Clothed Maiden

"Young Master, now that you have initially mastered controlling Yuan Energy, it's time to learn some other life-saving techniques using talismanic artifacts. However, if you wish to become proficient in them quickly, it's better not to be greedy for more. I suggest you only learn two or three to begin with, since we are all studying the most common incantations. Once you've entered the higher ranks, you will definitely be able to choose from better methods to activate talismanic artifacts," Guan Da suggested.

"Fine, besides one offensive technique, the other two should prioritize saving my life. Let's go with the Yuan Barrier Technique and the Light Body Technique," Liu Ming said, having clearly thought this through and without hesitation.

"Okay. For offensive techniques, there's no need to choose, because the attack of each style of talismanic artifact is almost fixed. It's just about concentrating the Yuan Energy within the body and then releasing it through the artifact. My fist-type talismanic artifact, for example, unleashes attacks in the form of Yuan Energy spheres. Three Gu's blade-type talismanic artifacts create attacks like beams and flashes condensed from Yuan Energy. As for your Tiger Bite Ring, it's a rather rare type I haven't personally witnessed. But its power should definitely be substantial. Later on, I will explain several incantations to you, and you can study them at your leisure. If there's anything unclear, we can always explain a thing or two," Guan Da explained a couple of things.

"When fighting others, regardless of which technique you wish to use with your talismanic artifact during combat, you must calculate the number of times you can sustain its use. We Qi Practitioners can't compare with those true Spirit Apprentices and Spirit Masters. Our internal Yuan Energy is very limited, and each use of a talismanic artifact is a significant expenditure. Especially for a beginner Qi Practitioner like you, Young Master, I'm afraid that after three or four uses of a talismanic artifact in combat, your Yuan Energy will be completely drained. And a Qi Practitioner without Yuan Energy is only slightly stronger than an ordinary person. Young Master must remember this well!" Three Gu also reminded with a cautionary tone.

"In that case, us Qi Practitioners don't need a second talismanic artifact, and it's not that the more we have, the better," Liu Ming remarked, somewhat surprised.

"Generally speaking, that's true. Because low and mid-level Qi Practitioners have limited Yuan Energy, even if they have more talismanic artifacts, it's not of much use. However, it's different for those high-level and top-level Qi Practitioners. With their profound Yuan Energy, if they have several different types of talismanic artifacts, they can naturally use them flexibly and adopt multiple techniques to overcome their enemies during combat. But no matter which technique they wish to employ, they can only activate one talismanic artifact at a time. I heard that those higher-ups, the Spirit Apprentices and Spirit Masters, seem to have ways to break this limit. But the specifics are beyond the knowledge of ordinary Qi Practitioners like me and Gu Three," Guan Da said gravely.

"Thanks to both of you for the guidance. I've come to understand some things and will definitely pay attention to these aspects in the future," Liu Ming said with a bow, his expression solemn.

...

Two months later, along the rugged mountain path that scaled the pitch-black mountain, Liu Ming and his two companions were making their way upwards step by step.

The mountain path was extremely perilous, with deep, bottomless cliffs on both sides, and so narrow that only one person could pass at a time. Furthermore, the stone steps, neglected and untrodden for years, were covered with blackish-green moss, making them slippery and treacherous.

Had the three not been Qi Practitioners, extraordinarily agile and surpassing others, they might have fallen countless times into the abyss below, their fate unknown.

Even so, Guan Da and Three Gu proceeded with extreme caution, sweating profusely before long.

The young man walking between them, on the other hand, remained calm from start to finish, seemingly oblivious to the dangers at hand.

Guan Da and Three Gu couldn't help but secretly admire his courage in the face of such a surprising situation.

For Liu Ming, these dangers were nothing compared to the numerous life-and-death situations he'd faced on the savage island many years ago.

After about two hours, the trio finally reached the summit of the mountain.

To their surprise, after a careful look around, they were left somewhat dumbfounded.

While the mountaintop held a flat area several acres in size, it was empty, with no sign of any people.

"Guan Da, are you sure we didn't find the wrong place? Is this the designated rendezvous point specified by the higher ranks?" Liu Ming asked, frowning.

"Young Master, something this important, how could I possibly remember the wrong place? Maybe the envoy hasn't arrived yet," Guan Da replied, wiping the sweat from his forehead and smiling bitterly.

"How much time is left until the deadline set by the higher ranks?" Liu Ming pondered for a moment and then asked.

"There are still two days," Three Gu chimed in this time.

"Since we still have time, let's wait here and see," Liu Ming said, having scanned the mountaintop and made up his mind.

At this moment, he had clearly and thoroughly stepped into the role of the Bai Family's Young Master.

Guan Da and Three Gu naturally agreed without any objection.

Consequently, the group found a clean rock and sat down to rest and meditate.

Time trickled by, and before long, the sun hung high in the sky, reaching noontime.

Just then, footsteps suddenly echoed from another direction at the mountaintop, and the meditating Liu Ming and his colleagues were instantly alert, hurrying to look in that direction.

They saw at the other mountain path leading to the summit, figures flashed as five people arrived.

Two robust men, an old man, a middle-aged woman, and the purple-dressed young girl escorted by them.

