Chapter 10: Second Showcase of Talent!

In the study.

Lu Changsheng finished drawing the last talisman paper into a Mid-Tier first-tier talisman.

He still found it challenging to create Mid-Tier first-tier talismans.

It wasn’t a matter of skill.

Talisman-making drained Qi and mental strength.

If not for his Second-Tier Talisman Master skills, he couldn’t create Mid-Tier first-tier talismans with just First Level Qi Refining cultivation.

After resting briefly, he picked up the talisman and opened a locked cabinet nearby.

Inside, a thick stack of talismans was neatly arranged, numbering over a hundred.

It had been about half a year since he gained talisman-making skills from the lucky draw.

These talismans were the fruits of his labor over the past six months.

“Sigh, so many talismans, yet no way to sell them for money.”

Lu Changsheng shook his head, looking at the talismans.

Of the twenty stacks of talisman paper he bought, he’d made all into talismans except for a few failed attempts at harder Mid-Tier first-tier ones due to insufficient Qi.

It’s no exaggeration to say he had a 100% success rate.

But Lu Changsheng didn’t dare sell any of these first-tier talismans, leaving them to gather dust.

After all, last time he brought just five basic cleaning talismans to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the shopkeeper was shocked.

If he brought out first-tier talismans, it might alert the Lu Family’s higher-ups.

As for secretly selling elsewhere, that wasn’t realistic either.

First, he needed to apply to the Lu Family to leave Qingzhu Mountain.

Lu Changsheng was also afraid to go alone to immortal towns or Markets to sell things.

The cultivation world had no laws.

What if he encountered bandits or murderous cultivators?

After all, he was just a weak First Level Qi Refining cultivator who hadn’t learned any spells.

He was only slightly more agile than ordinary people and could only rely on talismans for self-protection.

“Can’t rush. Take it slow.”

Lu Changsheng took a deep breath, telling himself not to be hasty and that stability was key.

He then picked up nine pre-drawn cleaning talismans, six clothing-purifying talismans, and three dust-repelling talismans, heading to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

He planned to exchange these eighteen basic talismans for Spirit Stones.

It was also another chance to showcase his talisman-making talent.

“Shopkeeper, please exchange these talismans for Spirit Stones.”

Arriving at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Lu Changsheng called out to the shopkeeper, placing twelve basic talismans on the counter.

“Wow, you made eighteen talismans this time?”

“And besides the cleaning talismans from before, you’ve made clothing-purifying and dust-repelling talismans!”

The shopkeeper picked up the talismans, immediately recognizing the two new types, his eyes wide with surprise.

“I’m quite confident with cleaning and clothing-purifying talismans now, but I’m still lacking with dust-repelling ones. You were right before, talisman-making is difficult and costly.”

“At this rate, I don’t know how long it’ll take before I can draw first-tier talismans and become a Talisman Master.”

Lu Changsheng put on a slightly disappointed and troubled expression.

Though all three were basic talismans, their difficulty levels varied, increasing gradually.

“This is already very good. You indeed have talent in talisman-making. If you persist, you’ll certainly become a Talisman Master.”

The shopkeeper said with amazement, finding it incredible.

Lu Changsheng could now draw three types of basic talismans, qualifying as a talisman-making apprentice.

If he kept at it, he’d definitely become a Talisman Master.

He put away the talismans and gave Lu Changsheng six Spirit Stones, encouraging him, “Keep up the good work.”

“Thank you, shopkeeper.”

Lu Changsheng took the Spirit Stones and left without buying anything else.

“You’re not buying talisman paper this time?”

The shopkeeper was surprised to see Lu Changsheng leave with just the Spirit Stones.

“The previous talisman brush is too worn to use, so I’m planning to save up and buy a new one later when I have enough Spirit Stones.”

Lu Changsheng shook his head, showing a bitter expression.

Though his expression was fake, his words were true.

The wolf-hair talisman brush was said to last 200 uses, but in reality, it became ineffective after about 180.

Lu Changsheng relied on his Second-Tier skills to continue using the damaged brush for talisman-making.

With his current income of three Spirit Stones a month, he couldn’t afford a new brush even if he saved up.

Unless he sold the magical robe he was wearing.

But Lu Changsheng had grown fond of this robe after wearing it for so long and didn’t want to sell it.

