Chapter 163: Life-Seal Talisman
Chapter 163: Life-Seal Talisman
Late at night in Mu Yuan’s True Lord’s Mansion, a stranger suddenly appeared.
Mu Yuan withdrew his Divine Sense like a receding tide. He leaped onto the clouds, confronting the man in white. “Who are you, fellow Daoist, invading my mansion?” he demanded coldly.
The white-robed man smiled gently, like spring flowers blooming. “Was it you,” he said quietly, “who destroyed my Taoist Talisman?”
Mu Yuan froze, baffled.
The man flicked his right hand, producing a yellow Talismanic Seal. Mu Yuan suddenly understood. “So you sent that talisman!”
This white-robed figure was naturally Tian He.
“What brings you here, fellow Daoist?” Now that he knew the reason, Mu Yuan calmed down. It was far more worrying not to know why someone came.
Tian He wore a lazy, easygoing smile. His gaze drifted absently, as though nothing mattered to him.
“To fight you!”
This guy must be insane!
That was the only thought Mu Yuan had upon hearing Tian He’s words.
He never expected this seemingly mild, middle-aged Cultivator had come solely to fight him!
Seeing Mu Yuan’s shock, Tian He offered no explanation. With a sweep of his hand, countless glowing Talismanic Scripts surged toward Mu Yuan.
“What’s so strange about that?” Heavenly Fiend Child explained patiently, as if stating the obvious. “Long ago, Cultivators loved seeking challenges everywhere—not for fame. In battles between life and death, one’s spirit becomes sharper, discerning things hidden in ordinary moments! Terror lurks between life and death. True mastery approaches the Great Dao; honed skill may glimpse its wonders. Learn from others’ strengths to forge one’s own cultivation!”
He sounded almost approving of Tian He’s reckless challenge.
Meanwhile, swarming like firefly specks, countless Talismanic Scripts blotted out half the sky. Mu Yuan focused his vision: each speck was a miniature, stern-faced golden-armored god, weapons gleaming as they charged with deadly intent.
“Heh, scattered beans become soldiers; talismans command divine minions. Impressive!”
Mu Yuan initially wanted to see the Dao Talisman Sect’s Divine Abilities firsthand. He merely summoned the Five Great Curses above his head, forming a canopy to protect himself. But Yun Xi intervened—a streak of silver light erupted, tearing into the Talismanic Scripts.
Cracking sounds filled the air as Talismanic soldiers carrying swords and spears fell like scorched moths.
Yun Xi hovered midair, robes fluttering. His right hand hung low, shrouded by shimmering gold that pulsed with every flex of his fingers.
Tian He’s eyes brightened. Talismanic Scripts lit up across his body—some transformed into fireballs and water orbs, others into giant trees or clouds of dust, while a few became colossal, radiant deities that charged, engulfing both Mu Yuan and Yun Xi.
Yun Xi laughed sharply. A golden wheel spun wildly in his palm, unleashing countless sharp beams. Brilliant firelight danced along his hand, shredding every deity that approached him!
The Liujia Golden Light Wheel’s power, like the Mysterious Heaven Dragon Ascension, severed the Divine Sense attached to any spell it touched. The shattered magic dispersed instantly.
By cutting the problem at its roots, it left nothing behind—no finesse, pure domination regardless of the opponent.
Tian He hesitated in shock. His sleeve swirled; he now held a dim, violet Talismanic Seal covered in wriggling, tadpole-like script that resembled surging waves. Hidden within them loomed the shadow of a dormant Flood Dragon.
Earlier, Tian He’s flood of endless Talismanic Scripts had been cleaved apart by Yun Xi’s wild assault, countless divine soldiers exploding back into Primordial Qi. Only a faint figure flickering in blinding light moved unchecked, explosions rattling the air.
Mu Yuan remained motionless. To avoid alerting others, he erected a veil of Zhenqi around them like a boundary, sealing off the world.
This was the “Void Beyond the Scales Secret” from the Earthly Abyss Immortal Tome. According to the text, high mastery could forcibly carve out a stable space—a method to refine Grotto-heaven Treasures.
He was far below such a level but could barely manage this small, temporary barrier.
Before Tian He could use the violet talisman, a faint cry pierced through the Void Beyond the Scales Secret. Echoing like thunder, it struck all three listeners’ ears.
Mu Yuan frowned. Another man in white stepped forward—similar to Tian He but slightly older.
This newcomer tore through the Void Beyond the Scales Secret and grabbed Tian He’s arm.
Yun Xi finally broke free from the soldiers, his Liujia Golden Light Wheel blazing ever brighter midair before he slashed angrily downward!
