Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Primordial Spirit Password, Zhang Fan’s Mother

Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Immortal Realm, Celestial Master Ancestral Court.

Since the existence of the Daoist Sect, this lineage has held a pivotal position, bridging ancient and modern times, without exception.

”Why does your Refining Talisman Palace have to offer sacrifices at Dragon Tiger Mountain?” Jiang Hu couldn’t help but ask.

Evidently, this was the first time he had come to this place as well.

”Because the ancestors of the Shen Family once apprenticed under Dragon Tiger Mountain.”

Just at that moment, a low voice came from behind.

Zhang Fan turned around to see a middle-aged man with empty sleeves walking over.

”Qiu Zhengdao!?”

”Uncle Qiu...” Shen Qingli smiled slightly and greeted.

Being one of the financial supporters of the Shen Family, he naturally could also come here.

”Is the Shen Family’s Daoist from Dragon Tiger Mountain!?” Jiang Hu couldn’t help showing an unusual expression.

”My great-grandfather used to be a Daoist child at Dragon Tiger Mountain in his youth...” Shen Qingli said solemnly.

”In the world, the Way of Talisman, all leads to Dragon Tiger...if it weren’t for your great-grandfather’s experiences at Dragon Tiger Mountain, your family probably wouldn’t have today’s blessings.” Qiu Zhengdao said with a smile.

Mastering talismans originally started from Zhang Daoling’s enlightenment at He Ming Mountain, later spreading techniques across the world, allowing different mountains and lineages to comprehend and develop; the strongest among them being Maoshan Shangqing, Celestial Master of Dragon and Tiger, and Gezao Spiritual Treasure from the Three Mountains Talisman.

During the Yuan Dynasty, the Zhang Family of Dragon Tiger Mountain gained the qualification to oversee the Three Mountains Talisman, hence all of the Way of Talisman in the world converged at Dragon Tiger.

”Uncle Qiu, let me introduce you to my two friends...”

”Jiang Hu, Zhang Fan!” Shen Qingli introduced.

”Your surname is Zhang?” Qiu Zhengdao couldn’t help but look at Zhang Fan and ask.

”It’s not surprising to be surnamed Zhang, throughout history, for every ten Daoists, nine are surnamed Zhang and one is surnamed Li.” Jiang Hu said casually.

”That’s true...Zhang and Zhang are not the same.” Qiu Zhengdao nodded.

Rumble...

Just then, a faint tremor sounded from the inner hall, like the sound of firecrackers cracking.

”Uncle Qiu, wait a moment, I’ll go see if we can go in now.” Shen Qingli called, turning to leave.

”Such a treasure...can really be looked at casually?” Zhang Fan mumbled.

”Profound Mirror Treasure Talisman...is not just an effort of a moment, nor is it like in films where the crafting of Immortal Treasures can’t stand any interference...” Qiu Zhengdao watched Shen Qingli’s departing figure and spoke.

”Has Mr. Qiu seen it?” Jiang Hu asked questioningly.

”Do you know what talismans are?” Qiu Zhengdao said meaningfully.

”The technique to command ghost gods and harness natural power?”

Qiu Zhengdao’s tone shifted, only to shake his head.

Life is suffering and distress precisely because the world is impermanent and constantly changing.

As the weather turns cold, illness strikes, emotions sour, the mind is affected, even the fluctuations in the stock market can affect many people’s joys and sorrows, their rise and fall, destiny...

The greatest disaster in the world comes from impermanence, from change.

Talismans are techniques to perceive and master the changes in impermanence.

Thus, a single talisman could create wind, ignite fire, bring cold...making something from nothing, with endless transformations.

Qiu Zhengdao’s words intrigued Zhang Fan.

”However...”

”Reversal is the movement of the Dao...all things evolve through opposing forces.” Qiu Zhengdao spoke solemnly and quietly.

Just like people, living means moving towards death.

Cultivation is the same; from manhood to immortality through reversal.

The true Way of Talisman seeks constancy within impermanence, in search of invariability in endless transformations.

That is the Pure Yang Wuji Realm.

That is unlocking the Primordial Spirit Password.

At this point, a gleam appeared in Qiu Zhengdao’s eyes.

The path of talismans originates from the twenty-eight Extreme Yang Characters, even the oldest pictographic characters were derived from these.

The twenty-eight Extreme Yang Characters have spawned countless talismans, comprehending the rules behind the changes of all things.

If all those countless talismans were condensed into one, simplifying complexity...

”The Profound Mirror Treasure Talisman is a decoder?” Jiang Hu blurted out.

”You certainly have great insight, young friend!”

Qiu Zhengdao nodded: ”Talismans from various gates and sects range from dozens to thousands in variety...”

”These are vast databases, inputting these data into the Profound Mirror Treasure Talisman might calculate the most primitive code, thereby unlocking the mysteries of the Primordial Spirit and mastering the power of constancy.”

At this point, a gleam appeared in Qiu Zhengdao’s eyes.

”That is the Infinite...”

”That is Pure Yang!”

”Can this really be done?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.

”This is one of many paths to becoming immortal...” Qiu Zhengdao said solemnly: ”The Ten Great Daoist Sects have gone deeply down this path, each finding their own approach...”

Qiu Zhengdao’s words coincided with Jiang Hu’s.

Each gate and sect are researching; Jiang Hu says Dragon Tiger Mountain has gone the furthest.

Qiu Zhengdao was silent for a moment before nodding: ”The Primordial Spirit Password is not easy to decipher...”

The Shen Family is feeling their way across the river, rather than refining talismans, they’re refining treasures to unlock the Primordial Spirit Password.

That is the talisman that can ascend to become an immortal!

”What kind of talisman paper can create that immortal-making talisman?” Jiang Hu couldn’t help but ask.

Ordinary talismans can be drawn on talisman paper; the Shen Family wants to condense ten thousand talismans into one, usual materials won’t suffice.

”The Shen Family found a treasure, but it’s uncertain if it can succeed.”

Qiu Zhengdao paused briefly, looking at Jiang Hu with deep meaning.

”I’ve heard someone say that, in fact, there’s one material in this world, and only that can be used to refine ten thousand talismans into one, to refine the immortal-making talisman.”

Qiu Zhengdao’s voice took on a trembling tone.

”What?” Jiang Hu instinctively asked.

”Humans!”

Upon hearing this, both Jiang Hu and Zhang Fan’s faces trembled.

”A madman, he plays with life and death, manipulates people’s hearts, controls the seven emotions, harnesses the six desires... he treats people’s destinies as games, just to refine that talisman containing the Primordial Spirit Password...”

”Human Talisman!!!”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hu’s breathing became heavy, his fists tightly clenched.

”Young man, you are like me... we are all his playthings, his materials, his creations...” Qiu Zhengdao’s gaze was icy, looking at his own severed arm.

”Wu Ma!” Jiang Hu said nothing, moments of that night flashing in his mind.

”Let’s go.”

Qiu Zhengdao gave Jiang Hu a deep look, calling out to the two as they proceeded towards the inner hall.

”Jiang Hu...” Zhang Fan called out.

”I’m okay.” Jiang Hu took a deep breath, lifted his head, revealing a smile.

”Oh right...” Zhang Fan hurriedly shifted the topic: ”Just now you said, throughout history, for every ten Daoists, nine are surnamed Zhang and one is surnamed Li... why?”

”Because, from ancient times to the present, many of the most powerful Daoists have come from these two surnames...”

”Coincidentally, my mother’s surname is Li.” Zhang Fan grinned.

”Is it? What’s your mother’s name?” Jiang Hu casually asked.

”Li Linglong!”