The Lord of Void and Real

Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Manager Hou’s Request

“Hehe, Xiao San is currently busy in the main hall, so I brought these over for him.” Manager Hou exclaimed with a friendly smile.

“Oh, thanks for the trouble, Manager Hou.” Shen Luo did not feel surprised by Manager Hou’s appearance, just as he reached out to take the wooden plate, he was prevented by Manager Hou.

“Master Shen is a distinguished guest, how can we let you do this yourself.” Manager Hou said, positioning the food on the table neatly, then stood aside, waiting to collect the bowl.

Shen Luo was already hungry, so he didn’t bother going through the formalities, quickly finishing the food. After wiping his face, he picked up the yellow paper, cinnabar, dog blood, and other things from the wooden plate. After giving them a quick glance, he noticed many things he hadn’t recognized before.

The crimson cinnabar contained traces of fiery Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Qi, the black dog’s blood bore a type of positive energy similar to Yang Gang Qi, and though the talisman paper didn’t contain similar vital energy, it gave a sense of being rich in substance, unlike ordinary paper.

Although the spiritual Qi contained within the cinnabar was extremely weak, the Yang Qi in the black dog blood was also quite thin, the quality of the talisman paper was not high, there were quite a few broken points on the surface. These materials can barely be used to make low-level talismans like Small Thunder Talisman. If they are to be used to create more advanced talismans in the future, I’m afraid it would be somewhat difficult.

“These materials are all used for talisman inscription by the Taoist priests. Master, could it be that you are proficient in this Dao?” After putting away the bowls and chopsticks, Manager Hou asked tentatively without leaving.

“I wouldn’t dare to say proficient, I know a bit or two.” Shen Luo put down a box of cinnabar in his hand, responding casually.

“Master can draw talismans? I have a parchment here. Could Master help me draw it? I am willing to thank you with a heavy reward,” said Mr. Hou, his face lighting up, immediately pleaded.

“Manager Hou, did you come to my room not long ago for this reason?” Shen Luo looked at Manager Hou, asking with a half-smiling expression.

“You….how did you…” Manager Hou’s face turned red, he stammered in response.

Intruding into a guest’s room without permission far surpasses theft. If this were to get out, the reputation of his inn would be ruined.

With this thought in mind, Manager Hou’s face turned pale again.

“Don’t worry, Manager. I won’t spread this around. Now, about my previous question, could you please answer it honestly?” Shen Luo, upon seeing Manager Hou’s flustered state, chuckled.

“Thank you for being generous, Master Shen. My previous actions were presumptuous. However, when I came to your room, I had no other intentions. It was only because Xiao San said that you hadn’t shown up all day, that I was somewhat concerned. I impulsively entered your room. Please forgive me,” said Manager Hou, relieved, he bowed and hastily explained.

Shen Luo saw that his tone didn’t seem false, so he nodded his head:

“Manager, you have saved me before. So, if it’s within my means, I’ll do my best to help. However, I should say that I don’t have a deep understanding of the Dao of Talisman Inscription. If it’s too intricate, I’m afraid I won’t be able to help.”

Upon hearing these words, Manager Hou hurriedly took out a palm-sized brocade bag from his jacket. Upon opening it, it was a yellowed parchment, neatly folded.

“Please take a look, Master.” Manager Hou unfolded the parchment and laid it out in front of Shen Luo.

Shen Luo looked up and saw the parchment with jagged edges, like it was torn from a book. There was a drawn talisman on it. Judging from the runes on it, it seemed more challenging than the Small Thunder Talisman.

This moved his heart, but when he saw the line of small characters under the talisman reading “Fortune and Treasure Attracting Talisman”, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

The reason he agreed to help draw the talisman was not only to repay the favor of being saved, but also to see what talisman the other party wanted him to draw.

“Master Shen, is there a problem with this talisman?”, seeing the change in Shen Luo’s expression, Manager Hou asked cautiously.

“No problem.” Shen Luo waved his hand, his expression returned to normal.

Manager Hou was just an ordinary man, what he wants and hopes for are naturally peace, house-protection, wealth attraction etc, which naturally is different from what he aspires to, this can’t be helped.

Shen Luo continued to examine this talisman drawn on the paper, soon, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Wishful Talismans, House-Protection Talismans, Wealth-Attracting Talismans etc are the most common talismans. He had read countless books looking for clues to the Dao of Immortality. Many books contained traces of talismans, just for the Wealth-Attracting talisman alone, he had seen at least ten different versions. It was hard to tell the real from the fake, but none of those Wealth-Attracting talismans were as complex as this one in front of him.

Moreover, the runes on this Fortune and Treasure Attracting Talisman were numerous and complicated, but they seemed to implicitly conform to certain principles, giving the impression that it wasn’t a randomly fabricated fake talisman.

Seeing Shen Luo staring silently at the talisman for a long time, the old man, Manager Hou, did not dare to interrupt him and could only wait quietly.

“I’ve seen a lot of Wealth-Attracting Talismans, but this Fortune and Treasure Attracting Talisman of yours, Manager Hou, is ten times more complicated than an ordinary Wealth-Attracting Talisman. I have no confidence, I can only try my best.” After a while, Shen Luo finally turned his gaze away and said.

“No trouble, no trouble. Master, please try. If these talismans and cinnabar are not enough, I will go fetch more.” Manager Hou quickly said.

Shen Luo grunted in affirmation and started to prepare. Soon he had prepared the Talisman Ink, then he picked up a talisman paper and spread it on the table, picked up the pen and dipped it in ink.

He didn’t start drawing the talisman right away. With his eyes closed, he carefully recalled the method of drawing the Fortune and Treasure Attracting Talisman twice before he was sure that there were no mistakes. Then he lowered his pen to the green talisman paper and started drawing.

One by one, patterns quickly spread on the talisman paper, making the sound of a spring silkworm spinning silk.

Now that he was more aware of vitality and spirit, drawing talismans no longer felt as puzzling as before. As the pen moved, the vital energy in the talisman ink was being fused with the talisman paper beneath it under his mental energy.

He faintly felt that the vital energy in the talisman ink, coupled with these mysterious runes, seemed to summon some kind of power.

This undoubtedly involves many laws and some secrets of the world…

Manager Hou stood aside, watching the bright red runes spreading on the talisman paper, a complex and mysterious rune pattern gradually being perfected, He couldn’t help but rub his hands together, his face full of anticipation.

What he didn’t know was that the complexity of this Fortune and Treasure Attracting Talisman greatly exceeded Shen Luo’s imagination, and so far, he has only completed nearly seventy percent of it.

The expression on Shen Luo’s face gradually revealed signs of fatigue, and his breath became somewhat rushed.

Drawing talismans consumes a certain amount of mental energy, the talismans he previously drew, like Small Thunder Talisman and exorcism charms, their runes are not as complicated as the Fortune and Treasure Attracting Talisman, hence the effect was not as pronounced. Fortunately, he is now a Qi Refining Cultivator. If he were in the past, he might not even be able to persist. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

After about half an incense stick’s time, Shen Luo drew a plump semi-circle on the paper with his wrist, then turned his fingers, and the tip of the pen drew the last stroke.

It was only after lifting the pen that he let out a long breath.

Manager Hou’s face lit up, he was about to speak, but he saw Shen Luo closing his eyes, sitting cross-legged in place, and immediately swallowed his words.