Chapter 388: Do I Look Like a Supreme Treasure?

Chapter 388: Do I... Resemble a Supreme Treasure?

“The Wine Master firmly believes the Blood-Robed Sword God dares not kill him, nor can he, because meeting the Jade Maiden requires his introduction.”

The painter spoke, then painted a helpless expression on her face.

Qi Yuan stared at her in astonishment. If Xiao Jia could master this skill, it would be wonderful.

Then he would know more of Xiao Jia’s joys, angers, sorrows, and delights.

“The Great Calamity cannot be resisted.” The painter painted a look of despair. “The Jade Maiden once said that there are three thousand worlds like the Canglan Realm.

Among them, some are ten or a hundred times more powerful and vast than the Canglan Realm.

Yet, after all these years, not a single world has succeeded in resisting.

In our Canglan Realm, the most hopeful outcome was merely the addition of one Yang God.

And in one world, three Yang Gods gathered together, yet they could not defeat the Great Calamity!”

The painter painted despair on her face again.

“So whenever I hear someone wants to challenge the Great Calamity, I feel a deep sorrow.

Your... fate will be no better than that Yang God’s.”

“You, a mere painter, what do you know of the Great Calamity?” Qi Yuan couldn’t help but say. “No one understands the Great Calamity better than I do. I’ve already devised a thorough and meticulous plan, ‘Qi Yuan’s Extermination of the Great Calamity.’ In less than half a year, the Great Calamity will surely be destroyed!”

If back when he was at the Divine Infant stage, he hadn’t been fully confident facing the Great Calamity,

now, having stepped into the Purple Mansion, he was certain of victory.

His only fear was the mark of the Great Calamity.

If he destroyed the Great Calamity, the one in the Taihuang Palace, with a single thought, would instantly annihilate all cultivators in the Canglan Realm.

This included his junior sister, Jiang Lingsu.

Even he could not protect her.

The Strange Painter did not paint this time. “You may not know that all cultivators in the Canglan Realm have been planted with a mark.

With just a thought from the one behind the Great Calamity, all living beings will die.

This includes your junior sister, your family, and your friends.”

Her tone was filled with despair.

“Sometimes, living in a daze like this, not thinking about matters above the heavens, is also a good thing.”

“You know about the mark?” Qi Yuan looked at the Strange Painter. “Did the Jade Maiden tell you?”

This mark could not be detected without reaching the Yang God realm.

The Strange Painter could not possibly have discovered it.

Then, perhaps only the Jade Maiden could.

“The Jade Maiden’s identity is mysterious, suspected to be from the upper realm,” the Strange Painter said.

“Oh, does she know more about this mark?” Qi Yuan was very concerned about this.

Every day, he observed the marks on all cultivators, searching for a way to break it.

So far, he had found no proper solution, only improper ones.

The Strange Painter’s body trembled slightly. “This is related to a supreme treasure. The Jade Maiden once said that even Yang God powerhouses from the upper realm desperately covet such treasures.

She even said that if a Yang God from the lower three heavens obtained a supreme treasure, they could elevate their entire sect to the middle three heavens.

If our Canglan Realm had a supreme treasure, perhaps we could truly escape the Great Calamity!”

The Strange Painter suppressed her voice, but her fervor and hope were still palpable.

This was the only method she had found in all her years of “giving up” to resolve the Great Calamity.

Qi Yuan frowned in thought, then looked at the Strange Painter seriously. “Do I look like a supreme treasure to you?”

The Strange Painter: “…”

“Your expression is killing me. Are you going to paint a watermelon on your face, record a video, and say, ‘Fellow cultivators, today I encountered a super awkward situation’…”

Qi Yuan speculated maliciously.

This Strange Painter had no face, but her expressions were too vivid.

“I don’t quite understand what you mean, but it’s simple for a strong person to have some quirks,” the Strange Painter said.

“Speaking of which, if the mark is related to a supreme treasure, then... if I had another supreme treasure, could I resolve the mark?” Qi Yuan mused.

The Strange Painter shook her head. “I don’t know about that either. Supreme treasures can bring deadly danger even to Yang Gods. How would a small fry like me know?

However, supreme treasures have unfathomable functions; perhaps they can truly block the mark.

Of course, the greatest use of a supreme treasure is far from just blocking marks…”

The Strange Painter knew little about supreme treasures, not even their specific names, but she had heard from the Jade Maiden that the Canglan Realm and the other three thousand worlds had met such a fate because of a single supreme treasure.

“Alright, now that I understand the game’s setting, let’s move on to the quest storyline,” Qi Yuan said. After speaking, he added, “Sorry, I’ve been playing too many games; it’s stuck in my head. This isn’t a game, and what you said isn’t a setting.

I came to ask you for a favor—to paint a picture for me.”

The Strange Painter glanced at Qi Yuan. “I rarely paint for others, and I have some requirements. I only paint difficult paintings.”

“Perfect, what I want painted is quite difficult,” Qi Yuan said cheerfully. “Don’t worry, I won’t treat you unfairly. If you paint it well, hmm, I’ll leave you one... square meter of land in the painting!”

