Chapter 40: Can’t You Get Exhausted Listening To Lectures All Night?
Long chuckled, then heard Ming Zhaoshuang say, “You’ve talked so much about the Beast Taming Saint, but she has nothing to do with me. We’ve gotten sidetracked. Why don’t you teach me how to draw talismans first?”
Long followed her words and said, “Talismans gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, contain the essence of an individual, and use their spiritual consciousness to depict states.”
“Formations rely on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, express the will of an individual, and use their form to disrupt states. Although both belong to the path of Talisman Arts, they are vastly different…”
The lamplight brightened and then gradually dimmed, dimmed and then brightened again, shadows flickering, indistinct.
Until daylight broke, and sunlight burst through the window, bringing a golden and warm aura. The ancient bell at the mountain gate struck, its resonant sound invading Ming Zhaoshuang’s mind.
Long yawned sleepily, then burrowed into Ming Zhaoshuang’s sleeve, circling her wrist as he fell asleep.
Ming Zhaoshuang walked towards the mountain gate.
Outside the mountain gate, disciples of the Lingxiao Sect and Bixia Sect had been waiting for a long time.
Their faces were ashen, and they appeared listless, clearly having not rested well the previous night.
After all, the Ao Tian Sect had a beautiful environment and a cool climate. Every night, a gentle breeze would blow, and unknown spiritual beasts would often pass by, or unknown apes and birds would cry out, making it very suitable for outdoor survival.
Look, they were all happily thanking the Ao Tian Sect disciples.
“If you have the guts, let us rest properly. Even if you win, it’s an unrighteous victory!”
“Ao Tian brat, dare to fight me.”
“You dare to insult my Lingxiao Sect; this debt will be settled in the future!”
The disciples of the Ao Tian Sect sat obediently in the spectator stands, ignoring these thanks.
It wasn’t until Ming Zhaoshuang came out looking exhausted that someone asked:
“Junior Sister, why do you look even more haggard than them?”
I’ve been attending classes all night, how could I not be haggard?
Ming Zhaoshuang thought to herself, then sat down in the competitor’s seat and said to the person next to her:
“Line up, draw talismans.”
It must be said that after the ordeal of the night, her understanding of talismans had improved by leaps and bounds, and her soul power had recovered three to four parts overnight. Drawing a few defense talismans was no problem at all.
Fei Changxiu said, “No, with that appearance, can you really do it?”
Her hair was messy, with dark circles under her eyes, and she looked like she hadn’t slept, making people seriously doubt her mental state.
Ming Zhaoshuang’s eyes sharpened: “Chen Xing, beat him up!”
Fei Changxiu laughed heartily and quickly ran away, shouting as he fled:
“No, you’re about to go on stage, don’t waste your spiritual power on an insignificant person like me, ahhhhhh… Chen Xing, calm down! Chen Xing!”
Seeing the two fighting further and further away, Ji Qi and others also lined up in front of Ming Zhaoshuang.
“Junior Sister Ming, your brush!” A talisman brush was tossed from the air.
Ming Zhaoshuang caught it and smiled at Duan Hua, “Thank you, Senior Brother Duan.”
Duan Hua said, “Master asked if you didn’t have a suitable talisman brush. He can have the Peak Master of Chi Tian Peak help you refine one. It will just take a while, possibly a year or so.”
Duan Hua added, “However, if the Peak Master of Chi Tian Peak spends so much time refining it, it will at least be a Profound Grade Mid-Rank. Junior Sister, you are blessed.”
A Profound Grade Mid-Rank was indeed a good item for her at the moment.
But Ming Zhaoshuang remembered that she wanted the Primordial Brush from the Talisman Saint’s Secret Realm. That was a Divine Tool. Although it was the Male Protagonist’s equipment, she felt there was no reason why she couldn’t take it if she wanted to. So she replied, “Please thank Uncle Hua and Uncle Chi for their trouble. However, such a great favor might require me to discuss it with my elders at home. I hope Uncle Hua and Uncle Chi can give me some time.”
