What is special about this wood carving?
Nothing.
What attracted Jia Xitong was the right hand of the humanoid wood carving. Although the whole body was so blurred, the right hand was exceptionally clear. It was extremely easy to see that the three fingers were loosely holding a talisman between the index finger and thumb.
It appeared to have a certain sense of solemnity.
Shang Yanting was staring at the wood carving, but it was just an ordinary carving, "What do you want it for?"
What do I want it for?
That's quite a long story.
In her former world, the long history and culture made most people maintain hopeful wishes and simple customs.
Such as kneeling to the Dragon King by the sea;
Worshipping the mountain god in the mountain;
Praying to the god of wealth for business success;
And for those wanting to have children, praying to the fertility goddess.
Now in the Otherworld... she hopes to carry forward this long-standing tradition.
"Maybe, considering my sincerity, the talisman deity might bless me with more successful talismans."
Upon hearing this, Shang Yanting's expression became a bit strange.
The system's attitude was akin to those who fervently worship the Martial Arts God, but its purpose was more apparent than that of the martial cultivators.
"Is it the talisman deity?"
"Not sure, but it does look like it."
Who has ever seen a true god? Back in the hometown, isn't it just randomly drawing an image? "The most crucial thing is sincerity."
What kind of nonsense is this?
Black lines appeared on Shang Yanting's forehead.
But in the end, Jia Xitong got the wood carving. Along with a lot of ink made from Fiery Flame Wolf Blood and explosive turtle shells, she exclaimed how generous the host was!
She felt so flattered that she decided to give him a few more talismans next time.
##
Late night
Outside, unknown birds were shrieking harshly in the large trees.
In a dim room inside Shangmou City Lord Mansion, a servant hurriedly left the room, inside which many people were whispering, plotting some shady conspiracies...
At this time, Jia Xitong was sitting in Shang Yanting's Sea of Consciousness, with the newly obtained wood carving placed before her.
She carefully cleaned all the dirt from every corner of the wood carving and then reverently bowed to the wood carving, chanting softly: "Please deity, bless me to unlock more talismans, increasing the success rate of my talisman drawings."
After worshipping, she also used the wood carving as a paperweight on the talismans—one deity, dual usage.
##
Jia Xitong had an immature conjecture about unlocking the Talismanic Record.
Having drawn 100 Solidification Talismans, she unlocked the Healing Talisman.
Successfully drawing 100 Healing Talismans, she unlocked the Exploding Talisman.
Now, focusing on the Exploding Talisman, she wanted to try whether successfully drawing one hundred of each new talisman paper could unlock the next content page.
As a grindmaster, drawing a thousand talismans daily was basic.
From stumbling at first, she now drew them effortlessly. Being fully absorbed in talisman making allowed her to ignore the passage of time and everything happening outside, entering a state of complete self-forgetfulness.
The only regret was that the one percent success rate still hadn't improved.
Another thousand talismans drawn.
When Jia Xitong began, it was early winter outside, but now lanterns were hanging high.
She glanced outside to see the male lead sitting in meditation cultivating, so she didn't disturb him. Just as she was about to draw a few more, her gaze caught sight of the deity statue used to weigh down the talisman paper.
Huh?
She remembered that the wood carving's left leg had a large stain, but today it suddenly seemed smaller?
Was it an illusion?
Jia Xitong took the wood carving and examined it closely. It seemed nicer than when she brought it back, but the change wasn't significant. Not ruling out the possibility of visual fatigue or the inherent cleaning effect of the male lead's Sea of Consciousness.
Speaking of placing so many items in the male lead's Sea of Consciousness, wouldn't it cause him brain issues?
Where else could they be placed if not here?
Jia Xitong, feeling apologetic, clasped the wood carving in her hands, sincerely said, "If there truly is a talisman deity, please ensure the male lead's brain doesn't get damaged by the excessive items."
Saying this, the pseudo system seemed to act like a person again, yet not.
Even the true system couldn't take it, jumping out to explain, "The soul body mode occurs in the space opened by the system, with only the tasker residing in the male lead's Sea of Consciousness."
"Oh, you should have said earlier."
Upon hearing this, Jia Xitong put the wood carving back and picked up the pen to continue drawing talismans.
As long as the grind doesn't die, grind to the death.
The grindmaster's life is just so plain and unadorned.
With all her mind invested in talisman making, Jia Xitong didn't notice that each time she successfully completed a talisman, a minuscule ray of light would fly towards the nearby wood carving, brightening its hue slightly...
##
Holy Capital Academy's assessment period is gradually nearing its end.
This time a hundred scholars were enrolled, including Song Yu'er and Shang Moyun, eliminated during the arena competition.
Shangmou City is several hundred miles away from Holy Capital Academy, and the newly recruited young disciples do not possess the ability of Shrinking Ground or Artifact Flying, so the deputy dean and most of the teachers have left, leaving a few teachers to lead the new disciples together on the road.
Outside the city
A hundred scholars were all gathered.
U-shaped beasts prepared by the academy lined up along the road.
These U-shaped beasts were as large as elephants but resembled hippos. Their joints atop their heads were covered with Xuan Iron, and each had a cart tied behind them, creating a spectacular sight.
Ordinary scholars entered the carts one by one, while family scions had specialized individual mounts.
In front were the academy's teachers, followed by the guards sent by Shangmou City, and the massive procession set off.
On this day of departure, the sky was dim, the leaves of trees along the road hung on dry branches, occasionally accompanied by the cawing of crows drowned out by the crowd coming to send them off.
——
The journey from Shangmou City to Holy Capital Academy would take half a month.
En route, gradually moving away from Shangmou City, Jia Xitong, who had always been immersed in talisman drawing, began to grow tense.
In the original work, the male lead did not reach Holy Capital Academy but was harmed. His roots were completely ruined, cultivation vanished, the genius turning into a trash, falling from the clouds into hell.
If she could give the male lead an early warning, perhaps he could turn danger into safety. But unfortunately, the system had long told her no spoilers were allowed, so she didn't dare to tread close to deletion.
Recently, however, she's been very generous. Although the talisman paper wasn't used up, the task had given the male lead several extra, indirectly providing him with more talismans.
"You've been using talisman paper very quickly lately."
Shang Yanting had long known the "system" would demand large quantities of vermillion paper and various strange inks periodically, so when leaving Shangmou City, he instructed to prepare a lot. Yet, halfway through the journey, they were almost used up.
Jia Xitong didn't expect to be disliked, "Then... should I slow down?"
"No need."
It's best if she speeds up a little.
After all, it's just tens of thousands of sheets of vermillion paper and ink, Shangmou Family can afford it.
Shang Yanting glanced at the 6 Solidification Talismans, 5 Healing Talismans, and 7 Exploding Talismans placed in front of him...
These weirdly capable magic artifacts were pretty good.
Upon hearing this, Jia Xitong was also relieved. She counted her 93 Solidification Talismans, 95 Healing Talismans, and 78 newly drawn Exploding Talismans. Just 15 more successfully, and the Exploding Talismans would reach 100.
Having a responsive host was actually quite nice.