Longevity Begins With Zongmen Handyman

Chapter 53: Crafting Second Tier Talismans

After more than ten years, Gu Hong appeared even more stunning and captivating, with a beauty mark on her forehead that added to her charm.

"Gu Fellow Daoist, it's been many years. I hope you've been well!" Li An greeted Gu Hong with a warm smile. "Please, let's have a chat in the inner hall."

However, he couldn't help but wonder why Gu Hong had come. There must be something important.

Once they entered the inner hall, Li An poured a cup of tea for Gu Hong, and they exchanged a few pleasantries.

"Li Fellow Daoist, I've come this time to ask for your help," Gu Hong finally spoke up.

"Please, go ahead," Li An replied.

"I would like to ask you to help me refine Soul Suppressing Talismans and Thunder Shock Talismans."

Upon hearing this, Li An was surprised and frowned. "Gu Fellow Daoist, you overestimate me. Soul Suppressing Talismans and Thunder Shock Talismans are precious items among second tier talismans. My current level of talisman crafting can only produce first tier high-grade talismans."

"I know. But besides you, Li Fellow Daoist, I have no one else I can trust," Gu Hong calmly said. "Li Fellow Daoist, can you please do your best to help me? Rest assured, I will provide all the materials needed, and you just need to focus on crafting the talismans."

"Also, Gu Hong is not in a hurry. How about a year? Within a year, if you can draw two Soul Suppressing Talismans and Thunder Shock Talismans, it will be enough."

"Furthermore, as long as Li Fellow Daoist is willing to help, this incomplete second tier talisman inheritance will belong to you."

She took out a yellowed talisman book.

In her opinion, Li An did not have the inheritance of second tier talismans, so naturally, he needed to learn the drawing methods of these two talismans from this talisman book.

Li An pondered for a moment.

Soul Suppressing Talismans and Thunder Shock Talismans were both quite special. Soul Suppressing Talismans were used to guard one's own soul and prevent it from being eroded by demonic forces.

Thunder Shock Talismans, on the other hand, were used to attack one's divine sense.

However, even though Gu Hong had reached the Foundation Building stage and condensed her divine sense, at this stage, divine sense was still limited to exploration and perception, and it was almost useless for combat.

Could it be that she wasn't using them against humans?

Could it be... spirit beasts?

"Could it be Elemental Soul Beasts?" a thought flashed through his mind. Elemental Soul Beasts were second tier demonic beasts, and their crystal cores could be used to refine "Little Return Pills," which could extend the lifespan of Foundation Building stage cultivators by several decades or even a hundred years.

The most powerful aspect of Elemental Soul Beasts was their soul power. Ordinary Foundation Building stage cultivators couldn't withstand their soul attacks, and usually only Core Formation experts could kill them.

But the Little Return Pills refined from the crystal cores of Elemental Soul Beasts had little effect on Core Formation experts, so Core Formation experts rarely made a move.

Li An had also searched for various methods to extend his lifespan in his previous life, so he was quite familiar with these things.

However, Gu Hong had just recently broken through to the Foundation Building stage and didn't lack lifespan...

"Not hiding anything from you, Li Fellow Daoist, my master was injured in a battle half a year ago, causing damage to his life essence and soul. His lifespan is running out, so we must find the crystal cores of Elemental Soul Beasts to refine Little Return Pills."

Gu Hong then directly said, "This matter is highly confidential. If I were to purchase and refine these two talismans elsewhere, it would be easily known by our enemies about my master's current situation. Therefore, I can only find someone I trust."

Li An couldn't help but nod, but at the same time, he couldn't help but smile helplessly. Gu Hong had already told him the confidential information, so did he still have any room to refuse?

Moreover, the main point was that he had long wanted to try making second tier talismans. Now that Gu Hong had come and could provide the necessary materials, it was a good opportunity.

As for the incomplete second tier talisman inheritance, although he didn't need it, he could sell it in the future for a considerable price.

"I can give it a try, but besides preparing the talisman brushes and talisman paper, there are a few conditions that need to be met," Li An pondered.

"First, Gu Fellow Daoist, you need to help me. Crafting second tier talismans requires the use of Foundation Building stage spiritual energy, and my current spiritual energy quality is not enough. So, Gu Fellow Daoist, you need to listen to my arrangements and cooperate with me."

"Second, one year is too short... It will take at least two years!"

Gu Hong furrowed her brows slightly. "Cooperating with Li Fellow Daoist is simple, but two years..."

After thinking for a long time, she finally said, "Fine, let's make it two years!"

...

