Chương 59: Chapter 58: First Talisman

One would think Yang was an insane demon if they were to see his expression of extreme concentration, surrounded by a mountain-sized pile of discarded talisman papers. As he inscribed on the talisman paper with fierce focus, as if his life depended upon it. A month back, after getting his supplies from the outer sect hall with the help of Senior Sister Wei Wei, he'd come into his cave and spent most of his time practicing in order to get perfect at making lines and all types of shapes.

Circles, triangles, squares, curves, spirals. Every basic geometric form that might appear in talisman scripts. When two days later he went to the talisman class held by Elder Fu Ming, the elder had asked everyone to take out plain paper, brush, and ink and to create lines and every shape he mentioned. Show the results to him for inspection. Elder Fu Ming had gone one by one, critiquing most and praising some. And much to Yang's pride, he was one of the few outer sect disciples praised for his work.

The elder had even asked his name, looking at Yang with an assessing gaze that suggested he was committing it to memory. Yang had been happy that his practice of talisman scripts on plain paper had come in handy. The hours of repetitive work had paid off in that moment of recognition. From then on, Yang had been religiously attending Elder Fu Ming's talisman making class twice a week. The classes were held in the same courtyard classroom. Elder Fu Ming was a wonderful teacher.

He had incredibly high standards that he never lowered or compromised on. But he was willing to take the time to help those behind catch up to those ahead, as long as the student was willing to put their best effort forward. He never gave up on anyone who genuinely tried. After two classes of practicing on plain paper using normal ink and brush, the elder finally allowed them to practice using actual talisman-making materials. Talisman paper, spirit ink, and proper brushes.

And then Yang understood why the elder had made them practice so extensively on plain materials first. Because despite so much practice, once putting qi into the equation came into play, making the same lines and shapes got infinitely harder. Most of the time, the disciples had the issue of pushing in too much qi, causing their talisman papers to burst into flames or simply disintegrate. Some pushed too little and the qi wouldn't take to the paper at all, leaving dead, powerless marks.

It caused quite a few minor injuries. Singed fingers. Burnt eyebrows. One disciple had gotten a nasty qi backlash that left him dizzy for an hour. Yang could only imagine the carnage if they'd been actually inscribing actual complete talismans instead of just practicing basic strokes. Elder Fu Ming's caution made perfect sense. But gradually, improvement came. Yang and his fellow classmates began putting in the right amount of qi. Learning to feel the resistance of the paper.

To sense when they were channeling too much or too little. To adjust in real-time as they drew. Gradually, they practiced putting qi into all the basic shapes they'd learned. Lines became easier. Then circles. Then more complex curves and angles. Each shape requiring slightly different qi control. Different flow rates. Different techniques for maintaining consistency.

And finally, last week, they'd begun the practice of actually inscribing complete talisman scripts on the talisman paper to make actual functional talismans. They were working on the illumination talisman, as it was considered the most basic of all talismans. A simple script that, when activated, would produce light for several hours. Yang had been hard at practice. He'd had to go twice back to the outer sect hall to get more bundles of talisman paper. Each time buying more than the last.

His stack of sheets had lasted perhaps three days. The second stack of one maybe a week. Thankfully, the talisman paper seemed to be relatively cheap compared to other cultivation materials. And the ink lasted a long time. He wasn't even one-third done with his current bottle even after thousands of practice attempts. Each attempt used only a tiny amount of ink. The bottle would probably last him months at this rate. Right now, Yang was hard at work trying to make a complete, functional illumination talisman.

He kept inscribing carefully, making sure each stroke went in the correct direction. There had been attempts where he'd almost reached success but failed at the very end. Messing up a particularly hard stroke or curve. Putting in either too much or too little qi. Losing his mental clarity for just a moment and having the whole thing collapse. This had to be his thousandth attempt at an actual talisman, and he was almost there. Concentrating on adding the right amount of qi.

Holding the brush just right with proper grip and angle. Making sure his movements were smooth and controlled. All with the mental clarity Elder Fu Ming emphasized. Keeping his breath steady and his mind calm. The illumination talisman script had seventeen distinct strokes. Each one had to flow into the next seamlessly. The qi had to remain consistent throughout. Any break in concentration, any wobble in the line, any surge or drop in qi flow would ruin it. Yang was on stroke fourteen.

