◎ One Stroke, Two Talismans ◎
Did someone come to visit from the Mountain and Sea Sect?
Lin Shuang shook her head; she didn’t have any disciples from the Mountain and Sea Sect in her contacts. It wasn’t her visiting hours either.
“Sister, could it be that the one who fell into demonic cultivation, Xiao Qi, lost and now other disciples from the Mountain and Sea Sect are coming to challenge you?” Zhao Keran was instantly worried.
Lin Shuang gestured to dismiss the thought, perhaps the person at the gate misunderstood the message.
“Let’s wait until they arrive.”
“Yeah, Sister, you should focus on making Talismans for now. They’re due tomorrow,” Zhao Keran reminded her.
Lin Shuang nodded and quickly concentrated, preparing to complete the talisman assignment left by the Transmission Hall’s master from the previous lesson: twelve first-tier communication talismans.
First-tier talismans were the most basic introductory ones. She had already successfully self-studied and mastered them, rendering practice unnecessary.
But if she didn’t do them, she would be penalized with copying scripture books, twelve of them to be exact.
Plus, this would displease her teaching master’s and potentially lead to stricter scrutiny of her future assignments.
Her junior disciple wouldn’t help her with this…
Thinking of this, Lin Shuang squinted her eyes, taking out twelve blank yellow paper talismans.
【Today’s Tomato Timer Checklist:】
【5. Draw third-tier Gathering Spirit Talismans.】
Gathering Spirit Talismans could accelerate the attraction of spiritual energy within a hundred miles, a skill that third-tier talismanist must master for advancement.
This was her true task for today.
Hence, she had to hit two birds with one stone!
While drawing the communication talismans, she would also complete today’s Gathering Spirit Talismans!
Lin Shuang closed her eyes, considering the ink strokes for both talismans.
She started playing the background music of a calming zither piece from her self-made earbuds.
With the aiding BGM of light music that helped her concentrate, she picked up the large wolf-hair brush from the left side of her pen stand and dipped it into a pile of well-prepared cinnabar by Xiao Ai.
Twelve blank yellow paper talismans were placed on the table.
From right to left, arranged in three rows and four columns.
With bated breath, she took up the brush.
Dense ink was applied to the first piece of yellow paper.
Three hooks, three clear strokes, and the head of the first-tier communication talisman formed in an instant as the brush moved.
The ink also seeped into the tabletop.
“Ah, Sister, you’ve used too much cinnabar ink.”
On the other side of the desk, Zhao Keran, Lin Shuang’s junior disciple who had already finished three communication talismans, was massaging her temples and resting. When she turned her head and saw Lin Shuang’s actions, she couldn’t help but speak.
But she quickly covered her lips.
When drawing Talismans, any disruption in spiritual focus was highly undesirable.
If the flow of Qi was interrupted, all previous efforts would be wasted.
Zhao Keran didn’t dare to disturb Lin Shuang, but after glancing a couple of times, a gradually saddened expression appeared on her face, mixed with regret.
“Sister, the wolf-hair brush you chose is not suitable; there’s too much ink and the lines become blurry when you stroke it. The cinnabar smudges on the yellow paper.”
“Ah, and the focal point of the talisman is slightly off.”
“The effectiveness of this communication talisman will be at most fifty percent. Sigh.”
Sister’s talisman crafting performance would probably end up being rated as mediocre by the Transmission Master again tomorrow.
Barely passing.
Zhao Keran sighed, and shifted her gaze away, but then saw that Lin Shuang’s face wasn’t showing the frustration of the ink smudging on the yellow talisman paper. Instead, she looked content and confident, exuding an air of self-assuredness and strength.
As if she was crafting high-tier talismans.
Zhao Keran couldn’t help but admire her sister. Could this be the mental resilience that Sister mentioned in the “Fastest Cultivation Discussion”?
“Sister.”
After Lin Shuang finished a stroke, Zhao Keran gently placed the third communication talisman she had completed on her desk.
Her talisman assignment had been rated as excellent by their master last time.
