Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Participation
Ji Yuan was slightly stunned, but after a moment of thought, it made sense. Wasn’t his little lakeside house rented as well?
But the panel would still categorize it as his own building.
So now, painting talismans in this exclusive cubicle for the examination, what difference does it make?
If the examination wooden token in his hand was regarded as a key, then as long as he stayed here to paint talismans, this would be his exclusive [Talisman Room].
Ji Yuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly... the panel was really damn considerate.
As he was pondering, the voice of the Water Dragon Sect’s on-duty cultivator rang out.
"The talisman for this examination is a Level 1 Middle Grade Talisman — the Celestial Light Talisman."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan’s brow instantly furrowed. This Water Dragon Sect... they’re making things difficult.
If painting talismans was compared to an exam, then the Celestial Light Talisman was undoubtedly an odd and challenging question.
Because the Celestial Light Talisman, although a middle-grade talisman, is extremely niche; its effect, as the name implies, is similar to that of a light source.
However, the illumination is very strong, making everything seem like daylight within a few miles radius, but it doesn’t last long.
It can only last for the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense.
Spending nearly ten Spirit Stones to enjoy light for just half an incense stick’s time... so normal talisman masters generally don’t bother with this talisman.
Ji Yuan was the same way; if not for the [Enlightenment Room] enhancing his perception, he might not have even remembered the runes of the Celestial Light Talisman.
It was clear to him why the pass rate for this examination was so low.
It’s definitely set to make things difficult for people.
Just as Ji Yuan was recalling the runes of the Celestial Light Talisman, he suddenly sensed a fluctuation of spiritual energy beside him.
Immediately, those onlooking cultivators gave voices of approval.
"Eldest Young Master Wu is impressive!"
"Succeeded on the first try, he’s sure to join the Water Dragon Sect this time."
"..."
Ji Yuan injected a bit of spiritual power into the wooden token, and the noise instantly vanished... Cultivating immortality is really damn convenient; this wooden token doesn’t have any other function, just a small soundproof barrier.
Once activated, it can prevent outside disturbances but still let them see his actions, preventing cheating.
Nonetheless, for Wu Yan to produce a Celestial Light Talisman on the first try was somewhat unexpected for Ji Yuan.
Thinking about it, Wu Wenbin’s legitimate son is sure to have progressed further on the path of talisman making than ordinary people.
Moreover, they have experience and know the style of the Water Dragon Sect’s selection process.
Always posing some peculiar and challenging talisman as a question, does Wu Wenbin perhaps prepare for the test in advance?
Maybe he can even set up a crash course before the examination and gather a bunch of Spirit Stones.
Ji Yuan quickly shook his head, stopped his wild thoughts, and focused on recalling the method to draw the Celestial Light Talisman, constantly sketching in the air with his hand.
Outside, Wu Wenbin watched his many disciples’ performances and couldn’t help but stroke his beard and smile.
The Celestial Light Talisman, he indeed guessed correctly; a few days before the selection, he even specially guided them on drawing methods and precautions of this talisman.
With one success out of three, a few should make it.
If Wu Yan could join... then that would be the best. Having painstakingly sent a few disciples into the Water Dragon Sect, as long as Wu Yan gets in, this investment would finally pay off.
Gathering the strength of a few disciples, who knows if they could stack up to a pseudo spirit root at the Foundation Establishment Stage?
If that’s possible, perhaps he could too.
Foundation Establishment, this is Wu Wenbin’s true goal.
Once in Foundation Establishment, not only would his power greatly increase, but his lifespan could extend to more than 200 years.
Especially since Wu Yan succeeded in creating a Celestial Light Talisman on his first try, it gave him great confidence.
He then turned to look at that kid named Ji Yuan, although he didn’t like him, he still wore a smile.
Looking at his hurried appearance, he probably never painted a Celestial Light Talisman before, right?
Even copying on site, who knows if he got the runes wrong, how ridiculous.
It’s even better this way, this itinerant talisman master with no proper origins is like this, being able to paint a few Water-Resistant Talismans for a living is already good enough.
These things Wu Wenbin always thought, but he never said them, nor did he show them.
To anyone, he’s always affable, which is why over the years, the fishermen of Zengtou City like to call him Master Wu.
He then turned to look at Wu Yan, after succeeding with the first one, the subsequent two failed.
Upon seeing this, Wu Wenbin knew, it was due to his temperament.
The success of the first gave Wu Yan great confidence, but his confidence was always a bit excessive.
This made him extremely arrogant and conceited.
This point Wu Wenbin understood as well, and he knew that Wu Yan’s temperament was related to the doting he received from an early age.
The fourth... failed again!
Wu Wenbin glanced and already predicted the outcome; Wu Yan was done for this time.
With his temperament, after a few consecutive failures, he would get anxious, and in talisman making, the biggest taboo is impatience; when you’re anxious, everything goes down the drain.
Sure enough, Wu Yan’s next few talismans all ended in failure.
Conversely, another disciple named Mei Chen succeeded in two talismans by the seventh attempt, and if he succeeded in one more from the next three, he’d have the chance to join the Water Dragon Sect.
This was somewhat unexpected for Wu Wenbin because Mei Chen usually remained inconspicuous and never showed off.
Even in talisman making, his success rate was neither high nor low.
Among Wu Wenbin’s many disciples, he could only be considered middle-grade.
The only impression Wu Wenbin had of Mei Chen was his meticulousness, both in his attire and in the arrangement of his talisman tools, even the talismans he drew.
As for Ji Yuan... Wu Wenbin glanced over, by this time, he still hadn’t started, he must be planning to give up.
A number of disciples consecutively failed, even Wu Yan, only managed to succeed again on the ninth attempt, but the tenth also failed.
Succeeding two out of ten talismans naturally didn’t qualify him to join the Water Dragon Sect.
This result was long within Wu Wenbin’s expectations.
Wu Yan cursed irritably, then put down the talisman brush and stood up to leave the cubicle.
In the cubicle next to him, Mei Chen failed the eighth and ninth after his seventh success.
Wu Wenbin also thought he might not have a single disciple joining the Water Dragon Sect this time, he instinctively thought of Lu Wan, if she were here, three Celestial Light Talismans would have been easily obtained.
It’s just a pity... she couldn’t make it today.
But at this moment, in one of the cubicles, there was a slight fluctuation of spiritual energy, followed by a young man in white standing up suddenly, eyes filled with joy.
The third Celestial Light Talisman... succeeded!
Mei Chen joyfully put down the talisman brush and ran out of the cubicle with three Celestial Light Talismans.
It was only upon seeing his figure that the still contemplating Ji Yuan realized that quite a bit of time had passed.
He quickly picked up the standardized talisman brush issued by the Water Dragon Sect and then a piece of standardized talisman paper, took a slight breath, and looked up.
[Talisman Room: lv1]
Recalling the head of the Celestial Light Talisman, he dipped the talisman brush in some talisman ink and began to draw, the process seamless and smooth.
Seeing his first attempt succeed, Ji Yuan was somewhat surprised, he picked up the talisman paper and infused it with spiritual energy.
Accompanied by a flash of pure white spiritual light.
The first Celestial Light Talisman... succeeded.