Seeing Li Dong return, Lü Zhong felt a sense of relief for some reason.
Lately, the area around the Qingliu Ruins had grown increasingly unsafe. Just two days ago, he'd heard that a nearby mortal village had been massacred. The Qingyang Sect disciples who went to investigate had all died there, their very souls extracted by Demon Cultivators.
It was an unspeakable tragedy.
"Rongniang, take this child for a bath first, then get him something good to eat." After entering the house, Li Dong handed the young boy he'd brought with him to the woman, giving her a string of earnest instructions that showed how much he cared. Only then did he turn to Lü Zhong. "Have you decided? Then follow me to the Talisman Making Room inside."
Lü Zhong nodded and quickly followed.
To the right of the parlor was a small door, sectioned off by a cloth curtain. Behind it was Li Dong's Talisman Making Room.
Even though it wasn't his first time here, he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy upon seeing the Talisman Making Room again.
This was a room, three zhang square, that had clearly been meticulously arranged.
On the wall directly opposite the door stood an antique bookshelf, packed tightly with books and scrolls.
Judging by the yellowed pages, they were all ancient tomes that had seen many years.
To the left of the entrance was a sandalwood Talisman-Making Table facing the backyard vegetable garden. A flawless white beast hide was spread across it like a tablecloth, on top of which sat a set of fine Talisman-Making Tools.
Beside the solid wood Talisman-Making Table stood a tall, slender table holding a small brass incense burner.
The small brass incense burner was exquisitely crafted, clearly the work of a master artisan. The incense within was no ordinary thing, either; not only was its fragrance light and elegant, but it also had the effect of calming the mind and focusing the spirit.
'Making Talismans in an environment like this… I bet the success rate would increase by a full ten percent,' Lü Zhong thought.
One after the other, the two walked over to the Talisman-Making Table and stopped.
"According to our prior agreement, Fellow Daoist Lü must pay me twenty-five Spirit Stones. I wonder if…" Li Dong trailed off, turning to watch Lü Zhong quietly, as if waiting for something.
"They're ready!" Lü Zhong took a small pouch from his robes. The Spirit Stones inside clinked as he shook it.
Li Dong weighed it in his hand, a smile finally spreading across his wrinkled face.
Just then, a burst of crying came from nearby. Li Dong's expression flickered. He stroked his beard and said, "There's no time to waste. I'll teach you how to draw the Arrow Avoidance Talisman now. The lesson will last until this incense stick burns out. How much you learn will depend on your own ability, Fellow Daoist. Is that acceptable?"
"No problem!" Lü Zhong nodded excitedly.
...
The incense was lit, and the Talisman Making Room was instantly enveloped in a light, elegant fragrance.
At the Talisman-Making Table, Li Dong picked up an Arrow Avoidance Talisman and began his explanation for Lü Zhong.
"Regarding the method for making an Arrow Avoidance Talisman, the effects of the talismans passed down vary between different regions and different Talisman-Making Schools. For example, the method I learned is from the once-great Talisman Making school, the Seven Profound Sect. It's also called the Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman."
"Once upon a time, this Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman was a type of Secret Talisman. Compared to other Arrow Avoidance Talismans, its effects were superior in every way. It has an extremely strong ability to block projectiles, and its duration lasts for a full ten breaths."
Lü Zhong couldn't stop nodding as he listened, a sense of surprise growing in his heart.
He had originally thought that all Talismans of a certain type had only one way to be drawn.
He never would have imagined that even an Arrow Avoidance Talisman could have different effects depending on the region and the Talisman-Making School.
Meanwhile, Li Dong was still explaining.
"You only need a basic understanding of the Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman's origins, Fellow Daoist. Next is the method for drawing this Talisman."
As he spoke, he took out a blank sheet of Talisman Paper, picked up his Talisman Brush, and began to draw the Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman.
Li Dong explained every single stroke in detail.
"...Talismans are, in essence, the shape of the Great Dao. We Talisman Makers are essentially copying it when we draw a Talisman. So not only must the drawing be an accurate copy, but you must also replicate the flow of Spiritual Power... The most difficult part of the Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman to draw is the upper part of the Talisman Core. Don't be fooled by its mere eighteen strokes; it is an immense test of a Talisman Maker's fundamentals."
"Fundamentals?" Lü Zhong froze for a second, the word slipping out unconsciously.
"So you're self-taught?" Li Dong's brush paused. He looked up at Lü Zhong, then suddenly started laughing and shaking his head. "As for what a Talisman Maker's fundamentals are, you can look that up yourself, Fellow Daoist. That's not part of the instruction we agreed on."
Hearing this, Lü Zhong felt a surge of frustration.
But he quickly understood the situation.
The two of them weren't friends or family; the instruction on drawing the Talisman was just a transaction.
It was only natural that Li Dong was unwilling to waste his breath, since he stood to gain nothing from it.
In order not to offend the man, Lü Zhong could only cast the matter aside and continue listening.
"As for the lower part of the Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman's Core, this is what distinguishes it from an ordinary Arrow Avoidance Talisman. Here, seven strokes form a 'talisman flower,' which alters the effect of the original Arrow Avoidance Talisman. When drawing the Talisman, you must pay attention: the delivery of Spiritual Power must be a sudden burst, pouring in like a torrent. This is something you'll have to figure out for yourself. I can't explain it clearly with words alone..."
As Li Dong drew this part, his aura suddenly flared, and the Talisman Brush in his hand began to glow.
Lü Zhong's heart tightened, and he didn't dare to blink again.
In an instant, a seven-stroke talisman flower bloomed.
Watching the light gradually recede from the Talisman Paper, Lü Zhong knew that a Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman had just been completed.
Seeing there was still a little time before the incense burned out, Li Dong looked up at Lü Zhong and said unhurriedly, "If you have any questions about the Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman, I will answer them for you before the incense is gone."
"Then I won't be polite!" Lü Zhong had been waiting for this moment and quickly voiced the points he didn't understand.
Li Dong answered each of his questions in detail.
One question, two questions...
Lü Zhong benefited immensely from the process; this would save him a great deal of time in his future Talisman Making practice.
But just as he asked his sixth question, the incense in the brass burner finally burned down to its end.
Seeing the incense was extinguished, Li Dong immediately fell silent and picked up the cup of tea that had long since grown cold on the table.
Seeing this, Lü Zhong could only cup his hands and take his leave.
Walking out of Li Dong's house, Lü Zhong, despite his lingering frustration, still felt that he had gained a great deal.
At least he now knew how to draw the Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman and understood that there was such a thing as fundamentals for a Talisman Maker.
Especially the latter. If he could understand it clearly, and then undergo specialized practice, it would be of great benefit to his future career in Talisman Making.
Perhaps, with this, Lü Zhong could grow step by step and eventually become a famous Talisman Maker like Li Dong.
...
In the following days, Lü Zhong didn't leave his house, practicing drawing Talismans constantly.
After every ten attempts, he would enter the Gray Mist Space to review the memory of his recent Talisman drawing. He would then analyze and compare it with the memory of Li Dong's instruction, searching for errors and weaknesses to improve upon step by step.
Then, six days later, he finally succeeded in drawing a Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman.
"Phew, that wasn't easy!"
Lü Zhong himself didn't know how he had managed to persevere through those six days.
It could be said that aside from his unshakable daily cultivation and his brief, pleasant mealtimes, he had spent every moment practicing the Arrow Avoidance Talisman.
Gazing at the Arrow Avoidance Talisman in his hand as its light slowly faded, he suddenly wanted to see its actual effects.