Goddess Painting

Lin Wan'er, wrapped in a quilt, tiptoed lightly to the table with her bare feet.

She picked up the pen, dipped it in tea, and quickly wrote on the table:

This brush is an heirloom passed down through my maternal clan for over a thousand years.

My mother told me that our ancestors cherished it as their lifeblood, passing it down through generations. But for hundreds of years, no one in the clan could unravel its mystery; apart from being indestructible, it was no different from any other writing brush.

Over time, it was passed down simply as a symbolic expression of a sentiment.

After finishing writing, she looked up, her eyes filled with confusion, clearly clueless about what had happened the night before.

"You don't even know about your mother's clan...?"

Qin Feng stroked his chin thoughtfully.

It seems this treasure is a divine object that conceals its true nature, and can only be opened under specific circumstances.

I just don't know how I accidentally activated it.

Is it based on emotions?

Still relying on women?

We need to find another opportunity to try it out.

He asked Lin Wan'er to purchase some spirit ink and spirit paper, which might help activate the magic brush.

However, what Qin Feng didn't know was that if he used the magic brush, the Holy Maiden would be in trouble!

"Wan'er, go prepare what I'm going to tell you. I'm going to the sect first."

Qin Feng stood up, straightening his clothes as he spoke.

Lin Wan'er tugged at his sleeve with some concern.

Qin Feng patted the back of her hand and reassured her, "Don't worry, I'm not going to cause trouble."

"This time, I'm going to take the spiritual root test to see what my current spiritual root aptitude is!"

Previously, because Qin Feng's spiritual root was too poor, although he lived in the Qingyun Sect as the eldest grandson of the Qin family, he was always just an outsider and could not even get the status of an outer disciple. He was often looked down upon for this.

When his grandfather, Qin Xiaotian, was alive, he could protect him.

Now that his grandfather has disappeared, he must quickly obtain a formal sect identity in order to gain a foothold in this dog-eat-dog world of sects, and to protect Wan'er and the dignity of the Qin family!

"I'll show those who kicked me when I'm down that the Qin family hasn't fallen yet!"

After settling Lin Wan'er in, Qin Feng pushed open the door and went out.

Lin Zhengnan, Lin Yuyan, when you find out my true spiritual root aptitude, your expressions will be quite interesting.

……

"Have you heard? Last night, Lin Yi, the young master of the Lin family, awakened, causing a celestial phenomenon!"

"Of course I heard! That white light illuminated half the night sky!"

"The Lin family is truly on the verge of great success this time. The elder sister is a disciple of the Holy Maiden, and the younger brother is an unparalleled prodigy..."

"I heard Lin Yi is going to the main hall today to test his accurate spiritual root aptitude, and a lot of people have gone to watch the excitement!"

Along the way, everyone was talking about Lin Yi.

Qin Feng's expression was somewhat strange.

"Lin Yi? He caused a celestial phenomenon? He's here to test it too?"

Qin Feng was surprised, but not envious.

He looked inward at the crystal-clear spiritual root within his body, which exuded an ancient aura, and a confident smile curved his lips.

"No matter how strong you are, Lin Yi, I am no less capable than you now!"

Qin Feng headed straight for the inner peak of the sect.

His target was clear: the sect's testing hall!

However, when he arrived at the location, he found that the testing hall, which was usually deserted, was now packed with people.

Not only were there disciples from the various peaks present, but also many high-ranking figures such as the peak masters.

"Could it be... that all these people came for Lin Yi?"

Qin Feng clicked his tongue in amazement.

It seems the strange phenomena last night were quite significant!

Excuse me, excuse me.

Qin Feng turned around and squeezed into the main hall.

Suddenly, he spotted a familiar face in the main hall, and his eyes lit up: "Uncle!"

It was none other than Elder Wang Tianyi, who was in charge of managing the testing hall!

He was a disciple personally trained by his grandfather, Qin Xiaotian!

It could even be said that Wang Tianyi's achievements and status today are entirely due to his grandfather's dedicated cultivation back then.

When they were little, Wang Tianyi would often hold Qin Feng and call him "Little Feng" affectionately.

Qin Feng smiled sincerely and squeezed next to Wang Tianyi.

However, when Wang Tianyi saw Qin Feng, his face did not show any kindness.

His eyes were filled with disgust as he coldly said:

"What are you doing here?! This is the Qingyun Sect, where only elders and disciples are present. What uncle and nephew are you talking about? Don't try to get close to me!"

"If you want to claim kinship, go back to your Qin family! Within the sect, you must address people by their official titles!"

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.

Qin Feng's smile froze at the corner of his mouth.

It seemed as if he was truly getting to know this familiar man for the first time.

This is the same Wang Tianyi who once stood respectfully before his grandfather, patting his chest and declaring, "Qin Feng will be my nephew in the future."

Is this the Uncle Wang who received countless favors from the Qin family?

