Chapter 970: Secret Talisman and Level 8 Evil Flood Dragon

Volume 6: Heavenly Spiritual Treasures

Han Li spent three days and three nights in the Scripture Pavilion of the Heavenly Talisman Sect, reviewing all the ancient texts related to talisman crafting. He truly found many unique secret techniques for crafting talismans within them. He unceremoniously copied all of these, intending to study them thoroughly when he had spare time later.

Furthermore, from some of the texts, Han Li also learned about the other two great secret talismans of the Heavenly Talisman Sect, and he was secretly astonished by the information.

The Spirit Transformation Talisman is a spiritual talisman that, when placed inside the body and cultivated day and night within the Dantian, yields infinite wondrous uses in the future. This talisman is somewhat similar to a magic treasure; if cultivated to a certain extent, its transformations become infinitely sharp and powerful. It can even achieve a divine ability similar to the demonic path's "Calamity Transformation," without the need for one's physical body to endure the cultivation method's backlash.

The "Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman" is a secret technique that uses the power of the talisman to condense the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth, forming a six-layered protective shield. As long as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth persists, the six-layered shield can continuously regenerate and restore itself. It is one of the few spells in the world that can manipulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth without needing the Soul Transformation stage cultivation, making it quite astonishing.

Among the three great secret talismans, the Spirit Transformation Talisman was manageable; once a cultivator reached the Core Formation stage, they could cultivate it using their core flames, making it a required divine ability for all Core Formation cultivators of the Heavenly Talisman Sect throughout history. However, the power of the Spirit Transformation Talisman depended not only on the cultivator's cultivation level and the duration of cultivation but also on the materials used during its creation and its inherent grade.

The Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman, however, was different; once refined, anyone could wield it. The effectiveness of the talisman solely depended on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The denser the spiritual energy, the more astonishing the talisman's power.

However, according to the records of a certain generation's Heavenly Talisman Sect elder, the jade slip for the Six Ding Heavenly Armor Art mysteriously vanished after True Master Tianfu passed away. This greatly alarmed the powerful Heavenly Talisman Sect cultivators of that era. For several generations, the high-ranking members of the sect regarded recovering this secret technique as their top priority, but they found no clues and achieved no results.

After the Heavenly Talisman Sect declined, they naturally had even less ability to continue the search. The matter gradually fell into obscurity.

As for the Spirit Descent Talisman, due to material issues, very few people had been able to refine it since its creation.

Therefore, although the Heavenly Talisman Sect always claimed to possess three great spiritual talismans, in reality, only the "Spirit Transformation Talisman" was truly useful.

After Han Li finished reading the relevant texts, he naturally became very interested in the other two spiritual talismans. Both seemed to possess considerable divine abilities. Especially the Spirit Transformation Talisman; its ability to achieve "Calamity Transformation" was, at times, the best means of preserving one's life.

Three days later, Han Li finished reading the last jade slip, stood up from the meditation cushion, and stretched. His spiritual sense swept downwards, detecting Xiang Zhili on the first floor.

Han Li frowned.

This Senior Brother Xiang, whom he had worried about for half a day, had been unusually well-behaved these past few days. Aside from meditating with his eyes closed, he had done nothing else and hadn't even stepped out of the pavilion.

What he found somewhat amusing outside the pavilion was that, ever since his first day of examining the texts, several Foundation Establishment Heavenly Talisman Sect cultivators had been taking turns waiting outside for him to emerge, as if fearing he would leave without a word.

After a moment of thought, Han Li walked down from the pavilion.

"Senior, have you finished reading everything?" the old man asked with a smile, immediately putting away the jade slip in his hand as soon as he saw Han Li appear.

"Yes, I've seen everything I needed to see. Feel free to do as you please here, fellow Daoist," Han Li said with a light, meaningful chuckle, then walked out of the pavilion on his own.

The old man watched Han Li's receding figure without moving, a glint flashing in his eyes before immediately returning to normal.

