"Take it. You don't need to worry about the rest. Your martial uncle has roamed the martial world for decades. Before I had this talisman, I relied on myself to make it through."
With that, he stuffed it into my hand. I knew there was no way I could refuse it.
So I accepted the little wooden box. Martial Uncle told me to put it into my small space, and I did as he said.
"Unless you are at death's door, you are not allowed to use the things in your small space.
"Otherwise, you will invite a fatal disaster. With your current abilities, you cannot keep those things safe," Martial Uncle said sternly.
"Alright, I'll remember. I won't use them unless I'm at death's door."
Martial Uncle smiled and nodded at me. "Let's go. Go back and take him in. Then it'll be time for us to do what we need to do."
And so, Martial Uncle and I returned to where we had first arrived.
Martial Uncle walked over and stood before the man, glancing at the man's Natal Origin Energy.
"Well? Have you made up your mind? I'm getting sleepy," the man said with a yawn.
Martial Uncle gave me a look, and I understood immediately.
"Fine, I agree. Give me your Natal Origin Energy."
I held out my hand. Martial Uncle watched the man's expression, while the man placed it in my hand without the slightest hesitation.
Only then did Martial Uncle relax. He told me to be careful and put it into my small space.
If he tried to harm me, I only needed to crush his "Natal Origin Energy."
The man remained calm, as though none of this had anything to do with him.
He dared hand his life and death over to someone else. This man really had nerves of steel.
After putting the man's Natal Origin Energy into my small space, I said to him, "Come in."
The man nodded, transforming into a wisp of white smoke and entering the Yin Gathering Token.
Suddenly, waves of laughter came from within the Yin Gathering Token. "Hahahaha, what a wonderful place! This deal was truly worth it.
"Now I can finally have a good sleep." Before long, there was no more movement inside. He had probably fallen asleep.
With everything settled, we left the underground space.
Before leaving, Martial Uncle scattered a handful of some unknown medicinal powder, saying it was to prevent living people from coming in and causing damage.
Nangong Yiyi also released two streams of energy toward the two corpses on the ground. The corpses suddenly rose and walked toward where the stone coffin had sunk.
Then they burrowed into the earth and buried themselves. They were directly above Qianqian's corpse, though not very deeply.
"Now we can rest easy. I guarantee they'll come but never return," Nangong Yiyi said.
Then our group left the underground space, and Martial Uncle reinforced the seal once more.
He simply struck two streams of Spiritual Energy into the seal. Once everything was done, we came out.
Our group stood on the back mountain. The breeze brushing against us left us refreshed and clear-headed, while Martial Uncle's hair was a mess.
His white and black hair intertwined, swaying gently in the wind.
It was time to part ways, I thought.
"Girl, people's hearts are treacherous in this world. Though you are a Ghost King, don't wander around carelessly most of the time.
"Because A-Tong's cultivation is not high enough yet. If you appear rashly, you will only bring him an undeserved disaster.
"There are still many experts in this world. You must know that there is always someone stronger beyond the strongest, and two fists cannot defeat four hands," Martial Uncle said to Nangong Yiyi.
"Don't worry, I know all that. I'll only act when little brother is no match for them," Nangong Yiyi replied.
Martial Uncle nodded at that, then looked at me and said:
"Don't act rashly. When you take one step, look three steps ahead. Put survival first in all things, and never try to show off your strength.
"Also, don't be the bird that sticks its head out first. A tall tree catches the wind. You carry great treasures, so you must understand the words 'hide your edge.' Do you understand?"
I told Martial Uncle that I understood, then asked when we would meet again.
Martial Uncle said that we would naturally meet again when the time came. This world was vast, yet also small.
I knelt and kowtowed to Martial Uncle three times. Leaving aside the debt of gratitude for his teachings alone, which I could never repay, he had saved my life time and again.
Qianqian also stepped forward and bowed. Martial Uncle looked at us and nodded faintly.
Then he strode down the mountain. I watched his departing back in silence for a long time.
I stood there blankly on the back mountain, memories flashing through my mind: Martial Uncle's slovenly appearance when I first arrived at the little wooden hut.
The scenes in the underground space beneath the back mountain, the immensely powerful Bamboo Kill, and his patient, earnest teachings during cultivation.
The talisman he gave me before leaving, along with his warnings.
For a moment, a hundred feelings welled up within me.
"Let's go. It's getting late. Time to set off," Nangong Yiyi said.
I nodded and had Qianqian enter the Yin Gathering Token. Since it was daytime, Qianqian did as I said.
Nangong Yiyi was unaffected, and we made our way down the mountain.
When we reached the village, Nangong Yiyi paused and said she sensed several fish that had slipped through the net.
I carefully examined the surroundings. Sure enough, there was a faint trace of Yin energy, though it was very weak.
"Big Sister, how about we stay in the village tonight and deal with these things?
"Otherwise, after we leave, who knows what might happen.
"They may be weak, but if they keep staying here and eventually cause deaths, that would be bad," I said to Nangong Yiyi.
"Alright, we'll do as you say. But the Yang energy is too strong during the day.
"These things probably won't come out. Let's find somewhere to settle down first," Nangong Yiyi replied.
Then I wound my way through the village, turning here and there, until I finally arrived at my home.
I went inside and found some firewood, then lit a fire where Martial Uncle and I had rested before.
I found a clean spot to sit down, took out several pieces of dried rations, and handed one to Nangong Yiyi. We ate while waiting for nightfall.
Suddenly, Nangong Yiyi spoke leisurely. "Little brother, what is your current cultivation?"
"Probably the Seeking the Way mid-stage. Why?"
"How far has your control over your attribute come? Release it and let me see," Nangong Yiyi asked.
I raised my right hand, and a mass of lightning coiled around my palm. Seeing this, Nangong Yiyi said,
"Have you ever considered attacking enemies from a long distance?"
"I haven't tried. I always circulate my cultivation to my palms or limbs, then fight at close range."
"Mm. Try gathering the lightning in your hand.
"Compress it into a ball, or directly extend the electric arc and see how far it can reach."
Following Nangong Yiyi's instructions, I gave it a try. In the end, the electric arc only extended less than half a meter.
I sighed, then tried gathering the lightning in my palm again.
At first, it was the size of a peanut. Later, it grew to the size of a ping-pong ball. I wanted to keep increasing my Spiritual Energy.
But no matter how much I increased it, the lightning in my hand remained the size of a ping-pong ball.
With no other choice, I threw the gathered lightning ball at the wall. There was barely any sound.
After it was over, I went over and saw a patch of spiderweb-like cracks on the wall. They were not very large, nor were they deep.
"Big Sister, this doesn't have much power at all. It's not even as useful as a talisman," I said dejectedly.
Nangong Yiyi pursed her lips in a smile. "It's already enough to deal with those low-level things, and it can save you a talisman.
"Even the lowest-grade talismans require a price to make, but this lightning ball of yours seems to need only a tiny amount of Spiritual Energy."
Thinking about it, I realized she was right. I nodded and said nothing.
Then I remembered that I did not have many talismans left either. I had used up too many during this period and had not had time to replenish them.
At once, I took out a brush, cinnabar, and yellow paper, then began drawing talismans.
Before you continue