Qingshan Immortal City was an allied stronghold formed by the surviving cultivators of the Daejin Domain, centered around Qingshan Valley. However, the word “alliance” was nothing more than a pleasant wrapping. In reality, power was concentrated solely in two sects—the Daejin Sect and the Qingshan Sect.
If the Qingshan Sect had provided the land, then the Daejin Sect was the true ruler, holding manpower, military force, and resources in its grasp. On the surface, it was coexistence, but no one could defy that order. Entry and exit, commerce, cultivation, even residence—every activity conducted within the Immortal City was impossible without the Daejin Sect’s approval.
Even so, there was a reason cultivators endured such inconvenience and remained here. After the Daejin Domain fell to demonic beasts, resources became limited, and survival turned into competition. People killed and were killed over cultivation resources. Amid that chaos, the Daejin Sect introduced the “Merit Points” system to restore order.
The structure was simple. Hunt demonic beasts to accumulate merit, and receive rewards according to merit. They redirected the blade’s edge away from fellow humans and toward demonic beasts. Under strict control and clear rules, people were finally able to stop fighting each other.
The demonic beasts hunted that way were converted into various resources. Their hides became armor, their fangs became weapons, and their inner cores became core ingredients for pills.
Cultivators in Qingshan Immortal City could directly trade these resources and were also granted priority in purchasing processed magical implements and pills.
Kill demonic beasts to earn merit. Use merit to secure resources. Use those resources to grow stronger again. That was how a cultivator lived in Qingshan Immortal City.
***
A sudden gust of wind blew past. Several cultivators flew overhead, riding swords. All of them wore identical attire, openly scanning their surroundings without concealing their sharp aura.
Flight within the Immortal City was not permitted to just anyone. Since the attire was unfamiliar, they were probably cultivators of the Daejin Sect.
“It’s better not to look at them unnecessarily.”
At Xu Yul’s words, Li Xin quickly lowered his head.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed they were searching for someone. Only after the Daejin Sect cultivators completely disappeared from sight did Xu Yul lower his voice and speak.
“Never, under any circumstances, mention that you came out from inside Qingshan Valley.”
“Yes, I’ll remember that.”
Li Xin immediately understood. Bringing him here had clearly been an act outside formal procedures, whether violating Daejin Sect regulations or the unspoken taboos of Qingshan Immortal City.
“From now on, you’ll be registered as a low-ranking talisman master of the Xu family, so keep this well.”
Xu Yul took something from his robes and tossed it to Li Xin.
“This is…”
The items were a metal plaque and a small leather pouch. Li Xin checked the metal plaque first. A cold sensation spread across his palm, naturally drawing his gaze downward.
On the front of the plaque was engraved the surname “Xu” along with the title “Low-Ranking Talisman Master.”
On the back, his name “Li Xin” was clearly engraved.
The Xu family had long been renowned as a Demon Hunter clan and, at the same time, a talisman-crafting family.
As such, they employed quite a number of talisman masters, and adding one more low-ranking talisman master was nothing unusual.
‘Xu Li Xin… That’s a bit too carelessly named, isn’t it?’
After checking the identity plaque, Li Xin turned his gaze to the other item.
At a glance, it was just an ordinary leather pouch, but the strange sense of weight transmitted to his fingertips was anything but ordinary. Li Xin immediately realized what it was.
“This is… a Dusk Pouch?”
“It’s the smallest size, but I’ve put everything you’ll need inside.”
Li Xin immediately loosened the pouch’s drawstring and looked inside. In an instant, space rippled lightly as the interior of the Dusk Pouch unfolded. Inside were basic talisman-crafting items—paper, inkstone, brushes, and ink.
Normally, he had carried valuable items like array plates in a travel pack, which had been extremely inconvenient. With a Dusk Pouch, storing items would become far easier.
“Thank you.”
Li Xin felt satisfied with the reward he had gained along with his new identity. Of course, it was a debt he would have to repay someday. At that moment, Xu Yul’s voice dropped low and pierced Li Xin’s ear.
“And remember this well. Do not tell anyone in the Xu family other than me and Xu Hui about your true identity.”
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Li Xin felt puzzled. Did that mean it had to be kept secret even within the same Xu family? Though he did not know the exact reason, Li Xin quietly nodded and promised to follow the instruction.
“Follow me.”
Xu Yul did not linger and immediately moved on. Their destination was within Qingshan Immortal City, the area occupied by the Xu family. Even from afar, red roof tiles and neat wooden buildings stood out. They looked dignified and proper, clearly different from the surrounding worn tents. However, the closer they drew to their destination, the atmosphere subtly changed.
Members of the Xu family passing by avoided Xu Yul’s gaze as soon as they saw him, or openly showed displeased expressions. Those looks were sharp like blades, as if Xu Yul’s very presence was unwelcome.
Xu Yul paid them no heed. As if accustomed to it, he continued forward with unwavering steps. Li Xin found their cold reactions strange, but he did not ask further. Before long, Xu Yul stopped in front of a small wooden building.
“You’ll stay here while you’re in the Immortal City.”
The room was not large. It had only a small table, an old bed, and a storage cabinet, but compared to most places in the Immortal City, it was luxurious in its cleanliness.
“You’ve been through a lot today, so I’ll give you a day to rest. Tomorrow, we’ll head outside the Immortal City to hunt demonic beasts.”
