Chapter 57: "The Rune Cloud Technique," Senior Sister Li Yao!

To be honest, Peak Master Yuan Danfeng’s words echoed the thoughts of the other two present as well. Yu Qingsong was considering that, now that the sect had gained a new genius, he ought to entrust him to one of the peak masters for proper guidance.

He had anticipated a fierce competition, the three peak masters each displaying their unique abilities, while Peak Master Yu Wan would remain aloof and indifferent, focused solely on her contemplation of the Golden Core Dao.

Meanwhile, Cao Xuan would showcase his own extraordinary qualities, earning the peak masters’ admiration. In the end, they would pair off accordingly, each disciple choosing the most suitable master, leaving behind a tale of serendipity.

Instead, Yu Wan spoke up, Cao Xuan agreed, and as Peak Master Yuan Danfeng had quipped, it was as if a tortoise and a green bean had met and taken a liking to each other at first sight.

Even now, Yu Qingsong could not fathom what exactly Cao Xuan saw in Yu Wan.

“Could it be because I mentioned that Junior Sister Yu is about to break through to the Golden Core stage, and he thought he could have a Golden Core master?” Yu Qingsong shook his head. That was the only possibility he could imagine.

Yet, in his view, whether Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, a master needed to have the time to teach. Otherwise, what was the point of taking a disciple?

“Well, what’s done is done. Since Cao Xuan has already chosen his master, you two should head back earlier,” he said. “Cultivation is, after all, a personal journey. Cao Xuan managed to break through to Foundation Establishment within three years on his own; perhaps we are overthinking things. With just a little guidance from Junior Sister Yu, he might well become accomplished.”

The two peak masters felt a tinge of regret. At their stage, they only considered taking on disciples who were truly dazzling prodigies; otherwise, they had little inclination to accept apprentices.

“That’s true. Who knows, after Senior Sister Yu breaks through to Golden Core, perhaps she’ll be able to train a Golden Core disciple as well. In that case, Senior Brother, we’ll take our leave,” the two peak masters quickly adjusted their mindsets. Gaining a disciple was fortune, losing one was fate. Mounting their flying artifacts, they departed from the Grand Hall of Azure Clouds.

…

Talisman Peak, one of the five summits of Azure Clouds, stood on the easternmost edge of the Qingyun Mountain Range.

Upon returning to the main peak, inside the peak master’s abode, Yu Wan seized Cao Xuan’s identity token, refined it anew, and tossed it back to him.

“This is the token of a personally taught disciple. As for the three-striped robes, you may collect them yourself,” she said, then handed him a jade slip. “This is our Talisman Peak’s foundational cultivation method, the ‘Runic Cloud Art.’ Study it carefully; if you have any questions, you may ask me.”

Cao Xuan hurried to accept it. “Thank you, Master!”

Yu Wan, about to enter seclusion to attempt her breakthrough to Golden Core, did not wish to waste time. She spoke directly: “Begin your cultivation now. In a year’s time, there will be a Grand Azure Clouds Assembly in the Central State. By then, I may be away for some time.

“Therefore, let us strive to lay your foundation well before I leave.”

Cao Xuan nodded. He too was decisive by nature. He pressed the jade slip to his forehead and began to study.

“The ‘Runic Cloud Art,’ as the name suggests, is a Foundation Establishment technique centered on runes,” Yu Wan explained, transmitting her voice with her true essence into his ears as he studied the method. “Our Talisman Peak specializes in crafting talismans. What are talismans? Runes are the crystallization of the Dao.

“This technique treats the body as the talisman, true essence as the brush, inscribing the human form into a great rune…”

Under Yu Wan’s guidance, Cao Xuan, with his senses sharpened by his recent breakthrough, quickly grasped the essentials of the ‘Runic Cloud Art.’ This method treated the body as the talisman paper, refining runes was the cultivation of the Dao foundation—no wonder it was a top-tier inherited technique.

