Ren Qing stayed shut away in the back courtyard, facing sunrise and moonset as he fed on qi to cultivate, routinely farming merit in the meantime.
The breaths of heaven and earth gathered toward the Imperial Court Scroll in perfect order, and the Sun and Moon Shining Together Diagram grew ever more lifelike.
The ninth day after the New Year.
When morning light washed over the horizon, the Imperial Court Scroll happened to receive its final touch of color.
Ren Qing let out a long breath in deep satisfaction. In the painting, sun and moon shone together, the saturation just right; the Imperial Court Scroll seemed formed by nature itself, without the slightest trace of insubstantiality left.
He casually inhaled and exhaled the breaths of heaven and earth, and it was as if brilliant colors flowed endlessly around him.
At times, it was like morning glow reflected on water; at times, like moonlight spread across the ground.
Both immortal arts had reached perfection.
Ren Qing came back to himself. While feeding on qi to cultivate, he had paid almost no attention to the outside world, only having briefly instructed Mouse True Person that if there was danger, he should call out with his divine sense.
"Mouse True Person, nothing major should have happened in the city, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Mouse True Person was already waiting silently at his side. He bowed and said, "Immortal Master, there has indeed been no peril. It is only that the prefect's side has been making quite a large stir."
Ren Qing lifted his eyes and gazed into the distance. On the surface, the sky still looked clear, but after he circulated his divine sense, he could see vast amounts of pitch-black demonic qi roiling and surging, shrouding dozens of li.