Choosing a Natal Spell

Choosing a Natal Spell

Yuan Mobai was usually gentle and easygoing, but his teaching was meticulous and methodical. Now that he was teaching Lei Jun how to make spirit talismans, he began with the basics.

Following his instruction, Lei Jun first bathed and changed clothes, then cleansed his heart, hands, and mouth. He laid out incense, candles, fruit, and tea as offerings, burned incense, and prayed to Heaven and Earth.

Afterward, he consecrated the water, ink, brush, and paper with incantations. Only then did he begin chanting as he wrote and drew the spirit talisman.

Yuan Mobai first gave a brief introduction, then demonstrated it himself, followed with detailed guidance, and finally had Lei Jun try making a talisman on his own while he watched over him.

Lei Jun straightened his robes and cap and stepped before the incense table.

The thin incense sticks in the burner gave off wisps of azure smoke that drifted straight upward, shrouding the space before and behind the incense table.

Lei Jun lifted the talisman brush, dipped it in cinnabar talisman ink, and held its tip above the yellow talisman paper.

"One stroke, and all under Heaven stirs..."

Lei Jun murmured the words as he set down the first stroke.

"Two strokes, the Patriarch's sword..."

Lei Jun walked around the incense table, stopping with every step before laying down the second stroke.

"Three strokes, and fierce gods and baleful fiends flee a thousand miles away!"

He circled the incense table, stopping at each step and writing once each time.

Three stops and three strokes later, he completed the talisman head of the incantation.

Strands of spiritual energy visibly rose from the yellow paper.

Lei Jun's gaze was focused and his mind gathered. His brush moved smoothly, and with several more continuous strokes, he completed the talisman core and the other sections.

Finally, he wrote the talisman foot, and a complete spirit talisman came into being.

But the process was not yet over.

Lei Jun turned the brush upside down, tip pointing upward and bristles downward, then struck the talisman paper three times.

"Edict!"

Lei Jun pressed a finger onto the talisman.

The talisman was complete. It moved without wind as the azure smoke gathered and scattered.

Lei Jun had just finished one circle around the incense table and returned to where he had started. He planted his feet, solemnly set down the talisman brush, and arranged it again on the incense table.

Then, holding the talisman in both hands, he circled the incense burner three times.

A faint spiritual glow seemed to flicker over the yellow paper and vermilion markings.

Lei Jun extended a finger and circulated his own magic power.

Threads of magic power gathered at his fingertip, vaguely taking the form of a seal.

When this "seal" stamped down on the yellow-paper vermilion talisman, the talisman's radiance withdrew, and all its divine bearing was concealed within.

Only then did Lei Jun let out a long breath, a smile appearing on his face.

At the same time, he felt that the magic power he had just condensed was nearly exhausted, and even his mind felt somewhat drained.

But he had successfully made his first talisman!

"To succeed on your very first attempt at making a talisman—Chongyun, you have considerable talent for this sect's talisman arts." Yuan Mobai nodded with a smile.

Lei Jun said, "It was all thanks to your guidance."

Following Yuan Mobai's instructions, he sat in meditation and regulated his breathing for a while.

Some of the essence, qi, and spirit he had expended in making the talisman earlier recovered.

Given his current cultivation realm, Lei Jun could make no more than three talismans per day for the time being.

Only as his cultivation gradually deepened would the number of talismans he could make each day slowly increase.

That said, although his first spirit talisman had succeeded, there were failures afterward. Fortunately, his overall success rate was slowly rising.

In terms of the steps, procedures, and rituals involved, making talismans in the Taoist Talisman School was no simple matter, especially when a cultivator's realm was still shallow and their magic power had only just formed.

Yet talismans communicated with nature and borrowed the power of Heaven and Earth. With proper preparation, a completed spirit talisman could often wield power beyond the cultivator's current realm.

Moreover, so long as one had sufficient materials, magic power, energy, and time, anyone capable could keep multiple spirit talismans in reserve.

After some time, once Lei Jun had become familiar with most of the Celestial Master Mansion's basic spirit talismans, Yuan Mobai lectured during another Evening Lesson:

"Not only in this sect—among all the paths of cultivation in the world, cultivators may choose to cultivate their own Natal Spells.

"Our sect's disciples choose identical or different spirit talismans as their respective Natal Spells."

The Celestial Master Mansion's Talisman Scripture recorded countless spirit talismans. A disciple could learn as many as they wished, depending entirely on their ability and time. Choosing one or several as Natal Spells did not interfere with learning to refine other spirit talismans. Rather, it made the cultivator's Natal Talismans quicker and more convenient to produce, more powerful, less costly, and more likely to succeed.

Including the Taoist Talisman School, the many cultivation methods of the world all followed the same principles when choosing Natal Spells.

First, one could only cultivate one Natal Spell within each major realm.

