The Art of Talismans

"Yu Shitou, what kind of ridiculous name is that?"

Zhou Yi racked his brain, recalling all the prisoners in the Heavenly Prison, and was certain there was no such person.

There was no shortage of strongmen in the martial world who rose from humble beginnings, but after gaining power, they would all change to imposing names.

Gang Leader Li Ergou, Sword God Zhang Tiezhu – wouldn't that be a laughingstock among their peers?

As a result, many experts had similar names, frequently using characters like Xiao, Ba, Hao, and Lie, probably because they hired the same person to come up with them.

"I've seen quite a bit in my time, but I've never heard of this person. You dare to lie to me, kid?"

Sword Qi swirled around Yu Jie's head, gently circling once. Strands of hair fell to the ground; a mere half-inch closer and it would have split his skull open.

"Senior, please calm your anger! This junior would never deceive you..."

Yu Jie was terrified, gritting his teeth as he said, "Yu Shitou is my ancestor's given name, but he had another title in the world: Yellow Sky King!"

"Yellow Sky King..."

Zhou Yi's voice was ethereal, as if recalling the past. "I once met him briefly. I heard him speak of the Azure and Yellow Sky Rebellion, and how it was manipulated by the Jiangnan Aristocratic Families. In the end, the two Sky Kings were abandoned!"

"Senior is correct. Back then, the Azure Sky King had my ancestor's talisman assistance, and even Li Wu couldn't gain an advantage."

Yu Jie said resentfully, "The Jiangnan Aristocratic Families originally supported my ancestor, but then secretly betrayed him to the court, tricking my ancestor and the Azure Sky King into drinking a strange poison. Otherwise, how could an Innate Grandmaster be captured alive!"

"So that's how it was."

Zhou Yi suddenly understood. Only after breaking through to the Innate Realm with the help of demonic arts did he realize how powerful the Azure Sky King had been.

He had always thought Li Wu's ability to capture him alive was due to extraordinary talent, but the truth was that he had been poisoned.

The world-renowned Great General, whom everyone said was upright and honorable, had actually used such underhanded means.

This made Zhou Yi's somewhat complacent thoughts feel like a bucket of cold water had been poured on them.

Innate Grandmasters were invincible among mortals, but they were not immortal. Enemies would use traps, poison, witchcraft, and other malicious methods.

If he wasn't careful and fell into a trap, he would follow in the Azure Sky King's footsteps!

"How can you prove that you are a descendant of the Yellow Sky King?"

"This talisman is called the Shadow Talisman. It is a secret talisman technique passed down by my ancestor. The Shadow Guards, who once shook Jiangnan, originated from it."

Yu Jie took out a talisman from his bosom, covered in vermilion scribbles. "Back then, when the imperial army broke through the Sky King's mansion, I was able to hide and escape by relying on this talisman."

Zhou Yi asked, "What is the use of this talisman?"

Yu Jie said, "The Shadow Talisman can summon mist to protect the body, blending into the night as if invisible."

Zhou Yi ordered, "Use it and let me broaden my horizons!"

Back then, sensing the danger of the Heavenly Prison, Zhou Yi had hurriedly left to seek refuge, and had never seen the Yellow Sky King again.

He had originally thought that the rumors circulating among the people, that the Yellow Sky King used talisman water to treat illnesses and practice medicine, was a strategy to gather faith and facilitate rebellion.

Now it seemed that he truly had some mysterious methods.

The art of talismans had already broken away from ordinary martial arts, and was more like a cultivator's technique, filling Zhou Yi with anticipation.

Yu Jie dared not refuse. He poured his inner energy into the talisman, and the Shadow Talisman spontaneously combusted into ashes.

A cloud of black mist rose from the ground in the prison cell, enveloping Yu Jie within a half-foot radius. From a distance, it looked pitch-black and almost blended into the night.

Zhou Yi asked, "Are there any other talismans?"

"In the past few years, while evading the Brocade Guard's pursuit, this junior has already exhausted all of his attack talismans, leaving only a few Shadow Talismans and Swift Travel Talismans."

Yu Jie took out another talisman, the patterns depicted on it different from the Shadow Talisman.

Zhou Yi hid in the shadows, staring at Yu Jie for a moment, unsure if this kid had any attack talismans. What if he revealed his figure and was bombarded with a few fireballs?

An Innate Grandmaster had barely embarked on the path of cultivation, and might not be able to withstand a spiritual talisman.

