It was for two reasons: First, Cao Zhengchun was already quite powerful.
He had prior cultivation, and upon retraining himself, his progress had been meteoric. After consuming the True Essence Pill, he had rapidly elevated his cultivation, and was now close to fully opening his Twelve Meridians, nearing the completion of the second layer of the Divine Sea Realm, and about to step into the third layer.
More importantly, Cao Zhengchun was now Yi Tianxing's steward.
A steward might mean little in an ordinary household, but in the home of a prince, a steward could command even a prime minister's respectful smile. Though such a comparison might seem exaggerated, the essence of it remained true.
A steward was someone close to their master—someone of trust and significance. They represented the face of the household.
In every regard, Hu Bin dared not take Cao Zhengchun lightly. This was no ordinary man.
"The master is currently meditating in the quiet chamber. I'll go inform him. Come in and wait for a bit," Cao Zhengchun said sharply, acknowledging Hu Bin's respectful tone with a simple nod.
He then proceeded toward the quiet chamber.
After minting the Eternal Coins, Yi Tianxing had begun preparing to delve into Talisman Crafting. One of the most critical elements in the village was the creation of the Heaven Registration Cards. With these identification cards, many things could fall into place and develop smoothly.
Upon Hu Bin's arrival, Yi Tianxing nodded and permitted him entry.
"My lord, the items you requested have been prepared. Please see if these meet your requirements," Hu Bin said as he entered, opening the wooden box he carried.
Inside the box lay a stack of meticulously prepared beast hides, tanned using a unique method that rendered them thin and cut to the exact size of talisman paper. A whole stack meant a considerable quantity.
Beside them was a dark red inkstone, carved with ancient patterns. One could immediately sense it was no ordinary object—it emanated a strange spiritual energy.
And then, a brush.
This brush had a shaft made of bone, curiously golden in color.
"These beast hides were made from the finest materials, dry and oil-free—perfect for writing and engraving any symbols. As for the inkstone, it's crafted using the method you specified: high-grade beast bone and blood ground together, forming what we call the Spiritual Blood Inkstone. The talisman brush is made from the tailbone of a Golden Rat King, with the remaining golden rat hairs as the tip. Since both parts come from the same creature, the harmony is perfect."
"If you are not satisfied, my lord, I can go back and have them redone," Hu Bin quickly added.
"This is excellent. You've exceeded my expectations. It seems the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion houses some true talents," Yi Tianxing said with a thoughtful glance.
To produce these high-quality items in such a short time, without any roughness or compromise, was impressive. Especially the golden talisman brush, which bore engraved patterns that enhanced its beauty. Such craftsmanship was clearly not Hu Bin's own, prompting Yi Tianxing to consider visiting the Heavenly Crafts Pavilion himself one day.
"It's all thanks to your grace, my lord. Skilled craftsmen now enjoy status and respect. For your sake, every one of them gives their all, striving to do their best to repay your kindness," Hu Bin replied sincerely.
Before, artisans had never enjoyed such respect. For anyone with a trade, this was nothing short of a miracle. Every one of them was full of gratitude.
Their work was meticulous—careful to the extreme—for fear of betraying the trust given to them.
"Alright, go on with your tasks. The village is still expanding, and your efforts are needed. Work hard—Xuanhuang Village belongs to all of us," Yi Tianxing said with a smile.
"Yes, my lord!" Hu Bin replied energetically before turning to leave with fresh resolve.
Yi Tianxing looked over the tools again: talisman paper made from beast hide, a brush crafted from the Golden Rat King's tailbone and fur, and the Spiritual Blood Inkstone. Everything needed for talisman crafting was finally prepared.
Now, it was time to craft a talisman himself.
According to the Foundational Talisman Codex, a qualified talisman master required a full set of tools: talisman brush, paper, ink, and inkstone. Supporting tools included a Talisman Crafting Desk and an Ink Grinding Mill—the former used for making talisman papers and molds, the latter for preparing special ink.
However, Yi Tianxing lacked many of these. For now, he would have to make do.
He approached a table and laid down a piece of the beast-hide talisman paper. After adding a bit of water to the inkstone, he began to grind the ink until it turned a dark red, releasing a misty aura of spiritual energy.
With the Spiritual Ink prepared, he dipped the golden talisman brush into the ink. The brush absorbed the ink without dripping a single drop.
"What a brush!" Yi Tianxing silently praised.
He placed the paper before him and used paperweights to smooth it out. The hide was snow-white, seemingly bleached, and radiated a faint spiritual aura.
As the brush soaked in the ink, Yi Tianxing closed his eyes, stilling his heart.
In his mind, he visualized the talisman he wished to draw: the most basic of talismans—Blazing Flame Talisman!
It was essentially a fireball spell. Upon activation, it would release a ball of flame.
The next moment, Yi Tianxing opened his eyes, now brimming with unwavering confidence. Self-belief was key—it was the foundation of strength.
Whoosh!
The drawing method for the Blazing Flame Talisman had been etched deep into his mind. Without hesitation, his wrist moved fluidly as the brush drew an intricate trail of symbols across the paper. There was no pause or hesitation—only the smooth flow of strokes.
As he drew, his true energy naturally flowed into the brush, then into the ink, and finally onto the talisman paper.
Suddenly, red light flickered from the paper as the runes pulsed. Scarlet specks of light converged into the talisman, bound within its runes by a mysterious force.
The spiritual signs vanished, leaving behind a perfectly formed Blazing Flame Talisman.
It felt smooth, natural—as though he had done this many times before.
"If a talisman fails, the paper either disintegrates or the runes never form. But this… this is complete," Yi Tianxing muttered in disbelief.
He had done it on the first try.
Each stroke felt guided—as though he instinctively knew the right rhythm and movement. Was it possible he had a natural gift for talisman crafting?
Holding the talisman in hand, he could sense the powerful energy sealed within—a volatile force bound by intricate runes, now hidden from view. Only a fireball-shaped symbol remained on its surface.
He stepped outside and hurled the talisman toward an open patch of ground.
The moment it flew out, a scarlet glow flared up, and the talisman turned into a ball of fire the size of a baby's head, smashing into the earth.
Boom!
A burst of flame erupted, scorching the ground black.
Its power wasn't overwhelming, but definitely lethal enough to severely wound a first-layer Divine Sea Realm cultivator.
"It really worked! No way… I have to try again!" Yi Tianxing exclaimed, elated.
He needed to confirm whether this success was luck or a sign of genuine talent.
Returning to the chamber, he pulled out another sheet of talisman paper and began drawing again.
Whoosh!
But this time, for reasons unknown, as he was about to finish and red lights began to gather again—the talisman paper suddenly ignited and burned to ash.