Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 293 A leader cannot hold others back.
The 'Black Myth: Agarwood' has begun.

Zhao Yifu, posing as the Great Free Heavenly Demon King, dragged a group of heavenly demons over to act as extras, along with Chenxiang's mother, uncle, and master, to ensure everything went smoothly.

Everyone here has a strong passion for acting, but Zhao Yifu is bearing an unbearable burden.

Because Old Zhang's wife also came over to freeload a meal.

The woman was adorned with jewels and looked like a very wealthy woman. After taking a bite of the food that Zhao Yifu had 'stolen,' she said, "It's delicious, but why isn't there any vegetarian dish?"

"Here's what you'd like to do: go to the vegetable garden over at Yaochi and pick some fruits and vegetables for the God of Food, so he can prepare a good meal for me."

Zhao Yifu resigned himself to his fate.

Upon arriving at the Jade Pool in the Heavenly Court, I casually cast an invisibility spell and walked in... Sure enough, I didn't encounter the slightest hindrance.

Zhao Yifu saw a vast expanse of lush, verdant spiritual fields, planted with countless fruits and vegetables, all exuding a misty, ethereal aura that was pleasing to the eye.

He didn't care and just reached out to pick them. He picked a little of each kind, assuming that the Zhang couple were both big eaters.

Actually?
The couple always seemed to eat a lot of food, but they never actually ate much, and the rest of the food was naturally left for Zhao Yifu to handle... What could he possibly do with it?

Of course, I'd share it with my own cats.

Even the elixir used for brewing wine was used by Zhao Yifu to water the flowers.

So, although this period may seem troublesome, the entire mountain has actually benefited greatly from it.

Just as he was picking vegetables for a while, a 'blind' patch of earth suddenly appeared beside him, muttering to itself, "Hmm, are there fewer vegetables in the field today? Sigh, have they rotted?"

Zhao Yifu instantly understood; this was the land reminding him that it was about time!
He chuckled, clasped his hands in a fist salute, then rolled up his sleeves and ran towards the God of Food's residence.

The God of Cookery finally showed his face, which appeared to be dirty and aged.

He stared at the spiritual fruit and mushrooms that Zhao Yifu had tossed out from his sleeve, utterly at a loss for words to describe his feelings… This was definitely stealing from the Queen Mother's vegetable garden!

Zhao Yifu said, "Brother, could you please make some delicious vegetarian dishes? The elders in my family like them."

The God of Cookery said, "I'm naturally happy to have you cook, but little brother, you'd better take it easy."

Zhao Yifu said with a grin, "Don't worry, have you seen how many people have said bad things about me over the years?"

As he spoke, he looked around and then took out a bottle of 'Jade Elixir' from his pocket, saying, "Here, this is for my elder brother, it smells wonderful."

Upon seeing this, the God of Food's eyes lit up. He said, "I haven't had much of this 'Jade Liquor' lately. That guy, the God of Wine, always refuses to let anyone freeload. I didn't expect you could get your hands on this stuff."

He didn't bother to ask Zhao Yifu where the stuff came from, took a big gulp, and then went to the kitchen to cook.

He even hummed a tune while cooking, and his mood was clearly much better than when he first met Zhao Yifu.

As a culinary master, he really couldn't live without this customer.

A moment later, Zhao Yifu returned home with a food box full of dishes and served them to Mr. and Mrs. Zhang.

Old Zhang's wife took a bite and couldn't help but nod in praise, "The God of Cookery's skills are really good. How come I never noticed before?"

Old Zhang said irritably, "In the past, banquets were just for drinking. Even when there was food, everyone just ate some spiritual fruits and that was it. Where was there any opportunity for Old Zhang to show off his skills?"

Old Zhang's wife nodded and said, "It's a pity about Old Zhang's skills. Now it seems he can get through the Five Signs of Decay, but I wonder if he can survive that hurdle in five hundred years?"

Zhao Yifu was immediately moved upon hearing this, as it was what he cared about most.

Old Zhang said, "That depends on his fate. But Baiyun Mountain is a good place. If our daughters don't make it, let's send them here too."

Zhao Yifu immediately sensed something was wrong; this was an attempt to "entrust his wife and children to someone else."

He quickly asked, "What will happen five hundred years from now?"

Old Zhang's wife said dismissively, "Didn't you say in your book that ancient grudges will erode our will?"

Zhao Yifu raised an eyebrow. "Is that really true?"
Old Zhang said, "At that time, we can escape by giving up all our cultivation."

"At worst, I can just be reincarnated and start over."

"But the gods and immortals of Heaven are going to suffer. The 'eternal grudge' may not be visible on the surface, but it will greatly incite the violent emotions in people's hearts, especially in Heaven..."

"When the Heavenly Court is in chaos, order is lost, and then the Heavenly Demons run rampant, plunging the Three Realms into calamity."

Zhao Yifu listened silently, then said knowingly, "The ancient grudge and the Demon Realm joining forces to plunge the world into chaos?"

But he also felt that something was not right.

