A Painting Bestowed

"What utter bullying!"

Even after they had left, Wei Yushan's face remained twisted with anger.

They had attacked and wounded someone over the slightest disagreement.

Yet Lihuo Sect could only endure it, unable to fight back.

This was perhaps the cruelty and heartlessness of the cultivation world.

Only the strong could speak of justice and fairness.

"Grandmaster, are you all right?"

Mu Qianning asked Yu Qishui with concern.

"I'm fine. They didn't use their full strength. Give me two or three days to recover, and I'll be as good as new."

Yu Qishui shook his head. "But even forces at the Supreme level have come. It seems the waters here are growing murkier by the day..."

"Grandmaster, Master, I want to pay Senior Li a visit."

Mu Qianning spoke, biting her lower lip.

Yu Qishui thought it over. "That's reasonable. We can go see him. If Senior Li has any instructions, we'll be there to carry them out..."

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

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

Mu Qianning took her hand and pulled her along. "Senior Li is a person of such stature. He won't hold it against you."

With that, the two headed toward Small Mountain Village.

"Sister, is there something weighing on your heart?"

On the way, Mu Qianning asked.

She had picked up on something from Huo Ling'er's conversation with Huo Mingxuan and the others.

Huo Ling'er let out a long sigh.

Mu Qianning had just stood up for her, drawing them closer. So she didn't hide the truth now. "My mother was killed by Huo Mingxuan's mother."

She told Mu Qianning what had happened all those years ago.

"How could they be so vile!"

After hearing the story, Mu Qianning felt a surge of sympathy for Huo Ling'er—and anger toward Huo Mingxuan and the others.

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

"It's just that now I can't even protect my mother's keepsakes..."

Huo Ling'er gave a bitter smile.

"Sister Ling'er, I think I understand why Senior Li wouldn't take you as his disciple last time."

Mu Qianning suddenly spoke.

"Why?" Huo Ling'er asked, startled.

"Your heart is bound by hatred, and hatred is a great taboo for cultivators."

Mu Qianning continued, "Senior Li has long transcended the mortal world. Perhaps he dislikes that sort of thing."

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

Could she really let go of her hatred?

Before long, they finally reached the entrance to Li Fan's Small Courtyard.

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

"Come in."

Li Fan's voice came from inside the courtyard.

Mu Qianning and Huo Ling'er entered.

Inside, Li Fan was tidying up his paintings.

He was hanging up the ones he was most satisfied with.

The two women stepped in and looked up. A row of paintings hung before them!

One setting sun after another!

In that instant, the two felt as if they stood beneath countless suns. The surging grandeur of the waves and the bold majesty of the setting sun were rendered in all their glory, woven into the Great Dao of heaven and earth!

"No..."

Mu Qianning hurriedly lowered her head. She had only glanced at the paintings, yet she had nearly fainted.

The Great Dao contained within them was terrifying. Just one look was more than she could bear.

But Huo Ling'er's aura surged!

She felt countless Dao Fragments calling to her, as though some shackle in her mind had broken through in that very instant.

--The Way of the Great Sun bore a certain resemblance to the Fire Dao she cultivated.

In that instant, the light in her eyes blazed brighter, turning a pale gold!

--This was the Third Realm: Holy Fire Eyes!

She was shaken to the core.

Had she really cultivated the Holy Fire Eyes in that single moment?

Legend had it that only the Old Ancestor who founded the Fire Kingdom had ever reached this stage!

Heavens...

Just what kind of mighty being was Senior Li?

The fortune he had bestowed so casually was far too profound!

Just then, Li Fan hung up the final painting.

He turned around, pleased with his work, only to see Mu Qianning and Huo Ling'er gazing at him with utter admiration. He couldn't help feeling a little smug.

He was quite confident in his Way of Painting.

"Well? What do you think? Are these paintings easy on the eyes?"

He smiled.

"Senior, your paintings... are once-in-a-millennium masterpieces! There's nothing like them in all the world!"

