Thirteen: Setting up the altar and deploying the formation

  Thirteen, Opening Altar and Deploying Formation

  The refinement of the talisman array is recorded in detail in the Mao Shan secret skills, which is a combination of three aspects: seal, talisman and technique. The seal refers to the handprint method, the talisman refers to the spirit talisman, and the technique refers to the unique secret technique of Mao Shan. There are twelve handprints for the method, thirty-six talismans are required, and then the secret technique text is engraved on a main talisman.

  The creation of a Fu Zhen requires the creator to grasp every detail with utmost precision, without any margin for error.

  He didn't delay for a moment, and began to create the array symbol. He first arranged the thirty-six talismans according to a peculiar rule, then closed his eyes and started reciting incantations one by one. Suddenly, he pinched out a peculiar handprint with both hands. Next, a talisman flew out from the arranged thirty-six talismans, that talisman completely defied gravity and floated in mid-air, and it was spinning rapidly like a top!

  Suddenly, Bai Yu's eyes snapped open, and two rays of light shot out from them. His body began to flow with magical energy, his fingers dancing like a butterfly among flowers, leaving onlookers dazzled and unable to keep up. Strands of bright yellow light burst forth from his hands, striking the rapidly spinning talismans with a series of metallic clangs. The sound of the light hitting the talismans was like the ringing of metal, each strike rhythmic and musical, like the beat of a drum.

  Suddenly, a strange change occurred, and the talisman suddenly emitted a burst of green smoke, accompanied by a "sizzling" sound! With a final "whoosh", the talisman was set ablaze, but it was completely reduced to ashes in an instant.

  Bai Yu let out a long sigh, feeling that the refinement of the array symbol indeed required great control over one's mind. Just now, he had only had a slight fluctuation in his heart and yet it had already ruined this array symbol. However, he was not discouraged, after all, it was impossible to succeed on the first try, this was just accumulating experience.

  He then picked up his mood, adjusted his state of mind and continued to refine it. Like this, an afternoon passed, and Bai Yu finally felt that the refinement of this array was a bit difficult. Originally, the house full of talismans had only a few hundred left, but the effect was also significantly improved. Bai Yu's current comprehension could now achieve a calm heart wave, unaffected by external disturbances, except when occasionally making some mistakes in the final strokes of the technique.

  At this time, he suddenly stopped and closed his eyes. The steps of the array he had just made were replayed in his mind like a movie. After a long while, Bai Yu opened his eyes again, but they were filled with confusion. His hands mechanically started to print seals, and another talisman flew into the air, rotating in his hand. The seals continued non-stop, and rays of bright yellow light shot out from his hand prints, hitting the talisman, accompanied by a pleasant "ding ding ding" sound.

  He finished the twelve印诀, and suddenly, the talisman in mid-air burst into a brilliant light. White Feather timely stretched out a finger to draw in mid-air, his finger at this moment seemed no longer a finger, and the rolling light in mid-air was no longer empty. Strange lines were born under his fingers, gradually forming strange talismans. When White Feather finished drawing the talisman and withdrew his finger, the bright light also suddenly shrank by nearly ten times, and the talisman also shrunk by ten times.

  At this time, the other thirty-five talismans laid out on the ground suddenly trembled and emitted a buzzing sound like countless flies flying around in front of him. The sound was extremely unpleasant and made people's eardrums itch. But Bai Yu seemed unaffected, his eyes never leaving the main talisman in mid-air. Suddenly, he shouted: "Gather."

  The originally trembling talismans suddenly flew up and crashed into the main talisman that was flashing with light. "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" The talismans crashed onto the main talisman and completely merged into it, like water droplets merging into a stream, without leaving any trace or mark.

  After thirty-five talismans were all absorbed, the light gradually faded away. Upon closer inspection, only one talisman was left behind. That thin piece of paper was hard to imagine as the fusion of dozens of talismans.

  Bai Yu's mouth curled up with a faint smile, and he felt some joy in his heart. The first one had already been followed by the second, third, and even fourth - was it still far away? Although it was already deep into the night outside, Bai Yu didn't feel sleepy at all. He struck while the iron was hot and worked tirelessly throughout the night, finally managing to create four array symbols by the next morning.

  One day and one night without eating or sleeping, Bai Yu was already extremely exhausted, so he lay on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. He had originally planned to tell Jiu Shu about it after taking a nap, but he underestimated his own exhaustion. This nap lasted until late at night, and when he woke up, he couldn't help but smile wryly. By this time, Jiu Shu and the others should have gone to bed long ago. Helpless, he decided to put it off until tomorrow, which was also the day the zombies were supposed to arrive.

  After waking up, he couldn't sleep anymore, so he spent the rest of the time on cultivation. After a night of cultivation, his magical power reached the expected 18 strands. Generally speaking, to reach the stage of spellcasting without incantations, one basic condition is that the magical power must reach 20 strands, and then condense the scattered magical power into one strand. Magical power is the foundation, and if the condensation of magical power is successful, one can rely on their own familiarity with the technique to cast spells without intentionally reciting incantations.

