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

Chapter 50 First Encounter with the Tattooed Guy

Wu Xian was stunned and speechless. "A glorious evolution?"

“That’s right,” Zhang Mazi’s eyes lit up. “This sentence really resonated with our leaders and has now become our philosophy and slogan.”

"..." Wu Xian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

It's just a simple slogan, why take it so seriously?
No, the fact that they endorse this slogan so readily speaks volumes.

"Don't tell me you're really doing some kind of evolution of life?" Wu Xian asked cautiously.

Zhang Mazi remained noncommittal, then showed Wu Xian the muscles on his forearm, "Isn't this a great evolution for us?"

Wu Xian was speechless for a moment.

As expected, those who engage in human body modification are all "madmen".

"From what I've observed, your powerful physical strength comes from spiritual matter, right?" Wu Xian asked, taking the opportunity to inquire.

“Of course,” Zhang Mazi nodded, “Just as the power of the scroll comes from spiritual pigments, why can’t we humans directly obtain power through spiritual matter?”

"That makes sense, but is it really okay to put spiritual substances inside the human body?"

"Of course there will be problems, but it's all worth it."

The henchman chimed in, "That's right, at least it's better than wasting all that spiritual energy and having to live in a garbage dump."

"What scroll painters can do, we can do too!"

"..."

Wu Xian's expression was stiff, but it was understandable.

As they say, people at the bottom have no future, even if they have the ability to cultivate spiritual energy.

Take himself for example. If he hadn't transmigrated here with memories of his past life, he might be struggling in the garbage dump like Zhang Mazi and Zhao He.

"Why not save up some money and buy a scroll?" Wu Xian asked, puzzled.

"Scroll painting?" Zhang Mazi scoffed. "You might not believe it, but I still have two scroll painting loans to pay off, but thankfully I'm almost done with them."

"Huh?" Wu Xian asked in surprise, "Then why don't I see you using the scroll?"

"It broke."

Zhang Mazi shrugged and smiled, seemingly having let it go.

Wu Xian was speechless for a moment.

Only then did he realize a crucial issue: the scroll could be broken, making it a consumable item for spirit masters.

Excellent scrolls are fine, but second- or third-rate scrolls are not so durable.

For example, wasn't Zhao He's Demon-Slaying Blade shattered by Zhang Mazi?
Especially when you're risking your life in a dungeon, the scroll breaking is a minor issue; you're lucky if you can survive.

From a certain perspective, the act of ordinary people saving money to buy the scrolls is more like an "entrepreneurial" behavior.

As for the consequences of starting a business, I suppose I don't need to elaborate.

If we add the element of a loan, it's terrifying, absolutely terrifying!

Of course, you can choose not to "start a business" and be an ordinary ox or horse, but what if your little ox or horse awakens a talent for spiritual cultivation?

Or perhaps, a dimensional leak will suddenly occur?
Wu Xian became increasingly alarmed as he thought about it.

Before we knew it, we had arrived at the border between the North Street area and the shantytown, a place known as the Ratway Street.

It's a place where people in the shantytowns usually spend their time, and it has everything they need, but it's also the kind of place with an extremely high crime rate.

In short: the product may not be beautiful, but the price is definitely cheap.

The air was filled with a mixture of various foul odors, and several long, white legs passed by, along with a pungent smell of cheap perfume.

Wu Xian felt unwell all over and frowned.

He disliked this kind of place in his past life, so naturally he's not interested in it in this one either.

"Yo~ Hina!" A skinny guy with a grinning face saw Wu Xian and his eyes lit up. "Want to play, little brother? A three-and-a-half-star succubus, I guarantee you won't be able to get enough of her."

Zhang Mazi frowned and blocked the man's way. "Get out of the way, we have important business to attend to."

"So you're one of Brother Pockmark's men," the skinny guy grinned and teased. "With our relationship, I should get this benefit, right?"

Zhang Mazi waved his hand impatiently and led Wu Xian and the others away.

Wu Xian, however, was aroused to great interest.

