Why are the Talismans I Drawn Banned Again?!

Li Qingge thought for a moment, then said, “Why not let Jiang Cheng choose for himself.”

…

Lotus University had begun its winter break yesterday, but Jiang Cheng had no intention of returning to Wuyue.

The Miaodan Workshop was currently in the midst of continuous research and development of elixirs, frequently requiring his input, which made it impossible for him to leave.

“Hello? Jiang Cheng.”

His Counselor, Cui Zhifei, called him.

“I’m here, what’s up, teacher?”

“Oh, you’re still in the dorm? Can you come to my office? Someone wants to talk to you in person.”

“Sure, I’ll be right there.”

Jiang Cheng promptly agreed.

Although he wasn’t at the dorm, his home was not far from the college, so a last-minute trip to the school was no hassle.

Arriving at Cui Zhifei’s office, Jiang Cheng met the person who was looking for him.

“Hello, my name is Liang Hong. I guess you can say I’m one of Teacher Cui’s first batch of students at Lotus University.”

“Nice to meet you, senior.”

Jiang Cheng was very polite.

However, looking at Liang Hong’s appearance, Jiang felt a sense of familiarity.

“Your surname is Liang; you wouldn’t happen to be a royal, would you?”

Cui Zhifei proudly said, “I knew you’d figure it out. Liang Hong is the third son of the current Emperor of Liang, the pride of our Lotus University, a strong contender for the future throne.”

“Not at all, not at all, teacher, you flatter me.”

Liang Hong was well aware of his own standing.

Without the title of Prince, he wouldn’t even be able to attend Lotus University, let alone any college.

Of course, he wasn’t the worst among his brothers either.

The worst was his younger brother, Prince Liang Chu.

He didn’t even finish high school, as he was expelled for mistreating a fellow student.

“Alright then, you two have a chat, senior and junior; I’ll go take care of some matters,” Cui Zhifei said.

With the current emperor bedridden, potentially passing away any moment, everyone in the Capital knew that the struggle among the princes for the throne had reached a fever pitch.

Not to mention, the recent incidents involving Prince Liang Chu and the Crown Prince certainly weren’t coincidences; it was likely the work of other princes sabotaging them.

Cui Zhifei himself was a disciple of the Immortal Sect, albeit low ranked with little power, and thus couldn’t extend a helping hand to mundane affairs. But since Liang Hong was his student, and given that he had come to him specifically to meet with Jiang Cheng, he, as a teacher, had to help whenever he could.

Moreover, should Liang Hong ascend to the throne, his own status as a teacher would surely rise significantly.

After Cui Zhifei left, only Jiang Cheng and Prince Liang Hong remained in the office.

“Jiang, I’ve heard that your talent in drawing talismans is nothing short of miraculous. To be honest, that’s why I’m here; I was hoping you could draw a talisman for me,” Liang Hong said with a sincere expression, not as if he were joking.

Jiang Cheng was taken aback, not quite understanding the current situation.

It was quite strange.

The Prince was seeking him out to draw a talisman, as though he were involved in some inheritance power system, completing tasks for the system.

“Teacher Cui is also a Talisman Master, if you want a talisman drawn, why not ask him?”

“I was Teacher Cui’s student back in the day.”

“Yes, I know, and then?”

Liang Hong repeated, “I was Teacher Cui’s student.”

“Er…”

Jiang Cheng seemed to understand.

“With numerous talented Talisman Masters in Liang Kingdom, why must you come to me?” Jiang Cheng changed his question.

Liang Hong exhaled deeply and said, “This matter wasn’t supposed to be shared with you, but if you must know, then I’ll make an exception and reveal to you a hint of fate. Do you know why my eldest brother was imprisoned and why my youngest brother died?”

“Because of the Hehuan Sect,” Jiang Cheng replied confidently.

After all, he had firsthand knowledge as someone who had experienced it.

“No, it’s because they were abandoned by the Void Venerable.”

“What?”

Jiang Cheng really wanted to ask, “What is this ‘Void Venerable’?”

Liang Hong’s face showed admiration, “People only know of the Five Great Immortal Sects, unaware of the Void Venerable, which is truly lamentable for mankind. The Void Venerable is the real master behind the Five Great Immortal Sects. Countless empires rise and fall at the whim of the Void Venerable. As for the righteous and demonic paths, they are but two sides of the scale on the Void Venerable’s table. The Void Venerable is the supreme being beyond our world! He can manipulate the Heavenly Dao and Heavenly Tribulation at will.”

The more Jiang Cheng heard, the more alarmed he became.

And the more he listened, the more he felt that Liang Hong was describing him.

This “Void Venerable’s” job sounded exactly like that of a strategist.

He wondered what the salary and benefits were like.

“`

Will there be social insurance and housing fund?

Is there overtime pay?

