75: Chapter 75 Listening to Lectures at Thousand Talisman Peak

Talisman Master Xu raised her right hand, spiritual light gathering at her fingertips, and she sketched in the air.

A stream of water-blue spiritual light flowed from her fingertips. Following her movements, a complex, three-dimensional model of a Talisman pattern, woven from countless rays of light, gradually formed in the air.

"Look here." She pointed to a node within the model. "This is the critical transition point of the Water-Moistening Talisman.

When water spiritual energy reaches this point, it must transition from flowing to diffusing.

If the curvature of the Talisman pattern here is insufficient, the spiritual energy will clog; if the curvature is too large, the spiritual energy will dissipate prematurely. How does one master this?"

Her fingertips moved slightly, magnifying a section of the Talisman pattern model, making the intertwined rays of light clearly visible down to the finest detail.

"Pay attention to the changes in the curvature of the lines and the spiritual energy pressure difference between adjacent nodes. Stability is not rigidity; it is a dynamic equilibrium. It is like a stream encountering a rock—not crashing into it, but flowing around, splitting, and then converging again."

The Disciples below held their breath, some recording rapidly, others frowning in deep concentration as they tried to comprehend.

Talisman Master Xu dismissed the Water-Moistening Talisman model and constructed a fiery red Talisman pattern structure out of thin air.

"Now look at the Fire Arrow Talisman. Fire spiritual energy is violent and direct. Its stability depends on the sturdiness of the channels and the precision of the exit point.

The Talisman pattern lines should be straight rather than curved, and the nodes need to be reinforced, but the explosive point at the end must be constrained just right; otherwise, the power will disperse."

She demonstrated the structural essentials of five basic Talismans of different attributes in succession, each explanation cutting straight to the essence.

Lin Xuan listened, completely entranced. Many problems he had vaguely sensed but could not articulate during his own practice were suddenly clarified by Talisman Master Xu's few words, leaving him enlightened.

"Next, I will draw a First Tier Medium Grade Water Shield Talisman. Everyone, pay attention to the rhythm of my spiritual energy flow and the brushwork during the construction of the Talisman pattern."

Talisman Master Xu took out a blank piece of Talisman paper, spread it on the specially made jade board on the table, and picked up a cyan Talisman brush.

She set the brush down slowly, appearing almost leisurely.

Deep blue water spiritual energy flowed from the tip of the brush, leaving clear marks on the Talisman paper.

A horizontal stroke, a fold, a back hook... In the turns of the brush tip, there was not the slightest hesitation; instead, there was a rhythm as fluid as moving clouds and flowing water.

Lin Xuan was fully focused. He not only watched the brushstrokes but also used his Divine Sense to perceive the subtle fluctuations in Talisman Master Xu's spiritual energy output.

He discovered with surprise that the water spiritual energy within the Talisman paper was not merely gentle, but possessed an inner "resilience"—when it needed to support the structure, it was as solid as ice; when it needed to form the curved surface of a shield, it was as supple as silk.

The eighteen-stroke Talisman pattern took nearly the time of a cup of tea to complete.

When the final stroke was finished, the entire Talisman paper glowed with a lustrous blue light. A layer of visible, water-like halo rippled across the surface of the Talisman, then slowly retracted.

"Talisman complete." Talisman Master Xu held up the Talisman to show everyone. "The key to the Water Shield Talisman lies in the combination of softness and resilience. Water is extremely soft, yet it can overcome hardness; because of its softness, it can adapt to shapes and disperse impact; because of its resilience, it can withstand pressure and is not easily broken."

She set down the Talisman, her gaze sweeping over the many thoughtful faces below, and said slowly:

"Many people fall into a misconception when making Talismans—always thinking about using the Talisman pattern to constrain and suppress the natural attributes of the spiritual energy. This feeling is especially strong when drawing Talismans that contradict one's own primary attribute."

Lin Xuan's heart jolted. These words hit his sore spot exactly!

"But I want to tell you all," Talisman Master Xu's voice was clear and firm, "attributes are not shackles, but characteristics. The Dao of making Talismans lies in understanding the characteristics, conforming to the characteristics, guiding the characteristics, and ultimately utilizing the characteristics."

She sketched in the air again; this time, a flashing purple thunder light appeared. "Take thunder as an example. What are the characteristics of thunder? Speed, violence, penetration, and explosion.

If you insist on using it to simulate the weight of an earth shield or the resilience of a water shield, you will naturally achieve half the result with twice the effort, or even labor in vain."

The thunder light leaped, branched, and burst into tiny sparks at her fingertips.

"But is there no possibility of defense with thunder?" Talisman Master Xu changed the subject. "Thunder and lightning possess Extreme Speed; could you construct an airtight electric net and use speed to compensate for coverage?

Thunder is violent; could you convert this violence into a counter-shock force, making attack the best defense?

Thunder and lightning have penetrative power; could you construct multiple layers of dense structures inside the shield to weaken the incoming force layer by layer?"

Each question was like a heavy hammer striking Lin Xuan's heart.

Before, when he drew the Thunder Shield Talisman, his mind was filled with how to make the Thunder Spiritual Energy "obediently" form a sturdy shield similar to an earth wall or a water cover.

He tried desperately to constrain, compress, and solidify the Thunder Spiritual Energy, but the result was that the spiritual energy resisted, clashed, and ultimately collapsed.

The direction was wrong!

"The key lies in guidance and construction, not suppression."

The thunder light at Talisman Master Xu's fingertips began to change. It no longer tried to gather into a ball but extended and intertwined into an electric net with well-distributed density that constantly flowed and flashed.

