Zong Shou chuckled upon hearing this; this time, it was far more than just a breakthrough in cultivation level.

But looking at Chu Xue’s current state, it was clear the girl was wrestling with herself internally. He smiled, gently stroking her head, “Silly girl, this breakthrough owes everything to you! If you hadn’t stuck that talisman onto me, your Young Master wouldn’t know how long it would have taken to grasp its meaning.”

Chu Xue let out an “Eh?” and a spark of life gradually returned to her eyes. She thought about the talisman she had slapped onto Zong Shou’s forehead; it hadn’t harmed her Young Master at all, and judging by his tone, it had actually been a huge help.

Just as she felt a surge of joy, Zong Shou’s expression turned stern again. “However, punishment is still necessary. No copying the Great Wilderness Talisman Sutra this time. Within ten days, you will copy the Inquiry on the Profound and Simple Talismans one hundred times!”

He had acquired quite a few secret texts for Spirit Masters from Xuan Mountain City this time, and the one Zong Shou felt benefited him the most was the Inquiry on the Profound and Simple Talismans.

The entire scripture not only recorded nearly sixty percent of the fourth-rank Spirit Arts and Talismans across twelve elemental systems, but it also contained detailed notes on the critical points of these talisman arts. The entire twenty thousand characters were substantive, without a single wasted word, explained in a way that was both profound and easily comprehensible.

It was perfectly suited for foundational training for Spirit Masters.

Chu Xue froze in place, then let out a soft groan, collapsing weakly onto the divan. She looked up at Zong Shou with an expression of pitiful charm.

She knew it! Her Young Master wouldn't let revenge slide after the fact; he was truly too mean!

Zong Shou completely ignored her pleading gaze. The girl was excellent in every way, diligent even when practicing martial arts. But she simply wasn't keen on or naturally adept at Spirit Arts, requiring his constant guidance and urging.

In truth, his expectations for this little girl far surpassed those for Zong Yuan.

Once a Battle Martial Body reaches a certain threshold, the bloodline fully awakens, leading to immediate leaps in progress. Their grasp of Martial Intent could inherently surpass that of others.

Others had to comprehend and meditate on it; those like Chu Xue could master it purely by instinct!

But this girl couldn't rely solely on instinct for the rest of her life.

These Spirit Arts were vital for her self-preservation when facing truly powerful foes in the future, and they also benefited her martial path greatly—she absolutely had to learn them.

Zong Shou immediately followed this by giving Ruoshui Xue's hip a firm pat as a form of reprimand. Only then did he smile, stand up, and walk over to the desk that Chu Xue had tidied and reset.

He casually picked up some spiritual ink and talisman paper from the side. Zong Shou pondered for a moment, and then his brush danced across the paper like a dragon weaving through the clouds, sketching out another talisman.

It was different from any talisman he had drawn before, nor was it any talisman art he previously knew.

It was something that had naturally entered his mind the moment the true talisman of the character ‘Fortune’ (Yun) was refined.

Moments later, as the inscribed characters on the paper connected completely, a burst of pure light flowed out. The talisman paper itself changed color, shifting through seven hues.

Ruoshui, who also cultivated Spirit Arts, stared in astonishment when she saw this. She straightened up, looking from a distance, “Young Master, what kind of Spirit Art is this? Ruoshui has never seen it before.”

“The Fortune Invocation Talisman (Qiyun Fu)! As the name implies, a method to increase one’s luck—" Zong Shou smiled faintly, then took out a Cloud Pattern Flying Dagger he had nurtured for some time. He uttered an incantation, formed a hand seal with his right hand, and slammed it onto the blade.

First, the spiritual light flared brightly, then it rapidly calmed down. Zong Shou squinted towards the window. When a scene outside registered in his vision, a fierce gleam erupted from his eyes: “One thousand four hundred zhang away, look at that Purple-Tailed Eagle!”

Instantly, a streak of dagger light, almost without trace or shadow, shot from his hand toward the window.

Ruoshui saw only a flash of white light ascend, vanishing into the distance in an instant, crossing hundreds of zhang at the speed of lightning, disappearing into the horizon. She then looked toward the sky where the Purple-Tailed Eagle was circling high above. It suddenly let out a miserable shriek, its entire body losing balance and plummeting downward.

Ruoshui was powerful; as a Black Tortoise Grandmaster, her eyesight far surpassed ordinary people.

With just one glance, she saw a Cloud Pattern Flying Dagger lodged squarely in the eagle’s throat.

Silence followed, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.

One thousand four hundred zhang away, killing a congenital-grade fierce bird instantly with a single talisman weapon, a fatal strike in one go. Just how terrifying must Zong Shou’s flying dagger skills be?

If he intended to kill, even those at the peak of the Congenital realm might only need a single strike like this within a thousand zhang; in this world, perhaps no one could evade it.

Could this be due to Zong Shou’s ‘Fortune Invocation Art’? Could this Spirit Art possess such terrifying power?

Zong Shou, too, fell into a brief silence, staring at his own hand, equally stunned.

The ‘Fortune’ character talismans he had drawn previously could amplify all probabilities—good or bad—and could cause a person's fate to experience violent, drastic shifts in a short period.

But the Fortune Invocation Art was an improved talisman technique, having removed the negative aspects and retained only the effect of enhancing luck. Naturally, its power was greatly reduced, amounting to less than one percent of the original ‘Fortune’ character talisman’s effect.

Yet, even this small capability, when applied to his Six Spirits Controlling Blades technique, was terrifyingly powerful.

