“Hiss, hiss...”

Seeing Yang Ye launch another attack, the Giant Python King was obviously enraged. With a swing of its massive body, the enormous tail whipped toward Yang Ye once again.

As the tail came sweeping down, Yang Ye's eyes narrowed. This time, he wasn't planning to dodge. Golden Profound Energy surged within his body, flowing into his right fist. With a fierce shout, he slammed his fist directly at the Giant Python King's tail.

Under the support of the mysterious talisman and the golden Profound Energy, veins bulged along Yang Ye's arm, resembling wriggling earthworms. A faint golden light shimmered on his fist, and the air shrieked as it was split by the force of his punch, creating a terrifying momentum.

“Boom!”

When fist and tail collided, a muffled thud echoed, and Yang Ye was pushed back several steps. However, the Giant Python King's tail was also blasted backward by Yang Ye's punch. Where the fist landed, the tail had been forced inward, showing the sheer power behind his blow!

Seeing he had managed to knock the tail back with one punch, Yang Ye's eyes lit up with excitement. Golden Profound Energy surged through his body as he rushed forward once more, his fists raining down on the Giant Python King like a relentless storm.

Watching Yang Ye pummel the Giant Python King into retreat, Little Bao'er, standing to the side, was astonished. She patted her small chest and softly said, “My mid-grade Strength Talisman only doubled his power, but combined with his golden Profound Energy, it increased it by nearly five times. Grandpa was right—golden Profound Energy is the most powerful among the Five Elements Profound Energies.”

The more Yang Ye fought, the more exhilarated he became. His strength had reached nearly a thousand pounds, and each punch left a gaping hole in the Giant Python King's body. Before long, the python was covered in wounds, blood splattering everywhere.

However, Yang Ye himself had also sustained significant internal injuries. Each clash with the python's tail sent a tremor through his body, but he felt a strange power within him constantly healing his internal injuries. Without it, he would have collapsed long ago.

“Boom!”

After a long and intense struggle, Yang Ye found an opening. He leaped into the air and landed a fierce punch on the python’s head. The Giant Python King let out a wretched cry and began to convulse violently. Yang Ye, seizing the chance, pounded the python's head repeatedly until it finally lay motionless.

“Phew!”

Seeing the python lying still, Yang Ye slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. The fatigue and pain from being struck by the python's tail earlier now washed over him like a tidal wave, leaving him utterly exhausted.

At this moment, Bao'er ran over to the fallen python. She kicked it angrily with her tiny feet and muttered, “Serves you right for chasing Bao'er! Now you're dead! See if Bao'er doesn't turn you into something useful!” She pulled out a jade bottle from her little pouch, and as soon as she uncorked it, a powerful suction force emerged. In an instant, the python's massive body shrank into a tiny dot and was sucked into the bottle.

Seeing this, Yang Ye was dumbfounded. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Sure enough, the Giant Python King had vanished. If not for the pool of blood on the ground, he would have thought he had been fighting nothing but air.

Storing away the jade bottle, Bao'er walked over to Yang Ye and took out a green talisman from her pouch, pressing it onto him. The talisman transformed into a green light that surged into Yang Ye’s body. Moments later, the fatigue in his body disappeared.

“Are... are you a Rune Seal Master?” Yang Ye asked softly, looking at the girl who was now examining him.

Bao'er’s lips curled with pride. “Of course! I'm a genius—the only fourteen-year-old Grade Five Rune Seal Master in the entire Sword Sect. Impressive, right?”

Hearing Bao'er’s confirmation, Yang Ye took a deep breath, his face showing genuine shock. Although he wasn’t highly skilled, he knew what a Rune Seal Master was.

Rune Seal Masters were incredibly esteemed in the Southern Region. The items they crafted would drive countless cultivators into a frenzy. Take those talismans from earlier, for example: they could instantly enhance one's combat power without any side effects and were life-saving tools in critical moments.

And that wasn’t all. Rune Seal Masters could inscribe strange runes onto weapons or armor. A weapon enhanced by these runes would become much more powerful, and its price would skyrocket.

Talisman crafting and rune inscription were just the tip of the iceberg. It was said that Rune Seal Masters could even inscribe skills onto weapons or armor. With enough Profound Energy, a cultivator could activate the skills directly from the inscribed items. However, Yang Ye had never seen such treasures himself.

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He had never seen these kinds of Rune Seal Master-crafted items, and he had only ever encountered one Rune Seal Master in person—this little girl in front of him. The rarity of Rune Seal Masters was what made them so highly regarded. In An Nan City, with a population nearing a million, there wasn’t a single Rune Seal Master to be found.

And now, he had actually met one and even used so many of her precious talismans. Thinking of this, Yang Ye felt a pang of pain. Just one of those talismans could sell for enough to feed him for a lifetime!

“Why didn’t you run earlier?” Bao'er asked seriously, after putting away the jade bottle.

“What do you mean?” Yang Ye was taken aback.

“I mean, you’re so weak. Why didn’t you run instead of fighting the snake?” Bao'er pressed on, her small face earnest.

“If I had run, you would have ended up in the snake’s belly!” Yang Ye smiled. He had considered fleeing, but the girl’s kindness had moved him. If he had run then, he wouldn’t have been able to face himself.

