People in Doupo: The beginning of the game intercepts the rich woman Xun'er

Xuan Kongzi's fingers, which were stroking his beard, suddenly froze in mid-air. His long, silvery-white beard trembled slightly from the tremor of his fingertips. The shock in his eyes was like the surface of a lake struck by a boulder, instantly creating a turbulent wave.

He stared blankly at Xiao Ling, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times. The composure and calm he had just displayed vanished, replaced by an incredulous urgency in his voice: "You... what did you say?!"

"The talisman master techniques of Ying'er and Dan Chen were actually passed down by you personally?" Xuan Kongzi leaned forward abruptly, his gaze fixed on Xiao Ling's expression, trying to find even a trace of a joke in it.

What came into view was only the calm and unhurried smile on Xiao Ling's lips and the unwavering certainty in his eyes.

The aroma of herbs and tea in the room seemed to dissipate completely at that moment, leaving only Xuan Kongzi's slightly heavy breathing.

He could hardly believe that the heaven-defying method that had taken the entire Pill Tower countless efforts to find and was even difficult to trace in ancient books and secret manuals actually came from the hands of this young junior.

It should be noted that after Cao Ying and Dan Chen practiced the methods of talisman masters, their soul power improved so quickly, their control over flames and medicinal power during alchemy was so exquisite, and most importantly, they possessed combat power comparable to a Dou Zun by using their control over soul power. This had already amazed him, and he secretly praised this method as a blessing for alchemists.

But he never expected that the source of this method was this legendary figure who once shocked the Central Plains with his top-grade eighth-rank pills.

Xiao Yan's pupils also shrank, and the curiosity on his face was instantly replaced by extreme shock. From the few words the two had exchanged earlier, he was able to get a general understanding of the talisman master's cultivation method. Even from this limited understanding, he could tell just how important this talisman master's cultivation method was to alchemists like them with strong soul power.

He had known Xiao Ling for many years and knew that he was exceptionally talented and had a variety of methods. But he never imagined that Xiao Ling could create such a heaven-defying method that even the Pill Tower was going crazy for.

For a moment, as Xiao Yan gazed at Xiao Ling's retreating figure, his heart was filled with not only admiration but also a deep sense of curiosity.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. After all, his cousin is the chosen protagonist of this world, and he has done some extraordinary things. Although they are indeed shocking, they are not impossible.

Xiao Ling met their shocked gazes with composure, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, producing a crisp sound that was particularly clear in the quiet room. "President Xuan Kong, there's no need to be so surprised. The methods of talisman masters didn't come from nowhere; rather, they are a special cultivation method for soul power that I obtained by chance."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Xuan Kongzi and Xiao Yan, his fingertips lightly tracing the rim of his cup, before continuing slowly.
"The core of this method lies in the fact that the cultivator must refine their own soul power through countless trials and tribulations, condensing it into a unique natal talisman. This talisman can draw upon the vast energy between heaven and earth, greatly refining the purity of the soul power; when refining pills, it can also be used as if it were an extension of the arm, precisely controlling every detail of the fusion of medicinal power and every degree of intensity of the brightness and darkness of the flame."

"More importantly, those who cultivate this path can directly use their soul power to activate talismans to defend against enemies! Their combat strength is in no way inferior to that of cultivators of the same level of Dou Qi. It can be said that this is a cultivation system dedicated to tempering the soul. It is completely different from the Dou Qi cultivation path, but it has comparable growth potential."

Xuan Kongzi took a deep breath, barely suppressing the turbulent waves surging in his chest. His fingers, which were twirling his long, silvery beard, gradually became steady, but the shock in his eyes was still like a wildfire, never extinguished in the slightest.

He steadied himself, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Ling, his tone urgent and filled with barely concealed earnestness, his voice even trembling slightly.
"Xiao Ling! You took the initiative to step into the Pill Tower today and told me such heaven-defying secrets of talisman masters. This was no random act. What exactly are your plans?"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly stood up, his figure, though aged, as upright as a pine tree, and bowed deeply to Xiao Ling, his tone extremely solemn.

"If you are willing to leave this method of talisman master cultivation in the Pill Tower's lineage, so that my Pill Tower disciples can learn this path, my Pill Tower is willing to pay any price! Even this old man of mine will go through fire and water for you if you ever need him in the future!"

Seeing Xuan Kongzi perform such a grand ceremony, Xiao Ling quickly raised his hand to help him up, a faint smile on his lips, and gently waved his hand: "President Xuan Kongzi, there's no need to be so formal. You're making this junior feel uncomfortable."

His gaze was gentle yet resolute as he slowly spoke: "The reason I have come here today is to discuss with the president the matter of spreading the methods of talisman master cultivation. It would be a great pity to keep such a method, which can benefit alchemists all over the world, to my own pocket."

