Yusuf cursed under his breath. His injuries still burned, his hands raw with scars from Lauren’s talisman bst. With a grim face, he shot into the sky, spiritual power surging as he swept the nd with his senses.

  Spirit Severing cultivators had formidable spiritual awareness—everywhere he passed, he searched. But still, no trace of Lauren.

  Then, a message came from Moonlit Sect.

  Drake had descended the mountain—for the first time in over a thousand years. He was currently pying chess with their Sect Leader. And every time Herbert lost, Drake zapped him with lightning. The Sect Leader was already smoking.

  The order was clear: the mission was canceled. Everyone was to return immediately.

  Yusuf’s expression darkened. Drake… after a thousand years of seclusion, you come down the mountain just for this? And expect us to believe it’s got nothing to do with that girl?

  “Mr. Yusuf, what do we do? The Sect Leader—”

  Yusuf’s jaw clenched. Rage churned in his chest. He was Spirit Severing, and yet he had been outmaneuvered by a mere Foundation Establishment girl. Worse, three of their Core Formation disciples had died in the process. The humiliation was unbearable.

  He hissed through his teeth. “Hmph. So what if it’s Drake? He’s still the head of a righteous sect. He has to act reasonably.”

  His disciples exchanged uneasy looks. Reasonable? With that old monster?

  Yusuf sneered. “Think about it. I only wanted to question her, and she detonated a Spirit Treasure right in my face. She even used underhanded tricks to kill three of our Core Formation disciples. I demand her life in return. Isn’t that fair?”

  “This… but Sect Master…”

  Yusuf cut him off with a sharp gesture. “Enough. I’ll handle it. You all go back.”

  Reluctantly, they obeyed.

  Alone, Yusuf spread his spiritual sense wide, scouring every inch of nd for Lauren.

  Lauren, meanwhile, was tucked away at a small inn.

  She was waiting for Tarot. He needed time to get here, and they’d agreed to rendezvous at this spot.

  She leaned against the bed frame, chatting idly with Little Four Legs. “I wonder how long before my senior brother arrives?”

  “If he doesn’t use the teleportation array, eight to ten days,” the little beast replied matter-of-factly.

  Lauren blinked. “How do you know?”

  “Your senior brother is at the Nascent Soul stage. With a fast single-person flying artifact, that’s about how long it would take.”

  Lauren’s stomach knotted. Eight to ten days. Too long.

  Tarot might be strong, but he was still only at Nascent Soul. Yusuf was already Spirit Severing—he’d crush Tarot in a straight fight. Even if her brother came, there was no guarantee he’d get her out safely.

  She clenched her fists. No. I can’t just rely on him. I need to find a way to save myself.

  Little Four Legs cut her thoughts short. “Don’t overthink it. Reuniting with your senior brother comes first.”

  “...Yeah.”

  She pulled out the st two fourth-grade talismans she had left and sighed. “These things are lifesavers, but they drain me dry. And they’re too damn rare.”

  On the continent, the most powerful Explosive Spirit Talisman anyone had managed was sixth-grade. With luck, one could kill a Spirit Severing cultivator outright—or at least cripple a Spirit Transformation cultivator.

  But a sixth-grade talisman was priceless. No one alive had ever succeeded in crafting one. The stockpile the righteous sects had came from a talisman master who’d died centuries ago.

  These days, the most skilled talisman maker was Cornelius of Ashenreach, and even he could only produce fifth-grade Explosive Spirit Talismans.

  “The talisman tradition on your continent is pathetic,” Little Four Legs muttered.

  Lauren blinked. “Huh?”

  “Normally, a talisman master at Spirit Transformation should be able to create ninth-grade talismans—or even talisman treasures. That’s the true standard.”

  Lauren stared at him, stunned.

  Lauren frowned. “Forget ninth-grade talismans. In the entire history of the Cultivation Continent, there hasn’t even been an eighth-grade talisman master. And I’ve never even heard of talisman treasures.”

  “That’s exactly why I said your inheritance is fwed,” Little Four Legs replied ftly. “When we return to the mountain, I’ll pass on a complete talisman inheritance to you.”

  Lauren’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

  If she could create a high-grade talisman, she’d be the first in the continent’s history. That kind of reputation—and fortune—would change her life.

  After her initial excitement, she ducked her head shyly. “Thank you in advance.”

  “You’re welcome. I stole it from a human cultivator anyway.”

  Lauren: “…”

  ......

  Three days ter, Tarot finally arrived.

  Dressed in pin clothes like her, he ushered Lauren straight into his room.

  “Did I keep you waiting long?”

  Lauren bit her lip, smiling. “Not bad. Faster than I expected. Brother, did you use the teleportation array?”

  “Yes. I was near Moonlit Sect, so I rushed back as soon as I got your message. Junior Sister, are you unharmed?”

  Lauren shook her head quickly. “No, you gave me so many life-saving items. I managed.”

  “Oh? Jade said you even detonated the Spirit Treasure. The Moonlit Sect even sent Core Formation cultivators after you.”

  Lauren grimaced. “I used an Explosive Spirit Talisman to blow one of them up. I’m fine. But Brother, since you were near Moonlit Sect… are you alright?”

  Tarot waved off her concern. “Don’t worry. Master has already gone to speak with Sect Leader Herbert. They won’t dare make another move.”

  Lauren froze. “Master… came down the mountain?”

  Tarot nodded. “Jade sent word about the situation. Master descended immediately to confront Moonlit Sect. With him there, they won’t touch you again.”

  Warmth surged in Lauren’s chest. Her gamble had been right.

  Some protagonists thrived by keeping a low profile, hiding their power until the right moment. But her luck was never that kind—she couldn’t even manage to avoid stepping in dog shit. So, her only path was clinging tightly to powerful figures.

  “Junior Sister,” Tarot asked quietly, “what exactly did you take from the Hidden Mist Secret Realm? What kind of treasure would make Moonlit Sect chase you so relentlessly?”

  Lauren grinned. “Of course it’s a great treasure. I’ll tell you when we’re back on the mountain.”

  “Oh? You’re hiding it from your own senior brother?”

  “If I weren’t, I’d have shown you already. But right now, it’s… too big to reveal here.”

  Tarot chuckled, shaking his head. “Fine, fine. Keep your secrets. Come, I’ll take you home.”

  Lauren gnced out the window. “We’re leaving at night?”

  “I prefer the night,” Tarot said with a crooked smile.

  His rare dark spiritual root thrived under moonlight the way a light spiritual root did under the sun.

  He spread his spiritual power, wrapped Lauren in his arm, and in the next breath their figures dissolved seamlessly into the night.