The next day.
The reception hall of the Zhou family.
"Lin, my young friend, could you demonstrate your Talisman Painting skills here?"
Seated at the head, Zhou Antai, donned in a superior magic robe, wore a kind and approachable smile, without any pretense.
Lin Chang'an knew this man; despite his appearance as a benevolent elder, Lin had witnessed his imposing presence during the wilderness development twenty years ago.
"Elder Zhou, allow me to humbly present my skills."
Lin Chang'an understood Zhou wanted to gauge his abilities, which aligned with his own intentions.
Only by demonstrating his talent in talisman crafting could he secure better terms.
Of course, he couldn't show too much, as that would be unusual; just a hint of talent would suffice.
Without hesitation, Lin Chang'an moved to the prepared table, not starting immediately, but rather closed his eyes and focused his mind.
Zhou did not find this strange, even gesturing to two young cultivators of the Zhou family in the room to observe carefully.
After a short while, none of those present grew impatient.
At this moment, Lin Chang'an slowly opened his eyes, exuding an air of optimized vigor, dipped his brush into the specially crafted cinnabar for painting a Golden Light Talisman.
Swish swish!
With bated breath and focused spirit, Lin Chang'an's gaze was steady and serious, the brush flowed over the talisman paper like a dragon in flight, his movements smooth and fluid.
This scene made Zhou Antai nod secretly in approval.
After a while.
Eight Golden Light Talismans shimmered with spiritual light, particularly two of them emitted a noticeably denser glow.
"Excellent, Lin's craftsmanship is indeed extraordinary."
Elder Zhou couldn't help but offer praise, while Lin Chang'an took the towel handed to him by the two young cultivators to wipe the sweat of exertion from his forehead and humbly cupped his hands:
"It's all thanks to the superior Talisman Brush and cinnabar, otherwise how could I achieve two Tier One Lower Grade exquisite Golden Light Talismans."
Lin Chang'an's words were not mere modesty; the Spiritual Brush and cinnabar provided by the Zhou family were genuinely of higher quality than what he usually used.
"I am not fond of empty words," said Elder Zhou. "Our Zhou family can offer the subsequent crafting legacy for Tier One Middle Grade Golden Light Talismans. If your skills further improve, we also have the legacy for Tier One Upper Grade Talisman Masters."
"But Lin, my young friend, you must ensure a certain quantity of Tier One Middle Grade Talismans each year, and also help our family nurture one or two descendants..."
Lin Chang'an mused, as expected of the Zhou family, a Foundation Establishment Great Clan of the market, these terms were quite reasonable.
The Zhou family provided methods for crafting Tier One Middle Grade Talismans, along with cultivation resources each month.
He only needed to deliver a certain quota of talismans annually and help train two Zhou descendants who intended to focus on Talisman Painting due to their poor aptitude.
Simply put, the Zhou family was pre-paying his salary, and he was to serve them long-term.
"Elder Zhou, isn't fifteen years a bit too long? I am already over forty..."
"At least ten years, bear in mind we're providing a practice ground dense with spiritual energy, and even all the materials for talisman crafting are on us."
"Elder Zhou, would it be possible to reduce the annual talisman quota by twenty percent? I am willing to mentor two more descendants..."
Lin Chang'an also symbolically haggled a bit, though inwardly he was overjoyed.
The Zhou family would provide some of the talisman materials, ensuring he could always work in his best state.
This meant crafting talismans with Zhou's materials, and whatever was left beyond the quota was profit for him.
Moreover, he would have the Zhou family as his backing.
In the end, after discussing with Elder Zhou, both displayed satisfied smiles.
"In the future, we'll trouble Master Lin with our Talisman crafting needs."
"I dare not claim such a title, I shall wholeheartedly dedicate myself to teaching and guidance."
Except for fewer talismans needed within the first half-year, everything else was unanimously agreed upon, and as per the agreement, he was to diligently train the Zhou family's talisman masters.
Within a family as vast as Zhou's, many possessed inferior spirit roots, who typically spent their lives stuck at the early stages of Qi Refining.
Apart from family affairs, they mostly learned a specialized skill to continue serving the clan.
After all, inferior spirit roots were even worse than his low-grade spirit root.
…
"Lower Grade Magic Robe, I didn't expect to get one so soon."
After being personally seen off by Erniu, Lin Chang'an looked at his magic robe, contentedly patting it several times.
Smooth to the touch, this garment was not merely for cleanliness and appearance but also provided some level of defense.
In the mundane world, it would be akin to a Golden Silk Armor impervious to knives, guns, water, and fire.
