What does my ancestor's pregnancy have to do with me, a mere servant?

I opened my eyes, my gaze slightly fixed.

Small golden characters appeared in his eyes.

Name: Lin Yuan

[Charm Master: Beginner (0/10) (Points can be added)]

Remaining attribute points: 198

With my mind locked onto the Talisman Master section, ten attribute points were deducted. Memories of my entry-level ninth rank flashed by like a revolving lantern—all painful experiences of drawing ruined talismans, plentiful but utterly devoid of any substance.

Lin Yuan didn't stop; another hundred attribute points were deducted.

[Rank 8 Talisman Master: 0/1000]

The stinging sensation intensified, penetrating straight to the soul.

Lin Yuan gritted his teeth and gripped the edge of the stone table tightly with both hands.

The pain lasted for a full ten breaths, then receded like a tide. In its place came an extreme sense of clarity.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, countless images of successfully drawn talismans flashed wildly. His understanding of low-level runes had reached a level of insight that allowed him to see through their very essence. Those originally distorted and obscure cinnabar lines had now transformed into clear spiritual energy pathways in his eyes.

"This cheat is really simple and crude, but it's a waste of your brain."

Lin Yuan straightened up and wiped the fine beads of cold sweat from his forehead.

He took the stack of blank yellow talisman paper made from the bark of the Yangling tree and laid it flat on the bluestone table.

He took the low-grade spirit bamboo talisman brush. He uncapped the brush and dipped the wolf-hair brush tip into the crimson chicken-blood sand. The brush tip was fully soaked with the sand liquid.

Lin Yuan took a deep breath and cleared his mind of distractions.

Of these hundred talismans, only a few are truly useful, such as the fireball talisman that Lin Yuan is currently drawing.

This is the most direct killing method among low-level talismans, releasing a high-temperature fireball the instant it is activated.

Although it has little effect on high-level cultivators, quantitative change leads to qualitative change.

If someone were to throw a handful of these at once, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would have to back away and wouldn't dare to take them head-on.

He picked up his pen. He put it on the paper.

Without the slightest hesitation, with a flick of the wrist, the brush moved like a dragon or a snake.

The spiritual energy at the seventh level of Qi Refining within his body flowed along the meridians of his right arm into the talisman brush, precisely channeling the wolf-hair brush into the lines formed by the chicken-blood sand. The output of spiritual energy was extremely stable, with not a trace of leakage.

All in one go.

The final stroke is a sharp, decisive finish.

"Buzz".

The entire yellow talisman glowed with a crimson light. The spiritual energy surged violently for a moment, then completely subsided into the vermilion runes.

Fireball Talisman, complete.

Lin Yuan's expression remained unchanged. He pushed the drawn fireball talisman to the left and pulled over a new sheet of paper.

Dip the brush in sand. Begin writing.

The spiritual energy attribute switched to a heavy earth element. The brushstrokes shifted, conveying an indestructible meaning.

Golden Light Talisman, complete.

This is a defensive talisman that can instantly condense a light barrier to withstand an attack from someone of the same level.

Lin Yuan was completely immersed in the rhythm of talisman making.

One attack, one defense. Drawn alternately.

Every thirty breaths or so, a new talisman, radiating spiritual light, would appear on the left side of the stone table. The blank talisman on the right side would become thinner at a visible rate.

The surface of the chicken-blood sand liquid in the stone inkstone appears to be being drawn out at a uniform speed, and then steadily decreases.

The soft, scratching sound of the brush tip rubbing against the talisman paper echoed within the cave.

One hour later.

The chicken-blood sand in the stone inkstone has been completely drained.

Lin Yuan put down the spirit bamboo talisman brush.

Twenty fireball talismans and twenty golden light talismans. They are arranged neatly on the left and right sides.

Zero defects. Top-grade talismans in perfect condition.

With these forty talismans, if someone were to force their way into my cave that day, I could handle the situation.

The sky was getting dark.

The last rays of the setting sun were swallowed up outside the cave, and a faint sound of footsteps could be heard.

Then Lin Feilu walked in.

Lin Feilu is completely different tonight.

