Chapter 76: Communication Talisman — Success on the First Try

“This is the tenth magical beast, still no reaction.”

Gao Linzhen pressed her fingertip against the wound of the dead magical beast. Purple-red beast blood flowed across the ground.

She stood up, her gaze deep and serious. “What’s going on… Could it be our elder planted the Woodcore Flower somewhere completely isolated from magical beasts?”

Chief Artifact Refiner Tang Jianming said, “Impossible. If that were the case, this trial wouldn’t even be viable. Up till now, we haven’t found a single magical beast carrying the Woodcore Flower’s aura. Could it be Azure Profound Sect found it early and is trying to cut off the path for other sects?”

“Unlikely,” Lu Feishuang replied, her gaze sweeping over the chaotic scene. The blood from the magical beasts had almost dyed the entire river red.

In order to find the Woodcore Flower faster, the Crimson Sky Sect’s chief team had left the safe zone, taking a risk by following the river downstream. But all the way through, they hadn’t sensed even the slightest trace of the flower’s spiritual energy — not even a single disciple from any other sect had crossed their path.

Lu Feishuang wiped the blood from her sword with a cloth. Under the light, the blade of the Rainbow-Splitting Sword shimmered with multicolored hues.

Her eyes were sharp. She said, “The Azure Profound Sect’s team leader this round is Ying You. With his character, he wouldn’t do something so underhanded as to cut off others’ escape routes.”

“You trust him too much,” Changsun Li said coldly. “How do you know that gentlemanly appearance isn’t just a front?”

Lu Feishuang gave him a faint glance. “The Azure Profound Sect’s Second Elder wouldn’t raise a hypocrite.”

Changsun Li: “Then what now? We’ve got no leads here, no clue where to go next.”

Lu Feishuang paused in thought, glancing at the jade token on her waist. She also found it strange — all three other sects’ chief teams had been silent. No one had been eliminated.

“We’ll split into two groups first,” she said. “Changsun Li, you and Shen Wusang take half the group that way. I’ll go with the rest downstream. If there’s any news, the Talisman Refiner will contact you.”

Changsun Li glanced at Shen Wusang beside him and said, “No need to bring half the group. Shen Wusang and I are enough. Just give us one Alchemy Cultivator.”

“You sure?” Lu Feishuang raised an eyebrow.

Changsun Li: “Three people are enough.”

Lu Feishuang: “Fine. If you run into the Returning Immortal Sect, don’t hold back — especially that Second-Seat Sword Cultivator, Lian Mu. She humiliated Crimson Sky Sect in front of everyone. We will teach her a lesson.”

Changsun Li nodded, expression unreadable. “Understood.”

Lu Feishuang left with her team, leaving behind Changsun Li, Shen Wusang, and a dual-root Alchemy Cultivator.

Watching the team leader disappear into the distance, Changsun Li turned to his companion and said, “Take me to the Returning Immortal Sect’s chief team.”

Chief Talisman Refiner Shen Wusang’s face was emotionless. “The team leader said we’re to prioritize magical beasts. We’re only to engage the Returning Immortal Sect if we encounter them — not go looking for them.”

Changsun Li said coldly, “I’m the vice leader. You follow my orders now. Use a talisman to search for the other sects. Find the Returning Immortal Sect. I don’t care about that little Second-Seat Sword Cultivator. I want their chief team. I want Wen Yun.”

Shen Wusang’s eyes finally shifted. He looked at him — still calm. “You’re going against the team leader’s orders. I can report this right now.”

“I’m going after Wen Yun for the Woodcore Flower. They currently have the upper hand. Attacking them is far more effective than blindly wandering around here.”

Shen Wusang was silent for a moment. In the end, he pulled a talisman from his robe.

“Just this once.”

…

…

After the toxic miasma dispersed, everything returned to normal.

Lian Mu had spent the entire night hanging in a tree. From up high, she had a good view, but all she saw were nocturnal magical beasts and wild animals. No people.

She had been alone for two days now — no Talisman Refiner by her side, no way to contact her team, no other sects to rob. She was bored out of her mind.

Deciding to try her luck, she flew southward on her broom. Midway, she saw a cluster of magical beasts below, all surrounding… something.

She stopped mid-air and squinted. Looked like a person.

Immediately, Lian Mu swooped down. The beasts were all newly born juveniles, and she cleared them with a few sword strikes. Only then did she see clearly — a disciple from the Azure Profound Sect.

He was covered in wounds and appeared unconscious, but his Spirit Jade Talisman hadn’t activated yet. He was still inside the illusion realm.

Lian Mu hesitated. This was her first time encountering someone from Azure Profound Sect.

People from Azure Profound Sect were bound to carry nice things.

Without a second thought, she got to work while he was still unconscious.

“Mm…”

Halfway through undressing him, the disciple groaned and slowly opened his eyes in a daze. The moment he saw her, his eyes flew wide open.

“AHHH!”

