Three days later.
In a courtyard outside the Talisman Hall.
The moment Zhong Bai pushed open the door, a bright yellow talisman shot toward him.
Zhong Bai did not even have time to dodge, and his brain's instinctive reaction was to throw a punch!
As the sound of a sonic boom echoed, the bright yellow talisman exploded, and a snake-like streak of lightning instantly surged into Zhong Bai's right arm.
It felt tingling and numb, though there was no real injury, yet Zhong Bai truly realized that talismanic formations were definitely not simple.
After all... who didn't know about giving someone a hard time to establish authority?
"Ahem, Junior Brother Zhong Bai truly lives up to one who cultivates thunder techniques. This low-grade Yellow-tier Thunderclap Talisman couldn't even cause the slightest bit of damage to Junior Brother Zhong Bai!"
As the words fell, Lin Fengjiao slowly walked out from the house. When he looked at Zhong Bai, no matter how rigid and by-the-book he usually was, he still tried his best to make his smile appear amiable.
The purpose of Lin Fengjiao's actions just now was actually very simple. It wasn't to establish authority over Zhong Bai, but merely to make Zhong Bai understand that talismanic formations also had miraculous uses at critical moments.
There was no help for it, as almost all Mount Mao disciples who cultivated thunder technique divine abilities had very little interest in talismanic formations.
Especially the sect leader's direct disciple of a year ago, Shi Jian.
No matter how much other disciples disliked learning talismanic formations when they came to the Talisman Hall, they wouldn't resort to sarcasm and ridicule years later, yet Shi Jian of a year ago was the only exception.
On the very first day he arrived at the Talisman Hall, he spoke wild words, believing that his Lightning Thunder Fist was the only thing that mattered.
It was bad enough that he didn't study talismanic formations with an open mind, but he even uttered rude and insolent words...
In the end, it was only out of consideration for the fact that Shi Jian was the direct disciple of the Maoshan Sect Leader that the Talisman Hall let the matter rest.
Therefore, Lin Fengjiao came up with today's action.
"Senior Brother flatters me. Junior Brother is merely a beginner in thunder techniques and amounts to nothing.
On the contrary, Senior Brother easily wields talismans with such proficiency, making Junior Brother ashamed."
Well, Zhong Bai's main attitude was to take things in stride.
Who made Lin Fengjiao someone he wasn't a match for? Moreover, his original purpose in coming here was to get on good terms with Lin Fengjiao and learn talismanic formations along the way.
Sensibly and reasonably, lowering one's head to get along with others was only proper.
Hearing this, Lin Fengjiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that his actions would cause Zhong Bai to misunderstand or even become angry.
Yet now it seemed that this Junior Brother Zhong Bai possessed a frighteningly composed temperament...
"Let's formally get acquainted, Junior Brother Zhong Bai. Your senior brother's secular name is Lin Fengjiao, and my Daoist name is One-Brow!"
Upon hearing this, Zhong Bai couldn't help but look at Lin Fengjiao's level, bushy eyebrows. The flame of gossip burned fiercely in his heart, and well, the Daoist name was indeed not misnamed.
"Senior Brother Lin, Junior Brother's secular name is Zhong Bai, and my Daoist name is... uh, Junior Brother doesn't have a Daoist name yet. Senior Brother Lin can just address Junior Brother by name."
Speaking of Daoist names, Zhong Bai also felt somewhat helpless. According to Mount Mao's rules, one could only go to the Three Mao Patriarchs Grand Hall to formally receive the talismanic register after three full years of entering the sect.
Aside from petitioning the nine heavens, it was also necessary to petition the netherworld downward, and only then would a Daoist name be bestowed.
Zhong Bai had entered the sect for less than a year and a half, so he had no other method except to endure and wait.
Fortunately, Lin Fengjiao understood as well and did not dwell on this issue.
"Strange... Didn't Master say that Third Elder Uncle Huang would take over teaching from now on?
Why is Uncle Huang nowhere to be seen at a time like this?"
Lin Fengjiao felt puzzled in his heart. Zhong Bai had already arrived, and the introductions were almost finished, yet his own Uncle Huang still hadn't appeared...
For a moment Lin Fengjiao really didn't know what to say. Well, he couldn't just let Zhong Bai stand there foolishly, could he?
"Well..."
Lin Fengjiao had just wanted to open his mouth to tell Zhong Bai about the glorious history of their Talisman Hall when he was interrupted by a hearty laugh.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Fengjiao, it seems you aren't a block of wood after all; you're quite eloquent in front of your fellow apprentice brother.
Not bad, not bad, keep it up!"
