I Observe Divine Charm Through Time

When the second strand of Time Qi was pulled from Girl Zhuifeng, An Le's breathing quickened involuntarily.

Something was wrong!

According to his experience, Time Qi could only be drawn from the same target once a day.

He had tested it on Fairy Yun Rou before, so why could he pull out a second strand today?

Was it because of Girl Zhuifeng, or because of An Le himself?

Reflecting upon himself thrice, An Le immediately realized that the only difference between now and when he had freeloaded off Fairy Yun Rou was that he had now stepped onto the path of cultivation!

Perhaps... an increase in cultivation could increase the number of times he could draw Time Qi each day?!

The more Time Qi he had, the easier it would be for An Le to grow stronger...

They complemented each other perfectly.

With a thought, the light screen appeared.

Name: An Le

Time Qi: 3 strands

Time Dao Fruit: Cultivation Genius (0/10)

Cultivation Technique Mastered: Qi Induction Breathing Technique (1 strand)

Skill Mastered: Zhao Ancestor Long Fist (Incomplete) (1 strand)

...

On the light screen, his Time Qi had increased to three strands.

What An Le found regrettable was that the second strand of Time Qi drawn from Girl Zhuifeng was not Golden Time Qi either, so it could not condense into a Time Dao Fruit.

"Just beginning your enlightenment? Then you really did start far too late." Girl Zhuifeng knew nothing of An Le drawing Time Qi from her.

"It does not matter. Being able to step onto the path of cultivation already leaves An quite satisfied," An Le replied with a smile.

"Young Master An has a good mindset." Girl Zhuifeng smiled brightly and frankly. "If cultivators like us could all maintain such a mindset, there would not be so many people stuck at bottlenecks, taking the edge of the sword in desperation when they could not break through, straying onto crooked paths, falling into the demonic way, and burying their futures and vitality."

"Cultivation is not something without risks."

Girl Zhuifeng found An Le increasingly pleasing to the eye.

The two walked deeper into Lin Manor along the Bluestone Slab Road, passing one courtyard and residence after another.

Many servants of the manor put down whatever they were holding and respectfully bowed upon seeing Girl Zhuifeng. Though she was a maid, her status within Lin Manor was clearly quite high.

Girl Zhuifeng led An Le to the reception hall. From afar, they could already see many figures gathered within.

"Young Master An, we have arrived."

"You are the last painter. There are now thirty painters gathered within Lin Manor, all of them somewhat renowned in Lin'an Prefecture."

Girl Zhuifeng pointed toward the central hall ahead and smiled at An Le.

"Inviting so many painters... what is this for?" An Le asked curiously.

Girl Zhuifeng glanced at An Le's handsome profile and did not hide it from him. "You will know soon enough anyway, so there is no harm in telling you."

"This time, the painters have been invited mainly to paint portraits for the young masters of Lin Manor who are about to march out. The order came from Old Madam. You know the style of Lin Manor as well—just like Old Duke Ling: loyal to the core, with hearts and guts of iron. Once they go onto the battlefield, they stake Lin Manor's honor on the slaughter. Their eyes see only the enemy, and only by killing enemies can they preserve this Eight-Treasure Double-Eave Dripping Tianbo Tower and Stone Tablet Jade Workshop."

"Old Duke Ling died in battle before this. Of the Lin family's seven young masters, three have fallen. The eldest young master died beyond the passes, while the second and third masters did not even leave behind their bones. Old Madam's final days are drawing near, and she has grown ever more nostalgic. She cannot bear the thought that one day she may even forget the faces of her sons and grandsons who died in battle, so she invited painters to create portraits, only to leave behind something to remember them by."

As Girl Zhuifeng spoke, her voice sank, and her spirits fell.

Hearing this, An Le fell silent as well.

The portraits were a farewell gift, so that the elders of the manor could look upon them and remember their loved ones, rather than someday forgetting even the faces of their sons because their memories had blurred. Such loyalty and righteousness moved him.

"An will certainly give it his all," An Le said solemnly.

Girl Zhuifeng gathered her emotions and flashed An Le a grin. "First stand out among all these painters before saying that."

"Ninth Sister was greatly surprised by your painting style, which was why she had Captain Huang search for your whereabouts. Do not let Ninth Sister down."

An Le cupped his hands in salute, his expression grave.

Then, led by Girl Zhuifeng, he stepped into the central hall.

The moment he entered, countless gazes swept over him like needles. Shadows of people filled the hall, all dressed like scholars, their ages varying greatly.

After all, they were competitors. Everyone knew that if their paintings pleased Old Madam Yu of Lin Manor, there would be no shortage of benefits.

Naturally, they had no pleasant expressions for An Le, this newly arrived competitor.

Because An Le had arrived last, his place was near the entrance.

After settling An Le down, Girl Zhuifeng entered the front of the hall and sat beside a delicate young woman. An Le swept his gaze over and saw willow-leaf brows, a gentle gaze like water, and a face lightly touched with makeup, stunningly beautiful.

However, An Le only glanced at her before looking away. His eyes swept across the entire hall, and waves suddenly surged in his heart, leaving him with only one thought...

Was this heaven?

There was too much Time Qi!

It was enough to make his eyes blur as though lost amid a riot of flowers.

Especially near the high seat, almost everyone had Time Qi entwined around them, with at least ten strands each...

Those with more included the gorgeously dressed noblewoman seated in the place of honor, whose Time Qi coiled around her in perhaps more than a hundred strands.

An Le looked toward the noblewoman. With a thought, he somewhat laboriously drew a strand of Time Qi from her. Yet the instant that strand left her body—

The noblewoman looked over, her gaze profound. It was like waves rising over a vast sea, and in an instant, immense pressure descended upon An Le, leaving him feeling as though thorns pressed against his back.

