Chapter 52: The Merit List
Chapter 52: The Merit List
Li Hao summoned his Divine Soul, and a golden Soul Image soared from the top of his head, patrolling the sky.
Soon, Li Hao found two wandering children in a corner at the edge of the village.
Without moving his body, his Divine Soul dove down, sweeping the ground with a gust of sand and gravel that shot out, piercing the two remaining stragglers.
Mourning River Completion Rate: 90%.
The Divine Soul returned, and Li Hao took a step, covering fifteen li in a single stride. The next moment, his figure appeared on the hill behind the village, next to the Black-robed Scholar.
The Black-robed Scholar was slightly taken aback by Li Hao's sudden appearance.
Li Hao had already noticed that this Black-robed Scholar was different from the villagers outside; his expression was not numb but showed signs of independent thought.
The Female Soul Form on the Black-robed Scholar's back suddenly lifted her head, her gaze cold and fixed on Li Hao.
"A person of your realm shouldn't be here", the Black-robed Scholar said softly.
Li Hao replied, "I didn't mean to, I accidentally came in."
The Black-robed Scholar fell silent for a moment, then said, "Before we fight, can I finish my work first?"
Li Hao saw that he was holding a palette of oil paints in one hand and a brush in the other, the brush stained with blood. In front of him was an easel with a portrait of a woman.
The woman in the painting bore a striking resemblance to the one on his back.
"Do you also enjoy the Art Dao?" Li Hao asked, surprised that a deceased person could still have such leisure.
The Black-robed Scholar did not answer, only continuing to add strokes to the painting paper.
Li Hao, intrigued, moved closer to observe.
The Black-robed Scholar's painting skills were quite impressive, ranking among the best he had encountered.
"You seem different from the villagers outside", Li Hao said.
The Black-robed Scholar frowned; he disliked being disturbed while painting, but Li Hao's strength left him no choice.
"They are just my servants", the Black-robed Scholar said coolly.
"So, you are the one who harbors the obsession that created this Mourning River", Li Hao said. "If I deal with you, this Mourning River should be destroyed, right?"
"You can't kill me."
The Black-robed Scholar coldly replied, "Even if you destroy this place, I will return."
"Since you are already dead, why not move on?" Li Hao sighed.
The Black-robed Scholar's hand paused, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He seemed to want to say something but then thought better of it, stopping short.
He laughed coldly a few times, then ignored Li Hao and focused on his painting.
Li Hao circled around him, looking around. Seeing that the Black-robed Scholar was no longer paying attention, he shifted his gaze to the painting.
The brush was dipped in blood, giving the painting a sinister and terrifying appearance.
But Li Hao was more interested in the painting technique.
"The brushwork here is too soft."
Noticing a lack of detail, he couldn't help but offer advice:
"There's not enough blood here; use more, and let it spread naturally when you make a stroke."
"..."
The Black-robed Scholar's hand paused, and he turned to look at Li Hao with a penetrating gaze. "You know painting?"
"A little bit."
The Black-robed Scholar studied Li Hao for a moment. Although he was only at the Soul Succession Realm, he existed due to the special power of the Mourning River and had been trapped in a place called Tan Palace Academy for several hundred years.
Over those centuries, many martial artists had entered this place, some strong and some weak. The strong ones were more terrifying than the young man beside him, capable of destroying the entire Mourning River village with a single gesture. The weak ones were like the villagers outside, and over the years, many had met tragic ends. A few more capable ones who reached him were also killed without mercy.
He had seen all sorts of people, but someone like the young man beside him was rare. Young, terrifying in the Martial Dao, and knowledgeable in other arts.
"The Art Dao is profound and unfathomable. Even if you are clever, it cannot be mastered with just a little effort", the Black-robed Scholar said, then ignored Li Hao and continued his painting.
"Damn, I was being modest, and you really got cocky?" Li Hao narrowed his eyes. Does this guy really think his painting skills are that great?
If you're good at the Martial Dao, I could tolerate it, but comparing painting skills?
"The Art Dao is indeed unfathomable, but unfortunately, you are just a beginner", Li Hao said without holding back.
"What?"
The Black-robed Scholar raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Li Hao coldly.
"Your painting has at least sixteen errors. It's so stiff; you really lack the spirit!" Li Hao said bluntly, no longer giving any quarter.
"You're talking nonsense!" The Black-robed Scholar lost his composure, his deathly pale face flushing with anger as he glared at Li Hao.
"Here, here, here..."
Li Hao pointed to various spots on the painting paper. "They’re all flaws, and you can’t see them because your skill is too low!"
