Chapter 2: The God Of Wealth Appears
Leaving Dengfeng Art Studio, Wu Xian was high-spirited.
At this moment, he had already seen the hope of breaking the situation.
The first generation scroll painters a thousand years ago probably didn’t have conditions like now, right?
They were able to turn decay into magic back then, and he could do the same now.
In other words, as long as the drawn object is clear enough, powerful enough, logically consistent, and recognized by the laws of this world, even a painting with ordinary materials has a chance to become 【Extraordinary Scroll Painting】.
And the solid foundation and brilliant culture from his previous life were his greatest confidence!
He went to the scrap recycling station and sold a bag full of empty bottles, getting forty-three yuan and fifty cents in hand.
On the way home, he stopped in front of a scroll supplies store. The expensive prices of scroll supplies made him hesitate.
Posters of painting paper and pigments from various brands filled the shop windows, with prices more frightening than the last.
Even the practice drawing paper that scroll painters used for sketches cost at least 89 per sheet for the cheapest one. No wonder families had to buy a house once admitted to an art studio.
A poor guy like him really couldn’t afford it.
So he turned around and splurged over a hundred, buying some alcohol, meat, and food to nourish his elderly grandfather’s body.
He was supposed to take the bus home, but today he decided to splurge and raised his hand to hail a taxi.
“Master, hello, to San Zai Gang in the Old City District…”
“Alrighty.” The driver stepped on the spirit gate and took off directly.
Wu Xian curiously looked around the car’s interior, “Master, your car looks a bit old. How’s the spirit consumption?”
“Not bad~ 9 spiritual energy per hundred kilometers, but small issues are increasing. Planning to get a new one next year. Didn’t Guandi just release a new model? Heard the spirit consumption is under five, and the price isn’t expensive either. Perfect for us taxi drivers.”
Wu Xian nodded in agreement.
He had also seen the advertisement for that new car from Guandi. The cost-performance ratio was indeed good.
Once he made money later, he planned to get one for commuting.
If possible, he quite wanted to draw one himself, but he had never figured out the production principle of this kind of mechanical, tech-type scroll painting.
How could a painting turn into a car? And it could really drive?
Yes, the cars in this world were also 【Scroll Painting】, burning neither oil nor electricity, but consuming something called spiritual energy.
Spiritual energy, as the extraordinary energy brought by the other dimension invasion, was also the power cultivated by the vast spirit tamers.
Wu Xian awakened his spiritual energy cultivation talent in his first year of high school and had just reached level two spiritual energy cultivation.
Because he couldn’t afford 【Scroll Painting】, he didn’t even qualify as a spirit tamer.
The taxi entered the Old City District, where the sky tone obviously darkened a bit, especially toward San Zai Gang. The distorted, dark sky resembled doomsday.
San Zai Gang was a mixed place with frequent dimensional leak incidents, and rent was much lower than in the New City District.
Returning to the messy shantytown, he saw his grandfather’s thin figure from afar still sorting various scrap. His right leg, once injured by an otherworldly monster, limped, which made Wu Xian even more determined to make money.
Others might want to become scroll painters for the noble status, sense of achievement, or to realize self-value, etc.
But Wu Xian wanted to become a scroll painter for only one purpose: make money!
“Grandfather, your grandson has grown up. If you’re bored, you can play chess or cards with Grandpa Wang and the others.”
Supporting the old master back into the room, his heart was filled with desire for money.
“No problem, idling is idling,” the old master waved his hand with a smile, eyes full of affection. “Going to university later will cost a lot.”
“No need,” Wu Xian’s eyes reddened slightly. “Your grandson doesn’t plan to go to university.”
“Huh?” The old master stiffened.
“Your grandson will become an excellent scroll painter. Just wait for good days!”
“Won’t that cost even more money?”
The old master was silent for a long time, then resolutely stood up. “Grandfather can still pick for a few more years. I heard there are often scroll painter activities on North Street. Maybe I can pick up something useful for my precious grandson.”
“…”
Wu Xian hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, but couldn’t overcome the old master’s determination.
Watching the old master’s figure pushing the rundown tricycle away, Wu Xian turned back into the room.
He took a deep breath and began to draw with the most ordinary drawing paper and pigments.
Soon, a God of Wealth diagram familiar from his previous life was drawn.
When you’re this broke, of course draw the God of Wealth first!
He didn’t know if the God of Wealth worked in this world, but what if?
“Doesn’t work just drawing it directly like this?”
He pasted the God of Wealth portrait on the wall, bowed in respect, and prayed for the God of Wealth’s blessing.
Then he began trying various methods.
Unknowingly, the room was plastered with God of Wealth images of various styles, various versions, and various art styles, all drawn by him, but still no sign of any extraordinary manifestation.
“Am I too impatient? Must calm down and paint with heart?” Wu Xian pondered inwardly.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
In a certain villa in the prosperous New City District.
Tang Tiaotiao was attempting to draw the little white rabbit she “conceived” multiple times under her father and brother’s watch.
Unfortunately, she had failed several times in a row.
“Girl, don’t be nervous. Feel it with heart, take it slow!” Beside her, Tang Family patriarch Tang Zhenghong softly comforted, but the seriousness and importance on his face were evident.
Though his daughter’s scroll painting had failed repeatedly, the visions and aura it triggered each time were astonishing.
If successfully drawn, it would absolutely be a powerful scroll painting, and a brand-new one unique to their Tang Family.
Soon, divine light enveloped the drawing paper again, the entire paper locked by heaven and earth laws. The gradually forming cute little white rabbit on the paper seemed about to come alive.
