Chapter 6: Becoming a Disciple (Part 1)

Guo Shier was a bit puzzled. Over these three days, only Chang Yeren had extended an invitation, with none of the other elders showing up. Was there some agreement between them? Or some unspoken understanding? Since he couldn’t figure it out for now, he decided not to think about it. After all, he had nothing to lose. He would just wait and see how things developed—his patience was sufficient.

The carriage soon arrived at the entrance of a manor. Located in the northern corner of the town, the manor was extremely large, with ten Symbol Warriors standing at the gate.

Soon, a middle-aged man came out. Judging from his identity badge, he was a Sorcerer. He greeted them with a smile and said, “Are you Brother Guo Shier? I’m Chang Haoran. My father is waiting inside.”

Guo Shier smiled and replied, “Hello, Uncle Chang. I’m Guo Shier. This is Huo Bao, my brother.” Huo Bao stepped forward to greet them. The three of them followed Chang Haoran into the manor.

Guo Shier suddenly noticed that there were no other guests. He asked, “Weren’t we here for a banquet?”

Chang Haoran laughed and said, “That’s right. You are the only guest, brother. You’re my father’s only guest.”

Guo Shier couldn’t help but laugh. What kind of banquet was this? The excuse was rather poor. As they walked further, he realized the manor was a hundred times larger than his own courtyard. It was easy to get lost inside.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at a beautifully decorated small living room.

Chang Yeren stood at the door, smiling. “Shier, you’re here! Come on! It’s cold outside—come inside and sit down.”

There were thick furs laid on the wooden platforms. Chang Yeren ordered the servants to bring in four low tables. He sat cross-legged and said, “Come, sit down everyone. Haoran, go and tell them it’s time to serve the food.”

Guo Shier asked, “Grandpa Chang, is it Symbol Food?”

Chang Yeren nodded. “That’s right. You probably haven’t eaten it before, right? Hehe, Symbol Food is what we Sorcerers eat.”

The servants brought in several wooden plates. Guo Shier was surprised to see fresh stir-fried dishes. There was a dish of vegetables fried in oil—though he didn’t recognize the vegetables—and a plate of sliced meat stir-fried with mushrooms, along with a dish of steamed fish. In total, there were three stir-fried dishes plus a clay pot soup. From the smell, he could tell it was radish and pork rib soup.

Guo Shier was almost moved to tears. These were the home-cooked dishes from his past life, yet here they were called Symbol Food. Still, he was very happy to be able to eat such dishes.

A large bowl of pointed-rice was brought out.

Guo Shier almost cried out in delight. He had thought there was no rice in this world, yet here he found it—coming here was truly worth it. In his past life, he had been a gourmand who loved eating and cooking by himself. In this life, due to his young age and his efforts to adapt to the environment, he hadn’t yet thought about culinary pleasures.

Chang Yeren smiled and said, “These are ingredients I cultivated myself, all grown using cultivation talismans. How does it taste?”

Guo Shier noticed that the rice was slightly different from that in his past life. It smelled extremely fragrant, even more so than fragrant rice, with grains that were slightly larger and a very light green color, each one crystal clear. He took a bite—it was soft, smooth, and sticky, extremely delicious. He couldn’t help but praise, “Great! This rice is amazing!”

Not only was the rice delicious, but the dishes were too. He could tell that aside from a little salt, no other seasonings were used, yet the dishes tasted surprisingly good.

Guo Shier didn’t want to finish eating quickly. He ate slowly, savoring the flavors.

Huo Bao, on the other hand, ate at an astonishing speed. In three minutes, he had finished even the pork rib soup. He smacked his lips and muttered, “It is delicious… but there’s not enough to fill my stomach.”

Although Chang Haoran didn’t eat as fast as Huo Bao, he was also quick and finished soon. Only Chang Yeren and Guo Shier, the older and the younger, ate slowly and deliberately.

Chang Yeren valued the proper manner of eating talismanic food, while Guo Shier was reminiscing about his past life. But Chang Yeren misunderstood. He thought that since this kid could remain so calm and savor the food despite its temptation, it showed he had a mature mind capable of resisting temptation—making him a good candidate for cultivating talismans.

Chang Haoran and Huo Bao finished eating in less than ten minutes, while Chang Yeren and Guo Shier took forty minutes. Guo Shier ate everything clean, not leaving a single drop of soup, and the same went for Chang Yeren. In this world, no one wasted food, not even the very rich.

“Thank you, Grandpa Chang, for your hospitality,” Guo Shier said sincerely. Being able to taste such delicious food, which reminded him of his past life, filled him with gratitude.

Chang Yeren was also very satisfied, especially with Guo Shier’s attitude. He smiled and said, “It’s nothing. Come anytime you have free time in the future. Although talismanic food is rare, it’s no problem to treat you to a few meals.”

“Shier, how do you plan to spend these four years as an apprentice?”

