I have a composite mirror

Chapter 55 The Power of Rubbing

Bai Cailing thought for a moment:

"You must remember that talisman masters are different from ordinary practitioners of magic."

She extended her slender finger and gently tapped the table:

"Ordinary people only know that talisman masters can inscribe various high-level talismans with the power of ghosts and gods."

"It can exorcise evil spirits, command wind and thunder, and is capable of anything."

"But what they don't know is..."

Bai Cailing lowered her voice:

"Talisman masters possess another skill that others cannot match."

"What skills do you have?"

"Make a rubbing of the Destiny Fire Diagram."

Gu Shenyan was startled.

He was making a copy of the Life Fire Diagram, but he had forgotten that talisman masters also had this skill.

Without the diagram of life fire, one cannot sense the true meaning of the life fire of demons;

If one cannot sense the true meaning of the life fire, one cannot transform it into one's own.

In other words, the Life Fire Diagram is the foundation of a cultivator's spiritual path.

"Those who can make a copy of the Life Fire Diagram can be called 'Palm Technique'."

Bai Cailing slowly said:

"The one who controls the technique holds the lifeline of the cultivators of magic."

"Think about it, who would dare to slight someone like him?"

Gu Shenyan nodded silently, but was secretly making plans in his heart.

In his previous life, he had read many fantasy novels.

In those novels, alchemy, talismanic arts, and weapon crafting are collectively referred to as the three major auxiliary arts.

Among them, alchemy is the most prestigious, while talismanic arts are often at the bottom, only slightly better than other minor arts.

After all, alchemy can enhance cultivation, and magical artifacts forged through weapon crafting can increase combat power; they are not disposable items like talismans.

But in this world... because of the existence of the Life Fire Diagram, the status of the talismanic arts has subtly surpassed that of alchemy and weapon crafting!

This was something he hadn't anticipated.

However… he looked at his hands.

All of this is predicated on you being a certified talisman master.

An apprentice has no say in anything.

In short

Bai Cailing stood up and walked to the window:

"For the next two months, focus on your cultivation."

"In the art of talismans, talent is certainly important, but diligence is equally indispensable."

Gu Shenyan nodded solemnly:

"Don't worry, senior, I understand."

………………

After three rounds of tea, the sun gradually rose higher.

Bai Cailing got up and saw the two out.

Be careful what you say.

As she was leaving, she looked at Gu Shenyan, her eyes full of expectation:

"Cultivate diligently and strive to condense your spirit core as soon as possible."

"We're counting on you for our trip to Yunmengze."

Gu Shenyan nodded solemnly:

"Don't worry, senior, I won't let you down."

Bai Cailing smiled and then turned to Gu Shenwei:

"Weiwei, come visit me often when you have time."

"The dim sum at this teahouse is quite good; I'll treat you again next time."

Gu Shenwei gave a polite curtsy.

"Thank you, Sister Bai."

………………

The vintage car started up again and slowly drove away from the teahouse.

Outside the car window, the street scenes of the provincial capital slowly passed by.

Gu Shenyan leaned back in his seat, his mind still replaying Bai Cailing's words.

The Xuanzheng Division recruits, inducts disciples, and forges magical realms...

These pieces of information, when combined, both excited him and put him under some pressure.

He was to become an apprentice two months later.

The time I have left for myself is truly running out.

He subconsciously touched the several pairs of sharp claws and two inner cores hidden in his sleeve, secretly making plans in his mind.

I'll try to synthesize these materials using the Tri-Element Mirror when I get back.

If we can combine them to create something good, it will definitely be helpful for our spiritual practice.

Only after getting off the bus and returning to his small courtyard did he turn to look at Shen Wei, who had remained silent the whole time.

"Weiwei," he asked softly, "is there something wrong with those things?"

Shen Wei pursed her lips, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.

She remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking:

"Brother, those things... have markings on them."

"mark?"

"Mm." Shen Wei nodded.

"A very uncomfortable mark, like...like someone deliberately tampered with it."

Gu Shenyan's heart skipped a beat:

"You can tell?"

"Only I can tell." Shen Wei's voice was very soft:

"The mark was very well hidden. If I hadn't been born with the ability to see auras, I probably wouldn't have been able to detect it."

"Although Senior Sister Bai also knows the art of observing qi, it is something she has cultivated later in life, unlike my innate ability."

