Chapter 37

Jiang Shishi couldn’t help asking, “What do you mean by that?”

Daoist Master Yan Song raised an eyebrow. “I mean this young brother is a true Daoist cultivator—his talismans and magic treasures, once opened, are more effective than those of most monks and Daoist priests nationwide.”

“Huh?” Xiao Ya glanced from Daoist Master Yan Song to Gu Zhao, stunned.

If it weren’t for the fact that she and Gu Zhao had only known each other two days, if it weren’t for Gu Zhao’s accidental display of skill, if it weren’t for this being the Taishang Laojun Pavilion, if it weren’t for the fact that just moments ago all the Daoists had bowed respectfully to this old man…

Xiao Ya would have thought Gu Zhao and the old Daoist were in cahoots to fool her.

But before Xiao Ya could react, Gu Zhao shook his hand. “Master, you flatter me—I can draw talismans, but I cannot open them.”

“Huh?” Daoist Master Yan Song stared, eyes wide. “You can’t open them?”

“I can’t.” Gu Zhao shook his head. “How do you open them?”

Daoist Master Yan Song felt utterly bewildered, scanning Gu Zhao up and down. “You’ve cultivated internal breath and true qi—how can you not know how to use it?”

Gu Zhao’s eyes flickered. “How do I use it?”

Daoist Master Yan Song stared again. “You channel your internal breath and true qi through your body, or calm your mind and pour it into the talisman or magic treasure—didn’t your grandfather teach you that?”

Saying this, he could no longer sit still. “Wait a moment.”

Daoist Master Yan Song rose and left, leaving Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya staring at each other.

“A true Daoist cultivator?” Jiang Shishi looked at Xiao Ya.

“Internal breath and true qi?” Xiao Ya looked at Jiang Shishi.

They weren’t unfamiliar with these terms—at least they appeared often in wuxia novels—but hearing them applied to a real person, especially a young man by an old Daoist, felt bizarre.

Jiang Shishi couldn’t help asking, “What’s going on here?”

Gu Zhao slumped into the chair. “This is the reward for achieving cultivation.”

He no longer worried about encountering problems on Long Hu Tian Shan—turns out there really were Daoist priests in modern times who could cultivate magic power.

Though due to environmental factors, their magic power seemed extremely weak, it was undeniably magic power—and they were remarkably sensitive to it.

If Qingcheng Mountain had it, then Long Hu Tian Shan, as the ancestral seat of Zhengyi Dao, surely had it too. He probably wouldn’t even need to use Palm Thunder—the purple-robed Tian Shi there would respectfully present him with the Golden Diamond Talisman.

“You never showed your martial arts to Daoist Master Yan Song—how did he know you’d achieved cultivation?” Xiao Ya asked. “An expert can tell at a glance, but you didn’t even move.”

“That’s the resonance between masters,” Gu Zhao said solemnly.

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi exchanged glances, half-believing, half-doubting.

At that moment, Gu Zhao suddenly sensed a faint fluctuation of magic power, then heard footsteps outside the door.

The next instant, Daoist Master Yan Song pushed the door open. The three saw him holding a jade scepter—no more than a foot long, entirely white, radiating a soft, warm aura.

Daoist Master Yan Song asked Gu Zhao, “Did you sense anything?”

Looking at the jade scepter, this time it was Gu Zhao who was stunned. “This is… opening?”

Isn’t this just forcibly pouring magic power into it, relying on the jade’s properties to trap spiritual energy inside? Just like the Five Thunder Talisman I drew in Yuanfa Palace.

But this method doesn’t last long—over time, the spiritual energy inside the jade slowly leaks away until it’s completely gone, its shelf life even shorter than my own Tian Gang Talisman.

“Exactly,” Daoist Master Yan Song said proudly. “This is what opening means. I spent a full month opening this jade scepter last year, and I maintain it every first day of the month. Its Daoic resonance is ethereal, its spiritual energy abundant—it’s a rare magic treasure!”

Gu Zhao, “...”

Okay, it was indeed Daoic resonance and abundant spiritual energy—being near it did bring some benefit—but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“If Xiao Ya’s grandfather isn’t ill, just weak and qi-deficient, then have him wear a Peace Talisman you’ve opened for nine days—it should help.” Daoist Master Yan Song said.

Gu Zhao stared at the jade scepter.

Though spiritual energy in the modern world was extremely thin, after Daoist Master Yan Song poured magic power into it for a month, the spiritual energy around the scepter was indeed relatively dense—provided you didn’t greedily suck it all in.

If a physically weak person kept it nearby, it would be like being immersed in a lush, spiritually rich natural environment—truly beneficial for body and mind.

“I really do feel different!” Jiang Shishi blinked. “My breathing feels much smoother.”

Daoist Master Yan Song glanced at Jiang Shishi. “You’re burdened too heavily and climb mountains too exhaustively—you’re naturally more sensitive.”

Teased by the elder, Jiang Shishi blushed—rarely—and was still stunned, feeling her worldview had been overturned.

Could magic treasures and mysticism truly exist in this world?

But Xiao Ya had already turned to Gu Zhao. After a pause, she asked Daoist Master Yan Song hesitantly, “Does opening a magic treasure come with a cost?”

“You’re a good girl,” Daoist Master Yan Song said, eyebrow lifting, then turned to Gu Zhao. “Kind-hearted girls like this are rare now—don’t let her slip away.”

Gu Zhao was speechless. “Do you really like matchmaking?”

Daoist Master Yan Song wore a serious expression. “The state encourages marriage and childbirth—religious figures should respond to the state’s call.”

Gu Zhao, “...”

Xiao Ya, “...”

“I’m not a doctor—I don’t even know why your grandfather is unwell. To hand out a Peace Talisman and claim it can cure illness—that’s just feudal superstition,” Gu Zhao said helplessly.

Xiao Ya smiled gently, yet a hint of disappointment lingered—until Daoist Master Yan Song spoke: “So even if it doesn’t cure him, what’s the harm? Who truly believes a Daoist Peace Talisman can heal?”

All three were stunned—they suddenly realized Daoist Master Yan Song made perfect sense.

Gu Zhao had no choice but to ask Xiao Ya, “What’s wrong with your grandfather?”

“It’s not really an illness,” Xiao Ya whispered. “For the past two years, he’s been weak and qi-deficient, unable to walk easily. The hospital found no cause—they just say he was born with a frail constitution. But he used to be perfectly healthy.”

Gu Zhao thought for a moment, pulled out a wallet from his pocket, and handed Xiao Ya a folded triangular yellow paper. “This is my own Tian Gang Talisman. If your grandfather believes in it, keep it on his person or under his pillow. Whether it works—I can’t guarantee anything.”

After meeting Daoist Master Yan Song—a modern Daoist who possessed magic power and had revealed some truths—and seeing Xiao Ya’s kindness and filial devotion, and how she’d kindly cared for him moments ago, Gu Zhao no longer needed to hide his abilities.

Xiao Ya took the talisman. Her earlier disappointment vanished; her eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed with color.

“Thank you!”