Mythical Scroll Artist: Starting with the God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming

Chapter 88 Group Buying
“It’s very expensive to go in once, so we have to split the cost,” Xue Lingling said, feigning distress.

“Why don’t I just split the cost too?” Wang Xiaocong said without hesitation. “Speaking of which, I’ve never been to the scroll copy before. It would be a good opportunity to learn from you two.”

"Then... let's do it."

A moment later, three figures flew out of the Ghost King Club and headed towards the Scroll Painter Association.

Xue Lingling stood on a coffin lid, Wu Xian stood on a flying sword, and Wang Xiaocong stood on a brand new motorized skateboard.

"Brother Wang, are you pursuing the path of crafting artifacts and scrolls?" Wu Xian inquired curiously.

“That’s right. Although the potential of tools and scrolls is not high, they are simple, straightforward and practical.” Wang Xiaocong nodded. “My family doesn’t have high expectations for me, but I feel that I still have a lot of talent for scroll painting.”

Wu Xian looked at Xue Lingling with a puzzled expression: "The upper limit for the scroll of artifacts is not high?"

“Similar to mechanical scrolls, it’s difficult to access the power of laws; they’re basically tool-oriented scrolls,” Xue Lingling explained. “I’ve heard that some top-tier weapon scrolls can access the power of laws, but tools are still tools, unlike character scrolls which can touch the realm of gods.”

Wu Xian understood perfectly. To put it bluntly, people have a higher potential than tools, and tools are ultimately just things for people to use.

Although he doesn't think so, that's how the current world of picture scrolls thinks.

“I don’t think so,” Wang Xiaocong said, his eyes gleaming. “Especially the recent appearance of Optimus Prime has given me a lot of inspiration. The scroll of artifacts can definitely be developed in the direction of anthropomorphism, just like Optimus Prime.”

Unfortunately, a suitable approach and solution have not yet been found.

Xue Lingling shook her head and smiled, clearly not taking Wang Xiaocong's idea seriously.

Wu Xian, however, praised the idea highly, saying, "Great idea! It seems very promising."

"Does Brother Gongming think so too?"

Wang Xiaocong's eyes lit up, as if he had found a kindred spirit.

As they discussed things with Wu Xian, his thinking gradually became clearer.

Xue Lingling scoffed at the news.

As a student at the dojo, she was well aware of the fundamental difference between tool scrolls and figure scrolls.

Shortly after, three figures arrived at the association.

Xue Lingling, familiar with the place, led the two into the main hall of the scroll copy.

The hall was filled with scrolls depicting various realms, bustling with people, and its liveliness rivaled that of the Dimensional Plaza.

"So many scrolls depicting various fields?" Wu Xian was genuinely astonished by the sight before him.

“There are many, but very few are truly high-quality,” Xue Lingling explained with a light laugh. “The ones at the very top are the truly valuable field scrolls.”

The scroll copy hall has a tiered structure.

The higher you go, the larger the scroll display booths become, but the fewer spaces there are.

The top row features nine magnificent exhibition areas, each corresponding to one of the nine major academies' domain scrolls. Among them is another scroll, the [Dead Mountain Town] dungeon, but it's a silver-axis, five-star dungeon.

The exhibition area below mainly features works by later or contemporary scroll painters.

You can even see many scroll painters recruiting spirit tamers to paint scrolls in their own domains, many of them for free, and some even paying out of their own pockets.

"Free is understandable, but what's with paying people to do it?" Wu Xian asked, puzzled.

“Association scroll artists are generally not very skilled, so the quality of their domain scrolls is naturally not very high,” Xue Lingling explained. “And domain scrolls require a lot of exploration and clearing levels to perfect the concept.”

"You're already capable of creating domain scrolls, and you still say your skill level is low?"

Xue Lingling glanced at him and smiled, "A powerful domain scroll requires high standards. I could draw a domain scroll of this level with my eyes closed, but it would be a waste of materials and have no value or meaning."

How is value demonstrated?

