She Dominates the Immortal Realm with Her HP Bar-Chapter 77

His silhouette radiated double the desolation and melancholy.

Yan Luoyue: “…Ahem.”

Though Yuan Feiyu stood as straight as an exclamation mark, Yan Luoyue could somehow sense a bewildered question mark emanating from him.

Yuan Feiyu’s presence was like an indignant protest—Really? Did everyone really walk away happy?

As the Sword Peak’s assigned techniques instructor, the one whose mental resilience had been repeatedly shattered by Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang over three months, and the opponent who had engaged in a ten-day-long “mutual scraping” duel with Yan Luoyue under the watchful eyes of all peak masters…

Yuan Feiyu could only console himself: It’s fine. Life is short. Just close your eyes, and it’ll be over soon.

Feeling slightly guilty as the instigator of it all, Yan Luoyue scratched the tip of her nose and stepped forward to pat Yuan Feiyu’s shoulder.

“Hey, Senior Brother Yuan, how about a free sword maintenance session for your blade?”

She emphasized the word “free.”

In less than a tenth of a second, Yuan Feiyu spun around, revitalized.

He handed over his beloved sword even faster than his reply: “Yes!”

After a pause, he added, “This time, can the decorative pattern be black-and-white polka dots? Like the one you did for Elder Sister Liu last time?”

Yan Luoyue: “…Sure.”

While internally sighing, Yan Luoyue also felt a quiet relief.

The joys of sword cultivators really were simple.

Once the maintenance was done, Yuan Feiyu cradled his sword, his usual demeanor restored.

Outwardly, he was once again the dashing young swordsman—with a gorgeous wife (his sword)!—full of vigor.

Yuan Feiyu said, “Junior Sister Yan, Junior Brother Wu, your next stop for techniques exchange is the Talisman Peak. The one meeting you there is Senior Brother Kang… Hmm, I’ll escort you part of the way.”

The proud, slightly tsundere youth couldn’t bring himself to say anything sentimental.

He just awkwardly offered to see them off.

Yan Luoyue nodded without comment.

But Wu Manshuang, perceptive as ever, saw right through Yuan Feiyu’s reluctance.

The sensitive little snake thought for a moment and, instead of bluntly pointing it out, tactfully said:

“Senior Brother Yuan, after our techniques exchange ends, Luoyue and I will return to the Sword Peak to work on your sword arrays.”

Those words acted like a pump, instantly reinflating the deflated Senior Brother Yuan.

He nodded solemnly. “Of course—and how many times do I have to correct you? Call me Senior Brother Yuan!”

Wu Manshuang and Yan Luoyue glanced at each other.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on freёwebnoѵel.com.

The next second, they burst into laughter.

Yuan Feiyu escorted them all the way to the edge of Sword Peak territory, where the path led into the towering Cuiwei Sword Pavilion.

Just as the trio prepared to part ways, a tall, elegant figure came into view.

Yan Luoyue’s eyes lit up, her face breaking into a delighted smile.

She waved in the figure’s direction. “Senior Brother Jiang!”

Wu Manshuang also smiled and greeted him.

Only Yuan Feiyu remained sullen, though his aura instantly swelled from 1.6 meters to 18 meters tall!

“Senior Brother Jiang Tingbai.”

Jiang Tingbai paused and nodded at them with a smile.

Yan Luoyue, hand in hand with Wu Manshuang, hurried over to Jiang Tingbai and looked up at him.

“Senior Brother Jiang, what brings you here?”

With a hint of mischief, she wondered inwardly: Could he be here to pay the admission fee and visit the Monument of the Great Dao and Azure Sky?

Fortunately, Jiang Tingbai had no idea of her thoughts.

He respectfully gestured toward Cuiwei Sword Pavilion. “I came to visit the pavilion.”

Jiang Tingbai had grown up hearing tales of Cuiwei Sword Pavilion, holding deep reverence for the heroic swordsmen of the past and lamenting the pavilion’s fate.

So, after abandoning the path of healing, his first thought was to switch to the sword and become a swordsman.

Gazing at the towering peak, Jiang Tingbai sighed softly.

“In my spare time from training, I often wander the Cuiwei Sword Pavilion.”

