This was a very clever design, and also the core of the Talisman Puppet.

It involved connecting Spirit Stones with talismans and refining them together, ensuring the Talisman Puppet could exist for a long time.

However, the usual method to increase a Talisman Puppet’s strength was to improve the talismans; using higher-grade Spirit Stones directly like this was truly a display of immense wealth.

One Medium Grade Spirit Stone could theoretically equal one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

The market price was approximately between one hundred thirty and one hundred sixty.

The three people present were all poor.

Song Yan said with a chuckle, "That we were able to kill the Talisman Puppet so smoothly is all thanks to Fellow Daoist Rong’s Spirit Worm for reconnaissance. You two can take this one."

His heart was bleeding.

But what he said was true, not mere politeness.

Mainly, Wu Huaguo was there, so he didn’t dare to say anything against his conscience.

"Good."

The couple also didn’t stand on ceremony: "Fellow Daoist Song, there shouldn’t be only one Talisman Puppet here... If we find any more Medium Grade Spirit Stones in the future, you and my wife and I will split them evenly."

Song Yan nodded.

He didn’t completely trust the couple, but so far, they hadn’t given him a false impression... In the World in the Painting, Ink Pool Forest.

"Che Ning" stood before a large, ink-colored stone. This stone had been carved and polished, resembling a uniquely shaped desk.

On the table were brushes, ink, and an inkstone, but no paper or scrolls... Ignoring this, Che Ning trembled as he channeled his spiritual power, making the ancient painting brush float before him.

With his hands spread open, the brush hovered between them.

He looked at the brush and let out a long, relieved breath.

"Hoo..."

It was one foot and three inches long, with a Yunyuan purple bamboo handle and fine, needle-like hairs from the spine of a Moon-Inviting Rabbit demon for the bristles.

On the light purple brush handle, the characters "Guizhen" were engraved.

"Guizhen Brush..."

"Finally, I have it..."

Che Ning seemed to lose all his strength, slumping to the ground, completely devoid of his previous master’s demeanor.

"Guizhen Brush..."

"xian you scroll..."

"Haha..."

He suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.

"Hahahahahaha..."

Recalling the past twelve years, every step filled with trepidation, walking on thin ice.

Now, he had finally obtained the item he had yearned for in his previous life!

This brush and scroll, two ink treasures, were a set of Low Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

Although they had many restrictions, they were one of the most promising treasures he had heard of in his previous life and hoped to obtain in this one.

Thinking of his previous life, he suddenly felt bitter and oppressed, unable to breathe... His eyes flickered, and he gripped the brush in his hand even tighter.

"Buzz——"

Just then, a Saber Qi slashed through the air! It cut Che Ning’s figure in half... But... the figure shattered and turned into a splash of ink.

"Clang!"

The long saber was returned to its sheath, and the scar-faced Cultivator walked slowly forward.

He didn’t seem surprised by Che Ning’s disappearance.

"I’m curious..."

Che Ning’s voice rose faintly. He slowly emerged from the shadows beside the large black stone: "Where did you get the courage to attack me?"

The scar-faced Cultivator, despite being only at Qi Refining Stage 6, chuckled and showed no fear: "In such a vast World in the Painting, you want nothing but these ink treasures."

"Then what’s most precious, how could Old Man Wu not understand?"

Che Ning’s voice was utterly cold: "Some things you might have the life to take, but I fear you won’t have the life to use them..."

"Brother, these items of a literati and refined scholar..."

"Do you understand how to use them?"

The scar-faced Cultivator’s hand slowly rested on the hilt of the saber behind him, and the Spiritual Qi Aura around him began to slowly rise.

"Whether I understand or not, you don’t need to worry about it, brother."

"Oh?"

Che Ning’s face was covered by a bronze mask, so his expression couldn’t be seen, but he let out a soft "Yi."

"A secret art to hide one’s Realm?"

"No... that’s not right."

"Saber Intent..."

"..."

Che Ning took no action, merely watching the saber artist before him silently.

"Both."

The scar-faced Cultivator’s Spiritual Qi Realm had now reached Level 8 Qi Refining.

