Chapter 35: The Path of Talismans

The strength rankings among the disciples of the three halls were never truly comparable. Indeed, the fifth-ranked disciple of the other two halls, particularly the weakest Lake Hall, would likely only just scrape into the top twenty of Peak Hall.

Naturally, exceptions always existed; for instance, Zhou Zhongchen, who, despite not yet having achieved Foundation Establishment, was Lake Hall’s top disciple and only narrowly conceded defeat to Peak Hall’s best during the sect’s grand competition, ultimately securing second place.

Moreover, the sect’s grand competition was exclusively for Qi Condensation cultivators. Once Foundation Establishment cultivators ventured out, whether for sect missions or to roam the world, their cultivation methods, spells, and spiritual artifacts became so varied that their skirmishes could too easily turn deadly. Consequently, no grand competition was held for Foundation Establishment cultivators; however, if two wished to spar in the training grounds, no one would object.

****

The situation within the arena swiftly grew fraught. In a mere dozen breaths, Lian Yueying had already unleashed three True Talismans; at this rate, her entire stock would soon be exhausted.

Within the small pavilion reserved for the training grounds’ administrators, both Gu Sheng and Du Cheng observed the ongoing battle. Gu Sheng, however, appeared lost in thought, and after a brief pause, he transmitted his voice once more, saying, “Junior Brother, you’ve only told half the tale. Is it possible that even with your close ties to Han Xue, you remain unaware of her true intentions?”

“Heh heh,” Du Cheng chuckled softly. “How could the true thoughts of a Golden Core cultivator ever be so easily divined by others in this world? Perhaps the only certainty is that Han Xue still harbors a deep-seated resentment; otherwise, given her disposition, why would she ever accept a disciple?”

At these words, Gu Sheng pivoted to face Du Cheng, his expression one of unmasked astonishment. “Take on a disciple? Are you speaking of that female disciple?”

Du Cheng’s composure remained undisturbed as he fixed his gaze upon Lian Yueying, who continued to weave and dart across the training ground.

“Han Xue seeks nothing beyond her cultivation,” Du Cheng stated. “Senior Brother, do you know the true reason Han Xue departed the sect?”

“If that is the case, Junior Brother,” Gu Sheng replied, “then I suspect she did not venture out to gather spiritual treasures for forming a Nascent Soul.”

Gu Sheng shook his head, his gaze following Du Cheng’s to Lian Yueying. He expressed genuine admiration for her mastery of talisman arts before urging, “Junior Brother, please, cease with the suspense.”

“Those worthless cultivators of the Purple Star Sect fundamentally misunderstand the true essence of the ‘Buried Qi and Transcendent Embryo Art’,” Du Cheng quoted. “‘I can no longer allow all my strenuous efforts to be limited by a mere handful of spiritual treasures.’ Those were her exact words before she departed.”

It was for her sole disciple, or perhaps, more accurately, for herself. For the impetuous, headstrong youth she once was, and for the sudden flash of inspiration that had blossomed into her life’s profound endeavor.

Even with her unremarkable spiritual roots in those days, Junior Uncle Yue’s insight and tenacity were undeniably superior to any of their fellow disciples. Gu Sheng understood how Han Xue had, for a period, become the illustrious Immortal Han Xue, and he also recognized the reasons behind her current diligent cultivation within the sect’s confines.

“I had believed…” Gu Sheng mused, then sighed. “But never mind. If Han Xue could truly be docile and obedient, she simply wouldn’t be the Han Xue we know.”

A shared understanding passed between them, and almost simultaneously, their gazes drifted back towards the arena.

****

Within Lian Yueying, vital energy churned relentlessly. Had it not been for her half-year of arduous body tempering, her physical stamina, rather than her spiritual energy, would surely have been the first to wane. Now, she deftly evaded another spell from Ouyang Xiu, dedicating her full might to maintaining her “territory.”

Pale blue spiritual energy shimmered from the talismans strewn across the ground; whether deployed overtly or subtly, these Command Talismans constituted one of Lian Yueying’s most potent secret weapons. As Ouyang Xiu surged forward, Lian Yueying once more scattered a profusion of talismans onto the earth, yet she paid them no immediate heed, instead activating the earlier ones already dispersed around her.

Lian Yueying possessed the ability to simultaneously activate over a dozen talismans, and with a Command Talisman, she could control close to a hundred.

Yet, the trap itself was circular, meaning that for all talismans to be triggered, the central target had to be entirely trapped. In a direct confrontation, Lian Yueying would never commit all her spells to a single location, typically activating only twenty or thirty. Even with this conservative approach, the sheer volume of spells unleashed by her talismans proved to be a persistent headache for Ouyang Xiu.

