The reason the Ghost Sect’s talismans were so domineering was because they used extremely special materials—all human skin or exotic beast hide, and all peeled from living beings, condensing tremendous resentment.

Using such evil objects as carriers, they could naturally unleash evil techniques to their utmost limit.

Though Xiaoxiao wouldn’t create such bloody and sinful talismans like the Ghost Sect, the yellow paper talismans that easily got wet and failed also couldn’t be used anymore…

The Wei family grandmother was quite right—evil cannot overcome righteousness. Since the Ghost Sect used materials of yin nature for their talismans, if she could use materials that suppressed yin nature to make talismans, that would be ideal.

But what material should she use? Xiaoxiao had Tang Youshu help her find various papers available on the market, even parchment scrolls with good toughness, but compared to the Ghost Sect’s evil-qi-filled human skin talismans, these were still no match.

Oil paper with better water resistance couldn’t retain cinnabar and couldn’t even draw talismans.

For a moment, Xiaoxiao couldn’t think of a way to enhance talisman effectiveness, and even important matters like eating became difficult to swallow.

Though Wei Jie served her food and piled her rice bowl into a small mountain, Xiaoxiao ate a few bites listlessly before returning to her room early to meditate.

Compared to improving talismans, quickly condensing an inner core was also very important.

Xiaoxiao already knew the taste of having an inner core in her dantian—it was like an infant who had tasted worldly delicacies, that extreme craving was more unbearable than hunger pangs.

She also didn’t want to have to borrow an inner core from her disciple to save face next time her demonic nature erupted.

As qi circulated to her dantian and gradually condensed, her limbs and body became smooth and unobstructed, and her spiritual platform gradually became clear and bright.

Xiaoxiao’s thoughts gradually drifted, and suddenly, inspiration struck. She bounced up from the bed and excitedly ran to Wei Jie’s room, jumping onto Wei Jie’s bed and asking: “Do you still have the silver your external grandmother gave you?”

It was currently deep night. Wei Jie wasn’t sleeping but was sitting cross-legged on his bed in loose inner robes, breathing exercises by moonlight.

Before he could finish his breathing practice, he felt a sudden gust—a woman in thin undergarments, her curves fully revealed by candlelight, rushed straight in and pounced onto his bed.

Wei Jie was thankful he had stopped in time and didn’t slap this warm, fragrant softness away. He just lowered his eyes to look at his anxious-faced master, thinking not very sincerely: should he remind his little master that if she night-raided his bed a few more times like this, her chief eldest disciple could easily have his vital qi flow backwards to his dantian and go into demonic deviation!

But Xiaoxiao didn’t notice any of this. Her mind was completely immersed in her flash of inspiration, only excitedly shaking Wei Jie’s shoulders: “Hey, I’m talking to you! Besides giving you silver rings, did the Wei family give you any other silver items?”

Wei Jie lowered his eyes to look at her, suppressing the urge to transfer some inner core, and said in a low, hoarse voice: “Yes…”

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao let out a long sigh of relief.

Because she had suddenly thought of an idea—since the Lingshan Talismonger Sect’s talisman materials were a grade lower than the Ghost Sect’s, if she used the Wei family’s demon-subduing silver as a carrier, wouldn’t the condensed spiritual power be much stronger?

So when Wei Jie took out a piece of Wei family silver, they went to the town’s gold and silver jewelry shop and had craftsmen help extend that silver into over a dozen silver foils.

Xiaoxiao specifically instructed the craftsmen not to extend them too thin, lest they break when drawing talismans, so what was finally crafted looked more like silver sheets.

When drawing talismans, Xiaoxiao also abandoned her usual brush and cinnabar, instead using Yu Tiandou’s sword tip to carve.

Initially, she couldn’t control the force properly and ruined several sheets, but after mastering the strength, the talismans she carved became presentable.

Next was testing the effectiveness of these new talismans.

This time, Xiaoxiao drew fire talismans. Fire talismans were somewhat more difficult than water talismans and something Xiaoxiao had never attempted before.

It wasn’t that Xiaoxiao was unwilling, but she naturally had an extremely yin constitution, so she controlled water-type yin attributes better.

This time, no miracle occurred either. Xiaoxiao tried fire talismans several times but couldn’t succeed.

