Chapter 250: Chapter 207 Showcase
After Chen Danqiu, it was the turn of the Talismanic Master, Tantai Leshan.
He, unlike the former, did not violently demonstrate the highest realm of a Talisman Master. Instead, he led a group of students on a tour of the Historical Museum.
On the walls of the museum hung portraits of many sages. Beneath each portrait, a wooden plaque documented the sage’s birthplace, contributions, and honors received.
The second floor housed special items of commemorative significance, such as the original Academic Palace school rules personally written by the first Mountain Master and Sacrificial Officer, agricultural tools improved by the Academic Palace, patent books from the Patent Office, and prototype clocks made by Dr. Su Feng.
"This way, please."
Tantai Leshan led the group of freshmen to a side hall of the Historical Museum and unlocked a door, previously closed to students, with a strangely shaped key.
Inside the side hall were two rows of glass display cases. The right display case contained black steles engraved with runes, while the left one held various talismans.
"These are the most precious treasures of talismanic study in the Academic Palace, Yu Country, and even the entire world," Tantai Leshan said with a smile. "The black steles on the right are engraved with the original talisman models, summarized and refined by the sage predecessors of the Academic Palace.
Just as no two leaves in the world are identical, the same type of talisman written by different Talisman Masters will also differ. There will always be variations in brushwork, intent, and strength.
These models represent the closest adherence to the original intent of the talismanic Tao and the most effective utilization of nature’s spiritual energy.
These models provide a reliable basis for writing and learning talismans, preventing deviations across generations of talismanic transmission due to errors in book printing or variations in master-apprentice teaching.
As for the left display case..."
He paused and asked, "What do you think is inside?"
The students looked at each other. The talisman paper in the display case was yellowed and wrinkled, with frayed edges, but the text on them remained clear. Looking at the talismans, one could almost directly perceive the overwhelming emotions of their creators.
"Are these... Divine Talismans?" Li Ang squinted and asked uncertainly.
"Exactly." Tantai Leshan nodded. "A Talisman Master uses spiritual power and ink as aids, harnessing nature’s spiritual energy while following certain rules to achieve various effects.
When a Talisman Master has a profound understanding of a talisman and is filled with immense spirit, unwavering determination, and intense emotion, there is a certain chance of creating a Divine Talisman.
A Divine Talisman contains the strong emotions of the Talisman Master—be it joy and elation, unbearable sorrow, righteous indignation, peace and tranquility, or even confusion and bewilderment. Its power and effects far exceed those of ordinary talismans.
Divine Talismans are not the exclusive domain of Talisman Masters at the Candle Cloud Realm; those at the Rain Listening Realm and Cloud Patrol Realm can also create them.
However, most Talisman Masters may go their entire lives without encountering the unique ’circumstance’ suited to them.
In some ways, the talismanic Tao and the art of calligraphy share profound similarities."
Tantai Leshan gently caressed the glass display case and said softly, "Stored in these display cases are the Divine Talismans gifted to the Academic Palace by sages over hundreds of years—a total of two hundred seventy-two.
Through these talismans, one can glimpse into the life of a Talisman Master across time.
They are not paintings, yet they depict life more vividly than any portrait or biography.
Due to the special nature of this collection, they are solemnly preserved in the Historical Museum and are only open to students at this time each year."
Tantai Leshan’s tone was calm yet solemn, causing all the students to instinctively stand straighter and listen with reverence.
Li Ang gazed at the talisman papers in the glass display case. Once created, talismans cannot be preserved forever. The ink on them dries up over time, the paper wrinkles and curls, and the spiritual power slowly dissipates. Preserving ancient talismans for a long time requires significant time, effort, and materials for maintenance. Only the Academic Palace and a few other places have the capability and willingness to do so. Being venerated in the form of Divine Talismans is perhaps the highest honor a Talisman Master can receive from the world, and also the ultimate attainment Talisman Masters seek. Compared to that, the power provided by nearly three hundred Divine Talismans seems less significant.
"What is a sword?"
By Chuiyun Lake, Sword Study Master Cui Yixian sat on the ground and spoke calmly, "Some Sword Masters might tell you that the sword is their life—that as long as the sword exists, they exist, and if the sword is lost, they are lost. Some even treat their swords as wives, sharing their beds at night, which is frankly absurd.
