First-Rank Soul Seizing

As night fell.

The time had come.

Wen Jiu set out his Ranked Talisman Brush, Ranked Yin Ghost Fish Blood Ink, and then took out the gray talisman paper made from Ranked Demonic Beast Hide.

As the Yin Mana flowed slowly onto the talisman paper through the talisman brush, Wen Jiu quickly began to draw the talisman script according to the techniques recorded in the Yin Talisman Record. Since it was his first time, Wen Jiu prioritized stability and slowness.

At the same time, he was experiencing what the old Talisman Master had called "emphasizing intent."

What is "emphasizing intent"?

It is the feeling during the process of drawing the talisman script.

This feeling can only be understood, not explained in words.

During this process of emphasizing intent, Wen Jiu dedicated the vast majority of his mental energy to controlling the output of Yin Mana.

This is "emphasizing method."

And "emphasizing stability."

Because the drawing and formation of talisman script must be done in one continuous flow; any slight hesitation or pause could lead to failure.

A moment later.

The first talisman script was successfully drawn.

Wen Jiu quickly lifted his brush and gasped for air, as he had held his breath to maintain stability.

Seeing that he had taken the first step, Wen Jiu couldn't help but break into a smile.

"It's thanks to using Earth Fiend Yin Energy to temper my body previously that my hands are steady; it's thanks to living two lives that my mental energy is more abundant than ordinary people's; and it's thanks to my Yin Mana having a corrosive effect..."

After a sigh of emotion.

Wen Jiu quickly calmed his breathing, took another deep breath, held it, picked up his brush, and continued to draw the talisman script slowly.

A single Ranked Soul Seizing Talisman is, at its most basic, composed of seventeen talisman scripts of various sizes and forms.

It becomes more difficult with each subsequent script.

So, if he could avoid breathing, he would.

However.

When drawing the third talisman script, Wen Jiu lost focus for a moment, and the output of Yin Mana increased by a tiny bit.

But it was just that tiny bit. Even though Wen Jiu quickly corrected himself, when the third talisman script was completed, it still failed. The Yin Mana was not flowing smoothly, nor could it connect and resonate with the previous two scripts.

"Again!"

Wen Jiu crumpled the failed talisman paper into a ball and threw it behind him. He picked up his brush, held his breath, and began drawing the second one.

However.

For two full hours.

A total of twenty pieces of talisman paper, Wen Jiu did not succeed on a single one. His highest record was drawing up to the sixth talisman script.

Wen Jiu took a deep breath and stopped drawing talismans.

Because of the continuous two hours of intense mental concentration, his head was now starting to ache and feel dizzy.

Thus, Wen Jiu rested for about half an hour.

Until midnight.

When midnight arrived, it was time for the day's settlement.

The experience gained by the Black Zombie in the Dead Corpse Land daily remained unchanged, at 48 points per day. Within seven days, it would reach the Upper Realm.

Ignoring everything else, Wen Jiu's gaze fell on the experience gained from drawing the Soul Seizing Talisman.

[After nightfall, twenty First-Rank Low-grade Soul Seizing Talismans were drawn, but all failed. Panel Experience +1, Soul Seizing Talisman Experience +4]

"One experience point for every five failures."

Wen Jiu was satisfied with this result.

He was afraid of failing and not gaining any experience.

"There are still thirty pieces of talisman paper left. Even if they all fail, I can still gain 6 experience points," Wen Jiu glanced at the gray talisman paper stacked on the table.

After closing the settlement panel, Wen Jiu continued to draw talismans.

As for his work at the Night Patrol Division, Wen Jiu had requested sick leave.

Because he had carefully considered the situation over the past few days. Currently, the stewards and elders of Flying Immortal Peak were all in the Dead Corpse Land searching for something.

If the spies in Flying Immortal Peak were worried that the item would be found and decided to cause trouble, then he, a cultivator at the Qi Refining Second Layer, would be in great danger there.

Therefore, he would rather forgo his salary.

Wen Jiu wanted to stay away from the place of trouble.

In the following few days.

Wen Jiu continued to draw talismans.

Maintaining an efficiency of thirty talismans per night until his mind could no longer bear the prolonged mental strain.

His debt to Wang Nian had reached forty low-grade spirit stones, and honestly, Wen Jiu felt too embarrassed to borrow more.

But Wang Nian proactively asked Wen Jiu if he needed any.

It was also during the day on this particular day.

Wen Jiu had not yet recovered from the excessive mental strain when Liu Xiao suddenly appeared at his doorstep.

He happened to run into Wang Nian, who was bringing bone broth to nourish Wen Jiu. "Brother Wen, hurry up and get out of bed for some soup. Your sister-in-law simmered these large bones for ten hours..."

Liu Xiao glanced at the soup basin in Wang Nian's hand, then at Wang Nian's solicitous demeanor, and frowned. He quickly asked, "Fellow Daoist Wang, has this kid Wen Jiu been consumed by yin energy?"