Guo Shier thought, “They’re here! Coming to test me.” He had already received hints from Chen Chunzhai, so he replied calmly, “I’m still considering it. Hehe, Grandpa Chang, I’ve just entered the inner sect and started learning. I don’t know much about many things. I think it will take some time for me to adapt.”
His words were flawless.
Chang Yeren stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, wondering why this child spoke so skillfully without any flaws. He said, “Oh, if there’s anything you’re not familiar with or that causes inconvenience, just let me know. Grandpa will help you solve it!”
Guo Shier neither agreed nor disagreed but simply said respectfully, “Thank you, Grandpa.”
That single polite remark left Chang Yeren speechless. He thought to himself, “Damn it, is this still a child? More cunning than an adult—simply slippery.”
In fact, Guo Shier wasn’t opposed to taking Chang Yeren as his master; he just wanted to learn more. The quality of his master would affect his future growth, so he had to be cautious.
Chang Yeren had no other choice but to use the simplest method—getting close and chatting casually. Unfortunately, time was limited. This approach required time and patience and couldn’t rely on coercion. He said, “Shier, with your potential, you can practice talismans and spells at the same time. But I suggest you start with talismans before considering spells.”
At the mention of practicing talismans and spells, Guo Shier’s interest soared. He had many questions. Although he had read quite a few books, his experience was still limited. Getting guidance from Chang Yeren was ideal. He asked, “How long does it take to progress from apprentice to a talisman caster, at the fastest… do you know?”
“As far as I know, four years! From age eight to twelve, one can succeed in the progression!”
Guo Shier was silent for a moment before asking, “And for those with average potential… how long does it take?”
Chang Yeren replied, “Between eight and thirty years.”
Guo Shier was surprised. “So long?”
Chang Yeren said, “Talismans and spells are very profound disciplines. If you study for too short a time, you won’t be able to grasp their true essence. It takes a long time, through persistent effort and study, along with strong comprehension skills… It’s not easy to cultivate a talisman caster.”
“But there’s no need to rush. Hehe, you’ve just started learning and are still young. You have plenty of time to practice.”

Guo Shier knew that the average lifespan of ordinary people here was not long, similar to that in his previous life—usually around sixty years. Those who lived to seventy or eighty were generally those with better physical conditions; it was rare for ordinary people to reach such ages. The environment here was harsh, and they were often attacked by wild beasts and savages. It was a blessing to live to a natural lifespan, and it was normal not to.

But those who practiced spells and talismans were different. Once they succeeded in advancing, their lifespan could almost double. Spellcasters, talisman masters, and incantation experts could generally live to 120 years, while spell warriors, though slightly less, could still live past 100. If they managed to advance further to the level of spellmaster or talisman master, their lifespan could increase by another 80 years, reaching 200; spell warriors could also live to 160 years. Of course, if they died in battle, that was another matter.

As for those who advanced to grand spellmasters, supreme talisman masters, or ultimate incantation masters, their lifespan could reach 300 years, while grand spell warriors could reach 250 years. However, advancing to the master level was extremely difficult. Even in a super-large sect like the Northern Spell Gate, there were no more than forty people who had reached this level. These individuals were the pillars of the sect and rarely appeared.

Guo Shier wasn’t too concerned about lifespan. He possessed a secret technique for soul reincarnation, which meant he had the ability to live forever. What he needed to do was ensure his soul didn’t dissipate and could reincarnate safely.

“This is a reference book commonly used by talisman masters. It’s a gift from the eldest brother for you,” said Chang Yeren, taking out a talisman the size of a matchbox and handing it to Guo Shier with a smile. “Unlike ordinary books, this is a spellbook containing some of my experiences and insights, which will be very helpful for your learning.”

Guo Shier took it and played with it for a while before asking, “How does this work?”

Chang Yeren had someone bring paper and pen, quickly drew a diagram on it, and said, “This is a rune lock.” He then drew another diagram and smiled, “This is the key. Every rune lock is similar, but every key is different. Try to memorize this key diagram and use it to unlock the rune lock.”

Over the past three days, Guo Shier had read some books on runes and had a basic understanding of how to use them, though he had never tried it before. Hearing this, he eagerly picked up the spellbook. Through his forehead, he saw the runes on the book, which indeed matched the rune lock Chang Yeren had drawn on paper.

He examined the key carefully and then tried to draw it on the rune lock. After about five minutes, Guo Shier took a deep breath. The rune book in his hand suddenly grew larger, turning into a wooden box. He exclaimed happily, “It worked!”
Chang Yeren’s expression changed slightly—such talent was simply terrifying. He handed the rune lock and key to Guo Shier, not expecting him to succeed. He had planned to wait until he became anxious and unable to open it, then take the opportunity to tempt and win him over. Who would have thought this kid could open the rune lock and release the rune book in just five minutes?
Chang Haoran stared at Guo Shier in disbelief and couldn’t help asking, “Shier, have you learned this before?”
Guo Shier replied, “No, this is my first time using runes. It’s really fun and amazing!”
When he opened the box, he found eight books inside. Four of them formed a set titled “Refining and Creating Rune Foundations,” while another two formed a set titled “Special Rune Records,” divided into two volumes. The remaining two books were titled “Clarifying Bone Runes” and “Creating Black Rune Money.” Upon seeing the title of the last book, Guo Shier’s eyes widened in surprise. “Creating Black Rune Money? Black Rune Money… can it really be made?”