Ye Fan couldn’t help but feel depressed as he processed the materials.
“Such heavy work, such abuse of labor! It’s really unconscionable.”
Bai Yunxi looked at Ye Fan’s vicious look and couldn’t help but feel helpless. “If you have time to scold people, you might as well do more work.”
“As a human, you really have to be a boss, not an employee! Employees are oppressed. It seems I’m regressing as I age…” Ye Fan complained sullenly.
Bai Yunxi took a deep breath and said, “Then work harder and become a senior of Golden Core, and you can turn things around…”
Ye Fan puffed up his cheeks and said, “It’s still too early to form a golden core!” His current cultivation level seemed to still be far from the peak of Foundation Establishment. He still needed to take more pills and absorb more spirit stones. “That dead old man has assigned so much work, there’s no time to practice dual cultivation.”
Bai Yunxi said, “Then hold it in. Indulgence is not good for your health.”
Ye Fan: “…”
Situ Jiaojiao walked in, glanced at Ye Fan, and said, “You’re processing materials again.”
Ye Fan nodded and said, “That’s right! This old guy doesn’t even know how much I’m worth, yet he dares to order me around like this. He doesn’t even give me a single spirit stone, yet he asks me to do so many things.”
Situ Jiaojiao asked curiously, “How much are you worth?”
Ye Fan glanced at Situ Jiaojiao and said carelessly, “It’s only a few dozen times as much as you.”
Situ Jiaojiao sneered and said, “Daydreaming! Do you know how much this princess is worth?! If your worth is dozens of times that of this princess, wouldn’t you be on par with late-stage Golden Core cultivators?”
Ye Fan: “…” He was not daydreaming. The price of dozens of times was still a relatively modest statement. If he showed up, even those Nascent Soul cultivators would chase him. He was very popular.
“This is a task assigned by Senior. Please find a way to help me complete it,” Situ Jiaojiao said.
Ye Fan took a look and said, “It’s definitely impossible to count on you for this task. You’d better wait for me.”
Situ Jiaojiao listened to Ye Fan’s disdainful tone and said, “How do you know I can’t do it?”
Ye Fan tilted his head and said, “If you can do it, then go ahead! It just so happens that the old man has arranged a lot of work for me, and I have to stay up all night!”
Situ Jiaojiao smiled awkwardly and said, “No, you better do it. Work hard!”
…
Situ Jiaojiao came out of Ye Fan’s materials room and saw Wang Chenxiao standing at the door of the materials room. Who knew how long he had been there.
Situ Jiaojiao suddenly felt like she was being watched, and she felt very unhappy.
“What are you doing standing here?” Situ Jiaojiao said unhappily.
Hearing that the princess was in a bad mood, Wang Chenxiao smiled apologetically and said, “Why does Your Highness always go to Fan Ye’s place? Your Highness has a high status. Always mixing with those two loose cultivators will damage your identity.”
Situ Jiaojiao rolled her eyes and said impatiently, “Why are you tracking my whereabouts so closely?”
“I’m just worried about Your Highness.”
“Why are you worried about me? It’s not like that guy Fan Ye will eat me?”
“I just think that Your Highness has a special identity, and it is not suitable for you to get too close to those two people,” Wang Chenxiao said.
“Okay, okay, what’s with all this talk about identity?” Situ Jiaojiao thought secretly: Her identity as a princess was nothing to Fan Ye. If she didn’t take the initiative to find Fan Ye, the other party would not bother to pay attention to her.
Wang Chenxiao gritted his teeth and said, “But Your Highness…”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Situ Jiaojiao was too lazy to listen to Wang Chenxiao and went directly into the cave residence and activated the cave residence’s formation.
Qjcu Jtfczljb ibbxfv ja atf mibrfv mjnf vbbg, tlr tfjga oliifv klat jcufg.
