Liu Ming couldn't resist grasping the copper ring with one hand, only to reveal an extremely astonished expression on his face.
The copper ring was light as a feather, as if it had no weight at all.
"Is this the talismanic weapon of the Bai Family's Young Master?" Liu Ming held the copper ring in his hand and fiddled with it carefully for a while before asking.
"Indeed. The Tiger Bite Ring is a rare top-quality talismanic weapon that is both offensive and defensive, and it's even ranked within the top ten in the Bai Family," Three Gu explained, looking at the copper ring and showing a hint of reluctance on his face.
"However, if you wish to activate it, I'm afraid you will first have to learn the most basic Yuan Energy control technique. As for the technique, my brother and I will teach you little by little on the way, ensuring that you can activate this ring as soon as possible," Guan Da then said.
"I greatly appreciate the help from both seniors," Liu Ming said with a hint of excitement and immediately slipped the copper ring onto his right wrist, feeling a trace of coolness emanating from it.
"Very well, but your current appearance is still not quite right. We need to make some changes to prevent any envoys from the sect from spotting flaws," Guan Da nodded, then looked at Liu Ming's face as he spoke.
"What kind of changes?" Liu Ming frowned upon hearing this.
Although he had a plain appearance, he didn't want anyone making significant alterations to his face.
"Haha, don't worry, young friend! We will definitely not ruin your original features; it's just minor changes to hair color and skin that we need to make. On this matter, Three Gu is the expert. Leave it to him," Guan Da said with a laugh, seeming to have noticed the youth's concern and offered a comforting explanation.
"If that's the case, then it's no problem. Elder Gu, I'll trouble you with this," Liu Ming relaxed inwardly and agreed.
"Heh heh, it's a small matter. Before I became a Qi Refiner, I was once known as the 'Master of Disguises,'" Three Gu replied with a chuckle.
Following that, he turned around and pulled out various bottles and jars, along with several exceptionally sharp scissors and knives from a large bag, and then waved at the young man.
After hesitating for a moment, Liu Ming stood up and walked over.
Half an hour later, a bright and shiny bronze mirror was placed before Liu Ming, reflecting his face with crystal-clear clarity.
"The eyebrows are lighter than before, the sideburns, which were uneven, have been neatly trimmed, and there's a silver headband on the forehead now, adding an air of scholarly elegance. But the biggest change is..."
Liu Ming raised both hands, his originally healthy-looking palms had become abnormally pale, emanating an air of pampered nobility.
"Take this bottle of skin wash with you, and apply it all over your body every night. I will prepare a few more bottles for you on the way, so by the time we are approaching the Barbarian Ghost Sect, your skin color should be set for a while. If the color gradually fades back later, no one will notice. Although it's been years since I've used the art of disguise, it seems my skills have not diminished too much," Three Gu said, holding the mirror in one hand and looking quite pleased with himself.
Guan Da sized up the young man from top to bottom, also showing a satisfied expression.
Now, Liu Ming resembled the Bai Family's Young Master even more. Unless it was someone well acquainted with the Young Master, they probably wouldn't notice anything amiss.
Although Liu Ming had never seen what the Bai Family's Young Master looked like, seeing the satisfied expressions of Guan Da and the other man, he knew his disguise must have been successful, letting out a slight sigh of relief.
Now that he was tied to these two men, if he couldn't bluff his way through, he feared his life would be in danger.
"Haha, from now on, you are our Young Master. Be sure not to call us seniors; just address us as 'Guan Da' and 'Gu Three' to avoid giving yourself away," Guan Da solemnly said.
"Understood," Liu Ming pondered for a moment, then responded gravely.
...
The next day, a light yellow boat flowed downstream along the river, speeding toward the lower reaches.
On the boat, Three Gu steered with both hands while occasionally glancing into the cabin.
There, Liu Ming sat cross-legged, forming hand gestures under the guidance of Guan Da.
On a low table in front of him, the Tiger Bite Ring lay silently.
Suddenly, Liu Ming let out a low shout, lifted his arm, and pointed a finger toward the copper ring.
With a "puff" sound.
The ring merely trembled slightly on the table, then remained motionless.
Seeing this, Liu Ming's eyebrows furrowed.
"Not bad, within such a short time, you've already made your Yuan Energy resonate with the Tiger Bite Ring. It seems you have quite the talent for controlling talismanic weapons," the middle-aged man beside him said, clapping his hands in satisfaction.
"Didn't you say I have only two months to learn this technique?" Liu Ming asked slowly.
"Young Master may not know, the Tiger Bite Ring, being a superior talisman, is not so easy to control. As far as I know, the Bai Family should have a set of secret techniques specifically for manipulating the Yuan Energy of this talisman. Right now we are just using ordinary control techniques, naturally, the effect is quite a bit worse. However, with your talent, two months' time should be enough to get a preliminary grasp of this talisman," Guan Da explained.
