Chapter 55 The Ice Mirror of the Heart-Questioning Pavilion, Zhan Kui
Wenxin Pavilion is located in the very center of Yingcheng. When you ride a horse into Yingcheng, the first thing you see is the dilapidated city gate tower with its broken walls.
There were no guards at the city gate; the dilapidated gate was wide open, the ramparts were crumbling and ruined, and the battlements were dilapidated.
Bitao and the others rode their horses into the city. The old vermilion paint on the buildings along the street was corroded like a ghost's face, with cracks everywhere and thorns growing in them, with creeping grass and moss climbing and winding around.
After passing through the deserted main street, a hundred-foot-tall octagonal tower, built of blue bricks and cast in black iron, suddenly comes into view, piercing the clouds.
The octagonal tower corresponds to the eight trigrams, with chains as thick as stone pillars hanging from them. Above the chains, wine flags flutter, and five-colored talismans weave between the chains.
Every palm's width apart, there were also countless ghost-suppressing banners wrapped around the area, and soul-locking bells without tongues hanging from them.
This Wenxin Pavilion is clearly not an ordinary branch of the cultivation world stationed in the mortal realm to receive mortals' requests for help.
Its very existence is that of a massive, heavily armed, and evil-suppressing soul-locking tower!
When Bitao and the others rode up close, they finally saw signs of human activity around them.
Compared to the empty gates and chilly crows in the city, this place was bustling with people, a veritable cacophony of voices.
The octagonal tower is built on a solid and heavy platform. On the platform, the doors open to all eight directions. In the center of the main hall, there is a plaque with three large red and black characters written in bold and powerful strokes: "Wenxin Pavilion".
Inside the pavilion, cultivators dressed in various sects and styles of clothing came and went in an endless stream.
Some chatted in groups, discussing team formation, while others lingered in small groups throughout the hall, eating dry rations and recounting how dangerous and arduous the last exorcism had been.
The cultivators from the Wenxin Pavilion, dressed in red and black robes, moved among these groups of cultivators, carefully guiding and patiently explaining.
They were responsible not only for distributing maps of the mission locations, but also for renting and selling provisions, ritual implements, robes, talismans, horses for transportation, and even donkeys.
As soon as Bitao and the others entered, a cultivator from the Wenxin Pavilion immediately came forward and said to them, "You must be fellow Daoists from the Supreme Sword Sect. Please come in."
"In recent days, many fellow Daoists from various sects have extended invitations to the sword cultivators of the Supreme Sword Sect to form teams. We have recorded them all and will later let the fellow Daoists of the Supreme Sword Sect choose for themselves."
Wei Danxin skillfully led the way at the front, with Bitao walking beside him, listening to him exchange pleasantries with the cultivator from Wenxin Pavilion who was there to guide them.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Tiangou. I'm sorry to trouble you again."
Upon hearing the name, Bitao turned around and glanced back.
There is still a "Dog Boy" in her palace, so she naturally can't help but glance at any name containing the word "dog".
This cultivator from the Wenxin Pavilion, known as the Heavenly Dog, appeared upright and honest, with proper manners and even a gentle and refined demeanor.
The Heavenly Dog is a constellation, unlike the humble name "Dog Boy" which is meant to make a child easier to raise; it was clearly chosen specifically for this purpose.
However, the Heavenly Dog constellation is inauspicious, symbolizing a rushing torrent and a fall, foreshadowing war and defeat.
Who named him? Does he even know the meaning of his name?
The Heavenly Dog cultivator cupped his hands to Wei Danxin: "Fellow Daoist, there is no need to be so polite. Assisting various sects in slaying demons and monsters, and suppressing evil spirits to ensure peace and stability, is the duty of us cultivators of the Heart-Questioning Pavilion."
“Fellow Daoist, what’s scrolling on this image array is the newly released exorcism quest. I’ll go pour you all a pot of tea. Please rest your feet, take a good look at the quest, and then think about forming a team.”
The group was led to a round table, and after sitting down, Bitao noticed that there were many other tables around them.
Several people were gathered around each table, and in the center of each table was a photo-taking stone.
A small array of yellow-grade spirit stones was arranged under the image-recording stone to provide spiritual energy for the image's rotation.
The tasks scrolled slowly above, somewhat resembling a net cast by the Milky Way in the heavens.
