Southern Xinjiang, Songyan City.
The dusk is dark and the setting sun is like fire.
As usual, Chen Xi pushed the door open and walked into Zhang's grocery store.
Zhang's Grocery Store is just an ordinary store in Songyan City. It is not large in scale. It maintains its business by making and selling some of the talismans that cultivators need every day. The most purchased items are first- and second-grade talismans, which are also Zhang's Grocery Store. The basis of survival is not much business, but the long flow of water. I can barely gain a foothold in Songyan City.
"To make talismans, talisman paper, talisman pens, and ink are all indispensable. It seems simple, but the process is very complicated. From today on, you will first learn the identification of talisman paper, the use of talisman pens, and the composition of ink. , I will teach you how to make talismans after you have a solid foundation."
Only then did Chen Xi discover that the shop had hired seven or eight more immature-looking talisman-making apprentices. The boss Zhang Dayong was lecturing, and his dry voice echoed in the grocery store.
"I will give you one month. After one month, if you are not satisfied with me, then go home and play in the mud. Finally, you must remember that if you want to become a qualified Talisman Master, you must study hard and practice hard. Your only way, no one can succeed casually!"
The eyes of the seven or eight newly recruited talisman apprentices were full of excitement and desire, and they were eager to try.
"Well, Chen Xi is here."
Zhang Dayong turned around to see Chen Xi and said hello with a smile.
"Uncle Zhang, these are the thirty Fire Cloud Talismans for today." Chen Xi took out a stack of light cyan talismans and handed them over.
Zhang Dayong waved his hand: "No rush, since you are here, help me teach these little guys first. The wages will be calculated separately. Well, let's pay the price of three Yuan stones per hour, how about it?"
After thinking for a moment, Chen Xi nodded: "Okay!"
Thirty fire cloud talismans could be sold for ten yuan stones, but it took him nearly five hours to make them. Calculated this way, the price was indeed rich enough.
Zhang Dayong smiled, turned to look at the group of newly recruited talisman apprentices, looked solemn, and said in a deep voice: "The art of talisman making is broad and profound. In order to better let you get started, your senior Chen Xi will give you Demonstrate how to make a first-grade fire cloud talisman. I dare not say anything else, but when it comes to the basic skills of making talismans, no one in the entire Songyan City is worse than Chen Xi. Even I am ashamed of myself in this aspect. You should watch carefully. Study hard and don’t miss this opportunity.”
brush!
Seventy-eight eyes fell on Chen Xi, but when they saw that the other person was just a thin and pale boy, not even a few years older than themselves, a trace of suspicion appeared in the eyes of the boys. This guy really has Uncle Zhang. That's so powerful
Chen Xi's expression remained unchanged, as if he was unaware of the subtlety of the surrounding atmosphere. He went straight to the talisman making table, picked up the light cyan talisman paper beside the table and spread it flat on the table, then dipped his pen in ink and swiped it down.
The movements are skillful and smooth, as if they come at your fingertips.
Seeing this, the teenagers quickly gathered around.
Holding the talisman pen in hand, Chen Xi's temperament changed. His eyes were calm and clear, his wrist moved like a snake, the tip of the pen was light and lively, rustling... slender and graceful dark red arcs spread out on the talisman paper, like wisps of smoke. It is born in a curling way, just like flowing clouds and flowing water, comfortable and natural.
The newly recruited talisman apprentice opened his eyes wide and stared unblinkingly at Chen Xi's wrist, talisman pen, and the rudimentary talisman patterns on the light cyan talisman paper, and a sense of shock gradually surged in his heart.
The ninth-grade talisman, the first-grade Fire Cloud Talisman is just one of the most basic talismans. Naturally, it is also the lowest level talisman. The teenagers originally didn't think much of Chen Xi, who was only a few years older than them. However, when they saw Chen Xi making amulets with their own eyes, although there were only a few movements, they were full of graceful and agile beauty and precise control. They My heart was conquered instantly.
Chen Xi's expression was focused and completely forgetful, and he did not notice the changes in the gazes around him. Once he made the talisman, he was immersed in a mysterious and peaceful state, and his eyes only saw the slender and dense talisman lines on the talisman paper.
Looking at the surprised expressions on the young people's faces, Zhang Dayong couldn't help but smile knowingly. Not to mention these newcomers, even he himself couldn't help but be amazed every time he witnessed it. As he said, in the basic talisman In terms of attainments, Chen Xi has indeed reached an extraordinary level.
The strokes of the pen were pointed, dialed, hooked, scratched, and rotated with sharp and precise force. A thin piece of light cyan pine-grained talisman paper gradually formed a dense and delicate pattern under the sway of Chen Xi's talisman pen.
After a stick of incense.
call!
The talisman paper suddenly lit up, as if breathing in and out, and then returned to its original state.
Chen Xi put down his talisman pen, his whole body seemed to be falling apart, he was sore and swollen, and his thin and delicate cheeks were so pale that they were almost transparent.
Before coming to the grocery store, he had made thirty first-grade Zhang Huoyun Talismans. He had already used up seven or eighty-eight percent of his true energy, and also consumed a lot of mental energy. To complete this talisman at this time completely drained him of all his true energy. Mentally exhausted.
The newly recruited young talisman apprentice did not pay attention to this. Seeing Chen Xi completing a talisman so smoothly, he instantly exploded.
"It's amazing! The speed, flexibility and accuracy of writing are really scary!"
