Starting as a Talisman Master

Cao Zhen's expression softened somewhat, and he raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, saying, "Fellow Daoist Lu, please."

After saying that, he stepped aside half a step, and then subtly led Zhou Jinyan to the side, leaving a clean space.

Zhou Jinyan was pulled aside by him, her brows furrowed and her eyes full of worry, as if she was afraid that Lu Chi would make a mistake and lose even the little bit of face they had shown each other.

Lu Chi did not turn around or meet his gaze. He simply reached for the paper, pressed down the corner, straightened the inkstone, opened the bottle, and dipped it in ink. His movements were unhurried and deliberate, as skilled as someone repairing talismans in a talisman shop.

What he was about to draw was a spirit-gathering talisman.

After the panel was upgraded, he was already able to create the talisman on his own, and he was confident in his abilities.

However, as he began to write, he quietly activated the [Burning Thoughts] technique, which cleared his mind, eliminated all distracting thoughts, and allowed his spirit to quickly focus.

The process of drawing the spirit-gathering talisman in the past resurfaced in my mind, no longer fragmented, but connected from beginning to end.

Those previously unnoticed transitions in brushstrokes and points of spiritual energy buffering have gradually become clear.

Lu Chi had wanted to try yesterday whether he could draw a mid-grade spirit-gathering talisman.

Now the time is just right, and after a night of recuperation, the energy and spirit previously depleted have been fully restored, enough to support the consumption of talent.

The brush is lifted, the wrist slightly lowered, and the brush tip falls, first defining the head of the talisman, then guiding the foot, the spiritual ink spreading little by little along the brushstrokes, the lines undulating gracefully.

The room fell silent for a moment.

All that could be heard was the soft sound of the brush tip lightly rubbing against the talisman paper, like fine rain falling on sand, intermittent yet continuous.

Cao Zhen stood beside him, his eyes following the pen's strokes closely, not missing a single detail.

Zhou Jinyan held her breath, her palms clenching slightly.

However, the final stroke was completed in a short while.

Lu Chi let out a soft breath, his face slightly pale.

The consumption was considerable, but still within the normal range of drawing talismans, and it did not arouse any suspicion from others.

He slightly raised his fingertips, and the spiritual energy on the talisman slowly gathered.

A faint light emanated from between the patterns, then receded, as if it were firmly locked by the runes.

It's done!

As he expected, the spirit-gathering talisman he drew on the spot had already entered the mid-grade first rank!

Even among first-tier talismans, there are low-grade, medium-grade, high-grade, and top-grade talismans.

Low-grade talismans have weak spiritual energy and become weak after being activated a few times, often requiring repair or even replacement.

The middle grade is different; its power is substantial, its operation is long-lasting, and its effects are more stable, so its price is naturally several times higher.

Zhou Jinyan stood there stunned, her eyes widening in surprise at first.

It actually worked, and it was even a mid-grade one!

The weight lifted from his heart, yet a strange, inexplicable tremor arose within him.

Cao Zhen stared at the new talisman, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded, saying, "Talisman Master Lu has excellent skills."

When he looked up at Lu Chi again, he was different from before. The cold arrogance and defensiveness he had shown when they first met were gone, replaced by an undisguised seriousness and admiration.

Lu Chi gently laid the talisman flat, looked up and smiled, and said:

"Fellow Daoist Cao, you flatter me. The fact that the talisman was successfully completed today is mostly due to the excellent materials you prepared."

"The ink of this talisman is solid and dense, and it must have been made by finely grinding spirit stones into the ink. Its spiritual essence is pure. The talisman paper is also not an ordinary product. It must be made of green-scaled deer hide, and its texture is dense."

"If it were ordinary, coarse material, it would be difficult to gather inspiration, and no matter how steady the brushstrokes, it would be difficult to achieve the desired form. I merely took advantage of some conveniences; I have no real skill to speak of."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhen shook his head, revealing the typical wry smile of a male protagonist in an online novel:

"Master Lu flatters me. I have indeed prepared these things to learn and use, but after many years of trying, I still can't get the hang of it. All my drawings are just waste paper."

"Seeing Master Lu write on the spot today made me realize where I went wrong, and I have truly benefited. My previous words were offensive; I was being overly cautious. Please forgive me."

Lu Chi waved his hand to indicate that it was alright, and then the three of them sat down again.

He carefully put away the spirit-gathering talisman he had just created, and then took out a stack of talisman papers from his sleeve, saying, "Now that the method has been verified, Fellow Daoist Cao can take another closer look at the talismans in this transaction."

Cao Zhen no longer harbored any doubts and nodded, saying, "That's how it should be."

Zhou Jinyan understood and, without saying anything more, found an excuse to retreat outside the courtyard.

The door closed, and the silence from the silencing note brought the room to a complete halt. He stood outside, knowing only that the two were discussing the deal, but he had no idea how the price was set or how it was agreed upon.

Cao Zhen bent down to examine the talisman closely, his expression becoming more and more settled, and a hint of satisfaction gradually appearing in his eyes.

