C30 Inscribed Grade Two Talisman

Xiao Yu shook his head, not sparing Wang Fei a second glance as he strode past him and departed with an icy demeanor. With his heart impaled by Xiao Yu's Dragon-Breaking Finger, Wang Fei's chances of survival were nonexistent.

Despite being unable to face the retaliation of the Wang Family at present, Xiao Yu was unconcerned. With Wang Fei and his underlings dead, the Wang Family was clueless about the perpetrator, rendering Wang Fei's threats insignificant.

"I can't die! I don't want to die! Please, I beg you..." Wang Fei clung to his final breath, his eyes filled with defiance, bitterness, and remorse. But his voice faded, and he collapsed, powerless, closing his eyes for the last time.

Xiao Yu's silhouette vanished, and the alley fell silent, the only sounds now absent, leaving only the still bodies in its quietude.

Time passed until Wang Fei, who had ceased breathing, quivered faintly, his chest beginning to rise and fall once more. Concurrently, an object on his chest shattered, turning to dust and merging with the wound, staunching the flow of blood.

Had Xiao Yu been there, he would have instantly recognized the object – a Talisman he knew all too well. Named the Hidden Talisman, it was rumored to bridge the living and the Netherworld. Imprinted with one's mark, it would sacrifice itself in the face of mortal peril to save its bearer.

Also known as the Death Substitute Talisman, this artifact was exceedingly rare, a Grade Three Talisman. Xiao Yu could never have imagined that someone in the unassuming Giant Stone City would possess such an item. He remained utterly oblivious to these events.

Upon his return to the Lin Family, Xiao Yu retreated to his quarters and promptly retrieved the Sacred Blood Earth he had secured at the Treasure-seizing Organization.

"With this Sacred Blood Earth, if I can inscribe a Grade Two Talisman, I'll at least have a measure of self-defense!" he mused.

A Grade One Talisman was suitable only for those at the Spirit Origin Stage. Even the most potent Grade One Talisman had limited power and could not influence those at the Qi-transforming Stage, much less pose a threat to such formidable cultivators.

Spirit Origin, Qi Transformation, Hidden Void, Four Extremities, and Manifestation – the chasm between these five realms was vast. Despite Xiao Yu's astonishing breadth of knowledge, he couldn't leverage the memories of his past life to pose a threat to a cultivator at the Qi-transforming Stage. In Giant Stone City, reaching the Qi Transformation Stage meant you were essentially a regional overlord.

Take Lin Wentian, the head of the Lin Family, for example; he had yet to advance to the Qi Transformation Stage and remained mired in the Spirit Origin Stage. Xiao Yu had previously encountered Jiang Yuanhong, who had attained the Qi Transformation Stage and was already a dominant force within Giant Stone City. As for the Hidden Void Stage, there was no one in Giant Stone City who had reached that level. Perhaps the ancestors of the three major families had once achieved it, but no longer.

A Grade One Talisman was associated with the Spirit Origin Stage, while a Grade Two Talisman was linked to the Qi-transforming Stage. Hence, if Xiao Yu could inscribe a Grade Two Talisman, he would be fearless in the city. Even in a confrontation with Lin Wentian, with the Grade Two Talisman at his command, he could vanquish him.

Setting the Sacred Blood Earth to one side, Xiao Yu gathered the necessary materials for the Talisman inscription and arranged them neatly. He had previously prepared several embryos for the Grade Two Talisman. Although he lacked the power to inscribe such a Talisman before, being ready with the materials was a fundamental practice for any Talisman Master.

On this occasion, Xiao Yu didn't rush into the inscription process. Instead, he sat down cross-legged, silently regulating his breath. The Sacred Blood Earth was exceedingly rare, and he couldn't afford to squander it. Moreover, with his current standing at the third tier of the Spirit Origin Stage, attempting to inscribe a Grade Two Talisman was as daunting as challenging a Qi Transformation Stage expert – a feat that seemed nearly impossible. But with the Sacred Blood Earth in hand, akin to wielding a formidable weapon, the impossible now shimmered with a hint of possibility.

