Chapter 382.2: Returning to Canglan, the Divine Radiance Sects First Violet Palace Cultivator!

Chapter 382.2: Returning to Canglan, the Divine Radiance Sect's First Violet Palace Cultivator!

Ever the considerate man, Qi Yuan loved stacking buffs on himself. "Indeed, two and a half years have passed. Junior Sister, even your fashion sense has undergone a dramatic transformation. You've become rather bold. I should clarify that 'bold' carries no negative meaning here."

Jiang Lingsu's face flushed red as she placed her hands on her hips. "Hmph! I'm the only one living on Seven-Colored Peak. What is there to be afraid of? Besides, Senior Brother, you don't know how many strange things have happened while you were in seclusion. There are several extra suns in the sky now, eleven in total! Do you know how hot it is?!

"I live here alone, and the formations you set up prevent anyone from entering without my permission. Nobody can see me anyway. What's wrong with dressing more lightly? You've seen me in far more revealing outfits before, yet now you're suddenly acting all shy!"

Qi Yuan looked upward. Sure enough, there were eleven suns in the sky. Upon sensing carefully, he found it was indeed somewhat hotter, albeit not by much. Most of it was psychological.

He gazed thoughtfully at the original sun. "Looks like I need to find an expert archer and shoot one down."

There were simply too many rude people in this world. Couldn't they see that the skies were already overcrowded with suns? The one from the Taihuang Palace had absolutely no manners!

Jiang Lingsu smiled sweetly, her ample chest jiggling enough to distract the mind. "Senior Brother, according to your explanation, those suns are Yang Spirits illuminating the heavens. Where would Canglan find such an expert archer? Besides, if we were to shoot any down, we'd obviously go for the newer ones."

Qi Yuan gulped. "The newer suns are good suns. Kind suns. Don't shoot them. If we're shooting any down, it should be the first one!"

If someone shot his Golden Cores down, things would become awkward.

Jiang Lingsu's eyes curved with amusement. Now, hearing his nonsense made her happy, probably because it had been too long since she'd spoken with him. As they said, absence did make the heart grow fonder.

She played along. "So there are bad suns too?"

Qi Yuan declared confidently, "Of course. Look at the other ten suns, they're all properly aligned. Clearly, they're different from that one. Obviously, that first sun is the bad sun. That's why it's being ostracized!"

"You’re absolutely right, Senior Brother." Jiang Lingsu stepped closer and openly wrapped her arm around his, drawing him closer. "You've been in seclusion for so long, so you must be hungry. As it happens, I have just prepared a meal. Out of boundless compassion, I'll allow you to taste it!"

Then, she glanced at his blood-red robes in confusion. "Senior Brother, I remember you were wearing blue robes before entering seclusion. Why are you suddenly dressed in red? And these robes are different from your old ones too! You didn't secretly leave seclusion early and go fooling around somewhere, did you?"

Her cheeks puffed slightly with annoyance, while her chest rose and fell.

"No. I just changed outfits inside the game."

She blinked. "Changed outfits?"

Still, she chose to believe his rebuttal. Well, as unreliable as Senior Brother is, he can be surprisingly dependable at times.

He nodded. "You're right. Come on. Let's try your cooking. And while we're eating, I'd like to ask you about something."

Her interest was piqued. "What is it?"

This wealthy, beautiful junior sister had always been exceptionally generous toward Qi Yuan. Not only providing spiritual stones, but cultivation techniques as well. As the saying went,“Behind every successful man, there stands a woman.” Behind Qi Yuan stood his junior sister, showering him with riches.

"Let's talk as we eat." Qi Yuan lowered his gaze and once again saw something he shouldn't have. "Junior Sister, perhaps you should put on a bit more clothing?"

A blush crept up Jiang Lingsu's ears, hidden beneath her dark hair. She mustered her courage. "It's not as though you haven't seen it before! What's the issue?"

Often, once there was a first time, there would be a second.

Qi Yuan leaned toward her ear and whispered, "But..."

Jiang Lingsu turned scarlet. She hurriedly crossed her arms over her chest, creating exaggerated curves as she trembled slightly. "Y-you didn't see anything!"

He responded warmly, "Nope. I've already forgotten."

Jiang Lingsu gritted her pearly-white teeth. Stomping her feet in frustration, she found herself unable to bite Qi Yuan as retaliation. In the end, she turned away and transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the sky.

Watching her leave, Qi Yuan recalled the past. After she gave him the cultivation techniques, he promised to be her backing. She had replied that it was unnecessary.

He said dubiously, "As expected. Junior Sister doesn't need support."

***

Jiang Lingsu sat properly upon a bamboo chair. "A painter?"

This time, she had dressed conservatively. If not for her use of spells, she would have long since sweated through her clothing.

Qi Yuan said calmly, "Yes. I need someone to paint an underworld for me."

Although he could draw, his artistic abilities were rather mediocre. For matters like this, it was better to find a professional. Someone else had already made the blueprints. Surely he didn't have to do the drawings himself as well? He was simply looking for someone to bring his concepts to life. Hence, a skilled artist would suffice.

Nevertheless, such matters were trivial, and Qi Yuan couldn't be bothered to search personally. Since Jiang Lingsu could help, he delegated the task to her. As long as the artistic quality was satisfactory, he was fine with anyone.

The Great Calamity remained the more pressing matter, but he could deal with both at the same time.

Jiang Lingsu reminisced. "If we're speaking of painters, I do know one. She's not the most famous, but she's certainly the strangest. She lives within the Bamboo Sea of Helan Province in the Eastern Lands. My clan has some business interests there. When I was young, I met this painter once."

She was contemplating the painter's peculiarities when Qi Yuan asked, "Oh? Is her skill impressive? Is it better than mine?"

Normally, wouldn’t people ask, “What do you mean by strange?” Jiang Lingsu thought.

Then, he promptly produced a drawing. "Look. How does this compare?"

Jiang Lingsu couldn't suppress her laughter. "Senior Brother, your little chick pecking rice drawing is hilarious!"

"Why are you laughing? Can't you tell this is a phoenix? And it's eating rice from your family's fields!" Qi Yuan pointed at the rice. "Look carefully. It's exactly the same as your family's rice."

"How is it the same at all?!"

"It isn't like it. It is it."

Just then, a crudely-drawn, large hen escaped from the drawing. Flapping its tiny wings, the bizarre bird rushed into Jiang Lingsu's kitchen and began frantically pecking at her family's rice.

Jiang Lingsu stared in astonishment. "Senior Brother, you're far too childish!"

Ignoring the rice-stealing chicken, she said softly, "Her artistic skill is probably eighty percent better than yours. At the very least, her paintings are lifelike and flawless."

Senior Brother's skills didn't just fail to reach beginner level. His work was astonishingly abstract. For starters, the phoenix looked more like a chicken!

Qi Yuan's expression grew serious, solemn determination filling his eyes. "In that case, let's visit her sometime. But first, I have to formulate a meticulous and unprecedentedly magnificent plan. If miscellaneous matters arise, I'll leave them to you."

After all these years, he could finally devise a perfect strategy against the Great Calamity. With it gone, Canglan's atmosphere would improve. No longer would he spend every day anxious and terrified, haunted by nightmares of becoming someone else's resource. Moreover, with the world’s restraints shattered, he could finally ascend to the upper world. Then, he could reunite with Jin Li and find his master!

A plan of such greatness had to be meticulous and impeccable!

Jiang Lingsu gazed admiringly at him. "What magnificent plan?"

Indeed, serious men are the most attractive. Whenever Senior Brother enters deep contemplation, his charm increases considerably.