nownovels Chapter 79 The Battle of the Talisman Masters
Chapter 79 The Battle of the Talisman Masters
Chapter 79 The Battle of the Talisman Masters
As he spoke, he took out a stack of specially made talisman papers and a corresponding small porcelain bottle from under the podium.
"These are our pre-prepared 'demon sketches,' containing many common demons."
Cao Wenjing placed the talisman and porcelain bottle on the podium: "The outline of the demon has been drawn on the draft, and the porcelain bottle contains spiritual sand infused with demon materials."
"Your task is to infuse the spirit sand into this outline, bringing the drawing to life."
"Su Shuang, Shen Yan, you two try first."
Han Sushuang and Gu Shenyan stood up and walked to the front of the podium.
Cao Wenjing pointed to the stack of drawings and the corresponding porcelain bottles, letting them choose for themselves: "Remember, don't just mechanically apply the spirit sand."
"You must try to feel" this demon, and imagine how it moves.
"How its muscles exert force, how its scales reflect light, what kind of ferocity shines in its eyes—"
"Incorporate all of these into your writing."
Han Sushuang selected the drawing and carefully examined its outline.
She chose a mandrill sketch, with its outline drawn in extremely fine detail.
After carefully examining it, she dipped her brush in the spirit sand and began to trace the outline.
The girl's technique was very steady, and her control of spiritual energy was also very precise.
But as soon as she made the first stroke, she sensed something was wrong.
Although the spirit sand successfully blended into the talisman paper, the resulting drawing—
I always feel like something is missing.
It's like an empty shell, having the form but lacking the spirit.
She frowned and continued drawing.
One stroke, two strokes, three strokes—the more she drew, the more she felt something was wrong.
Although the outline of the mandrill has been drawn, it looks like a flat, lifeless picture.
Gu Shenyan encountered the same problem.
The drawing he chose was of a ferocious-level water ape, which is considered a superior individual among the resentful-level water monkeys. Any stronger would be "Wuzhiqi" and its direct descendants.
Although I had fought alongside the water monkeys for a period of time.
But at that time, everyone was busy trying to understand the true meaning of "Diving Abyss" and didn't bother to carefully observe the water monkey that was responsible for restraining it.
Now, relying on that vague memory, he wanted to capture the essence of the water monkey in a painting—but he found that he simply couldn't do it.
Even in the [Assisted Cultivation] mode, he could clearly perceive how spiritual energy should flow and how it should be injected.
But what is drawn is still just an empty shell.
Cao Wenjing and Shen Qingyi stood aside, watching the two struggle desperately.
About fifteen minutes later, the two finally finished their respective drawings.
But when they looked at the "finished product" in their hands, they were all somewhat disappointed.
Han Sushuang's painting of the mandrill, although complete in outline, also has no problem with the flowing spirit.
But it looks like an ordinary illustration of a demon, completely devoid of any spirit.
The water monkeys painted by Gu Shenyan are in a similar situation.
Although it was slightly better than Han Sushuang's, after all, he had seen the lower-ranking water monkeys, it still lacked the most crucial "spirit".
"Did you spot the problem?"
Cao Wenjing spoke up.
The two looked at each other and shook their heads.
The problem is—
Cao Wenjing walked up to them and pointed to the two drawings: "You have no idea what these demons actually look like."
"Su Shuang, have you ever seen a real mandrill?"
Han Sushuang bit her lip and shook her head: "Never."
"Be careful what you say. I can tell you might have seen a water monkey of the Vengeful level. But were you fighting it to the death back then?"
Gu Shenyan answered truthfully, "I was just observing from the sidelines."
"That's the problem."
Cao Wenjing held up the two paintings so everyone could see them: "Look, although these two paintings are similar in form, they are not similar in spirit."
"Because when you were drawing, there were no real demons in your hearts."
"
"What you've drawn are nothing more than the demons you've imagined."
He put down the drawing and looked at everyone: "This is the biggest hurdle in making a copy of the Life Fire Diagram—"
"You must have seen that demon, truly and clearly."
"Instead of observing from afar in a safe environment, we must—"
His voice turned low: "In a life-or-death struggle, when the demon's claws are about to tear your throat apart, at a distance where you can almost smell the stench of its breath—"
"That kind of unforgettable fear will make you remember every detail of that demon forever."
The classroom was completely silent.
Everyone was stunned by Cao Wenjing's words.
Five years ago, my master accepted a mission from the Xuanzheng Division to exterminate a ferocious demon that was causing trouble.
Cao Wenjing's voice carried a hint of reminiscence: "That Black Wind Ox is entrenched deep in the Southern Mountains and has already wiped out a sizable village."
"My master called a few familiar martial arts masters who had reached the peak of the Sha realm. He originally planned to go directly there, but I insisted on coming along."
"At that time, I had just entered the Forging Law Realm and felt that my cultivation was quite good."
