Learning to Draw Talismans!

Early the next morning, Li Qingyuan headed out and arrived at the solitary Small Courtyard of Clan Leader Li Guangao.

"Grandpa Clan Leader, I'm here!" Li Qingyuan called from outside the door.

Li Guangao's aged voice sounded. "Come in."

Inside the house, one old man and one young man prepared to draw talismans.

Li Guangao said earnestly, "Xiao Qingyuan, drawing talismans is something that demands immense patience, immense time, and immense talent."

"Over these past years, this old man has seen your comprehension and your heart in seeking the Dao."

"If there is anyone left in the Li Family who can learn this old man's Talisman Path Skill, it can only be you."

Li Qingyuan chuckled. "Grandpa Clan Leader, you flatter me."

"Alright, enough idle chatter. Let's begin." Li Guangao pointed to the materials and tools on the table. "Drawing talismans requires a talisman brush, talisman ink, and talisman paper materials."

"Generally speaking, the better the quality of the talisman brush, talisman ink, and talisman paper materials, the stronger the talisman paper produced."

Li Guangao picked up a talisman brush and introduced it with a rather proud expression. "This is this old man's Wind Spirit Wolf Hair Brush, refined from the bones and fur of a Wind Spirit Wolf. It is Mid-grade First-tier."

"A talisman brush is actually a magical artifact as well. It is simply not refined for battle, but for inscribing talismanic runes."

Li Qingyuan came to a realization. "So that's how it is."

"Grandpa Clan Leader, how much does this talisman brush sell for?" Li Qingyuan asked curiously.

Li Guangao said, "It is worth one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones."

"Back then, to buy this talisman brush and raise my success rate in drawing talismans, this old man spent several years of savings in one stroke."

"One hundred and fifty Spirit Stones?" Li Qingyuan clicked his tongue inwardly. "That really is expensive."

Li Guangao smiled, set down the talisman brush, and continued. "Next is talisman ink."

"Talisman ink uses Spirit Spring Water as its main ingredient, with Cinnabar Stone ground into powder added in, before Demonic Beast Essence Blood is finally infused to blend it."

Li Guangao explained patiently, "When all the ingredients in this old man's talisman ink are calculated together, one jin of talisman ink costs roughly ten to twenty Spirit Stones."

Li Qingyuan said thoughtfully, "It seems learning to draw talismans truly is a craft that consumes tremendous resources."

"Last are the talisman paper materials..." Li Guangao said, "Talisman paper materials are refined from the bark and stalks of spirit plants, mixed with Mixed Demonic Beast Hide."

"Low-grade First-tier Talisman Paper materials sell for one Spirit Stone at the Market on Willow Crane Island. Tier 1 Mid-grade Talisman Paper materials sell for three Spirit Stones."

"As for Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper materials, each sheet requires five Spirit Stones."

Li Qingyuan said in surprise, "Talisman paper materials are actually this expensive?"

"Grandpa Clan Leader, my Father said that Low-grade First-tier talisman papers have attack power corresponding to Early Qi Refining cultivators, and sell for two, three, or four Spirit Stones at the Market."

"Mid-grade First-tier talisman papers are no weaker than a single strike from a Mid Qi Condensation cultivator, and cost five or six Spirit Stones each."

Li Guangao nodded. "Correct."

"To inscribe a Low-grade First-tier talisman paper, counting the consumption of the talisman brush, talisman ink, and talisman paper materials, as well as labor, the cost comes close to two Spirit Stones per sheet."

"Selling a Low-grade First-tier talisman paper can earn one Spirit Stone. If it is an exceptional Low-grade First-tier talisman paper, it may earn two Spirit Stones."

"Of course, that is the most ideal state." Li Guangao sighed faintly. "Drawing talismans always comes with failures."

"Even though this old man has immersed himself in this path for many years, my success rate in drawing Low-grade First-tier talisman papers is only seventy or eighty percent."

"My success rate in drawing Mid-grade First-tier talisman papers barely reaches forty percent."

Li Guangao said with a sigh, "After deducting costs, the earnings are only three or four hundred Spirit Stones. And among them, some talisman papers are used to help the family's cultivators in combat, self-defense, and hunting demonic beasts."

"The talisman papers truly sold only bring in two hundred Spirit Stones over an entire year."

Li Qingyuan had long learned from his Old Dad about the family's income, family industries, family expenses, and the fact that the family paid six hundred Spirit Stones in tribute to the Liu Family every year.

The Li Clan's current situation was that they fought desperately and labored bitterly every year, only to serve as oxen and horses for the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan of Willow Crane Island. Even when they gave their all each year, they could only barely maintain the family's operations.

In years of poor harvest, the family's income could not cover its expenses, forcing them to risk hunting more demonic beasts and going out to sea to catch spirit fish, which easily led to casualties among the family's cultivators.

Li Qingyuan's expression turned solemn. "Grandpa Clan Leader, teach me to draw talismans."

"Qingyuan also wants to contribute his share of strength to the family."

