Dragon Emperor, Martial God

The strength in Ling Yun’s arm was amazing. Because he did not need any spiritual energy, it took almost no effort to forge a hundred and fifty Fire Talismans while Tie Xiaohu cleaned up the mess outside. He stopped only when Tie Xiaohu was finished.

“Go and try it out with these!” Ling Yun grabbed a bunch of Fire Talismans and stuffed them into Tie Xiaohu’s hand.

He snickered and told Tie Xiaohu, who was still at a loss, “Even though it isn’t much against a strong opponent, it can at least scare them!”

Tie Xiaohu smirked as he realized this fact. Sitting down opposite Ling Yun, he carefully pocketed the talismans that Ling Yun gave him and asked with admiration, “Big Brother Yun, is this the power of talismans?”

Ling Yun smiled with enthusiasm since his experiment succeeded. “Yes, this is the power of talisman charms. Let me share with you…”

Talisman charms were a kind of Dharmic art in Taoism. They were also called talisman inscriptions, inked charms, and cinnabar treatises.

A Talisman charm was made up of a combination of an amulet and magic symbols. The amulet was the yellow paper or silk that the inscriptions would go on. The symbol itself looked like words or art, but was neither.

The Fire Talisman that Ling Yun had forged was one such example. Secrets of the deities were usually recorded on the amulet paper or silk. The talisman charms were used by deities to summon other deities, expel demons, rid illness, and stop disasters. Its origins could be traced back to witchcraft. To make a talisman, the creator needed to formulate a spell, channel the mysterious powers, and chant, “Combine!” The reactants would then be ready to follow the synthesis equation to form the resulting products.

Then, all the caster needed was to shout, “Come!” This would trigger the decomposition reaction to release its energy and work its magics.

There were many different kinds of talisman for different uses, such as Fire Talismans, Water Talismans, Exorcism Talismans, Control Talismans, Gravity Manipulation Talismans, Ethereal Talismans, etc.

Formerly known as witchcraft, these arts were formalized by Taoism. Through the years, it branched into many variations and scripts. In the modern era, there were countless different kinds of talismans, but they generally fell into one of five categories: Basic, Protection, Prosperity, Peace, and Ward Evil.

“Fire Talismans are one of the Basic Talismans. Ward Evil Talisman are…”

Ling Yun explained slowly to a stunned Tie Xiaohu, afraid that he would scare him. Therefore, he omitted the highest order of the talisman charms: the magic circle and the deity talisman.

The highest achievement for talisman specialists was to conjure a talisman from thin air using their fingers with their soul essence as the ink. A talisman charm of that level could do unimaginable things. It belonged to another level altogether.

The uses of talisman charms in Taoism were quite vast. For example, in medicine, burnt talisman ashes could be dissolved into water and given to the patient as treatment.

As another example, some sealed talismans could drive evil spirits away. They could be worn or just fixed to bedroom doors. Other sealed talismans could be thrown into rivers to avoid floods or summon water during a drought.

It was impossible for Taoist Priests to carry out rituals without talismans. They sometimes summoned deities to kill ghosts or to peek into the underworld and help a lost soul.

“Currently, the art of making talismans is one of the main areas of study in Taoism. During the Yuan Dynasty of Huaxia, there were three major sects in three mountains: the Maoshan Shangqing School, the Gezao Shanlingbao School, and the Dragon Tiger Shantianshi School…”

Ling Yun paused to let Tie Xiaohu internalize all of the knowledge.

Tie Xiaohu nodded, but could not help but ask, “I know, but Big Brother Yun, isn’t this just all superstition?”

Ling Yun smiled disdainfully. “Superstition? There are so many mysterious forces in the world that are still unexplainable by science! The Stellar Condensation Technique that I am teaching you is also one of them. Don’t mention the word superstition again!”

I was transmigrated to this sh*thole of a world that has almost no spiritual energy. Who could use science to explain this phenomenon to me?

Ling Yun cursed in his heart. If he were in the Cultivation World, he would have reached Qi Cultivation Stage Level 3 long ago instead of being stuck in the miserable Physique Tempering Stage Level 3!

Tie Xiaohu assented. All his doubts dissipated as his eyes became determined.

“Get another ten of these dogs tomorrow so that I can draw blood from them…” Ling Yun felt that the amount of blood from two dogs wasn’t enough.

Tie Xiaohu was uneasy. “Big Brother Yun, two dogs are still ok, but what would the property management say if we have another ten dogs suddenly? Moreover, if all of the ten dogs start barking at the same time, I’m sure that the neighbors will complain…”

“Ugh…” Ling Yun hadn’t considered that.

