Chapter 3: Jade Rabbit Delivers Fortune
“Sorry, I can’t remember clearly myself.” Wu Xian feigned embarrassment.
Back then, when Grandfather was sick and hospitalized, Boss Tiao’s custom order had resolved his urgent issue.
So he used Tang Tiaotiao as the prototype, painting a lively and vibrant two-dimensional cute Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine under the moonlight, and based on the Jade Rabbit legend, made slight modifications to create a simple background story.
At that time, Tang Tiaotiao was busy dealing with Teacher, and didn’t listen carefully at all, so it was expected that she couldn’t remember now.
But things were different now.
Now Tang Tiaotiao had been admitted to Dengfeng Art Studio, so naturally they couldn’t settle for the “Graduation Design” price anymore, after all, the Jade Rabbit was his “original creation.”
Ding!
Sister Tiao: 【Transfer 10000 Spirit Yuan】, giving you some stimulation, think hard, my first step in my Scroll Painter career depends on you.
“Sister Tiao is generous, let me think carefully.”
Wu Xian decisively accepted the payment and paid attention to the changes in the God of Wealth beside him.
With the ten thousand arriving, the God of Wealth’s aura clearly grew a bit stronger, as strands of golden treasure light from heaven and earth gathered around the God of Wealth.
This was the power of the God of Wealth; as long as Wu Xian’s wealth increased, it would have a certain impact on the God of Wealth’s Painted Spirit level.
And the 【Aura of Wealth】 talent could further boost his luck in wealth, subtly bringing him more money-making opportunities.
As for the layer of treasure light gathered around the God of Wealth, it was the effect of 【Aura of Wealth Protection】.
Wealth growth, fund flows, crafting or obtaining valuable items all generated aura of wealth, which could accumulate without limit inside the God of Wealth.
Similar to a special consumable energy.
It could be used to block various damages, so theoretically, as long as there was enough aura of wealth, the God of Wealth could remain invincible.
Additionally, aura of wealth could serve as the God of Wealth’s exclusive cultivation resources, used for refining and absorption.
“I remember now, it seems like Jade Rabbit Delivering Wealth or something?”
Wu Xian pretended to ponder deeply, suppressing a mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth.
“…Isn’t it Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine?”
“Oh~ right, Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine… Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine…”
“Never mind if it’s delivering wealth or pounding medicine, the key is my little Jade Rabbit, the little white rabbit living on the moon, how did you come up with that concept? And crucially, it even gained recognition from the Scroll Painting Law, too amazing.”
“Maybe I got lucky and just hit the mark.” Wu Xian brushed it off casually.
Indeed, Scroll Painters’ creations relied on fantasy, but not just any random fantasy could turn into an Extraordinary Scroll Painting; it had to be logical, internally consistent, with imagery and settings mutually reinforcing, and recognized by the Scroll Painting Law.
In the current Scroll Painting World, most scroll paintings originated from people’s fear, desire, and fantasy.
The various so-called mythology systems were mostly derived from and imagined based on various otherworldly realms.
Only the top-tier dojos inherited some historical cultural heritage from the previous era.
“Have you remembered?” Tang Tiaotiao asked anxiously.
“This… I’ve remembered part of it, after all it was just a flash of inspiration, you know I often get bursts of inspiration, too many ideas and they get mixed up, hard to remember clearly.”
Tang Tiaotiao didn’t waste words, transferring another ten thousand Spirit Yuan, “Then think hard, I’m counting on the little Jade Rabbit to build influence in the art studio and recruit henchmen.”
“…” Wu Xian was amused yet helpless.
This young lady was great in every way, just had a bit too much “gangster vibe.”
He didn’t know how she turned out that way?
Looking at her brother’s young talent demeanor, logically Tang Tiaotiao should be a refined lady of grace.
How did she end up with this mafia princess vibe?
Unfathomable.
“I’ve got it,” Wu Xian pretended to have a flash of inspiration, “The legend says there’s a rabbit living on the moon, pure white like jade, called the Jade Rabbit, messenger of the moon god, who likes pounding medicine for humans, and the medicinal herbs it pounds are endowed with divine power, bringing people happiness and well-being…”
It was the story he had made up before, just retouched and retold.
