Chapter 14

"Since Young Master has already mastered the basics of the Elemental Control Technique, it's time to learn some other survival methods using talismans. However, if you want to become proficient in a short time, it's best not to be greedy. I suggest you start with just two or three techniques. After all, the spells we learn are the most basic. Once you enter the sect, there will definitely be better methods to activate talismans for you to choose from," Guan Lao suggested.

"Alright, then besides one offensive technique, the other two will focus on survival. I'll choose the Elemental Wall Technique and the Light Body Technique," Liu Ming replied without hesitation, clearly having thought about it beforehand.

"Alright. You don't need to choose offensive techniques carefully. The attack of each type of talisman is almost fixed. It's just a matter of concentrating your elemental energy and then using the talisman to release it. For example, my glove-type talisman releases a ball of elemental energy. Gu Lao San's sword-type talisman releases a blade of elemental energy. As for Young Master's Tiger Bite Ring, it's a relatively rare type, and I haven't seen it in action. But its power should be considerable. Later, I'll teach you a few techniques, and you can study them on your own. If you have any questions, the two of us can help you," Guan Lao explained.

"When fighting, no matter which technique you use with a talisman, you must calculate how many times you can use it. We cultivators can't compare to true spirit disciples or spirit masters. Our elemental energy is very limited, and each use of a talisman is a huge consumption. Especially for a beginner like you, you might run out of elemental energy after using a talisman three or four times in a fight. A cultivator without elemental energy is only slightly stronger than an ordinary person. Young Master, remember this!" Gu Lao San said with a warning tone.

"From what you say, we cultivators don't need a second talisman. It's not the case that the more talismans you have, the better," Liu Ming was somewhat surprised.

"Generally, that's true. After all, the elemental energy of low- and mid-level cultivators is limited, so having more talismans doesn't help much. But for high-level cultivators, it's different. They have deep elemental energy, and if they have several different types of talismans, they can use various techniques flexibly in battle. However, no matter which technique they use, they can only activate one talisman at a time. I've heard that spirit disciples and spirit masters in the sects have methods to break this limitation, but the specifics are beyond what ordinary cultivators like Gu Lao and I can know," Guan Lao said with a serious expression.

"Thank you for your guidance. I finally understand, and I will definitely pay attention to these things in the future," Liu Ming bowed and said solemnly.

...

Two months later, on a rugged path up a dark, massive mountain, Liu Ming and his two companions were slowly making their way up.

The path was extremely dangerous, with steep cliffs on both sides and very narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time. The stone steps were covered with black and green moss due to lack of use, making the path extremely slippery.

If not for the three of them being cultivators with agile movements far surpassing ordinary people, they would have fallen and met an unknown fate long ago.

Even so, Guan Lao and Gu Lao San walked cautiously, soon breaking into a sweat.

The young man walking between them, however, remained calm throughout, seemingly oblivious to the dangers around him.

Guan Lao and Gu Lao San, impressed by his composure, couldn't help but admire his courage.

For Liu Ming, compared to the life-and-death situations he faced on the Savage Island, this danger was nothing.

After walking for two hours, they finally reached the top of the mountain.

Upon closer inspection, they were all taken aback. The top of the mountain was a large, open area, but there was no sign of anyone.

"Big Guan, did you get the location wrong? Is this the designated meeting place for the sect?" Liu Ming frowned and asked.

"Young Master, this is such an important matter, how could I get it wrong? Maybe the messenger hasn't arrived yet," Guan Lao wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a bitter smile.

"How much time is left before the deadline set by the sect?" Liu Ming thought for a moment and asked again.

"Two days," Gu Lao San replied.

"Since there's still time, let's wait here," Liu Ming scanned the surroundings and decided.

At this moment, he had fully entered the role of the Bai family's young master.

Guan Lao and Gu Lao San naturally agreed without objection.

They found a clean rock and sat down to rest.

Time passed, and soon the sun was high in the sky, reaching noon.

At this moment, footsteps were heard from another direction on the mountain top. Liu Ming and his companions, who were meditating, all perked up and looked over.

Five people appeared at the entrance of another path leading to the mountain top: two burly men, an old man, a middle-aged woman, and a purple-clad girl they were escorting.

The two burly men were exceptionally fierce, wearing brocade robes and carrying swords at their waists.

The old man wore a blue robe, had a thin face, squinted eyes, and a goatee.

The woman had an ordinary face but slightly fairer skin than usual, dressed in green servant's clothes.

