46: Chapter 46 Xie Wantang's Shock

The face of the woman before him was as smooth as cream, and her beautiful eyes were staring at him without blinking.

Xu Changsheng felt a bit uncomfortable and touched his chin. "There isn't anything on my face, is there? Why do you keep staring at me, Second Miss?"

"Of course not. It's just that I didn't expect to be saved by Guest Official Xu in the end."

Looking at Xu Changsheng's calm eyes, Xie Wantang's cheeks flushed slightly.

She gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and shifted her gaze slightly.

Xu Changsheng chuckled. "Second Miss has looked after me quite a bit. This Xu is not an ungrateful person. Even if I weren't a Guest Elder of the Xie Family, I would still have lent a hand."

Sensing a hint of resentment in his words, Xie Wantang spoke apologetically, "My uncle, he was only doing it for—for the sake of the Xie Family..."

"For the sake of the Xie Family, he would so easily put me in such grave danger? I am only a Guest Elder of the Xie Family, not his son. Why should I risk my life for him?"

Xu Changsheng's tone was indignant as he vented his dissatisfaction with the Xie Family.

Xie Wantang lowered her head, having nothing to say in response.

Xu Changsheng knew when to stop. "Forget it. I suppose marrying that Jiang Wenzhou is not your wish either; you are merely a sacrifice as well."

"I..."

Xie Wantang hesitated to speak, her mood becoming exceptionally low.

It was true.

Even if she was saved by Xu Changsheng, she would still have to marry Jiang Wenzhou on the auspicious day.

After a long time, she calmed her sorrowful emotions.

Raising her head, she gave a small smile. "Giggle. In that case, Guest Official Xu and I really are fellow sufferers. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call us a pair of ill-fated lovers."

"You..."

Xu Changsheng originally wanted to complain more, but he had been countered instead.

"Second Miss is joking. Once you are married, who would be your ill-fated lover?"

Xie Wantang smiled faintly. It seemed that being with Xu Changsheng was much more pleasant than the dull atmosphere around Jiang Wenzhou.

"By the way, when did Guest Official Xu become a High-Grade Talisman Master? You should have informed me of such a major event earlier, Fellow Daoist, so I could arrange the highest level of offerings for you."

"Um, not long ago."

The two of them chatted aimlessly.

"Xu Changsheng, when are we returning to the riverbank near the Valley Entrance?"

"Return? Why would we go back?"

At the same time.

Bang!

The light-crossing boat rushed out of the Talisman River. Having been scraped by thousands of Talismans, the light-crossing boat was now covered in scars.

Although it barely managed to break through the river's surface, it couldn't withstand the numerous holes and began to descend slowly again.

They had seen the light of day again.

However, Xie Wantang wasn't happy at all.

This was because not far away...

An even larger River Surge was sweeping toward them, covering the sky and earth, and Xu Changsheng's light-crossing boat was heading right into its path.

"Xu Changsheng, do you want to die?"

Recalling how Jiang Wenzhou's careless actions had nearly cost her her life, she really did not want to repeat the experience.

The person at the bow did not respond to her questioning.

Just as she was about to press further, she suddenly saw Xu Changsheng's calm eyes.

Calm, determined, and fierce.

Just like the Lu Yuanze she had seen when she was trapped in the Trapping Array.

"Why... it's so similar."

She shook her head vigorously.

"Now is not the time to be thinking about that."

But she did not speak again.

Looking at the man before her, confidence welled up in her heart like a spring. It was truly possible they could survive this tribulation.

At that moment.

The light-crossing boat came to a stop.

Xu Changsheng laid out the Talisman paper, ink, and brush at the bow of the boat.

Closing his eyes, he began to simulate the refining process of the Ning Guang Talisman in his mind.

He had only just advanced to a Quasi Second-Rank Talisman Master. Even if he was thoroughly familiar with the refining method of the Ning Guang Talisman, succeeding on the first try was still somewhat difficult.