It was just a half-true half-fake “secondary creation” work, which matched Tang Tiaotiao’s offer.
If it were the authentic story, it wouldn’t be this price.
Tang Tiaotiao listened very seriously and intently this time.
“I’m saying this upfront, this is just a story I made up on a whim, even if it gets recognized by the Scroll Painting Law, it might not form a scroll.” Wu Xian gave a disclaimer in advance, after all, it was a story mixed with fakes, it would be a miracle if it succeeded.
“Hee hee, have some confidence in yourself, I have a feeling, this time it will definitely work!”
With that, she happily hung up the video call and started trying again.
Wu Xian looked at the twenty thousand in his account, feeling like it was a dream.
Was this the value of the God of Wealth?
“I wonder what Grandfather’s reaction will be seeing this much money.”
It was getting late, but Grandfather still hadn’t returned.
Wu Xian put away the God of Wealth and went out to ask around, only to find that Grandfather’s usual scavenging teammates hadn’t returned either.
“North Street District?”
While thinking, Wu Xian decided to check out North Street District.
North Street was far to begin with, Grandfather and his old pals rarely went there, and it was near the Dimensional Gate with even more mixed crowds.
Soon after, he arrived at North Street District.
From afar, he saw the Dimensional Gate towering in the city, with the twisting dimensional rift connected above it, like the sealed opening of dimensional rifts.
And on the other sides, there were two similar Dimensional Gates echoing it from afar.
The three Dimensional Gates connected to the three major otherworldly realms: Mechanical Wasteland, Insectoid World, Abyssal Realm.
A hundred years ago, the three major otherworldly realms rioted and descended on Yaoyang City, where human Spirit Tamers and Scroll Painters fought to the death, ultimately suppressing and sealing the three major dimensional rifts, and building the three Dimensional Gates on them.
Thus San Zai Gang got its name.
Now, relying on the three instance entrances, San Zai Gang had developed from ruins into the famous Dimensional Port far and wide.
It was also the frontline outpost for subduing otherworldly realms and the forefront for researching otherworldly realms.
The only downside was that compared to New City District, it wasn’t as safe, with otherworldly creatures occasionally leaking out and causing chaos.
Inside North Street District, it looked dimly rundown but was actually bustling with trade.
Of course, the city’s prosperity had nothing to do with Wu Xian; his main target was the trash cans in the nooks and crannies.
Sure enough, he soon spotted Grandfather and his group of old pals.
At this moment, the old men were guarding their rickety tricycles, facing off against a group of people.
“Old geezers, leave the stuff and get back to your turf, North Street District isn’t a place you can come to.” The leader of the other side was a middle-aged burly man covered in scars, looking fierce and menacing.
“We’re all just begging for a living, why can you scavenge but we can’t?”
Grandpa Wang from the elderly scavenging team was full of defiance, but he knew the opponents outnumbered them and were young and strong, so he could only reason with them as much as possible.
“Where’s all this nonsense from?” Blondie, the henchman next to the Scarred Man, sneered: “If it weren’t for your age, we’d have beaten you down long ago.”
“We’re all struggling, how about this: we keep some, you take the rest, okay?”
Grandfather Wu Changming gritted his teeth and spoke humbly.
“Bargaining now? Giving you face, huh?”
Blondie swung up a steel pipe, about to use Grandfather Wu Changming as an example.
At the critical moment, Wu Xian flew in with a kick, sending Blondie flying, and coldly swept his gaze over the Scarred Man and his group.
“Xian’er, why are you here?”
Grandfather Wu Changming was surprised with a hint of panic, after all, the opponents outnumbered them.
Wu Xian patted Grandfather’s hand, signaling him to relax, and silently stood in front of the old men.
The disheveled Blondie was about to retaliate but was stopped by the Scarred Man’s glare.
“Kid’s got some moves, tsk tsk~ Level Two Spiritual Energy Cultivation,” the Scarred Man squinted at Wu Xian, “You’re that old man’s grandson?”
Wu Xian neither confirmed nor denied.
