DIV Chapter 11: Talisman Art Advancement, Mid-grade Talismans!

Most of the craftsmen in the market only possessed first-tier low-grade skills. How rare were mid-grade skills? Especially the four types: pills, talismans, artifacts, and arrays.

In Qinghe Market, talisman masters who possessed mid-grade talisman skills either planned to pass their skills to their descendants or already had disciples.

"Senior Luo is an exception, but Big Brother Li missed the opportunity," Chu Daniu thought more and more unpleasantly. After all, Li Chang'an had saved his life, but he had nothing to repay Li Chang'an with.

After returning, he made careful inquiries for a long time. He unexpectedly discovered that Luo Kun had a fondness for wine.

"There's still hope!" Chu Daniu's eyes lit up.

He immediately brought several jars of good wine and ran to outside Luo Kun's courtyard, knocking on the gate.

"Junior Chu Daniu requests to see Senior Luo."

The courtyard gate opened. Luo Kun's figure appeared behind the door, casually glancing at Chu Daniu.

"It's Ah Niu. I remember you. You're a wine brewer?"

"Yes, junior has no confidence in the wine I brew. I heard that Senior has considerable expertise in wine tasting, so I've come to trouble Senior," Chu Daniu said with a face full of smiles, presenting the several jars of good wine he had specially selected.

"Oh?" Luo Kun raised an eyebrow. He casually opened one jar, and rich wine fragrance immediately wafted out, making his nose twitch unconsciously.

"Not bad!" Luo Kun nodded slightly and looked at Chu Daniu with a bit more attention.

"Speak. What do you want from me?"

"Senior, it's like this..." Chu Daniu was overjoyed and immediately explained his purpose.

After listening, Luo Kun said indifferently, "That Li Chang'an is rigid and inflexible. He'll have difficulty achieving great success in talismans."

Hearing this evaluation, Chu Daniu's heart tightened.

"However, for the sake of these jars of wine, this old man can give him more guidance next time."

"Thank you, Senior!" Chu Daniu hurriedly expressed his gratitude. He secretly resolved to come and deliver wine regularly in the future.

...

On the other hand, after Li Chang'an returned, he put today's events behind him.

"This kind of useless small circle gathering, it's better to go less in the future."

He took out the jade slip and continued studying talisman techniques.

A few days later, Li Chang'an suddenly had an epiphany, and his confidence in drawing first-tier mid-grade talismans increased by another point. He had a feeling that he was just one step away from success!

"Perhaps I can try now."

He calmed his mind and concentrated. He didn't immediately attempt it, but began regulating his breathing, adjusting his condition to the optimal state.

Half a day later, Li Chang'an sat at the desk, holding a talisman brush with talisman paper spread flat before him. Beside him were placed several common types of pills: Qi Recovery Pills, Qi Condensing Pills, and others.

"If my mana is insufficient, I'll immediately swallow pills to recover."

Li Chang'an had already placed several pills under his tongue in advance. For this attempt, he had made thorough preparations!

"Let me try the Wind Escape Talisman first. This talisman is an advanced version of the Wind Speed Talisman, with relatively low drawing difficulty."

Li Chang'an concentrated fully and began drawing. The brush tip stained with spirit ink moved slowly across the talisman paper, leaving complex patterns.

It started smoothly enough, but before long, Li Chang'an's face began to turn pale, and he felt somewhat weak. Without hesitation, he immediately swallowed a pill, which made him feel somewhat better.

However, in that instant of swallowing the pill, the brush tip made an extremely minute erroneous movement.

"Hiss..." A wisp of green smoke rose, and the gathered spiritual energy dissipated. The talisman paper was ruined on the spot.

He had failed!

"Sigh, still lacking a bit," Li Chang'an sighed softly. But he wasn't discouraged, as both success and failure were within his expectations.

He sat cross-legged to recover the mana and mental energy he had previously consumed.

A day later, Li Chang'an attempted again. Perhaps because he already had one experience, this time was more relaxed than the last, and the talisman brush moved more smoothly.

Before he knew it, the entire talisman was completed.

"Success!" Li Chang'an showed joy on his face. He picked up the talisman and examined it carefully. This was his first time drawing a mid-grade talisman.

"With the first time, there will be a second and third time..." Li Chang'an's lips curled slightly. He had barely crossed the threshold of becoming a first-tier mid-grade talisman master.

For the following period, he continuously drew mid-grade talismans. He failed more often than he succeeded, roughly failing five times for every success.

The success rate was pitifully low and couldn't even cover costs. He was essentially operating at a loss, using previously accumulated spirit stones to fill the gap.

But Li Chang'an was quite satisfied because as time passed, he drew more and more smoothly, and his success rate was gradually increasing.

"Fortunately, I gained quite a few spirit stones from those rogue cultivators before," Li Chang'an secretly felt fortunate. Sufficient spirit stones were his confidence!

On this day, late at night, Li Chang'an sat cross-legged in meditation, recovering his mana. When the time reached midnight, the divination appeared as usual.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today's Divination: Ominous]

[You have been targeted by rogue cultivators, and they are trying to trick you into leaving the market]

"Rogue cultivators!" Li Chang'an's heart jumped in alarm.

For the recent period, the divination had consistently been "Neutral." He had thought today would be the same. But unexpectedly, it turned out to be an ominous divination!

"How could I be targeted by rogue cultivators?" Li Chang'an found it inconceivable. He had always acted low-key, usually staying indoors like a turtle. How could he attract the attention of rogue cultivators?

Could it be because of the last craftsmen gathering?

"The rogue cultivators plan to trick me out of the market, which means they don't dare to act within the market. Their strength probably isn't too strong."

The content of the divination made Li Chang'an feel slightly reassured. As long as he stayed within the market, he would be safe. Even if other changes occurred, the divination would give warnings.

...

The next day, at noon, Li Chang'an was eating lunch when a man's voice suddenly sounded outside his door.

"Is Fellow Daoist Li home? I am Wu Yun. We met at the last gathering."

Hearing this voice, Li Chang'an frowned slightly and put down his chopsticks. Wu Yun, with third-layer Qi Refining cultivation, was one of the low-grade talisman masters from the previous gathering.

At that time, Li Chang'an had only casually exchanged a few words with him and couldn't be considered familiar.

"What does Fellow Daoist Wu want?" Li Chang'an remained vigilant as he opened the door.

Wu Yun stood outside the door. Beside him stood another person. The two men's appearances were somewhat similar, seeming to be blood brothers.

"To be honest, there's a matter that requires Fellow Daoist Li's assistance," Wu Yun said with a smile, his tone sincere. He pointed to the person beside him.

"This is my elder brother Wu Feng. He's a feng shui master who travels year-round to survey and search for tombs."

Hearing this, Li Chang'an's eyes moved slightly as he sized up this person. This man's clothing was similar to feng shui masters in the mortal world, with an ordinary aura and nothing particularly special about him.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Li!" Wu Feng smiled and cupped his hands, his tone very gentle.

Wu Yun continued the introduction, "Not long ago, my brother discovered a large tomb that very likely belongs to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but that tomb is protected by special array formations that require three people working together to open."

At this point, Wu Yun's tone carried more excitement. He had come to invite Li Chang'an to help open the tomb.

"Why me?" Li Chang'an asked in a deep voice.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, you've known Liu Yue and the others longer. Why not ask them?"

"Those few people are not trustworthy!" Wu Yun spoke very directly. He expressed that he trusted Li Chang'an more.

"They all think you don't understand social etiquette, Fellow Daoist Li, but I believe you're honest and straightforward. People like you are worth befriending!"

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