BXBX NOVEL Chapter 18: The Art of Talismans and Seals
“Yu Shitou, what kind of name is that?”
Zhou Yi recalled all the criminals in the prison, certain that there was no such person.
In Jianghu, it was not uncommon for someone from the lower classes to climb their way to the top, but once they gained power, they would adopt a domineering moniker.
Gang leader Li Ergou, Sword God Zhang Tiezhu—spreading such names would only bring laughter from their peers in Jianghu.
As a result, many experts had similar titles, frequently using characters like Xiao, Ba, Hao, and Lie in their names, likely chosen by the same person.
“I consider myself well-informed, yet I have never heard of such a person. Are you still trying to deceive me, boy?”
Sword Qi circled above Yu Jie’s head, gently spinning, and strands of hair fell to the ground, narrowly missing his skull by half an inch.
“Senior, please calm your anger, I have no intention of deceiving…”
Yu Jie, frightened out of his wits, gritted his teeth and said, “Yu Shitou is the real name of my ancestor. He is known by another name outside, called the King of Yellow Heaven!”
“King of Yellow Heaven…”
Zhou Yi’s voice was ethereal, as if recalling the past, “I have met him once, and he spoke of the turmoil of Cang Huang, manipulated by the Jiangnan noble families. In the end, both Heavenly Kings became pawns!”
“You are right, senior. In those days, with the help of my ancestor’s Talisman Technique, even Li Wu could not easily prevail.”
Yu Jie indignantly said, “The Jiangnan noble families initially supported my ancestor, but then they secretly switched allegiance to the Imperial Court, deceiving my ancestor and the King of Azure Heaven into drinking a strange poison. Otherwise, how could an Innate Grandmaster be captured alive!”
“So that’s how it was.”
Zhou Yi suddenly realized, only after using demonic cultivation to break through to the Innate Realm did he learn how formidable the King of Azure Heaven really was.
That Li Wu was able to capture him alive, he had thought it was due to his extraordinary talent, but the truth was that he had been poisoned with something unusual.
The Great General, known throughout the land, was said to be upright and honourable, yet he had resorted to such despicable means.
This realization doused the pride in Zhou Yi’s heart like a bucket of cold water.
An Innate Grandmaster was invincible among mortals, but that did not make them immortal. Enemies would use traps, poison, nightmare wins, and other malicious methods.
A moment of carelessness and one would follow in the footsteps of the King of Azure Heaven!
“How can you prove you’re a descendant of the King of Yellow Heaven?”
“This Talisman Script is called the Shadow Talisman, a secret Talisman Technique of my ancestor. It was the source of power for the shadow secret guards that once shook Jiangnan.”
Yu Jie took out a Talisman Script from his chest, painted with cinnabar to form complex symbols: “When the Imperial Court’s troops broke through the King’s mansion, I survived the massacre by using this talisman to hide.”
Zhou Yi asked, “What is the use of this talisman?”
Yu Jie replied, “The Shadow Talisman can summon a mist to surround the body, blending into the night, making one virtually invisible.”
Zhou Yi commanded, “Demonstrate it, let me see it for myself!”
In the past, sensing danger in the prison, Zhou Yi hastily left seeking refuge and never saw the King of Yellow Heaven again.
At first, it was believed that the stories of the King of Yellow Heaven using talismans to treat diseases were merely a strategy to gather faith and prepare for rebellion.
Now it seemed there was some truth to these mysterious skills.
The art of Talisman Script had transcended ordinary martial arts, resembling more the practice of cultivators, which filled Zhou Yi with anticipation.
Yu Jie dared not refuse. He infused his Inner Qi into the Talisman Script, and the Shadow Talisman spontaneously combusted into ash.
A group of black mist rose out of nowhere in the cell, wrapping around Yu Jie a half-foot from his body. From a distance, it merged with the darkness of the night.
Zhou Yi asked, “Do you have other Talisman Scripts?”
“In the past years, while evading the Jinyiwei manhunt, I had used up all the Attack Talisman Scripts, leaving only a few Shadow Talismans and Godspeed Talismans,” Yu Jie explained.
Yu Jie took out another Talisman Script, which had patterns different from the Shadow Talisman.
Zhou Yi, hidden in the shadows, watched Yu Jie for a moment, uncertain whether the boy had any Attack Talisman Scripts left; the situation could turn dangerous if a few large fireballs were suddenly launched at him once he revealed his position.
