Che Yangrong's expression changed dramatically the moment he saw Liu Wuxie's seemingly casual gesture. Right before his eyes, a strange rune slipped into the three talismans like a living thing and vanished without a trace.

An even more astonishing scene unfolded in the next instant. The three talismans suddenly spun off their own accord, and every attack that had locked onto Liu Wuxie disappeared as though thin air had swallowed it.

"This..." Xiang Rulong and the others rubbed their eyes repeatedly, unable to trust what they had just witnessed. Even the students gathered beyond the courtyard stood rooted to the spot, their faces filled with disbelief.

"The three talismans seem different now. They're shining even brighter than before."

Among the students crowding outside the courtyard were many from the talisman division. Although their attainments were far from those of true masters, they still possessed enough basic knowledge to recognize that something extraordinary had occurred.

Ye Linghan had already prepared to intervene, but the sudden transformation of the three talismans forced her to halt in place.

No one was more stunned than Che Yangrong. He hurriedly formed hand seals, attempting to regain control of the three talismans. To his alarm, the connection between him and the talismans had completely vanished.

"What have you done to my talismans?!" Che Yangrong roared. In his eyes, Liu Wuxie had likely used some unknown method to neutralize them.

The three talismans he had deployed were anything but ordinary. They were Divine Immobilization Talismans. Once their power enveloped a target, that person would lose their ability to resist and freeze in place.

"It's only proper to return the favor," Liu Wuxie replied calmly. He did not explain, nor did he feel any need to. After all, Che Yangrong was merely a Profound Immortal.

With a casual flick of his finger, the three Divine Immobilization Talismans shot through the air and hovered above Che Yangrong's head. Brilliant light erupted from them as their power descended and wrapped around him. The talismans hadn't lost their effectiveness, but they had changed masters.

Che Yangrong couldn't move in the slightest. No matter how hard he struggled, his body refused to obey his command.

Xiang Rulong and the others exchanged glances, each seeing the same shock reflected in the other's eyes. More than ever, they found themselves wondering what kind of monster their mentor truly was.

Among everyone present, Shi Wa was undoubtedly the happiest. The greater Liu Wuxie's attainments in talisman art were, the greater his chances of defeating Bai Jingye would be.

In terms of age, Xiang Rulong and the others weren't much younger than Liu Wuxie. Yet no matter how they looked at it, the gap between them seemed to widen with every passing day.

Che Yangrong's cheeks burned crimson as humiliation flooded through him. Being immobilized by his own talismans before so many spectators was no different from having his face slapped hundreds of times in succession. Violent killing intent burst from him and swept outward in all directions.

"Liu Wuxie, I'll kill you!"

Che Yangrong was on the verge of losing his mind. Should word of this spread, his reputation would be ruined. After all, he was a mentor who specialized in talisman art, yet his techniques had been effortlessly broken by a mere High Immortal.

A violent shockwave exploded from Che Yangrong's body, blasting the three Divine Immobilization Talismans away and allowing him to reclaim control of his body. Since he was a Profound Immortal, those talismans couldn't restrain him for long.

The instant he regained his freedom, Che Yangrong shot forward like an arrow released from its bow and lunged straight at Liu Wuxie.

"Che Yangrong, that's enough!" Ye Linghan stepped forward and blocked his path before he could advance any farther.

"Linghan, move aside! I want this brat dead!" Che Yangrong growled, murderous intent practically spilling from his eyes.

"He's my assistant, and you will not kill him," Ye Linghan said firmly. She now understood that she had made a mistake. She should never have sought Che Yangrong's help in the first place. Since things had reached this stage, she could only do her best to make amends.

Che Yangrong clenched his fists tightly as the aura surrounding him gradually receded.

"I'll remember what happened today, and I won't let you off!" Che Yangrong tore away every remaining shred of his gentlemanly facade, revealing a completely different face from the one he had worn earlier.

Having been publicly humiliated by Liu Wuxie, Che Yangrong was determined to settle the score sooner or later. He refused to believe that Ye Linghan could remain at Liu Wuxie's side forever.

"I'll be waiting," Liu Wuxie replied indifferently.

Once he advanced into the True Immortal Realm, many of the techniques he had been unable to use would be restored. By then, killing him would no longer be a simple matter, even for a Profound Immortal.

For now, however, his greatest priority remained his cultivation. He had originally planned to use the Lament of the Nameless to repair his soul sea gradually, but circumstances no longer allowed him that luxury. He needed to restore it as quickly as possible.

As long as cracks remained within his soul sea, he would never be able to unleash his full strength in battle.

Without even offering a farewell, Che Yangrong stormed away in a fury.

Silence gradually returned to the courtyard. Ye Linghan looked at Liu Wuxie with a complicated expression that she couldn't quite conceal.

"I don't want a repeat of today's incident," Liu Wuxie reminded her before turning around and heading back toward his room.

Xiang Rulong and the other students departed one after another. What they had witnessed today forced them to reevaluate their understanding of Liu Wuxie. In some ways, Ye Linghan now seemed more like the assistant, while Liu Wuxie carried himself as the true mentor.

Back inside his room, Liu Wuxie sat cross-legged and circulated the Desolate Devouring Art as he continued cultivating.

Shi Wa soon carried dinner into the room. After placing the dishes on the table, he stood respectfully to one side. "Mentor, Mentor Ye personally prepared these dishes for you."

"Starting today, I'll teach you talisman art," Liu Wuxie said as he looked toward Shi Wa.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Shi Wa immediately dropped to his knees and kowtowed deeply.

Liu Wuxie took out a complete guide to talisman art and tossed it toward him. "Memorize everything in this book within three days."

Then, he closed his eyes once more and returned to cultivation.

