Chapter 1: The Enlightenment Symbol

Li Muran carefully spread out three sheets of blue talisman paper one by one. His keen eyesight allowed him to discern the fine wooden grain patterns on the talisman paper, even under the faint moonlight.

The Yuanfu Sect, where this group of youths is located, is a Taoist cultivation sect that primarily practices the art of talisman creation and dispelling. Within the sect, disciples achieve enlightenment in the form of the "Enlightenment Talisman".

The Zhao surname youth, Zhao Wuming, however, walked out of the wooden house alone

Since I have come this far, I shall accept my fate. Now that I have become Zhao Wuming and entered the path of cultivation, I must seize this opportunity to seek immortality and enlightenment

The Kuanglu Mountain Range stretches for thousands of miles, characterized by its graceful and towering peaks, with few traces of human presence. Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, several temples and Taoist monasteries are discreetly hidden within.

A solid foundation has given Li Muran considerable advantages in talisman crafting, which is also why his fellow disciples hold him in high regard

The paper used for making the talisman is extremely precious, and each disciple is only allotted three sheets, granting them only three opportunities

He is more than 60% confident that he can successfully create a mid-level talisman in one attempt; however, he holds himself to even higher standards

Three years ago, on a calm night, Li Muran was, as usual, engrossed in reading a newly acquired ancient book alone in his study. Suddenly, Li Muran felt a flash of light in the study, as a beam of light emerged from a corner of the room.

Three talismans, which means three chances! Li Muran thought to himself: Let's take a gamble!

Li Muran had seen this bronze mirror long ago, though it is unclear which ancestor of the Li family acquired it along with ancient books and antiques. It has been left in a corner of this study, piled up with a heap of miscellaneous items, and has gone unnoticed.

At the center of each person's eyebrows, one inch inward, there lies a hidden orifice known as the Ancestral Orifice, which serves as the lock of the spirit and the * diagram * book

Some individuals, though not born with innate brilliance, gain profound insights through extensive reading and travel, accumulating rich experiences. One day, they may suddenly achieve enlightenment, inexplicably awakening to clarity; this is the light of great wisdom. Such individuals, if they embark on a path of cultivation, can progress rapidly and possess exceptional understanding. However, these individuals often miss the optimal years for cultivation, making it difficult to encounter their destined opportunities.

When he awoke, he found himself transformed into a twelve or thirteen-year-old Taoist boy, referred to as "Zhao Wuming" who had "returned from the dead"

This is high-quality talisman paper made from the finely polished wood pulp of a millennium-old spirit tree, which has undergone nine rounds of steaming and filtering to obtain pure wood pulp. Each sheet measures 6.6 inches in length and 3.3 inches in width, and they are all identical.

With a body free of clutter and a mind devoid of distractions, one can begin to create symbols

Not only has his identity changed, but the land he inhabits and the sky above him are also vastly different from before. Everything from the past is untraceable, leaving no evidence behind, as if it were an elusive dream.

In order to practice, he held two buckets of water with both hands, standing motionless in the courtyard for one or two hours each day. After several years, not only did he possess extraordinary arm strength, but his power was also remarkably stable, without the slightest tremor or deviation.

Li Muran, although born into a wealthy family, does not resemble other young scions who indulge in extravagance and debauchery, causing trouble all day long. In his youth, he gained fame far and wide for his extensive knowledge and exceptional intelligence. However, he remains humble and composed, not swayed by worldly fame and fortune. His greatest passion is to hide in his study, perusing the countless volumes of books accumulated over generations, often spending entire days and nights without stepping outside.

Zhao Wuming sat down on the rocks, gazing up at the night sky, and suddenly let out a soft sigh

The copper mirror now emitted a radiant glow, which greatly astonished Li Muran. He was playing with this copper mirror, examining it closely; at that moment, the mirror suddenly erupted with a blinding flash of light. Li Muran instinctively closed his eyes, feeling a sharp pain and dizziness in his mind, and thus lost consciousness.

Indeed, although I have three talisman papers in hand, I am not confident in my ability to draw a high-quality consecrated talisman. If I had the skills of Senior Brother Zhao, it would be no problem at all!" said the last in line, a fair and plump man, with a look of envy on his face

Tomorrow marks the day of the consecration and apprenticeship, I have finally waited for this day!

"After the consecration, we will become true cultivators!" said a slender young boy excitedly, his expression revealing much anticipation and excitement, though there was also a hint of concern: "I just fear that I won't be able to draw a high-quality consecration talisman."

Indeed, Senior Brother Zhao, which type of consecration talisman do you plan to draw? I would like to try the intermediate fire attribute consecration talisman, but I am unsure if I will succeed

He was originally named Li Muran, a mere scholar hailing from a family of literary tradition, with a relatively affluent background, thus he did not need to worry about the mundane matters of daily sustenance

Li Muran was determined to attempt the creation of a high-level talisman.

He looked up at the bright moonlight and smiled slightly: "The weather is nice, those preparations were not in vain!"

"Opening the Ancestor Aperture and Illuminating the Divine Light," abbreviated as "Opening the Light," refers to the process of opening the ancestral aperture and achieving clarity of mind and insight into one's true nature. It is also the first step in the practice of cultivation

The ancestral aperture of mortals is obstructed by the impurities of the mundane world, making it impossible to sense the existence of the primordial energy of heaven and earth, and thus, one cannot speak of cultivating to become an immortal

In this vast world, there is no shortage of wonders. Some individuals are born with an innate ability to perceive divine light, a rare talent for cultivation known as innate brilliance. However, such individuals may outwardly appear no different from ordinary people. If they remain hidden among the masses and do not encounter opportunities for transcendence, it would be a great pity

Seven or eight boys, around fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in loose Taoist robes, emerged from a Taoist temple, their faces beaming with triumphant smiles. Their laughter shattered the silence of the surroundings, echoing among the peaks.

