Inner Demons

Chapter 83: Prepare Brushes and Ink

For a moment, they were afraid that Lingkongzi was planning to kill them to Transcending Tribulation, but they immediately dismissed that thought as unlikely, and then worried that Lingkongzi wanted them to find people for her.

That would also be troublesome.

Their expressions also fell into Lingkongzi's eyes. At this moment, they finally heard her smile slightly and say, "Afraid that I'll kill people? That won't happen."

Ignoring their shocked expressions again, she said, "Transcending the Killing Tribulation by killing people is actually a very foolish thing to do. After all, it's not that you have severed that emotion and desire in your heart, but that you have temporarily solved the problem with external forces. Perhaps you can cultivate to the Manifestation Realm that way, but beyond that... you can't actually deceive yourself."

"Some people think that being tired of killing and no longer wanting to kill means they have passed the killing precept. But truly passing it is not being tired of it, but letting it go. Being tired means you don't want to touch it at all - in essence, you are very concerned about it."

"And letting it go means you don't care about it. If you want to pick it up, you still can. If you pick it up, you can also put it down again."

"Only then is the tribulation passed."

"Unfortunately, among the many tribulations, the Killing Tribulation is very difficult to pass. I have studied the precious scroll in my sect, but I still lack that trace of enlightenment. Just that trace of enlightenment... has kept me from passing this Killing Tribulation for three years."

"Fellow Daoists in Weicheng may not be satisfactory in terms of cultivation. But the experiences they have had and the emotions they have felt must all be unique. There are a total of thirty-six Artificers present today, with varying levels of cultivation. But regardless of the level, I want all of you to create a painting for me."

"Once any painting... is helpful to me, I will bestow a qi cultivation method from my Langya Grotto-Heaven as a reward."First there was silence, then an uproar.

This was... a great fortune!

The implication of Daoist Lingkong's words was that she did not care whether the painting was a Precious Scroll, a Treasure Scroll, a Famed Scroll, or a Fine Work, or just a House-Guarding Painting with a little bit of spiritual energy in it.

All she wanted was that trace of enlightenment!

Indeed, everyone present had a chance.

In the face of such fortune, the four Intent Realm Artificers also could not resist - decorum and restraint are only useful at the appropriate time. To be restrained at this point would be an absolute fool.

Xuan Chengzi first coughed: "Fairy Lingkong has bestowed such great fortune, it is truly... truly... Alas, we are truly blessed to receive this kindness! What immortal bearing... I, Xuan Chengzi, have lived so long, and today I have witnessed immortal bearing and compassion!"

As he said this, everyone nodded in agreement.

"Since Fairy Lingkong is like this, we people must never fail to live up to this immortal grace!" He restrained his expression and said solemnly, "Everyone present here is a fellow Daoist, and we all know each other's realms. At this table, there are five Intent Realm Artificers from Weicheng, and I, this old Taoist, am also one of them. Although the others have not reached the Intent Realm, they are all masters of temples and monasteries and have some skills and foundations."

"These fellow Daoists, if they create a 'Fine Work', then they have indeed put in their hearts and done their best. Even if they don't, there is no need to be too harsh, after all, they have been busy with worldly affairs for many years, and the wind and rain are heavy tonight, and they may not have the ability, which is understandable."

This was said beautifully, and the rogue Taoist priests nodded one after another. An Intent Realm peak can create a "Famed Scroll", but how many people can do it? The four Intent Realm Artificers have only created two or three in their lifetime, which is enough to make them famous in Weicheng. As for these rogue Taoist priests... many of them can't even come close to a Fine Work.

After all, they rely on incense money and money from selling House-Guarding Paintings for a living - just like Old Daoist Liu did before.

After saying this, several people at the table praised Xuan Chengzi for being "fair". Then he changed his tone: "As for us five, it's no shame to say to the fairy, we have been famous in Weicheng for a long time. Everyone present, who hasn't heard of the five Great Intent Realm Artificers of Weicheng? Being able to attend this meeting today is the result of the kindness of all fellow Daoists."

The people at the table nodded with different expressions, smiling.

The group of rogue Taoist priests... were slightly silent.

"Then the five of us must put in effort - Fairy Lingkong has studied precious scrolls, we cannot create them. As for Famed Scrolls, that depends on chance. But if the five of us cannot even create a superior Fine Work - the fairy will not blame us, but we will never spare ourselves. The Prefectural Governor and the Lord Prefectural Governor are also present today. This Treasure Blossom Assembly and the Grotto-heaven fairy bestowing fortune and transmitting Dharma will also be a major event recorded in the Prefectural Annals in the future. In such a major event, who dares not do their best-"

"Even I will never spare him." Since the beginning of the banquet, the Weicheng Prefect, who had been stern, finally spoke. As the highest official of Weicheng, holding administrative, military, and judicial power in one hand, he said this, and Xuan Chengzi nodded, satisfied with the conclusion.

The young Taoist boy beside him glanced at Li Yunxin. Even the dullest person understood what was about to happen.

Shi Kuizi did not know what her emotions were at this moment.

She thought... Is it really like this?

That child was right.

However, she was not sure whether she should be worried about Old Daoist Liu or others at this time. She saw Li Yunxin whispering to the old Taoist before - she didn't know what they said. But Old Daoist Liu was not panicking now - at least he didn't seem to be panicking.

Instead, Li Yunxin turned his head at this time and smiled at her "helplessly".

Shi Kuizi understood his meaning - "Look. They are starting to court death."

But she didn't know how Li Yunxin could do that...

Xuan Chengzi was friendly with everyone at the table, and bit by bit he laid the groundwork like this, bit by bit pushing the old Taoist and him into a corner. Perhaps the two of them could create a Fine Work masterpiece and escape this calamity.

But... kill them?

She couldn't figure out how Li Yunxin would do it. How he would turn the situation around little by little and achieve that.

After the Prefect spoke, the atmosphere in the hall became somewhat chilling.

Xuan Chengzi said again: "Prepare the brushes and ink."

However, Artificers have their own preferred tools for painting, and it is not easy to casually change tools. Because a tool that has been used for a long time will always become easy to use, and it is easier to infuse spiritual energy into it.

Few of the rogue Taoist priests who came to the banquet expected such a turn of events, so few of them brought painting tools. As for Old Daoist Liu - since he could not paint out of thin air and knew that Brother Xin was by his side, he would not bring any either.

After all, worldly Artificers mostly regard painting as a means of livelihood.

Painting Daoists, on the other hand, regard it as a means of cultivation and survival. Therefore, like Taoist priests and Sword Cultivators, painting tools are like magical artifacts that are always with them.

The four Intent Realm Artificers, having cultivated to the Intent Realm, were considered top figures in the secular world and had attendants by their side, so their painting tools were carried by the attendants.

After he gave the order, attendants brought the tools to their masters. As for the rogue Taoist priests, the servants of Qionghua Tower came forward, took away the fruit plates, and presented them with the brushes and ink prepared in the building. In such a place, people often wanted to write poems after drinking heavily, so having brushes and ink readily available was expected.

Xuan Chengzi saw that Old Daoist Liu's table was still empty and was surprised: "Hunyuanzi Daoist brother, why aren't you prepared?"