A group of young talents eagerly pulled out money from their storage bags, some producing a single Qing Fu coin, others a Fei Yu coin, and the most affluent even revealing a Jin Zha coin. They repeatedly rubbed the Jin Zha coin in their palms, then kissed it before tossing it towards the mural.
"Swish, swish, swish," faint glows emerged as the coins transformed into light and vanished into the mural, stirring only ripples. Within the mural, the Folding Fan Goddess Liu Li Ying's gaze remained serene, unfazed by the coins thrown into her depiction. Her eyes surveyed everyone, making each person feel as though she was looking directly at them.
Just then, a mural hundreds of meters away also began to shimmer with radiant light. Another beautiful maiden manifested her divine power. She was a Guang Han Goddess, cradling a white rabbit. Her beauty was peerless, her demeanor fragile, and her eyes conveyed a sense of gentleness. Her cherry-like lips parted, and a faint, ethereal female voice drifted from the mural: "Sister Li Ying has received so much favor, yet I here haven't received a single coin. Are the men in this world truly so cold-hearted..."
As she spoke, her pitiful expression intensified: "If the divine manifestation ends here, the High Deity will surely not spare Qing Ying."
This Guang Han Goddess was named Luo Qing Ying.
Instantly, a large wave of young talents exploring the mountain surged forward. Some even drew their swords and flew, generously parting with their Qing Fu coins, Fei Yu coins, and Jin Zha coins from their storage bags, tossing them into the mural. Luo Qing Ying's smile grew even sweeter.
On Liu Li Ying's side, the Folding Fan Goddess, her brows furrowed slightly. Though she remained silent, she seemed disheartened by the commotion at the Guang Han Goddess's mural. Even this slight frown caused many young talents' hearts to ache. Why should the Folding Fan Goddess's mural become so deserted just because the Guang Han Goddess put on a pitiful act? What kind of justice was this?
"Throw money at her!"
Another barrage of various coins rained into the mural. Some young cultivators even produced a handful of Fei Yu coins, their eyes filled with pain, saying, "At worst, I won't have to pay the sect's contribution fee for the latter half of the year. But if the Folding Fan Goddess truly bestows her favor, it won't just be me, but the entire sect that will benefit!"
As coins were hurled into the mural, only Lin Zhao stood calmly in his spot, completely unmoved.
"Hmph, I'll try too."
Yu Qing Qiu took out two Fei Yu coins. This amount was nothing to her, the Saintess of the Yu Yao Sect. However, if luck was on her side and she could truly summon the Folding Fan Goddess, then both she and the Yu Yao Sect would benefit immensely. Even without the ulterior motives of those male cultivators, the value of the Folding Fan Goddess was undeniable.
As a result, after Yu Qing Qiu's two Fei Yu coins were投入, there was no reaction, only two ripples.
"Let me try as well."
Shen Lan Zhou pulled out a Jin Zha coin from his robes. He frowned. Although he was the young master of the Seven Stars Valley, the sect's monthly cultivation resources only provided him with two Jin Zha coins. Perhaps spending half a month's worth of Jin Zha coins could earn him the Folding Fan Goddess's favor?
One Jin Zha coin was tossed, creating a larger ripple, but the Folding Fan Goddess Liu Li Ying, holding her fan, remained still within the mural, only exhibiting subtle changes in her expression. This made Shen Lan Zhou increasingly impatient. He tossed all the Jin Zha coins from his storage bag, along with dozens of Fei Yu coins, refusing to believe he couldn't win over the Folding Fan Goddess's heart!
After all, Shen Lan Zhou had visited Ling Ze Mountain many times, but he had never encountered a celestial phenomenon manifested by a mural goddess. Such opportunities were rare, occurring perhaps once or twice a year at best. Moreover, this was the manifestation of the top-ranked Folding Fan Goddess. Who among the men in this world wouldn't wish for the companionship of a goddess like Liu Li Ying?
However, after Shen Lan Zhou tossed his five Jin Zha coins and a pile of Fei Yu coins, there was still no significant movement, only more concentrated ripples.
"It's over..."
Shen Lan Zhou's heart grew cold. Now he had nothing left and would have to live on scraps for the rest of the month.
In the distance, the Guang Han Goddess, cradling her little white rabbit, again displayed a wronged expression, her ethereal voice filled with pity: "Sister Li Ying is so popular, while Qing Ying's place is so deserted... Gentlemen, could you please help Qing Ying? Qing Ying would be eternally grateful..."
Instantly, another group of young talents began to frantically throw money.
...
"Alas..."
Lin Zhao sighed. This scene felt so familiar.
He hadn't expected mural goddesses to play such tricks. These martial world tactics were indeed clever – taking wealth without harming life, killing without drawing blood. It was all about those who willingly took the bait.
After nearly the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the radiant light from both goddess murals grew dimmer. The two goddesses returned to their original appearances, motionless once more as their manifestation time was about to end.
"It's over, it's over..."
Shen Lan Zhou's face was filled with dejection. "I finally encountered a goddess manifestation, only to return empty-handed in the end."
"Hmph!"
Yu Qing Qiu sneered. "Does Young Master Shen mean to say you hoped a goddess would descend to your side, even offering herself to you?"
"No, no..."
Shen Lan Zhou repeatedly shook his head. He had given up on the Folding Fan Goddess Liu Li Ying. The Yu Qing Qiu before him was also a celestial maiden, a truly stunning beauty. If he angered her as well, wouldn't this trip truly be a complete loss? This trip to Ling Ze Mountain, even if he couldn't win Yu Qing Qiu over, at least he could leave a good impression. Later, he might still be able to invite Yu Qing Qiu to travel the world together.
