“The art of talismans is generally divided into three ranks and nine grades. The highest can transcend the Three Realms and reverse the heavens and earth. The middle can move mountains and oceans, command gods and subdue demons. The lowest can summon wind and rain and move within the Five Elements. Although you’ve already formed your golden core, since your magical techniques have not yet been unlocked, you must begin with the art of talismans. The lower rank is further divided into three grades, with the first being the most basic—the talismans of Yin-Yang, the Four Symbols, and the Five Elements. It’s really the most fundamental stuff. Allow me to first demonstrate for you…”
Zhang Shisan was overjoyed. Just moments ago, he had claimed that Master Ku had already taught Mei Qing the Six Phases method, and now it was his turn to seize the teaching opportunity, dragging Mei Qing into his private quarters to begin instructing him in the art of talismans.
In his mind, once Mei Qing began learning this talisman technique, it would take at least three to five months before he could even begin to grasp it. By then, his apprentice’s wife would surely be rescued, and wouldn’t Mei Qing have no choice but to continue learning under him?
Beside him, a small jade inkstone had somehow appeared, with finely ground top-grade cinnabar already prepared. A stack of yellow paper lay before him. Zhang Shisan held a small brush in his hand, swiftly and precisely drawing a small talisman. With a hand seal, he threw it toward the northeast, chanting the incantation: “Gui Wei gives birth to Kan; water spirits obey! Quickly!”
As soon as the talisman flew out, it transformed into a mass of water. With a wave of Zhang Shisan’s hand, it turned into a misty vapor and vanished.
“Did you see that? That was the Water Spirit Talisman,” Zhang Shisan said proudly, stroking his sparse beard.
Mei Qing’s eyes widened in astonishment. So this was the wondrous power of talismans! He had always thought talismans were merely for fighting and killing, never imagining there were so many subtleties involved.
Seeing Mei Qing’s expression, Zhang Shisan’s smile widened. He handed the brush and talisman paper to Mei Qing. “Well? Want to give it a try?”
Mei Qing had already been itching to try. Upon hearing this, he eagerly accepted the paper and brush. However, he didn’t rush into drawing. Instead, he silently recalled every detail of how Zhang Shisan had drawn the talisman.
In terms of drawing talismans, anyone who had entered the Daoist path would naturally be very familiar. But Mei Qing was an absolute novice. His only previous attempt had been the tracking talisman, which had turned out terribly. Without relying on secret techniques to force its success, he wouldn’t have been able to activate it at all.
As for the Earth Crane Talisman he had used today, although it bore the name of a talisman, it was in fact closer to a magical artifact, or more accurately, a form of spirit-commanding technique—not a true talisman in the conventional sense.
Although Mei Qing lacked the most basic practical skills in drawing talismans, he was rich in theoretical knowledge. Without any preconceived notions to limit him, his understanding of talismans was likely different from any other cultivator in the world.
When examining the talisman from Sun Busan, Mei Qing had instinctively equated drawing talismans with calligraphy.
No cultivator in the world had ever thought of it this way. Although talismans were said to be written in Cloud Script, this script was vastly different from ordinary small seal characters, and no one in the world could recognize it. Moreover, the Cloud Script used in talismans was far more complex than the standard form. Without anyone able to recognize the script, how could there be any discussion of writing techniques?
Mei Qing was different. He already understood Cloud Script, and after his experience translating texts at Dongyue Temple, his comprehension of the script was extremely deep. Although the Cloud Script on talismans was complex and ever-changing, it always followed a fundamental structure. Take the Water Spirit Talisman Zhang Shisan had just drawn—it was based on the Cloud Script characters for “water” and “Kan,” with only slight variations. To Mei Qing, it was almost like ordinary writing.
However, the brushwork Zhang Shisan employed had its own subtleties. The strokes of starting, connecting, turning, and finishing were all meaningful, subtly channeling true energy throughout the talisman, forming a small, self-sustaining magical formation.
Recalling the vitality he had sensed with his spiritual awareness when examining Sun Busan’s talisman, Mei Qing realized that the true power of a talisman did not come from the symbols themselves, but from the true energy of the talismanist embedded within.
This energy was guided by the talismanist’s spiritual awareness, forming a symbolic magical array on the paper. Then, through incantations and seals, the flow of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements was activated, producing various magical effects.
Thus, Mei Qing followed his own understanding. He focused his mind on his dantian, guiding the golden core’s true energy to the tip of his brush. With his spiritual awareness mimicking Zhang Shisan’s talisman, he confidently drew a Water Spirit Talisman.
Zhang Shisan had been watching with a smile, saying nothing, but already plotting in his mind.
