Chapter Seventeen: The First Understanding of Runes

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(Still asking for recommendation votes—dropped out of the top thirty, feeling a little down.)

As the head of Qingxuan, Zhang Ruoxu was not one to put on airs. In his dealings with Shen Lian, his manner resembled that of a venerable teacher guiding a student through questions and doubts.

Shen Lian took the opportunity to ask a few more questions about cultivation, and Zhang Ruoxu was never impatient. Of course, it was not easy for Shen Lian to see Zhang Ruoxu at any time, so naturally, he did not waste the chance when it arose.

Before Zhang Ruoxu could suggest that it was time for him to leave, Shen Lian took the initiative to bid his farewell, neither too early nor too late, displaying a calm and composed demeanor.

Zhang Ruoxu remained seated on the stone dais. He had sat there for a hundred years—not for lack of desire to move, but because he simply could not.

He gently tapped the “Mirror of Heaven and Earth,” and in the vast, silent hall, echoes arose, faint and distant.

“Loneliness,” Zhang Ruoxu murmured, a touch of desolation tracing across his brows.

Jingqing, the young attendant, sauntered in from outside the hall.

Zhang Ruoxu gathered himself, his gaze settling on Jingqing. “It’s good that you’re unharmed,” he said.

“The demoness did not lose her mind, after all,” Jingqing replied with a faint smile.

“Your master’s aunt has begun cultivating anew, striving to re-enter ‘Piercing Illusion.’ It is exceedingly difficult. I hope she can let the ‘flower bloom in her heart’ and once more bear the ‘Fruit of the Way,’” Zhang Ruoxu sighed.

“To shatter illusion a second time is tenfold harder than the first. If she succeeds, she may truly transcend the bounds of heaven and earth in this lifetime,” Jingqing said, a trace of envy escaping his composure. Though he had lived for ages, breaking through boundaries was a thousand times more difficult for him than for human cultivators. Perhaps, when Qingxuan was long gone, he would still see no hope of surpassing this world.

******

The spiritual energy atop Purple Mansion Peak was so concentrated that it formed clouds and mists, winding through the mountains and giving the place an otherworldly clarity.

Yet, even with such rich vitality, it could not compare to the depths of the Lower Court’s bamboo dwellings.

This was because the places where cultivators practiced breathing exercises to absorb the energy of heaven and earth were always chosen at points where spiritual currents converged, and then enhanced with geomantic arrays to further enrich the energy and ease cultivation.

The spiritual energy on Purple Mansion and Heavenly Origin Peaks far surpassed that of Jade Sun and Clear Serenity, and so the caves carved out and the geomantic arrays set up were vastly superior to those in the Upper and Lower Courts.

This was what was meant by the “ground” in the saying, “wealth, companions, method, place”—the four essentials of cultivation.

Ordinary disciples like Shen Lian truly lacked the qualifications to open their own caves on Purple Mansion or Heavenly Origin Peaks, but they were not forbidden from entering these two peaks.

They simply had to avoid disturbing the elders during their cultivation. Should they knowingly offend, there would be consequences to bear.

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Shen Lian did not know how it was in other immortal sects, but he could sense that Qingxuan’s rules were few and simple—mainly two: do not disturb others, and do not betray the sect.

It was much like the sentiment in the Dao De Jing: “the sounds of chickens and dogs are heard, but neighbors live and die without visiting each other.”

The winding paths in the mountains led to secluded spots, accompanied by the chorus of cicadas and insects. The roads were many and intricate, and from time to time, one could glimpse elegant Daoist courtyards with flying eaves, caves carved into the cliffs, or bamboo dwellings perched on precarious rocks.

These structures, scattered like sparse stars on a cold night, seemed to blend into the landscape, perfectly natural and never abrupt.

The Taiwei Pavilion stood deep within Purple Mansion Peak—a tranquil, three-story pagoda.

The entire pavilion was well maintained, yet it exuded a sense of time’s passage. Shen Lian had visited the Imperial Palace in his past life and felt the silent flow of ages within its walls. Taiwei Pavilion left a similar, though gentler impression. The feeling of ancientness was like a slow stream, seeping into the heart and unconsciously inspiring awe.

