Chapter 56: The Origin of the Qilin Painting

Early the next morning, as soon as they finished breakfast, the group was led by servants to the main hall, where several core figures of the Search God Palace were already seated.

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen asked hospitably:

"Everyone, have you been resting well in my Search God Palace? If there is anything you are dissatisfied with, just say so."

The leader of the group, Wuming, replied: "You are too kind, sir. We wanderers of the jianghu live lives of licking blood from the edge of a blade; we don't have so many requirements. Sir, you said yesterday that you would tell us the truth today; can you speak now?"

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen laughed loudly: "Good, worthy of being the Martial Arts Myth, speaking without beating around the bush. Dealing with someone like you is truly refreshing."

Wuming smiled and replied: "You flatter me. Please, go ahead."

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen laughed: "Good. Actually, the truth of all this is that I want to find a closed-door disciple to inherit my martial arts and help me manage this Search God Palace, and the disciple I want to find is..."

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen pointed his finger at Bu Jingyun and said: "That's right, Bu Jingyun, the disciple I want to find is you. You are cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and you act decisively; you are very much to my liking. All of this was my test for you, and I am very satisfied with the results of your assessment."

Bu Jingyun looked at Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen in disbelief; he had not expected that all of this was because Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen wanted to take him as a disciple.

But Duan Fengyun felt that things were not that simple. The look in Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen's eyes earlier revealed not appreciation, but possession; there must be a greater conspiracy behind all of this.

However, he had no evidence now and could only wait for an opportunity to warn Bu Jingyun.

"Bu Jingyun, are you willing to become my disciple?"

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen said majestically.

Bu Jingyun thought of his deep blood feud, then looked at the mysterious Search God Palace around him; in order to seek revenge, he replied:

"This disciple is willing. Disciple pays respects to Master."

"Haha, good. I, Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen, today take you, the Uncrying Death God, as my closed-door disciple."

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen laughed heartily.

"Congratulations to the Palace Master on taking in a disciple. Congratulations to Hero Bu."

Zhao Wuji and the others offered their congratulations.

Mu Xuanqing, who had previously been at odds with Duan Fengyun and the others, actually congratulated Bu Jingyun as well, which was quite meaningful.

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen said:

"Very well, since you have agreed to be my disciple, I will hold an apprenticeship ceremony tonight to bear witness for you. I will invite your wife, your fellow disciples, and Wuming to observe the ceremony."

After speaking, Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen left. The remaining people of the Search God Palace offered their congratulations to Bu Jingyun one after another, saying they would have a few more drinks with him that night.

After Bu Jingyun and the others returned to their guest rooms, Duan Fengyun observed that there was no one eavesdropping and voiced his thoughts:

"Brother Yun, I think this Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen has an unknown background and wants to take you as a disciple so directly. I don't know what kind of conspiracy is hidden in this; you must be careful."

Chuchu also echoed: "Yes, Yun, I also feel that this Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen has ill intentions. There must be some problem here; you must be very careful."

Bu Jingyun replied: "I know, you don't need to worry. I agreed to it because I also want to know what kind of medicine this Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen is selling in his gourd."

Suddenly, Wuming made a shushing gesture to the group, and they immediately stopped talking.

Then, a knock on the door sounded from outside.

"Young Master Bu, the Palace Master has asked me to bring you the clothes to wear for tonight's ceremony. Please wear this outfit to attend the ceremony tonight, Young Master."

Chuchu took the clothes from the servant and said: "Alright, I understand. I will serve my husband as he changes; you may go back first."

Seeing this, the maid left.

Chuchu brought the robes into the room and opened them up in front of everyone.

"This Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen likes his own style of clothing, and when he makes clothes for others, he likes to make them in the style he likes too. Pitch black, it's so ugly."

Chuchu complained while looking at the clothes in her hands.

"Senior, I cannot discern the strength of this Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen. May I ask if you have?"

Duan Fengyun asked Wuming.

"This Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen must have practiced some kind of cultivation method to hide his own strength, so I cannot tell either. However, I observed his every move and his breathing; his movements are powerful, and his breathing is calm and smooth, which requires no small amount of internal energy cultivation. The strength of this Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen should not be below mine."

Wuming replied.

Nie Feng laughed: "Senior, you are joking. As the Martial Arts Myth, who in the jianghu is a match for you?"

Wuming shook his head and said: "You are wrong. There are too many hidden talents in the jianghu. In fact, there are many people with strength similar to mine, but they have no desire for fame or fortune, which is why they are unknown."

After a heated discussion among the group, time slowly passed.

Duan Fengyun had been at the Search God Palace for several days but hadn't had a proper look around. Feeling bored, he slipped out alone.

He was wandering aimlessly through the Search God Palace when he was shocked by a painting on a garden wall.

The painting on the garden wall was exactly the same as the mural he had seen at the Sword Casting Villa; it was still that man who looked just like Bu Jingyun, holding the Peerless Sword and sitting on a Fire Qilin.

Why would this painting appear in the Search God Palace? What connection could there be between the Search God Palace and the Sword Casting Villa?

Just as Duan Fengyun was completely confused, the voice of Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen rang in his ears.

"What? Does Hero Duan recognize this painting?"

Seeing that Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen had arrived, Duan Fengyun cupped his hands in greeting and replied:

"To be honest with the Palace Master, I once saw this mural at the Sword Casting Villa when the Peerless Sword was brought into the world."

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen said with a look of sudden realization:

"If you saw it at the Sword Casting Villa, then that is nothing strange. The mural in the Sword Casting Villa was copied from this painting."

"Oh, I see. May I ask, Palace Master, what is the meaning of this mural, and why was it copied to the Sword Casting Villa after appearing in the Search God Palace?"

Duan Fengyun continued to ask.

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen laughed: "That is a long story. Legend has it that there was an Inheritance Family that accidentally obtained a divine stone.

This divine stone is called Black Cold, and it is a divine stone left behind by Nuwa when she mended the heavens. At that time, the Fire Qilin was causing destruction everywhere in the land of Shenzhou. To stop the Fire Qilin, this family handed the divine stone to the ancestor of the Nie Family, Nie Ying.

Because Nie Ying and the ancestor of the Ao Family were old friends, this family handed the divine stone to Nie Ying, asking him to pass it on to the Sword Casting Villa.

This mural is the wish in the hearts of the Inheritance Family, and the appearance of the man is modeled after the face of the Clan Leader of that family.

They hoped that their family could one day use a divine sword forged from the divine stone to subdue the Fire Qilin and save the land of Shenzhou."

Duan Fengyun finally understood the ins and outs of the matter and thanked him: "So that is how it is. Thank you, Palace Master, for clearing up my confusion."

Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities. The time for the grand assembly is almost here, and I must return to make preparations. If you have any other questions, I will answer them for you one by one after the assembly."

Having said that, Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen then departed.

"Inheritance Family, is this family your family? Chang Sheng Bu Si Shen?"

Duan Fengyun muttered to himself; he felt that he was about to uncover the truth behind all of this.