After Faking Her Death and Escaping, the Junior Sister Fell to the Demonic Path - Chapter 22

“That talisman of yours… could you spare me two sheets?”

Looking at the talismans Qin Qingyi had casually placed on the table, Elder Chen’s eyes were practically burning with desire, and he couldn’t help but ask for them.

As if afraid Qin Qingyi would misunderstand, Elder Chen rubbed his hands and offered a pretext: “I’ll take them to demonstrate to these disciples later. It’ll show them, so they don’t all say I’m making them practice high-difficulty talismans.”

Qin Qingyi raised an eyebrow, reached out, and pulled out three sheets: “Elder Chen needn’t be so polite. I’m not that petty over a few talismans.”

Elder Chen took the three talismans and carefully tucked them into his sleeve, cherishing them.

“I’ll keep one to take back so those old geezers can see that the current generation of disciples at the Sword Sect isn’t entirely made up of mediocre talents.”

He was referring to his friends who also specialized in talismans. Elder Chen primarily cultivated the talisman art, and he had many friends in the Xuantian Realm. After all, a high-grade talisman was priceless, and people wanting to buy talismans from him, or wanting to become his disciple, were as numerous as crossing carp.

His friends mostly had successors and had taken on many disciples, but Elder Chen had high standards and had yet to accept a personal disciple. This led the outside world to believe that the Sword Sect’s disciples were incompetent, thus they often mocked him upon meeting:

You have so many disciples in the Sword Sect, yet you can’t even find one promising talent?

They used this to humiliate the Sword Sect disciples for being mediocre.

Elder Chen had long been holding a grudge, but since he genuinely hadn’t found a disciple to his liking, he could only get red-faced and furious every time.

“Let’s see what they can say this time.”

He stroked his beard smugly, imagining how many jaws would drop when he revealed this talisman in a few days.

As he thought, his gaze returned to Qin Qingyi, with a slight regret: It’s a pity she’s already Wen Qing’s disciple, so I can’t take her for myself.

The talisman just now was finished to such a high degree; its power was likely only slightly weaker than one he would draw. Such talent, yet it appeared in a Sword Cultivator.

Elder Chen was half-admiring, half-sighing with regret. He remembered Qin Qingyi from her earlier classes with him, where she was far less outwardly impressive than now.

Everyone who could cultivate at the Sword Sect was a genius, but above a genius, there was an even greater one, and that greater genius was the former Qin Qingyi.

Qin Qingyi naturally didn’t know his thoughts, but even if she did, she would just laugh it off.

For her, the talisman art was merely a temporary pastime.

If Elder Chen knew this, he would probably be furious enough to twist his mustache out of shape.

The two turned to look at Zhou Xuezhu, who was still struggling with the talisman art. It was her first time drawing a talisman, and she couldn’t yet control the subtle spiritual energy when putting the brush to paper, so her drawings were crooked, and she had already ruined several sheets of talisman paper in a row.

They watched as Zhou Xuezhu grew increasingly anxious over her inability to draw a complete talisman, her face turning pale as her spiritual energy gradually depleted, and faint cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

Another sheet of talisman paper was ruined due to unstable spiritual energy, but she still bit her lip, refusing to give up. She wasn’t defeated by the repeated failures; instead, she gripped the useless talisman paper and lowered her head, pondering where her mistake lay.

She has a steady temperament. Elder Chen judged inwardly.

They watched Zhou Xuezhu’s brow unfurrow. After waiting for her spiritual energy to recover slightly, she took out a new sheet of talisman paper and began to draw again. This time, she was clearly much improved over the last attempt, with steady strokes and extremely refined control of the spiritual energy. The drawing of this talisman was incredibly smooth, and it looked like it was about to be completed.

Elder Chen and Qin Qingyi stood silently watching, waiting for Zhou Xuezhu’s final stroke.

Sure enough, as the last stroke was completed, the originally plain talisman paper suddenly shone with a brilliant silver light, signifying that the talisman was complete.

“It worked!” Zhou Xuezhu cheered softly.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead, gripping the talisman that had only succeeded after sacrificing many sheets of paper. She turned around, wanting to report the good news to her Senior Sister.

“Senior Sister, I succeeded!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with joy. But upon turning around, she noticed another person beside her Senior Sister. Zhou Xuezhu was startled and blinked her eyes before realizing it was Elder Chen, who was teaching the class.

She only managed to say half her sentence, the other half stuck in her throat because of Elder Chen’s presence.

“Ahem, since it’s done, bring it over so I can have a look.”

Elder Chen broke the awkward silence first, clearing his throat before taking the finished talisman she drew and examining it closely.

“Not bad,” Elder Chen praised. “Although it’s a low-grade talisman, the completion level is quite remarkable.” It’s slightly worse than Qin Qingyi’s first attempt.

He looked at Zhou Xuezhu and nodded repeatedly: “She’s a promising talent.” Though far inferior to her Senior Sister back then, she’s not bad either.

His expression was reserved as he put the slightly crooked talisman back.

In truth, Zhou Xuezhu’s first talisman, in terms of talent, could surpass the majority of disciples. However, Elder Chen had seen better talent. When drawing the same talisman, Qin Qingyi took less time, achieved a higher degree of completion, and the power was undiminished.

With such a genius at his side, how could Elder Chen appreciate anyone else?

It’s a shame she’s already someone else’s disciple, Elder Chen regretted once more.

