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The Song family actually sent a Foundation Establishment cultivator to participate in the celebration. It seems that the Song family and the Zhao family are on very good terms.

After the oppressive aura dissipated, Li Shen rubbed his chest and continued walking slowly forward.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Zhao family mansion, he composed himself and suddenly realized something.

Where does the Zhao family recruit guest talisman masters?

Left with no other option, Li Shen had to step forward and ask the Zhao family's servant:

"Fellow Daoists, where does the Zhao family recruit guest talisman masters?"

The doorman glanced at him, then pointed indifferently to the side:

"Go through that small door; that's where the crowd is."

Li Shen nodded slightly and walked to the small door.

Looking up, I saw a dozen or so cultivators gathered inside, whispering and discussing something.

Li Shen silently walked to the side.

Out of the corner of my eye, I realized that I was the youngest among them.

Two of the monks appeared to be old, with white hair and wrinkled skin.

Just as they were waiting, someone next to Li Shen suddenly spoke up.

"Young friend, are you also here to apply for the position of guest talisman master?"

Li Shen turned his head and saw an old man in a gray robe with a thin face, stroking his long white beard and looking him over.

The other party's body language and tone clearly conveyed a sense of disdain.

His eyes darted around, and following the old man's words, he politely replied:

"Indeed, I would appreciate your guidance, senior."

The old man saw that Li Shen's attitude was sincere.

He glanced around out of the corner of his eye, tilted his head back, and slowly said:

"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance, young friend. At such a young age, you've come to participate in the Talisman Master assessment. May I ask who your master is?"

"I have no teacher."

Li Shen thought for a moment and answered casually.

Upon hearing this, the old man's disdain deepened.

So young, and seemingly new to the art of talismans, with no master yet, yet you dare to apply to be a guest talisman master? You're truly overestimating yourself!

He had seen many young people like this who were ignorant of their own limitations.

It seems necessary to tell him about the difficulty of the guest talisman master assessment, so as not to lose heart during the process.

Just as the old man was about to adopt a seasoned tone and offer some advice to Li Shen, a voice transmission drifted into his ears:

"Senior Sun, it seems the spot for the Guest Talisman Master is yours this time. We'll have to rely on you then."

The speaker was a plump, ruddy-faced middle-aged monk.

The two had spoken before Li Shen arrived.

Upon hearing that the assessment required the independent creation of at least five first-tier mid-grade talismans, the middle-aged cultivator gave up and instead flattered Sun He, who had the highest attainment in talismanic arts present.

Sun He hesitated for a moment, then replied telepathically:

"One should not speak too definitively. Isn't Fellow Daoist Tian here as well? In the Yunhe Mountain talisman master circle, who doesn't know that Tian Changming is as famous as I am?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sun He glanced at Tian Changming, who also had white hair, not far away.

Tian Changming seemed to sense that someone was watching him. He subconsciously turned his head, glanced at Sun He, snorted inwardly, and turned his gaze back, his expression indifferent, as if he did not care about Sun He at all.

Li Shen took in the whole scene and understood what was going on.

Looking at the cultivators in the arena, they had already subtly split into two factions, each standing behind Sun and Tian.

I didn't expect people to start taking sides before the assessment even started. Is it a lack of confidence? Or is the assessment for this Guest Talisman Master really that difficult?

Li Shen didn't really care which way it was, since he was guaranteed admission anyway.

A short while later, a petite girl with a round face, wearing a pink dress, walked over.

Before the other party could speak, he simply stood there, and all the talisman masters present, including Sun and Tian, ​​became solemn.

This young lady seems to be of high status.

Li Shen pondered for a moment, his expression mirroring that of the cultivators around him.

Just then, Sun He took two steps forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Greetings, Miss Zhao Ling. Has the assessment begun?"

Zhao Ling, with her round face, seemed oblivious to everything, her brows furrowed slightly as if she were searching for something.

Sun He's smile froze, and he awkwardly retreated.

Despite feeling some anger, he could only swallow it down, because this Miss Zhao Ling was none other than Elder Zhao Yue's beloved daughter, who was in charge of this assessment.

They're not someone you can afford to offend!

The silence didn't last long. The round-faced Zhao Ling withdrew her gaze and asked, somewhat impatiently:

"Which of you is Li Shen?"

Upon hearing this name, people in the crowd exchanged glances, but Li Shen remained frozen in place, subconsciously sensing something was amiss.

He took a step forward.

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gazes toward him, all puzzled as to why he was singled out.

Zhao Ling's scrutinizing gaze instantly locked onto Li Shen, and after looking him over, her brows furrowed even more.

"You're Li Shen?"

Her tone was stiff, and somewhat incredulous.

"It is I."

Li Shen cupped his hands and said earnestly, his ominous premonition growing stronger.

Zhao Ling glanced at him a couple more times, seemingly trying to find something special about him, but in the end she just pursed her lips, her tone even more impatient:

"You! Come with me. The rest of you can go back."

After saying that, Zhao Ling turned and walked towards the inner courtyard, without even glancing at anyone else.

The courtyard instantly erupted in chaos.

Going back? Why? The assessment hasn't even started yet! What does this mean? Have you been eliminated?

The group of talisman masters exchanged bewildered glances, especially Sun He and Tian Changming, whose expressions changed drastically.

They were quite well-known in the market, yet they were being ignored like this?

And this seemingly ordinary young man was actually personally chosen by Miss Zhao to be taken away?

Moreover, it seems the other party has also secured a spot as a guest talisman master...

Seeing that the situation was not good, Li Shen quickly followed Zhao Ling and moved away from the place.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself, wondering how the assessment had suddenly turned out this way.

Upon reaching a relatively secluded side hall, Zhao Ling stopped, abruptly turned around, glared at Li Shen with her round eyes, and spoke directly, her tone clearly annoyed:

"I don't care what agreement my father made with you, nor do I care what abilities you have that would make him make an exception and directly hire you as a guest talisman master. I'm warning you, don't think that just because you've entered the Zhao family, you can indulge in wishful thinking! My marriage, Zhao Ling's marriage, is not for anyone else to arrange at will, much less... Hmph!"

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning on her face—"There's no way I'd ever be interested in someone like you"—was already clear.

Upon hearing this, Li Shen immediately realized that he had been arranged in such a muddled way.

He felt a sense of helplessness, but thankfully the other party didn't seem interested in him.

Li Shen's expression was calm, and his tone was sincere:

"Miss Zhao, you misunderstand. I was recommended by Manager Han Mo of Zhao's Talisman Shop to be a guest talisman master, that's all. Please rest assured, Miss, I have absolutely no improper thoughts, and I would never dare to offend you in the slightest. I will explain everything when I see Elder Zhao Yue."

His answer was crisp and clear, without any of the explanations or flattery Zhao Ling had expected.

Moreover, the other person's tone subtly conveyed a sense that they also looked down on the other person.

This startled her, and all the warnings and sarcastic remarks she had prepared stuck in her throat.