“Amazing! Fellow Cultivator, you can actually create your own talismans!”
Tian Ning had never had this idea before, and was immediately intrigued by the thought of talisman drawing. If she could really create her own, wouldn't she be able to draw many different kinds of talismans?
Tian Ning immediately said, “Fellow Cultivator, could you sell me one of your talismans so I can study it? Or, since you're so skilled, have you published any books on how to create talismans? I'd buy them to learn!”
“Ahem… Fellow Cultivator, you flatter me. I'm not yet at the level of publishing a book.” Mao Chengfei was flattered for the first time. You see, the guys in his sect were very disdainful of the new talismans he had developed; no one was willing to test them. He had come out because he had paid a cultivator near the Beast Taming Sect who wasn't afraid of death. He paid, and the other party had to try all his new talismans.
Rarely encountering someone so like-minded, Mao Chengfei didn't mind teaching his talisman creation method to this Fellow Cultivator, whom he found very congenial.
“Meeting is fate. If you’re a Talisman Cultivator, Fellow Cultivator, and you don’t mind, I can teach you during the ship journey.”
Tian Ning moved, saying, “Fellow Cultivator, your magnanimity truly fills me with gratitude!”
Mao Chengfei: “Not at all. I am Mao Chengfei, a disciple of the Fu Immortal Sect. May I ask your name, Fellow Cultivator?”
“I am Tian Ning, a disciple of the Wanjian Sect. What a fortunate coincidence to meet Fellow Cultivator Mao today.”
“Hahaha, my pleasure. Please, Fellow Cultivator Tian.”
“Fellow Cultivator Mao, please.”
In just a few short words, the two instantly became close friends, leaving Long Aotien, Yuan Yang, and the others completely bewildered.
Just a short while ago, they were strangers!
Shi Qinxin kindly tore off the Laughing Talisman from Yuan Yang.
Yuan Yang had been laughing so hard his face was cramping. Now, relieved, he quickly expressed his gratitude.
Thinking of Mao Chengfei's situation, Yuan Yang kindly reminded them, “You… perhaps you should try to stop that Fellow Cultivator Tian! My Senior Brother Mao’s talismans… aren’t very reliable.”
As a victim, Yuan Yang had personal experience with this.
Senior Brother Mao said he wanted to develop a talisman that could burn continuously without firewood, and as a result, the Fu Immortal Sect's dining hall exploded. Senior Brother Mao said he wanted to develop a talisman for the female disciples that would emit a floral fragrance when worn, but the junior sisters who wore the talisman ended up smelling awful for a month. There were many, many more incidents. The Fu Immortal Sect couldn't stand him anymore, so they kicked him out to cause trouble for others.
Shi Qinxin spoke comfortingly, reassuring them, “It’s alright. Our junior sister is only learning to draw talismans, not testing them.”
It was rare for the junior sister to stop staying in her house and reading storybooks all day. Shi Qinxin was very encouraging of her newfound interest.
Xiao Roushu popped her head out curiously, “Senior Sister Tian Ning can also draw talismans?”
Shi Qinxin: “She should know a little.”
The junior sister seemed to be an all-rounder.
Recalling witnessing Tian Ning's dimensional pouch filled with enough talismans for several lifetimes, Long Aotien fell silent.
Could they all have been drawn by her?
Because of Tian Ning and Mao Chengfei's instant connection, the relationships between everyone became more familiar.
A group of people on the flying ship were bored, so they watched them draw talismans. Since these were newly created talismans, no one knew their effects. Xiao Roushu picked one up and asked questioningly, “Senior Sister Tian Ning, what kind of talisman is this?”
Tian Ning's hands moved quickly, her strokes wild. Despite using a brush that was almost completely worn out, she didn't fail once; almost every one became a talisman.
Even Mao Chengfei, who was standing nearby, was extremely surprised. Could it be that it was a very low-level self-created talisman, hence achieving a 100% success rate?
Tian Ning glanced at the talisman and said,
“Vomiting and Diarrhea Talisman.”
Others: “…”
How vicious!
Even Yuan Yang, who was almost asleep, widened his eyes!
If someone were to be stuck with one of these, would they even survive?
“Brilliant! Fellow Cultivator Tian is truly a genius!” Mao Chengfei never expected to meet someone more talented than him in his life. How could he have never thought of such an ingenious talisman?
Xiao Roushu hesitantly put down the talisman and moved away…
Too scary! What kind of nightmare would it be if one were to be stuck with that?
Yuan Yang comforted her, “It’s just what the creator calls it. Whether the talisman works or not depends on whether someone tries it several times.”
Try… several times?
Everyone consciously moved ten meters away from Tian Ning. Their junior sister probably wouldn't be so vicious as to test her talismans on them…
Tian Ning finished another dozen, and stretched, tired.
Seeing their reactions, she was heartbroken. “Third Senior Sister, Fourth Senior Brother, why are you standing so far away? Am I that kind of person?”
“It just so happens that we’re going to find someone. If something goes wrong and we end up fighting,” Tian Ning suddenly smiled evilly, “Then we can just test my handiwork.”
Seeing the pile of talismans on the table, everyone shivered.
Mao Chengfei became interested, “Um… could I come along? I also have many talismans that need to be tested. Although the person who took the mission agreed to test all my talismans, I'm worried that he alone…”
You’re worried that the person might die, but the talismans will still remain, right?
Tian Yang understood his Senior Brother’s nature all too well…
“No!” Long Aotien immediately refused. He wasn’t even sure he could protect his junior sisters, let alone two more people!
“Alright.” Mao Chengfei didn't insist. He took out many of the talismans he had drawn earlier and handed them to Tian Ning, “If it’s convenient, Fellow Cultivator Tian, could you help me test the effects of these talismans? We can exchange communication jade slips and you can tell me how they work. It will also be convenient to discuss more about talisman drawing in the future…”
Tian Ning didn't have any communication jade slips. She was used to staying at home and rarely went out. She didn't have any friends here to contact.
“Here, take mine,” Shi Qinxin said, “I’ll take the junior sister to buy communication jade slips, and then you two can communicate directly.”
Mao Chengfei naturally had no objections.
Tian Ning was completely engrossed in drawing talismans during the time on the flying ship. When they got off the ship, she felt dizzy and lightheaded. She had used up too much spiritual energy and fell asleep from exhaustion.
Shi Qinxin chuckled indulgently, “There's just no helping you.”
They found a nearby inn and checked in. They couldn't go to the Long Clan rashly; who knew what kind of trap awaited them?
At night, Long Aotien, worried about his younger brother's safety, restlessly practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard behind the inn.
Shi Qinxin came to spar with him a few moves. Finally, she sheathed her sword and sighed, “Fourth Junior Brother, your cultivation base has regressed again?”
What kind of poison… could cause a cultivator's cultivation base to continuously decline?
Knowing what she was thinking, Long Aotien said, “There’s no antidote for this poison. Third Senior Sister, don’t waste your time on me. You should try to restore your dan tian first.”
Shi Qinxin couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth or if he didn’t want her to take risks.
Long Aotien changed the subject, “Tomorrow I will go to the Long Clan to find someone I trust to understand the situation. Then, we will go to the Long Clan to rescue Kang Nian.”
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