Chapter 78

The Spirit Talisman Hall, like the Spirit Formula Hall of the past, was located in a secluded area far from the Xiang Mountain Square.

However, while the Spirit Formula Hall was situated atop a hill, the Spirit Talisman Hall was located beside a lake.

Standing in front of the Spirit Talisman Hall, Ye Zhong slightly frowned as he gazed at the building, which had a completely different appearance from the ancient grand halls he had seen before. If the previous Combat Hall and Spirit Formula Hall had given Ye Zhong a sense of danger, then the Spirit Talisman Hall was somewhat different.

Although the Spirit Talisman Hall was located beside a lake, it exuded a vague and ethereal feeling, as if its existence was not stable. However, according to Ye Zhong's knowledge, only those who could control spatial power could achieve such a feat. But Ye Zhong naturally knew that in the Star Constellation Sect, or even in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, no one could cultivate to the point of controlling space. Therefore, the mysterious scene of the Spirit Talisman Hall must come from the hall itself. Or, to put it another way, there must be someone within the Spirit Talisman Hall whose skill in spirit talismans was terrifying beyond imagination.

After narrowing his eyes for a moment, Ye Zhong did not act rashly but instead stood at the entrance of the Spirit Talisman Hall and bowed slightly, saying softly, "Inner Sect Disciple Ye Zhong, seeking an audience with Elder Ling Wei!"

The loud sound instantly echoed, piercing the silence of the Spirit Talisman Hall.

After a moment, the originally tightly closed doors of the Spirit Talisman Hall suddenly slid open silently. Although there was no other response, the deep and dark doorway seemed to be telling something.

Ye Zhong gazed at the opened hall doors. From his current position, the inside of the Spirit Talisman Hall was pitch black, and he could not see anything clearly. However, even so, Ye Zhong could clearly feel the presence of countless strange auras in the endless darkness.

These auras were quite familiar to Ye Zhong; they were unique to spirit talisman arrays.

However, in general, if a spirit talisman master set up a spirit talisman array, they would try their best to conceal such auras. But the person who set up the spirit talisman array in the Spirit Talisman Hall did the opposite, as if they would feel uncomfortable if others did not notice the existence of these spirit talisman arrays.

Of course, from another perspective, it also indicated that the spirit talisman master who set up the array had absolute confidence in their skills. Otherwise, they would not use such a grand method.

"Interesting," Ye Zhong murmured after a moment. Clearly, his intention to seek an audience with Elder Ling Wei had been conveyed. The attitude of those in the Spirit Talisman Hall, or even Elder Ling Wei, was also extremely clear. No matter what he wanted to do, as long as he had the ability, he could enter. But if he could not pass the first test, no one in the Spirit Talisman Hall would care about his fate.

As the little girl in the Spirit Medicine Hall had said, Elder Ling Wei was fond of gambling. Wasn't this kind of test also a form of gambling?

With a light laugh, Ye Zhong moved and stepped into the door of the Spirit Talisman Hall.

"Rustle—"

The moment he stepped into the door of the Spirit Talisman Hall, a light rain sound echoed. Then, Ye Zhong found that everything around him had become strange. He should have entered the grand hall, but now, he found himself in a bamboo forest.

In the bamboo forest, a light rain fell, and the cold raindrops fell on Ye Zhong's body, making his pupils constrict and his expression become serious. These raindrops contained a faint aura of spiritual energy.

After frowning for a moment, Ye Zhong slowly exhaled and scanned his surroundings, murmuring, "An illusion array? No, it should be an illusion array combined with a mind-confusing array. Although they are both first-level spirit talisman arrays, to make two arrays overlap and exert such power, it is indeed a good skill!"

"Who in the sect is testing me?" Ye Zhong's voice slowly echoed in the bamboo forest, spreading out instantly.

"Are you Ye Zhong, who has recently risen to fame in the Star Constellation Sect?" A faint voice finally came from a distant place after a long time. Then Ye Zhong suddenly looked up and saw a slender figure appear in the bamboo forest, wearing a white dress and holding a white oiled paper umbrella. Her face was hidden under the light veil of the umbrella, making it impossible to see clearly.

In just a short while, the figure had already appeared within ten zhang of Ye Zhong, seemingly looking at him with a thoughtful expression.

