NABC Chapter 85 Differences
Chapter 85 Differences
Chapter 85 Differences
"To overcome this—"
Cao Wenjing pondered for a moment: "You need to deliberately practice the manipulation of spiritual energy of other attributes during your daily cultivation."
"We don't necessarily need to reach the same level as those who follow the water, but at least we should be able to 'coexist peacefully.'"
"Otherwise, this problem will become increasingly serious as you cultivate to a higher level in the future."
Gu Shenyan listened attentively, secretly making notes in his mind.
"One more."
Cao Wenjing handed him another talisman: "This time, before you mobilize the fire elemental energy, suppress the water elemental energy first."
"It's like—temporarily putting it in a cage to prevent it from causing trouble."
Gu Shenyan did as he was told and tried again.
Put pen to paper.
One stroke, two strokes, three strokes, four strokes —
This time, it held on until the fourth stroke before it got out of control again.
"good!"
Cao Wenjing praised, "That's enough. Go back and practice more."
"Remember, don't rush things."
"In the art of talismans, the most important thing to avoid is being impatient and restless."
He handed the remaining talismans and spirit sand to Gu Shenyan: "Take these; they're enough for your practice."
"With three days, as long as we proceed steadily, completing five Blazing Sun Talismans should not be a problem."
"only----"
Cao Wenjing then changed the subject: "I hope that while you complete the task, you can also take this opportunity to make up for your shortcomings."
"Water and fire are mutually restraining; this is the natural order."
"But if one can achieve harmony between water and fire, that is the mark of a true master."
Do you understand?
Gu Shenyan nodded solemnly: "This disciple understands."
"Go."
Cao Wenjing waved his hand: "Practice hard, don't waste this talent."
"Thank you, senior brother!"
Gu Shenyan bowed deeply before getting up and leaving.
I left the small room and returned to the corridor.
In the distance, Song Qingyuan was leaning against the wall, looking at him with a gloomy face.
The two locked eyes.
Gu Shenyan's expression was indifferent. He casually crossed his arms and walked straight past.
That night.
Inside the west wing, an oil lamp flickered.
Gu Shenyan sat cross-legged on the bed, holding a talisman in his hand.
On the talisman paper was a half-finished blazing sun talisman.
He stared at the strokes, his brow furrowed.
The fire elemental energy is inherently incompatible with his water elemental energy.
To draw the Flaming Sun Talisman, one must simultaneously circulate two opposing spiritual energies within the body.
This feeling is like having water and fire coexisting in one furnace.
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The slightest misstep could result in mutual destruction.
"well----"
He sighed and put down the talisman.
It seems that completing these five Blazing Sun Talismans won't be so easy.
Since fire element is a weakness, we need to find a way to make up for it.
But—how should we fix it?
On the opposite bed, Jia Shouren was already fast asleep.
He was so overwhelmed by the lectures today that he went straight to sleep when he got home and didn't even eat dinner.
Gu Shenyan looked out at the night view and secretly made plans in his mind.
There are three days left, and five Blazing Sun Talismans.
At his current level, he needs to practice more.
The next morning, when Jia Shouren woke up, he saw Gu Shenyan sitting at the table, with dozens of discarded talismans scattered around him.
"Senior Brother Gu—have you not slept all night?"
"Going to sleep."
Gu Shenyan rubbed his eyes: "I just woke up early, so I thought I'd practice a few more times."
Looking at the discarded talismans, Jia Shouren clicked his tongue in amazement: "Senior brother is so diligent, no wonder you've made such rapid progress."
"I—I also need to work hard."
As he spoke, he picked up a talisman and began practicing.
But before he could finish drawing a few strokes, he heard the school bell ringing outside.
The two quickly packed up and headed to the main building.
In fact, Gu Shenyan lied to Jia Shouren; he barely slept a wink last night.
One talisman after another turned into waste paper in his hands, and the spiritual sand stained his fingertips red.
That fiery, restless feeling seemed to burn from the tip of the pen to the heart.
Today, Cao Wenjing was giving a lecture, and halfway through, he asked everyone to practice on the spot.
"Today's practice is the 'Vajra Talisman'."
Cao Wenjing wrote the key points on the blackboard: "This talisman is based on the metal element, so it should be mainly based on the metal element's spiritual energy, supplemented by the earth element's spiritual energy."
"Each of you draw two pieces, and I will comment on them one by one."
Han Sushuang's eyes lit up.
The Vajra Talisman is one of her most skilled talismans!
Her family has a lineage of "Golden Knife Talisman Technique".
Gu Shenyan struggled a bit with the drawing this time.
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He didn't practice metal-elemental spiritual energy much on a regular basis, so he couldn't control it as easily as he could with water-elemental spiritual energy.
A mistake occurred when the first talisman was half-drawn.
Han Sushuang's Vajra Talisman is powerful and vigorous in every stroke, with spiritual energy flowing like clouds and water.
Cao Wenjing walked up to the two of them and first looked at Gu Shenyan's talisman: "Shenyan, this talisman of yours—"
He picked it up and examined it closely: "Although it's finished, the brushwork is a bit rough, and the control of spiritual energy is not skilled enough."
"It seems you still need more practice in the gold trade."
"Yes, I've got it."
Cao Wenjing then looked at Han Sushuang's talisman: "Sushuang's talisman is drawn extremely well."
He nodded approvingly: "The brushwork is vigorous, the spirit flows smoothly, and the artistic conception is also captured perfectly."
"It seems you've put a lot of effort into metal-based talismans."
Han Sushuang finally smiled.
She turned her head and proudly raised her chin at Gu Shenyan.
That expression seemed to say: See? I can always beat you!
Gu Shenyan looked at her smug expression and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.
However, Gu Shenyan's smile quickly faded.
Brother Cao seems to be very busy lately; he leaves the courtyard as soon as he finishes teaching.
As for Senior Sister Shen, she's practically a permanent fixture in the common courtyard; perhaps I should go and ask her for some advice.
He was just waiting to see if the other person, with their obvious favoritism towards Han Sushuang, would seriously give him some pointers.
However, it's never a bad thing to give it a try.
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Without thinking, he took a few failed talismans and went to the outside of the east wing.
Autumn sunlight filters through the gaps in the locust tree leaves, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone slabs.
The light and shadow swayed in the wind, like fish swimming in water or spirits in fire.
He stood in front of the door, raised his hand to knock, but heard two female voices coming from inside.
"Sister Su Shuang, your ice-sealing talisman is exceptionally well-drawn; it already possesses a certain charm."
It was Shen Qingyi's voice, gentle yet full of approval.
"Thank you for your guidance, Sister Qingyi."
Han Sushuang's voice sounded cheerful: "If it weren't for my sister's careful guidance these past few days, I wouldn't have made such rapid progress."
"No, no, it's because you're naturally gifted."
Shen Qingyi smiled and said, "By the way, how did your tasks go this week?"
"We've tried seventeen cards, and two of them worked."
"So fast?"
"Yes, I'm thinking of finishing this sooner so I'll have more time to study other talismans."
As the two were talking, the door was pushed open.
Han Sushuang came out carrying a tea tray, about to help pour tea, when she looked up and saw Gu Shenyan standing outside the door.
The girl was slightly taken aback, and then the smile on her face faded a bit.
"Senior Brother Gu?"
"Senior Sister Han."
Gu Shenyan cupped his hands in greeting: "Is Senior Sister Shen inside? I have some questions about talismans that I would like to ask her."
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