301: Beauty Records

The Old Clan Leader noticed his movements, but paid him no mind, continuing to fiddle with the medicinal herbs in her hands.

The Seven-Headed Dog glanced at him once, then lowered its head and closed its eyes to doze.

Xu Sanyan exerted all his strength to finally reach the booklet, snatching it over. This small action exhausted all his energy, and his breathing grew slightly rapid.

Calming his heaving chest slightly, he opened the booklet. The first page contained the author's biography.

"I am Yunshan Taoist. Throughout my life, I have only loved to travel, like a mayfly observing the world. In my later years, I authored this book for future generations to read."

Xu Sanyan continued flipping through it.

"This volume is divided into three parts; however, due to space limitations, I have only recorded the best."

"The first is the Chronicle of Sights, recording a glimpse of my life's experiences. The Southern Heavenly Marsh, the Far Northern Abyss—the craftsmanship of creation is truly breathtaking."

"The second is the Medicinal Pill Record, recording a mere fraction of my life's learning in the way of Medicinal Pill. If future generations study this, they will benefit for a lifetime and lay a solid foundation for the way of Medicinal Pill."

Seeing this, Xu Sanyan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "You are truly a toad yawning—what a big mouth you have."

And that talk of the Southern Heavenly Marsh and the Far Northern Abyss—he had never even heard of them. He suspected this book was fabricated by the author, filled with nothing but tall tales.

Patiently, he continued to read on.

"The third is the Beauty Record..."

Xu Sanyan's expression froze, and he instantly perked up. Who said he was boastful just now?

He even slandered him as vulgar. Next time, without knowing the full picture, he must not make such hasty judgments.

Based on these few words alone, he concluded that this person must be a refined gentleman, just like himself.

With an attitude of reverence and a desire to learn, Xu Sanyan read carefully.

"The third, the Beauty Record. The beauties of the world are countless; I wish I could gather them all into my fold. The beauty of the Central Province lies in graceful demeanor, the beauty of the Wilds lies in burning passion, the beauty of the Southern Kingdom lies in an exquisite figure, and the beauty of the Far North lies in being cold on the outside but warm on the inside..."

Cold on the outside but warm on the inside...

Xu Sanyan silently guessed whether the "cold outside, warm inside" mentioned in the book meant the same thing as what he understood...

Was it a cold exterior and warm interior in terms of personality, or... a tactile sensation?

Xu Sanyan lightly licked his lips and continued reading.

"The world is vast, and beauties are many; it is impossible to write them all down. I have traveled the world for a thousand years and tasted all kinds of flavors. Among them, several are the most unforgettable. If future generations wish to emulate me, they can seek them out according to the diagrams; the routes are left at the end."

Xu Sanyan felt a sense of reverence. This was a true Senior!

After eating the meat, he didn't forget to leave some soup for the descendants; what a noble state of mind.

He felt deep regret for his earlier words of slander.

With a heart full of apology, he flipped through the pages. First came the wonders and beautiful scenery from around the world, complete with illustrations. The painting skills of that Yunshan Taoist were superb; with just a few strokes, the scenery leaped off the page, allowing one to feel the overwhelming shock.

Like the water of the Heavenly River rushing down, the surging sense of vastness. That bottomless abyss, seemingly leading straight to the Nine Hells, all kinds of scenes shook the soul.

Below were descriptions; Yunshan Taoist's depiction of each place was extremely detailed.

Xu Sanyan became immersed in it without realizing it, not even noticing when the Old Clan Leader stood beside him.

"Do such scenes truly exist in the outside world?" The moment the Old Clan Leader spoke, she pulled him out of his thoughts.

Xu Sanyan shook his head and said, "I'm not sure, I haven't seen them either, but perhaps they exist..."

If Yunshan Taoist hadn't seen them with his own eyes, it would be difficult to describe them in such detail.

The Old Clan Leader nodded and turned back to fiddle with that pile of medicinal herbs.

Xu Sanyan continued to flip through. After finishing the various scenes, it was the Medicinal Pill Alchemy chapter. He had no interest in this content and chose to skip it directly.

Beauty Record!

Opening the first page, his gaze immediately rested on the painting, unable to tear itself away.

In the painting, a woman looked up at the moon. The bright moonlight shone on her slender neck, as crystalline as jade. A finger lightly tapped her rounded chin; amidst her dignified air, there was a hint of playfulness and cuteness, truly mesmerizing.

This painting was only the woman's profile. Although he couldn't see her full face, just from this profile, he could tell that the woman's beauty was not inferior to Mo Qianqian's.

One could only say they each had their own merits.

Below was Yunshan Taoist's description: this woman was a Disciple of a Sect in the Central Province, famous throughout the world for her beauty. Her admirers were as numerous as carp crossing the river.

In the end, she was taken into the chambers of a Prodigy of the generation. Yunshan Taoist had been unable to taste her sweetness, and between the lines, he revealed deep regret.

The second page showed a petite woman from the Southern Kingdom, currently sitting by a stream with her pant legs rolled up, playing with water. Splashes of water soaked her clothes, but the young girl was laughing extremely happily.

Women of the Southern Kingdom were petite in stature; adult women were often less than five feet tall, extremely exquisite and delicate.

That waist that could be gripped in one hand, the willful and cute temperament, arms like short lotus roots, and rounded, playful little feet—every detail aroused pity and affection.

If one were to hold her in their arms, they wouldn't even bear to use force, wanting only to cherish her well.

Xu Sanyan silently closed the booklet, inwardly sighing that this Yunshan Taoist really knew how to play.

He glanced at the Old Clan Leader and tentatively said, "Clan Chief..."

"It's yours." The Old Clan Leader replied without even turning her head.

She had been flipping through this book for over two hundred years; its contents were already integrated into her own being, and keeping it was of no use.

"Thank you."

Xu Sanyan carefully put the booklet away. He decided that when he had time, he must try to follow in the footsteps of the Senior and go see those magnificent sights that seized the creation of heaven and earth.

And by the way... take a look at those exotic customs.

Xu Sanyan lay quietly on the bed. The candles in the cave were changed again and again, and the night passed quickly.

The Old Clan Leader did not rest all night, constantly fiddling with those 'treasures' of hers. Xu Sanyan also didn't sleep all night, taking out that book from time to time to read.

At the end of the book was a map with many places marked on it, but Xu Sanyan had never heard of them.

Perhaps too much time had passed, so much so that mountains and rivers had shifted, lakes and seas had changed, and many places had been renamed or moved.

Even places mentioned in the book, such as the Southern Kingdom, the Far North, and the Wilds, were questionable as to whether they still existed.

He didn't know which era this Yunshan Taoist belonged to. Was it the era of the Yaotian Holy Sect? Or even earlier? Or perhaps during those lost twenty thousand years?

Yunshan Taoist hadn't stated it, and Xu Sanyan was unable to verify it.

"Woof~"

The Seven-Headed Dog gave a low bark. The Old Clan Leader put down what was in her hands, straightened her back, pounded her waist, took down some cured meat from the wall, and then proceeded to build a fire to roast the meat on her own.

The Seven-Headed Dog's bark was more like a reminder to the Old Clan Leader that it was time to eat.

Xu Sanyan turned his head to look outside the cave. A faint light shone through the cave entrance; it was already dawn outside.

He tried to get up. Although he was still a bit weak, he was basically fine; walking normally would no longer be a hindrance.

The Old Clan Leader turned around, took a clay pot from the table, and handed it to him. "Apply this to your whole body every day before sleeping. Two consecutive days will be enough."

"Thank you, Clan Chief." Xu Sanyan took it.