Jiang Rui

[Name: Zhou Er]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Third Layer (45.8%)]

[Equipment Slots (3/3): Godspeed Talisman, Spirit Gathering Pill, Bigu Pill.]

[Unsolidified Attributes: Spirit Gathering (White), Taotie (White).]

[Solidified Attributes: High-speed Reaction, Wondrous Brush (White), Fire Attribute Amplification (White), Spirit Qi Purification (White), Qi Induction, Five Animals Health Technique (Mastered), Longevity, Strength Increase (White).]

Returning to his Courtyard in Wutong District, Zhou Er's High-speed Reaction attribute had finished solidifying, and the Godspeed Talisman could be removed.

After a month of practice, Zhou Er's Godly Travel Technique had already reached the Great Accomplishment level, allowing him to craft it into a talisman and preserve its power.

Therefore, Zhou Er decided to pause the production of Fireball Talismans for now and attempt to craft Godspeed Talismans.

Zhou Er had already mastered the Godly Travel Technique very proficiently. Coupled with the Wondrous Brush bonus, even though it was his first time drawing Godspeed Talismans, Zhou Er drew five and succeeded in three, achieving a success rate of over sixty percent.

The usage of the Godspeed Talisman was slightly more complex than the Fireball Talisman. After activation, it needed to be affixed to both legs.

Attaching one talisman to each leg allowed him to experience the power of the Godly Travel Technique, increasing his speed by more than double.

However, crafting Godspeed Talismans did not increase Zhou Er's income. It only added to his knowledge reserve, enabling him to better craft other talismans in the future.

Of course, it also allowed him to solidify the Rune Mastery attribute.

[Rune Mastery (Tier 1): Master most Tier 1 runes.]

[Solidification Condition: Master the production of five types of talismans. (2/5)]

Zhou Er had now mastered two types of talismans. If he learned three more, he could solidify the Rune Mastery attribute. This would free him from the hassle of constantly swapping equipment and would free up an equipment slot for more useful attributes.

After learning the Godspeed Talisman, Zhou Er planned to learn other spells in his spare time.

He had already learned offensive spells, and he had learned the Godspeed Talisman for travel.

So, next, he could learn defensive talismans.

Water Shield and Earth Shield were both good defensive spells that could be crafted into talismans.

The defense of the Earth Shield Technique was much stronger than the Water Shield, while the Water Shield consumed less mana.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhou Er decided to learn the Water Shield Technique first, and then pair it with a Water Healing Technique. This way, he could solidify the Self-Healing attribute brought by the Water Healing Talisman equipment.

Although Zhou Er did not engage in combat and rarely got injured now.

However, both in his past life and this life, the world was not peaceful, and conflicts were constant.

Various factions often resorted to violence for their own interests.

Zhou Er didn't feel any trouble because he was currently at the Xiayun Sect's main base, protected by the sect elders and ancestors.

However, the territories outside the Xiayun Sect were often in constant conflict, and various forces were also stirring beneath the surface.

Zhou Er was too weak now, well protected by the sect, and couldn't come into contact with these things.

But no sect is evergreen.

Sooner or later, when the Xiayun Sect begins to decline, all forces will definitely find ways to carve up the Xiayun Sect.

Even the righteous allies of the Xiayun Sect will not miss the opportunity to annex the Xiayun Sect.

Of course, Zhou Er is just a nobody, not yet qualified to participate in the sect's grand strategy.

What Zhou Er can do now is to accumulate his own strength during these peaceful times, so that when the Xiayun Sect falls, he will not be implicated like eggs in a fallen nest.

Time passed bit by bit, and Zhou Er found another junior brother with water spiritual roots, Jiang Rui, and asked him to teach him Water Shield Technique and Water Healing Technique.

This senior brother was like he was made of water, effeminate.

Zhou Er initially didn't pay much attention until their second meeting, when this Senior Brother Jiang was crying profusely.

"Junior Brother Zhou, if only I were born a woman. Then he wouldn't have abandoned me."

Senior Brother Jiang said softly, and coupled with his feminine appearance, he gave off a feeling of pity.

However, Zhou Er did not have a penchant for male partners, and he was too busy to care about romance right now.

It's just that Senior Brother Jiang hadn't finished teaching him Water Healing Technique yet, so Zhou Er had to bite the bullet and comfort him, saying:

"Senior Sister Jiang, you are actually a girl, just born in a man's body. It's not your fault. I heard that the Hehuan Sect has a secret method that can change yin to yang and yang to yin."

Zhou Er called him Senior Sister to comfort Jiang Rui to the greatest extent possible.

"I know about this, but the Hehuan Sect is a Devil Dao Sect. How dare we righteous cultivators associate with them."

Jiang Rui had had this thought for a long time, but because he came from a righteous sect, he dared not associate with the Devil Dao, for fear of being hunted by the sect.

"Senior Sister Jiang, laws are neither good nor evil, but people are divided into righteous and evil. Even if it's a Devil Dao technique, if it can resolve Senior Brother Jiang's inner turmoil, it might not be a bad thing."

