Chapter 59: Broken Blade Broadsword

Duan Rong sat there, not paying the slightest attention to Zhu Xiaoqi's attitude; it was rare for him to sit this close to Xiao Baijiao, so how could his eyes bear to look anywhere else?

"I am truly flattered that the Second Miss would invite me to paint!" Duan Rong smiled lightly. "I shall return to my quarters in a moment to fetch my painting tools and pigments!"

"I actually have those things prepared here already!" Xiao Baijiao said with a smile, then suddenly stood up and asked, "Senior Brother Duan, please see if these will suffice?"

Xiao Baijiao rose and took out brushes, cinnabar, and other items from a cabinet by the wall. As she laid them out one by one on the side table, she said, "I originally used these for tracing embroidery patterns; I imagine they should be suitable for you to paint with, Senior Brother!"

Seeing that all the necessary items were complete, Duan Rong smiled and said, "They will certainly suffice!"

Xiao Baijiao sat down by the window, and Duan Rong, at the side table, used a paperweight to pin down a corner of the rice paper. He then gazed at Xiao Baijiao, contemplating the composition and framework of the painting...

Duan Rong painted this piece extremely slowly, taking nearly half an hour of time.

He was not entirely indulging in Xiao Baijiao's beauty, using this as an excuse to peek!

Rather, he poured all of his skill and focus into this painting, striving to reach the peak of his current stage!

What he painted might not have been the Xiao Baijiao of reality, but it was Xiao Baijiao nonetheless!

It was the Xiao Baijiao from the depths of his heart!

It was like a transformation of light and shadow!

Yet it was not a simple, delusional phantom, but a beautiful, illusory realm projected from the depths of his mind!

It contained the hopes and longings for beauty held by Duan Rong, a virgin in both his lives!

Just like the god Apollo, it radiated the brilliance of strength and beauty!

By the time Duan Rong finished painting, Zhu Xiaoqi had just lifted the curtain and walked in; the buns were already wrapped and placed in the steamer.

Between chopping the filling and wrapping them, she had been busy for half an hour.

With nothing to do at the moment, she came over to see how Duan Rong's painting had turned out.

Was it truly as remarkable as the rumors Zhao Mu had spoken of?

Xiao Baijiao held the painting and stood by the window, looking at it together with Zhu Xiaoqi.

Xiao Baijiao's brows and eyes were full of smiles...

But Zhu Xiaoqi wore a look of astonishment; her small, dark pupils were wide open, and her rosy, lychee-like mouth had unexpectedly stretched into an 'O' shape!

Sunlight shone in from this angle, and Duan Rong could just make out the fine, faint, transparent fuzz on Zhu Xiaoqi's face...

"Senior Brother Duan, you have painted me as an ethereal fairy! Though this painting is fine, it lacks the true essence!"

"In my heart, Miss Xiao is a goddess descended to earth! This painting does not lack the true essence; rather, it conforms to the true essence within my heart!" Duan Rong looked at Xiao Baijiao and said very earnestly.

But the meaning behind Duan Rong's words already carried a faint hint of a confession.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Baijiao's expression changed slightly, but she noticed that Duan Rong's demeanor was dignified, his words held no trace of frivolity, and his eyes shone with a clean radiance.

Although Duan Rong was not handsome, Xiao Baijiao found herself momentarily distracted at this moment...

Xiao Baijiao did not know how to respond to Duan Rong's words for a moment and, feeling slightly embarrassed, lowered her head to continue looking at the painting...

Xiao Baijiao and Zhu Xiaoqi whispered to each other while looking at the painting!

Duan Rong had sat stiffly for nearly half an hour while painting; feeling his legs go numb, he stood up, wanting to stretch his limbs!

As soon as Duan Rong stood up, he saw a cast-iron blade stand on a carved rosewood table against the wall to the right of the bedroom entrance, and upon that stand rested a broken blade!

The blade of that broken sword was as wide as a human face, with the edge and spine nearly equal in length. The hilt had no decorations, and due to long-term handling, it gleamed with a faint metallic oiliness.

Upon seeing this blade, Duan Rong was slightly startled.

Placed there, the blade possessed a faint, majestic air, like a divine statue looking down upon all living things!

Duan Rong walked a few steps closer and looked carefully at the broken blade...

The edge of this blade looked as if it had been severed in the middle by some weapon; the cross-section was as bright as a mirror!

"What kind of person could cut through a blade like this?" Duan Rong felt a shock in his heart as he looked at the cross-section.

"This blade..."

