Chapter 178 - 177: [Talisman Arts Slaughtering in All Directions (Part 2)]

Chapter 178: Chapter 177: [Talisman Arts Slaughtering in All Directions (Part 2)]

Standing outside, the utterly bored Conjurer and Knife-Seller were both fucking stunned.

They had thought today would be another boring one, spent watching He Xiaotian make chicken scratch and then wear a look of utter frustration.

’But he just goes through the motions, all casual-like, and he actually succeeds?’

Holy shit!

’Is there any justice left in this world?’

’This isn’t scientific at all.’

’No, wait. This isn’t how cultivation is supposed to work at all.’

If the Daoists of Dragon Tiger Mountain found out, they’d probably be so angry they’d cough up blood.

’Why is it that when we piously pour our hearts and souls into drawing talismans, we still fail from time to time?’

’But this guy just throws on a Daoist robe, playing the part of a master, puts on a placid expression, and can effortlessly draw a perfect talisman?’

In short, He Xiaotian’s actions struck the two of them like a bolt from the blue.

’Could he really be the cultivation prodigy Shouyangzi spoke of?’

[Basic Dragon Tiger Mountain Breathing Technique] -15,000/15,000+ (Entry Level: Years of Cultivation +15) -> [Basic Dragon Tiger Mountain Breathing Technique] -0/30,000+ (Novice: Years of Cultivation +30)

He spent fifteen thousand Experience Points, leaving him with three thousand five hundred.

Once again, he’d gone from a tycoon to a pauper.

Thirty years of Daoist attainment was enough to draw a Ghost-Slaying Talisman.

Besides, He Xiaotian was right next to the Netherworld Fissure; his recovery speed was simply off the charts.

And so, one Ghost-Slaying Talisman after another flowed from his hand.

The mysterious power in the unseen world no longer hindered him.

Even when he was eating braised pork belly with one hand and drawing talismans with the other, his movements were incomparably smooth.

If Shouyangzi were still at the Divine Void Temple and knew He Xiaotian planned to upgrade the Basic Dragon Tiger Mountain Breathing Technique, he would definitely have stopped him.

This was because the successors of Dragon Tiger Mountain actually only used this Cultivation Technique to build a foundation.

They would practice it once during their spiritual awakening, and that would be the end of it.

Why?

Although this method was balanced, gentle, and easy to practice...

...it was only easy for beginners. After the entry level, advancing further was exceptionally difficult.

Many had tried to cultivate it to a deeper level, but all who went too far ended up crippled.

While the growth in Daoist attainment was powerful, it required constant, unceasing vigilance.

This led to the creation of one-trick ponies in the world of cultivation.

They would possess profound Daoist attainment but, in practice, could only handle minor ghosts.

Whenever they encountered a slightly fiercer ghost, they would inevitably flee in disarray.

Over time, this technique was forgotten, left to gather dust in a corner.

He Xiaotian, however, was an anomaly among anomalies. His philosophy was, ’As long as I can reach the entry level, I can just cram Experience Points into it until it questions its own existence.’

「The next day, the sky brightened.」

The Spiritual Qi-mooching trio slowly opened their eyes. Looking at He Xiaotian, who was still writing furiously, they couldn’t help but show expressions of admiration, mixed with a hint of numbness.

Initially, when He Xiaotian completed a single talisman, they could still hypnotize themselves into believing it was a coincidence.

But faced with his machine-like, hack-level display of talisman drawing, the three were thoroughly convinced.

They were one step away from dropping to their knees and begging, ’Please, stop showing off!’

It was just too demoralizing.

For a whole day and night, He Xiaotian had been drawing talismans like a printing press.

SLAP!

He Xiaotian casually slapped the last talisman onto the desk, finally declaring that he could rest.

After working for over twenty hours, he had completely exhausted the old Daoist’s entire stock left at the Divine Void Temple.

Don’t think that the materials for making talismans are simple.

A sheet of yellow talisman paper, a dish of cinnabar, an ink stick, a bowl of clear water, and a wolf-hair brush—it all seemed simple.

In reality, not only were these items all made from top-grade materials, but they were also expensive.

Furthermore, they had been blessed by experts from the Daoist Alliance and were filled with Spiritual Qi.

This not only increased the success rate of drawing talismans but also enhanced their power.

As for why?

Not everyone was He Xiaotian, with a system to help them.

