Chapter 2: Literary Contest

Li Muran once again pierced his right index finger, accurately pressing down on the broken pen once more

With ten fingers connected to the heart, the fingertips were pierced by silver needles, causing immense pain. However, Li Muran did not even furrow his brow, as if he felt nothing at all.

The term "character" refers to a special type of writing inscribed on talismans, where each character possesses a specific meaning and embodies particular powers

Although Li Muran holds himself to high standards, he is also self-aware. Now, with only one talisman paper left, the chances of successfully drawing a high-level empowerment talisman are slim.

Every note, every stroke, and every movement vividly demonstrate his solid foundation. Just as he completed the fourth stroke of the character "ming" in "minghuodouwen," his right arm indeed felt as heavy as lead, threatening to drop once more. However, this time Li Muran was well-prepared; a surge of strength flowed into his arm, allowing him to stabilize his wrist in time and continue drawing the talisman

The talisman that Li Muran intends to create also includes these four types of runes

The crafting of talismans emphasizes a seamless flow; however, his single pause caused all the runes to suddenly collapse, transforming into a pool of blood that soaked through the entire talisman paper

A talisman, also known as a Daoist talisman or fu lu, is created in a manner similar to painting with ink and colors. The production of a talisman requires specific tools such as brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, each of which must be specially refined; ordinary items from the mundane world cannot serve as substitutes.

This point, referred to as "broken stroke" and also known as "nodding symbol," is the first stroke in the drawing of runes, akin to adding the finishing touch to a dragon, and holds significant meaning

The term "斗" refers to "Tiangang Douwen," which implicitly contains the laws of reproduction of all things in heaven and earth, serving as a key to connect the vital energies of the universe. "斗" is the most complex, encompassing various forms such as "Taiji," "Liangyi," "Sancai," "Sixiang," "Wuxing," "Liuxiang," "Qixing," "Bagua," and "Jiugong." Each Douwen is a treasure that has been passed down through generations, having been comprehended and studied for many years by countless masters of talisman-making. It can be said that the evaluation of a talisman maker's skill primarily depends on how many types of Douwen they can master.

After this slight pause, Li Muran's index finger moved swiftly, gliding rapidly across the talisman paper.

Failed again, and the impact of that invisible immense force was so strong and so sudden that even if it were to happen once more, Li Muran would not have the confidence to handle it safely

The night is hazy, the moonlight is like silver, the mountains are tranquil, with only him, his shadow, and the sound of his breathing.

Li Muran exerted himself to the fullest; although Dou Wen had only made a few strokes, he was already drenched in sweat, his clothes completely soaked. The sweat evaporated into mist, enveloping Li Muran, and under the cover of the moonlight, it resembled a thin layer of moonlight, particularly enchanting.

He remained as still as a mountain, with his body and arms unmoving; only his right wrist moved with remarkable agility, his fingers like a pen, powerfully drawing various strokes such as straight lines, curves, and circles.

In addition to this, the most important aspect is the runes

Now, what he is about to depict is the bright flame fighting against the text

Minghuo Douwen is one of the simplest forms of the Five Elements Douwen, consisting of only three curves, three straight lines, and three circles, totaling nine strokes. However, each stroke contains boundless mysteries.

Sigh! Li Muran let out a heavy sigh, gazing at the starry sky, seeking to calm his mind

The drawing of runes must be precise; a slight deviation can lead to catastrophic consequences. If there is any error, the entire rune will immediately collapse and turn into a pool of blood, while the rune paper will ignite spontaneously, transforming into a wisp of blue smoke in an instant

Oh? Li Muran suddenly discovered that the bronze mirror he had set aside was now reflecting a layer of brilliant silver light under the illumination of the moonlight

Li Muran's measurement is precisely 2.2 inches from the top edge of the talisman paper and 1.1 inches from the left edge, with the position being neither偏 nor偏, and entirely accurate. His ability to achieve this is inextricably linked to years of foundational training involving his hands, eyes, and mind.

Among them, the low-level talisman requires only the drawing of a single character and a seal, which is relatively simple. Anyone with a modicum of insight who is willing to diligently practice and spends two to three years laying a foundation will most likely be able to draw this single character and seal.

Li Muran took a deep breath, took out a silver needle, and pricked the tip of his right index finger, instantly causing a drop of bright red blood to emerge

In the first three strokes of the talisman, Li Muran completed them with great ease. However, when it came to the fourth stroke, suddenly his right hand became as heavy as lead and could not move, interrupting the drawing of the talisman.

This is the "Fire Activation Spell". With this incantation, along with a seal, it becomes a mid-level fire attribute activation talisman

At this moment, a thin layer of sweat had already formed on Li Muran's forehead, and his expression appeared quite strained. This was markedly different from his usual practice; while crafting this incantation, he felt as if his fingers suddenly weighed a thousand pounds, making it exceedingly difficult to execute. Had it not been for his exceptional strength and willpower, he likely would not have been able to successfully complete this fire incantation.

To settle for a second-best option, drawing a mid-level talisman is currently the most reliable choice

At the moment when the talisman turned into blue smoke, his right hand returned to its original state, and everything was as usual

However, Li Muran would certainly not seal it just like that. After completing the character "open," he turned his wrist, and his fingers immediately began to draw a series of very peculiar incantations around this character. Each incantation was chaotic like tadpoles, yet they connected together, appearing to hold great mystery.

