Copying Rune Patterns

Inside the cave dwelling.

Lin Fan adjusted the cinnabar and spread out the talisman paper.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and all sorts of insights and experience regarding talisman-making surged rapidly through his mind.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, grabbed the talisman brush, and moved with flowing grace.

Internal Breath rose and fell at the tip of the brush as it traced lines across the talisman paper, completing the whole process in one breath.

The dark-red runes held their spiritual radiance within as the ink quickly solidified.

Fire Spirit Talisman, complete!

The Fire Spirit Talisman was a basic talisman for beginners. It could not even be counted as a First-Grade Talisman.

"The feel is obscure. As expected, there's a huge gap between theory and practice."

Lin Fan was not very satisfied, so he drew two more Fire Spirit Talismans.

As the number of times he made talismans increased, his movements and technique improved rapidly.

After drawing three Fire Spirit Talismans, Lin Fan found his rhythm, and his movements began to flow smoothly.

Next, he began making another type of talisman—the Wind Blade Talisman.

This talisman was one of several basic talismans recorded in the Talisman Secret Tome. It could inflict a certain amount of damage on Spirit Gathering Realm cultivators, and its area of effect was fairly large.

Internal Breath gathered at the brush tip. As it flowed across the talisman paper, every movement and every measure of force Lin Fan used was just right.

As the final stroke fell, the red spiritual radiance withdrew into the talisman, the ink quickly solidified, and a bright-red talisman took shape.

"It worked."

Lin Fan was both surprised and delighted.

The Wind Blade Talisman was a First-Grade Talisman. Its production was several times more difficult than that of the Fire Spirit Talisman. He had originally worried that he would need several attempts to make one, but now it seemed that his talisman-making skills were fairly good.

Drawing four talismans in succession had consumed more than half of Lin Fan's Internal Breath.

"It's a pity that the First-Grade Talismans recorded in the Talisman Secret Tome are too few. Otherwise, I could continue trying to make other talismans."

Lin Fan murmured softly.

Still, he was already quite satisfied. Being able to make a Wind Blade Talisman meant that he had already stepped halfway into the Blood Talisman Master level. If he could make more talismans in the future, he would have a chance to become a true Blood Talisman Master.

The next day.

The second floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.

Lin Fan arrived at the second floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion early in the morning and continued copying books there.

When Zhao Wang arrived and saw Lin Fan dutifully copying away, he was dumbfounded for a moment.

Under normal circumstances, disciples who came from the Hidden Scripture Pavilion were utterly unwilling to return here, much less continue copying books.

But Lin Fan had not only arrived early, he even looked as though he truly loved copying books, working away with all his might.

"Kid, don't you dislike this place?"

Zhao Wang patted Lin Fan on the shoulder and asked curiously.

"Why would I dislike it? It's great here."

Lin Fan's face was full of satisfaction.

Copying books could earn him more years of life, so he could hardly wait to remain here.

If I can lie low, then I should lie low. Why take risks?

Zhao Wang clicked his tongue and said, "I've seen quite a few Menial Disciples who came out of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion. They were all unwilling to return here no matter what, much less continue copying books here."

"You, on the other hand, seem to be enjoying it."

At this point, Zhao Wang suddenly smiled and said, "Junior Brother Lin, actually, copying books is the task of the Menial Disciples on the first floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion. Do you know what is mainly copied on the second floor?"

Lin Fan shook his head, indicating that he did not know.

"Take a careful look."

Zhao Wang casually picked up several ancient books and solemnly handed them to Lin Fan.

Following his gesture, Lin Fan immediately opened one of the books. Before long, strange runes appeared one after another in his sight.

There were many varied Rune Patterns. Most of them were complete, while a small portion was fragmented beyond recognition.

Even so, after merely looking at them for a few moments, Lin Fan felt dazed. These Rune Patterns radiated some unique power and consumed a cultivator's mental energy immensely.

"Senior Brother Zhao, these are..."

Lin Fan's expression shifted slightly as he asked.

"They're all kinds of Rune Patterns collected by the sect from all over."

"When Formal Disciples return to the second floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, they're not only responsible for reviewing the books copied by the Menial Disciples before they are entered into the collection, they also have to copy Rune Patterns gathered from various places for the talisman masters of Blood Soul Peak."

Aside from talisman paper and other Talisman Materials, the most important thing in a talisman was the Rune Patterns.

Moreover, different arrangements of Rune Patterns could give rise to entirely new talismans.