Her current cultivation was much higher than her eldest senior brother Ji Wuqi’s, yet her control of these Five Elements yang fire talismans wasn’t even a fraction of her senior brother’s skill.

Xiaoxiao felt somewhat discouraged and decided not to waste more silver foil, so she drew water talismans again.

When she again sent out true qi with her finger, remotely activating the silver talisman placed on the table, she had originally intended to draw water from the courtyard well into a nearby vat.

This was already a familiar skill for Xiaoxiao.

But this time, when her finger moved slightly, the well suddenly shot out countless water arrows without warning. With a loud crash, the distant water vat had already shattered, clearly pierced through by the water flow!

Yu Ling’er had originally prepared to take some sweet melons from the water vat and have Xiaoxiao draw water to chill them, so she was standing beside the vat.

Caught completely off guard, she was drenched from the explosion. Realizing belatedly that she had nearly been pierced through like a fox-hide sieve by those water arrows, she wailed loudly and called for Tang Youshu nearby to check if her body had any holes pierced through it.

Tang Youshu hurried over, but with this young lady’s dress soaked through, revealing her curves completely, it wasn’t appropriate to examine her!

Tang Youshu was so embarrassed he didn’t know where to look, so he quickly removed his outer robe, then turned away to avoid impropriety before draping the clothes over Yu Ling’er.

Xiaoxiao was also frightened by the destructive power she had displayed.

She could feel that when her spiritual power was attached to the silver talisman, the power was instantly magnified several times. In that moment, she had been pulled by the talisman, experiencing a sense of being out of control, like when Wan Lian Shi had nearly possessed her.

It seemed her idea was truly correct!

As long as she found materials matching the Five Elements, Lingshan’s talismans could unleash power several times stronger than before!

Now she finally had some confidence in her heart. At the very least, next time she faced Wan Lian Shi in battle, she absolutely couldn’t be like a puppet, controlled by backlash!

In her excitement, she reached out to take the silver talisman floating in mid-air, but the moment the silver talisman touched her finger, it turned to ash.

Damn! How could she forget she was under the gold-dissolving curse? Just like the silver ring Wei Jie had given her before, it was fine when worn on her wrist without touching, but would turn to ash the moment she touched it.

When handling it, she had to be extremely careful, separated by a thick cloth. The previous one had been accidentally touched into ash by her later…

Now the problem arose again. If she used silver as talismans and faced enemies in battle, what if she forgot to wear gloves?

In such critical moments, the slightest carelessness could cost lives!

However, an unintentional comment from Ling’er reminded her.

At that time, Ling’er was eating sweet melon while saying, “I wonder which wicked bastard cursed you. Why don’t you try asking him? As long as the curse-caster agrees to lift it, maybe your curse will be broken!”

Xiaoxiao had listlessly said: “He’s no longer here…”

Wait! Xiaoxiao blinked and suddenly realized that although the master who cursed her two hundred years in the future was gone, the master from two hundred years ago was alive and well!

Xiaoxiao excitedly looked at Tang Youshu, who was helping Yu Ling’er peel sweet melon skin nearby, thinking she could try it.

So early the next morning, using the excuse of gathering herbs on the mountain, Xiaoxiao took Tang Youshu to the back mountain.

Once they reached the back mountain, Xiaoxiao looked around to ensure no one was present, then coaxed: “Young Master Tang, you know I’m under a gold-dissolving curse. But an expert said if I gathered enough blessings, I might be able to break it. I’m still short a few. Would you like to contribute? Sincerely pray for me, hoping my curse can be lifted?”

Upon hearing this, Tang Youshu immediately nodded and, following Cui Xiaoxiao’s instructions, sincerely prayed: “Gold-dissolving curse, break!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiaoxiao felt something tightly binding her fingers suddenly dissipate.

She looked at Tang Youshu in disbelief, then, with trembling hands, took out a silver foil talisman paper from her bosom.

This time, the silver foil stayed perfectly in her hand without turning to ash…

It… it was broken so easily?

Xiaoxiao had only been trying it out without much hope, never expecting it would be broken just like that!

She was stunned for a moment, then, thinking of all the suffering caused by the gold-dissolving curse, suddenly felt the impermanence of life and the waste of precious youth!