“Ok, then get another two first and give them more food so that we can alternate using them for blood collection.” Ling Yun could not think of a better solution. “Also, make another set of the things we used today like the dagger, iron pot, pail, and brush in case we need them.”

“Understood.” Tie Xiaohu acknowledged.

After the arrangements, Ling Yun suddenly asked Tie Xiaohu, “Where are you staying?”

Tie Xiaohu was taken aback at the sudden question. He replied self-consciously, “I rented a place…”

“I heard that you lost your Father when you were very young, right?”

A hint of sorrow escaped Tie Xiaohu’s eye. He nodded.

Ling Yun gave a small smile. “Everyone has their own destiny. Don’t take it to heart. Just look at me, I was picked up from the trash can by my Mum. I don’t even know who my Father is, but I am doing just fine.”

“Big Brother Yun!” Tie Xiaohu’s mouth twitched slightly, moved at Ling Yun’s show of comfort and true friendship.

Ling Yun casually said, “How about this: I will transfer two million yuan into your account tomorrow as a gift. Buy yourself a house or a car. That will make things more convenient in the future as well.”

“Huh?!” Tie Xiaohu sprang up from the sofa in utter surprise. He hadn’t expected this offer.

“Big Brother Yun, y-you cannot do that. Why give me so much money?! I-I am only an eighteen year old kid!”

Tie Xiaohu shook his head and waved his arms animatedly, shocked. His eyes were red.

Even though Tie Xiaohu had made a name for himself during the past three years in fighting at Green Dragon — some had even called him the successor of Green Dragon — that was all on the surface. In reality, he was only making ends meet.

It never occurred to Tie Xiaohu in his wildest dreams that Ling Yun would gift him two million just for being with Ling Yun for a few days.

Ling Yun was very petty with his own money. Tie Xiaohu knew that very well, and yet he was giving him two million from his own pocket?!

Ling Yun lifted his eyes, dissatisfied with Tie Xiaohu. “What are you so excited about?! Sit down!”

“I am also eighteen, and I have a mansion and a car! You are just starting to train. How can you train without a quiet place? How inconvenient is it without a car?” Ling Yun said when Tie Xiaohu sat back into the sofa.

“Don’t say another word. Didn’t I tell you? In the future, we might lack everything else, but not money. Two million can only get a normal house and car. What else can you buy?”

Tie Xiaohu’s eyes were moist with hot tears. His words were stuck in his throat and he shook violently, unsuccessful in expressing himself.

“Don’t say anything and just listen to me. Send me your Bank Account number to my phone.”

Ling Yun grinned as he forced Tie Xiaohu to send him his account number. He stood up and continued, “There is a condition though. When I need to buy something next time, help me pay first. I am too lazy to transfer money here and there…”

What else could Tie Xiaohu say? He agreed and wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

Ling Yun handed the keys to the mansion to Tie Xiaohu and said, “I will not be staying here for the time being. Give this set to Sister Rou and duplicate a set for yourself. You will manage Mansion Number One for now. Can you do it?”

Ling Yun glanced around at the raw materials for talismans in the living room.

“Big Brother Yun, rest assured. I will not let anything happen to it.”

“Great, I have to go home to have dinner with Mum and Lingyu. It is already 6pm and I have to go. Call me if there is anything.”

Ling Yun planned to come again tonight to make more Talisman charms. However, this time he was going to use the mystical brush to draw the Fire Talismans. He was a hundred percent sure that it would produce improvements over the afternoon’s little experiment. He did not want Tie Xiaohu to see it.

Tie Xiaohu had just started on his training and needed to be guided slowly. It would be counterproductive if he gave him more than he could handle.

Just when he was about to leave, Ling Yun’s phone rang. A text came.

Ling Yun opened the text. It was a very strange text from Lin Menghan.

“The password is six nines.”

“‘The password is six nines’? What does that mean?” Ling Yun knitted his eyebrows in confusion.

The methods of this otherworldly beauty were baffling. Ling Yun shook his head.

He was too lazy to reply the message and was just about to stow his phone away when it rang again. This time, Zhuang Meifeng called.

Ling Yun’s spirits were lifted as he answered immediately.

“Hubby, Lin Menghan has come to give you a few things which she beseeched me to pass to you.”

Zhuang Meifeng’s tone was urgent.

Ling Yun’s smile turned upside down as he asked immediately, “Where is she?”

“She left immediately after leaving the things with me. She looked very sad,” Zhuang Meifeng said.

“Got it. Wait for me at home. I will return immediately,” Ling Yun replied.

He sped away in his Land Rover after putting down the phone and bidding Tie Xiaohu goodbye.