Chapter 243 - 236: The Scheme Comes to Nothing, a 1-Person Secret Realm

Chapter 243: Chapter 236: The Scheme Comes to Nothing, a 1-Person Secret Realm

Talismans are typically single-use, disposable items, but the Dao Talisman was different.

The Dao Talisman was a Talisman, but if it had been a disposable item, it never would have ended up in its current predicament.

The Dao Talisman didn’t know how it had come into being. It only knew that it had once been an ordinary, reusable Talisman.

It was not the only one of its kind.

Though few in number, reusable Talismans did exist.

However, "reusable" did not mean "infinitely usable."

Generally, even reusable Talismans would break down after a certain number of uses.

But the Dao Talisman had been continuously repaired by the Cultivators who possessed it. Through various means, its rank was slowly elevated during this process.

Then, one day, in the hands of the Sect Leader of the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect, it gave birth to a Talisman Spirit, similar to an Artifact Spirit.

After becoming a Talisman Spirit, its rate of advancement was not the least bit slow; its rank continued to rise steadily.

Eventually, it not only advanced to become a sixth-rank Talisman Treasure but also underwent three Minor Celestial Tribulations, its state approaching Perfection.

Like a human, it was now capable of ascending to the Upper Realm.

But the successive Sect Leaders of the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect, unwilling to lose it, had long ago named it the Dao Talisman and made it their sect-suppressing treasure.

Even when it revealed its desire to ascend to the Upper Realm, the Sect Leaders of the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect had no intention of letting it go. Instead, they placed more and more restraints upon it.

Realizing it was impossible to get these human Cultivators to let it go, the Dao Talisman stopped mentioning ascension and began to secretly plot its own escape.

Over twenty thousand years ago, the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect faced an unprecedented crisis.

Left with no other choice, the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect decided to execute a long-conceived plan: to transform the entire sect into a massive Secret Realm.

This would resolve the sect’s crisis.

The Dao Talisman, which had long been preparing, made its move at the very instant the sect was transforming into a giant Secret Realm.

It had long been bound by layers of restrictions, unable to act against the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect directly.

But by using the moment the sect was traversing space during its transformation, the Dao Talisman secretly struck, destroying the protective Array.

As a result, every single disciple of the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect—from the Sect Leader and elders down to the ordinary disciples—was sucked into spatial turbulence. None were spared.

Of the entire Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect, only the Dao Talisman remained.

It took the Dao Talisman some time, but it eventually gained control over the entire sect’s Secret Realm.

However, the various shackles placed upon it by the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect remained. It was not yet free.

With no other option, the Dao Talisman could only open the Daoist Talisman Holy Land Secret Realm time and time again, using the power of outside Cultivators to slowly weaken its shackles.

But this came at a price.

Because an accident had occurred before the Secret Realm had even fully formed.

Unlike other Secret Realms, the Daoist Talisman Holy Land Secret Realm couldn’t perform self-maintenance or replenish its energy.

Each time the Dao Talisman opened it, it was effectively consuming the Secret Realm’s lifespan.

To the Dao Talisman’s despair, the number of times the Daoist Talisman Holy Land Secret Realm could be opened was nearly depleted, yet it still hadn’t managed to remove all the restrictions placed upon it by the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect.

Having no other choice, the Dao Talisman decided to save the last one or two openings. It would stop opening the realm and instead spend a long time researching, trying to weaken its shackles as much as possible before opening the Secret Realm again to guide Cultivators in to help it regain its freedom.

Five thousand years passed in this way.

The Dao Talisman still hadn’t reached a point where it could regain its freedom.

But a small boon transmitted to it from the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower’s Crossing the Tribulation sent a tremor through its soul.

It understood almost instantly that the mysterious Talisman inheritance contained within this boon held unimaginable benefits for it.

If it could obtain this inheritance, not only could it easily cast off the shackles of the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect, but it could also achieve a further breakthrough and become a "True Spirit."

The Dao Talisman decided on the spot to make the Daoist Talisman Holy Land Secret Realm manifest in the world, scattering a vast number of keys to the realm.

It made certain that the young man with the deepest causal link to the Ten Thousand Dao Scripture Tower would receive a key to enter.

However, only after making the Daoist Talisman Holy Land manifest again did the Dao Talisman discover something else.

The lifespan of the Daoist Talisman Holy Land was nearly at its end.

This Secret Realm, created by the human Cultivators of this world, couldn’t compare to true Secret Realms.

Without the maintenance of human Cultivators, its lifespan was surprisingly short.

The Dao Talisman had originally considered this a mere attempt, but now it was no longer an attempt. It was a necessity.

Otherwise, in a few hundred years, it would be destroyed along with the Daoist Talisman Holy Land Secret Realm.

Because of this, the Dao Talisman couldn’t afford to hold back.

It would use any means necessary to obtain that special Talisman inheritance.

In terms of results, its plan was almost a perfect success.

After more than a decade, these human Cultivators were completely under its control.

All it had to do was find the Talisman inheritance it craved within their Seas of Consciousness.

It hadn’t killed these Cultivators to obtain it because the Dao Talisman still needed them.

It needed them to carry it out of the Daoist Talisman Holy Land, take it to the human Cultivation Realm, and ascend to the Upper Realm.

"Not this one."

"This isn’t it, either."

Faint yellow threads of light emanated from the Dao Talisman, landing on one human Cultivator after another.

