Dark Surveillance

Lin Fan was taken aback. He had already been standing in a corner, yet he had no idea why he had still been noticed.

All eyes turned toward him, and Lin Fan could no longer keep silent.

He scratched his head and said, "This disciple is slow-witted. I was still pondering Senior Brother Yun and Senior Brother Wang's words, but I haven't figured out... the answer yet."

Master Ruan's brows furrowed slightly, then quickly relaxed.

"You. Come here."

Lin Fan lowered his head and stepped forward like a student who had made a mistake.

Master Ruan's expression was solemn. He suddenly said sternly, "Everyone here was discussing things enthusiastically, but you alone were spacing out and daydreaming. You truly deserve a beating."

As he spoke, he reached out and smacked Lin Fan's shoulder three times.

Lin Fan: ...

Why does this scene feel so familiar?

Nearby, Yun Peng laughed and urged, "Master, don't be angry. He came from the ranks of the menial disciples and is only here to listen in. It's perfectly normal that he can't understand our discussion."

"Hurry up and apologize, then get lost to the side."

Lin Fan hurriedly said, "I was wrong. Master Ruan, please don't be angry."

As he spoke, he tactfully moved off to the side.

Master Ruan did not spare Lin Fan another glance. Instead, he continued explaining to everyone the key points of observing the forms and spirits of demonic beasts.

That night, Lin Fan tossed and turned. If he had guessed correctly, Master Ruan wanted him to seek him out at midnight.

"I came from the ranks of the menial disciples. Whether in status or aptitude, I can be said to be the bottommost existence among this group."

"Why would Master Ruan take notice of me in particular?"

"Perhaps I should just sleep."

Lin Fan shook his head. He immediately stopped thinking about it and began snoring away.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Master Ruan sat cross-legged. That beautiful and charming mistress had already fallen into a deep sleep and would be unable to wake for quite some time.

After waiting and waiting, with the sky already beginning to brighten, Master Ruan gave a soft snort. "What a patient little brat."

The next day, the Blood Talisman Gathering at Roaming Cloud Valley continued. Master Ruan did not speak with Lin Fan again, and Lin Fan continued to remain in the corner like an invisible man.

It was not until five days later, when the Blood Talisman Gathering had completely ended and the flying boat carried Lin Fan back to Blackwood Cliff, that he left.

Zhao Wang had already been waiting there. When he saw Lin Fan, a strange look appeared on his face. He suddenly said, "Junior Brother Lin, I heard that you spaced out at the Blood Talisman Gathering and were reprimanded by Master Ruan?"

Lin Fan was stunned. He smiled bitterly and said, "Master Ruan's attainments in talismans are profound. I truly couldn't understand..."

"I understand. After all, it was simply too difficult for you." Zhao Wang did not blame him. Instead, he patted Lin Fan's shoulder sympathetically.

Lin Fan asked curiously, "Speaking of which, Senior Brother, how did you learn about this?"

"Of course I know. By now, the whole of Blackwood Cliff has heard about it. Master Ruan reprimanded only you at the Blood Talisman Gathering."

Zhao Wang spread his hands as he spoke.

Lin Fan had truly become famous this time, though his reputation was rather awful.

"Don't say your senior brother didn't warn you. You'd better go apologize to Senior Brother Shi."

"After all, you aren't the one who lost the most face in this matter. It's Senior Brother Shi, who strongly recommended that you attend the Blood Talisman Gathering."

Lin Fan's thoughts churned, and he quickly realized what had happened.

Yun Peng and Wang Zhaofeng were both competing for Master Ruan's inheritance. They instinctively rejected and looked down on this Blackwood Cliff disciple who had come from the menial ranks. The reason the matter had spread so quickly was probably because the two of them had embellished it and fanned the flames.

Once the news spread, Lin Fan was completely eliminated from consideration, while Blackwood Cliff had lost all face.

It was an unavoidable matter. Who could blame him when he had neither background nor strength?

"Pretty despicable."

Lin Fan secretly sighed before immediately going to pay his respects to Shi Tao.

