Chapter 34: The Ritual, Unraveling the Talisman Diagram

Stone White Great Village, inside the medicine hut.

A scroll of Daoist scripture lay in Yu Xiao’s hands, while Lady Zhang sat upright as a student within the incense-filled hut, a gesture of respect for the scroll of talisman diagrams.

“The first step in cultivation is not sitting in oblivion or channeling energy through the minor circulation; rather, it is learning how to decipher talisman diagrams.”

The scroll was spread open, revealing an ancient and peculiar illustration, resembling a highly abstract ink painting.

“Talisman diagrams are also a kind of script.

Unlike the ancient seal characters passed down from the Celestial Zhou, or the Ba script promoted by the Three Heavens in the present Ba Kingdom, each talisman diagram originates from a far more ancient era.

It’s said that in those times, clarity and impurity were indistinguishable, and the Three Heavens had not yet become what they are now.”

Ji Ming, coiled atop the incense burner’s lid, inhaled the faintly toxic aroma within, savoring Yu Xiao’s words with relish. This unheard-of knowledge was a delight in itself.

To appear less ignorant, less of a novice, Lady Zhang replied, “One of the reasons the Three Heavens are what they are is the creation of talisman diagrams and true forms.

Especially the Vast Heaven, which used talisman diagrams to foster humanity, to open the wilderness, to civilize and enlighten, bringing peace to the thirty-six regions under Heaven.”

Yu Xiao sneered, picking up the iron-backed centipede that had been absorbing the poisonous incense, and said, “We are not Daoists of the thirty-six regions—we are outsiders, barbarians, practitioners of unorthodox ways.”

“We dwell on Daoist soil, long immersed in the Daoist atmosphere. Though not formal Daoists of the three great sects, we cannot be considered mere outlanders.”

“As you wish,” Yu Xiao said, unwilling to argue.

He valued reality and detested empty, impractical theories; the time spent debating was better used cultivating the Five Immortals.

“Unlike written characters, which can be read left to right or top to bottom, a talisman diagram represents a single sentence, a single concept.

Since talisman diagrams have neither beginning nor end, you cannot know where to start or finish reading the sentence.

Except for certain divine beings born with dual Daoist pupils, ordinary mortals cannot directly comprehend them, so one must learn to ‘decipher talisman diagrams.’”

Yu Xiao spoke within the hut, recalling his own entry into the Dao, the chill in his tone softening.

“My master taught me how to decipher talisman diagrams.” Lady Zhang felt slighted, as if Yu Xiao considered her not yet initiated. “I have already deciphered the minor circulation talisman diagram in the Daoist scripture.”

She produced her personal notebook.

Yu Xiao glanced at the notebook but did not take it; instead, holding the scroll of talisman diagrams, he posed a question to Lady Zhang.

“Do you know why, despite the abundance of previous works on deciphering talisman diagrams, we must learn to decipher them ourselves?”

“There are two reasons!”

This was a Daoist inquiry, and Lady Zhang grew serious at once.

“First, because each person’s interpretation of talisman diagrams differs in understanding and skill; merely reading predecessors’ words does not internalize the principles, so we must learn to decipher talisman diagrams to grasp the most fundamental laws.

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Secondly, because times change.

The principles of talisman diagrams shift like tides under the mighty force of time.

Such changes are subtle, measured in centuries or millennia, imperceptible to human senses; thus, we must update our interpretations to align with the latest principles.”

Yu Xiao sighed deeply, saying, “The river of history surges ever forward; how can we judge the past by the present? Written words may lose their true meaning, but talisman diagrams adapt with the times—the logic of Vast Heaven is found therein.”

When discussing grand subjects, the petty troubles and contradictions of the moment are easily forgotten.

Even Yu Xiao and Lady Zhang, whose interests rarely aligned, could coexist in harmony.

Even Ji Ming, now a centipede, let go his endless schemes for reincarnation, intoxicated by these lofty matters.

For a moment, Ji Ming was grateful for his early choice to reincarnate—only among human cultivators could one witness the depth of a civilization’s cultivation.

