8: Chapter 8 Second-Tier Rune Master (Part Two)

Based on the experience of his Seniors, Ye Yisong believed that as long as he followed this sequence while carving, he could not fail.

Ye Yisong couldn't wait to pick up the second piece of withered vine, and without a second thought, he picked up his carving knife and began to trace on it.

"He is still too impatient. After all, he is young, and his Heart-Nature is inevitably a bit volatile," Ye Jiexin thought, frowning.

In less than thirty minutes, when he saw the finished Talisman board in Ye Yisong's hands, he was dumbfounded. Could this kid be a once-in-a-century Talisman Making Genius, just like him?

Seeing that Ye Yisong did not stop his hand movements and had actually started infusing the Talisman board with Spiritual Qi, Ye Jiexin could no longer afford to be surprised. He felt angry at this reckless kid; who infuses a Talisman board with Spiritual Qi immediately after carving it?

It was already too late to stop him, because he had not expected Ye Yisong to immediately start infusing the Talisman board with Spiritual Qi.

Operating in this way would leave the Talisman Maker severely lacking in mental energy later on, which would greatly affect the production of the Talisman.

Now, he could only silently assist from the side to prevent this ignorant kid from being injured by an explosion of Spiritual Qi later.

Little did he know that while carving the Talisman board, Ye Yisong had basically expended no mental energy, simply following the instructions in his mind mechanically.

"Turn left."

"Turn right at the road ahead."

"Go straight at the road ahead."

Listening to these pleasant sounds, he didn't know how excited he was; 798 was truly great.

Fifteen minutes passed, and the infusion process was completed without any danger. Following a loud shout from Ye Yisong:

"Seal!"

The Spiritual Qi formed a closed loop, and a Second-Rank Great Fireball Talisman was finished. Looking at the Talisman in his hand, Ye Yisong laughed triumphantly: "Is this all a Second-Rank Talisman is? Simple and easy, hahaha."

The entire production process had been watched by Ye Jiexin. Although he hadn't inspected this Second-Rank Talisman yet, based on his many years of experience, he knew Ye Yisong had succeeded.

His heart could not help but feel a mix of emotions, doubting its authenticity.

He had just comforted him earlier, saying that when he practiced for the first time, he had scrapped over twenty Second-Rank Materials.

What? Scrapped over twenty? Who was that?

I succeeded on my first try. Yes, I succeeded on my first try. I must coordinate with the Fifth Elder; I can't let this kid show off in front of me, Ye Jiexin thought secretly.

"Hmm, not bad. You have one percent of my style from back in the day," Ye Jiexin said admiringly, taking the Great Fireball Talisman from Ye Yisong's hand.

"Second-Rank Low Grade, the Talisman board carving is... eh? High Grade! You have my style from back in the day, but the infusion was a bit lacking. Some runes were infused too conservatively, not full enough, and the sealing was barely passable," Ye Jiexin evaluated.

This old man is truly shameless. He just said he scrapped over twenty Second-Rank Materials when he practiced for the first time? His current attitude... tsk tsk tsk, Ye Yisong inwardly complained.

Ye Yisong dared not say it out loud. Among the Elders, this old man cared most about Face. If he hurt his Face, he would definitely make him know what it meant for a Martial Ancestor to not be insulted.

"Practice well here by yourself. I'm going outside to check on those few money-wasters," Ye Jiexin said before leaving, not forgetting to sternly instruct: "Do not touch the shelves after number three, otherwise I won't spare you."

That's impossible, right? How could it be High Grade? Did I see it wrong? Ye Jiexin muttered.

"798, I love you so much, long live!" Ye Yisong declared his happiness in his mind. How could he not be happy?

Yesterday, he thought 798 only worked when his life was hanging by a thread; he didn't expect this cheat to be so reliable.

Now with 798's guidance, the hardest step of Talisman Making for others had become the easiest step for Ye Yisong.

I was saying my cheat couldn't be this useless! So it was waiting here.

It seems choosing Talisman Making is my destiny!

"Please take 798 seriously. I am a heartless machine. Battery is low, please charge in time." That stiff voice echoed in his mind, interrupting Ye Yisong's daydreaming.

"Comrade 798, don't worry. Isn't it just charging? With this skill, I will have plenty of Spirit Stones, enough to charge you fully," Ye Yisong said solemnly, laughing as he spoke.

Tra-la-la, tra-la-la... From now on, the sky is high for birds to fly, and the sea is wide for fish to leap.

Little ladies? Are you ready? Your Thirteenth Young Master is coming.

In my past life, I didn't achieve it—counting money until my hands cramped; in this life, I must achieve it—counting Spirit Stones until my hands cramp.

Ye Yisong took out the Spirit-Returning Pills he had saved to replenish the Spiritual Qi consumed during the Talisman Making just now. While replenishing his Spiritual Qi, he suddenly wondered: why was the Spiritual Qi in his body not enough?

