"The hundredth beauty mural..."
Shen Lanzhou's eyes brightened, and he smiled, "It must be an extraordinary painting. Shall we go take a look?"
Yu Qingqiu smiled and nodded, then looked at Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao, leading the donkey, smiled, "Then let's go see it!"
Thus, the group followed the crowd towards the back of the mountain. Not long after, a restriction of mountains and water was opened, and the first hundredth beauty portrait of Lingze Mountain appeared on the mountain wall. Countless young talents stood before the mural, mesmerized. The moment Lin Zhao's gaze fell upon the mural, his entire body trembled, feeling utterly unable to move.
On the mural was a maiden in a apricot-yellow dress. Her beauty was described as capable of making fish sink and geese fall. She held a green lotus leaf in her hand, her slender feet splashing water, and her jade-like legs were perfectly flawless.
The 100th mural was Qingyan, and it was Qingyan in her prime, around fifteen or sixteen years old. Her appearance and figure were already quite close to Xu Yan.
Looking at Qingyan in the mural, Lin Zhao felt as if he had been struck by lightning. In an instant, he was submerged in a ripple of thought. In the illusionary realm, Qingyan walked over, opened her arms, and threw herself into his embrace. Her red lips were like ripe cherries, her beautiful eyes hazy, and she panted sweetly, "Brother, I miss you so much. We finally meet again..."
Lin Zhao stood as if petrified, unable to move. He could feel that the divine maiden on the mural was not Qingyan, but a true heart demon, born from his own heart.
"My Qingyan."
He looked at the woman in his embrace and smiled sadly, "She lived for a day and died in the evening. She is already gone..."
As he spoke, myriad sword intents and rays of light erupted from within him, tearing the divine maiden on the mural to shreds in an instant. But from the vast heavens, mournful cries echoed, still Qingyan's voice.
Lin Zhao felt a pang of sadness. It truly was Qingyan's voice, as if she had truly resurrected from the dead. But Lin Zhao remembered Qingyan's words before her passing, to be wary of the painter Wu Yuanzi. Wu Yuanzi's schemes were never benevolent, and Lingze Mountain was likely Wu Yuanzi's most proud design, looking at the mesmerized young talents of the martial world before him.
"Enough."
Lin Zhao frowned and took a step forward in the world of thought. Instantly, golden Confucian texts faintly appeared beneath his feet. A flying sword, imbued with righteousness, transformed into a flowing light, circling around him, clearing his mind. He recalled the saying: A gentleman is cautious in solitude, and adheres to propriety. He must not let desire blind him. With each step Lin Zhao took, the world of thought crumbled inch by inch. In a blink of an eye, Lin Zhao was once again standing before the mural.
Beside him, Liu Liying, the Fan-wielding Divine Maiden, saw Lin Zhao's mind clear once more. She couldn't help but be surprised, then a smile of relief appeared on her face.
Lin Zhao looked up. This hundredth mural was called the Ephemeral Divine Maiden, named Qingyan.
Shen Lanzhou gazed up at the mural, his eyes filled with intoxication. He softly said, "If I could have Qingyan in this life, what more could I ask for?"
"Cough cough..."
Lin Zhao coughed with a smile.
Yu Qingqiu looked at Shen Lanzhou with a look of disappointment. As the Saintess of the Yuyao Sect, her standards for choosing a Dao companion were naturally very high. If Shen Lanzhou was the kind of person who fell in love with everyone he saw, then he was truly unworthy of being in her presence. Instead...
Yu Qingqiu looked at Lin Zhao, and a hint of daze appeared in her beautiful eyes. This swordsman named Lin Zhao had an extremely mysterious identity, but his talent was too great. Upon entering the valley, he had used a single Qingfu coin to awaken the Fan-wielding Divine Maiden, who was previously ranked first, from the mural. Now, standing before the hundredth Ephemeral Divine Maiden, he was not as mesmerized as the other young talents. How could such self-control be that of an ordinary person?
For a moment, Yu Qingqiu frowned. Could this swordsman named Lin Zhao be a proud scion of some renowned sect hidden in the mountains? If so, would traveling the Jianghu and forming a Dao companion with someone like Lin Zhao bring substantial benefits to the Yuyao Sect in the future? But if the opposite were true, and Lin Zhao was merely a wandering swordsman with no backing from a great sect, what would happen if she gambled incorrectly? Would she truly stake her chastity and virginity for the future of the Yuyao Sect?
She hesitated, her gaze wavering. In truth, she really wanted to take a gamble, as Lin Zhao was extraordinary in every way. He was also handsome. Although he was a sword cultivator, he possessed a scholarly refinement that far surpassed Shen Lanzhou's dissolute aura. Speaking of which, given Lin Zhao's appearance and talent, marrying him would not be a disgrace to her.
Yu Qingqiu gritted her teeth, caught in an internal struggle. Shen Lanzhou, the definite future sect leader of Seven Stars Valley, or Lin Zhao, a swordsman of unknown depth. What choice should she make?
...
"Young Master Shen?"
Lin Zhao frowned and looked at Shen Lanzhou not far away. Shen Lanzhou was still staring obsessively at the Ephemeral Divine Maiden.
"Ah?!"
Shen Lanzhou was jolted out of his daze by Lin Zhao's call. He looked embarrassed and cupped his fists, "The Divine Maiden Qingyan is truly captivating. Shen has lost his composure. My apologies, my apologies..."
Yu Qingqiu smiled, "It's alright. If you like her, you can look for a while longer."
