“That’s right.”
Lu Chang’an knew that he was a topic of discussion among the Mu Family’s female members.
“You can draw Talismans?”
“I just know the basics, I’m practicing first.”
Lu Chang’an said modestly.
Mu Xiuyun’s eyebrows furrowed, and she said displeasedly:
“Since you’re a beginner, you shouldn’t aim too high and buy High Grade Talisman paper.”
High Grade Talisman paper is suitable for refining 1st-tier High Grade Talismans; a beginner using it would be wasteful.
One sheet of High Grade Talisman paper is worth several sheets of ordinary Talisman paper.
Beginners usually practice with cheap Talisman paper.
“Young Miss is right! I’ll buy three High Grade ones to collect, as encouragement.”
Lu Chang’an remained calm and did not argue.
Mu Xiuyun glanced at the white-robed young man, who was as placid as water, said nothing more, and handed over the complete set of Talisman drawing Materials.
This was considered an agreement to Lu Chang’an’s haggling.
“Thank you, Young Miss.”
Seeing Mu Xiuyun discreetly withdraw her jade-like hand, Lu Chang’an placed the Spirit Stones on the stone table.
He watched the two of them leave.
The red-robed young girl wrinkled her delicate nose and looked at Mu Xiuyun suspiciously.
“Xiu Yun Jie, you actually made an exception and gave that kid a discount?”
“I heard Yunfei say that this person remained calm under the interception of the Zheng Family Cultivators, slaying a Qi Refinement Stage third-layer Cultivator, which saved the Family from losses.”
Mu Xiuyun put away the Spirit Stones, her tone very natural.
“So, he’s considered to have rendered a service, and the Family will naturally…”
The red-robed young girl pondered, her voice suddenly stopping.
If it were a young rising star of the Mu Family who performed like this, the Family would naturally reward him.
“Yinglan, what do you think of Lu Chang’an?”
Mu Xiuyun’s lips were slightly pursed.
“He looks alright, but he’s quite thick-skinned. Perhaps, he also thinks too highly of himself?”
Mu Yinglan thought for a moment and gave her first impression.
There were some rumors within the Family that Lu Chang’an looked down on the women the Mu Family had arranged for him.
“Yinglan, if the Family asks you to marry Lu Chang’an, would you be willing?”
Mu Xiuyun’s eyes held a smile.
“What! Me, marry him? That’s impossible…”
Mu Yinglan’s cheeks flushed, and she shook her head as if jumping.
“Xiu Yun Jie, the Family wouldn’t be trying to set me up with that kid, would they?”
She suddenly realized.
Mu Xiuyun did not deny it, pondering: “Lu Chang’an possesses a Medium Grade Spiritual Root. It is indeed a bit of a pity for him to marry a Mortal. Father is considering whether to find him a Family member with a Spiritual Root.”
“So, you’re targeting your cute Family sister? No way! I don’t fancy him at all.”
Mu Yinglan said angrily, huffing lightly.
“You don’t fancy him?”
“Of course! Lu Chang’an seems to be twenty already, right? He just advanced to the second layer of Qi Refinement Stage! Even with a Medium Grade Spiritual Root, he can’t compare to some of the Low Grade Spiritual Roots within the Family.”
Mu Yinglan raised her delicate chin, speaking bluntly.
In contrast, although she herself had a Low Grade Spiritual Root, at sixteen years old, she had already Cultivated to the Peak of the second layer of Qi Refinement Stage and would soon be able to attempt a Breakthrough.
In the Cultivation World, unless it was top Aptitude like an Earthly Spiritual Root or a Heavenly Spiritual Root.
Otherwise, Cultivation and age could better reflect a person’s prospects.
...
In the side courtyard, in the underground room.
Lu Chang’an took out a complete set of Talisman brushes, cinnabar, and Talisman paper.
He prepared the cinnabar and spread out the Talisman paper.
He closed his eyes for a moment, and the Talisman Dao techniques, various experiences, and insights from his previous two lives flooded his mind.
Suddenly, his eyes were like cold lightning, and he held his breath, concentrating.
He grabbed the Talisman brush, moving smoothly and freely.