Its consciousness entered their Seas of Consciousness, one by one, observing the Talisman inheritances they had learned.

Without the Cultivators’ permission, their Seas of Consciousness were already wide open to the Dao Talisman.

"This is it! That’s right! It’s in this person’s Sea of Consciousness!"

"Hahaha, I’m finally going to be free!"

Upon entering Jiang Zuo’s Sea of Consciousness, before it could probe deeply, the Dao Talisman felt an aura up ahead that made its very soul tremble.

It hurried forward and saw several pieces of paper, like sheets of a Talisman, floating in the Sea of Consciousness ahead.

On those papers was the special power it needed!

The Dao Talisman flew over and tore them all down, intending to take them all away.

But the moment it tore them down, the Dao Talisman froze.

After tearing down the Talismans, a strange stele stood erect in the center of the Sea of Consciousness ahead.

A strong sense of foreboding washed over it, and the Dao Talisman hastily tried to retreat.

It had what it wanted. It was on the verge of regaining its freedom.

But a flash of light burst from the Mysterious Stele.

The Dao Talisman’s consciousness was instantly flooded with white light.

’Is it... going to die here, just like this?’

This thought flashed through its mind just before its consciousness completely vanished.

And then, the Dao Talisman’s consciousness vanished from Jiang Zuo’s Sea of Consciousness without a trace.

"Sigh."

Jiang Zuo slowly opened his eyes and let out a sigh.

In the grand hall, the other Cultivators had yet to regain consciousness, still standing blankly in place.

Jiang Zuo walked forward and took the Dao Talisman, which was floating silently in the air.

’I can’t believe a Talisman was behind all this.’

’A sentient Talisman... that’s unheard of.’

’I wonder how much this Talisman had to do with the disappearance of the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect.’

However, the Dao Talisman’s consciousness had been utterly destroyed by the Mysterious Stele. As curious as Jiang Zuo was, there was no way for him to find out.

If he could have, Jiang Zuo would have wanted to preserve the Dao Talisman’s consciousness.

Unfortunately, the Mysterious Stele was still completely beyond his control.

He could only lure the Dao Talisman close to the Mysterious Stele and trigger its attack.

"This Talisman really is the spirit of the Secret Realm? Holding it, I’ve actually gained the authority to control the Secret Realm!" Jiang Zuo exclaimed in astonishment, holding the Dao Talisman.

’But this Secret Realm’s lifespan is nearly depleted?’

’It originally had several hundred years left, but after all the Dao Talisman’s meddling, there are only a few decades remaining at most.’

Jiang Zuo sighed after closing his eyes and learning more about the Daoist Talisman Holy Land Secret Realm.

The Dao Talisman had made many alterations to the Secret Realm, especially to its rules, and the price was a drastic reduction in the realm’s lifespan.

’I should send everyone out first. Otherwise, it will be difficult to explain things when they wake up.’

’I’ll figure out what to do next later.’

With a single thought, Jiang Zuo used his new authority to send the Cultivators out of the Secret Realm, one by one.

In the blink of an eye, all the Cultivators in the hall were gone.

Jiang Zuo was about to use his authority to check if any other Cultivators remained in the Secret Realm.

But he didn’t need to search. A figure emerged from the side of the hall.

It was Bai Ling.

Jiang Zuo’s eyes narrowed.

’This Demoness... it seems she really does have some kind of inexplicable connection to the spirit of this Secret Realm.’

"Who exactly are you? Why were the Dao Talisman’s methods ineffective on you?"

"I know for a fact that you absorbed a vast amount of the Talisman inheritance, just like the other Cultivators."

"Of all the Cultivators here, you should have been the last one to come out unscathed."

Bai Ling stared at Jiang Zuo, her eyes filled with deep confusion.

"If you’re fine, why can’t I be?" Jiang Zuo said lightly.

He sized up Bai Ling, wondering how he should deal with this Demoness.

Now that he controlled the Secret Realm, she couldn’t hope to escape from him again.

"You’re getting more and more interesting. We’ll meet again."

"But next time, I won’t lose to you again!"

Bai Ling knew Jiang Zuo wasn’t going to answer her question.

If she lingered, she might die here. She had to leave.

She crushed an ancient Talisman, and a portal of light formed in front of her.

Jiang Zuo’s expression darkened. He tried to use his authority over the Secret Realm to close this gate.

But he quickly discovered that the gate had nothing to do with the Secret Realm; it was a unique spatial gate created by the Talisman in Bai Ling’s hand.

Bai Ling shot Jiang Zuo a look and stepped through the gate without a moment’s hesitation.

Knowing he couldn’t stop her, Jiang Zuo didn’t bother trying.

Holding the Dao Talisman, Jiang Zuo swept his Divine Sense across the entire Daoist Talisman Holy Land Secret Realm, confirming that he was the only Cultivator left.

Jiang Zuo calmed his mind, and more information about the Secret Realm surfaced in his thoughts.

’So the Dao Talisman also accelerated the flow of time in the Secret Realm severalfold.’

’No wonder it said it had been several years, not more than a decade,’ Jiang Zuo suddenly realized.

’This is good news for me. It means I can stay here for over a hundred years before leaving.’

’And the Celestial Talisman Inquiry Sect has more than just Talisman inheritances.’

’Their Array inheritance seems quite strong as well.’

’There’s also a Spirit Vein here.’

’I can go into seclusion here, learn the Array inheritance, and drain the Spirit Vein before I leave!’