Way of the Great Sun

In the small courtyard, Li Fan finished feeding the chickens with corn kernels and sat under a peach tree with some casual books.

As dusk approached, Li Fan picked up his painting box, along with his brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, preparing to leave.

Every day at this time, he would go to the mountaintop to paint the sunset.

At first, it was a strange task assigned by the system, but later, through repeated practice, Li Fan found a different kind of joy.

When he captured a sunset or sunrise on paper stroke by stroke, he would feel a genuine sense of peacefulness.

Carrying his painting box, he walked out of the small courtyard. A group of children were running past the entrance barefoot.

"Run slower, don't fall."

Li Fan reminded them with a smile.

"Brother Li, are you going to climb the mountain to paint the sun again?"

The children were all familiar with Li Fan. One of them, named Wang Xiao Er, spoke up.

Li Fan replied, "Yes."

"Brother Li Fan, you gave Er Ya a sun last time, I want one too!"

The group of children surrounded him.

Li Fan's painted suns were incredibly lifelike, and the children loved them.

Furthermore, according to some parents, children slept soundly after a painting of his was hung by their beds, making his artwork very popular throughout the mountain village.

Li Fan smiled and said, "The one I painted yesterday is still here, I'll give it to you."

He took out yesterday's painting from his box and handed it to Wang Xiao Er.

Wang Xiao Er jumped up with joy, and the group of children scrambled to look. Li Fan then left.

"Will Senior Li be angry if we came back right after leaving?"

As they got closer, Wei Yushan felt a little uneasy.

How could one not tread on thin ice when facing such a terrifying and powerful senior?

"Senior Li is a man of great stature, he probably wouldn't mind..."

Yu Qishui said, but he wasn't sure in his heart.

Just then, a group of children ran over from ahead, fighting over a piece of paper.

"Wang Xiao Er, give it to me, give it to me..."

"No, I won't give it to you..."

As the children were fighting, Wang Xiao Er, who was holding the paper, stumbled and was about to fall.

At the critical moment, Mu Qianning stepped forward and caught him, smiling, "Be careful."

"Sister, they're snatching my painting!"

Wang Xiao Er quickly hid behind Mu Qianning.

"Brother Li gave it to us, he didn't say it was only for you!"

"Yeah, hand it over!"

The other children said.

Hearing the words "Brother Li," Mu Qianning and the other two's expressions trembled.

"What painting? What's going on?"

Mu Qianning asked doubtfully.

Wang Xiao Er handed the painting to Mu Qianning and said, "Sister, look, Brother Li Fan painted this sunset. It's so good."

Mu Qianning took the painting and glanced at it. Her beautiful eyes widened in shock!

On the Xuan paper, a red sun was slowly sinking into a sea of clouds.

It was as if she had personally witnessed the sunset.

Moreover, she clearly felt an infinite Dao charm emanating from the painting. The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth contained within it made her head spin. She quickly averted her eyes.

"What's wrong, Qianning?"

Wei Yushan asked.

"Master, Grand Master, you see..."

Mu Qianning handed the paper to the two of them.

Yu Qishui and Wei Yushan leaned in and looked at the painting.

Boom!

Yu Qishui and Wei Yushan's minds were instantly filled with the image. He clearly felt that every stroke was a trace of the Great Dao of Nature!

This was no ordinary painting; it could be called a sacred diagram for cultivation!

If a powerful cultivator in a bottleneck period saw this painting, they might achieve enlightenment on the spot!

At the same time, as soon as the painting entered their sight, an invisible black energy within their bodies instantly dissipated.

"I... I feel like my internal injuries are gone?!"

Wei Yushan was shocked.

Yu Qishui gasped, "Senior Li's painting contains the Way of the Great Sun! In front of this painting, all yin and evil vanish into thin air!"

Wei Yushan said, "Could it be that Senior Li had already predicted that we would be injured by that evil banner, and thus specifically asked these children to bring this painting to us?"

"It must be so!"

Yu Qishui said with utmost seriousness, "A figure like Senior Li misses nothing. Everything is within his control!"

At this moment, he became even more certain, saying, "I suddenly understand. With Senior Li's cultivation, Yin Xiaokong was merely like an ant. Why was he allowed to leave safely? Clearly, Senior Li let him go."

"Yin Xiaokong has at least a Mahayana Stage expert behind him, or even more terrifying forces... Senior Li... is definitely playing a game, and we are just the initial pawns..."

His old eyes were filled with the light of wisdom!

Wei Yushan also nodded, "If that's the case, Senior Li bestowed so much fortune probably for us to do his bidding..."

Yin Xiaokong, however, shook his head, "We are not qualified yet!"

Wei Yushan's expression was complex.

"Let's go. Since Senior Li had these children bring the painting to save us, he clearly doesn't want to see us. We should leave."

Yin Xiaokong spoke.

Mu Qianning returned the painting to Wang Xiao Er, "You must not fight over it anymore, understand? Each person looks for a while, don't be greedy."

As she earnestly instructed, a hint of envy flickered in her beautiful eyes.

These innocent children probably thought it was just an ordinary painting.

Little did they know, they possessed a fortune that countless cultivators in the world would beg for!

At this moment.

Above Lie Huo Mountain.

A violent fluctuation occurred, and space was directly torn apart.

A figure fell out from within.

"Mountain Lord!"

In the main hall, several elders sensed it and rushed out, catching Yin Xiaokong.

"What happened?"

"Mountain Lord... why is he so weak?!"

They were all shocked.

Yin Xiaokong said with difficulty, "Take me to the secret chamber!"

The elders hurriedly took him inside.

Upon entering the secret chamber, they saw densely packed skulls arranged around.

In the center, a portrait was enshrined.

The portrait depicted an Evil God!

The Evil God had eight arms and two heads, with demonic colors.

Yin Xiaokong lit the blood-red incense in front of the statue. Amidst the wisps of smoke, the portrait surprisingly gained a touch of sentience.

"Reporting to the High God, I have failed. I encountered a terrifying existence!"

"That person is at the entrance of the mountain range you indicated, hiding in a mountain village. The great banner bestowed by the High God... has also been destroyed."

Yin Xiaokong lowered his head and spoke.

A long time later, Yin Xiaokong emerged from the secret chamber.

All the elders of Lie Huo Mountain were waiting.

They sensed that Yin Xiaokong's aura had completely recovered, and moreover, it seemed even more powerful than before!

"Accelerate the pace. We must unify all the forces in that region within a month!"

"Those who do not comply will be directly annihilated!"

A sinister look flashed across Yin Xiaokong's face!

Gongsun Qi and the other elders then departed.

Yin Xiaokong looked in a certain direction and said coldly, "When the High God's envoy arrives, no matter who you are, you will die!"

After crossing many mountain peaks, Li Fan finally reached the highest one.

The surrounding mountains and forests were vast. As far as the eye could see, the boundless mountain range ahead resembled a giant dragon slumbering on the earth.

Li Fan had never ventured deep into them, as they were mostly filled with dangerous spirit beasts and the like. If he encountered any, it would mean certain death for him.

At this moment, the red sun was slowly setting in the west.

Li Fan took out his Xuan paper and placed it on a large rock at the summit. With brush, ink, paper, and inkstone ready, he began to paint.