Emperor Jingtai pondered for a long time.
The palace lamps burned low in the side hall, their light falling upon the paintings like dreams within dreams, shadows within shadows.
Qing Chen stood to one side without saying another word. He knew he had already said enough.
He was also gradually getting a taste of what was happening. This had turned out to be a test prompted by the delight of a hunter spotting promising prey.
Before long, Emperor Jingtai slowly turned around, Qing Chen's words reminding him of the final treasured painting deep within his palace: a butterfly resting on a withered leaf, myriad phenomena arising and vanishing upon its wings.
"You think these are murals?"
Still unable to make out Emperor Jingtai's appearance, Qing Chen could only cup his hands and answer honestly, "My eyes are poor, Your Majesty. I know only that these are your treasures, not their true origins."
Emperor Jingtai said mildly, "Mm. This is called the Mars Illusory Void Dream Record."
For some reason, as those six words fell, all three paintings in the side hall lit up at once.
The Daoist in the painting seemed to turn over, three thousand human silhouettes whispered among themselves, and the shadowy lines of countless commoners along the emperor's robe hem swayed slightly.
A dim light flashed in Qing Chen's eyes. These paintings could stir the nine-colored pearl atop the Nine-Luminaries Glazed Vidyaraja Pagoda, which had transformed from that meditation cushion on Northern Mang Mountain. Something so wondrous was surely more than a Spirit Venerable-grade treasure.
"There are three Mars Illusory Void Dream Records in this Profound-Nurturing Hall. The first is called Carefree Journey, the second One Dream, Three Thousand, and the third Record of the Imperial Ultimate Overturning the Boat."
Standing with his hands behind his back