The Ten Thousand Ways to Hug the Female Protagonist’s Thigh - Chapter 11.2

The term of service was fifty years, and replacements were only allowed if one fell in battle.

Wen Shu’s parents were the Wen family’s border guards in the previous term. They fell last year during a beast tide, overwhelmed by a king beast.

The original owner of Wen Shu’s body had trained so diligently because, from a young age, she had witnessed the horrors of demonic beasts. She vowed to reach the Foundation Establishment as soon as possible, go to the border, and avenge her parents by defeating the king beast!

The Eastern Continent was the domain of orthodox human cultivators. There were both righteous and demonic cultivators, and the two were in constant conflict. While demonic cultivators were said to be bloodthirsty and cruel, and righteous cultivators sought to eliminate them, the truth was that the path of cultivation had no actual distinction between righteousness and demonic practices. What indeed turned one into a demon was the heart!

The Western Continent was the domain of Buddhism, with temples everywhere and the constant sound of chanting. It frequently interacted with the Eastern Continent.

The Southern Continent was relatively smaller compared to the other continents. It was surrounded by vast oceans, home to countless sea clans, with the dragon clan reigning supreme. Humans and demons coexisted there, and it was filled with numerous rare spiritual treasures. The Southern Continent had always been the most chaotic, dangerous, and alluring place in the entire cultivation world!

He didn’t elaborate much when Wen Wuchang spoke of the Central Continent. Although deeply moved, he didn’t reveal the reason for the Wen family’s downfall.

“If you ever have the chance to set foot in the Central Continent, you must be extremely careful,” Wen Wuchang warned solemnly.

As the sky darkened, he asked Wen Shu, “Xiao Shu, you’ve been practicing the way of the sword, haven’t you?”

Wen Shu’s heart skipped a beat. Was her master about to test her swordsmanship?

Just as she panicked internally, wondering what to do, Wen Wuchang stroked his beard and smiled.

“Most people in the world practice sword techniques, and sword cultivators are common in cultivation. For thousands of years, people have known that the Wen family of Buzhou City was renowned for their profound mastery of the sword. But in truth, the founding patriarch of our family was not a sword cultivator—he was a painting cultivator!”

He took a jade brush and a scroll from his storage pouch as he spoke.

Wen Wuchang spread his hand, and the scroll floated into the air without wind. Layers of ink traces appeared in the air with a light stroke of his jade brush. In an instant, countless shadows overlapped, and the surroundings transformed into pavilions, towers, and celestial maidens, creating a breathtaking scene.

But the next moment, Wen Shu found herself unable to move!

“This is called the ‘Rhythm of Splashed Ink.’ It uses painting to form a formation and ink to create a perilous trap. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly delicate and beautiful scenery. Beneath the surface of this poetic and picturesque scene lies a dangerous snare. You could be defeated without even realizing a single misstep!”

Once the restraint was lifted, Wen Shu’s eyes widened in amazement. This technique was unheard of, yet it was so exquisite and mesmerizing!

“Our lineage is called the Way of Painting.”

Wen Wuchang then taught Wen Shu the heart of the painting cultivation method and the basics of formations. Some things she could grasp now, while others, like the cultivation techniques, would have to wait until she reached the Foundation Establishment.

Seeing her absorb the teachings, Wen Wuchang sighed with emotion.

“Fortunately, you’re still young. It’s not too late to abandon the sword and take up the brush. From now on, you must no longer practice the sword techniques you learned before. Instead, focus on painting and calligraphy, and don’t slack off.”

The art of painting required a solid foundation in calligraphy and painting. One had to create lifelike scenes to trap someone with a painting formation, capturing their form, color, and essence.

After a moment of thought, Wen Wuchang added, “From now on, after finishing your studies at the clan school, come here and spend half a day learning with me.”

He knew his time was limited. Initially, he had accepted his impending death. Still, now that he had taken on a disciple he valued, Wen Wuchang was unwilling to simply pass away.

Thus, he used a secret technique, sacrificing a portion of his cultivation to extend his life by a few months.

After all, as someone on the brink of death, his cultivation was of little use to him.

Wen Wuchang knew he wouldn’t live long enough to see Wen Shu fully develop her painting skills and grow into her own. But he hoped to use these extra months to teach her everything he could, passing on the legacy of the Way of Painting and all his knowledge.

How much she would absorb and master would depend entirely on her destiny.