Standing before the broken blade, Duan Rong was just about to ask Xiao Baijiao, but she had already raised her head. She had actually been watching Duan Rong all along, and seeing him ask about the blade, she said, "This blade was my father's weapon in the past. He said this blade had drunk its fill of human blood, possessed baleful energy, and could suppress evil!"

As Xiao Baijiao spoke, she walked over gracefully. "Keeping it in my room can keep me safe!"

Duan Rong's breath hitched slightly; from this alone, one could see the depth of Xiao Zongting's care for Xiao Baijiao!

"May I touch this blade?" Duan Rong looked at Xiao Baijiao, his voice trembling slightly.

Duan Rong's eyes were as bright as lacquer, and Xiao Baijiao felt as if their hearts were somewhat in sync at this moment.

"You may; Father never said I couldn't let anyone touch it."

Xiao Baijiao smiled, looking very beautiful.

Duan Rong also smiled slightly and reached out to grasp the hilt.

The hilt had no decorations and was cold, like clutching an icicle in winter.

"Spirit Reader," Duan Rong thought silently to himself.

Artifact: Broken Blade Broadsword (Damaged)

Spirit Artifact Tier: Tier 5

Devour Requirement: Host Mental Power Level 5 (Not Met)

Devour Effect: Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber (Consummation/Incomplete), Cloud Snake Step (Great Accomplishment/Incomplete), Soul Severing Thirteen Forms (Proficiency/Incomplete)

Just as Duan Rong had expected, because the blade had been severed nearly in half, all the devour effects were incomplete!

The devour effects were incomplete because the Spirit Tool itself was incomplete!

The damage to this blade might just be related to Xiao Zongting's martial arts being crippled!

It was in that battle that this blade was broken, and he also suffered severe injuries; although he barely survived, he lost all his martial arts!

Xiao Zongting's lame leg and this broken blade both bore witness to the tragedy of that battle!

However, even with all three martial arts incomplete, the Spirit Tool was still Tier 5; from this point alone, one could see the formidable nature of Xiao Zongting in his prime!

Having been an Apprentice Escort for over a month, Duan Rong had also gradually learned that the Xiao Zongting of his prime was also at the True Qi Realm Second Layer!

As for these three martial arts, Cloud Snake Step should be a Lightness Skill.

Five Tigers Flock of Sheep Saber is undoubtedly a Lesser Vehicle martial art.

Then the remaining one, Soul Severing Thirteen Forms, must be a Middle Vehicle martial art!

Martial arts are generally divided into Lesser Vehicle, Middle Vehicle, and Greater Vehicle!

They correspond respectively to the Inner Breath Realm, True Qi Realm, and Qi Refining Realm!

"Vehicle" means a carriage; Lesser Vehicle, Middle Vehicle, and Greater Vehicle use the carrying capacity of carriages to draw an analogy for the volume of martial arts at different realms!

The Inner Breath Realm, True Qi Realm, and Qi Refining Realm can be described as each step being a new heaven!

Above these three realms is the Qi Cyclone Realm; the martial arts of this stage are called peerless arts, which are the absolute peak of martial arts!

And beyond the Qi Cyclone Realm, there are the Dongming Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, and Original Spirit Realm, three realms of unfathomable mystery!

But these three realms are no longer within the scope of martial arts and cannot be glimpsed by ordinary people!

Therefore, the late stage of the Qi Cyclone Realm is also called the Human-Heaven Barrier; only by breaking through this barrier can one see the many mysteries of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and advance to the three unfathomable realms!

That would no longer be a Martial Artist, but a celestial being!

Duan Rong was lost in deep thought when suddenly Zhu Xiaoqi's shrill voice rang out in the room, "Silly boy, draw one for me too!"

Zhu Xiaoqi saw that Xiao Baijiao's painting was so good; although she did not care for these books and paintings, what young girl does not love beauty?

Hearing this, Xiao Baijiao turned her head and gave Zhu Xiaoqi a slightly reproachful look, as if blaming her for interrupting her conversation with Duan Rong.

But Duan Rong turned his head and smiled, "Naturally, I can!"

"Your paintings cost ten taels of silver each; I'm just a maid, I don't have that much silver for you!"

Xiao Baijiao heard this and smiled faintly, rolling her eyes at Zhu Xiaoqi; she knew that Zhu Xiaoqi had money, and quite a lot of it, too.

She was just reluctant to spend it, likely saving it to use as her own dowry.

Zhu Xiaoqi looked at the smiling Xiao Baijiao and knew she was mocking her in her heart, so she pouted at her and winked, signaling her not to expose her in front of Duan Rong.

(End of this chapter)