The other man waved his sleeve sharply. Smoke and mist coalesced into a rotating, star-filled galaxy—a perfect Star Domain composed of countless minuscule Stars.
The golden wheel and starlight collided explosively. Yun Xi flipped backward violently through the air. The man remained unruffled; the galaxy vanished into his sleeve as calmly as it appeared.
“My apologies!”
He clasped his fists toward Mu Yuan and Yun Xi, gripped Tian He, and watched as spiraling arcs of starlight coiled upward from their feet. A crisp snap followed. Both vanished instantly.
Landing near Mu Yuan, Yun Xi’s face showed an edge of excitement. “That man earlier is formidable! Knocked me back with a single effortless stroke!”
Laughing, Mu Yuan said, “So eager for battle? Your war-loving nature has awakened!”
“I just wanted to witness the Dao Talisman Sect’s methods firsthand. Their cultivation differs from ordinary Daoist or Buddhist Sect practices.”
Mu Yuan nodded. “They don’t focus on Condensing Evil Energy, Refining Righteous Energy, or self-refinement like others. All power resides in a single Life-Seal Talisman. Once perfected, it merges with their Sea of Consciousness, letting them reach the Great Dao of Primordial Spirit through that alone—truly a unique path!”
“Exactly! That last man had mastered his Life-Seal Talisman, fused it into himself. His very movements command spells! Utterly fearsome. The first opponent was much weaker, still carrying an unmastered Life-Seal Talisman he never got to use!”
“True. Anyone succeeding under the Dao Talisman Sect must possess extraordinary talent. Without self-refinement, they only practice Qi Refinement. Their lifespan peaks at a mere 150 years. To perfect a Life-Seal Talisman within such a brief time demands incredible pressure!”
Sighing, the two returned to their rooms.
”Master, since this mansion is yours, why not set up protective formations? Guard against villains scheming here and tarnishing your great name.”
After hearing Heavenly Fiend Child, Mu Yuan chuckled. “Just a temporary home. Who knows if we’ll ever return? Besides, what ‘great name’ do I even have to protect?”
”But having defenses is wise. The future is unknown—maybe you’ll need a safe haven here later!”
Mu Yuan pondered but lacked any worthy formations. Hesitantly he asked, ”Heavenly Fiend, any ideas?”
”Hmm…that stumps me. I know nothing of formations!”
Only then did Mu Yuan grasp his mistake: ancient dragons wielded crushing force, relying on One Sword Shatters All Techniques. Why concern themselves with formations? Asking Heavenly Fiend was like asking a monk for his comb—utterly pointless!
After a long silence, Mu Yuan suddenly stood tall. “Simple enough. Why not deploy the Great Reincarnation Sword Formation of the Heavens? More Flying Swords than I need!”
When it came to Flying Swords, Mu Yuan possessed plenty!
Witch Clan Sword Formula worked similarly to ancient sword cultivation.
Ancient sword Cultivators gathered Primordial Qi within, forming countless sword arrays inside their bodies. They consumed metals and jades, forging themselves like blades—forging a human sword! This approach boasted great power, though most knowledge of it had since vanished.
Witch Clan Sword Formula, meanwhile, gathered Primordial Qi entirely outside the body, carving an independent space capable of housing endless Flying Swords. Each peak-refined sword could become a Transformation Body.
Mu Yuan was nowhere near possessing tens of thousands of such transformation bodies. Yet lately he’d forged and refined numerous Flying Swords inside their Black Water Gourd, immersing them in Yin Cold Ice Evils for Tempering and Nurturing—steadily enhancing their quality. Now they’d prove useful!
With a thought, a torrent of cold-shining, rainbow-hued Flying Swords burst from the Black Water Gourd. Over 200 blades hovered midair, radiating piercing chill that stretched violently outward.
Mu Yuan instantly quelled the cold. Instead, he sent out Divine Sense, scouting the mansion’s layout to locate burial sites for the blades.
Spanning about ten acres, the plot was impressively large in Fanming City—proof of its greedy original owner, some corrupt official!
After choosing spots, Mu Yuan’s Divine Sense instantly split across dozens of swords. Like streaks of Liuguang, they plunged downward “thump! thump! thump!”, embedding themselves across set locations!
”But it’d be foolish wasting Divine Sense controlling each blade directly. No choice—I must craft a Formation Diagram. Otherwise, they’re just lifeless tools.”
Protecting formations without a Diagram demanded constant Divine Sense input. This was draining, inefficient, and weakened the defense. Mu Yuan rarely relied on formations and thus never crafted one. Now determined, he planned carefully…