Chapter 199, Success!
Jia Xitong let out a long sigh, feeling quite accomplished as she looked at the Solidification Talisman in front of her.
Although it took two hundred attempts to succeed once, having a first success means there can be a second!
In the following days, she spent all her time on this. From initially needing over two hundred attempts to succeed once, she could now create a Solidification Talisman with around one hundred attempts.
From over a thousand talisman papers, Jia Xitong had produced 11 talismans.
A one percent success rate is indeed somewhat low, so a few days later, Shang Yanting heard the "system" voice again.
"Dear Host, hello, now releasing your second task: Collect 10,000 sheets of vermillion paper and 10 taels of rock ink
Task reward: Solidification Talismans*2"
Although the required materials were more, the main male character was also quite generous.
But when Jia Xitong received them, she suddenly heard the male character's voice in her ear, "Used up all the previous ones?"
Jia Xitong instantly perked up; he was probing!
If she didn't realize and answered "Yes"—the male character would guess she had some private stash of talismans. He might even think one thousand sheets could make two thousand talismans, and she would suffer exploitation in future.
If she gave an ambiguous answer—the male character would still guess something and erode his trust in her.
Within a second, Jia Xitong's mind whirled three times, then she responded, "Yes. Two thousand sheets of vermillion paper, ten ounces of rock ink, took five days to synthesize two Solidification Talismans."
The male character pressed further, "This time you need 10,000 sheets?"
"More raw materials provide opportunities for more rewards!"
The reasoning was flawless.
Just as Shang Yanting wanted to ask more, a gentle sweet voice interrupted the conversation.
"Brother Yan Ting!"
A woman entered the room and stood one meter away from Shang Yanting, eyes fixed steadily on him, full of admiration and affection, "Brother Yan Ting, long time no see, Yu'er missed you."
This Yu'er came at just the right time!
Jia Xitong instantly recalled this character from the original novel—
Her full name was Song Yu'er, and in the early part of the novel, she nearly became the male character's fiancée.
Speaking of Song Yu'er, her personality was arrogant, opportunistic, and fickle. Now she truly liked the male character, but when he fell from grace, she quickly helped his cousin, without hesitation. She even sent people to hunt him down, showing no mercy.
Jia Xitong carefully examined the fiancée candidate.
She had a pretty and charming appearance, with a shy and alluring demeanor. Her big eyes frequently sparkled like an untamed deer.
Aside from her poor character, such a charming person, which man could resist?
Oh, the male character can resist!
"Do you need something?"
Shang Yanting's tone was distant.
Song Yu'er lowered her gaze shyly upon hearing this, "Father came to visit Sect Master Grandfather, so Yu'er also came to see Brother Yan Ting. I heard Brother Yan Ting was attacked and hurt a few days ago, so Yu'er brought the best medicine from home."
"Thank you, my injury is healed. Men and women are different, Miss Song coming alone to my room is inappropriate."
He summoned the family servant guarding the door to escort Song Yu'er back.
Song Yu'er, coldly received, pouted but dared not oppose Shang Yanting's words. She looked at him several times before reluctantly leaving.
Once Song Yu'er left, Jia Xitong curiosity gossiping,
"Host dear, do you like her?"
Song Yu'er almost became the male character's fiancée in the novel, unfortunately, the author didn't write much about their emotional entanglement.
If he liked her…
Tsk tsk tsk, a heart-wrenching experience would surely follow.
"You stick your nose into quite a few things."
"I'm just concerned about Host dear."
Shang Yanting wasn't having it, "With this time, you might as well synthesize talismans early."
See, see!
She guessed correctly after all.
Knowing she could make talismans, the male character immediately wanted to exploit her.
No trust, only want freebies.
Hmph!
Jia Xitong scoffed at the male character, then, dreaming of becoming Long Aotian, returned to her talisman-making endeavors.
The chattering "system" fell silent, but Shang Yanting didn't get peace for long before the servant's voice came from the door,
"Young Master, Family Head invites you to the main hall."
##
In the grand hall of Shangmou Family, the white-haired, evidently aging Family Head looked at the male character who had just entered, "Is Yan Ting's injury better?"
Shang Yanting lowered his eyes and replied, "Thank you for grandfather's concern, it's almost healed."
Shangmou Family Master: "Recently, any advancement in cultivation?"
Shang Yanting: "Fair enough."
Saying fair enough was an understatement.
Currently, Shang Yanting was already a late stage Martial Realm cultivator, just a step away from becoming a martial master.
On Aotian Continent, Martial Realm is the threshold for martial artists from body refinement to cultivating inner strength. Martial master is the divide for martial artists transitioning from inner strength to True Qi cultivation.
Some people strive all their lives but never break through the Martial Realm stage. And he, barely twenty, had this achievement, undoubtedly a genius.
Understanding Shang Yanting's current cultivation level, Shangmou Family Master's eyes revealed satisfaction.
Not only was Shangmou Family Master satisfied, but Song Family Master was also very pleased.
Shangmou Family Master looked at the person sitting beside him, his face showing a kindly smile, "Yan Ting, your Uncle Song and Yu'er have come a long way, you should properly show them hospitality at home."
"Hahaha, I won't be going." Song Family Master said with a laugh, "But Yu'er is very curious about the cities. Yan Ting, why not accompany Yu'er on a tour, and deepen the mutual feelings."
Being an alliance among the Eight Great Families, Shang Family and Song Family have long had the idea of solidifying their alliance through marriage.
Song Family Master's visit to Shangmou City this time, was firstly to participate in the Holy Capital Academy's Great Ability Recruitment two days later, and secondly to facilitate the marriage between Song Yu'er and Shang Yanting.
Unfortunately, the involved party was not interested. Shang Yanting directly refused the good intention of the two Family Heads, "Two days later is the Holy Capital Academy's recruitment, Song Family Master and Miss Song should rest after a tiring journey to prepare for the recruitment."
##
Every five years, the Holy Capital Academy specially comes to the Eight Great Families to recruit potential students.
Of course, it's not ordinary recruitment, but for the academy's most powerful deans to recruit direct disciples.
Taking the members of the Eight Great Families as direct disciples is the close link between the Holy Capital Academy and the Eight Great Families, and those who can participate were meticulously selected young disciples from the Eight Families.
On the vast arena, eligible disciples gradually gathered.
"Brother Yan Ting! You're here."
When Shang Yanting arrived, Song Yu'er crowded towards him, "The assessment will start soon, during the group battle, let's form a team.
Yu'er is a bit nervous participating for the first time in such a conference."