Starting as a Talisman Master

The murmurs in the front hall abruptly ceased.

Wei Hong's arrogance froze abruptly, and his chest sank.

Absurd! I have devoted myself to the study of talismans for many years, exhausting my efforts, and only by chance did I obtain this talisman. How dare you, a mere inexperienced youth, claim to have created your own?

The words were already on the tip of his tongue, but he forcefully held them back.

With the situation unfolding here today, and Mu Changfeng watching from the sidelines, if he were to lose his composure in public, it would appear as if he were afraid.

Furthermore, he was afraid that a careless remark would give the kid an excuse to cause trouble, and if something unexpected happened, he wouldn't be able to intimidate him, but would instead become a laughingstock.

So Wei Hong swallowed his anger, gave a light snort, and his expression grew even colder, as if he wanted to see what tricks the kid opposite him was up to.

Lu Chi remained calm and composed, dipped his brush in spirit sand, and with his wrist suspended in the air, began to draw on the blank talisman paper with fluid strokes.

With each stroke of the pen, an even more chilling aura than before permeated the hall, and the deep blue runes on the paper quickly condensed into frost.

As everyone watched him write with such speed and skill, the lines and patterns were so complex and unusual that they were unlike anything they had ever seen before. The already quiet front hall was suddenly filled with a low gasp of disbelief.

"It's...it's also a newly created talisman?"

As the last stroke of the talisman was perfectly completed, the flash of inspiration vanished.

Lu Chi examined the chilling new talisman on the table, then stroked his chin thoughtfully and sighed dramatically:

"This talisman... it combines the sharpness of the 'Ice Arrow' with the trapping power of the 'Ice Prison,' so let's just call it... 'Ice Prison Piercing Cloud Talisman.' Senior Wei, what do you think of this name I've chosen? Is it fitting?"

Upon hearing these words, Wei Hong's cold smile froze instantly, his hands behind his back trembled violently, and undisguised surprise and hesitation welled up in his eyes.

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

Lu Chi's few casual words clearly and accurately hit the real truth behind his so-called "self-created" method!

This kid actually saw right through his trick of disassembling and reassembling the parts with just one glance.

And you can even draw it on the spot!

Qin Su Niang took in Wei Hong's stiff reaction as if facing a formidable enemy. Her tense back finally relaxed, and a bright smile of relief involuntarily appeared on her red lips.

Seeing Wei Hong's sudden loss of momentum, Mu Changfeng knew something was wrong and coughed heavily.

"Master Lu is indeed quite skilled. However, since you and Master Wei have each created your own talisman today, your abilities are roughly equal. It's still uncertain who should claim the top spot!"

"Oh? It's still unknown?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chi calmly moved the newly drawn talisman aside and casually pulled out a blank talisman from the table, laying it flat in front of him.

"Who told Elder Mu that I only created this one talisman?"

"In that case, please look at this second one."

Lu Chi picked up his brush again with his right hand, and as the brush fell, this time he followed the gentle approach of the Spirit Gathering Talisman.

A new talisman, radiating spiritual light, leaps onto the paper.

"This talisman is temporarily named the [Life-Gathering Spirit Talisman]. Not only does it gather energy faster than usual, but it also contains spiritual power that can automatically replenish itself when it is depleted."

He casually tossed the talisman, and it swirled in the air, subtly generating a weak suction force. Its spiritual pressure was significantly stronger than that of a first-grade high-level spirit-gathering talisman.

Before everyone could recover from their astonishment, Lu Chi continued without pause, his left hand moving in tandem.

Although he did not use the [Combined Brush] technique, the strength of his soul was now vastly different from what it used to be.

The third talisman was laid flat, and the patterns of the Golden Light Mantra were broken into pieces by him, but at the key points, it was forcibly locked by several extremely strong talisman feet.

"Freeze!"

With a low shout, a golden light flashed.

"This third one is called the [Overlapping Golden Light Talisman]."

Lu Chi twitched his fingertips slightly, and a golden shield instantly enveloped him. Outside the golden shield, a layer of illusory shield shadows appeared faintly.

Three "self-created" talismans, each with a completely different and wondrous color, were presented to the public in full view of everyone.

The gasps of surprise from below the testing platform had already blended together.

Even the most obtuse rogue cultivator could see that Lu Chi was not only fighting with talismans, but also "deconstructing" Wei Hong's methods on the spot.

Using the same tricky variation, he instantly developed several completely different branches. This almost terrifying comprehension and success rate of the talisman had already exceeded the comprehension of everyone present.

