The Five Talisman Scripture was taught by Elder Qingsong, and it was no simple Cultivation Technique. It originated from the Five Elements True Spirit Sect, one of the Six Great Sects. The technique required one to use their Spirit Root to condense five Spirit Talismans within their Dantian. These talismans would then absorb the Heaven and Earth Spirit Mechanism and convert it into magical power.
However, the greatest taboo of the Five Talisman Scripture was an imbalance among the Five Elements. If one's understanding of the Five Elements of Mutual Generation and Inhibition was not deep enough, carelessly allowing the magical power of a single element to become too dominant could have dire consequences. The mildest outcome was a regression in one's cultivation; the most severe was instant death.
The previous owner of this body had died instantly precisely because the Gold Talisman among his five talismans had grown too powerful.
If one could use the Five Talisman Scripture to reach the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation before turning twenty-five, they would be eligible to participate in the Five Elements True Spirit Sect's entrance selection, which was held every five years.
Passing the assessment meant joining the Outer Sect of the Five Elements True Spirit Sect.
Because the Western Continent was on the front lines of the war against Demons, its policy toward Independent Cultivators was mainly one of recruitment and utilization, offering many of them a path for advancement.
In the prosperous Central Continent and its Regions, however, an Independent Cultivator of ordinary aptitude rarely had the chance to enter one of the prestigious Major Sects.
However, for those not proficient with the Five Elements, their only option was to cultivate slowly, limited by the speed of the weakest root in their Five Elements Spirit Root. Furthermore, to break through the bottleneck of the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation using the Five Talismans Book, one had to comprehend a trace of the true meaning of Five Elements Reincarnation. Without this comprehension, even someone with an Upper Grade Spirit Root could not advance to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.
Therefore, any Cultivator who reached the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation by the age of twenty-five was considered to have at least some talent in the Dao of the Five Elements.
Li Jixun put on an interested expression.
"I truly don't have that many Spirit Stones. Esteemed Cultivator, if there's anything on my stall you want, please, just take it."
Transforming one's bloodline into a Demon's required consuming Spirit Pills to alleviate the side effects. A man like Li Jixun would never earn money honestly, choosing instead to become a Tribulation Cultivator. He had gathered a few Independent Cultivators and Innate Martial Artists to set up a stall in the Marketplace each day, scouting for "fat sheep"—rich and easy targets. Once they found a wealthy-looking mark, he would have his Mingyi Dog memorize their spiritual mechanism.
Even when using the same Cultivation Technique, the resulting spiritual power would have subtle differences based on the Cultivator's understanding of the technique and the type of qi they absorbed.
Although the Mingyi Dog couldn't yet detect the spiritual mechanism of an array, memorizing a Cultivator's spiritual mechanism for tracking was effortless.
With a look of disdain, Yang Jing picked through the items on the stall, finally selecting a piece of Iron Mother.
Li Jixun laughed to himself. That piece of Iron Mother was the very bait he used to lure people in.
"I don't have the Five Talisman Scripture on me. My Cave Mansion is in San Yuanli, about thirty li from here. Would you rather wait here while I fetch it, or come with me?"
A glint flashed in Li Jixun's eyes when he heard the name San Yuanli. The residents there were all Cultivators who had first come to the Chen Kingdom in response to the Pioneer Order, and every one of them was wealthy. They were nothing like those destitute Independent Cultivators who were so poor they'd split a single Spirit Crystal in two if they could.
Unfortunately, they also knew they were "fat sheep" in the eyes of Tribulation Cultivators, so they rarely went out. On the rare occasions they did, they were careful with their attire and made sure not to flaunt their wealth.
'Another Cultivator who looks down on Martial Artists.'
Li Jixun seethed with resentment. The man was wearing a straw raincoat and pretending to be dirt-poor, a sign of a cautious Cultivator. Yet he dared to reveal his wealth right in front of him, which obviously meant he looked down on Martial Artists.
"Since you are a Cultivator from San Yuanli, esteemed sir, you naturally wouldn't covet an old man's meager fortune. I will be so bold as to accompany you."
A Cultivator from San Yuanli wouldn't carry all his wealth on him. 'If I can follow him back to his Cave Mansion and eliminate him silently, the rewards would be far greater than ambushing some ordinary Cultivator.'
"Then follow me."
Li Jixun packed up the miscellaneous items from his stall and cradled the Mingyi Dog. He made an inconspicuous hand gesture, and several people on the street immediately and discreetly melted into the crowd.
The two left the Marketplace. Yang Jing applied a Wind-controlling Talisman to himself and gave another to Li Jixun. Under the talisman's power, a constant gust of wind propelled them forward, allowing them to glide more than ten meters with a single step.
They covered the thirty-odd li in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. With a wave of his hand, Yang Jing parted the clouds and mist surrounding his Cave Mansion, creating a path. He then stepped inside.
