Chapter 239: Chapter 238 Recognize the True Heart

Translator: 549690339

The second test was not about whether the cultivator possessed an innate talent for treasure hunting, nor was it about the extent of the cultivator’s knowledge. It was certainly not about the strength of one’s Divine Sense being at the Transcendence Tribulation or the Mahayana Realm.

What Xizhi desired was the natural intuition exemplified by Song Ying.

Being inspired and instinctual, with the ability to comprehend the truth behind things, was needed to paint. Or else, it would be nothing more than mere imitation, void of innovation or transcendence.

“You’re quite good, I am satisfied with you,” Xizhi observed Song Ying, her expression betraying a joy she could hardly conceal.

If the impression generated from the first test was that she was a female cultivator with decent painting skills, the second test made her almost a semi-apprentice of a painting immortal. As long as her performance in the third test wasn’t too bad, she would certainly receive the inheritance of the painting immortal.

“Xizhi, it’s been five hundred years.” Emperor Jiang Li greeted Xizhi.

Xizhi’s beauty was truly comparable to a heavenly fairy, with a delicately beautiful face and a touch of indifference in her eyes that further increased her charm. It was no wonder that many cultivators pined for her after they saw her.

“I don’t recognize you. I’ve never met you before. Who are you?” Xizhi pretended not to remember Jiang Li.

Five hundred years ago, Jiang Li’s painting was so hideous that it had taken Xizhi five hundred years to escape from the shadow it cast over her.

It was hard to believe that someone could have such terrible painting skills.

Among all the paintings Xizhi had seen, Jiang Li’s was the worst.

“This is Emperor Jiang Li.” Qin Luan introduced Jiang Li to Xizhi.

“I didn’t expect you to become the Human Emperor. I thought it would be Yu

Yin.” Xizhi was disappointed that Yu Yin hadn’t become the Human Emperor.

At the time when Jiang Li and Yu Yin were at the Golden Core stage and not even candidates for the Human Emperor, Xizhi had already recognized the potential of both to become the Human Emperor, and she favored Yu Yin even more.

“It was by chance.” Jiang Li was modest.

“I heard that after you reached your Mahayana period, the external Heavenly Demon that troubled Nine Provinces is no longer significant. You have done well.”

Xizhi asked about Jiang Li’s recent situation from the first two cultivators who enterea tne secret realm ancl Knew tnat ne nacl Deen tnrlvlng In tne Nine Provinces since leaving the Cloudwater Secret Area.

“Xizhi, do you know anything about the external Heavenly Demon?”

“I don’t know. I am just a divine sense of a painting immortal and don’t inherit all her memories. I am not as familiar with the affairs of the Immortal Realm as the Everlasting Immortal. You can ask him. The Everlasting Immortal himself is also quite knowledgeable in the Immortal Realm.”

Xizhi asked again, “What are you doing here?”

“Seeing if I can inherit the painting immortal.”

Xizhi rolled her eyes. If Jiang Li managed to inherit the painting immortal, she’ll drain all her ink.

Xizhi left, waiting for them in the world of the third test.

Aguna was extremely lucky and, despite there not being any pointers, she accidentally picked the real fruit.

“Now let’s start the third test.”

With Xizhi’s words, everyone was teleported to a new small world.

The second test eliminated even more people. Now, only Jiang Li, Li Er, Qin Luan, and the women behind Qin Luan remained in the secret realm.

All of them were well-known acquaintances.

“Excuse me, I have a question.” Jiang Li politely interrupted Xizhi.

“Speak.”

“Can you stop the rain, I like sunlight.”

The third world was filled with a drizzle that never stopped. Holding a red paper umbrella, Xizhi stood before everyone, looking elegant in her isolation.

Xizhi liked holding a red paper umbrella, she found it beautiful. Therefore, she always used her privilege to call upon rain whenever she appeared.

