Jia Ren had been searching for the inheritance of cultivation techniques, but so far, he had acquired nothing except the Seeking Demon Talisman Technique from Elder Wu.

He didn't expect to accidentally hear news about the recruitment of talisman crafting apprentices. His first instinct was to doubt the news and question if there was an undisclosed motive. He didn't believe there were such good Samaritans among the Loose Cultivators who would go out of their way to help those with no path to talisman learning.

Formations, pills, equipment, and talismans—the Four Arts of Cultivation—have always been the foundation upon which Cultivators establish and sustain themselves, passed down to future generations. Many families started as Loose Cultivators who mastered one of the Four Arts of Cultivation, eventually growing and expanding as a result. Without the Four Arts of Cultivation, even if a family produced a naturally gifted Cultivator who helped the clan grow, it could not possibly last. This was the key attraction of inheriting one of the Four Arts of Cultivation.

"Master Zhang is a Grandmaster Talisman Maker with a renowned reputation. He excels in various talismans. If one could be taken as his disciple, it would be a heaven-defying change of fate for an ordinary Loose Cultivator!" Wang Fugui spoke with longing; acquiring an inheritance of the Four Arts of Cultivation was something countless Loose Cultivators dreamt of. Many Loose Cultivators spent a high price to live in Heavenly Arts Lane, hoping to one day catch the eye of a Grandmaster. After a long wait, they had finally received the news they wanted.

"Are there any restrictions for becoming a talisman crafting apprentice? How many are being recruited? It can't be free, right?" Jia Ren still harbored doubts and sought clarity.

The selection of apprentices by Talisman Makers would undoubtedly attract many Loose Cultivators. The market size hadn't changed, and a surge in the number of Talisman Makers would directly hurt the interests of other Talisman Makers. Recruiting too many apprentices would certainly bring trouble.

"Daoist Zhen indeed has a discerning eye. Firstly, the selection is from the Loose Cultivators of Heavenly Arts Lane. To become an apprentice, one must first pay thirty Spirit Stones, with no refunds regardless of whether one learns the art within seven days.

"Master Zhang teaches the basics of Basic Talismans, selecting apprentices of exceptional talent from among them."

It was essentially a seven-day trial to assess one's talent for talisman crafting, after which they would decide whether to accept you as an apprentice. Thirty Spirit Stones were the threshold. It would be a great joy to learn talisman crafting; to fail... was a pure loss of thirty Spirit Stones. This seemed less like recruiting apprentices and more like a way to profit from Loose Cultivators eager to learn talisman crafting. Loose Cultivators were all well aware of the importance of the Four Arts of Cultivation; they lamented their lack of access. Thirty Spirit Stones was indeed a lot, but it was insignificant compared to truly learning the art of talisman crafting. Many harbored an unfounded self-confidence, believing they possessed a talent for talisman crafting and were unwilling to give up until they faced utter failure. After paying the tuition, many likely feared they would learn nothing. Talisman crafting was indeed lucrative, but for many Talisman Makers, it probably couldn't compare to the quick profits of harvesting newcomers...

"Is Daoist Zhen interested?"

"This opportunity cannot be missed."

Jia Ren had only mastered the Seeking Demon Talisman Technique; he had never learned other talismans. There was nothing better than filling the gaps in his basics. Not to mention, he could also become a talisman crafting apprentice and learn other talismans. Jia Ren had never extinguished the idea of learning the Evil Warding Charm Art. Directly confronting the Talisman Cultivators' Association wouldn't guarantee he could obtain the desired talisman crafting technique. This was a fine opportunity.

"Let's go together!"

Wang Fugui, brimming with excitement, pulled Jia Ren toward the deeper part of Heavenly Arts Lane. The farther they ventured, stone houses became scarcer, replaced by numerous courtyards with more extensive grounds. In the Inner City, every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. Renting a courtyard could not be compared to a stone house.

The two saw a large gathering of Loose Cultivators in front of a large courtyard, their faces filled with hope and anticipation for the future. A quick glance revealed nearly a hundred people. Were all these Loose Cultivators here to apply? This venture alone would net no less than three thousand Spirit Stones. Could a single Talisman Maker protect such wealth? This matter was no simple affair! If Master Zhang remained unharmed after a few days, the Talisman Cultivators' Association surely had a hand in it.

Jia Ren didn't have many Spirit Stones left, but coming up with thirty was not a problem.

