The Amnesiac Art Master

Chen Jing and her subordinates finally left, their minds filled with shock and even more unresolved mysteries. The data detected from the clay statue named "Xi Rang" completely overturned their understanding of "energy" and "matter." It was like a stone cast into a calm lake, stirring ripples within certain special departments of the official organization, and further increasing the attention on the "Shelter" project. Surveillance became more stringent, and analysis delved deeper, but they hesitated to act rashly. Before understanding the full picture, the forces behind Chen Jing chose to continue observing and recording.

In the rental apartment, life seemed to return to a brief period of peace. But Lin Fan knew that beneath this calm, turbulent undercurrents were surging.

Nüwa paid no mind to the official personnel's tests. In her view, it was merely the natural curiosity of the beings in this world towards the unknown. She remained immersed in her "creation" daily, her sketchbook gradually filling with sketches of plant spirits, mountains, and rivers imbued with Daoist charm. Several small clay animal figurines, companions to "Xi Rang," appeared on the windowsill, each emitting a faint yet unique aura of vitality, transforming the humble room into a small, spiritual haven.

Lin Fan, meanwhile, practiced the Supreme Clarity Heart-Cleansing Mantra with even greater diligence. With the tranquil Daoist charm emanating from the "Xi Rang" statue aiding him, his process of entering a meditative state became much smoother. Although he still found it difficult to maintain for extended periods, with distracting thoughts constantly arising, he could now occasionally capture those moments of "clear spiritual awareness." In this state, he felt his thoughts were clearer, his memory enhanced, and even his control over his body had become slightly more refined.

One day, Lin Fan, as usual, attempted his practice after waking up. He sat down cross-legged, cleared his mind, and visualized the profound runes of the Heart-Cleansing Mantra. Perhaps it was the result of his persistent efforts over the past few days, or perhaps his state of mind had improved, but this time, he managed to enter that brief state of clarity quite smoothly.

At the moment his mind quieted and he felt detached from self and surroundings, a faint yet incredibly pure warm current, as if born from the void, silently entered through the "Baihui Acupoint" on the crown of his head. Following a mysterious path, it slowly flowed through his limbs and bones!

Wherever this warm current passed, Lin Fan felt an indescribable comfort, as if parched land had received the nourishment of sweet rain. Every cell seemed to be cheering and dancing! The sensation was beyond words; it wasn't an increase in physical strength, but a joy of nourishing the essence of life and elevating the spirit!

The process was extremely brief, lasting only a few breaths before the warm current vanished without a trace. Lin Fan also fell out of that mysterious state, but he clearly remembered the feeling!

"This... is this spiritual energy? No, Senior Tong Tian said this world is devoid of spiritual energy..." Lin Fan's eyes snapped open, his face filled with surprise and confusion. He instinctively looked towards Tong Tian.

Tong Tian, who had finished his own meditation at some unknown time, was watching him quietly, a barely perceptible hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Sen... Senior!" Lin Fan was so excited he could barely speak coherently, "I just felt a warm current... What was that?"

"This is not spiritual energy," Tong Tian interrupted him calmly. "This is 'Innate Qi,' also known as 'Primal Ancestral Qi.' It is the primordial breath of all things, existing within the void and all creation, omnipresent yet elusive. Only when the mind and spirit are extremely pure and clear, and align with a certain Daoist charm, is there an extremely slim chance of drawing forth a trace to nourish the soul and body. Your state of mind coincidentally aligned just now, allowing you to seize this opportunity."

Innate Qi! The origin of all things!

Lin Fan listened, his heart filled with longing. Although it was only a trace, the feeling was truly wonderful! Moreover, Tong Tian said it wasn't spiritual energy, but a more fundamental "Qi"! This meant that even in this spirit-forsaken land, he had the possibility of cultivating!

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior!" Lin Fan suppressed his excitement and bowed respectfully. He understood that without Tong Tian teaching him the Supreme Clarity Heart-Cleansing Mantra, he would never have been able to access such a profound level.

"It was a coincidence, but also the result of your continuous hard work and sincere heart over the past few days," Tong Tian's tone remained calm, but he acknowledged Lin Fan's efforts. "Drawing forth Innate Qi is a great fortune for cultivation, something that can be encountered but not sought. In your future practice, aim for this state of mind, but do not force it, lest you create inner demons."

"Yes, I will remember this, Junior!" Lin Fan responded solemnly. He knew that the state he had just experienced was rare and unpredictable, but at least it proved that this path was viable! This gave him immense confidence.