In other words, a cultivator at the Third Heaven could possess three Natal Spells, while a Qi Refining cultivator at the First Heaven could cultivate only one.

Second, as the saying went, "the body and art are not two." A cultivator's spells had to accord with the foundation of their own Daoist cultivation, or it would be difficult to bring out the spell's power. A Natal Spell, in particular, had to remain of one unbroken lineage with the cultivator's fundamental cultivation method.

Third, once a Natal Spell was cultivated, it became fused with one's life and generally could not be altered or replaced.

Although one could only cultivate relatively low-grade spells at lower realms, as one's cultivation rose in the future, the Natal Spell would evolve accordingly and grow stronger. There was no need to worry about it becoming outdated.

The earlier requirement that "the body and art are not two" was also meant to ensure that an already cultivated Natal Spell could be improved accordingly in the future.

"Generally speaking, Transmission Disciples of this sect choose their Natal Talisman Arts from among the Golden Barrier Talisman, Spirit Invocation Talisman, Wind Riding Talisman, Thunderstrike Talisman, Blazing Flame Talisman, Body Immobilization Talisman, Evil-warding Talisman, Mind Cleansing Talisman, and Sealing Talisman."

Yuan Mobai smiled. "With your current Second Heaven cultivation, you can refine two Natal Talisman Arts. Which ones do you intend to choose?"

Lei Jun considered it. "What is your opinion, Master?"

Yuan Mobai said, "The lineage passed down through me places greater emphasis on using body and art together than our other fellow disciples do. Therefore, both your Senior Brother and I chose the Spirit Invocation Talisman as our initial Natal First Art."

From the moment Daoist acolytes entered the sect, the Celestial Master Mansion in this world emphasized the training of the physical body, qi, and blood, teaching exquisite martial arts of the Taoist Sects.

The Spirit Invocation Talisman further enhanced every aspect of a cultivator's physical condition upon that original foundation.

If one chose the Spirit Invocation Talisman as a Natal Talisman Art, its effects would receive an additional boost.

Lei Jun replied, "This disciple also wishes to choose the Spirit Invocation Talisman as my Natal First Art."

For one thing, it paired well with the Celestial Master Mansion's other supreme arts.

For another, improving every aspect of his physical capabilities would improve his ability to respond, making it easier to handle unknown and complicated environments as well as unexpected situations.

It might lack specialization, but Lei Jun preferred this path of putting himself first and strengthening himself.

"Then the Spirit Invocation Talisman shall be your First Art."

Yuan Mobai smiled. "As for how you choose your Second Art, that will depend on you. Different people are different. When choosing a Natal Spell, it must not only suit the Daoist arts you have learned, but also your own temperament."

Lei Jun nodded.

However, as far as he knew, among the several popular spirit talismans favored by Celestial Master Mansion disciples, the Golden Barrier Talisman ranked first and was chosen by the most people. Even when it was not their First Art, they would choose it as their Second Art or Third Art.

It was a spirit talisman used for defense and protection. Though it was one of the basic spirit talismans, its defensive power was exceptionally strong.

Celestial Master Mansion disciples who chose the Golden Barrier Talisman as their Natal Talisman Art could even withstand the joint assault of several enemies in the same realm for a short time.

Truly as impregnable as a golden fortress, one man guarding the gate.

Beyond the Taoist Talisman School, the other great cultivation lineages all held the Celestial Master Mansion's Golden Barrier Talisman in high regard, considering it one of the finest defensive methods for low-realm cultivators.

Even if Celestial Master Mansion heirs did not use it themselves, the Golden Barrier Talisman was still among the most sought-after basic spirit talismans for trading with disciples of other factions or earning favors.

It was one thing to stay cooped up in a family's Ancestral Land or a sect's mountain gate, but when traveling outside, the safety of one's own life was always the most precious thing...

Just as Lei Jun was pondering this, the Light Sphere in his mind suddenly flickered, and words emerged:

Choosing a spell has both benefits and drawbacks; fortune and misfortune lie hidden within. Avoid blindly following the crowd.

Then, three fortune sticks flew from the Light Sphere, and their Sign Fortunes appeared in Lei Jun's consciousness:

Upper Middle Auspicious Sign: Choose the Wind Riding Talisman as the Second Art. It accords with what you have learned. During cultivation, you may obtain one Seventh Grade Opportunity, with no lingering worries. Auspicious.

Middle Middle Auspicious Sign: Choose a talisman art other than the Wind Riding Talisman or Golden Barrier Talisman as the Second Art. It accords with what you have learned. There are no additional gains, but neither are there losses or hidden dangers. Neutral.

Lower Middle Auspicious Sign: Choose the Golden Barrier Talisman as the Second Art. It accords with what you have learned, but hidden dangers are buried within, and peril lurks in the shadows. Inauspicious.