Months passed in the blink of an eye, and under the guidance of Xuanji Dao Ren, Su Mu made significant progress in both his medical skills and Gua Shu. However, he continually faced obstacles in learning talismans.
The talismans of Tian Ji Men were profound and intricate, requiring not only mastery of complex drawing techniques but also the infusion of pure internal energy. When Su Mu attempted to draw talismans, he often struggled with uneven control of his strength, resulting in crooked lines and dissipated spiritual energy, rendering the talismans ineffective.
"Mu Er, drawing a talisman should flow like a river, seamless and unhesitating," Xuanji Dao Ren advised from the side. "You must focus your mind and evenly channel your internal energy into the brush to outline a perfect talisman."
Su Mu tried again and again but could never meet his master's expectations. Sweat beaded on his forehead as frustration filled his heart. Once, in his impatience, his internal energy became chaotic, causing the talisman he drew to backfire. A powerful force rebounded, sending him staggering as his blood surged.
"Mu Er!" Xuanji Dao Ren hurriedly stepped forward to support him. "Do not rush; the path of talismans requires gradual progress. Do not seek immediate results."
Taking a deep breath, Su Mu calmed the turmoil within him. He knew his master was right; his eagerness for quick success was counterproductive.
In the days that followed, Su Mu practiced even more diligently. He no longer chased speed but focused on the strength and angle of each stroke, repeatedly practicing the most basic talismans. He trained day and night until thick calluses formed on his hands, and his room was filled with discarded talisman papers.
Xuanji Dao Ren observed this with mixed feelings of pride and concern. He recognized Su Mu's innate talent but understood that mastering talismans was not something that could be achieved overnight; it required years of accumulation and refinement.
One evening, while practicing drawing the Jing Xin Fu—a talisman capable of purifying the mind and dispelling distractions—Su Mu held his breath and concentrated, slowly channeling his internal energy into the brush. The tip glided across the yellow paper, each stroke infused with strength and spirit.
As the final stroke fell into place, a faint golden light emanated from the completed talisman, filling the air with a refreshing aura. Su Mu felt a warm current surge through him, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility to his heart.
"I did it!" Su Mu exclaimed joyfully.
Xuanji Dao Ren approached and looked at the talisman in Su Mu's hand, a smile of satisfaction spreading across his face. "Mu Er, you have finally succeeded. Remember this feeling; it is the essence of the path of talismans."
The successful drawing of the Jing Xin Fu marked an important step for Su Mu on his path to mastering talismans. However, the subsequent study of Refining Elixirs presented him with even greater challenges.
Refining Elixirs was different from talismans; it required not only a thorough understanding of the properties of medicinal herbs but also precise control over Fire Control and timing. A slight misstep could lead to failure in the refining process, and in severe cases, the Dan Furnace could explode, endangering lives.
Xuanji Dao Ren brought Su Mu to the Dan Room and pointed at a Bronze Alchemy Furnace, saying, “The path of Refining Elixirs lies in the word ‘refine.’ You must extract the essence of the herbs and merge them into a dan. Mastery of Fire Control is crucial; too much heat will scorch it, while too little will leave it raw.”
Following his master's instructions, Su Mu carefully placed various herbs into the Dan Furnace according to their proportions, then ignited the fire to begin refining. He meticulously controlled the Fire Control, not daring to let his guard down for even a moment.
However, the process of Refining Elixirs was far more complex than he had anticipated. The control of Fire Control was not static; it needed constant adjustments based on the changes in the herbs. Due to his lack of experience, Su Mu missed several optimal moments, resulting in failures in his elixir refining.
“Don’t be discouraged; persistence is key in Refining Elixirs,” Xuanji Dao Ren encouraged him. “Every failure is a valuable lesson. Learn from it, and you’ll do better next time.”
Su Mu did not give up; he tried again and again, continuously summarizing his experiences. He observed the changes in the herbs closely and diligently grasped the subtleties of Fire Control, gradually mastering the techniques of Refining Elixirs.
Yet, an unexpected incident occurred.
One day, Su Mu was refining a dan called Hui Chun Dan. This elixir could quickly restore energy and heal injuries; it was one of the secret elixirs passed down by Tian Ji Men.
During the refining process, Su Mu became momentarily distracted, leading to a miscalculation in Fire Control that caused the temperature inside the Dan Furnace to spike suddenly.
“Oh no!” Su Mu thought to himself as he hurriedly attempted to lower the fire, but it was already too late.
With a loud bang, the Dan Furnace exploded, sending shards flying and flames shooting into the sky. Su Mu was thrown back by the shockwave of the explosion and crashed heavily to the ground, suffering burns on multiple parts of his body.
Fortunately, Xuanji Dao Ren arrived just in time, using his inner strength to extinguish the flames and rescue Su Mu.
"Mu Er, are you alright?" Xuanji Dao Ren asked anxiously.
Su Mu struggled to sit up and shook his head. "I'm fine, Master."
Looking at the destroyed Dan Room, Su Mu was filled with guilt and self-reproach. He knew he had nearly caused a disaster, and if it hadn't been for his master's timely intervention, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"The path of Refining Elixirs is fraught with peril; you must always exercise caution," Xuanji Dao Ren said earnestly. "This lesson is one you must remember."
Su Mu nodded solemnly.
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