Chapter 984: Fulfill the Promise

What kind of 'ancient array method' exactly is the Second Elder talking about?

Ink Painting's eyes showed his thoughts.

The ancient different pattern array method was obtained from the endless barbaric abyss thicket. After being improved by the great witch shaman, it was sealed by the Great Barren Imperial Clan and carved inside the human-faced sheep-horned white bone evil god statue...

The Second Elder didn't know what this array method was and had never seen it personally. Why would he feel that this array method was suitable as his Natal Magic Treasure?

Inside the Dragon Hall, Ink Painting recalled some subtle expressions of the Second Elder again and pondered carefully in his heart.

At first, the Second Elder seemed to have no plans to talk about this matter either.

In fact, this 'ancient array method' was only an ancient Great Barren secret buried deep in his heart.

He should have always kept it hidden and never revealed it until his death.

But the matter of the Dragon Hall seemed to make him change his mind. He struggled internally for a while, and only then did he tell himself this secret.

On the surface, this appeared to be a helpless action by the Second Elder on the verge of death.

However, this Second Elder used dragon bone to extend his life and lived too long.

When a person lives long, their schemes run deep, especially for this kind of old demon cultivator skilled in calculations.

His final gratitude and blessings towards himself might have been real, but inwardly, it wasn't necessarily without his own calculations.

"Does this array method really exist?"

"Could the Second Elder have thrown out a bait to fish for me?"

Ink Painting frowned.

The problem was, even if this kind of ancient array method was 'bait', he fundamentally couldn't refuse it.

Moreover, the Second Elder said this barbaric ancient array was suitable as his natal array diagram. This shouldn't be empty talk; there must be a basis for it.

"So what kind of array method will this barbaric ancient array exactly be? Is it another type of Great Barren dragon array? Or something else?"

It was a pity that the Second Elder's soul had already scattered, and many details could no longer be asked of him.

There was no way to know what this array diagram was.

Ink Painting couldn't help but sigh.

This matter of his Natal Magic Treasure was truly a series of twists and turns. After struggling for a long time, it was still just a vague outline.

Ink Painting shook his head.

But cultivating the Dao was inherently difficult, and precious inheritances were extremely rare.

Wanting good things without putting in effort was impossible.

Before, his Master helped him. In Tai Xu Gate, Elder Xun and a group of elders took care of him. But it was impossible for everyone to help him for a lifetime.

He needed to learn to overcome difficulties himself and seek his own Dao foundation.

Only then could he truly rely on his own abilities and stand on the land of the Nine Provinces.

Only then would he have the ability in the future to wander the world alone, visit dangerous absolute places, seek lost Dao scriptures, and collect ancient array diagrams, allowing himself to become stronger step by step.

Ink Painting's Dao heart became firmer, and his gaze also became brighter.

Regarding the barbaric ancient array, he had already made up his mind and would no longer dwell on it.

Afterward, he picked up the dragon vein again.

Now the Dragon Hall was silent, the Dragon Emperor was dead, which seemed to have cut off a part of the inheritance source. The dragon vein was also much quieter.

The aura inside the dragon vein was also not as violent.

Ink Painting tried to use his divine sense to communicate with the dragon vein.

But he failed.

The dragon vein had no reaction at all.

Ink Painting furrowed his eyebrows.

"It shouldn't be like this..."

In his plan, since he had swallowed the dragon soul, it should have had some resonance with the dragon vein.

How could there be no induction at all?

Ink Painting sank his divine consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness again, sensing the state of his divine sense.

After a moment of inner vision, Ink Painting only then discovered that although he had swallowed the dragon soul, his divine sense had no essential change, it was just stained with a trace of dragon qi.

When he shouted, his crisp voice would carry some dragon roar.

This was seriously inconsistent with Ink Painting's expectations.

He still thought that even if he couldn't transform into a dragon after eating the dragon soul, he could at least transform some dragon scales and dragon claws.

His divine sense would also become tougher.

But now, the situation was fundamentally not as good as he had imagined.

This dragon soul was also fundamentally not the 'great supplement' he had imagined.

"Why?"

"Is it because the Great Barren Dragon Emperor lived too long and was already in decay, so the dragon qi is old and decrepit and has no 'nutrition' when eaten?"

"Or is it... the origin of the dragon soul is too tough, and although I ate it, I haven't truly 'digested' it?"

Ink Painting wrinkled his brows, feeling that both possibilities were likely.

But before, no one should have been able to 'eat' a dragon soul, so no one should know exactly whether a dragon soul is easy to digest or not.

"Anyway, I've eaten it. I'll slowly refine it later and see what it becomes. However..."