Buzz——

The moment he drew his saber, the Ink Pool Forest’s sky and clouds changed dramatically, and the scar-faced Cultivator’s imposing Aura... actually pressed directly towards the Level 9 Qi Refining Realm!

"Severing Tide!"

Three zhang away, a saber strike came.

His figure twisted strangely, appearing inches in front of Che Ning along with the vast and surging Saber Qi.

Che Ning snorted softly, not retreating but advancing, holding the ancient painting brush, and meeting the scar-faced Cultivator.

Bang!

Che Ning, who rushed towards him, along with the ancient painting brush, once again turned into a splash of ink.

It was like a snowman trying to embrace him, but melting the moment it was exposed to the scorching sun.

"Whoosh..."

The ink wet the scar-faced Cultivator’s clothes.

"..."

There was a diagonal ink stain on his forehead; it was the mark "Che Ning" left on his glabella with the painting brush the moment his Saber Intent dissipated.

Water droplets were flowing down his cheeks and chin, dripping into his collar.

He frowned, warily staring at his surroundings.

"Hmm..."

Che Ning walked out from behind him, casually took out a piece of drawing paper from his qiankun bag, and actually started painting.

From time to time, he would also hold the brush and gesture horizontally and vertically towards the scar-faced Cultivator.

"You’re like a fly!"

The scar-faced Cultivator gripped his saber hilt again: "Let’s see how long your rotten flesh can hide!"

"Hmm..."

Che Ning suddenly nodded in satisfaction.

He put down his brush and signed his name.

In an instant, the scar-faced Cultivator suddenly looked dazed, staring at the saber in his hand.

He had been accompanied by a saber since childhood, and even in the mortal world, he had roamed the Jianghu with his saber, carving out a notorious demonic reputation.

By chance, he entered the Cultivation World and had an extraordinary Opportunity, comprehending a tiny bit of Saber Intent.

But now, as he touched the saber, for some reason, it felt so unfamiliar.

Che Ning looked at the painting brush in his hand with intoxication.

"This brush is called ’Guizhen’."

"Putting aside those romantic stories and legends, let’s just talk about its function..."

Che Ning walked slowly closer.

"Recording."

The scar-faced Cultivator’s eyes widened.

"It can record the appearance of an object in a painting at a certain moment..."

"Spiritual Qi..."

Che Ning’s voice carried a hint of arrogant hoarseness.

"Or... Aura."

The scar-faced Cultivator’s heart sank to rock bottom, but he certainly wouldn’t sit idly by and wait for death.

His Saber Intent was sealed by this sinister painting brush, but his saber techniques remained.

"Confine!"

Spiritual Qi transformed into ink, surging and churning, condensing into chains that pierced through the scar-faced Cultivator’s protective spiritual armor, binding his hands and feet.

"Hmph!"

The scar-faced Cultivator’s Spiritual Qi surged around him, shaking off the ink, and he swung his saber to strike at Che Ning.

But Che Ning still didn’t evade, merely fully channeling his Spiritual Qi, his internal spiritual power rapidly depleting.

Thump.

At a certain moment, a drop of ink could be heard falling... The scar-faced Cultivator found that, at some point, his saber had returned to its sheath, and he was facing the black stone, his protective spiritual armor gone, his back to Che Ning.

He had returned to the action of sheathing his saber just moments before.

"Brother, why don’t you understand yet..."

"You are now, inside the painting..."

Actually, Che Ning had many ways to kill the scar-faced Cultivator.

But just like a child who has just received a brand new toy, at this moment, he absolutely had to show its most fun aspect.

Although he relied on the Spiritual Qi left in the brush by a Foundation Establishment Senior, Che Ning was still satisfied at this moment.

Before the scar-faced Cultivator even realized it, countless ink marks had remained around his body, and now they all erupted at once.

"Bang."

Blood mixed with ink slowly flowed on the ground... The scar-faced Cultivator’s eyes widened in defiance, then he lost his breath.

Che Ning slowly walked past him, taking his qiankun bag.

"In this world, everyone will have their own Opportunities and fortuitous encounters."

"But some people are arrogant and conceited... they are not worthy of such Opportunities."

"If you have an Opportunity, you still need to seize it well."

"Rather than being arrogant and looking down on others."