77: Chapter 77 Victory

Master Tian looked up at the sky, smacked his lips, and said, "Let's make it one hour. If you don't finish, you lose."

Upon hearing this, the two said nothing more and sat down one after another.

As a talisman-making talent heavily cultivated by the Family, Wen Qiye had been piled with various cultivation resources to reach the Xiantian Realm before the age of twenty.

Of course, his type only possessed the Realm without real combat experience, but for talisman making, it was sufficient.

He glanced at Su Jiuchuan, his sense of superiority overflowing. He had long ago inquired about the other's background; he was merely a commoner. Even if he had obtained some Opportunity to enter the Xiantian Realm, coupled with a little bit of talent, Wen Qiye did not believe that he could have a higher level of talisman making at this age compared to himself.

After all, talisman making was not a simple craft; it required a massive amount of practice. The Family had wasted heaven knows how many items just to let him practice. And it was impossible for the other party to have had so many Materials to practice with.

Wen Qiye had his own pride. As a collateral Disciple, his current status in the Family was even higher than that of Wen Shuyu, which he had earned through his own efforts.

He closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing. The Five-Stroke Talisman was the highest-level talisman Wen Qiye could inscribe; he had to adjust to his best state and strive for success on the first attempt today.

Just as he was adjusting his state, a sound of a carving knife cutting through metal came from the side. Wen Qiye looked up and saw that Su Jiuchuan had already picked up the sword and started carving on the blade.

Wen Qiye curled his lips and smiled disdainfully, thinking the other party must have recently learned some talisman knowledge and dared to accept this task by relying on a bit of talent. He had no idea of the difficulties involved in actual inscription.

Su Jiuchuan did not know the other party's thoughts, and even if he did, he would not pay attention. He picked up the carving knife, and a familiar feeling came naturally. Even before his mind had thought about how to carve or where to carve, his hand had already unconsciously picked up the carving knife and begun to move.

This was an instinctive action after countless times of talisman making in his simulated life.

Wen Qiye finished adjusting his state and was just about to start, but he heard a chorus of exclamations all around. He looked up and happened to see that Su Jiuchuan had already finished carving the Speed Talisman. The talisman was still emitting a faint glimmer.

Su Jiuchuan picked up a brush, dipped it in Profound Sand, and wrote over the newly inscribed talisman. The entire movement was fluid and natural, without a hint of awkwardness. The talisman on the long sword then dimmed.

Seeing this, Master Tian walked up, grabbed the sword, examined it carefully, and nodded. He activated the talisman and flicked the long sword forward. The surrounding crowd only felt the long sword flash, and after one breath, it appeared directly embedded in a tree trunk a hundred zhang away. The speed was extremely fast, as if it had suddenly flashed onto the tree trunk. Was this the effect of the Speed Talisman?

Seeing this, Wen Qiye's heart tightened. He had not expected such a situation; he hadn't even started, and the other party had already finished. He knew this wouldn't do, so he quickly took a deep breath and also grabbed a carving knife to start inscribing on the body of the long sword.

"Hmm? Aren't you touted as wanting to be the youngest talisman-making Great Master in the academy?" A sharp, mean voice came from the crowd—it was Wen Shuyu. She had suffered setbacks at the hands of Wen Qiye several times and had long held a grudge.

Wen Qiye held his breath and focused, ignoring outside interference. He knew that one must absolutely not be distracted when making talismans. The carving knife continued; three strokes were already completed.

"That little girl Lin Yunjing has certainly grown into a beauty. I wonder if that brat Wan Feiyu will succeed in proposing marriage today!" Wen Shuyu continued.

Wen Qiye was greatly shaken. He and the collateral Family member Lin Yunjing were in love, and he had intended to propose once he became a talisman-making Great Master. He hadn't expected that Wan Feiyu of the Wan Family would make a move first. Although Wan Feiyu was incompetent, he was, after all, a direct descendant of the Wan Family. If Lin Yunjing were forced to agree due to pressure, what would he do?

In an instant, his composure was shattered. The carving knife in his hand trembled, and with a screeching sound, cracks appeared on the sword blade. This sword was ruined.

"Hmph!" Master Tian saw his state, snorted coldly, and said, "Since you failed, then pay the compensation."

Wen Qiye's face turned pale. He silently took out his identity token. After Master Tian deducted the compensation, he turned and left silently, his entire figure looking desolate and bleak.

Seeing this, Wen Shuyu laughed out loud. She had been humiliated by Wen Qiye in various ways these days, and today, she had finally gotten him back.

Master Tian naturally ignored all of this. Instead, he changed his previous cold attitude and smiled at Su Jiuchuan, saying, "You are very good. I remember when you entered, you once drew a Perfect Talisman. Would you be willing to become my Personal Disciple?"

Su Jiuchuan smiled embarrassedly and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Master, but this student has already taken a Master."

Master Tian frowned and widened his eyes, saying, "That can't be. You've only been enrolled for half a month; how could a Grade C student take a Master so quickly? Who is your Master?"

"My Master is Master He."

"It's him!" Master Tian suddenly recalled that on the day of admission, Master Han had said that since Su Jiuchuan could draw a Perfect Talisman, he should be given a Grade B. It was Master He who insisted on following the rules and insisted on giving him a Grade C. I'm afraid he had this idea from the start, to keep other Masters from paying attention to this student so he could take him under his own wing.

"That shameless old scoundrel!" Having figured it all out, Master Tian was instantly furious.

Su Jiuchuan was very embarrassed and stood there for a moment, not knowing how to handle the situation.

After venting, Master Tian knew that things were already done and there was probably no way around it. He grabbed Su Jiuchuan's identity token, transferred the corresponding amount of Profound Iron, threw it back casually, and then became listless.

Su Jiuchuan took back his identity token and looked at the 600 jin of Profound Iron marked on it. He was instantly overjoyed; he had finally escaped his destitute situation.

"Brother Su, congratulations!" Wen Shuyu cupped her hands to offer congratulations at this moment. The look she gave Su Jiuchuan was full of envy. How long had he been enrolled, and he was already an object that Masters were fighting over.

"Thank you, Brother Wen, for your generous help just now. I will return the Profound Iron from earlier to you now." Su Jiuchuan cupped his hands to thank her. Regardless of what kind of person Wen Shuyu was, she had helped him a few times, and he would remember this favor.

"Being able to strike a blow against that Wen Qiye today is already a matter of great satisfaction. Just consider this small sum of wealth as a congratulatory gift for you taking a Master." She smiled. Being able to get Su Jiuchuan to remember her favor made this 100 jin of Profound Iron well worth it.

Seeing this, Su Jiuchuan did not stand on ceremony anymore. The two exchanged simple pleasantries for a while before parting ways.

Afterwards, Su Jiuchuan quickly headed to the Miscellaneous Affairs Office. First, he paid the 100 jin of Profound Iron he owed the academy for tuition. Seeing that there was still a balance of 500 jin of Profound Iron, and that one could actually withdraw the amount of Profound Iron recorded on the identity token here, he applied to withdraw 100 jin of Profound Iron.