"It seems the cultivation techniques I've practiced these past few days haven't been useless. Otherwise, the few seconds of effect provided by a single Joyful Heart Talisman wouldn't have been enough to help me break through the bottleneck that had stuck with the original owner for over a year..."

Chen Yi concentrated his energy and seized the opportunity to continue to unleash his magical power, advancing towards a higher realm.

As he practiced his cultivation techniques these past few days, his proficiency with the internal energy he was cultivating had been steadily increasing. He had already surpassed the minor achievement level, and the difficulty of breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining had been greatly reduced...

Moreover, having been stuck for so long, he had already accumulated a tremendous amount of magical power.

Now, this magical power is like water being released from a dam, taking advantage of the momentum of breaking through the bottleneck, and is actually faintly moving towards the fifth level of Qi Refining!

Fu Xin's lips twitched involuntarily when he saw this scene.

While others are drawing talismans, you're breaking through to a higher realm?

However, he also knew that Chen Yi's skill level had always been at the bottom of the class, so his breakthrough was indeed a good thing.

He felt a sense of appreciation for this recently emerging talisman prodigy.

As for the others, they either didn't know how to draw a calming talisman, or they drew some talismans that were useful to them like Chen Yi. However, because drawing talismans requires a lot of concentration, they didn't notice Chen Yi's condition.

A few people can draw the Heart-Cleansing Talisman, because this talisman is extremely difficult to make and requires complete concentration.

And so, right before everyone's eyes, Chen Yi broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining!

"Sure enough, once that bottleneck is broken, the problems that follow are just accumulating, and the bottleneck problem will not reappear until the seventh level..." Chen Yi thought to himself.

But by then, he would have already prepared ample resources to overcome the bottleneck.

"Is this what it feels like to be at the fifth level of Qi Refining?"

He felt his senses become clearer; the sounds of talisman brushes sweeping across talisman paper, footsteps, and tables scraping against the floor around him were all amplified...

Of course, the most important thing is the depth of his magical power, which is much stronger than before!

A moment later, Fu Xin announced:

"Round 1, over!"

Chen Yi slowly stood up; he had finally made it through the first round.

Next, he needs to get serious.

After all, by drawing one less talisman, his performance had already fallen behind from the start.

To win first place, you must beat everyone in the second and third rounds!

Fu Xin put away the first round of talismans and then announced:

"Round Two, Sword Qi Talisman, begin!"

While everyone is in the second round, he will finish evaluating the results of the first round.

In fact, it doesn't take much effort, because there are no more than ten people who can draw a calming talisman...

If nothing unexpected happens, Yu Wanbai should be first, and Zhao Manjin should be second. The difference between the two is not significant.

"hehe!"

As the second round began, Zhao Manjin wore a confident smile.

What those first and second-year high school students know is just ordinary sword energy talisman.

What he was preparing to draw was an advanced version of the sword qi talisman, called the Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman.

The "Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman" possesses an exceptionally fierce killing aura, making it highly sought after.

However, to create a Geng Metal Sword Qi Talisman, one needs to understand the element of metal in the Five Elements and also have a certain grasp of swordsmanship. The better the combination of metal properties and swordsmanship, the stronger the effect of the talisman.

Fortunately, Zhao Manjin possesses both qualities!

Moreover, he was at the seventh level of Qi Refining, which was enough to support this talisman!

Once you draw it, you can't lose the second round!

He quickly drew the talisman head...

Then, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, he concentrated his energy, and using his finger as a brush to draw upon the malevolent energy of the Western Geng metal, he chanted:

"Radiant Taibai, forge my sword spirit, enter my talismanic heart, and suppress!"

The talisman took shape at his fingertips, seemingly bursting forth with a sharp aura.

Next, we went to the feet of the talisman.

To draw this Gengjin sword energy talisman, one must be fierce and diligent!

"With metal and stone as its bones, and fierce energy as its blade, it pierces through the void and vanquishes evil! By decree!"

With the final incantation concluded, the talisman's feet were suddenly drawn.

At first glance, the strokes of the talisman are as sharp as swords and spears, and ordinary people will feel their eyes sting if they stare at them for too long.

In an instant, a clanging sound could be heard from Fu Cheng, and golden light flowed like the flickering of sword blades.