—A demon with painted skins is haunting Helan Town, having devoured five or six people. However, its possessions are difficult to discern, and its whereabouts are unknown. We sincerely invite capable individuals to come to the town to vanquish this evil spirit and bring peace to the people. Upon completion of the task, whoever presents the painted skin will be rewarded with twenty rare spirit stones.
—A plague demon has wreaked havoc in Xiangzhang City, infecting both humans and livestock. The people are suffering from severe illness and cannot recover, despite medical treatment and prayers. We now seek cultivators skilled in cleansing the plague and purging its evil influences, preferably those knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine. To vanquish this fiend, one may bring the plague demon's true form to the Wenxin Pavilion in exchange for twenty Earth-grade spirit stones.
...
—Villagers of Mengxia Village have been frequently disappearing, and rumors circulate that a pack of tigers in the mountains. Furthermore, severed limbs have been found scattered in the forests and ravines, their teeth marks clearly indicating the carnage. We are now recruiting capable individuals to enter the mountains and slay the tigers, eliminating the threat and bringing peace to the people. Upon completion, whoever presents the tiger skin will be rewarded with ten yellow-grade spirit stones.
The first few tasks were all relatively minor, and there was even one involving catching a tiger.
The key issue is that tigers don't hunt in packs; as the saying goes, "two tigers cannot share one mountain." This mission is clearly abnormal, and with only ten yellow-grade spirit stones as reward, it's unlikely anyone will take it.
Soon, when the photo stone on the table reached the last position, it paused for a moment and then jumped back to the beginning.
This time, a task with bright red lettering popped up.
—In Kangquan City dwells a malevolent spirit that sneaks into dreams every midnight, manifesting various forms to incite evil thoughts, corrupting the soul and defilement. As a result, the common people turn on each other, their blood staining the streets and alleys. To date, thousands have been bewitched, yet this monstrous beast grows ever stronger, its dream realm expanding, eventually capable of ensnaring countless people into its nightmare.
Those cultivators who have mastered the art of seeing their true nature and breaking through illusions and obstacles will be allowed to enter dreams to vanquish evil. Upon completion, those who present their true form to the Pavilion of Inquiry will be rewarded with one hundred earth-grade spirit stones.
Bitao reached out and touched the memory stone, causing it to stop rolling.
This mission is somewhat interesting, at least the reward is very generous; you get one hundred Earth-grade spirit stones after capturing the evil spirit.
Spirit stones are divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Earth-grade spirit stones are already the purest spirit stones in this world.
The kind that can be directly inhaled into the body without the need for meditation to remove impurities—many people are clearly stuck on this task, eagerly eyeing the hundred Earth-grade spirit stones.
But the evil spirit that can drag ten thousand people into their dreams... According to Bitao's understanding of the hundred ghosts, the evil spirit is like a little rat in a sewer.
It exists by absorbing evil thoughts, but its weakness is also very obvious: it is afraid of good thoughts.
They are even afraid of sunlight, and of all the warm and beautiful things in the world.
The evil spirit that can simultaneously lure tens of thousands of people into their dreams must have absorbed an enormous amount of evil thoughts; this cannot be formed in just one or two days.
After all, ghosts are transformed from humans, and the human body is born with both pure and impure energies. All kinds of evil thoughts in this world originate from impure energies, but all kinds of good deeds originate from pure energies.
Even the most vicious criminal wouldn't have evil thoughts in his mind the moment he opens his eyes every day.
As soon as a single good thought arises, the evil spirit will be poisoned, and large parts of its body will be corroded away.
Even on ancient battlefields where tens of thousands of soldiers were slaughtered, it's unlikely that the vengeful spirits of those warriors could nurture such a powerful evil ghost.
In this star realm where cultivators primarily travel by horse, is it really possible for someone to have cultivation levels that allow them to influence tens of thousands of people simultaneously?
Perhaps because Bitao had been staring at the task for so long, Wei Danxin thought she wanted to take it on.
He moved slightly closer to Bitao, his pale golden eyes misty over her, and said softly, "We can't handle this task."
Upon hearing this, Bitao released her grip, and the mission's recording stone continued to roll.
She smiled and nodded, "I know, I'm just taking a look. I'll listen to my senior brother about whatever mission I take."
Of course they couldn't handle it. With their meager cultivation levels, they would be seriously injured even against the Painted Skin Ghost, let alone against a powerful evil ghost that could drag thousands into their dreams.
That's barely enough to fill someone's teeth.
Even a rat, if it grows as tall as a two-story building, is a ferocious beast.
Upon hearing this, Wei Danxin pursed her lips.