Only now did Lin Fan truly realize that the main duty of the second floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion was to copy all kinds of Rune Patterns for the talisman masters of Blood Soul Peak.

"Junior Brother Lin, I told you that Blood Talisman Masters receive excellent treatment in the sect. If you're willing to stay on the second floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion and copy Rune Patterns, you'll have a chance to become a Blood Talisman Master in the future."

Zhao Wang looked solemn as he continued, "So, if you don't mind, could you do my copying work as well?"

He needed to copy several ancient books recording talisman patterns every day.

Lin Fan froze. So after laying all that groundwork, the other man had been drawing him a pie, hoping he would copy the books containing Rune Patterns for him.

Good one, Zhao Wang!

If it had been anything else, Lin Fan would definitely have refused. But he had successfully made talismans yesterday and lacked an understanding of Rune Patterns, so after thinking briefly, he said, "Thank you, Senior Brother. But the Contribution Points will still belong to you."

"Junior Brother Lin..." This time, it was Zhao Wang's turn to be stunned.

He stared wide-eyed at this exceptionally agreeable junior brother and sighed emotionally, "We really should have met sooner! Come, let your senior brother teach you how to copy Rune Patterns."

Lin Fan nodded slightly and began copying Rune Patterns under Zhao Wang's guidance.

Unlike copying books, copying Rune Patterns was relatively complicated.

Some books recorded several Rune Patterns, and many Rune Patterns were incomplete. According to Zhao Wang, their task was to copy the complete Rune Patterns.

The copying process had to be accurate down to every stroke, restoring them as close to one hundred percent as possible.

"Some Rune Patterns carry an invisible power of their own, which greatly consumes one's vital essence, energy, and spirit. So you must remain completely focused while copying. Otherwise, not only will you easily waste all your previous effort, you may even suffer a certain degree of mental damage."

"Still, these are all minor problems. If you want to become a Blood Talisman Master, you must overcome these obstacles."

Zhao Wang patted Lin Fan on the shoulder and encouraged him while drawing him a pie.

"This Rune Pattern is the core component of a basic talisman. Junior Brother Lin, try copying it first."

"Remember to concentrate completely. During the copying process, your hand must be steady, and your heart must be steady as well."

He pointed at a Rune Pattern in an ancient book and gestured for Lin Fan to give it a try.

After his successful first attempt at making a talisman yesterday, Lin Fan had gained a certain understanding of Rune Patterns.

He focused his mind, held the brush, and traced the lines with flowing grace, completing it in one breath.

In less than half a shichen, an identical Rune Pattern appeared on the clean white paper.

"This..."

Zhao Wang's eyes widened, and he found it hard to believe.

This Rune Pattern was part of a basic talisman. Yet back then, he had spent half a day before he could copy an identical Rune Pattern.

Lin Fan, on the other hand, had used less than half a shichen.

"Senior Brother, is there a problem?"

Lin Fan asked.

"No... You did very well..."

Zhao Wang coughed dryly and said.

"Also, copying three Rune Patterns earns one Contribution Point."

"Every day, Formal Disciples must copy at least six Rune Patterns from various books."

"If you fail to finish them once, five of your Contribution Points will be deducted. If you fail several times, you may even lose your life."

Zhao Wang reminded him.

In the Blood Demon Sect, even Formal Disciples could not casually violate the rules. Otherwise, their lives could be in danger at any time.

"Understood, Senior Brother Zhao." Lin Fan nodded.

In other words, including Zhao Wang's share, Lin Fan needed to copy at least twelve Rune Patterns every day.

However, this did not trouble Lin Fan.

He continued copying the next Rune Pattern. Without spending much time, he simply copied the entire book containing three Rune Patterns.

You copied the three Rune Patterns in "Record of Talisman Transformation." Reward: 6 years of lifespan.

"So copying Rune Patterns can also earn rewards of lifespan."

Lin Fan's eyes lit up.

With this, his motivation became even stronger.

You copied the five Rune Patterns in "Record of No Rain." Reward: 10 years of lifespan.

You copied the six Rune Patterns in "Record of Trapping Demons." Reward: 12 years of lifespan.

Zhao Wang examined the various Rune Patterns Lin Fan had copied and could not help praising him. "This kid really is talented. In just one day, he's already copied twelve Rune Patterns."

"Even if I gave it my all now, I'm afraid this would be the most I could manage."

"I'll have to report this to Senior Brother. If we uncover a potential Blood Talisman Master, that'll be a great merit for me as well."