Chapter 305: Tie?

The Xuan paper, which had previously appeared blank, transformed under Zhang Xuan’s shake. The pooled ink flowed, connecting the beast’s numerous footprints, remarkably forming a painting of a ruggedly elegant plum blossom.

Where the ink flowed, a dark, withered tree trunk emerged, with plum blossoms sparsely blooming. Though only buds, they appeared somewhat desolate from a distance, yet inexplicably evoked the arrival of a bone-chilling winter.

The spot where the beast had fallen transformed into two craggy rocks, and the earlier traces of its fur became wrinkles of varying depths on the rock surface.

The cold plum emerged from the rock crevices, standing proudly in the bitter cold. Young Master Ji Mo had used a riot of competing flowers to highlight the peony’s nobility, but this single plum, unadorned by any other bloom, instilled a sense of unyielding pride, as if no one dared to compete or even stand beside it.

It had no desire to compete for spring, letting all other flowers be envious.

Gazing at this painting was like witnessing the artist themselves, walking solitarily on the edge of the world, conveying the sentiment: “What does it matter if others disregard me? What if they don't understand? I only need to maintain my integrity and remain worthy of heaven and earth!”

“I... why am I crying?”

“Me too; it feels as if I've seen someone misunderstood, yet still advancing without the slightest hesitation!”

“This is... the third realm of calligraphy and painting, 'Presence of Meaning' (Yi Cun)?”

“Indeed, otherwise, it wouldn't have resonated so deeply with us after just one glance...”

The onlookers fell silent.

After a moment of silence, many people found their eyes slightly red, moved by the desolate aura emanating from the painting.

Calligraphy and painting of high artistic conception can influence the viewer's state of mind, and this piece clearly demonstrated that.

“A savage beast created... a painting at the third realm of 'Presence of Meaning'?”

As everyone was captivated by the cold plum's charm, Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng felt his lips quiver and his body tremble slightly.

What others could discern, he naturally recognized as well. With that shake, the picture, which had been nothing moments before, instantly ascended by countless levels. Not only was it infused with a compelling spiritual energy, but its artistic conception also unfolded in an instant.

Even they would require extensive preparation to create a work of such caliber.

A savage beast walked a few steps, rolled... and then a single shake produced the painting...

Despite witnessing it firsthand, they still wondered if it was all a dream.

It was utterly unbelievable.

“The most crucial part was that final shake!”

Vice Guild Leader Wu was silent for a moment. “How much ink remained on the Xuan paper, how to shake it, and with how much force to make the ink flow to form the trunk and complete the painting... all these numerous details had to be perfectly integrated in one's mind. Even a slight misstep would have ruined it!”

“Indeed, it appears simple, but it actually contains profound knowledge. Different paper and ink yield different results. To achieve such a realm of painting with a single shake requires an insight and mastery over calligraphy and painting that even I do not possess...”

Though reluctant to admit it, Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng couldn't help but nod in agreement.

While it appeared that the savage beast was painting and the young man did nothing, in reality, the most crucial element was the final shake. Much like “dotting the eyes of the dragon,” even a slight misjudgment would have led to a colossal error, reducing a “Presence of Meaning” realm painting to nothing.

To shake the calligraphy and painting, sending ink splattering, yet still finding the perfect force and the optimal method...

This demonstrated that from the very beginning, the young man possessed absolute control over calligraphy and painting, knowing precisely what the final artwork would look like and what level it would achieve...

This requires an extremely profound understanding of calligraphy and painting, along with a complete grasp of the overall vision in one's mind... Let alone them, even the Guild Leader, who has achieved the rank of a three-star calligrapher and painter, likely couldn't accomplish this!

“This... it's impossible...”

Young Master Ji Mo, who had been gloating and intending to humiliate Zhang Xuan, recoiled several steps, his face paling, almost driven mad by the sight of the cold plum appearing with that shake.

A savage beast, casually grabbed, dipped in an inkwell, and then tossed onto Xuan paper, resulting in a third-realm calligraphy and painting...

Since when did third-realm calligraphy and painting become so worthless?

He had toiled so hard, almost to the point of spitting blood from exhaustion, merely to reach this level, yet someone else achieved it with such ease...

Could it be that his own talent was truly inferior to that of a savage beast?

The young attendant in green, who had escorted Zhang Xuan earlier, was also repeatedly tugging at his ears; had it not been for the surrounding crowd, he would surely have gone frantic.

As a service staff member of the Calligraphy and Painting Guild, he earned merely a few thousand gold coins a month from his salary and commissions, at best ten thousand. Yet, casually grabbing a savage beast and tossing it onto paper produced a work worth millions...

Damn!

Why work so hard? If he had simply rounded up these beasts to paint earlier, wouldn't he have become a millionaire ages ago?

The numerous calligraphy and painting apprentices who had moved the tables earlier were even more teary-eyed.