"Since 'Guan Da' says it's alright, then it must be true. But after getting a handle on the Tiger Bite Ring, I'll also need to learn those offensive and defensive techniques, which I'm afraid will also take quite some time," Liu Ming blinked and then responded.
"Young Master need not worry about this matter. As long as you can master the control over Yuan Energy and establish a certain degree of connection with the talisman, executing other techniques is simply a matter of practice, and you'll get it in no time," Guan Da replied without hesitation.
"I see, then I'll devote myself to practicing the control of Yuan Energy in the coming days. By the way, what exactly is the Barbarian Ghost Sect, Guan Da? You should know something about it," Liu Ming nodded, then suddenly brought up another matter.
"Young Master wanting to know about the Barbarian Ghost Sect is a bit difficult. Although the sect ranks low among the major sects of the Great Xuan Kingdom, in terms of mystery, it is undoubtedly at the very top, with not much hearsay spread about it," Guan Da said, a look of difficulty crossing his face.
"Oh? Why is that?" The youth was somewhat surprised.
"Because the Barbarian Ghost Sect is a sect renowned for commanding ghostly beings. It's said that their mountain gate is built in a place unbearable for ordinary people, constantly shrouded in yin energy, and the Spirit Acolytes and Spirit Masters who practice the sect's techniques possess the ability to sense the energy of the netherworld and can summon and subdue corresponding ghosts to contend with enemies. However, for this reason, not many children from other noble families choose this sect for the Spirit Opening Ceremony, should they have the conditions, most opt for the other major sects. Of course, this is all relative. As for other related information, that's all I really know," Guan Da pondered for a moment before replying.
"Commanding ghosts, it does sound very unorthodox. But other than the Barbarian Ghost Sect, what are the other major sects in the Great Xuan Kingdom like..." after muttering to himself for a bit, Liu Ming curiously asked.
"I'm more familiar with the other sects. Apart from the Barbarian Ghost Sect, the Great Xuan Kingdom also has the Heavenly Moon Sect, Blood River Hall, Nine Apertures Mountain, and Wind and Fire Sect among the four major sects," detailed Guan Da one by one.
"Oh? And what kind of spells are these sects proficient in?" Liu Ming looked very interested.
"The Heavenly Moon Sect specializes in flying swords. It's said their disciples can wield flying swords to directly slay powerful enemies from dozens of feet away, while the Blood River Hall is..."
Guan Da had no intention of concealing these sect matters and proceeded to explain in detail to the youth.
...
Half a month later, a black carriage pulled by four strong horses was speeding along a dirt road covered in yellow soil.
At the coachman's seat in front of the carriage, Three Gu sat motionless, his expression calm.
Inside the carriage, Liu Ming still sat cross-legged, eyes tightly shut, hands naturally apart and placed on his knees, breathing lightly and rhythmically.
The copper ring around his wrist flickered subtly with the youth's breathing.
As if the two were remotely echoing each other.
Guan Da sat in another corner of the carriage, watching the scene before him and nodded slightly.
To be honest, in his eyes the youth's aptitude was at best medium, but the diligence shown in practicing Yuan Energy control during the journey had taken him aback.
Liu Ming, besides the necessary sleep, was almost always stimulating the Yuan Energy in his body, sensing that slight connection with the Tiger Bite Ring.
Even while eating and speaking, one could faintly see a pale yellow light flashing around the copper ring on his wrist.
You should know, this kind of cultivation is extremely monotonous and requires great concentration.
Normally, even the most determined Qi Cultivators could only keep up this kind of practice for several hours a day, any longer and their concentration would inevitably fail due to fatigue, rendering the effort useless.
Out of curiosity, both of them asked Liu Ming how he managed to do this.
The youth casually replied that he was naturally capable of 'multitasking', leaving them speechless.
They finally understood why Liu Ming was able to cultivate such notable Yuan Energy at a young age without the guidance of a renowned mentor.
...
Over a month later, on top of a small mound about ten feet high, Guan Da and Three Gu were both intently watching the front.
In front of them, several feet away, Liu Ming was sitting with his eyes closed, circulating his energy, his arm with the Tiger Bite Ring raised high.
Suddenly, his eyes shot open, his wrist gave a slight tremble, and the words "Yuan Shield" fell from his lips.
In an instant, a humming sound emanated from the copper ring on his wrist, and after a flash of yellow light, a small, round shield about a foot in diameter emerged and clung close to his arm.
This shield was mottled with yellow, clearly made entirely from condensed Yuan Energy.
"Finally, success! Although it's just the simplest Yuan Energy defense technique, it's enough to show that you have preliminarily mastered the Tiger Bite Ring, a superior talisman. I thought it would take the Young Master two months to reach this point, not expecting it to be done in so short a time," Guan Da let out a long breath, his face still showing a hint of surprise.
"I owe it to both of your careful teachings along the way. Now that I have this talisman to protect myself, I am somewhat more confident about participating in the Spirit Opening Ceremony," said Liu Ming with a smile, giving his arm another shake, the round light shield dispersing into nothingness.