Chapter 71

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[Basic Talisman Crafting (Introductory): 0/100]

In the skill section of the Immortal Cultivation panel, the results of Wang Chen’s two months of hard work were clearly displayed.

The name of the new skill was simple and straightforward.

However, in Wang Chen’s eyes, it surpassed all the spells he had mastered before!

Back when he bought the Talisman Crafting tools and “Basic Talismanic Script Deciphering” in Cloud Mountain City, he had wanted to try incorporating the various arts of Immortal Cultivation into the panel.

Then, he would use Heavenly Merit or Human Virtue to advance the levels.

Wang Chen had it all planned out.

If he mastered the knack of making Talismans and successfully drew Magical Talismans,

but failed to achieve his true purpose,

he wouldn’t invest much time and effort in this area anymore.

Because to become an outstanding Talisman Maker, it’s not only about extraordinary talent but also relies on long-term perseverance.

Where would he have enough energy to improve his own strength!

Though there were such things as Talisman Cultivators, that was not the cultivation path Wang Chen preferred.

Now it was great; the skill of Talisman Crafting had been recognized by the panel.

In the future, as long as he grinded the proficiency, and then used Human Virtue to break through the thresholds,

becoming a Talisman Grandmaster wasn’t just a dream!

When facing tough enemies, he would start by throwing a bunch of Talismans at them, and if one set wasn’t enough, he’d throw another.

Until the opponent knelt down and sang “Conquered”.

The thought alone exhilarated Wang Chen!

“Immortal Master?”

Just as Wang Chen was indulging in his fantasies, unable to pull himself out, Wei Lian’s cautious voice rang beside his ear.

The girl didn’t understand why Wang Chen was showing a strange smile towards her.

She felt a sense of unease.

“Cough, cough!”

Upon regaining his senses, Wang Chen hurriedly coughed twice.

He casually picked up the freshly completed Magical Talisman on the table and handed it to the nervous-looking girl in front of him: “This is the first Magical Talisman I’ve successfully drawn, take it as a keepsake.”

A Meteor Fire Talisman.

The Meteor Fire Talisman is one of the most common low-level Talismans. Once activated, it can release a scorching flame, like a meteor falling from the sky, and possesses considerable destructive power.

Wang Chen chose the Meteor Fire Talisman as his practice target in Talisman Crafting because his elemental affinity was mainly fire.

“Thank you, Immortal Master.”

Wei Lian received the Magical Talisman handed to her by Wang Chen with both hands, full of trepidation.

Her lips quivered slightly as if she wanted to say something, but then she swallowed the words back.

“I know you can’t use ordinary talismans right now,”

Wang Chen said with a smile, “But I believe you’ll definitely break through to the Innate and introduce Qi into your body, embarking on the path of Immortality. Let this talisman serve as my encouragement for you!”

Giving roses, you end with fragrance lingering on your hands.

Wang Chen had always felt that as long as he acted with integrity and moral brightness, his luck wouldn’t be bad.

He looked after Wei Lian for Wei Xiong.

Then his Talisman Crafting skill broke through.

This girl before him was the bringer of fortune!

Upon hearing Wang Chen’s words, Wei Lian’s eyes suddenly brightened, and she nodded vigorously while holding the talisman tightly.

The sudden confidence she exuded made Wang Chen want to reach out and tousle her hair.

Just like he would with his little sister in his previous life.

But he forcefully suppressed the impulse to avoid making their relationship awkward in another way.

Wang Chen was very clear that Wei Lian was just a passing acquaintance.

She was bound to leave eventually.

Maybe even in the next few days.

The night had grown deep, and Wang Chen, who had just consumed a considerable amount of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, also felt somewhat weary.

He packed up the Talisman Crafting tools on the table,

told Wei Lian, and then went to his own room to rest.

The underground chamber quickly became silent.

“`

Above the ground, a bone-chilling wind howled across the open fields, bringing with it flecks of frost and snowflakes.

In the farmhouses scattered in various parts of the countryside, all the lights had been extinguished.

People had entered their dreamlands.

Wang Chen didn’t know how much time had passed when he suddenly awoke from his sleep.

A terrifyingly sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.

The next moment, Wang Chen pressed his ear against the mouth of a copper horn.

The horn was connected to a long, slender copper tube, which ran up the wall and through the ceiling.

It extended all the way up to the ground.

This was a simple metal acoustic transmission system, which Wang Chen used to eavesdrop on the activities inside his own bedroom!

The first secret chamber that Wang Chen excavated was ten zhang deep.

His senses, acute as they were, could not perceive what was happening on the ground from this depth.

An invasion by outsiders would go unnoticed.

To solve this problem, the best method would be to use the Mandarin Duck Mirror.

The Mandarin Duck Mirror could transmit both images and sound synchronously, comparable to the high-definition surveillance systems of his previous life.

However, even the cheapest of these Magic Artifacts cost five hundred Low Spirit stones.

Wang Chen simply couldn’t afford that.

Thus, he created his own acoustic transmission device made up of conducting copper tubes.

This device had been widely used inside naval ships, and wasn’t completely phased out until the middle to late 20th century, with its practicality beyond question.

The construction was also quite simple, Wang Chen drew the blueprints and had it customized in the city, spending only some Fragmented Spirit Stones to get it done.

On the other hand, the installation took quite a bit of his effort.

The acoustic transmission device was fixed on the wall beside his bed.

Should any unusual sounds be transmitted, Wang Chen would be able to detect them immediately.

And now, Wang Chen had heard something unusual.

Someone had entered the house.

A nighttime intruder was definitely up to no good—either a philander or a thief!

After listening for a moment through the transmission device, Wang Chen suddenly sprung to his feet and entered the adjacent secret chamber.

Reaching for two large cloth bags stacked in the corner of the wall, Wang Chen untied the drawstrings and dumped a large volume of soil at the chamber’s exit.

In a short while, the passageway leading to the ground was tightly filled in.

Wang Chen gave a vigorous slap.

And triggered a Grandmaster-level Mudstone Technique.

The dirt obstructing the passage instantly hardened into an exceedingly tough rock.

Completely sealing off the tunnel!

This way, neither water, fire, smoke, nor poison could cause any effect on the secret chamber.

“Immortal Master?”

At this moment, Wei Lian came out of the room holding a dagger, anxiously asking, “What happened?”

Wei Lian was originally a well-bred lady.

After following Wei Xiong over thousands of miles to the realm of Immortal Cultivation and enduring years of hardship, she was no longer the delicate and frail young lady of a well-off family.

In critical moments, she could wield a weapon and fight as well.

“It’s nothing.”

Wang Chen said in a deep voice, “Stay here and don’t wander off. I’ll be back shortly!”

Before his voice had faded, his figure had disappeared into another secret passage.

This passage was short, its exit located in the Spirit Fields behind Wang Chen’s house, concealed by a haystack.

Wang Chen sneaked to the ground exit and gently pushed the ceiling panel.

He didn’t rashly run out. First, he endowed himself with a Spirit Light Shield Armor, then activated his Spiritual Sense to carefully perceive his surroundings.

After confirming safety, he crawled out from beneath the thick haystack.

The outside was pitch black, the wind laced with ice and frost slapped against Wang Chen’s face.

Silently, Wang Chen glided forward, quickly approaching the wall of his courtyard. Like a nimble cat, he leaped over the wall, landing lightly in the backyard’s vegetable garden.

At this time, sounds from inside the house reached his ears!

——-

Here is the first installment.