CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: OLD SUN

Ding!

[Exorcism Talisman Experience +1]

A message suddenly popped up in Xu Ping’s vision.

"Got on the list!"

Xu Ping couldn’t help but grin, the rest would be simple, just grind it out.

He quickly collected his excitement, realizing that he had only drawn a Lower Grade talisman for now. It was just enough to get by, far from making big money.

To really make big money, he needed to draw First Rank Upper Grade talismans.

The market price for a First Rank Lower Grade talisman is around two Spirit Stones.

While a First Rank Upper Grade talisman would fetch at least twelve Spirit Stones.

That’s a sixfold price difference.

The pure profit difference is even more substantial.

"Keep going, keep going." Xu Ping decided to strike while the iron was hot and draw a few more before noon.

With that thought, he continued drawing talismans until the evening.

The success rate after getting on the list wasn’t bad, with two successes out of five attempts, a 40% success rate.

Generally, if you maintain a 30% success rate with First Rank talismans, you won’t lose money.

40% gives a small profit, and 60% or higher means big profits.

Breaking a 60% success rate in drawing talismans signifies complete mastery of the craft.

"The past few days have been exhausting with all this talisman drawing, time to have a good meal and treat myself." Xu Ping stretched and walked into the kitchen.

...

...

Deep into the night.

A crescent new moon hung high in the sky, its clear, water-like glow illuminating the earth.

At this moment, a muddy and ragged figure emerged from the shadows of the forest.

Under the moonlight, it was none other than ’Old Sun.’

’Old Sun’ moved forward slowly, muttering ceaselessly, "Why won’t you lend me Spirit Stones, why won’t you lend me Spirit Stones..."

Howl!

Suddenly, a wolf demon that had barged into the market saw ’Old Sun.’

Smelling food, it roared and charged at ’Old Sun.’

Just as it got close, a spine-chilling, icy aura surged forth, making the wolf demon stop in its tracks involuntarily.

The wolf demon, though not very smart, instinctively felt fear and emitted a sorrowful cry, turning to flee.

"Why won’t you lend me Spirit Stones!" But ’Old Sun’ wouldn’t let it escape, he roared furiously, becoming a blur as he quickly caught up to the wolf demon.

Tentacles sprouted from his body, tightly wrapping around the wolf demon.

A few minutes later.

The withered corpse of the wolf demon lay motionless on the ground.

’Old Sun,’ with a look of satisfaction on his face, slowly stepped forward, one step at a time.

No one knows how long he walked until he finally stopped in front of Xu Ping’s door.

Bedroom.

While concentrating on practicing his sword skills, Xu Ping suddenly felt a rush of unease, a chill creeping up from his feet to the back of his head, raising goosebumps all over.

"What’s going on!?"

He frowned, a faint sense of uneasiness lingering in his heart.

If this were his past life, he might have dismissed it as a random thought, but this was the cultivation world.

A cultivator’s intuition is not without reason; it often saves lives.

Xu Ping decided to go outside and take a look.

As he opened the door, silence surrounded him, only the sound of the wind echoed in his ears, and the moonlight shone down on the muddy, damp road.

He let his gaze wander, trying to locate the source of his discomfort.

However, everything was silent, except for some insects chirping; there was nothing else.

Still, he did not lower his guard, meticulously inspecting the surroundings of his home, but to no avail.

"Could it really be just an illusion?" Xu Ping frowned, returning indoors.

His heart couldn’t settle, so as a precaution, he decided to stay awake.

He sat cross-legged on his bed, closing his eyes to focus his mind.

The night quietly passed, with Xu Ping remaining in a vigilant state throughout.

As the first light of dawn seeped through the window, his mood gradually calmed.

"Could it truly have been a hallucination?" Xu Ping opened his eyes, puzzled.

After some thought, he decided to ask Zhang Chenyu.

....

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, did you encounter anything strange yesterday?" Sitting at the table, Xu Ping looked at Zhang Chenyu across from him.

"Something strange?" Zhang Chenyu blinked, then shook his head, "No, everything was quite peaceful yesterday."

"Did something happen?"

Xu Ping hesitated for a moment but eventually shared the inexplicable anxiety he felt last night.

"Logically, a cultivator’s intuition shouldn’t be baseless, but there are exceptions occasionally. Fellow Daoist Xu also checked around, found nothing, so perhaps your intuition just acted up," Zhang Chenyu comforted.

"Maybe." Xu Ping nodded.

Still, he hadn’t completely let it go. He planned to observe a few more nights, and if he found nothing, perhaps it was indeed just his imagination.

"By the way, how’s the talisman drawing going, Fellow Daoist Xu?" Zhang Chenyu changed the topic.

"Not bad, I managed to draw an Exorcism Talisman."

"Pfft!"

Zhang Chenyu sputtered out Spirit Tea, slightly opening his mouth in shock: "You...what? You’ve drawn an Exorcism Talisman??"

A few days ago, you were still struggling with basic talismans, and now you’ve drawn a First Rank Lower Grade talisman???

Did my ears deceive me???

"Yes, I was lucky to succeed once." Xu Ping nodded.

He didn’t expect such a big reaction from Zhang Chenyu, but revealing a First Rank Lower Grade talisman was no big deal.

With his current strength, he can completely protect himself.

"Come, draw an Exorcism Talisman for me." Zhang Chenyu took a deep breath, trying to suppress his shock.

"The success rate is low when it’s not noon," Xu Ping replied.

"It’s okay, I mainly want to see your technique and fluidity." Zhang Chenyu led Xu Ping to the desk where he often drew talismans.

"The pen’s a bit unwieldy..." Xu Ping didn’t hesitate, picking up the pen, taking a deep breath to calm himself before he started drawing.

However, his mastery of Exorcism Talismans was not yet high, and since it wasn’t noon, he failed four times before succeeding on the fifth attempt.

Watching as the talisman’s faint glow gradually faded.

Zhang Chenyu gaped, stunned, "No way, you actually drew it!"

With this technique and fluidity, wouldn’t the success rate soar past 40% at noon?

Is this really the same Fellow Daoist from a few days ago?

"What did you think, that I was just joking?" Xu Ping spread his hands.

Zhang Chenyu had a myriad of things to say but ended up sourly congratulating him, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Xu. It seems your talent in talisman drawing far surpasses mine."

If he couldn’t match Xiu Ping in cultivation and combat, so be it, but even in talisman drawing?

How could he ever boast in front of Xu Ping in the future?

"Mainly because Fellow Daoist Zhang taught me well." Xu Ping complimented.

Heh!

If I didn’t know how to draw talismans, I might have believed your nonsense.

Zhang Chenyu cast a resentful glance at Xu Ping.

...

At home.

Recalling Zhang Chenyu’s resentful expression made Xu Ping chuckle.

With Zhang Chenyu’s personality, not being able to brag would be pretty painful!

Xu Ping stretched before preparing to catch up on some sleep.

He planned to keep an eye on things tonight as well.