Chapter 1457: Zhang Xuan Wants to Be Serious

"This is the Snow Trace technique!"

"Legend has it that Master Wu Daozu developed this painting technique after observing circling birds. Like goose footprints on snow, here today and gone tomorrow, this method creates a profound artistic ambiance. Even before the subject takes shape, it's utterly captivating!"

"Over tens of thousands of years, very few have managed to learn this set of techniques. I never expected Genius Ziqing not only to have learned it but also to execute it so smoothly. This competition is surely hers!"

"It seems that as long as the calligraphy and painting don't exceed nine stars, no one can surpass her..."

A clamor erupted all around. The Zhang clan's top genius, with her first stroke, demonstrated flawless command of the brush, paper, ink, technique, and even her state of mind—it was perfectly astonishing.

"Indeed..." Zhang Xuan also nodded to himself. As an eight-star calligrapher and painter, his discerning eye was sharper than those around him, and he could naturally see that the girl before him was indeed not an easy opponent. She was even stronger than, or at least equal to, the Saint Son he encountered when challenging the Master Teacher Tower!

Although the Saint Son Hall gathers countless geniuses from across the continent, not every Saint Son within it is necessarily the best among the younger generation. Just like Zhang Feng from the Spirit Awakener Guild—though a Saint Son with unparalleled spirit awakening techniques, he was still slightly inferior compared to Wang Ying, the genius who recently joined headquarters... otherwise, she wouldn't have sought Zhang Xuan's help. Similarly, the Saint Son from the Saint Son Hall was strong in calligraphy and painting, but seemed far less skilled than the one before them now.

Whoosh! The brush danced lightly in the air, a beautiful sight to behold. Zhang Ziqing herself seemed like a machine, controlling it with absolute precision. Every line and every drop of ink that landed on the flowing light paper emanated an intoxicating glow, drawing the gaze and making it impossible to look away.

"Teacher Zhang... she's already drawn so much, you should start quickly, or you'll really lose..." As he was observing, an anxious voice spoke up beside him. He turned his head to see Jian Qinsheng still clutching his forehead, full of helplessness.

"No need to rush yet..." Zhang Xuan glanced at the long incense stick burning before them, noting there was still plenty of time, and shook his head. His painting was quite simple; he could complete it in one or two dozen breaths. There was no need to rush.

Knowing that the person before him had once challenged the Master Teacher Tower and defeated the Saint Son of the Calligraphy and Painting Master Guild, and was extremely powerful in the art of calligraphy and painting, Jian Qinsheng said no more. He looked over awkwardly: "It's good you're not rushing... *cough cough*, Teacher Zhang, can I discuss something with you?"

"Go ahead, Junior Brother!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"It's like this... you're currently representing the Way of the Sword... could you please stop showcasing other professions all the time?" Jian Qinsheng paused before speaking. To be honest, he really regretted bringing this guy along! They came here for a sword competition, yet before seeing any master swordsmen, he first collapsed someone's formation, then created a courtyard full of stone statues through spirit awakening... and now he's about to compete in calligraphy and painting... Formations, spirit awakening, calligraphy and painting, appraisal—each one more impressive than the last... "Are you really... just here for a sword competition? Could you please remember your actual role? You're my Senior Brother now. Is it really appropriate to be so ostentatious in other professions?"

"Ah... you do have a point there!" At his question, Zhang Xuan scratched his head, feeling awkward: "I was inconsiderate..." He had only thought of giving the Zhang clan a strong warning, forgetting this point. Coming to the Zhang clan as a swordsman, and then displaying so many other professions before the sword competition even began, indeed looked bad, giving the impression of not focusing on his main profession.

"It's fine, as long as you remember that we're here for a sword competition..." Seeing his admission, Jian Qinsheng found it inappropriate to press further and simply nodded. If it weren't for him, the other party wouldn't have come. Even if there were some mishaps, he should still be grateful, not blame him.

"I remember..." Nodding, Zhang Xuan was about to continue speaking when he heard a burst of cheers from the front.

"Incredible! She finished so quickly!"

"What a beautiful painting! Fairy Ziqing, would you consider selling this painting to me?"

"To successfully complete a painting in such a short time, she truly is a once-in-a-millennium genius of the Calligraphy and Painting Master Guild..."

The surroundings were filled with chatter. Zhang Xuan looked up and saw that the girl's brush, which had been dancing in the air, had now stopped. A painting appeared before everyone. It was a painting of mountain bamboo. Though there were no other plants to complement it, each bamboo stalk seemed to grow directly from the paper, verdant and dripping with life. Swaying gently in a phantom breeze, they appeared as if they could sprout forth at any moment.

There were over a dozen bamboo stalks in total, each seemingly possessing its own emotion and life, distinct in form, with no two alike. "To imbue the painted objects with such spirituality, making them seem alive – impressive!" Zhang Xuan nodded again. He had thought he could win by simply creating a painting, but now it seemed it wouldn't be that easy. The girl's skill level was considerably higher than he had anticipated.

In calligraphy and painting, higher skill isn't necessarily about greater complexity or more vibrant colors. Like 'great music has no sound, great form has no shape,' many truly renowned paintings are actually quite simple. It's like testing if a chef is truly skilled by having them prepare a simple dish of shredded potatoes: the simpler the dish, the more it reveals true mastery. This patch of bamboo before him appeared to be painted with light strokes, almost 'realistic' in its flavor, but upon closer inspection, one could see that each stalk seemed alive, possessing its own unique life. Furthermore, each stalk intertwined with elements of illusion and reality, artfully arranged, already forming the rudimentary shape of a world within the painting. If not for her young age and limited cultivation, she could probably already produce peak-level artworks and contend for a nine-star calligrapher and painter title.

"No wonder others say that without a nine-star painting, it would be extremely difficult to surpass her..." With a sigh of emotion, Zhang Xuan felt immense pressure. To surpass her painting, it would likely require a genuine nine-star work.

"What, is Teacher Zhang going to concede?" As he was contemplating, the girl's voice rang out. He looked up to see Zhang Ziqing with a sneer playing on her lips. Now she finally understood why he didn't bet on her painting but rather a top-grade spirit stone: her painting was so valuable that if he lost, he certainly wouldn't be able to afford it... This was just a pretense, to give himself an easy out.

"Concede? How could that be?" Zhang Xuan shook his head: "Your painting is very good. In that case, I'll have to show some true skill myself..." Sighing, he flipped his wrist, and a long sword appeared in his palm. He flicked it in the air, then shook his head and returned it to his ring. He took out another, flicked it similarly, and again shook his head, putting it back. He repeated this process several times until he finally found a long sword that seemed suitable. Holding it in his palm, he looked around, then suddenly stamped his foot on the ground.

Whoosh! A stone slab from beneath his feet flew up horizontally and landed before him.

"I'll begin..." With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan held the long sword and thrust it towards the stone slab.

"You're not using a brush? Not using flowing light paper... you're painting with a sword and a stone slab?" Her delicate body trembled, and an intense surge of unbridled fury instantly welled up within Zhang Ziqing, almost making her explode.