Dead Corpse Land Lockdown

After leaving Flying Immortal Peak, Wen Jiu headed straight for Dead Corpse Land. He used an excuse, claiming to have found a corpse emitting extremely heavy Yin energy, and requested a cart.

After digging out the corpse, Wen Jiu went directly to the center of Dead Corpse Land. He found a pile of corpses with truly potent Yin energy and piled them on top of his own before heading to the distant green mountains, a burial ground.

Of course.

Wen Jiu didn't take the talismans.

He still had them conceal the corpse's aura.

The Corpse Burialers didn't think much of it either. Upon seeing the extremely Yin-heavy corpse on Wen Jiu's cart, they quickly thanked him.

After all, Wen Jiu was no longer one of them.

Yet, he was still willing to help clear out the heavily Yin-infused corpses, which was undoubtedly a tremendous help to them.

If they were to move such corpses themselves now, they'd have a nine out of ten chance of Yin energy entering their bodies, leaving them bedridden for half a month.

After burying the corpse, Wen Jiu, as usual, searched for Yin Souls within Dead Corpse Land until dusk.

To Wen Jiu's surprise, just as he was preparing to leave, Liu Xiao arrived with twenty to thirty disciples from the Night Patrol Division.

Of course.

They weren't coming for him.

They were coming for Dead Corpse Land!

In addition, there were disciples from the Monster Slaying Division and the Demon Suppressing Division, bringing the total to around a hundred people.

Upon their arrival, the hundred-plus individuals immediately granted the Corpse Burialers an extended leave and sealed off Dead Corpse Land.

From this day forward, free entry and exit from Dead Corpse Land would be prohibited!

Hearing this, Wen Jiu's expression changed.

Good thing I moved the corpse today. Otherwise, it might really have been dug up. After all, they weren't like those spies who wouldn't dare make any major moves.

But the people from the Night Patrol Division, Monster Slaying Division, and Demon Suppressing Division, they wouldn't hesitate to turn over every inch of soil in Dead Corpse Land.

However, even though the corpse was moved.

How would he obtain Corpse Qi and Yin energy in the future?

Forget it, it's good enough that I managed to save the corpse. I'll think of other ways for my cultivation.

Wen Jiu comforted himself inwardly.

But his expression remained grim.

Seeing this, Liu Xiao quickly asked, "What's wrong, kid?"

Wen Jiu hastily probed, "Brother Liu, I'm a Corpse Nurturer. Dead Corpse Land is sealed off now, what should I do about my future cultivation? And my Black Zombie."

"The order to seal it was given by the Peak Master. Night Patrol Division disciples can no longer enter... However, regarding your Black Zombie, you can bury it inside to nurture it. Take me to mark its spot, and I'll relay it to Steward Mu. As long as nothing is dug up beneath the Black Zombie, I'll help keep an eye on it."

"Thank you, Brother Liu."

Upon hearing it was the Peak Master's order, Wen Jiu quickly offered his thanks and didn't press further.

As for cultivation, even though people couldn't enter to search for Yin Souls, the Black Zombie could be kept inside to cultivate, which wouldn't delay its progress towards the Upper Realm. That was acceptable.

If necessary, he could also remotely communicate with and control the Black Zombie to find Yin Souls on its own.

However, Wen Jiu estimated this was unlikely. After all, Dead Corpse Land had become a heavily restricted area; how could a Black Zombie be allowed to roam freely?

Over the next few days.

Wen Jiu could only spend his days at home drawing Soul Seizing Talismans.

However, during his night patrols, Wen Jiu quietly observed Dead Corpse Land for a period and noticed that only those above the rank of manager were entering and exiting.

There were stewards.

He even saw a Flying Immortal Peak elder at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation.

And the Black Zombie, under Liu Xiao's care, was indeed buried there safely, only being dug out and inspected at the very beginning.

But judging by the situation, Dead Corpse Land would not be reopened anytime soon.

With no other choice, Wen Jiu could only diligently practice the Yin Talisman technique. Since he couldn't cultivate there or obtain Corpse Qi and Death Qi, he might as well focus on improving his progress in the Yin Talisman technique, as he would have to study it in the future anyway.

For three consecutive days, Wen Jiu spent five hours drawing talismans each day, pushing himself to the limit. He also borrowed six Low-grade Spirit Stones from Wang Nian.

With smooth progress and daily experience gains, in three days, Wen Jiu maxed out the entry-level experience for the Yin Talisman technique.

And successfully advanced to Minor Accomplishment.

[Soul Seizing Talisman (Minor Accomplishment 0/200)]

Upon reaching Minor Accomplishment for the Soul Seizing Talisman, Wen Jiu could already achieve a 100% success rate when drawing non-ranked Soul Seizing Talismans.

Ten consecutive talismans.

Wen Jiu succeeded with all of them.

But the Soul Seizing Talismans that didn't meet the rank couldn't increase experience after the minor completion—obviously, only those that met the rank would work.

