Chapter 5: Officially Appointed!

Both the Barrier-breaking Talisman and the Calm-heart Talisman are also Unranked basic talismans; although their effects are stronger than the Cleanse Talisman, their applicable range is limited.

For example, the Barrier-breaking Talisman can only be useful when encountering fog, illusionary realms, or situations like a ghost wall.

Xiao Zhangqing lifted his brush to draw the Barrier-breaking Talisman, moving as smoothly as flowing clouds; his performance was very steady, each stroke and the infusion of mana were spot‑on, a textbook example.

In no time, the talisman was completed.

The shopkeeper Hong Jiantao beside him showed a satisfied smile and gave a subtle nod.

Then he urged Xiao Zhangqing to press on without pause and draw the Calm-heart Talisman again.

This time, Xiao Zhangqing 'made a mistake'.

When he was halfway through, the brush tip went awry.

Immediately, the mana on the talisman paper scattered, sparking flames, and the half‑finished Calm-heart Talisman burned quickly.

Shopkeeper Hong Jiantao simply waved lightly to extinguish the fire, offered no correction, and let Xiao Zhangqing clear the desk before starting over.

As a Symbol Master, a failed drawing that catches fire is nothing new—just a routine matter.

Novices do it, and veterans do it too.

After all, Symbol Masters also have rank divisions: Unranked, First Tier Lower, Middle, Upper grades, Second Tier…

The second time drawing the Calm-heart Talisman, Xiao Zhangqing made no further 'mistake' and completed it smoothly.

"I must have misjudged you. I originally thought you were just of good character, diligent and serious, and could become a competent Symbol Master assistant at Lingfu Pavilion in the future, but I didn't expect you to have such impressive Symbol Path talent!"

Hong Jiantao, watching Xiao Zhangqing finish the talisman, stood respectfully beside him awaiting feedback, smiling with eyes full of meaning, and asked, "You should be able to manage the other three talismans—the Demon-breaking Talisman, Fireball Talisman, and Protection Talisman, right?"

A look of shame appeared on Xiao Zhangqing's face: "I don't have much confidence with those three talismans; forcing them has a low success rate."

Hong Jiantao laughed heartily, shook his head and said, "If you can, within just two months, raise the success rates of the three remaining talismans to match those of the Cleanse, Barrier-breaking, and Calm-heart Talismans, then you'd truly be a Symbol Path genius, and I could even make an exception to promote you to an Exclusive Lingfu Pavilion Symbol Master!"

Hong Jiantao considered that he had already gotten a crystal‑clear picture of Xiao Zhangqing's background.

In two months, he obtained a Symbol Master's Handbook personally annotated by Hong Jiantao, enabling him to practice the three most basic and simple talismans with a decent success rate—something exceedingly rare among Scattered Cultivators, a one‑in‑a‑hundred chance.

They are like scattered pearls outside the sect.

With a bit of effort, drawing and practicing more, becoming an In‑rank Symbol Master is almost a sure thing.

Thus Hong Jiantao said he had misjudged him.

As for higher talent, mastering all Six Basic Talismans in a short time?

That would be beyond mere talent; even the sect behind him would actively recruit him into the sect as a key future cultivation target.

"In these two months, you must have spent a lot of Spirit Stones on talisman materials, losing most of them to reach your current level, right?" Hong Jiantao said with a smiling grin.

Huh? Not at all—I just used the leftover materials I had before to verify.

Is proficiency something that has to be built up with materials?

When I said my grasp was limited and success rate low, it was humility, a way to hide my shortcomings.

So drawing talismans can also be a loss? "Yes! Not only did I spend all my ten‑plus years of savings, but I also borrowed many Spirit Stones from a neighboring Dao Companion. To be frank, a few days ago, that neighbor even came to collect the debt," Xiao Zhangqing said with a grim face.

My ten‑plus years of savings amount to just two low‑grade Spirit Stones.

Three days ago, Lin Ziyu indeed came to collect the debt.

I'm not lying about that.

"Exactly! Although Symbol Masters are widely regarded as one of the wealthiest professions, the early stage still requires upfront investment, and life can be quite tight. Even I, for some talismans, have low success rates, and forcing a draw still results in a loss," Hong Jiantao sighed.

Being a Symbol Master is profitable.

