Starting as a Talisman Master

Job panel?

As Lu Chi stared at the light and shadow hanging in front of him, after the initial shock subsided, a strange sense of familiarity slowly surfaced.

The words, structure, and way of prompting did not seem abrupt to him.

Since even the wisdom from past lives can suddenly surface at a certain moment, then having an additional job panel in front of you doesn't seem entirely unacceptable.

With a slight thought, the panel changed accordingly, shrinking and unfolding without any sluggishness.

Lu Chi's gaze quickly fell on that line of words.

[Currently Unlockable]: Rune Master (Unlocking in progress)

Talisman Master.

Having spent three years in the market, he was certainly familiar with this title.

A person who can draw new talismans can create a single talisman that can ward off evil, defeat enemies, and protect the body. It can be used at will, and its spiritual power will linger for a long time. Only then can one be called a "talisman master".

As for repairing old talismans, it's nothing more than copying others' work, a barely passable skill that doesn't even qualify as a basic skill.

Lu Chi was well aware of this, and it was precisely because he was aware of it that his heart stirred slightly.

"Could it be... that once I unlock the Rune Master class, I can truly become a Rune Master?"

Among all the arts of cultivating immortality, the art of talismans has the easiest entry threshold.

Alchemy requires the proper combination of fire and furnace, as well as an understanding of one's spiritual essence; drawing talismans, however, only requires the preparation of a talisman brush, ink, and paper, and the location is not restricted.

But to truly go far, one still needs both tradition and talent.

Without the tempering of years and a lack of insight, one can only remain outside the door, unable to grasp the inner workings.

But if he can't become a talisman master immediately, as long as this so-called profession unlock can provide some guidance when he draws talismans and help him avoid some detours, that would be a very worthwhile thing.

At least, it's much better than him being completely clueless right now.

Lu Chi's gaze shifted downwards, landing on the target to be unlocked.

[Repairing three talismans (completed)]

He was startled, then realized what was happening.

Those must have been the three discarded talismans he casually repaired at the talisman shop.

As for the rest...

[First time creating a talisman]

Lu Chi stared at the line of text, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

The way to create a talisman lies not in repairing it, but in drawing a completely new, usable talisman from beginning to end, which is by no means easy.

He subconsciously weighed the options in his mind, and a glimmer of hope arose within him.

"If you only draw the simplest rat-repelling talisman... it doesn't sound too difficult."

He could barely scrape together the talisman paper and ink.

As for the talismans, if they were just low-grade rat-repelling, dust-removing, or clothing-cleaning talismans, he had practiced them countless times over the years and knew them by heart. He could recall about 70-80% of them even with his eyes closed.

Of course, rat-repelling talismans are not considered high-class items in the marketplace, and anyone who can draw such a talisman cannot be called a talisman master.

For cultivators, a simple spell can repel insects and ward off evil spirits, so why would they spend spirit money to buy it?

Most of them were sold to ordinary households, or to shops and warehouses to prevent rodent infestation, for the sake of convenience.

However, the panel only says "First time creating a talisman once", without specifying what kind of talisman to draw or what grade it should be.

If it only recognizes the result as a talisman, then even the most inconspicuous rat-repelling talisman, as long as it is formed, should be valid...

Lu Chi stared at the line of text, a mixture of caution and schadenfreude rising in his heart at the same time.

Without further hesitation, he untied the cloth bundle, took out the spirit sand and talisman brush, and then bent down to pull out a thin wooden box from under the bed. He lifted the lid, and inside were several talisman papers pressed down.

It wasn't anything precious, but it wasn't cheap either; it was just the most common talisman paper found in the market.

The paper is tough yet not brittle, with a fine texture that allows ink to adhere without spreading, and it is sufficient to convey a touch of spirituality.

Normally, talisman repairers don't need these things, so having them in his little hut seems a bit out of place.

Lu Chi lightly pressed the corner of the paper with his fingertip, and his memories quietly surfaced.

He once had the idea that he had seen a lot of talisman-making and foot-mending techniques in the talisman shop every day, and that he might actually have some talent. He thought that if he practiced at home a few times, he could be able to get the hang of being a talisman master.