Evergreen Magic Power, like a fine thread, flowed from the brush tip, outlining the Talisman on the paper in one fluid motion.
“Water Purification Talisman.”
The light blue Talisman characters, with their spiritual light contained, quickly solidified as the spiritual ink dried.
The Water Purification Talisman was an introductory basic Talisman, not even counting as a first-tier Talisman.
“The feel is dry.”
Lu Chang’an was not very satisfied, so he drew another Fire Incantation Talisman and a House Protection Talisman.
In the Mortal world, knowing a few basic Talismans could allow one to act as a so-called enlightened expert.
After drawing three basic Talismans.
Lu Chang’an found his rhythm, and his hand felt smoother.
Next, he began to draw first-tier Talismans, corresponding to the Qi Refinement Stage.
First, two 【Hanfeng Talismans】.
【Hanfeng Talisman】: First-tier Medium Grade, possesses a certain range of damage and a considerable slowing effect.
Among first-tier Talismans, it is a rare area-of-effect damage Talisman.
This Talisman is not very common.
Because the power of the 【Hanfeng Talisman】 is not great, its drawing difficulty is relatively high, and its success rate is low, so few Talisman Masters practice it.
Whoosh!
After drawing two 1st-tier Medium Grade Talismans in a row, Lu Chang’an’s Magic Power was more than half depleted.
Limited by Cultivation, each Talisman Master can only draw a limited number of Talismans per day.
Drawing Talismans not only consumes Magic Power but also greatly consumes Mental Energy. It’s not like one can just replenish Spirit Stones and become a perpetual motion machine.
Fortunately, Lu Chang’an’s Qi channels were long and deep.
After resting for half an incense stick’s time.
He then drew two 【Water Screen Talismans】, which are defensive first-tier Medium Grade Talismans.
Considering that the most common and powerful Spells during the Qi Refinement Stage are mostly fire-elemental, he refined this Talisman.
Finally, he drew three 【Wind Speed Talismans】, also first-tier Medium Grade Talismans.
As a third-tier Talisman Master, the Talismans Lu Chang’an drew were of high quality and more powerful than those of the same tier.
Hanfeng Talisman, Water Screen Talisman, Wind Speed Talisman.
A total of seven first-tier Talismans were refined.
Lu Chang’an’s energy was drained, especially his Mental Energy.
This was still due to his powerful Soul and the long and deep Qi channels of the “Ancient Wood Evergreen Skill.” If it were other Cultivators in the Early Stage of Qi Refinement, it would be difficult to draw Medium Grade Talismans.
...
After resting for one night, he was full of energy the next day.
Lu Chang’an still had ten sheets of first-tier Talisman paper and three sheets of first-tier High Grade Talisman paper.
He planned to keep the former to earn Spirit Stones and check the market conditions.
He intended to draw a powerful High Grade Talisman with the three sheets of High Grade Talisman paper.
This Talisman was called the 【Golden Blade Talisman】.
It was a unique Talisman he had improved in his previous two lives.
“【Golden Blade Talisman】 has strong penetrating power, and its might is close to a High Grade Magical Artifact. Ordinary Cultivators in the Late Stage of Qi Refinement would find it difficult to resist. However, the requirements for refining this Talisman are relatively high.”
Lu Chang’an’s expression was solemn.
Normally, without a Cultivation of at least the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, it would be impossible to draw the 【Golden Blade Talisman】, and the success rate would be very low.
To prevent insufficient Magic Power, he ate a bowl of spiritual rice before drawing.
He concentrated intensely.
The brush tip moved across the High Grade Talisman paper for a few minutes. Towards the end, the brushstrokes were no longer smooth, gradually becoming somewhat difficult…
Sweat beads appeared on Lu Chang’an’s forehead, and his face was pale.
Hiss~
The golden patterns on the Talisman paper flickered a few times, and a puff of green smoke rose.
“What a pity, just a little bit off.” Lu Chang’an felt a slight pang of regret.
In his previous life, when he was at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, the success rate of the 【Golden Blade Talisman】 was not very high.
If this Talisman succeeded, it would become one of his trump cards.
Lu Chang’an did not lose heart.
After Cultivating for three days, he bathed and changed his clothes.
