Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The atmosphere inside the medical hall was tense and still.

Grand Secretary Zhao stood stroking his beard, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.

Mad Blade's breathing was heavy and ragged, his eyes fixed venomously on Ji Xia; Bai Yan leaned against a lamp post as if none of this concerned him; while Ji Xia was the calmest person present.

She did not respond to Yun Ling's words.

Because she was one hundred percent certain.

In her previous life, her old friend whose ID was "Scavenger" could be considered a walking encyclopedia on the Two Principles Painting Scroll.

Logically, this Inspiration Pen was only of Mysterious Brilliance quality, not something she should have been so fixated on. But the method of obtaining it was too intriguing, so she had mentioned it to Ji Xia.

"Ah Xia, did you know you missed out on a little treasure?"

"Even though the Inspiration Pen is only Mysterious Brilliance, if you get it during the newbie period, it'll definitely be enough."

"The key point is, you can absolutely get this thing!"

"After all, not everyone is like you, using their real name as their ID."

Yes, the condition for the Inspiration Pen to recognize its master was not "painting," but "signing one's name."

Grand Secretary Zhao's instruction to "draw something that can convince me" was itself a massive misdirection.

This hidden quest tested not artistic skill at all, but "self."

Only a player whose game ID was identical to their real name, when "drawing" their own name, could trigger a resonance with this civilization fragment.

She ignored Mad Blade's murderous glare. Without the slightest hesitation, and without needing any planning.

The brush tip, saturated with thick ink, descended onto the center of the blank scroll, leaving two characters imbued with forceful strokes—

"Ji Xia."

Simple and direct, yet it was her most solid self.

The moment the brush stopped, a sudden change occurred!

"Hum—!"

The seemingly ordinary brush trembled violently, emitting a clear, melodious hum.

Its disguised outer shell flaked off like shattered porcelain, revealing an inner body carved as if from multicolored glass.

A vast and pure Spirit Ink erupted with Ji Xia at its center, causing her sleeves and robes to billow wildly.

Light burst from the brush tip, swirling and coiling around her.

The entire medical hall was bathed in this sacred radiance; the medicine cabinets and tables and chairs seemed coated in a layer of dazzling brilliance.

Bai Yan's perpetually half-lidded silver-gray eyes widened slightly.

What was reflected in his eyes was not Ji Xia's figure.

But the color of her soul.

Like a long rainbow drinking from a mountain stream, a new moon emerging from clouds.

On the other side, the muscles on Mad Blade's face twitched violently, his shock rapidly replaced by jealousy and ruthless malice.

He muttered to himself, "A Mysterious Brilliance Fragment! And it was actually obtained by a newbie player!"

Suppressing the boiling fury in his heart, Mad Blade discreetly opened the guild channel and issued a rallying call: "Everyone! Assemble at the exit of the Grand Secretary Zhao instance!"

Once a civilization fragment was bound, even killing Ji Xia would make it unlikely to drop. But... if he didn't kill this damned newbie player until she deleted her account, his rage would not be quelled!

At the same time, a clear system prompt sounded in Ji Xia's mind:

"Congratulations, you have obtained the Mysterious Brilliance-grade civilization fragment - Inspiration Pen."

Fragment Name: Inspiration Pen

Fragment Category: Inheritance

Fragment Quality: Mysterious Brilliance

Fragment Source: Chinese Civilization · Along the River During the Qingming Festival.

Inheritance Effects —

Copy: Can briefly record and imitate a civilization fragment of no higher than "Mysterious Brilliance" quality that has been observed.

Floating Light: Consumes Spirit Ink to briefly create a highly realistic but non-aggressive illusion.

Materialize: Consumes a large amount of Spirit Ink to temporarily make a "Floating Light" illusion real for an extremely short duration, endowing it with corresponding offensive capabilities.

"You have successfully obtained a Mysterious Brilliance fragment. Announce to the Along the River During the Qingming Festival area?"

Ji Xia chose "No" without hesitation.

After putting away the Inspiration Pen, Ji Xia's gaze swept over Mad Blade, whose face was livid and eyes filled with venomous resentment.

She had thoroughly offended the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion; she estimated these people wouldn't let the matter rest.

The surrounding scenery shifted, and everyone was teleported back to the streets of Along the River During the Qingming Festival.

Grand Secretary Zhao's house returned to its ordinary state, simultaneously displaying the message — Hidden Instance Cleared.

The street was already packed with people.

Mad Blade had calculated the instance exit correctly, and the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion members had gone all out. Dozens of players with the "Rivers and Mountains Pavilion" guild tag above their heads had surrounded the area, leaving no room to pass.

Spirit Ink swirled, fragments gleamed.

Even the cold glint of Dan Qing quality weapons flashed, radiating murderous intent.

Ji Xia remained calm and composed, unsurprised by this.

Yun Ling, however, was already trembling with fear, her voice shaking as she cried out, "What are they doing? Are they going to kill you?! You can't die! This spirit doesn't want to fall into the hands of these filthy things!"

The penalty for player death was too severe.

While bound civilization fragments wouldn't drop, Ji Xia and the "Divine Cloud Brocade" were not yet bound.

Ji Xia also didn't have any precious teleportation items. The idea of her forcing her way out through this tight encirclement was almost a fool's dream.

