A young girl of seventeen or eighteen stood before the spirit field. Above it hung a vast mass of white clouds.
Raindrops the size of beans poured down from the sky, falling onto the Seven-Leaf Grass.
The young girl had delicate, elegant features. She wore a lotus-colored robe, and two adorable dimples appeared on her face.
After a while, she withdrew her hand seals, and the white cloud dispersed as though it had never appeared.
With a muffled creak, Han Changming walked out of the bamboo building, a faint smile on his face.
The young girl smiled sweetly. "Ninth Brother, you're up so early today!"
The young girl was Han Changming's cousin, Han Changxin. She ranked fifteenth among the Chang generation.
"Fifteenth Sister, you're here early today. Have you eaten breakfast? Come join me."
Han Changming smiled at Han Changxin and warmly invited her.
"Hehe, I haven't eaten yet! Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Han Changming washed the rice and cooked, then stir-fried two dishes. He and Han Changxin chatted as they ate.
Han Changxin was at the fourth level of Qi Refining and was responsible for tending to the clan's spirit herbs and the spirit fields of several clan members.
She was warmhearted and often helped her fellow clansmen tend to their spirit herbs. She was diligent in her work, and everyone liked her.
"Ninth Brother, if I remember correctly, you're taking the talisman-making test today!"
Han Changming nodded. "I'm going as soon as I finish eating. I don't know if I'll pass."
In truth, after extensive practice, Han Changming's success rate at making three kinds of first-rank talismans had reached thirty percent, while his success rate with Fireball Talismans had reached forty percent. Besides Han Zhangzhong's careful guidance, the Spirit Gathering Stone had played a key role in his impressive progress.
When making talismans, he might suddenly gain an insight, only to run out of magical power and have to meditate to recover. By the time his power was restored, the insight would be gone.
With the Spirit Gathering Stone in hand, Han Changming recovered his magical power quickly. He could make talismans more often, and his success rate gradually improved.
"Ninth Brother, do your best! I believe you'll pass." Han Changxin cheered him on.
After breakfast, Han Changming left his residence and flew toward the General Affairs Hall on his magical artifact.
Before long, he arrived at the General Affairs Hall.
Han Zhangkang and Han Zhangzhong oversaw the test. With six bundles of Blank Talisman Paper, Han Changming had to make seven Fireball Talismans, seven Earth Arrow Talismans, and seven Water Shield Talismans to pass.
The test took place in a side room. Han Zhangkang and Han Zhangzhong watched from the side without saying a word.
Han Changming took out his Talisman Brush and cinnabar, then sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to compose himself.
Half a quarter of an hour later, he had brought himself into peak condition. He picked up his brush, dipped it in the cinnabar, and began to draw.
Before long, a red rune appeared on the talisman paper. Then came a second, a third...
The test took a whole day. When his magical power ran out, he had no choice but to meditate and restore it.
As expected, Han Changming passed the test. He had made eleven Fireball Talismans, nine Earth Arrow Talismans, and eight Water Shield Talismans.
At market prices, six bundles of first-rank low-grade Blank Talisman Paper cost six spirit stones. The talismans Han Changming had made could sell for thirty-six spirit stones. In other words, he had earned thirty spirit stones in a single day. Of course, he had used a box and a half of cinnabar, so after deducting its cost, he had earned less than thirty spirit stones.
When he first began learning talisman-making, Han Changming had wasted countless bundles of Blank Talisman Paper. It was only because Han Daohe had scrimped and saved to support his studies that he had made it this far.
"Not bad. Congratulations, Changming. You're now a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Maker. The clan will provide you with Blank Talisman Paper. Each month, the clan will give you thirty bundles, and you'll need to turn in 108 first-rank talismans. The types don't matter. The more talismans you submit, and the higher their grade, the more contribution points you'll receive."
Han Zhangkang took out two sets of first-rank robes and handed them to Han Changming.
The robes had a dust-repelling effect. Beside the gourd pattern on each robe were two leaves. The formal robes of Han Clan members all bore the gourd pattern. One leaf on a robe represented an ordinary clan member in the Qi Refining stage. These members had no special skills and mostly did ordinary jobs, such as patrolling or guarding the islands.
Clan members with a special skill, such as talisman-making, alchemy, artifact-refining, or formation-setting, wore robes embroidered with two leaves. If they reached Foundation Establishment, their robes bore three leaves.
Han Changming thanked him and accepted the robes.
"Changming, keep up the good work. Come to me every three days, and I'll teach you how to make other talismans. Fireball, Earth Arrow, and Water Shield Talismans aren't especially popular. A talisman maker needs to know how to make a variety of talismans." Han Zhangzhong spoke earnestly.
"Grandson understands. I'll practice diligently."
Back at his residence, Han Changming immediately changed into his new robes. From that day on, he was a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Maker.
Han Daohe would surely be delighted if he heard the news.
After becoming a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Maker, Han Changming returned to his regular routine. He spent three shichen a day making talismans and used the rest of his time cultivating.
He hadn't forgotten that cultivation was the foundation.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
A vast cloud of yellow mist floated inside the room. As time passed, it gradually dispersed, revealing Han Changming.
Half a quarter of an hour later, Han Changming opened his eyes, a hint of delight in them. He murmured to himself,
"I've finally reached the fifth level of Qi Refining."
With thirty bundles of Blank Talisman Paper, he had to make 108 talismans. Thanks to the Spirit Gathering Stone, Han Changming finished the task in less than half a month, and spent the rest of his time cultivating.
With Han Zhangzhong's patient guidance, he could now make six kinds of first-rank talismans: three first-rank low-grade talismans and three first-rank mid-grade talismans.
The three first-rank mid-grade talismans were Fire Blade, Quicksand, and Water Blade Talismans. His success rate with Fire Blade and Quicksand Talismans had reached twenty percent, while his success rate with Water Blade Talismans was ten percent.
He could now save up more than a hundred contribution points each month, or over a thousand a year. In less than twenty years, he could accumulate twenty thousand contribution points and exchange them for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
It might seem like a long time, but guarding an island for several years earned only a few dozen contribution points—unless one distinguished oneself.
"Let's see... it's about time to collect the talisman paper."
He left his residence and flew toward the General Affairs Hall on his magical artifact.
"Great-Uncle, I'm here to collect this month's Blank Talisman Paper. These are the talismans I made this month."
Han Changming took out the talismans he had made and handed them to Han Zhangkang to count.
"Not bad, Changming. You're getting better and better at making first-rank talismans. That's a total of 120 contribution points." Han Zhangkang put away the talismans and credited Han Changming with 120 contribution points.
"Changming, our clan opened a talisman shop in Kuixing Market, and we're short a talisman maker. I'm planning to send you there to help out. What do you think?"
Han Changming was slightly taken aback. "Grandson's talisman-making skills aren't very good. Will I be able to help?"
"You will. It's only a small shop, and your skills are more than enough. Rest for a few days, then set off with Deling. She'll be escorting a shipment to Kuixing Market."
"Yes, Great-Uncle. Helping ease the clan's burdens is my duty. I'll take my leave."
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