Bi Tao's words, "I'll listen to whatever you say, senior brother," barely managed to suppress the upturned corners of his mouth.
Junior sister is so well-behaved.
He had never thought his third junior sister was so well-behaved and so cute.
Her cheeks were rosy.
Her face was naturally rosy and fair without any makeup.
The pink dress she wore today was also very beautiful... When she was riding a horse before, Wei Danxin felt that she was like a moving, blooming peach tree.
The scenery along the way that everyone saw was all desolate and overgrown with weeds, with broken walls and ruins.
What Wei Danxin saw was a scene of vibrant beauty, with peach blossoms in full bloom, their splendor dazzling.
He'd been so dizzy from all the glare that he could barely see the task on the memory stone.
Could it be that the bird egg poisoning from yesterday hasn't healed yet...?
He clearly took an antidote pill this morning.
But he's the senior disciple, the one leading the team.
Wei Danxin coughed lightly, her hand clenched into a fist inside her robe sleeve, her neat nails digging deep into her palm, relying on this pain to bring her soul back to her body.
He frowned and looked seriously at the photo-recording stone.
Assessing the strength of their own team, they then carefully flipped through the list of sects that the Wenxin Pavilion cultivators had brought over, indicating that they wanted to team up with them for missions.
Choose tasks carefully.
But no matter how hard he tried to concentrate, he would always be drawn to Fei Se by the woman beside him.
What was she looking at with her head turned around?
Why haven't you touched the tea and snacks on the table, since you haven't eaten anything all day?
Does she not like hawthorn cake?
He didn't really like it either... hawthorn cake is indeed a bit sour.
However, there are a few stalls in Yingcheng that are specifically open to cultivators, located on a street behind the Wenxin Pavilion.
They sell foods like wontons and noodles.
There were also meat-filled buns, although they weren't nearly as delicious as the ones his third junior sister had given him that morning, but he could take her to try them later...
"where you go?"
Seeing how seriously everyone was choosing their tasks, Bitao spotted a familiar figure in a corner of a stone statue in the lobby, struggling with someone, and decided to go over and take a look.
As soon as he got up, before he could even stand up completely, Wei Danxin grabbed his wrist.
Bitao: "...What's wrong, Senior Brother?"
Nothing much.
Wei Danxin didn't know why she reached out; it was an instinctive reaction...
However, as long as Wei Danxin is not dealing with matters between men and women, his usually dignified and handsome face is very intimidating.
Whatever he did, he always seemed so calm, composed, and matter-of-fact.
Harboring his own selfish desires, he calmly said, "There are too many cultivators and sects here, and murder and robbery are commonplace."
"Junior sister, don't wander off."
In reality, there was no murder or robbery involved. Nowadays, sects in the cultivation world need to cooperate to complete tasks and earn spirit stones.
They were always very polite to each other, and when they met while on missions, they often looked out for and helped each other.
There are no magical treasures in the entire cultivation world that can grant instant ascension once obtained. Moreover, sects that provoke trouble or resort to underhanded tactics when forming teams will be ostracized by all other sects.
Despite the decline of all laws, the various sects have become surprisingly peaceful.
But Wei Danxin still said, "It would be dangerous for you to be alone." She sat right next to me.
I'll take you to eat something delicious in a little while.
Bitao knew Mingguang too well; seeing him making up such nonsense with such a serious expression, she couldn't help but chuckle.
When Bitao was still a little peach branch person, Mingguang had this expression when she first asked to stay overnight at Xuanhui Palace.
They would seriously analyze the pros and cons, such as "The Xuanhui Palace is heavily fortified, and you are a person with turbid energy, so you may be killed" or "If the fairy maidens or immortal lords in the Xuanhui Palace see you, they will definitely capture you."
But after saying a lot, he finally said, "However, if you stay with me at all times, the Xuanhui Palace's formation will not activate against you. It will only take the turbid energy on your body as something I picked up outside."
"Neither fairy maidens nor immortal lords dare to search my body."
Then, while sleeping, she used a "legitimate reason" to pull the little peach branch figure into the quilt.
They even pretended to set up a barrier above the quilt to prevent peeping.
puff.
Bitao knew she had succeeded ever since last night.
Mingguang's nature dictates that if he resists, he truly resists; if he tries to escape, he will continue to escape.
But if he takes the initiative, even if it's just once, a little bit, a fleeting moment.
