Setting aside the reunion and questioning of the family of the woman who fell off the cliff, Lu Zheng no longer paid it any mind, and instead returned to his painting.

Normally, oil paintings vary in complexity depending on size and detail, ranging from an hour for the simplest to several months for the most intricate.

Logically, considering the level of detail and the complexity of the "Cloud Sea Lotus Painting" Lu Zheng was preparing to create, its difficulty was no less than that of the most top-tier large oil paintings.

However...

Lu Zheng was an Immortal cultivator, after all.

The composition came naturally in his mind, and his strokes were guided as if by divine intervention. His brushes rotated one after another, and his painting knives moved in succession. Even the oil paints that required time to dry were quickly taken care of through his spellcasting.

By midday, the painting was roughly complete, with its essence beginning to emerge.

By the afternoon, as Lu Zheng made the final strokes and blew a breath over it, the painting was entirely finished.

The "Cloud Sea Lotus Painting" was done!

The painting displayed a flowing sea of clouds and a lush green Lotus Peak, with rocks as pure as snow, layered and overlapping, resembling a lotus about to bloom, standing proudly amidst the endless sea of clouds, reaching towards the sky.

Lu Zheng looked back and forth at the painting with satisfaction, only to realize Sister Lingxi was sitting beside him, fully absorbed and admiring his work.

"You've finished your painting?" Lu Zheng asked.

"Yes, just finished a bit ago," Si Lingxi replied with a smile.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but look at Si Lingxi's painting.

While Lu Zheng's painting focused on Lotus Peak as the main subject, Si Lingxi's was centered on the boundless sea of clouds, with numerous peaks resembling isolated islands. Even though Lotus Peak was large, it was just another solitary peak, not particularly prominent.

In Si Lingxi's painting, however, these isolated peaks seemed to have their own souls — some were light and ethereal, others were heavy, some were precipitous, some grand, some lush, and others flawlessly white, each peak revealing its unique splendor amidst the clouds.

The endless cloud sea, with its grandeur seemingly capable of engulfing everything, could not overshadow the extraordinary beauty of each solitary peak.

The moment Lu Zheng saw the painting, he was immediately drawn to the dozen or so peaks, capable of instantly feeling their individual charms, with emotions ranging from light-hearted like an Immortal, to majestic like mountains, from spirited enthusiasm to serene calmness.

A single painting could evoke nearly ten different emotions in a viewer, always managing to touch the tenderest spot in one's heart.

More importantly, Si Lingxi had perfectly blended so many differently styled peaks and emotions into one painting.

Lu Zheng acknowledged his inferiority!

It was truly astounding!

"It's truly beautiful," Lu Zheng exclaimed.

"Lu Lang's painting is also excellent, a magnificent lotus standing proudly in this world — it speaks of Lu Lang's heart," Si Lingxi praised.

Lu Zheng blinked and decided to accept the compliment wholeheartedly.

"Let's mount these two paintings when we get back and hang them in the living room," said Lu Zheng.

Si Lingxi laughed, "Alright."

Thus, she watched as Lu Zheng packed up the two paintings, then snuggled closer with a grin and softly suggested, "We've seen the peculiar pines and unique rocks, and the sea of clouds — how about a dip in the hot springs?"

Si Lingxi bit her lip with a smile, casting Lu Zheng a flirtatious glance with her phoenix eyes but did not refuse.

...

Resting by the hot spring at night, the phoenix serenades the moon.

...

Early the next morning, Lu Zheng and Si Lingxi bought frames for their oil paintings at the foot of Huang Mountain and flew straight home.

Lin Wan had gone to work, so Lu Zheng framed the two oils, hung them on the wall of the small living room, and then took Si Lingxi on an ancient journey.

...

"Sniff sniff!"

Liu Qingyan sniffed around Lu Zheng, twitched her nose, and smiled, "Did you and Sister Lingxi go to the hot springs?"

"Your nose is quite..."

Lu Zheng left a word unspoken but still made Liu Qingyan grin at him and show her teeth.

"Have you had many patients lately? If not, let's take some time to go on an outing; there are still several days left in the ten-day break. No need to go too far," Lu Zheng said. "Since we just got back from outside, let's not overexert ourselves."

Liu Qingyan was helpless, and Du Yueyao couldn't help but chuckle.

They were all individuals with many years of Dao practice, having only been gone for over a month — how could they possibly be tired?

"Alright!"

Since Lu Zheng suggested it, Liu Qingyan wouldn't reject his kindness, saying, "Then let's go to Hundred Springs Valley tomorrow for a hot spring soak."

Since Liu Qingyan didn't know what to do during the break anyway, hot springs seemed like a good option. "Remember to prepare some fresh fruits."

"Sure!" Lu Zheng agreed, then said to Du Yueyao, "Ask if Xiaowan and Miss Yi want to go."

Du Yueyao shook her head, "Miss Yi I'm not sure about, but Xiaowan definitely won't be going."

"Why?"

"Because Xiaowan's master just arrived in Tonglin County yesterday."

Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, "Master Shouyi from Qingwei Palace?"

Du Yueyao nodded, "Master Shouyi came to check Xiaowan's cultivation progress and was pleased, then began guiding her cultivation again. She'll be busy these days."

Lu Zheng nodded. Wang Xiaowan had remarkable cultivation talent, plus she had only just stepped onto the Dao path. With significant potential and occasional guidance from Lu Zheng, who practiced the "Jade Heaven Thunder Technique," her cultivation progress was naturally swift. During the recent flood, she also gained experience while journeying, further advancing her skills.

Additionally, aside from Lu Zheng's companions, among everyone, Du Yueyao was actually progressing the fastest.

Upon taking the first step on the Dao path, she absorbed the century-long power of Saintess Xueyi and received supplementary inheritance of the "Su Nu's Prayer Method" from an Upper Realm Su Girl.

As Liu Qingyan's acknowledged sister, she received collaborative training from Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan, and Shen Ying in cultivation, with Si Lingxi offering guidance after moving in.

Simultaneously, as long as her mindset and body could keep up, Liu Qingyan generously provided elixirs to expedite her cultivation progress.

As a result, within just two years, while Yueyao's cultivation was still somewhat lesser than Yuan Jing's, they couldn't defeat her swiftly in regular sparring.

This in turn motivated Yuan Jing to train harder, so upon Daoist Mingzhang's departure, he had no issue taking over White Cloud Temple.

It must be said that ever since Lu Zheng moved to Tonglin County, the place had suddenly become home to many formidable individuals, transforming into the strongest novice village.

After hearing Du Yueyao's words, Lu Zheng nodded, "Alright, I understand. Then let Xiaowan focus on her cultivation. I doubt Master Shouyi would join us for a hot spring soak."

Du Yueyao, "..."

Liu Qingyan, "..."

"But since I know he's here, I'll visit the Wang family this afternoon," Lu Zheng said.

"It's the proper thing to do," Liu Qingyan nodded in agreement.