The first item is a mask as thin as a cicada’s wing. The mask is pale gold, cool to the touch, and light as if nothing in hand.

"This is a shell mask made from the molt of a thousand-year-old golden cicada," the Thousand-faced Granny pointed to it, slowly introducing.

"Wearing it can change your appearance, body shape, and aura; no one below Nascent Soul can see through it. But it can only be used three times; after that, the material is exhausted, and its functionality is lost."

She pointed to the second item.

It’s still a mask, but this time of shadow puppet material. There are six human-shaped shadow puppets, in the shape of a child, each as thin as a paper but lifelike.

"This is the Child Shadow Puppet. By using mana, the puppet can transform into your real likeness, mimic your magic power aura, and perform some actions. It’s perfect for confusing enemies and escaping dangerous situations."

She continued to introduce the third item.

Still a mask.

A white paper mache mask with simple facial features drawn on it, looking like a child’s scribbles.

"This is the ’Paper Mache Mask’," said the Thousand-faced Granny, "Made using the Paper Molding Technique, wearing it can shield you from a deadly attack in a pinch."

The attendant was very surprised, never having seen the Thousand-faced Granny treat someone so highly.

Sun Lingtong felt delighted, hurriedly received these three treasures, and eagerly stuffed them into his storage bracelet before bowing to the Granny, "Thank you, Senior! Thank you, Senior!"

"Once I join the Myriad Images Sect, I will definitely get closer to Granny."

The Thousand-faced Granny heard the reply she wanted, and immediately showed a kind smile, saying good three times.

Sun Lingtong first left the Thousand Faces Peak, carefully examining the three treasures he obtained to ensure there were no tricks, then returned to the Bluestone Cave Mansion.

Since the Luoshu Book Pages were successfully extracted, Sun Lingtong began participating in various Xingyun Trials, playing heavily.

As nightfall approached, Sun Lingtong returned to the Bluestone Cave Mansion.

Learning from the Chef that Ning Zhuo was doing his daily cultivation homework, he did not disturb him.

He asked the Chef again, "Where is Qing Chi?"

Qing Chi was in the Array Space, practicing Talisman Making.

Her Thousand Faces had laid out a long table of Purple Sandalwood, neatly lined with various talisman paper, vermillion, talisman brushes, inkstones. Corners piled with several boxes of blank jade talismans, procured from the Commerce Hall.

Qing Chi sat cross-legged in front of the table, with a focused expression.

She was holding a Purple Bamboo Talisman Brush in her hand, its tip fully dipped in golden-red talisman ink, poised above a sheet of talisman paper.

The talisman paper was Top Grade "Cloud Pattern Paper," delicate as jade with cloud patterns faintly flowing. This paper is of no low value, one sheet costs ten Low Grade Spirit Stones.

Qing Chi took a deep breath, and the brush tip descended.

The brush dashed like a dragon serpent.

The green-red talisman ink flowed and meandered precisely on the paper.

This was the talisman for Yin Fire, containing thirty-seven strokes, each with fixed lengths, angles, and depths.

Beads of sweat appeared on Qing Chi’s forehead.

Her hand was steady, but her Heart Spirit was tense like a string.

Talisman making, a millimetre off, and it goes a thousand miles astray; a longer stroke disrupts talisman power balance, a shorter stroke causes insufficient power; angle deviates one degree, and the rune fails, deviates two degrees, and the rune explodes.

Thirty-seven strokes, each is a test.

The twelfth stroke, smooth.

The twenty-third stroke, smooth.

The thirty-first stroke—Qing Chi’s hand slightly trembled.

She quickly steadied it, but that tremor already left a slight mark of shaking on the talisman paper.

Her heart sank, but she dared not stop the pen.

Carry on.

The thirty-seventh stroke, pen lifted.

The talisman paper brightly flashed, then dimmed. The green-red talisman ink gradually seeped into the paper, merging with the cloud pattern. At first glance, it seemed as if nothing had happened.

But Qing Chi knew this talisman was half-ruined, with very low grade.

The trembling mark damaged the integrity of the rune. This Yin Fire Talisman could only exert thirty percent of a normal talisman’s power at most.

She sighed lightly, pushed the talisman paper aside, and picked up another blank talisman paper.

While re-dipping the ink, she reviewed the previous mistake, how to adjust, ensuring no repeat of the error.

