It had been more than a decade since last they met, and Gu Hong had become even more dazzling, with a beauty mark between her brows that added a touch of allure.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, it has been many years, I hope you're well!"

Upon seeing Gu Hong, Li An displayed a warm smile. "Please come in, let's chat inside the inner hall!"

However, in his heart, he pondered that Gu Hong's visit must be due to some significant matter.

Inside the inner hall, Li An poured Gu Hong a cup of tea, and the two exchanged a few pleasantries.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I've come this time with a matter that requires your assistance."

Gu Hong finally spoke.

"Please, go ahead."

"I wish for your help in crafting a Soul-Calming Talisman and a Thunder Shock Talisman!"

Hearing this, Li An was taken aback and showed a troubled expression, saying:

"Fellow Daoist Gu, you overestimate me. The Soul-Calming Talisman and the Thunder Shock Talisman are treasures among Tier Two talismans. My current level in the Talisman Dao only allows me to paint upper-grade Tier One talismans."

"I know. But for this matter, besides Fellow Daoist Li, there's truly no one else I can trust."

Gu Hong spoke calmly, "Fellow Daoist Li, could you possibly strain yourself to help? Rest assured, I'll provide all the materials, you only need to focus on assisting me in crafting the talismans."

"Moreover, Gu Hong is not in any rush, how about a year? Within a year, just crafting two Soul-Calming Talismans and two Thunder Shock Talismans will be enough."

"In addition, as long as Fellow Daoist Li is willing to help, this incomplete Tier Two talisman inheritance will be yours."

She took out a yellowed talisman book!

In her view, Li An lacked a Tier Two talisman inheritance, so naturally, he would need to learn the painting methods of the two types of talismans from this book.

Li An began to ponder.

The Soul-Calming and Thunder Shock Talismans are quite special; the Soul-Calming Talisman is used to protect one's own soul, preventing it from being corrupted by evil beings.

The Thunder Shock Talisman is used to attack the Divine Sense.

But although Gu Hong has already become a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator and condensed a Divine Sense, at this stage, the Divine Sense is still only limited to detection and perception, hardly usable for combat.

She probably wouldn't be targeting humans?

Then it must be... a Spirit Beast?

"Could it be the Primordial Soul Beast?"

A thought flashed through his mind; the Primordial Soul Beast is a Tier Two demonic beast, and its Crystal Core can be used to refine a "Small Returning Pill," extending the life of a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator by decades or even a hundred years!

And the most powerful aspect of the Primordial Soul Beast is its Soul Power, which ordinary Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators can't withstand, often requiring Core Formation masters to kill it.

However, the Small Returning Pill refined from the Primordial Soul Beast Crystal Core has little effect on Core Formation masters, so they rarely take action.

In his past life, Li An had also sought various methods to extend life, so he was quite knowledgeable about these things.

But Gu Hong recently broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and isn't lacking in longevity...

"Not to hide from Fellow Daoist Li, my master was injured half a year ago in a fight with someone, resulting in damage to his Life Essence and soul, with his lifespan nearing its end. So, a Primordial Soul Beast Crystal Core must be found to refine a Small Returning Pill."

Gu Hong directly opened up: "This matter is highly confidential, if I were to purchase or refine the two talismans elsewhere, it would be too easy for enemies to learn of my master's current state, so I can only seek out someone I trust."

Li An couldn't help but nod, yet at the same time, he couldn't help but smile wryly, thinking, she had already confided such a secret to him, did he have any choice but to agree?

Moreover, he had long wanted to try crafting Tier Two talismans, and now that Gu Hong had come to him, providing the necessary materials, it was indeed a good thing.

As for the incomplete Tier Two talisman inheritance, although he didn't lack it, he could sell it in the future, and it would be quite valuable.

"I can give it a try, but besides preparing the talisman pen and paper, at least a few conditions must be met,"

Li An considered and said:

"First, Fellow Daoist Gu needs to assist as crafting Tier Two talismans requires using Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Power. My current Spiritual Power isn't sufficient, so Fellow Daoist Gu must follow my arrangements and cooperate with me."

"Second, one year is too short... at least two years!"

Gu Hong slightly frowned: "Cooperation with Fellow Daoist Li is simple, but two years..."

After a long period of contemplation, she said, "Very well—let it be two years then!"

...

Over the next period, Li An handed over the management of his shop entirely to his apprentice in charge, focusing himself on Gu Hong's matters.

