Who Taught You That in the First Place?

Objectively speaking...

The fact that the Moonlight Power could amplify the Blood Crystal was actually good news for Xiao Chen.

Since it has obviously increased in size so much, its effect should theoretically be stronger as well.

At the same time, this might not necessarily be a problem for Su Li.

With the guidance of the Witch Tribe Heritage at least, she had a direction to strive for the Spirit Transformation.

On the path of spiritual practice, being able to discern the direction has always been the most important aspect.

After all, cultivators have limited Lifespan; if they go in the opposite direction, they probably won't succeed no matter how hard they try.

Therefore, when Su Li asked, "Do you think I should continue practicing the Moon Witch Secret Method?"

Xiao Chen answered almost without hesitation, "Of course we should continue!"

"Or rather, why not?"

"Since this is the only way to have a chance to break through to the Spirit Transformation, let's ignore everything else and seize this opportunity first."

"Many Ancient Books I've read mention that after reaching the Spirit Transformation, one can live for two thousand years and at the same time gain a deeper understanding of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."

"Then we will have more time and greater power."

"Whether it's breaking the Curse or doing anything else, it should be much easier now."

This is practically Xiao Chen's life experience.

For him, there are almost no problems that cannot be solved even after breaking through to the Major Realm.

If so, it means your cultivation level is not high enough, and you should continue to try to break through to the next Major Realm.

"That makes sense, but..."

Su Li hesitated for a moment, but still said frankly, "I feel that the Moon Eclipse Curse is getting stronger as my cultivation level increases."

"If this continues, I might end up like the Great Demon in a myth."

"The mere existence of something can be a calamity for the world."

Sometimes I wonder if I should never have been born.

As she spoke the last sentence, Su Li's eyes held a mixture of light and shadow, like a distant sunset about to plunge into the deep sea.

The evening breeze ruffled the stray hairs at her temples, the disheveled strands mirroring her turbulent emotions.

How could you have such a strange idea?

Xiao Chen, unusually, abandoned his usual indifferent expression. "Then I really have to talk to you."

"Although you have the Witch Clan Bloodline, you have also received instruction from the Daoist Sect."

"Then let me ask you something."

What are the four words that form the most fundamental belief of our faction?

This question sounds a bit profound.

Su Li thought for a moment and said, "If I had to summarize it in four words, it would be 'the Dao Emulates Own Inherent Spontaneity.'"

Xiao Chen shook his head. "Wrong, that's not what I asked."

"Okay, maybe I didn't explain it clearly just now. Let me explain it in more detail."

"As disciples of the Daoist Sect, what four words represent the guiding principles we should uphold in our actual practice?"

Actual practice?

Su Li seemed stumped.

She furrowed her brows slightly, tilted her head, and thought seriously for a while, "In actual cultivation, one should take it upon oneself to slay demons and eliminate evil?"

Xiao Chen couldn't help but sigh, rubbing his forehead. "Sigh, I really am... Who taught you that in the first place?"

"Let me tell you, the most important principle that we Daoist Sect disciples should uphold is ' Defy Fate '!"

He paused intentionally for a moment so that Su Li could hear him clearly.

He then retorted, "What do you mean you shouldn't have been born?"

Is that your problem?

"I'm telling you, you have no problem. If there's any fault, the World Is Wrong."

"Was it your decision to possess the Moon Witch Bloodline?"

"You yourself don't even know this."

"Logically speaking, shouldn't the consequences of the Moon Eclipse Curse be borne by the caster, whose identity is still unknown?"

"You don't need to think about anything else right now."

"There's only one thing to do: live well, cultivate diligently, and gain more power to Defy Fate."

"Moreover, by then, you will not only be able to lift the Curse, but also accumulate merit and do good deeds to help more people Sea of Bitterness."

In fact, Xiao Chen's words eventually led him to the Buddhist Sect.

But none of that matters. What matters is that his words greatly influenced Su Li.

The idea of Defy Fate sounds incredibly arrogant.

