Chapter 78: The Great Demon King
The Tangong Academy attracted geniuses from the nineteen provinces not only because of its exceptional level of instruction but also for its unparalleled secret art.
This art was the academy’s prized treasure, rarely shared beyond its walls. However, those who could claim the top spot in Tangong's White Hall would naturally earn the right to learn it.
“If I could happen to pick up this sword technique along the way, it wouldn’t be bad at all,” Li Hao admitted with a smile.
Indeed, he had come for this technique, though not as his primary purpose, contrary to what others might believe.
After all, if he were truly desperate for it, he could have asked Grandpa Feng to secretly steal a copy for him.
Hearing Li Hao’s words, Huang Licai’s lips curled upward in a knowing smirk. His expression clearly said, So I was right about this kid—he almost had me fooled.
Song Yufeng and the others exchanged glances before breaking into relieved smiles.
...
After Li Hao departed from Tangong, Song Yufeng turned to the group and asked, “Since he’s here for the Tai Chi Heavenly Sword, what do you all think?”
“The Li family has shown integrity,” Shen Yunqing said with a light stroke of his beard and a smile. “Back when the third son of the Li family took the copy of the Tai Chi Heavenly Sword from us, he promised it would never be shared with a second person. Unexpectedly, they’ve truly kept their word.”
“Indeed. No wonder this youngster has come to us,” an elder nodded approvingly, clearly holding the third son of the Li family in high regard.
Though that young Li had angered the entire Tangong Academy with his actions back then, time had passed. He had long since perished in battle beyond the frontier, and their resentment had faded.
Moreover, it was said that in his final moments, the third son of the Li family had used the Tai Chi Heavenly Sword to pierce through seventeen Great Demon Kings in one strike, intimidating hordes of demons. That one dazzling moment had brought glory to this extraordinary art and a touch of pride to Tangong.
“But he’s just enrolled. We can’t hand it over so easily, can we?” someone asked, glancing at Song Yufeng.
Song Yufeng remained silent, though his heart stirred.
“What can we do? The kid’s at the Fifteen Li Realm. Even in the White Hall, he’s leagues above everyone else. If he wants to claim the top spot, it’s his for the taking. Surely we old folks won’t step in, right?” Zhao Zongyuan grumbled.
“Don’t forget our rule: one must be in the academy for three years before qualifying. Otherwise, if the Divine General Mansions send their True Dragons here, wouldn’t they just take whatever they please?” another elder reminded them.
“That’s true,” someone else agreed, “but having him idle here for three years when we have little left to teach him would be a waste of such a genius’ time.”
Shen Yunqing frowned. He had played chess, shared drinks, and even enjoyed Li Hao’s grilled barbecue—a taste he could still vividly recall. His sentiments tilted slightly in Li Hao’s favor.
“Rules are rules. We can’t make an exception for the Li family, can we?” a stern, horse-faced elder remarked without a hint of emotion.
Huang Licai said, “We’ve already made an exception. Don’t forget, Tangong Academy nurtures geniuses, and geniuses exist to break conventions. If we bind them with rigid rules, that would be the real problem.”
“But if we open this door, won’t it become a free-for-all for the other Divine General Mansions’ talents?”
As the debate went on, Song Yufeng considered the matter before proposing, “How about we give him two choices? Either teach at Tangong for a year or become an honorary instructor in our Black and White Hall. This way, granting him access to the sword manual won’t be seen as easily giving it away.”
At the Palace Master’s suggestion, the room fell silent, and everyone exchanged looks.
The wily old Palace Master strikes again...
...
...
Beside the thousand-zhang cliff of Tangong, by the edge of a deep pool...
Descending the mountain, Li Hao passed by the verdant pool. Struck by its serene beauty, he decided to return to the student quarters in Tangong to fetch paper and brushes.
Returning to the pool, he set up a painting board and began sketching by the water’s edge.
The painting path was an art of cultivation where one’s experiences and insights determined the growth of their expertise. Depicting subjects rich in spirit or profound significance, such as great demons, yielded more experience.
Portraits of high-level cultivators were similarly rewarding.
However, painting the same subject repeatedly diminished returns, necessitating constant innovation.
Li Hao speculated that achieving enlightenment in the painting path might require abandoning thoughts of experience gain and instead pushing the craft to transcendence. Only through repetition—hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of times—could one capture true spiritual essence.
