Yang Che quickly arrived at Yuan Fang City, Xiaoyao Pavilion.

Behind the counter of Xiaoyao Pavilion, there was an additional Foundation Establishment Stage Early Phase Cultivator with a serious and stern expression.

Yang Che glanced at him and then withdrew his gaze.

This person should be the temporary shopkeeper who replaced Shi Yizhu and continued to manage Xiaoyao Pavilion.

"Zhang Daoist, let's go."

As soon as the sexagenarian Shi Yizhu saw Yang Che arrive, he immediately cupped his hands and spoke, his tone carrying a hint of urgency.

"Alright, Shi Daoyou, lead the way."

Yang Che spoke directly, without any unnecessary words.

The two quickly walked out of the market. At this moment, Yang Che saw Shi Yizhu suddenly pat his spirit beast bag, and then a three-headed strange bird appeared before his eyes.

This strange bird, when standing, actually had six claws.

Four of its legs supported its body, with one claw on each leg gripping the bluestone ground tightly.

Its two front claws were raised slightly, like human hands.

A pair of wide wings slowly spread out, gleaming with a faint luster.

"Zhang Daoist, this is my Spirit Beast, a Fu Bird. It has no other special abilities, just speed. Come on up."

Shi Yizhu was the first to leap onto the Fu Bird's back, and Yang Che followed closely, also leaping on.

The Fu Bird let out a cry, spread its wings, and soared into the sky, swiftly flying towards the east side of Dark Abyss City.

Soon, the Fu Bird landed on a plaza in front of the gate of a secluded ancient house within the city.

Yang Che jumped off the strange bird's back and saw that there were already many Cultivators gathered on the plaza.

He swept his gaze around and was surprised to find that Niu Rong, the burly black man who was his neighbor, was also among the crowd.

Because Niu Rong's stature was truly too large, Yang Che spotted him at a glance.

However, Niu Rong was conversing with a nearby Cultivator and did not notice Yang Che's gaze.

Yang Che had not expected that this Niu Rong also understood the Dao of Talisman making and had come to participate in the 'Dao Lecture Assembly'.

Truly, 'one cannot judge a book by its cover'.

Yang Che withdrew his gaze. At this moment, Shi Yizhu led him to the main gate of the ancient house.

On a square jade table, a middle-aged beautiful woman with Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation was collecting full pattern star stones while quickly writing something on a white paper on the table.

Soon, it was Yang Che and Shi Yizhu's turn.

Shi Yizhu immediately cupped his hands and said to the middle-aged beautiful woman, "My name is Shi Yizhu, a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator, from Xiaoyao Pavilion."

Then he pointed at Yang Che and continued, "This is Fellow Daoist Zhang Gu, a Loose Cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation. Both of us can produce Elementary low-grade Talismans."

The middle-aged beautiful woman was expressionless. She pointed at the paper on the table and said, "Make one and let me see."

Shi Yizhu immediately nodded, picked up the 'Talisman brush' from the table, dipped it in cinnabar and silver lacquer, and quickly produced an Elementary low-grade 'Water Repelling Talisman'.

Yang Che naturally wasn't idle either. He also picked up a 'Talisman brush' and produced an Elementary low-grade 'Iron Armor Talisman'.

After the middle-aged beautiful woman inspected the Talismans produced by the two and confirmed there were no issues, she then continued, "Five hundred full pattern star stones per person."

As the beautiful woman's words fell, Yang Che saw Shi Yizhu immediately turn his head to look at him, a little nervous.

Yang Che did not hesitate. With a movement of his palm, the bag containing one thousand full pattern star stones flew towards the middle-aged beautiful woman.

The middle-aged beautiful woman took it, and after verifying it was correct, her tone softened a bit, and she said, "Go in."

After speaking, she wrote their names on the white paper.

Only then did the sexagenarian Shi Yizhu completely relax.

Entering the ancient house, they found that the courtyard inside was even larger than the plaza outside.

In the courtyard, at a distance of one zhang in all directions, there was a gray meditation cushion.

At this time, many of the meditation cushions were already occupied by seated individuals.

Yang Che swept his gaze around and was surprised to find that there were even Core Formation Cultivators present.

