foundation Establishment. He wanted to see just how powerful Jiang Chengs new Talisman was to make him dare to do something as ridiculous as a Qi Cultivation level facing Foundation Establishment. At the trial ground of Prince Yue Mansion, Jiang Cheng and Liang Qing assumed their positions. Liang Qing stood with his hands behind his back and said, Jiang, to deal with you, I wont need a Magical Treasure. Jiang Cheng responded, Your Highness, do your best. Only then can we test the limit of the new Talisman. Fine! Since you insist, I wont hold back! Liang Qing took out three Magical Treasures on the spot. Among them, Thousand Wooden Swords and Ice Light Mirrorone for attack and one for controltargeted Jiang Cheng; Golden Might Pearl was in charge of defense, aimed at himself. Jiang Cheng, let me see how powerful your Talisman is! Lets see how many rounds you canst under my hand with your new Talisman! Jiang Cheng smiled faintly and threw out the Enlightenment Experience Talisman. The Enlightenment Experience Talisman turned into a fine beam of light and struck Liang Qing in an instant. Liang Qingughed loudly, Ha! Is this all? I dont feel anything at all. Wait, no, my brain feels so much clearer, and Im more sensitive to the air around me. Have I really improved again? Just as Liang Qing was indulging in his moment of pride, Gan Zhong suddenly shouted, Liang Qing! Look above your head! Liang Qing looked up; the sky was a kaleidoscope of colors, as if there was a rhythmic dance of rosy light. Liang Qing couldnt make out what was happening, but Gan Zhong, who hailed from the Immortal Sect and had seen much of the world, eximed in shock, A refreshing bodybined with a heavenly phenomenon? This is Enlightenment! Liang Qing, youre about to achieve Enlightenment! What! Liang Qing was also startled. Enlightenment was a treatment said to be reserved for the geniuses in legends. Could it be that he, Liang Qing, was truly a favored son of heaven? It seemed reasonable when he thought about it. Though he didnt know where exactly it was reasonable, the phenomenon made it so. Gan Zhong shouted, You fool! Dont just stand there, why not sit down and meditate to grasp thews of Enlightenment! Liang Qing hurriedly did as he was told. As for Jiang Cheng, he had already been forgotten. A challenge? What challenge? Was anything as important as attaining Enlightenment? Even though he had no idea how to begin with Enlightenment, and his mind waspletely nk, sitting down in meditation should do the trick, right? Just as Liang Qing had settled down to meditate, Gan Zhong was getting ready to share the good news with Gu Dongsheng when Jiang Cheng inconveniently raised his hand. Sorry to interrupt, but have I won? Gan Zhong waved his hand and said, You win. Make sure you dont make a noise and disturb Liang Qing. No one is allowed to disturb someone during their Enlightenment. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Okay, but I have other matters to attend to and need to wrap up the Talisman contract quickly. If he really wants to attain Enlightenment, he can do it after I leave. Gan Zhong quickly grabbed Jiang Cheng, speaking very seriously, Jiang Cheng, Liang Qing cannot be disturbed by any external matters while pursuing Enlightenment! Jiang Cheng took out the Talisman n and said, Elder Gan, I understand your sentiment, but the Enlightenment Liang Qing is experiencing is an effect of our Talisman. He can truly attempt to attain Enlightenment again at any time, you dont have to worry that he wont have a second chance. Gan Zhongs eyes widened incredulously, What is that? Say that again? Jiang Cheng patiently introduced the Enlightenment Experience Talisman to Gan Zhong one more time. Gan Zhong was shocked from start to finish, his pupils quivering with disbelief. Youre telling me that this Enlightenment effect is a special effect produced by your Talisman? Yes. So you created a false Enlightenment; whats your angle? Its not false Enlightenment; its an Experience Talisman. It helps cultivators who havent experienced Enlightenment to get a feel for it in advance. Moreover, it works very well for challenges. How is that very well? Jiang Cheng pointed to Liang Qing on the stage, who was still trying to attain Enlightenment. You tell me, did I win or not? Chapter 283 - 232: Still Underestimating Jiang Cheng Too Much Chapter 283: Chapter 232: Still Underestimating Jiang Cheng Too Much After great joy and sorrow, Gan Zhongs emotions had be quite stable. He looked at Liang Qing in the distance, who was still focusing on enlightenment, and suddenly felt a sense of pity. It must be known that although he experienced great joy and sorrow, he was always just an observer of this contest. But Liang Qing, he was the party involved! One moment, he was tasting the joy of enlightenment, and the next second he was told, Actually, you are not from the Rich Second Generation, nor have you hit a small goal. Get up for morning self-study, youre alreadyte. Oh, youre awake? That was quick? I forgot to say just now, its Saturday. Painful! Too painful! This talisman from Jiang Cheng is too immoral! Now Gan Zhong could understand Zeng Shian, President of the Talisman Master Association. It wasnt Lin Sects Talisman Master Associations fault they had to carry the me. It was purely because Jiang Cheng was too defying! Gan Zhong woke Liang Qing and said, Liang Qing, stop seeking enlightenment. This is the effect of a talisman. At this time, Liang Qing had exhausted all the piety from the second half of his life; he had never cultivated so diligently in his life. No, Mr. Gan, I can feel it, Im about to touch the great Dao! Do you hear it? The heavens and earth are cheering for my epiphany. The look of pity on Gan Zhongs face deepened. Other aspects aside, this talismans effect of deceiving people was truly unparalleled. This feeling, these special effects, who wouldnt be confused by them? Gan Zhong felt that if Jiang Cheng used his talent to start a cult, he could probably make history and be the progenitor of a new faith. However, Jiang Cheng was a student of the Tongtian Sect, and such vexing matters could be left to Tongtian Sect to worry about. Liang Qing, your enlightenment is fake. Its simted by Jiang Chengs talisman. Stop being entranced and get up. Liang Qing did not believe others over his own feelings. Mr. Gan, I really am about to understand. My brain is incredibly clear, I can feel the trembling of space Gan Zhong pped him on the back of his head with a forceful duel. Liang Qing stood up, his mindpletely clear and devoid of any strange sensations. F*ck! So the enlightenment just now was fake? It was fake, Gan Zhong affirmed. Jiang Cheng corrected, Its not entirely fake. The Enlightenment Experience Talisman is almost the same as the real thing in every aspect except for actually achieving enlightenment. Liang Qing, having just experienced the peak of his life, was understandably agitated. Isnt it still fake then! Jiang Cheng shrugged. But its a second-order talisman, and it was never intended to make someone achieve enlightenment. Look at the special effects in the sky, what more do you need? Agh! Liang Qing held his head with both hands, unable to ept the cruel reality. Jiang Cheng brought out a new Enlightenment Experience Talisman and said, It has over a dozen random enlightenment modes. If youre not satisfied with just now, I can give you another one to make up for it. Its fake, whats the use! Arent you saying you want to beat Li Qing? You use this talisman on Li Qing, and cant win? Liang Qing paused, then realized, I can win. See, if you can win, isnt that good enough? You win thepetition with one talisman, theres no injury, no risk, both parties can ept the result, and everyones happy. Your Highness, have I not perfectly resolved your request? Is there anything else you are dissatisfied with? Right now, Liang Qing was very dissatisfied, but when Jiang Cheng asked him to specify, he couldnt pinpoint any issues. He felt he was yed by Jiang Cheng, yet Jiang Chengs talisman had perfectly met all his requests, leaving no ws for him to pick. Strange! This was too strange! Liang Qing now felt like someone who was promised a ten-fold refund for buying a fake magical treasure, only to receive twelve real magical treasures. Youd say its wed, and yet there are none. Youd say its a loss, but it gave you an extra one; this wave wasnt a loss but a small gain. Eventually, under Gan Zhongs witness, Jiang Cheng and Liang Qingpleted their talisman trade. Liang Qing gained the usage rights and the design blueprint of Jiang Chengs Enlightenment Experience Talisman. He could use this to get it certified by the Talisman Master Association, and thereafter develop itmercially. However,pared to Jiang Chengs other talismans, the Enlightenment Experience Talisman didnt hold muchmercial value. Even so, Liang Qing still nned to get the talisman certified for the novelty, as he had never done it before. Later, when President Zeng learned of this idea, he vehemently opposed it, and Liang Qing had no choice but to abandon the n under the entrenched fear of Zeng Shian that spanned a decade. ording to the agreement, Jiang Cheng then got the chance to make a rubbing of a Demonic Tao cultivation technique. As one of the Five Great Immortal Sects, Liangguo Subrudders collection of Demonic Tao techniques was definitely not ordinary street merchandise, and the value was incalcble for the Dayan Sect, which had been established for less than half a year. However, if one had to pick the highlight of Liang Qing acquiring the Enlightenment Experience Talisman, it would be hispetition against Li Qing, which would undoubtedly be top of the list. Gan Zhong immediately went to set up the match for Liang Qing. Zhong Yan on the other side agreed very decisively. Both sides hit it off, arranged the time, and were set for the match! Liang Qing was now a swirling figure of controversy at Capital University. First, he had offended many people, and then those hed offended enjoyed watching him get thrashed by Li Qing. For no other reason than it was satisfying. No matter whopeted against Liang Qing, the crowd unwaveringly supported the opponent! Recently, Liang Qing had rallied his spirits and for the eighth time, he challenged Li Qing; he was bing a ssic example of bing more resilient after each defeat. Most Capital University students came to thepetition venue early, looking forward to the entertainment. Unexpectedly, before Liang Qing even started the fight, two groups of supporters were carried out for fighting and causing a brawl. One group supported Li Qing in brutally beating Liang Qing, hit him hard! The other group objected, saying if Li Qing beat him too quickly, where was the fun in that? They wanted a slow and steady run. The two sides couldnt resolve their conflict with words and started shing, both ending up with a probation on campus as a souvenir. Chapter 284: 232: Still Underestimating Jiang Cheng Too Much_2 Chapter 284: Chapter 232: Still Underestimating Jiang Cheng Too Much_2 In the eager anticipation of the onlookers, thepetitors took their official positions. On one side was the overconfident Liang Qing, and on the other was the popr contestant Li Qing. Li, Liang Qing seems to be very confident in Jiang Chengs Talisman, the effect of the Talisman might be very strong, dont take it lightly. Before setting off, Zhong Yan reminded Li Qingge. Li Qingge gave a slight smile and said, Dont worry, no one understands Jiang Cheng better than I do. Bothpetitors took their official ces on thepetition stage. Liang Qing wore a cruel smile on his face, while Li Qingge maintained a stoic expression, trying hard to keep up Li Qings personaa cold and indifferent A-grade beauty. Let thepetition begin! Upon the referees order, Liang Qing didnt hesitate to throw out Jiang Chengs Enlightenment Experience Talisman. He was after the most direct victory! Li Qingge intended to dodge, but the power of a Talisman was inversely proportional to its hit rate; the greater the power, the more the consumption, the longer the charge time, the harder it was to hitthis was a number bncers special strategy.
The Enlightenment Experience Talisman, while having many intimidating special effects, was actually not very powerful, hence it had a high hit rate. Li Qingge was caught off guard and got hit by the Talisman. Not good! Knowing Jiang Chengs prowess deeply, Li Qingge immediately paused to check her condition after getting hit. Then she discovered she suffered no losses; in fact, her spiritual power seemed to have increased. She felt her vision and hearing had been enhanced, somewhat like the effect of a Perception Transmission Talisman enhancing the senses. At that moment, Liang Qings mind was flooded with Jiang Chengs free method to enhance the Enlightenment Experience Talisman, but his acting was overly exaggerated. ws aside, what was most important was the emotional stir-up. Liang Qing eximed loudly, Damn! Its the Purple Qi Coming from the East! Legend has it that a Holy Maiden from the Taixu Sect suddenly had an Enlightenment, entering the auspicious state of Enlightenment thats hard to seek. The celestial phenomenon at the time was this Purple Qi Coming from the East! Li, you actually have such profound fate! What! Enlightenment? Is it true? Li Qings luck is too good, isnt it? Thanks to Liang Qings effusivementating, the emotions of the spectators were instantly ignited. Those who were clueless about Enlightenment now realized what it was. Their attention was all on Li Qingge; many envied her, for Enlightenment was a privilege of genius, and most people would never experience it even once in their lifetimes. As the protagonist of the Enlightenment event, Li Qingge was dumbfounded. What? Enlightenment? Me?
Is this for real? Li Qingge never considered herself to have the talent for Enlightenment, but looking at the celestial phenomenon above, she felt that her Enlightenment didnt seem fake. Or rather, her subconscious strongly wished for it to be real! People tend to believe what they want to believe.
Li Qingge was still dazed, but Zhong Yan from below urgently shouted, Li! Dont just stand there, seize the opportunity! Although Zhong Yans address was a bit of a giveaway, luckily no one noticed the detail at that moment. Li Qingge suddenly came to and sat down on the spot, trying to grasp this rare opportunity for Enlightenment! Meanwhile, across from Li Qingge, Liang Qing raised his right hand, smiling: Referee, shes given up thepetition, Ive won, right? The referee had never seen such a scene before. He asked Zhong Yan, Mr. Zhong, is your schoolmate Li Qing from Qingxuan giving up thepetition? Give up, give up, whats apetitionpared to Enlightenment? Zhong Yan responded instantly, as any hesitation would be a disrespect to Enlightenment. Alright, then in thispetition, Liang Qing is victorious over Li Qing! Thats great! Inside, Liang Qing felt ted! Li Qing had beaten him using Jiang Chengs Talismans before, but now with Jiang Chengs Talisman, he had beaten her; what was the issue? Li Qing had struggled to defeat him before, but he had defeated Li Qing with just one move.
Who was stronger and who was weaker was obvious at a nce. As thepetition ended, the crowd dispersed bit by bit, leaving only Li Qingge and Zhong Yan behind. Li Qingge stayed because she was Enlightening. Zhong Yan stayed to keep guard over Li Qingge, preventing any disturbance that might force her out of her state of Enlightenment and cause her to miss this excellent opportunity. Gan Zhong hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back. Seeing Gan Zhong hadnt left, Liang Qing asked, Mr. Gan, why arent you leaving? Ive finally won against Li Qing, lets go celebrate. Gan Zhong said, Should we tell the folks from Qingxuan University about the Talisman of Enlightenment? They seem to be taking it seriously, this student Li Qing she wont keep sitting there, will she? Liang Qing waved his hand dismissively: Impossible, Ive tried the Talisman before, the vision and physical sensationst at most half an hour, could she sit a whole day? Lets go, theyll realize somethings wrong and will return on their own. Gan Zhong thought about it and agreed; it was unlikely to continue Enlightening if one wasnt achieving anything, right? What else could it be but foolishness? So he left assuredly with Liang Qing to celebrate. Since it was the winter vacation, Gan Zhong and Liang Qing didnt return to the school after celebrating. The next day, they came back to Capital University again.
Coalitionally, the people from Qingxuan University were still there. Li Qingge had sat in the same spot for a whole day, her hair even had dry leaves stuck in it. Gan Zhong turned to Liang Qing, They havent left yet? Dont tell me they havent noticed the issue with the Enlightenment? Liang Qing started to panic. At that moment, he very much resembled a child who had done something wrong and was afraid to admit it. It should be fine, right? Mr. Gan, why dont you go and have a word with them? I wont go, it wasnt my Talisman that was used. Then I wont go either. Liang Qing gave up outright. On the third day, Li Qingge and herpany were still there. Gan Zhong and Liang Qing, upon seeing the dry twigs and fallen leaves on Li Qing, immediately realized the gravity of the situation as she looked like a little beggar. Chapter 285: 232: Still Underestimating Jiang Cheng Too Much_3 Chapter 285: Chapter 232: Still Underestimating Jiang Cheng Too Much_3 Liang Qing, Fuck! Havent they moved at all for two days straight? Mr. Gan, youve got to tell them, or there really will be trouble! Gan Zhong didnt want to take the me, Youre the one who used the talisman. I didnt do anything from start to finish. If anyones going, its you. Im not going. You little shit. Arent you afraid something will happen to Li Qing? Shes at Foundation Establishment. What could happen to her if she doesnt eat for a few days? Makes sense. On the fourth day, Li Qingge was still in Enlightenment. Liang Qing and Gan Zhong started to panic. They felt the joke had gone too far. People from Qingxuan University seemed incredibly stubborn; they hadnt moved at all for four straight days! Even if Li Qing was at Foundation Establishment, she couldnt hold out for long without water.
Foundation Establishments fasting requires the support of Fasting Pills, and without them, one would still feel hunger. Having never experienced hunger for four days, Liang Qing couldnt bear it even for one. Mr. Gan, how about you go and tell them? Gan Zhong had not wanted to take the me before, but now he truly didnt dare. By telling them the truth now, wouldnt it be the same as saying: You all are clowns, believing such nonsense? And youve foolishly kept up this act for four or five days? But if he didnt speak up now, and Qingxuan University continued their stubborn Enlightenment, and something happened to Qingxuans star of tomorrow, Li Qing, who would take the responsibility? Gan Zhong felt a headacheing on. He realized that no matter how he looked at it, he, Gan Zhong, was definitely going to take the fall? At the very least, for ck of crisis awareness and not supervising Liang Qing strictly. So when did this pot start to surface? Gan Zhong smacked his forehead. Fuck! It was Jiang Cheng! This pot started forming the moment Jiang Cheng handed over the Talisman! Outrageous! No wonder President Zeng insisted on not helping Liang Qing certify Jiang Chengs Talisman, even to the point of threatening with his life! It wasnt that he was scared for nothing; he had rich experience! After Gan Zhongs realization, a wave of fear swept over him. Thankfully, the pot wasnt too big yet. Realizing the issue early meant it could be resolved early. As long as he spoke well and negotiated with the people of Qingxuan University, this issue would most likely be settled. Actually, Zhong Yan and the others also found it strange. Because in theory, Enlightenment should always be apanied by phenomena, not like Li Qingge, where the phenomena only appeared for half an hour.
But the problem was, people like Zhong Yan had no experience with Enlightenment, nor were they clear about its status. What if, due to the disappearance of the phenomena, they disturbed Li Qingge at a critical moment? Who would take that responsibility? No one dared take it, so they could only keep vigil. And Li Qingge, because she was practicing with her eyes closed, also did not notice anything about the phenomena; anyway, if there was any emergency, Zhong Yan should tell her. Since Zhong Yan and the others werent speaking up now, it should mean that everything was normal.
However, Li Qingges only problem now was that she was extremely hungry. Currently being only at Foundation Establishment and not yet at Core Formation, she still had to endure hunger. Li? Li? Zhong Yans voice sounded, and Li Qingge slowly opened her eyes. Li, you can stop the Enlightenment. Its an effect of the Talisman, its fake, all fake! What? Fake? Then have I not Li Qingge couldnt believe it. If the Enlightenment was fake, hadnt she starved for all these days for nothing? And how could it be fake? The phenomena had seemed so real She had also felt closer to nature All that could be fake? No!
This Talisman was drawn by Jiang Cheng! Once Jiang Cheng was involved, no matter how preposterous the matter, it suddenly all made sense. Ah! Li Qingge was filled with regret! She had been guarded against everything, but she still underestimated Jiang Chengs extraordinary capabilities! Could he really create a fake Enlightenment Talisman? How did hee up with such a method to win the contest? Gan Zhong, with an embarrassed expression and a sincere tone, personally apologized, Li Qing, we were negligent for a moment and forgot to tell you about the effect of the Talisman. We truly didnt expect you to be so steadfast, sitting without moving. Li, if theres anypensation you desire, just say it, and well do our best to satisfy it. Li Qingges face was ashen, her fists clenched harder than iron, I dont wantpensation, I want to fight Liang Qing again, and no conceding this time. Liang Qing: ??? Chapter 286: 233: Let’s See How Long She Can Keep Being Stubborn Chapter 286: Chapter 233: Lets See How Long She Can Keep Being Stubborn Frankly speaking, Li Qings request wasnt excessive. After all, it was they, Capital University, who had previously taken the initiative to invite Li Qing to spar with Liang Qing. Based on the basic principle of reciprocity, Li Qing inviting Liang Qing to duel was not only logical and well-founded but also upied the moral high ground. Gan Zhong had no reason to refuse. His only concern was that Li Qing might take advantage of the duel to take revenge on Liang Qing. However, under the watchful eyes of the public, she shouldnt have the nerve to strike too harshly. After all, it was Liang Qing who had tricked others; letting him take a few hits to learn his lesson wasnt entirely unjust. Consequently, Gan Zhong agreed to the duel. Then he realized he had guessed wrong. He should not have used the mentality of male cultivators caring about their face to gauge female cultivators; this Li Qingpletely disregarded Martial Virtue. She seized the opportunity to really go for the throat! Liang Qing was beaten until he howled in pain, rolling on the ground, admitting defeat.
But Li Qing showed no intention of stopping. It wasnt until Liang Qing stopped thrashing and lost the ability to fight that the match was voluntarily ended by Li Qing. Gan Zhong hurried to pick up Liang Qing, only to find that his injuries were serious; he probably needed ten to fifteen days to recover. The good news was that the trouble Liang Qing caused with the Talismans seemed to have blown over. He should be able to avoid stepping onndmines in the future. Next, as long as Liang Qing developed steadily, waiting to inherit the great rule of Liang Kingdom, there shouldnt be any major problems. Ever since Liang Lu defeated Lin Yao using the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman, their grudge was officially settled. Previously, it was Liang Lu who had a one-sided fixation on Lin Yao, as she was never able to win until she used the despicable and shameless Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman, a move Lin Yao would remember. Lin Yaos goal was to be the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect, with a focus on a strongte-game performance, so her attitude towards failure was entirely different from Liang Lus. Where others might doubt themselves more with each loss, Lin Yao only grew stronger. Lin Yao wasnt afraid of losing. With Talismans, Liang Lu had confidence, and under these circumstances, the previous rhythm of once-a-month bouts between the twopletely changed. Now, they were almost sparring daily. The benefit of this was that their frequent exchanges led to rapid progress. The downside was that Liang Lus stock of Talismans was running low. Lin Yao was no fool. She had Yan Yue, a Core Formation Cultivator, as her teacher, with the resources of Taixu Sect to back her up. Once Lin Yao had prepared for and targeted a Talisman that Liang Lu had used once, it became difficult for that Talisman to be effective again. Take, for instance, the Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman with a hundred percent win rate. Lin Yaos strategy against it was simple. She would fast for a day in advance and repeatedly use detoxifying liquids to purify her body, ensuring that there were no wastes and impurities inside that could be affected by the Talisman. For the incredibly effective Spiritual Energy Blockage Talisman, Lin Yao chose simply not to cast any spells and instead relied solely on her movement and swordsmanship to fight Liang Lu. After several rounds of sparring, Liang Lus Talismans purchased from Jiang Cheng were almost fully sussed out by Lin Yao!
In learning, summarizing, andbat talent, the always proud Liang Lu had to admit that Lin Yao was very strong! Even stronger than herself! The only shoring Lin Yao had now was the speed of cultivation! Lin Yaos cultivation speed wasnt slow, but that was onlypared to ordinary people. Next to her, it wasnt enough; it was considered slowpared to those true cultivation geniuses. Once Lin Yao fullypensated for this single shoring
With her exceptional learning ability, coupled with her almost perverse willpower, and added to an unbeatable cultivation speed Not to mention her high-scoring appearance. Wouldnt she be the perfect candidate for the prodigy of Taixu Sect? Liang Lu, looking at Lin Yao on the other side of the sparring tform, further solidified in her mind the thought that only a prodigy can defeat a prodigy. You, Lin Yao, are the prodigy of Taixu Sect, are you? Good, Jiang Cheng is also the prodigy of Tongtian Sect. I will use Jiang Chengs ability to deal with Lin Yao, and lets see who is stronger among the prodigies. The duel begins! With Mo Ningdans words, another bout between Liang Lu and Lin Yao officially started. Facing Liang Lu enhanced by Talismans, Lin Yao was getting more and more adept. The moment Mo Ningdan spoke, Lin Yao was already preparing to charge up. As soon as Mo Ningdan finished speaking, shepleted all her initial preparations, and her first move was several sword energies shing toward Liang Lu. Lin Yao had figured it out now; as long as she didnt let Liang Lu release a Talisman, Liang Lu was no match for her. But once she let Liang Lu use one of those strange, disgusting, abnormal, annoying Talismans! No matter how hard she fought, she was more likely doomed. As soon as the sword energies wereunched, Lin Yao immediately used her movement techniques, following the sword energies toward Liang Lu.
She knew Liang Lu had the Spiritual Energy Blockage Talisman. With this Talisman, casting a spell would not be an attack but rather a way to give Liang Lu time to deal with her! So she had to be fast! Fast enough that Liang Lu couldnt react! Lin Yao was quick, but the sword energies flew even faster. The first sword energy she shed was already nearing Liang Lu! Lin Yao narrowed her beautiful eyes, firmly keeping watch over the first sword energy. As long as the first sword energy could hit Liang Lu or forced her to defend, preventing her from having time to deploy a Talisman, then she would have secured the victory! The first sword energy arrived smoothly in front of Liang Lu. At such a close distance, whether to defend or flee, it was toote for Liang Lu! Lin Yaos heart leapt with joy, she would finally be able to win against Liang Lu after several days of consecutive defeats! It was a hard-earned victory. So what if there were those disgusting Talismans? In the end, isnt it Lin Yao hadnt had time to be happy for even a moment when she suddenly saw that between Liang Lus fingers was a brand-new Talisman that she had never seen before. Liang Lu actually had a new one?
Chapter 287: 233: Let’s See How Long She Can Keep Being Stubborn_2 Chapter 287: Chapter 233: Lets See How Long She Can Keep Being Stubborn_2 She didnt dodge the sword Qi, could she be nning to unleash the Talisman despite being hit by the sword Qi? Why does she have so many damn Talismans? Lin Yaos guess was right on the mark; Liang Lus tactics were extremely uplicated and straightforward. No matter the cost, as long as she could use Jiang Chengs Talisman, she could just wait to win! However, although she was protected by a magical treasures inner armor, the attacking power of the sword Qi was no joke. Struck by several sword Qis, Liang Lu immediately felt a surge in her blood and a slight sweetness in her throat. But the pain was worth it because, as the sword Qi attacked her, the effect of the Talisman, like an arrow leaving the bow, raced towards Lin Yao! Already at full speed, heading in both directions, there was no chance for Lin Yao to dodge, and she was expectedly hit by the Talisman. What did you use on me? Lin Yao stopped in her tracks and asked calmly. Although the situation wasnt apparent now, Lin Yao had plenty of experience with being affected by Talismans, since none of the Talismans Liang Lu used were benign! Motion Maization Talisman, Liang Lu said with a smile, I forgot the principle, but I can tell you the effect. The more and faster you move your body, the more seriously maized your body will be. Eventually, the maic force will be strengthened to something akin to handcuffs or shackles, tightly securing your hands and feet. Lin Yao looked down and gently waved her hand, immediately feeling a suction force between her hands, drawing them towards each other unconsciously.
She was fortunate to have stopped in time. Otherwise, she would have definitely been immobilized by the strong maic force, humiliating herself on the spot. If it had been before, Lin Yao wouldnt have cared about the embarrassment, but after her recent match with Liang Lu, when she nearly lost an arm due to fighting too hard, Yan Yues reminder had made here to a realization. If she wanted to be a good Daopanion for Jiang Cheng, she definitely needed to manage her image and reputation. Her Jiang was so perfect; he surely couldnt marry a cultivator who was not only unattractive but also had a bad record, right? Jiang deserved the best female cultivator, and she must continue to strive tirelessly until she became his Daopanion! Where on earth did you get so many abnormal Talismans? Lin Yao inquired. Liang Lu chuckled: Why? Are you thinking of buying them too? You bought them? Liang Lu realized she had misspoken, Kind of but not really, anyway, hes my contact and it has nothing to do with you. Lin Yao did not get angry but warned, Liang Lu, youd better stay away from your contact. Anyone who can draw so many shameless strange symbols is definitely not a good person. Liang Luughed and said, On the contrary, I think he is quite nice. He is upright and quite handsome. Suit yourself. Lin Yao waited for the Talismans effect to wear off, then turned and leaped down from the dueling stage. She had been somewhat interested in Liang Lus contact, intending to get to know that excellent female cultivator and learn some methods to deal with Liang Lu. But after hearing handsome, she understood that Liang Lus contact was a male cultivator, and immediately lost interest. No matter how outstanding Liang Lus contact was, as long as he was a male cultivator, he was destined not topare to a single hair of her own Jiang. After achieving yet another victory against Lin Yao, Liang Lus mood was far from rxed. Because she had won using thest Talisman in her pocket. With the Motion Maization Talisman used up, she no longer had any new Talismans to use. The Talismans she had left had all been seen by Lin Yao. Given Lin Yaos previous lessons and her precautions, Liang Lu might not be able to win again.
Without any Talismans, the pressure was immense. So even consecutive victories can lead to anxiety? Liang Lu revealed a mocking smile at the corner of her mouth. Jiang Cheng He definitely had reserved Talismans he hadnt brought out!
Liang Lu thought with certainty. Mo Ningdan was no longer worried about Liang Lu losing to Lin Yao. With so many recent consecutive victories, losing a fewter would not be a disadvantage. As soon as she returned to the activity room with Liang Lu, she received amunication Talisman from Li Qingge. Li Qingge: Mo, how is Liang Lu doing recently? Mo Ningdan: All is normal, how about you? Is the n going smoothly? Li Qinggeughed: Very smoothly, Liang Qing has already started using Jiang Chengs Talismans. I guess before long, Liang Qing will bite off more than he can chew and hand over the chance of session. Good. Now its up to you, Mo. You must keep a close eye on Liang Lu and prevent her from interacting with Jiang Cheng until she ascends to the throne! Although Mo Ningdan didnt understand the repeated insistence from Li Qingge, she chose to trust her fellow sister. Li had both the capabilities and vision C it was only her talent that was slightlycking. Alright, Li, Ill go remind Liang Lu of this once again in a moment. Hmm.
After themunication Talisman was disconnected, Mo Ningdan sought out Liang Lu immediately. Liang Lu, have you encountered any difficulties with your training recently? As a student, I have not for the time being. Good, by the way, do you remember what I mentioned to you about Jiang Cheng? Jiang Cheng? Liang Lu jolted. Had her teacher discovered her secret contact with Jiang Cheng? What, what about Jiang Cheng? Mo Ningdan said sternly, It seems you have forgotten, no matter, I will emphasize it to you once more. Dont get too close to Jiang Cheng, understand? He will dy you. Oh, I understand now, teacher. Good. You may continue your cultivation. I have nothing else. Alright. Mo Ningdan left, leaving Liang Lu alone in the activity room. Liang Lu tried to cultivate, but she had no mind for it at the moment.
Because images of Jiang Cheng kept appearing in her thoughts, unabating. The teacher told me not to get too close to Jiang Cheng, but why? There must be a reason, right? But what if I directly ask her and identally reveal that I secretly saw Jiang Cheng? If the teacher doesnt allow me to see Jiang Cheng, then doesnt that mean I wont have any Talismans to use No, that wont do, not having Talismans is uneptable Chapter 288 - 233: Let’s See How Long She Can Keep Being Stubborn_3 Chapter 288: Chapter 233: Lets See How Long She Can Keep Being Stubborn_3 Liang Lu thought it over and finally came up with a perfect solution that served both purposes. Why not meet with Jiang Cheng? Why not just ask Jiang Cheng himself? And at the same time, she could stock up on some new talismans, killing two birds with one stone! After the transaction of the Enlightenment Experience Talisman wasplete, Jiang Cheng began to prepare for the printing of the Demon Sects cultivation techniques. The first time Jiang Cheng had printed the Demon Sects cultivation techniques, hecked experience and used video equipment to record it. Although there was no loss of information in the videos, the printed materials looked like pirated books, leaving a distinctly unprofessional impression. Even though they were, in fact, pirated. This time, after heading to the library of Capital University, Jiang Cheng purchased a professional rubbing machine, which allowed him to print the Demonic Tao cultivation techniques on the spot into books. This was convenient and fast, and it made the inventory of the Dayan Sects cultivation techniques look the part of a top-tier Demonic Tao organization. Having seen the inventory of cultivation techniques at the Lin Sect, Jiang Cheng couldnt help but marvel at the profound foundation of the Immortal Sect. The Demon Sect techniques collected by the Lin Sect were even more authentic than those seized in the demon elimination operations. Can you believe that? He had thought that talk of a Demon Sect orthodoxy within the Immortal Sect was a joke, but it turned out he had too little experience. Facing the huge inventory of cultivation techniques, Jiang Cheng couldnt manage alone, so he decisively called over Yue Linger and Shen Menghan, fellow Dayan Sect Disciples, and of course, Liu Qing, who was on a business trip working halfway across the Capital. However, Liu Qing was a studio employee and couldnt work overtime, so after every eight hours of work, Jiang Cheng sent her back. But Yue Linger and Shen Menghan didnt have this problem. Since they hadnt signed abor contract and didnt have abor rtionship with Jiang Cheng, working all night didnt count as overtime. Hello? Jiang Cheng answered Liang Lusmunication talisman, Youreing over? Great, Im at Capital University. Yeah, wait at the entrance, and Ille to you. Having said that, Jiang Cheng turned to Yue Linger and Shen Menghan, who were printing cultivation techniques, and said, Im going to meet a client. Ill be back soon. Oh, alright, Shen Menghan replied. But she noticed Yue Linger looking skeptical. Linger? Whats wrong? Do you think Jiang Chengs client is a male cultivator or a female cultivator? Me? Hmm, a male cultivator, I guess? Impossible! One hundred percent a female cultivator! Why? Just a hunch, Yue Linger said confidently. Shen Menghan was speechless, Focus on your work, and dont overthink it. Youre right. Yue Linger sighed. It wasnt just the two of them; even their sister Liu Qing hadnt managed to secure a formal status yet. As for the two of them getting a status, who knows how long that would take. As it turned out, Yue Lingers intuition was spot on; Jiang Chengs client was indeed a female cultivator. And not just any female cultivator. As the biological daughter of Consort Li, Liang Lu naturally had top-notch beauty, almost hitting the ceiling for ordinary people, second only to Plot Leading Ladies like Liu Qing and Lin Yao, the beloved daughters of the art department. With Jiang Chengs introductions, Liang Lu got acquainted with Shen and Yue. Female cultivators always seem amiable on the surface, but its a battlefield of hidden dangers. While Jiang Cheng was busy organizing the cultivation techniques, Yue Linger chatted up Liang Lu without leaving any traces. Liang, Ive heard that Qingxuan University is brimming with beauties, and Jiang Cheng is still single. Why dont you introduce someone to him? Liang Lu said with a smile, There is indeed one confidante I could introduce to Jiang Cheng. Yue Lingers eyes curved in amusement and she said slyly, Are you willing to let her go? Liang Lu gave a smile, Whats the issue? My rtionship with Jiang Cheng is nothing more than an acquaintance. Yue Linger pretending to realize said, But I was asking about your confidante. I wasnt asking whether youre willing to let go of Jiang Cheng, you know? Liang Lu was startled, her lips twitching as she forced a smile. Shen Menghan secretly pulled at Yue Linger and said, Linger, she seems to have nothing to do with Jiang Cheng. Yue Linger scoffed, Just being stubborn. Anyone who gets involved with Jiang Cheng only falls deeper. Lets see how long she can keep up her facade. Chapter 289 - 234 Is There a Possibility That I Am Truly Gaining Enlightenment Chapter 289: Chapter 234 Is There a Possibility That I Am Truly Gaining Enlightenment Just before, Jiang Cheng had arrived at the entrance of Capital University. Since sses hadnt started yet, the universitys entrance was deserted, with barely any sign of life. The upside was that it was easy to find people; Liang Lu had effortlessly met up with Jiang Cheng after arriving at Capital University. Liang, arent you here to buy more talismans? Jiang Cheng asked. Ever since Liang Lu reached out to him with amunication talisman, Jiang Cheng had guessed her purpose. After all, their rtionship revolved around talisman trading, without much else inmon. Jiang, youre quite perceptive. Indeed, I am here to buy talismans from you, Liang Lu admitted frankly. Jiang Chengughed, Thats easy to discuss. If youre willing to write some detailed reviews on your use of the talismans, the more detailed the better, I can give you a discount. Many of the talismans Jiang Cheng sold to Liang Lu thest time were ones he had created while undercover at the Shadow Puppet Sect, intended for self-defense. However, he ended up not needing them, and thus many talismanscked testing and experimental samples. Liang Lu, having bought them now, certainly had a wealth of experience using this batch of talismans. Jiang Cheng initially assumed that Liang Lu would agree immediately, since a review for a discount was a win-win situation. But unexpectedly, Liang Lu declined. Im not here to buy old ones this time; I want new talismans! New talismans? But the ones you boughtst time were new. Theyve been used once by me and are now old. Huh? Afraid that Jiang Cheng didnt understand, Liang Lu exined specifically, I want to buy brand-new talismans that have never been used before. For apetition? Yes. No. If thats your request, then I no longer have any new ones to sell you, Jiang Cheng said with utmost sincerity. Impossible, you must have some! Liang Lu insisted. She couldnt believe Jiang Cheng would let her use up all his resources so easily. Although she hadnt interacted much with Jiang Cheng, Liang Lu had gotten to know his character through their few encounters. He was the type who appeared leisurely in a brawl, clearly someone whose hidden cards were more than what was revealed. He wouldnt have sold all his talismans to her in one go. He certainly kept the good ones separate. As the saying goes, Jiang Chengs talismans were like water in a spongethere was always more to squeeze out. Liang Lus guess hit the mark, and Jiang Cheng said, I do have talismans forpetition, but those I cant sell you. As a cultivator at the seventh level of Qi training, without a weapon, its only reasonable for me to keep some methods of self-protection, right? Upon hearing about new talismans, Liang Lus eyes shone, I want to buy them, it doesnt matter if theyre a bit more expensive. Sorry, Your Highness, but some talismans are reserved as my trump cards, and it wouldnt be good to let outsiders know about them. The term outsider felt ufortably harsh to Liang Lu. Logic told her that her rtionship with Jiang Cheng did indeed stop short of being friends, but at that moment, it still made her feel uneasy. Your Highness, if theres nothing else, I have matters to attend to and wont see you out, Jiang Cheng prepared to take his leave. But seizing a slim chance, Liang Lu pressed on, If Im not mistaken, youre a Lotus University student, right? What are you doing at Capital University? Um You cant even say that? Because Im an outsider? Im here to make rubbings of cultivation techniques, Jiang Cheng said. But this is Capital University, Lin Sects turf. As far as I know, the Lin Sect isnt known for being generous. And cultivation techniques have always been closely guarded secrets of the immortal sects. Normally, they wouldnt allow outsiders to make rubbings. Liang Lus expression read: be honest, dont try to fob me off. Open and aboveboard, Jiang Cheng told the truth, I drew a talisman for your royal brother in exchange for the privilege to make rubbings of cultivation techniques in the Capital University library. Its not Lin Sects techniques, is it? Of course not. Can I take a look? Sure. Though, I dont think youll find it interesting. I wont find it interesting Liang Lu pondered for a moment, then, with a sh of surprise, said, Could it be, youre making rubbings of Demon Sects techniques? Jiang Cheng coughed, How could you call it stealing when its a schrs endeavor? Liang Lu didnt reply, just silently walked alongside Jiang Cheng. Her curiosity drove her to understand more about Jiang Cheng, but the more she learned, the more curious she became. This state was like a snowball effect; the more it rolled, the bigger it got. Her curiosity was constantly tempting her to get closer to Jiang Cheng, ever closer Liang Lu hadnt actually forgotten Mrs. Mos admonishment, but she rationalized that merely talking to Jiang Cheng didnt count as getting close to him, did it? What harm coulde from just talking? Maybe Mrs. Mo was being too sensitive. Jiang Cheng, do you have any grudges with the Taixu Sect? Liang Lu asked. Jiang Cheng, unsure why Liang Lu would ask this, responded, No, on the contrary, my rtionship with the Taixu Sect is rather good. Especially with President Li of the Talisman Master Association. Were quite familiar with each other. Oh. With her question answered, Liang Lu felt relieved. If Jiang Cheng had a good rtionship with the Taixu Sect, what was there for her to worry about? In case of any issues, she would just seek out Li Qingge. After all, it was Li Qingge who was close with Jiang Cheng, and any problem would be her fault. Thinking this way, Liang Lu felt a weight lift from her shoulders, bereft of any psychological burden. Although Capital Universitys library held Demonic Tao cultivation techniques, this section of forbidden books wasnt open to the public, being specially locked in the librarys exclusive collection area. Jiang Cheng, having introduced Liang Lu to Shen and Yue, continued with his task of making rubbings of cultivation techniques. Jiang Cheng thought that Liang Lu and Yue Linger, both being female cultivators, would have plenty to talk about. But not long after, Liang Lu abandoned Yue Linger and came over to his side. Liang Lu helped Jiang Cheng retrieve a book on cultivation techniques and said, If I can also find these sorts of things for you, would I still be considered an outsider? Chapter 290: 234 Is There a Possibility That I Am Truly Gaining Enlightenment_2 Chapter 290: Chapter 234 Is There a Possibility That I Am Truly Gaining Enlightenment_2 Jiang Cheng broke through Liang Lus thoughts with a singlement, So what you mean is, you want to trade Demonic Tao cultivation techniques for my talismans? Not possible? Its not that its impossible, but there are so many techniqueswhere do you n to get them from? Liang Lu smiled confidently, Our Liang n still has some foundations. Once I ascend the throne, the pces Scripture Pavilion is yours to use. Jiang Cheng sighed, Then forget about it. Liang Lu immediately became anxious and argued, You can help my brother, so why cant you help me? Or do you think that the royal familys resources are inferior to those of Capital University? Its neither. Neither? Then what do you mean? Do you think that I cantpete with Liang Qing and wont be able to be the emperor? I believe youre stronger than Liang Qing, Jiang Cheng said. Liang Lus expression improved slightly, Then are you afraid Ill go back on my word? Ill write you a promissory note, and you Fellow Daoist Liang, Im not afraid of you reneging. Its just that I think you might not be able topete with your sister.
Which sister? Liang Pei? Liang Pei was the name of the third princess, the Pride of Great Liang that Jiang Cheng always thought about. Jiang Cheng nodded. However, Liang Lu herself couldnt understand how a high school student like Liang Pei couldpete with her for the throne. Not to mention other factors, Liang Peis birth mother, Consort Xia, was not as favored as her own mother, Consort Li. Liang Peis own talents were also very average, her maternal family held no powerhow could she be the emperor? After much thought, the only possibility Liang Lu coulde up with for Liang Peis ascent to the throne was if she herself was no longer present. If Taixu Sect disposed of Liang Qing and she herself was unable to ascend the throne for some special reason, then the only one left eligible would be Liang Pei. So, you think something will happen to me? Liang Lu looked at Jiang Cheng with suspicion. Jiang Cheng: ??? I had never thought that, but it seems that your highness seeking to trade the pces Scripture Pavilion for my talismans wonte to fruition. Liang Lus CPU was overheating as she asked, Why? As long as I dont give up, bing the emperor should be almost certain for me. However, Jiang Cheng didnt answer this question. His attitude led Liang Lu to start doubting herself. Apart from unexpected events, would she truly give up the throne? Liang Lu wasnt sure. But until this moment, her answer would definitely have been no. Inside the library, Jiang Cheng and others were working enthusiastically, while outside, at Capital Universitys campus gates, a female cultivator from Taixu Sect, tasked with monitoring Jiang Chengs movements, was caught in a dilemma. Her job was to report on Jiang Chengs whereabouts so that Li Qingge and others could roughly estimate the progress of his talisman creation. But just moments ago, she saw someone who should not have appeared at the gates of Capital UniversityLiang Lu!
The female cultivator hesitated whether or not to report Liang Lus presence to Li Qingge. Eventually, she decided to report it! What! Liang Lu went to find Jiang Cheng! Li Qingge was shocked, How many times has she gone to find Jiang Cheng? The first time? Is it the first time youve seen her, or the actual first time?
Okay, I got it, continue to keep an eye on them. After hanging up themunication talisman, Li Qingge had a bad feeling. They had just managed to clear the path for Liang Lus ascension to the throne, only to turn around and find that Liang Lu was getting mixed up with Jiang Cheng! Li Qingge didnt object to Liang Lu dating, but that person absolutely could not be Jiang Cheng! It was precisely because she knew Jiang Cheng that Li Qingge was aware he was a person with strong opinions and would never be content to be a mere prince consort in Great Liang. If Liang Lu got involved with Jiang Cheng, either Liang Lu would influence Jiang Cheng, persuading him to stay in Liang Kingdom as a prince consort, or Jiang Cheng would influence Liang Lu, causing her to give up the secr throne and wholeheartedly seek the Dao in the Immortal Sect. The worst oue would be Liang Lu forsaking Taixu Sect altogether and being led astray by Jiang Cheng to be a disciple at Tongtian Sect. Li Qingge had confidence in Jiang Cheng; he would never settle for being a prince consort in Liang Kingdom. Thus, any contact between Liang Lu and Jiang Cheng, regardless of the oue, was something Taixu Sect did not want to see. Li Qingge picked up themunication talisman, intending to call Mo Ningdan. But then she put it down again. Mo Ningdan wasnt aware of Jiang Chengs capabilities, and even if she were informed, she might not realize the seriousness of the problem. After much deliberation, Li Qingge made up her mind that she had to intervene personally. She must shatter Liang Lus illusions about Jiang Cheng by herself!
Ever since Li Qing had severely beaten Liang Qing, he had been resting in the Prince Mansion. Though the elixirs sent by Lin Sect were very effective and his injuries healed quickly, even if he feltpletely refreshed, he had no desire to get out of bed to cultivate. Ever since he came under Gan Zhongs scrutiny, Liang Qing had been living a rather miserable life, forced to cultivate daily, not understanding what the purpose was. Those students, after all their cultivation, werent they easily defeated by his third-rank magical treasure? Li Qing was formidable, right? But she was still taken down by his Enlightenment Experience Talisman in a single move. Though he could only defeat her once with it, it was enough. The stronger Li Qing became in the future, the more it would prove the worth of the time he instantly defeated Li Qing. Apart from cultivation, there was another matter troubling Liang Qing recently. He inexplicably became the only prince who could possibly inherit the throne, drawing sudden attention to himself. In this period, not only did various distant rtives from his own family frequently visit, but numerous officials whom he didnt even recognize came to his mansion with gifts. To keep the Prince Mansion peaceful, Liang Qing erected arge sign at the entrance, preventing those bringing gifts from stepping inside his mansion.
The sign read inrge letters: Leave gifts at the gate, thank you. The effect was immediate. At once, the crowd bringing gifts at the entrance of the Prince Mansion became orderly. In contrast, those not bringing gifts and still in a wait-and-see mode became uneasy and restless. This demonstrated that the economic basis determines the superstructure. Giving the sheer number of gift-givers, even after switching to a self-service gifting system, Liang Qing had to spend quite some time every day just listening to the housekeeper read the list of gifts. Chapter 291: 234 Is There a Possibility That I Am Truly Gaining Enlightenment_3 Chapter 291: Chapter 234 Is There a Possibility That I Am Truly Gaining Enlightenment_3 Over time, Liang Qings economic foundation had likewise changed, and he set his sights on the superstructure. Steward, why hasnt Father Emperor bestowed upon me the title of Crown Prince yet? The steward, drenched in sweat, replied, Your Highness, a humble servant would not dare to specte on His Majestys intentions! Liang Qing, looking at the list of gifts, mused, If everyone else knows to send gifts, should we also send some to try our luck? The steward thought it was a good idea. The Emperor of Liang enjoyed ying, and if Liang Qing could gift something intriguing to His Majesty, it just might secure the position of Crown Prince for him. Your Highness, His Majestycks no treasures. If you truly wish to gift something, why not send something creative? Something creative, eh? Liang Qing thought that the most unique thing he had was the Enlightenment Talisman custom-ordered from Jiang Cheng, drawn only after the Lin Sect granted Jiang Cheng numerous benefits. It possessed various attributes such as rarity, preciousness, and uniqueness to the maximum degree. He would gift the Enlightenment Talisman! Emperor Liang Heng was sitting cross-legged inside an inner chamber, having not gone anywhere.
Not too long ago, he had suffered greatly from the Heavenly Tribtion of Foundation Establishment. Although he could have fled, somehow, for some reason, the tribtion caught up with him and struck him nearly to death. The bad news was that his Divinity Transformation was wed, and his realm unstable. But the good news was that due to this misfortune, he was, through the refinement of the heavenly lightning, able to glimpse a sliver of hope for advancing to the mid-stage of Divinity Transformation! Previously, Liang Heng, being unable to advance his realm, had put his hopes on the younger members of the royal family. Now that he himself could pursue the path of eternal life, who would want to remain confined to the vicinity of the Liang Kingdom? Liang Heng nned to first solidify his realm before casually choosing a Prince to be Emperor while he would take the role of a hands-off shopkeeper, traveling elsewhere on the continent in search of the Dao. The prosperity of the royal family was important but, important as it was, it could notpare to the power of a Void Refinement Cultivator! Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, Void Refinement Void Refinement Cultivators, even among the Immortal Sects, were not to be underestimated. As long as one reached Void Refinement, the rise and fall of the Liang Kingdom would be merely a matter of his word, wouldnt it? To forsake the prospects of the Dao for a worldly throne would be to ce the cart before the horse. The Judicial Steward conveyed telepathically to Liang Heng, Ancestor, Liang Qing is at the entrance of the sleeping chambers, iming to bring you a gift. Should we ept it? Originally, Liang Heng would certainly have refused, but Liang Qing was Great Liangs sole Prince, and he now had people in mind for selection, so it would not be appropriate to reject him outright. ept it. Liang Qings gift list sessfully made its way inside. Upon reviewing the gift list, the first item that caught Liang Hengs eye was a peculiar talisman. It was named the Enlightenment Experience Talisman. Liang Heng was naturally well-acquainted with the renowned concept of Enlightenment, but what in the world did experience mean? Could this thing even provide an experience? Bring me the talisman!
The waiting eunuch immediately presented the Enlightenment Experience Talisman. Liang Heng examined the talisman, thinking it was interesting. This talisman used some spells for sh to deceive onlookers and other spells to invigorate the mind in order to fool the wearer. In in terms, it was all show with no real use.
