Contracting Spirit Artists, I Can Replicate Any Divine Ability

On the ancient continent of Guiling, all things contain spiritual energy. The human realm is sharply divided between rich and poor, with a celestial palace and a living hell of common streets separated by only one wall. The young Gu Chang'an lives with his father, a painter. One day, an imperial decree summons his father to the palace to paint a portrait of the emperor. After returning, his father shuts himself away, his face filled with terror. When Gu Chang'an finally opens the door to look for him, he finds only an empty painting desk, an unfinished painting, and a calligraphy brush that had been with his father since birth. His father has taken his own life. To uncover the truth behind his father's horrific death, Gu Chang'an picks up the brush he left behind and unexpectedly awakens its spirit beast, discovering a unique path of cultivation through the art of painting. He sets off on the road of cultivation, investigating the secrets of the imperial palace along the way, only to discover that the truth goes far beyond what he imagined.