On the broken half of the Ascension Immortal Platform.
Lin Zhao hesitated. With the Heavenly Book of Edict in his hand, a single thought could revive the soul essence of Qing Yan from the mural goddess. But Qing Yan's soul was originally formed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. After revival, where would she be placed? As a heart demon of his own? It seemed unnecessary, and he already had Miss Leng. For Qing Yan, it was best to treat her as a memory.
He looked down at the back mountain of Lingze Mountain. With a thought, the hundred murals of goddesses in the valley shattered into dust. Then, Lin Zhao looked at the crowd and said, "I will take you to ascend here on time in three days. Chu Xiantong, take good care of yourself from now on and look after this world. Chi Zhongyu, return to Lingnan Sword Sect to bid farewell to your family and settle matters there, as you won't be coming back. Also, remember to bring a few bags of the best spirit rice seeds from Baihua Heaven. The Human World will need them. Yu Wan Ning, you should also return to the ancient Shu kingdom. Prepare your home and speak with the ruler. From now on, with the current borders of the ancient Shu kingdom and the Xu Dynasty as the boundary, neither side shall initiate war for ten years. Nurturing the people is paramount, and it's time for the people of Baihua Heaven to live in peace and prosperity. And Chu Xiantong, the atmosphere on the mountains of the Xu Dynasty is not good. As the Sect Master of Cheng Huang Sect, you should visit more often."
"Yes!"
Chu Xiantong cupped his fists and bowed, but his mind was thinking... he was only at the ninth realm. Although Baihua Heaven had barren fortune, it couldn't compare to the Human World where Lin Zhao was. But all by himself, he was afraid he couldn't shoulder such a heavy responsibility.
Just then, Lin Zhao placed a finger on the Heavenly Book of Edict and gently rubbed it. In an instant, a sword dao fortune bestowed by the edict enveloped Chu Xiantong. Immediately, Chu Xiantong became a tenth-realm Star River Sword Cultivator.
"..."
Chu Xiantong was dumbfounded. As expected of an immortal, he was practically omnipotent.
Lin Zhao smiled wryly in his heart. The upper limit of Baihua Heaven was ultimately too low. Even with the Heavenly Book of Edict in his hand, he could only turn Chu Xiantong into a Star River realm at most. The limit of this world seemed to be the Star River realm, but it was enough. After Chi Zhongyu and Yu Wan Ning ascended, Chu Xiantong would naturally be the strongest person in the world. Now that he had broken through, being able to single-handedly defeat a sect was a minor matter.
"Alright, disperse."
"Okay."
Yu Wan Ning, Chi Zhongyu, and Chu Xiantong all cupped their fists and bid farewell. After they left, Lin Zhao looked at Liu Liying behind him and smiled, "Liying, would you accompany me to the valley of the beauty murals again?"
"Yes, Young Master!"
Liu Liying smiled and nodded.
...
Lingze Mountain, back mountain.
Lin Zhao, in white, was like a banished immortal, while Liu Liying, in a red dress, held a folding fan, her entire body enveloped in spiritual radiance. In the Baihua Heaven, she was now the only folding fan goddess.
They ascended the mountain path and soon arrived at the back mountain. The goddess murals along the way had all crumbled, turning into mottled stone walls, no longer the grand spectacle of the Hundred Beauties painting. Liu Liying frowned slightly, feeling a sense of regret. The Hundred Beauties painting had gathered much spiritual essence in the mountains and was considered one of the grand scenes of Baihua Heaven. Now, only ruins remained.
"Ahhhh... how could this happen?!"
Ahead, the sound of a man's weeping could be heard. It was the man known as the painting enthusiast, Qi Letian, the madman Qi. He clutched a half-finished painting board, kneeling before a shattered goddess mural with tears streaming down his face, saying, "The painting of beauties is gone... the painting of beauties is gone..."
"Qi Letian."
Lin Zhao stood not far away, cupped his fists respectfully, and said with a smile, "It's gone, so what? What's the big deal?"
"You say that so lightly!"
Qi Letian's expression was manic. "The Hundred Beauties painting is a treasure of the world. It has vanished in an instant. This is a great loss to the art of painting in my world. How could people like you understand its true meaning?"
"I don't understand painting."
Lin Zhao was not angry and smiled. "But I know that no matter how high a mountain is, there will always be someone who can climb it. You, Qi Letian, have wanted to surpass Wu Yuanzi your whole life. Now that Wu Yuanzi is gone, why are you afraid to talk about surpassing him? The reason Wu Yuanzi could paint such divine mural goddesses was simply by capturing the essence of heaven and earth. As long as your painting technique and artistic conception reach that level, why can't you, Qi Letian, paint a Hundred Beauties painting full of divine charm?"
As he spoke, he opened his palm. Instantly, wisps of golden spiritual light condensed in the wind and swirled above his palm, forming paintings of beauties. These were the Hundred Beauties paintings that Wu Yuanzi had painted. He waved his sleeve, and the paintings of beauties dissipated in the wind, smiling. "The soul essence of the mural goddesses has always been in the heavens and earth. It depends on whether your brushstrokes, Qi Letian, can make them willing to reside within the murals. If Wu Yuanzi could do it, why can't you, Qi Letian?"
He smiled and said, "After all, a Baihua Heaven without the Hundred Beauties painting will ultimately not be perfect!"
Qi Letian stood there blankly. After a long time, he suddenly put down his painting board, knelt down towards Lin Zhao with tears streaming down his face, and kowtowed repeatedly. When he looked up, Lin Zhao and Liu Liying's figures had already vanished with the wind.
