Mythical Scroll Artist: Starting with the God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming

Chapter 2 The God of Wealth Appears

Wu Xian left Dengfeng Studio full of high spirits.

At this moment, he saw a glimmer of hope for breaking the deadlock.

The first generation of scroll painters a thousand years ago probably didn't have the conditions we have now, right?
They could turn the rotten into the miraculous back then, and he can do the same now.

In other words, as long as the subject matter is clear, powerful, logically consistent, and recognized by the laws of this world, even a painting made with ordinary materials has the opportunity to become a "Transcendent Scroll".

His solid foundation and splendid culture from his previous life are his greatest source of confidence!

I went to the recycling station, sold the bag full of empty bottles, and got 43.5 yuan.

On his way home, he stopped in front of a painting supplies store, but the expensive prices of the supplies made him hesitate to buy.

Posters for major brands of drawing paper and paint are plastered in shop windows, with prices that are increasingly outrageous.

Even the practice paper used by artists to draw drafts costs at least 89 yuan per sheet. No wonder your family has to buy a house if you get into an art studio.

He's such a poor guy, he really can't afford it.

So he turned around and spent over a hundred yuan to buy some wine, meat and food to nourish his elderly grandfather.

He was supposed to take the bus home, but today he decided to splurge and flagged down a taxi.

"Hello, driver, I need to go to Sanzaigang in the old town..."

"Alright." The driver kicked the Spirit Gate and took off.

Wu Xian curiously looked around the interior of the carriage. "Master, this carriage looks a bit old. How's the spirit consumption?"

"It's alright~ It gets 8.9 spirit energy per 100 kilometers, but there are more and more minor problems. I plan to get a new one next year. Didn't Biguandi release a new model? I heard that the spirit energy consumption is below 5, and the price isn't expensive either. It's perfect for us to drive as taxis."

Wu Xian nodded in agreement.

He had also seen the advertisement for the new B&B car, and it did indeed have a good price-performance ratio.

When I start making money, I plan to buy a car for transportation.

If he could, he would love to draw one himself, but he has never been able to figure out the production principle of this kind of mechanical and technological scroll.

How can a painting be turned into a car? And how can it actually be driven?

Yes, the vehicles in this world are also "Scrolls," and they don't burn oil or use electricity, but consume something called spiritual energy.

Psychic energy is an extraordinary energy brought about by interdimensional invasion, and it is also the power cultivated by many spirit masters.

Wu Xian awakened his talent for spiritual energy cultivation in his first year of high school and has just reached the second level of spiritual energy cultivation.

Because they couldn't afford the [Scroll], they weren't even considered Spirit Masters.

As the taxi entered the old town, the sky darkened noticeably, especially towards Sanzaigang, where the distorted and gloomy sky resembled the end of the world.

The area around Sanzaigang is a mixed bag, with frequent incidents of leakage from other dimensions, and the rent is much lower than in the new city area.

Back in the chaotic shantytown, Wu Xian could see his grandfather's gaunt figure still sorting through various scraps in the distance. His right leg, which had been injured by an alien monster, was limping. This made Wu Xian even more determined to make money.

Others may want to become scroll painters for the prestigious status, a sense of accomplishment, or to realize their self-worth, and so on.

But Wu Xian had only one purpose in becoming a scroll painter: to make money!

"Grandpa, your grandson has grown up. If you feel bored, you can play chess or cards with Uncle Wang and the others."

Helping the old man back into the house, she was filled with a desire for money.

“It’s alright, I’m just idling around anyway,” the old man waved his hand and smiled, his eyes full of affection. “Going to university will cost a lot of money later on.”

“No need,” Wu Xian said, his eyes slightly red. “My grandson isn’t planning on going to university.”

"Huh?" The old man froze.

"Your grandson will become an excellent scroll painter, so just wait and enjoy your retirement!"

"Wouldn't that cost even more money?"

The old man remained silent for a long time before resolutely standing up. "Grandpa can still collect things for a few more years. I heard that there are often scroll painters' activities on North Street. Maybe I can find something useful for my precious grandson."

"..."

Wu Xian hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, but the old man was determined to do as he pleased.

Watching the old man push his dilapidated tricycle away, Wu Xian turned and went back into the house.

Take a deep breath, and with the most ordinary drawing paper and paint, begin to paint.

Soon, a picture of the God of Wealth, which was popular in the previous life, was drawn.

Since we're at our wits' end, we should definitely draw the God of Wealth first!

I don't know if the God of Wealth is useful in this world, but what if he is?
"Is it really not okay to just draw it like this?"

They would paste a picture of the God of Wealth on the wall, bow deeply to show respect, and pray for the God of Wealth's blessing.

Then I started trying various methods.

Before he knew it, the room was covered with all sorts of versions and styles of God of Wealth paintings, but he still didn't see any signs of anything extraordinary.

"Was I too impatient? I need to calm down and focus on drawing," Wu Xian pondered to himself.

And on the other side at this time.

In a villa in a bustling new urban area.

Under the watchful eyes of her father and brother, Tang Tiaotiao repeatedly tries to draw the little white rabbit she "conceives".

Unfortunately, it has failed several times in a row.

"Don't be nervous, girl. Just feel it with your heart and take it slow!" Tang Zhenghong, the head of the Tang family, gently comforted her, but the seriousness and importance on his face were evident.

Although the daughter's painting scroll failed one after another, the strange phenomena and auras that arose each time she painted it were quite astonishing.

If successfully drawn, it will be an incredibly powerful scroll, and a brand new scroll exclusively belonging to the Tang family.

Soon, the drawing paper was once again filled with divine light, and the entire drawing paper was locked by the laws of heaven and earth. The cute little white rabbit that was gradually taking shape on the drawing paper seemed to be coming to life.

