Chapter 542: Shu Xiaolou, Get Out Here
Surely, Lin Jin hadn’t expected this at all. His first thought was how genuinely horrifying the immortal devouring beast was. Even if this was just a painting, Lin Jin could sense the intimidation of this Rank 9 immortal devouring beast.
It felt as if it could flatten mountains and wipe out entire civilizations by just moving slightly, and that included immortals and Buddha himself.
Lin Jin’s curiosity was piqued.
If this was Daojun’s painting, then Daojun must have encountered this Rank 9 immortal devouring beast five hundred years ago. He may have even interacted with it.
Otherwise, he couldn’t have created this painting. Lin Jin had encountered the beast too, but he only managed to catch a glimpse of one of its paws.
The painting had words on it too.
As Lin Jin suspected, those words were from his original world. Perhaps only he and Daojun could understand them.
This was written in the painting, ‘My cultivation has reached the level of an immortal’s, and sure enough, I attracted this immortal devouring beast. I battled it continuously for seven days and nights and learned that humans are still limited in terms of power. A Rank 9 beast isn’t normal after all. It is a savage beast that could end an epoch. I leave this painting here today. If anyone in the future can understand this, you must remember not to fight this creature before obtaining a Rank 9 beast. Never forget this!”
That was it.
Just from these short few sentences, Lin Jin could sense something deeper.
No doubt, this painting had been left in this world by Daojun.
Because up until now, only he and Daojun understood these words.
Daojun’s cultivation level had reached that of an immortal back then, which meant that he was on par with Daluo Temple’s Buddha, so that’s how he attracted the immortal devouring beast.
This was consistent with Lin Jin’s experience at Daluo Temple.
Back then, because Buddha had revealed traces of his aura, the immortal devouring beast immediately tracked him down. With just a swipe of the beast’s claw, Buddha was taken from this world.
In Daojun’s writings, it seemed he had deliberately lured the immortal devouring beast out for a fight that resulted in a battle that lasted for seven days and nights. Although the outcome wasn’t clarified, based on the words ‘humans have limited power’, it was clear enough.
Daojun lost.
But he didn’t die.
He must have forced the immortal devouring beast back too.
Only then did he have the chance to leave this painting behind, along with his warning. What happened after that, no one knew. Lin Jin’s gut instinct told him that the immortal devouring beast would surely return. Daojun hadn’t been able to defeat it before so he must have suffered after that.
Daojun mentioned not to fight the creature before obtaining a Rank 9 beast.
This proved that Daojun must have been fraught with grim later on.
He might have even been killed by this immortal devouring beast.
Also, Daojun had been immensely powerful back then but he didn’t have a Rank 9 pet beast, which was the primary reason for his downfall.
That was probably the gist of it. However, there were just too many things to consider in this experience so for a moment there, Lin Jin sat still in his seat, staring dazedly at the artwork. And yet, waves of emotions were churning in his mind and he couldn’t calm down.
Shu Xiaolou couldn’t understand the words but she quickly noticed Lin Jin’s reaction. With her wits, Shu Xiaolou easily realized that Lin Jin could read these odd scribbles.
“Lin Jin, Lin Jin, what does this say?” Shu Xiaolou simply asked what she didn’t understand.
That was what she did best.
Also, one couldn’t try to deprive her of answers. For the sake of satisfying her curiosity, she could resort to doing anything.
However, Lin Jin was currently so deep in thought that he couldn’t hear Shu Xiaolou speak. This surprised Shu Xiaolou because this had never happened before.
“He must have understood something from this painting. Hmph, just because you won’t tell me, did you think I don’t have ways to find out? Don’t forget, I’m a painting spirit.” Shu Xiaolou beamed brightly before extending a slender finger to point at the painting.
In an instant, her body glowed with a myriad of colors before disappearing into thin air.
She had used her magical powers to create a passage into the painting and entered it with her Cosmic Ink.
Lin Jin may be dazed but he wasn’t deaf nor blind. The sight of a living person beside him converting into light and entering the painting entered his vision.
“Shu Xiaolou, what are you doing?” Lin Jin shouted at once, startled.
But there was no response.
“Oh no!” Lin Jin had a bad feeling. After spending so much time with Shu Xiaolou, Lin Jin learned what she was capable of.
He knew that Shu Xiaolou had a phenomenal spell that helped her turn paintings into spirits with a point of her finger. The paintings she touched would become transcendental, even allowing Shu Xiaolou to enter the painting.
As for what existed inside the painting, Lin Jin had no idea. In any case, it must have something to do with the subject of the painting itself.
The problem here was the fact that the subject wasn’t a practical joke. First, it was drawn by Daojun. That, Lin Jin could affirm, and Daojun had reached immortality when he created this artwork. A painting from his hand definitely wouldn’t be considered normal. Secondly, this painting’s main subject was the Rank 9 immortal devouring beast. Even if it was just a painting, drawn by the hands of an immortal, this immortal devouring beast would still have some intimidation to it. Shu Xiaolou may be skillful, but Lin Jin feared that accidents would still happen.
Lin Jin stopped contemplating. He quickly placed the painting on the table and called out to Shu Xiaolou softly, begging her to come out at once and stop fooling around.
And yet, the painting remained still.
Either Shu Xiaolou was ignoring him, or something happened to her inside the painting.
Unsure whether he was thinking too much, Lin Jin felt the painting’s atmosphere change.
“Don’t panic, don’t panic. Let’s wait a little longer. Shu Xiaolou is exceptionally powerful so she’ll be fine,” Lin Jin comforted himself and began to wait.
He waited until the skies outside gradually darkened but Shu Xiaolou still didn’t reappear. However, the painting had begun to change. A strange blood-red color started creeping center from all corners of the painting in an attempt to dye the artwork red.
“Something’s happened!” thought Lin Jin immediately.
This bloody color was probably a signal from Shu Xiaolou. More specifically, she was probably asking for help.
Lin Jin couldn’t possibly stand by and watch during a situation like this. He had also learned some of her spells before so only Lin Jin could save Shu Xiaolou now.
“Shang’er!” Lin Jin called and Shang’er came forth at once.
Lin Jin planned to enter the painting with the Cosmic Ink so he needed someone to stand guard outside in case something happened.
Shang’er was his best choice.
He instructed Shang’er to stand guard, to prevent anyone from entering his home, and certainly from touching the painting. Then, Lin Jin invoked a spell. He dripped one drop of Cosmic Ink onto the painting before reaching over to touch it. In an instant, Lin Jin’s world contorted as he was sucked into another dimension.
Then, he was free-falling from the sky. Lin Jin opened his eyes to see a huge black inky spot above his head – that same drop of Cosmic Ink he had placed there earlier.
He had fallen inside from this ink spot.
He was currently falling downwards from a height of tens of thousands of feet.
Thankfully, Lin Jin had learned Carrier Cloud so he summoned a piece of cloud to support him.
After steadying himself, Lin Jin found himself in a vast and boundless sky.
“This is the inside of the painting?” Lin Jin mumbled to himself.