"Qing Qiu, what are you thinking?"
Shen Lan Zhou said, "Regarding the mural goddesses, Shen Lan Zhou harbors no romantic thoughts whatsoever. I merely hoped to borrow the Folding Fan Goddess's power to revitalize my Seven Stars Valley. As a disciple of the Seven Stars Valley, having this aspiration is certainly not wrong, right?"
Yu Qing Qiu chuckled lightly. "Hmph, all men in this world are so shallow. Look at Young Hero Lin, from beginning to end, has he ever produced a single Qing Fu coin? Even with a beauty like the Folding Fan Goddess before him, his resolve remains unshaken. This is what a true cultivator should be like. You, Shen Lan Zhou, might not achieve such a state even if you cultivated your entire life."
"..."
Lin Zhao's lips twitched. What did "unshaken resolve" mean? It was clearly his stinginess and reluctance to part with money. Throwing in these Fei Yu coins and Jin Zha coins one by one, what was the difference from tipping a female streamer? It was all pouring money down the drain. Was it all for a single phrase like "Thank you, Brother Lin Zhao, for your gift"? Forget it. He could make Tong Yu say that a hundred times a day for free.
However, since he was already here, he might as well pay the entrance fee! Or rather, get a fan badge?
With that thought, Lin Zhao stingily rummaged through his bag and pulled out a Qing Fu coin.
"Ah, a Qing Fu coin, just one?"
Shen Lan Zhou almost couldn't help but grin. This young swordsman's flying sword was indeed powerful, and his cultivation level might not be low, but his generosity was truly narrow-minded!
"Whoosh!"
Lin Zhao tossed the Qing Fu coin out, not even looking at it, and tugged at the donkey. "Let's go, we've seen enough, it's time to head down the mountain."
Just then, Shen Lan Zhou and Yu Qing Qiu looked behind Lin Zhao, their mouths agape, unable to speak.
"What?"
Lin Zhao was surprised. When he turned around, he saw a goddess in a red dress, leading a white horse, holding a fan, and radiating golden light. As Liu Li Ying stepped onto the mortal earth, the mural behind her lost its scenery, leaving only a blank space. From this day onward, Liu Li Ying, the top-ranked Folding Fan Goddess of the Hundred Beauties Mural, became a thing of the past.
"Li Ying, greetings, Master."
Liu Li Ying bowed to Lin Zhao.
"..."
Shen Lan Zhou and Yu Qing Qiu stared in disbelief. Who would have thought that a mere Qing Fu coin could actually take away the legendary and aloof Folding Fan Goddess Liu Li Ying? What kind of logic was this? Did such a thing make sense in this world?
Lin Zhao was equally stunned, looking at Liu Li Ying with a complex expression. Drawing an SSR Folding Fan Goddess with a single Qing Fu coin, how embarrassing was that? Thinking about it, Lin Zhao almost wanted to cover his face and laugh.
At that moment, the gazes of hundreds of young talents in the vicinity turned towards them, some filled with jealousy, others with naked killing intent. Some said the goddesses in the Hundred Beauties Mural of Ling Ze Mountain were spirits, others that they were crystallized spiritual energy of heaven and earth. However, one theory was more reliable: these goddesses were spirits enfeoffed by heaven and earth, existing between gods and spirits, each possessing divine powers.
But for many years, only one naturally simple young scholar had taken away the Ruyi Goddess, and the Ruyi Goddess had faithfully served him for decades. The scholar even rose through the ranks to become the Minister of Revenue. It wasn't until the scholar passed away from illness that the Ruyi Goddess returned to Ling Ze Mountain and reappeared in the mural. Besides that, only some goddesses, unable to bear the loneliness of the mountain, walked out of their murals themselves, but those didn't count.
Now, the top-ranked Folding Fan Goddess Liu Li Ying had been taken away by someone with a single Qing Fu coin. Wasn't this utterly preposterous?
Therefore, the gazes of the assembled talents towards Lin Zhao were filled with a desire to devour him.
...
Just then, a greyish-white figure broke through the air. It was an elder managing Ling Ze Mountain. With his hands behind his back, he glanced at Liu Li Ying behind Lin Zhao, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes before he quickly regained his composure and smiled, "Distinguished visitors, our Ling Ze Mountain has just completed its hundredth mural goddess. It is located in the back mountains. Ling Ze Mountain sincerely invites you all to go and view it!"
The crowd became excited.
Lin Zhao looked up at the sky. He saw a figure ascending from the back mountain, riding the wind. The person wore a cyan robe and carried an umbrella on his back. It was Wu Yuan Zi, whom he had met on the Xian Ning River, the legendary Painting Saint of the Hundred Flowers Realm. Could it be that he had just finished carving a mural of a goddess and was now leaving?
"..."
Lin Zhao frowned, his feelings towards Wu Yuan Zi complex. It was Wu Yuan Zi who had brought Qing Yan to his side, orchestrating a scheme. And now, upon arriving at Ling Ze Mountain, it seemed Lin Zhao had stepped into a trap laid by Wu Yuan Zi. If that were the case, then the Folding Fan Goddess Liu Li Ying, who looked so obedient and beautiful behind him, might also be just a pawn on Wu Yuan Zi's chessboard.
It was hard to say!