Chapter 45: The Way of Talismans

Zhao Zhen glanced at Zhang Zhiwei and could not help but chuckle softly.

Of course. Zhang Zhiwei was no immortal; although his protective techniques were undeniably formidable, it was clear that he hadn't put much effort into the Dao of talismans.

"Benefactor Zhao, please enlighten me!"

"Please."

After exchanging a mutual bow, Zhao Zhen's gaze narrowed slightly.

He had once visited the Shangqing Sect on Mount Mao and sparred with their disciples who specialized in talismans. However, due to the unique nature of practicing the talismanic arts, one often had to spend several years of bitter cultivation before being granted a single talisman.

Consequently, for Shangqing disciples to achieve any real mastery, they had to be at least thirty or forty years old. As for those Shangqing disciples of the same generation as Zhao Zhen—to put it bluntly—fighting them was even easier than dealing with practitioners from some minor sects.

Yet, judging by the age of the Daoist priest Li before him, he had to be at least thirty-five. Presumably, he should have mastered at least two or three types of talismans.

While Zhao Zhen was still pondering in his heart, Li Fu suddenly made his move.

Without any sign of panic, he retrieved a yellow talisman from his sleeve, formed a hand seal, and as the surface of the talisman began to emit a faint glow, five wisps of cyan smoke slowly drifted out from it.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, those five wisps of cyan smoke ultimately transformed on the stage into five fierce-looking armored warriors with blue faces and protruding fangs!

"Oh? The Five Warriors Talisman?" Zhao Zhen uttered in mild surprise.

The Five Warriors Talisman allowed the caster to summon the five pestilence-bringing warriors of the cardinal directions to assist in battle. These five pestilence spirits were:

Liu Yuanda, the Eastern Green Pestilence Ghost, holding a ladle and jar, who governed the spring pestilence;

Zhang Yuanbo, the Southern Red Pestilence Ghost, holding a leather pouch and sword, who governed the summer pestilence;

Zhao Gongming, the Western White Pestilence Ghost, holding a fan, who governed the autumn pestilence;

Zhong Shiji, the Northern Black Pestilence Ghost, holding a hammer, who governed the winter pestilence;

And Shi Wenyye, the Central Yellow Pestilence Ghost, holding a fire pot, who oversaw the pestilence vapors of all four seasons.

"I originally thought the Five Warriors Talisman was a secret known only to the Shangqing Sect of Mount Mao. To think the Heavenly Master's Mansion has inherited it as well. It seems my knowledge was still too shallow..." Zhao Zhen thought to himself.

"Benefactor Zhao, be careful."

Li Fu issued a loud warning, then manipulated four of the warriors to charge toward Zhao Zhen. As for the remaining warrior—Shi Wenyye, the Central Yellow Pestilence Ghost—he stayed behind to guard Li Fu, remaining on constant alert against any surprise attacks by Zhao Zhen using the Golden Escaping Light.

Zhao Zhen did not rush to use the Golden Escaping Light. Instead, he targeted one of the warriors, gathered his true qi into his right fist, and flashed right in front of it to deliver a heavy blow.

***

Clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed across the entire plaza.

Zhao Zhen's punch did not land on the warrior; instead, it was intercepted by Zhao Gongming, the fan-wielding spirit standing beside it.

Simultaneously, Zhang Yuanbo, who wielded the sword, seized the opportunity to slash down at Zhao Zhen.

Boom!!

The massive sword cleaved into the ground, instantly gouging out a huge crater and kicking up clouds of dust and debris.

"Tsk, Senior Brother Li's Five Warriors Talisman is still as formidable as ever. Those five warriors... even I would have to exert a great deal of effort to deal with them," Zhang Zhiwei said with a sigh of admiration.

Zhao Zhen flashed out from the smoke and dust, wearing a solemn expression as he stared at the four great warriors before him.

