Self-study

“I really wish I could come here every day.”
Chu Liang wandered around the valley once more, making sure not a single venomous bee remained before reluctantly leaving.
Back at Shushan Sect, in his own little hut, there were still important matters to attend to.
Making money was, after all, only a sideline; one must not forget to improve one’s own abilities.
Thus, Chu Liang first claimed the rewards for the venomous bees. After rewarding himself over thirty times, he began to focus wholeheartedly on his studies.
He was studying the Sword Arts of the Talisman Path, taught to him by Jiang Yuebai.
The essence of these sword arts lay in combining talismans with sword energy. To master this sword technique, one must first learn to craft talismans.
The art of talisman-making is itself a profound study.
Talismans, alchemy, and artifact forging—all these disciplines are deep and complex, each forming their own schools. Shushan does not require its disciples to study them. Chu Liang had not dabbled in them before, but now that it was necessary, learning more could only help.
There is a saying among wanderers: “Learn as long as you live.”
If you do not learn as long as you live, you may not live as long as you hope.
Jiang Yuebai imparted the essentials of the sword technique, but could not teach him from the very basics, so Chu Liang had to return and gradually research on his own. Jiang Yuebai gave him a month to learn the art of talisman-making.
He went to the Hall of Guardians to buy a book called “True Interpretation of the Talisman Path,” and then to the Sword Transmission Hall to purchase basic tools for making talismans: cinnabar, yellow paper, ink, and brushes…
Thus began his self-study.
A talisman is a vessel that carries the power of talismanic script.
The talismanic script possesses power because it is comprised of characters belonging to the Heavenly Dao; once triggered, it can invoke the force of Heaven.
But the Heavenly Dao cannot be invoked at will. One must condense true energy onto the script, then use spiritual intent to reach Heaven, in order to activate the power of the Dao.
Cinnabar is commonly used for writing talismans because it most easily retains energy, allowing true energy to linger upon it for a long time.
For true masters of the Talisman Path, writing talismans bare-handed and triggering them out of thin air is not difficult. To use a flying sword to draw talismans, one must reach this level of mastery.
In the early stages of studying the Talisman Path, one need only memorize some basic scripts and meticulously draw them out, triggering their effects to succeed.
One does not need to understand why the script is written this way.
Just as schoolchildren only need to use mathematical formulas, without comprehending their origins or the principles within—that is for sages and powerful cultivators to ponder.
But even the first step, memorizing those basic scripts, is difficult.
The Heavenly Dao script is complex and intricate, and each stroke contains the Great Dao. Not a single stroke can be altered; you cannot afford to consult a book and copy during a crisis.
In ordinary writing, a stroke longer or shorter matters little, but when drawing talismans, proportions must not deviate in the slightest—this is the first challenge.
This is why talismans are initially drawn on paper, as it best reveals their shapes and proportions. One may need to practice thousands of times before being able to draw them in the air without error.
The Talisman Path rewards diligence.
Chu Liang studied the basic scripts while tracing them in the air with his finger, finding them exceedingly obscure.
The second challenge is condensing true energy without it dispersing, as true energy naturally scatters. To keep it condensed, one needs extremely strong control, with meridians in perfect harmony, executed in one continuous breath.
The third challenge is triggering with spiritual intent, which requires precise control. Many talismans do not activate instantly; to control their timing, one must master the accuracy of one’s spiritual intent.
Essence, energy, and spirit must unite—all three are difficult.