Among them, those who had studied calligraphy and painting for over a decade could, at best, only produce works at the “Recording Reality” realm. The so-called “Agile” or “Presence of Meaning” realms were beyond their wildest dreams.

Witnessing a savage beast create a painting of a higher caliber than anything they could produce, they instantly felt that all their years of study and hard work had been... utterly pointless.

It was a wonder they didn't collapse on the spot.

“Vice Guild Leaders, does this work count as a win or a loss?” Seeing the calligraphy and painting take shape, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as expected, and looked over at them.

The painting was exactly as the two Vice Guild Leaders had anticipated; its most crucial element was his shake.

Even if he was incredibly skilled at controlling savage beasts, how could he possibly produce a third-realm work without his own intervention?

The final shake, which caused the ink to flow and form the complete picture, utilized the library's ability, thereby avoiding all incorrect methods.

Without flaws, it was naturally perfect.

When to shake, how much force to apply, which direction to move, how to lift the Xuan paper... all involved precise considerations. Even a tiny mistake would have ruined it.

Fortunately, it succeeded.

“This...”

The two Vice Guild Leaders exchanged glances.

“Your cold plum painting and Calligrapher Ji's peony painting have both reached the third realm of calligraphy and painting. Although their styles differ, they are of equal caliber. Therefore, I declare this contest...” After a moment of hesitation, Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng announced, “A tie!”

“A tie?”

Zhang Xuan shook his head, unsurprised.

In truth, strictly speaking, his painting surpassed Young Master Ji Mo's peony. However, given their wager and the fact that Ji Mo was a future elite of the Calligraphy and Painting Guild, if he were truly declared to have lost, could he genuinely be expected to kneel in apology and leave the guild?

To truly enforce that would undoubtedly mean losing a genius.

Declaring a tie, offending neither party, was considered the most ideal outcome.

Of course, Young Master Ji Mo might no longer possess his former prestige. Though it was a tie, it was a tie with a savage beast, effectively equating him with an animal... he would undoubtedly be a subject of gossip wherever he went.

Zhang Xuan, however, remained unconcerned about this. Such a predicament was, after all, Ji Mo's own doing.

“A tie? It's actually a tie!”

“This is for the best...”

“Indeed, so no one's feelings are hurt...”

Upon hearing the verdict, everyone understood and began to murmur among themselves.

“Excellent, both of you are prodigies in calligraphy and painting. You should strive to get along well in the future...”

After making the announcement, Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng smiled, about to mediate between the two, when Young Master Ji Mo steadied his breathing, took a step forward, and declared, “Vice Guild Leaders, please hold on!”

Everyone looked over in unison.

“Everyone witnessed the painting just now; the most crucial part of its completion was his final shake. Without that, it wouldn't even have reached the 'Recording Reality' realm, let alone 'Presence of Meaning'!”

Young Master Ji Mo looked at Zhang Xuan and sneered, “That means his painting was created through the collaboration of one person and one beast. Their combined skill merely equals my own painting level, so how can they possibly be worthy of a tie with me?”

Everyone was stunned.

Everyone knew that savage beasts only hindered painting. The fact that a “Presence of Meaning” realm artwork could be produced this way amply demonstrated the young man's skill.

Knowing all this, yet still uttering such words, was utterly shameless.

However, strictly speaking, it was indeed a collaboration!

In calligraphy and painting, there were explicit rules: if one person was painting, no one else could touch the work, not even offer guidance.

The savage beast created the plum blossoms, and Zhang Xuan's shake formed the branches... only then did this work take shape. Neither element could have been absent.

A work created through collaboration, when competing against a single individual, was indeed... unfair.

“Oh, so you mean...”

Witnessing his shamelessness, Zhang Xuan showed no anger, but instead looked over at him.

“It's simple: I win this contest. You only reached my level through collaboration, so it can only be considered a loss!” Young Master Ji Mo sneered.

“Calligrapher Ji, a tie would still be a very good result...”

It was unexpected that he would be so undignified. Vice Guild Leader Wu was somewhat displeased.

What kind of painting could a savage beast possibly create?

It was obvious that only with this young man's assistance could a work of such quality be produced.

In this situation, while it was technically a collaboration between a person and a beast, in reality, it required the young man's extremely high painting skill to achieve. Considering it a tie was already a concession; how could he still be unsatisfied?

Vice Hall Master Cheng Feng also looked displeased and was about to speak when he saw Zhang Xuan wave his hand, smiling as he looked over. “Young Master Ji's words do hold some truth. Since you insist this was a collaboration between me and the savage beast, then let it be so. However, if that's the case, it isn't a tie. I'd like to ask... what would it take for you to admit defeat?”

“For me to admit defeat?”

