Chapter 82

There are three thousand great paths and eight hundred side paths.

In the ancient cultivation world, talisman cultivation was often criticized by those who considered themselves orthodox cultivators, who believed it was a minor and obscure category, not a true great path.

However, the talisman lineage, despite the growing influence of the Alchemical Cauldron Sect, still maintained a place in the cultivation world, indicating that talisman cultivation was not without merit.

On the contrary, due to the difficulty of entering the path of the Alchemical Cauldron, which did not have the quick results of talisman cultivation, under the influence of the desire for quick success, entering the path through talismans became a choice for some.

After all, the origin of talismans is very early, with a long history. As early as before the Qin Dynasty, talismans were already in circulation. At that time, shamans used talismans to summon deities, expel ghosts, and subdue demons.

By the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Taiping Dao rose, using talisman water to heal people, quickly winning the hearts of the people, and then initiating the massive Yellow Turban Rebellion, leading to the fall of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

However, from that time on, the talisman lineage became a thorn in the side of the rulers and was heavily suppressed. Over time, the talisman school gradually declined and could not become mainstream.

It either developed covertly among the people or was incorporated into various major schools, becoming an auxiliary cultivation method.

Over time, people like Water Moon Hermit, who focused entirely on talismans for cultivation, became extremely rare. Without the reference of predecessors, everything had to rely on his own exploration and research, which might also be the main reason why Water Moon Hermit ultimately hit a bottleneck and could not break through.

Qi Xiang thought that Water Moon Hermit was truly a genius, with outstanding talent that surpassed his contemporaries. He only relied on a mysterious character, deduced through his own reasoning, and gradually evolved it into a series of talismans with infinite uses.

Now, Qi Xiang held his breath and focused intently, carefully outlining one of the simplest and most practical talisman patterns.

Qi Xiang picked up the brush, his movements somewhat clumsy. But as soon as the tip of the brush moved, it seemed as if it had been tempered through countless trials, becoming very smooth and effortless, without any obstruction.

The fine, even lines flowed like clouds and water, smooth and beautiful.

Qi Xiang was very focused and dedicated to his work.

The red talisman pattern gradually appeared on the yellow paper.

The talisman pattern seemed simple but was also very complex.

As Qi Xiang concentrated on drawing, the environment around him subtly changed. In the air, faint traces of restlessness began to flow.

Suddenly, the wind started outside the window, and the flowers and trees in the estate began to tremble slightly, their branches swaying and leaves moving.

After a while, a faint white mist began to emerge from the green leaves.

The mist was as fine as silk, finer than hair, and hard to see with the naked eye.

However, the estate had many flowers and trees, with leaves numbering in the tens of thousands. One leaf, one mist, accumulating and stacking, became a considerable amount.

At this moment, if an outsider visited the estate, they would see a strange scene.

In broad daylight, with the sun high in the sky, a layer of faint mist enveloped the flowers and trees in the estate. The mist, like smoke and clouds, floated and changed unpredictably.

The mist was like clouds, and the clouds brought the wind.

At this moment, the wind suddenly intensified, turning from a gentle breeze into a fierce gale. The wind and clouds surged, covering the sky, changing dramatically, and continuing endlessly.

The fierce wind quickly formed a huge vortex in the living room, making the doors and windows rattle.

Qi Xiang, at the center of the vortex, felt a cold sweat on his forehead. He not only felt immense pressure on his body but also found the brush in his hand as heavy as a thousand pounds, almost impossible to hold.

Although he had known from the beginning that the path of talismans would not be easy, he had underestimated the difficulty of drawing talismans, leading to his current predicament.

In Qi Xiang's understanding, the essence of talismans was to form a small magnetic field on paper through specific patterns, inducing changes in the elemental energy of heaven and earth to achieve a certain purpose.

However, many things in the world are easy to understand but hard to practice.

For example, now, Qi Xiang's steps in drawing the talisman pattern were correct, and he was about to form a spiritual field on the paper. However, he had underestimated the pressure generated by the changes in elemental energy.

