People in America started by developing the Yellow Turban Army.

To be honest, although this talisman water doesn't taste like alcohol, its intoxicating grain aroma is no different from wine.

Even the gentle, warm feeling after just one cup is like drinking a pot of warmed Shaoxing wine.

Exhaustion and hunger have vanished!

This is great stuff!

"Ping An, do you have many of these talismans?"

Lin Zhiyong couldn't help but ask.

Chen Ping'an didn't know why he asked, but since he had asked, he didn't hesitate to answer: "This is a talisman paper. You can draw it if you want!"

It's not difficult!

The difficulty lies in how to draw out the magical power within the talisman and dissolve it in water for it to be effective!

As I just told you, to use these talismans properly, you need magical power, you need to become a disciple of a master, and you need the approval of the patriarchs!

Chen Ping'an was talking nonsense, but he was right about one thing: to use this talisman water effectively, one must have magical power.

As for matters such as the patriarchs' consent or joining the Taiping Dao, there were no restrictions.

In other words, only he can master the magic water, at least for now.

However, Chen Ping'an currently has no magical power, but he has a system!

From the day he received the knowledge of talisman water from the system, even without magic power, he could draw talisman paper that could connect to a trace of law so that grains could be used.

You can also activate the power of the laws on this talisman with a thought.

Only he can do it!

He had already tried it back in China, so before coming here, he had prepared his responses to other people.

That means you need to become an apprentice, need the approval of the ancestral master, and need to cultivate magical power.

Even now, when Lin Zhiyong asks, it's the same thing.

Lin Zhiyong didn't actually have any other ideas, but he thought of a way for Chen Ping'an to easily earn enough to pay the land tax and house tax he needed to pay every year.

However, there is a prerequisite: the cost of this talisman paper needs to be confirmed.

How much does it cost to draw one of these talismans?

How much talisman water can be made from one talisman paper?

"The same kind we just drank!"

The talisman water I just drank was really delicious!

It has an extremely strong grain aroma, but in reality, the clear water has no taste at all.

Lin Zhiyong's question stumped Chen Ping'an, who asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

It costs very little, just a few talisman papers!

I draw runes on ordinary yellow paper, stamp it with my seal, and that's it!

The cost of a single talisman is less than a penny!

If you're using it, one talisman is more than enough to dissolve a bucket of water.

However, the key is that I must use this talisman; it requires consuming magical power!

Actually, let alone a bucket of water, even a water vat or a water storage tank can be solved with just one or two talismans.

But what are the prerequisites?

It wasn't as simple as Chen Ping'an making it up with just a talisman and a bucket of water.

Instead, add it to grains!

Yes, you need to add the grains quietly.

The talisman can transform all grains into essence. For example, he secretly put a dozen grains of rice into the cup of talisman water he made for Lin Zhiyong.

Logically speaking, Lin Zhiyong, who is nearly 1.8 meters tall and thin, should have no problem eating two or three bowls of rice in one meal.

Two or three bowls of rice, that's at least 3 to 4 ounces of rice when cooked.

However, not all of the rice from those two or three bowls is completely digested.

Instead, 50% to 60%, or even more than 70%, of it becomes waste, turns into excrement, and when it flows into the large intestine, it is dried out and compressed into a single strand...

The human body can actually absorb very little nutrition from each meal!

However, the talisman water can transform each grain of rice into the most primitive nutrients and essence that ordinary people can absorb.

This is why the talisman water that Chen Ping'an just used to make from a dozen grains of rice was enough to satisfy Lin Zhiyong's thirst, even though he was a tall, thin man standing at 1.78 meters.

That's the key point!

And more importantly, that one grain of salt.

In ordinary life, salt is indispensable.

Too much salt is also bad!

The information about using grains to create talismanic water that Chen Ping'an received contained this knowledge.

He can use the ingredients precisely.

This is also why he plans to learn how to use talisman water to save people as soon as possible after he has settled the matter of connecting the luck and earth energy within his territory.

By saving someone, one can upgrade their talisman water technique, making the person eligible to learn the methods of medicinal application within the talisman water.

Since medicine is used to save lives, there must be knowledge of medicine and knowledge of diagnosing diseases.

This is the foundation of one's livelihood!

Moreover, his own dog system, the so-called "Taiping Yaoshu," was guiding him on what to do.

It seems that all they care about is saving lives!

Just like in your own system properties panel.

[Host: Chen Pingan]

[Homestead: Abandoned mining town, 60 kilometers north of Los Angeles, covering 580 acres.]

