Most life-preserving talismans typically seal either an attack or a defense, and very few attempted to seal both a divine consciousness's pressure and an attack into the same talisman.
One had to admit that such an idea was bold. If successful, the talisman's power would be even more astonishing.
Jian Dan waved her hand, forming a golden sword technique, Golden Severing Dagger Technique, at her fingertips. She then formed the hand seals to open a jade slip and poured her Mahayana-complete divine consciousness into it, while simultaneously channeling the sword technique into it.
The two elements harmonized perfectly, without conflict. The purple glow flickered twice before stabilizing, confirming the talisman's successful creation.
After the first success, crafting the remaining jade slips became much smoother. Jian Dan then sealed five sword techniques—Autumn Water One Sword, Earth Rift, Vitality Abundant, and Stars Ablaze—alongside her Mahayana pressure into five purple talismans.
All five life-preserving talismans were successfully crafted on the first try, greatly boosting Jian Dan's confidence.
Even for a Mahayana Zhēnzūn, creating such talismans was highly taxing. However, because Jian Dan was a sword cultivator, her true divine consciousness had long surpassed Mahayana completion. Even when restrained, her Purple Palace was already established, allowing her to craft talismans with ease.
Satisfied, she examined her handiwork and took out another purple jade talisman, intending to seal her Primordial Chaos Art into it. This time, however, she failed. The talisman shattered into fragments.
The unsealed sword energy immediately began to disperse, prompting Jian Dan to frown and retract it with a wave of her hand.
Though it lasted only an instant, it startled Lü Se, who had returned with Yu Zongfan and Mao Dou. Even through the Zūnshàng's defense, if it had struck him directly…
Lü Se immediately dispersed his thoughts. This was the first time he had so directly felt the terrifying power of his Zūnshàng.
Jian Dan dismissed the defense and beckoned to her two disciples.
"Pay respects, Master!"
The two young boys stood straight before Jian Dan, now wearing the sect's disciple robes with white jade sword pendants at their waists, bowing respectfully.
"Good, rise!"
Jian Dan had Lü Se prepare small stools for them. Once seated properly, both boys looked attentively at their master.
Jian Dan began her questioning:
"Have you familiarized yourselves with the cultivation environment these past days? Is anything lacking?"
"Master, over the past three days, Senior Brother and I built stone houses and settled in, then began our daily cultivation. Nothing is missing," Yu Zongfan replied first. Mao Dou nodded in agreement, though he seemed somewhat nervous.
"Good! Based on your progress, I will adjust your cultivation routines. Any objections?"
"None! We will follow Master's instructions in everything."
Jian Dan nodded in satisfaction before continuing:
"Zong Fan, your cultivation has reached the peak of Qi Refinement's eighth layer. Signs of a breakthrough have appeared. Do you have confidence?"
"Master, I do. The spiritual energy here is abundant; I should break through soon," Yu Zongfan answered decisively.
"I remember Bai Bai has already advanced. Has he reached the second stage?"
Jian Dan waved her fan lightly and continued.
"Yes, thanks to Master's guidance, Bai Bai is now at the second stage. He is currently cultivating in the stone house, so I did not bring him," Yu Zongfan explained.
"Good. Since you have an equal contract with him, his advancement will naturally guide yours. Do not worry; breakthroughs happen in due course."
"Yes."
Yu Zongfan smiled broadly, understanding his master's intention.
Jian Dan turned her gaze to Mao Dou. He straightened his chest and looked at his master with earnest, sparkling eyes.
"Mao Dou, although you have reached the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, because you have not undergone tendon-washing and marrow-cleansing, impurities remain in your body. Do not advance yet; first eliminate the impurities."
"Yes, Master!"
Mao Dou's reply was loud, and after finishing, his face reddened in embarrassment.
Jian Dan smiled faintly and waved her hand, placing a Weighted Ring on Mao Dou's wrists and ankles.
"This is a Weighted Ring to enhance your constitution. Zong Fan has worn one for some time. Ask him if you are unsure. Adapt to it for two days first."
"Thank you for your gift, Master!"
After arranging the next month's cultivation tasks, the two left for the eastern peak full of confidence. With a master's guidance, their diligence would be far more effective. Everything Jian Dan had said today was firmly etched in their minds.
Once they departed, Jian Dan picked up the fragments of the failed jade talisman and murmured to herself,
"Where did it go wrong?"
At that moment, the Mò Xī Sword Spirit, disturbed earlier when she retracted the Primordial Chaos Art sword, suddenly spoke:
"No wonder it broke! That is a purple jade talisman—how could it bear the combined weight of your Mahayana divine consciousness and Primordial Chaos power?"
"Oh, so you mean the container is insufficient?"
"Exactly. You need to enhance it, or just make a normal one that seals three attacks, like the one left by your ancestor."
Jian Dan considered the sword spirit's advice and touched the hidden ornament on her brow.
This ornament had been used once to annihilate the Ma family at the Heavenly Demon Palace. Later, at the Heavenly Sword Sect, she concealed it to avoid revealing her identity. Its material was very special, unlike anything she had seen in the cultivation world.
"You could try fusing the black beetle's carapace with the purple talisman to increase its load-bearing capacity. The carapace is a good choice," the Mò Xī Sword Spirit suggested.
"Yes, that might work. The talisman already contains materials to enhance its load; your idea seems feasible."
"You should have collected black mountain stones in the purple-level secret realm. Try using those," Liu Chuan suddenly advised.
Jian Dan's eyes brightened. How had she forgotten? When she refined the Obsidian Bracelet, she had excavated black mountain stones and secretly stored some in her space.
For the next three days, Jian Dan used her private stash, retreating to her cave.
After refining the black mountain stone with her extraordinary fire, she obtained a thumb-sized essence, identical to the material used for the Obsidian Bracelet.
Jian Dan experimented multiple times, determining the correct ratio. Only a third of a pinky nail's worth of black mountain stone essence could be fused into the purple talisman before it showed signs of collapse.
She immediately stopped, then intensified the extraordinary fire to gradually integrate the essence into the talisman and re-carved the formation patterns.
A purple-black glow flashed. The new talisman was successfully refined.
After reworking the last purple talisman, she obtained two theoretically capable of bearing the sword power of Primordial Chaos Art.
Sealing her attack energy now went smoothly thanks to the success of the previous five. This time, the purple talisman endured the Primordial Chaos Art sword force, sealing it together with her Mahayana divine consciousness.
Satisfied, Jian Dan decided to equip her disciples as soon as possible.
She dispelled the cave's barriers and saw Jin Liuli waiting outside.
"Pay respects, Zūnshàng!"
"Liu Li, is there something from the Operations Hall?"