The Talisman’s Waning Light

1,133 words

Han Li, while controlling the flying gray light in actual combat, discovered that although the gray light formed by the talisman under the “Telekinetic Art” was incredibly sharp, capable of cutting through almost anything and following his gestures to attack enemies, its use still came with significant limitations.

First, driving this gray light consumed far too much magic power!

A cultivator like Han Li, who had cultivated the Eternal Spring Art to the eighth layer, could cast a full-powered Fireball Technique over a hundred times in succession. But when driving the gray light, his magic power would be completely drained after a mere quarter of an hour.

Thinking back, it became clear why the Brilliant Gold Elder hadn’t used the gray light from the very beginning. His magic power was simply too limited; the time he could sustain the talisman was probably pitifully short.

This also explained why, when Han Li had seized the item, the resistance he faced had been so weak. The opponent had likely already expended most of his magic power driving the gray light beforehand. When he then encountered Han Li, who had far more magic power and was a fresh force, the dwarf naturally collapsed and was easily overcome.

Besides this, another weakness of the gray light was that its range for attacking was limited. The gray light could only be controlled freely within a twenty-zhang radius centered on Han Li. Beyond that range, it would become sluggish and rigid, sometimes failing completely. When it flew more than thirty zhang away, the gray light would fully revert to its original talisman form and fall to the ground.

If these first two shortcomings were something Han Li believed would gradually improve as his magic power advanced, then the final problem was a fatal flaw inherent in the talisman itself.

After using the talisman a few times, Han Li noticed that the cold, gleaming light of the small gray sword drawn on the talisman paper was slowly weakening with each use, as if its lifespan was gradually shortening. This meant the talisman had a limited number of uses and a time limit. Once those uses were exhausted, it would be the day the talisman lost all its spiritual nature and reached its end.

This was one of the reasons Han Li, after barely learning to control the gray light, immediately stopped practicing. After all, he wanted to save such a powerful tool for critical moments. It was possible this item might save his life during some future crisis.

By the same logic, Han Li believed the gold talisman that transformed into a golden light shield likely had similar limitations. However, since he didn’t yet know the incantation to use it, he simply stored it away safely for later use.

As for the triangular token and that Qin family genealogy book, Han Li had studied them during his rest but had made no gains.

And so, on the fifth day, just as Han Li took down his “Not Seeing Visitors” sign, Li Feiyu came bounding in. As soon as he saw Han Li, he began recounting the rumors about Han Li being a demon in human form.

Hearing these wild rumors, Han Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He could only put on a stern face and glare at Li Feiyu, watching his friend mock him without the slightest restraint.

Li Feiyu finally stopped laughing. He slowly suppressed his grin and began speaking to Han Li in a serious tone. “You’ve probably guessed why I’m here, haven’t you?”

“Hmm, isn’t it just that those big shots are feeling uneasy about me and sent you to probe my stance?” Han Li said casually, his tone indifferent.

“Hehe, you know it well.” Li Feiyu let out a long sigh of relief, as if a great burden had been lifted.

“But, how do you expect this good friend of yours to report back to those fellows? You know, to win me over, they’ve already promised to make me the official hall master of the Outer Blade Hall.” Li Feiyu then put on his cheeky grin again.

Han Li furrowed his brow. After thinking for a moment, he murmured softly to himself, “It seems I’ll have to meet with Sect Leader Wang and the others to clear things up. Otherwise, they won’t be at ease.”

“Here’s the plan. You go back and tell Sect Leader Wang that I will personally visit him on Sunset Peak at noon tomorrow. Tell him not to worry.” Han Li said with a faint smile.

“Alright! With those words, I can make my report.” Li Feiyu shrugged, looking noncommittal.

After that, Han Li and Li Feiyu chatted idly for a while. Han Li even gave his friend an up-close demonstration of the Fireball Technique, which left Li Feiyu envious for quite some time.

Shortly after, Li Feiyu took his leave and departed the valley, heading back to report to Wang Juechu and the others.

Han Li stood in the doorway, staring at Li Feiyu’s fading figure. He was lost in thought for a long moment. Then, suddenly, he smiled a mysterious smile. Seeming quite pleased, he went back inside and closed the door.

The next morning, just as the first light of dawn was breaking, Li Feiyu stealthily made his way up Sunset Peak. He then quietly slipped into Sect Leader Wang’s room.

When Wang Juechu woke up and saw a straight, rigid figure standing by his bed, the look on his face turned as ugly as it could possibly be. But he still forced out a smile and asked, somewhat unnaturally:

“Why has Doctor Han arrived so early? Please forgive me for not coming out to welcome you. But… weren’t we supposed to meet at noon? Why have you come at this hour?”

Han Li gave the sect leader a cold glare. This single look made Wang Juechu’s hair stand on end, and his face stung as if it were being cut by a knife.

