plumnovel Chapter 17 Ward Off Talisman
Chapter 17 Ward Off Talisman
Fang swore an "No...".
Before he finished speaking, he had already turned and walked into the inner room.
Wu Tong hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to follow them inside or leave, and ultimately remained standing at the door.
Fang Shi went into the inner room, squatted down in front of the bed, reached under the bed, and pulled out a dusty wooden box.
The box wasn't large, its paint was peeling, and the metal edges were rusted.
He untied the hemp rope binding the box, lifted the lid, and a musty smell of paper and ink wafted out.
Inside the box were several old books neatly stacked.
Fang Shi pulled out a book from the pile. It had a blue cloth cover with worn-out edges and four characters written on it: "Essentials of Talismans".
These are his parents' belongings.
He turned to one of the pages, where a talisman was drawn in the upper left corner, its lines flowing like water ripples, the brushstrokes smooth and gentle.
Below the design, several lines of text were written in Daoist script:
"The cold-resistant talisman is based on the spiritual power of water. It draws the energy of the water veins of heaven and earth into the talisman and is placed inside clothing to prevent the cold from penetrating. In the depths of winter and in cold and damp places, this talisman can transform frost and mist into spiritual energy to protect the body from stiffness. However, only those who have mastered the 'Minor Water Cloud Technique' can draw it. Otherwise, even if the magic power is sufficient, if the control is not precise, the spiritual energy will not flow evenly, and the talisman will not take shape."
Wu Tong asked, "Brother Fang, what are you doing?"
Fang Shi said, "In business, you should do what you're good at and not venture into unfamiliar territory. I'm good at drawing talismans, so I'll make a living by drawing talismans."
Wu Tong said, "Talisman? What talisman? Is it a bright fire talisman? But a bright fire talisman can't block that cold mist. Even a Qi Refining Level 2 cultivator has to be very careful when entering. If they're not careful, their meridians will be frozen stiff."
"Even those who cultivate the Minor Water Cloud Technique are only slightly better than others. The best are those who cultivate the Minor Blazing Flame Technique, so that they can remain unharmed in the cold mist, but this consumes a lot of magical power and can only last for one or two hours."
"So, Brother Fang, what kind of talisman did you draw?"
Fang Shi lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the pages of the book, and said, "Winter-protecting talisman."
[Winter-Proofing Talisman Proficiency +1]
[Winter-Proofing Talisman Proficiency +1]
[Winter-Proofing Talisman Proficiency +1]
【Winter Protection Charm (Beginner): 3/100】
Wu Tong was taken aback, a look of confusion appearing on his face: "A talisman for warding off the cold? Isn't that... a talisman that can only be drawn by those who have mastered the Lesser Water Cloud Technique?"
The protective talisman has been improved by talisman masters of all generations, and has long been simplified to the point that it can be drawn by beginners of the "Small Water Cloud Technique". Therefore, many independent cultivators make a living by drawing protective talismans.
Unlike the cold-proof talisman, this talisman is in low demand and has never been improved. It can only be made by those who are highly skilled and possess pure magical power.
Fang swore, "That's right."
Wu Tong said, "Brother Fang, you've gained some real influence?"
Fang swore, "It was accomplished yesterday."
Wu Tong's eyes widened, as if he had been frozen in place. After a long while, he suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "Brother Fang, you really... really..."
He was so excited that he stammered, and it took him a while to get his words straight. "Brother Fang, do you know that Chen Santai's son spent two thousand spirit fragments to even enter the inner circle, and the son of Manager Zhao, who manages the spiritual energy, spent over ten thousand spirit fragments and still couldn't reach that level! Brother Fang, you broke through without spending a single spirit fragment! Won't reaching the mid-stage of Qi Refining be a piece of cake from now on? Brother Fang, the path to the Great Dao is truly promising!"
