Chapter 105
“Now we shall move on to the 1st-Grade High-Tier. It is the Spirit Gathering Talisman. It is a talisman that draws in the surrounding spiritual energy to one side for a short time. As the talismanic lines become denser, the manipulation of spiritual energy becomes correspondingly more difficult.”
Talisman Master Yeon calmly explained as he hung a new sheet of paper next to the Platform.
As the brush rose and headed toward the paper, the gazes of the Cultivators gathered in the seats all converged on the Platform.
The density of the spiritual energy flowing from the tip of the brush became noticeably thicker.
The talismanic lines were so dense that they could hardly be compared to the Cleansing Talisman or the Lightness Talisman.
The number of strokes had doubled, and another small set of lines was neatly inscribed within the main lines.
As the final dot was placed, a bluish spiritual energy was sucked inward into the talisman, revealing an attractive force that quietly gathered the surrounding spiritual energy into a single point.
“…Now, try to follow along and draw it as best as you can.”
Talisman Master Yeon also gave a subtle warning.
The number of cultivators remaining in their seats has decreased significantly.
The remaining Cultivators busily moved to unfold their Talisman Paper and gather spiritual energy at the tips of their brushes.
Jin-Wi also carefully gripped his brush once more.
His posture was quite serious as he examined the first stroke of the talismanic lines.
At the point where the spiritual energy shifted to the smaller lines inside the main lines, the flow ultimately went awry.
The brush trembled minutely on the paper, and spiritual energy was excessively infused into one corner of the lines, causing the lines to scatter completely.
“Haa…”
Jin-Wi lamented and quietly set his brush down to one side.
Even with his Heavenly Spirit Root Aptitude, the 1st-Grade High-Tier talismanic lines remained out of his grasp.
“It seems this is as far as I go.”
Jin-Wi looked at Baek-Cheong from the side with a regretful expression.
While he acknowledged his limits, a hint of childish frustration was subtly evident.
“It’s your first time, so drawing up to a 1st-Grade Mid-Tier is more than enough.”
“Young Lady Baek, on the other hand… just how far do you intend to go?”
“Well.”
Baek-Cheong answered nonchalantly while neatly shaping the tip of her brush.
At that sight, Jin-Wi’s thoughts grew complicated.
However, considering her past record of handling a Multi-layered Technique so early on, he felt her versatility might just be a given.
Soon, looking at Baek-Cheong, he recalled the word All-Rounder and stood up from his Seat.
* * *
Before long, only three Cultivators remained in their seats.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator visiting from the outside dressed as a Talisman Master, a Foundation Establishment cultivator confidently holding his Seat as an Inner Sect Disciple of the Biun Sect, and Baek-Cheong, who was the Youngest and merely at the Qi Condensation Stage, were present.
At that, intrigued gazes gathered toward the inside of the Pavilion.
The sight of a young child included among them drew attention from all around.
The Cultivators watching from one side of the Courtyard quietly exchanged words among themselves.
“Ho, I do not know which Clan that child belongs to, but she seems to have a deep aptitude for talismans.”
“The one to remain until the end will probably be that Talisman Master in the Cheongsu Robe over there. His skill in drawing a 1st-Grade High-Tier on the first try was nothing to scoff at.”
“Well, This Old Man feels the young child might actually go further.”
“Oho, how are you trying to compare a young child who is merely at Qi Condensation? The 1st-Grade High-Tier will surely be her limit.”
At the edge of the Courtyard, the Cultivators who had mocked Baek-Cheong were also awkwardly mixed in.
Meanwhile, Talisman Master Yeon on the Platform glanced at the three remaining in their seats, his gaze lingering on the Youngest child for a long time.
“…Now it is time to move on to the 2nd-Tier Talisman.”
Talisman Master Yeon withdrew his gaze and proceeded with the lesson.
An unknown tension circulated through the atmosphere that had previously been quite relaxed.
“For a 2nd-Tier Talisman, not only do the talismanic lines become denser, but the manipulation of spiritual energy also becomes incomparably more difficult than that for a 1st-Grade High-Tier. Even in Our Sect, Talisman Masters must dedicate a couple of years after becoming able to cleanly draw a 1st-Grade High-Tier before they can barely get the hang of it.”
Soon, he hung a new sheet of paper next to the Platform and lightly spread both hands, causing the thick brush to slowly rise.
At the sight of spiritual energy gathering significantly thicker at the tip of the brush, the murmuring inside the Pavilion subsided.
“First, I shall demonstrate. Its name is the Fire-Breaking Talisman. It is a talisman of a different nature from the Fierce Fire Talisman; it is used to destroy evil energy or even a Malicious Ghostly Beast with fire energy. It is also the talismanic line learned in Our Sect as the first step for a 2nd-Tier Talisman.”
The lines were twice as dense as those of the 1st-Grade High-Tier talisman.
Small lines were divided into multiple branches and inscribed within the main lines, and the resulting inscription was a talisman that only came to life if the thickness of the spiritual energy at the brush tip constantly changed at every section.
As the final dot was placed, a deep blue fire energy surged and flickered over the talisman.
The sight of the talisman spreading fire energy in all directions and completely scattering even the dim, dark energy was clearly visible to the cultivators gathered in their seats.
“…Now, try to follow along. Do not overdo it, and just draw as far as you can reach.”
Talisman Master Yeon calmly encouraged them while once more checking the three remaining in their seats.
However, the three remaining in their seats gripped their brushes again without hesitation.
The External Talisman Master first unfolded his Talisman Paper and gathered spiritual energy at the tip of his brush.
