This Is Consecration?

Jiang Shishi could not help asking, "What do you mean by that?"

Daoist Yansong raised his brows. "I mean, this young brother is a True Man of the Way. The talismans and magic artifacts he consecrates are actually more effective than those consecrated by most monks and Taoist priests across the country."

"Ah?" Xiao Ya looked at Daoist Yansong, then at Gu Zhao, utterly dumbfounded.

If she and Jiang Shishi had not only known Gu Zhao for two days, if Gu Zhao had not accidentally shown off a skill just now, if this were not Taishang Laojun Pavilion, and if that group of Taoists had not been so respectful toward this old taoist priest just moments ago...

Xiao Ya would have thought Gu Zhao and the old taoist priest had colluded to fool her.

But before Xiao Ya could react, Gu Zhao waved his hand. "You flatter me, Daoist priest. I can draw talismans, but I don't know how to consecrate them."

"Hm?" Daoist Yansong's eyes widened. "You don't know how to consecrate?"

"I don't." Gu Zhao shook his head and asked, "How do you do it?"

Daoist Yansong found it unbelievable. He looked Gu Zhao up and down. "You've clearly cultivated Internal Breath True Qi. Don't tell me you don't know how to use it?"

Gu Zhao's eyes shifted as he cautiously asked, "How do I use it?"

Daoist Yansong's eyes widened again. "You circulate the Internal Breath True Qi through your body, or calm your mind and steady your breath, then infuse it into talismans and magic artifacts. Didn't your grandfather teach you?"

At that point, he could no longer sit still. "Wait here."

Daoist Yansong got up and left, leaving Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya staring at each other.

"A True Man of the Way?" Jiang Shishi looked at Xiao Ya.

"Internal Breath True Qi?" Xiao Ya looked at Jiang Shishi.

It was not as though they had never heard those two terms before. They often appeared in Wuxia Novels, at the very least. But for them to appear in reality—and for an old taoist priest to use them on a young man—was rather strange.

Jiang Shishi could not help asking, "What is going on here?"

Gu Zhao sprawled in his chair. "This is the treatment you get after cultivation success."

He was no longer worried that there would be trouble at Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain. He had not expected there to really be Taoists in modern times who could cultivate Mana.

Though their Mana seemed extremely weak due to the environment, it was definitely Mana, and they all seemed quite sensitive to it.

Since Qingcheng Mountain had them, then Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain, as the ancestral court of Zhengyi Dao, naturally should as well. He probably would not even need to use Palm Thunder—the Purple Robe Heavenly Masters on Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain would respectfully present the Vajra Profound Talisman to him.

"You never displayed any martial arts in front of Daoist Yansong, so how did he know you had achieved cultivation success?" Xiao Ya asked. "An expert knows whether there's substance the moment someone makes a move, but you never made a move."

"This is the resonance between masters." Gu Zhao said with a completely straight face.

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi looked at each other, half-believing and half-doubting.

Just then, Gu Zhao suddenly sensed a faint fluctuation of Mana. Then they heard footsteps approaching from outside the door.

The next moment, Daoist Yansong pushed the door open and entered. The three of them saw that he held a Jade Ruyi in his hand. It was no more than a foot long, pure white throughout, and gave off a gentle, mellow feeling.

Daoist Yansong asked Gu Zhao, "Did you sense anything?"

Looking at the Jade Ruyi before him, it was Gu Zhao's turn to be dumbfounded. "This is consecration?"

Wasn't this just forcibly pouring Mana into it, then using the jade's properties to preserve Spiritual Qi inside? Just like that Five Thunder Talisman I drew at Yuanfa Palace.

But this method of preservation did not last long. As time passed, the Spiritual Qi within the jade would still gradually dissipate until it was entirely depleted. Its shelf life was even worse than the Heavenly Dipper Talisman he had drawn.

"Exactly, this is consecration." Daoist Yansong was rather proud. "This Jade Ruyi was consecrated by me for an entire month at the beginning of last year. After that, I maintained it on the first day of every month. Its Daoist Charm is misty and elusive, its Spiritual Qi abundant—it is a rare magic artifact!"

Gu Zhao, "..."

Fine, its Daoist Charm truly was misty and elusive, and its Spiritual Qi was indeed abundant. Staying beside it would bring some benefits one way or another, but he still felt that something was off.

"If Xiao Ya's grandfather is not ill but merely weak from deficient qi, then draw a Peace Talisman and consecrate it for nine days. Have him carry it on his person for a while, and he should improve," Daoist Yansong said.

Gu Zhao looked at the Jade Ruyi before him.

Although the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth in modern times was incomparably thin, after Daoist Yansong continuously poured Mana into it for a month, the Spiritual Qi around this Jade Ruyi was indeed relatively dense—provided one did not wildly suck it all in.

If someone in poor health kept it by their side, it would be roughly equivalent to being immersed in nature brimming with Spiritual Qi. It would indeed greatly benefit both body and mind.

"It really does feel different!" Jiang Shishi blinked. "I feel like even my breathing has become much smoother."

Daoist Yansong glanced at Jiang Shishi and spoke bluntly. "Your burden is too heavy, and climbing the mountain exhausted you too much. Naturally, you're more sensitive to it."

Teased by an elder, Jiang Shishi actually blushed a little. Yet she was still utterly shocked, feeling as though her entire worldview had been overturned.

Could this world truly have magic artifacts? Could mysticism truly exist?

But Xiao Ya had already turned to Gu Zhao. After thinking for a moment, she anxiously asked Daoist Yansong, "Does consecrating a magic artifact come at some cost?"

"You're a good girl." Daoist Yansong raised a brow, then looked at Gu Zhao again. "There aren't many kind-hearted girls like this left. I suggest you don't let her slip away."

Gu Zhao was speechless. "Do you enjoy playing matchmaker that much?"

Daoist Yansong wore a solemn expression. "The country is encouraging marriage and childbirth. Religious people must also answer the nation's call."

Gu Zhao, "..."

Xiao Ya, "..."

"I'm not a doctor. I don't even know why her grandfather is unwell, yet I'd give her a Peace Talisman and claim it can cure him. If that isn't feudal superstition, what is?" Gu Zhao said helplessly.

Xiao Ya smiled softly, though she also felt a little disappointed. Then she heard Daoist Yansong say, "So what if it can't cure him? Who would believe that a Taoist Peace Talisman could really cure illness?"

The three of them were dumbfounded, suddenly realizing that Daoist Yansong made an awful lot of sense.

Gu Zhao could only ask Xiao Ya, "What illness does your grandfather have?"

"It isn't really an illness. He's just been weak and frail these past two years, and has trouble walking. The hospital can't find any cause either. They can only explain it by saying that my grandfather was born with a weaker constitution," Xiao Ya explained softly. "But my grandfather used to be quite healthy."

Gu Zhao thought for a moment, took a wallet from his pocket, then pulled out a piece of yellow paper folded into a triangle and handed it to Xiao Ya. "This is a Heavenly Dipper Talisman I drew myself. If your grandfather believes in it, have him keep it close to his body or place it beneath his pillow. As for whether it works, I can't guarantee it!"

Having encountered a modern Taoist like Daoist Yansong who possessed Mana—and who had exposed certain things—coupled with Xiao Ya's kindness and filial devotion, as well as how she had kindly shown concern for him earlier, Gu Zhao had no reason to hide things so tightly anymore.

Xiao Ya accepted the talisman paper. Her earlier disappointment had long vanished. Her brows and eyes were picturesque, her expression radiant, and a faint blush rose on her cheeks.

"Thank you!"