Between the Tongtian Lu and the Taishang Sanwu Dugong Jinglu, Qingshui chose to examine the latter first.
The Tongtian Lu represents the pinnacle of a single individual's achievement in the art of talismans. However, without a strong foundation—without even knowing how to draw a simple talisman—the Tongtian Lu would be completely useless.
The copy of the Taishang Sanwu Dugong Jinglu that the Old Heavenly Master gave him contained much more content and was far more detailed than what circulated publicly.
Talisman magic was just one important part of it; rituals, altar setup, and spell casting were also included.
This was because, according to standard procedures, one needed to master these elements to draw talismans.
Even non-Anomalous Humans could draw some common talismans, such as those for warding off evil from residences, attracting wealth from the five directions, ensuring peace and safety, or improving luck, as long as they were Daoists who had achieved proficiency in inner cultivation.
These were all eighth or ninth-grade talismans. If the person drawing them lacked sufficient cultivation, they might have no effect even if drawn. However, if a truly skilled master performed the ritual, even these lower-grade talismans could yield excellent results.
Steps like setting up altars, performing rituals, blessing, and consecrating could all increase the success rate and power of drawing talismans.
Only the sixth and seventh-grade talismans, which came next, were truly applicable in combat.
Generally speaking, at this level, the aforementioned steps became mandatory. Otherwise, if one suffered a backlash, not only would all efforts be wasted, but in mild cases, one's spirit would be damaged, and in severe cases, one's cultivation would be harmed, requiring a period of recuperation to recover.
Even the time and location could have an impact.
The very first talisman recorded in the Taishang Sanwu Dugong Jinglu, the Taishang Zhengyi Tongzi Yijiangjun Lu, required that its "Qi respond to the first month's festival, on the day of Xu, governing Yangping, and the beginning of spring forty-five days after the winter solstice."
Only highly skilled masters in the art of talismans, or those with special inheritances, could, at their discretion, reduce some of the steps involved.
However, even the Maoshan Shangqing sect, which was most adept at drawing talismans, would require at least several hours to draw one such talisman.
As for the fourth and fifth-grade talismans, or even those above the third-grade, they would only be more difficult and more intricate.
Naturally, their power would also be greater.
But with the Tongtian Lu, one could draw talismans without setting up an altar, without paper or pen, using Qi as ink, drawing in the void, fearless of backlash, all in one go.
That's why Zhang Zhiwei said that Lu Jin could scatter precious talismans, which major sects regarded as treasures, like beans.
This was because those high-grade talismans, especially those above the third-grade, were considered sect-founding treasures in smaller sects. Even the three major talisman sects didn't have many in stock; each one was incredibly precious and could be considered part of a sect's heritage.
If the Celestial Master's Mansion were ever truly attacked, then these Daoist masters could kowtow a few times before the ancestral shrine, then take down the spiritual talismans offered during morning prayers before the divine statues, and let the enemy witness what true sectarian heritage was.
Like now.
Quansheng attacking the mountain!
"First edict, Qian trigram commands heavenly soldiers! Second edict, Kun trigram slays evil spirits! Third edict, Zhen thunder shakes heavenly soldiers! Fourth edict, Li fire burns evil demons!"
Qingshui watched with his own eyes as a chubby, big-nosed young Daoist, shaking a bell in his left hand and holding a talisman in his right, moving with a gait similar to Yu Gang's steps, incinerated several Quansheng demons into charcoal.
"My sins, my sins. May the Three Pure Ones above forgive me. Your disciple has broken the precepts and killed today."
The chubby Daoist, Yexing, looked at the corpses on the ground and repeatedly confessed his sins.
"Professor Zhuo, Master Yue, there are demons invading Longhu Mountain. As guests, please take shelter."
"It's fine, Daoist Yexing. May I ask where Elder Tian is?"
"You two are..."
"It's fine. I just received the Taishang Sanwu Dugong Jinglu from the Old Heavenly Master, and I have some questions I'd like to ask Elder Tian. I can also help keep an eye on the elder."
"Boundless Heavenly Venerable. Then we shall trouble you two, masters. Martial Uncle Tian is currently in the northern room of the West Courtyard in the back mountain."
Bidding farewell to Daoist Yexing, the two quickly set off again.
However, Longhu Mountain tonight was truly in chaos.
Although these Quansheng attackers were disorganized in their command, their objective was very clear. They were quite familiar with the internal terrain and personnel distribution of Longhu Mountain, clearly indicating an inside informant.
Some more important locations, such as the Myriad Law Altar and the Jade Emperor Hall, were guarded by Celestial Master's Mansion experts, which, conversely, created openings elsewhere.
At least, Qingshui and Yue Qian encountered many Quansheng members along their way.
However, most of these individuals couldn't withstand Yue Qian's few sword Qi attacks, which were fused with military malevolence.
