Chapter 5: A Blind Cat Encounters a Dead Mouse
Thus, these talismans that do not require the consumption of true essence have always been in high demand in the market. Generally, as long as ordinary cultivators have enough spirit stones, they will purchase a few to ensure their safety. However, the value of such first-tier talismans is typically around half a low-grade spirit stone. Aside from having bought some protective talismans for self-defense, Wei Suo has never purchased any of these offensive talismans. Instead, he has opted for the more cost-effective Explosive Flame Pearls, which possess power equivalent to half that of a Fireball Talisman but are priced at only one-third of the Fireball Talisman's cost. However, the value of such first-tier talismans is typically around half a low-grade spirit stone. Aside from having bought some protective talismans for self-defense, Wei Suo has never purchased any of these offensive talismans. Instead, he has opted for the more cost-effective Explosive Flame Pearls, which possess power equivalent to half that of a Fireball Talisman but are priced at only one-third of the Fireball Talisman's cost.
"Damn it! If you really keep talking nonsense, you'll only be able to soak in a cesspool from now on," Wei Su shouted at the old man in the green robe, but in his heart, he was determined to thoroughly test this talisman.
From any perspective, there appears to be no issue with this first-level fireball rune
Weiso is now extremely impoverished, and that extravagant beauty has only used a first-level Fireball Talisman to strike him. A Fireball the size of a dustpan, let alone being hit directly, even being brushed by the flames would likely be quite uncomfortable. The power of this first-level Fireball Talisman is at least comparable to that of a Fireball spell cast by a cultivator at the fifth level of the Divine Sea realm.
After being pressed with the seal mold and then baked on the fire for a moment, a square piece of bright red talisman paper, resembling a * diagram *, was freshly produced.
Apart from this point, the value of ordinary talisman paper is also considerable, and generally, cultivators would not waste it on practice using genuine talisman paper. However, since Silver Candle Grass and Fire Tail Flowers are abundant around Lingyue City, Wei Suo directly used a talisman brush to absorb the remaining useless blood from the Fire Scorpion and refined it directly onto the talisman paper.
A burst of flames suddenly erupted in the cabin
During these seven days, Wei Suo has also put in considerable effort in the crafting of talisman paper. The talisman paper he has produced now appears much more even and polished compared to the first batch made seven days ago. The one he has prepared now is the best quality among the recent batches, smooth as a mirror and glowing with fluorescence
Weiso's pen moved without the slightest hesitation, a smooth and flowing red line swiftly extending from the tip. The originally dark red blood of the fire scorpion transformed into a bright red upon soaking into the talisman paper, emitting a lustrous sheen akin to that of jade.
Beads of sweat emerged on his forehead, yet his gaze was extremely focused, with each movement executed with utmost precision
Young man, could you please refrain from wasting the fire scorpion blood? I have already told you that even a cultivator who is highly skilled in talisman crafting would need at least ten days to half a month of practice to successfully create a new talisman. You have only practiced for seven days and expect to produce a fireball talisman; you are merely dreaming. The fire scorpion blood you waste would be better off consumed by me.
Could it really be completed? In the silent little stone house, Wei Su stared blankly at the talisman in front of him, while the old man in the green robe also widened his eyes in disbelief.
Since the failure of the first attempt at creating the symbol, Wei Su has been practicing continuously for seven days
No. Wei Su seemed to be still in a daze, shaking his head, "In the past, I would often just paint some stripes on ordinary white ferrets to pass them off as black ferrets and sell them to others"
While practicing directly on talisman paper, Weiso also discovered that the quality of the talisman paper has a significant impact on the success of talisman crafting. After all, if the talisman paper has even slight imperfections or rough areas, a single unsteady stroke of the talisman brush could very likely lead to the failure of crafting a first-tier fireball talisman.
Boom
... ... ''
After carefully recalling every detail of the fireball rune once again, Weisuo took out the rune brush that had absorbed the blood of the fire scorpion from the bottle. In front of him lay a square talisman paper, already prepared, made from silver candle grass and fire tail flower.
Nonsense, if I were just talking nonsense, why don't you show me three substances that, when mixed together, can produce a burst of fire, even though they themselves do not possess any fire energy? I have already told you that what I said about the talisman is one hundred percent true, yet you still do not believe me
"Are you really not just talking nonsense?" The old man in the green robe laughed heartily, mocking Wei Suo. This time, Wei Suo did not get angry; instead, he appeared somewhat serious. Although the Fire Tail Flower contains the character 'fire,' it is merely because the appearance of this flower resembles a fiery red dog tail. Similarly, while the Fire Scorpion has some fiery aura at the tip of its tail, no matter how powerful a Fire Scorpion is, it cannot produce the flame that just appeared.
"You dare to do it this way without ever having made one before?" The old man in the green robe chuckled, "Look at your confident demeanor; I thought you were a master of talisman crafting. It turns out you are just a novice who has never made a talisman and knows nothing at all. The symbols on the talismans resonate with the primordial energy of heaven and earth; each symbol is a small magical array. If there is even a slight deviation in the position on the talisman paper, if the rune is too thick or the symbol is a bit too fine, it simply won't work. Do you think that as long as you draw something that looks somewhat similar, you can successfully create a talisman? Do you think that crafting talismans and artifacts is that easy to fool around with?"
Essentially, everyone who has not practiced talisman carving must train on talisman engravings. The so-called talisman engraving involves first carving runes onto a smooth wooden board, and then repeatedly practicing with a talisman brush along the carved runes. By varying the thickness and depth of the engraved lines, once one becomes proficient through practice, the pressure applied when drawing on official talisman paper will naturally be more controlled, significantly increasing the chances of successfully creating a talisman.
"You really have never made a talisman before?" After being stunned for quite a while, the old man in the green robe couldn't help but look at Wei Suo and ask
"Old man with green hair, what do you think is going on? How could this thing have exploded suddenly!" Wei Suo shouted desperately, his entire face covered in soot, and half of his hair singed.
"Haven't made it, what's wrong?"
After the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, Wei Su completed the final stroke on this fireball talisman. At the moment the last delicate rune was finished, a group of fiery red runes on the talisman suddenly illuminated, emitting a hazy red glow, and the entire talisman, along with the book, radiated a faint warmth
On the vermilion paper, streaks of crimson patterns emit a subtle warmth, and a faint radiance flows along these patterns, as if delicate flames are dancing within the talisman.
"Have you never made a talisman?" The old man in the green robe was taken aback.
If these three extremely ordinary items can truly forge a first-level fireball talisman, then this talisman would be of no less significance to Wei Suo than a hen that lays spirit stones
Do not waste words; if you do not shut up, if I fail to refine this talisman, it will be your fault, and I will treat you to a cup of urine
In the small stone house, Wei Su took a deep breath, his expression serious as he placed a blue talisman brush into a bottle containing the blood of a fire scorpion, allowing the brush to absorb the blood fully
A faint heat emanates from this talisman
Moreover, this first-order talisman does not require much true essence to use. Taking Wei Suo as an example, the true essence technique he is currently practicing is the Purple Profound True Formula, and the only offensive spell he knows is the Azure Water Blade. With his cultivation at the second level of the Sea of Divine Consciousness in the Purple Profound True Formula, he can only unleash about twenty Azure Water Blades in succession. However, if he were to use the first-order fireball talisman favored by that extravagant beauty, with Wei Suo's cultivation, he could easily deploy a hundred of them.