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Kongzi suddenly looked up, his earnestness instantly replaced by wild joy. His cloudy old eyes burst forth with dazzling light, and even his silver beard trembled slightly with excitement.

He stared intently at Xiao Ling, his voice trembling with barely concealed tremor: "Xiao Ling! You...you really mean this?!"

After receiving another nod of affirmation from Xiao Ling, Xuan Kongzi could no longer contain his excitement and burst into laughter: "Good! What a wise and righteous person! Xiao Ling, your actions are truly meritorious!"

He strode forward, his voice burning with passion.
"If this method of talisman mastery can spread throughout the Central Plains, the cultivation path of all alchemists in the world will be completely rewritten! The control of medicinal power during alchemy and the speed of improvement of soul power will undergo earth-shattering changes. You will be the second parent of all alchemists, and you will surely be revered and worshipped by hundreds of millions of cultivators in the future!"

“What’s even more remarkable is that,” Xuan Kongzi’s gaze swept across the window, as if he could already see that magnificent scene, his tone full of emotion.
"Those who have mediocre talent in cultivating battle qi but are exceptionally gifted in soul power will now have another path to the heavens! They no longer need to be frustrated by the bottleneck in battle qi; with the way of the talisman master, they can still make a name for themselves on this battle qi continent!"

He turned to look at Xiao Ling, his eyes brimming with admiration and gratitude: "I am ashamed of my own lack of your magnanimity and courage! If this matter succeeds, your name, Xiao Ling, will surely be engraved on the historical monument of the Dou Qi Continent, along with the path of the Talisman Master, and your name will be remembered for eternity!"

Seeing that Xuan Kongzi was becoming increasingly agitated, his silver beard trembling more and more rapidly, Xiao Ling raised his hand to gently press it down, his lips still holding that calm smile, his voice clear and gentle yet carrying an undeniable certainty.
"President Xuan Kong, please calm down."

"While I do indeed intend to make the art of talisman mastery known throughout the Dou Qi Continent, it is not for now." His gaze darkened, and his tone became more solemn. "Right now, I plan to cooperate with the Pill Tower to allow this art to be passed down within the Pill Tower first. Once the disciples within the tower have mastered it and established a sufficient foundation, it will not be too late to discuss spreading it to the continent."

"After all, the Central Plains may seem peaceful now, but undercurrents are surging beneath the surface. Various forces are deeply entrenched, and the situation on the continent is already turbulent. If this method of talisman mastery is rashly passed on now, and those with ulterior motives seize the opportunity and learn its essence, wouldn't that be helping the enemy for nothing? On the contrary, it would bring unwarranted disaster to all alchemists in the world."

Seeing that Xuan Kongzi looked thoughtful after hearing these words, Xiao Ling added, his tone softening slightly.

"Moreover, my cultivation level has not yet reached the expected level, and I will not have enough strength to protect this method from being stolen by villains. Only when my cultivation level reaches a sufficient level and I have the confidence to deter all sides can I join hands with the Pill Tower to promote the Path of Talisman Masters to the continent, and only then can I be absolutely sure of success."

Xuan Kongzi slowly stroked his long beard, his gaze lingering on the table for a moment. The excitement in his eyes gradually subsided into a calm consideration, and then he nodded heavily, his tone earnest and agreeable.
“You are absolutely right! It was I who had not considered things thoroughly before. On the surface, the Central Plains is calm, but in reality, various forces are secretly vying for power, and signs of turmoil have long been hidden. Although the method of talisman masters is a supreme and wonderful way to benefit the world, if the wicked are to discover its secrets and use it to stir up trouble, it will instead become a source of disaster and suffering for the people.”

He changed the subject, his gaze towards Xiao Ling now showing more approval, "Promoting its dissemination within the Pill Tower first is an extremely prudent and effective strategy, allowing for the effective control of this inheritance."

Although he said this, Xuan Kongzi had his own plans in mind. As a leader of the Pill Tower, he naturally had to think from the Pill Tower's perspective.

If this method of talisman mastery had initially only circulated within the Pill Tower, it would undoubtedly have been entirely beneficial to the Pill Tower. The Pill Tower already gathered the continent's top alchemists, whose soul power foundation was solid, making them the best candidates to cultivate the path of talisman mastery. After learning this method, not only would their alchemy skills reach a new level, but their own combat power would also achieve a qualitative leap, and the overall strength of the Pill Tower would inevitably surge accordingly.

Furthermore, since this method was ultimately created by Xiao Ling, whether or not it is spread, and how it is spread, should be up to him. At this moment, by going along with his wishes and reaching a cooperation agreement, we can not only demonstrate the sincerity of the Pill Tower, but also firmly grasp this unique opportunity.