Unfortunately, the next second, the entire sheet of paper shattered into dust.

"Ugh, it's so annoying, I always fall just short. I'm giving up~ I'm not drawing anymore."

Tang Tiaotiao was starting to get impatient.

Seeing this, Tang Beng could only sigh helplessly, "Take it slow. After all, it's a painting spirit conceived and imagined by Tiaotiao; no one can take it away." "You'll be entering the art studio in a week. These next few days, work on refining and perfecting it, and try to finish drawing it before you start school." Tang Zhenghong said seriously, "You're the hope of our family now. You can't be as playful as before, understand?"

"Okay~." Tang Tiaotiao gave a perfunctory smirk.

……

"There's hope?!"

Wu Xian, on the other hand, was thrilled to feel the faint energy fluctuations in the image of the God of Wealth before him.

The various portraits of the God of Wealth in the room seemed to echo the paintbrush in his hand.

After calming down and drawing carefully, it really worked.

"Perhaps we should be more devout?"

As I pondered, myths and legends about the God of Wealth kept replaying in my mind, and my desire for money transformed into piety towards the God of Wealth.

In a daze, it seemed as if I had connected with some kind of power in this world, and a blurry figure gradually materialized in the depths of my mind.

The paper under his brush began to shimmer with a faint light and emanate a mysterious spiritual energy.

Everything that followed seemed to happen naturally.

"Om~!"

As the God of Wealth took shape on the drawing paper, the image of the God of Wealth in my mind also became clear and was deeply imprinted in my spiritual consciousness.

At the same time, the spiritual energy and psychic power within the body rapidly surged into the drawing paper, and even a portion of the soul and life force was extracted.

Buzz~!

A blood-red divine light, mixed with the color of blood, enveloped the painting paper, with golden threads embroidering the edges. A simple, blood-red jade scroll was gathered at one end of the scroll.

The power of nature bound it together into a scroll.

The figures in the painting seem to come alive, their vitality almost overflowing.

【Zhao Gongming, the True Lord of the Mysterious Altar】

Version: Original (with gold embroidered border)

Rank: Crimson Fate Scroll

Painting Spirit: ★☆

Spirituality: 13
Innate Traits: Attracts wealth and treasures, protects the body with wealth, and controls lightning and electricity.
"It's done!"

Feeling the information in the scroll in his mind, Wu Xian was extremely excited.

As the scroll depicting the God of Wealth took shape, his spiritual power also increased significantly.

This is the power of the scroll painter: creating a scroll can enhance one's spiritual power, and the more powerful the scroll, the greater the enhancement.

【Xuan Tan Zhen Jun - Zhao Gongming】As the original scroll, it is appearing in this world for the first time and is granted "copyright" by the laws of the world, which will bring a greater boost to spiritual power.

The illustrated scrolls are divided into: original (with gold embroidered border), original (with gold border), copy (with silver border), and rubbing (with white border).

The so-called "original" refers to "original works" with copyright owned by people like Wu Xian.

The original is a public domain copyright. For example, after Wu Xian's death, even if others can draw the God of Wealth, it can only be the "original".

Of these, only the original and the first copy can provide an increase in mental power. The duplicate and the rubbing will not provide any increase in mental power, but they can bring certain benefits in other aspects.

"Spirit Painter, level one and a half stars, Crimson Fate Axis?"

Looking at the information about the God of Wealth's rank, Wu Xian fell into deep thought.

"So it really is different from a normal scroll painting?"

According to the knowledge taught at the school, the quality of a painting scroll is divided into six grades: wooden scroll, copper scroll, silver scroll, gold scroll, jade scroll, and black scroll. These grades are closely related to the strength of the painting spirit, the painting skill, and the materials used in the painting scroll.

But what the heck is this "Crimson Fate Axis"?

A special rank independent of the six major rank categories? A rank with potential for growth?
Wu Xian didn't bother to dwell on these things; once he started making money, he would naturally have the opportunity to learn about this subject.

The level of the God of Wealth's painting spirit is one and a half stars. It can be gradually improved through cultivation.

As for the term "spirituality," it can be understood as a performance rating for the scroll.

The painting spirit is like a computer system and software, while the scroll made of painting paper and paint is like the computer hardware. The better the hardware, the better the performance.

Of course, excellent systems and software can also improve performance to some extent.

The two complement each other.

Take the God of Wealth for example. These 13 points of spiritual power are entirely genuine, purely due to the God of Wealth's own awesomeness.

With a slight thought, the scroll unfurled in mid-air, spreading with golden-red divine light.

The figure of the God of Wealth appears from the scroll.

Dressed in a red robe and golden armor, with a black face and thick beard, he sat astride a black tiger, surrounded by auspicious clouds and precious light. He held a steel whip in one hand and a gold ingot in the other, his face solemn and majestic.

"As expected of the God of Wealth, he seems to have a hundred million points of strength."

Feeling the powerful aura of the God of Wealth and the effects of those three innate traits, Wu Xian was extremely excited.

He immediately bowed to the painting of the God of Wealth and made a sincere prayer.

"May the God of Wealth bless us. We don't ask for great wealth and status, we just want Grandpa to have a few more good days."

The God of Wealth's expression shifted slightly, as if responding to Wu Xian's prayer.

The next second, the phone suddenly rang with a video call ringtone.

Caller ID note: [Jump Boss].

Wu Xian answered the phone with a puzzled look, "Tang, what can I do for you?"

"Call me Sister Tiao!" Tang Tiaotiao emphasized seriously. "Well, what was the situation with the graduation project I commissioned from you before? I can't quite remember."

Wu Xian glanced at the painting of the God of Wealth in astonishment.

Is this the beginning of its miraculous manifestation?

(End of this chapter)