“Take a look at mine.”
But just as Zhao Keran was about to hand over the talisman, Lin Shuang’s brush tip flipped it over and pushed it away in an instant.
“Go away, be good~”
“Don’t disturb Sister while she’s working.”
Zhao Keran froze and then retreated a step, feeling disoriented and rejected.
Even though she didn’t rank first like Senior Brother Zhou Xuanwu every time, she had special confidence in her communication talisman.
Zhao Keran felt despondent, retreating to her desk and listlessly drawing small circles with her fingers.
Inside the small wooden hut, there were two beds side by side, each against the wall beside a window.
One facing south, the other north.
The space in the middle aisle was occupied by two square wooden tables placed side by side.
Zhao Keran stood with her back to Lin Shuang, her heart heavy with sorrow.
Behind her, the table that had twelve yellow paper talismans spread out emitted a faint red glow.
With each stroke of her brush, Lin Shuang’s willpower was evident, as if the cinnabar ink had entered the table!
Beneath the twelve yellow paper talismans—
On the surface of the wooden table, a third-tier Gathering Spirit Talisman was formed!
“!?? ?”
Just as the Mountain and Sea Sect’s Xiao Qi had located Wooden Hut 99, he peered inside through the plum-carved window.
Even the pain from the beating he had just endured was forgotten as he stood there in shock.
[Senior Brother, is there a possibility that someone seems to be crafting a low-level talisman, but is actually crafting a mid-level one?]
He clenched the voice transmission stone in his hand, his mind in a daze.
He saw the female cultivator at the third stage of Qi Refining who had just beaten him up wearing a gray robe. Her sleeves hung down from her wrists, revealing a fair portion of snowy-white skin.
With her delicate wrists holding the ink-black wolf-hair brush handle, she smiled contentedly.
The radiance of two different-level talismans, different in quality and grade, flashed and vanished under the brush strokes!
Xiao Qi stood outside the window in utter astonishment.
[Junior Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Even though you’re a sword cultivator, you’ve learned the basics of talisman crafting. Different talismans have completely different patterns and Talismans. How can they be crafted simultaneously?]
Well, they can.
Xiao Qi directly ended the communication with Senior Brother.
Looking at the wooden hut again, he prepared to push the door open but then heard Lin Shuang’s languid voice from inside.
“Mmm, I’ve completed today’s talisman practice.”
“Sister, oh, your first-grade communication talisman is sloppily done. Our Transmission Master won’t be pleased.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qi took in a sharp breath.
A sloppy first-grade communication talisman, because it was merely a side task. The third-tier talisman with the ink on the tabletop was the real focus of the practice!
Just as he was about to enter the room, a ripple spread across the wooden hut’s surface, and words appeared.
[If you’re looking for Lin Shuang, please leave a message if it’s not urgent.]
[Today, Lin Shuang’s communication schedule is full. Matters of communication with her can be resumed at noon tomorrow.]
Xiao Qi: “!”
For him, as a junior disciple of mountain and sea sect, it wasn’t easy to come here.
Especially since the two sects often clashed over the Spirit Spring.
Just now, he had managed to bribe the gatekeeper with fifty spirit stones to gain entry.
But just as he was about to knock on the door, a stern voice suddenly sounded behind Xiao Qi.
“Hmm, a Mountain and Sea Sect disciple?”
Xiao Qi turned to look and saw three sword cultivators floating about ten steps away in midair, standing with their arms crossed.
They were dressed in black attire with conspicuous red belts across their chests—the insignia of patrol duty for the Clearwater Sect.
“Bold! The dispute over the Spirit Spring has ended! Without permission, how dare a Mountain and Sea Sect’s disciples not sheath their swords when entering our Clearwater Sect!” The person at the forefront scolded.
Xiao Qi furrowed his brows.
He couldn’t hand over his sword; it was his wife.
However, this patrolling individual was at least at the Foundation Establishment stage, and his speech carried an imposing pressure.
Xiao Qi couldn’t beat him.