Knowing it was beyond his level, he approached it with the determination to at least get a feel for it before leaving.
The brush carefully drew the first stroke down onto the paper.
However, at the point where it shifted to the smaller lines inside the main lines, the spiritual energy failed to maintain a consistent density.
The tip of the brush trembled minutely, and spiritual energy was excessively infused into one corner of the lines, causing the lines to scatter.
The blue fire energy flickered briefly on the talisman before fading away completely.
“…It seems This Old Man’s level truly ends here.”
The External Talisman Master bowed his head politely and set his brush down to one side.
Beside him, the Inner Sect Disciple of the Biun Sect also lifted his brush, but his hand trembled at the section of small lines where the density had to vary, causing his spiritual energy to be cut off.
The blue fire energy lingered on the Talisman Paper for a moment before fading.
“…I have once again come to revere the skills of Our Sect’s Martial Uncles. As a Junior Disciple, it seems to me this is not a place for me to advance further, so I will step back now.”
The Inner Sect Disciple of the Biun Sect also politely bowed his head to ask for understanding and stepped back from his Seat.
The only person left in their Seat was ultimately Baek-Cheong.
The spectating Cultivators all shifted their gazes toward Baek-Cheong in unison.
Furthermore, the Baek-Cheong remaining in her Seat was a young child merely at the Qi Condensation Stage.
“…I don’t know which Clan that young child is from, but this must be her limit.”
“I heard it’s a talismanic line that even the Talisman Masters of the Biun Sect find difficult.”
“She’ll just end up wasting Talisman Paper for nothing.”
Most agreed that it was already surprising enough for a child who hadn’t even entered Foundation Establishment to follow along and draw up to a 1st-Grade High-Tier.
On the other hand, Talisman Master Yeon on the Platform quietly nodded toward Baek-Cheong, who remained in her Seat.
“Now, let us see you draw it.”
Gazes mixed with curiosity and mockery poured onto Baek-Cheong all at once.
Baek-Cheong herself unfolded another sheet of Talisman Paper without any particular agitation.
She dipped her Jade Rabbit Fur brush into the water dropper once more, Coating it generously with cinnabar.
“The lines for a 2nd-Tier Talisman are a bit dense, huh.”
Baek-Cheong neatly stored Talisman Master Yeon’s demonstration in her mind.
The fact that the spiritual energy density had to vary with every flow of the lines seemed tricky, but it was much easier than drawing a Complex Formation Glyph.
However, a 2nd-Tier Talisman was undeniably a bit overwhelming for someone at Qi Condensation. This was because there was a considerable qualitative difference compared to Foundation Establishment spiritual energy.
After adjusting her brush, she drew the first stroke onto the paper.
Swish.
The tip of the brush crossed the paper, drawing down the main strands of the lines.
Soon after, at the point where it shifted to the smaller lines inside, the quality of her spiritual energy dropped, causing her to waver for a moment.
‘I’m going to get stuck on a mere talisman like this?’
An inexplicable stubbornness welled up in Baek-Cheong as she rummaged through her Storage Platform.
She swiftly pulled out a jade bottle and tossed a single Inscribed Spirit Gathering Pill into her mouth.
Highly pure spiritual energy surged through her Dantian and straight to the tip of her brush without interruption.
As spiritual energy filled in the lacking areas, the wavering lines finally connected neatly.
“Heoh…”
Talisman Master Yeon unknowingly narrowed his eyes on the Platform.
The sight of a Qi Condensation cultivator managing to follow along and draw a 2nd-Tier Talisman after twists and turns was bizarre.
The brush crossed the paper and quietly came to a halt at the spot where the final dot of the lines was placed.
Tap.
It was the moment the brush lifted from the paper.
A deep blue fire energy surged all at once from the paper in all directions.
The sight of the Fire-Breaking Talisman spreading fire energy in all directions and completely scattering even the dim energy reached the surroundings.
The color was much deeper than that in Talisman Master Yeon’s demonstration, and the level of fire energy scattering the evil energy was twice as fierce.
“…”
A deep silence fell inside the Pavilion.
Talisman Master Yeon set down the large brush he had been carrying on his shoulder to one side.
The cultivators also stared at the blue fire energy flickering on the talisman for a long time.
The first to open his mouth was Talisman Master Yeon.
“How on Earth…”
Even 2nd-Tier Talisman Masters often scattered the lines while drawing due to spiritual energy control.
However, the young child had drawn the Fire-Breaking Talisman on her first try.
“…How did you draw it?”
Talisman Master Yeon asked with a trembling voice.
Even with the assistance of a pill, completing a 2nd-Tier Talisman on the first try was close to impossible.
However, Baek-Cheong quietly set the talisman to one side without any particular agitation.
“I just drew it, and it worked?”
Short groans leaked out simultaneously from all over the Courtyard.
A Talisman Master standing to one side his eyes turned bloodshot red.
Another Talisman Master gritted his teeth, blood leaking from the corners of his mouth.
A certain Talisman Master his shoulders trembled while covering his mouth with his palm.
Then, unable to endure it, he coughed up blood and collapsed.
The young child’s single remark that it was no big deal seemed to completely negate the Art they had polished and refined their entire lives.
As a result, it was rare to find anyone whose inner demons hadn’t been stirred.
‘Even so, it’s easy compared to a Formation, isn’t it?’
Baek-Cheong herself looked at the Talisman Masters and thought they were making a fuss.
If anyone had heard Baek-Cheong’s inner thoughts, their Dao Heart would likely have been broken as well.