Mad Blade wasn't nearly as sure of himself as he looked; inside, he was panicking.

Rivers and Mountains Pavilion had suffered heavy losses this time. Players who died in the instance would have to be compensated from the guild's coffers.

After taking such heavy losses and still not getting the Mysterious Brilliance Fragment, Mad Blade could kiss his standing in the guild goodbye!

Mad Blade glanced at Bai Yan, who had remained detached all along, and his mind started working again.

He took a step forward, adopting a humble tone, and said, "Mr. Bai, if you could lend a hand, Rivers and Mountains Pavilion would make it worth your while!"

Bai Yan: "The fragment is already bound. Killing her is pointless."

Mad Blade argued, "At least let us vent our anger on behalf of our brothers!"

"Oh." Bai Yan's tone betrayed no emotion. "That'll cost extra."

"Name your price!" Mad Blade gritted his teeth.

Bai Yan finally glanced at him and breathed four words lightly, "You can't afford it."

Mad Blade: "!" Anger surged within him, but an intangible chill gripped his throat, choking off his words.

A chill ran down his spine. He dared not pester this unfathomable "Mr. Bai" any further, turning all his fury on Ji Xia instead.

Such a commotion naturally attracted many players wandering within Bianjing City.

They didn't dare approach, only peeking and speculating from a distance.

"What's going on? Why is Rivers and Mountains Pavilion making such a big scene?"

"They seem to have surrounded a newbie player... I don't see a Fragment Box on her..."

"Rivers and Mountains Pavilion is getting more and more domineering, even bullying newbies now!"

The sympathy and chatter from the onlookers grated on Mad Blade.

He glared at the trapped Ji Xia and blustered: "Unbind the Inspiration Pen voluntarily, or..."

Before he could finish, Ji Xia, looking cornered with no way out, suddenly laughed.

The calm composure she had worn earlier vanished, replaced by an almost arrogant bravado.

Ji Xia raised the newly acquired "Inspiration Pen" and pointed it haughtily at all the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion members:

"You think you can kill me until I delete my account? There's no level suppression in *Two Principles Painting Scroll*. With my Mysterious Brilliance-quality civilization fragment, I can wipe out every single one of you!"

This "arrogant," seemingly irrational declaration stunned the Rivers and Mountains Pavilion members. Their movements subconsciously halted, and even the encirclement loosened.

Even Mad Blade's heart skipped a beat, and he grew more cautious, warning, "Watch out for her pen! That Mysterious Brilliance fragment might be tricky!"

Though there were many present, no one wanted to die.

Dropped items could be recovered, but the permanent loss of Spirit Ink capacity was the deadliest penalty.

And it was a percentage-based loss...

Thus, the more experienced players feared "death" the most.

Ji Xia, now brimming with confidence, struck a pose as if ready to take on a hundred foes alone, making them even more uncertain.

Suddenly, Spirit Ink surged wildly from the pen's tip!

In an instant, a dark pit exuding an ominous aura spread from beneath her feet!

Its depths writhed with countless distorted shadows, as if possessing a suction force capable of devouring everything. The next second would drag everyone in the courtyard into a bottomless abyss!

Ji Xia stared at Mad Blade and snorted coldly, "This is the Inspiration Pen's legacy effect—it can Copy high-risk scenes I've witnessed before!"

Having just emerged from the Grand Secretary Zhao instance, Mad Blade recognized it immediately. He exclaimed in shock, "Impossible! You couldn't possibly..."

Ji Xia flicked her wrist lightly. A faint herbal scent wafted from the pen tip, followed by dizzying lights and shadows.

Mad Blade cried out, "Hold your breath! That's Grand Secretary Zhao's poison—it drives people mad!"

The Rivers and Mountains Pavilion members were already stunned by the sudden "abyss." Many of them had experienced the Grand Secretary Zhao instance and had no desire to die senselessly again!

They instinctively gasped and leaped backward in panic, throwing Rivers and Mountains Pavilion's formation into complete disarray.

By the time they realized something was amiss...

Ji Xia was already gone from the street.

On the Bian River, a hundred meters away, a nimble figure landed on an unoccupied pleasure boat.

Without a doubt, it was Ji Xia!

Her breathing was slightly ragged from the massive Spirit Ink consumption, and her face was pale, but the corners of her lips curled upward. Beside her, Yun Ling murmured in a trembling voice, still shaken, "My goodness, you actually escaped... My goodness, you're so cunning... ahem, so clever!"

Mad Blade was stunned for a moment before realization dawned. "It's an illusion! It has no attack effect at all! After her!! Chase her down!!"

Mad Blade flew into a rage, his roar almost lifting the rooftops.

Over the Bian River, mist hung hazily, and pleasure boats wove through the water like threads.

But Ji Xia's figure had long since vanished.

-

In the distance, atop a tall pagoda.

Bai Yan's figure stood there, having appeared at some unknown time. The hem of his black trench coat fluttered slightly in the rising evening breeze, like a night raven disturbed and forced to temporarily leave its nest.

The "Guiding Lantern" beside him emitted a pale, cold glow, starkly contrasting with the bustling, warm lights of countless households below.

Suddenly, he whispered to the empty space beside him, "Her soul is indeed special. I'll take this commission."

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