Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 118 Survival Methods Through Amputation
"Fellow Daoist Yun, please."

Inside the cave, Lin Chang'an poured a cup of fine spiritual tea, while Yun Yao calmly removed her veil, revealing her true face.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, the scenery of your cave is truly remarkable."

The cave is surrounded by pavilions, ponds, and green bamboo, and is also adjacent to the Yinchuan Waterfall.

The pavilion, with its carved beams and painted rafters, connects to a cave dwelling, which is nourished by spring water and surrounded by numerous spiritual herbs and flowers.

The gap in the sky above the cave allows the sunlight and moonlight to shine through, creating a pleasant scene.

A beautifully situated meditation cave.

Faced with Yun Yao's praise, Lin Chang'an chuckled and nodded, saying, "It's just a little bit of leisure."

Although he was an ascetic, he wasn't completely devoid of enjoyment.

Over tea, they chatted about everything from the scenery of the cave to their cultivation experiences, until the fifth pot of spiritual tea was finished.

During their conversation, both of them seemed distracted.

Even when their eyes met, the two would immediately change the subject.

Lin Chang'an couldn't help but secretly shake his head as soon as he took a sip of the sixth pot of spiritual tea.

The high-grade spiritual tea that the Zhou family sent a while ago has been finished, so this sixth pot is brewed with ordinary spiritual tea.

Yun Yao, standing to the side, remained calm, seemingly unaware of anything.

"Brother Lin, congratulations on breaking through to the second-tier mid-grade talisman master."

Finally, Yun Yao took a deep breath and, with a somewhat unnatural expression, cupped her hands in congratulations.

She has important business to attend to today and cannot drink the spiritual tea anymore.

"I have to thank Fellow Daoist Yun for his help before."

After saying this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

He actually wanted to thank Yun Yao for her help, whether it was the talisman inheritance she gave him in Qingzhushan Market or the previous explosive talisman inheritance.

Yun Yao, seemingly oblivious to the implied meaning, calmly set down her teacup and said softly:
"Brother Lin, when can we begin?"

"Yes, right now."

"Now!?"

A hint of panic flashed in Yun Yao's eyes, but she still nodded indifferently.

"it is good."

Without hesitation, Yun Yao got up and prepared to untie the white jade belt around her slender waist.

Seeing this, Lin Chang'an took a deep breath; he was serious about his profession.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, I have prepared a secret room, and no one will disturb us."

"it is good."

Lin Chang'an led Yun Yao into the prepared secret room.

Mist rose from the natural spring pool, and beside it lay Lin Chang'an's spiritual brush and cinnabar, which he had already prepared to draw talismans.

Surrounded by white mist, Yun Yao's earlobes turned red. She then took a deep breath, appearing straightforward and carefree, but her smile seemed somewhat stiff.

"Brother Lin, please use what I prepared."

Yun Yao took out a small bottle of fiery red cinnabar from her storage bag. As soon as she opened it, the rich spiritual energy it emitted startled Lin Chang'an.

"Third-grade cinnabar."

"Ah."

Upon hearing the confirmation in the tone, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but show a look of envy. In the cultivation world, it's not always true that you can buy everything just because you have spirit stones.

Lacking both strength and connections, some high-level resources are simply inaccessible.

"I understand."

In the light mist, the white jade belt fell off, followed by a white outer garment with cloud patterns draped over one shoulder.

The close-fitting bodysuit embroidered with cloud patterns was revealed underneath, and her skin, as smooth as jade, was exposed on her back.

In the mist, Yun Yao's delicate, snow-white skin quickly turned a rosy hue, her face exquisitely beautiful, her eyes like polished lacquer, and her lips like cinnabar.

"Brother Lin... I'm ready."

"well."

After watching the last piece of the Heart Garment fall off, Lin Chang'an took a deep breath, then concentrated on picking up the Spirit Brush and dipping it in the third-grade cinnabar prepared by Yun Yao.

The moment the fiery red cinnabar touched the brush, the snow-white skin instantly flushed red.

The scalding heat made Yun Yao frown. Every stroke of Lin Chang'an's brush felt like a branding iron, a brand that penetrated deep into her bones.

The explosive talisman, drawn on the body of a cultivator, is inherently an evil and extreme technique.

This production process is also extremely painful.

Using a cultivator's skin as talisman and flesh as a catalyst, it can unleash extremely terrifying power in a life-or-death situation.

There is a rumor that a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator once led six other cultivators of the same level through a battle.

Its power is comparable to a strike from a Golden Core cultivator.

The price is the life of the cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, please bear with it. If it's too hot, I have an Ice Heart Pill here."