After finishing his practice, Lin Fan felt refreshed and began preparing breakfast. He now put more care into his cooking, not only considering taste but also subconsciously balancing colors and nutrition, faintly adhering to a certain principle of life-force balance, which Nüwa observed with a slight nod.

After breakfast, Lin Fan went out as usual to buy some fresh ingredients. When he returned with his shopping bag and reached the entrance of the residential complex, he noticed a small crowd gathered nearby, pointing and gesturing towards the green belt.

Lin Fan wasn't usually one to join in on a spectacle, but as his gaze swept across the center of the crowd, his steps faltered.

He saw an elder with white hair and a lean face, dressed in a faded, patched old-fashioned Zhongshan suit. He was sitting on a small folding stool, with an old, worn felt mat spread out before him, on which lay several items. The elder looked somewhat lost, his eyes clouded, carrying a sense of age that felt out of place with his surroundings. He was muttering something to the onlookers.

What made Lin Fan stop wasn't the elder's attire or condition, but the items on his mat – a chipped ceramic bowl, a wooden plaque covered in cracks and with a dark, dull color, and half of a rusty metal fragment, seemingly from some kind of tool.

These items looked dilapidated, as if picked from a garbage heap. But for some reason, as Lin Fan's gaze fell upon them, his soul, which had just been nourished by the Innate Qi, trembled slightly! Especially the wooden plaque, covered in cracks, gave him a faint yet exceptionally ancient sense of "carrying" something.

"...Don't remember... forgot everything..." The elder's clouded eyes swept over the onlookers, his voice hoarse. "I only remember... to wait... wait for someone destined... to exchange for... travel expenses..."

Someone nearby scoffed, "Old man, who would want this pile of junk? Travel expenses? Dreaming!"

"Exactly, this bowl is too broken even for a dog to eat from!"

"Hurry up and leave, don't block the way!"

Facing the crowd's mockery, the elder seemed oblivious, merely repeating blankly, "Wait for someone destined... exchange for travel expenses..."

Lin Fan's heart stirred. Someone destined? Travel expenses? This elder... seemed somewhat unusual. The faint spiritual sense within him, and the keen observation skills he had developed from following two Sages, made him feel that these "junk" items were likely not so simple.

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, crouched down, and asked as gently as possible, "Elder, how much are you asking for these items... in exchange?"

The elder looked up, his clouded eyes glancing at Lin Fan, his gaze vacant, as if unfocused. He extended a withered finger, pointing to the cracked wooden plaque, then to the broken ceramic bowl and the metal fragment, mumbling, "This... a bowl of food... This... a warm piece of clothing... This... a place... to stay..."

His demands were strange and specific, not asking for money, but for the most basic necessities of survival.

The laughter of the onlookers grew louder.

"A bowl of rice for a piece of rotten wood? Wishful thinking!"

"Is this old man crazy?"

Lin Fan did not laugh. He carefully felt the faint fluctuations emanating from the wooden plaque, the ancient sense of "carrying" becoming clearer. He pondered for a moment and made a decision.

"Elder, I agree to your terms," Lin Fan said to the old man, looking at him earnestly. "I'll take you to eat right now, buy you some clothes, and then... find you a place to live."

He couldn't ignore the elder. On one hand, it was due to the tremor of his spiritual sense; on the other, it was out of a inexplicable sense of compassion. This elder reminded him of Tong Tian when he was first wandering the streets. Although their situations were different, that sense of detachment from the world was somewhat similar.

The elder's clouded eyes seemed to brighten for a moment, but quickly returned to their blankness. He merely murmured, "Good... good... destined person..."

Disregarding the stares of the onlookers, who looked at him as if he were an idiot, Lin Fan helped the elder up, carefully wrapped his "junk" in the old felt mat, and then, carrying the shopping bag in one hand and supporting the elder with the other, walked towards a small noodle shop next to the residential complex.

He ordered a steaming bowl of beef noodles for the elder, along with some steamed buns and a small dish of pickles. Upon seeing the food, the elder's eyes lit up. Without regard for the heat, he began to devour it ravenously. His eating style bore a striking resemblance to how Tong Tian used to eat instant noodles.

Lin Fan watched from the side, his mind filled with questions. Although the elder appeared down and out, his eating style hinted at a certain... indescribable demeanor, unlike someone who had been starving for a long time.

After the elder had eaten his fill, Lin Fan took him to a nearby clothing store and bought him a fitting, warm cotton-padded suit. After changing into the new clothes, although the elder's hair was still white and his face weathered, much of his destitution had faded, replaced by a sense of accumulated years.

