Yu Ci and Bao Guang were both deeply curious, wondering who this highly esteemed senior could be.
Murong Qingyan gently brushed her hair back, her fingers lightly touching the white flower at her temple. In a soft voice, she said, “The first person I’ve admired in this life is Sect Master Ye Bin of Half-Mountain Island. Surrounded by powerful adversaries, she managed to persevere and establish herself. Today, she stands tall, admired by countless people. Whether it’s governing her sect, her swordsmanship, or her interpersonal skills, she excels in every regard, truly a figure of amazement.”
“Ye Bin?”
Upon hearing the name, Yu Ci and Bao Guang had entirely different reactions.
Walking leisurely along the mountain path, Murong Qingyan’s thoughts seemed to drift to the past. “Back then, Sect Master Ye inherited the foundation of Half-Mountain Island after her master was gravely injured. Taking up the mantle amidst a crisis, she wielded the Serenity Sword and her self-created ‘Half-Mountain Mirage Sword Technique.’ As a True Immortal, she defeated numerous formidable foes. Even masters at the Tribulation Immortal or Earthly Immortal level retreated before her might. She shook the coastal regions, earning the title ‘First Under Tribulation Immortals.’ Frankly, even among Tribulation Immortals, how many could truly match her strength?”
The term “Tribulation Immortal,” as the female cultivator explained, referred to a level beyond the True Immortal stage, encompassing both Tribulation Immortals and Earthly Immortals. These individuals, whose cultivation was earth-shattering, would attract heavenly tribulations. Each tribulation tempered their cultivation, elevating their divine abilities to new heights, placing them among the most powerful figures in the realm. Take the Rifting Earth Sect, for instance; with only three Tribulation Immortals, they were already a significant power in the central-western region and well-known across the world.
According to Ye Tu’s theories, the realms of “True Immortal, Tribulation Immortal, and Earthly Immortal” collectively belonged to the “Three Tribulations of Immortality” stage. However, the so-called True Immortal was merely a transitional phase on the path to becoming a Tribulation Immortal. While a True Immortal had a perfected Yang Spirit and achieved longevity, they lacked the tempering of tribulations and couldn’t claim the title of “immortal and indestructible.” Comparatively, they were fundamentally different from Tribulation Immortals.
For Ye Bin to intimidate opponents at the Tribulation Immortal level as a True Immortal was undoubtedly a miracle. It was no wonder Ye Tu spoke of Half-Mountain Island with such pride. Murong Qingyan’s words now conveyed genuine admiration.
“Sect Master Ye’s self-created ‘Half-Mountain Mirage Sword Technique’ is considered the pinnacle of sword intent in the current cultivation era. Her governance brought prosperity to Half-Mountain Island, producing countless outstanding successors. Personally, she was above reproach, dedicating herself entirely to protecting the sect’s foundation. To prevent interference from tribulations, she willingly confined her unparalleled cultivation to the True Immortal stage, delaying her advancement. Truly, she is the most extraordinary figure of this realm and a role model for us female cultivators.”
Bao Guang, deeply impressed, began to envision such an extraordinary figure.
Yu Ci, however, needed no imagination. Looking at his hand, his heartbeat quickened slightly.
Half-Mountain Mirage Sword?
Could this be the true name of the sword intent Ye Bin had imparted to him? Yu Ci couldn’t believe she would be so generous, but even if it were only a shadow of the technique, he was immensely grateful.
Still, was the mark he had inscribed from afar back then truly at such a level?
As he pondered, Murong Qingyan let out a sigh. “In comparison, whether it’s me or Martial Aunt Tao, our attempts to manage our sects have ended in fragmentation. How can we not feel ashamed?”
Her sudden change in tone left Yu Ci and Bao Guang exchanging uneasy glances, unable to respond.
Of course, Murong Qingyan didn’t expect an answer. She shifted the topic herself, turning her gaze to Yu Ci.
“Junior Brother Yu, you’ve been working hard in your cultivation recently.”
“Huh?”
Yu Ci wasn’t sure why she said that, but following her gaze, he realized that at some point, a Tranquil Heart Talisman had formed in his hand, flowing and spinning between his fingers.
It had become second nature.
In recent times, to master the Qi Infusion Technique, Yu Ci had either been training his divine soul with the “Cosmic Circuit Technique” to familiarize himself with talismanic methods or, like now, playing with talismans to grasp their finer intricacies. As a result, he had developed two habits:
One, whenever he looked at the stars, he wanted to connect them.
Two, while pondering problems, he unconsciously formed a Tranquil Heart Talisman and toyed with it between his fingers.
Now, being caught by Murong Qingyan, he smiled sheepishly. “Forgive me for making you laugh, Senior Sister.”
Murong Qingyan chuckled warmly. “Why would I laugh? When I practiced talismanic arts, I thought I was diligent, but I was nothing compared to your dedication. Honestly, I’m ashamed to admit my talisman skills are mediocre. That Nan Songzi, though a scoundrel, is undoubtedly the best in our sect when it comes to talismans. He’s even famous across the Three Great Northern Lakes.”
Yu Ci felt a jolt in his heart. “Nan Songzi?”
***
Murong Qingyan eventually departed. According to her, she planned to visit friends and explore mountains and rivers, hoping to spend three to five years appreciating the beauty of this world.
Such freedom was truly enviable. Yu Ci, however, couldn’t imagine spending five prime years on socializing and sightseeing.
He had a clear goal, and time to achieve it was growing shorter.
