Immortality and cultivation: Heaven rewards diligence, and success is inevitable.

"Wenyi, you've only been learning talisman making for three months, yet you can already grind cinnabar and outline magic patterns. You're already quite talented."

"The success rate for beginners in first-grade talisman making is less than one in ten; failing once is perfectly normal."

Master Li was speaking to Lu Wenyi, but also to the other outer disciples present.

"Okay, try a few more times."

Lu Wenyi rallied his spirits and drew talismans again.

This time it was a bit better than the last, but in the end the magic runes still dissipated, and it didn't succeed.

Then Lu Wenyi didn't stop, and started drawing the talisman for the third time.

This time, Lu Wenyi was even more serious.

As he finished his last stroke, a mysterious aura emanated from Lu Wenyi's brush.

A magical rune appeared on the talisman paper.

Master Li reached out and the talisman flew up from the talisman-making platform and landed in his hand.

"A low-grade first-rank water shield talisman, very good," Master Li said admiringly.

Lu Wenyi was also very happy, feeling that his talisman-making skills had improved this time.

"Alright, this is how to make talismans. Now line up and come forward in order," Master Li commanded.

When making talismans for the first time, the test of talent naturally doesn't require someone like Lu Wenyi to succeed in making talismans.

Master Li's test was to grind cinnabar.

Each person has ten chances; if they succeed three times, they can pass the test.

"You menial workers, line up at the back," Liang Yunlei said rudely as he ran ahead.

With only two spots available, it's natural to queue first, and those who succeed first have an advantage.

Master Li frowned upon hearing this, clearly displeased with Liang Yunlei's words.

He was also a rogue cultivator, from the lowest rungs of society.

The Lu family of Qingyun Sect, who were forced to marry into the family back then.

He worked hard making talismans and teaching his apprentices during the day, and at night he was exploited to the point of exhaustion, but he dared not resist.

What he disliked most were scions of aristocratic families like Liang Yunlei.

However, since Master Li was living under someone else's roof, he wouldn't say it outright, but he had already mentally marked Liang Yunlei as someone else.

Soon the queue began to form, with scions of prominent families at the front.

Behind them are the servant disciples.

Liang Yunlei was first in line, and he confidently began grinding the cinnabar.

The movements were very practiced, clearly indicating that the person had practiced at home.

He quickly completed ten grinding sessions, succeeding five times.

"Haha, I succeeded!" Liang Yunlei laughed triumphantly.

"Go to the back, don't block the way," a young man from a prominent family said from behind.

They were all from prominent families, so he wasn't afraid of Liang Yunlei.

"You bastard!" Liang Yunlei was about to explode.

"The talisman-making hall is making a lot of noise, so be quiet!" Master Li shouted with a gloomy face.

"Hmph." Liang Yunlei flicked his sleeve and walked away angrily.

The young men from the noble families behind them began grinding cinnabar, their movements quite skillful.

It succeeded four out of ten times.

Most of the scions of prominent families who came for the test were at this level.

They had all practiced at home.

The test scores of the menial disciples were much lower.

Many fail on their first try, and a few talented individuals may succeed once or twice, but that's their limit.

Master Li shook his head in disappointment upon seeing this.

He also wanted to take in more handyman disciples, but the conditions were far too poor.

Unless one is exceptionally gifted, it is virtually impossible to succeed on one's first attempt at talisman making without prior practice.

Jiang Shi was the last one to go.

"I don't think we need to test it; it's a waste of time," Liang Yunlei said dismissively.

"These menial laborers are all useless. What makes them think they can compare to me?"

Jiang Shi ignored Liang Yunlei's words and strode onto the talisman-making platform.

Pick up the cinnabar and start grinding.

His movements were quick, unlike the first time he ground cinnabar.

"Huh?" Master Li could tell that Jiang Shi's skill level was already at the beginner level.

"Could it be that he practiced in the courtyard? Or perhaps his family had a tradition of talisman-making?"

Master Li pondered.

Ten grinding sessions of cinnabar were completed quickly.

"Successfully eight times? How is that possible?!" Liang Yunlei exclaimed in disbelief.

How could someone who started as a handyman be better at making talismans than him?

Liang Yunlei had no idea whether Jiang Shi was hiding his true abilities.

He deliberately failed twice.

Otherwise, he could have succeeded completely.

Grinding cinnabar is just a basic skill; once you get the hang of it, you can't possibly fail.

Lu Wenyi also became curious about Jiang Shi. Eight out of ten times was already the highest level besides his own.

"Now that everyone has finished the tests, I will announce the results." Master Li stood up, supporting his back.

He addressed the crowd:

"First and foremost, Lu Wenyi."

"The second is Ma Yichen."

"The third one..."

"Master Li, I am a member of the Liang family. My father is a member of the Dharma Protectorate..." Liang Yunlei knew that Jiang Shi's success rate of eight out of ten times was higher than his own.

Then he jumped out and shouted.

"Even if you're a member of the Lu family, you have to speak with strength. Trying to intimidate me with your father? Let him come himself!"

Master Li snorted coldly and spoke up.

"Jiang Shi's strength is evident to all. He is the third person selected."

Master Li selected a member of the Lu family and a member of the Ma family.

They have already given the scions of prominent families ample face.

Even if the head of the Dharma Protector Hall, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, were to come, they wouldn't be able to find fault with him.

Not to mention Liang Yunlei's father, who was just an ordinary guard in the Guardian Hall.

"Hmph, you just wait." Liang Yunlei snorted coldly, glared at Jiang Shi, and turned to leave.

Jiang Shi was speechless at the sight, never expecting that he could offend a scion of a powerful family like this.

It's really inexplicable that we've suddenly gained an enemy.

Now he understood what Li Ze meant; the menial disciples in the outer sect really did have a tough time.

After the selection was announced, the other outer disciples left one after another.

These scions of prominent families didn't make any harsh statements like Liang Yunlei.

Most people aren't that brainless; even if they look down on menial disciples, they won't show it openly.

After everyone left, Jiang Shi, Ma Yichen, and Lu Wenyi stayed behind.

"Jiang Shi, why don't you make a talisman and try it out?" Master Li said to Jiang Shi.

"Master Li, I have never made spirit talismans before," Jiang Shi said, bowing his head, unwilling to take action.

Master Li smiled upon hearing this, and then stretched out his hand, taking out a talisman.

The first-grade lower-level water shield talisman was the one that Lu Wenyi had made before.

"Follow this painting, don't pretend to fail, give it your all," Master Li commanded.

"Yes." Left with no other choice, Jiang Shi could only step forward and begin drawing the talisman.

Although it was his first time drawing talismans and his movements were slow, he didn't seem very unfamiliar with them.

[Proficiency +1, Proficiency +1]

With each stroke you make, your skill level increases by one point.

The more he drew, the more knowledge he gained, and the more adept he became at it.

Although there are some abrupt pauses, the impact is minimal.

Soon, Jiang Shi finished the last stroke.

Lu Wenyi and Ma Yichen were both dumbfounded.

"This person's skill level is similar to mine," Lu Wenyi thought to himself.

"I can only grind cinnabar five times out of ten, and he, a mere handyman, is so skilled that he can even draw talismans!" Ma Yichen thought to himself.