The Life-and-Death Talisman, in simple terms, was another application of the Tianshan Six Sun Palm. It revolved around the interplay of yin and yang, blending the real with the illusory.
Li Daoqing was not particularly skilled in manipulating yin and yang energy. He was more adept at raw, forceful power. However, his innate talent as a born warrior meant that if he was willing, he could become proficient. Having already cultivated the Tianshan Six Sun Palm to a minor level of mastery, he was capable of using the Life-and-Death Talisman. He condensed water from the void, transforming the yang energy into extreme yin, freezing it into ice. Within this thin ice lay great complexity—how to infuse it with yang force, how to imbue it with yin softness, the proportions of yin and yang, the sequence and quantity—all could be altered at will, truly随心所欲 and ever-changing. Even another practitioner of the Tianshan Six Sun Palm, if unaware of these details, would find it difficult to remove the Life-and-Death Talisman.
There was another point: the quality of one's inner power. Planting the Life-and-Death Talisman ultimately relied on the planter's skill. The higher the quality of their true essence, the harder it was to extract. In other words, if a Grandmaster planted the talisman with their true essence, even a Xiantian realm expert who knew the Tianshan Six Sun Palm and its intricacies could not remove it. The same applied within the Grandmaster realm—the greater the gap in skill, the more impossible the removal. Conversely, if the person afflicted with the talisman was highly adept at yin and yang energy, and their power was comparable in quality, there was a chance they could dissolve it themselves. For instance, if Wu Xingyun planted a Life-and-Death Talisman on a peerless Taoist master, given enough time, there was an 80-90% chance they would remove it on their own. Thus, the Life-and-Death Talisman was far from invincible. Of course, self-removal and removal by others were entirely different scenarios. Therefore, the talisman's utility remained immense. Without comparable power, knowledge of the Tianshan Six Sun Palm, and understanding of its details, it was extremely difficult to extract the Life-and-Death Talisman.
Li Daoqiang, fully aware of this, was already quite satisfied. With his skill planting the talisman, even Wu Xingyun would struggle to remove it without knowing the specifics.
After a moment, Wu Xingyun, who had been watching intently, marveled inwardly. Li Daoqiang had completely mastered the Life-and-Death Talisman. Setting aside everything else, the fact that he had cultivated the Tianshan Six Sun Palm to this level and fully grasped the talisman in such a short time was nothing short of monstrous. In her eyes, Li Daoqiang was indeed a prodigy—the more she learned about him over these days, the more she believed it. This wasn't just about martial arts; it encompassed his conduct, his dealings with others, and more. At such a young age, he saw through the world so clearly and acted flawlessly, almost step by step with calculated precision. He showed almost none of the impulsiveness or recklessness of youth, like a cunning old fox. Even she admitted that, in the same situation, she wouldn't have done better than him. Li Daoqiang was a rare monster, seen perhaps once in decades. Even she sometimes felt a flicker of curiosity: where would this unlikable bastard end up?
Unaware of Wu Xingyun's thoughts, Li Daoqiang's lips curled into a smile. He had truly mastered the Life-and-Death Talisman. Since he had, it was time to test it.
"Summon all Xiantian realm and above in the stronghold to the Assembly Hall," he commanded calmly.
"Yes."
A messenger immediately went to relay the order.
Wu Xingyun gazed deeply at Li Daoqiang, instantly grasping his intent. After a moment's thought, she said seriously, "The Life-and-Death Talisman is a sharp tool. But it can both wound and backfire. If you want to cultivate true loyalty, you cannot rely on it."
Li Daoqiang glanced at her, his smile growing warmer and more gentle. "Thank you for the reminder,童姥."
He understood that Wu Xingyun was offering well-meaning advice. Just as she didn't use the talisman on her own Lingjiu Palace disciples, only on the masters of the Thirty-Six Islands and Seventy-Two Caves, the subtlety of leadership lay in this differential treatment. The Life-and-Death Talisman was far from a panacea; relying solely on it to build a solid organization was impossible. It was merely a supplementary tool.
Wu Xingyun said no more. Her reminder came only because the Carefree Sect was now, to some extent, tied to Li Daoqiang, and she didn't want to see him stumble just yet. She still found him deeply irritating. Talented as he was, he was also greedy for wealth and women, and worst of all, he kept pressuring her. If she had enough power, she'd slap him to death. With a resentful thought, she lifted her chin slightly and looked away.
Li Daoqiang watched the little girl with her hint of petulance and couldn't help but smile. "童姥, come with me to the hall," he said, adjusting his pace to match her small steps and shallow skill as they walked normally.
Wu Xingyun said nothing, just followed.
After a stretch, as if struck by a thought, she couldn't help but say gravely, "The Life-and-Death Talisman works best on cowards and the unfilial, like Ding Chunqiu."
"Heh." Li Daoqiang chuckled but said nothing.
