Chapter 5: The Talisman Awakens

The trees of the Voidwood seemed to stretch endlessly, their twisted branches clawing at the pale sky. Mist coiled through the underbrush, thick and oppressive, muting the light and muffling every sound. Wei Lin’s footsteps echoed softly in the eerie silence, his heart thudding in time with the steady crunch of leaves beneath his worn boots.

He glanced over his shoulder. The boundary stones of Tianmu Village had long since disappeared into the mist, leaving only the wild, unfamiliar forest before him. The realization hit him with a sudden, heavy finality: he was further from home than he had ever been.

He tightened his grip on the dagger at his side, swallowing the lump in his throat. "You’ve got this," he muttered to himself, trying to sound confident. "Just find a safe place to camp. Keep moving."

But each step felt heavier, and the oppressive silence seemed to press closer. His fingers brushed against the crescent shaped jade talisman hanging from his belt. Its surface was cool to the touch, smooth except for the strange symbols etched across its face.

Wei Lin exhaled slowly, gripping the talisman tighter. The mist curled around his feet like a living thing, and the silence grew oppressive—too complete, too watchful. He felt something stir beneath his fingertips, the jade warming suddenly as if coming to life. Then the voice came.

"Finally."

Wei Lin froze. His eyes darted around the forest, his breath caught in his throat. "W-who’s there?"

"You’re holding me, boy," the voice replied, unimpressed. "The talisman. I’ve been waiting for you to show some shred of awareness. Though it appears that was asking too much."

Wei Lin’s heart raced. He lifted the talisman, its glow faint but steady. "You can… talk?"

“Clearly." The voice carried a weight of authority, layered with a touch of dry exasperation. “Though only you can hear me. Shall we dispense with the obvious questions and move on to something useful? You’ve wandered far enough into this forest without a plan. It’s time you learned how to survive."

Wei Lin blinked, struggling to make sense of what was happening. "Wait. You’re the talisman? What… what are you exactly? Why are you talking to me now?"

The talisman pulsed again, the voice sharpening.

"Patience, boy. One question at a time." It paused, its tone softening slightly. "I am an artifact created long ago by immortals from another realm. Bai Chen, the Celestial Sage, instilled a portion of his spirit in me and tasked me with a singular purpose: to ensure his legacy does not end in ruin. My existence is bound to that purpose—and to you."

"Bai Chen?" Wei Lin frowned. "I’ve heard his name in old stories. He was a great cultivator, right?"

"‘Great’ is a quaint understatement," the talisman said dryly. “Bai Chen was more than a master of the Threefold Path. He sealed the Abyssal Serpent, a manifestation of primordial chaos itself. Some would say he left behind the foundation for all modern cultivation. The fact that you know only fragments of his deeds speaks volumes about how poorly history has preserved true greatness."

Wei Lin stared at the talisman, his mind racing. "Why me? I’m not a cultivator."

"Not yet," the talisman corrected. "But you have the potential—whether you survive long enough to realize it remains to be seen. At the moment, you’re woefully unprepared for the dangers ahead. That must be rectified immediately."

The talisman’s glow grew brighter, and the voice took on a more commanding tone.

"Let us begin with the most crucial skill: survival. This forest is filled with predators that hunt by sensing qi. If you cannot conceal your presence, you will draw attention—and not the pleasant kind."

Wei Lin tightened his grip on the talisman. "What do I need to do?"

"Close your eyes," the talisman instructed. "Feel the flow of your qi. It hums through you like a river, yes? Steady and strong. Now, draw it inward. Imagine wrapping it around your soul like a cloak—binding it, folding it tight until it vanishes from sight."

Wei Lin closed his eyes, focusing on the rhythm of his breath and the subtle hum of energy within him. His qi felt wild and untamed, a flame flickering just beneath his skin. He tried to grasp it, to pull it inward, but it slipped away like water through his fingers.

Sweat beaded on his brow as he tried again, his breathing slowing, his heartbeat steadying. Slowly, his qi began to respond, coiling around his soul like a second skin. The air around him seemed to shift, the weight of his presence growing lighter.

"Better," the talisman said, its voice laced with faint approval. "Not perfect, but a decent start. This technique will keep you hidden from most beasts and lesser cultivators. Practice it until it becomes instinctive. Panic and fail when it matters most, and the results will be… unpleasant."

Wei Lin opened his eyes, wiping the sweat from his face. "What happens if I fail?"

The talisman’s glow dimmed slightly. "If you’re fortunate, you’ll simply attract a curious beast. If you’re not, well… I assure you, the consequences will be both immediate and unpleasant. And frankly, I detest cleaning up such messes."

