At the foot of Qingyun Mountain, Lord Pig paused, the massive, yet miniature, Zhu Xian Sword surprisingly comfortable strapped across his back with a golden rope.
"Blast it all! I was so preoccupied with my majestic display of power, I completely forgot to bid farewell to Xiao Yueyue, Xueqi, and the rest of the fan club!"
Lord Pig slapped his newly polished golden belly with his little paw, his chubby face wrinkling in feigned remorse. There was, however, zero chance he was going back up the mountain. That would imply admitting he'd rushed his exit, and Lord Pig never rushed; he simply executed spontaneous, lightning-fast transitions.
"A simple oversight! Easily rectified with a gesture of immense generosity! I shall proceed directly to Jinxiufang and commission a wardrobe of unparalleled brilliance for them. It shall be a gift that more than makes up for my swift departure!"
Lord Pig chuckled internally. This entire journey down the mountain, he rationalized, was not actually for the purpose of "showing off" the Zhu Xian Sword or, for that matter, locating the five mystical volumes of the Heavenly Book. No, his primary mission was to use his superior knowledge of future aesthetics to elevate the fashion sense of the Qingyun Sect.
But what designs? The conundrum struck him with the force of a gentle spiritual thunderclap.
"Maid outfits? No, too cliché. Nurse outfits? A classic, but perhaps lacks the CEO-level authority they deserve. Stewardess? Teacher? Wait... a high-powered, sharp-suited executive with a pencil skirt and glasses? Yes."
The mental images of Shuiyue, Lu Xueqi, and Wen Min modeling various high-concept, custom-tailored uniforms flashed through Lord Pig's mind, causing a small, blissful tremor to run through his golden fur. The sheer, overwhelming diversity of options caused his tiny brain to short-circuit momentarily.
"Oh, the horror of choice! My genius is being wasted on this internal conflict! Simple! I shall not choose! I will design all of them!"
With this decisive and financially irresponsible resolution, Lord Pig's anxiety evaporated. His Five Elements Divine Escape Technique engaged, and he shot off toward Yudu City, arriving at Jinxiufang in a blinding streak of golden light.
"Ping'er! Your Lord Pig has arrived! Prepare the silk and the praise!" Zhu Hao shouted before his tiny feet even crossed the threshold, the now-dormant Zhu Xian Sword creating a strangely imposing silhouette on his back.
Ding Ling, still the eager assistant, quickly emerged. "Oh, Lord Pig, you're here! Please, step right in! I'll fetch my sister immediately!" She shouted over her shoulder, "Sister, the great Lord Pig is here! The one with the amazing designs!"
Lord Pig trotted into the shop, his snout twitching. "Why do I feel like I've just walked into the most exclusive, high-end den of iniquity, even though I've only ever frequented monasteries and bamboo forests?" he muttered to himself. "I am a pure, upstanding, and entirely purehearted divine pig. This place just has a very good scent."
Jin Ping'er, dressed in a flowing, captivating red gown that emphasized her own seductive elegance, glided toward him. Her smile was dazzling, and her beautiful eyes danced with genuine curiosity as she examined his small, powerful form. She could sense the overwhelming surge in his spiritual power since their last meeting.
"Lord Pig, I sincerely apologize for not greeting you at the door! Your presence is a spectacular honor!" She paused, her gaze locking onto the short, ancient weapon strapped to his back. "And is this Lord Pig's new magic weapon? It truly complements your divine aura, making you look extraordinarily heroic—a refined gentleman among swordsmen, with an utterly incomparable temperament!"
"Ping'er, you possess the sweetest mouth in all of Yudu City!" Lord Pig purred, jumping expertly into her arms. While he knew the flattery was laid on thick, it was perfectly executed and undeniably satisfying.
"I only speak the truth, Lord Pig!" Jin Ping'er assured him, her soft, white hands beginning to gently rub his back. She noticed the incredible change; his fur was softer, denser, and radiated a powerful but comforting warmth.
"Lord Pig has recently been blessed with an intense surge of artistic inspiration," Zhu Hao announced, getting down to business. "I have conceived of several new, wondrous garment styles!"
Jin Ping'er's eyes widened with anticipation and genuine excitement. Lord Pig's last batch of designs—especially the underwear—had entirely revolutionized the underground fashion market.
"Oh, what styles! I eagerly await the unveiling of your genius!"
"Pen and ink, at once!" Lord Pig commanded, the sheer grandeur of the moment fulfilling his need for external validation.
Ding Ling swiftly brought forth the necessary implements: a brush, ink, fine paper, and the inkstone. Jin Ping'er elegantly rolled up her long, red sleeves and began grinding the ink herself, creating a scene reminiscent of a classical scholar and a beautiful muse. Except the scholar was a pig, and the muse was rubbing his back.
"First, hold Lord Pig's great sword," Zhu Hao ordered, taking the small Zhu Xian Sword off his back and handing it to Ding Ling.
Crash!
Ding Ling's hand instantly dropped under the unforeseen, immense weight. The seemingly ordinary half-foot-long blade plunged straight into the marble floor, sinking until only the decorative hilt remained visible, flush with the surface.
