Chapter 7: Unable to Control Yourself

“Oh wuwu, I really want to give my daughter a hug full of love! Aaaaah! Calm down, must calm down!” While Linlang was inwardly questioning, Huo Zhi was screaming inside as she stole glances at her.

“No, can’t look anymore! Need to do proper work!” Huo Zhi shook her head, no longer looking at Linlang. What if Linlang noticed her peeking with starry eyes? She’d think Huo Zhi was a pervert.

Huo Zhi probed her Storage Bag with her Spiritual Sense, ready to take out the purchased talisman materials to start drawing. Her expression turned odd.

“Five Low-Grade Spirit Stones bought this much talisman paper? Aren’t talismans supposed to be very expensive?” Huo Zhi surveyed the contents. Apart from two sets of brush and ink for talisman drawing, the remaining Basic Talisman Paper was a thick stack, roughly several thousand sheets.

“Host, this Basic Talisman Paper is made from the hide of low-grade, farmable Hyena Pig Demons. The hide of one Hyena Pig Demon can be split into over ten layers, producing about ten thousand sheets of this talisman paper. The average cultivator’s success rate in drawing talismans is very low; succeeding a few times out of a hundred attempts is considered good. The disposable Dust Removal Talismans you used before sell for five per Low-Grade Spirit Stone,” 006 explained, serving as an encyclopedia.

“Oh no! Buying so many talisman materials… won’t they suspect me of planning to make talismans and run away?” After hearing 006’s words, a new worry struck Huo Zhi.

This wasn’t just a few dozen sheets, but several thousand!

“Host, you’re overthinking it! Basic talisman materials hold very little spiritual qi and can only be used to draw low-grade, unranked talismans. They pose no threat. The original host bought them before too. Qin Ceyi once wanted to see if she could become a Talisman Master, but later found it wasn’t possible, so he never bought her talisman materials for practice again. Many ordinary cultivators are unwilling to give up and want to practice with basic talisman materials. They buy quite a few to practice on their own, drawing low-level, disposable talismans like Cleaning Talismans, Dust Removal Talismans, Sound Transmission Talismans, etc. Generally, even for a Core Formation Stage cultivator without talent in talisman drawing, a success rate of seven or eight out of a hundred on these simplest low-grade talismans is already good. It’s fine for you to buy some and practice. Did you think you’d have a 100% success rate!” 006 spoke, its tone practically rolling its eyes.

“That’s reassuring!” Huo Zhi sighed in relief. 006’s explanation, combined with what she’d read in the original novel, confirmed this was indeed the case. Then she could boldly start drawing.

Huo Zhi took out a basic brush and ink set for talisman drawing from the Storage Bag and grabbed a few sheets of talisman paper to practice.

Using the brush made of Hyena Pig Demon bristles dipped in ink, Huo Zhi first tested the thickness and consistency of the brush strokes on a sheet of talisman paper.

The original novel stated that the most crucial aspect of drawing talismans was making them identical to the talisman diagrams in the book. Simultaneously, one had to continuously channel spiritual qi into the brush and ink, controlling both the qi and the ink evenly to draw precisely along the correct patterns on the paper. It required high precision, relying on the cultivator’s mental power.

After testing one sheet, Huo Zhi had a concept of the ink and brush.

This was something the art-trained Huo Zhi was relatively skilled in.

Huo Zhi began drawing the simplest Dust Removal Talisman. It required controlling the line thickness to be exactly the same as the diagram—what she would call a weight of 6 in drawing software. By hand, it required patience, excellent brush control, and maintaining the exact same thickness throughout.

This world didn’t have drawing software; it relied entirely on the eye, making it incredibly difficult.

Huo Zhi had designed that diagram. She knew exactly how she had drawn it. She was relatively confident in her precision.

She first measured the diameter and circumference. To be identical and successful, she couldn’t rely on naked-eye accuracy. The most critical part of the Dust Removal Talisman was drawing a circle first, then dividing it equally, marking the nodes. Then she had to draw the dust-absorbing component, connecting it to the circle at the various nodes.

Lacking tools, Huo Zhi used two brushes as a makeshift compass to draw the circle. Then she divided it from the center point, strictly following the proportions.

She was essentially replicating her own previous design. To make an exact copy, she needed to follow her original drawing method, while also considering the paper size, talisman scale, line weight, and so on.

Soon, Huo Zhi successfully drew a Dust Removal Talisman.

“Mmm… that was close, almost failed. Now I can try the Healing Talisman. Let me recall it.” Huo Zhi thought to herself, mentally reviewing the specific form of the Healing Talisman.

“…” 006 was speechless.

It considered itself knowledgeable about this world and its host, but it never expected Huo Zhi to be so divinely skilled at talisman drawing. Her first time drawing a Dust Removal Talisman, and she succeeded on the first try!

Although the Dust Removal Talisman was only disposable and an unranked, low-grade talisman, someone with a 100% success rate was extremely rare.