Since reuniting with Immortal Chi Yin, his desire had only grown more fervent and tangible: he wanted immortality. Yet, before achieving it, he refused to remain a mere ant, crushed at the whim of a giant.
Thus, he continued to work harder, investing even more effort and dedication than before.
Ten days had passed since Murong Qingyan’s departure.
Under the guidance of Bao Guang, Yu Ci discovered an ideal spot for cultivation—a secluded, picturesque valley, only two to three acres in size, rarely visited by others. A mountain spring trickled down the northern cliff face through rock crevices, forming a small, tranquil pool in the valley. The water, deep green and refreshingly sweet, teemed with a few fish, adding a touch of natural charm.
The serene environment was perfect for contemplation. According to Bao Guang, in earlier years, the daoist Yu Zhou often came here, spending seven or eight days at a time in quiet meditation. In recent years, his visits had dwindled, leaving the valley as a peaceful refuge for the junior daoist.
Now, the young daoist had ceded the spot to Yu Ci, hoping it might inspire him. Indeed, Yu Ci’s mind began to shine with inspiration, sparked by a seemingly offhand remark from Murong Qingyan before her departure. That remark had planted a seed in his mind, which now flourished in this tranquil valley.
Murong Qingyan had mentioned Nan Songzi, reminding Yu Ci of the time on Southern Frost Lake when Nan Songzi had mocked his talisman techniques as worthless. Before that, Nan Songzi had recited a vivid saying:
[If you know the secrets of talismanic connectivity, you’ll terrify even spirits and gods; if you don’t, you’ll become the laughingstock of spirits and gods!]
These words became the source of Yu Ci’s inspiration. As he moved his fingers, a Tranquil Heart Talisman rotated in the air before him. At the same time, three thoughts continually circulated in his mind:
1. A talisman must possess spirit.
2. Spirit emerges through connectivity.
3. When every connection resonates, the talisman becomes whole.
These phrases were prominently inscribed in the preface of the Celestial Qi Gathering Secret Talisman Manual. Master Xie Liang had highlighted the last one, aligning it with the others to explain the essence of a talisman, its key components, and the progressive steps to create one.
Imitating Master Xie Liang, Yu Ci had studied the manual intensely for two full days, extracting these three phrases and deciphering their interrelated meanings. Suddenly, everything became clear.
“Connectivity”—Yu Ci had always understood this to mean that during the drawing of talismans, divine intent and Qi should flow seamlessly, with each stroke connected to the next. While not incorrect, he now realized he might have been overcomplicating the matter.
According to Xie Liang, drawing a talisman involved imbuing it with divine Qi and forming a symbolic structure to communicate with the divine. The “imbuing of divine Qi” referred to infusing the talisman with divine intent and Qi. But where should this be infused?
The answer lay in Nan Songzi’s words: talismans required knowledge of “connections,” where divine intent and Qi—driven by a cultivator’s will—should reside in these “connection points.”
Releasing the Tranquil Heart Talisman to float before him, Yu Ci gestured twice with his finger. Though he hadn’t exerted significant effort, his focused mind caused his fingertip to sink lightly into the air, as if touching an unseen boundary.
If his sensations were accurate, after countless experiments over several days, he had found the “connection point”! In talisman structure, a “connection point” was the key structural node of a talisman. It was akin to the pivot points in the Cosmic Circuit Technique, where stellar lines converged. During the drawing process, these connection points emerged subtly through the interplay of pressure and intent. They resembled whirlpools in a great river, where divine intent and Qi intertwined to create the most profound reactions.
Yu Ci likened the “connection points” to acupoints in the human body, through which divine intent and Qi had to flow freely. The paths linking these points formed the meridian-like framework of the talisman. With its framework and connection points completed, a talisman’s structure became whole.
This concept mirrored the way the human body—nature’s most intricate creation—served as a model. Thus, connectivity brought spirit to the talisman.
Take the Tranquil Heart Talisman, for instance. Its “静” character contained five connection points where divine intent and Qi flowed back and forth, forming the talisman’s framework. Once completed, the talisman communicated with the world’s spiritual energy, which then entered through these points, circulating along the pathways and permeating the entire talisman.
This internal and external communication infused the talisman with spirit, marking its completion.
Yu Ci fixed his gaze on the floating Tranquil Heart Talisman. Though he now grasped the theory, applying it remained a challenge. Over the past few days, his attempts to refine his perception had resulted in thousands of failures. Yet now, after this prolonged preparation, he felt ready.
His fingers flexed, and he began at the starting point.
The sensation was indescribable.
The newly infused divine intent and Qi moved slowly yet steadily along the talisman’s meridian-like framework. Despite the sluggish pace, it advanced with unwavering precision. The process was like navigating a small boat upriver. Initially, Yu Ci considered how to maneuver the vessel, but as he continued, his mind and hand became one. He stopped overthinking, letting instinct guide him. Rapids and whirlpools posed no obstacle; his movements grew lighter and more fluid until, suddenly, the river surged like a dragon, lifting him skyward.
Yu Ci felt as though he had been flung into the air!
Startled, he awoke with a jolt, just as his finger completed the final stroke of the talisman. His trembling fingertip veered sharply, transforming the intended curve into a powerful, soaring line. It was as if the talisman had come alive, ready to break free.
The gathered spiritual energy at his fingertip clashed violently with the talisman, producing a clear, resonant sound.
It was like striking jade or ringing a bronze bell—both crisp and profound. The sound lingered, echoing endlessly in the quiet valley.
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