When the Talisman was completed, the entire Talisman burst out with blazing crimson light. A faint dragon’s roar seemed to echo forth, and the fire Spiritual fluctuations it emitted were on par with the sample on the table.

"Mm, this Talisman contains a trace of Fire Cloud true intent. It can barely be called a fine piece."

Only then did Shen Xuan slightly nod, handing this Talisman to Yang Huofeng.

"Activate it and feel its power."

Yang Huofeng obeyed, carefully channeling a thread of Spiritual Power into the Talisman.

"Roar!"

A low, deep dragon’s roar rang out as the Talisman instantly transformed into a fire dragon over a zhang long, its scales distinct, lifelike and vivid, baring its claws as it lunged forward!

The scorching heatwave swept through the entire Talisman room, its might enough to threaten a Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"So powerful!"

Feeling the Fire Spiritual Power contained within that fire dragon, Yang Huofeng couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Shen Xuan said blandly, "Showy but lacking substance. Its power has not yet reached the limit."

He once again picked up the Talisman Brush.

This time, at the instant the brush tip fell, an extremely fine strand of Crimson Cloud Source True Fire quietly merged into the Cinnabar. As the runes were outlined, the Crimson Cloud patterns became ever clearer and more Spiritual.

When the fourth Fire Dragon Talisman was completed, a faint cloudlike radiance seemed to flow over the surface of the Talisman Paper, and the Spiritual Pressure it emitted made even Yang Huofeng feel a jolt of unease.

"Try this Talisman again."

Yang Huofeng activated it once more.

"Roar!"

This time, the dragon’s roar was even more resounding. Although the fire dragon that shot forth was no larger in size, its entire body’s color was deeper and more profound, wisps of crimson cloud qi coiling about it as the void faintly twisted.

Its imposing might was several times stronger than the previous one.

Yang Huofeng had no doubt that once activated, this Talisman could severely wound a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Shen Xuan stared at the slowly dissipating illusory fire dragon shadow, and at last a trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes.

"It contains a wisp of Source True Fire intent. It can barely be considered usable."

He turned to Yang Huofeng, whose heart was surging, and said calmly, "Alright. You’ve observed both the principles and technique four times now. Next, it’s your turn."

"Ah? I’m to draw the Talisman?"

Yang Huofeng pointed at her own nose, her pretty face full of shock.

"Or what? You thought I called you here to watch your master put on a show?"

Shen Xuan countered.

Yang Huofeng pulled a bitter face and braced herself as she walked up to the Talisman table.

First, her Divine Sense swept through the Fire Dragon Talisman Inheritance.

After quite a while.

Only then did she pick up the Talisman Brush.

At the start, her technique was unfamiliar, and she failed more than a dozen times in a row, wasting quite a few pieces of Talisman Paper.

However, Shen Xuan discovered that Yang Huofeng’s Talent on the Talisman Dao was exceptionally astonishing.

Her mind was nimble, her wrist steady, and she possessed an extraordinarily keen intuition toward controlling Fire Spiritual Power.

Under Shen Xuan’s few but precise pointers, Yang Huofeng advanced at astonishing speed, quickly grasping the essence of the rune structure and the rhythm of channeling Spiritual Power.

Two hours later.

After consuming more than ten pieces of Talisman Paper, the Spiritual Light under Yang Huofeng’s brush finally steadied, and a Fire Dragon Talisman with smooth runes and evenly distributed Spiritual Light emerged.

"Master, I did it!"

Yang Huofeng held up the Spirit Talisman, bouncing with excitement, her face flushed with joy.

Shen Xuan slightly nodded. "Your comprehension is passable. Next, try to precisely control the aura of that strand of Crimson Cloud Source True Fire in your Dantian, and as I just did, merge it into the rune."

This step was extremely difficult and required exceedingly exquisite control over one’s own Magical Power.

Yang Huofeng held her breath and focused, repeatedly attempting. After failing several times, she finally, during one fully single-minded outlining, succeeded in branding a wisp of Crimson Cloud Source True Fire into the rune.

When the Talisman was finished, its Spiritual Light drew inward, faintly revealing a vision of cloud radiance.

This Fire Dragon Talisman of Yang Huofeng’s shared about thirty percent resemblance to the fourth Spirit Talisman drawn by Shen Xuan.

"Not bad."

Shen Xuan rarely gave such affirmation. "Practice diligently; familiarity breeds proficiency. We’ll stop here for today."

Enlightenment dawned on Yang Huofeng.

Her master teaching her the Talisman Dao and making her a Talisman Master was not merely to earn Spirit Stones or to share the Sect’s tasks.

It was to give her an extra trump card for protection on her path.

Putting away her master’s fine-grade Fire Dragon Talisman, Yang Huofeng said respectfully, "Disciple understands. I will certainly cultivate diligently without slacking."

Shen Xuan said meaningfully, "Come here every evening to practice for an hour. After some time, once you’ve grown proficient with this Talisman, I will then pass on to you the Secret Technique of Talisman Arrays."

As for how powerful the Talisman Array was, Shen Xuan did not say.

A chill rose in Yang Huofeng’s heart.

A single fine-grade Fire Dragon Talisman already possessed such might.

If combined with an Array, with dozens of Spirit Talismans being activated at once, how spectacular would that be?

...

Time flowed on; in the blink of an eye, another two months had passed.

On this particular early morning, as the rising sun climbed and ten thousand rays of dawn light spread, Flame Island was bathed in resplendence.

The Cave Mansion restrictions of Scarlet Cloud Peak opened, and Yang Yunfan walked out at an unhurried pace.

He wore a neat cyan cotton robe, his spirit vigorous, and there was a trace of barely concealed delight on his face.

Leaving Scarlet Cloud Peak, he followed the mountain path downward.

Along the way he encountered quite a few Sect Servants busy in the early hours, and even some Low Tier Qi Cultivation Disciples.

"Brother Yang, morning!"

"Steward Yang, good morning!"

"Master Yang, you’re looking well today!"

Whether familiar Servants or those Qi Cultivation Disciples, all stopped when they saw him, taking the initiative to clasp fists in greeting, their tone respectful.

No one called him "Old Man Yang" anymore.

Instead, they politely addressed him as "Master Yang," "Steward Yang," or "Brother Yang."

Yang Yunfan’s face was wreathed with smiles as he clasped his fists in return one by one, looking utterly amiable.

In his heart, everything was crystal clear.

The reason these people treated him this way was entirely for the sake of his daughter, Yang Huofeng.

After his daughter’s Foundation Establishment, she was strictly forbidden to leave Scarlet Cloud Peak, and all purchasing matters were left in his care.

However, his range of activity was also restricted to within Flame Island; he was not allowed to leave the island without authorization.

Yang Yunfan knew full well that this was Shen Haoming’s way of protecting the father and daughter.