"No, he's perfectly fine."

Wang Nian freed a hand to knock on the door.

Liu Xiao grew more confused. "Then him?"

A steward bringing food to a probationary disciple.

Was that reasonable?

Let alone never having seen it, he had never even heard of such a thing.

However, Wang Nian said nothing and just smiled.

Soon, Wen Jiu got up and opened the door. After bowing to the two men, he thanked them while taking the soup basin from Wang Nian.

"It's good that you're alright," Liu Xiao said, looking Wen Jiu up and down. He had been worried that Wen Jiu might have absorbed too much yin energy while cultivating the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Art. Now that Wen Jiu seemed fine, he was relieved.

Liu Xiao changed the subject. "Steward Mu asked me to pass on a message: Li Ye has been assigned to Lian Wu Mountain."

"Lian Wu Mountain?"

"It's a small mountain about fifty li from Flying Immortal Peak. There's a rogue cultivator market on the mountain, and Flying Immortal Peak has some businesses there. He'll be the steward there from now on. As for when he can return... definitely not within three years."

Three years.

That was the absolute limit.

After all, Li Ye still had a master who was a steward of a Talisman Room.

Liu Xiao continued, "After three years, when Li Ye returns, how you handle it will be up to you. Remember what Steward Mu told you!"

"Thank you, Brother Liu!"

Wen Jiu quickly bowed and expressed his gratitude.

"Steward Mu asked me to remind you that if you are cultivating yin arts, do not rush. The Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Art can cause significant harm to the body."

"Do not ruin your future for a moment of pleasure."

With that said.

Before Wen Jiu could even nod, Liu Xiao swiftly took his sword and departed, appearing to be in a great hurry.

The direction he went.

Was precisely towards the Dead Corpse Land.

As soon as Liu Xiao left, Wang Nian eagerly urged Wen Jiu to taste the soup. "Hurry and try it. Your sister-in-law specifically simmered it for you."

"Thank you, Brother Wang, thank you, sister-in-law."

Wen Jiu quickly expressed his thanks.

But in his heart, he was thinking about the situation at the Dead Corpse Land.

Because Wang Nian had told him yesterday that, besides himself, all the other Corpse Buriers had been thoroughly interrogated again.

And today, Liu Xiao had left in such a hurry.

What was going on?

Abruptly.

Wang Nian's words interrupted Wen Jiu's thoughts. "Brother Wen, do you have enough talismans?"

"Yes, yes, I have enough."

Wen Jiu nodded quickly.

He gave a helpless smile.

Because Wang Nian had directly bought him a hundred yesterday.

A few more days passed in the blink of an eye.

On this night.

After the experience for the Soul Seizing Talisman reached thirty-five, and following one hundred and seventy-five consecutive failures, Wen Jiu finally succeeded in drawing his first ranked Soul Seizing Talisman.

Even though it was just the most basic First-Rank Low-grade Soul Seizing Talisman, barely enough to kill someone at Qi Refining Second Layer, it was a pleasant surprise for Wen Jiu.

Because Wang Nian had once said that the most talented First-Rank Talisman Master on Flying Immortal Peak had spent five years.

And him...

In just seven days, he had covered the distance others took five, even ten years to travel.

Next, Wen Jiu drew five more.

Four failed.

One succeeded.

A success rate of twenty percent wasn't very high, but during the daily settlement, each successful Ranked Soul Seizing Talisman gave 5 experience points.

Currently, the experience for Soul Seizing Talismans had reached 40 points for Minor Accomplishment, meaning he only needed to successfully draw 32 more to reach Major Accomplishment.

After Major Accomplishment, the success rate would definitely increase significantly.

The quality of the Soul Seizing Talismans would inevitably improve as well.

By then...

He would have new foundations.

When facing enemies, if someone wanted to capture the leader first, he could just unleash ten or so Soul Seizing Talismans.

What about Li Ye?

What about Qi Refining Third Layer?

They would surely die.

Even a Steward wouldn't be something he feared!

It would just mean throwing a few more.

"However, the news that I can draw Soul Seizing Talismans cannot get out. Becoming a Ranked Talisman Master so quickly might not necessarily be a good thing." While showcasing was fine, showing too much would be counterproductive.

After some thought, Wen Jiu decided to keep it a secret.

As for the talisman paper...

Wen Jiu decided to rely on borrowing in the future.

But he wouldn't need to borrow that much. He would primarily borrow Spirit Stones to create a false impression. After the Black Zombies reached the Upper Realm and the matter of Dead Corpse Land passed, he would then show Wang Nian and Mu Canglong the results of his being a First-Rank Yin Talisman Master.

In the meantime, he needed to grind more experience.

Show three.

Hide seven.

[Thanks to MISS丶枫叶 and "You know who I am not" for the 500 Qidian coins!]