Time never lingered, seasons flowed like water—Dao Fruit Self-Transformation!
The Cultivation Genius Dao Fruit transformed into Talent of the Ages!
An Le opened his eyes, a flicker of delight rising in his heart. The Cultivation Genius Dao Fruit had already granted him considerable benefits, allowing him to swiftly comprehend the "Sword Waterfall Diagram" and enter stillness through observing the sword diagram within three quarters of an hour.
It could be said that the Cultivation Genius Dao Fruit had elevated his talent. Now, its transformation was surely for the better. With the infusion of ten wisps of Time Qi, it had transformed into Talent of the Ages.
As its name suggested, it was a genius born only once in a thousand years!
Such talent was anything but ordinary!
If the Cultivation Genius could allow him to step into the fifth realm on the Path of Cultivation, then Talent of the Ages might well allow him to easily shatter the barrier of the fifth realm.
Madam Hua had told him that although every breakthrough on the Path of Cultivation was extremely difficult, stepping from the fifth realm into the sixth was the hardest step of all.
Even someone like Luo Qingchen, who had emerged from Qingzhou with spirit soaring into the heavens, a genius rarely seen in a century, had wasted more than ten years in the fifth realm. Though his Dao Heart being shrouded in dust had played a part, it was enough to show how difficult it was.
Though he was in the Training Hall, An Le was beside himself with joy. With a thought, the light screen appeared.
... Name: An Le Time Qi: 3 wisps Time Dao Fruits: Talent of the Ages (Flowing Gold Time Qi 0/2 wisps, 0/100 wisps), Sword Dancer (0/10 wisps), Fearless Heart Cultivation Methods Mastered: "Sword Waterfall Diagram" (0 wisps), "Qi Induction Breathing Technique" (1 wisp) Skills Mastered: "Five-Animal Body-Tempering Technique" (0 wisps), "Zhao Family Ancestral Long Fist (Incomplete)" (1 wisp) ...
The Time Dao Fruits section on the light screen had changed, and Talent of the Ages was prominently listed among them.
Yet An Le's eyes narrowed slightly. Compared to the transformation conditions for the Cultivation Genius Dao Fruit, the conditions for Talent of the Ages were even more exacting.
"Flowing Gold Time Qi can condense Time Dao Fruits. The transformation conditions require two wisps of Flowing Gold Time Qi... does that mean I need to provide two Time Dao Fruits?"
"Besides that, it also requires one hundred wisps of grey Time Qi..."
An Le murmured, sensing the difficulty.
Still, it was only reasonable. Becoming stronger had never been easy. With the light screen in hand, being able to grow stronger in a visible, tangible way was already a kind of fortune.
The transformation requirements for the Talent of the Ages Dao Fruit merely meant he would need to spend more time gathering Time Qi and witnessing the glorious bygone years of the world's powerful figures. It sounded difficult, yet not truly so.
Two wisps of Flowing Gold Time Qi could be used to convert and empower Dao Fruits that were not greatly needed or were too similar.
Recently, An Le had also discovered a few little tricks when drawing Time Qi.
It was easier to obtain Flowing Gold Time Qi from powerful people.
For example, he had drawn from Fairy Yun Rou three times before obtaining Flowing Gold Time Qi, whereas from Madam Hua and Luo Qingchen, he had drawn it on the first try.
Of course, such deductions were not entirely accurate. This time, for instance, An Le had not drawn any Flowing Gold Time Qi from Fourth Master Lin.
There was still an element of luck involved.
Yet the Dao Fruit's transformation undoubtedly invigorated An Le and put him in high spirits.
He opened his eyes and looked toward the young masters of Lin Manor. Every bare-chested young master suddenly seemed remarkably fine-featured and handsome.
"Young Master An, what's wrong?"
Lin Qingyin had been observing An Le. When she saw him suddenly close his eyes, she thought something might have gone wrong with his body.
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Qingyin. I am perfectly well. Let us begin painting the young masters, then. May I ask which young master will go first?"
An Le asked with a smile.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Zhuifeng removed the fire poker from her waist and strode into the Training Hall.
"Everyone, Old Madam has invited an artist to paint portraits for you. This artist is very skilled. Who wants to go first?"
Lin Zhuifeng grinned broadly.
Her voice echoed through the hall, only to be swiftly drowned beneath the many young masters' battle cries of "Hmph! Hah! Hey!" No one paid her any heed.
Yet Lin Zhuifeng was not annoyed in the slightest. Instead, the fire poker in her hand began spinning around her wrist like a windmill.
"Since none of you will answer, then we shall let strength do the talking. Whoever can defeat the fire poker in my hand may move to the back of the line!"
As her words fell, the fire poker in Lin Zhuifeng's hand abruptly lengthened and thickened. Majestic blood qi erupted like real flames, setting off blazing waves of heat!
She swung it straight at one of the young masters.
A moment later.
That young master, bruised and swollen, tears glimmering in his eyes, was dragged before An Le by Lin Zhuifeng.
"Young Master An, this is Eighth Young Master Lin Ye, Seventh Master's legitimate son. He is very happy to be the first young master painted."
