Could It Be... I Got It Wrong?

Although this had absolutely nothing to do with Jing Pu, he still couldn't help feeling nervous. Jing Pu spoke first:

"I heard Ling Jing mention before that his elder sister is the Holy Maiden Ling Ju, graceful and elegant, with skin like ice and bones like jade. Seeing you today, I can say it's true."

Jing Pu's sudden remark eased Ling Ju's anger a little.

Ling Ju hadn't expected Jing Pu to greet her first, and so politely, too. On the way here, Ling Tiannan and Di Chen had been so nervous they'd told her all sorts of things about Jing Pu.

Ling Ju also knew that the imposing man before her was an immortal from the Upper Realm.

But he was so approachable, greeting her first. Ling Ju was at a loss for a moment. Once she came to her senses, she lowered her head slightly and bowed.

"I came to visit you so abruptly today, Senior. I'm truly sorry for the trouble. It was my fault."

Ling Ju wasn't as angry as before, but no matter what, she still had to do what she'd come for!

Ling Ju immediately looked up at Jing Pu, ready to speak.

But Jing Pu suddenly looked at Di Chen and Ling Tiannan, who stood behind her.

Those two had been scared half to death on the way here. As far as Ling Tiannan and Di Chen were concerned, neither of these people was someone they could afford to offend.

Seeing Di Chen suddenly reminded Jing Pu of something. He asked with sudden curiosity:

"Elder Di, have you decided what kind of painting you want?"

If he hadn't seen Di Chen today, Jing Pu really would have almost forgotten about the painting. The main reason was that Ling Jing and Lie Chun had been keeping him busy these past few days.

When Jing Pu suddenly asked about it, Di Chen was so moved he nearly cried. Senior... Senior really was too good to him. He'd asked about it as soon as Di Chen arrived.

Di Chen had wanted to come ask for a painting all these days, but two people had been digging away in Jing Pu's yard every day. On top of that, Jing Pu had said he'd be busy for a few days and told him not to come yet, so Di Chen had kept holding back.

So many days had passed that Di Chen had worried Senior might have forgotten about it. But now it seemed Senior hadn't forgotten at all; he'd kept it in mind the whole time.

Di Chen immediately looked at Jing Pu and replied repeatedly:

"Senior, I've decided."

Jing Pu was a little exasperated. Why did these people all like calling him Senior so much?

It was one thing for young people like Ling Jing and Lie Chun to call him that, but even an old man did. He'd already told Di Chen he didn't need to call him Senior. Jing Pu wondered if he really looked that old.

But he didn't correct him again. If they wanted to call him that, then so be it. It didn't matter...

Jing Pu nodded. "Then come with me. Tell me what kind of painting you want."

Jing Pu turned and headed for the house, and Di Chen followed, brimming with excitement.

Ling Tiannan did the same, since Di Chen had said he would share the painting with him.

As for Ling Ju, she didn't say anything else and followed along.

Ling Ju hadn't come to quarrel with Jing Pu. She'd come to tell him to stop letting Ling Jing get so absorbed in digging every day.

Besides, on the way here, Ling Tiannan and Di Chen had told her again and again about Jing Pu's circumstances. He was an immortal from the Upper Realm.

Though Ling Ju wasn't afraid of an immortal from the Upper Realm, whether as the legitimate imperial daughter of the Bei Lan Dynasty or as the Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool Holy Land.

She'd met plenty of immortals from the Upper Realm alongside her father and master. Both the Bei Lan Dynasty and the Jade Pool Holy Land had produced immortals from the Upper Realm.

So Ling Ju wasn't afraid of Jing Pu, but that didn't mean she could afford to offend him.

She had to be polite. If Senior had other things to do, she would naturally wait until he was finished.

As Ling Ju followed behind Jing Pu, Ling Jing sidled up beside her and whispered sheepishly:

"Sis... what are you doing here?"

Ling Jing was genuinely scared. If his sister found out he'd secretly taken the Dragon Heart Soft Armor, he figured he might as well pick a lucky spot for a grave in the yard and lie down in it right now.

