Creating a paradise in an ant nest

Chapter 98 You're Not cut out for drawing talismans

Earth elemental spirit, outside the Spirit Wood Garden?

Pei Shuguai was puzzled as to why someone like him would want to learn how to draw talismans.

Looking for a way to earn spirit stones?

What do they think the art of talismans is?

So many people dedicate themselves to studying the art of talismans, yet they may not achieve anything significant. Why should an earth elemental spirit think it's possible to make money off spirit stones just by drawing talismans?

On the path of cultivation, the greatest taboo is being indecisive. For ordinary cultivators, it is enough to focus on one combat technique and specialize in one skill that makes money.

The saying goes, "Don't bite off more than you can chew." A jack of all trades, master of none.

Pei Shuguai thought this to himself, but he didn't say it aloud. He figured that once that person ran into a wall with him, he would realize that the way of talismans wasn't an easy way to make money.

"Since you're so sympathetic to him, bring him to my talisman-drawing room tomorrow morning."

Out of respect for Ma Guanming and because Liu He had sincerely given him a few Purple Apple Spirit Fruits, he decided to give him a chance.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Pei!"

Ma Guanming was happy to help Liu He.

Regardless of the final outcome, he secured an opportunity for Liu He.

The following morning. Fu Lufeng.

Pei Shuguai's Talisman Drawing Room.

Ma Guanming brought Liu He with him.

"Liu He, an outer disciple of Lingmu Garden, pays respects to Senior Brother Pei."

Liu He bowed respectfully, displaying composure and grace.

Pei Shuguai looked Liu He up and down, a polite smile on his face, but he was somewhat surprised by Liu He's cultivation level: "You entered the sect in the same batch as Ma Guanming? Your cultivation is not bad."

"Senior Brother Pei, you flatter me. I was just lucky to be selected for the Spirit Plant Peak three years ago, and my cultivation improved faster thanks to the second-tier Spirit Gathering Array."

Liu He responded modestly, showing no arrogance whatsoever.

He really has nothing to be proud of; with mediocre talent, he relies entirely on "cheating."

"You're quite modest. But are you sure you want to learn talisman drawing?"

While there's a saying that having many skills is never a burden, it's equally true that you can't bite off more than you can chew.

"An individual's energy is limited, so how can one master several skills simultaneously?"

Pei Shuguai tried to persuade him.

"Senior Brother Pei, my job at the Spirit Wood Garden is relatively easy, and I have plenty of time to learn another skill."

To be honest, my monthly salary of ten spirit stones isn't enough. I was thinking of trying talisman drawing; maybe it would give me another skill to earn spirit stones.

Liu He was very "frank" and straightforward, and did not hypocritically say that he loved the art of talisman drawing.

"Fine, you won't give up until I let you try. I can test your talent for drawing runes first."

Symbol drawing talent?

Liu He was puzzled. Didn't Ma Guanming say that apart from special spirits, there was no way to test talent in talisman drawing?

Pei Shuguai's claim of talent in talisman drawing was based on his own experience.

He pointed to the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table: "These are ordinary writing brush and paper. Just write a few words, anything you like."

His method of judgment is based on calligraphy and painting.

Before his spiritual root talent was detected and he came to the Qian Yuan Holy Sect, Pei Shuguai came from a scholarly family. His father was a teacher at the academy and was very learned.

Pei Shuguai learned calligraphy and painting from a young age, and by the age of twelve or thirteen, he had already developed excellent handwriting. His father said that he had the demeanor of a master and would definitely become a renowned calligrapher and painter in history.

If he hadn't come to the Qian Yuan Holy Emperor, he would definitely have become a renowned "master of calligraphy and painting" in the mortal world.

According to Pei Shuguai's observation, after he arrived at Talisman Peak, many of those who showed talent in talismans and were selected as formal disciples all had excellent handwriting.

"it is good."

Following Pei Shuguai's instructions, Liu He sat upright at the desk and wrote the four characters "The Way of Talismans".

He was a time traveler. He had never practiced calligraphy since childhood, and after arriving here, he could at most write characters that others could recognize.

As for "aesthetics"? Not at all.

