Ji Wushuang finally managed to see Zhan Fan and Jin Fuxi off, collapsing onto a chair in utter exhaustion. Lian Xing hurriedly poured her a cup of spiritual tea and asked tentatively, "Little Ancestor, are you capable of drawing fourth-tier talismans?"
Cradling the teacup in both hands, Ji Wushuang appeared particularly endearing and innocent, yet her words sent chills down Lian Xing's spine.
"Yes, as long as it's below the level of a Talisman Treasure, it shouldn't be an issue," she said calmly.
Even someone as composed as Lian Xing couldn't help but stutter. "A-All talismans below Talisman Treasure level?"
Ji Wushuang nodded lightly.
Lian Xing swallowed hard, suddenly recalling the "cultivation technique" Ji Wushuang had once gifted him. At the time, he dismissed it as a child's trinket and shelved it away.
Could it be...
Was that actually a treasure too?!
Determined, he asked hesitantly, "Little Ancestor, the technique you gave me earlier, was it…"
"Oh, that's the Tai Xu Technique. It helps solidify your foundation. You have decent talent, but you're not diligent enough in cultivation. Breaking through recently with the help of my Second Master is good, but it might destabilize your foundation. Cultivating the Tai Xu Technique will stabilize both your body and essence, ensuring no inner demons trouble you when you ascend."
Lian Xing knew full well the issues with his unstable foundation, but as the sect leader, his days were consumed by endless responsibilities, leaving little time for proper cultivation. He'd thought of retreating to solidify his foundation once someone capable could take his place or perhaps descending to the mundane world for simpler practice.
Yet, Little Ancestor had seen through him with a single glance?!
This…
Are the younger generations now truly this extraordinary?!
No wonder Old Ancestor Shi also called her "Little Martial Uncle." Her talent was downright terrifying!
"Thank you, Little Ancestor, for your guidance."
Ji Wushuang waved dismissively, then suddenly seemed to recall something, her eyes lighting up like stars. "Little Star!"
Lian Xing froze. "?"
Wait. Who's "Little Star"?
Does the mighty sect leader's dignity count for nothing?!
Ji Wushuang beamed. "Little Star, go gather some high-tier spiritual beast hides, blood, and spirit sand. Let's draw advanced talismans together. You'll activate them, and we'll split the spirit stones fifty-fifty."
Lian Xing's jaw dropped.
Dignity? What dignity?!
In the face of spirit stones, dignity was utterly irrelevant!
"Yes, Little Star will get it done right away!"
For the next half month, Ji Wushuang skipped all her talisman classes, devoting her time to the Scripture Pavilion instead.
The so-called Scripture Pavilion was actually an endless expanse within, housing the wealth of knowledge accumulated over tens of thousands of years by Yunlan Sect. With her status, the entire collection of talisman scriptures was open to her.
She meticulously studied eighth-tier talismans such as the Avatar Talisman, Invincible Vajra Talisman, Profound Thunder Talisman, and Nine-Life Miasma Ward Talisman.
The Avatar Talisman could manifest an identical copy of the user, capable of answering questions, responding to situations, and even wielding spiritual power. It could achieve seventy percent of the user's strength, fooling even those in the Great Ascension stage.
The Invincible Vajra Talisman granted temporary "invincibility," protected by the laws of heaven and earth.
Invincibility...
An awe-inspiring word indeed.
The Profound Thunder Talisman summoned genuine heavenly thunder—not ordinary, man-made lightning but thunderbolts imbued with divine might.
Perfect for slaying enemies or seizing treasures.
The Nine-Life Miasma Ward Talisman protected against natural toxins, corpse miasma, insect plagues, and more. With it, survival was almost guaranteed—no exaggeration.
After mastering these talismans, Ji Wushuang chose a bright and sunny day to invite Lian Xing to draw talismans together.
Why the ceremony?
Because these talismans required materials from eighth-tier spiritual beasts—the equivalent of Great Ascension cultivators. Their hides and blood were treasures in themselves, and the sect had only a few ancient scraps in storage.
Failure meant that while Ji Wushuang might escape punishment, Lian Xing would undoubtedly be sent to kneel in the Hall of Inheritance until he broke through to the Great Ascension stage—or perished trying.
Taking a deep breath, Lian Xing asked nervously, "Are you ready?"
Ji Wushuang nodded. Over the past fortnight, she had refined a trace of Heavenly Dao Violet Qi.
Though a mere sliver, it gave her a profound sense of clarity and serenity.
She was confident her talisman crafting would reach new heights.
Instead of the traditional brush, Ji Wushuang pulled a sword from her spatial ring, leaving Lian Xing utterly baffled.
Where's the talisman brush?
Why is Little Ancestor wielding a sword?!
Ji Wushuang twirled the sword gracefully, dipping its tip into the beast blood. Leaping into motion, her movements became a fluid dance, and the talisman patterns flowed like radiant streaks across the paper.
Her sword bore no killing intent but exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance.
It was like a tempest.
Like a tsunami.
All of this she confined, meticulously sealing within the small talisman paper.
When Ji Wushuang finally landed, the sword gave a resonant hum before shattering into dust.
Frowning at the remaining hilt, she sighed inwardly.
If only Wuming were here…
Wuming was Ji Wushuang's life-bound sword—not born divine but one that grew with her. It had accompanied her ascent from obscurity to sainthood, ultimately choosing self-destruction upon her fall.
It believed no one but Ji Wushuang deserved to wield its name.
Yet Ji Wushuang had survived against all odds. Perhaps Wuming, too, awaited her in some corner of this world.
Smiling faintly, Ji Wushuang handed the talismans to Lian Xing, who stared at her in awe.
"Did… did it succeed?"
Ji Wushuang nodded. "It should have."
"Then… can I test it?"
"Go ahead."
Lian Xing hesitated, recalling that higher-tier talismans often manifested according to the user's own cultivation level. At his Integration stage, he could at most activate a sixth-tier talisman.
Ji Wushuang noticed his reluctance and reassured him, "It's fine. Worst case, we'll just make more. Go on, try it."
Her encouragement emboldened Lian Xing, who chose a Nine-Life Miasma Ward Talisman to test.
The moment he infused it with spiritual energy, the talisman hungrily absorbed his power, leaving him scrambling for supreme-grade spirit stones to replenish himself.
Watching his anguish, Ji Wushuang laughed. "Little Star, don't use spirit stones. Use the Tai Xu Technique!"
He quickly adopted the technique, feeling his spiritual energy stabilize and his foundation solidify.
The fleeting instability of his past cultivation was replaced with a profound steadiness, filling him with astonishment.
Half an hour later, a spiraling vortex of spiritual energy appeared above Zhuxing Peak, shocking the entire sect. Even the slumbering Ghost Immortal awoke, shouting in delight:
"Quickly! Mo Lanyi, head to the source of this phenomenon! A treasure has emerged!"