Coincidentally, the cultivator waiting for Han Li outside the pavilion was again the same Yang-named cultivator who had escorted him there earlier.

As soon as he saw Han Li emerge, he hastily bowed in greeting and respectfully invited Han Li to the main hall once more.

Since he had viewed their treasured texts, it was only natural to give them this much face. Han Li nodded and agreed.

The middle-aged cultivator joyfully sent out a sound transmission talisman and led Han Li directly to the main hall.

Waiting for Han Li in the main hall, besides the high-ranking Heavenly Talisman Sect members he had met before, were two additional unfamiliar Core Formation cultivators, a man and a woman, both appearing to be in their forties.

After Elder Wen and the others greeted Han Li, the Heavenly Talisman Sect elder immediately began the introductions:

"These two are Fellow Daoist Chang from Golden Cloud Mountain and Fellow Daoist Xie from Bright Sun Valley. Hearing of your arrival, Senior, they specifically came to pay their respects and have been waiting for you in our sect for a full day."

"Oh! You two are too kind. I've been studying some secret talisman crafting techniques these past few days, which has made you wait for a long time," Han Li said with a calm expression, revealing no sign of his emotions.

"Not at all! It is our good fortune to be able to meet Senior in person today."

After sweeping their gaze over Han Li's cultivation, the two individuals were instantly startled and likewise bowed. To be honest, when they first heard their respective sect masters report that a Nascent Soul cultivator had arrived at the Heavenly Talisman Sect, both had been skeptical.

After all, they were well aware of the Heavenly Talisman Sect's situation. Although the three sects were small and had always advanced and retreated together, supporting each other, the Heavenly Talisman Sect was the weakest among them. How could a Nascent Soul cultivator come to such a small sect? However, if they could truly establish a connection with a Nascent Soul cultivator, the benefits would naturally be immense.

Unable to remain at ease in their own sects, these two hurried to White Bamboo Mountain overnight, wanting to personally confirm the matter.

Now, having personally witnessed Han Li's unfathomable cultivation, they naturally harbored no more doubts.

After Han Li sat down, he gave a slight gesture, and only then did the three Core Formation cultivators and Yue Zhen dare to take their seats. The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators naturally had no choice but to stand respectfully with bowed heads.

"Senior, did you gain anything from your time in the Scripture Pavilion? Although our valley is not specialized in the path of talisman crafting, we do have some talisman-related texts. If you're interested, you're welcome to take a look," said the female cultivator surnamed Xie, her voice quite pleasant.

"There's no need for such trouble. I have important matters to attend to and will be leaving this place for Linjiang Prefecture soon," Han Li said with a faint smile, glancing at the woman.

"Linjiang Prefecture? Senior, could you be going for those ferocious Flood Dragons?" the other male cultivator surnamed Chang exclaimed.

"How do you know that?" Han Li asked, his expression shifting slightly.

"Recently, all cultivators heading to Linjiang Prefecture are going for those Flood Dragons. Your information, Senior, is probably not the most recent, is it?" the cultivator surnamed Chang said hesitantly.

"I received this intelligence from a market half a year ago, which is why I traveled such a great distance to get here. I heard these Flood Dragons were all around Level Seven; surely they haven't been wiped out by other cultivators so quickly?" Han Li's expression darkened as he slowly spoke.

"Not at all. On the contrary, in a recent ambush battle, although one Flood Dragon was killed, many of the cultivators hunting them were devoured instead. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator was seriously injured," Elder Wen hastily explained.

"A Nascent Soul cultivator was injured? What happened?" Han Li was somewhat surprised.