...
Night fell, and the moonlight was pleasant.
Lin Zhao and Liu Liying landed on a mountainside. In front of them was a mountain lord's shrine. Before he even approached, a refined sword immortal mountain lord walked out of the shrine. It was Han Wangshu.
"Leaving?" Han Wangshu asked with a smile.
"Yes."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Everything that needed to be done has been done. It's time to go. I've been away from home for too long this time."
"Are there any fine wines and delicacies?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao laughed heartily and pointed behind him. Liu Liying was holding several plump white fish, perch, and yellow catfish strung together with willow branches. These were treasures for making soup. The next moment, Lin Zhao began to busy himself, setting up a pot. Han Wangshu, meanwhile, manipulated the mountain and water formations and returned with a large bundle of dry branches. Liu Liying cleaned and prepared the fish. With a wave of her folding fan, a trickle of water flowed down the mountain, clear mountain spring water, pure and sweet.
Soon, Lin Zhao had brewed a pot of fish soup and roasted a pheasant. After a busy period, he drank and ate meat with Han Wangshu, thoroughly enjoying himself. After the meal, both of them were slightly tipsy. Lin Zhao looked at the mountains and rivers in the distance and said, "Wu Yuanzi has already been slain by my sword. The filth of this Baihua Heaven should be purged. I know you are reluctant to leave Wangshu Cliff, as it is your beloved place, but those with greater abilities should bear greater responsibilities. Pack up your belongings and go to Lingze Mountain to be the mountain lord tomorrow. Lingze Mountain is the foremost mountain in the world, and you, Han Wangshu, will be the foremost mountain lord."
"Ah?"
Han Wangshu laughed. "Lingze Mountain has had no mountain lord for so many years, and the Xu Dynasty dared not rashly bestow the title. The implications are too great. The mountain lord of this foremost mountain should await the edict of heaven and earth. You, Lin Zhao, just casually told me to be the mountain lord of Lingze Mountain, do you have the final say? This matter of the edict of heaven and earth..."
"I naturally have the final say."
Lin Zhao stood up and stomped his foot lightly. Instantly, wisps of golden characters of the heavenly edict appeared in the mountains. Soon, these edict characters enveloped Han Wangshu and permeated his dharma body. At this moment, Han Wangshu had become the foremost mountain lord of the world, officially appointed by the heavenly edict.
"..."
Han Wangshu looked astonished. "It really counts..."
Liu Liying covered her mouth and chuckled.
...
Evening, Mount Lu was shrouded in mist and clouds.
The Qinglu Inn, although damaged in the previous battle, now had new outlines. And this time, the walls were no longer made of adobe, but of firmly laid stones. On the roof, many craftsmen were busy laying thatch and reeds for the thatched cottages. Not far away, smoke curled from the chimneys. A limping old cook was preparing dishes for the craftsmen. Although the furnishings were simple, the aroma of the food could be smelled for ten miles. This old cook's poetry was mediocre, but his cooking skills were superb.
In the mountains, a young swordsman in a green robe and a bamboo hat rode a donkey. Beside him was a beautiful woman in a red dress holding a folding fan. It was Lin Zhao and Liu Liying. This time, they entered Jiangzhou without any concealment, and there was no need for it. Now, the situation in the Xu Dynasty was under Lu Huaining's control. Even the Dragon String Iron Cavalry had been re-appointed a commander, and they could no longer act recklessly as they did before.
Everything of the past was wiped clean.
"Oh my!"
A beautiful figure stood up. It was Mao Niang. Seeing Lin Zhao and Liu Liying's direction, she exclaimed with surprise and joy, "Old Qi, Young Master Lin Zhao and Miss Liu are here!"
"Ah?!"
The old cook looked up and couldn't help but laugh heartily. "They're finally here! Mao Niang, you entertain Young Master Lin Zhao and Miss Liu first, and I'll add a few dishes. Today, we must get drunk with Young Master Lin Zhao!"
"Alright!"
Mao Niang smiled and stepped forward to lead the donkey for Lin Zhao, then prepared tea and water. She arranged for Lin Zhao and Liu Liying to sit at a small table outdoors, her smile extremely eager. "Young Master, you must stay a few more days this time. Our Qinglu Inn is about to reopen after reconstruction, and we will definitely treat Young Master well."
"No time."
Lin Zhao smiled. "I'm about to ascend. I only have time tonight."
"Ah?"
Mao Niang narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Young Master is indeed that banished immortal!"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao did not deny it.
Soon, dishes of rustic delicacies were served. Lin Zhao brought out pots of green bamboo wine, plenty for today. Old Qi let two waiters go to serve the craftsmen, and then sat down in front of Lin Zhao, laughing. "The sword strike on the Ascension Immortal Platform a few days ago?"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "I did it. The umbrella-wielding heart demon Wu Yuanzi, the true ruler of Baihua Heaven, has turned to dust."
As he spoke, he smiled and said, "Old Qi, you're still dressed like this?"
"Yes!"
Old Qi smiled. "This is the most comfortable way to dress. I'm comfortable, and others find it comfortable too. Otherwise, being covered in golden light is always too conspicuous."
"Indeed."
...
Later, they were all drunk.
Lin Zhao looked at the wine in his cup, feeling content. He really had to leave tomorrow. Everything that needed to be done in Baihua Heaven had been done. It was time to gather his thoughts and return to the Human World to continue observing the movements of the demon race.