Heartily Convinced

Soon, further insights regarding the Talisman Secret Manual surged into Lin Fan's mind.

The scene surfaced once more. A youth who looked much like Lin Fan was holding a Talisman Brush and crafting a talisman.

The youth's expression was focused, his strokes steady and powerful, as though he had entered a state of complete self-forgetfulness.

The ink was vivid. A complicated Blood Demonic Rune slowly took shape, and amid its indistinct flickering, the phantom image of a Two-Headed Bird emerged. Yet it lasted for only one breath before vanishing without a trace.

Lin Fan was startled. "It's the Blood Demonic Rune of a Two-Headed Bird."

Back at the Blood Talisman Gathering, he had observed this demonic beast from close range. Although its rank was not high, its baleful aura was exceptionally dense.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately took out his Talisman Brush and swiftly spread out a sheet of Talisman Paper.

Following the youth's movements and combining them with the insights in his mind, Lin Fan focused his mind and calmed his breath before beginning to write.

His movements were very slow. He did not dare show the slightest negligence. The stronger the Blood Demonic Rune one wished to outline, the more mental effort it required.

After a long while, beads of sweat appeared on Lin Fan's forehead. At that moment, the Blood Demonic Rune gradually took shape as well.

With the final stroke, a complete Two-Headed Bird Blood Demonic Rune appeared, radiating an astonishingly fierce baleful aura.

A smile spread across Lin Fan's face. He immediately summoned the panel and examined the changes within himself.

Name: Lin Fan

Lifespan: 1461

Talent: Pre-emptive Dao Fruit

Realm: Meridian Condensing Realm (Fifth Grade)

Cultivation Methods: Advanced Demonic Arts (Mastery), Blood Gathering Art (Perfection), Talisman Secret Manual (Proficient), Sword Control Technique (Beginner), Houtian Gang Qi (Beginner)

"Sure enough, my attainments in talisman crafting have advanced another step."

"Previously, I obtained the blood of a Two-Headed Bird at the Blood Talisman Gathering. Now that I've mastered its Blood Demonic Rune, I can try making a genuine Two-Headed Bird Blood Demonic Talisman."

A sharp glint shone in Lin Fan's eyes.

He took out a jade bottle containing demonic beast blood and quickly mixed it with Cinnabar.

An hour later, a blood-red talisman took shape. The baleful aura it emitted was several times stronger than that of the Snow Demon Wolf Talisman.

Lin Fan examined the Blood Demonic Talisman with a smile and said, "This is my first time making a Two-Headed Bird Blood Demonic Talisman, so I'm still not very practiced or thorough. However, judging by its power, it's already enough to rival a third-grade demonic beast in the Spirit Opening Realm."

"Once my skills become more refined in the future, I might even be able to perfectly reproduce a Blood Demonic Talisman with the combat strength of the Two-Headed Bird's true body."

The power of a Blood Demonic Talisman primarily came from the skill of the Blood Talisman Master and the Talisman Materials.

Lin Fan had only just mastered the Blood Demonic Rune of the Two-Headed Bird, so he was still unfamiliar with and imperfect at it. However, as time passed, the Blood Demonic Talismans he produced would grow stronger and stronger.

That was also what made Blood Talisman Masters so terrifying. If they were given enough time to grow, the Blood Demonic Talismans they produced in the future might even become more powerful than the demonic beasts' true bodies.

Lin Fan put away the talisman and materials, then took out another cloth bag. It was the one left behind by the cultivator he had killed not long before.

He inspected the cloth bag. Inside were more than a thousand taels of silver, a Golden Silk Treasure Armor, and a cultivation method called the Coiling Dragon Saber.

The Golden Silk Treasure Armor could only withstand the blades and swords of martial artists. It could not block a cultivator's attacks. Lin Fan merely glanced at it before setting it aside.

He then examined that saber technique, but after looking at it for quite some time, he still shook his head. Whether in power or usefulness, it was inferior to the several cultivation methods he currently possessed and was little better than a tasteless relic.

That was normal, though. The other party had only been an unaffiliated cultivator and did not possess any decent treasures.

At that moment, a knock suddenly came from outside.

"Come in."

Lin Fan still wore his bamboo hat as he spoke coldly.

Mo Xue entered in a white dress, her complexion looking exceptionally good.

In only a few short days, the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion had wiped out the other two major forces of the martial world and become the strongest force in all of Ask Heaven City.

Everything had relied on this man called "Peerless."

"Thank you. Not only did you help me avenge myself, you also led the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion to entirely new heights." Mo Xue came behind Lin Fan, opened her fair and slender arms, and gently embraced the man's broad shoulders.

"If I'm not mistaken, the medicine's effects wore off several days ago," Lin Fan said.

"Of course they're gone."

"But I know you aren't an ordinary person. You have your own goals, and I have mine as well."

"So, for the sake of our respective goals, you and I still need to maintain a close relationship."

As she spoke, Mo Xue's pretty face flushed, but her little hands began undressing Lin Fan.

The woman who now controlled the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion, the aloof and mighty strongwoman in the eyes of the world, was at this moment like a shy young maiden, beginning to serve the lover she admired.

Her gauzy dress slipped to the ground. Under the candlelight, that expanse of pure, delicate whiteness appeared incomparably beautiful.

Lin Fan did not refuse, knowing what she was thinking.

He lifted the woman in front of him horizontally in his arms and walked step by step toward the depths of the Ancient Scripture Library.

The night deepened, and soft moans gradually rose.

More than half a year later.

It was already early summer.

