Chapter 20: A Clear Mind is Easily Attained, a Turbid World is Hard to Escape

Jiang Youling’s expression remained unchanged. "Rest assured, Senior Sister. These talisman papers were all made by me alone, without the help of anyone else. If you do not believe me, you are welcome to call others to verify."

Ruan Ziqin nodded, inspecting the talisman papers in her hand. The more she looked, the more astonished she became.

As a supervisor, she had spent years handling the mortal-grade talisman papers submitted by the disciples of the Talisman Academy. She was intimately familiar with the texture, thickness, and spiritual glow of mortal-grade papers—

The quality of these papers was indeed of the lower-grade mortal tier.

Furthermore, several of them possessed an inner spiritual glow, making them rare, high-quality specimens among lower-grade papers.

Using such papers to draw talismans would increase the success rate by at least ten percent.

However, although she was ninety percent certain that this batch of paper was qualified, she still had to follow the formal verification process.

Ruan Ziqin took out a palm-sized copper bell and gently brought it close to one of the papers.

With a sharp *ding*, the copper bell vibrated on its own without any wind.

Ruan Ziqin set the paper down, took another, and repeated the method.

Only after all eleven papers had been verified did she put the bell away, speaking with a complex expression.

"This batch of talisman paper you produced is entirely qualified. As for the extra sheet, I will record it for now. Once you have accumulated five extra sheets, the sect will grant you one additional spirit stone."

"Understood. Thank you, Senior Sister."

After thanking Ruan Ziqin, Jiang Youling turned and left the Talisman Storage Building.

Watching Jiang Youling’s retreating figure, Ruan Ziqin pondered for a long time before finally rising and walking toward the courtyard of a certain deacon.

"Senior Brother Zhao, Jiang Youling has exceeded her task and submitted eleven sheets of talisman paper. I have inspected them one by one, and they are all qualified."

Zhao Cheng’s eyes narrowed slightly; this was getting interesting.

For an ordinary new disciple, successfully submitting ten pieces of elm bark within a month was considered quite good.

When it came to Jiang Youling, he had deliberately increased the difficulty, yet she had unexpectedly completed the task.

"Oh? Does Junior Sister Ruan mean that this Jiang Youling is actually talented? Has your heart turned toward nurturing talent?"

Ruan Ziqin was slightly startled and shook her head quickly. "I merely feel that targeting a newly admitted disciple in such a manner lacks the grace expected of a deacon's disciple."

Zhao Cheng chuckled, waving his folding fan. "Junior Sister, let us not speak as strangers; there is no need to flatter me. I know you feel uneasy, but I am not a villain. I simply want that young girl to come before me, admit her mistake, and return what she shouldn't have taken."

Ruan Ziqin lowered her head in assent. "However, since she successfully completed the sect's task, it would be difficult to punish her."

"What is so difficult about that? As a supervisor, you are in charge of these new disciples. You only need to find an excuse to transfer Jiang Youling to another position."

Zhao Cheng said with a smile, "She has a talent for making talisman paper, but I doubt she is talented at everything. I don't believe that if I send her to develop talisman ink, she will be able to complete the task on time."

Ruan Ziqin’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. "Wouldn't that be too obvious? Since Junior Sister Jiang ranked first, she is certainly no fool. If we target her too overtly, I fear she will notice, and it would be bad if things escalated."

"So what if she ranked first? She is nothing more than a mere laborer without a spiritual root."

Zhao Cheng snorted, a warning hidden in his eyes.

"Junior Sister Ruan, I advise you to think carefully. A mortal without a spiritual root—even if they receive the true teachings of the Cloud Script, they will struggle to build a Dao foundation; even if they are granted the secrets of the Yellow Court, it will ultimately be nothing more than a mirage! Only through tempering the bones and muscles can one find a sliver of opportunity to seek immortality.

However, this tempering of bones and muscles... requires immense resources."

