I have a composite mirror

Chapter 34 Introduction to Talismans

School ended the following afternoon.

The sky was overcast, as if it were about to rain.

Gu Shenyan came to the library again.

Bai Cailing was already waiting there, with a cup of hot tea beside her.

Seeing him enter, her gaze lingered on him for a moment before she showed a hint of surprise.

"The water elemental energy within you..."

The girl stood up and circled around him once:

"It's much stronger than it was the day before."

Satisfaction shone in her eyes: "It seems that the soul-summoning incense is extremely effective."

"The fact that you can gain something from entering a dream shows that your bloodline has been properly refined and your foundation is already solid."

"I am even more confident about my trip to Yunmeng a year later."

Gu Shenyan cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your guidance, senior."

"You're welcome."

Bai Cailing sat down again, picked up her teacup, and took a small sip.

"The fact that the Soul-Guiding Incense can be used to such an extent proves that I didn't misjudge you."

She put down her teacup and looked intently at Gu Shenyan:

"What brings you to see me today?"

Gu Shenyan pondered for a moment, then spoke:

"I want to ask... is it possible to obtain more of that soul-guiding incense?"

Bai Cailing felt slightly disappointed upon hearing this.

She had initially thought the young man wasn't greedy, but it turned out he was no exception to the common desires.

But then I realized that I had indeed promised to provide resources.

Since a promise was made in advance, it should not be broken.

"Fine."

The girl sighed and fumbled to take out the sandalwood box:

"The remaining two are for you."

"only……"

She said earnestly:

"While the Soul-Guiding Incense is effective, there are limits; its effect on stimulating bloodlines will gradually weaken."

"In the later stages, one can only hone one's supernatural abilities in dreams, which no longer benefits the improvement of one's bloodline."

After hearing this, Gu Shenyan quickly waved his hand:

"Senior, you've misunderstood."

"I have not come here today to ask for those two sticks of incense."

Bai Cailing was taken aback: "So you mean...?"

"The students want to pay for it."

Gu Shenyan said seriously:

"If you have any connections to obtain more Soul-Guiding Incense, I am willing to pay the price to buy it."

"So I'd like to ask you, Senior, if you know any quick ways to make money?"

Bai Cailing was stunned.

Thinking that she had just been thinking to herself that he was greedy, she felt a little embarrassed.

"I'm ashamed." She shook her head and chuckled, "It was I who judged you by my own petty standards."

"However, you are right. Now that the bloodline has been activated, we will need a lot of resources to improve our cultivation."

The girl stood up and paced between the bookshelves.

"Whether it's elixirs, spiritual foods, or magical manuals, which one doesn't cost money?"

"Although I promised you that I would do my best to provide resources within this year."

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

She turned around and looked at Gu Shenyan: "If you can have a stable income, you will be able to go further in the future."

Gu Shenyan nodded.

The little money he earns by ghostwriting for those spoiled brats is simply a drop in the ocean.

"I would like to hear the details."

Bai Cailing walked back to her desk and took out a thin booklet from the drawer.

The booklet's cover had four characters written on it: "An Introduction to Talismans".

"Have you ever heard of the art of talismans?"

I've heard a little about it.

Gu Shenyan thought for a moment:

"It is said that Taoist practitioners often use talismans to exorcise evil spirits and suppress demons, but the details are unknown."

"The art of talismans is vast and profound."

Bai Cailing pushed the booklet in front of him: "The most basic thing is drawing talismans."

"Using cinnabar as ink and yellow paper as paper, and by combining it with the circulation of spiritual energy, one can draw talismans with miraculous effects."

Common types include: peace charms, evil spirit charms, immobilization charms, and warding-off-evil charms...

She listed them one by one: "These basic talismans, although their effects are limited, are in huge demand in the market."

"When an ordinary family member falls ill, they ask for a peace charm."

Merchants traveling far away would buy a talisman to ward off evil spirits;

In martial arts combat, various talismans are indispensable for protection.

"Even the most ordinary amulet costs two silver dollars."

"If it's of superior quality, it can even sell for five or ten silver dollars."

Gu Shenyan's heart raced as he listened.

Is a single talisman worth at least two oceans?

If you can draw twenty pictures a day, wouldn't that be close to fifty dollars?

After a month, that's 1,500 silver dollars!

Although spending dozens of pages a day seems a bit like taking it for granted, it's still much more profitable than ghostwriting for others.

"On another note..."

Bai Cailing added, "Drawing talismans actually requires a great deal of talent."

"Firstly, one needs to have cultivation in the arts of magic to be able to sense and manipulate spiritual energy."

"Secondly, one needs stable control; the output of spiritual energy cannot deviate in the slightest when drawing talismans."

Thirdly, one also needs to have good handwriting.

The runes on the talisman are meticulously crafted, with every stroke carefully considered; the slightest mistake in execution will render the entire effort futile.

She looked at Gu Shenyan: "You meet all three requirements."

"You have activated your bloodline and can control water-based spiritual energy; this is the foundation."

"You've trained in dreams, and your control over spiritual energy seems quite good; that's an advantage."

"As for the handwriting..."

She smiled:

"You write for so many people in the school, and your slender gold script is so fluent and graceful. This is one of your strengths."

Gu Shenyan was somewhat tempted by what he heard.

"But I've never learned how to draw talismans, so I don't know..."

"It's alright," Bai Cailing interrupted him. "Although I'm not good at talismans, I still know the basics."

"Moreover, this book, 'Introduction to Talismans,' is written in great detail."

If you practice diligently and have enough comprehension, you can master the basics and start earning money within a month.

She pushed the booklet into Gu Shenyan's hands:

"Take this home and take a good look at it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

Gu Shenyan accepted the booklet and bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, senior."

"Don't thank me yet."

Bai Cailing added, "I also want to test whether you truly have a talent for drawing talismans."

"If not, then taking the book will be a waste of time."

She walked to the desk, took out a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and then took out a small porcelain bottle from the drawer.

The bottle contained cinnabar, its color as bright red as blood.

"Come on, try drawing the simplest symbol."

Bai Cailing drew a demonstration on the paper:

"This is a 'water-stabilizing talisman,' which can temporarily freeze the water flow."

"Although the effect is simple, it is precisely because of its simplicity that it reveals a person's self-control."

She handed the pen to Gu Shenyan: "Give it a try."

Gu Shenyan took the brush and dipped it in cinnabar.

He looked at the example symbols drawn by Bai Cailing on the paper, took a deep breath, and began to write.

The first stroke, the beginning of the stroke.

With a slight tremor of the wrist, the cinnabar spread slightly on the paper.

"Don't be nervous, relax," Bai Cailing advised from the side.

"Drawing talismans is different from writing characters; it requires infusing spiritual energy into the strokes."

"Try to activate the water elemental energy and let it flow from the tip of the pen into the paper."

Gu Shenyan did as he was told.

He activated the water-elemental spiritual energy within his body, and that power flowed along his meridians, gathering at his fingertips, and then flowing along the pen shaft and into the tip of the pen.

A wonderful feeling arose spontaneously.

The cinnabar seemed to come alive as it danced on the paper.

He could clearly sense that the spiritual energy contained within the cinnabar was flowing along a specific trajectory.

One stroke, two strokes, three strokes...

As the last stroke was made, the runes on the paper suddenly glowed with a faint light.

Although it was only a fleeting moment, it was indeed a sign that the talisman was taking effect!

After Gu Shenyan finished drawing the first water-stabilizing talisman, he quietly checked the panel.

【Talismans (Beginner 1/100)】

[Gained Source Qi: +0.2 (Green) (First Success x2)]

Current reserves: 6.2

Just one talisman, and you get 0.2 green!

Moreover, this is after the initial reward has been doubled.

After the initial reward disappears, there should only be 0.1 green per instance.

Even so, drawing 10 successful drawings a day will still earn you 1 green card!

With proper training, the net daily gain can reach 1.5 green!

"At this rate, I can accumulate 45 Green Source Qi in a month..."

Gu Shenyan became more and more excited as he thought about it; choosing to develop a side business was definitely the right decision.

The accumulation of primordial energy is on a fast track, and everything is developing in a positive direction!