Li Jixun, however, stood respectfully outside. Ever cautious, he would never rashly enter another Cultivator's Cave Mansion.
'He hadn't expected Yang Jing to be so extravagant as to use Wind-controlling Talismans just for travel. Even if my men rushed at full speed, it would still take them the time it takes an incense stick to burn to get here. Besides, a large group traveling together would be far too conspicuous.'
He hesitated for a moment, deciding to launch a surprise attack the moment Yang Jing emerged from the Cave Mansion.
After a long while, Li Jixun suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. He instinctively circulated his True Qi, but what he discovered made his heart pound in terror. His Innate True Qi, once as vast as an ocean, was melting away like ice and snow, and his limbs were growing weak.
'This is bad! It's Blood Shocking Powder!'
Innate Martial Artists could threaten Cultivators in the Early Stage of Qi Cultivation, so Cultivators naturally developed countermeasures. Blood Shocking Powder was one of them. Colorless and odorless, it was difficult for even the most perceptive Martial Artist to detect. Once inhaled, it would dissolve their True Qi and Blood Qi, turning them into lambs for the slaughter, unable to exert even a shred of strength.
But Blood Shocking Powder could only be used in an enclosed space. In an open area, its concentration would be instantly diluted, rendering it completely ineffective.
Li Jixun couldn't understand it at all. He turned to flee, but Yang Jing, who had been hiding within the mist of the Fog Concealment Array all along, immediately activated an Immortal Vine Talisman.
A long, shimmering cyan vine shot out like a python, splitting into multiple tendrils that wrapped tightly around Li Jixun.
Trussed up, Li Jixun fell to the ground like a Dead Pig, his mouth gagged by one of the cyan vines. Yang Jing deliberately manipulated the vines to bind Li Jixun's arms, then sent a separate tendril to pull the Mingyi Dog away from him.
Li Jixun's limbs were weak; he couldn't get a firm grip on the Mingyi Dog. He looked completely powerless, only able to let out muffled, futile whimpers.
'Although I still have a trump card, I've lost the element of surprise and I'm not confident I can take down Yang Jing now. He must have lured me to the Cave Mansion for a reason and won't kill me right away. If I can just stall until my men arrive, the tables will surely turn.'
Yang Jing manipulated a tendril to place the Mingyi Dog by his feet, binding it with another vine. Then, without a moment's hesitation, he channeled his energy and activated a Cyan Thunder Talisman.
The intense fluctuation of spiritual power from the Cyan Thunder Talisman instantly dispersed the dense fog, revealing Yang Jing's figure.
This Cyan Thunder Talisman was a Tier One Upper Grade True Talisman, powerful enough to kill a Cultivator at the peak of Qi Cultivation Perfection. It cost a full twenty Spirit Stones. Using it on an Innate Martial Artist was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
But Yang Jing didn't dare underestimate a ruthless man like Li Jixun, and his caution paid off.
The moment Li Jixun saw the lightning dancing on the Cyan Thunder Talisman, he decided to bet everything. He let out a long howl as his once-scrawny frame began to swell. Countless black hairs erupted from beneath his skin.
His mouth began to protrude into a wolf-like snout, sprouting jagged, sharp teeth.
The cyan vines, strong enough to restrain a Late Stage Cultivator for a short time, groaned as if they were about to snap.
But it was all too late. The moment Li Jixun had stepped foot here, his fate was sealed.
BOOM!
A dazzling bolt of cyan lightning erupted from the talisman, striking Li Jixun and instantly engulfing him. Thunder Techniques were inherently effective against Demons. Li Jixun lasted only a few moments before being incinerated into charcoal, leaving not even bones behind.
Yang Jing retrieved the piece of Iron Mother—the only thing that remained—from the charred pile. He then undid the cyan vines binding the Mingyi Dog and picked it up by its hind legs.
[Name]: Mingyi Dog
[Affinity]: -10
Since the Mingyi Dog hadn't practiced a Cultivation Technique, it couldn't yet be considered a Demon. Its intelligence was virtually identical to that of an ordinary dog. It struggled violently in Yang Jing's grasp, even snapping at his fingers.
Yang Jing didn't take offense. If he weren't so calculating, he would have burst out laughing.
'This is the beginning of my path!'
Yang Jing had waited five years for this day. He had secretly observed Li Jixun for half a year, studying his personality and habits, and had finally succeeded in one fell swoop, claiming the Mingyi Dog for himself.
With the Mingyi Dog's help, reaching the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation with the Five Talisman Scripture before he turned twenty-five was now within his grasp.
Independent Cultivators had bleak prospects. Reaching Foundation Establishment was incredibly difficult, and ninety-nine percent of all Golden Core Masters came from the Six Great Sects.