The statement that "the World Is Wrong" is utterly outrageous!

Su Li was also feeling a little dizzy at this moment.

She asked herself, having read many Daoist Sect texts in her youth, but she had never seen such a description before.

So much so that she now wants to ask: Who taught you that in the first place?

Doesn't that sound like 'fallacious reasoning'?

But it was precisely these somewhat reckless words of advice that suddenly struck a chord with Su Li, completely shattering her usual simple understanding of the world.

She stared blankly at Xiao Chen.

They didn't even realize that the Fish Skewers in their hands were almost burnt.

Fortunately, Xiao Chen noticed in time and immediately grabbed Su Li's hand to help her turn over.

I added a few words of comfort, "And you don't need to feel pressured."

"Firstly, reaching the Spirit Transformation is so difficult; even with the Cultivation Method, it's not something that can be achieved overnight."

"While it's good to plan ahead, there's no need to think about things too far into the future, or you'll just be worrying unnecessarily."

"Secondly, I'm here. I'm not afraid to tell you, I've already mastered an extremely powerful secret technique."

"By consuming a few Spirit Stone, one can quickly Condense True Essence."

"Don't underestimate me just because I'm only at the Nascent Soul Early Stage stage. Who knows who will reach the Spirit Transformation stage first?"

"If I break through first, I might be able to solve the Curse problem directly."

Xiao Chen wasn't bragging; normally, he could indeed break through first.

Su Li's gaze fell on her hands, and two blushes appeared on her cheeks, even more beautiful than the sunset.

Like a child listening attentively to a teacher in a classroom, she nodded obediently and gently. "Yes, I understand."

After a short while, he realized what Xiao Chen had said.

Out of curiosity, he pressed for details about the new Secret Method.

For Xiao Chen, this kind of ordinary secret technique wasn't something that needed to be kept secret, at least not from Su Li.

So the two leaned against the campfire and chatted about the interesting things that had happened during the year of Resist Sea Race.

This includes the three Giant Sea Beast, the powerful foundation of Universal Salvation Temple, and the final Peace Conference.

"Since Spirit Stone are so important, why did you spend so many Spirit Stone to buy snacks?"

Upon hearing the target of fifteen million, Su Li couldn't help but feel a little worried. "Actually, for me, catching Sea Fish together would be great too."

The key is the people sharing the food, not the specific food itself.

"Hmph!" Xiao Chen's lips curled slightly. "I'm not afraid to tell you, I now have a Trade Route that only I control."

"Just the order I have on me right now is enough to earn me over three million Spirit Stone."

"And there will be more orders like this in the future."

"I'm not exaggerating, but to me, these pastries are no different from those few paper cuttings; they're just a drop in the ocean."

Even though Su Li lacked experience, she knew that such a lucrative Trade Route was not something everyone had.

Furthermore, Xiao Chen just stated that he might break through to the Spirit Transformation before her.

This, in turn, strengthened her resolve to continue cultivating the Witch Tribe Secret Method and to break through to the Spirit Transformation stage as soon as possible.

In the Cultivation World, a difference of one Major Realm is enough to create a distinct gap.

Su Li didn't want to face that situation; she wanted to earn the right to stand shoulder to shoulder with others through her own strength.

In any case, she was inspired by Xiao Chen.

Having let go of the various chaotic thoughts that had arisen over the past two months, I decided to focus on my cultivation from now on.

My first day back ended with chatting and grilled fish.

Considering that he hadn't been back for a long time, Xiao Chen wasn't in a hurry to go to the New Cultivation World.

He stayed on the island the next day and even shared Red Flower Crab Meat with Su Li, treating it as a break for himself.

I woke up leisurely on the morning of the third day, bathed in the rising sun.

Only then did he begin to think about the important matter again.

Although it can now be generally assumed that one can move between the two sides anytime and anywhere without needing a fixed location.

However, to avoid leaving any trace, Xiao Chen still did not plan to travel directly on Secluded Doom Island.

