"Why the silence?" Chen Yuanshan noticed my contemplative silence as I sat in the passenger seat.

"Master Chen, how do you summon storms and thunder like that?" I turned to him, eyes filled with curiosity.

"In broad terms, that's the magic of the Dao. Our Maoshan sect practices Talismanic magic, with thousands of talismans serving various purposes, from controlling the weather to protecting households and exorcising evil spirits," Chen Yuanshan explained briefly.

"Master Chen, I'd like to learn this skill from you. Can you teach me?" I asked eagerly.

"Young man, cultivating the Dao is a rugged and perilous path. I sense you might not endure the hardships it entails. Consider it seriously," Chen Yuanshan replied, scrutinizing me with his deep gaze.

"Master Chen, I can endure hardship. I'm not afraid of it," I insisted.

"I sense a bit of recklessness in you. This path requires dedication and poses many dangers. Think it through," Chen Yuanshan advised before resuming our journey to Fuyuan Alley.

"By the way, Master Chen, you helped Ms. Tian Guoqin to drive away the snake demon. Why didn't you ask her for a fee?" I inquired as we returned to Daoist Hall.

"I received 800 yuan from her yesterday, and tonight she prepared such a sumptuous meal. I felt it would be impolite to ask for more money. Sometimes, money, although desirable, shouldn't be overvalued," Chen Yuanshan explained.

"Master Chen, when that snake demon transformed into a half-human half-demon appearance, it was quite frightening," I recalled.

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"Demons have two forms: a full transformation and a half-transformation. The appearance you saw today was a half-transformation. When a snake demon takes on a human form, its power is somewhat restricted. In a half-form, its strength, especially in terms of speed and power, significantly increases. A full transformation, reverting to its original form, further boosts its strength. The snake demon we face today has been cultivated for about three hundred years. It wasn't weak. Its defeat was more due to its underestimation of the situation," Chen Yuanshan explained.

Once we returned to Daoist Hall, I hung my bag on the wall and asked Chen Yuanshan, "Master Chen, why didn't you demand payment from Ms. Tian Guoqin for her hospitality?"

"Yesterday, I accepted 800 yuan from her, and tonight she served us such a lavish meal. I felt it would be impolite to ask for more money. While money is good, it shouldn't be overly emphasized," Chen Yuanshan replied.

"Master Chen, when that snake demon transformed into a half-human half-demon appearance, it was quite frightening," I recalled.

"Demons have two forms: a full transformation and a half-transformation. The appearance you saw today was a half-transformation. When a snake demon takes on a human form, its power is somewhat restricted. In a half-form, its strength, especially in terms of speed and power, significantly increases. A full transformation, reverting to its original form, further boosts its strength. The snake demon we face today has been cultivated for about three hundred years. It wasn't weak. Its defeat was more due to its underestimation of the situation," Chen Yuanshan explained.

At that moment, my right wrist suddenly displayed a handprint. Initially red, it shifted to blue and finally settled into a disturbing black. It looked eerie and frightening.

Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through Fuyuan Alley, and dark clouds gathered overhead. A blinding bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a thunderous roar. The sound shook me to the core, and I felt a surge of fear as my heart raced.

I couldn't linger on the first floor. Instead, I rushed upstairs to Chen Yuanshan's room.

Entering the room, I found Chen Yuanshan changing his clothes, clad only in yellow boxer briefs.

Seeing me burst into his room, Chen Yuanshan felt annoyed. "You are quite impolite. Couldn't you knock before coming in?"

"Master Chen, please look at my wrist. This black handprint appeared out of nowhere," I said, extending my right wrist to him.