The purple-clad girl appeared to be only eleven or twelve years old, extremely cute, with a face like a carved jade and large, black eyes that often showed a mischievous glint.

Seeing that there were already people on the mountain top, the five were also taken aback. After a brief inspection of Liu Ming and his companions, the old man said something indifferently.

The four then escorted the girl to the other side of the mountain top, found some rocks to sit on, and rested, facing Liu Ming and his companions from a distance.

Seeing this, Liu Ming felt a bit puzzled and turned to look at Guan Lao and Gu Lao San with a questioning gaze.

"Young Master, don't worry. They are not from the Savage Ghost Sect. They are likely other young nobles waiting for the sect's messenger. Hehe, it seems we didn't get the location wrong," Guan Lao said with a low laugh.

"I see. So there might be more people coming," Liu Ming said thoughtfully.

"That's hard to say. It depends on which noble families in the area are willing to invest the necessary resources to buy a spot in the Spirit Opening Ceremony," Guan Lao replied.

Liu Ming nodded and didn't ask further, closing his eyes to meditate again.

At this moment, it seemed he was resting, but in reality, his elemental energy was circulating according to a special pattern, causing the Tiger Bite Ring on his wrist to flash faintly.

Fortunately, all of this was hidden by his long sleeves, so outsiders couldn't see anything.

But soon, a yellow-faced man in a brocade robe stood up and walked over to Liu Ming and his companions.

Guan Lao and Gu Lao San, seeing this, exchanged wary glances and looked at the man.

Liu Ming also opened his eyes.

"I am Tie Yun, a guest of the Mu family in Guangling City. I come on behalf of Miss Mingzhu to greet the three of you. May I ask who you are?" The man in the brocade robe stopped about twenty feet away from Liu Ming and his companions, politely asked.

"I am Guan Da, a guest of the Bai family in Yumu City. This is our young master, Bai Congtian," Guan Lao stood up and replied with a bow.

"Ah, the Bai family. That's excellent. Our families have a good relationship. Would your young master like to come over and sit with us?" The man in the brocade robe was surprised but quickly smiled.

"Hmm, our young master is not feeling well, so he won't disturb Miss Mingzhu," Guan Lao hesitated for a moment and politely declined.

"Oh, that's a pity. Then we'll wait until we get to the sect, and Miss Mingzhu will have a chance to meet Young Master Bai," the man in the brocade robe looked at Liu Ming deeply but didn't insist, bowed, and turned to leave.

"Who is the Mu family from Guangling? Are they famous?" After the man in the brocade robe left, Liu Ming asked.

"Not just famous! The Bai family is one of the top cultivation families in the Great Xuan Kingdom. The Mu family seems similar, but their foundation is much deeper. It's estimated that it would take three or four Bai families to match the Mu family. I've heard that the Mu family alone has four spirit disciples in other sects," Gu Lao San said with great respect.

"I see. But what does he mean by the two families having a good relationship? Have they seen through something?" Liu Ming continued to ask.

"That shouldn't be the case. In the previous generation, the Bai family did have a good relationship with the Mu family, but after the current head of the family took over, the two families rarely interact. The Mu family might have heard of your name, but they definitely haven't seen you in person," Guan Lao replied confidently.

Gu Lao San nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Liu Ming's worries eased.

Meanwhile, among the Mu family members, the purple-clad girl named Mu Mingzhu, after hearing the man in the brocade robe's report, showed a look of surprise.

"Uncle Tie, they are from the Bai family. What a coincidence! I think I've heard my father mention Bai Congtian once, but I don't have a deep impression. Uncle, do you know this young master of the Bai family?" The girl turned to the thin old man beside her and asked.

"Bai Congtian. Yes, the Bai family does have such a young master. He is the illegitimate son of the head of the Bai family, later adopted as a foster son," the thin old man smiled and replied.

He casually revealed a secret that the head of the Bai family had been trying to keep hidden.

"Hmph, the head of the Bai family wronged my aunt in the past, so it's not surprising he would do this. But the head of the Bai family really values this illegitimate son, convincing the elders to send him to participate in this Spirit Opening Ceremony. Not bad," the girl pouted, with a hint of disdain.

(To the WeChat platform's grand prize winner, a WeChat friend named "Qingmu," please pay attention to the WeChat message from the platform.

To join the WeChat platform, you can scan the QR code on my Tencent Weibo, or click on the "Contacts" section of the WeChat platform, click the "+" at the top, enter "Find Public Accounts," and search for "Wangyu" or the WeChat ID "wang-yu.")

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