Chapter 595: Spirit Summoning Talisman

**A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality, Volume 4: The Wind Rises Overseas**

“What do you mean by that, fellow Daoist?” Han Li merely glanced at the bone box but did not reach out to take it. Instead, he asked calmly.

How could he rashly accept it without knowing what was inside?

“There’s no need to worry, fellow Daoist. Inside is the crafting formula for the Spirit Descent Talisman, one of our Sky Talisman Sect’s three guardian spiritual talismans. Traditionally, only the sect master is permitted to study it. I have no other intentions; I merely hope that if it’s possible, you could deliver this talisman crafting method back to our sect for this old man. I don't want this unique art of the Sky Talisman Sect to be lost.” The red-faced old man said with a long sigh. He then opened the lid of the box himself, revealing several bone fragments densely inscribed with tiny characters.

“The Spirit Descent Talisman? Only the sect master can learn it? Could you be the sect master of the Sky Talisman Sect?” Han Li’s face showed a hint of hesitation.

“Indeed, I, Yun, am the fifty-seventh sect master of the Sky Talisman Sect. Our sect is merely a small, minor sect in Huayun Prefecture of the Jin Kingdom, so it’s truly laughable that I, with my Foundation Establishment cultivation, occupy the position of sect master.” The old man admitted, a slight blush on his face.

Hearing the old man’s words, a look of surprise flashed across Han Li’s face, but then his brows furrowed slightly. After a moment, he slowly spoke, looking at the old man:

“Since the crafting method for this Spirit Descent Talisman can only be studied by the sect master, it must have its unique qualities. Are you not worried that I, Han, might also learn the talisman crafting method if you simply hand it over to me like this? Furthermore, although I’ve heard of the Great Jin Kingdom’s reputation, I’ve never been there. I don’t even know if I’ll truly have an opportunity to go there in the future. Aren’t you being a bit too reckless, fellow Daoist!”

Upon hearing Han Li’s questions, the red-faced old man showed no surprise; instead, his eyes revealed a look of appreciation as he said:

“Since I, Yun, have handed this item to you, it implicitly allows you to study this talisman crafting method. Consider it an advance payment for your troubles, fellow Daoist Han. And honestly, once you truly see the method for crafting this talisman, I doubt you’ll have much interest in it. Although the Spirit Descent Talisman’s crafting method has been passed down through generations in our sect, aside from two or three venerable ancestors who crafted a mere two of them during our sect’s prosperous period, all other successive sect masters simply regarded it as a legacy and never actually crafted this talisman themselves. Given our sect’s current state of decline, it’s even more of a fool’s dream to attempt it now.”

“As for whether you will go to the Jin Kingdom to return this crafting formula, that is entirely up to you. I merely seek peace of mind. After all, this Spirit Descent Talisman is a unique talisman art created by our sect’s founding ancestor. If it were to be lost in the cultivation world, this old man would find it truly difficult to account for. Even if this talisman art cannot return to the Sky Talisman Sect, as long as it continues to be passed down through your hands, that’s better than it disappearing completely. When I, Yun, meet our sect’s ancestors in the afterlife, I’ll at least have some excuse.” The red-faced old man said with a wry smile.

Han Li was speechless at this.

It turned out this sect master of the Sky Talisman Sect only sought peace of mind. From this perspective, he truly stood to gain without suffering any loss.

If Han Li didn’t go to the Great Jin Kingdom, he naturally wouldn’t need to return the bone box. If he did go to this fabled great empire, delivering the item would seem like a simple gesture.

Furthermore, what kind of miraculous talisman was this Spirit Descent Talisman? It seemed incredibly difficult to craft. This greatly piqued Han Li’s curiosity!

Based on his increasingly broad experience, besides ordinary five-element magical techniques that could be refined into talismans, there indeed existed special talismans in the cultivation world that possessed incredible divine abilities, collectively known as 'Secret Talismans'.

These Secret Talismans were difficult to categorize within the five-element Daoist arts, and typically, each sect possessed unique crafting methods, making it challenging for outsiders to replicate them.

For example, when he was ambushed by a Star Palace Elder in the inner hall of the Void Heaven Temple, the Incarnation Talisman that appeared when he nearly died, and the Star Palace’s specially made Teleportation Talisman, were two different types of Secret Talismans. Of course, the former’s value far surpassed the latter’s.

After a brief thought, Han Li no longer hesitated and reached out to take the bone box, simultaneously promising in a deep voice:

“All I can promise you, fellow Daoist, is to do my best. Please don’t hold your hopes too high, fellow Daoist Yun.”