He dusted off the swords of past masters, paid respects at one burial mound after another, and walked humbly among the countless broken blades scattered across the mountain.

Even ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍after a thousand years, those legendary swords remained unrusted, their lingering sword intent still palpable—ethereal, domineering, majestic, or serene…

As if, though their wielders’ bones had long turned to dust, the souls of those swordsmen still lingered over the pavilion, offering selfless enlightenment to their successors.

Yuan Feiyu tilted his head slightly.

Somehow, Jiang Tingbai noticed immediately and asked gently, “Does Junior Brother Yuan have any advice?”

“Advice? Not at all,” Yuan Feiyu said.

Somehow, he’d started puffing up again.

“But if you admire the sword path so much… why didn’t you join our Sword Peak?”

—And not only did you not join, but you were also the first to inscribe your name on the Monument of the Great Dao and Azure Sky at Sword Peak—and then charged admission!

Poor Senior Brother Yuan, grumbling under his breath, was truly pitiful.

Yan Luoyue bit back a laugh and turned her head away.

—What’s wrong?

Wu Manshuang tapped her palm twice in question.

Yan Luoyue mouthed: Can’t laugh in front of Senior Brother Yuan.

After all, in the past few months, Senior Brother Yuan had already suffered enough at their hands.

Wu Manshuang thought for a moment, then mouthed back: Want me to cover for you?

Yan Luoyue gave him a curious look: Sure.

The next second, Wu Manshuang undid his cloak’s fastenings. Suddenly, the light before Yan Luoyue’s eyes dimmed.

The pitch-black cloak draped over their heads like a raincoat, fluttering down to their waists and completely obscuring their expressions.

Wu Manshuang whispered very softly to Yan Luoyue via mental transmission, "Laugh more quietly, and no one will notice."

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Wow, covering things up just like that—and in such a physical way!

Yan Luoyue also whispered back to Wu Manshuang, "But you only needed to cover me. Why did you pull yourself under too?"

"Because..." Wu Manshuang smiled sheepishly.

Even in the dim light beneath the cloak, even through the thin white gauze covering his eyes, Yan Luoyue could sense the brightness in his gaze.

"Happy things are meant to be shared between two people."

Just like how, whenever he saw Yan Luoyue smiling with crescent eyes, he couldn’t help but feel happy too.

Shared joy becomes double the joy.

At that, Yan Luoyue really couldn’t hold back her laughter.

She murmured, "I bet Senior Brother Jiang looks utterly confused right now."

—What in the world? Why had his junior brother and sister suddenly abandoned him to create their own cloak-bound sanctuary?

Wu Manshuang considered this and nodded in agreement.

"Right, we should be considerate of others."

He reflected deeply and immediately corrected himself. "Next time you want to laugh, I’ll go cover up Senior Brother Yuan instead."

That way, if the person involved couldn’t see, laughing wouldn’t be a problem, right?

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Staring at Wu Manshuang’s utterly earnest expression—completely devoid of any awareness that this was strange—Yan Luoyue burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she crouched down.

"?"

Wu Manshuang tilted his head slightly in confusion.

But since Yan Luoyue had crouched down, he naturally followed suit, still holding the cloak over her to keep her hidden.

From the side, their round heads looked like two mushrooms poking out from beneath a black plastic bag.

Once she had laughed her fill, Yan Luoyue tugged at the cloak and poked her head out from under the hem.

She noticed that, though Senior Brother Jiang had shot them a puzzled look, he still did his best to smooth things over for his suddenly playful juniors.

Jiang Tingbai answered Yuan Feiyu’s question, and his response completely captured the latter’s attention.

He said, "Actually, when I first took the entrance exam for the Guiyuan Sect, I originally intended to join the Sword Peak. But during the selection process, the Sword Peak rejected me, saying my nature was too gentle—that I might struggle as a swordsman."

Speaking of this rejection from nearly a century ago, Jiang Tingbai showed no trace of resentment, nor did he seem vindicated by his current achievements.

He recounted it calmly, as if telling a story that had long since settled into place.

Yuan Feiyu was surprised. "Even with Senior Brother Jiang’s talent, the Sword Peak rejected you?"

