Talismanic Charms

It must be admitted that

That radiant light of Mondstadt, so revered as the heavens, was truly dazzling.

Emperor

King of Men

Son of Heaven

Taiping Zhu

In this world, there is nothing more than the purest desire, the most supreme power, and the ultimate pursuit.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted. Li Fan sat for quite a while before recovering from that moment of overwhelming glory. He took a deep breath, picked up his teacup, took a sip, calmed the surging blood in his chest, and regained his composure.

"Qingyue... is just a mountain girl."

Cangsong sat opposite the coffee table, his bloodshot eyes staring blankly at him, as if he had been even more shocked than before, his jaw almost dropping in astonishment.

"This—you're not even tempted??... Seriously, are you even human?"

Li Fan thought for a moment, looking at the teacup in his hand, and at the reflection of 'Li Yi' in the tea.

"Of course I was tempted, but that person wasn't me."

Although it was only for a moment, I felt it.

In his eyes, there were only groveling servants; in his ears, only the praises of the Heavenly Emperor; in his heart, only the glory of an unbroken imperial lineage.

He cannot see the suffering of the common people, nor can he hear the cries of the people of Zhongzhou. His heart is no longer with the people of the world.

I know that once I'm on his path, I won't be able to resist the temptation either...

Of course, there are some things I would still do, but not to the same person.

I won't take that path either.

Li Fan raised his teacup and drank it all in one gulp, then placed the empty teacup on the table.

With a soft 'knock,' three flowers bloomed in Li Fan's heart.

Cangsong stared blankly at Li Fan, then lowered his chin and said seriously,

"I think you're a bit mentally unstable... but I'm relieved that there are still fools like you in the world after I'm gone."

"Yes, if there were more fools in the world, things would probably be much more peaceful."

Li Fan let out a long breath, composed himself, rubbed his hands together, and prepared to touch her a third time.

But Cangsong reached out and caught the pebble, then shook his head.

"No need. The future is uncertain and will only cause more trouble. Once we see something bad, we don't know how long we will be entangled in it, or even do things that go against our conscience and deviate from our own path."

"You're doing well on your current path; don't repeat the mistakes of Emei."

Li Fan was stunned. He looked at Cangsong's old face, which was covered in blood and tears, and suddenly understood.

Why... did they have to escape...?

What did Emei see?

The Cangsong did not answer, but simply shook its head and took back the Three Lives Stone.

Then he took out a jade slip from his sleeve and placed it in front of Li Fan.

"I originally planned to give you the stone, but now I've changed my mind. Let's get something else instead."

This is the culmination of my many years of hard work, a summary of some talisman techniques. Since you have a past connection as an Emei disciple and have offered me three cups of tea, passing it on to you is not a violation of the sect rules.

After all, with your high level of comprehension, capable of opening the three flowers, you should have a good idea of the extent of karma involved in that tofu ticket, right?

Li Fan was taken aback, not expecting him to bring this up. But thinking about it, it made sense; Cangsong probably found him using tofu tickets. So he took out one and looked at it.

"This thing... could it already be...?"

"Yes, it's already a talisman." Cangsong nodded, then said solemnly, "If it were anyone else, it wouldn't matter, but it's you... no, the clearly visible Kingly Emperor Star for sixty years, it's precisely because it's you..."

Hearing Cangsong say this, Li Fan was immediately overwhelmed; even the Three Lives Stone hadn't given him such a headache.

So that's how it is...? He was wondering if it would be like this, and sure enough, his worst fears came true...

Talismans originated from shamanism. They are made by applying the essence of Tao to bamboo slips and ink, and by combining the essence of things. Daoist texts say that talismans have no fixed form, but are spiritual through their energy.

Ancient practitioners believed that talismans, as the foundation of the five arts of mountain, medicine, divination, destiny, and physiognomy, were the medium and channel for practitioners to communicate with the heavens. Through this channel, they could command the gods and demons of the nine heavens to their advantage, so as to achieve the purpose of praying for blessings, warding off disasters, curing diseases, and saving lives.

Throughout history, the styles and formats of talismans have varied greatly, but they all basically consist of five elements: head, main body, abdomen, gallbladder, and feet.

Simply put, a standard talisman is a diagram drawn on a silk scroll that visualizes a shrine, altar, or celestial Immortal Palace.

The talisman is the starting point, the decree, and the roof of this Daoist palace. The talismans and decrees of the Three Great Sects are different. Whether the talisman depicts Immortal Palace, a Daoist temple, or a divine altar, Inner Sect expert can tell at a glance whether it is from the same path or the demonic path.