Finally, there was the issue of a place to stay. Lin Fan's own rental apartment was only ten square meters. With two Sages already living there, it was crowded enough; there was no way to accommodate another person.

He thought for a moment and took the elder to a relatively inexpensive small hotel near the residential complex. Using his own ID, he rented a single room and prepaid three days' rent.

"Elder, please rest here for now," Lin Fan said, settling the elder into the room and placing the old felt bundle by his bed. "These are your belongings, please keep them safe."

The elder sat on the bed, touched the clean bedding, and then looked at Lin Fan. A barely perceptible fluctuation seemed to appear in his clouded eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, it only turned into an inaudible sigh, repeating, "Destined person... thank you..."

Lin Fan sighed, looking at the elder's appearance. He instructed, "Please rest well, I'll come to see you again tomorrow." With that, he left the hotel.

Returning to the rental apartment, Lin Fan put away the groceries he had purchased. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell Tong Tian and Nüwa about encountering the strange elder and exchanging a meal, a set of clothes, and three days of lodging for those "junk" items.

"...I don't know why, but I just felt that the elder and those items were a bit unusual," Lin Fan said, scratching his head.

Nüwa's eyes showed a look of interest upon hearing this. "Hold a kind thought, sense destiny, and bring forth what you've exchanged for a look."

Lin Fan quickly opened the old felt bundle, revealing the broken pottery bowl, cracked wooden tablet, and half a metal fragment inside.

As the three items were fully exposed to the air, Tong Tian, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. His gaze was like lightning, instantly locking onto the cracked wooden tablet! Nüwa also turned her attention to the chipped pottery bowl, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"This wood..." Tong Tian reached out and grabbed at the air, and the cracked wooden tablet floated lightly into his hand. He ran his fingertips over the seemingly chaotic cracks on the tablet, his eyes sharp. "It contains a trace of an extremely faint 'space' Dao pattern! Although it's severely damaged and almost annihilated, its essence... is it a fragment of a 'storage magic artifact'?!"

Storage magic artifact?! Lin Fan's eyes widened. Things like storage rings and bags, so common in novels, actually existed? And in the form of such a broken wooden tablet?

Nüwa also picked up the broken pottery bowl, examining it carefully. She said softly, "This bowl... is also not simple. Although its spirituality is completely lost, its material... actually contains a trace of 'dust cleansing' and 'spirit condensing' Dao charm residue, seemingly a fragment of some 'pure water vase' or 'medicine bowl'. The refining technique... is quite ancient."

She then looked at the half metal fragment, frowning slightly. "This item... its killing intent is contained, its malevolent aura is heavy. It should be a fragment of some weapon of slaughter, and... it has drunk countless blood."

Lin Fan listened, dumbfounded. A broken bowl, rotten wood, a rusty iron piece... In the eyes of two Sages, they actually had such astonishing origins? Storage magic artifact, pure water vase/medicine bowl, weapon of slaughter?! Who exactly was that seemingly deranged, amnesiac old man?! How could he possess these things? And why would he exchange them for the most basic survival supplies?

Tong Tian put down the wooden tablet and looked at Lin Fan, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. "When you exchanged for this item, was there anything unusual about that old man?"

Lin Fan recalled carefully, describing the old man's state, his words, and his strange request for "a bowl of food, a warm piece of clothing, and a place to shelter" in detail.

"'Wait for a fated person... to exchange for travel expenses...'" Nüwa softly repeated the words, a flash of understanding in her eyes. "It seems this old man isn't completely amnesiac. At least, he remembers his mission, or rather... his obsession. He knows his belongings are extraordinary, but due to some reason, he has fallen to this place, penniless. He can only use this method to find a 'fated person' who can recognize the value of his items and provide him with the most basic help, in the hope that... perhaps he can regain his strength, or complete some unfinished business?"

Tong Tian's gaze fell on the few broken artifacts again, and he said coldly, "These three items are all extraordinary. Even though they are broken, their materials and residual Dao charms are not of this realm. That old man is definitely not an ordinary mortal. His origin is likely related to the Daoist priest my junior sister met the other day."

Another remnant of the Primordial Era? Or a fallen one from another world? Lin Fan felt his scalp tingle. What was going on with this world? Why did it feel like all sorts of gods and monsters were starting to flock to this ordinary modern city? Was his "Shelter" really going to become a "Rescue Station for Fallen Beings from All Realms"?

"Then... what should we do?" Lin Fan asked. That old man was still staying at the inn.

"Observe and wait." Tong Tian said lightly. "His condition is strange, and his purpose is unclear. For now, maintain the status quo. Since he recognizes you as a 'fated person', he will seek you out again. At that time, we may be able to glimpse his background."

