The Talisman Union was located in the core zone of the Inner District. Even within the Inner District, it was completely different from the commercial zone. The commercial zone allowed free entry and exit, but the core zone required proper access qualifications.
In the past, Li Xin had regarded this place as a world unrelated to him. But now, he was crossing that boundary.
The road was paved with Cooling Jade Stone. With every step, a refreshing current brushed past the soles of his feet. The pavilions and towers lining the street were all residences where talisman masters of the Talisman Union stayed. Above his head drifted faint azure clouds, but even those clouds were artificially created. It seemed a climate-regulating formation was in operation, veiling the sky and adjusting natural light so that strong sunlight would not damage talismans or ancient texts.
The air was clear, and the earth’s energy was thick and stable. It could not even be compared to the desolate Outer District. His destination, the Archive Pavilion, stood atop an eastern hill at the heart of the Talisman Union. An octagonal-roofed pavilion that caught the eye even from afar. It boasted a noble bearing, like a white crane spreading its wings. Silvery-white energy flowed around the building like mist, growing clearer the closer one approached.
“Hm?”
As he arrived at the entrance, a man in a gray robe greeted Li Xin. His eyes were sharp, and his gaze carried undisguised disdain.
“Identification plaque.”
Li Xin quietly took out a wooden plaque from his robes. The gatekeeper infused his finger with true energy and brushed it across the plaque. As the information within was revealed, a faint blue light flickered.
“…An assistant?”
He swept his gaze over Li Xin and spoke indifferently.
“Go in. You may only use the first floor. Books are borrowed by deducting contribution points, and once the allotted time expires, they will be forcibly reclaimed.”
His tone was dry, devoid of respect. But he did not bar Li Xin’s entry.
“Thank you.”
That much was more than enough for Li Xin. What mattered to him was not attitude, but access.
Li Xin returned the wooden plaque to his robes and quietly stepped into the Archive Pavilion. The interior of the pavilion was even more splendid. The walls were finished with bluish-celadon stone that held a gentle glow. Bookshelves towering dozens of meters high rose in layered tiers. Between the shelves, threads of energy like thin golden filaments drifted, and every book was sealed by formations. To access them, one had to pay the price of contribution points.
The Archive Pavilion was not merely a library. It was itself a massive device composed of interlocking formations.
Li Xin slowly surveyed the first floor. This was the only level he was allowed to use, yet the sheer scale of its classification system and volume of information exceeded imagination. From basic talisman arts, to various Talisman Method branches, to introductory medicinal studies and techniques for interpreting true energy. The documents were systematically organized by category, with metal plaques affixed beside each shelf.
“If the Talisman Union alone is like this, how much deeper must a great sect be?”
Li Xin could not tell whether the words carried self-mockery or longing, but one thing was certain—he had to gain something here. He walked slowly along the shelves, taking in the book titles. The shelves held volumes like ‘Case Studies on One-Stroke Talisman Operations,’ ‘Introductory Energy Flow Analysis,’ and ‘Explanation of Talisman Structural Elements.’
Most were basic knowledge at the one-stroke or two-stroke level. The first book to catch Li Xin’s interest was ‘Explanation of Talisman Structural Elements.’ On the thin metal plate beside the shelf, a number was engraved.
[Required Contribution Points : 2]
Li Xin had accumulated a total of 10 contribution points so far. Since he did not have many points, he could not use them recklessly unless the content was truly necessary.
Put it on hold for now.
As he went deeper along the shelves, the atmosphere changed. The texture of the book spines shifted, and the energy flowing around each shelf gradually thickened. Around the midpoint, Li Xin discovered books related to two-stroke Talisman Methods. Most were priced at three to four points. Books mixed with practical case studies were even more expensive.
Li Xin did not stop and continued farther inward. At the very end of the shelves. The last space permitted for entry. There, he found a single book.
[Required Contribution Points : 100]
The number engraved on the metal plate was strikingly red. Li Xin did not even spare that book a glance. Instead, on the lower shelf, he discovered another volume.
[Required Contribution Points : 5]
“Five points…”
To read it, he would have to spend half of his accumulated contribution points. But Li Xin did not hesitate. He took out the wooden plaque from his robes and placed it on the stone pedestal in front of the shelf.
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As he channeled energy into it, the wooden plaque responded. Thin lines of light crossed the air, linking with the Archive Pavilion’s formations. The contribution value stamped on the plaque dropped from 10 to 5.
In that instant, an energy like a faint electric current brushed his fingertips, and one book quietly slid forward from the shelf. Yellowed paper, aged ink, a faded cover.
Outwardly, it looked like an ordinary book, but the contents within were completely different from the two-stroke talismans Li Xin had handled until now.
Three strokes. It was not a mere number. It marked the end of basic talisman crafting, and at the same time, the beginning of true Talisman Arts.
If one-stroke and two-stroke talismans were introductions, then three strokes were the threshold of real combat. Failing to understand this stage precisely meant that no matter what path one walked afterward, distortion was inevitable.
As Li Xin slowly turned the pages, his hand stopped at the introductory section.
[With a single pillar, one can establish a center. With two pillars, they can lean on each other to maintain balance. The moment three pillars connect, space is born and structure is established. From that point on, it is no longer merely about enduring—one can place something within. That is the beginning of three strokes.]
At a glance, it seemed like a simple metaphor. On the next page, an explanation unraveling its meaning followed.
