“It’s really well-drawn.” Liu Qiyue only spoke after Meng Chuan finished painting. She looked at the painting in amazement. “Ah Chuan, I’ve seen you paint many times at Archean Mountain. Although the painting today is simple, I think it’s the best you’ve painted.”
Paintings could resonate with a person’s emotions.
One scene after another seemed to come alive.
Liu Qiyue had seen Meng Chuan painting on many occasions. She knew that his paintings were stunning, but none of them resonated with her like today.
“Yes.” Meng Chuan nodded. He also admitted that this was the best painting he had drawn since he entered Archean Mountain. His Essence Soul currently emitted a spiritual glow. His Essence Soul was transforming, becoming more corporeal and clearer.
“Qiyue, I’m going to send this painting back today. Do you want to include anything?” Meng Chuan asked.
“I’ll write to my father,” said Liu Qiyue immediately. “Wait for me. I’ll be quick.” With that said, Liu Qiyue sat at her desk and immediately wrote her letter.
Meng Chuan smiled as he sat down and began writing. The painting was a gift for his father. He still had many things he wanted to tell his father. He also wanted to know the situation back home.
An hour later, he got the servants to prepare some silk to wrap the painting scroll and letters. He placed them in a wooden tube that was made by himself. The wooden tube’s interior was hollowed out by a saber beam, making it extremely smooth. The wooden tube was then stuffed with a stopper.
Afterward, he rushed to the Treasure Repository and got Archean Mountain to send the tube to his father, Meng Dajiang—who was at Eastcalm Prefecture.
“Lord Meng Chuan, don’t worry. It will be sent out tonight, and it will arrive at Eastcalm Prefecture tomorrow afternoon,” said a Treasure Repository steward warmly.
Only then did Meng Chuan leave.
When he left, he also observed his Essence Soul. In the vast sea of consciousness, his Essence Soul had stopped transforming. It was much more corporeal than before. Meng Chuan deduced that although the painting didn’t take much time, his Essence Soul had transformed no less than when he painted “Facing the Morning Sun!”
Clearly, the Essence Soul isn’t dependent on painting duration. It mainly transforms when I seek answers from my inner self. This was something his master had told him before. Every time he sought answers from his inner self, his mind and Essence Soul would transform.
The more profound an answer he sought, the greater the transformation.
This painting that stemmed from his intense longing for his father and his twenty years of life, began a transformation comparable to the one after “Facing the Morning Sun” was completed. As for “People Resonance,” he wasn’t sure how much it affected his soul because he hadn’t condensed an Essence Soul prior to that. He only condensed an Essence Soul after he was done painting “People Resonance.” Thus, the increase in his soul’s strength was unknown.
Although my Essence Soul has improved, it hasn’t changed qualitatively. Meng Chuan understood that it was difficult for his Essence Soul to change qualitatively. The perception domain remains a hundred feet big. My sensing range is still half a kilometer. The control over my body and Quintessential Essence is still the same as before.
He was still making progress. Only after cultivating his Essence Soul to the limit could it completely transform. This was not something he could rush.
...
Dao Exchange Peak, night.
The day Meng Chuan became a Godfiend was August 20th, and it happened to be when a Dao Exchange occurred.
“Please follow me, Lord Meng Chuan.” The steward of Dao Exchange Peak led the way.
Dao Exchange Peak was usually split into two areas. One for disciples who had not become Godfiends, and the other area was for Godfiend disciples.
This was the first time Meng Chuan went to the area for Godfiend disciples.
“Lord Meng Chuan, please wait a moment,” said the steward with a smile. “Every time a newly-advanced Godfiend attends a gathering, there will be a simple celebration ceremony. We are still in the midst of preparing. You can head over in a while.”
“Okay.” Meng Chuan waited patiently in the hall.
After a short while, a servant nodded from afar. The steward said to Meng Chuan, “Lord Meng Chuan, we can head over now.”
Under his lead, Meng Chuan arrived in a garden. Nearly two hundred Godfiends were gathered there. They were chatting in groups when they saw Meng Chuan being led in. All the Godfiends immediately stood up and raised their cups.
Godfiends and mortals gave people different feelings.
Godfiends had various mysterious powers. Meng Chuan was no exception. He had heavenly lightning and baneful aura. As most Godfiends present had reached the Realm of Intent, their auras were extraordinary.
When all of them stood up and looked at him, Meng Chuan felt an invisible pressure.
“Lord Meng Chuan.” A servant brought over a wooden tray with a cup of alcohol—it was filled to the brim.
Meng Chuan took the cup.
“Junior Brother Meng Chuan, congratulations on passing the Life-and-Death juncture and becoming a Godfiend.” The Godfiends raised their cups and congratulated him.
“Thank you, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters.” Meng Chuan raised his cup as well.
Following that, they downed their drinks.