Thirteen complete and perfect. Just four more to go. Stroke fifteen. A long diagonal curve. He guided the brush smoothly, qi flowing evenly through the bristles into the paper. The red line gleamed slightly as the qi infused it. Stroke sixteen. A tight spiral. This was the hardest part. The most delicate. Where most of his attempts had failed. He took a breath. Centered himself. Then began the spiral from the outside, curving inward with minute precision. The brush moved under his complete control.

The qi remained absolutely steady. The spiral tightened perfectly until it reached the center point. Done. One more stroke. Stroke seventeen. A straight line connecting back to the beginning of the script, completing the circuit. Yang's hand was steady. His mind clear. His qi perfectly controlled. He drew the line from start to finish in one smooth motion. The moment the brush lifted from the paper, completing the final stroke, the entire inscription glowed briefly.

A pulse of golden light that spread across all seventeen strokes simultaneously. Then it settled back into normal appearance. Just red ink on yellow paper. But now it was more than ink and paper. Now it was a talisman. Yang looked at it as if it were the most precious thing in the world. And right now, at this moment, it was. Because this was Yang's first talisman that he had ever created. His first successful completion. Proof that he could do this.

That he had the control, the patience, the skill necessary to be make a talisman. Now all he needed to do was stick it on a surface and put in a bit of qi directly with his hand to activate it. The talisman would produce light for approximately six hours before the spiritual energy depleted and it became just ordinary paper again. But he stopped himself. He would show it to Elder Fu Ming in the next class, he decided. Let the elder verify that it was correctly made.

Get that official confirmation before testing it himself. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. For now, he would cultivate. He'd been rather unable to give his cultivation as much time as he would have preferred over the past month. Too focused on talisman practice. His progress in cultivation had slowed as a result. He was almost halfway done with filling his dantian with qi before he would reach the second stage of Qi Condensation.

Another few weeks of focused cultivation should get him there. He needed to rebalance his priorities. Cultivation first. Professions second. That was the proper order. Yang carefully set the completed talisman aside and settled onto his meditation platform. He formed the cultivation breathing pattern and began drawing in qi from the surrounding air. The familiar process. Soothing after hours of intense concentration on talisman work. Just breath and qi and the slow, steady building of his foundation.

The next day, Yang woke up and went through his usual routine. Breakfast in the food hall. Then making his way to Taihe Peak to water Senior Brother Xu Wei's spirit herb garden. His spirit herb garden task had officially increased in duration after Yang received a sound transmission seal a few weeks back. Senior Brother Xu Wei's voice had emerged from it, apologizing for the delay and saying it would take longer for him to come back to the sect.

He asked Yang to keep watering the herbs and promised he would be paid for each additional day once he returned. Yang was happy to keep doing the task. It provided him a steady stream of points. Thirty points already earned, with more accumulating each day. Senior Brother Xu Wei didn't tell him anything about the reasons for the delay, but according to rumor going around the sect, according to Ye Xuan who somehow knew everything, a group of inner sect disciples had found a secret realm while on a hunting mission.

The sect master had dispatched a group of elders and inner sect disciples to take it over and explore it before other sects got news of it. Apparently it was a significant find. Yang didn't know how much stock to put into that particular rumor. It kept getting more exaggerated and action-oriented as time passed. Just yesterday he'd heard a few passing disciples talking about how the sect's elders and inner sect senior brothers and sisters were fighting a war to take control of the realm.

Battling spirit beasts and rival cultivators while claiming ancient treasures. Yang really had no idea whom and what to believe, so he left it alone and put it outside his mind. He was an outer sect disciple. What did he have to do with what was going on outside the sect? It's not as if he was going to get to see the outside world anytime soon, considering his cultivation speed and the restriction that outer sect disciples couldn't leave until Foundation Establishment. Yang thought forlornly about that sometimes.

Years potentially before he could leave and explore. Before he could see Li San again. But that was the path he'd chosen. The slower, more thorough path. Building the strongest possible foundation. He would stick to it. He soon reached where the talisman class by Elder Fu Ming was held and took a seat that had now become his regular seat. Next to Senior Sister Jing, whom he'd come to know after a couple of classes. She was the same senior sister that had shared his table during the first class.

