Mei Qing felt somewhat perplexed. Seeing Zhang Shisan’s mischievous grin, he realized that the dual Five Elements talisman must have some tricky aspects. Fortunately, Mei Qing had already developed his own understanding of talismans, especially since he could recognize Clerical of Clouds script, making it not impossible for him to create composite talismans himself.
Mei Qing pondered for a moment, then took up a brush and combined the Metal and Water elements into a single talisman.
A talisman for Metal differs from those for Water or Fire. Generally speaking, Water and Fire talismans are relatively easier to create; once drawn, they naturally produce droplets or flames. However, a Metal talisman is far more challenging—even highly skilled cultivators would find it difficult to summon a large iron block. Thus, when activated, a Metal talisman merely produces a metallic wind. Mei Qing’s concept was that since Metal gives rise to Water, this metallic wind could trigger the subsequent Water talisman, much like two connected firecrackers. By chanting the incantation and activating the Metal talisman, the metallic wind would then set off the Water talisman, thereby generating water.
Imagination, of course, is easy, but actual execution is another matter entirely. The talisman paper was no bigger than a palm, and drawing multiple talismans on it was already extremely challenging, let alone making them interrelated. The difficulty here was immense.
Zhang Shisan remained with his eyes closed and silent, allowing Mei Qing to experiment freely.
Mei Qing drew four or five talismans in succession, each one slower than the last. All the earlier talismans failed without exception, primarily due to the junction between the Metal and Water talismans, which he couldn’t get right.
Previously, Mei Qing had drawn composite talismans, such as the Purification talisman. However, that combination wasn’t like this one, where one talisman triggers another; instead, both talismans were activated simultaneously. Relatively speaking, Mei Qing’s current approach should be easier.
Activating two talismans simultaneously sounds simple, but in practice, it is extremely difficult. Any slight imbalance between the talismans would render them ineffective. Mei Qing’s approach avoided this problem by activating each talisman separately, making the process naturally easier.
It’s like two people singing in turn, each taking a line, requiring only that the endings and beginnings match. If they sing together, even a slight difference in pitch or rhythm can cause chaos, following the same principle.
Despite this, Mei Qing’s practical experience was still lacking. It wasn’t until his eighth talisman that he let out a soft “Hmm,” sensing he was onto something.
Previously, when Mei Qing was drawing the talismans, precisely because the two talismans activated one after the other, he couldn’t help but treat them as two separate talismans. As a result, his hand and mind inevitably hesitated in the middle. After repeated failures, he gradually identified the issue and began to consider the Metal-Water talisman as a single entity. With the flow of spiritual energy becoming smoother, he started to gain some understanding. Although he failed again due to a momentary slip in brushwork, he could already faintly sense the Metal and Water energies.
Encouraged, Mei Qing continued tirelessly, constantly refining his brushwork and符 structure. He felt the spiritual energy flowing increasingly smoothly. Though not yet successful, he sensed that eventual success was inevitable.
Though seemingly indifferent, Zhang Shisan had been secretly observing Mei Qing’s every move with his spiritual sense. Initially amused, his expression gradually turned surprised. However, after a moment’s thought, he resumed his usual expectant grin.
Mei Qing spent half a day drawing talismans, barely pausing even for lunch.
Though he felt success was imminent, each attempt fell short by the slightest margin at the final moment. Mei Qing wasn’t discouraged; instead, his interest grew.
Previously, his talismans had such a high success rate because he followed established models, his mind clear about the spiritual patterns, allowing his true energy to flow naturally and correctly. Now, without a fixed model, he was exploring step by step, making the task far more challenging. Yet precisely for this reason, Mei Qing continued experimenting with different techniques and calculating various possibilities, thoroughly mastering the Metal and Water talismans.
Even Zhang Shisan couldn’t help but nod approvingly. Mei Qing’s talent and comprehension were exceptional, though his earlier performance seemed slightly impulsive, causing Zhang Shisan some concern. Seeing him now, fully immersed and focused, naturally pleased Zhang Shisan greatly.
After several more failures, Mei Qing paused, closed his eyes, and rested for a while. By now, his internal true energy felt somewhat depleted. Although drawing lower-grade talismans didn’t consume much energy, he had barely stopped all day. Particularly with this Metal-Water talisman, he had continuously experimented with various brush techniques, exhausting both his mind and spirit. Even someone with an iron will would find it difficult to endure.
Realizing this, Mei Qing no longer acted hastily. Instead, he first calmed his mind and took a moment to rest. Then, holding the talisman and brush, he briefly closed his eyes, visualizing the talisman in his mind. Finally, he opened his eyes and swiftly drew with his right hand.
This talisman had been meticulously calculated and repeatedly attempted, and Mei Qing was now confident it was the optimal combination of Metal and Water. Fully focused, his entire consciousness flowed through the brush, his true energy coursing steadily along the vermilion strokes, gradually connecting and interweaving to form a rather complex talisman structure.