For now, though, his painting experience was at the fifth stage, short of the sixth-stage peak. First, he would focus on filling his experience bar.
With swift strokes, Li Hao sketched the jagged cliff peaks and the pool’s contour. A vivid landscape began to emerge on the canvas.
He completed three paintings in succession, steadily increasing his experience:
+183, +145, +92...
...
In the depths of the pool, a massive shadow coiled atop a stone bed.
Suddenly, the creature opened its eyes, sensing a faint yet intrusive gaze. Irritated, it stirred, disrupting its peaceful slumber.
With a huff, its divine sense swept the area, detecting a young man at the shore.
Who dares disturb me?
With a low growl, it darted toward the surface, leaping from the water in a spray of droplets.
The sudden eruption of the pool startled Li Hao, who was in the midst of his fourth painting, intending to fully exploit the picturesque cliff and pool for all the painting experience they could offer.
Emerging from the depths was a towering qilin with a sleek azure body that gleamed under the sunlight.
Water Qilin?
Li Hao stared in astonishment at the magnificent creature. For a moment, the two locked eyes—one man and one beast, both equally stunned.
“Who gave you permission to be here? Leave at once!”
The Water Qilin shook its head, droplets scattering in all directions as it bellowed. Its voice, to Li Hao’s surprise, was that of a woman—clear and melodious, like the tinkling of spring water.
Li Hao had heard stories of how the first Palace Master of Tangong Academy had subdued a qilin demon to guard the academy. He hadn’t expected to encounter it in person.
And this qilin was said to be no ordinary demon—it was a Great Demon King, a Fourth Pillar Realm entity!
Li Hao’s eyes lit up like stars in the night sky.
“Senior!”
He quickly clasped his hands in salute, his tone both respectful and eager. “Might I have the honor of painting you?”
Capturing this Water Qilin in a painting would undoubtedly provide a massive boost to his painting path experience. He had already drained all the experience he could from Second Uncle, Grandpa Feng, and Fifth Uncle. This might be the perfect opportunity to break new ground.
“?”
The Water Qilin tilted its massive head, a big question mark practically written across its face.
What is this nonsense?
“What nonsense are you spouting?” The qilin snorted, its breath cold enough to make the surrounding air shiver. Its tone carried a hint of irritation. “Leave now, or I’ll eat you!”
Li Hao knew it was just an empty threat. Tangong’s guardian demon was forbidden from harming academy students unless provoked. Still, the sheer presence it exuded made his heart race.
He mustered his courage. “Senior, I am from the Li family. If you were to eat me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t taste very good.”
“The Li family?”
The qilin’s icy gaze wavered slightly. It knew better than anyone that the consequences of harming someone from the Li family went far beyond bad taste—any rash action might cost it dearly.
“Even if I don’t eat you, I could still rough you up a bit. Your Li family wouldn’t dare to retaliate,” it huffed, though it had no real intention of acting on its words. If those old fellows from the Li family came knocking, it would undoubtedly lose face.
After all, the excuse “he disturbed my sleep” hardly sounded dignified for a creature of its status.
A Great Demon King ought to act with more decorum.
Still annoyed, it stirred the waters, intending to sweep Li Hao away. Before it could act, however, Li Hao shouted urgently:
“Don’t move!”
“Senior, please, don’t move!”
Li Hao’s voice trembled with excitement. “Just hold still for a moment. I promise it’ll only take a moment!”
“?”
The qilin’s glowing azure eyes blinked in confusion.
Before it could respond, Li Hao was already hard at work, his brush flying across the canvas.
The scene before him was perfect—a qilin standing amidst the rippling pool, with towering cliffs framing the background. The composition practically painted itself in his mind’s eye.
“You...”
“Senior, please, I’m begging you. Just stay as you are for a little longer!”
Flustered yet intrigued, the qilin found itself strangely curious. It had lived for over a millennium and never encountered a human quite like this. What on earth was he doing?
It decided to humor him for now, standing still as requested, though the indignity of being treated like an art model left it feeling both irked and amused.
Li Hao, meanwhile, was utterly engrossed. His eyes sharpened with focus, every brushstroke flowing with purpose. In this moment, he was wholly immersed, his thoughts consumed by the painting.