Shen Lanzhou felt a bit awkward, "It's fine, it's fine... Should we head down the mountain?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao smiled slightly and said, "I just wanted to tell you two that today's tour of the mountain has ended, and I must descend. So I will bid you farewell here. If fate allows, we will meet again in the Jianghu."
"Alright."
Shen Lanzhou wished Lin Zhao would leave quickly, so as not to disrupt his private time with Yu Qingqiu. The Fan-wielding Divine Maiden and the Ephemeral Divine Maiden were out of his reach. Since that was the case, he would settle for the second best. Yu Qingqiu, the Saintess of the Yuyao Sect, was also a good option.
"Miss Yu Qingqiu, I'm leaving."
Unexpectedly, Lin Zhao patted the wild donkey and then hoisted it onto his shoulder. With a flick of his finger, he summoned a fiery red glow, which was his flying sword Red Leaf. He leaped onto the sword and then transformed into a streak of sword light, rushing towards the small town at the foot of the mountain. The Fan-wielding Divine Maiden, Liu Liying, glared at Lin Zhao's retreating back, leaving without a word to her?
The next moment, Liu Liying gently waved her fan, leading her white horse forward. She transformed into a wisp of golden spiritual wind in the mountains and followed Lin Zhao down the mountain. She had been summoned from the mural by Lin Zhao, so she would naturally follow him and serve him.
"They've left."
Yu Qingqiu bit her red lip and watched in the direction where Lin Zhao and the Fan-wielding Divine Maiden had disappeared. Her proud chest heaved up and down, filled with displeasure. Lin Zhao seemed to have no more than perfunctory courtesy for her. In Lin Zhao's eyes, was Yu Qingqiu truly so insignificant?
Looking at Shen Lanzhou again, Yu Qingqiu felt him pale in comparison. Compared to Lin Zhao, Shen Lanzhou, the young master of Seven Stars Valley, seemed rather unimpressive.
"Qingqiu."
Shen Lanzhou's voice softened considerably. "Lin Zhao has gone down the mountain. Shall we go down too? The small town at the foot of Lingze Mountain has many delicious foods. May I invite you to try the various delicacies of ancient Shu cuisine?"
"Not in the mood."
Yu Qingqiu soared into the air and descended the mountain on her sword, saying, "I'm returning to the inn to rest."
"Oh..."
Shen Lanzhou also hurriedly descended the mountain on his sword.
...
A Hundred Flowers Realm, Lingnan Lushan Mountain.
Between the peaks lay a connected series of pavilions and palaces. In this wild land, a world filled with potent sword energy had been carved out – it was the Chi family of the renowned Lingnan Sword Sect.
Within the Sword Sect, in a tall building, a young swordsman in a blue long robe sat on a carved railing, appearing nonchalant and lazy. Yet, a powerful sword intent emanated from him. As a Nascent Soul sword cultivator, he was a true grandmaster of the Way of the Sword in the Hundred Flowers Realm.
Chi Zhongyu, the highly anticipated young master of the Lingnan Sword Sect, who had surpassed his predecessors.
Originally, Chi Zhongyu had intended to nurture his sword intent and repair his damaged sword heart. However, whenever he immersed himself in his sword intent, a breathtakingly beautiful figure would appear in his mind. She wore a red dress, led a white horse, and held a fan, like a goddess descended to mortal realm. Her eyes were free of any dust, as if the world had nothing to do with her.
For a moment, Chi Zhongyu's heart ached with bitterness. Why did some women change their minds so readily? Was he, the future sect leader of the glorious Lingnan Sword Sect, truly not good enough for Liu Liying? Moreover, he had poured his heart and soul into his love for her. Was that not enough? Why had she ruthlessly returned to the mural tens of years ago?
"Swish!"
A grey figure landed not far away. It was a Golden Core Elder of the Sword Sect, dressed in a grey robe. He took out a letter from his embrace and said, "Our people sent a flying fish message from Lingze Mountain, stating that the Fan-wielding Divine Maiden Liu Liying has been awakened from the mural by a young swordsman who spent a Qingfu coin. She is now with that swordsman in the small town at the foot of Lingze Mountain."
"Ah?!"
Chi Zhongyu leaped to his feet, his heart pounding wildly. After waiting for so many years, she had finally emerged from the mural? But the last time Liu Liying emerged from the mural, it was because she had stayed too long. This time was different; she had come out because someone had thrown money into the mural. This method of emergence involved a celestial contract of master and servant!
"Liying!"
Chi Zhongyu cried out in despair. "I spent nearly a hundred Jinzi coins on the mural back then, and you were unwilling to come out. Now, someone's single Qingfu coin has summoned you from the mural. Who is that person? Does he have three heads and six arms? Is he a god descended to earth?"
As he spoke, Chi Zhongyu sprang up, his person and sword becoming one, transforming into a streak of sword light heading west.
"Young Master!"
The Golden Core Elder shouted, "Do not be rash, and do not kill anyone in Lingze Mountain!"
...
At the foot of Lingze Mountain, in the small town.
Lin Zhao stood before a row of buildings built along the mountainside. This area was called Lingze Cave. He had heard from a pancake seller that the most famous thing in Lingze Cave was its hot pot. Lingze Cave hot pot was unparalleled in the world. To come to Lingze Mountain and not visit Lingze Cave was as good as not coming at all.
"I must try it!"
Lin Zhao looked at a hot pot restaurant before him, full of ambition and appetite. But then he looked behind him and saw the beautiful divine maiden, holding a white horse, a fan, and radiating a dazzling golden light, still standing behind him.
"Liu Liying, you don't need to follow me. You can go," he said with a frown.