The two burly men were fierce-looking, dressed in brocade and carrying swords at their waists.

The elderly man was dressed in a cyan robe, his visage lean, with slightly squinted eyes, and a goatee beard on his chin.

The woman had an ordinary appearance, but her skin was somewhat fairer than that of the average person, dressed in the attire of a green-clad maid.

As for the purple-clad young girl, she seemed to be only eleven or twelve years old, exceedingly cute, with a face like a delicately carved piece of jade, bearing a pair of large, black eyes that revealed a hint of mischief and spirit when they moved.

These five people were startled when they saw others already on the mountaintop, but after carefully observing Liu Ming and the other two for a moment, the elderly man indifferently murmured a few words.

Subsequently, the four escorted the young girl to the other side of the mountaintop and likewise chose a few rocks to sit and rest upon, seemingly positioned opposite Liu Ming and his companions in a distant manner.

Observing this scene, Liu Ming felt a trace of confusion and could not help but turn his head, looking inquiringly at Guan Da and the others.

"Young Master need not worry, they are not from the Barbarian Ghost Sect. It appears they are scions of other noble families here to await the emissary. Hehe, it seems we did not come to the wrong place," Guan Da said with a low chuckle.

"I see, so there should be others arriving," Liu Ming revealed a pensive expression.

"That's hard to say; it depends on which noble families are in the nearby areas and if they are willing to part with corresponding resources to purchase a spot for the spirit opening ceremony," Guan Da replied.

Liu Ming nodded, not asking further, and closed his eyes once more to meditate.

At this moment, though he seemed to be resting, the Yuan Energy within his body was circulating non-stop according to a special pattern, causing the tiger bite bracelet on his wrist to flicker intermittently.

Fortunately, all of this was covered by the long sleeves of his robe, and was imperceptible to outsiders.

However, not long after, a brocade-robed man with a slightly yellow complexion stood up and directly approached the area where Liu Ming and his two companions were.

Upon seeing this, Guan Da and Three Gu's gazes flashed as they watched the newcomer with a hint of wariness.

Liu Ming also opened his eyes, aware of the presence.

"I am Tie Yun, a guest elder from the Mu Family of Guangling City, and I bring greetings from my young Miss Mu Mingzhu. May I know who the three of you are?" the man in brocade did not approach too closely, stopping about seven or eight Zhang away and politely asked with his hands clasped.

"So it's the renown Mu Family. I am Guan Da, a guest elder of the Bai Family from Yumu City, and this is our Young Master Bai Congtian," Guan Da responded with a solemn expression, quickly standing to return the greeting.

"So it's the Bai Family's young master; this is indeed fortuitous. Our two families share a considerable rapport. Would your young master like to join us for a while?" The brocade-robed man was initially taken aback but then his face broke into a smile as he quickly responded.

"Ah, my lord is feeling slightly unwell, so we won't disturb Miss Mingzhu," Guan Da hesitated for a moment before politely declining.

"Oh, that is a pity. Then after the envoy arrives, our Miss can have a chat with young master Bai," the man in brocade seemed surprised, and after giving Liu Ming a deep look, did not press the issue any further and, after clasping his fist, turned around and walked away.

"How prominent is the Mu Family from Guangling City; are they famous?" Liu Ming asked once the man in brocade had left.

"Famous? The Bai Family is truly one of the top qi-refining noble families of the Daxuan Kingdom. The Mu Family might seem similar in stature to the Bai Family but in truth, their heritage is vastly different. It's estimated that it would take three or four Bai Families to match up to the Mu Family. They say there are as many as four spirit disciples under the Mu Family who have pledged allegiance to other high-standing households," Three Gu explained with an air of reservation.

"I see. But what about the good relations he spoke of? Could they have noticed something amiss?" Liu Ming continued to inquire.

"That shouldn't be the case. During the time of the previous family head, the Bai Family indeed had some dealings with the Mu Family. But after the current Family Head took over, the reasons unknown, there has been little interaction between the two families. People from the Mu Family may have heard of you, but they most certainly have not met you in person," Guan Da replied with certainty.

Three Gu also nodded repeatedly.

Seeing their reactions, Liu Ming's worries naturally subsided.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side among the Mu Family group, the purple-clad young girl named Mu Mingzhu, after hearing the brocade-clad man's report, showed a look of astonishment on her face.

"Uncle Tie, they are actually from the Bai Family. That's quite a coincidence! I think I have heard my father mention the name Bai Congtian once, but I don't have much of an impression. Third Uncle, do you know of this Bai Family young master?" The girl turned her pretty face toward the lean old man beside her and asked.

"Bai Congtian. Hmm, the Bai Family does indeed have such a young master. He is said to be the illegitimate son of the Bai Family head, later taken in under a guise of a foster son," the lean elder replied with a slight smile upon hearing the question.

He revealed one of the Bai Family head's closely guarded secrets as if it was common knowledge.

"Hmph, back then the head of the Bai Family did wrong by my aunt, and now to commit such actions is not too surprising. But it seems he truly values this illegitimate son, having managed to persuade the senior elders to send him to participate in this spirit opening ceremony," the girl scoffed with a hint of disdain.