Ink Painting muttered in his heart.

"Divine sense proving the Dao, divine sense Dao-ization, and then fusing dragon power. Then this is... divine sense dragon-ization?"

"If it's dragon-ization, then if my divine sense transforms into a sword, won't it become a 'divine dragon transforming into a sword'? One sword strikes down, and a dragon comes out?"

Isn't this... going astray again?

Unconsciously, he made the problem complex again.

Ink Painting sighed.

"Whatever, the more lice, the less itchy; the more debt, the less worried. It's already chaotic enough, adding one more dragon won't hurt."

Slowly digest it and talk about it later.

Ink Painting withdrew his divine sense from the Sea of Consciousness, opened his eyes, stared at the dragon vein for a moment, and then realized another problem:

"How should I handle this dragon vein?"

Currently, this 'dragon vein' couldn't be used temporarily.

It couldn't be put in the storage bag.

He couldn't research it either.

His plan to 'raise' a dragon had only just begun. It was still unknown how long it would take to collect the essence of ten thousand monsters and cultivate a truly complete dragon pattern.

It was not yet time to dot the dragon's eyes.

This dragon vein seemed very 'useless' to keep in hand.

Not only was it useless, it was also a 'hot potato'.

This was the secret treasure of the Great Barren Imperial Clan and the entrance to the Great Barren Dao Scripture inheritance. Once people knew about it, it would definitely cause a bloody storm, and he didn't know how much trouble it would bring him.

Moreover, privately hiding a dragon vein...

"Will the Dao Court not sentence me for 'rebellion'?"

"The Great Barren is a karma dragon, a karma dragon vein, not a true dragon. It shouldn't be to that extent, right..."

Ink Painting felt a little uneasy in his heart.

He was clean and had never thought about rebellion.

Ink Painting thought for a moment, then wrapped the dragon vein in black cloth and properly put it away.

Early the next morning, he went to visit Elder Xun and 'handed over' the dragon vein.

Ink Painting knew clearly that Elder Xun knew everything he brought into the sect, he just turned a blind eye for his sake.

This was Elder Xun's trust.

But he also needed to be sensible and not be presumptuous.

Currently, this dragon vein was not something he could grasp, so it was better to hand it over to the sect first.

As expected, when Elder Xun saw Ink Painting hand over the black cloth, he understood what was inside without even opening it.

"Tired of playing?"

Ink Painting was somewhat embarrassed, "I don't understand how to play..."

Elder Xun nodded, "Then I'll keep it for you first. The day you have the ability and can understand how to play, come find me and ask for it."

Ink Painting was grateful in his heart and also a little worried, asking in a low voice:

"Elder, if we keep this dragon vein ourselves, will it... cause the Dao Court's blame?"

Elder Xun raised his eyebrows, "No harm, what can the Dao Court blame? The dragons in this world are not his family's."

"You didn't peel off the skin of a true dragon, draw out the tendons of a true dragon, refine the dragon vein of a true dragon. You picked up a karma dragon vein. The Dao Court won't go to the extent of really finding your trouble."

"Moreover, this matter is known to heaven and earth, you know and I know."

"This dragon vein is stored in our Tai Xu Gate. The Dao Court doesn't know, so there won't be any trouble."

Ink Painting was relieved and smiled at Elder Xun, saying: "Then I'll trouble you, Elder."

Elder Xun waved his hand, "You can rest assured and cultivate properly."

"Yes."

Ink Painting nodded and smiled, bowed in礼, and then left.

Elder Xun helplessly shook his head, turned his head to look at the seemingly weaker dragon vein in front of him, and couldn't help but feel some doubt in his heart:

"I wonder what this child is researching..."

After leaving Elder Xun, Ink Painting cultivated as usual.

After several days, it happened to be the ten-day break, so he went out for a trip to Ku Mountain.

Since the matters of Lone Mountain and the dragon vein were all roughly handled, Ink Painting only then had time for this trip.

He planned to return the Yellow Mountain Lord's 'Natal God Statue' to its rightful owner.

This was the entrustment of the Lone Mountain Yellow Mountain Lord.

Receive other people's orders, and be loyal to their matters.

Since he promised, he naturally needed to do it.

Not to mention, the Yellow Mountain Lord gave him a big gift before death.

Since he was going far, Xun Zi You naturally also needed to follow.

Ink Painting simply carried the god statue, which others couldn't see or detect, on Xun Zi You's body.

The two sat in a carriage, all the way to Ku Mountain.

The mountains were quiet, and the forests were lush.

Fallen leaves formed a blanket, thick layer upon layer, paving the way from the foot of the mountain to the top.

