Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 87: Learning the Invisibility Talisman

When the trio first entered Yanjiang Commandery, Man Gu had suggested tipping off the local authorities about the Yanjiang Branch so that they could search for Qin Yuanhao together. However, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had rejected his idea with the reason that the authorities couldn’t be trusted.

And now it seemed like both of them had made the right call in taking precautions.

The Yanjiang Branch had planted a spy within the authorities, and it was someone in a high position at that!

Branch Leader Chu spoke unhurriedly, “Lu Yang, among the upper ranks of the Yanjiang Branch, I have the highest hopes for you. After the Spring Harvest Festival, the higher-ups will dispatch someone to evaluate the Yanjiang Branch. The inspection this time around will be different. We now have you, Meng Jingzhou, and Man Gu, who are three diabolic spawns. The higher-ups' assessment of me will improve significantly.

“There’s an extremely high chance of me getting promoted. If that happens, the position of Branch Leader will become vacant. The usual practice is that the new branch leader will be chosen from the upper ranks of the same branch. Although you lack experience, considering the creed leader’s appraisal of you, it is possible for the higher-ups to appoint you as the new branch leader. Your competitors are still locked up in prison and won’t be released for another three days. On account of their foolish behavior, the higher-ups won’t look upon them fondly.

“The Spring Harvest Festival is a major festival among the nearby commanderies and wields considerable influence. If you cause some commotion during such a festival, the higher-ups will hold you in even higher regard,” Branch Leader Chu subtly hinted to Lu Yang.

~~~

Lu Yang relayed Branch Leader Chu’s words to the rest. Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu were glad that they had decided to start rumors about Qin Yuanhao instead of seeking help from the authorities.

Otherwise, we wouldn’t have such a thriving barbeque business now.

Lu Yang somehow sensed that their focus was not on the right thing.

“We just don’t know who Branch Leader Chu’s spy is.” The four of them found themselves in a bind. They didn’t know who was qualified to be privy to the matters of the yellow talisman within the authorities.

“There’s nothing to fear. You’ll know who the spy is once you become the branch leader. With how much Branch Leader Chu values you, he’ll definitely tell you before he leaves!” Meng Jingzhou laughed out loud.

I didn’t expect Lu Yang to get promoted so quickly. If Lu Yang gets promoted, Man Gu and I have free rein to stir up whatever trouble we want in Yanjiang Commandery.

That’s the beauty of having someone backing you up.

While the four were in the middle of their fervent discussion, Captain Wei knocked on the door. “Shop Owner Lu, I’ve brought you another silk banner.”

Lu Yang opened the door, and the cordial Captain Wei came in.

“Oh, it’s quite the lively atmosphere, everyone’s here,” Captain Wei casually commented.

“We were discussing yesterday’s case.”

Captain Wei warned sternly, “Shop Owner Lu, you must keep yesterday’s case a secret. Don’t let anyone else know. I am aware that all of you are not ordinary people but cultivators who are here to experience life, and you will even courageously stand up for justice at times.

“But it’s not the same this time. Ruthless diabolic cultivators are involved. One wrong move and it could cost you your life. You must not seek out the owner of the talisman.”

Lu Yang couldn’t help but chuckle. The diabolic path is warning me not to meddle in this matter, and now the righteous path is also warning me to do the same.

“Don’t laugh! This is an extremely serious matter!” Captain Wei assumed that Lu Yang didn’t take this matter to heart.

Lu Yang straightened his face and guaranteed that he wouldn’t intervene in this affair. Only then did Captain Wei feel reassured to leave.

“Drink some tea before you go.”

Captain Wei waved his hand. “I’ll have to decline. Our leader is pressing me. I still have to gather my men to search for the other talismans.”

After seeing Captain Wei off, the four of them were worried that the yamen lacked manpower and might not be able to catch the culprit working in the shadows. If this goes wrong, countless people will have their lifespans secretly robbed.

Lu Yang lowered his head pensively. “We have already learned how to conceal our breaths, but relying on just that wouldn’t necessarily be safe.” He raised his head to look at Lan Ting who was learning how to skewer from the tiger-henchman ghosts.