He's not afraid of the Demon Realm or anything like that.

It's just a demon.

Zhao Yifu licked his lips, savoring the taste of the 'Heavenly Demon Roasted Meatballs'.

The Zhang couple had no idea that Zhao Yifu was thinking about this. They saw him licking his lips and assumed he was hungry too, so Old Zhang said, "Come on, let's eat together. We can't eat that much anyway."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yifu quickly replied, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..."

He said he dared not twice, and Lao Zhang persuaded him twice, so Zhao Yifu sat down and ate.

Before Old Zhang could even offer his third piece of advice, he swallowed his words.

Okay, let's eat together then. At this point, Old Zhang was starting to think about eating separately...

Fortunately, Zhao Yifu was aware of the situation and only ate a couple of bites of the dishes that the couple clearly didn't like, focusing mainly on drinking alcohol.

The wealthy elderly couple breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this and felt quite satisfied.

At this moment, Zhao Yifu finally understood why the gods and immortals at the celestial banquet only drank wine and ate fruits.

Don't they want to eat big meals?

Obviously not, but how could one possibly be open and relaxed in front of this elderly couple?

It would be better to eat some fruits and drink some immortal wine, to show that one is an outstanding immortal who is pure of heart and devoted to cultivation.

However, Zhao Yifu and his buddies had been indulging in heavy meals for the past two days and were already tired of it, so they wanted something light to cleanse their palates.

Just then, Old Zhang suddenly said, "You're a capable person, able to protect those around you in the Demon Realm, right?"

Zhao Yifu was taken aback upon hearing this. After a slight hesitation, he nodded and said, "I can only ensure that the Heavenly Demon doesn't cause any trouble. If a demon arises in one's own heart, there's nothing I can do."

Old Zhang's wife laughed upon hearing this, "I knew it would be like this when I saw how you treated those demons in the dream world like servants."

"But this is for the best. Perhaps the opportunity for the Three Realms to overcome this calamity lies with you."

Zhao Yifu immediately shook his head and said, "No, I can't do it. Don't look for me. I can't take the responsibility."

The three rejections suggest that they don't want to get involved in any trouble whatsoever.

Old Zhang and his wife exchanged a glance, then smiled and said, "That's right. Anyway, we'll leave everything to our son Mulu. By then, what happens in the world will be none of our business."

Zhao Yifu was shocked...

Good heavens, how come the leg he casually latched onto is this thick?
No wonder Mu Lu [Yang]'s strength has increased so rapidly recently. It's because Mu Lu's true form's cultivation is growing rapidly to match his future status.

He couldn't help but overthink it and asked, "Could it be that the key to resolving the great calamity lies not in the Heavenly Court, but in the Underworld?"

Old Zhang, with a look of 'a promising student,' said, 'Indeed, only by ensuring that the underworld can continue to operate normally, and by continuously reincarnating and passing on the 'eternal grievances' that are running rampant across the land, can things gradually improve.'

This appears to be a long process. It also confirms to Zhao Yifu that the upcoming great calamity is an inevitable consequence of the workings of the Three Realms, something that cannot be resisted by human power.

He fell silent and didn't respond to Lao Zhang's words.

Seeing this, Old Zhang's wife goaded him, saying, "You were able to fight Yang Jian and the Monkey King to a standstill, so I thought you were a fearless man. Now it seems..."

Zhao Yifu said quietly, "I am a scholar, Madam Zhang, there is no need to provoke me like this."

Old Zhang and his wife almost choked... Good heavens, they'd completely forgotten that he was a scholar.

This is such a shitty thing.

Can a scholar really fight the God of War of the Three Realms to a standstill?
More importantly, even Old Zhang was terrified when he saw the primordial giant form that could hold its own against the true form of the Nine Phoenix Great Witch.

How could such a top-tier brute within the three realms claim to be a scholar?
The Master is turning in his grave... well, maybe he's ecstatic.

At this moment, Old Zhang suddenly said, "Youquan went to prepare the treasure for you, but he hasn't returned yet, has he?"

Zhao Yifu nodded, wondering why this big shot had suddenly brought this up.

Old Zhang said, "I don't know the specifics of the Dark Void either. It's an unknown realm beyond the Chaos. And no one can know what kind of methods a terrifying being like Youquan possesses... I'm telling you this now only to remind you not to be tricked for a little bit of profit."

Zhao Yifu felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Thank you for reminding me, Master Zhang. I understand."

When he looked up, Old Zhang and his wife were already gone.

Zhao Yifu shook his head in dismay. All these people coming and going really treated this place like a cafeteria.

However, after looking at the table full of delicious food, he didn't stand on ceremony.

With a wave of his hand, he opened the door and said, "Come on in, don't leave anyone behind."

More than two hundred cats swarmed around the dining table, purring contentedly as they enjoyed their meal.

His cat pack is now quite powerful in the demon kingdom, but the cats have been well taken care of by him and have never really experienced any storms.

But so what? He wasn't going to let the cats experience anything dangerous anyway.

