I have a composite mirror

Chapter 104 The Undercurrents Before the Big Exam

Chapter 104 The Undercurrents Before the Big Exam

Outside Cao Wenjing's study.

"Come in."

His voice was deep, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Gu Shenyan pushed the door open and locked it behind him.

Cao Wenjing was sitting behind his desk, toying with a warm, smooth jade slip in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.

"What brings you here so late?"

Gu Shenyan didn't speak, but quickly walked to the desk.

He took out an envelope wrapped in layers of oil paper from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.

"Senior brother, this is the result of the appraisal I had someone do at Qingfu Pawnshop that night."

A hint of surprise flashed in Cao Wenjing's eyes.

He took the envelope, flicked it with his fingertips, and took out several sheets of Xuan paper inside.

That was a summary of a "copy" that Gu Shenyan had acquired at great expense.

At first, Cao Wenjing's expression was relatively calm.

But as his gaze moved downwards, his pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints.

The hand holding the Xuan paper trembled slightly.

"Is this thing—definitely real?"

Cao Wenjing suddenly looked up and stared intently at Gu Shenyan.

Gu Shenyan nodded, his expression solemn.

"The person who made the appraisal is known in the provincial capital's circles as having an 'eagle eye'; he has never been wrong."

"I had him seal the original document using a secret method, and this is the part that has been copied."

"Especially the descriptions of the 'Path of Fusion' and that incomplete array diagram."

Cao Wenjing took a deep breath.

He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the not-so-spacious study.

"How dare you!"

"Tonghai Trading Company and those Southeast Asian sorcerers dare to interfere in the Hundred Talismans Ceremony!"

"If they succeed and use the guise of the religious ceremony to whitewash that evil magic, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Cao Wenjing stopped and grabbed the envelope from the table.

"Be careful what you say, you did an excellent job."

"This thing is too hot to handle; you'll only cause trouble if you keep it."

"I'm going to see Senior Brother Liu right now."

"It might even require alerting our master overnight."

Gu Shenyan bowed respectfully.

"Disciple understands. Disciple has only come tonight to seek guidance from Senior Brother on talismans."

A hint of admiration flashed in Cao Wenjing's eyes.

"Go."

"Stay in the courtyard during this time and don't go anywhere."

"The wind outside is getting stronger."

That night, the main building of Tingtao Pavilion was brightly lit.

Looking at the secret report in his hand, Liu Wenyuan's usually gentle and refined face was now as cold as ice.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately activated the emergency communication array.

Half an hour later, Lu Banxian's phantom descended into the secret chamber.

After reading the secret report, the old man, who was usually somewhat eccentric, suddenly unleashed a terrifying killing intent.

"What a beautiful banyan tree!"

"What a wonderful way to integrate."

""

"Are we all going to die?"

Lu Banxian's voice echoed in the secret chamber, causing the surrounding defensive barriers to buzz.

"check."

"Investigate this thoroughly."

"I will contact a few old friends in the Xuanzheng Division."

"It's time to clean house."

In the following days, the atmosphere in the courtyard became somewhat eerie.

Although on the surface, it still appears to be a scene of intense preparation for the major exam.

But anyone with eyes can feel that extreme tension and repression.

Gu Shenyan clearly felt that there were far fewer prying eyes around him.

Instead, there is a kind of protection that is barely perceptible.

He knew that he had been placed on the high-level "reliable list".

The secret room of the library.

This place became the final sprint base for Gu Shenyan, Han Sushuang, and Jia Shouren.

"Watch closely."

Gu Shenyan held a specially made talisman pen in his hand, the tip of which moved rapidly through the air.

It was constructed purely with spiritual power, without being dipped in ink.

"This is the trick to 'chaining triggers'."

"The first stroke should be deliberate, leaving some room for maneuver."

"When connecting the two strokes, you should take advantage of the return stroke of the first stroke and burst forth instantly."

"Like this."

As he finished speaking, two faint beams of light connected end to end in the void, instantly exploding into a dazzling burst of sparks.

Jia Shouren was stunned, forgetting to chew the bun in his mouth.

"Brother Gu, what's wrong with your brain?"