In my view, a sword is an instrument of killing, a tool, a means.
Zhuanzhu, to aid Prince Guang in usurping the throne of the Wu Kingdom, assassinated King Liao of Wu with the Fish Intestine Sword. Jing Ke, in an effort to save the State of Yan, attempted to assassinate the King of Qin—an attempt famously marked by the dagger being revealed as the map was unrolled. A sword can help the weak overcome the strong, giving those with no way out a chance to unleash a common man’s fury. It can also empower the strong to oppress the weak, enabling the tyrannical and unbridled to continue their wanton deeds.
It has no attributes of its own. Whether it saves or kills, whether it is used for good or evil, all depends on why the wielder swings the sword."
Cui Yixian waved his hand, and from Chuiyun Lake behind him, hundreds of swords flew out.
These swords were mostly rust-stained, bearing severe corrosion marks and caked with mud, evidently drawn from the silty depths of Chuiyun Lake.
As for their sword shape and make...
All the students stared, their eyes wide with disbelief.
The swords that flew out from the lakebed were the commemorative swords issued to graduating students by the Academic Palace.
"These swords were confiscated from renegade students of the Academic Palace who seriously violated the laws of Yu Country and the discipline of the Academic Palace.
They either spend the rest of their lives in prison, consumed by regret, or they met their end by execution, condemned and reviled by all."
Cui Yixian said coldly, "In addition to being the Sword Study Master, I am also one of the internal inspectors of the Academic Palace.
No matter which Dao Path you choose in the future—Talisman, Magic, Sword, Mind, or Body—I hope you all remember your original intentions and never forget why you wield your sword."
Compared to Tantai Leshan, whose display of Divine Talismans filled the students with anticipation, and Cui Yixian, whose retrieved swords inspired respect and fear, Mind Study Master Xi Yangyu’s class seemed much more casual. He demonstrated some Telekinesis techniques and then hurriedly left.
"So soon?"
"What’s wrong with Mr. Xi?"
The students were abuzz. Li Ang also raised his eyebrows in surprise. Xi Yangyu is narrow-minded and vengeful, that’s true, but he is also extremely passionate and conscientious about Mind Study. He usually doesn’t slack in his preparations.
"Don’t you know? Mr. Xi’s concubine is about to give birth; the due date is in the next few days," someone snickered softly.
"That explains it."
The students suddenly understood. Xi Yangyu, despite having many wives and concubines, had only one son over the years. This son was also studying at the Academic Palace, a few grades above them.
According to the contemporary scholars’ belief that ’more sons bring more blessings,’ his situation was undoubtedly considered lacking. No wonder he was distracted and eager to return home.
After the classes on Talismans, Magic, Swords, and Mind were complete, it was finally time for Body Refinement.
Body Study Division Master Xue Che solemnly led the group of freshmen to the Martial Arts Arena.
A group of senior Body Refining students were already there, some holding huge iron spheres, others carrying thick logs, and still others swinging heavy iron chains, all sweating profusely and letting out low grunts as they tempered their bodies.
"URGH!"
"HAH!"
"HMPH, HMPH, AAAAAHHHH!"
Xue Che nodded in satisfaction and said to the students, "Flying Swords can wound you, improperly stored talismans can explode on you, and Magic can trigger unforeseen consequences if there is even a slight deviation. Not to mention, there are places known as the Void Realm where the use of nature’s spiritual energy is forbidden, rendering all Magic ineffective.
Only your body will never betray you.
The more you forge it, the more loyal and reliable your body becomes. Every bone and muscle will obey your command."
He turned around and shouted to the Body Refining students, "What is our goal?!"
"Higher, faster, stronger!"
The senior Body Refining students shouted in unison. Among them, Instructor Ren Xin struck a solid iron sphere with his fist.
BOOM!
The iron sphere dented significantly and rolled over ten meters, gouging a long track in the sand.
Ren Xin’s entire sleeve on that arm exploded, revealing the sharply defined, powerful muscles beneath.
Most students wore expressions of bewildered awe, clearly thinking, ’I don’t understand, but I’m hugely impressed.’
Meanwhile, Li Wei and other students aspiring to Body Refinement looked utterly thrilled and eager, as if ready to jump in and join the training.