Bao'er studied Yang Ye for a moment, then broke into a smile. “Lots of people have tried to please me before, but I knew they all had ulterior motives or wanted to curry favor with Grandpa. You’re different. You didn’t know who I was and still risked your life to save me. Let’s be friends! My name’s Bao'er. What’s yours?”

“Yang Ye!” Yang Ye replied with a smile. The girl reminded him of his younger sister, so cute and endearing that he couldn’t help but feel fond of her. Remembering something, he asked, “By the way, aren’t Rune Seal Masters supposed to be powerful? Why...?”

Bao'er blushed and mumbled, “I-I’m at the eighth level of the Profound Realm, and I have wood-attribute Profound Energy, the weakest of the Five Elements. A-and I’ve never fought anyone before, so... I don’t know how to fight...” Her face turned even redder.

Yang Ye was stunned. Eighth level at such a young age? This talent was truly monstrous! But hearing that she didn’t know how to fight, his expression grew odd. Such exceptional talent, yet no battle skills...

Seeing Yang Ye’s peculiar look, Bao'er glared at him and quickly changed the subject. “By the way, you have metal-attribute Profound Energy, which means you should be progressing quickly. Why are you only at the fourth level?”

“Metal Profound Energy? Five Elements Profound Energy?” Yang Ye was confused. He had never heard of these terms before.

Bao'er didn’t explain, but instead asked, “You know how prestigious Rune Seal Masters are, right?”

Yang Ye nodded. “Very prestigious. I’ve only ever heard about them but never seen one before. We don’t have any in An Nan City!”

“Rune Seal Masters are esteemed because only those with Five Elements Profound Energy can become one. And Five Elements Profound Energy is extremely rare, appearing in only one out of millions of people. Rare things are valuable, so Rune Seal Masters are highly respected in the Southern Region. Got it?” Bao'er explained.

“You’re saying... I have Five Elements Profound Energy?” Yang Ye’s eyes brightened. Being a Rune Seal Master was far more prestigious than being an outer disciple of the Sword Sect. If he could become one, even the city lord of An Nan would have to show him respect, let alone the Liu family.

Bao'er nodded. “It seems so. Metal-attribute Profound Energy is golden, and yours is golden too. So yes, you could become a Rune Seal Master! And metal Profound Energy is the strongest among the Five Elements. I can’t believe I actually met someone like you!”

Yang Ye was first overjoyed, but then he frowned, calming down. Metal Profound Energy was supposed to be golden, but his was light gold, transformed by the strange whirlpool in his body. Was it truly Five Elements Profound Energy?

“Why can only people with Five Elements Profound Energy become Rune Seal Masters?” Yang Ye asked seriously.

“Because only Five Elements Profound Energy can survive in the air!” Bao'er explained. “Ordinary Profound Energy dissipates unless sustained by special techniques. But Five Elements Profound Energy doesn’t. It can remain in the air indefinitely unless destroyed.”

Yang Ye pondered her explanation, then summoned his Profound Energy and, using his finger as a pen, traced a golden line on a nearby rock. The line remained, glowing faintly. Delighted, Yang Ye continued drawing, and soon a golden “Yang” character appeared on the stone. He waited, and the character remained, not dissipating. Yang Ye was overjoyed; it appeared he really did possess Five Elements Profound Energy!

Seeing Yang Ye's excited expression, Bao'er hesitated for a moment. Remembering how Yang Ye had charged at the Giant Python King earlier, she stopped hesitating, reached into her pocket with her small hand, and pulled out a scroll. Handing it to Yang Ye, she said, “Little Servant, this scroll is the 'Basic Rune Techniques.' It’s different from other 'Basic Rune Techniques' because it contains countless insights recorded by my grandfather. I’ve learned almost everything in it, so I’m giving it to you now. But don’t show it to anyone else, understand?” As she spoke, Bao'er’s face grew serious.

Hearing this, Yang Ye was deeply moved. After hesitating for a moment, he took the scroll and looked at Bao'er, saying earnestly, “Thank you. Don’t worry—I won’t show it to anyone.” This was an opportunity, a chance to become a Rune Seal Master, and he had no intention of letting it slip away.

Bao'er nodded and then said softly, “Grandfather has gone to the Great Qin Empire, so I can’t take you back to the Rune Peak yet. Once he returns, I’ll have him assess your potential as a Rune Seal Master. If you have good talent, I’ll ask him to accept you as a disciple. If not, that’s okay too—you can still hang out with me. I’m pretty amazing myself!”

Hearing Bao’er’s words, Yang Ye felt a wave of emotion. Bao’er was not only giving him the valuable “Five Elements Rune Techniques” but was also planning to introduce him to her grandfather. This little girl truly considered him a friend.

“Little Servant, you have to remember not to neglect improving your cultivation as a Profound Practitioner just because you might become a Rune Seal Master,” Bao’er said seriously. “The more refined the Profound Energy in your body, the more effective the talismans you create will be. And crafting talismans consumes a lot of Profound Energy. With the current amount of Profound Energy you have, you could only make a few talismans at most, understand?”

Yang Ye nodded. “I know. My goal is to become an inner disciple!” Although the Rune Seal Master profession was prestigious, he had never given up on his dream of becoming a powerful Profound Practitioner. With great strength, he would be better able to protect his mother and sister