The most critical factor remained Ouyang Xiu’s ignorance of how much spiritual energy Lian Yueying’s Command Talismans truly expended; judging by the intensity of their two-quarter-hour clash, the cost appeared negligible.

Empowered by his cultivation technique, Ouyang Xiu’s stamina had seen a considerable boost. Yet, no matter how much he exerted himself, he could not hope to outlast Lian Yueying’s seemingly endless supply of talismans. He realized he could no longer afford to hold anything back.

Witnessing Lian Yueying, her sword-fingers deftly clasping a Command Talisman, summon yet another dense barrage of spells to assault him, Ouyang Xiu chose not to retreat. Instead, he charged forward, his Mountain-Bearing Shield held high. Just as the shield seemed on the verge of shattering, he drew another breath, and with each forceful step, earthen pillars erupted beneath his feet, dramatically accelerating his advance.

‘[He’s forced out yet another spell I’ve never witnessed before; Senior Brother Ouyang is truly formidable.]’

It was readily apparent that Ouyang Xiu’s cultivation techniques and spells weren’t exceptional for their intrinsic quality, but rather for how perfectly each complemented his unique fighting style. He wielded them with uncanny, almost divine mastery, earning Lian Yueying’s profound admiration.

‘[However, this is *my* territory!]’

Lian Yueying fought with both hands, using her left to command talismans and unleash spells upon Ouyang Xiu, while her right, holding another Command Talisman, meticulously imbued the remaining talismans with spiritual energy. This dual task demanded her full concentration on the imbuement, causing a slight dip in the accuracy of her direct attacks. Nevertheless, a target as colossal as the Mountain-Bearing Shield remained impossible to miss.

Within the torrent of spells, some were Wood-attribute techniques, while others were Grand Momentum Blades. This quantitative increase led to a qualitative shift, and Ouyang Xiu’s Mountain-Bearing Shield was swiftly shattered, forcing him to re-cast it and resume his relentless charge.

Perceiving Ouyang Xiu’s unwavering resolve to engage in a head-on confrontation, Lian Yueying remained unperturbed. After a swift mental tally of her remaining True Talismans, she finally began to circulate the Sea Convergence Art.

Yet, while her initial intent was merely to fully impede Ouyang Xiu, she suddenly recalled the opening twenty characters of the Sea Convergence Art. A profound insight stirred within her, prompting her to circulate the technique through her Qi Sea.

A vast surge of spiritual energy instantly coursed through her entire being, filling her to an uncomfortable, yet strangely exhilarating, degree. Releasing the Command Talismans from both hands, she channeled the spiritual energy from every fiber of her body to unleash a Grand Momentum Blade, which, upon manifestation, proved several times more potent than any she had conjured before.

‘[My spiritual energy has sharply decreased by nearly thirty percent, yet it can achieve such power?]’

Ordinarily, meridians simply couldn’t accommodate such a sudden influx of spiritual energy. Thus, for a spell with the demanding consumption of the Grand Momentum Blade, only a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation could unleash three at once, or manifest a single, exceptionally potent one.

True Talismans, on the other hand, functioned by pre-injecting spiritual energy and then consuming more to sustain a continuously ready-to-trigger state. This mechanism allowed for multiple consecutive activations, though they could not be merged into a single, unified attack.

The moment the terrifying Grand Momentum Blade materialized, both combatants within the arena and the three spectators outside were seized by profound astonishment.

Instantly, the Grand Momentum Blade descended with a thunderous roar. Ouyang Xiu hastily deployed his Mountain-Bearing Shield to buy precious seconds, then attempted to escape using an evasion technique. Despite his efforts, the dense earth spiritual energy still struck him; not only did he have to withstand it with his protective golden light, but he was also sent hurtling several zhang  backwards.

Yet, Lian Yueying, already low on spiritual energy, had now expended such a tremendous amount that she inevitably felt a profound disorientation, almost losing her footing.

Looking up, she saw Ouyang Xiu visibly shaken, both physically and mentally. Nevertheless, the competition continued, and he had already regained his composure, though he dared not immediately press forward.

‘[Indeed, powerful spells always come with a price.]’

Even with her spiritual energy nearly depleted, Lian Yueying scattered more talismans, meticulously re-establishing her defensive perimeter.

Just as the two were about to clash once more, the spiritual energy barrier suddenly dissipated, and Gu Sheng and Du Cheng floated down from mid-air, gently landing in the center of the arena.

Ouyang Xiu immediately walked over and bowed to them, addressing Gu Sheng as “Master.” Lian Yueying, too, dismissed her Command Talismans, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, “Greetings, seniors.”