However, the first two rows seemed to be specifically prepared for Core Formation Cultivators. No Foundation Establishment Cultivator dared to sit there; without exception, they all chose the meditation cushions behind those two rows.

After Yang Che and Shi Yizhu sat down on two adjacent meditation cushions, Shi Yizhu whispered:

"Zhang Daoist, after Senior Shentu Yun gives her Dao lecture later, she will also choose six people with Talisman making talent to be Named Disciples. If we can seize this opportunity, then we will have a smooth sailing in Dark Abyss City."

Yang Che nodded calmly, showing no visible emotion, but in his heart, he had already decided that he must obtain one of these Named Disciple spots.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Shopkeeper Xia of my Xiaoyao Pavilion is one of Senior Shentu Yun's Named Disciples."

Shi Yizhu slowly said.

Upon hearing this, Yang Che was greatly surprised.

Although he had already guessed that the delicate Shopkeeper of Xiaoyao Pavilion must know Shentu Yun, he hadn't expected that she was actually one of Shentu Yun's Named Disciples.

An hour later.

"Most of the people have arrived. The Dao Lecture Assembly is about to begin."

At the main seat in front of the courtyard, there was a long jade table, and on the table, there was a pot of ling tea.

The speaker was a refined middle-aged scholar, a Core Formation Early Stage Cultivator.

After he finished speaking, he kept looking at a certain pavilion in the courtyard, a hint of fervent desire flashing in his eyes.

A moment later, a graceful and noble female Cultivator walked out of that pavilion in the courtyard.

This female Cultivator was at Core Formation Great Perfection cultivation, with an extraordinary temperament. She had the smooth complexion of a young beautiful woman, yet possessed long, snow-white hair.

"Shi Daoyou, is she Senior Shentu Yun?"

Yang Che asked in a low voice.

Shi Yizhu's old face flushed, and he said with some embarrassment, "It's shameful to say, but I have never met Senior Shentu Yun. But it must be her."

Yang Che did not press further, his gaze falling on the six or Seven Core Formation Cultivators in the first two rows.

It seemed that competing for a Named Disciple spot would not be an easy task.

As Yang Che was pondering, the white-haired female Cultivator Shentu Yun slowly began to speak: "The annual Dao Lecture Assembly now begins. After I finish lecturing on Talisman making, I will also select six Named Disciples. What I will speak about today also concerns the selection of Named Disciples, so everyone must not miss a single word."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became fully attentive, listening intently, fearing they would miss a single word.

Shentu Yun slowly sat beside the long jade table and began to lecture on the 'Dao of Talisman making'.

...

This lecture alone lasted for two hours.

Yang Che listened with great fascination. Even when Shentu Yun announced that it was over, he still seemed immersed in it.

He had truly benefited greatly.

As expected of a Grandmaster-level Talisman Maker, her lecture was more profound yet easy to understand than Tianxie Ziyin's, progressing layer by layer, incisive and thorough.

These one thousand full pattern star stones were well worth it.

When Shentu Yun announced that she was about to begin selecting six Named Disciples, a person suddenly and strangely appeared in the courtyard.

It was a Crimson Robed Youth with sharp, well-defined features and a handsome, upright posture.

Upon seeing him, Yang Che immediately felt frustrated.

This guy truly lingered like a Yin Soul.

At this moment, he heard Shi Yizhu next to him whisper, "This person is Young Lord Mo Shaotian of my Dark Abyss City, a top Cultivation Genius with a mutated Immortal Root and Five Elements Immortal Root."

Upon hearing these words, Yang Che was immediately startled, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

However, at this moment, he heard Shentu Yun say, "Young Lord Mo truly cares for your younger sister, but even if you come in person, I will not go easy. She must pass all the tests."

Mo Shaotian immediately laughed, "That is natural. Grandmaster Shentu, please rest assured, I am only observing and will absolutely not interfere."

Yang Che turned his head to look and indeed found the delicate female Cultivator named Mo Wenyue among the crowd.

His heart sank.

With this, it would be even more difficult to compete for a Named Disciple spot.

However, very quickly, a sharp glint flashed in Yang Che's eyes, and he secretly decided that no matter what, he must seize a Named Disciple spot.