[Talismans up to two strokes create flow. They move energy and trigger reactions in the external world. But that alone cannot make energy remain. Three strokes. With the addition of a stroke, an internal framework is formed, creating space within that framework to contain energy. This is the turning point of Talisman Arts—the concept of Internal Containment.]
Internal Containment…
In the end, the core of three strokes was not simply that one more stroke had been added. It was that strokes began to form ‘structure.’ Not drawing lines one by one and linking them. But erecting a structure, forming space, and anchoring energy within it. The moment he grasped that fact, it felt as though his field of vision opened up.
Li Xin felt that he was facing a ‘real talisman’ for the first time. In the latter half of the book, deeper explanations followed.
[As strokes increase, structures grow more complex. Up to two strokes, quality is determined by proficiency. Speed, accuracy, stability—that is all. But from three strokes onward, things change. The interaction between strokes, balance of structure, and flow of energy. All of it depends on the talisman master’s skill. In theory, if a single stroke is perfect, the talisman’s efficiency increases by one-tenth. Conversely, if a single stroke goes awry, one suffers a one-tenth loss. Drawing the same talisman, one person creates an empty house, while another erects a fortress brimming with energy.]
Li Xin swallowed unconsciously. One stroke wrong meant a one-tenth loss; one stroke perfect meant a one-tenth gain. For a three-stroke talisman, the difference approached nearly twofold.
If even a basic three-stroke talisman was like this, what about an eight-stroke talisman? In theory, the maximum efficiency gap would be ninefold. Drawing the same talisman, one might flicker like a firefly, while another struck down like lightning. Until now, he had thought that simply increasing the number of strokes made a talisman stronger, but that was a misconception.
Strokes were not mere ‘quantity.’ Strokes were ‘structure.’ Flow circulated, a center formed, and if strokes misaligned, they wasted motion—if they interlocked, they moved. Like interlocking gears.
It’s not just about increasing stroke count.
Li Xin repeated silently. The stage of merely tracing strokes was over. He would create space for energy to dwell, design structure, and draw true talismans. That was the beginning of Talisman Arts.
After closing the final page of the Basic Theory of Three-Stroke Talismans, Li Xin stared at the book in silence for a long while. His mind was in turmoil. A mixture of awe, shock, and vague excitement.
Right now, I still can’t draw three strokes.
A framework to hold energy. Structural design. And even the concept of Internal Containment. All of it was new, and none of it was something he could grasp immediately, but the direction was clear. Now was not the time to draw more strokes, but to draw them correctly.
Li Xin returned the book and headed back toward the entrance of the Archive Pavilion. Three-stroke talismans were a path for the future. For now, it was more important to secure practical knowledge obtainable with his contribution points.
What Li Xin chose was a small booklet containing a list of practical two-stroke talismans. True to its one-point cost, the contents were concise, but for someone lacking knowledge, it was useful information.
As he flipped through the pages, two-stroke talismans were neatly organized with brief explanations. Li Xin slowly scanned and read through the entries.
Clear Talisman : Slightly lowers body temperature, reducing sweat on hot days. Allows one to maintain concentration even in high-temperature environments, and its duration increases when affixed beneath thin clothing.
Warming Talisman : Warms the fingertips or extremities. Useful for outdoor work in winter, and beneficial for cultivators with weak circulation.
Drying Talisman : Slowly dries wet clothes or paper. Useful after being caught in the rain or when removing moisture.
Concealing Fragrance Talisman : Covers body odor, food smells, or sweat with a faint fragrance. It does not eliminate scent itself, but is useful before going out or attending important occasions. Some brigands even use it to conceal traces.
Summoning Trace Talisman : Detects lingering traces of energy. Used to find lost items or follow faint remnants. However, if the stimulus is weak, the response is also faint.
There’s nothing for offense or defense.
The question occurred to him suddenly. Among countless talismans, not a single one directly blocked or inflicted harm. Li Xin closed his eyes and recalled a passage from the Basic Theory of Three-Stroke Talismans he had read earlier.
[Talismans up to two strokes create flow. They move energy and trigger reactions. But that alone cannot make energy remain…]
“So that’s why there are no offensive or defensive talismans below two strokes.”
Muttering unconsciously, Li Xin continued his thoughts. Moving energy and making it remain and act were problems of entirely different dimensions. Energy that only moved could produce nothing more than fleeting reactions. For example, even if one moved fire energy, it would merely create a sensation of heat. It would neither warm the skin nor burn an enemy. For energy to truly act, it required a structure to hold it. And that was precisely the concept of Internal Containment.
Energy disappears once it flows away. Reactions are momentary. Neither attack nor defense can rely on fleeting responses.
A passing breeze could not leave even a scratch on the body of a hardened cultivator. Likewise, a shield formed of insubstantial energy could not block even a single impact. That was why talismans up to two strokes had practicality, but were never used in combat. For offense or defense, a process of anchoring and compressing energy was absolutely necessary. And the minimum condition that made that possible was three strokes.
“So that’s why they said three strokes mark the true beginning of Talisman Arts.”
At present, Li Xin had not even perfectly mastered the two-stroke Warm Heart Talisman. Forget three strokes—drawing a straight line alone was still difficult. The road ahead was long. So long as to feel distant beyond measure, yet strangely, his heart felt light.
At the edge of knowledge, the path of a talisman master finally seemed within reach. Vague concepts were gradually taking shape.
Interesting.
With that quiet murmur, Li Xin’s eyes gleamed faintly.