Chapter 8: Then I Would Rather Give Up Cultivation!
Absorb, spirit gather, breakthrough…
After more than ten rounds, Ming Zhaoshuang was still unable to break through that barrier, causing beads of sweat to form on her forehead.
Shen Liqian seemed to know what she was going to do, and after healing, she hadn’t withdrawn her spiritual power. Instead, she guided her spiritual power to circulate within her body.
At this moment, the System said, “The most taboo thing in cultivation is haste. You should take a break first.”
Ming Zhaoshuang didn’t believe it and insisted on continuing.
Thus, after another ten-odd rounds, she still hadn’t broken through.
Ming Zhaoshuang felt disheartened. She opened her eyes and sighed, “Why is breaking through so difficult?”
The System pointed out the crux of the issue: “You haven’t fought enough battles.”
Shen Liqian comforted her, “Don’t worry, Zhaoshuang, you lack neither talent nor effort. Perhaps your practical combat experience is insufficient. Why not go to the arena in a couple of days? It might be beneficial for your breakthrough.”
Seeing Ming Zhaoshuang still lost in thought, Shen Liqian spoke again, “Didn’t you say the weather was good today and you wanted to show me your painting?”
Oh, oh, right!
Ming Zhaoshuang suddenly remembered that she was supposed to come and paint today.
Cultivation can be done anytime, but if such beautiful scenery isn’t painted now, it might be hard to get another chance like this.
Thinking this, Ming Zhaoshuang immediately took out her painting board, brushes, paints, and other painting tools from her storage bag and began to spread out drawing paper.
She said to Shen Liqian, “Then wait for me, Qianqian.”
Shen Liqian smiled faintly and remained silent.
When Ming Zhaoshuang paints, her mind always conjures up only that scene, that moment of light. Her gaze becomes absorbed, and she immerses herself in her own world.
Shen Liqian also knew that it was not appropriate to disturb her at such times. However, she didn’t cultivate either. Instead, she stood around Ming Zhaoshuang, walking in circles at a relaxed pace, and finally shifted her gaze back to Ming Zhaoshuang’s drawing paper.
Ming Zhaoshuang’s paintings are beautiful but not gaudy, exquisite but not ostentatious. They appear ethereal yet are meticulously detailed. A single touch adds the finishing touch, and a light stroke imbues the work with an astonishing ability.
From afar, the distant mountains are hazy, and the daylight is just right, like a clear and bright spring day; up close, the tree shadows sway, and the sunbeams dapple, as if weaving a captivating tapestry.
Each stroke paves the way for the next, and each stroke refines the previous one, as if it were a creation of heaven and earth, a seamless whole. It’s unclear whether it’s a painting, a scene, or a state of mind.
Shen Liqian gazed at the painting, speechless for a long time. In the cultivation world, aside from the “Pill, Artifact, Charm, Music” five masters, other skills are not considered unproductive pursuits.
For example, the piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting that mortals cherish the most are, at most, used by cultivators for self-cultivation and to refine their character. If one were to pursue them as a profession, they would undoubtedly be looked down upon by their elders in the clan.
After all, cultivators unanimously believe that these things are, at best, for cultivating one’s temperament, and only cultivation is the righteous path. If one were to delay their cultivation because of these insignificant matters, the loss would outweigh the gain.
In Shen Liqian’s clan, there was once a cultivator who loved dancing so much that his elders forced him to sever his meridians and abandon his immortal path.
Therefore, when Shen Liqian saw the paintings that Ming Zhaoshuang had created, each possessing scenery and artistic conception comparable to the others, she felt exceptionally surprised. Although she was not skilled in painting, her eyesight was extremely sharp.
Such painting skill from Ming Zhaoshuang was definitely not something ordinary cultivators used for self-cultivation. This must have been accumulated through talent and effort to achieve such cultivation.
To be precise, Ming Zhaoshuang is only twelve years old now. Even with exceptional talent, it would be impossible for her to create such a work.
Seeing Ming Zhaoshuang put down her brush, Shen Liqian couldn’t help but ask, “You must have spent a lot of time on your painting skills, right?”
Ming Zhaoshuang said, “I haven’t painted much recently, so my hand is a bit rusty. I used to paint a lot, about four or five hours a day.”
It’s a pity, though, that she was not very satisfied with this painting, feeling like something was missing.
However, since it was considered complete, Ming Zhaoshuang held the drawing paper up to Shen Liqian and proudly asked, “How is it?”
The more Shen Liqian examined the painting, the more alarmed she felt.
With Ming Zhaoshuang’s level of skill, let alone being only twelve years old, even if she were over twenty and lacked extraordinary talent, she definitely wouldn’t be able to accomplish this.
Shen Liqian didn’t really believe her when she said she only spent four or five hours painting.
