The First Successful Talisman

After days of sleepless (an exaggeration, but he truly neglected sleep and food) "ghostly scribbles" practice, Xu Qian's dorm was beyond saving. Failed attempts in bizarre shapes littered the floor, the desk, even the bed. The air was thick with the "fragrance" of burnt smells and pot soot, making it look like the place had just caught fire.

Zhang Meng once came to find him. The moment he pushed the door open, he started coughing, choked by the air. Staring at the mess, he was dumbfounded. "Brother Qian, what... what are you doing? Trying some new alchemy technique?"

Xu Qian, sporting dark circles under his eyes and ink smudges on his face, waved a weak hand. "It's nothing, just practicing calligraphy, cultivating my character..."

Zhang Meng was skeptical, but with his blind trust in "Brother Qian," he scratched his head and left. Before going, he thoughtfully offered to get some firewood if needed (referring to the discarded paper drawings).

After seeing Zhang Meng off, Xu Qian looked at the pile of "firewood" on the floor and sighed. He had practiced hundreds of times, his mental energy draining and recovering, then draining and recovering again. He knew the stroke order and structure of the cleaning talisman by heart. His true qi control had also become much more precise; the talismans he drew were at least presentable now, no longer crooked and distorted like in the beginning.

But it was always that final push! The talismans he drew were always lifeless, lacking that crucial spark of "spirit" to truly take form.

What's the problem? Xu Qian rubbed his throbbing temples, pondering deeply. The stroke order is correct, the structure is right, and my true qi control is passable... Could it be the materials are too poor? Or... is it the true qi itself?

He had been using ordinary Longevity True Qi, which was neutral and peaceful, nurturing all things, but it seemed to lack a certain... vitality? Or perhaps, it wasn't "domineering" enough? Not enough to truly activate the natural laws contained within the talisman script?

Thinking of this, a thought struck him.

Should I... try that thing?

His consciousness sank into his dantian, looking at the pale green Sword Intent Seed floating there quietly. This thing contained an extremely pure, sharp "intent." Could he use it to... "enchant" his true qi?

The idea was bold, even reckless. Sword intent primarily focused on killing and destruction, possessing immense destructive power. Using it to draw a gentle cleaning talisman, if he lost control even slightly, he might "clean" the paper and the desk along with it.

But Xu Qian had a hunch that the key might lie here! Talismans needed that "catalyst" to draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and the Sword Intent Seed might just provide that "sharpness"!

Let's do it! Being steady doesn't mean I'm afraid to try!

He took a deep breath and adjusted his state. He spread out a relatively flat "talisman paper" and picked up his "talisman brush."

This time, he didn't directly mobilize his ordinary Longevity True Qi. Instead, he first drew upon a trace of imperceptible sword intent, not its destructive power, but the "intent" within it that severed all things and broke through obstacles!

Then, he carefully fused a wisp of pure Longevity True Qi with this trace of "intent"!

The process was extremely difficult, like dancing on a tightrope. The sword intent was too sharp; a slight mistake could lead to self-inflicted backlash or overload the true qi. Xu Qian was completely focused, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

Finally, a strand of special true qi, carrying a faint aura of sharpness yet retaining the essence of Longevity True Qi, was successfully guided to the tip of his brush!

He put brush to paper!

As the brush tip touched the paper, Xu Qian's heart leaped into his throat. He followed the stroke order he had long memorized, steadily drawing the first stroke, the second stroke...

The true qi, infused with the "sharpness" of sword intent, flowed within the talisman script. It was no longer the sluggish feeling of before, but carried an indomitable penetrating power! Wherever it passed, the lines of the talisman script seemed to be "activated," emitting a faint glow!

Xu Qian dared not be distracted in the slightest, his concentration at its peak as he controlled the flow rate of the true qi and the intensity of that trace of sword intent.

When the final stroke, the node representing "convergence" and "activation," fell, and he lifted the brush tip--

"Buzz!"

The ordinary "talisman paper" on the desk suddenly lit up with a layer of soft, pure white light! The lines of the talisman script seemed to have been infused with life, flashing smoothly, and a weak yet distinct energy fluctuation emanated from the talisman!

Success!

This time, it was real success!

Xu Qian looked at the cleaning talisman on the table, radiating a soft white light and brimming with spiritual energy, his hands trembling with excitement. He carefully picked it up, feeling the stable and gentle energy within, utterly enamored with it.

It worked! I finally drew it! Hahahaha! The little person inside his mind was dancing wildly, laughing out loud.

He couldn't wait to test its effect.

What should he test it on? His gaze swept around the room, finally landing on his Guards uniform, which was covered in ink spots, dust, and even a few small holes seared by sparks from his talisman practice.

You're the one!

He picked up the cleaning talisman, recalling the activation method described in the Detailed Explanation—injecting a trace of true qi into the central node of the talisman.

He did as instructed, carefully injecting a wisp of ordinary Longevity True Qi.

"Pfft~"

A faint sound, like a gentle breeze passing by, rang out.