At his current speed, finding a Desolate Island nearby would only take him half an hour.

However, there's one more thing to prepare before leaving.

That is to draw the Black Abyss Blood Escape Evasion Talisman.

So Xiao Chen went to the coast and found Su Li, who was studying Secret Method.

And you know what? When she was seriously cultivating, she was surrounded by Spiritual Qi, her clothes fluttering, like a fairy descending from a painting.

It can be described in four words: absolutely gorgeous!

Xiao Chen patiently waited for her to complete one cycle of her cultivation before asking, "I remember you mentioned before that you were practicing Witch Runes. How is it going?"

Su Li immediately said, "I must thank you so much for bringing back those spiritual materials for me; you were a great help."

"Overall, I feel that Witch Runes seem to have many similarities with Artifact Inscription."

"Although one is engraved on an object, the other is tattooed on a person."

"However, many of the operating principles are common, making them much easier to learn."

"I'd say I've mastered about 70-80% of the Witch Runes by now."

In the end, Su Li was actually being modest.

As the Moon Witch Saintess, she naturally found it easier and faster to learn these things than others.

Moreover, the Moon Eclipse Curse was inscribed on her body with many Witch Runes, which meant that she had already experienced it firsthand.

Therefore, although she had only studied Witch Runes for a relatively short time, her drawing skills were already better than many Witch Clan Priest of that time.

"That's wonderful!"

Xiao Chen got straight to the point. "I unexpectedly acquired a batch of Talisman Making materials, which can be used to draw life-saving talismans."

"But at the time, we lacked the specific production process."

"If we started right away, it would likely lead to a huge waste, so we've been putting it off until now."

"Just recently, I found the complete production process in the Scripture Pavilion of Thousand Machines Valley."

As he spoke, Xiao Chen directly took out the copied "Thousand Machines Water Escape Evasion Talisman" and handed it over. "I think Witch Runes and Talisman Making should be quite similar."

So I brought it over for you to see.

"If it's convenient, how about you help me draw these talismans?"

Upon hearing this, Su Li immediately accepted the copy with both hands and read through the production process word by word.

He took a deep breath and looked up, saying, "Judging from the paper, it shouldn't be too difficult."

"I feel like I can give it a try."

But he quickly added, "However, I haven't actually learned Talisman Making, so I can't guarantee that I'll be able to draw it successfully."

Xiao Chen chuckled to ease her pressure, "Of course, even the most skilled master wouldn't dare say they'd succeed 100% in making Talisman Making."

"I estimate that if I come alone, I'll be lucky to get one out of ten."

"As long as the number exceeds this, it's considered a success!"

Of course, it would be even better if we had five.

However, Xiao Chen did not bring this up directly.

Despite this, Su Li's heart was still racing.

Come to think of it, since the two met, she was the only one who had ever asked to have a sculpture made.

This should be the first time Xiao Chen has asked her for help.

Since that's the case, then we definitely need to perform well.

To be on the safe side, Su Li silently trained for a whole day according to the records in the <Thousand Machines Water Escape Evasion Talisman>.

Unfortunately, Xiao Chen hadn't thought to bring the corresponding materials with him when he returned.

This meant she couldn't use the improved version to get used to its feel first.

The two had originally agreed to draw the image on the morning of the fourth day, after the Spiritual Qi Tide had stabilized, in order to increase the success rate.

However, when the time came, it was necessary to start organizing the materials.

Xiao Chen suddenly remembered something. "Hiss~, there's something I forgot to ask you."

What are your thoughts on Demonic Path Material?

"These materials I have are all things like Essence Blood and animal hides obtained through Demonic Method. You shouldn't mind, right?"

Logically speaking, a dignified True Lord shouldn't care about these things.

However, considering that Su Li's situation is rather special and she is not quite the same as a normal True Lord, she may not be willing to come into contact with Demonic Path Material.

Just to be on the safe side, Xiao Chen decided to ask in advance.

