novelapdf Chapter 42 Refining Magical Artifacts
Chapter 42 Refining Magical Artifacts
At the place where the mountain god of Cuiyun Mountain is said to have manifested, I am once again lost in memories.
During my past life's spiritual practice, I heard that the key to drawing talismans lies in:
First, you have a symbol in your mind, then you sketch it with your divine will, and finally you put it on paper!
Later, he explored and organized the materials, and also recorded quite a few methods of drawing talismans in the Tai Xuan Jing.
Ultimately, this leads to the following consolidating truth:
"Fu Chengshi is completely upside down! His intention is Fu Xian!"
Instead, one first condenses the meaning of the talisman with one's mind and spirit, like a breath of primordial energy, and then evolves it into all things in the world.
The true intention in one's heart must first be formed into a symbol before it manifests in the external world; the cause and effect cannot be reversed.
"Even I can't discern the extent of the energy within the realm of the wind, it's at least at the level of a celestial being. It seems to be very knowledgeable, so it shouldn't be too wrong."
The mountain god, in his incarnation, muttered to himself again, unable to help but feel puzzled.
"But if one truly learns it, how could there be any saying that one cannot draw talismans?"
"If you cannot create a talisman in a single thought, it means you haven't truly mastered it."
Thinking of this, he focused his mind inward and entered the inner landscape of his mind.
The interior was brightly lit.
A moon hangs above a clear lake, its surface as smooth as a mirror.
A flying sword that slays evil moves through the water like a fish.
Sometimes it would dive in, sometimes it would leap out, transforming into a flying sword with a chilling gleam.
And floating on the lake surface was a talisman.
The talisman was surrounded by an eternal breeze—the true form of the Wind Summoning Talisman.
The lake of my heart is clear and pure; now it contains only these three elements.
It contains the divine will of the Great Mystery Moon, the sword that slays evil and flies like a fish, and the true meaning of the talisman that summons wind.
To some extent, this also means that they have been almost completely analyzed.
The mountain god's avatar smiled slightly and asked softly to himself, "Is drawing talismans really that difficult?"
He's certain now.
Perhaps, fundamentally, Feng Lisheng's version is wrong.
Perhaps it's a simplified version, or an easy-to-learn version.
But it is certainly not a theoretical version that gets to the heart of the matter.
Zhong Xuan was confident that the talisman-drawing method derived from the Tai Xuan Illumination Qi Method was correct.
Just like taking a photograph, it's an instant camera.
There's no need to explain anything fancy to them.
"Try it again, and you'll know whether it's true or false, right or wrong."
He casually picked up three more large leaves and laid them flat on the stone table.
The Wind-Summoning Talisman within the inner landscape of the Heart Lake suddenly flashed with light and split into three.
Following Zhong Xuan's mental commands, they fell onto the three leaves on the stone table.
The complete form of the true talisman was instantly outlined on the three leaves.
The Tai Xuan Divine Intent version of the Wind Summoning Talisman, which had been sketched in advance in his mind's lake, naturally carried a portion of his essence, energy, and spirit once it left his body.
Even without the help of leaves to seal it, it can automatically be used in the outside world.
Each of them contains a rich sense of wind, and each captures a wisp of the true meaning of wind that can summon the surrounding energy, which is firmly sealed within.
A faint smile appeared on Zhong Xuan's lips.
In daily life, I can discern and perceive the energy of all directions; my ability to discern has become second nature.
Whether cultivating or fighting, he can accurately extract what he needs from the infinite energy—this is his most basic skill as someone who has embarked on the path of ancient Qi cultivation.
The true meaning of this Wind Summoning Talisman is nothing more than this most basic ability.
Infusing the mental focus of "absorbing the energy of the wind" into a talisman is an easy act, akin to daily practice.
However, in the woods a little further away, a pair of eyes were staring wide-eyed!
The wind was filled with shock and fear; it couldn't understand.
He even accidentally broke the invisibility spell and revealed his presence.
He secretly returned, wanting to see if the mountain god could successfully draw the talisman in disguise.
But I never expected to see this terrifying scene.
How can three talismans be formed in an instant?
Is this still a celestial being?
Not a true immortal, not a golden immortal?
The mountain god's avatar slightly shifted its gaze and looked over indifferently.
Feng Lisheng shuddered in fright and, not daring to linger for a moment, immediately turned and ran.
It ran wildly until it reached the stream, where it stopped and leaned against a tree trunk, panting heavily.
Feng Lisheng looked down at his reflection in the water, his face filled with fear, and muttered to himself:
"Impossible, absolutely impossible..."
"They must have practiced until they were completely proficient, and deliberately played a trick on me."
