Yang Talisman Scripture

Chapter 13: Yang Talisman Scripture

The Scripture Repository of the Black and White Divine Palace is located at Heavenly Treasury Peak, the fourth peak of Nine Palaces Mountain.

This is a pure white mountain, crafted entirely from jade. It is a completely artificial mountain, containing thirty-eight grand mechanism formations inside; any intruder will be met with ruthless, crushing blows.

The mountain is divided into five levels, each corresponding to a realm of cultivation.

Holding his token, Ning Ye enters the mountain. Everywhere he looks, there are white stone walls engraved with black talismans.

These are the cultivation techniques of the Black and White Divine Palace.

All the scriptures are stored in the form of stone carvings and cannot be removed. Once a disciple selects a scripture, they trigger their token to receive a direct transmission of the technique from the wall, much like the experience on the Trial Battlefield. Furthermore, all techniques are sealed with the Silent Speech Curse, allowing them to be practiced but not taught to others. Only upon reaching the Myriad Laws Realm can one break through this restriction; this is how the various immortal sects protect their secret arts.

However, there is no such thing as an absolute method of secrecy in this world. In reality, the major top-tier sects have always planted agents within one another, though the higher the level of the technique, the harder it is to obtain. For instance, the basic heart cultivation methods of the Black and White Divine Palace are likely possessed by the other Eight Great Immortal Sects, but since they do not align with their own sects' paths, they are not practiced and are usually only studied for the purpose of developing countermeasures.

Ning Ye had a plan long ago, so he did not waste time. He went straight to the point and walked directly to a specific wall.

This wall is covered in inscriptions and talisman characters, shimmering with light, with three large characters at the top: Yang Talisman Scripture.

Below it is a line of small print: Those who choose this scripture must not choose the Yin Talisman Scripture before reaching the Hualun Realm.

Many techniques in the Black and White Divine Palace are two sides of the same coin; the Yin Talisman Scripture and the Yang Talisman Scripture are two such corresponding techniques.

This method is essentially a technique of the Talisman Dao, detailing the art of talisman crafting.

The Yin Talisman Scripture focuses on the dark side, excelling in assassination, stealth, infiltration, disguise, and illusion. The Yang Talisman Scripture focuses on the bright side, excelling in frontal assault, defense, and body refinement.

Ning Ye chose the Yang Talisman Scripture because the Talisman Dao makes it easy to hide one's true strength—since the power lies in the talismans, what determines the outcome is the talisman, not the person.

Moreover, the Talisman Dao is the profession best suited for "smashing people with money." As long as one has enough talismans, defeating enemies of a higher level is only natural, and no one can say anything against it.

However, the Talisman Dao is a money-burning profession in the early stages; without a sufficient family fortune, one cannot afford to play.

Ning Ye, however, has no such concerns, because he already knew how to craft talismans back at the Heavenly Mechanism Sect.

If cultivation is internal energy, then spells are the moves.

As long as his cultivation base is restored, he will naturally regain everything he once knew; at most, the heart cultivation methods might not align perfectly, leading to some discrepancies in power and effect.

Of course, the Yang Talisman Scripture and the Killing Heart Blade are completely different paths. If Zhang Liekuang knew of his choice, he would likely be furious enough to jump with rage.

This is another reason why he chose to bypass Zhang Liekuang and make his own selection.

After selecting the Yang Talisman Scripture, a beam of divine light entered Ning Ye's mind. Ning Ye did not leave, but instead continued to look at the others one by one.

The path of cultivation is grand and profound; one cannot easily learn it just by looking, nor can one memorize it.

But what Ning Ye wants is not to memorize, but simply to see.

As long as he sees it, the Kunlun Mirror sees it, and it can be recorded—this was how he learned all the spells of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect back then, and then studied various arts accordingly.

That was also the rare occasion when he made Xin Ranzi so angry that he was hopping mad, chasing Ning Ye for half a day while brandishing the Heavenly Secret Staff.

It wasn't because he stole the sect's secret arts, but because he feared Ning Ye would be greedy and fail to master anything. Facts proved his judgment was correct, as Ning Ye had acquired too many spells, learning a bit here and a bit there, accumulating a pile of miscellaneous arts—illusions, talisman crafting, formations—he knew a little of everything, yet was proficient in none.

Because of the excessive miscellaneous studies, his cultivation was delayed, and even though Xin Ranzi found him a pile of spiritual pills and medicines, his progress was not fast. It wasn't until he discovered the matter of the Nine Deaths Great Calamity that Xin Ranzi stopped pushing him.

Recalling the past now, the image of Xin Ranzi appears before his eyes, and he feels that the scolding and beatings his master gave him back then were all out of love. It is just a pity that the past is like smoke, and it is hard to look back.

His heart could not help but feel a wave of melancholy.

Steadying his mind, Ning Ye continued to record silently.

In this life of re-cultivation, he will not walk the old path again, but that does not mean he will give it up entirely.

What one loves is one's path. Firstly, he enjoys miscellaneous studies, and secondly, he still needs to restore the glory of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, so the things of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect cannot be discarded.