“Hehe, that’s enough! With your words, fellow Daoist Han, I am infinitely grateful.” Hearing Han Li’s statement, the red-faced old man seemed even more relieved in his heart, expressing his thanks repeatedly with a grateful look on his face.

After chatting with Han Li for a few more moments, he wisely took his leave.

Han Li stood at the doorway, watching the retreating figure. He couldn't help but weigh the bone box in his hand; it felt light, as if there were no other hidden secrets.

At this moment, Mei Ning, who had been standing silently behind Han Li, finally couldn’t help but ask:

“I’ve never heard the name Spirit Descent Talisman before. Is it truly a very powerful talisman?”

“I don’t know, but I expect it’s not ordinary!” Han Li glanced at her jade-like face and said with a light chuckle.

He then returned to the table and sat down. He picked up a bone fragment and casually scanned it.

“Oh?” After only two glances, Han Li let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem with the crafting method?” Mei Ning also sat down gracefully across from Han Li, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she asked. Ever since that fragrant kiss, a subtle intimacy had unknowingly grown between her and Han Li. Most of their previous reservations had also vanished.

“It’s nothing. The materials required to craft this Spirit Descent Talisman are truly extraordinary! No wonder their Sky Talisman Sect possesses the crafting art but doesn’t even dare to dream of making this talisman.” Han Li finished reading the bone fragment, placed it back in the box, and said casually.

“What kind of materials are needed that even you, fellow Daoist Han, find them extraordinary?” Mei Ning was a little puzzled.

“Other materials are fine. But the main material for crafting this talisman is something that cannot be bought with even spirit stones. It actually requires the essence soul of a shapeshifting stage demonic beast to refine this Spirit Descent Talisman. Don’t you think that’s extraordinary?” Han Li picked up the next bone fragment and said with a faint smile.

“The essence soul of a shapeshifting stage demonic beast?” Mei Ning gasped, her clear, beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.

However, she didn’t notice the hint of a mysterious, unusual expression on Han Li’s face as he meticulously examined the bone fragment in his hand…

After resting for a night, Han Li and Mei Ning left the village without notifying anyone, under the surprised gazes of the few guards.

Once again standing at the edge of the rubble-strewn area, looking out at the vast yellow desert before them, Han Li briefly identified the direction and then led Mei Ning towards the nearest village.

Han Li’s idea was simple: if Mei Ning’s brother was safe here, he must have gone to another village. Once found, they would take him along.

Mei Ning also thought Han Li’s idea was indeed reasonable and naturally had no objections.

In the blink of an eye, the two vanished into the vast yellow sands, leaving no trace.

Over a month later, on a strange, blood-red land, over a dozen young men and women, dressed in gray clothes and armed with bone spears, were stealthily circling closer to a mound-like high ground.

On top of this high ground, several bizarre creatures with emerald green bodies and short, thick necks were curled up, sound asleep.

These were 'Jade Toad Beasts', a type of Yin beast. They were not large and had bumpy bodies. Although they looked incredibly ugly, like giant, overgrown toads, they were one of the few Yin beasts in this Underworld region whose bodies were not poisonous and could be consumed by humans.

These people had naturally come to hunt these Jade Toad Beasts to alleviate the food crisis in their village.

Their movements were exceptionally agile and completely silent. Just as they were about to fully close their encirclement, one of the Jade Toad Beasts suddenly opened its pair of fiery red eyes and spotted the humans only twenty to thirty zhang away.

The cry of “Attack!” from the humans and the warning hiss from the beast sounded simultaneously.

In a flash, over a dozen gleaming white bone spears whizzed through the air towards the Jade Toad Beasts.

As a result, most of the Jade Toad Beasts, though leaping up, were immediately pierced by the spears and fell. Only two of the most agile Jade Toad Beasts managed to evade this fate. They weren't entirely unharmed, but due to their timely dodge, the spears merely grazed them.

Jade Toad Beasts were among the lowest-tier Yin beasts; besides spitting out some Yin energy, they possessed almost no potent offensive capabilities. However, their corresponding speed in jumping and escaping was astonishingly fast.

The two remaining Jade Toad Beasts opened their mouths wide and fiercely launched two head-sized balls of black Yin energy. Then, with a powerful kick, they leaped seven or eight zhang high, instantly escaping the human encirclement. Although a few people desperately threw their spare bone spears, they were clearly too slow and couldn’t hit the fleeing Jade Toad Beasts.

Just as the two Jade Toad Beasts, after a few leaps, charged into a pile of strange rocks nearby, a flash of green light suddenly appeared. The two Jade Toad Beasts plunged straight down from the air without a sound, falling to the ground with a thud and not moving again.

Their emerald green blood instantly stained the ground red.

This scene left the previously disheartened young men and women utterly dumbfounded.