Hao Yunsheng took some salve from his Qiankun Ring. After applying it, he stared at Sunshine Boy, remaining stubbornly still.
The Captain came over, draping an arm over Hao Yunsheng’s shoulder. "A Fate Master’s ritual is a dangerous process, and the last thing they need is to be disturbed. Let’s go. Relax, he wouldn’t dare risk his own Life Mansion and Fate Grid."
Hao Yunsheng nodded and turned to leave.
The Book Listener, Foodie, and the others stood guard at the door.
Sunshine Boy arranged the Life Artifacts, then mentally replayed the entire casting process—a technique Jiangg Youfei had repeatedly drilled into him.
First, he recited various Purification Curses, cleansing all the Life Materials one by one with his Magical Power.
Next, he grabbed a handful of Spirit Awakening Talismans in each hand, channeled his Magical Power, and tossed them into the air.
The air filled with the rustling of red-patterned Yellow Talismans. They fluttered down, linking together to form two stick-figure shapes on the table, resembling little people.
Sunshine Boy recited a Spell. He formed a Sword Technique hand seal with his right index and middle fingers, which crackled with encircling Thunderbolt energy, and plunged them into the Sheep Blood Bowl.
BUBBLE BUBBLE...
The Blood Bowl boiled, its color deepening.
The sheep blood crept up his two fingers like a swarm of tiny red insects, stopping when it reached his wrist.
When Sunshine Boy withdrew his fingers, the sheep blood drained away as if a hole had opened in the bowl’s bottom. Soon, not a drop remained. The bowl was pristine, yet there was no hole to be seen.
His right hand now blood-red, Sunshine Boy moved it over the two Talisman People. Using his finger as a brush and the blood as ink, he painted a crimson stick figure over each of the Yellow Talisman shapes.
When he finished painting the two crimson figures, not a drop of sheep blood remained on his hand.
A strange gust of wind swept through, and the edges of the Yellow Talisman Papermen on the table began to RUSTLE and twitch, looking as if they were about to leap up.
Sunshine Boy’s expression grew grave. He took two rice-grain-sized pieces of gold and placed one on the head of each Yellow Talisman Paperman. Pressing down hard with his thumbs, he silently recited a Spell.
The gold flattened into gold foil, pinning down the heads of the Talisman People. The trembling Talisman Paper gradually stilled.
Gold Pressing Skill.
When he lifted his thumbs, the gold foil rippled, forming indentations and protrusions. At first glance, they resembled human faces. The one on the left bore a slight resemblance to Hao Yunsheng.
Sunshine Boy rolled up the paperman on the right and set it aside. He then took a fragment of Hao Yunsheng’s white clothing and snipped off a small piece. He placed this cloth on the body of the left Yellow Talisman Paperman, added a drop of Hao Yunsheng’s blood, a nail clipping, and a single strand of his hair.
Sunshine Boy covered the blood-stained cloth, nail clipping, and hair with his right hand. Closing his eyes, he silently recited a Magic Curse.
A faint red light emerged from under his palm, accompanied by wisps of white mist.
A moment later, Sunshine Boy lifted his right hand. The white cloth beneath it had transformed into a tiny, short-sleeved shirt with vertical crimson stripes—a garment for the Yellow Talisman Paperman.
Sunshine Boy separated out half of Hao Yunsheng’s hair, then took one strand from each of the other seventeen people. He mixed them all together, cupped them in his hands, and slowly recited a Spell.
As the Spell ended, the hairs flew up of their own accord. They drifted down onto the Yellow Talisman Paperman’s head and, like fine needles, pierced through the Runes and embedded themselves within.
Sunshine Boy picked up a rattan cane. Chanting a Spell, he bent it, connecting the ends and pressing lightly to form a perfect ring. He repeated this process, making ten rings in total.
He took the rings and placed them over the Yellow Talisman Paperman, stacking all ten in a single column that encircled it.
He wiped the sweat from his brow. Focusing on the Mind Guarding Spirit Platform technique, he used the Thunder Dragon Fire Seal to restore some of his Magical Power. While reciting another Spell, he grabbed a red candle.
Once the Spell was complete, he gently pressed the red candle onto the table above the paperman. A crimson flame instantly erupted from its wick.
He repeated this process until three red candles were placed on the table above the paperman, and nine sticks of incense were lit on the table below it.
