Chapter 4: Creating Insect Talismans (Part 1)

Guo Shier said, “When I had nothing to do, I crafted a bug-fighting basin. According to ancestral memories, talisman practitioners in ancient times used such basins for gambling. I found it interesting, so I made one. I never expected to use it now.”
Monier laughed and asked, “What else have you crafted?”
Guo Shier grinned and replied, “I’ve made all sorts of things—just small trinkets that aren’t very impressive. I made them just because I found it fun.”
With that, he carefully placed the eggs about to hatch into the bug-fighting basin. The basin, being a talisman basin, appeared very small, similar to a daffodil pot from his past life—a shallow little container. But thanks to the talismans, its interior was actually quite large, covering about a hundred square meters. When the eggs were put in, they appeared as tiny green dots from the outside.
After a while, the eggs began to move, and tiny Blade Shadow Beetles crawled out. Due to Guo Shier’s separation of them and the control of the talisman basin, each young Blade Shadow Beetle was confined to a small area. It took about half a day for all of them to hatch.
Monier said, “They’ve all hatched. What’s the next step? Hey, these newly born mutated Blade Shadow Beetles already possess the strength of first-level mutated talisman insects.”
The Blade Shadow Beetles, about a foot long, had black spots on their snow-white bodies, giving them a fierce appearance. They bared their fangs and claws, raising their immature front legs while emitting low chirping sounds.
Guo Shier said, “This is just the first step!” He cast a spell, lifting the restraint that controlled the Beetles’ movement. Instantly, chaos ensued in the basin.
Each young Blade Shadow Beetle attacked, causing complete chaos. White shadows flashed everywhere. Even as larvae, their speed was astonishing. They attacked each other and devoured one another. After more than half an hour, over a hundred of the Beetles were dead, leaving only about sixty, each guarding a small territory.
Monier asked in confusion, “What’s going on?”
Guo Shier replied, “In the end, only the strongest will remain. It’s possible that mutated Blade Shadow Beetles will emerge. We just need to wait patiently.”
After devouring their peers, the remaining Beetles grew to about two feet in length, with a few even reaching nearly three feet. Their strength also reached the level of second-level mutated talisman insects.
Guo Shier said, “Wow, they’re growing so fast! Just a few hours, and they’ve already advanced.”
The Blade Shadow Beetles seemed to have some unspoken understanding. After eating their peers, they each stuck to their territories. It wasn’t until a day later that another fierce battle broke out.

More than twenty survived this time. After the ceasefire, these Blade Shadow Beetles began to molt and then ate their shed exoskeletons. Each mutated Blade Shadow Beetle grew to three feet long, staring at their peers with murderous intent—a killing desire that even Guo Shier and Monier, watching from outside, could sense.

Monier watched with great interest and said, “No wonder some people like fighting battles. It’s indeed interesting.”

Guo Shier used his free time to deal with the mutated Poisonous Toad Frogs and mutated Clearing Green Talisman Snakes, purifying their blood and breaking down their skin, bones, and flesh before sorting them out. He left the flesh of the two mutated Talisman Worms outside, planning to feed it to the young Blade Shadow Beetles.

After the third battle, only five Blade Shadow Beetles remained alive. Guo Shier noticed that one of them had changed and exclaimed happily, “It’s turned red… The front limbs of that Blade Shadow Beetle have turned red! I wonder if it’s a sign of mutation.”

Monier observed carefully for a while before saying uncertainly, “There seems to be a slight sign. Hehe, if mutation really occurs, you’ll make a huge profit. A mutated Talisman Worm is far more valuable for cultivation than a normal one!”

Guo Shier smiled bitterly. “I’ve never seen a mutated Talisman Worm or a mutated Talisman Beast before. I have no idea what they’re like, only knowing from inherited memories how powerful they are.”

Monier shook her head and sighed. “I don’t have such inherited knowledge. I’ve heard some experts talk about them, showing great reverence for mutated Talisman Beasts and worms. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen any either.”

Guo Shier looked at the Blade Shadow Beetles in the basin and said, “Only the five strongest remain. I wonder if they can win.” He then threw in some flesh from the Poisonous Toad Frog, immediately drawing the Beetles’ attention as all five rushed to devour it.

Monier said, “It’s too early to feed them.”

Guo Shier replied, “It’s not too early. Let them replenish their strength a bit. We can’t rush them into fighting, or they won’t have the motivation to mutate.”

Monier watched the Beetles fighting over the food with great interest and said, “Is it almost time? It’s so frustrating to wait! Ah, by the way, your talisman basin is a bit similar to the Spirit-Hiding Talisman… No, it’s more like the Plant-Hiding Talisman!”

Guo Shier nodded. “Yes, this kind of talisman is difficult to craft because it requires Anluo Stone. Hehe, I’ve collected quite a lot of Anluo Stone, so I used it for experimentation. I didn’t expect to use it here.”

Monier was speechless. Using Anluo Stone just for experimentation was such a waste of material.

Guo Shier didn’t care at all. As an elder of the North Talisman Sect, he took the essence part of the Anluo Stone produced there, obtaining a large amount of refined Anluo Stone. He now knew that this material was one of the main components for constructing soul altars. The amount he had stockpiled far exceeded what was needed, and he considered using it to exchange for other auxiliary materials in the future.