Huo Zhi had no knowledge of this world’s talisman drawing techniques. She had simply restored her original design process, keeping all the proportions in her mind. Combined with the concentration honed from her art studies and her incredibly steady hand, she managed to reproduce an identical copy.

Even someone with drawing skills at Huo Zhi’s level couldn’t possibly draw an identical copy—not without being the original designer.

Even Huo Zhi herself hadn’t noticed: when she focused her mind on drawing talismans, she entered a state of selflessness. She had reached the condition for the Dao of Ruthlessness Technique—her seven emotions dropped below the standard threshold, and her tail and ears had retracted.

After mentally reviewing the design blueprint of the Healing Talisman, Huo Zhi started drawing.

A Healing Talisman combining elements like a red cross, bandages, and a surgical scalpel took three times as long as the Dust Removal Talisman. Huo Zhi finally finished it.

As the talisman was completed, it emitted a faint yellow glow. It was no longer an unranked talisman like the Dust Removal Talisman; it had stepped into the ranks of the Yellow-Grade talismans in the Heaven Earth Profound Yellow hierarchy.

“This is just Basic Talisman Paper, yet the host drew a Yellow-Grade talisman! Host, you are indeed the chosen one! So amazing!” 006 said somewhat excitedly.

“…It’s just one sheet. This single sheet won’t do much; it contains too little spiritual qi!” Huo Zhi was not entirely satisfied. She calmly stated this and tried it on her own wound.

There was a cooling sensation, but compared to the Healing Talisman from Qin Ceyi before, it was weaker. The duration was also very short, only five breaths, before the talisman paper completely dimmed and turned to ash.

“Too weak. I’ll have to draw more!” Huo Zhi thought to herself and continued drawing with another sheet of talisman paper.

Huo Zhi drew over fifty Healing Talismans in one go, only stopping when she felt a dizzy, stabbing headache.

Of those fifty-plus, fifty were successful. A few failed because the ink ran out mid-stroke, and later, severe dizziness blurred her vision, causing errors.

It was said that drawing talismans consumed a great deal of mental power. She had likely reached her limit.

Huo Zhi rubbed her sore eyes. For the sake of healing her daughter, she had worked even harder than pulling overtime at a job.

“With this many talismans, my daughter can feel much better!” At this thought, Huo Zhi felt happy, and her tail popped out again.

It was only then Huo Zhi realized that when she was deeply engrossed in drawing, her tail had disappeared. Now that she stopped and felt happy, it popped out again.

When facing her daughter, she still needed to be calmer.

No randomly showing a doting, aunt-like smirk. Can’t make my daughter feel uncomfortable. And definitely can’t act lovesick towards my daughter in her current special state!

Must maintain the attitude and distance appropriate for a stranger.

Don’t let the tail show in front of my daughter, wagging away like that. That’s very improper.

Hmm, the state when the Dao of Ruthlessness Technique is in operation seems rather suitable.

Otherwise, with her acting skills, she simply couldn’t control herself.

Thinking this, Huo Zhi closed her eyes and circulated the technique. An icy coolness surged up, and Huo Zhi once again entered the state of absolute detachment and tranquility.

The Dao of Ruthlessness Technique—Huo Zhi had successfully circulated it before, so it was a little easier this time.

As long as she maintained the continuous circulation of the technique within her body, her mind and body remained clear and calm, free from joy or sorrow.

“…It seems I don’t even have the mood to use the Healing Talismans on my daughter.” Huo Zhi thought flatly.

“Host, no! You’d better use them quickly! Otherwise, the Happiness Value will drop again! If it drops again, we’ll both be erased!” 006 hurriedly interjected.

“Erased. What’s so scary about that?” Huo Zhi replied coolly.

“Host, wake up! You really shouldn’t use the Dao of Ruthlessness Technique!” If 006 had a physical form, it would already be biting a handkerchief and crying.

With a face utterly calm, Huo Zhi organized the drawn talisman papers. She took out several pieces of clothing from the Storage Bag and properly dressed herself. Once fully and neatly attired, she turned to find Linlang.

Though her seven emotions had dropped below the standard threshold, it wasn’t that absolutely none remained. Her willingness was weaker, but it was still present. Her thinking was relatively more rational.

As Huo Zhi approached her, Linlang immediately opened her eyes and looked at her.

Huo Zhi, engrossed in talisman drawing, hadn’t noticed the passage of time. In reality, most of the day had passed.

The Ice-Type Spiritual Qi within Linlang’s body was exhausted again. She had been enduring for a long time. Her whole body was sprawled on the ground, curled up into a ball.

Her previous seductive allure and attempts to entice hadn’t moved Huo Zhi at all. Linlang didn’t want to waste time entangling her anymore. But this period was truly too difficult to bear. Even closing her eyes to cultivate, recalling centuries of loneliness, couldn’t dispel Huo Zhi’s image from her mind, couldn’t stop the longing in her heart for Huo Zhi.

