Chapter 59: Talismanic Methods within the Spirit

Li Chijing circled the cave dwelling once, tracing his finger along the pale gold array patterns at the center. With a hint of uncertainty, he said

"Master only taught me talisman arts, and my training within the sect has focused primarily on swordsmanship, so I do not possess much understanding of formations. These patterns do not seem to be the mainstream style of the Yue Kingdom; they appear to focus on gathering and nourishing Qi."

"As for this erupting Spirit Eye, it seems to be a natural formation. Latercomers superimposed a formation upon it to maintain its shape. With the enhancement of the Spirit Eye, the spiritual Qi in this cave is forty to fifty percent higher than the outside world."

Li Chijing carefully recorded the formation diagram, inspected the furnishings within the cave, and found no secret passages or hidden rooms. Only then did he stand up, walk to the stone table, and look at the white cloth spread upon it.

"Chi Wei bows: That person has already arrived at Moon-Viewing Lake. The sect has already dispatched personnel to intercept them. I implore Fellow Daoist to act swiftly... If you encounter that person unexpectedly, please fly toward my Qingchi Sect and notify us immediately."

Li Chijing read for a while, pondered for a few breaths, and spoke with a complex expression

"It seems this person must be one of the cultivators who was invited to besiege the successor of the Immortal Abode back then. They must have realized the extreme danger of this journey, which is why they cleaned out the cave dwelling so thoroughly..."

"That great battle took place at the foot of our Great Li Mountains. I have consulted many records since joining the sect, but there are many secrets involved, and the sect's records are surprisingly sparse."

Li Xiangping could not help but become intensely interested, asking enthusiastically

"What does the Qingchi Sect say about it?"

Li Chijing frowned and said in a heavy voice

"In the seventh month of autumn, the rogue cultivator Li Jiangqun obtained the orthodox methods of the Moon-Radiance Primordial Abode. He arrogantly claimed the Immortal Abode had been destroyed, prompting the three sects and seven gates to receive orders to besiege him at Moon-Viewing Lake."

As soon as these words were uttered, while Li Tongya and the others had not yet reacted, Lu Jiangxian—who was secretly watching them from Mount Lijing using his spiritual sense—was struck with terror. It was as if he had been hit by a bolt of lightning; he became dazed, his Moon-Radiance Qi flickered erratically, and his mind went blank.

"Li Jiangqun..."

This name exploded in Lu Jiangxian's ears like a series of piercing shrieks. In an instant, his six senses went void, and patches of blinding white light flooded his vision.

"This name sounds so familiar!"

In his delirium, he saw the lights of sword glints, incantations, talisman arts, and flying arrows—the radiance of various magical treasures and spiritual tools darting back and forth before his eyes. He let out a pained cry and immediately fell unconscious.

The Dharma Mirror floating in the air wobbled and slowly fell onto the stone platform.

***

Meichi Mountain Cave Dwelling.

Li Xiangping, however, was frowning with a look of profound confusion.

"If it is said that this Li Jiangqun obtained the orthodox methods of the Immortal Abode, why did he claim the Immortal Abode was destroyed? If he is the orthodox successor, who gave the order to besiege him at Moon-Viewing Lake?"

Li Chijing shook his head and said

"That is why the waters run deep here. I fear there is some filth involving the three sects and seven gates. I am terrified that if I delve any deeper, it will bring catastrophe and extermination upon our family!"

"Let us not speak of that!"

Li Chijing interrupted the topic and asked softly

"Does our family possess any inheritance in the hundred arts of cultivation?"

"None."

Li Li Tongya shook his head and explained

"These inheritances are nowhere to be found. Only the Wan family is willing to trade a set of formation inheritances, and even then, our family's Dharma Mirror must be used as payment."

Li Chijing pondered for a few breaths, took out a jade slip from his storage bag, and said solemnly

"The talisman arts inherited from the sect are called the Six Ren Talisman Arts. I have already sworn a Profound Vision Spiritual Oath not to leak them, so they cannot be used by the family. Fortunately, when Master taught me talisman arts, he also gave me an inheritance from a rogue cultivator for reference. This can be given to the family to study."

