Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

Gu Fuzi repeated it twice in a low voice, nodding repeatedly, his gaze returning to the seal.

It's as if you want to etch the essence of this seal into the depths of your soul, completely unaware of the passage of time.

Until Chen Jiao coughed lightly and gently reminded him:

"Master, the four instruments are ready. May we continue the contest?"

Gu Fuzi was startled, as if waking from a dream. A rare hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, and he quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"I apologize for my rudeness, sir. Please, please!"

He stepped back two paces, his eyes growing even brighter as he stared intently at Chen Jiao's every move.

This newly formed seal is already incredibly profound, yet the attributes of the brush, inkstone, and ruler still clash with his fiery intent and restrain each other.

Gu Fuzi could hardly imagine how he would manage to unify these four distinct and even conflicting spiritual energies within a single stroke of a pen and a talisman.

Master Shouyue led Songyan and Song'an to the side, holding their breath and concentrating, afraid that the slightest movement would disturb this rare demonstration of talismanic arts.

Chen Jiao took the seal and stood behind the large wooden table.

His gaze calmly swept over the Azure Dragon Swallowing Clouds Inkstone, the Frost and Wind Small Awl, the Black Tortoise Paperweight, and the newly formed Crimson Heaven Heart Fire Seal in his palm, all arranged in order on the table.

He took a piece of talisman paper that was dark yellow in color and of uniform texture, and gently laid it on the table.

This paper's color corresponds to the virtue of Earth, which is embodied in the idea of ​​"great virtue sustaining all things." It represents the most balanced and harmonious nature, serving as the foundation for the convergence of all kinds of inspirations.

Immediately, Chen Jiao picked up the Xuan Yuan paperweight.

The ruler fell silently, yet it felt as if the weight of a deep, dark palace had descended upon it, causing the table to sink almost imperceptibly.

The black turtle pattern on the ruler seemed to have a flowing dark light, and a calm, serene, and nourishing water-like aura spread out.

It silently smoothed out the subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy within the talisman itself, and also quietly stabilized the chaotic aura that might have arisen from the convergence of various objects.

This is the true meaning of the character "镇" (zhen): using the gentleness and resilience of water to stabilize the mind and spirit.

As soon as the paperweight fell, Chen Jiao picked up the silvery-white, icy-cold wind and frost awl in his right hand.

The brush tip hangs about an inch above the blue dragon swallowing clouds inkstone.

As if sensing something, the blue dragon in the inkstone moved a little faster, raised its head towards the hanging brush tip, and leisurely exhaled a small wisp of milky white, mellow cloud.

The mist touched the tip of the brush and the snow-white bristles, but instead of dispersing, it seeped into the tip of the brush in wisps.

The originally silvery-white brush tip gradually took on a warm, jade-like, and subtly golden bluish-white luster.

Before the brushstrokes are even fully executed, the sharp, restrained metallic energy has already quietly merged with the ever-flowing, vibrant spirit of water and wood within the inkstone.

Chen Jiao held the Danxiao Heartfire Seal in his left hand, with the bottom of the seal facing upwards, and did not rush to bring it down.

He lowered his eyes slightly, and gently exhaled a long breath towards the brush in his hand and the talisman paper on the table.

It's not about breathing fire, but about harmonizing the body's energy and establishing a profound connection with the objects on the table.

"Buzz..."

The four objects on the table, along with the yellow talisman, all emitted a very slight tremor.

The green dragon of wood nourishes the brush tip with its growth and the clouds of water; the tiger hair of metal conceals its sharpness within its moisture, outlining the essence of the brush; the black turtle of water calms and settles the foundation, stabilizing the mind.

And all the convergence, flow, and generation of things, the pivot and manifestation of which all return to the true seal of the heart fire in the palm.

With the four elements initially formed, although their energies differed, they achieved a balance under the brilliant influence of Chen Jiao and the Heart Fire Seal.

With the element of fire at the center, it governs the other three elements, subtly aligning with the profound principle of the rotation of the four elements.

With his brush tip fully dipped in ink, Chen Jiao suspended his wrist and began to write.

On the yellow paper, the talisman lines meandered.

