Drawing a Talisman seemed simple, but in reality, it was no easy feat.
First, one must calm their mind. A Talisman cannot be drawn with a restless mind. Fortunately, the fragrance from the Soul-Stabilizing Incense still permeated the air, allowing Zhao Yuan's mind to become as tranquil as still water.
After washing his hands, laying out the Yellow Paper, and picking up the Wolf Hair Brush, Zhao Yuan didn't immediately start drawing. Instead, he closed his eyes and repeatedly traced the Runes in his mind. Only when he had committed the Runes of the Enchanting Talisman to memory did he dip the brush in vermillion ink and touch it to the Yellow Paper.
"Huh?"
Zhao Yuan froze, shocked to find that once the Wolf Hair Brush touched the Yellow Paper, it seemed to lock in place. No matter how much force he applied, he couldn't budge it an inch.
His first attempt at Drawing a Talisman ended in failure.
'What's going on? Why did the brush get stuck?' Zhao Yuan frowned, quickly searching the Information Leaf for an answer. 'So that's how it is. I've only just started Body Refining, so my body hasn't generated any Qi yet. To draw a Talisman, I have to infuse Wish Power into the brush tip.'
Following the method taught on the Information Leaf, Zhao Yuan tried to draw the Wish Power from his Dantian. After several failures, he finally succeeded. The Wish Power flowed out, traveling along his meridians until it reached his right hand.
Taking a deep breath, he held it and focused his mind. Zhao Yuan lifted the Wolf Hair Brush again. Wish Power flowed to the tip, which began to emit a faint, shimmering light.
This time, the Wolf Hair Brush didn't get stuck, but it became as heavy as lead. Zhao Yuan had to use all his strength just to get it to move. This bizarre phenomenon slowed his progress to a crawl. The slightest lapse in concentration would cause errors or breaks in the lines, resulting in a failed Talisman.
A series of failures didn't discourage Zhao Yuan. On the contrary, he became more determined with each attempt.
Large beads of sweat rolled down Zhao Yuan's cheeks, and his breathing grew ragged and heavy. Yet, the hand he used for Drawing the Talisman became increasingly steady and fluid.
Finally, after numerous failures, Zhao Yuan successfully drew the Enchanting Talisman.
As he finished the final stroke, the Runes on the Yellow Paper bloomed with a golden light. When the light faded, the ordinary paper had taken on the feel of gold foil.
'I did it!'
Zhao Yuan exhaled sharply and collapsed to the floor with a THUD. He felt so exhausted he thought his body would fall apart, and his clothes were completely soaked with sweat.
'I never thought Drawing a Talisman would be such strenuous work. At least I succeeded. It was only so difficult and exhausting because I have so little Wish Power—barely enough to draw a single Talisman. Once my Wish Power increases, it'll definitely be much easier!'
The thought of Wish Power made Zhao Yuan suddenly nervous. He quickly checked on it and only breathed a sigh of relief when he confirmed that his depleted reserves were slowly recovering.
'As long as it regenerates, I'm fine.' He had been afraid that drawing a single Talisman would deplete his Wish Power permanently. That would have been a terrible waste, since Wish Power was also a great boon to his Cultivation of the Four Saints Technique!
After resting for a moment, Zhao Yuan got up and picked up the Enchanting Talisman from the table, examining it curiously.
He had already learned how to use this Talisman from the Information Leaf. Unfortunately, there was no way to test its effects at the moment, so he could only put the Enchanting Talisman away with a sigh of regret, saving it for a future opportunity.
After tidying up, Zhao Yuan practiced the Four Saints Technique one more time. Unfortunately, the Soul-Stabilizing Incense and Bone Refining Pills hadn't dried yet, so he would have to wait until tomorrow to use them. By the time he had done all this, it was past five o'clock, nearly six. Zhao Yuan took a shower, left his rented apartment, and headed back to the university. When he walked into dorm room 301, he was surprised to find Wu Yan was the only one there.
"Hey, Wu Yan, how come you're the only one here? Where are Liu Zhu and Wang Rongfeng?" Zhao Yuan asked, puzzled. Usually, Liu Zhu and Wang Rongfeng would be in the dorm playing LoL at this hour. It was strange for both of them to be gone.
"They went to the library to try their luck," Wu Yan replied as he stood in front of the mirror, slicking his hair back with gel until it gleamed.
"Try their luck?" Zhao Yuan asked, confused.
"What, you haven't heard, Zhao Yuan?" Wu Yan turned around to explain. "The Sweetheart Goddess of the nursing department, Lin Xue, made a post on the university forum today. She said she'd be waiting at the library entrance for the person who saved her a few days ago. She wants to treat them to a meal to show her gratitude. Tons of guys went to try their luck, hoping she'd mistake one of them for her savior. Of course, Liu Zhu and Wang Rongfeng couldn't resist. They headed over first thing in the morning."
"Oh, so that's what this is about."
It dawned on Zhao Yuan, but he didn't connect the incident to himself at all. As far as he was concerned, the person who had saved Lin Xue that night was the guidance counselor, Hu Qiang. He had merely offered a suggestion from the sidelines.
"Why didn't you go?"
"I was just getting ready," Wu Yan said, giving himself another look in the mirror. He nodded in satisfaction, pulled out a stylish outfit, and changed into it. "Come on, Zhao Yuan. Let's go try our luck together."
"You go ahead. I think I'll pass," Zhao Yuan said, shaking his head.
"Oh, come on, just come with me! You can get a front-row seat and watch how I work my magic on the ladies. It might help you finally get a girlfriend and escape the single life!" Without another word, Wu Yan grabbed Zhao Yuan and dragged him out of the dorm toward the library.
When they arrived outside the library, they were shocked to find a massive, dense crowd had already gathered. It was made up entirely of male students from every department, at least two or three hundred of them.
They were all clamoring at once:
"Lin Xue, I was the one who saved you that night! Really!"
"Don't listen to him! I'm the one who saved you!"
"My dearest Lin, I've been waiting all this time for you to find me..."
"Over here, look over here! Have no doubt, I'm your savior!"
In the middle of the crowd, Lin Xue's brow was furrowed in embarrassment. She shot a glare at her best friend, Yang Zi, and snapped, "I told you this was a terrible idea, but you insisted. Now look! You've found me a whole army of 'saviors'!"
Yang Zi was also stunned by the sea of people. "How was I supposed to know the guys at our school have this little shame?" she said, clicking her tongue. "But hey, it just proves one thing: your appeal is off the charts, Xuexue. Otherwise, you wouldn't have attracted this many hungry wolves."
"Stop making jokes and help me think of a way to get rid of them," Lin Xue said, her face grim.
While the two girls were conferring, Zhao Yuan spotted three familiar figures in the crowd. He frowned. 'They're here too.'
"Who?" Wu Yan asked.
"Wang Lei, Zhou Peng, and Sun Ke." No sooner had Zhao Yuan uttered their names than they spotted him. After a moment of whispering amongst themselves, they strode over. "Well, well, if it isn't Zhao Yuan," one of them sneered. "What, you here to pose as Lin Xue's savior? Pfft! Why don't you take a piss and look at your own reflection? A pathetic loser like you, worthy of Lin Xue? A toad lusting after a swan—you really don't know your place!"