It would have been better if Ling Jing had kept quiet. The moment he spoke, Ling Ju glared at him.

"I'll deal with you when we get back!"

Ling Jing hunched his shoulders, lowered his head, and didn't dare say another word.

Once they reached the study, Jing Pu took out his brushes and inkstone and laid them all out.

When Jing Pu brought out his things, everyone curiously extended their spiritual sense toward them, hoping to see what sort of treasures he used.

But as soon as their spiritual sense entered the inkstone, it was like a mud cow disappearing into the sea—there was no response at all. Everyone drew a faint breath. Senior's things... really were extraordinary...

After laying out the paper, Jing Pu looked at Di Chen, who stood opposite him, and asked:

"Elder Di, what kind of painting would you like?"

Di Chen hurriedly replied, "Senior, I'd like to ask for a painting of all things coming back to life."

A painting of all things coming back to life?

Jing Pu thought for a moment. A spring scene would fit best. He nodded, said nothing more, and prepared to paint.

It was the first time in three years that someone had watched Jing Pu paint. He was actually a little excited.

He took a deep breath, ready to do his best, then lowered his hand and touched the brush to the paper.

The instant Jing Pu made his first stroke...

Hum!!!

Hum!!!

Hum!!!

Everything before them changed in an instant!

The moment Jing Pu's brush touched the paper, it seemed as though everyone had entered a strange space.

It was bright with spring sunlight, bursting with spring colors. They were in a little farmhouse courtyard, where all kinds of plants grew and small animals wandered nearby.

The space brimmed with spring. Birds sang and flowers filled the air. They had only stood there for a few seconds when they suddenly felt a wave of comfort wash over their entire bodies. All their exhaustion from the past few days vanished.

But just then, a light rain began to fall. A gentle spring rain, precious as oil. When the raindrops landed on their cheeks and clothes, they felt a surge of vitality pour into their bodies!

The feeling was impossible to describe. If they had to put it in plain, vulgar terms, they felt that after those spring raindrops fell on them, they'd all live several years longer!

But the spring rain quickly stopped, and they were suddenly pulled out of the illusion. Jing Pu was standing before them, putting the finishing touches on the painting.

Everyone stared in terror. Senior's strength... even in the Upper Realm, he had to be an absolute top expert!!

Ling Tiannan and Di Chen fared a little better, since they'd already experienced the scene in Longevity. So, despite their shock, they quickly came back to their senses. Even after seeing the scene in Longevity before, they still couldn't help clicking their tongues in amazement.

Ling Ju had never seen anything like this or felt anything like it. She stood rooted to the spot, completely dazed.

Ling Jing was the quickest to recover. He'd spent these past few days carrying a hoe and digging. He often entered the world inside the hoe to meditate.

Ling Jing was also the calmest of them all. He'd spent seven days with Jing Pu. Of course, he'd only been there in the mornings, but he'd seen far too many of Jing Pu's incredible abilities.

After coming to his senses, Ling Jing glanced out the window and stared for a moment. Then he excitedly whispered in Ling Ju's ear:

"Sis!! Look, that mountain outside!!"

Ling Ju paused as she came back to her senses. The next moment, she furrowed her delicate brows slightly and looked out the window. After one glance, astonishment filled her beautiful face.

The mountain outside was the very one Ling Jing had damaged earlier. It wasn't exactly that he'd dug it down; there had been a boulder on the mountain, and Ling Jing had been digging around it. After all that digging, the boulder had become unstable and rolled down that afternoon.

But now... that boulder... was right back on the mountain, safe and sound.

And a huge rainbow had appeared around it.

Ling Tiannan and Di Chen noticed it too. They stared at the boulder on the mountain and the enormous rainbow.

The shock in everyone's hearts was beyond words. Senior... Senior really was too powerful... The mere hint of the Profound Mechanism of Principles that had leaked out while he painted had caused an extraordinary phenomenon between heaven and earth...

But Ling Ju, now that she'd come to her senses, suddenly felt a little regretful. Could it be... she'd got it wrong??!