Chapter 48: Bringing Together the Bonds

"Golden Escape Flowing Light?"
Li Fu was startled at first, and then couldn't help but look at Zhao Zhen with a hint of surprise.
"Isn't this Golden Shield Flowing Light Grand Patron Zhao's unique secret art? By letting me examine the Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman just like this, aren't you afraid that I might steal the technique, Grand Patron Zhao?"
Zhao Zhen smiled slightly and replied unhurriedly, "Since I dare to bring this talisman to Daoist Priest Li, it shows that I trust your character, Daoist Priest. Besides, you are a master's top disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion after all, so I suppose you wouldn't look down upon my heterodox ways, would you?"
Of course, these were merely empty and perfunctory pleasantries. The real reason was that Zhao Zhen had no concern whatsoever about Li Fu stealing the Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman.
In other words, even if Li Fu managed to learn how to draw this Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman, it would still be of no use at all.
Leaving aside the extremely high difficulty of cultivating the Golden Escape Flowing Light, this single art alone was something his old man had spent the better part of his life practicing.
Not to mention that executing the Golden Escape Flowing Light required not only this Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman but also a matching unique method of manipulating vital energy.
Even if an outsider took a ready-made talisman from Zhao Zhen, it would still be entirely useless.
This was why Zhao Zhen was not at all worried that Li Fu would secretly learn his Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman.
"The Golden Escape Flowing Light is inherently a profound escaping technique of our Taoist lineage; how could it be considered heterodox? Grand Patron Zhao need not be overly modest."
Li Fu shook his head and continued, "I am deeply grateful for Grand Patron Zhao's trust in me, allowing me to witness this long-lost Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman with my own eyes. Rest assured, I will speak without reservation and tell you everything I know."
"Then many thanks, Daoist Priest Li." Zhao Zhen cupped his fists in salute.
"Think nothing of it. I wonder what questions Grand Patron Zhao wishes to ask?"
"Look here, Daoist Priest Li. I have made a few modifications to this Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman so that it better adapts to the operation of my Golden Escape Flowing Light, but I always feel that some of the stroke trajectories are not quite smooth enough.
For instance, right here, and here as well... Perhaps my attainment in the way of talismans is still not high enough to pinpoint the core issue, which is why I have specifically come to consult you, Daoist Priest."
"Hmm, let me see..."
Li Fu lowered his head again to observe the Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman closely for a moment, especially when looking at the brush-stroke junctions pointed out by Zhao Zhen, causing his brows to knit slightly.
Zhao Zhen was not in a rush and simply waited quietly to the side.
He knew that understanding a completely brand-new talisman from scratch required a process. If Li Fu had blurted out the answer immediately, that would have been the abnormal thing.
For a moment, the room returned to its accustomed tranquility.
A short while later, Li Fu slowly raised his head, though his tightly furrowed brows had still not relaxed.
"Grand Patron Zhao, your intuition is correct. The several spots you mentioned just now indeed have more perfect ways of drawing the strokes.
However, you must give me some time. I need to study this talisman thoroughly once more before I can offer you suggestions."
"Very well, then I shall trouble you, Daoist Priest Li."
Zhao Zhen stood up, cupped his fists toward Li Fu, and then turned to leave the room.
Over the next month, Zhao Zhen seemed to truly live the life of a Daoist ascetic.
He would rise early in the morning to attend morning classes alongside the disciples of the Celestial Master Mansion, and in his leisure time, he and Zhang Zhiwei would discuss the commonalities between the Golden Light Incantation and the Golden Escape Flowing Light.
Their understandings of their respective Dao were far deeper than those of their peers, so each gained much from their exchanges.
As for Li Fu, after being in secluded cultivation for a full month—to the extent that his fellow disciples thought he had gone mad—he finally approached Zhao Zhen, wild with joy.
"Grand Patron Zhao, indeed! If these places are drawn using the brushwork I suggested, the consumption of true qi can be reduced by at least twenty percent!
Furthermore, I have also studied your ingenious modification of dividing the Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman into short-range and long-range uses.
I discovered that by using peach wood when crafting the talisman, the talisman can be preserved for long-term use even after executing the short-range Golden Escape Flowing Light!"
Upon hearing Li Fu's words, Zhao Zhen quickly took the paper from his hands, which contained Li Fu's concepts regarding the Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman.
After merely glancing through it roughly, a flash of wild joy instantly crossed Zhao Zhen's eyes.
If things truly turned out as Li Fu described, he would no longer have to worry about wasting the Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman when employing the short-range Golden Escape Flowing Light.
Just like his previous battle with Jingming, because he had already used the Golden Escape Flowing Light once in the earlier fight, that talisman would quickly turn into a piece of waste paper even if Zhao Zhen did not use it continuously.
However, after Li Fu's improvement, things were vastly different; the remaining uses of the short-range Golden Escape Flowing Light could be entirely preserved and saved for the next battle.
As expected, professional matters must be left to professional talents!
Although he considered himself somewhat talented in the way of talismans, ultimately, as Zhang Zhiwei had said before, a person's energy is limited.
No matter how great one's talent was, the more arts one studied, the less time could be proportionally allocated to each individual art.
Besides, when it came to the way of talismans, apart from the Mao Shan Shangqing Sect, where else could compare with the Celestial Master Mansion, which headed the Orthodox Unity sect?
"Many thanks, Daoist Priest Li. You have been of enormous help to me this time."
"Grand Patron Zhao is too polite. This time, you were so generous as to let me witness the long-lost Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman and even gave me the privilege of studying this ancient talisman for so long. Strictly speaking, I should be the one thanking you."
Li Fu waved his hand, and although his eyes were now bloodshot, his gaze had instead become even more spirited.
Interest is forever the greatest teacher; it was precisely because of his passion for talismans that Li Fu was able to walk so far along the path of talisman arts.
"Daoist Priest Li, why don't you go and rest for a while?"
"No need. While studying your Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman this time, I also encountered many questions of my own, so I must now go and consult my master, begging him to answer them for me! Farewell!"
Without waiting for Zhao Zhen to reply, Li Fu hurried off in a rush of wind.
After Li Fu left, gazing at the improved version of the Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman on the paper, the corners of Zhao Zhen's mouth couldn't help but curve upward into a smile.
"With this, the Ground-Covering Golden Light Talisman is becoming more and more perfected..."
Just as Zhao Zhen was secretly rejoicing, Zhang Zhiwei's voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
"Old Zhao?"
Zhao Zhen turned his head to look and saw Zhang Zhiwei standing in the distance, waving at him.
"What is it, Brother Zhiwei?"
Zhao Zhen put away the paper, turned around, and walked over slowly, only to find that Zhang Zhiwei's expression lacked its usual playful smile and instead looked rather serious.
"News has come from down the mountain. Someone within the Quanshen is about to harvest karmic fruit."