For the next period of time, Li An handed over all the matters in the shop to his apprentice to take care of, while he focused on assisting Gu Hong.

Gu Hong had prepared a second tier talisman brush and dozens of second tier talisman papers, but Li An didn't start drawing the talismans directly.

"Gu Fellow Daoist, if I am to borrow your spiritual energy, we need to be able to communicate with each other without any defenses. Can you do that?" Li An asked.

In the room, sitting opposite each other on the bed, Li An and Gu Hong.

Gu Hong nodded and reached out her delicate hands, pressing them against Li An's palm.

Li An remained calm and didn't immediately merge their spiritual energies. Instead, he circulated his spiritual energy in his palm, like a gentle stream flowing.

Gu Hong felt a tingling sensation in her palm and subconsciously wanted to laugh, but she held it back, her expression quite adorable.

The initial nervousness she had felt dissipated under Li An's gentle touch, and she relaxed.

But suddenly, she felt Li An's spiritual power flowing into her body like a stream, instantly.

Her body stiffened slightly.

"Relax."

Li An spoke in a deep voice.

...

Before drawing the talisman, Li An must familiarize himself with Gu Hong's spiritual power, understand the quality of her spiritual power, and be able to call upon it when drawing the talisman.

Moreover, it also takes time for him to learn the two types of talismans in the incomplete second-order talisman.

This process directly consumed half a year!

On a clear morning half a year later.

After Li An and Gu Hong had breakfast, Li An finally spread out the talisman paper while feeling refreshed.

The black second-order talisman pen was held in his hand, cold and heavy. The black talisman paper made from second-order materials had a great texture, as if it naturally carried a mysterious pattern.

Second-order talisman paper is very precious, and each type of talisman requires special production. For example, if you were to buy talisman paper for a Soul Suppressing Talisman or a Thunder Shock Talisman, it would cost twenty spirit stones per sheet.

It can be said to be expensive!

Li An stood in front of the table, the tip of the talisman pen soaked with spiritual ink, falling onto the talisman paper.

Gu Hong stood behind him, her hands pressed against his back, her Foundation Building stage spiritual power converging into Li An's hands like a trickle.

After half a year of getting used to each other, their cooperation was already excellent.

Li An drove the spiritual ink and made talismans--

The talisman pen outlined strange and profound talismans, seemingly stirring people's hearts and souls.

Snap!

The talisman paper suddenly made a light sound and was directly damaged.

The first one, a failure, took half an hour!

The two of them were mentally prepared for this and immediately proceeded to the second one...

On this day, they tried a total of five talisman papers, all of which failed.

In fact, with Li An's mental power, even if it was a second-order talisman, he could try to make ten in a day. However, he didn't want to expose himself, so he chose to take it slowly.

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.

The sixty talisman papers prepared by Gu Hong had all been used up, and they still had nothing to show for it.

Fortunately, during this half year, Li An had been purchasing various materials from Xuan Yang Sect under the guise of customer orders, gathering a lot of materials to make Thunder Shock Talismans and Soul Suppressing Talismans.

These two types of talisman papers were expensive to buy, but if made by oneself, the cost would be much lower, about six or seven spirit stones per sheet.

Li An also taught Gu Hong how to make talisman paper, which took another two months to make a hundred sheets of talisman paper.

The two of them continued to cooperate in drawing talismans.

On this day, Li An ruined the sixty-seventh talisman paper.

"Let's switch, you go first."

He suddenly spoke.

Behind him, Gu Hong was puzzled, "Huh?"

"I can't achieve perfection and ease when using your spiritual power. You take the pen, and I'll control it."

He asked Gu Hong to come forward and hold the pen, then stood side by side with her, lightly holding her jade hand with his right hand, while his left hand directly embraced her slender waist.

Gu Hong's face blushed slightly.

Although the two of them had already had a lot of physical contact in their daily lives, at this moment, in this quiet study, a hint of romance appeared in her heart.

"Calm your mind--"

Li An's words were full of power.

Gu Hong took a deep breath, then followed Li An's instructions to operate the talisman pen.

Sure enough, although her technique was initially awkward, under Li An's guidance, she became better and even surpassed Li An's previous drawings.

This was mainly because she became more sensitive to her own spiritual power.

And, with Li An personally guiding her by her side.

Finally, after a few more days, on the ninety-third talisman paper, the strokes were finally completed perfectly, and a second-order Soul Suppressing Talisman was completed!

"We did it, we did it!"

Gu Hong was drenched in sweat, having worked hard, and finally made the first talisman.

She couldn't help but grab Li An's hands, her face filled with surprise and excitement!

...

(End of this chapter)