Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Crushing Victory!
Wu Yan, who had just stepped out, turned around and happened to witness the moment Ji Yuan’s talisman was completed.
This Eldest Young Master Wu instinctively paused his steps... He, does he really have such power?
Such a raw Celestial Light Talisman, and yet he succeeded at once. Could it be that he had already studied this talisman extensively beforehand?
Wu Yan’s first thought upon seeing Ji Yuan produce the Celestial Light Talisman was that Ji Yuan must have painted this talisman before.
And certainly not just as a novice, at the very least, he has mastered it.
But Wu Wenbin didn’t think so. He just watched Ji Yuan enter the basics... and it was a live imitation, which indicates he definitely hadn’t painted this Celestial Light Talisman before.
He merely memorized the runes of this Celestial Light Talisman.
So even if this wasn’t his first time painting the Celestial Light Talisman, it couldn’t be too far off.
Sharing a similar thought was Hong Siuwen, the in-service cultivator of the Water Dragon Sect.
He could serve as the examiner for the Talisman Area in this Water Dragon Sect selection, naturally he is from the Talisman Hall in the Four Treasures Hall of the Water Dragon Sect.
Even among them, he is outstanding.
Regarding the art of talisman painting, he is already a first-rate talisman master.
If Wu Wenbin could see Ji Yuan progressing from unfamiliarity to initiation, Hong Siuwen could naturally also see... success at once, but who knows if it was a blind cat catching a dead rat, or if there was indeed some talent there.
Hong Siuwen, who was originally bored, now showed a touch of interest.
Even they were so surprised, let alone those cultivators watching.
They originally thought seeing Mei Chen join would already be a rare occurrence, never expected a master would emerge among this batch of assessment cultivators?
"Another success, could it be he can also join the Water Dragon Sect?"
"Difficult, difficult, didn’t you see even Eldest Young Master Wu succeeded once, but... the result... In short, talisman painting isn’t as simple as you think."
"Exactly, exactly, and it seems this is his first time painting the Celestial Light Talisman, it’s not that easy."
"..."
Ji Yuan, the one painting the talisman, was equally surprised.
He didn’t expect his luck to be so good this time. Typically at home, if painting a new talisman in the Talisman Room, he would have to fail dozens of times before entering the basics.
Even in the Enlightenment Room, he would have to attempt it about ten times before succeeding.
So the fact that he succeeded at once today was entirely down to sheer dumb luck... this point Ji Yuan couldn’t help but admit.
He glanced at the Celestial Light Talisman in his hand, placed it aside, and when looking up, found everyone outside staring at him.
Curiosity, astonishment, admiration, jealousy... all kinds of expressions were present, with Wu Yan still showing that mocking look.
Ji Yuan didn’t pay any attention, he simply picked up another piece of talisman paper.
With the experience from last time, plus learning the Celestial Light Talisman afterward, he would automatically receive the auxiliary effect of the Talisman Room, increasing the success rate by 20%.
So this time it was even more straightforward.
Accompanied by Ji Yuan’s spiritual power infusion, the second Celestial Light Talisman succeeded again.
Its smoothness made Ji Yuan somewhat disbelieving.
Those watching outside were similarly dumbfounded, even Wu Wenbin found it hard to believe.
The first success could be said to be a blind cat catching a dead rat, but succeeding twice consecutively... Could it be a blind cat managed to catch two dead rats at once?
If you want to insist, you might say that out loud, perhaps even fool others.
But you can’t fool yourself.
Wu Wenbin also had to admit that Ji Yuan’s talent in the art of talisman is probably extremely high, otherwise, it would be impossible to achieve this.
"Father..."
Wu Yan’s gaze flickered, his face flushed and also somewhat pale at the same time.
He originally thought Ji Yuan was nothing noteworthy, but now it seems... it’s himself who is nothing noteworthy.
Wu Wenbin cast a cold glance at him, but there was a gentle smile on his face, "It seems the feng shui of our Zengtou City is not bad after all, another Water Dragon Sect cultivator is about to emerge."
He wore an expression of joy for Ji Yuan’s success.
"Indeed it’s not bad, there’s even a Celestial Spirit Root this time."
Hong Siuwen, the in-service cultivator of the Water Dragon Sect, also smiled and spoke, though his gaze remained fixed on Ji Yuan... With such high talent in the art of talisman, he must be brought into the Four Treasures Hall.
It’s just that the spirit root is a bit lacking, perhaps notify the master in advance to see if the master can accept him as a disciple?
Hong Siuwen was already contemplating matters following Ji Yuan’s potential joining of the Water Dragon Sect.
But Ji Yuan was feeling a bit troubled; having succeeded with the first two, with the remaining eight pieces, even if he painted with his eyes closed, he’d probably succeed with one!
Succeeding one more time means joining the Water Dragon Sect.
That’s not acceptable.
Entering now, breakthroughs in cultivation might be slower than outside.
Ji Yuan looked at the remaining pieces of talisman paper in his hand, initially considering saying he would quit, but that would appear far too dishonest.