"My Father said that over these years, even when the family's income could not cover its expenses and finances were strained, you, the Great Elder, and the Second Elder have all paid out of your own pockets for my Cultivation Resources."

Hearing this, Li Guangao smiled in gratification.

A young man who knew gratitude and repaid kindness, and who was exceptionally intelligent, was always deeply loved by his elders.

"Good." Li Guangao smiled and took out a talisman paper. "This is a Lightness Talisman."

"Xiao Qingyuan, stick the talisman paper onto your body, activate it with spiritual power, and feel the mysteries within."

Li Qingyuan did as told.

The Lightness Talisman stuck to his chest, and spiritual power flowed into it.

Bzz! Bzz!

The spirit talisman emitted waves of spiritual power and activated instantly.

"Qingyuan, do not use spiritual power. Jump using only your own strength," Li Guangao instructed again.

Without using spiritual power, Li Qingyuan bent his knees and jumped with only the strength of his legs.

Whoosh!

With a crouching leap, Li Qingyuan shot directly into the air. He crossed more than ten meters in one jump, a Strong Wind rushing against his face, making him feel as though he were flying.

"Haha, so fast! My body feels so light."

"Light as a swallow, light as willow catkins."

Li Qingyuan hopped and skipped, each leap carrying him more than ten meters. He flew up to the treetops and swept over hillocks, startling flocks upon flocks of birds from the back mountain.

Several breaths later, the Lightness Talisman's energy was Completely Depleted, and Li Qingyuan landed steadily.

"The Lightness Talisman is so mysterious." It was Li Qingyuan's first contact with, and first use of, talisman papers. He found it immensely novel, filled with the urge to explore.

Li Guangao said, "The Lightness Talisman is a Low-grade First-tier talisman paper. Once activated, it makes the user as light as a swallow and greatly boosts their speed."

"Today, we will learn the Lightness Talisman."

Li Qingyuan's spirits lifted. They had finally reached the main point.

At that moment, Clan Leader Li Guangao took out a talisman brush from his Storage Bag. "Qingyuan, this is the Low-grade First-tier talisman brush that Grandpa Clan Leader used some years ago."

"I'll lend it to you for now."

"As long as you can draw a talisman paper that can be used, even if you only draw one..."

Li Guangao narrowed his eyes with a smile, like an old fox, deliberately tempting him. "This talisman brush, worth thirty Spirit Stones, will be yours."

Li Qingyuan's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "Grandpa Clan Leader, I will work hard."

Li Guangao laughed heartily. "This old man will first draw a few Lightness Talismans. Watch from the side."

With that, Li Guangao held the Wind Spirit Wolf Hair Brush, laid out a sheet of Low-grade First-tier Talisman Paper material, dipped the brush tip in talisman ink, and his expression turned serious as he focused wholly on drawing the talisman.

It was clear that the old man had long become thoroughly adept at inscribing Lightness Talismans.

The Lightness Talisman was completed in one smooth flow, like drifting clouds and flowing water, taking no more than half a minute.

Li Qingyuan suddenly fell into a trance, as if he saw Uncle Ying holding a writing brush, dipping it in cinnabar-red ink, and in one stroke drawing a Maoshan Exorcism Talisman.

The first sheet, the second sheet, the third sheet...

Li Qingyuan watched carefully, committing every stroke to memory.

On the sixth sheet, with a bang, a tiny mistake threw the spiritual energy within the talisman paper material into disorder, and the material destroyed itself.

"Whew..." Li Guangao said, "Drawing talismans not only consumes spiritual power, but also Spiritual Sense."

"When mistakes begin to appear, it is time to rest."

Li Guangao pointed to ordinary paper and ordinary ink. "Qingyuan, first draw the talisman on paper with ordinary ink. Memorize every detail of the Lightness Talisman."

"Once it becomes thoroughly familiar to your heart, use talisman paper materials to draw it."

Li Qingyuan nodded. "Alright, Grandpa Clan Leader."

One old man and one young man, one imparting the talisman path, the other learning it.

Li Guangao slowly inscribed the Lightness Talisman on ordinary paper, teaching him stroke by stroke.

His talisman path had been entirely researched by himself, rigidly methodical and meticulous down to the last detail.

Li Qingyuan copied his example, firmly memorizing every stroke, repeating and tracing it over and over.

Li Guangao nodded secretly. This child has a calm temperament. He is neither arrogant nor impetuous, and his hand is steady. Every stroke lands with great precision. He learns very quickly.

He is far better than I was back then.

After drawing it more than ten times, Li Qingyuan thought, It doesn't seem that difficult.

However, Li Qingyuan still suppressed his eagerness to try and continued tracing the talismanic runes.

Another half hour later, Li Guangao nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. You have basically mastered the Lightness Talisman. Next, you may try drawing it with talisman paper materials."

At once, Li Qingyuan was filled with vigor. "Alright, Grandpa Clan Leader."

The formal drawing of talismans began.