"The second technique: the Shadow-Shifting Talisman Art."
Having finally finished watching the demonstration of that bizarre Trace-Hiding Art, Yue Wen let out a small sigh of relief.
The voice-over spoke again. "This escape technique incorporates talisman cultivation. You can refine a Shadow Talisman with offensive capabilities, then travel to its location at any time within a certain range..."
A human figure finally appeared in the demonstration, though it was a little pitch-black man covered entirely in black dragon scales, face included. Only his eyes and teeth showed any other color. He looked just like an unidentified culprit in certain detective comics.
The little black figure flipped his hand and produced a palm-sized, crescent-shaped blade. Intricate runes were engraved on it, and its sharp edges gleamed with a cold, purplish-black light.
This had to be the Shadow Talisman.
He threw it forward, and the Shadow Talisman shot into a tree ahead with a whoosh. It certainly looked sharp.
The little black figure flipped his hand again, forming a hand seal. His body turned into a dark shadow and streaked toward the tree, almost as if he had teleported.
"This one looks pretty strong." Yue Wen's eyes lit up.
Compared with the previous Trail-Concealing Art, which was purely for stealth, an escape technique with some offensive capability was much closer to what he wanted.
The voice-over continued, "The caster can refine multiple Shadow Talismans simultaneously. The exact number depends on their cultivation realm. Using several Shadow Talismans together allows for unpredictable movements that leave no openings."
As soon as it finished speaking, the little black figure produced five Shadow Talismans and shot them in different directions.
Then he activated the ability and began flashing back and forth, darting north, south, east, and west in an instant. His afterimages practically traced a five-pointed star.
Just as Yue Wen was feeling thoroughly satisfied, a sudden bang rang out!
A cloud of bloody mist erupted in midair, followed by the little black figure's dismembered limbs tumbling to the ground.
"Remember, you mustn't activate several Shadow Talismans at once. If your body can't work out where you want to go, it may choose to split up," the voice-over helpfully reminded him.
Yue Wen stared at the scene in shock, profoundly shaken.
Good grief.
One little mistake and you'd end up drawn and quartered like Shang Yang?
"For such a powerful escape technique, seventy pieces of Evil-Suppressing Money isn't expensive, is it?" the voice-over quoted another price. "Oh, and each Shadow Talisman costs extra. One Shadow Talisman costs ten pieces of Evil-Suppressing Money."
"Huh?" Yue Wen frowned. "Charging for the ability is one thing, but you charge extra for the talismans it needs, too? That's downright unscrupulous."
The voice-over did not respond to him. Instead, it promptly began demonstrating the third ability.
"The third technique: Thunderlight Escape."
"This is an extremely powerful offensive escape technique. You transform into lightning and strike with deadly force. When you hit an enemy, you not only inflict massive damage but also paralyze them," the voice-over explained.
This time, two little black figures appeared in the projection.
One rubbed his right hand, then punched forward, abruptly transforming into a dazzling streak of lightning.
Bang!
The lightning instantly struck the other little black figure. The caster reappeared, put his hands on his hips, and laughed smugly.
The figure who had been struck fell to the ground, badly injured and dazed, wailing, "Why does it hurt so much? Why can't I see clearly? Who's the bastard who paralyzed me? Oh! You're the bastard!"
"Huh?" Yue Wen pointed at the image. "Never mind that he can talk-why can he swear, too?"
The voice-over ignored him and continued, "The only drawback is that, while Thunderlight Escape is fast and deals considerable damage, it consumes an enormous amount of true essence. Cultivators in the lower three realms may only be able to use it once or twice in quick succession."
The caster used Thunderlight Escape once more to return, then braced his hands on his knees and began panting.
"He's tired already?" Yue Wen remarked. "That's hardly any staying power."
Thunderlight Escape was not a long-distance escape technique. Each use could only move him about ten meters at most. Its destructive power made it useful for attacking enemies, but if he needed it to dodge or flee, it would fall a little short.
"For an escape technique like this, we charge only eighty pieces of Evil-Suppressing Money. Isn't that excellent value?" the voice-over asked again.
"Not at all." Yue Wen shook his head. "If I were already in the middle three realms and could use Thunderlight Escape a few more times, maybe it'd be decent. But if someone in the lower three realms can only use it once or twice, where's the value?"
The voice-over said, "Being poor and weak aren't its shortcomings..."
"Hold on, what's that supposed to mean?" Yue Wen looked up and glared into the air. "I've been putting up with you long enough. This isn't prerecorded commentary at all, is it? You're clearly insulting me personally!"
"Thank you for watching. Goodbye." The voice-over abruptly cut off.
The demonstration in Yue Wen's mind ended as well.
He opened his eyes and saw the imposing, majestic Da Long before him.
"Well?" Da Long asked. "Those are all the techniques you can cultivate at your current realm that meet your requirements and fall within your budget. Now that you've seen them, which one do you want?"