But if he continued painting and failed 8 times consecutively... although it’s a bit contrived.
He’d at least be acting, if he openly quit, he wouldn’t even be acting.
Ji Yuan first deactivated the Talisman Room’s effect, then once more picked up the talisman brush...
The third one failed.
The fourth one failed.
...
Watching the tenth Talisman Paper ignite spontaneously in his hand, Ji Yuan showed an expression of extreme regret and walked out of the compartment dejectedly, handing his Wooden Token to Hong Siuwen.
The latter was somewhat surprised but didn’t say much.
In Cloud Rain Marsh, there are quite a few eligible to join the Water Dragon Sect but have been reluctant to do so, like Wu Wenbin among them.
Although Hong Siuwen didn’t know what Ji Yuan was doing in Zengtou City, he could see that he was holding back.
"Daoist friend, that’s quite a pity," Hong Siuwen said with a hint of amusement.
Ji Yuan also sighed, "Indeed, quite a pity."
"Alright, you’re not that old anyway. It’s the same if you come back in three years."
As Hong Siuwen spoke, he took out a Communication Talisman from his waist and threw it to Ji Yuan.
"Next time, I might not be in Zengtou City, but no matter where I am, I’ll send you a transmission, and you can come find me."
As for Ji Yuan deliberately holding back and not joining the Water Dragon Sect, Hong Siuwen didn’t mind much.
Many people in Cloud Rain Marsh are like this; some want to wait until their cultivation is higher, and others simply don’t want to join through the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.
After all, once you join the Water Dragon Sect through Talismans, you must dedicate yourself to Talisman Painting.
It’s far less free than joining based on strength alone.
"This..."
Ji Yuan was a bit surprised, not expecting to be valued just by participating in an examination.
But regardless, being valued is a good thing.
He put away the valuable Communication Talisman and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Senior!"
"There’s no need for ’Senior’; just call me Senior Brother Hong, Hong Siuwen," he replied.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Hong," Ji Yuan adapted quickly.
Hong Siuwen smiled and nodded lightly, then turned his head towards Wu Wenbin, smiling meaningfully, "Daoist Wu, my junior is staying in Zengtou City, so I must trouble you to take good care of him."
"Of course, of course," Wu Wenbin’s smile grew.
"Alright, who else is going to participate in the examination, hurry up! What are you waiting for?"
Turning to others, Hong Siuwen’s demeanor was not as pleasant.
Wu Wenbin also looked at Ji Yuan, smiling brightly, "Daoist Ji, you must visit often in the future, come to our Wu Family as a guest when you have the time."
"I definitely will next time!"
Ji Yuan smiled and cupped his hands, nodding to the surrounding cultivators before turning and walking into the crowd.
After leaving the Talisman Area, he strolled over to the adjacent Alchemy Area. Without seeing the examination processes and not encountering Wen Lin’s family, he returned to his original spot.
As he walked back, he suddenly heard the sound of a gong coming from the direction of Cloud Rain Marsh.
The sound was distant and vast, seemingly echoing throughout the entire Cloud Rain Marsh.
Ji Yuan turned to look, seeing several streaks of light across the sky, finally landing on the open ground in Zengtou City.
Initially, there were five who set out for the selection, but now only three have returned.
A slightly pale middle-aged man, Han Feiyu, in a deep azure robe, exuding mature charm, and Dong Qian... she seemed to be uninjured.
Additionally, there was Qin Long, bleeding from the seven orifices and barely able to stand upright.
The other two did not return.
"Han Feiyu, Dong Qian, successfully joined the Water Dragon Sect."
Once the young cultivator spoke, the surrounding crowd immediately erupted into cheers.
Han Feiyu and Dong Qian hurriedly cupped their hands towards the crowd to express their gratitude, and Ji Yuan found it rare to witness this form of thanks from mid-stage to early-stage Qi Cultivation.
But that was just for this one time. The next time they met, they would be exalted Immortal Sect disciples.
As for the severely injured Qin Long, he forcibly operated a Flying Boat and left the scene.
Ji Yuan waited a while longer, and as each examination concluded, the Water Dragon Sect disciples departed.
With the excitement over, the crowd gradually dispersed as well.
Ji Yuan did not see Lu Wan after waiting the whole day, assuming she had gone to another Market.
However, just as he was about to leave, he noticed a familiar figure in the crowd.
While everyone was scattering from the open ground, she had just arrived from outside. Moreover, she seemed to be seriously injured, with a bruised and swollen mouth, limping as she walked.
Ji Yuan saw her, and she saw Ji Yuan as well.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan naturally wanted to go over and inquire, but Lu Wan shook her head amidst the crowd.
She looked somewhat miserable, yet carried a hint of decisive determination.
Ji Yuan immediately understood what was going on.
But what did it matter?
Ji Yuan maintained a calm demeanor, continued on his way, and as he approached Lu Wan, he paused briefly, handed her something, and then left.
The two didn’t speak a single word the entire time.
It was only after Ji Yuan had left that Lu Wan looked at the item in her hand.
It was a piece of Blood Essence, weighing a good half ounce.