9: Two options

"Is this guy sick in the head!"

Liu Xuan looked at Zhang Ye, then glanced at Yan Qingyao. How could he not know why this idiot was targeting him?

For him to target a nobody like himself, he must be a piece of trash.

"Miss Qingyao, who is this..."

Liu Xuan glanced at Zhang Ye, then turned to ask Yan Qingyao.

"He is..."

Yan Qingyao was about to explain, but Zhang Ye interrupted, "I am Zhang Ye, an Upper-Grade Outer Sect Disciple of the Spell Hall."

He took out his identity token and held it up to show them; the token was engraved with the emblem of the Spell Hall and the character 'Upper'.

Outer Sect Disciples were divided into three grades: the Lower Grade consisted of Dual Cultivation Hall Disciples who failed the assessment and those who bought their spots; the Medium Grade consisted of ordinary Disciples who passed the assessment; the Upper Grade consisted of Disciples under twenty-five years old at the Qi Refining Third Layer who had a chance to enter the Inner Sect.

There were fewer than three thousand Upper-Grade Outer Sect Disciples, a number comparable to the Outer Sect deacons at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, yet their status was slightly higher than the deacons, as they had better prospects.

"The Zhang family!"

None of the Foundation Establishment Elders or Golden Core True Persons in the Red Pine Sect were surnamed Zhang, and Liu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Upper-Grade Outer Sect Disciple?

An Upper-Grade Outer Sect Disciple is nothing!

"So it is Senior Brother Zhang, a pleasure to meet you!"

Liu Xuan cupped his hands in greeting and suddenly asked, "Is Senior Brother Zhang, Miss Qingyao's Dao Companion?"

Zhang Ye was stunned! For a moment, he didn't know how to answer.

"Liu Xuan!"

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

"I do not have a Dao Companion."

Yan Qingyao was flustered and said, sounding a bit angry.

A smile appeared on Liu Xuan's face, his expression looking as if he had breathed a sigh of relief, and he looked affectionately into Yan Qingyao's eyes: "I am relieved that you have no Dao Companion!"

"Qingyao, my heart is set on you!" Liu Xuan said with a sincere expression.

Yan Qingyao was stunned! She hadn't expected Liu Xuan to be so direct, and in such a setting.

Before Yan Qingyao could react, Liu Xuan continued:

"You don't have to reject me; I have self-awareness and will not pester you.

You are an Inner Sect Disciple with outstanding talent, while I am just an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple.

You are the clouds in the sky, while I am but the mud on the ground. Liking you is my own business, and it has nothing to do with you..."

The commotion here had already attracted the attention of everyone in the hall, and they were all stunned.

Can it be like this?

Liking you is my business, it has nothing to do with you!

Just liking, without seeking return, without asking for results...

It seems this newcomer, Liu Xuan, really likes Yan Qingyao; otherwise, he wouldn't say such things.

Yan Qingyao stared blankly at Liu Xuan. Judging by her past impression of him, she didn't think Liu Xuan was lying.

It's just that she remembered the Liu Xuan of the past as reticent and taciturn; how did he suddenly become so bold?

"Liu Xuan! What do you mean by this?"

Zhang Ye's face turned ashen, and he said coldly.

"What, what do you mean?"

Liu Xuan looked puzzled.

"Does Senior Brother Zhang also like Qingyao?"

Liu Xuan put on an expression of sudden realization and said indifferently, "Senior Brother Zhang, you don't need to worry about me. If Qingyao also likes you, I will congratulate you."

"You..."

Zhang Ye could see it now; Liu Xuan was implying that he lacked self-awareness. It seemed like self-deprecation, but in reality, it was belittling him.

Because he was also an Outer Sect Disciple...

A mere rustic peasant actually dared to humiliate him! The Qi of the Qi Refining Third Layer surged from Zhang Ye's body.

"Damn it!!"

Liu Xuan's heart tightened.

The Spell Hall had the highest combat power in the Sect. If Zhang Ye were to impulsively attack, he feared he wouldn't be able to block even a single move.

Although the Sect forbade infighting and strictly punished violators, Liu Xuan still disliked the feeling of his life being out of his own control.

