Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 4: Purple Lightning Talisman

How have you been doing in the last five years? Fang Chen turned to them and smiled.

In truth, he had known how they were faring in the past five years. He had astral projected far too often that there were no secrets to him in Great Xias capital.

Young master, we havent been well, someone said.

Thats right, we havent been well. Theres nothing more we would like to do than to behead the ingrates who insult you, but you wouldnt allow us to do so.

Young master, it has been five years since you have last been to this little courtyard. Is it time for us to be mobilized once more? someone asked.

The faces of the crowd visibly lit up, and they looked at Fang Chen with expectant eyes.

My martial cultivation is crippled. Are you willing to come under my command despite this? You should know that any one of you can easily defeat me now, Fang Chen said.

Young master, well be Great Xias loyal Shadow Guards as long as you are in need of us!

A brawny man stepped forward and glared at the crowd. He gave off an intimidating aura showing that he had reached the pinnacle of the second stage Ki Explosion of Human Profound. With his strength, he was easily a top expert in Great Xia.

Xu Ge is right! Young master, its not because of your martial cultivation that we have chosen to serve you. If you give us the word, well willingly march up a mountain of blades or descend into a sea of flames, another person spoke up.

Their voices were hushed lest others eavesdrop on their conversation, but that didnt lessen the conviction behind their declaration.

Young master, Wolf Marshall Xiaos daughter will be arriving in the capital tomorrow. If we make a move, Im confident we can assassinate her with a casualty of 30%, someone sneered.

Looks like you havent been idling around. You have even heard about that. Fang Chens lips crept up. However, you seem to have forgotten that the Guard in Great Xias Shadow Guards means to protect. You are guards, not assassins. I dont need you to kill people on my behalf. The only thing you have to do is to protect Great Xia. Itd be a waste of your talents to become assassins.

Young master, what should we do? Xu Ge asked with a suppressed voice.

I came here with the intent to mobilize you, but for the time being, you should patiently bide your time. I dont need you to make a move yet. Xu Ge, stay behind. The rest of you return to wherever you came from. Send a message to those who are currently out of the capital too, Fang Chen ordered.

The crowd was startled, but they were too used to unconditionally obeying Fang Chens orders that they gloomily dispersed despite their reluctance.

Young master, do you have any orders for me? Xu Ge asked with a face brimming with excitement.

I need a weasel hair brush, top-tier cinnabar, and top-tier yellow talisman paper. Also, the Shadow Courtyard has gotten dirty, so its about time to clean it up, Fang Chen said.

Xu Ge was taken aback before nodding. Give me a moment, young master. Ill buy the items you have requested right now.

Around an hour later, Xu Ge returned with the items in hand. He rolled up his sleeves and began cleaning the courtyard while curiously eyeing Fang Chen. To his confusion, the latter lifted the brush and drew on the yellow talisman paper.

Young master is drawing talismans? I thought he couldn't see Forget it, it hurts my head just to think about it. He must have his reasons behind this. Xu Ge decided not to ponder about the matter and instead focus on cleaning up.

To him, the reactivation of their Shadow Courtyard was already something worth celebrating. There was no need to fuss about the details for now!

There are four talismans in the Three Thousand Dao Initiate Manual, of which, the Flitting Talisman, the Protection Talisman, and the Strength Talisman are average grade-9 talismans. However, the fourth talisman in the manual, the Purple Lightning Talisman, is a grade-8 talisman with astounding prowess.

Fang Chen quietly meditated as he looked at the drafts in front of him. When he felt that he was ready to give it a go, he began channeling the spirit ki within him.

Only talismans drawn with spirit ki would be effective.

Fang Chens goal for today was to draw a Purple Lightning Talisman. He was no longer a martial artist but a cultivator. To turn the tables on Greenpine Country, he would require powerful means to intimidate them.

He thought that it shouldnt be too difficult for him to draw a Purple Lightning Talisman as he tried drafting it a couple times earlier, but now that he was channeling his spirit ki, as soon as his brush fell on the talisman, the spirit ki in him reduced by half.

It was only then he realized drawing talismans required a huge amount of spirit ki.

He tried to complete the talisman in a single swoop in hopes that he had enough spirit ki for it, but not only did his spirit ki quickly deplete, but he also lost control of the weasel hair brush too. He had wanted it to pull it leftward, but it swiped rightward instead.

With this, he failed his first talisman.

Drawing talismans isnt easy, Fang Chen murmured.

To his surprise, his depleted spirit ki swiftly recovered. He knew that this couldnt have been normal. Could it be that my spirit ki recovers faster than normal due to my rich soul?

With a chuckle, he focused his attention on drawing the Purple Lightning Talisman.

The sky soon turned dark, but this didnt hinder Fang Chen as he couldnt see in the first place. Placed on the table in front of him were over a hundred failed talismans.

Xu Ge was done cleaning the Shadow Courtyard and was currently standing in the shadows, quietly guarding Fang Chen. How much more time is the young master going to spend on drawing his talismans? Wolf Marshall Xiaos daughter will be arriving in the capital tomorrow!

Xu Ge was nervous.

Im almost there. This one should work.

Fang Chen picked up another talisman paper. Over his hundred failures, he had slowly grasped the technique to draw the Purple Lightning Talisman. It was fortunate his spirit ki recovered fast. He had depleted his spirit ki countless times over the course of the day, but it swiftly healed up every time.

On top of that, he realized that his spirit ki capacity would increase each time he expended his spirit ki. Just today, he had already increased his spirit ki capacity by around 20% to 30%.

At this rate, it wouldnt be long before he forged his second immortal vein and advanced to the second stage of Ki Refinement.

Fang Chen might not be able to see, but his spirit ki-infused brush flew fluidly across the yellow talisman paper, infusing it with an immortals aura.

Time slowly ticked by.

As he finished up his final stroke, the lightning element spirit ki in the surroundings furiously surged into the Purple Lightning Talisman, and a lightning bolt seemed to flash across the dark room.

Lightning?! Am I seeing things?! Xu Ge immediately straightened his posture, as he rubbed his eyes in disbelief. The courtyard remained as peaceful as before.

Yet, he was certain he had seen a flash of lightning earlier. Am I seeing things?

What concentrated lightning spirit ki this is! Ive finally completed a Purple Lightning Talisman! A smile finally emerged on Fang Chens impassive face.

He could draw a Purple Lightning Talisman in an hour. There was around nine hours before daybreak, so he should be able to finish up around eight to nine more talismans.