The talisman master is the deity enshrined in this shrine, the owner of this house. Therefore, it is natural not to enshrine the Profound Maiden in the temple of the Immortal Palace, nor to place her spirit tablet in the Daoist altar of a xuanmen (mystical sect).

So why do Xuanmen disciples address each other as fellow practitioners? And why was Ink Bamboo Mountain able to join Xuanmen? There's a crucial factor: most of Ink Bamboo Mountain's talismans are also Xuanmen talismans. Since they can use Xuanmen talismans and borrow the Profound Maiden's magic—and the Profound Maiden is willing to lend her her magic—why should others have the right to interfere?

Of course, most talismans don't need to, and can't, directly borrow the methods of the Three Venerables. Usually, the talisman master is a famous spirit official, celestial venerable, divine king, or sword ancestor from the historical records of the Three Great Sects.

The talisman's belly is the inner chamber of this shrine, containing the specific incantations, runes, and the names and effects of the talisman, such as wind, thunder, earth, fire, invisibility, flight, and the ability to control energy and ward off evil. In addition, each of the Three Great Sects has different spiritual officials and celestial deities with different duties. If the incantations in the talisman's belly match the duties of the talisman's master, it can also receive additional magical power.

The talisman core is the magic array, the altar, the lock, and the fundamental element that allows a talisman to communicate with heaven and earth and activate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Only when the talisman core is activated will the talisman take effect. Without the talisman core to lock in the magic spells and supernatural powers, the talisman cannot be carried or stored on one's person. The magic is completed the moment it is written.

Therefore, the strength of a talisman, how long it can be preserved, and how long it can remain effective depend on the talisman's core. While the earlier steps can be openly drawn and chanted, this step becomes a secret manual or method that each family cannot pass on to outsiders.

As for the talisman's foot, it corresponds to the finishing touch of the talisman's core, marking the end of the entire talisman. It is also where the cultivator uses Dao Breath energy to activate the channel through which the talisman's core is used. The method of permeating the talisman's foot with Dao Breath differs depending on the type of talisman's core, and it is also a secret technique.

For example, in talismans, those with high requirements for format are typically thunder magic, thunder magic talismans, thunder magic spells, and thunder magic registers. This is probably because thunder magic is too powerful and difficult to control, so the requirements for rituals and procedures are very strict.

Generally speaking, regardless of whether it's an incantation or a talisman, the first phrase uttered is always "Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin of Thunder, Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable." "Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin" is a talisman format used in the Xuanmen (Daoist) school, and "Universal Transformation of Thunder, Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable" refers to the talisman master, a patriarch of the Shenxiao Sect, a master of thunder magic. The Earthly Deity Roaring Thunder Great Law...

The Jade Pivot Illumination Great Law and the Sword Fire Thunderclap True Technique are the thunder spells and incantations within the talisman's body.

However, the format isn't particularly necessary. To give a counterexample, imagine using the Blood Talisman, the most widely used talisman in the Divine Sect, as the head, a certain unnamed Northern Star Profound Sword Ancestor Xuantian as the main talisman, and then adding the Basic Sword Qi of Ink Mountain as the core, to create a Blood Talisman Profound Heaven Basic Sword Talisman. Those who don't know the background would probably think that such a talisman would explode if thrown out, while those who do know would know that this talisman is probably only passable.

So ultimately, the Three Great Sects have diverse Daoist Tradition, different secret teachings, and ever-changing incantations. There is no strict unified standard for the format of talismans. It's similar to cultivating Qi Refinement Stage in spiritual practice. No matter how well you draw your talisman, it's not the key thing that it looks like it's been printed. The key thing is whether it works when you throw it out.

Some people play musical instruments, sing, perform rituals, meditate, and cultivate their spiritual practice, but they still can't understand the profound truths, and their methods are ineffective.

Some people look at the Moon and suddenly understand; they look at a talisman and think, "Oh, I get it!"; they look at a sword technique and exclaim, "Okay, I get it!"

Ultimately, it depends on the person.

Ahem, let's get back on track.

Tofu tickets.

Yes, if this were an ordinary world without immortal spiritual energy, then this tofu ticket would just be an IOU, a bond, a financial product, or even a piece of waste paper. As long as someone recognizes its value, they can do whatever they want with it. But if no one recognizes its value, whether or not he can exchange it for a stone of tofu depends entirely on Li Fan's mood that day.

But the Taiji Realm is not that kind of world.

This world does not follow the rules of capital.

Or rather, it's not that kind of rule.

The rules of the Taiji Realm are: Heaven and Earth have spirits, humanity has principles, and one wields a sword.

True name, Daoist name, talisman, and written incantations all have real and tangible effects.