Jiang Tingbai smiled gently. "It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but while I had some talent back then, it wasn’t in swordsmanship. The Medicine Peak and Alchemy Peak both wanted me, but that wasn’t what I truly desired."

"At the time, I was determined to carve out a peaceful world with the sword in my hand."

Yuan Feiyu listened, utterly engrossed. "Then how did Master Ji…?"

If the Sword Peak had already given up on him, how had Ji Qinghong managed to train him into a swordsman?

Did the master of Sulu Hall also have expertise in the way of the sword?

Jiang Tingbai’s expression turned nostalgic.

"My master has always had a fondness for guiding young people. Seeing me lost and directionless at the time, he first brought me back to Sulu Hall."

After a pause, Jiang Tingbai added, "Coincidentally, my state of confusion at the time resonated with the sentiment inscribed on the Sword Monument: ‘The Great Path is as vast as the sky, yet I alone cannot find my way out.’"

Yuan Feiyu couldn’t help but press, "And then?"

"And then…" Jiang Tingbai took a shallow breath. "Then, my master asked me if I truly wanted to be a swordsman."

"I said yes, and he told me to sign a contract first—one that stated life or death would not be his concern."

Yan Luoyue, who had been eavesdropping: "..."

Wu Manshuang, also eavesdropping: "..."

Wait, why did this sound so ominous?!

Yuan Feiyu’s eyes widened. "You… you signed it?"

Jiang Tingbai nodded with a smile. "Yes, I did. After that, my master subjected me to a three-day illusion array. I was pushed to the brink of death again and again, cornered with no retreat—until I could endure no longer and finally drew my sword."

In that moment, Jiang Tingbai unsheathed his blade, and his sword heart was born.

Though he described it simply, to Yan Luoyue, it sounded like thunder.

Given Senior Brother Jiang’s gentle temperament, if even he had been driven to draw his sword, the illusions must have truly left him no other choice.

Yuan Feiyu opened his mouth, sensing an undercurrent of intensity beneath Jiang Tingbai’s placid retelling.

"If Senior Brother Jiang was just one illusion away from becoming a swordsman, why didn’t Peak Master Chu do the same?"

If Jiang Tingbai had been deemed "too gentle" back then, he likely was unsuited to the sword.

But if Ji Qinghong could achieve it with just one illusion array, why couldn’t the Sword Peak’s master?

Jiang Tingbai thought for a moment before answering firmly, "Though Peak Master Chu wields a sword, he does not revel in killing. He is a righteous and fair-minded gentleman."

"The illusion array my master set for me… if I hadn’t broken free on my own, the consequences might have been… excessive."

Clearing his throat, Jiang Tingbai said tactfully, "I imagine Peak Master Chu simply couldn’t bring himself to do such a thing."

Yan Luoyue: "..."

She understood.

In short, Ji Qinghong was just more ruthless—more willing to go to extremes.

No wonder all the young disciples he’d taught before had fled. With teaching methods like that, who could endure it?

The fact that Senior Brother Jiang had stayed was a testament to his kindness!

If the three of them were to be compared—Jiang Tingbai embodied procedural justice, she herself leaned toward outcome-based justice, then Ji Qinghong… well, he couldn’t even be called just at all.

Yuan Feiyu asked blankly, "Senior Brother Jiang, what did you see in the illusion?"

Jiang Tingbai closed his eyes and smiled.

"I saw the reason I had to draw my sword."

He saw patients he had failed to heal, only for them to be hunted down and slaughtered before his eyes by other cultivators.

A man collapsed from his sickbed, blood gushing forth and soaking the straw mat beneath him.

He saw the villagers displaced by demonic calamities—the very people who had once inspired him to pursue medicine.

Dozens, even hundreds of them, trembling as they clung to a single straw rope.

The strongest among them held the rope’s ends, ensuring the elderly, weak, and children could all rely on that thin lifeline.

Then the demons caught up, tearing through their bodies as easily as a knife through tofu.

Jiang Tingbai also saw countless faces—some familiar, some unknown—across the world.

The crowd raised their hands towards him, surrounding Jiang Tingbai in a tight circle, each person bearing gruesome wounds.