The four elements rotate, driving the generation and restraint of the five elements.

Earth-based yellow paper, water-based ruler to set the scene, wood-like spirit ink to grow, and metal-based brushstrokes to break through obstacles.

And what ultimately unites everything is...

It is that undying flame of the heart.

Gu Fuzi was already mesmerized by the sight, his hands unconsciously clenching tightly.

The three of them, including Shouyue, were deeply shocked, as if they were witnessing a completely different manifestation of the Dao.

In a short while, Chen Jiao put down his pen, and the Danxiao Heart Fire Seal in his left hand landed at the opportune moment.

"Imperial Edict!"

The inscription "Crimson Sky Edict, All Fires Return to Truth" instantly resonated with the brushstrokes of the talisman.

The entire talisman trembled slightly, and then all the spiritual light of the four colors—blue, white, black, and red—converged inward and disappeared into the talisman.

Chen Jiao gently lifted the talisman and smiled slightly at the ancient talisman:

"Master, I have not failed you."

Gu Fuzi could no longer contain himself. He took a step forward and bent down to examine it closely.

His eyes were sharp, his fingertips hovering above the talisman, trembling slightly, yet he dared not touch it lightly, for fear of disturbing its delicate balance.

The flowing lines are not rigid and dull; upon closer inspection, one can see various shades of blue, white, black, and red subtly appearing and disappearing in the depths of the lines, creating a sense of endless vitality.

How could he not recognize the shape of this talisman?

This is the "Xuandu Qingping Youling Talisman," commonly used in Taoism for protecting the home, purifying the atmosphere, and resisting external evils and internal disturbances.

This talisman is widely circulated, but it is not considered a particularly profound talisman. The method of drawing it is so advanced that even an ancient talisman maker could draw more than a dozen variations with his eyes closed.

But this one in front of me...

Gu Fuzi unconsciously held his breath.

He had been immersed in the art of talismans for a long time and had seen countless [Xuandu Qingping Youling Talismans].

There are those who are magnificent and upright, those who are meticulous and resilient, and those who are exceptionally responsive, but I have never seen one like this before.

The talisman is still the same talisman, its shape and strokes are all correct.

However, the underlying meaning is completely different.

Ordinary talismans emphasize balance and harmony, with a continuous flow of energy, using pure and spiritual energy to cleanse impurities.

The one in my hand, however, possesses a complex yet unified aura, with the growth and nourishment of wood, the sharpness and purification of metal, and the tranquility and cleansing of water.

And all of this was ultimately governed by a blazing and noble inner fire.

"This...this is no longer an ordinary Qingping Talisman..."

Gu Fuzi muttered to himself, his voice dry and filled with shock and fascination.

"Using conflict as fuel, transforming generation and restraint into rhythm, governing the four spirits, and subtly conforming to the five elements."

This is clearly... using symbols to convey the Dao!

Gu Fuzi closed his eyes for a long time, his chest rising and falling slightly, as if calming the turbulent waves churning in his heart.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, and all the expressions on his face turned solemn.

He bowed deeply to Chen Jiao with utmost solemnity and said in a deep voice:

"Fellow Daoist, I have lost. I am completely convinced."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiao simply smiled and nodded.

The three of them, including Master Shouyue, relaxed and showed their delight.

Song Yan's eyes sparkled with wonder, as if he was desperately trying to memorize and digest all the mysteries he had just witnessed.

Song An couldn't help but chuckle softly, his face beaming with pride.

However, Gu Fuzi continued speaking.

He straightened up, his gaze still fixed on the talisman, and spoke again, pleading:

"This talisman is extraordinary and far surpasses the ordinary [Xuandu Qingping Youling Talisman]."

I wonder... if you, fellow Daoist, would be willing to part with it?

He paused, as if considering his words, but ultimately spoke frankly and directly:

"I wish to hang it in the pavilion and study it day and night."

In my opinion, this talisman is no less valuable than a living explanation of the Dao of Talismans.

The principles it contains—"achieving harmony through conflict" and "governing the way of Heaven with humanity"—are ones I will study thoroughly for a hundred years.

The latest chapter is packed with exciting plot twists! Come check it out!