For a moment, Xiaoxiao was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. She gripped Master Tang Youshu’s hand tightly, speechless, her eyes moistening as she unconsciously murmured: “So simple?… Master… Young Master Tang, you’ve made me suffer so!”

Tang Youshu didn’t understand, staring blankly at his master ancestor weeping sadly, somewhat dazedly saying: “Ah?”

Xiaoxiao sniffled, trying hard to control her emotions: “Young Master Tang, I’m a bit excited. I’ll be fine in a moment…”

Tang Youshu didn’t dare pull his hand away, so he let his master ancestor hold it while watching her weep silently.

Only in this wilderness among the trees, a beautiful young woman holding a young man’s hand with tears in her eyes, about to speak but tears flowing first—however you looked at it, this was like the “guan guan osprey” and “gentleman’s good mate” from the Book of Songs!

If no one had seen them, it would have been fine. But Yu Ling’er happened to be carrying a basket with her mouth stuffed with freshly picked mountain apricots, excitedly coming to find them both.

Originally, Yu Ling’er was bored being alone, and seeing Xiaoxiao take Tang Youshu up the mountain, she wanted to join the fun.

But she never expected that after following their voices and pushing through the bushes, she heard Xiaoxiao’s line “you’ve made me suffer so,” and saw the ambiguous scene of the two with hands clasped and teary eyes facing each other.

Now the mountain apricot in the little fox’s mouth seemed to taste different.

She really couldn’t stand it, spat out the apricot from her mouth, threw down her bamboo basket, went up to pull apart the confused Tang Youshu, and shouted at Cui Xiaoxiao with a cracking voice: “Cui Xiaoxiao! You’re going too far! Even if you want to switch to the Hehuan Sect, there’s no need for this! You won’t even spare any of the Talismonger Sect’s disciples! If you were harvesting that, Wei Jie, it would be fine! At least he’s tall and strong enough to withstand your abuse! Tang Youshu is already so thin, and you still want to use him to harvest yang and supplement yin? You… how can you bear it!”

Cui Xiaoxiao wiped away her life-lamenting tears with her sleeve, then came to her senses: “What nonsense! I, a dignified orthodox Talismonger Sect member, have I ever used people for harvesting?”

Hearing this, Yu Ling’er became even more furious: “Oh, so you’re not trying to suppress your demonic nature by harvesting his yang qi… then… then wouldn’t that mean you’re just toying with Tang Youshu’s feelings! Standing on two boats… no, three boats! Even more detestable!”

Only then did Xiaoxiao understand that Yu Ling’er had misunderstood her relationship with her master. What was all this about?

She was too lazy to explain that Young Master Tang was like a loving father in her heart, just puzzled as she looked at the jumping Yu Ling’er, sizing her up: “You’re not even a Talismonger Sect disciple, why do you care how we Talismonger Sect people get along… Wait, when did you become so concerned about Young Master Tang?”

When Yu Ling’er previously misunderstood her relationship with Wei Jie, she would just roll her eyes, snort disdainfully, mock a few words, and walk away.

How come when it came to Tang Youshu, the little fox was jumping around like her tail was on fire?

Tang Youshu wasn’t her Young Master Qin, so why was she being so sour?

Yu Ling’er didn’t think her concern for Tang Youshu was inappropriate.

Along this journey, Tang Youshu was the person in the Talismonger Sect who treated her best! Besides responding to her every request, Young Master Tang also spoke gently and would tell her strange stories from books and teach her to read.

Every time she talked with him, her heart felt like it had been washed by a spiritual spring, feeling exceptionally comfortable and clear.

This feeling was something even her clanspeople, and even her benefactor Qin Lingxiao, had never given her.

Such a kind and learned young master should be treated sincerely, not someone that this fickle female demon Cui Xiaoxiao could defile!

Hearing Yu Ling’er’s righteous rebuke, Cui Xiaoxiao agreed with Yu Ling’er’s words!

Her revered master’s virtues were far more than these! Young Master Tang was a treasure from head to toe!

In Xiaoxiao’s view, among all the women she had met, not one could match her master!

As Yu Ling’er scolded, seeing that Xiaoxiao was nodding approvingly and even joining in praising Tang Youshu.

This shameless woman looked exactly like a rolling blade of meat that couldn’t be cut through, which angered Yu Ling’er so much that she wiped her tears, pulled Tang Youshu along, and went down the mountain to find Wei Jie to complain!

