Chapter 47: Fire Transformation Talisman

Chapter 47 – Fire Transformation Talisman

The technique Elder Chen bestowed upon Xiao Chen was called the Fire Transformation Talisman.

Unlike ordinary fire-avoidance techniques, this one didn’t directly shield cultivators from flames. Instead, practitioners had to first cultivate a mana-infused talisman using the specified heart sutra, storing it within their chest cavity.

When fire energy entered the body, the talisman would automatically absorb it, condensing the flames into strands of mystic fire for storage, protecting the heart’s vital energy. If the talisman became full or needed for combat, the practitioner could form a hand seal to release it, unleashing all stored mystic fire at once.

Mastered well, it could both defend the user and serve as an offensive technique.

Of course, as a Yellow Tier Spell, it had two major flaws.

First, once released, the talisman couldn’t be reclaimed—it had to be recreated entirely from scratch, consuming fresh mana. This made it a last-resort trump card rather than a common attack technique.

Second, its fire storage capacity was extremely limited. Beginners could hold only ten strands of mystic fire, minor mastery allowed a hundred, and even grand mastery maxed out at a thousand.

Elder Chen had specifically warned Xiao Chen to reach at least minor mastery in the Fire Transformation Talisman before entering the Yan Chi Secret Realm, where surging flames would otherwise overwhelm him.

Normally, a Yellow Tier Spell took ten to fifteen days just to master the basics. Achieving minor mastery would take at least a year or two, while grand mastery required decades of dedicated practice to perfect.

Initially, Elder Chen had thought three months too short, but after witnessing Xiao Chen’s exceptional cultivation aptitude and multiple Awakenings, he decided to let him try.

This was why Elder Chen had felt so pleased when Xiao Chen decisively chose the yellow-rank cultivation manual.

Yet, after only a day of practice, by the morning of the third lunar day, Xiao Chen had already succeeded in condensing a talisman under the Hex’s enhancement, completing the foundational stage.

He then went to his familiar riverside beach, donned his defensive robe, and summoned a fire raven to spit flames at a distance. Slowly approaching the fire, he absorbed its energy at the edges to test the talisman’s storage capacity.

As expected, after a full day of burning, the talisman had absorbed over fifty strands of mystic fire—barely half its capacity.

“Sigh, what a shame. If only I had ten talismans, each holding ten times as much,” Xiao Chen mused aloud, his lips curving upward despite his feigned lament.

“Fire Transformation Talisman, activate!”

With a soft cry, the talisman shot from his chest cavity, instantly expanding dozens of times in size before unleashing a torrent of mystic fire.

The temperature skyrocketed, causing pebbles below to crackle and pop from the heat.

The attack’s power neared that of the Toxic Raven’s Black Flame, ten times stronger than a basic fireball technique. Though its range was smaller, focused directly ahead, its intensity slightly surpassed the former.

This talisman had contained only half its maximum capacity of mystic fire. If filled to a hundred strands, its power would easily eclipse the Toxic Raven’s Black Flame, becoming a true killer move.

And this was merely the foundational stage. At minor mastery, its potency would increase tenfold.

“If I ever reach grand mastery, I might rival a Foundation Builder’s strike,” Xiao Chen mused, his spirits rising. He immediately sat in meditation to reform the talisman.

Already familiar with the process, the new talisman settled steadily into his chest cavity within an hour.

“Next few days—finish using the remaining spirit herbs, then pause pill forging,” he planned. “Before the March secret realm opens, focus entirely on the Fire Transformation Talisman to reach minor mastery.”

Suddenly, he paused mid-thought. “Huh. When did I become such a fire specialist?”

Between the Luo Tian Xuan Fire Crow and the Fire Transformation Talisman, both were fire-attribute techniques.

“If only I had a fire spirit root,” he sighed. Cultivators with matching spirit roots could enhance elemental techniques by up to ten percent potency and learn them more easily.

Reminding himself, he added, “Need to find some wood-attribute techniques later to leverage my strengths.”

Cultivation manuals wouldn’t come knocking, but he could seek them out.

“The eighth day of the lunar month is coming soon. I’ll check the Black Market then.”

Yet on the eighth, after spending over two hours circling the southwest hills near Niu Village, he found only tree stumps and no sign of anyone.

“Could it be the New Year?” Shrugging, he decided, “I’ll check again on the twenty-third.”

Before leaving, a black-robed figure approached, eyeing him curiously.

“Are you from Quanzhou?” the stranger rasped.

Xiao Chen waved him off. “Wrong person. Just resting. Farewell.”

The man hesitated, then walked away.

Passing through Niu Village, Xiao Chen encountered several burly figures in black masks hurrying southwest—their destination was clearly the Black Market.

Not a good sign. It seemed many Black Market Tokens had changed hands.

“By the twenty-third, it’ll probably be locals only,” he thought, silently wishing his Quanzhou peers luck. “Hope you stay safe.”

Though he’d ventured out on the eighth, he still refined a batch of Nourishing Qi Pills that afternoon, yielding nine pills—steady progress.

He maintained his pace, refining twice daily without fail. By the morning of the fifteenth lunar day, the final batch was complete.

Thanks to growing proficiency, this batch achieved a ninety-five percent success rate. Including the bonus pills from the “buy one get one free” deal, Xiao Chen now had thirty-eight bottles of Nourishing Qi Pills.

“Perfect. With two and a half months left, time should be enough.”

After packing away his pill furnace, he headed to the riverside beach at the Foot of the Mountain—to catch some fresh air and practice the Luo Tian Xuan Fire Crow.

“Boom!”

Jet-black flames evaporated massive plumes of steam, showing no sign of rustiness—only improvement.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

After half a month of stifling pill refining, he let loose, unleashing Toxic Raven’s Black Flame repeatedly until his mana dropped by half.

With a long exhale, he sighed in satisfaction.

While he felt refreshed, the river’s fish suffered—over a dozen resting in the weeds were suddenly blasted skyward.

Luckily, he’d brought a bamboo basket.

“This one’s only lost its tail—still edible.”

“This one’s charred inside—beyond saving.”

He salvaged two large fish and a few lightly singed ones. After slicing off the burnt parts with his Evergreen Sword, he’d make them into fish balls to substitute for tangyuan dumplings.

“This Evergreen Sword cuts fish well—sharp, bloodless, and meat-free,” he remarked, pleased.

“Dong! Dong! Dong!”

As he busied himself cooking, a knock echoed from the outer sect.

“Senior Brother Xiao Chen, Happy Lantern Festival! Want to see the lantern fair together?”

He recognized Su Wanning’s voice instantly.

Curious, he wondered, “Why’s she here again?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end