"Hmph?"
Shen Lanzhou narrowed his eyes, seemingly surprised that this unassuming swordsman dared to talk back. After all, judging from Shen Lanzhou's probe, the swordsman was at most a third-realm sword cultivator, nothing compared to a great cultivator like Shen Lanzhou, who was at the seventh-realm Void Glimpse. As he uttered these words, Shen Lanzhou's peripheral vision immediately swept over Yu Qingqiu, only to find Yu Qingqiu looking at him with great interest, clearly enjoying watching him teach this arrogant young swordsman a lesson.
"So I'm a boor, and what of it?"
Shen Lanzhou raised an eyebrow slightly, pushing his thumb forward. Instantly, his sword sheath was drawn an inch, and he smiled, "Not convinced?"
"Hmph!"
Lin Zhao smiled, "Young Master Shen Lanzhou of Seven Stars Valley, right?"
"Indeed."
Shen Lanzhou frowned, "Since you know who I am, you still dare to be so presumptuous? Are you asking for trouble?"
"That's right."
Lin Zhao smiled, and in the next moment, a silver gleam shot out of the Yun Jian Lake. The tip of the flying sword Ming Yue was already at Shen Lanzhou's brow, humming and vibrating. With just a thought from Lin Zhao, this great cultivator of the Void Glimpse realm would likely perish. A sword cultivator's challenge, a matter of an instant.
"You..."
Shen Lanzhou trembled instantly. The premonition of death made him break out in a cold sweat. He was a sword cultivator himself, and he knew best the methods of sword cultivators. The flying sword before him was too sharp, silently breaking through his protective sword energy. If the opponent had truly intended to kill, he would likely be a corpse by now. At this moment, Shen Lanzhou was even secretly rejoicing that his identity was not ordinary. The reason the opponent didn't dare to kill was likely his fear of retaliation from Seven Stars Valley.
"You have guts."
Shen Lanzhou's peripheral vision glanced at Yu Qingqiu. Being pointed at by such a flying sword in front of the woman he liked was naturally embarrassing. More importantly, the indifference in Yu Qingqiu's eyes truly stung him. Thus, Shen Lanzhou could only feign composure and say calmly, "You dare to kill me? If you dare, then go ahead."
Lin Zhao frowned. He found this kind of situation troublesome. Did these people who roamed the martial world have no brains? They courted death at the slightest disagreement. Damn it, no wonder there were fewer and fewer people in the martial world.
"Young hero."
Instead, Yu Qingqiu cupped her hands lightly and said, "This humble one is Yu Qingqiu from Jade Blossom Sect. May I have the young hero's name?"
"Swordsman, Lin Zhao."
"Young Master Lin."
Yu Qingqiu's lips revealed a heart-refreshing smile, "Young Master Shen was just speaking out of anger. There's no need to fight to the death. Moreover, killing someone on Spirit Marsh Mountain is ultimately not ideal."
"Mhm."
Lin Zhao seized the opportunity to disengage. He raised his hand and retracted his flying sword, continuing to hold his umbrella and ride his donkey to tour Spirit Marsh Mountain.
"Young hero."
Yu Qingqiu turned and chased after him, also holding an oiled paper umbrella. She quickly caught up to Lin Zhao and smiled, "Is this your first time on Spirit Marsh Mountain, young hero?"
"Yes."
"In that case, why not travel together?"
Yu Qingqiu's beautiful eyes looked at Lin Zhao with a captivating charm, smiling, "I have visited the Hundred Beauties Murals on Spirit Marsh Mountain many times. If you have any questions during your first viewing, I am willing to be your guide."
Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes, looking down at the mountain fairy who was looking at him with her large eyes. She was beautiful, but too goal-oriented, which Lin Zhao disliked. After all, before he revealed his flying sword Ming Yue, Yu Qingqiu's gaze towards him was vacant. Or rather, in Yu Qingqiu's eyes, a martial world swordsman like Lin Zhao was worthless. Only one's realm and cultivation were what Yu Qingqiu valued. The so-called mountain fairy, the saintess of Jade Blossom Sect, was merely seeking a cultivation partner with a higher realm and stronger combat power, hoping to ascend with a true master.
"Qingqiu!"
Shen Lanzhou looked resentful, but ultimately forced himself to follow. He didn't want to be a sycophant, but Yu Qingqiu was too beautiful. Her peerless appearance was exactly what Shen Lanzhou desired. Moreover, Yu Qingqiu was the future of Jade Blossom Sect and would likely inherit the position of Sect Master in the future. If he could become her Dao companion, his position as young master of Seven Stars Valley would be more stable, and he would be able to smoothly inherit the position of Valley Master in the future.
Shen Lanzhou flew forward, blocking the path. He cupped his fists towards Lin Zhao and forced himself to say, "Young Master Lin, what happened just now... it was my fault for not recognizing your eminence. I hope you will not hold it against me."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Does Young Master Shen not mind that I am a boor?"
"It was I who was crude..."
"Hmph!"
Lin Zhao continued to ride his donkey with his umbrella, saying, "I entered Spirit Marsh Mountain simply to see the Hundred Beauties Murals. If you two wish to follow, then follow. Whether we travel together or something else, it matters not. In any case, we are strangers who met by chance and are not friends."
These words were harsh but reasonable.
Yu Qingqiu smiled with dimples, "Naturally, traveling together is fine."
...
Not long after, they went down the mountain path and reached a valley entrance. After a heavy rain, a stream had formed at the entrance, and mountain water was rushing down.