The two climbed the stairs, stepping on the soft, crisp leaves, walking all the way to the front of the broken temple.

Ink Painting then said: "Elder Xun, this is far enough. I'll go in myself."

Xun Zi You looked at this desolate mountain with no trace of human activity, at the empty broken mountain temple, and furrowed his brows.

"You're going alone?"

Ink Painting nodded, "I'm going to visit an old friend."

"Old friend?" Xun Zi You didn't understand.

"Um," Ink Painting said quietly, "This friend of mine is a bit shy and doesn't like to be disturbed too much. Elder Xun, you must not tell anyone about the location of this temple."

Xun Zi You nodded, half-believing, half-doubting.

It was a bit strange to Ink Painting.

But Ink Painting was used to strange things every day, so doing some strange things was not strange at all.

He just felt a little emotional in his heart, this child, Ink Painting, knew so many people, and his connections were so wide.

Only...

Xun Zi You looked at the empty mountain temple with no one in it, doubting in his heart: This doesn't seem to count as 'human' connections?

On the other side, Ink Painting had already carried the god statue and walked into the broken temple.

This Natal God Statue was a bit heavy, but fortunately, Elder Xun Zi You carried it all the way. Ink Painting only carried it for this short distance, so it wasn't a problem.

Entering the broken temple, Ink Painting raised his eyes and saw the muddy sculpture of the Yellow Mountain Lord inside.

It still honestly stayed in this broken temple.

There was no other way, in its condition, it couldn't visit at all.

There were no guests coming to visit either.

If there really were guests coming to visit, the Yellow Mountain Lord wouldn't be happy either.

In this barren mountain wilderness, with wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards everywhere, and lonely souls and wild ghosts roaming, what kind of good 'guests' would this broken mountain god have?

The Yellow Mountain Lord had the same complex expression.

A few days ago, in the lonely, impoverished, and steady days, he didn't know why, but suddenly he felt a heart-palpitating feeling again.

It knew it, something big was definitely going to happen again.

Moreover, it was a sky-high matter.

It was uneasy about this for a long time, its heart was restless, and it had no taste in its mouth. Even eating spoiled steamed buns didn't feel spoiled.

Today, the sunlight was just right, and the Yellow Mountain Lord just raised his head to look.

Sure enough, Ink Painting, this 'little ancestor', had come again.

The Yellow Mountain Lord, as usual, floated up from the muddy sculpture, a genial smile on his face, cupping his hands to Ink Painting in greeting.

"Little friend is free from illness and disaster. I wonder how you have time to come to this small god's broken temple again?"

Ink Painting put the god statue he was carrying down on the ground.

"I brought you a 'gift'."

The god statue was covered with gray cloth, and Ink Painting had drawn a divine fog array around it to hide its aura and prevent karma leakage.

Looking at the object in front of him, the Yellow Mountain Lord was stunned for a moment.

The gray cloth was wrapped tightly, and it didn't know what was inside.

But now that it was close, that wisp of faint, discernible, same-origin qi was still gradually perceived by it.

An idea that it had never dared to think about before slowly floated in its heart.

An indescribable wave of excitement and agitation surged from its heart, flowing throughout its body, making it tremble all over, its heart turbulent, its scalp numb, and its head buzzing.

The Yellow Mountain Lord's heart was filled with disbelief.

"This..." its voice trembled.

Ink Painting said in a low voice: "I came across what looks like your 'family property' and just brought it back for you."

Saying that, Ink Painting lifted a corner of the gray cloth.

The Yellow Mountain Lord only needed one glance, and he couldn't help but shiver all over, even his eyes began to well up with hot tears.

"You... took it back... for me?"

"Um!" Ink Painting nodded.

The Yellow Mountain Lord's chest tightened, and he almost couldn't breathe.

It looked at Ink Painting again, only feeling that at this moment, Ink Painting's eyebrows were like distant mountains, his eyes like bright stars, his lips red and teeth white, incomparably handsome and elegant, outstanding and unparalleled in grace.

In this world, there was no one more good-looking than Ink Painting, be it human, god, or even immortal.

Ink Painting was even so good-looking that his whole body emitted golden light.

This little cultivator actually... took back its 'Natal God Statue'?!

From the hands of that ancient evil god, from the hands of that already hatched evil fetus, he brought out its Natal God Statue, which it had lost at the bottom of Lone Mountain and was occupied by an evil thing?!

For it, this mountain god, such great kindness and virtue were more than just giving it a new life.

This little ancestor might truly be its 'ancestor'.

At the same time, the Yellow Mountain Lord was also very shocked in its heart.

It simply couldn't imagine how Ink Painting, with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, had accomplished all this.

