Chapter 85
“Have you heard the rumors about how our Jiu Shan Sect once thrived thanks to the 'Five Thunder Body'?”
“I’ve heard Brother Han mention it,” Zheng Fa replied.
“Do you know why?”
“The 'Five Thunder Body' can greatly enhance the power of talismans…” Zheng Fa thought for a moment and recounted the reasoning that Han Qi had shared with him.
“It’s not that simple. The 'Five Thunder Body' is a technique that can strengthen talismanic power, but it can be cultivated during the Qi Refining stage, so its effects are naturally limited.” Sister Zhang glanced at Zheng Fa and continued, “The 'Five Thunder Body' is tied to a unique and unparalleled true transmission of our Jiu Shan Sect. Only by mastering the 'Five Thunder Body' can one cultivate this true transmission technique.”
“…” Zheng Fa furrowed his brow. “Then why has no one been able to cultivate the 'Five Thunder Body' for a thousand years?”
According to Han Qi, Xuan Lei Stone was rare, but it wasn’t nonexistent.
If one could master the 'Five Thunder Body' and then proceed to cultivate a true transmission technique—now that would be quite a bargain.
“Because the materials required for that true transmission are even harder to find.”
“Ah… thank you for the insight, Sister Zhang.”
Zheng Fa understood why Sister Zhang had come to see him.
She thought he was merely coveting the immense power of the 'Five Thunder Body,' so she was informing him that to truly harness its potential, he would need to cultivate that true transmission.
Zheng Fa didn’t mind this too much; he was primarily interested in mastering the 'Five Thunder Body' to achieve the Qing Yang Dao Body.
Sister Zhang observed his expression and nodded. “As long as you understand that.”
Suddenly, Sister Yuan spoke up, “Speaking of which, isn’t the Sect Leader practicing the 'Divine Sky Thunder Control Technique'?”
Sister Zhang nodded and explained to the puzzled Zheng Fa, “The 'Divine Sky Thunder Control Technique' is that true transmission. In our Jiu Shan Sect, only the Sect Leader has had the fortune to cultivate it—well, he mastered it a thousand years ago.”
“If you manage to cultivate the 'Five Thunder Body,' you might even get summoned by the Sect Leader.” Sister Yuan looked at Zheng Fa and suddenly laughed, “He’s up there in Jiu Shan, without a single disciple, and rarely meets anyone.”
Her tone was playful, clearly skeptical that the 'Five Thunder Body' could wield such influence.
…
After discussing the 'Five Thunder Body,' Sister Zhang stood up and looked at Zheng Fa with a serious expression.
Her eyes held no emotion as she gently asked, “I once mentioned that I value your future. Do you know why?”
Zheng Fa shook his head.
“Did you receive the 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Technique' from the Ancestor?”
At the mention of this, Zheng Fa’s expression became complicated—he had just developed his spiritual awareness and had checked the 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Technique' and the 'Spirit Mountain Technique.'
The 'Spirit Mountain Technique' was normal; it simply required one to reach the seventh layer of Qi Refining before one could begin. Given his current cultivation level, that was out of the question.
As for the 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Technique,' he had heard from the Jiu Shan Ancestor that this technique was a half-finished product.
But after looking at it, he realized that “half-finished product” was a generous way to put it.
The technique consisted of only a few hundred characters.
The main content Zheng Fa translated was as follows:
I have an incredibly powerful idea!
Based on this idea, I can create an unparalleled foundation establishment method!
However, I’m already in the Nascent Soul stage, so this is of no use to me, and I can’t be bothered to think about it.
Creating this method is quite simple; I’ve even written down the principles for you. Future generations, feel free to ponder over it, and you should be able to figure it out!
What a Fermat’s Last Theorem!
Seeing his expression, Sister Zhang rarely curled her lips in a smile, as if she could fully empathize with Zheng Fa’s speechlessness.
“What do you think of this foundation establishment technique?”
“…Setting aside the fact that I don’t know how to practice it, this technique is quite impressive,” Zheng Fa thought for a moment and offered a rather diplomatic evaluation.
Sister Zhang’s smile widened.
But it wasn’t all about emotional intelligence; the Ancestor’s ideas had indeed opened Zheng Fa’s eyes.
The Jiu Shan Ancestor studied the true form talismans of mountains and rivers and noticed that the four talismans were subtly absorbing the corresponding talismanic images from the void to maintain their existence—so he wondered, if one could condense a talismanic image in the dantian, could it also automatically absorb the talismanic images from the void?
Zheng Fa thought about it and realized there might be some possibility. During the talisman-making process, the talismanic images attract each other. If, as Sister Zhang said, the talismanic images are the trajectories of spiritual energy flow, then the 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Technique' could even be considered an automatic training aid.
