Changle Palace.
Li Mu handed the letter from the Yong envoy to the Empress. "Your Imperial Majesty, the Yong envoy asked this subject to deliver this letter to Your Imperial Majesty. Please take a look, Your Imperial Majesty."
Zhou Yi was eating tanghulu and didn't accept the letter. "We don't have time right now. Open it yourself and see what's written on it."
Li Mu opened the letter and took out a piece of paper. Sweeping his eyes over it, he whispered, "As expected …"
At the top of the paper were the words "Painting Sutra" written in large letters, followed by a line of small letters that read, "Divine Brush Ling Ling, Opening to Shangqing, Liujia Fu Wei, Shi Song Liuding Ding. I am now a calligraphy seal, concealing my body, meeting gold, meeting fire, fire, hiding in the earth, the Heavenly Emperor, the Sage … "
This letter contained the formula for the Dao of Painting. Only by using this formula could one display the Dao of Painting.
As expected, the Dao of Painting was also a type of Daoist technique. It didn't create objects out of thin air. It was between illusion and reality, yet it was more brilliant than both. It possessed more of a bewitching nature than Daoist techniques, and at the same time, it possessed a power that illusion didn't possess.
After pondering for a moment, Li Mu took out his brush and drew a simple rune in the air.
This time, a golden rune finally lit up in the air in front of him.
In the next moment, the rune transformed into a golden thread that bound Shangguan Li's body.
Shangguan Li coldly snorted and puffed out her chest. The golden thread collapsed, but at least it proved that Li Mu's conjecture was correct. By using the Dao of Painting in the Fu-lu, ancient talisman techniques could be reproduced.
Although the two were fundamentally different, the Dao of Painting borrowed the power of heaven and earth. It didn't consume much of one's transcendence energy, and it could last longer in battle. The premise was that one had to simultaneously cultivate both Daoist techniques. Li Mu and the Empress studied for a few years and would certainly be able to better utilize the Dao of Painting in the Fu-lu.
With the Yong Kingdom's sincerity, Li Mu ordered the Chamberlain of Dependencies to hold a banquet and invite the Yong Kingdom's envoys to discuss the details of the friendly relations between the two countries.
The countries in Zu Province needed to pay tribute to Great Zhou, but the tariffs between Great Zhou and the other countries were not light. In order to win over the other countries, the former Emperor exempted them from the tariffs. It was only after the Empress ascended the throne that the tariffs returned to normal.
This was the first time in history that the Great Zhou and the State of Yong had established trade cooperation at the national level.
After the banquet ended, the Assistant Minister of Revenue walked out of the Chamberlain of Dependencies with a face full of doubt. He muttered, "Could it be that this official has offended the Yong envoys? Why do I feel that they have a problem with this official …?"
Li Mu chuckled and said, "Assistant Minister, you're thinking too much. I didn't feel anything at all. Perhaps it's just your imagination …"
The Assistant Minister of Revenue nodded and said, "This official must have thought too much …"
Finished speaking, he left with his doubts.
The young Yong envoy walked out of the Chamberlain of Dependencies and cupped his hands in greeting to Li Mu. "This humble one, on behalf of the King and the people of the State of Yong, thanks Li Daren for your kindness in guiding us. In the future, if Li Daren has the opportunity to come to my State of Yong, this humble one will do his best as a host."
Li Mu nodded and said, "Let's talk about it again in the future …"
After watching Li Mu leave, he sighed softly and said, "If only he had been born in my State of Yong …"
The middle-aged man indifferently replied, "This is the fate of the nation. It cannot be forced …"
The month of tribute ended, and the envoys of the various countries returned to their countries.
This time's tribute was different from the past. As the sovereign state, Great Zhou had once again established its prestige and status on the Zu Continent. Although it had severed its tributary relationship with the Shen Kingdom, one of the six neighboring countries, the public opinion had risen to a new height.
In the past few tributes, the people of the Shen Kingdom had committed numerous crimes in the Divine Capital under the deliberate cover of the previous Emperor, creating a psychological shadow in the hearts of the common people.
Great Zhou had taken the initiative to sever its tributary relationship with the Shen Kingdom, but it had also reconnected with the common people.
Li Mu had already asked the Empress to announce this matter to the world and change the laws. From now on, within the borders of the Great Zhou Dynasty, no matter which country they were from, they would be treated equally and punished according to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
The purpose of this move was to tell the people of the Great Zhou that the era of the previous Emperor was gone forever. The people of the Great Zhou could now stand up again.
The Ju Wei's spies in the Shen Kingdom also passed on some information.
A citizen of the Shen Kingdom had died in Great Zhou. The Great Zhou court had sheltered and connived at the criminal, severed its tributary relationship with the Shen Kingdom, and even arrested a few merchants from the Shen Kingdom … After the Shen Kingdom's envoys returned, they spread the news throughout the Shen Kingdom. Very quickly, it caused a huge uproar.
All over the Shen Kingdom, citizens began to gather and march, demanding that the Great Zhou hand over the murderer.
A portion of the people of the Shen Kingdom destroyed the goods they had bought from the merchants of the Great Zhou. They also initiated a nationwide boycott of the merchants of the Great Zhou and the goods of the Great Zhou.
There were also some people of the Shen Kingdom who declared that the power of the Shen Kingdom had long surpassed that of the Great Zhou. They said that they would soon go to war with the Great Zhou, and that the declining Great Zhou would be unable to resist the brave soldiers of the Shen Kingdom. In less than a month, they would be able to fight their way to the Great Zhou's Divine Capital …
The Shen Kingdom's imperial court didn't respond to this.
The Shen Kingdom was already in chaos, but in the Great Zhou, there wasn't the slightest ripple. When the news reached the Great Zhou, all the court officials didn't even have the mood to discuss it …
…
Li Residence.
With the formation closed, Li Mu held a brush in his hand and drew a door on the wall. He easily pushed the door open and walked out.
Soon after, he closed the door, and the wall returned to its original state.
Li Mu then activated the formation and stood outside the formation. Using the brush, a gap quickly appeared in the protective formation of the Li Residence. It was as if Li Mu had opened a hole, allowing him to easily walk into the formation.
After several days of trial and error, Li Mu had figured out other uses of the Dao of Painting.
Aside from being used to draw talismans, the Dao of Painting could also be used to break through formations and pass through walls. It was practically unstoppable. No matter how sturdy a wall was, a door could be opened. Opening a hole in an ordinary formation was even easier.
The Dao of Painting wasn't the strongest offensive ability, but it was superior in its strangeness. Opening a hole in a formation was something that no other Dao could accomplish.
Once Li Mu's attainments in the Dao of Painting caught up to that youth from the Yong Kingdom or the Empress, he would be able to use this Dao to do even more things.
In the past few days, Li Mu's life had been fulfilling and meaningful.
At the same time, he cultivated four Daos: Dao, Buddhism, Yao, and Painting. Every day, aside from dealing with memorials and daily cultivation, he also had to temper his body with Shangguan Li in the astral winds of the Nine Heavens. He also had to learn painting from the Empress. He didn't even have much time to accompany Wanwan and Xiao Bai.
During dinner today, Li Mu noticed that Wanwan ate one bowl less than usual.
It wasn't just dinner. It seemed that her appetite hadn't been very good these past few days. Yesterday, she even ate less candied haws.
He had been busy cultivating these past few days and had neglected her.
Before going to bed at night, Li Mu looked at Wanwan, who seemed to have something on her mind, and asked softly, "What's wrong? Did someone make you angry?"
Wanwan shook her head and whispered, "No, it's just that I miss Miss …"
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