But considering that Ming Zhaoshuang’s cultivation had not fallen behind at all, and could even be considered a genius among geniuses,
she couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you afraid it will affect your cultivation?”
Ming Zhaoshuang looked confused, “Why should I be afraid? I’ll be happy if my cultivation progresses, and I’ll also be happy if my painting skills improve. Both make me happy, and that’s enough.”
After all, isn’t life all about happiness?
If she were to successfully ascend but cultivation only brought her pain, what would be the meaning of such longevity?
Before Ming Zhaoshuang time-traveled, aside from basic physiological needs and social skills, she practically lived in the art studio.
Now that she has time-traveled, although she enjoys cultivation and it takes up a lot of her time, Ming Zhaoshuang has no intention of abandoning painting as a hobby. After all, it has become a habit ingrained in her bone and blood.
Ming Zhaoshuang suddenly smiled again. She leaned closer and said to Shen Liqian:
“Qianqian, shouldn’t you be praising my painting? Why are you asking about something else? Cultivation is important, but there are always things in life that are more important than cultivation. If you lose them, they won’t come again. For me, every moment of painting is more important than cultivation.”
Shen Liqian looked at her suddenly charming and radiant face and remained silent for a moment.
Ming Zhaoshuang remembered something else and added a few more words:
“Besides, even if it’s not beneficial for cultivation, you wouldn’t give up music, would you, Qianqian? It’s just that you are fortunate because what you love is also what the world anticipates.”
Shen Liqian said, “But what if cultivation conflicts with painting?”
Ming Zhaoshuang replied without hesitation, “Then I would rather give up cultivation.”
Her words fell with a resounding impact.
Shen Liqian suddenly looked up, and in her eyes, a strange and bright color flashed.
“Your painting is very beautiful. It’s the most beautiful painting I’ve ever seen. I believe that in the future, whether you are cultivating or painting, your wishes will be fulfilled.”
Shen Liqian said slowly.
The two then spent a long time admiring the scenery in the wilderness of Ding Tian Peak before returning, talking all the way. Although they weren’t laughing boisterously, they never let the conversation die down.
Their relationship also unknowingly deepened considerably at this moment.
And after returning, just as Shen Liqian had said, Qin Du did not blame her. Instead, he gave her many spirit pills and elixirs, telling her to focus on breaking through to the Golden Core Stage.
It must be said that in the few days spent at the Ao Tian Sect, Qin Du treated her exceptionally well, showing great concern.
Of course, this would be true if Qin Feilong wasn’t trailing behind her every time.
Ming Zhaoshuang still didn’t have the knack for breaking through to the Golden Core Stage, so she took Shen Liqian’s advice and went with her to the Ao Tian Sect’s arena.
Speaking of which, it was strange. Since their last “outing,” Shen Liqian had become much more friendly with her. The usual state of her playing the zither while Ming Zhaoshuang meditated had been broken, and Shen Liqian would often invite Ming Zhaoshuang to eat her homemade snacks.
This was treatment usually reserved for the Male Protagonist!
Ming Zhaoshuang and Shen Liqian arrived late, and by the time they got there, the place was already crowded. Shen Liqian, accustomed to being low-key, casually found a seat and remained silent afterward.
Ming Zhaoshuang watched intently. After several matches, she suddenly realized that all the competitors were at least at the Golden Core Stage.
So she said to Shen Liqian, “Qianqian, aren’t you also at the Golden Core Stage? Why don’t you go down and fight them?”
Shen Liqian shook her head, “I am a Music Cultivator; there’s no need.”
The cultivators below were already outstanding in the Lower Cultivation World, but they were not qualified to be her opponents.
Ming Zhaoshuang, however, said, “But Qianqian, your arrow feathers are also very powerful. One arrow can pierce through two or three Golden Core Stage Bald Eagles.”
During the last Bald Eagle battle, although she exerted herself later, she only dealt with a group of Foundation Establishment Stage minions.
If you were to talk about the main fighting force, it would have to be Shen Liqian; she killed many and killed them powerfully.
Although the Golden Core Stage cultivators competing now are formidable, which one can kill several Golden Core Stage spiritual beasts with a single move like Shen Liqian? Not even Nascent Soul Stage cultivators might be able to do that.
Even though Shen Liqian relied on Su Nu Chou, a Divine Tool, it can be said that even as a Music Cultivator, Shen Liqian’s attack power is no less than that of an ordinary Golden Core Stage cultivator.
Ming Zhaoshuang also remembered at the opportune moment that Shen Liqian had a mission in the Ao Tian Sect and naturally did not wish to be exposed to the world.
So she said, “Since Qianqian isn’t going, shall I jump down?”
Coincidentally, a match on the stage had just ended, and she wanted to have a spar.
Ming Zhaoshuang leaped straight down towards the stage.
