"I've done all that I could; my conscience is clear. From here on out, it's up to you."

Upon exiting Qingliu County's government office, Qi Xiu maneuvered his aquatic scouting Escape Light, transforming it into a faint, thin mist. He passed through streets and alleys, heading straight back home.

But just as he reached his front door, a sleazy, hunched figure with a protruding rear was crouched before it, as if preparing to pry it open.

A thief?

With a raised eyebrow, Qi Xiu's fingers curled, condensing a wisp of Qi Force. He was about to hit this "gentleman on the beam" with a blow to the chrysanthemum.

But just as he was about to make his move, the figure with its buttocks poked out suddenly, as if possessed, turned its head and stared straight at him with round, rolling eyes.

He's noticed me? Surprised, Qi Xiu hadn't expected the thief to detect his moves, his thoughts racing in an instant.

No, that's not right! This person isn't a mere thief. Malicious intent lurks here! How could a common thief detect the movements of an Initiate Realm cultivator?

Qi Xiu's face tensed; his wide sleeves fluttered, and his fingers moved swiftly. One [Suppression Talisman] after another rapidly overlaid and fused, gradually forming a dazzling, oppressive golden character for 'Suppress'.

Suppression Talisman Seal Skill!

With the ability to draw talismans in void space, the Suppression Talisman Seal Skill could be executed out of thin air, freeing it from the limitation of using only talisman paper for sealing. It transformed into a potent sealing technique!

The golden 'Suppress' character shimmered into existence, golden light chains coiling out, aiming to securely bind and seal the shadowy figure.

"Hahaha, you've finally returned!"

As the golden light chains wrapped around him, far from being horrified, the dark figure actually welcomed it with joy, laughing as he walked straight toward the Suppression Talisman Seal Skill.

"Not bad, not bad at all. The talismans connect and form into a spell, carrying a bit of the charm of the ancient Talisman Array Tao."

The golden light chains from the Suppression Talisman Seal Skill bound him up like a rice dumpling, but the figure's voice of admiration didn't cease for a moment. By then, the golden light had also revealed the dark figure's appearance.

He was a red-faced, portly middle-aged Daoist, dressed in an azure Daoist robe with a wooden sword hanging at his lower back. That look was strikingly similar to Taiyi Zhenren from a Nezha movie in Qi Xiu's previous life.

"Young brother, from whence does your mastery of talismanic techniques originate?" asked the fat Daoist earnestly, with bulging eyes.

"Daoist, for you to inquire about my master in the middle of the night at my doorstep seems somewhat impolite. According to etiquette, should not the Daoist first offer his own name?"

Qi Xiu observed the Daoist's suspicious behavior but sensed no trace of demonic or evil aura around him. Moreover, the [Suppression Talisman] did not display any particular reaction, clearly indicating he wasn't among the Demonic Evil Cultivators.

"The young brother is correct. I was too excited and forgot my manners." With a smile, the fat Daoist shook the flesh on his face and flicked his sleeves. The golden light chains around him instantly dissipated.

Well, well, quite the concealed depth. Seeing the fat Daoist easily shatter the Suppression Talisman Seal Skill without even summoning his protective True Gang, Qi Xiu's heart tightened.

This wasn't someone on his level... Standing upright, the fat Daoist announced his title with a light declaration:

"Boundless Celestial Venerable, Daoist Qingya, a Sect Member of the Lingguang Baozong."

Lingguang Baozong? Isn't this a coincidence? Qi Xiu looked surprised, not expecting this odd, fat Daoist to actually be a Sect Member of Lingguang Baozong, the legendary great talisman sect. When he was in Baoho County, he had even once posed as a disciple of this sect.

"To be frank, tonight as I passed through Qingliu County, I suddenly noticed a brilliant talisman light below, extremely eye-catching. I couldn't help myself and came to your residence to observe. If I was at all rude, please forgive me, young brother. Honestly, I have specialized in talismanic techniques my entire life, but I have never seen such a novel talismanic technique. I wonder, young brother, who is your master..." Daoist Qingya rubbed his hands together, smiling broadly.

