Chapter 151: The Talisman Serpent
Chapter 151: The Talisman Serpent
The pair hurried onward. Mu Yuan inevitably asked Yun Xi about cultivating the Eternal True Qi along the way. Although Yun Xi was also at the Refining Righteous Energy realm, and lacked Mu Yuan’s broad experience—truly fighting him head-on would make Yun Xi utterly unmatched—he was far more deeply immersed in the Eternal Art. Having received repeated, direct guidance from True Lord Liuguang, his mastery over this single art indeed surpassed Mu Yuan’s!
“Yun Xi,” Mu Yuan said, “I’ve heard our sect’s ‘Falling Star Flowing Light’ sword art is uniquely fierce and peerless. Might you be able to teach it to me?” Even though Mu Yuan hadn’t formally been accepted as a disciple under True Lord Liuguang yet, his words already naturally used “our sect,” sounding exceptionally warm and familiar!
The two were currently resting and having a meal in a town within Tianyu Kingdom. Amidst the noisy crowd, they sat in a quiet corner. A few simple dishes and a pot of mild wine lay before them as they conversed.
“Heh,” Yun Xi chuckled. “‘Falling Light Breaker’ is just what outsiders call it. Actually, our sect’s sword art is named ‘Falling Star Flowing Light.’ Legend says it was created by our Founding Patriarch after observing meteors piercing the sky and the instantaneous flow of light. It emphasizes decisive killing intent, releasing the sword with a thought. Its core principle is unparalleled speed, the technique of instantaneous killing. Seeing as Brother Mu is no outsider and has already been taught the Eternal Art by our Master, learning the ‘Falling Star Flowing Light’ is only a matter of time anyway. I suppose it doesn’t hurt if I do it myself!”
As he spoke, Yun Xi lightly flipped his palm upwards. A faint point of silver light shimmered within it, transforming into a tiny figure about an inch tall. This tiny figure brandished a light sword, leaping and whirling about, expertly demonstrating the ‘Falling Star Flowing Light Art’!
Simultaneously, Yun Xi transmitted the mind formulas, incantations, Qi circulation methods, breathing techniques, and force-releasing secrets of this sword art directly to Mu Yuan via Divine Sense.
Mu Yuan possessed an immensely high talent for sword arts. Hearing Yun Xi recite the incantation just once allowed him to memorize it, and he captured about eighty to ninety percent of the sword techniques just by watching. Once Yun Xi finished demonstrating, Mu Yuan closed his eyes, pondered silently, carefully reviewed the moves, then asked questions about any unclear points. Soon, he had this sword art securely committed to memory.
Mu Yuan likewise flipped his palm upwards. However, his control over the Eternal True Qi wasn’t as smooth and flawless as Yun Xi’s, who had practiced for over a decade. But he had a way. He formed the final major incantation condensed from his Eternal True Qi—a radiant sphere he named the ‘Unmoving Constancy Mantra’—into a little figure. He then demonstrated the art, seeking Yun Xi’s guidance and pointers.
After witnessing Mu Yuan’s demonstration, Yun Xi’s face was filled with astonishment. He praised, “Brother Mu’s talent is truly magnificent! Learning it perfectly on your first viewing puts even me to shame!”
Mu Yuan chuckled. He had practiced many sword arts before, and many methods had common principles. Learning the ‘Falling Star Flowing Light Art’ was naturally simpler, but he remained humble. “I’ve only grasped the shape. To truly grasp its soul, I must practice diligently.”
Having grasped a new sword art, Mu Yuan was in excellent spirits. Suddenly, the clamor of carriages and horses erupted outside the door. Both men turned to look. A procession of over a dozen luxurious carriages and horses passed by, moving with immense pomp. Banners and canopies stood tall, soldiers cleared the way, and the horses pulling the carriages were uniformly magnificent beasts—robust, well-fed, radiating powerful vitality.
