Xie Liang didn’t consider this to be a remarkable matter. Continuing the earlier topic, he said, “With such an object, the activation of a talisman during combat is instantaneous, and its power can be adjusted at will. It’s quite handy. In the future, if you can master the Qi Infusion Technique, you may try it out yourselves.”
After finishing his explanation, Xie Liang put away the intimidating Five Thunder Talisman Pearl and continued,
“Of course, if your cultivation is insufficient or you fail to master the Qi Infusion Technique, this approach won’t work. You’ll have to rely on external tools. Among such tools, there are distinctions between jade talismans and talisman plates. I recommend you use the latter. Who among you has a talisman plate?”
The hall fell silent for a moment before a resident daoist stood up, bowing slightly as he murmured, “This disciple possesses one, but it is crude and unrefined…”
“Bring it forward.”
The resident daoist’s face turned red. After a brief hesitation, he retrieved an object resembling a plate from his sleeve, took a few steps forward, and raised it high above his head to present it.
Xie Liang took the object in his hand, examined it briefly, and nodded. He then said to the daoist, “I’ll borrow this for a moment.”
The resident daoist, feeling honored, returned to his seat in high spirits.
Xie Liang raised the plate upright, displaying its face for everyone in the hall to see.
Among the cultivators present, some recognized the object, while others did not. Nevertheless, all of them widened their eyes to examine it, including Yu Ci. However, at first glance, Yu Ci found the object oddly familiar.
The plate in Xie Liang’s hand was made entirely of metal. It was square, about half a foot in length on each side, and three-tenths of an inch thick, easily held in one hand. Its surface was engraved with dozens of concentric square circuits, each slightly raised or recessed compared to the others. The outermost circuit was about one-tenth of an inch higher than the innermost. At the center of the square plate was a deliberately left blank area, about an inch in size. This distinctive design was unforgettable after a single glance.
“This is a talisman plate. The term ‘plate’ implies a container or a device for carrying, with connotations of winding and encircling. A talisman plate, as the name suggests, is a container for carrying talismanic power, crafted through a winding and encircling method. Simply put, it’s a tool specifically designed for creating talismans.”
Xie Liang traced his finger along the circuits on the talisman plate as he explained in his characteristic monotone:
“The surface of a talisman plate consists of anywhere from dozens to thousands of circuits. The circuits are square, overlapping in layers, forming a square within a circle, symbolizing the natural order of heaven and earth. The central blank area represents the heart of humanity. The circuits on the plate are interconnected through a special engraving method, creating small and large cycles. These circuits converge at the center, symbolizing the union of heaven and man.
“With the three principles of heaven, earth, and humanity represented, a single talisman plate becomes a microcosm. If cultivated and refined over time, it can resonate with the user’s intentions, allowing them to become the master of this miniature world. At that stage, by simulating the aggregation and transformation of heaven’s Qi with one’s True Qi, and infusing it with the essence of talismans, a talisman’s structure can be formed within this miniature world at the speed of thought. The process of forming talismans becomes at least a hundred times faster!”
Xie Liang’s description made the cultivators in the hall feel a surge of excitement. They could hardly wait to try using a talisman plate themselves.
However, Xie Liang continued, “Comprehending the essence of talismans allows one to draw talismans that communicate with the divine. At that level of mastery in talismanic arts, one is considered truly accomplished. You are still far from that level and likely wouldn’t be able to use this properly. Currently, a method commonly used in the cultivation world is the ‘Cosmic Circuit Technique.’ This is a simplified technique devised by the predecessors, integrating talismanic arts with numerology. It is straightforward and practical.
“Once you’ve mastered this technique, you can rely on the talisman plate to evolve talismanic intent through numerology. This method transcends the traditional talisman-drawing approach, making it three times faster. It’s quite advanced. Our sect possesses annotated and improved versions of this technique from the Bing Yin and Jia Chen editions, which are superior to the versions circulated outside. These are stored in the Heart Prohibition Temple. If you’re interested, you can study them yourselves. Now, I’ll explain the basic application of the Cosmic Circuit Technique.”
Upon hearing this, the cultivators in the hall were all wide-eyed with interest and readily agreed.
However, for some reason, Yu Ci vaguely felt that Xie Liang, who had said all this, did not seem particularly pleased.
Of course, this was just a feeling. At that moment, Yu Ci was more preoccupied with recalling where and when he had seen a similar object.
More precisely, he realized that such an object was already in his possession!
****
Night had fallen, and the day’s lessons had ended.
Yu Ci sat casually, a small table before him lined with objects of various sizes, glinting faintly under the candlelight.
Prompted by Xie Liang’s explanation of the talisman plate earlier that day, Yu Ci had recalled something he had acquired some time ago. With this in mind, he rummaged through his Storage Ring, using the opportunity to sort his belongings.
Among the items on the table, aside from the Divine Illumination Bronze Mirror and the Celestial Qi Gathering Secret Talisman Manual, which were his “old companions,” Yu Ci had selected objects he thought could be useful to him.
The most familiar among them was naturally the Pure Yang Talisman Sword. This sword, which he had personally refined, remained his most reliable weapon. It had proven invaluable during his time in the Sky Rift Valley.
