"Hoo...hoo...hoo..."

On the mountain top, the wind howled. Lu Zheng waved his hand, isolating the strong wind with True Qi.

Si Lingxi looked around, seeing faintly visible peaks in the sea of clouds, white clouds leisurely drifting, verdant greenery everywhere.

Not far west, another slightly higher peak stood amidst the clouds, blue and white interweaving, resembling a blooming lotus flower.

"That is Lotus Peak, slightly taller than Celestial City Peak," said Lu Zheng.

With their exceptional vision, they could see tourists going up and down Lotus Peak.

Si Lingxi nodded, turned to the stone carving at the top of Celestial City Peak, and chuckled, "To reach the peak, a gathering place for Immortals; quite boastful words."

"Indeed, there's no place around here with more Immortal Qi," Lu Zheng defended their ancestor.

"I know, just looking at the surrounding paths, it was truly a perilous feat to reach the peak of Celestial City in ancient times. Calling it the abode of Immortals wouldn't be unexpected."

Si Lingxi smiled in agreement and then, together with Lu Zheng, began to admire the surrounding scenery.

"The four wonders of Huang Mountain, strange pines, peculiar stones, sea of clouds, and hot springs." Lu Zheng raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Seeing Lu Zheng's expression, Si Lingxi understood his meaning and lightly laughed, "Then we'll see if your painting is to my liking."

Lu Zheng smiled wryly, "No way, how could I possibly paint better than you?"

Si Lingxi cast a seductive glance at Lu Zheng and then waved her hand to retrieve a drawing board, canvas, brushes, and various paints.

Lu Zheng gave Si Lingxi a kiss, set up the drawing board and canvas, and sat beside Si Lingxi, each with their own setup.

"Oil painting at the top of Celestial City Peak." Lu Zheng shook his head, "I feel the style isn't quite right."

Si Lingxi's lips curled into a smile, "Using Western techniques to express Chinese Mental Realm, can it be done?"

Lu Zheng blinked, scratched his head, and pondered for a moment before nodding firmly, "It can!"

Lu Zheng had previously invested much Light of Fortune in his painting skills, cooling off periods were still ongoing, coupled with his understanding, allowing him to create artworks like the Phoenix Maiden Playing the Zither Painting, which even amazed Si Lingxi.

Thus, although Lu Zheng's painting skills fell short compared to Si Lingxi, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was outstanding aside from Si Lingxi.

Though Si Lingxi's request was challenging, Lu Zheng thought it wasn't entirely impossible.

With effort, not everything could rely on the Jade Seal and Light of Fortune, right?

"By the way, Brother Jade Seal, when will the cooling-off period for painting end?"

Jade Seal, "..."

Lu Zheng fixed the prepared linen on the frame, mixed colors and turpentine, prepared brushes and palette knives, then looked at the scenery, contemplating the angle for his painting.

With Lu Zheng's current skills, initial sketching wasn't necessary.

After careful consideration, Lu Zheng decided to use Lotus Peak as his main subject, simpler but more secure.

Moreover, the shape of Lotus Peak, complemented by surrounding peaks and the sea of clouds, made it easier to highlight the Chinese Mental Realm in the painting.

Lu Zheng's eyes lit up, staring intently at Lotus Peak and Jade Screen Peak between the two mountains, rapidly constructing composition, colors, and the Mental Realm he intended to depict.

Then...

Mixing colors! Starting to paint!

With a few strokes, Lu Zheng established the tone of the painting.

Cloud Sea White Lotus blooming under the sun.

Glancing at Si Lingxi beside him, she had also begun leisurely creating, though Lu Zheng still couldn't discern what she was painting.

Then the top of Celestial City Peak fell into silence as they both quietly painted.

As time passed, a Cloud Sea Lotus Painting slowly emerged under Lu Zheng's hands.

In Lu Zheng's painting, the clouds appeared to be flowing slowly, rising and falling, and a jade lotus with green leaves and white petals swayed in the sea of clouds, as if it were about to bloom.

This sense of impending bloom conveyed a sense of power within the lotus, blending perfectly with the grand mountain shape of Lotus Peak.

The combination naturally transmitted this energy to viewers, letting them experience a desire to express an expansive feeling.

What is Mental Realm?

This is Mental Realm!

In this competition against Si Lingxi, Lu Zheng put forth his utmost effort, fully focused on depicting the painting's details to achieve the best effect.

"Ah!!!"

Suddenly, a distant startled cry sounded.

Lu Zheng's eyes flashed, quickly shifting from full concentration to look up, spotting a small black dot falling down the cliff opposite Lotus Peak.

"Someone fell off a cliff?"

Lu Zheng glanced, about to act when Si Lingxi's delicate hand waved, an invisible gentle breeze appeared beneath the falling shadow, halting its descent. With a subtle turn, it gently slid through the air, landing at an unattended area behind Yuping Building, closest to Lotus Peak.

Lu Zheng blinked, shook his head, chuckled, then turned back to continue painting.

...

"Mom!!!" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

On Lotus Peak, a girl cried out while leaning over to look down. A middle-aged man held the girl, eyes red, gripping the guardrail at the cliff's edge.

Lotus Peak was perilously steep, with strong winds on the top, so ordinary people wouldn't dare approach the edge.

Thus, the girl and man could only see a family member fall, not the specifics.

Nearby tourists were still in shock, some approached to comfort, others called the police, while some sighed.

"Every year, there's someone who falls on Huang Mountain."

"Always those who ignore advice, thinking they're careful enough."

"That lady just now climbed onto the rock at the cliff edge for a photo despite family warnings, and slipped right down."

"So frightening!"

"Huhu... Mom..." The girl sobbed, clinging to the large stone at the cliff, refusing to believe the reality.

"We've already called the police; why not head down the mountain, after all... "

The next moment, the girl's phone suddenly rang.

Still crying, she took out her phone, glanced at the screen, and her eyes widened instantly.

"Mom!?"

The middle-aged man saw the phone screen too, eyes widening in disbelief.

"Mom! Are you okay?"

The girl immediately answered the call, urgently asking, "Where are you? How are you now?"

"I...I'm fine..." A bewildered female voice came from the phone.

"We've alerted the authorities; I'm coming down the mountain to rescue you now!"

"No...no need..."

"Are you hurt? Did you get caught on a tree? How are you now?"

"I'm...I'm now at Yuping Building, just next to the stone statue at Yuping Hotel."

"What!?"