Participation [Seeking Follow-up Reads]

Ji Yuan was slightly taken aback, but on second thought, wasn't his lakeside cottage rented as well?

Yet the panel still classified it as his own building.

So what was the difference if he drew talismans for the assessment in this private little cubicle?

If he treated the assessment Wooden Token in his hand as a key, then as long as he stayed here drawing talismans, this would be his own private [Talisman Room].

Ji Yuan could not help sighing inwardly... the panel was damn considerate.

Just as he was thinking that, the voice of the Water Dragon Sect cultivator on duty rang out.

"The talisman for this assessment is a Middle First-Tier Talisman—the Skylight Talisman."

Ji Yuan's brow instantly furrowed. This Water Dragon Sect... was making things difficult.

If drawing talismans were compared to taking an exam, then the Skylight Talisman was unquestionably an obscure, difficult question.

Though the Skylight Talisman was also a Middle-Grade Talisman, it was exceedingly useless. As its name suggested, its effect was much like a lamp.

Its illumination was simply extremely strong; once used, an area several li around would be as bright as day, but it did not last very long.

It could only last for roughly half an incense stick's time.

Spend nearly ten Spirit Stones for half an incense stick of light... so ordinary Talisman Masters generally did not bother studying this talisman.

Ji Yuan was the same. If not for the Dao Comprehension Chamber increasing his comprehension, he might not even have been able to memorize the Skylight Talisman's runes.

For a moment, he understood why the assessment's pass rate was so low.

Wasn't this plainly making things difficult?

Just as Ji Yuan recalled how the Skylight Talisman's runes were drawn, he suddenly sensed a ripple of spiritual energy from beside him.

Immediately afterward, the watching cultivators all voiced their praise.

"Young Master Wu is incredible!"

"Success on the first try—he'll definitely be able to join the Water Dragon Sect this time."

"..."

Ji Yuan poured a trace of spiritual power into the Wooden Token, and the clamor immediately vanished... cultivation really was damn convenient. This Wooden Token had no other function, just a small soundproofing restriction.

Once activated, it blocked outside disturbances while still allowing those outside to clearly see what he was doing, preventing cheating.

Still, Wu Yan managing to draw a Skylight Talisman in one attempt did surprise Ji Yuan somewhat.

That made sense. As Wu Wenbin's legitimate son, he had surely gone much farther down the path of talisman drawing than ordinary people.

Besides, they had experience and knew the Water Dragon Sect's selection habits.

They always tested obscure and difficult talismans. Ji Yuan wondered whether Wu Wenbin had predicted the questions.

Perhaps he could even run a pre-exam cram class and rake in a wave of Spirit Stones.

Ji Yuan hurriedly shook his head, no longer letting his thoughts run wild. Instead, he focused on recalling how to draw the Skylight Talisman, repeatedly tracing its lines in the air with his hand.

Outside the venue, Wu Wenbin watched the performance of his disciples and could not help stroking his beard with a smile.

He had truly predicted the Skylight Talisman. A few days before the selection, he had specifically taught them how to draw it and the points they needed to watch for.

Three successes out of ten—one or two should make it.

Then he would have several more disciples in the Water Dragon Sect.

If Wu Yan could join... that would be best. Wu Wenbin had painstakingly sent several disciples into the Water Dragon Sect; once Wu Yan got in, this investment would begin paying off.

By gathering the strength of several disciples, could they possibly push a False Spiritual Root into the Foundation Establishment Realm?

If that were possible, perhaps he could do it too.

Foundation Establishment—that was Wu Wenbin's true goal.

Once he achieved Foundation Establishment, not only would his strength surge, but his lifespan would extend beyond two hundred years.

Wu Yan's success with a Skylight Talisman on his very first attempt gave him even greater confidence.

He then turned to look at the boy named Ji Yuan. Though he disliked the man inwardly, a smile still hung on his face.

Looking at that frantic appearance, he had probably never drawn a Skylight Talisman before, had he?

He was still copying it on the spot. Who knew whether he had even remembered the runes correctly? How laughable.

So be it. Talisman Masters like this, wild paths with no backing, were simply like that. Being able to draw a few Water-Repelling Talismans to barely make a living was already not bad.

Wu Wenbin had always thought this way, but he never said it, nor did he ever show it.

No matter who he faced, he maintained a kindly attitude. That was why, over the years, the fishermen of Zengtou City had been willing to call Wu Wenbin Master Wu.

He turned back toward Wu Yan. After succeeding with the first talisman, he had failed two in a row.

Wu Wenbin understood the reason at once—it was simply his temperament.

The first success had given Wu Yan tremendous confidence, but his confidence had always been somewhat excessive.

Thus, he had become an exceedingly arrogant and conceited man.

Wu Wenbin understood that as well. He understood even more clearly that Wu Yan's temperament was also related to the indulgence he had received since childhood.

The fourth one... failed again!

Wu Wenbin took one look and had already predicted the outcome. Wu Yan had no chance this time.

With his temperament, after failing several times in a row, he would grow anxious. And when drawing talismans, the greatest taboo was impatience—once one panicked, everything was ruined.

Sure enough, Wu Yan's next several talismans all ended in failure.

Meanwhile, another disciple named Mei Chen had already succeeded twice by his seventh talisman. If he could succeed once more among the next three, he would have a chance to join the Water Dragon Sect.

That surprised Wu Wenbin somewhat, because Mei Chen usually kept a low profile and never showed off.

Even in his usual talisman drawing, he was the same: his success rate was neither high nor low.

Among Wu Wenbin's many disciples, he could only be considered middling.

The only thing Wu Wenbin remembered about Mei Chen was that he was extremely meticulous. Whether it was his everyday clothes, the talisman tools on his desk, or even the Talismans he drew, everything was impeccably orderly.

As for Ji Yuan... Wu Wenbin glanced at him. At a time like this, he had yet to begin. He was probably preparing to give up.

The disciples failed one after another. Even Wu Yan did not succeed again until his ninth talisman, only for the tenth to fail immediately afterward.

Two successes out of ten naturally gave him no chance to join the Water Dragon Sect.

This result had long been within Wu Wenbin's expectations.

Wu Yan cursed irritably before setting down his talisman brush, rising, and walking out of the cubicle.

In the cubicle beside his, Mei Chen had succeeded with the seventh talisman, then failed both the eighth and ninth in succession.

Wu Wenbin thought none of his disciples would join the Water Dragon Sect this time. He subconsciously thought of Lu Wan again. If she had been here, three Skylight Talismans would probably have been as easy as taking something from her pocket.

What a pity... she could not come today.

But just then, spiritual energy stirred faintly within one of the cubicles. A white-robed young man abruptly rose to his feet, his eyes brimming with delight.

His third Skylight Talisman... had succeeded!

Mei Chen joyfully set down his talisman brush and ran out of the cubicle with three Skylight Talismans in hand.

Only upon seeing him did Ji Yuan, who was still pondering, snap back to his senses and realize that quite some time had already passed.

He hurriedly picked up the standard talisman brush issued by the Water Dragon Sect, then took up a sheet of standard Talisman Paper. He took a slight breath, then looked up at the top of his cubicle.

[Talisman Room: lv1]

Recalling the head rune of the Skylight Talisman, he dipped the brush in a little Talisman Ink, set it to paper, and crafted the talisman... all in one smooth motion.

Seeing that his first attempt had succeeded, Ji Yuan was somewhat astonished. He picked up the Talisman Paper and poured spiritual energy into it.

A snowy-white spiritual radiance flashed.

The first Skylight Talisman... had succeeded.