Yet, Cao Xuan had never crafted a talisman before; in the ways of runes and talismans, he was completely uninitiated.

At that moment, Yu Wan’s pale hand pressed gently to Cao Xuan’s shoulder, and a stream of true essence flowed into his body.

“I will now implant a basic rune into your body. Observe it closely, and attempt to form it yourself with your true essence. When you can condense a rune and circulate it in your dantian, you will have entered the gateway of the ‘Runic Cloud Art.’

“Don’t worry, take your time. I myself took three months to master the basics. You’re new to talismans—if you can manage it within a year, before I leave, that will suffice.”

Yu Wan’s words were both reassuring and subtly pressuring. It was normal not to master it quickly—she herself had taken three months. But that did not mean he should slack off; within a year, he must not fail.

Having finished her instructions, Yu Wan paid no further heed to Cao Xuan, who was already immersed in cultivation, and turned to leave.

Cao Xuan, meanwhile, was completely absorbed in his first experience of Foundation Establishment cultivation. With the aid of his master’s implanted rune, he quickly completed his first full circulation of the ‘Runic Cloud Art,’ converting his former ‘Verdant Wood Technique’ true essence into true Foundation Establishment essence.

…

Before entering seclusion, Yu Wan summoned her most accomplished disciple, Li Yao.

Li Yao, senior sister of Talisman Peak and a representative of Azure Cloud Sect for the upcoming assembly, had reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

She was gentle in appearance, dressed in plain robes. Years spent drawing talismans and reading had lent her an air of the scholarly gentlewoman.

Called before her master, Li Yao respectfully saluted, her manner poised and unflustered. “Master, you summoned your disciple—what are your commands?”

Yu Wan’s usually cold face softened with a trace of delight. Though Cao Xuan was a genius, accepting him had been a sudden impulse. Li Yao, on the other hand, had grown under her watchful eye and was the undisputed future of Talisman Peak.

Over the years, seeing Li Yao’s steady growth, Yu Wan felt that the peak’s legacy would endure. Even if she were to take up the sect master’s mantle and move to Azure Cloud Peak, Talisman Peak’s transmission would not be severed.

By taking Cao Xuan as her last disciple, Yu Wan was also declaring that she would accept no more disciples from now on.

“Yao’er, how goes your cultivation recently? Any difficulties with the ‘Runic Cloud Art’?”

“Master, since achieving mastery in the ‘Runic Cloud Art,’ I have had few doubts, but I have yet to reach perfection and have failed to live up to your expectations.”

Yu Wan’s expression softened into a rare smile. “Once you master the ‘Runic Cloud Art,’ you can begin to nurture a Six-Patterned Golden Core. Perfection is not something to be forced.

“By the way, I have taken on a new junior brother for you today. I’ll entrust you, as senior sister, to arrange suitable lodgings for him on Talisman Peak and guide him in daily matters.”

Li Yao’s eyes flickered with surprise. “Has Junior Brother Jiuping reached Foundation Establishment?”

Yu Wan hesitated briefly but quickly masked her embarrassment. “Not Jiuping. He will have an elder to guide him in the future.

“Your new junior brother is named Cao Xuan. He’s cultivating in the main hall.”

Jiuping, Ding Qing, and Xiao Zhan were considered the three outstanding talents among the younger generation of Talisman Peak, Alchemy Peak, and Exorcism Peak. Each was expected, upon breaking through to Foundation Establishment, to be taken as a personal disciple by their respective peak master.

Hearing that her new junior brother was not Jiuping, Li Yao’s curiosity about Cao Xuan was piqued.

She wondered silently, “Why has Master suddenly accepted an unknown disciple? Could he be a newly emerged talisman prodigy? I must spar with him later and see for myself.

“Coincidentally, I’ve been puzzled by some issues with the return rune method. Perhaps my junior brother will have some fresh insights to offer.”