According to Family records, a Martial Artist at the Early Stage with full Spiritual Qi can generally complete the infusion of three to five Talisman boards, yet he had only just made one Talisman.

However, after thinking about it for a moment, Ye Yisong roughly understood the reason.

798 could not work for free. When it guided Ye Yisong in carving the Talisman board, it must have consumed the Spiritual Qi in Ye Yisong's body. This explained why Ye Yisong had only made one Talisman and his Spiritual Qi was almost exhausted.

It's just like a mobile phone navigation needing to work; at the very least, the phone needs power! If it has no power, it won't even turn on, and you expect it to guide you?

While replenishing his Spiritual Qi, Ye Yisong thought about his get-rich-quick dream.

For a Martial Artist in the Martial Artist Realm to restore their Spiritual Qi to a full state, whether by taking pills or consuming Spirit Stones, it generally requires about ten to thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

And the Second-Rank Low Grade Talisman he made could sell for at least one hundred Spirit Stones at the Family store; a Second-Rank Medium Grade could sell for three hundred Spirit Stones, and a Second-Rank High Grade could sell for five hundred Spirit Stones. Second-Rank Top Grade Talismans were rare and hard to find; they were not something he could imagine right now.

After subtracting the cost of Materials for the Talisman board, Ye Yisong simply calculated that he could net fifty Spirit Stones from crafting one Second-Rank Low Grade Talisman, two hundred Spirit Stones for a Medium Grade, and three hundred Spirit Stones for a High Grade. Just thinking about it made him excited; he was definitely going to be a big tycoon.

Although selling them outside could yield higher profits, Ye Yisong did not intend to do so. It was not easy for the Family to train him to become a Second-Rank Talisman Maker; he didn't know how many Materials had been consumed in the process. These were all the blood and tears of the Family members.

As long as a person has a little conscience, they wouldn't do that.

For the whole morning, Ye Yisong's body alternated between replenishing Spiritual Qi and infusing it. Although he was very tired, the results were gratifying; he had completed the production of three Second-Rank Great Fireball Talismans in total.

Two were Second-Rank Low Grade, and he even made one Medium Grade Great Fireball Talisman.

However, that Medium Grade one was only achieved because Ye Jiexin happened to come in to check on Ye Yisong's practice and remedied it; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Someone had completed the production of two Second-Rank Low Grade Talismans, and his attitude had drifted who knows where?

Indeed, one must keep their feet on the ground, Ye Yisong thought silently to himself. If Ye Jiexin hadn't happened to come in just now, he would have had to lie in bed for at least three days.

Ye Yisong also discovered that the further he went, the less Spiritual Qi it took to produce a Talisman. It was probably related to proficiency.

...

Ye Yisong followed Ye Jiexin out of the pavilion. After the little episode that had just occurred, Ye Jiexin had halted his road to riches.

Arriving at the outer hall, Ye Yisong saw Ye Yikang enjoying the envious gazes of the others; he had completed the sealing of three Talismans today.

Damn, envious gazes used to be my patent. Truly, when there are no tigers in the mountains, the monkey is king.

"Sixth Brother, this is a Second-Rank Low Grade Great Fireball Talisman I crafted today. It's a gift for you. Congratulations on becoming a First-Rank Low Grade Talisman Maker," Ye Yisong took out three Talismans from his inner garment and handed one to Ye Yikang.

Ye Yikang took the Talisman from Ye Yisong's hand and observed it carefully. It really was a Second-Rank Talisman: "Many thanks, Thirteenth... Brother." But you really know how to congratulate someone!

Using a Second-Rank Talisman you crafted to congratulate me on becoming a First-Rank Talisman Maker, and specifically adding the words "Low Grade"—are you really not doing this on purpose?

If the Elder wasn't here... fine, a Second-Rank Low Grade Great Fireball Talisman is worth one hundred Spirit Stones. For the sake of the Spirit Stones, I will reluctantly forgive you this once. It would be even better if I could forgive you a few more times.

As Ye Yikang thought about this, he suddenly looked at the other four people. It seemed like something was missing?

Ye Yisong revealed his identity as a Second-Rank Talisman Maker, and the envious gazes indeed returned to him. It was just one word: "Enjoyment." But he hadn't enjoyed it for even a second before he received a rap on the head.

"Stop showing off here," Ye Jiexin said irritably.

"This is the experience I accumulated when I was still a First-Rank Talisman Maker. Take it back and study it well," Ye Jiexin said. He couldn't be too partial, after all, they were all Family nephews. He had just rewarded Ye Yisong with a Third-Rank Talisman earlier.

Ye Yisong felt strange. He had always been very low-key before; what was wrong today? His strength had greatly increased recently, and he was a bit carried away.

A Genius who has grown up is truly a Genius!