Chapter 87

With the old book concluded, allow me a two-day rest, and I will start with three updates from Monday. I remember I still owe a few chapters. Next week, I will ensure three updates, and the fourth will be to pay off the debt. For now, each chapter will still be two thousand words, and after September, each chapter will be three thousand words.

After buying talisman paper and cinnabar from the shop, Ning Wuxie returned to the fishing village.

He closed the door, took a bath, and burned incense. The desk was filled with a faint, lingering fragrance.

Sandalwood incense helps to calm the mind and spirit. Ning Wuxie sat cross-legged, his mind clear. After a moment, he opened his eyes, looked at the desk, unfolded a yellow talisman paper, picked up a brush, and dipped it into the prepared ink.

The tip of the brush ignited with flames, and he wrote swiftly, leaving trails of flame on the yellow talisman paper. The entire paper was enveloped in bright yellow flames and began to burn.

“Puff...”

Suddenly, the flame on the brush flickered, and intense flames burst out. The entire brush began to burn, and the talisman paper on the desk instantly turned to ashes.

Ning Wuxie frowned, swept away the ashes on the desk with his sleeve, and threw the burned brush, which was now just a piece of charcoal, to the side.

“If only I could use this brush. Ordinary brushes are too fragile and can't withstand the violent demonic energy.”

Ning Wuxie took out a brush that glowed with a spiritual light, the very same Chunqiu brush that the young man in green had taken.

In ancient times, during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, academia flourished, and many great scholars, sages, Confucian saints, legal saints, and Mohist saints emerged. These people were so wise that their words were considered the ultimate truth, and their ideas have been revered for millennia, almost making them akin to gods, who can enjoy the offerings of the living.

Such people had a literary aura that could move heaven and earth. The brushes and ink they used were imbued with this aura and, over time, became magical artifacts. This Chunqiu brush was likely one of the brushes used by a Confucian sage from that era, containing a pure and righteous energy.

If it were a brush from the Mohist or Legalist schools, it would be better, but this Confucian brush is particularly effective against demons and evil spirits. Demon cultivators cannot use it, and if Ning Wuxie were to infuse it with demonic energy, it could even cause the righteous energy to backlash.

It's like guarding a treasure mountain but gaining nothing from it.

Putting away the Chunqiu brush, Ning Wuxie unfolded a new talisman paper, took out a new brush, and dipped it in the ink. The tip of the brush glowed with a dull yellow light, heavy and earthy, capable of bearing all things.

Over the past two years, Ning Wuxie had been practicing drawing talisman papers. His brushwork was already proficient. Talisman papers are the foundation of talismanic arts. Some talisman papers have great power, not inferior to magical artifacts, and are more convenient to use, especially in dangerous situations, where a single talisman paper can save a life.

The *Taiyin Jue* also has methods for cultivating talisman papers. Making talisman papers not only refines the demonic energy within the body but also strengthens the spirit. When drawing a talisman, the spirit must be highly concentrated on the tip of the brush, moving with the heart and the will.

Without the phenomenon of fire elemental energy burning, a simple earth talisman paper, glowing with a faint yellow light, was completed. The brush, having fulfilled its mission, instantly disintegrated.

Ordinary brushes are hard to withstand the violent force of demonic energy. Making talisman papers with gentle elemental energies, such as earth, water, and wood, is better. If making talisman papers with fire or metal elemental energies, the brush would not last halfway before disintegrating.

Thus, Ning Wuxie had a pile of defensive talisman papers but not a single offensive one. Thinking about the need to kill the carp spirit in a month, even with the promise from the Dragon King of Dongting, he still felt uneasy without a backup plan.

Never entrust your life to others!

After half a day of making talisman papers, Ning Wuxie's face was slightly pale. He put away the ten intact talisman papers, looked at the more than a hundred wasted yellow talisman papers and a pile of brushes, and silently sighed. Making talisman papers is indeed a task for the wealthy, as the success rate is too low. Even though he was already very proficient, his success rate was only about ten percent.

