Chapter 19: Three Immersions to Form Paper, Nine Transformations to Shed Mortality

Jiang Youling held her breath and focused her mind as the meteoric iron blade sliced diagonally along the edge of the talisman paper.

Unexpectedly, the moment the blade touched the surface, the green elm bark trembled slightly as if it were a living thing. The blade tip jerked half an inch off course, carving a crooked slit at the tail of the paper.

Frowning slightly, she picked up the ruined talisman, adjusted her grip, and continued her descent.

This time, her movements were exceptionally steady. The blade edge advanced slowly along the wood grain, carving a straight six-inch cut in one seamless motion.

Just as she was about to retract the blade at the final inch, the long, piercing cry of a spiritual crane echoed outside the window.

Her wrist jerked instinctively, causing the tip of the blade to nick a tiny crescent-shaped notch at the end of the paper—a mere hair's breadth away from turning it into a scrap.

Both attempts had failed.

She had only thirteen blanks in total. If she failed again, she could not guarantee that she would succeed in each of the next ten attempts.

Jiang Youling took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a long time, suddenly recalling the seamless sensation she had experienced while skinning during the previous days.

By using the Laogong point to absorb Wood Qi, her control over tools through her palms and fingers became increasingly refined.

After an unknown amount of time spent in meditative visualization, when Jiang Youling opened her eyes again, the meteoric iron blade felt as if it had merged with her palm.

She lowered the blade slowly, carving a steady groove. Under the weight of the green jade ruler, the seven-inch green elm bark spread out like satin.

As she finished the final stroke, the morning bell chimed. Fragmented light filtered through the back of the paper, illuminating the natural wood grain within—it was a success!

Looking at the neatly trimmed talisman paper on the table, a sense of pride welled up in Jiang Youling's heart.

It was she who had personally harvested this piece of bark from the green elm tree, processed it through various methods, and finally succeeded in setting the paper.

From the bark to the talisman paper, every single step had been done by her own hands.

She had also personally witnessed how this plain, unremarkable piece of elm bark, through multiple stages of processing, had become talisman paper capable of carrying the Dao.

She gazed at the paper in her hand, her fingertips lightly tracing the faint wood grain, as if touching a path leading toward the Great Dao.

"Is the path of cultivation not just like the refining of this talisman paper?" Jiang Youling whispered to herself.

At first, it was nothing more than a crude piece of bark. Only through carving, chopping, and the tempering of water and fire could it shed its coarse exterior.

Just as a cultivator must endure the pain of bone and sinew and the grinding of the mind to wash away the turbid air of mortality.

The process of three soakings and three sun-dryings was akin to the layers of trials in cultivation.

The first soaking removes impurities, much like a cultivator cleansing their marrow and hair; the second soaking integrates spiritual energy, similar to quieting the mind and entering stillness; the third soaking bestows fortitude, which is precisely the subduing of wild desires and the prevention of delusions. Only then can one visualize the Heart Lamp to illuminate the subtle depths.

Every step required perfect timing; a fraction too much was an excess, and a fraction too little was a deficiency.

Now, this green elm bark had undergone a metamorphosis, transforming into talisman paper that could carry the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth. Just as a mortal cultivator, after enduring countless hardships, can finally transcend mortality to enter sanctity.

She carefully placed the talisman paper into her basket, retrieved another sheet, and continued her visualization.

Only after finding the rhythm did she cautiously lower the blade.

In less than an hour, the remaining ten sheets of talisman paper were all trimmed, without a single mistake.

Jiang Youling took the talisman papers and offered them upon the Five Elements Altar, then sat cross-legged and silently recited the *Jade Purity Spirit-Awakening Precious Incantation* taught to her by her Senior Sister.

"Jade Purity commands, illuminating the profound darkness. Talismans traverse the three realms, Qi merges with the nine heavens. The brush moves like dragons and snakes, vermilion dyes the celestial patterns. A single spark of spiritual light pierces the constellations. Heavenly Stems deploy the baleful, Earthly Branches hide their forms. The Primordial Ancestral Qi protects the true spirit. Evil spirits scatter, the righteous path shines bright..."

