Chapter 9: Hidden Concerns (Part 2)

Wu Qirong said, “Entering the Wild Beast Secret Realm this time was completely unexpected. According to past patterns, the realm opens once every two years for a month, but we stayed inside for six months without any problems. If it weren’t for insufficient supplies, we would have stayed a few more months.”
Luo Jie said, “The situation in the north is also unstable now. The barbarians are restless, and this winter is particularly cold. I guess… by spring, they will launch an attack. A few days ago, the sect leader sent a talisman message saying that the Yanhuo Secret Realm of the Northern Talisman Sect shows signs of opening—maybe this summer or next year; it’s hard to say for sure yet. The sect has already started accepting applications to select those who will enter the realm. Is there any connection between this and the early opening of the Wild Beast Secret Realm?”
Wu Qirong sighed, “That’s unclear. Alas, it seems the world is about to fall into chaos again. I’m old, and the younger generation has no experience in bloody battles; it will be difficult for them to survive in such times.”
Luo Jie said, “The Northern Talisman Sect does a pretty good job training disciples. They spend huge amounts of talisman money every year to recruit suitable disciples. Now, the strength of the Northern Talisman Sect cannot be underestimated.”
Wu Qirong said, “Those brats from the Beast Talisman Sect are becoming more and more arrogant. Hmph. If it weren’t for the agreements among the Four Great Alliances… Well, as long as they don’t bother me, I don’t even want to deal with them.” The so-called Four Great Alliances refer to the four major sects, which were initially established as alliances before evolving into separate sects.
Luo Jie said, “We need to prepare early too. Alas, I hope it won’t end up like last time, with countless deaths and injuries.”
Wu Qirong said, “It probably won’t be that serious. At least this winter should be peaceful.”
Luo Jie said, “Yes, nothing will happen this winter. Hehe, Old Wu, can I take a look at the list?”
Wu Qirong took out a few pieces of paper, glanced at them briefly, and handed them to Luo Jie, saying, “The biggest gains this time are the Blood Earth Dragon and the Black Kuiniu. There’s nothing else worth mentioning.”
Luo Jie held the list, pondering carefully, flipping through it several times before saying, “Old Wu, the Jin Yuan Cores of the Blood Earth Dragon and the Black Kuiniu aren’t on the list. Don’t you plan to sell them?”
Wu Qirong smiled and said, “Of course I will sell them. I plan to inform a few top talisman masters to bid against each other. Whoever offers the most will get them, or they can be exchanged for… spirit talismans!”

“A spiritual talisman? Old Wu, stop joking. How many spiritual talismans exist in this world? They are the best talismans for creating one’s own life talisman! If all my life talisman books were made of spiritual talismans, hehe, I could even advance further… Which great talisman master would be willing to give away spiritual talismans in exchange for materials?”
Wu Qirong laughed and said, “It doesn’t matter if I can’t exchange them; I can just buy them… I’m not poor. Who’s like you talisman masters, all fat as pigs?”
“Stop complaining. You’ve been complaining for hundreds of years already, haha.” Luo Jie marked items on the paper without hesitation and said, “These are all I need.”
Wu Qirong took it and examined it carefully before saying, “Sigh, talking to you is exhausting every time. I can’t give you so many. There are several other old folks waiting for their shares. If I give them all to you, how will I manage?”
Luo Jie smiled and said, “I’m not asking for everything.”
Wu Qirong scolded jokingly, “You brat! You’ve marked all the best items, leaving others with nothing but trash.”
The two were old friends who knew each other’s temperaments well. Arguments were common, especially during transactions, when they would haggle fiercely over every detail. Talisman masters and spellcasters all had a merchant’s mindset; even if they were generous in daily life, they became stingy when purchasing materials, a trait determined by their profession.
…
Guo Shier returned home and immediately went back to the laboratory. He stored the talisman book and took out the beast talisman.
The so-called beast talismans were a unique type of talisman belonging to the Western Talisman School. Also known as the Beast Talisman School among the common people, its greatest feature was its ability to seal wild beasts or spirits, combining them with various materials to create beast talismans. Beast talismans generally possessed some of the abilities of the wild beasts they represented, and high-quality ones could even surpass the original beasts. However, they were extremely difficult to create, requiring only a master beast talisman artisan to make them.
The Beast Talisman School had its own set of talisman-making systems, all related to wild beasts.
This beast talisman was of top quality and not meant for combat but for surveillance and exploration. It could also be used to locate powerful wild beasts. It contained two mutated mastiff dogs sealed inside. Guo Shier had loved dogs in his past life, so he was very happy upon reading the description on the paper. Following the instructions, he used his spiritual power to begin breaking the seal.
They were two small dogs, similar to the pet dogs he had in his past life. They looked a bit ugly, with flat faces, nostrils flared upward, and dark fur. As soon as they appeared, they circled around Guo Shier, sniffing him, then sat down obediently, waiting for his commands.
Guo Shier took a few steps, and the two dogs immediately followed, giving off an obedient impression.

