AGM 0096 – The First Painting
The Qin Wentian inside the dreamscape had already fully immersed himself in a special state. He didn’t know how much time had passed, nor did he know what he was doing.
Even when Qin Yao came to wake him up outside his dreamscape, he remained motionless in this state. Thus, Qin Yao did not continue interrupting his dream.
If experts in the dream arts were here, they would know that Qin Wentian’s special state was in fact his consciousness entering into an extremely deep dream state. In this kind of special state, his comprehension ability would heighten immensely to its strongest state.
Two days later, Qin Wentian was still making adjustments on the shore inside the dreamscape for an unknown number of times. Finally, Qin Wentian halted his finger and gazed upon the picture he had completed inscribing, awakening from that state.
“Success.” Surprise and joy flickered in Qin Wentian’s eyes. The picture that he inscribed, resembled the shape of a human wielding an ancient halberd that was simply piercing forwards. But even within such a simple movement, it gave off a sense of boundless energy. That aura was relentlessly pressing forward, destroying everything in front of it.
This picture seemed to move on its own. As long as one looked at it, they would discover that this picture was somewhat ‘alive’ and was able to bring the user into a miraculous realm..
“Is this a brand new type of Divine Imprint?” Qin Wentian murmured in a low voice. A Human-type Divine Imprint…If this really was the case, what grade would it belong to?
Qin Wentian raised his head and stared at the empty air. He was unsure how much time has passed, and with a slight intention of his will, he exited the dreamscape.
Back in reality, Qin Wentian opened his eyes, only to see Qin Yao was patrolling back and forth. He involuntarily called out, “Sister.”
Seeing Qin Wentian awake, Qin Yao smiled and walked over. “You’ve cultivate for such a long time.”
“Did you wait for long?” Qin Wentian asked.
“I visit here once in awhile. Wentian, I need to tell you something. I received the reply from Snowcloud Country.” Qin Yao’s countenance grew serious as she continued. “In the letter, they stated that at end of the year, a party accompanied by Snowcloud Country’s Crown Prince will head to the Chu Country.”
“What, why would they do that?” Qin Wentian’s brows furrowed.
“I have no idea.” Qin Yao shook her head, “but I heard another important piece of news. “For the Jun Lin Banquet this year, the Crown Prince of Snowcloud Country will bring his people over as well.”
“Seems like this year’s Jun Lin Banquet will be very lively.” Qin Wentian murmured, but he smiled to Qin Yao. “Sister, don’t worry too much about it. We will know for better or for worse when the end of the year arrives.”
“Right, don’t let this matter put too much pressure on you as well. Just continue to work hard in your cultivation. Sister is useless, I can only place my hope on to you.” Qin Yao sadly replied with traces of apology in her voice. She knew that with her strength alone, it was forever impossible for her rescue her father and grandpa.
This responsibility could only be shouldered by Qin Wentian.
“Leave it to me. There will be a day when I will soar through the skies, looking down from a height at the Chu Country like the bug it is.” Qin Wentian gently cradled Qin Yao’s face and smiled, trying to console Qin Yao.
“Okay.” Qin Yao finally smiled as she nodded. “Let me go cook something good for you to eat.”
“Very well. Finally, I’m able to taste Sister’s cooking.” Qin Wentian laughed as Qin Yao walked into the residence. Qin Wentian had chosen a solitary courtyard for his lodging, and thus, he had also invited Qin Yao to stay with him..
After Qin Yao left to head inside, Qin Wentian took a few pieces of paper, and using Astral Energy, he inscribed that picture onto the pieces of paper. However, whenever Qin Wentian tried to inscribe the picture from his dream in the real world, he kept failing. Evidently, he only succeeded in his dreamscape because of self-hypnosis that enabled him to reach a state of heightened comprehension.
Despite of his failures, as Qin Wentian gradually calmed his heart down, and after countless revisions, he finally completed inscribing the picture just when Qin Yao finished preparing the meal. After all, he had already succeeded before in his dream. He just needed to get himself used to the process in real life.
