Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 5 Status Locked! One Certificate, Permanent!
It's been more than half a month since Old He borrowed the talisman.

Lin Chang'an also felt sorry for Old He and hoped everything would go smoothly, after all, he had received a favor from him in the past.

However, despite the table full of exquisite golden talismans, Lin Chang'an fell silent.

[Skills: Golden Light Talisman (Mastery 8/1000), Swiftness Talisman (Proficiency 358/500)]

"This success rate of spell completion seems a bit abnormal!"

Lin Chang'an stared at the golden talisman he had just drawn in his hand with a strange expression.

"There's nothing wrong with the quality of this talisman, and the success rate is also fine, but I seem to have overlooked something..."

Experienced talisman masters, once they've adjusted to their optimal state, can produce three or four high-quality talismans out of ten, which is quite normal.

But the biggest problem is that this adjustment requires a series of preparatory steps such as calming the mind and concentrating the spirit. It's considered good if you can maintain this state two or three times a month.

Moreover, this state will continue to decline as mental energy is depleted.

"Could it be!"

As if struck by a thought, Lin Chang'an took a deep breath, his hand trembling slightly as he picked up his pen. With a nervous heart, he couldn't concentrate at all and started working on it immediately.

Swish!

When a fine, pale gold talisman was successfully created, Lin Chang'an's heart pounded violently, and he continued experimenting.

Most of them are ordinary golden talismans, and only a very few are high-quality ones.

But the calmness and concentration he usually needed to draw talismans were completely abandoned this time, and he only stopped when his spiritual energy was almost exhausted.

“Hu…Hu!”

At this moment, he was breathing rapidly, as if he had confirmed something, and looked at the panel with a mixture of surprise and joy, his eyes trembling.

"This is a state lock!"

Lin Chang'an couldn't hide his excitement and couldn't help but smile. At this moment, he finally understood everything.

"Even the most skilled talisman master can only reach a brief peak of skill when they are calm and focused. After their mental energy is depleted, they need to stop writing and rest to recover."

But I don't need that at all. Once I break through to this state, I can maintain it indefinitely.

At this moment, Lin Chang'an was so excited that his face turned red, and he really wanted to cover himself with the blanket and laugh out loud.

The state is locked, which means that as long as his mana is not depleted, he does not need to go through the tedious process of calming his mind and concentration to achieve the best success rate in creating the talisman.

One word: Just do it!

"Damn it, how many spirit stones have I wasted before?"

At this moment, Lin Chang'an felt a pang of regret. He had been worried about wasting materials, so he would only draw a couple of pictures before taking a break, which led to him not noticing the problem.

It was only today that I noticed something was wrong.

“The future is promising!”

Lin Chang'an beamed with joy as he finally discovered the strongest talent he relied on to establish himself in the world of cultivation.

One certificate, forever!
An ordinary newly-broken talisman master, even in peak condition, can only produce four or five high-quality golden light talismans a month, but he doesn't need that at all. If he puts all his effort into it, he can produce ten of them.

After all, aside from the time-consuming process of concentrating and calming one's mind, drawing talismans also consumes mental energy and magical power.

"A tenfold difference? Doesn't that mean I can earn forty or fifty spirit stones a month!"

Upon realizing this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but show excitement. He had never even dared to dream of such a large number of spirit stones before.

"No! This would make it too easy for someone to notice!"

Suddenly realizing something, Lin Chang'an felt as if he had been doused with cold water and instantly calmed down.

"Three or four high-quality golden light talismans a month is within the normal range. Even five or six would only be considered as having some talent after breaking through this barrier. But dozens a month is clearly problematic!"

Isn't this blatantly telling others that he has a special opportunity?

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an took a deep breath. The world of cultivation is ever-changing. He already possesses the strongest talent, so being cautious now is the only way to go further.

"We can't miss this opportunity to earn spirit stones, but we still need to be careful."

Lin Chang'an took a deep breath, put down his spirit brush, and then sat cross-legged on the bed to prepare for cultivation.

However, after only a short while, he couldn't help but pull the blanket over his head, and then the blanket on the bed began to shake violently, accompanied by muffled laughter.

……

Another month later, after the materials for drawing talismans had been almost used up, Lin Chang'an arrived at the familiar shopkeeper Miao's place at Zhenbaolou.

"Tsk tsk, Fellow Daoist Lin, your skills are truly exceptional."

Upon seeing the six exquisite golden talismans, Manager Miao's old face practically beamed with joy. While exchanging talisman paper and cinnabar for Lin Chang'an, he jokingly remarked...

“Fellow Daoist Lin, this is how the various arts of cultivation work. Before you break through them, no matter how hard you try, you won’t see any results. But once you break through them, you will suddenly see a whole new world.”

"By the way, the shop recently received a batch of Golden Marrow Pills. How about we get one? Maybe we can break through our cultivation level right away."

Seeing Manager Miao's eager look, Lin Chang'an was tempted, but then shook his head. "Let's collect enough corvée taxes first."