He had used up a lot of paper and ground ink several times, but in the end, he could only capture the form, not the spirit. He was still an outsider.

Later, he gave up on the idea, but still kept a few talismans, as if he had left a lingering thought and was unwilling to completely sever it.

Now, these few sheets of paper have become the only usable material he has.

Lu Chi did not rush to put pen to paper. He first sat upright for a moment, calmed his mind, and practiced breathing exercises, slowly following the Qigong manual.

Qi enters the dantian and circulates through the meridians, like water flowing along a channel.

After two weeks of walking, the restlessness in my chest subsided, and my fingertips gradually became steady.

Only then did he get up and grind the ink.

He set the talisman brush aside, took out a small inkstone, dripped two drops of water on it, and ground it very slowly, the sound as soft as a silkworm's grazing.

As the ink began to rise, he took out a small pinch of spirit sand from his sleeve, rubbed it between his fingers, hesitated for a moment, and finally sprinkled it into the inkstone.

Spiritual sand is the fine shavings left after spiritual stones are worn away. After refining to remove impurities, it still retains a trace of spirituality.

Fifty taels of spirit sand can be exchanged for a low-grade spirit stone.

For cultivators, it can be used as a means of small transactions, or incorporated into medicine, formations, and talismans. Although it is not as transparent as spirit stones, it is the most durable and the one they are most reluctant to waste.

Lu Chi watched as the drop of spiritual sand dissolved into the ink, and his eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

This little bit of sand is enough for him to breathe and breathe for several days.

Now, however, it must be poured into the inkstone; whether it succeeds or fails, it will all be poured to the bottom.

"Every effort should be rewarded... Don't let the words of the ancients deceive me."

Lu Chi picked up his pen without further hesitation.

The rat-repelling talisman is one of the most common talismans. Its pattern is not complicated. Following the direction he had memorized, he wrote it in one stroke, connecting the head, body, and foot of the talisman into one continuous line.

As the final stroke was completed, the surface of the talisman tightened slightly, as if the ink patterns were being held back by something, and the spiritual energy lay dormant within the paper, faintly forming a ring.

"It was done in one go."

Lu Chi paused for a moment, a few thoughts racing through his mind: Was it because his mind was more stable? Or had the panel secretly altered his constitution? Or... was it just pure luck? Well, that seemed more likely.

He didn't think any further, just stared at the completed talisman and slowly exhaled.

It's good that the talisman is complete.

With a thought, Lu Chi silently saw the interface appear before him. He glanced at it, and his heart sank and then jumped.

[Class unlocked: Rune Master]

[Acquiring Professional Traits: Familiarity]

[Gained Talent: Burning Thoughts]

With a thought, Lu Chi opened the interface.

[Occupation: Rune Master]

【Level: Lv.1 (0/30)】

【Root Nature: Familiarity】: All the talismans you handle can be accumulated and mastered. With deep mastery, your writing will be smooth, your energy flow will be stable, and the creation of talismans will be easier, while also saving energy.

【Talent: Burning Mind】: Can temporarily deplete the mind and focus the attention on the brush, used for creating talismans to pass levels. Even talismans that are originally difficult to create can be forcibly made. However, after the task is completed, one will be exhausted and need to rest and recuperate.

The lettering on the panel had faded, but the lights in the room seemed to have brightened slightly.

"I see... Once a class is unlocked, it will generate a corresponding talent. With each level up, a new talent will be added."

"As for 'innate qualities,' they are more like the foundation upon which one establishes oneself in this profession. They are a constant blessing from the very beginning of one's career, requiring no prompting and always present within oneself."

"Hmm...it's actually like a passive skill, the so-called class panel, which is somewhat similar to the settings in those games from my previous life."

Lu Chi sat quietly for a moment, his mind unusually clear. He first glanced at the proficiency section.

[Rat-repelling charm - Beginner: Proficiency 10/100]

The number was small, but it made his heart skip a beat.

From then on, no matter what talisman I drew, I could see progress, and each stroke showed improvement, which was truly worry-free.

Then, his gaze fell on that innate divine ability.

【Burning Thoughts】

Let's just test it now.