"You!"
The Black-robed Scholar trembled, the woman clinging to his back enveloped in black mist, ready to fight Li Hao to the death.
Li Hao, of course, was not afraid. An angry Soul Succession Realm cultivator was still just a Soul Succession Realm cultivator. Do you think you can turn into a golden-haired beast?
"Give me the brush."
Without a word, Li Hao snatched the brush from the Scholar’s hand, tore the painting paper off, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it aside.
Seeing his hard work treated so carelessly, the Black-robed Scholar could no longer contain his rage and let out a piercing scream. His previously calm and handsome face twisted into a grotesque and terrifying expression, with blood seeping from his seven orifices, bubbling and gushing.
His black robe billowed, revealing the blood-red lining. It was a robe that had been stained with blood for countless years, the blood long dried and settled, giving it a black appearance.
Li Hao didn’t even bother to look. His divine soul flew out, easily pressing the Scholar and his soul image’s heads to the ground, rendering them immobile.
To be so angry at such a poor painting, Li Hao couldn’t understand. The one who should be angry is me!
His gaze became focused, his heart sincere in his devotion to the Art Dao.
With a swift motion, Li Hao’s brush moved swiftly, the blood at the tip of the brush splashing, the lines flowing naturally, light and heavy strokes blending seamlessly, creating a clear and layered image.
Soon, the blood on the brush tip ran out, and Li Hao lifted the Scholar, dabbing the brush on his face to collect more blood before continuing to paint.
In no time, a lifelike image of a woman, gracefully turning her head and looking down, appeared on the paper.
It was still the same woman, but this time, it was truly lifelike.
The best way to shut a stubborn mouth is to defeat them in their proudest skill.
Li Hao released the Black-robed Scholar and said calmly, "Compare them again. If you still can’t see the difference, then don’t touch a brush again. Go back to your village and farm."
The Black-robed Scholar nearly spat blood. Farming?
He was about to lunge forward in a fit of rage, but suddenly froze, his gaze drawn to the painting. He couldn’t look away.
Ayue...
The Black-robed Scholar was as if struck by a thunderbolt, standing there in a daze.
His eyes fixed on the woman in the painting, his body, poised to attack, began to tremble.
Then, two streams of blood tears flowed from his eyes.
Ayue, is that you...
Is it really you...
The Black-robed Scholar approached the painting, his steps faltering, reaching out to touch the woman’s face. But as his fingers were about to touch the paper, he panicked and pulled back, afraid of dirtying her face.
His shoulders shook, the blood tears continuing to flow.
The Female Soul Form on his back also stared at the painting, her fierce, black eyes gradually softening.
"How is it? Better than yours?"
A voice from the side broke the Black-robed Scholar’s reverie.
He froze, then turned to look at Li Hao.
Seeing the young man’s proud expression, he didn’t get angry. Instead, he suddenly fell to his knees before Li Hao.
"Thank you..."
The Black-robed Scholar bowed his head, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you for letting me see Ayue again."
So the woman in the painting is named Ayue? Li Hao raised an eyebrow but didn’t pay much attention. Seeing that the Scholar had conceded, he helped him up. "The Art Dao is profound. You need not only heart immersion but also spirit..."
As Li Hao continued his explanation, the Black-robed Scholar turned his head and stared at the woman in the painting, tuning out the noise around him.
For a long time, a very long time.
Li Hao’s throat was dry from talking, and he was frustrated to see the Scholar zoning out. "Did you hear me?"
The Black-robed Scholar snapped back to reality and smiled at Li Hao. His black robe gradually changed color, from black to blood-red, then to a light red, and finally to a white scholar’s robe.
From his appearance, it seemed he had been a scholar in life.
"I have fulfilled my wish. Thank you, benefactor..." The Black-robed Scholar, now a refined scholar, smiled with a sense of relief and liberation.
The Soul Image of the woman behind him also dissipated the black mist, transforming into the same appearance as the woman in the painting. She bowed to Li Hao, gratitude in her eyes.
Then, both their figures gradually faded away.
"Ayue..." The Scholar’s figure faded, muttering to himself, a smile on his lips.
Li Hao was stunned. What’s happening?
At that moment, his palm grew warm, and a golden paper appeared.
On the golden paper, golden characters seemed to be carved into the surface:
【Progress: 100%. Clear Fengshan Mourning River. Reward: 100 Merit Points.】
【You have entered the Merit Rankings.】
【Mourning River is about to disappear. Please leave quickly.】
(End of Chapter)
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