Mu Yuan saw that the large banner at the lead had a single character embroidered on it with golden thread in a dramatic, flowing script: “龙” (Dragon). Silver threads surrounded it, embroidering the form of a fierce, clawed Celestial Dragon. The banner snapped loudly as it fluttered in the wind!
“It’s the ceremonial entourage of Tianlong Kingdom. Seems the United Kingdoms Summit is upon us. We must hurry to Fanming City!” Yun Xi remarked to Mu Yuan after a single glance.
“Indeed!” Mu Yuan agreed.
The two paid their bill and, finding a secluded spot, released their flying magics (dun guang), soaring far away!
Just as Mu Yuan and Yun Xi took to the sky with their magic, within a purple carriage of the Tianlong Kingdom procession, a middle-aged man clad entirely in white robes suddenly opened his eyes. A shaft of intense light flashed within them!
“Cultivators. It seems this journey indeed holds some intrigue.”
The man flipped his hand. It was pale and smooth, like warm jade. He now pinched a sheet of yellow paper covered in twisting, winding cinnabar talismanic script, resembling a serpent!
“Heaven Hao, Earth Mo, Talisman Links Spirits, Spirit Master’s One Breath, Dragon and Serpent Transform!” (Tian Hao Di Mo, Fu Tong Gui Shen, Ling Shi Yi Qi, Long She Bian Hua!)
The yellow talisman flashed with flowing radiance, transforming into a five-inch long yellow serpent. With a flick of his finger, the man sent it darting into the sky!
“Tian He, your restless spirit stirs again,” a clear, resonant voice sounded beside his ear. “Tianyu Kingdom teems with cultivators like clouds. Why be so persistently curious?”
The middle-aged man called ‘Tian He’ (Sky River) twitched his lips slightly, replying via Mental Transmission, “Merely scouting the path, gauging the level of Tianyu Kingdom’s cultivators.” He then closed his eyes again. Swaying slightly with the rocking carriage, he entered meditative repose.
The other voice also fell silent.
Mu Yuan and Yun Xi, naturally unaware of these events, pressed on majestically through the clouds. Suddenly, Mu Yuan frowned. His keen Spiritual Sense had detected something!
High in the sky, water vapors swirled, enshrouded in mist and clouds, while Geng Metal Qi was scarce. Mu Yuan casually conjured a strand of Clear Water True Qi, supple as a ribbon. It lashed out into the Void, instantly forcing a yellow serpent into visibility!
Yun Xi had also tensed when Mu Yuan acted. Seeing it was a yellow serpent, he smiled and explained, “It’s the ‘Yellow Snake Curse’ from the Dao Talisman Sect within Tianlong Kingdom. Our departure must have startled someone in the carriage. They’re probing our depth.”
Mu Yuan chuckled lightly, unconcerned.
The yellow serpent writhed violently within Mu Yuan’s Clear Water True Qi, shaking its head, lashing its tail, exerting considerable force. Murky light shimmered faintly; the Zhenqi flowed like water!
“Let’s teach them a lesson. Strutting around Tianlong Kingdom is one thing, but barging in here…” Mu Yuan mused coldly. “…even a mighty dragon shouldn’t suppress a local snake! How reckless these Dao Talisman Sect people are!”
White light flashed on Mu Yuan’s right hand. Several strands of Zhenqi shot out from his five fingers with a “susu” sound, coalescing into a sword posture—the newly learned ‘Falling Star Flowing Light’!
The white light flashed and vanished with unparalleled speed. The yellow serpent seemed to sense it, hissing and flicking its tongue. It opened its mouth and spat out a swirling ball of light that collided with Mu Yuan’s Sword Qi, producing a soft crackle.
Mu Yuan’s intent was as fluid as his thoughts. His sword posture whirled, suddenly transforming into swirling, murky light suffused with water vapor. It enveloped the serpent, forming a watery sphere! With a forceful inward squeeze, the yellow serpent shrieked! A series of faint popping sounds echoed, and it vanished like smoke. All that remained was a yellow talisman slowly drifting down.
