Dao of the World Walker (Xianxia) Book 2

Elder Bai Jing Ting began on the far side of the circle, working her way around the tables one by one. Yang had time.

He started working on a new deflection talisman as she started her rounds. That was the most advanced of his defensive talismans, therefore the best choice for showing his skills. Soon he was done and noticed that Elder Bai was still a bit away and estimated he still had time to complete a couple of more talismans, so he set aside the completed deflection talisman and began on the qi barrier talisman next, which was less complicated and took him even less time. When he looked up she was still a couple of tables away. He had enough time for one more. He started on the earth wall talisman, worked through the inscription steadily, and had almost finished the final strokes when he heard her move to the disciple next to him.

He completed the last stroke and set the brush down.

He turned toward the exchange between them without looking directly. The disciple there had produced a qi barrier talisman. From what Yang could see of it, the grade was higher than his own, with the disciple being several realms above him, but the inscription had an uneven quality to it. The strokes were there and the talisman functioned, but the qi distribution was uneven in places and the lines carried a roughness that should reduce the talisman’s endurance under sustained pressure. He could see it clearly and the elder said much the same thing, telling the disciple to practice the basics until the strokes and qi distribution were smooth before moving forward, and then she stepped to Yang.

Yang greeted her and placed the deflection talisman forward.

She looked it over, then extended her other hand toward him without speaking. It took him a moment to understand she was asking for the others. He placed the qi barrier talisman and the earth wall talisman in her hand. She looked through all three without expression.

”Are these three all the defensive talismans you can make?”

”No, Elder.” Yang reached into his sleeve and produced one each of the ice shell, iron skin, and stone skin talismans he had kept for himself. ”I made these a couple of days ago.”

She took them and looked through all six without rushing.

”All basic talismans with straightforward inscriptions.” She set them down on the table. ”Excellent skill for a second stage Qi Condensation disciple. How long have you been practicing?”

”A few months only, Elder. I joined the sect recently in the recruitment drive from Canglong City.”

Her expression did not change. She looked at the talismans again and then at him.

”Very impressive.” Elder Bai said though her expression said anything but.

”Your qi distribution and stroke work are smooth and fluid. I cannot find fault in the construction of any of these. They are as well made as a talisman can be at your cultivation realm. If you maintain this level of quality and continue working hard, your future in talisman craft will be a bright one.”

”Thank you, Elder.”

”Your name, and what other types of talismans have you created?”

”Chen Yang, Elder. I began with illumination talismans. Beyond what I have shown you I have also made silencing, immobilisation, and fireball talismans.”

She nodded once.

”For each new talisman you learn, practice it until you can produce it at this same level of quality before you move on to the next. Consistency matters more than variety at your stage.” She paused. ”For the next class, I want you to bring a specialised defensive talisman. Not a general physical or qi defence talisman. I want something designed to resist a specific type of attack. It can be as simple as a defence against fire or water, or as complex as you can manage, but keep your expectations realistic. You are some distance from the more unusual elements for now.”

”I will, Elder.”

She moved on to the next table without further ceremony.

Yang watched her work. She moved through the remaining students at the same pace, looking over their work and offering guidance, about their strengths and weaknesses. When she had gone through every table, she returned to the center of the circle.

”Next class, we will go deeper into the theory of understanding talisman construction. Make sure you follow the instructions I gave each of you before you return. This is not a beginner class, and I will not be holding your hands. But if you are willing to put in the effort, I will be there to guide you.”

As soon as she was done speaking, she left in a streak of light.

Yang was gathering his supplies and preparing to leave when he heard his name called from behind.

”Junior brother. Junior brother, wait.”

He turned. It was the disciple who had been sitting at his table, the one who had arrived while Yang was in the middle of making deflection talismans. The same one whose qi barrier talisman the elder had critiqued.

The disciple caught up to him and gave a slight bow.

”Junior brother, I am Yu Bin. Seventh stage of Qi Condensation.”

Yang returned the bow. ”Senior Brother. I am Chen Yang. Second stage of Qi Condensation.” He paused. ”Did you need something?”

”I was sitting next to you during the class and I heard Elder Bai call your work perfect.” Senior Brother Yu Bin had a rather direct manner of speaking. ”I have recently gotten into talisman craft myself and I am looking to improve. I learn faster when I have someone to guide me, and I was wondering whether you would be willing to help.”

Yang hesitated. ”Senior Brother, I am at the second stage of Qi Condensation,” he repeated, assuming the first mention had not fully landed.

”It does not matter,” Senior Brother Yu Bin said without hesitation. ”You are clearly superior at talismans and your cultivation realm has nothing to do with that. If you are willing I would be genuinely grateful.” He met Yang’s eyes. ”And I would not be asking without offering something in return. I may be weak at talismans but as a seventh stage Qi Condensation cultivator I do have knowledge that might be useful to you. I am happy to help with whatever I can.”

Yang was quiet for a moment.

He had spent months at the White Cloud Sect largely keeping to himself, and in that time senior after senior had extended a hand toward him without being asked. Senior Brother Bo Yu with guidance at the outer sect hall. Senior Sister Wei Wei. Senior Brother Lin Yi with seeds and manuals and an invitation to a competition. Ye Xuan with a seat at his table from the very first day. He had been given more help than he had asked for or expected, given freely because that was simply how people in this sect treated their own.

And now a senior brother was asking him for something well within his ability to give.

”I will help you, Senior Brother,” Yang said.

Senior Brother Yu Bin’s expression opened into a wide smile. ”Thank you, Junior Brother. I appreciate it greatly.”

”Are you free tomorrow?” Senior Brother Bin asked.

”Yes. Tomorrow afternoon works well.”

”Then let us meet at the food hall,” Senior Brother Yu Bin said. ”Have lunch together and then I can show you to my cave afterwards where you can help me.”

”I will see you tomorrow then, Senior Brother.”

”Thank you, Junior Brother.” Senior Brother Yu Bin gave another slight bow, still smiling, and turned to leave.

Yang watched him go and then headed out of the outdoor teaching area toward the library.

Elder Bai had given him a task and he intended to have it done properly. A specialised defensive talisman against a specific type of attack. He needed to find a suitable inscription and then practice it until he could produce it at the same standard as everything else he had shown today.

He had not been to the library since returning to his own body. For Yang, the walk through the familiar entrance felt strange. He had been in this library dozens of times in his first months at the sect. But those months felt like a lifetime away, separated from where he stood by almost two decades and an entire world in between. For him it had been an eternity since he had last set foot here.

The elder at the entrance today was not Elder Shi Yichen. A different face, who gave Yang a nod as he came in. Yang took a breath.

He was happy to be back.

There was a long list of things he wanted to look into when he had the time. Including beast cores and what his former habit of consuming them actually meant, because beyond the early warning that eating them carelessly could kill him he had never found information specific enough to his actual situation. The inner sect competition and what he could expect from participating.

But for now, the talisman inscription.

He made his way to the talisman section, running his eyes along the shelves until he found the area covering specialised defensive inscriptions. He pulled out the first promising manual and began to look through it.

Within a few minutes he was absorbed, the library quiet around him, his mind already turning over the possibilities.

He settled in and kept searching

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