As a great Talisman Script sect, Lingguang Baozong's collection of talismanic techniques, while perhaps not the absolute best in the world, certainly ranked among the top three. Yet, passing through this county today, he was shocked to discover a set of talismanic techniques that were entirely different from any he knew. How could that not make him itch with curiosity, longing to discover their secrets?

"My sect is a small, unique lineage, with only three to five disciples in a generation, far too small to mention. Moreover, my teacher instructed that I should not divulge his or the sect's name. I hope Daoist Qingya will understand." With a bow, Qi Xiu nodded slightly and stepped past the fat Daoist from Lingguang Baozong.

"This..." Unable to uncover the roots of this intriguing talismanic technique, Daoist Qingya looked uncomfortable, his eyes rolling as he abruptly blocked Qi Xiu's way once more.

"It's fine if you can't say, but could you please take me to meet your master?"

"My teacher has no fixed abode; he wanders the Four Seas, and there's simply no finding him. Daoist Qingya, it's best not to dwell on this." With a slight frown, Qi Xiu changed directions to continue past Daoist Qingya.

Another plan shot down. Daoist Qingya's face reddened with effort as he scratched his ears and cheeks, then suddenly asked, "Young brother, do you have urgent matters to attend to?"

"Ah? Yes, indeed, very urgent." Perplexed, Qi Xiu glanced back at Daoist Qingya, inwardly rolling his eyes.

If it weren't for your disturbance, I, Qi Someone, would have already packed my belongings and prepared to make a run for it. And you have the nerve to ask.

"If there are urgent matters, then it's easy to deal with..." With a crafty smile creeping across his chubby face, Daoist Qingya stamped his foot firmly, his figure blurred, and he suddenly lunged forward in a swift motion. He brought his hands together and plopped down on the ground, stubbornly clinging to Qi Xiu's thigh.

"If you won't take me to your master, I won't let you leave. After all, I'm not in a hurry." With his chin held high, Daoist Qingya wore an expression of arrogant defiance, practically daring Qi Xiu to do anything about it.

Startled, Qi Xiu's pupils shook as he looked at Daoist Qingya, who was hugging his leg like a dead dog.

In the Cultivation Realm, was there really someone so shameless?

"Daoist, please get up, this is... unbefitting of your status," Qi Xiu said as he tugged on Daoist Qingya's sleeve, trying to pull him up.

But the fat Daoist shook his plump shoulders and shrugged off Qi Xiu's hands. "What status? I have no status. If you don't take me to see your master, I will let you know what 'shameless hounding for seven days' means!" As he spoke, Daoist Qingya hugged Qi Xiu's thigh even tighter, the picture of a dogged plaster.

"Daoist, I really have urgent matters."

"I know. If you weren't in such a rush, my strategy wouldn't work."

"Daoist, the Golden Flower Maternal Sect is going to attack any moment now. If we don't leave, it'll be too late," Qi Xiu said with a helpless look on his face, speaking in a low voice as he tried to persuade the Daoist still clinging to his leg.

Truth be told, if I were not incapable of defeating this fat Daoist, I would surely have rolled this dogged plaster up and stuffed it into a flowerpot to let him know what it means to be a 'vegetable'.

"Golden Flower Maternal Sect? What's there to be afraid of from a bunch of little girls?" Without even raising his head, Daoist Qingya spoke with a carefree tone. It seemed that to him, the massive evil cult that had troubled several Provincial Governments was nothing more than a rabble.

"Oh." Clearly unfazed by the Golden Flower Maternal Sect, Qi Xiu couldn't help but ask, "Then could Daoist make them retreat?"

"Of course not." Still with an air of taking it for granted, Daoist Qingya noticed the look in Qi Xiu's eyes and shrugged as he explained, "There's a rule that cultivators above the Blood-Stained Realm are not allowed to interfere in mundane conflicts."

