"Big snake, did you see that? So many people came today, and they were all here for you!"
"Do you know how many people are eyeing you with covetousness?"
"The world is treacherous. From now on, unless it's an absolute emergency, you are not allowed to leak the aura of a divine beast!"
Lin Su looked at the Jiao dragon and said solemnly. Her cultivation level was still too low; if the Jiao dragon leaked its presence, many people would target her, and she would be in big trouble then.
The Jiao dragon shook its head and rested it on top of Lin Su's bed canopy, appearing to understand her instructions.
Once a divine beast recognizes its master, their fates become intertwined. If one is in mortal danger, the other can hardly survive alone.
Seeing this colossal giant of a dragon display such deep human-like understanding, Lin Su curled the corners of her lips into a smile, her heart filled with both pleasant surprise and a touch of worry.
What surprised her was her great fortune: not only had her cultivation increased dramatically, but she had also gained the allegiance of a Jiao dragon. Every single one of these things was a stroke of supreme destiny!
What worried her was that this big snake possessed such a massive physique. Even though it was currently just a soul, the heavenly treasures and rare resources it required would be staggering.
How was she to feed it?
It seemed capable of sniffing out treasures, but its very first treasure hunt had offended a mysterious figure and even implicated Fang Cuonian, resulting in his destruction and death.
While Fang Cuonian certainly deserved to die, making enemies like this all the time was no solution!
The world of cultivation was full of plunder; it was kill or be killed. Lin Su had not yet grown accustomed to such cruel rules.
Up until now, she had merely been an obscure female student at Jinyun Academy. Although she studied the Book of Changes, alchemy, and artifact forging, she completely lacked any foundation in spiritual energy.
It was only in the past few days that, through a fortuitous convergence of circumstances, she had received certain boosts and leaped into the ranks of the upper-tier cultivators of Jinyun City.
In reality, people did not yet know her well, and she had very little understanding of the real world. Her kind-hearted nature unconsciously tied her hands and feet.
She lacked self-confidence and boldness, and she had never once stood out brilliantly.
However, this world was inherently one where the strong preyed on the weak and the victor took all.
Lin Su would eventually come to understand that the rules of this world were precisely so!
The giant dragon lay motionless atop the bed, seemingly fast asleep.
A warm feeling filled Lin Su's heart.
The following day, Lin Su received an invitation from Grand Marshal Yang's household.
The invitation was delivered personally by Yang Liuzi. Grand Marshal Yang was inviting the current cohort of students from Jinyun Academy to a banquet—an annual routine grand event.
At gatherings of this sort, Grand Marshal Yang would select a batch of Jinyun Academy disciples to join the Pacifying Nation Army of Jinyun City, which was also a major event in the city.
The benefits of joining the Pacifying Nation Army were very high; not only was the income considerable, but one also obtained corresponding cultivation resources. Both commoner disciples and gentry disciples eagerly anticipated this.
Lin Su had little desire to join the Pacifying Nation Army—she lacked neither money nor cultivation resources—but since Yang Liuzi had come to invite her in person, she was very happy.
Lin Su led Yang Liuzi for a stroll through the Lin estate. With its picturesque scenery and supreme feng shui, it was one of the finest residences in Jinyun City.
"Lin Su, how is your brother?"
Although Lin Yi had been heavily wounded in that nation-founding battle, he had become an idol in the hearts of the younger generation, and Yang Liuzi was one of his fans.
"Don't mention it. My brother was ambushed by someone and remains unconscious to this day. We still don't know who the culprit is!"
Yang Liuzi's inquiry reminded Lin Su of the black snake she had captured that day, filling her heart with intense hatred.
"Lin Su, actually, after your brother was injured and your parents went missing, my father investigated personally and discovered a few clues, but they were all fragmented and of no real value!"
Yang Liuzi felt somewhat awkward. That nation-founding battle, and the powerful rise of Jinyun City, could not have happened without the all-out efforts of all the noble families in the city.