"This is just to scare me..."
Feng Lisheng felt a little guilty.
Despite being a great demon, cultivating the path of purity and non-action, being most adept at seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, and possessing an extremely keen sense of heavenly secrets, it never noticed that this mountain god had ever been the slightest bit false or deceitful.
But what just happened was truly astonishing.
He would never believe that someone could draw a wind-summoning talisman on their first try!
Even after decades of immersion in the art of talismans, it is not easy to create three talismans in a single thought.
That's an advanced technique.
Feng Lisheng shook his head vigorously and muttered, "This mountain god looks increasingly eerie; there must be something very strange about him. He's truly frightening..."
He forced himself not to think about what had just happened and turned to walk towards the mountain god temple.
However, I was much more careful with my steps than when I came.
……
On the other side, Zhong Xuan was chatting with Abbess Jingyuan in the quiet room.
Qingyue gently placed the tea on the table and stood obediently to the side.
Before long, the monkey ran back from outside, covered in sweat, and started yelling as soon as he entered the door.
Sweating profusely, it cried out, "Brother, brother, quickly draw a talisman for me!"
Zhong Xuan chuckled and flicked the monkey's forehead: "It's not that easy!"
The monkey covered its forehead, pouting with reluctance, but dared not pester the monkey any further.
Master Jingyuan looked at Zhong Xuan with a serious expression: "Benefactor, Zhang Chengming's words just now were clearly intended to incite competition among everyone."
"Don't rush your learning of talismans. Take your time. Don't let your competitive spirit lead you astray and into the demonic path. Otherwise, you'll suffer more losses than gains."
Zhang Chengming's inner spirit within the wooden fish sneered: "You bald nun, lecturing here again, it's truly tiresome."
Zhong Xuan gently shook his head, his expression calm: "The Dao does not live without competition, nor does it grow without struggle."
Abbess Jingyuan looked surprised: "What?"
In Buddhism, competition is seen as the root of attachment.
Only by letting go can one clear one's mind of distractions and achieve enlightenment.
She was naturally surprised and didn't understand.
Zhang Chengming couldn't help but sneer: "Good, good, good! Well said! I didn't expect you to have such insight; you're much more insightful than this pedantic bald-headed nun!"
Master Jingyuan's face darkened, and she immediately spoke:
"Benefactor, do not believe the words of this demon!"
"Conflict is an illusion. Once you get caught up in it, you will be constantly entangled in disputes and troubles will arise."
"To become a Buddha, one must learn to let go of attachments."
"If one is obsessed with competition and winning, that is the root of becoming possessed, and in the end, it will only harm oneself and others."
The nun's nervous demeanor made Zhong Xuan, who was about to continue explaining his views, stop in his tracks.
Perhaps the time is not yet right for the nun to arrive, and saying more would only confuse her mind.
Zhong Xuan then spoke gently, "From the true meaning of Buddhism, whether or not there is competition is an inevitable part of the karmic connections of all living beings... If we are fixated on being competitive, we will inevitably develop delusions, a point I agree with you, Master. But if we only pursue non-competition and non-contention, how can we overcome the various unavoidable tribulations of this world?"
Upon hearing this, Abbess Jingyuan frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.
Zhong Xuan's words may seem extreme, but they do make some sense.
This brought to light a long-held, vague suspicion within her.
Zhang Chengming's mocking voice rang out again: "Hahaha, well said! Bald monks are always like this; their doctrine teaches people to give up their pursuits and only think about becoming a Buddha."
Master Jingyuan said coldly, "How is it wrong? People in the world suffer greatly, and we should help them."
Zhang Chengming seemed to dislike Buddhism: "Is 'crossing over' just teaching others not to fight, but only to chant scriptures and knock on the wooden fish? You Buddhists tell people to give up everything, which is equivalent to giving up everything, even your own life, which will be eaten up by those greedy Buddha heads."
Master Jingyuan's face was solemn: "The words of demons are distorted and false."
Zhang Chengming said firmly, "Even being eaten can be seen as atonement, hoping to accumulate good fortune for the next life. It's utterly ridiculous!"
As Master Jingyuan listened, her expression grew increasingly grim, and she finally lost control of her anger.
"You wicked child! Cease your nonsense!"
With a raised hand and a surge of magical power, a gentle yet powerful beam of Buddhist light entered the wooden fish.
A mournful scream came from inside the wooden fish, then the sound weakened.
Zhong Xuan remained calm and swiftly performed the incantation he had previously used to seal the wooden fish.
A beam of spiritual light enveloped the wooden fish, sealing the Yin spirit firmly, preventing it from making a sound.
Master Jingyuan's hands were already trembling.