Many people were stunned by the resounding clang.

Fu Xin was drawn by the commotion, his eyes gleaming as he said:

"This... is not bad, really not bad! I can give you 89 points, no, 90 points! The Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman can add points!"

Zhao Manjin raised his chin and looked at Chen Yi.

The latter's talisman was already in its final stages.

"What is this?" Zhao Manjin's expression turned serious. "The Wood Sword Qi Talisman?"

He did know that Chen Yi had practiced the art of controlling the wind, and that wind belonged to the element of wood in the Five Elements theory.

But what about swordsmanship?

He seemed to have never seen Chen Yi practice swordsmanship at the training ground...

Chen Yi used his pen to draw out the vitality of the Eastern Wood element, and the talisman paper seemed to become warm and smooth to the touch.

"Borrowing the power of the Azure Emperor, ten thousand vines form a prison! Life is endless, transforming softness into strength!"

The talisman contained faint blue patterns like vines, which, though not as fierce as the Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman, still possessed their own mysteries.

Once activated, the resulting sword energy appears soft yet is actually sharp, concealing a life-giving potential.

"call......"

Chen Yi put down the talisman brush and rubbed his temples.

He only knew how to draw the Yi Wood Sword Qi Talisman, but he had never drawn it before, because with the original owner's level of wind control and swordsmanship, it was impossible for him to complete this talisman.

But he is different; the existence of the entry "Wind Chaser Swordsman" enhances his aptitude for wind and sword-related spells.

In addition, he can actively combine wind and sword techniques to greatly enhance his speed and power.

This talent can also be used in creating the Yi Wood Sword Qi Talisman.

"Luckily, I just broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, otherwise I'm afraid I would have been exhausted after drawing this sword qi talisman..."

Fu Xin strode over to Chen Yi's table, picked up the sword energy talisman, examined it closely, and exclaimed in amazement as he looked at it:

"This is... the Wood Sword Qi Talisman?"

"Yi wood and Jia wood represent yin and yang respectively. When you drew the talisman, it was already close to night, and the yin energy was even stronger. You made the right choice to choose Yi wood! Moreover, although the power of yin Yi wood is not as fierce as that of yang wood, it is more suitable for this kind of ever-renewing sword energy!"

"What I want to say is... perfect! Absolutely perfect! The fusion of wood and sword is absolutely perfect! 91 points!"

Fu Xin looked at Chen Yi with disbelief.

Unexpectedly, after reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining, he shocked himself once again.

Unfortunately, if Chen Yi hadn't been less proficient with the Yi Wood Sword Qi Talisman, his score could have been even higher...

Even so, this single Wood Sword Qi Talisman is comparable to a full-force attack from a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator.

But Fu Xin probably never imagined that this was the first time Chen Yi had drawn this talisman...

"What?"

Upon hearing Fu Xin's score, Zhao Manjin was completely stunned.

One point, just one point short!

At this moment, Zhao Manjin had only one question in his mind: Did Chen Yi really not cheat?

Despite his best efforts, he still managed to reach the 90-point threshold thanks to the Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman, which added one point to his score.

But Chen Yi easily reached a score of 91, which made him wonder if the other party had cheated.

How could anyone possibly hide it from Fu Xin, a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

What exactly happened?

I'm really out of ideas!

Zhao Manjin felt his Dao heart begin to waver slightly...

A few seconds later, he shook his head and said, "No, there's still one more round. The third round involves drawing the talismans I'm best at. I still have a chance..."

It must be said that Zhao Manjin's Dao heart was quite firm, and he quickly returned to normal.

It should be noted that most of the talismans taught in schools are of low grade, and only require proficiency in drawing.

This third round, ostensibly about comparing one's strongest skill—talismans—was actually a competition to see whose talismans could truly impress Fu Xin.

Even level 1 talismans vary in quality!

Talismans are classified into four grades: top, upper, middle, and lower. The Gengjin Sword Qi Talisman, in terms of grade, is only of the upper-middle grade.

Zhao Manjin also possessed a top-grade talisman called the "Vajra Talisman".

Although the drawing may not be perfect, it is definitely above average.

If you can draw it, you should be guaranteed to win...