Old Tree Spirit

I've drawn quite a few Sword Talismans, Fire Talismans, Explosion Talismans, and Water Talismans of each type.

However, Water Talismans don't have much power. I tried one, and its power was worse than the lightning ball I threw out earlier.

So, I've decided to draw fewer Water Talismans from now on. I looked into the principle behind Water Talismans.

It's basically about collecting water molecules from the air, compressing them, and then spraying them out. The attack power is very ordinary.

I took out the "Maoshan Talisman Compendium" from my small space and looked through it.

It says that Water Talismans were invented by a Maoshan senior, with the purpose of saving lives when there's no water source available.

But the compressed water stream does have a little bit of power, so it was added to attack-type talismans. That made me understand.

I was stunned. Looking at the "Maoshan Talisman Compendium" in my hand, I thought, It's over.

I forgot to return this book to Martial Uncle. I told Nangong Yiyi about my discovery.

"It's fine. He must have wanted to leave it for you, otherwise he would have taken it back long ago. Someone with his cultivation level wouldn't forget something so important," Nangong Yiyi said.

She continued, "But you can't let anyone outside see this book from now on. Otherwise, it will definitely cause trouble. If I'm not mistaken, this book is very important to Maoshan."

I thought about it and realized she was right. I felt a bit touched by Martial Uncle's actions.

Martial Uncle really cares about me deeply! I thought, then put the book into my small space.

What Nangong Yiyi didn't know was that this book was indeed very important.

However, without Maoshan cultivation methods, it's impossible to draw the talismans within it.

I didn't say anything and continued to draw some Blood Stopping Talismans, Miasma Breaking Talismans, Soul Suppressing Talismans, Corpse Suppressing Talismans, Evil Dispelling Talismans, Soul Scattering Talismans...

Since these talismans aren't used often, their utility is limited. They don't consume much, so I only drew a few.

After finishing everything, I tidied up my tools.

Then, I closed my eyes to recover the spiritual energy I had consumed while drawing talismans. I didn't stop until my body was in its optimal state.

Seeing that it was still early, and estimating that there were still three or four hours until dark, I told Nangong Yiyi that I would sleep for a while and asked her to wake me when it got dark. Nangong Yiyi nodded.

I found a wooden board, threw it on the ground, and fell into a deep sleep. I don't know how long passed...

I felt someone gently push my shoulder. I woke up groggily and saw that the sky had already begun to darken.

"Those little rats have started to move. Even though I'm controlling my aura, they still don't dare to come," Nangong Yiyi said.

"Sister, why don't you go into the Yin gathering token first? I'll deal with these things."

"Oh? You're not scared? I heard from your Martial Uncle that the first time you ran away from the village, you were a snot-nosed, teary mess, and you even wet yourself."

With a flushed face and a weak voice, I retorted to Nangong Yiyi, "Th-that was when I was just starting out. I didn't know anything, so I was a bit pathetic."

Martial Uncle is really something, telling everyone everything. I'm a seven-foot man, don't I have any dignity? I thought.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. I'll go into the Yin gathering token first. If you can't handle it, I'll step in."

I nodded, and Nangong Yiyi entered the Yin gathering token.

I threw some rotten wood into the campfire, took out my dry rations and water, and ate and drank my fill.

Then, I lit a cigarette and waited for those things to appear, crossing my legs.

Compared to before, I should be filled with fear and trembling now.

But comparing my present self to my past self, I realized that people do grow.

Before long, I saw a few ghostly figures appearing and disappearing again.

I sneered inwardly! Still trying these tricks? Times have changed.

Since the night was still long and I was full and satisfied, I wanted to see what they were up to.

I sat there motionlessly, watching them like they were monkeys.

The ghostly figures would sometimes show just their faces, sometimes appear before me with blank expressions, and sometimes let out eerie laughter from elsewhere.

I watched with great interest, lit another cigarette, and clapped my hands, saying repeatedly:

"Good, good, very nice. Keep going, keep going!"

"Kid, you're not afraid of us?" asked a small old man who had materialized.

I was stunned. What... what does he look like?

I saw a small old man, less than a meter tall, wearing a small straw hat. His limbs were as thin as corn stalks.

He was wearing a dirty little vest and holding a small wooden stick.

Even funnier was his exceptionally long nose and eyes as small as soybeans.

He had a small goatee on his chin, and his entire skin was green.

"What are you?" I asked the strange-looking thing in front of me.

"This old man is an Old Tree Spirit of a hundred years, who has taken human form to save the world."

The old man stroked his beard, then stood there with a profound expression, his body angled to the side.

I was amused by this old man and burst out laughing.

"Hey... Kid, what are you laughing at? And why are you on my territory?"

I was stunned. "Your territory? This is our village, and where you're standing is my house. How can you say it's your territory?"

Without waiting for the old man to reply, I impatiently added:

"Alright, alright, if you have nothing else, get lost quickly. Don't force me to get rough."

"Hmph... you impudent brat, how dare you speak to me like that? Are you tired of living?"

The old man jumped up and down, his bouncing quite amusing.

I slowly turned cold and said, "Oh... and what do you intend to do, sir?"

"It seems you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin. Then this old man will have to show you a thing or two.

Left and Right Guardians, take this kid down for me."

When I looked, the guardians he mentioned were two wandering souls and ghosts he had somehow acquired.

With their meager cultivation, Qianqian could have dealt with them.

The two ghostly things lunged at me with bared teeth and claws, while the old man watched with his arms crossed, confident of victory, occasionally letting out a cold laugh.

I raised my hand, a ball of lightning gathered in my palm, and without even aiming, I threw it at the two wandering souls and ghosts.

Two screams came one after another, and they then dissipated into wisps of black smoke, vanishing without a trace.

Smiling, I said to the old man, "So, what do you think? Do you have any other tricks? Bring them all out. Don't say I didn't give you a chance."

The old man dropped the branch in his hand and then knelt on the ground with a thud, his body trembling like a sieve.

He shouted, "Daoist Master, spare me! This little demon was just passing by." With that, he got up and tried to leave.

"Stop."

The old man's steps faltered as he walked away. He then turned his head to look at me and asked, "Does Daoist Master have any other commands? I am just an ordinary little tree demon. Please, Daoist Master, show mercy and let me go."

"I wasn't going to take your life. Since you're here, I'll give you a task as the price for staying here," I said.

"I don't know what Daoist Master wants me to do. I've never killed anyone. Over the years, the most I've done is scare people."

"There's a cave behind the mountain behind the village. Go there and guard it. Don't let ordinary people enter. If you agree, I'll let you go.

If you don't agree..." I looked at the old man with a sinister grin.

The old man nodded repeatedly, saying "good" over and over. I was a little uneasy, afraid it would run off after I left, as there was no incentive, only threats.