Xi Mufu was speechless.
Ji Jiu had indeed taught her—except it was Xiang Shu – Face Reading.
How could someone get all the answers right while getting the entire process wrong!
“Mhm,” she said with a smile. “Ninth Master really has taught me many things.”
Shan Qu wore an expression of confirmation: “It’s good to study under Director Ji.”
Although Xiao Fu possessed extraordinary talent, Director Ji was like a reincarnated ancient deity in his heart, undoubtedly qualified to teach Xiao Fu.
In fact, he believed that in this world, only Director Ji was qualified to teach Xiao Fu. Others—including the president of the Mystic Arts Association, the sect leaders and elders of various sects, and the clan leaders of major families—were not qualified, as none could match Xiao Fu’s talent.
Xi Mufu nodded: “I think so too.”
Ji Jiu had been silently following behind the two, pretending not to hear their unrestrained discussion about him.
As the three slowly walked back into the courtyard, Xi Mufu suddenly felt a powerful surge of Gong De – Merit descend upon her.
This merit was countless times stronger than before, warming her entire body and even bringing on a wave of drowsiness.
“This…” Xi Mufu couldn’t help but glance at Ji Jiu.
Ji Jiu: “It’s from Ma Yong’s grandfather.”
Xi Mufu was stunned. Could this merit really be from Ma Yong’s grandfather?
Having served as the head of Tianyou Temple for many years, Shan Qu was quite familiar with local affairs. He immediately understood: “I heard that Ma Yong’s grandfather performed great deeds during the War of Resistance. Later, instead of working in the provincial capital, he returned to contribute to the town. Someone with such merit for the country surely possesses great and pure merit, as it carries a trace of the nation’s aura.”
Xi Mufu suddenly understood.
She had previously heard Shan Qu explain that everyone’s aura forms part of the national fortune, and the national fortune, in turn, nourishes each individual. That’s why China is growing increasingly powerful, and everyone’s lives are improving.
Since Ma Yong’s grandfather had performed great deeds, greatly benefiting the national aura, his merit was profound, his personal aura was stronger, and the merit he gave her was purer.
Shan Qu paused, then added: “Your Incense Shop has strong presence, further enhanced by your merit. Ordinary wraiths cannot approach, but Ma Yong’s grandfather was able to stay at the entrance for so long and protect Ma Yong’s great-grandfather precisely because his merit is extraordinary.”
Xi Mufu felt deep respect for Ma Yong’s grandfather and was very grateful to him.
Perhaps because the other’s merit was exceptional, she felt a sudden insight. She urgently wanted to draw the Evil-Expelling Talisman, certain she would succeed this time.
Thinking this, she ignored the drowsiness from receiving too much merit and hurried back into the courtyard to concentrate on practicing the Evil-Expelling Talisman.
She had been attempting it for the past two days without success, but her intuition told her she would succeed this time.
She wanted to learn how to draw the Evil-Expelling Talisman before the next batch of Otherworld Guests arrived, so she could give it to them for free and continue leveling up her [Talisman-making].
Lin Xia, as part of the third batch of Otherworld Guests, was forcibly ejected from the instance and returned to the hall. Clutching her backpack, she stood there dazed, unable to regain her senses for a long time.
So instances could be permanently closed too?
Moreover, this Instance seemed to have become like this because of her, leaving her momentarily unsure how to react.
“Lin Xia.” A female voice sounded behind her while her mind was in chaos. “I heard you visited an Incense Shop in the Instance. The three major guilds now want to understand the process of your transaction with the Incense Shop. Are you willing to cooperate?”
Lin Xia was absolutely willing. She had originally intended to report her experience to the three major guilds, but being previously unknown and lacking in strength, she didn’t even qualify to join any of them, let alone establish connections with their members. Thus, she hadn’t known how to report it.
Now that someone had taken the initiative to approach her, her eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded: “I’m willing!”
Soon, she was taken to the territory of the first major guild. When she entered the conference hall, she saw six people present—both men and women—each radiating a powerful aura that clearly indicated their formidable abilities.
“It’s actually the guild leaders and deputy leaders of the three major guilds…” Although she hadn’t been qualified to interact with the three major guilds, as a bottom-tier player, she paid close attention to these important figures and knew what they looked like.
She never would have imagined that the guild leaders and deputy leaders of the three major guilds would personally come to see her!
“Don’t be nervous.” Pu Yunfeng was the first to stand up and welcome her, guiding her to a seat as he said gently, “You probably know that I’ve also been to the Incense Shop and met the two shop owners there. We share similar experiences—you can trust me.”
Lin Xia was indeed somewhat nervous, given that the six people before her were the most powerful figures in the Infinite Flow World. But after hearing Pu Yunfeng’s words, she genuinely relaxed, feeling an inexplicable closeness to him.
Lin Xia then proceeded to recount in detail her experience of entering the Incense Shop and making a transaction.
When she mentioned how the Shop Owner had recommended a Protection Talisman to her, which she then used to repel the male ghost, Pu Yunfeng couldn’t help but remark, “The Shop Owner truly has divine foresight. She recommended a Cleansing Talisman to me and a Protection Talisman to you, precisely calculating our different encounters.”
“Exactly!” Lin Xia wholeheartedly agreed. “The Owner must be able to see through our situations!”
She then went on to describe how, when she was about to ask the Owner if she had come to save them, an invisible force blocked her.
Upon hearing this, the six guild leaders all showed thoughtful expressions.
They were well aware that this Infinite Flow World was controlled by something—perhaps a higher civilization, perhaps an evil deity… It seemed that entity did not want them to make contact with the Incense Shop Owner.
Yet the Incense Shop Owner was still able to help them, which indicated that the Owner’s capabilities surpassed that entity’s. So, there was still hope for them to leave this dreadful place.
For a moment, the six guild leaders were in good spirits.
“Would you like to join us? You can choose any of the three major guilds,” Pu Yunfeng said, looking at Lin Xia. “Of course, if you’re unwilling, the three major guilds will still protect you.”
Without hesitation, Lin Xia replied, “I want to join the Nine Phoenixes.”
A beautiful woman in a fiery red cheongsam immediately stood up and said with a smile, “Welcome!”
This was Lan Ruoting, the guild leader of the second major guild, Nine Phoenixes. Her guild consisted almost entirely of powerful female players, something Lin Xia had long admired.
After confirming her entry into Nine Phoenixes, Lin Xia could hardly contain her excitement. She had always wanted to join Nine Phoenixes and held great admiration for Lan Ruoting. Now that Lan Ruoting had personally allowed her into the guild, she felt somewhat elated.
“Oh, I still have the Protection Talisman and Incense Paper Money left!” She suddenly remembered something, quickly composed herself, and placed her backpack on the table.
Just as she took these two items out of her backpack, a small slip of paper fell out from the bag of Incense Paper Money—
【Happy New Year!】
Lin Xia froze.
There were no holidays in the Infinite Flow World. After entering this realm, they cycled through instances repeatedly, constantly facing life and death. Everyone had long forgotten the passage of time in the real world, let alone knew when the New Year was.
“So that day was New Year’s…” Lin Xia murmured, tears welling up in her eyes unnoticed. “I miss home so much…”
Lan Ruoting gently patted her shoulder and comforted her softly: “We will definitely make it back.”
This “Happy New Year” felt like the Shop Owner’s way of encouraging them—not to give up, for they would surely return to the real world.