Mountain spirits and monsters, isolated in remote mountains, lacked the fertile ground for a flourishing civilization.

Even exceptional cases like the Fox Society, which fostered communal progress, could hardly influence an entire civilization.

“Talisman diagrams cannot be seen, heard, or directly experienced by us mortals; thus, the art of interpretation must rely on material objects.”

Ji Ming shifted in Yu Xiao’s palm, feeling as if his lines had been stolen.

“Conducting the ritual!”

Lady Zhang said.

“Precisely, the ritual—pure offerings!

This is the terminology of immortals; as for us, we are less particular, calling it setting up the altar and performing rites.”

“I still prefer ‘pure offerings.’ Setting up the altar is broader, not specific to deciphering talisman diagrams.” Lady Zhang shook her head.

Precision, Yu Xiao found, was another merit in his junior sister; as he got to know her better, he understood why their master favored her.

This Zhang Xinmei was, in essence, a youthful version of their master!

It seemed he should be more cautious with her in the future; the master would surely lose impartiality with disciples so like herself.

“Talisman diagrams originated with Vast and Yellow Heavens, but the ritual of pure offerings was created by the Middle Heaven, sprouted in Celestial Zhou, flourished in Great Xia, and has lasted countless years to this day.

Our Scorpion Heart Pure Offering in Panhu Mountain is derived from the ‘Earth-Sealing Pure Offering’ in the ‘Middle Heaven Canon.’”

At the mention of Scorpion Heart Pure Offering, Lady Zhang shuddered.

Cultivation was admirable everywhere, yet in certain aspects it was frightfully bizarre, far beyond what an ordinary person could endure.

Yu Xiao knew what his junior sister feared.

The Scorpion Heart Pure Offering differed from typical rituals; in essence, it was an early Daoist method for confronting life and death.

It required intense pain, illness, or mental stimulation to awaken the ‘Heavenly Eye’ within the body, thus perceiving the true meaning of talisman diagrams.

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Since learning the ritual for deciphering talisman diagrams, Yu Xiao had dared use the Scorpion Heart Pure Offering only three times for the minor circulation talisman diagram; these three attempts left his body riddled with poison.

He patted the Daoist scripture and asked, “How far have you gotten with deciphering this minor circulation talisman diagram?”

“To the Essence Flower among the Three Flowers atop the head!” Lady Zhang said, lacking confidence.

“Hmm!” In just half a year, Lady Zhang’s progress in deciphering talisman diagrams was not beyond Yu Xiao’s expectations.

“Have you consulted the master’s interpretation?”

“I have,” Lady Zhang replied truthfully. “And also those of our senior brothers, but not yours, Senior Brother Yu.”

Yu Xiao’s smile was cold and empty. “I’ve always believed cultivation is a very personal matter—especially interpreting talisman diagrams, which is imbued with individual thoughts.

If an ill-intentioned person glimpses it, it may bring disaster rather than fortune.”

Lady Zhang nodded, half understanding, and Ji Ming nodded as well; Yu Xiao’s mind was deep and calculating—clearly not ordinary.

Were all cultivators so bold, yet cautious and meticulous?

Ji Ming suddenly felt that the path of cultivation ahead would be endlessly entertaining.

Within the hut, Yu Xiao’s guidance continued until the hour of the Dog—dusk. One learned quickly, the other was willing to teach, so time passed swiftly.

Of course, there was also Ji Ming, who listened intently, regretting only that he had no paper or brush to record everything.

Fortunately, Lady Zhang was meticulous; she listened and took notes, her delicate Ba script far more elegant than Ji Ming’s scrawls.

Thus, he could later sneak in and read them.

Yet, given his current identity, how could he earn Lady Zhang’s trust and gain the freedom to move about her medicine hut?

Especially the Daoist scripture of talisman diagrams, and the rituals for deciphering them.

Obtaining the scripture from Yu Xiao was far more difficult and dangerous than from Lady Zhang.

“Perhaps I can gain her trust by using Yu Xiao’s secret rapid cultivation method—it’s already a half-public secret.

Besides, only I can succeed with it.”

Ji Ming mused to himself.

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