Qjcu Jtfczljb tjv vlrmbnfgfv atja atfgf kjr j ragjcuf ajmla ecvfgrajcvlcu yfakffc Mjc Tf jcv Vlae Aljbpljb, jcv tf mbeivc’a ufa lc ja jii.
Yglulcjiis, Qjcu Jtfczljb kjr j ilaaif tjqqs ktfc tf obecv bea atja Mjc Tf jcv Wl Tec kfgf j mbeqif. Lf atbeuta atja lo atfrf akb qfbqif qjlgfv eq, cb bcf kbeiv mbwqfaf klat tlw ab rafji atf qglcmfrr. Lbkfnfg, Qjcu Jtfczljb revvfcis vlrmbnfgfv atja fnfc lo atfgf kjr cb bcf firf, Vlae Aljbpljb kjr cba kliilcu ab mtbbrf tlw.
…
“Is it done?” Situ Jiaojiao asked as she walked into the materials room.
“Yes,” Ye Fan said.
Situ Jiaojiao took the talisman diagram and looked at it. “What are you drawing here?”
Situ Jiaojiao could see that Ye Fan’s talisman diagram used explosion runes and compression runes. Compression runes could increase the explosive power of a talisman. There were also some runes that were incomprehensible.
“You can’t even understand this? This is very simple!” Ye Fan said.
Situ Jiaojiao said unhappily, “I can understand the compression and explosion runes, but if you compress it too much, it will easily backfire on the person who activates the talisman. If you sell such a talisman, it is easy to receive complaints from customers.”
Ye Fan nodded and said, “With only compression and explosion runes, it is easy to create problems. Therefore, I designed a diversion formation pattern* to increase stability.”
“You used a formation? You actually understand formation arts?” Situ Jiaojiao said in confusion.
Ye Fan shrugged and said, “A little bit.”
Situ Jiaojiao looked at Ye Fan and said, “A formation pattern is used in a talisman diagram. Is this possible?”
Ye Fan looked at Situ Jiaojiao and said, “Of course!”
Situ Jiaojiao said worriedly, “Senior, he won’t have any objections to this talisman diagram, right?”
“Senior is much smarter than you. He must be able to understand. Okay, okay, whether you like it or not, take it. I still have things to do,” Ye Fan said impatiently.
Situ Jiaojiao: “…”
Seeing Ye Fan’s indifferent attitude, Situ Jiaojiao took the talisman draft and left a little angrily.
…
Inside the talisman room.
“Are you here?” Sheng Zhihao looked at Situ Jiaojiao and smiled.
Situ Jiaojiao nodded. After several meetings, Princess Jiaojiao discovered that Sheng Zhihao’s attitude toward her had softened a lot. However, the more Sheng Zhihao liked her, the more nervous Princess Jiaojiao became, for fear that one day Sheng Zhihao would discover the truth.
Situ Jiaojiao bit the bullet and handed the talisman draft to Sheng Zhihao.
“You added a diversion formation pattern into the talisman diagram,” Sheng Zhihao said after a rough glance.
Situ Jiaojiao nodded and said, “Yes.” Situ Jiaojiao thought secretly: What Fan Ye said was really accurate. What she couldn’t understand, Senior understood instantly.
“This is good. It can reduce the possibility of backlash. Who taught you this?” Sheng Zhihao asked.
Situ Jiaojiao hesitated for a moment and said, “I learned a little bit from the Talisman Masters Association.” Situ Jiaojiao looked at Sheng Zhihao’s frown and said with some confusion, “Master, is there any problem with doing this?”
“There’s no problem. I just didn’t expect that the Talisman Masters Association would actually study formation arts,” Sheng Zhihao said meaningfully.
“Master, will there be any problem if you use a formation pattern in a talisman diagram?” Situ Jiaojiao asked.
“The origins of the formations and talismans we study today are ancient divine inscriptions. If we trace their origins, they share a common ancestor. Therefore, most of the time, they can be used interchangeably. There is no problem,” Sheng Zhihao said casually.
“Ancient divine inscriptions?” Situ Jiaojiao asked in confusion.
