Chu Jiang sensed the changes within his body again. It seemed as though a primordial chaos was taking shape, and that wisp of the gate to chaos was slowly opening.
Continue.
[Third life: You were reborn as the son of a scholarly family. Born with a "delicate, discerning heart," you possessed a photographic memory, yet were frail and sickly, unable to cultivate. You painted, especially portraits.]
[Twentieth year: Your name had already become renowned throughout the region. You could paint a beauty's outward appearance, yet always felt the soul was missing. You happened upon a wandering old Daoist, who enlightened you: to paint a living person, one must observe their spirit. The old man passed the Spirit-Observing Art to you, allowing you to perceive people's emotions and spiritual bearing. But remember well: do not become obsessed, and do not paint souls.]
[You learned the Spirit-Observing Art, and the world in your eyes was never the same. Above every person's head hovered the aura of their emotions: joy was pink, rage red, sorrow blue, love gold, greed murky yellow, jealousy dark green... You could capture them and blend them into your paintings. The figures in your paintings became lifelike, and viewers could even be infected by the emotions within them.]
[Fortieth year: You painted a portrait for the woman you deeply loved. You observed her feelings, and they were a brilliant, pure gold. You poured your heart and soul into painting that love into the work. When it was finished, tears streamed down her face upon seeing it, and she said that you understood her. Yet not long after, she grew increasingly haggard and despondent, eventually dying of illness. The spirit within her had been utterly spent.]
[You were struck as if by lightning. Using the Spirit-Observing Art to observe yourself,