Chapter 235: The Jade Vase, Talisman Scriptures of Hundred Solutions, Changsheng Tian
Chapter 235: The Jade Vase, Talisman Scriptures of Hundred Solutions, Changsheng Tian
Moyuan breathed out a stream of True Flame. Over several days, that small wisp of fire had grown in intensity. Wherever the True Flame passed, it turned everything to ash, a sight that chilled the onlookers.
“Acceptable,” Chen Changsheng nodded.
Moyuan laughed, “Thank you for the praise, sir. But it’s still far from the Third Prince’s Samadhi True Flame.”
Chen Changsheng said, “Very few things in this world are achieved in a single leap. Take it slowly. One day, you’ll catch up.”
“By your kind words, sir.”
Chen Changsheng nodded, then looked up toward the eaves.
“Chenghuang.”
The creature on the eaves stirred and transformed into human form, landing in the courtyard.
“Sir.”
Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, “Speaking of which, I has been meaning to ask you something. Back in Western Xiao, how were you able to activate that talisman and unleash magical power?”
Chenghuang replied, “I borrowed the power, sir.”
“Borrowed?”
Chen Changsheng stroked his chin. “Demonic Power and Magical Power have always been incompatible. Even if a demon body borrows Magical Power, it shouldn’t be able to activate a talisman.”
“Normally, that’s true,” Chenghuang agreed. He opened his mouth to explain, “But the power Chenghuang borrowed was different from the ordinary kind. As long as the Magical Power was pure enough, Chenghuang being a demon body could wield it freely.”
“Where did this Magical Power come from?”
After Chen Changsheng asked this, Chenghuang looked toward Moyuan.
Moyuan, seeing that gaze, felt a pang of dread. “Why are you looking at me?!” he blurted out quickly.
Chenghuang said simply, “The power is stored inside a jade vase.”
Moyuan panicked instantly. “What jade vase? No, no! What vase? There isn’t one!”
Seeing his evasive act, Chen Changsheng shook his head with a faint smile, then raised his hand and beckoned.
The Brocade Pouch tied around Moyuan’s waist flew into Chen Changsheng’s hand.
Moyuan gasped in alarm. “Oh no, Mr. Chen! That’s all my life savings…”
Chen Changsheng gave it a shake, and the seal on the pouch shattered instantly.
Moyuan glared at Chenghuang, whispering fiercely, “Second brother, you betrayed me!”
Chenghuang shook his head. “I didn’t. Sir asked the question.”
Moyuan sighed in defeat, certain he was about to lose treasures today. He felt his heart bleeding.
“Clatter…”
“Jingle…”
The sounds of piled objects clashing rang out.
From the pouch poured out nearly a thousand treasures: swords, spears, halberds, Magical Artifacts, spirit pearls, divine herbs, immortal medicines beyond counting. Mixed in were earthly jewels and ornaments, glittering dazzlingly in the light.
Moyuan covered his eyes, refusing to look.
Beside him, however, Chenghuang’s eyes widened in astonishment. Even with his long life, he’d never seen so many treasures piled together.
Chen Changsheng gazed at the mountain of treasures before him, clicking his tongue. He looked at Moyuan. “Is hoarding treasures a trait of becoming a True Dragon? Collecting Magical Artifacts is one thing, but why such a pile of mortal gold, silver, and glass?”
Moyuan’s gaze shifted guiltily. “Shiny…” he mumbled.
Chen Changsheng paused. Though the excuse sounded flimsy, it matched many documented legends about dragons favoring bright, dazzling objects. It seemed that lore wasn’t groundless after all.
Chen Changsheng didn’t scold him, merely chuckled. “I’m not even as wealthy as you.”
“You flatter me, sir, you flatter me! If any of these catches your eye, take it! What’s mine is yours!”
“Enough nonsense,” Chen Changsheng waved dismissively. He raised his hand again, and a small vase floated out from beneath the pile of treasures, landing in his palm.
Chenghuang pointed. “That’s the vase.”
Chen Changsheng examined it, then focused his Divine Sense into the vase.
Inside, he sensed thick Magical Power, its quantity comparable to the Spiritual Energy of an entire Spiritual Vein.
Moreover, the power contained within was incredibly pure, rivaling the strands imbued in his own hair.
Chen Changsheng withdrew his focus and looked at Chenghuang. “Where did you obtain this jade vase?”
Chenghuang explained, “An elder of my clan entrusted it to me on his deathbed. Along with it was a scripture called Talisman Scriptures of Hundred Solutions. My talisman skills originated from studying it. Later… I lost that scripture. Only this vase remains.”
“The elder said these two items have always been passed down within the Chenghuang lineage. They are forbidden treasures of Changsheng Tian, sacred enough to die for rather than lose.”
“Changsheng Tian?” Chen Changsheng blinked.
“It’s not a real place,” Chenghuang clarified. “Legends of ‘Changsheng Tian’ have always existed among the Chenghuangs, much like the ‘Pure Land’ in Buddhist teachings. It’s not a tangible realm, more a belief. Long ago, before our lineage dwindled, I often heard elders speak of Changsheng Tian – a place only of life, not death. No one craved immortality there. It was serene, peaceful…”
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. “But this vase and your Talisman Scriptures seem to have no connection whatsoever to ‘immortality’ or ‘long life’.”
“I also find that puzzling,” Chenghuang admitted.
Chen Changsheng pressed on, “Did your lineage not leave behind any written records about this?”
Chenghuang replied sadly, “Through those long years, our kinsmen were constantly fleeing, dodging pursuit and slaughter. Even if records existed, they have surely been lost to the river of time.”
Chen Changsheng fell into thought, recalling Chenghuang’s earlier words. He murmured inwardly, ‘Forbidden treasures… What could that mean?’
If they were forbidden, why did they carry no trace of Evil Qi?
And the Talisman Scriptures of Hundred Solutions – it sounded like nothing more than a manual on talisman arts.
Chen Changsheng shook off his contemplations and focused his gaze back on the jade vase.
He extended two fingers and drew forth a thread of Magical Power from within the vase.
A strand of Golden Light, pure Magical Power, flowed from the vase onto his fingertips.
He examined it closely, genuinely taken aback.
This power is too pure!
All Cultivators in the world cultivate by refining Spiritual Energy into Magical Power, which gathers within the Dantian Qi Sea. This process inevitably leaves traces of impurity within the Magical Power. Even the unaccountable power in Chen Changsheng’s hair had some trace.
Absolute purity was practically unattainable.
Yet the Magical Power in this vase was pristine, utterly untainted.
No wonder Chenghuang, as a member of the Demon Race, could still directly channel and use it.
Chen Changsheng murmured, “Whoever refined Magical Power of this level must have been extraordinary.”
Given this belonged to the Chenghuang lineage, its origins were likely ancient. Finding an answer now seemed improbable.
Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze and asked again, “Even though the Talisman Scriptures are lost, you studied them. Did you find anything unusual within?”
Chenghuang shook his head. “The Talisman Scriptures contained only cryptic runes, inscriptions, and related explanations. There wasn’t a single word beyond that.”