Gradually, Guo Shier discovered that the command talismans Wu Qirong had obtained were incomplete. He tried to give commands—the dogs could detect and warn, but they couldn’t track powerful beasts. Guo Shier came to terms with this; since they were stolen items, not something he had crafted himself, it was natural they wouldn’t have all their functions. He put away the two dogs and set the beast talismans aside. This was just a minor setback; his focus remained on cultivating his talisman power, which was what he truly pursued.

A head poked in, and a soft voice said, “Shier, are you here?”
Guo Shier replied irritably, “Baozi, what are you sneaking around for? Come in. I’ve just arrived—what’s the matter?”
Huo Bao entered with a smile and said, “There’s a new companion coming.”
Guo Shier was surprised, “Who? Why don’t I know about them?”
Huo Bao replied, “They’re already here. It’s said to be the grandson of a talisman maker. Uh, his grandfather has also arrived.”
Guo Shier said, “Okay, let’s go take a look.” After learning about the professions in this world, he understood how powerful talisman makers were, so he wouldn’t neglect this opportunity. He immediately followed Huo Bao outside. Only Huo Bao, Chen Bing, and Aunt Lan were allowed to enter the underground laboratory; to others, it was a forbidden area.

An old man and a young boy.
Guo Shier scratched his head. He had been in contact with too many old men lately. He had seen few children his own age but many old men. It made sense—having lived three lifetimes, he was actually an old man himself. He had no psychological barrier in interacting with old men, but he felt a bit uncomfortable around children.

“Hello, I’m Guo Shier.”
The old man had a full beard, mostly gray. His attire was completely different from Luo Jie and Wu Qirong’s—he was dressed like a wealthy man, wearing a beautiful, luxurious white leather robe and a white fur hat with not a single stray hair, making him look like a giant white fox. A talisman belt specific to talisman makers was tied around his waist, and quick-use wrist talismans were fastened to his wrists, giving him an air of wealth and elegance.

“I’m Hong Tianxing. I’m sorry to intrude. Young man, you’re Master Luo’s disciple and quite famous in the Northern Talisman Sect, haha.”
The child beside him stared at Guo Shier curiously. The child was as tall as Huo Bao, sturdy and robust, sitting there like a small mountain. Despite his tall stature, his face still showed a youthful appearance.

“Hello, Grandpa Hong!”

