Chapter 142: The Principles of Talisman Methods, the Five Ghosts Perfected

Tianhe Miscellaneous Collection Wonderful Transformation Talisman Scripture.

The name is truly quite good; at the very least, when Chen Ci heard it, he thought that regardless of whether the focus was on "Tianhe," "Wonderful Transformation," or "Talisman Scripture," it couldn't be too bad.

Yet he never imagined that the main selling points of this Dao Tome would actually be the two characters "Miscellaneous" and "Collection."

"Miscellaneous" means many and chaotic.

"Collection" means, "Hand it over, you."

In short, a hodgepodge.

Chen Ci rubbed his face, closed the Talisman Scripture Dao Tome he had been flipping through for an hour, pondered for a moment, and pursed his lips.

This Talisman Scripture Dao Tome is not a proper cultivation of talisman methods, nor does it form a system; its only merit lies in its quantity. From the insect-repelling, beast-avoiding, illusion-casting, and grain-abstaining tricks of wandering sorcerers, to the Jiamashinxing and rain-praying or sun-praying of miscellaneous-school cultivators, and even the soul-fixing and ghost-slaying of the He Mountain Sect, it includes them all—the number is over a hundred. If a miscellaneous-school rogue cultivator were to obtain it, it would surely be treated as a precious secret manual, and perhaps in the future cultivation world, a miscellaneous-school lineage called the "Tianhe Talisman Sect" might even appear.

It is just that for Chen Ci, it is of little use.

Yet the various methods within, let alone being beneficial to cultivation, might even drag down his cultivation; this makes it somewhat like a chicken rib.

Pacing a few times in the room, Chen Ci stopped his steps, and an idea formed in his mind.

"No wonder Jiao Zhenren said one can study it a little in one's spare time; if one becomes obsessed with it, one's Daoist cultivation will surely fall behind, and Longevity will be severed."

As for the flying and swift-traveling methods, Chen Ci truly cannot tolerate them in the slightest.

Chen Ci nodded, deeply agreeing: "If the opponent's target is clear and they are well-prepared, using talisman methods to fight is indeed necessary."

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Great Success/96/100

A cultivator's foundation still lies in their Daoist cultivation; although talisman methods are also wonderful techniques, since they cannot grant Longevity, they naturally must be pushed back a step. He, Chen, is someone with a Dao Heart.

Chen Ci stood up and paced; that Jiao Zhenren gave it so readily, perhaps it was because of this.

And there is that Profound Yin Ghost-Slaying Talisman; as the He Mountain Light, Master Chen can reluctantly learn it.

Take for example the Jiamashinxing and Foot-Rising Cloud talismans; the former is only considered a minor wandering trick, but when paired with the latter, it is actually a flying and swift-traveling method!

He has gained a bit more understanding of talisman principles.

For example, the Dream-Entering, Ghost-Communicating, and Nightmare-Overcoming talismans—for lechery, looting, killing, and arson, everyone who has used them says they are good.

The other talisman methods are fine; it won't be too late to learn a trick or two if a situation arises in the future. But these two, Jiamashinxing and Foot-Rising Cloud, seem to be must-learns. No one can stop him; Master Chen said so.

"The path of talisman methods is far from being as sharp as sword techniques. If one meets in a narrow path and faces cold steel, one is prone to suffering a great loss. Therefore, its intent lies in support rather than being the master, emphasizing preparation and planning over emergency changes."

It is not without use; there are many wonderful methods in this Talisman Scripture. If one practices them until they are handy, there are many places where they can be used while walking in the cultivation world, enough to protect one's life.

"However, there is a sentence on the cover of this Tianhe Miscellaneous Collection Wonderful Transformation Talisman Scripture that is quite interesting."

As well as the He Mountain Sect's soul-fixing and ghost-slaying talismans, they are the unparalleled choices for the He Mountain Light, Master Chen, to eliminate evil and defend the Dao.

However, Chen Ci was not in a hurry to start practicing these two or three talisman methods; he now has more important things to do.

Five days later.

Quiet room.

Beside Chen Ci, five clusters of pale gray mist appeared and vanished. He closed his eyes slightly, chanted the Five-Ghost Wonderful Technique, and held a mysterious hand seal. Amidst the bursts of incantations, he suddenly heard a crisp sound from his waist.

Chen Ci stopped practicing and subconsciously looked at his waist. The vessel for the Five Ghosts Transportation Method—the ancient bronze lamp he had spent a large sum to purchase—had inexplicably decayed and shattered into pieces.