The most precious item, however, was the Dragon Fish Grass. Currently, this spiritual object was sealed within a stone box, in a state of suspended animation. Yu Ci planned to one day offer it in exchange for the status of an outer disciple at the Rifting Earth Sect.
The strangest and most enigmatic item among them was the peculiar hook retrieved from the demonic beast’s lair. This oddly shaped object, with its curved hooks, would produce a soul-impacting force when the two ends collided. Yu Ci had studied its mysteries multiple times, but each attempt ended in failure before the uncontrollable and bizarre soul shock it produced.
Once, he had even dared to forego using the Heart-Binding Horn, attempting to feel the hooks’ impact on his soul. That experience left him deeply shaken. The impact targeted the soul with countless variations in an instant. Though not overwhelmingly powerful, its ever-changing angles and methods exploited vulnerabilities, penetrating defenses and inducing vivid hallucinations. From that moment, Yu Ci finally understood the source of the contradictory and peculiar behavior of the Dragon Fish.
After studying the hook for a while, Yu Ci decided to set it aside. Its unclear origins, combined with its connection to the demonic beast and the perilous Pure Water Altar, made him wary.
Other items, such as the demon’s head left by the fraudulent Xuan Qing, a few jade talismans and a miniature dagger obtained from Daoist Yan, as well as medicinal pills from the Sun Light Sect, were given only a cursory glance. Yu Ci’s focus ultimately landed on the square plate resting conspicuously on the table.
This was the object he had considered while in the Prominent Virtue Hall earlier.
Upon seeing the actual item, Yu Ci was completely certain—it was the talisman plate that Daoist Master Xie had painstakingly introduced during the day. Unlike the demonstration plate, this one was made of superior materials, with finer craftsmanship, more intricate circuits, and a denser, neater arrangement.
According to Daoist Master Xie, the quality of a talisman plate depended on three factors: the number and layout of its circuits and apertures, and the quality of its material. Though Yu Ci couldn’t yet discern the layout, the other two aspects were evident—this plate was vastly superior.
The plate Daoist Master Xie demonstrated during the day had only a few dozen circuits. However, despite being of similar size, this plate had thousands of densely packed circuits, their spacing finer than a strand of hair. The effort required to craft it was unimaginable.
Magnifying the iron plate a hundred or a thousand times, the circuit edges would resemble towering fences encircling the central area—a truly impressive sight.
Unfortunately, this fine object had been deformed under immense force, with its surface deeply gouged by what seemed to be a blade. Its layout was utterly destroyed. For a talisman plate, which required precise integrity, this rendered it useless.
“What a pity!”
The origins of this talisman plate were equally mysterious. It marked the beginning of Yu Ci’s involvement with Snake-like Monk and the events surrounding the Sky Rift Valley.
The plate had been buried as a trap by a hapless man named Hu Ke to hunt demonic beasts. However, Hu Ke had grossly underestimated the demonic beast’s strength and was brutally killed. The talisman plate was also destroyed by the demonic beast, leaving the long scratch on its center likely caused by its claws.
What had Snake-like Monk called it again? A “Shooting Star Plate”?
Yu Ci couldn’t quite recall. Reflecting on the events, Hu Ke’s overconfidence in targeting the demonic beast, the Snake-like Monk’s timely appearance, and the subsequent journey to the Sky Rift Valley with Old Xu and Lu Quan—all these illogical happenings made sense when viewed against the backdrop of the Sky Rift Valley incident.
If everything was part of the Pure Water Altar’s unfathomable plan, then the anomalies could be explained. From that moment, words like demonic beast and treasure entered people’s minds, fermenting and attracting figures like Tu Du, elevating the intrigue step by step in an orderly fashion. These events were deeply intertwined with the later demon invasion.
However, the ensuing chaos was abrupt and jarring. It was as if delicate embroidery was suddenly slashed apart with a saber, utterly incongruent.
Lost in thought, Yu Ci’s mind drifted back to the “giant’s war.” Before he could regain his focus, a knock on the door startled him. Following that, Bao Guang’s voice rang out, “Brother Yu, Master and Uncle Master Xie are here to see you.”
Huh?
Yu Ci was caught off guard. Bao Guang, familiar as ever, pushed open the courtyard door without waiting for his reaction. Naturally, this earned him a reprimand from the elder Yu Zhou. Inside, Yu Ci, staring at the cluttered table, debated tidying up but decided against it. After all, there was nothing particularly incriminating.
Stepping out quickly, he saw Xie Liang and the long-absent Yu Zhou walking side by side. Bao Guang trailed behind timidly, evidently scolded harshly by his master.
Yu Ci wasn’t sure why these esteemed immortals had come unannounced, but proper decorum was essential. He immediately descended the steps to greet them, “I wasn’t aware of your esteemed presence. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner.”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but find it strange. For Xie Liang and Yu Zhou to visit so late seemed somewhat improper.
While guiding the two inside, Yu Zhou smiled amiably, showing no trace of displeasure. “It’s because Brother Jie has matters to discuss with you. He’s leaving tomorrow, so he came tonight. Forgive the abruptness.”
Yu Ci offered a few polite words and glanced at Xie Liang. He hardly knew this daoist and had no idea what this visit might mean.
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