Holy crap, there really is a succubus scroll!
"The Succubus Scroll?" Wu Xian asked curiously. "What, you don't know?" Zhang Mazi's expression was strange.

Are you kidding me? A rich young master like me has probably never played the Succubus Scroll.

Wu Xian shook his head, "This is my first time in a place like this."

“No wonder,” Zhang Mazi chuckled. “The Succubus Scroll improves itself by extracting men’s essence, especially a virgin like you, who is a great tonic for a succubus.”

"oh oh."

Wu Xian didn't understand but felt it was impressive.

But to be honest, he was quite curious to see what the succubus scroll looked like.

“Hey~ we’re here,” Zhang Mazi stopped in his tracks. “Behave yourself once you go inside.”

Wu Xian stared in astonishment at the small storefront in front of him; it turned out to be a small clinic.

Inside, you can see several patients receiving treatment, as well as a bald young man, around thirty years old, covered in black tattoos that have been repainted and altered all over his body.

"Hello, my name is Wu Xian."

Although I was mentally prepared, I was still taken aback by the man's appearance.

Looking at the layers of tattoos on his body, is he really a "human body painting artist"?
The bald, tattooed guy grinned at him and said, "Lin Yang, please come in."

He followed Lin Yang into the inner room of the clinic and sat down.

"I heard you're quite interested in our Glorious Evolution?" Tattooed guy Lin Yang looked Wu Xian up and down. "Tsk tsk, it's rare to meet someone who can appreciate my art."

“Well, there’s no need for evolution,” Wu Xian said, also looking at the tattooed man with curiosity. “I’m just curious.”

Upon hearing this, tattooed guy Lin Yang was visibly taken aback.

"Did you implant spiritual pigments into the human body through tattooing?" Wu Xian asked, full of doubt. "How did you do that? Won't that kill the person?"

"So, they've already caught the attention of the upper-class police officers?"

But the tattooed man's face darkened, and his voice turned cold.

"Brother, you've misunderstood. I'm not a policeman," Wu Xian quickly explained. "I'm just curious about your incredible methods. It's hard to imagine how you can perfectly integrate spiritual substances into the human body."

Lin Yang asked with skepticism, "What, you also understand spiritual matter?"

"good."

"Scroll painter?"

Lin Yang's expression was strange.

"I guess so, I just got my internship certificate."

Wu Xian didn't hold back; since they were going to exchange ideas and learn from each other, they naturally had to be open and honest.

"Really?" Lin Yang asked skeptically. "A noble scroll painter would actually be interested in such a petty trick of mine? Shouldn't they scoff at it?"

"Why not?" Wu Xian asked, puzzled. "I think your skill is amazing!"

Lin Yang was still skeptical. "Let me see the certificate," he said.

Wu Xian calmly showed his internship certificate, and Lin Yang's eyes lit up. He stepped forward and examined it closely.

"A top student from the art studio, right?" Lin Yang sighed regretfully. "It's a pity he didn't pass the entrance exam back then, otherwise he wouldn't have ended up like this."

"I'm not from the art studio, I'd say I'm a freelance painter," Wu Xian explained with a light laugh.

"A self-taught scroll artist?" Lin Yang rolled his eyes and waved his hand speechlessly: "Don't be ridiculous~ I've been self-studying scroll painting for years, it's impossible, I've never seen anyone get a certificate through self-study."

"Maybe I'm just more talented," Wu Xian joked.

"You really passed the exam through self-study?" Lin Yang was stunned.

Wu Xian laughed and said, "You might not believe it, but back then I couldn't even afford the registration fee for applying to the art studio, so I didn't even qualify for the exam."

"Could it be... that I still have hope?"

Lin Yang's eyes sparkled, and he murmured to himself, looking as if his dreams and hopes had been rekindled.

Then, he stepped forward and grasped Wu Xian's hand, his gaze sincere.

"Hey bro~ Need some pointers! I won't let you teach me for nothing, I'll pay for it!"

(End of this chapter)