Heaven have mercy! Yu Ci, though often feigning ignorance, genuinely had no clue what this so-called "Talisman Battle" was all about.

Seeing his expression, Zhai Que'er's unusually spirited and pure face revealed a rare look of surprise. "You really don't know?"

Yu Ci cracked a smile. "Please enlighten me, Miss Que'er."

The female cultivator did not respond immediately but turned with a peculiar look to consult Boss third He.

At that moment, Boss third He's mind was entirely preoccupied with ensuring the safety of this "junior sister," his thoughts racing to the point of explosion. His reaction came much too late, and by the time he realized it, Zhai Que'er, having received no answer, had already pursed her light purple lips and turned aside, beginning to discuss the details of the Talisman Battle with Yu Ci.

"The Talisman Battle," she explained, "is a popular form of skill competition in the Cultivation World. Simply put, it's a contest of one's mastery over Talismans. Generally speaking, there are two methods. One is the creation of Talismans on demand. You must understand that while the shapes of Talismans are relatively fixed, their combinations are infinite. With enough experimentation, new Talismans can emerge at any time. Those who are particularly adept can quickly produce a Talisman to meet someone's request. When such individuals are brought together for a competition, it's a matter of seeing whose Talisman best meets the criteria and is of the highest quality..."

"That sounds quite challenging!"

"Eh?"

Zhai Que'er could no longer contain the confusion in her heart. She turned back once more, and this time, Boss third He finally caught on, with Yu Ci's response timely reaching his ears. The previous omissions, coupled with this latest slip, made Boss third He's entire body tingle, his hair standing on end:

"What... what was with that Talisman you gave me?"

"Which Talisman?"

Yu Ci looked utterly baffled and innocent. "You asked for that type of Talisman, and I remembered one called 'Water Strike for Three Thousand Miles' that fit the bill, so I gave it to you. That Talisman has no issues. As long as it's cast into any liquid, be it water, oil, or whatever, it can release ten strands of Silk-Binding Energy, transforming into Undercurrents for Disturbing and Controlling the Enemy. It can also be twisted into a whip, solidifying water currents to strike the enemy from miles away..."

This time, there was no room for feigning ignorance—Yu Ci was not so obtuse as to be unaware of Boss Third He's intentions when he brought up the so-called "business deal." Yu Ci was familiar with "Talisman Crafting," but to be honest, not only at that time but even now, he had never had the experience of successfully creating a talisman upon request.

To take up Talisman Crafting anew? Yu Ci did not underestimate himself, but upon reflecting on the art of the "Heavenly Flying Stars," with the thirty-six talismanic pearls and jades setting the precedent, even the Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book contained nothing but classics. A talisman like the 'Water Strike for Three Thousand Miles,' plucked from the pages of the Shangqing Star Secret Talisman Book, possessed a sophistication and maturity in its structure that became more rewarding the more one savored it. If not for its profound value, why else would the predecessors of the Shangqing Sect have compiled these talismans into a volume to be passed down through the ages?

The True Meaning of the Symbol Technique, the structure of the Talisman Form, and their practicality within these talismans had all reached considerable heights. Yu Ci was still struggling to learn, let alone feeling qualified to invent new ones.

Seeing that he was not feigning incompetence, Boss Third He was ready to hit the roof—of course, before that, he was determined to devour Yu Ci whole! Compared to his raging fury, Mr. Xia (Xia Shuanghe) was somewhat calmer, simply tugging at the hem of his robe. In the brief delay that followed, Yu Ci addressed Zhai Que'er with an air of resignation:

"Miss Que'er, in all my life, I have never practiced this skill, and I also acknowledge that I fall far short of the sages of the past. I'm afraid that if it comes to a Talisman Battle, I would be unable to reap any benefits."

Zhai Que'er did not seem angry. She sized him up from head to toe and then said, "That's not a problem at all. Specialization is key in any craft. Even if one is proficient in Talisman Crafting, it doesn't necessarily mean they excel at creating talismans on demand. Hmm, where is the actual Jade Talisman?"

Upon hearing the words, Boss third He, like a bear in his massive frame, hurriedly stepped forward, shooting Yu Ci a fierce glare before presenting the Jade Talisman. In truth, the image of the Jade Talisman had already been sent to Zhai Que'er through special channels; now, by handing it over in person, it was clear that a further verification was intended.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Holding the talisman in her hand, Zhai Que'er sensed its properties and her face lit up with a smile. "The craftsmanship of the talisman is quite exquisite. Although I am a layperson in this regard, I can tell that these Rune Engravings were done in one breath, and there's Divine Light contained within..."

As she spoke, she suddenly flicked her sleeve, and the air in front of her abruptly became heavy, with ripples forming in the stillness. The Jade Talisman spun out, bursting into a ball of Radiant Spiritual Light in midair, followed by the sound of it cutting through the air.