Wei Lin shifted uncomfortably. "You keep mentioning danger. How bad is it, really?"

"Severe enough that I’ve already had to expend a portion of my reserves protecting you. Remember the beast attack in the village?” the talisman said bluntly. "My reserves are finite, boy. I will not waste them shielding you from your own incompetence. Hence, my insistence on teaching you how to fend for yourself."

The talisman pulsed again, its glow steady and unyielding. "Now, again. This time, hold the cloak longer. You will practice until it is second nature. This forest is not forgiving."

Wei Lin nodded, swallowing his nerves. He closed his eyes once more and began the exercise again, the weight of the talisman’s words pressing heavy on his mind.

After hours of practice, Wei Lin’s confidence began to grow. His breath slowed, each inhale carrying the coppery tang of exhaustion. His arms felt heavy, his mind dulled from the relentless repetition. But beneath the fatigue, something else stirred—a spark of satisfaction, small but undeniable. His control over his qi, once fleeting, had become firmer, more tangible. The talisman remained a steady presence, offering occasional corrections but otherwise allowing him to work in silence.

Finally, it spoke again, its tone calm but insistent.

"That will suffice for now. You’ve taken the first step. But remember—this forest is far from the greatest test you will face."

Wei Lin nodded, his breath steadying. “What’s next?”

The talisman’s hum deepened, its voice turning thoughtful. "Sustenance, of course. You will need food, water, and supplies if you intend to live beyond the next few days. Fortunately, you already possess the skills to find them."

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The sun hung low in the sky, its light filtering weakly through the dense canopy. Wei Lin crouched beneath a gnarled tree, his eyes scanning the ground for familiar herbs. His stomach growled, and his throat felt dry despite the cool air.

He pulled out a cluster of wildroot from beneath a mossy rock and stuffed it into his pouch. It wasn’t much, but it would last him for the night. A little further on, a strange plant caught his eye—its leaves broad and dark green, with pale purple berries hanging in clusters.

"Is this edible?" Wei Lin asked aloud, plucking one of the berries and holding it up to the light.

The Talisman’s voice snapped sharply through his thoughts. "Absolutely not. One bite, and you’ll be convulsing within the hour."

Wei Lin quickly dropped the berry. "Then what is it?"

"Shadeberry," the Talisman explained. "A potent poison—deadly when ingested, but quite useful in certain alchemical mixtures. Its cousin, duskberry, looks nearly identical but is a powerful energy booster. The difference lies in the shape of the leaf’s veins. Note how these run parallel. Duskberry’s veins branch outward."

Wei Lin peered at the plant more closely, committing the detail to memory. "Got it. I’ll avoid this one for now."

"Wise choice," the Talisman said, its tone softening slightly. "However, if it’s sustenance you seek, there’s a patch of silverfern growing near that stream. Its shoots are edible and will sustain you for a time."

Wei Lin followed the Talisman’s advice, finding the silverfern growing in abundance by a small stream. He collected several shoots, tucking them into his pouch alongside the herbs.

As he worked, the Talisman continued its commentary.

"Survival out here is a delicate balance. Gather enough food to keep your strength, but avoid lingering in one place for too long. This forest is alive in ways you cannot yet comprehend."

Wei Lin glanced around uneasily. "What do you mean… alive?"

"Let’s just say I can sense presences in this forest that do not take kindly to outsiders," the Talisman replied cryptically. "You’ll see soon enough—if you’re lucky, from a distance."

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Wei Lin’s pouch was full, and his body ached from the day’s work. He glanced around for a suitable place to camp but saw only endless trees and shadows stretching deeper into the forest.

"It’s too dangerous to sleep in the open," the Talisman said, its voice steady. "Follow the stream northward. There should be a hollow beneath the old stone oak—defensible and well-hidden."

Wei Lin nodded and made his way upstream. After a short walk, he found the stone oak—a massive tree with roots like thick cables, its base forming a natural hollow large enough to shelter him. The ground was dry, and the air smelled faintly of pine and earth.

He crawled inside and set down his pouch, arranging his herbs and silverfern shoots beside him.

"Not the most luxurious accommodations," the Talisman observed, "but it will suffice. Light no fire tonight—the glow will draw curious eyes."

Wei Lin leaned back against the trunk, exhaustion settling into his bones. "Thank you… for helping me."

The Talisman’s voice was quiet, almost thoughtful. "I am bound to see you survive, Wei Lin. Your thanks are unnecessary. But heed this: survival is not enough. If you are to thrive in this world, you must learn quickly—faster than most."