Having experienced a genuine talisman-making process, even in failure, one can gain numerous lessons and insights, which has instilled greater confidence in Li Muran for his second attempt at talisman-making

Li Muran frowned slightly and gently shook his head

Talismans are different from ordinary paper; they possess a certain spirituality. Once a talisman is improperly made, its spirituality will be destroyed, leading to its self-destruction, and it cannot be remade.

Li Muran was not willing to give up on the creation of high-level talismans. He calmed his mind and, after resting for half an hour, attempted once more to create a high-level fire attribute enlightenment talisman

In preparation for today's talisman creation, Li Muran had repeatedly pricked his fingertips to write in blood on white paper, and he had long since become accustomed to it. Were it not for this, the intense pain might distract the talisman maker while drawing complex runes, causing a slight deviation that could lead to the loss of all previous efforts. Li Muran held himself to strict standards and naturally would not allow such details to interfere with his talisman crafting

While practicing on ordinary paper, Li Muran could accurately draw the Douwen even with a water bucket filled with water hanging from his arm, without spilling a single drop; however, when it came to actual talisman creation, the level of difficulty far exceeded expectations

Moreover, the thickness of the silver needle and the depth of its insertion into the finger are also of great significance. It is essential to ensure that the blood flowing out is not excessive, yet does not coagulate; every detail is meticulously considered. Li Muran made numerous attempts before achieving this seemingly simple yet remarkably perfect puncture.

As for the advanced consecration talismans, it is essential to draw a character, a seal, a spell, and a斗 on the talisman paper. The斗文 required for the consecration talisman, although it is the simplest five-element gathering energy斗文, contains extraordinary power. According to legend,斗文 is not only complex and varied, but each斗文 is also connected to the principles of heaven and earth, making the drawing process subject to various potential constraints, thus significantly increasing the difficulty.

Years of diligent effort manifest at this moment, as in an instant, the character "open" is inscribed on the talisman paper. With just the addition of a fingerprint seal, a low-level opening talisman is considered complete

Li Muran, however, remained composed, his fingers moving swiftly as he continued to draw the talisman

In the Five Elements Duel of Literature, the fire attribute known as 'Bright Fire Duel of Literature' is the most familiar, having been practiced no less than a thousand times. This time, I will draw a high-level illumination talisman of the fire attribute

For the intermediate-level consecration talisman, it is necessary to draw each character, seal, and incantation. The additional incantation can significantly enhance the effectiveness of the consecration talisman, but the difficulty is also considerable. After all, the incantation is intricate and convoluted, and it must be completed in one go without any errors. Even after years of diligent practice, it remains a challenging task to achieve.

Ah! Li Muran was suddenly struck as if by lightning, his entire body shaking violently. Just as he was about to draw the sixth stroke of the character, his finger involuntarily tilted slightly.

A "spell" refers to a "mantra," which is a segment of incantation drawn in special symbols on a talisman. Each segment of the mantra contains a certain power that can significantly enhance the efficacy of the talisman

For over a thousand years, only seven disciples of the Yuanfu Sect have successfully created high-level talismans. Among these seven, one passed away at a young age, while the remaining six all eventually became extraordinary individuals capable of riding the clouds and summoning the wind and rain.

Three years of diligence and hard work, just like that, wasted away

Perhaps only those who hold themselves to extremely high standards can truly achieve great accomplishments

Most disciples begin their cultivation journey with low-level enlightenment talismans, and among them, those who can reach a higher realm are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Even if I manage to complete this sixth stroke of the literary contest by sheer luck, there are still three strokes to go, and the difficulties encountered will only become greater

Either do not do it, or do it to the best of your ability

One thing is certain: the higher the quality of the consecrated talisman, the better the effect of the consecration; and the effect of the consecration directly determines the future level of cultivation for the practitioner

For other disciples, obtaining a mid-level enlightenment talisman is already a great satisfaction, but Li Muran is not content.

Although runes are profound and intricate, they can be categorized into four main types based on their content: "characters, seals, spells, and battles"

Immediately, the talisman paper ignited on its own, transforming into a wisp of blue smoke, vanishing before Li Muran.

If the other disciples were to witness this scene, they would surely erupt in cheers! The first talisman can produce a spell for each character, and with the addition of a seal, it can become a mid-level enlightenment talisman. If it were the other disciples, they would undoubtedly be filled with indescribable joy and immense excitement

Li Muran raised his index finger and gently tapped a certain spot on the first talisman paper

The term "seal" refers to the "enchantment seal," which is a special mark left by the talisman maker on the talisman. Common forms include "fingerprints," "handprints," and "stamps." The longevity of the talisman is due to the presence of the seal. To use the talisman, one must first unlock the "seal" on it

To be able to draw a mid-level talisman is already a rare achievement, standing out among the disciples. However, Li Muran is not satisfied with this.

This scene appears simple, yet achieving such effortless grace requires countless hours of hard work and sweat behind the scenes

The recent failure did not affect Li Muran's emotions; he effortlessly inscribed each character and spell, and then immediately began to draw the "Minghuo Douwen".