One was emaciated like a withered stalk, yet their belly bulged unnaturally. Another had a gaping wound across their chest, a shriveled heart dangling from their ribs. Yet another had half their face torn away by demonic beasts, their eyeball dislodged and swaying precariously near their lips.

In unison, they pressed Jiang Tingbai with their demand: "The world is a crucible of suffering—how will you save us? Will you use medicine, or your sword?"

Then, against the backdrop of a deluge, landslides, and a sky blotted out by an endless tide of demons, Jiang Tingbai drew his sword.

—First for the present, then for those beside him, and finally for all living beings within his sight. This was why Jiang Tingbai unsheathed his blade.

Thus, he left those words inscribed upon the Great Dao Azure Sky Stele, for they were the very cry of his heart when he broke free from despair.

And so, the first layer of Jiang Tingbai’s sword intent was named Cultivate Our Kind.

As for the second layer…

Yuan Feiyu murmured the words, syllable by syllable: "—All Things Spring."

Jiang Tingbai smiled faintly. "Exactly so."

Yuan Feiyu took a deep breath.

The proud, slightly tsundere young swordsman lowered his head slightly, lost in thought.

Then, abruptly, he lifted his gaze to Jiang Tingbai and bowed deeply, performing a swordsman’s salute first.

Yuan Feiyu declared with resolute clarity: "I challenge Senior Brother Jiang."

Jiang Tingbai smiled gently. "Very well."

Yuan Feiyu stared at him intently, emphasizing as he had once reminded Yan Luoyue:

"Senior Brother, do not hold back. Use everything you have—I wish to witness your full strength."

Jiang Tingbai maintained his serene smile. He did not ask, Are you sure? Instead, he simply nodded again.

"Very well."

In the next instant, Jiang Tingbai’s aura surged forth like an unfathomable abyss.

He did not even draw his sword. The sheer, unyielding force of his presence alone pressed down on Yuan Feiyu, leaving him breathless.

Had he not seen it himself, Yuan Feiyu would never have imagined that a sword intent as seemingly gentle as All Things Spring could feel so terrifying—

The revival of all things, the stirring of life at the waking of spring, the reawakening of heaven and earth.

And Yuan Feiyu was but a tiny insect in this vernal world, where every element turned against him.

Birds were his enemies. Beasts were his enemies. The swelling spring rains were his enemies… Even the most beloved vitality of life became his foe, as the relentless passage of time itself turned hostile!

Unconsciously, Yuan Feiyu’s eyes, fixed on Jiang Tingbai, became bloodshot.

He gritted his teeth, his body swaying unsteadily, his knees trembling on the verge of buckling.

Yet, just before collapsing, Yuan Feiyu finally drew his sword.

The moment his blade left its sheath, enlightenment struck him.

The sword heart he had questioned countless times before now shone with crystalline clarity. A newfound power surged from the depths of his being, resonating through his sword.

It was sword intent.

Yuan Feiyu had awakened his own sword intent at last.

He realized now—unyielding sword intent was not about seeing one’s opponent as mere chaff or foes.

It was about swinging one’s sword even after recognizing the vast, towering might of the adversary before you.

Jiang Tingbai’s overwhelming, tide-like aura abruptly stilled.

With genuine warmth, he smiled and said softly, "Congratulations, Junior Brother Yuan."

"No." Yuan Feiyu bowed deeply once more. "I understand now… It is I who must thank Senior Brother Jiang for your guidance."

The young swordsman straightened, his newly awakened sword intent radiating from him, his eyes bright as stars.

Junior Brother Yuan was still the same proud Junior Brother Yuan.

But having glimpsed the boundless expanse of the world, he seemed a little less tsundere now.

Yan Luoyue blinked and tentatively called out, "Junior Brother Yuan?"

"Hah?" Yuan Feiyu reflexively replied. "Senior Yuan—call me Senior Yuan!"

—Ah, confirmed. Junior Brother Yuan remained as fiercely competitive as ever!

With that, Yuan Feiyu bid the trio a hurried farewell and retreated to seclusion, eager to refine his newly awakened sword intent.

After watching him depart, Jiang Tingbai smiled and lightly rapped Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang on their foreheads with a curled finger.

"You two, what were you whispering about earlier?"