"You see, with the same Thunder Spiritual Energy, by changing the structure, it transforms from a hedgehog into a spiderweb. The former leaves one with nowhere to strike, while the latter can stick to, disperse, and consume the impact."

She demonstrated several more techniques for channeling and utilizing violent energy through Talisman pattern curvature, node density, and circuit design.

Lin Xuan felt as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through his mind; his previously clogged thoughts were instantly cleared! He couldn't wait to return to the Quiet Room, pick up his Talisman brush, and try again!

The hour-and-a-half-long lecture ended while many Disciples still felt unsatisfied. Talisman Master Xu did not linger; after finishing her last sentence, she turned into a streak of light and left.

The Disciples stood up one after another, talking as they walked out.

"...Talisman Master Xu's theory on attribute characteristics today was truly enlightening!"

"I have to go back and change the structure of my Fire Rain Talisman. I always felt the coverage of the Fire Rain wasn't uniform enough before..."

"The front line is in urgent need of various functional Talismans, especially things like barrier-breaking Talismans, concealment Talismans, and God-Speed Talismans; the prices are 30% to 40% higher than usual! If I could learn to make them..."

"I heard the Xuanyin Sect has come up with a kind of Yin Thunder Talisman, specifically designed to break the thunder techniques of the Righteous Path. Several of our Junior Martial Uncles at Thousand Talisman Peak are currently researching countermeasures..."

Lin Xuan listened silently to these conversations, walking out of the Talisman Lecture Hall with the crowd.

The spring sunshine spilled onto the flat bluestone plaza of Thousand Talisman Peak, somewhat dazzling. He squinted his eyes, but his heart was completely clear.

Fifty contribution points—it was well worth it.

He did not immediately ride a spirit crane back, but instead walked slowly along the edge of the plaza, digesting what he had learned today.

Talisman Master Xu's words echoed repeatedly in his mind: "Guidance, not suppression," "Construct structures suitable for the characteristics," "Thunder electric net"...

By the time he returned to his small courtyard on Emerald Bamboo Peak, it was already noon.

Lin Xuan didn't have time to eat; he went straight into the Quiet Room and spread out the Talisman paper—this time he didn't use the precious purple-patterned paper, but took out an ordinary First Tier Low Grade Talisman paper.

He wanted to verify his ideas first.

He lifted the brush and dipped it in cinnabar.

This time, he didn't rush to set the brush down. Instead, he closed his eyes and recalled the "electric net" structure Talisman Master Xu had sketched, recalled the combination of "softness" and "resilience" in the Water Shield Talisman, and recalled the word "guidance."

A moment later, he opened his eyes, and the brush tip descended.

Thunder Spiritual Energy flowed out along the brush handle. This time, he did not force it to be obedient, but instead conformed to its lively, leaping nature, his brushwork carrying a unique elasticity.

The Talisman pattern no longer sought stability through horizontal and vertical lines but instead gained many smooth arcs and tension-filled turns.

One stroke, two strokes, three strokes... The silver-purple lines on the Talisman paper gradually extended. They no longer tried to form a rigid shield shape but intertwined and looped, vaguely forming a net-like structure with multiple layers of varying density inside.

Lin Xuan was fully focused, his spiritual energy output steady and rhythmic.

He no longer worried about the violent Thunder Spiritual Energy but, just like channeling a stream, guided them to surge within the "river channels" defined by the Talisman pattern.

The fifteenth stroke, the eighteenth stroke, the twenty-second stroke...

The Talisman paper began to vibrate slightly, and tiny electric sparks appeared on the surface. This was a sign that the spiritual energy was full and the structure was about to be completed. If it were before, Lin Xuan would have nervously tried to reinforce the constraints, often leading to all his previous efforts being wasted.

But this time, his mind was calm. He swept the brush tip along, lightly tapping at several key nodes, "weaving" those restless electric sparks into the Talisman pattern network.

The twenty-fifth stroke, the twenty-seventh stroke...

"Sshhh—"

A wisp of blue smoke rose from the edge of the Talisman paper, and a tiny crack appeared—the quality of the Low Grade Talisman paper ultimately could not bear the spiritual energy structure of a Medium Grade Talisman.

But Lin Xuan's eyes sharpened. He did not stop the brush tip; instead, he increased his speed and completed the last two strokes in one go!

Just at the instant before the crack was about to spread to the core Talisman pattern, the final stroke was steadily withdrawn!

"Hum..."

The Talisman paper on the table vibrated gently, and the electric sparks on the surface all converged. A complex, pale purple pattern, woven from countless fine silver lines, appeared completely on the Talisman paper.

In the center of the pattern, a tiny, rotating vortex was faintly visible, slowly absorbing the free Thunder Spiritual Qi in the air.

Although the quality of the Talisman paper itself was insufficient, the edges were damaged, and the spiritual light of the Talisman was slightly dim, but—the structure was successful!

Lin Xuan put down the Talisman brush and let out a long breath, his forehead covered in tiny beads of sweat.

He picked up this incomplete "Thunder Shield Talisman" and could clearly feel the stable cycle of Thunder Spiritual Energy running within it.

No explosion, no spontaneous combustion, no collapse due to spiritual energy conflict.

It lay quietly in his palm. Although due to the quality of the Talisman paper, its power was likely only 50% to 60% of a qualified Thunder Shield Talisman, and it might be completely ruined after one use.

But, the direction was right.

A smile finally curled the corners of Lin Xuan's mouth. He knew that as long as he switched to purple-patterned paper and practiced, successfully drawing a qualified First Tier Medium Grade Thunder Shield Talisman was only a matter of time.

Outside the window, the spring sunshine was just right. The bamboo forest rustled, as if it were also congratulating him.