"Wow, Senior Chen Xi successfully made the talisman in one go. Such a success rate can only be described as perfect!"
"I must seek advice from Senior Chen Xi in the future. I must also practice such skillful brushwork!"
However, at this moment, a strange voice suddenly sounded at the door of the store.
"Hmph, what's so great about making a first-grade basic talisman? If you are given five years, you can make the basic talisman as beautiful as Mian Pang Chen. Why don't you ask Mian Pang Chen when he can make a second-grade talisman? ? With his level, he can only bluff you rookies."
At the door of the grocery store, there stood a carefree young man. He had a narrow face, arms folded across his chest, and a pair of goldfish eyes full of disdain.
Upon hearing this, all the admiration disappeared without a trace in an instant, and the young people's originally fervent and respectful eyes became suspicious and strange.
It took five years to master only the first-level basic talisman
How bad such qualifications must be!
Facial Paralysis Chen, ha, a good nickname... wait, it turns out to be him!
The new Fu apprentices finally remembered who Chen Xi was, and their eyes showed a strange look.
In Songyan City, Mianpai Chen is a household name, and he is the well-deserved number one broom star.
On the day he was born, the Chen family, which was originally one of the first-class families, was destroyed by enemies overnight, leaving only his grandfather, father, and mother.
When he was one year old, his grandfather became seriously ill and was bedridden. He lost all his cultivation and became a disabled person. The family of four was forced to move into the civilian area of Songyan City.
When he was two years old, his younger brother Chen Hao was born, and his mother Zuo Qiuxue disappeared. Rumor has it that she disliked the decline of the Chen family and could not bear the poor life, so she eloped with a young and handsome young master.
When he was three years old, his father Chen Jun left home and has not returned yet.
When he was four years old, the Su family of Southern Xinjiang, who was originally related to him, sent more than ten Huangting realm experts to stand in the sky, tear up the marriage contract in front of everyone in Songyan City, and float away.
For five consecutive years, the unfortunate things that happened to Chen Xi happened one after another, and each one was more sensational than the last. Songyan City was not big to begin with, and soon, Chen Xi's reputation as a broom star seemed to have wings. The news spread throughout Songyan City, and everyone knew about it.
Due to Chen Xi's seriousness and indifferent expression since he was a child, no one had ever seen him smile. Coupled with the propaganda of some meddling people, the nickname Chen Xi was completely resounding in Songyan City.
"Uncle Zhang, I'll come back tomorrow."
The atmosphere was very strange, and Chen Xi could feel it. In other words, he had grown up with this kind of gaze over the years and had long been accustomed to it. He nodded towards Uncle Zhang and turned around to leave with a calm expression.
"snort!"
Not long after Chen Xi left, Zhang Dayong glared at the young man at the door and scolded: "Yunhong, come with me!"
"Uncle, I..."
The young man named Yun Hong was startled, and opened his mouth to defend himself, but saw that his uncle had already walked into the back hall, and hurriedly followed him, muttering to himself: "It's inexplicable, didn't I just tell the truth with a pale face, why bother?" So serious."
As soon as the two left, the newly recruited Talisman apprentices couldn't help but start discussing.
"Oh, it turns out it's Chen who has a paralyzed face. I wouldn't have come here if I had known about it. I don't know if I would get bad luck if I learned how to make talismans from him."
"Ah! Oops, I accidentally touched him when he was making amulets with a paralyzed face... No, I have to go home and take a shower."
"Haha, look how scared you are. I heard from my father that Chen, the troublemaker, is only causing harm to the Chen family and has nothing to do with us."
The night is as dark as ink and dotted with stars.
In the biting wind, Chen Xi silently loosened his fists that were so clenched that his knuckles turned white, tightened his thin clothes, and walked quickly towards home.
As he approached the door of his house, he suddenly saw a thin figure sitting in front of the door. Through the starlight, he could vaguely make out that it was his younger brother Chen Hao.
"Brother, you're back." Chen Hao, who was only twelve years old, stood up and shouted happily. Then he seemed to notice something was wrong and quickly lowered his head.
"Raise your head." Chen Xi stepped forward, with a hint of coldness in his voice.
Chen Hao was like a child who made mistakes, but he stubbornly did not raise his head and muttered: "Grandpa is waiting for you to eat, let's go in first." After saying that, he turned around and was about to enter the house, but Chen Xi reached out from behind and touched him. Hold on.
"Are you fighting with someone again?"
Chen Xi stretched out his hand to lift Chen Hao's chin, looking at the red and swollen scars on his younger brother's face, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
Chen Hao suddenly broke away from Chen Xi's hand, raised his head, his eyes were as stubborn as before, and said loudly: "They called me a bastard, called my brother a bum, and said our family will all die sooner or later. Of course I will beat them up."
Chen Xi was stunned for a moment, looking at his stubborn brother and the angry and unwilling look on his young face, and an indescribable pain suddenly welled up in his heart.
Chen Hao looked at his brother Chen Xi anxiously, not daring to express his anger.
Since he was a child, his brother has taken care of him to eat, sleep, and send him to the best martial arts gym in Songyan City to practice. He has spent all his hard-earned Yuan Stone on himself, but his brother has never been willing to spend even a tiny bit of Yuan Stone.
Chen Hao knew that his brother seemed cold, but he was actually very kind-hearted, and he was very considerate to himself and his grandfather. But why did everyone laugh at him
Chen Hao was so angry that he wanted to tear the mouths of those who laughed at his brother to pieces.
(End of chapter)