Better yet, Xu Yi found that he genuinely enjoyed this kind of textual puzzle-solving. Deciphering the secrets of a Talisman Pattern felt just like making his way through a maze, and the sensation was indescribably wonderful.
He even found himself reminiscing about how he had felt when learning the Return to Origin Steps and the Hidden Edge Style. It seemed that the sense of accomplishment he'd gained from first glimpsing the mysteries of mathematics had carried over to deciphering fire-element Talisman Patterns.
This sense of accomplishment might seem useless, but it was actually immensely valuable.
The reasoning was simple. It was often difficult to persevere at something tedious that took a long time.
But if that tedious, long-term endeavor could keep bringing one a steady stream of accomplishments, then one would naturally delight in it. One might not even find it tedious—instead, one would take pleasure in the process.
Xu Yi lay prone on the ground, his eyelids heavy as mountains. Gradually, they closed.
He had a wonderful dream. In it, the Talisman Patterns he had deciphered turned into pieces of iron essence that danced in his palm, changing with his every thought.
Suddenly, the pieces of iron essence transformed into a luxurious airplane. With him aboard, it pierced the clouds, crossed through time and space, and flew to Earth—to his hometown...
He slept deeply, and time passed in silence. When Xu Yi awoke again, Old Cai's anxious figure came into view. Outside the warding barrier, Old Cai paced back and forth, frantic with worry.
Xu Yi hurriedly sat up and lowered the warding barrier. Old Cai rushed in and reported, "Master, General Zhou of the Tiger Fang Guard has been waiting for you for quite some time."
"The Tiger Fang Guard? General Zhou? What brings him here?"
Xu Yi