However, despite saying so, Liang Heng still picked up a talisman and experienced the sensation of Enlightenment. Because he, too, could not escape convention and resist the temptation of Enlightenment. Who knew, this Dao seemed to actually enlighten him! Liang Heng felt his body be light, as if his soul, beyond his control, separated from his body. He did not ascend, yet the sky felt so close as though he could touch it by simply reaching out. In this moment, time seemed to halt. He was aware of the shifting light upon the ground of the Emperors sleeping quarters, yet he felt no passage of time. A single blinksted for many suns and moons. Countless cycles of the sun and moon went by, and suddenly Liang Heng realized that he seemed to be undergoing Enlightenment! And he was close to being sessful in Enlightenment! Liang Heng was overjoyed. If he sessfully attained Enlightenment this time, he had at least a thirty percent chance of advancing to the Void Refinement Realm! A full thirty percent! Then Liang Heng saw Liang Qing barging into the sleeping chambers with the Enlightenment Experience Talisman, unleashing a verbal barrage at several Eunuch Stewards. The Eunuch Stewards appeared persuaded by Liang Qing, hesitantly crossed in front of the inner screen, and approached him. He didnt respond to their calls, and when they shook his shoulder, theypletely disrupted his Enlightenment.
At that very moment, Liang Hengs hopeful heart finally died. His soul returned, and upon opening his eyes, Liang Heng heard Liang Qing eximing, I saved Father Emperor! I saved Father Emperor! Liang Heng was a vision of agony. He was so close to sess! Make him leave quickly. I dont want to see him. Chapter 292: 235: The True Face of Jiang Cheng Chapter 292: Chapter 235: The True Face of Jiang Cheng Liang Lu was quite dejected because she ultimately failed to persuade Jiang Cheng to sell her some never revealed to the outsider talismans. She simply had nothing to trade with Jiang Cheng. In theory, as the imperial princess betted on by the Taixu Sect, she could have followed Liang Qings tactics to request the Immortal Sects intervention and trade with Jiang Cheng using resources from the Sect. However, the Taixu Sect strictly forbade her from contacting Jiang Cheng, making this approach not only impractical but also likely to expose her rtionship with him. Troublesome. It seems she could only avoid a confrontation with Lin Yao for the time being. Liang Lu thought to herself. One morning at Qingxuan University, just like always, Liang Lu arrived at the special activities room bright and early. However, to her surprise, Mo Ningdan had arrived even earlier than her! And was waiting for her at the door of the room! This was quite unusual.
Liang Lu and Mo Ningdan did not have a formal teacher-student rtionship with fixed ss schedules; Mo Ningdan typically appeared at random times, and her duration of stay was wholly dependent on her study state and progress, following a teaching philosophy tailored to the individual, rather than specifically waiting for her like today. Mrs. Mo? Mo Ningdan looked grave as she ced a finger on Liang Lus neck and finally let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, the primordial yin is still intact. Liang Lus pretty face blushed. Primordial yin is a concept of cultivating immortality, equivalent to the secr notion of virginity. Being an innocent young woman suddenly examined for her chastity and hearing such sensitive words, Liang Lu naturally felt bashful. Teacher, why are you suddenly checking a students body? What is this about? Mo Ningdan admonished, I have told you many times before, and I will emphasize it once again today. The first issue is the range of cultivation techniques you may choose. Most techniques within the Taixu Sect assume that the cultivators primordial yin is intact. Although some are highlypatible and do not require whether the cultivator has a partner, the internal statistics of the Sect show that those without primordial yin are more likely to practice such techniques and go awry. The second issue concerns your future and resources. The Sect tends to favor cultivating loyal disciples. The simplest example is that every Holy Maiden, before bing one, was without exception a woman ofplete virtue. No matter what, do not be tempted by fleeting pleasures and ruin your prospects and potential. Do you understand? Liang Lu gazed at Mo Ningdan, feeling a sense of foreboding; the sudden discussion indicated her teacher might have sensed something was off. The student understands. Mo Ningdan sighed and said, I hope you really understand. If you were as single-minded as Lin Yao on Chaotic Heart Mountain, I would not worry at all. Seeing Liang Lus despondent expression, Mo Ningdan offeredfort, But you shouldnt me yourself too much. Cultivators like Lin Yao, who arepletely focused, are extremely rare within Taixu Sect. Its she who is the abnormal one. Alright, adjust your mood; theres someone waiting to see you. Liang Lus confusion did notst long. When the door to the activities room opened, she immediately recognized the cultivator who wished to see herLi Qingge! Please take a seat. Li Qingge gestured toward the cushion in front of her. Liang Lu sat down properly on the cushion. Have some tea.
Oh. Liang Lu obediently picked up the teacup, her eyes constantly scanning Li Qingges face for any useful information, but she found none. How far have things progressed between you and Jiang Cheng? Li Qingge seized the opportunity tounch a surprise attack while Liang Lu was sipping her tea.
Liang Lu coughed a few times before saying, Senior, I dont understand what you mean. Li Qingge was unsparing, Your visit to see Jiang Cheng is known to us; theres no need to hide it. I, I indeed met Jiang Cheng, but we are just casual acquaintances. Theres nothing more. Liang Lu had no choice but to confess as it was impossible to hide any longer. There was no benefit in being stubborn with her senior. Yet, to her surprise, Li Qingge did not believe Liang Lus honest admission. I have never seen casual acquaintances who can meet privately, then walk into the university together while chatting andughing. Liang Lu said awkwardly, Then, can we be considered regr friends? Li Qingge answered calmly, What kind of regr friends? As far as I know, there are quite a few female cultivators entangled with Jiang Cheng, some of whom do not even count as regr friends. Youre already on a rtively high level around Jiang Cheng. Liang Lu: Li Qingge, anticipating such a reaction, continued, What? You dont want to betray him? Liang Lu hurriedly shook her head, No, its not that. I just purchased some talismans from him. Theres no further involvement. Really nothing else?
Nothing, Liang Lu asserted, without any guilt. Alright, lets conduct a simple test. This is a lie detector talisman, which works by judging the truthfulness of ones words through external factors such as heart rate, Spiritual Power fluctuations, and spiritual power movements. Li Qingge took out a talisman andid it in front of Liang Lu. Do you dare to use it? Li Qingge asked. As an innocent, why should I fear? Liang Lu picked up the talisman and applied it to herself. After use, the lie detector talisman didnt disappear, but turned into a red heart-shaped pattern floating in the air. Li Qingge exined, A green, steadily beating heart symbol means your mind is calm, without desire or demand. A red, frequently beating heart symbol indicates great emotional fluctuations, suggesting you have secrets you cannot reveal. Having finished her introduction, Li Qingge began the interrogation, Liang Lu, have you ever done anything that harms the interests of the Immortal Sect? No, she replied. Upon seeing the green heart symbol, Mo Ningdan immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Betraying the Sect for Tongtian Sect was a serious offense, whereas a secret romance was trivial. Besides, Liang Lus primordial yin was intact, maintaining her potential. As long as sheter turned over a new leaf and distanced herself from Jiang Cheng, all would be well. Li Qingge continued her enquiry, Do you and Jiang Cheng have any unspeakable secrets?
Chapter 293: 235: The True Face of Jiang Cheng_2 Chapter 293: Chapter 235: The True Face of Jiang Cheng_2 ` No, Liang Lu still said. Look into my eyes, think carefully. Either way, wisdomes with age, and Liang Lusposure was disrupted by Li Qingge, immediately falling into confusion. Honestly, she did have an unspeakable secret with Jiang Chengshe had once been afflicted by a Reverse Direction Rxation Talisman, and if it werent for Jiang Chengs reminder, she would have certainly faced utter embarrassment. There was also the matter of her discussion with Jiang Cheng about the royal session. And Jiang Cheng had asked her to keep the Demon Sects cultivation techniques a secret Do you? Li Qingge asked back. This time, Liang Lu couldnt speak. And the heart-shaped chart representing her emotions began to turn red and beat wildly. Li Qingge looked at the heart-shaped chart, showing an expression of relief. She knew all along that Liang Lu was just being stubborn. Mo Ningdan had warned her numerous times, yet Liang Lu still risked meeting Jiang Cheng, harboring a lucky mentality; could that be called just friends?
Not even a dog would believe it! Now, the topic returned to the beginning, Liang Lu, I will ask you once again, to what extent has your rtionship with Jiang Cheng progressed? Honestly, Liang Lu didnt feel she had much of a rtionship with Jiang Cheng, if anything, she was just envious of his talismans, thats all. But after themotion just now, she didnt know how to respond to Li Qingge anymore. After all, she grew up in the harem since she was little, never in contact with male cultivators, never been in love; her emotional experience was cleaner than a nk te, neither the Noble Consort nor school taught her about it, and she herself was also unclear about what progress or no progress meant. Senior, I dont know. Li Qingge sighed, Liang Lus attitude clearly showed deep affection. But it wasnt toote to find out now; there was still hope for recovery. I will ask you a simple question, suppose you can ascend to be the Emperor of Liang, then you must face the issue of lineage session. You need to know, a single person cant reproduce; you must find a partner to cooperate. Who would you choose? The first person that came to Liang Lus mind was Lin Yao because in all of Qingxuan University, only Lin Yao had managed to defeat her. Moreover, Lin Yao was incredibly beautiful, conducted herself with dignity, had a clean family background, and was exceptionally ambitious, fitting her standards for a spouse. The only w was Lin Yaos gender. Apart from Lin Yao, Liang Lu only thought of Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng was suitable in every aspect, but Liang Lu felt that there wasnt just her among the female cultivators who found Jiang Cheng appropriate. Is my question hard to answer? Li Qingge asked. Mhm, Liang Lu nodded. Alright then, Ill ask differently. If you had three male cultivators in front of you, Tang Yi, Cheng Zhengxi, Jiang Cheng, who would you choose? Jiang Cheng. Given options, Liang Lus problem-solving speed significantly improved. Mo Ningdan said, Tang Yi and Cheng Zhengxi are long-famed geniuses of the Immortal Sect, their cultivation talent is many times stronger than yours and their futures are bright. Liang Lu, are you really choosing Jiang Cheng?
Because of Consort Li, Liang Lus criteria for choosing a spouse had formed quite early. She wasnt interested in the vanity of fame and fortune. Didnt Consort Li suffer enough because of it? Liang Lus first choice was Lin Yao, mainly because,pared to Jiang Cheng, she was more familiar with Lin Yao. But Lin Yao was clearly not suitable, and she didnt emotionally favor female cultivators anyway, so Jiang Cheng it was. Mo Ningdan was surprised by Liang Lus choice, considering Jiang Chengs current status could definitely notpare to the long-famed geniuses of the Immortal Sect. However, Liang Lu still chose Jiang Cheng.
Li Qingge, on the other hand, seemed prescient. She understood Jiang Cheng too well, even as a Core Formation cultivator, she favored him greatly, so Liang Lus initial dislike was suspicious. Li Qingge asserted, Liang Lu, you undeniably have romantic feelings for Jiang Cheng. Not just any, but quite a lot. Mo Ningdan nodded in agreement. Liang Lu: Howe I dont know that I like Jiang Cheng? But seeing the certainty in the seniors expressions, she said a bit unsurely, Is that so? Of course, but you are still young, it is very normal to be easily moved by emotions. Most female cultivators feelings are just a momentary impulse, they cantst, and you are no exception. Once you truly understand Jiang Cheng and see his true face, I believe you will naturally not like him that much. Li Qingge spoke with experienced and well-reasoned advice. Uh, what should I do then? Look. I will expose Jiang Chengs ws; you just watch. Alright. Since the senior said so, Liang Lu naturally had no objections. With the groundworkid for Liang Lu, Li Qingge went off to prepare for the exposure of Jiang Cheng. Mo Ningdan did not stay in the activity room either, walking out together with Li Qingge. On the way, Mo Ningdan curiously asked, Li, as far as I know, you shouldnt have any romantic experience, right? How could you spot Liang Lus discrepancy at a nce and analyze it so deeply for her? Most of the cultivators in the Taixu Sect had no romantic experiences.
Mo Ningdan and Li Qingge were no exceptions. Thats why Mo Ningdan didnt understand how Li Qingge could be so skilled in matters of the heart. Its learned naturally. Learned? How? Does the Taixu Sect also teach about emotions? Why dont I know about this? Mo, when you underwent Core Formation, did you ever read the Core Formation Enlightenment written by the seniors of our sect? Of course, I did. The Enlightenment books in the Immortal Sect are numerous, which can help many junior cultivators avoid detours; they are considered an essential part of the heritage of the sect. You just havent read enough, Li Qingge critiqued, You should go to the Scripture Pavilion and look for the popr yet not famous Core Formation Enlightenment books that are frequently borrowed. Most of them contain the romantic experiences of the seniors, they are quite enjoyable, ahem, I mean, they are of high quality and very helpful for Core Formation. I see. Mo Ningdan suddenly understood; she had never thought that one could learn knowledge in such a way. Chapter 294: 235: The True Face of Jiang Cheng_3 Chapter 294: Chapter 235: The True Face of Jiang Cheng_3 Li is really not ordinary. But, she has already achieved Core Formation. Is it still timely for her to look at the Core Formation Enlightenment? Making high-quality rubbings of cultivation techniques is not a simple matter. In the days following Liang Lus departure, Jiang Cheng spent most of his time immersed in Capital Universitys library. Such long hours of work made him profoundly understand the importance of the Dayan Sects expansion. As the Sect Master of the Dayan Sect, how could he possibly do everything himself? Wouldnt that be exhausting? But now, at the early stages of building the sect, apart from Li Qingge and Gao Miao, who were more like honorary elders and figureheads, the true disciples he could count on were really just Yue Linger and Shen Menghan. Liu Qing could only be considered a contractor, not an official Dayan Sect Disciple. Since Shen Menghan was also busy with Miaodan Workshop, the task of making rubbings typically fell to Jiang Cheng and Yue Linger. Of course, during their daily work hours, they were joined by the contractor, Liu Qing. Yue Linger nced over at Liu Qing opposite her and desperately pondered whether to hint at Liang Lus existence.
This Liang Lu was not like thest times Hai Lan. Liang Lu not only came from a prestigious family, was of a simr age to Jiang Cheng, but also possessed impable talents for cultivating immortality, as well as wless looks and figure. Her personality was also passable, belonging to the level that, although not outstanding, didnt drag them down. With such qualifications as Liang Lus, not to mention Jiang Cheng, any eligible male cultivator in Liang Kingdom could pick her. If a female cultivator of her level were to throw herself at Jiang Cheng Yue Linger put herself in Jiang Chengs shoes and found no reason to refuse. Didnt that mean she was about to gain another sister? Yue Linger understood the principle of losing five cities today quite well. If she didnt do anything, wouldnt it mean that anyone could get close to Jiang Cheng and be yet another sister to her, Yue Linger? If they were like Shen Menghan, she could ept it, but what if this Liang Lu was just pretending to be nice on the surface and was actually a scheming Hai Lan at heart? Then would they ever have peaceful days ahead? However, she, Yue Linger, couldnt control theings and goings of girls in the house, even if it was the previous Hai Lan, it was Liu Qing who stepped in to drive her away. This time, it was still up to Liu Qing. Liu Qing. Hmm? Liu Qings movement halted as she looked up at Yue Linger. When you were not here yesterday, Jiang Cheng brought a friend over. Liu Qing blinked lightly, and with a slight sniff, arge number of scents entered her sensitive nostrils. About two days ago, a strange female cultivator hade to the library.
Judging from the fresh scent on the female cultivator, she was very young, around neen, about the same age as Jiang Cheng. Her scent was very fragrant; one could tell at a sniff that she was a very pretty human female. Female friend, Liu Qing said. Right, Yue Linger quickly nodded.
Although Liu Qing seemed a bit slow-witted, Yue Linger didnt expect her intuition to be so sharp in this regard. She hadnt even mentioned it, yet Liu Qing guessed that Jiang Chengs friend was a female cultivator on her own. Right? Upon receiving Yue Lingers affirmative reply, Liu Qing immediately frowned in displeasure. Initially, Jiang Cheng had assured her that she was his only female friend, so how could he go find another female friend? At this moment, Jiang Cheng, blissfully unaware of the ominous family dynamic brewing behind him, was happily collecting Demonic Tao cultivation techniques. Weve really been bothering Yue a lottely, perhaps we should invite her out for a meal sometime, Jiang Cheng thought innocently. Yue Linger could be considered his right-hand man and personal disciple always working hard withoutint, and inviting her for a meal to show some appreciation was the least he could do. Its so rare to find friends as sincere as Yue in todays society. Chapter 295: 236: Dayan Sect Recruitment Chapter 295: Chapter 236: Dayan Sect Recruitment Jiang Cheng sorted through the Demonic Tao cultivation techniques while considering the Dayan Sects recruitment expansion. First and foremost, it was clear that Jiang Cheng had no intention of adopting the majority of sects select the best recruitment strategy. This was just like when he had initially hired Liu Qing to work. What he needed was a diligent, down-to-earth, and reliable Talisman delivery person, not some talisman-knowledgeable top student. Given Jiang Chengs conditions at the time, a top student would have been counterproductive. Instead, Liu Qing, without any skills, fitted very well with their studio. Throughout the past half-year or so, interpersonal rtionships at the studio were harmonious with no conflictsas long as he, the boss, conceded quickly, corrected his mistakes, and did not repeat them, there would be no cause for employee dissatisfaction. With Liu Qing as a precedent, Jiang Cheng prepared to recruit some honest and dependable new disciples for the Dayan Sect based on practical considerations. As for cultivation talent, it wasnt a concern for Jiang Cheng, mainly because the Dayan Sect had version benefits; standing at the winds peak, even a pig could fly. Talents were the least of his worries. Jiang Cheng suddenly felt someone watching him from behind. Turning around, he found both Liu Qing and Yue Linger staring at him.
However, Liu Qing was staring continuously, while Yue Linger nced for a while then guiltily looked elsewhere. Whats up? asked Jiang Cheng. Liang Lu, said Liu Qing. The instigator next to them, Jiang Chengs heartless little cotton coat Yue Linger, was already fully empathizing with the pressure. Liu Jie is truly loyal; shes really up for it when thingse up! She had just mentioned Liang Lu to her a minute ago. Thought she would wait a while. But she didnt expect her to question Jiang Cheng right away. Truly worthy of being a senior sister who joined the sect first. Is that her strength and confidence? Yue Linger asked herself, knowing she didnt have the courage to speak to Jiang Cheng like Liu Qing did. She couldnt even refuse Jiang Chengs requests, let alone make demands of him. But fortunately, there was Liu Qing! What she couldnt do didnt mean Liu Qing couldnt. Liu Jie, pressure Jiang Cheng for me! Liang Lu? How do you know? Did Yue tell you? Jiang Cheng was quite surprised. He hadnt expected Liu Qing and Yue Linger to be so close as to gossip together. Yes. Snake nodded.
Liang Lu, she Jiang Cheng briefly introduced Liang Lu to Liu Qing. After listening intently, Liu Qing responded with an Oh, then bowed her head back to work, and that was that. Yue Linger: ???
Seeing Liu Qing being so unhelpful, Yue Linger became anxious: Liu Jie, youve got to stand up! Why surrender to Jiang Cheng so easily! Youre his roommate! Firste, first served for the masterpiece; beat him hard! Your weakness today is indulging his crimes of tomorrow! Yue, Jiang Cheng called out. Here, she responded. Ive just sorted out some cultivation techniques; you can take them to make rubbings. Oh. Yue Linger silently went over to Jiang Cheng, packed up the Demon Sect cultivation techniques he had taken from the shelf, and left. Jiang Cheng looked at Yue Linger and said, Yue, do you have something to say to me? Yue Linger blinked, her eyes clear, No, nothing. Good, then what do you want to eat tonight? I n to treat everyone.
Yue Linger didnt have any particr cravings, but she knew Liu Qing liked to eat meat, Theres a barbecue buffet opposite Qingxuan University. I heard its quite good. Did you hear it from Liang Lu? No, no, from other friends. Yue Linger was afraid Jiang Cheng would ask her why she told Liu Qing about Liang Lu, wondering if she had an ulterior motive to stir trouble? But Jiang Cheng didnt overthink it: Okay, tell Shenter, and well go there. Oh. Shen Menghan was very efficient, alwaysing immediately when her sister called. However, there was a little confusion over the seating arrangement in the car. The contention was over who would sit in the passenger seat. In the end, Yue Linger took the passenger seat, and Liu Qing sat in the back next to Jiang Cheng. Shen Menghan, who was in the drivers seat, remained silent throughout; she understood that this battle was out of her league. In the car, Liu Qing asked, Liang Lu, a friend? Yue Lingers scalp tingled in the passenger seat.
Fine move, Liu Jie is just waiting here! Asking during the drive so Jiang Cheng cant escape? What a cunning close siege! I must see how Jiang Cheng is going to wriggle out of this one. However, Jiang Chengs answer was in and simple, I know her, but I wouldnt call her a friend. She came to me to buy talismans twice, but I didnt sell to her thest time. Oh. Getting the answer she wanted, Liu Qing had no further objections. Whether or not Liang Lu bought talismans was of no concern to her as long as Liang Lu wasnt Jiang Chengs female friend. Is that it? Yue Linger was greatly disappointed. Liu Jie was too easily fooled. How could one so readily trust a man, talking of talisman partners, clearly an ambiguous rtionship. In any case, Yue Linger didnt believe Liang Lu could remain untouched by Jiang Cheng.
Actually, whenpared to most female cultivators, Liu Qing was not easy to deceive. Her innate talent let her easily recognize lies and emotions. In other words, any scoundrel was transparent in front of Liu Qing. But Jiang Cheng was always straightforward. So every time, what Liu Qing heard was Jiang Chengs honest, serious, and solid response; for a monster that reasoned, she had no cause to be upset. She was very reasonable and wouldnt sulk without reason. Dont believe it? Ask her good friend Jiang Cheng. Li Qingge had been worrying about how to expose Jiang Chengs true face to Liang Lu. Little did she know, the opportunity didnt even need to be created; it came knocking at her doorstep! Chapter 296: 236: Dayan Sect Recruitment_2 Chapter 296: Chapter 236: Dayan Sect Recruitment_2 As Jiang Cheng left Capital University, the female cultivator from Taixu Sect who had been responsible for keeping an eye on Jiang Chengs movements hurriedly reported to Li Qingge. Li, Jiang Cheng and two female cultivators got into another female cultivators car and left Capital University. Good, keep investigating and report back to me. When Li Qingge heard about how Jiang Cheng was getting along with three female cultivators, she felt quite excited. The female cultivators who could enter their Taixu Sect were all exceptional, and to say that they were one in ten thousand was no exaggeration. In such circumstances, it was rare for female cultivators to be willing to share a Daopanion. Even the reverse, where a cultivator supported several faces, wasnt unheard of. And Liang Lu, she was indeed one in ten thousand. Li Qingge believed that with Liang Lus pride, she would definitely not tolerate Jiang Cheng being surrounded by other women. As long as Liang Lu witnessed Jiang Cheng being nked by women on both sides, she would surely cut off her thoughts about him, then concentrate solely on her cultivation, ascend to the throne, take over the reins of Liang Kingdom, and expand the influence of the Taixu Sect Liangguo Subrudder. However, if Jiang Cheng took the three female cultivators to a private ce, it would be inconvenient to invite Liang Lu over for a visit.
But it seemed as if the heavens were helping Li Qingge. The female cultivator observing Jiang Cheng reported: Li, Jiang Cheng and the four of them have gone to the barbecue buffet restaurant opposite Qingxuan University. Barbecue buffet? This was a public ce! Great, this was the perfect opportunity for Liang Lu to face reality! Li Qingge swiftly contacted Mo Ningdan, asking her to bring Liang Lu to Qingxuan University. She herself went ahead to the buffet restaurant opposite Qingxuan University to scout the ce. As soon as she entered the buffet restaurant, Li Qingge saw Jiang Cheng sitting amidst a group of cheerful women. Honestly, forget about Liang Lu, even her fists were clenched in frustration. If Liang Lu had any pride at all, she would never tolerate Jiang Cheng ying around like this! Soon after, Liang Lu and Mo Ningdan arrived at the buffet restaurant one after the other. Elder Li, where is the Jiang Cheng you mentioned? Seeing Liang Lu so eager to ask, Li Qingge remained calm and assured, smilingly said, Liang Lu, are you that eager to see Jiang Cheng? Liang Lus head slowly popped a question mark. Wasnt it Elder Li who, through themunication talisman, asked me to hurry over? Ive managed to rush here, so why does it seem like Im the one eagerly wanting to see Jiang Cheng? However, Liang Lu still respectfully said to the elder, Its not that urgent, seeing or not seeing Jiang Cheng is all the same to me. Li Qingge didnt take it seriously, assuming it was just the typical hardness of a female cultivators tongue. Well, then. Calm your emotions, make sure you wont get agitatedter, and I will tell you where Jiang Cheng is. Liang Lu:
You dont have to tell me, I can just consider it as apanying you for a meal. But on the surface, Liang Lu took a few deep breaths and then told Li Qingge, Elder, Im ready. Li Qingge said, Okay, look at forty-five degrees to your left, behind the green nts. Doing as she was told, Liang Lus gaze passed beyond the leaves of the nts, and she did indeed spot Jiang Cheng and hispanions.
Although she couldnt see the whole scene clearly, Liang Lu was sure that Jiang Cheng was probably sitting with a group of female cultivators. Do you see them? I see them. Both Liang Lu and Mo Ningdan nodded their heads. How does it feel? Li Qingges lips curled into a victorious smile. Liang Lu was taken aback, What do you mean? What are you trying to ask, Elder? Now it was Li Qingges turn to be full of question marks. Did you really see him? Li Qingge counter-questioned. Yes, I saw him. Jiang Cheng sitting with a group of female cultivators, you saw that? I saw it. And then?
What do you mean and then? Li Qingge looked at Liang Lu incredulously, Arent you angry? Dont you feel angry at all? Liang Lu turned to her teacher with a pleading look, Mrs. Mo, should I be angry under these circumstances? For the first time, Mo Ningdan found herself unsure on how to answer Liang Lus question. She hesitantly sought advice from Li, Li, should Liang Lu be angry? Li Qingge stated without a doubt, Of course you should be angry! Your boyfriend is fooling around with other women behind your back, and you are not angry about that? But Elder Li, Jiang Cheng isnt my boyfriend. I was just making an analogy. You like him, you definitely want him all to yourself, right? Right? You want to possess him, but you cant, and he sees other women behind your back, youre not angry? Do I even need to exin this? Mo Ningdan started to say something but stopped, clearing her throat and said, Li, please calm down. Dont get upset before you have even exined everything. Li Qingge leaned back in her chair, her ample chest heaving up and down. Indeed, Jiang Cheng had infuriated her. She had gone through great pains to organize this n, being very careful on each step, and had even personally intervened at the end, setting up Prince Liang Qing for the trap.
And what about Jiang Cheng? He had fooled her for days with just one Enlightenment talisman. Then, he nearly caused their careful ns to go to waste by capturing the heart of the princess they were betting on at Taixu Sect without her noticing. Those two things were frustrating enough, but how dare he openly flirt with women in public, and in front of her, feed an outrageously beautiful female cultivator at his side? How old was that cultivator? Were her hands not grown? Why would she need him to feed her? Mo Ningdan said, Li, I have a guess, I dont know if its correct. Speak. Liang Lu probably doesnt mind Jiang Cheng interacting with other female cultivators. Li Qingge frowned, Why is that? Mo Ningdan exined, Think about it, Li, where Liang Lu grew up since childhood. The harem? I see. Li Qingge had an epiphany, she had thought Liang Lu didnt like Jiang Cheng, but it turned out to be an issue with her upbringing.
Chapter 297: 236: Dayan Sect Recruitment_3 Chapter 297: Chapter 236: Dayan Sect Recruitment_3 Liang Lu looked at the two seniors who were talking to themselves, the whole time with a baffled expression. She felt that Jiang Chengs behavior was rather normal, even though he was dining with several female cultivators, but it was just eating, nothing inappropriate. Besides, she and Jiang Cheng werent in that kind of rtionship, so there was no reason for her to be mad at him. If anything, Jiang Cheng was behaving quite well. If it had been her father, the Emperor, or her imperial brothers, who knows what ridiculous things they would have done. In her eyes, Jiang Cheng was the very model of virtue, the bright side of human nature shining through. So why get angry? She just couldnt figure it out. Having failed with one n, Li Qingge quickly hatched another. Since Liang Lu didnt mind Jiang Cheng being close with others, then let her experience firsthand the dangers of such behavior! You dont care about Jiang Cheng paying attention to others now, but when youre wronged and seek his help, and not only does he not help you but actually takes sides with someone else, then see if youll mind. Li Qingge silently imagined that scene, and it was almost enough to anger herself to death.
Since it was a buffet restaurant and the dishes were free to take, in order to carry out her n, Li Qingge deliberately took a te of the limited-supply cooked steak and handed it to Liang Lu. Liang Lu,ter, take this steak and find Jiang Cheng, she said. Oh, and then what? Youll pretend to bump into him by chance and offer him a taste of the limited steak. Leave the rest to me, got it? Okay. Liang Lu obediently did as she was told, and walked over to Jiang Cheng with the steak. Mo Ningdan asked, Li, what are you nning to do? Im simply testing the waters. Ill have Liang Lu identally drop the te, then well see how Jiang Cheng reacts. If Jiang Cheng shows even a slight bias towards the other female cultivators, I believe Liang Lu will definitely give up on him, she replied. I see. Mo Ningdan felt it was a little childish, but considering the volumes of Core Formation Enlightenment Li Qingge had seen, she believed there must be reasoning behind Li Qingges actions that she just didnt understand yet. Meanwhile, Liang Lu, holding the te, walked over. Yue Linger was the first to see Liang Lu and said in surprise, Liang Lu? What a coincidence? Just as Liang Lu was about to respond, the te in her hand suddenly slipped and, for some reason, flew out of her hand towards the ground. In that critical moment, Liu Qing indifferently put down his chopsticks. The steak and the te, which had been in free fall, abruptly stopped, suspended in the air. Liang Lu, Yue Linger, and Shen Menghan were all taken aback, their eyes widening in astonishment at the steaks eerie suspension, which promptly caught the attention of nearby diners. Object Suspension is not something a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator could perform. It requires terrifying control over the surrounding spiritual energy, aplished without uttering a word, chanting spells, or using any visible magic. The more one knew, the more extraordinary it seemed.
Jiang Cheng, upon seeing this, felt his scalp tingle. He didnt need to think to know who was exerting the power. Madam, please retract your Divine Skills! Exposing your identity over a te of steak, isnt that a bit hasty? At this point, Jiang Cheng couldnt care less; he immediately grabbed Liu Qings hand and yanked her up from her seat.
Distracted by Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing forgot about the steak and stared at him nkly. Taking Liu Qing by the hand, Jiang Cheng said to Liang Lu, Liang, you came to eat as well? There happens to be a free ce with us inside;e sit in our section. Waiter, could you please clean up the tes on the floor? It was my fault they broke. My apologies, Illpensate for them at the original price when I settle my bill. In the gaze of everyone around, Liang Lu found herself somewhat confusedly sitting at Jiang Chengs table. Yet, she could find no w in Jiang Chengs recent actions. Although she had identally dropped the te, Jiang Cheng had helped preserve her dignity and invited her to sit down and get acquainted with the others. He had seamlessly resolved what would have been an awkward situation without leaving any trace. Liang Lu had only known Jiang Cheng for his Talismans before, but after todays interactions, she realized that his merits extended far beyond just Talismans. Jiang Cheng was indeed a very outstanding male cultivator. On the other side, Li Qingge and Mo Ningdan looked serious. Li Qingge said, Mo, that piece of meat, it suspended in the air for a moment, didnt it? Mm-hm. But I didnt detect any Core Formation aura. Could it be that in the Capital City, theres a Nascent Soul we are unaware of? It might be the Demonic Tao making aeback. This time its a Nascent Soul Stage from the Demonic Path; they are not to be underestimated. We must quickly report this to the Helmsman. What about Liang Lu? You keep an eye on her in secret.
Right. Chapter 298: 237: This Back Looks Somewhat Familiar Chapter 298: Chapter 237: This Back Looks Somewhat Familiar Liang Lus mood at the moment was not entirely different from Li Qingges, it was exactly the same. Whats going on with Liu Qing? Why does she have Jiang Cheng feed her? Does she not have hands? Cant she eat on her own? She does have hands, doesnt she? She seems pretty adept with chopsticks. She looks like a normal person, so wheres the problem? Liang, Ah? Liang Lu snapped back to reality. Why are you always staring at Liu Qing? Is there something on her face? Jiang Cheng asked. Liang Lu subconsciously wanted to deny it, but with everyone around her being Jiang Chengs people, she thought it over and decided it was better to tell the truth and not be the butt of jokes.
Im a bit confused. Why doesnt our friend Liu do the grilling herself? After Liang Lu finished speaking, Shen Menghan and Yue Lingers gazes followed hers, focusing on Liu Qing. Having often dined together, Shen Menghan had long noticed that Liu Qing only ate meat without touching it herself. She even privately asked Yue Linger about it, but to her surprise, Yue Linger didnt know either! And Yue Linger was an old-timer in Jiang Chengs circle. If even she didnt know, it meant that Liu Qings status and seniority were clearly higher than hers. Through various details, Shen Menghan had gradually deduced the ranking of their big family. When Liu Qing didnt speak: Jiang Cheng > Liu Qing > Yue Linger > herself. When Liu Qing spoke: Liu Qing > Jiang Cheng > Yue Linger > herself. The reason Liu Qing didnt do it herself was simpleshe didnt need to. She could directly eat raw meat, plus she found it bothersome to do it herself. Jiang Cheng feeding Liu Qing was not something Liu Qing asked him to do, but something he volunteered to do because he didnt want a certain snake to have too much freedom in human society, which could lead to more loopholes in her already precarious human identity. But exining this to Liang Lu and the others was unfeasible. How do you exin? Because she likes raw meat? If Liang Lu asked further: why does she like raw meat? Liu Qing would answer: Ive eaten it since I was young. Its a chilling thought to ponder! Because, well Jiang Cheng was considering his words. But at this critical moment, Liu Qing, like Liang Lu and the others, was eagerly waiting for his answer.
Jiang Cheng was under a lot of pressure. Finding a random excuse might pacify Liang Lu and the others but would not satisfy Liu Qing. Without a random excuse, Liu Qing might be content, but the rest might not be convinced. In this critical moment, Jiang Cheng had a stroke of genius: Liu Qing is different from normal people. When she was little, she didnt like to get close to things that were too hot, like fires.
Everyone revealed an understanding expression. In themon understanding of normal people like Liang Lu, Liu Qing probably had a childhood trauma rted to fires, so it made sense for her not to grill meat herself. In Liu Qings own understanding, she felt that what Jiang Cheng said was not wrong. When she was still a little snake, she indeed did not like to get close to fires. In her homnd Mount Tian, fires represented either the horror of natural forces or dangerous humanoid monsters. Although she now was itself arge monster and indifferent to fires, she did have the aversion described by Jiang Cheng when she was young, not a single detail off. Jiang Chengs quick thinking paid off, and he quickly changed the subject, saying: By the way, Liang, do you know much about the Demonic Tao? Liang Lu, considering Jiang Chengs behavior of collecting demonic techniques, had a bad feeling: Not much. Well, its perfect, all four of us are from the Demon Sect; you can learn anything you like. Jiang Cheng generously disclosed their Demon Sect identity. Liang Lu was surprised and relieved but eventually ended up with a face full of unspoken words. Jiang Cheng said, Liang, if you have any opinions, please feel free to speak up. It might be toote now. How could it be toote? After all, you havent joined our sect yet. Liang Lu: Actually, I came here with my teacher, who is from the Immortal Sect. Jiang Cheng was reassured, This is no issue, people from the Immortal Sect are reasonable. Its all fine as long as your teacher isnt from the Demon Sect.
Today was an eye-opener for Liang Lu. It was her first time seeing someone iming to be from the Demon Sect, then not fearing the Immortal Sect but the Demon Sect instead. However, Liang Lu didnt take Jiang Chengs words to heart; she just assumed he was involved in something akin to a club. After all, how could he, a student from Lotus University, possibly establish a Demon Sect right under the nose of Tongtian Sect? Would Tongtian Sect allow his Demon Sect to exist? What a joke in the world of immortals. This is our sects business license, tax registration certificate, organizational code. Jiang Cheng, to prove the existence of their sect, showed Liang Lu the authoritative documents issued by her own Liang Kingdom. Are you serious? Liang Lu held the certificates, disbelieving. I always tell the truth. Jiang Cheng said. Hold on, let me get this straight, what does Tongtian Sect have to say about you founding a Demon Sect? They fully support it. Jiang Cheng confessed frankly. Tongtian Sect fully supports you founding a Demon Sect? Of course.
Liang Lu felt like the world was spinning. She felt sure that either she or Jiang Cheng had misunderstood the other. She attempted to rify her question: What I mean is, is your Demon Sect legitimate? Its legitimate. In what sense is it legitimate? It wont fear inspection by the Ministry of Revenue. Jiang Cheng sinctly conveyed the legitimacy of the Dayan Sect, considering that ny-nine percent of Demon Sects had issues with tax evasion. Since their Dayan Sect was small in scale without any sect industries, they were impable in terms of taxation. Thats quite legitimate indeed, but if your Demon Sect is so legitimate, is it still a Demon Sect? Liang Lu posed a critical question. As a princess, she knew more than the average person; not just Demon Sects, even Immortal Sects couldnt stand up to the scrutiny of the Ministry of Revenueonce inspected, none dare to make a sound. Chapter 299: 237: This Back Looks Somewhat Familiar_2 Chapter 299: Chapter 237: This Back Looks Somewhat Familiar_2 ` Liang, your thinking is still stuck in the past. Who dictated that the Demon Sect must be unorthodox? And who decided that the Demon Sect must kill and set fires, plunder and rob? While Jiang Cheng exined to Liang Lu, he didnt forget to casually feed Snake. At this moment, on the table, Yue Linger, Shen Menghan, and Liang Lu had given up eating and were all ears. But Liu Qing was different. As long as Jiang Cheng was feeding, she took the opportunity to eat while the food was still warm, not wasting a single grain. Snake didnt care about any grand principles; she was a snake that sided with her kin over reason. Her thinking was simple: Jiang Cheng helps snake, snake helps Jiang Cheng. Of course, there was another less important minor reason why Liu Qing didnt listen to Jiang Chengshe couldnt understand. Liang Lu could understand, but she didnt get it, No, if you dont do evil deeds, how can you call yourselves the Demon Sect? Jiang Cheng said, Who said we dont do evil deeds? We do evil deeds, but do you know the name of our sect? Liang Lu nced at the certificate, Dayan Sect?
Jiang Cheng smiled slightly, Correct. Do you know the origin of the word Yan? I dont know. Yan, it means to deceive! We deceive the Demon Sect, we deceive the Immortal Sect, we deceive the Heavenly Dao; false falsehoods and true realities. Isnt that doing evil deeds? Doesnt that qualify as the Demonic Tao? Hearing Jiang Chengs words, Liang Lu felt her brain couldnt handle it. Although Yue Linger and Shen Menghan had joined the Dayan Sect a long time ago, they too were nk today. Only Liu Qing remained consistent. Because she used only her mouth throughout, and not her brain. After a while, Liang Lu finally responded, Then, is it possible that what you just said was also deceiving me? There is that possibility. After Jiang Cheng replied, he continued, Look, I even deceived you; doesnt that make us a true Demon Sect? Liang Lu turned pale, obviously in a state of brain hypoxia, fully focusing her blood supply. Jiang Cheng stopped joking, Okay, okay, I was just joking with you. Instead of caring about whether or not we deceive others, why dont you take a look at our sects welfare measures? Liang Lu was skeptical, This isnt also a deception, is it? Its not, youve seen us making rubbings of Cultivation Technique; dont you trust yourself? Liang Lu hesitated and asked the question she cared about most, So, if I join the Dayan Sect, am I still an outsider? Of course not, Jiang Cheng immediately replied. So, can I buy your Talismans to use? Uh Jiang Cheng said with some difficulty, Liang, youve already bought quite a few before, its only been a few days, why do you want to buy new ones again? I used them up while sparring with a friend. Jiang Cheng didnt understand, What species is your friend? Werent the many Talismans I gave you enough?
What species Describing Lin Yao, Liang Lu said uncertainly, She should be human, but the really formidable kind. Jiang Cheng was skeptical. You should know that he had sold over a dozen types of Talismans to Liang Lu before, a dozen types, not just a dozen pieces. Unless Liang Lu was fighting the female lead of a game, how could she not win? I can sell you new ones, but I have a condition.
What condition? Jiang Cheng took out a Memory Sphere, I want to record it; I want to see who you are really sparring with. Thats easy. Liang Lu agreed without hesitation. As long as Jiang Cheng was willing to sell her Talismans, everything else was a minor issue. Every meal has to end at some point. Jiang Cheng was very happy because, after two months, the Dayan Sect finally weed a new member. Now there would be new freebor to use. Liang Lu was also very happy; she got the new Talismans she wanted the most! With the three Talismans Jiang Cheng gave her, she could at least ensure victory in three matches! Lin Yao, nothing to fuss over. Li Qingge rushed back with a team of reinforcements before Liang Lu and Jiang Cheng parted ways. The matter of the Demon Sects Nascent Soul was handed over to the people of the Enforcement Hall to handle. She was mainly responsible for the Princess Ascension to the Throne n and was concerned about Liang Lus romantic progress. Liang Lu, hows it going with Jiang Cheng?
We got along quite well. Li Qingge was speechless, Were not here for a matchmaking session. Oh, Liang Lu replied absentmindedly. Li Qingge sighed, Never mind, lets go back for now; this matter cant be rushed. ` The next day, armed with the new talismans, Liang Lu calmly epted Lin Yaos invitation to a duel. In front of the dueling tform, Liang Lu took the Memory Sphere given to her by Jiang Cheng and handed it to Mo Ningdan. Teacher, please help me record this, she said. Mo Ningdan agreed casually and ced Liang Lus Memory Sphere beside her own. Recording duels was standard practice. Both Mo Ningdan and Yan Yue would use Memory Spheres to record duels, providing students with the opportunity to review and analyze their performance afterward. Mo Ningdan thought Liang Lu wanted to record the duel for her own study and didnt think much of it. The old rivals met again, and this time, Lin Yao also brought out talismans, seeming to have devised some new strategy.
As themand to start the duel was announced, Lin Yao and Liang Lu both, without any courtesy, immediately activated the talismans in their hands. Lin Yaos talismans shone ever brighter, prompting Liang Lu to squint and exim in surprise, Second-rank talismans? The talismans given to her by Jiang Cheng were all first-rank. Even with Jiang Chengs influence, Liang Lu was not sure if her first-rank talismans could defeat Lin Yaos second-rank ones. Liang Lu quietly reached into her pocket for two additional talismans. If need be, she would use all three at once. After all, there were no rules limiting the number of talismans in a duel. Air Stagnation! Lin Yaos talisman struck first! Soon, the air around Liang Lu became stiff and sticky. Liang Lu, affected by the talisman, found her movements difficult and even breathing became a struggle. This was the effect of a second-rank Control Talisman! Liang Lu thought. After Lin Yao made her move, Liang Lu finally felt at ease releasing Jiang Chengs life-saving first-rank talisman! The talisman transformed into a green light and directly struck Lin Yaos body.
Despite being hit by the talisman, Lin Yao felt no difort. But with her extensive experience in being affected by talismans, she didnt immediatelyunch an attack on Liang Lu. She had suffered enough from vigorous movements before, like thest time with the Motion Maization Talisman. Lin Yao took a deep breath and cautiously walked towards Liang Lu. Liang Lu, currently restrained by the second-rank Control Talisman, was unable to walk or run. The talismans today seem a bit useless, Lin Yao said. Then why dont youe over? Liang Lu retorted, not giving in to Lin Yao verbally. But Lin Yao didnt fall for the simple provocation. The Air Stagnation Talisman caused area control, and if she entered Liang Lus vicinity, she would be affected by the Air Stagnation as well, which would be counterproductive. She preferred waiting for the Air Stagnation Talisman to wear off before attacking Liang Lu for a decisive victory. If you donte over soon, itll be toote, Liang Lu said with a smile. This was the confidence Jiang Cheng gave her. Lin Yao furrowed her brow: What do you mean? No sooner had Liang Lu finished speaking than Lin Yao started experiencing problems. She walked unsteadily, her head felt heavy and drowsy, and even using a Purification Talisman did not help. Unable to understand or resolve the situation, Lin Yao could only concede early. Liang Lu thought to herself: This Overload Healing Talisman is pretty useful, indeed worthy of being one of Jiang Chengs life-saving talismans, making Lin Yao intoxicated with healing. Since Liang Lu was already a disciple of the Dayan Sect, Jiang Cheng did not stand on ceremony with her and specifically arranged for her to take over Liu Qings shift. Once Liu Qing finished work, it was Liang Lus turn to start her shift. Liang, we have alreadypleted rubbings of most of the cultivation techniques in this room, so you probably wont have toe many times, Jiang Cheng informed Liang Lu ahead of time. Having won the duel against Lin Yao, Liang Lu was in a particrly good mood. No problem. Oh, about the recording you asked for earlier, Ive made it. Do you want to see it now? she asked. Yes. Yue Linger, overhearing the conversation next door and seizing the opportunity to see something interesting, quickly joined them. The three of them gathered around the small Memory Sphere. Liang Lu activated the Memory Sphere, which disyed the scene of the dueling tform. In the foreground was the silhouette of a long-haired woman with a graceful figure, and in the distance was Liang Lu, ready for the duel. Yue Linger looked forward to the start of the duel, mainly wanting to see Jiang Chengs talismans. Jiang Chengs focus was not on Liang Lu or the talismans, but on the silhouette of Liang Lus opponent. He found the silhouette familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before. Chapter 300: 238: The Situation Is Not Good Chapter 300: Chapter 238: The Situation Is Not Good Not even Lin Lu thought the battle disyed in the Memory Sphere was anything special, let alone from Yue Lingers perspective. The unknown female cultivator and Lin Lu used Talismans at the same time, and almost simultaneously fell victim to each others Talismans. Then one was controlled, and the other was healed. In the end, without casting any other spells, they solely relied on the effects of the Talismans to determine the winner. It was utterly uninteresting. Yue Linger pointed to Lin Yao and said, She used a Control Talisman, right? I noticed that after you were hit by the talisman, your movements slowed down. Liang Lu nodded, Thats right, she used an Air Stagnation Talisman, a second-tier Talisman. It has wide range control and is very effective, truly formidable. Oh~ I see! Bing as familiar with second-tier Talismans as Yue Linger, a second-tier Talisman Master, was out of the question. If I remember correctly, the Air Stagnation Talisman isnt amon Control Talisman. The difficulty of drawing it is not low; its almost on par with some third-tier Talismans. This female cultivators ability to use this talisman means she must have put in painstaking effort and practiced diligently, Yue Linger remarked. With a hint of pride, Liang Lu said, I have defeated her many times already. Its only natural she would try harder in thepetition. If shes so eager to win, why didnt she attack you the moment you were controlled? Yue Linger asked. Normally, one would follow up with an attack right after gaining control. However, the content shown by the Memory Sphere disyed the female cultivator slowly approaching Liang Lu, which was illogical. It seemed as if the female cultivator was deliberately going easy on her.
Liang Lu replied, She was scared off by my Talismans. She has attacked before, but do you know about the Spiritual Energy Blockage Talisman? Of course! Is it that Spiritual Energy Blockage Talisman from Jiang Cheng? Oh wait, no one besides him could draw it. It must be his, Yue Linger expressed. You know about it? Liang Lu said, surprised. She had thought that Jiang Chengs Talismans were his private collection. Unexpectedly, this female cultivator named Yue Linger was also aware of Jiang Chengs secrets. Watching Liang Lus surprised expression filled Yue Linger with pride. Poor Liang Lu, does she have any understanding of what it means to be Jiang Chengs only daughter? She had supported Jiang Cheng since the beginning of his venture and had been with him up to now, a female cultivator not easily matched by any junior sisters joiningter. Yue Linger secretly calcted her status beside Jiang Cheng; aside from Liu Qing, it was her! Although Liang Lu was a princess, that was her social status. Beside Jiang Cheng, she was a younger sister and had to humbly take her ce at the back of the line. In a tone not without a bit of show-off, Yue Linger said, I almost know all of Jiang Chengs Talismans. The one you used in this match was an Overload Healing Talisman, right? Yes. I could recite the principle behind that talisman backward. After hearing this, Liang Lus eyes brightened, Can you draw it as well? Yue Linger immediately shrank back a bit, well aware of her own limitations, I can draw, but Jiang Cheng has to agree to it. If Jiang Cheng doesnt consent, I wouldnt dare to sell it to you privately. After all, its his Talisman idea. Liang Lu let out a small sigh. She had been thinking Yue Linger seemed like a ratherpetent Talisman Master, but it turned out she was nothing like she appeared; the imposing Yue Linger was actually docile before Jiang Cheng. If Liang Lu wanted to use a Talisman, she still had to depend on Jiang Chengs approval; nothing had changed. Speaking of Jiang Cheng, since just now, his expression had been a bit off. He was intently staring at the images disyed by the Memory Sphere, silent, seemingly pondering something. Given the level of Talisman exchange in this match, there was no value in researching it at all. Jiang Cheng, what are you looking at? Liang Lu asked.
Yue Linger also noticed something was amiss with Jiang Cheng, her eyes repeatedly shifting between the Memory Spheres images and Jiang Cheng. I have a feeling I might have seen this female cultivator somewhere, Jiang Cheng said, pointing at the female cultivators figure on the screen. You know her? Thats not very likely, is it? In Liang Lus memory, Lin Yao was beautiful but always kept a low profile. Even when she went to the cafeteria, she chose times when it was empty and wore a hat to cover half her face. Jiang Cheng, you must be mistaken. I dont remember this figure at all, Yue Linger imed.
Jiang Cheng shook his head, Yue, you might not know her. This figure resembles a younger schoolmate of mine from high school. But her talent was mediocre during that time; she wouldnt qualify to be Liang Lus opponent. A schoolmate from high school? Yue Linger, confronted with unfamiliar terminology, immediately became alert. She had thought she had a full grasp of Jiang Chengs rtionships, but it turned out that he had a female rtionship she was unaware of. And considering the chronology, this high school junior knew Jiang Cheng even before Liu Qing did! Could it be? Could it really be such a coincidence? Yue Linger felt an ominous premonition about potentially losing her ce in the family hierarchy. As Jiang Cheng continued looking at the figure in the Memory Sphere, he became more convinced that it was Lin Yao. However, his rationality told him that this seemed highly unlikely. ording to the games plot, Lin Yao, with her Natural Charm Body, was discovered by an Elder from the Hehuan Sect. This meant that before then, Lin Yao couldnt be considered a genius. How could she be the genius female cultivator who wasted Liang Lus dozens of Talismans? If Lin Yao indeed became Liang Lus opponent, wouldnt that throw the entire games plot into chaos? You said she resembles your high school junior? She must be quite beautiful then if she could look somewhat like Lin Yao, Liang Lu teased Jiang Cheng.
