Chapter 9

"Ah Sheng, let's just give up!" Lin Wan'er was somewhat troubled. Not being able to sense the mental power but still wanting to learn talisman medicine, this was no joke. The status of a talisman doctor is highly revered, and not just anyone can do it.

"No! Uncle Wang, what are the conditions for learning talisman medicine?" Sheng's face was resolute, not at all like someone joking.

After a moment of thought, Uncle Wang slowly shook his head and sighed, "Sheng, do you know how a talisman doctor comes to be?"

"If a patient is in pain, the mental power that can alleviate pain is infused into a talisman, which is then given to the patient to take or wear. This talisman will have the power to reduce pain, and such a person is called a talisman doctor!" Sheng explained according to what the old charlatan had taught him, substituting the term "talisman doctor."

"Hehe, the process you described is correct. Let me tell you the truth, we talisman doctors are actually cultivators of the second level, the 'Spirit Ascension Realm.' However, our aptitude is too low to reach the third level. Fortunately, at the second level, we can project our mental power outside our bodies, so we can only serve as talisman doctors among ordinary people.

"Your meditation is just the beginning of sensing mental power. To cultivate to the first level, the 'Spirit Enlightenment Realm,' you must take a spirit medicine called 'Mind Opening Pill.' Only then can a cultivator open a mental realm in their mind to store mental power.

"I obtained this pill by chance many years ago. This kind of pill is extremely rare. Without taking the Mind Opening Pill, you cannot cultivate, let alone reach the second level of the Spirit Ascension Realm, where mental power can leave the body. Therefore, you cannot learn talisman medicine." Uncle Wang sighed.

"Without taking the pill, I can't cultivate? But I have already sensed mental power, and I healed my leg injury myself." Sheng was puzzled.

The old charlatan never mentioned any pill, and he had cultivated mental power without taking one. It seemed that the cultivation methods in this world were quite different, and there was likely a complete cultivation system in this world.

"That's not bad, don't be discouraged. Since you can sense mental power and heal yourself, you have a good foundation. When the sect recruits disciples next time, you can try. However, I'm very curious, it was said that ten years ago, you didn't have the foundation to learn mental power. How did you sense mental power now?" Uncle Wang asked, somewhat puzzled.

Hearing this, Sheng quickly thought of a response. After a moment, he said with a smile, "Well, after being eliminated that time, I vowed to break this legend. I started meditating secretly, not believing that my foundation was inadequate.

"Perhaps heaven rewards those who are diligent, and I finally sensed mental power. I kept it a secret until the bandits attacked the village and severely injured me. Only then did I fully realize my mental power had advanced."

"Heaven rewards those who are diligent? That's a very interesting phrase, hehe." Uncle Wang savored the words, feeling they contained profound wisdom.

Sheng quickly said, "Uncle Wang, teach me talisman medicine, the art of drawing talismans. I want to learn. I can draw more and help people when they are sick, earning money quickly without too much effort."

"Ha ha, drawing talismans? Do you think anyone can do it? Sensing mental power is not a big deal, but you can't draw talismans without reaching the second level of mental power leaving the body. You haven't taken the pill, so you can't even gather mental power, how can you draw talismans?" Uncle Wang laughed, not out of mockery, but because he saw Sheng as a child, speaking without reserve.

"Uncle Wang, your beard!" Sheng said, focusing his mental power. Uncle Wang's gray beard suddenly moved slightly. Although Lin Wan'er didn't notice, Uncle Wang stood up abruptly, looking at Sheng as if he were a monster. Uncle Wang could sense the mental power fluctuations.

"You, you, mental power leaving the body? How did you do it? You really haven't taken any Mind Opening Pill?" Uncle Wang's eyes were serious, no longer casual.

"A few years ago, I found a pill and swallowed it without knowing what it was. Uncle Wang, can you teach me to draw talismans?" Sheng was somewhat helpless. If not, he would have to find someone else.

After a long silence, Uncle Wang's expression changed repeatedly. Finally, he said with narrowed eyes, "Alright, let me see how far your mental power has developed!"

Uncle Wang then looked down and searched for something, while Lin Wan'er remained confused.

After a moment, Uncle Wang took out a brush, ink, and a yellow paper of unknown material, about the size of a palm, blank. Another yellow paper of similar material had nine strange and peculiar talisman symbols, likely a completed talisman.

The ink was not black but silver, and the brush looked somewhat worn, as if it had been used for many years. Uncle Wang then took out a regular hard yellow paper and gave it to Sheng, pointing to the completed talisman.

"Sheng, this talisman is one of the simplest and most commonly used to alleviate pain. It has nine talisman symbols. When drawing the talisman, you must infuse mental power, similar to a blessing. Draw the nine symbols on the paper, and think about the patient's pain being reduced. This way, the mental power to alleviate pain will be infused into the talisman." Uncle Wang said solemnly.

"Is it that simple?" Sheng asked.

"Of course not, this is just the first step. If the mental power is successfully infused and the symbols are correct, the talisman will draw on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The nine symbols are different and represent different powers.

"Each symbol will absorb different spiritual energy from heaven and earth. When each symbol is fully charged, it will emit a brief silver glow, which will then disappear.