Zhong Xuan gently pressed down on the hands, his gaze calm: "Master, calm down and soothe your mind."
Abbess Jingyuan suddenly realized her lapse in decorum and gave a wry smile: "Please forgive my rudeness, benefactor."
She felt that this devil's words were vicious, one-sided, and extreme.
Although he knew it was wrong, he still lacked the profound wisdom to clearly refute his fallacies.
This method of physical punishment is indeed a poor choice.
Zhong Xuan smiled gently: "Master, there's no need to blame yourself. Whether it's Taoism or Buddhism, there's no distinction between high and low; they're just different emphases on the path of seeking the Tao."
"If the nun doesn't mind, let's continue our discussion on the topic of 'non-action and non-attachment'."
"If one is willing, one can always find a way to understand it."
"If one is already attached to something, one can argue until one's mind is in turmoil—at least one can see clearly the attachment in one's own heart, which can be considered a gain."
Zhong Xuan showed no attachment or hesitation, displaying a carefree attitude.
Master Jingyuan's eyes lit up with joy, and her gaze toward Zhong Xuan became increasingly appreciative.
This young man was not only exceptionally talented, but also had a clear mind and treated others with kindness.
Moreover, their insights are often unique, which is truly rare.
The two then engaged in an in-depth discussion on the topic.
The aroma of tea wafted through the quiet room, and the conversation was gentle.
The two expressed their opinions, sometimes arguing and sometimes agreeing.
Master Jingyuan gradually became immersed in it, only to feel that time was beautiful and fleeting.
Qingyue, who was listening nearby, got sleepy and fell into a deep sleep on the table.
The monkey yawned and curled up in the corner to fall fast asleep.
As night deepened, the discussion gradually came to a halt.
Zhong Xuan stood up: "Master, it's late. You and Master Qingyue should rest too."
Master Jingyuan nodded, gently picked up the sleeping Qingyue, and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your discussion tonight, I have benefited greatly."
Zhong Xuan nodded slightly, stepped aside to lead the way, and escorted Abbess Jingyuan to her guest room to rest.
After settling Qingyue in, she turned around and came out, smiling, "Benefactor, we're in high spirits tonight. Why don't we go and study the art of talisman drawing together, so we can gain a deeper understanding of its true meaning? Besides, there's still the matter of Xiao Zhong that hasn't been explained yet, let's talk about it together."
Zhong Xuan nodded with a smile: "Alright, please, Abbess."
Under the moonlight, the two walked side by side toward the quiet room.
As Master Jingyuan walked, she said, "The method of refining is also closely related to the human body."
"I am only a rudimentary practitioner, and I have only nurtured a jade willow branch bottle for saving lives and healing injuries."
"If you don't mind, I will explain it to you in detail."
She wasn't in a hurry to draw the talisman, but instead talked at length.
Zhong Xuan replied, "Of course it's good."
Seeing his clear gaze, Abbess Jingyuan couldn't help but look away, and softly parted her lips:
"Furthermore, it is known that the human body, regardless of whether it is a Taoist or Buddhist body, is composed of essence, energy, and spirit..."
The melodious sound, like pearls, kept falling onto the jade plate in the night.
Zhong Xuan found the music pleasing and became even more focused.
He gradually realized something was wrong.
The nun's so-called rudimentary discussion actually contains very basic theoretical elements.
Why? This theory takes the essence, energy, and spirit of the human body as the three treasures, and extends to the level of refining artifacts.
Perhaps the explanation comes from the insights of Guanyin Bodhisattva or other eminent monks.
Zhong Xuan listened quietly, combining his own understanding with his own, and quickly grasped the meaning.
He had his own understanding of the essence, energy, and spirit of the human body and objects from his previous life.
The human body and its equivalent flesh and blood are of "refined" quality, but why can the former function and create more changes?
He believed that the mechanism that made it work was the invisible "qi".
He believed that Qi, as a flowing trend, could sometimes be called Dao.
He then thought of the vital energy that he observed in all things in the world.
Do objects possess spirits?
Not necessarily.
Humans, however, possess a mind and spirit.
Although scrap iron can operate according to the mechanism after being turned into machinery, it has no mind or spirit.
So he temporarily set aside the concept of "god" and decided to try the method of refining essence and energy.
He asked the nun to stand guard while he took out a small bell to prepare for the ritual.
There are two main types of refining, the most primitive of which is the ancient blood refining method.
Using blood as a medium, a connection is established between the human body and objects.
In Zhong Xuan's view, the fundamental issue is still establishing a medium for the connection of Qi.