Mu Yuan reached out and caught the yellow paper. The cinnabar talismanic script upon it had already faded and dimmed. He casually crushed it.
“What a wonderfully precise shift!” Yun Xi’s eyes lit up witnessing Mu Yuan first transform Eternal True Qi into Clear Water True Qi, then unleash that peerless sword flash to shatter the talisman serpent. He couldn’t help voicing his admiration.
Mu Yuan laughed. “Just a little trick. The interplay of Metal and Water makes it effective. Yun Xi, if you’re interested, I can teach you!”
Yun Xi laughed heartily. “That’s exactly what I wanted, but didn’t dare ask!”
Mu Yuan didn’t mind in the least. He’d acquired these techniques essentially for free; being generous was easy. Repaying favors, as the saying goes, he promptly imparted the method of the Clear Water True Qi along with several killing moves from the ‘Asking-the-Heart Sword Art’ to Yun Xi.
Yun Xi was brimming with excitement. He immediately began practicing. As the arts within him stirred, the clouds and mist high in the sky writhed and surged towards him. Before long, a small mass of Zhenqi gathered within him.
He then transformed his internal Eternal True Qi. With a motion through the air, a perfectly spherical water droplet manifested at his fingertip, then exploded into shimmering Sword Qi sweeping in all directions!
“Truly marvelous!” Yun Xi exclaimed, momentarily lost in thought. “Just imagine how much better it’d be if one cultivated the Five Elements!”
Mu Yuan only smirked and didn’t reply.
Yun Xi chuckled ruefully at his own words. “Too far-fetched. Honestly, legends say our sect originally belonged to the Five Elements Path before splitting apart. My master has always wanted to reunify the Five Elements. Being but a single individual against the tide, he’s weak to achieve it. My thoughts are just pipe dreams!”
“Pipe dreams?” Mu Yuan murmured silently. The Zhenqi within his Dantian gave a sudden pulse.
“Human effort shapes fate!”
Just as Mu Yuan shattered the Talisman Serpent, the middle-aged man named Tian He sitting in the carriage abruptly opened his eyes. Light flickered within them like sword points, while a faint, elusive smile touched his lips.
“Indeed impressive. So young, yet with such skill. It seems this Tianyu journey will be anything but dull!”
Mu Yuan and Yun Xi paid no heed to potential trouble. Both were young and utterly fearless. Well aware someone might have taken interest in them, they thought nothing of it. Traveling at this speed, they reached Fanming City in just half a day!
“The one who came to invite our master down the mountain was the Eighth Prince Zheng Tai, currently the most powerful prince. We’ll go straight to his residence!” Yun Xi said.
Along the way, they learned the United Kingdoms Summit would commence in three days. Fanming City was bustling with excitement! Everywhere was festooned with lanterns and decorations, livelier than the New Year!
The city’s patrols were also incredibly strict. Both were questioned upon entering. However, Yun Xi carried a token signifying True Lord Liuguang’s status as the Exterminator of Demons. When the soldiers saw it, they became exceptionally respectful. Two young soldiers were immediately dispatched to escort Mu Yuan and Yun Xi to Prince Zheng Tai’s residence.
The Eighth Prince’s estate was extravagantly magnificent! Within Fanming City, it ranked among the most opulent, with sprawling grounds rivaling the best. Even though Mu Yuan and Yun Xi had seen their share of grandeur, arriving before the Prince’s mansion, they couldn’t help but feel genuinely awestruck!
Occupying dozens of acres, it boasted endless halls, innumerable pavilions, soaring towers wreathed in purple, eaves glowing with colored glaze. Bathed in sunlight, the entire estate shimmered resplendently, like a palace descended from the Nine Heavens. Sunlight flowed like liquid water across roof tiles and upturned eaves. Pillars and balustrades were carved from jade; paths were laid with polished green stone slabs. Rare flowers and precious grasses flourished amidst towering ancient trees. It seemed less like the dwelling of a mortal prince and more akin to an immortal cultivator’s abode!