Talisman Master

"Talisman Master? Purple Lightning Talisman?" Zeng Fan's puzzled voice rang out. Murong Xue glanced at him. "You don't know?"

"I don't. Miss Murong, what does 'Talisman Master' mean?" Zeng Fan asked Murong Xue. After all, he had entered the path of cultivation by chance and had never received guidance from any predecessor. He could only feel his way forward step by step.

"Talisman Masters are also cultivators like us. Some people are born extraordinarily sensitive to changes in Spiritual Energy. By relying on inheritances passed down by their predecessors—or by creating their own talisman inscriptions—they condense all sorts of inconceivable power from heaven and earth and draw it onto talisman paper. These are called talisman inscriptions, and those who write them are called Talisman Masters. Because talisman inscriptions have countless different applications and Talisman Masters are so rare, their prices are extremely high." Murong Xue sighed as she explained it to Zeng Fan.

"So they're the talismans Taoists used to draw before I crossed over. Only, because cultivation is possible here, the talismans have undergone a qualitative transformation too." After hearing this, Zeng Fan gained a rough understanding of Talisman Masters and talisman inscriptions.

At that moment, Chen Ren's voice came from the stage as well. "In case anyone doesn't know what this Purple Lightning Talisman does, I'll explain it again. Once activated with Spiritual Energy, this third-tier Purple Lightning Talisman can transform into a thundercloud and unleash an attack equivalent to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It can continue for the time it takes half a stick of incense to burn!"

"An attack equivalent to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and it can keep attacking?" Zeng Fan was startled. This is practically a life-saving treasure for cultivators below Foundation Establishment. For some small Lineages, it could even serve as part of their Lineage's foundation. A burning eagerness appeared in his eyes. Who would ever complain about having too many things like this?

But the atmosphere below had already grown white-hot.

"Seven hundred Spirit Stones."

"Eight hundred Spirit Stones."

"One thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!"

The heat in Zeng Fan's heart instantly turned ice-cold. He stared dumbfounded as the price of the talisman, after only a few breaths, had already risen to a level he could not afford.

Murong Xue burst out laughing at Zeng Fan's expression. "Without this kind of feverish pursuit, how could Talisman Masters be so captivating?"

Zeng Fan was also shaken. "Forget it. This isn't something I can possess right now. I'd better wait until the auction ends and properly study that Metal Fragment."

In the end, the Purple Lightning Talisman was sold for one thousand six hundred Spirit Stones. The buyer looked delighted, without the slightest trace of reluctance—as if they felt it had been worth every stone. Afterward, Zeng Fan stopped paying attention. A maid from the back hall respectfully carried a tray into the private room. Suppressing his excitement, Zeng Fan lifted the silk cloth covering the tray. A black Metal Fragment lay quietly in its center.

Zeng Fan picked up the Metal Fragment and felt its chill against his palm. This was obviously not the time to study it. After putting the Metal Fragment away, he left the auction house with Murong Xue.

"Miss Murong, I have something else to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." After hearing this, Murong Xue waved at him. She knew Zeng Fan was probably eager to return and study the fragment. Some matters did not need to be spelled out; forming a good connection was enough. She then led the two maids into the crowd, their silvery, bell-like laughter ringing out again and again.

After parting from Murong Xue, Zeng Fan immediately quickened his pace toward his lodgings. His heart felt as if a little hand were scratching at it. Once he returned, he swept his gaze around. Seeing that no one was watching him, he slipped into his room and firmly shut the door.

Taking out the Metal Fragment, Zeng Fan finally had time to examine it carefully. The fragment was about the size of a palm and icy to the touch. It was covered in talisman inscriptions he could not understand, exuding an aura of mystery. After such a long time, they had become somewhat blurred. He squeezed it hard, only to find that it did not budge in the slightest.

"How am I supposed to use this thing?" Ever since he had obtained it, that stirring sensation in his heart had never appeared again, as though it had merely been an illusion. This left Zeng Fan with a headache.