The art of seal carving emphasizes a calm and focused mind, as well as quick reflexes. The entire process flows smoothly and seamlessly, thus placing high demands on one's strength, eyesight, and mental state.

However, Zhao Wuming does not think this way. He has a characteristic: either he does not do it, or if he does, he strives to do it to the best of his ability! If it truly provides some assistance, then spending some effort on it is certainly worthwhile; even if it has no effect at all, at most it would just be a futile endeavor.

Li Muran pressed his hand on the talisman paper, slightly closed his eyes, and carefully went through the process of creating the consecrated talisman in his mind from beginning to end

Indeed, the above situations are rare and hard to come by

The quality of the consecration talisman is closely related to future cultivation. If one can produce a high-level consecration talisman, it would be the best outcome

The consecration of talismans requires the dispelling of worldly distractions and the opening of ancestral channels, facilitating the connection between the human spirit and the primordial energy of heaven and earth. It emphasizes the harmony of "Heaven, Earth, and Humanity," thus it is essential to use one's own belongings to draw the talisman, preferably in an environment that is closest to the primordial energy of heaven and earth.

Under the moonlight, on the mountain rocks, a person sits alone, calm and focused.

"In these three years, it is only this bronze mirror that has made me feel that it was not a dream!" Li Muran murmured to himself, while simultaneously taking out a palm-sized bronze mirror from his bosom

As for the practice of calming the mind, the methods are even more tedious, often involving days and nights of deep meditation. For restless youths, this is undoubtedly the most torturous experience, yet Li Muran is able to persevere.

He followed the light to www.hetushu.com, where he discovered an ancient copper mirror in the storage box; this copper mirror appeared unremarkable, yet it emanated a layer of milky white halo, quite splendid

On this night, the moon is bright and the stars are few, and the surroundings of Xinxiu Peak are particularly tranquil. The future disciples of the Yuanfu Sect are all bathing and changing their clothes, calming their minds and preparing to draw the consecration talisman. An impatient young man has already taken out the talisman paper, eager to give it a try

Hey, you really have a big mouth. Is a mid-level talisman something you can draw? Zhao Shixiong might be more capable!

What Li Muran did not notice was that the bronze mirror he had set aside was gradually revealing a faint glow under the illumination of the moonlight

One could say that the youth are unaware of the taste of sorrow; just a glance at them can uplift one's spirits and fill one with hope

The boys chattered incessantly, while the Zhao youth, who was surrounded in the middle and had a delicate appearance, remained silent with a smile, exuding a composure that belied his age

The consecration talisman is quite special; it must be personally drawn by the disciple, and cannot be created with ordinary ink and brush. Instead, it is drawn using the finger as the brush and one's own blood as the ink, resulting in a talisman that will influence the course of one's entire life.

That is not necessarily the case; there are three opportunities! Of course, we should take a chance, right, Brother Zhao?

Zhao Wuming quickly ascended the mountain and soon arrived at a rugged area at the peak, where strange rocks jutted out. Among the chaotic stones, there were two adjacent rocks, one higher and one lower, which had already been polished by him to a relatively smooth finish, resembling natural stone platforms and benches

Perhaps it is because tomorrow marks the grand ceremony of consecration, and he is about to officially embark on the path of immortality. At this moment, he is filled with many emotions, and memories of the past gradually surface in his mind

... ...

Li Muran pondered repeatedly; the techniques required for crafting a high-level enlightenment talisman are exceedingly complex, demanding exceptional skills in vision, hand coordination, and a profound understanding of diagrams and texts, as well as mental acuity. Even for someone as diligent and well-grounded as he is, there remains only a glimmer of hope in producing a high-level enlightenment talisman

Hey, it's all your fault for being lazy on a regular basis. Who told you not to be as diligent as Brother Zhao!

In order to create the talisman, he has endured numerous hardships over the past few years, laying a solid foundation.

The ancient method states: "The way follows nature"; therefore, drawing talismans under the moonlight on the mountaintop is preferable to doing so by the light of a lamp in a wooden cabin. This notion was found by Zhao Wuming in a dusty, old book in his study. Perhaps because this point is too trivial and lacks substantial verification, this viewpoint did not attract the attention of the Yuanfu sect.

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

In order to train his eyesight, Li Muran, for three consecutive years, has ascended to a high vantage point every day at dawn, regardless of wind or rain, taking advantage of the auspicious morning light to practice his vision; this method of training, if interrupted for even a day, would render all previous efforts futile. However, Li Muran has managed to persist for a thousand days, achieving some small success. Few can match the tenacity of this unwavering commitment.

For the vast majority of individuals dedicated to cultivation, consecration involves specific methods and means

Tonight, Zhao Wuming will draw the first talisman of his life here

Li Muran spoke as he placed the bronze mirror on a nearby rock, then took out his identity bamboo plaque, a few taels of silver, and other miscellaneous items, setting them aside.

The surface of the bronze mirror is not particularly smooth, and there are some green rust spots, giving it an unmistakably ancient appearance. Three years ago, Li Muran arrived in this world along with this bronze mirror; for the past three years, Li Muran has kept the mirror close at hand, occasionally taking it out for repeated admiration, yet the mirror has not exhibited any signs of self-illumination since then.

Calculating, I have been in this world for exactly three years