After three days of sincere recitation, Jiang Youling felt a sudden sensation. She opened her eyes and looked toward the altar.

She saw a speck of spiritual light descend from above onto the Five Elements Altar, merging into the small stack of talisman papers.

The papers fluttered without wind, their edges glowing with a faint golden light before quietly fading away.

"It worked!"

Jiang Youling's heart leaped. She couldn't help but stand up and approach the altar to pick up the stack and examine it closely.

These consecrated talisman papers looked no different from those three days ago.

Yet, Jiang Youling could feel that something had clearly changed.

Was that speck of light that merged into the paper the spiritual energy Grandma Cui and the Academy Master had spoken of?

Suppressing her surging emotions, Jiang Youling put the papers away and walked toward the Talisman Storage Building.

The Talisman Storage Building was where talismans were kept; the talisman paper and ink produced by handyman disciples each month also had to be delivered here.

Upon entering the Talisman Academy and reaching the submission area, she happened to encounter the tall Senior Sister who had brought her into the academy.

Having been in the academy for nearly a month, Jiang Youling had heard people mention this supervisor's name. She bowed and said, "Senior Sister Ruan."

"It's you?"

A gentle smile curled at the corners of Ruan Ziqin's mouth. "I remember you. You were the top-ranked among the new disciples, Jiang Youling, right? Have you come to the Talisman Storage Building to see me for a reason?"

While her voice was calm, she had already assumed that Jiang Youling had failed her task and had come to beg for mercy.

Unfortunately, for one, she had arrived too late; there were only two days left before the end-of-month inspection.

Secondly, someone had specifically instructed her to take good care of this Junior Sister Jiang. Even if she wanted to show some leniency, she likely wouldn't be able to.

Thinking of this, Ruan Ziqin felt a secret pang of pity for this talented junior.

To enter an immortal sect at sixteen was the perfect time for cultivation, yet she had offended *that* person...

She feared that in two months, Junior Sister Jiang would be expelled from the Talisman Academy for failing to complete her tasks for three consecutive months!

Just as she was feeling regretful, she saw Junior Sister Jiang take a small stack of talisman paper from her basket and hand it over.

"Senior Sister, this is the new talisman paper I made this month. Please inspect it."

"It's fine, even if you didn't complete the task, it's no—wait!!"

Ruan Ziqin accidentally let her comforting words slip. Halfway through, she realized what she had said, her face flushing with shock as she looked down at the papers being handed to her.

"Is this... mortal-grade talisman paper made from green elm bark?"

Jiang Youling nodded. "I first obtained the green elm bark, then processed it according to the talisman-making procedures, and finally set the paper and consecrated it to complete the task."

"Impossible!"

Ruan Ziqin let out a low cry. Noticing Jiang Youling's puzzled gaze, she realized she had spoken out of turn and quickly tried to cover it up.

"What I meant was... Junior Sister, to be able to produce so many talisman papers in just one month when you've only just started is simply incredible."

"Is it incredible?"

Doubt arose in Jiang Youling's mind, though she did not show it on her face. She simply asked, "Didn't Senior Sister say that every new disciple in the Talisman Academy must submit ten sheets of talisman paper during their first three months?"

Ruan Ziqin forced a change in her words. "Yes, but most people cannot complete the task in their first month. They usually have to wait until their second or third month to become familiar with the process before they can successfully complete it."

Jiang Youling nodded, appearing to have no further objection.

Ruan Ziqin breathed a slight sigh of relief, took the papers from Jiang Youling, and her expression turned solemn.

"Junior Sister, do not blame me for not warning you: the greatest taboo in cultivation is deception. If I discover that these papers were not made by your own hands, according to academy rules, you will be fined half a year's stipend.

If it happens again, you will be expelled from the Talisman Academy directly."