"this----"

Pei Shuguai saw that Liu He had written four characters, which were barely neat, with great care and attention, and he wanted to say something to praise him, but he couldn't find the words.

How's your painting?

Average calligraphy doesn't mean average painting.

"Senior Brother Pei, to be honest, my painting skills are worse than my calligraphy. There's no need to embarrass myself."

Liu He didn't want to embarrass himself in painting again.

Pei Shuguai paused for a moment, then said, "Then I'll be frank. Liu He, you're really not cut out for talisman drawing. Trying to learn it is a waste of time and spirit stones; it's unnecessary."

With his cultivation level of the eighth level of Qi Refining and his status, he didn't need to consider Liu He's feelings, so he spoke very directly without any hypocritical or polite nonsense.

Forehead----

Although Liu He was mentally prepared, the truth was still hurtful.

"Senior Brother Pei, I still want to give it a try."

It wasn't that he didn't believe Pei Shuguai's judgment, but rather that he relied on the ant nest. In the ant nest, he had unlimited opportunities to try and fail; if others practiced once, he would practice ten or a hundred times.

Don't be afraid to waste resources practicing. Even if you're not a genius at drawing talismans, it shouldn't be difficult to earn some spirit stones this way.

Seeing his persistence, Pei Shuguai thought to himself that he was truly stubborn and wouldn't turn back until he hit a brick wall.

"Before you came, you must have already learned a lot about the art of talismans at the Cultivation Techniques Pavilion."

"Um.

""

Liu He nodded. He had learned enough about the basics of talisman drawing from the books in the Cultivation Technique Pavilion.

Those books also contain many basic talisman strokes and instructions on how to draw them, explaining them in great detail.

He came to Pei Shuguai not only to learn talisman drawing, but more importantly, to establish multiple identities. Talisman drawing was his chosen source of spirit stones, which he intended to reveal publicly in the future; he needed to make this known to everyone, not just to make a fortune in secret.

"Then I'll say something that's not in the books, something you can understand."

Because Liu He had brought a "generous gift," Pei Shuguai was somewhat patient with him.

"When drawing talismans, the strokes of the talisman must be precise, and the order of each stroke must not be wrong."

You can think of those intricate runes and strokes as a cultivator's meridians. Spiritual energy flows within these meridians. What happens if you go down the wrong meridian?

The same principle applies to drawing symbols —

Pei Shuguai's metaphor is indeed simple and easy to understand.

After this theoretical discussion, Liu He gained a much deeper understanding of symbol drawing.

"I won't teach you the basics. I'll draw a lightness talisman now and explain the details you need to pay attention to. Go back and practice on your own."

Pei Shuguai didn't have time to teach from the basics.

He picked up his talisman brush and drew a low-grade talisman, the "Lightness Talisman," at a speed several times slower.

The Lightness Charm is the basic spell "Lightness Spell". If you add a Lightness Charm on top of using the Lightness Spell, you can increase your travel speed by two or three times.

This was the first time Liu He had ever seen a talisman master draw talismans in person, and he watched very intently.

As Pei Shuguai finished his last stroke, a faint light flashed on the talisman, sealing in the spiritual energy, and the talisman was successfully drawn.

"The most important precautions for this lightness amulet, and also the easiest places to destroy it, are these few points. The transitions here must be smooth, without the slightest hesitation."

"Pay attention to this talisman line, and remember not to touch it —"

After explaining, Pei Shuguai finished instructing Liu He.

He had given Liu He plenty of guidance in exchange for that gift of the Purple Apple Spirit Fruit.

"Go with Ma Guanming to get a bottle of ink for drawing lightness talismans, and a stack of talisman paper. If you can draw three lightness talismans with this bottle of ink within a month, come back to me."

If you fail twice, once, or even all of them, you don't need to come back.

Just a heads up, one bottle of talisman ink can completely draw ten lightness talismans. Even counting the ones you ruin halfway through, it's enough for you to try more than ten times.

When I first drew the Lightness Talisman, one bottle of ink was enough to make five. My requirements for you aren't high.

"Go."

Pei Shu waved his hand to see the guest out.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Pei."

Liu He took his leave.

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