Then he would do it a second and a third time, just like when he finally smuggled the peach branch doll into the Xuanhui Palace, as routinely as eating and drinking.
He is actually quite clingy by nature.
They crave companionship, physical touch, and the kind of long-lasting, intimate relationship with someone that will never end.
Those were things he had never had.
However, Mingguang used to call this relationship "close friends".
He just doesn't want her to leave him right now.
Bitao was willing to indulge him, but she really had something to do right now.
Having already arrived at Wenxin Pavilion, with such a good fishing opportunity, how could she not cast her line with all her might?
Therefore, Bitao said, "I won't go outside. I'll just wander around inside the lobby. You'll see me as soon as you look up."
"With my senior brother sitting here, who would dare to harbor ill intentions towards the disciples of my Supreme Sword Sect?"
These words were flattering but not entirely untrue. Wei Danxin was at the mid-stage of the Earthly Realm, making her a standout among the disciples of various sects.
Moreover, he was renowned among the various sects for his talent in both literature and martial arts.
Wei Danxin felt a little embarrassed by the praise.
He noticed that his junior brothers and sisters were all looking at him, so he could only let go of her hand and nod to Bitao with a serious expression: "Okay."
The moment he let go, Bitao casually raised her finger and gently hooked it into his palm.
Wei Danxin's ears turned completely red, her puffed sleeves fell down, her hands were clenched tightly, and the veins on the back of her hands bulged.
He dared not look up at his third junior sister again.
They were too embarrassed to see how their junior classmates reacted, or whether they had actually seen what the two of them were doing.
He just kept a cold face and forced himself to continue choosing tasks.
Bitao, seemingly curious, began to examine the auspicious lions displayed in the main hall.
Then head straight to the southeast corner, where there is a huge stone statue for suppressing evil.
Instead of going behind the statue, she stood to one side of it and listened intently.
There were people talking behind me.
"Husband, I really can't eat this many pancakes."
The woman's voice was sweet and melodious, with a hint of coquetry: "When people exorcise evil spirits, they carry a sword on their back and a small bundle. How elegant and convenient that is!"
"Are you expecting me to carry this whole basket of dry rations on my way? Am I going to sell pancakes or catch ghosts...?"
Bitao couldn't help but laugh.
Looking through the gaps in the stone statues, you can see two people talking almost face to face.
One is Bingjing, whom I haven't seen in a long time, and the other... I've never seen this face before; it must be someone from here.
Moreover, it was quite obvious that he was a mortal, as he did not possess the five elements of energy that flowed spontaneously around him, unlike cultivators.
He had dark skin, but his features were sharp and upright. Dressed as a farmer, he possessed the grace of a crane and the beauty of a mantis, as elegant as a pine tree in the breeze and the moon reflected in the water.
He stretched out his large hand and gently stroked Bingjing's beautiful face, his eyes full of doting affection: "I'm afraid you won't have enough to eat while you're away. You don't know how to cook, and there's no one to take care of you. It's always good to bring more food. It's better to be frugal on the road than to be poor."
“Husband… I really can’t eat that much. I’ll be back in three to five days. What’s in my bundle is enough, you can take it back…”
As Bingjing spoke, she grabbed the man's hand and began to shake it, almost rolling on the ground in protest. Only then did the man finally sigh and say, "Alright then."
"Take this money with you; I won't need it at home. If you get hungry and want something to eat, find a fellow villager and have him cook for you..."
"Husband, I don't need any money. I'm going to earn money. If I take all the money from home, will you starve?"
The man insisted, "I can eat flatbread at home, or I can go hunting in the nearby mountains. You don't need to worry about me."
"Why are you hunting? Birds and beasts have almost disappeared from the mountains in recent years. You're a grown man, you can't just eat flatbread all the time."
Bingjing stuffed the small string of copper coins back into the man's hand: "Husband, there are still so many people in the village who need your care, and money is needed everywhere."
"I am a cultivator, and your wife is a cultivator, not an ordinary woman. You don't need to worry about me at all!"
"At worst, I can set up a stall to sell talismans, which is much better than you going into the mountains to try your luck."
As Bingjing spoke, he patted his chest, looking very proud that he could support his family.
Upon hearing this, the man's expression shifted between pride for the woman before him and an unconcealable sorrow welling up in his eyes: "I've dragged you down. You shouldn't have..."
"Oh dear! Why do you say such things again, my husband? We grew up together, we love each other, and we promised to be together for life. What do you mean by being a burden!"