The noblewoman seated in the place of honor slightly furrowed her dark brows, faintly puzzled. Meeting the youth's gaze, even her tranquil Primordial Spirit could not help but stir.

But the youth's spiritual energy was weak and his cultivation too low to discern, so the noblewoman abandoned the thought of investigating. She spoke softly, "All you painters should already know why Lin Manor invited you here, yes?"

"The young masters of Lin Manor will soon march out. We hope that your paintings can preserve their faces, so that we women may have something to remember them by within the manor, and gaze upon the portraits to think of them in our leisure hours."

"Rest assured, Madam Hua. We will certainly pour all the painting skills of our lives into this. In truth, inviting this old man alone would have sufficed. This old man has immersed himself in Gongbi painting for decades and has gained deep insight into it. There was no need to make such a great fuss," said an elderly painter as he stroked his beard.

Madam Hua smiled lightly. "Master Liu Qingyan is a renowned painter of Lin'an, but painting portraits for the young masters is a matter of great importance. Naturally, we must take it seriously."

"If the paintings are good, Lin Manor will surely reward you generously."

Madam Hua sat upright in a sandalwood chair. Her face was peerlessly beautiful, her dark brows gently curved, and beneath her dignified grace lay a trace of unfathomable depth.

She swept her gaze across the painters and smiled gently. "Then, everyone, please proceed to Tianbo Water Pavilion. I have arranged tables, chairs, and the four treasures of the study there. Only one painter will remain in the end, so I hope you will all do your utmost."

Having spoken, Madam Hua rose gracefully and took the lead with the people of Lin Manor toward the water pavilion.

The painters followed. Seeing that the noblewoman had not pursued the matter, An Le let out a quiet breath and followed behind everyone else like an unnoticed little speck.

The water pavilion stood behind Tianbo Tower, built beside the manor's Great Pond. Water bordered it on three sides, fish swimming in the pond like clusters of brocade flowers. Across from the pavilion stood the Eight-Treasure Double-Eave Dripping Tianbo Tower, allowing one to take in its grandeur amid scenery uniquely fine.

The open ground outside the pavilion had been cleared, with thirty desks arranged upon it. The four treasures of the study had all been laid out on the desks, clearly prepared long ago.

The painters each found a desk and took their places. Some ground ink, some pondered, and some stroked the paper.

Madam Hua sat in the main hall of the water pavilion, from where she could watch the painters creating their works on the open ground.

Suddenly, Madam Hua lifted her brows and saw a youth at the very last desk raise his hand.

It was the youth whose presence had stirred her Primordial Spirit earlier.

"What is it? Please speak, young master," Madam Hua said softly. Though separated by a great distance, her voice reached An Le's ears with perfect clarity.

Hearing this, An Le took a deep breath. "Madam, the tools I use for painting are somewhat different. I require a wooden drawing board, several sheets of thick paper, some charcoal sticks, a small knife, and one white steamed bun."

What kind of bizarre request was this?

Madam Hua was startled, and the painters present wore strange expressions as well.

Master Liu Qingyan stroked his beard and sneered. "Painting with charcoal? Absurd nonsense! Young people only know how to play to the crowd. Utterly laughable."

How could charcoal compare to a brush? How could a painting made with it possibly be fit for the eye?

Quite a few painters chuckled as well, shaking their heads repeatedly, their hearts filled with disdain.

Yet An Le's expression did not change.

Within the main hall of the water pavilion, Ninth Sister Lin Qingyin slowly rose. "Elder Sister-in-law, I invited this young painter. His paintings are indeed different from ordinary people's, but their strength lies in their realism. The people in them seem to leap from the paper."

"Since he is a painter invited by Ninth Sister, his requests are naturally no issue." Madam Hua gave Ninth Sister an indulgent look, then sent someone to prepare the items.

Before long, everything An Le needed had been readied.

After having An Le's tools prepared, Madam Hua lifted the celadon cup on the desk and took a light sip of warm tea. She said calmly, "Since everything is ready, then begin painting."

"I shall sit here. Paint me."

Madam Hua's words fell.

The painters below all felt waves surging in their hearts. Their faces flushed, and even the hands gripping their brushes trembled.

What status did Madam Hua possess? She was the lawful wife of Lin Manor's eldest young master. The eldest young master had long since been granted the title of marquis, while Madam Hua herself had received a first-rank imperial honor from the Emperor. Her status was incomparably noble.

Painting Madam Hua was an immense honor, yet it also placed mountain-like pressure upon the painters.

After pondering for some time, the painters all picked up their brushes, soaked them full with ink, and began to set brush to paper, sketching lines across processed Xuan paper.

When painters painted people, most used Gongbi techniques for fine outlines. Raw Xuan paper absorbed water easily and let it spread, making it suited for freehand expression. Processed Xuan paper did not absorb water and could be used for line drawing.

The water pavilion was tranquil, the murmuring flow of water crisp and pleasant.

The painters set brush to paper, and the sound of brush tips rubbing against paper was like a soft breeze passing through a sea of bamboo.

Yet An Le remained standing where he was. When painting a person, appearance was important, but spirit and charm were even more important. Capturing that spirit and charm was the key to elevating a painting.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly raised his head and fixed his gaze upon the noblewoman, whose dignity and luxury only enhanced her breathtaking beauty.

Then, he slightly closed his eyes.

Perhaps he possessed a better method than the others for observing divine charm.

With a thought—

He brought forth the strand of Time Qi that he had earlier drawn from Madam Hua with difficulty.

I Observe Divine Charm Through Time!

That strand of Time Qi was unexpectedly not ordinary grey Time Qi. It bloomed with golden radiance, like a stick of incense burning upright, as an image slowly emerged like ripples spreading across water.