Hong Tianxing was very happy. Being someone who cared much about face, his stern expression softened quickly upon seeing Guo Shier’s courtesy. He said, “This is my grandson, Hong Shi. His nickname is Shitou. He’s eleven years old and has great potential to become a Talisman Warrior. I heard you’re in need of followers, so I came to give it a try. Shitou has excellent physical fitness and top-tier potential as a Talisman Warrior. I wonder if you’d be willing to take him on?”
Guo Shier generally accepted everyone who came to him. He planned to recruit four first before making further decisions, as he had only taken in two children with potential to become Talisman Warriors so far. From books, he knew that Talisman Warriors were extremely important for Spellcasters. Unless one reached the level of a Grand Spellcaster, they couldn’t go hunting or gather materials alone; they needed the protection of Talisman Warriors.
Spellcasters were both the strongest and weakest profession in this world, especially at the beginning, when they absolutely needed the help of Talisman Warriors.
“Sure, no problem. But Grandpa Hong, I need a year to assess him.”
Hong Tianxing nodded. “That’s the rule. I understand.” He then said to Hong Shi, “Shitou, from now on, you’ll live at Shier’s place. Remember, if you want to succeed, you must be able to endure hardships and get along well with your peers. Understand?” He spoke seriously about the first part but used a gentle tone for the last three words.
Huo Bao smiled and stepped forward. “Grandpa Hong, I’m Huo Bao. I’ll take care of Shitou from now on.”
Hong Tianxing nodded in satisfaction. “Good, good. Get along well. My grandson is very honest and should be able to get along with everyone. By the way, Shier, in a few days, I’ll have someone send over some gifts. Make sure to accept them without refusal. It’s just a small token from me.”
Guo Shier didn’t refuse. He was extremely poor and had to support so many people. Receiving some gifts didn’t cause him any guilt. He said, “Then thank you, Grandpa Hong.”
Hong Tianxing smiled. “Good! So energetic at such a young age. Alright, then I’ll take my leave.” He left right away, without any hesitation.
Guo Shier asked, “Baozi, do you know Shitou?”
Huo Bao grinned. “Yes, we met at the Body Tempering Hall. He also trains there. And Shitou hasn’t decided whom to follow yet… so…”
Guo Shier nodded. He didn’t blame Huo Bao. It was very important to find companions with compatible temperaments so they could develop a sense of coordination in battle. He asked, “Does Chen Bing know him too?”
Huo Bao waved. “Chen Bing, come out. Hehe, actually, it was Chen Bing who took a liking to Shitou, saying his physique makes him the perfect candidate for a defensive Talisman Warrior.”

Hong Shi said, “From now on, we should help each other.” He appeared very composed, which was rare among children.
Guo Shier was also satisfied and smiled, saying, “Good. Baozi, Chen Bing, Hong Shi—if you find anyone with potential in the Training Hall who gets along well with you, just bring them here. I’ll take them on!”
Huo Bao grinned happily, feeling pleased because he had helped Guo Shier.
Guo Shier was very interested in the training at the Training Hall. He asked, “What have you been training on recently? By the way, Hong Shi, have you applied the Ming Fu to yourself?”
Hong Shi replied, “I’ve applied the Ming Fu three times, with my grandfather helping me. He said the first application is the most important; after that, it doesn’t matter much. Even if it’s applied incorrectly, it can be corrected by washing the symbol. The effect of the first application is the best. I’m doing the most basic exercises, just like Baozi and the others.”
Guo Shier said, “The three of you should practice coordinating more. Once you develop a good understanding, your strength will be great.”
Huo Bao said, “Hmm, I’ll pay attention to the relevant Fu Warrior techniques.”
Hong Shi added, “We need to find a fourth follower as soon as possible; otherwise, it will be hard for him to integrate into our group.”
Guo Shier nodded and said, “Hmm, I’ll think about it. Maybe I should ask my master. He has extensive connections and should be able to find someone.”
“No need to look anymore. My old wife has brought one for you!”
Guo Shier was surprised. “Grandma Chen!”
Aunt Chen brought a girl in. Guo Shier was puzzled, saying, “Grandma Chen, we’re looking for Fu Warriors, not just Fu Masters or Spellcasters.”
Chen Bing’s face turned pale. His grandfather, Chen Chunzhai, felt dizzy just seeing this aunt, let alone him. When he saw the little girl following Aunt Chen, his headache worsened. He said, “Cousin, why are you here?” With a bitter smile, he added, “Hello, great-aunt.”
Aunt Chen said with a smirk, “Xiao Bing is here too. That’s great—she can keep an eye on things.”
“My old wife won’t bring you a child with potential as a Spellcaster or Fu Master. This is a child with potential as a Fu Warrior. Shier, you need a follower—Xiao Hong will be with you!”
“Ah? Ah! That’s impossible…”
Guo Shier was stunned.