Shi Tao, wearing the Golden Mask, cast Lin Fan a cold glance and demanded, "Lin Fan, do you know your mistake?"

"This junior failed to perform well at the Blood Talisman Gathering and instead made Blackwood Cliff lose face. This junior knows his mistake."

Lin Fan lowered his head as he spoke.

Shi Tao was silent for a moment before suddenly saying coldly, "Actually, you did nothing wrong."

"The ones at fault were Yun Peng and Wang Zhaofeng. To seize Master Ruan's inheritance, they could not tolerate any other variable."

"In their eyes, you were nothing more than an ant they could crush at will. Even if Master Ruan had not reprimanded you, they would have fabricated something else to disgust you."

"Do you know why they dared to toy with you and look down on you like this?"

Lin Fan: ...

Shi Tao continued, "Because you have neither strength nor background. Anyone can manipulate you. They can not only trample you a few times, but even take your life whenever they please."

Lin Fan lowered his head in silence, but countless thoughts arose in his mind. It seemed that Senior Brother Shi was deliberately provoking him.

His thoughts turned. As if he had realized something, he suddenly spoke indignantly, "If Senior Brother doesn't dislike me, then from now on, I, Lin Fan, am your man."

Shi Tao's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "You truly are a clever man."

"Rest assured. Since you have chosen to stand on my side, there will be few people who dare to manipulate you at will from now on."

He threw back his head and laughed, his tone filled with boundless arrogance.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Lin Fan spoke gratefully.

"You may leave."

Shi Tao waved his hand, indicating that Lin Fan could go.

After walking out of Shi Tao's cave dwelling, a gust of cold wind swept over him, and only then did Lin Fan realize that his back had already been soaked through with sweat.

"Senior Brother Shi has great ambitions."

Lin Fan thought to himself.

From what Shi Tao had just said, he clearly did not fear the likes of Yun Peng and Wang Zhaofeng. Recalling how Shi Tao had sent him to attend the Blood Talisman Gathering, it seemed that this Senior Brother Shi truly had tremendous influence.

An Inner Disciple's authority was limited. If Lin Fan's guess was correct, there had to be some major figure behind Shi Tao—perhaps an elder, or perhaps a Peak Master above the elders.

"Being a Formal Disciple isn't so easy."

Lin Fan shook his head. It seemed he had been dragged into some factional struggle.

If not for the Bone-Gnawing Pill preventing him from leaving the sect, he truly wanted to flee as far away as possible.

On the stone wall, a gecko about the size of a palm was quietly watching Lin Fan leave.

The gecko was pitch-black from head to tail, its aura blending into the surroundings. Even if a cultivator stood right beside it, they would be unable to detect it easily without careful probing.

After returning to his cave dwelling, Lin Fan, who had been holding himself back for several days, tormented the two women for most of the night.

Only after the two women had fallen into a deep sleep did Lin Fan rise directly. Then, with a thought, he communicated with the panel.

Would you like to expend forty years of lifespan to pre-emptively advance the Talisman Secret Tome to mastery?

A line of tiny text that only he could see appeared before Lin Fan.

Without hesitation, Lin Fan said, "I agree to the pre-emptive advance."

Soon, deeper insights regarding the "Talisman Secret Tome" rapidly surged into Lin Fan's mind.

A scene emerged. That youth held a brush and drew a talisman, but this time it was completely different from before. What he outlined was not an ordinary Rune Patterns design, but a vivid, blood-red Rune Patterns design.

The moment the Rune Patterns appeared, an intense demonic aura seeped out from the talisman's radiance.

"This is... a Blood Demonic Talisman!"

Lin Fan was startled.

During the days he had stayed at Roaming Cloud Valley, he had seemed muddle-headed on the surface, but in truth, he had gained an extraordinary harvest.

At a glance, he could tell that the ink the youth used had been made by mixing demonic beast blood with Cinnabar. Combined with the vivid Rune Patterns design, it was clearly the creation of a Blood Demonic Talisman.

Lin Fan watched, utterly absorbed. In the end, he unconsciously took out Talisman Paper, mixed some demonic beast blood obtained at the Blood Talisman Gathering with Cinnabar, and began imitating the youth, outlining the design on the paper.