Pointing to the figure, Jiang Cheng asked, What did you say her name was? Lin Yao, why? Liang Lu casually responded, but Jiang Chengs expression seemed to be silently conveying a dramatic truth. Could it be that the alwaysposed Jiang Cheng was shocked? Chapter 301: 238: The Situation Is Not Good_2 Chapter 301: Chapter 238: The Situation Is Not Good_2 Liang Lus interest piqued instantly, Your schoolmate wouldnt happen to be Lin Yao, would it? Its probably just someone with the same name, Jiang Cheng attempted his final struggle, There are many people with the same name in this world. There are many with the same name, but the chances of them being both same-named and equally beautiful are almost nonexistent, right? Yue Linger suddenly interjected, Liang, you havent seen Jiang Chengs Lin, have you? How do you know that Jiang Chengs Lin and the Lin Yao you know are both very beautiful? Liang Lu said as if it was the most natural thing in the world, Just look at yourself. Then look at me. Yue Linger understood. She felt that Liang Lu was right, although Jiang Cheng had never mentioned it, but looking at the facts, there was not a single unattractive female cultivator around Jiang Cheng. With things having reached this point, Jiang Cheng finally convinced himself to face the truth. Liang, how is your rtionship with Lin Yao? Hmm After thinking it over seriously, Liang Lu said, Its okay, we can talk.
Thats good, Jiang Cheng let out a sigh of relief, Just dont bring me up, especially in front of her. Why? Liang Lus eyes shone, Jiang Chengsplexion changed whenever Lin Yao was mentioned, there must be an unspeakable secret between them! Its not convenient to talk about this. Lets get back to work. Having said that, Jiang Cheng went back to his station. He left behind a visibly unsatisfied Liang Lu and a frowning, contemtive Yue Linger. Gossip is human nature, not to mention Liang Lu was a female cultivator, and she was very interested in Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng. Yue, what are you thinking? Could it be that you also know Lin Yao? Yue Linger shook her head, I dont know her, but the fact that Jiang Cheng didnt tell the truth is quite rare. So, there is something between him and Lin Yao? I dont think its just something, I think its a big deal. Liang Lu was quite excited, speaking earnestly, Jiang Cheng, who was calm and abnormal, and Lin Yao, who was decisive in killing and had a firm Dao heart, were simply a natural couple! Quite ship-worthy! Then Yue Linger doused her excitement with a bucket of cold water. Liang, what are you so happy about? If there really is something between Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng, wouldnt you be Lin Yaos little sister? Liang Lu: ??? I, I dont have to have Jiang Cheng! Yue Linger let out a coldugh, Youre still too young, Liang. After youve seen the male cultivators out there, youll be dying to stick close to Jiang Cheng. Liang Lu was about to retort, saying: there are plenty of great male cultivators out there! But then she immediately thought of her father, and her numerous imperial brothers, including those in Qingxuan University who only knew how to seduce female cultivators and had no ambition. Suddenly, she felt that what Yue Linger said made some sense.
The male cultivators she couldnt care less about were wandering the streets en masse, and the only one she was interested in really was just Jiang Cheng. If she missed this vige, she might not find this shop again. Then, she self-taught the realization that prophet Yue Linger hadthe moment there were real feelings between Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng, she would naturally be Lin Yaos little sister. Meaning, whether in terms of cultivation or emotions, she would be thoroughly outssed by Lin Yao, right?
Liang Lu held her head, her heart tangled in mncholy: she didnt want that at all! Liang, are you feeling unwell? Jiang Cheng noticed Liang Lus difort and approached with a kind voice, If youre feeling unwell, you can go home and rest. Our rubbing work can wait a day or two, its no problem. Yue Linger, seeing more clearly than Jiang Cheng, simply teased out loud, Yeah, Liang, if you dont like it, just leave, no one is stopping you. Im not leaving, Im fine, Liang Lu dered, as if she had made some sort of decision. In this lifetime, she had to be better than Lin Yao in at least one aspect, right? With Lin Yaos personality, as rigid as a stone, she wouldnt make a sound even when hit with an eight-foot pole; how could anyone like her? Liang Lu refused to believe that she couldnt surpass Lin Yao in the realm of love. Could Lin Yao help Jiang Cheng with his work like she did? Liang Lu wasnt the only one struggling; so was Li Qingge. The n of the Taixu Sect was about to be sessful; how could they let it be ruined by Jiang Cheng halfway? Mo Ningdan, as the negligent supervisor in charge of Liang Lus romantic affairs, had been brainstorming solutions with Li Qingge all along.
Li, although Liang Lu was indeed influenced by Jiang Cheng, you know that even within the Taixu Sect, there are many seniors who are married and have spouses but still hold important positions, Mo Ningdan pointed out. Li Qingge shook her head, This is different. Those seniors spouses are mostly unaffiliated cultivators, or belong to other minor ranks of Immortal Sects, and surely the seniors are the decision-makers in their households. But Jiang Cheng is not just anyone; once he joins the Tongtian Sect, a storm of blood and violence is inevitable. Moreover, Jiang Cheng is a man of strong ideas. He was even capable of infiltrating the Demon Sect undercover. Based on your understanding of Liang Lu, do you think Liang Lu could be the one in charge with him? Mo Ningdan knew Liang Lu too well. The virtues of Liang Lu were diligence, solidity, hard work, and willingness to take adviceshe never talked back to her teacher. Therefore, if Liang Lu were to be paired with Jiang Cheng, it was almost certain that she would listen to him without resistance. Li Qingge said, Mo, do you see the problem now? Thats why I had you keep a close watch on Jiang Cheng from the startto prevent this exact situation! Although Jiang Cheng has helped us a lot, in the end, he belongs to the Tongtian Sect. Weve gone through great efforts to support Liang Lu in bing empress with the intention of revitalizing the Liangguo Subrudder. If, in the end, Liang Lu falls for Jiang Cheng and he wins her over, our carefully nurtured genius cultivatorand her imperial positionwill all benefit Jiang Cheng and the Tongtian Sect! Mo Ningdan listened with a grave expression. Freedom in love was a basic right for those in the Immortal Sects. The intention was to counteract arranged marriages and break the influence of immortal cultivation families. The effect was obvious; now, the immortal cultivation families could hardlypete effectively with the Immortal Sects, and it could be said that the Immortal Sects open strategies were very sessful. The Taixu Sect was the biggest beneficiary of free love, charming countless exceptional members from other Immortal Sects to serve the Taixu Sect willingly or not, whether with or withoutpensation. However, neither Li Qingge nor Mo Ningdan expected that one day the Tongtian Sect would use free love against the Taixu Sect itself! Was this the price the Taixu Sect paid for causing a schism within the Tongtian Sect? Li, its useless to talk about this now. Lets think of a way to separate Liang Lu from Jiang Cheng, Mo Ningdan suggested.
Do you think I dont know that? Li Qingge sighed, The problem is that theres no way to make Liang Lu leave him willingly. Mo Ningdan said, Havent you seen enough Core Formation Enlightenment records from the seniors? Isnt there one that could be useful? Li Qingge also felt powerless; although she had ample theoretical knowledge, there was no type like Jiang Cheng in her theories! Liang Lu doesnt care how many female cultivators Jiang Cheng has around him; how am I supposed toe up with a solution? Most schemes to sow strife will be useless, shemented. Then Li, is there a possibility that instead of making Liang Lu give up on Jiang Cheng, we make Jiang Cheng give up on Liang Lu? Mo Ningdan proposed. Go on, urged Li Qingge. I mayck experience in love, but I do know that love, like dual cultivation, must surely be a two-way flow. Since we cannot find a solution through Liang Lu, lets try finding a breakthrough with Jiang Cheng. If we can make Jiang Cheng dislike Liang Lu, and her feelings dont get reciprocated, failing to form a cycle, she will naturally stop liking him, Mo Ningdan reasoned. Li Qingge pped in approval, Good idea! But how do we keep Jiang Cheng too busy to pay attention to Liang Lu? Mo Ningdan, a self-taught strategist, replied, Thats easy. Find a female cultivator whos better than Liang Lu to attract Jiang Chengs attention. Of course, this cultivator should be very assertive and not fall for Jiang Cheng like Liang Lu did. A female cultivator better than Liang Lu? And one who is very assertive, unaffected by Jiang Cheng Both Li Qingge and Mo Ningdan knew the answer without saying it out loud. In all of Qingxuan University, only Lin Yao fit the bill. Lin Yaos teacher, Yan Yue, didnt have many objections to this.
I haveplete confidence in Lin Yaos self-discipline, Yan Yue said, Im personally very willing to cooperate with the sects n, but But what? Li Qingge asked urgently. Just like you said, Lin Yao is very assertive, and she doesnt like male cultivators. I think she is unlikely to help you attract Jiang Chengs attention. Li Qingge was also worried about this. However, to know the ultimate oue, she would have to ask Lin Yao herself. Chapter 302 - 239: Hold for a Moment Chapter 302: Chapter 239: Hold for a Moment After taking care of Lin Yaos teacher, Li Qingge personally went to work on Lin Yaos thought process. Unlike Liang Lus technique-focused cultivation path, Yan Yue chose willpower as the main direction of cultivation based on Lin Yaos strengths. Through tempering ones will, one can achieve the purpose of breaking free from control more quickly and enduring more attacks. Simply put, its boosting magic resistance, adding immunity buffs. After shing with Liang Lus strange talismans, Lin Yao also realized the importance of magic resistance. Liang Lus nauseating talismans were endless, and it was impossible to anticipate and counter them all. It wasnt a long-term strategy. But if one could reduce the talismans effects on cultivators by training their willpower, that would truly be bringing power to bear on finesse. Lin Yao, Li has something to discuss with you, Yan Yue led Li Qingge and Mo Ningdan into Lin Yaos cultivation room. Lin Yao, dressed in a tracksuit, was breathing deeply, her body dripping with sweat. Seeing Li Qingge and the others enter, she stopped cultivating. Out of respect for her senior teachers, she even used an expensive Purification Talisman and Clothing Purification Talisman on herself. Lin Yao, Li has a favor to ask of you, said Yan Yue. Lin Yao didnt think too much about it. She was preparing to be the leader of the Taixu Sect and, although she usually didnt pay attention toworking, it wouldnt hurt her to form more connections with Taixu Sect seniors for her future battle for the sect leadership. Feel free to speak, senior. As long as its within my principles, Lin Yao will do her utmost to assist you. Hearing Lin Yaos attitude, the faces of Li Qingge and Mo Ningdan eased considerably. Mo Ningdanmented, If only that Liang Lu had half your principles, we wouldnt have had toe to you for help. Is this rted to Liang Lu? Lin Yao asked. Its rted, but its even more to do with our Taixu Sect, replied Yan Yue. Lin Yaos expression darkened, Is it a major sect matter? The Taixu Sect has been good to me. If the sect is in trouble, it is only right for Lin Yao to be the first to charge into battle. I cannot refuse! A nice one! Li Qingge: Look at her awareness! Shes even stronger than many true disciples of the Taixu Sect! Mo Ningdan: If only Liang Lu could be like this, we would have to worry so much less. Because the Princess Ascension n was highly confidential, and Lin Yao wasnt a disciple of the Taixu Sect, it wasnt convenient to tell her directly. However, having witnessed Lin Yaos fighting spirit, Li Qingge was no longer worrying about those other matters. Lin Yao was more enlightened than most Taixu Sect disciples; her loyal words were evident. How could they stand by and not help her? We need you to help us attract the attention of a male cultivator. Sorry, I cant. Lin Yao refused instantly. She was so quick that the three Core Formation cultivators hadnt even had time to react. When the three of them did recover, they were all taken aback. After speaking of sect matters, Lin Yao had seemed full of righteous zeal, really winning their favor. Why then, when they actually asked for her help, did she refuse so bluntly without any hesitation or excuse? Wasnt the contrast a bit too great? Senior Li, when Lin Yao said she was willing to help, she meant within the scope of her principles. You are asking me to seduce a male cultivator, which is beyond Lin Yaos principles. I will not do it. Lin Yao bluntly refused before exining her actions. After hearing Lin Yaos reason, Li Qingge felt a little relieved, Its not that serious, were just asking you to attract his attention, at most just chat with him, have a meal together, hold hands, that kind of thing. There wont be any more excessive actions. You dont have to worry about losing your vital essence and affecting your cultivation. Still, Lin Yao refused, I cant. Not even holding hands? I cant. Li Qingge looked at Lin Yao, deep in thought. She felt that with Lin Yaos looks, even without holding hands, if she were made up nicely, she would surely capture Jiang Chengs interest. Alright then, no need to hold hands, just keep himpany with some conversation. Can you do that? The result was unchanged, Lin Yao still refused, I cant. Its just talking. Lin Yao shook her head. At this point, even Yan Yue couldnt stand it anymore. Lin Yao had no reason to refuse even talking, did she? Lin Yao, there shouldnt be a problem with just talking. The Taixu Sect has strict rules, but when ites to talking to male cultivators, there are no requirements, you dont have to worry. Its not about the Taixu Sect. I, myself, dont want to get close to others, Lin Yao said. Lin Yao didnt have any strange diseases, nor did she dislike talking to male cultivators. The logic behind her refusal to help Li Qingge was simple: to lure someone for Li Qingge, no matter what form it took, talking or not talking, even if it was just sending a selfie, would damage her reputation and eventually trouble Jiang Cheng. This could never be allowed. Li Qingge questioned herself; she wasnt some liberal female cultivator. Normally, she was proper and had never behaved indecently, but now, with Lin Yao refusing even to talk to male cultivators, she seemed conservative to an extreme. Next to Lin Yao, Li Qingge felt almost improper byparison. Subsequently, in order to get Lin Yao to help attract Jiang Cheng, Li Qingge did not hesitate to use sect resources, promising her great rewards. But who knew that Lin Yao was stubbornly set in her ways, adamantly refusing to chat, leaving no possibility for negotiation. Mo Ningdan and Yan Yue frowned deeply. The obstacles faced by the Princess Ascension n were proving more troublesome than they had originally thought. With the only person capable of breaking the impasse, Lin Yao, remaining indifferent, they once again found themselves at a loss. At this point, Li Qingge, out of options, said, Well then, since Lin Yao will not agree under any circumstances, the only option left is for me to personally take action. You? Friend Li, did I hear you correctly? Youre nning to personally seduce Jiang Cheng? Chapter 303 - 239: Hold for a While_2 Chapter 303: Chapter 239: Hold for a While_2 Hearing that Li Qingge was preparing to take action, Yan and Mo were shocked and appalled. A mix of respect, along with self-reproach, rose from the depths of Yan Yues and Mo Ningdans hearts: Li was not only at the Core Formation cultivation level but was also a senior from Jiang Cheng. She disregarded the challenges of conventional views and the potential rumors that might follow, actually intending to take personal action, to throw herself into the tigers den! Such a spirit of sacrifice for the sects greater good was truly a height we could only aspire to! As a female cultivator of the Taixu Sect, it goes without saying that Li Qingges appearance was beyond question. With the Taixu Sects recruitment hall setting the standards, the overall attractiveness of the sect far surpassed the average in the Cultivation World. While others prioritize talent in their disciples, the Taixu Sect looks first for immortal fate, which bluntly put, meant appearance. Those who were not good-looking, potentially detrimental to the sects image, would be tactfully rejected by the recruitment hall: You have no immortal fate with our sect, pleasee back in your next life. Compared to Liang Lu, Li Qingge had advantages in both stature and experience. Even though Liang Lu had a slightly better face, it was nothingpared to the gentleness and care of a sister! As long as Li Qingge was willing to put in the effort, her ability to attract others might not be inferior to Lin Yaos. Mrs. Mo, who did you just say Senior Li is preparing to seduce? Lin Yao asked, staring at Mo Ningdan. Mo Ningdan had an illusion; she felt that Lin Yaos gaze at this moment was firmer than when she passed through Chaotic Heart Mountain! Could it be that Lin Yaos triumph over Chaotic Heart Mountain was not her limit, but the limit of Chaotic Heart Mountain? Mo Ningdan was startled by her own thought. If the guess was true, then she had truly misjudged Liang Lu in the past. For Liang Lu to have exchanged blows with a monster like Lin Yao and still manage to hold her own! That was nothing short of genius! Mrs. Mo, who did you say Senior Li is preparing to seduce? Lin Yao asked again. Mo Ningdan looked at Li Qingge, who nodded. Only then did Mo Ningdan say, Jiang Cheng. We originally nned for you to attract Jiang Chengs attention, but unfortunately, you said you dont like interacting with male cultivators. We will not force our disciples, especially since youre not even officially part of the Taixu Sect. So, it seems we have no choice but to trouble Li. Li Qingge struggled to hold backughter: Its not trouble at all, its all for the sects grand n Wait! Lin Yao suddenly spoke up, interrupting. Yan Yue saw Lin Yao being impolite for the first time and asked curiously, Lin Yao, is there something else you want to say? Lin Yaos attitude was earnest: Is it toote for me to change my mind now? The crowd: ??? Li Qingge felt a tightness in her heart. Hold on, what are you regretting? The matter of helping out. Seduction of Jiang ChengI can do it! Ah? The three Core Formation experts werepletely baffled by Lin Yao. One moment Lin Yao agreed, another she disagreed, and then she agreed again. What exactly was she trying to do? Didnt you say you dont want to talk to male cultivators? Why are you suddenly willing again? Li Qingge asked, feeling confused. She almost Jiang Cheng is different, Lin Yao answered sinctly. Yan Yue didnt understand: Different? Whats so different about him? Mo Ningdan said, Thats not important anymore. Since Lin Yao is willing to help, we will be able to carry out the n smoothly. Lin Yao stood up and bowed: As a student, I hold the fate of the sect as my own responsibility and guarantee toplete the tasks assigned by my seniors! Li Qingge: You best be! After dealing with Lin Yao, Li Qingge and the others went to Liang Lus activity room to work on persuading her. Normally, no one would agree to such a brazen move as poaching, but Liang Lu consented very readily. Sure, no problem. You cant back out of this, dont you want to think about it some more? No need, Ive thought it through. In fact, Liang Lu wasnt the type of female cultivator with peculiar preferences; she didnt have the habit of giving her daopanion away, but rather, Liang Lu knew that Lin Yao was Jiang Chengs junior sister and the two might have a significant history. Rather than passively avoiding it and waiting for Lin Yao to show up on her doorstep It was better to take initiative, to let Lin Yao try herself. After all, Lin Yao would also join the Taixu Sect in the future, and it was only a matter of time before she had to face this challenge. Of course, the main reason was that Liang Lu had confidence in herself. With Lin Yaos irond personality, there was no reason for her to feel afraid. Since youve thought it through, then we need to create a coincidence, to give Lin Yao an opportunity to get close to Jiang Cheng, Li Qingge said. You mean you need my help? Not necessarily, we just hope youll turn a blind eye to our n. Thats no problem, Ill pretend I dont know about it, is that alright? Very good indeed. Jiang Chengs rubbing work at the Capital University Library finally entered thest phase of wrapping up. That meant, after today, he would no longer need toe to the Capital University Library. Because it was the morning, the Dayan Sect Disciples in the library today could be described as an all-star lineup. Apart from Jiang Cheng, Liu Qing, Yue Linger, Shen Menghan, and Liang Lu were all present. With staff more than sufficient, Jiang Cheng found himself with nothing left to do. However, as the sect leader, he wasnt supposed to micromanage everything; if he did everything himself, then the sect would never grow. Jiang Cheng stood in the corridor, watching the four female cultivators work from a distance, suddenly feeling that something was off. Why are all the Dayan Sect disciples female cultivators? Not a single male disciple? Isnt this bing like the Taixu Sect? We really do need male disciples; otherwise, recruiting only female disciples will not allow the sect to develop quickly. Jiang Chengs worry was not unfounded. In fact, the predicament of the Taixu Sect was well known among those in the Immortal Sects. The Taixu Sect only epted female disciples, but the problem was, even among female disciples, not all would choose the Taixu Sect. Therefore, the recruitment actions of the Taixu Sect were in essence self-castrating, voluntarily narrowing the range of potential sect disciples. The advantage of this approach was a higher degree of purity, but the disadvantage was also obvious: the smaller recruitment range meant slower development and theck of sufficientpetition often resulted in many disciples not reaching their potential. One could only say that each of the Five Great Immortal Sects had its own difficulties. However, the Dayan Sect did not have this problem, because other Immortal Sects always had to consider the interests and thoughts of each faction within their ranks, but the Dayan Sect operated solely on Jiang Chengs word, without internal strife or resistance. As noon approached, logistics staff member Jiang Cheng took the initiative to ask, What would you all like for lunch? Ill go and buy it for you. Lets have hot and sour rice noodles. I want crab roe noodles. Thats expensive. Anyway, its Jiang Cheng paying. Then I also want crab roe noodles. Liang Lu chose to go along with the crowd, following her two sisters in having noodles. Liu Qing was the only one who didnt eat vegetarian; she wanted meat. Jiang Cheng could understand; as a carnivore, given the chance to eat meat, she definitely would choose meat. After collecting the orders from the staff, Jiang Cheng went out to make the purchases. However, as soon as he stepped out of the Capital University Library, he spotted a figure sitting on a bench by the road that instantly caught his attention. The girl was wrapped in a fluffy white scarf and wore a cute little cotton hat, sitting quietly with her head down on the bench, as if she were lost in thought or waiting for someone. Today was the tail end of the winter break; although sses were about to start, they hadnt yet. The dorms werent open, so it was unlikely any student would arrive at school so far in advance just to hang out. The girls presence here was self-exnatory. She was waiting for someone. But with only a few people in the Capital University Library, who could she be waiting for? This day was bound toe after all. Jiang Cheng pretended to be calm, quickly walked past the girl, acting as if he hadnt recognized her. Senior Brother Jiang, do you not recognize Yaoer anymore? A very familiar female voice came from behind him. Jiang Chengs steps faltered, he hesitated for a moment and then tried to walk on. If Senior Brother doesnt want to see Yaoer, Yaoer can leave. But if Senior Brother didnt see Yaoer, then Yaoer will just wait here for Senior Brother. Jiang Chengs scalp tingled. In his life, there were only two people he couldnt deal with; one was a certain snake, and the other was his good junior sister. Junior Sister Lin, its been a long time. Jiang Cheng turned around and looked at Lin Yao. After more than half a year, the once very girlish Lin Yao had gradually be more mature. The hints of a face and figure that could bring disaster to a nation were emerging, and perhaps in a few more years, Wuyues old friend would no longer recognize her. Jiang Cheng was certainly still able to recognize her, having seen herplete character illustration; it would be impossible for him not to recognize her. Lin Yao stood up from the bench, Arent you nning to leave any longer, Senior Brother? I temporarily cant leave now. In that case, Lin Yao stepped gracefully forward, approaching Jiang Cheng before suddenly throwing herself into his arms. Jiang Cheng, caught off guard: Junior Sister Lin! Let Yaoer have a hug with Senior Brother. Chapter 304 - 240 Don’t Say Anything that Won’t Pass Censorship Chapter 304: Chapter 240 Dont Say Anything that Wont Pass Censorship The campus of Capital University was sparsely popted, but there were still some people around. As it neared midday, there were always a couple of students who stayed on campus leaving the library after studying, heading to the cafeteria or off-campus to eat. And on the main road outside the library, a couple was tightly embracing each other, seemingly very much in love, which made others envious. Every student who passed by couldnt help but sneak a peek. Some students cursed their luck, feeling as unsettled as if they were walking along and suddenly got kicked. But only Jiang Cheng himself knew the situation was not as bystanders imagined, he and Lin Yao werent some lovey-dovey couple, their rtionship wasnt that great, and he was hugged solely because Lin Yao was fast and strong, and he simply had no choice. Lin, No intimacy between men and women, please let go of me. Instead of letting go, Lin Yao pressed her head even harder into Jiangs chest and held on tighter with her hands. Brother Jiang, its okay, I dont mind. Jiang Cheng was sweating profusely, But I do mind! Lin Yao, however, didnt believe him and, with her head tilted on Jiang Chengs chest, said, If Brother Jiang didnt like Yaoer, why would your heart be beating so fast? Thats not liking, thats nervousness! Jiang Cheng said, then added silently in his mind: If a certain snake finds us like this, shell bite me to death right here! How could I not be nervous? Although Jiang Cheng denied liking her, his words meant something entirely different to Lin Yao. Lin Yao blissfullyy in Jiang Chengs arms, thinking: Could it be that Brother Jiang is nervous because of me? He really does care about me the most. Lin, please let go! I wont. If you dont let go, Ill have to be rough with you. What kind of rough? Jiang Cheng pulled out a talisman, saying, Im serious, no joking. However, Lin Yao merely nced at Jiang Chengs talisman and continued to hug him contentedly. Jiang Cheng warned, If you dont let go, Ill really use the talisman. Lin Yao turned a deaf ear to him. Jiang Cheng was not the type to dawdle, if he said he would use it, he would. He channeled his spiritual power into the talisman, and it immediately emitted a dazzling light! This was a first-level attack talisman; if it hit an ordinary person, severe injury was not guaranteed, but it would definitely hurt a lot! Normally, anyone confronted with such a talisman would instinctively feel tense and use their spiritual power to preemptively defend themselves. But Lin Yao showed no sign of tension or defense whatsoever, embracing Jiang Cheng frontally, leaving vast unprotected areas of her back open to his attack. Even though Jiang Chengs hands shone brightly with the talisman, ready to activate at any moment, Lin Yao made no defensive moves. She was like a little dog that had been raised from puppyhood,pletely trusting, always ready to expose her belly for a rub. Sincerity is the most effective killer move against good people. Especially for someone with Jiang Chengs moral integrity. If Lin Yao showed even a hint of defensive intention, Jiang Cheng could persuade himself tounch the attack, reasoning that Lin Yao, being more powerful, could dodge or sustain only minor harm. But Lin Yao remained defenseless, as if to say: If you dare to attack, I dare to die; I dont believe you have the guts to do it. She had aplete grasp on Jiang Chengs moral standards. It was like Prince Liang Hong; if he pressured Jiang Cheng, Jiang would instantly be an immovable jack that could withstand even the Heavenly Dao. But instead of pressuring, Liang Hong used a flexible moral baseline, yed the senior card, and knelt down to seek help from Jiang, an approach Jiang found difficult to refuse. In the end, he could only reluctantly agree to the princes request. It was the same with Lin Yao. She directed her efforts and attention to clinging to Jiang, not doing anything wrong, showing great trust in him, and having the identity of a junior sisterhugging her senior brother was not illegal. Facing such an opponent, Jiang Chengs warnings were as ineffective as hitting cotton. And with Jiang Chengs reasonable nature, he would never strike an unarmed and unprepared female cultivator. It didnt align with his values. In the end, seeing Lin Yao unresponsive to his bluff, Jiang Cheng could only silently extinguish the prepared talisman. Lin Yao was now extremely happy: Brother Jiang, I just knew you wouldnt bear to hit your dear Yaoer. Brother Jiang is the best to me. I just dont want to bully you, thats all. Lin Yao whispered, Brother Jiang can bully me if he wants to. Yaoer will only let Brother Jiang bully her. Jiang Cheng hurriedly stopped her, Dont say things that wont pass the censor. Brother Jiang, I know why you didnt want me to hug you just now. You do? Yes, because someone is nearby, right? Jiang Cheng was astonished: How did you know? He didnt recall mentioning the snake to Lin Yao at all. She shouldnt know about the snakes existence! How did she know there were people nearby? Lin Yao smiled slightly: Brother Jiang, lets walk and talk, shall we? Jiang Cheng, upon hearing they were about to walk, breathed a sigh of relief, thinking atst Lin Yao would stop hugging him. But Jiang Cheng had underestimated a love-struck girls determination; Lin Yao didnt hug him anymore, instead, she took to clinging to his arm. And it was the double-handed kind of clinging. Jiang Cheng had thought of resisting, but Lin Yao was a female cultivator and had too great an advantage in this aspect, it was an overwhelming one. Every time Jiang Cheng tried to resist, he ended up in even closer physical contact with Lin Yao, and after several attempts, he realized that maintaining the status quo was the best oue. Jiang Cheng felt defeated and wondered how, as a male cultivator, he could protect himself when out and about! Brother Jiang, guess how I knew there was someone nearby? Lin Yao said. Chapter 305 - 240 Don’t Say Things That Won’t Pass Censorship_2 Chapter 305: Chapter 240 Dont Say Things That Wont Pass Censorship_2 How did you find out? Someone from Taixu Sect told me. They asked me to seduce you, with the aim of keeping you away from Liang Lu. Jiang Cheng eximed in surprise, Ah? When you said someone is nearby, you were referring to Liang Lu? Lin Yao was taken aback and said, Of course, who else would it be? Oh, never mind, continue. Lin Yao said happily, Taixu Sect may treat Yaoer well, but thats nothingpared to a single hair on Jiangs body. Theyre wrong if they think Im going to go against Jiang. Brother Jiang, what do you think I should do? What do you mean, what should you do? Do you want Taixu Sects n to seed? Theyve already seeded, I dont have any particr rtionship with Liang Lu anyway. Lin Yao looked at Jiang Cheng and asked, Is that so? Yeah. However, Taixu Sect doesnt seem to see it that way; they think Liang Lu likes you and would give up something important for you. The throne. Taixu Sect is nning to support Liang Lu as the emperor, but their worries about me arepletely baseless. Lin Yao suddenly realized, So thats how it is. I understand now. Jiang Cheng: ??? What do you understand? I know Liang Lu quite well, shes got a good character and works hard. Having her as a bed-warming maid is no loss to her. Now that Taixu Sect intends to make her the emperor, we can just go with the flow, pretend to distance ourselves from Liang Lu, but actually get closer to her and make her useful to us! Lin Yao stretched out her five fingers and slowly clenched them into a fist. Jiang Cheng: ??? What kind of Demonic Tao talk is this? If Lin Yao follows the plot and goes to the Hehuan Sect, thats really not a loss for her. I dont want to get involved in the session struggle. Jiang Cheng stated his stance clearly. As a result, Lin Yao took it to mean, Yaoer understands, I will handle it, Brother Jiang can just enjoy the benefits. Youre not permitted to get involved either. Jiang Cheng issued another prohibition. Lin Yaos hands, which were holding onto Jiang Chengs arm, tightened slightly, Brother Jiang! This is a good opportunity! Jiang Cheng didnt quite follow Lin Yaos train of thought. Assuming that Liang Lu really liked him and Lin Yao liked him too, then logically, Lin Yao and Liang Lu would be rivals, right? How could Lin Yao possibly help him pursue Liang Lu? She couldnt have some special taste, could she? Thats not right. Arent you supposed to dislike Liang Lu? Lin Yao replied as if it were obvious, As long as its beneficial for Brother Jiang, Yaoer likes it. Moreover, Brother Jiang likes Yaoer far more than Liang Lu, so Liang Lu poses no threat to Yaoers ce in Brother Jiangs heart. In my heart, you only have the ce of a junior sister. Jiang Cheng immediately shattered Lin Yaos illusion. But Lin Yao appeared very confident, If it were truly just the ce of a junior sister, why did you just now tell me not to get involved? Brother Jiang, your concern for Yaoer, I take all of it to heart. Jiang Cheng sighed, Stop fantasizing. Lin Yao pouted and said, Yaoer isnt fantasizing, Brother Jiang must like Yaoer, you just havent realized it yet. Jiang Cheng exined, I really dont like you, no kidding. Jiang Chengs denial was quite direct. If it were Liang Lu, who has thinner skin and a bit of pride, shed probably be crying and leaving by now. But Lin Yao waspletely different. She let go of Jiang Chengs arm, pointed at a male cultivator in the distance, and said, Since Brother Jiang says he doesnt like me, if Yaoer goes to hold someone elses hand right now, would Brother Jiang be willing? I Jiang Cheng looked displeased. Lin Yao, after all, was the plot leadingdy and the future top-tier cultivator. To let her lower herself to some NPC extra even less significant than Jiang Cheng? That wouldnt do at all. Seeing her own Brother Jiang at a loss for words, the previously stern-faced Lin Yao suddenly broke into a smile. She cheerfully threw herself into Jiang Chengs embrace, nuzzling her pretty face affectionately against his chest. Good Brother Jiang, Yaoer was just joking. Lin Yao, in this life, the next life, and the life after that, will only like Brother Jiang. Even in death, I would rather burn myself to ashes than lower myself to someone else. Jiang Cheng looked down at the girl in his arms, unsure of what to say. Suddenly, he thought about Lin Yaos future. Although the current and past Lin Yao may have had all sorts of ws, she certainly wasnt a bad person. If he continued to distance himself from Lin Yao, ignoring her and letting her do as she pleased, then one day she would once again get involved with the Hehuan Sect, and be tempted to turn into a full-fledged member of the Demon Sect. Ultimately bing a pir of the Demonic Tao, a widespread infamous enchantress. Such an ending was obviously not something Jiang Cheng wanted to see. And he had established the Dayan Sect, ready to nibble away at the Demon Sects territory; he couldnt just ignore a potential future threat like Lin Yao, could he? ` Regardless of the reason, even if it was for the development of the Dayan Sect, he couldnt just ignore Lin Yao. He wasnt in the habit of standing by as others fell into an abyss, only to try to remedy the situation afterward. Jiang Cheng usually preferred to be prepared for any danger, eliminating risks before they could take root. Stop hugging it. Jiang Cheng said to Lin Yao. I dont want to. Jiang Cheng sighed in relief and patted the girls head, Be good, listen to me. Lin Yaos eyes widened, not understanding why she suddenly felt like crying. But she didnt cry after all, merely lowering her head and sniffing, silently switching from hugging Jiang Cheng to holding his arm. Have you eaten lunch? Jiang Cheng asked. I havent even had breakfast. Jiang Cheng sighed, Youve been sitting on the bench waiting for me the whole time? Mhm. Will you eat breakfast next time? Oh. Youre so young, you have to take care of your body. Dont always look for shortcuts. Mhm. Jiang Cheng stopped and asked with concern, Whats wrong? Not very happy? Lin Yao shook her head quickly, No, no, Im too happy, just a bit overwhelmed. I dont know what to do. As long as youre okay, thats good then. Senior brother, Yaoer knows, Yaoer will take good care of her body. After all, it belongs to you, so Yaoer cant break it, she said. Jiang Cheng felt sheepish, Dont say things that dont make it through censorship as soon as youe to your senses. Heehee. Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng walked out of the gates of Capital University, heading to the roadside to hail a taxi. During this time, Lin Yao kept holding Jiang Chengs arm, affectionate to an unreasonable degree, not wanting to let go even when they got a taxi. It gave people the urge to curse out this lovey-dovey couple to death. Outside the gates of Capital University, Li Qingge, Mo Ningdan, and Yan Yue paid close attention to Lin Yao and Jiang Chengs actions. Seeing Lin Yao clinging to Jiang Chengs arm, they cried out that they hadnt made the wrong choice! Mo Ningdan eximed, As expected of Lin Yao, with her beauty, as long as shes willing to put herself out there, handling a college student like Jiang Cheng is quite easy. Yan Yue also said, Hmm, to be so intimate in just one day, it seems that Jiang Cheng neglecting Liang Lu is just a matter of time. Li Qingge felt indignant, Its just holding Jiang Chengs arm, isnt it? Who cant do that? Its a move anyone with a hand can perform; whats there to brag about? Jiang Cheng had originally nned to pack lunch and go back to eat with Liu Qing and the others, but now with Lin Yao by his side, out of politeness, that wasnt suitable. He decided to have lunch with Lin Yao first, then go back and eat again, aiming to cover all his bases. Jiang Cheng once heard that some people could watch a movie five or six times in a single day, and he wondered just what movie was that good. Now hes figured it outit has nothing to do with the actual movie. Are you going to sit on the bench waiting for me this afternoon? Jiang Cheng asked. Lin Yao smiled, I can, but Senior Li didnt ask for it. They just wanted me to wait for you in the morning and try to establish a good rtionship with you. Then listen to them, donte in the afternoon. Senior Brother~ Be good. Okay. Jiang Cheng settled Lin down and also packed lunch for the hungry Dayan Sect Disciples. Four crab roe noodles and onerge steak. Since eating was not allowed in the librarys storage area, Jiang Cheng had arrived in the rest area early and used amunication charm to call Yue Linger and the others down. Jiang Cheng, you are so slow, Im starving, Yue Lingerined. Jiang Cheng was about to exin when he saw Liu Qings sharp look. What, whats wrong? Liu Qing didnt say a word, but walked up to Jiang Cheng, leaned in close to him, and took a careful sniff. There was a womans scent on Jiang Cheng. She had smelled it before. That was back when they were in Wuyue City. Chapter 306 - 241: Liang Lu Questions Her Life Choices Chapter 306: Chapter 241: Liang Lu Questions Her Life Choices Its over! Jiang Cheng only had one thought at this moment. Hes doomed! Because he was held up by Lin Yao, he had very little time to pack lunch and, in his haste to pack and rush on his way, he had neglected the fact that Snake has quite the sense of smell! The previous incident where he was locked out for not reporting his visit to the Jiaofang Division was still fresh in Jiang Chengs mind. With Lin Yao rubbing against him for so long this time, the scent must be strong. If Snake gets displeased again Jiang Cheng didnt know if he would be lucky enough to enter the door this time. The atmosphere suddenly became extremely tense. Unexpectedly, Liu Qing sniffed Jiang Cheng carefully but said nothing, and her expression didnt change either. Huh? Why didnt she react? Somethings off. There must be a problem somewhere. Although he was temporarily in luck, Jiang Cheng didnt let down his guard. Based on his understanding of Liu Qing, shes not a simple and good Snake. As a top predator, she has a strong sense of territory. Usually, even the waterfowl by theke near her balcony are intimidated, not daring to relieve themselves willy-nilly. Liu Qing wasnt finished after sniffing, and Liang Lu, mimicking her actions, ran over and sniffed Jiang Cheng as well. Liang, what are you doing? Jiang Cheng, you smell like a woman! Liang Lu said, eager to stir up trouble. Jiang Cheng: Liang, are you a dog or something? Liang Lu crossed her arms in dissatisfaction: Jiang Cheng, is there really any need to speak so rudely to a fellow Cultivator? Im not being rude, Im justplimenting you on your keen sense of smell. Liang Lu revealed the truth despite knowing better:My sense of smell is actually pretty average. Its just that Im too familiar with the scent on you. Did Lin Yaoe to see you? Lin Yao? Apart from Liang Lu, Yue Linger and Shen Menghan perked up their ears. This was a rare gossip opportunity. Seemingly indifferent, Jiang Cheng said, I bumped into her on the way to buy lunch. We chatted briefly; its been over half a year since west saw each other, and shes changed quite a bit. ording to the intelligence Liang Lu knew, Lin Yaos goal was to attract Jiang Chengs attention. However, based on her understanding of Jiang Cheng and Lin Yao, the odds of Lin Yao seeding were slim! Firstly, Lin Yao had a blunt personality, and the only thing about her that could attract Jiang Cheng was her appearance. Although Lin Yao was indeed very beautiful, Jiang Cheng wasnt the type to act impulsively on lust. Besides, with beauties like Liu Qing and Yue Linger revolving around Jiang Cheng every day, Lin Yao couldnt possibly keep Jiang Chengs attention based on looks alone. But Liang Lu was quite eager to see Lin Yaos awkward demeanor when trying to attract Jiang Cheng, one that didnt match her personality. By then, she would also take the chance to lecture Lin Yao based on her rtionship with Jiang Cheng. Let Lin Yao know that Cultivating Immortality isnt about diligent hard work, but about romantic sophistication. Liang Lu even thought of what to say: Lin Yao Daoist, your personality is suited for arduous Immortal Technique practice. As for romance and poetic sentiment, those mortal trifles are not for you. Dont strain yourself too much. Jiang Cheng is more suitable with me. She didnt ask you to do anything? Liang Lu asked probingly. No. Jiang Cheng answered truthfully. Alright then. Liang Lu wasnt in a hurry; after all, with the pressure from Taixu Sect, Lin Yao would undoubtedly contact Jiang Cheng again eventually. In the afternoon, the task for the Dayan Sect was to do the final finishing touches on the library of Capital University. The main tasks were to organize and confirm the cement of Demonic Tao cultivation techniques, clean up the rubbing area, and conduct verification and handover with the librarys administrator. Shen and Sister Yue were assigned by Jiang Cheng to clean the area. Liu Qing and Liang Lu were in charge of organizing and cing the cultivation technique books on the shelves, as well as verifying the cement of Demon Sect techniques. Jiang Chengs job was to work with the librarys administrator for the handover. Seeing Liu Qing kneeling down meticulously to verify the positioning of the techniques and with nothing else to do at the moment, Jiang Cheng decided to take out the meditation mat he used during his practice, to pad her knees. Although being concerned about the body of a cultivator in the Mahayana Realm sounded quite absurd, Jiang Cheng, watching Liu Qing working so diligently, just couldnt bear it. He always felt an inexplicable debt to her. Use this to pad your knees, Jiang Cheng offered the mat. Liu Qing was carefully checking the cement of secret manuals of techniques. Liu Qing? Liu Qing continued her meticulous inspection as if she hadnt heard him. Jiang Cheng understood. What was bound toe, woulde. Liu Qing not reacting during the meal didnt mean she could ept the scent of Lin Yao on him. After a moments thought, Jiang Cheng decided to put down the mat and went to run twops on the Capital University sports field. The wind blowing and his sweating should definitely cover up Lin Yaos scent. More than half an hourter, having finished running, Jiang Cheng returned to the library to offer the mat to help Snake pad her knees. If Snake was willing to kneel on the mat to work, it would mean she had forgiven him. If Snake was unwilling, then the matter would be a bitplicated, indicating she was unhappy for reasons other than just the scent. Liu Qing, the mat. This time, Liu Qing nced at Jiang Cheng, sniffed her nose, stood up silently, and walked toward the exit of the library. Hey? Where are you going? Jiang Cheng called after her, but she didnt turn back. Jiang Cheng had a bad feeling, thinking that since he had eliminated the scent, there was no reason for Liu Qing to be even more upset! No! He had to chase after her! If she was in a bad mood and decided to take it out on some people or buildings, that would be the end of it. Liu Qing. Jiang Cheng chased after her out of the door, only to find Liu Qing walking stiffly towards the borrowing area next to the library, not looking like she was nning to go downstairs on an indiscriminate killing spree. He wondered what she nned to do. With the library that housed Demonic Tao cultivation techniques usually empty, it was even more deserted during the holidays. Jiang Cheng didnt have to worry about the gaze of others, so he caught up with Liu Qing in two steps and proactively tried to take her hand. Chapter 307 - 241 Liang Lu Doubts Life_2 Chapter 307: Chapter 241 Liang Lu Doubts Life_2 A warm, lukewarm soft jade was sessfully grasped in Jiang Chengs palm; Snakes consistent body temperature gave Jiang Cheng a considerable sense of security. Where are you going? Jiang Cheng held her hand, not letting her leave. Although, to Liu Qing, Jiang Chengs strength and her attempt to stop her were almost non-existent. But miraculously, the Demon Race expert who even the powerful figures of the Immortal Sect couldnt retain was forcefully held in ce by Jiang Chengs hand-holding spell. Where are you going? Jiang Cheng asked again, this time holding her hand, with a determination to know. Liu Qing nced at a spot not far away. There stood a public water dispenser in the library. Jiang Cheng: You scared me to death. Jiang Cheng let out a huge sigh of relief. He had thought that Snake was about to run away from home. Drink water? Liu Qing asked. Yes, lets go. The two went to the public water dispenser together. Liu Qing wanted to reach for a disposable cup, but she could only move one hand now. Hand, she reminded. Jiang Cheng turned his head away and pretended not to hear. Liu Qing blinked her bright eyes and then fell silent. What are they doing? Shen Menghan asked Yue Linger as they passed by. Drinking water maybe? But it doesnt seem like it, what kind of water takes an hour to drink? By the way, where is Liang Lu? Wasnt she working with Liu Qing? Right! She hasnt had an ident, has she? Yue Linger and Shen Menghan hurried to the library to check. The good news was, Liang Lu hadnt had an ident; the bad news was, she hadnt noticed anything amiss and was currently busily checking the Cultivation Technique manuals. Yue Linger: Liang Lu, youre really diligent when you work. Liang Lu wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, Thanks, but whats with that look in your eyes? Yue Linger: Liang Lu, I approve of you; youre really cut out for the married life. Liang Lu was thoroughly confused: Yourpliments are so odd, why do I feel like Ive been scolded? In Qingxuan Universitys activity room, Li Qingge, Mo Ningdan, and Yan Yue surrounded Lin Yao. Li Qingge: Hows it going? Are you confident you can attract Jiang Chengs attention? Mo Ningdan: Did you encounter Liang Lu? Whats her situation now? Yan Yue: Lin Yao, Jiang Cheng didnt do anything to you, right? I hope hes consistent inside and out, not some hypocrite who is only interested when he sees beauty. Lin Yao responded calmly one by one: Seniors, the n is proceeding smoothly, Ive sessfully met with Jiang Cheng on Capital Universitys campus. With my advantages, Ive easily connected with Jiang Cheng. He trusts me for now and hasnt done anything strange, please dont worry, seniors. As for Liang Lu, I havent seen her; she should still be in the library. Mo Ningdan, upon hearing this, frowned: Its that easy? Are our ns proceeding too smoothly? Yan Yue pinched Lin Yaos cheek and said: Our Yaoyao is so beautiful, with her charm, not to mention Jiang Cheng, even the geniuses of the Immortal Sect would be mesmerized and lose their wits. Thats also true, Mo Ningdan said. They had discussed privately among Core Formation members; with Lin Yaos current level of attractiveness, she was close to the Holy Maiden level of Taixu Sect, and among the many beauties of Taixu Sect, she was still outstanding. Being beautiful might not mean much in other Immortal Sects, but in Taixu Sect, it was a significant advantage, even inpeting for the status of Holy Maiden, there was a high rate of sess. After all, Taixu Sect is such a ce where even the Cultivation Techniques must first aspire to be aesthetic before practicality. With that caliber to seduce Jiang Cheng, indeed there was no reason for failure. Mo, you go contact Liang Lu quickly and ask about Jiang Chengs schedule for tomorrow, so we can arrange a coincidence for Lin Yao and Jiang Cheng to meet. Looking at it now, the rapport between the two of them is heating up quickly; we must strike while the iron is hot and increase their interactions, Li Qingge said. Okay, Mo Ningdan replied and immediately went to contact Liang Lu. Li, Liang Lu says Jiang Cheng has no ns for tomorrow. How can that be? Have Liang Lu schedule something with Jiang Cheng. Okay. A momentter, Mo Ningdan spoke again: Li, Liang Lu is asking where you want to schedule the meeting? Li Qingge nearly choked on his blood, but managed to hold it in. ` With someone like Liang Lu, I feel like getting Lin Yao involved ispletely unnecessary. Maybe after a while, Jiang Cheng will naturally lose interest in her. Yan Yue said, Li, dont underestimate her. Liang Lu has good conditions in all aspects and is a very bnced cultivator. As long as Liang Lu is willing, theres no reason for Jiang Cheng to pass up the opportunity. Thats true. Mo Ningdan urged, Li, where should we arrange for Liang Lu to meet with Jiang Cheng? Li Qingge got anxious: How would I know? I havent dated either! Mo Ningdan: Yan Yue: Lin Yao: Everyone inside: With that attitude, you have the nerve to criticize Liang Lu? In the end, it was Lin Yao, the youngest among them, who spoke up: How about meeting near the lifestyle za close to Qingxuan University? Theres a mall there, and they can go shopping. The three seniors fell silent. The reason was that they thought Lin Yao made sense. This was equivalent to Lin Yao teaching them how to do things. A seventeen-year-old advising people over a hundred years old was fine but a bit embarrassing. Lets just do as Lin Yao suggests. Let Liang Lu invite Jiang Cheng for a shopping trip, Li Qingge decided. Hold on, Lin Yao interrupted, we cant use shopping as an excuse. Jiang Cheng would one hundred percent refuse. Let Liang Lu use a serious reason that Jiang Cheng cant refuse, like I want to learn how to draw talismans, but I dont know how to buy the materials. Please, Jiang Cheng, help me. Mo Ningdan said, But from what Ive heard Liang Lu say, it seems Jiang Cheng has a female talisman master with him. What if she wants toe along too? Lin Yao replied, Thats easy. First, let Liang Lu make an appointment for a time, say, four oclock in the afternoon, then around one-thirty p.m., send amunication talisman only to Jiang Cheng, im there is an emergency, and ask him toe out quickly. If Jiang Cheng is avable, hell definitelye out ahead of schedule. That way they can be alone. Hiss!!! Li Qingge and the others looked at Lin Yao with shocked expressions. Her methods were a bit too cunning! She had Jiang Cheng pinned down! Like a sly and patient hunterying traps step by step, luring Jiang Cheng onto the hook. Lin Yao, howe you understand Jiang Cheng so well? Li Qingge couldnt help but ask. Cough, its a talent, just talent. Lin Yao definitely couldnt admit that she not only understood him, but had also been longing for Jiang Cheng for a while. She could only brush it off with the excuse of talent. However, Li Qingge and the others didnt probe further, taking Lin Yaos words for truth, as there indeed were cultivators born with the ability to manipte male cultivators emotions within the Taixu Sect, like the one who split the Tongtian Sect back in the day. Thanks to the thorough nning, Liang Lus meeting with Jiang Cheng was effortless. The next afternoon, around one-thirty p.m. near the lifestyle za close to Qingxuan University, Liang Lu stood at the agreed spot, waiting for Jiang Cheng to arrive. Given that she had the foundation of appearance imparted by Consort Li, Liang Lus beauty was naturally beyond reproach. She had made just a little effort to dress up and had already achieved nearly a hundred percent turn-back rate on the lifestyle za. Liang Lu had not waited for five minutes when she encountered Lin Yao who was also there waiting for Jiang Cheng. Todays Lin Yao, also dressed casually, caught Liang Lus eye in a new light. In Liang Lus memory, Lin Yao was mostly dressed in school uniform or sportswear, which, despite her natural beauty, acted as a negative score, holding her back. Today, dressed in casual clothes, she indeed looked prettier than usual. Liang, youre early, arent you? Lin Yao retorted without reservation, Yes, if I donte early, what if the wild cats steal the cat food? Liang Lu scoffed, Your tongue is sharper than your sword, Liang, but duels arent won just by the sword alone. Are you saying that you have a guaranteed-to-win magical treasure, Liang? Not exactly, but unlike you, I was born into a prominent family, and dealing with people is not as difficult for me. From a short distance away, Jiang Cheng approached, surprised, Liang Lu? Why is Lin Yao here too? Liang Lu gave a small smile, ready to show Lin Yao some of her moves. But she was utterly taken aback when Lin Yao, taking the initiative, rushed straight to Jiang Cheng and hugged him, calling out, Jiang! Liang Lu rubbed her eyes on the spot. She had a hard time believing what she was witnessing. Was this shameless little actress really the Lin Yao she knew? Chapter 308: 242: Are You Serious? Chapter 308: Chapter 242: Are You Serious? In Liang Lus impression, Lin Yao was usually stern, serious, and not one to smile orugh lightly. In her everyday life, Lin Yao didnt have many friends and wasnt particrly interested in hobbies. The thing she did most was attend sses, cultivate, and participate in extra training sessions. One could almost say she was a highly self-disciplined cultivator. Moreover, Lin Yaos ability to remain unfazed by change during numerouspetitions cemented Liang Lus image of her as aloof, disciplined, calm, and ruthless. Of course, Liang Lu couldnt be med. It wasnt just herpractically everyone who knew Lin Yao shared a simr impression, including her teacher, Core Formation cultivator Yan Yue. However, the Lin Yao that Liang Lu saw now was utterly different. Liang Lu felt that the Lin Yao before her eyes was not the Lin Yao she knew. She simply could not reconcile the lovesick girl before her with the stern female cultivator who once stood on thepetition stage wielding a sword. There must be something wrong! Definitely something wrong!