“What a marvellous piece of art this is. It almost seems alive.” Qin Yao stood by Qin Wentian’s side, her eyes flickeing with a brilliant light. “Wentian, why do I feel that this painting seemed to emanate a surge of tyrannical aura? Not only that, the figure seems to be half asleep and half awake. It even emits an overwhelming intent that wants to destroy Heavens and Earth with that halberd of his.”
Qin Yao got increasingly mystified the more she looked at it. As she focused on it, she felt as if that she was standing on the shore of an illusory ocean, facing against the figure in that painting. She felt that her life would be extinguished at any moment.
“This is my first painting of a runic portrait, I’m not too sure if it can be classified as a Divine Imprint.” Qin Wentian smiled as he continued, “Divine Imprints are all incredibly mysterious. Even the most ordinary of inscriptions are vivid and lifelike, as though they contain a vital force within. While in a strange state of perception, I managed to inscribe this runic portrait. It it really does have an effect similar to Divine Imprints, its grade shouldn’t be too low.”
“You really are a monster.” Qin Yao didn’t know how she should describe Qin Wentian. Even to her untrained eyes, she could sense that the painting in front of her was exceedingly mysterious. To think that Qin Wentian could actually create such a thing through his own perception. This level of perception, she had no hope of attaining it.
Naturally, she was happy for Qin Wentian. This was her brother, the one closest to her.
“Right, let’s go eat lunch” Qin Yao pulled Qin Wentian along towards the food was set up. Qin Wentian’s eyes lit up as he saw all the delicious food.
After enjoying a heartwarming lunch, Qin Wentian once again entered the Dreamsky Forest. Although life in the academy was peaceful now, he had not forgotten to increase his martial prowess.
In the City of Illusions, Qin Wentian appeared in an empty area. He rubbed the interspatial ring on his finger, and with a slight intent of his will, an ancient halberd appeared in his hands moments later.
“Indeed, this dreamscape truly feels like reality. Even the things I brought in with me can be used in the dreamscape as well.”
Qin Wentian’s body flickered as he transformed into a phantom, moving with incredible speed.
Once the surrounding cultivators noticed Qin Wentian, they quickly dodged aside. Qin Wentian’s current reputation was already known to all. He could easily defeat Yanaro and even matched palms against Luo Qianqiu. If their cultivation bases weren’t the 8th level of Arterial Circulation or above, no one dared to antagonise him, especially after he was equipped with the ancient halberd. His aura got exponentially tyrannical when paired with that weapon.
Very quickly, Qin Wentian spotted a member from the Knight’s Association. This person was wielding a long spear and had a sharp gaze.
“Buzz.” A violent wind swept past as Qin Wentian’s silhouette, akin to a gigantic bird of prey, swooped down with lightning-fast speed. That person understood that it was impossible for him to retreat, and hence, he stabbed his spear forwards, dashing over to clash with Qin Wentian.
“Stance of the White Tiger.” The Berserker Beast Halberd Technique was executed. Numerous tiger roars issued forth as the halberd pierced out and clashed against the opponent’s long spear. An instant later, that long spear was flung out of the knight’s hand from the impact.
“Puchi!” The sharp edge of the halberd’s side, like a crescent blade, slashed into the body of his opponent. The pain of this injury was like cruel torture. The knight’s eyes stared daggers at Qin Wentian, before his body slowly disappeared from the dreamscape.
After Qin Wentian killed his opponent, he immediately started hunting the next. A few minutes later, he met a second member of the Knight’s Association and burst forth in motion within seconds, showing no mercy as he rushed with the force of a raging wind. A cold light radiated on the halberd’s sharp, crescent-shaped edge, slashing a line through the throat of his target. A shower of blood erupted.
Hunts after hunts, as long as he met a member of the Knight’s Association, Qin Wentian would ensure that the knight would die horribly under his halberd. He had transformed into the nightmare of the Knight’s Association’s members.