"A Level Eight shapeshifting blue Flood Dragon suddenly appeared among the group of dragons, and the cultivators who had originally planned the ambush naturally suffered heavy losses when caught off guard. Later, it was said that several elders from the South Sea Gate launched a joint attack, only managing to repel the dragons but unable to kill them at their leisure. These Flood Dragons simply fled to several strategic islands near the coast and went into hiding, continuously attacking lone cultivators and mortal ships. As soon as Nascent Soul cultivators arrived in a joint effort, they would immediately dive into the deep sea and use water escape techniques to flee. Recently, the trouble seems to have escalated, making it very difficult to handle. I hear that the South Sea Gate has already invited many high-level cultivators to gather on Qiongying Island to prepare for a Flood Dragon slaying assembly. After all, a Level Eight Flood Dragon is extremely rare," Elder Wen said, leading the explanation.

"A Level Eight Flood Dragon?" Han Li murmured to himself, his expression unchanged, but his mind flashed back to the Level Eight Venomous Flood Dragon he had once killed.

Although it was called a Level Eight demonic beast, as a spiritual beast of heaven and earth, a Level Eight Flood Dragon's true strength was likely a cut above a Mid Nascent Soul cultivator. Furthermore, being in the sea, it would be in its element; no wonder so many high-level cultivators were helpless against it.

However, he hadn't come for any blue Flood Dragon. After a brief moment of thought, he naturally asked:

"I recall there was a red fire Flood Dragon among the evil dragons, seemingly the legendary Crimson Fire Flood Dragon. Has that demonic beast also gone to the islands?"

"A Crimson Fire Flood Dragon... yes, there was indeed a red Flood Dragon that also went to the coast, but whether it's truly a Crimson Fire Flood Dragon is unclear," the cultivator surnamed Chang replied without hesitation, seeming to know quite a bit about it.

"That's good!" Han Li nodded in satisfaction.

Seeing Han Li's expression soften, the cultivators in the main hall also felt a slight relaxation in their hearts.

At this moment, Elder Wen exchanged glances with the other two and then cautiously asked:

"Senior Han, your cultivation is astonishing. May I ask where you cultivated in seclusion before, and if you are an elder of some major sect?"

"Hehe, I come from a very remote place, and I am not an elder of any sect in the Great Jin!" Han Li's eyes flickered, and after glancing at the three, he wore a faint, ambiguous smile.

Under Han Li's gaze, which seemed to see through everything, Elder Wen and the others' hearts immediately skipped a beat. However, upon hearing his reply, they couldn't help but feel pleasantly surprised.

"Senior, you have already studied our sect's Spirit Descent Talisman. May I ask what you think of this talisman crafting technique, and if it meets with your approval?" After a moment of hesitation, Elder Wen cautiously asked again.

"Fellow Daoist Wen, just speak directly. There's no need to beat around the bush like this. Do you perhaps want me to join your sect?" Han Li sighed and said bluntly.

"Senior, please don't misunderstand; how could this junior dare harbor such extravagant hopes? This junior merely wishes to ask if Senior would be willing to become a guest elder for our three sects collectively!" Hearing the displeasure in Han Li's tone, Elder Wen was startled and blurted out everything without hesitation.

"Guest elder?" Han Li was first taken aback, then his eyes narrowed slightly.

Han Li naturally knew a little about guest elders. This was a position typically found only in some small and medium-sized sects in the Great Jin, a special role arranged by these sects specifically for high-level rogue cultivators.

Although it might sound similar to a regular elder, in reality, the two were vastly different.

For these small sects, a guest elder was essentially a nominal elder. They would not be bound by the sect's rules, nor would they follow anyone's orders from within the sect. Their only role was probably to legitimately offer some assistance when these small and medium-sized sects encountered trouble.

However, such assistance was not mandatory and depended entirely on the guest elder's mood. Of course, in return, the guest elders enjoyed treatment in these sects that was in no way inferior to that of a formal elder, sometimes even far exceeding that of ordinary elders.

The reason for this situation was naturally that there were simply too many small and medium-sized sects in the Great Jin, while Nascent Soul cultivators were relatively scarce. Not to mention small sects, even some medium-sized sects might, during certain periods, lack a Nascent Soul cultivator within their ranks. In such circumstances, they naturally had no choice but to try their best to win over Nascent Soul rogue cultivators as patrons to ensure the stability of their sects.