Nüwa also nodded. "My senior brother speaks wisely. Lin Fan, you will visit him tomorrow as promised. Pay attention to any changes in his words and actions. Remember, do not make promises lightly, nor reveal our existence."

"I understand." Lin Fan solemnly agreed. He knew this was another unknown trouble, but it might also be an opportunity. Those few broken magic artifacts might be useless to him, but for the two Sages to study the rules of this realm and try to restore their strength, they might provide some clues?

He carefully put away the three broken artifacts, filled with caution and anticipation for his next meeting with the old man tomorrow.

However, neither Lin Fan, nor Tong Tian and Nüwa, could have predicted that the old man's influence would extend far beyond this.

On the same afternoon that Lin Fan "exchanged" for three suspected Primordial Era magic artifacts with a meal, a middle-aged man dressed impeccably, with a refined demeanor and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, walked into the VIP room of the city's most high-end art auction house, "Jiade Art Gallery," accompanied by several assistants and bodyguards.

He was a top domestic collector and art critic, named Zhou Wenyuan, holding a respected position and possessing a discerning eye in the circle. He was here to preview the items for an upcoming major auction.

Zhou Wenyuan enthusiastically admired the valuable paintings and antiques by famous artists, occasionally exchanging a few words with the gallery manager beside him, offering his critiques.

When he reached a relatively secluded display case, his steps suddenly stopped. Inside the case was a landscape painting, depicting several seemingly ordinary orchids. The brushwork was not particularly exquisite, and the composition was slightly simple. Amidst the surrounding colorful oil paintings and meticulously detailed traditional Chinese paintings, it appeared out of place.

However, Zhou Wenyuan's gaze was firmly captivated!

He leaned closer to the display case, almost pressing against the glass, examining the painting closely. Gradually, his breathing became rapid, and his face showed an expression of extreme shock and intoxication!

"This... how is this possible..." Zhou Wenyuan muttered to himself, his voice trembling slightly. "Simple form, profound meaning, spirit arises naturally... These orchids... seem to have life! This ink color... this water charm... seemingly casual, yet it contains the ultimate principles of heaven and earth! This... this is not a 'painting' at all, it's the trace of the 'Dao'!"

He suddenly turned to the auction house manager beside him and asked urgently, "This painting! Who is the artist? Is it a new work by some reclusive master?!"

The auction house manager was startled by Zhou Wenyuan's excited reaction and quickly flipped through the documents in his hand, saying with some difficulty, "Mr. Zhou, this painting... has a rather special origin. It was consigned by an anonymous seller, with no author information left behind. Our expert team has also appraised it, believing the brushwork to be ancient and the artistic conception lofty. It might be the work of some unknown ancient painter, or... a high imitation? But the specific era and author cannot be determined."

"Anonymous? Cannot be determined?" Zhou Wenyuan's brow furrowed, his gaze returning to the orchid painting, his eyes burning. "No! This can absolutely not be the work of an ancient painter! Ancient painters may have had different skill levels, but this kind of 'vitality' and 'Dao charm' contained within the brushstrokes cannot be faked! This is... this is something that transcends the level of 'skill'!"

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and said to the auction house manager, "This painting, I am determined to acquire! No matter who the artist is, it is a priceless treasure! Also, immediately mobilize all resources and investigate for me! Investigate the origin of this painting! I want to know, who exactly painted such a work!"

A storm raged within Zhou Wenyuan's heart. He had dedicated his life to art and had seen countless masterpieces, but no painting had ever touched his soul so directly, making him feel a baptism akin to the 'Dao', like this simple orchid painting before him! This artist must be an earth-shattering talent! Perhaps... they were no longer within the scope of "mortals"!

He had a strong premonition that finding the artist of this painting might reveal a world-shattering secret!

What he didn't know was that this "Orchid Grass Painting", which he marveled at as divine, was one of the practice works Nüwa casually sketched with Lin Fan's sketchbook and ordinary ink when she had nothing else to do. A few days ago, when Lin Fan was tidying up his room, he felt that Nüwa had drawn too many drafts, and some that seemed "simple" he treated as scrap paper. Some of these somehow got out and were picked up by perceptive individuals, eventually ending up at the auction house...

An invisible vortex began to form around Nüwa's seemingly casual "artistic creation." And the ancient magic artifacts brought by the amnesiac old man, and the brushstrokes of creation revealed by Nüwa, were about to stir up what kind of storm in this modern city?

Lin Fan's "awakening" seemed poised to drag him into an even deeper, broader, and unknown world.