Chapter 51: The Sword Talisman Takes Form

Zhang Jian seized the Dragon Pearl, a surge of potent spiritual power wrapping around it in his hand to block this intangible pull.

He glanced outside the Qi Fu.

Zhang Jian's eyes showed only a hint of indifference, with no trace of curiosity.

He casually shoved the Dragon Pearl back into his sleeve, having no desire to go out and investigate the cause.

Sometimes having a bit less curiosity might be better for oneself.

It would entail fewer complications.

He is already conspicuous enough now.

Next he needs to calm down and study the several techniques in his hand; these techniques require a great deal of effort.

Now he only needs to wait until the Zhang Family expands to a certain extent, then return to that ancestor to reap benefits.

If the Zhang Family rises to become an illustrious clan, after renewing the ancestral rites it will surely reap great gains.

Many unnecessary risks need no longer be taken.

Moreover, this Dragon Pearl in his hand must not encounter any problems.

To relieve the great drought affecting Fengyang Commandery and surrounding regions, this Dragon Pearl will be indispensable when it comes into play.

Zhang Jian continued to calm his mind, beginning to ponder the method for the Wind and Thunder Union in the Wind and Thunder Technique.

The Minor Wind and Thunder Technique can be divided into the Wind Movement Technique and the Thunder Practice.

These are merely two-layer basic minor spells.

He has already mastered both two-layer techniques, for now lacking the potential to delve deeper.

To advance further, he must only comprehend the Wind and Thunder Union, whereby the two-layer talismans merge to form an entirely new Wind and Thunder Talisman.

This point is more difficult.

But once achieved, its power will surely be even greater.

Zhang Jian also has a notion about this.

Simultaneously, he has not neglected his contemplation of the Metal Lung Sword Talisman.

The Metal Lung Sword Talisman is the foundation of the Flying Sword Technique.

Moreover, condensing the Metal Lung Sword Talisman also requires special conditions.

First, a certain swordsmanship foundation is needed; Zhang Jian is diligently consolidating it.

With a certain swordsmanship foundation, one can perceive within that short sword the intent to slash all things in heaven and earth, a desolate, icy chill, and thus in one breath engrave it deep into the divine sense.

Otherwise, one could actively absorb Metal-Iron Essence into the lungs to seek to condense a Metal Lung Sword Talisman, but according to the old Daoist Tian Xu, this is the lowest cultivation method.

Metal-Iron Qi is too sharp; a slight mistake will damage the meridians, leaving hidden injuries.

Besides this, there are actually some hidden conditions not mentioned in the arcane formulas.

Some of these hidden conditions Zhang Jian can imagine; as with cultivating the Wind and Thunder Technique, possessing a Metal Spirit Root will greatly enhance such techniques.

Zhang Jian had resolved not to go out, yet this caused some people to start worrying.

……

Outside the Qi Fu, a graceful figure wrapped in light gauze, her face half-hidden as she cradled a pipa, with two maidservants beside her.

She frowned tightly, gazing deep into the Qi Fu, a hint of solemnity in her eyes.

She is precisely the daughter of the White Water Dragon Lord seeking the Dragon Pearl's whereabouts, a proper dragon maiden.

In her arcane sense, the Dragon Pearl lies within the Qi Fu.

Yet the Qi Fu before her is blanketed in a thick layer of Dragon-Tiger Qi, preventing her entry.

She dare not force her way in at this moment.

The Dragon Maiden secretly felt helpless.

If the other party insists on not leaving the Qi Fu, she truly has no recourse.

Now she can only act as the lurker, lying in wait nearby for the target to appear.

However, she is not incapable of adapting, preparing to devise a way to make the target appear voluntarily.

……

Zhang Jian remained in seclusion in the small courtyard until the summer heat between heaven and earth gradually faded.

Many descendants within and without the Qi Fu had been specially instructed by Qi Yi not to disturb Zhang Jian's seclusion unless there was other business.