"This is a technique that even those at the Foundation Establishment stage can barely master!"

Although Han Sushuang didn't speak, she couldn't hide the shock in her eyes.

She paused for a moment, then pulled a yellowed booklet from her sleeve.

"This is a fragment of the 'Golden Fire Secret Record' passed down in my Han family."

"It contains several simplified techniques for drawing gold and fire composite talismans."

"Although it's not as exquisite as Junior Brother Gu's combos, it's more consistent."

Gu Shenyan glanced at her with some surprise.

Distinguished family members value tradition above all else and are reluctant to divulge it to outsiders.

Han Sushuang blushed slightly and turned her head away somewhat awkwardly.

Don't misunderstand.

"I just don't want to be held back by you guys during the team trial."

Gu Shenyan smiled.

He took the booklet, casually flipped through a few pages, and a faint blue light flickered in his eyes.

[System analysis in progress —]

[Optimization path discovered.]

"here."

Gu Shenyan pointed to one of the pages.

"If we replace this Geng metal pattern with a quicksand pattern, although its power will be reduced by 10%, its stability will be increased by at least 30%."

"Even someone like Brother Jia, whose control over spiritual energy is slightly weaker, can draw it."

Upon hearing this, Jia Shouren immediately perked up and leaned over to ponder it carefully.

The turmoil at the docks seems to have subsided.

The male sorcerer who triggered the restriction vanished, as if he had never existed.

Instead, a middle-aged man named Qin Mo took his place.

He was wearing a faded gray Taoist robe and had a goatee, looking like a down-on-his-luck fortune teller.

But his hands were unusually steady.

There were no unnecessary movements.

"Fellow Daoist Gu."

Qin Mo nodded slightly to Gu Shenyan, his tone calm.

"This batch of cinnabar is of good quality, but it's a bit too pungent. It's best to temper it with morning dew before using it."

expert.

Gu Shenyan made a judgment after hearing only one sentence.

This person is a true talisman master, not the kind of bureaucrat who just coasts along.

That night, he found a new note under his pillow.

Qin Mo is credible.

[Former subordinates of Liu.]

There are only these eight words.

Gu Shenyan burned the note to ashes, feeling much more at ease.

It seems the cleaning process has already begun.

But the tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease.

Although Song Qingyuan was confined, the forces behind him did not remain idle.

In the past few days, a number of renowned figures from the provincial capital have come to visit Tingtao Pavilion.

His words were implied as a plea for mercy.

"Although Qingyuan is a mischievous child, he does have talent."

"Young people, who hasn't made mistakes?"

"With the big exam just around the corner, if we don't give him a chance, we might disappoint the old friends of Senior Song."

This pressure is like an invisible net, slowly tightening.

After giving a private lesson, Cao Wenjing made a point of keeping Gu Shenyan behind.

"They're getting anxious."

Cao Wenjing wiped the long sword in his hand, his tone chilling.

"They want to manipulate the selection of judges."

"If a hard approach doesn't work, we'll have to resort to a softer one."

"Be careful what you say. You must win this crucial test."

"And you have to win beautifully."

"We must crush them with overwhelming force, leaving them no excuse to find fault!"

Gu Shenyan looked at Cao Wenjing's bloodshot eyes and nodded heavily.

"This disciple will do his utmost."

Three days later.

The square in front of the main hall of Tingtao Pavilion was crowded with people.

Liu Wenyuan, dressed in white, stood on the high platform, his robes fluttering in the wind.

"quiet."

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

The entire room fell silent instantly.

"The rules have changed for this year's major exam."

Liu Wenyuan surveyed his surroundings, his gaze sharp as lightning.

"The top five in overall rankings".

"You will be qualified to represent Tingtao Pavilion in the provincial capital selection competition for the 'Hundred Talismans Dharma Assembly'!"

"Upon hearing this, the entire audience erupted in uproar."

All the disciples' eyes turned red.

That's the Hundred Talismans Ceremony!

That's a chance for the carp to leap over the dragon gate!

As long as you can make an appearance there, even if you don't get into the top ten, you can still walk around the provincial capital with your head held high!

This is both an opportunity and a battleground.