The man pursed his lips, pulled Bingjing into his arms, and lowered his head to shower her hair and brow with tender kisses.
Bingjing wrapped her arms around his strong waist, tilting her small face up, looking extremely blissful and intoxicated.
Bitao couldn't help but sigh, "The way of Heaven is truly mighty!"
This man, in both appearance and demeanor, was exactly the type that Bingjing often admired in the fire-avoidance paintings.
It combines strength and gentleness, honesty and purity.
He exudes the imposing and reliable aura of a mature man, resembling his father and elder brother, and is also handsome and charming enough to fulfill all the fantasies of young girls. He is truly a wonderful person who has stepped out of a picture book.
The two of them were very affectionate, and their relationship was obviously extremely good.
Tsk.
When the time comes for "love to be separated from and unfulfilled," I wonder how heartbroken Bingjing will be.
Bitao listened for a while longer, until finally the man was persuaded by Bingjing to leave.
It turned out that he had walked dozens of miles to deliver that basket of cakes to Bingjing.
In this desolate and ghostly world, even for a mortal like him, a man with abundant yang energy, traveling is quite dangerous.
Moreover, it was only after he left and when he was walking normally that Bitao noticed that he had a slight limp.
He was clearly aware of his defect; he walked rather slowly and tried his best to appear normal.
And once he left that deserted corner, he forbade Bingjing from following him.
"I'll go by myself, don't see me off."
His expression turned serious, but it was all bark and no bite.
Even an outsider like Bitao could see that he was afraid Bingjing would embarrass herself if she went out with him.
Ouch.
This poor, adorable young couple.
At this moment, Bitao, the "great philanthropist," stepped forward and, while the two were arguing, asked, "Are you selling all these flatbreads?"
Bingjing and the man turned their heads at the same time. Bitao smiled and introduced herself: "I am from the Supreme Sword Sect. We ran out of our rations halfway through the journey and need to buy some more."
Bitao whispered, "But I just saw that the things in the Wenxin Pavilion are really expensive. A stack of palm-sized dry cakes costs a whole yellow-grade spirit stone."
"There are so many of us fellow disciples. Each time we go out for training, it takes six or seven days. It seems like we only earn a stack of pancakes after going out once."
Bitao shrugged: "Your cakes look like they're made with really good ingredients, and they're very oily, so are they for sale?"
The man and Bingjing exchanged a glance, as if he were asking Bingjing a question with his eyes.
He was afraid that selling cakes to monks in such a place would embarrass Bingjing.
But Bingjing quickly nodded: "Sell, sell, sell!"
"How many do you want? My husband's pancakes are really delicious; they're not dry at all, and they keep for a long time without spoiling..."
The man then slowly walked towards the peach blossoms, carrying the basket.
His gaze was not as gentle and harmless as when he looked at Bingjing; it was even somewhat cold and sharp when he looked at Bitao.
His height and robust physique were comparable to Mingguang's.
When Mingguang has a cold face, he is like a snow sculpture or ice sculpture, an unapproachable snow lotus of the Tianshan Mountains, growing on the highest mountain peak, gleaming with a cold radiance.
When the man's face turned cold, it was as dark as iron and stone, as deep as a cold pool, almost sinister.
Bi Tou narrowed her eyes slightly, looked at the cake carefully, and thought it was indeed quite good.
I broke off another piece and tasted it; the salt content was quite sufficient.
He then asked, "How much are they? More than a dozen of our sword sect's fellow disciples have come this time. If the price is right, I'll take them all."
Bingjing was overjoyed and shook the arm of the person next to her vigorously.
When she touched him, the man seemed to come alive, and his expression softened.
But he demanded an exorbitant price: "Two coins per piece."
Ice Mirror almost choked on his breath.
Bitao replied, "It's reasonable enough. You count them."
She took out a storage bag from her bosom, which contained spirit stones and mortal silver.
The man then squatted down, unfolded a clean handkerchief, and held it in his hand to check the biscuit through the handkerchief.
Bitao smiled very kindly at Bingjing, and Bingjing happily returned the friendly smile.
Bitao then casually asked, "Judging from your attire... are you a talisman cultivator from the Seven Star Palace?"
"Oh, right!"
Bingjing scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed.
She wasn't a proper Seven Star Palace talisman cultivator; she was an outer disciple of the Seven Star Palace.
She didn't hide anything from Bitao: "I'm just an outer disciple of the Seven Star Palace..."