"It's okay!"

Su Li immediately pointed to the copy in her hand. "I already knew what we needed yesterday."

"Moreover, the Witch Clan actually has many rituals and ceremonies that are quite... primitive."

She carefully chose a suitable word. "So, in fact, when I was receiving the Witch Tribe Heritage Memory, I had already seen many sacrificial scenes that were no less impressive than those of the Demonic Path."

Xiao Chen was really overthinking this.

Su Li usually conceals her aura, appearing like an innocent and carefree girl next door.

This led him to make a subconscious misjudgment.

To be fair, the rumored practice of the Witch Tribe Live Sacrifice is not necessarily more bloody or cruel than the Demonic Sect Secret Method.

That's alright then.

Xiao Chen readily took out all the materials.

Su Li calmly sorted and put them away.

After the surrounding Spiritual Qi stabilized, he spread out an animal hide in front of him and began his first drawing.

With nothing to do, Xiao Chen stood by as a spectator.

However, compared to the drawing process that he couldn't understand, he naturally preferred to watch Su Li's movements.

To be honest, whether it's a man or a woman, the way they concentrate is exceptionally beautiful and attractive.

To sum it up in four words: It's really beautiful!

However, feeling that somewhat scorching gaze, Su Li felt her heart race, and the Talisman Brush in her hand began to move uncontrollably.

More importantly, she should have focused her attention and concentrated on drawing the talisman.

But the thought of Xiao Chen watching him made it impossible for him to concentrate.

Despite her exceptional skill, she unsurprisingly made a mistake in one stroke, rendering the first talisman unusable.

"I'm sorry, I was suddenly distracted."

Su Li quickly apologized, "I shouldn't have made a mistake here; I didn't control myself well."

Xiao Chen had anticipated this, and immediately reassured him, "It's alright. Didn't I say that drawing even one is a win, and drawing two is a victory?"

You don't need to put pressure on yourself.

However, Su Li didn't reply; instead, she looked at him with a flushed face.

After a brief silence, he suddenly spoke, "I'll be drawing here by myself from now on; you're not allowed to watch."

"Whether you go to the other side to cultivate or rest for a while, you can come back here after the Spiritual Qi Tide ends."

Um?

What do you mean?

Xiao Chen's eyes widened.

Did I hinder your performance here?

What kind of strange logic is that?

When I used to practice Law Technique on the beach, weren't you watching me from the rocks?

That's absolutely unreasonable!

Hmph, fine, I don't care if I don't want to watch it.

He originally stayed here only so that he could offer timely encouragement if the drawing failed.

Since it's not needed, then forget it.

Xiao Chen immediately nodded. "Okay, then I'll go sunbathe for a while and come back later."

After saying that, he went directly to the other side of the island and lay down on the beach in a starfish position.

After he left, Su Li took a deep breath and finally focused her attention again.

He began to concentrate fully on drawing the remaining talismans.

Before the Spiritual Qi Tide ended, all the materials were collected.

They didn't tell Xiao Chen the specific results of the subsequent drawing, only saying that they would reveal them all at the end.

She was afraid that if she heard the feedback during the competition, she wouldn't be able to perform at her best.

Although Xiao Chen was somewhat curious about this, he remained indifferent overall.

Just believe it and that's all!

Three more days passed, and Su Li finally finished drawing everything.

When Xiao Chen waited for the Spiritual Qi Tide to recede before coming over to check the situation.

Then you can see a row of neat animal hides laid out on the beach, Su Li is doing the final portable processing.

That is, by using specific Talisman Dao Secret Technique, these animal hides are compressed to a size slightly longer than the palm of a hand.

In a sense, it is similar to using Secret Method for refining spiritual materials.

Noticing Xiao Chen approaching, Su Li finally couldn't suppress the smile on her lips, revealing two sweet dimples.

But she deliberately pursed her lips and remained silent.

She just gave him a smug smile and continued with her own actions.

Xiao Chen counted them himself.

