At this moment, the runes on the wall of the ancestral home lit up one by one, forming a circle of golden light that kept the malevolent spirits at bay.
Liu Shan was so exhausted that he sat down on the ground, hugging Hongping and crying, "Madam, it's been so hard for you. First possessed, and now targeted by these spirits."
The latter was already pale with fear, thinking that the malevolent spirit was actually targeting Shen Wang's daughter.
"Jia'Er, go get some hot water and ginger soup for them to bathe and ward off the cold."
Shen Wang exhaled and spoke.
"You two, follow me."
Jia'Er, seeing Liu Shan and his wife were brought due to the nursing incident, smiled and helped Hongping to the changing room.
Along the way, the glowing runes were like bright lamps, lighting the corridor ahead for the group, bringing a trace of warmth and reassurance.
In the west wing, the nanny, Chunmei, was hiding under the covers with her son, trembling at the strange sounds outside.
"Starting so early today, if it weren't for a few copper coins, I'd never stay in this damned place,"
Shen Wang heard this mumbled complaint but said nothing.
On the first day, they could still blame it on the strange winds, but over time, people aren't fools and can naturally guess something is wrong.
When Liu Shan and his wife went to change, the power of the activated runes dimmed as the malevolent spirit departed, and the ancestral home once again plunged into darkness.
Shen Wang's face showed no relaxation; he glanced at the night sky, vaguely sensing that thing lurking in the darkness, ready to pounce at any moment.
"Today, this malevolent spirit fully revealed itself. To think it would act as soon as night fell. My daughter, it values your talent; it must be after your body."
Shen Wang muttered, and a string of text appeared.
[You have protected your daughter with talismans, Talismanic Magic +3, now 11/100]
After the text appeared, a wealth of experience related to talismans flooded into Shen Wang's mind, and he immediately went from a novice to a beginner.
If before he was merely copying templates to make talismans, relying on spiritual power to barely create a few low-level Treasure Talismans, now he could produce more advanced talismans, like the Fireball Talisman.
Returning to the room and placing his daughter in the crib, Shen Wang decided to buy some talisman paper and talisman brush to make talismans himself.
He had no other choice; without spirit stones, he couldn't afford top-grade Treasure Talismans and could only make them himself, which would be much cheaper.
He pulled a gray storage pouch from his waist, turned out all the spirit stones, and was left with just eleven low-grade spirit stones, looking embarrassed.
"I really can't afford to get hurt. One injury wipes out all my possessions, and I'm even in debt to the family for spirit stones."
Shen Wang sighed, "I don't know what the market for talismans is like. Hopefully, these eleven spirit stones are enough as starting capital."
Planning his next move to earn spirit stones, Shen Wang decided to visit Baixi City the next day, as it was the only nearby city with a cultivator's market where he could buy talisman materials.
One night passed.
Early in the morning, as soon as it was light, Liu Shan and Hongping were practicing martial arts in the corridor.
They were so terrified that they felt if they didn't improve their strength, they might not even be able to escape next time.
Shen Wang came out and saw them, laughed and said, "Once it's daylight, the malevolent spirits won't dare come out. Go train in the courtyard."
The two hurriedly bowed, and Hongping respectfully asked, "Master Shen, could you give us some guidance?"
"I have things to attend to today. Jia'Er, help guide them. Having more skills is always beneficial."
Shen Wang was pleased they were willing to train because even a slight improvement was effective.
"Yes, my husband."
Jia'Er draped a coat over Shen Wang, "Eat breakfast before you leave."
"Forget it, it's a bit far. I'll make do with dry food. The sooner I leave, the sooner I return."
Shen Wang waved his hand.
"Be careful, my husband."
Jia'Er warned, understanding the cultivator's world where killing and robbing were common.
"I know."
Shen Wang nodded, then left the ancestral home heading toward Baixi City.
It's a hundred miles to Baixi City from here, even taking a shortcut takes quite some time; he couldn't afford to delay too long, as returning early allows him to do other things.
As soon as he stepped out, Shen Wang began running. Since the system upgraded his body technique, he moved more agilely, practically walking on air with each step spanning three zhang, rivaling a thousand-li steed, comparable to an Innate Grandmaster.
"It's still necessary to learn a Martial Arts Body Technique; in terms of applying one's strength, martial arts excel. I can't afford Light Body Talismans or Wind Talismans right now, so when I reach Baixi City, I should find a Martial Arts Body Technique suitable for travel."
Shen Wang contemplated his situation. Needing to earn money meant frequent trips between Baixi City and the ancestral home. Using talismans was too costly, so running on foot was best; a hundred miles only cost a meal, the lowest cost.
Thinking about all this, he couldn't help but bitterly smile. He never imagined he'd be so thrifty. As the heir to the Shen Family, he'd never had to worry about such things; a simple sword flight would suffice.
"Roar, roar!"
Passing through the South Mountain of Fengming Mountain, Shen Wang heard the cries of wild beasts, like bears and also wolves.
The sounds came from ahead; Shen Wang didn't avoid it. If it were bears or wolves fighting, he wouldn't mind killing them all; bear paws and gallbladders are good finds, even from ordinary beasts, useful to him at this moment.
The mountain had a thin layer of snow, with a layer of leaves underneath, and the trees along the way were mostly bare. After a few steps, he saw a pack of wolves and a black bear growling around a large stone.
Shen Wang was stunned; he thought the bears and wolves were fighting one another; how could they be cooperating?
Taking a few steps, he saw a corner of blue and white clothing, with a disheveled-haired woman sitting behind the stone, holding a snow-white long sword, emitting a cold aura, her body trembling with pain in her eyes.
"They are actually besieging a person!"
Shen Wang frowned, instinctively feeling this woman was a cultivator, seemingly not in a good status, and he picked up a stone to throw.
Whoosh!
The stone, carrying immense force, directly struck a wolf, sending it flying with a cry, and after struggling for a moment, it died.
"Roar!"
The pack of wolves retreated slightly, and the skinny black bear turned to growl, seemingly threatening Shen Wang to leave.
"You want to eat a person; I'm going to eat you!"
Shen Wang casually broke a branch from a tree, infused spiritual power into it, and charged into the wolf pack, smashing one with each blow, kicking one flying with each kick, the latter couldn't get up after landing.
The branch, infused with spiritual power, was like an iron rod, massive and heavy, sending wolves flying with each hit.
Though his cultivation wasn't high, his body was still strong. Even though he didn't undergo specific body refinement, his physique tempered by spiritual power wasn't weak; he easily wielded the strength of a thousand pounds, and with spiritual power, a thousand pounds of force was no problem.
Strength overcomes technique, and the pack of wolves was quickly subdued by Shen Wang, they were no match at all.
The black bear realized Shen Wang's prowess, turned to flee, but was struck on the head by Shen Wang, the branch breaking, its head split open, laying on the ground whimpering, not far from death.
The remaining wolves fled in fear, leaving behind a dozen or so carcasses.