Chapter Forty-Eight: Igniting the Celestial Flame, Attaining the Dao

Of course, this was merely an outburst of emotion.
He quickly calmed himself, stepped into the backyard, and began his standing meditation practice.
Once, twice, three times...
After his stance training reached a minor level of mastery, Chen Yushu could clearly feel the surge of heat within him growing stronger with each session.
His physical strength increased rapidly as a result.
After nine consecutive rounds, Chen Yushu finally stopped.
He then returned once more to his study, lit the oil lamp, and took out paper and brush to write.
He wrote only ordinary characters—purely practicing his calligraphy.
Though he had already purchased talisman paper and ink, he did not intend to craft talismans just yet.
It was not because he lacked a proper brush.
In fact, he had acquired everything he needed when he received the inheritance from Li Pei, the shadow-walker. Along with three volumes of books, there were several brushes, two sheets of yellowed paper, and a red token.
Among those brushes, only one was suited for regular writing; the other two were meant for drawing talismans.
One had a split tip and appeared rather worn, while the other was nearly new and much smoother—perfect for his use. That was why he hadn't bothered to buy a talisman brush at Old Fu's incense shop today.
As for the two yellowed sheets, they were actually talisman paper.
Comparing them to the pleated paper he had bought from Old Fu, it was clear that these old sheets were of superior quality.
The token, however, remained a mystery to him; he kept it carefully stored away.
"Drawing talismans," he mused, "is not an easy task. First, one must enter a deep meditative state. Only then can the actual drawing begin."
These thoughts flashed through Chen Yushu's mind.
Meditation, he had already mastered. In the minor state of tranquility, his mind was as calm as a lake, allowing him to concentrate instantly and meet the basic requirements for drawing talismans.
It is worth noting that meditation does not equate to shadow-walking.
Simple meditation is a refinement of the mind, creating a special environment for cultivation.
Shadow-walking, however, is achieved on the foundation of meditation, but with 'subjective' clarity—a distinctive manifestation of spiritual frequency.
In this state, a shadow-walker’s mind is sharp, their combat ability extraordinary, and their unique frequency enables communication with wandering spirits and ghosts.
But aside from the requirement of meditation, the most crucial aspect of drawing talismans is the 'drawing' itself.
Chen Yushu could not yet produce the structure of talismanic script in a single fluid motion.
How could he hope to actually draw them?

He had no intention of wasting talisman paper and ink in a doomed attempt at crafting.
"Talisman paper is not cheap.
Talisman ink is even dearer.
Better to save what I can.
First, I must thoroughly familiarize myself with the structure of these scripts."
With these thoughts, Chen Yushu quickly settled his mind and continued practicing his calligraphy.
He worked late into the night.
Only then did he return to his quarters, and with a thought, slipped into meditation and began cultivating the White Tiger Visualization technique.
"After so long practicing the White Tiger Visualization, my spiritual energy is abundant.
When spirit is full, qi becomes harmonious.
When qi is harmonious, the body is transparent.
I am now on the threshold of this state.
Earlier, Sister Qiao’er mentioned that my spirit was nearly sufficient to light my first incense stick and thus gain a single measure of cultivation."
Through his White Tiger Visualization, Chen Yushu steadily increased his spiritual strength.
The white tiger he envisioned in his mind had grown ever more vivid and complete—not only were its fur patterns lifelike, but even the pupils of its eyes had acquired intricate detail, making it seem more real and imposing.
Suddenly, Chen Yushu felt a jolt.
His spiritual power seemed to touch something, then leaped outward.
A faint crackle!
His spirit had left his body!
He sensed it breaking free of his physical limits, soaring outside himself.
Even with his eyes closed, deep in meditation, his externalized spiritual power reached outward, emitting a subtle crackling sound.
And then he 'saw'—he beheld a vision outside his body.
He saw a real, three-dimensional image of himself.
"Spiritual power leaving the body.
It brings a more vivid sensation of the world around.
Even if it only extends an inch outside, I can observe myself, scrutinizing every corner of my being.
Moreover, that crackling sound must be the legendary 'electricity in the void'—
that is, when spiritual power leaves the body, it generates friction with the air, creating a discharge.
The White Tiger Visualization mentions that when a cultivator’s spiritual power is strong enough to extend outward and produce 'electricity in the void,'
it marks the perfect moment to 'ignite the fire.'
In other words,
I can now truly attempt to kindle the 'Heavenly Fire.'"

Once the Heavenly Fire is kindled, I will possess cultivation.
From then on, everything will be different.
Chen Yushu savored this transformative moment, then suddenly realized what had happened, his face lighting up with joy and excitement.
Spirit separated from the body!
Electricity in the void!
This surely meant he was capable of kindling the 'Heavenly Fire' and gaining his first measure of incense-powered cultivation.
Previously, he could be called a shadow-walker, but at best he had only taken the first step—half a foot in, so to speak.
Once he kindled the Heavenly Fire and possessed incense cultivation, he would truly, wholly enter this path.
"If that is so,
then let us proceed.
Heavenly Fire ignites, cultivation arises!"
Chen Yushu’s heart surged with excitement.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he controlled his spiritual power, setting it ablaze as he rushed it toward the crown of his head.
Boom!
A flame burst forth instantly.
This flame was formless and intangible, invisible to ordinary eyes.
But anyone employing the shadow-walking arts or the vision technique would immediately see the tiny flame atop his head.
It burned with a pure white glow, fierce and seemingly eternal.
"It is done!
Kindling the Heavenly Fire is equivalent to truly possessing cultivation."
Chen Yushu was filled with delight.
He could clearly sense the flame hovering above his head.
If he willed it, he could harness its power directly.
For example...
He took a deep breath, drew the flame’s energy into himself, then expelled it in a single breath.
A faint burst of fire shot out, flying more than ten feet before striking the wall and dissipating.
"Solar Sword, Heavenly Fire Breath.
This is the simplest and most practical technique that a shadow-walker gains after kindling the Heavenly Fire and attaining incense cultivation.
With a breath of Heavenly Fire, any minor ghost would be utterly destroyed."
Though Chen Yushu’s expression remained calm, his eyes shone with excitement.