Purgatory Artist

Inside the tent, Liu Ping clasped his fists and said, "Liuping, a disciple of the Baisheng Sect. After the sect was destroyed, the elders in the camp ordered me to come and join another sect."

Opposite him, the man froze for a moment.

A line of small characters appeared briefly:

[Your appearance has changed the inherent plot, and the opponent's soul is gradually waking up.]

After a few breaths, the man recovered, turned the roast chicken over, and asked without raising his head, "Oh? Do you have a token?"

"Yes," Liu Ping replied, taking out the token.

The male cultivator waved his hand, and the token flew into his palm. Examining it casually, he remarked, "Your courage is commendable, and your status checks out. But you should know our sect has strict requirements—it's not easy to join."

"I understand," Liu Ping said.

The man raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me, what are you good at?"

Liu Ping glanced at the name hovering above the man's head and muttered thoughtfully, "I can make talismans."

He recalled that this person was known for collecting innovative techniques and knowledge. If he could present some unique talismans, it would surely help him pass the test.

However, Liu Ping hesitated. I'm only in the foundation-establishment stage. If I produce a talisman that's too powerful, it might amaze them—or it might end up being suicide. How about something simpler…

As he was deep in thought, the male cultivator let out an "Oh?" and said, "It's not bad to master one of the six arts during the foundation-building period. But at this stage, cultivators typically only craft communication talismans and spirit-gathering talismans. At best, they might make a storage talisman."

Liu Ping nodded and replied, "I'm familiar with all three kinds."

The male cultivator raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. He casually tossed three blank talismans and a vermilion jade pen onto the table. "Let's see what you can do, then."

"Yes."

Taking the vermilion jade pen, Liu Ping channeled his spiritual power and began drawing. His strokes were precise and fluid, each line weaving strands of spiritual patterns onto the blank talisman. Without hesitation, he connected the intricate patterns, forming a complete inscription.

One talisman was finished.

Without pause, Liu Ping moved to the next, crafting the second and third talismans with equal efficiency. When he was done, he set down the pen, gathered the talismans, and cupped his fists respectfully.

"Please take a look."

With a wave of his hand, the male cultivator retrieved the three talismans, examining them briefly. He nodded and said, "Not bad... Your talisman-making skills are rare. It's clear you've put in a lot of effort."

He paused, then added, "You could already qualify to join any of the seven sects. But if you want to join our Profundity Palace… making just these three kinds of talismans might not be enough."

He hesitated as if weighing his words.

Suddenly, a sharp female voice rang out from the entrance of the tent. "Someone dares to come and join our sect?"

Another female voice followed, her tone laced with amusement. "The last person who tried was a talisman master at the golden core realm. Even though he only had golden core realm cultivation, he could already make five types of talismans, including the extremely rare puppet talisman."

The first voice interjected, "And yet, even he didn't meet the admission criteria."

Liu Ping turned toward the source of the voices and saw two young women dressed in radiant, colorful robes entering the tent at a leisurely pace. Above their heads, two lines of small characters floated:

[Rejuvenation cultivator]

[Rejuvenation cultivator]

The male cultivator smiled faintly and said, "Junior sisters, don't frighten him. His basic talisman-making skills are quite impressive."

Liu Ping's mind raced. this male cultivator is also at the Rejuvenation stage.

He reviewed the cultivation hierarchy in his mind:

Refining Qi

Foundation Building

Golden Core

Rejuvenation

Divine Transformation

Saint 

Divine Reflection

These were the established rankings of power in this world, and every step represented an immense leap in strength.

The Western Desolate Camp was merely an ordinary transit point. Naturally, it lacked the presence of the most powerful cultivators.

The cultivator Liu Ping had seen earlier, titled "Gambling addict" was already the strongest presence in the camp and also its host.

One of the women glanced Liu Ping up and down before remarking, "This kid will definitely be the kind to break girls' hearts in the future."

The other woman added, "He might have passed the test, but if he can only make three types of talismans, he's fine for other sects—not for Profundity Palace."

Hearing this, the male cultivator sighed and turned to Liu Ping. "If my junior sisters say no, there's nothing I can do."

Liu Ping's gaze shifted between the two women and the "Life Seizing Scholar" calculating his next move. Then, with a determined expression, he clasped his fists and said, "I will modify one of the talismans."

The three Rejuvenation cultivators stared at him, momentarily stunned.

"Modify? You?!" one of the women asked, incredulous.

The other woman smirked. "These three talismans have been perfected by countless predecessors over generations. If you can really improve one of them…"

She trailed off, leaving the implication clear: such a feat was nearly unheard of. Only the most talented individuals could alter a foundational talisman in any meaningful way. If Liu Ping could truly do it, his place in Profundity Palace would be guaranteed.

But how could a foundation-building cultivator possibly succeed?

"Alright," the first woman said skeptically. "Which talisman do you want to modify?"

"The Spirit Gathering Talisman," Liu Ping replied confidently.

The talisman floated through the air, landing lightly before him.

Suddenly, Liu Ping realized that his examiners had become three powerful cultivators. If he didn't display extraordinary skills, how could he possibly gain entry into ProfundityPalace?

Gripping the vermilion jade pen, he steadied his breathing, calming his thoughts.

'Puppet talisman? you consider that impressive?'

Liu Ping recalled his past. Back then, to earn spirit stones, he had thrown himself into mastering the Six Arts without rest, creating countless innovative tools and gadgets. Spirit stones didn't appear out of thin air, after all.

Now, some of those creations could finally be put to use.

But… if I bring out things the cultivation world has never seen before, it might accelerate the plot changes even further. More and more people could awaken. If that happens, it might lead to the entire cultivation world waking up!

