Chapter 1

Nanjing, Songyan City.

The dusk was heavy, and the sunset was like fire.

As usual, Chen Xi pushed open the door and walked into the Zhang family general store.

The Zhang family general store was just an ordinary shop in Songyan City, not very large, and it maintained its business by making and selling talismans that cultivators needed in their daily lives. The most commonly sold were first and second-grade talismans, which were the foundation of the Zhang family general store's survival. The business was not big, but it was steady, allowing them to barely stand their ground in Songyan City.

"Making talismans requires talisman paper, talisman pens, and ink. It seems simple, but the intricacies are very complex. Starting today, you will first learn to identify talisman paper, use talisman pens, and understand the composition of ink. Once your foundation is solid, I will teach you how to make talismans."

Chen Xi then noticed that the store had recruited about seven or eight new, young talisman apprentices. The owner, Zhang Dayong, was giving them a pep talk, his thin voice echoing in the store.

"I will give you a month. If you cannot satisfy me by then, you might as well go back home and play in the mud. Finally, remember, to become a qualified talisman master, diligent study and hard practice are your only paths. No one succeeds easily!"

The newly recruited seven or eight talisman apprentices were filled with excitement and eagerness, ready to give it a try.

"Hmm, Chen Xi is here."

Zhang Dayong turned his head and saw Chen Xi, greeting him with a smile.

"Uncle Zhang, here are today's thirty Fire Cloud Talismans." Chen Xi took out a stack of light green talismans and handed them over.

Zhang Dayong waved his hand. "No rush. Since you're here, help me teach these young ones first. I'll pay you separately, hmm, at the rate of three yuan stones per hour. How about it?"

After a moment's thought, Chen Xi nodded. "Okay!"

Thirty Fire Cloud Talismans could sell for ten yuan stones, but it took him nearly five hours to make them. At this rate, the pay was indeed generous.

Zhang Dayong smiled and turned to the new talisman apprentices, his expression becoming serious. "The art of making talismans is vast and profound. To help you get started, your senior, Chen Xi, will demonstrate how to make a first-grade Fire Cloud Talisman. I won't say much about other things, but in terms of the basics of making talismans, no one in Songyan City is better than Chen Xi. Even I can't match him in this aspect. Pay close attention and learn well; don't miss this opportunity."

Swish!

The eyes of the seven or eight apprentices all focused on Chen Xi. However, when they saw that he was just a thin, pale-faced teenager, not much older than themselves, a hint of doubt appeared in their eyes. Is this guy really as good as Uncle Zhang says?

Chen Xi's expression remained unchanged, as if he didn't notice the subtle change in the atmosphere. He walked straight to the talisman-making table, picked up a sheet of light green talisman paper, laid it flat on the table, and then dipped the pen in ink, starting to write.

His movements were smooth and fluid, as if he were doing it effortlessly.

The young apprentices quickly gathered around.

Holding the talisman pen, Chen Xi's demeanor changed. His gaze was focused and clear, his wrist moved like a snake, and the tip of the pen was light and lively. Swish, swish, swish... Delicate and beautiful crimson arcs spread across the talisman paper, like wisps of smoke rising, flowing like clouds and water, smooth and natural.

The newly recruited talisman apprentices opened their eyes wide, staring intently at Chen Xi's wrist, the talisman pen, and the gradually forming talisman patterns on the light green talisman paper. A sense of shock began to well up in their hearts.

Talismans are divided into nine grades, and the first-grade Fire Cloud Talisman is one of the most basic. The young apprentices originally didn't think much of Chen Xi, who was not much older than they were. However, when they saw him make the talisman, even though it was just a few movements, it was filled with graceful beauty and precise control. They were instantly captivated.

Chen Xi was fully focused, completely immersed in the process. Once he started making talismans, he entered a profound and serene state, his eyes fixed only on the delicate and intricate talisman lines on the paper.

Seeing the astonished expressions on the young apprentices' faces, Zhang Dayong couldn't help but smile. Not just the newcomers, but even he himself was always amazed every time he saw Chen Xi in action. As he said, in the basics of making talismans, Chen Xi had indeed reached an extraordinary level.

The pen tip pointed, flicked, hooked, drew, and swirled, with sharp and precise force. The thin, light green pine-patterned talisman paper gradually formed a complex and exquisite pattern under Chen Xi's skilled hand.

After about an incense stick's time.

Puff!

The talisman paper suddenly glowed, as if breathing, and then returned to its original state.

Chen Xi put down the talisman pen, feeling as if his body was about to fall apart, sore and stiff. His thin, handsome face was pale, almost transparent.

Before coming to the store, he had already made thirty first-grade Fire Cloud Talismans, and his true essence was almost depleted, not to mention the mental strain. Completing this talisman had completely drained his true essence and left him mentally exhausted.