Sitting cross-legged, Ning Wuxie silently recited the techniques from *Hunyin Qianli*, a visualization method that is not too difficult. It involves visualizing the world to refine the spirit. As long as the mind is calm, it is easy to practice. Ning Wuxie quickly got the hang of it.

Visualizing a full moon in the sky, a cool force extended from the void into his spirit, making him feel refreshed and invigorated. The visualization of the full moon reminded Ning Wuxie of his awakening, when moonlight seemed to enter his body. Every full moon, his strength would surge, and he couldn't help but think of some legends about wolves and the moon from the future.

As the sun set and night fell, Ning Wuxie arrived at the northern shore of Dongting Lake. His gaze fell on a newly planted orange sapling, and he was surprised. Could this be the community orange tree from the Liu Yi story?

Ning Wuxie's forehead was covered in black lines. No wonder he couldn't find the large orange tree all night. Moreover, the Dragon King of Dongting hadn't yet married his daughter to the Jing River, right?

The waters of Dongting Lake shimmered, and the water parted, revealing a night-forked demon holding a steel fork standing on the waves.

"Is this the Great King?"

Ning Wuxie nodded.

The night-forked demon bowed respectfully. "Great King, please follow me. The Dragon King is waiting for you in the Dragon Palace."

Upon reaching the Dragon Palace, the night-forked demon did not lead Ning Wuxie to the Lingxu Hall but in another direction.

"My Dragon King is entertaining several young princes from the Jing River in the Ningbi Palace."

Before reaching the Ningbi Palace, the sound of music and a clear female voice could be heard. The night-forked demon stopped outside, and Ning Wuxie entered the Ningbi Palace alone. Inside, the hall was adorned with silk and pearls, and dancers performed gracefully, their voices melodious and beautiful.

On the left side of the hall were the shrimp generals, crab generals, turtle prime minister, carp spirit, loach monster, and night-forked demon king of the Dongting Dragon Palace. On the right side were several handsome young princes, dressed in green, yellow, white, red, and black. Laughter filled the hall.

The Dragon King of Dongting sat in the main seat, wearing a purple robe and a crown, with a faint smile on his face. His gaze swept the hall, and upon seeing Ning Wuxie, he clapped his hands, and the dancers and musicians bowed and left.

"Brother, look!" The young prince in white tugged at the young prince in green's sleeve.

The young prince in green frowned. "Is it him?"

The young prince in yellow looked and suddenly stood up, his eyes fierce. "You, you dirty scholar! You dare to come here! I'll flay you alive!"

The several young princes stood up together, glaring at Ning Wuxie, wishing to flay his skin, tear his tendons, eat his flesh, and drink his blood!

Ning Wuxie ignored the dragons, walked calmly into the hall, and bowed slightly to the Dragon King. "I pay my respects to the Dragon King!"

"The Great King is too polite."

The Dragon King's eyes flashed with surprise as he stood up, laughed, and looked at the young princes. "Nephews, do you know him?"

The faces of the young princes in green and the others changed repeatedly. How could they explain this?

Should they tell the Dragon King of Dongting that they saw the magical artifact Chunqiu brush in the town today and tried to force a purchase, but were taken by Ning Wuxie?

If it were Ning Wuxie who lost face, it would be fine, but they lost face. Now, if they said it, what would be left of their dignity?

Ning Wuxie glanced at the speechless young prince in green and smiled, turning to the Dragon King. "We know each other, we just met recently. These young princes are kind-hearted and benevolent."

Kind-hearted and benevolent?

The young prince in green's face turned black. This was a scathing rebuke, mocking their bullying.

The Dragon King of Dongting also sensed something amiss, laughed, and pretended not to understand, inviting Ning Wuxie to sit down and enjoy the feast. The rest is not mentioned.