Life and Death Talisman

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Tianshan Child Elder taught the Life and Death Talisman to Zheng Qian after accepting him as her disciple and making him the Young Palace Master of Spirit Vulture Palace. She had intended to pass it on to him alongside the Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand. Zheng Qian mastered the talisman almost immediately, surprising her with the speed of his learning. 116

The technique became Zheng Qian's principal means of building influence. He used it to break Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo through prolonged torment, then deceived them with a one-year suppression pill and compelled them to serve as informants. 119 He subsequently controlled officials and nobles across the Great Song, Great Liao, Tubo, and Dali territories to search for the rare materials required for his cultivation. 122

During his long rule over subordinate factions, Zheng Qian used the talisman as both punishment and incentive. A subordinate who found a required treasure could be released, while unsuccessful factions faced progressively longer periods of torment each year. 135 After reaching the Great Grandmaster Realm, he eventually removed the talismans from his subordinates, earning their gratitude. 138

Across later simulations, Zheng Qian repeatedly improved the technique by integrating Intent Realms, eventually making it capable of controlling high-level martial artists, Dragon Race factions, and beings connected through souls, clones, and Natal Worlds. 166 337 391 464

Abilities & Skills

Implantation

The Life and Death Talisman is implanted into a target's acupoints using internal energy.

• It is effective only when the caster's internal energy exceeds the target's; stronger targets can refine or force it out of their bodies. 116
• The original technique requires knowledge of a target's acupoint locations. Zheng Qian had to map a giant black eagle's different acupoints before using the talisman on it. 157
• Targets can identify its presence through discomfort arising from major acupoints; Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo felt it in twelve such points. 119
• Zheng Qian could plant multiple talismans in especially dangerous targets, placing thirty-six within Shi Zhixuan. 285

Torment Cycle

Once activated, the talisman inflicts escalating itching and pain.

• The agony intensifies day by day for eighty-one days, gradually subsides, then begins the same cycle again endlessly. 119
• Even late-stage Grandmasters Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo begged for mercy in less than half a day. 119
• Zheng Qian could activate it publicly to force compliance; Kang Min and two others writhed in pain and itching before onlookers. 126
• Prolonged exposure was considered worse than death by many controlled targets. 164

Suppression and Removal

The talisman has several distinct methods of restraint or removal.

• The Tianshan Six Yang Palms are the proper method for neutralizing the original talisman. 116
• Tianshan Child Elder developed a pill that suppresses its symptoms for one year; only she and Zheng Qian initially knew how to refine it. 119
• A diluted pill can suppress a talisman for only one month. 128
• Zheng Qian can personally remove the talisman as a reward, as he did for the Tongchi Island master. 135
• Ordinary talismans can be expelled by sufficiently powerful targets, as Huang Xuemei did before Zheng Qian implanted a stronger replacement. 166

Intent-Infused Variants

Later versions incorporated Intent power rather than relying solely on internal energy.

• The Blood Intent version cannot be suppressed by ordinary antidotes. 166
• Its activation is directly controlled by the caster, making suppression medication unnecessary. 166
• The Nine-Intent version allows the caster to set when torment begins, how severe it becomes, and how long it lasts. 337
• The perfected Great Dao version erodes a victim's Divine Soul unless their Great Dao can contend with Zheng Qian's Primordial Limitless Supreme Dao. 464
• Its soul-based effect can extend through a target's connections to all clones and Natal Worlds. 464

Known Users and Subjects

• Tianshan Child Elder — Creator and original teacher of the Life and Death Talisman; developed the one-year suppression pill. 116 119
• Zheng Qian — Primary practitioner; repeatedly refined the technique and used it to construct networks of controlled subordinates. 121 337 464
• Xiao Yuanshan — Subjected to the talisman alongside Murong Bo and forced to investigate the Great Song royal palace. 119
• Murong Bo — Controlled with the talisman; later tasked with managing Murong Fu. 119 129
• Murong Fu — Implanted with a talisman after capture in Western Xia and bound to serve Zheng Qian. 128
• Huang Xuemei — Escaped an ordinary talisman, then received a Blood Intent-infused version that was far harder to remove. 166
• Wanwan — Subdued after attacking Zheng Qian and repeatedly punished through talisman activation. 284
• Shi Zhixuan — Received thirty-six talismans because of his exceptional strength and danger. 285
• Dragon Race factions — Subdued using Zheng Qian's Demigod-level inherited version while he searched for the Child of Destiny. 391

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Spirit Vulture Palace succession — Zheng Qian receives the technique from Tianshan Child Elder upon becoming Young Palace Master. 116
• Subduing the Two Ultimates — Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo are broken by its torment and coerced into service. 119
• Controlling the world — Zheng Qian uses the talisman to turn governments, noble houses, sects, caves, and islands into a resource-gathering network. 121 122 194
• Rewards and punishments policy — The threat of escalating torment forces subordinate factions to intensify their search for rare treasures. 135 136
• Later-world domination — Improved forms let Zheng Qian control martial-world leaders, demonic sects, dragons, and other high-level powers. 284 347 391
• Ultimate refinement — The technique evolves from an acupoint-based internal-energy method into a Great Dao-based soul-control art capable of affecting clones and Natal Worlds. 337 464