Soul Devouring and Boundary Breaking: I Embark on the Path to Immortality in the Era of Demon Chaos

Chapter 81: The Ingenuity of Talisman Craftsmen

The instant the palm wind touched the halo—

"Thump!"

A muffled thud, like a heavy hammer striking the thick city gate! The orange-yellow aura trembled violently, rippling outwards, but it didn't shatter. Instead, its light intensified, as if channeling, dispersing, and dissolving all the power of Lin Yan's palm strike into the ground beneath their feet. Li Tie and his two shield-wielding companions felt a jolt, a powerful and weighty force bearing down on them. The blue bricks beneath their feet cracked with a few fine lines, but the three gritted their teeth and held firm, actually withstanding the impact!

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow, his surprise deepening. His thirty percent power, seemingly casual, was actually enough to shatter stone tablets and split rocks; an ordinary fine iron shield could be deformed and broken with a single palm strike. This modified shield, combined with the earth vein shield, possessed such formidable defensive power!

"Again!" This time, Lin Yan increased his strength to fifty percent, and struck out with his palm. The wind howled, and the gray-black true essence vaguely condensed into a vortex in his palm.

"boom!"

An even more muffled explosion erupted! The orange-yellow halo flickered wildly, and ripples spread like raging waves, their colors dimming slightly. Li Tie and the other two groaned simultaneously, their faces flushed red. The area of ​​the broken bricks beneath their feet expanded, and their calves were already embedded in the rubble. However, the shield remained intact, and although the halo was teetering on the brink of collapse, it stubbornly held on.

Without hesitation, Lin Yan unleashed a second palm strike at half his power almost simultaneously, the two strikes coming in a seamless sequence!

"Bang—Crack!"

After enduring two heavy blows, the orange-yellow aura finally reached its limit, emitting a mournful sound like shattering glass, turning into countless pale yellow specks of light that quickly dissipated into the air. At the same time, the shield itself could not withstand the immense force transmitted and the collapse of its internal spiritual patterns. With a "crack," several jagged cracks appeared from the densest part of the central pattern, and the entire shield structure was severely deformed and completely destroyed.

However, the courtyard was completely silent.

Everyone stared in disbelief at the shattered shield and at Li Tie and his two companions, who, though disheveled, were unharmed and only suffered from turmoil.

This… this is just a very ordinary standard shield! After only half a day of modifications, and wielded and activated by three Body Tempering Realm cultivators, it was able to withstand two consecutive attacks from Lin Yan using 50% of his power! Although the shield eventually shattered and the talisman disappeared, this level of defense far exceeded everyone's expectations! It should be noted that Lin Yan's current cultivation and combat strength far surpasses that of ordinary Transcendent Realm cultivators; 50% of his power is enough to easily severely injure or even kill an ordinary early-stage Transcendent Realm cultivator! Yet this modified shield bought its wielder such a precious chance to breathe!

After a brief silence, Su Qingyao was the first to come to her senses. She rushed to the shattered shield, ignoring the heat, and carefully examined the dim, cracked patterns and materials. Her eyes shone brightly, as if she saw endless possibilities:

"It's a success...it's really a success! Although it could only withstand three powerful impacts before the rune array ran out of spiritual energy and the carrier collapsed, but...this proves that the idea is completely feasible! The carrier strength, material ratio, pattern design, activation method...there is still huge room for improvement in all of these! If we can find a more robust carrier material, a more efficient combination of spirit patterns, and a more sustainable energy supply...oh my god!"

She abruptly looked up at Lin Yan, her voice trembling with excitement: "Brother Lin! Did you see that? This isn't just about strengthening a shield! It's a completely new approach to weapon crafting! A method that can solidify the power of talismans and arrays into ordinary objects, allowing even low-level cultivators to unleash power far exceeding their own cultivation level! This... this might completely change the already weak situation where human cultivators, with their limited individual combat strength, are often at a disadvantage when facing the physically powerful and diversely gifted demon race!"

She grew increasingly excited as she spoke, her eyes seemingly burning with stars: "Just imagine, if every soldier of the Demon Suppression Division carried such shields, how sturdy would their defensive formations be? If elite scouts wore light armor and short blades engraved with runes of 'Divine Speed' and 'Concealment,' how much would their mobility and reconnaissance capabilities be enhanced? If elite assault troops wielded weapons imbued with complex runes of 'Armor Penetration,' 'Sharpness,' 'Flame,' and 'Ice,' how formidable would their ability to break through enemy lines and kill enemies be? And what you just mentioned, using specially made weapons and shields as nodes to quickly deploy small battle formations… This, this is simply an epoch-making revolution!"