How could Lin Yao possibly have such a personality? Could it have all been an act before? Impossible! She couldnt have performed such a wless act! While Liang Lu stood there questioning life, Lin Yao was in apletely different mood. Jiang Cheng saw Lin Yao pounce toward him and instinctively tried to dodge. It had been excusable in front of the library, where the foot traffic was minimal. But this was the Living Square! It wasnt jam-packed, but it wasnt sparsely popted either. In such a ce, to be hugged by Lin Yao in front of everyone, what would that look like? However, Lin Yao did not operate on the same logic as Jiang Cheng. Back in Wuyue, she had been more formidable than Jiang Cheng, and it was the same now in the Capital. With the teachings of Yan Yue and the tempering of Liang Lu, her currentbat prowess wasparable to any of her cultivation level peers from the Immortal Sects. She was Peerless in the Same Rank within a certain scope, not something Jiang Chengs cultivation level, artificially boosted by updates, couldpare with. Moreover, being at the ninthyer of Qi Practicing, her cultivation level was naturally higher than Jiang Chengs. So she captured Jiang Cheng effortlessly and wrapped her small hands around his waist and back, hugging him snugly. With her head buried in his chest, Lin Yao greedily inhaled Jiang Chengs scent. Just the smell exuding through his clothes was intoxicating to her, like a potent wine. Her cheeks blushed pink, her body temperature rose, and even her long, straight, and beautiful legs involuntarily tightened slightly because of Jiang Chengs proximity. If there were truly a condition known as Jiang Cheng Syndrome and Yue Linger happened to be ate-stage sufferer, then without a doubt, Lin Yao was at the terminal stage of Jiang Cheng Syndrome, hopelessly Jiang Cheng-addicted and beyond cure. Lin, let go of me. This is not appropriate in public, Jiang Cheng said sternly. But Lin Yao understood Jiang Cheng better than anyone else.
Jiang Cheng was the kind of gentlemanly good guy. His previous warnings tended to be more symbolic, meaning that as long as one was shameless enough, it was possible to continue testing his limits. No, she replied. Hey, you! Jiang Cheng eximed.
Jiang Cheng tried to pull away Lin Yaos arms, but it wasnt effective; the girl was too clingy, theplete opposite of Liu Qing. Liang, please help me out, Jiang Cheng said, reaching out to Liang Lu. Me, how can I help? Liang Lu, too, had never witnessed such a scene. For her, holding hands on the street was already a big deal, let alone hugging a male cultivator in public She just couldnt bring herself to do such things. Before Liang Lu could act, Lin Yao wisely let go of Jiang Cheng of her own ord. She had embraced Jiang Cheng to both satisfy her own desire and to assert her status in front of Liang Lu; she didnt intend to cause trouble for Jiang Cheng. Or rather, whoever dared to trouble Jiang Cheng would certainly not get away with it if she had anything to do with it. Seeing that Lin Yao was not causing a scene, Jiang Cheng could finally get to the point of their meeting: Liang, didnt you say you wanted to buy materials? Ah, yes, thats right, Liang Lu confirmed. Liang Lu had used buying talisman materials as a pretext to ask Jiang Cheng out. Shall we go then? Okay. Lin Yao followed Jiang Cheng uninvitedly.
Jiang Cheng asked curiously, Liang, is Lin alsoing along to buy talisman materials? Upon hearing this, Liang Lu thought that her chance to retaliate had finally arrived. No, Im not that familiar with Lin Yao, and I didnt invite her. She just showed up here on her own for some reason, Liang Lu implied that Lin Yao had ulterior motives. But Lin Yao was straightforward: Of course, Im here waiting for Jiang. Did you think I was waiting for you? Liang Lu retorted scornfully, For the sake of seeing Jiang Cheng, Lin Yao, you really are well-prepared. Lin Yaos approach was simple and direct: the truth in its most unapologetic form was a potent weapon against someone like Liang Lu who preferred to be indirect and traditional. What, you wont strive for the person you like yourself and would rather coyly give him up to someone else? After saying that, Lin Yao employed the same tactic again, hugging Jiang Chengs arm to assert her position. Liang Lu was at a loss for words. The kind of blunt words Lin Yao used were something Liang Lu herself wouldnt dare utter even in private, let alone on the moderately crowded Living Square. Nheless, seeing Lin Yaos smug expression, Liang Lu didnt want to seem weak. She reached out her hand, hesitated momentarily, and then managed to embrace Jiang Chengs other arm albeit hesitantly. Butpared to Lin Yaos unabashed embraceas if not minding being taken advantage of by Jiang ChengLiang Lus embrace wasnt quite so bold, just feigning contact with her arms.
Yet even that minimal contact made Liang Lus ears burn and flushed her cheeks. Seeing Liang Lus gesture, Lin Yao couldnt help revealing a triumphant smile. Li Qingge had hoped she would attract Jiang Chengs attention and thus distance him from Liang Lu. However, she wasnt foolish. Jiang Cheng distancing from Liang Lu was advantageous only to the Taixu Sect, but what good would it bring to Jiang Cheng? Chapter 309: 242: Are You Serious?_2 Chapter 309: Chapter 242: Are You Serious?_2 Conversely, if Liang Lu continued to harbor feelings for Jiang Cheng and ascended the throne ording to Taixu Sects n, the oue would be that Liang Lu would possess both the resources of the Taixu Sect and the royal family. However, because of her fondness for Jiang Cheng, he would indirectly have ess to both sets of resources. Therefore, the answer was clear: letting Liang Lu remain infatuated with Jiang Cheng was the most beneficial oue for him. As for harming the interests of the Taixu Sect Lin Yao felt no remorse whatsoever. To her, all Immortal Sects were the same. Only the one that benefited her beloved Jiang was considered worthwhile. After all, her desire to be the Sect Leader of the Taixu Sect was merely because of their agreement and a stepping stone for her future as Jiang Chengs partner. However Lin Yao nced at Jiang Cheng and then stole a look at Liang Lu. The method of using her interaction with Jiang Cheng to provoke Liang Lu was simply too inefficient. If she were Jiang Cheng, the fastest way to tie Liang Lu down would be to find an opportunity to steal her first kiss! For a traditional female cultivator like Liang Lu, who had a favorable impression of Jiang Cheng, losing her first kiss would basically equate to a lifelongmitment. Even if Jiang Cheng didnt take the initiative to seek her out, she would have no choice but to follow him.
Unfortunately, Jiang was a man of principles and wouldnt resort to such brute-force tactics. But that was also why Jiang was so likable. At this moment, Jiang Cheng waspletely unaware of the drama unfolding in Lin Yaos mind. His current priority was to quickly free his hands from the weights attached to them. These weights were too eye-catching, drawing nces from passersby filled with envy. Moreover, the envy in many of those gazes was already tinged with hostility. Having one top-grade girlfriend was one thing, but having two was a bit too much, wasnt it? Wasnt that like draining the pond to get all the fish, destroying the ecosystem! Jiang Cheng hurriedly pleaded, Liang, men and women shouldnt be too close. Liang Lu was aware of this, but she did not want to lose to Lin Yao, so she said, When Lin Yao lets go, Ill let go. Jiang Cheng had no choice but to first persuade Lin Yao. Lin, you let go first. I wont. You let go first. Wont. Jiang Cheng felt a bit weary and for thest time said, Junior sister, stop messing around. Hearing the tone in Jiang Chengs voice, Lin Yao knew he was displeased, so she immediately let go without any hesitation. Seeing Lin Yao letting go first, Liang Lu then followed suit and released her grip. With the weights gone, Jiang Cheng breathed a huge sigh of relief. He secretly vowed to learn from this setback and never go shopping with more than one female cultivator again. In theprehensive shopping center, Jiang Cheng led Liang Lu and Lin Yao around the Talisman Supplies Store. After all, the purpose of his trip was to help Liang Lu procure materials for talisman drawing.
Once in the talisman section, Jiang Cheng became more rxed and chatty. He asionally picked up a material to exin its strengths, weaknesses, uses, and taboossharing his knowledge of the talisman industry with Liang Lu. Unfortunately, even though the three of them were shopping for talismans, only Jiang Cheng actually cared about the talismans themselves. The true intentions of Lin Yao and Liang Lu were far from pure.
The talismans were merely their excuse to get close to Jiang Cheng. Taking advantage of Jiang Cheng exining talismans to Liang Lu, Lin Yao transmitted a message to Liang Lu. Lin Yao: Liang, do you understand what hes saying? Liang Lu: I dont understand, but are you here to learn about talisman knowledge? Lin Yao: But if you dont learn about talisman knowledge now, you wont learn anything else either. Liang Lu: Hmph, your performance today, Lin, has really opened my eyes. I never thought you would go this far to attract Jiang Cheng. I underestimated you before. Lin Yao: Liang, please dont misunderstand, Im not pretending, I truly like him. Liang Lu: !!! How can this be? Liang Lu couldnt help but blurt out. She had assumed Lin Yao was intentionally making those exaggerated actionswere they not deliberate? Liang, whats the matter? Jiang Cheng asked, concerned by the sudden change in Liang Lus expression. Its nothing.
Liang Lu answered evasively. No matter how shepeted with Lin Yao, it was an internal affair of the Taixu Sect, something she couldnt reveal too much to Jiang Cheng about. Did you pay attention to what I was saying just now? Do you know what function this Talisman Brush has, Liang? Jiang Cheng conducted an on-the-spot homework check. I I dont know Liang Lu lowered her head in shame. It was the first time she had been caught not paying attention in ss and she was mortified. Jiang Cheng spoke in a gentle tone, patiently saying, Its all right, Ill repeat it one more time, but this time you need to remember it. Mm. This time Liang Lu listened carefully, even if Lin Yao tried to provoke her again, she pretended not to hear. When Jiang Cheng finished speaking, Liang Lu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that finally it was over. She had no interest in talismans, and her visit to the mall today was entirely Li Qingges idea. Then, at the right moment, Lin Yao fanned the mes, Liang, you remembered the points about the Talisman Brush, but did you remember the points about the Talisman Paper? Liang Lu became furious: Lin Yao, yourecking in Martial Virtue! But Jiang Cheng took it seriously and asked, frowning, Liang, did you remember? I just went over it. I I Liang Lu couldnt answer.
She bit her lip, feeling utterly humiliated. Being unable to answer a question might be normal for most people, but for someone like Liang Lu, who had been a good student all her life, it was a new and utterly shameful experience. Fortunately, Jiang Cheng was very patient and took Liang Lu through a review of talismans from the beginning. Jiang Chengs patient and gentle demeanor made a deep impression on Liang Lu, almost refreshing her image of him in her mind once again. Aided by the embarrassment of not knowing the answers, Liang Lus fondness for Jiang Cheng reached its peak, and her heart raced unabashedly. It was as if he was rapidly gaining favorability while simultaneously ying a card that doubled her experience points. It was foreseeable that Jiang Cheng would find it very difficult to be erased from Liang Lus heart in the future. And this was precisely the effect that Lin Yao wanted. You think youre so proud, Liang Lu? Well, Ill give you a couple of sweet dates first, making you fall for Jiang Cheng. And when youre too entangled to pull away, Ill let you know that I, Lin Yao, am the one Jiang Cheng truly favors! Whether you get into the Jiang Family or not depends on my word. In the future, if you want to get close to Jiang Cheng, youll have to acknowledge me as your sister. In front of your sister, lets see how proud you can be! Seeing Jiang Cheng teaching Liang Lu how to hold the Talisman Brush, Lin Yao stirred the pot again, Shallow learning from mere words will never suffice. Jiang, youre always exining; how can she learn this way? Why not teach her to draw a talisman by taking her hand? This way, it would be easier for her to remember. Hand to hand? Liang Lu was startled!
Jiang Cheng wasnt as overthinking as Lin Yao; he thought she was making a helpful suggestion, as it really made sense. Still, he wanted to consult Liang Lus opinion: Liang, would you be okay with that? Liang Lu showed hesitation. Even though she had hugged Jiang Chengs arm before, that was through his clothes; now, a direct teaching by hand involved direct skin contact Seeing the expression on Liang Lus face, Lin Yao sneered. I know what youre concerned about, so stop struggling, Liang. You cant beat me. Call me sister sweetly from now on; for Jiangs sake, I wont treat you badly. Having concluded her scheming, Lin Yao sent a message directly to Liang Lu: Liang, if you dont want to learn to draw talismans, then I will. Upon hearing Lin Yaos words, Liang Lu hesitated no more. But she had no idea that herck of hesitation was exactly what Lin Yao was aiming for. Is it just touching hands? I, of course, can ept that, Liang Lu said. Jiang Cheng nodded, not hesitating, and reached out to wrap his hand around the back of Liang Lus right hand, teaching her how to hold the brush and draw talismans. With her right hand held in Jiang Chengs, the delicate touch made her entire body numb. Because of the close position, Jiang Chengs breath was also very near her ear, possibly blowing right against it. Liang Lu was in utter disarray. She had never experienced anything like this before. Liang, your hand is shaking, said Jiang Cheng, Your face is so red; are you running a fever? I Im fine. Its nothing, Liang Lu muttered with her head down, trying to conceal her flushed cheeks. At this point, Lin Yao finally breathed a sigh of relief. After todays ordeal, Liang Lu was basically caught in the. Compared to the power of the Taixu Sect and the royal family that Liang Lu represented, Lin Yao was looking forward more to the day when Liang Lu would soften and humbly call her sister. What good is a high princess? To enter the Jiang family, she would need Lin Yaos approval. Chapter 310: 243: Ruined by Over-Practicing Chapter 310: Chapter 243: Ruined by Over-Practicing It must be said that Lin Yaos tactics were highly effective. Influenced by Lin Yao, Liang Lus feelings for Jiang Cheng plummeted rapidly, if not at breakneck speed. As a result, without the need for Li Qingge and others to test deliberately, a casual observation revealed that Liang Lu was deeply affected, almost beyond redemption. It had be nearly impossible for Liang Lu to leave Jiang Cheng. One day, Li Qingge personally arranged a meeting with Liang Lu. Liang Lu, we have all noticed your talent. Do you have any ns for your future development? Liang Lu, puzzled, asked, Senior Li, what do you mean by development? Li Qingge spoke solemnly, Then Ill be straightforward. Do you n to ascend to the Immortal Sect to pursue the path of immortality, or would you rather stay in Liang Kingdom to ascend the throne and be emperor? Liang Lu fell into a rare silence; it was a difficult choice. On the surface, Li Qingge was asking her to choose between the path of immortality and imperial power. But on a deeper level, it was a choice betweenfort and risk, with imperial power representingfort, and the path of immortality representing risk.
On an even deeper level, it was about whether to let go of Jiang Cheng. For Jiang Cheng would not stay in Liang Kingdom, he would surely ascend to the Immortal Sect. And as Jiang Cheng left Liang Kingdom, if Liang Lu did not follow him into the Immortal Sect, they would hardly have any ties in the future. All basic contact and ties would be gone, not to mention any romantic rtionship. If Liang Lu still wanted to be with Jiang Cheng, she only had the option to ascend to the Taixu Sect, which would be a match in status with Jiang Chengs Tongtian Sect. Only then could there be a possibility between them. Liang Lu was not foolish, on the contrary, she was very smart; she immediately realized the implications behind Li Qingges words. Li Qingge asking her to make a choice was essentially asking her for a guarantee. Choosing imperial power meant epting the support of the Taixu Sect, ensuring a break from Jiang Cheng, and cutting off ties with the power of the Tongtian Sect. Choosing the path of immortality meant giving up the support of the Taixu Sect, gaining the freedom to love Jiang Cheng, but it also meant that within the territory of Liang Kingdom, she would no longer receive much care from the Taixu Sect. Seeing that Liang Lu remained silent, Li Qingge added, You dont have to worry about your cultivation after ascending the throne. We can apply to headquarters to provide you with a special high-ranking teacher. With your talent, reaching Core Formation is no issue, and with a bit of effort, advancing to Nascent Soul is also highly likely. With these words, Li Qingges bias was evident. She hoped that Liang Lu would give up on Jiang Cheng and dutifully y the role of an emperor. Truth be told, Li Qingges offer was very tempting: afortable future, unlimited resources, personal mentors, and strong backingall of which could all be Liang Lus with just a nod. But still, Liang Lus response was silence. Looking at Liang Lus eyes, half-hidden by her thickshes, Li Qingge realized about a third of the truth in her heart. Although she had anticipated it, when it came down to it, she couldnt help but marvel at Jiang Chengs influence. Could this young man possess the legendary Natural Charm Body? How else could he have ensnared so many female cultivators, leaving them lovestruck! He might be a trouble for my Taixu Sect in the future! Li Qingge thought to herself. Senior Li, this is a matter of great importance; may I use amunication charm to decide? asked Liang Lu.
Of course. Li Qingge agreed without hesitation. Choosing between the throne and the path of immortality was indeed a life decision more significant than any national examination; it was only natural for Liang Lu to want to discuss it with her elders. However, Liang Lu did not reach out to her mother, Consort Li, but instead, she sent amunication charm to Jiang Cheng! Jiang Cheng responded to themunication charm very promptly.
From within the reusablemunication charm, Liang Lus familiar voice emerged. Hello? Liang? Its me. Oh, whats the matter? Senior Li just asked me about something; she told me to choose Liang Lu exined the situation to Jiang Cheng and asked with a nervous heart, What do you think I should choose? From Jiang Chengs perspective, it didnt matter to him whether Liang Lu chose to be the emperor or ascend to the Immortal Sect. Either option was eptable and potentially beneficial. But Jiang Cheng did not tell Liang Lu the answer. You should choose whatever you want to choose. Liang Lu pressed further, What do you wish for me to do? Me? Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and without overthinking, said, I wish for your happiness and joy, and its best if you dont work too hard. Upon hearing Jiang Chengs words, Liang Lus eyes suddenly moistened, and she bit hard on her red lips. You jerk! she cursed.
Jiang Cheng: ??? Jiang Cheng was puzzled. He had just given Liang Lu his blessing, so why would she curse him? Liang was never impolite! Liang Lu had reached out to Jiang Cheng with a charm, actually holding onto a glimmer of hope. She wanted to test how genuine Jiang Chengs feelings for her were. If Jiang Cheng chose the most beneficial option for herbing the emperorshe would give up the throne and ascend to the Immortal Sect to walk the path of immortality alongside Jiang Cheng. If Jiang Cheng chose the least beneficial option for herascending to the Immortal Sect but not allowing her to go to the Taixu Sect, instead suggesting that she go to the Tongtian Sectshe would harden her heart and cease interaction with Jiang Cheng forever. But what Liang Lu never expected was that Jiang Chengs simple wish for her happiness and joy wouldpletely break through her defenses. His sincere blessing for her was heartfelt and unguarded. The truth in his words was more profound than a thousand promises and all the glory and riches in the world. Liang Lu had hoped that the choice would firm up her conviction and clear the path ahead, but indeed, it solidified her resolveit would be Jiang Cheng or no one. Regardless of the oue, now that things hade to this, Liang Lu knew her choice. However, having given up the support of the Taixu Sect for Jiang Chengs sake, she had to secure some advantage from him, even if it were just an empty promise. Perhaps Jiang Cheng could treat her to a meal or hold hands, right?
Chapter 311: 243: Ruined by Over-Practicing_2 Chapter 311: Chapter 243: Ruined by Over-Practicing_2 Jiang Cheng, if I choose to join the Ascension Sect, Qingxuan University probably wont give me any more resources, she said. If Im preparing to advance to the Foundation Establishment phase, or for myter cultivation, what kind of help can you offer me? Thats not difficult, Jiang Cheng replied. You are currently just an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple of our Dayan Sect, so there are many permissions not avable to you. However, once you take an oath using the oath text provided by our Dayan Sect to be a core disciple, then you will have the right to use the Dayan Sects cultivation methods. I have personally experienced it, and saying your cultivation can improve rapidly, advancing by leaps and bounds every day is no exaggeration. Liang Lu: Advancing by leaps and bounds every day? Ill believe it when I see it! Still, despite her doubts, Liang Lu believed him. What could she do when she had fallen for Jiang Cheng? She was willing to deceive herself. Oh, you mentioned before that Liang Pei would be the emperoris that true? Liang Lu remembered that Jiang Cheng had previously mentioned something about Princess Liang Pei bing the emperor. At the time, she didnt believe him, but after all that had happened, she was starting to believe it might be true. Yes. Can you tell me the reason? Be a True Disciple of the Dayan Sect, and Ill tell you, he answered. Fine, fine, fine, Ill be a True Disciple, she agreed quickly.
Promises over themunication charm dont count; youve got to take the oath. Then wait for me a moment. After saying this, Liang Lu disconnected themunication charm and then went to tell Li Qingge of her choice. She chose Jiang Cheng. Li Qingge wasnt surprised, or rather, she had been prepared for Liang Lu to bepletely taken in by Jiang Cheng from the moment she learned Liang Lu had contact with him. Well? After Liang Lu left, Mo Ningdan and Yan Yue looked towards Li Qingge. Li Qingge let out a sigh: Looks like its time to switch from the main ount to a secondary one. Liu Qing,e help me tidy up the living room and move the coffee table to the corner. Oh. In the Jade Lake Mingan Residence, Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing worked together. Because the room didnt have much clutter to begin with, after a simple rearrangement of furniture, they quickly cleared a clean space. Then, Jiang Cheng took out some decorations and started arranging the ce. Liu Qing did not return to sit on the balcony but stood aside watching Jiang Cheng busy himself. Soon, a neat oath-taking space had been set up by Jiang Cheng. Whats this for? Liu Qing asked. Jiang Cheng exined, Liang Lu ising here in a while to take an oath to be a True Disciple of the Dayan Sect. This is a significant asion, not something to be taken lightly. It has to be done formally, with a sense of ceremony. What about me?
You dont need to take an oath. Youre an exception, Jiang Cheng said. Liu Qing nodded thoughtfully. She felt that what Jiang Cheng said was right, because she was Jiang Chengs only female friend, so being an exception wasnt a problem. But actually, Jiang Chengs exception wasnt for that reason.
Because the so-called oath was simr to Yue Lingers Heavenly Dao oath that she took at the beginning, an oath to the Heavenly Daofail to fulfill it and one might suffer punishment by the Heavenly Dao, at best ones cultivation wont be able to advance, at worst it brings cmity and endangers life. The reason Liu Qing didnt need to take an oath was partly because she had signed abor contract with Jiang Cheng which already covered many eventualities, so taking another oath was redundant. Another reason was Liu Qing was a Mahayana cultivator, one of those who didnt need to worry about the Heavenly Daos mood. Asking her to swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao, which then cant control her, was pointless. Of course, the most important thing was that Jiang Cheng trusted Liu Qing, and he knew she would never betray him or the Dayan Sect. Not long after they had finished tidying, Liang Lu arrived at Jiang Chengs home. In Liang Lus astonished gaze, Jiang Cheng took out the oath text he had meticulously prepared, which was very detailed and took into ount all aspects. The main content stressed that one must not do anything that could harm the sects key interests. It emphasized the rights and duties of a Dayan Sect True Disciple, such as sharing in the Sect Leaders work and defending the Sect Leaders authority, among other things. As Liang Lu considered herself Jiang Chengs romantic partner, she felt that protecting Jiang Cheng was the same as protecting herself. Even without this rtionship, she thought that as the sect was in its founding phase, it was only natural for True Disciples to take on more responsibility and work harder. Therefore, the oath-taking went very smoothly, with no resistance at all. So Mo Ningdans prior assessment of Liang Lu was quite urate. She was sincere, meticulous, hardworking, understanding, and tactfula born workhorse. After the oath waspleted, Jiang Cheng happily shook hands with Liang Lu: Fellow Daoist Liang Lu, from now on, we are our own people. Liang Lu blushed, nodding emphatically. Can you tell me about Liang Pei now?
Sure, please take a seat, he said. Jiang Cheng seated Liang Lu, and as for Liu Qing, he didnt bother with her. Liu Qing didnt just live in this house; she upied the master bedroom, which spoke volumes about her status in the household. My assertion that Liang Pei can ascend the throne is mainly because of Liang Peis father, Jiang Cheng began. Her father? Isnt her father also my father? Liang Lu didnt understand. No. What? This time, Liang Lu understood clearly. Really, Liang Peis father is someone else, Jiang Cheng said seriously. Liang Lu was stunned. The face of Liang Pei, whom she had grown up with since childhood, swam into her mind. Was this sister she had always known not rted to her by blood at all? Are you sure about this?
Positive, Jiang Cheng replied. The title of Great Liangs Sect Master wasnt just for show. Then who is her real father? Qin Wentao. What? In just a few breaths, Liang Lu had been shocked twice by Jiang Chengs revtion. Qin Wentao, the Prime Minister of the Great Liang, was the most powerful person in the Liang Kingdom. After the shock passed, Liang Lu thought about Liang Peis situation and realized that even if all the princes were still present, with her real father, Prime Minister Qin, providing a smooth path, Liang Pei had a high chance of ascending to the throne. Chapter 312: 243: Ruined by Over-Practicing_3 Chapter 312: Chapter 243: Ruined by Over-Practicing_3 After all, Qin Wentao was a Nascent Soul cultivator, with ample wrist, connections, resources, and power at his disposal. Although publicly he needed to weaken the imperial Cabs influence as the Prime Minister, if his own Qin familys bloodline could ascend to the throne, there would be no weakening at all; he would prefer Liang Pei to grow stronger in his reign. If Liang Pei ascended to the throne, firstly, it would align with the Grand Secretarys interests; secondly, it would serve the interest of female cultivators in alignment with the Taixu Sects goals; next, as long as the news of Liang Peis father remained undisclosed, Liang Pei could ostensibly push the Cab back, thus also serving the royal familys interests; moreover, her not being from Tongtian Sect satisfied the Lin Sects interests; finally, Liang Pei had no grand strategies or ambition for reforms, which suited the vested interests of Tongtian Sect within Liang Kingdom After carefully considering, Liang Lu realized that Liang Peis ascension could actually satisfy everyone in Liang Kingdom. No wonder Jiang Cheng said she had no hope; Liang Peis ascension was inevitable. So thats how it is! But then again, Liang Lu looked skeptically at Jiang Cheng, How do you know Liang Peis secret? Shouldnt this kind of thing only be known by her birth mother, Consort Rong? Jiang Cheng was well-prepared for this, I had a friend, he told me. However, he is now separated from me by life and death, which is quite regrettable. Really? Liang Lu found the story too bizarre and almost unreal. Especially since Consort Rong seemed soposed and dignified, no one expected that she would have that kind of rtionship with Qin Wentao behind the scenes. Yes. You are a true disciple, why would I lie to you?
Alright then. Liang Lu chose to ept reality. Since she had chosen the path of immortality, the imperial familys mess had nothing to do with her. If Liang Pei couldnt break through the Foundation Establishment, then she would only have a lifespan of a hundred years, which to a cultivator, was merely a blink of an eye. Even if the dynasty had been established for a thousand years, in the face of the long lives of high-level cultivators, it was merely a passerby. Jiang Cheng said excitedly, Right, Liang Lu, theres still plenty of time today, just right for you to experience the cultivation method of the Dayan Sect. Let you see the benefits of joining the Dayan Sect. Okay, what do I need to do? You just maintain your normal state as you enter cultivation, and no matter what happens, dont be surprised. Alright. Liang Lu trusted Jiang Cheng very much and did as she was told. Jiang Cheng unceremoniously took out a sheet with Dayan Sect Disciple names and waited for Liang Lu to enter her cultivation state before using an eraser to remove Liu Qings name. Once Liu Qing disappeared, the bnce of righteousness and demonic Tao in Capital was instantaneously disrupted. The weakened force of the Demonic Tao instantly aroused the interest of the forces bnce mechanism. At present, Capital had only one Demonic Tao power, and in this power, there was only one person in a state of cultivation. Thus, the bnce mechanism began to search for ways to provide Liang Lu with some opportunities. For instance, the ultra-affinity state that Jiang Cheng once experienced, where the cultivation speed increased manifold for a short time. The spiritual energy that once required effort to capture was now actively burrowing into Liang Lus body! But Liang Lu was already at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, and her cultivation level couldnt progress further; the next step was Foundation Establishment. However, Foundation Establishment required multifaceted consideration, and some wished to stall their cultivation level to enter Immortal Sect, so Foundation Establishment was not necessarily the better the sooner. After letting Liang Lu experience the Dayan Sects cultivation method for a bit, Jiang Cheng rewrote Liu Qings name, restoring the bnce.
How was it? Liang Lu was silent. She didnt know how to describe her current feelings. When she had earlier refused Li Qingge, Liang Lu was already prepared to follow Jiang Cheng in the poor Dayan Sect, bracing for a life of hardship.
She didnt expect that after seeing just now, she had thought too much; the reality was not as she had presumed. The Dayan Sect was not only not poor, but it was also rich as if the ground was lined with gold wrapped in oil. Liang Lu felt that if she cultivated in the state she had just experienced, she could progress from the first level of Qi Cultivation to the ninth level in a single day. She had never fought such a wealthy battle! Chapter 313: 244 The Enchantress of the Dayan Sect is also an Enchantress Chapter 313: Chapter 244 The Enchantress of the Dayan Sect is also an Enchantress Not long after Princess Liang Lu decided to pursue the path of immortality, thest prince of Great Liang, Liang Qing, was dispatched to a distant ce for crashing into the pce sleeping quarters. Henceforth, the male lineage of Great Liang princes was extinguished, leaving only two princesses eligible for the throne: Princess Liang Lu and Princess Liang Pei. The ancient ancestor of the royal family, Liang Heng, finally grew weary in his heart. Had he given up on these unworthy descendants earlier, he might have lived a few more years. On the surface, Princess Liang Lu seemed more suitable to inherit the throne. However, after discussing with Princess Liang Lu, Liang Heng realized that her heart was set on the path of immortality and she had no interest in the throne. He thus handed over several treasures to her, advising her to practice diligently for the glory of the Liang. Ultimately, he passed the throne to Liang Pei. The news of Liang Peis ascension caused an uproar throughout the Liang Kingdom. She was the first female Emperor of Liang, and her ession was so bizarre it seemed divinely assisted, creating much talk and spawning an array of folktales and minor anecdotes. However, the major powers privy to certain details remained much moreposed. Their reactions werergely in line with what Princess Liang Lu had predicted; most were epting of Empress Liang Peis ascension. But there was one thing Princess Liang Lu hadnt guessedthe great powers of Liang Kingdoms wariness towards Jiang Cheng! As for the Taixu Sect itself, needless to say, they had observed all of Jiang Chengs maneuvers from the sidelines.
Jiang Cheng not only efficiently and exceedingly fulfilled the tasks of the Taixu Sect but also sneakily stole a crystal and swindled them out of Princess Liang Lu, the cultivator seed they had painstakingly cultivated. Fortunately, Lin Yaos resolve was steadfast; she was not greatly beguiled by Jiang Cheng, otherwise, the Taixu Sect would have been utterly bankrupted by the loss. Next was the Lin Sect. The earliest nt Autonomy Talisman had already cost the Lin Sect dearly. Moreover, the recent Enlightenment Experience Talisman not only depleted their cultivation technique reserves but also directly thwarted their attempt to influence the throne. The loss was akin to losing a wife and an armyit was a painfully costly defeat. Finally, there was the Tongtian Sect. The Tongtian Sect had been mere spectators in this struggle for the thronethough not entirely, since Jiang Cheng was, after all, one of their own. Judging by the oue, the Tongtian Sect broke even, as the other families didnt gain much, so the Tongtian Sects dominant position in the Liang Kingdom remained unchallenged. This round, the Tongtian Sect was like a master stock trader, outperforming ny-nine percent of investors without even making a move. But looking towards the future, the Tongtian Sect had suffered a significant blow, and the entire sect was in a state of rm. Because Jiang Cheng is only a freshman this year, he must remain at Lotus University for at least three more years! Three years! Who knew what else he could pull off? Members of the Tongtian Sects Capital University branch were now on edge, fearing that any misstep might draw Jiang Chengs attention, leading to disaster. To address this situation, the high-ranking cultivators of the Tongtian Sects Capital University branch gathered together. This included the Helmsman Li Ancheng, President Yu Mo of Capital University, Dean Jian Youqiu of the Treasure and Talismans Academy, and President Gao Miao of the Talisman Master Association, among other core members. The sole topic of their meeting today was: how to politely request the great Jiang Cheng of Capital University to leave without causing offense. President Gao, among us, you are most familiar with Jiang Cheng. You start, said Li Ancheng. Gao Miao felt troubled inside; being acquainted with Jiang Cheng wasnt the same as having a method to deal with him! Well, I believe that Jiang Cheng chose to apply to Lotus Cloud University because he had his sights set on the Tongtian Sect. After all, if he wanted to go to the Lin Sect, he would definitely have chosen Capital University there was no need to go through the rigmarole at Lotus University, he said. After listening, Li Ancheng mused, So youre suggesting we go with the flow and try to send Jiang Cheng to the Tongtian Sect?
Yu Mo shook his head and said, Skipping grades to advance directly into the Tongtian Sect can only be amodated by schools affiliated with the Gen Mountain Branch. Our Lotus University doesnt have enough authority for that. The oldest among them, Jian Youqiu, said, It might not need to be us who send him away; we could have someonee and ask for him! Yu Mos eyes lit up. Dean Jian, you mean to say Theres more than one way into the Tongtian Sect than just through examinations. If an Elder of the sect, a Spirit Mountain Master, or a Spirit Peak Master is willing to take Jiang Cheng as a disciple, then he can bypass the exams and enter the Tongtian Sect directly!
The organizational structure of the Tongtian Sect is rtively dispersed; in theory, it can be considered arge allianceposed of many smaller sects. Therefore, each of the smaller sects within the Tongtian Sect has a certain degree of autonomy. No one can stop a master of a peak from taking a disciple if they wish. As long as the candidate is suitable, has a clean background, and shows no traces of the Demonic Tao, no one really interferes with the recruitment. After all, the resources of the Tongtian Sect arent distributed per capita; most peaks are expected to be self-sufficient and profitable on their own, so the concern about acquiring disciples falls on the shoulders of the mountain and peak masters, not the unrted members of other peaks. Li Ancheng said, Now the question is, which elder is willing to take Jiang Cheng in? That Everyone was momentarily at a loss for words. It wasnt that theycked connections within the Tongtian Sect; it was that ordinary gifts wouldnt suffice to sway a peak masters decision. Moreover, even if the subrudder were to pay for it, what if, after sending Jiang Cheng over, they faced poor reviews and a refusal to refund? Not only would they fail to solve the issue, but they would also offend a high-ranking cultivator. For a while, everyone inevitably turned their gaze to Li Ancheng. As the Helmsman of the Tongtian Sects Liangguo Subrudder, Li Ancheng was likely the most well-connected cultivator in the whole of the Liang Kingdom. If he had no solution, it was unlikely that this approach would seed. Li Ancheng looked thoughtful and said, I recall that Elder Yu Sheng has been in our Liang Kingdom for over a hundred years, hasnt he? Hes old, experienced, well-qualified, and nearly at the point of returning to the main sect. Why dont we let him make the trip for us?
Chapter 314: 244 The Enchantress of the Dayan Sect is also an Enchantress_2 Chapter 314: Chapter 244 The Enchantress of the Dayan Sect is also an Enchantress_2 Yusheng was a dogs tail grass in the Lotus Universitys Spirit nt Garden, possessing the cultivation level of Nascent Soul. He had advanced his cultivation by the enlightenment of an old elm tree. Initially a nt monster, he waster given a position by the Tongtian Sect. Within the sect, he belonged to no particr division or faction and did not involve himself in the struggles for power between the various sects. This made him a suitable mediator. Jian Youqiu nodded, Thats good. Lets have Elder Yusheng return to the Tongtian Sect first to gather information for us. As soon as theres a suitable elder interested in Jiang Cheng, well immediately request their help to allow Jiang Cheng to bypass the general examination and hurry to join the Tongtian Sect! Faced with the united front of the Capital branch of the Tongtian Sect, Yusheng naturally found it difficult to refuse. He repeatedly assured them that once he returned to the Tongtian Sect, he would contact potential candidates at the earliest opportunity. Because the journey between Liang Kingdom and the main branch of the Tongtian Sect was extremely long, cultivators from Liang Kingdom who wanted to return generally chose to travel via the Gen Mountain Branchs Teleportation Array. With the aid of the Teleportation Array, a journey of tens of thousands of miles could bepleted in an instant. However, the cost of using it even once was truly substantial. If it hadnt been for Li Ancheng and the others insisting strongly, Yusheng had actually nned to take his time and enjoy the trip back to the sect. After all, he had no other pressing matters. After Yusheng returned to the Tongtian Sect, he initially nned to rest for a couple of days, but Helmsman Li sent over amunication talisman after just one day, inquiring about his progress. Yusheng couldnt figure it outwas Jiang Cheng really that formidable? That Helmsman Li was so eager for updates? With no other choice, Yusheng had to give up on resting and focus on searching for suitable candidates for Helmsman Li.
If it was just a matter of taking in a disciple, contacting others wouldnt be difficult. Within the Tongtian Sect, there were numerous factions, with often a single peak representing one transmission of a lineage. There were always those looking to take disciples. Moreover, ording to Li Ancheng, Jiang Cheng was notcking in talent, particrly gifted with a talent for talismans, skilled in drawing them, truly a genius, beyond the reach of ordinary people. With such standards that werent poor, it was unlikely he would be wasted. But Li Anchengs other request was more troublesome. He wanted Jiang Chengs master to ideally possess the following three characteristics: uninvolved, unteaching, and with a profound background. Yusheng could understand thest trait; who wouldnt want the convenience of having a powerful backer? But he couldntprehend Li Anchengs first two requirements. He didnt understand why, when others were searching for a master, they looked for the most capable and renowned, yet when Li Ancheng was searching for a master for Jiang Cheng, he wanted someone idle and uninterested in their disciples? What was the purpose? This is too difficult! Yusheng silently heaved a sigh. Without any other idea, Yusheng had no choice but to head to Broken Arm Peak to seek help from his good friend Jia Shanchuan. Jia Shanchuan, like Yusheng, was also a monster, though he was a pangolin who had gained sentience; he waster recruited by the Tongtian Sect and was in charge of some internal construction tasks, also a professional in his field. After listening to Yushengs request, Jia Shanchuanughed heartily, Brother Yusheng, youre missing the forest for the trees. What do you mean? the dogs tail grass scratched its head. Qualifying for discipleship while also being inexperienced in teachingdoesnt that clearly point you towards finding a new peak master? A new peak master who establishes their own sect away from their original oneisnt that someone both busy and inexperienced? In this way, brother, I am actually responsible for the various construction projects within the sect; I will find you a sect candidate from projects initiated five hundred years ago. Youll be able to select a right fit for sure. Yusheng thought it sounded feasible, but he didnt understand why they had to look for ones from five hundred years ago. Old Jia, why do we need to find candidates from five hundred years ago? Jia Shanchuan replied gleefully, Youve never established your own sect, so you dont understand. Tongtian Sects requirements for a new sect are to have a lineage, which at the very least needs one master and one disciple. The time limit for this requirement is five hundred years. In other words, if a newly established sect goes five hundred years without taking a disciple, it will have its sect qualification revoked.
Now Yusheng understood. Although they could also look for newly established sects from the past one or two hundred years, those sects wouldnt necessarily be in a hurry to ept disciples, considering they still had a few hundred years to prepare. But those sects established five hundred years ago that still hadnt taken any disciples were certainly desperate due to theck of disciples. Right, Old Jia, I have another request; that peak master needs to have a strong background! Thats even simpler. Who could drag out epting disciples for over five hundred years and still withstand the sects pressure without being revoked if not someone with a strong background?
The more Yusheng listened, the more spirited he becamethere was hope! Real hope! How had he not thought of this method of selecting people before? Under the guidance of Jia Shanchuan, Yusheng quickly locked in the candidate for Jiang Chengs master. Although there were many sects established in the Tongtian Sect five hundred years ago, there were only a few that hadnt taken disciples nearly five hundred yearster. There was only one that had gone beyond five hundred years without epting a disciple and yet had not had their sect qualification revoked by the main sect. North Forest Peak, the peak master Master Yun Shu, the daughter of the Wan Yue Mountain Master, with cultivation at the Divinity Transformation Perfection level. Rumors had it that this woman was idle and unruly, taking advantage of her father being the Wan Yue Mountain Master to act recklessly and wildly, highly gifted but particrly disliking cultivation, let alone the effort to teach someone else to cultivate. Uninvolved, unteaching, and with a profound background; these three requirements fit perfectly. It was just a matter of whether or not this powerful Divinity Transformation master would agree to take Jiang Cheng as a disciple. Youre going to the Taixu Sect? Jiang Chengs tone was slightly surprised. Honestly, when Liang Lu invited him to meet, he feared that Liang Lu would trap him again, repeating thest scenario with the talisman purchase that put him in a difficult position. However, he did not expect that this time Liang Lu did indeed have important business.
And its too much like serious business. Yes, after I decided not to be the empress, my teachers helped me contact the seniors at Taixu Sect. They said that with my abilities, continuing to stay at Qingxuan University is a waste of time. Its better to enter Taixu Sect for learning and trials sooner, Liang Lu said. Thats a good thing, indeed going to Taixu Sect earlier is better for your development, Jiang Cheng said objectively. Although Liang Lu was to enter Taixu Sect earlier, there was no joy on her face. What about you? she asked. If nothing unexpected happens, I will take the examination route to enter Tongtian Sect, Jiang Cheng said. Are you sure? Of course. Entering Tongtian Sect was the second step of Jiang Chengs three-step retirement n, which could not be missed. Upon hearing Jiang Chengs definitive response, Liang Lu finally felt much better. She had inquired about it, and the Immortal Sects were connected by Teleportation Arrays, although they were expensive. In any case, they offered hope. Once her cultivation improved and the resources and status she gained increased ordingly, seeing Jiang Cheng wouldnt be difficult. Speaking of which, if you are going to Taixu Sect, what about Lin Yao? Jiang Cheng asked.
Liang Lu frowned: Shes currently receiving more attention than I am. It stands to reason that if I can enter Taixu Sect early, she shouldnt be doing any worse. Jiang Cheng thought about it and felt that some things needed to be said now, or it would be toote once Lin Yao entered Taixu Sect and encountered the Hehuan Sect Elders. He made a decisive move and chose to send amunication talisman to Lin Yao. Hello? Elder Brother Jiang? Liang Lu told me she was going to Taixu Sect, what about you? Hehe, is Elder Brother trying to keep Yaoer? As long as Elder Brother says the word, Yaoer doesnt have to go anywhere, Talk seriously. Hmm I havent heard anything yet. Liang Lu and I are at the Immortal Sect Tea House across from Lotus University. Come over and then well talk, Jiang Cheng said. Ah? Shes there too? Lin Yao was quick to arrive, seemingly not wanting to let Liang Lu and Jiang Cheng spend too much time together. The old rivals met, and the atmosphere was still filled with tension. It seemed even their res were shing.
Jiang Cheng ignored the two of them, took out the Dayan Sect Disciples roster, and invited Lin Yao to join Dayan Sect. Lin Yao dly epted. However, upon seeing that Liang Lu was a True Disciple, she demanded to be a True Disciple as well. These were all minor details. Jiang Cheng had Lin Yaoe here to change the predetermined storyline and let Lin Yao get in touch with Hehuan Sects cultivation technique ahead of time. Jiang Cheng realized that instead of letting Lin Yao be swayed by the Elders of the Hehuan Sect, it was better for her to be influenced directly by the Dayan Sect. After all, Dayan Sect now also had the Hehuan Sects cultivation techniques. And Dayan Sect was, after all, genuinely a Demon Sect. With Lin Yao joining Dayan Sect, she would still fulfill the role of the Demonic Tao Enchantress in the setting, without any issues. Take good care of this storage bag, and only open it after entering Taixu Sect, Jiang Cheng handed Lin Yao a storage bag containing the Hehuan Sects cultivation technique, along with an instruction manual he wrote, telling her to start practicing the Hehuan Sects cultivation technique at the right time. He suggested that she should make her master aware and not be secretive about it, as that could lead to misunderstandings. Watching Jiang Cheng take care of Lin Yao, Liang Lu felt envious, and although she didnt voice it, her eyes carried a hint of wistfulint, seemingly using Jiang Cheng of favoritism. Jiang Cheng thought to himself that being the Sect Master of Dayan Sect was indeed no easy task. Aside from worrying about the development of the sect, he also had to ensure fair treatment of all sect disciples. Even giving gifts required equal consideration for everyone. True Disciple Liang also has a storage bag. Here are some first and second-tier talismans, use them sparingly. Once theyre used up, there are no more, Liang Lu happily epted the storage bag, but as for Jiang Chengs remark once theyre used up, there are no more, she didnt believe it. Previously, Jiang Cheng had said he wouldnt sell her life-saving talismans, but now wasnt he allowing her to use them? The rtionship just wasnt well established yet. By staying in closer contact with Jiang Cheng, she could have ess to all the talismans she needed! Chapter 315: 245: Don’t Rush to Give Up Chapter 315: Chapter 245: Dont Rush to Give Up After receiving Master Yun Shus information, Yusheng, who had been repeatedly urged by Li Anchengs Sound Transmission Talisman, immediately grabbed Jia Shanchuan and rushed to North Forest Peak at the fastest speed. Though they were quick, Tongtian Sect was located among countless mountains, covering an extremely vast area. Even for two Nascent Soul cultivators flying at full strength, it took them most of the day to reach the base of North Forest Peak. They set offte, and by the time they arrived, it was already the dim light of early morning. Normally, the mountains where cultivators reside are protected by formations, and North Forest Peak was no exception. After Yusheng and Jia Shanchuan, the two demons, arrived at the base of North Forest Peak, they didnt encounter Master Yun Shu but ran into the Enforcement Hall monks who came to confiscate the rights to use the mountain. There were many monks in Tongtian Sect, and Yusheng didnt recognize these few. He only saw that the one leading them had an extremely thick aura, his cultivation level was above Divinity Transformation, probably in the Void Refinement Realm! The others were all at the Divinity Transformation and Nascent Soul cultivation levels. Yusheng stood with his hands in his sleeves, silently observing with Jia Shanchuan. Yusheng had grown up in the Immortal Sect since he was a child. His vision was extraordinary, and he was used to seeing the highly-touted Divinity Transformation ancestors and Void Refinement powerhouses in the sect. The Enforcement Halls Void Refinement cultivator shouted loudly at the base of North Forest Peak, ordering Master Yun Shu toe forward to ept punishment and hand over the rights to North Forest Peak!
But the entire North Forest Peak was silent; it was as though Master Yun Shu wasnt at home. After chastising for half an hour, the Void Refinement cultivator of Enforcement Hall huffed and said, Well, if so much shouting doesnt make Yun Shu show herself, she must not be within this peak. It seems wevee in vain this time, hmph, we can only wait for her to return to the peak to cultivate, and well visit again, making sure she admits her guilt and epts punishment! After the group from Enforcement Hall said their goodbyes, Jia Shanchuan pulled Yusheng forward. Yusheng asked curiously, Old Jia, if Master Yun Shu isnt here, why are we still here? Jia Shanchuan burst outughing and said, Lets wait until the Void Refinement elder has walked a bit farther, so as to not cause him to lose face. His words, overly strong with inner energy, allowed the Enforcement Hall group, who had yet to walk far, to hear everything clearly. The few Divinity Transformation and Nascent Soul cultivators suddenly looked towards the Void Refinement monk. The Void Refinement cultivator kept a straight face, expressionless, but inwardly he was awkwardly searching for a three-bedroom, one-living room ce to stay. It wasnt his first timeing to find Master Yun Shu, but what use was there in himing? If Master Yun Shus own father couldnt control her, what could he, a mere Void Refinement, do? Each visit to the base of North Forest Peak was nothing more than a gesture to show that the Enforcement Hall was still working. Not far away, the Void Refinement monk coughed lightly, and Jia Shanchuans smile instantly froze on his face, then he couldnt muster up a smile at all. Half an hourter, Yusheng, who received another Sound Transmission Talisman, couldnt take it anymore. Old Jia, the Enforcement Hall group has really gone far now! Only after Jia Shanchuan confirmed that the Enforcement Hall Void Refinement monk was far away did he feel relieved, and he imitated the Enforcement Halls style to greet, Junior Jia Shanchuan, along with my friend Yusheng, pays respect to Master Yun Shu. Im not here. A light and gentle voice, like the tinkling of wind chimes, floated down from North Forest Peak. Her voice was beautiful, but her tone contained a hint of annoyance. It was evident that she was irritated by the people from Enforcement Hall. Jia Shanchuan said, Its over, we unluckily ran into Enforcement Hall; it seems we have no chance today. Shall wee back in a week?
