Chapter 524

As soon as the Spiritual Jade appeared in Lu Qing’s hand, silence fell over the entire hall.

Indeed, just as Lu Qing had claimed—

If he could craft a new Thunderclap Talisman before everyone’s eyes, then no further proof would be needed.

Master Qiu’s heart skipped a beat.

He hadn’t expected Lu Qing to actually dare refine a Thunderclap Talisman in public.

Everyone knew that talisman masters were extremely wary of distractions during the process. For that reason, most talisman crafting took place in secluded chambers.

Aside from the fear of having one’s unique techniques stolen—

There was also the fact that each small talisman was inscribed with a vast number of runes and formations. The slightest mistake in the engraving process could cause the runes to explode, rendering all previous effort worthless.

Only those with absolute mastery and utter confidence in their skills would dare perform such a feat in front of others.

Lu Qing’s willingness to do so was a testament to his confidence.

Could it be… that the Thunderclap Talisman really had been crafted by this youth?

A seed of unease had already sprouted in Master Qiu’s heart.

But he had no other choice now except to pray that Lu Qing would fail.

If that happened, he’d still have a chance to act.

As thoughts raced through Master Qiu’s mind, the next moment, he froze, mouth agape in disbelief.

Lu Qing had tossed the Spiritual Jade lightly into the air.

With his spiritual focus locked on, the jade hovered steadily before him.

Then his ten fingers moved in a dazzling flurry, drawing rune after rune in the air. Like birds returning to the forest, the runes flew into the jade, fusing perfectly.

“This is... drawing runes in midair! And with such fluid ease!”

Master Wang stared in shock, muttering to himself.

Another master, Master Zhao, was likewise dumbstruck.

The Tower Master of the Treasure Pavilion felt a slight stir in her heart.

Though she had little experience with talismans, seeing how her most senior appraisers were utterly awed by Lu Qing’s display gave her a strange sense—

Perhaps this young man at the Golden Core Realm had not been lying after all.

Lu Qing had always been highly efficient at crafting talismans.

Having long since achieved perfect control over his own power, he rarely, if ever, made mistakes.

Moreover, he had refined Thunderclap Talismans many times before.

So in less than half a quarter-hour, as the final rune merged into the jade, a flash of lightning flickered over its surface. The talisman emitted a brief surge of fierce thunder energy before falling silent again.

Lu Qing calmly caught the Thunderclap Talisman.

Facing the Tower Master and the others, he smiled. “I’ve completed the refinement. Would anyone care to examine whether this is a genuine Thunderclap Talisman?”

“What? Already?!”

Everyone gasped once again.

If their memory served them right, the Thunderclap Talisman was of Golden Core-level.

From the moment Lu Qing began until now, not even a full quarter-hour had passed. And yet he was already finished?

Amid the stunned silence, Master Wang finally stepped forward. “Allow me.”

The moment he took the talisman from Lu Qing, his hand trembled slightly.

Even upon contact, he could already sense the powerful talisman energy pulsing within.

Based on his deep familiarity with Thunderclap Talismans, there was no doubt—this was indeed an authentic, Golden Core-grade Thunderclap Talisman.

Nevertheless, true to his professional duty, he thoroughly examined every aspect of the talisman.

Only after completing his inspection did he nod to the Tower Master. “Tower Master, it is indeed a Golden Core-grade Thunderclap Talisman. Absolutely flawless.”

The Tower Master’s heart trembled, though her expression remained composed.

She turned her head. “Master Qiu, would you care to examine it as well?”

Master Qiu hesitated, but before he could respond, Master Wang tossed the talisman to him.

“Go on, Master Qiu. Otherwise you’ll say this old man is conspiring with outsiders to deceive the Tower Master.”

Now that the Thunderclap Talisman was already floating before him, Master Qiu had no choice but to catch it, his face dark.

He began his inspection—and with each moment, his face turned even darker.

Because even with his own appraisal skills, he could find no flaws in the talisman.

In fact, the arrangement of formations and runes was even more precise than the one Lu Qing had previously sold to the Treasure Pavilion.

“It seems Master Qiu has been thoroughly convinced.”

Seeing his expression, the Tower Master needed no further confirmation.

She turned to face Lu Qing and offered him a graceful bow.

“I never imagined that Fellow Daoist Lu would be the very master who crafted the exquisitely refined Thunderclap Talisman. I was overly presumptuous earlier. Please allow me to offer my sincere apology.”

“You are too kind, Tower Master,” Lu Qing replied with a smile. “I should have made things clear earlier and spared everyone the misunderstanding. As for being called a ‘master,’ I hardly deserve such praise.”

“You are too modest, Fellow Daoist Lu. Just based on your earlier display—drawing runes in the air and casually crafting a Golden Core-level talisman—your qualifications are beyond question.

Even among the few talisman masters I’ve met in my life, not all could achieve what you have just done,” said Master Wang with great respect.

The shock in his heart had yet to subside.

A talisman master’s skill was often linked closely with their cultivation.

Typically, one had to reach at least the late stage of the Golden Core Realm—at least the seventh transformation—before earning the title of a true master.

After all, crafting the more powerful and complex talismans required not only refined technique but also immense cultivation and spiritual power.

Yet Lu Qing was merely at the third transformation of the Golden Core Realm.

And even now, his skill in talisman crafting was already equal to—or even superior to—many established masters.

Once he refined his Golden Core and ascended to even greater heights...

How far could his skills go then?

Master Wang could scarcely imagine it.

“Fellow Daoist Lu,” the Tower Master suddenly spoke again, “I have a bold request. I wonder if you would consider it?”

Lu Qing’s eyes glinted. He knew the real purpose of this encounter was about to be revealed.

From the moment Master Wang and the others came looking for him, to the Tower Master’s current demeanor—

He had already begun to suspect that the Treasure Pavilion’s intentions differed from what he had originally assumed.

Still, his face remained calm. “I’m merely a humble cultivator at the Golden Core Realm. I don’t know how I could be of assistance to the Tower Master.”

The Tower Master’s expression turned solemn. “I would like to formally invite Fellow Daoist Lu to serve as the Chief Talisman Master of our Treasure Pavilion. Would you be willing?”

“Eh… what?”

Lu Qing was caught completely off guard.

He had considered many possible requests the Tower Master might make, but this was not one of them.

He stood there stunned for several breaths before recovering.

“You must be joking, Tower Master. The Treasure Pavilion possesses immense heritage and countless capable experts. How could someone like me be qualified to serve as your Chief Talisman Master?”

“Fellow Daoist Lu,” the Tower Master said firmly, “I was not joking. I am quite serious. I sincerely hope you will join us.”

Faced with the solemn expression on her face, Lu Qing fell silent.