Huo Ling'er spoke from the heart.

"You flatter me." Li Fan smiled. "What brings you here this time?"

Mu Qianning stepped forward. "Senior, I came to ask for your advice. I'd like to go to the Cangli Mountain Range."

The Cangli Mountain Range?

What was she going there 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 said it plainly. He couldn't very well stop her.

Mu Qianning was overjoyed.

If Senior Li had said so, she could finally set her mind at ease!

"Senior... there's one more thing. I wanted to apologize to you on Sister Ling'er's behalf. She was too forward last time, but she had her reasons. Her mother was murdered, and she couldn't avenge her. Now those same people are still bullying her..."

"I know you dislike the hatred Sister Ling'er carries in her heart, but please forgive her for being so rash last time."

Mu Qianning spoke.

Huo Ling'er felt deep gratitude toward Mu Qianning.

She understood that Mu Qianning had risked displeasing Senior Li by speaking up for her like this.

Li Fan was surprised to hear it.

He hadn't expected such a beautiful woman as Huo Ling'er to have such a pitiful past.

Her mother had died, she couldn't avenge her, and now she was being bullied... No wonder she had been on the verge of tears when she first came to see him.

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

After all, he couldn't get involved in the affairs of the cultivation world.

What could an ordinary man like him do?

But then an idea struck him. He turned, picked up his brush, and swept it across the paper!

Each stroke flowed with Dao Rhyme.

Ink fell upon the paper, and the Great Dao roared!

Huo Ling'er and Mu Qianning watched, utterly entranced!

How carefree, how effortless—so natural and harmonious, as if one with the Great Dao.

Every movement Li Fan made was plainly an expression of the Dao!

It was some time before Li Fan finally set down his brush.

He turned to Huo Ling'er and said, "All right. I can't do much to help, but your surname is Huo, so I'll give you a painting of fire."

As he spoke, he handed her the paper.

Huo Ling'er was stunned.

A painting... for her?

Senior Li was actually bestowing such a gift upon her?

She stood there dazed until Mu Qianning hurriedly reminded her, "Sister, take it!"

Only then did Huo Ling'er step forward, overcome with emotion, and accept it respectfully with both hands.

"When you're in trouble, you might want to take a look at this painting. It may be of some help."

Li Fan spoke.

He had some confidence in his paintings. When art reached a certain level, it could soothe the viewer's mind and refine their character. He just didn't know how much it would help Huo Ling'er.

He hoped it would at least cheer her up a little.

"Thank you, Senior. Thank you so much!"

Huo Ling'er was overcome with gratitude!

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

The two took their leave.

Li Fan turned around and picked up the little white cat, which was sprawled out on one of the paintings.

"You vulgar cat, using my painting as a bed..."

He chuckled.

"Meow, meow..."

Bai Xiaoqing meowed a few times, feeling helpless.

Did she think she wanted to? Did he have any idea how terrifying the mental impact of looking at those paintings was? After seeing one, she couldn't take it anymore...

Staying by Li Fan's side and watching him paint every day meant enduring the constant baptism of countless Great Daos. It left Bai Xiaoqing both blissful and miserable!

After leaving Li Fan's Small Courtyard.

"Qian Ning, thank you!"

Huo Ling'er clutched the painting tightly, deeply grateful to Mu Qianning!

Mu Qianning smiled. "Sister Ling'er, you don't have to thank me. This was all bestowed by Senior Li."

She spoke from the heart. "That's true. Senior Li's kindness is boundless."

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

Huo Ling'er shook her head. "Qian Ning, not yet."

"Don't you remember? Senior said to look at it 'when you're in trouble.' That means Senior Li knew we'd encounter danger this time when we entered the Secret Realm!"

"That's when his painting will reveal its power!"

She was brimming with confidence!

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

They were delighted to hear that Senior Li had agreed to let the two women go.

With Senior Li on their side, what was there to worry about?

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

The winds and clouds were gathering!