Yan Luoyue grinned and fibbed without hesitation. "Hide-and-seek! Senior Brother, want to join us?"

"I’ll pass." Jiang Tingbai gave his mischievous junior sister a resigned look.

"I heard about your duel on Sword Peak. Junior Brother Yuan has taken good care of you these past months—don’t bully him too much."

Jiang Tingbai’s subtle guidance, which had gently steered Yuan Feiyu toward enlightenment, had not been accidental.

It was deliberate.

First, because Jiang Tingbai was inherently kind-hearted.

Second, it was his way of thanking Yuan Feiyu for looking after Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang all this time.

—Especially that ten-day-long "mutual torture" duel with Yan Luoyue on the arena.

As a fellow swordsman, Jiang Tingbai could easily imagine the psychological damage Yuan Feiyu had endured.

As for Wu Manshuang…

Clearly, Jiang Tingbai knew the reason Wu Manshuang had not participated in the duels.

He praised warmly, "I heard you modified Sword Peak’s Golden Core Stage sword array? Truly worthy of Guiyuan Sect’s legacy disciple. Given time, Junior Brother, you’ll inherit Master’s mantle."

Jiang Tingbai added gently, "I know your strength. This time was just an accident—had you stepped onto the arena, victory would have been effortless."

"—Here, as the winner’s reward, your senior brother will give you this privately."

With that, Jiang Tingbai retrieved an item from his storage pouch.

"What’s this?" Yan Luoyue peeked over Wu Manshuang’s shoulder. "A bird’s nest? Did you just pluck it from a tree, Senior Brother?"

Jiang Tingbai ignored her.

Wu Manshuang studied the messy tangle of interwoven twigs for a few seconds before hesitantly identifying it:

"...So this is… a magpie’s nest?"

He further specified the type of avian architecture.

"......"

Jiang Tingbai pondered for a moment before bravely clarifying: "Can’t you tell? This is a victor’s laurel crown."

Yan Luoyue: "......"

Wu Manshuang: "......"

A victor’s laurel crown, his foot!

This was unmistakably a bird’s nest—so fresh one could probably pluck an egg right out of it!

Yan Luoyue’s shoulders began to shake, her laughter barely contained.

Wu Manshuang, after a brief deliberation, unfastened his cloak.

Then, with a swift motion, he flung it over Jiang Tingbai’s head without hesitation, enveloping him completely.

"Laugh now," Wu Manshuang declared solemnly. "Senior Brother can’t see you."

Jiang Tingbai: "......"

But he could still hear!

Amused and exasperated, he pulled the cloak off his face and rapped both his troublemaking juniors on the forehead again.

But as he did, even he couldn’t help but laugh.

"Alright." Jiang Tingbai held the laurel wreath up to examine it. "This crown isn't woven very well. I'll make a better one when we get back, Eldest Brother."

"No need, Eldest Brother."

Wu Manshuang smiled and took two steps forward, stopping right in front of Jiang Tingbai.

He reached out to take the messy, nest-like headpiece. After studying it for a few seconds, he deftly plucked a few golden osmanthus flowers from the tangled branches.

Wu Manshuang sprinkled the fragrant petals over Yan Luoyue's head, as if sharing the glory of their victory with her.

Then, he placed the nest-like wreath atop his own head.

With genuine warmth, Wu Manshuang said, "Both Luoyue and I love this laurel crown. Thank you, Eldest Brother."

"No need to thank me." Jiang Tingbai bent down slightly to look at them both. "You two have done exceptionally well these past three months."

Yan Luoyue, her hair now perfumed with osmanthus, glanced left at Wu Manshuang, then right at Jiang Tingbai, before breaking into a bright-eyed smile.

Hmm, how did that saying go again?

—Eldest Brother is poor. Eldest Brother is terrible at crafts. But Eldest Brother loves us.

The three disciples of Radish Peak clapped hands in solidarity before parting ways, each heading in different directions.

Jiang Tingbai took a few steps toward the direction of the Towering Sword Pavilion, then turned back for one last look.

He saw his junior brother and sister walking hand in hand. Yan Luoyue’s hair was adorned with golden osmanthus petals, while Wu Manshuang proudly wore that unmistakably conspicuous nest-like wreath. The two of them cheerfully made their way toward Talisman Peak.