"That's true. Recently, quite a few independent cultivators have come to the market. They're just waiting for the higher-ups to send someone to organize the reclamation next spring."

Manager Miao was used to pushing sales, and when he saw that Lin Chang'an had no interest, he smiled and started talking about the recent situation in the market.

Lin Chang'an also noticed many unfamiliar faces in the market.

Qingzhushan Market Town, under the jurisdiction of Lihuo Palace, is preparing to increase its efforts in land reclamation, which will naturally attract a large number of independent cultivators from outside.

When Lin Chang'an first entered the market twenty years ago, he was also attracted by the many benefits of land reclamation.

"I heard that the authorities are really going all out this time, releasing a total of five Foundation Establishment Pill slots."

Manager Miao's casual remark sent a chill down Lin Chang'an's spine.

"Is it this big this time?!"

This reminded him of his first time exploring the market, when he was only tempted by two Foundation Establishment Pills, but the result was a scene of carnage.

"So be careful lately. These outside cultivators are the most unruly. Don't they know that most of these opportunities come by chance but don't live to enjoy them?"

Shopkeeper Miao cautiously reminded them, and when he mentioned the wandering cultivators from outside, he shook his head, as if foreshadowing that things were about to get unsettled in the market.

"Fellow Daoist Miao, one Golden Marrow Pill and a storage bag."

Suddenly, Lin Chang'an slapped the spirit stone he had just received and hadn't even warmed it yet.

When Manager Miao saw the five spirit stones, he immediately beamed with joy.

The Golden Marrow Pill costs two spirit stones and contains one spirit stone; the storage bag contains three spirit stones.

"Alright, Fellow Daoist Lin, don't worry. This time I'll pick out the best quality pill for you and give you a stack of talismans. With your solid cultivation and the Changchun Technique's reputation for accumulating strength before unleashing it, you're sure to break through this time."

"And this is a storage bag."

Beneath Manager Miao's beaming smile, Lin Chang'an walked out of the shop carrying an exquisite storage bag and a jade bottle.

Watching the bustling market, and with a cool breeze blowing by, Lin Chang'an seemed to realize something as he recalled Manager Miao's smiling face.

"It's true that you can make money in the market and spend it in the market, but don't even think about taking a single penny home."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an was both amused and exasperated, but he was also grateful for Manager Miao's reminder, even though it was also to promote his spending of spirit stones.

But he knew even better that these kinds of pills that could improve one's cultivation level were always bestsellers, especially with so many wandering cultivators coming to the market recently.

Walking on the streets of the market, watching the crowds of people coming and going, and seeing so many unfamiliar faces, Lin Chang'an became increasingly nervous.

He vividly remembers the large-scale land reclamation that took place twenty years ago.

The influx of countless independent cultivators not only represents opportunities but also chaos.

"It seems that the peaceful atmosphere in the market is about to be broken."

Although there are occasional wandering cultivators from outside the area, there aren't that many, so it doesn't disrupt the atmosphere of the market.

Only those experienced elders knew what this meant, and Lin Chang'an also felt a sense of urgency.

I must quickly improve my cultivation level and break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining to have the ability to protect myself.

As Lin Chang'an walked, he sighed inwardly, and before he knew it, he had passed a pavilion with carved beams and painted rafters.

Two large red lanterns hung at the entrance, their hazy pink light exuding an ambiguous atmosphere, especially since the lights were on inside even in broad daylight.

Two young female cultivators yawned as they came out of the door, their eyes lighting up when they saw the familiar customers.

"Oh, isn't this Fellow Daoist Lin? After you left last time, the sisters were still so drunk they could barely stand the next day. This time, the sisters will give you a discount. Come in and sit down, have a cup of hot tea before you leave."

"That's right, I heard that Fellow Daoist Lin can already make high-quality Golden Light Talismans. These days of arduous cultivation are nothing compared to the pleasures of being here with my sister..."

The two nuns were dressed in red palace gowns as thin as cicada wings. Perhaps they had just woken up, as their faces still showed a hint of languid weariness.

With her beautiful face, graceful figure, and charming temperament, she exuded an alluring aura, especially after seeing Lin Chang'an, her eyes lit up.

That look in his eyes is exactly the same as that of Manager Miao.

"Ahem, it's not a good day today, another day, another day."

Lin Chang'an gave an awkward smile. These monotonous cultivation days had been tough. He had come here a few days ago, feeling disheartened, to get drunk. It was a good way to balance work and rest, and he needed to relax.

But recently, things have really been unfortunate.

"Don't go, Fellow Daoist Lin, we won't charge you spirit crystals for a cup of tea."

A voice that sounded like a demon came from behind, but Lin Chang'an was a man of strong will and quickly left the place.

Now he's eager to go home and test this storage bag; these pink skeletons won't be able to corrupt his Dao heart.

Thank you all for your support. Fellow Daoists, please remember to read on next Tuesday.

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(End of this chapter)