Chapter 26 This Can Also Be a Chance Encounter

Lu Wang was slightly startled by Lei Buxiao's attitude and tone.

Although there was much competition among the Five Great Immortal Sects, they all cared about their faces and would give each other respect to avoid making everyone uncomfortable.

Someone like Lei Buxiao, who started off with such a poor attitude, was almost unheard of in exchanges between Immortal Sects.

However, Lu Wang was not serving his first day as the president of the Talisman Master Association, and Wuyue City was their Tongtian Sect's territory after all. Seeing Lei Buxiao being so discourteous, Lu Wang had no intention of showing him any goodwill either.

"I thought Dean Lei had come to catch up with old times, but to think, Dean Lei is here to accuse our Tongtian Sect's Talisman Association!"

Lu Wang scoffed, his words laden with undisguised sarcasm.

Lei Buxiao, with his straightforward personality, angrily retorted, "Don't try to pressure me with your Tongtian Sect. The issue today is clearly with your Talisman Master Association. Even if your Tongtian Sect Leader came here personally, and he decided to be fair, he wouldn't shield you!"

"Our sect leader has always been impartial, naturally he would not shield a traitor. But his elderliness definitely wouldn't tolerate someone else's disciple causing trouble under our roof!"

"This issue is clearly the result of your Talisman Master Association's lax discipline, at fault from the beginning, yet you dare to wrongfully accuse me, Lei Buxiao! Your Tongtian Sect really is as rumored, skilled in showing partiality and sheltering the short-sighted..."

"Stop! Stop! Stop! Listen to me first!"

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Bai Wendao quickly stepped forward to mediate.

"Dean Lei, please take a break. Old Lu, you take a seat too. Let me explain this matter."

Bai Wendao picked up the Muscle Relaxation Talisman on the table and started from Liu Qi's plight, then spoke of Lu Benwei's judgment, and finally mentioned the current state of the Tianheng Sword Cultivation Academy.

"Old Lu, your association is full of talented people, and this talisman is so strange it has really brought hardship to our academy."

Lu Wang was momentarily doubtful, Bai Wendao was an old acquaintance of many years; he might not trust Lei Buxiao, but Bai Wendao he had to believe.

"Let me take a look at this Muscle Relaxation Talisman, to see what mystery it holds."

Lu Wang took the Muscle Relaxation Talisman and scrutinized it carefully.

Lu Wang was a third-stage Talisman Master, equivalent to the strongest talisman-making expert in Wuyue City, more experienced and skilled than the second-stage Talisman Master Lu Benwei.

The people from the Sword Cultivation Academy remained silent, waiting for Lu Wang to discern the results.

After a moment, Lu Wang inhaled sharply.

"Strange. This talisman is very strange."

The three people from the Sword Cultivation Academy sat up straight, listening intently to Lu Wang's words.

"The idea behind the drawing of this talisman is unlike any I have ever seen," Lu Wang sighed.

"You've never seen it? Are you really never seen it, or are you trying to cover up..."

Just as Lei Buxiao was about to erupt, he was stopped by Bai Wendao pressing down.

Lu Benwei explained, "The Talisman Master Association archives any unknown new talismans. If the Muscle Relaxation Talisman has no record in the association's archives, then it's possible that President Lu has truly never seen it. Dean, the association's records cannot be falsified."

Bai Wendao also nodded.

Lei Buxiao's anger had subsided, but he was still somewhat unconvinced, "Well, if that's the case, then who drew this talisman? It couldn't possibly have been drawn out of thin air by some mysterious talisman master, right?"

Lu Wang handed the Muscle Relaxation Talisman back to Bai Wendao.

With his hands on his chin, he pondered aloud, "The technique used in drawing this talisman doesn't resemble the orthodox teachings of talisman academies, it's more like someone self-taught. But the effect this talisman achieves is indeed eye-opening. The person who drew this talisman might not necessarily be a genius, but he is definitely a maverick, an eccentric, a prodigy! To use the side effect of a treatment to cause muscle cramps, is this something a person could think of?"

Lu Wang paced back and forth, "Do you know what the most terrifying aspect of this talisman is? It used healing as a substitute for low-level control techniques! If this talisman were to spread, many talisman masters specializing in control talismans might lose their jobs because of this! The curriculum of talisman academies might also need to be accordingly revised!"