At this time, the tourists in Spirit Marsh Mountain were sparse. Besides Lin Zhao and the other two, there were no others nearby. As Lin Zhao led his donkey into the valley entrance, he saw a huge mural appear on the mountain wall ahead, one of the legendary Hundred Beauties Murals. In the mural, a woman held a Ruyi scepter in her hand, her expression lifelike, as if she were alive.
"It's the Ruyi Goddess."
Yu Qingqiu stood side by side with Lin Zhao and smiled, "This is the first of the Hundred Beauties Murals. It is said that the Ruyi scepter she holds is an immortal-grade magic artifact that can gather luck, alter destiny, and truly grant one's wishes."
"..."
Lin Zhao stared at the mural intently. At one moment, he even felt as if the Ruyi Goddess had smiled at him. Could there really be a soul within this mural?
Shen Lanzhou looked at Lin Zhao and smiled, "Young hero, you don't need to stare so intently. The Ruyi Goddess is merely one of the lower-ranked paintings in the Hundred Beauties. The works of the Painting Sage are progressively more brilliant as you go further."
"Mhm."
Lin Zhao nodded. Just then, a disheveled man nearby had set up an easel among the rocks and was furiously painting, comparing it to the mural on the cliff face. He was in a state of frenzy, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying as he painted, as if he had gone mad. Lin Zhao flickered over and looked at the man's easel, only to be startled. The woman on the easel was almost identical to the Ruyi Goddess in the mural. The painting skills were truly divine.
"Alas, alas..."
The madman's tears flowed, "Still a little bit short, still a little bit short. Wu Yuanzi, who exactly are you, to possess such divine craftsmanship?!"
Saying this, he roughly tore the painting paper from the easel and then roared at Lin Zhao, "What are you looking at? Are you here to mock me, Qi Letian?!"
Lin Zhao quickly cupped his fists, his face full of apology.
Yu Qingqiu frowned and said, "Young Master Lin, there's no need to pay attention to him."
"Mhm."
Lin Zhao led his donkey onward, "Who is he?"
"Qi Letian, the painting fanatic."
Shen Lanzhou sneered, "He was once a renowned painter. Unfortunately, he became obsessed with painting the Hundred Beauties Murals on Spirit Marsh Mountain. His skills could never catch up to Painting Sage Wu Yuanzi, but he dedicated his life to chasing Wu Yuanzi, driving himself mad. Everyone on Spirit Marsh Mountain calls him Crazy Qi. When he's not painting, he's relatively normal and can set up a stall to sell paintings on the mountainside to make a living. But once he starts painting, he becomes deranged. He's often beaten in the mountains and spits blood. He deserves it."
"That's not true."
Lin Zhao frowned, turned back to look at Qi Letian's appearance, and stopped again. He performed a Confucian bow to him. Without obsession, one cannot achieve divinity. Such a person deserves respect. Yu Qingqiu, standing beside him, frowned, increasingly unable to understand Lin Zhao. He was said to be a swordsman, and his sword intent was exceptionally high. The moment he unleashed his flying sword, his sword intent was at least at the Golden Core stage. There were only a handful of Golden Core sword cultivators in this world, and he was so young. Fame was only a matter of time. Yet, he performed Confucian etiquette. Was he a sword cultivator or a Confucian? Perhaps, a Confucian sword cultivator, which was even rarer.
...
Entering the mountain.
Murals carved into the rock walls appeared before them. The murals were radiant, and the goddesses were lifelike, as if they truly possessed life. Passersby were mesmerized, all praising Painting Sage Wu Yuanzi's masterful craftsmanship. Even Shen Lanzhou, who had seen them many times, was captivated. As for Lin Zhao, who was entering the mountain for the first time, his eyes were wide with wonder. Although Qingyan had warned him to be wary of Wu Yuanzi, setting aside his character, Wu Yuanzi's artistry was indeed outstanding.
As they viewed one mural after another, they finally reached the depths of the valley, where a stunningly beautiful mural appeared. It depicted a goddess in a red dress, holding a folding fan, leading a white horse. Her appearance, figure, and demeanor were all peerless. Since entering the mountain, this was the most beautiful goddess mural Lin Zhao had ever seen.
"The Folding Fan Goddess, Liu Liying."
Yu Qingqiu pursed her red lips, a flash of jealousy in her eyes. She considered herself exceptional in appearance and figure, but before this Folding Fan Goddess, she seemed to pale in comparison.
"This is the last goddess painting, and also the most beautiful and highly acclaimed one," Shen Lanzhou murmured, looking at Liu Liying's image in the mural, "Who would have thought that mortals could paint such a divine work?"
"Isn't it the Hundred Beauties?"
Lin Zhao frowned, "This is only 99 paintings!"
"Young hero is very observant."
Yu Qingqiu smiled, "The so-called Hundred Beauties is an exaggeration. There are only ninety-nine beauty murals in Spirit Marsh Mountain. Rounding it up makes it sound better. Who knows when the Painting Sage will paint the hundredth mural."
"Mhm?"
Not far away, a group of young cultivators were looking up at the mural. Suddenly, someone shouted, "Ah?! The Folding Fan Goddess just moved. Her eyes... are looking at me!"
"She's clearly looking at me!" another person argued.
Lin Zhao also looked up. Indeed, the entire mural of the Folding Fan Goddess began to glow. The woman in the mural slowly fanned herself, as if about to descend to the mortal world.
"Hahahaha~~~~"
Someone shouted, "The Folding Fan Goddess Liu Liying has finally revealed her divine power! Quickly, throw money! Whoever is favored by Liu Liying will possess the legendary Folding Fan Goddess!"