In Jiang Li’s words, it was fortunate that Xizhi was the divine sense of an immortal, otherwise she would have gotten rheumatism.

When Mr. Jiang said he would like the rain to stop because he liked sunlight, does that mean that the rain represents difficulties and sunlight represents hope? Despite the continuous challenges, as long as we hold on to hope and aspire for brightness, there will always be a day when we can conquer the waves, push through the clouds, and see the light of day…

Qin Luan analyzed Jiang Li’s words, feeling that he had gained a lot.

No wonder it’s Mr. Jiang, every move he makes carries depth.

Xizhi gave Jiang Li a cold look, stopping the drizzle and picking up the red paper umbrella. She continued, “The third realm of painting: see the mountain as still a mountain, and the water as still water. The third test, I ask you to paint the happiest scene in your heart. It could be a past event, a future event, or merely an imagined scenario. There are no restrictions.”

Everyone was taken aback by the request, finding it rather challenging. Jiang Li pondered. What would be the happiest scene? In other words, what is the scene he hopes most to see?

He had never thought about this before.

Li Er was also lost in thought. Was marrying Cheng’er the happiest moment of his life? Or was it the moment his daughter was born? Or when his daughter got married… No, no, no, his daughter getting married was definitely not a happy moment.

Qin Luan was thinking, what did he really want? Was it to gain Jiang Li’s approval, or to become the Human Emperor, or perhaps, to become an unparalleled cultivator, reaching the end of the path of immortality?

The little fox raised its paw, painting itself returning to the Body Integration Realm and becoming the Lord of Qingqiu again.

“Little fox, are you sure this is your truest desire?”

Xizhi looked at the little fox with a teasing smile, making it feel somewhat guilty and curl into a ball. But it still protested, indicating that this was its life goal.

Xizhi was not omniscient and omnipotent. She could not see the little fox’s past and future, nor she could discern its truest thoughts. However, painting served as a reflection of one’s soul, and Xizhi could determine from the painting whether the scene depicted was what the person truly wished for.

In the little fox’s painting, Xizhi saw hesitation and concealment, which meant that this was not the happiest moment the little fox had in mind.

“Perhaps you should think about it some more.”

Xizhi left those words behind and drifted away.

The little fox scratched its head with its little paw, appearing slightly irritated.

Aguna’s painting portrayed her and Qin Luan and his companions journeying across the map of the Nine Provinces, signifying that leaving the Gu Race and having adventures in the Nine Provinces with Qin Luan and his companions was the happiest thing for her.

Xizhi saw hesitation and concealment in her painting.

“Are you really satisfied with this?” Xizhi smiled and walked away.

Song Ying painted herself marrying Qin Luan, with a group of beautiful women behind Qin Luan.

“So you want to marry Qin Luan. It’s enough for you that he holds you in his heart, even if he has relations with other women?” Xizhi thought Song Ying was interesting, not just because of what she depicted as the happiest scene, but also because she saw contentment in Song Ying’s painting.

This was what she was most hoping for and her happiest moment.

Song Ying was firm in her reply, “It doesn’t matter. My intuition tells me that Qin Luan will meet many more beautiful female cultivators in the future. This is inevitable. All I can do is to make sure that I always have a place in his heart.”

Xizhi didn’t say anything and turned to the next person.

Qin Luan’s painting depicted him, sitting high in the Imperial Palace, portraying an air of majesty.

“So, you want to take over Mr. Liu’s position?” When Xizhi saw someone sitting in the Imperial Palace, this was her first reaction.

“I want to become the Human Emperor!” Qin Luan corrected her.

From this painting, Xizhi sensed confusion and perplexity.

“Becoming the Human Emperor is not truly what you want. Think about it carefully. ”

Xizhi let out a sigh. To become a good painter, the most important thing is to recognize one’s true intentions. The third test was designed to examine that.

From the current situation, it seems that only Song Ying had recognized her true intentions and had passed the test..