Ye Zhong also narrowed his eyes and gazed at the slender figure. After a moment, he said softly, "May I know the name of this senior? What is your intention now?"

"You can call me Ling Yue," the figure smiled, her face still hidden. "You came to the Spirit Talisman Hall for the Yin-Yang Flower, right? But my master has already dissolved it, so you don't need to see my master... However, I am interested in you. If you can break through my overlapping array, I might tell you where to find the Yin-Yang Flower. What do you think?"

"I think the Yin-Yang Flower should be quite useful to you, right?"

Hearing the light and clear voice, Ye Zhong frowned. He naturally knew that the Yin-Yang Flower had many uses, but he did not expect that it had already been dissolved. In that case, he might really have to think of other ways.

"Do you really know where to find the Yin-Yang Flower?" After frowning for a moment, Ye Zhong slowly said.

"Of course," Ling Yue smiled. "However, obtaining the Yin-Yang Flower is quite troublesome, so my master reluctantly used the one in the Spirit Medicine Hall. The one I mentioned has already grown five leaves. I think you wouldn't be uninterested, right?"

Hearing this, Ye Zhong's pupils constricted. The Yin-Yang Flower grows one leaf every hundred years and one flower every thousand years. A Yin-Yang Flower with five leaves, even if it only has a bud, would be enough for him.

"See, if you are interested, as long as you can break through my overlapping array, I will tell you where it is." Ling Yue spoke gently. "It's just a test of your skills. You might get a great benefit. Would you refuse such a deal?"

"What if I want to refuse?" After pondering for a moment, Ye Zhong said calmly.

"Perhaps, at this point, you don't have the option to refuse! I, Ling Yue, always keep my word. If you can break the array, I will tell you the location. If not, I will ask you not to come to the Spirit Talisman Hall again!"

Ling Yue smiled and then her oiled paper umbrella began to spin slowly.

"Whirr—"

As Ling Yue moved, the originally light raindrops suddenly became denser, and a faint aura of spiritual energy quietly grew stronger.

This scene made Ye Zhong sigh. Cultivating spirit talismans was extremely difficult, and spirit talisman masters were generally divided into levels one to nine. A first-level spirit talisman master was roughly equivalent to a ninth-level Body Tempering martial artist. However, even among first-level spirit talisman masters, their strength varied greatly depending on the spirit talismans they mastered.

The Ling Yue before him not only skillfully controlled spirit talismans but also controlled two spirit talisman arrays and could use them in an overlapping manner. Such talent was truly monstrous!

Such a person, even a seventh-level Body Tempering martial artist might struggle against her. Yet, she was interested in fighting him, which was a bit too flattering.

"Ye Zhong, since we are fighting, I won't hold back!"

A faint voice echoed, and Ling Yue's oiled paper umbrella spun faster. With her movements, the light raindrops suddenly turned into sharp blades, covering the sky and earth as they rushed towards Ye Zhong.

Each raindrop had transformed into a blade of spiritual energy, possessing extreme destructive power, which made Ye Zhong's heart skip a beat.

He himself had a high talent in spirit talismans, so he could see the terrifying power hidden in this seemingly ordinary attack. An ordinary martial artist would probably die without knowing what hit them.

"Rakshasa Sword Seal—"

Ye Zhong instinctively retreated, and the Rakshasa Sword Seal quickly appeared in his palm. With a wave of his hand, five sword seals appeared in front of him, forming a strange protective barrier that shielded his body.

"Clang, clang, clang—"

The continuous raindrops, like a river of stars, quickly gathered on the light barrier formed by the five Rakshasa Sword Seals. Instantly, ripples spread across the barrier, making it seem precarious.

Although Ye Zhong was not weak and had cultivated the Body Tempering Divine Technique, he was thoroughly at a disadvantage against Ling Yue's overlapping array.

Ling Yue's attack, although seemingly calm, was at least equivalent to a full-force attack from a seventh-level Body Tempering martial artist. If not for Ye Zhong's own skills, he would have been defeated in the first exchange.

"Spirit talismans are indeed terrifying!"

Ye Zhong quickly retreated, and after pondering for a moment, he realized that with his current abilities, it was impossible to defeat Ling Yue head-on. His only option seemed to be to break through the so-called overlapping array!