Yusheng shook his head repeatedly, not to mention a week, even one more day would get him nagged to death by Liang Kingdom. If Master Yun Shu wasnt avable, he would still need to hurry to find someone else, as he couldnt afford to dy even a day. He had no choice but to take a risk! Yusheng spoke up, Foxtail Grass Demon Yusheng pays respect to the master! I beseech the master toe out for a discussion, I have a n that can relieve you of Enforcement Halls troubles!
Youre the Foxtail Grass Demon? The voice came from Yushengs right side. Yusheng quickly turned his head and saw a breath-takingly beautiful female cultivator assessing him with curiosity. The female cultivator had alluring eyes and rosy cheeks, azy demeanor, snow-white skin, and a tall and voluptuous figure, clearly raised with abundant nurture and care from a young age. Yusheng hastily bowed and said, I pay my respects to the master. The name Foxtail Grass Demon sounds peculiar, but doesnt seem to have anything special. Im leaving, Master Yun Shu quickly lost interest in Yusheng, waved her hand, and turned to leave. Yusheng was rmed and quickly said, Master, wait, I have a n that can solve Enforcement Halls troubles! I dont want to take on apprentices, Master Yun Shu called back without turning her head. Seeing this, Jia Shanchuan sighed, It seems we have failed. But Yusheng was not ready to give up, Could it be, Master, that youre avoiding taking apprentices because its too troublesome? I assure you, the apprentice I introduce will not trouble you in the slightest. Master Yun Shu paused, turned her head, and gave Yusheng another look. Although she imed to have founded a sect, her reluctance to take disciples over the years truly stemmed from finding the teaching too troublesome. She herself didnt want to cultivate, so how could she have the patience to teach disciples?
Was sleeping soundly not delightful? Was reveling in wine and fun not delightful? To her, taking on disciples was an absolute burden. But if it meant not having to worry about them, that was a different matter. After all, if she didnt take disciples, the Enforcement Hall woulde every year to make noise, which was quite annoying. Seeing Master Yun Shu hesitate, Yusheng was overjoyed. He quickly stepped up to Master Yun Shus side, adeptly took out a flyer, with all of Jiang Chengs relevant information on it. Master, please take a look at Jiang Cheng. Hes an excellent apprentice with high cost-effectiveness. Right now, hes only a freshman and hasnt yet taken exams, so its the perfect time to get him for a bargain! Yushengs actions were quite skilled, as though he had been honed through simr experiences in worldly society. Master Yun Shu looked over the flyer for Jiang Cheng and mused, He does have a pleasing look. Everything you said just now, is it all true? Chapter 316: 245: Don’t Be Too Hasty to Give Up_2 Chapter 316: Chapter 245: Dont Be Too Hasty to Give Up_2 Junior guarantees there is not a word of falsehood! Yusheng hastily assured, Jiang Cheng is especially good at self-study. After you take him as your disciple, even if you let him be, there is no need to worry about his cultivation progress. Moreover, he is kind-hearted, has an excellentwork, and enjoys a wide reputation in the Liang Kingdom. Of course, his greatest strength is his particr ability to follow rules and regtions, he will absolutely not engage in any uwful or disorderly conduct. I stake my reputation on this, Master, you can bepletely at ease! Afterward, Yusheng went on to spell out all of Jiang Chengs various strengths to Master Yun Shu. He talked about him being a talismanic genius, being good at investment and financial management, and more, practically praising Jiang Cheng to the skies. Master Yun Shu furrowed her beautiful eyebrows; of course, she wouldnt believe all the hype from Yusheng. The things she valued most were only two, one was that he wouldnt need her instructionbecause she waszyand the other was that he would follow the rules without giving her any troublebecause she waszy. One less thing to manage, and two, no botherisnt such a disciple as good as having none at all? Looking at it this way, Jiang Cheng seemed to be quite suitable indeed. Master Yun Shu delicately pinched the leaflet with her slender fingers, arched her willow brows, and once again confirmed with Yusheng, Everything you just mentioned, is it all true? Master, rest assured! Not a single word is untrue! Master Yun Shu nodded slightly, Then when can hee? Yushengs heart surged with joy, and he thought to himself how it wasnt easy at all! He finally found someone to take over! Two, no, within one month!
Alright then, lets leave it at that, Master Yun Shu said contentedly and gracefully returned to her residence on the mountain peak. Yusheng, controlling his ted emotions, only began to hastily take out a long-distancemunication talisman to contact Li Ancheng after he was far away from North Forest Peak. Upon hearing Yushengs news, Li Ancheng instantly let out a sigh of relief. On one hand, he was worried that Yusheng wouldnt be able to find a suitable candidate, and on the other, he was concerned that after finding a suitable candidate, Jiang Cheng would be unsatisfied with them. Now that he saw Master Yun Shus message, Li Ancheng finally felt at ease. Li Ancheng might not have known Master Yun Shu well enough, but Wan Yue Mountain Master Li Ancheng was a name that thundered in his ears. Because the Tongtian Sect was actually an organizational form of a small sect alliance, it was somewhat simr to the United Nations on Earth, where major sects within the smaller ones needed to act as Permanent Council Sects. Wan Yue Mountain was one of the seven Permanent Council Sects within the Tongtian Sect. Of course, there is no such term as Permanent Council within the Tongtian Sect; they are generally referred to as great pirs. It implies that the seven great inheritances stand firm from earth to heaven, holding up the entire realm of the Tongtian Sect. Master Yun Shu, being the daughter of the Wan Yue Mountain Master, cant be too far off the mark either! Moreover, with her bearing the great pir inheritance, her spells and divine abilities are amongst the very best; Jiang Cheng would have no reason to disapprove! With Master Yun Shu agreeing to take on a disciple, Jiang Cheng dly proceeded, and the great matter was set to seed! Now, the only thing left was to find someone to ry the news to Jiang Cheng. Li Ancheng didnt hesitate and activated amunication talisman to reach out to Gao Miao. Upon hearing everything, Gao Miao couldnt help but gasp in astonishment! All of them were cultivators of the Tongtian Sect; the significance of a pir sect was well known to him. Formon sects like theirs, they could only take official positions in remote ces like the Liang Kingdom, while pir sects could pick prosperous and close areas to the Tongtian Sect! Lots of money, little work, ample benefits!
Iparable to the Liang Kingdom. Whats more, Jiang Chengs master was not just anyoneshe was the daughter of the Sect Leader! Gao Miao felt envious after hearing all this; what kind of luck did Jiang Cheng have? To be favored by such a richdy? But thankfully, with this, Jiang Cheng would certainly be leaving the Liang Kingdom!
Their branch could finally return to the mundane life of cultivating immortality! Somehow, he felt a bit reluctant to see Jiang Cheng go. Gao Miaoposed himself, activated amunication talisman and summoned Jiang Cheng to the Talisman Master Association. Jiang Cheng, hearing that Gao Miao had a big matter to discuss, thought that something major had cropped up again and hurriedly rushed over to him. What he encountered instead was a beaming smile. Hahaha, Jiang Cheng, congrattions, your talent is exceptional, and youve caught the eye of a senior from the Tongtian Sect who wishes to take you in as a disciple, as an Inner Sect Disciple, in advance! Gao Miao patted Jiang Chengs back heartily, showing his appreciation. Jiang Cheng was utterly baffled. He couldntprehend who would take the trouble to pay attention to the Liang Kingdom and then to him. You should know, the Liang Kingdom was still under the jurisdiction of the Gen Mountain Branch, equivalent to a prefecture-level city; he was studying in a school under a prefecture-level city, akin to a township level. And yet he caught the attention of a preeminent cultivator from an Immortal Sect? ` So, who is that senior? Sit down, let me tell you all about it. The person interested in you is called Master Yun Shu, in the Perfect State of Spiritual Transformation, and everyone outside refers to her as Master Yun Shu. I say this, and you might not grasp the concept, but you must have heard of Wan Yue Mountain Sect, havent you? Wan Yue
Gao Miao chattered on excitedly, looking as if he was the one being taken as a disciple, not Jiang Cheng. As for Jiang Cheng, he had a slightly astonished expression on his face. Gao Miao thought he was unfamiliar with Yun Shu, but that wasnt the case; he knew about Yun Shu. This Yun Shu, like Lin Yao and Liu Qing, was also one of the plot leadingdies in the game. Unlike the enchantress Lin Yao and the demoness Liu Qing, Yun Shu came from the Wan Yue Mountain Sect and was a true-blue righteous person. If Lin Yaos plot was Chaos of the Enchantress, and Liu Qings was Turmoil of Mount Tian, then Yun Shus would be Cultivating Immortality Xiaoyan. Yun Shus talent for cultivating immortality was excellent, andpared to the likes of Liang Lu, who couldnt be considered untalented but should be considered incapable of cultivating immortality. But Yun Shus problem was that she had lived toofortably under her fathers protection, and despite her unbeatable talent, she was absolutelycent. Not only had the other geniuses of her generation surpassed her, but gradually, even some of her juniors were overtaking her. Latterly in the Turmoil of Mount Tian, a certain serpent took action, causing Yun Zaiyuan from Wan Yue Mountain, who was at the early stages of Mahayana, to fall two realms, leading to a sudden decline in Yun Shus family fortunes. Originally unruly, she suddenly experienced being neglected, mocked, and looked down with disdain C the Pain of Xiaoyan. So, Yun Shu finally woke up to reality, cast aside herziness, reflected on her pain, and strove for improvement. Picking up the cultivation techniques she had abandoned for hundreds of years, she stepped up, making a scene and pping faces, bing stronger with every move. Eventually, she was elected as the Sect Leader of Tongtian Sect, bing an influential Mahayana Cultivator. If it were the original plot, Jiang Cheng would absolutely not be a disciple of Yun Shu.
What was he after? Her idleness? Or her familys fall from grace? But now things were different; with a certain serpent to support him, the Turmoil of Mount Tian most likely would not recur. Without the Turmoil of Mount Tian, Wan Yue Mountain Master Yun Zaiyuan would not be injured, resulting in no loss of his realm. Therefore, theoretically speaking, Yun Shu would not have suffered a major cmity and would always be a wealthydy. Even though Yun Shu is idle, she is rich! Even though Yun Shu isnt dedicated to the proper pursuits, she is rich! Even though Yun Shu isnt ambitious, she is rich! As a master, Yun Shu indeed has many shorings. But whats the good news? These ws belong to her, not Jiang Cheng! If Jiang Cheng himself is ambitious, isnt that enough? Moreover, bing a disciple of Yun Shu allows him to lean on the big tree that is Wan Yue Mountain Sect, providing much convenience whether in cultivation or job-seeking C improving his cultivation level in the first few years, andter securing an easy job as an elder should be no difficulty!
Then, theres the retired life that Jiang Cheng has longed for. Jiang Cheng, this is a great opportunity to enter Tongtian Sect! What do you think? Gao Miao looked at Jiang Cheng expectantly. Jiang Cheng nodded and said, Indeed, its good. Thats great! Gao Miao pped his hands, Ill contact the Helmsman right away Hold on a moment, President Gao, I still have something I want to clear up. What is it? This Tongtian Sect, can only I go? Of course, Master Yun Shu only wants one disciple. You should grasp such a great opportunity fast. Far from being pleased upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng frowned and said, Then, what if I want to bring a few more people? Do you have a way to arrange that, President Gao? Gao Miao thought Jiang Cheng was joking andughed, The rules of Immortal Sects are strict; what can I do? If thats the case, Id better wait and goter. Alrighty, Ill just Gao Miaos smile began to freeze, What did you say? Jiang Cheng honestly said, You know, I have a friend whocks self-care ability. If I go to Tongtian Sect alone, Im afraid she might get into trouble. Gao Miao spoke seriously, Its not easy for Tongtian Sect to have a senior willing to take you as a disciple, dont be too greedy! Jiang Cheng sighed and said, I know its a rare opportunity, but my friend is also important. If it really doesnt work out, I can only take the unified exam to enter Immortal Sect in two years. As soon as he heard that Jiang Cheng wouldnt go, Gao Miao immediately panicked. Hold on, dont rush to give up. Ill ask the Helmsman again; maybe theres still a chance? Chapter 317: 246 Heading to Tongtian Sect Chapter 317: Chapter 246 Heading to Tongtian Sect Experience proved that nothing is impossible with enough effort. After Jiang Cheng demanded If Liu Qing doesnt go, neither will I, the Tongtian Sects Liang Kingdom subrudder immediately convened a brainstorming session. The topic of the meeting was how to bring a female cultivator with average talent, no distinguishing features, and not even part of the Tongtian Sects system into their ranks. Jiang Cheng, at least, was a university student with a special talent for talismans, a model for an elite disciple with no issues. Liu Qing, on the other hand, was a nk te, just like when Jiang Cheng first recruited her, one of the those who knew nothing and had no background. In the end, it was Dean Jian, a man of vast experience, who proposed a feasible n a family visit visa. Jiang Chengs requirement was to bring Liu Qing into Tongtian Sect, not to have her epted as a disciple. Since it was all about getting her inside, a family visit was much easier than taking on a disciple. As long as Liu Qing passed the Tongtian Sects checks and didnt have any sensitive identities like demonic cultivators or monsters, she could stay inside the sect with a family visit visa. Of course, under these circumstances, Liu Qing wouldnt have the rights of a Tongtian Sect disciple, but Jiang Cheng had no such requirements in the first ce. As long as he could bring her inside, it would be a sess! Theres no issue with your friend, we can find a senior for you. Under the identity of that seniors rtive, we will help her process a family visit pass, Gao Miao found Jiang Cheng again to provide him with thetest updates.
Jiang Cheng nodded. As long as Liu Qing could get in, it didnt matter whether she was a disciple or not. She wasnt after the resources within Tongtian Sect and besides, there werent many in the sect who could teach her how to cultivate. Seeing Jiang Chengs satisfaction, Gao Miao smiled and asked, So, Jiang Cheng, when do you n to depart for Tongtian Sect to meet your master? A normal person would have agreed eagerly and rushed off to the Immortal Sect. After all, the opportunity to join an Immortal Sect was precious and dys could lead to unexpected changes! But Jiang Cheng calmly replied, I beg your pardon, senior, I have other matters to attend to. Once theyre dealt with, I will go to Tongtian Sect immediately. How long will it take approximately? At shortest, half a year; at longest, a year. What kind of matters do you have? Jiang Cheng discussed the situation of the remaining two core disciples of the Dayan Sect with Gao Miao. Originally, they were supposed to go to Tongtian Sect first, and Jiang Cheng would deal with the aftermath, but now the roles were reversed, so he had to prepare for the aftermath in advance. Gao Miao now understood; all this talk of handling aftermath was an excuse! Jiang Cheng clearly wasnt content with just bringing one person; he needed to bring two more! Fortunately, Yue Linger and Shen Menghan were actually much more normal than Jiang Cheng, and their talents were sufficient. Passing the graduation exam to enter Tongtian Sect wouldnt be a problem. Most importantly, finding them a master didnt require the same strict no returns condition that Jiang Cheng demanded. In the end, it was Li Ancheng who pulled some strings, asking a Divinity Transformation Realm senior sister who had recently established a Sect and was in need of people to take in two core disciples from the Dayan Sect. After all arrangements were made, it was a done deal for the main forces of Dayan Sect to head to Tongtian Sect. Ill take you to the Gen Mountain Branch first. Youll use the teleportation array there to go directly to the second formation hall outside Tongtian Sect. Someone will receive you there, On the Flying Boat, Gao Miao patiently exined the situation to Jiang Cheng and the others. With Jiang Cheng close to leaving Liang Kingdom, they had to be extra careful to avoid any carelessness that could causeplications. The journey from Liang Kingdom to Gen Mountain Branch required two days and nights of travel by Flying Boat. During this time, Jiang Cheng and the others would live and cultivate on the Flying Boat.
If they didnt rely on the teleportation array and instead took the Flying Boat to Tongtian Sect, it would take almost a month. With so many potential risks along the way, it was unknown what incidents could take ce. Therefore, despite its cost, the teleportation array was chosen for efficiency and safety. Jiang Cheng, were about to arrive at the Immortal Sect. Im a bit nervous. They say every disciple there is a cultivation genius. What if we cant keep up with the cultivation and get eliminated? Yue Linger expressed her and Shen Menghans concerns. Compared to Jiang Cheng, although they were excellent students at Lotus University, they wouldnt be considered outstanding in the Immortal Sect. Jiang Cheng smiled and replied, Dont worry. As long as you dont majorly screw up, Tongtian Sect doesnt eliminate disciples. Its just that if you dont have a talent for cultivation, you wont be allocated many resources. However, that mainly depends on your own Sect. Some Sects are wealthy, and their disciples arent short on resources. And besides, were from the Dayan Sect, with the Dayan Sects cultivation methods, so we wont fall behind in cultivation. Whats there to fear?
Yue Linger looked at the calm faces of Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing and asked in wonder, Why arent you two nervous at all? Jiang Cheng didnt know if Liu Qing was nervous, but he was definitely a bit anxious. Thats because Tongtian Sect had security checks, and if the checks were too effective and Liu Qing got exposed, it would be the end of the line. But it shouldnte to that, as Liu Qing was a Mahayana cultivator. To detect a Mahayanas magical treasures, formations, and talismans, the equipment would need to be at least at the eighth order. What did that mean? It meant that a Mahayana cultivator would need to stand at the entrance with a magical treasure and act as a security machine. Not to mention that Tongtian Sect was vast, there wouldnt just be one entrance. Although there were many Mahayana cultivators in Tongtian Sect, who among them wasnt a powerhouse in their own right? Would they have the spare time to stand guard at an entrance every day? To have a Mahayana cultivator standing at the entrance with magical treasures was like using a nuclear bomb to kill a mosquito. As long as the mosquito didnt show itself, it could wear down a force that continuously maintained arge number of nuclear bombs. Jiang Chengs spection was soon confirmed when they arrived at the Gen Mountain Branchs teleportation array, which had a magical treasure inspection device to evaluate whether the cultivators using the teleportation array posed any risks. Chapter 318: 246 Heading to Tongtian Sect_2 Chapter 318: Chapter 246 Heading to Tongtian Sect_2 The inspection talisman only had a fourth-tier rating and could inspect cultivators below the Nascent Soul level. When that uniformed female cultivator tells you to do something, just do it. Ive asked Yue Linger and Shen Menghan to go ahead of you. Watch how they pass through, Jiang Cheng said to Liu Qing. Liu Qing nodded, signaling that she understood. Before inspecting the magical treasures, Yue Linger and Shen Menghan naturally passed without any issues. When it was Liu Qings turn, the atmosphere inevitably became tense. Raise your hands and turn in a circle. Alright, next, said the female cultivator in charge of security inspection very sinctly. Seeing that Liu Qing had passed the check smoothly, Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. In this way, there shouldnt be any problems. Although everything went normally for Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng himself encountered a slight problem because he practiced a cultivation technique from the Shadow Puppet Sect, which belonged to the less dangerous third-tier Demon Sects. After registering his name at the security point, Jiang Cheng also passed the inspection. Since the teleportation array required charging, even though Jiang Cheng and his group had passed the security check, they couldnt immediately activate the array for ultra-long-distance teleportation. However, fortunately, there was a timetable at the waiting area, and there wasnt much time left before the activation of the array. Compared to the bustling stations on Earth, the waiting room used by cultivators seemed very leisurely. This was mainly due to the convenience of storage bags. Even with arge-scale move, one could do so effortlessly and as light as a swallow.
The teleportation array is about to be fully charged. Passengers going to the second hall of the Tongtian Sect, please stand in the teleportation array. If you are traveling in a group, it is best to hold each others arms to avoid being scattered after teleportation, announced the waiting room. Following the announcement, the group of four from Jiang Cheng stood in position within the array. There was a minor hup during the arm-holding step because Jiang Cheng only had two arms; he couldnt hold onto three people. In the end, it was Yue Linger who was smart enough to generously give her arm to Shen Menghan and chose to wrap her arms around Jiang Chengs waist instead. The only regret was that the teleportation process was too short; Yue Linger hadnt even warmed up yet when they had already arrivedat the second hall of the Tongtian Sect, located at the foot of the mountain! You must be Jiang Cheng, right? Come to think of it, Ive seen you at Lotus Cloud University before, said a voice. Elder Yu Sheng had been waiting outside the hall early. For him, a Nascent Soul powerhouse, to wait for four Qi Refining cultivators was something only Li Ancheng could make him do. However, Yu Sheng didnt put on airs; he just wanted to get these few settled as soon as possible to be done with it. You must be Elder Yu Sheng, right? May I ask, when have you seen me? I dont seem to have any impression of you, Jiang Cheng said politely. You definitely dont have any impression; Im just a piece of foxtail grass. Haha, these are all trivial matters, lets not dy. Your masters are all waiting anxiously; lets hurry over, said Elder Yu Sheng. With a wave of his hand, Elder Yu Sheng summoned a Horse Carriage Talisman from his storage bag, inviting Jiang Cheng and the three others to board. Elder Yu Sheng was certainly familiar with the Tongtian Sect; after Liu Qing safely passed through the sect gates sixth-tier inspection talisman without any trouble, the Horse Carriage Talisman sped off, shuttling through the vast mountains. Even though we have arrived at the Tongtian Sect, the sect is known to have thirty thousand mountains, and its size is not inferior to a medium-sized country, Elder Yu Sheng exined. Yue Linger was astonished: Isnt that bigger than Liang Kingdom? Its a bitrger, but not by much. The main issue is the multitude of mountains. Without relying on a flying artifact, you wouldnt get very far just on your legs. After you join the sect, you had best quickly reach Foundation Establishment to make traveling more convenient. As for flying artifacts, you dont need to worry about those, as the sect provides public flying boats. If you dislike the public flying boats, you can also save up Contribution Points and exchange them at the treasure hall or find some materials and have an Artifact Refiner customize one for you. Elder Yu Sheng answered any question as he drove the Horse Carriage Talisman, in a good mood. Jiang Cheng pondered for a moment, then asked, Elder Yu Sheng, do you know what the requirements are to be an elder in the Tongtian Sect? Elder Yu Shengs smile froze. He didnt actually know how to be an elder.
At the very least, one must have reached the Divinity Transformation Realm. Divinity Transformation is still too far off for you; without a few hundred years of effort, you couldnt even touch that realm. Even I am only at Nascent Soul, not knowing when I will be able to advance to Divinity Transformation. Now, look at that mountain peak in front of us. Everyone followed Elder Yu Shengs pointing finger and saw a mountain covered in verdant bamboo. This peak is called Biyun Peak. Yue Linger, Shen Menghan, your master, Master Yunzhu, has founded a sect there. Elder Yu Sheng parked the Horse Carriage Talisman at the foot of Biyun Peak and said to Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing, Ill take the two of them up the mountain first, you wait here for a moment.
When it was time to part, Yue Linger and Shen Menghan seemed a little reluctant to leave. Jiang Cheng consoled them: In the future, itll indeed be a bit far, but once our cultivation level rises, a distance of thousands of miles will be no more than the blink of an eye. We are all fellow disciples, and there are no prohibitions between our mountain gates, where cant we go then? Yue Linger felt a bit better, yet still somewhat reluctantly said, Okay, then well leave first. Dont forget the cultivation technique from Dayan Sect. Got it. Jiang Cheng wasnt worried about the distance, because they had the cultivation technique from the Dayan Sect, at least until Nascent Soul, their cultivation levels wouldnt hit any bottlenecks. As long as you start your cultivation at the appropriate times every day, then you just need to wait for your cultivation level to improve. Having sent off Yue Linger and Shen Menghan, Elder Yu Sheng went down the mountain alone, boarded the horse carriage, and took the protagonist, Jiang Cheng, to meet Master Yun Shu. The distance to Master Yun Shus North Forest Peak was somewhat far. The two of them sat in the carriage for almost half a day before arriving at the ce. Your master is quite reasonable, he just prefers solitude, dont disturb her unless its necessary, Elder Yu Sheng advised Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng naturally agreed. In fact, when it came to understanding Yun Shu, Elder Yu Sheng was far less knowledgeable than him.
Master Yun Shu, Elder Yu Sheng brings Jiang Cheng for a visit! Elder Yu Sheng called out ording to custom from the bottom of the mountain, but no one answered. Just as he was about to inquire again, Jiang Cheng suddenly called out Master. Elder Yu Sheng turned around and saw Master Yun Shu appear behind him at some point, her arms crossed, sizing up Liu Qing. It seemed to her that Liu Qing was more intriguing than Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng kept a normal expression and, holding Liu Qings hand, subtly pulled her behind him. With his understanding of Yun Shu, she was currently at the Divinity Transformation Realm level and, not fond of cultivating, was likely to maintain this level for a long time. She had no reason to see through Liu Qings identity. Rather, unless the Sect Leader of Tongtian Sect personally scrutinized her, there was theoretically no chance of Liu Qing being exposed. Master, this is a friend of your disciple, her name is Liu Qing. Liu Qing, this is Elder Yun Shu, he introduced. Liu Qing remained unmoved, looking coldly at Yun Shu. Jiang Cheng, feeling anxious, pinched her hand, prompting her to reluctantly say, Elder. Master Yun Shu took a long stride forward, crossing a distance of a meter in an instant toe extremely close to Liu Qing. She reached out a jade-like finger, slowly approaching Liu Qing, and poked the face of a certain snake. Soft and smooth, the sensation was excellent.
Wow, your friend has really good skin, how did she manage that? Master Yun Shu asked in surprise. Elder Yu Sheng, upon hearing this, heaved a huge sigh of relief; he almost thought Liu Qing had ruined things and Yun Shu no longer wanted to ept Jiang Cheng as a disciple! He was scared to death. Jiang Cheng, pulling Liu Qing a bit further away, exined, Back to Master, she has been that way since childhood, probably naturally gifted with beauty. Elder Yu Sheng urgentlymunicated with Jiang Cheng through a transmission: You cant say that! Arent you implying that Master Yun Shu is less beautiful than your friend? Master Yun Shu, although carefree and uninhibited, is still a female cultivator; which one of them doesnt love beauty and refuses to be outdone? Indeed, Yun Shus beautiful face stiffened, and she questioned Jiang Cheng, So you are saying that I dont have natural beauty? Jiang Cheng, unruffled, replied with a bow, Master is naturally so, not only so, but also with Divinity Transformation beauty. My friend here only has Qi Cultivation beauty and still needs to learn from Master. Elder Yu Sheng listened and silently gave him a thumbs-up. He hadnt realized that natural beauty came in levels. Master Yun Shu might not have beenpletely fooled by Jiang Cheng, but seeing him stand up for his friend, she must have thought his heart wasnt bad. Hence, in a good mood, she tossed Jiang Cheng a token. With this token, you cane and go through the protective mountain formation as you please. Follow me up the mountain. Jiang Cheng thanked Elder Yu Sheng and excused himself, pulling Liu Qing through the mountain gates. He followed behind Master Yun Shu, thinking to himself: Atst, he could start the journey of focused cultivation under the guidance of his wealthy master!
Master Yun Shu led Jiang Cheng to the top of North Forest Peak. The ce was deserted all year round, with many buildings sitting empty. There should be plenty of vacant houses; you and your friend can just choose any ce to live. You are at the Qi Cultivation seventh level now, right? Once you reach the ninth level,e to the back mountain to find me, and I will help you snatch a few Foundation Establishment Pills. Apart from that, donte looking for me, Im very busy, Yun Shu said as she stretched in front of Jiang Cheng, disying her graceful figure. But Jiang Chengs focus wasnt on his beautiful master. Looking at the deste North Forest Peak, Jiang Cheng asked with some uncertainty, Master, did you just say snatch? Master Yun Shu, rubbing her sleepy eyes, said quite casually, Yeah, if you cant afford to buy, you have to snatch from others, right? Im tired now, well talkter if theres something. Chapter 319: 247 Self-Reliance Chapter 319: Chapter 247 Self-Reliance I was really foolish, truly. I only thought about how Yun Shu came from a wealthy family, but I forgot about her current situation! Atop North Forest Peak, Jiang Cheng held his head with both hands, filled with regret. In theory, Jiang Chengs guess wasnt wrong at all. Yun Shu had a Mahayana realm father and grew up with the backing of Wan Yue Mountain Sect, one of the seven main peaks of the Tongtian Sect. Resources, magical treasures, Spirit Stonesshe had everything she could wish for. But the problem is, just because Yun Shus family was rich, it didnt mean she was rich herself. Yun Shu is a richdy, but that doesnt mean she hasnt experienced poverty! The period Jiang Cheng had been witnessing was the poorest time in Yun Shus life! So poor that it stirred the heart, and she disyed a heroic spirit. Five hundred years ago, Yun Shu was only at the Core Formation stage, while many of her peers had already reached thete Nascent Soul stage or even the Divinity Transformation Realm! Wan Yue Mountain Master Yun Zaiyuan had urged her to study multiple times, but Yun Shu remained indifferent, carefree, and unmoved. Angered by herck of ambition, Yun Zaiyuan, despite the rarity of offspring for high-level cultivators, and having finally had a daughter, couldnt bear to expel his precious child from the family to fend for herself. In a moment of anger, he confined Yun Shu to her cave dwelling and set up a Divinity Transformation restriction to force her to cultivate. Although harsh, this method proved effective. Yun Shu, driven to madness by the confinement, with only dew to drink and utterly bored, found life meaningless. At that time, her cultivation level was Core Formation, and the level of the restriction was Divinity Transformation. To break out, she might as well just cultivate to Divinity Transformation in one go, then shatter the restriction and be reborn!
Yun Zaiyuans actions, while yielding great results, also caused a rift in the father-daughter rtionship. Yun Shu was ustomed to doing as she pleased and naturally did not want to be confined again. After gaining her freedom, she decisively left home and set up her own sect on North Forest Peak. Yun Shu indeed had money, but by now, five hundred years had passed since she came to North Forest Peak. She didnt care for cultivation, didnt take on missions, didnt engage in trading, had no idea how to manage finances, andcked thriftiness With all these bad habitsbined, it was only natural that her pockets were empty over time. However, relying on her fathers name, Yun Shu had been used to throwing her weight around within the Tongtian Sect and didnt think that being penniless was a big issue. But it was different for Jiang Cheng. Being a reasonable person, he naturally wouldnt practice Yun Shus brash ways, and of course, he couldnt even if he wanted to. Yun Shu was indeed very poor now, but the good news was, as long as her rtionship with her father improved, all financial problems would be easily solved. But then again, how long would it take for their father-daughter rtionship to improve? Ten years? Twenty years? A hundred years? Jiang Cheng was uncertain. Because a hundred years in the life of a high-level cultivator is just the time for one closed-door cultivation session. In history or game background stories, it only needs three words, a hundred yearster. But such light and breezy descriptions, for ordinary people at the Qi Cultivation Stage, mean an entire lifetime. While Jiang Cheng pursued a life offort, he wasnt just a pretty face. Now that he couldnt rely on Yun Shu, he could only try to be self-reliant. The first step in self-reliance was naturally to resolve the living arrangements with Liu Qing.
Though North Forest Peak had long been neglected, it was initially built to the standard specifications of a junior sect of the Tongtian Sect. A specialized construction team was responsible for the construction of the infrastructure. Although the facilities were covered in dust, fortunately, they wereplete. This was also why the Enforcement Hall always came to reim North Forest Peak. Yun Shu didnt take in disciples, which did not meet the conditions for upying a mountain peak, so the Enforcement Hall had to inventory the assets and hand over North Forest Peak to someone else. But now Jiang Cheng had arrived, so the crisis of North Forest Peaks closing was temporarily averted. The originally empty facilities, which Yun Shu had ignored, now all belonged to Jiang Cheng alone.
You sleep in this room, Im next door, Jiang Cheng said, pointing at two dormitories to Liu Qing. But Liu Qing obviously didnt want to. She was used to living with Jiang Cheng. Why couldnt she continue living with him? Two beds, Liu Qing nced at the double dormitory. Youre a female cultivator, Jiang Cheng tried to reason. Its fine. Jiang Cheng always felt that Liu Qing trusted him a bit too much. No matter how he looked at it, he was a male cultivator, naturally different from her. Theres a saying about men and women not giving or receiving anything from each other, wasnt Liu Qing afraid that he would take advantage of her? Perhaps she relied on her Mahayana cultivation level and indeed had nothing to fear. Well put a screen in the middle of the bed. Okay. After settling the living arrangements, the next step was to clean the dusty facilities. This would normally be an extremely time-consuming and tedious job, but fortunately, Jiang Cheng was a Talisman Master. Even if he learned a second-order dust removal Talisman right now, it would still be in time. A weekter, North Forest Peak waspletely transformed, looking clean and tidy, not like a ce that had been uninhabited for five hundred years.
Aside from drawing talismans and cleaning these past few days, Jiang Cheng also took the time to practice the Dayan Sect cultivation method discreetly, elevating his Qi Cultivation Stage from the seventh level to the ninth level. Yue Linger had just sent Jiang Cheng amunication Talisman yesterday, saying that she and Shen Menghan were ready for Foundation Establishment and would be out of contact for a few days, asking him not to worry. Jiang Cheng wasnt worried about Yue Linger and the others. With ample spiritual energy and excellent feng shui, the sess rate of Foundation Establishment was very high in the Immortal Sect, and failing would actually be quite strange. It was his own Foundation Establishment that he needed to think about. Jiang Cheng had quite a few Foundation Establishment Pills, which he had bought beforeing to the Immortal Sect. Therefore, his Foundation Establishment shouldnt be a problem. The main issue was Liu Qings Foundation Establishment, which was a bit troublesome. Liu Qings Foundation Establishment was purely a matter of cultivation improvement, and it wouldnt attract Heavenly Tribtion. If discovered by someone with intentions, it could easily reveal her identity, which was indeed problematic. Jiang Chengs solution was to have Liu Qing undergo Foundation Establishment with him! During Foundation Establishment, he would give Liu Qing an Electro-Purification Talisman to simte the effects of foundation establishments Heavenly Tribtion with a talisman. Chapter 320: 247 Self-Reliance_2 Chapter 320: Chapter 247 Self-Reliance_2 But Jiang Cheng felt his preparations might have been a bit too thorough, since the Tongtian Sect had thirty thousand great mountains and countless cultivators. Sneaking around and adding one more Foundation Establishment disciple like Liu Qing seemed unlikely to attract any attention. Not to mention others, even Yun Shu from the same peak didnt stir. Of course, she might not have been around, having gone off to y elsewhere. In any case, the specifics of Yun Shus whereabouts were unclear to Jiang Cheng. Not long after Jiang Chengs Foundation Establishment, the Internal Affairs Hall sent him his Disciple Jade Badge. The Disciple Jade Badge was akin to an identity card within the sect, with additional functions resembling a social security card, meal card, etc. It could record the number of Contribution Points a disciple had and the sect resources like cave dwellings they owned. Another most important function was that it reced the Reusable Typemunication talisman, enabling long-distancemunication with other jade badges, which was very convenient. What Liu Qing received instead was a temporary identity Jade Token, which had identification andmunication functions, but could not record Contribution Points or sect resources owned. After distributing the jade badges, the disciple from the Internal Affairs Hall lingered, hesitant and seemingly with something on his mind. Jiang Cheng asked curiously, Brother, may I ask if theres anything else?
The Internal Affairs Hall disciple said awkwardly, Junior Brother Jiang, theres something Im not sure whether I should address. But feel free to speak, Brother. Heres the thing, normally I should inform Junior Brother that as a new disciple of our sect, you are eligible to collect a New Disciple Care Package from the Internal Affairs Hall. A newbie gift pack, eh? I get it; its like those in games. Jiang Cheng asked, I can go collect it, and then what? Ahem, because the master of your peak owes the Internal Affairs Hall quite a bit in unpaid internal service fees, your Care Package has been temporarily withheld, the disciple said. Jiang Cheng: The Internal Affairs Hall disciple added, However, as long as you could persuade your master to pay the fees, the Internal Affairs Hall will certainly issue the Care Package as usual. Jiang Cheng cautiously inquired, May I ask how much exactly does my master owe? A thousand Contribution Points a year, and your master hasnt paid for over three hundred years. That would be more than three hundred thousand Contribution Points, said the Internal Affairs Hall disciple with a smile, adopting an expression that seemed to anticipate Jiang Cheng would settle the debt. But Jiang Cheng was likely to disappoint him. As a game designer, Jiang Cheng naturally understood the Contribution Point system of the Tongtian Sect. A thousand Contribution Points was about the annual ie of an average Foundation Establishment disciple. From this point of view, the internal service fee was quite expensive. But in the Tongtian Sect, only those above the Nascent Soul could establish their own mountain gates, and Yun Shu was a Divinity Transformation cultivator. She could easilyplete tasks and earn ten thousand Contribution Points at a time, so the fee wasnt excessive for them. For Jiang Cheng, however, it was indeed drastic as he had just advanced to Foundation Establishment and hadnt taken on a single task, leaving his Contribution Points bnce at zero. Alright, Brother, I got it. Ill definitely persuade Elder Yun Shu to pay up soon. Thank you, Junior Brother. Then I shall take my leave. Take care. After sending off a debt-collecting brother, Jiang Cheng heaved a quiet sigh of relief. This Immortal Sect life is nothing like what I imagined, is it?
He had envisioned riches and honor on his way here, only to find himself steeped in debt and prostration upon arrival. Yun Shu, what a trickster you are! Fortunately, the sect atmosphere was progressive,cking a tradition of disciples paying off their masters debts. Otherwise, Jiang Cheng was ready to flee in the night and defect to the Demonic Tao. Before Jiang Cheng had a moments peace, he heard a call from the base of the mountainanother visitor had arrived.
This time, it was a Nascent Soul old man. Young friend, who might you be? In reply to the elder, I am a disciple recently epted by my master, named Jiang Cheng. Good, good, and where is your master? I have something to discuss with her. Jiang Cheng tentatively asked, Elder, if Im not mistaken, Elder Yun Shu wouldnt happen to owe you something as well, would she? You can say that! The Nascent Soul old manmented earnestly, Ive been guarding the Immortal Peach Garden for five hundred years with utmost diligence, never once slipping up. Yet, starting from two hundred years ago, your master has been taking peaches from my garden as soon as they ripen each year. If only it ended there, but the key issue is your master never pays The Nascent Soul elder let out all his grievances like pouring rain, seemingly without end. After patiently listening, Jiang Cheng empathized deeply with the elders predicament and promised to talk to Yun Shu about it. Then, an Artifact Refiner elder paid a visit. He mentioned that Yun Shu had borrowed his magical treasures and never returned them, even taking away the luminous gemstones used for lighting in his home. And then, a Beast Tamer elder came by, but this time it wasnt about losing something or an unpaid debt. It was because Yun Shu had borrowed his Spirit Pigeon and returned it as promised a yearter. However, the pigeon came back looking haggard and even developed a fear ofying eggs, and it neverid another egg again. Situations like these were countless. Jiang Cheng was somewhat numb to it all.
At first, he felt that Wan Yue Mountain Masters decision to confine Yun Shu was too harsh, but gradually he came to realize that Wan Yue Mountain Master was doing a favor for the people ahead of time. However, Jiang Cheng also keenly observed that these disputes generally urred two to three hundred years ago. This meant that their dissatisfaction with Yun Shu mostly stemmed from Yun Shu being penniless. When Yun Shu had money, there probably wouldnt have been as many troubles. Even if there were, they could be smoothed over with money. After all, who doesnt like a generous wealthydy? Although Jiang Cheng sympathized with the elders unfortunate experiences, to be honest, there was nothing he could do about it. The debts his master owed, his master had to pay back; it wasnt really any of Jiang Chengs business. Yun Shu? He really didnt know her well. Even though Yun Shu hadnt been much help to Jiang Cheng, at least she didnt drag him down too much. As for debts and other disputes, they could wait until they reconciled in a few decades. Once Yun Shu became wealthy again, would she really not repay them? It wasnt a big deal. One day, Jiang Cheng went to the Tongtian Sects Resource Division to collect the basic sustenance resources distributed by the Immortal Sect. These sustenance resources were simr to the schrships given out to graduate students on Earthnot a lot, but better than nothing. Hello, Jiang Cheng from North Forest Peak.
Jiang Cheng took out his Disciple Jade Token and handed it to the sister in charge of distributing resources. The sister used a formation to scan Jiang Chengs Jade Token, but instead of disying the resource level, it showed ck. Im sorry, junior brother, the formation might be malfunctioning. Ill go and ask about it. Just a moment. Okay. Jiang Cheng, looking at the ck content, suddenly had a bad feeling. Soon, the sister came back. Im sorry, junior brother, theres no problem with our formation. Its that your sect has been cklisted by our Resource Division. Im not sure about the specific situation, I apologize. Jiang Cheng listened and was quite calm. What can I say, with precedent in mind, it wasnt surprising. Now he was just a bit curious about how many people Yun Shu had offended in the Tongtian Sect over these hundreds of years? To be targeted like this? But then again, being an unrecognized member within the Tongtian Sect wasnt a solution. Jiang Cheng was nning to raise his cultivation level and earn Contribution Points to be an elder. cklisted individuals couldnt be elders, after all. Forget it, theres probably no chance of freeloading on resources and Contribution Points now. I might as well go and check out the Task Hall nearby. Jiang Cheng said.
In the sect, Contribution Points were not only a form of money that could be used to purchase resources, but they were also a type of merit. When appointing public positions, what really mattered was a cultivators historical Contribution Points. In other words, how many tasks youve done, how much youve contributed to the sect. Ones personal Contribution Points could be increased through trading, bypassing the need for sect tasks. But historical Contribution Points only ounted for the points earned through tasks, they could only be umted through the number of taskspleted, and couldnt be increased by underhanded means. Under this system, cultivators who liked to coast along, like Yun Shu, simply couldnt be elders. But Jiang Cheng was different; he was hardworking, but his hard work was aimed at being able to coast along and enjoy life in the future, which wasnt a conflict. Inside Tongtian Sect were many outstanding talents, and the number of handsome men and beautiful women was immense. Even strong individuals like Yun Shu and Liu Qing wouldnt necessarily be noticed by others right away. Jiang Cheng, walking with Liu Qing to the entrance of the Task Hall, thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of not being the center of attention. Back in Liang Kingdom, whether it was Liu Qing, Liang Lu, or Lin Yao, all had imposed an unbearable weight of scrutiny on him. Jiang Cheng entered the Task Hall, trying to look for the familiar Talisman Section. But after a full search, he couldnt find any tasks rted to talismans. Left with no choice, he had to ask one of the halls staff members. Excuse me, sister. Id like to take on some talisman-rted tasks, but there doesnt seem to be a designated Talisman Section here. The sister exined with a smile, Our tasks are divided ording to the needs of those who post them. Trade-rted tasks are in the next hall over. Are you here to buy talismans or sell them? Chapter 321: 248 Extremely Dangerous Sect Mission Chapter 321: Chapter 248 Extremely Dangerous Sect Mission ` I want to sell talismans, Jiang Cheng dered. Alright, please follow me, came the reply. The female cultivator led the way, with Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing walking side by side behind her. Before long, the three arrived at the trading hall next door. The senior sister gestured on a screen in the hall, and after a moment, rows of scrolling text appeared on it. These are the talismans collected on behalf of the Task Hall. Which type does junior brother wish to sell? Jiang Cheng looked at the screen, which scrolled through various talismans names followed by their purchase price, using a mixed payment method of Contribution Points and Spirit Stones. ording to the information on the screen, first-tier talismans were mostly paid for with Spirit Stones only, and only second-tier talismans could earn Contribution Points, but the number obtainable was very scarce, only one or a few. In this way, selling talismans for Contribution Points waspletely hardbor. A single talisman for just a few Contribution Points, a hundred kinds of talismans for just a few hundred Contribution Points. However, when one thinks about it, it made sense, as the Immortal Sect was notcking in resources. Using talisman resources to trade with the sect naturally wouldnt yield much in return.
Realizing the situation, Jiang Cheng didnt pretend anymore, Senior sister, may I ask which kind of task within the sect can earn more Contribution Points? The senior sister pondered and said, Thats hard to say, but if I must, it would naturally be those tasks that no one is willing to undertake. These oftene with extremely high risks, even risking ones life, hence they can earn higher Contribution Points. Risk ones life? If people are risking their lives for tasks, then they indeed deserve high Contribution Points. Although Jiang Cheng wanted to rack up Contribution Points, he had no intention of gambling with his life. Moreover, this ce was the Immortal Sect, not the Liang Kingdom. With many experts in the sect, if he and Liu Qing encountered danger and Liu Qing lost her temper The aura of the unfamiliar Mahayana cultivator on her would certainly be detected by the Mahayana cultivators of the sect. That would truly be a major issue. Jiang Chengs dream of retiring would also instantly burst like a bubble. May I ask if there are any tasks that are rtively safe but also offer high Contribution Points? Jiang Cheng inquired. The female cultivators face revealed a strange smile, Actually, there are, but such tasks are often quite unusual. Would junior brother really like to take on one? Jiang Cheng said, Could I see them first? No problem. The three left the trading hall and returned to the Task Hall. With a few taps of her fingers, the senior sister presented Jiang Cheng with some unusual tasks. The publication dates of these tasks go as far back as a thousand years! They were like aged treasures and ever-fresh goods. Task one: Ingest an Inverse Yang Pill and assist the Spell Institute in researching the applicability of cultivation techniques. Males only. Reward: 100,000 Contribution Points. The Inverse Yang Pill was an elixir that dissipated ones vitality, simply put, chemical castration. After reading it, Jiang Cheng inwardly eximed, My goodness, this task is pure drug testing! No wonder the reward was so high and it had been hanging there unbimed for so long.
Task two: Oral hygiene, requiring regr teeth cleaning for the Spiritual Beasts of White Peak Heavenly Lake, with a certain degree of risk. Body Cultivators preferred. Reward: 10,000 Contribution Points. Task three: Prototype airship test pilot, requiring assistance with the Artifact Refining Institutes experiments with new airships. Experience in operating airships required, not afraid of death. Reward: 60,000 Contribution Points. One bizarre task after another made Jiang Cheng sweat profusely. No wonder no one took them; there were reasons for it.
After browsing, Jiang Cheng finally found a suitable task. Elixirs salesmanship, need to push a batch of stockpiled elixirs, with the ability to speak well and have good charisma. Reward: 10,000 Contribution Points, with additional Spirit Stonemission based on the number of sales Jiang Cheng silently recited the task details and then said to the Tongtian Sect senior sister, Senior sister, is there any other information you can provide about the elixirs salesmanship task? Just a moment, let me check. After looking up the tasks publication details, she exined, This task was issued by the Spirit nt Garden, apparently because one year there was a plentiful harvest of spirit nts, and the supply exceeded the demand, forcing them to refine some of the harvest into elixirs for storage. But this batch of elixirs has never been sold, and now they are probably about to expire. So, they were about to expire. Urgent time, heavy task, no wonder it offered both Contribution Points and a Spirit Stonemission. Jiang Cheng then asked, Senior sister, may I ask what kind of elixirs are they? Um It seems they are third-tier Recovery Pills. Recovery Pills. Recovery-type elixirs, put simply, were for restoring mana. They could help cultivators replenish a significant amount of the missing spiritual power within a short period and were generally taken duringbat to prolong the cultivators battle duration. Nowadays is an era of peace, with cultivators having fewer battles, hence the Recovery Pills had remained unsold for so long. Indeed, the senior sister nodded and said, Shall we look at the next one? No need, Ill take this task, Jiang Cheng said with a smile.
Ah? You just said its a peaceful age with no demand, yet you still want to take it? This batch of elixirs is probably not small, not that easy to sell. Junior brother, as your senior sister, I must remind you that partiallypleting such a task doesnt count aspletion, and others can refuse to pay you the Contribution Points. I know, thank you for the reminder, senior sister. Ill take this task, Jiang Cheng responded. Really a strange one, the senior sister muttered, but seeing Jiang Chengs calm expression, she felt he wasnt joking. Let it be, the young always aim high, and it may not be a bad thing to experience setbacks. The senior sister didnt try to dissuade Jiang Cheng any longer and efficiently helped himplete the procedures for taking on the task. After signing the contract, Jiang Cheng sessfully got the contact details of the person in charge of the Spirit nt Garden. Chapter 322: 248: Extremely Dangerous Sect Mission_2 Chapter 322: Chapter 248: Extremely Dangerous Sect Mission_2 Jiang Cheng used his Disciple Jade Badge to contact the person in charge of the Spirit nt Garden, Hello, is this Senior Zhou Tong? My name is Jiang Cheng, and Ive just taken on the task of promoting elixirs published by the Spirit nt Garden. There was an obvious hesitation from the other side of the Jade Token. Does the Spirit nt Garden have elixirs? Hold on, let me check. After a bout of rummaging, Zhou Tong said, Youre right, there are indeed some, but theyve been stored for quite a while, and their potency is only about half left. Jiang Cheng listened in silence, thinking to himself that the Spirit nt Garden really knew how to pile on the pressure. It was the Recovery Pills that were already hard to sell, and now with their effectiveness halved, they would be even harder to sell. However, he was prepared for this; if the task had been easy, how could it have hung there for so long without anyone taking it? How many are there? Around six thousand. Okay, I got it. Ill head to the Spirit nt Garden right away to discuss this in person with the senior.
After speaking, Jiang Cheng, together with Liu Qing, boarded a flying boat and set off toward the location of the Spirit nt Garden. The Spirit nt Garden was located quite remotely, and at the speed of a public flying boat, it would take about a day and a night to reach. Luckily, Jiang Cheng wasnt alone on this trip. When he got tired of flying, he could let Liu Qing take over. Liu Qing handling the flying boat was a piece of cake; the only thing to watch out for was not to use too much force and break the flying boat. So slow, Liu Qing said. Jiang Cheng earnestly taught her, Running fast doesnt always mean winning; not stumbling is what truly counts. Liu Qing: ? Just kidding. How about we y an exciting game of Go? Okay. Go was a game that Jiang Cheng had taught Liu Qing very early on. The reason for it being Go was simple because Jiang Cheng didnt know any other games. Outside the flying boat, the rapid wind and waves were repelled by Liu Qings spell, and the two of them sat inside the small flying boat, face to face, ying Go. In the game, Jiang Cheng had already set up his deadly three-in-a-row formation; with Liu Qings next move, he could lock in a victory with four pieces. However Seeing Liu Qings furrowed brows and her careful moves, Jiang Cheng sighed silently and then, identally ced a piece incorrectly, missing the chance to win. You should be able to win now, right? Jiang Cheng thought. Sure enough, Liu Qing saw the opportunity to win. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Jiang Cheng, you lost, Liu Qing dered, pointing at the board. Jiang Cheng looked at her with a smile in his eyes and said helplessly, Yes, I lost to you.