He didn't press further, but simply nodded and said, "How about including that mid-grade spirit-gathering talisman in this deal as well?"

Lu Chi nodded.

Cao Zhen: "I only have one question: what is the price?"

After a moment's thought, Lu Chi said, "If Fellow Daoist Cao is willing to come and buy often, I dare not ask for a high price. Ten low-grade spirit stones in total, how about that?"

This price was more than 30% lower than the average price in talisman shops, but still much higher than the spirit sand he had sold to Zhou Jinyan.

It was a concession made to take care of acquaintances, so now that I'm dealing with strangers, I don't need to be so lenient.

Cao Zhen frowned slightly, as if weighing his options, but he didn't hesitate for long before finally nodding: "This price is fair."

He immediately flicked his sleeve, and with a gentle shake of his storage bag, spirit stones clattered onto the table, one after another.

With another flick of his sleeve, he collected all ten spirit-gathering talismans from the table into his bag.

The market price of a storage bag is only five low-grade spirit stones, and now I can actually afford to buy one... Lu Chi's eyes twitched slightly. He had only just earned a small amount of income, and he already had such thoughts. It was a bit too extravagant.

But that storage bag is indeed convenient; if one were to be placed inside, it wouldn't be useless.

Cao Zhen carefully put away the talisman, then took out a small jade token from his sleeve and handed it over, saying, "If Master Lu has time in the future, you may come here to find me."

His tone was calm, but he clearly intended to make friends with her.

Lu Chi accepted the jade token, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Cao."

He did not harbor any resentment because of what had just happened. In the world of cultivation, making good connections is far better than making enemies. Moreover, Cao Zhen had cultivated to the fifth level of Qi Refining and had deep-rooted connections. It was not impossible for him to open up another path through this.

So he said slowly, "If you know anyone who needs a talisman, you can bring them here. The price is negotiable, and I will not forget you after the matter is settled."

"That's excellent!" Cao Zhen nodded, stopped exchanging pleasantries, and got up to take his leave.

Lu Chi smiled slightly, noticing the slight movement in the other party's eyes, and had his own plans in mind.

If we can really bring someone into the business, and business continues, that would naturally be a good thing.

Zhou Jinyan stood guard outside the door and waited quietly for a moment before Cao Zhen came out.

Their eyes met, they nodded to each other, and the latter immediately left, his steps quick and decisive, disappearing into the alley.

Zhou Jinyan watched the figure disappear before turning back into the house, asking in a low voice, "How was it?"

"It's settled!"

Lu Chi responded and ushered him into the house. He casually took out a low-grade spirit stone and put down an Ice Arrow Talisman, saying, "If it weren't for Brother Zhou's help, this matter might not have gone so smoothly."

Zhou Jinyan caught a glimpse of the spirit stone and her heart skipped a beat. She then laughed and said, "It seems this amount is quite large. Master Lu will be someone important from now on. I, a spirit farmer, will probably have to rely on you."

Lu Chi shook his head, his tone indifferent: "It was just a bit of luck, Brother Zhou, please don't make fun of me."

Zhou Jinyan didn't mince words. He accepted the spirit stones and talismans and said in a low voice, "You kid... I really don't know what to say."

Talisman masters who can draw mid-grade talismans are rare in the market!

With this skill, Lu Chi's situation in the market was naturally different from before.

Lu Chi did not respond.

He knew in his heart that the mid-grade spirit-gathering talisman he had just used was not something he could easily do.

Firstly, it was aided by the [Burning Thoughts] technique, and secondly, the Spirit Gathering Talisman was at a critical stage of improvement. If it were any other talisman, it might not have reached the intermediate grade.

He can't produce anything at will, to be honest.

Moreover, finishing this stroke had taken a toll on my mental energy, and I was still feeling quite tired.

However, the path is already under our feet. Given more time, it is not wishful thinking to truly establish ourselves in the mid-range market.

Thinking of this, Lu Chi looked up at Zhou Jinyan and said in a serious tone, "From now on, I will no longer handle matters related to talisman making. If Brother Zhou needs talisman drawing, just come and find me."

Zhou Jinyan nodded and then asked, "So what are your plans for the next few days? Do you have anywhere to go?"

Lu Chi shook his head and said, "Nothing else for now."

As the words left his mouth, Zhou Jin's tone carried a hint of inquiry, as if he had something else in mind.

He paused briefly, then looked up and asked, "Brother Zhou, why do you ask such a question?"

Zhou Jinyan just smiled vaguely and said, "You'll understand in a few days. You've been quite exhausted lately, so you probably need to rest. I won't bother you any longer."

Lu Chi chuckled, shook his head, and didn't ask any further questions. After seeing the person out, the courtyard quickly quieted down.

He closed the door, and with a slight thought, a familiar light screen quietly appeared.

Lu Chi's gaze fell upon it, and he began to examine the progress of the talismans he had drawn over the past few days. His expression gradually calmed down.