She was rather reserved, and both were suitable as desk mates because neither liked to talk much. Both preferred concentrating on the lessons and practicing talismans rather than socializing. They'd exchanged names. Nodded polite greetings. And that was the extent of their interaction. It suited them both perfectly. Senior Sister Jing had already made her first talisman a couple of classes ago. Actually, most of the inner sect and older outer sect disciples had.

Once they got the hang of qi inscription, it was easier for them. They'd had longer time using their qi for various techniques. Better control developed through years of cultivation practice. Most of them were now working on different varieties of talismans. Heat talismans. Defensive talismans. Only coming to class to ask for advice and minor guidance or improvement on their more advanced work. Meanwhile, newer disciples like Yang were the ones who needed most guidance, and Elder Fu Ming provided it generously.

Patient explanations. Demonstrations when needed and corrections delivered kindly but firmly. Actually, if any other new outer sect disciple hadn't made a complete talisman yet, then Yang should be the first one of the newer disciples in the sect to complete making a functional talisman. The thought filled him with quiet pride. They all settled into their seats as Elder Fu Ming came in. His entrance was as calm and measured as always. No grand arrival. Just the steady presence of a master craftsman ready to teach.

The elder started going through each desk one by one. Asking questions. Taking a look at the work of students. Providing one-on-one guidance tailored to each person's current level and struggles. By the time he reached their desk, Senior Sister Jing had her current project out. It was some kind of defensive talisman, a bit beyond Yang's abilities for now. More complex script with intricate qi flow requirements. Elder Fu Ming examined it carefully.

"The foundation is sound," he said.

"But curve your strokes more here." He pointed to a specific section.

"The qi flow will be smoother. And reinforce this connection point. It will make the talisman last longer when activated." Senior Sister Jing nodded, absorbing the advice. Then the elder came to Yang's side. Yang carefully brought out his illumination talisman. The one he'd completed last night. His hands were steady, but his heart beat a bit faster with nervous anticipation. Elder Fu Ming took the talisman and looked at it closely. His eyes traced each stroke. Examining the qi infusion. The consistency.

The completeness of the circuit. After a long moment, he looked up at Yang.

"Impressive. You've managed to create a complete talisman and a well made one at that" Yang felt warmth spread through his chest at the praise. Elder Fu Ming passed the talisman back.

"Very good. It's impressive considering you just joined the sect not long ago." His expression showed genuine approval.

"Many disciples take months to reach this point. You've done it in weeks." He paused, then added more advice.

"Practice more. Make this same illumination talisman again and again until you achieve a ninety-nine percent success rate. Until you can create it perfectly almost every single time. Only then should you try more difficult talismans." The elder's gaze was serious.

"Rushing to advanced talismans before mastering the basics will only create bad habits. Build a perfect foundation with the simple talismans first. The complex ones will come naturally after that." Yang bowed his head respectfully.

"Thank you for the advice, Elder Fu Ming. I will follow your guidance." The elder nodded and moved to the next table to continue his rounds. Yang took the advice to heart immediately. As the class continued with independent practice time, he pulled out fresh talisman paper and began creating another illumination talisman. Then another. And another. Following the same script. The same seventeen strokes. Trying to make each one as perfect as the first. Building muscle memory and refining his control.

Some attempts succeeded. Others failed at various stages. But with each attempt, whether success or failure, Yang learned something. Refined his technique slightly and improved his control by small increments. The class ended, and Yang carefully packed up his materials. He had a stack of perhaps five completed illumination talismans from the day's practice. Not all perfect. But all functional. He bowed to Elder Fu Ming on his way out. The elder acknowledged him with a slight nod.

Yang made his way back to his cave residence. The afternoon was still young. Plenty of time to cultivate before dinner. As he walked, he thought about his progress over the past month. First stage of Qi Condensation achieved. Basics of talisman creation learned. A steady income of points from the herb garden task. Good relationships with several senior brothers and sisters who offered advice freely. And news of him joining the White Cloud Sect sent to Li San. Life in White Cloud Sect was good.

Better than he'd dared hope when he first arrived. He reached his cave and went inside. Set his materials carefully on the shelf. Then settled onto his meditation platform. Yang closed his eyes and began drawing in qi. The familiar process. Comforting and grounding. This was his path. Slow but steady. Thorough but patient. Building toward a future he couldn't yet see but trusted would come. He cultivated as the sun moved across the sky outside. As other disciples went about their daily lives.

As the sect continued its rhythms around him. And Yang's foundation grew stronger with each passing moment.