The fire poker had been tucked back at Lin Zhuifeng's waist, and she flashed her gleaming white teeth in a grin.
Which eye of yours saw that he was happy?
An Le's mouth twitched as he looked at the Eighth Young Master, whose face was full of grievance. He had no idea how to respond.
Eighth Young Master Lin Ye looked at An Le and pleaded pitifully, "Sir, please paint me handsomely. These bruises and swellings... they need to disappear."
"Rest assured, Eighth Young Master. I have received extensive training in the field of photo retouching. I am a professional."
An Le smiled.
Soon, all the painting tools Lin Qingyin had ordered prepared were brought over.
As for Eighth Young Master Lin Ye, he sat bruised and swollen on the little stool Lin Zhuifeng had prepared. There had originally been a grand chair, but Lin Zhuifeng had made her stance clear: only those who voluntarily came to be painted could sit in the grand chair. Those dragged here by her could only sit on a little stool.
An Le picked up a stick of charcoal, sharpened it with a dagger, spread thick paper over a drawing board, and set his pen to it with a soft rustling sound.
Within the Training Hall, blood qi surged, and hot blood burned toward the heavens.
Outside, spring rain struck the tiles like crisp pearls.
With pen in hand, accompanied by that faint rustling, the youth began the first painting of his employment at Lin Manor.
By evening, the spring rain had gradually stopped, the twilight clouds dispersed, and crimson sunset glow spilled across the world.
The air was cool and thin, and the wind that blew carried a refreshing clarity.
An Le folded away his oil-paper umbrella. Dressed in blue, he left Lin Manor under the cheerful send-off of Lin Zhuifeng, Lin Qingyin, and the bruised and swollen Eighth Young Master Lin Ye.
Eighth Young Master Lin Ye was overjoyed. He had thought that after being beaten up by Lin Zhuifeng, the artist would be unable to capture his handsome and dashing appearance. Yet who could have expected that An Le would so perfectly grasp Lin Ye's charm? Not only had the portrait looked true to life, it had made him even more handsome!
It did not take Lin Ye long to go from unwillingness to wholehearted approval.
While An Le painted, Lin Qingyin studied at his side. An Le also took the opportunity to teach her a few techniques for sketching from life, such as how to hold a pen, control light and shadow, and use lines.
Teaching as he painted, he refined the portrait with painstaking care. Thus, he had only painted the Eighth Young Master today.
But there was plenty of time. No one had ever demanded that An Le finish painting every young master in a single day; quality mattered more.
"Young Master An, this is your payment for today's work: ten Primordial Spirit Treasures."
A maid dressed in fine brocade came jogging over with a smile and handed An Le an embroidered money pouch.
This was Xi Xiang, Madam Hua's personal maid, an elder sister with a rather generous bosom.
"Thank you, Miss Xi Xiang. Please convey An Le's thanks to Madam Hua."
An Le accepted the pouch with a smile and cupped his hands in salute.
Seeing An Le's handsome and courteous appearance, Xi Xiang could not help covering her mouth with a soft laugh. After looking at him a few more times, she finally turned and returned to Lin Manor.
Beneath the evening glow and sunset clouds, An Le held his umbrella in one hand as he walked along the Bluestone Slab Road of Quiet Street.
The Dao Fruit had transformed, he had earned another ten Primordial Spirit Treasures, and he was bathed in the fresh breeze after the rain. An Le was in an excellent mood.
Even the effect on his mood from the earlier attack at the Quiet Street Entrance had faded considerably.
He was even a little impatient to return to the inn and cultivate properly, to experience the benefits granted by the Talent of the Ages Dao Fruit.
Yet just as he left Quiet Street, An Le spotted an acquaintance. Captain Huang Xian of the Black Office, dressed differently from the Yamen constables, was striding toward him.
"Young Master An." Huang Xian's expression was solemn.
The joy on An Le's face gradually faded. He remembered that he had promised to draw a criminal portrait for Captain Huang.
"I know all about the attack you encountered at the Quiet Street Entrance... Qin Manor stands behind Mr. Luo. Qin Manor and Lin Manor share a blood feud. Mr. Luo originally intended to bribe Liu Qingyan into entering Lin Manor as a portrait artist, to use some means to disgust Old Madam, but you stopped him. That is why you were caught up in this."
Huang Xian explained the entire matter very clearly.
An Le nodded. Without Madam Hua's promise, Qin Manor truly would have been like an overturned mountain, crushing him until he could not breathe, leaving him unable to eat or sleep in peace.
But with Madam Hua's promise, An Le could focus on improving himself.
"Madam Hua has already told me all this. Since I have entered the employ of Lin Manor, there is no reason for me to retreat."
An Le smiled gently.
Looking at An Le's carefree calm, Huang Xian could not help feeling some admiration.
"By the way, I must trouble Captain Huang to arrest Liu Qingyan, or tell me where he is... Repay virtue with virtue, answer resentment with righteousness. Liu Qingyan hired people to attack me, so naturally I must seek justice from him. After all, I hold the title of Juren scholar."
An Le clasped his hands and spoke earnestly.
Yet the moment he finished speaking.
Huang Xian's expression turned strange.
"Young Master An, Liu Qingyan... is already dead."
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