MMLZ CH11
“I don’t know what the basic requirements are to reach the Earth Master level. I’ll have to find an opportunity to ask Master. But what should I do with the remaining merit points?”
He had 150 merit points left. Since his cultivation method and physical techniques couldn’t be upgraded, he could only consider improving his talisman skills. However, Xu Yan felt that using merit points to upgrade ordinary talismans was too extravagant—almost wasteful.
After a moment of thought, Xu Yan tapped the [Purple Thunder Talisman], which was still at the Not Yet Learned stage. Instantly, it advanced to the Beginner level, costing him 50 merit points.
“So that’s it. No wonder I always felt I couldn’t draw the Purple Thunder Talisman—it turns out my foundation was lacking. Then…”
He tapped it again. This time, the remaining 100 merit points vanished. He was broke again. Fortunately, his ability to study and create the Purple Thunder Talisman advanced to the next level. If he had the materials, he was confident he could now craft the talisman!
“The cost doubled. I wonder if upgrading my cultivation method or physical techniques will also double in cost in the future…”
Just thinking about how each upgrade might cost double was enough to make Xu Yan feel ill. It seemed manageable at the beginner stage, but once he reached mid or late stages, leveling up even once would be extremely difficult.
“Forget it. Sleep first. I’ll deal with the future when it comes.”
Shaking his head to clear his mind, Xu Yan collapsed into bed. He was already exhausted and needed rest.
Over the next two days, Uncle Jiu was recovering from his injuries—he had been slammed by the hopping zombie a few times and needed a few days of rest. Xu Yan and Qiu Sheng were tasked with gathering news.
During that time, there were no more zombie incidents in or around the town, so the three of them returned to Renjia Town.
“Master, could you give me some materials for the Purple Thunder Talisman?”
Back at the mortuary, Qiu Sheng went off to help at his aunt’s shop, Wen Cai returned to his odd jobs, and Xu Yan was eager to test whether he could now craft the Purple Thunder Talisman.
Uncle Jiu was a bit surprised. It hadn’t been long, and his disciple was already asking to craft such an advanced talisman? But then he thought of Xu Yan’s natural talent in talisman arts and nodded.
“I’ll have Wen Cai deliver them to you shortly. I have some matters to attend to in town.”
Once he had the materials, Xu Yan chased the curious Wen Cai out. He didn’t want to be disturbed—not because he feared Wen Cai would try to copy him, but because both Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng were unpredictable. The more you wanted them to behave, the more likely they were to do the opposite.
He practiced with regular paper first, and once he felt he was in the right state, he began using the real materials. The paper and ink for the Purple Thunder Talisman were expensive. A single mistake meant throwing money down the drain. That Uncle Jiu still gave him the materials freely moved Xu Yan deeply.
“Sss~~”
“Too much force.”
The talisman instantly burned up with no chance to salvage it. Xu Yan slapped his forehead and rested a couple of minutes before trying again.
Failure.
Still failing.
Even with his second-level ability in crafting the Purple Thunder Talisman, his success rate was painfully low. Watching the materials get wasted made Xu Yan’s heart ache.
He had only two sets of materials left. Gritting his teeth, he pressed on.
“Hahaha… Heaven rewards the diligent—I finally did it!”
After three failures, the last two attempts were successful!
Looking at the two completed Purple Thunder Talismans in front of him, Xu Yan couldn’t help but laugh with joy. Though he wasted several materials, getting two out of it was still a net gain.
Master’s back?
Hearing voices from the courtyard, Xu Yan stored the talismans away. He planned to keep one and give the other to Uncle Jiu.
“Hop! Hop!!”
The sun had already set. Xu Yan had been in his room all afternoon. In the courtyard, Uncle Jiu stood with his hands behind his back, instructing Wen Cai to prepare extra food. At the gate, a Taoist wearing robes and glasses was shaking a Soul-Attracting Bell, leading a group of about ten zombies into the yard.
That’s Uncle Simu?!
Among Uncle Jiu’s fellow disciples, Simu was the one he interacted with the most.
“Junior Brother, this is my new disciple Xu Yan. He’s very talented—he’ll become an Earth Master in no time.”
Lin Zhengying (Uncle Jiu) introduced Xu Yan proudly to Simu while having him hand the “cargo” (zombies) to Wen Cai.
To Xu Yan, though, this definitely sounded like bragging…
“Earth Master?!”
Simu’s eyes lit up and he immediately stepped forward, hand raised to pinch Xu Yan’s cheek. Xu Yan instinctively stepped back—he knew this guy had a strange habit of pinching younger men’s faces.
And while pinching, he’d laugh and say, “I love you to death!”
As Simu moved forward, Xu Yan kept retreating while greeting him, “Nephew greets Uncle.”
To his surprise, Simu scowled and shouted:
“It must’ve been those two little bastards Qiu Sheng and Wen Cai who tattled! What a pity!”
It seemed like he was seriously disappointed that he couldn’t pinch Xu Yan’s face. Xu Yan twitched at the corner of his mouth and stepped back even farther. Being pinched by a grown man? That’s just creepy.
Uncle Jiu chuckled and said,
“Junior Brother, Xu Yan’s a scholar from abroad. He doesn’t appreciate your antics. Come on inside and rest.”
“…”
Simu was speechless.
It was bad enough that the boy was talented. Did he also have to be an educated man? Damn it—why couldn’t Simu find a disciple like this?
Xu Yan was now sure his master was showing off!
Uncle Jiu continued gloating—talking about Xu Yan’s rare Thunder Spirit Body, his cultivation of the Thunder Arts, his practice of the Lightning Fist Technique—all of which made Simu’s eyelids twitch with envy.
Xu Yan could only laugh wryly and excuse himself to help Wen Cai in the kitchen.
“Brother Xu, you’re too smart! You dodged a bullet with Uncle Simu!”
Wen Cai gave Xu Yan a thumbs up as he entered the kitchen. He and Qiu Sheng had been victims of Simu’s cheek-pinching many times—they always wanted to avoid it but didn’t dare.
Xu Yan chuckled and asked, “Is Uncle Simu here often?”
Wen Cai thought for a bit and replied, “About once every few months. Whenever he delivers corpses, he passes by and stays here for a bit.”
“Here, Nephew, this is from your dear Uncle—eat up!”
“Have more of this, too. You’re at the age when you need to grow strong!”
If some mothers-in-law liked their sons-in-law more and more the longer they looked at them, Simu seemed to be developing that same affection—for Xu Yan.
He kept piling food into Xu Yan’s bowl, making him very uncomfortable.
What the hell is this Uncle up to?!
Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng exchanged glances. They looked like they were about to cry.
Same disciples under the same master—why is the difference in treatment so big?!
“That’s enough, Junior Brother. Don’t scare him.”
Seeing that Simu was starting to go overboard, Uncle Jiu stepped in and explained:
“Your Uncle plans to take you back with him for a while. He wants you to stay at your senior brother’s(Jiale’s) house to train and exchange techniques.”