Wei Lin closed his eyes, his mind swirling with thoughts of poisonous berries, hidden dangers, and strange herbs with stranger uses. He was tired—more tired than he had been in a long time—but for the first time since entering the Voidwood, he felt like he had a chance.

"I’ll learn," he murmured before sleep claimed him. "I’ll learn everything.”

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Below is a translation of the chapter into Chinese (via ChatGPT).

以下是通过ChatGPT将本章翻译成中文。

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封天遗志

第五章：玉符苏醒

虚空林幽深无尽，古木参天，枝桠扭曲如虬龙盘踞，狰狞地探向苍白的天幕。雾气如游魂般缠绕林间，浓稠如絮，不仅吞噬了光亮，更将世间万物裹入一片死寂。魏林的步伐轻缓而谨慎，靴底碾碎落叶的声响在这沉默的世界中显得格外清晰，仿若脉搏的跳动，与他急促的心跳一同回响在耳畔。

他回首望去，天木村的界碑早已隐没在雾霭之中，身后唯余无尽的荒林，而前方，则是一片陌生而未知的天地。此刻，一种突如其来的沉重感如山压心，他已走得如此之远，再无退路可言。

他咬紧牙关，手不自觉地收紧，握住腰间的短匕，艰难地吞咽了一口唾沫，低声自语：“镇定……先找个落脚之地，稳住。”

话虽如此，可每一步都仿佛被无形的重压拖曳，四周的死寂愈发沉闷，仿佛整座森林都在屏息窥视着他的存在。魏林的指尖无意间触碰到腰间悬挂的玉符，那枚弯月形的青玉仍旧冰凉，表面细腻如水，唯有那古老神秘的符文在指腹摩挲之下，透出一丝淡淡的灵韵。

魏林缓缓吐出一口浊气，手掌不由得收紧，握住玉符。忽然，他察觉到雾气似乎变得更为浓郁，宛若活物般在脚边缭绕，而四周的静谧也变得不合常理，仿佛整个天地都陷入了一种奇异的凝滞之中。

然后，他感觉到了——

玉符微微一颤，瞬间涌出一股暖流，那股力量宛若苏醒的灵魂，缓缓渗透入他的血肉骨髓之间。紧接着，耳畔响起一道低沉而古老的声音——

“终于。”

魏林猛地僵住，瞳孔骤缩，浑身寒毛竖起。他倏然环顾四周，喉咙发紧，声音微颤：“谁——是谁在说话？”

“你手上握着的，便是我。” 那声音带着一丝不耐，语气沉稳而威严，似乎对魏林的迟钝深感无奈。 “玉符——我已经等待许久了，没想到竟是个如此迟钝的小子。”

魏林心跳如雷，双手微微发颤。他抬起玉符，只见其表面隐隐浮现出幽微光芒，在浓雾之中显得愈发神秘诡谲。

“你……你能说话？”他喘息道，语气中满是震惊与不敢置信。

“显而易见。” 玉符的声音透着几分冷淡，夹杂着一丝漫不经心的讥讽。 “且只有你能听见。我劝你莫要再浪费时间，既然已涉足此地，便该开始学会生存，而不是在此徒劳地发问。”

魏林怔住，思绪几乎无法转动。他深吸一口气，努力平复心神，勉强开口：“等一下……你真的是玉符？那你到底是……什么东西？为什么现在才开口？”

玉符轻轻一颤，似是对魏林的问题感到无奈，语气微沉：“耐心些，愚钝之子。一个问题一个问题来。”

随即，那声音缓缓道来，仿佛从亘古流传至今的回音：“吾乃仙界遗物，昔年由天焰圣人白辰亲手炼制，承载其意志，以履行他遗留下的使命。我的存在，便是为了确保他的传承不至湮灭，直至命定之人现身。”

魏林的眉头紧蹙，目光沉思：“白辰……我听过这个名字，在一些古老的传说里，他曾是一位伟大的修行者，对吗？”

“‘伟大’二字未免太过轻描淡写。” 玉符淡淡道，语气中透着一丝讥讽与不屑， “白辰不仅是三修之道的绝巅强者，更是封印深渊巨蛇的无上存在。那头怪物乃是混沌初开的灾厄具象，白辰以一己之力镇封它，使得后世修行得以繁衍，方有今日之格局。而如今，他的传说竟已沦落至‘听说过’的程度，世人果真善忘。”

魏林听得怔然，脑中思绪翻涌不休。他低头看着掌中的玉符，指尖轻轻摩挲着那些流转不定的符文，声音有些失神：“可为什么是我？我根本不是修行者。”

