Incense and Fire Flourished

But in truth, the painting did possess spiritual energy. Yet it was neither some Celestial Human prince nor a dragon maiden. It was Li Yunxin himself. He had painted his own thoughts and spiritual energy into the picture, which was why Liu Laodao felt that the prince resembled Li Yunxin—even though they had entirely different faces.

If cultivators from a Grotto Heaven or sect had been present and known the details, they would certainly have said that Li Yunxin was seeking his own death—cultivators in this world could not absorb Incense and Fire Prayer Power, a lesson learned through the blood and deaths of countless predecessors who had exhausted themselves in the attempt. But Li Yunxin had not had time to learn everything from his parents, while the Painting Sage Jade Slip described it as "easy to prove and readily attained"...

So he attached his own spiritual energy to it.

In truth, worshipping this painting was the same as worshipping him. Since he was naturally incomparably familiar with himself and happened to be near the painting, Liu Laodao felt that the flow of spiritual power within it was tightly bound and solid.

And his ultimate goal was to draw the Incense and Fire Prayer Power gathered this way into his body and break open the restriction on his Snow Mountain Qi Sea.

Li Yunxin knew what he was thinking and smiled. "That's normal. The Watercloud Force I taught you isn't some common roadside goods. You've been a painter for so many years, so it's only natural that you'd progress faster at the start. Go hang it up."

Liu Laodao thanked him profusely, sighing only that he had no idea what virtue or ability he possessed to encounter such an approachable expert of true talent and learning. At once, cradling the painting, he scampered off to the front hall.

Though Liu Laodao's Dragon King Temple had no incense offerings, at the very least everyone in Weicheng knew of it—even if they did not know who lived in the temple.

That afternoon brought fine weather, and the streets were already full of idle people. When they saw him inviting people to tear down the statues, and had nothing better to do themselves, word spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and they all came to watch.

Even city folk had little entertainment in those days. Ordinary people could be delighted for a whole day merely by setting off a firecracker, let alone witnessing a "temple demolition." Thus, by the time Liu Laodao came running out with the painting, the small street before the gate was already packed with people, and the front courtyard was crammed shoulder to shoulder as well. Women with children, idle men, old women who trembled as they walked—at a rough count, there were nearly a hundred people.

They all craned their necks and discussed it, saying Liu Laodao had gone mad. Why was he tearing down the Dragon King? Those nearby who found it inconvenient to visit the Sanhekou Dragon King Temple had worshipped here instead. Though the Dragon King governed rainfall, his divine powers were so great, and he was an immortal to boot—who said one could not worship him to pray for wealth, children, or for Wang Er's wife next door to break out in sores all over her face?

Now that it was being torn down, the people nearby would have nowhere left to worship.

Thus, the moment Liu Laodao emerged, people began questioning him.

But Liu Laodao, holding the painting in one hand, had already begun pacing in a leisurely figure-eight stride as he entered through the rear door of the front hall. Stroking his beard with one hand, his narrow eyes half-lowered, he pressed the air lightly downward. "Fathers and fellow villagers, please remain calm."

"Today, I, Hunyuanzi, am not showing disrespect to the Dragon King. Rather, a great expert has invited two honored deities for my Dragon King Temple!"

"The first is the Great Accomplished Supreme, Most Sacred, Profound and Wondrous Spirit Treasure Crown Prince. He is the crown prince of the Nine Heavens Divine Kingdom, where supreme Celestial Humans dwell. His might is peerless; he can ensure a flourishing household, wealth flowing in from all directions, and generations of sons and grandsons. The second is the Attendant Dragon Maiden of the Great Accomplished Supreme, Most Sacred, Profound and Wondrous Spirit Treasure Crown Prince. She is the Dragon King of the Weak Sea Dragon Palace's own elder sister. She commands the moving clouds and spreading rain, protecting the abundance of a whole region."

"From this day onward, these two honored deities are the ones enshrined in my Dragon King Temple. Fellow neighbors, you are truly blessed!"