Time passed indeterminately until Xiao Yu's mindset reached a state of utter tranquility, as still as a deep, ancient well, and his breathing grew profound and steady.

He opened his eyes, stood up, picked up the stone embryo, and began the intricate process of inscription.

As the blade made contact, Xiao Yu's vision swam, and he nearly collapsed. But with sheer determination, he managed to stay upright.

Inscribing a Talisman Imprint requires a formidable Spiritual Sense. Currently, he was attempting to inscribe a Grade Two Talisman with only the third turn of the Spirit Origin Stage under his belt—a perilous endeavor.

A single misstep could mean losing control of the Talisman Imprint's power, potentially shattering his soul.

Moreover, the Talisman Stone needed for a Grade Two Talisman was over ten times harder than that for a Grade One Talisman. Achieving a flawless inscription was a task of monumental difficulty, worlds apart from the lower grade.

The carving knife traced slowly over the stone embryo. Before long, Xiao Yu was drenched in sweat.

At last, with a crisp snap, the Talisman Stone broke apart, marking yet another unsuccessful attempt at inscription.

"Attempting to inscribe beyond my level is tougher than I imagined!" Xiao Yu mopped his brow and refrained from another attempt. Instead, he sat down cross-legged to allow his Spiritual Sense to replenish.

If anyone knew his thoughts at that moment, they might be tempted to give him a thrashing.

Typically, it takes dozens or even hundreds of failed attempts for someone to successfully inscribe a Talisman Imprint of their own level. No one dares to attempt inscribing beyond their level, as the backlash from the Talisman Imprint's power could be lethal.

Yet Xiao Yu had a perfect success rate with Talisman Imprints of his own level, and now he was boldly attempting—and failing—to inscribe higher-level Talismans without sustaining any injuries, merely finding the challenge taxing.

Such comparisons can be maddening!

Once his Spiritual Sense was restored, Xiao Yu rose to his feet and resumed his work.

The result, however, remained unchanged. He inscribed five Talisman Imprints in succession, each ending in failure.

The challenge was twofold: the Grade Two Talisman was exceedingly difficult to inscribe, and the power of its Talisman Imprint was nearly impossible to wield with precision.

"Must I resort to the Blood Guidance Technique once again?" Xiao Yu furrowed his brow in deep concern.

The last time he inscribed a talisman with zero cultivation, he had succeeded only by using the Blood Guidance Arcane Arts with his Essential Blood. Yet, this technique was damaging, as it harmed him with each use, essentially undermining his very foundation.

What's more, it had been less than a month since he last employed this technique. Using it again would have an even greater impact on him.

Though the Blood Guidance Arcane Arts was potent, it wasn't a technique to be used lightly. Each use required a lengthy period of recuperation. To use it in succession would be to hollow out all the life force within him.

"I may have slain Wang Fei, and while the Wang Family might remain unaware, there's no absolute certainty. Should they seek vengeance, I have no fear for myself, but it would surely bring harm to my mother."

Inscribing a Grade Two Talisman necessitated rest after each session, and now the dawn was breaking.

Gazing out the window at the lightening sky, Xiao Yu steeled himself and decided to proceed with the Blood Guidance Technique.

As before, he bit his tongue and let his Essential Blood flow onto the Talisman Imprint, then commenced the inscription.

This time, the process of inscribing was noticeably smoother than before, but Xiao Yu remained utterly concentrated, careful not to allow any distractions.

With a hum, the Talisman Stone quivered slightly, releasing a brilliant light that carried with it an intimidating power, as if the authority of the heavens was radiating outward in every direction.

Upon witnessing this, Xiao Yu quickly applied the Sarced Blood Earth to the freshly inscribed Talisman Imprint.

The once black Sarced Blood Earth, upon contact with the Talisman Imprint, seemed to spring to life, its color swiftly transforming back to a vibrant blood hue.

The potent combination of an expert's blood and the Grade Two Talisman Imprint brought the blood-soaked Sarced Blood Earth to life, emanating a fearsome energy.

At that moment, the Talisman Imprint resembled an ancient powerhouse awakening from a long slumber, exuding a commanding presence that could overwhelm the heavens and earth, sweeping across the land like a tempest.