Thinking this would be a good opportunity to see a ferocious demon and, incidentally, to make a copy of a life-fire diagram.
Genuine fear flashed in his eyes: "Who knew—that beast's ferocity far exceeded my imagination."
"Its scales are harder than refined steel; ordinary talismans simply cannot penetrate its defenses."
"Its power is astonishing; it can smash through the deep mountain cliffs with a single blow, triggering a torrent of earth and rocks."
"What's most terrifying is its speed. Despite its enormous size, it runs as fast as lightning."
"I used three protective talismans, but it shattered them all with a single impact."
"At that moment, I was only one step away from death."
His voice trembled as he said this: "I could smell the stench of its breath, the stench of human blood."
"That fear—" he closed his eyes, "I'll never forget it in my life."
"If the martial arts master next to me hadn't pulled me up and my master hadn't intervened in time to restrain it, I would have been torn apart by its attacks."
After hearing this true story, the atmosphere in the classroom changed drastically, and even Han Sushuang turned pale.
Cao Wenjing opened his eyes and looked at everyone: "But it was only that time that I truly saw the ferocious demon."
"How it ran, how it charged, how it roared—"
"These details, from that brush with death, are all etched into my mind."
"After returning, I was able to make this life fire diagram by relying on those memories."
He picked up the parchment on the podium: "The Black Wind Bull in the picture is exactly how I remember it."
"It wasn't an illustration in a book, nor was it a description by someone else; it was just—imprinted into my mind at the very moment it was about to pierce through me."
Shen Qingyi added softly from the side, "So those sketches that your senior brother had you draw earlier were destined to be lifeless."
"Because there is no real demon in your hearts."
"What you've drawn is just what you've imagined."
Cao Wenjing put away the Black Wind Ox's Life Fire Diagram, walked to the blackboard, and wrote a line: "Observe the demon, gather materials, concentrate, and put pen to paper — these are the four essentials of rubbing."
"Each one is indispensable."
"Beyond these four essentials, there is an even higher realm—"
He then changed the subject and wrote two more words: "Creation".
Creating a life-fire diagram is something only a talisman master can do.
"Whether it's a rubbing or a collector's edition, it's ultimately just a copy."
Cao Wenjing's voice carried a hint of longing: "And creation is about innovating on the basis of the original supernatural powers of demons."
"For example, that ferocious-level fanged leopard's special ability in its treasured edition is swift movement."
"However, if the talisman master is skilled enough, they can deduce derivative supernatural abilities such as 'Wind Walk' and 'Flash' from this 'Swift Movement'."
"Even—" A glint of light flashed in his eyes: "It can even fuse two different divine abilities to create a completely new Life Fire Diagram."
"This kind of Destiny Fire Diagram is a true one-of-a-kind, and its value is immeasurable."
"But to achieve this step—"
Cao Wenjing shook his head: "What's needed is not only talent and hard work, but also the experience accumulated from countless life-and-death battles."
"In all these years, Master has only created two Destiny Fire Diagrams."
"Every single one of them was earned with my life."
He then turned serious: "So I'm putting my words out here today—"
"If you want to go further in the art of talismans, you can't just stay in this big courtyard drawing talismans."
"Sooner or later, you will have to go out and see the real demons and experience real life and death."
"Talisman masters have never been an easy profession."
"Drawing talismans is just the basics; combat is the required course."
"Did you understand?"
"Disciple understands!" everyone replied in unison.
But the expressions on each person's face were different.
Han Sushuang bit her lip, her eyes filled with struggle.
Jia Shouren's face was pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Zhao Xiaoman and Chen An exchanged a glance, a hint of bitterness flashing in their eyes.
They already knew these things, but knowing them is one thing, actually doing them is another.
Only Gu Shenyan had a flame burning in his eyes.
That was a light eager to try.
After Cao Wenjing finished speaking, he told everyone to review the material on their own.
Shen Qingyi walked in at some point and stood beside him: "Senior brother's words are likely to scare away quite a few people."
"So what if they scared you away?"
Cao Wenjing said calmly, "It's pointless to force someone to stay if they can't be kept."
"What Master wants are disciples who are truly capable of shouldering great responsibilities."
"Those who only want to make a living by relying on the title of 'Lu Banxian's disciple' —"
He sneered, "Get out of here sooner, it'll save us some trouble."
Shen Qingyi looked at the young people in the classroom and said softly, "Although Sister Su Shuang has a good foundation, her temperament—"
"Shouren was honest and dutiful, but ultimately too cowardly."
"As for Gu Shenyan—he's a promising talent, but I don't know if he really has the courage to fight against demons."
Cao Wenjing remained silent.
He simply gazed quietly out the window, his eyes fixed on the branches of the old locust tree.
A breeze blew, and the locust leaves fell in a rustling sound.
Some leaves fell on the branches, teetering on the edge, but ultimately did not fall.
Some leaves drifted away in the wind, their destination unknown.
That's generally how things are in this world.
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