Qi Yi likewise placed great importance on Zhang Jian's cultivation.

Now the Qi Fu lacks a protective talisman; the presence of this cultivator Zhang Jian holds immense significance for the entire Qi Fu.

Qi Yi and the old Daoist Tian Xu have mentioned that the Daoist Tian Xu once told him that Zhang Jian's Dao cultivation surpasses his own.

One day in the courtyard, a flash of golden light flickered and vanished; a golden talisman formed in the void, instantly transforming into a sword light that cleanly split several stalks of green bamboo, the sword light landing on the blue‑stone‑paved ground and leaving a deep mark.

The blade's edge was sharp and threatening.

"Success!"

Seeing this, Zhang Jian's eyes flickered with a smile; this past month he had not wasted his efforts.

"Congratulations, Brother Zhang, on mastering the Metal Lung Sword Talisman and gaining another means!"

At that moment, a hearty laugh came from the nearby pavilion corridor.

At that moment, two figures stood afar, witnessing this scene; Qi Yi's expression showed astonishment, while the old Daoist Tian Xu's eyes shone with envy.

In about a month's time one can master this Dao technique, which is far stronger than his own.

Back then he could never grasp the subtle spirit nurtured in the short sword, so he chose to forge the Metal Lung Sword Talisman from Metal-Iron Qi, spending over a year before barely completing it.

Zhang Jian had long sensed the presence of those two figures, giving a slight nod.

He glanced at the nearby sharp sword, casually drew it into his hand, and a talisman appeared in his palm; he affixed it to the blade and, with a casual swing, a fierce sword light shot forth, likewise possessing the ability to cut metal and jade.

The sword aura was somber, the light aura even more brilliant, and threatening.

This is the correct way to use the Lung Metal Sword Talisman.

A single sword talisman, though fierce, is inevitably clumsy and can only be thrown as a hidden weapon.

But if one possesses a beautiful sword technique, it is enough to make the Lung Metal Sword Talisman agile and changeable, either fierce and unmatched, or soft yet containing needles, yielding yet poisonous.

"It seems that even above the Sun and Moon Sword Technique, we also need to put in some hard work!"

Zhang Jian's eyes showed a hint of earnestness.

Who hasn't dreamed of flying on a sword, roaming freely with a sword in hand, and letting the sword's light survey the Milky Way?

Zhang Jian's heart burned with eager ambition.

Soon his thoughts calmed down.

He merely glanced at the gradually cracking blade in his hand, still shook his head, for the Lung Metal Sword Talisman's power was too fierce and too consuming of weapons.

Qi Yi, as the Tian Xu Daoist stepped forward, also saw Zhang Jian's expression, and the Tian Xu Daoist shook his head and said.

"Zhang Brother, this flying sword technique is indeed astonishing in slaughter, but it requires a fine magic sword to match in order to unleash its power!"

"How could a magic sword be easily obtained?!"

Zhang Jian shook his head a little; not to mention a magic sword, he hadn't even seen an ordinary magic implement.

However, he still knew the power of magic implements; seeing that purple Yang magic sword in the Tian Xu old Daoist's hand, he knew that with this magic sword, at a critical moment, he could easily defeat two monsters whose strength still surpassed his own.

Even a black tiger demon that had cultivated for five hundred years was slashed by him.

The Tian Xu Daoist, upon seeing this scene, couldn't help but glance at Qi Yi and laugh.

"Old friend, do you remember that your Qi Manor stores many famous swords from the martial world? Why not let Zhang Brother pick one to use as a practice weapon?"

Qi Yi couldn't help but laugh and shake his head at this, but then immediately said.

"Little Brother Jian, that old Tian Xu Daoist is also right; since we are practicing the sword, we naturally need a handy weapon!"

"A good weapon is like adding wings to a tiger!"

Hearing this, Zhang Jian nodded.

To cultivate the flying sword technique, one indeed needs a sword; lacking a magic sword, as a compromise, a somewhat sharper and tougher long sword would also do.