Chapter 82

Shen Lian couldn't help but praise, "Good wine."

The bearded man smiled without a word. If it weren't good wine, he wouldn't drink it.

"This wine is also called 'Sweet Dew of Drunkenness.' It is indeed very useful for beginners in the Soul Nurturing stage. However, since your spirit is already solid and firm, you can only enjoy it as good wine."

Shen Lian nodded slightly. What the bearded man said was indeed true. Of course, cultivation can be aided by external forces, but one shouldn't become dependent. The balance is hard to maintain. A slight misstep could either make one too rigid or fall into the greed for elixirs and magical medicines, losing sight of the essence of power.

"Are you also a senior from the Lower Academy?" Shen Lian gazed at the man, noticing that his eyes seemed to be wrapped in a substantial layer of green light, truly captivating.

Unlike Qi Sanwen's reserve and Chen Jianmei's sharpness, he resembled a wild beast nurtured by nature. Even without showing his claws, he was not to be underestimated.

"You can call me senior, or by my name. A person's identity and background are not important. I didn't learn these skills for immortality, but to live a happy life in this world. Even if I reach the Ninth Realm of cultivation, I still can't compare to the sun, moon, and stars, which themselves are not eternal." What seemed like a helpless matter was spoken with a sense of grandeur. Even if life is fleeting, it wouldn't make him feel negative.

Shen Lian didn't ask why he hadn't left Qingxuan despite his words. People like him always have their reasons for staying or leaving. If he wanted to talk, he would; if not, it wasn't worth worrying about.

"Never eternal, I have never thought about it, but I still want to live longer. Just now, I saw you summon and control the elemental energy of heaven and earth so effortlessly. Is this due to your cultivation or some divine technique?" Shen Lian was quite puzzled. He could absorb the elemental energy to aid his cultivation, but he couldn't manipulate it like the bearded man, as if the elemental energy belonged to him.

"It has something to do with cultivation, but not much. As long as your cultivation reaches the level where you can sense the elemental energy of heaven and earth, theoretically, you can do what I did just now," the bearded man said with a smile.

Shen Lian pondered and said, "If that's the case, it must be very difficult. I have been learning talisman techniques recently, but I can't seem to get started. Did what I just see have something to do with talismans?"

"Since you've been exposed to talisman techniques, it's not hard to guess. In Qingxuan, I might not be the best at making talismans, but if you ask about how to get started, I'm the best choice," the bearded man smiled, not arrogantly but confidently.

"Can I learn from you, senior?" Shen Lian asked smoothly.

"I can teach you, but what will you offer in return?" The bearded man sized up the refined and calm young man. Qingliang Peak had been empty for so long, and finally, a decent person had arrived. Unfortunately, the great path doesn't rely on others. Even with world-class talent, if one doesn't become a generation's hero, it's not worth admiring.

No matter how great the potential, one must live long enough to realize it.

"I'll do my best to meet your requirements. If I can't, it will be a slight regret," Shen Lian said frankly, which was within his expectations.

After all, they had no kinship. To gain private teachings just because they were both Lower Academy disciples would be too easy.

Holding one's own treasures close is indeed detrimental to the cultivation world, but no one can truly set aside their biases.

Just like in his previous life, despite so much academic exchange, core and sensitive knowledge was never easily shared.

Cultivation has no boundaries, but cultivators do.

"I do have an unfulfilled wish that I can't accomplish myself. With your current abilities, it would be difficult to help me. However, if you're willing to give me the magical artifact you carry, I can teach you talisman techniques. How much you can understand depends on your own destiny," the bearded man's gaze fell on the sandalwood sword Shen Lian carried, with interest.

Shen Lian remained calm, his clear and handsome face as composed as ever. "With your status, you shouldn't lack a trivial magical artifact. What do you see in it?"

The bearded man gently brushed his sleeve, sweeping over the wine flask and putting away the 'Sweet Dew of Drunkenness.' The space between them was empty, with no wind, and the atmosphere was peaceful and serene.

He said, "It's not a big deal. Even if I don't tell you, you'll understand in the future. As a magical artifact, this sword's power is negligible. However, this sword is different from others because it has 'spirit' due to 'law.' It's excellent as a 'spirit guide.'"

Shen Lian, of course, knew what a spirit guide was. If one mastered talisman techniques and had a certain level of cultivation, they could use things like 'cinnabar' or 'peach wood' as spirit guides to use talisman techniques, such as creating clouds or summoning wind and rain, depending on the type of talisman.

Of course, at a deeper level of cultivation, a spirit guide is not necessary, but the power and effect would be slightly less.

The area was isolated from wind and rain, clearly due to a special talisman technique, as Shen Lian could infer from the bearded man's words.

After all, some magical artifacts and techniques have similar effects, but since the bearded man claimed to be proficient in talisman techniques, he was more likely to use a talisman.

He didn't expect the sandalwood sword to have such a use. A spirit guide that even the bearded man valued would be precious to him at this stage.

As for the sandalwood sword becoming a magical artifact, it was clearly due to his practice of the 'Interdependent Sword Qi,' which entered a subtle and enlightening realm. Even if he started over, he could likely recreate an identical sandalwood sword magical artifact.

The bearded man said it was due to 'law' generating 'spirit,' so the trajectory of the 'Interdependent Sword Qi' must align with some unchanging law of heaven and earth. He wasn't surprised, as he had anticipated this.

At the same time, he felt that Mr. Su was unfathomable and decided not to casually use the 'Interdependent Sword Qi' unless absolutely necessary. Although internal strife among fellow disciples in Qingxuan was rare, external cultivators might not be so friendly.

Even if the sandalwood sword had no other uses, Shen Lian didn't plan to give it to anyone. He replied slowly, "If this sword were another precious item, I wouldn't be unwilling to exchange it. But it has been with me for a long time, like a part of my body. If I were to give it up today, I might give up other parts of my body tomorrow, and I would no longer be myself."

"The body is just a bag of flesh, let alone external objects. You might change your view in the future. But if you're unwilling now, I won't force you." He was always straightforward. Since Shen Lian was unwilling, he wouldn't force it. He wanted the sandalwood sword out of curiosity, but it wouldn't help his talisman techniques much.

PS: Thank you to ccbuptct, Red Fox on the Gobi, Laughing and Wandering Freely, and Yishi Liu Li for your support.

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