After exchanging blows with Ji Wushuang, the Heavenly Dao found itself at a stalemate, both sides quietly swallowing their losses.
Yet Ji Wushuang, ever adept at finding solace in any situation, decided that if the Heavenly Dao forbade her from killing Mo Lanyi, she simply wouldn't bother. However, she had no intention of wasting time playing charades with Mo Lanyi. Brushing off her hand with cold detachment, she said, "Stay away from me."
Mo Lanyi froze, her expression shifting to one of feigned sorrow, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Little Junior Sister, have I done something wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing," Ji Wushuang replied icily. "It's just that my constitution is fragile. You see... I'm allergic to Light Spirit Roots."
Mo Lanyi's face twisted in outrage. Allergic? She was well aware that this referred to certain benign things being toxic to specific individuals. But she, a noble Light Spirit Root cultivator, toxic? Impossible! And where in the world would a cultivator develop such an absurd allergy?
She seethed internally. Nonsense! Lies!
As Mo Lanyi attempted to speak further, Ji Wushuang took two deliberate steps back, clicking her tongue in mock astonishment. "Oh, come on! I just told you I have a reaction to your Light Spirit Root, and you're still approaching me? Are you trying to kill me? You know I'm temporarily unable to cultivate and as fragile as any ordinary mortal."
Grinding her teeth, Mo Lanyi hissed, "You're lying! How could you possibly have such a condition? You're clearly a sword cultivator!"
"I'm not lying, Senior Sister. Why would you want to harm me? Is it because I claimed first place in the Six Arts competition?"
By now, a crowd had gathered outside the Yellow Dharma Hall of the Transmission Academy, murmuring amongst themselves and casting suspicious glances at Mo Lanyi.
"Isn't it perfectly reasonable for Little Junior Sister to have such an ailment? After all, she hasn't even drawn in spiritual energy yet; she's just an ordinary mortal."
"Exactly. She even said she can't get close to Light Spirit Roots. Why is Mo Lanyi ignoring that? Could she be harboring a grudge against Little Junior Sister and deliberately trying to harm her?"
"If I were perpetually second place, I might act the same way…"
Mortified, Mo Lanyi's cheeks flushed crimson as she shot a venomous glare at Ji Wushuang before storming off.
Ji Wushuang's lips curled into a grin as she internally sneered at the Heavenly Dao's choice of its "favored child." **[Blind, aren't you? This is who you picked to bear the Luck of the Heavens?]**
**[#￥%@#!]**
The Heavenly Dao's violet aura let out a string of irritable curses before severing its connection with her.
Feeling particularly triumphant, Ji Wushuang clasped her hands in thanks to the onlookers before making her way to the Rune Class with a lighthearted gait.
Today's instructor happened to be none other than Jin Fuxi, who had recently given their introductory lecture on rune crafting.
A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator with triple roots of Wind, Water, and Earth, Jin Fuxi's spiritual roots were far from exceptional. However, his prodigious talent and unyielding diligence in rune studies had earned him the position of steward elder at Hongfu Peak.
Stroking his long beard with satisfaction, Jin Fuxi beamed at Ji Wushuang. "Not bad, not bad. Rune crafting requires neither haste nor shortcuts. It demands patience and perseverance, immersing oneself completely until one can sense the forces of heaven and earth through the tip of the brush, achieving harmony with the natural order. Even if the fruits of your labor seem distant now, do not lose heart. The heavens reward diligence, and when the time is right, all will come together seamlessly."
This lecture, ostensibly directed at the class, felt oddly specific to Ji Wushuang. Translated loosely, it meant: *"You can't cultivate right now, so your talismans may lack efficacy. But worry not—lay a solid foundation, and once your cultivation resumes, your progress will soar!"*
Naturally, the phrase "soar to great heights" was Ji Wushuang's own embellishment. Modesty, after all, was not part of her vocabulary.
