C3 I Can Teach You

Within Giant Stone City, there were three prominent families: the Qin, Ye, and Wang families. The Lin Family, by comparison, was merely a second-tier family, hardly a match for the top three.

Beyond these families, the city harbored several enigmatic and formidable powers that even the elite families dared not provoke lightly. Among these was Tianming Pavilion.

"Take a good look; this is a Spirit-drawing Talisman, a rarity that has been lost for ages. Nowadays, there are scarcely any who can inscribe such a talisman. When used during cultivation, it can multiply the speed of one's progress. How many crystals do you think this talisman could fetch?"

Upon entering Tianming Pavilion, Xiao Yu was immediately drawn to a conversation. A girl in yellow was negotiating with a Pavilion attendant, evidently intending to sell the stone piece she held.

"Spirit-drawing Talisman?" Xiao Yu's attention was captured by the item in the girl's hand, his surprise evident.

Could someone still inscribe such talismans?

These talismans were stone artifacts with a myriad of uses, encapsulating profound mysteries within their modest size to produce a vast array of effects.

Offensive talismans could shatter mountains and fell stars, while defensive ones could withstand a mighty blow or even sacrifice themselves in place of the bearer. There were also spatial talismans, capable of containing vast landscapes within their confines.

The Tianming Pavilion was renowned for trading in these talismans, offering a wide selection for purchase and actively acquiring various types.

Xiao Yu's visit was purposeful; he sought materials to inscribe his own talismans, aiming to quell the dark energy within him.

It's worth noting that in his past life, he was the Ninth Heaven Sovereign, with a longevity that allowed him to reach the apex of every field in existence. His prowess in Forging Artifacts, alchemy, and strategic formations was nothing short of legendary.

Among the various disciplines, Xiao Yu's most cherished and proficient area was the Talisman Dao.

He believed that both refining medicine and forging artifacts were rather simplistic. No matter how advanced the forging, it would only result in a powerful weapon. While the effects of refined medicine were potent, they were limited to internal use. Even the strongest array formations were immobile and inflexible.

In contrast, a Talisman could serve as a weapon and could also be applied to a person's body. It was capable of both defense and offense, effectively replacing the other disciplines.

The Spirit-drawing Talisman mentioned by the girl was a type of Talisman that could accelerate cultivation speed. Such Talismans were common ten thousand years ago but had since become a lost art. How could this girl possibly inscribe one?

"Miss, while you make that claim, the energy fluctuations of your Talisman seem unusual. Besides, this type of Talisman has been lost for ages, and we're unsure if it will function properly," the attendant from Tianming Pavilion said, clearly hesitant to purchase the Talisman from the girl.

"Isn't the solution obvious? Tianming Pavilion deals in these matters. Why not just have someone verify it?" the girl retorted, her face showing her displeasure.

Upon closer examination, the girl was clad in yellow, her posture elegant, with delicate features.

Her eyes sparkled with intelligence, reminiscent of a whimsical sprite.

"Your Talisman is flawed. The power within is erratic and unstable. It has form but lacks essence. Should it be activated, the power will scatter and fail to produce the desired effect," Xiao Yu interjected as he approached.

He took an interest in the girl. Becoming a Talisman Master, despite its power, was exceedingly challenging, and far fewer pursued it compared to Alchemy and Forging Artifacts.

Moreover, mastery of this path required extensive research and an immense amount of energy, more so than any other discipline.

Typically, a Talisman Master would be someone of advanced years, yet this girl was remarkably young. She either had the tutelage of a master or possessed extraordinary innate talent for the Talisman Dao.

"Who are you?" The young girl eyed Xiao Yu with a mix of wariness and astonishment.

She was intimately familiar with her own Talisman. Indeed, as Xiao Yu had mentioned, once its power was activated, it would dissipate. Yet, she couldn't pinpoint the flaw, which is why she sought the expertise of Tianming Pavilion to diagnose the issue.

"My identity isn't important, but I can show you how to inscribe a genuine Spirit-drawing Talisman," Xiao Yu offered, sensing her potential. With so few people around, if she truly had a gift, he wouldn't mind guiding her.

"You claim you can inscribe such a Talisman?" The girl's eyes widened before she scoffed.

The art of the Spirit-drawing Talisman was long lost, beyond the reach of even seasoned Talisman Masters. Xiao Yu, appearing only a year or two her senior, boasted of such skill—how could he possibly possess the ability to teach her?

"Believe it or not, that's your choice. When you return, use a Blood Vein Stone instead of a regular Talisman Stone. Inscribe it where the moonlight is strongest at midnight. Once inscribed, immerse it in boundless water for exactly one hour—not a minute more, nor less," Xiao Yu instructed, then left, indifferent to whether she took his advice.

In his past life, countless formidable figures clamored for his guidance. A single comment from him could provide infinite value, regardless of the field.

Now, he had willingly offered to teach her the ways of the Talisman. If she chose not to believe, she would simply miss her chance. Xiao Yu's stature meant he had no need to persuade the incredulous further or demean himself by insisting.

"Are you a Talisman Master too?" The girl's skepticism lingered after hearing Xiao Yu's advice.

His words had a ring of truth, but she found it hard to believe. Could someone so young really grasp the intricacies of the long-lost Spirit-drawing Talisman?

With skepticism, the young girl scrutinized Xiao Yu's every action. If Xiao Yu were truly a formidable Talisman Master, he surely wouldn't leave Tianming Pavilion empty-handed.

Approaching the counter, Xiao Yu purchased ten blank talisman embryos, a carving knife, and a bottle of Beast Blood before departing.

"He's merely a Grade One Talisman Master!" The girl watched Xiao Yu's choices and felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. The items Xiao Yu bought were essential for crafting talismans, yet they were all basic, grade one materials, suitable only for creating Grade One Talismans at best. How could he ever manage to inscribe the lost Spirit-drawing Talisman with such limited resources?

"Yuxuan, are you causing trouble again?"

After Xiao Yu's exit, a middle-aged man approached the girl from behind, his eyes filled with affection and a hint of exasperation.

"Master, it's not like that. You're the one who's always in seclusion. Naturally, I have to find someone else to help me figure out what's wrong with the Spirit-drawing Talisman!" Qin Yuxuan set aside her concerns and cheekily stuck out her pink tongue.

"You are... the Pavilion Master?" The attendant, previously entangled by Qin Yuxuan, looked at the man as if he'd seen a ghost.

The Pavilion Master of Tianming Pavilion held the highest position and wielded the greatest authority within the organization. Aside from the Great Elder, who possessed profound strength and spent years in seclusion studying the Talisman Dao, he was the ultimate decision-maker.

Moreover, the Pavilion Master's status in Giant Stone City was that of an undisputed ruler. Even the leaders of the three major families would treat him with utmost respect. As for other family heads, like those of the Lin Family, they didn't even qualify for an audience.

This low-ranking attendant had never met the Pavilion Master, but he had certainly heard of him. Recognizing the emblem on the man's chest, he identified him instantly. Yet, here was this girl who had just been trying to sell a talisman to Tianming Pavilion, casually calling the Pavilion Master her master. What was going on? The attendant's mind struggled to keep up.

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