Zhou Er continued.

"That makes sense. Let's not talk about it anymore. Junior Brother, I'll teach you Water Healing Technique now!"

Jiang Rui stopped wasting time.

After Zhou Er finished learning, he heard Jiang Rui complaining:

"Why did he treat me like this? We clearly agreed to roam the Great Dao together."

"Senior Sister Jiang, why bother? There are plenty of fish in the sea, why cling to one flower."

After all, they knew each other. Zhou Er still offered words of comfort.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you speak so well. I must become a woman and make him regret it!"

Jiang Rui seemed to have made up her mind.

Zhou Er didn't know if it was good or bad. Anyway, he had learned almost everything. Now he just needed to practice diligently.

Two months passed. Zhou Er successfully mastered the Water Shield Technique and the Water Healing Technique, and could cast them freely.

In the dojo, Zhou Er chanted incantations and formed hand seals. Water-attribute spiritual energy gathered around him, forming a water sphere that protected him.

Looking at the Water Shield that protected him from all angles, Zhou Er's lips curved slightly upwards.

[Water Healing Talisman: Casts Water Healing Technique upon activation, healing external wounds.]

[Self-Healing (White): Self-healing, increases self-healing speed by 30%.]

[Solidification Condition: Master two water-attribute spells. (2/2)]

[Attribute Self-Healing (White) has been solidified.]

Not only the Water Shield Technique, but Zhou Er had also successfully mastered the Water Healing Technique, meeting the solidification condition for the Self-Healing attribute.

After practicing the spells, Zhou Er dispelled the Water Shield. The protective water lost its magical support and fell powerlessly, leaving wet marks all over the ground.

But there was no need to worry. Soon, the self-repairing runes of the dojo's formation would clean up the mess.

Before he even reached home, Zhou Er saw two disciples in black, both at the Late-stage Qi Refining cultivation level, waiting at the entrance of his small courtyard.

"Law Enforcement Team? Are they here to catch me?"

Zhou Er recognized them as members of the Law Enforcement Team, but he was puzzled. He lived a simple life, focusing on his cultivation every day. He couldn't have committed any offense!

A clear conscience fears no slander. Zhou Er walked back to his small house without fear.

"Junior Brother Zhou! We are from the Law Enforcement Team."

The two black-clothed Law Enforcement Team members first showed their Identity Tokens, then said:

"Junior Brother Zhou, don't worry. We are only here to ask you a question."

"Please, senior brothers."

Zhou Er said.

"It's like this. Jiang Rui went missing over a month ago. You had contact with her before she disappeared, so we've come to ask you about the situation."

A member of the Law Enforcement Team said.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid not finding it next time.

'Could Jiang Rui have really defected from the sect!'

Zhou Er knew he had gotten into trouble, but he couldn't show fear on his face, so he said:

"I did have contact with Senior Brother Jiang, but I only paid him to teach me the Water Shield Technique and the Water Healing Technique. Other than that, we have no other connection."

Zhou Er explained, omitting the part where he had spoken too much.

"So that's how it is. Did Jiang Rui say anything to you then?"

The member of the Law Enforcement Team looked into Zhou Er's eyes and asked.

"Besides discussions about spells, we didn't talk about anything else."

Zhou Er shook his head and denied it.

"Alright! Sorry to bother you, Junior Brother Zhou. I wish you eternal prosperity on your immortal path."

The member of the Law Enforcement Team recorded the information and then said.

"I wish Senior Brother an early Foundation Establishment."

Zhou Er also congratulated him.

After the two members of the Law Enforcement Team left the Wutong District, one of them said:

"This Junior Brother Zhou just lied. This matter might be related to him."

"What relation could there be? Junior Brother Zhou is from the Talisman Master Alliance, has close personal ties with the Fu family, and is rumored to have a connection with Master Jide. Don't meddle in other people's business. If he says no, then there is no. Besides, Junior Brother Zhou and Jiang Rui don't have much personal interaction. I advise you not to overthink it."

The other member of the Law Enforcement Team said.

Although their Law Enforcement Team only took orders from the Sect Master and could not be ordered around by other Elders.

However, if a Golden Core True Person were to be implicated because of a trivial matter involving an Outer Sect Disciple, ten of their heads wouldn't be enough to lose.

"Yes! I was too talkative."

The member of the Law Enforcement Team who had spoken closed the record he had just made, not adding another word.

Afterward, Zhou Er inquired about what had happened to Jiang Rui. It turned out that Jiang Rui had defected from the sect and was being investigated.

Jiang Rui's situation made Zhou Er nervous for a few days. After all, he had comforted Jiang Rui at the time and even given him some advice.

He had initially thought that Jiang Rui was just heartbroken over a lost love and would get over it in a couple of days.

I never expected that in just two days, he would actually defect from the sect and chase his own dreams.

Zhou Er didn't know what role his words played in Jiang Rui's defection from the sect. It might have been significant. He realized the harm of speaking carelessly for the first time.

Fortunately, this matter did not involve anyone else. It was just Jiang Rui defecting from the Hehuan Sect on his own and being wanted by the Xiayun Sect.

