Chapter 13: An Unexpected Turn
Lu You threw himself wholeheartedly into talisman crafting.
The first talisman he chose to study was the Thunder Technique Talisman.
With talisman templates to copy from and extensive hands-on experience using them, Lu You's progress with the Thunder Technique Talisman advanced at a breathtaking pace.
In just two days, he successfully inscribed the Thunder Technique Talisman onto high-grade talisman paper. The Thunder Technique Talisman, which originally had attack power comparable to Level Seven Qi Refining realm cultivator, also received a noticeable boost.
According to Lu You's own estimation, a Thunder Technique Talisman made from high-grade materials by his hand could likely match the attack power of a Level Nine Qi Refining realm cultivator.
After mastering the Thunder Technique Talisman, the second talisman Lu You researched was the Light Rock Talisman.
Because he already possessed the Divine Speed Talisman, and because the Divine Speed Talisman was a simplified version of the Light Rock Talisman, it effectively served as half a reference sample.
After all, Lu You had already laid a solid foundation with unranked talismans. He had gone on to successfully draw both the Golden Light Talisman and the Thunder Technique Talisman, and during his repeated dissections and reconstructions of the Golden Light Talisman, he had gained substantial experience in controlling the input of spiritual energy. Learning a talisman that came with both a finished template and a semi-finished counterpart was therefore almost effortless.
Once again, it took only a single day for Lu You to successfully produce the Light Rock Talisman.
"No wonder talisman masters always start by mastering the foundational talismans."
After completing the Light Rock Talisman, Lu You gained even more insight.
Unranked talismans were, in essence, exercises in the transformation and control of spiritual energy.
The ways in which spiritual energy could be transformed were also quite limited—each involved nothing more than pure water, wind, fire, or Geng Metal used for attachment and reinforcement.
When it came to first-tier talismans, however, things changed into combinations of spiritual energy.
Take the Golden Light Talisman, for example: its spiritual energy contained water for encapsulation, wind for reinforcement, and Geng Metal for stabilization.
The Thunder Technique Talisman consisted of the explosive force of fire, environmental combinations of wind and water, and the conductive properties of Geng Metal.
As for the Light Rock Talisman that Lu You had successfully crafted today, it incorporated the counterforce of wind, the adhesion of metal and water, and the propulsive force of burning flame.
The essence of first-tier talismans was the perfect combination of unranked talismans.
"I never imagined that the knowledge I learned in my previous life would actually come in handy," Lu You mused. "If I treat spiritual energy as a new form of energy being developed in this world, the path of talismans suddenly becomes much easier to understand."
For a moment, Lu You was filled with boundless ambition. Perhaps the immortal world had many geniuses of the talisman path, but that didn't matter. The predecessors from his previous life, if placed in this era, would likely be top-tier geniuses as well. More importantly, knowledge in his previous life had been far easier to obtain. If one truly compared them, even if Lu You's innate talent was lacking, the countless precious experiences of sages stored in his mind were far richer than the fragmentary knowledge that the geniuses of this world painstakingly accumulated.
"I can't grow arrogant. Take the essence, discard the dross—merge the two, let them complement each other. That is my path of cultivation."
Lu You calmed himself and once again immersed himself in talisman work.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Maintaining a steady pace of learning one talisman every two days, Lu You trained consistently. With unlimited high-grade materials and the knowledge in his mind working together, the five new talismans were quickly mastered. He even re-inscribed the Divine Speed Talisman and Healing Talisman onto high-grade talisman paper and stored them inside the small cauldron.
"I'm not a genius, I'm just a lucky one who happens to be standing on the shoulders of geniuses."
Over a total of twelve days, Lu You burned through several thousand spirit stones every day just to recover spiritual energy, along with thousands of sheets of high-grade talisman paper, not to mention high-grade spiritual ink. Converted into spirit stones, his nightly expenditure alone was enough for the sect to raise a cultivator with a mixed spiritual root all the way to the Foundation Establishment realm.
