A Painting Bestowed

"They truly go too far!"

Watching them leave, Wei Yushan's face was still filled with fury.

For a mere disagreement, they had directly struck and injured someone.

Yet, the Lihuo Sect could only endure it, unable to retaliate.

This, perhaps, was the cruelty and ruthlessness of the cultivation world.

Only the strong possessed justice and fairness.

"Grandmaster, are you alright?"

Mu Qianning asked Yu Qishui with concern.

"It's nothing. They didn't use their full strength. After two or three days of recuperation, I will naturally recover."

Yu Qishui shook his head and said, "It's just that even a Supreme-level force has arrived. It seems the waters here are truly growing murkier..."

"Grandmaster, Master, I wish to go pay my respects to Senior Li."

Mu Qianning spoke instead, biting her lower lip.

Yu Qishui pondered for a moment, then said, "It wouldn't hurt to go see. If Senior Li has any instructions, we can carry them out..."

Mu Qianning nodded, then turned to Huo Ling'er and said, "Sister Ling'er, come with me."

Huo Ling'er hesitated, "Senior Li doesn't like me..."

Mu Qianning grabbed her hand and said, "Senior Li is such a lofty figure; he won't mind."

With that, the two of them headed toward Small Mountain Village.

"Sister, do you have some burden on your heart?"

On the way, Mu Qianning asked.

She had gleaned something from the conversation between Huo Ling'er and Huo Mingxuan earlier.

Hearing this, Huo Ling'er let out a long sigh.

Mu Qianning had just spoken up for her, bridging the distance between them, so now she did not hide it. "My mother was killed by Huo Mingxuan's mother, the Queen."

She recounted the events of that time.

"They are that despicable!"

After listening, Mu Qianning was filled with sympathy for Huo Ling'er and anger toward Huo Mingxuan and the others.

She had never imagined that this lofty Third Princess of the Fire Kingdom had such a tragic background.

"It's just a pity that now I can't even keep my mother's keepsake..."

Huo Ling'er laughed bitterly.

"Sister Ling'er, I suddenly understand why Senior Li was unwilling to take you as his disciple last time."

Mu Qianning spoke abruptly.

"Why?" Huo Ling'er was startled.

"Your burden is hatred, and hatred is a great taboo for cultivators."

Mu Qianning said, "Senior Li has long transcended the mundane world; perhaps he dislikes this."

Huo Ling'er was silent for a long time. Even if she understood, what could she do?

Could she truly let go of her hatred?

Before long, they arrived outside Li Fan's small courtyard.

Mu Qianning stepped forward and knocked on the door. "Senior Li, are you there?"

"Come in."

From within the courtyard, Li Fan's voice came.

Mu Qianning and Huo Ling'er finally entered.

Inside the courtyard, Li Fan was tidying up his paintings.

He had hung up some of the ones he was more satisfied with.

As Mu Qianning and Huo Ling'er walked in, they looked up and saw a row of paintings hanging there!

A series of setting suns!

In that instant, the two felt as if they were standing beneath countless blazing suns—the surging grandeur of vast waves, the heroic majesty of the sun sinking westward, all laid out with breathtaking clarity within the great Dao of heaven and earth!

"No..."

Mu Qianning quickly lowered her head. Just one glance had nearly made her faint.

That terrifying Dao was too dreadful; even a single look was unbearable.

As for Huo Ling'er, her aura exploded with a roar!

She felt the call of countless Dao Fragments, as if some shackle in her mind had shattered in that instant.

—The Way of the Great Sun shared certain similarities with the fire path she cultivated.

In that moment, the light in her eyes blazed even brighter, transforming into a pale gold!

—This was the Third Realm, the Holy Fire Eyes!

She was stunned, utterly stunned.

Had she, in that single instant, cultivated the Holy Fire Eyes??

Legend said that only the Old Ancestor who founded the Fire Kingdom had ever reached this step!

Heavens...

Just what kind of great power was Senior Li...

The fortune he casually bestowed was far too profound, wasn't it?!

Meanwhile, Li Fan had finally hung up the last painting.

He turned back with satisfaction, only to see Mu Qianning and Huo Ling'er gazing at him with looks of pure admiration, and he felt a hint of pride.

In the Way of Painting, he was quite confident.

"So, how is it? Are these paintings passable?"

He smiled.

"Senior's paintings... are unseen through the ages! Unmatched in the world!"

Huo Ling'er spoke from the heart.

"Too kind." Li Fan smiled. "What brings you here this time?"