“Interested in joining us?” The Scarred Man looked confident, “We’re all poor-born Spiritual Energy Warriors wanting to get ahead; teaming up is the best choice.
Join us, and today’s matter can be forgotten, how about it?”
Wu Xian glanced at the nearby trash can, answering irrelevantly, “You guys make a living by rummaging trash in North Street District?”
“What, look down on us scavengers?” The Scarred Man raised an eyebrow mockingly: “Two years, at most two years, I guarantee you’ll get your own scroll painting!”
“Looks like North Street District has plenty of oil.” Wu Xian was secretly surprised.
The Scarred Man and others exchanged smiles.
“So, interested?”
“Sorry, I don’t need to.” Wu Xian said calmly. The people in front of him were all Tier 1 or 2 Spiritual Energy Warriors, with the strongest Scarred Man only at Level Three Spiritual Energy Cultivation.
A day ago, he definitely couldn’t beat them.
But now, holding 【Xuantan True Lord – Zhao Gongming】, he wasn’t worried at all.
Spiritual Energy Warriors compared to Spirit Tamers were worlds apart.
Basically equivalent to the gap between bare hands and wielding a divine weapon.
“Looks like you won’t drink the toast but will take the forfeit!”
The Scarred Man’s face darkened, tension filling the air.
Seeing this, Grandfather Wu Changming hurriedly tried to drop the stuff and drag Wu Xian away, but saw Wu Xian raise his hand and pull out a scroll painting, signaling him to relax.
The Wu Changming and Grandpa Wang who were panicking the second before were instantly stunned.
“Scroll Painting?!” The Scarred Man and his group also widened their eyes in shock and suspicion, “This kid is already a Spirit Tamer?”
“No, why is that scroll painting a blood-red axis? Do scroll paintings have that rank?”
“Never heard of it, probably a fake to scare people.”
“I told you~ looking at him, he doesn’t seem like someone who can afford a scroll painting.”
“But why is that scroll painting’s edging gold? It can’t be a 【Original Copy】 scroll painting, right? What a joke?”
“That’s too fake! Even my child’s toy isn’t this fake.”
“Bluffing,” the henchmen sneered sarcastically, “Boss Liang, show him what a real scroll painting is!”
The Scarred Man squinted and examined it, a bit uncertain in his heart; he could clearly feel the spiritual fluctuation from that scroll painting, yet the red axis left him baffled.
“Underestimated you, kid!” While sneering, the Scarred Man pulled out a scroll painting from his chest, “But you’ve got money for a scroll painting, yet come to North Street District to steal our rice bowl, interesting?”
Wu Xian didn’t expect the opponent to have a scroll painting too; perfect chance to let the God of Wealth get some practice.
Copper Scroll, white edging, just a non-upgradable rubbing scroll painting.
Moreover, rubbing scroll paintings’ overall attributes and abilities were much weaker than originals or copies; if an 【Original Copy】 scroll painting was 100%, then a 【Instance】 scroll painting retained 90% attributes, while a rubbing was only 80%.
“Kid, watch closely, this is Master Sun’s masterpiece 【Demon Slaying Saber】——!”
The Scarred Man proudly announced the scroll painting’s name, slowly unfurling it in his hand, as a stylish cool chopper leaped out from the painting.
The instant he gripped the Demon Slaying Saber, the Scarred Man’s aura surged, domineering to the max.
“Weapon scroll painting?”
Wu Xian was secretly surprised; from the spiritual fluctuation emitted by the Demon Slaying Saber, it was a bit higher than the God of Wealth, probably a Two-Star Painted Spirit.
Unfortunately, just a Copper Scroll rubbing.
“Subtle vacuum, divine Zhao of the thunder sky, summoning lightning and controlling electricity, walking fire and commanding wind, one roar of the divine tiger, all ghosts vanish…”
Like shouting slogans to show off, huh?
Buddy here has that too, and even more badass, flashier.
As the words fell, the scroll unfurled, Black Tiger Xuantan True Lord manifested from the painting, condensing a spirit body amid dazzling golden-red divine light, his majestic eyes sweeping over, making the Scarred Man and his group choke with fear.