In the world of cultivation, where individual might is paramount, strength is the foundation. Liu Xuan's understanding of this world deepened by another degree.

Just then, three people walked hurriedly into the hall, heading straight for Liu Xuan.

"Talisman Master Li, Hall Master Lin, he is the Liu Xuan I mentioned." Qin Yun said, pointing at Liu Xuan.

"Greetings, Talisman Master Li, greetings, Hall Master Lin!"

"Greetings, Talisman Master Li, greetings, Hall Master Lin!"

...

The crowd of Disciples bowed and greeted them one after another.

Talisman Master Li was named Li Changsheng; he wore a blue Daoist robe and appeared to be a thin, elderly man.

He was a First-Rank Mid-Grade Talisman Master, with a status comparable to an Inner Sect Disciple at the Late Qi Refining Stage, and was the nominal master of everyone in the hall.

Hall Master Lin was named Lin Tianyue; he wore a moon-white magic robe and appeared to be a refined middle-aged man.

His cultivation was at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, and he was also a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Master. He was the Hall Master of the Talisman Hall's Outer Sect and considered a significant figure within the entire Red Pine Sect.

"Why is Hall Master Lin here?"

Lin Tianyue was considered middle-to-high management in the Red Pine Sect, and in the eyes of these small-fry in the hall, he was a rare big shot.

Even a Genius like Yan Qingyao could only bow respectfully when seeing Lin Tianyue.

"I heard from Qin Yun that you successfully drew three runes of the Dust-Avoiding Talisman in five days. Have you studied the path of Talismans before?"

Li Changsheng looked at Liu Xuan, speaking in a kindly manner.

Just a moment ago, Qin Yun had reviewed all information regarding Liu Xuan, basically ruling out the possibility that Liu Xuan was faking being a Genius.

However, Li Changsheng still decided to ask in person to avoid any misunderstandings.

"I dare not deceive Talisman Master Li. When I was at the Dao Academy, I attended basic courses on Talismans, and after joining the Sect, I purchased introductory books on Talismans to study on my own."

Li Changsheng nodded in satisfaction. All Disciples who came to the Talisman Hall to study had learned the basics; there was no issue with this.

Once a rune was successfully drawn, its shape would fade away. The price to truly observe and study runes was extremely high, and the Liu Xuan of the past had never had such an opportunity.

"Draw those three runes again," Li Changsheng instructed.

"Yes!"

Liu Xuan looked at the First-Rank Low Grade Talisman paper and Talisman ink on the table, then looked at Qin Yun and said:

"Senior Sister Qin, using this Talisman paper and ink to draw runes is a waste. Could I switch to unranked Low Grade Materials?"

Qin Yun waved her hand and smiled, "Just use them; I'm not short of these few Spirit Stones."

Since Qin Yun didn't care, Liu Xuan naturally had nothing more to say and picked up the brush to begin drawing the runes.

A quarter of an hour later, the three runes were successfully drawn, and a faint glow lit up on the Talisman paper.

Li Changsheng had no more doubts and turned to look at Lin Tianyue: "Congratulations, Hall Master Lin, the Lin family has produced another Talisman Genius."

Lin Tianyue looked at Liu Xuan, feeling more satisfied the more he looked. Just now, he and Li Changsheng were discussing the business of the Talisman shop in Red Pine City when they heard Qin Yun's report on Liu Xuan's talent.

Learning three runes in five days showed excellent Talisman talent, but Liu Xuan wasn't even considered an unranked Talisman Master, so he wasn't worth his personal attention until Qin Yun gave a rough account of Liu Xuan's experiences after joining the Sect...

Liu Xuan was actually a Disciple of the Dual Cultivation Hall and had formed a Dao Companion bond with a woman from a branch of the Lin family who had no Spiritual Root. That made him worth special treatment.

"Liu Xuan, is it? I will give you two choices. First: All your future expenses for studying Talismans will be covered by my Lin family until you reach the limit of your talent. The cost is that from then on, you can only draw Talismans for my Lin family, with the appropriate remuneration remaining unchanged.

Second: My Lin family will provide you with basic study expenses for each stage, which you will need to repay later. Afterward, you only need to complete a few Talisman Drawing tasks each year."