Leaning on a mountain, the mountain will fall; leaning on talismans, the talismans will run out. Only strength is eternal!

Hot blood was spilled all over the spread-out Divination Cloth, staining it with large patches of dazzling scarlet.

The once profound aura surrounding him suddenly dissipated like a punctured air sac, and he visibly withered away.

His once rosy face was instantly covered with wrinkles, and his eyes were filled with disbelief, horror, and fear, as if he had glimpsed some great terror that could cause the world to collapse!

"No... impossible!" The old man's voice was hoarse and trembling as he stared intently at the character "Dao" on the paper, which still shimmered with a faint glow.

He suddenly looked up at Qin Wangchuan, whose expression remained calm, as if looking at a monster that should not exist in this world.

"Who... who exactly are you?!" The old man gasped for breath, each word laced with blood. "His fate is so bizarre, unlike anything seen since ancient times... neither human nor immortal... it can be traced back to the primordial era... splat!"

Before he could finish speaking, another mouthful of blood gushed out, clearly indicating a severe backlash that made it difficult for him to continue speaking.

Only now did he realize that the boy's question, "Senior shouldn't be afraid, right?" was not a question, but a simple statement.

Even... a hint of barely perceptible pity.

Qin Wangchuan looked at the old man's sudden and severe injury, but showed no surprise. He simply sighed softly, his tone remaining calm:

"I did warn you, senior."

Even Heavenly Emperor Li couldn't predict it when they first met, so how could you possibly predict it?

He reached out, a wisp of extremely pure and gentle Longevity Immortal Qi emanating from his fingertips, and gently touched the old man's brow, attempting to stabilize his dissipating aura:

"Senior, please calm down and stabilize your injuries first."

The old man felt that extremely pure and far beyond his imagination life force enter his body. He barely suppressed his churning Qi and Blood, but the shock in his eyes did not diminish at all; on the contrary, it intensified.

He opened his mouth to say something, but then spat out another mouthful of blood.

This scene startled passersby, who frequently turned to look.

The old man's condition only improved after he shakily took out a pill and swallowed it, but he still felt a pang of regret looking at the medicine bottle.

"Nine-Turn Pill..."

Just like that, it's gone.

What a loss!!

"Let this old man have some peace and quiet..."

He managed to squeeze out a hoarse sentence before suddenly falling backward and collapsing to the ground.

For a moment, I even began to question the meaning of life.

Qin Wangchuan returned to the Old Scholar Tree, and as yesterday, he set up the Cloth Banner, spread out the Indigo Coarse Cloth, and neatly arranged the talismans one by one.

After yesterday's practice and reflection, the talismans he drew today were noticeably more restrained and harmonious in their spiritual light. In particular, the Fire Talisman had its violent power tamed and lay there quietly, yet it possessed a terrifying aura.

"It's time to try more Talisman Seed."

He had just sat down and hadn't even had time to grind the cinnabar when he saw Pang Jie's figure appear at the street corner, timidly looking in his direction.

He only came over after he realized he had been discovered.

"Little Immortal... I... I didn't use that talisman yesterday."

Qin Wangchuan looked up at him, his tone indifferent. "Oh?"

"Myriad Star Pavilion... didn't come last night." Pang Jie pursed his lips, his voice lowering slightly. "I thought about it all night. Even if he had come, I probably... wouldn't have been able to do it."

Qin Wangchuan paused slightly in his Cinnabar Brush, finally looking directly at him. "Why?"

Pang Jie counted on his fingers and said seriously, "I've thought about it carefully, and killing him was indeed wrong."

"Even if this talisman can kill him, the Azure Heaven Holy Land will still send someone else."

"Even if no one else is around, if someone like that bullies us again, I won't have a second talisman."

He raised his head, his eyes still showing resentment, but with a newfound clarity. "This is just treating the symptoms, not the root cause."

He paused, then whispered, "Besides... although I'm not afraid of death, if I die, there will be no one to take care of Mother."

Qin Wangchuan listened quietly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He initially thought the boy was simply blinded by hatred, but he never expected that he could come to this understanding overnight.

"So, you've come today to return the talisman?" Qin Wangchuan asked.

Pang Jie quickly clutched his waist pouch, shaking his head vigorously like a rattle-drum. "Of course not, I... I paid with Spirit Stone!"

His face turned bright red, terrified that the talisman would be taken back.

"We may not need it now, but we'll definitely need it later!"

"Of course, it's best if we don't need it."

Seeing that Qin Wangchuan had no intention of taking it back, he rolled his eyes and casually sat down on the low stool in front of the stall, placing his hands properly on his knees and sitting up straight.

"Actually... I want to learn a skill from the Little Immortal!"

"Craftsmanship?" Qin Wangchuan raised an eyebrow, almost laughing.

He learned how to use these talismans on the spot.

"It's Draw Talismans!"

Pang Jie's eyes sparkled as he pointed at the talismans on the stall, "I figured it out last night: mountains may crumble, and talismans will eventually run out of power—"

His voice suddenly lowered, yet it carried an unprecedented firmness. "Only the power in one's own hands is true reliance."

"That way, even if Myriad Star Pavilion, or someone even stronger, comes, I won't be afraid!"

Qin Wangchuan shook his head. "The idea is good, but you should find someone else."

"I'm so poor I'm practically sleeping on the streets, why would I teach you a skill?"

The light in Pang Jie's eyes visibly dimmed, and his voice carried an undisguised sense of loss:

"Little Immortal, you jest... I know, someone like you wouldn't lack a place to stay. You just... you just don't want to take me in."

He took a deep breath, his nails digging deep into his palms. "I know I am dull-witted and have nothing of value, not even a decent gift for becoming an apprentice. These words must sound utterly ridiculous to you."

Suddenly, Pang Jie looked up sharply, a stubborn flame igniting in his eyes. "But this might be my only chance!"

His slender body knelt heavily on the bluestone slab, yet his back remained ramrod straight. "Even if I can only serve you as a servant sweeping your courtyard! If ten years isn't enough, then a hundred; if I can't learn even half a skill—please, give me a chance to knock on your door!"

Qin Wangchuan stared at him for a long time before slowly speaking.

The very first sentence extinguished Pang Jie's enthusiasm.

"Persistence burns like fire, strength flows like oil—"

"A person like you, once you gain power, will only bring disaster."

Qin Wangchuan looked at Pang Jie's determined eyes and sighed inwardly.

Whether it will lead to disaster depends partly on the people involved and partly on the teacher.

But geniuses are often not good teachers.

Not to mention...

Thinking it over, Qin Wangchuan stood up and helped Pang Jie up, his tone softening slightly. "Although I can't teach you, there are others watching you."

"In the near future, you will surely embark on the Cultivation Path."

After speaking, he glanced meaningfully at the old man pretending to be dead in the distance.