It was only under such a mountain of resources, combined with the wisdom accumulated from his previous life, that Lu You had been able to so quickly master first-tier talismans. Once a cultivator could independently draw five first-tier talismans, they qualified as a first-tier apprentice talisman master.
Even an apprentice talisman master was still a talisman master. In a small clan, such a person would inevitably become an elder-level figure. Even in a colossal power like the Verdant Cloud Sect, if Lu You were to present his talismans and pledge allegiance, he wouldn't need to undergo any assessment or work the fields, he could directly enter the inner sect as a disciple.
"It's still not the time to become an inner disciple. My cultivation is far too low, I need to lie low."
With the improved quality of his Thunder Technique Talismans, Lu You's combat power might be able to clash head-on with a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, but that was only overt combat power, requiring the enemy to face him openly in a duel.
Right now, Lu You was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining realm. If an enemy suddenly harbored killing intent or launched a surprise attack from the shadows, even a sixth level Qi Refining realm cultivator could kill Lu You before he had time to react.
In short, Lu You's strength was stuck in an awkward position: if he struck first, he was comparable to Foundation Establishment; if he struck second, he was cannon fodder. Thinking it through carefully, the identity of a farming menial disciple was actually the safest. If he entered the inner sect, the weakest people he'd encounter would already be at the tenth level of Qi Refining realm. If conflict arose and Lu You wasn't prepared, he wouldn't even know how he died.
"So the first step in cultivation... is to keep currying favor with Senior Sister."
After summarizing his situation, Lu You reached this conclusion. He then took out another box of spiritual rice and a bottle of spiritual wine from the house, preparing to go visit his senior sister.
It had already been twelve days since he'd last seen her, and Lu You was afraid their relationship might cool off.
Just as he stepped outside, before he could even reach his senior sister's spiritual field, Lu You saw a carriage approaching from afar. The one driving it was none other than Han Tian, the man responsible for collecting the spiritual rice.
"Junior Brother Lu, hahaha~ what a coincidence. If I'd been any later, you probably would've missed a great opportunity."
Seeing Lu You, Han Tian burst into laughter, stopping the carriage in a familiar, friendly manner. He stepped down holding a golden talisman in his hand.
Now that Lu You had some experience with talismans, he recognized it at a glance—it was a message talisman.
"Junior Brother Lu, have you heard that a legacy tomb has appeared outside?" Han Tian got straight to the point. "At first, the sect didn't pay much attention to a mere Foundation Establishment realm inheritance. But after the rogue cultivators from the lower city entered it, twelve full days passed—and not a single cultivator came out alive. Some of those rogue cultivators had even reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment."
"That means the inheritance inside the tomb is likely far more valuable than anyone expected. That's why the trials inside are so brutal." Han Tian looked excited. "In order not to let such an inheritance go to waste, the Verdant Cloud Sect has specially gathered ten senior brothers at the Peak of Foundation Establishment realm, and is additionally allowing them to select one hundred Qi Refining realm disciples to enter the inheritance site together. Merit will be assessed and rewards granted, even if you're only at the first level of Qi Refining and obtain an opportunity, the sect will uphold justice and make sure the opportunity belongs to you."
"Wait."
Lu You took a step back, his face full of caution.
"With so many Qi Refining disciples, what does this opportunity have to do with me?"
"Hahaha~" Seeing Lu You's reaction, Han Tian laughed loudly. "Junior Brother, the timing couldn't be better. The spiritual fields have just finished harvesting, so most of the outer-disciples and menial cultivators have already left the sect to go home for the winter. After all, Qi Refining cultivators usually still have family, and even many inner disciples are the same. Winter Solstice is coming up, followed by the New Year, so at this time, there are actually fewer than a hundred Qi Refining cultivators left in the sect."
"And just like that," Han Tian said cheerfully, "this opportunity includes the senior brothers—and it includes you too!"
Me too?
I don't want this opportunity at all.
Lu You cautiously probed, "Senior Brother... can I decline this opportunity? Even Foundation Establishment realm rogue cultivators from the lower city died inside. I'm just a menial disciple, how could I possibly pass the trials in there?"