Mu Qianning stepped forward and said, "Senior, this time this junior wishes to go to the Cangli Mountain Range and would like to hear Senior's advice."

Cangli Mountain Range?

What for? Looking for gemstones?

She really wouldn't give up until she hit the Yellow River.

"If you want to go, then go."

Li Fan spoke. He couldn't stop her either.

Hearing this, Mu Qianning was overjoyed.

Since Senior Li had said so, she was completely at ease!

"Senior... also, I wanted to apologize on behalf of Sister Ling'er. Sister Ling'er was too rash last time, but she had her reasons. After all, Sister Ling'er's mother was killed by someone, and she couldn't get revenge. Now those people still come to bully her..."

"I know Senior dislikes Sister Ling'er's vengeful heart, but please forgive her recklessness last time."

Mu Qianning spoke.

Hearing this, Huo Ling'er felt deep gratitude toward Mu Qianning.

She understood that Mu Qianning speaking up for her like this risked angering Senior Li.

Li Fan was also somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected that a beauty like Huo Ling'er had such a pitiful background?

Her mother dead, unable to avenge her, and still being bullied... No wonder she had been teary-eyed the first time she came to see him.

Li Fan sighed deeply, but there was nothing he could do.

After all, he couldn't meddle in matters of the cultivation world.

What could a mere mortal like him do?

But then he thought of something, turned around, picked up his brush, and painted in a flourish!

Every stroke, every line, flowed with Dao Rhyme.

As ink droplets fell on paper, the Great Dao roared!

Huo Ling'er and Mu Qianning were both mesmerized!

How free and easy, how casual, natural and harmonious, united with the Great Dao.

Every move Li Fan made was clearly an embodiment of the Dao!

Before long, Li Fan stopped his brush.

He turned around, looked at Huo Ling'er, and said, "Well, I can't really help much. Your surname is Huo, so I'll give you a painting about fire."

With that, he handed the paper to Huo Ling'er.

Hearing this, Huo Ling'er was stunned.

Giving, giving a painting to her?

Senior Li... was granting such a favor?

She was momentarily stunned, and it was Mu Qianning who hurriedly reminded her, "Sister, take it quickly."

Only then did Huo Ling'er step forward excitedly, accepting it with both hands in a respectful manner.

"If you find yourself in a difficult moment, feel free to look at this painting—it might offer you some help."

Li Fan spoke.

He had a fair amount of confidence in his own paintings; art, when it reached a certain level, could naturally soothe the viewer's mind and cultivate their temperament. But how much it would actually help Huo Ling'er, he had no idea.

He hoped it might at least bring her a little cheer.

"Thank you, Senior! Thank you, Senior!"

Huo Ling'er was moved to tears of gratitude.

Li Fan shook his head and said, "No need to thank me."

The two then took their leave and departed.

Li Fan turned around and picked up the Little White Cat, who was sprawled limply on top of one of his paintings.

"Look at you, you worldly cat, turning a painting into a bed..."

He chuckled.

Meow meow...

Bai Xiaoqing let out a few cries, but inwardly she was helpless.

Did I choose this? Do you have any idea how terrifying the spiritual impact is just from glancing at that painting? Once you see it, you can't handle it at all...

Staying by Li Fan's side, watching him paint every day, being baptized by countless great Daos—it was both a joy and a torment for Bai Xiaoqing!

Leaving Li Fan's small courtyard.

"Qianning, thank you!"

Huo Ling'er clutched the painting tightly in her hands, feeling immensely grateful to Mu Qianning.

Mu Qianning just smiled and said, "Sister Ling'er, you don't need to thank me. All of this was granted by Senior Li."

She added sincerely, "Indeed, Senior Li's great kindness and virtue."

"Sister, aren't you going to open the painting and take a look?" Mu Qianning asked.

Huo Ling'er shook her head. "Qianning, I can't look at it now."

"Don't you remember? Senior said to open it only 'in a difficult moment.' That means Senior Li foresaw that our trip to the Secret Realm will inevitably bring danger!"

"That's when Senior Li's painting will reveal its power!"

She was filled with confidence.

Returning from Small Mountain Village to the Lihuo Sect, Mu Qianning reported to Yu Qishui and the others.

Upon learning that Senior Li had granted the two permission to go, they were all overjoyed.

With Senior Li backing them, what was there to worry about?

Immediately, Yu Qishui and the others, along with Mu Qianning and Huo Ling'er, set off toward the Secret Realm in the Cangli Mountain Range!

The winds and clouds converged!