Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 298 The Awakening of Agarwood

Being locked inside the "Exhortation to Learning Picture Book" was truly tough for Chenxiang. He had to constantly memorize and recite the books of sages, and if he couldn't recite them well, he would be severely beaten.

It was under these circumstances that Zhao Yifu taught him what humility, benevolence, and the virtues of a gentleman are.

Zhao Yifu was able to do this not only because of sealing techniques and calligraphy and painting illusions, but also because he was able to integrate dark source power into it.

In a sense, it means using dark energy to fill the magical framework you've constructed.

This spell still requires a medium, namely, spiritual ink.

Using the spirit ink, Zhao Yifu actually broke through the barrier between dark spiritual power and spiritual energy, and glued them together!
Of course, this is also a new development after Zhao Yifu completed the construction of his inner world and entered the Golden Immortal realm. His spells also have their own unique structure.

Normal spells would never take into account the existence of dark energy...

He never deceived Li Wenqing. What he taught Chenxiang was his most essential method of using dark source power. However, this method had already been integrated into his entire spellcasting system. If Chenxiang wanted to learn it, he would have to start practicing from scratch according to his method.

Chenxiang is having a terrible time; he's either getting beaten up or waiting to get beaten up every day.

Even if he manages to memorize a classic text, a new one will immediately be presented, leaving him feeling like he's in heaven.

Fortunately, Chenxiang was very intelligent. After enduring a lot of hardship in the early stages to improve his literary foundation, things became much easier.

After enduring a year of hardship, when Chenxiang emerged from the "Exhortation to Learning" book, he was already able to recite the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as various commentaries on Confucian classics, backwards and forwards.

Even just the Confucian and Taoist classics he has mastered are comparable to those of a great Confucian scholar.

He can be said to be the most rapidly accomplished Confucian scholar in history.

However, the first thing he did after he came out was to pick up an axe and start chopping at Zhao Yifu.

For a whole year, he was imprisoned in that illusion space and tormented day and night. He had never suffered such injustice in his entire life.

However, no matter what he did, his axe could not reach Zhao Yifu...

This is because the space between him and Zhao Yifu is constantly widening, and the speed at which this widening is much faster than the speed at which he advances, so that each of his attacks lands in a real empty space.

This was another tricky situation that Chen Xiang had never experienced before. He found that he couldn't understand at all how Zhao Yifu had managed to create distance between them.

Over the years, he has developed his own fighting style, which relies on the martial arts he has learned and the experience he has gained in dreams to fight.

He never imagined that a true high-level cultivator could display such amazing abilities that they could easily erase his supposedly powerful combat abilities.

Zhao Yifu said calmly, "It seems that the ability to sense the universe is also a weakness for you."

At this moment, Chenxiang calmed down and respectfully clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "I'm sorry, brother, I was too impulsive just now."

Zhao Yifu smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right, at least you knew to back down when you knew you were no match for them."

He walked over with a smile and said, "You've made some progress in a year, but not much."

Chenxiang hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Zhao Yifu asked, "What are you trying to say?"

Chenxiang said, "Brother, I can already recite those classics. Please teach me how to truly utilize the power of darkness!"

Zhao Yifu said, "Actually, you can spend some more time refining your calligraphy and painting skills, and then you will naturally be able to use spiritual ink as a medium to unleash the power of darkness."

Chenxiang asked, "How long will it take?"

Zhao Yifu said, "At least another ten years."

Chenxiang shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, brother, I can't wait that long."

Zhao Yifu asked curiously, "Why?"

Chenxiang said, "Because my mother has been suppressed for twenty years."

Zhao Yifu said, "For the Goddess of Mount Hua, twenty years is not a long time."

Chenxiang said, "Originally, I was worried about my mother's suffering, which is why I was so eager to cultivate and split the mountain to save her."

"But now I know that being suppressed under Mount Hua might not be such a severe punishment for my mother... All I want now is for the family to be reunited while my father, Liu Yanchang, is still alive."

"During the year I spent with my brother, it felt as if I was reciting these classic texts, and it felt as if I could see my father, Liu Yanchang, reciting the classics when I was a child... Only then did I realize that although my mother was pitiful, I had also been away from my father for twelve years!"

As he spoke, his voice gradually became sorrowful.

Agarwood is indeed different now.