“What’s the true name of the Void Venerable? How many characters is it?” Jiang Cheng tentatively asked.

“The Venerable doesn’t have a true name. He is known as the Void Venerable,” Prince Liang Hong said.

Jiang Cheng was quite certain there were no “Immortal Gods” called something Venerable; the concept could aptly describe their planners, yes, but to put it directly into the game would lead to catastrophic imbalances, wouldn’t it?

Leaving that aside, as long as it was in the hands of him, the data strategist, any so-called Venerable would need to be appropriately weakened.

Prince Liang Hong believed unquestioningly in the existence of the Void Venerable because he had witnessed the Venerable command cultivators of the Immortal Sect with the ease of moving chess pieces.

The Nascent Soul Core Formation cultivators, who were arrogant elsewhere, didn’t dare to so much as breathe heavily in the presence of the Void Venerable.

Wasn’t this sufficient to prove the strength of the Void Venerable?

“In short, the Venerable has showed me a clear path. He told me that I lack one of the Five Elements and cannot become emperor. To ascend to the throne, I must face north and sit south and find someone who can complete the missing elements in my destiny. I’ve searched for days and found that in the entire Lotus University, only you are the most suitable! The Venerable truly leaves no stone unturned!”

We’re cultivating immortality, and yet we’re still indulging in feudal superstitions?

Jiang Cheng felt powerless to retort.

“What kind of talisman do you want me to help you draw?” Jiang Cheng prepared to firmly refuse Prince Liang Hong’s request.

Upon hearing Jiang Cheng’s implied agreement, Prince Liang Hong was overjoyed.

He hadn’t originally intended to fight for succession because his abilities were only slightly better than those of Prince Liang Chu, not to mention his older brothers Prince Qi and Prince Han; he couldn’t even compare with his youngest brother.

But now things were different. With the most eligible Prince Qi disqualified and guided by the Void Venerable, the seat of Emperor of Liang was worth a try for him!

Prince Liang Hong expressed his request, “The Venerable said that my father’s illness is due to evil spirit possession. If you help me draw an Evil-Expelling Talisman and I cure my father and become the Crown Prince, I’ll definitely appoint you as the State Preceptor!”

“It’s too difficult. I’m just a second-prize Talisman Master; I can’t draw very high-level talismans,” Jiang Cheng decisively refused.

Prince Liang Hong was shocked.

If Jiang Cheng didn’t help him and agree to be his advisor, he would always lack the “Water” and “Earth” elements in his destiny.

According to the Void Venerable, with an incomplete set of Five Elements, not only would ascending the throne be impossible, but he would also be plagued with endless disasters and wouldn’t even live for long.

Prince Liang Hong remembered his past—drifting along passively, incompetent, cowardly, timid, and lazy—and suddenly felt an infinite surge of courage.

There’s a saying, “A man stands on his own at thirty.”

This year, he was already twenty-nine.

A person’s life should not always be spent in cowardice; at least once, one must stand up boldly!

“Jiang Cheng, will you help me or not!” Prince Liang Hong roared.

Jiang Cheng had always been one to respond to kindness but resist force.

If Prince Liang Hong thought of forcing him into compliance, Jiang Cheng naturally had his own countermeasures…

Prince Liang Hong’s face darkened, and he spoke in a threatening tone, grinding his teeth, “Jiang Cheng, we’re brothers from the same sect; don’t force me to kneel and beg you!”

Jiang Cheng: “…”

“Don’t push me!”

“I’ll really kneel!”

Thud.

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath; he had never seen such a spectacle in his life.

“The talismans I draw are usually very expensive.”

“I’ll mortgage the Prince Mansion to you!”

Prince Liang Hong was ecstatic inside; with Jiang Cheng stepping in, wasn’t his ascension to the throne almost guaranteed?

…

Having just left Lotus University, Jiang Cheng wanted to go home and think over the matter of the talisman.

But his troubles were not over yet.

The communication talisman buzzed; this time the caller was Li Youyuan from the admissions office.

“Hello, Jiang Cheng, do you have a moment?”

“Director Li?”

“There’s a distinguished guest in my family who wishes to meet you.”

Jiang Cheng had a bad feeling.

Li Youyuan continued, “If you’re available, come over to my place; if not, we’ll come to you.”

“I’ll come over.”

At Li Youyuan’s house, Jiang Cheng met the “distinguished guest” he spoke of—Prince Liang Wu.

Jiang Cheng got straight to the point: “Your Highness, you haven’t also encountered some strange venerable figure, have you?”

Prince Liang Wu looked to be in his thirties, much more mature and composed than Prince Liang Hong.

“Not at all, not at all,” Prince Liang Wu waved his hand.

Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good to hear. So, what can I do for you?”

“It’s like this, I’d like to request that you draw a talisman for me.”

“`