“It wasn’t simply about drawing the Ice Shadow Talisman. You had to understand the principles contained within each of the three strokes used in that talisman.”

  The words Xu Hui had left behind lingered in Li Xin’s mind without fading.

  Simply copying a talisman was nothing more than replicating its shell. If one failed to understand the energy contained within each stroke and their harmony, the Ice Shadow Talisman would never be able to exert its proper power.

  Only then did Li Xin realize that the talismans he had drawn until now had been nothing more than repetitions of technique. He had merely imitated appearances and effects. He had never truly looked into the ‘principle’ hidden beneath them.

  Sixty-four Mother Strokes. That’s the core and key that runs through all talisman arts.

  The Ice Shadow Talisman was nothing more than a combination of three of those strokes, which meant that every answer ultimately lay within those sixty-four strokes.

  Xu Hui had not given Li Xin any direct explanations. She had merely transferred her contribution points to him and told him to search for the materials himself in the Archive Pavilion.

  True enlightenment was not something given by others, but something earned through one’s own efforts.

  Li Xin understood her intent, and as if repaying Xu Hui’s trust, he headed straight for the Archive Pavilion.

  The Archive Pavilion was the pride and treasure vault of the Qingshan Valley Talisman Union. From the layered stacks of books rose the scent of aged paper mixed with the fragrance of profound knowledge. Hundreds of shelves stretched on endlessly, each packed tight with thousands upon tens of thousands of documents. Fortunately, materials related to one-character talismans were classified as low-grade, well within Li Xin’s access rights.

  Li Xin recalled the complex pattern of the Ice Shadow Talisman in his mind. As he carefully reconsidered its structure, he began connecting the three strokes used within it to their original one-character talismans.

  While flipping through dozens of volumes like that…

  “This is it…!”

  The first thing he found was the Water Binding Talisman. The book recorded that this talisman, named ‘Water Binding,’ could instantly solidify surrounding moisture. It explained that it could freeze small puddles, cups of water, and even moisture suspended in the air.

  So this is the first stroke of the Ice Shadow Talisman.

  He realized that the power to create ice began precisely from this single stroke.

  “Next is…”

  The second talisman he discovered was the Diffusion Talisman. This talisman possessed the effect of spreading sound across a wide area. It was often used to relay commands during battle or to distract enemies, according to the description.

  Spreading… So it’s not just ice, but diffusing cold energy?

  By reasoning out the principles of the Ice Shadow Talisman through these two talismans, Li Xin soon found the third. Its name was the Resonance Talisman.

  The Resonance Talisman had the ability to detect energy or movement within a certain radius. It was mainly used to greet customers in shops or as a surveillance measure in residences, and it was known for its sensitivity to the flow of qi.

  It reacts to external stimuli and spreads cold energy defensively. That’s the principle behind the Ice Shadow Talisman.

  Li Xin examined the talismans and inferred the underlying logic of the Ice Shadow Talisman. However, this level of information was not enough to understand the true meaning contained within each stroke.

  I need materials with more detailed explanations.

  “This is it.”

  After roaming the Archive Pavilion, Li Xin found a high-level talisman interpretation document that included detailed theory and real usage cases. And just as he was about to access it—

  “Twenty contribution points required…”

  For a mere one-character talisman to demand this much contribution meant that the value of this material was immense. Thankfully, thanks to the contribution points Xu Hui had given him, access was possible. Without her help, he wouldn’t have even been able to approach it.

  Li Xin first checked the materials on the Water Binding Talisman. As he opened the thin volume, the first thing that caught his eye was the large title written boldly.

  [The Water Binding Talisman ]

  Below it, a neatly written sentence drew Li Xin’s gaze.

  [Among the Sixty-Four Trigrams, the Kan–Gen Trigram ]

  Water flows endlessly, while the mountain blocks its path and brings it to a halt. When flow stagnates, the energy at that point ‘freezes.’ The talisman born at that moment is… the Water Binding Talisman.

  The Water Binding Talisman condenses the principles of two trigrams into a single stroke. It halts flow and gives form. On a small scale, it can freeze a single droplet of water; on a large scale, an entire river.

  Li Xin pressed the pages down with his palm, his eyes shining as he continued reading.

  Among the Sixty-Four Trigrams, the Kan–Gen Trigram. Here, ‘Kan’ represented water, while ‘Gen’ represented mountains.

  What he had thought to be a simple ice talisman actually embodied the natural principle of water meeting mountains. A simple yet profound truth: when flow is obstructed, energy freezes. Faced with the depth contained within that single stroke, Li Xin steadied his breathing once more.

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  If a single stroke contains this much principle…

  He was certain that the other two strokes of the Ice Shadow Talisman contained principles no less profound.

  Li Xin next opened the book titled [Diffusion Talisman].

  [Among the Sixty-Four Trigrams, the Xun–Qian Trigram]

  Wind is flexible and formless, while the sky embraces all things. When wind meets the sky, its energy spreads without end. The talisman born at that moment is… the Diffusion Talisman.

  The Diffusion Talisman condenses the principles of two trigrams into a single stroke. It initiates movement and spreads existence far and wide. On a small scale, it can spread a whisper; on a large scale, it can spread like a raging storm.

  ‘Xun’ was wind, and ‘Qian’ was the sky.

  “Where wind and sky meet, the principle of diffusion is born.”

  Invisible yet far-reaching. The Diffusion Talisman was a stroke that directly embodied that principle.

  This isn’t simple sound amplification. It spreads energy widely and expands presence.

  As his understanding of the Mother Strokes deepened, Li Xin immediately opened the final book.

  On its cover was written the name [The Resonance Talisman].

