Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes: I Possess the Heavenly Book of Merit

The merit points recorded in the Heavenly Book haven't increased for a long time.

Recently, he has been engrossed in practicing talisman drawing, and has not had much free time to do missions.

Looking at the remaining merits, Yu Yan didn't hesitate at all, investing them all into the Page of Enlightenment.

How is your comprehension at level 10 different from it now?

In an instant, Yu Yan felt as if his brain had been hit by a heavy hammer. After a period of intense dizziness, he regained his senses.

Previously vague insights suddenly became clear, and runes that were unclear in memory began to take shape in my mind.

At this moment, even a mid-grade first-tier talisman could not stump him.

Moreover, what's even more peculiar is...

He felt as if his gaze was floating out of his body and rising straight up.

I saw the distant jungle, the sect hidden in the mist, and even more so, myself standing still.

"Is this... the legendary perspective of the soul?"

Or perhaps "spirit" would be a more accurate description.

Comprehension is actually linked to the strength of one's soul.

Yu Yan understood something, but the next moment, he felt a strong suction from below. Before he could react, his entire field of vision rapidly descended.

"Ugh~"

After a moment of dizziness, Yu Yan opened his eyes and couldn't help but gag.

"It's probably a side effect of my weak soul leaving my body. It seems this ability is generally useless, but..."

He closed his eyes, and everything around him seemed to be "seen." Within a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters), he could clearly see even the fine lines on the blades of grass.

Although it may seem useless, the power of the soul will become apparent in the dark, especially in close combat.

Moreover, this is just the beginning; his comprehension and the strength of his soul will increase in the future.

The divine soul, which usually awakens slowly in the later stages of Qi Refining, was something Yu Yan possessed in the early stages of Qi Refining.

Perhaps when he reached the late stage of Qi Refining, his spiritual power was already comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"We still need to accumulate good deeds."

Yu Yan shook his head, and the aftereffects of his soul temporarily leaving his body gradually disappeared. He remembered the instructions given by Daoist Qinglu before he left, and hurriedly ran towards the mountain.

Qi Hao's antics almost made him forget that today was the day he was supposed to enter the library.

Quite a bit of time has been wasted, and it's almost noon now.

Upon arriving at the library, the other two disciples had been waiting for quite some time.

"I'm sorry, Senior Sister Bai, Senior Brother Fang, for keeping you waiting for so long."

In the announced list, Yu Yan ranked first, Senior Sister Bai second, and Senior Brother Fang third.

Bai Tong nodded slightly, smiled at Yu Yan, and didn't say anything more.

Instead, Senior Brother Fang Chang snorted coldly and said in the Yin-Yang Dao:

"As expected of the rising star of Yuanfu Peak in the field of talismanic arts, he always makes sure to be the last to appear in everything he does."

Fang Chang scanned Yu Yan with his triangular eyes.

"No matter how good your talent is in the art of talismans, you need spiritual power of at least the third level of Qi Refining to draw a mid-grade talisman of the first rank or above, let alone the path ahead."

"With only five spiritual roots, even if you have talent in talismans, your cultivation level isn't high enough. How far can you go?"

This person speaks without any politeness, and his words are always offensive. Yu Yan hasn't seen someone like this in a long time.

"What Senior Brother Fang said makes sense."

Under the other party's slightly surprised gaze, Yu Yan nodded, then changed his tone.

"But what happens in the future is for the future. At least for now, I'm still ahead of Senior Brother Fang."

Upon hearing this, Fang Chang's expression froze, and he let out another cold snort, refusing to say anything more.

Seeing that they had finished speaking, the steward guarding the library opened a gap in the library's protective array.

"You have two hours after entering the library. Once the time is up, the jade token will automatically teleport you out. Have you all remembered that?"

Yu Yan and the other two bowed.

"Yes."

Fang Chang glanced at the other two and was the first to enter.

"Senior Sister Bai, please."

Bai Tong didn't offer any politeness and went straight in.

Yu Yan finally stepped into the gap in spiritual energy. The scene in front of him fluctuated, and the next moment, he had arrived inside the library.

Rows of bookshelves were neatly arranged around the central area, with a dazzling array of talisman books piled up straight upwards.

Yu Yan looked up, but he still couldn't see the top of the library.

In the center of all the bookshelves stands a stone tablet.

Golden light flowed continuously across it, and runes seemed to flicker from time to time, but whenever Yu Yan looked closely, it was like looking at flowers in a mirror—visible but unattainable.

"This is the Spirit Talisman Stele. It is said to have been created by the second sect leader using all his knowledge of talisman techniques. In the future, talented individuals will continue to add to it, and all the sect's talismans are contained within it."

Bai Tong's voice rang out behind him. Yu Yan turned around, but he wasn't particularly surprised.

Everything within a ten-foot radius of him was within his "line of sight".

"Spirit Talisman Tablet..."

"You don't actually want to comprehend it, do you? Let me tell you, this depends on talent. Whether you can comprehend anything is completely uncertain. Our time is limited, so we might as well learn more about the runes we can see."

Fang Chang said something, and seeing that the two were unmoved, he immediately turned and left.

Two overambitious fools, do they really think that just because they made a name for themselves in the first round of assessments, they can decipher the Spirit Talisman Tablet?

He had inquired and found out that in the past thirty years, apart from the peak master's personal disciple Kong Shangji, no one else had ever succeeded.

Moreover, what they called a gain was actually just seeing a rune. Whether it was useful or not is another matter, but at least it wouldn't be of much use to them who were about to participate in the second round of assessments.

Fang Chang believed that his comprehension and talent were far inferior to Kong Shangji's, so he naturally wouldn't waste his time on this spirit talisman tablet.

The most urgent task is to study the talisman books on the bookshelf.

……

Yu Yan had already sat down cross-legged in front of the spirit talisman stele.

"It seems that Junior Brother Yu is quite ambitious, as he actually chose to stay here to study the Spirit Talisman Stele."

Bai Tong sat down not far away, squinting her eyes and smiling.

"I was just curious and wanted to try it out and broaden my horizons."

Yu Yan's answer remained humble.

The two fell silent and began to use their respective methods to comprehend the mystery.

Bai Tong affixed a purple talisman to her forehead, a strange light flashing in her eyes as she looked at the stone tablet.

Yu Yan closed his eyes, refocused his gaze, and looked at the stone tablet.

Each of the three had their own methods and their own agendas, and they were all busy with their own affairs.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

When Yu Yan opened his eyes, still feeling unsatisfied, he found himself transported outside the library.

Opposite him was Bai Tong, who looked somewhat annoyed, and Fang Chang, who was holding a book.

When Yu Yan saw Bai Tong looking in their direction, he pretended to be full of regret and sighed.

"Junior brother, don't be discouraged."

Bai Tong composed herself and came over to comfort her:

"Although I didn't gain much this time, at least I witnessed the extraordinary nature of the library. I can go in again when I advance to the inner sect disciple level."

"Yes, I understand. Thank you, senior sister."

"Hmph, I told you long ago, but you were stubborn and wouldn't listen to advice. Giving you this opportunity to enter the library is such a waste."

Fang Chang was initially disappointed that he hadn't memorized the rune, but his mood improved considerably after seeing that Yu Yan and the other man had gained nothing.

"Temporary success means nothing; it's all about who has the last laugh."

Having said that, he strode away.

Yu Yan watched his smug back without saying anything more. After saying goodbye to Bai Tong, he turned and left.