“Is this mural depicting a celestial palace?” Miss Du asked.
The mural covered the entire side wall of the front hall, standing over ten feet high and more than twenty-five feet long.
Though the temple was in ruins, the mural remained pristine, neither faded nor dusty, its details exquisitely vivid.
Vibrant with colour, it portrayed flowing clouds, a celestial palace, grand halls, and divine beings. At the centre, a divine king feasted, surrounded by a dozen immortals, with celestial soldiers guarding below and heavenly maidens dancing to music.
Around the edges, immortal birds and auspicious beasts frolicked, sacred trees and spiritual plants flourished, and carefree immortals wandered, played chess, drank wine, or strummed zithers, exuding an air of freedom.
“Probably,” Mrs. Du replied, admiring the mural. “The artist’s skill is remarkable. The settings and figures are so lifelike, it feels utterly real.”
Miss Du smiled. “No wonder people come to offer incense and prayers. Who wouldn’t yearn for such a celestial realm?”
Mrs. Du nodded, smiling. “Exactly.”
As they admired the mural, they were drawn into its scenes and figures, imagining what it would be like to live in such a realm.
“I wonder what it feels like to live in such a paradise,” Mrs. Du mused.
“Yes, I’d love to try,” Miss Du added.
They gazed at the mural, gradually entranced.
…
“Hm?”
Lu Zheng, having just finished his last bite of steamed bun, suddenly turned to look at Mrs. Du and her daughter standing before the mural.
They had stopped in front of it, facing the wall, standing perfectly still.
“What’s wrong?” Du Yu Ru asked, glancing back to see his wife and daughter admiring the mural. He turned to Lu Zheng with a smile. “My wife and daughter are fond of painting. They always linger over fine artwork.”
Lu Zheng’s eyes flickered, and he said pointedly, “They don’t seem to be merely admiring the mural.”
“What?” Du Yu Ru looked puzzled.
The lead escort reacted fastest, rushing to Mrs. Du and Miss Du’s side, calling softly, “Madam? Miss?”
The two women stood rigid, staring blankly at the mural, deaf to the call, motionless. Were it not for the rise and fall of their chests and faint breathing, the escort might have thought them harmed.
His call went unanswered, and everyone realized something was amiss.
The other three escorts drew their swords, alert, while Du Yu Ru leapt up and hurried to their side.
“Master, be careful!” the lead escort warned, moving to protect him.
“Madam! Yueyao!” Du Yu Ru reached them, seeing their vacant eyes fixed on the mural.
“This mural is cursed! It’s an evil object!” the lead escort shouted, drawing his sword to strike it.
As he swung, a pale, clean hand gripped his wrist, halting the blade.
The escort felt his arm locked as if by an iron clamp. Despite his full strength, his arm and sword wouldn’t budge.
“What!” The escort’s pupils shrank as he traced the hand to Lu Zheng.
“Easy,” Lu Zheng said, nodding to the escort. “The souls of Mrs. Du and Miss Du have been drawn into the mural. Aren’t you afraid that damaging it might harm their souls?”
“This…” The escort was stunned.
Du Yu Ru turned to Lu Zheng, bowing deeply without hesitation. “Please, young sir, save my wife and daughter’s lives!”
“Mr. Du, please rise,” Lu Zheng said, helping him up and turning to the mural. “Let me first see what this thing is.”
Lu Zheng didn’t make grand promises. If it was beyond his ability, would he risk his life?
A meal’s kindness didn’t warrant such a sacrifice.
At most, he’d return to fetch help. He was confident the mural could be dealt with, but he couldn’t guarantee Mrs. Du and her daughter would still be safe after the delay.
…
The mural appeared ordinary. Had Lu Zheng not sensed the women’s souls leaving their bodies and entering it, he wouldn’t have noticed anything unusual.
He studied it for a while, then channelled his true qi, rubbed his hands, and tried to scrape some wall powder with his fingernail.
It wouldn’t budge!
A faint, almost invisible film protected the mural from damage.
Then, in a corner of the mural, two vague outlines appeared, resembling human figures, likely Mrs. Du and her daughter.
They hadn’t been there before, only appearing now!
Lu Zheng glanced back, seeing the women still staring blankly, unaware.
Stepping back, he activated the *Nine Heavens Golden Palace True Transformation Technique*, sensing the mural closely. He detected countless flickering, colourful light clusters within, their soul energy slightly impure but immensely potent.
Lu Zheng grimaced. He dared not let his soul enter the mural to break its spell.
If something went wrong, he wouldn’t even have a chance to traverse back to the modern world.
“Young sir, any findings?” Du Yu Ru asked eagerly.
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin. “This thing is powerful. I’ll try to bring their souls out first.”
Before visiting Baiyun Temple, he’d have lacked confidence, but having learned the Spirit-Attachment Charm, he could attempt it.
This was a “small trick” taught by a sect ancestor, and such masters’ small tricks were no ordinary techniques.
The Spirit-Attachment Charm allowed him to project his divine sense without affecting his actions. Even if the charm was destroyed, it wouldn’t harm his core self, only causing slight loss.
It was like a video game: the charm was the player’s perspective, separate from the real self. If the game character was defeated—say, eaten by a monster or shot—it only startled the player, causing brief emotional unrest.
To make the charmed object more powerful, he could infuse it with more true qi to unleash his strength.
So…
Lu Zheng cast the Spirit-Attachment Charm, infusing it with his true qi, transforming into a beam of spiritual light that plunged into the mural.
Then…
In another perspective, Lu Zheng felt his vision blur, and the world shifted around him.