How did such a good disciple not fall into my hands?

Zhou Xuezhu, affirmed once again, lowered her head shyly.

“The child your Master brought back, her aptitude is good.”

In plain sight, Elder Chen stood with his hands behind his back, looking as serious as could be on the surface, but in reality, he was using a telepathic communication to discuss seemingly unrelated topics with Qin Qingyi.

Such as—Zhou Xuezhu’s origins.

The fact that Cold Snow Peak had accepted a new disciple was a topic of discussion in the Sword Sect a month ago. The lightning tribulation that repeatedly shattered the mountain-protecting formation was publicly attributed to a disciple undergoing tribulation, but that was just the official statement.

Those within the Sword Sect knew best what happened. The disciples were one thing—too many mouths, so they weren’t allowed to know the inside story—but he was there helping to repair the mountain-protecting formation that day.

How could he not know when others didn’t?

“Your Master is certainly good at picking them. She picked up an extraordinary one this time.”

He hinted at something, his words vague and cloudy.

But Qin Qingyi immediately understood.

“What Elder Chen says is amusing. All four of us Senior and Junior siblings were picked up by Master. We just benefited from some of Cold Snow Peak’s luck; we’re certainly not anything extraordinary.”

She spoke dismissively, trying to gloss over the issue.

Her Master had warned her long ago that the fewer people who knew Zhou Xuezhu’s identity, the better. Her status was simply too sensitive, and once the outside world learned of it, it would surely invite a storm of trouble.

Thinking of this, Qin Qingyi’s heart sank.

The Human Emperor’s Bloodline.

She had heard the Fox Demon Grandmothers speak of it during her time in the Demon Race.

Legend has it that the Human Emperor’s lineage was a branch of bloodline left in the mortal world by the Ancient Deities. The Human Emperor’s blood could unlock the ruins left by the Ancient Deities and inherit the Divine Artifacts they left behind.

These were Divine Artifacts of an entirely different, much higher grade than what exists in the Xuantian Realm today!

Qin Qingyi’s concentration wavered for a moment.

A Divine Artifact, something countless people sought in vain.

If she could possess one Divine Artifact…

She took a deep breath, pulling her focus back.

These were just legends, after all. How much truth could there be in legends?

The so-called Ancient Ruins were already so distant that they could only be heard in some dubious bedtime stories. The Human Emperor… the Human Emperor’s lineage had long fallen, and now, after a massacre, only Zhou Xuezhu likely remained.

In a few more years, even these bedtime stories would fade away.

Elder Chen stopped speaking. For smart people, a simple hint was enough.

He looked back at the incense burning beside his desk. It was almost at the bottom; the class was nearing its end.

After a moment of thought, he pulled a book from his sleeve and handed it to Qin Qingyi:

“These are the talismans that introductory disciples must learn. Her aptitude is excellent, so let her read more books during her free time and learn more according to the talisman patterns in the book, so she can catch up with the lessons quickly.”

He meant well, so Qin Qingyi naturally didn’t refuse and accepted it: “Thank you, Elder Chen.”

Watching Elder Chen walk back to his desk, Qin Qingyi smoothed her robes and sat down. Just as she settled, she felt a slight tug at the corner of her robe. She looked down and met Zhou Xuezhu’s bright eyes.

Qin Qingyi smiled, knowing what she wanted, and had to hand over the book: “Take a look.”

It was always a good thing to be willing to learn.

On the way back to the peak after class, Zhou Xuezhu was still engrossed in reading the introductory talisman book.

Even when Hu Yu came over with sunflower seeds to strike up a conversation, she ignored him entirely, shutting him out.

“Why is she a little bookworm, just like Senior Brother?” he muttered, quietly moving a little further away from Zhou Xuezhu, turning instead to pester Qin Qingyi.

“Senior Sister, Senior Sister, Junior Brother is about to advance to the Golden Core stage. What treasure are you going to give me as a promotion gift?”

He acted coy, sidling up to Qin Qingyi, trying to cling to her robe corner and act spoiled.

Qin Qingyi, however, wasn’t swayed by his antics, sneering as she kicked him: “You still want a treasure? How about Senior Sister gives you Liubai?”

“Aren’t those many shops down the mountain enough to satisfy your appetite?”

Hu Yu chuckled, not minding the pain in his rear end from the kick. He shamelessly scooted closer: “Junior Brother wouldn’t dare take Liubai. But Senior Sister, how did you know I have assets down the mountain?”

He remembered setting this up secretly, so how did Senior Sister know?

Qin Qingyi didn’t say anything, leading Zhou Xuezhu to buy the candied hawthorns she had been eyeing.

Xie Su, who had been silent, spoke up opportunely, looking at Hu Yu with pity: “Not only does Senior Sister know you have assets down the mountain, but she knows exactly how many shops you own.”

“Huh?” Hu Yu was dumbfounded, even dropping the sunflower seeds in his hand. Then he reacted, abruptly turning to look at Xie Su, his eyes suspicious and guarded: “How do you know?”

Xie Su’s gaze grew even more pitying. He looked affectionately at this little fool who knew nothing, and the cruel words that pierced Hu Yu’s vulnerable little heart came out of his mouth:

“Because Senior Sister’s shops are all managed by me, and those few shops you bought were ones Senior Sister thought weren’t profitable, so she had me sell them to you at an inflated price.”