Chapter 68

As Shang Xia held the fine brush, he slowly drew the final few runes on the talisman paper made from bitter leaves, Lin Gan bark, and winter flying fluff. The primordial energy containing the power of thunder was evenly distributed across the runes, and finally, this Heart Stirring Talisman was completed.

To create this first-stage martial talisman, Shang Xia spent a total of five to six hours, completing it in six separate sessions.

This did not even include the time he spent carefully preparing before each session of drawing the talisman.

"With this Heart Stirring Talisman, I should be able to make money this time, especially now!"

Shang Xia held the palm-sized talisman in his hand, carefully observing it while reflecting on his gains and losses.

"The preparation should have been more thorough, adjusting myself to the best state beforehand, which would reduce the number of pauses. After all, each pause affects the quality of the martial talisman."

"When drawing the runes, I was still not proficient enough, and the output of primordial energy within my body was unstable, increasing the additional consumption. If I control it properly and become more proficient, I can reduce the number of pauses even further."

"Thus, there would be only four pauses left."

"Three of these pauses are necessary for the creation of the Heart Stirring Talisman, with fixed intervals that cannot be reduced."

"Hmm, the remaining pause is still unavoidable for now."

"But if I can avoid these two pauses next time, not only will the creation time of the Heart Stirring Talisman be shortened, but the material consumption will also decrease, and the success rate will certainly increase!"

The Heart Stirring Talisman is an extremely difficult first-stage martial talisman to create.

However, like the Thunder Pattern Talisman, Shang Xia has a unique talent for creating lightning-based martial talismans. What other first-stage talismanists find difficult, he does not find much harder than the Thunder Pattern Talisman.

More impressively, when Shang Xia first started creating Thunder Pattern Talismans, he used a talisman board made from a century-old lightning-struck wood.

Now, the Heart Stirring Talisman he created used only slightly better three-pattern talisman paper than ordinary talisman paper.

This clearly shows Shang Xia's progress in talisman creation!

Shang Xia was organizing the items and materials on the table when a shop assistant from downstairs reported that a guest had come to visit.

Shang Xia was puzzled but still instructed the assistant to lead the guest upstairs.

"Brother Shang, it's been a while, how have you been?"

A gentle and familiar voice came from outside the door.

Shang Xia first looked surprised, then his expression brightened, and he hurriedly went out to greet them. "It's Brother Tian and Brother Jin, I'm truly honored by your visit."

The visitors were the two senior disciples Tian Mengzi and Jin Guanchao, but their attire seemed to deliberately conceal their faces.

Shang Xia's heart stirred, and he quickly welcomed them in. "I heard that the two of you were injured and wanted to visit, but I couldn't find you. I feel very ashamed."

The two exchanged glances, and Tian Mengzi smiled. "It's not that Brother Shang couldn't find us, but that someone deliberately kept our condition a secret from others."

Shang Xia was first taken aback, then his eyes flashed as he probed, "So, the two of you are here for the Heart Stirring Talisman?"

"Heart Stirring Talisman?"

Before Shang Xia could finish speaking, a voice came from the side, making him slightly surprised.

Shang Xia turned around and indeed found Jin Guanchao standing beside his talisman-making desk, leaning over to examine a newly created martial talisman.

Jin Guanchao's Two-Pole Reality and Illusion Dao seemed to have become even more profound.

Shang Xia, now at the Martial Apex realm, still subconsciously overlooked Jin Guanchao's presence.

Shang Xia felt a chill but smiled. "Just a casual attempt, I got lucky and completed it just before you arrived."

At this, Tian Mengzi also approached, and after a brief examination of the talisman, he sighed. "Brother Shang, you always surprise us. The Heart Stirring Talisman is one of the most difficult first-stage martial talismans to create. It seems you are not far from becoming a second-stage talismanist."

Jin Guanchao also nodded in agreement. "The Heart Stirring Talisman is a life-saving tool, more valuable than ordinary second-stage talismans."

Shang Xia smiled bitterly. "Brother Tian and Brother Jin flatter me. Becoming a second-stage talismanist is no easy feat!"

The Heart Stirring Talisman is a very special talisman.

Its function is similar to a pacemaker in Shang Xia's homeland.

However, in this world of extraordinary martial arts, the Heart Stirring Talisman has a much more exaggerated effect.

Usually, as long as a martial artist's heart is mostly intact and their head is still attached, a Heart Stirring Talisman can ensure the heart continues to beat for at least a quarter of an hour.

This is roughly equivalent to a martial arts expert using their own essence to protect the injured person's heart pulse, temporarily sustaining their life to buy time for treatment.

In such a situation, as long as the injury is not immediately fatal, most can be saved with the extraordinary power of this world.

Even if they cannot be saved, a quarter of an hour is enough for the injured person to say many things before dying.

Therefore, the Heart Stirring Talisman is also known as the "Last Words Talisman."

