stjorthotic Chapter 5 Drawing Talisman
Chapter 5 Drawing Talisman
"Xu Qingqing, how did you adapt to this kind of life back then?" he suddenly asked.
Xu Qingqing paused for a moment, then laughed: "I grew up in this kind of environment, so I didn't have much of an 'adaptation' process. But I remember my grandfather saying that the biggest challenge for cultivators is not facing demonic beasts or formations, but finding a balance between the two worlds—neither completely detaching from reality nor letting reality erode their spirituality."
"Two worlds..."
"Yes, the world of ordinary people, and our world." Xu Qingqing looked out the window. "Sometimes I envy those who know nothing; they live simple lives. But more often, I feel that being able to see more and understand more is a kind of luck."
The taxi stopped near Qingyun Alley. They walked into the alley, and the black wooden door opened again, revealing a familiar courtyard. A two-headed blue phoenix flew down from the purple dragonwood, circled them once, and let out a melodious cry.
"It's welcoming us." Xu Qingqing reached out, and Qingluan's head gently rubbed against her fingers.
Editor-in-Chief Qin was waiting for them in the main room, with several yellowed ancient books spread out in front of him.
"I've found something." Li Shancheng handed the photos on his phone to Editor-in-Chief Qin.
Editor-in-Chief Qin put on his reading glasses and carefully examined the metal runes on the photograph. His expression grew increasingly serious: "This is a variant of the 'Heavenly Gazing Talisman,' used in ancient times to observe celestial phenomena and changes in the earth's veins. But here it has been modified into a tool for monitoring the array's core."
"Can we track down who drew this talisman?" Xu Qingqing asked.
"We need more professional analysis." Editor Qin took a wooden box from the bookshelf, opened it to reveal a set of exquisite drawing tools and several stacks of specially made talisman paper. "I'll make some copies first, and then I'll visit an old friend tonight. He's a talisman identification expert, and perhaps he can see more of the secrets."
"Does Lin Han know we're investigating him?" Li Shancheng asked worriedly.
"He most likely knows," Editor-in-Chief Qin said calmly, "but he won't act rashly. In the world of metaphysics, open confrontation is more dangerous than covert maneuvering because it exposes one's true intentions. As long as we maintain our superficial identity as 'journalists,' he won't openly break ties."
The sky outside the window gradually darkened. Editor-in-Chief Qin began to copy the runes; his hand was extremely steady, and every stroke was precise. Li Shancheng and Xu Qingqing helped prepare the materials beside him, and the air was filled with the scent of ink and old paper.
"Shancheng, try to draw the information you got from the ancient books," Editor-in-Chief Qin suddenly said. "It doesn't need to be precise, just express the concept."
Li Shancheng picked up a pen, closed his eyes, and recalled the flow of information. When he opened his eyes, his hand seemed to have a mind of its own, moving rapidly across the paper. Lines, symbols, connecting points... a complex map of the earth's veins gradually took shape.
"This is a diagram showing the connection between the core of the Wen Shu formation and its seven auxiliary points," Editor-in-Chief Qin said in surprise. "The locations of three of the points are classified; even I only know their approximate directions. But this diagram of yours..."
Lee San-cheng himself was shocked: "I was just drawing what came to mind..."
"The array's core has given you complete knowledge." Editor-in-Chief Qin put down his pen and looked at him intently. "This means it recognizes you as a potential guardian candidate. But it also means that danger may befall you."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the purple dragon tree in the courtyard began to shake violently. The two-headed blue phoenix let out a sharp warning cry and flapped its wings to fly into the sky.
Editor-in-Chief Qin's expression changed: "Someone is testing our protective barrier!"
He strode to the courtyard and formed a complex hand seal. An invisible barrier rose around the courtyard, gleaming with a faint golden light. Almost simultaneously, a dull yet powerful sound came from outside the courtyard wall as something struck the barrier.
Li Shancheng felt the work badge on his chest begin to heat up, automatically activating its protective function. Xu Qingqing's golden eyes lit up completely, and she now held a string of copper bells in her hand.
The impact lasted for more than ten seconds, then suddenly stopped. But the golden light of the protective barrier did not diminish; instead, it became even brighter.
"It wasn't an attack, it was a probe." Editor-in-Chief Qin withdrew his hand seals, and the light of the barrier gradually dimmed. "The other party wants to know the strength of our defenses, and... who's in the courtyard."
He walked to the courtyard gate and took a black feather from the crack in the door. The moment the feather touched the air, it turned into a wisp of blue smoke and disappeared.
"Shadow Feather Talisman, used for reconnaissance." Editor-in-Chief Qin's expression was grave. "It seems someone has taken an interest in Mountain City."
Night had fallen, and Qingyun Lane was completely shrouded in darkness. The city lights in the distance cast a hazy glow on the horizon, but the lane was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.
Holding the throbbing badge, Li Shancheng truly felt the danger of this world for the first time. It was no longer just knowledge from books or other people's stories, but a threat that could directly befall him.
"Starting tonight, neither of you should go out alone," Editor-in-Chief Qin said. "I will strengthen security around the compound. Tomorrow, we need to speed up the investigation."
Xu Qingqing nodded and turned to Li Shancheng: "Are you scared?"
"A little," Li Shancheng said honestly, "but more than that, it's...curiosity. I want to know the truth behind all of this."
Editor-in-Chief Qin smiled, a smile that held both approval and a hint of worry: "Curiosity is the driving force of exploration, but it can also be a dangerous trigger. Remember, in this world, knowledge itself is power, and power always comes with responsibility."
The two-headed blue phoenix flew back to the branch of the purple dragon tree, its two heads warily scanning its surroundings. The night wind blew, and the leaves of the purple dragon tree rustled, as if whispering.
Li Shancheng looked up at the night sky; the light pollution of Kyoto City made the stars appear sparse. But he knew that beneath this sky lay secrets far more complex than the stars themselves. And he had already stepped into the heart of those secrets.
Back in his dorm, Li Shancheng lay on his bed, but couldn't fall asleep. He took out his phone and looked through the photos he'd taken that day, his mind replaying the symbols Lin Han had drawn with his fingers, the runes on the metal plate, and the ley line map that appeared in his mind...
Everything seems to point to a larger mystery. Cold Mountain Technology, the array's core monitoring, the Shadow Nightmare invasion, the probing attack... what's the connection between these events? Why did the Wen Shu array core choose him?
The purple dragon tree outside the window swayed gently in the night breeze, casting dappled shadows. Li Shancheng closed his eyes, attempting to actively connect the fragments of knowledge in his mind. This time, he was no longer passively receiving information, but actively exploring it.
Gradually, new images emerged: it wasn't a library, but an underground space with ancient murals carved into its walls; seven points of light revolving around a larger central point; a book entirely composed of light, its pages turning and the text flowing like water...
When Li Shancheng opened his eyes again, it was already dawn. He sat up, picked up the notebook from his bedside table, and quickly sketched the scene he had just witnessed. Although the details were blurry, the feeling was real and intense.
He had a premonition that these images might be the key to solving all the mysteries.