Becoming a Godfiend wasn’t easy! They celebrated every new Godfiend that joined their ranks. It had been an Archean Mountain Godfiend tradition for generations.
Many Godfiend disciples smiled at Meng Chuan. Most of them sat down and continued chatting in their respective groups.
“Junior Brother Meng Chuan.” Four men and a woman walked over. They were all Indestructible Godfiends.
“Senior Brother Qiao Yong,” greeted Meng Chuan. “Senior Brothers and Senior Sister.”
Among the five, he was only familiar with Qiao Yong. Since Qiao Yong liked to befriend people, he often went to the mortal disciples’ area and befriended them.
“My name is Zheng Can. Greetings, Junior Brother Meng Chuan. I’ve long heard of your name. This is the first time I’m speaking to you.”
“My name is Zheng Ruyu. Greetings...”
Qiao Yong and the other seniors were very friendly. They introduced Meng Chuan to all the Godfiend disciples at the Dao Exchange. This was also a sect tradition.
Compared to mortal disciples, Godfiend disciples were more united and had a better relationship. This was because many of them would leave the mountain after reaching the Indestructible realm. They had to protect the humans all over the world! Some might never return.
“There isn’t much difference after becoming a Godfiend,” said Qiao Yong. “However, there are a few things you have to remember. Firstly, all Godfiends have to attend the Dao Exchange whenever there’s a new Godfiend. Secondly, on the day a Godfiend disciple leaves Archean Mountain after passing the Nine Mystical Caves, all other Godfiend disciples have to send them off. Thirdly, when a Godfiend disciple dies in battle, their name will be engraved on Blood Red Cliff. You have to be present. Unless there’s a special reason, attendance is compulsory.”
Meng Chuan nodded slightly.
These three matters were very important to Godfiend disciples. Becoming a Godfiend, leaving the mountain, and dying in battle.
“Junior Brother Meng, let’s go. Time to introduce you to your fellow disciples,” said the only female, Zheng Ruyu. The five seniors led Meng Chuan around. They would drink and chat, acquainting themselves with each other.
...
“Senior Brother Wang treated me very well. He often guided me in my sword arts. Together, we practiced our swordplay on Myriad Sword Peak for three years.” A rather dispirited Godfiend disciple drank as he spoke. “After he left the mountain, he spent three years at a city pass, safe and sound. It was when he was guarding a prefecture that he was ambushed by a demon monarch and died.
“The city passes are dangerous battlefields, but that’s obvious. In seemingly safe cities, demon monarchs might be lurking after infiltration.”
“There are very few demon monarchs who have infiltrated human cities. Furthermore, Marquis Godfiends and Regis Godfiends often patrol the world to kill those demon monarchs. The demon monarchs in hiding usually have special motives before they act.”
“Junior Brother Lu, don’t be too sad. Everyone knows that we might die in battle after leaving the mountain. I believe Senior Brother Wang was already prepared,” said the other Godfiend disciples.
The dispirited Godfiend disciple shook his head and said, “I’m only feeling indignant on Senior Brother Wang’s behalf. After leaving the battlefield, he had just gotten married and didn’t even have a child. Furthermore, he even sent me a letter a few days ago saying that he would definitely reach the Great Solar realm in two years! If he had reached the Great Solar realm, the demon monarch wouldn’t have been able to do anything to him. He was just two years short of reaching the Great Solar realm! Because of those two years, he lost his life! Senior Brother Wang was from an ordinary family, so it hadn’t been easy for him to cultivate to this stage. I’m truly heartbroken.”
The other fellow disciples also consoled him, but Archean Mountain suffered casualties every year. Over time, the grief became bearable. However, the dispirited Godfiend disciple had a deep relationship with Senior Brother Wang. He was beyond upset.
“Everyone.” Qiao Yong and the others led Meng Chuan to the group. “This is Junior Brother Meng Chuan.”
Immediately, the Godfiend disciples in the circle stood up.
“Junior Brother Meng Chuan, we’ve long heard of your name after you completed the Ninth Refinement.”
“Junior Brother Meng, I’m Liu Hezhou.”
They also started chatting casually.
“Junior Brother Lu Fang.” Qiao Yong asked, “What happened to you?”
“Nothing.” The dispirited Lu Fang stood up and looked at Meng Chuan. He raised his cup and said, “Junior Brother Meng Chuan, you have attained a perfected Lightning Devastator Fiend Body and also mastered a Black Metal Sutra move. You are one of the best among us. In the future, you must kill more demon monarchs and avenge our fellow disciples.”
“I cultivate to kill demons,” said Meng Chuan.
“Good.” Lu Fang’s mind jolted as he raised his cup. “That’s right. We cultivate to slay demons. Just this statement is worth toasting. Cheers.”
“Cheers.” The others accompanied Lu Fang.