The black smoke from the candles and the white smoke from the incense were drawn by an unseen force, intertwining above the paperman and rattan rings to form a gray cloud.
The Three Candle Nine Incense Life-Taking Technique was halfway complete.
Sunshine Boy once again wiped the sweat from his forehead and used the Thunder Dragon Fire Seal to restore his Magical Power.
Sunshine Boy took out the other Yellow Talisman Paperman and placed an Armor Plate on it. He then pressed his right hand down and recited a Spell.
Light flashed beneath his palm. When he lifted his hand, the paperman appeared to be wearing a layer of Armor that protected its body. He then cast another spell using some of the hair, which fell upon the small paperman.
Sunshine Boy picked up the Iron Armor Paperman and put it in his pocket.
He took Hao Yunsheng’s boots, dropped a goose feather into each, and recited a Spell. Then, he slapped each boot once.
SLAP...
When he lifted his hands, the two boots had transformed into a pair of small bird wings, like those of a sparrow.
He placed the bird wings on a piece of cloth, then added a hairpin, an arrowhead, hair, a drop of blood, and a nail clipping.
Sunshine Boy held a large handful of Spirit Awakening Talismans and began to chant. A gale suddenly erupted inside the room. Outside, the wind howled, and the Night Guards’ hearts pounded with fear.
He opened his right hand, and the Spirit Awakening Talismans RUSTLED down onto the cloth.
The various items on the cloth, along with the Spirit Awakening Talismans, began to squirm. Sunshine Boy continued to chant, casting spell after spell.
A moment later, with a puff of smoke, a small yellow bird, like a sparrow, appeared on the table. It sat there, dazed and motionless.
Sunshine Boy placed the yellow bird on the Yellow Talisman Paperman. After restoring his Magical Power, he began the final casting.
"Life and death are decreed by Fate; fortune and ruin are governed by Luck... Paperman, link the life! Yellow bird, seek the foe!"
As the Spell concluded, the yellow bird flapped its wings and took flight. It transformed into a streak of light that shot into the small courtyard west of the Five Goddess Temple.
The paperman abruptly caught fire. In the blink of an eye, it burned to nothing, transforming into a mote of golden light that flew into Hao Yunsheng’s forehead.
The gale in the room intensified, its mournful wail echoing ceaselessly.
Outside, the Night Guards looked uneasy.
Sunshine Boy cast a Purification Curse, and the fierce wind stopped.
"Is it over?" Foodie asked.
Sunshine Boy walked out of the room and looked at the expectant Night Guards.
"The Life Acceleration Skill was a success. From now on, anyone who tries to harm us will face the combined power of all our Fate Grids. However..." Sunshine Boy glanced at Hao Yunsheng. "If this Deceitful Mother’s power is unremarkable, this will be enough to deal with her. My fear is... that the Deceitful Mother is stronger than Hao Yunsheng claimed. My Life Acceleration Skill can only weaken the power of the Deceit; it can’t guarantee that everyone will survive."
Hao Yunsheng said coldly, "If you can’t keep us all alive, then what good are you?"
"If you were willing to hand over the Fate Master’s notes, then I could certainly guarantee everyone’s survival!" Sunshine Boy shot back, his eyes flicking to Hao Yunsheng’s Qiankun Ring.
"Don’t you dare make such a vile accusation!" Hao Yunsheng raged.
"Enough bickering. What’s your next move?" the Captain asked.
Sunshine Boy thought for a moment. "As a Deceitful Infant, I’ll be in grave danger now. I need to create a Life Substitution Wood Child. It can’t fully protect my life, but it can help me avoid some attacks."
Hao Yunsheng said, "I want one, too."
"Fine. It’ll cost you a Destiny Star."
"You..."
"Each wood child requires a Destiny Star to be embedded inside. Did you think a Life Substitution Wood Child could be made so easily? Sell me a Destiny Star, pay the service fee, and I’ll swear an oath to make one for you. I’m a man of my word," Sunshine Boy said.
Hearing that a Destiny Star was required, the others shook their heads in resignation.
"You’d really be willing to swear an oath to make a Life Substitution Wood Child for me?" Hao Yunsheng asked, staring into Sunshine Boy’s eyes.
"Of course. As long as you pay the service fee in full," Sunshine Boy replied.
Hao Yunsheng lowered his head and said nothing.