"Didn't the Yellow Sky King pass on the art of talismans to you?"

Yu Jie pondered for a moment, then said, "He passed on some, but this junior is too dull-witted and failed to comprehend them."

Zhou Yi didn't hide his purpose, his tone fierce and domineering. "I am very interested in the art of talismans. I'll use your life to exchange for it, how about it?"

Yu Jie was certain that Zhou Yi was an old monster from the martial world. Such people were eccentric and tyrannical, and he dared not refuse in the slightest.

With a ripping sound, he tore open his sleeve and took out a blue booklet hidden inside. "The talisman techniques passed down by my ancestor are all recorded here. Senior can take them and study them."

Zhou Yi asked again, "Since you have a legacy, why did you come to this Heavenly Prison?"

"Senior may not know, my ancestor only passed on the introductory talisman techniques, and then a sudden catastrophe occurred, and he was unable to leave behind a complete inheritance."

Yu Jie explained, "Even with the introductory talisman techniques, this junior has been studying them for several years and still can't grasp the key. I can only place my hope on finding the subsequent content, perhaps then I can learn the art of talismans."

"Jie jie jie!"

A series of strange laughs entered Yu Jie's ears, Zhou Yi's voice revealing a chilling killing intent.

"You've said so much, are you planning to use the tactic of driving away the tiger to devour the wolf, using my hand to find the talisman inheritance?"

Yu Jie obediently admitted, "This junior has already searched all the places where my ancestor might have left behind an inheritance, and now only the Heavenly Prison and Imperial Prison remain."

"Imperial Prison..."

Zhou Yi had already searched the Heavenly Prison, so Yellow Sky King's talisman techniques were most likely left in the Brocade Guard Imperial Prison.

The Imperial Prison was fraught with dangers, even more so than the Heavenly Prison!

"The world says Yellow Sky King received teachings from a strange person and mastered talisman techniques. Is that true?"

"I wouldn't dare deceive you, Senior!"

Yu Jie felt the killing intent gradually dissipate, and heaved a sigh of relief in his heart, answering truthfully.

"What the world knows is a front my ancestor put up. Back then, there were years of drought, and the dog emperor kept increasing taxes. My ancestor only entered the Daoist temple to get food."

"Who knew the temple also had no rice? My ancestor didn't want to starve to death, so he pretended to be a wandering Daoist, secretly making a living by robbing tombs."

"The talisman techniques were dug up from a tomb in Mount Dai. After my ancestor mastered them, he used talisman water to practice medicine, and took in many disciples..."

There was no need to continue. Yellow Sky King's disciples were all over Jiangnan, including many from aristocratic families. After the two joined forces, they rose up in rebellion, calling himself a Heavenly King!

Zhou Yi stared at Yu Jie for a moment, and ultimately didn't kill him, ordering.

"Put down the book, and you can leave."

"Thank you, Senior!"

Yu Jie looked delighted, repeatedly bowing in all directions, carefully placing the book on the ground, and hurriedly left the Heavenly Prison.

Zhou Yi didn't take the book, but secretly followed Yu Jie to a secluded courtyard in Desheng Ward.

Yu Jie breathed a slight sigh of relief, quickly packed up his gold, silver, and valuables, and headed straight for the West Gate of Shenjing.

The soldiers on duty seemed to be familiar with Yu Jie, accepted a few silver notes, and used a basket to send him out.

"This kid has potential!"

Zhou Yi stood on the city wall, watching Yu Jie's figure disappear.

Back to the Heavenly Prison.

Cell Number Two, Jia Ward.

The blue book was lying quietly on the ground, untouched.

Zhou Yi took a wooden stick and turned the pages one by one, not triggering any attacking talismans, and then found a rat to gnaw on a few pages, confirming there was no instant-kill poison.

Innate True Essence wrapped his hands, and he picked up the book, reading it page by page.

"The method of making talisman paper and brushes, mixing beast blood into cinnabar... Drawing talismans requires a calm mind... Inner Qi gathers at the tip of the brush... Done in one breath, without interruption..."

The content recorded in the book was not proper talisman techniques, but more like Yu Jie's class notes, interspersed with many insights of unknown correctness.

Zhou Yi flipped to the last few pages, which contained four complete talisman strokes.

"Dust-Cleansing Talisman, House-Protecting Talisman, Shadow Talisman, Light-Body Talisman!"