Again, she said. Alright. In the warehouse of the Spirit nt Garden, Jiang Cheng saw neatly arranged Recovery Pills stored in jade vials, about six thousand of them.
Theyre all here. If you can sell them, I can offer you a 20%mission on the selling price, Zhou Tong exined. Jiang Cheng nced at the dusty jade vials, How much do you intend to sell these Recovery Pills for, senior? Three thousand Spirit Stones, or thirty contribution points. Three thousand? Jiang Cheng eximed in surprise. Whats wrong? Three thousand seems like the price for fresh elixirs. These are stockpile elixirs; how can they still sell for three thousand? Zhou Tong said, somewhat embarrassed, We cant sell them too cheaply! These elixirs are the Spirit nt Gardens stock, and if we sold them cheaply, the Enforcement Hall woulde asking questions. Jiang Cheng understood; it seems that they really couldnt sell them at a low price, or else it would be suspected as misuse of authority. The Spirit nt Garden would take the loss if the elixirs didnt sell, but if they used their power for personal gain, it would be Zhou Tong himself who would be ruined. Yet like this, the pressure was transferred onto Jiang Cheng. Who would buy stockpile elixirs at full price when they could buy new ones for three thousand? Am I able to take these elixirs now? Jiang Cheng asked. Of course, was Zhou Tongs immediate response. He wasnt afraid of Jiang Cheng running away; in fact, if Jiang Cheng did run away, it would be even better. That way, the Spirit nt Garden could simply report the elixirs as stolen, which would be better than watching them expire.
Jiang Cheng got this batch of elixirs. Next, he needed to figure out how to sell the stock of six thousand pills, which were only half as effective, at the original price of three thousand Spirit Stones. The fastest way would be for Jiang Cheng to buy them himself. He wasnt short on Spirit Stones. But by doing so, he would lose eighteen million low-grade Spirit Stones, only to earn ten thousand Contribution Points. It was too much of a loss. He wasnt that wealthy yet. Since the task involved elixirs, Jiang Cheng invited Shen Menghan to North Forest Peak to discuss the matter. Although it wasnt Yue Lingers business, as a Jiang Cheng fanatic, she wouldnt miss any chance to stick to Jiang Cheng. Thus, unsurprisingly, the Dayan Sect team sessfully established a new base at North Forest Peak. Is there a way to restore the efficacy of the pills? Jiang Cheng looked towards Shen Menghan. Yes, but it will require new ingredients and reforging in the cauldron. The cost wont be much lower than making new elixirs, Shen Menghan said. Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, It seems that this method wont work. Yue Linger grinned, No worries, we can alwayse to North Forest Peak and discuss strategies with you. If we cant figure it out once, we can juste back a few more times.
Jiang Cheng, Yue, I can hear the gears turning in your head all the way from Liang Kingdom. Yue Linger stuck out her tongue and, still unsatisfied, pulled another face at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng looked at Yue Linger fondly, not angry at all, letting her be mischievous. It wasnt a bad thing for Yue Linger to be lively. In Dayan Sect, Liu Qing was aloof, Shen Menghan reserved, and Liang Lu dignified. They all relied on Yue Linger to liven up the atmosphere. As for Lin Yao, Jiang Cheng still didnt know what she was like in front of others. ording to Liang Lu, Lin Yao was quite serious when not around him, so serious that she was a bit of a loner. She couldnt imagine Lin Yao being that shameless around him. These were Liang Lus exact words, not Jiang Chengs. The Dayan Sect pooled their thoughts on how to sell elixirs, but that didnt include Liu Qing. Liu Qing wasnt involved in their discussions. She was focused on pouring tea for Jiang Cheng, asionally attending to Yue Linger and Shen Menghan. Sometimes Yue Linger envied Jiang Cheng so much. Liu Qing appeared cool and distant, but she was actually very warm-hearted and sensible, extremely stable emotionally, and never got angry. If Liu Qing showed even the slightest w, Yue Lingerthe daughter with ulterior motiveswould find a way to outdo her. But the problem was, Liu Qing had no ws. It was hard to even start criticizing her.
Jiang Cheng looked at the elixirs on the table and had a moment of inspiration: Liu Qing, do you have any ideas? Liu Qing blinked, not understanding. Jiang Cheng continued to prompt, Any ideas, just say them. How to sell these elixirs. Liu Qing shook her head and said to Jiang Cheng, I dont know, Ill listen to you. Yue Linger sighed deeply, thinking how could they fight this? It wasnt the empress governing the six pces that she feared, but an empress who was toopliant! Yet, Jiang Cheng still wanted to hear Liu Qings opinion, not wanting to exclude her from their discussion. Just say one. Liu Qing thought for a moment, then raised her fist. A delicate little fist, seemingly without any offensive power. Realizing something, Yue Linger eximed, Liu Qing means lets organize apetition. That way, there will naturally be a demand for the elixirs. Shen Menghan also guessed, Could it be forceful buying and selling, like what Miaodan Workshop did before? Liu Qing looked at Jiang Cheng, Yue Linger, and Shen Menghan, none of whom had guessed her intention. Jiang Cheng had guessed right, but he shook his head. So Liu Qing silently put down her fist. Her intention, if Jiang Cheng hadnt guessed wrong, was to go hammer the Tongtian Sect a bit, then after Tongtian Sect had been hammered, they would certainly be nervous, thinking the Mahayana from the Demonic Tao were attacking, and theyd rush to prepare for battle, which would sell the Recovery Pills. Although it sounded outrageous, Jiang Cheng did not doubt that was the snakes intention; she had always been so simple, direct, and effective. As for Jiang Chengs reason to dismiss her idea, it was simple: he wasnt sick, he was mentally healthy, and it was a response any normal person would have to her suggestion. But Liu Qings idea still provided Jiang Cheng with a whole new line of thought. Stockpiled elixirs werent the problem; as long as the timing was right, they couldpletely be sold. Yue, holding apetition wont work, because the cost of organizing one would exceed the profit from selling the elixirs, and others would prefer to use new elixirs. But your line of thinking is correct. We can sell the elixirs by creating a demand, only we need to find the right kind of demand. Chapter 323: 249: The Advantages of Old Elixirs Chapter 323: Chapter 249: The Advantages of Old Elixirs So, what kind of appropriate demand would there be for these stockpiled,mon, but unnecessary elixirs? Yue Linger asked. Shen Menghan added, I think the biggest problem is, this batch of stockpiled elixirs is being sold at the same price as new elixirs. Just imagine, whatever the demand may be, cultivators tend to buy new elixirs because the new and old are priced the same. Why would anyone buy the old ones? Is there anything that the old elixirs can do that the new ones cant? Yue Linger frowned, Senior sister makes a good point! No matter what demand we identify, the target customers would prefer to buy new Recovery Pills. These stockpiled elixirs have absolutely nopetitive edge! Jiang Cheng pondered and then said, If I have to say, there is indeed one thing that old elixirs can do, but new elixirs cant. Whats that? Everyone looked at Jiang Cheng, genuinely unable to think of any advantage that old elixirs might have over new ones. Age! The mark that time has left on this batch of elixirs! Jiang Cheng said. Isnt that a disadvantage? Yue Linger blurted out. In a sense, youre not wrong, because time has reduced the potency of these elixirs, thereby diminishing theirpetitive edge against the new ones. But it has also given them an advantage; that is, they are unique. Yue Linger was confused, Thats true, but what use is being unique? Only a fool would pay the original price for stockpiled elixirs.
Jiang Cheng gave a mysterious smile and said to Shen Menghan, Yue, could you tell me how many years it would take for a third-grade elixir to eventually lose half its potency? Shen Menghan thought for a moment, Generally, a third-grade elixir, if not stored with any protective measures, would take about one hundred and fifty years or so. The batch Jiang Cheng has here, with the jade bottle Here. Jiang Cheng handed the jade bottle containing the elixirs to Shen Menghan. Shen Menghan carefully examined the bottle and said, With the professional jade bottle sealing, the preservation effect will be greatly extended. This batch of Recovery Pills, I estimate they are over a thousand years old. Over a thousand years? Yue Lingers mouth twitched. Good grief, thats longer than the history of Liang Kingdom. No wonder the potency is only half what it used to be. These are ancient treasures. Jiang Chengughed and said, Even with the heritage of the Five Great Immortal Sects, it would not be easy to produce a batch of Recovery Pills that are over a thousand years old, would it? Shen Menghan nodded, Generally, mid to low-grade elixirs are not preserved for such a long time; they are made on-demand. This batch of elixirs was probably forgotten by the Spirit nt Garden, thats why theyve been stored for so long. Jiang Cheng was relieved, Ha, then our batch of Recovery Pills really is unique. Jiang Cheng, stop beating around the bush, what exactly do you n to do with these Recovery Pills? Yue Linger pouted at Jiang Cheng, seemingly very dissatisfied with his cliff-hanging antics. Jiang Cheng didnt rush to exin but instead lifted his teacup and asked in return, Yue, what in this world bes more valuable with age? Spirit Stones? Spirit Stones will disperse their Spiritual Energy if left for too long. Cultivation Techniques? Most of todays Cultivation Techniques are newly created or modified versions. Formation?
They require maintenance every year, otherwise, they would fall into disrepair. Antiquities? Antiquities are things that mortals like. In the Cultivation World, many ancients live longer than such objects. Yue Linger was itching with curiosity from Jiang Chengs remarks, having guessed multiple times without finding the answer, and it was making her almost unbearably restless.
Jiang Cheng~ just tell us, please, she begged. Setting down his teacup, Jiang Cheng smiled and said, Naturally, it is liquor! A thousand-year-old liquor, even within the Cultivation World, is a rare treasure. Yue Lingers eyes widened, You n to brew liquor with these elixirs? Is that not feasible? Uh Yue Linger turned to the professional, her good sister, Shen Menghan. Elixirs are concentrated forms of medicinal materials, and if you can brew medicinal liquor from medicinal materials, then theoretically, you should also be able to brew medicinal liquor from elixirs, Shen Menghan exined. Liquor brewed from third-grade elixirs and a thousand years old at that, surely wont be cheap, right? Im not expecting it to make a lot of money, just enough to recoup the cost of selling the elixirs would be fine. But who will brew it? Thats easy to handle, Jiang Cheng said as he stood up. Wouldnt it work to just post a task in the Task Hall? Theres bound to be someone who knows how. Jiang Cheng and the others were neers, not very familiar with the inner workings of the Tongtian Sect. In fact, even cultivators who have practiced within the Tongtian Sect for hundreds of years cannot im to fully understand it. At this moment, the benefits of the Task Hall became evident.
With a thousand Spirit Stones and a little bit of time, one can always get an answer. As expected, Jiang Chengs task was taken up by a senior brother. At the foot of North Forest Peak, Jiang Cheng smoothly met the senior brother who took on the task. My surname is Qiao, first name Jie, may I know how the junior brother addresses himself? Jiang Cheng. Qiao Jie smiled and said, Alright then, lets get straight to the point. In terms of brewing, the famous one has to be Bailiang Peak. Master Fuxian has been immersed in this craft for many years, not only masteringrge-scale brewing techniques but also having many disciples with an organized inheritance. Even those who set out on their own after leaving Bailiang Peak are quite numerous, almost dominating arge portion of our Immortal Sects territory. Jiang Chengs eyes lit up and asked, So Bailiang Peak is the leader in this field? Thats not necessarily the case. Then whats the point of brothers long talk? Qiao Jieughed heartily, Junior brother, as you said in the task, you want to find someone to help brew the liquor. Then Bailiang Peak is not suitable. Although Bailiang Peak isrge and well-provisioned, when ites to the quality of the product, they indeed fall short of some private works. Moreover, since you want someone to help, Bailiang Peak is even less appropriate, as they wouldn do not take on a special production line just to help with a junior brothers minor favor. Chapter 324 - 249: The Advantages of Old Elixirs_2 Chapter 324: Chapter 249: The Advantages of Old Elixirs_2 ` Since thats the case, which senior brother do you rmend? Master Ling Shu of Putuo Peak, Master Chi Yuan of Dayue Mountain, Master Ban Que of Long Peak, they are all well-known masters of wine brewing within the sect, junior brother may choose any one of them. Thank you, senior brother, I have confirmed thepletion of the task, you may collect the Spirit Stones, Jiang Cheng said with a bow of thanks. Haha, youre wee, youre wee, Qiao Jie said, beaming with joy. Getting Spirit Stones for answering a small question, he could wake upughing from his dreams at night. After listening to Qiao Jies introduction, Jiang Cheng did not take action recklessly; he truly did not understand brewing and had to hear a variety of opinions first. In the following days, Jiang Cheng met with quite a few senior brothers and sisters, roughly grasping theyout of the Tongtian Sects wine circle. Overall, Qiao Jies words held true; although Bailiang Peak dominated the market, most of the high-end wine in cirction within the Tongtian Sect came from the hands of small workshops. Moreover, small workshops naturally did not face any production line issues; as long as they had spare equipment, they could start brewing. Taking into ount the opinions of several senior brothers, Jiang Cheng eventually decided to visit Master Ban Que of Long Peak. Master Ban Que excelled at Elixir Wine, so choosing him for the production of Elixir Wine should be a safer bet. The next day, at Long Peak. Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing came to pay their respects to the mountain gate. The one who greeted them was a Core Formation cultivator. Is this junior brother here to find Uncle-Master Ban Que? Exactly. After a series of polite exchanges, Jiang Cheng sessfully met with Master Ban Que. Master Ban Que was an old man with a goat beard, his cultivation profound, much like Jiang Chengs master Yun Shu, seemingly in the Perfect State of Spiritual Transformation. So you are Jiang Cheng? I am, junior. Hmm. Master Ban Que nodded, his eyes half-closed as he sized up Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing, then asked, I see youve reached Foundation Establishment at neen; your talent is quite decent. Who did you study under? Jiang Cheng truthfully replied, I am a disciple of Yun Shu. Who!? Master Yun Shu. Jiang Cheng, fearing that Master Ban Que hadnt heard clearly, emphasized again with increased emphasis. Master Ban Ques expression suddenly changed, and he quickly waved his hands, saying, No, no, the disciple of Yun Shu wont do! Jiang Cheng froze, asking, May I ask why? Master Ban Que clenched his teeth and spat out bitterly, That damn girles to rob me when she runs out of wine! Its one thing to rob me of my regr wine, but she even goes for those that havent aged properly! Its a total waste of good wine! Jiang Cheng hurriedly tried to distance himself from Yun Shu, Master Ban Que, please see clearly, I am not close to Master Yun Shu, my masters actions should not reflect on his disciple! Master Ban Que, still fuming, grabbed Jiang Cheng and wouldnt stop talking about Yun Shus misdeeds! Among all my fellow cultivators, my cultivation level is the lowest! And Im in the same realm with that girl. As a result, that damn girl targeted only me to rob! She has no sense of propriety at all! Jiang Cheng mulled it over, then with high emotional intelligence said, Master Ban Que, Master Yun Shu only targets your wine; is there a possibility that she thinks your wine is peerless, the king of wines? However, Master Ban Que did not catch on to Jiang Chengs high EQ. He forcefully pped the stone table and said, Impossible! Absolutely not! My Elixir Wine is not that good! She robs me simply because I am in the same realm as her! Ah? Anyone with a higher cultivation level than her could defeat her, so of course, she wouldnt dare rob them! Then Master Yun Shu is quite clever, isnt she. Clever? She would have been beaten to death if she werent cunning Forget it. Master Ban Que stopped himself and finally said to Jiang Cheng, You should find someone else; I do not wish to help you. Chang Lu, see the guest out. The Core Formation cultivator named Chang Lu came to escort Jiang Cheng out. Jiang Cheng did not insist on staying; seeing Master Ban Ques attitude towards Yun Shu, even if he put a knife to his throat, he doubted he would help. Master Ban Que excels at Elixir Wine; he would have been the perfect person to help us brew Elixir Wine, what a pity. Liu Qing clenched her fist, her intentions clear. Jiang Cheng pushed her fist down and said, Lets not force anyone; asking someone elses help will work just as well. In Tongtian Sect, there were many who could brew wine, and while others might not be as skilled as Master Ban Que at Elixir Wine, simply brewing was something many could achieve. It was merely a matter of skill level differences. Jiang Chengs next stop was to go to Putuo Peak and look for Master Ling Shu. Unfortunately, it just so happened that Master Ling Shu was in closed-door cultivation. ` Jiang Cheng didnt think too much, gave up on Putuo Peak, and went to Dayue Mountain to seek an audience with Master Chi Yuan. As it turned out, quite unluckily, Master Chi Yuan had also entered closed-door cultivation. Strange, why have they all entered closed-door cultivation so coincidentally? At the foot of Dayue Mountain, Jiang Cheng was utterly baffled. In the modern Cultivation World, it was not like the ancient times of the Scroll Kings, except for some particrly ambitious geniuses, most people wouldnt enter closed-door cultivation before breaking through a realm. The probability of two people consecutively being in closed-door cultivation was even smaller. How could he have encountered both? Not in closed-door cultivation, Liu Qing suddenly said. Jiang Chengs eyes widened in disbelief, thinking, you didnt just casually release your Mahayana realm Divine Sense because of what I said, did you? This is awful, this foolish snake! This is Tongtian Sect! How can you be so bold? You dare to disregard Immortal Sect elders so flippantly? This is bad; we cant stay here anymore; we need a n You,e with me! Jiang Cheng grabbed Liu Qings hand and pulled her into a small grove of trees, pressing her back against a tree trunk, then he leaned in close Jiang Chengs movements were hardly gentle, even a bit hurried, but Liu Qing just blinked in confusion, then allowed Jiang Cheng to wrap his arms around her waist, firmly pressing her against the tree. Whats wrong? she asked softly, looking at the close Jiang Cheng. Dont talk, Jiang Cheng whispered. A breathter, a man in a white robe abruptly appeared where Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing had just been standing. He surveyed the surroundings with Divine Sense, and apart from a young couple snuggling covertly in the woods, he noticed nothing unusual. Strange, did I sense it wrong? The man in the white robe sighed, Perhaps Im too anxious, even mistaking Mahayana Divine Senses. s, the world is changing, people arent as they used to be. If Yun Shu ever dares to fool around with a male cultivator without being married like that female cultivator, Id break her legs! And confine her for a thousand years! After speaking, the white-robed man disappeared just as suddenly. But Jiang Cheng was unaware of all this; he silently held Liu Qing for two hours before he felt a hint of safety. Really, you couldnt me Jiang Cheng; he was just following his instincts. He felt as if he had only held Liu Qing for a short while, thinking he could evade an Immortal Sect elders inspection, and then released her immediately. He had no intention of taking advantage of her. Master Chi Yuan is a Void Refinement Realm predecessor; our two Foundation Establishment Divine Senses wouldnt be able to detect him. Did you remember that? Jiang Cheng warned. Liu Qing sniffed her nose, detecting that Jiang Cheng was a bit angry. Understood, she obediently replied, not daring to provoke Jiang Chengs ire. Thats good. We at Foundation Establishment should do what we can, and avoid meddling with matters beyond our reach, Jiang Cheng reiterated, finally feeling relieved. This time they had barely gotten lucky, not being discovered by an Immortal Sect elder; had Liu Qings identity been exposed, it would have been far too dangerous. Lets go, well visit another elder elsewhere, Jiang Cheng said. Liu Qings rash use of Divine Sense, though dangerous, had not been without its gains. At least she let Jiang Cheng know that Master Ling Shu and Master Chi Yuan hadnt entered closed-door cultivation but simply found an excuse to refuse a meeting with him. Probably Master Ban Que had sent word ahead of time No use dwelling on it, whats done is done; lets find the next one. After several setbacks, Jiang Cheng finally found an elder who was bothpetent and willing to help him brew wine. Changhe Peak, the residence of Master Bai Liu. Master Bai Liu was an early-stage Void Refinement cultivator, with flecks of white at his temples, indicating he wasnt young. However, a cultivators appearance does not determine their lifespan; some simply care about their looks, while others let nature take its course. Elixir Wine? Interesting, I can assist you with that, but upon sess, Ill take a third as my fee, said Master Bai Liu. Jiang Cheng said, Agreed. May I ask elder, when can the wine be ready? Master Bai Liu stroked his chin, About ten years or so. Ten years? Jiang Cheng frowned. Chapter 325 - 250 What Went Wrong? Chapter 325: Chapter 250 What Went Wrong? ` The better the drink, the longer the brewing time it requires. Your batch of elixirs is of the third order; although they have been set aside for a long time, the quality isnt bad. Ten years of brewing is almost enough. If youre not satisfied, I can ferment it for twenty years, Master Bai Liu exined. Jiang Cheng said, No, Senior, its not that I find the time too short, but rather that its too long. A pot of wine in ten years C the daylilies would have died several times over. You think ten years is too long? Ive never met anyone whoined about that before. You should know, the longer the wine brews, the better its quality, Master Bai Liu mused, then asked, So how soon do you want the wine? Three months, Jiang Cheng said. Master Bai Lius face was full of astonishment, and he said, The wine thates out in three months can only be said to be drinkable. The goods in your hand are third-order elixirs; to brew them for only three months would be too wasteful. Jiang Cheng thought about it, and it made sense, if the quality of the wine was too poor, others might not be willing to buy it. He changed his question, Is there a way to speed up the brewing time? Master Bai Liu, with both hands behind his back, wondered, Why are you always fixated on time? A mere ten years will pass quickly with a few cycles of meditation and cultivation. Jiang Cheng thought to himself, I have the Dayan Sects cultivation method; as long as the territory held by the Dayan Sect isrge enough, I could reach Mahayana in ten years of meditation. Cultivating so fast, am I preparing to be captured for dissection? The junior does not wish to waste time idly, Jiang Cheng could only exin this way. Master Bai Liu sighed and began to exin the brewing process to Jiang Cheng. To be honest, the process of brewing isnt a secret; as long as one is determined to learn, theres nothing that cannot be learned, so there was no fear in divulging it to Jiang Cheng. First, the ingredients are cleaned and soaked, then steamed and cooked. After cooling, yeast is added. Thenes the wait for fermentation, the removal of impurities, and the obtaining of wine. The fermentation process takes the longest; the other steps can bepleted within a few days. Jiang Cheng summarized simply, We just need to shorten the fermentation time to speed up the wine production, right? Its not as simple as just needing to; this step isnt as easy as you think, Master Bai Liu began to educate Jiang Cheng about the important matters of the fermentation process. After listening carefully, Jiang Cheng summed up again, We just need to make the time inside the wine vat pass faster, right? Master Bai Liu, puzzled, said, Why do you make controlling the passage of time sound so easy? As far as I know, even cultivators at the Integration Realm cant manage such a spell. How do you n to elerate time inside the wine vat? Jiang Cheng pondered, Senior Bai Liu, perhaps we could broaden our thinking. Maybe what we need is not to speed up time but to make the ingredients in the wine vat age faster. Huh!? Master Bai Lius eyes widened, seemingly astonished by Jiang Chengs idea. Compared to the high-end spells for controlling time, aging spells seemed rather low-end. Aging is a type of curse spell that is usually used against many organic spells, such as growing vines, rapidly growing forests, insect attacks, and so on. Some higher-level aging spells can also be used against inorganic spells, like metals, earth walls, swamps, and the like. It can cause metals to rust, earth walls to weather, swamps to dry up, with the primary effect being to weaken. Aging the fermenting elixirs to speed up their process is theoretically simr to elerating time. But this technique had never been used before. After all, who would have nothing better to do than to think of using a curse method to brew wine? As a cultivator at the Void Refinement Realm, Master Bai Liu was not entirely ignorant of aging spells. Jiang Cheng, as far as I know, aging can only target a single type of object, right? You should know that fermentation reactions are constantly happening inside the wine vat, he said. Jiang Cheng smiled and said, That should be easy to deal with. A friend of mine previously researched a talisman that could name a target, changing the difficulty of selecting objects for a spell. It allows the aging spell to target the entire vat, avoiding the problem of uneven aging. Oh? Theres such a talisman? Master Bai Lius interest was piqued, and he strongly requested Jiang Cheng to show it to him. Jiang Cheng had no choice but to say to Master Bai Liu, Senior, if convenient, please take out a second-order magical treasure. Without a word, Master Bai Liu took out a second-order gourd magical artifact and held it in his hand. This item was a specially customized wine sk, capable of heating or cooling, and equipped with the ability to adjust the temperature of wine. Come on. Let me see what you can do! Jiang Cheng took out the Magical Treasure Naming Talisman that he and Yue Linger had jointly developed and assumed the correct stance to use this talismanleft hand on the storage bag, right hand on the talisman. After activating the talisman, a sh of talisman light shot out like a meteor, hitting the wine gourd in Master Bai Lius hand. Immediately, the gourd was renamed by the Magical Treasure Naming Talisman, changing from an item of Bai Lius to an item of Jiang Chengs. Then Jiang Cheng squeezed his storage bag and said, Take! The wine gourd in Master Bai Lius hand disappeared in an instant, stored inside Jiang Chengs storage bag. Jiang Chengs fluent operation left Master Bai Liu stunned. Wheres my wine gourd? In the juniors storage bag. Jiang Cheng took out the wine gourd. Quite impressive, Master Bai Liu praised sincerely from the heart. Instantly stealing an opponents magical treasure, not even demon cultivators could manage it. If Master Bai Liu wasnt many realms above Jiang Cheng, his confidence allowing him to be unafraid, Jiang Chengs treasure-stealing method would have truly startled him. This method of stealing treasures could be said to be invincible in battles between equals The junior has shown off a little too much, Jiang Cheng said humbly. The problem with the Magical Treasure Naming Talisman was that it was only effective against magical treasures of the same rank; it couldnt capture those of a higher rank. Chapter 326: 250: Where Did It Go Wrong?_2 Chapter 326: Chapter 250: Where Did It Go Wrong?_2 Therefore, it was particrly choosy about usage conditions. Of course, there was a small drawback, this talisman easily turned a trial of skill into a fight to the death. After all, a magical treasure was often the most valuable possession a cultivator had. Whoever was robbed would be in a hurry. Master Bai Liu sized up Jiang Cheng, unable to guess his sect, and finally couldnt help asking, Kid, who did you apprentice under? Howe I dont know of any talisman master in our sect who is skilled in this kind of talisman? Jiang Cheng gave a precautionary exnation, Master Bai Liu, my impertinence is that of a disobedient disciple, please dont take offense, and especially let it not affect the friendly cooperation between us. Bai Liu thought to himself what a goodd, which hero in our sect could have taught a disciple like Jiang Cheng? Stop keeping me in suspense, just tell me, Im not that petty, Alright, I am a disciple of Master Yun Shu, Jiang Cheng replied. Bai Liu first showed a look of astonishment, then his expression slowly turned nk. Reasonable. If he was a disciple of Yun Shu, then it really wasnt surprising.
With the basis of a Magical Treasure Naming Talisman, plus the not-too-difficult aging spell, Jiang Chengs new talisman, Rapid Growth Talisman, was sessfully released. Since Jiang Cheng had already advanced to Foundation Establishment and had the Shadow Puppet Sect cultivation technique that could train spiritual power, it was only natural that the Rapid Growth Talisman was a third-tier talisman. The Recovery Pill was a third-tier elixir, after all; if Jiang Cheng still used a second-tier talisman, it would really be a bit disrespectful to the elixir. Now that the fermentation time issue was resolved, all that was left was to wait for Master Bai Liu to brew the wine. Thanks to the high efficiency of the Rapid Growth Talisman in fermentation, Master Bai Liu needed only a little over a month to brew a batch of wine. By the time the three months requested by Jiang Cheng had passed, Master Bai Liu had already produced the third batch of the improved Elixir Wine. Jiang, please, Master Bai Liu said, gesturing. In Master Bai Lius residence, a cup of crystal-clear wine was ced in front of Jiang Cheng. Is this the wine brewed from the Recovery Pills? Jiang Cheng asked. Correct, this is already the third batch, the wine-making scheme is basically mature, give it a try, replied Master Bai Liu with a smile, obviously very confident in his creation. Jiang Cheng frowned and took a sip; to be honest, it was so spicy he couldnt taste anything else. Master Bai Liuughed heartily, Young friend, you havent had wine before, have you? Indeed, Jiang Cheng admitted, and with a cupped fist towards Bai Liu, he added, I would ask the senior to describe this wine to me. It has a fragrant and crisp taste, sweet and moist on entry, refined; if you savour it, you can taste a hint of the bitter woodiness of fruit Master Bai Liu spoke at length, seemingly quite satisfied with his appraisal of the Elixir Wine. But Jiang Chengpletely failed to understand or taste any of these fancy vors. Senior, could you give me a more straightforward evaluation? Haha, that would naturally be good wine, Bai Liu said with a chuckle, I cant guarantee anything else to you, but theres one thing I can assert beyond doubt. Please enlighten me, Senior.
The taste of Elixir Wine is unprecedented. I have tasted plenty of wines steeped with spiritual materials, butpared to your Elixir Wine, their vors are all stronger, more pungent. Your Elixir Wine gives off a sense of gradual release, carrying a lingering feeling. Simply put, high ss! You could take it topete with those few hundred-year-old fellows. Jiang Cheng nodded, After all, it is something from over a thousand years ago, elerated by the Rapid Growth Talisman, so it having a hint of the vor of time is quite normal. Good, well said! The vor of time, tsk, its the cultured young people who get it, Master Bai Liu said with admiration. After speaking, Master Bai Liu did not forget to remind Jiang Cheng, You promised to give me one-third of those six thousand elixirs used for brewing, no reneging.
Senior must be joking, how could I go back on my word? However, there is one more thing I would like to consult with Senior, Jiang Cheng said. Speak! Master Bai Liu was quite spirited. One third of six thousand elixirs amounted to two thousand pills, and with so many elixirs turned into wine, Bai Liu had enough to enjoy leisurely for almost a hundred years, so he was naturally in a great mood. My Elixir Wine, if I were to find aparable benchmark for it, at what level would it be among other wines? You know Master Ban Que, right? He has a signature brew called Mei under the Moon; your Elixir Wine is roughly at that level, replied Master Bai Liu. On the surface, Jiang Cheng said, I see. Inwardly, Jiang Cheng thought, I have no clue. But it must be good. A hefty batch of Elixir Wine at hand, Bai Liu pulled Jiang Cheng into heavy drinking. Jiang Cheng naturally didnt want to drink, but considering Master Bai Lius senior status, it wasnt easy to outright refuse. Liu Qing watched, wordless but resolute, lifted her cup, and clinked it against Bai Lius. Fiercely protecting her friend. Of course, Master Bai Liu wasnt to be outdone, he who boasted of a vast capacity, challenging Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing to a drinking duel.
He refused to believe that he, a mighty Void Refinement cultivator, could be outdrunk by two youngsters. Half a dayter. A cultivator at the Void Refinement stagey on the ground, unconscious from drinking too much. But Liu Qing was just like nothing happened, not only was her consciousness clear, but her cheeks werent even flushed. Jiang Cheng sighed and thought to himself, You could provoke anyone, but why her? Who can outdrink her? After saying goodbye to Master Bai Liu, Jiang Cheng pulled Liu Qing onto the flying boat to go home. Liu Qing originally wanted to pilot the flying boat because she could distract herself that way, and then she could y games with Jiang Cheng. But when Jiang Cheng piloted the flying boat, he did so withplete focus, leaving no room for games. Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng refused her request outright. No boating after drinking. Liu Qing: ? Liu Qing puckered her lips slightly, wanting to object. But Jiang Cheng didnt let her speak, took her hand, dragged her onto the flying boat, and took off without another word. Jiang Cheng didnt know when it started, but even when not casting a spell, he would take Liu Qings hand.
It seemed that neither Jiang Cheng nor Liu Qing paid much attention to this small detail. As long as one of them reached out a hand, the two naturally held hands. Once back at North Forest Peak, Jiang Cheng contacted Qiao Jie using the Jade Token. Brother Qiao, this is Jiang Cheng. Oh, its brother Jiang Cheng. You mentioned brewing wine before, was it sessful? It was a basic sess. By the way, do you know how much Master Ban Ques Mei under the Moon is worth per pot? Mei under the Moon? Thats some fine wine! A pot would cost at least a hundred Spirit Stones, right? A hundred? Thats it? Jiang Cheng frowned. After all, a Recovery Pill was worth three thousand low-grade Spirit Stones each. And on average, it took three Recovery Pills to produce a single pot of wine. A quick addition showed that the cost of a pot of Elixir Wine was around nine thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, and that didnt include Master Bai Lius wage, which was a third of the output. If Mei under the Moon was only worth a hundred, wouldnt Elixir Wine with a cost over ten thousand be a huge loss? But then Qiao Jie added, A hundred high-grade Spirit Stones is not a small amount! A poor Core Formation cultivator like me cant afford to buy a pot of Mei under the Moon.
So you were talking about high-grade Spirit Stones. Hearing this, Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. One high-grade Spirit Stone was equivalent to ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. A hundred high-grade Spirit Stones were equal to one million low-grade Spirit Stones. Of course, its high-grade Spirit Stones! Master Ban Que is a seasoned Divinity Transformation cultivator, why would they count in low-grade Spirit Stones? With the misunderstanding cleared up, Jiang Cheng finally felt at ease. His work over the past few months had not been in vain. The total value of this batch of elixirs was eighteen million low-grade Spirit Stones. The price for a pot of Elixir Wine was roughly one million low-grade Spirit Stones. This meant that as long as Jiang Cheng sold eighteen pots, he would break even, and any additional sales would be pure profit. Most importantly, the task waspleted, and ten thousand Contribution Points were secured. Finding tasks could be done at the Task Hall, but selling wine could not be managed there. The ce within Tongtian Sect that functioned like a supermarket was very familiar to Jiang ChengTongbao Pavilion. Tongbao Pavilion, as an industry of the Outer Sect, naturally did not overlook the opportunity to tap into the Sects market. Jiang Cheng casually found a Tongbao Pavilion and directly inquired whether they were interested in buying his fine wine. Please wait a moment, I will call the manager right away. Shortly after, a Nascent Soul cultivator arrived before Jiang Cheng. My name is Zhang Wu. Are you looking to sell wine? Indeed. Jiang Cheng took out his Elixir Wine. After tasting the wine professionally, Zhang Wu asked, May I ask what price you wish to sell it at? Fifty high-grade Spirit Stones per pot, Jiang Cheng replied with a sincere price. This price was only half that of Mei under the Moon. Zhang Wu silently pushed the wine back to Jiang Cheng: We cant buy it at that price. Your wine is a new variety, and we can only offer a conservative price. Jiang Cheng remainedposed: What do you propose to pay in Spirit Stones? Eight thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. Chapter 327: 251 Memory of a Thousand Years Chapter 327: Chapter 251 Memory of a Thousand Years Senior, please see that this wine of mine is no ordinary quality, Jiang Cheng countered. ording to others, it is on par with Mei under the Moon. Mei under the Moon sells for a hundred high-grade Spirit Stones, which is equivalent to one million low-grade Spirit Stones. Yet, you are only offering eight thousand low-grade Spirit Stones; isnt that too low? Jiang Cheng argued rationally and justifiably. Zhang Wu cracked a smile, also speaking confidently, Young friend, your wine is indeed not bad. However, wine is not like a Magical Treasure or a Talisman, where the effects can be directly felt. I have heard a bit about Mei under the Moon; thats Master Ban Ques specialty and somewhat famous within the sect. Your wine, though abundant in Spiritual Energy, is really just that. The eight thousand low-grade Spirit Stones I offered reflect its value in replenishing Spiritual Energy. Jiang Cheng understoodZhang Wus point was, setting aside the taste of the wine, it was only worth eight thousand low-grade Spirit Stones based solely on its effectiveness in restoring Spiritual Power. Mei under the Moon is expensive because its well-known. Many senior cultivators are willing to spend a lot to taste it. But your winecks fame; if nobody recognizes it, even Tongbao Pavilion isnt going to pay for it. Seeing Jiang Cheng fall silent, Zhang Wu smiled again and said, How about this? Your wine does indeed taste good, so we at Tongbao Pavilion are willing to pay an extra two thousand, giving you ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones per pot. For Jiang Cheng, ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones per pot was still a loss, just less of a loss. Jiang Cheng pondered for a moment, deciding to first see if there were other ways to sell the wine. He had already waited three months because of brewing the wine and didnt mind another day or two.
Furthermore, Zhang Wus words had given Jiang Cheng much to think about. The vast difference in price between Mei under the Moon and the Elixir Wine wasnt due to the quality of the wine, but because of the different target customers. Mei under the Moon probably had a stable clientele within the Tongtian Sect who could ept spending a hundred high-grade Spirit Stones for it, which is why it could sell for that price. However, Elixir Wine was different. Not to mention the taste, ordinary people hadnt even heard of it. Under such circumstances, it was impossible for Elixir Wine to bepared with Mei under the Moon. If Elixir Wine were to sell at the same high price as Mei under the Moon, its reputation would need to be established. The best way to establish a products reputation is to have someone endorse it. But in the Cultivation World, there were no mass media outlets. Even if someone could endorse it, the reach would be very limited. More importantly, Jiang Cheng likely couldnt afford the endorsement fee. If Elixir Wine could sell for a million low-grade Spirit Stones on its own, the endorsement fee would be an incrediblyrge sum. Jiang Cheng might have a decent family fortune, but it would surely not be enough. If he had that kind of disposable ie, he might as well have bought up all the stock of Recovery Pills initially, rather than bother brewing and selling wine. So, was there any way he could get an endorser for free? Jiang Cheng fell into deep thought. The endorser he needed should at least have some influence in the cultivation worlds wine circles within the Tongtian Sect. It surely wouldnt do to find someone who, like him, didnt appreciate wine, to endorse Elixir Wine, would it? Struggling because of his low influence within the sect, Jiang Cheng couldnt think of a suitable endorser until, one day as usual during his meditation, a female cultivator suddenly returned to North Forest Peak. Oh! Youve managed to reach Foundation Establishment on your own? Yun Shu looked at Jiang Cheng in surprise. She had told Jiang Cheng before to reach Foundation Establishment quickly so she could help him snatch some Foundation Establishment Pills. At the time, she saw he was only at the seventh level of Qi training, some distance from Foundation Establishment, so she casually went out to have some fun. She didnt expect toe back and find Jiang Cheng had alreadypleted Foundation Establishment!
Without her needing to do anything, and even saving her the bother of fighting for Foundation Establishment Pills! In essence, her disciple had matured to the Foundation Establishment Stage on his own without any trouble! The foxtail grass really hadnt lied! Yun Shu thought excitedly.
This Jiang Cheng was such an easy charge, even the weedy and neglected buildings of their Immortal Sect had been cleaned spotlessly by him. Not bad, not bad at all. Cough, since you have reached Foundation Establishment, I wont disturb your cultivation rhythm. Come find me when youre close to reaching Core Formation. Ill be in seclusion in the back mountain, so dont bother me unless its important, Yun Shu said with affected wisdom, intent on being a hands-off master as she made her leave. Jiang Cheng watched his unreliable yet beautiful master, pondering internally. If he remembered correctly, Master Ban Que had mentioned before that Yun Shu had some fame in the Immortal Sects wine circles. Perhaps it was inurate to say so because she was quite famous in almost any circle. Moreover, with Yun Shus unique status, she could easily contact many higher-ups of Immortal Sects that ordinary disciples couldnt reach. Good image, outstanding appearance, high reputation, knowledge of wine, wide connections, and most importantly, she didnt charge an endorsement fee. The more Jiang Cheng looked at Yun Shu, the more he felt she was the perfect endorser for Elixir Wine. Master, wait! Jiang Cheng called out to Yun Shu. Yun Shu was inwardly startled, thinking that Jiang Cheng couldnt possibly be asking her about cultivation knowledge, could he? She had long forgotten everything about the Foundation Establishment Stage! And even for the other stages, she hadnt retained much. But the main point was, if she couldnt answer properly, wouldnt all her dignity as a master be lost? Yun Shu conceded to herself that she was a bitzy, butziness didnt mean she had no pride.
That much could be observed from her exquisite attire. Even when she was out of money, she would sell her Magical Treasures but never her clothes! Although she was inwardly panicking, Yun Shu maintained a wise and aloofposure as she inquired, What do you need? Chapter 328: 251 Memory of a Thousand Years_2 Chapter 328: Chapter 251 Memory of a Thousand Years_2 Jiang Cheng spoke respectfully, Disciple has a small favor to ask of Master. Oh? Lets hear it, but keep in mind Im quite busy and may not have the time to help you. Of course. Actually, before this, the disciple went to the Task Hall Jiang Cheng exined the cause and effect slowly but clearly to Yun Shu, and finally stated his purpose, Disciple would like to ask Master to help promote Elixir Wine. Yun Shu frowned. Frankly, she didnt want to help. She felt it would definitely be troublesome. However, as a master, she definitely couldnt directly refuse Jiang Cheng; that would be too discouraging. She needed to hint for him to back off on his own. When ites to drinking, I always insist on quality over quantity. If the wine you brewed isnt up to par, then I definitely wont promote it for you. Of course, of course. Master, pleasee with me. Jiang Cheng led Yun Shu to an elegantly designed pavilion, then took out a jug of Elixir Wine and poured a full cup in front of Yun Shu.
Please taste, Master. Yun Shu decided in her mind that no matter how the wine tasted, she would only say it was bad, allowing her to refuse Jiang Chengs request. Yun Shu lifted the cup, not in a hurry to taste, but sniffed the wine aroma with finessea seasoned drinker could tell the type of wine just by its scent. She was no exception. Hmm? The fragrant aroma whiffed into her nose, her eyes lit up, and then she brought the jade cup to her red lips, slightly tilting back her head, pouring the clear Elixir Wine into her mouth. What fine wine! Yun Shu couldnt help but exim. But as soon as she finished speaking, she regretted it. She should have disparaged it and then coldly refused! As long as Master is satisfied. Jiang Cheng said with a smile, then refilled Yun Shus cup without leaving a trace. Yun Shu, looking at the clear wine in her hand, swallowed involuntarily. This wine is indeed not bad, but um If theres anything unsatisfactory about the wine, Master, please be forthright. The wine is fine, its just that matter of promotion Yun Shu hemmed and hawed. Jiang Cheng chuckled, If Master finds it inconvenient, the disciple can also seek help from someone else. Upon saying that, Jiang Cheng casually packed up the just-unsealed jug of Elixir Wine from the table. Yun Shu:?
Yun Shu swallowed repeatedly, her inner turmoil immense, and said, This matter isnt out of the question May I ask what Master requires? Jiang Cheng was very eager to negotiate. If you want me to help promote the wine, you cant just give me a taste of two cups, right? Haha, Jiang Cheng took out the Elixir Wine again, If Master is willing to help with the promotion, I can give Master a hundred jugs aspensation!
Really! Yun Shus eyes shone. A hundred jugs! That would be enough for her to drink for half a year! How many times would she have to rob Master Ban Que to get a hundred jugs! Indeed. Good, good. Start with three jugs for your Master to taste! With a grand wave of her hand, Yun Shu got three jugs of fine wine from Jiang Cheng. In her opinion, the taste of Elixir Wine was much better than Ban Ques medicinal wine. If it werent for the fact she couldnt beat the other wine-brewing masters, she wouldnt have been settling for Ban Ques wine. But now things were looking up. Having Jiang Chengs Elixir Wine, she could finally drink to her hearts content after a hundred years! Seeing that Yun Shu wanted three jugs, Jiang Cheng didnt overthink it and generously gave them to her. If Yun Shu didnt use her Cultivation Level to dispel the alcohol, three jugs of Elixir Wine would be enough to put her down twice over. But Jiang Cheng wasnt worried about Yun Shus capacity for alcohol. Although Yun Shu had an outstanding demeanor, she was also hundreds of years oldhow could she not be aware of her own limits with drinking?
As expected, Yun Shu didnt disappoint Jiang Cheng. Three jugs and a pile of cups were scattered haphazardly on the stone table, and she drank cup after cup until the world spun around her. Finally, having had her fill. she couldnt hold out any longer andid prone on the stone table, motionless. Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing silently observed the entire process, and in the end, Jiang Cheng couldnt help saying, Why do I feel like she is less mature than you? Liu Qing didnt think there was anything wrong with what Jiang Cheng had said. After all, wasnt it only natural for Yun Shu to be less mature than her, given her younger age? Jiang Cheng looked at Yun Shu from a close distance and thought that leaving her here was not a solution. So, he said to Liu Qing, How about, you lend her your bed to sleep in for a while? Okay. The next day, Yun Shu woke up groggily and saw that she was in an unfamiliar bed. This scared Master Yun Shu terribly. She quickly checked her clothes and heaved a sigh of relief after discovering nothing amiss. Master Yun Shu pped her forehead and thought to herself that she really had lost control the day before. But if it were not in her own home, she wouldnt have let herself go to such an extent. With a sweep of her Divine Sense, Yun Shu found Jiang Cheng engrossed in studying talismans and Liu Qing silently apanying him at his side.
Tsk tsk, this kid really knows how to enjoy life. He even needs a beauty by his side just to draw a talisman. No wonder he can brew good wine. Yun Shu appeared next to Jiang Cheng and asked, I am fine now, when do you n to promote the Elixir Wine? Jiang Cheng put down the Talisman Brush and said, The sooner the better. Then lets do it now. On the way, Yun Shu suddenly thought of something, By the way, is your Elixir Wine just called Elixir Wine? Thats a bit stingy. Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and felt that Yun Shu was right. To make the wine sell for a high price, the name had to be more sophisticated, like Mei under the Moon. Otherwise, it would be awkward for others even to rmend it. My wine uses elixirs as the base and has been perfected over a thousand years. Perhaps we should call it Memory of a Thousand Years. After hearing the name Memory of a Thousand Years, Yun Shu looked at Jiang Cheng in surprise. You have quite the knack for names! Wont this name crush Ban Ques Mei under the Moon into the ground? Jiang Cheng said somewhat embarrassedly, Master, please dont put others down. Yun Shu curled her lip, Im putting him down, Im putting him down! That stingy old Ban Que, I have to strain my nerves every time I ask him for some wine. Today, I must smash his pride with Memory of a Thousand Years! Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng immediately felt a sense of foreboding.
Had he let Yun Shu help promote Memory of a Thousand Years, was she nning to take the opportunity for a private revenge? As it turned out, Yun Shu didnt n to mix private revenge with business because all she had in mind was personal grudges and retribution. At the base of Long Peak, Yun Shu loudly called out, Master Ban Que, Junior Yun Shu hase to visit. Upon hearing her words, instead of opening the gate to wee the visitor, Long Peak firmly shut the mountain gate, pretending not to hear. But this did not deter Yun Shu. She stepped right into the protective Formation of Long Peak and swiftly rendered its Formation ineffective. Her smooth and adept operation left Jiang Cheng in awe. He had never thought that this was a way to pay someone a visit. Master, your action counts as an intrusion into the mountain gate. But Yun Shu took it as a point of pride instead of shame, Yes, indeed. How about that? Impressive, arent I? The restrictions my father used to entrap me were way harder than this Formation. Long Peaks Formation is just childs y. Jiang Cheng followed silently behind Yun Shu, not daring to respond. Fearing being associated with the wrongdoing. Halfway up Long Peak, the disciple Chang Lu stopped Yun Shu and said, Master Yun Shu, my master uncle isnt here today. But Yun Shu didnt buy that at all: All the better, Ill help myself to the wine, no need to trouble you for any hospitality. Go back and rest. Chang Lu felt demoralized inside: But Long Peak isnt a self-serve restaurant! Regardless, Yun Shu proceeded straight to find Master Ban Que. Ban Que, Ivee to return your wine. This is the new Memory of a Thousand Years brewed by my disciple, a hundred times better than your Mei under the Moon! This sk is for you, and after this, were even! Jiang Cheng stood by and didnt dare make a sound. Good gracious, a hundred times? Even as the brewer, he wouldnt dare to im a hundredfold difference, yet Yun Shu did. Ban Que was very confident in his Mei under the Moon and didnt believe for a moment that Memory of a Thousand Years could be a hundred times better. Ill taste it right now to see how much truth this girl speaks! Ban Que said. After sipping a ss of Memory of a Thousand Years and pondering for a moment, Ban Que sneered, A hundred times better? It is at best only slightly stronger! Yun Shu immediately objected, insisting on the hundredfold im. The two argued back and forth, but never reached an agreement. The focus of their debate became how many times better it was, inadvertently leading to a consensus that Memory of a Thousand Years was indeed better than Mei under the Moon, with the only question being by how many multiples. It seemed that everyone tacitly epted that Memory of a Thousand Years was superior to Mei under the Moon, only the extent of its superiority remained in question. Chapter 329: 252: Exchange Meeting Chapter 329: Chapter 252: Exchange Meeting Although Yun Shus promotional methods were a bit too aggressive, the advantage was that they spread very efficiently. As the saying goes, good news stays inside, bad news travels a thousand miles. The reputation of Memory of a Thousand Years spread further and further due to the conflict between Yun Shu and Ban Que. As a result, many connoisseurs of wine grew curious and wanted to taste it for themselves. Soon, Jiang Cheng sold eighteen jars, subsequentlypleting the task of selling Elixirs. As for the remaining inventory of wine, he was not in a hurry. After all, the longer the wine aged, the better it became. There was no rush to sell it immediately. Releasing too much at once could flood the market and lead to a drop in the price of Memory of a Thousand Years. Following thepletion of the task of selling Elixirs, ten thousand Contribution Points were unsurprisingly added to Jiang Chengs Disciple Jade Badge. In the sects records, Jiang Cheng now had ten thousand historical Contribution Points to his name. While ten thousand historical Contribution Points were nothing to scoff at, there was still a long way to go before he could meet the requirement for an Elder position. Fortunately, Jiang Cheng was well-versed inpleting tasks. As long as he maintained a steady pace, it should be possible to umte enough historical Contribution Points to qualify as an Elder within a hundred years. One day, Jiang Cheng encountered a task that was safe but offered a high return. The task reward was thirty thousand Contribution Points, and involved risk-free promotional work.
