77: Chapter 77 Fu Zhen and the Whole Class

Tuesday, 6:00 AM, Chen Zhen opened his eyes on time.

The spiritual pearl in his Dantian rotated slowly, and a two-colored torrent formed by the interweaving of Stellar Energy and ordinary spiritual energy surged within his body.

After a night of Cultivate, his Cultivation had increased by 18 points, reaching Qi Refining Level 4 at 113/1800.

He sat up and scanned the room.

Cleaning Spell.

With the consumption of 1 point of spiritual energy, an invisible ripple swept across.

The effect of the Cleaning Spell infused with Stellar Energy was even stronger than yesterday.

The crisp, cool scent in the air was richer, and the leaves of the two spiritual plants on the windowsill unfurled, as if enjoying a bath of spiritual energy.

He got out of bed and walked to the desk.

The Talismans he drew last night were laid out on the table.

There were three Calming Talismans left, two Spirit-Refreshing Talismans, and one Heart-Clearing Talisman.

Looking at these Talismans, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

What if... it wasn't just him using them?

What would happen if he distributed these Talismans to those in class who needed them?

It wasn't about doing a good deed, but wanting to test the effects.

Would there be differences in the effects of the Talisman on different individuals?

Would people with different Physiques, mental states, or even talents react differently to Stellar Energy?

This was excellent experimental data.

He picked out five Talismans.

Two Calming Talismans, two Spirit-Refreshing Talismans, and one Heart-Clearing Talisman, folded into small squares and put into his pocket.

He put on his backpack and went out.

At 7:00, Chen Zhen stepped into the classroom.

Zhang Meng was making up homework in the back row. Seeing him enter, he shouted as usual: "Help! Lend me your math homework to copy!"

Chen Zhen tossed his homework book over.

Zhang Meng caught it and started copying furiously.

Chen Zhen walked to his seat and sat down.

Su Xiaoya, who sat in front of him, turned around. Her complexion was much better than yesterday, and her eyes were bright.

"Chen Zhen, I kept that Talisman from yesterday for another night after I got home, and I slept really well." She lowered her voice. "Do you have any more? I want to get one for my mom too; she's been having severe insomnia lately."

Chen Zhen looked at her.

Give it to her mother?

He thought for a moment, took a Calming Talisman from his pocket, and handed it to her.

"This is for you."

Su Xiaoya took it, her eyes lighting up: "How much?"

"No charge."

"How can that be..."

"I said no charge, so it's no charge." Chen Zhen interrupted her. "Just tell me the effect if it works well."

Su Xiaoya was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

"Thank you."

She turned back and carefully put the Talisman into her pencil case.

Chen Zhen withdrew his gaze and scanned the classroom.

In the last row, Zhou Rui was reading with his head down; his aura was stable, and his Qi Refining Stage 1 was already consolidated.

In the corner by the window, Chen Hao had two dark circles under his eyes and looked listless.

He probably stayed up late doing problems again last night.

By the aisle, a tall, thin boy was slumped over his desk, looking like his life had no meaning.

That was Li Yang, the bottom-ranked student in the class, whose grades were consistently at the bottom, and who was scolded by Old Zhao every day.

There were also a few girls talking together; one of them had red, swollen eyes, as if she had just been crying.

That was Wang Xue; he heard something had happened at her home.

Chen Zhen scanned the room, and he had a plan in mind.

He stood up and started distributing the Talismans.

The first Spirit-Refreshing Talisman, for Chen Hao.

Chen Hao was doing problems with his head down when he suddenly saw a piece of paper folded into a small square land on his desk.

He was stunned for a moment and looked up.

Chen Zhen had already walked past.

Chen Hao opened the paper to find a complex rune inside.

He stared at it for a few seconds, not understanding it, but felt it looked familiar.

Then he felt a cool breath surge from the paper, flowing through his fingers and spreading throughout his body.

His mind instantly cleared, and the drowsiness was swept away.

He jerked his head up and looked at Chen Zhen's back.

Chen Zhen didn't turn around.

The second Spirit-Refreshing Talisman, for Li Yang.

Li Yang was sleeping slumped on the desk when he was suddenly tapped on the shoulder.