[With knowledge in mind: The Human-shaped Scroll of the Essential Techniques of Peace]

A special skill:

Archery, one of the Six Arts of a Gentleman (Pistol Beginner 56/100) (Rifle Beginner 88/100)

Taiping Dao Talisman Water Technique (Beginner - Method of Transforming Grains) 0/10

[Item space: 5×5×5 meters]

[Luck: 150 (stolen, therefore somewhat inflated)]

Now that we have arrived at the territory, we have helped the host connect the Qi of the land with the Qi of the earth, thus stabilizing the foundation.

Note: When the Qi (vital energy) connects with the earth's Qi, some loss occurs; it is necessary to remove the dross and retain the essence.

However, this loss also has some benefits for the host.

[Task: Stay in your territory for 12 hours to allow the "Taiping Essentials" to help you refine and fully digest the stolen fortune.]

Reward: Unknown

Chen Ping'an's interest in his talisman water technique stemmed from his observation that his skills in using firearms, whether pistols or rifles, had improved due to his experience at the shooting range with Lin Zhiyong.

He was paying attention to it back then!

That's why he was so excited that he fired two boxes of bullets—no, four boxes!

Two boxes of pistol bullets and two boxes of rifle bullets.

There are 70 rounds of pistol ammunition and 100 rounds of rifle ammunition.

Why isn't the pistol experience level 70?

For example, his basic handgun proficiency is now 56/100, even though Chen Ping'an clearly fired 70 bullets back then.

Why is the basic rifle proficiency score 88/100?

At the shooting range, Chen Ping'an had already tested it out. For example, with the pistol, he fired a box of 50 rounds, and only 41 of them were very accurate, hitting the exact spots he wanted.

However, a few bullets missed their mark, which was below par and cannot be considered an improvement.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Zhiyong gave him the bullets he had left over to enjoy. At that time, Chen Ping'an's wrists were a little sore from firing so many bullets.

After all, it was his first day handling a gun, even if he had some experience in his mind, even if he had basic skills with a pistol.

After his wrists got sore, his accuracy dropped significantly. So, the half box of bullets that Lin Zhiyong left him, which was about 20 rounds, was not enough to hit the 20-meter target accurately many times.

This resulted in the initial pistol skill score being only 56/100.

Similarly, the reason why a beginner's rifle proficiency level can reach 88/100 is because more than a dozen bullets were not accurately hit the desired aiming position.

We made a mistake!

Similarly, the reason why the talisman water technique has made no progress is because it requires treatment only as needed.

For example, the talismanic water made from grains must be used to save people who are struggling with poverty and suffering from hunger and cold.

Or, if the medicine is used to make talismanic water, then the patient must be treated before any progress can be made.

This is something Chen Ping'an has tried, both in China and in Los Angeles.

Back in China, he would give people talisman water to drink. They didn't know what it was and thought it was just ordinary water, but it tasted so good that they drank it.

His system properties panel remained unchanged.

I originally thought it was because my system was bound to something, but the reason was that I bought a small town in the United States.

In other words, the system will only make progress if it comes to the United States.

So after landing, apart from eating at the restaurant yesterday, it wasn't appropriate to immediately test it. The reason he handed the talisman water to Lin Zhiyong just now was to see if it was effective and if there was any progress after it was effective.

Clearly, whether in China or in Los Angeles, the use of grains in water has always been effective.

Similarly, whether in China or Los Angeles, although the talisman water is useful, there is no progress in the talisman water technique skill on the system attribute panel.

In other words, he didn't use the money to treat those who needed treatment, so it doesn't count.

That makes it very clear!

You must seek out the poor, those who are destitute and starving.

It's very hard to find in the country!

Even in remote, impoverished areas, one can still have a few acres of land. While this may not make one rich or financially independent, as long as one has land to cultivate and isn't lazy, surviving is a relatively easy and normal way to live.

The only way to break this deadlock is in Los Angeles!

Lin Chih-yung once said that the number of homeless people in Los Angeles was outrageous.

The poor here are not the same as the poor in China.

Even the poorest people in China can survive, have access to education, and have a chance to improve their lives.

The opportunity is there; whether you can seize it depends on yourself.

But Lin Zhiyong once said that the poor here are different from those in China. Once you become poor here, you will be poor for life and will never have a chance to turn your life around.

Because the poor people here have no hometown, no two acres of land, and no old house.

After they become poor, they have no choice but to wander the streets, and poor people who wander the streets usually don't live more than three to five years.