The more Lu Wang thought about it, the more alarmed he became. This Muscle Relaxation Talisman seemed ordinary, but it seemingly provided a completely new idea for both control and healing fields of study. This idea even had the power to subvert the existing talisman industry.

The matter was significant, and it must be handled with caution! It certainly couldn't be carelessly disclosed!

Lei Buxiao had no interest in the talisman industry, "President Lu, is the talisman master who drew this talisman from your association or not?"

"No," Lu Wang asserted confidently, "Our association doesn't have such talent."

"Forget it, forget it, Professor Bai, let's just go directly to Elder Sun who manages the Task Hall! Send a communication talisman to Elder Sun, have him help us check who is taking on the task of the Muscle Relaxation Talisman, tell him it's of significant importance and can't be delayed!"

Lei Buxiao and his associates rose to take their leave, but Lu Wang did not see them off.

Lu Wang was very eager to meet the Talisman Master who drew the Muscle Relaxation Talisman, but he did not want to accompany Lei Buxiao and the others. It wasn't too late to inquire about the matter with Old Bai afterwards.

Lu Wang returned to the president's office, remembering that he still had a document he hadn't looked at.

However, having just seen the Muscle Relaxation Talisman, the new talisman created by this young man was unlikely to catch his eye again.

Lu Wang opened the document bag, took out the enclosed certificate, applicant information, and sample of the self-created talisman.

The previously indifferent man's eyes widened in a flash!

The document bag contained none other than the Muscle Relaxation Talisman!

Lu Wang quickly picked up the applicant's information and looked carefully.

Jiang Cheng!

Male, eighteen years old. A student at Wuyue Advanced Middle School. Talisman Master level: None. Has participated in talisman drawing competitions, won second prize…

Remembering Lei Buxiao and others who had come with a questioning demeanor, Lu Wang immediately picked up a Reusable Type communication talisman.

This matter, he must explain to Lei Buxiao.

Waiting for Lei Buxiao to see the Muscle Relaxation Talisman included in the Talisman Master Association before explaining might make things unclear.

All in all, this person Jiang Cheng, he Lu Wang truly does not know well!

…

Not long ago, Jiang Cheng had left the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association.

He had slightly overestimated the efficiency of the Talisman Master Association.

Filling in the new talisman certification information and providing samples of the new talisman was relatively straightforward; the key was that after submitting the application documents, they reportedly required processing.

It could take as fast as two to three days, or as slow as one week to a month.

With such efficiency, by the time he found other talisman masters to cooperative in drawing talismans, the opportunity would likely have passed.

One really shouldn't place too much hope in external forces after all.

"Liu Qing, you're here to work, go buy some talisman paper, cinnabar ink, and supplements for me, tonight I need to continue drawing talismans."

Liu Qing nodded, not wasting any words, and went straight to run the errand for Jiang Cheng. After all, this was her job and needed to be taken seriously.

Jiang Cheng watched Liu Qing's retreating figure, with many thoughts in his mind.

At least in terms of getting things done, Liu Qing was much more reliable than Cao Wang. Liu Qing never asked an extra question, nor did he need to entice her with promises, even to take care of her emotions.

After parting with Liu Qing, Jiang Cheng went home alone.

In two days, the academic results would come out; he and Cao Wang would need to return to school to collect their scores and high school diplomas. This would be their last chance to return to high school.

Furthermore, after this, Cao Wang's parents would surely find out his performance; tutoring and repeating a year would be scheduled. At that time, Cao Wang's rented apartment would no longer be a convenient place for Jiang Cheng to use as a talisman drawing base.

He needed to find a new location.

But all of this was for later; with high profits from the Muscle Relaxation Talisman, renting a house wouldn't be too much of a burden.

Due to the lack of drawing materials, it made no sense for Jiang Cheng to go home early, since he couldn't draw talismans anyway.

He didn't walk very fast.

But the next second, Jiang Cheng regretted it.

"Brother Jiang…"

Lin Yao and Zhao Qin were arm in arm, with small bags slung across their shoulders, seemingly out shopping.

Jiang Cheng's face was somber, and he quickened his pace without giving Lin Yao another glance, "Miss, I think you've mistaken me for someone else."