The pressure was like a mountain, forcing him to bend over. The brush felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, making it hard to hold, lift, or move.

The red and bright talisman pattern on the paper faintly glowed, and the mist, like smoke and clouds, continuously infused it. Under the nourishment of the mist, the talisman pattern seemed to come alive, full of vitality.

However, the talisman was not yet complete, just one stroke away.

As long as he completed the last stroke, the spiritual field would be completely sealed on the paper, forming a spiritual talisman.

Qi Xiang was well aware of this but was powerless to do anything. He had already done his best, gritting his teeth, using all his strength, his arm veins bulging, and his palms burning, almost wearing away a layer of skin.

But no matter how hard he tried, the brush in his hand was like a towering tree, and he was the ant, unable to move the tree no matter how he tried to lift or press it.

It was like downloading a file, where the progress had reached 99%, but the last bit just wouldn't go through, stuck there, tragic and soul-crushing.

Qi Xiang's mood was such that he wanted to cry but couldn't, and he couldn't give up.

With no other choice, he could only endure, watching the gathered elemental energy slowly dissipate and vanish...

Half an hour later, Qi Xiang felt his body relax as the immense pressure disappeared. However, he couldn't be happy, his face showing a mix of sadness and laughter. He then pressed the brush in his hand hard, completing the last stroke on the paper.

The talisman pattern formed, and a faint light shone, like ripples on water, floating on the paper. But in the next second, there was a puff, and the talisman paper spontaneously combusted, instantly turning to ashes.

Not only that, but when the flames flickered, the brush in Qi Xiang's hand shattered and turned to dust.

Qi Xiang had anticipated this and had already let go of the brush, so he was not injured.

"Ah, I was too hasty..."

Qi Xiang did not tidy up the messy table but immediately reflected on his actions. After some reflection, he realized his mistake. His biggest error was being too impatient!

He thought that with the inheritance of Water Moon Hermit, everything would go smoothly.

He didn't expect that there was still a difference between theory and practice.

Qi Xiang pondered deeply, reflecting on his mistakes and the gains and losses of drawing talismans. After a moment, he suddenly remembered that not only was cinnabar crucial, but the brush and paper also had to be of high quality.

"Brush..."

Qi Xiang recalled why Water Moon Hermit chose to live in seclusion by Lake Tai.

Because near Lake Tai, there was the bustling city of Suzhou, which made it convenient to purchase various supplies. More importantly, Huzhou was a famous pen-making region in ancient times.

Huzhou pens, along with Huizhou ink, Duan inkstones, and Xuan paper, were considered the standard Four Treasures of the Study in ancient times.

Water Moon Hermit's specialized brush for drawing talismans was custom-made by a master pen-maker in Huzhou. Unfortunately, Qi Xiang did not find the brush in the underwater cave.

He didn't know if the brush was broken or had been washed away to the bottom of Lake Tai and lost.

"Never mind, I'll make a new one."

Qi Xiang thought for a moment and decided to visit Nanxun.

Nanxun is a district of Huzhou, but during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the silk industry, handicrafts, and sericulture in Nanxun flourished, making the town economically prosperous. The town was home to many wealthy merchants who made their fortunes from the silk industry, known as the Four Elephants, Eight Oxen, and Seventy-Two Golden Dogs.

Over time, it was said that the city of Huzhou could not match even half of the town of Nanxun.

Qi Xiang had lived in Huzhou for a few years and was not unfamiliar with Nanxun. Even though Nanxun was not as prosperous as it was during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was still a famous tourist destination.

As a typical southern water town, Nanxun attracts countless tourists every year.

Riding in a black-roofed boat, following the winding river, the journey was leisurely. On both sides of the river, there were simple and unadorned white walls and black tiles, with small bridges and flowing water, and people's homes.

Wandering through the ancient town, one not only enjoys the beautiful natural scenery and historical sites but also travels through time, witnessing ancient images that have almost disappeared from the river of history.

The intertwining of modern and ancient times creates a unique charm.

Qi Xiang strolled through the ancient town, almost forgetting the purpose of his trip, lost in the charm of the place...

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