Han Daohe

"Judging by my current rate of cultivation, I should be able to break through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining in half a year," Han Changming muttered to himself.

He rose to his feet and headed upstairs.

His room was next to the spiritual bamboo. When he opened the window, a breeze drifted in, leaving him refreshed and invigorated.

Han Changming took out a blue booklet. The words "Cloud Talisman Scripture" were written on its cover.

He leafed through the booklet and began reading carefully.

His grandfather, Han Daohe, had three spiritual roots. His aptitude was average, but he had already reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining.

Han Daohe had married late and had two sons and a daughter. His eldest son had died at the hands of a demonic beast. His younger son, Han Shan, had no spiritual roots and was sent to live on a certain small island. Clan members without spiritual roots could not remain with their relatives. The immortal and the mortal followed separate paths; it was a clan rule, and no member could defy it.

Han Shan had five sons and two daughters. Han Changming was his youngest son. When Han Changming was five, his spiritual roots were discovered, and he was sent back to Red Shrimp Island to study the arts of immortality.

When Han Daohe saw Han Changming, he was so moved that he couldn't speak for a long while. He held Han Changming and wept bitterly.

Han Changming's aunt had married into another family and rarely came back, so he had grown up relying on Han Daohe, and Han Daohe on him.

Wealth, companions, cultivation methods, and a place to practice were the four essentials of immortal cultivation. Han Daohe knew well how important wealth was. At Han Changming's first birthday, he had picked a Talisman Brush during the traditional grab-bag ceremony. After Han Changming's spiritual roots were discovered, Han Daohe had pinched pennies to ask the clan's Talisman Makers to instruct him. He had also supplied Han Changming with plenty of Blank Talisman Paper so he could learn the art of talisman making.

Han Changming could now make three kinds of first-rank, low-grade talismans. For two of them, his success rate had reached thirty percent.

By the standards of the cultivation world, anyone who could make three kinds of first-rank talismans with a success rate of at least thirty percent could become a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Maker.

As long as he practiced diligently, it wouldn't be long before he became a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Maker. Only by mastering a useful skill could he travel farther along the path to immortality.

He could make Fireball Talismans, Water Shield Talismans, and Earth Arrow Talismans. Fireball Talismans and Earth Arrow Talismans sold for one spirit stone each. Water Shield Talismans were Defense Talismans, so they were more expensive, at two spirit stones apiece. A bundle of twelve first-rank blank talisman papers cost one spirit stone. As long as he made one Fireball Talisman, he wouldn't be at a loss.

Making talismans consumed a certain amount of magical power and spiritual sense. The spiritual sense cost wasn't high, but the magical power drain was substantial. With his cultivation at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, after making talismans for an hour, he needed to spend two hours meditating to restore his magical power. And that was only for first-rank, low-grade talismans. The higher a talisman's grade, the more magical power it consumed and the longer it took to make.

After Han Changming reached the third layer of Qi Refining, he began practicing talisman making in earnest. He spent two hours every day studying the craft. After several years, his skill was nearing the level of a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Maker. He owed everything he had achieved to Han Daohe's generous support.

If he had been a Rogue Cultivator with no one to rely on, even maintaining his cultivation would have been difficult. Fortunately, he had been born into a cultivation family. With his grandfather and other relatives looking after him, he could learn talisman making without neglecting his cultivation.

The Cloud Talisman Scripture was a book on talisman making compiled by the clan. It briefly introduced the origins and development of the art, along with instructions for making several first-rank talismans, making it suitable for beginners.

His success rates for Fireball Talismans and Earth Arrow Talismans had both reached thirty percent, but his success rate for Water Shield Talismans was low, less than ten percent. Han Changming needed to practice diligently.

A little while later, Han Changming set down the Cloud Talisman Scripture and took out his talisman-making tools, preparing to make a Water Shield Talisman.

Making talismans required three tools: a Talisman Brush, Cinnabar, and Blank Talisman Paper.

The Talisman Brush Han Changming used was a first-rank, low-grade magical artifact. Han Daohe had specifically bought it for him to make talismans; it had cost thirty spirit stones.

First, Han Changming sat cross-legged on the wooden bed and meditated to adjust his breathing. Only after bringing himself into the best possible condition did he go to the wooden table. He held the Talisman Brush in his right hand, dipped it in Cinnabar, then lowered it to the paper.

A Water Shield Talisman had eighteen runes, which faintly formed the shape of a droplet.

Before long, a blue rune appeared on the paper, followed by a second.

Han Changming's expression turned grave, and his gaze stayed fixed on the paper beneath his brush.

As time passed, one blue rune after another appeared on the paper.

A little while later, seventeen blue runes had appeared. Only the final rune remained, and the Water Shield Talisman would be complete.

Han Changming took a deep breath. His expression grew even more solemn as he turned his wrist and brought the brush down on the paper again.

Before long, an eighteenth rune appeared.

A faint smile had just touched Han Changming's face when the spiritual energy in the paper suddenly grew chaotic. He hurriedly tossed it out the window.

The paper burst into a dazzling blue light, then turned into a ball of flame and vanished without a trace.

"Failed again. Sigh." Han Changming furrowed his brow and let out a soft sigh.

He had already failed more than three hundred times, and his successful attempts numbered fewer than ten.

Han Changming set down the Talisman Brush and went over the process in his mind, thinking about which step had gone wrong.

After a while, Han Changming took out a sheet of Blank Talisman Paper and continued making Water Shield Talismans.

An hour later, Han Changming set down the Talisman Brush and looked at the pale blue talisman on the wooden table. A smile appeared on his pale face.

He had made over twenty attempts in a row and succeeded once. His success rate was still less than ten percent. A Water Shield Talisman could sell for two spirit stones, barely enough to break even.

Han Changming put away the talisman and his tools. He had run out of Blank Talisman Paper and had little Cinnabar left. There were no markets within a thousand miles, and he was responsible for guarding Red Shrimp Island. He couldn't leave without a special reason. He would have to get more Blank Talisman Paper and Cinnabar before he could keep making talismans.

He sat cross-legged on the wooden bed and meditated to restore his magical power.

The day passed quickly.

Early the next morning, as Han Changming was eating breakfast, a low horn sounded from his person.

He pulled a palm-sized blue conch from his robes and sent a spell seal into it. An elderly voice rang out at once. "Changming, are you up? Grandpa's come to see you."

The blue conch was a first-rank, mid-grade magical artifact called a Communication Conch. It could connect people within a ten-mile radius.

"Grandpa's here." Han Changming's face lit up. He hurriedly set down his bowl and chopsticks, lifted the restrictions, and dashed outside.

A huge Cyan Gourd floated above the courtyard, with a kind-faced old man in a green robe seated on it.

The old man was Han Changming's grandfather, Han Daohe. He could have stayed with the clan and enjoyed his retirement, but he wanted Han Changming to get farther along the path to immortality, so he spent much of the year traveling. Whenever he came back, he always brought Han Changming tasty treats and fun things.

Han Daohe formed a spell seal, and the Cyan Gourd slowly descended into the courtyard.

"Grandpa, why are you back so soon? Didn't you say you wouldn't return for three months?" Han Changming asked, puzzled but visibly excited.

"There was another assignment, so the clan head asked me to come back. I haven't seen you in six months, and you're still at the fourth layer of Qi Refining? Have you been slacking off?" Han Daohe's expression turned stern.

"Too much maternal indulgence spoils a child." Han Daohe doted on Han Changming, but he was strict with him.

"Please don't blame me, Grandpa. I haven't been slacking off. I should be able to break through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining in half a year." Han Changming spoke with confidence.