Time passed. Half an incense stick later, Li Hao was nearing completion when the qilin, growing impatient, disrupted the stillness by manipulating the pool’s water.
“Hey, what trickery are you up to?”
Fortunately, Li Hao had already captured the dynamic movement of the water. With a few rapid strokes, he finished the final details, a blade of grass at the pool’s edge.
The painting was complete.
[Painting Path Experience +1986]
The enormous experience gain left Li Hao overjoyed. This one painting was worth hundreds of ordinary efforts.
“Thank you, Senior!”
Li Hao stepped back from the canvas and gave a deep bow, his gratitude genuine. This was not only for the invaluable experience but also for the qilin’s cooperation in creating such an extraordinary piece.
Though he pursued experience, his passion for art was no less genuine. This painting had become a labor of love.
“Is it done?”
The qilin raised an eyebrow, its curiosity piqued by the human’s behavior. “Show me.”
Li Hao nodded and turned the canvas toward her.
The qilin’s eyes widened as it took in the image—a breathtaking depiction of the pool, the cliffs, and itself. The details were sharp, the composition powerful, and the aura of majesty palpable.
In the painting, it stood like an unrivaled ruler of water and stone, surrounded by rippling waves, exuding an aura of supreme dominance.
Is this... me?
I look... magnificent!
The Water Qilin’s azure eyes sparkled as it admired the painting. It had never seen itself in such a light before.
In a swift motion, the qilin leaped from the water and landed gracefully on the shore. As its front hooves touched the ground, its massive body began to shrink. Moments later, it transformed into a strikingly beautiful woman dressed in a flowing azure robe.
Her hair shimmered with the color of deep ocean waves, and at the corner of her eye was a teardrop-shaped mark as dark as ink. Her ethereal beauty was otherworldly, her delicate bare feet hovering slightly above the ground as she approached the painting.
Li Hao stood stunned for a moment before quickly regaining his composure. He bowed respectfully once more, thinking, So this is her human form. As expected of a Great Demon King, she’s truly extraordinary.
The woman studied the painting intently, her expression shifting between pride and a hint of shyness.
“Young one,” she said softly, her voice still carrying that crystalline quality, “you have talent. This painting captures my true essence.”
Li Hao straightened, his eyes alight with genuine gratitude. “Senior, your presence is the reason this painting could reach such heights. Without you, it would have been impossible.”
The woman smirked faintly. “Flattery, is it? Well, no matter. I’ll allow it this time.”
She reached out, a pale hand brushing over the canvas. Her expression softened further as she admired the work.
“Do you often paint?” she asked.
“Yes, Senior,” Li Hao replied. “I practice the Painting Path as part of my cultivation. Every stroke helps refine my skills and deepen my understanding of the Dao.”
The woman nodded, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. “A rare path, indeed. Very few humans pursue it to such lengths. Most are too focused on brute strength or martial prowess.”
Li Hao hesitated for a moment before boldly asking, “Senior, would you consider allowing me to paint you again in the future? A subject as extraordinary as yourself would be invaluable to my growth.”
The qilin’s lips curled upward, revealing a hint of amusement. “You’re a bold one, aren’t you? Very well, should you earn my favor again, I might grant you the opportunity.”
Li Hao beamed, bowing deeply. “Thank you, Senior!”
The woman waved a hand dismissively, though her expression remained kind. “Enough. Off with you now. Don’t disturb my peace again unless you have a good reason.”
With a final bow, Li Hao gathered his painting supplies and left, his heart light with the satisfaction of a successful encounter.
As he walked away, the qilin gazed at the painting once more, her thoughts lingering.
“A human capturing my essence so vividly... how curious.”
She allowed herself a soft smile before returning to the pool, her figure dissolving into the azure depths.
...
With a sudden swish, the Water Qilin’s massive figure shimmered, stepping gracefully out of the azure pool. As its front hooves touched the ground, its colossal form began to shrink rapidly. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a woman adorned in a flowing azure robe.
Her hair cascaded like waves of water, a radiant blue that shimmered under the light. At the corner of her eye was a delicate teardrop-shaped mark, dark as ink. Her face was stunningly beautiful, a visage capable of toppling kingdoms. Her fair, jade-like bare feet hovered slightly above the ground as she glided gracefully toward the painting.