He had always wanted to save his mother from her suffering and bring her back to his side, from a child's perspective.

To put it bluntly, it's just a child's nature. It's only because he comes from an extraordinary background and has a stubborn temperament that he seems so special.

But in essence, he is still just a spoiled brat who can't handle everything.

But things are different now. The trials of the dream, and his 'meditation' with Zhao Yifu this time, have finally made him realize... He realized what he had missed.

Zhao Yifu nodded and said, "It's already very good that you can think of these things, so what are you going to do now?"

Chenxiang said, "Of course, it's to split the mountain to save my mother!"

He seems to be no different from the beginning.

But so many years have passed, how could the aspirations of those years remain unchanged?
Having experienced countless trials and tribulations and understood many things, he has returned to his original position with more insights and a more comprehensive understanding... Isn't this the 'circle' of life?
At least at this moment, Chenxiang's state of mind was truly fulfilled.

Zhao Yifu nodded seriously and said, "Alright, since you insist, then I will tailor a method for you to exert your power."

Chenxiang replied in a deep voice, "Thank you, brother."

Zhao Yifu said, "Your weapon is this mountain-splitting axe, right?"

Chenxiang said, "Yes."

Zhao Yifu said, "Let me see it."

Chen Xiang didn't hesitate, nor did he think about taking the opportunity to try and cut someone down... He was a smart man and naturally knew who the real enemy was and who was truly capable.

Zhao Yifu held the axe in his hand to feel it, and then injected his true energy into it to sense its structure.

The axe seemed to possess a spirit, resisting for a moment.

But Zhao Yifu didn't care. He quickly filled and covered it with a dark source of energy, and then used his own true energy to perform a forced scan.

He quickly arrived at the result he wanted, then paused for a moment, and presented a phantom of axe-shaped spiritual energy in front of Chenxiang.

He said, "Complete the structure in your axe according to the Qi diagram here, and then inject dark source power; it will have amazing effects."

Chenxiang was surprised when he saw the diagram, and then quickly tried to follow it.

He soon noticed that his axe had started to buzz...

Simply by using true energy to complete the composition in the diagram, the axe unexpectedly displayed a stronger spirituality and began to communicate with the outside world, automatically absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Instead of continuing to add dark source power, Chenxiang swung his axe at the open ground in front of him... The next moment, a torrent of water appeared in front of him, which actually shattered a large area of ​​forest and part of the mountain.

Chenxiang was overjoyed; this was already much stronger than his previous strength.

Just as he was about to try his axe again, Zhao Yifu, his face dark, grabbed the axe blade with one hand and said, "You should try it after you leave Liaoshan. This place has finally acquired such a beautiful view, and I won't allow you to run wild and destroy it here."

Chenxiang quickly stopped and said guiltily, "I'm sorry, brother, it was my fault."

He is now terrified of Zhao Yifu because Zhao Yifu is powerful enough and willing to help him become stronger.

Zhao Yifu said, "Never mind, it was an unintentional mistake on your part."

Chenxiang then asked, "Brother, the axe technique you taught me is already this powerful. What would happen if I combined it with dark source power?"

Zhao Yifu said, "Either way, it's stronger, but you're not allowed to try it here."

Chenxiang nodded helplessly, feeling an intense itch in his heart.

But there was nothing he could do; with a powerful man by his side who could catch an axe with his bare hands, he dared not utter a single word.

But then he suddenly remembered something and asked excitedly, "Brother, how do you compare to Erlang Shen?"

Zhao Yifu immediately understood what was going on, but he needed to boost Chenxiang's confidence, so he said, "I don't know."

Chenxiang frowned and asked, "How could my brother not know? Yes, it must be because we never fought..."

He was a little disappointed.

But the next moment Zhao Yifu said, "We've fought."

Chenxiang looked up in surprise and asked, "So, what's the outcome?"

He was filled with anticipation, but then, feeling a bit strange, he asked another question: "Then why did you say 'I don't know' earlier, brother?"

Zhao Yifu said, "Because I fought him when I was still a Celestial Immortal, and the battle ended in a draw. The situation is different now, so I can only answer that I don't know."

This time, Chenxiang was truly astonished. He exclaimed in shock, "Brother, you were able to fight Yang Jian to a standstill when you were a Celestial Immortal? What is your cultivation level now?"