Next time, should he bring his senior brother’s sword as collateral and then visit again?
“Senior Sister Lin Shuang, today, Xiao Qi from the Mountain and Sea Sect is here to visit!”
Xiao Qi hurriedly shouted.
“I just wanted to inform you that if you require… fat-burning exercise next time, Senior Sister can find me anytime.”
The patrolling disciple was taken aback.
Xiao Qi spoke while retreating, preparing to leave. But just as he was about to go, the door of Hut 99 creaked open behind him.
“Oh? Are you the one from earlier?”
A cheerful and melodious female voice came from behind the open door.
“Are you willing to establish a long-term fat-burning partnership with me?”
Although dressed in gray robes, Lin Shuang’s eyes were sparkling.
With a wolf-hair brush in hand and a sheet of yellow paper talisman with fresh ink, she walked out of the wooden hut.
She smiled.
A long-term exercise partner wasn’t easy to find.
In her previous life, as a fitness coach, the starting price was three hundred yuan per hour.
Moreover, she was too close to her roommate, making her hesitant to make a move.
But in the Mountain and Sea Sect, finding a workout partner didn’t come with such concerns!
This was entirely voluntary on the other party’s part.
Lin Shuang opened the wooden door, and her phoenix eyes involuntarily looked at Xiao Qi.
She saw that he had changed into a royal blue silk robe, his countenance dignified. However, he still had his sword wrapped in cloth on his back, which looked out of place.
Approaching him, she couldn’t help but recall the exhilarating fat-burning boxing workout during the spirit spring dispute.
A straight punch precisely hit his chest.
An uppercut landed on his chin.
A downward punch aimed at his abdominal muscles.
More importantly, at this moment, there was a hint of condensed energy around him, as if he was about to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
In this way, he could at least make her sweat.
This ‘punching bag’ was exactly what she needed at the moment.
If she missed this chance, who knew how many more years she would have to wait.
“Let’s add each other as friends.” Lin Shuang’s eyes shimmered as she handed over the communication stone.
Friends?
Xiao Qi smiled gracefully, the mole on the tip of his nose seemed to shine. He carefully raised his cloth-wrapped sword, lifted the non-crease silk robe, and accepted the voice-transmitting stone, inputting his spiritual sense mark.
But just as he made contact, a sharp blade wind descended from midair.
“Mountain and Sea Sect disciple, if you don’t sheathe your sword, leave at once!” The leader of the patrol team shouted angrily.
The blade wind slashed ruthlessly at Xiao Qi, sending him back more than ten steps.
Xiao Qi’s expression grew solemn. He swiftly drew the wrapped sword from the package and threw it into the air.
Quickly wiping his shoes’ soles and the silk robe covering his body with a dust-removing spell, he leaped onto the sword, soared into the air, and said, “Senior Sister Lin Shuang, I take my leave. In a few days, after I borrow my senior brother’s sword, I’ll come to find you again! If there’s something urgent, I’ll contact you through the voice-transmitting stone.”
Lin Shuang blinked, caught the communication stone, and waved a hand toward the sky.
In mid-air, there was a cold snort.
Lin Shuang looked up and saw the leader of the patrol team. His black martial outfit was disheveled, with the third button of his left lapel tangled with the second button of his right lapel. The first button was undone, revealing an uneven inner shirt and a side of his collarbone.
His black boots were mismatched—one leather and one dark surface, differing in height by half an inch.
His entire appearance was disheveled as if he were drunk.
However, this person happened to possess a pair of narrow peach blossom eyes, the slightly red corners of his eyes exuding a flirtatious allure. His black and white pupils were distinct, brimming with youthful spirit. At this moment, from midair, he looked down at Lin Shuang with a gaze that carried a hint of scrutiny.
“Outer Sect disciples, listen to the instruction!”
His voice was clear, carrying a tone of admonishment. Three strands of silver thread in water-like patterns were embroidered on the buttons crossing over his collar.
He was at the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment.
“Focus on cultivation and avoid unnecessary interactions with unrelated people!”