Seeing so many people today, and knowing that once word spread, even more people might come later to witness the novelty, Liu Laodao was delighted inside and made his speech even more grandiose. But grand words were one thing; nobody had seen these two deities, so naturally they did not buy it. A chorus of jeers arose, with people saying only that Liu Laodao had gone mad for money and had fabricated two gods to fleece them.

Liu Laodao remained unhurried and smiled faintly again.

He knew exactly what standard the painting in his hands had reached.

There were five Artistic Realm painters in Weicheng. In truth, he himself had only just touched the threshold; calling him either Void Realm or Artistic Realm would do. But the other four were genuine masters—at least in the eyes of ordinary people.

And he knew even better the standard of the painting in his hands.

It was probably far greater than the combined ability of those four masters!

So after smiling, he shook open the painting before the crowd.

With a loud rustle, an aura that made every inch of one's body feel soothed while stirring awe in the heart swept through the Dragon King Temple's front hall in an instant like a warm spring breeze, then whirled sideways through the courtyard! The clamor stopped in a heartbeat, and young and old alike stared wide-eyed. Some who had originally been ill and felt unwell all over suddenly felt light as swallows again!

Since it was meant to serve as a divine image for worship, people had to feel there was truly something worth worshipping. Thus, when Li Yunxin painted it, he added an effect to clear the mind and ward off evil. He was a master of the Transformation Realm; among Weicheng's painters, indeed among worldly painters in general, he was nearly without rival. Such a thing was naturally no challenge for him.

After a brief silence, several weak-willed people bent their knees slightly, about to kneel in worship.

Liu Laodao grew even more pleased and said solemnly, "Now that you have seen the portraits of these two Celestial Venerables, fellow villagers, do not slight them. You must know that sincerity brings efficacy in all things. Without a sincere heart, even if the Jade Emperor Grand Celestial Venerable descended to earth, he would not spare you a glance."

As he spoke, he climbed the ladder and hung the portrait behind the incense table.

Then, without even looking at the crowd, he clasped his hands behind his back and strolled leisurely toward the rear courtyard.

But the moment he stepped out through the rear door, he hurriedly hid and peered toward the front through a crack in the door.

He saw the neighbors scrambling to kneel before the portrait, while the clinking of copper coins falling into the merit box rang without end. To Liu Laodao's ears, it was like immortal music. Those who had left home without money rushed back at once, afraid they might slight the two Celestial Venerables. Those with sick people at home hurried back to carry or support them here, hoping they could bask in a trace of the two Celestial Venerables' immortal aura.

In an age when severe illness meant death and minor illness lingered on, once people truly experienced that the "immortal aura" in this temple could make their whole bodies feel comfortable, it was more effective than any persuasion or publicity.

By the time darkness fell, nearly every neighbor in the area had come to worship once. Though the wealthy gentry did not think much of it and took it merely as a rumor spread by ignorant commoners, ordinary people lacked nothing but time and energy.

Watching this scene, Liu Laodao felt as though he had vaguely seen the days from decades ago, before the Sanhekou Dragon King Temple existed. His mouth nearly split to his ears from smiling, and he happily went to bring Li Yunxin the good news.

But he had only reached the doorway of the main room where Li Yunxin lived and had not yet stepped inside when he heard a shout from within. "Don't come in!"

Liu Laodao quickly drew back his foot.

After a while, he heard Li Yunxin say through gritted teeth, "My cultivation has reached a critical point. Don't disturb me. Go eat first. Hah."

Liu Laodao did not know what condition this great expert was in, so he obediently withdrew. After wandering around beside the pond for a while, weighing the money pouch at his waist and seeing that the sky had already gone completely dark, he planned to leave through the back door. At Munan Residence around the corner, he would order two taels of soy-sauce braised mutton, a plate of crisp butter-fried peanuts, a dish of salted shredded vegetables, and a jug of Erdaotou liquor.

After he left, the rear courtyard fell quiet. But gradually, the voices of people coming to burn incense could be heard again from the front courtyard.

Li Yunxin sat in the room listening to those sounds, his teeth clenched tight.

Now, he felt that his condition was very bad.