“Reading brings purity wherever you are.”

The library of Taiwei Pavilion was indeed a pure land for Qingxuan’s cultivators.

Naturally, it was not crowded with visitors every day. At least when Shen Lian arrived, aside from an elder tasked with watching over the pavilion, there was no one else.

The elder was a Daoist, practicing a form of silent meditation akin to the Zen discipline of sealing the lips. No one knew how long he had lived, but his spirit showed no sign of decay. Even the wrinkles on his forehead seemed like subtle, mysterious runes.

The old Daoist was not responsible for verifying identities. Taiwei Pavilion was protected by a magical artifact; once someone was registered on their first visit, they could come and go freely thereafter.

Of course, without sufficient cultivation, one could not ascend to the second floor.

As Shen Lian entered, the old Daoist did not spare him a glance, as if half-asleep, barely breathing—he seemed soulless, almost.

Breathing and energy refining were only methods for prolonging life, not the essence of seeking the Way. Shen Lian had heard these words from Zhang Ruoxu.

From the old Daoist, he gained a faint, wordless understanding.

The energy of heaven and earth could nourish the body and soul, but the body and spirit, like intricate machines, no matter how well-maintained, would eventually break down.

Just as the sun, moon, and stars are not truly eternal.

Shen Lian simply reflected on this; he did not ponder deeply, nor did he try to fathom the old Daoist’s current practice. He understood his own limits and the dangers of overreaching.

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The first floor of Taiwei Pavilion was filled with neatly bound volumes. The quality of the paper was excellent, lacking the common flaw of worldly books that grew yellow with age.

Of course, there were no truly precious works here. The core methods of Qingxuan were never recorded in writing, or else were stored in special artifacts.

Moreover, Qingxuan always upheld the principle: “techniques may be taught freely, but the Great Way must be guarded carefully.”

Even the Xuanji Technique that Shen Lian had obtained was only sufficient for cultivating acupoint activation, and did not extend into the higher realms.

The first floor’s Daoist arts were mainly suitable for those below the Pill-Forming stage. Pill-Forming was a crucial watershed in cultivation; only with that attainment did one gradually transform into an Earthly Immortal, whose powers were as far from common mortals as heaven from earth—beyond imagination.

Shen Lian found a book called “An Introduction to the Way of Talismans,” compiled by a Qingxuan elder named Dong Lingzi, renowned for his mastery of talismanic arts.

The book opened by explaining that there were eight mysterious forces in the world: Heaven, Earth, Mountain, Marsh, Thunder, Fire, Water, and Wind. Daoist talismans, through special methods, drew upon these eight powers, producing immense effects—whether to heal, to exorcise evil, or to aid cultivation.

The uses of talismans were many, and cultivators chose according to their needs.

One particular anecdote in the book was especially intriguing: it was said that some cultivators once formed “true talisman seeds” in place of the “Pill,” achieving a different path to longevity.

As to how these practitioners differed from today’s cultivators, the text was vague. According to Dong Lingzi, talismanic cultivators focused more on the external world and were more adept at borrowing the power of all things.

Perhaps to spark greater interest in his “True Explanation of the Way of Talismans,” Dong Lingzi had only mentioned this much.

Shen Lian read on, finally reaching the main section on the basics of talismanic arts.

Getting started with talismans was much like learning calligraphy.

In advanced calligraphy, it was all about the strength of the brush and the spirit behind the strokes.

In advanced talisman crafting, it was about the practitioner’s power and their understanding of the Way of Talismans.

Of course, beginners were not expected to meet such standards.

The book introduced three of the more widespread systems of talismanic writing.

ps: Thanks to Imagination’s Heart for the 2476 reward, Mad Dance v for the 588 reward, Fleeting Time for the 588 reward, Carefree Traveler for the 588 reward, Rookie for the 300 reward, as well as xunqianmo, Raindrops and Traces, Yu Ci, the Golden Cudgel That Grows Bigger and Thicker, and Lidou for their support.