As soon as Lan Rui dipped his brush into the ink, he immersed himself in the intricate framework described in the manual.
With steady hands, he began to draw.
The moment the tip of the brush touched the talisman paper, he channeled a considerable amount of spiritual energy into the ink, intertwining it with his divine sense.
Unlike the Light Shield Talisman or Cleaning Talisman, the Evil-Repelling Talisman framework is different and required far more complex structure. The strokes had to be drawn with absolute precision, and his spiritual energy infused into them had to remain balanced and steady throughout the process.
Time passed.
After what felt like a full cup of tea's time, he carefully traced the final stroke, imbuing it with the last bit of his spiritual energy.
Holding his breath, he looked at the yellow talisman paper, hope flickering in his eyes.
Sizzle.
Before he could even react, a wisp of black smoke curled from the talisman's surface. The paper cracked, then charred into ash, crumbling before his very eyes.
Lan Rui sighed deeply.
"Even though I knew it was nearly impossible to succeed on my first attempt, it still pain me to see it fail…"
He rubbed his temples.
Out of habit, he glanced at his status panel, expecting nothing new. But then,a new entry had appeared.
[Name]: Lan Rui
[Lifespan]: 21 / 105
.
.
.
[Skills]:
First Order Talisman Master: Cleaning Talisman (Minor Achievement 10/200), Light Shield Talisman (Beginner Level 16/200), Evil-Repelling Talisman (Entry Level 1/100)
Lan Rui blinked.
"It counted… even though I failed?"
Curious, he immediately picked up his brush and attempted to draw another one. The moment the talisman burned to ash again, he looked back at his panel.
Evil-Repelling Talisman (Entry Level 2/100)
A grin spread across his face.
"If I successfully draw one, will it only add one point, or will it double the points?"
Determined to find out, he continued drawing.
One. Failure.
Two. Failure.
Three. Failure.
By the seventh attempt, his head throbbed with exhaustion. This talisman was far more demanding than the other two. He massaged his temples and exhaled heavily.
"This is ridiculous… The consumption rate is insane."
Suddenly, his gaze flicked toward another unfamiliar entry on the panel.
[Compression Points (CP): 1]
His thoughts stalled.
"What the heck even is this CP? If this thing can instantly increase my profi..."
BOOM!
Before he could finish his sentence, a surge of knowledge forced its way into his mind, crushing his consciousness like a tidal wave.
His head throbbed violently, his vision blurred, and for a moment, he felt like his skull would split open.
It was just like before. When the pain finally subsided, his chest rose and fell heavily. With trembling hands, he glanced at the panel.
Evil-Repelling Talisman (Beginner Level 1/200)
Lan Rui's eyes widened.
"It instantly upgraded my proficiency?"
After a brief moment of shock, realization dawned on him.
"So as long as I have Compression Points, I can instantly reach Beginner Level in any skill?"
The idea was incredible—but there was a catch.
"It's hard to obtain CP. I only got one point after advancing from Beginner Level to Minor Achievement in a skill…"
He exhaled, shaking his head.
"Still, this is game-changing. I can progress so much faster now."
His lips curled into a faint smirk.
"But for now, I should enjoy this little advantage while I can… Because once the honey is gone, I'll regret not savoring it properly."
Still, according to his calculations, with his current Beginner Level proficiency, his success rate should be around 20%. That was good enough.
But, strength was the foundation of everything. For now, talisman crafting could wait. He needed to cultivate.
.....
Under the silver glow of the moon, the world was silent. The cool night air carried a thin layer of moisture, bringing a sense of calm to the surroundings.
Far from the bustling market, a small wooden house stood alone, its humble courtyard bathed in pale light. Inside, a young man sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, his posture straight, his hands resting gently on his lap.
His long black hair cascaded behind him like silk, slightly swaying from the faint movements of his breathing. His face, though not exceptionally handsome, carried a sharpness, a calm intelligence that set him apart.
At that moment, few thin strands of spiritual energy in the air, invincible to the naked eyes were drawn toward him, absorbed into his body.
Time slowed.
His breathing was steady.
His cultivation technique circulated in a smooth, endless cycle, refining the energy, strengthening his foundation.
The young man's black pupils gleamed in the dim light as he suddenly opened his eyes. A faint pulse of spiritual energy rippled through his body before gradually settling back into his dantian.
He exhaled slowly, feeling the steady warmth of refined spiritual energy coursing through his meridians.
"I've completed two full cycles of cultivation. Any more than this, and I'll start straining my meridians."
Without hesitation, he stood up, his movements swift yet steady. His hand instinctively reached out, grabbing the familiar talisman brush before he had even reached his table.
"Let's continue to make more talisman"
.....
I'm changing it.
Spiritual power ----> Spiritual energy
(Spiritual energy is the internal reserve in the dantian, while spiritual power is the external force used in combat to measure destructive capability.)