Chapter 485: The Yanghuang Sect Leader’s Beautification Project

As it turned out, Qi Suian was right. A secret that even a Stonemason knew about would be hard to keep.

It seemed the Yanghuang Sect had deliberately leaked the news to build up hype for their Sect Leader. In less than two days, it had spread far and wide.

Basically, every man and his dog knew about it.

However, no news about the Celestial Spirit Alliance seemed to get out. At most, there were only a few whispers, but they were quickly overshadowed by the matter of the Nine Yang True Flame Red Dragon Technique and the Yang Flame Spirit.

And Shi Hanwen, the Peak Master of Azure Flame Peak, sought out Qi Suian once again. This time, he requested that Qi Suian design an image for the current Sect Leader of the Yanghuang Sect.

To that end, he even brought over portraits of the Sect Leader and illustrated albums related to the casting of the Red Dragon Technique and the Yang Flame Spirit.

The art was vivid and lifelike, but it was in a realistic style and needed a bit of ’beautification’ from Qi Suian.

’Seeing this job, maybe I should just change careers and become a beauty filter app,’ Qi Suian thought. ’The work is easy and the pay is high.’

’Later, I could even take on Spiritual Technique beautification projects.’

’I’ve seen the Spiritual Techniques of Spirit Masters before. They lack imagination—just long strips or spheres. If all else fails, they just copy the shapes of sabers, spears, swords, and halberds.’

’Take this Nine Yang True Flame Red Dragon Technique, for example. Setting aside its power, it barely even looks like a dragon. It’s basically a giant snake.’

’As for how it’s used in combat, they just smash this fire dragon into things to cause area-of-effect damage.’

"I can certainly alter the design for the Sect Leader, but the Sect Leader himself can’t just change his appearance," Qi Suian said, exasperated.

It would look good, sure, but a filter is just a filter.

You can’t change reality. The moment people saw him in person, the gig would be up.

"The Red Dragon Technique itself can be shaped, and the Yang Flame Spirit is also a spiritual flame. As long as you can create the design, the Sect Leader can also change its form."

"The only difficulty is that the Sect Leader himself is unchangeable. You’ll need to compensate for that with his clothing, hair ornaments, and the like."

"That’s why this time, I’ve brought a whole team of artisans—tailors, leatherworkers, and more. If you can do this, I’ll take you to the Centennial Grand Ceremony afterward. I’ll have someone save a spot for you off to the side," Shi Hanwen said.

Qi Suian’s eye twitched. ’What is this? I just run a candy shop, and now, I’ve suddenly become a master stylist?’

’This doesn’t fit my cover job at all.’

To be honest, Qi Suian really didn’t want to go to that Centennial Grand Ceremony. Given the current developments, something was bound to go wrong.

Especially since this Sect Leader of Yanghuang’s ambition to unify the world was already plain as day.

’Attending the ceremony then would basically be asking for a death wish.’

’The chances of success were minuscule.’

’If that Yanghuang Sect Leader were the protagonist, it might be fine, but unfortunately, he isn’t.’

"There’s no need for me to attend the ceremony. Having you, Peak Master, write a few words of calligraphy for my little shop would be enough," Qi Suian said, having no intention of looking for trouble.

When Shi Hanwen heard this, his whole demeanor brightened. He was thoroughly impressed by Qi Suian’s discretion.

"Good! As long as you can satisfy the Sect Leader, not only will I write the calligraphy for you, but I’ll also save you a spot at the ceremony." Shi Hanwen felt he was being extremely generous.

Qi Suian was speechless. ’I don’t *want* to go to the ceremony; it’s not that I don’t *dare* to go.’

"You must go. Not going would be a great disrespect to me," Shi Hanwen said, cutting him off before Qi Suian could refuse.

Then, seeing no one else was around, he leaned in and whispered to Qi Suian, "Afterward, if you have time, you could design a look or two for me as well. I guarantee the payment will satisfy you."

’With just that one sentence, I understand why he’s offering so much. Turns out, he wants a makeover for himself, too.’ Qi Suian realized.

"Don’t worry, Peak Master. You can leave this to me," Qi Suian replied, then added, "But about attending the ceremony..."

"Don’t worry, we’ll also be inviting many prestigious families, wealthy merchants, and powerful gentry to attend. You won’t be the only commoner there," Shi Hanwen cut him off again.

"I’ll come pick you up myself when I set off for Red Sun Peak. I guarantee no one will bully you. After all, you’re something of a celebrity under our Azure Flame Peak."

He even seemed to consider the possibility that Qi Suian might be mocked for his small candy shop business, and so he offered to pick him up personally.

"Oh, thank you *so* much..." Qi Suian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’This man is certainly earnest, to a fault.’

’He just can’t seem to take a hint.’

He probably thought Qi Suian had no deeper meaning and was simply too scared or insecure to go.

"No need to be so polite." Shi Hanwen clapped Qi Suian on the shoulder and whispered, "Just remember to make my design look extra good."

Then he added, "Can you have a draft ready today?"

"Tomorrow morning. I need to carefully study the Sect Leader’s heroic bearing," Qi Suian replied perfunctorily.

"Good. I’ll come by tomorrow morning to pick up the draft and show it to the Sect Leader." After saying that, Shi Hanwen left.

He took the Stonemason and the statue of Yanghuang Zhenren with him.

’The level of the Extraordinary here is low, so there hasn’t been a complete species or class divide. Although Spirit Masters still have privileges, society hasn’t fractured into two separate worlds yet.’

