Natal Spirit Talisman

Yu Qinghong carried herself with the air of a senior sister, meticulously teaching the complete set of thirty-six Green Leaf Spirit Talismans. She explained in detail what was missing from each talisman, what benefits would arise from completing them, and answered every question Chen Ganliu had without reservation.

The Green Leaf Spirit Talismans were divided into two categories, A and B, comprising thirty-six talismans for the Qi Refining stage. They primarily cultivated Jia Wood, with each Green Leaf Spirit Talisman corresponding to a Jia Wood Spiritual Vein.

However, it was extremely rare to find someone with all thirty-six Jia Wood Spiritual Veins. Therefore, disciples of the Green Leaf Sect typically cultivated their innate Spiritual Veins, mastering only three to five Talisman Arts.

Chen Ganliu had, after all, put decades of hard work into Talisman Arts and was proficient in the Heart Talisman Technique. He truly grasped concepts quickly, understanding ten things from hearing one and extrapolating from examples, learning at an astonishing pace.

Seeing how "fast" Chen Ganliu was learning, Yu Qinghong secretly thought, This junior brother's talent is unparalleled. He's already at the Second Layer of Qi Condensation, boiling liquid into qi, and has opened dozens of acupoints. He's not far from achieving the Third Layer of Qi Condensation, condensing qi into apertures. He's certainly not someone who enters the sect for decades without achieving anything.

I need to take care of Master recently, so I might as well teach him the method for condensing his Natal Spirit Talisman first.

A Green Leaf Spirit Talisman that resonated with one's own Spiritual Vein was called a Natal Spirit Talisman. Once cultivated, its power was far greater than other spirit talismans.

According to the rules of the Green Leaf Sect, the method for condensing a Natal Spirit Talisman was only formally taught to those at the Third Layer of Qi Condensation or above. This was because disciples at the Third Layer of Qi Condensation or above would no longer be expelled from the mountain.

The Talisman Arts passed down by the Green Leaf Sect did not include the secret method for condensing a Natal Spirit Talisman that resonated with one's own Spiritual Vein. Therefore, those who had not formally apprenticed could not compare to the sect disciples, no matter how they cultivated.

Yu Qinghong felt that Chen Ganliu achieving the great success of condensing qi into apertures should only be two to three years away. Teaching him a bit early wouldn't be an issue.

Chen Ganliu had just finished learning the introductory thirty-six spirit talismans and was secretly delighted, thinking about how to cultivate the Spring Verdure Talisman first. Then he heard Yu Qinghong say, "Junior Brother, the secret method I'm about to teach you is a core technique of our sect. Only those who will remain on the mountain are permitted to learn it."

"I am teaching it to you in advance, so you must not speak of it to anyone. Without the permission of our Master, you are also forbidden to teach it to others."

Chen Ganliu nodded repeatedly and sat up straight. He listened as Yu Qinghong recited the incantations for condensing a Natal Spirit Talisman, sentence by sentence. He recalled his past life as a Servant Disciple in the Immortal Encounter Sect, and a myriad of emotions surged within him. Suddenly, a thought struck him: If I had obtained this secret method in my previous life, I probably could have broken through to the Third Layer of Qi Condensation before I was fifty.

After teaching him the secret method for condensing a Natal Spirit Talisman, Yu Qinghong also let out a sigh of relief and said, "With my teachings, your cultivation for the next few years should be smooth sailing."

Chen Ganliu, having lived three lives, was already well-versed in the ways of the world. He understood the implication behind Yu Qinghong's words and couldn't help but ask with alarm, "Is Master's injury that severe?"

"Didn't you refine a Spirit Pill, Senior Sister? Fairy Nan also sent some Spirit Pills. Can't Master recover quickly?"

Yu Qinghong shook her head and sighed, saying, "That Great Demon's techniques are insidious and vicious. Fairy Nan's own path to cultivation was affected. How could Master's injuries heal easily?"

"Even our Grandmaster is helpless. If there's no improvement in a while, Master will have to take me to find our Ancestor. Our Ancestor is a True Yang Realm great cultivator; they will surely have a way to help Master heal."