"So when drawing the talisman, you need to unify your mind, mental power, and actions. This means your consciousness, mental power, and actions must be highly coordinated. Your consciousness is the awareness, the brief silver glow appears, and you must focus your mental power to your fingertips. When the mental power reaches your fingertips, your hand must move to touch the glowing symbol, sealing the absorbed power.

"Many people fail at this step. If you seal the symbol too early, it won't be fully charged. If you delay, the power will overflow, causing the spiritual energy to become chaotic, and the talisman will fail.

"After all, the nine symbols light up at different times, and the brief silver glow is fleeting. Beginners generally cannot achieve the unification of mind, mental power, and actions, making it very difficult to seize the opportunity to touch the symbols."

"Unifying mind, mental power, and actions? This is indeed too difficult. Without long-term practice, it's impossible to achieve!" Sheng was somewhat depressed.

"Hehe, no problem. I'm not expecting you to succeed, but to see how far your mental power has developed, so I know where you should start!" Uncle Wang said, indicating that Sheng should practice drawing the symbols on regular paper to check for any mistakes.

"Sheng, you can do it!" Lin Wan'er said with confidence, and Uncle Wang smiled without a word.

"Alright, I'll give it a try!" Sheng picked up the completed talisman and studied it for a long time. The symbols, though strange, were not difficult to draw. Sheng had learned to draw in school.

After a moment, Sheng closed his eyes, recalling the shapes of the symbols. Feeling confident, he picked up the brush, which felt heavy and cool to the touch. He dipped it in the silver ink and began to draw the strange symbols on the paper.

The first symbol was simple, a dot in the middle with two wavy lines on either side and a shape like an inverted question mark at the bottom. After Sheng finished, Uncle Wang was somewhat surprised and nodded in satisfaction.

In no time, Sheng had drawn all nine symbols. Uncle Wang clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Not bad, without any foundation, you can draw all nine symbols on your first try, though not very neat, it shows you have average aptitude."

"Sheng, well done!" Lin Wan'er smiled, and Sheng sighed inwardly. With his drawing skills, drawing these nine symbols was not difficult, just a bit awkward.

"Practice a few more times. If you feel confident, you can use it to draw talismans. Remember to infuse mental power when drawing!" Uncle Wang instructed, pointing to the talisman paper.

"Alright!" Sheng agreed and continued to practice. After a long time, he became proficient and picked up the yellow paper of unknown material, dipped the brush in the silver ink, and focused on the paper. Uncle Wang and Lin Wan'er did not disturb him.

After a moment, Sheng's mental power moved, slowly infusing the tip of the brush. He thought about the talisman alleviating the patient's pain and began to draw. In no time, the nine symbols were completed.

Sheng quickly put down the brush, feeling the symbols had changed, though he couldn't quite describe it. He focused his mental power to his fingertips and stared at the symbols, ready to touch them as soon as the silver glow appeared.

Suddenly, the first symbol emitted a faint silver glow, which Lin Wan'er couldn't see. Sheng quickly moved his arm and accurately touched the glowing symbol with his fingertip.

"Hehe, not that difficult..." Sheng said, but before he finished, a symbol in the lower right corner glowed. Sheng's mental power hadn't reached his fingertips in time, and he was anxious. Although his hand touched the symbol, the mental power didn't follow.

Suddenly, the central symbol glowed. Sheng's mental power had just reached his fingertips, but by the time he touched it, the glow had already disappeared. This time, his mind and mental power had reached, but his action was late.

Next, several symbols glowed in quick succession. Sheng was nervous and frantically touched the symbols, unable to keep up with the rhythm. In the end, he only successfully sealed the power of two symbols, but the talisman still failed. Even if one symbol's power wasn't sealed, it was considered a failure.

"Hehe, not bad, sealing the power of two symbols on your first try is considered average!" Uncle Wang looked at Sheng and nodded with a smile.

"This is too difficult. The silver glow is indeed fleeting, and I'm always worried about missing it. When one symbol glows, I worry about others glowing, and I can't keep up!" Sheng frowned.

"Not bad. With more practice, you will surely achieve success. In the future, you can come to me to practice." Uncle Wang's eyes sparkled.

"Ah? Right, I was too nervous and only focused on the magical talisman. I have an idea, Uncle Wang, let me try again!" Sheng suddenly smiled mysteriously, looking very confident.

"Let's call it a day. This talisman paper and silver ink are not to be wasted!" Uncle Wang smiled.

"Uncle Wang, if I fail, I'll pay you. Let me try again!" Sheng's face was resolute, and Uncle Wang, seeing his serious expression, finally nodded in agreement.

"Sheng, I believe in you!" Lin Wan'er said firmly.

"Alright!" Sheng took a deep breath and began to draw the nine symbols with a serious expression. However, after completing the symbols, his serious expression disappeared, replaced by a relaxed one. He extended two index fingers and focused on the nine symbols, a scene that made Uncle Wang slightly surprised. A mere beginner, trying to use both hands?

(PS. Guess what Sheng thought of to draw talismans better? Please favorite and recommend!)