Lu Chi's heart sank.

In an instant, a line of heat seemed to tighten in his sea of ​​consciousness, his thoughts became extremely narrow, and even his breathing became lighter.

He changed to a new sheet of talisman paper, dipped it in ink, picked up his brush, focused his mind, and silently recited the talisman he wished to create.

With natural talent, his hands are steady and his mind is focused; the ease with which he performs his work is almost immediately apparent.

He felt more confident, but he didn't act rashly. A thought quickly shifted, and he decided on the most suitable candidate for his trial:

Ice Arrow Talisman!

This talisman is a first-tier talisman, its essence is icy cold. When activated, there is no fire or thunder, only a sharp line breaking through the air, a cold arrow like a bolt, heading straight for nearby targets.

If the opponent's protective aura is not fully formed, or is only a thin layer, it is as if one is being shot by cold arrows, blood lines will immediately appear on the skin and flesh, the coldness will take advantage of the situation to invade, the meridians will stagnate, and the limbs will become stiff.

When Lu Chi worked as a talisman repairman in the talisman shop, he repaired countless Ice Arrow Talismans.

These talismans were always readily available and sold in large quantities at Luo's talisman shop. They were sold to independent cultivators and spiritual farmers for protection, or to prevent danger when traveling outside the market.

Having seen many broken lines and fragments, he did remember a few of the forked and converging shapes.

But what I had seen was not what I could paint. My memory was fragmented, lacking the whole picture and the overall structure.

However, once the mind is made up at this moment, the blessing of talent will act like an undercurrent pushing a boat.

The vague impressions in his mind were gradually polished and refined:

How the head of the talisman is dotted with cold, how the veins of the talisman guide the energy, and how the feet of the talisman end—all these patterns are laid out layer by layer, so clear that they are almost blinding.

Even more wonderfully, that's not all:

The beginning stroke should be heavy, the turns should be swift, where the ink should be pressed down to conceal the tip, where the wrist should be lifted to reveal the intention, which stroke is cold, which turn is hesitant, all these should be in the order of the mind.

Lu Chi no longer hesitated, his wrist dipped, and the pen fell onto the paper.

The first stroke is like a nail, the second like a guide; the ink lines are sometimes heavy and sometimes light, yet there is no hesitation at the turns. The talisman patterns spread out on the talisman paper, as if they had been practiced hundreds of times.

As the final stroke completes the painting, the brush tip is lightly lifted, and the ink flow ceases...

It was done in one go.

"It's done!" Lu Chi's gaze sharpened, and his heart swelled with excitement.

This is a brand new Ice Arrow Talisman. The runes expand and contract, concealing a hint of coldness, yet still exuding a chilling sharpness.

In the market, a decent quality spirit sand is worth at least thirty or forty taels of spirit sand, while one from a talisman shop is worth more than a low-grade spirit stone.

He swallowed lightly: "Although it's only a low-grade first-level item, it's more than enough to exchange for some spirit sand... I actually managed to draw it?"

Lu Chi's joy lasted only a moment before a heavy weariness washed over him from the depths of his consciousness. His eyelids felt like they were being dragged down by lead, and he was too lazy to even breathe.

He felt a chill run down his spine, and then realized that the price for [Burning Thoughts] had arrived.

This fatigue doesn't damage the meridians or disrupt the energy flow in the dantian; it's more like the exhaustion after the mind and spirit have been drained. Sleepiness presses down layer by layer, and as soon as you close your eyes, you can fall into a deep sleep.

Lu Chi dared not be careless. He mustered his spiritual power to suppress the weakness in his hands and feet, sandwiched the ice arrow talisman with a talisman paper, and stuffed it into the innermost layer of the cloth bag.

They tied two more knots around the outside to prevent it from getting damaged or losing its air.

After doing all this, he slowly got up, holding onto the edge of the table. He walked around the room, tightened the door latch, and touched the warning talisman pasted on the side of the door. The talisman's spiritual power was still stable and had not dissipated.

He was finally relieved.

Lu Chi almost fell back onto the bed, his clothes still on and his hand still resting on the pillow. The next moment, his consciousness was gently swallowed by darkness.