  He is now more confident in this ultimate task, so he no longer delays and comes to the living room to find his uncle Jiu who is preparing to go out for early tea. He explains the reason to Uncle Jiu, who is delighted for him. Uncle Jiu chuckles and says: "Last night, the zombie came out again and sucked people's blood, but tonight, we will set up an altar and array, and this zombie will not return." They no longer go for early tea, and he turns around to instruct Autumn and Wen Cai: "Quickly prepare things, arrange the altar well, and we will set up the altar and array tonight."

  The two of them responded in unison and went off to prepare their things.

  Ninth Uncle said to Bai Yu, "This time, I'll let you wear this Daoist robe. I see that you don't have one yet, so I'll send you one later." Bai Yu was secretly delighted, as this Daoist robe was the kind worn by Daoists in those zombie movies, which had a special effect against evil spirits. Although the material was just ordinary fabric, it had the seal of Mao Shan on it, making it impervious to ghosts and evil spirits, and also had the effect of calming the mind and concentrating one's energy.

  It wasn't until dusk that White Feather stood in the desolate wilderness, gazing at the ritual altar before him. He felt a thrill of excitement in his heart - after all, this was his first time hosting a ritual, and first times were always the most unforgettable. At this moment, White Feather had already donned a bright yellow Daoist robe, and with the peach wood sword in hand, he really did have a certain air about him.

  At this time, Autumn and Wenchai suddenly appeared behind him and asked: "Master Shu, will he really come?" Wenchai also chimed in from the side: "Yes, it's so dark and deserted here, there are hardly any people, we might as well go to sleep."

  Bai Yu couldn't help but laugh and said with a snort to Wen Cai: "I think it's you who needs sleep."

  Ninth Uncle had also arrived at some point, and he cleared his throat, glared at the two disciples and said: "You two be quiet for a moment." Then he turned to Bai Yu and asked: "Younger brother, how confident are you in this formation?"

  Bai Yu just smiled lightly and comforted, "To deal with this zombie, using this formation will have more than 90% assurance of success, Master Brother doesn't need to worry."

  He glanced at the sky and felt that it was almost time, so he picked up the soul bell on the table, shook it lightly, and the soul bell emitted a clear and pleasant soft hum. The sound was not loud enough to be heard clearly by people, but this sound had a strong penetrating power, even in the midst of the night, one could hear such a big sound from afar.

  He then picked up a straw man, stuck a mini talisman on it, and placed it on the table. He muttered to himself, pinched his fingers together, and after a few minutes, he pointed at the straw man. A beam of light shot out from his fingertips and into the straw man. Suddenly, the lifeless straw man stood up by itself and began to move stiffly, circling around the altar as if it were alive.

  Bai Yu didn't make any movement, but stared intently at the movements of the grass man. At this moment, the grass man suddenly stopped, and Bai Yu's eyes gleamed with a hint of divine light. The peach wood sword was already raised in his hand, and he began to chant some incantations again, as if preparing for battle at any moment.

  "A loud, beast-like roar suddenly came from not far away, and a black shadow emerged from the darkness, step by step, towards the White Feather Altar. The candle flames on the altar flickered, casting a dim, gloomy light that made everyone present feel an eerie sense of foreboding. The black shadow finally entered the range of the light, revealing the zombie-like figure striding towards the crowd with an air of dominance."

  Wencai seemed to have a considerable fear of this, and immediately hid behind Qiusheng. Qiusheng shook his head somewhat helplessly, but still let him go.

  Bai Yu saw the zombie coming and sneered in his heart. Today, he must make him disappear without a trace, die without a place to bury his body.

  The zombie saw White Feather as if he had seen the murderer of his father, a pair of eyes that shouldn't have emotions seemed to be spitting out fire, staring at White Feather, probably still remembering the scene when he was injured by White Feather last time. At this moment, he discovered the mocking intention in White Feather's eyes, and couldn't help but become even more furious, letting out a long roar towards the sky, and with a forceful kick, his body seemed to turn into a cannonball, charging straight at White Feather.

  At this time, the zombie's body was several times more agile than before, and its strength had increased significantly, making it even harder to deal with. However, Bai Yu didn't intend to confront it head-on. With a swift movement of his hands, the four array symbols were already grasped in his palms. He let out a loud shout, "Taishang Laojun, urgent as the law, swift!" The array symbols flew out of his hands and instantly appeared before the zombie. Four loud explosions erupted, and the symbols simultaneously detonated, releasing a thunderous roar and bursts of flames and smoke. After a long while, when everything had returned to calm, four pillars made of stuck-together talismans suddenly appeared where the zombie had originally been, each about two or three meters high, with soft, dazzling lights flashing on top.