But locking oneself in the studio to try new, more difficult talismans, constantly failing and igniting fires just to increase proficiency, is quite a torment. Even a Symbol Master with extraordinary talent cannot master a talisman technique without repeated trials and errors.

It's always bitter before sweet; proficiency rises bit by bit.

"However, from now on you won't have to worry about losses."

Hong Jiantao paused, then with a smile asked, "Xiao Zhangqing, are you willing to become a Formal Member of Lingfu Pavilion?"

Xiao Zhangqing's eyes lit up, he exhaled, and with a bow said, "I am willing!"

This time he is not faking.

Becoming a Formal Member of Lingfu Pavilion is the opportunity he has been waiting for these past three days.

"Very good."

Hong Jiantao nodded, took a golden Token from his storage bag, tossed it to Xiao Zhangqing, and said, "Refine this Token; from now on you are a Formal Member of Lingfu Pavilion. Here in Nanshan Fang, if you encounter trouble, presenting this Token—so long as you're not a Foundation Establishment cultivator—will earn you some respect."

"Also, from now on when you draw talismans you won't have to worry about material losses. As long as you stay within normal reasonable limits, you can draw freely to gain experience, accumulate proficiency, and improve your talisman skills!"

"Of course, any successfully drawn talismans belong to Lingfu Pavilion."

"Lingfu Pavilion will pay Spirit Stones based on your monthly output."

"There is no cap on the amount of Spirit Stones; the higher your success rate and the better the talisman quality, the greater the reward."

"Even if you incur a loss, there is a monthly minimum. Based on your current talisman skill, the guaranteed base pay is twenty low‑grade Spirit Stones."

"Moreover, Formal Members of Lingfu Pavilion enjoy Cave Dwelling subsidies. Beyond Jia‑ and Yi‑level Cave Dwellings, Bing‑ and Ding‑level Cave Dwellings are eligible for a 50% discount."

As for future improvements to your talisman skills, once you can draw grade‑ranked talismans, your benefits will naturally rise. You may then be evaluated and possibly join a sect, becoming an Exclusive Lingfu Pavilion Symbol Master!

Listening to shopkeeper Hong Jiantao outline the various benefits for formal staff, even though he already knew them, he couldn't help but clench his fist.

Finally, the goal was achieved!

Together with Zhou Yun'e, after countless hardships reaching Nanshan Fang, the goal they had striven for over a decade finally materialized.

The monthly minimum of 20 low‑grade Spirit Stones is ten times his previous earnings! Moreover, within Nanshan Fang, residents of Bing and Ding Cave Dwellings enjoy a 50% discount.

In Nanshan Fang, Cave Dwellings are graded by the richness of spiritual energy into four levels—Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding—from highest to lowest.

Jia‑level Cave Dwellings have the highest specifications, reaching the Second Tier Middle‑grade tier; even wealthy ordinary cultivators may not be able to reside there, as they are typically for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

If one is sufficiently wealthy, living in a Yi‑level Cave Dwelling barely reaches the Second Tier Spirit Vein.

However, Yi‑level Cave Dwellings, the smallest and poorest 'unit', still cost dozens of low‑grade Spirit Stones per month in rent, with better ones costing over a hundred.

Because the price is too high, Lingfu Pavilion provides no subsidy for such Cave Dwellings.

There is a subsidy, and Xiao Zhangqing still can't afford to live now.

He can only live in the lowest‑grade Ding-level Cave Dwelling.

The monthly rent for a Ding-level Cave Dwelling is about 5–20 low‑grade Spirit Stones.

After the Lingfu Pavilion subsidy, it must be halved.

As for the place Xiao Zhangqing lived before, it can't be called a Cave Dwelling… it's just a Peng Hu Qu.

"We can move out of the Peng Hu Qu now!"

He spent more than ten years idling in Nanshan Fang, and his cultivation only rose one level, largely because his residence was so poor.

A Ding-level Cave Dwelling fully meets the daily cultivation needs of a mid‑stage Lian Qi cultivator; many poorer Late Stage of Lian Qi cultivators also live in Ding-level Cave Dwellings.

It is believed that after moving to a Ding-level Cave Dwelling, Xiao Zhangqing's cultivation speed will increase greatly.

(End of chapter)