With Jia Xitong's reminder, Shang Yanting recalled the events of yesterday.
A mysterious unknown entity was in his Sea of Consciousness, and he frowned slightly, "What is your intention?"
Upon hearing the protagonist's question, she had already prepared a response.
"Greetings, Host. I am System 14588 from a higher plane. This system's task is to assist the host in upgrading and becoming the supreme deity of Aotian Continent."
Ah, the same old spiel.
Unfortunately, Shang Yanting never believed in free lunch, "What do you want from me?"
"The system will upgrade as you progress."
Jia Xitong earnestly imitated the Savior System's tone as she spoke to him, "Host, if you have doubts, we can sign a contract, in the name of the Martial Arts God."
Upon hearing this, Shang Yanting pondered for a moment and agreed in Jia Xitong's anxious wait, "Alright."
——
To be honest, rather than worry about Jia Xitong's ulterior motives, Jia Xitong was more afraid that he might take her life over a disagreement.
Verbal agreements are unreliable; it's much better to have a signed contract.
The slanting sunset bathed Shang Yanting's pale face.
In his mind, Jia Xitong, with a meticulous attitude, intervened in and provided technical guidance on the traditional contracts of Aotian Continent. Several hours later, an equitable contract, considering various unforeseen circumstances and the prior context, expanded from dozens to thousands of words and was completed under the witness of the Martial Arts God.
Contract, successful!
At the same time, Jia Xitong heard the pleasant voice of the Savior System,
[Congratulations to the task performer for gaining 60 trust points from the protagonist, current trust value 60/100]
[Soul Body Cultivation unlocked. Task performer can use the soul body to study "Talismanic Record" in the Sea of Consciousness.]
Two pieces of good news in a row!
If she had a physical form, Jia Xitong would undoubtedly be glowing with joy at this moment.
In contrast to Jia Xitong's smugness, the protagonist, hailed as a once-in-a-century genius, had hollow eyes and staggering steps. He slowly moved to the entrance of a hiding cave, and only the cold wind slapping his face could barely wake him up.
Was that really a traditional contract?
It felt as if the chest wound just healed had cracked open.
##
As a reader, you can doubt the protagonist's character, but you must believe in his healing ability.
The protagonist stayed in the wilderness for two days, and his wounds were almost healed.
Avoiding those who pursued him all the way, Shang Yanting finally returned safely to the City Lord Mansion without incident.
Seeing the City Lord Mansion with its golden characters "Shang Mou," as an original fan, Jia Xitong instantly understood the timeline—
The original story began after the protagonist had his root bones abolished and was expelled from the family. However, since Shang Yanting was still the Young Master of the Shang Mou Family, this must be before the novel's beginning.
At this time, the Shangmou Family was still the leader of the Eight Great Families. As the Young Master, Shang Yanting was at the center of the power vortex, so being assassinated was not unusual.
Now, with the news of Shang Yanting's return spreading, those forces still plotting were all withdrawing their movements, all fearing his thunderous means. The subordinates had been dispatched to investigate, and the remaining ambush assassins in the mountains and forests were either cleaned by their masters or captured for interrogation.
...
On the third day of pretending to be a system.
Jia Xitong felt a bit embarrassed standing in front of the steam-laden bath.
The mist from the hot spring blocked her senses but couldn't block her memory. In the novel's plot, Shang Yanting had multiple nights in a row, handling numerous women, with Palace Secret Techniques...
It was all because the author's descriptions were too sensual.
Who would've thought that beneath such a prim and aloof exterior, the protagonist would be so wanton?
The future world-saving task performer eagerly tried to catch a glimpse amidst the swirling mist, stretching 360 degrees in super-wide angles.
Then, she saw...
Pixelation?
What on earth?
[Enhanced Censorship Protocols are active.]
The Savior System popped up suddenly, leaving Jia Xitong a bit speechless, "System dear, you should be more generous to your host."
[As a task performer to save the world, one should have integrity, courage, and kindness.]
What a joke!
She just wanted to verify if the protagonist was naturally gifted, so how does that have anything to do with integrity, courage, and kindness?
Regardless of integrity, the protagonist suddenly felt a bit cold.
He quickly put on his inner clothing and walked briskly out, with strong water vapor still clinging to him, the silk outlining the tension-filled muscles on his back. In the candlelight, his face seemed to be coated with a layer of light, the facial contours carried an extremity of aloof beauty.
Previously, with the protagonist being too downtrodden, she didn't notice his looks. Now looking closely, he truly deserved to be the pinnacle of attractiveness in the original work.
Unfortunately, being handsome doesn't fill your stomach.
Jia Xitong sat in Shang Yanting's Sea of Consciousness, taking out the "Talismanic Record."
"Dear Host, here is your first task: Gather 1000 sheets of vermillion paper, 5 taels of rock ink, and 2 brushes.
Task Reward: Mixu Talisman*1"
As they say, "A new broom sweeps clean." She's been holding this fire in for several days.
Hearing the voice, Shang Yanting's gaze shifted from a book called "Five Continents Treasure Chronicles," "What do you need these for?"
"I'm a system, of course I need to do tasks."
Jia Xitong replied righteously, the matters of the system, humans should meddle less!
——
On Aotian Continent, everyone values martial prowess; productivity is low. Items like vermillion paper and rock ink, used by scholars, are highly expensive.
Her one request equaled the expenses of an ordinary family for half a year. But for the Shang Mou Family, as city lords, it wasn't anything rare.
Shang Yanting beckoned for them to be brought right away, and they were the best; the vermillion paper and rock ink exceeded her requirements slightly.
But how to take them?
[The system provides a free equipment warehouse for the task performer, only available for talisman-making items.]
The True System appeared timely, and a layer of white light suddenly enveloped the vermillion paper and rock ink lying on the ground, then they vanished instantly.
Shang Yanting glanced sideways at the scene, his eyes flickering.
He picked up the Mixu Talisman received as a reward and brought it close to a teapot nearby. Moments later, the teapot disappeared, and at the thought, it reappeared.
A magic artifact with an unknown origin and strange ability.
He searched through various "Treasure Chronicles," but none had any record noting anything about the "system."
##
Ever since the oath, the protagonist's trust value never moved past 60. But rather than focus on gaining trust, Jia Xitong was more interested in the "Talismanic Record."
According to the original description, Aotian Continent fervently worshipped the Martial Arts God, while other Magic Gods had declined.
Apart from Medicine Cultivators and Artifact Refiners, which had tenuous ties, Talismanic Magic, Word Spirits, Spells, and Array techniques were all classified as non-mainstream paths.
However, novels described that once, Ancient Martial Arts and Talismanic Magic stood equally supreme, and powerful cultivators in both fields could move mountains and fill seas, capable of anything.
As a fantasy enthusiast, who doesn't want to become a Long Aotian?
Having obtained the tools, Jia Xitong threw herself almost entirely into the "Talismanic Record."
From initially stumbling imitation to thoroughly memorizing the Solidification Taliman's talisman inscriptions. By the time she had wasted the 198th sheet of vermillion paper, she was both mentally exhausted and exhilarated.
Jia Xitong was immersed in an extremely mystical state. The talisman inscriptions from the Talismanic Record were already imprinted in her mind, with all her attention focused on the white paper before her.
Mentally guiding the pen ink's movements, all her focus on each stroke and curve, the inscriptions on the talisman paper began to glow with a faint luminescence...