  [Among the Sixty-Four Trigrams, the Zhen–Kan Trigram]

  Thunder shatters stillness with violent vibrations, while water contains those vibrations and creates ripples. When vibration meets the surface of water, ‘resonance’ is born. The talisman born at that moment is… the Resonance Talisman.

  The Resonance Talisman condenses the principles of two trigrams into a single stroke. It detects subtle changes and reveals hidden traces.

  On a small scale, it can capture the movement of insects; on a large scale, even the energy of enormous beings.

  ‘Zhen’ was thunder, and ‘Kan’ was water.

  “When thunder strikes water, waves spread. That’s resonance.”

  Li Xin let out a gasp of admiration. Like tossing a stone into a lake and watching circular ripples spread outward, the Resonance Talisman was a stroke capable of sensing even the faintest vibrations of energy.

  Li Xin closed the book and remained seated for a long while.

  The Ice Shadow Talisman. What he had once regarded as nothing more than a defensive talisman now felt entirely different. Now that he fully understood the profound principles contained within its three strokes, Li Xin’s perspective had completely changed.

  In the end, all Mother Strokes of talismans originate from the Sixty-Four Trigrams.

  Until now, he had merely drawn strokes according to transmitted methods, sometimes memorizing them without even knowing their meaning.

  But now he understood. The root of talismans lay in the Sixty-Four Trigrams—nature’s principles themselves.

  At that moment, Li Xin’s eyes flashed.

  If I can perfectly master the sixty-four strokes corresponding to the Sixty-Four Trigrams, I’ll be able to see through the structure and principles of any talisman!

  This was a path that went beyond mere technique and touched upon the very essence of talisman arts.

  Of course, it wouldn’t be easy. One-character talismans were simple, but as the number of strokes increased to two, three, or more, their structures grew exponentially more complex.

  Merely knowing the meaning of each stroke was not enough. He would have to fully comprehend the harmony and structural interactions between strokes. Yet instead of feeling discouraged, Li Xin felt his heart race. His eyes shone like those of someone who had found a path in the darkness.

  “From now on, when I draw talismans, this is something I must know.”

  Li Xin declared in a low voice.

  “What strokes make up the talisman, what meanings they hold, and which one-character talismans they originate from.”

  This was not merely a declaration to be someone who ‘draws talismans,’ but to become a true talisman master in the truest sense.

  Li Xin immediately set his first goal.

  Before drawing the Ice Shadow Talisman, I’ll first master these three talismans.

  With the help of Warm Spirit Incense, a few days would be enough to fully internalize them.

  ***

  The enlightenment gained in the Archive Pavilion left Li Xin with powerful motivation, and without delay, he focused on internalizing the three one-character talismans.

  Although Warm Spirit Incense assisted him, ultimately accepting the principles of each stroke and engraving them into his body and mind was entirely Li Xin’s own task.

  During the day, he lifted his brush and drew talismans. At night, he closed his eyes and imagined the flow of energy. At times, he moved his body while drawing energy with his bare hands. At other times, he remained seated all day, staring only at the tip of his brush.

  After several days passed like that—Li Xin finally fully internalized all three one-character talismans.

  Upon internalizing the Water Binding Talisman, Li Xin gained the ability to momentarily condense surrounding moisture by infusing energy into his fingertips. When he poured in qi, a thin layer of ice formed on the ground beneath his feet, and in humid air, fine frost crystals appeared. Based on this effect, Li Xin derived a single technique.

  [Ice Binding Step]

  A movement technique that created ice beneath one’s feet, allowing one to slide short distances or form temporary footholds on water to cross it.

  Li Xin personally stood atop the ice and tested a few movements. Then he shook his head and muttered, “It’d be useful for crossing rivers or muddy ground.”

  If he grew overconfident, he might be the one to slip and get injured first. It wasn’t a technique suitable for frequent use in real combat.

  When he internalized the Diffusion Talisman, he awakened a technique that spread his energy outward. Whether through his fingertips or his voice, when he transmitted qi, it spread far away like rippling waves. The diffusion of energy naturally led to an application that transferred impact outward.

  [Shattering Shock Fist]

  By infusing qi into his fist and thrusting forward, he could spread a shockwave across a short range. Li Xin tested its power by punching the air a few times, then shook his head.

  At this level, it’s barely a tickle. I’d rather just use Shattering Mountain Fist.

  The shockwave could only make light branches sway slightly, and its power was pitiful.

  Lastly, when he internalized the Resonance Talisman, subtle changes came to his senses. The sound of wind and other faint surroundings brushed against his skin as tangible sensations. Those sensations then took shape as a new art.

  [Seeking Eye]

  A technique that detected presences within a certain radius. It was useful for locating concealed enemies or sensing ambushes in advance.

  It’d be nice if the detection range were wider…

  Seeking Eye was the most practical of the three, but since it originated from a one-character talisman, it inevitably had its limitations.

  Li Xin quietly looked down at his palm.

  The abilities gained from the three one-character talismans had clearly become a part of him, yet the changes were minimal. Ice Binding Step could only freeze moisture around his feet. Shattering Shock Fist could do no more than lightly shake tree branches. The detection range of Seeking Eye was only a few dozen steps—far from enough to sense experts. But he was not disappointed in the slightest.

  Even small and weak power can one day form a great current.

  Li Xin’s current realm was Level 1, Layer 3. As his realm rose higher and higher, the power he had gained now would seem to fade into insignificance. However, no power was ever truly useless.

  Just as streams gathered to form rivers, and rivers flowed into the sea—if he accumulated these small powers bit by bit, the day they proved useful would surely come. And all of this accumulation would ultimately become the foundation for Body Cleansing.

  Body Cleansing was a critical turning point that determined a cultivator’s latent potential. To reach that turning point, he could not afford to let even the smallest insight or the weakest power slip through his fingers.