“尚未踏上修行之道，并不意味着无此可能。” 玉符声音微顿，语气意味深长。 “你的潜质……尚未觉醒。至于你是否有资格承担这份传承，则要看你能否活下去。”

魏林的呼吸微微一滞，拳头悄然握紧。

玉符声音缓缓响起，威严之中透着冷静的指引：

“无知而涉险，徒然送死。如今你孤身深入虚空林，却不知危机潜伏四周，步步皆是生死界限。你的力量孱弱，心境不稳，若不学会如何存活，恐怕用不了几日，你便会沦为这片森罗鬼域的亡魂。”

魏林咬牙，拳头越攥越紧。

“那么，告诉我……我要怎么做？”

玉符轻轻一颤，一道微不可察的金光流转而过，仿佛在回应他的觉悟。

“很好。此刻，你的修行——正式开始。”

玉符之光愈发璀璨，声音威严而不容置疑。

“我们从最重要的技艺开始——生存之道。此地妖兽横行，其中多以感知气息为猎，若无法隐藏自身，便会招来杀机，而非善意。”

魏林手中玉符微微颤动，他指尖收紧，目光沉凝：“我该如何做？”

“闭上眼睛。” 玉符语气不疾不徐，却带着不容抗拒的力量。“感受你的气息，它如江河般流淌于经脉之中，生生不息，奔涌不止。现在，收敛它，将它收束入你的魂魄之内，如披斗篷，将自身彻底掩藏。”

魏林深吸一口气，缓缓闭上双目，屏息凝神，试图感知那股潜藏在体内的微妙波动。他的气息汹涌难驯，仿若皮下跃动的火焰，每当试图捕捉，它便如流水般从指缝间溜走。

额上渗出细汗，他不甘放弃，任由心跳趋于沉稳，呼吸渐渐绵长。再一次，他尝试收束自身灵息，以意念束缚，将气息凝聚如丝缕般缠绕魂海。随着时间流逝，那股躁动的力量终于被驯服，缓缓贴合于灵魂之上，如夜幕下的隐匿之风。

“尚可。” 玉符轻哼，语气中流露出一丝不甚明显的赞许。“仍显稚嫩，却已迈出第一步。这一术法能遮掩你的气息，使寻常妖兽与低阶修士难以察觉。但记住，唯有将其练至本能，方能在生死关头不露破绽。若慌乱失措，后果将极其……不堪。”

魏林睁开双眼，抬手拭去额角的汗水，神情凝重：“如果失败了呢？”

玉符之光微微暗淡，声音冷漠而淡然：“若你运气尚可，至多引来一只饶有兴致的妖兽。若运气不佳……哼，我可以向你保证，死亡绝非最痛苦的下场。而且，我对清理残局向来没有耐心。”

魏林心中一沉，不由得挪动了一下身体：“你一再提及危险，究竟……此地凶险到何种程度？”

“危险足以让我不得不耗费部分底蕴护你周全。” 玉符语气冷硬，“还记得村中的妖兽袭击吗？”

魏林一怔，指尖微微收紧。

“我的力量有限，无法浪费在护佑一个愚昧无知之人身上。若非必要，我不会再替你出手。因此，你必须学会自保。”

玉符光芒微颤，气息沉稳，不容置疑。“再来一次。这回，维持得更久些，直至不假思索便能运转。此地从不宽恕弱者。”

魏林深吸一口气，压下心中那股忐忑，默然点头，再次闭上双目，沉入专注之境。

晨曦微曦，林中雾霭依旧，魏林静坐于枯叶之间，眉宇间已不复方才的紧张与生涩，呼吸绵长，气息若有若无，如雾中隐风。时间在修行中悄然流逝，汗水浸透衣衫，肌肉微微颤抖，疲惫如潮水般侵袭四肢，然而，那一丝微妙的满足感在心底缓缓升腾——他的气息收敛，已然比最初稳固许多。

玉符静默地观察着他的修行，偶尔微微闪烁，发出简短而精准的指点，却未再出言打扰。它等待着，等待着少年以自身之力走出第一步。

终于，一道沉稳的声音再次响起，平淡之中却透着一丝肯定：“暂且足够。”

魏林睁开双目，胸膛微微起伏，虽疲惫未消，但眼中却燃起一丝坚韧。他迈出了修行的第一步。

“但记住。” 玉符轻轻一震，语调幽远而深沉：“此林凶险尚不足惧，未来真正的考验，才刚刚开始。”

魏林沉默片刻，旋即抬眸，神色坚定：“接下来呢？”

玉符的光晕微微收敛，沉吟片刻，方才缓缓开口：“生存之道，不仅在于避祸，更在于补足己身。食物、水源、必需之物，皆不可缺。庆幸的是，你已有所准备。”