Several figures in sword robes abruptly appeared in Ask Heaven City.

Not long afterward, two men stepped onto the territory of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion.

One was dignified and handsome—the martial artist under the command of the King of Linzi. The other wore a sword robe and had an indifferent expression; he was a cultivator from the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect.

Mo Xue wore white and sat upright in a grand chair. Her bearing was elegant and noble, like an untouchable queen.

Beside Mo Xue stood a man in a bamboo hat. Apart from him, several female martial artists with sharp gazes and heroic bearing stood nearby.

"Lady Mo, I am an envoy of the King of Linzi."

"This is an immortal elder of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect."

The martial artist spoke first.

"An envoy of the King of Linzi? A cultivator from the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect?"

Mo Xue was startled, but remained incomparably calm on the surface.

She glanced at the two men and said, "You two have come from far away. May I ask what brings you here?"

The envoy of the King of Linzi smiled and stepped forward. "I've heard that the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion is now the largest martial-world force in Ask Heaven City. We also learned that a powerful swordsman is stationed at your side, so we greatly admire him and came especially to pay a visit."

"Another reason is that we wish to have the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion investigate whether any unusual cultivators have appeared in Ask Heaven City over the past half year."

"Suspicious cultivators?"

Mo Xue's beautiful eyes shifted slightly.

"Indeed. They appeared within the past half year and particularly enjoy engaging in Dual Cultivation with others to absorb women's yin essence."

The sword-robed man added, "The Flowing Cloud Sword Sect is searching for disciples of the Blood Demon Sect."

Lin Fan knew their purpose.

But he was entirely unafraid. Beneath the bamboo hat, his face had already been disguised as that of a scarred man, while the fluctuations of his cultivation were perfectly concealed.

Not to mention one disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect—even if a hundred disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect stood before him, it would still be very difficult for them to detect anything amiss.

"Of course, his methods are also extremely unorthodox."

"He even starts killing at the slightest disagreement."

The sword-robed man continued describing the suspect.

Mo Xue gave a signal with her eyes, and a female martial artist quickly stepped forward.

She lowered her head and gave a few instructions. The female martial artist immediately went to the storeroom to gather the records.

Ask Heaven City was still in extraordinary chaos. The King of Linzi's army had recently reached the city walls, but the army of the Usurper Emperor of Great Jin had no intention of abandoning the city either. The two sides had already fought several battles outside the city.

There was no government office inside the city to maintain order, but whenever anything major happened, the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion recorded it.

Soon, the female martial artist returned with a stack of records.

The envoy of the King of Linzi and the sword-robed man began examining the records. Yet after half an hour, neither of them had discovered anything suspicious.

At that moment, the sword-robed man suddenly raised his head and shifted his gaze toward Lin Fan.

"I've heard that there is a Hat Swordsman in the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion whose swordsmanship has reached divine perfection."

"I'd like to seek his instruction."

Mo Xue's brows knitted. She had just wanted to speak and stop him, but a voice interrupted her.

"I've long heard that the cultivators of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect possess celestial arts that reach the heavens. I've admired you for a long time as well. If I could receive your guidance, it would naturally be my honor."

Peerless, with his bamboo hat on, spoke.

The sword-robed man and the envoy of the King of Linzi exchanged a glance. The former then stepped forward and said, "Please."

Peerless, with Lin Fan disguised as him, did not waste words. He directly swept out with a sword.

The Sword Qi was fierce and ruthless, like a startled swan streaking through the sky as it stabbed straight toward the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect cultivator's face.

The sword-robed man's eyes lit up, but he soon shook his head and said, "The strength is considerable, and the momentum isn't bad either. Unfortunately, in the end, it's merely mortal..."

He suddenly raised his hand. A cold gleam knocked Peerless's Treasure Sword flying, and immediately afterward, a flying sword pressed against Peerless's chest.

One move, complete suppression!

"The immortal elder is indeed formidable. I'm thoroughly convinced."

Peerless cupped his fists and said.

"Mm."

The sword-robed man formed a hand seal. The flying sword turned around and returned to its scabbard.

He shook his head at the envoy of the King of Linzi. The two men then no longer lingered and left the territory of the Sacred Dragon Book Pavilion directly.

Several days later.

A basement suddenly exploded open, revealing the corpses of several young girls inside.

A Man in Black shot up at top speed, intending to flee the area immediately.

However, before he had gone very far, a flying sword came rushing straight toward him.

The Man in Black hurriedly circulated his Internal Breath. A surge of pure black energy emerged, but it held out for only a moment before the flying sword pierced straight through him and nailed him to the ground.

"Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, you're bullying people too far..."

"I've hidden all the way out here, yet you still refuse to let me go!"

The Man in Black was extraordinarily defiant, letting out a hoarse, desperate roar.

"Good and evil cannot coexist. A spawn of the demonic sect must die!"

A sword-robed man shouted coldly. The flying sword suddenly hacked down, splitting the Man in Black in two.

When Lin Fan learned of the news, even he was stunned for a moment.

He had not expected that, besides himself, the Blood Demon Sect still had other disciples lying low in Ask Heaven City.

Unfortunately, the other party did not possess methods like his and had failed to escape the pursuit of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect's disciples.

"The disciples of the demonic sect really have it rough. Within the sect, they can be killed if they make even the slightest mistake. Outside the sect, even if they lie low, they're still hunted by the righteous path."

Lin Fan sighed inwardly, but he also became increasingly cautious.

The disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect had been continuously hunting down disciples of the demonic sect. If his identity were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.