Seeing the flicker of terror in the other man’s eyes, Han Li felt a hint of satisfaction. That look he had given the sect leader was a special effect he could produce by using the Celestial Eye Technique. It was a new application of the technique he had discovered while researching it a few days ago: using the celestial eye to inflict mental intimidation on ordinary people, unsettling their hearts and minds. It was somewhat similar to the legendary martial art known as the “Soul-Enticing Art.”

“Nothing much. I just suddenly felt that coming in the morning might mean everyone’s mind is a bit clearer, and less likely to do anything that would make the other party unhappy.” Han Li’s face showed no discernible expression, but his tone seemed a bit unfriendly.

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Reading Guide Decoding

Calculated Paranoia and a Dawn Power Play

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

Talismans in Xianxia

This chapter offers a fantastic, grounded look at one of xianxia’s most iconic items: the talisman. Forget the fancy spells; a talisman is essentially a pre-cast ‘magic in a bottle’. A powerful cultivator can inscribe a spell onto a piece of paper, infusing it with their own energy. A lesser cultivator (or even a mortal with enough qi) can then activate it, unleashing a power far beyond their own capability. Han Li’s analysis highlights a crucial trope: talismans are not infinite. They are consumables, a finite resource that must be used wisely. This reinforces the Dark Forest logic of the ‘Mortal Stream’—even a god-tier treasure is just another resource to be managed and hoarded with paranoia. The concept of a talisman's "spirit" fading aligns with the Daoist idea that all things, even man-made objects, possess a form of life force or spiritual nature that can be depleted.

The Celestial Eye Technique

Han Li’s repurposing of the Celestial Eye Technique (天眼术) is a brilliant bit of tactical innovation. In its basic form, this is a perception spell, allowing a cultivator to see the flow of spiritual energy. But as Han Li demonstrates, a skilled practitioner can weaponize even a harmless technique. By channeling his spiritual sense through it, he can project his presence with such intensity that it becomes a physical and mental assault on a mortal. This is a classic xianxia trope—the “aura of power” or “spiritual pressure” used by high-level cultivators to dominate lower beings. It’s not a real technique; it’s just the sheer weight of one’s existence being forced through a narrow lens, a chilling indication of the absolute gap between the mortal and the transcendent.

Chapter Overview

Alright, fellow Daoists, buckle up. This chapter is a masterclass in applied paranoia. Our boy Han Li has spent days poking and prodding his shiny new toy—the stolen talisman—and he’s come to a chilling conclusion: all treasures have a shelf life. He’s not just hoarding power; he’s counting the seconds until his ultimate trump card turns to dust. Meanwhile, the mortal leaders of the Seven Mysteries Sect are getting very nervous about the demonic physician in their midst. They send their cat’s-paw, our old friend Li Feiyu, to probe Han Li’s intentions. But they’re playing chess against a grandmaster. Han Li’s response is a brilliant two-step: promise a meeting at noon, then show up at dawn to rattle the cage and establish dominance before negotiations even begin. It’s a short but dense chapter that shifts the power dynamic in the valley completely.

Key Plot Points

The Talisman’s Hidden Cost: Through systematic analysis, Han Li identifies three harsh limitations to his gray-light talisman: (1) It drains his magic power rapidly, lasting only a quarter of an hour. (2) It’s ineffective beyond a twenty-zhang range. (3) Most critically, its spiritual light is fading with each use, indicating a finite lifespan. This forces him to treat it as a consumable trump card, not a reliable main weapon.
Li Feiyu’s Errand: Li Feiyu arrives to deliver a message from the sect leadership, who are deeply unsettled by Han Li’s recent display of power. They want to gauge his intentions and have promised to reward Li Feiyu for his service, a clear attempt to use a friend as a lever.
The Strategic Commitment: Han Li agrees to a meeting, setting it for noon the next day. This seems like a concession, a sign that he’s willing to play ball with the sect’s hierarchy.
The Preemptive Strike: Breaking his own promise, Han Li infiltrates Wang Juechu’s bedroom at dawn. The chapter ends with him using the Celestial Eye Technique, which he’s weaponized into a form of “Soul-Enticing Art,” to psychically intimidate the sect leader, flipping the script from being the one who is judged to being the one who passes judgment.

Reading Guide

This chapter is a pure delight for those who love the strategic, paranoid heart of the ‘Mortal Stream’. Pay close attention to how Han Li’s mind works. He doesn’t just use a treasure; he dispassionately evaluates its cost, range, and lifespan. He is a master of asset management. Also, watch his social strategy. Promising a noon meeting and arriving at dawn is a classic power move. He expects the sect to be prepared and on guard; by arriving early, he catches them off-balance, in their most vulnerable state. The Celestial Eye Technique trick is the final brushstroke—he doesn’t negotiate; he intimidates. He forces the conversation to start from a position of his own strength. This chapter highlights that in the cultivation world, the mind is often a more potent weapon than any glowing sword. Get ready to see how that intimidation pays off.