魏林闻言，轻轻点头，眸中微光浮动，握紧拳头。他的修行，才刚刚启程。

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夕阳西沉，残阳如血，微弱的光辉透过密林深处的枝叶，洒下斑驳的光影。魏林蹲伏于一株虬曲苍劲的古树之下，目光在枯叶间游走，搜寻着可用的药草。他的腹中空空如也，干渴的喉咙隐隐作痛，尽管林间气息清凉，却无法缓解体内的饥渴。

他伸手拨开覆满青苔的岩石，从底下挖出一丛野根草，随即将其塞入药囊。这些虽然不多，却足以支撑一夜。

再往前走几步，他的目光被一株奇异的植物吸引——其叶片宽阔深绿，垂挂着串串淡紫色的浆果，仿若夜空中的点点繁星。

“这个能吃吗？” 魏林皱眉，随手摘下一枚，举到光下仔细端详。

“绝不可食。” 玉符的声音蓦然在脑海中炸响，语气凌厉，带着一丝冷峻的警告。“若是误食，不过一炷香的时间，你便会四肢痉挛，七窍流血。”

魏林手指微颤，忙不迭地将果子丢开，心有余悸地问道：“那这到底是什么？”

“暗影果。” 玉符语气恢复平静，缓缓解释道，“剧毒无比，若入药炼制，可成烈性毒丹。然而，它有一近亲——暮光果，外观相仿，却能滋养精元，助人恢复灵力。辨认方法在于叶脉，暗影果的叶脉平行，而暮光果的叶脉则向外分叉。”

魏林蹲下身，仔细观察那片叶脉的脉络，将这区分之法牢牢记在心中。“明白了，这个我不会碰。”

“明智之举。” 玉符语气微缓，少了几分方才的严厉。“不过，若是想寻觅果腹之物，沿着溪流前行，你会找到银蕨，其嫩芽可食，足以支撑你一段时日。”

魏林依言循着溪流而行，果然在水畔发现了一片银蕨，清翠欲滴，生机盎然。他小心采摘嫩芽，收入药囊，与野根草一同存放。

采集间，玉符依旧不时低声指点，语气淡漠却带着不容置疑的威严。

“生存之道，贵在平衡。食物需足以维持体力，但不可久留一地，莫忘此林非寻常之所。”

魏林心头微凛，环顾四周，隐隐生出一丝不安：“你这话……是什么意思？”

“此地有灵，非凡俗之森。” 玉符的语调带着几分晦涩莫测，“吾可感知到此林深处，有诸多存在不喜外人踏足。”

魏林喉间微紧，警惕地望向林间那逐渐沉入暮色的阴影。“所以……我最好不要看到它们？”

“若你运气好，确实如此。” 玉符轻笑一声，意味深长地道。

待日头完全沉入地平线，魏林的药囊已然装满，身躯因整日的劳作而酸痛不堪。他四下张望，试图寻找一处可以过夜的栖身之所，然而目之所及，皆是无尽幽森的林海与晦暗不明的影子。

“此地不可久留。” 玉符沉声道，语气坚决。“沿溪北行，于古石橡之下，有一隐蔽洞穴，可供歇息。”

魏林依言前行，不久便寻得那棵古石橡——其树干粗壮如塔，盘根交错，犹如虬龙伏地，而树根交汇处，竟天成一处天然洞穴，恰可容人蜷缩栖息。此地地势干燥，隐蔽极佳，空气中弥漫着淡淡的松木气息。

他缓缓爬入洞穴，将药囊放在一旁，仔细整理着银蕨与采得的草药。

“简陋至极。” 玉符冷淡地评价道，“但尚能勉强一用。记住，今夜不可生火，火光会吸引不必要的目光。”

魏林靠在树干上，疲惫自骨髓中涌上，渐渐侵蚀全身。他低声呢喃：“……谢谢你，今日若非有你指引，恐怕我早已不知何去何从。”

玉符沉默片刻，声音竟难得透出一丝淡淡的思索之意。

“吾之本愿，便是令你存活，何须言谢？” 它顿了顿，旋即语气一变，恢复了惯常的冷厉与不容置疑。“但记住，苟活于世远远不够。若想真正立足于这片天地，你必须学得更快，成长得更迅速。”

魏林阖上双目，脑海中仍回荡着今日所学的毒草、危机、奇珍异药……他太累了，许久未曾如此疲惫，然在这片深林中，他却第一次生出了求生的希望。

“我会学的。” 他低声呢喃，意识逐渐被黑暗吞没，呼吸渐趋绵长。“我会学会一切。”