A rule? Upon hearing this, Qi Xiu mused. Rules, but whose rules? Who had such audacity to establish a rule that the entire Cultivation Realm would abide by?

"Whose rule is so overbearing?" Glancing at Daoist Qingya, who was still hugging his leg, Qi Xiu probed with a light question.

"It's just..." About to answer, Daoist Qingya suddenly looked up at Qi Xiu. "If you take me to see your master, then I will tell you."

"I said, my master roams the world; you can't find him."

"Then I don't care."

Stuck in an irresolvable standoff, Qi Xiu looked at Daoist Qingya, who was stubbornly clinging to his leg and refusing to let go, while the sky was already starting to brighten.

"Daoist, let's go inside and continue this conversation; such behavior is really indecent," Qi Xiu suggested. Unable to shake off this persistent plaster, Qi Xiu could only invite him into the house first. Otherwise, once it was light and people started to wake up, the sight of two grown men in such a posture would be quite unsightly.

After thinking it over, Daoist Qingya nodded and let go of Qi Xiu, but he continued to prattle on, "Young brother, just take me to meet your master."

Upon entering the courtyard, Daoist Qingya's voice suddenly lowered as the [Medicine Talisman] under the [Suppression Talisman] caught his attention.

"HISS, what kind of talisman is this, containing a trace of the Divine Marvel of the Medicine Path? How curious, how bizarre, how fine, how wondrous!" With a flick of his large hand, countless ink droplets flew out from Daoist Qingya's sleeve and turned into fine threads that forcibly "plucked" a [Fish-Fragrance Soft Tendon Talisman] from the void.

Daoist Qingya treasured the [Fish-Fragrance Soft Tendon Talisman] as if it were the most precious find. This new type of talismanic technique, which completely broke from the traditional Talisman Script system, was like a new continent, filling the seasoned talisman enthusiast with ecstatic joy.

Watching Daoist Qingya engrossed in examining the [Fish-Fragrance Soft Tendon Talisman], Qi Xiu's expression was subtle, and an idea suddenly sprang to mind.

"Daoist, what do you think of this talisman?" Qi Xiu asked with a smile, approaching Daoist Qingya.

"Good! Although it lacks power, the idea is unique. Traditional talismanic techniques draw on one's own Divine Marvel, invoking the Power of Heaven and Earth to create effects such as killing, trapping, escaping, and transforming. But this talismanic technique is different. It directly evolves the Divine Marvel of other paths. It's like... it's like..." Suddenly stopping, Daoist Qingya furrowed his brows, unsure of how to express himself.

"It's like one is doing the work himself, while the other hires someone to do the work, right?"

"Yes, exactly, exactly!"

"Then take a look at this." Qi Xiu took out a Ghostly Shadow Formless Talisman from his embrace and handed it to Daoist Qingya.

"This talisman... eh? Hmm? Ouch? My goodness..." His face changing colors like a spinning lantern, Daoist Qingya became more astonished the more he looked.

"Martial Path..."

"Do you have more? Do you have more?" Whetted by curiosity, Daoist Qingya's eyes gleamed with eagerness.

"Yes, and there's plenty. But you must ensure I can leave Qingliu County. How about it?" Qi Xiu's eyes smiled. With a cultivator from the Blood-Stained Realm as a bodyguard, what could the Golden Flower Maternal Sect possibly do to me?

After a moment's consideration, Daoist Qingya discreetly tucked away the two talismans and, uncharacteristically solemn, said, "Let's do this: I can make an exception and grant you a great Opportunity. But after that, you must tell me from whom exactly you inherited these talismanic techniques."

A great Opportunity? What kind of Opportunity? Qi Xiu's eyes sharpened. A great cultivator like Daoist Qingya surely wouldn't make empty promises.

"I will help you secure this Qingliu County."

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