As the brush lifted, streams of true energy surged, forming a peculiar talisman-like shape on the paper. At the top, a metallic wind howled, with golden qi vibrating along the sharp strokes. Below, a section resembling both a talisman and a charm flowed seamlessly into a Water talisman. Since the Water talisman originated from Metal, its energy was subdued, faintly radiating a continuous, gentle force.
After examining it for a moment, Mei Qing was delighted. He gestured triumphantly to Zhang Shisan, then chanted the incantation for the Metal Talisman, formed the corresponding hand seal, calculated the timing and direction, and activated the talisman. Instantly, a metallic wind arose with a resounding clang. However, the talisman paper soon turned dark amid flickering golden light, emitting only a faint wisp of moisture before crumbling into smoke and vanishing.
Initially thrilled, Mei Qing watched eagerly as his final creation unfolded. Who could have guessed that everything would start smoothly, the metallic wind initiating the Water energy, only for the talisman to then disintegrate and dissipate without effect?
Mei Qing wore a bitter expression, while Zhang Shisan burst into laughter.
“Master!” Mei Qing exclaimed angrily. “What kind of master ignores his disciple like this? After I’ve worked hard all day and finally made some progress, you don’t offer any guidance but instead mock me?”
Still chuckling, Zhang Shisan shook his head repeatedly. “No, no, Mei Qing. Honestly, even if I wanted to guide you, I couldn’t. Your talisman exceeded my expectations, showing remarkable ingenuity.”
Mei Qing blinked. “Does that mean it’s impossible to combine two Five Elements Talismans on a single sheet of paper? But I felt like the last one was almost successful.”
Zhang Shisan smiled. “The Five Elements Talismans are the most basic talismans, useful only for practice and nothing else. Although some people have considered combining two Five Elements Talismans on a single piece of paper, no one has ever succeeded. Those who attempted it were usually new to talisman crafting and lacked sufficient cultivation. Once they gained enough skill, they no longer had the inclination for such trivial pursuits.”
Mei Qing nodded thoughtfully. It made sense—since he had thought of it, others likely had too. Yet beginners with such ideas usually lacked the ability to realize them, and once they advanced, they no longer cared about basic talismans.
Zhang Shisan continued, “Your talisman just now was extremely clever. Although combining Metal and Water, they actually complemented each other, with one triggering the next. Even I might struggle to create such a talisman on the spot. But you overlooked one key point—the talisman paper itself. When the Metal talisman activates, the paper reacts violently to the metallic wind and immediately disintegrates, taking the Water talisman with it. Since the Water talisman hasn’t taken effect yet, it vanishes along with the paper. How can it work?”
“Ahh…” Mei Qing was stunned. This simple issue had completely escaped him.
“Then… is there no other way?” Mei Qing asked, frowning.
“Perhaps there is a way,” Zhang Shisan mused with a smile. “You could slightly offset the two talismans, allowing the water energy to gradually follow as the metallic wind arises. By the time the metallic wind reaches its peak, the Water talisman would already be active. This would bypass the limitations of the talisman paper. However, accomplishing this requires an almost inconceivable level of precision in brushwork, energy distribution, timing, and talisman structure.”
Mei Qing fell silent, lost in deep thought. Observing this, Zhang Shisan chuckled. “Although others might consider this path impossible, if you’re determined to explore it, I think it’s definitely worth a try. First, your cultivation has long surpassed the Essence Refinement stage, which is adequate for talisman crafting. Second, your knowledge of Thunder Talisman Script makes this an exceptional opportunity to trace back to its origins and achieve true comprehension. Third, since you’ve never formally studied talisman crafting, although your foundation may be weak, you’re free from traditional constraints. Moreover, although these talismans are practically useless, they are extremely challenging. If you can truly discover a feasible method, it will significantly strengthen your fundamentals.”
Inspired, Mei Qing nodded. Zhang Shisan shook his head again. “Still, your method just now was somewhat clever. Since Metal generates Water, they naturally complement each other, so your talisman, though technically two separate ones, essentially forms a sequence where one talisman triggers another. If you were to combine Water and Fire within a single talisman, this method wouldn’t work. Therefore, this approach is effective for harmonious combinations of the Five Elements, but for conflicting elements, you’ll need an entirely new strategy.”
“Thank you, Master,” Mei Qing said respectfully. “If there were no challenges, talisman crafting wouldn’t be interesting. If you could remain still for three years, cultivating only the lowest-grade talismans, why can’t your disciple work hard on composite五行talismans? Please observe my progress closely, Master.”
Zhang Shisan nodded with a smile but said nothing. At that moment, a calm voice drifted in from outside. “Disciple, the time has come. The Daoist path closes, and the Buddha’s teachings are boundless. When conditions arise, do not miss the opportunity.”
With these words, Master Ku floated in gracefully.
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