Despite this risk, Liu Ping made his decision. Channeling his spiritual power into the jade pen, he began carefully outlining intricate spiritual patterns on the talisman. His movements were precise, confident, and deliberate.

Moments later, Liu Ping stopped writing, set down the jade pen, and cupped his hands. "It's done."

The talisman floated into the air and was caught between two slender, jade-like fingers. With a slight flick, the female cultivator activated it. The talisman shimmered with a soft, flowing light, the unmistakable energy of water spirit power.

She examined it curiously and asked, "This is water spirit power… What's the effect of adding it to a Spirit Gathering Talisman?"

Liu Ping straightened, his expression solemn. Clasping his fists respectfully, he said, "Please allow me to demonstrate."

Liu Ping took the talisman and, with a confident smile, gently grasped the female cultivator's hand.

From a practical standpoint, the spiritual stones of female cultivators are the easiest to earn, he thought. And conveniently, two female cultivators were standing right in front of him.

"You—!"

One of the female cultivators began to protest but stopped short as Liu Ping started rubbing the talisman lightly against her hand. His tone was calm and professional as he explained, "After many fierce battles, the skin of female practitioners often suffers damage from the residual energy of spells. It becomes dull, dry, lacking elasticity, and loses its natural luster."

He continued rubbing the talisman gently and added, "With that in mind, I designed this modified Spirit Gathering Talisman. It's incredibly practical—just one touch can replenish the skin's moisture, leaving it radiant and revitalized."

Retrieving the talisman, Liu Ping took her other hand and placed it next to the one he had treated.

"Now, take a look. The skin on the two hands is entirely different. The hand that was treated with the Spirit Gathering Talisman has undergone triple hydration, restoring its original glow and suppleness," he explained with a smile.

The female cultivator raised her hands for comparison, and her eyes widened in astonishment. The hand touched by the talisman appeared visibly fairer and smoother—its skin as white as jade—while the untreated hand looked dull and ordinary by comparison. It was as if the two hands belonged to different people.

Unable to resist, the female cultivator snatched the talisman from Liu Ping and eagerly began rubbing it on her other hand.

Moments later, her satisfaction was evident.

Both hands now looked snow-white, smooth, and jade-like, glowing with an almost ethereal beauty.

The other female cultivator stepped closer to examine the transformation and murmured in disbelief, "Impossible. It's just a Spirit Gathering Talisman—how can it have so many skincare effects?"

Liu Ping, his expression calm and composed, replied with a deep, deliberate tone, "Moisturizing and repairing, strengthening the skin, soothing and conditioning—all of these are indispensable functions."

"And what do you call it?" the first female cultivator asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I would like to name it: the Skin Care Spirit Gathering Talisman," Liu Ping said seriously.

The camp fell silent.

The two female cultivators exchanged glances, then slowly turned their gazes back to Liu Ping.

"This talisman is completely useless in combat," one of them remarked, her tone half critical, half bemused.

"Exactly. You've strayed far from the proper path of talisman-making," the other added with a shake of her head.

Liu Ping paused to consider their words, then offered a measured explanation. "Perhaps this kind of modification is too simple for me. That's why I altered the talisman so effortlessly."

One of the women arched an eyebrow and asked, "Do you think you'll be able to change other talismans in the future?"

Liu Ping's voice carried a quiet but firm confidence. "Sooner or later, I'll show you the Divine Beast Advent Talisman."

The two women fell silent, their expressions contemplative.

After a few moments, the first woman spoke. "You must join our Profundity Palace, receive formal instruction in talisman making, and contribute your skills to the human race's fight against demons."

The second woman nodded decisively. "From now on, you are a disciple of Profundity Palace."

They both turned toward the male cultivator, their gazes expectant.

"Old Xie, do you agree?" one of them asked.

The male cultivator, holding a roast chicken in one hand, hesitated as he glanced at the two women. "Didn't you just say—"

Suddenly, an intense murderous aura radiated from both women.

"The two junior sisters are absolutely right," the male cultivator quickly corrected himself, standing up straight and adopting a solemn tone. "Without compromising the talisman's primary function, he managed to innovate and create new effects. This alone demonstrates his exceptional talent."

After a moment of thought, he retrieved a communication talisman, spoke a few words into it, and infused it with spiritual power. The talisman flew off into the sky.

Time passed quietly until a fiery light streaked through the air, returning to the male cultivator's hand. He checked its contents with his spiritual sense before nodding.

"I've already reported this to the higher-ups. The admission process is now complete," he announced.

Nearby, one of the female cultivators was carefully examining Liu Ping's token, reading through the detailed account of his experiences. Smiling, she remarked, "That's excellent. After all, this kid has only been cultivating for a year and a half, and he's already reached the foundation-building stage. On top of that, he has remarkable talent in talisman crafting. It'd be a shame if he wasted his potential aimlessly wandering into other sects."

The male cultivator, now satisfied, retrieved another token from his waist. He chanted dozens of incantations over it, infusing the token with spiritual energy, before tossing it to Liu Ping.

Catching the token, Liu Ping examined it closely. Inscribed on its surface were a few simple but significant words:

"Liu Ping, Profundity Palace."

"This is your official identity badge as a disciple of Profundity Palace," the male cultivator said. "From this moment on, you are one of us."

Liu Ping gripped the badge tightly, his expression firm. Bowing respectfully, he said, "Yes."

[You have been granted official cultivation status.]

[From this moment forward, you are authorized to access all hidden dimensions and space times. With this badge, you will be recognized as a disciple of Profundity Palace within these realms.]

[When navigating the world of death, this badge will serve as a space-time anchor, allowing you to return to the current hidden dimension at will.]