"In this world, what difference does it make whether you're from the inner sect or the outer sect?"
Bitao smiled and said, "We don't have any talisman cultivators in our team for this mission. Did you come with the people from the sect?"
"No... outer disciples don't often participate in activities with inner disciples."
It's not that they don't do it often, but that they simply don't participate in activities together at all.
She was a self-taught practitioner who obtained a fragment of a talisman scroll and followed the instructions to learn the basics. She held the title of an outer disciple of the Seven Star Palace, and even her old clothes were bought from a deceased Seven Star Palace disciple.
She had no way to get promoted, and no inner sect master recognized her talent and accepted her as a disciple.
She is a thunder spirit, unlike the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, which are easier to control.
Cultivators who possess the Thunder Spirit cannot freely manipulate it unless their cultivation level reaches the middle stage of the Human Realm.
She's only just become a human... she probably doesn't even qualify as a lower-level being.
At most, one can sense the flow of internal energy when drawing talismans, which may have a slight deterrent effect when facing ghosts and monsters.
She hadn't even learned any proper martial arts techniques.
She even married a mortal. Cultivators have always avoided associating with mortals, so she... could be said to have no future.
I'm just here to complete some tasks and earn some yellow-grade spirit stones to make ends meet.
Bitao seemed oblivious to her embarrassment, pretending to know nothing about the inner and outer sects of the Seven Star Palace, and asked her, "Then you must be able to draw talismans, right? Do you have any stored talismans? We need to purchase a lot of talismans for this trip."
"If you have any, let me take a look. If the quality is acceptable, I'll accept them."
By this time, the man who was squatting on the ground checking the pancakes had finished.
He seemed to be very perceptive of Bitao's unusual enthusiasm.
After all, the cultivators, even if they didn't openly despise his wife for being a low-level outsider, would at least treat her as nothing.
He stood up and interjected, "One hundred and two in total."
Bitao, however, did not stop talking to Bingjing as usual.
Instead, she handed him the entire storage bag and said, "Check the money yourself."
Then he reached out to the ice mirror: "Give me the talisman so I can take a look."
Bingjing was initially hesitant, as some of the things she drew... had effects that were rather indescribable.
One time when I used it, I blew myself up and my face was covered in soot.
I was even ridiculed when I tried to sell them.
But Bitao had already reached out to her, and she was really short of money.
Only then did he steel himself, open the bundle, take out a stack of talismans, and hand them to Bitao.
Bitao looked down and immediately saw a broken talisman that seemed to have no meaning.
But she didn't show any unusual reaction. Instead, she reached out and flipped the talisman over to look at what was underneath.
She flipped through the pages very quickly.
Few of these scraps of paper are usable.
But soon, Bitao found what she wanted.
The Five Thunder Talismans drawn on the ice mirror.
Bitao held a stack of talismans, pulled out this one, and placed it on top.
Then he said to the ice mirror, "Your Five Thunder Talisman has two wrong strokes."
"But these two transactions don't have a significant impact."
At most, when summoning the Five Thunders, it will strike itself instead of the evil spirits.
However, even incorrect talismans like these are not unusable; in some situations, they might even be quite useful.
Holding the incorrect Five Thunder Talisman, Bitao said in a flat but not very polite tone, "Apart from this one, the rest are all waste paper."
The ice mirror gleamed with fervor, causing his face to flush red.
The man stood up, threw the money bag back at Bitao, believing that Bitao had deliberately humiliated his wife, and said in a deep voice, "We won't sell it anymore."
Bitao raised an eyebrow: "Why not sell?"
She looked past the man and at the ice mirror, saying, "All those water and earth talismans you drew are just pieces of waste paper, that's a fact."
"However, although this Five Thunder Talisman is wrong, the thunder spirit contained within it is very smooth."
“You should be of the Thunder element, but you have not received formal instruction in talismans.”
"But your lightning element is very close to lightning, so if you correct those two mistakes, just drawing this Five Thunder Talisman will be enough for you to enter the inner sect from the outer sect."
Bitao said, "I really don't plan to buy your talismans, but I can teach you how to make a real Five Thunder Talisman, and then you can draw a hundred for me for free, how about that?"
Instead of simply trying to please him, she actually eased the man's sullen expression.
Bingjing, who was originally very ashamed, couldn't help but be tempted upon hearing this.
"real?"
"Of course it's true, but you have to draw a hundred for me for free before you can draw and sell them."