"When she judges people, she mostly looks at the strength of their aura and the level of their cultivation."

"These subtle markings hidden deep within the material might not catch her eye."

Gu Shenyan suddenly realized.

The art of observing qi is something that everyone can learn.

However, the innate ability to observe auras is a rare find among millions of people.

My sister's eyes can see things that ordinary aura-gazing techniques cannot.

This is the difference between innate and acquired qualities.

She paused, then continued:

"Those marked things have a strange aura, like they've planted some kind of hidden weapon."

"I was worried that something might happen if Sister Bai kept holding onto them, so I asked you to buy them all and get rid of them."

Gu Shenyan frowned:

"Why not say it to my face?"

Gu Shenwei simply lowered her head and whispered:

"Firstly, if I were to say such things to your face, it might damage the harmony."

"My brother now needs to rely on Sister Bai, and I don't want to ruin his future because of my loose tongue."

She raised her head, her eyes clear as water:

"Secondly, no matter how good Sister Bai is, she is ultimately not part of our family."

"I only trust my brother. Only my brother is the one who truly cares about me and our family."

As Gu Shenyan listened to his sister's words, a warm feeling welled up in his heart, but at the same time, he felt a little bittersweet.

This young girl, only fifteen years old, may seem delicate, but she is remarkably insightful.

She knows what she should say and what she shouldn't say.

Knowing how to protect yourself and your family in this treacherous world.

"But," Gu Shenyan asked again, "..."

How do you know I can handle those tags?

Shen Wei blinked, a sly smile appearing on her face:

"Because my brother has many secrets."

"Although I don't know what those secrets are, I know that my brother will definitely have a way."

She spoke as if it were the simplest truth in the world.

Gu Shenyan was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

He gently ruffled his sister's hair and said softly:

"Don't worry, your brother will handle it."

But a cloud of doubt hung over his mind.

Who tampered with the spoils?

Is it someone from the demon-hunting team?

Or was the water monkey itself carrying some kind of curse?

These questions are currently unknown.

But at least for now, he already has these things in his hands.

He touched the brocade pouch in his bosom, pondering what to do with it.

Those four pairs of sharp claws make up the three elements, and there are also two inner cores.

I'll try refining it later; maybe I'll get some unexpected results.

As for those markings, the Three-Element Mirror will remove all impurities.

No matter what kind of underhanded tactics are used, once they enter the Three Elements Mirror's [Storage], they are like a mud ox sinking into the sea, unable to cause even the slightest ripple.

………………

As night deepened, Gu Shenyan closed the door tightly and then blocked the doorway with a chair.

He took out the brocade pouch from his bosom and laid out its contents one by one on the table:

Four pairs of jet-black claws, and two inner cores gleaming with a ghostly blue light.

These things, though they came from the lowest level of vengeful demons.

But for him now, it can be considered a considerable gain.

The Three-Element Mirror Appears:

[Items suitable for crafting detected]

【Water Monkey Claws (Common Grade, Superior) x 4 pairs】

[Water Monkey Inner Core (Spiritual Grade, Lower Level) x2]

The claws were as thick as a finger, with sharp tips that could easily cut through flesh, and a layer of water glistened on their surface.

Detailed information about the claws appeared on the Three Elements Mirror:

Water monkey paws

[Rank: Common, Superior]

[Nature: Water monkeys use these claws to hunt fishermen; the claws contain cold, damp energy that can corrode flesh.]

[Efficacy: Auxiliary material for weapon crafting, raw material for drug production]

[Note: This item carries a faint demonic aura; prolonged contact will corrupt the mind and spirit.]

[WARNING: An abnormal marker has been detected. Refining to remove it is recommended.]

Sure enough, there were markings.

Gu Shenyan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he felt even more awe for his sister's ability to read auras.

She recognized it at a glance, something that even the Three Elements Mirror required special guidance on.

Since there were four pairs, he selected three pairs of claws and prepared to synthesize them.

I've been drawing talismans every day for over a week, which has helped me accumulate some green energy.

Although most of the source energy was used for [aiding cultivation], there was still some left over, which was just enough to synthesize this batch of spoils.

As he made his selection, the three squares on the mirror simultaneously emitted a deep blue light.

The light condensed into a vortex in the air.

Strange sounds emanated from the vortex.

It's like water washing over rocks, or like sharp claws slicing through bones.