If Green Ink Peak had access to talismans like these, it would never have declined. It would even outshine Danxia Peak.
Then how had Green Ink Peak fallen into decline?
Well, its decline had nothing to do with him.
With these talismans, he was certain he could make his way in the cultivation world.
Putting the thought aside, Xu Changshou stepped forward and saw the small characters on the stone door: The Great Dao Talisman Scripture.
He read the text. It was a cultivation method similar to the Ten Daos Mantra, one that only someone with a Ten-Element Mixed Spirit Root could practice.
It also described special routes for circulating energy while drawing talismans.
Because Xu Changshou had already cultivated the Ten Daos Mantra, he could move straight on to the Great Dao Talisman Scripture without difficulty.
He decided to switch to the scripture. It was more comprehensive and could take him all the way to the Grand Perfection of Foundation Establishment.
Until then, he would not have to worry about finding another cultivation method.
He even suspected that the second stone door concealed later parts of the method.
Xu Changshou reached out and pushed the second door.
But however hard he tried, it did not move.
The small characters on the door did move. One by one, they floated out and entered his mind.
Just like that, the Great Dao Talisman Scripture was imprinted in his memory.
After looking at the walls of talismans, Xu Changshou willed himself back to reality.
He could not study so many talismans in a day. He would take his time with them later.
Back outside, he looked at his palm. The character for “talisman” had vanished, but it reappeared as soon as he sent spiritual energy into his hand.
He pressed his palm to his forehead and entered the room beyond the stone door again.
After repeating the process several times, he was satisfied that he could enter whenever he wished.
He knew that only his consciousness entered the room; his body remained outside.
He would have to make sure he was somewhere safe whenever he entered it.
…
In high spirits, Xu Changshou opened his door.
The sound brought Jiang Xiaochuan running from next door.
“Haha, Junior Brother Xu, you’re finally out of seclusion!”
“Who are you calling Junior Brother?”
“You… you…”
Jiang Xiaochuan stared open-mouthed. “Impossible! You broke through to the seventh layer of Qi Condensation?”
Xu Changshou smiled. “Junior Brother Jiang, why couldn’t I?”
“Uh…”
Xu Changshou was older, so Jiang Xiaochuan still had to call him Senior Brother. Among cultivators at the same level, age settled seniority.
…
When Ye Shanhu and the others learned that Xu Changshou had come out of seclusion, they came to congratulate him.
“Congratulations, Junior Brother Xu!”
“Congratulations, Senior Brother Xu!”
“Hehe, Senior Brother Xu broke through after all. A Senior Brother remains a Senior Brother.”
Xu Changshou was relieved. If he had not prepared for this, he might have lost his seniority.
Jiang Xiaochuan gritted his teeth. Xu Changshou had only just reached the seventh layer before coming out. He could have claimed seniority earlier, but Xu Changshou had stayed in seclusion until he broke through.
“Senior Brother Xu, I’ll reach the eighth layer before you next time. Then you’ll have to call me Senior Brother,” Jiang Xiaochuan said through gritted teeth.
He was younger and had started cultivating later, yet he had already caught up. He was confident he could reach the eighth layer before Xu Changshou.
“We’ll see,” Xu Changshou said with a smile, shaking his head.
Now that he had a hidden advantage, he could speak with confidence.
“I look forward to it.”
“Hehe.”
…
A few more days passed.
They were told to report to their assigned peaks in three days.
The news left everyone both excited and sad.
They had spent three years together on Chuxiu Peak and had grown close. Now they were reluctant to part.
The night before they left, Gengzi Courtyard was brightly lit and filled with the smell of wine.
“Senior Sister Ye, a toast. I’ll be counting on your help once we reach Danxia Peak.”
“Haha, don’t worry. I’ll look after you.”
“Senior Brother Xu, cheers!”
“Drink, drink! We leave tomorrow. I… Never mind. It’s all in this cup.”
“Come on, let’s drink together. To a bright future for everyone!”
“Senior Brother Xu, I’ll miss you. Waaah…”
“Senior Sister Ye, actually, I…”
“Shut your mouth and drink!”
That night, the young men and women drank a great deal and talked long into the night.
They promised to support one another within the sect in the years ahead.
Still young and inexperienced, they knew little of the schemes and dangers of the cultivation world.
Years later, after truly entering that world, they would look back on this night and marvel at their youthful innocence.
…
At dawn, they said their tearful goodbyes.
Then they went their separate ways.
Xu Changshou boarded a public flying boat and soon arrived at Green Ink Peak.
Green Ink Peak was lush and covered year-round in dark-green vegetation. Its name suited the scenery.
Unlike the other peaks, its cultivators lived not on the mountain but in a large valley at its foot.
The valley lay over a spirit vein, so its spiritual energy was denser than on the peak.
From the flying boat, Xu Changshou saw dozens of courtyards in the valley.
Most were deserted; only a dozen or so were occupied.
The boat descended beside a pavilion in the valley.
A burly, unshaven man stood inside. His Daoist robe hung half-open, exposing a patch of dark chest hair.
He looked pale, weary, and listless, as though he had long overindulged himself.
His robe was filthy and looked as though it had not been washed in ages.
Xu Changshou saw that the man was at the tenth layer of Qi Condensation.
When Xu Changshou stepped off the boat, the weary man asked, “Are you Junior Brother Xu Changshou?”
“I am. May I ask your name, Senior Brother?” Xu Changshou asked with a respectful salute.
“This Daoist is Yang Bailao.”
“Greetings, Senior Brother Yang.”
“Follow me.”
“Understood.”
Xu Changshou followed Yang Bailao into the valley.
On the way, Yang Bailao warned him, “Junior Brother Xu, I’m taking you to meet Martial Uncle Li Daotu. Watch what you say in front of him.”
“Understood!”
…
Soon after entering the valley, they encountered a thin, middle-aged man at the twelfth layer of Qi Condensation. He was in a hurry and looked tired.
Seeing Xu Changshou with Yang Bailao, he said dully, “Junior Brother Yang, is this year’s newcomer?”
“Yes. His name is Xu Changshou. Junior Brother Xu, this is Senior Brother Niu Kunlun. Pay your respects,” Yang Bailao said, tugging at Xu Changshou’s sleeve.
“Greetings, Senior Brother Niu,” Xu Changshou said with a salute.
“Hmm.”
Niu Kunlun nodded. “Green Ink Peak hasn’t received a newcomer in nine years. It’s rare. Junior Brother Xu, you’re really… uh… really fortunate to be here.”
“Yes.”
“I have something to attend to. I’ll be going.”
“Farewell, Senior Brother Niu.”