"Huh?! Lord Pig, what manner of weapon is this? It's impossibly sharp and heavy!" Jin Ping'er and Ding Ling stared in horror at the hilt protruding from the solid stone.
"The Immortal Execution Sword," Zhu Hao stated matter-of-factly, casually reaching out a paw, easily lifting the embedded sword, and placing it on a nearby table. He then grabbed the brush and began his artistic rampage.
"The Immortal Execution Sword?!" The two girls exclaimed in unison, their initial shock replaced by a profound dread and wonder. They had heard the legends of the sect's ultimate weapon. Though this plain, short blade lacked the terrifying aura, the sheer weight and the effortless control exhibited by Lord Pig confirmed his terrifying status. They wisely decided to never question Lord Pig's claims again.
Suppressing their astonishment, they looked at the rapid succession of drawings being produced by the master designer. Jin Ping'er gasped. It was an explosion of brand-new, unseen styles:
The Corporate Line: Sharp, tailored blouses, sleek pencil skirts designed to maximize movement while retaining professionalism, and structured trousers of military-grade elegance.
The Academic Line: Various styles of simple, but flattering, short skirts paired with smart cardigans and flowing, authoritative teacher uniforms.
The Travel Line: Complete sets of professional, yet highly functional, stewardess uniforms with bold color accents.
But the final touch for almost every design caused the greatest stir: high heels.
"These shoes look bizarre! Can anyone actually walk in them without shattering an ankle?" Ding Ling nervously asked, eyeing the drawings of the delicate, elevated footwear.
"They shall be the height of elegance and authority! You shall learn to walk like a crane, Ding Ling! Now, we move to the next vital segment of the collection!" Lord Pig's eyes sparkled with a mischievous, yet deeply artistic, gleam.
"We already have a comprehensive collection of outerwear and basic undergarments," Lord Pig muttered, tapping the brush against his chin. "But we are missing... the proper leisure and aquatic wear."
Lord Pig quickly began sketching a new line: tight-fitting shorts designed for visual impact and minimal coverage—the realm of swimwear and performance apparel.
"Lord Pig, these shorts are so fitted! They look like just a few strings! Who on earth would dare wear something so… so minimal?" Jin Ping'er's face flushed a bright, captivating red. She and Ding Ling exchanged horrified glances.
"Ping'er, are you truly suggesting that if these designs were sold, they wouldn't fly off the shelves?" Zhu Hao challenged, letting out a knowing, pig-like snicker.
Jin Ping'er gave him a charming, knowing look that acknowledged his point. As an exceptional disciple of the Hehuan Sect, she understood human desire better than anyone. She knew with absolute certainty that these tight, visually arresting shorts would be a sensation—especially among men commissioning gifts, and even more so among the various pleasure dens and entertainment venues, who would compete fiercely to purchase them.
Lord Pig then designed several variations—some slightly more "conservative" (but still aggressively tight), featuring lace edging, ribbons, and subtle cutouts. He specified colors: stark black, innocent pink, and dazzling white.
"Lord Pig is truly a genius unparalleled!" he decided, admiring the stack of drawings. But his brow furrowed again. Something was still missing, a final layer of sophistication.
Jin Ping'er noticed his dissatisfaction. "What troubles you, Lord Pig? These designs are revolutionary! They will dominate the market for years!"
Lord Pig looked at her perfectly shaped legs and had a blinding flash of inspiration.
"The stockings! How could I have forgotten the stockings!"
He quickly designed various lengths and styles of leg-wear: sheer, high-rise, seam-backed, and even fishnet.
"The material must be thin, exceptionally elastic, and have a smooth, almost liquid sheen!" Zhu Hao explained. Given the availability of exotic silks and spiritual materials in this world, this was entirely feasible.
"Understood, Lord Pig!" Jin Ping'er nodded, her eyes now wide with pure, business-minded excitement.
"Excellent. I am done. You will now make ten complete sets of every single design for Lord Pig—in various common sizes. I shall return later to collect them!"
After spending the better part of the day transforming the Jinxiufang into a chaotic, creative whirlwind, Lord Pig clapped his paws together.
"Worry not, Lord Pig! Your order is our highest priority! Safe journey!" Jin Ping'er promised, already scrambling to organize the sheer volume of production.
Lord Pig gave a satisfied grunt, his body turning into a golden blur.
Whoosh!
He vanished, heading due east.
The next destination was Kongsang Mountain, located three thousand miles east of Qingyun. This mountain was notorious—it was home to the Wanfu Ancient Cave and the Dripping Blood Cave, the rumored location of the first volume of the Heavenly Book.
Most of the Demon Cult sects, including the Blood Refining Hall and the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, derived their core skills from this very book.
It was already dark when Lord Pig arrived, surveying the desolate, rocky landscape. It was entirely unsuited for human habitation, a true den of evil. But Lord Pig, with the Zhu Xian Sword strapped to his back and the power of a semi-immortal, was fearless. He flew directly toward the ominous peak, ready to claim his next treasure.