Chapter 39: A Talisman Prodigy?

Li Meng cast a glance back at the Golden Core Grandmaster known as “Ruoshui.”

Like himself, this Grandmaster was fast approaching his lifespan limit. The aura of death clinging to him was even thicker than Li Meng’s own.

With a Luck value of only 200, his chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm were non-existent. Yet, a Golden Core cultivator boasted a long lifespan. Even shrouded in such a heavy deathly aura, he still had decades left to live.

“Senior Brother! Senior Brother!”

A charming, familiar voice called out from the distance. Li Meng turned toward the sound with a smile.

It was Junior Sister Yuan and Junior Brother Xuan. The two flew over and landed on the deck.

“Senior Brother!” They both bowed respectfully toward Li Meng.

Li Meng chuckled, stroking his beard. “It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back. Go on, submit your spirit herbs.”

Xuan Hao turned to go submit the plants. Yuan Baobao blinked at Senior Brother Li before following him. Her lush, graceful figure only added to her charm.

Approximately half an hour later, the five-colored pillars of light on the island vanished.

“Everyone, please!” The five Nascent Soul Ancestors hovering in the sky bowed to one another. Then, transforming into streaks of light, they returned to their respective camps.

The massive “Heaven-Piercing Spirit Boat” pulsed with intense waves of spiritual power. It slowly turned, retracing its path back toward the sect. The other sects departed as well.

Joyous Union Sect, Heaven-Piercing Spirit Boat. Upper Deck Quarters.

“Master, it’s no wonder so many Outer Disciples have died or suffered injuries entering the ‘Scarlet Forbidden Ground’ in recent years. It turns out demonic cultivators from the State of Yue have been secretly causing trouble. Who knows how many of the returning Outer Disciples are actually Yue Country demonic cultivators in disguise!”

Qi Wei sat on a chair, her small feet swinging back and forth.

Not far away, a graceful figure reclined on a bed. The curve of her waist resembled rolling hills—swelling where it should swell, dipping where it should dip. If she were to look down, she wouldn’t even see her toes, let alone the floor a meter away.

Her exquisite face was like a piece of finely carved jade—flawless, perfect, and naturally formed. That waist, those legs, that stunning beauty… everything was beyond reproach.

“Master, we must thoroughly investigate those surviving Outer Disciples. Hmm… except for that Little Old Man Senior Brother. He is definitely a genuine disciple of our sect!”

“Little Old Man Senior Brother?” Nangong Wan turned her beautiful eyes toward Qi Wei. Her voice was gentle and soft, evoking a warm, comfortable feeling.

Qi Wei’s eyes curved into crescents. “That’s the Little Old Man Senior Brother we met at the Thousand Treasure Pavilion not long ago! Master, he’s amazing. He knows not only alchemy but also talisman drawing. His attainments in both the Alchemy Dao and Talisman Dao are probably unmatched in the entire sect.”

Nangong Wan’s gaze lingered on Qi Wei for a moment. Under her master’s scrutiny, Qi Wei wore a conflicted expression. She hopped off her seat and approached her master.

“Master, this is what Little Old Man Senior Brother gave me. You mustn’t tell a third soul! Otherwise, this disciple might develop a Heart Demon and likely never form a Golden Core in this lifetime.”

Qi Wei reached the bedside and, with great reluctance, extended her two small hands. In one lay a golden talisman; in the other, a jade vial.

Nangong Wan waved her hand lightly, and both items flew into her grasp.

The talisman in her hand emanated an aura of Heavenly Dao principles, causing a flicker of surprise in Nangong Wan’s eyes. “To draw a Divine Firmament Talisman using only second-grade talisman paper… he truly is a prodigy!”

The Path of Talismans was profound and mysterious. Drawing a Divine Firmament Talisman was the lifelong aspiration of any Talisman Master. And today, she had encountered such a prodigy.

A faint smile touched Nangong Wan’s lips. Such a talisman prodigy would be exceedingly rare even in the Upper Continents.

Nangong Wan then looked at the jade vial. “This is… Flawless Pills?”

Her expression shifted slightly. If the Flawless Pills in this vial were truly refined by that Outer Disciple… then his attainments in both Alchemy Dao and Talisman Dao might be unparalleled across the entire Tianlan Continent. Could such a genius really be hidden within our sect?

“It’s just too bad Little Old Man Senior Brother has Waste Spirit Roots and is nearing his lifespan limit. He won’t live much longer!”

Little Qi Wei sighed gloomily, feeling a pang of sadness. Little Old Man Senior Brother was so nice. The thought that he would soon face Sitting Death made Qi Wei feel uncomfortable. That feeling of helplessness was truly detestable.

A trace of regret flashed in Nangong Wan’s eyes. She waved her slender jade hand, returning the talisman and vial to Qi Wei.

“Such is the cruelty of fate,” she murmured softly. “No matter how monstrous his talent in Alchemy or Talismans might be… once his body perishes and his Dao dissipates, all becomes fleeting smoke.”

If he were a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she would have moved heaven and earth to obtain a Longevity Pill for him. But he was merely at the Qi Condensation stage. A Qi Condensation cultivator simply couldn’t withstand the medicinal potency of a Longevity Pill.

“The matter of the demonic cultivators must not be spread,” Nangong Wan said, her tone shifting back to seriousness. “This needs to be handled discreetly.”

“Mhm, mhm! I won’t breathe a word!” Qi Wei hurriedly stored the talisman and pills back into her storage pouch. These are treasures given by Little Old Man! Mustn’t lose them!

Lower Deck. In another room.

“Senior Brother,” Yuan Baobao said softly as they stood side-by-side by the window, her arms wrapped tightly around Li Meng’s arm. “How did so many demonic cultivators infiltrate the teams of the five great sects? After we separated from you, Junior Brother Xuan and I encountered several other sect disciples. It was terrible luck! Of those we met, only one was a genuine disciple; all the others were demonic cultivators! Fortunately, because of our earlier experience, Junior Brother Xuan and I were more cautious. We managed to counter-ambush and kill them!”

Li Meng reached out and gently stroked Junior Sister Yuan’s cheek. Yuan Baobao’s eyes curved into crescents as she gave him an alluring smile.

Li Meng tapped her nose playfully. “Junior Sister, you must stop tempting this old Senior Brother.”

Junior Sister Yuan pursed her lips into a smile, her cheeks flushing pink. A hint of coquettish charm flashed in her eyes.

“It is good you returned safely,” Li Meng said sincerely. “In the future, you and Junior Brother Xuan must not undertake such dangerous tasks again.”

For Junior Brother Xuan and Junior Sister Yuan, the Scarlet Forbidden Ground had been far too perilous. Without the life-saving talismans he had given them, they would never have left that place alive.

Yuan Baobao hugged his arm tighter, trembling with lingering fear. “Senior Brother… without those life-saving talismans you gave us… Junior Brother Xuan and I would have died long ago. He said as much to me as well. Our decision to venture into the Scarlet Forbidden Ground was indeed too reckless. We underestimated its dangers… We will be much more careful from now on.”

A look of profound relief passed through Yuan Baobao’s eyes. Though she felt somewhat guilty toward Junior Brother Xuan for thinking it… without Senior Brother Li… both of them would have undoubtedly perished there without any hope of survival.