Current Yue Qian still had some gap compared to Lu Jin, Lu Ci, and the Two Heroes, but he was certainly not inferior to experts like Huang Ninger, who was at the passing line for the Ten Elders.
However, they also encountered formidable opponents.
"Hua'er! Are you alright!"
Lu Linglong and Zhijinhua stood back to back, warily watching a group of Quansheng members who had surrounded them.
The leader was a cold-faced, slightly aged middle-aged man.
It was the Quansheng Corpse Demon, Tu Junfang.
He was the only surviving inheritor of the Anlu Three Demons Sect and one of the most top-tier experts in Quansheng, second only to Ding Daoan. He could directly contend with Tang Miaoxing, the head of the Tangmen, without showing any weakness, fully on par with some of the older generation of powerhouses.
This was an expert who, by himself, earned the name of "Three Corpses" and was as famous as the four members of the Four Madmen.
However, he wasn't making a move yet, instead acting as if he were holding the line, watching several hooligan-like Quansheng members besiege Lu Linglong and Zhijinhua.
"That guy is... Zhuo Qingshui?"
"Is he the one who got the Tongtian Lu?"
"Don't provoke him. He's not just a simple Anomalous Human World person. If we dare to harm a single hair on him, we'll definitely be finished. Tomorrow, there will be a large-scale crackdown, cleansing all of Quansheng."
Most Quansheng members didn't want to provoke Qingshui.
Even if they were desperate outlaws, they were outlaws with brains.
But some people scoffed.
"What's there to be afraid of? We just don't hurt him, right?"
A stout man, clutching a long needle, spat.
"Hey, you, Professor Zhuo, you're a man of culture. I won't hurt you, just give me the Tongtian…"
"*Whoosh!*"
A sword qi, infused with a murderous aura, shot out, flying towards the stout man.
However, the man parried the attack with his steel needle, blocking Yue Qian's strike.
The steel needle snapped, and the stout man narrowly dodged the blow.
"Oh?"
Yue Qian looked at the stout man, quite surprised.
To be able to take his blow and escape unscathed, this stout man was quite skilled in the Anomalous Human World.
Tu Junfang's eyes narrowed.
This person was very strong; he wasn't very confident of winning.
"Brother Yue, let's finish this quickly."
Qingshui silently donned the Platinum, revealing over a dozen muzzles, with the glow of an energy cannon shining in his palms.
Seeing this, everyone remembered how Zhang Lingyu, after activating Filthy Thunder, lost at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony.
He was crushed and defeated with overwhelming force.
And among the Quansheng members present, except for Tu Junfang, no one dared to claim they were Zhang Lingyu's match.
The young girl Lu Linglong's eyes lit up.
"A-Hua, let's go too!"
However, Lu Linglong and Zhijinhua didn't even get a chance to act.
Sword qi crisscrossed, and artillery fire erupted.
In just a moment, dismembered limbs lay scattered everywhere.
Except for Tu Junfang.
The moment Qingshui made his move, this Corpse Demon decisively abandoned his teammates, retreating under the cover of his Three Corpses.
He wasn't interested in bothering Longhu Mountain, and joining Quansheng was only for the convenience of finding the last lost inheritance of the Three Demons Sect's Triple Corpse Decapitation. He had no desire to get involved with Qingshui and his group.
Because that would mean that whether it was Nadou Tong or other national powers, they would all come looking for trouble with him.
"Professor Zhuo, Senior Yue, thank you!"
Lu Linglong, with Zhijinhua by her side, gave a proper salute to Qingshui and Yue Qian.
"It's nothing."
Qingshui waved his hand.
Zhijinhua's lips moved slightly, as if she was about to say something, but suddenly, an extremely powerful yet wild Qi erupted from the distant forest.
"This Qi is… Grand-uncle?"
Lu Linglong looked towards the distant forest, a hint of worry in her beautiful big eyes.
Qingshui also turned his gaze there.
From childhood to old age, most of the time Old Man Lu made a move, he ended up getting beaten. But at this current point in time, Lu Jin's strength was comparable to Lu Ci and others, placing him in the first echelon below the Old Heavenly Master, who was a BUG-level figure.
The centuries of cultivation of these old monsters were no joke; their methods and experience had reached an extremely high level. Strictly speaking, in the era before Zhang Zhiwei, they were only half a step away from what was considered the absolute peak.
Lu Jin, who had fallen into madness after being ambushed and trapped by the Four Madmen of Quansheng, seemed to be someone no one could easily handle, except for the Old Heavenly Master.
If it were other old fellows like Lu Ci or Wang Ai, setting aside whether they had methods similar to the Heart Purifying Divine Incantation, even if they did, in the same scenario, even if they were willing, they would lose at least half their life, if not all of it.
Speaking of which, the Old Heavenly Master and Zhang Chulan would also soon interrupt the Heavenly Master's Degree.
And once the Heavenly Master appeared, and it was confirmed he had been lured away…
Thoughts raced through Qingshui's mind.