An Innate Realm Grandmaster, who had just embarked on the path of cultivation, might not withstand a Spirit Talisman.
“Did the King of Yellow Heaven not pass the art of Talisman Script to you?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Yu Jie replied, “He did teach me some, but due to my limited talent, I have yet to grasp it.”
Zhou Yi made no attempt to disguise his intentions, his tone fierce and domineering, “I am very interested in the art of talisman scripts, so how about I exchange your life for it?”
Yu Jie was certain that Zhou Yi was an eccentric figure of the Jianghu, whose nature was perverse and violent. He dared not refuse.
With a ripping sound, he tore open his sleeve and took out a blue-covered book hidden inside: “The talisman techniques passed down by my ancestors are all recorded here. Elder, please feel free to take them and study.”
Zhou Yi asked further, “If you have an inheritance, why did you come to this Sky Prison?”
“Elder is unaware that my ancestors only passed down the basic talisman techniques. Then, a sudden calamity struck, and they could not leave a complete legacy.”
Yu Jie explained, “Even with the basic talisman techniques, after years of study, I still couldn’t grasp the essence. My only hope was to find the subsequent content, perhaps to learn the art of talisman scripts.”
“Ha-ha-ha-ha!”
A string of eerie laughter reached Yu Jie’s ears, as Zhou Yi’s voice revealed a chilling murderous intent.
“So, you’re saying all this because you plan to use me to seek out the talisman technique inheritance?”
Yu Jie candidly admitted, “Junior has searched everywhere that my ancestor might have left the legacy, and now only the Sky Prison and the Imperial Prison remain.”
“Imperial Prison…”
Zhou Yi had already searched the Sky Prison, so it was very likely that the King of Yellow Heaven’s talisman techniques were left in the Jinyiwei Imperial Prison.
The Imperial Prison was fraught with danger, even more so than the Sky Prison!
“It’s said that the King of Yellow Heaven learned the art of talisman scripts from a foreign master. Is this true or not?”
“I dare not deceive you, Elder!”
Yu Jie felt the killing intent gradually disperse and breathed a sigh of relief at the bottom of his heart, responding truthfully.
“What the world knows is just a ruse told by my ancestor. In the years of drought, the Dog Emperor kept raising taxes, and my ancestor joined a Taoist temple just to eat.”
“Who would have thought the temple also had no rice? My ancestor refused to starve to death. On the surface, he became a wandering Taoist, but secretly he made a living by tomb robbing.”
“The talisman techniques were unearthed from a tomb in Mount Dai. After mastering them, my ancestor used the spirit water to practice medicine and took in many disciples…”
There was no need to continue; the disciples of the King of Yellow Heaven were spread across Jiangnan, many of whom were the sons of noble families. After joining forces, they rebelled and proclaimed themselves as the Kings!
Zhou Yi stared at Yu Jie for a while, and, in the end, decided not to kill him. He commanded,
“Leave the book and you may go.”
“Thank you, Elder!”
Yu Jie’s face lit up with delight. He bowed repeatedly to the surroundings, carefully placed the book on the ground, and quickly left the Sky Prison.
Zhou Yi did not pick up the book but secretly followed Yu Jie to a solitary household in Desheng Square.
Yu Jie breathed a sigh of relief, quickly packed up his gold and silver valuables, and headed straight for the west gate of Divine Capital.
The soldiers on duty seemed familiar with Yu Jie. After receiving several silver notes, they sent him out using the basket lift.
“This kid has potential!”
Zhou Yi stood on the city wall, watching Yu Jie’s figure disappear from sight.
He returned to the Sky Prison.
Cell Number Two.
The blue-covered book lay quietly on the floor, untouched.
Zhou Yi picked up a stick and flipped through the pages one by one. No attack talisman script was triggered, and he then found a rat to nibble a few pages, ensuring there were no deadly poisons that would be released upon contact.
Wrapped in his Innate True Yuan, he picked up the book and read through it page by page.
“Talisman paper, talisman brush making techniques, cinnabar mixed with Beast Blood… Drawing a talisman must be done with a calm and steady mind… channeling Inner Qi to the tip of the brush… finishing in one breath, without interruption… ”
The contents recorded in the book were not the formal art of talisman scripts, but rather felt like Yu Jie’s classroom notes, interspersed with many insights of uncertain accuracy.
Zhou Yi turned to the last few pages, which contained four complete talisman scripts.
“Dust Cleansing Talisman, Peaceful Home Talisman, Shadow Talisman, Featherweight Talisman!”