Wu Xingyun stared at his back, growing anxious. What did that laugh mean? Her small face flushed with impatience and anger, and she glared at his back. After a moment, she couldn't hold back and snapped, "Ding Chunqiu will betray you the moment he gets a chance. He's skilled in poison, and the harm he could cause far exceeds that of an ordinary Grandmaster. Why on earth do you keep him around?"
"Heh heh." Li Daoqiang let out two soft laughs, unruffled. "童姥 really wants to know?"
"Of course," Wu Xingyun perked up.
"Heh, a dog that listens, knows how to please its master, and has some skill—that's not easy to find," Li Daoqiang said with a faint, almost resigned chuckle.
Wu Xingyun was speechless. As she was about to retort, his light laugh sounded again. "Alright, these aren't things for you to worry about,童姥. Focus on recovering your power and finding a way to break through to the peerless level—that's what should concern you."
Wu Xingyun's gaze turned cold, and she snorted inwardly. Was that a warning? She cursed him silently a few times, glaring fiercely at his back.
Li Daoqiang felt it but paid it no mind. This unruly little girl had that kind of temperament; it wasn't worth getting angry over. As long as she didn't truly offend him, he could overlook such minor flaws.
Soon, they arrived at the Assembly Hall. Present were all the Xiantian realm experts and the three Grandmasters in the stronghold, except for a few like Wang Yuyan—over seventy people in total. It was clear that the Black Dragon Stronghold had developed rapidly over the past year.
"Greetings, Chief!"
Everyone bowed in unison.
Li Daoqiang sat down, wearing a hearty smile. "Brothers, no need for formalities."
Once they straightened up, he continued, "Today, I've learned a technique from童姥 called the Life-and-Death Talisman. I'll demonstrate it for everyone and add it to the stronghold's penal code."
At his words, those who knew of the talisman paled. Those who didn't frowned and glanced at Wu Xingyun. Wu Xingyun cursed inwardly: *Li Daoqiang, you bastard, dragging me into this and making me take the blame! Shameless scoundrel!* Her small face flushed with anger, but she couldn't refute him.
"Ding Chunqiu, come here," Li Daoqiang said, ignoring the crowd's reactions.
Ding Chunqiu, who had been keeping his head down at the mention of the talisman, trembled. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. The next moment, he dropped to his knees, terrified. "Chief, I am utterly loyal to you!"
"I know you're loyal, which is why I'm having you demonstrate for the other brothers," Li Daoqiang said warmly, his tone full of trust.
The others exchanged odd looks, some unable to suppress a smile. Even Wu Xingyun felt a bit of satisfaction, watching Ding Chunqiu with schadenfreude.
Ding Chunqiu's face stiffened, a flicker of struggle crossing it.
"You're unwilling?" Li Daoqiang asked with a smile, his eyes carrying a calm, almost crushing authority.
Ding Chunqiu shuddered, fear overwhelming his anger and impulse. He lowered his head. "No, I am willing."
"Good, willing is fine. Don't overthink it—I trust your loyalty. I'm just using you as an example to show everyone the talisman's effects, so they'll better follow the rules," Li Daoqiang said earnestly, without a hint of shame.
With that, several thin ice shards appeared in his hand and shot into Ding Chunqiu's body. Everyone watched intently. Those who knew of the talisman, like Duan Yanqing, trembled with wariness and concern.
A few breaths later, Ding Chunqiu began to writhe, scratching himself frantically. The scratching grew more violent and desperate. "Ah! Chief, I am loyal! Please remove the talisman! It itches! It hurts!" At first, he tried to maintain some composure, but soon he lost all restraint, screaming in agony as his power surged. Yet the moment it erupted, an overwhelming force suppressed it, leaving the hall undamaged.
Ding Chunqiu rolled on the ground, his twisted, pained expression chilling nearly everyone present. A Grandmaster, reduced to this in moments? What was this Life-and-Death Talisman?
As if reading their thoughts, Li Daoqiang said calmly, "This is童姥's unique skill. Once activated, the itching and pain worsen daily for eighty-one days, then gradually subside. After another eighty-one days, it intensifies again, cycling endlessly without respite. It leaves one unable to live or die, their fate beyond their control—hence the name Life-and-Death Talisman. Ding Chunqiu is just at the start. With me as the caster, only I can remove it in this world, not even童姥."
His flat voice echoed through the hall, making almost everyone shiver with cold. Even Ding Dian and Lü Tengkong frowned with concern, glancing at Wu Xingyun's grim face.
"Of course, brothers, rest assured. From now on, this punishment will only apply to those who break the rules. As long as you don't err, you'll never face the talisman. Ding Chunqiu here is just an example. Keep him in mind as a cautionary tale to avoid mistakes. Understood?"
At his words, the crowd's anxiety eased. Some even felt pity and amusement for Ding Chunqiu. He really had drawn the short straw. Of course, everyone knew the real reason wasn't what Li Daoqiang said—it was punishment and a display of distrust.
(Chapter 3, requesting subscriptions.)