Before, with his own ability, even at full strength, he could, at best, ensure the Purple-Tailed Eagle was severely wounded within a thousand zhang when throwing the Cloud Pattern Flying Dagger.

But now, at one thousand four hundred zhang, he had merely intended to test it, and yet he truly pierced the throat of that fourth-rank raptor in one go!

It was as if heaven was assisting him; changes in the wind, the eagle’s flight angle—everything unfolded precisely as he predicted in his mind, without any deviation or variable! And this was just the Cloud Pattern Flying Dagger he used before. If he used those gifted by Yi Ren, the Cloud Flame Flying Daggers that could carry the intent of the Shocking Cloud Divine Annihilation Sword, what might happen then?

Zong Shou couldn't help but draw a sharp breath, staring blankly at his hand.

He had never imagined that the ‘Fortune’ character talisman held such powerful amplifying effects.

Or perhaps, this talisman itself couldn't harm people, but once augmented by the ‘Fortune Invocation Art,’ any Spirit Art or Martial Skill might have its power elevated by a full tier!

Closing his eyes to meditate, he could faintly sense that the Fortune Invocation Art was merely the most rudimentary form. Several stronger and more subtle Spirit Arts awaited his discovery and comprehension.

But if this minor Fortune Invocation Art possessed such might, Zong Shou truly dared not imagine the scene when those subsequent techniques were unleashed.

Then, he sensed something was amiss, and Zong Shou snapped his eyes open, his gaze filled with doubt.

The miraculous nature of this talisman rivaled that of the two Universal Classics.

Since Patriarch Ling Yun mastered it, how could his achievements only reach the Immortal Realm?

The foundation of the Ling Yun Sect could certainly not be merely tenth among the Sacred Lands; placing it last made no logical sense.

And if this talisman was truly left by the Patriarch of the Ling Yun Sect, hadn't he stumbled upon an immense fortune?

Zong Shou shook his head slightly, then ceased dwelling on it, gathering his thoughts.

He returned to the desk, his expression focused, diligently drawing on the talisman paper—still the Fortune Invocation Talisman.

Although a new talisman had been added to his Sea of Consciousness, his cultivation realm had not yet stabilized.

The best way to solidify the True Talisman Spiritual Seals within the Sea of Consciousness at this moment was by continuing to draw talismans.

Furthermore, this Fortune Invocation Art could now be considered his unique Dao technique—one of a kind, impossible to buy. Drawing more was certainly beneficial.

Half a day later, Zong Shou sought out Shi Dan again. To inquire about the history of the Ling Yun Sect, Shi Dan, a registered disciple of the Five Absolutes Manor and an accomplished Returning Spirit Master, was the most suitable candidate due to his vast knowledge.

“Are you referring to the Twelve Heavenly Talismans left by Patriarch Ling Yun on the Heavenly Talisman Terrace of Dan Ling Mountain? Only that single ‘Fortune’ character Heavenly Talisman?”

Shi Dan frowned as he recalled, answering, “I only heard fragments about the Ling Yun Sect before. Coincidentally, I know about the matter of the Twelve Heavenly Talismans. Patriarch Ling Yun in his prime excelled in the Martial Dao path.

Although his Spirit Arts were formidable, they were far inferior to his swordsmanship. When he was forced to leave the Cloud Realm at the end of the Desolate Age of Clouds, he specially left behind Bright Swords and Heavenly Talisman Platforms at his sect outposts across the Three Continents and Ten Islands to select disciples. However, only our Eastern Lin Cloud Continent was different in some way…”

Zong Shou’s brow lifted, knowing the other party was getting to the point.

“Legend has it that of the Twelve Heavenly Talismans on the Heavenly Talisman Terrace, Patriarch Ling Yun only drew seven himself; the remaining talismans were drawn by a certain senior expert. In the other Central Cloud Continent and Southern Wind Cloud Continent, as well as the other ten islands, the final Heavenly Talisman was the character ‘Thunder’ (Ting). Only our Eastern Lin Cloud Continent has a ‘Fortune’ (Yun) character.”

Shi Dan knitted his brows again as he said this, “It is rumored that this had nothing to do with Patriarch Ling Yun or the senior who drew the other talismans. It was left by someone else. This individual, said to be a Saint Realm expert from ten thousand years ago, also held some grievances against the Ling Yun Sect. But exactly what the situation was, Shi Dan does not know. I vaguely recall it involved a wager, something concerning the inheritance of the person who drew this very talisman. If the Heavenly Talisman itself could be comprehended, it could possess unfathomable power. The reason why the Heavenly Talisman Platforms on the other Cloud Continents and islands have been broken by people in the last few decades, while the platform on our Eastern Lin Cloud Continent still exists today, is likely connected to this ‘Fortune’ character. This talisman is difficult to draw and extremely rare. Most talisman scriptures barely mention it—” Zong Shou suddenly understood, a weight lifting from his chest. Knowing this talisman wasn't from the Ling Yun Sect made him feel significantly lighter. Then, he became puzzled, shaking his head slightly: “Something is not right! If this talisman is truly so important, tied to the inheritance of a Cloud Wilderness expert, then why didn't the Ling Yun Sect take it? Disciples below the Nascent Soul and Congenital realms might not be able to copy it, but the Ling Yun Sect must have many Returning Spirit Realm Spirit Masters; they surely wouldn't be helpless against such a small ‘Fortune’ character Heavenly Talisman. If the Returning Spirit Realm couldn't do it, surely those in the Form Shaping or True Form realms could?” (To be continued)