Shi Wa carefully accepted the book and retreated to one side to memorize it.

When dawn arrived the following day, Ye Linghan was visibly startled when Liu Wuxie told her that he intended to refine pills.

"You want to refine pills?"

"I need to refine the Soul Healing Pill," Liu Wuxie replied with a slight frown. The recovery of his soul sea was progressing far too slowly. Although he possessed the Heavenly Destiny Alchemy Art and an alchemy cauldron, he lacked a proper alchemy chamber.

This room was too small. If he attempted to refine pills here, the flames alone would be enough to reduce the entire place to ashes.

"So you're planning to borrow an alchemy chamber?" Ye Linghan asked.

She immediately understood what Liu Wuxie meant. As mentors, they enjoyed certain privileges within the Azure Flame Dao Hall, including free access to many facilities.

Today happened to be a rest day. Most students were cultivating on their own throughout the academy. More than eighty percent of them lived within the Azure Flame Dao Hall, and they could be seen everywhere—from the forests and lakesides to the seashore.

"That's right," Liu Wuxie replied with a nod.

Aside from acquiring resources, one of the reasons he had joined the Azure Flame Dao Hall was to make use of its facilities.

"Come with me," Ye Linghan said. Guilt still lingered in her heart regarding the injury to Liu Wuxie's soul sea. Upon hearing that he intended to refine the Soul Healing Pill, she couldn't help feeling a trace of anticipation.

Shi Wa remained in the courtyard with the book in his hands, while Xiao Qian focused entirely on cultivation. She had already successfully broken through to the High Immortal Realm. The Heavenly Sacred Blood truly lived up to its reputation.

As the two made their way toward the alchemy district, they found it bustling with activity. Since it was a rest day, many alchemy students had gathered there to refine pills, making full use of their free time.

After crossing several courtyards and passing two lakes, the surrounding temperature steadily rose. Hidden beneath the earth was a fire vein that continuously released intense fire-attributed energy.

"This is where the alchemy chambers stand," Ye Linghan explained, pointing toward the rows of buildings ahead. Roughly thirty alchemy chambers stood there, and mentors often used them while teaching.

Liu Wuxie swept his gaze across the area and immediately noticed that several chambers were still vacant. Without hesitation, he quickened his pace.

Not far away stood several young men and women alongside an elderly man.

"Is that Liu Wuxie?" one of the young men asked while comparing the portrait in his hand.

"That's him," another youth replied, a vicious smile appearing on his face. "The patriarch has ordered us to take his head off within one month."

"Third Elder, what do we do next?" The young man put away the portrait and turned respectfully toward the old man.

"Bring Wei Wenbin here," the old man instructed.

One of the youths immediately rushed off. Roughly a dozen breaths later, Wei Wenbin hurried over.

"Elder Wen, you were looking for me?" Wei Wenbin asked respectfully.

The elder possessed immense status within the Azure Flame Dao Hall. Not only were his alchemy attainments extraordinary, but his cultivation had already reached the first-level Origin Immortal Realm.

Among the academy's mentors, Elder Wen's cultivation was second to few, and he occupied the highest position. Furthermore, as a highly respected alchemist, there were scarcely any who would dare refuse to give him face.

"Seal off the remaining alchemy chambers. Don't allow anyone to use them," Elder Wen instructed.

"Understood," Wei Wenbin replied. Though he didn't understand the reason, he still obeyed without hesitation.

Furthermore, Elder Wen had the largest number of students. Even after many of them graduated and left the Azure Flame Dao Hall, they frequently returned to visit him.

Whether one considered reputation, influence, or prestige, Wei Wenbin couldn't compare.

Wei Wenbin immediately left and took another route to get ahead of Liu Wuxie and Ye Linghan. He quickly gathered several students and ordered them to lock every available alchemy chamber.

"Wei Wenbin, what are you doing?" Ye Linghan demanded. Just as she and Liu Wuxie were about to enter one of the chambers, they watched Wei Wenbin seal it shut.

"Ye Linghan, my apologies, but others have already reserved all of these alchemy chambers," Wei Wenbin replied. When he saw Liu Wuxie and Ye Linghan walking side by side, a flicker of killing intent flashed deep within his eyes. He had never forgotten the humiliation he had suffered previously.

"There are so many alchemy chambers here. Who could reserve every single one?" Ye Linghan questioned. She naturally assumed Wei Wenbin was deliberately making things difficult for them.

An aged voice sounded from behind them. "I did."

Wen Qi approached slowly, accompanied by several disciples of the Wen Clan.

"Wen Qi, are you deliberately opposing me?" Ye Linghan asked coldly. She addressed him directly by name, showing not the slightest trace of respect. Anyone could hear the hostility in her voice.

The old man before them was Wen Qi, a member of Fourfold City's Wen Clan.

A young woman stepped forward from behind Wen Qi and snapped, "Ye Linghan, who do you think you are? Why would we waste our effort targeting you?"

The atmosphere became tense. This was still the Azure Flame Dao Hall, and they were all mentors. While an outright battle was unlikely, a clash of words was unavoidable.

Even if Wen Qi personally took action, killing Ye Linghan would not be an easy task.

Back in Eastern Emperor City, Ye Linghan had purchased a pill from the Pill Chamber and successfully advanced into the Quasi-Origin Immortal Realm.

Among everyone present, only Liu Wuxie appeared surprised. All he wanted was to refine a pill, yet trouble had somehow found him once again. From the hostility radiating off these people, it was obvious they all wanted him dead.

A young man stepped forward from behind Wen Qi and fixed Liu Wuxie with a cold stare.

"Liu Wuxie, I'll give you two choices. Leave Ye Linghan and submit to our Wen Clan, or die."