13: At the end of the Yu Kingdom, the first talisman was drawn!

The winter of the eighteenth year of yonghe in Yu Kingdom was exceptionally cold.

It wasn't just because of the biting north wind, but also because of the “Huang Tian” frenzy sweeping up from the south.

Since the news spread of the disastrous defeat of the Cultivators from the State Preceptors Mansion in Guanghe Commandery city, the spine of the entire Yu Kingdom seemed to have been broken.

Hasty and chaotic orders were issued from the Royal Capital, and armies across Jiangbei surged like driven sheep toward the collapsing front lines.

However, even the most elite Yu Kingdom armies were like paper barriers when facing the methods of a few Yellow Heaven Cult Cultivators, crumbling instantly upon contact.

News of territory falling flew toward the Royal Capital like snowflakes, and the daily court sessions were shrouded in gloom and misery.

Seated on the Dragon Throne, the elderly King of Yu's expression grew uglier by the day.

“Trash! All of you are trash!”

“A hundred thousand strong army, defending the strategic pass of Cangyun Valley, couldn't even hold out for three days?”

“What use do I have for you!!!”

In the Hall of Golden Chimes, the King of Yu fiercely slammed an eight-hundred-li urgent military report beneath the Imperial Desk. His roar shook the dust from the pillars.

Inside the hall, the civil and military officials were silent with fear, none daring to raise their heads and incur the Heavenly Countenance's wrath.

The old official in charge of military affairs tremblingly stepped forward, his voice dry: “Your Majesty, please calm your anger... It is not that the soldiers are not fighting hard, but truly... truly, among the Huang Tian fiends are those skilled in Immortal Arts, capable of summoning wind and rain, and controlling water and fire.”

“Our troops, being Mortal bodies, are truly unable to resist!”

“Cultivators! Cultivators! Always Cultivators!”

The King of Yu trembled with rage, pointing toward Purple Gold Mountain outside the hall, his voice shaking slightly, “Then what about the State Preceptors Mansion?!”

“Where are My Immortal Masters? They usually enjoy the offerings of millions of Yu Kingdom citizens, yet now, when the nation faces disaster, why do they Seal the mountain and refuse to emerge?! Allowing the Yellow Heaven Cult to run rampant?!”

No one could answer this question.

Since the battle at Guanghe Commandery, the State Preceptors Mansion had completely closed its Mountain Gate, activated the Mountain Protecting Grand Formation, and ignored all outside messages.

No matter how the envoys sent by the Imperial Court kowtowed and pleaded, or even the letter of distress personally written by the King of Yu, they were all like a stone sinking into the sea.

This attitude not only terrified the Imperial Court but also sparked endless speculation and despair among the populace.

Even the Immortal Masters of the State Preceptors Mansion have retreated. Can Yu Kingdom still be saved?

Or rather, can the Royal Family still be saved?

Many ministers silently lowered their heads, various schemes flashing through their minds.

“Send for help! Go to the State Preceptors Mansion again! Tell them that as long as they are willing to act, I will give them anything they want from Yu Kingdom!”

The King of Yu slumped back onto the Dragon Throne, his voice filled with helplessness: “Furthermore, issue a decree to mobilize all remaining combat-ready armies around the Capital Region to defend the Royal Capital!”

...The eighteenth year of yonghe, the tenth day of the twelfth month, late night.

Fufeng Commandery City.

Compared to the chaos and turmoil outside, a detached small courtyard in a secluded alley within the city exuded an unusual tranquility.

The small courtyard was not large and the furnishings were simple, but it was kept very clean.

The main room in the courtyard had been converted into a temporary Quiet Chamber. The windows were tightly covered with wooden boards, blocking the winter wind and isolating most noise.

Inside, an antique oil lamp emitted a soft glow, illuminating a square Bluestone Table in the center.

Yu Xuzi was wearing an ordinary blue Daoist Robe, his long hair casually tied up with a Wooden Hairpin, standing before the table, holding his breath and concentrating.

His transition to cultivating the Qi Refining chapter of the Huang Tian True Scripture had long been successful. Now, he was preparing to try drawing a Talisman for the first time.

In his hand, he held a brush pen, white and lustrous like jade, with a sharp, pale silver tip. This was the “Jade Handle Wolf King Bristle.”

