13: I don't like others telling me how to draw talismans.

The drawing time for a First-Rank Low-Grade Arrow Talisman is quite long. Once someone walks nearby, Liu Xuan has to stop the drawing and pretend the Talisman Drawing failed.

A single piece of First-Rank Low Grade Talisman paper and Talisman ink is worth three gold coins; the loss is too great.

Therefore, Liu Xuan switched to drawing unranked Dust-Avoiding Talismans first. This way, even if they were ruined, the loss would be acceptable.

Liu Xuan focused on Talisman Drawing every day and did not interact with the others in the hall. Everyone soon forgot about him, and rarely came over to disturb him.

...

One month later.

Liu Xuan averaged twenty unranked Talismans a day. In addition to the previous Dust-Avoiding Talismans, Liu Xuan also drew two other types of Talismans: Rejuvenation Talismans and Lightness Talismans.

The Rejuvenation Talisman has a slight healing effect, which is quite effective for external injuries. The Lightness Talismans can make traveling easier and also increase a Martial Artist's combat power.

All three types of Talismans are unranked, with similar prices, and the market price is one gold coin each.

Liu Xuan has now accumulated 690 unranked Talismans, worth 69 Spirit Stones.

However, this is just the market price. The bulk purchase price at the Sect's Talisman Hall would be discounted by 30%, so unless sold privately, it is only worth about 50 Spirit Stones.

The demand for unranked Talismans near the Sect is not high; they can only be sold to remote cities, so it is normal for the value to be discounted.

The cost of Talisman Drawing for one month, including Talisman paper and Talisman ink, totaled fourteen Spirit Stones. Adding in the wear and tear of the Talisman brush, it was about twenty Spirit Stones.

After deducting all costs, a monthly income of thirty Spirit Stones is already quite good.

Unfortunately!

Liu Xuan still cannot sell these Talismans. He has only just started learning Talisman Drawing for a month; if he were to bring out so many Talismans, everyone would know something is wrong.

For mere unranked Talismans with a total value of less than one hundred Spirit Stones, if he is careful when selling them, he might not necessarily be discovered.

However, Liu Xuan has a bright future and is not particularly short of Spirit Stones right now, so there is absolutely no need to take the risk.

'Let's store them for now! There will be plenty of opportunities to sell them in the future!'

Talismans are hard currency, so there is no need to worry about depreciation in the short term. Liu Xuan is not in any rush to cash them in.

On this day, Liu Xuan was secretly drawing Talismans as usual. Just as he started to put pen to paper, Talisman Master Li, who had not been seen for a month, returned.

Liu Xuan originally wanted to stop and ruin this Talisman, but he suddenly remembered that he had been learning the Dust-Avoiding Talisman for a month. Given the talent he had previously displayed, it was about time to become an unranked Talisman Master apprentice.

Therefore, Liu Xuan slowed down the Talisman Drawing process, deliberately making the subsequent lines less smooth, and drew a barely successful Dust-Avoiding Talisman.

"You... you can already successfully draw a Dust-Avoiding Talisman!!"

Li Changsheng picked up the Talisman on Liu Xuan's table and looked at Liu Xuan with an expression of disbelief.

As soon as he entered the door, he noticed Liu Xuan, the Talisman Genius valued by Hall Master Lin. Because of urgent matters, he hadn't been able to instruct him immediately. His plan today upon returning was to first understand Liu Xuan's learning progress during this period, then personally provide guidance to make up for the month that had been delayed.

To successfully draw a Dust-Avoiding Talisman in one month without anyone's guidance—Liu Xuan's talent was likely even better than he had imagined!

Liu Xuan also revealed a look of wild joy and shouted excitedly: "Success! Finally, success! It took a whole month to succeed for the first time; Talisman Drawing is really too difficult!"

Li Changsheng had a look of speechless frustration!

If succeeding in a month counts as difficult, then Talisman Masters wouldn't be so valuable. What about those who haven't become unranked Talisman Master apprentices even after several years, having wasted countless resources in vain?

"Quick! Draw another one for me to see." Li Changsheng hurriedly instructed.

"Yes!"

With a naive and ignorant look, Liu Xuan picked up another piece of Talisman paper and slowly began to draw.

The Talisman brush slid slowly, pausing slightly at every turn of the lines. When connecting the third rune, Liu Xuan's hand trembled.