The power stored within the Jade Talisman erupted, transforming into ten streams of high-speed rotating force, stirring the already dense air. On its own accord, the talisman twisted into an Air Whip as thick as an arm. Though invisible, it had substance; it lashed through the air with a thunderous noise. With a single thought from the female cultivator, the tail of the whip was caught in her palm, while the tip tore through the atmosphere. It seemed to possess a spirit of its own as it bypassed numerous obstacles in the underground passages ahead, and with a heavy blow, it struck somewhere in the distance. The sound of rocks shattering and splintering echoed back, and the ground beneath everyone's feet seemed to tremble. Then, the long whip divided into strands, each striking in different directions. The sounds were much softer than before, but the shower of stone fragments and dust still fell in abundance.

Impressive!

Yu Ci marveled inwardly. He was not one to boast about his own creations, but what he admired was the "Three Thousand Miles Water Strike" talisman, which was originally intended for use in water. To manipulate it effectively in the normal atmosphere was not particularly smooth. Yet Zhai Que'er, with a mere gesture, compressed the air for nearly a mile around her, simulating a watery environment with tremendous force and control. In this short span, she vividly brought the aquatic setting to life, allowing the "Three Thousand Miles Water Strike" to unleash its fullest potential.

Yu Ci conceded that he was incapable of producing such a feat, nor did he believe that anyone at the level of a Golden Elixir cultivator could manage it.

"This talisman is truly remarkable!"

The one who expressed admiration was Mr. Xia, Xia Shuanghe by full name, who had a clearer grasp of the situation than Boss Third He. He understood that whether Soul Chaser—Yu Ci's nickname—was favored or disdained by Miss Que'er, it would inevitably reflect upon him and Boss Third He as their endorsers, albeit to varying extents. To some degree, he, Boss Third He, and Soul Chaser were inextricably linked, sharing both glory and loss. Naturally, Mr. Xia did not mind lending his support to bolster their stance—especially since the performance of this Jade Talisman was indeed impressive.

Boss Third He might be rough around the edges, but he was no fool. Witnessing the effect of the talisman, he was taken aback. Although the charm would have no effect on him, in a battle within aquatic environments at the Golden Elixir level, with comparable cultivation levels, possessing such a talisman could enable a multitude of tactics and ensure a tactical advantage. Considering the whip in Zhai Que'er's hand that she deftly manipulated, it was difficult to estimate how many more strikes she could deliver...

Moreover, he remembered how effortlessly Yu Ci had crafted this talisman, prompting a shift in his own perspective: "This man isn't entirely deceitful and cunning."

After testing the talisman's effects, Zhai Que'er nodded but refrained from immediate comment. Instead, she pursed her pale purple lips in serious contemplation, her demeanor pure and translucent, belying the gravity of the matter at hand that could very well concern life and death.

Yu Ci, on the other hand, remained composed. He had candidly acknowledged his shortcomings, which at first glance seemed disadvantageous to himself, but compared to his deficiencies in talismanic arts, he retained a fundamental confidence in his own abilities.

The level of talismanic cultivation allowed no room for pretense. Although his formal training period might not have been extensive, with the Primordial Root Qi Method imparted to him by the compassionate Master Jie and the personal teachings of Old Master Zhu, even the mental images within the void of his heart took the form of Life Death Talismans. A great portion of his life's skills was encapsulated within. If this too was to be dismissed, what would it matter if he temporarily deceived Zhai Que'er with a single talisman?

It was exactly this self-assured demeanor that brought a smile back to Zhai Que'er's face. "Whether it's a self-made talisman or not, the effect is truly exquisite. It's so impressive that it makes me want to learn the art of talisman crafting from you!"

As she spoke, the imposing whip and the divine light of the talisman dissipated together, and the female cultivator clapped her hands. "Right, I've only mentioned one method of talisman battle so far, and there's another I almost forgot! The second method is called the 'Layered Orifice Combination'..."

Yu Ci expressed surprise, "Layered Orifice Combination!"

Zhai Que'er seemed pleasantly surprised, her eyes curving into crescent moons. "Ha, you know this technique!"

Yu Ci didn't deny it, although in this lifetime, he had only used it two or three times.

The so-called "Layered Orifice Combination" is also a method of talisman cultivation, which particularly tests one's proficiency in talismanic arts. The basic approach involves optimizing the talismanic structure, employing the method of channeling qi to overlap and simplify the scattered "orifices" within the fractal structure that makes up the talisman. This transformation creates a brand-new talisman, designed to be activated with the least amount of energy for the maximum effect.

Back in the Sword Garden, Yu Ci had been pushed by Shadow Ghost and Xuan Huang to use this technique a few times. Even now, within the void of his heart, there lingered a Seed True Talisman, which was the embodiment of the Sword Intent from the Xuan Huang Killing Sword—a memory from a distant past.

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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free]: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e