She grabbed Lin Yan's sleeve and said urgently, "Brother Lin, quick! Quickly give this new thing a name! It can't be called an ordinary shield or sword anymore!"

Lin Yan looked at Su Qingyao's flushed cheeks, feeling the magnanimity and fervor in her words that transcended personal grudges and focused on the future of humanity. His heart was also filled with turmoil. He pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "This item is based on talismans and uses formations to transform ordinary objects into extraordinary treasures. It is born from talismans and yet becomes a treasure... So, let's call it 'Talisman Treasure'."

"Talisman Treasure...Talisman Treasure..." Su Qingyao repeated softly twice, her eyes shining even brighter. "A talisman treasure, truly deserving of the name! A fine name!"

The surrounding crowd also began to realize what was happening. Lu Ling, Wang Dashan, and the others, their gazes towards the shattered shield, had shifted from shock to fervent admiration. As the most direct combatants, they understood all too well what such a "talismanic treasure" meant on the battlefield!

"This matter is of great importance and must be reported to Lord Zhou immediately." Lin Yan suppressed his excitement and said calmly, "The potential of talismans is limitless, but caution is still necessary. Their manufacturing methods and uses must be kept strictly confidential."

Su Qingyao nodded vigorously: "Brother Lin is right. I will compile all the details of today's experiment, the material ratios, and the pattern diagrams into a book. However..." She frowned slightly, "If we want to produce a large quantity, it will be too inefficient for me to hand-carve and mix the materials by myself, and it will be difficult to guarantee that every piece will be accurate."

Lin Yan's eyes flickered slightly, and he already had a plan in mind: "We will discuss this matter after we have met with Lord Zhou."

***

The next day, in Zhou Yan's study.

The windows were bright and the desks were clean, filled with the subtle fragrance of aloeswood. Zhou Yan sat upright at his desk, listening to Lin Yan's detailed report, and then carefully reviewing the illustrated experimental records and detailed description of the "talisman treasure" concept that Su Qingyao had compiled overnight. Although his face remained calm, his usually deep and peaceful eyes occasionally flashed with shock, contemplation, and even barely suppressed excitement.

After a long while, he put down the booklet in his hand, his gaze slowly sweeping over Lin Yan, who stood solemnly before him, and Su Qingyao, dressed in men's clothing and with her eyes lowered, beside him. His voice carried a rare solemnity and admiration:

"Excellent! What a brilliant 'talisman treasure'! Transforming talismans into tools, integrating array formations into ordinary weapons, imbuing even ordinary iron with spiritual power, and enabling weak soldiers to withstand powerful demons... Such ingenuity is truly remarkable! Lin Yan, your ability to perceive shortcomings in actual combat and then deduce and innovate is truly a testament to your talent! Qing Yao's mastery of talisman arrays is profound, and her practical skills are even more outstanding. To be able to turn such a concept into reality is truly rare!"

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the verdant pines and cypresses in the courtyard outside. He pondered, "If this 'talisman treasure' can truly be perfected and promoted as you hope, it could indeed become a powerful tool to change the balance of power between humans and demons. Its significance may be no less than that of the first Demon Suppression Division in establishing its system and promoting basic cultivation methods."

He turned around, his gaze sharp as he looked at the two of them: "However, precisely because of its importance, it must be handled with utmost care. The manufacturing method must not be leaked, and its uses must be strictly controlled. At least in the initial stages, it must be kept absolutely secret."

"Your Excellency is wise," Lin Yan and Su Qingyao said in unison.

After returning to his desk, Zhou Yan picked up his pen and began writing rapidly. At the same time, he instructed Sun Wenyuan, who was standing beside him, "Wenyuan, you must immediately undertake a few tasks. First, in my name, secretly purchase all the vacant courtyards adjacent to Lin Yan's residence in Qingliu Lane, as well as those corresponding to the back alley, and connect them internally. Maintain secrecy; the price can be generous to avoid arousing suspicion from the sellers. Second, secretly select a group of experienced blacksmiths, coppersmiths, sculptors, and skilled craftsmen who know how to handle ore materials from reliable artisan workshops within the prefecture and from reputable, clean-living artisans. They must be discreet, possess excellent skills, and have families easily controlled within Qingzhou Prefecture. Third, under the pretext of 'repairing barracks and equipment' and 'developing new military equipment,' transfer a batch of refined iron, copper ingots, various attribute spirit stone powders, common monster materials, and other supplies listed on Qingyao's manifest from the armory and treasury. Create a separate register and transport them directly to the newly purchased courtyards in Qingliu Lane."