You should know that Bingjing was personally trained by General Kunyi Zuo of the Myriad Realms Heavenly Dao as the candidate for Thunder Emperor.
Although Bitao had never witnessed the power of the Ice Mirror releasing the Five Thunders, she had seen her Dharma form above the clouds, which connected with the Five Thunders.
The might of Heaven is overwhelming, and even the Five Thunderbolts submit.
This misplaced Five Thunder Talisman is already quite powerful.
If she really paints it well, it will be snatched up by everyone if she sells it.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Bitao could first win her over.
One hundred Five Thunder Talismans.
With her current cultivation level, a single move could drain her cultivation completely.
Just drawing it would take two or three months.
If Bitao then offers her some other benefits, she can successfully keep the person here.
Bingjing pulled her man along and ran behind the stone statue to discuss it.
Bitao patiently waited by the basket of cakes.
Not long after, Bingjing returned with a face full of excitement, clearly having appeased her man.
Then he said, "I agree to your request!"
"But... but drawing a hundred talismans might take me a long time."
"You don't need to worry about me running away. My name is Du Man, and I live in..."
“No need for that,” Bitao said. “Why would I come to your house? Aren’t you just about to take on a mission for training?”
"Didn't I say that our team is short of talisman cultivators? You can just come with our Supreme Sword Sect on missions."
"ah?"
"ah!"
"Is it...okay?"
"Even if your Supreme Sword Sect were to team up with disciples of the Seven Star Palace, shouldn't you be teaming up with inner disciples?"
Bitao laughed and said, "What's the difference? Teaming up with a talisman cultivator means using their talismans."
“Talisman cultivators don’t fight; they use talismans from the rear. Once you’ve modified your Five Thunder Talisman, it will be sufficient.”
"Okay then!"
Bingjing then went to talk to her man.
At this moment, Bitao sensed someone casting a spying gaze at her.
Not the kind of overtly confident look, but the kind where the other person immediately looks away the moment you turn your head.
Bitao quickly spotted a group of people sitting at a table not far away.
They were all wearing the Thunder Sect's uniform.
Looking over, Bitao saw that the group of people seemed to be studying the photo stone on the table, but in reality, they were all stiff in posture and had rigid expressions.
Bitao saw a familiar face.
The successor of the Five Thunder Emperors of the Thunder Department—the Northern Thunder Emperor Who Overturns Heaven and Seas—is the Heavenly Drum Immortal.
He did not participate in the first round of the competition. Although he was only at the upper level of the Spirit Immortal realm, he held a position in the Thunder Department.
He is temporarily serving as the Dharma Protector, responsible for summoning clouds and rain.
Bitao didn't know much about him. He wasn't Binglun Attendant, but a Thunder General directly under the palace of the Five Thunder Emperors.
Some of the people next to me are in profile, so I can't recognize them yet.
Bitao was pondering why the Heavenly Drum Fairy was looking at her so furtively. Could it be because she was pretty?
Will he be the first "fish"?
Bingjing and her man walked over hand in hand.
Bingjing smiled at Bitao, and the man actually smiled back at Bitao.
"The Supreme Sword Sect is willing to take Manman on the mission. We're not selling the pancakes; they're free for you."
"I urge all fellow Daoists to do everything in your power to protect Manman."
Bitao nodded: "Then I'll accept it. Don't worry about that. The Supreme Sword Sect always leads the way when it goes out for training, and it would never let a talisman cultivator rush ahead and take risks."
So Bitao walked around the lobby and recruited a teammate.
The immortals of the Silver River Net were speechless upon witnessing this scene.
"You just so easily tricked a future Thunder Emperor into drawing Five Thunder Talismans? One hundred of them!"
"Ice Mirror Immortal, she's a big liar! How could you fall for her so easily!"
"I would have fallen for it too. Fairy Bitao has such a good grasp of the situation. What's scary isn't that scammers are always trying to please you, but that they're so calculating that they make you feel like you've gotten a great deal..."
"Hahahaha, I've probably seen too much of this. I'm actually starting to find the way the Fairy of the Peach Blossom is deceiving people kind of charming."
"I only care about whether Ice Mirror Celestial's husband is really a mortal. Although he is quite handsome... he is a mortal! Aren't immortals supposed to be free from karmic entanglements with mortals? The two of them are already married... how will she marry Bright Light Mystic Immortal in the future?"
"Marry a ghost! Mingguang Xuanxian will only be with our Taotao!"
"Hmph... I'll just watch quietly and let her deceive me. Once all these people have regained their memories, I want to see her get mobbed!"