"Now, let us officially begin today's lesson with the simplest talisman: the Fleetfoot Rune…"
As its name implied, the Fleetfoot Rune was a basic talisman designed to enhance speed. Its straightforward design made it a universal tool, indispensable to cultivators from the lowest novice to the highest masters.
However, crafting one was no easy feat, requiring precise, unbroken strokes. Ji Wushuang observed her peers as they attempted the task.
The results were… disastrous.
Talismans burst into flames upon failure, which was considered fortunate.
Less fortunate outcomes included scorched hair, sudden dousing in water, or the emission of an unbearable stench.
It was, in essence, a chaotic scene of collective mishaps.
Ji Wushuang scrutinized her own talisman. By all appearances, it was flawless. Surely, it must have succeeded?
Jin Fuxi, inspecting the students' work, seemed to sweat under his calm demeanor, despite his Nascent Soul cultivation. It was evident that not every student who passed the introductory course was suited for rune crafting.
When he reached Ji Wushuang, he paused, examining her near-perfect talisman. A pang of regret flickered in his eyes.
Such talent! If only she could channel spiritual energy, she'd make an exceptional rune crafter.
"Not bad. Keep practicing," he encouraged.
"Understood," Ji Wushuang replied.
As a demi-saint, Ji Wushuang could discern whether her talismans succeeded or failed. The first was flawed—its strokes were slightly rigid. The second was smoother, though it still lacked a certain refinement.
Finally, on her third attempt, she felt a subtle resonance—success!
Typically, a successful talisman would emit faint golden glimmers visible to others. Ji Wushuang's lacked this, but her intuition assured her of its efficacy.
With her breakthrough, she continued crafting, completing one after another with increasing ease.
By the end of class, while her classmates were utterly drained, Ji Wushuang was as composed as ever.
Of course, there was little jealousy among them; her talismans, however perfect, were considered "worthless scraps" due to her inability to imbue them with spiritual energy.
The only real concern was the cost of materials.
Cloudveil Sect could afford such expenses, but other sects might have lamented the waste.
"Alright, hand in your talismans for review."
"Yes, Elder."
The talismans crafted during practice were sect property, serving as both a means of evaluation and a modest source of income.
This arrangement benefited both the disciples and the sect. Once their success rates improved, disciples could purchase their own materials and even sell their creations for extra spirit stones.
As Jin Fuxi examined the submissions, he occasionally nodded in approval or furrowed his brows in thought. When he came across a talisman devoid of spiritual energy yet flawless in its design, he immediately recognized it as Ji Wushuang's.
With a silent sigh, he flipped to the next.
Another one.
And the next?
Still hers.
Page after page, each bearing her unmistakable craftsmanship, until Jin Fuxi nearly spat blood.
Good heavens!
In a single session, Ji Wushuang had crafted no fewer than two hundred Fleetfoot Runes!
Which meant two hundred sheets of talisman paper wasted, not to mention the copious amounts of cinnabar ink.
It wasn't that Jin Fuxi was stingy. But as an educator, these expenses counted toward his "teaching costs," which would be tallied at year's end. The staggering total would undoubtedly raise questions from the head of Hongfu Peak.
Yet forbidding Ji Wushuang from practicing was out of the question. How could he, a dignified elder, deny a disciple the resources for their studies?
Gritting his teeth, Jin Fuxi resolved to cover the deficit himself. Surely, he thought, this was a small price to pay. How much could one disciple possibly waste?
But as the days passed and Ji Wushuang's daily consumption of materials soared—three hundred sheets, then four, then five, accompanied by entire jars of cinnabar—Jin Fuxi began pulling at his beard in despair.
This couldn't go on!
Yet confronting Ji Wushuang directly was not an option. After all, her backer was none other than the sect leader—a veritable fountain of resources.
Clutching the thousands of talismans she had crafted, Jin Fuxi stuffed them into his storage bag and marched off to Star-Chasing Peak to "negotiate" with the sect leader.