Volume 3 - Chapter 398: The Painting Realm of Time
As soon as Li Hao arrived at the main hall, he sensed the presence of Su Muqing and Su Wanqing. Without hesitation, he descended from the terrace and stepped inside.
“Big Sister Lanqin, when will the Painting Immortal Long Yun arrive?”
Su Muqing’s curious voice rang out.
“She’s on her way. Once the others are here, she should arrive too.”
Another gentle voice responded with elegance, the grace of a noblewoman in every syllable.
“Are all these paintings from the Painting Immortal Long Yun? They’re beautiful! It feels like they contain the origin of life itself—like they could birth war spirits right out of the scroll!”
Su Wanqing chimed in with youthful excitement and wonder.
“These are her early works. I’ve heard she’ll be bringing some of her latest paintings to this exhibit. Then you’ll all get to see her newest masterpieces with your own eyes.”
The gentle voice replied again.
As Li Hao entered the pavilion, he was instantly enveloped by a rich blend of feminine fragrance. A host of graceful women in flowing dresses adorned with celestial treasures filled the space, their beauty blooming like a hundred flowers in full spring.
Among them, four figures stood out. Su Muqing and Su Wanqing, a woman in a deep-blue gown, and a girl clad in pale green—gathered closely before two paintings. The four formed a small inner circle, while the rest of the guests remained in an outer ring.
“Hm?”
Suddenly, mid-conversation, Su Muqing’s expression shifted. She turned sharply and immediately saw Li Hao approaching.
Her face darkened, her voice rising in anger and shock.
“What are you doing here?! Who let you in?!”
The hall, previously filled with lighthearted chatter and laughter, fell silent. Startled, everyone turned to look. When they saw an unfamiliar young man, surprised murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Who is he? What could make Miss Su so angry?”
“He is quite good-looking, though...”
“Muqing, who is this?”
The host of the lakeside pavilion, Lanqin, looked at Su Muqing in surprise. It was rare to see her lose her temper—especially given the Su Clan’s vast power and prestige. On Gusu Star, few dared provoke the young True Phoenix of the Su Clan.
“A greedy scoundrel.”
Su Muqing spat through gritted teeth.
Su Wanqing was baffled. How had Li Hao even gotten in here? He had no ties to the Su Clan—had he pretended to be one of them?
The same thought flashed through both sisters’ minds. They turned to Lanqin in unison.
“Big Sister Lanqin, he’s not part of the Su Clan. Please have someone throw him out!”
Lanqin was momentarily stunned. Her eyes flickered thoughtfully. She was able to mingle with the noble daughters of Gusu Star not only due to her own respectable background, but also because of her keen mind and adept social skills. For someone like Su Muqing to lose her composure, it had to be a matter beyond her control.
If it could be handled easily, there’d be no need for anger.
Which meant… this young man’s identity might be worth investigating.
“Muqing, let’s not be hasty.”
Lanqin gently reassured her, then turned to Li Hao with a pleasant smile.
“And you, young master—may I ask which noble family you belong to? Today’s gathering is for appreciating art, not for challenges or contests. I believe you weren’t invited?”
Her words were calm and measured, avoiding any direct offense.
Su Muqing arched an eyebrow and looked toward Li Hao. She knew his backer was an Emperor, but had no idea which noble house he came from. Now she was curious to hear for herself.
Naturally, Li Hao couldn’t reveal anything about the Southern Region. Skipping the question entirely, he said,
“My name is Haotian. I haven’t come to spar or cause trouble—I merely have some knowledge of painting and came to appreciate the artwork.”
“You know painting?”
The group exchanged surprised glances. Aside from Li Hao, there were only two or three men present—everyone else was a woman. Painting was a niche path; the few men who moved in these circles were generally prodigies. None had the leisure to enjoy art—cultivation took up all their time.
“You’re spouting nonsense.”
Su Muqing, already furious that he dodged the question about his lineage, now grew even more incensed.
“You snuck in under the Su Clan’s name. Big Sister Lanqin certainly didn’t invite you!”
Lanqin now frowned as well.
“Young master, if you weren’t invited, I’m afraid we cannot host you.”
Li Hao immediately responded,
“Someone brought me in. It has nothing to do with the Su Clan.”
“Who?”
Su Muqing snapped. She clearly didn’t believe him. If someone really had brought him in, she wanted to know who had the gall to meddle in her affairs.
Li Hao shook his head.
“They didn’t give their name. But when they show up, I can prove it.”
Lanqin was perplexed. But seeing how confident Li Hao appeared, she didn’t think he was lying. Forcing him out might offend whoever had brought him in—possibly someone from another major house.
Although the Su Clan held sway here, two other noble families were also present. Could it have been someone from the Lin Clan?
While she pondered this, Su Muqing had already declared,
“Big Sister Lanqin, have someone throw him out. I don’t want to see him!”
Lanqin gave her a look of mild frustration, then turned to Li Hao.
“Young master, since Miss Su does not wish to see you, I’m afraid I must ask you to leave.”
Li Hao’s brow furrowed as he looked at Su Muqing. Her face was full of disdain, her eyes burning with contempt. That expression on such a familiar face stirred a pang in his heart. He sighed inwardly. The body was the same—but the soul, utterly different.
“If we’re all here to appreciate art, may I present a painting of my own?”
Li Hao asked calmly.
Lanqin’s eyes lit up in surprise.
“You truly have a painting?”
The surrounding women began to whisper again, their curiosity piqued. They were also beginning to suspect there was more to Li Hao and Su Muqing’s relationship than met the eye.
With a flick of his hand, Li Hao drew from his spatial realm a scroll—a painting of the Space Origin Divine Tree he had completed earlier while contemplating the Painting Dao.
As the scroll unfurled in midair, it seemed to melt into the very fabric of the heavens. Waves of origin power rippled outward—space itself seemed to root and anchor as an immense divine tree took shape above everyone’s heads.
It felt near, yet impossibly far. Majestic. Solemn.
“The Space Origin Divine Tree?”
The girl in pale green exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she stared in awe.
Su Muqing and Su Wanqing had been to Origin City. They had seen the Space Origin Divine Tree with their own eyes and cultivated beneath it.
But they never expected Li Hao to produce a painting of that tree. More shocking still, his technique was so refined that even the Dao Rhythms of the tree were vividly captured.
One could even meditate before this painting and gain cultivation insights!
“This painting skill… it’s already transcended the mundane. It’s at the immortal level—astounding!”
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