Stockpiling Talismans

Time passed.

Another month went by. Xu Changshou drew fifteen talismans every day, all of them Windwalking Talismans.

Yang Bailao had said his future duties might involve drawing Windwalking Talismans, so he drew some in advance to submit to the sect later.

Over the course of a month, he drew a full four hundred and fifty Windwalking Talismans.

According to Yang Bailao, his monthly quota would be one hundred and forty.

These were enough to cover more than three months of his quota.

By now, Xu Changshou had learned to draw talismans, but he had told no one.

The sect allowed six months to learn talisman drawing. Only two months had passed, so it was still early. He would wait another two or three months before saying anything.

During those two or three months, Xu Changshou planned to draw some of the talismans recorded in the Bloodline Jade Talisman and stockpile them for a rainy day.

After all, many of the talismans within the Bloodline Jade Talisman were extremely practical.

Next, Xu Changshou began drawing the talismans recorded in the Bloodline Jade Talisman.

He started with Windwalking Talismans again.

However, his Windwalking Talismans differed from the sect's.

The sect's Windwalking Talismans could carry someone a thousand li a day, while his Flight Talismans could cover three thousand li a day, rivaling the speed of a foundation establishment cultivator flying on a sword.

These could save his life at a critical moment. With one slapped onto his thigh, no one in the Qi Refining Realm could catch him. They would definitely fetch a high price.

How to sell them was a problem, though. Xu Changshou did not dare sell talismans openly, especially within the sect.

If the sect's higher-ups took a liking to his Windwalking Talismans and asked for the drawing method, should he hand it over or not?

In two days, he drew thirty Flight Talismans.

Then Xu Changshou moved on to other talismans.

Earth Gang Talisman: similar to the sect's Earth Shield Talisman, but with two to three times its defensive strength, capable of withstanding a bombardment from a cultivator at the qi refining twelfth layer.

Sooner or later, Xu Changshou would leave the sect to gain experience. These talismans would be very useful to him, so he drew thirty of them as well.

Sharp Gold Talisman: contained a strand of Sword Qi, with attack power comparable to the strongest blow of a cultivator at the qi refining twelfth layer.

Aside from the Thunderstorm Talisman, this was the strongest offensive talisman. Offensive talismans were naturally essential, so he drew thirty of these too.

Invisibility Talisman: could render the user invisible, undetectable by cultivators of the same level. He drew five.

Wall-Piercing Talisman: allowed the user to pass through walls. He drew five.

Soul-Seizing Talisman: exceptionally effective at attacking the soul. He drew five.

Demon-Sealing Talisman: countered evil demons and evil cultivators. He drew five.

Illusion-Breaking Talisman: dispelled illusions. He drew five.

Formation-Breaking Talisman: could break low-level formations. He drew five.

Flight Talisman: could manifest spiritual wings for flight, lasting a quarter of an hour. He drew five.

Thousand Faces Talisman: could alter the user's build and appearance, lasting twenty-four hours. He drew five.

Xu Changshou drew talismans like mad. As long as he thought a talisman would be useful, or might come in handy, he drew a few.

Though he was only at the seventh level of qi refining, if it truly came to a battle of magic, he dared face anyone below foundation establishment head-on.

To be safe, Xu Changshou stored all his completed talismans in the stone house's space.

The stone house could store things. Though he could not enter it, he could put things inside.

No one could pry into anything stored in the stone house. It was perfectly secure.

There was another talisman Xu Changshou dearly wanted to draw, but unfortunately could not: the Thunderstorm Talisman.

Once drawn, this talisman could instantly kill a cultivator at the qi refining twelfth layer.

Unfortunately, the Thunderstorm Talisman's nature was too violent. Neither his Spirit Brush nor his yellow hemp paper could withstand the raging lightning power. He would have to replace his Spirit Brush with a better one.

According to the Thunderstorm Talisman's instructions, drawing it required the following conditions to be met.

First, he needed black antelope thunder ox hide as the medium for the talisman, replacing ordinary yellow hemp paper.

Second, the Spirit Brush's shaft had to be made from a Moon-Gazing Rhino's horn.

Third, the Spirit Brush's tip required hundred-year yellow weasel bristles.