’Judging from how Shi Hanwen whispered to me and even put an arm over my shoulder, the powerful elites here don’t act like the ones in those cultivation novels.’

’Spirit Masters are still quite approachable.’

’Otherwise, in a world where the strong are revered and the weak are prey, a commoner meeting the second-in-command of the era’s most powerful faction? It would be utterly impossible.’

’They would just pass the task down through the ranks, and if it wasn’t done right, you’d probably just be killed.’

’There’d be no chance for draft approvals or revisions.’

’But the martial atmosphere is still strong.’ Qi Suian knew that the Centennial Grand Ceremony wasn’t just for spectating; there was a disciple competition before the main event.

And how did he know? Zuo Fan told him. He had been chosen by lottery to participate in the competition.

’As for why they didn’t just pick all the strongest disciples? It was simple—politics and saving face.’

’Guests come to watch, and you defeat all the disciples they brought for the exhibition? That’s just slapping them in the face, isn’t it?’

’As long as the host, the Yanghuang Sect, took first place, the other matches could be a mix of wins and losses.’

’And so an underdog like Zuo Fan, who only knew Blazing Flame Sword Qi and Great Blazing Flame Sword Qi, was "honorably" selected as one of the designated losers.’

’So, while it looked like a lottery, it was actually fixed from the start.’

’But this time, in Qi Suian’s eyes, Zuo Fan was destined to be a dark horse.’

’Although he only knew Blazing Flame Sword Qi and its advanced form, the wisp of Pure Yang Fire Seed between his brows had begun to show its power.’

’His Spiritual Power was becoming purer, and his control over it was growing stronger, making his Blazing Flame Sword Qi more and more powerful and swift.’

’Now, he could not only cast it instantly but also sustain it for long periods. He had even developed a way to make the sword qi persist instead of dissipating after a single strike.’

’Zuo Fan was even researching how to stack the Blazing Flame Sword Qi and the Great Blazing Flame Sword Qi together.’

’The guy might be simple-minded, but that didn’t mean he was stupid. His aptitude was just poor, and he lacked control over his Spiritual Power.’

’Now, with the Pure Yang Fire Seed, that lack of aptitude was compensated for, allowing him to finally begin unleashing his potential.’

’For the Nine-Sect Tournament at this Centennial Grand Ceremony, Qi Suian was betting on Zuo Fan to take first place.’

’It wasn’t just because of the Pure Yang Fire Seed’s power. More importantly, the aura of destiny around the boy was growing thicker and thicker.’

’It seemed to be accumulating, ready to be fully unleashed on the day of the competition.’

’If Zuo Fan could ride this momentum and soar to greatness, his protagonist aura would take form.’

’But if he failed, it wouldn’t be a simple matter of starting over. His fortune would scatter, and he would lose this great destiny that had gathered around him.’

’If his personality remained the same, he might not even be able to hold onto the Pure Yang Fire Seed.’

’In Qi Suian’s view, this was likely the process of a protagonist aura being forged.’

’He has too many inherent flaws, and there isn’t enough time to make up for them.’ Qi Suian pondered whether he should lend the boy a hand.

’Not for any altruistic reason, but simply because it would allow me to gather data on the formation of a protagonist aura.’

’That way, I could experiment on and enhance my own protagonist aura. If I could find a method for improvement, I would naturally want the protagonist aura following me to get a little stronger, too.’

’Huh? Could it be that I’m being influenced by his protagonist aura? Why else would I even be thinking this?’

Qi Suian suddenly realized that his behavior was exactly like the classic trope of the ’wise old master’ giving the protagonist a gift.

"Interesting." As he spoke, Qi Suian began to scan himself and quickly isolated the point of influence.

’The effect is too weak; I saw right through it. It’s mostly just pushing me through the logic of mutual benefit.’

’It’s a win-win situation.’

’I could also choose not to help, but then there’d be no benefit for me.’ Qi Suian quickly reached this conclusion through his own rules of observation.

The influence had just started, but it was so weak that Qi Suian detected it immediately.

’If this were back before I became a world, I might not have even noticed. I would have just assumed I was making a choice based on personal gain.’

’It seems that by observing destiny, I can glimpse fragments of the future.’

As the thought crossed his mind, Qi Suian followed that thread of destiny with his senses, and a scene appeared before his eyes.

It was a vision of Zuo Fan, struggling but ultimately defeating the Yanghuang Sect’s handpicked champion to win the tournament.

In the vision, however, many of the Yanghuang Sect’s Elders and Stewards wore grim expressions.

’This is the outcome without my interference.’ Qi Suian’s eyes narrowed. ’If I choose to help, the outcome will naturally be different.’

’Time, future, luck...’

’There’s a connection between these three, but it isn’t a simple one.’

’So by doing this, I’m essentially flipping through the script, aren’t I?’

’I didn’t expect this kind of reward. It seems I really have to intervene.’ Qi Suian mused, ’I should probably add another persona to my collection.’

’For example, the role of a hidden powerhouse in the Yanghuang Sect.’

’It doesn’t matter whether such a person actually exists. As long as I’m strong enough, if I say they exist, then they exist.’

’If anyone dares to object, they can try to survive one of my Spiritual Techniques first. Then we can talk.’

’Protagonists are generally meant to face calamities. Of the ones I’ve met before, not many successfully navigated their trials. I ended up killing most of them.’

’This time, I might get to witness the entire life cycle of a protagonist aura, from birth to dissipation.’

’It would be very valuable for my research.’

’Besides, I’m not the one taking action. I’m just watching.’