It can summon wind and rain, overturn rivers and seas, and decapitate people from a thousand miles away with a flying sword.

This is pure, divine power—the power to change everything.

Talismans are merely a transformation, a manifestation of this power.

The tofu ticket wasn't someone else's; it was a tofu ticket bearing the name 'Qingyue of Ink Bamboo Mountain Lou Guan Dao,' and personally confirmed by Kun. Now, it was a talisman that could 'communicate with Qingyue.'

Because now the name 'Qingyue' possesses the power to change everything.

He can change things as long as he wants; no one can stop him—not even the Immortal Palace, nor Emei.

In fact, Li Fan had always used this power cautiously, carefully selecting his tasks to ensure that his actions were in accordance with the principles he upheld.

But this time, Kun got him into big trouble. Of course, Kun wasn't actually wrong.

Kun wants to eat tofu, that's not a problem. Kun eating someone else's tofu and then writing an IOU is even less of a problem. Eating a little more and issuing a little more receipts is also not a problem.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that when Li Fan was away, the people of Ink Bamboo Mountain were genuinely kind-hearted in helping him care for and feed the Kun. This wasn't just about owing him a piece of tofu, but rather a favor. Therefore, to repay this favor, they lent a helping hand for a stone of tofu, which aligned with Li Fan's principles. There was no right or wrong, no gain or loss involved.

A drop of water in need deserves a spring in return; this is how it should be.

The problem is that some people saw an opportunity in the name 'Qingyue' and the debt of Qingyue she owed. They took advantage of the information gap and, with a mere hundred strings of cash, forcibly swindled this genuine destiny of immortality from ordinary people who had shown kindness to Kun.

Yes, this tofu ticket, this immortal ticket, this debt of gratitude—it's all part of Qingyue's destiny with the immortals.

The last time this celestial encounter was offered with a price tag, it cost ten Golden hairpin and one hundred million coins.

In time, when Li Fan becomes some kind of Grand Master of Peace, one of the Three Demon Princes, or the Grand Ancestor, what will this immortal destiny be worth?

But what could Li Fan say? Wasn't it simply a matter of those people willingly selling their share of immortal destiny to someone else for a hundred strings of cash?

Of course, if one were to actually take these tofu tickets to Li Fan seeking a predestined connection with immortals, posting a task, and requesting a helping hand, it might not be such a big problem. Although one would owe more favors and have more tasks to complete, these could be repaid gradually.

The problem remains with the name 'Qingyue', which already possesses immense power, and it will only continue to grow stronger.

Li Fan's understanding of talismans was still at a beginner level, so he could only vaguely see the problem. But since Cangsong had pointed it out to him directly, it was probably really true.

These tofu tickets are now standardized talismans, and you can borrow their power from the talisman master 'Qingyue'.

Of course, right now it might still be 'Qingyue of Ink Bamboo Mountain', but if in the future 'Qingyue, the Dharma Master of the Great Luo Void Star', 'Qingyue, the Crimson Crow Child of the Blood Talisman', or 'Qingyue, the Demonic Sword Ghost of the Great Fiend' appear, how much trouble will these scattered talismans cause? Li Fan really gets a headache just thinking about it.

However, Cangsong did offer a solution; experience truly pays off, and he actually came up with three solutions instead of just one.

"You know about the Five Ghosts Transport Talisman, right? It's a kind of unorthodox method. In the past, some unorthodox sorcerers often used this trick to steal things."

The Cangsong pointed out,

"Your ticket says, ' Qingyue, a disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain Lou Guan Dao, owes one stone of tofu on a certain day of a certain month.' The problem is that it doesn't clearly state what 'Qingyue' has to repay for this one stone of tofu."

I suggest you set up an altar and perform some rituals, raise some little ghosts, build a treasury, and collect gold, silver, and jewels to store. Then use the tofu ticket method to fulfill vows. As long as the person holding the ticket makes a wish, such as for some gold, silver, or tofu, and you have it in your treasury, the little ghosts can move the item there, thus settling the debt.

If one can end a karmic connection with immortals by only incurring some financial and material losses, that would be considered a clever way.

"But if you do this, these people will eventually realize that these tickets possess magical power, making them treasures to ordinary people. If they fight over them, kill each other, and create negative karma, the consequences will inevitably fall on your head."

Li Fan quickly poured tea, Cangsong, while drinking it, said...

"To make it even more complicated, we can spread the word that anyone with a ticket can come to our door to become our disciple. That way, even ordinary people with no affinity for immortality or spiritual roots can find you by entering the mountain with a ticket. However, this would require us to impart some Daoist techniques and give you some guidance."