As he said that, Xu Yul handed Li Xin a thick book bound in silk. The cover was old but well maintained, and the words “Demonic Beast Talisman” were clearly engraved upon it.
“Read this and understand what kind of work you’ll be doing from now on. I’ll take detailed questions tomorrow.”
With that, Xu Yul immediately left the room. The sound of the door closing echoed softly.
Li Xin stared at the closed door for a long while. He recalled the subtle tension that had crossed Xu Yul’s face earlier. The Xu Yul he had known always maintained composure in any situation. The fact that even he had shown tension meant that Qingshan Immortal City was by no means a simple place.
I should lie low for a while.
If he had already been among the weak in Qingshan Valley, how insignificant must his status be here? For the time being, he resolved to avoid drawing attention and focus on the role of a talisman master quietly drawing talismans.
Li Xin sat before an unfamiliar desk. A space that was not yet familiar.
Calm the heart.
Various stray thoughts arose, but he steadily settled his mind. Because what he needed to do now was clear.
His fingertips slowly brushed across the book’s cover. There were stains that could have been blood or ink, and the book emitted a strange scent that tickled his nose. On the cover, written in unblurred ink script, were three clear characters.
[Demonic Beast Talisman]
Talismans made using demonic beast blood as ink and their hides as paper. On the surface, they followed the framework of talisman crafting, but every material involved was the legacy of a dead demonic beast.
In regions other than the Daejin Domain, these talismans were considered taboo. Talismans were meant to embody the principles of heaven and earth, not to summon the remnants of dead spirits.
These are the talismans I’m supposed to draw from now on…
Li Xin took a deep breath and steadied his mind. With eyes mixed with unease and anticipation, he slowly turned the first page.
Demonic Beast Talismans did not contain heavenly qi. Instead, they sealed the remnants of demonic beast energy—demonic qi—within the strokes. Traces of demonic qi were powerful, but unstable. Because complete control was impossible, those who wielded it consumed their own will along with the demonic qi. Only one with strong essence could perfectly subdue demonic qi. Only the strong could draw a stroke to its end, while the weak would lose years of their lifespan to a single stroke.
The principle of the Demonic Beast Talisman was simple. Fix the essence of a demonic beast into ink and paper, then temporarily revive that power through the talisman master’s will. In other words, it was no different from briefly awakening a dead demonic beast using the talisman master’s power.
Surprisingly, the structure of Demonic Beast Talismans themselves was not very different from orthodox talisman arts. The Sixty-Four Trigrams. The trigram structures of the Book of Changes still formed the backbone of the talismans. The basic forms and directions of the lines also followed traditional talisman techniques.
However, the content was slightly different. Orthodox talisman crafting drew upon the principles of heaven and earth and infused them into talismans through the talisman master’s mental strength. Demonic Beast Talismans, on the other hand, did not use mental strength, but essence. That was, life force itself. There was no fixed form to Demonic Beast Talismans. To be precise, form itself was meaningless.
Use demonic beast hide as paper, its blood as ink, and carve strokes upon it infused with the talisman master’s life force. That was the entirety and essence of Demonic Beast Talismans. For example, if one were to draw the strokes of a Strength Talisman as usual, but do so on demonic beast hide using its blood and infusing one’s own life force. The completed talisman would go beyond merely amplifying physical strength and could temporarily manifest the monstrous power of a demonic beast itself.
Likewise, if a Lightness Talisman were created in the same way, it would be possible to obtain beast-like agility. The stronger the demonic beast hide, the more stable the talisman’s structure became.
The older the blood, the weaker the effect became. And the power was determined by how much of the talisman master’s life force was carried on the brush tip.
Formless freedom—but that freedom was not granted without a price. Only those willing to stake their own lifespan and body could draw Demonic Beast Talismans. That was why the world classified these talismans as “Heretical Talismans.”
Li Xin closed the book and quietly organized his thoughts. At first, he had thought Demonic Beast Talismans were a special talisman method that traded lifespan as a cost. But the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like just another way of drawing talismans.
If traditional talismans borrowed the principles of nature and carried human aspirations, then Demonic Beast Talismans handled something even more fundamental—the “essence” of life itself.
Life and death. Growth and decay. All of these existed within the cycle of nature, and Demonic Beast Talismans were merely one way of utilizing that cycle. Li Xin did not think it was wrong.
If I draw these talismans, will I earn someone’s hatred?
Demonic Beast Talismans deviated from the “orthodox path.” They were not traditional talisman methods, and the use of demonic beast blood and hide could be branded as “heretical” depending on one’s values. There were people in the world who feared anything that strayed from established norms. They claimed that anything unorthodox was wrong, and anything strange was dangerous. But Li Xin placed no particular value on such distinctions.
Orthodox or heretical. What matters more is whether it helps me or not.
Demonic Beast Talismans were undeniably alluring. The possibility of drawing far greater power with the same number of strokes and the same structure. That was the greatest strength these talismans possessed.
Of course, the cost was clear. In exchange for drawing upon demonic beast energy, the talisman master’s life force was consumed.
If my ability can offset those side effects…
If he could take only the strengths of Demonic Beast Talismans without suffering their fatal drawbacks. Then these talismans had the potential to become a weapon more powerful than anything Li Xin currently possessed.
