Vajra Talisman

A moment later, there was a knock on the door. Jiang Yujie and I went to see who it was, and it turned out to be Yun Yao.

Yun Yao looked at us suspiciously, "What are you two doing here?"

I didn't quite know how to explain. After all, it was a bit awkward for two men to be in a room together with the door and windows closed in broad daylight.

However, Jiang Yujie didn't hesitate. He took out two talismans as if by magic.

He waved them in front of Yun Yao's eyes and said proudly, "Look at the talismans I just got. They're from Maoshan."

Yun Yao widened her watery eyes and asked Jiang Yujie where he got them. Jiang Yujie pointed at me. I thought, It's over.

If I only sold to Jiang Yujie and not Yun Yao, I'd be in a difficult position.

Besides, I could only give Yun Yao talismans as a gift, not sell them, because I was staying at her place.

So, I immediately took out two talismans and handed them to Yun Yao, saying, "This is my first time visiting your home, and I didn't bring any gifts. Please accept this."

Yun Yao, being the young lady she was, giggled, said thank you, and took them.

Then she and Jiang Yujie started comparing them, like a pair of clowns. I thought to myself.

Afterward, we went down to eat. During the meal, Grandpa Yun asked me, "What attribute does Yutong have?"

I put down my chopsticks and replied to Grandpa Yun, "Lightning Attribute."

Pfft... Grandpa Yun spat out the soup he was drinking. He didn't even bother to wipe his mouth before asking if it was true.

I raised my hand, and a crackling sound came from it. A ball of lightning also surrounded my palm.

Jiang Yujie and Yun Yao were greatly surprised to see this.

One dropped his bowl on the table, while the other, who was gnawing on a chicken leg, stopped abruptly and stared at me.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Grandpa Yun wiped his mouth and said it was nothing. He then added, "As expected of Old Brother Xuande's grandson," and gestured for us to continue eating.

Yun Yao ate her meal in small bites, looking at me with curiosity. Jiang Yujie, on the other hand, seemed eager to spar, wanting to test his skills against me right away.

As expected, after the meal, Jiang Yujie said to me:

"Yutong, how about we spar tomorrow when we have time? I've never fought someone with the Lightning Attribute before."

I said, "Sure, let's try sparring tomorrow." Hearing this, Jiang Yujie smiled and agreed. Then we went back to our rooms to sleep.

The next day, after breakfast, Jiang Yujie suggested we find a place to spar. Yun Yao drove us to a plaza.

She said this was a place specifically for sparring and told us to fight there.

Just as we stood in position and were about to start, a male voice called out.

"Yaoyao, why haven't you been ignoring me these past few days?"

Upon hearing this voice, Yun Yao's beautiful eyebrows knitted together:

"I don't want to talk to you every day, Chen Hao! Why are you pestering me like a piece of sticky plaster?"

Jiang Yujie clenched his fists, "It's this annoying guy again. Let me go beat him up."

I glanced over and saw a young man in his early twenties, wearing a sharp suit and gold-rimmed glasses.

"Is this your friend?" I asked Yun Yao.

Yun Yao pouted, "No, he's an annoying guy. If I had to say who I dislike the most, it's him. And the second most disliked person is Jiang Yujie."

I was a bit curious and asked why she disliked him so much. Yun Yao explained that he was from the "Chen Family," one of the major Yin Yang Families.

He had been pestering her ever since he met her a few years ago, like a piece of sticky plaster that she couldn't shake off.

Yun Yao frowned and said, "Forget it, forget it. I originally wanted to see what was special about your Lightning Attribute.

Now that this guy's here, I've lost all interest. Let's go back."

Since I was staying as a guest, I nodded in agreement, saying, "As you wish."

Then Yun Yao called out to Jiang Yujie and explained the situation. Jiang Yujie returned.

"Kid, you're lucky today. If I see you again next time, I'll beat you until your teeth are all over the ground," Jiang Yujie said as he walked back.

The young man just smiled and said nothing.

"Come on, you can't beat him. Have you forgotten how you were beaten black and blue outside last time?" Yun Yao said to Jiang Yujie.

Jiang Yujie indignantly countered that it was because he was careless last time that the other guy got the upper hand, and he'd make sure he paid next time.

Yun Yao just shook her head.

I also felt that this young man was unusual, judging by his aura alone.

Although he looked at others politely, I felt a hint of imperceptible disdain in his eyes.

I don't know if it was my imagination. My Martial Uncle once told me.

If the first time you see someone, they give you a very uncomfortable feeling, then there's a high chance they will bring you trouble.

This young man gave me that exact feeling, and I didn't know why.

I'd never seen him before, nor did we have any prior grievances, but the moment I laid eyes on him, I felt uncomfortable.

We got into the car and returned to the Yun Mansion. Since there was nothing else to do, I went back to my room to cultivate.

I also wanted to try drawing some talismans, and I felt ready to attempt the "Vajra Talisman."

The "Vajra Talisman" is a low-to-mid-level talisman that can create a shield of condensed Spiritual Energy around the user.

It can defend against some less powerful attacks; this is how it's introduced in the "Maoshan Talisman Compendium."

I checked my bag and realized I didn't have the materials needed to make talismans. I went downstairs to tell Yun Yao that I needed to go out.

They asked me where I was going. I said I was going to buy some materials for making talismans.

"Let's go together. That guy earlier was incredibly petty; I'm afraid he might bully you," Jiang Yujie said.

Yun Yao nodded in agreement. Seeing as they both felt that way, I didn't say anything else and we left the Yun Mansion together.

When we arrived at the market, I was stunned by the dazzling array of items. However, most of these items were used in Underworld Practices.

Occasionally, I could see some precious medicinal herbs, like several hundred-year-old ginsengs that were almost as thick as a baby's arm.

After browsing, I bought everything I needed and started heading back.

"There are so many good things here," I exclaimed.

"Although there are many things here, the truly good items aren't found here," Jiang Yujie said.

I was a bit surprised. "So many good things aren't considered many? Where else could there be more?"

"The Black Market," Yun Yao said.

She continued, explaining that although there were many people here, the Yun Family kept watch, so they wouldn't allow overly troublesome things to enter Yun City.

The Black Market is a small gathering place for people of the martial world, a lawless zone.

Therefore, the items sold there were without restraint, though ordinary cultivators couldn't find it.

I asked Yun Yao if she knew where the Black Market was. She replied, "Of course, I do."

Then she added that she'd take me to see it if I had the chance. I nodded, and we headed back towards the Yun Mansion.

Upon returning to the Yun Mansion, I planned to go to my room to make the "Vajra Talisman."

Just then, Jiang Yujie tugged at my sleeve and said, "Um... can I watch? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else."

Then Yun Yao smacked Jiang Yujie on the back of the head and said, "Don't you understand the rules? That's a secret technique from his sect; how can you blurt out anything?"

I shook my head apologetically at Jiang Yujie, gave him a smile, and then turned to head upstairs.

Halfway up the stairs, Yun Yao asked if I wanted her to guard me.

I paused for a moment and asked her why I needed a guard.

Yun Yao widened her eyes. "Don't you need someone to guard you when you make talismans? What if someone disturbs you or tries to sabotage you?"

I said I didn't know. Was that a thing?

I then thought to myself that no one had guarded me when I made talismans before.

Of course, it was possible that there was no one around in the Bamboo Forest, so Martial Uncle didn't mention it.