Duan Hua said anxiously, “Junior Sister Ming has protected the Ao Tian Sect’s reputation at this critical moment, which is also a great favor. A Profound Tier Spirit Artifact is well worth it.”
Ming Zhaoshuang, however, smiled and retorted, “Didn’t Shen Chenxing and I also take up two of your spots?”
Duan Hua said, “Spots are just spots. There’s nothing much in the Talisman Saint’s Secret Realm anyway, so take them. The important thing is that Junior Sister Ming has thoroughly helped our Ao Tian Sect vent this anger. Ever since Zhao Congmo was expelled from the sect, our sect has been subjected to the cold mockery of the Lingxiao Sect and the Bixia Sect.”
After all, the Chief Senior Disciple was gone. The new disciples with talent were young, and the older ones lacked talent. Junior Sister Shen had always been hidden, and no one knew she had already reached Late Golden Core Great Perfection.
If Ming Zhaoshuang hadn’t intervened, they might have only secured two spots, Qin Feilong and Shen Liqian, at most. Even Fei Changxiu might have perished at Zhao Congmo’s hands. Now that Ming Zhaoshuang had arrived, they had won four consecutive matches, essentially regaining their dignity. Even if they lost all the remaining six matches, it wouldn’t harm the Ao Tian Sect’s reputation as the number one sect in the First Heavenly Layer.
Ming Zhaoshuang said no more, focusing intently on drawing defense runes.
To everyone’s surprise, the Bixia Sect actually had another cultivator at the Late Golden Core stage.
Qin Du’s lips moved as he looked towards the Peak Master of Xiu Tian Peak, “This person doesn’t really belong to the Bixia Sect, does he?”
Logically speaking, if a disciple from one of the three great sects broke through to Late Golden Core before the age of twenty, they wouldn’t necessarily announce it far and wide, but they should at least have a drink and brag about it.
Just like when Yue Xunzhu broke through to Late Golden Core, the Sect Master of Bixia Sect would always take him around casually, telling everyone how hardworking his disciple was, how much effort he put in, and how he so easily reached Late Golden Core before twenty.
And then there was Zhao Congmo. The Sect Master of Lingxiao Sect immediately informed Qin Du as soon as he broke through, enraging Qin Du to curse for three days straight without eating.
But this person, no matter how you looked at it, didn’t seem like a member of the Bixia Sect.
Yet Qin Du himself felt uneasy, as Ming Chenxing wasn’t from their Ao Tian Sect either. Therefore, he didn’t dare to report others for cheating, especially since he himself had cheated.
Unexpectedly, the Sect Master of Bixia Sect chuckled proudly,
“Sect Master Qin, since your Ao Tian Sect can field the Young Sect Master’s fiancée, our Bixia Sect can naturally field our Young Sect Master’s fiancé. The one competing this time is my daughter’s fiancé, Wei Xun, the future son-in-law of our Bixia Sect.”
He Wanxia’s chin lifted slightly and she said, “Indeed.”
The Sect Master of Bixia Sect said, “In that case, Sect Master Qin, you won’t have any objections, will you?”
Qin Du laughed heartily, “Of course not. I’m only happy for you that you’ve found such a capable son-in-law.”
Ming Zhaoshuang looked at Ming Chenxing, and couldn’t help but feel a bit of worry—in the original book, the disciples sent by the Bixia Sect in the Talisman Saint’s Secret Realm were Yue Xunzhu, He Wanxia, and Wei Xun.
Although Wei Xun was one of Qin Feilong’s cannon fodder, he was a disciple from the Upper Cultivation World, and his strength far surpassed all the previous cannon fodder. He had caused Qin Feilong great trouble in the secret realm, almost not making it out alive.
Although Ming Chenxing was strong, he was only at Golden Core Mid-stage. How could he contend with Wei Xun?
Perhaps sensing her nervous emotions, Long peeked out from her sleeve, his fluffy head nuzzling her palm:
“Don’t worry, I don’t think your subordinate will lose.”
Ming Zhaoshuang stroked his head and said, “Mhm, I believe him.”
Long then retreated back into her sleeve.