“It's truly complicated…”
Chu Liang gazed at the first talisman in the book, unconsciously tracing its form in the air.
He prepared to memorize the script before trying it with brush and ink.
The first script every newcomer to the Talisman Path learns is the Fire of the Five Elements, and Chu Liang was no exception. Even this simplest script was complex enough to make his scalp tingle.
He traced in the air with his right hand for a long while, finally completing his first script and lightly tapped it.
Whoosh—
A burst of flame shot up out of nowhere, nearly singeing the walls of his hut.
Chu Liang himself was startled, springing upright.
Was that a success?
The book had clearly stated that drawing talismans in the air was difficult…
Hadn’t it said you must practice on paper thousands of times first?
His first reaction was not joy, but to glance at the cinnabar and yellow paper on his desk, muttering, “Bought for nothing.”
…
“Ugh—”
Early the next morning, Chu Liang was awakened by a sudden, resounding call outside. He looked out the window and saw a large white crane landing with a flourish.
It was time for this month’s Seven-Star Gazette.
He greeted the white crane, “Thanks for your hard work.”
Raising his hand, he drew the pamphlet into his hut. It was time for his monthly session of reading the news.
As usual, he started with the Record of Mortal Treasures.
Last month’s Mortal Treasure rankings had shifted noticeably.
Gluttonous City had successfully forged a magical artifact named “Cloud-Piercing Golden Wings,” which, under the witness of the Celestial Pivot Pavilion, was certified to rank ninety-seventh in the Record of Mortal Treasures.
This meant all treasures ranked after ninety-seven would drop by one position.
The top hundred treasures had not changed for many years, so this sudden emergence of the Cloud-Piercing Golden Wings drew much attention.
It is commonly believed the top hundred mark a great divide.
All magical artifacts and weapons ranked outside the top hundred, no matter their strength, belong to the mortal realm. Those within the top hundred are closer to divine artifacts.
Every time the mortal world gains a treasure nearing the divine, it is a major event.
It signifies that Gluttonous City’s strength has grown stronger.
As a disciple of Shushan Sect, Chu Liang should feel a sense of crisis. For in recent years, there have been louder voices claiming Shushan does not deserve its place among the Nine Heavens Immortal Gates, mostly from those prominent among the Ten Great Sects.
They all covet and watch Shushan, the lowest of the Nine Heavens, ready to replace it at any moment.
Gluttonous City is one such contender.
After reading the changes in the Record of Mortal Treasures, he turned to the Chronicles of the Nine Provinces.

This month’s Chronicles of the Nine Provinces contained explosive news.
The headline, “Return of the Demon God,” was emblazoned across the opening page.
Chu Liang had already heard this news in the Hidden Forest Mountain, and had been shocked then, so now it was less surprising.
One can imagine how those living in quiet peace would be stunned by such a revelation.
From the Seven Kings Ridge in the far west, several divine envoys had been sent, joining forces with multiple factions within Yu Dynasty, all with the aim of spreading news of the Demon God’s imminent return; secrecy was never their intention.
They sought to stir up waves across the land of the Nine Provinces!
Such overtly manipulative actions only made the return of the Demon God seem all the more real.
The Pavilion Master of Celestial Pivot, Master Wulou, personally penned a profound commentary, describing to the world just how grave this matter was. He helped all those who had forgotten the terror of the demon race rekindle that long-lost sense of crisis.
Even Chu Liang, who already knew the news, read with a gradually darkening expression.
Turning the page, his gaze grew slightly surprised.
For he saw his own name.
The Celestial Pivot Pavilion described the movement of several captured demon envoys, the first being the one who committed a brutal massacre in Kaoshan City.
This vicious demon envoy was jointly slain by Yun Chaoxian, a core disciple of Tian Gang Sect, and Chu Liang, a young disciple of Shushan, including an evil shaman with whom he had colluded.
Of course, the article focused on Yun Chaoxian, while Chu Liang was barely mentioned.
It was understandable—Yun Chaoxian was one of Tian Gang Sect’s four core disciples and had previously appeared in the Seven-Star Gazette.
As for Chu Liang… who?
Unfamiliar.
Without knowing the specifics, everyone would assume Yun Chaoxian was the driving force in exorcising evil, while Chu Liang merely followed along.
Nevertheless, seeing his name appear in a gazette known throughout the land felt strange and wonderful.
An ordinary disciple of an immortal sect would likely cheer and be excited for days.
After all, appearing in the Seven-Star Gazette is the beginning of fame.
Chu Liang smiled faintly.
He then turned to the next page, and saw another familiar name, his smile broadening slightly.
Indeed…
“The notorious tyrant of Shushan, Peak Lord Lady Feng, recently stirred up trouble in the seas around the Eastern Ocean.”
“The Supreme Sect of Penglai intervened and expelled her.”
“A delight to the public.”