Shang Xia quickly changed the subject. "Brother Tian and Brother Jin, is there something you need my help with?"

Tian Mengzi nodded. "We believe Brother Shang must have heard something. Not many people know about our recovery, and many of our classmates still think we are in seclusion for healing."

Shang Xia's expression turned serious. "Brother Tian and Brother Jin, is there something you need me to do?"

Tian Mengzi laughed and waved his hand. "We don't dare to command, but we would like to invite Brother Shang to assist us!"

Shang Xia was suspicious and did not immediately agree. "May I ask what it is?"

Tian Mengzi glanced at Jin Guanchao, then said seriously, "Jin and I have received a secret mission from the academy to guard the suspended iron chain bridge between the Tranquil Peak and the Mingxiu Peak, to prevent it from being deliberately sabotaged during the Four Spirits Mountain attack."

Around the Tranquil Peak are six subsidiary peaks: Mingxiu, Kaiyuan, Qiling, Luohui, Yuxi, and Pinxin.

Each of the six subsidiary peaks is connected to the main peak by an iron chain bridge, and each adjacent pair of subsidiary peaks is also connected by an iron chain bridge.

From a bird's-eye view, the six subsidiary peaks form a large hexagon.

The Tranquil Peak is at the center of the hexagon, and the iron chain bridges connecting it to each subsidiary peak divide the large hexagon into six triangles.

The Tranquil Peak's protective array is based on the Tranquil main peak and the six subsidiary peaks, connected by twelve iron chain bridges, forming the final structure.

If all twelve iron chain bridges were cut, the Tranquil main peak and the six subsidiary peaks would be isolated, each fighting on its own, and the power of the protective array would be reduced by at least two-thirds.

"Deliberate sabotage?"

Shang Xia feigned surprise. "Does this mean there are spies from the Four Spirits Mountain on the Tranquil Peak?"

In fact, Shang Xia knew more than these two. He knew that those who wanted to destroy the iron chain bridges were not spies from the Four Spirits Mountain but agents of the Rose Society hidden on the Tranquil Peak and even within the academy.

Shang Xia also speculated that this time, Shang Xi and others secretly came from the Tranquil Peak and had not appeared on the Tranquil Peak, probably to deal with the hidden agents of the Rose Society.

Tian Mengzi shook his head. "We don't know, but we just need to guard the iron chain bridges. Whoever tries to sabotage them is our enemy!"

Shang Xia nodded and smiled. "That's true. Do you mean you want me to help guard the bridge?"

Tian Mengzi nodded. "Exactly! The iron chain bridge between Mingxiu and the main peak is not far from the Shang Tower. If someone really targets this bridge, I and Brother Jin might have trouble resisting, and we will need Brother Shang's help."

Shang Xia smiled bitterly. "This is my duty, but you two overestimate me. I just advanced to the Martial Apex realm, and you two are probably already at the threshold of the Martial Intent realm..."

Tian Mengzi also smiled bitterly. "The Martial Intent realm, it's not that easy..."

...

The Shang Tower is the Shang family's main base on the Tranquil Peak, but in reality, most of the Shang family's businesses are on the Pinxin Peak, one of the six subsidiary peaks.

With the Four Spirits Mountain about to launch a major attack, the Shang family's task is to defend the Pinxiu Peak.

Therefore, since Ji Wenglong and others returned from the Yanling Mountain, Shang Ke has mostly been stationed on the Pinxiu Peak.

Recently, the Shang family's forces across the Tranquil Peak have gradually shifted to the Pinxiu Peak, which is also why the Shang Tower has become increasingly quiet.

At this moment, in a secret place in the mountain belly of the Pinxiu Peak, Shang Ke and his nephew Shang Quan were guarding the entrance to the secret place. Shang Quan occasionally looked into the mountain belly, his expression showing signs of anxiety.

"Uncle, it's been so long, why is there still no movement?" Shang Quan finally couldn't help but ask.

"Be patient!"

Shang Ke opened his eyes and looked at him. "You are considered a capable person in the family, why are you still so impatient? How can you hope to凝聚武道意志 if you continue like this?"

Shang Quan calmed himself and suppressed his anxiety, then slowly said, "Uncle, I'm just a bit worried. That bloodline gemstone... he might think of something!"

Shang Ke smiled slightly. "Do you think he wouldn't know without that gemstone? For twenty years, he has been a part of our Shang family. Hasn't everyone in our family already considered him one of us?"

"Ah, you're right!" Shang Quan said softly.

At that moment, a sudden surge of primordial energy fluctuation came from the mountain belly.

Following this, a surge of blood energy rushed out from the mountain belly, causing the ground and the surrounding mountain walls to tremble.

"This..."

Shang Quan's eyes widened in shock. "The bloodline will is awakening, could this be..."

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Shang Ke activated the restrictions already set up in the mountain belly and sternly said, "Hurry and help me suppress the bloodline anomaly. Do you want the entire Tranquil Peak to know?"

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