Chapter 75: Assault on the Sea of Divine Consciousness

Jiang Yan had forgotten about his two junior disciples; at this moment, he wore a bitter expression, struggling to break through his own spiritual consciousness channel.

To become an apprentice of the Talisman Master, the first step was to open the channel of spiritual consciousness. Only then could one control a vast amount of spiritual power, letting it leave the body and communicate between inner and outer worlds. By harnessing the harmony between heaven and man during the initial opening of this channel, one could establish a source of spiritual consciousness within and form a sea of spiritual awareness.

“Huff... huff...”

Jiang Yan leaned against the green marble atop the talisman formation platform, gasping heavily. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his demeanor quite disheveled.

After the banquet, Jiang Yan had hurried back to the formation platform, hoping to seize the opportunity while his spiritual consciousness was nourished by high-grade spirit stones, to break through the channel in one go and form the sea of spiritual consciousness. Yet, things did not go as planned. Several attempts had ended in failure.

He took a long breath, rested until he felt ready, then adjusted his posture and sat cross-legged, focusing his will to make another attempt.

His spiritual consciousness slowly left his body, circling above his head. According to Jiang Yan’s plan, the swirling spiritual power suddenly shifted, darting toward the channel at his brow...

A sharp hiss escaped him as his own spiritual power assaulted his mind. At the eighth level of Qi Refining, his spiritual consciousness was far stronger than that of a fourth-level practitioner and possessed considerable force. Although he was using his consciousness to open the channel, the pain from the attack on his own brow made him gasp deeply.

In his perception, the tip of his consciousness was like a sharp little awl; following the channel, it jabbed inward. Under this assault, the channel at his brow opened a small distance...

Enduring the piercing pain, Jiang Yan gingerly guided his spiritual consciousness further, gradually boring through the channel.

As the channel deepened, sweat streamed down his forehead, forming rivulets that trickled onto the polished floor, soaking his robes. In the dim, turquoise light of the formation hall, the sweat gleamed brightly.

“There must be something wrong,” Jiang Yan muttered, rubbing his brow and pondering deeply why, after repeated attempts, he always failed to break through.

According to the Treatise on Refining the Mind, if after dozens of attempts the channel still could not be opened, there was only one possibility—the cultivator was not suited to become a Talisman Master. The channel was simply too hard, spiritual power couldn’t penetrate, and thus the sea of consciousness could never be formed.

Jiang Yan had tried dozens of times, yet there was no sign of progress. He almost believed he was among those lacking the talent for the craft. However, blessed with the Sect Master’s system, he still harbored a sliver of hope—perhaps his spiritual consciousness was simply too weak to break through.

He drew another deep breath, readying himself for yet another attempt. If he failed again, he would try once more, and after hundreds of tries, he was convinced he would eventually succeed.

His spiritual consciousness emerged again, circling above his head. Under his control, the tip slowly shaped itself into a sharp awl...

“An awl…”

Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed in Jiang Yan’s mind. If an awl could not break through, why not try another form of assault?

The tip of his spiritual consciousness transformed, becoming the shape of a sharp arrow.

Since the awl failed, perhaps an arrow would succeed? The weapon he was most familiar with was the Greenwood Arrow, so when adapting his approach, it was the first that came to mind.

With a piercing whistle, the arrow-shaped spiritual consciousness shot toward his brow.

As he employed the Greenwood Arrow technique, he recalled the first form he had mastered—Seven Stars in Succession.

Under his control, the spiritual consciousness not only shaped its tip as an arrow, but the entire front segment successively morphed into arrowheads.

Jiang Yan decided to stake everything. If the first arrow failed to break through, he would unleash the Greenwood Arrow’s self-destruct technique, detonating the tip, and the next arrowhead would follow.

With a dull thud, the spiritual arrow finally pierced the channel at his brow.

His head jerked violently; the pain at his brow was so intense he nearly lost consciousness.

Suppressing the agony, Jiang Yan continued to shape his spiritual consciousness like an arrow, battering the stubborn channel...

A loud explosion sounded.

The first arrowhead failed to break through. Without hesitation, Jiang Yan triggered the Greenwood Arrow’s explosive technique, detonating the spiritual arrow.

The second arrowhead pierced the channel, striking the spot where the first had exploded, prying the channel open a little further. However, the pain in his brow intensified, almost forcing him to collapse.

The agony was like tearing—his forehead veins bulged, writhing like worms. As the pain worsened, the sweat vanished, vaporized by the heat of his body.

Another explosion.

Yet another arrowhead detonated; the wrenching pain at his brow, coupled with the burning sensation at the tip of his consciousness, sent waves of darkness across his vision, threatening to plunge him into unconsciousness.

Another arrow pierced the channel.

Jiang Yan’s body shuddered; the pain nearly overwhelmed him. His brows knitted tightly, senses fading, leaving only the burning ache and the blood-red shadows swaying before his eyes.

Suddenly, a warm sensation emanated from the channel...

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