"Second Miss, if I get you to the other shore and there are extra tianyuan fruits, I wonder if you could leave one for me?"

This was his primary goal in saving Xie Wantang.

Since his goal was longevity, he had to strive for any life-extending items he could obtain.

"Of course. I, Xie Wantang, swear to heaven..."

Seeing Xu Changsheng's confident look, Xie Wantang also became high-spirited. Her eyes brightened, and she raised her hand to swear to heaven.

"Good."

Xu Changsheng nodded.

"In that case..."

He completely blocked out the sound of the flowing Talisman River and the dizzying sensation of the shifting light and shadows.

His mind sank into his Dantian and then slowly rose, connecting with his fingertips.

"Now!"

His eyes suddenly snapped open.

His left hand formed seals like a fluttering butterfly, while his right hand moved the brush with the vigor of a dragon and snake.

"This is?"

Xie Wantang was well-read. The Talisman Xu Changsheng was drawing looked somewhat familiar to her, like a Spirit Siphoning Talisman.

"Xu Changsheng, do you want to create another light-crossing boat? Jiang Wenzhou's biluo flying boat already tested the power of the River Surge, and even it couldn't withstand it. A light-crossing boat will be even less effective. What use would more of them be?"

There was no response; Xu Changsheng rapidly wielded the Talisman brush in his hand.

"Buzz—!"

Suddenly, a clear, high-pitched hum resonated from the Talisman paper.

In an instant, all the completed Talisman lines burst with brilliant light.

A pale gold Talisman with complex runes slowly floated into mid-air.

The surrounding Spiritual Qi rushed in from all directions like a tide.

"Rise!"

Xu Changsheng shouted, and the Talisman radiated a brilliant golden light.

The Spiritual Qi was transformed and sprayed in front of the light-crossing boat, beginning to construct a larger vessel according to specific patterns.

"It's not a light-crossing boat."

Xie Wantang soon noticed the difference.

As the hull became clearer and clearer...

The bulwark, deck, keel, bottom...

An unbelievable thought rushed into Xie Wantang's mind.

"It's a ningguang boat! Xu Changsheng, you refined a Ning Guang Talisman!"

"Second Miss is indeed clever. I suppose with this boat in hand, it will be enough for us to reach the other shore."

"Of—of course it will."

Her head buzzed as if struck by an invisible heavy hammer.

"But this Ning Guang Talisman is a second-rank talisman. Even if a Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator can refine it, they must be a Quasi Second-Rank Talisman Master to have a chance..."

Xu Changsheng turned back and gave a gentle smile. "Second Miss, when did I ever say I was only a First-Rank High-Grade Talisman Master?"

"I am a Quasi Second-Rank Talisman Master!"

Xie Wantang's beautiful eyes trembled, unable to hide her inner shock.

"So that's how it is. No wonder you were so composed, Fellow Daoist. It turns out you had such a trump card."

A myriad of emotions fermented in her chest.

She hadn't expected that a Quasi Second-Rank Talisman Master was actually hidden in her Liuyun Market, and her Family had even made things difficult for him several times.

She smiled bitterly to herself. "Eldest Uncle really did something incredibly stupid!"

She also felt secretly lucky that her several private compensations should have smoothed over Xu Changsheng's resentment at least a little bit.

Just as the River Surge was only ten zhang away from them...

The ningguang boat was finally completed, coming to a halt beside the light-crossing boat.

In front of the former's hull, which was over two zhang long, the light-crossing boat looked like a tiny fishing boat.

Xu Changsheng flew up and stood proudly at the bow.

Xie Wantang followed close behind him.

After injecting the initial spiritual power to start the ningguang boat...

He led Xie Wantang into the cabin.

"The journey ahead is not short. Second Miss, please choose a room to rest in."

Xie Wantang chose a room and gave a generous smile. "I have a question. I wonder if you're willing to answer it, Xu Changsheng?"

"Feel free to ask."

"Do you know Lu Yuanze?"