After that, Zhou Er also realized that he shouldn't casually talk about such troublesome matters with others.

Next time he encountered something similar, Zhou Er decided he would just give an awkward smile and not say anything more.

As the rumors died down, few people cared about an Outer Sect Disciple who had defected from the Xiayun Sect. No one mentioned it again, and Zhou Er was completely relieved.

Zhou Er also cast the incident out of his mind.

He had now mastered the production methods of four First-grade Talismans and had become an experienced talisman maker.

He was also quite famous in the Xiayun Sect's talisman circle, considered a newcomer with great potential.

"Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Fu said that the end of the year is approaching and he wants to invite you for a gathering."

Fu Qiu's subordinate, while delivering talisman-making materials to Zhou Er, brought an extra invitation.

"I understand."

Zhou Er accepted the invitation.

It was the Xiayun Sect Talisman Masters' annual small gathering, and he couldn't easily refuse, so he had to make time to go.

Seeing Zhou Er accept the invitation, the Servant Disciple breathed a sigh of relief and took his leave.

Putting the invitation aside, Zhou Er looked at his Panel.

[Name: Zhou Er]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Fourth Layer (31.8%)]

[Equipment Slot (3/3): Purple Spirit Pill, Spirit Gathering Pill, Bigu Pill.]

[Unsolidified Attributes: Condensing Essence (White), Spirit Gathering (White), Taotie (White).]

[Solidified Attributes: Self-Healing (White), High-speed Reaction, Wondrous Brush (White), Fire Attribute Amplification (White), Spirit Qi Purification (White), Qi Induction, Five Animals Health Technique (Perfected), Longevity, Strength Increase (White).]

Unknowingly, Zhou Er had been in the Xiayun Sect for nearly a year, and his cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, which was comparable to those heavenly prodigies.

All of this was due to Zhou Er's own efforts, diligently grinding for attributes.

His life in the Xiayun Sect had been plain and smooth. Apart from the brief scare caused by Jiang Rui's incident that worried him for a few days, he hadn't encountered too much trouble.

As his cultivation improved, Zhou Er could feel that the congenital weakness he was born with had also been alleviated, and his lifespan had recovered somewhat.

His lifespan far exceeded the ten years brought by the Longevity attribute; this was all the effect of cultivation.

Therefore, Zhou Er absolutely could not stop his cultivation.

Currently, besides his daily cultivation and making talismans, he was practicing the Immobilization Technique.

This spell could control humans or other demons, zombies, etc., for a period of time, making it a very good spell.

By mastering this spell, Zhou Er could solidify another attribute of Rune Mastery.

And to practice the spell, Zhou Er specially bought a low-level spirit beast, a White-tailed Rat, to practice with.

In fact, Zhou Er had bought this White-tailed Rat before when he was practicing Water Healing Technique. At that time, the White-tailed Rat was already on the verge of death. It had its tail bitten off by its own kind. Zhou Er bought it for only three Spirit Stones.

Then, Zhou Er used this White-tailed Rat to practice Water Healing Technique and barely saved its life.

After learning Water Healing Technique, Zhou Er was too lazy to bother with it and threw it into the courtyard, letting it roam nearby.

This White-tailed Rat was very intelligent and could catch insects on its own, so Zhou Er didn't need to feed it. It kept itself fat and healthy.

Of course, Zhou Er didn't completely ignore it; he occasionally let it lick up any excess Spirit Ink.

Zhou Er named it Xiao Cang because the White-tailed Rat's broken tail made it look like a hamster.

Every time Zhou Er called it Xiao Cang, it would come over.

"Xiao Cang!"

Zhou Er called out, and a round, blue-skinned rat scurried over from the wall.

"Immobilize!"

At Zhou Er's command, Xiao Cang immediately stopped its actions and stood in place, its eyeballs not even moving.

It was as if it had truly been immobilized.

Zhou Er observed carefully, a slight smile on his lips. He blew a breath at Xiao Cang, and Xiao Cang immediately retracted its head.

Zhou Er knew that he had only been practicing the Immobilization Technique for a short time, and he hadn't even used any magic power just now, so it was naturally impossible to immobilize Xiao Cang.

Xiao Cang was just used to Zhou Er playing these tricks with it and thought Zhou Er was playing "Red Light, Green Light" with it!

After playing with Xiao Cang for a while, Zhou Er sent it away and picked up the invitation sent by a Servant Disciple from the Fu family.

The invitation was written elegantly, and the content was simple.

It was an invitation to a gathering at the Fu family's residence in five days. All the named Talisman Masters of the Xiayun Sect would be there.

After confirming the time, Zhou Er put away the invitation and began to make talismans.

He was currently at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. His magic power had increased by 30% compared to the third layer, allowing him to cast the Fireball Technique about seven times, which meant he could make seven Fireball Talismans.

Zhou Er's current success rate had reached eighty-five percent, with very low wastage.

If he focused on making talismans, his monthly income could reach forty Low-grade Spirit Stones, which was much higher than others at the same Qi Refining Fourth Layer.