Having broken the gold-dissolving curse, Xiaoxiao was full of joy and too lazy to deal with Yu Ling’er’s inexplicable lawsuit!

Without the shackles of the gold-dissolving curse, she could freely use silver from the underworld to make silver talismans and could unleash the yin-attribute “water” techniques to their fullest.

Thinking of this, she took out a silver talisman from her bosom, wanting to test the talisman’s power again. But the moment she gripped the silver talisman, Xiaoxiao’s fingertip against the silver foil seemed to sense slight vibrations on the surface.

This feeling was very mysterious, as if she had suddenly opened a sixth sense of heart-awareness. She instinctively felt there was someone nearby with strong yang qi, which was causing this yin-attribute silver foil to react.

Though she couldn’t be certain why there was such a reaction, she still tentatively called out: “Who’s there?”

It was just a probe, but unexpectedly, the nearby bushes rustled slightly, and a man in white robes truly emerged.

This person was none other than Qin Lingxiao, who should have been accompanying his injured father back to Lingyun Pavilion.

Seeing it was him, Xiaoxiao unconsciously stepped back several paces.

Before this number one swordsman could get angry, Xiaoxiao quickly spoke first to express her apology: “So it’s you… Listen! I previously injured your father because the demon pearl erupted, and I temporarily lost my rationality… though he isn’t a good person…”

Unfortunately, Qin Lingxiao had come here carrying thunderous rage and didn’t wait for Xiaoxiao to finish expressing her apology before coldly interrupting: “No need for so many explanations! I saw with my own eyes you and Wei Jie… entangling together. You’re just willingly fallen, shameless, preparing to go on a killing spree, lost in these two hundred years! What a waste of my constant good intentions toward you, giving you a chance to start anew! “

Xiaoxiao knew he was talking about her kissing Wei Jie in full view of everyone.

Every time she thought of this, Xiaoxiao felt deeply ashamed.

But if Qin Lingxiao was going to say she and Wei Jie were “entangling” based on this, that wouldn’t do!

Xiaoxiao said coldly, “My demonic nature had erupted greatly then. If Wei Jie hadn’t been willing to transfer his inner core to me, I would have let the demon pearl run rampant! The innocent are naturally innocent. My relationship with him is open and honest, and we don’t need your slander! Rather, you should ask your father when he became sworn brothers with the Ghost Sect’s Wan Lian Shi? I think you’re the one with a crooked beam, making the pillars askew!”

Unexpectedly, after hearing her explanation that the kiss was only for transferring inner core, Qin Lingxiao’s frost-covered handsome face thawed slightly, and he even seemed to sigh in relief, as if a great burden had been lifted from his heart.

However, hearing Xiaoxiao’s accusation about his father, his brows furrowed again as he huffed angrily: “Don’t slander my father! He’s the dignified Lingyun Pavilion Sect Leader—why would he need to become sworn brothers with evil demons? Besides, that Wan Lian Shi you mentioned was killed long ago in the four great sects’ encirclement! How could my father have any connection with him? That person you mentioned is just a steward of Lord Can’s manor. Even if this steward is inappropriate, it’s Lord Can’s business—what does it have to do with my father?”

Xiaoxiao understood the world’s number one swordsman’s character. Though he was proud and stubborn, somewhat strict with others and lenient with himself, he wasn’t a greatly evil person.

Seeing his righteous indignation, he probably truly didn’t understand his father’s dealings.

Xiaoxiao was too lazy to sow discord between father and son, just saying indifferently: “That white-haired man is just a manor steward, yet he can fight one against two, withstanding both demonized me and Wei Jie. Lord Can’s manor is truly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers! Forget it, I’m too lazy to explain to you. Young Master Qin, what exactly are you here for today? Are you planning to capture me and present me to your father or Lord Can?”

Qin Lingxiao was choked speechless by Xiaoxiao’s counterquestion.

His father had been quite vague about his private meeting with the manor steward that day, only saying the steward wanted to convey some words from the prince for him to pass to the four great sects.

Who knew they would encounter Wei Jie and Cui Xiaoxiao, and that Cui Xiaoxiao would erupt in demonic rage and attack without saying a word.

When Qin Lingxiao wanted to ask for more details, Qin He flew into a great rage, questioning Qin Lingxiao whether interrogating him like a criminal was trying to exonerate Cui Xiaoxiao.