At this point, Zhao Cheng let out a cold laugh.

"A single Blood Marrow Crystal costs eighty spirit stones, and a dose of Dragon-Tiger Bone-Forging Soup requires hundreds. With such costs, let alone a mortal, even a disciple with a spiritual root like myself must weigh the expense carefully!

Since you have decided to follow the path of body tempering, you should know what is most beneficial for yourself."

Ruan Ziqin’s expression shifted repeatedly before she finally sighed and cupped her hands. "I shall do as Senior Brother instructs."

Hearing this, Zhao Cheng finally showed a genuine smile. "Junior Sister is wise. Once the matter is settled, you will certainly receive your share of the benefits."

On the fourth day, just as Jiang Youling received her monthly stipend, she was informed that the Talisman Academy's Ink Workshop was short-handed, and she was ordered to transfer to the Ink Workshop immediately to specialize in the formulation of talisman ink.

Her uneasy premonition was confirmed; Jiang Youling finally realized she was being targeted.

She had inquired privately; other new disciples in the Talisman Academy were not required to make talisman paper at all—they only needed to submit ten pieces of green elm bark, and there were no reports of punishments for failing to do so.

Yet she had been required to submit ten processed sheets of talisman paper, with the threat of punishment for failure.

That wasn't all. After she successfully completed the task, the person targeting her secretly issued a transfer order, specifically naming her to be moved to the Ink Workshop.

Jiang Youling took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and sought out Ruan Ziqin.

"Senior Sister Ruan, I fear this transfer order is not in accordance with the rules. I have only been at the Talisman Academy for a month and am unfamiliar with many things. If I am abruptly transferred to the Ink Workshop, I fear I will be unable to complete the tasks assigned by the sect."

Ruan Ziqin sighed inwardly, silently offering an apology to Jiang Youling.

*Junior Sister Jiang, it is not that I want to target you, but Senior Brother Zhao refuses to let you go. I must still work under him; if I offend him, there will be no good end for me. Thus, I can only let you down!*

Ruan Ziqin composed herself and spoke seriously to Jiang Youling.

"Junior Sister Jiang is highly intelligent. To be able to produce mortal-grade talisman paper in just one month shows an aptitude that will surely shine in the field of ink formulation.

While the research of talisman ink is complex, with your ability, you will surely master its essence within half a month. When the ink is ready and the talismans are drawn, you will actually possess a skill beyond that of an ordinary talisman master."

Hearing Ruan Ziqin's words, Jiang Youling understood that whether she accepted the order or not, it was now a settled matter.

She stood in silence for a long time, her fingertips gently stroking the worn copy of the *Classic of Purifying the Mind* hidden in her sleeve.

Once, she believed that the four words "purifying the mind and discarding desire" were the true essence of the immortal path. Now, it seemed that deep within these misty mountains, things were even more turbid than in the mortal marketplaces.

"This disciple accepts the order."

After standing for an unknown amount of time, she finally bowed and took the transfer order to the Ink Workshop.

Upon arriving at the Ink Workshop, she saw smoke swirling within the room. Over a dozen disciples were busy with their own tasks, and not a single one looked up at her.

Jiang Youling stood by the door for a good while before stopping a gray-clad disciple who was walking past in a hurry.

"Senior Brother, excuse me, may I ask..."

"Newcomer?"

The disciple interrupted impatiently, pointing casually toward a corner of the wall. "You must submit thirty coins' worth of Red Sand Ink every month. For newcomers, it's ten coins. The formula is posted on that wall over there. Don't block the way; can't you see everyone is busy?"

With that, he brushed past her.

Jiang Youling looked toward the wall, where the formula for researching Red Sand Ink was indeed posted.

"Take a certain amount of red sand stone, grind it with rootless water to obtain a certain amount of dark red coarse sand, then begin the ink-making process..."

Seeing this, Jiang Youling’s brow furrowed deeply.

(End of Chapter)