Yet the Lin estate had suffered the heaviest losses; the three major generals who participated in the decisive battle were completely wiped out. This was precisely where the Yang family felt they had let the Lin estate down.
Yang Liuzi delivering the invitation in person this time also demonstrated the high regard in which they held the Lin estate. He desperately wanted to rope Lin Su into joining the Pacifying Nation Army to fight side by side with him!
Lin Xuanzhong's punch the other day had already established the prestige of the Lin estate; in the entire Jinyun City, no one could surpass it!
It didn't matter even if Lin Su was a bit weaker—he, Yang Liuzi, swore he would take good care of her!
The gateway of the Lin estate was currently being rebuilt. The Fang family had obediently provided all the repair costs according to Grand Marshal Yang's demands, and the finest craftsmen in Jinyun City were gathered at the Lin estate.
Grand Marshal Yang had already arranged for the Lin estate's gateway to be rebuilt according to the highest specifications, with blueprints modeled after a Prince's Mansion!
After sending Yang Liuzi off, Lin Su immediately locked herself away in her boudoir in Jingyun Tower, not stepping outside for anything; only the Little Lass Xiaomi Hua was allowed to set foot in her room.
As it turned out, Lin Su was going to draw a batch of talismans.
Her desk was covered with cinnabar and yellow paper, and she was writing furiously, her brush moving like a dragon or a snake. All the talismans were completed in one smooth flow, without a single moment of hesitation.
This was no sudden whim.
Yesterday's gazette reported that someone wanted to acquire a batch of high-grade talismans; higher quality meant a better price, with no limit on quantity.
A fifth-grade talisman could sell for twenty taels of silver!
While drawing talismans, Lin Su curved her red lips slightly.
"Miss, are these slips of paper really twenty taels of silver each?"
Xiaomi Hua frowned, looking at Lin Su with a bewildered and innocent expression. She had already drawn one hundred of them; if they really sold, that would be two thousand taels of silver!
Who could be so foolish as to spend money on yellow paper, and what were they for?
Seeing Xiaomi Hua's strange expression, Lin Su smiled and said, "These things are extremely powerful. They're specially used for catching ghosts and subduing demons, and they have unexpected uses. Hurry up and go get more paper!"
With an "oh," Xiaomi Hua set to work rummaging through chests and cabinets, collecting yellow paper and cinnabar for Lin Su.
These items had been bought for Lin Su by Lin Xuanzhong when she was studying at Jinyun Academy. They were all high-end goods shipped from the capital, costing over a thousand taels of silver!
Back then, Lin Su's magical power was low, so after drawing two talismans she had tossed them aside, claiming it was to avoid spoiling the treasures.
Well, look at this—in a short while, Lin Su had already used up ten percent of them!
As Xiaomi Hua was wondering what use Lin Su's scribbles could possibly have, a talisman on Lin Su's desk suddenly rose without any wind, drifted lazily into the air, and burst with a sharp pop.
A jet-black, gleaming bead dropped onto the floor with a click.
Xiaomi Hua hurried forward two steps, picked up the bead, handed it to Lin Su, and said with pleasant surprise, "Miss, look!"
"This is a detection artifact. It's very expensive—worth at least a thousand taels of silver!"
Lin Su rubbed the jet-black, gleaming bead in her palm, and at once it began to float lazily upward, gradually fading from sight until it resembled a faint cluster of light.
"Awesome!"
Xiaomi Hua couldn't help clapping her hands, her face filled with shock and delight. Her miss's talismans were too magical; they had actually caught a detection artifact!
Lin Su seemed quite unsatisfied with what had just happened and immediately stopped the brush in her hand. Anyway, her current harvest was already substantial.
Seeming to have sensed the commotion inside Jingyun Tower, Lin Xuanzhong arrived promptly at Lin Su's side, only to see her calmly produce a jet-black, gleaming bead and hand it to him.
The silver-haired old man's brow furrowed tightly.
With the Lin estate under such heavily guarded security, a detection artifact had still managed to break in?