Using information provided by the Task Hall, Jiang Cheng smoothly located the issuer of this task, Elder Wu from the Inner Propaganda Hall. Upon seeing Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing, two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Elder Wus heart sank. Are you two the ones who took this task? Jiang Cheng replied, Thats right. Elder Wu, scratching his ears and looking restless, said, Could you reveal your sect, if its convenient? Its not that I dont trust you, but I want to get to know more capable cultivators. Jiang Cheng mentioned the great name of Yun Shu. Elder Wus hanging heart finally gave out. He warned, This task isnt as easy as you think. Jiang Cheng nodded, I know, we dont take easy tasks. Elder Wu warned again, This taskes with a penalty fee. If the promotional results are not satisfactory, its not just a simple task failure, youll have to paypensation. Having recently made a handsome profit from Memory of a Thousand Years, Jiang Cheng felt confident he could afford thepensation, and so he once again indicated his understanding. Seeing that Jiang Cheng could not be deterred no matter what, Elder Wu reluctantly exined the task details, hoping Jiang Cheng would back out. The Yuan Wu Sect, Flying Feather Sect, Cloud Thunder Sect, and several other righteous sect Masters will be visiting Tongtian Sect. One of the events is an Immortal Technique Exchange Meeting. The goal is to foster exchange of Immortal Techniques between the righteous sects and facilitate collective progress. I know you dont want to hear all this grand talk, so Ill be straightforward. Elder Wu refined hisnguage, In short, the Immortal Technique Exchange Meeting requires a group of disciples to participate. Naturally, the more the better, but we need at least one thousand to fill up the seats at the event. Its to avoid making the visitor sect Masters feel undervalued, like Tongtian Sect isnt taking them seriously, and appearing stingy. But as you know, our disciples from the various peaks are dispersed, and their willingness to go out is not that high Jiang Cheng got the point. He refined Elder Wus meaning further in his mind: Its like arranging for a thousand college students to fill seats at a meeting for leaders. Elder Wu, I understand. I just need to find a thousand people to fill the seats, right? Elder Wu expressed his difficulty, Its not that I want to make things hard for you, but filling the seats is just the minimum requirement. Ideally, the cultivators participating in the exchange meeting should have a wider variety of cultivation levels. If its just a crowd of Qi Training, Foundation Establishment, and some Core Formation cultivators, itll seem too fake. How are they supposed to exchange techniques with sect Masters from other sects? But considering you are new to the Immortal Sect and are also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, I guess youll have a hard timeworking with higher-level cultivators. So my advice is, youd better not take this task. Otherwise, in case ofpensation it will be no small amount. No worries, Elder Wu, you dont have to worry, I can afford it.
Seeing Jiang Chengs confidence, Elder Wu felt it was improper to persuade him further, so he reminded, Well then, lets give it a try, Ill give you two months. After two months, give me a list of participants. And another thing, for this exchange meeting, our Inner Propaganda Hall has set aside an activity fund of one million low-grade Spirit Stones. However, its use requires an application and must be justifiably reasoned. Do you understand? Understood. After confirming the details of the task, Jiang Cheng began to consider ways to recruit people. Given that there was a fund of one million low-grade Spirit Stones for the activity, the simplest way to recruit people was to offer money.
One million low-grade Spirit Stones for a thousand people, on average each person could get one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. That was not a small amount of money; Jiang Cheng believed that as long as they distributed one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators within the Sect, over half of them would be willing to attend the exchange meeting. However, this would only attract Qi Training, Foundation Establishment, and some Core Formation cultivators. Core Formation cultivators, including those above Core Formation, often would not care for a mere one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. Yet Elder Wus requirement was to bring more high-level cultivators to the exchange meeting. A bunch of Qi Training and Foundation Establishment cultivators going to exchange Immortal Techniques with Unity Realm sect Masters from other sects? Wouldnt that just be an insult? Any discerning person could tell that the Inner Propaganda Hall was just going through the motions. Therefore, the key topleting this tasky in how to mobilize Tongtian Sects high-level cultivators to attend the exchange meeting. Using the pretext of exchanging spells certainly wouldnt work, because if high-level cultivators wanted to exchange Immortal Techniques, they could go on their own; they didnt need to be mobilized. After much thought, Jiang Cheng decided to mobilize based on the interests of higher-level cultivators. Chapter 330: 252: Exchange Meeting_2 Chapter 330: Chapter 252: Exchange Meeting_2 As long as the exchange meeting included things that interested high-level cultivators, they would naturally take the initiative to participate. So what interested high-level cultivators? Jiang Cheng decided to use the connections he made while selling wine to gather some rted information. The first person Jiang Cheng sought out was naturally his mentor, Master Yun Shu. Master Yun Shu didnt live in the standard buildings constructed by the engineering team. She built herself a cave dwelling on the back mountain, by the water, enjoying her ownpany. Youve taken on a new task? Yun Shu looked at Jiang Cheng strangely. If she remembered correctly, Jiang Cheng had only just started selling wine. It was good that his disciple was ambitious, but was Jiang Cheng perhaps too eager? Indeed, this time Im helping the Inner Propaganda Hall organize an exchange meeting. The goal is to find a number of high-level cultivators to interact with visiting Sect Masters about Immortal Skills and Spells, answered Jiang Cheng. You want me to join, dont you? Yun Shu thought about how to extract some Memory of a Thousand Years from Jiang Cheng.
To her surprise, Jiang Cheng said, No, I want to ask Master what high-level cultivators typically care about. I n to add items of interest to high-level cultivators in the exchange meeting, allowing sect members to voluntarily interact. Without the chance to extort wine, Yun Shu was a bit disappointed, but she still made an effort to think seriously. I dont know about others, but if its me, Im more concerned about how to make money! Jiang Cheng was taken aback, thinking to himself that with her Cultivation Level at the Divinity Transformation Realm, she could easily get a handful of Spirit Stones and Contribution Points by taking on a few tasks, right? Master, have you considered taking on some tasks? The Task Hall always has plenty of long-term tasks but few people, he suggested. Yun Shu shook her head, Making money through work is so boring. I want ways to earn money without working at all. That goal seems a bit difficult, Jiang Cheng remarked. Thats why I need to think about it! she replied. So have you thought of anything? he asked. Nothing yet, I thought too hard today, nning on thinking more tomorrow. Jiang Cheng bid his mentor farewell and left. On the way, he said to Liu Qing, Im sorry, I misunderstood you before. Liu Qing didnt understand why. After meeting Yun Shu, Jiang Cheng had realized that Liu Qing wasnt avoiding work; she simply had no work to do. It was Yun Shu who truly avoided proper tasks. Setting aside the exception of Yun Shu, Jiang Cheng then sought out Master Bai Liu. Master Bai Liu had been in a great mood recently, as the sess of Memory of a Thousand Years had made him much more famous, and his other works were selling even better as a result. May I ask, Master Bai Liu, what concerns you the most? Jiang Cheng inquired. Master Bai Liu stroked his beard and said, In the short term, naturally my brewing skills. In the medium term, Im considering taking on a favored disciple. Long term, of course, would be progress in cultivation. The focuses of Master Bai Liu seemed much more normal, but the problem was they were too broad, like saying I like money. Who doesnt like money?
Do you have anything specific and urgent that youre concerned about? Perhaps a secret youre particrly keen to uncover, or something you really want to possess, Jiang Cheng pressed. After some thought, Master Bai Liu replied, ording to what you said, I indeed have one matter of great concern to me. What is it? I dont know if its appropriate to discuss, but oh well, youre not an outsider anyway.
Master Bai Liu covertly shared the matter with Jiang Cheng using a voice transmission spell. Upon hearing it, Jiang Cheng frowned. Honestly speaking, what Bai Liu cared about was indeed specific, even to the point of excess. To be precise, he wanted to gossipabout a cultivator who went into seclusion for twenty years and emerged to find a daughter who was eighteen years old. Since it was hearsay, the authenticity of the news couldnt be guaranteed. But considering what Master Bai Liu knew about the marriage of that cultivator, the story seemed quite credible. Amidst the atmosphere of truth mixed with fiction and widespread spection, this piece of gossip had indeed attracted significant attention. After bidding farewell to Master Bai Liu, Jiang Cheng proceeded to visit another master he knew. As expected, yet somewhat surprisingly, this master was also interested in gossip. Although the specific gossip differed from Master Bai Lius, it was undoubtedly another internal rumor. Jiang Cheng paced thoughtfully, then set off for the third time to visit a high-level cultivator. The result was the same; the third master also had a quiet interest in rumors and gossip. All the high-ranking cultivators have simr long-term goals, like improving their cultivation levels, but when ites to their immediate interests, it turns out they are highly simr as well, fixated on all sorts of strange and unusual gossip. Compared to many other cultivators, Yun Shu actually seems to be the most normal one, as she doesnt concern herself with other peoples gossip! Jiang Cheng fell into deep thought, and after meticulous analysis and reasoning, he obviously thought too highly of theplexities of high-ranking cultivators.
High-ranking cultivators are human too, and undoubtedly have a need for entertainment. Some baseless gossip naturally became amon topic of discussion among them. It gave many cultivators something to talk about besides their hobbies and cultivation. They cant just startparing whose disciples are stronger as soon as they meet, right? Perhaps, gossip could be an opportunity to mobilize high-ranking cultivators to participate in exchanges. However, if Jiang Cheng used those dubious pieces of gossip for publicity, there might be a risk of infringing on others privacy. After going back and forth in his mind, Jiang Cheng decided to create some reliable but fake news to use. The fake news had to coincide with the discussion topics of several visiting sect leaders, achieving an effect akin to teaching through entertainment. Jiang Cheng approached Elder Wu and obtained the discussion topics of the sect leaders: Yuan Wu Sects topic was about themonalities between martial arts and spells. Flying Feather Sects topic was about the difficulties and taboos of beast taming. Cloud Thunder Sects topic was about spections and conjectures on the Heavenly Daos Heavenly Tribtion. Elder Wu, Id like to apply for a budget of one million low-grade Spirit Stones. Jiang Cheng said. What do you n to do?
I want to post some tasks in the Task Hall. It sounded quite normal. With that thought in mind, Elder Wu didnt ask any more questions and approved the funds for Jiang Cheng. As soon as Jiang Cheng received the allocation, he headed straight to the Task Hall. He then submitted question-and-answer tasks to the Task Hall in the form of inquiries. For example: Seriously inquire whether Sect Leader Lu of Cloud Thunder Sect and Peak Lord Lu of Thunder Cloud Peak could possibly be long-lost siblings. Set a price of ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. What views are there regarding Flying Feather Sects visit to Tongtian Sect at a critical moment? What signal did Flying Feather Sect convey with this visit to Tongtian Sect? Priced at one hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. What advantages does Yuan Wu Sects martial arts cultivation techniques havepared to the traditional cultivation techniques of Tongtian Sect? Priced at one hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. To maintain the heat of the sect exchange meetings, Jiang Cheng would remove the previous batch of tasks every two to three days and rece them with a brand new batch of challenging new tasks. Sometimes, he would even y multiple roles, imitating different peoples tones to post tasks for intense discussion. About three days after posting the rted tasks, voices other than Jiang Chengs began to appear in the Task Hall, discussing the visits of various sects to Tongtian Sect. As more discussion tasks were postedter, Jiang Cheng simply let things take their own course without any further guidance or interference.
As the exchange meeting approached, Elder Wu learned that Jiang Cheng had been posting tasks in the Task Hall. Fuming with anger, Elder Wu confronted Jiang Cheng: Jiang Cheng, you took our Inner Propaganda Halls funds just to hang a few question-and-answer tasks in the Task Hall? Not a few, but over thirty. Jiang Cheng corrected. By wasting funds like this, if someone with bad intentions takes advantage, both you and I will be in trouble. Elder Wu, the task postings were very effective. The exchange meeting shouldntck in attendance. Im already prepared to adopt a lottery system to select participants from the limited exchange meeting slots. Thats a separate matter. The types of questions you posted, and the excessive rewards paid with the funds, might already involve embezzlement of activity funds. The problem sounded serious, but Jiang Cheng didnt seem worried at all. He said, Elder Wu, are you suggesting that I squandered the funds? But actually, no, the one hundred and twenty thousand you gave me is right here, not a single Spirit Stone missing. After Elder Wu took the storage bag and scanned it with his divine sense, sure enough, there was one hundred and twenty thousand. Didnt I only give you one hundred thousand? Where did the extra twenty thousande from? Heres the thing, while I was posting new tasks, I saw others asking questions about the visits from the three sects, so I answered a few. It added up to this amount. After hearing the exnation, Elder Wu eximed in admiration. After all this time, you didnt spend a penny, and actually ended up earning quite a bit. This kid is a talented individual who doesnt seek excessive gains. Chapter 331: 253: Its Actually Not a Joke (Additional 1k, Plus Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter) Chapter 331: Chapter 253: Its Actually Not a Joke (Additional 1k, Plus Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter) Under Jiang Chengs dedicated management, the visit of the three sects attained an unprecedented poprity. The seats for the Immortal Law Exchange Meeting went from unwarranted to being hyped to the point where scalpers were selling tickets. However, Jiang Cheng had anticipated this and implemented a one jade token, one ticket policy as soon as he noticed the unusual poprity. But due to the fervor, the policys effectiveness was limited and did notpletely eradicate the scalpers. Despite ongoing issues, Elder Wu was barely satisfied with Jiang Chengs handling of the matter. The satisfactiony in the fact that there really was a sea of people at the exchange meeting; the one thousand seats were not enough, and additional temporary seating had to be arranged. The barely part was because, although many people attended the exchange meeting and the gathering of high-level cultivators from all paths made the cultivators of the three sects feel very prestigious, it was a pity that despite being called an Immortal Law Exchange Meeting, no one exchanged Immortal Law knowledge. Instead, everyone was beating around the bush fishing for gossip. The scene truly damaged the image of the Immortal Sect, leaving the cultivators of the three sects with a less favorable impression of the Tongtian Sect. But that was not Jiang Chengs concern. After all, maintaining the image of the Tongtian Sect was not part of the conditions for this task; that would be a different price altogether. Afterpleting the task of drawing in attendees, Jiang Cheng immediately set off for the Task Hall to select a new task to undertake. This time, the task Jiang Cheng chose was a mission to deliver a letter.
The letter delivery mission was worth fifty thousand Contribution Points, which seemed very lucrative. But Jiang Cheng did not let his guard down. There must be a demon behind anything abnormal. A simple task offered with a high cost in Contribution Points certainly had its unspeakable reasons. At first, Jiang Cheng thought that delivering this letter must require oveing numerous obstacles, braving through mountains of knives and seas of fire, after enduring ny-nine eighty-one trials would he be able toplete the task and earn the fifty thousand Contribution Points. But to his surprise, not only was the distance for delivering the letter not far, it was actually excessively close. The sender and recipient were separated by just one mountain peak, a distance which, by flying boat, would take merely ten to twenty minutes. If that was the case, the danger of delivering the letter must lie elsewhere, otherwise it would not be worth fifty thousand Contribution Points. Descriptions of a task can be deceiving, but the value of a task does not lie. If there were no issues, and one could earn fifty thousand Contribution Points simply by walking for twenty minutes to deliver a letter, then Jiang Cheng would have enough evidence to report to the Enforcement Hall of the Tongtian Sect forundering Contribution Points. Unfortunately, the sister in charge of the Task Hall did not have a detailed understanding of this tasks specifics. All she knew was that quite a number of cultivators had previously epted this letter-delivery task, only to inevitably return unsessful, causing the price of the task to gradually increase. After listening, Jiang Cheng expressed his willingness to give it a try. The worst-case scenario would be returning unsessful, like the others, as long as there was no danger to his life. He always favored a stable approach, disliking rash adventures. The initiator of the task was Master Yinsong from the Wuyan Peak. Once Jiang Cheng epted the task, he set off toward Wuyan Peak to meet with Master Yinsong and learn about the specifics of the task. Liu Qing naturally went along with him. Although the Tongtian Sect had many cultivators,pared to the populous Liang Kingdom, it was sparsely popted. Walking within the Tongtian Sect did not expose Liu Qing to many unpleasant smells, so she could apany Jiang Cheng on his wanderings. After half a days journey by flying boat, Jiang Cheng arrived at Wuyan Peak without incident. Thanks to the jade token, Jiang Chengs visit to Wuyan Peak was also very smooth. Wuyan Peak was simr to North Forest Peak, appearing empty and devoid of liveliness.
Senior Yinsong, I am Jiang Cheng, and this is my friend Liu Qing. Jiang Cheng met with Master Yinsong. Master Yinsong waved his hand, signaling Jiang Cheng not to be restrained. My task is quite simple, you just need to deliver this letter to Master Yunbai on the neighboring Mingyang Peak.
This task sounded very simple, seeminglypletable within half an hour. May I ask Senior Yinsong, is there anything I should be aware of regarding this task? I have heard that many senior brothers and sisters have taken on this task before, but none has been able toplete it. Master Yinsongs face showed embarrassment as he said, Actually, Yunbai and I are Dao partners. Some time ago, Yunbai and I had a conflict, and I said a few harsh words, causing her to leave home. Is Mingyang Peak Senior Yunbais original sect? Precisely. So this letter of yours, is it a letter of reconciliation? Not really. Master Yinsong exined, Yunbai and I both hold positions within our sects. This letter is an official document that needs to be kept confidential, hence we are using a written form rather than any directmunication, and it is not a letter of reconciliation. Jiang Cheng nodded in understanding. He did not doubt Yinsongs words because the Contribution Points given for the task have historical Contribution Points, which means theye from an Immortal Sect ount. Only official tasks can use Immortal Sect ounts as proof, indicating that the letter delivery truly rtes to official matters. This letter delivery task doesnt sound difficult. In that case, why did the senior brothers and sisters who attempted it previously fail toplete it? Well, it might be because Mingyang Peak values orderly session. To be frank, Yunbais many senior brothers did not agree when she married me. Fortunately,ter we obtained the rights to use Wuyan Peak, close to Mingyang Peak. If not for that, Yunbai and I might have never been together. So, exactly how many senior brothers does Senior Yunbai have? Seventeen. There should be at least ten still on Mingyang Peak, the least proficient among them are at Divinity Transformation cultivation level. Do Senior Yunbais brothers forbid the delivery of the letter? Jiang Cheng asked.
That may be the case. Why may? Hasnt Senior tried to deliver the letter himself? I dare not. I fear being beaten to death by her brothers. Jiang Cheng was momentarily at a loss for words. The answer from Master Yinsong gave him a feeling that was both absurd and yet made sense. Chapter 332: 253: Its Actually Not a Joke (Additional 1k, Plus Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter)_2 Chapter 332: Chapter 253: Its Actually Not a Joke (Additional 1k, Plus Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter)_2 Alright, then I will try to deliver this letter. Jiang Cheng stood up and took the letter personally handed to him by Master Yinsong. On the way, Jiang Cheng said to Liu Qing, Drive slowly; I need to think of a way. Liu Qing raised her fist, but within two seconds, Jiang Cheng had pushed it down. Honestly, Liu Qings approach was the most direct and effective, but once enacted, it would basically ruin ones life in the Immortal Sect. Its like using a nuclear bomb to kill a mosquito. Never mind how many people die; did the mosquito get killed or not? However, when you think about it, at her level of cultivation, theres no need to overthink. After all, why bother yourself when you can make others rack their brains? Isnt it troublesome?
During his pondering, the distance between the two mountain peaks was quickly traversed. Jiang Cheng arrived at the mountain gate with Liu Qing to pay their respects. The first step, of course, was to announce ones name. Jiang Cheng requests to see Master Yunbai! Not long after, a youngd came out. He looked about the same age as Jiang Cheng and also had a Foundation Establishment level of cultivation. May I ask what business you have with Master Yunbai? Jiang Cheng took out the envelope: I have official matters to report. Is it the business of Wuyan Peak? Yes, it is. Im sorry, but we dont entertain such official matters. Jiang Cheng was not surprised by the attitude of the young man; he reckoned that the man had seen many simr situations before. Most of the senior brothers and sisters who came to deliver letters probably failed at this very first step of paying respects at the mountain gate. The young man was about to leave when Jiang Cheng called him to stay. Fellow Taoist, hold on a moment, I really do have official business. We truly are not receiving. Fellow Taoist, hear me out first. The young man smiled slightly: You dont need to say any more; Ive heard what youre about to say many times over these past few months. Quite a few people have even tried to bribe me. Jiang Cheng frowned: To bribe you to open the gate? Exactly.
And then? Then I let them in. Jiang Cheng: The young man shrugged and said, Anyway, my uncles orders are that people from Wuyan Peak are not allowed to enter, but there was nothing said about not letting people from other ces in. If youre not from Wuyan Peak, I might as well turn a blind eye.
Jiang Cheng had no intention of offering a bribe; he would exin his reasoning openly and honestly to the young man. Fellow Taoist, you misunderstand. What Im trying to say is that this task of delivering the letter was assigned to me in the Task Hall. Its the kind of task that earns Contribution Points uponpletion; you understand what I mean, right? Now, you should realize that this is a genuine official document. Knowing that its an official matter and still obstructing my entrance to deliver the letter, and even hinting at soliciting a bribe from meif theres any dy in official business and superiors investigate responsibility, fellow Taoist, you are undoubtedly the main culprit. Jiang Cheng was persuasively guiding, You need to understand what being designated the main culprit entails. Will anyone plead or appeal for you? Are you willing to take the risk of being the main culprit, inflexibly working for a certain group of people without adapting to the situation? The young man was sweating profusely. He decided to give himself a way out and said, Then let me ask you once again, where are you from? At this point, Jiang Cheng could simply name any ce, and the young man would let him in. But Jiang Cheng, with a smile on his face, truthfully replied, Wuyan Peak. In the end, the young man sighed and, knowing that Jiang Cheng was from Wuyan Peak, still chose to open the gate and let him in. Jiang Cheng had passed the first barrier and immediately proceeded to the next. The young man was only responsible for guarding the mountain gate; he did not know the location of Master Yunbai. Jiang Cheng, wishing to deliver the letter to Master Yunbai, had no choice but to look for Yunbais elder brother, who clearly did not wee people from Wuyan Peak. Junior Jiang Cheng pays respects to Master Liuye. Upon seeing Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing, Master Liuye frowned and said, Youre not here to deliver a letter from Wuyan Peak, are you?
Indeed, I am. Well, at least youre honest, much better than those sneaky thieves. Since thats the case, Ill give you some dignity: go back where you came from, and I wont make it hard for you. Jiang Cheng said, If the senior truly doesnt want to make things difficult for me, you should tell me Master Yunbais location so I can deliver the letter to her. Master Liuye said, Dont force me to drink a penalty when Ive offered you wine. That dog thief Yinsong What followed was ten minutes of cursing. Throughout, Jiang Cheng expressed understanding, even showing a united front at times, but once Liuye finished speaking, Jiang Chengs tone changed, and the topic returned to the matter of delivering the letter. Jiang Chengs point was simple: public should remain public and private private. Its hard for an upright official to settle household affairs, but at least he could deliver the letter, right? We are all at least a few hundred years old; surely we wont let emotions get in the way of official business? Master Liuye did not believe Jiang Chengs words, bluntly stating that any official business conducted through letters was just a pretext; inside was most likely a letter from Master Yinsong seeking reconciliation. Jiang Cheng said, This task was paid for with Contribution Points from the Immortal Sects ount; I think its unlikely Master Yinsong is lying. If Master Liuye doesnt believe me, you can personally confirm at the Task Hall. Master Liuye still didnt believe it. You wait. Leaving that message behind, he vanished on the spot.
Shortly after, Master Liuye returned to Mingyang Peak and said, Even if its the Immortal Sects ount, Yinsong could still be using public power for personal gain. What appears to be official business could cloak words intended to bewitch my junior sister. Jiang Cheng replied with embarrassment, If the senior truly dislikes Yinsong, wouldnt it be better to let him seed? That way, you could use this to attack Master Yinsong and ruin his reputation. But then Liuye expressed his fear of his junior sister getting heartbroken. Jiang Cheng said speechlessly, If Master Yunbai will be heartbroken, that means she still has feelings for Master Yinsong. Given that, Master Liuye, by adamantly blocking the letters delivery, arent you intentionally dying your junior sisters affairs? Chapter 333: 253: Its Actually Not a Joke (Additional 1k, Plus Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter)_3 Chapter 333: Chapter 253: Its Actually Not a Joke (Additional 1k, Plus Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter)_3 Liuye changed his argument and said, Junior Sister herself said she no longer likes Yinsong, that scoundrel. Jiang Cheng followed up with Liuyes argument, saying, Lets assume Master Yunbai truly no longer likes Master Yinsong. In that case, you should not stop the delivery of the letter. If she no longer likes him, how could she possibly be swayed by Master Yinsongs letter? Moreover, this is just a letter about official matters, unrted to romantic feelings. Liuye waspletely dumbfounded after hearing this. He couldnt figure out what Jiang Cheng was up to. No matter what argument he put forward, this young man could lead the conversation back to delivering the letter, each time with very sound reasons and substantial evidence, as if not delivering the letter were a great injustice. Liuye realized that he was no match for this young man. Fine, even if you make sense, Ill tell you the truth. The matter of Junior Sister was decided by the eldest senior brother. My word doesnt count. Eldest senior brother said, Junior Sister is in seclusion, not seeing outsiders. You understand what I mean, right? Jiang Cheng asked, Is it possible for me to meet the eldest senior brother of the peak? That will depend on the eldest senior brothers wishes. Please help me get an introduction, senior. Liuye shook his head, Ah, I am too busy.
Jiang Cheng was unapologetic, Then I will have to find the eldest senior brother of Mingyang Peak myself. Liuye had never met someone as impertinent as Jiang Cheng. A normal person would have left by now, but Jiang Cheng shamelessly loitered all over Mingyang Peak. Liuye held his status as a senior, so it was not appropriate to take action against a junior like Jiang Cheng. But without him acting, Jiang Cheng wouldnt leave and kept asking around the peak about the whereabouts of the eldest senior brother. Finally, Jiang Cheng found Master Baochu, the eldest senior brother of Mingyang Peak. Jiang Cheng bowed politely to Master Baochu, exined his purpose, and said he was there specifically to deliver a letter from his sect. Master Baochus response was the same as Master Liuyes. He said, Junior Sister has gone into seclusion and is temporarily not seeing outsiders. Jiang Cheng appealed to Master Baochus emotions and reason, exining the importance of delivering the letter and the various possibilities if it were not a genuine letter, but instead Master Yinsong using his position for personal reasons. Master Liuye listened on the side and nodded repeatedly. This did not mean he agreed with Jiang Chengs words, but simply because he heard exactly the same arguments from Jiang Cheng before. After carefully listening to Jiang Chengs points, Master Baochu said somewhat puzzled, Junior Sister has gone into seclusion and is not seeing outsiders. Thinking Master Baochu did not understand, Jiang Cheng used metaphors,parisons, metonymy, and personification to vividly describe the cause, process, and results of delivering the letter to him. After listening, Master Baochu stated, Youre right, but the Junior Sister is in seclusion. Jiang Cheng thought Master Baochu had not understood, and once more exined the various stakes involved in delivering the letter inymans terms, ensuring even a three-year-old could understand. Master Baochu was baffled and repeated, Youre indeed correct, but the Junior Sister is in seclusion. Master Liuye sensed the eldest senior brothers firm determination to protect Junior Sister. Jiang Cheng found Master Baochu quite a tough nut to crack. Only the pure-hearted Liu Qing took Jiang Chengs hand and said, He said shes in seclusion. Jiang Cheng responded, I know, I just need to rethink my words, Master Baochu is almost persuaded by me.
Liu Qing shook her head, Actually in seclusion. Jiang Cheng: ? Liuye: ? Jiang Cheng, surprised, said, Master Baochu, Master Yunbai isnt truly in seclusion, is she?
Master Baochu quite speechlessly answered, She is in seclusion, Ive told you from the very beginning. Master Liuye was greatly startled, Eldest senior brother! Is Junior Sister truly in seclusion? Truly in seclusion. Why didnt you tell us? I did tell you right from the start. But your expression, your tone, werent they implying that Junior Sister didnt want Yinsong, that scoundrel, toe looking for her? Master Baochu entered a frantic state, No, Junior Sister is really in seclusion! A real seclusion. Meditating in a cave, that kind of seclusion. Master Liuye felt the world spin around him. It dawned on him that the brothers day and night vignce against Yinsong, that scoundrel, was not the eldest senior brothers wish, nor Junior Sisters desire, but merely their own wishful thinking? Recalling how he had vehemently refused to let others send letters to Yunbai in a manner as if he were upholding justice, Master Liuye wanted to crawl into a hole. The seemingly perfect match made in heaven was none of this Monsters business to oppose, was it? Actually in seclusion Jiang Cheng muttered. May I inquire, Master Baochu, when is Master Yunbai likely to emerge from seclusion?
That, I do not know, it could be a few days or half a year. If she has an epiphany, seclusion couldst several years or even decades. Jiang Cheng took out the letter, Could I ask you to deliver this letter to her without disturbing Master Yunbais seclusion? Master Baochu shook his head, I am only at thetter stages of Void Refinement, and Junior Sister is in the early stages. If I act, there is an eighty percent chance Id disturb her. Its too risky. You mean to say that as long as someone has a high enough cultivation level, they can deliver the letter without disturbing Master Yunbai? At least someone in the Integration Realm. Master Baochu thought Jiang Cheng would back down upon hearing this, considering Jiang Cheng was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and couldnt possibly know anyone in the Integration Realm. But to his surprise, Jiang Cheng pulled out a Disciple Jade Badge, calmly dialed a contact method on it, and in an instant summoned a powerful figure in thete stages of the Integration Realm. Sect Master Congying! both Master Baochu and Master Liuye eximed in unison. Sect Master Congying squinted at Master Baochu and the other, temporarily unable to remember who they were, so he chose to keep quiet and act the part of a powerful master. Jiang Cheng, helping you with this matter cannot be withoutpensation. It should be quite fair for you to give me a jar of Memory of a Thousand Years in return for my intervention, shouldnt it? Jiang Cheng smiled, Seniors word is mymand. Sect Master Congying took the envelope from Jiang Cheng, utilized his power, and without leaving a trace, ced it in Master Yunbais hand. Jiang Chengs mission was aplished.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 334 - 254: Jiang Cheng Broadly Accepts Disciples Chapter 334: Chapter 254: Jiang Cheng Broadly epts Disciples In the fulfilling life ofpleting tasks day after day, Jiang Chengs cultivation covertly reached the Golden Core Stage. One day, Yun Shu returned home from a trip, intending to pass by Front Peak and incidentally check up on her disciple Jiang Chengs cultivation progress. Though she imed not to want to bother with Jiang Cheng, in reality, she indeed didnt want to, yet no matter what, as a master, she still had to show some concern. After all, Jiang Cheng was her closed-door disciple. Of course, the most important reason was that her Memory of a Thousand Years had run out, and she heard there was still some left in Jiang Chengs storage bag. She taught Jiang Cheng some spells; he showed his filial piety with some drinks, without her having to spend any money on them. Thats pretty fair, right? However, Yun Shu never would have guessed that, with just a moment of inattentiveness, her disciple Jiang Cheng had inexplicably reached the Golden Core Stage. There was none of the arduous ordeal typical of other disciples, who prepared thoroughly and risked life and limb in a desperate gamble for advancement. It was quite sudden, leaving her feeling rather uninvolved. It seemed as though whether or not she was his master made no difference to Jiang Cheng. This simply wouldnt doshe needed to reinforce her presence as a master. After all, within the vast Tongtian Sect, could it be that everyone knew Jiang Cheng, but not Yun Shu? Yun Shu arrived at Front Peak and discovered Jiang Cheng hosting a grand banquet for guests. Some acquaintances who werent in regr contact warmly invited her to join them as if they assumed she was just there to freeload a meal! She was, after all, the true peak master of North Forest Peak! Jiang Cheng! Yun Shu went looking for her disciple with imposing momentum. Master? Jiang Cheng was also surprised to see Yun Shu. Honestly, the chances of encountering Yun Shu on North Forest Peak were probably even lower than bumping into her at the Demon Sect. Unexpectedly, she was here today. Whats this banquet about? Well, Master, its like this. I was undercover in a Demon Sect not too long ago, and I identally wiped them out entirely. So Yun Shu suddenly realized, I see, so these are all the heroes who helped you take down the Demonic Tao? Not exactly, Jiang Cheng exined, These seniors all got dragged into trouble because of me. Some just got out of the Enforcement Hall, so Im treating them to a meal as a small token of my gratitude. Yun Shu fell silent as she observed the festive atmosphere at Front Peak, with everyone enjoying themselves. So they got dragged into trouble by you, yet why can they stillugh about it? How is it so different from when I deceive someone? Nevermind, when youre done,e find me behind the mountain. Alright. Right. Whats up, Master? Yun Shu stated seriously, Have some food and drinks sent to the back mountain first. Jiang Cheng was taken aback and replied, Then Ill have Liu Qing send it to Master. Liu Qing was quite reliable in handling tasks; as each dish was served at the banquet, she would take one to the back mountain for Yun Shu. After the finale of the dishes had been brought, Yun Shu generously asked Liu Qing to stay and eat. To Yun Shus surprise, however, Liu Qing actually wanted to check with Jiang Cheng using a Jade Token first, agreeing to stay and dine only after Jiang Cheng had consented. Just what is your rtionship with Jiang Cheng? Yun Shu had wanted to ask this question for a while, and today, with Jiang Cheng absent, she finally couldnt hold back her curiosity. Friends, Liu Qing said. I dont buy it. What kind of friends are you? Needing to ask for permission even to eat, most ordinary couples arent even like that. Only those nauseatingly lovey-dovey ones do this. Liu Qing didnt know how to respond to Yun Shu, so she stayed silent. Yun Shu continued, When you and Jiang Cheng first arrived, both of you were at the Foundation Establishment, and now both of you are at Core Formation. From this, its apparent that your talent for cultivation must be quite simr, so life span probably isnt an issue. Therefore Yun Shu looked at Liu Qing with a mischievous smile, When do you n to get married? Liu Qings eyes flickered, Were friends. Yun Shu patted Liu Qings shoulder vigorously, saying, Stop lying. I might not be around the peak much, but do you think I cant see through it? What kind of friends are you? Sleeping with just a screen between you. You may deceive your master, but dont deceive yourself. Liu Qing continued to remain silent. But it seemed like Yun Shu enjoyed teasing her aloof and beautiful tablepanion, as she deliberately leaned in and asked, If Jiang Cheng wants to marry you, would you agree? Liu Qing blinked her clear eyes, looking at Yun Shu, sniffing her scent. Yun Shu was a good person. She quickly came to an urate conclusion. In Yun Shus perspective, Liu Qings prolonged silence was an answer in itself. They were both female cultivators; who wouldnt understand each other? Forget the reserved Liu Qing; even the loyal Yun Shu wouldnt consider sleeping with a male cultivator behind a mere screen. That screen was nothing more than thin paper; it was only a matter of when they decided to break through it. Enough talk, drink with me now. Okay. Yun Shu, arm in arm with Liu Qing, drank merrily as if they were as close as sisters. As for Yun Shus actual disciple, Jiang Cheng, at this point, she was thoroughly forgotten. Not until the next day, when Yun Shu sobered up and saw Jiang Cheng in her cave dwelling, did she hazily say, Eh? How did you get here? Jiang Cheng said ndly, Master, you told me to find you behind the mountain when I had time. So here I am. Oh right, I was nning to guide you in your cultivation, I almost forgot. In order not to dy serious matters, Yun Shu quickly expelled the lingering drunkenness with her cultivation method, then began formally instructing Jiang Cheng in the study of spells. Jiang Cheng had no idea why Yun Shu suddenly took it upon herself to teach him about cultivating immortality. Fortunately, although his focus was onpleting tasks, he had not neglected his regr cultivation. Under Yun Shus tutge, he clumsily started being forced to learn the spells she was teaching him. Chapter 335 - 254: Jiang Cheng Broadly Accepts Disciples_2 Chapter 335: Chapter 254: Jiang Cheng Broadly epts Disciples_2 But Yun Shu didnt seem to know how to teach others very well. She had no idea about breaking things down into simple terms, proceeding step by step, or tailoring her teaching to the students abilities. She would just say whatever came to mind, which made Jiang Chengs learning process quite difficult. And he was extremely grateful for Yun Shus previous grace of not teaching. Luckily, she hadnt taught anyone before; otherwise, she would have ruined them from the start. However, from Yun Shus perspective, she didnt quite understand why Jiang Cheng found learning spells so difficult. She felt that what she exined was very reasonable, and shepletely understood it herselfit wasnt difficult at all. Looking at Liu Qing, who was silently pouring water for Jiang Cheng, Yun Shu suddenly had an idea and said, Liu Qing, do you want to learn as well? Although Liu Qing was not her disciple, and she didnt need to bother teaching Liu Qing spells, she was always generous. It was no trouble to teach Liu Qing while she was at it with Jiang Cheng. Moreover, Yun Shu wanted to figure out through Liu Qing whether Jiang Cheng was too dull to learn spells, or whether she herself hadnt taught well. Master, Liu Qing isnt interested in spells, so you neednt bother teaching her, Jiang Cheng tried to prevent Yun Shus overconfident dangerous act. But Yun Shu didnt care at all, Its okay, I dont mind the trouble. Liu Qing,e here, Ill teach you the Spiritual Vein Sword Rush. Dont you want to learn the same spell as Jiang Cheng? Jiang Cheng thought to himself, please stop joking, why would a Mahayana cultivator be interested in such a trivial spell? However, to Jiang Chengs surprise, Liu Qing actually seemed quite interested. Since that was the case, Jiang Cheng didnt speak up to prevent it and just let Liu Qing have her fun. Yun Shu, nning to use Liu Qing as a case study, to contrast with Jiang Cheng and prove that it wasnt her teaching that was the issue but rather Jiang Chengs own inability to learn, took extra care in teaching Liu Qing. She basically exined Spiritual Vein Sword Rush in great detail. Now, Ill demonstrate it for you once, and then you try to follow my movements and practice on your own, Yun Shu said. Liu Qing listened attentively and nodded in agreement. Yun Shu then pinched her fingers together, using the index and middle finger to form a de, and demonstrated Spiritual Vein Sword Rush to Liu Qing. The sword energy flew out a thousand meters and cut arge tree at its waist from a great distance. The secret of this move lies in using your own spirit vein to elerate andpress the spiritual power within your body to achieve an instantaneous attack. The power of this move mostly depends on how much spiritual power you can elerate andpress. But for starters, were not aiming for power, just to release it smoothly, she exined. Okay. After a simple acknowledgment, Liu Qing copied Yun Shus movements, silently channeled her spiritual power, and then sent out a sword strike! The sword energy flew out a thousand meters, easily bringing down a swath ofrge trees. The power was much stronger than when Yun Shu herself had used it. Jiang Cheng was not surprised, but Yun Shu was stunned. Uh, how did you do that? How could you get it right on your first try? Not only did you get it, but you also exceeded your teacher! Yun Shu herself had a very high talent for cultivating immortality, but even she admitted, she couldnt achieve such a feat of learning in one go, let alone surpass her own master! That talent was just too outrageous. Yun Shu tried to teach Liu Qing some other spells, and unsurprisingly, Liu Qing learned them all on the first attempt, exceeding both her expectations and abilities. Jiang Cheng, your girlfriend seems to be a genius! Jiang Cheng wiped away sweat, Just a fluke. I have a proposal for you, she said. Whats that? In a while, theres the Immortal Sects grandpetition. How about you lend me Liu Qing for the event? Well work together and fiercely im the first-ce reward! Forget it, Master, Liu Qing doesnt like to fight others. And you, Liu Qing? What do you think? Ill listen to Jiang Cheng. Ah, what a wasted opportunity, such a pity. Jiang Cheng consoled, Master, were not after fame or fortune; living a simple life is quite nice. Yun Shu thought to herself, if you hadnt boasted about overthrowing the Demon Sect at the feast yesterday, I might have actually believed your nonsense! When Dayan Sect fortuitously obtained the Demonic Tao territory in the Capital, Jiang Cheng gained control of a power bnce mechanism, allowing Dayan Sect disciples to switch to the side with the stronger version and consequently receive some cultivation bonuses. However, as core disciples like Yue Linger, Shen Menghan, Liang Lu, and Lin Yao made progress in their cultivation, the effect of the power bnce mechanism gradually diminished. In particr, Liang Lu and Lin Yao were quitepetitive, sessively breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage, causing Dayan Sects territory in the Capital to be in a state of power bnce, even without adding Liu Qing to their names. If this was not addressed promptly, the Dayan Sect disciples would not only miss out on version bonuses, but would also be suppressed by the power bnce, resulting in difficulties in their cultivation practices. Therefore, a while ago, Jiang Cheng decided to go out and eliminate demons once again. With the experience from a previous demon eradication, Jiang Chengs second attempt was quite smooth, opening up a new territory for the Dayan Sect. But problems followed; although the Dayan Sect managed to temporarily clear the new territory of Demonic Tao forces, the insufficient number of disciples meant that the Dayan Sect couldnt effectively upy the new territory. The territory in the Capital was held by the Dayan Sect because of the presence of people like Gao Miao and Li Qingge, who had deep roots there and could thus be considered an upation. Clearly, there was no simrwork of contacts for the new territory. Therefore, recruitment was necessary. However, when it came to recruitment, Jiang Cheng always preferred quality over quantity. He was recently designing a set of effective recruitment standards, ready for trial application. Shidu City. Jiang Cheng arrived to meet with Yue Linger. Before any new recruits were found, it was Yue Linger who had been holding Dayan Sects territory in Shidu City. Her tireless efforts ining to Shidu City made her an essential pir of the Dayan Sect. Holding the territory might sound arduous, but it was really just enjoying public-funded food, drink, and entertainment in the city, especially since there was no Demonic Tao presence and things were currently very safe. Have you thought of a way to recruit people? Yue Linger asked. Jiang Cheng said, Yes, well start with the old rules, posting recruitment advertisements in the Task Hall of Shidu City. Jiang Chengs recruitment advertisement was straightforward: Dayan Sect was looking to recruit disciples, with quite attractive benefits. It was best if applicants had work experience from an Immortal Sect and were willing to live and work in Shidu City long-term, with local contacts preferred. However, to precisely filter the interview candidates, Jiang Cheng added a special requirement to the advertisement. Applicants for a Dayan Sect interview must first take an intelligence test. Yue Linger didnt understand Jiang Chengs special rule. Jiang Cheng, by requiring people to take an intelligence test, arent you intentionally raising the bar for the interview? Thats right, if we want to recruit efficiently, we must raise the bar for interviews. But I feel that taking an intelligence test before going for an interview really seems to insult ones intelligence. Would any normal person do that? Youre right, normal people indeed wouldnt go for an intelligence test just for an interview. A confused Yue Linger replied, So are you looking to recruit abnormal people? No, I want to recruit people who truly need a job, Jiang Cheng exined. Jiang Chengs approach to recruitment was a continuation of his original Liu Qing Recruitment Method. He wasnt looking for the best screw, but for a screw that fit the hole perfectly. The primary task of Dayan Sect disciples in Shidu City was just to hold the territory. Beyond that, they had nothing else to do. Therefore, factors like family background, talent, and abilities were not within Jiang Chengs assessment scope. In fact, these sparkling qualities were actually detrimental in Jiang Chengs view. A genius would find it hard to stay in one ce calmly and steadily. As expected, very few came to interview for a position as a Dayan Sect disciple under Jiang Chengs stringent recruitment conditions, but with some patience, there eventually were some. Jiang Cheng selected several practical and capable individuals, officially inducting them into Dayan Sect. However, their current status in the sect was merely that of basic Outer Sect disciples, tasked with upying territory for the sect. Above the Outer Sect disciples, there were Inner Sect Disciples and True Disciples. Thetter two were the ones who truly shouldered the weight of the sect. Such emergency recruitment for upying territory was a temporary measure in the developmental stages of the sect. Going forward, Dayan Sect still needed to develop its foundations further, ensuring flexible recement and having a sect office in every city in order to flexibly fill the territories left by the Demonic Tao. Chapter 336 - 255: Sect Competition and Volunteers Chapter 336: Chapter 255: Sect Competition and Volunteers Almost every Cultivating Immortality sect has its own internal ranking mechanism. This is especially true within sects like Tongtian Sect, which are more loosely organized. Within the Tongtian Sect, there are numerous peaks with varying levels of strength, foundation, and capabilities. Some have been established for several thousand years, with strength surpassing some of the external top-tier sects. Others may have been founded more recently, with only a handful of disciples, hardly constituting a significant force. Expecting each peak to undertake the same amount of work and responsibilities is highly unrealistic. In thisplex sectarian structure, the Sect Competition of the Tongtian Sect bes particrly significant. The performance of each peak in the Sect Competition serves as one of the key benchmarks for evaluating their strength by the sect. Simply put, if the Tongtian Sect assesses a peak to be stronger after evaluation and calction, that peak will gain more rights and benefits within the sect and will undertake more responsibilities. For instance, tasks such as managing a division in Liang Kingdom would be specifically assigned to a peak. Though this might divert much of the peaks manpower and energy, the benefits rued from Liang Kingdom will, in turn, profit that peak. In short, the Sect Competition is very important for the vast majority of peaks, as it signifies the internal distribution of benefits within the Tongtian Sect. However, this importance does not extend to North Forest Peak, established by Yun Shu. The reason is quite simple; Yun Shu belongs to the type of cultivator who only reaps benefits without putting in the work. Suppose Jiang Cheng participates in the Sect Competition and achieves an excellent result, enhancing the importance of North Forest Peak within the Tongtian Sect and obtaining more resources. Yun Shu would be very happy. But then, should the Tongtian Sect assign a task to North Forest Peak, such as establishing a branch in a certain country, would Yun Shu go and do the work? Impossible. Jiang Cheng knows her all too well. By then, Master Yun Shu would be nowhere to be found, with neither Yun Shu nor the master in sight. In the end, it would be Jiang Cheng, her dutiful disciple with a strong sense of responsibility, who would have to find a way to solve the sect tasks. So its quite good for North Forest Peak to maintain the status quono resources, no tasks. With the master uninvolved, he can spend plenty of time earning historical contribution points to pave his way to bing an elder. For a self-disciplined person, an uninvolved master is much better than a meddling one. Thanks to Yun Shu for her uninstructive grace! Nevertheless, although Jiang Cheng does not n to participate in the Sect Competition, this does not mean he doesnt n to get involved with it. As the Sect Competition of the Tongtian Sect approaches, the Internal Affairs Hall responsible for organizing the contest starts to get busy. As a major event, the Internal Affairs Hall surely needs to design thepetition rules, issue notices, inspect the venue, select referees, and create a series of contingency ns for potential emergencies during the contest. With a sudden increase in workload, the Internal Affairs Hall, unsurprisingly, will outsource some of the more challenging tasks to other departments of the Tongtian Sect, just as they usually do. These outsourced tasks are what Jiang Cheng is waiting for. While others show off their strength during the Sect Competition, Jiang Cheng seizes the opportunity to rack up contribution points. Everyone has a bright future ahead. As expected, as thepetition neared, the Task Hall suddenly listed many more tasks rted to thepetition. However, Jiang Cheng wasnt in a hurry; he was waiting for a big catch. As an experienced task expert, the small, trivial tasks no longer satisfied his appetite. After nearly a month of patient waiting, Jiang Cheng finally set his eyes on a satisfactory task. The task was to maintain the cleanliness of thepetition venue until the start of the Sect Competition, which seemed simple enough but offered a whopping one hundred thousand contribution points. Once Jiang Cheng roughly understood the task details, he set off for the venue to meet with the task issuer, Elder Yang, for the handover. At first, when Elder Yang heard that a Core Formation cultivator had epted the task, he immediately imed it was uneptable, doubting that a cultivator of Core Formation was up to the task. But upon learning that Jiang Cheng was the one taking on the task, Elder Yang was relieved. Not being an ordinary Core Formation cultivator doesnt mean Jiang Cheng isnt capable; he is not your average cultivator. During this time, the title of task expert had earned Jiang Cheng a little fame within the Tongtian Sect. Jiang Chengs hallmark was an impablepletion rate for tasks. He has never failed a task. Moreover, he is not like those who protect their records. Jiang Chengs workload is intense, and he doesnt deliberately maintain a perfect record; instead, he adopts a take on all thates approach for many high-value tasks, which greatly boosted the value of his status as a task expert. So beforehand, Yun Shus concern that the Tongtian Sect would only recognize Jiang Cheng and not Yun Shu was not unfounded. In the lush and temperate Pingfeng Valley, abundant in spiritual energy, Jiang Cheng smoothly met Elder Yang, the task issuer. Elder Yang introduced him to the area,This ce is thick with trees, has a moderate climate, and is abundant in spiritual energy. It has been chosen by the Sect Competition Committee as the forest simted battleground. Jiang Cheng nodded, Good. Elder Yang continued, Since its apetition venue, we need to control the variables that could affect the contest to ensure as fair apetition as possible. However, this forest isnt just a ce that grows nts and not animals. Some spiritual beasts may wander around here. To avoid their sudden appearance during thepetition, disrupting the contestants, your job will be to clean thepetition venue and ensure the contests in the forest can proceed as fairly as possible. Jiang Cheng replied, Good, I understand the work content now. Chapter 337 - 255: Sect Competition and Volunteers_2 Chapter 337: Chapter 255: Sect Competition and Volunteers_2 ` Theres one more thing I need to remind you of; when you are expelling the spiritual beasts, you mustnt be lethal. Some of them have grown naturally and wander within the sect. For these, no one will hold you ountable if you kill them. However, some may be raised by other cultivators. If you kill thistter group, you could face a hefty im for damages. Of course, your task wouldnt be considered sessfullypleted either. Thank you for the reminder, Senior. Jiang Cheng understands. Hmm, good, as long as you know the measure, well get in touch about other matterster. After Elder Yang left, only Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing remained. Jiang Cheng didnt rush to drive away the spiritual beasts in the valley. The first thing he did was to survey the terrain to decide from which direction to start and where to herd the beasts from and to. Once he had a clear understanding of the terrain and the direction to drive them, Jiang Cheng again didnt rush to drive away the spiritual beasts. Instead, he first roughly tallied up the types of spiritual beasts he needed to deal with. Here, the spiritual beasts mainly referred to those above the Qi Cultivation Stage. Many small insects with unique talents were not among the targets to be driven away. Small creatures, such as rabbits and mice, were also not part of the expulsion targets. The main spiritual beasts Jiang Cheng needed to drive away were mostly medium torge ones like wild boars, dogs, cats, deer, snakes, and tigers, as well as the more dangerous venomous bees and other harmful beasts. The cultivation of these spiritual beasts should at most not exceed the Core Formation Stage, because any higher and they would, like Senior Yusheng, be assigned roles by Tongtian Sect and then sent out on missions. Of course, there is a difference between spiritual beasts and monsters. Spiritual beasts are always beasts, but monsters can transform into humans. Having the ability to transform is one of the key indicators to distinguish between spiritual beasts and monsters. Driving spiritual beasts is a technical job, with the main difficulty not being capturing them, but rather finding and capturing them. As suggested by the word spiritual in their name, these beasts are not ordinary wild animals. For ordinary wild animals, Jiang Chengs divine sense could sweep over them and urately locate their position. But spiritual beasts, having evolved, naturally possess an ability akin to invisibility, which makes them difficult to detect and locate with ordinary divine sense. Sometimes divine sense is even less useful than eyesight. The task of driving the beasts out of arge valley was a huge undertaking for Jiang Cheng alone, evidently very difficult. If he were to try capturing them one area at a time, it would be uncertain when he would finish. Even if he did finish, the slightest inattention would allow other regional spiritual beasts to move into the cleared areas. This meant that all his efforts would be in vain, unknowingly working to expand other spiritual beasts territories. From this perspective, for Jiang Cheng to think he could handle the spiritual beasts of arge valley on his own was quite fantastical. No matter how hard he worked, other regional spiritual beasts, following their instincts, would fill the ecological void left by the absence of their kind. Even if he could catch the majority of the spiritual beasts in the valley, the ones from outside would rapidly take their ce, quickly replenishing their numbers within the valley. It can be said that, as long as the ecological bnce of the valley isnt destroyed, simply relying on catching beasts to clear out the spiritual beasts is nearly impossible. And if the valleys ecology were destroyed, then it wouldnt meet the conditions for the sects grandpetition. Its an unsolvable vicious cycle. Normal solutions one might think of are either to deploy arge force, methodically advance step by step, turn over every inch of soil, and forcibly drive the spiritual beasts out of the valley. Or to directly request Liu Qing to take action. Ordinary spiritual beasts could avoid Jiang Chengs Core Formation Stage divine sense, but could they really avoid Liu Qings Mahayana Realm divine sense? Or more directly, get Liu Qing to purely scare the spiritual beasts. That would definitely work like a charm. Of course, asking Liu Qing to take action is just a joke. And deploying arge force isnt feasible either. Where could Jiang Cheng find so many people to carry out a carpet-style expulsion? Especially given the constraint of not harming the spiritual beasts. However, the challenging task wasnt enough to stump Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng quickly came up with his own solution. ` It was known that the number of spiritual beasts in the forest existed in a dynamic equilibrium, where fewer would be more, and more would be fewer. As long as the environmental carrying capacity didnt change, the number of spiritual beasts would remain stable. Thus, Jiang Cheng could exploit this point and do the exact opposite. If the spiritual beasts outside the valley could follow their instincts and move into the valley to fill ecological positions, then the spiritual beasts within the valley could also, due to an excess ofpetitors, follow their instincts and move out of the valley into the wilderness to survive. Therefore, Jiang Chengs choice was to rent a batch of spiritual beasts from a cultivation base. The advantage of cultivating spiritual beasts was that they bore marks in the form of magical treasures, so there was no need to worry about losing them if they ran off. What Jiang Cheng did, then, was release arge number of the same type of cultivated spiritual beasts into the valley. If a valleys prey could sustain the survival of three tigers, then the environmental capacity of the valley for tigers would be three. By releasing ten farmed tigers into the valley, Jiang Cheng caused an immediate increase to thirteen tigers in the valley, and the valleys resources simply could not sustain the survival of thirteen tigers. Thus, the tigers had only two choices: topete with each other, eliminating their own kind, or to migrate outwards, leaving the valley. Since there were marks present, Jiang Cheng was able to observe the status and position of the tigers he had released to prevent them frompeting with one another but simply to force out the native tigers! Once the tiger bnce was achieved, Jiang Cheng continued by releasing deer, wild boars, and other animals to squeeze out the native deer and wild boars from the valley. And so on and so forth. By constantly releasing and recollecting cultivated spiritual beasts, Jiang Cheng applied the environmental bnce mechanism to the extreme, effortlessly creating arge area of spiritual beast-free forest and handed it over to the Internal Affairs Hall on the eve of the sectpetition. The Internal Affairs Hall then set up formations to meet the grounds requirements for the sectpetition. Elder Yang was very satisfied with Jiang Chengs work. He suggested to Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng, our Internal Affairs Hall is preparing for the sectpetition and is currently short of hands. If you are not too busy, I rmend that you volunteer with us at the Internal Affairs Hall. Youll just need to work on maintaining order during thepetition. Well pay you a thousand contribution points a day, how does that sound? Jiang Cheng did some quick calctions and found the wage level very appealing, so he agreed. After bing a volunteer, Jiang Chengs work was much easier than driving out spiritual beasts. Since volunteers mainly dealt with maintaining order, one could say that as long as thepetition went smoothly, Jiang Cheng could easily earn a good ie by just strolling around. Naturally, on the flip side, an incident would be a big deal if Jiang Cheng handled it improperly. Different from Jiang Cheng, Yue Lingers sect, although also newly established, had a master unlike Yun Shu who was content withying low. They still wanted to use more resources to make a mark. Thus, Yue Linger and Shen Menghan were sent by their sect to actively participate in the sectpetition. Their achievements would be converted into points and added to their sects tally. Unlike Lin Yao or Liang Lu, Yue Linger and Shen Menghan were not adept atbat. Fortunately, thanks to Jiang Chengs talismans protecting them, they frequently achieved victories amidst the curses and yells from the opposing side, despite the close calls. The only thing that hindered their progress was how many talismans Jiang Cheng was willing to give. Anyway, Jiang Chengs stance was that they should not be reckless; it was enough for Core Formation Stage cultivators to fight against Core Formation Stage opponents. If they encountered a prodigy, they should admit defeat, aiming for a slightly above average performance that would live up to their masters training. Yue Linger and Shen Menghan thoroughly implemented Jiang Chengsbat strategies, and of course, they couldnt do otherwise as there were no new talismans avable. But idents do happen. One day, Yue Linger and a Core Formation Stage sect member werepeting on the tform. After narrowly winning by using one of Jiang Chengs talismans, Yue Linger bowed out without giving it much thought. Little did she know that her defeated sect member was not convinced and wanted to challenge her to a private fight off the tform. Volunteer Jiang Cheng promptly stepped in to maintain order and proposed, Private fights are against the sect rules. If you really want topete, I can give each of you one powerful electric shock talisman. You can use it on yourselves, and then judge the oue based on injuries sustained, this way it wont be against the sect rules. The sect member retorted, Why should I listen to you? Jiang Cheng tugged at his red armband, Im a volunteer, would I lie to you? The sect member thought it made sense and decisively used the electric shock talisman on himself, then turned charred ck with smoke rising from his head, and said to Yue Linger, Your turn now! Without waiting for Yue Linger to respond, Jiang Cheng generously spoke for her, No need for the electricity, she concedes. The sect member was initially pleased, thinking he had proven himself stronger than Yue Linger. Then, he saw Yue Linger and Jiang Chengughing and talking, and he immediately felt that something was off. Hold on, you guys were in cahoots from the beginning? Chapter 338: 256: Jiang Cheng Cant Rely on Womans Support Chapter 338: Chapter 256: Jiang Cheng Cant Rely on Womans Support As Jiang Cheng took on more and more tasks, his reputation within the Tongtian Sect grew increasinglyrger. Now, when people mentioned North Forest Peak, many cultivators would instantly respond that it was Jiang Chengs mountain. As for Yun Shu? Sorry, not really familiar with them. The inconspicuous presence of Yun Shu was partly because Jiang Cheng indeed was good at building connections, leaving a deep impression on many after they had encountered him, which consequently led to the illusion that Jiang Cheng represented North Forest Peak. On the other hand, it was because Yun Shu had recently been wandering around quite often and was seldom seen. Naturally, it was easy for people to forget about them. Jiang Cheng guessed that the reason Yun Shu wandered so much was probably because she had almost harassed all the people she knew nearby, prompting various measures against her, which forced her to trouble people who were out of touch and far away. Otherwise, there was no exining why Yun Shu was frequently out and rarely at home. That day, Jiang Cheng didnt go out to take on tasks but discussed the matter of the Nascent Soul with Liu Qing on North Forest Peak. In the neighboring Taixu Sect, Lin Yao and Liang Lu, the two scroll kings, had already advanced to thete Nascent Soul stage, and it was estimated that their breakthrough to the Divinity Transformation would happen within a few years, which was frightening indeed. In neighboring Biyun Peak, Yue Linger and Shen Menghan also broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage not long ago, bing early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. The cultivation speed of Lin Yao and Liang Lu could still be barely exined by their talent, but thetter two, Yue Linger and Shen Menghan, were purely benefiting from the cultivation methods of the Dayan Sect.