Sun Wenyuan noted everything down and bowed, replying, "Your subordinate understands and will handle it safely and discreetly."

Zhou Yan handed the written warrant to Sun Wenyuan, then said to Lin Yan and Su Qingyao, "The purchased courtyard will serve as a workshop for the secret production of 'talismanic artifacts.' Once the craftsmen and materials are in place, Qingyao will lead the further research and trial production. Lin Yan, you will assist from the side, coordinating security and all miscellaneous tasks. As long as you do not exceed the limits, you may use the resources of the Demon Suppression Division as appropriate. I will give the order to provide you with the greatest convenience."

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" Lin Yan and Su Qingyao bowed again.

Lin Yan pondered for a moment, then said, "My lord, I have another concern and a plan that may enhance secrecy and production efficiency."

"speak."

"Although Miss Su's skills are superb, the production process of 'talisman treasures' is complicated. From material processing, rough blanking of the carrier, etching of patterns, filling with spiritual materials, inlaying nodes, to the final drawing of the talisman and overall activation and adjustment, it cannot be handled by one person alone. If all the processes are concentrated in a few core craftsmen, it will be easier to control, but it will be inefficient, and if a core craftsman is lost, the secret will be hard to keep."

Lin Yan paused, and seeing that Zhou Yan and Sun Wenyuan both looked on attentively, continued, "I think it would be better to use an 'assembly line' method. The entire production process of the 'talisman treasure' can be broken down into several relatively independent steps with different technical requirements. For example, it can be divided into different processes such as 'material pretreatment,' 'carrier rough processing,' 'pattern etching,' 'spiritual material filling,' 'node inlay,' 'talisman drawing,' and 'finished product debugging.'"

"We can renovate the several courtyards we've purchased according to the characteristics of each process. Courtyard A will be responsible for crushing, purifying, and mixing materials; Courtyard B will be responsible for forging, shaping, and rough grinding shields, swords, and other carriers; Courtyard C will be responsible for precise etching of patterns; Courtyard D will be responsible for filling spiritual materials and inlaying nodes; Courtyard E will be where Miss Su or a core member she absolutely trusts who is proficient in talismans will be responsible for the final and most crucial talisman engraving and overall energy harmonization; the final adjustments can be set up in a separate place."

"Each courtyard has only one craftsman responsible for one step of the process. They only need to master the technical points of their own step, without needing to understand the entire production process of the 'talisman treasure.' Semi-finished products are transferred between processes using numbers or specific markings. In this way, even if a craftsman in a certain step makes a mistake, they cannot see the whole picture of the 'talisman treasure.' Moreover, because of the clear division of labor, craftsmen specialize in one skill, and their proficiency improves very quickly, which can greatly improve the overall production efficiency and the stability of the finished product. The final assembly and the drawing of the core talisman are firmly in the hands of a very few people, such as Miss Su, to ensure that the core secrets are not lost."

Lin Yan's concept of "assembly line" and "division of labor" was unheard of in this world. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan was initially taken aback, then his eyes gleamed with astonishment. He clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Divide and conquer, each specializing in their own skill, each step interconnected, yet without revealing the whole picture! This strategy not only greatly improves production efficiency but also minimizes the risk of leaks! Lin Yan, you always have unexpected strategies; you truly are my Zhang Liang!"

Sun Wenyuan was also full of admiration, and his gaze towards Lin Yan became even more affectionate and respectful. Over the past few days, he had grown closer to Lin Yan and knew that this young colleague was not only exceptionally skilled in combat but also possessed a strategic mind far beyond that of ordinary people. He had long harbored the intention to befriend him, and now he felt even more strongly that Lin Yan's talent was unfathomable.

Su Qingyao's beautiful eyes sparkled with admiration. As the producer, she knew best the intricacies of the process. Hearing Lin Yan's method, she felt enlightened, and many of her previous concerns about efficiency and confidentiality seemed to have found perfect solutions.

"Alright! Let's go with Lin Yan's plan!" Zhou Yan made the final decision. "Wen Yuan, when purchasing the courtyards, follow this approach and choose those that are adjacent to each other but each has its own independent entrance, making them easy to manage separately. The renovation work will also be handled by you. Make sure it's done as quickly and properly as possible."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Sun Wenyuan replied solemnly.

Zhou Yan finally looked at Lin Yan and Su Qingyao, and said earnestly, "I entrust the matter of the 'Talisman Treasure' to the two of you. I hope you will cooperate sincerely and perfect this powerful tool as soon as possible to lend a helping hand to the human race. Please feel free to ask for anything you need."

"Your humble servant (Qingyao) will certainly live up to your expectations!" The two replied in unison, their eyes burning with determination.