Chapter 87: Family

A sealed cabin.

A group of ignorant new disciples of the Cultivation World.

Three senior brothers who were not particularly kind.

Zheng Fa was very suspicious of these three men's intentions.

It was not just him; the expressions of the new disciples present toward these three senior brothers were actually somewhat skeptical.

They were not stupid; the attitude of these three before had not been like this.

That plump senior brother did not get angry at their expressions, merely waved his hand, and a stack of books before him flew to the front of Zheng Fa and the others.

"Words alone prove nothing; you should have mostly studied talisman arts to enter our Jiushan Sect, and I believe you have some discernment." He said quite confidently: "Read the book, and you will know I speak the truth."

Seeing him so self-assured, Zheng Fa actually developed a bit of interest in this "True Person Zhang's Discourse on Talismans."

He picked up the book lying before his knees and began to read.

As he read, he was truly a bit surprised, and began to understand why this senior brother appeared so bold—the quality of this book far exceeded his expectations.

This book, "True Person Zhang's Discourse on Talismans," should indeed be written specifically for beginners in the Talisman Dao.

The whole book is roughly divided into two parts: the Yang Yuanfu Chapter and the Talisman Crafting Chapter.

As for the Yang Yuanfu Chapter, there is little to say; the contents in this book, Zheng Fa felt, were of little benefit to himself, but the content was also very precise; at least Zheng Fa could not find any faults.

As for the Talisman Crafting Chapter, it was more novel to him, and also more valuable.

The Talisman Crafting Chapter contains much: from how to select good talisman brushes and talisman paper, to the posture and even mental adjustment before drawing talismans, to how to summarize and improve after drawing talismans, everything is written in exhaustive detail, extremely complete.

Very simple yet very practical; this point is not simple at all.

In Zheng Fa's view, the simpler something is, the deeper the foundation required sometimes is.

The person who wrote this book possessed no ordinary attainment in talisman arts.

After glancing through it, Zheng Fa actually felt a bit guilty—had he misunderstood these three senior brothers? Did they truly treat us as family?

Couldn't you just sell this book well?

Although this book is certainly considered basic knowledge within the immortal sects, it is absolutely genuine.

Think of the "Spirit Crane Body" that caused Instructor Xu to waste twenty years, and then look at the "True Person Zhang's Discourse on Talismans" before you.

The price of ten taels of gold for this book is truly not high.

It even seems a bit cheap.

He looked up and found the situation was a bit wrong; after the new disciples received the books, they all turned their heads to look at him.

Zheng Fa was a bit confused; why look at me?

That plump senior brother was even more confused—I asked you to inspect the goods, and you are reading the book; we are not selling to him!

He also saw a few clues; this group of new disciples was probably waiting for this person's opinion.

It seemed that compared to their words, these junior brothers and sisters trusted this unknown junior brother a bit more.

"This junior brother, what do you think of this book?" That plump senior brother simply asked Zheng Fa, his smile on his face quite profound, seeming to carry a hint of threat.

Zheng Fa put down the book, thought for a moment, and although his impression of these three senior brothers was not good, he said objectively: "I do not know the prices in the immortal sects, but in my view, this book is worth this price."

"I want one!"

Zhou Qianyuan spoke up first, and the other new disciples actually followed suit one after another; in an instant, most of the new disciples generously opened their purses.

That plump senior brother felt even more perplexed.

You haven't even read the books!

You bought them just because of his one sentence?

Seeing the books he had prepared sold out in a rush, the expression of that plump senior brother looking at Zheng Fa was somewhat conflicted, as if hesitating whether to have a change of conscience and give this junior brother some hard-earned money.

Zheng Fa also bought one; holding the book, he walked back, preparing to go back and study the Talisman Crafting Chapter properly.

That plump senior brother watched Zheng Fa's departing back, frowned, and grabbed Zhou Qianyuan.

"Junior Brother Zhou, just now I saw you all looking at that junior brother; what is the reason?"

"Does Senior Brother not know?" Zhou Qianyuan was stunned.

"Know what?"

"During this Immortal-Grade Gathering, Brother Zheng ascended Jiushan, hailed as the number one talisman talent in ten thousand years. We all new disciples saw it; regarding his talisman talent, we all have no doubt—he says a book is good, then of course it is good."

Zhou Qianyuan explained.

"..." The plump senior brother finally understood the reason; his cheek twitched, and he was quite depressed: "News of the Immortal-Grade Gathering, how could us small figures hear it so quickly? Number one talisman talent in ten thousand years? No wonder you all listen to him so much."

Judging by his expression, he did not care much about this so-called talent.

He also joked with Zhou Qianyuan: "I previously heard Senior Brother Sun say that your talent, Junior Brother, is astonishing; I thought you were the champion of this Immortal-Grade Gathering... Everyone says the quality of new disciples at this Immortal-Grade Gathering is very high; indeed, talents are emerging in great numbers; no wonder some senior brothers and junior brothers within the sect are not too happy."

When he said these words, although there was some displeasure, there was actually more of a calmness of watching a show.

This made Zhou Qianyuan unable to help but ask another question: "Then Senior Brother, you..."

"Me? Of course I also do not like Jiushan Sect having so many new disciples like you." The plump senior brother was honest: "With more people, what I can naturally take is less; if it weren't for wanting to sell books, I would be too lazy to deal with you. But I am not too afraid either."

It seemed that no matter how talented this group of new disciples was, he had his own confidence.

He pointed at the book in Zhou Qianyuan's hand and said with some pride: "You don't really think the three characters 'True Person Zhang' on this book are fake, do you?"

"..." Zhou Qianyuan looked at the book in his hand, somewhat enlightened.

"We are people of Zhang Shijie! No matter how powerful you are, you cannot step over our heads." The plump senior brother straightened his chest: "These junior brothers, including that Brother Zheng you mentioned, wanting to surpass Zhang Shijie in the sect will take until the Year of the Monkey!"

Zhou Qianyuan frowned and asked, puzzled: "But why would Brother Zheng want to surpass his own senior sister?"

"?"

"He is a talisman genius personally trained by True Person Zhang."

The plump senior brother stared at him blankly; the arrogance on his face gradually solidified, and his lips trembled slightly.

……

Zheng Fa was holed up in his room studying that "True Person Zhang's Treatise on Talismans" when his door was knocked upon again.

Thinking it was Zhou Qianyuan again, he opened the door only to find the three senior brothers who had been rather impolite earlier standing before him.

Yet these three were smiling so brightly their faces crinkled into three chrysanthemums—so obsequious that Zheng Fa hardly dared recognize them.

"Junior Brother!" That fat senior brother grabbed Zheng Fa's forearm and said enthusiastically: "The great flood has washed over the Dragon King's temple! We truly are one family!"

"... Senior Brothers, what is this?"

Zheng Fa was also stunned; how could this group change their faces so quickly?

"We heard Junior Brother was personally taken as a disciple by Zhang Shijie; what a coincidence? We are also under Zhang Shijie!"

Hearing this, Zheng Fa looked at these few people with great suspicion.

He felt Zhang Shijie's standards ought to be a bit higher.

The fat senior brother's tone gradually lowered: "... under her..."

"..."

So this was where your arrogance and confidence came from?

Zheng Fa set down the book in his hand and quietly looked at the three senior brothers before him.

"How about... we turn the boat around and properly bid farewell to your younger sister?" the fat senior brother said with a mournful face.

It seemed as though his younger sister's crying had traveled thousands upon thousands of li, finally stirring that tiny bit of compassion in his heart.