He tried again.
This time, he finally succeeded in drawing a 【Golden Blade Talisman】, with some luck involved.
Another three days passed.
The third attempt to draw the 【Golden Blade Talisman】 ended in failure.
The three sheets of High Grade Talisman paper were used up.
“With my current Cultivation, I only have a two to three-tenths chance of drawing the 【Golden Blade Talisman】.”
Lu Chang’an could still accept the final result.
If it weren’t for the special nature of the Changqing Gong and his Divine Sense comparable to the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, Lu Chang’an wouldn’t even have the thought of trying.
...
For the next half year.
Lu Chang’an focused solely on Cultivation, and the life-extending effect of the “Ancient Wood Evergreen Skill” had already taken effect.
In the Cultivation room, Lu Chang’an opened his dark eyes.
A subtle aura of temporal change flashed as the Cultivation Technique operated.
He wondered if it was an illusion.
He felt that the seemingly ordinary Evergreen Magic Power seemed to have strengthened slightly.
It was almost imperceptible.
If he hadn’t recultivated and his Soul surpassed ordinary people, it would have been difficult to notice.
“Could it be that the ‘Ancient Wood Evergreen Skill’ can increase its power as time passes?”
“The longer one lives, the stronger one’s Magic Power becomes?”
Lu Chang’an had an absurd thought.
This conjecture would probably take a long time to verify.
After all, that slight feeling of Magic Power enhancement was so minuscule it could be ignored; it might just be normal fluctuation.
“Lu Dage.”
Outside the courtyard, Li Ergou led two Spiritual Steed Horses.
After nearly three years at the Mu Family.
Li Ergou’s face was full and shiny, and his body had grown by half a foot or more.
His physique tended to be robust, dressed in a dark blue Magical Robe, with bright, piercing eyes that commanded respect.
Lu Chang’an, on the other hand, retained his original appearance, with a calm and serene demeanor.
“Not bad, you borrowed the Spiritual Steed Horses?”
Lu Chang’an jumped onto a horse and set off with Li Ergou.
These Spiritual Steed Horses were not first-tier Spirit Beasts but products of the Family’s cross-breeding, considered semi-Spirit Beasts.
They were preparing to go to Hengshui Prefecture to attend the three-year gathering from back then, and also to visit relatives in the Mortal world.
Before departing, the two had reported to the Mu Family.
The Mu Family did not restrict them, granting them half a year’s time.
Lu Chang’an was a little surprised at first that it went so smoothly.
But then he thought, Li Ergou had married and had two children in the Mu Family, living happily.
The Mu Family must have trusted Ergou.
As for Lu Chang’an, since he hadn’t married and had children, the Mu Family’s investment in him was very small, apart from providing him with a Cultivation Dao field and a small amount of low-tier spiritual rice each month.
Moreover, the Mu Family knew his origins in the Mortal world.
Even if he did run away, Lu Chang’an would find it difficult to find a free Dao field to Cultivate.
“Lu Dage, are you really not planning to marry and have children? That Medium Grade Spiritual Root Aptitude would be wasted!”
After leaving Emerald Moon Mountain Village, Li Ergou couldn’t help but say.
Now, Lu Chang’an’s Cultivation was a step behind him.
Li Ergou had ample supply of Medicinal Pills and spiritual rice, and while his Cultivation Technique was generally powerful, his advancement was relatively fast.
In three years, he had already Cultivated to the Peak of the second layer of Qi Refinement Stage, putting him a year ahead of Lu Chang’an.
“If Dage doesn’t fancy Mortal women, my wife could introduce you to a Family member with a Spiritual Root?”
Li Ergou’s eyes flickered slightly as he probed.
“You, huh? You’re already considering yourself a member of the Mu Family so quickly?”
Lu Chang’an was amused, seeing through his little scheme.
He couldn’t help but lament how much Li Ergou had changed in just three years.
“No need to mention this.”
He waved his hand and sighed: “The Cultivation World is ever-changing, and those in the Qi Refinement Stage are like cannon fodder. One needs at least Foundation Establishment to have a preliminary Foundation to stand on; otherwise, one lives precariously, how could I dare to marry and have children?”