It was as if the centuries of loneliness were like withering alone in a desert, and Huo Zhi was that pool of water. Every inch of her exuded immense temptation.

Seeing Huo Zhi, Linlang’s eyes were moist. Her expression was one of forbearance and frustration, not fabricated.

Only a single thread of reason remained, forcibly controlling her body.

At this moment, Huo Zhi’s demeanor had returned to the aloof and transcendent fairy appearance of her previous life. She was fully dressed, tightly covered, her ears and tail gone. She was in the Dao of Ruthlessness state.

Such a Huo Zhi, pure and breathtakingly beautiful, without a trace of worldly flavor, her eyes indifferent, lacking a certain human touch, yet stirred a desire to break and possess, to see her tail and ears emerge again.

Looking at Linlang’s flushed face, Huo Zhi’s heart experienced no great fluctuation. She reached out, grasped Linlang’s wrist, and channeled Ice-Type Spiritual Qi.

“Ding! Linlang’s Happiness Value -8680. It’s risen!” 006 announced.

Huo Zhi continued channeling. When she felt Linlang’s wrist return to a normal temperature, she let go.

The Ice-Type Spiritual Qi suppressed the excess fire energy within Linlang’s body, returning her to a normal state and suppressing the instinctual urges.

But looking at Huo Zhi so close, smelling her pleasant scent, watching her serious, detached, and aloof expression, Linlang still couldn’t resist the desire to draw near.

New doubts arose in her heart. Huo Zhi was somewhat different from before.

She seemed like the Huo Zhi Linlang knew, yet not.

The Huo Zhi of her previous life would never treat her this way.

As Huo Zhi took a step back, a sense of loss and regret rose in Linlang’s heart.

Huo Zhi wanted to use the Healing Talismans on Linlang but suddenly received a Sound Transmission.

“Yu’er, has that Little Cinnabar Bird Demon woken up?” Qin Ceyi’s voice came through.

Huo Zhi’s tail instantly popped out—from fright.

“Host, Qin Ceyi is coming,” 006 reported at that moment.

“I have a Master named Qin Ceyi. He’s coming here very soon. Quickly, turn back into a Cinnabar Bird!” Huo Zhi hadn’t had time to retract her tail. While hastily packing all the talismans and semi-finished materials into the Storage Bag, she sent a Sound Transmission to Linlang.

“For you humans, a Cinnabar Bird is just talisman material,” Linlang said, unwilling to transform.

Linlang was somewhat puzzled. Since when was Fairy Yuheng so unstable in her Dao heart? Just her master Qin Ceyi returning made her tail pop out?

Her sudden fluster, the hasty packing, and now telling her to turn into a Cinnabar Bird—it made her seem like a fairy descended to earth, much more animated. That fluffy tail once again lifted her skirt…

“Please, Qin Ceyi is not a good person. He’s very lecherous.” Huo Zhi was frantic. Linlang’s appearance was simply too beautiful. Even injured, unkempt, and dressed casually, just sitting there carelessly gave off a breathtaking, stunning allure.

Linlang remained silent, her eyes fixed on Huo Zhi.

Linlang never considered herself beautiful.

In her past life, Mo Zhenfeng and the others had all treated Linlang with contempt. Linlang had always believed her human form was ugly to humans. Whether her human or demon body form, it was only valuable because of its utility, which was why it was fought over.

Compared to transforming into a high-value Cinnabar Bird coveted for its tail feathers by humans, her human form was safer.

Huo Zhi, seeing Linlang’s expression, knew Linlang still didn’t trust her. She was afraid of having her tail feathers plucked for talisman materials.

Perhaps she’d just have to go for broke, absorb Linlang’s spiritual qi again, and then see if her Ice Attribute could neutralize it.

Just as Huo Zhi was about to act, before she could even touch Linlang, she saw Linlang lower her eyes and remove her clothes, unwrapping the bandages. A fluctuation of spiritual qi later, she transformed into the form of a Cinnabar Bird. Her long, slender neck drooped limply to one side, her eyes half-closed. Though in the Cinnabar Bird form, one could still feel an aura of pride and coldness emanating from her.

Linlang still didn’t want to become a Cinnabar Bird. But seeing Huo Zhi’s anxious expression, as if she was truly worrying for her sake, and for reasons she didn’t understand, she simply transformed.

Seeing Linlang turn into a Cinnabar Bird, Huo Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yu’er? What’s wrong? Your master is on his way,” Qin Ceyi’s voice came again.

“Master, your disciple is fine. I was just delayed by something a moment ago,” Huo Zhi transmitted back. She struggled to recirculate her technique, retract her tail, and straighten her dress. At the same time, she reached out and ruffled Linlang’s feathers. The previously somewhat smooth plumage became much messier, the wounded areas and broken feathers exposed.