Mo Lan Yi chose to continue her "seclusion," refusing to listen to any transmission except from her master.
Yue Qing was deeply engrossed in cultivating spiritual plants and rarely paid attention to gossip. Over time, the nickname "Mo Gui Sun" (Mo Tortoise) for Mo Lan Yi spread throughout the entire sect.
When Mo Lan Yi finally "emerged from seclusion," she was so enraged that she broke down in tears.
But crying would not solve anything.
Unless she could defeat Ji Wushuang in a formal duel, with great dignity and pride, that name would likely stick with her for life.
But defeating Ji Wushuang was out of the question...
It would be quicker to outlive her.
...
After waiting a long time without receiving a challenge from Mo Lan Yi, Ji Wushuang ceased to care, for her original intention was never to simply beat Mo Lan Yi but to clear the name of Zhan Fan and Hong Fu Peak. As long as Zhan Fan's authority remained unquestioned, that was sufficient.
But problems soon arose.
Someone asked what the talisman crafting book Ji Wushuang had contributed was and why it was worthy of such generosity from Zhan Fan. No one could provide a complete answer, not even the elders responsible for storing books and techniques.
Soon, however, an announcement appeared on the Wan Shi Stele.
"Today, Hong Fu Peak is fortunate to have received a talisman inheritance book. Studying it will increase one's talisman crafting success rate. Upon appraisal, it is a spiritual treasure-level inheritance technique, a great fortune for our Yun Lan Sect! Now, by order of the Eighteen Ancestors of Yun Lan, this book is available for all sect members to borrow. However, one must swear an oath to suppress their demonic thoughts and not reveal a single detail of the inheritance. Failure to do so will halt all progress in cultivation. Furthermore, each reading requires a contribution of 10,000 points!"
When the announcement was made, it caused a tremendous uproar in the entire sect.
First, the inheritance was spiritual treasure-level?! This was extraordinary!
Second, the inheritance had been officially sanctioned by the Eighteen Ancestors, meaning anyone who disagreed would have to confront these mighty figures—who would dare?
Third, one could only view it once for a price of 10,000 contribution points?! Could a mere glance be worth that much? Ridiculous!
Lastly, everyone in the sect could read it.
In other words, whether you were an inner sect disciple, an outer sect disciple, a direct disciple, an elder, or even a lowly servant, you could access it.
It was as if a treasure had been publicly displayed for all to see!
No wonder Hong Fu Peak was willing to give Ji Wushuang so many points—if they had to look at it, even more would not suffice!
Coincidentally, not long after the announcement, besides the four great sects' talisman masters, talisman cultivators from other sects began arriving one after another.
For a time, Hong Fu Peak was abuzz with activity.
These talisman masters and cultivators were eager to see the so-called spiritual treasure inheritance, but as outsiders, they naturally had no right to view it and could only wait anxiously outside.
As for bribing the disciples who had seen the inheritance?
Not a chance!
For one, they had sworn the demonic oath, and two, though the inheritance was open to all ranks, it required contribution points.
10,000 points!
Anyone with that many points was an inner disciple or a direct disciple—how could they be bribed?
As the talisman masters and cultivators fretted, the disciples and elders who had used their points to view the inheritance were utterly stunned.
Wait… how did they feel like fools?!
Upon entering, they were first asked about their talisman crafting skills, then given a plain talisman with no spiritual energy, told to infuse it with their own. And that was it?!
Although...
When they infused their spiritual energy into the talisman, they felt a connection, and some of the talismans were precious third-grade talismans...
But this hardly seemed worth 10,000 points!
Still, having sworn the demonic oath, they dared not speak a word, lest they invoke the curse.
Perhaps the Eighteen Ancestors had simply made a mistake, and this inheritance was truly absurd.
But even as they resigned themselves to their fate, something unexpected happened.
"My heavens! How did my success rate for crafting talismans improve?!"
And so subtly, too—my perception of talismans has improved as well!
Could it be... I've struck it rich?!
No, no, it's impossible!
Could it be... because of the inheritance?!
Those who experienced this enlightenment were beside themselves, eagerly seeking out others who had also used their points to view the inheritance. After swearing mutual oaths, the "inheritors" fell into heated discussion.
"Heavens! The third-grade talisman I saw in the inheritance has now given me a 20% success rate!"
"I—me! My talisman crafting skills were poor, but after seeing second-grade talismans, my success rate for them is now 50%!"
"My success rate has increased too! This is incredible!"
"Is this the power of the inheritance?!"
"If so, this 10,000 points is... a bargain!"
The improvement wasn't just in success rate; it was in the quality of the talismans as well.
What was once a disciple's routine of crafting low-grade talismans, they now occasionally produced superior-grade ones.
The disciples exchanged looks, each with the same thought—Junior Sister is amazing! Junior Sister deserves to be honored by the sect!
Though the inheritance prohibited sharing a word, the results were evident to all.
The disciples who had viewed the inheritance found themselves flourishing.
Their success rates soared!
Though they couldn't openly ask, they all eagerly gathered more points to visit Hong Fu Peak again.
In an instant, Hong Fu Peak became the "holy land" for talisman cultivators across the continent.
Even some influential wandering cultivators began considering how to join Yun Lan Sect.
It was the perfect "recruitment brochure," and Lian Xing couldn't be happier, grinning ear to ear.
The talisman masters from other sects were frantic. Had this inheritance appeared in a small sect, they would have already scrambled to seize it. But this was Yun Lan Sect!
They weren't foolish enough to risk their lives!
After much consideration, cooperation and exchange seemed the only option.
But the people of Yun Lan Sect were shrewd and crafty. These outsiders feared they might lose a piece of flesh in this deal... Alas...