Chapter 6: The Competition

Xu Ziyan sighed softly in her heart. When she first arrived in Zhongdu City, she thought that with her abilities, supporting her parents would not be a problem. She never expected that after arriving here, the five taels of silver, which seemed like a large sum to her, could hardly buy anything at all. She had no capital for Alchemy or Talisman Crafting. So Xu Ziyan felt very helpless now. She knew in her heart that she needed the job as a Guest Elder in the Xu Clan. Without this job, it would probably be difficult to sustain her future livelihood. This was the sorrow of being poor!

Thinking this, Xu Ziyan turned her gaze towards Lin Pinghai, just meeting his extremely disdainful and mocking look. Xu Ziyan’s heart sank. In her previous life, she was a peak figure in the archaeology world, a very proud person. This pride had seeped into her Soul over many years. Even though her future was full of difficulties, she was unwilling to let go of her pride. If she turned and left now, wouldn’t that be admitting she was the fraud Lin Pinghai called her? But if she revealed her Talisman Crafting skills under these circumstances, it would seem inferior, like she was eagerly recommending herself to the Xu Clan.

But the atmosphere in the room was very strange now. Xu Haoran did not speak, his eyes filled with expectation, while Xu Haobo looked helpless. Xu Ziyan knew these two would not speak. She thought, it seemed she had to resolve this matter herself. Since you, Lin Pinghai, are so arrogant, then let’s see who is more arrogant.

Having thought everything through, Xu Ziyan turned around, her gaze focusing on Lin Pinghai’s face. She looked at him lightly without saying a word. Her gaze was very calm, very heavy, very steady, like a superior looking down at a subordinate. Xu Ziyan was originally a peak-level figure in her previous life, naturally carrying an aura of authority. Now, consciously releasing it, she immediately made the three people in the room change their expressions.

A wise light flashed in Xu Haoran’s eyes, and a thought crossed his mind: Who is she? This temperament was definitely cultivated by long-standing dominance in a certain field. Where did she come from? Was she a descendant of some great Clan? Or a disciple of some Sect? This temperament was definitely not something a rogue cultivator could develop!

When Lin Pinghai first saw Xu Ziyan’s gaze, he thought she couldn’t stand the pressure and was about to beg for mercy. He couldn’t help but reveal more mockery in his eyes. He just wanted to taunt her a few more times, but then he saw a superior’s scrutinizing look in her eyes. His heart froze for a moment, and immediately anger surged in his chest. Seeing that so much time had passed since he entered, and he had said so much, yet the Family Head hadn’t spoken a single word in his support, he couldn’t help but resent the Family Head a bit too. He turned towards Xu Haoran and said:

“Please punish this fraud, Clan Leader.”

Hearing Lin Pinghai’s words, Xu Haoran was feeling troubled when he heard Xu Ziyan’s clear, cold voice ring out:

“Clan Leader, may I ask who this person is?”

“Oh, this is our Clan’s Talisman Hall’s Offering Elder, First Grade Talisman Master Lin Pinghai.” Seeing Xu Ziyan ask him, Xu Haoran had a bad feeling, but still answered gently.

“Oh~~” Xu Ziyan drew out the sound, then said lightly: “First Grade Talisman Master? Is he worthy?”

At first, hearing the Clan Leader introduce him as a First Grade Talisman Master, Lin Pinghai proudly straightened his chest. He indeed had the capital to be proud. On this continent, apart from those Sects, within various Clans, a First Grade Talisman Master was a Master. But before he could finish his proud pose, his ears heard Xu Ziyan’s words:

“Is he worthy?”

Lin Pinghai immediately felt like he was about to spit blood, his face quickly turning red. The Clan Leader Xu Haoran sitting above couldn’t help but inwardly laugh bitterly, thinking, it seemed Xu Ziyan was prepared to confront Lin Pinghai.

“Little fraud, what did you say?” Lin Pinghai jumped up, pointing at Xu Ziyan and shouting.

“Oh, you didn’t hear clearly? Should I say it again?” Xu Ziyan wore a serious expression, saying word by word: “What I just said was: You! Are! Worthy!?”

“You… you… How dare you say it again?” Lin Pinghai’s body began to tremble.

Xu Ziyan changed to a sympathetic expression, her tone suddenly becoming gentle: “Sigh~~, I didn’t expect your ears aren’t good either. So you are a disabled person. Alright then, I’ll say it to you again, You! Are! Worthy!?”

“Boom~~”

An angry aura explosively burst from Lin Pinghai. His fifth level Qi Refining Stage Cultivation Level instantly rose to its peak. His body moved as he lunged towards Xu Ziyan. The moment Lin Pinghai’s aura erupted, Xu Ziyan also raised her First Level of Qi Refining Stage Cultivation Level to its peak. But she sadly discovered that her Cultivation Level was far inferior to his. Under the pressure of his aura, her body couldn’t move an inch.

“Will I die here just like this?” Xu Ziyan thought sadly. “This Lin Pinghai is too arrogant. Even if I die, I cannot show weakness in my aura.”

Thinking this, Xu Ziyan looked directly at Lin Pinghai, her eyes full of mockery and disdain.

