Chapter 64: Unmoved by Temptation? The Profound Mystery of the Heavenly Talisman!

Cao Xuan had lived two lives, read many novels, seen the world, and encountered all kinds of plots in his studies. He had been puzzled before—when he saw his senior sister lower her head, revealing the spectacular sight beneath her loose azure dress, he had even described it as “sharp as young bamboo shoots, round as a bright moon.” Yet, at that time, she had only blushed slightly, called him a rogue, and didn’t react too strongly; in fact, she seemed to forget the incident soon after.

To Cao Xuan, it was reminiscent of children who catch a glimpse of each other’s bodies—some blush and feel shy, but don’t really make much of it. Now, seeing the undergarment in his senior sister’s hands, he was finally certain.

Logically, ancient times were more conservative than the present. Whether it was Lin Miaoxuan or Chen Qianru, only when their relationship had reached a certain level would they let him get close, and even then, they remained reserved. But Senior Sister Li Yao was different. It was as if no one had ever taught her these things. To put it nicely, one could call her pure-hearted; less kindly, she simply had no education in matters of intimacy.

“Senior Sister, did you grow up on the mountain since childhood?”

Li Yao was busy tidying her clothes when she heard Cao Xuan ask this. She replied casually, “Yes, what about it?”

Cao Xuan covered his face, “But didn’t the master ever teach you that men and women shouldn’t be too familiar?”

Li Yao chuckled, “Junior Brother, do you think I don’t know anything?”

Cao Xuan was startled, and she continued, “Of course I know. But you’re not an outsider, after all.”

Then, as if suddenly recalling something, Li Yao looked at him warily. “Junior Brother, are you trying to kiss me?”

She remembered their master once sternly pointing at a pair of senior brother and sister caught kissing, and now she said with a serious face, “Junior Brother, Master said men and women are different. Unless we become Dao companions, we can’t do such things!”

Recalling that scene, Li Yao’s face turned crimson. “If you really want a kiss, you’ll have to wait until we know each other better…”

Her voice grew softer and softer, and just as Cao Xuan was still in a daze, she suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered, “If Master ever goes into seclusion, Senior Sister can let you sneak a kiss.”

As soon as she finished, her face was so red it looked like it could drip water. Truthfully, she’d always been curious, but she never forgot their master’s teachings.

On Talisman Peak, she was always the exalted senior sister—others only treated her with respect, and there were no peers to pique her interest. Cao Xuan’s arrival—she had to admit—she didn’t dislike it.

Cao Xuan cultivated the “Heavenly Talisman Codex”; his whole presence was like a living talisman, resonating with the natural order, making him feel pleasant to be around. And because Li Yao practiced the “Runic Cloud Technique,” she felt a unique peace around him.

Perhaps she was simply too shy, or maybe it was because Cao Xuan stood there dumbfounded, saying nothing at all.

There was nothing he could do. When Li Yao leaned close to whisper in his ear, he realized she wasn’t wearing an undergarment; the beautiful scenery was impossible to ignore. He had to circulate his spiritual energy to suppress any embarrassing reactions.

Li Yao’s expression quickly returned to normal. “Junior Brother, just forget what I said. Don’t take it to heart.”

“No, Senior Sister, I—”

Cao Xuan tried to explain, but Li Yao cut him off. “Enough about that. I’d like to ask you about the ‘Runic Cloud Technique.’ Of course, I won’t let you teach me for nothing. If you have any requests, just say so!”

Her expression was calm, but inside she was in turmoil. “I’m dying, I’m dying—Li Yao, how could you be so shameless?”

Meanwhile, Cao Xuan stared blankly at the panel before him.

[Ding~ Li Yao’s emotions fluctuate. Affection increased.]
[Ding~ Li Yao’s affection has reached 60.]
[Ding~ Li Yao’s affection +5.]
[Ding~ Li Yao’s affection +10.]
[…]
[Ding~ Li Yao’s affection has reached 85.]

Well, well. Senior Sister looked calm, but her emotions were in constant flux, and her affection kept rising. Cao Xuan decided not to break the mood. “Alright, Senior Sister, which parts do you not understand?”

Li Yao settled herself, collected her thoughts, and after a moment said, “Let’s start with the mountain rune. Master always says ‘Man plus Mountain makes an Immortal.’ The human rune and the mountain rune are key obstacles in the ‘Runic Cloud Technique…’”

Cao Xuan nodded. In both of his lifetimes, in learning the “Heavenly Talisman Codex,” the human and mountain runes formed the foundation.

“The human rune is applied to people—there’s the Golden Body Rune, the Vitality Rune… All things return to the source. The single stroke and the sweeping stroke together make up the human rune. There are ten basic ways to draw it, and thirty-two…”

Cao Xuan explained the thoughts in his mind simply. To him it was instinct, but for Li Yao it was a revelation—her mind was suddenly clear, as if a veil had been lifted.

“So that means, the human rune could actually…”

Li Yao was already starting to make connections, growing more and more excited.

Cao Xuan cleared his throat. Since arriving in the cultivation world, he’d truly let himself go.

Especially after reaching Foundation Establishment, his body was immaculate, his masculinity surpassing that of ordinary men; “full of vitality” hardly did it justice. The appearance of the [Devoted Pursuer System] was the last straw that broke the camel’s back—he would accept any immortal beauty who came his way.

The point of cultivation, aside from seeking longevity, was to seize joy in the moment, wasn’t it?

So, as Li Yao grew more and more excited from her newfound insights into talismans, Cao Xuan decided to test the waters.

“Senior Sister, didn’t you just say I could make any request as payment?”

Li Yao was deep in thought and answered without hesitation, “Of course! What do you want me to do? Draw talismans for you? Help you practice spells? Or next time there’s a sect mission, be your bodyguard for free…”

Cao Xuan chuckled. He was no ascetic protagonist from past-life novels—aloof with female cultivators, acting like a eunuch. He believed in enjoying life; only what you actually tasted counted as real.

The Devoted Pursuer System wanted him to “pursue,” and if he already “spent the money” he wasn’t about to do nothing. The insights of the “Heavenly Talisman Codex” pointed directly to the heart of the Dao—across two lives, countless people would have paid any price for the elder’s guidance.

Why not collect a little interest for teaching Senior Sister?

Cao Xuan smiled and said, “Senior Sister, I don’t mean anything else. I just want you to sit on my lap and let me teach you from a little closer.”

Li Yao eyed Cao Xuan with suspicion. “Are you up to something naughty?”

Cao Xuan opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Li Yao plopped herself right onto his lap.

“That’s all? You’re not thinking something worse, are you?”

She looked stunned. “You’re not going to ask Senior Sister to draw five hundred talismans for you, are you?”

As she spoke, she wiggled her hips, as if she’d just been assigned to copy homework five hundred times like a primary schooler.

She quickly tried to remedy the situation. “Let me make it clear—I’ve already sat over here. Any more requests after this don’t count… okay?”

Cao Xuan gently placed his hand on her waist and softly began, “The mountain rune…”

In an instant, Li Yao’s eyes lost focus as she slipped into a state of enlightenment!