The shopkeeper also remembered that Lu Changsheng had been using that talisman brush for a while.

He thought for a moment and asked, “Lu Changsheng, what’s your success rate for basic talismans now?”

“For cleaning and clothing-purifying talismans, I’m familiar and have a 70-80% success rate.”

“For dust-repelling talismans, it’s about 30%. I’ve tried the next level, peace talismans, a few times but failed.”

Lu Changsheng didn’t know why the shopkeeper asked this but figured there must be a reason, so he thought and answered.

Dust-repelling talismans were one level higher in difficulty, followed by peace talismans.

If one had a 70-80% success rate with peace talismans, they could attempt low-Tier first-tier talismans.

“Good.”

The shopkeeper nodded upon hearing this but didn’t say more.

Lu Changsheng cupped his hands and turned to leave.

At that moment, a fair-skinned, pretty young woman in a green dress approached the Hundred Treasures Pavilion joyfully, brushing past Lu Changsheng.

The young woman glanced at Lu Changsheng, her eyes showing a hint of disgust.

She then walked straight into the pavilion, calling out happily to the shopkeeper, “Grandpa, I’ve broken through to the Third Level of Qi Refining!”

Hearing this, the shopkeeper’s face immediately lit up with a smile, “You’ve reached the Third Level of Qi Refining! Very good! What reward do you want? Grandpa will give it to you.”

“Grandpa, I want a Flying Sword!”

The young woman immediately stated her request.

“No problem. You can wield Artifacts at the Third Level of Qi Refining. Grandpa has already prepared one for you.”

The shopkeeper said with a smile, leading the young woman to get the Flying Sword.

“Thank you, Grandpa!”

The young woman said happily.

Then she casually asked, “Grandpa, what did that live-in son-in-law come here for? I saw he didn’t buy anything but talked with you for quite a while.”

“Hehe, he’s practicing talisman-making and came to sell some basic talismans.”

The shopkeeper replied.

“Talisman-making? A live-in son-in-law like him dares to practice talisman-making?”

The young woman sneered upon hearing this.

Most of the Lu Family disciples at Qingzhu Mountain Estate looked down on outsider cultivators like Lu Changsheng, and she was no exception.

She even felt disgusted by Lu Changsheng’s reputation for constantly marrying and having children.

Now hearing that he was practicing talisman-making, she naturally felt contemptuous.

“Yue’er, what has Grandpa taught you?”

The shopkeeper’s smile faded a bit as he looked at his granddaughter, “Though Lu Changsheng is a live-in son-in-law and an outsider, he’s been diligent and practical this past year, living up to our Lu Family’s expectations. If your words spread, it would make our Lu Family seem petty and intolerant.”

“Moreover, this Lu Changsheng is quite extraordinary. He’s very talented in talisman-making and is already a talisman-making apprentice. If he persists, he’ll surely become a Talisman Master in the future!”

“So, don’t say such things again. In the future, you should be friendly with him. When he truly becomes a Talisman Master, it could benefit you too!”

The shopkeeper said.

“Really?”

“That live-in… Lu Changsheng is a talisman-making apprentice? He can become a Talisman Master?”

The young woman was stunned by her grandfather’s words, then exclaimed in disbelief.

It’s worth noting that the Lu Family only had two first-tier Talisman Masters.

One was the Lu Family’s Fourth Elder, and the other was the eldest young miss.

But now, her grandfather was saying that a live-in son-in-law was a talisman-making apprentice and could become a Talisman Master.

She found it hard to believe.

“Of course it’s true. Why would Grandpa lie to you?”

The shopkeeper rubbed his granddaughter’s head, which was tied in a bun.

“But why? And how does a live-in son-in-law have money to buy materials to practice talisman-making?”

The young woman still didn’t quite believe it, muttering resentfully.

She had tried talisman-making before but didn’t have talent for it.

Now hearing her grandfather’s words that a usually looked-down-upon live-in son-in-law had such talent, she felt somewhat discouraged, as if she’d been outdone, and felt unhappy.

“Spirit roots aren’t everything. Some people just have talent in certain areas. It’s unpredictable.”

“Alright, you don’t need to flatter him when you see him in the future, but you can be a bit more polite.”

The shopkeeper instructed and comforted his granddaughter.

As he spoke, he took out a low-Tier magical Flying Sword from the cabinet and handed it to the young woman.