Yue Wen frowned. "The Trace-Hiding Art offers stealth but no offensive power. Thunderlight Escape offers offensive power but isn't suitable for regular use. The Shadow-Shifting Talisman Art is better by comparison. But if the talismans cost extra, seventy pieces of Evil-Suppressing Money plus the three talismans I can currently use comes to a full hundred! Isn't that too expensive?"
Da Long replied, "Being expensive isn't its shortcoming."
"That voice-over was just you using a voice changer, wasn't it?" Yue Wen's brows drew together. "I knew those snide remarks sounded like you!"
"Hmph." Da Long snorted again and said impatiently, "Are you buying it or not? If not, I'm leaving."
"I'm buying it!"
Yue Wen flipped his hand and summoned a large stack of Evil-Suppressing Money, feeling a slight pang. He had only just built up some savings, and now he would be left with mere pocket change again.
"The Shadow-Shifting Talisman Art and three Shadow Talismans. Here!" He tossed out a hundred pieces of Evil-Suppressing Money.
Da Long immediately sucked them all in. Satisfaction appeared in his eyes before he opened his mouth and uttered a word in the dragon tongue: "Hah-"
The Visualization Diagram for the Shadow-Shifting Talisman Art imprinted itself in Yue Wen's mind. He left the Black-Gold Palace and returned to his small bedroom on the second floor.
"Ugh, money really doesn't last." He shook his head and was about to begin studying the talisman art.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Guimi, what should I do? I went to the tryouts for that Livestream Plan, and they actually picked me!"
After returning to the agency and watching Yue Wen head upstairs to get back to his own business, Zhao Xing'er immediately took out her phone and began typing rapidly.
Two minutes passed.
A reply came from the other end. "The one you went to with your boss? Didn't you say you were just taking a look and didn't want to participate?"
"I was just curious and tagged along to have a look. Who knew they'd hold tryouts, and that the tryouts would be fights? Guimi, you know me. How could I possibly lose a fight?" Zhao Xing'er puffed out her cheeks, looking utterly troubled.
"A woman who has to win at everything, haha." The other person sent a cheeky sticker.
"Oh, stop laughing at me." Zhao Xing'er typed glumly. "Now they want us to sign contracts, and honestly, I do kind of want to go. The Wasteland Zone Exploration Plan sounds exciting and fun, and I could make a lot of money, too. My boss seems really short on money lately. He's even thinking about making thirst-trap content, so I thought it'd be nice to help him. He still let me stay after I injured him last time, after all. I have to show some loyalty."
"Then go," came the reply. "Though I'd quite like to see that handsome boss of yours doing a sexy dance, hehe. Still, if it's fun and pays well, why wouldn't you?"
"You know my situation!" Zhao Xing'er immediately replied. "What if my family sees the livestream? How am I supposed to keep working and going to school in Jiangcheng City in peace?"
"Right, that is a problem." A second message followed immediately after that reply. "Guimi, I have a plan!"
"What plan?" Zhao Xing'er's eyes lit up.
"In some movies I've watched, the actresses all covered their faces. It actually made them more appealing, and they were really popular," the other person said. "Why don't you cover your face for the livestream? It might leave more to the viewers' imagination and make them even more curious. If you change your name and hide your face, surely no one will notice you? Your family probably wouldn't watch that sort of livestream anyway."
"Huh?" Zhao Xing'er smiled brightly. "That could work."
She put down her phone, went upstairs, and knocked on Yue Wen's bedroom door. "Boss!"
"Hmm?" Yue Wen opened the door and stepped out. "What's up?"
"Boss." There was a hint of apology on her face. "I have to confess something to you."
"What is it?" Seeing how serious she looked, Yue Wen listened attentively.
"Actually..." Zhao Xing'er's gaze flickered. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "I have parents."
"Huh?" Yue Wen froze for a moment. "Is that some kind of secret? Who doesn't?"
Zhao Xing'er tilted her head. "You don't, do you?"
Yue Wen: "?"
So you came all the way up here specifically to insult me.
"Whatever else I may or may not have, I now have the urge to dock your pay," he said.
"But I haven't even been paid yet!" Realizing she had said the wrong thing, Zhao Xing'er hurried to explain. "What I mean is, I never mentioned this before, but my parents and family don't actually know I'm here. I ran away from home."
"Ran away from home?" Yue Wen finally furrowed his brow. "Then am I taking any legal risks by keeping you employed here?"
"No, you're not." Zhao Xing'er smiled. "I'm an adult, and I'm not some idiot who can't make her own decisions."
"Are you sure?" Yue Wen looked Zhao Xing'er up and down, as though he had his doubts but could not quite voice them.
"What are you doubting?" Zhao Xing'er glared at him.
Yue Wen quickly waved his hands, afraid she might get angry. "Just kidding. So why are you telling me this? Are you afraid to take part in the livestream?"
Zhao Xing'er smiled. "I have an idea..."
Before you continue