A Mortal's Start in the Spirit Beast Mountain

Chapter 27 Six Ding Six Jia Talismans

On both sides of the stone chamber, dozens of broken jade shelves stood silently, with yellowed ancient books, broken jade slips, and some fragments of talismans with residual spiritual power scattered on them, gleaming faintly in the dim light.

Luo Ming strode forward and casually picked up a relatively complete ancient book. His fingertips brushed against the rough pages as he slowly opened it, his pupils suddenly contracting—it contained the complete method for crafting the mid-level talisman, the "Azure Thunder Talisman," even detailing the secrets to enhancing its power. Although Luo Ming currently only had a superficial understanding of talisman-making, he could immediately discern the exquisite nature of these methods, something no ordinary cultivator could master.

"What exquisite talismanic techniques!"

Overjoyed, Luo Ming suppressed his excitement and immediately quickened his pace to search the jade shelves. Before long, he found several more relatively intact jade slips. He infused a wisp of magic power into them and examined them. His mind was shaken once again: the jade slips contained the secret techniques for crafting mid-to-high-level talismans, as well as many insights on identifying talisman materials and the precise circulation of spiritual power. Each item was invaluable and beyond measure.

A quarter of an hour later, the two gathered all the intact books and jade slips on the jade shelf together. Upon inspection, they found that there were dozens of methods for refining mid-to-high-level talismans. The jade slips focused on the basic methods of talisman refining, while the ancient books were mostly the refining experience and key precautions of senior cultivators. The two complemented each other and could be considered a legacy of talisman crafting.

What surprised Luo Ming even more was that the contents recorded on the golden jade slip were actually the legendary immortal talisman "Six Ding Six Jia Talisman"!

This talisman is considered a supreme defensive treasure. Legend has it that it can draw upon the spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth to condense the Six Ding and Six Jia to protect the body. As long as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is continuous, the six layers of protective shield can be continuously regenerated and restored. Its defensive power is so strong that even a Nascent Soul stage cultivator would find it difficult to break through.

Luo Ming understood that Xiang Laogui had come for this talisman, but what he didn't know was that Nangong Wan and Han Laomo would obtain a finished Six Ding Six Jia Talisman.

Later, when Han Laomo ascended to the Spirit Realm, it was precisely because of this talisman that he was able to protect himself in the dangerous spatial storm. However, after only glancing at the method of refining it, he couldn't help but gasp in astonishment—the materials required to refine the talisman paper alone actually required the hides of demonic beasts at the Nascent Soul level.

Where is he supposed to get that?

"Brother Xiang, most of the things here can be replicated, you see..." Luo Ming cautiously probed, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible caution. He knew the saying "possessing a treasure is a crime," and these inherited treasures were of too great value; he couldn't help but worry that the other party might kill him to keep them all for themselves.

"Haha! Fellow Daoist already said it would be split equally, so naturally it will be as you say." Xiang Zhili laughed loudly, his gaze sweeping over the books, and slowly said, "This place is a complete inheritance of talismans. If you can successfully establish your foundation in the future, you will have more than enough to establish your own sect with these inheritances. Alas, unlike me, I am already a candle in the wind, and I don't have many years left to live."

Xiang Zhili's words seemed ordinary, but they actually contained a hidden test. If it were any other cultivator, upon hearing that these inheritances could serve as the foundation for establishing a sect, they would probably have already harbored wicked thoughts—after all, how could the sect's inheritance fall into the hands of outsiders? They might have torn off all pretense of civility on the spot, fighting to the death, or launching a sneak attack from behind to ensure that the inheritance was held solely by themselves.

Luo Ming, however, seemed not to understand the deeper meaning in his words. He continued to smile and said nonchalantly, "I have no interest in establishing a sect. I only hope to successfully build my foundation, marry a few beautiful wives and concubines, and live a carefree life."

Seeing that Luo Ming had no ambition to monopolize the inheritance, Xiang Zhili nodded inwardly, thinking that this junior's character was acceptable. He couldn't help but offer some advice: "Hehe, Junior Brother Luo, don't be discouraged. We cultivators are inherently defying the heavens. Talent is certainly important, but comprehension and character are even more crucial. In my opinion, Junior Brother, your chances of advancing to Foundation Establishment are not small. If you can encounter an opportunity in the future, breaking through to the Golden Core stage is not impossible."

Luo Ming's heart stirred, and he quickly seized the opportunity to ask for guidance: "Senior Brother Xiang, do you know how to break through to the Golden Core realm?" He knew that Xiang Zhili was a top cultivator in the human realm, and even though he was still far from breaking through to the Golden Core realm, he still wanted to hear the other party's insights.

"Ahem... Junior Brother Luo, you overestimate me." Xiang Zhili coughed twice, slightly embarrassed, and said, "My cultivation is no match for yours. It's just that I accidentally obtained an ancient book a few years ago, which recorded that: below the Golden Core stage, as long as resources are sufficient, breaking through is not difficult; but above the Golden Core stage, in addition to needing perfect magic power, it is also closely related to the mind and spirit. To put it bluntly, it means 'the mind is clear'."

"Understanding one's thoughts?" Luo Ming's heart stirred slightly, and he vaguely grasped the concept. He quickly asked, "What exactly does 'understanding one's thoughts' mean?"

"This... I have not yet broken through to the Golden Core stage, so I cannot explain it completely." Xiang Zhili looked troubled, and after pondering for a moment, he said, "However, in my humble opinion, one must have unwavering faith, forge ahead without hesitation, and have absolutely no doubt about one's own path."

"Isn't this just brainwashing yourself?" Luo Ming blurted out.

"Brainwashing?" A hint of surprise flashed in Xiang Zhili's eyes, then he stroked his beard and smiled, "That's quite an apt description! It means to wash away all distracting thoughts and make one's Dao heart pure and spotless." He had lived for over a thousand years and had never heard such a novel expression before. He couldn't help but marvel at how quick-witted young people were and how they could always come up with strange and wonderful words.

The two spent most of the day replicating all the artifacts in the stone chamber. Xiang Zhili only took the replicated jade slips, leaving all the originals to Luo Ming; as for the talisman treasure mentioned earlier, he seemed to have completely forgotten about it, and Luo Ming, seeing this, naturally didn't bring it up.

He was quite disappointed that he couldn't find any top-tier cultivation techniques here. Logically, there should be cultivation techniques to pass down. Could they be elsewhere in the secret realm?

The forbidden area was open for a total of five days, and four and a half days had already passed. Knowing that time was running out, the two abandoned the idea of ​​continuing to explore other areas and, without further delay, hurriedly returned along the same route.

……

Meanwhile, outside the forbidden area, the Golden Core cultivators from various sects had joined forces to reopen the restricted passage. Everyone's brows were furrowed, and their eyes were fixed on the direction of the forbidden area's exit.

The various sects suffered considerable losses during this trip to the forbidden area, and everyone was worried about whether their juniors could successfully bring out the spiritual herbs—this was directly related to the sect's reserves of future Foundation Establishment cultivators, and they could not afford to be careless.

In particular, Fu Yunzi of Qingxu Sect and Li Huayuan of Huangfeng Valley were keeping a close eye on the exit because of the bet. Every time a figure moved at the exit, they would become nervous. If it was a cultivator from the other sect, they would frown, but if it was a cultivator from their own sect, they would smile and nod slightly.

After Luo Ming emerged from that secret place, he hurried as fast as he could and finally reached the exit just one hour before the deadline.