Qi Yuan said seriously, generously offering a square meter of land this time.

“Oh, paint what?” The Strange Painter completely ignored the second half of Qi Yuan’s sentence.

“Paint... the Underworld!” Qi Yuan said solemnly.

The Strange Painter’s face showed surprise. “The Netherworld? That’s just a legend. There’s nothing worth painting.”

In the Canglan Realm, there were also legends of the Netherworld and even rumors of reincarnation.

But most cultivators didn’t take them seriously.

When cultivators killed, they even annihilated the soul!

Where would there be a Netherworld? Where would one fall into reincarnation?

“The Underworld I want painted is different from what you imagine. Also, I will provide you with a brush; use it to paint,” Qi Yuan said calmly.

“I usually only use my own brushes. The brushes of this world, including yours, are too ordi—”

But before she could finish, her body froze.

Two beams resembling lasers shot from her eyes, piercing the paper covering her face.

She stared blankly at the Mountain and River Society Brush in Qi Yuan’s hand, her breathing rapid.

“This brush... this brush... How can such a brush exist in this world?

What kind of brush is this? A magical artifact? No! A treasure? No!”

The moment the Mountain and River Society Brush appeared, her mind was completely captivated. In her eyes, there was nothing else but that brush.

She could not imagine how such a brush could exist in this world.

Qi Yuan held the Mountain and River Realm Brush and asked, “My brush, too Pu what?”

The Strange Painter paused, her face warming, wishing she could take back her words: “Too Pu… Puxin?”

After thinking for a long time, she finally found a word related to Pu that could barely count as praise.

Puxin?

“That’s a rather impolite way to praise a brush.” Qi Yuan smiled, not taking it to heart.

The Strange Painter’s eyes remained fixed on the brush, her gaze shifting constantly: “What is this? Could it be a supreme treasure? No, supreme treasures are mere legends, rare even for Yang Gods—how could one appear here?”

The Strange Painter’s heart was unsettled.

Compared to this Mountain and River Realm Brush, the brush in her hand was far too shabby.

“Supreme treasure?” Qi Yuan was taken aback. “I don’t know, but this brush is quite formidable.”

The Lord of the East had once used it to turn emptiness into substance, creating the Mountain and Sea Scroll.

According to the description, it truly deserved to be called a supreme treasure.

But Qi Yuan was unclear about the figure from Taihuang Palace or the level of the supreme treasure behind the mark.

“The brush is ready. Now it’s your turn to speak of the Underworld.”

As Qi Yuan spoke, he waved his hand, and seven copies of a PPT appeared.

Something occurred to him, and his expression suddenly turned solemn.

“Heaven and Earth, King Ksitigarbha, the Ten Kings of Hell, the Five Ghost Emperors—appear at once!” Qi Yuan’s voice rang out like a decree from the Heavenly Emperor.

How could a PPT be explained without a narrator?

Qi Yuan had long discussed the Underworld’s structure with these deities who held offices there, devising a thorough plan.

With Qi Yuan’s words, a chill wind suddenly swept through the painting studio. A dozen or so men and women appeared, their auras mysterious, stern, and majestic.

Each of them bore an aura vast and unfathomable, mysterious and inscrutable.

The Strange Painter’s expression shifted slightly.

For the strongest being she had ever seen was the Jade Maiden.

And the Jade Maiden was a mythical powerhouse who illuminated the heavens.

Yet these dozen or so individuals each possessed auras more mysterious and unfathomable than the Jade Maiden’s, deep as an abyss.

She would believe them to be Yang Gods.

But then, something even more shocking occurred.

These dozen or so mysterious figures bowed their heads before the Blood-Robed Sword God.

“We pay homage to the Lord!”

The Strange Painter’s heart trembled—these people actually called the Blood-Robed Sword God “Lord.”

Could it be… could it be that the Blood-Robed Sword God truly was… a supreme treasure?

At that moment, Qi Qi’s gaze fell on Jiang Lingsu, and a delighted smile appeared in her eyes: “Godfather, is this my godmother? Truly born with natural beauty—she matches you perfectly!”

The deity Qi Qi had visualized was Houtu, one of the Six Imperial Lords.

She was also the overall commander of this Underworld creation.

Jiang Lingsu’s face flushed crimson as she looked at Qi Qi, utterly at a loss.

“Ahem… don’t talk nonsense. This is my junior sister.” Qi Yuan coughed.

A smile lingered in Qi Qi’s eyes: “A junior sister so ravishingly beautiful—if she marries someone else, it would be such a waste.”

“Hey, Qi Qi, don’t define women so casually. Why must a girl marry at all?” Qi Yuan said. “I’m giving you a task: introduce her to the Underworld, and then, once I find the place, you help her paint it for me!”

“Rest assured, Godfather, Qi Qi will complete this task well!” Qi Qi declared.

Qi Yuan’s gaze fell on the Strange Painter: “Help me paint the Underworld, and I’ll give you a square meter.

Oh, and if it’s convenient, compile all the information about the great calamity the Jade Maiden mentioned, the supreme treasure, and Taihuang Palace—I’ll need it.