Fang Shi kept his head down and said calmly, "There's not much hope for me to achieve the Great Dao. I'm already eighteen years old, and at this age, only reaching the proficient level is not something the Three Plates Temple will accept. They want geniuses who are fifteen or sixteen years old; they don't care about someone my age at all."
Wu Tong said awkwardly, "I was just saying that for good luck... Brother Fang, now that you've reached the advanced level, the cold mist can't stop you anymore. You can probably stay for three or four hours. Why not just go and gather herbs? Why bother drawing talismans? By the time you learn how to draw talismans, all the herbs will have been picked clean!"
[Winter Protection Talisman Proficiency -1]
Fang Shi frowned, interrupting his thoughts.
[Winter-Proofing Talisman Proficiency +1]
He looked up at Wu Tong and said seriously, "I've already said, there are methods to gathering herbs. Otherwise, what do you think the students at Songyuan Academy lack? They have plenty of advanced techniques; there are plenty of people at the second or third level of Qi Refining. How many of them have you seen gathering herbs in Cold Mist Ravine?"
"That's because gathering herbs is a craft, not something just anyone can do. Finding herbs on cliffs, walking on ice, dodging monsters—all of these require experience. Even if your cultivation level is high enough, without experience, going in is just suicide."
Wu Tong lowered his head and whispered, "I understand, Brother Fang."
Seeing his appearance, Fang Shi said no more.
He knew that Wu Tong had been a wanderer since childhood, helpless and alone in Qiyuan Town, like a weed, exposed to the elements, left to fend for itself.
He was timid—if he weren't, he would have been beaten to death by those hot-tempered rogue cultivators long ago.
Yet he was also bold—if he wasn't bold, he wouldn't have stayed in Qiyuan Town forever. Even though he was often chased away and scolded, he gritted his teeth and stayed to cultivate Taoism.
Such a contradictory personality makes it understandable that one's mind would race at the mere mention of potential profit.
Fang Shi then said, "Go and find out the current market price for winter-protecting talismans. What's the price on the market? Are there any sellers? Are they easy to sell? Find out the details before you come back, and I'll give you a reward."
Upon hearing this, Wu Tong's eyes lit up, and he said, "Okay, Brother Fang, I'll go right away! But Brother Fang, in my opinion, selling these cold-resistant talismans for five spirit fragments each shouldn't be a problem. Those rogue cultivators in Cold Mist Valley can gather twenty Frost Spirit Grasses a day and earn two hundred spirit fragments. Spending five spirit fragments to buy a talisman to save their lives is nothing!"
After saying that, he turned around and ran out in a flash.
The inner room fell silent again.
Fang Shi sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at the book "Essentials of Talismans". On the page about the cold-proof talisman, he silently read the ancient text carved with Daoist patterns line by line.
[Winter-Proofing Talisman Proficiency +1]
[Winter-Proofing Talisman Proficiency +1]
[Winter-Proofing Talisman Proficiency +1]
Perhaps it was because of the foundation laid by drawing protective talismans before, coupled with the fact that he had mastered the "Little Water Cloud Technique," that his proficiency improved so rapidly.
In the short time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the numbers on the panel jumped several times—
【Winter Protection Charm (Beginner): 10/100】
At this point, the inspiration gleaned from the book was essentially exhausted.
The rest cannot be improved simply by reading books; hands-on practice is essential.
Fang Shi closed the book, stood up, and sat down in front of the talisman table.
He spread out the yellow paper, ground the cinnabar, and picked up the spirit wolf hair brush.
He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment, carefully reviewing the patterns of the cold-resistant talisman in his mind before putting pen to paper.
This talisman for warding off the cold is quite different in style from the protective talisman.
The protective talisman has rounded patterns and continuous strokes, like a winding stream, gentle and fitting.
The patterns on the talisman resemble flowing water, layer upon layer, large circles within small circles, interlocking and continuous.
At the very center is a teardrop-shaped talisman core, which must be executed in one stroke using a flying technique, without the slightest pause.