Following the crowd, they entered a large manor. Inside, an elder with a youthful face and crane-white hair was instructing apprentices on drawing talismans. He appeared deeply absorbed, earning applause from the onlookers.

It all seemed staged... How could one focus on crafting talismans in such a noisy environment?

"Congratulations, Daoist, for stepping onto the Path of Charms, a future full of promise. Tomorrow you can study talisman crafting with your Wooden Plaque." A green-clad woman with a pretty face took the Spirit Stones, recorded the name, and handed Jia Ren a Wooden Plaque numbered seventy-nine.

"The Path of Charms is indeed fascinating and captivating!" Wang Fugui clutched the Wooden Plaque tightly, as if he had seized his future.

"Daoist Zhen, Cloud Attire Pavilion just got a new batch of merchandise. Are you interested in taking a trip to Cloud Attire Pavilion?"

Cloud Attire Pavilion? Jia Ren felt an itch, as if a dormant gene had awoken at that moment. But reason prevailed, and he decisively shook his head in refusal, "I'll pass on Cloud Attire Pavilion." He had paid the apprenticeship fee with the few remaining Spirit Stones he had and had no spare Spirit Stones to squander. Once the Spirit Stones from the vein excavation were in his hands, he would then deal with the succubus known for draining her victims dry.

「A day passed swiftly.」

Early the next morning, Jia Ren met with the eagerly waiting Wang Fugui. Compared to the day before, Wang Fugui's eyes were very dark, as if he had overexerted himself the previous night. As he walked, his legs visibly trembled, giving him a rather unsteady appearance.

The female cultivators of Cloud Attire Pavilion were indeed formidable!

"My apologies for my appearance, Daoist."

Walking side by side, they soon entered the courtyard. It wasn't as some might have imagined, with Master Zhang having fled overnight. The courtyard's Formation was activated, and entry was only permitted with a Wooden Plaque. The courtyard was set up with stone tables, each marked with a number, and attendees took their assigned seats. The house and courtyard were packed, filled with figures everywhere. Their eyes shone with a longing for talisman crafting as they quietly awaited the chance to change their destinies.

Master Zhang greeted them with a kind smile, his gaze sweeping over the newcomers.

"All one hundred have arrived!"

"Today, I will teach you all about talismans."

"Those Loose Cultivators who don't have Blank Talisman Paper and Talisman Brushes can purchase them here, for a reasonable price."

Not every Loose Cultivator was fully prepared. Some had to buy the required items on the spot, where the prices were double those outside. They could hardly leave at this point to buy elsewhere, so they had no choice but to purchase the overpriced items. Seeing the old stock selling out, Master Zhang's smile grew even brighter.

Once everyone had their talisman crafting supplies ready, he continued with the explanation.

"We'll start with the simplest of talismans: the Cleaning Talisman. It's the easiest to learn in talisman crafting, with only five Spiritual Power nodes, and the simplest to make."

"If you can't even learn the Cleaning Talisman, you might as well give up on talisman crafting."

"I'll demonstrate once. You all observe carefully."

After speaking, Talisman Master Zhang picked up the Talisman Brush, dipped it in Spirit Ink, and swiftly began to draw on the Blank Talisman Paper. In a moment, a Cleaning Talisman was completed.

Compared to the Seeking Demon Talisman Technique, the Cleaning Talisman was much simpler. Images flashed through Jia Ren's mind, and all of Talisman Master Zhang's movements flowed through his heart. With his mastery of the Seeking Demon Talisman Technique at the Grandmaster Level, his perspective was elevated; learning new talisman techniques, like this Cleaning Talisman, was incredibly simple for him.

"Now, each of you draw a Cleaning Talisman based on what you saw, and I'll check the results."

Talisman Master Zhang was rather unscrupulous, teaching them only once before making the Loose Cultivators attempt to copy a Cleaning Talisman. For those just starting out, it would have been odd if anyone succeeded.

Should he hide his skill? Hell no! I've made up my mind to be a talisman-making genius! Otherwise, how else could I hope to easily learn the Evil Warding Charm Art?

One after the other, the Cleaning Talismans handed in were ghastly; many were crude imitations. Talisman Master Zhang kept a poker face, but inside, he was overjoyed. How could talisman crafting be that easy? By having them start practicing immediately with Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink, the consumption would be high. Wasn't this a perfect opportunity to sell more Blank Talisman Paper?