An idea sparked in his mind.

“Daoist Friend Lan Ting, I have a request.”

Lan Ting smiled. “All of us are fellow immortal sect disciples who exterminate evil together. Besides, I’m your subordinate now. Don’t stand on ceremony with me. Just call me Lan Ting.”

Lu Yang followed without hesitation, “Lan Ting, can you teach us the Invisibility Talisman?”

Lan Ting immediately deduced what Lu Yang was getting at. “Do you intend to use the Invisibility Talisman to conceal yourselves and secretly help Captain Wei?”

Lu Yang nodded.

“Of course, that’s not a problem. The Invisibility Talisman doesn’t require any complicated runes. Anyone who isn’t severely lacking in talent will be able to pick it up in half a day.”

Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu were overjoyed to hear that they could learn something new again, especially something that was not taught by Lu Yang.

“Have the three of you learned the art of talismans before?”

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The three shook their heads.

Lan Ting didn’t show any signs of surprise. “I’ll start from the beginning then.”

Lan Ting was also very excited. It was her first time teaching others. Back in the Moon Laurel Celestial Palace, it has always been my senior sisters teaching me, and now it’s finally my turn to be a teacher.

“The original essence of talismans is to materialize spells with symbols on paper. Since the three of you are from the Dao-Seeking Sect and talented in spells, it will be very easy for you to learn.

“...The Talisman Gall is the soul of a talisman. Whether a talisman can manifest power to its potential largely depends on whether there is a Talisman Gall standing guard in the center...

“...The most commonly used symbol in talismans is the Cloud Sigil. It is a design that imitates the ever-changing shapes of clouds in the sky and is drawn from nature...

“As for the Invisibility Talisman, it uses the “Gang” character for gale as the Talisman Gall and the ethereal Cloud Sigil as its pattern.”

Lan Ting dipped her fingertip in water. With a few swift strokes, she traced an Invisibility Talisman on the table. Then she used her hand to absorb the Invisibility Talisman from the table to her palm and slapped it to herself. Following which, the three of them saw Lan Ting vanish right before their very eyes.

A few moments later, Lan Ting appeared again with a faint smile. “This is the most basic Invisibility Talisman. It can only conceal the body from sight. You should still be able to detect my presence and location through details like my breathing and heartbeat.”

The three nodded. Even if that’s the case, it’s already pretty impressive.

“Give it a try.”

After half a day of training, the three gained a preliminary understanding of talismans. They pulled out their calligraphy tool set.[1] However, they were still unable to use water as a medium to draw talismans like Lan Ting.

As Meng Jingzhou had practiced calligraphy for years, his handwriting was excellent, and his grip on the brush was steady. As spirit energy flowed at the tip of the brush, an Invisibility Talisman was soon drawn. It looked eighty percent similar to Lan Ting’s. After a few more attempts, it became almost identical to Lan Ting’s version.

Meng Jingzhou gleefully pasted it on himself. As expected, he disappeared.

Man Gu was slightly less talented in this aspect. His control over spirit energy was not adequately precise. It took him dozens of attempts to succeed once. However, with every attempt, his success rate grew.

Lan Ting inwardly exclaimed in admiration, As one would expect from disciples of the Dao-Seeking Sect. They’re naturally talented in talismans.

What about Lu Yang? Lan Ting turned to look in Lu Yang’s direction.

Lu Yang also finished drawing an Invisibility Talisman very quickly, and he even succeeded on his first try, demonstrating truly terrifying talent.

He stuck the Invisibility Talisman on himself, and he completely disappeared.

However, only his body vanished—his clothes remained visible. It was just like a haunted ghost scene.

“What the ghost?!” In a strange turn of events, even clothes could speak.

Lu Yang was thinking that since he was currently invisible, he might as well remove his clothes. To his despair, he realized that the Invisibility Talisman was also still visible.

Invisibility my ass!

He almost wanted to rip off the talisman in frustration. Thankfully, his sense of reason was still working to stop him from doing so.

1. The Four Treasures of the Study (Wen Fang Si Bao) refer to brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. ☜