He used Experience Points to raise his Ghost-Slaying Talisman skill to the highest level, so every talisman he drew was perfect and flawless.

As long as his Daoist attainment was sufficient and his vitality was high, drawing for three days and three nights wouldn’t be a problem.

He wouldn’t waste a single sheet in the process.

Daoists without such cheats couldn’t even draw a few in a single day.

That case of talismans Shouyangzi had stolen might have been the fruit of his senior brother’s many years of painstaking labor.

That’s why he didn’t dare sell them!

If the diviner found out the old Daoist was selling his life’s work for money, wouldn’t he kill him?

Therefore, when it came to Daoist arts, especially talisman drawing, He Xiaotian was a massive BUG!!

He Xiaotian the Brute looked at the three hundred Ghost-Slaying Talismans neatly stacked on the desk, a sense of accomplishment welling up within him.

Each talisman was a superweapon. With three hundred of them stacked together...

...never mind the Paperman family daring to show up, even if they brought out their so-called ’Fierce Ghost List,’ He Xiaotian would be fearless!!

「Night fell. A bright moon hung high in the sky, and the stars twinkled.」

Tonight, Snake Mountain was not at peace.

On the mountain path, three paper sedan chairs, carried by twelve Golden Boys and Jade Maidens, headed straight for the Divine Void Temple.

Strange noises echoed continuously from the surrounding woods.

If anyone had been there, they would surely have seen the fleeting shadows of ghosts in the forest.

Accompanying them were thick, dark clouds. By the time the paper sedan chairs reached the summit, the stars had been completely blotted out.

Inside the quiet room, the Spiritual Qi-mooching trio seemed to sense the atmosphere of an impending battle and stopped their cultivation.

He Xiaotian remained seated before the desk, clad in his Daoist robe and looking perfectly composed, utterly unfazed.

The three exchanged glances, signaling to each other. Their plan was to leave the quiet room first, then discuss whether to stay or run.

And so, the Knife-Seller was the first to rise and leave the room.

The remaining two, Feng Yu and the Conjurer, followed close behind.

In the ruined courtyard, the three huddled together, whispering.

"Let’s avoid a direct confrontation for now. This Paperman bunch is sinister. We’re not X; we don’t have the strength to take them on directly. And if we get on their bad side, trust me, there’ll be hell to pay."

The Conjurer was a man of the world, and his information was always reliable.

He knew a great deal about the Paperman family, even more than Shouyangzi.

"Hmph! If you want to go, then go. I, Feng Yu, am not used to owing favors. In just a few days, I can feel it’s gotten stronger again. Who knows when Shouyangzi will be back. In just a few more days, my Ghost Head Saber will transform.

I will absolutely not leave at a critical moment like this. So what if it’s the Paperman family? I’ll kill them as they come! I’ll use them to sharpen my blade and make it even keener." Feng Yu, this naive newcomer untainted by the world, voiced his objection, shutting the Conjurer down completely.

The Conjurer: "..."

’Motherfucker!’

’No good deed goes unpunished.’

’Fine, you’re the big hero!’

Turning his head, he looked at the Knife-Seller.

"At my absolute best, I can only handle ordinary ghouls and ghosts. As for the Papermen... I’d be useless if I stayed. I can’t beat them. I’d just be dragging everyone down. It’s just that, recently, my Golden Dao has also shown signs of transforming into an anomalous item, so..."

’Great.’

He’d said enough. His meaning was clear: he was going to stay.

The Conjurer was helpless. It seemed they were about to part ways.

Over the past few days, the three of them had gotten along quite well.

Who knew when, or if, they would ever meet again!

"Farewell."

As soon as the word was spoken, the bright moonlight was swiftly covered by dark clouds, and it became so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

"Heh heh, looks like you’re not going anywhere now."

Feng Yu and the Knife-Seller said, gloating.

Before the Conjurer could let out a curse, the three of them saw three paper sedan chairs float in from over the courtyard wall.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Without a second word, they all dove back into the quiet room with lightning speed.

"X! Get your ass out here! You killed one of my spiritual avatars. If I don’t kill you, I’ll never be able to quell the hatred in my heart." After a few days, the young woman had finally come for revenge. And this time, it seemed, she was very confident.

"What the hell are you three afraid of? Open the door and welcome our guests," He Xiaotian said, looking at the trembling trio leaning against the newly repaired door.

"???"

’Bro, are you kidding me?’

’Shouldn’t we be lying low first to see what they’re capable of?’