She wasn't wearing the strict blue Taoist robe that symbolized her status as a core inner disciple, nor was she wearing her meticulously styled hair.

Her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders. She had changed into a plain white, sheer silk blouse. The blouse was extremely form-fitting, the fabric slightly sheer, subtly outlining her full, shapely figure and slender waist.

Her usual aloof and icy demeanor was forcibly softened by this outfit, instead creating a breathtaking sense of her falling from grace.

Lin Feilu stood still, her phoenix eyes lowered, not daring to look directly at Lin Yuan.

"Senior Sister's outfit is much more pleasing to the eye than yesterday," Lin Yuan said in a calm tone.

Lin Feilu took a deep breath, took long strides, and walked step by step to the edge of the bluestone bed.

It stopped in front of Lin Yuan.

"I'm glad you're satisfied, Junior Brother." Lin Feilu's voice was hoarse.

She raised her hand and untied the tie at the collar of her water-colored shirt.

Her movements were no longer as stiff and resistant as they had been the night before. Her water-colored shirt slid down her snow-white shoulders and piled up at her feet.

……

After an incense stick has burned, the face-to-face meditation session came to an end.

Lin Yuan looked at the extra hundred attribute points: "Senior Sister, how much do you know about the Crimson Forbidden Land?"

Lin Feilu turned to the side, her slender white fingers running through her disheveled long hair, gathering her loose, thin ice-silk robe back together: "The Crimson Forbidden Zone is dangerous."

"To put it bluntly, it's the ruins of an ancient demonic sect. The space inside is extremely unstable, not only containing ancient restrictions of unparalleled power, but also harboring bloodthirsty demonic beasts."

Lin Feilu tightened his belt, his tone grave: "In every instance of opening the forbidden area, the number of core disciples who entered has been around a quarter of the total."

Her phoenix eyes shifted slightly, her gaze landing on Lin Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged on the stone bed, her expression scrutinizing: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Lin Yuan casually pulled a long robe over his shoulder and draped it over himself, his expression sincere, his tone even carrying a hint of embarrassment and difficulty:

"I'm a little worried about my senior sister going to such a dangerous place alone. Why don't I go with her so I can look after her?"

His words were so sincere and heartfelt that someone who didn't know the inside story would probably think he was confessing his love.

Lin Feilu was clearly not unaware of the inside story.

"Protect us? With your mere Qi Refining stage cultivation?"

She was incredibly intelligent and, after a moment's thought, saw through Lin Yuan's intentions. She sneered, "Junior Brother possesses unparalleled alchemy skills. Pushing your cultivation to the ninth level of Qi Refining, or even the Great Perfection, shouldn't be difficult for you. Your elaborate scheme to enter the Crimson Forbidden Land isn't for my safety at all, but rather to go to the core of the forbidden land to comprehend that wordless stone tablet and obtain the great opportunity of Foundation Establishment, isn't it?"

Lin Yuan, his thoughts exposed, rubbed his nose and chuckled twice, "Senior Sister has keen insight. Which cultivator doesn't want to lay the most solid foundation?"

Lin Feilu looked at his face and a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

"The Heavenly Dao Foundation Building Method does indeed have fragments in the Crimson Forbidden Land, but my Xuan Yin Sect also has the Heavenly Dao Foundation Building Method."

Lin Feilu slightly raised her smooth chin, "When I first entered the Foundation Establishment stage, I followed the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment path. Since we are bound by fate, I can directly pass on this cultivation technique to you, so you won't have to go in and die."

"Really?" Lin Yuan's eyes lit up.

To obtain the Heavenly Dao Foundation Building Technique without having to risk one's life in the forbidden area is a worthwhile deal.

"Of course it's true." Lin Feilu's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. "This method is called the 'Taiyin Mysterious Maiden Technique,' which absorbs extreme Yin energy to cleanse the tendons and marrow. As long as one cultivates this method, the Heavenly Dao will respond during the Foundation Establishment stage."

She paused, then said softly, "However, this technique has a small side effect. After cultivation, the yin energy will flow backward, the meridians will reverse, and the male cultivator will be completely transformed into a woman. If you are willing, Junior Brother, I can now orally instruct you on the scriptures."