Both men nodded, then moved towards Lian Yueying and Ouyang Xiu respectively, with Du Cheng approaching Lian Yueying.

“I genuinely wished to see if you could defeat Peak Hall’s ninth-ranked disciple,” Du Cheng began. “However, given Ouyang Xiu’s nature, he would almost certainly not call for a stop. And you, with your skills honed through fierce battles, would inevitably sustain injuries if you continued. There’s no need for such intensity in a spar between fellow disciples.”

‘[Is this their explanation for separating us? Indeed, Senior Brother Ouyang has superior cultivation and a strong foundation, making it hard for him to believe he’d lose. As for me, once I get caught up in a fight, there’s no telling if I’d hold back.]’

In their recent exchange, Ouyang Xiu’s retreats had been mere tactical maneuvers; only Lian Yueying’s Grand Momentum Blade, conjured with thirty percent of her spiritual energy, had genuinely forced him to yield for the first time.

However, given the profound density of earth spiritual energy, Lian Yueying couldn’t gauge how much of Ouyang Xiu’s protective golden light had been breached by the residual impact, a uncertainty that might foster a dangerous overconfidence in her.

“This disciple is enlightened,” Lian Yueying said, bowing.

Seeing Lian Yueying’s deferential bow, Du Cheng continued, “Although I say this, judging by what your master has told me, your ability to hold back now is likely only because no personal stakes are involved. If this were the sect’s grand competition, I doubt you would stop so easily.”

Du Cheng spoke with conviction, yet Lian Yueying disagreed. She shook her head. “This disciple remembers the camaraderie of fellow disciples and would never strike with lethal intent.”

Du Cheng offered no comment, instead changing the subject. “Given your mastery of talisman arts, allow me to ask: the cultivation world often dismisses talismans as a ‘sideline path’ (TL Note: A derogatory term referring to unorthodox or minor cultivation methods, often implying they are ineffective or less legitimate.), utterly useless. What are your thoughts on this?”

‘[That phrase again. I, for one, find talismans quite useful.]’

Unbeknownst to her, Lian Yueying’s mindset had shifted. Perhaps talismans had saved her too many times for her to still believe she had strayed from the correct path.

‘[The methods of battle in the cultivation world are myriad and strange; as long as they are wielded effectively, talismans are far from useless. Moreover, most people only know existing talisman templates and are unaware that most spells can be drawn onto talismans, so their misconception is understandable.]’

Lian Yueying looked up at Du Cheng, whose slightly weathered face remained as placid as an ancient well, devoid of the contempt that others often displayed when speaking disparagingly of talismans.

“Senior’s words are ones this disciple has heard countless times,” she responded. “However, this disciple believes that among the myriad techniques in this world, adaptability is key; whether something is useless or not is a truth only one can discover for themselves.”

Her words were quite diplomatic, as they should have been, but Du Cheng was clearly not satisfied. He pressed on, “You speak of adaptability, yet someone accustomed to talismans like you might never have tried conventional fighting methods. Who’s to say a change in approach wouldn’t lead to a breakthrough in your strength?”

‘[That’s not it at all! If I had used a different method, I would have died countless times over! However, the Bamboo Hall Master and my master have a very good relationship. Since he heard about me from my master, these words he’s speaking now shouldn’t be taken at face value.]’

Lian Yueying was not skilled at discerning people’s true intentions; perhaps no one in the world truly could. Yet, she knew what *she* was thinking, and that was enough.

“This disciple has never found talismans to be ineffective,” she asserted. “It is merely that the path of talismans is profound, and ordinary people simply do not understand it.”

Her statement carried a subtle challenge, and it would have been perfectly normal for Du Cheng to become angry. Lian Yueying kept her head lowered, yet her spirit soared, convinced of her own correctness even if she were to be reprimanded. However, when no immediate response came, she looked up to find Du Cheng’s eyes filled with reminiscence.

After a long silence, Gu Sheng had already finished his conversation and, after a few words with Du Cheng, departed. Only then did Du Cheng snap back to the present, quietly producing a book. He looked at Lian Yueying and asked, “A person may only have one master, but they can have many teachers. Lian Yueying, would you be willing to accept another teacher?”

Lian Yueying took the book, realizing it was neither a cultivation technique nor a spell. The cover bore four large characters: “Talisman Fanatic’s Notes.”

Before Lian Yueying could ponder further, Du Cheng continued, “This book was not written by me, but by my Senior Brother. It records his lifelong insights into the path of talismans. You may take it back and study it thoroughly. If you wish to learn, go to his gravestone in the back mountain and pay your respects; it would not be in vain for him to have taught you.”

“…May I ask, Senior, the esteemed name of the author of these notes?”

“Huang Qi, Daoist name Shaoyuan.”

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