Chapter 437: There Were Differences In Intelligence Even Among Fools

Boom.

On both sides, the murky black floodwater surged into hundred-zhang-tall walls. Chu Liang held the floodwater back with the great force of the heavens and the earth. It was impossible for the floodwater to cross the lightning boundary.

Standing between the two towering walls of floodwater, Chu Liang slowly imprinted the Kun-Character Talisman into his mind. With this, he was only one step away from acquiring the Li-Character Talisman and completing the Talismanic Script of the Eight Trigrams.

The greatest difference between the Talismanic Script of the Eight Trigrams and the fundamental Talismanic Script of the Five Elements was the quality. Even though the Great Dao and the sources of spiritual qi that they used were similar, the Talismanic Script of the Eight Trigrams was far more powerful. One of its talismans could unleash the power of hundreds of the fundamental Five Elements Talismans.

The Talismanic Script of the Eight Trigrams could be taken as the refined, advanced version of the fundamental Talismanic Script of the Five Elements.

The Celestial Talisman Master had used the Talismanic Script of the Eight Trigrams as the foundation for constructing this hidden realm. In theory, mastering them would allow anyone to create their own world... assuming they had a hidden realm to create the world in, of course.

After comprehending the Kun-Character Talisman, Chu Liang's understanding of the Dao of Talisman-Making improved greatly. He realized the talismans that the Celestial Talisman Master had made were vastly superior to those others made. The essence of the Dao contained within his talismans was something a cultivator could spend a lifetime trying to understand. However, these talismans might not possess such tremendous power outside this hidden realm.

As for the golden script that the gray-bearded elder had mentioned, Chu Liang still had no idea where it was. For now, his only lead was to find the last of the Eight Trigrams Talismans—the Li-Character Talisman.

Being just one talisman away from collecting all Eight Trigrams Talismans was enough to drive anyone crazy. If Chu Liang were forced out of the hidden realm now, he definitely wouldn't be able to sleep that night.

Using the power of the Xun-Character Talisman, Chu Liang once again soared into the sky. He then removed the Dui-Character Talisman's restraint, causing the towering walls of floodwater on both sides to crash down and form massive waves.

Just as Chu Liang was about to search for the Li-Character Talisman, he heard explosive sounds and shouts in the distance. They rang loud and clear even through the screaming wind and rumbling thunder.

Is there a fight going on?

Chu Liang and the other five righteous disciples were the only ones in this hidden realm, so he swiftly headed over to find out what was happening.

He didn't need to fly far before he saw a terrifying monster that was as large as a mountain!

From a distance, it looked like there were eight or nine black slender dragons. However, when Chu Liang moved closer, he realized it was one massive creature with nine heads.

It was a giant nine-headed python!

Its black scales were mottled, and its vertical pupils flickered like dancing flames, yet its gaze was chilling.

Xiangliu!

Chu Liang recognized this vicious beast. It was the tremendously fearsome Xiangliu[1], known in legends as a "nine-headed serpentine monster that had devoured countless humans. Everywhere it went would be turned into marshlands."

To think that this beast resided in this hidden realm?

Or could it be that the Celestial Talisman Master had been capable of conjuring a creature like that with his talismanic scripts?

It's astonishing either way.

The lower half of the giant python was submerged in the water, but its nine heads emerged fully from the water as it chased two tiny figures ahead.

They were a man and a woman—Situ Guanhai and Xi Miaoxian.

The two of them fought while retreating. Unfortunately, the giant python kept pursuing them, and they were unable to shake it off.

Nevertheless, Situ Guanhai's mastery of the Dao of Talisman-Making was indeed exceptional. His hands moved simultaneously, casting two talismans at the same time! His left hand drew a circle, and his right hand drew a square.

Multitasking wasn't difficult for cultivators who could split their divine intent into hundreds, but drawing talismans while focusing on something else was a totally different level of difficulty. Moreover, Situ Guanhai was instantaneously casting two Eight Trigrams Talismans, which were very difficult to draw. He was truly amazing.

With his left hand, he drew a Kan-Character Talisman, and with his right hand, a Qian-Character Talisman.

"Water Arriving From the Heavens!"

The two talismans were activated simultaneously, instantly summoning a massive wave from below. It then transformed into a towering water dragon that crashed heavily onto one of Xiangliu's heads!

Boom!

Watching from afar, Chu Liang felt deeply inspired.

So, the Eight Trigrams Talismans can be used like this as well.

...

"

Raaaaar!!!

"

Struck with such a heavy blow, the giant python was sent flying. However, it quickly returned even more ferocious and enraged! It opened its mouth and spewed a torrent of pitch-black flames!

Fire?

At the sight of this, Chu Liang thought for a moment that he had found the location of the Li-Character Talisman. However, after observing it briefly, he realized that what he sensed from the giant python wasn't true fire. Rather, it was some kind of mystical ability that the giant python had developed with its power.