Lin Shuang uttered a sound of understanding, nodded, and quickly turned back into the wooden hut.
“Disastrous, talking to unrelated individuals has wasted five breaths of resting time!”
“???”
The peach-blossom-eyed patrol leader’s brow twitched, and his chest heaved.
“Senior Brother Meng, the Outer Sect doesn’t fall under our jurisdiction. Why bother meddling?” The patrol disciple behind him said, puzzled.
The peach-blossom-eyed senior brother turned around immediately, “Return to the Inner Sect!”
However, as he was leaving, he quickly shot out a wooden plaque from his right hand, landing it in the spiritual field not far from the wooden cabin.
What do you understand?
Saving one life is saving one life.
Does it mean that disciples from other sects are not human? Is he just indifferent to their fate?
—Quickly leave Lin Shuang. If you don’t advance, you’ll regress. Living with her will only weaken your path of cultivation!
—A Kind-hearted person.
The wooden plaque lay lonely in the spiritual field.
Zhao Keran went out to buy food at night and happened to step on it. She suddenly looked around but didn’t see anyone.
“The 309th wooden plaque… It’s been three years.”
“Who is this kind-hearted person? Where did Senior Sister offend him?”
“Village Chief, rest assured, I will strive to cultivate diligently.”
Meng Zi, in his black martial outfit, carried a broadsword as wide as his back. Returning to the Inner Sect’s dwelling, he caressed a small totem image that was half-human and half-snake in his hand.
Thinking about Lin Shuang’s appearance just now, his brow wouldn’t stop twitching.
She was in the Clearwater Sect, benefiting from an excellent cultivation environment, and receiving three hundred spirit stones per month. Yet, she wasted her potential, her cultivation stuck at the Third Layer of Qi Refining for many years without making any progress.
The few times they had encountered each other during patrols, she was either reading a celestial script or looking at some “Golden Carp Sect Master” illustration book, and listening to music played on her sound-cultivating qin.
Meng Zi closed his eyes.
When there’s a flood, drown in it. When there’s a drought, die from it.
She was so inattentive like this, disregarding the guidance of her transmission master and affecting the disciples around her. Did she even realize how many children outside the sect wished to seek the Dao, yet lacked the chance to start their studies?
Meng Zi shook his head with a sigh.
“Senior Brother Meng, several disciples within the sect have responded to your task of acquiring Third Layer Foundation Establishment Talismans.”
Meng Zi was contemplating within his Inner Sect bedroom when a shy voice, like a clear spring, sounded from behind him.
He turned to look at his handsome junior brother who lived with him. A hint of sympathy flashed in his eyes.
Putting away the village chief’s wooden carving, he focused on this petite and timid white-robed junior brother standing before him.
“Xiao Bai, you have entered the inner sect and left Lin Shuang for many years. Now that there’s no one pressuring you to live with her, have you truly considered it? Are you sure you won’t revert to your female form?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Bai’s face turned slightly red.
He lowered his head and remained silent.
Meng Zi sighed, “Fine. It’s up to you.”
Poor Xiao Bai, a little clam spirit with innate beauty. Eight years ago, after living with Lin Shuang for several months in the Outer Sect’s Wooden Hut No. 99, he couldn’t endure it anymore.
To move out of Cabin No. 99 in the outer sect, he even forced himself to mature prematurely, changing his gender. From that point on, he transformed from a maiden in red robes into a young man.
From the day he matured and became a young man, Xiao Bai’s once black hair turned white overnight, he broke through to the Fifth Layer of the Foundation Establishment, and began living in the inner sect with him.
All these sacrifices were thanks to that woman, Lin Shuang.
Today, Xiao Bai had somewhat escaped from his ordeal, but Zhao Keran, a promising disciple, was still struggling in the mire.
“Don’t worry, I saw Lin Shuang today. Give her ten years, and I’m afraid she won’t even enter the inner sect.”
Meng Zi stood up, patting Xiao Bai’s thin shoulder.
“Her cultivation is low; she might even be expelled from the outer sect.”