In a panic, he scrambled away — only to be dragged back.

Lian Mu had only managed to get a Spatial Pouch so far, which held a few healing pills. She pinned him down. “Why run? I saved you. You should be thanking me.”

The Azure Profound Sect disciple was stunned. “You… You’re from the Returning Immortal Sect? Where’s my uniform?!”

It lay beside her feet. Lian Mu said, “You’re out here alone. Where are your teammates?”

“What’s it to you?” the disciple said with grit. “I’m not telling you anything.”

Lian Mu: “I’m not after anything. Just wanted to borrow a few items.”

“You stripped me! Clearly up to no good, and you still pretend to be innocent!”

Lian Mu: “…”

It’s your fault for keeping your pouch that close to your skin.

“Enough yelling.” She stuffed a handful of grass in his mouth. “It’s just you and me here. No one’s coming to save you.”

She held him down and rummaged through his things, eventually finding a stack of unused talisman papers.

“You’re a Talisman Refiner?” she asked.

The disciple spat out the grass and turned his head stubbornly, a look of defiance on his face.

Lian Mu clicked her tongue. “You sect disciples are all so damn stubborn.”

“Like you’re any different!”

Lian Mu offered a deal. “Let’s make a trade. You’re alone, you can’t run, and you’re at my mercy. I’ll give you a chance: teach me how to draw a communication talisman, and I’ll let you go.”

She had already wasted the only communication talisman she had.

“As if I’d believe you! Don’t try to act. I know who you are — the Returning Immortal Sect’s Second-Seat Sword Cultivator. I’ve seen your image projection. You tricked the Clear Thought Sect last round the same way!”

Lian Mu: “I’m not lying. You know the kind of relationship our sect has with Clear Thought Sect. That was just revenge. But this is different. You’re from Azure Profound Sect — we have no beef with you. Why would I trick you?”

“But…” He frowned.

Lian Mu dusted off his uniform and handed it back. Then she said earnestly, “I’ve always liked Azure Profound Sect. But I’m just a regular three-spirit-root cultivator — not even good enough to enter your sect. I like people from Azure Profound Sect too. If I lied to you, I’d be lying to myself. What’s the point?”

“Trust me this once, okay? If you do, you live. If not, I’ll leave now — and a new wave of magical beasts will show up soon.”

The Azure Profound Sect disciple hesitated. “I…”

Communication talismans weren’t particularly complex. Any Talisman Refiner could make one. Teaching her wouldn’t really cost him anything. One talisman in exchange for his life — that was fair.

“I’ll teach you once. Just once.”

Lian Mu handed him a blank talisman paper, signaling for him to demonstrate. The disciple from Azure Profound Sect focused his spiritual power at his fingertips and suspended the blank talisman paper in the air, then drew a string of incantations with a drop of blood.

Lian Mu imitated his movements and copied the incantations stroke by stroke.

“That’s it?” The completed talisman fell into her hand. She tried drawing a few more, gradually getting the feel for it.

The Azure Profound Sect disciple took one of her talismans and examined it carefully. “…You’re quite a fast learner. I can’t believe you got it right on the first try.”

Hearing his confirmation, Lian Mu let go of his restrained hand. “I keep my word. You can go now.”

The disciple stood up, intending to take back his blank talisman papers, but Lian Mu stopped him. “Hold on. I said you could leave, not that you could take your stuff.”

Azure Profound Sect disciple: “You… That was mine to begin with!”

Lian Mu replied, “I saved your life. You should be thanking me. Consider these things your gift of gratitude.”

She pulled out two blank talisman papers and returned them to him with a kindly expression. “Here, two sheets for self-defense. Now hurry and go. Be careful out there.”

Azure Profound Sect disciple: “…”

He was covered in wounds, and she was a sword cultivator—he couldn’t win, not as a Heart Concealment practitioner.

He clenched his jaw in frustration, but didn’t dare say more. Taking the two crumpled sheets, he fled in a hurry while she still seemed in a good mood.

Lian Mu tested the communication talisman—it worked in this area.

Each sect had its own unique contact incantation. She recited the one Qu Ruotian had taught her. As the talisman ignited with spiritual energy, before long, a weak voice came through.

“Lian… Junior Sister Lian?”

Lian Mu: “Senior Brother Qu, what happened to you?”

Qu Ruotian’s voice was barely audible, almost just breath: “Qianxue and I got separated by a magical beast stampede… I ended up alone, was attacked… How are things on your side?”

“I’m fine,” Lian Mu replied quickly. “Senior Brother Qu, where are you? I’ll come find you.”

“Don’t move yet. I’ve already released a talisman sprite that’s tracking the connection—it’ll lead you to me,” Qu Ruotian said. “I managed to reach the chief team. Chief Ji said she’s sending Chief Wen to find you.”

“Wen Yun isn’t with me. He’s a chief; he should be fine on his own. I’ll head your way first. Senior Brother Qu, have your talisman sprite guide me to you.”