All these materials were rather precious, but he had to get his hands on them no matter what. He had to draw the Thunderstorm Talisman.

This talisman could serve as a major trump card during the qi refining period.

The Thunderstorm Talisman's attack power was immense. Without using a Magic Artifact, cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm would be all but incapable of withstanding its attack.

Of course, very few people possessed Magic Artifacts in the Qi Refining Realm, aside from those second-generation cultivators with extraordinarily powerful parents.

"Huh? Spirit-Gathering Talismans? There's even a talisman like this."

Within the stone house's space, Xu Changshou discovered another useful talisman.

The Spirit-Gathering Talisman could gather spiritual energy to aid cultivation. Each one lasted ten days.

Xu Changshou drew ten Spirit-Gathering Talismans in one go, then took one out and stuck it onto himself.

The surrounding spiritual energy began to stir, streaming toward Xu Changshou without pause, as though he carried a Spirit-Gathering Formation on his body.

A short while later, the density of spiritual energy around him actually rivaled that of Great Unity Peak.

Good heavens, this Spirit-Gathering Talisman was the real treasure. With it, his cultivation would progress much faster from now on.

After all, the cultivation world emphasized four essentials: wealth, companions, methods, and land.

"Land" referred to one's cultivation grounds. Though it ranked last among the four essentials, it was still invaluable.

Back at Reserve Beauty Peak, so many people had fought tooth and nail to get into Great Unity Peak and Cinnabar Clouds Peak.

A large part of the reason was that Great Unity Peak and Cinnabar Clouds Peak occupied the main spiritual vein, where spiritual energy was extraordinarily abundant.

With this Spirit-Gathering Talisman, though he remained on Green Ink Peak, it was as good as having a blessed cultivation ground like Great Unity Peak or Cinnabar Clouds Peak at his disposal.

Before long.

Another two months passed.

By now, Xu Changshou had been at Green Ink Peak for four months.

It was about time.

Xu Changshou felt the moment was right. Learning to draw talismans in four months would mark his talent as neither good nor bad.

Three days later.

Pale-faced and utterly exhausted, Xu Changshou ran to Yang Bailao's door and shouted, "Senior Brother Yang, come out! I can draw talismans! I can draw talismans! This is wonderful, wonderful!"

Yang Bailao came out at the sound of his voice. He too looked exhausted. His gaze settled on Xu Changshou, and he asked weakly, "Junior Brother Xu, have you really learned to draw talismans?"

"I have!" Xu Changshou said, feigning excitement.

"Good, good, good!"

Yang Bailao smiled. "Junior Brother Xu, it took me five months to learn talisman drawing back then. You're more talented than I am."

"You flatter me, Senior Brother Yang. How could I compare to you?" Xu Changshou replied politely.

Yang Bailao studied Xu Changshou closely, and sorrow suddenly crept into his eyes. "Junior Brother Xu, now that you've learned to draw talismans, the days ahead won't be easy."

"I think drawing talismans is pretty good," Xu Changshou said with a hint of innocence.

Yang Bailao shook his head slightly. Looking at Xu Changshou's youthful face, he could not help feeling sympathy.

Back then, he had started drawing talismans at the same age as Xu Changshou, and had kept at it for forty years. In those forty years, apart from greater proficiency in talisman drawing and advancing a few minor cultivation levels, he had gained nothing else.

It was not quite right to say he had gained nothing. He had gained endless bitterness and numbness.

"Junior Brother Xu, you must be worn out from drawing talismans today. I'll test you tomorrow. If you pass, I'll take you to see Martial Uncle Li."

"Understood. Thank you, Senior Brother Yang."

"Head back for now. Come early tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

Early the next morning, Xu Changshou arrived at Yang Bailao's cultivation grounds well ahead of time.

Without another word, Yang Bailao took out some yellow hemp paper and had him draw talismans on the spot.

In front of Yang Bailao, Xu Changshou did not dare use the "talisman" character to assist him. He could only draw with his own spiritual energy.

He drew one Windwalking Talisman, one Sword Qi Talisman, and one Fireball Talisman.

After drawing those three talismans, Xu Changshou had completely exhausted the spiritual energy within his body.