Han Zhangzhong

"Great-granduncle is right to reprimand me. I'll remember," Han Changming answered obediently.

Han Deling smiled faintly. "Great-granduncle Zhangkang, Changming was very brave this time. He protected the clan's property and killed an evil cultivator. Most importantly, his success rate at refining first-rank talismans is already close to thirty percent. So I brought him back to learn the art of talisman-making from Great-Granduncle Zhangzhong."

"Already close to thirty percent?" A trace of approval appeared on Han Zhangkang's face. He said happily, "That's good news. We should bring him back. Our Han Clan has stood for nearly a thousand years, yet the art of talisman-making has always been our weakness. When Changming grabbed a Talisman Brush during his first-birthday ceremony, I knew he was destined to become a talisman maker. For protecting the clan's property and killing an evil Qi Refining cultivator, the clan rules award you one hundred contribution points. Bring out your identity token!"

For a clan to endure and prosper, rewards and punishments had to be clearly defined.

Han Changming's face brightened. One hundred contribution points was quite a lot. After all, he had earned only thirty points in three years stationed on Red Shrimp Island, and it took twenty thousand contribution points to redeem a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Contribution points could be exchanged for cultivation resources and passed from father to son, and from son to grandson. Because contribution points existed, the Han Clan's members felt a strong sense of belonging. Most of the Han Clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators had redeemed Foundation Establishment Pills with contribution points accumulated by their immediate family, then taken the pills to enter the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The trees planted by the older generation sheltered those who came after. If all went as expected, Han Changming would also rely on the contribution points Han Daohe had accumulated to redeem a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Han Daohe was already old, yet he still traveled far and wide. Wasn't it all to accumulate more contribution points and help Han Changming redeem a Foundation Establishment Pill?

Han Changming took out his identity token. Han Zhangkang transferred one hundred contribution points to him and recorded the merits he had earned.

"Changming, go back and rest first. Tomorrow, visit Great-Granduncle Zhangzhong. If you can pass the talisman maker assessment, you won't have to be sent out to guard an island."

Han Changming readily agreed and turned to leave.

He summoned the Green Wind Gourd and flew toward his residence.

A little less than a quarter hour later, he landed outside a narrow valley.

Steep cliffs towered on both sides of the valley. Inside stood a courtyard covering five mu. Its layout was simple: a three-story green bamboo building stood to the left, with a spirit well beside it. The rest of the grounds consisted of spirit fields, where a large patch of green spirit plants grew, each with seven leaves.

The green spirit plants were Seven-Leaf Grass. Five-year-old Seven-Leaf Grass was a raw material for refining first-rank low-grade talisman paper.

This was where Han Daohe and his grandson lived. As it happened, they owed their residence here in large part to Han Changming's eldest uncle, Han Deyu.

Han Deyu was thirty and still unmarried, devoted entirely to pursuing the immortal path. While escorting goods, he died at the hands of a demon beast while protecting the clan's property. The clan then gave this residence to Han Daohe. Later, after Han Changming was found to possess a spiritual root, he moved in with him.

When the Han Clan had first moved to Red Shrimp Island, the spirit fields they cleared were clan property and were tended by designated workers. But the harvests were meager, and the clan members lacked enthusiasm. Later, the clan leader introduced a series of measures: most spirit fields remained clan property, while a smaller portion was leased to meritorious clan members for cultivation. This greatly stirred the members' enthusiasm for work and strengthened the clan's unity.

Of course, the lease wasn't permanent. It lasted only twenty years. If neither Han Daohe nor Han Changming earned new merits within that time, the clan would reclaim the residence and award it to another meritorious member, encouraging the clan's people to contribute.

Han Daohe traveled far and wide with the clan's merchant caravans, while Han Changming was stationed on an island. Han Changming's younger female cousin, Han Changxin, helped tend the nearly five mu of Seven-Leaf Grass.

Han Changming used his identity token to open the ward and walked inside.