The grand plan ‘Qi Yuan Eliminates the Great Calamity’ needs to be more refined and perfect.

Alas, this is undoubtedly the greatest plan in the history of the Canglan Realm, worthy of being recorded in the annals and adapted by future generations!

I hope the actor who plays me is handsome enough, or else he won’t capture my essence.”

The Strange Painter was somewhat dazed.

She could still understand Qi Yuan’s earlier words.

But the latter part felt utterly baffling.

Still, she nodded earnestly: “Alright, I’ll compile it for you immediately.”

Her address for Qi Yuan had shifted to a respectful form.

Originally, when the Blood-Robed Sword God declared he would annihilate the great calamity, she had only seen a lone warrior who knew the impossible yet pressed on.

Now, seeing the Mountain and River Realm Brush and the dozen or so mysterious experts around Qi Yuan,

for some reason, a glimmer of hope stirred in her long-dormant heart.

Could he truly do it?

Her heart trembled, and she crushed that flicker of doubt.

She had already decided to write immediately to the hidden organization where Wine Master belonged, telling them not to trouble the Blood-Robed Sword God.

Otherwise… it would be suicide!

…

Rain pattered down. Qi Yuan sat in the pavilion, his gaze calm.

Each day, he observed the cultivators of the world, not limited to Helan Province.

Unfortunately, the harvest was meager.

He had also gained little information about the mark.

The Strange Painter had provided very little as well.

Just then, footsteps approached.

“Daoist Qi, long time no see. I heard you’ve broken through to the Purple Mansion—congratulations!”

Qi Yuan looked over, a joyful expression breaking through his calm face.

“Great Wisdom True Lord, my good friend, you’ve finally come!”

Qi Yuan gazed at the Great Wisdom True Lord before him, his mind settling greatly.

Whenever he encountered a difficult problem, the Great Wisdom True Lord could use his brilliant mind to offer Qi Yuan some insights.

“I received your message and rushed over without stopping,” the Great Wisdom True Lord said. “I’m exhausted and a bit hungry—let me eat something first.”

As he spoke, he lifted the bone hanging around his neck, brought it to his mouth, chewed, and licked it a few times.

Qi Yuan was stunned: “What kind of treasure is that?”

Great Sage of Wisdom, seeing this, grew flustered and pulled the bone back: "Ahem, remember last time we met, someone schemed against you with a diseased bird, hoping to make you ill.

At the time, the bird was burnt to a crisp, and being a man of refinement, I did not eat it.

You ate the bird's flesh, and prepared the bones for me..."

"I recall that because the bird was diseased, I threw the bones away." Qi Yuan remembered clearly.

Back then, the cultivator from Fate Mountain had plotted against him using a diseased bird; later, he killed that schemer and obliterated Fate Mountain with a curse.

"Ahem, I saw you didn't seem to fall ill, which surely meant the bird wasn't poisonous, right?

I saw the bones weren't burnt, so I picked them up to have a taste.

But these bones are too tough—I couldn't bite through them." Great Sage of Wisdom said.

"I see." Qi Yuan nodded.

Just then, Great Sage of Wisdom spoke: "Regarding the mark you mentioned, I have some thoughts."

"Oh?" Qi Yuan's eyes lit up.

Great Sage of Wisdom truly lived up to his name—he had insights from the very start.

"Do you remember a book I once saw in a dream?" Great Sage of Wisdom said.

"Did you also find a way to remove the mark in that book?" Qi Yuan's eyes brightened.

Qi Yuan's understanding of the Yang God realm came from that book in Great Sage of Wisdom's dream.

Great Sage of Wisdom said: "In a way, yes, and in a way, no."

"Great Sage of Wisdom, don't play riddles and act like a lofty sage. Don't I know your abilities, brother?" Qi Yuan said.

"Where did that diseased bird come from in the first place?" Great Sage of Wisdom said.

"This door!" Qi Yuan waved his hand, and a small wooden door appeared.

This wooden door came from the fate sorcerer who had once schemed against him.

The door's appearance was related to the Myriad Differences Door that Qi Yuan had seen in the Drifting Wind Realm.

"Yes, this door is very much like the legendary Door of Ultimate Truth!

The Door of Ultimate Truth is the supreme treasure, the foremost of all strange treasures!

It is said that when all cultivators of the Ultimate Truth realm in the celestial realm break through to Ultimate Truth, the truths they comprehend leave their marks upon the Door of Ultimate Truth.

This door, sheltered by the rules of Ultimate Truth, can surely isolate all marks and karma in the world!"

Qi Yuan was stunned.

Because he recalled that in the Drifting Wind Realm, when he comprehended the primal divine ability, the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, he too had left a mark in the Myriad Differences Door.

Am I an Ultimate Truth?

How could I not know?

Then, Qi Yuan looked at Great Sage of Wisdom with suspicion: "You know so much. If reality were a game, you'd surely be on good terms with the developers."

Qi Yuan increasingly felt that Great Sage of Wisdom was shrouded in mystery, veiled in mist.

Perhaps that mist had a name—the Halo of Wisdom.

(The chapter ends)