Ch. 87 - A Painting

"Greetings, Junior Sisters," Luang approached with Xu Zimo, smiling at the four disciples from the Immortal Spirit Sect.

"Greetings, Senior Brother," Nie Xingqing and the others responded politely, though Nie Xingqing's expression looked troubled and pale.

"You’re all here to watch the Sacred Spring Sect's inner court competition, I assume?" Luang asked as he took a seat nearby.

"I'm just stopping by on the way home," Nie Xingqing replied, shaking her head.

"Where’s your home, Junior Sister?" Luang smiled. "To raise someone as talented as you, your family must be extraordinary."

"The Heavenly Sword Sect," Nie Xingqing replied coldly.

Luang froze, then asked instinctively, "You mean the sect that was wiped out recently?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he had been too blunt and quickly added, “I didn’t mean anything by that, Junior Sister.”

“There’s nothing that can’t be said,” Nie Xingqing shook her head. “I only heard about it not long ago.”

Xu Zimo, on the side, furrowed his brow. The Heavenly Sword Sect being wiped out immediately made him think of Ren Pingsheng.

In his previous life, after obtaining Grand Emperor Tun Ri’s legacy, Ren Pingsheng had destroyed the Heavenly Sword Sect soon after.

In this life, Xu Zimo had revealed the legacy’s location to Ren ahead of time. Could this have caused the sect’s earlier demise?

He couldn’t be certain, he’d have to investigate the sect himself.

“What’s your connection to the Heavenly Sword Sect, Junior Sister?” Xu Zimo asked, curious.

He didn’t know much about Nie Xingqing and had no idea she was connected to the sect in his past life.

“Sect Master Yue Buli was my adoptive father,” Nie Xingqing replied after a moment of silence.

After some more conversation, Xu Zimo pieced things together.

Decades ago, Yue Buli had found an infant abandoned at the gates of the sect while out on an errand.

The baby was just a month old. With no children of his own, Yue Buli took the child in and raised her as his own.

As the child grew up, she became a striking and gifted young woman. When she turned eighteen, Yue Buli sent her to the Immortal Spirit Sect so her talents wouldn’t go to waste, choosing the most prestigious all-female sect in the Western Region.

…

As the Sageship passed over the Heavenly Sword Sect, it began to descend.

Its massive frame compressed the air around it, which exploded outward with a boom as it landed.

According to Nie Xingqing, if anyone had survived, she would stay at the sect.

But if the sect was truly destroyed, she’d continue to the Sacred Spring Sect with the others.

Once the ship landed not far from the ruins, everyone disembarked, including the Seventh Elder and Elder Fanyun.

The scene was one of utter devastation. Cracks scarred the land in every direction, remnants of a brutal battle.

Scattered throughout the ruins, wild beasts were feeding on the decaying corpses.

Nie Xingqing’s aura of the Desolate Meridian Realm surged forth, and a blast of purple light from her hand killed several beasts in an instant.

The rest fled in terror.

…

“It’s all gone,” Nie Xingqing stood in the heart of the ruins, memories flooding her mind.

It had been the most beautiful part of her childhood, her adoptive father, the senior sisters who doted on her, the playful senior brothers…

Xu Zimo scanned the area. Though the battle had ended some time ago, he could still sense faint traces of demonic energy.

The Sun-Devouring Axe of Grand Emperor Tun Ri, he thought about it for a moment and was certain of the culprit.

…

Seeing that the others were still surveying the site, Xu Zimo quietly approached Nie Xingqing and said, “I think I know who did this.”

“Who?” Nie Xingqing turned instantly, her aura surging like a raging tide.

“How about we make a trade?” Xu Zimo smiled.

Nie Xingqing stared at him for a long moment. “What do you want?”

“You inherited the Wind Ancestor’s legacy, right?” Xu Zimo asked.

Nie Xingqing nodded. It wasn’t a secret, her recognition by the Wind Ancestor was the very reason she had become the Saintess of the Immortal Spirit Sect.

“There’s a painting in that legacy,” Xu Zimo smiled. “I want it.”

“What painting?” Nie Xingqing frowned, puzzled.

“Now that’s no fun,” Xu Zimo shook his head with a chuckle and turned to leave.

“Wait! There are several paintings in the legacy. I really don’t know which one you mean,” Nie Xingqing said, stopping him.

“I’m talking about the Wind Ancestor’s self-portrait,” Xu Zimo said. “Let’s make a deal, you give me the painting, and I’ll tell you who the murderer is.”

“But why do you want the Wind Ancestor’s self-portrait?” Nie Xingqing asked, clearly suspicious.

“I’ve studied many great historical figures,” Xu Zimo replied. “I heard she was a stunning beauty. I just want to see for myself.”

“If you just want to look, I can show it to you right now. But if you want the entire painting, that’s impossible,” Nie Xingqing said firmly. “I have no right to give away something from the ancestral legacy.”

“So that’s a no then?” Xu Zimo shook his head again and walked back toward the Sageship.

This time, Nie Xingqing didn’t stop him. She stood in place, deep in thought.

She wasn’t stupid. She didn’t buy his “just want to see her beauty” excuse for a second.

If Xu Zimo wanted that painting, it had to be valuable.

She hadn’t paid it much attention before, but now she suspected the painting held some hidden secret.

As for avenging her father, she would take her time. Clues would eventually surface.

And if not, once she became powerful enough, perhaps even the bearer of the Heaven’s Will, she could come back to the True Martial Sacred Ground and force the truth out of Xu Zimo.

But if that painting truly held an incredible opportunity, and she let it slip away...

She might never get another chance.

…

After thoroughly inspecting the ruins and confirming there were no survivors, the group reboarded the ship and set off toward the Sacred Spring Sect.

Throughout the journey, Nie Xingqing never stopped watching Xu Zimo, even wondering if he had something to do with the sect’s destruction.

Xu Zimo leaned back, eyes closed, a faint smile on his lips.

Whether Nie Xingqing gave him the painting or not didn’t matter anymore.

Through his subtle probing, he had already confirmed: she had it with her.

After flying for half a day, the Sageship finally arrived at its destination, the Sacred Spring Sect, a sect with a long and rich history.

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