Just because Grandpa has disappeared, just because the Qin family has weakened, does that mean we're not even worthy of calling him "Uncle" anymore?

Qin Feng's heart sank as he looked into Wang Tianyi's cold and somewhat mocking eyes.

He finally understood what it meant to be forgotten once the person leaves.

It turns out that so-called "friendship" is so vulnerable in the face of interests and reality.

If it were Qin Feng yesterday, he might have felt indignant in the face of such a scene and stepped forward to argue.

However, with the reshaping of his spiritual root, Qin Feng's mentality has also changed.

He took a deep breath...

It's good that I've come to see some people for who they really are.

Qin Feng slowly composed himself, concealing the superfluous expression on his face.

He straightened his back, abandoning any hint of obsequiousness, and instead bowed deeply to Wang Tianyi in a respectful, even somewhat awkward, manner:

"It was my recklessness."

Elder Wang.

Qin Feng raised his head, calmly looking at Wang Tianyi, and said, word by word:

"Disciple Qin Feng has come to apply to participate in today's sect aptitude test."

These words immediately caused an uproar.

"Qin Feng wants to test his spiritual root aptitude? Isn't he supposed to have an inferior spiritual root?"

"I'd heard long ago that the Lin family included a Marrow Cleansing Jade in their betrothal gifts. It's a treasure that can improve one's aptitude. Now it seems the rumors were true!"

"Tch, it's only been one night. Even if that spirit jade is miraculous, how much can it improve one's aptitude? It'll just turn one good-for-nothing into an ordinary person."

The disciples nearby whispered amongst themselves, their quiet discussions reaching the ears of everyone present, though kept extremely low.

Wang Tianyi frowned slightly, and his gaze toward Qin Feng contained not only indifference but also a hint of scrutiny and suspicion.

"Marrow Cleansing Jade..."

He pondered to himself, then gave a cold snort:

"Qin Feng, you just got married yesterday, and today you're already thinking about testing your aptitude. Even if that spirit jade is wondrous, you still need time to refine it. Being so impatient is just being greedy and reckless, and you'll end up with nothing."

Faced with the questions, Qin Feng remained calm and did not offer any further explanation.

Since the Lin family has publicly claimed to have given the spirit jade, he might as well go with the flow and use this to cover up the secret of the magic brush.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute, his posture upright as a pine tree, his tone calm yet firm:

"My mind is made up. Elder, please begin the test!"

"Hmph, stubborn as a mule."

Wang Tianyi's lips curled into a mocking sneer, and he waved his hand listlessly:

"Suit yourself. Since you're determined to humiliate yourself, this elder won't stop you..."

Before he could finish speaking...

Suddenly, the crowd outside the hall spontaneously parted to make way for them.

Two figures approached, stepping through the morning dew.

The woman at the head of the group was dressed in a snow-white dress with a jade pendant hanging from her waist. Her face was cold and beautiful, like a flower on a high mountain, beyond compare.

Beside her stood a handsome young man, his expression a mixture of arrogance and naiveté befitting someone from a prominent family.

Qin Feng looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly.

It was his "former fiancée" Lin Yuyan, and Lin Yi, who caused a stir last night.

Upon seeing these two, Wang Tianyi, who had previously maintained a cold and aloof demeanor and a businesslike attitude, instantly transformed, his face melting like ice and snow, and filled with a kind and amiable smile.

"Isn't this my niece, Yu Yan? And this one... could he be Lin Yi, the nephew who caused the strange phenomena last night?!"

Wang Tianyi stared at Lin Yi with shining eyes, as if he were looking at a rare treasure.

"My dear nephew, you are indeed a man of exceptional talent! Last night's extraordinary phenomenon truly shook the entire Qingyun Sect!!"

Lin Yuyan bowed slightly, performing a standard junior's greeting, but her expression remained aloof: "Elder, you flatter me. My younger brother has come today to test his spiritual root aptitude, and I would appreciate your assistance."

"Haha, no need for such formalities!"

Watching this scene, Qin Feng stood aside, a self-deprecating smile curving his lips.

Just now, Elder Wang had sternly reprimanded me for "not trying to get close" and for "using titles in the sect."

But when he faced Lin Yuyan, he addressed her as "Uncle" and "Dear Niece" with more affection than anyone else.

Even the so-called authority of the elders was thrown to the winds.

How ironic!

So-called rules are nothing more than shackles used by the strong to bind the weak. In the face of real power and interests, rules are nothing at all.

After exchanging pleasantries, Wang Tianyi seemed to suddenly remember something and turned to look at Qin Feng, who had been left standing to the side.

The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by his previous coldness and impatience:

"Perfect timing, since you also want to test your qualifications, then go with Nephew Lin Yixian."

He paused, his tone carrying a clear warning:

"However, let me be clear from the start: Lin Yixian is a rough gem, while some people, if they're just pretending and wasting everyone's time, hmph..."

The implication is self-evident.

Qin Feng remained calm.

Once the test results are in, everything will become clear!