Beyond causality, atop a mountain that transcends time and space.
Zi Ling's painting had already been completed.
Within the painting, there was Nan Feng playing a zither, Long Zixuan throwing punches, Lin Jiu Zheng crafting talismans, Jiang Li playing chess...
They had all been painted by Zi Ling.
"In a past life, you were already my disciple."
Dark Li Fan spoke, his voice tinged with a faint note of admiration, and said:
"The Art of Painting, you've learned it quite well."
"But they are your fellow disciples. Have you ever wondered why they willingly chose to follow me into the darkness?"
"Have you ever considered that I am the true origin, and those within the painting are but fragments of my sinister thoughts?"
His voice was calm and magnetic, almost instinctively persuasive.
Yet, Zi Ling remained entirely clear-headed, replying:
"It doesn't matter whether you're the sorrow left behind by my master or shadows of his past."
"Master is still in the painting!"