It was refined from the most resilient bristles on the neck of a Great Wolf King from the northern lands of Yu Kingdom. Although not a Magical Artifact, it was the brush pen best suited to his current Magical Power that he could find.

The Talisman Paper he prepared was also not ordinary yellow paper, but superior Yellow Talisman Paper that was tough in texture and fine in grain.

It was secretly refined from the bark of ancient trees that had grown for nearly a thousand years deep in the mountains, passing through dozens of complicated processes. It could better hold Magical Power without instantly dissipating.

These were the highest quality Mortal items Yu Xuzi could currently find that were suitable for drawing Low Grade Talismans.

What he intended to try drawing today was the Golden Light Talisman, one of the First Rank Low Grade Talismans recorded in the Incomplete Manual of the Huang Tian True Scripture.

The function of this Talisman was simple: once activated, it could instantly release a blinding golden light, at most dazzling the eyes of Mortals or even Low Grade Cultivators, but possessing no killing power.

“Hoo~~”

Yu Xuzi did not rush to put the brush down. Instead, he closed his eyes to concentrate, slowly exhaled, and repeatedly outlined the Rune structure of the Golden Light Talisman in his mind several times.

Those seemingly simple lines actually contained a profound rhythm.

The beginning, continuation, change, and conclusion of every stroke, and the modulation of Magical Power, were all crucial.

A miss by a hair's breadth leads to a mile-wide deviation.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he suddenly opened his eyes, which were clear and bright.

He gently lifted the jade handle. The Magical Power within his body began to flow slowly, injecting into the brush handle along the Meridians in his arm like a trickling stream. The silver-gray brush tip radiated threads of golden brilliance.

His wrist was suspended, steady as a rock.

“Heart and intent merge, intent and Qi merge, Qi and strength merge, strength and brush merge...”

The brush descends!

The moment the brush tip touched the Talisman Paper, Yu Xuzi's entire essence, Qi, and spirit became highly concentrated.

He applied force with his wrist, the brush moving like a Dragon and a snake, and a golden-yellow line snaked across the Talisman Paper following his movements.

Drawing a Talisman is not just sketching a pattern; it is a process of “writing” and “Sealing” one's own Magical Power onto the Talisman Paper using a specific frequency and structure.

The consumption of Mental Energy and the required precision in controlling Magical Power are extremely high.

In his first attempt, just as he reached one-third of the Talisman, the brush tip seemed to hit an imperceptible snag and suddenly paused, instantly interrupting the output of Magical Power.

“Hiss—”

With a soft sound, the spiritual light on the Talisman Paper became chaotic.

The line he had just drawn instantly dimmed and twisted, and the entire sheet of Talisman Paper was ruined, turning into flying ash.

Seeing this, Yu Xuzi's expression remained unchanged, his eyes calm, as if he had expected it.

Because there was nothing wrong with his drawing method.

The pause during the drawing process was caused by the Talisman Paper being insufficiently uniform and fine-grained at the “micro level.”

After all, this Talisman Paper was made from Mortal material. If it were a qualified Talisman Paper made from a genuine First Rank Spiritual Item, such a problem would never occur.

“Again!”

Yu Xuzi picked up the second sheet of Talisman Paper, concentrated again, adjusted his breathing, and started anew.

“Second time!”

“Third time!”

“...”

The ninth time, his luck was better, and the progress was much smoother.

The brush tip was steady, the Talisman Paper smooth, and the Magical Power output stable. Most of the Talisman was complete, and success seemed within reach.

However, just as he was outlining the final crucial turn, Yu Xuzi became momentarily excited and his concentration wavered slightly.

“Puff!”

The Talisman Paper spontaneously combusted without fire, instantly turning into a small pile of ashes.

Despite failing nine consecutive times, Yu Xuzi did not become discouraged or impatient. Instead, he closed his eyes and carefully reviewed the entire process of the recent failure.

A moment later.

When he opened his eyes again, his movements this time were more composed and more confident.

The brush tip descended, Magical Power flowed onto the Talisman Paper: start, move, turn, conclude... The entire process was smooth and continuous, completed in one go!

When the final stroke concluded perfectly, the entire Rune suddenly lit up with a faint golden radiance.

In an instant, the light retracted. All the strokes seemed to come alive, connecting with each other to form a stable whole, faintly emitting a weak Spell fluctuation.

Success!!