Young Master Ji Mo sneered, “I am always fair, and I won't play tricks with you. If this painting were a fourth-realm 'Awe-Inspiring' (Jing Hong) work, I would immediately concede. Unfortunately... it's not! It only reached my level through collaboration; how could that possibly be a tie?”

“That makes a lot of sense; I seem to have nothing to say!” Zhang Xuan showed no trace of anger, instead shaking his head with a smile.

“Since you have nothing to say, then admit defeat...”

Young Master Ji Mo's eyes lit up, and he was about to continue when he saw the young man opposite him, lips curved into a smile, looking at him with a gaze full of pity. “Are you so certain... that this painting only reached the third realm?”

“What do you mean?”

Young Master Ji Mo glanced at the Xuan paper on the table. The ink was not yet completely dry; though impressive, it was undeniably only at the third realm and could not possibly exceed it. He then sneered, “Stop pretending here. Since you admit defeat, just say it quickly. No matter how much you talk, this painting isn't going to become a fourth-realm one...”

“That's not necessarily true...”

Zhang Xuan looked over calmly. “Vice Guild Leader Wu, I need to trouble you with something!”

“Please speak if you have something,” Vice Guild Leader Wu nodded.

“I wonder if the Guild has any torches? May I trouble you to lend one?” Zhang Xuan asked.

In a place like the Calligraphy and Painting Guild, luminous pearls provided the illumination, casting a soft, yet dazzling light, as bright as day.

This light was significant but produced no heat. It was autumn, and the room was already somewhat chilly, so only because everyone present was a cultivator did they remain unaffected.

“Yes!”

Vice Guild Leader Wu cast a puzzled glance, then waved his hand, and an apprentice excused himself. Shortly after, the apprentice returned, holding a torch.

“Hold it in front of the painting and warm it!” Zhang Xuan instructed, not taking the torch himself.

“Yes, sir!”

After glancing at Vice Guild Leader Wu and seeing his approval, the apprentice approached the cold plum painting.

The torch was hot. As it was brought near, the still-wet ink slowly began to solidify.

And then—!

As the ink dried, the impression it gave shifted once more, undergoing an instant transformation.

Around the previously somewhat dark flower buds, a faint white now appeared, as if they were blossoming, and a subtle fragrance began to waft through the air.

Flutter, flutter!

Several butterflies, appearing from unknown origins, flew over, seemingly drawn by the floral scent. They landed on the painting and lingered there.

“This is... the 'Awe-Inspiring' realm?”

“How is this possible?”

Everyone felt a jolt throughout their bodies, on the verge of madness.

When the ink was still dark, it was merely at the “Presence of Meaning” realm. Yet, once dried by the heat, it astonishingly ascended to the “Awe-Inspiring” realm. How could such a transformation occur?

But if it wasn't the “Awe-Inspiring” realm, how could it attract butterflies to gather around it? And even subtly emit the fragrance of plum blossoms?

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

Young Master Ji Mo, in particular, stumbled back several steps, his face turning ashen.

He had just declared he would concede if the opponent's painting reached the fourth realm, never in his wildest dreams imagining that merely drying it with a torch would achieve that...

Is this real or fake?

He had examined the painting multiple times moments ago; it was absolutely only at the “Presence of Meaning” realm. Why did its realm elevate with a mere torch?

“This is fake... you must have used some deceptive method!”

Shaking his head vigorously, utterly unable to believe it, Young Master Ji Mo roared wildly, his voice distorted with rage.

“Cheating?”

Zhang Xuan shook his head, glanced around, and his eyes settled on Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng. “Vice Guild Leader, have you discerned the reason?”

“I've discerned something, though I'm not entirely certain if it's correct!”

Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng's expression was grave. “The savage beast that painted earlier is called the Azure Swift Beast, and it prefers to nest in damp soil. Our ink, on the other hand, is ground from black inkstone. While these two things seem unrelated, in reality, the damp soil contains elements that neutralize black inkstone. When exposed to the heat of a torch, this causes the ink's color to lighten.”

“The Azure Swift Beast was brought over without being cleaned, so its body was naturally covered in fine, damp soil. When this mixed with the ink ground from black inkstone, and was then heated, the effect immediately became apparent, causing the painting's petals to seemingly blossom, and thus... greatly enhancing its artistic conception!”

“This requires an extremely profound understanding of beast taming and the properties of various substances to accomplish. You...”

Even as he spoke, Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng still found it hard to believe.

The scene moments ago seemed magical—a painting originally only at the third realm suddenly ascended in quality with the application of a torch. In reality, it was the culmination of countless pieces of knowledge, deliberately orchestrating a predetermined outcome.

In fact, even without the torch, with the passage of time—perhaps a day or two—this painting would have automatically advanced to the “Awe-Inspiring” realm.

To accomplish this, one must possess a thorough understanding of beast taming, material properties, and numerous other factors. For a young man not yet twenty to achieve this...

Damn!

Has this world gone mad, or have I?