Painting Twenty-Nine: For Sale

Page (1/3) [Second update, please recommend and bookmark. The next update will be at 8:30 PM.]

Sangsang nodded. “This piece is designed to experiment with purification and spatial laws, suitable for group healing.”

Xiao Jin put away the artwork. “Then I’ll note it as group healing. Should we set the price ourselves, or commission the Main Brain to price it?”

Sangsang asked, “What do you think?”

Xiao Jin tilted her head. “We’re still unfamiliar with the market here and can’t evaluate the value of your work. Let’s have the Main Brain set the initial price. I’ll monitor user feedback, and once I have an idea of how users value your work, we can price it ourselves.”

“Let’s do as you suggest.”

Money, after all, is something one can never have too much of; even if there’s no use for it now, it will surely come in handy in the future.

The Main Brain set the price for “Twin Stars of Sun and Moon” at the mid-range among star-level works: exactly eight hundred thousand, though the currency was the universal star coin, which could only be exchanged for eight hundred units of Faith Power—barely enough for two months’ allowance.

Sangsang clicked her tongue softly. “It can be used almost indefinitely, able to treat ten thousand people at a time. A heavenly-level cure is complete; a star-level, eighty percent. In a low-level civilization, no, even in a mid-level civilization, it would fetch tens of millions, perhaps even billions. The Temple is truly in the business of welfare.”

Xiao Jin replied, “Because the Temple doesn’t care about money; it values faith more.”

“I know. This eight hundred thousand only sells a single access channel. The faith contributed by patients is the true value of the work.” Sangsang exited the Star Net and opened the “True Interpretation of Runes” sent by Yaslan.

Runes were discovered by the ancient Xian Gu clan of advanced civilizations, who sensed and organized them from the primordial laws, forming a significant theoretical system. Rune Studies holds a vital place in the Universal Alliance’s education and is considered the most rigid shortcut to mastering laws—basic entry can be achieved through rote memorization, and those adept at flexible application may even reach mastery.

Runes are three-dimensional, consisting of ten thousand and eight hundred strokes. These strokes form one million twenty-nine thousand six hundred basic runes, which in turn generate one billion, three hundred ninety-nine million, six hundred eighty thousand complete runes. The number of possible formation diagrams these complete runes can compose is, to date, known to reach into the quintillions, and with the emergence of new rules, new formations are being created every moment.

Page (2/3)

To use ancient Huaxia as an analogy: rune strokes are like horizontal, vertical, and diagonal brush movements; basic runes are like characters; complete runes are like phrases; rune formations are like paragraphs; and interconnected formation combinations are like full essays.

Sangsang pressed the crystallized orb of enlightenment, imbued with rune strokes, basic, and complete runes, onto the qi gate at the crown of her head. In the next instant, her mind was flooded with runes, leaving her dizzy for a moment. She was grateful that, after her brain had been genetically remodeled and evolved, it now operated at forty percent capacity and was still slowly advancing with her physical cultivation. Otherwise, receiving such a massive influx of knowledge would have left her in a coma for years, waking only when her consciousness had sorted and internalized the information.

Infusion may input knowledge into the mind, but it doesn’t mean one instantly masters it; one still needs to study and organize it. However, with this foundation, learning becomes faster and more effective.

Because Sangsang’s progress in her studies of painting was so promising, Boya simply gave her a holiday to prepare for the physical arts test. Yaslan adjusted her curriculum as well, making runes her main focus for the time being.

Time flew by as she meditated and studied runes. It seemed only a few blinks before Shuiyue arrived.

During this period, the works Sangsang had posted on the Star Net were sold with Xiao Jin’s promotion; under the auction model, prices even exceeded the Main Brain’s valuation. One buyer, from a mid-level civilization, knowing that works from the Temple—except for custom pieces—were meant to gather Faith Power, donated the usage rights for “Twin Stars of Sun and Moon” to a welfare institution, making it available to all star and heavenly-level patients.

Unconsciously, the Faith Power in Sangsang’s account began to rise steadily, almost matching her monthly allowance. This gave her a sense of accomplishment: whenever she grew tired of studying, she would paint a few more works to sell on the Star Net, still focusing on space and purification themes. Most buyers were from mid-level civilizations, though one piece, “Galloping Horses on the Grassland,” which had spatial container properties, was even purchased by someone from a low-level civilization.