...
Bitao was holding hands with her newly tricked teammate Bingjing. Oh, what was her name in this life?
Was it Du Manman or Lu Manman? I didn't hear clearly just now.
As the two passed by the Heavenly Drum Immortal, Bitao deliberately turned her head to talk to Bingjing, and in doing so, quickly glanced at the faces of the people next to the Heavenly Drum Immortal's table.
Oh ho, there's also the Doubu (斗部).
Wearing the ice mirror, she walked towards the table of the Supreme Sword Sect, not worried that Wei Danxin would disagree.
Wei Danxin was also skilled in drawing talismans. He only needed to show the talisman to Wei Danxin, and he would know what kind of hidden gem Bingjing, the outer disciple of the Seven Star Palace, was.
However, before the two men, carrying a basket of cakes, could even reach the table where the Supreme Sword Sect was located, a sudden commotion erupted in the hall.
Someone shouted, "Senior Brother Meteor is here!"
"Senior Brother Meteor just returned from leading an exorcism team! His soul-binding pouch is full! Amazing!"
"Oh dear, why is that Long Banfan following us again..."
...
Following everyone's gaze, Bitao saw a group of people entering through the main gate.
They were all dressed in the black and red embroidered robes of the Wenxin Pavilion, looking travel-worn and exuding an aura of gloom and eeriness.
The man at the head of the group was described as having a "soul-stirring" appearance at first glance.
If it weren't for someone rushing up to him and calling him "Senior Brother Meteor," the people around him would have looked at him with such reverence.
It's almost unbelievable that in broad daylight, within the heavily guarded and evil-suppressing Wenxin Pavilion, a ferocious and malevolent ghost had brazenly entered.
It wasn't just because the ghostly aura surrounding him was too strong; the source of this ghostly aura was the soul-locking pouch at his waist.
Rather, it's because he himself doesn't look like a human being.
He was emaciated, with a gaunt face, his eyes sunken in their sockets, surrounded by dark circles, and his forehead was gloomy; he looked like a living corpse walking among humans.
His appearance immediately drew everyone's attention.
Despite his terrifying appearance, if you look closely, you'll see that he moves with graceful steps, has a slender frame, flowing hair, and his clothes fluttering, exuding a free and unrestrained air.
His appearance was eerie and ghostly, yet he possessed the air of a Taoist immortal.
When he opened his mouth, his voice was like a clear spring striking jade, and listening to it was like hearing celestial music: "Fellow Daoists, you have all risked your lives and worked hard for the sake of the common people. I, Liuxing, have been busy with worldly affairs and have not been able to come and greet you from afar. I am truly sorry."
Bitao's ears went numb.
Among all the men Bitao had ever heard, Mingguang's voice was already clear and outstanding.
Whether his voice is suppressed and calm or blazing with anger, it is like cracking ice and shattering jade. Moreover, because of his innate ability to judge and break through barriers, his voice has the effect of clearing the mind and refreshing the spirit.
But this guy's voice is so beautiful... even Bitao Xin trembled a little.
Bitao even thought that if he had any talent or skill, it would definitely be to bewitch people.
If you didn't know his description, and he spoke into your ear with your eyes closed, his voice could probably control someone to their death.
Bitao carefully savored the sound of her senior brother Meteor's voice.
His attention was quickly drawn to a graceful figure that emerged from behind him.
The senior brother Meteor was distributing spirit stones to his companions. Just as he was about to receive a Xuan-grade spirit stone from a male cultivator from the Heart-Questioning Pavilion, a slender little hand snatched it away and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Long Banfan, aren't you annoying? You didn't do anything, so why are you taking spirit stones?!"
"What do you mean I didn't do anything? Didn't I just stand on the mountaintop and sing to cheer you on?"
"If I hadn't sung so well that the evil spirit covered its ears and howled in pain, you wouldn't have been able to catch him so easily."
This little beauty is extremely charming and lovely. Her face is only the size of a palm, and she has a pair of exceptionally bright and beautiful eyes that are pleasing to the eye.
When he finally opened his mouth, his voice sounded like a crow pretending to be human.
She and Meteor, who were in the same team, formed an extremely strong and stark contrast.
One is a human-shaped ghost with a ghostly voice, the other is a ghostly figure with celestial sounds.
Bitao took a slow breath.
Suppressing his excitement, he fixed his peach blossom eyes on the little beauty.
——Zhankui!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