"……"

A faint, nostalgic smile tugged at Jiang Tingbai’s lips as he shook his head with quiet fondness.

……

Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang hadn’t gone far before they ran into the senior brother sent from Talisman Peak to meet them.

Earlier, Yuan Feiyu had described this senior brother’s defining traits: Senior Brother Kang stood eight feet tall with a burly build—so much so that, based on appearance alone, one might mistake him for a body cultivator.

The moment they met, both sides were thoroughly startled.

Yan Luoyue’s surprise came from Senior Brother Kang’s attire—an avant-garde robe that, even by cultivation world standards, was boldly unconventional. The garment seemed to "bloom" with sleeves, with no fewer than eight sleeves stitched front, back, left, and right!

Meanwhile, Senior Brother Kang’s astonishment was far simpler: Why was this Talisman Peak disciple, Wu Manshuang, wearing a bird’s nest on his head?

After a brief moment of contemplation—and recalling Wu Manshuang’s heritage—Senior Brother Kang’s face lit up with realization.

With a broad, toothy grin, he greeted Wu Manshuang enthusiastically:

"Hey, Junior Brother Wu, is that a nest you just plucked from a tree to eat?"

—Made sense, didn’t it? Snakes loved climbing trees to raid bird nests, after all.

Wu Manshuang: "……"

Silently, Wu Manshuang removed the laurel crown from his head, cradled it in his hands for a moment, then carefully tucked it into the storage pouch at his waist.

While he was doing this, Yan Luoyue had already struck up a friendly conversation with Senior Brother Kang.

"Hahaha, no, Senior Brother misunderstood. That’s actually a headpiece—just a very unique-looking one."

"Oh, I see!" Senior Brother Kang scratched his head sheepishly.

He glanced nervously at Wu Manshuang, but with the white gauze covering the younger disciple’s eyes, it was impossible to tell if he was upset.

Hastily, Senior Brother Kang circled Wu Manshuang with exaggerated praise, as if afraid of hurting his feelings.

"Ah—so it’s a headpiece! The person who made this must have incredibly skilled hands! So delicate, so refined, so creative—truly, it’s as if a mermaid reincarnated or a spider became a spirit!"

Wu Manshuang: "……"

Thanks, but he wasn’t sure Senior Brother Jiang would appreciate that particular compliment.

From birth until now, this was the first time Wu Manshuang had been treated with such delicate, almost childlike care.

He lowered his head, rubbing the tip of his nose, feeling both touched by Senior Brother Kang’s kindness and slightly awkward at the same time.

This Talisman Peak senior brother, sent to guide them, was named Kang Zhuzhu.

With two characters for "boil" (each containing the "water" radical), the name practically radiated a desperate need for the water element in his destiny.

Given that each "zhu" contained four water strokes…

Senior Brother Kang scratched his head and laughed heartily.

"Everyone in the sect usually calls me 'Eight Waters.' You can just call me Senior Brother Bashui!"

Even he, when signing unofficial documents, would often abbreviate his name to Kang Bashui to save ink.

Yan Luoyue quickly noticed that Senior Brother Bashui paid unusual attention to Wu Manshuang.

Beyond the initial misunderstanding about the nest and the subsequent enthusiastic praise, Senior Brother Bashui kept sneaking cautious glances at Wu Manshuang every few sentences—an expression that didn’t match his rugged appearance at all.

Yan Luoyue: "???"

She shot a questioning look at Wu Manshuang, only to find the young snake equally baffled.

—What they didn’t know was that Yuan Feiyu and Kang Bashui were old acquaintances.

So, upon learning that Kang Bashui would be guiding them, Yuan Feiyu had generously shared some advice out of goodwill.

One key point was: "Junior Brother Wu is quite delicate—can’t stand the sight of blood. Be extra careful when looking after him."

Kang Bashui: Delicate, huh? Got it!

After exchanging greetings, Kang Bashui explained the training plan for their exchange program.

"Originally, the plan was to take you both to Talisman Peak for lessons."

But recently, the demonic seals near Guiyuan Sect had been stirring, triggering several demonic surges.

As a trusted senior disciple of Talisman Peak, Kang Bashui had been assigned to a combat outpost.