Sheng Zhihao nodded and said, “Yes, in ancient times, there were some innately developed divine inscriptions, some of which were attacking divine inscriptions. Anyone who entered the realm of attacking divine inscriptions would be killed. Over time, the places with attacking divine inscriptions became forbidden areas.”
“There were also defensive divine inscriptions, which could be used to protect an area of land or water. Many special races were protected by defensive divine inscriptions.”
“There were also gravity divine inscriptions. An area where a gravity divine inscription is located contains a force of gravity several times greater than in ordinary places. There are still some body refining rooms that were built in places where ancient gravity divine inscriptions exist.”
“There also existed fire power divine inscriptions, which could form a sea of fire.”
…
“Different divine inscriptions had different functions. As times changed, innate divine inscriptions basically disappeared.”
“Both formations and talismans evolved from divine inscriptions. With the changes of the times, formations and talismans have each formed their own unique systems. The two have become distinct. However, in many cases, the two still have a lot in common.”
“I really underestimated the Talisman Masters Association. I heard that the relationship between the Formation Masters Association and the Talisman Masters Association is not very good. I thought the Talisman Masters Association would reject formation arts. I didn’t expect that the Talisman Masters Association would also study formation arts.”
Situ Jiaojiao was a little shocked. The relationship between the Talisman Masters Association and the Formation Masters Association was indeed not very good. No one in the Talisman Masters Association learned formation arts. The one who understood formation arts was Fan Ye. Situ Jiaojiao couldn’t help but doubt Fan Ye’s identity. Usually loose cultivators were very poor and did not have the time or energy to learn formations and talismans.
…
In the cave residence, Ye Fan lay on a rocking chair, listening to Sheng Zhihao’s voice emanating from the recording stone, thinking thoughtfully from time to time.
“The old man has some ability!”
Bai Yunxi shrugged and said, “I heard from Wang Chenxiao that Senior Sheng is the number one talisman master in the Eastern Continent, so he is naturally quite capable.”
Ye Fan touched his chin and said, “The Talisman Masters Association doesn’t even have a heaven-level talisman master, so there’s no one to compete with him for first place. However, in the Southern Continent, it would be hard to say. There are many masters in the Southern Continent.”
Ao Xiaobao rolled on the ground and said, “There are many masters in the Southern Continent, and it has nothing to do with you. Anyway, at this stage, you are far behind them. They can beat you to a pulp with one palm. You should train harder.”
Ye Fan glanced at Ao Xiaobao unhappily and said, “Go, go. Don’t make trouble.”
Ao Xiaobao said, dissatisfied, “Who is making trouble? I’m just telling the truth.”
Ye Fan: “…”
Ye Fan held his chin and said, “If I comprehend this talisman thoroughly, maybe I can kill Golden Core like killing a chicken.”
Ao Xiaobao looked at Ye Fan and said, “You smile like an idiot, and your words also sound like an idiot’s.”
Ye Fan said, “…Onion, burn him.”
Heavenly fire’s fire spirit glanced at Ye Fan lazily, holding the Star Flame Golden Crystal with an intoxicated look on its face. Hearing Ye Fan’s words, it did not move.
Ye Fan: “…” Both of them only knew how to eat and not work.
“Xiaobao and Onion are getting along well,” Bai Yunxi said.
Ye Fan: “…” These two guys had become familiar with each other, and they were working together to rebel. This was big trouble!
…
“This is the recording stone this time,” Situ Jiaojiao said.
Ye Fan took it excitedly and said, “Great.”
Ye Fan’s eyes shone. What Sheng Zhihao said had inspired Ye Fan a lot. During this period, Ye Fan’s talisman skills had made great progress. Every time he got a new recording stone from Situ Jiaojiao, Ye Fan was very happy.
Situ Jiaojiao frowned, feeling a little depressed.
What Sheng Zhihao said was getting more and more difficult. She could still understand a little bit at first, but now she couldn’t understand anything at all. Situ Jiaojiao glanced at Ye Fan who looked happy and inspired.