"Pfft!"

The Spiritual Qi dissipated, and scorch marks appeared on the Talisman paper, accompanied by wisps of black smoke, which were sucked away by the Formation on the table.

"When connecting the third rune, you need to be fast. You cannot hesitate, and you cannot be afraid of failure."

Li Changsheng pointed out Liu Xuan's problem and looked at Liu Xuan with satisfaction, saying gently: "Your Foundation is very solid. Don't be nervous, calm your heart and try again."

"Yes!"

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Liu Xuan cupped his hands in a salute, picked up another piece of Talisman paper, composed himself, and began to draw.

A quarter of an hour later.

Spiritual light flickered, and the Dust-Avoiding Talisman was successfully drawn.

"Not bad! Truly not bad!"

"Although it is not very smooth, your Foundation is solid. With diligent practice, you will soon be able to become an unranked Talisman Master apprentice!"

Li Changsheng was very satisfied with Liu Xuan's performance. As if remembering something, he suddenly asked: "I have been away during this time; who taught you this Dust-Avoiding Talisman?"

Liu Xuan looked at Qin Yun, who was standing to the side with a look of shock and confusion, and said gratefully: "This Disciple is dull-witted and must thank Senior Sister Qin Yun for her painstaking guidance."

Li Changsheng nodded with satisfaction. Qin Yun had entered the Sect very early and had already been able to successfully draw First-Rank Low-Grade Arrow Talismans last year. Being able to guide Liu Xuan to advance to a Talisman Master apprentice in one month showed that her level had improved again.

Taking out a pale gold Talisman brush, Li Changsheng handed it to Qin Yun: "This First-Rank Medium Grade Talisman brush is crafted from the core of a hundred-year-old gold iron tree and contains a trace of metallic nature, which is helpful for drawing Arrow Talismans. You have rendered meritorious service in teaching my Disciple for me; consider this a reward for your time!"

"Thank you, Master!"

Qin Yun took the Talisman brush, feeling a surge of joy. This Talisman brush was worth sixty Spirit Stones, which was not a small sum for her.

Li Changsheng looked at Liu Xuan and instructed: "You should continue to practice the Dust-Avoiding Talisman during this period and raise your success rate first. Once the success rate for the Dust-Avoiding Talisman reaches sixty percent, then you can learn other unranked Talismans. Until you can reach an eighty percent success rate with one type of unranked Talisman, you can try First-Rank Low Grade Talismans!"

Liu Xuan nodded: "This Disciple will respectfully follow Master's teachings!"

It was about the same as what Liu Xuan had planned. His original plan was to start learning First-Rank Low Grade Talismans after three months, and to demonstrate the level of a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Master within a year at most.

What was important for Liu Xuan at this stage was practice. Li Changsheng did not continue to waste time with Liu Xuan, but instead focused on guiding the other Disciples' problems during this period.

Unlike Liu Xuan, Li Changsheng hadn't come for a month, so the other Disciples had countless questions that needed guidance, and Li Changsheng soon became busy.

When Li Changsheng was guiding the Disciples, the other Disciples also stopped their Talisman Drawing one after another and gathered together to listen.

If they had encountered the same problem themselves, it could be solved right then and there. Even if they didn't have the same problem, they could deepen their understanding through Li Changsheng's explanation.

Liu Xuan didn't have any questions, but since everyone was watching, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to act differently, so he also crowded over to watch the excitement.

"Liu Xuan, you were able to successfully draw a Dust-Avoiding Talisman in one month just by watching me draw it once. With such talent, why not show it?"

Qin Yun approached Liu Xuan on the edge of the crowd and leaned into Liu Xuan's ear to whisper.

She was a First-Rank Low-Grade Talisman Master; Li Changsheng's guidance for these Disciples, who weren't even unranked Talisman Masters, was of no help to her, and there was no need for her to listen.

Liu Xuan turned his head back; at this distance, Qin Yun's face was less than ten centimeters away from his.

He also leaned into Qin Yun's ear and whispered: "Senior Sister, I don't like others guiding my Talisman Drawing; I like to research it myself, unless... unless it's a beauty like Senior Sister."

"You..." Qin Yun's earlobes turned slightly red, a mix of anger and embarrassment. Liu Xuan actually dared to flirt with her!