He looked up groggily and saw Chen Zhen standing next to him, holding a small piece of paper.

"Put this in your pocket." Chen Zhen said.

Li Yang was stunned for a moment, took the paper, and subconsciously shoved it into his pocket.

The next second, a cool breath poured into his mind, and his drowsiness vanished instantly, his brain as clear as if he had just woken up.

"Holy crap!" He sat up straight abruptly. "What is this?"

Chen Zhen had already walked away.

The third Calming Talisman, for Wang Xue.

Wang Xue was dazed with red eyes when she suddenly saw Chen Zhen walk over and place a small piece of paper on her desk.

She was stunned for a moment and looked up.

Chen Zhen didn't speak, just pointed at the paper.

Wang Xue opened it and saw a strange rune inside.

Then she felt a warm breath surge from the paper, wrapping around her whole body.

The anxiety, grievance, and sadness were slowly smoothed away by this warmth, and her whole being settled down.

She looked blankly at Chen Zhen's back, and tears welled up again.

But this time, it wasn't sadness.

The fourth Heart-Clearing Talisman, for Zhou Rui.

Zhou Rui was reading when he suddenly saw Chen Zhen walk over and place a small piece of paper on his desk.

He opened it, and inside was a complex rune.

But unlike the others, he recognized what it was at first glance.

Talisman.

A real Talisman.

He jerked his head up and looked at Chen Zhen.

Chen Zhen had already walked back to his seat.

Zhou Rui held that Talisman, feeling the power flowing within it, his palm trembling slightly.

What Master gave was not an ordinary thing.

It was something that could be used.

The first class was math, Old Zhao's class.

As soon as Old Zhao entered, he saw Li Yang sitting bolt upright, eyes wide as bells, looking like he was listening intently.

He was stunned for a moment.

Li Yang? Listening intently?

He glanced out the window.

The sun hadn't risen from the west.

He coughed and started the class.

During the forty-five-minute class, Li Yang didn't slump over, didn't doze off, and even took a few notes in his notebook.

When the bell rang, Old Zhao put away his textbook and glanced at Li Yang.

"Li Yang, did the sun rise from the west today?"

Li Yang scratched his head: "I don't know either, I just suddenly wasn't sleepy anymore."

Old Zhao looked at him suspiciously but didn't ask further and left.

Li Yang turned his head and looked in Chen Zhen's direction.

Chen Zhen was reading with his head down, as if nothing had happened.

The second period was English class.

As soon as the English teacher entered, she saw Chen Hao looking refreshed, his eyes frighteningly bright.

She was stunned for a moment.

Chen Hao was usually serious in class, but today he was exceptionally... energetic?

During the forty-five-minute class, Chen Hao answered questions five times, all correctly.

When the bell rang, the English teacher put away her textbook and glanced at Chen Hao.

"Chen Hao, you're in good form today."

Chen Hao nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on Chen Zhen's back.

The third period was physics class.

As soon as Old Li entered, he saw Wang Xue smiling.

Not the kind of forced smile, but a real, heartfelt smile.

He was stunned for a moment.

He had heard about the incident in Wang Xue's family. The girl had been wilted for the past few days, why was she suddenly better today?

He glanced at Wang Xue but didn't ask, and started the class.

During the forty-five-minute class, Wang Xue listened attentively and even took the initiative to answer a question.

When the bell rang, Old Li put away his textbook and walked out of the classroom.

Wang Xue turned her head and looked in Chen Zhen's direction.

Chen Zhen was talking to Zhang Meng, as if nothing had happened.

At noon, school was dismissed, and Chen Zhen went to the cafeteria.

Just as he sat down, three people walked over with their trays.

Chen Hao, Li Yang, and Wang Xue.

They sat down opposite Chen Zhen, none of them speaking, just staring at him.

Zhang Meng was watching from the side, looking confused.

"What are you doing?"

Chen Hao spoke up: "Chen Zhen, what was that thing you gave me this morning?"

Li Yang followed up: "Yeah, that thing, I wasn't sleepy all day."

Wang Xue whispered: "That thing made me feel a lot better."

Three people, six eyes, all staring straight at Chen Zhen.