"Brother Yue, faster. This time, I'll clear the path."
Qingshui actively controlled the Platinum, setting off again, at full power, pushing forward all the way.
Lu Linglong and Zhijinhua, watching the two leave: …
"A-Hua, what do we do next…"
"The Lu Family Head's situation isn't something we can interfere with. Let's go help the others now!"
…
…
Longhu Mountain, Celestial Master's Mansion, back mountain, west courtyard, north room.
*CRACK!*
A crisp sound echoed as a young Daoist acolyte collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
"Xiaoyu, you…"
Tian Jinzhong stared in disbelief at the other acolyte, who stood with his back to him, head turned slightly, the one who had served him for nearly a year.
"I've been here for three years, and I've grown quite fond of you, and of Longhu Mountain, after all."
The acolyte turned his head slightly to look at Tian Jinzhong, then turned his body.
"Gong Qing, acting head of Quansheng, greets Elder Tian."
Tian Jinzhong's eyes were bloodshot, but he remained silent.
"To uncover the truth behind the former head Wugensheng's defection from Quansheng, I specifically stayed at Longhu Mountain for three years. I spent two years gaining your trust, and another year observing. That's how I learned why you've diligently cultivated quiet meditation for decades, never daring to sleep. It's because you truly know something, and these matters relate both to Wugensheng and to Zhang Huaiyi, who, after becoming sworn brothers with Wugensheng, together created the Eight Unique Skills."
Gong Qing looked at Tian Jinzhong, who was as unyielding as a stubborn rock and refused to speak. He then pushed open the door.
Standing outside the door was a young man with yellow, bowl-cut hair.
Lu Liang.
"It doesn't matter if you don't speak."
Gong Qing took out the Ghost Gate Needle, inherited from Bi Yuan.
"Grand-master Tian, you haven't closed your eyes in seventy years. The least Xiaoyuzi can do for you is to help you sleep…"
*BANG!*
The courtyard wall was instantly blasted open.
Tian Jinzhong couldn't help but turn to look.
Surely, Quansheng wouldn't have reached this far, would they?
This was the heart of the Celestial Master's Mansion. Even Gong Qing, as an insider, and Lu Liang, whom he brought in, wouldn't dare cause such a huge commotion here.
So, the person who came was…
"Oh, Elder Tian, it seems I arrived just in time!"
Qingshui's voice emerged from the Platinum Puppet, and its cannons instantly aimed in unison at Lu Liang and Gong Qing.
Yue Qian held a blood-stained military knife, following closely at Qingshui's side.
Gong Qing: …
If I put down the Ghost Gate Needle now and go back to being Xiaoyuzi, is it still not too late?
Lu Liang's forehead was dripping with cold sweat.
He was in a slightly better position than Gong Qing.
The latter was the acting head of Quansheng, who had orchestrated Quansheng's attack on Longhu Mountain and infiltrated the Celestial Master's Mansion for three years, nearly killing Tian Jinzhong—the only surviving grand-master of Zhang Zhiwei's generation in the Celestial Master's Mansion. He was as good as dead.
Lu Liang actually quite wanted to die too.
Because he was afraid of falling into the hands of his great-grandfather, Lu Ci.
For the sake of the Lu Family's bloodline, Lu Ci would surely protect him, but his life from then on would surely be completely ruined.
Given Lu Ci's methods, Lu Liang couldn't even imagine what his future fate would be.
Of course, he and Gong Qing could try to resist. While Gong Qing's position as acting head of Quansheng was largely due to his intellect and ability to exploit situations, his actual strength was not weak.
Among such a band of desperadoes as Quansheng, if Gong Qing were weak, he wouldn't have survived as acting head until now.
But they had already witnessed Professor Zhuo Qingshui's strength at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, and with Yue Qian, who was clearly a master from the military, they truly didn't stand much of a chance.
"Professor Zhuo, Major Yue, thank you both."
Tian Jinzhong let out a sigh of relief.
Though he wasn't afraid of death, if he didn't have to die, who would want to?
"You're too kind. I've just received the Taishang Sanwu Dugong Jinglu from the Old Heavenly Master, and I happen to have many questions I'd like to ask you. What a coincidence that I arrived just in time."
"Haha, Dugong Lu? That's easy to say. Even if you wanted the Five Thunder Lu, my senior brother would have to pass it on to you."
"No need for that. The Old Heavenly Master said I can seek the Three Caves Five Thunder Lu myself at Longhu Mountain in the future."
"Oh?"
Tian Jinzhong was a little surprised.
What exactly did this young man discuss with his senior brother?
Even now, at Longhu Mountain, fewer than five people have access to the Three Caves Five Thunder Lu.
It seemed his senior brother thought highly of, no, valued this young man's influence.
Qingshui smiled faintly, looking at Lu Liang and Gong Qing, who had been knocked unconscious by Yue Qian's two slaps.
With this, the Celestial Master's Mansion now owed him another great favor.
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