In truth, most people held misconceptions about the talismanic arts, especially in that later era when everyone was so impatient and fickle. Many people, much like Zhao Guizhen, simply lacked the endurance for the monotonous and grueling process of talisman cultivation.

In reality, however, a talisman was both a code to communicate with heaven and earth and a ritual instrument to protect the nation and pacify the people.

The reason Zhao Guizhen's Five Warriors Talisman shattered instantly when facing Xiao Zaizai was because the power of a talisman is inextricably linked to the practitioner's cultivation level and moral virtue. A talisman was more like a key; the force used to open the door depended entirely on the person holding it.

Take Li Fu, whom Zhao Zhen was facing now: a single Five Warriors Talisman, wielded by his hands, unleashed power far beyond Zhao Zhen's imagination. The physical solidity of these five warriors and the seamless tacit coordination between them were simply incomparable to Zhao Guizhen's half-baked proficiency.

This was also why, when evaluating Lu Jin's Tongtian Talisman, Zhang Zhiwei had remarked that it was fortunate Lu Jin wasn't from an orthodox talismanic sect. The exact same talisman, when used by an insider versus an outsider, produced results that were worlds apart!

"Although it's not impossible to wipe out these four warriors, when dealing with an opponent proficient in the talismanic arts, the simplest method is still to eliminate the person casting the talismans."

Zhao Zhen's eyes flickered, and he charged back toward the four warriors once more.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuanbo remained expressionless and slashed down with his sword again.

Zhao Zhen sidestepped to evade the blow, simultaneously utilizing the cover of the dust to activate his Golden Escaping Light.

Swish!

The next instant, Zhao Zhen's figure materialized directly behind Li Fu.

However, just as Zhao Zhen was about to launch his attack on Li Fu, a massive jar suddenly materialized, completely enclosing Li Fu within it. At the same time, blazing flames began to erupt across the surface of the jar, making it utterly impossible for anyone to approach.

"Hmm?"

Seeing this, Zhao Zhen had no choice but to retreat.

***

"Benefactor Zhao, since I've long known that your Golden Escaping Light is used with god-like proficiency, how could I possibly not be prepared?

Moreover, according to Zhiwei, your Golden Escaping Light requires direct physical contact to transfer other people and objects, right? I wonder if you are capable of transferring this fire pot away from around my body?"

Upon hearing these words, Zhao Zhen immediately glared at Zhang Zhiwei.

That damned big mouth! Someone really ought to make his master punish him by carrying water jars for a whole year!

"Ah, well... Old Zhao, why are you looking at me?"

Perhaps feeling guilty of a guilty conscience, Zhang Zhiwei shrank his head back sheepishly.

I'll settle the score with you later!

Silently adding a tally to Zhang Zhiwei's account in his mind, Zhao Zhen shifted his gaze back to Li Fu.

"A fire pot, is it? I wonder how Daoist Priest Li's fire pot compares to the defense of the Golden Light Spell?"

With those words, Zhao Zhen's figure gradually vanished right where he stood.

"Strange, where is he?"

"What's going on? He's gone?"

"Did he use the Golden Escaping Light to teleport away?"

"No, this should be some kind of stealth technique, somewhat similar to the Tang Sect's Phantom Body Veil!"

...

Li Fu glanced around his surroundings. Though sheltered within the fire pot, his vision was not obstructed in the least. However, insulated by the fire pot as he was, his perception of the outside world was inevitably dulled to a considerable degree.

"Similar to the Tang Sect's Phantom Body Veil? It doesn't matter. As long as I remain inside this fire pot, you cannot hurt me. Maintaining that Phantom Body Veil also consumes true qi; I'd like to see just how long you can hold out."

Just as Li Fu intended to stick to his strategy of remaining still while the enemy made the first move, a muffled thud suddenly erupted from behind him.

A few seconds later, the fire pot encasing Li Fu, along with the five warriors on the stage, slowly dissipated.

Amidst the bewildered gazes of the onlookers, Li Fu shook his head with a bitter smile.

"I admit defeat..."