In his previous life, Chen Ganliu had never heard Senior Sister mention this close friend, nor had he ever seen Yun Susu frequent the Blazing Light Cave on Shuangyang Mountain. He suddenly realized, Could it be that Master doesn't have much time left?

And that's why, later on, Senior Sister felt guilty and never mentioned this friend to anyone?

Chen Ganliu vaguely recalled that Senior Sister would always find a quiet room once or twice a year to burn incense and reflect. At the time, he thought it was just ordinary self-cultivation. Now, he realized, perhaps she was mourning her friend.

He felt a pang of sadness. Although he hadn't been her disciple for long and had only met his Master once, the master-disciple relationship was real. He had also been taught the Green Leaf Sect's Taoist arts by Junior Sister Yu Qinghong, a profound kindness. He thought, I should find a way to help Master heal.

Yu Qinghong gave Chen Ganliu a few more instructions and then let him leave.

Chen Ganliu returned to his residence, pondering deeply. Were there any clues or opportunities in his past life that could help him find a way to heal his Master and Senior Sister?

He thought for a long time but found nothing. He meditated for a long time, unable to calm his mind. He wanted to sleep but tossed and turned, his mind filled with fleeting images of Senior Sister from years ago, then his frail Master. After much struggle, his mind grew heavy and muddled. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he cried out, "How could I forget about that matter?"

The Immortal Encounter Sect only had the Geng Metal lineage, not the Xin Metal lineage. Senior Sister had brought the Geng Metal Qi Refining method down the mountain, hoping to find the subsequent cultivation techniques for future generations if an opportunity arose.

Over the years, the couple had learned of two potential opportunities. However, because Senior Sister's cultivation had fallen and Chen Ganliu's cultivation was too low, they could only sigh in regret upon hearing the news.

One of these opportunities was related to a disciple's disciple from the Jade Purity Feather Ascension Tower lineage, a White Daoist.

This disciple's disciple was named Qiu Sheng. He was dashing, suave, and affectionate, having had unclear relationships with many female cultivators. Later, somehow, he became involved with a female rogue cultivator from an evil sect. When his sect found out, they were furious.

Fearing punishment from his sect, Qiu Sheng stole several Magic Treasures from his sect and fled to Plum Blossom Mountain, one of the five great sacred mountains of the Demon Race.

Even after arriving at Plum Blossom Mountain, he didn't settle down. He abandoned the female rogue cultivator and began a relationship with a beautiful female demon, a Scorpion Demon who had cultivated for over fifteen hundred years.

Initially, they were deeply in love, and the Scorpion Demon was gentle and tender. Later, he grew restless and his affections strayed to other female demons.

The Scorpion Demon, unwilling to accept this, pretended not to know. While they were intimate, she stung him with her "Reverse Horse Poison."

That Scorpion Demon had over fifteen hundred years of cultivation and had already reached the Golden Core realm. The Reverse Horse Poison was a trace of innate divine poison she had gathered on her tail. How could Qiu Sheng withstand it?

He fought back desperately, striking the Scorpion Demon with a palm, and fled to seek help from his former lover.

Having been abandoned by him, the female rogue cultivator was filled with resentment. Not only did she refuse to save him, but she also struck him with a spiritual shuttle.

This person was worthy of being a disciple of a great sect; even after suffering two severe injuries, he still managed to escape Plum Blossom Mountain and disappeared thereafter.

Chen Ganliu and Senior Sister both speculated that he had likely succumbed to his severe injuries and died somewhere. If they could find where he died, they might be able to obtain the Taoist arts of the Jade Purity Feather Ascension Tower lineage, as well as those several Magic Treasures forged from Western True Gold.

They had even deduced the possible location of Qiu Sheng's death based on rumors, but that place was no longer within the Great Gan territory. Moreover, due to its proximity to Plum Blossom Mountain and the prevalence of rampant great demons, they estimated their chances of survival if they went there to be less than one in a hundred, so they never dared to go.