Zhao Yifu said, "He is now a Golden Immortal."

Chenxiang excitedly shouted "Wow!" He felt that he had finally found "the right person".

If a Celestial Immortal could fight Yang Jian to a draw, then wouldn't a Golden Immortal be able to easily defeat the so-called God of War of the Three Realms?
Little did he know that Zhao Yifu had forcibly raised his upper limit by utilizing the power of the Dark Source, so the improvement in his realm only raised his lower limit, while his upper limit of combat power did not... Oh, actually, his upper limit of combat power did increase, but that had nothing to do with the Golden Immortal realm.

Zhao Yifu wondered if he could bind Yang Jian in one fell swoop if he took out the forbidden book of Taixu.
Wow, just thinking about it is exciting.

Chenxiang asked, "Can I go save Mother now?"

It seems like she's become a bit childish again.

Zhao Yifu nodded and said, "It should be fine, but you need to know that rescuing your mother is never an isolated event; it means..."

Chenxiang paused for a moment, then said, "I know that this means I will stand completely against the Heavenly Dao rules represented by the Heavenly Court. I am mentally prepared."

He said it with certainty.

Because Zhao Yifu was a powerful being who had never appeared in his dream, and he also possessed power that had never existed in his dream... He believed that with all of this, he could do things better and more perfectly.

Of course, he had no idea that the dream that had lasted for three years was actually created by Zhao Yifu!

Zhao Yifu nodded and said, "Alright, then so be it."

"I can say that I have fulfilled the Venerable One's request."

Chenxiang asked with some curiosity, "Brother, I feel that your relationship with Master Youquan doesn't seem to be that..."

He paused for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words.

Zhao Yifu countered, "Do you think I'm not the kind of subordinate who would blindly obey His orders?"

Chenxiang nodded.

Zhao Yifu said, "That's natural, because He has always tried to control me, and I have always resisted this from happening."

Chenxiang was quite shocked to hear this. He asked, "If that's the case, why does Brother still obey Master Youquan's orders?"

Zhao Yifu said, "Because no matter what, the Venerable One gave me new power and another transcendent perspective, so I still respect Him very much."

Chenxiang may have understood, or perhaps he only had a vague understanding; he simply nodded silently.

He said, "Brother, I'm going to save Mother."

Zhao Yifu said, "Go."

Chenxiang then asked, "Then... will we ever see each other again?"

Zhao Yifu chuckled and said, "You are the commander chosen by Venerable Youquan to attack the Heavenly Court, and I am the one who paves the way for you. We will meet."

Chenxiang took a deep breath, then nodded emphatically and turned to leave, finally facing his fate.

After he left, Zhao Yifu said leisurely, "Uncle-Master, you should go and make your preparations."

Yang Jian emerged from behind a large tree and said, "No rush. This kid only focuses on martial arts in his cultivation and neglects everything else. He hasn't learned any of the monkey's somersault cloud or shuttle techniques. I still have time."

Zhao Yifu nodded; this agarwood was indeed extremely unbalanced.

However, he said, "In one-on-one combat, he is indeed easy to target, but he will command the army of Youquan in the future, so this weakness can be ignored."

Yang Jian curled his lip and said, "He's still very green."

Zhao Yifu said, "So he still needs some help... Hmm, shouldn't my brother Yunzheng also take action?"

Yang Jian did not respond to his words, but instead got up and flew away, saying at the same time, "We will inevitably have to fight then, and I will not hold back this time."

Zhao Yifu chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I'll hold back."

Yang Jian chuckled and then disappeared into the clouds.

Below, Chenxiang finally arrived at Mount Hua again, carrying his axe, while Yang Jian entered the battlefield at just the right moment.

Chenxiang raised his axe and said to Yang Jian in a deep voice, "There's nothing more to say. Let's see who's the best."

Indeed, after three years of dreams, he had done everything he could to cause trouble and express his anger towards Yang Jian. What followed was a battle that seemed destined to be fought.

Yang Jian said calmly, "You seem very confident, so come on then."

This time, instead of relying on the "Sky-Sweeping Cloak," he directly countered with his three-pointed double-edged sword.

It seems he also knows that this agarwood is now a 'powerful version' and that he's going to show some real skill.

(End of this chapter)