A Biography of the Liu Family in Peach Blossom Mountain

Chapter 13: Learning to Make Talismans

After lunch, Liu Zhangxu first went to the family's Sutra Pavilion.

The Sutra Pavilion collected the majority of the cultivation scriptures obtained by the family through various channels over the past hundred years and was considered a sacred place for the family. In order to protect the Sutra Pavilion, the family had set up a Rank One High Grade formation called the Golden Light Formation.

This Golden Light Formation was not activated during normal times and would only be activated when under external attack.

The Sutra Pavilion was a three-story stone building, primarily constructed with Rank One Middle Grade spiritual material called Golden Crystal Stone. The Golden Crystal Stone had a golden appearance, higher hardness than oak stone, and good resistance against magical attacks, but it was relatively expensive.

Looking at the Sutra Pavilion from afar, under the sunlight, it emitted a dazzling golden light, truly beautiful.

Upon arriving at the Sutra Pavilion, Liu Zhangxu noticed that the guard of the Sutra Pavilion was the second elder, Liu Qiushui.

"Hello, Great Grandfather! Today, I want to find a Body Refining technique," Liu Zhangxu quickly said.

"What technique are you looking for?" the second elder, Liu Qiushui, asked.

"The Primordial Origin Body Refining Art!" Liu Zhangxu replied.

"That is a very good Body Refining technique, but it is easy to learn yet difficult to master, and it requires a considerable amount of cultivation resources. Look for it on the second shelf of the second floor!" the second elder, Liu Qiushui, said.

"Thank you, Great Grandfather!" Liu Zhangxu said.

After saying that, he quickly went to the second floor and found the beast skin book that recorded the Primordial Origin Body Refining Art. The Primordial Origin Body Refining Art was a Yellow Rank High Grade Body Refining technique and currently the best one in the family.

Cultivation techniques were recorded on jade slips, beast skin books, and paper books.

Jade slips required the cultivator's divine sense to inscribe and read, which was convenient but expensive due to the high purity requirements for the jade used to make them.

On the other hand, materials for making books, such as paper and beast skin, were relatively cheap. Therefore, Qi Refining Stage techniques were mostly recorded in books.

After obtaining the Primordial Origin Body Refining Art, the second elder, Liu Qiushui, made a record and requested that Liu Zhangxu return the book within three months. He also deducted 300 family contribution points from Liu Zhangxu's family token, which made Liu Zhangxu feel a bit distressed.

Of course, within the family, this technique would cost at least 2000 spirit stones, and it was not easy to find outside. This was the advantage of being in a cultivation family.

After leaving the Sutra Pavilion, Liu Zhangxu headed straight to the family's General Affairs Hall, intending to purchase some talisman paper and ink for making talismans.

The General Affairs Hall was a tall five-story stone building.

The General Affairs Hall was responsible for managing the family's treasury, issuing family tasks, and collecting and selling spiritual items from the clan members.

Clan members could sell spiritual items they didn't need to the General Affairs Hall, and in return, the General Affairs Hall would provide corresponding contribution points based on the value of the items.

If clan members needed spiritual items, they could use contribution points to exchange for the items they needed from the family's treasury. As long as the treasury had the desired items, they could generally be exchanged for.

Arriving at the Shu Wu Hall, I found that today's duty at the Shu Wu Hall was being performed by Aunt Lin, the third aunt.

"Hello, Aunt Lin!" Liu Zhangxu said.

"What do you need, Zhangxu?" Aunt Lin smiled and asked.

Although Aunt Lin, at the age of 45 this year, only had a cultivation level of Qi Refining fifth layer due to her Five Spiritual Roots, she still had a face like a peach blossom and a figure like a willow, showing no signs of aging.

Aunt Lin and Liu Zhangxu's mother both came from the Lin family of the Heitian Valley, a cultivation family.

The Lin family of the Heitian Valley was named after their family's residence in the Heitian Valley. It was more than 700 miles away from the Liu family of the Peach Blossom Mountain. The two families had been intermarrying for generations because their ancestors were fellow disciples.

"Liu Zhangxu: "Aunt Lin, please give me 300 sheets of Rank One Low Grade Fireball Talisman paper and 3 bottles of ink."

"Okay!" Aunt Lin said.

Saying that, she went to the family treasury and took out 300 sheets of talisman paper and 3 bottles of ink to give to Liu Zhangxu. Liu Zhangxu then took out the family token and handed it to Aunt Lin. Lin marked 130 family contribution points on the token.

After receiving the talisman paper and ink, Liu Zhangxu bid farewell to Aunt Lin and headed home.

Back at home, he immediately went to find his mother, Lin Yulian. Lin Yulian was currently making talismans. When she saw her son coming to learn how to make talismans from her, she was very happy. She immediately demonstrated the process of making a Rank One Low Grade Fireball Talisman.

After dipping the talisman brush in ink, Lin Yulian waved the brush and drew talismanic runes on a sheet of Rank One Low Grade Talisman paper, as if flowing clouds and running water. After she stopped, a flame-shaped talismanic rune appeared vividly on the paper, completing a Rank One Low Grade Fireball Talisman.

"Did you see that?" Lin Yulian said.

"I saw it! But please demonstrate it two more times, Mother!" Liu Zhangxu said.

"Alright! I'll demonstrate it two more times!" While demonstrating, Lin Yulian explained the key points of making talismans.

After two more demonstrations, Lin Yulian said, "Now you try it yourself!"

After her mother finished speaking, she emphasized the key points of making fireball talismans again, and Liu Zhangxu began his journey of making talismans.

The first one unsurprisingly failed. Just as he started drawing, the talisman paper burned and turned into ashes.

Lin Yulian told Liu Zhangxu, "When making talismans, you must first clear your mind and not be too hasty! Of course, the most crucial thing is that your technique is unfamiliar and your brushwork is insufficient. You need to practice diligently! I have something to do in the afternoon, so you can practice on your own!" After finishing her words, Lin Yulian went out to handle her affairs.

Liu Zhangxu spent the whole afternoon making talismans. He used more than thirty sheets of talisman paper in a row, all of which failed.

Finally, Liu Zhangxu's impatient state of mind calmed down. After each failure, he would calm his mind and summarize his experience. At the same time, he would replenish his consumed spiritual consciousness and mana. With the increase in the number of talismans made, his brushwork became more skilled and smooth.

Finally, near dinner time, he completed a Fireball Talisman.

(End of this chapter)