He focused to the extreme. Every stroke he laid down was immensely laborious.

In merely a short while, sweat had already appeared on Lin Fan's forehead. The Internal Breath in his body had also been depleted by half, but he continued to persevere.

After a long time, with the final stroke falling, a Rune Patterns design radiating demonic aura appeared vividly on the paper.

"It's done—the Blood Demonic Rune."

Lin Fan's eyes lit up.

To create a true Blood Demonic Rune, one had to master at least one complete Blood Demonic Rune. Compared with ordinary Rune Patterns designs, even merely outlining a Blood Demonic Rune was several times more difficult.

Lin Fan hurriedly summoned the panel to check the changes in himself.

Name: Lin Fan

Lifespan: 1265

Talent: Pre-emptive Dao Fruit

Realm: Meridian Condensing Realm (Second Grade)

Cultivation Arts: Intermediate Demonic Arts (Initiate), Blood Gathering Art (Minor Mastery), Talisman Secret Tome (Mastery)

"Once the Talisman Secret Tome reaches perfection, I'll be able to create a complete Blood Demon Talisman and become a true Blood Talisman Master."

Lin Fan murmured softly to himself.

Blood Talisman Masters were rare technical specialists within the Demonic Sect. Not only did their status improve, but they also received considerably more resources than ordinary disciples.

Most importantly, Blood Talisman Masters could make Blood Demon Talismans for sale, greatly increasing their extra income.

Though Lin Fan had the panel and the aid of the Pre-emptive Dao Fruit, his most pressing difficulty now was still Contribution Points.

The Contribution Points issued by the sect each month, together with those earned from copying texts every day, were nowhere near enough to cover Lin Fan's expenses.

He needed Contribution Points every month to obtain the antidote for the Bone-Gnawing Pill. He needed Contribution Points to support Zhou Wanqing and Wang Yuyao. He needed Contribution Points to obtain powerful cultivation arts. Contribution Points were needed everywhere.

If he wanted to live comfortably in the Demonic Sect, he could not do without Contribution Points.

Over the following days, Lin Fan continued as before, going to the Hidden Scripture Pavilion Second Floor to copy Rune Patterns designs, then using his free time to make talismans.

From time to time, he revealed some improvement in his talisman skills before Zhao Wang.

Of course, Lin Fan had his own explanation: he had gained some insights at the "Blood Talisman Gathering."

Whether Lin Fan was in his cave dwelling or heading to the Hidden Scripture Pavilion Second Floor, that black gecko followed him like a shadow.

This was no ordinary creature, but a Black Demon Gecko condensed through a Blood Demonic Talisman. It was the work of Master Ruan.

Lin Fan had deliberately concealed his abilities at the Blood Talisman Gathering. He could fool the others, but not Master Ruan's eyes.

Master Ruan had devoted most of his life to talismans. He was also widely experienced and knowledgeable. The first time he saw Lin Fan, he had vaguely sensed that there was something unusual about him.

Earlier, when Lin Fan failed to answer his question, he had assumed that the other was simply slow-witted. But afterward, when he thought about it, if the other truly had been unable to answer, shouldn't his normal reaction have been to feel utterly ashamed?

Yet that youth had merely walked silently to the side amid everyone's laughter. His utter calm was baffling.

Thus, to figure out what was going on, Master Ruan activated a Blood Demonic Talisman of the Black Demon Gecko and secretly monitored Lin Fan's every move.

He had been obsessed with the path of talismans all his life, yet had achieved little in cultivation. With little lifespan remaining, his greatest wish was to find a suitable inheritor.

Inside the cave dwelling, Lin Fan was using the Talisman Brush to outline a design. A Blood Demonic Rune brimming with demonic aura appeared on the pristine Talisman Paper.

Compared with last time, Lin Fan had used only half an hour to outline a complete Blood Demonic Rune this time. He had also expended less Internal Breath, which meant that he had improved once again.

On the stone wall of the cave dwelling, the gecko's eyes suddenly lit up when it saw this.