They were like sailing with the current, even if they didnt cultivate so diligently, their cultivation speed could keep up with regr cultivation geniuses. They were truly favored ones in the proper sense. In fact, the rapid cultivation of Yue Linger and Shen Menghan was also influenced by Jiang Chengs intentions. If the two of them didnt cause any major impact while advancing to the Nascent Soul, Jiang Cheng would then be able tofortably follow behind them and ascend to the Nascent Soul. As it turned out, the cautious Jiang Cheng was still overthinking it. In the Tongtian Sect, talented individuals abounded; even if someone frequently made breakthroughs like Lin Yao and Liang Lu, they wouldnt attract excessive attention. On the contrary, it waspetition events like the grand sect tournaments that required extra caution. Turning the tide in a high-profile match could bring the individual significant attention and talkability. There were many cultivators with average cultivation speed but solid spells, adept inbat, who were discovered in various contests and then specially nurtured. Lets not take on tasks for the time being, stay on the peak to concentrate on cultivation, and strive to ascend to the Nascent Soul as soon as possible, Jiang Cheng said and didnt forget to remind Liu Qing, Dont be anxious. Wait for me to ascend to the Nascent Soul first, then you can ascend. If Master returns during this period, temporarily give up ascending and wait until she leaves. Okay, Liu Qing nodded. Her ascension to the Nascent Soul was extremely simple, merely needing to adjust the cultivation she presented outwardly, and she could seed in an instant. Is Jiang Cheng at home? Is Jiang Cheng at home? While Jiang Cheng was pondering the matter of the Nascent Soul, cries came from the mountain gates formation below. Sect Master Congying? Why has hee in person? Could it be hes run out of wine again? Sect Master Congying was one of the high-ranking cultivators Jiang Cheng was quite familiar with. The main reason was that this senior always found ways to swindle some wine from him. He was the second biggest killer of the Memory of a Thousand Years stock. As for the first biggest killer, it undoubtedly had to be Master Yun Shu. Although Sect Master Congying was a bit of a rascal, his Integration stage cultivation was indeed genuine, and he led the Congying Mountain Range, representing a power of substantial scale within the Tongtian Sect. In the outer world, he would be considered a figure on par with the sect masters of the three sects Jiang Cheng had visited before. Although Jiang Cheng was acquainted with Sect Master Congying, he did not dare to treat him with anything less than the utmost respect.
Who would dare to disrespect a high-ranking cultivator? Apart from Liu Qing, whom Jiang Cheng dared to take lightly, he maintained a polite and respectful attitude towards other high-ranking cultivators. I will go down the mountain to meet a senior. Oh.
Jiang Cheng didnt even need to name names when he spoke; after all, there was no one else on the mountain, and Snake could understand who he was calling for. At the foot of North Forest Peak, Jiang Cheng sessfully met Sect Master Congying. Senior has traveled far; pleasee up the mountain for a cup of tea, Jiang Cheng said politely. Haha, no need for the trouble. This old man came for wine, Sect Master Congying chuckled heartily. Jiang Cheng brought out two sks of Memory of a Thousand Years. Who knew Sect Master Congying would surprisedly say, The old man was just joking; who would have thought youd really bring it out? Jiang Cheng: Then, I will just put it back, he said. Hey, since its taken out, what sense is there in putting it back? Well, the old man will reluctantly ept it. It saves you from a heavy storage bag, weighing down your waist, which wouldnt be good, Congying countered. Jiang Cheng: After being swindled of two sks of wine, Jiang Cheng said, Senior cant havee specially to swindle wine, right? You really hit the nail on the head. The old man indeed came by for wine, but actually, there is an important matter I want to discuss with you. What matter?
The Wan Yue Mountain Master wants to meet you. Wan Yue Mountain Master, a cultivator in the early stages of the Mahayana Realm, Yun Shus father. Jiang Chengs back was drenched in sweat: Is this something that can be discussed? Of course, you can choose not to go. What would happen if I didnt go? If you dont go, he wille to find you, came the reply. Then I shall go, Jiang Cheng decided. To avoid any possible mishap with a certain Snake. He didnt voice thisst thought aloud. His main concern was that if Wan Yue Mountain Master visited North Forest Peak and came into close contact with Liu Qing, he might discover some clues. As a Mahayana Realm cultivator, it was possible for Wan Yue Mountain Master to sense something off about Liu Qing if he got too close to her. It was better not to let him get too close to Liu Qing. Sect Master Congying handed over an invitation, Remember to take this to meet him. Otherwise, you wont be able to see him.
Chapter 339: 256: Jiang Cheng Cant Rely on Womans Support_2 Chapter 339: Chapter 256: Jiang Cheng Cant Rely on Womans Support_2 I understand, Looking at the tense expression on Jiang Chengs face, Sect Master Congying patted his shoulder and said, Dont be nervous. Youre Yun Shus disciple; whats there to be afraid of? If worstes to worst, just have Yun Shu fetch someone from the Wan Yue Mountain Range. Jiang Cheng cupped his hands in thanks for Sect Master Congyings reminder. It wasnt that he feared Yun Shu; he was mainly wary of Liu Qing. As he climbed ever higher, he would inevitably have frequent contact with other high-level cultivators; he couldnt always leave Liu Qing behind, could he? However, future matters could wait to be addressed in the future. Right now, he had to pass the test posed by the Wan Yue Mountain Master. In the Wan Yue Mountain Range, on Beiyue Peak, Jiang Cheng ascended the mountain stairs slowly, led by a Nascent Soul senior brother. Not to mention the precious rocks and esteemed spirit nts along the way, even the brother tasked with cleaning the stairs possessed the cultivation of the Core Formation Stage.
In Jiang Chengs hometown of Wuyue City, such a formidable cultivator would be a figure whomanded respect. Yet in the Wan Yue Mountain Sect, they were reduced to menial tasks such as cleaning stairs. Even the brother responsible for reception needed to be at the Nascent Soul level. This was indicative of the depth of foundation at the Tongtian Sect Pir Mountain Gate. Not to mention anything else, just look at Yun Shus behavior. She was so disruptive and unreasonable, making enemies everywhere, yet she could wander freely within Tongtian Sect, surely because her father was there to support her. Yun Shu was good at grabbing opportunities, but mainly, no one worried she wouldnt be able to pay back what she owed. The moment the youngdy decided to soften up and return home to her father, shed once again be a wealthydy. Jiang Cheng could roughly guess the purpose of why Wan Yue Mountain Master wanted to see him; it was likely rted to Yun Shu, otherwise there was no need for the Mountain Master to contact him. To the Wan Yue Mountain Master, his only value was as Yun Shus disciple. Having a Core Formation Stage physique, Jiang Cheng climbed to the mountaintop effortlessly. However, the building at the peak was not the ptial hall or modest thatched courtyard one might imagine, but rather a very modern standalone vi. It resembled the one Jiang Cheng had bought in the vi district of Wuyue City, though of course, much nicer than his. In the heavily cultivation-atmosphere of Tongtian Sect, such a building seemed quite out of ce. But considering Yun Shus temperament, if Wan Yue Mountain Master was also an entric, it would be quite normal. The Nascent Soul senior brother led Jiang Cheng into the vi before taking his leave. The main host, Wan Yue Mountain Master, dressed in white, was waiting for Jiang Cheng in the living room. Upon entering the living room, Jiang Cheng saw the legendary Wan Yue Mountain Master Yun Zaiyuan. Actually, Jiang Cheng had some impression of Yun Zaiyuan. After all, Yun Zaiyuan was one of the prominent figures of Tongtian Sect. As a nner, Jiang Cheng had seen him before. Quite coincidentally, not only did Jiang Cheng have impressions of Yun Zaiyuan, but thetter also remembered Jiang Cheng.
Ten-plus years ago, Yun Zaiyuan suddenly perceived a strange Mahayana aura. Thinking that a significant event had urred in the sect, he quickly went to investigate the source of the presence. What turned out to be a false rm was just a couple getting intimate in the woods, with nothing abnormal detected. The Jiang Cheng standing before him now was that very youth from all those years ago. Senior Yun, you were looking for me?
Jiang Cheng ventured tentatively. He didnt remember what kind of person Yun Zaiyuan was, so he had to be cautious in his approach. Jiang Cheng, is it? Working so diligently under Xiao Shu, youve really gone through a lot, You jest, senior. Master is an exceptional cultivator, and being with her is like being in the heart of serene nature, utterly free and easya far cry from hardship. Really? Shes that good? Of course, masters virtues are countless; I could speak of them for days and nights without end. Good. Yun Zaiyuan looked pleased. Jiang Cheng then rxed. It seemed praising Yun Shu was quite effective, at least in dealing with her father. But then Yun Zaiyuan said, I wont have you praise her for days and nights. Just give me one nights worth of Yun Shus virtues to listen to. Jiang Cheng smiled and said, Senior knows master best; how could I dare to show off in front of you? Alright, sit down. I wont joke with you anymore. You can probably guess why Ive called you here. Xiao Shu has been away from home for nearly five hundred years now. No matter how temperamental she is, she shouldve calmed down by this time, right? But what about her? She spends her days wandering about and neglecting her duties. Do you know that her cultivation hasnt advanced an inch in over five hundred years! That person who was about her age back then is already at the Integration Realm! Shes still at Divinity Transformation! Its infuriating! Such a waste of her excellent talent. Yun Zaiyuans eyebrows stood on end, clearly disappointed and upset.
Jiang Cheng listened quietly, careful not to breathe too loudly. Of course, I know its not your concern. After all these years, Ive let it go, Jiang Cheng thought: Your demeanor a moment ago didnt look like that of someone whos let go. Id like you to help me persuade her toe home earlier, Yun Zaiyuan said in a tone that sounded quite sincere, not like he was joking at all. Jiang Cheng tried to decline, Senior Yun, to be honest, I am just a disciple my master lets roam free. I cant decide for her! Yun Zaiyuan, aware that the chances of sess were not high, took a step back, Im not asking you to decide for her. Just try to persuade her when you get the chance. Tell her I wont force her to cultivate anymore, and she can y however she wants after shees home. Really? No. Oh. Then Ill try my best to persuade Master, Jiang Cheng trulycked motivation; Liu Qing waszy, not foolish. How could she possibly be hoodwinked by such a simple trick from her dad? Seeing Jiang Chengs half-hearted response, Yun Zaiyuan added, From what I know about Yun Shu, shes probably out of money by now. Its remarkable that youve managed to reach the Core Formation Stage. How about thisIll have someone give you 500,000 Contribution Points for you to buy some cultivation resources. Dont let your talent for cultivation go to waste. Jiang Cheng earnestly said, Its really too much for Master to not return home for so many years. I will definitely persuade her well!
After returning to North Forest Peak, Jiang Cheng began to prepare for his advancement to the Nascent Soul stage. Although Yun Zaiyuans offer was generous, suddenly producing 500,000 Contribution Points, it was out of Jiang Chengs control when Yun Shu would decide to return to the peak. If she didnte back, there was nothing Jiang Cheng could do in a hurry. All Jiang Cheng could do was wait for Yun Shu to return when she had had enough fun and then find a way to persuade her. However, Jiang Cheng estimated the chances of sess were slim, as Yun Shu had been away from home for over five hundred years already. It was unlikely she would change her mind just because of a few words from him and reconcile with Yun Zaiyuan. The reality was almost as Jiang Cheng had predicted. Half a year after Jiang Cheng ascended to the Nascent Soul, Yun Shu finally showed up again on North Forest Peak. Jiang Cheng, did you really reach Nascent Soul? I must not have slept well on the road and am still dreaming, Yun Shu rubbed her eyes and yawned as she walked toward her cave dwelling. Jiang Cheng quickly followed. Master, where did you go to have fun this time? Went to visit friends at Taixu Sect. Jiang Cheng, looking at Yun Shus travel-worn appearance, said in surprise, You didnt take the Teleportation Array and flew all the way there, did you?
Of course, I flew! I dont have money for the array, Yun Shu pouted her lips and squinted her eyes, continuing to yawn. Jiang Cheng said, Master, to be frank, the Wan Yue Mountain Master sought me out some time ago. Who? Yun Shus voice suddenly went up by an octave. Wan Yue Mountain Master. My dad? Yes. He wanted you to persuade me to go back, didnt he? Master is clever as always. Did he tell you he wasnt going to pressure me this time? This time Jiang Cheng was genuinely surprised, Master, how did you know? Yun Shu gritted her teeth, He says that every time! Ive been tricked into going back several times! Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng suddenly understood, Then I will find an opportunity to hint to Senior Yun. Its better than letting him be too heartbroken. Hold on, did he give you money? Yun Shu red at Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng guiltily said, A little. Hmm? Yun Shu extended her snow-white hand toward Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng: ? What do you mean? Split fifty-fifty. ? Fifty-fifty! Otherwise, Ill go home right now, and you wont get the next tranche! Your threat could be a bit stronger, Jiang Cheng said, but he agreed to give Yun Shu 250,000 Contribution Points. Yun Shu smiled, eyes curving, and nudged Jiang Cheng with her elbow, Next time, swindle more, my dad is quite wealthy. Just remember to share half with me after you pull it off, or Im not helping you with the act anymore. Jiang Cheng sighed, Master, if you were only a bit more diligent, you wouldnt be short on money. Yun Shu asserted confidently, Im not stupid. Money that I earn through my own efforts, Id be reluctant to spend it! Chapter 340: 257: Helping Liu Qing Renew Her Visa Chapter 340: Chapter 257: Helping Liu Qing Renew Her Visa The minimum cultivation requirement to be an Elder of the Tongtian Sect is the Divinity Transformation Realm. As soon as Jiang Cheng advanced to Divinity Transformation, he immediately applied for a relevant position. The position he took interest in was called Talisman Historical Comption. It belonged to a leisurely establishment under the Talisman Academy of the Tongtian Sect. The job involved editing and revising history books about the talisman industry and its development. Unlike the Lecturer, he didnt need to teach sses or mentor students, nor did he need to be on duty all the time like the Librarian. With freedom in workce, work hours, and content, though distant from the center of power and with only averagepensation, it was Jiang Chengs preferred retirement position for its tranquility and the bnce between decent pay and light duties. At the Talisman Academys position application office, Jiang Cheng submitted his application for the job. Since Talisman Historical Comption wasnt popritcked perks and prospects for promotionfew Talisman Masters chose this position, so there was lesspetition. Given his credentials, Jiang Cheng was quite confident that he could secure it. Is this a personal submission? the clerk at the application office nced at Jiang Cheng. Yes, it is, he said.
Youre applying for a position shortly after your promotion to Divinity Transformation? Its not easy to get into our Talisman Academy. Passing the relevant talisman proficiency test isnt enough, you also need to have a sufficient amount of Contribution Points. If youve just advanced to Divinity Transformation, Id suggest you umte Contribution Points for a few more years before applying; that would increase your chances, the clerk advised. Jiang Cheng confidently responded, No need, Ill apply now. The clerk frowned, thinking to himself, why wont this young man take advice? Dont say I didnt warn you. If you apply now, the Contribution Points on record here are the ones you have now. If you earn more Contribution Pointster, they wont count toward this application. Usually, peoplee in to submit their applications just a few days before the deadline, he said. Jiang Cheng of course knew the rules, but he felt it wouldnt be a problem. He had been umting Contribution Points since his Foundation Establishment, and now, the trivial amounts earned from thetest tasks didnt matter. In short, it wouldnt affect the big picture. Its fine, Ill apply now, he assured. Seeing that Jiang Cheng was not persuaded, the clerk did not insist further. He had offered his advice; if Jiang Cheng suffered any loss, it would be on him, not the clerk. Hand me your Disciple Jade Badge; Im ready to confirm your historical Contribution Points. Jiang Cheng handed over his Disciple Jade Badge. The clerk casually took it and ced it on the reading formation. As the formation began to verify the information on Jiang Chengs Jade Badge, the historical Contribution Points recorded by the Tongtian Sect were also disyed on the formation. The clerk picked up a pen, ready to transcribe the data into Jiang Chengs file. But as he looked at the formation, he suddenly felt his eyes blur. What on earth were that string of numbers on the formation? Could it be the sect system was updated and forgot to disy the decimal points below zero? The clerk squinted his eyes, counting the string of numbers on the formation from the back to the front. Units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions, thousands Holy shit! How did you get all these Contribution Points? Did you save all of humanity or something? Jiang Cheng didnt answer that question. If he had to say, he did indeed save it once, saving it with three thousand Spirit Stones in one month.
I meet the requirements for applying for a position as a Talisman Historical Compiler, right? You do, you do. Twenty million historical Contribution Points, tsk, who couldpete with you! After applying for the Talisman Historical Compiler position, Jiang Cheng still had to undergo a series of qualifying exams like the Basic Written Test, Interview, Professional Ability Test, and the like, organized by the Talisman Academy of the Tongtian Sect. These were naturally no challenge for him. Having temporarily settled his retirement ns, Jiang Cheng was immediately faced with another tricky issue.
That was the visa issue with Liu Qing. Liu Qing had stayed in the Tongtian Sect previously because Helmsman Li from Liang Kingdoms branch sect had pulled some strings to get her a rtives visa. Afterward, even though Liu Qing had been extending her stay in the Tongtian Sect time after time, this was by no means a long-term solution. Liu Qing had now reached Divinity Transformation and had made quite a name for herself wandering around with Jiang Cheng. It was foreseeable that she would draw the attention of the higher-ups in the Tongtian Sect if she continued in this manner. While there were others in the Tongtian Sect with higher cultivation than Liu Qings, encountering someone like Yun Shus father in the Mahayana Realm wasnt too concerningLiu Qing could either flee if she couldnt win or leave altogether. However, if she were to meet someone beyond the Mahayana Realm, an Elder of the Ascension Realm over ny levels, she wouldnt just be unable to escape, but it would also be toote for any exnations. We need to eliminate her risks as soon as possible. The Tongtian Sects higher-ups must tacitly approve her existence, Jiang Cheng thought. Coming out of the Talisman Academy application office, Jiang Cheng said to Liu Qing who was waiting by the road, Nothing urgent recently, so were not taking any tasks. Where do you want to go for fun? Anywhere is fine, she replied. Then lets go to Taixu Sect. Liang Lu recently has nothing on her te and invited us over for some fun, he suggested. Liu Qing nodded. Anywhere was fine for her, as long as she was with Jiang Cheng. The two returned to North Forest Peak and called Jiang Chengs mentor, Yun Shu, to join them.
Yun Shu had recently enjoyed afortable period. The reason was that she had conspired with Jiang Cheng to deceive her father, Yun Zaiyuan, out of his wealth. Unfortunately, her father was no fool; after being repeatedly tricked a few times, he no longer fell for it so easily. As a result, Yun Shu was once again poor and out of funds. This time, her trip to Taixu Sect was still on Jiang Chengs dime, as he paid for her teleportation array; otherwise, she would have had to fly all the way herself, which would have been a hassle. At the base of Taixu Sect, Liang Lu and the disciples she had cultivated within the sect awaited Jiang Chengs arrival. Now, with the support of Liang Lu and Lin Yao, Dayan Sect was gaining some influence within Taixu Sect. A group of female disciples surrounding Jiang Cheng paid their respects, and anyone unaware might have thought it was an imperial selection of consorts. Chapter 341: 257: Helping Liu Qing Renew Her Visa_2 Chapter 341: Chapter 257: Helping Liu Qing Renew Her Visa_2 The one most surprised among them was Yun Shu. She never expected that, with a moment of inattention, shed actually be the Supreme Elder of a sect! However, slightly awkward was the fact that Yun Shu, the Supreme Elder, had the exact same level of cultivation as Liang Lu, the True Disciple. Both were at the Divinity Transformation Perfection Realm. This was the first time she realized the importance of cultivation level. If Liang Lus cultivation were to rise even a bit more, she, the Supreme Elder, would be worse off than a True Disciple. Jiang Cheng, dont tell anyone at Taixu Sect that youre my disciple, Yun Shu hastily distanced herself from Jiang Cheng. As long as her identity as Jiang Chengs master wasnt discovered, she wouldnt need to work hard at cultivating. Being at Divinity Transformation Perfection wasnt embarrassing; what was embarrassing was being the master of Sect Master Jiang. Master, if Im not your disciple, then what am I? Youre my master, Yun Shu, pointing at a group of girls, said, Besides, you already have so many, one more wont make a difference. Master, isnt there a chance that with just a little effort, everything will be fine? Jiang Cheng urged her to study. But Yun Shu had her own logic: Why go to the trouble of cultivating if it can be solved with a single sentence?
Alright, you win. Jiang Cheng, apanied by Liu Qing, spent half a month ying in Taixu Sect, during which time Liang Lu and Lin Yao took turns acting as tour guides. Liang Lu and Lin Yao were seed yers of Taixu Sect, not as leisurely as Jiang Cheng, so after half a month, he found his equally leisurely disciple Yun Shu to look after Liu Qing. As for Jiang Cheng himself, he went back to Tongtian Sect early to discuss Liu Qings identity with Yun Shus father. Jiang Cheng had already prepared two ns. The first was naturally a blissful retirement at Tongtian Sect, and the second was starting a business at Dayan Sect. Truth be told, Dayan Sect would be famous with a snake as a pir, and certainly not inferior to any ordinary first-rate sect. Jiang Cheng didnt have an invitation this time but still smoothly arrived at the Wan Yue Mountain Range and found Yun Zaiyuan. It wasnt that his reputation had grown so much that he could directly reach the heavens, but rather because of Yun Shu. He had traveled this path often enough to be quite familiar with the people of the Wan Yue Mountain Sect. Everyone knew Jiang Cheng was seeking Yun Zaiyuan because of Yun Shu, and Yun Zaiyuan himself was no exception. Whats up with Yun Shu this time? Is she about to change her mind, or is she realizing her mistakes,or is she preparing toe and apologize? With those words, Yun Zaiyuan blocked any exnation Jiang Cheng might have given. He wanted to see what excuse Jiang Cheng woulde up with this time. This time, he wouldnt be easily deceived. Jiang Cheng exined, Elder, you misunderstood. My master is doing quite well and doesnt n to admit her wrongs and return home. Im here to discuss a different matter. Yun Zaiyuan was still more concerned about his daughter, thinking to himself, its fine if Yun Shu doesnte home, but couldnt you have used a descriptor other than quite well to describe her situation? Whats the matter? If its something minor, you might find it more useful to speak with some of my drinking buddies instead of me, Yun Zaiyuan offered. His words werent meant to deceive Jiang Cheng; indeed, he generally avoided meddling in minor issues because they could easily turn into major ones. This matter is not minor, and only you can handle it, Elder, Jiang Cheng persisted. Oh? Lets hear it, Yun Zaiyuan said with interest. He was curious to know what issue the young cultivator had that required his involvement, as he was effectively one of the highest-ranking officials in Tongtian Sect, with real duties more significant than persuading his daughter to return home, such as dealing with sect affairs that could impact countless cultivators in the Cultivation World.
Could Jiang Cheng really havee into contact with something at that level? Jiang Cheng spoke seriously, Elder Yun, to be frank, when I was still a high school student, I identally came into contact with another esteemed senior. Who? Liu Qing.
Your little girlfriend? Yun Zaiyuan had a recollection of Liu Qing, as she had been one of the main characters in a past incident. He immediately connected her to Jiang Cheng when they met. Jiang Cheng didnt deny Yun Zaiyuans interpretation, but emphasized, Senior Liu Qing is a formidable individual from the Mount Tian Demon Race. Oh, a monster. Thats not a big issue. As long as it can take human form, it counts as a free romance. It will at most affect your career prospects within the sect, Yun Zaiyuan mused. Yun Zaiyuan wondered what was so pressing about this matter that required such formality. Seems young people are just too impatient after all. Her identity as a monster is one aspect, but more importantly, its her level of cultivation, Jiang Cheng added. Are you trying to say she concealed some of her cultivation and infiltrated our sect? That is a serious matter, but its still not up to the level where I need to intervene. How about this, I can introduce you to a senior from the Monster Hall to discuss the details with you, Yun Zaiyuan suggested. Once again, Jiang Cheng bowed respectfully, Elder Yun, I have looked into it, and the Monster Hall will not be able to manage Liu Qings cultivation level. Yun Zaiyuan frowned, Monster Hall is the highest organization through which the Immortal Sect connects with the Demon Races affairs; lower than the Mahayana Realm should handle everything. Could it be that Liu Qing possesses the cultivation of the Mahayana Realm? Yes, thats correct. Jiang Chengs answer was simple and unadorned. But Yun Zaiyuan found it hard to believe. What kind of joke was this?
If Liu Qing was of the Mahayana Realm, wouldnt that make her the same realm as him? Besides, how many from the Demon Race were at the Mahayana level? How could there be one running into human territory, snuggling and hugging with him, Jiang Cheng, in the woods? Wait a minute Speaking of the woods, Yun Zaiyuan suddenly remembered that he had indeed sensed a strange Mahayana presence. Could it be that what Jiang Cheng said was true? The more Yun Zaiyuan thought about it, the more frightened he became. A strange Mahayana mingling within the Immortal Sectif it initiated an indiscriminate attack, what a terrible loss would that be? No, thats not right! Yun Zaiyuan then thought of something even more horrid than an indiscriminate attack. After all, considering the length of time that certain Mahayana had been within the Immortal Sect, evidently no such attack had happened. But something else had indeed urredso why would this Mahayana cultivator be whispering sweet nothings with Jiang Cheng in the woods? This revtion was a hundred times more shocking to Yun Zaiyuan than any indiscriminate attack! That was a Mahayana Realm cultivator from the Demon Race! To say that they could move mountains and fill seas with a mere gesture wasnt an exaggeration.
And the result? Being pressed against a tree and kissed by Jiang Cheng? What was Jiang Cheng then? Could he be an immortal descended to earth? Are you serious? Yun Zaiyuan sought confirmation from Jiang Cheng. As a cultivator of the Mahayana Realm, he was confident in seeing through Jiang Chengs hesitation and lies. Yet Jiang Cheng spoke with unwavering conviction, Liu Qing really is of the Mahayana. However, she has never done any harm under my restriction. Please rest assured, senior. Yun Zaiyuan wanted to ridicule: You, a mere Divinity Transformation, restrain a Mahayana? But then he thought, it might indeed be possible for Jiang Cheng to restrain her, given all that had transpired. What else could be impossible? Yun Zaiyuan furrowed his brows; he had just tried to locate Liu Qing using his Divine Sense within the Tongtian Sect but found no trace of her. Unless Liu Qing was deliberately avoiding his Divine Sense, or she was outside the range of his Divine Sense, there was no reason why he couldnt find her. Where is Liu Qing? Is she not in Tongtian Sect right now? Jiang Cheng replied, Replying to senior, Liu Qing and master are currently enjoying themselves at the Taixu Sect.
With whom? Little Shu? Yun Zaiyuan suddenly stood up, agitated at the mention of his darling daughter. How could he not be? Jiang Cheng exined, Please rest assured, senior, Liu Qing knows the importance of moderation, and master will definitely take good care of her. She cant even take care of herself, and shes supposed to take care of someone else? Yun Zaiyuan didnt believe Jiang Chengs words. Calming down, he asked, You put Liu Qing and Little Shu together, and today you specifically sought me out. You must have something for which you want my help, right? Jiang Cheng said with a smile, To be frank, there is indeed a favor I would like to ask of senior. Liu Qing and I have gotten used to our life habits, and having secured an idle elder position within my sect, I really do not wish to start struggling anew. I hope the senior could discuss with the other elders in the sect to let us lead a peaceful life within the sect. Yun Zaiyuan fell silent for a moment, then said, Do you realize what you are saying? She is an extremely unstable factor. I know, but if you were to cast her out of Tongtian Sect, she would certainly be more unstable than she is now. This matter is too big; I need to discuss it with the other mountain masters. Alright, I will wait for the seniors toe to a conclusion, then Ill go to Taixu Sect to request master and Liu Qing to return, Jiang Cheng responded. Without saying anything more, Yun Zaiyuan left Jiang Cheng standing there and vanished in an instant. Chapter 342: 258 Jiang Chengs Retirement Life Chapter 342: Chapter 258 Jiang Chengs Retirement Life After Tongtian Sect tacitly acknowledged Liu Qings existence, Jiang Cheng also passed the Talisman Historical Comption position exam smoothly, officially bing an elder with an easy job at the Immortal Sect. Although Jiang Cheng became an elder, the position of an elder in Tongtian Sect was just a title that didnt affect the sect ore with assigned housing, so Jiang Cheng still lived on North Forest Peak. He could enjoy an entire mountain top alone with Liu Qing whenever Yun Shu was away from home. Even when Yun Shu was present, it didnt matter, for the mountain top was so vast that they couldnt hear each other even if they made a racket. Liu Qing, your previous visa is about to expire, we need to apply for a new one, said Jiang Cheng. ording to the news from Yun Zaiyuan, Tongtian Sects higher-ups silently consenting to Liu Qings presence was true, but she still needed to follow the usual procedures. So she was still staying at Tongtian Sect on a visa, except that previously Tongtian Sect was unaware of her presence, and now they knew but didnt care. To be precise, it wasnt that they didnt care, it was more that it was difficult to manage and could easily cause problems. It was better to maintain the status quo and let Jiang Cheng sign a guarantee agreement to conclude the matter. Okay, Liu Qing nodded. She had be used to applying for new visas with Jiang Cheng every so often.
Usually, after agreeing, Jiang Cheng would leave promptly, but not this time. Uncharacteristically, Jiang Cheng dawdled: first tidying up everything, then going over it again, reluctant to leave. But Liu Qing was not in a hurry, waiting quietly until Jiang Cheng was ready. Actually, er, I think applying for a visa every ten years is too troublesome. Tongtian Sect actually has a kind of supreme visa that needs updating only once every five hundred years. Shall we apply for that one? Liu Qing nodded without objection. Not having to frequently renew her visa was good, she agreed. But then Jiang Cheng added, There might be a need for you to sign an agreement, though. Okay. A very important agreement. Mm. Its rted to matrimonial matters. After thinking for a moment, Liu Qing said, Sure. Jiang Cheng spoke seriously, Im not joking, thepanion visa requires registration of marriage at the Internal Affairs Hall first. If you agree, it means that well bepanions from now on, simr to husband and wife in the secr world. Well need to follow some strange rules, like supporting each other, never abandoning one another After listening, Liu Qing thought that the strange rules mentioned by Jiang Cheng werent difficult at all. Werent they already doing all that? Now it was just a change of title, getting ready to sign an agreement where everything had already been aplished. However, she noticed that Jiang Cheng seemed to be quite nervous. He urged her to think it over thoroughly. Liu Qing didnt see what there was to consider. If Jiang Cheng said it was okay, then it was. Thats how they had always managed until now.
She was very satisfied. Lets go. Are you sure youve thought it through? I mean, this cant be taken back, its a lifelongmitment, Jiang Cheng emphasized again. Yes, lifelong. No regrets.
Jiang Cheng took a deep breath and said, Now I can finally hold your hand openly and rightfully. Liu Qing expressed confusion, saying, But you could, always. The marriage registration and the new visa application went very smoothly, and afterwards, Jiang Cheng bought some fine wine and food, inviting Yue Linger and Shen Menghan to celebrate together. Yue Linger and Shen Menghan werent surprised. Rather, they thought Jiang Cheng had great self-control for guarding his tender tofu for so long before eating it. During the banquet, Yue Linger even started to prepare to make signs for Jiang Cheng to decide when to go to bed. But Jiang Cheng ordered a halt to this, citing it as harmful to public morals. Though they didnt have to use the signs in the end, going to bed was still followed through. This part cannot be detailed. The final oue shattered Jiang Chengs dream of a rxed retirement and forced him to regain his drive, starting to strive for a higher level of cultivation. Jiang Cheng originally didnt care about his cultivation because, in the peaceful times of the Cultivation World, there were not only fights but also the subtleties of human rtionships. But cultivation is something you only regret not having enough of when the timees. And more frighteningly, Tongtian Sect was not the only concernTaixu Sect had Liang Lu and Lin Yao.
If Jiang Cheng didnt raise his cultivation level, he wouldnt be able to suppress those in Dayan Sect who want to deceive their superiors and delude their subordinates. The good news was that Taixu Sect had a rule against breaking ones virginity. Before Liang Lu and Lin Yao became the Holy Maidens of Taixu Sect, Jiang Cheng could still develop quietly in the dark for some time. Although thendlord was wealthy, the house oftencked surplus grain. Especially since Jiang Cheng often had to help Liang Lu with talismans for the Holy Maidenpetition, all while sporting dark circles under his eyes. Lin Yao was a bit easier since she, blessed with talent, did not need such external objects like talismans. But Lin Yaos ease was only rtive; with Liang Lus reminder, Jiang Cheng suddenly remembered that he had an agreement as Sect Master with Lin Yao. Jiang Cheng finally understood: Lin Yao wasnt taking the easy path; she had been holding back a trump card the whole time. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jiang Cheng immediately took a temporary leave from Tongtian Sect, cultivated in seclusion for a while, and then sessfully arrived at Taixu Sect. Jiang Chengs reason for journeying alone to Taixu Sect was simple: he wanted to support Liang Lu to keep Lin Yao from bing the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect too quickly. At least he should attain Mahayana status before Lin Yao could be the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect, right? Otherwise, if Lin Yao and Liu Qingpeted and his cultivation wasnt sufficient to mediate, wouldnt he be worked to death? The Sect Leader of Taixu Sect was no trivial matter.
Its prestige ranked one or two levels higher than Yun Zaiyuans Pir Mountain Gate Master. If Lin Yao really became the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect, Jiang Cheng felt that the order of the Five Great Immortal Sects would be utterly disrupted by her. At first, Jiang Chengs strategy of using Liang Lu to bnce Lin Yao was very effective. Chapter 343 - 258 Jiang Cheng’s Retirement Life_2 Chapter 343: Chapter 258 Jiang Chengs Retirement Life_2 In thepetition for the position of the first Holy Maiden, Liang Lu relied on Jiang Chengs talismans, gradually gaining the upper hand in the struggle against Lin Yao. During this period, Liang Lu and Lin Yao fought to the death in trials and contests during the day, with an attitude of deep-seated enmity and unrelenting hostility. However,e nightfall, when they went to eat at Jiang Chengs residence, their conflicts suddenly didnt seem so severe. They even had a tacit understanding between them, as if by agreement, one would leave on time, leaving the other to apany Jiang Cheng. Mainly to apany Jiang Cheng in drawing talismans. Lin Yao even offered suggestions for the new talismans that Jiang Cheng drew. Even though she knew that the talismans were being drawn for Liang Lus use. Of course, there was also the act of coyly pleading with Jiang Cheng to diminish the power of the talismans a bit. And this tactic was indeed quite effective. Jiang Cheng hadnt held Lin Yao back from cultivating at a slower pace, and from rushing topete for Holy Maiden, then choosing a Sect Leader. But Lin Yao didnt listen. She was determined to be the Holy Maiden quickly. Because once she became the Holy Maiden, no one could control her, and she didnt need to follow the rules of Taixu Sect, such as maintaining ones purity. Consequently, she would first have the qualifications topete for the Sect Leader, and secondly, she could participate in the struggle for inheritance much sooner. She knew that Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing had registered their marriage at Tongtian Sect. But the rules of Tongtian Sect couldnt govern them in the Taixu Sect. She just needed to be faster than Liang Lu. To be the Holy Maiden and secure the marriage slot of the Taixu Sect! Then she could consider the matter of bing the Sect Leader. The current Sect Leader of the Taixu Sect was at the zenith of power, and at least for the next thousand or two thousand years, Lin Yao saw no hope of bing the Sect Leader herself. However, she also understood that bing the Holy Maiden and securing the marriage slot for the Taixu Sect, having a legal basis, was much more important than bing the Sect Leader quickly. The Sect Leader position could wait, but there was only one marriage slot. The final oue was quite dramatic. Although Liang Lu, with the help of Jiang Cheng, defeated Lin Yao and secured the position of the first Holy Maiden, her rtively traditional and conservative character, as well as not having thought about the tactical significance, caused her to miss the opportunity which Lin Yao seized. After bing the second Holy Maiden, Lin Yao quickly wore Jiang Cheng down to secure the legal right. Even so, the rtionships within the Taixu Sect hadnt really changed much. Things remained as they were. The only difference was, after Jiang Cheng left Tongtian Sect, the dark circles under his eyes that had finally disappeared were now back. It seemed the Taixu Sect was not an easy ce to deal with. Then Jiang Cheng found an excuse to return to the Tongtian Sect. Thepetition in Tongtian Sect was much less than that in Taixu Sect. At least they wouldntpete over who had worse dark circles, forcing Jiang Cheng to suffer in silence, only able to break elixirs and swallow them down. Its worth mentioning that two hundred years after Jiang Cheng and Liu Qing got their certificate, Liu Qings friends heard the news and specially came to visit her at Tongtian Sect. Of course, since Liu Qings friends were also quite strong and there were several of them, three or four in fact, Jiang Cheng didnt dare to sneak them in, but had to discuss with Yun Zaiyuan first, which caused Yun Zaiyuan a few days of headaches. However, considering Jiang Cheng as Yun Shus disciple and that he took care of his daughter for free, Yun Zaiyuan agreed to help, allowing Liu Qings friends to enter Tongtian Sect to visit under the pretense of exchange and learning. Initially, Liu Qings friends were not very optimistic about Jiang Cheng. They believed that Liu Qing must have been deceived by the despicable humans. Even though Liu Qing exined many times in her letters, they didnt believe her. They insisted on seeing for themselves. But after spending some time together, they finally felt reassured to continue leaving Liu Qing under Jiang Chengs care. Jiang Cheng, say what you will, was proficient at taking care of others. Seeing him tired and gasping every day, with persistent dark circles, Liu Qings friends gradually shifted from having prejudices to understanding and sympathy. Jiang Cheng truly wasnt having an easy time. Handling both external and internal matters, a rare sight among human cultivators. After the demon friends left, they warmly invited Jiang Cheng to visit Mount Tian. As it happened, Liu Qing also hadnt returned home in a very long time, so Jiang Cheng nned to take her home for a visit. However, Mount Tian isnt as safe as Tongtian Sect, and even with Liu Qings protection, Jiang Cheng couldnt just visit at will. Later, Jiang Cheng developed for a while and prepared some gifts and defensive magical treasures. When he found the opportunity, he went with Liu Qing to visit her family at Mount Tian. Liu Qing had many rtives in Mount Tian, and the majority of the Demon Race elders did not approve of her marrying Jiang Cheng. This was understandable. Liu Qing was a renowned Mahayana cultivator of the Demon Race. If she married into the Human Race to support Jiang Cheng and educate their children, wouldnt it be a significant loss of strength for the Demon Race? No one could ept such an oue. Fortunately, Jiang Chengs attitude was sincere enough, and he brought enough gifts. Plus, he was skilled at interspecies interactions, so after a round of discussions, the oppositions voice was much reduced. Jiang Chengs argument was also straightforward. He first revealed the strength of Tongtian Sect and told the Demon Race that there were five other human powers like it. Then, in the silence of the demons, he assured them that he would strive to maintain the bnce between all races and uphold the hard-won peace, even if just for Liu Qing. He also made a promise on behalf of Dayan Sect to invest in Mount Tian, building infrastructure to improve the living conditions there. Just before leaving, some of the Demon Race chiefs even brought forward specially selected attractive n members and asked Jiang Cheng if he needed a maid to help keep him warm? Jiang Cheng didnt dare say he wanted one. Having Liu Qing alone was more than enough for him. As the cultivation of Dayan Sects main forces such as Jiang Cheng, Lin Yao, Yue Linger, Liang Lu, Shen Menghan, and others improved, Dayan Sects territory grew everrger. The expansion of Dayan Sects territory meant the traditional Demon Sects influence was diminishing. As one grew at the expense of the other, the conflict between the righteous and demonic paths became increasingly intense, contributing many unstable factors to the overall peace of the Cultivation World. In order to further weaken the traditional Demon Sects power, Jiang Cheng attempted to open up Dayan Sect discipleship positions to disciples from the traditional Demon Sects. After all, Dayan Sect imed to be part of the Demonic Tao. Joining Dayan Sect was just switching from one Demon Sect to another. This was much less psychologically stressful for many Demon Sect disciples. After all, joining the righteous path was seen as betrayal and surrender, but joining Dayan Sect was purely about being ambitious and switching to a promising new emerging sect. Thanks to this policys implementation, coupled with the righteous paths crackdown on the Demonic Tao, Dayan Sects strength grew rapidly with many former demons joining it for better development. Dayan Sect wasnt indiscriminate in whom they epted, though. They only wanted the more grounded and practical members, not the extreme or ambiguous ones. The sect implemented internal reforms to improve the allocation of benefits and responsibilities within the sect. More importantly, they focused on the ideological work of the Demon Sects disciples, requiring them to be the new demons of the era, promising high sries and vast developmental prospects through hard work, aplishing what previous Demon Sects couldnt do poaching arge number of people from the Immortal Sects. Previously, Demon Sects were suppressed by Immortal Sects. But Dayan Sect was different. It didnt just resist suppression; it actively poached from the Immortal Sects, luring people to abandon the light for the dark. This instantly raised Dayan Sects status above the past Demon Sects. Fake Demon Sects hide everywhere causing destruction. A true Demon Sect boldly poaches from the Immortal Sects. As Dayan Sects influence continued to grow, it subtly started to unify the Demonic Tao, forcing the higher echelons of the Five Great Immortal Sects to take Dayan Sect seriously. After all, the Five Great Immortal Sects were content in their positions and didnt want a sixth party emerging topete for resources. Yun Zaiyuan approached Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng, didnt you tell us that you would retire as soon as you became an elder? Now, your Dayan Sect is about to unify the Demonic Tao. Is this how you retire? Jiang Cheng said, I want to rest too, but you know the situation at home. I have to earn money to support my family, right? Look at the development of Dayan Sect; its going so well. Dont you consider investing a bit? You wont lose out. Yun Zaiyuan said, You told me that people from Tongtian Sect dont lie to each other. Jiang Cheng replied, Okay, okay, okay. Yearster, Ao Lian had grown into a slender young girl. She hadnt forgotten Jiang Cheng, but she would always remember the time she came to see him. Lian Lian sister, why do you have two stones growing on your head? The little girl grabbed Ao Lians dragon horns on her forehead with one hand and yanked her hair with the other, her big innocent eyes full of curiosity as she asked. Ao Lian maintained a smile on her face but felt a sadness inside as if she had been conscripted. Ah! Who invented children? Theyre so annoying! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!