He had actually refined the "Zhengyi Zhanxie Weifa Sword" before, so he wasn't completely clueless. It's just that at the time, he followed the instructions in the manual, like pressing a button on a machine, knowing how but not why.
Zhong Xuan did not act immediately, but looked out the window at a tree.
Abbess Jingyuan wondered why he hadn't started the ritual yet and asked him why.
Zhong Xuan said softly, "I know this tree is called a willow, and I know its color and how many years it has grown."
"But even so, I still don't know what it is."
Upon hearing this, Abbess Jingyuan fell into deep thought.
She felt something upon hearing it, which shows that it contained Buddhist wisdom.
Was the boy explaining Buddhist principles? But what does this statement correspond to?
It's just that she hasn't grasped it yet, which is why she's moved but doesn't understand.
Zhong Xuan was just saying it casually; he had already begun to withdraw his mind and prepare for the refining.
This is a magical artifact or treasure called the Lesser Chaos Bell, also known as an acquired treasure.
But what they're called, do they have anything to do with weapon crafting?
Zhong Xuan told herself that it was okay.
What he wants is the ritual, so whatever it's called or resembles is an interference.
Let's eliminate these distractions and begin the purification ritual that gets straight to the heart of the matter.
He began the ritual, using the most primitive method of refining essence and blood, dipping his fingertip into the blood and letting it fall onto the bell.
Once the connection is established, all that is needed in the future is to continuously nourish it with one's own vital energy.
It requires careful manipulation of the Qi with divine will, enveloping and permeating it day and night, so that it gradually becomes a unified whole, with the Qi and secrets inseparable, at which point it cannot be easily taken away by others.
Just like the supernatural power of head-renewing techniques, as long as the vital energy continues, the head will not stop.
Once you understand one method, you understand all methods. My previous understanding of head-regeneration techniques suddenly became clear.
He focused his mind and immediately saw his own energy quietly spreading.
My own energy seemed to come alive and become spiritual—this was because of divine guidance.
This energy is essentially the phenomenon of the "vital energy" mechanism generated by the body's natural operation.
Now, Zhong Xuan has a clearer understanding of the relationship between essence, energy, spirit, and qi.
Qi can refer to energy, including but not limited to the mechanisms of activity.
From the perspective of past lives, this is like a battery releasing electrical energy to operate an appliance, or a steam engine releasing steam to drive a machine.
Essence is matter, while Qi is the energy released when matter changes its form.
If we further define the "qi" with a clear operating mechanism, then this is the qi mechanism.
Furthermore, essence and energy are often used together, indicating that the two are inseparable.
Only divine will is born from a spark of spirituality, which is why there is the separate concept of Yin spirits, ghosts, and immortals.
As Zhong Xuan thought about these pre-refinement cognitive processes, he gradually felt relieved.
Cultivating the Tao means gaining enlightenment and resolving doubts.
By fitting and eliminating the gap between expectations and experiments, one achieves mental and physical clarity.
Zhong Xuan calmed himself down and began to guide his own energy.
First, gently soak into Xiao Zhong's blood, gradually permeating his Qi.
However, when he sensed the continuous permeation of Qi, he found that Xiao Zhong seemed to be rejecting it.
Why would a simple little bell carry such a strong sense of rejection?
Zhong Xuan suddenly opened his eyes and met the gaze of the nun who was looking at him with concern.
He asked directly, "Master, why did I seem to encounter a distinct resistance when I was refining the weapon with my blood just now?"
……
at the same time.
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens lies the Heaven of Separation and Hatred.
Inside the small pavilion in the Heavenly Palace, the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn had already met.
The room was simply furnished, with a bronze incense burner on the table, from which wisps of smoke curled.
Outside the window, clouds drift and swirl, with the occasional crane flying by.
Silver Horn sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, holding something with a worried expression.
Despite the Golden Horn's boasting that it was so powerful, once it fell into his hands and he began to refine it, this acquired treasure, which was modeled after the Chaos Bell, immediately turned into a stone. No matter how he refined it, there was no change, as if he was refining a stubborn rock.
Silver Horn weighed the treasure in his hand, then looked up at his brother: "This acquired treasure is as hard as a bone. It will probably take several years of refining to subdue it."
Jinjiao leaned against the window, hands behind his back, gazing at the sea of clouds, and said smugly, "What's the rush? I fooled that kid..."
The words abruptly stopped as he sensed the magical artifact's restriction being broken.
Silver Horn looked up and asked, "Brother, what's wrong?"
Jinjiao didn't turn around; he kept looking out the window.
A moment later, he sneered, "Nothing much, just some overconfident fool."
After saying that, he turned and went out.
Silver Horn watched his departing figure, his brows furrowing slightly.