They discovered there were actually nine magic talismans on the ground!

ah?

No, is that right?

Could it be that I really affected your performance?

It should be noted that Xiao Chen only obtained ten sets of materials in total.

Moreover, he personally witnessed one of the animal hides being damaged the day before.

Even more unbelievable is that this is Fourth-tier Talisman!

Logically speaking, even if a fourth-tier Talisman Master were to make the attempt, it wouldn't be possible to guarantee such a high success rate of 90%, right?

No, it doesn't seem to be 90%.

Xiao Chen suddenly realized.

If we exclude herself as a distraction, Su Li's actual success rate should be 100%.

Hiss~!

He gasped in shock, feeling as if he were seeing things.

I have to say, this is absolutely astonishing.

It was far more than the best outcome he had anticipated, which was that five talismans would ultimately be successfully drawn.

He was quite surprised that Su Li possessed such astonishing Talisman Dao Talent.

What followed was a pleasant surprise!

This time, nine Black Abyss Blood Escape Evasion Talisman were successfully used, which means that one can travel up to 90,000 miles using Blood Escape.

At such a great distance, even if one were to encounter a top-tier Spirit Transformation, there should still be a chance of survival.

Well, considering that activating the talisman also takes time, we might need to add a prerequisite.

That is, to survive the opponent's first attack and gain a sliver of hope.

However, even with this prerequisite, the value of these talismans remains unaffected.

In the blink of an eye, Su Li had finished compressing them all.

Then he stacked them up and presented them to Xiao Chen with both hands.

But she kept her red lips pursed and remained silent.

She simply stared at him with a pair of large, expectant eyes.

It's as if three words are about to float out of there—"Praise me!"

Xiao Chen easily understood her meaning and couldn't help but chuckle.

He then sincerely praised her, "Wow, you actually managed to create so many magic talismans! That's amazing!"

"When I saw the first failed attempt, I thought I might not get anything this time."

"I never expected that everything would actually succeed later on; it's truly unbelievable."

Upon hearing this, Su Li quickly turned her head to the right and chuckled to herself.

Then, he quickly suppressed his emotions and said in a serious tone, "Unfortunately, it was still a failure in the end."

"Mainly because it was my first time drawing, I was a bit rusty and couldn't perform well."

"However, I managed to accomplish my mission!"

After saying this, she could no longer contain her joy and smiled sweetly, like Tangerine Pear With Dew.

For Su Li, being able to do her best to complete the first task that Xiao Chen entrusted to her was a very happy thing.

"Since you've succeeded so much, how about I leave you a couple for protection?"

Xiao Chen thought about it and realized that he didn't actually need that many.

Firstly, he might not be able to encounter a top-tier Nascent Spirit Transformation.

Even in the New Cultivation World, as long as you don't go to the Holy City to show off, you should be fine.

After all, even Spirit Transformation Venerable have their own things to do; they're not idle folks in the countryside.

Secondly, if one is really unlucky enough to encounter an enemy that even seven Black Abyss Blood Escape Evasion Talisman couldn't handle, then...

Let's rely on the Night's Edge to save our lives, and then just activate the teleportation.

Don't worry about me.

However, Su Li's refusal was quite clear. "Don't forget, I still have the World Illusion Moon Wheel in my possession, which is more than enough for self-defense."

"Besides, didn't you say that the Spirit Transformation Venerable all went to the Three Mountains Grotto-Heaven?"

"In that case, there shouldn't be any danger outside that I can't handle."

She spoke these words with unwavering confidence, tinged with a touch of naive innocence.

Xiao Chen thought about the Venerable One he had seen at Universal Salvation Temple, as well as the illusory image of the Bright King, and smiled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

He silently put away the six magic talismans, then reached out his left hand to grab Su Li's right hand and placed the remaining three talismans in her palm.

"I'd better bring it just in case, that way I'll feel more at ease."

"So that I don't go out and come back to find there are no Blood Crystal left to collect."