Chapter 6: A Head Full of Question Marks

Life Like a Painting?

Lin Jiufeng didn't expect to activate his Heaven-defying Comprehension again so soon.

And this time, he had gained a new Dao technique.

"Life Like a Painting"—how fitting. Gu Baili's life had just unfolded before his eyes, like a magnificent painting, slowly spreading out in vivid colors.

Yet, in the end, the painting remained unfinished. The artist had already been buried beneath the earth.

Lin Jiufeng sighed as he absorbed the essence of Life Like a Painting. As he delved into its mysteries, he discovered that it was an incredibly powerful mortal Dao technique.

Life was a painting, and paintings reflected life.

As the name suggested, by unleashing this technique, Lin Jiufeng could trap his enemies within a painting, turning their very existence into an artwork under his control—effortlessly sealing their fate.

It was both immensely powerful and terrifying.

After comprehending its intricacies, Lin Jiufeng steadied himself and whispered to Gu Baili's tombstone, "Thank you, senior."

Every time he had activated his Heaven-defying Comprehension, it was because of Gu Baili.

His story had stirred Lin Jiufeng's emotions—sorrow, admiration, lament, reverence…

These emotions surged and intertwined, exposing his true feelings. It was through this emotional resonance that he had continuously activated his comprehension, gaining both the Fan Tian Seal and Life Like a Painting—both extraordinary mortal Dao techniques.

Lin Jiufeng sat cross-legged, fully immersing himself in the study of Life Like a Painting. Once he had mastered it, he etched it into his Chronicles of Time alongside the Fan Tian Seal.

Behind him, an ink-wash landscape began to take shape.

Green waters, misty mountains, white dewdrops, and crows resting on barren branches—an ethereal depiction of a gentle spring drizzle.

Within this painted world, Chronicles of Time emerged, its pages flipping automatically, rustling softly in the rain.

Unlike before, when it was only black and white, the Chronicles of Time had now gained color. As Lin Jiufeng's cultivation advanced, so too did the vibrancy of his life's record. It was like a masterpiece imbued with infinite hues—unchanging for millennia, yet eternally beautiful.

The pages turned to the most recent entry, inscribing the overwhelming power of the Fan Tian Seal. Another page turned, capturing the essence of Life Like a Painting.

Boom!

The moment these two techniques were inscribed, Lin Jiufeng's entire being trembled. His aura surged, doubling in strength instantly.

This was the power of the Chronicles of Time.

At first, it held no offensive capability and seemed to offer him little help. But as Lin Jiufeng continuously gained enlightenment and inscribed new Daos, the Chronicles of Time grew alongside him, providing ever-greater support.

Now, merely adding two mortal Dao techniques had doubled his power.

Both Lin Jiufeng and his Chronicles of Time were evolving.

The future held limitless possibilities.

However, despite the immense power boost, his cultivation realm remained the same.

He was still stuck at the Eleventh Restriction—One Thought, Infinite Laws.

Of course, for Lin Jiufeng, strength and cultivation were two separate things.

This had been his principle since the very beginning.

At the Sixth Restriction, he had fought against the Seventh.

At the Seventh, he had slain the Eighth.

At the Eighth, he had crushed the Ninth.

At the Tenth, he had become invincible among mortals.

At the Eleventh, he had already slain hundreds of prisoners from the Dimensional Prison.

For Lin Jiufeng, cultivation level and actual combat power never dictated each other.

That remained unchanged.

"Still, I should start advancing beyond the Eleventh Restriction," Lin Jiufeng murmured as he assessed himself.

Back in the mortal world, he had already reached the peak of the Eleventh Restriction. Now that he was in the Dimensional Battlefield, all he needed was a period of deep meditation, and the Twelfth Restriction would be within reach.

Just as he was contemplating his next step, the Sacred Beast Qilin suddenly spoke.

"I was carefully observing this senior's life just now. I gained a lot of insights—so many Dao techniques and philosophies that deeply moved me. But what surprised me the most was the Phoenix Concealment Technique."

"The Phoenix Concealment Technique?" Lin Jiufeng recalled the past scene and quickly found the technique in his memory.

It was a skill Gu Baili had learned after arriving in the Dimensional Battlefield.

Originating from the Phoenix Clan, it wasn't particularly powerful in direct combat, but its utility was unparalleled.

Concealment.

It masked one's aura, hiding their true form from detection.

This was where its true brilliance lay.

Qilin's eyes sparkled with excitement. "This technique comes from the Phoenix Clan. Phoenixes, like me, are divine beasts favored by the heavens. With this technique, we can finally solve our current predicament!"

Lin Jiufeng smiled. "It certainly is a treasure. No wonder that old man directed us here. Once we master the Phoenix Concealment Technique, we'll be much harder to track. If we keep a low profile, we should be able to get through the most dangerous phase."

Qilin grinned. "I take back what I said earlier—the old man wasn't a liar. He was a good person."

Lin Jiufeng chuckled, his heavy heart lightened by Qilin's antics. He ruffled Qilin's mane and teased, "So if you get a benefit, he's a good person. But if you don't, he's a liar?"

Qilin scratched his head sheepishly, then urged, "Big Brother, hurry and cultivate the Phoenix Concealment Technique. Once you succeed, we can finally leave this place and head to the great cities of the battlefield to train!"

"Isn't this place good enough? Why must we go to the cities?" Lin Jiufeng asked, puzzled.

Qilin explained, "According to my inherited memories, while the Dimensional Battlefield has abundant spiritual energy, its distribution isn't even. The areas with the densest energy have long been occupied by major factions who've built cities there. Training within those cities is a hundred times faster than in the wild. Not only that, but comprehending the Dao also becomes much easier."

"I see." Lin Jiufeng nodded in understanding.

"That's why we have to go to a big city! A single year of training there is equivalent to spending decades here in this toxic, miasma-filled valley. The spiritual energy here is too thin!" Qilin complained.

"Alright, I'll work on mastering the Phoenix Concealment Technique. But you can cultivate it too," Lin Jiufeng pointed out.

Qilin shook his head earnestly. "Big Brother, your talent is unmatched, and your cultivation speed is extraordinary. Since your realm is already higher than mine, your execution of the technique will be far superior to mine. I may be a Sacred Beast, but when it comes to cultivation speed, I can't compare to you."

"Fine, I'll get started. But you better train hard too. Once I master the technique, we'll head to the big cities," Lin Jiufeng said with a smile.

Qilin nodded eagerly and obediently walked to the side to begin his own cultivation.

Lin Jiufeng closed his eyes, focusing on recalling Gu Baili's imprint and the intricacies of the Phoenix Concealment Technique.

This technique was indeed the key to their survival.

Otherwise, with a Sacred Beast Qilin and a human fugitive wanted by the Skeleton Clan, they were simply too conspicuous.

As Lin Jiufeng immersed himself in studying the technique, another line of text appeared before his eyes.

[You are carefully recalling and analyzing the technique, activating your Heaven-defying Comprehension. You have comprehended the Phoenix Concealment Technique.]

Lin Jiufeng froze.

Again?!

Without hesitation, he accepted the knowledge. The technique's insights flowed into his mind like a rushing river.

At that moment, he understood everything about the Phoenix Concealment Technique.

Turning to Qilin, who had just entered a meditative state, he said calmly, "I've mastered it. Let's go."

Qilin's eyes snapped open in disbelief.

His mind went blank.

Big Brother… I just sat down!