Chapter 42: 042, [Detailed Attention]
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Looking at this ordinary-looking paintbrush in front of him, Lu Xun never thought it would have levels, let alone that it’s already at level 20.
It is mentioned in the basic information that this brush has been used countless times to draw talismans, over time, it has cultivated a “spirit”.
A brush spirit is quite rare, but if you mention a sword spirit, it is more understandable.
Once a spirit is formed, it is equivalent to having a spiritual nature. Like a low-level lifeform, it makes perfect sense to have levels.
However, usually only purple gear has a chance of generating a “spirit”. This is just the most ordinary paintbrush, probably didn’t cost much when it was bought.
Strictly speaking, this brush was given as a gift when Master bought the inkstone from a small shop…
For a moment, Lu Xun becomes even more curious about his master.
He reached out his right hand and tried to pick up this brush.
The brush was light, not as hard to hold as he had imagined. It felt just like an ordinary cheap brush.
But the moment it touched the ink, Lu Xun’s right hand that was holding the brush began to tremble uncontrollably!
The moment it touched the ink, it became heavier!
“What a joke, can’t my Kilin Arm even handle a brush?” Lu Xun began to mobilize the scanty spirit force within his body.
He is no longer worried about Ji Li’s trial result. This silly girl has Innate Divine Strength; she is very strong and should perform well in this trial.
When the spiritual energy started to circulate, Lu Xun felt a little better.
Although it still felt a bit strenuous, he had to act nonchalant!
He now has the burden of being an idol, aiming to become the only male idol in the Demon Sect and even the Heavenly Dust Continent. He aims to promote fan culture in the world of cultivation, show off in front of the others, let them become his fans, and then harvest “reputation value”.
Getting a share of the profits is simply the best.
The disciples watching behind him saw Lu Xun’s right hand trembling, but his face was calm – he didn’t change his expression at all, and they couldn’t help but admire him.
They only felt that the perseverance of the young elder was undoubtedly revealed!
Even Shen Yan who sat on the Evergreen Peak, drinking tea and eating melons, along with the Peak Masters, smiled, thinking that the temperament of the young elder was indeed commendable.
After all, he is a tough guy who dared to jump to Lead Peak.
In life, it’s okay to be naive, but one must learn how to pretend to be strong.
Of course, one must endure, if one fails after only a while, it would be doubly embarrassing.
Thankfully, picking up the brush and dipping it in ink was just the first step the key is to use this brush to write and draw on the Talisman Paper! At the moment when the tip of the brush was about to touch the Talisman Paper, time seemed to freeze.
From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed like the young elder froze. He stood still, even the hand holding the brush didn’t move, as if he were lost in thought, or like he was spacing out.
But that was not the case, he wanted to splash ink freely, and let the pen move freely, but the brush… it just wouldn’t move!
The real trial began the moment when the tip of the brush was about to touch the Talisman Paper!
Elder Qiu Shui stood by, explaining to the other Outer Sect Disciples, “This is the beginning of the trial. This brush has its spiritual nature. Your cultivation base is still shallow. It will be difficult for you to control it. You’ll know soon.”
Lu Xun mustered all his strength and tried his best to infuse spiritual energy into the brush, only to find it futile.
The more force he used, the more fiercely the brush resisted. And the more it resisted, the more excited Lu Xun became!
“I don’t believe I cant handle you!”
Since this is a trial and also a task, there’s no reason he can’t swing this brush.
Since it’s not moving, then there must be something wrong with the way I’m unlocking it.
As a former task addict, Lu Xun had some insights. If one way doesn’t work, there’s no need to stubbornly try it over and over. It’s better to change strategies.
If the overland route doesn’t work, then try the water route.
Overcome the hard with softness! Flexibility is needed!
Lu Xun began to reduce his force, trying to treat the brush gently. In professional terms, it’s what is known in legends as skillful strength.
Then… the brush moved!
Although slight, the brush indeed wobbled a bit, leaving a faint trace on the talisman paper!
It seems it dislikes the rough and prefers the gentle.
Lu Xun immediately understood that this trial was about testing the Demon Sect disciples’ control over their inner spiritual power!
It aims to teach disciples how to cleverly use their spiritual power and understand where it’s best to use it.
There is an apt term for this — intricacy!
Lu Xun began to feel the struggle of the brush on the talisman paper. It could hardly draw a straight line, instead forming crooked squiggles, which startled Elder Qiu Shui and the other long-time followers of the Evergreen Peak.
Our young elder… caught on quickly!
They didn’t know that Lu Xun had done so many tasks and drawn on his experiences.
He was a veteran in this way, understanding that if he took the wrong path, he should change it immediately, not stubbornly continue in the wrong direction.
Unexpectedly, even though he hadn’t undergone any specialized training, his delicate control over the spiritual power within his body was actually quite handy!
“It’s odd. I didn’t expend much effort on this. Could it be…”
— Lu Xun thought of the loving punishment from his second elder sister in the night!
Perhaps the sword intent left on him by his second elder sister carries a similar extraordinary effect!
Now was not the time to think about that. Lu Xun held the brush in his hand and painstakingly drew on the talisman paper. He felt great pain, not only physically, but mainly mentally.
The intricate operation consumed a great amount of mental energy!
Time passed by, one minute and one second at a time. Finally, five minutes
were up.
“Ding! The first part of the trial task has been completed. The progress is now at 20%, and you have obtained 1000 experience points!”
A weary Lu Xun closed his eyes but reopened them after a mere three seconds. Without hesitation, he continued writing!
He was rather greedy. If he was taking something, he would take it all, not leaving anything behind!
As for the torment on the physical and mental level… How about experiencing thirty-six times in a single night?
What really troubled him now was that his paltry spiritual power was almost depleted.
Intricacy is like being on a tight budget, where every penny is spent wisely and frugally, with every cent going towards something necessary. But if the money is too meager, then no matter how frugal you are, it won’t matter.
On the Evergreen Peak, the only female peak master of the Demon Sect, a beautiful woman named Luo Wanqiu said, “Young Elder has done well, but his cultivation base is still weak and his spiritual power is almost depleted. He should have reached his limit, if he…”
She hadn’t even finished speaking when she felt that something was wrong!
Gongshu Pan, who looked rather gloomy, was actually impulsive. He laughed heartily, “A breakthrough during the trial, the young elder is indeed a godly figure!”
They never expected that someone could break through while practicing intricacy!
While practicing intricacy and breaking through the bottleneck… Could he really multitask like this!?
Seeing that his inner spiritual power was running out, Lu Xun decisively opted for an upgrade!
He didn’t hastily spend all his over ten thousand experience points, but rather just upgraded one level.
His control over intricacy still left much to be desired. If his spiritual power increased dramatically, it might collapse.
One step at a time!
After consuming a thousand experience points, Lu Xun reached the third level of the Qi Consumption Technique. Spiritual energy from his surroundings surged into his body, transforming into spiritual power he could manipulate.
Lu Xun, who was just recently impoverished, suddenly seemed to have become extravagantly rich!
With a calm mind and concentrated spirit, he tried his best to control the brush in his hand.
The next moment, under everyone’s astonished gaze, he drew a line with the brush in his hand on the talisman paper…
— A perfectly straight line!
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