Spirit Talisman Vortex

"Alright, I was wrong. So you're cold on the outside but warm within."

Lin Dong smiled in surprise at this, then nodded. "Alright."

Whoosh!

The moment Lin Dong finished speaking, a fierce Mental Energy shockwave formed before Ziyue and shot straight toward him.

Lin Dong did not rise. With a thought, Mental Energy several times more powerful than Ziyue's surged out from his Niwan Palace, transforming into an invisible giant hand that forcefully slapped the shockwave apart.

"That level of Mental Energy clearly doesn't belong to someone who has just become a Three Seal Talisman Master. Young Friend Lin Dong truly is a cultivation genius."

Master Yan, who was watching from the side, secretly marveled.

Seeing Lin Dong so cleanly disperse her attack, Ziyue was not surprised. The air twisted once more, and ten invisible spears rapidly condensed before flashing out like lightning.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

No matter how many attacks arrived, the now nearly tangible giant hand of Mental Energy stood like an impenetrable wall, blocking every one of them.

After failing to gain any ground for so long, Ziyue finally grew anxious. Her slender jade hands formed seals at lightning speed, while her cherry lips moved slightly. "Elite-grade Mental Secret Technique, Soul Annihilation Needle!"

Buzz!

The strands of Mental Energy that had dispersed through the air suddenly boiled, as though forcibly glued together by an invisible hand, rapidly compressing into a long Mental Energy needle faintly emanating sharpness.

The instant the Mental Energy needle took shape, it pierced through the air and shot forward.

"This should end now."

Growing rather impatient with Ziyue's persistence, Lin Dong flicked his sleeve. A Life Spirit Talisman swiftly flew from his Niwan Palace and transformed before him into a rapidly spinning Spirit Talisman Vortex.

Buzzz~

The moment the Mental Energy needle drew near, an irresistible and surging suction force dragged it into the Spirit Talisman Vortex. At the same time, a considerable amount of pure Mental Energy was sent into Lin Dong's Niwan Palace.

"Ah, my Mental Energy..."

Realizing that her Mental Energy was being devoured, Ziyue's beautiful violet eyes abruptly contracted. She hurriedly and clumsily withdrew her control over the Soul Annihilation Needle.

"What exactly was that just now?"

Having calmed down, Ziyue stared blankly at Lin Dong. The coldness in her voice had already quietly faded away.

"That was a Life Spirit Talisman, one possessing a certain devouring ability. Young Friend Lin Dong, I never expected your Life Talisman Seal to actually be a Life Spirit Talisman. My own Life Talisman Seal is merely a somewhat stronger Life Talisman Seal."

At some point, Master Yan had silently risen from where he had been sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"A Life Spirit Talisman, the second tier among the three tiers of Life Talisman Seals?"

Ziyue raised a delicate brow. Clearly, she also understood how rare Life Spirit Talismans were.

"Yes. My Life Spirit Talisman is called the Ancient Swirl Talisman Seal."

Lin Dong nodded lightly, not revealing too many details.

Ziyue brushed aside a strand of Black Hair hanging over her forehead and murmured almost inaudibly, "Fine, I admit you're impressive. It wasn't just luck."

"Alright, Young Friend Lin Dong has never been to our Talisman Master Association before. Ziyue, as the host, take Young Friend Lin Dong around and help him familiarize himself with the place."

Master Yan gave Ziyue an amused look and spoke up to ease her embarrassment.

"Lin Dong, please."

Now genuinely convinced, Ziyue raised a jade hand and spoke softly.

Lin Dong naturally had no objection. He bowed to Master Yan, then followed Ziyue out.

Along the way, the unfamiliar pair of Ziyue and Lin Dong naturally drew plenty of pointing and whispering from passing talisman masters. Why was the princess of their Talisman Master Association walking together with a seemingly very handsome unfamiliar young man?

Could it be that this rose was about to... No, impossible!

Ziyue walked quickly in front, but Lin Dong was in no hurry to catch up. He deliberately stayed one step behind, leisurely admiring the beauty's graceful figure and the elegance of her stride.

With such a breathtaking beauty to admire, his mood naturally became quite pleasant, and so Lin Dong's pace grew even slower.

But the pleasant scene did not last. The icy beauty Ziyue suddenly stopped, turned around with a flushed face, and glared at Lin Dong in shame and annoyance.

"What is it?"

Not understanding why, Lin Dong lowered his head to examine his clothes. Everything seemed normal, which only made him more puzzled.

Ziyue's full chest rose and fell slightly, as if she were calming her agitated emotions. After taking a deep breath, she said, "Nothing. You walk in front."

"But this is my first time at the Talisman Master Association. I'm unfamiliar with the place and don't know the way. You're the host here, so shouldn't you, the host, lead me, the guest? Besides, Master Yan just—"

Lin Dong began, thoroughly confused.

"Hurry up! Don't force me to scream that you're molesting me!!"

Before Lin Dong could finish, a voice full of embarrassment and anger suddenly rang out.

A trace of shyness flashed through Ziyue's beautiful eyes, and the blush on her jade face spread further down her slender neck.

"Alright, alright, I'll walk in front. I'll walk in front."

With a headache coming on, Lin Dong could only stride ahead and wander around aimlessly.

"Lin Dong, I misjudged you. I thought you were a gentleman."

After a long while, a cool voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Mm, that works too."

Lin Dong pondered for a moment before speaking earnestly.

Bang!

A dull thud rang out, and the unprepared Lin Dong stumbled forward.

"Hey, why did you kick me?"

"Hurry up and move. Stop talking nonsense."

"I'm going, aren't I? Why are you being so fierce?"

"Shut up! Turn left!!"

The interior of the Talisman Association was immensely grand. Lin Dong and Ziyue walked on and off for over ten minutes without reaching the end. Then, a mysterious gray tower that seemed faintly connected to Mental Energy suddenly came into view.

"That is Yan City's Symbol Master Tower, the sacred ground in every Symbol Master's heart. It was condensed from the Mental Energy of countless seniors from Yan City and took a hundred years to complete. It has remarkable effects in tempering and cleansing one's spirit. Tomorrow's Tower Battle will also be held there."

Having calmed down, Ziyue quietly came to a stop.

"Don't worry. With me here, the people of Skyfire City won't be able to take this Symbol Master Tower away." Lin Dong focused and sensed it for a moment before speaking leisurely.

"Mm, then I'll leave it to you."

The icy beauty's gaze toward Lin Dong softened considerably.

"Oh, right. The Mental Energy pressure inside the Symbol Master Tower is essentially a kind of spiritual cleansing. What it contains is the pure and refined Mental Energy left behind by Symbol Master seniors."

"So when you can no longer proceed to the next level, try to stay on your current level for a while longer. It'll benefit your Mental Energy cultivation."

Perhaps because she found Lin Dong more agreeable now, Ziyue added a few more words softly.

"Got it. Let's go. It sounds like people are fighting up ahead. Let's go take a look."

Lin Dong answered casually, then led Ziyue briskly toward the place where Mental Energy was rapidly stirring.

"This man doesn't seem so bad either..."

Watching that sturdy figure ahead of her, the young woman in purple quietly blinked her beautiful eyes.