Ye Fan’s look was very familiar to Situ Jiaojiao. The talisman masters in the association would show this look when they made a major breakthrough.
Situ Jiaojiao felt that she was now like a sounding board between Fan Ye and Sheng Zhihao. The two were communicating with each other through her. Compared to their achievements in the field of talismans, she looked like an idiot.
It was not that Situ Jiaojiao had never thought about intercepting the recording stone, but Fan Ye was like an eagle watching its prey. If she didn’t take the recording stone out, Fan Ye wouldn’t help her complete the tasks assigned by Senior.
“Explain to me what Senior said.”
Ye Fan looked at Situ Jiaojiao and said, “It’s not that I don’t want to teach you! You are too stupid. I still have a lot of things to do.”
Situ Jiaojiao: “…”
Situ Jiaojiao hid in her cave residence to study talismans. Suddenly, the sound of the restriction being triggered was heard.
Situ Jiaojiao’s face turned ugly since she was interrupted in the middle of thinking.
Situ Jiaojiao opened the formation and let Wang Chenxiao walk in.
“Is something wrong?” Situ Jiaojiao asked impatiently.
Wang Chenxiao looked at Situ Jiaojiao and said, “I just came to see if you were okay.”
“What can happen to me?” Situ Jiaojiao said lazily.
“I see that you have been very close to that guy Fan Ye recently,” Wang Chenxiao said.
Situ Jiaojiao frowned and said, “That’s none of your business!”
She did not fully tell Wang Chenxiao about the specific transaction between herself and Fan Ye.
Because what Sheng Zhihao said was really profound, Situ Jiaojiao had no choice but to pester Fan Ye for advice.
Situ Jiaojiao would often feel suddenly enlightened after listening to just a few random sentences from Fan Ye. After discovering this, even though Fan Ye always disliked the princess for being stupid, Situ Jiaojiao still kept pestering Fan Ye.
Wang Chenxiao had noticed that after Situ Jiaojiao was accepted as a disciple by Sheng Zhihao, she became more and more attracted to Fan Ye.
Although Fan Ye had said that he and Xi Yun were a couple, Wang Chenxiao was still very worried. In addition to being worried that the princess had a good impression of Fan Ye, Wang Chenxiao also felt vaguely excluded.
Originally, Sheng Zhihao came to ask about Wang Chenxiao’s progress once, but he never asked again after that.
Sheng Zhihao gave off great pressure. When Wang Chenxiao faced Sheng Zhihao, he felt very uncomfortable. However, Sheng Zhihao just ignored him as if he was invisible, and Wang Chenxiao felt a little disappointed.
“I just feel that Your Highness is not very experienced in the ways of the world. There are many cases of killing people and seizing treasures among loose cultivators. I’m worried, princess, that you are being taken advantage of by others,” Wang Chenxiao said.
Situ Jiaojiao said with displeasure, “In your eyes, this princess is a fool and will only be deceived by others?”
Wang Chenxiao said quickly, “Your Highness is thinking too much. Of course I didn’t mean it that way.”
***
T/N: I don’t know why Situ Jiaojiao still refers to Sheng Zhihao as “Senior” instead of “Master”. She gets more consistent in future chapters and starts using “Master”.
*The author isn’t super consistent with terms, but I’ve decided to go with “patterns” for what make up formations and “runes” for what make up talismans.
Thanks for the update.💕
Sheng Zhihao is super annoying. 🙄
lol I actually really like Sheng Zhihao’s character – I’m surprised you find him annoying. I’m only annoyed by the princess and Wang Chenxiao.
Ah! I just realized i said the wrong name. Ups.
I meant Wang Chenxia!The princess well i don’t care to much about her, i just dislike her for stealing MC’s things and pretending it’s her own.About Sheng Zhihao, I find his character interesting though I’m not sure i like him. It depends on his character which we’ve only seen glimpses off.