Unfortunately, the next second, the entire drawing paper shattered with a bang, turning to dust.
“So annoying. Always so close. Not drawing anymore~ Not drawing.”
Tang Tiaotiao was already getting impatient.
Tang Beng could only sigh helplessly. “Take it slow. After all, it’s a painted spirit conceived from Sister Tiao’s fantasy. No one can steal it.”
“One week until enrolling in the art studio. Polish and perfect it these days, strive to draw it before enrollment.” Tang Zhenghong said seriously: “You’re our family’s hope now. Can’t be playful like before, got it?”
“Got it~.” Tang Tiaotiao pouted perfunctorily.
…
“Could it work?!”
On Wu Xian’s side, feeling the faint energy fluctuation from the God of Wealth portrait in front of him, he was thrilled.
The various God of Wealth portraits in the room seemed to echo the brush in his hand from afar.
Calming down and drawing seriously did have an effect.
“Maybe I should be more devout?”
As he pondered, his mind kept recalling mythological legends about the God of Wealth. His desire for money turned into devotion to the God of Wealth.
In a daze, he seemed to communicate with some power in this world. A blurry figure gradually materialized deep in his mind.
The drawing paper under his brush also began to shine faintly, emitting profound spiritual fluctuations.
Everything that followed seemed natural.
“Buzz~!”
As the God of Wealth on the drawing paper took form, the God of Wealth image in his mind also became clear, deeply imprinting in his spiritual sea of consciousness.
At the same time, mental power and spiritual energy surged rapidly into the drawing paper from his body, even drawing some soul and vitality.
Buzz~!
Blood-mixed golden-red divine light enveloped the drawing paper. Golden threads embroidered the border, and a simple blood-colored jade scroll painting axis condensed at one end of the scroll.
Heaven and earth forces mounted it into a scroll.
The figure in the painting seemed to come alive, with vivid energy almost overflowing.
【Xuantan True Lord – Zhao Gongming】
Version: Original Copy（Gold Embroidery Border）
Rank: Blood-Colored Life Scroll
Painted Spirit: ★☆
Spirituality: 13
Talent Trait: Wealth Summoning, Aura of Wealth Protection, Thunder Control
“It’s done, it’s done!”
Feeling the scroll painting information in his mind, Wu Xian was thrilled.
And as the God of Wealth scroll painting formed, his own mental power also grew significantly.
This was the power of scroll painters: creating 【Scroll Painting】 improves one’s mental power. The stronger the scroll painting, the greater the improvement.
【Xuantan True Lord – Zhao Gongming】 as an Original Copy scroll painting belonged to the first appearance in this world, granted “Copyright” by world laws, bringing even greater mental power improvement.
Scroll painting versions are divided into: Original Copy（Gold Embroidery Border）, Original（Gold Border）, Instance（Silver Border）, Rubbing（White Border）.
The so-called Original Copy is the “original” owned by the copyright holder like Wu Xian.
Originals are public copyright. For example, after Wu Xian dies, others can only draw 【Original】 even if they draw the God of Wealth.
Among them, only Original Copy and Original bring mental power improvement. Instance and Rubbing bring no mental power improvement, but offer certain benefits in other aspects.
“Painted Spirit level one star half, Blood-Colored Life Scroll?”
Looking again at the God of Wealth’s rank information, Wu Xian fell into thought.
“Sure enough, different from normal scroll paintings?”
According to school knowledge, scroll painting ranks are divided into six tiers: Wooden Scroll, Copper Scroll, Silver Scroll, Golden Axis, Jade Axis, Black Axis, closely related to painted spirit strength, drawing skill, scroll materials, etc.
But what the hell is this 【Blood-Colored Life Scroll】?
A special rank independent of the six major tiers? A growth-type rank?
Wu Xian didn’t bother with these. Once he made money later, he’d naturally have access to this knowledge.
Painted Spirit: one star half, referring to the God of Wealth painted spirit’s level. Cultivate and improve it gradually later.
As for that term called 【Spirituality】, it could be understood as the scroll painting’s performance score.
The painted spirit is equivalent to the computer system and software, while the scroll painting made from drawing paper and pigments is like computer hardware. Better hardware naturally means better performance.
Of course, excellent systems and software can also boost performance to a certain extent.
The two complement each other.
Take the God of Wealth: this 13 spirituality points are pure, relying entirely on the God of Wealth’s own awesomeness.
With a thought, the scroll painting unfurled in mid-air, golden-red divine light spreading.
The God of Wealth’s figure manifested from the scroll painting.
Red robe and golden armor, black face with thick mustache, straddling Black Tiger, surrounded by auspicious clouds and treasure light. One hand holding steel whip, the other cradling gold ingot, expression solemn and majestic.
“Worth being the God of Wealth. Feels a billion times strong.”
Feeling the God of Wealth’s powerful aura and the effects of those three talent traits, Wu Xian was thrilled.
He immediately bowed to the God of Wealth painted spirit, praying devoutly.
“God of Wealth bless, I don’t seek great wealth or nobility, just want grandfather to have a few more good days.”
The God of Wealth’s expression shifted slightly, as if responding to Wu Xian’s prayer.
The next second, his phone suddenly rang with a video call tone.
Caller ID note: 【Boss Tiao】.
Wu Xian puzzledly answered the call. “Classmate Tang, what can I do for you?”
“Call me Sister Tiao!” Tang Tiaotiao emphasized seriously. “That thing, what was the graduation design I custom-ordered from you before? I don’t remember clearly.”
Wu Xian stunnedly glanced at the God of Wealth painted spirit.
This was manifesting spirit already?