"To form a karmic connection with someone is the most orthodox way. The karmic connection and spiritual attainment of disciples are of utmost importance and must be treated with utmost care. A mixture of good and bad is of no benefit to the Daoist Tradition. The character of disciples must be carefully examined. Whether it is the method of the Xuanmen or the supernatural powers of the unorthodox path, if it falls into the hands of someone with ill intentions and immoral conduct, it will surely bring about karmic consequences. Be very careful."

Li Fan nodded quickly.

"There's another trick, but it's too ruthless..." Cangsong put down his teacup, looked at Li Fan, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "It's to use advanced mathematics to calculate who took your tickets, who held your debts, and who became your nemesis. Then, just go to their door and kill them all to settle the score."

Li Fan was suddenly stunned. "Ah, this..."

"This is to break through calamity with killing and prove the Dao with the sword. Regardless of grudges and affections, I will cut them all down with a single sword. No attachments or entanglements can disturb my true nature. This is the supreme, pure, fierce, and powerful Xuan Profound Heaven Sword Intent Beichen Sword Sect Chen Sword Sect."

Cangsong glanced at Li Fan and said, "I see you've learned quite a bit of the Sword Sect's techniques. If you're willing to put your mind to it, you can directly slay the calamity and fight your way through. As long as no one can disturb your Dao heart, no one can be your opponent. This is the ultimate path to enlightenment."

Li Fan sighed and shook his head.

These two old men seem to know each other quite well.

Indeed, if you were to ask Xuan Tian about this tofu ticket issue, he would consider it a trivial matter, haha, he would just laugh it off and cut it off, why make such a fuss...

However, Li Fan is ultimately not a Xuan Tian. After all, killing one's sister to prove one's Dao is a rare occurrence, and it's already a common occurrence for a Xuan Tian to appear only once every few thousand years...

"Thank you for your guidance, senior."

Cangsong waved his hand, stood up, and said, "You've answered what I wanted to ask, and I've answered what you wanted to ask. Our matter is settled, but that doesn't mean the grudges between Emei and you are cleared. You're not a truly evil person, so I will stop my junior brother this time. You don't need to repay my family. If there's an opportunity in the future, let the Emei disciples go this time, and consider it a clean break."

"Uh, yes..."

Seeing that Cangsong didn't want to continue the conversation, Li Fan took away Cangsong's Daoist talisman and tea set, and dispelled the great formation, only to find that the two people had been waiting outside the formation at some point.

One of them was Feng Qingniu, the abbot, who was dressed in a black Daoist robe.

There was another person, leaning against the courtyard wall, staring blankly at Real Person Liang disciplining his disciples inside.

Li Fan couldn't sense his cultivation level at all, but he should be a Dao Lord of Emei. He had an Emei gold badge at his waist, but he was dressed as a white-clad swordsman. He had a fair face, sparse stubble, and melancholy eyes. He wasn't wearing a crown, and his white hair was casually tied into a ponytail. He had the outstanding demeanor of a popular young actor.

Looking at his appearance, he seems somewhat like, perhaps, probably also from the Qin Family.

The abbot bowed and said, "The Feng Qingniu of Ink Bamboo Mountain pays respects to the Immortal Lord."

Cangsong returned the greeting, saying, "The Abbot's teachings are excellent! Talented people emerge in every generation; with such a disciple, the reputation of Ink Bamboo Mountain will surely be greatly enhanced..."

The abbot politely replied, "Senior, you have come from afar. I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please allow me to prepare tea to entertain you..."

Cangsong smiled and politely declined, "You're too kind, you're too kind. I've already drunk a bellyful of tea from Qingyue..."

At this moment, the ponytail-wearing Daoist suddenly froze, turned his head and glared at Li Fan, "Qingyue? You are Nanxin's Dao Companion?"

Cangsong was shocked and turned to glare at Li Fan, "What?! You're Nanxin's Dao Companion!"

Speaking of which... the divine calculations of your Emei sect are just hype, aren't they...?

Before Li Fan could reply, Cangsong suddenly bulged, and his skin exploded! Then, dense and silky Qiankun True Qi spread out, and from under the skin, a black and white moth as big as a human jumped out!

Ponytail Daoist was shocked, "Oh dear! Great-grandfather! This kid may be a bit ugly, but don't get so angry that you'll ascend to immortality!"

The large moth, as if enraged, rushed over and headbutted Li Fan, causing him to fall to the ground with a thud. Then it flapped its wings and soared into the sky, disappearing without a trace.

The ponytail-wearing Daoist called out, "Grandpa! Grandpa!" and instantly flew into the clouds and disappeared.

Ugh... What kind of prime-time family drama is this?!