Chapter 1015: The Life Talisman

Thud!

After searching to no avail, the grand witch priest pondered briefly, then gently pressed the stone disk into the recess.

Crack... Crack...

Before they could even act, the disk began to spin on its own, faster and faster.

Rumble...

A moment later, the heavy slab of stone slowly parted to both sides, revealing an open doorway before them.

Everyone exchanged looks of astonishment. They had not expected the stone gate to open so easily. None of them dared to be careless. Instead of charging in recklessly, each summoned their astra to protect themselves, eyes fixed on the stone hall ahead, ready for anything.

Inside the hall was dimness and utter silence. It seemed to contain an unknown barrier that blocked their spiritual consciousness, preventing them from sensing anything within.

The grand witch priest hesitated briefly, gesturing for the others to remain outside, and was just about to step inside when the Withered-Leaf Cicada flashed in front of her.

"Your evasion technique is inferior to mine. I’ll scout ahead. But let’s make this clear, if what you seek isn’t in there, I’ll leave immediately. As for the terms you promised me—"

The grand witch priest interrupted Old Devil Fang and said firmly, "Daoist Fang, you do not need to worry. No matter what we find, I will keep my word."

"Good!" The Withered-Leaf Cicada drifted soundlessly into the stone hall and vanished from sight.

***

In front of Seven-Kill Hall, on the jade square, the entrance to the inner hall had opened.

Lingzhuzi’s gaze swept over the assembled Spiritual Infant grandmasters. "Since the inner hall is without a master, I will act as host. The rules of the trial realm, I trust, are familiar to all of you. Within Canglang Sea, every cultivator who successfully breaks through to the Spiritual Infant Realm is granted one opportunity to enter the trial realm. Daoists who have not yet participated and wish to enter this time, please step forward."

Moments later, over twenty Spiritual Infant cultivators from the front row stepped out together.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Lingzhuzi’s eyes showed a trace of surprise. "The number of participants this time exceeds that of several previous openings. Daoist Wenxian, if I recall correctly, you’ve been at the Spiritual Infant Realm for barely forty years. Isn’t it a bit hasty to take part so soon?"

He turned toward a Daoist carrying a Seven-Star Sword on his back, whose appearance was ancient and refined. The two seemed to share some past acquaintance.[1]

The Daoist bowed respectfully before replying, "It’s said that the shorter intervals between Seven-Kill Hall’s appearances mean changes within the celestial barrier. Who knows what might happen in the future? If I cultivate for several more centuries, I might have a faint chance of passing the trial but by then, who can say whether the trial realm will even exist? I’d rather take this opportunity now. Even if I earn no reward, gaining experience will be worthwhile."

Several other Spiritual Infant cultivators added, "That’s right. We share the same concern. If we wait any longer, Seven-Kill Hall might vanish altogether. You and the Devil Lord must know more than we do. Can you tell us why these strange changes keep happening?"

Some looked at Lingzhuzi, others at the Devil Lord.

Lingzhuzi chuckled. "The trial realm was created through the power of the celestial barrier by a senior of old, leaving blessings for later generations. Once it was formed, no one could alter it. Deep within the inner hall lie layers of ancient barriers, countless secrets buried within. Even we human cultivators have only explored a small fraction of it.

"I know little more than any of you. From what I’ve seen, aside from the shorter intervals, there are no other anomalies. The timing of each emergence was never fixed; the last two simply fluctuated more strongly. If Seven-Kill Hall appears more frequently, it merely means we’ll have more chances to enter, which is not necessarily a bad thing."

Hearing this, the Spiritual Infant cultivators fell into thought, yet none withdrew.

After a pause, Lingzhuzi continued, "Since your minds are set, please enter through the right gate—"

Suddenly, someone interjected. "Wait!"

A rotund old man stepped forward and bowed to Lingzhuzi. "Daoist Master Lingzhu, I wish to forgo the trial and pass my qualification to a junior."

Lingzhuzi looked at him curiously. "Daoist Mu, your junior can freely enter the trial realm for tempering without restriction... Ah, could it be that you mean..."

The old man nodded. "Indeed. I recall that the rules of the trial realm allow one to exchange their qualification for a Life Talisman, which may be given to a junior."

The crowd erupted in murmurs.

A gray-robed elder sighed. "Old Ghost Mu, no wonder you brought that girl along! Each cultivator has only one chance to enter the trial, and you’re really willing to give it up?"

The rotund elder said calmly, "If Seven-Kill Hall continued to appear normally, I could wait another century or two and still have hope of earning rewards. But forcing my way in now would only waste that chance."

Lingzhuzi shook his head, wanting to persuade the elder. "Daoist Mu, even if you gain no reward, entering the trial realm once brings great benefit. Throughout history, few have made the same choice."

The elder cupped his hands respectfully. "My mind is made up. Daoist Master, please instruct me on how to condense the Life Talisman."

Seeing this, Lingzhuzi said no more and pointed toward the plaque above the hall. "Daoist, you're so..."

The rotund elder stepped forward and reached into a pillar of light. Moments later, the light brightened slightly, and a point of azure radiance flew from the plaque, descending into his palm. It was a crystalline jade token. At its center, a blood-red ancient character glowed: "Life."

The old man’s expression brightened with joy. He stepped down from the platform and handed the Life Talisman to a young maiden. Only then did the girl realize the price her grandfather had paid for her sake. Her delicate hands clenched tightly around the talisman, her gaze firm and resolute.

Many envious eyes turned toward her. Although most cultivators did not know what the Life Talisman could do, the fact that it required a Spiritual Infant grandmaster to give up their qualification to obtain one meant it would surely play a vital role within the trial realm. She had a Spiritual Infant elder to shield her. This was an advantage beyond envy.

Qin Sang listened to the discussions around him but gleaned little; clearly, this Life Talisman was exceedingly rare, known only to a few.

"Please proceed, fellow Daoists..." Lingzhuzi gestured with his hand.

The participating Spiritual Infant cultivators entered Seven-Kill Hall one by one. Before the entrance shimmered an invisible light screen. As each cultivator stepped through, it rippled faintly before their figures vanished.

When the last Spiritual Infant grandmaster disappeared into the hall, Lingzhuzi turned to the group of Core Formation cultivators and said evenly, "With your cultivation, wandering through the inner hall would be no different from courting death. According to the rules, only those Core Formation cultivators who have completed at least three trials are recognized. Therefore, if you wish to enter the inner hall, you must first pass through the trial realm."

1. Seven-Star Sword is a traditional Chinese straight sword, notable for having seven stars or rivets inlaid on the blade representing the Big Dipper. Primarily rooted in Daoist tradition, it is considered a sacred weapon used to ward off evil spirits. ☜