Ugh, upon hearing these words, Lin Fengjiao instantly had black lines running down his forehead. They all said that when laughing at people one shouldn't expose their shortcomings, but his Uncle Huang was really something else—he was practically eager to air all of his embarrassing moments completely clean...
While they were talking, Zhong Bai also shifted his gaze toward the newcomer. At first glance, the person before him was a middle-aged man, and his primary impression was that this person possessed a great sense of humor.
Immediately following that, Zhong Bai continued shifting his gaze until it landed behind the Third Elder of the Talisman Hall.
Standing right there was a young man with a smile at the corners of his mouth. If there was anything particularly special about him, it was the reflection of light off those glasses, which made Zhong Bai instinctively want to blurt out the two words "Four-Eyes".
"Fengjiao, Nephew Zhong Bai, let me introduce you two first. The one beside me has both his secular name and Daoist name as Four-Eyes, and he is the direct disciple of Elder Changsheng from the Corpse Herding Hall.
Starting today, he will also follow the two of you in studying talismanic formations."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Bai didn't feel particularly surprised. After all, those glasses were simply too conspicuous. Since Mount Mao already had Lin Fengjiao and Shi Jian, having one more Daoist Four-Eyes seemed quite normal.
"Haha, this must be Senior Brother Lin!
Four-Eyes has been in the sect for over three years. Ever since the day I entered apprenticeship, I've heard the legends of Senior Brother Lin—how you achieved minor accomplishment in the Body Forging Art in eight months.
Now, after five years in the sect, you already possess the realm of the third layer of Qi Refinement. Junior Brother is ashamed; after three years in the sect, I've only just touched the threshold of the second layer of Qi Refinement.
To be able to study talismanic formations together with Senior Brother Lin from now on is truly the fortune of Four-Eyes!"
After praising Lin Fengjiao, Four-Eyes turned his gaze toward Zhong Bai.
"As for this Junior Brother Zhong Bai, although Junior Brother entered the sect two years later than me, you likewise achieved minor accomplishment in the Body Forging Art in one year and reached the first layer of Qi Refinement in a month.
I heard that Junior Brother even resolutely chose the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art in the Scripture Repository Pavilion!
Such boldness is something Senior Brother admires just as much!"
I must say, Four-Eyes had a very sweet tongue, leaving Zhong Bai completely unable to find even a trace of anything that made him feel uncomfortable.
As for Lin Fengjiao, his earlobes had turned somewhat reddish ever since Four-Eyes's first sentence; he had truly enjoyed being praised...
Standing to the side and watching the three of them interact in this manner, Third Elder Huang Zhen of the Talisman Hall couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"You boys don't need too much introduction from this old Daoist; you can get familiar with each other right now.
That's for the best as well. You are all disciples of Mount Mao, and deeper camaraderie among fellow apprentices will also be beneficial for your future cultivation after you finish your apprenticeship."
As soon as Huang Zhen finished speaking, his aura abruptly shifted from its initial relaxed and casual state!
"However, now that you have come to the Talisman Hall, Nephew Zhong Bai and Nephew Four-Eyes, you must remember to guard the rules well, and by no means act like certain ignorant fellows who lack manners."
Without stating it explicitly, everyone present understood that these words were referring to the sect leader's direct disciple, Shi Jian.
Zhong Bai also deduced from a side angle that it seemed Shi Jian had almost completely offended the Talisman Hall to death.
Well, under such circumstances, the grievances and grudges that would arise between Shi Jian and Lin Fengjiao in the future seemed quite easy to explain.
One could say that Shi Jian's personality had already destined him to have no way of ascending to the position of Maoshan Sect Leader in his future.
"Uncle Huang, please rest assured. Zhong Bai has never been a dissolute and rude person. Should there be any impropriety, Zhong Bai is willing to accept punishment!"
"Right, Four-Eyes is the same. Uncle Huang, just you watch and see!"
"This youth is moldable..."
The imposing aura on Huang Zhen came and went just as quickly. Lin Fengjiao, on the other hand, was somewhat dumbfounded—why hadn't his master uncle told him beforehand that there would be such an episode?
Had he known that his master uncle would also dole out a warning and beating down, he wouldn't have needed to pull the stunt targeting Zhong Bai right at the beginning.
Pity there were no ifs. Of course, regarding Zhong Bai's character, although Lin Fengjiao didn't dare claim deep understanding, he still believed that the other party wouldn't harbor secret resentment because of it.
An extraordinary meeting came to an end. Next, Zhong Bai and Four-Eyes would also officially begin their study of talismanic formations...
Please seek follow-up reads, collections, and monthly tickets. Sob sob, have pity on this child!
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