A figure suddenly inserted itself in front of Xu Ziyan. She heard a “bang” sound, then saw Lin Pinghai’s figure stagger back two steps. He looked incredulously at Xu Haobo, who stood in front of Xu Ziyan, and said in a trembling voice:

“You… you…”

“Offering Elder Lin,” Xu Haobo said solemnly, “Even if you want to teach this young girl a lesson, it’s because she questioned your Talisman Crafting Art. And you have been accusing this young girl of being a fraud. So the conflict between you two stems from questioning each other’s Talisman Crafting abilities. I think the only way to resolve this problem is for both of you to show your skills and compare. Then everything will be clear, won’t it?”

Xu Ziyan’s actions were precisely to force Lin Pinghai to compete with her. This way, it wouldn’t be her crafting Talismans like a Disciple while Lin Pinghai examined her like a Master. Although the final result would surely be her Talisman Crafting Art conquering everyone here, doing so would put her in a very low position. She feared she would be bullied in the Xu Clan in the future. Xu Ziyan knew that although her Talisman Crafting Art was higher than anyone in the Xu Clan, her Cultivation Level was still that of a novice. Since she had decided to join the Xu Clan as a Guest Elder, then to make her future life in the Clan easier, she must fight for her proper status.

Now, seeing that she had finally forced Xu Haobo to say the words she hoped for to Lin Pinghai, she was naturally very happy inwardly. But her expression still maintained its disdain. She looked lightly at Lin Pinghai, provoking his emotions, adding fuel to the fire, hoping Lin Pinghai would agree.

Sure enough, Lin Pinghai did not disappoint Xu Ziyan. Hearing Xu Haobo’s words and seeing Xu Ziyan’s mocking gaze, Lin Pinghai felt both wronged and furious now. He felt wronged because his intentions were entirely for the good of the Clan, fearing the Clan’s eagerness to recruit talent would fall for a fraud’s trick. He was angry because the Clan Leader and Hall Master clearly did not believe his words and instead seemed somewhat protective of this little fraud in front of him. A surge of anger and blood rushed in his chest, and a loud shout burst out:

“Fine! I will draw a Paper Talisman right here, immediately. If that little fraud can also draw a Paper Talisman higher grade than mine, no! Just the same as mine, no! As long as she can draw a single Paper Talisman, I will kowtow and acknowledge her as my master. If she cannot draw one, she must kowtow to apologize to me, then crawl from here all the way to the main street.”

“Good!” Xu Ziyan answered decisively. She had been eagerly awaiting this moment, afraid Lin Pinghai would go back on his word, and immediately spoke to seal the matter.

The Main Hall fell into complete silence, so quiet you could hear the sound of people’s heartbeats. The atmosphere was oppressive and heavy. Lin Pinghai and Xu Ziyan stood on opposite sides of the Main Hall. At Xu Haobo’s command, Disciples from the Clan immediately placed a table in front of both Xu Ziyan and Lin Pinghai. Then they placed Talisman Paper, Talisman Brushes, and Vermilion Ink on the tables.

Xu Ziyan and Lin Pinghai looked at each other. Now, having picked up the Talisman Brush, Lin Pinghai had regained his composure. Having crafted Paper Talismans his whole life, as soon as he held the Talisman Brush, he immediately forgot everything and immersed himself completely in the Realm of Talisman Crafting.

Seeing the completely calm Lin Pinghai opposite her, Xu Ziyan couldn’t help but nod slightly in her heart, her eyes revealing appreciation. Although the person before her was arrogant, he indeed had something to be proud of. She withdrew her gaze from Lin Pinghai, took a deep breath, and her heart immediately became as still as an ancient well. She gently picked up the Talisman Brush on the table, dipped it fully in the Vermilion Ink, evenly channeled the Spiritual Energy from her body into the Talisman Brush, then evenly released it from the brush tip. In an instant, the brush moved like a dragon and snake, completed in one go without the slightest pause. A top-grade First Grade Paper Talisman was completed impressively.

She gently put down the Talisman Brush and examined her work. Xu Ziyan was very satisfied. She found her skill had improved again, faintly nearing a breakthrough from First Grade Talisman Crafting Art to the Second Grade Talisman Master Realm. She smacked her lips lightly, nodded with a sense of lingering satisfaction, then looked up towards Lin Pinghai opposite her.

At this moment, Lin Pinghai also happened to put down his Talisman Brush and looked over. Seeing Xu Ziyan standing there composed, with a faint look of pride in her expression, he couldn’t help but be startled:

“She finished? Does she really know Talisman Crafting?”

Xu Haoran saw that both had put down their Talisman Brushes and asked softly, “Have you both finished?”

Xu Ziyan and Lin Pinghai looked at each other, then both nodded.

Xu Haoran stood up from his seat. Out of respect for Lin Pinghai, he first went to Lin Pinghai’s table. Although he already knew Lin Pinghai’s Talisman Crafting standard, he still looked carefully with a serious expression, then nodded gently. Only then did he turn and walk towards Xu Ziyan, a flicker of expectation in his eyes as he turned his back to Lin Pinghai.