The name of Sang Hongye, candidate for the Temple’s Saintess, gradually began to be heard in remote regions of the cosmos.

Today was the day of the physical arts test.

Early in the morning, roused by Xiao Jin, Sangsang opened her eyes and left the meditation chamber. Sena and Yaslan were already waiting in the living room. Sena wore the robes of a priest, while Yaslan was clad in full battle armor, helmet concealing even her eyes, as if ready to march onto the battlefield at any moment. Their solemn attitude compelled Sangsang to take the occasion seriously as well.

The physical arts test was the first hurdle after the initial selection. If one failed, there would be no opportunity to participate in the next round. Even passing with a low score meant the subsequent selection would still be difficult unless one had high marks in soul and faith imprint tests.

The Temple could have no more than ninety-nine Holy Sons and Daughters at any time, with a fifth of them being neutrals who could choose which side to join. Among these, there were eight seat-holding Holy Sons and Daughters each, ranked by month; sixteen titled but non-seat holders each; and an indefinite number of interns. In principle, after serving for over three thousand years, one would retire to become a priest, but many left or perished along the way for various reasons—for example, the previous chief Saintess, who eloped after a passionate romance with her guardian knight.

Currently, the Temple lacked neither seat-holders nor titled Holy Sons. This selection was only for intern Holy Sons, essentially as sparring partners. However, there was a vacancy for chief Saintess, three titled Saintesses were missing, and including interns, about ten Saintesses would be chosen in total—all eyes were on this aspect of the selection.

Page (3/3)

The physical arts test was held before a vast audience, intended to showcase the vitality of the Temple’s next generation and bring fame to future Holy Sons and Daughters. The Temple had opened a gigantic, virtually constructed martial arena, capable of holding a billion spectators, and all subsidiary chapels broadcasted the event live.

Sangsang had never seen such a lively scene before. Especially not when, not far away, a group of children broke into a fight. Although quickly subdued, the shattered fragments of the smart nanny left on the ground were ignored. Sangsang couldn’t help but clutch Xiao Jin in pale-faced anxiety, already regretting she’d brought him along. What if chaos broke out and Xiao Jin’s uniqueness was discovered or he was stolen?

“Nervous?” It was the first time Sena had seen Sangsang uneasy. Inwardly, he thought this was how a child should behave, but aloud he reassured her, “The test doesn’t require contestants to fight. Only the test instructors are involved. Victory isn’t determined solely by internal energy or level—it’s a comprehensive evaluation. Level and energy refinement grant extra points, but so do the number and proficiency of skills mastered. Special laws earn extra points, as do healing techniques.”

Sangsang pressed her lips together, still unsmiling, her gaze wary of those around her.

“Do you think our presence lacks the grandeur of our rivals? That’s because you insisted I not bring temple servants or guardian knights. Otherwise, your entourage would rival anyone’s. Don’t forget, you’re a candidate endorsed by Archbishop Anthony, and your treatment is on par with a seeded candidate.” Sena tried to distract her. “Or are you just not used to so much attention? Don’t worry, at most only one percent of the audience is here for you candidates. The rest are here to see the performances by the Holy Sons and Daughters after the test. By tradition, any Holy Son or Daughter with a title or higher can bestow blessings, and twenty-one have signed up this time.”

Sure enough, Sangsang’s attention shifted, but in a way that surprised Sena. “Will the Hundred Flowers Saintess be present?”

Sena paused before answering, “Yes.”

Sangsang nodded. “Please remind me when she appears.”

Sena frowned. “Why focus on her? She’s not the highest-ranking Saintess attending.”

Sangsang gently stroked Xiao Jin, then entrusted him solemnly to Yaslan. She walked to the entrance of the martial arena before replying to Sena, “She’s a future adversary. Naturally, I need to understand her.”

Leaving Sena in a daze, Sangsang entered the arena alone. Following the Main Brain’s instructions, she found her assigned group and proceeded to the examination chamber corresponding to her test number.