Fang Shi wielded the brush, channeling magical power from his fingertips into the brush tip, which then slowly moved across the yellow paper.
The first lap went fairly smoothly.
In the second cycle, the magic power began to dissipate.
By the third cycle, the magical power was like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins, and there was no way to control it.
Where the brushstrokes passed, the cinnabar clumped together, blurring the lines.
With a soft "hiss," a wisp of smoke rose from the yellow paper, and the half-drawn talisman broke apart, turning into charred marks.
[Winter Protection Talisman Proficiency -1]
Fang Shi looked at the discarded talisman, shook his head, picked up a new sheet of yellow paper, dipped it in cinnabar again, and began to write once more.
One card was wasted, then another.
Fang Shi remained calm and composed, taking breaks when he got tired of painting, and then continuing to paint when he was rested. Before he knew it, night had fallen.
That skill level gradually increased, bit by bit, through countless failed attempts at drawing and discarding. Though slow, it never stopped.
……
The next morning, the courtyard gate was knocked on loudly.
Fang Shi sat up in bed, put on an outer robe, and went to open the door.
Wu Tong stood outside the door, his nose red from the cold, puffs of white breath coming from his mouth, but his eyes were full of excitement.
"Brother Fang, I spent the whole day in Panshi yesterday, checking out all the stalls in the northern part of the area. There were at least seven or eight stalls selling cold-proof talismans and those fire-resistant talismans."
Fang asked, "Who sold them?"
Wu Tong said, "The first stall belongs to Han Laoliu, a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, who lives in Taoyuan Town. His stall sells six Spirit Shards for each Cold Protection Talisman. The second stall belongs to a woman surnamed Sun, who sells seven Spirit Shards. The third stall belongs to a woman in her thirties, whose stall is located at the far end of the north end, and she sells six and a half Spirit Shards. The stall that sells Flame Body Talismans belongs to a man surnamed Zhao, and everyone calls him Old Zhao..."
Wu Tong recounted the details of the stall owners in detail, and concluded by saying, "Brother Fang, in short, all those selling these two types of talismans reside in Taoyuan Town and are at the mid-stage of Qi Refining cultivation."
Fang Shi simply asked, "Are there many buyers?"
Wu Tong said, "There are many! Han Laoliu's stall is the busiest. I squatted there for almost half an hour and saw him sell four or five. The Frost Spirit Grass in Cold Mist Ravine was only discovered this year. In previous years, no one went there, so no one thought of drawing cold-resistant talismans. This year, there is a sudden demand, but not many people know how to draw them—don't be fooled by the fact that there are seven or eight stalls selling them, there are even more people going to Cold Mist Ravine."
"Not everyone can cultivate the 'Minor Water Cloud Technique' and the 'Minor Blazing Flame Technique,' nor can everyone draw talismans. Therefore, there are only a handful of people on the market who can draw cold-resistant talismans and flame-body talismans, and their stock is limited."
"Yesterday, a rogue cultivator at the second level of Qi Refining wanted to try his luck at Cold Mist Ravine. He stood in front of Han Laoliu's stall for a long time, but he just couldn't bear to part with the six fragments of spirit. Later, someone next to him told him that the Sun family's stall was selling seven fragments, so he was even more reluctant to part with them. In the end, when he wanted to buy them, the Sun family's stall had sold out."
Fang Shi pondered for a moment, then said, "Let's go set up a stall to sell talismans."
Wu Tong was taken aback and said, "Set up a stall? Brother Fang, you...you finished drawing it?"
Fang Shi glanced at the panel—
【Winter Protection Charm (Beginner): 18/100】
Yesterday he didn't practice his cultivation; he spent the whole day drawing talismans, wasting countless sheets of paper, but finally managed to produce three.
Although his proficiency level only increased from ten to eighteen, which was still far from being able to consistently produce talismans, he was lucky in the end and managed to produce three talismans with a steady stroke.