This is basic information that Chen Ping'an learned from a casual conversation with Lin Zhiyong.

It was precisely this that emboldened Chen Ping'an to venture into Los Angeles. He now somewhat understands why ancient Buddhist temples that lent money at exorbitant interest rates enjoyed bringing misfortune upon others.

If you don't suffer, who will borrow money at exorbitant interest rates?

After reviewing the system attribute panel, especially the notification that the Luck Link was in progress, and after answering Lin Zhiyong's question, Chen Ping'an asked the question that had been on his mind.

"By the way, where in Los Angeles are there the most homeless people?"

Lin Zhiyong looked up in confusion: "What's wrong? Why did you suddenly decide to ask the homeless man?"

Chen Ping'an pointed to the talisman he had just picked up and played with: "Perhaps my cultivation is related to these homeless people!"

Have you ever heard of merit?

My spiritual practice involves accumulating merit, which means doing good deeds!

Understood!

Lin Zhiyong had certainly heard of the practice of accumulating merit and doing good deeds, but his previous understanding of it came from books, television, and movies.

This is the first time I've heard of this in real life.

So, curiosity arose: "Is it okay to do any kind of good deed?"

Once curiosity was piqued, more than just one or two questions were asked.

"Can one accumulate merit by doing good deeds with the intention of doing so?"

"Isn't that a bit too utilitarian?"

To be honest, Chen Ping'an had thought about these questions before coming to America.

However, he gave up after thinking about it for a while.

No matter what kind of cultivator he is, he is different because he has a system.

The system clearly indicated that you should use the "Taiping Yaoshu" (Essential Techniques of Great Peace). Since it did, just do it.

Moreover, after obtaining this system, he also looked up information about doing good deeds and accumulating merit, which is based on actions, not intentions, because no one is perfect in terms of intentions!

"My master said that as long as someone truly benefits from my good deeds, that is doing good."

In ancient times, those who cultivated Taoism, hoping for a smooth path, would often acquire medical skills, travel the world, practice medicine to help the needy, and accumulate merit.

Upon hearing this explanation, Lin Zhiyong nodded: "If that's the case, then America is indeed very suitable for cultivation!"

After all, there are seventy or eighty thousand homeless people in Los Angeles alone!

Just like I told you before, there are seven or eight hundred thousand, or even a million, homeless people in the United States who have to sleep on the streets, by the river, in the woods, or in their cars!

"Simply helping them will help you in your spiritual practice?"

He checked it one last time.

Chen Ping'an nodded, but then shook his head: "It's not about helping them. My current cultivation needs to help people who are struggling to make ends meet and are suffering from hunger and cold."

These kinds of conditions are hard to find in the country!

Lin Zhiyong nodded. The phrase "starving and freezing" is quite difficult to find among the 1.4 billion people in the East.

Of course, it's impossible for there not to be poor people with such a large population.

After all, the country is too big!

There are 1.4 billion people!

There are always places where village officials are negligent, and there are always places where grassroots officials are lax, perhaps in some corner where no one notices.

But the goal is to find them and to help them in their spiritual practice.

It's too difficult... almost like finding a needle in a haystack.

In comparison, America, with its homeless population, seemed like paradise to Chen Ping'an.

Here, there are countless people who have fallen on hard times and are now homeless, suffering from hunger and cold.

If an American ever falls into a situation where they have no place to rent and end up homeless, their life begins its countdown.

The hourglass of this countdown will last approximately 3 to 6 years, during which time he will endure illness, poverty, and hunger.

If the most important thing in spiritual practice is accumulating merit, then America truly is paradise.

However, accumulating merit by helping others may require a lot of money. Does Chen Ping'an have that much?

"So, you want to use talismanic water to save them?"

He asked Chen Ping'an very seriously.

Chen Ping'an did not deny it: "The talisman water can revive people, I want to try it!"

Lin Zhiyong nodded, then suddenly thought of another question: "Should we rescue them once, or keep rescuing them?"

Will drinking this talisman water have any effect on a person's health?

Is it a temporary measure, or will it have the same effect as eating?

He wanted to figure out what Chen Ping'an wanted to achieve and what he was capable of achieving.

"If the talisman water cannot replace food, it only gives people a temporary illusion of being full."

If you are helping others and need to provide long-term assistance, then you will need very substantial funds!

Do you have any of these?

Lin Zhiyong didn't mean to discourage Chen Ping'an. He was more interested in supporting cultivation than discouraging it.

He just wanted to figure out that if cultivation required enough money to continue, then his thoughts on the talisman water earlier were very important!