Chapter 3: Breaking through the Realm Directly
Upon hearing Xu Yan's words, Qin Yudie had a moment of realization. It turned out that Senior Xu Yan considered her a fellow enthusiast of calligraphy and paintings. That would explain why he appeared cheerful and even gifted his artwork to her.
She saw this as an opportunity to strengthen their relationship and said with a smile, "Indeed... Senior Xu Yan's proficiency in calligraphy and painting is truly profound, leaving me, a novice in this art, deeply moved and unable to calm my emotions."
Xu Yan felt a sense of pride within, successfully earning admiration from a possibly cultivator maiden through his talent. Who else could boast such an achievement?
Meanwhile, Mu'er's attention was drawn to the puppets displayed on the shelf. Walking over, she picked up one shaped like a deer and exclaimed, "This puppet is so cute!"
With weaker cultivation, Mu'er didn't feel the Tao sentiments in the calligraphy and paintings as deeply as Qin Yudie did. However, she found more enjoyment in the adorable little puppets that carried subtle traces of Tao.
Looking at Mu'er, Xu Yan flashed a sly smile and said, "This puppet is named Chopper, thirty copper coins, fair and square."
These puppets, crafted from unused wood, had almost zero production cost and took about fifteen minutes each to make. Typically targeted at children, popular designs included Chopper, Pikachu, Doraemon, and Teddy Bears, capturing the hearts of many children.
As for those adolescents in their prime, they preferred cute girl puppets like Kasugano Sora and Hatsune Miku.
As a hot-selling item, charging thirty copper coins for it seemed reasonable.
Mu'er was surprised, "So cheap?"
Something imbued with subtle Tao sentiments being sold at such a low price would surely drive cultivators to a fervor if they were to learn of it.
Xu Yan's gaze turned peculiar. Could it be that she was one of those naive individuals with plenty of money?
Regretting his decision a bit, he thought he should have asked for three hundred copper coins.
After Mu'er paid, Qin Yudie respectfully addressed Xu Yan, "Senior Xu Yan, I am Qin Yudie, and this is my junior sister Mu'er. We will take our leave now. We will visit you again next time."
Then, she and Mu'er left "What Are You Gazing At."
Once outside the shop, Qin Yudie's expression turned serious. "Mu'er, do not casually give away the puppet. Understand? This puppet carries subtle Tao sentiments. If some unscrupulous cultivators find out you have such a treasure, they might target you."
"Understood, Senior Sister."
...
Xu Yan carved another puppet to replace the empty spot on the shelf. Feeling a momentary sense of pride, he found it quite satisfying to win over a cultivator maiden with his talent. However, he quickly dismissed the thoughts of Qin Yudie and Mu'er. He had a clear understanding of his identity—just an ordinary person.
Later, an old man from the street passed by his shop. Seeing Xu Yan, he nodded from afar. "Yan, your painting skills on our street are top-notch. If you draw something more understandable, it will surely be even more popular."
...
At Tianren Mountain, the atmosphere was lively. Qin Tian, the sect master of Tianren Sect, had opened his Sea of Knowledge, reaching the first level of the Sea of Knowledge Realm. This advancement in strength elevated his status, and the sect's prestige followed suit.
Therefore, various major forces from the Southern Domain attended the celebration, each bringing gifts for congratulations.
During the banquet, Qin Tian sat at the main seat, his face glowing with satisfaction. Listening to the praises from former rivals, he couldn't help feeling a bit conceited.
Soon, the gifting ceremony began.
The sect master of the Ever-Changing Gate presented a type of precious tea called Dragon Song Tea, claiming it was a top-notch item. They said that drinking a cup of Dragon Song Tea could make one feel the singing of dragons, even enhancing cultivation.
The top disciple of the Medicine King Valley came on behalf of the valley, and he offered a Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill crafted by the Medicine King himself.
As soon as this pill appeared, the guests from various forces couldn't help but covet it. A pill that could prolong life— who wouldn't desire such a thing?
...
After the conclusion of the gifts from foreign guests, it was time for the disciples of the Tianren Sect to present their congratulatory gifts and blessings.
As the granddaughter of Qin Tian, Qin Yudie was the first to step forward. Holding a painting in her hands, she walked up to Qin Tian with a smile and said, "Grandfather, Yudie offers this painting to congratulate you on entering a new realm."
"Oh?"
Qin Tian's face lit up with a smile. Though there were numerous people offering gifts and various kinds of congratulations, no one had presented a painting before Qin Yudie.
He reached out to take the painting and unfolded it in front of himself. In an instant, an immense and boundless world unfolded before his eyes.
In this world, the wind and rain were harmonious, and people lived in joy and harmony. It portrayed a scene of unity between heaven, earth, and humanity. An old farmer diligently watered a vine every day, and eventually, the gourd on the vine gained sentience. When the old farmer was captured by demonic beings, the gourd, now transformed into a child, set out to rescue him. It depicted a world where all things had sentience, repaying kindness with gratitude, evoking tears from anyone who beheld it.
Endless Tao sentiments merged into Qin Tian's Sea of Knowledge. In an instant, he sensed the myriad aspects of the mortal world, experienced the rules governing heaven and earth, and his state of mind soared.
Boom!
A powerful aura emanated from Qin Tian's body but was quickly restrained. Otherwise, most people present would not have been able to withstand it. He carefully placed the painting down, and the smile on his face became even more radiant.
People from various forces looked at Qin Tian with astonishment and uncertainty. In that brief moment, it seemed that Qin Tian's released aura had surpassed the first level of the Sea of Knowledge Realm.
In the Southern Domain, most leaders of forces had not even reached the first level of the Sea of Knowledge Realm. Those who had achieved this were considered top-notch cultivators. As for those at the second level, they were usually figures of great authority, rarely seen by the public.
"Old Qin, have you broken through to the second level of the Sea of Knowledge Realm?" Jiang Taiyuan, a close friend and the sect master of Tianya Sect, asked.
He, too, was at the first level of the Sea of Knowledge Realm and had always been slightly stronger than Qin Tian.
"Haha, Old Jiang, from now on, my cultivation surpasses yours." Qin Tian laughed heartily. His mood was unprecedentedly cheerful. He broke through to the second realm in such a short time, surpassing his friend Jiang Taiyuan.
The entire assembly was shocked. Qin Tian had unexpectedly broken through to the second level of the Sea of Knowledge Realm, comparable to those reclusive old monsters who rarely appeared.
Jiang Taiyuan, filled with envy, asked, "Old Qin, how did you break through?"
He had been stuck at the first level of the Sea of Knowledge Realm for a long time, unable to advance to the second level. Qin Tian's breakthrough, seemingly without any warning, left him not only envious but also greatly impressed.
"This... is something that can only be comprehended, not explained." Qin Tian cryptically responded.
In reality, he was also somewhat unclear about the situation. The painting contained Tao sentiments that perfectly aligned with the cultivation method he practiced, allowing him to comprehend the Tao and directly break through the realm.
The celebration banquet ended quickly because Qin Tian couldn't wait to inquire about the details of the painting from Qin Yudie.
As various forces left with complex emotions, they all understood one thing—the Tianren Sect had truly risen!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone