Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 47 Success

Chapter 47 Success
“Drawing arrow-avoiding talismans is different from drawing evil-repelling talismans. There is a crucial point: when the talisman line turns, the brushstroke should have a clear ‘retraction’ while the spiritual energy should ‘spring’ out. When it reaches a point, it should be the opposite. Evil-repelling talismans have a total of eighteen turns and twenty-one points, all of which are like this. Once you master this point, drawing arrow-avoiding talismans will not be difficult.”

Zhang Yan took out a piece of white paper and began drawing talismans on it while giving instructions.

Chen Li was completely confused.

He had seen these technical terms in books, but those two tattered books didn't specifically explain them.

Much of the knowledge in this world has a threshold; it requires a master to guide you in. There are no books like "from beginner to master" available for beginners to learn from.

The knowledge in this world is not only unfriendly to beginners, but it also often hides a secret.

Faced with unfamiliar technical terms, Chen Li's usual approach was to try and figure them out. Fortunately, with the original owner's fragmented memories and physical instincts, he was always successful, except for the talisman which was slightly blocked.

Once you get the hang of it, with the help of the game panel's deduction system, your proficiency and success rate will naturally increase.

However, this time it encountered a new talisman that the original owner had never drawn, so it obviously wouldn't work.

"What does 'receive' mean, and what does 'explode' mean?" Chen Li asked humbly, seizing the opportunity.

"You don't even know this? This is the foundation of talisman drawing. How did your master teach you this?" Zhang Yan asked with a look of surprise.

Chen Li gave an awkward smile.

"Do you know those brushstrokes like dot, release, touch, slide, swim, and flash?" Zhang Yan was speechless for a moment, then asked again.

Chen Li wanted to scratch his head vigorously: "I don't know!"

"What about the twelve methods of transmitting spiritual power?"

Chen Li shook his head, cupped his hands in a humble smile, and said, "I hope you can give me some pointers, fellow Daoist."

"You don't know anything, how... how did you draw this talisman?" Zhang Yan asked incredulously.

"I figured it all out myself by reading books and figuring it out. Luckily, I have some talent," Chen Li said shamelessly.

What else could he say?

Zhang Yan took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress his temper. After all, the other party not only paid for the tuition but also wanted to buy a lot of talisman skins. He couldn't let himself be angered and leave.

He offered his seat, saying, "You draw a talisman, let me see your skill!"

Chen Li asked, "What kind of talisman should we draw?"

"Let's draw a talisman to ward off evil spirits, on the talisman skin."

"This will probably be drawn around noon," Chen Li said.

“I can draw at night, but the success rate is extremely low,” Zhang Yan said. “Just draw whatever you like; I mainly want to see your brushwork.”

“The pen is a bit awkward to hold…” Chen Li picked up the pen. Since he was just drawing casually, he didn’t bother with the usual rituals. He took a deep breath, quickly calmed his mind, and the next moment, he started drawing.

He's mastered drawing talismans; he can draw them even with his eyes closed.

Just for a moment.

The pen stops, the symbol is complete.

Watching the talisman's faint light gradually dim.

Zhang Yan's mouth was slightly open, his face filled with astonishment.

Is this how you figured it out on your own?
His brushwork, his speed, his incredible luck—it's almost as good as mine...

"You flatter me!" Chen Li put down his pen and said, "I hope you can give me some pointers, fellow Daoist."

"Your method of drawing talismans... is rather unorthodox, probably because you figured it out on your own."

As Zhang Yan spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Chen Li, wondering if he was sure Chen Li wasn't here to cause trouble.
Seeing that the other person was listening attentively and clearly genuinely didn't understand, he continued, somewhat frustrated:

"Actually, most of the brushstrokes I mentioned are used in your talisman drawing, you just don't know what they're called. For example, your first stroke used 'dot' and 'slide'..."

……

late at night.

As Chen Li left Zhang Yan's house, he immediately felt that the money had not been wasted and that he had benefited greatly.

Although he didn't learn any 'arrow-avoiding talismans' in one night, he made up for some of the missing basics in his talisman-drawing skills.

Although it's of little use for talismans you already know how to draw, it's of great benefit for learning new talismans in the future.

Nights in the shantytowns are very dangerous, and few people dare to venture out at night.

But for Chen Li, these fears no longer exist.

He walked quickly along the shadows, and when he heard footsteps ahead, he would quickly avoid them, never making contact with anyone.

I returned home without any incident.

For the next two days, Chen Li cultivated during the day and went to Zhang Yan's house to report for duty in the evening.

Zhang Yan's good temper disappeared from the first day; it became more and more irritable each day.

The third night.

"You can't even do this? Don't be so stiff with your hands."

"The arrow-avoidance talisman requires gentleness, the brushstrokes must be gentle, and the output of spiritual power must be gentle, to embody the meaning of roundness. What you drew is simply a pile of shit."

"Uncle, have some tea!" Fortunately, Zhang Shuniang brought over some tea at that moment.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhang!" Chen Li breathed a sigh of relief and smiled helplessly at her.

Zhang Shuniang chuckled to herself.

"Spirit tea again? Spirit tea is free, isn't it?" Zhang Yan muttered under his breath. "I feel like I'd lose a year of my lifespan just to earn those fifty low-grade spirit stones from you. We agreed that tonight would be the last night."

"Don't worry, I won't bother you," Chen Li said, taking a sip of tea.

He felt he had learned most of the key points of the arrow-avoiding talisman; all that was left was to practice repeatedly.

Once he succeeds even once, the road ahead will be smooth sailing for him.

Zhang Yan thought for a moment and then became worried: "That talisman skin..."

“You’ll be the sole distributor from now on,” Chen Li interrupted helplessly.

This question has been asked several times already.

Every time I regretted my outburst, I couldn't help but ask another question.

Seriously... stingy, bad-tempered, and greedy!

Seeing that Chen Li was so easy to talk to, Zhang Yan was a little embarrassed: "Hey, I have a bad temper, and sometimes I just can't help it. Please don't mind, fellow Daoist."

"Don't worry, I'm not that petty," Chen Li said with a smile, unconcerned.

As an adult who has been toughened up by society, this is nothing.

Putting aside everything else, just look at when he was learning to drive. He was scolded mercilessly, but in the end, he still had to smile and give gifts!

……

The day after I returned from Zhang Yan's house.

Chen Li got up early in the morning and began to seclude himself to work on mastering the Arrow-Avoiding Talisman.

When she was hungry, Zhou Hong would bring her food; when her spiritual energy was depleted, she would lavishly take Qi-replenishing pills to replenish it.

From morning till night, he had wasted ten talismans and taken six Qi-replenishing pills. When he drew the eleventh talisman, it flickered a few times and was about to explode, but in the end, under Chen Li's expectant gaze, the spiritual light gradually faded.

"It's done!"

He let out a long breath, his face beaming with joy, and opened the game panel.

Sure enough, a brand new skill appeared behind the 'evil-repelling talisman'.

"Introduction to Arrow-Avoiding Talismans: 1/100"

"It wasn't easy, but we finally succeeded!" Chen Li thought to himself with emotion.

He took the talisman and quickly activated it.

A faint flash of magical light.

The next moment, he vaguely sensed an invisible defensive force field centered on his body.

"Is this the arrow-avoidance force field?" Chen Li wondered to himself.

He thought for a moment, then got up and walked towards the wall.

Three meters, two meters...

He sensed a subtle sense of resistance.