Dapeng's Time Travel Life

Chapter 154 Advancement in Talismanic Arts and Undercurrents

After successfully drawing the basic defensive talisman, Zhang Peng did not become complacent. Instead, he quickly immersed himself in the study of more complex talismans. Every day, he would rise before dawn and head to the Talisman Pavilion, wandering among the old-fashioned bookshelves, searching for rare and precious books on the art of talismans. The yellowed pages turned under his fingertips; he pondered every obscure rune and every ancient annotation repeatedly, not overlooking any detail.

Creating talismans is no easy task, especially drawing advanced ones, which requires extremely high levels of control over spiritual energy and mental focus. Zhang Peng repeatedly encountered setbacks when drawing intermediate-level attack talismans. Once, he had completed most of the talisman, but just as he was infusing the final crucial amount of spiritual energy, his concentration wavered slightly, and the talisman instantly burst into flames, rendering all his previous efforts futile. Gazing at the talisman reduced to ashes, Zhang Peng was filled with resentment, but this also ignited his fighting spirit.

To enhance his mental strength, Zhang Peng began practicing a technique called "Concentration Technique." This technique requires a tranquil place, freeing oneself from all distractions and focusing solely on the circulation of one's own spiritual energy. He found a secluded cave behind the Qingfeng Sect and secluded himself for daily cultivation. Initially, even the slightest sound from the outside world would disturb him, making it difficult to concentrate. However, with daily persistence, he gradually became able to immerse himself in his own world of spiritual energy, feeling it flow like a gentle stream through his meridians, gathering at his fingertips, becoming purer and more controllable.

As his mental strength improved, Zhang Peng's success rate in drawing talismans increased significantly. He began to try drawing talismans with special effects, such as the "Bewitching Talisman" which could interfere with an opponent's spiritual perception, and the "Spirit-Locking Talisman" which could temporarily seal an opponent's spiritual power. Every time he successfully drew a new talisman, he would repeatedly study its spiritual power fluctuations and rune structure, thinking about how to further optimize it.

Meanwhile, beneath the seemingly calm surface of Qingfeng Sect, undercurrents were surging. Some disciples were envious of Zhang Peng's rapid progress in alchemy and talisman-making. Among them was a disciple named Zhao Yu, who usually considered himself quite talented and was somewhat famous within the sect, but faced with Zhang Peng's dazzling performance, he was filled with resentment.

"Zhang Peng is just lucky. In such a short time, he's been refining pills and making talismans. Who knows if he used any improper means?" Zhao Yu said sourly at a disciple gathering.

While the other disciples didn't echo his sentiments, some nodded in agreement. These rumors quickly reached Zhang Peng's ears, but he merely smiled faintly, paying them no heed. In his view, improving his own strength and protecting the cultivation world were paramount; he had no need to concern himself with others' baseless speculations.

However, Zhao Yu did not give up. He learned that Zhang Peng was attempting to draw an extremely rare "barrier-breaking talisman," which could break ordinary restrictive spells. Zhao Yu saw this as a good opportunity to suppress Zhang Peng, so while Zhang Peng was in seclusion drawing the talisman, he secretly sneaked into his room, attempting to destroy the talisman paper and materials he had prepared.

Just as Zhao Yu was searching through the materials, Zhang Peng returned from his seclusion. Seeing the unusual situation in the room, his heart tightened, and he immediately realized someone had broken in. He quietly concealed his presence and hid by the door to observe. When he saw Zhao Yu, a surge of anger welled up inside Zhang Peng, but he quickly calmed down and decided to turn the tables.

Zhang Peng deliberately made a noise at the door, startling Zhao Yu, who hurriedly hid the talisman behind his back. Zhang Peng entered the room, his cold gaze landing on Zhao Yu: "Zhao Yu, what are you doing in my room?"

Zhao Yu forced himself to remain calm: "I... I was just passing by and saw that your door was open, so I came in to take a look."

Zhang Peng sneered: "Is that so? Then what are you hiding behind you?"

Zhao Yu turned pale and remained silent. Ultimately, Zhao Yu's actions were reported to the elders. The elders were furious and severely punished him. After this incident, no one in the sect dared to easily provoke Zhang Peng again, and Zhang Peng was able to continue his studies of talismanic arts in peace, striving towards higher realms.