"No wonder mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators can crush those in the early stage."
Lin Chang'an mused, the gap between early-stage and mid-stage Qi Refining was not just in mana and spells but also in the difference in magical artifacts.
Many early-stage Qi Refining cultivators didn't even have a poor-quality Magical Artifact, mostly using common weapons.
But these divine weapons of the mortal realm can't even break the defense of a lower grade magic robe.
"Even the cultivation venues are allocated. If I had broken through in Talisman Painting earlier, I wouldn't have reached Qi Refining Fourth Layer at this age."
Although he sighed with emotion, Lin Chang'an hurried home with a face full of joy.
Going back to tidy up, he was about to move.
And the corvée tax, under the protection of the Zhou Family, he only needed to pay half.
As expected, the ancestors were right, it's good to have a big tree to lean on.
...
"Bang bang!"
Just as he got home and was about to tidy up, there was a knock on the door.
"Old He?"
Old He, who had disappeared for more than two months, reappeared with an even more haggard old face, yet this time it glowed with a flush of red.
Seeing Lin Chang'an open the door, Old He's old face broke into a smile.
However, Lin Chang'an keenly noticed that Old He was missing four fingers on his left hand, as if bitten off by a demon beast.
"Lin, boy, it's really thanks to your Golden Light Talisman this time, otherwise, the old man might not have come back."
Old He made no attempt to hide his injured left hand, instead grinning to reveal several missing old yellow teeth.
"You kid, aren't you going to greet your Uncle Lin?"
At this time, a handsome young man named He Yan, dressed in silk and brocade, stepped out from behind Old He, usually with a humble smile, but this time somewhat perfunctory.
Yet Lin Chang'an keenly noticed, He Yan was even wearing a magic robe.
"Uncle Lin."
Before Lin Chang'an could think more, Old He, grinning with old yellow teeth showing, was smiling from ear to ear.
"This kid got lucky, not only recognized by the Foundation Establishment great clan Wang Family, but also passed the entrance examination of the Li Huo Palace."
No wonder, now Lin Chang'an understood, now seeing He's demeanor, isn't it just youthful arrogance?
"That is really congratulations to you, Old He."
One doesn't hit a smiling person, Lin Chang'an offered his congratulations with a smile, and Old He also had a show-off expression, speaking excitedly with his mouth wide open.
"Grandpa."
Obviously, He Yan, who now had the backing of the Wang Family and had become an outer disciple of the Li Huo Palace, had a changed mentality, showing some impatience in his demeanor.
In the future, he was going to become an inner sect disciple of the Li Huo Palace, and naturally he was reluctant to talk much with these common folk here.
Old He then felt a bit awkward and suddenly noticed Lin Chang'an's magic robe, revealing a look of surprise.
"Lin, boy, is this from the Zhou Family!?"
The magic robe granted by the Zhou Family naturally carried the mark representing the identity of a cultivator of the Zhou Family.
With sharp eyes, Old He naturally spotted it, and Lin Chang'an also nodded with a smile.
"Yes, this Tier One Middle Grade Talisman legacy is hard to come by, only these families have it."
The implication was clear, he had joined the Zhou Family.
"I see, then congratulations for real, by the way, here are the Spirit Stones from the previous Golden Light Talisman."
Old He also congratulated with a smile, taking out two Spirit Stones and the Divine Movement Talisman he previously promised, clearly still somewhat unaccustomed to using his left hand.
"I'm nothing, it's Little Yan being able to join the Li Huo Palace that is something with a great future."
Listening to Lin Chang'an praise his grandson, Old He laughed happily, which was exactly what he had been diligently pursuing all these years.
After the two congratulated each other, Old He eagerly went to show off to other neighbors.
"This Old He, still so thrifty."
Lin Chang'an shook his head with a smile, about to put away the Spirit Stones, but seeing the Divine Movement Talisman, he narrowed his eyes.
"This is!?"
On the Divine Movement Talisman, there were clearly a few fine hairs and a hint of bloodstains on one corner.
"This is the fur of a Black Wind Wolf cub."
Lin Chang'an couldn't help muttering to himself, this Old He was really bold, actually sneaking to find a wolf's den.
No wonder he was injured yet so full of spirit, having a demon beast cub was enough for Old He to live well in his later years.
This made Lin Chang'an feel both envious and a little philosophical.
As for the middle-grade spirit root youngster He Yan?
If it was his former self, he might have envied such a start, but now he had a bright future awaiting him, and he wouldn't let some people easily affect his mood.
The road is still long ahead, and the previous forty years of his life were just the wind and snow on the road he came.