Another year passed, and Chenxiang had already endured 365 nights of suffering in his 'Black Myth'.

So now, after experiencing multiple instances where his mother was rescued only to die instead, Chenxiang has become very calm and experienced.

Seeing the calm and composed Chenxiang, Yang Jian, along with the Monkey King, Pigsy, and other elders, were quite gratified. At the same time, their previously stuck cultivation levels finally began to loosen.

Zhao Yifu observed that everything seemed to be going well here, while he himself had been bored for quite some time...

Finally, the Xuan Yin Maiden finally arrived.

Seeing Zhao Yifu's eager look, Xuan Yin Chan Nu found it somewhat amusing.

Youquan could sense her emotions, and she tried her best to remain completely calm. But when she did this, she discovered that she could actually sense some of Youquan's feelings in return.

This is what she has gained over the past ten years... 'Occupy Central'.

As for Youquan's feelings towards Zhao Yifu... to sum it up, it's a mixture of love and fear.

Unlike her, Yuquan's feelings towards her were simply 'indifference'.

This made Xuan Yin Chan Nu admire Zhao Yifu, after all, it was quite admirable to have someone who made even top big shots feel 'afraid'.

"Junior Brother Zhao, the Venerable One has given new instructions."

Zhao Yifu asked, "Are you going to tell me this, or are we going to hold a ceremony?"

Xuan Yin Cha Nu said, "The Venerable One has already informed me and asked me to pass on the message."

Zhao Yifu looked like he was ready to listen attentively.

Xuan Yin Cha Nu said, "After years of preparation, Venerable One has accumulated enough resources to fully launch the plan to seize power in the Three Realms."

"This matter is very important and requires your cooperation."

"He needs you to continue to negotiate with the Witch Clan and reach an agreement with them as quickly as possible so that they can act as the vanguard to storm the Heavenly Court."

Zhao Yifu frowned and asked, "Then what promises should be made? What kind of benefits should be promised to the Wu tribe?"

Xuan Yin Cha Nu said, "If things succeed, the Venerable One promises that the Witch Clan can become the new Earth God Clan of the Three Realms and can rule the earth."

Zhao Yifu nodded and said, "Okay, whether it's true or not, I'll go and try to fool people."

Xuan Yin Chan Nu said helplessly, "This is the Venerable One's promise, how can you say it's a lie?"

Zhao Yifu said, "That's pretty much true. Promises made before the fact usually don't come true."

"Let's not talk about that. What benefits would I get if I fooled the Witch Clan on behalf of the Venerable One?"

"Your Excellency has prepared for so long, it must be a good thing, right?"

Xuan Yin Cha Nu nodded and said, "The Venerable One has already said that it is a rare item that He obtained with great effort in the void. You will surely like it if you see it."

Zhao Yifu nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go and talk to the Wu Clan about this now."

As he spoke, he pointed to the man with the small mustache squatting outside and said, "Go and fetch the Great Witch Jiufeng for me."

The man with the mustache immediately accepted the order and dashed off up the mountainside.

"This is……"

The Mysterious Yin Maiden was puzzled.

She was in seclusion researching the 'brain-sealing technique' when Zhao Yifu was fighting Jiu Feng.

A moment later, Jiu Feng arrived.

She stood respectfully before Zhao Yifu, cupping her hands in greeting, and said, "Jiufeng greets Mengzu."

Zhao Yifu waved his hand and said, "Relax. I called you here today because I have something to discuss with you."

Jiufeng said, "Dream Ancestor, please speak."

Zhao Yifu asked, "If I were to ask you to lead the Witch Clan as the vanguard and kill the Heavenly Court at the right time, would you be willing?"

Nine Phoenix was taken aback, then gritted her teeth and said softly, "Dream Ancestor, if we are to become the Heavenly Emperor, the Witch Clan is willing to be our vanguard. We only ask that after we sacrifice ourselves, Dream Ancestor, you may take in our remnant souls..."

This time, it was Zhao Yifu's turn to be stunned.

He suddenly understood the mentality of these witches: rather than suffocating with resentment in a hopeless reality, they would rather give up everything and return to the warmth of the old days forever in Zhao Yifu's dream city.

Xuan Yin Chan Nu had absolutely no idea what to say to express her feelings... Good heavens, the task You Quan assigned to Zhao Yi Fu has been completed again?

And the witch clan is so humble...

Zhao Yifu chuckled and shook his head, saying, "It's not that I want to be the Heavenly Emperor, I just need you to be my vanguard..."

To everyone's surprise, Jiufeng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's fine, as long as Mengzu doesn't personally take risks."

Well, she knew that once Zhao Yifu was gone, his dream city would crumble, and all the happiness of the current Wu tribe would come to an end.

Xuan Yin Chan Nu looked at Zhao Yifu and Jiu Feng with a melancholy expression, and suddenly felt that Venerable You Quan was quite pitiful... Sure enough, even if you are a leader, you have to keep up with the pace of your subordinates.

(End of this chapter)