Chapter 21: The Painting of the Great Dao

“You really have to make us threaten and coax you before you learn to hand things over yourself. Next time, be smart about it!” An Fei’er let out a cold laugh.

An Yue’er had no strength left to argue, only hatred burning within her.

Her eyes, brimming with resentment, fixed unyieldingly on An Fei’er, causing the latter to feel an uneasy guilt.

“Take your filthy eyes off me. Don’t look at me with such hatred. Let me tell you, the daughter of a concubine has no right to look me in the eye, much less stand as my equal.”

“And as for your mother, a lowly concubine—even if my mother had her killed, so what? I advise you to behave yourself. Don’t go imagining you’re a princess of Anluan just because you were born here!”

An Fei’er spat a string of insults at An Yue’er. When she had finished, she turned to Long Ziyan with a satisfied smile.

“Let’s go,” Long Ziyan nodded.

Now that the treasure was in their hands, there was no reason to linger. Their party returned to the Black Dragon Vessel and departed from the Fire Moon Sect.

“They don’t even try to hide their contempt for us!” Huang Xiantang was nearly beside himself with rage.

These people relied on their power to bully and oppress—utterly shameless! They disregarded the wishes of others, caring only about their own ends. What stung most was that the Fire Moon Sect was powerless to resist such treatment.

In the world of cultivation, strength was all that mattered. Without it, even having a voice was impossible. Fairness? That was a privilege reserved for the powerful.

“Grandmaster, how is your body? Should we take a look at your wounds?” Leng Qianxue asked anxiously after Yu Qiushui.

Yu Qiushui waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry. They had no intention to kill me, only to wound. It’s not as serious as it seems.”

“Still, though I’m fine for now, we must be even more cautious about the secret realm. Even a superpower like the Black Dragon Sect has come—this changes everything…” Yu Qiushui murmured, gazing in the direction where the Black Dragon Vessel had vanished.

“Grandmaster, I have an idea,” Leng Qianxue spoke up. “I want to visit Senior Zhu. He’ll surely have a way to help us.”

Yu Qiushui and Huang Xiantang exchanged glances. “Go, and be sure to tell Senior Zhu all that’s happened. If there’s anything he needs from us, we’ll help however we can.”

With Yu Qiushui’s approval, Leng Qianxue nodded and turned to An Yue’er beside her.

“Yue’er, why not come with me to visit Senior Zhu?”

“I… I’m not sure that’s wise. I was so reckless last time, I must have offended him,” An Yue’er replied awkwardly.

She wanted to go, but after last time…

“Don’t worry, he’s lived in seclusion for years and has a gentle nature. He may not even care about what happened,” Leng Qianxue reassured her, taking her hand.

An Yue’er made up her mind and rose to follow Leng Qianxue. Together, they set out straight for the little mountain village.

“Yue’er, is something weighing on your mind?” Leng Qianxue asked as they walked. She had sensed An Yue’er’s troubled mood earlier—something was clearly bothering her.

An Yue’er sighed deeply. “You’re perceptive—you must have noticed the rift between me and An Wenxuan.”

“It’s because my mother’s death is tied to his mother. To be precise, it was his mother’s doing that killed mine.”

Since Leng Qianxue had spoken up for her before the Black Dragon Sect’s people, An Yue’er felt she could open up, and briefly recounted her mother’s story.

“They’re truly vile! Their actions are disgusting!” Leng Qianxue exclaimed, filled with anger and, looking at An Yue’er, with sympathy.

Who would have guessed that beneath all the royal glamour lay such filth? And that An Yue’er’s life had been so fraught with hardship.

“It’s my own weakness. I couldn’t even protect my mother’s last keepsake… I’ve failed her,” An Yue’er said bitterly.

Leng Qianxue was at a loss for words to comfort her.

“Yue’er, do you remember last time Senior Zhu refused to take you as his disciple?” Leng Qianxue asked.

An Yue’er managed a wan smile. Of course she remembered.

“I think Senior Zhu must have sensed the hatred within you, the burden on your heart. For our kind, such distractions are the greatest taboo in cultivation.”

“If you can’t let go of these knots, perhaps Senior Zhu will never accept you as his disciple,” Leng Qianxue continued gently.

An Yue’er fell silent. Leng Qianxue’s words rang true, but how could she give up her hatred? She still longed to avenge her mother…

…

They traveled in silence and soon arrived at Zhu Xiaoyuan’s cottage.

The courtyard was quiet. Leng Qianxue knocked gently at the door.

“Is Senior at home?”

“Come in!” came a crisp, commanding voice.

Leng Qianxue pushed open the gate, and they entered.

In the courtyard, Zhu Xiaoyuan was busy hanging his paintings on the racks. He had painted many recently and was selecting some favorites to mount and frame.

The moment Leng Qianxue and An Yue’er stepped into the yard, they were overwhelmed by what they saw.

Row after row of racks displayed the paintings.

Western skies at sunset, the grand avenue beneath the dying sun!

It was as if they were drawn instantly into another realm, lost within the paintings, a boundless and surging power washing over their spirits.

It was the Dao—the intent of the Way, fierce and unstoppable!

“Help…” Leng Qianxue managed only half a cry before collapsing unconscious to the ground, unable to withstand the overwhelming force of the Dao. It felt as if her body would be torn apart.

Beside her, An Yue’er’s aura suddenly changed. The Dao within the paintings resonated with her—it seemed intimately connected to her secret cultivation art.

A great Way swept through her body and soul. An Yue’er closed her eyes, quietly comprehending.

In the next instant, her eyes snapped open, the red light in them shifting to gold.

She had advanced again!

The third stage—Sacred Fire Eyes!

An Yue’er reeled with disbelief. She had just broken through to the third stage, and in all of Anluan, only the patriarch possessed Sacred Fire Eyes! Even her own father was still stuck at the Profound Fire Eyes stage.

All this, just from a glance at Senior Zhu’s paintings!

She blinked in astonishment. Who exactly was this man?

Zhu Xiaoyuan hurried to hang up the rest of his paintings and, once done, turned to invite his two guests to sit.

But as he turned, he found both young women gazing at him, eyes sparkling.

Was his painting really that moving?

Zhu Xiaoyuan brimmed with confidence.

“Please, both of you, have a seat. You look delighted—would you care to tell me what you think of my paintings?”