"Let's try Spiritual Energy." Zeng Fan tried continuously channeling the Spiritual Energy in his hand toward the fragment. As the infusion continued, he nearly exhausted all his Spiritual Energy. Although the fragment kept absorbing Spiritual Energy, it was like a bottomless pit and showed no reaction at all.

"Should I try dripping blood on it?" Zeng Fan bit his finger and let his blood drip onto the fragment. The blood slid straight off onto the side. He then tried burning it, boiling it in water, and all sorts of other methods, but the fragment remained utterly unmoved.

After a long while, Zeng Fan sat quietly beside the table, staring blankly at the fragment. "Why isn't this thing reacting at all? Aside from absorbing Spiritual Energy, could it be that my cultivation is too low and I don't have enough Spiritual Energy to activate it?" He massaged his temples, unable to figure out what to do for the moment.

"Zeng Fan, Zeng Fan." Just as Zeng Fan was at a loss over how to deal with the fragment, Yuan Jin's voice came from outside the door.

"I'll put it away for now. I can explore it slowly when I get the chance later. Haste makes waste." After putting the fragment into his Storage Ring, Zeng Fan opened the door and saw Yuan Jin waiting outside. Excitement showed on his face, and the aura around him was considerably stronger than it had been a few days ago.

"You broke through to Body Tempering Muscle Perfection?" Zeng Fan sensed Yuan Jin's aura.

"Hehe, that's right! I felt it after fighting Murong Xue earlier. With these two Spiritual Fruits, everything fell into place naturally. You're not bad either—you've reached Body Tempering Skin Grand Perfection!" Yuan Jin slapped Zeng Fan on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

"If I ran into Murong Xue again now, I might not necessarily lose to her." Yuan Jin's face was full of confidence.

"That's right. I also think you could fight her again now." Hearing Yuan Jin's words, Zeng Fan knew that Yuan Jin still did not know Murong Xue had broken through, so he could not help egging him on.

"Hmph, once I consolidate my cultivation over the next few days, I'll find her and fight her again. I'll win back my dignity. That day, she made me lose face completely." Yuan Jin ground his teeth.

"All right, all right. Let's go out and have a meal to celebrate your breakthrough. We'll call Wang An too." Zeng Fan walked toward the door, his voice drifting from afar.

"Wait for me! Why are you walking so fast?" Yuan Jin hurried after him, grumbling all the while.

When the two reached Wang An's lodgings, Wang An happened to be finished cultivating, so he greeted them and walked out with them.

Wang An leaned in and whispered to the two of them, "I heard Murong Xue has broken through to Body Tempering Bone. The cultivation speed of an Earth Vein is truly frightening!"

"What?! I was just planning to settle the score with her, and she's already broken through? How are we supposed to fight her with an entire realm between us? What rotten luck, what rotten luck!" Yuan Jin shouted.

"It's fine, it's fine. At worst, we'll wait until our realms improve and then settle the score." Zeng Fan comforted Yuan Jin with regret in his voice. Yuan Jin had no idea he had nearly been sold out just now and continued cursing under his breath.

"There's one more thing. I heard we're leaving for the sect tomorrow." Wang An told the two of them.

Zeng Fan and Yuan Jin both froze. "We're leaving tomorrow?" The two exchanged a glance, and it was as if flames had ignited in their eyes.

"We're finally leaving? I've stayed here long enough. It's time to set off. Only after we reach the sect will we have more cultivation resources. Otherwise, how will we ever beat Murong Xue?" Yuan Jin laughed heartily.

"We're finally leaving?" Zeng Fan slowly clenched his fists. Recalling everything that had happened during this period, he seemed somewhat dazed. Then the daze gradually faded, and the confusion in his eyes slowly turned firm. Since encountering all these things had made his life different from that point onward, he would keep walking and see how far he could go. Heroic spirit surged in his chest.

"Then are we still going to eat?"

"Of course. How can we have the strength to cultivate if we don't eat? I can't survive without food!"

"Let's eat first. Tomorrow's matters can wait until tomorrow. Let's go."

The three voices drifted in all directions, but the people themselves had already vanished from sight.