The Purple Bamboo Talisman Brush gently rotated in the inkstone, letting the talisman ink fully soak the brush bristles. Her gaze was focused and firm, as if the previous failure never occurred.

Though Qing Chi had memory loss, her temperament remained unchanged, still possessing a spirit of perseverance.

Talisman making’s learning and practice process is boring. Cultivators must endure, gradually build proficiency, make tiny improvements each time, accumulate like water forming a river, and then, at some ordinary moment, the quantitative change triggers qualitative change.

Brush maneuvered, Flowing Clouds.

Thirty-seven strokes, done in one go.

At the moment the pen lifted, the talisman paper suddenly shone. The glow of green-red red lighted up the entire room. In the brightness, faint shadows of flames danced, and a cold aura rushed over.

Success!

A hint of joy flashed in Qing Chi’s eyes, quickly picking up the talisman paper for a close examination.

The rune was intact and smooth without a hint of tremble; the talisman ink penetrated evenly without any accumulation; the talisman light was bright and steady without the slightest fluctuation.

A Top-Grade Yin Fire Talisman.

She smiled slightly, carefully placing the talisman paper in a nearby wooden box. In the box lay twenty-seven completed talismans—three Top Grade, eight Mid Grade, fifteen Low Grade, with dozens of scrap talismans piled on the other side.

Qing Chi had been making talismans for several Two Hours.

She felt no boredom, especially when thinking these would be handed over to Ning Zhuo. Imagining her young master Ning Zhuo using her personally made talismans, she felt a burst of excitement and genuine happiness.

She was about to continue when a message arrived from outside the formation, slightly perplexing her: "Why is he looking for me?"

After thinking, she activated the formation.

Sun Lingtong stepped into the Array Space: "Ah, Qing Chi, your talisman-making skills are improving rapidly."

Sun Lingtong appeared at ease and familiar, having hidden himself in the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon during the White Paper Immortal City incident, witnessing Qing Chi and Ning Zhuo’s interactions.

To Qing Chi, Sun Lingtong was merely Ning Zhuo’s attendant student, just a stranger.

"What is it?" she asked, her gaze returning to the talisman papers.

Sun Lingtong pulled out the Golden Cicada Shell Mask from his chest and placed it on the table.

"Here, for you!" Sun Lingtong chuckled.

He just received this from the Thousand-faced Granny, transferring one to Qing Chi.

Sun Lingtong introduced its functionality.

Qing Chi shook her head, rejecting it.

Sun Lingtong was stunned: "Why?"

Qing Chi said, "I am unfamiliar with you. Are you asking me for something?"

Sun Lingtong’s eyes shifted, chuckled, "Alright, alright, I was teasing you. Of course, this isn’t from me—Ning Zhuo asked me to give it to you."

Qing Chi was startled: "Young Master?"

Sun Lingtong nodded repeatedly: "Dare I lie about this?"

Qing Chi’s expression changed immediately, bowing her head to look at the Golden Cicada Mask. She set down the talisman brush, extended her hand to carefully cradle the mask, bringing it close for thorough observation.

"The Young Master cares for me." Qing Chi felt deeply touched, her eyes slightly reddening, the corners of her mouth raising in a gentle arc.

Seeing that Qing Chi was in a good mood, Sun Lingtong then proposed his request: "I see you practicing talisman-making all day, don’t you feel it boring and tedious?"

"I found a fun trial outside. The rewards are novel but lacking manpower."

"Let’s work together, pass the trial, and win the rewards."

Qing Chi looked at Sun Lingtong, restraining her smile, slowly shaking her head: "The Young Master asked me to practice talisman-making, I should prioritize it. What trial, not going, not going."

Sun Lingtong tried to persuade a few more times, Qing Chi’s attitude was firm.

Sun Lingtong pouted, having no choice but to find Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo had just completed his cultivation practice for the day.

Upper Dantian, Middle Dantian, Lower Dantian, flesh, soul, all had slightly enhanced. With the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat fully repaired, the flesh’s cultivation efficiency returned to its former state, barely matching the soul’s progress.

Ning Zhuo’s focus remained on studying the Demon-infused Bloodline Technique.

Since the Array Realm soared to Master Level, his comprehension of this cultivation technique progressed much faster than before.

"But it’s still not enough."

"I still need advancement in the Demon Path realm, especially in the aspect of Blood Qi."