The new young talisman apprentices didn't notice these details. Seeing Chen Xi complete the talisman so smoothly, they were instantly buzzing with excitement.

"Amazing! The speed, flexibility, and precision of his pen movements are truly terrifying!"

"Wow, Senior Chen Xi made the talisman in one go. Such a success rate can only be described as perfect!"

"I must learn from Senior Chen Xi in the future. Such skilled penmanship, I must master it too!"

...

However, at that moment, a sarcastic voice suddenly rang out from the store entrance.

"Hmph, what's so great about making a basic first-grade talisman? Give you five years, and you could do the same as that expressionless Chen. Why don't you ask him when he can make a second-grade talisman? At his level, he can only fool you beginners."

At the store entrance, a young man with a long, narrow face and crossed arms stood there, his goldfish eyes full of disdain.

Upon hearing this, all the praise instantly vanished, and the young apprentices' previously enthusiastic and respectful gazes were now filled with doubt and odd looks.

Five years to only master a basic first-grade talisman?

What a terrible talent!

Expressionless Chen, ha, what a fitting nickname...

Wait, it's him!

The new talisman apprentices finally remembered who Chen Xi was, and their gazes all showed a strange look.

In Songyan City, the name "Expressionless Chen" was well-known, the undisputed number one jinx.

On the day of his birth, the Chen family, which had once been a first-rate clan, was destroyed by their enemies in a single night, leaving only his grandfather, father, and mother.

At the age of one, his grandfather fell ill and lost all his cultivation, becoming a cripple. The family of four was forced to move to the Songyan City commoner district.

At the age of two, his younger brother, Chen Hao, was born, and his mother, Zuoqiu Xue, disappeared, rumored to have left the declining Chen family and eloped with a young, handsome nobleman.

At the age of three, his father, Chen Jun, left home and never returned.

At the age of four, the Southern Border's Su family sent over a dozen experts of the Huangting realm, who stood in the sky and, in front of all the people of Songyan City, tore up the marriage contract and left.

For five consecutive years, one misfortune after another befell Chen Xi, each more shocking than the last. Songyan City was not large, and soon, Chen Xi's reputation as a jinx spread like wildfire, known to every man, woman, and child.

Due to Chen Xi's serious and cold demeanor, never seen to smile, and the malicious gossip, the nickname "Expressionless Chen" became well-known throughout Songyan City.

"Uncle Zhang, I'll come back tomorrow."

The atmosphere was strange, and Chen Xi could feel it. In other words, he had grown up in such gazes and was already used to it. He nodded to Uncle Zhang and calmly turned to leave.

"Hmph!"

Not long after Chen Xi left, Zhang Dayong glared fiercely at the young man at the door and shouted, "Yunhong, follow me!"

"Cousin, I..."

The young man named Yunhong was taken aback, opened his mouth to argue, but saw that his cousin had already walked into the back room. He quickly ran after him, muttering, "What's the big deal? I just told the truth about Expressionless Chen. Why take it so seriously?"

As soon as the two left, the newly recruited talisman apprentices couldn't help but start discussing.

"Sigh, it's Expressionless Chen. I wish I hadn't come. Learning talisman-making from him, I might catch some bad luck."

"Oh no, I accidentally touched him when he was making the talisman... I have to go home and take a bath right away."

"Haha, look at you guys. I heard from my father that Expressionless Chen only brings bad luck to his own family, not to us."

...

The night was dark, and the stars were twinkling.

In the cold wind, Chen Xi silently loosened his clenched fists, which had turned white from the pressure, tightened his thin clothes, and quickly walked home.

As he approached the door, he suddenly saw a small, thin figure sitting in front of it. By the starlight, he could vaguely make out that it was his younger brother, Chen Hao.

"Brother, you're back." The twelve-year-old Chen Hao stood up and called out happily, but then seemed to realize something was wrong and quickly lowered his head.

"Look up." Chen Xi walked forward, his voice cold and stern.

Chen Hao, like a child who had done something wrong, stubbornly refused to look up and mumbled, "Grandpa is waiting for you to eat. Let's go in first." He turned to go inside but was pulled back by Chen Xi from behind.

"Did you fight with someone again?"

Chen Xi lifted Chen Hao's chin and saw the red and swollen bruises on his little face, his brows furrowing slightly.

Chen Hao suddenly pulled away from Chen Xi's hand, looked up, his eyes still stubborn, and shouted, "They called me a bastard, called you a jinx, and said our whole family would die. Of course, I had to beat them up."

Chen Xi was taken aback. Looking at his stubborn younger brother, seeing the anger and frustration on his young face, a deep, indescribable pain welled up in his heart.

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