Xu Wendong never expected the world to be this small.

Who could have thought that the woman he encountered in the mall would show up here again?

The difference was:

At this moment, she was accompanied by two burly middle-aged men dressed in black suits, wearing sunglasses, exuding a powerful aura with every move.

Meanwhile, Ye Qiu happened to see Xu Wendong as well, and her face immediately darkened.

She was convinced that Xu Wendong was following her.

Thinking of this, anger surged in her heart, and the originally radiant face twisted slightly with fury. She shouted, "You shameless scoundrel, dare to follow me here?"

Xu Wendong’s lips curled into a bitter smile: "Beauty, if I say it’s a misunderstanding, would you believe it?"

He hurriedly added, "I’m here to buy talisman paper, not to follow you."

However, Ye Qiu was already blinded by anger and didn’t listen to his explanation. Her eyebrows stood sharp as she scoffed, "Hmph! Do you think I’ll believe your nonsense? Don’t think I don’t know your intentions!" With that, she signaled to her bodyguards behind her.

The bodyguards, all burly and muscular, received the command and charged toward Xu Wendong like wolves hunting prey.

Their movements were swift and fierce, punches whistling through the air as if they were going to swallow Xu Wendong alive.

Xu Wendong was inwardly frustrated but quickly sidestepped and dodged one of the bodyguard’s direct punches while grabbing the opponent’s wrist, twisting it to subdue him.

With tensions high and the situation on the brink of eruption, the talisman shop’s owner rushed in.

This owner appeared to be in his fifties, dressed in a black Tang suit, with a benevolent face and wise, steady eyes.

He quickly stepped forward, standing in front of Xu Wendong, and shouted, "Stop it! No messing around in my shop!"

Though his voice wasn’t loud, it carried an undeniable authority.

Ye Qiu’s bodyguards halted upon seeing this and looked toward Ye Qiu, awaiting her instructions.

Ye Qiu was slightly stunned. Despite her unwillingness, she knew she shouldn’t be too presumptuous on someone else’s ground. She bit her lip and said, "Today, I’ll give Uncle Gao some face, but if I run into you again, I won’t let you off easily!"

Gao Cheng, full of smiles, asked politely, "Miss Ye, what brings you here today? Is there anything you need?" His demeanor was like treating the most distinguished guest, courteous and not daring to slack.

Ye Qiu coughed lightly to cover her embarrassment, pretending to be calm: "Well, I’m just wandering aimlessly."

She couldn’t admit that she was here due to Xu Wendong’s ominous warning, seeking talismans for peace.

If she were to say it straightforwardly, wouldn’t it be equivalent to slapping herself in public? Where’s the face?

Gao Cheng maintained his smile, courteously saying, "Miss Ye, feel free to look around. If you find anything satisfactory, just let us know."

Then he turned to Xu Wendong and Lin Yiren, quickly adopting a professional smile that held both warmth and the astuteness typical of a businessman: "What might you two need?"

As a cultivator, Gao Cheng hadn’t reached the profound realm of the Golden Core period yet but was firmly established in the late-stage Foundation Establishment, his cultivation not to be underestimated.

His sharp eyes instantly recognized that Xu Wendong and Lin Yiren were no ordinary individuals.

Especially Lin Yiren, as if shrouded in an invisible veil, despite doing her best to conceal the overwhelming aura of a Golden Core period expert, a careful sense could still capture the subtle, awe-inspiring pressure, daunting yet elusive.

Xu Wendong’s gaze swept over the dazzling talismans in the display case before politely inquiring, "Do you have talisman paper and wolf-hair brushes here?"

"Certainly we do." Gao Cheng replied with a smile, "Our shop has more than ten different grades of talisman paper and wolf-hair brushes, all meticulously selected for their superior quality."

"Moreover, we have the finest cinnabar, with a bright color and fine texture, an absolute rarity."

Pausing slightly, his eyes gleamed with curiosity, eagerly asking, "Are you proficient in the art of talismans?"

"If so, our shop can purchase your talismans at a high price or help you sell them, ensuring your masterpiece finds appreciative buyers and yielding you ample rewards."

Xu Wendong’s eyes lit up, not expecting the shop to offer such comprehensive services, potentially saving him a lot of trouble.

Regaining his focus, he said, "Then please have Boss Gao prepare ten sheets of ordinary talisman paper, an ordinary wolf-hair brush, and the lowest-grade cinnabar!"

His tone was calm, exuding confidence and assurance.

Ye Qiu snorted coldly. Her lips curled into a mocking smile, mercilessly ridiculing, "Hmph, pretending to be mystical. Who doesn’t know that only the finest talisman paper, paired with top-grade wolf-hair brushes and cinnabar, can create high-quality talismans?"

"It’s common knowledge in talisman crafting."

"Yet, you go the opposite way, choosing the cheapest materials. Are you so broke that you can’t even afford some good stuff?"

Her gaze was filled with disdain and contempt, scanning Xu Wendong as if he were a clown making a fool of himself in public.

Xu Wendong remained calm, his eyes void of anger: "Miss, you’re mistaken."

"In your eyes, only precious materials can achieve extraordinary talismans, but the Way of Talismans emphasizes the caster’s intent and the subtle fusion of spiritual power, not merely reliance on external goods."

"Top-grade materials certainly enhance talismans, but if the caster lacks skill, even holding rare treasures amounts to wasting them."

"As an outsider, how could you understand this path?"

Ye Qiu, infuriated by Xu Wendong’s composed words, blushed with rage, her chest heaving, yet unable to retort.

Gao Cheng’s gentle gaze turned towards Xu Wendong, his eyes reflecting admiration: "Your words ring true; in the realm of talismans, materials are important, but the caster’s proficiency is key."

With that, he turned and instructed the staff to quickly prepare the items Xu Wendong requested.

Soon enough,

The staff laid out the ordinary talisman paper, wolf-hair brush, and the lowest-grade cinnabar on the table.

Xu Wendong stepped forward, gently picked up the wolf-hair brush, and twirled it between his fingers, feeling the texture and elasticity of the handle.

Then, he dipped the brush into the cinnabar, slowly gathering it at the tip. Though the lowest-grade cinnabar appeared somewhat dull, it did not affect his focused demeanor at all.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and meditated for a moment. When he opened them again, starlight seemed to flow within his eyes.

In front of everyone, he began to draw a talisman...