"Fine, I'll have to borrow spirit stones from Wang Nian again," Wen Jiu couldn't help but sigh. His debt of spirit stones was just getting bigger and bigger.

Including the silver he owed before, it was now almost eleven low-grade spirit stones.

If he were to pay it back with his salary from the Night Patrol Division, he'd have to go half a year without eating or drinking.

"I'll borrow some more, and I'll sell the ones that don't meet the rank at the market. That should help me recover a little."

Wen Jiu immediately went out.

He headed straight for Wang Nian's house.

As soon as the door opened, Wang Nian asked, "You've been cooped up at home lately, what have you been up to?"

"Drawing talismans."

Wen Jiu replied.

Then, as he looked into the inner courtyard, he noticed that the stone table in Wang Nian's small yard was also covered in talisman paper.

But most of them were ruined.

Seeing this, Wang Nian quickly ran over to collect the discarded talisman paper, fearing Wen Jiu would see them. He then chuckled awkwardly, "I'm trying to break through to become a Rank 1 Talisman Master, so I've had a lot of failures."

If Wen Jiu knew that he was drawing talismans that didn't meet the rank, and only succeeded once out of thirty attempts.

Wouldn't he be mortified?

Wen Jiu smiled helplessly.

A talisman brush that didn't meet the rank. Monster blood ink that didn't meet the rank. Was this the setup for drawing talismans that met the rank?

However, Wen Jiu saw through it but didn't say anything, simply offering his support, "As expected of Brother Wang!"

Wang Nian chuckled awkwardly and changed the subject, "What brings you here today?"

"Borrowing spirit stones."

"Why are you borrowing again... It's not that I won't lend them to you, don't misunderstand... I'm just curious, why are you so short on spirit stones? What did you buy this time?" Wang Nian quickly asked his wife, who was tidying up the mess on the stone table, to get a storage bag.

Wen Jiu said directly, "I want to try drawing the low-rank Rank 1 Soul Seizing Talisman."

"Brother Wen, I can lend you spirit stones, whether you return them or not doesn't matter. But there's something I want to remind you of: don't be too hasty. The cost of a low-rank Rank 1 Yin Talisman isn't low. Ten attempts will cost one low-grade spirit stone... Try again after your success rate for drawing talismans that don't meet the rank exceeds fifty percent, otherwise, it's too much of a loss."

Wang Nian took the storage bag from his wife and was about to take out spirit stones when he subconsciously asked, "What's your current success rate?"

"One hundred percent."

Wen Jiu finished speaking.

Wang Nian froze.

His hand, which was reaching for spirit stones, stopped abruptly.

He then swallowed hard, unsure of what to say for a moment.

"One hundred percent..." Wang Nian murmured, then directly took out twenty to thirty low-grade spirit stones from the storage bag and began to meticulously calculate the cost of a Rank 1 talisman brush and other items for Wen Jiu.

In the end, he realized it wasn't enough and took out another five, totaling exactly thirty low-grade spirit stones.

"You're a monster, kid, one hundred percent... If you were drawing Yang Talismans, the old guys in the Talisman Room would be trampling your doorstep," Wang Nian sighed, then thought of his own talent for drawing talismans.

He felt like crying without tears.

"Thank you, Brother Wang."

Wen Jiu put away the spirit stones and bowed gratefully. To be honest, owing so many spirit stones at once made him feel truly uneasy. Fortunately, if he could draw a Rank 1 Soul Seizing Talisman, he could earn spirit stones to pay off his debt.

"You're welcome, we're friends... Forget it, I'll take you to buy a talisman brush. We'll go to the old Talisman Master again. I can bargain there, and he'll just call me shameless a few times."

Wang Nian chuckled and took Wen Jiu to the trading market.

After buying the talisman brush and other items, Wang Nian also asked the old Talisman Master about the key points for drawing Rank 1 talismans.

The old Talisman Master only said one sentence.

But it benefited Wen Jiu greatly.

Focus on intent, focus on method, focus on stability, but not on form!

In other words, the talisman patterns have a form, but it's not fixed. Some deviations are acceptable, and in fact, many deviations are fine.

This might be the difference between cursive and regular script.

For those who are skilled. Whether it's regular script or cursive, the character is still the same character. The meaning of the character doesn't change just because the form changes from regular script to cursive.

After returning home.

Wen Jiu didn't rush to draw the Soul Seizing Talisman.

The Soul Seizing Talisman, which is not ranked, has less stringent requirements, but a ranked Soul Seizing Talisman can only be made after midnight.

If drawn during the day.

It's estimated that not even one could be successfully made.

"If I can successfully draw a Rank 1 Soul Seizing Talisman, I'll have a new foundation. Whether I sell it or keep it, it'll be excellent... I can also try to show it to Steward Mu. Wang Nian wouldn't lie to me; there's a very high chance of a pleasant surprise!"