"Sure enough, that old thing is a crooked merchant!"

Chen Ci was furious, but before he could think of how to claim his rights, he felt something pass through his Dao robe and stick to his skin. It was ice-cold and bone-chilling, making him, a Qi Refining cultivator, shiver uncontrollably and gasp.

"Hiss!"

Chen Ci was stunned for a moment, then reacted. With a thought, the five little ones jumped off him, appeared out of thin air, and surrounded him. With another thought, they all jumped behind Chen Ci and vanished, and that icy feeling appeared once again.

"A breakthrough?"

Chen Ci picked up the fragments of the ancient bronze lamp and sighed with emotion: "So the Five Ghosts have broken free from their vessel. If I had known, I would have bought a cheaper one. My magic lamp..."

It is only because Master Chen has a healthy body and strong vitality; if this were someone weaker, they would truly be unable to withstand being pounced on by the Five Ghosts.

Chen Ci simply stripped off his Dao robe, bared his upper body, and looked into the bronze mirror. On his back, it looked like a fierce ghost tattoo; five fierce—no, cute—ghosts were chasing and playing, forming a Five Ghosts Laughing tattoo, which was quite inconsistent with his well-proportioned and tall physique.

Chen Ci: "..."

Silently putting on his Dao robe, Chen Ci summoned the five little ones, had them stand in a row, and feeling heartbroken and disappointed, he scolded: "Your master is, at the very least, a strong man who can enter the Dao through martial arts. With you looking like this, how am I supposed to rip my clothes in the future? Ah, how am I supposed to rip my clothes?!"

The five little ones trembled: It is well known that the Five Ghosts grow along with their master; whatever the master looks like, the Five Ghosts look like that.

Sigh.

The wood is already carved into a boat; Chen Ci can only accept it. However, thinking about it, he has his Gold Finger panel and has practiced the Five Ghosts Transportation Method to Great Success and Perfected. The Five Ghosts just attaching to his back gives such a strange feeling; that cheap senior brother who carries those five tiger-headed demon ghosts on his back day and night is truly a ruthless person.

One has to admire him.

Subconsciously clicking on the Gold Finger panel, Chen Ci glanced at it. He originally wanted to see what changes would occur after the Five Ghosts Transportation Method reached Perfected, but the next second he sat up straight and let out a soft "Eh."

Five Ghosts Transportation Method: Perfected/1/100 (Refining Essence nine drops daily, can advance one, subdue the heart-ghost, spirit-ghosts born naturally)

"That's not right. When the Basic Sword Technique reached Great Success and Perfected, it seemed..."

Chen Ci touched his chin and pondered in silence.

As one of the only two techniques he had practiced to perfection after many years of bitter cultivation, he had relied on the Basic Sword Technique to break through in the heat of battle, which allowed him to turn the tables and fight to the death with that Ge Laodao. After the Basic Sword Technique reached Great Success and Perfected, it had directly given him the title of "Sword Master."

Chen Ci's memory is quite deep; he is confident he won't remember it wrong.

Yet he did not expect that after the Five Ghosts Transportation Method reached Great Success and Perfected, there would still be another realm. Could this be the difference between a magical technique and a mortal technique?

These trivial questions can be set aside for now, but since the Five Ghosts Transportation Method has not reached Perfected, should he, Chen, practice the Five Ghosts Possession Method or not? Should he be a bit more steady and grind a bit more?

"Steady my foot! I, Chen, am already carrying the Five Ghosts. If I keep practicing, I'll have to wait until the year of the monkey. If there is a follow-up after Perfected, do I have to grind again?"

"I can't wait at all!"

Chen Ci hummed twice. He still doesn't know what the Five Ghosts Possession Method is like. Since the Transportation Method is already Perfected, there is no benefit in waiting. Even if there is a follow-up, he can practice both Five Ghosts methods simultaneously. His foundation is still the Qi Refining method, the Five Accumulations Yin Demon Art; it has been almost four months, and his Daoist cultivation has not increased.

To tell the truth, he is anxious.

"Today is the 30th, tomorrow is the 1st. I'll adjust for two days, then go rent a cultivation cave dwelling and start practicing the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method."

Chen Ci silently adapted to the strange feeling of carrying the Five Ghosts and slowly exhaled a breath of cold air. He remembers his cheap senior brother once saying that there are many drawbacks to the Five Ghosts Entering Body, so he must do the preparatory work well.

(End of chapter)