Gu Hong had prepared a Tier Two talisman pen and dozens of sheets of Tier Two talisman paper, but Li An didn't start painting the talismans directly.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, since I need to borrow your Spiritual Power, we must be of one mind and not guard against each other. Can you do that?"

In the room, on the bed, Li An and Gu Hong sat facing each other.

Gu Hong nodded, extending her delicate hands to meet Li An's palms.

Li An remained calm. At first, he didn't directly initiate the convergence of Spiritual Power, but instead circulated the power in his palms, letting it flow like a gentle stream.

Gu Hong felt a tingling sensation in her palms, instinctively wanting to laugh but stifled it, her expression quite endearing.

Her initial tension was relieved under the caress of Li An's Spiritual Power, leaving her feeling relaxed.

But suddenly, she felt Li An's Spiritual Power flow into her body like a stream.

Her body stiffened slightly.

"Relax."

Li An spoke in a deep voice.

...

Before painting talismans, Li An had to familiarize himself with Gu Hong's Spiritual Power, assessing its quality to appropriately harness it during talisman crafting.

Moreover, studying the two types of talismans from the incomplete Tier Two inheritance required time.

This process took a full six months!

One morning, six months later.

After Li An and Gu Hong had breakfast, feeling invigorated, Li An finally laid out the talisman paper.

The black Tier Two talisman pen in hand felt cool and weighty, with the black talisman paper crafted from Tier Two materials exuding a profound texture, as if naturally inscribed with mystical patterns.

Tier Two talisman paper was very precious, with each type needing special production. To purchase the paper for Soul-Calming and Thunder Shock Talismans, a single sheet cost twenty Spirit Stones.

It's practically burning money!

Li An stood in front of the table, and saturated the pen's tip with spiritual ink before applying it to the paper.

Gu Hong stood behind him, placing her hands on his back, channeling Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Power like a gentle stream into Li An's hands.

After six months of collaboration, their synergy was excellent.

Li An guided the spiritual ink to craft the talisman—

The talisman pen traced out strange and profound patterns that seemed to touch one's very soul.

Pop!

Suddenly, the talisman paper lightly cracked and was ruined.

The first one failed, taking half an hour!

The pair was mentally prepared for this, and swiftly moved on to the second sheet...

That day, they attempted five sheets, all resulting in failure.

In truth, considering Li An's Spiritual Power, even with Tier Two talismans, he could try crafting ten sheets a day, but he chose to progress slowly to keep from revealing his capabilities.

Before they knew it, more than half a month had passed.

The sixty sheets of talisman paper prepared by Gu Hong were entirely used up, with nothing to show for it.

Fortunately, over these six months, Li An had frequently ordered assorted materials from the Profound Yang Sect under the guise of fulfilling customer orders, accumulating quite a bit for crafting the Thunder Shock and Soul-Calming talisman papers.

These talisman papers were expensive to buy, but if made by oneself, the cost was much lower, about six to seven Spirit Stones a sheet.

Li An then taught Gu Hong how to make talisman paper, which took another two months, yielding a hundred sheets.

The two continued their cooperative talisman crafting.

That day, Li An ruined the sixty-seventh sheet.

"Let's switch. You go in front."

He suddenly proposed.

Behind him, Gu Hong looked puzzled, "Hmm?"

"Using your Spiritual Power, I can't achieve perfection or ease. You take the pen, and I'll control—"

He asked Gu Hong to step forward to hold the pen, then stood beside her, gently holding her delicate hand with his right hand while encircling her slender waist with his left.

Gu Hong's face slightly reddened.

Though they had frequent physical contact casually, in the quiet of this study, she couldn't help but feel a slight flutter.

"Clear your mind and calm your breath—"

Li An's words carried power.

Gu Hong took a deep breath, then maneuvered the talisman pen as guided by Li An.

Indeed, though her initial strokes were awkward, under Li An's guidance, she improved and eventually performed better than Li An had.

This was mainly because she was more attuned to her own Spiritual Power.

And Li An was also there to assist directly.

Finally, after several more days, on the ninety-third sheet, the stroke was completed perfectly, resulting in a Tier Two Soul-Calming Talisman!

"It's a success, we've succeeded!"

Gu Hong's forehead was glistening with fragrant sweat, having expended much effort, finally creating the first talisman.

She couldn't help but grasp Li An's hands, her face alight with excitement and delight!

...

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