The Five Elements Talismans were the first thing any beginner learned. They were not particularly powerful, but served as foundational training, much like learning calligraphy by practicing strokes. Precisely for this reason, Zhang Shisan had dared to teach Mei Qing before formally accepting him as a disciple. Since these were the lowest-grade talismans, they were common knowledge among all sects and not considered secret techniques.
Despite their simplicity, without a master’s guidance, one could never succeed by randomly drawing them.
As the saying goes: “Draw a talisman without knowing its secret, and you’ll only invite ghosts to laugh. Draw it knowing its secret, and even ghosts will cry out in fear.” The art of talismans involved many subtleties—from the flow of true energy to posture and movement, from the starting stroke to the sequence of strokes, and the nuances of turning and finishing. For ordinary beginners, even the simplest Five Elements talismans required one or two months before success. Even if barely drawn, eight or nine out of ten attempts would fail.
Therefore, although the old Taoist had shown Mei Qing a demonstration, he deliberately withheld the key techniques, hoping to watch Mei Qing make a fool of himself, prompting him to beg for instruction and thus become his disciple.
Seeing Mei Qing’s approach, Zhang Shisan was even more convinced that the young man was a complete novice. Every stroke and turn was incorrect. Although the lines flowed smoothly, clearly indicating careful observation, many subtle details had been missed. Zhang Shisan had already begun calculating how to criticize Mei Qing and then slowly reveal some secrets, ensnaring the young man.
But what happened next completely surprised Zhang Shisan.
Mei Qing’s brush danced like a dragon, completing the talisman in one continuous motion. As soon as the final stroke was finished and the brush lifted, a faint aura of water energy emanated from the talisman.
It worked!
Although not yet activated, Zhang Shisan’s spiritual awareness was extremely sharp. He immediately sensed the vibrant energy from the talisman, realizing that despite Mei Qing’s seemingly clumsy strokes and disregard for convention, the talisman had somehow succeeded.
How was this possible?
Zhang Shisan’s eyes widened like copper bells. He stammered, “You… you…” unable to speak further. Looking at Mei Qing’s posture, brushwork, and talisman form, not a single aspect followed the rules. How could he have succeeded?
Surely it must be a coincidence—a freak accident that only happened once in a hundred years. Zhang Shisan nodded to himself, unable to think of any other explanation.
Convinced he had found the answer, Zhang Shisan looked up, intending to say something to Mei Qing, only to see Mei Qing holding the talisman and chanting something under his breath. Upon closer inspection, Zhang Shisan nearly flew into a rage.
It turned out that Mei Qing, with his strong spiritual awareness, had already sensed that he had succeeded. Unaware of how difficult it was for others to learn talisman drawing, he naturally assumed success was normal. Naturally, he wanted to imitate Zhang Shisan’s earlier actions, chanting an incantation and throwing the talisman to transform it into water.
But strangely, after chanting the incantation several times as Zhang Shisan had done, and throwing the talisman, not a single drop of water appeared.
“What’s going on?” Mei Qing frowned, puzzled. “Did I draw it wrong?”
“You clumsy fool, you’re going to kill me with frustration!” As Mei Qing was deep in thought, a slap landed on the back of his neck. Zhang Shisan glared, his beard bristling with anger. “Is this how you activate a talisman? Do you think this is flying a kite or throwing paper money? Why didn’t you just die of stupidity already!”
Confused, Mei Qing could only listen obediently as Zhang Shisan ranted and raved, spitting saliva everywhere.
It turned out that even after successfully drawing a talisman, there were still other requirements for activation. Especially with the Five Elements talismans, which were aligned with Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, one had to carefully consider the time and direction when using them. Depending on the hour, the seals and the direction of the talisman throwing would vary.
Zhang Shisan extended his left hand, explaining each joint of the finger seals, and taught the incantation: “When making the seal, first determine the Yin or Yang hour according to the year, month, day, and time, then examine the Four Symbols and Five Elements. Only then can the talisman be used. There is another method for the finger seal. The saying goes: ‘Wild horses leap across the stream, counting from Yin to Gou. One palace per day, avoiding Hai, Zi, and Chou.’ This is the Mountain-Piercing Palm Seal. You must follow this incantation, determine the time and direction, and only then can you activate the talisman.”
Mei Qing suddenly understood. The Five Elements talismans not only required true energy to be inscribed into the paper, but also needed to be used in harmony with the time, environment, and direction to be effective.
Like a veil suddenly lifted, once Zhang Shisan had explained it, there was no longer any difficulty. Mei Qing focused his mind, channeling the energy of sun and moon through his golden core, directing the true energy into the talisman. Following the correct direction and forming the seal, he chanted: “Gui Wei gives birth to Kan; water spirits obey! Quickly!”
The talisman floated lightly into the air, instantly transforming into a mass of water. It scattered from midair, splashing onto the ground with a splash, leaving a damp mark.
Seeing this, Zhang Shisan was once again speechless, unable to utter a word.
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