Hiss—

Yet, even though it wasn't real fire, it evaporated the mist and water raining down on the giant python. Everything in the path of the black flames was incinerated.

Nevertheless, Xi Miaoxian was no weakling. Her mastery of the Dao of Talisman-Making wasn't as advanced as Situ Guanhai's, but she was still capable of holding her own against the giant python.

Her robes billowed in the wind as she floated in midair. She gently raised her hand and cast a Zhen-Character Talisman.

Boom!

Lighting descended from the heavens, striking the destructive black flames head-on!

Whoosh.

Unexpectedly, the black flames weren't weakened at all. On the contrary, they became even more powerful, soaring tens of zhang higher! The black fire was now so immense that it seemed to cover the sky!

Situ Guanhai quickly moved his hands again, drawing another pair of talismans.

This time, he drew the Xun-Character Talisman with his left hand and the Qian-Character Talisman with his right.

"Peace to the Heavens and the Earth!"

Rumble.

In an instant, the earth and the heavens seemed to merge, and a huge barrier appeared out of thin air, blocking all the black flames. Nonetheless, the flames seemed to possess some intelligence. Instead of simply retreating, they clung to the barrier and gradually broke it down.

Situ Guanhai and Xi Miaoxian seized the opportunity to flee again, but the nine-headed Xiangliu followed closely, relentless in its pursuit.

It was obvious to Chu Liang that inside this hidden realm, Situ Guanhai was like a fish in water. He was several times more powerful than when he was outside the hidden realm. Xi Miaoxian, on the other hand, was much weaker. If Situ Guanhai didn't have to save her, he would have already escaped on his own long ago.

Chu Liang thought,

Fine... I learned a trick from you this time, so I'll lend you a hand.

Xianglu had broken through the barrier and was once again hot on Situ Guanhai's and Xi Miaoxian's heels. Seeing that, Chu Liang stepped in and mimicked Situ Guanhai's technique.

Chu Liang drew a Zhen-Character Talisman with his left hand and a Xun-Character Talisman with his right. He combined and activated them simultaneously!

The Excitement of Thunder Shakes The Earth!

Boom.

An explosive clap of thunder rang right next to one of Xiangliu's heads, shocking Xiangliu to an abrupt halt.

"

Raaaaaaar!!!

" Xiangliu roared in fury, turning several of its heads toward Chu Liang.

After successfully redirecting Xiangliu's rage toward him, Chu Liang swiftly changed his stance. He cast the Qian-Character Talisman with his left hand and the Xun-Character Talisman with his right.

When Wind Meets the Sky.

In an instant, he transformed into a whirlwind and fled!

The whirlwind was so swift that Xiangliu couldn't catch up. It could only watch as Chu Liang disappeared from its lines of sight. Irate, Xiangliu thrashed about in the sea, causing giant waves and unceasing tsunamis.

...

Earlier...

Not long after Chu Liang left, Ye Yongxing went off in search of the Xun-Character Talisman and Li-Character Talisman too. Only Monk Pushan and Feng Chaoyang remained on the mountain peak to continue comprehending the talismanic script.

They weren't well acquainted, but they couldn't help but feel a sense of mutual understanding at this moment.

"Say..." Feng Chaoyang asked, "are the two of us just massive fools? Why couldn't I understand a word of what they said?"

"Young Hero Feng, you're mistaken. The Dao of Talisman-Making is profound and obscure. It's normal to not grasp it easily," Monk Pushan said to comfort Feng Chaoyang. Then, with a slight change in tone, Monk Pushan added, "Besides, we're not quite the same. By the time they were done talking, I figured it out. I've already comprehended five of the talismanic characters."

"

Huh?

"

Turns out there are differences in intelligence even among fools,

Feng Chaoyang thought, feeling a sense of loneliness.

He couldn't help but regret coming here to embarrass himself.

It wasn't really his fault though. The Celestial King Sect didn't cultivate the Dao of Talisman-Making at all, so none of the disciples in his sect specialized in it. However, since they had obtained access to a hidden realm with a cultivation legacy, the Celestial King Sect didn't want to waste the opportunity to acquire the legacy. Moreover, the hidden realm wasn't very dangerous, so they decided to let their head disciple try his luck.

Unfortunately, Feng Chaoyang simply had no talent at all in talisman-making.

Some more time passed by, and Monk Pushan still hadn't left, but Situ Guanhai and Xi Miaoxian had returned. If the relationship between the Mount Shu Sect and the Penglai Supreme Sect was strained, then the relationship between the Celestial King Sect and the Penglai Supreme Sect was filled with deep-seated enmity.

So, the two pairs each occupied one side of the peak. They didn't even greet each other.

That lasted until Chu Liang returned.

1. You can read more about it

here. ☜