Xiao Bai looked up, his deer-like eyes flashing with obvious confusion.
His delicate and handsome face, seemingly fragile but already at the Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment, was filled with disagreement and doubt.
However, he hesitated to speak his thoughts and eventually sighed, condensing his thoughts into one sentence.
“Senior Brother Meng… You’d better stay away from her.”
“Alright, today was just a chance encounter during patrol.”
Meng Zi opened the trading list for Gathering Spirit Talismans and began to carefully browse.
Xiao Bai instantly felt relieved.
His gaze passed through the bedroom wall, looking southeast towards the outer sect.
His expression was complex.
Staying away from her was best because—
“Her cultivation speed… is too fast, she’s not even… human.”
Faster than monsters born with inherited bloodlines!
Time management, efficiency guidelines… Every day, she cultivates at a speed dozens of times faster than others and then just lies down!
As Xiao Bai thought about it, his long butterfly-like eyelashes trembled.
“Hmm?” Meng Zi looked up. “What did you say?”
A beautiful but somewhat reluctant smile graced Xiao Bai’s lips.
When meeting her, there was a world of difference.
The more self-confident someone is the greater their inner demons.
Not knowing anything is the best.
Being the only one hurt is enough.
Xiao Bai silently walked to his meditation cushion, sat down cross-legged, and began absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. “Senior Brother, don’t ask, you won’t want to know. I’m cultivating.”
“Speaking in riddles.”
Meng Zi shook his head.
However, since Xiao Bai had lived with him, he had proven to be attentive and gentle.
He often transformed his tears into spiritual stones, helping him through difficult times.
He owed his kind-hearted Junior Brother Bai a lot.
【Credit Account: Junior Brother Bai’s 102 Tears — Approximately 1020 Spirit Stones.】
Meng Zi glanced at the rough wooden card with a carved IOU inside the tattered mustard seed pouch, sighing involuntarily.
He immediately switched the list of sect talisman exchanges he was browsing to be arranged from lowest to highest price.
【Third Layer Foundation Establishment Talisman (Lightly Used), 700 Spirit Stones.】
【Third Layer Foundation Establishment Talisman (Damaged, Clearance Price), 950 Spirit Stones.】
…
Meng Zi browsed through, feeling both heartache and hesitation.
The lower-priced ones were severely damaged, and their durability was uncertain.
But soon, his eyes brightened when he saw a seller offering detailed information and an unusually cheap price.
【Third-Grade Gathering Spirit Talisman (Unusual), 1200 Spirit Stones. Slightly different appearance, please, refrain from negative comments.】
【Effect: Equivalent to standard three-grade. If practiced without breaks, usable for ten days at the Mid-Grade Foundation Establishment, and three months at the Lower-Grade Foundation Establishment. Once used, the talisman disintegrates and cannot be repaired.】
This was a good choice!
Although it was marked as ‘appearance is different’, sounding a bit peculiar.
However the duration of use was clearly explained by the seller, and the price was reasonable.
He immediately messaged the talisman seller disciple on the sect’s trading platform.
【The Most Generous One】: Brother, is trading convenient for you now?
【The Most Generous One】: Would you mind if we trade privately♀♂?
Meng Zi carefully added spacing Talismans between the restricted words on the sect trading platform.
Whenever a trade occurred on the sect trading platform, the sect deducted a 10% commission, split evenly between the two parties.
Private trades avoided this.
The seller replied quickly.
【The Fastest Female Cultivator】: Time and place.
【The Most Generous One】: Night, Inner Sect — South — Dog’s Den — Treasure, got it?
【The Fastest Female Cultivator】: Okay.
Prompt and decisive.
Truly living up to being the fastest woman.
Meng Zi showed admiration in his expression.
*
The night was dark and the wind was high. In Room No. 99.
Lin Shuang placed down the disciple’s waist token in her hand, walked to the square wooden table, and lowered her head to inspect the cinnabar seeping into the wood.
Satisfied, she nodded, then put the square wooden table into her mustard seed pouch.