The Anluo Stone itself had spatial properties, and with the power of talismans, it could be utilized—making it one of the best materials with spatial attributes. It was the ideal base material for creating planting talismans, spirit-hiding talismans, and insect or beast talismans, though other materials could also be used as substitutes.

The meat thrown in was quickly devoured, and the five Blade Shadow Beetles resumed fighting. Guo Shier focused on the Blade Shadow Beetle with a red line on its front limb. He noticed that this young beetle was extremely fast, having already overtaken the other four, allowing it to seize more opportunities in the battle.

After another bout of fighting, another Blade Shadow Beetle died and was quickly devoured by the remaining four. Then, the four young Blade Shadow Beetles retreated to each corner, seemingly digesting their food.

Three days passed. Qi Nanshan and Eagle Demon dragged back another dead, unidentified mutated talisman insect. Its shape was strange, resembling a longhorn beetle, but no one recognized it. Within a hundred miles around, there were no more mutated talisman insects—both of them had cleared them all away.

There were still three mutated Blade Shadow Beetles left in the talisman basin, all at the third level of mutated talisman insects. The Blade Shadow Beetle with the red line on its front limb also had countless tiny red talisman dots on its back wings, which excited Guo Shier greatly. He felt this was an insect with potential for mutation.

The four of them surrounded the talisman basin, their heads gathered together, reminding Guo Shier of the scene of fighting crickets in his past life, which made him laugh inwardly. But the talisman insects in the basin were anything but funny. That Blade Shadow Beetle, which might become a mutated one, would become extremely powerful once it mutated.

Qi Nanshan said, “It’s been a long time since we fought. The three little things are each guarding a corner. What should we do?”

Guo Shier smiled and said, “I haven’t fed them since yesterday. I only spilled a little blood from the mutated talisman insects so they can smell it but not eat it. I guess in another two days, they’ll start fighting to the death.”

Qi Nanshan sighed, “It’s not easy, Shier. If no mutated Blade Shadow Beetles appear, won’t you suffer losses from all this trouble?”

Guo Shier laughed and said, “I’m not losing. I got to train once. If it doesn’t work… consider it tuition.”

Qi Nanshan praised, “That mindset is good. Great, Grandpa Nanshan supports you!”
Guo Shier nodded. He understood that whether it was Qi Nanshan, Monier, or even the Eagle Demon, they would all be those who supported him.
The next day, Guo Shier specially prepared a feast of talismanic food, letting everyone eat heartily before releasing the talisman basin to observe the changes within.
Monier exclaimed in surprise, “Hey, only two are left. One more… has been eaten!”
Guo Shier hurriedly checked and indeed found only two left. Fortunately, the Blade Shadow Mantis that had been under constant attention was still alive. Its body seemed smaller, with more red spots. On its blade-like forelimbs, the red bloodline was even more vivid. He smiled and said, “If any mutation occurs, it must be this Blade Shadow Mantis!”
This battle was even more intense. The Blade Shadow Mantis with red spots moved at astonishing speed, darting around like lightning, leaving red and white afterimages. With each strike, it inflicted wounds, and in moments, the other Blade Shadow Mantis was already covered in injuries.
Monier said, “What a cunning Blade Shadow Mantis! It never fights head-on and keeps launching sneak attacks. That one can hardly hold on any longer.”
“We won!”
Qi Nanshan raised his head and said emotionally, “Little insects born for battle!”
The Blade Shadow Mantis with red spots successfully defeated its opponent and began devouring its corpse. Guo Shier observed carefully and said, “I’m not sure if this Blade Shadow Mantis has mutated yet. Creating a bug talisman now… never mind. Once it grows bigger, it will be hard to tell.”
He took out the Ancient Capture Pattern Talisman, recited a spell, and the talisman floated in the air. Then he took out the already prepared blank bug talisman, floating opposite the Ancient Capture Pattern Talisman. After dozens of spells, the runes of the Blade Shadow Mantis, originally hidden on the Ancient Capture Pattern Talisman, appeared. Guo Shier gave a light command, “Move!”
The Blade Shadow Mantis formed by runes on the Ancient Capture Pattern Talisman was moved to the blank bug talisman. Guo Shier said, “Amazing talisman. Haha, half done!”
Qi Nanshan said, “One more thing is needed—the spirit of a bug.”
Guo Shier put away the Ancient Capture Pattern Talisman and fiddled with the bug talisman for a while. On the originally blank bug talisman, a lifelike image of a Blade Shadow Mantis appeared. These were the runes from that level-seven Blade Shadow Mantis, fully replicated on the bug talisman. In other words, the shell of the Blade Shadow Mantis had been created; all that was left was to infuse its spirit, and the bug talisman would be complete.

Monier took a look and said, “If it weren’t for the Abnormal Blade Shadow Mantis, its essence wouldn’t be able to withstand this rune shell.”
Guo Shier nodded and said, “That’s right. I’m betting that after the eggs hatch, an Abnormal Blade Shadow Mantis will appear.”
Eagle Demon was a bit puzzled and said, “Mutated rune worms do combine to form abnormal rune worms, but we rarely see them. It shouldn’t be like this.”