As if Guided by Divine Hands

Beside White Moon Lake.

Jiang Hao followed behind Elder Qian Xu.

Along the way, he glanced at the tranquil lake and found that the spiritual energy here was dense. Cultivating here would surely yield twice the results with half the effort.

Heartbreak Cliff fell far short of this place.

A little while later.

They arrived at a courtyard beside the lake. It gave Jiang Hao a strange feeling, like a slumbering ferocious beast, yet also like an earthly paradise.

"Come in."

A sudden voice came from within, calm yet authoritative.

Entering the courtyard, Jiang Hao saw a breathtakingly beautiful woman dressed entirely in white. Her hair was arranged in a simple bun, and she sat upright in a pavilion, dignified and noble.

Her powerful presence left Jiang Hao somewhat awestruck.

Only after Elder Qian Xu prompted him did he hurriedly bow:

"This junior, Jiang Hao, pays his respects to the elder."

Elder Qian Xu then took out the Pure Yang Flower and explained what had happened.

"Is that so?" Bai Zhi looked at Jiang Hao with a smile.

"It seems you have some ability. As it happens, I have another matter to entrust to you.

Handle it well, and you will naturally be rewarded."

An empty promise. Jiang Hao sighed inwardly.

"If you fail, you should know what you will face," Bai Zhi said with a smile.

"Yes." Jiang Hao nodded.

Glancing at the elder, Jiang Hao felt nothing but helplessness and a sense of absurdity.

He had rendered a service both times, yet both times he had been threatened.

The Demonic Sect had no regard for reason whatsoever.

Some time later.

Jiang Hao walked out of the courtyard with a seed in his hand.

Afterward, Senior Sister Zhou Chan escorted him out of White Moon Lake.

What surprised him was the elder's identity.

Elder Bai Zhi was one of the four Guardian Elders and the acting sect master of the Heavenly Sound Sect, with absolute authority over life and death.

When he heard this from Senior Sister Zhou, Jiang Hao found it hard to believe.

So that stunning elder I just saw was the Demonic Sect's acting sect master, second only to one and above ten thousand?

Since when did I have the luck to meet someone like her?

Still, this caretaking assignment had worked out quite well, since Elder Qian Xu had given him forty spirit stones.

Double the original amount.

The seed, however, was puzzling.

When Elder Bai Zhi gave him the seed, she had only told him to plant it.

She had given no precautions, specified no desired results, and laid out no criteria for success or failure.

That was rather unusual.

As the acting sect master, why would she ask me to plant this seed? There should be plenty of people more capable than me.

Something's wrong. She must have some other purpose in asking me to plant this.

With these doubts in mind, Jiang Hao wanted to appraise the seed and see just what it was.

But he would have to wait until tomorrow.

Daily Appraisal really did mean one appraisal a day.

As such, he could only wait until tomorrow.

Thankfully, even in the presence of the stunning Elder Bai Zhi, his heart had remained as still as clear water.

Yet he could not feel happy about it.

He had no idea when he would be able to break free of this gu poison.

As for the woman who had planted the gu in him... it would be better not to see her again. She was far too dangerous.

That afternoon.

Jiang Hao returned to his residence.

After meditating for a while, he opened the panel.

[Name: Jiang Hao]

[Age: Nineteen]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Early Stage]

[Cultivation method: Heavenly Sound, Hundred Turns]

[Divine abilities: Nine-Turn Substitute Death (unique), Daily Appraisal]

[Vitality: 27/100 (available for cultivation)]

[Cultivation: 32/100 (available for cultivation)]

[Divine ability: 3/3 (available to acquire)]

His vitality and cultivation had both increased considerably, bringing them closer to one hundred.

Most importantly, the final line was full. He could acquire a divine ability.

After checking his surroundings, Jiang Hao chose to acquire it.

In an instant, the divine ability count dropped from three to zero.

A light also appeared within his body, and something began to take shape.

There was no pain. Instead, it felt soothing, cool, and clarifying.

Feeling the changes, Jiang Hao knew this was the influence of the divine ability.

Acquiring Daily Appraisal had not felt like this.

A short while later.

The light vanished, and the soothing sensation faded with it. Checking the divine ability line again, he found that a new divine ability had appeared.

[Divine abilities: Nine-Turn Substitute Death (unique), Daily Appraisal, Clear Mind, Pure Heart]

"Clear Mind, Pure Heart?"

Jiang Hao could sense the divine ability's presence, but he did not know exactly what it did.

"Let's give it a try."

After a moment's thought, he activated the divine ability.

In an instant, he felt as though a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, leaving his entire body cold and clear.

Within a breath, that chill reached deep into his mind.

A sense of clarity emerged in his consciousness, as though all the filth in his mind had been swept away.

His thoughts shone bright, as though he had reached the highest peak.

The process surprised Jiang Hao and even felt immensely soothing.

When he looked around again, everything had become clear, down to the smallest details.

It was as though he could not wait to absorb something new.

With that thought, he took out his talisman-making book.

When he studied the Focus Talisman again, he gained an entirely new understanding.

Sparks of insight burst forth in his mind.

At that moment, he could begin making talismans without first calming his mind.

A little while later, he stood before the table.

He picked up the Talisman Brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and began making a talisman.

The Talisman Brush moved in his hand like drifting clouds and flowing water, following his every whim.

Every stroke seemed guided by divine hands.

After a long while, Jiang Hao completed the final step. A flash of light followed, then everything returned to stillness.

The talisman was complete.

"This divine ability really came at just the right time."

Jiang Hao set down the brush, delight written across his face.

He spent the entire night making talismans.

This time, out of ten sets of materials, he successfully made five talismans.

Two Focus Talismans, two Divine Sword Talismans, and one Blazing Fire Talisman.

After deducting the costs, he could still earn over a dozen spirit stones.

This was only the beginning. His success rate would only rise from here.

Perhaps he could gather a thousand spirit stones in less than two months.

"It's a good thing, but it does wear out the mind."

Sitting by the balcony, Jiang Hao watched the morning sunrise, looking rather exhausted.

Then he took out the seed. He could appraise it today.

The new book has begun. Thank you all for your support. Seeing that some of you have even sent tips makes me feel undeserving. Thank you so much!

I don't know how far this new book will go, either. I'll keep writing, letting a gentle stream flow steadily onward.

Thank you, everyone!