Most importantly, without doing so, he would not be able to cope with the sinister situation ahead.

However, the former Ning Ye studied everything—alchemy, talismans, formations, and artifacts—knowing everything but mastering nothing. This time, Ning Ye will only choose one.

The way of mechanisms.

The way of mechanisms is vast and complex, a culmination of miscellaneous studies in itself, yet it is different.

It has its own uniqueness; those miscellaneous studies are its foundation, but also its direction. Different proficiencies in miscellaneous studies represent different characteristics of the mechanisms.

The Ning Ye in the light walks the path of the battle-body and frontal assault; the Ning Ye in the shadows practices the art of mechanism assassination.

This is exactly what he was best at in the Heavenly Mechanism Sect; the mechanisms he set up were even praised by Feng Buting.

This is very good.

It fits perfectly with the style of the Black and White Divine Palace, which operates on both Yin and Yang sides.

After recording all the techniques in the first valley of the Black and White Divine Palace, Ning Ye finally left.

Just as he exited the valley, he saw a man carrying a sword standing before him.

Ning Ye recognizes this man; he was one of the individuals who performed exceptionally well on the Trial Battlefield that day.

Ning Ye even remembers his sword—it was not obtained on the battlefield.

Being able to bring a sword into the valley already speaks volumes.

The young man glanced at him and said, "Your name is Ning Ye?"

"Hmm?" Ning Ye looks at him, realizing the other party has come specifically for him: "Is there something you need?"

The man pointed his thumb at himself: "My name is Chen Changfeng, and my master is Master Wubei."

"And what does that have to do with me?"

A flash of wind, fire, and lightning sparked in the man's eyes: "Chen Changzhi is my brother."

Chen Changzhi? I don't know him.

Suddenly, Ning Ye realized something and reacted: "The guy I killed on the Trial Battlefield?"

"Finally remembered?" Chen Changfeng raged: "You killed my brother; this grudge is irreconcilable."

"Oh," Ning Ye replied.

Oh?

You killed my brother, and all you have to say is "oh"?

Chen Changfeng was incensed, trembling with rage. His sharp aura manifested, causing the surrounding grass to sway without wind, a clear sign that he was about to strike.

Ning Ye looked at him with a hint of sympathy: "Since you see things so clearly, I suppose there's no need for me to explain certain principles to you. On the Trial Battlefield, life and death are matters of fate. Your brother was incompetent and got himself slaughtered by me. If you want revenge, you're welcome to try anytime. However, this is Nine Palaces Mountain; the Black and White Divine Palace hasn't reached the point where disciples can kill each other at will, has it?"

Chen Changfeng slowly drew his sword: "I can't kill you, but I can certainly give you a beating. I forgot to tell you, my foundational mental cultivation has already reached the second level."

To advance to the second level in three months—that was considered fast.

Ning Ye, however, was dismissive: "And not even through your own efforts."

Even if he couldn't see it, he could guess. Being able to bring a sword into the valley meant this Chen Changfeng likely had connections and abundant family resources, making his cultivation progress naturally swift.

Nothing special.

Chen Changfeng was furious: "What did you say?"

Without wasting any more words, he thrust his sword toward Ning Ye.

The strike aimed for Ning Ye's throat while simultaneously sealing off his three escape routes. As long as Ning Ye dodged, his Killingless Sword could launch a continuous stream of attacks, determined to break his bones, damage his meridians, tear his skin, and make him experience the agony of a body-splitting pain. Without spiritual medicine, it would likely hinder his cultivation for a time, constantly suppressing him and causing him pain until one day, his fate would be completely ended...

Chen Changfeng had thought everything through, but he hadn't accounted for the beginning.

Because Ning Ye didn't dodge at all.

He just watched the sword thrust toward him, standing perfectly still.

Seeing the tip of the blade about to pierce his throat, Chen Changfeng was shocked.

The Black and White Divine Palace allowed duels between disciples, but it strictly forbade wanton killing.

This was Heavenly Treasury Peak, where many people passed by. With onlookers nearby, if he killed Ning Ye, he would likely be executed himself.

Terrified, he forcibly halted his sword strike.

This sudden stop caused his internal energy to circulate poorly, leading to a backlash, but what was even more shocking was that Ning Ye chose this exact moment to launch a sudden assault.

"ROAR!" He let out a fierce shout, like a thunderclap from the nine heavens exploding right in Chen Changfeng's ear.

The next moment, Ning Ye used his hand as a blade. A blood-red halo ignited on the back of his hand, and he struck Chen Changfeng's chest with boundless killing intent.

"AH!!!"

Accompanied by that shrill, incredulous scream, Chen Changfeng flew backward and crashed heavily into the dust.

This hand-blade strike broke his bones, damaged his meridians, tore his skin, and inflicted the very agony of a body-splitting pain he had planned for others. Without spiritual medicine, it would certainly hinder his cultivation for a time...

"Tch," Ning Ye scoffed.

All that second-level cultivation, yet his combat experience was pitifully lacking.

Shaking his head, Ning Ye walked away.

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