When Xiao Ling decides to promote the Way of the Talisman Master to the mainland in the future, the Pill Tower will have already cultivated a large number of top talisman masters with its first-mover advantage. Its profound foundation is unmatched. At that time, the Pill Tower will not only be able to continue to consolidate its esteemed position in the alchemist world, but also stand out in the emerging talisman master world, becoming an absolute holy land spanning the two worlds. This glory and benefits will be enough to make the Pill Tower's status reach an unprecedented peak.

Xiao Ling nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Since President Xuan Kong approves of my proposal, then it's settled." He paused for a moment, then added,

"However, the details of the follow-up matters still need to be discussed with the senior elders of the Pill Tower. In this regard, I am afraid I will have to trouble the president to help make connections. Although I am a member of the Little Pill Tower, I do not have much interaction with the elders. It would be a bit presumptuous of me to come here to discuss such an important matter."

Xuan Kongzi laughed heartily upon hearing this, raised his hand and waved it, his tone full of certainty: "Rest assured! I will fully support you in this matter!" He stroked his silver beard, a knowing glint in his eyes.
“Those old guys may put on airs and be a bit lazy at times, but their vision and character are extraordinary. How could they not see the great significance of this matter to Danta? They will definitely pay special attention to it.”

"Moreover," he changed the subject, his gaze falling gently on Xiao Ling, "you are a core member of my Pill Tower and the first inheritor of the Talisman Master cultivation method. It is only right and proper to discuss such important matters concerning the future of the Pill Tower with you, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dense spatial fluctuation emanated from Xuan Kongzi's palm, and a spatial passage shimmering with silver light suddenly appeared in the room.

He turned to look at Xiao Ling, his tone filled with barely suppressed urgency: "There's no time to lose! I'll take you to the Little Pill Tower right now and gather the elders to discuss this matter!"

Seeing his anxious appearance, Xiao Ling couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and quickly raised her hand to stop him: "President Xuan Kong, please calm down! When you go to discuss this matter, please bring Cao Ying and Dan Chen with you as well."

He paused, then added, "In addition, I have a senior who has also studied the art of talisman mastery. He will be fully responsible for the propagation of this art in the future."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Kongzi suddenly realized his mistake, patted his forehead and laughed, "It was I who was too impatient!" A hint of expectation flashed in his eyes, "Cao Ying and Dan Chen have been practicing the art of talisman mastery for quite some time now. It's a good opportunity to let them show off their profound skills in front of those old guys, and broaden their horizons so they won't always think that I'm exaggerating."

His tone shifted, and a deep curiosity surfaced in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on Xiao Ling: "As for this senior you mentioned, who exactly is he? I wonder if I have heard of him? To be so highly praised by you, he must be an exceptionally talented individual?"

Xiao Ling's lips curled into a half-smile, a hint of amusement in his eyes, as he looked at Xuan Kongzi and slowly said...
"Hehe, that senior is indeed a person of extraordinary talent. As for whether he is familiar with the president, the two of you are quite close."

"Oh?" Xuan Kongzi immediately became interested, his silver eyebrows slightly raised, his eyes fixed intently on Xiao Ling, his tone full of urgency, "Then tell me, who exactly is this person who has such a relationship with me?"

He stroked his long beard, pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
"Could it be Feng Xian from the Starfall Pavilion? But I remember that Feng Xian doesn't have much talent in the cultivation of soul power. He's definitely not worthy of you passing on this talisman master technique to him, let alone entrusting him with the important task of spreading this path."

Just as Xuan Kongzi finished speaking, a male voice, seemingly smiling yet not smiling, drifted from the void, carrying a hint of laziness and amusement, gently landing beside the three of them.

"Hehe, Xuan Kongzi, you old man, you're not wrong. With Feng Xian's soul power, he really can't shoulder this heavy responsibility. However, if it were me, I would certainly be able to accomplish this task."

Before the words were finished, ripples suddenly appeared in the void within the quiet room, and a figure dressed in a moon-white robe slowly stepped out from the ripples. His long white hair cascaded down his back like a silver river, making his face, which looked to be around thirty years old, appear even more handsome and refined.

When Xuan Kongzi's gaze suddenly fixed on the newcomer's face, the contours between his eyebrows and eyes were so familiar that they were etched into his bones, but the appearance that had shed the vicissitudes of time and regained its handsomeness made him unable to believe it for a moment.

His pupils contracted sharply, his silver beard trembled violently in shock, and he exclaimed in a terrified voice, "Yao... Yao Chen?! How is this possible?!" (End of Chapter)