This pain was so deep that it penetrated to the bone, yet Yun Yao was able to grit her teeth and endure it without uttering a sound, which made Lin Chang'an admire her greatly.

"No...it's alright, I have the Ice Soul Pearl!"

Finally, Yun Yao, her face pale, could barely contain her pain, afraid of making a sound and embarrassing Lin Chang'an.

Her lips trembled as she slowly opened them, and a chilling Ice Soul Pearl floated out, swirling around her, which made her feel a little better.

Silence reigned throughout. Yun Yao gritted her teeth, her face contorted in pain, cold sweat pouring down her back. Lin Chang'an was also drenched in sweat, not daring to slacken his efforts for a moment.

Drawing talismans on a cultivator's body requires utmost care, and Yun Yao's cooperation is needed for some parts throughout the process.

Several hours later...

"Gulp... gulp!"

Lin Chang'an, drenched in sweat inside the cave, picked up the spirit tea and drank it all in one gulp.

Panting heavily, he was secretly alarmed. The secret technique drawn on a cultivator's body would consume an extraordinary amount of magical power and energy.

"Fortunately, I possess profound magical power and am also exceptionally gifted."

On the other side of the cave, Yun Yao was putting on her magic robe with her back to him, her body trembling slightly. But as soon as she turned around, she swayed and almost fell.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, this secret technique is extremely taxing on a cultivator. You should rest for a while."

Lin Chang'an stepped forward and helped Yun Yao sit upright on the stone stool.

At this moment, Yun Yao's face was deathly pale, clearly indicating that she had exhausted her vital energy.

"Brother Lin, I never expected you to have such talent in the art of talismans. I thought it would take at least several attempts to complete one."

Yun Yao was also breathing weakly, but when she looked at Lin Chang'an, she couldn't help but marvel at him.

Although Lin Chang'an's spiritual root aptitude was poor, his talent in the art of talismans was definitely not lacking.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to build my foundation through talismans all this way.

Only Lin Chang'an knew about his talent.

"No, it's just practice makes perfect... cough cough." Lin Chang'an almost blurted out the phrase "practice makes perfect," because this was truly the first time he had ever drawn this.

Yun Yao, standing to the side, chuckled softly and picked up her teacup to hide her embarrassment, but her swollen earlobes betrayed her.

“Fellow Daoist Yun, my cave is quite rich in spiritual energy. You can stay here to recover your magic power for now, and I will also go to rest and recover.”

The scene from earlier kept replaying in his mind, making the two of them feel somewhat awkward now. Lin Chang'an made up an excuse and got up to leave.

He left the cave behind him to Yun Yao first.

"Brother Lin."

As Lin Chang'an prepared to get up and leave, Yun Yao took a deep breath. Since she had come to find Lin Chang'an, she must have thought it through.

She just hadn't adjusted yet, but she wasn't one to be coy, so she respectfully cupped her hands and said:

"The situation is currently turbulent, and Yun Yao has also cultivated this technique. It was a last resort. I also want to thank Brother Lin."

By the time she finished speaking, Yun Yao seemed to have moved on, a straightforward smile on her face.

When Lin Chang'an saw this scene, he was filled with emotion. In the cultivation world, if given a choice, who would be willing to have this thing drawn on their body?

"I admire Fellow Daoist Yun's character and temperament."

Putting everything aside, the two, who appreciated each other's unwavering commitment to the Dao in the cultivation world, both revealed sincere smiles.

In this ever-changing world of cultivation, having a close friend to walk alongside is something that would be the envy of countless cultivators.

There are far too many cultivators who, as they walk along, eventually find themselves all alone, accompanied only by endless loneliness.

Only after Lin Chang'an's figure disappeared and the only sound in the cave was the gurgling of the spring water, did Yun Yao's face bloom with a beautiful and charming smile.

……

In the attic.

Yun Yao recovered her magical power inside the cave, while Lin Chang'an recovered his magical power in the pavilion outside.

"These evil and demonic techniques, though extremely dangerous, are sometimes, undeniably, the most practical."

Two days later, after his magical power and mental state recovered, Lin Chang'an solemnly examined the jade slip that Yun Yao had given him.

The cultivators of this cultivation world are truly amazing talents, even able to come up with the idea of ​​drawing talismans on cultivators' bodies, and put it into practice.

"The Explosion Talisman is drawn on the body of a cultivator, using flesh and blood as a catalyst. Once it is used, there is no way to recover."

Upon seeing this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but sigh deeply. He could only hope that his friend Yun Yao would never have to use this method in her life.

"But in a life-or-death situation, I'm afraid most cultivators would choose this path as well."