As the Young Pavilion Master of Lingyun Pavilion, supposedly the promising sword cultivator in the eyes of all female cultivators worldwide, yet acting like an inexperienced youth, bewitched by some wild sect leader of unknown background—was he preparing to make Lingyun Pavilion lose face everywhere?

Qin Lingxiao was rendered speechless by his furious father’s rebuke and could only be punished to face the wall and copy pavilion rules.

But the more he thought, the more confused his mind became, feeling that since returning two hundred years ago, he hadn’t had a single peaceful day. Everything about him seemed to have gone off track, heading in unpredictable directions.

This burden of thoughts couldn’t even be shared with his father and mother, and combined with recent news he’d heard, Qin Lingxiao decided he still needed to find Xiaoxiao for a face-to-face conversation.

He had traveled all this way wanting to see Xiaoxiao’s demonic condition.

Lingyun Pavilion’s disciples were spread throughout the world. When Cui Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie previously went to the Front River for the banquet, someone had reported their whereabouts.

So Qin Lingxiao had rushed all the way here, just in time to take advantage of Yu Ling’er and Tang Youshu leaving to have a few words with Cui Xiaoxiao.

When he saw that Cui Xiaoxiao’s autumn-water eyes had become clear and bright again, Qin Lingxiao knew she should have temporarily suppressed the demon pearl’s demonic nature.

Now Qin Lingxiao was even more eager than Cui Xiaoxiao to return two hundred years later. At least he could return to his own body instead of being trapped in this young, inexperienced, and useless physique.

He now had many things to do, and regarding the escaped demon pearl “Wrath,” he also had some clues. After saying a few words to Xiaoxiao, he had to hurry to other places.

He decided to temporarily ignore his father’s affairs with Lord Can and said urgently to Xiaoxiao, “I know the reason for your demonization. Your demon pearl possession also involves me. How could I ignore you? It’s just that now in the righteous cultivation world, news about your demonization seems to be spreading wider and wider. Even some strange incidents in remote villages have been connected to you. Some people are even proposing to crusade against the demonic Talismonger Sect. But I know you’ve been hiding here and haven’t gone out to do bad things, though others probably won’t understand. You should still listen to me—quickly separate from Wei Jie and the fox clan people, find a place to hide by yourself, and wait for the rumors to die down. I can also find the demon pearl Wrath, and then there should be a way to restrain the demon pearl in your body.”

Hearing his words, Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but be startled and asked: “You say some villages had incidents? What strange incidents?”

Qin Lingxiao thought for a moment and said: “It seems several nearby villages had young men whose blood was drained overnight, and yellow grass paper malicious talismans from your Talismonger Sect appeared in their homes. Now, nearby towns all have wanted posters with yours and Wei Jie’s portraits. I originally wanted to enter Luoyi City to clear your name. Unfortunately, Luoyi City has been heavily defended recently, as if some imperial relatives are touring, and to prevent evil assassins, Luoyi City forbids any cultivation practitioners from entering… I can’t stay here long. Please remember my words…”

Saying this, Qin Lingxiao took out a very exquisite box from his bosom and handed it to Xiaoxiao.

Xiaoxiao looked at it warily, somewhat unwilling to accept it.

Qin Lingxiao thrust the box into Xiaoxiao’s arms with a sour face: “These are pastries from a pastry shop I passed by in a city. They looked quite delicate, so I bought them casually. But after looking at them, I didn’t want to eat them, so I’m giving them to you… Also, don’t think that Wei Jie is so pure. Any disciple with basic cultivation knowledge knows there are many ways to transfer inner core—why did he specifically choose mouth-to-mouth? I lurked under his command for many years and have seen his methods of bewitching women until they’re completely infatuated. I hope you won’t be like those foolish women, foolishly misplacing your affections!”

After saying this, Qin Lingxiao took another deep look at Cui Xiaoxiao, suppressed the urge to caress her cheek, took a deep breath, and turned to speed away.

Leaving Cui Xiaoxiao holding the brocade box, eyes wide as she thought about what Qin Lingxiao had said.

What did he say? There are many ways to transfer the inner core, no need for mouth-to-mouth?

Then why did Wei Jie tell her that, besides this, the only other way was to cut open the abdomen?