The Marvels of Talismans

Shen Hao stepped up to the talisman stall, his gaze sweeping carefully over the dazzling array of talismans laid out before him. On sheets of yellow paper, cinnabar traced all manner of profound runes—some flickered like leaping flames, others stood firm like shields, and still others streaked across like lightning, all radiating faint ripples of Spiritual Energy.

The talismans on the stall were quite varied in type. Offensive ones included Fireball Talismans and Thunderstorm Talismans, capable of unleashing flames and lightning in an instant with no small power; defensive ones featured Iron Armor Talismans and Shield Talismans, which could form a Defensive Barrier on the body to block enemy attacks; and auxiliary ones like Swiftness Talismans and Stealth Talismans each had their own uses. Still, these were all low-grade talismans with limited power, but they had the advantage of being cheap and simple to use, making them well-suited for cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage.

"This Young Friend looks quite unfamiliar—is it your first time at Old Man's stall?" The White-haired Old Man, seeing Shen Hao's focused inspection and noting a hint of approval in his eyes, took the initiative to speak with a smile. "Old Man's talismans are all hand-drawn, with solid materials. Their power is a full tenth stronger than those mass-produced talismans in the Market. What kind of talismans does Young Friend wish to buy?"

Shen Hao's eyes swept across the stall once more, finally settling on two talismans. One bore a wind rune—the Swiftness Talisman; the other bore a shield rune—the Iron Armor Talisman that the disciple had mentioned earlier. Pointing at these two types, he asked in a steady voice, "Senior, how much for these two talismans?"

The White-haired Old Man stroked his beard, his face beaming. "Young Friend has good eyes. This Swiftness Talisman can boost a cultivator's speed by thirty percent for half an hour—useful for chasing down an enemy or fleeing in a pinch. One costs a Mid-grade Spirit Stone. This Iron Armor Talisman forms a layer of hard armor on the body to block attacks, with decent defensive power. One costs two Mid-grade Spirit Stones."

The Swiftness Talisman could temporarily enhance speed, perfectly complementing his Flowing Cloud Steps to make his footwork even more elusive. The Iron Armor Talisman could bolster his defense, making up for his weakness in physical protection and adding an extra layer of security in combat. Both talismans were extremely practical for him.

Shen Hao nodded without the slightest hesitation, took ten Mid-grade Spirit Stones from his storage pouch, and placed them on the stall. "Senior, I'll take five Swiftness Talismans and two Iron Armor Talismans."

The White-haired Old Man was momentarily taken aback, clearly not expecting this young disciple to be so quick to spend. Then his smile widened. "Young Friend is refreshingly straightforward. Old Man enjoys doing business with people like you." He deftly retrieved a small jade box from under the stall, carefully placed the seven talismans inside, and then pulled an extra talisman from his robe—one inscribed with a concealment rune—adding it to the box. "This Stealth Talisman is a small token of Old Man's regard, a gift for Young Friend. It can conceal a cultivator's aura for half an hour, whether for sneaking into an enemy camp or escaping pursuit—it works wonders."

Shen Hao took the jade box, feeling its slight coolness in his hand. Opening it, he saw eight talismans lying neatly inside, their runes shimmering with faint spiritual light. He bowed respectfully to the White-haired Old Man and said sincerely, "Many thanks for Senior's generous gift." The Stealth Talisman was worth even more than the Swiftness Talisman, and the old man's gesture caught him somewhat off guard.

The White-haired Old Man waved his hand with a laugh. "It's nothing but a small effort. If Young Friend ever needs anything in the future, feel free to come to Old Man's stall."

Shen Hao thanked the old man, then bid farewell to Zhang Shan, who was still picking out Body Tempering Pills, and turned to head back toward his residence. Walking swiftly, he soon returned to his dwelling on Qingyun Peak. Closing the door behind him, he eagerly placed the jade box on the Stone Table, opened the lid, and took out a Swiftness Talisman.

Following the activation method recorded on the talisman, he slowly infused a thread of Spiritual Energy into it. In an instant, the Swiftness Talisman transformed into a streak of cyan light and, with a soft whoosh, attached itself to his calf. A warm current spread from his calf, surging through his entire body in a flash. Shen Hao felt his legs become lighter than ever before, as if he were stepping on a wad of cotton, even his center of gravity turning ethereal.

With a thought, he activated Flowing Cloud Steps, and his figure shot out several zhang in an instant—his speed had increased by a full thirty percent or more. He darted back and forth within the room, his form flickering like a ghost, so elusive that even the afterimages he left behind grew more indistinct, hard to track. "What a formidable Swiftness Talisman!" Shen Hao praised inwardly, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. With the Swiftness Talisman stacked on top of Flowing Cloud Steps, his speed could now rival that of a cultivator at the Late Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

He then picked up an Iron Armor Talisman and similarly infused it with a thread of Spiritual Energy. The talisman turned into a streak of golden light and attached itself to his chest. In an instant, a thin layer of golden armor spread out from the talisman, covering his chest and back. The armor's surface gleamed with a metallic luster, exuding a dense aura of defense.

Shen Hao gripped his Flying Sword and gently stabbed at the armor on his chest. A crisp clang of metal rang out as the Flying Sword was deflected cleanly, leaving only a faint white mark on the armor, which vanished moments later. "The defensive effect is indeed impressive." Overjoyed, Shen Hao realized that with this Iron Armor Talisman, he could withstand even a full-force strike from a Late Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator.

He carefully stowed the remaining talismans into his storage pouch, his face full of satisfaction. With these talismans at his side, his strength had grown considerably. The competition in the Inner Sect Grand Competition was bound to be fierce, and having more preparations meant a greater chance of victory. He raised his head to look out the window, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, his heart already brimming with anticipation.