"So now, the plan is to take you both with me. We’ll resist the demonic creatures while learning talisman techniques through real combat."

Kang Bashui sought their opinions: "What do you think, Junior Brother and Sister?"

If Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang weren’t comfortable with this, he could contact Talisman Peak to arrange an alternative program.

Both Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang responded eagerly: "This works perfectly, Senior Brother."

"Great! We’ll take my flying artifact to the demonic seal’s vicinity—oh, and Junior Brother Wu, make sure to bundle up. Wouldn’t want you catching a chill."

With a jovial grin, Kang Bashui pulled out a thick quilt from his storage pouch.

In one swift motion, he draped it over Wu Manshuang, wrapping him from head to toe.

Instantly, Wu Manshuang was plunged into literal darkness.

Wu Manshuang: "……"

Earlier, when he had playfully covered Yan Luoyue and Jiang Tingbai’s heads with his black cloak, he hadn’t expected such poetic justice.

Truly, what goes around comes around.

After much difficulty, Wu Manshuang managed to decline Senior Brother’s overzealous care. The three of them then boarded Kang Bashui’s flying artifact.

By now, Yan Luoyue had seen many types of flying artifacts—from the common flying boats, carriages, and towers to her own whimsical flying saucer.

But Senior Brother Kang’s artifact still took her by surprise with its unexpected charm.

—The artifact he summoned was shaped like a manta ray.

The three of them sat directly on the manta’s back, as if riding a magic carpet.

The massive manta ray's back was broad and flat, resembling butterfly wings or a bat spreading its limbs when viewed from above.

As the giant manta ray soared freely across the blue sky, those on the ground who looked up at its strikingly lifelike underside might almost feel as though they were deep beneath the ocean.

Yan Luoyue was pleasantly surprised. "Senior Brother Kang, why did you choose this appearance for your flying artifact?"

Kang Bashui scratched his head sheepishly. "Guess, Junior Sister."

"I think—" Yan Luoyue's words abruptly cut off as she suddenly realized something.

—Senior Brother Kang had scratched his head three times, and each time, the hand he used didn’t seem to emerge from the same sleeve!

Upon closer reflection, the positioning didn’t quite add up either.

For instance, the first time, he’d used his right hand.

The second time, the hand seemed to extend from his back.

And now, the hand scratching his head was unmistakably protruding from his chest…

As if sensing Yan Luoyue’s frozen expression, Kang Bashui let out a hearty laugh.

"Hahaha, Junior Sister Yan, you’ve noticed, haven’t you?"

Simultaneously, eight hands extended from his otherwise empty sleeves. "That’s right—I’m an octopus!"

Due to their shared demonic heritage, the Talisman Peak had specifically assigned Kang Bashui to this knowledge exchange, believing they’d have more in common.

As for the manta ray, it was a creature from Kang Bashui’s homeland.

Having once lived in the sea, it was only natural that Senior Brother Kang would model his flying artifact after a manta ray!

With a sudden puff of ink, Kang Bashui’s eight arms transformed into eight supple, multicolored tentacles.

Each tentacle scooped up a portion of the ink, swiftly drawing talismanic symbols midair before imprinting them onto yellow paper—completing a Swift Wind Talisman in the blink of an eye.

With eight arms, Kang Bashui could draw talismans eight times faster than an ordinary cultivator.

After affixing the Swift Wind Talisman to the manta ray’s back, the flying artifact abruptly accelerated—wheee, up they went!

The sight of Senior Brother Kang’s hands sprouting in every direction like a blooming flower was admittedly a bit… eldritch.

Yan Luoyue couldn’t help but lower her face into her hands for a moment.

As for how Senior Brother Kang had managed to grow two feet despite already having eight tentacles transformed into hands, Yan Luoyue had no objections.

After all, look at snake demons—despite their elongated forms, they still somehow manifested arms and legs out of nowhere.

What puzzled Yan Luoyue was… well…

If she remembered correctly, among an octopus’s eight tentacles, one was a hectocotylus—a specialized appendage for reproduction.

So… not to make a big deal out of it, but…

Senior Brother Kang—does everyone at the Talisman Peak know you’ve been drawing talismans with your you-know-what?!