He wandered through the spirit fields along a cobblestone path.

The Seven-Leaf Grass was growing well. It was clear Han Changxin had tended it with care. Han Changming wasn't surprised; Han Changxin was a mid-grade first-rank spirit planter, and looking after a few mu of Seven-Leaf Grass was easy for her.

After confirming that the Seven-Leaf Grass was in good condition, Han Changming headed for the bamboo building.

He ate a little, then took out the Spirit Gathering Stone and set it beside him, letting it slowly absorb spiritual energy.

Han Changming took out a white porcelain bottle and poured out a cyan medicinal pill, swallowing it.

The first-rank Qi Refining Pill was for cultivators below the sixth layer of Qi Refining.

The pill melted as soon as it entered his mouth, turning into a surge of spiritual energy.

He hurriedly circulated his cultivation technique to refine it, guiding the spiritual energy toward his dantian and slowly transforming it into magical power.

Early the next morning, Han Changming arrived outside a secluded courtyard.

He took out a Sound Transmission Talisman, spoke a few words into it, and tossed it into the courtyard.

Before long, the courtyard gate slowly opened, and a vigorous-looking old man in a white robe came out.

"Your grandson, Han Changming, pays his respects to Great-Granduncle. Have you been well lately?" Han Changming asked with a sincere smile, showing his concern.

The white-robed old man was Han Zhangzhong. He was at the eighth layer of Qi Refining and a high-grade first-rank talisman maker—the most skilled talisman maker in the Han Clan.

Han Zhangzhong had suffered heartbreak in his youth and never married. Devoted to the art of talisman-making, he treated all the younger members of the Han Clan as his own children.

Han Changming had learned talisman-making from Han Zhangzhong as a child. When he took the assessment, his cultivation was too low and his talisman-making skills too weak, so he hadn't been selected. Had he passed, the clan would have covered the cost of his studies. But it wasn't too late. Through his own efforts, his success rate at making talismans had already approached thirty percent. With a little more practice, he would surely become a first-rank low-grade talisman maker.

A trace of affection appeared on Han Zhangzhong's face. "I'm well. Your twenty-fifth uncle told me that your success rate at refining first-rank talismans is close to thirty percent?"

"That's right. I owe it to Grandfather, who provided me with plenty of talisman paper to practice with, and to the Cloud Talisman Scripture compiled by you, Great-Granduncle. I'm confident I'll become a first-rank low-grade talisman maker before long," Han Changming said confidently.

He wasn't boasting. As long as he had plenty of Blank Talisman Paper to practice with, becoming a first-rank low-grade talisman maker was only a matter of time.

"Good. It seems you didn't slack off while stationed on the island. Come in! I'll guide you in the art of talisman-making and hopefully help you become a first-rank low-grade talisman maker soon. I'm old, and the clan's future rests with your generation," Han Zhangzhong said as he walked into the courtyard.

Han Changming hurried after him. A large spirit field on the left side of the courtyard was planted with Seven-Leaf Grass. On the right were two mu of fishponds, where several silver spirit fish swam back and forth. Sunlight glinted off their scales, sending out flashes of silver.

Silver Scale Fish had tender, delicious flesh, and their skins could be used to refine first-rank Blank Talisman Paper. But they ate a great deal. Han Changming had wanted to raise some, but couldn't afford to.

Han Changming followed Han Zhangzhong to a stone pavilion. Han Zhangzhong said, "Make talismans here. Let me see how much your skills have improved."

Han Changming readily agreed. He took out talisman paper, a Talisman Brush, and Cinnabar, then began making talismans on the spot.

By dusk, the sun was slowly sinking.

Han Changming walked out of the courtyard with a broad smile on his face. Han Zhangzhong followed, looking at him fondly.

"Go back and practice hard. Don't slack off."

"Yes, Great-Granduncle. I'll take my leave. Please stay here."

Han Changming agreed, summoned the Green Wind Gourd, and flew toward his residence.