"Talisman crafting is a process of practice. It's normal to be poor at it when you're a beginner. You'll succeed with more practice!"

"Even a talisman-making genius has to go through this process."

Talisman Master Zhang's gaze quickly scanned over each ruined talisman, finally stopping on one that was in perfect condition.

"This..."

"A complete talisman?"

Had he actually drawn a real Cleaning Talisman on his first try? The talisman was perfectly formed, with not a drop of ink misspent—a true marvel of natural skill. This definitely came from the hands of a Talisman Maker! Could someone be here to sabotage his business?

Talisman Master Zhang's eyes showed a hint of astonishment, but he quickly recovered. The Spirit Stones earned had to be turned over to the Talisman Cultivators' Association. Since most Talisman Makers were part of the association, they definitely wouldn't dare cause him trouble. A Loose Cultivator with foundational skills?

His gaze locked onto the corresponding number, focusing on Jia Ren.

"Daoist Zhen, have you learned talisman crafting before?"

All eyes turned to Jia Ren in unison, filled with surprise. Wang Fugui's face was especially odd. As far as he knew, Zhen Yi was not a Talisman Maker. Otherwise, why would he spend Spirit Stones to learn the basics?

"I've never learned before. I just found it very simple. I drew it effortlessly."

Simple? Drew it effortlessly? Are you kidding? Never learned before? Bullshit! For a moment, innumerable angry gazes converged on him.

"Draw a few more for me to see!"

Jia Ren didn't hide his skill. He used his utmost ability to draw the Cleaning Talisman, easily completing it. It had to be said, Basic Talismans were indeed simple and quite easy to draw.

"Incredible!"

"Have I really found a gem?" Talisman Master Zhang clearly saw Jia Ren's technique was slightly unpolished, yet his strokes were steady. After a short while, another Cleaning Talisman was completed. Compared to the first Cleaning Talisman, his improvement was evident.

"Keep going!"

One after another, he completed Cleaning Talismans, his Proficiency Level advancing to Skilled Level. Insights welled up in his heart, and he completed a talisman of even better quality.

"I'll teach you the Featherweight Talisman. Watch carefully." Jia Ren's astonishing rate of progress left Talisman Master Zhang in shock.

He hadn't originally intended to recruit talisman crafting apprentices. He was merely cooperating with the Talisman Cultivators' Association to 'shear the sheep,' planning to profit from the Loose Cultivators' eagerness to learn. Seeing Zhen Yi's amazing performance, he couldn't help but be tempted. If Zhen Yi truly possessed such remarkable talent for talisman crafting, he wouldn't mind taking him on as a disciple.

Special, individual instruction? A wave of envious eyes shot his way. They were all Loose Cultivators learning talisman crafting, so why was the disparity so vast?!

After observing once, Jia Ren closed his eyes. The process of making a Featherweight Talisman replayed in his mind like a series of slides. His eyes opened, his gaze focused, and he picked up the Talisman Brush to start drawing.

The Featherweight Talisman was a truly genuine talisman. Its difficulty was significantly higher, featuring thirty-two Spiritual Power nodes. Successfully connecting all thirty-two Spiritual Power nodes in one go was no easy task.

Jia Ren finished drawing, but the talisman showed no sign of spiritual light. Crafting the talisman had failed.

Many faces revealed schadenfreude. They had thought he was an unparalleled prodigy, but it turned out he was not that special after all. They felt much better now.

"Don't waste Master Zhang's time!"

"We should all go back to practicing the Cleaning Talisman. Don't be like a certain someone, aiming too high."

Jia Ren ignored the others. He carefully recalled the details of his first attempt, identifying the flaws in his process of creating the Featherweight Talisman.

"Good! Keep it up, and you will definitely become a true Talisman Maker." Master Zhang's test had already exceeded the norm. The Featherweight Talisman was a benchmark for true Talisman Makers, and even they couldn't guarantee a success rate of over fifty percent. For a beginner to reach such a level stirred a desire in him to cherish such talent.

Before Master Zhang could continue, Jia Ren picked up another piece of Blank Talisman Paper and began drawing again.

Moments later, a Featherweight Talisman was completed.

Master Zhang was stunned, his face breaking into ecstatic joy.

"A true talisman-making prodigy!"

"Excellent! Haha, are you willing to become my disciple?"

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