Chen Zhen put down his chopsticks and looked at them.

He was silent for three seconds.

Then he said: "Protective Talisman."

"Protective Talisman?" Chen Hao frowned. "What kind of Protective Talisman makes someone not sleepy?"

"It's made by the elders from where I live." Chen Zhen said. "An ancestral recipe."

Chen Hao stared at him, obviously not believing it.

But Chen Zhen didn't explain further and picked up his chopsticks to continue eating.

The silence lasted for half a minute.

Then Li Yang spoke up: "Um... do you have any more? I want to get one for my mom too."

Wang Xue nodded along: "Me too, I want to give it to my mom."

Chen Zhen glanced at them.

"I'll bring some tomorrow."

After school in the afternoon, Chen Zhen packed his bag and prepared to leave.

Zhou Rui walked over from behind and stood next to him.

"Master," he lowered his voice, "that Talisman you gave this morning isn't an ordinary thing, is it?"

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"What do you think?"

Zhou Rui was silent for a few seconds.

Then he took the Talisman out of his pocket and carefully unfolded it.

"This rune," he said, "I think I've seen it somewhere."

Chen Zhen's heart stirred.

"Where?"

Zhou Rui frowned, thinking for a long time.

"When I was a child, my grandfather had an old book with many such patterns in it. He said it was passed down from our ancestors; he couldn't read it, but he kept it."

He looked at Chen Zhen.

"Later, that book was burned by my dad. But I still remember some of the patterns."

Chen Zhen looked at him.

Zhou Rui's grandfather had a book of runes?

"How much do you still remember?"

Zhou Rui thought for a moment: "I don't remember all of them. But I have a deep impression of a few patterns, one of which is very similar to this Talisman of yours."

Chen Zhen nodded.

"After you go back, draw down what you remember."

Zhou Rui nodded: "Okay."

At 7:00 PM, Secret Base.

Chen Zhen sat cross-legged in the center of the Spirit Gathering Array, surrounded by six spiritual plants.

The largest wild soul-calming grass had bloomed this morning.

The pale purple flowers trembled slightly in the light of the Spirit Gathering Array, emitting a faint, quiet fragrance.

In [Internal Vision], extremely pure spiritual energy was flowing inside the flower, more than ten times stronger than the leaves.

[calming flower (Just Bloomed)]

[Quality: Quasi-spiritual plant · Top Grade]

[Effect: Calming + 800%, can be made into incense / tea / medicine]

[Status: Optimal harvesting period (within 24 hours)]

Chen Zhen carefully plucked the flower and put it into a jade box.

One flower could make ten sticks of calming incense.

He thought for a moment, took out the stack of blank Talisman paper from his Storage Space, and started drawing Talismans.

He had to draw eight today.

Two each for Chen Hao, Li Yang, and Wang Xue, one for Su Xiaoya, and three for backup.

The brush moved like a dragon or snake, and spiritual energy was infused.

One, two, three...

When he drew the seventh one, he suddenly thought of something.

What if he combined these Talismans with the calming flower?

If he ground the calming flower into powder and mixed it into the Talisman ink, what kind of Talisman would it draw?

He stopped his brush and looked at that calming flower.

Try it tomorrow.

At 8:30 PM, Zhou Rui sent a message.

A photo, which was of the rune he had drawn.

Chen Zhen clicked on it and zoomed in.

There were three patterns in total.

The first one was 70% similar to the Calming Talisman he drew, but more complex, with more lines.

The second one, he had never seen before, looked like the outline of some kind of animal.

The third one was a core circle plus three dots — exactly the same as the Dongshan Rune.

Chen Zhen's heart shook.

He immediately replied: "Are these three patterns all in your grandfather's book?"

Zhou Rui replied in a second: "Yes. The first one is the most common, the second one only had one page, and the third one was on the last page, with words written next to it."

"What words?"

"I don't recognize them. They seem to be ancient text."

Chen Zhen stared at the photo for a long time.

Zhou Rui's grandfather was not an ordinary person.

That book was not an ordinary book either.

He replied with a message: "Write down the details about the book. Give it to me on the weekend."

Zhou Rui replied: "Okay."