In the City of Illusions, many people personally witnessed Qin Wentian hunting the members of the Knight’s Association. The news was spread quickly through the Emperor Star Academy, which caused many people to sigh silently in their hearts. Qin Wentian obviously had not forgotten Fan Le’s torture and humiliation. The conflict between Qin Wentian and the Knight’s Association would only grow more and more intense.
However, Orchon was rumored to have gone out to temper himself after breaking through to the 9th level of Arterial Circulation.
Everyone was very clear. Orchon was preparing himself for the Jun Lin Banquet scheduled at the end of the year. Once he was back, he would never let Qin Wentian off.
However, Qin Wentian also met a hard to deal with opponent in the City of Illusions. This person was clad in blue and had a cultivation base at the 8th level of Arterial Circulation, with extremely terrifying combat abilities.
Naturally, Qin Wentian was joyful. Executing his Berserker Beast Halberd Technique, he strived to gain even more insights through the battle.
The four stances, 36 transformations of the halberd technique was a complete set of halberd techniques. One could only familiarise oneself with it through relentless, assiduous practice., and only then would the released power be stronger and stronger. In Qin Wentian’s dreamscape, he visualized himself as a master of that technique, and when executing it in the dreamscape, he manifested a real Azure Dragon, a White Tiger, a Vermillion Bird, and a Xuanwu Black Tortoise.
“Chi……” At this moment, Qin Wentian sensed that his opponent’s palm strike transformed into an illusory attack. Instantly, the ancient halberd in his hands danced about, transforming into a manifestation of a Xuanwu Black Tortoise that defended his body. However, when his opponent’s illusory palm strikes landed on the Xuanwu, the Xuanwu trembled nine times consecutively before it crumbled away. Qin Wentian’s body drifted backwards as he retreated and laughed, “Let’s duel again another day.”
After that, he turned and left. He eventually arrived alone in an empty space and began practicing his halberd techniques. His recent continuous battles had allowed him to comprehend some insights.
Each strike of the ancient halberd emitted a domineering, tyrannical force. But despite of this, Qin Wentian felt that something was wrong. The strikes that he executed did not have the overwhelming aura of the Human-type Divine Imprint he created.
“Qin Wentian.” At this moment, a voice filled with joy drifted over. Qin Wentian halted his movements and soon after, he noticed Mu Rou walking over.
“What a coincidence.” Qin Wentian smiled.
“After I received the news that you’ve returned to the Emperor Academy, I would come here everyday to see if I could meet you.” Mu Rou stared at Qin Wentian. Only now did Qin Wentian realize that this was the place where he and Mu Rou used to spar against each other.
Embarrassed, Qin Wentian smiled, as he stated, “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Can’t I just look for you for no reason?” Mu Rou cast a bitter look over, causing Qin Wentian to smile sheepishly, only to hear Mu Rou laugh with amusement. “I’m teasing you. Tomorrow is my 18th birthday. Can you come here to give me your blessings, as well as exchange some pointers with me so that I can temper my movement techniques?”
“We can do it now as well.” Qin Wentian smiled, as he kept the ancient albert back in his ring. “Attack me as you will.”
“Okay.” Mu Rou laughed, then she started her attacks.
Mu Rou discovered that her attacks no longer had the ability to touch Qin Wentian. Every movement that Qin Wentian used to evade her attacks were incomparably wondrous. It was as though his body moved at the slightest intention of his will. His movements were more similar to an exquisite dance rather than the steps of a movement technique.
Even so, this sparring session was tremendously beneficial for Mu Rou. It continued all the way until perspiration drenched her body before she left the dreamscape together with Qin Wentian.
After Qin Wentian exited the Dreamsky Forest, he returned to his courtyard while deep in thought.
Looking at the painting he inscribed, Qin Wentian’s eyes lit up. Mu Rou treated him so well. Now that it was her 18th birthday, he definitely should give her a present to convey his congratulations!