The brushstrokes were vivid and sharp, each a manifestation of potent sorcery. Seemingly simple, a mere stroke of the brush creating a painting, yet it required at least a decade of dedicated practice to achieve such an effect.
The paintings were all animated, lifelike. Whatever the artist depicted, it came to life. Ming Zhi Tian paid the artist to paint a portrait of the Empress of Stars.
The artist recognized her at a glance; it was indeed the Empress of Stars. He had long admired her, and merely by looking at her eyes, he had memorized her peerless beauty so profoundly that he could paint her even with his eyes closed.
Soon, the scene caused a stir: "What! ... Isn't this the Empress of Stars, currently residing in the Sacred Land Sect of the Divine Emperor?! Artist, did you make a mistake? This woman doesn't look like her!"
The artist smiled faintly, choosing not to reveal the truth: "I painted what moved me. I'll give this painting to you all, free of charge."
"I want it! I want it! My goddess!"
A scramble ensued. The artist's two guards stepped forward to intervene: "Who dares cause trouble?!"
Seeing that they were at the ninth level of the Awakening Realm, the crowd was immediately intimidated into stillness.
The artist personally presented the portrait of the Empress of Stars to her: "It is my honor."
The Empress of Stars smiled faintly, accepted the portrait, and took out a golden brush from her storage bag: "A gift for you."
The artist smiled: "Thank you."
Not long after they left the art venue, a young man in grey and white approached them: "Who bought my stones? May I ask, sir, was it you?"
Ming Zhi Tian turned to see a young man in his early twenties, in the prime of his youth: "It was me. And you are...?"
The young man's face lit up with joy: "I am the owner of that stone. I'm not here to demand anything, but I wish to know, how did you discern its extraordinary nature?"
"The Five Harmonious Elements of Yin and Yang. One only needs to pay attention to the details, and it's not difficult to see."
Ming Zhi Tian's words struck home. The young man quickly said, "My name is Yuan Bi Long. May I ask your esteemed name?"
"The Yuan family? A minority ethnic group?" the Empress of Stars asked curiously.
"Ming Zhi Tian."
Yuan Bi Long immediately knelt: "Mr. Ming, please save my life!"
Ming Zhi Tian saw the sincerity in his eyes and helped him up: "What is it that requires my help?"
Yuan Bi Long said, "This is not a place to talk. Please, would you two follow me?"
"Zhi Tian, wait," the Empress of Stars gently tugged on Ming Zhi Tian's arm and whispered.
"What is it?" Ming Zhi Tian inquired.
The Empress of Stars said, "Aren't you afraid of a trap?"
Ming Zhi Tian shook his head: "No. I'm quite good at judging people. From his eyes, I saw a filial son. His father must be in trouble."
They arrived at a hidden dwelling. Yuan Bi Long closed the door and knelt before Ming Zhi Tian once again: "Sir, save me!"
Ming Zhi Tian said, "Please rise first."
Yuan Bi Long stood up, and Ming Zhi Tian asked, "What is the matter?"
Yuan Bi Long said, "Since you understand the Five Harmonious Elements of Yin and Yang, you must also know how to break Yin-Yang curses. To be blunt, my father has fallen victim to a curse from the Yin-Yang school and remains unconscious on his sickbed. I put that stone, which resembled a Yin-Yang curse, up for sale precisely for this reason, hoping to find an extraordinary person. Now, I have eagerly awaited you, wishing on stars and the moon."
The Empress of Stars could not help but wonder: "The Yuan family has always remained secluded. Why would they offend the Yin-Yang school?"
Yuan Bi Long said, "I am also puzzled. But my father said he was merely collecting herbs on the mountain and unintentionally disturbed someone from the Yin-Yang school who was meditating, and then he was thus attacked."
Ming Zhi Tian frowned: "The Yin-Yang school is too ruthless, isn't it? To use a fatal curse with just one strike."
Yuan Bi Long said, "Indeed. For this, my father could have apologized. But the people from the Yin-Yang school attacked him without question, leading to his current miserable state. I beg your great compassion, please save my father."
Ming Zhi Tian said, "I don't know you, nor do I know your father. Why should I help you and offend a powerful family?"