After explaining the basic concepts of talisman creation, she told everyone to reach under their desks where they can find a set of tools used for talisman creation. Picking up the brush and the inkstone for the first time, Zhu Jiao felt a bead of sweat roll down his head.
Traditionally one needed to grind the inkstone to form the ink, then he needed to use the brush to transfer the ink into paper. The first thought that entered his mind was that the brush would be too thick and he couldn't get the crisp lines as the manga artists would like. He also needed a pencil to do a sketch.
After giving it some thought he reached his hand into his
"It's been a long while master! What do you need?"
Looking at the pencil case he smiled and thought about the nostalgia. This ability manifested when he was younger and had no one to be friends with, after spending a lonely time alone in school his Pencil Case became sentient and talked to him. Not only that it had the ability to store every stationery one could ever wish for. Do you need a meter-long ruler? The infinite pencil case has it, you need a paper cutter? It had it.
Smiling at the pencil case he spoke.
"Indeed it's been a while. I need a pencil with HB lead, a pencil sharpener, a brush marker, a detailing marker as well as a kneadable eraser! Thank you infini!"
The pencil case hopped up and vomited out the stationery he needed on the table. Zhu Jiao picked up the items and shook the spit off of them as he put the
Da Hu Jia skipped the grinding of the inkstone and the preparation of the brush because it was common knowledge and everyone should already know how to do it before even attending the class. She proceeded to explain the basic concept of how to put an active skill on the talisman. She chose the iron fist because it is the most common move that everyone had learned when they entered the school. By transferring this skill onto the talisman one would be able to use it easily as an offensive attack.
She did a demonstration for the students, picking up the clean brush she twirled it around her fingers as she dipped it in the ink, she flicked the excess off the brush, and delicately placed it on the paper. Infusing her qi into the ink she drew the movement that was thought up in her mind. Perspiration rolled off her brows as she tried her best to finish it in one stroke.
After completing the talisman she immediately used her handkerchief to wipe her perspiration and gave a sigh. Looking towards the students she raised the talisman in her hands.
"I've completed the active talisman! Let me show you the usage"
At the side of the stage stood an already prepared dummy. Turning to the dummy she took the talisman and tossed it towards it, in mid-air the talisman burnt and became a fist which smashed into the dummy.
Zhu Jiao nodded his head.
"Wow, this is the power of great art." Zhu Jiao smiled.
"Now it's time for the practical session of this elective, I want everyone to try to visualize the skill you are most familiar with, infuse your brush with your qi and make sure you finish drawing it with a single stroke. The reason why it is difficult to be talisman masters is that,
Your visualization has to be strong in order to be able to draw it out on paper.
You must be able to draw it out so it doesn't diverge from the thoughts in your mind.
Your ink control has to be good, you should have just enough ink to complete the drawing and yet you cannot have too much ink left in excess.
If you are ready, you may begin the drawing now."
Da Hua Jia looked around at the students who were grinding their inkstone, some of them picking up their brushes while trembling, afraid to draw them wrongly. Her attention diverged to a single student who was looking blankly at the piece of paper, his inkstone was not touched and the brushes were placed at the side. He was only chewing on a piece of wood in his hand while looking at the paper.
She had seen many students in her teaching career, and this student was one of those that she disliked, there were untalented students and students who did badly, but the ones she hated the most is the students that don't even bother to touch the ink stone.
Meanwhile, Zhu Jiao was deep in thought, namely because he had not learned any skills whatsoever. But if the concept was correct he should be able to do anything if he can think up the imagery. Coming from a world with countless animes and mangas, what kind of moves can't he think of?
Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms? Kamehameha? There was so much he could do. Eventually, he decided to do something simple, inspired by Wu Lie who threw a flaming punch, he had wanted to do something the same. In his mind, he thought of how he would move and the imagery that came with it.
Suddenly deep within his mind, he saw squiggly lines resembling a dragon.
"Hah! That's it! Seems simple enough!"
Zhu Jiao reached over picking up the brush before shaking his head gently.
"One cannot be too complacent, a good artist always sketches his work first."
Finally moving he took the pencil and started to sketch out the shape he saw in his mind. Looking at the paper the drawing overlapped, but as a perfectionist he needed it to be perfect, using the erase he slowly erased and redrew certain parts until he completed it.
At the front of the class, Da Hua Jia shook her head. She didn't understand what the student was doing but it was definitely not talisman drawing.
Zhu Jiao picked up the brush marker ready to put pen to paper.