To comprehend all laws and attain immortality

Beneath the blooming peach tree, Gu Fan closed his eyes and calmly read the information in the jade slip.

According to "An Introduction to the Way of Talismans", the so-called Way of Talismans is the way to achieve the effects of magic through talismans.

If Taoist script is the explanation of the "principle" of Taoist methods, then talismans are the "application" of Taoist methods.

When a cultivator casts a spell, they need to consume mana, and the attributes of the spell they cast are also limited by their spiritual root.

When practicing spells that do not match one's spiritual root attribute, if the spell is of an attribute that is compatible with one's spiritual root, it can be cast with difficulty, but if the spell is of an attribute that is incompatible with one's spiritual root, it is absolutely impossible.

For example, Gu Fan himself could manipulate flames with ease, but he could never unleash a single water-based spell.

Unless one has profound cultivation and can simulate the corresponding magical attributes through cultivation, one can be unrestricted, but this is limited to low-level spells; simulating high-level spells is still impossible.

But the way of talismans is different.

By drawing specific runes on talisman paper, the corresponding magical effects can be achieved, without being limited by the user's spiritual root attributes.

Moreover, when using the talisman, only a trace of magic power is needed to activate it, and the cultivator does not need to expend any magic power.

These two characteristics make talismans extremely important in magical duels; a talisman used unexpectedly can often reverse the course of a battle.

With such remarkable effects, the creation of the talisman naturally comes at a price.

First, you need talisman paper as a carrier. Low-level talisman paper is basically pressed from spirit herb pulp, while higher-level talisman paper is made from spirit tree bark or demon beast skin.

Secondly, there is the talisman ink used to draw runes, which is usually made from the blood of demonic beasts. The Lingxiao Sect has a Spirit Beast Peak, which raises many spirit beasts, and it is one of the sources of talisman ink.

Finally, there is the talisman pen, used to transmit and guide magical power. A good talisman pen can greatly increase the success rate of drawing talismans.

Of course, these things are still quite far from Gu Fan's reach.

In the Lingxiao Sect, exchanging a talisman pen requires fifteen merit points, while in the market it costs at least two hundred spirit stones, neither of which he can afford.

What he can do now is to understand and memorize each of the runes in the "Introduction to the Dao of Runes," just as he did when he first learned the Daoist scripture, until he has a clear understanding of them.

The book "Introduction to the Way of Talismans" also records the drawing methods of more than ten kinds of first-grade low-level spirit talismans, such as the Light Body Talisman, Water Shield Talisman, and Fireball Talisman, as well as a few mid-grade spirit talismans.

Gu Fan activated his Myriad Manifestations Eye and saw that the runes in the talisman were twisted and connected, forming a stable loop through which spiritual energy flowed continuously.

"It seems these loops are the fundamental reason why the talisman can unleash spells."

......

Shenji Peak, Tiangong Pavilion.

Several days later, Gu Fan set foot here again.

Tang Yuan was arguing with a burly, dark-faced young man about something.

"I told you long ago, you can't forge red copper unless you're at the second level of Qi Refining. If you don't want to, go look somewhere else!" Tang Yuan said to the dark-faced youth in an annoyed tone.

The dark-faced youth muttered a few words of dissatisfaction, then reluctantly walked through the stone gate and headed into the mountainside.

Tang Yuan snorted dismissively, turned his head, and immediately saw Gu Fan's figure. After sensing Gu Fan's cultivation level, his eyes lit up.

"It's only been a few days, and Junior Brother has actually broken through to the second level of Qi Refining! Congratulations!" Tang Yuan's expression changed in an instant, and he smiled and cupped his hands to Gu Fan.

Tang Yuan was not surprised by Gu Fan's breakthrough in cultivation, simply assuming that he had used all his merits to buy pills.

Gu Fan naturally wouldn't tell him about the fact that they were practicing two different cultivation techniques together.