Fang Shi said, "I drew three. Not many, but enough to test the waters."
Wu Tong's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth, but for a moment he couldn't say a word.
He thought Fang Shi had only found the book yesterday and that it would take him three to five days to master it, but unexpectedly, he had already achieved success today.
After a long pause, he stammered, "Brother Fang, you...you're too fast!"
Fang Shi said, "Hurry up."
Wu Tong snapped out of his daze and said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I'm coming right now!"
As he spoke, he ran into the house and quickly helped Fang Shi lift the cart.
……
At the northern end of Panshi, the sun had already risen high, and the number of pedestrians on the street was gradually increasing.
A tall, thin man in his forties, with a few long wisps of beard, was bending over and tidying up his stall.
His stall was filled with talismans of various colors, and in the most conspicuous position was a talisman with crimson lines that seemed to flicker like flames.
There was a small note underneath that read "Flame Body Talisman".
A short, stout stall owner leaned over and whispered, "Old Zhao, why is the price of your Flame Body Amulets going up again? Didn't you sell seven yesterday? Why are you priced at eight today?"
Old Zhao stroked his beard and chuckled, "What are you saying? The Frost Spirit Grass in Cold Mist Valley is selling like hotcakes right now, and more and more people are going every day. But we only have a few talismans left. What are we waiting for if we don't raise the price?"
The short, stout stall owner said, "But you've raised your price, what about Han Laoliu? If he still sells six, won't we, who have higher prices, be at a disadvantage?"
Old Zhao said, "I just asked Old Liu, and he also said the price should go up. The price tag on his stall has been changed to seven pieces."
Just then, a burly man squeezed through the crowd; it was Han Laoliu.
He was wearing a black cotton-padded jacket, with a coarse cloth belt around his waist, and his arms were stained with cinnabar.
He held a rough porcelain teacup in his hand, sipping as he walked, and strolled over to Old Zhao's stall, saying, "Old Zhao, are you talking about the price increase?"
Old Zhao said, "That's right. Sixth Brother, did you order seven?"
Han Laoliu nodded and said, "Seven. Yesterday, six sold out too quickly, and we didn't have enough. Today, I raised the price by one, and there are still quite a few buyers. Judging from this trend, I think I can raise the price again."
The short, stout stall owner said, "Raise the price again? Won't the customers run away?"
Han Laoliu said, "Why run? More and more people are going to Cold Mist Ravine every day. One Frost Spirit Grass costs ten Fragment Spirits. Who cares about spending one or two more to buy a talisman? Besides, there are only a few of us who can draw them on the market now, and we don't have many left. If you don't raise the price, you'll only have a few left, and once they're sold out, they're gone. If you raise the price, you'll still only have a few left, but you'll make more money."
Old Zhao laughed and said, "Sixth Brother is right. I was just discussing with Old Sun and the others that we should set a unified price to avoid chaos."
A middle-aged man surnamed Sun walked over from the side and said, "It's good to have a uniform price. I sold seven yesterday, and they were all gone by noon. Today I've priced them at seven and a half. If everyone raises their prices to eight, I'll follow suit."
A woman in her thirties also came over and said, "I have six and a half on my end, and I'm planning to raise it to seven today. Old Liu said seven, so I'll go with seven. I'm afraid eight is too high, and no one will buy it."
Han Laoliu said, "What are you afraid of? Which of your regular customers isn't a herb gatherer? Each Frost Spirit Grass has ten seeds, and they gather a dozen or twenty a day. What difference does one or two seeds make?"
The woman thought for a moment and nodded.
Old Zhao said, "Then it's settled. For the cold-resistant talismans, the minimum is seven. Everyone should set their own quota, but don't go below seven. The same goes for the heat-repelling talismans, seven or more."
As they were talking, a young voice suddenly interrupted, "Then how many should I price them?"