Lu Chi let out a long sigh of relief, a bead of sweat appearing on his forehead, but the faint smile on his lips became even more pronounced.

"Elder Mu, Master Wei, is the position of chief still 'uncertain'?"

Two more talismans actually appeared! Wei Hong stared intently at the three new talismans, his throat tightening, and most of his previous composure had vanished.

She forced herself not to show any fear, but her knuckles were already clenched white in her sleeves. A thought quietly moved her, and she transmitted it to Mu Changfeng's ears.

"Fellow Daoist Mu, this young man is no ordinary person. He has completed all three talismans without the slightest effort. We should not rush the matters we discussed earlier. If we push too hard, things may change. We should consider this carefully."

Mu Changfeng was also caught off guard. He let out a long breath and suppressed the gloom in his heart. He forced a very stiff smile onto his old face.

"Master Lu is truly gifted and has broadened my horizons considerably. This exchange has clearly shown who is superior, and the position of 'Chief Talisman Master' naturally belongs to Master Lu."

Lu Chi remained calm, showing no sign of smugness, and spoke with sharp precision: "Elder Mu, you flatter me. However, I remember that you said earlier that if I could truly create the talisman, you would have to condescend to personally grind the talisman sand for me."

"Now that the talisman is complete, I happen to be missing a box of suitable cinnabar on my desk. I wonder when the elder... will fulfill his promise?"

Mu Changfeng's smile froze instantly. "Then please wait patiently, Master Lu."

Lu Chi chuckled lightly, flicked his fingertips, and three new talismans, still fragrant with ink, floated into the arms of the Qixia Sect disciples waiting nearby.

"These three talismans are all of superior quality and each possesses unique abilities. They will be kept in the pavilion for sale today. Fellow Daoists, if you are interested, please feel free to examine and purchase them."

A soft murmur rippled through the crowd below the stage, and many cultivators, their eyes burning with desire, began to secretly weigh the spirit stones in their pockets.

Immediately, Lu Chi turned around, looked at Wei Hong, whose face was ashen, slightly cupped his hands, and spoke calmly:

"Senior Wei has been famous for a long time and has extensive experience in the art of talismans. It would be a great blessing for the Moon Concealment Pavilion to have Senior Wei join it in the future, and I, Lu, will also have the opportunity to verify his abilities."

This kid has a rare kind of composure; he knows how to respect the elderly and care for the young. Old Monster Mu has done me a great disservice today. If it weren't for his coercion and enticement, how could I have made such a fool of myself in this marketplace?

The stiffness on Wei Hong's old face eased slightly, and he returned Lu Chi's greeting. Although his tone was still awkward, it was less hostile: "Fellow Daoist Lu... you're too kind."

Upon seeing this, Mu Changfeng's eyes darkened even more.

Unexpectedly, Wei Hong suddenly felt a sense of kinship with this kid, which made him feel like he had a bone stuck in his throat, but he couldn't show it.

Lu Chi ignored the two people with their own thoughts and, amidst the astonished and wary gazes of the crowd, slowly walked down from the talisman-testing platform and went straight to Qin Su Niang.

He met the lingering surprise and curiosity in those beautiful eyes with a calm expression.

Although he did not speak, his composure in silence spoke volumes, and it truly conveyed the meaning of "I have fulfilled my mission."

Today, Qin Su Niang wore a moon-white, wide-sleeved, double-breasted dress with a dark floral pattern. Due to the emotional fluctuations just now, her fair and delicate chest was rising and falling slightly, like ripples on a calm lake.

She was born with a stunningly beautiful oval face, her eyes sparkling, and the voluptuous charm and allure unique to mature women she possessed was like a ripe peach, exuding an enticing moisture and fragrance.

In this situation, Liu Qing subconsciously glanced at Cao Zhen and said with feigned admiration, "Master Lu was truly like a pillar supporting the sky today, so majestic. I suppose after this, he will hold a transcendent position in my sister's heart, far beyond what we can compare to."

Cao Zhen turned slightly to the side, and a rather refined smile appeared on his face, which was somewhat roughened by the wind and frost of the fields.

"With such a handsome and elegant appearance as the sect leader, wouldn't it be a waste to have such a celestial aura if one were surrounded by mediocre and vulgar people? I am very relieved to see Fellow Daoist Lu."

Liu Qing felt a throbbing vein on his forehead and almost couldn't catch his breath.

What kind of talk is this? Is this person implying that Liu is a "mediocre person, a worthless nobody"?

"You...you old farmer, your mind has been spoiled by too much manure, and you spout nonsense!"