Just then, she suddenly remembered that Xiu Jiming seemed to know how to tell fortunes.
Lin Ling felt slightly relieved and temporarily set aside her worries, planning to look for Xiu Jiming later.
For now, she should first read some books about talisman cultivators.
Reaching the door, Lin Ling glanced around cautiously.
After confirming that no one was there this time, she forcefully shut the door and locked herself inside the archives room.
Talisman cultivation originated from an ancient great cultivator who attempted to copy all the great Dao of the world, forming a unique school.
Talisman cultivation is divided into four stages.
The first stage is Imitating Form—learning, copying, and mastering the basics of drawing stable talismans, successfully reproducing various first-grade talismans passed down by predecessors.
It also involves understanding the subtle effects different talisman paper, cinnabar, and spiritual ink have on the talismans.
The second stage is called Living Spirit.
At this stage, one can arrange multiple talismans according to specific patterns to form compound effects—talisman arrays.
One may also construct a natal talisman spell, place it within the Purple Mansion Dao Palace for nourishment, allowing it to develop spirituality as the talisman master grows.
The third stage is Inspiration.
With sufficiently powerful divine sense, one can use fingers in place of a brush and true essence as ink, forming talismans instantly in midair at incredible speed.
The type of talisman can be switched freely at will.
With the help of talisman spirits, large-scale arrays can be deployed rapidly and in great numbers.
The fourth stage is Mind’s Eye.
Talismans drawn at this level can be permanently imprinted into the void.
At the pinnacle of this realm, one may “speak with heavenly authority”—words themselves become talismans, requiring no medium or motion.
A single sentence can suppress all techniques.
Lin Ling closed the book helplessly.
“Speak with heavenly authority?”
She couldn’t even open her mouth.
Of course, it was just a metaphor.
Even if she couldn’t speak, there were other methods.
At that moment, Lin Ling looked up—and was suddenly startled.
She quickly grabbed the dossier in her hand and hurled it forward.
Somehow, a blue-haired girl had appeared sitting right in front of her.
The blue-haired girl was resting her chin on her hand, dozing off directly opposite Lin Ling.
Her head bobbed slightly, and there was even a trace of drool at the corner of her mouth—apparently enjoying a pleasant dream.
Struck squarely on the forehead by the dossier, she wobbled.
Her hand slipped, and her head slammed heavily onto the desk.
Thud.
Rubbing the reddened spot between her brows, she complained, “What are you doing, little fox?”
Lin Ling stared at her warily.
She had no idea when this person had appeared in front of her—or how long she had been there.
Lin Ling opened a book and wrote on the page: “Who are you? What do you want? Why have you been staring at me?”
The blue-haired girl yawned.
The injury on her forehead had already disappeared.
She said seriously, “Why so many questions? Let’s take them one at a time.”
After rubbing her face and composing herself, the blue-haired girl smiled brightly.
“My name is Xiu Lanxin. I was entrusted by Brother Xiu to take care of you. Of course, if it’s more convenient, you can call me Sister.”
She struck what she thought was a charming pose and patted her flat chest openly.
Lin Ling glanced at her figure and didn’t take it to heart.
The girl in front of her wasn’t much older than she was.
Having no figure was perfectly normal.
Noticing Lin Ling’s gaze, Xiu Lanxin raised an eyebrow and said with dissatisfaction, “What’s with you, little fox? Why are your eyes wandering? Don’t tell me you like women?!”
Lin Ling rolled her eyes and didn’t elaborate.
How should she put it?
She did indeed like women.
But even if she liked women, she certainly wouldn’t like this little girl.
Lin Ling sighed and sat back down at the desk.
She wrote: “You said your name is Xiu Lanxin. You share the surname Xiu—does that mean you and Xiu Jiming are from the same family?”
Xiu Lanxin nodded.
“Yes, I’m his cousin. I grew up hearing about Brother Xiu’s glorious deeds.”
Lin Ling paused, suddenly curious about Xiu Jiming’s so-called glorious deeds.
Surely it wasn’t something like peeking at girls bathing in his youth, or being a snot-nosed troublemaker playing in the mud?
As she imagined absurd scenarios while recalling Xiu Jiming’s face—picturing “Little Ming” doing all sorts of ridiculous things—she almost couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Unaware of Lin Ling’s wandering thoughts, Xiu Lanxin interrupted, “I noticed Brother Xiu seems to care about you quite a bit.
So I accepted the task and came personally to see what kind of person you are.”
Lin Ling glanced at her without replying.
She wrote on the paper: “Fine then. Since you’re a guard sent to me by Little Ming, I might as well accept it. Please watch the entrance to the library for me. Without my permission, don’t let anyone in.”
Xiu Lanxin crossed her arms and tilted her head.
“Huh? But people frequently bring dossiers in for registration. Is it really okay not to let them in?”
Lin Ling paused, realizing this was a headquarters branch of the Inspection Bureau, unlike their more casual situation back in Moon Mountain County.
After thinking for a moment, she changed the subject.
She wrote: “You mentioned you grew up hearing about Xiu Jiming’s deeds. Is your whole family in the Inspection Bureau business?”
Xiu Lanxin shook her head.
“No. We simply have many forms of cooperation with the Inspection Bureau. The Xiu family is a cultivation clan. If it weren’t for the Great Yu Dynasty’s powerful dragon qi—once the imperial court becomes displeased, it could impose restrictions on you, such as preventing you from attaining the rank of a righteous deity, which would hinder your cultivation path—we wouldn’t bother joining the Bureau.”
She continued enthusiastically, “Besides, Brother Xiu’s glorious deeds didn’t come from working in the Bureau.”
Now Lin Ling was interested. She wrote: “Oh? Then what are these glorious deeds you speak of?”
[Don’t tell me it really was something like running around naked playing in the mud. If so, Little Ming, that’s just pathetic.]
Xiu Lanxin looked shocked at Lin Ling’s ignorance.
“Such a major event and you don’t know? And you’re supposedly so close to Brother Xiu. He never told you?”
Lin Ling shrugged.
[I’m not his mother. Why would he report everything to me?]
“Alright, alright, enough nonsense. What exactly is it?”
Lin Ling quickly added in writing, “I really want to know.”
Xiu Lanxin raised one finger dramatically.
“Do you know that he is the most outstanding genius in the entire human race in nearly a thousand years—the unparalleled prodigy of the Xiu family—Xiu Jiming?”
“Impressive title. Now please get to the point,” Lin Ling wrote helplessly.
“What’s the rush? Listen carefully. At the age of sixteen, Brother Xiu achieved the unprecedented and unmatched breakthrough into the Royal Boundary Realm.”
She spoke in a mysterious tone.