At the bottom of Lone Mountain, where ten thousand corpses were buried, lay the evil fetus's god hall.

The Yellow Mountain Lord didn't even dare to imagine how many difficulties and dangers it had faced inside.

Even if it, this mountain god, had cultivated for another thousand years and returned to the peak of the third grade, it wouldn't necessarily be able to break into the bottom of Lone Mountain, reclaim its Natal God Statue, and retreat safely.

Ink Painting, this little cultivator, how did he... do it?

The Yellow Mountain Lord was shocked in his heart, completely stunned.

Ink Painting saw that it was in a daze and not moving, and kindly reminded: "Hurry up and put it away, don't lose it again."

The Yellow Mountain Lord was startled and only then remembered the important matter.

He no longer hesitated and reached out to his Natal God Statue, but the next moment, he hesitated again, seemingly considering whether or not to carry Ink Painting.

But upon reflection, this Natal God Statue was originally found by Ink Painting. If he wanted to embezzle it, he would have done so long ago.

In this situation, for it to carry Ink Painting would truly be using a villain's heart to judge a gentleman's belly.

The Yellow Mountain Lord no longer hesitated, his figure swayed, and he drilled into the Natal God Statue. A moment later, the half-golden Yellow Mountain Lord walked out again.

Its appearance had changed somewhat. Its clothes were a bit nobler, its figure was a bit more robust, its face was less sallow, and it had more spirit.

Overall, it also looked a bit more majestic.

Its origin was also thicker.

"You fused with your Natal God Statue?" Ink Painting asked curiously.

The Yellow Mountain Lord said: "It has been separated for too long, it needs to be warmed and nurtured for a while, and then..."

The Yellow Mountain Lord paused for a moment and didn't hide it, "Then I'll wait until the origin is in the same position, choose another secret place, and place this natal item."

Ink Painting nodded and didn't ask any more questions. Seeing the offering table of the Yellow Mountain Lord, the broken bowl filled with rainwater, and the plate with half-spoiled steamed buns, he knew that its days were still the same as before, without any improvement. He then took out chicken, duck, fish, and meat from his storage bag, placed them on the table, opened a pot of small wine, and greeted the Yellow Mountain Lord:

"Come, let's eat and chat."

The Yellow Mountain Lord was continuously moved in his heart and cupped his hands, saying: "Then it is better to obey than to be respectful."

So one person and one god sat together on the god platform, eating meat and drinking wine while chatting.

Ink Painting mainly wanted to ask about some past events of Lone Mountain.

The Yellow Mountain Lord also spoke everything it knew.

But the pity was that it seemed to have lost a part of its origin, along with a part of its memory. What it said was mostly what Ink Painting already knew.

And that Tai Xu Gate senior who chopped it that year, in its impression, was only a vague figure in white clothes and an extremely sharp Tai Xu Sword. Everything else was unclear, even the face was very vague.

This matter was a bit fishy.

Ink Painting wrinkled his brows, vaguely feeling in his heart that there were two possibilities.

One possibility was that after the Yellow Mountain Lord's god skeleton was chopped off, its memory was lost, and it forgot the appearance of that senior.

Another possibility was that that Tai Xu Gate senior had other unknowable karma, and in order to keep the secret, used some method to erase his own past.

It was even possible that due to some secret, his past karma was erased by others.

So, the Yellow Mountain Lord just couldn't remember his appearance.

But this was just a guess Ink Painting made based on intuition after cultivating the karma Dao.

What the facts were exactly, was hard to say.

Besides this, Ink Painting asked some other questions.

These problems were all doubts accumulated over a long time while cultivating the divine sense Dao.

Including the development direction of a cultivator's divine sense, the advancement of a god, the relationship between god grade and rank, the essence of Dao-ization, especially whether a god's divine sense would undergo a 'qualitative change' with the promotion of its grade.

Very early on, he encountered a third-grade blood-colored god skeleton, whose body was hard as iron.

While the third-grade evil fetus wore 'magic armor' all over its body, which was firm and unbreakable.

Perhaps a cultivator's divine sense simply didn't have this kind of change.

Ink Painting himself seemed to only have a trace of this 'qualitative change'.

Therefore, he was a bit puzzled.

Was it that in the divine sense Dao, he still ignored other 'strengthening' directions?

Only, his divine sense was a mix of human and god, and the ingredients were too complex. The origin of his divine sense was also cultivated too chaotically.

With Ink Painting's own experience, he fundamentally couldn't sort out the relationships within, so he could only come to consult the Yellow Mountain Lord, hoping to get some inspiration to further strengthen his divine sense.

(The chapter end)