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Gu Fan returned the greeting with a cupped hand and asked directly, "I heard you say that those at the second level of Qi Refining can do more good deeds and miscellaneous tasks. Please give me some guidance."

Tang Yuan was pleased with Gu Fan's attitude and nodded, saying, "Of course, of course."

"The spiritual material that can be forged at the second level of Qi Refining is called Red Copper. You can gain one merit by forging twenty pieces."

"To control the earth's flames to forge red copper requires far more mana than black iron. If one stops halfway due to insufficient mana, a piece of red copper ore will be ruined. Therefore, only those at the second level of Qi Refining can forge it."

At this point, Tang Yuan angrily curled his lip towards the defensive line where the dark-faced youth had disappeared: "That guy just now, relying on his strength and power, wanted to forge red copper at the first level of Qi Refining. He was simply delusional."

Gu Fan nodded slightly, understanding why the two had argued earlier.

"In that case, from today onwards, I will begin forging red copper," Gu Fan said.

Tang Yuan naturally wouldn't object, and led Gu Fan down the mountainside to find a quiet room.

The layout of the quiet room is exactly the same as that of the plaza in the mountainside, except that the number of dragon head stone carvings has increased to eight.

"The temperature required to smelt red copper is even higher, requiring at least two layers of earth flames. I imagine that with your fire control skills, junior brother, it won't be a problem. From now on, this quiet room will be allocated to your use. I won't disturb you any longer."

After speaking, Tang Yuan handed a storage bag to Gu Fan, which contained dozens of pieces of raw copper ore.

"Take care, senior brother."

Gu Fan responded, and after Tang Yuan left, he took out a fist-sized piece of red copper ore, which was dark red in color and had a metallic luster on its surface.

Gu Fan had already memorized the method of forging red copper when he listened to lectures at Shenji Peak. He casually placed the ore on the forging table, raised his hand and made a hand seal, and immediately the two dragon head stone carvings sprayed out raging earth flames.

After the flames erupted, they seemed to be drawn by a force field, transforming into more than two hundred strands that enveloped the ore.

A quarter of an hour, a quarter of an hour later, the copper ore softened after being scorched for three quarters of an hour. Upon seeing this, Gu Fan immediately swung his iron hammer and smashed it down.

The crisp, tinkling sound echoed in the quiet room. When Gu Fan stopped, the fist-sized piece of red copper had shrunk by half.

Gu Fan stopped the flames and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Forging just a piece of red copper had consumed nearly half of his magical power.

This is because Gu Fan cultivates a high-grade technique and has abundant magical power. If he were to cultivate a low-grade technique, he would exhaust his magical power just by forging one piece.

After adjusting his breathing, Gu Fan simply took off his clothes and, shirtless, threw himself back into the forging process.

As evening fell, Gu Fan steered his white jade boat, seemingly floating above the sunset, calculating his gains in his mind.

After a day of forging, five pieces of red copper were finally obtained.

At this rate, one can gain some merit in four days, which is faster than before.

......

Spring flowers quietly withered, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.

When Gu Fan stepped into Fengxian Hall again, his aloof Uncle Zhao was still holding a Taoist book, looking as if he were studying it diligently.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle. I wish to exchange for some items," Gu Fan said, stepping forward and bowing.

Uncle Zhao seemed to have given up on the Taoist book in his hand. He sighed, shook his head, put the book into his sleeve, and then raised his head.

"What do you want to exchange?" Uncle Zhao asked impatiently.

"Uh... this disciple would like to exchange for a talisman pen, a stack of talisman paper, and a bottle of talisman ink."

"A talisman brush costs 15 merits, ordinary talisman paper costs 1 merit, premium talisman paper costs 2 merits, ordinary talisman ink costs 1 merit, and premium talisman ink costs 2 merits." Uncle Zhao recited the prices like a menu, with an attitude of "take it or leave it."

"I want the cheapest ones!" Gu Fan said without hesitation.