"The value of the materials produced is not even as good as that of dimensional monsters, so what's the point?" Xue Lingling joked, pointing to one of the exhibition areas, "Do you see that domain scroll? It's Old Chen's work, called [Asura Demon Realm]."

"Your name sounds impressive, but when I was fifteen, with only level two spiritual power, I easily passed the test."

"Old Chen's work?" Wu Xian's expression was strange. "My disciple, you must understand that the difference between scroll painters is often greater than the difference between a person and a dog," Xue Lingling said in a condescending tone. "The association is like a group of low-level scroll painters huddling together for warmth, a place where they keep to themselves and enjoy their own little world. Only a small number of the association's scroll painters have some real skills."

Of course, the atmosphere in the association is quite good, at least much better than in the dojo.

The more Wu Xian listened, the more he felt something was wrong.

It seems that in Xue Lingling's eyes, these scroll painters in the association are like a group of rogue cultivators who barely have any talent for cultivating immortality.

"If that's the case, why does the art studio need to train so many scroll painters?" Wu Xian asked, puzzled.

"Making money, of course," Xue Lingling said with a sneer. "The economy of today's society is driven by these grassroots scroll painters."

"..."

Wu Xian's lips twitched, and he was speechless.

Wang Xiaocong, standing to the side, scratched his head and cheeks, clearly starting to lose his composure.

“Of course, the studio can still select some excellent scroll painters,” Xue Lingling added, “such as our students Zhou Qi and Wang Xiaocong, and your tool scroll painting route is quite easy to get by.”

As we spoke, we arrived at the top level, where there were nine exhibition areas.

"These are all domain scrolls from various gyms. Except for the last one, the Mechanical Gym, which isn't worth it, the others are all quite valuable," Xue Lingling explained. "What specific type of material are you looking for?"

"It would be best if there were a variety of monster types, like all types except for the undead."

“Then let’s go to the Holy Spirit Island in the Holy Spirit Dojo. It’s a six-star gold-axis dojo, much better developed than Dead Mountain Town.” Xue Lingling pointed to one of the exhibition areas. “Come on, everyone, a thousand spirit crystals for the third-tier dungeon.”

"Would spirit energy work?"

"can."

Next, the two handed Mane to Xue Lingling, who then went to pay the bill.

After waiting for a while, a large group of people walked over behind Xue Lingling. The old man leading the group was obviously a member of the association, but the group behind him were members of a club.

"Hehe, this is perfect for joining a group buy and saving some money." Xue Lingling happily returned the money to the two of them.

Wang Xiaocong quickly recognized the group of club members. "Isn't that the main team from the Divine Fire Club? Are they also going to the third-tier [Holy Spirit Island]?"

"I guess they were sent by the president of the Divine Fire Club to collect specific materials," Xue Lingling said nonchalantly. "It doesn't conflict with us."

Wu Xian and Wang Xiaocong understood, but the Shenhuo Club members looked at them with obvious mockery and contempt.

"President Xue, you're just taking these two brats into the Tier 3 Holy Spirit Island?" the team leader mocked. "Why don't you pay the money, and we'll take care of your safety as well?"

Xue Lingling chuckled and joked, "You should take better care of yourself first."

They're just a bunch of spirit tamers, yet they're putting on airs with her.

If it weren't for the need to join a group purchase, she wouldn't have bothered with these "ants."

The captain of the Shenhuo Club sullenly pursed his lips and said nothing more.

"What's the background of the Divine Fire Club?" Wu Xian asked curiously.

“The Peak Dojo,” Xue Lingling said calmly. “The Peak Dojo system is quite diverse, with all sorts of scrolls.”

"oh oh."

As they spoke, the scroll depicting Holy Spirit Island unfolded, revealing a picturesque island with verdant mountains and clear waters.

The members of the Divine Fire Club were the first to touch the scroll and enter, followed closely by Wu Xian and his two companions.

The space twists, and you find yourself on a vast island.

"So big?" Wu Xian looked around, shocked.

(End of this chapter)