Of course, more importantly, it seemed Sister Zhang had already reached the Golden Core stage using the 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Technique.'
Sister Zhang seemed to understand his thoughts and took out a jade tube. “This is my perfected version of the 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Technique.'”
Zheng Fa asked eagerly, “Sister, what do you need me to do?”
Sister Zhang smiled gently, tossed the jade tube, and Zheng Fa instinctively caught it.
“?”
“Practicing this is the price I want you to pay.”
“Ah?”
“The 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Technique' is still incomplete,” Sister Zhang looked at Zheng Fa and said.
“What do you mean, Sister?” Zheng Fa sensed something.
“I relied on the 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Technique' to build my foundation, and after reaching the Golden Core stage, I discovered that my Golden Core had flaws, causing my cultivation to stagnate for ten years. I could only rely on my understanding of the Talisman Path to make up for it,” Sister Zhang stated plainly. “Now do you understand why I value you?”
Zheng Fa understood.
If he practiced this technique, he might fall into the same predicament as Sister Zhang.
“If you don’t want to cultivate this technique, you can leave now.” Looking at him, Sister Zhang said softly, her expression neutral. Zheng Fa tightened his grip on the jade tube, not hesitating for even a breath. He looked at Sister Zhang and said, “I’m willing to learn, Sister.”
…
Zheng Fa had no choice.
Having been at the Jiu Shan Sect for so long, he had come to understand—
His talent in the Talisman Path was valuable, but not overly so.
The talismakers of Jiu Shan Sect were somewhat like artisans.
The Bureau of Affairs would purchase the talismans drawn by the disciples for resale.
If they didn’t want to trade at the Bureau of Affairs, the talismakers could also trade in the market—though, of course, Jiu Shan Sect would take a cut.
To the Jiu Shan Sect, Zheng Fa, as a Talisman Path genius, was indeed valuable; his skill in drawing talismans could bring profit to the sect.
But to the other disciples, Zheng Fa not only competed for their spiritual materials but also for their market—what they could gain from him was far outweighed by the competitive threat he posed.
This led to Zheng Fa’s somewhat awkward position within the Jiu Shan Sect—
For instance, Zhou Qianyuan, though not as talented in the Talisman Path as Zheng Fa, had already been taken under the wing of Master Pang due to his single spiritual root and Dao body. His audacity to slap Brother Li’s face in front of so many people showed his confidence.
Yet Zheng Fa remained unnoticed, with only Sister Zhang subtly supporting him.
Ultimately, the distinction between a cultivation genius and a Talisman Path genius was significant.
Cultivation geniuses could enter the sect without needing to prove their Talisman Path skills.
The upper echelons of Jiu Shan Sect valued cultivation geniuses because they would be the pillars of the sect in the future, the ballast during chaotic times in the cultivation world.
Valuing Talisman Path geniuses was merely because they could bring profit to Jiu Shan Sect.
People like Sister Zhang, who valued his Talisman Path talent, were few and far between—setting aside the help she had given him, it was clear that he couldn’t afford to lose such a valuable ally.
Moreover, the 'Talisman Path Foundation Establishment Technique' was the technique that could best showcase his Talisman Path skills.
Upon hearing him say this, Sister Yuan looked dejected and handed a deep black mineral stone to Sister Zhang. “I concede!”
“?”
“I told you he’s a smart one.”
Sister Zhang took the stone and immediately handed it to Zheng Fa. “Xuan Lei Stone.”
“…”
Zheng Fa held the Xuan Lei Stone.
He knew from Han Qi that it was worth at least twenty spirit stones, and even then, it was hard to come by.
Looking at Sister Zhang, he felt a sense of happiness, as if he had hitched a ride with a wealthy patron.
“Come sit over here.” Sister Zhang waved him over, inviting Zheng Fa into a small pavilion.
Although Sister Yuan had lost a Xuan Lei Stone, her gaze toward Zheng Fa had become much friendlier.
Zheng Fa realized that he was likely now recognized by Sister Zhang’s small circle.
“What do you think of the Jiu Shan Sect?” After chatting for a while, Sister Zhang suddenly asked.
Zheng Fa was taken aback, reminded of the same question posed to him by Brother Zhuang.
“What’s wrong? Is it that hard to answer?” Seeing his strange expression, Sister Zhang inquired.
“I was just reminded of Brother Zhuang,” Zheng Fa shared what Brother Zhuang had said to him.
“…That guy.” Sister Zhang chuckled. “He’s always like that.”
“…Does he really dislike geniuses?”
“…He is a genius himself. He doesn’t dislike you; he simply wants to wipe out all the sects.”
“!”
Sister Yuan chimed in, “If you ask me, the fiercest one in Jiu Shan Sect is definitely Brother Zhuang.”
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