The world of cultivation is cruel; it's not that kneeling down and begging for mercy will make someone forgive you easily.

Even a rabbit will bite when cornered. When faced with a dead end, most cultivators would probably choose to be ruthless and not let you get away with it, even if it means killing you.

"However, since this explosive talisman can be drawn on a cultivator's entire body, it can naturally also be drawn on a single limb. My self-healing body seems to be even more suitable."

Looking at the jade slip in his hand, Lin Chang'an fell into deep thought.

He knew he hadn't made use of the 'self-healing body' supernatural power awakened by his ancient cultivation technique, but he simply lacked the ability to do so.

But now it seems to have given him a new direction.

"This talisman uses the flesh and blood of a cultivator as its medium. If it is simply drawn on the arms and limbs, its power will be greatly reduced, but it can still be a means of self-defense when necessary."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an's eyes lit up.

His self-healing limbs can regenerate completely as long as his magical power and blood energy keep up.

What might be self-harm for others could be a means of self-preservation for him, a way to cut off his arm to survive.

The more Lin Chang'an thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

"It's true that you can't find anything even if you wear iron shoes. It takes no effort to get it."

Even in the event of a real crisis, it can be used to terrify the enemy, since it is a means of mutual destruction.

Taking this opportunity, whether to cover an escape or to fight to the death, is the only option.

Just as Lin Chang'an was all smiles, pleased that he had gained another trick up his sleeve, a figure slowly emerged from the cave behind him.

"Brother Lin, thank you very much."

When Yun Yao came out, she had regained her usual heroic and spirited appearance. Although her skin was still aching slightly, she could bear it.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, you're too kind."

As they chatted and laughed, they once again began to enjoy tea and discuss philosophy.

Yun Yao truly lives up to her reputation as a disciple from a major sect. Although she was initially regarded as a furnace by a Golden Core cultivator, she was still given genuine resources.

Later, he joined the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect, which means he far surpassed Lin Chang'an in both knowledge and magical skills.

"These demonic techniques are known for being easy to learn and extremely powerful, but they also come with corresponding consequences, such as the Gui Water Demonic Art that I cultivate."

Although the cultivation speed is extremely fast and the supernatural powers are immense, the drawback is that one must endure the torment of cold and dampness, and will also be targeted by others.

At this point, Yun Yao couldn't help but reveal a hint of hatred in her eyes. If given a choice, what female cultivator would be willing to have runes drawn on her body?

Hearing Yun Yao's words, Lin Chang'an shook his head, expressing a different opinion:
"But for independent cultivators, the most difficult thing is not having the right method. This is why bloodshed often occurs among independent cultivators because of a flawed cultivation technique."

Demonic cultivation techniques are something that sects and large clans have a tradition of passing down through generations of cultivators.

For independent cultivators, this is called an opportunity.

After the two discussed the Dao, before parting ways, Yun Yao left behind a sound transmission jade talisman, which could transmit information within a certain distance.

This item is only given as a gift to very close friends, and the price of a single jade talisman is not cheap.

……

After watching Yun Yao leave in disguise, Lin Chang'an, who was alone in the pavilion, sighed softly.

Yun Yao is living in the Demonic Sect, facing numerous dangers. Let's hope everything goes well.

After decades of cultivation, only this one friend has brought me to this point.

"Moo!"

Just then, the Green Horned Ox finished eating the spiritual fruit that Yun Yao had thrown to him before leaving, and then wagged its tail and came to its master with a fawning expression.

"You silly ox, you still remember who your master is."

Lin Chang'an glared at the cow. The more he raised it, the more he felt that this high-level spirit beast was incredibly intelligent.

Every time, I have to habitually try to please the visitors and ask for spiritual fruits and herbs.

He even suspected that the cow could support itself without him having to worry about it.

However, when Lin Chang'an returned to his cave, he saw the bottle of third-grade cinnabar still left by the pool, which made him sigh with emotion.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, you are truly extremely generous."

We've made a fortune, we're bloated with profits.

Not only did I learn a second-tier talisman, but I also gained an extra means of self-protection – what an unexpected bonus!

However, this is a method of surviving by cutting off an arm, which can only be used in life-or-death crises. In terms of ordinary combat methods, he is still slightly inferior.

"This auction is not to be missed."

After thinking about what he needed, Lin Chang'an frowned secretly, hoping he would have enough spirit stones.

He needs too many things right now: a second-tier pill furnace, second-tier pill formulas, and high-grade spiritual liquid. Even if he could earn them, he couldn't keep up with the consumption.

At this auction, I must find a magical technique or spell that can enhance my fighting power.

(End of this chapter)