Li Tongya and the others were overjoyed and took the jade slip from Li Chijing's hand.

"This inheritance is called the Spirit-Within Talisman Arts. It contains the methods for crafting twelve Fetal-Breathing Realm talismans and three Qi-Refining Realm talismans. They are not considered profound; they are mostly common, versatile things."

Li Chijing smiled and took a stack of talisman paper from his storage bag, explaining

"Drawing talismans requires three spiritual items: talisman paper, a talisman brush, and spiritual ink. One cannot do without any of them. Talisman paper is usually made from certain spiritual plants; it would be best if the family could find some seeds to grow their own, so there is no need to buy blank talisman paper from the markets."

"A talisman brush is also a type of magical tool. I do not have any spares on me, so the family should look for one in the market."

"As for the talisman ink..."

Li Chijing patted the silk pouch at his waist, took out a small jade box, and said heavily

"I have some left; I will leave these for the family's use for now. If they run out, we will likely have to request more from the markets. Since we truly cannot afford it, mixing cinnabar with some spiritual blood will also work for drawing talismans."

Li Xiangping took the small jade box and said with a bitter smile

"Drawing talismans is so costly; I fear the family currently lacks the funds to draw these talismans."

Li Chijing waved his hand and pointed to the white jade bottle, smiling

"This Fire-In-Flame Malice is considered a rare item in the Yue Kingdom. Our family has no use for it at the moment. Selling it will certainly be enough to gather many items, and there might even be a large surplus."

Hearing this, Li Xiangping nodded and said

"I have heard there is a market on Moon-Viewing Lake, which would be quite convenient."

"The Fire-In-Flame Malice is quite precious; if a family member goes, they will surely be targeted by others. Tomorrow is the full moon; it is better that I go personally in my capacity as a disciple of the Qingchi Sect to purchase all these items."

After the group discussed and finalized the arrangements, seeing that Li Chijing was pressed for time, they immediately set off for Moon-Viewing Lake.

————

Li Tongya and Li Xiangping applied the Divine Speed Technique to their legs, creating a gust of wind as they walked. Li Chijing was even more elegant, stepping lightly upon the wind, his speed a notch faster than the other two, much to the envy of Li Tongya and Li Xiangping.

After walking for a while, the shimmering Moon-Viewing Lake appeared before them. It had been over ten years since Li Xiangping had last been to this place.

"That year, when we came to Moon-Viewing Lake with Second Brother to retrieve that jade stone, you and I were only fifteen or sixteen years old. Now, we have established our own lives and even have children of our own."

Li Xiangping lamented softly. Looking at the scattered stars in the night sky, he suddenly felt a sense of dreamlike illusion; looking back at the past ten years felt like walking through the clouds.

It felt as if the moment he opened his eyes, Li Xiangping would return to that night of bright moon and sparse stars, waiting anxiously in the reed marshes by the lake for Li Tongya's return.

"Time flies indeed!"

Li Tongya replied softly.

The three searched along the lakeshore for a while. Li Chijing and Li Tongya used their spiritual sense to search repeatedly until they finally found a stretch of shoreline that faintly emitted fluctuations of magical power, similar to the description in the *Li Xia Secret Records*.

Following the method to enter the market mentioned in the volume of *Li Xia Secret Records* left by Si Yuanbai years ago, they picked up a small stone by the lake, applied a Golden Light Technique to it, and threw it toward the center of the lake.

The small stone flew for a moment before suddenly dropping. The concealment formation in the air was triggered by the magical power, revealing streaks of silver light before rapidly vanishing.

"The formation has been triggered. A large boat should arrive to pick us up shortly."

The three of them waited quietly by the shore. As they watched the time pass minute by minute, anxiety began to grow in their hearts.

"If we miss this chance, dealing with this Fire-In-Flame Malice will become troublesome."