Chapter 306: Five Realms Artwork, Completed

"Is that a thing?"

"Knowing the composition of ink and even the wet soil on a savage beast before painting—is he even human?"

Hearing the explanation, everyone else's eyes widened, as if listening to an unbelievable tale.

Just casually grabbing a savage beast to paint, and directly creating a work of the Startling Realm, something only a two-star painter can achieve... Brother, do you have to be so amazing?

"Vice Guild Leader Cheng indeed has exceptional discernment!"

Hearing the other party explain the reason, Zhang Xuan praised him.

Although what the other party said differed slightly from the truth, it was largely similar.

There was indeed wet soil on the Azure Swift Beast. How could it be such a coincidence that it all appeared around the plum blossoms?

Naturally, he had secretly manipulated it.

However, since the other party said so, he saw no need to explain.

"You just said that you would concede if this painting reached the Fourth Realm. Do you have anything more to say now?"

Turning to look at Young Master Ji Mo, Zhang Xuan's gaze was like lightning.

"I..."

Young Master Ji Mo's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, his face turning ashen.

Originally, he thought the finished artwork was set in stone, with no possibility of change. He never dreamed that the other party had hidden a trick within the work!

A single torch heat, and it advances a realm...

Young Master Ji Mo felt like thunder was crashing overhead and nearly burst into tears.

He thought, 'Why did I have to provoke this guy when I had nothing better to do? Even after provoking him, a draw would have been fine. But I had to show off, and now look... I dug my own grave, and I have no choice but to jump in.'

Full of frustration, he couldn't help but look at Vice Guild Leader Cheng.

Vice Guild Leader Cheng initially didn't want to get involved, but after a moment of hesitation, he finally sighed, "May I ask this young brother's name?"

"Zhang Xuan!"

"Young Brother Zhang, both you and Painter Ji are pillars of our Guild. Can you please, for this old man's sake... let the bet be nullified?" said Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng.

Ji Mo had brought this upon himself. The announcement of a draw had already been a favor, yet he remained unsatisfied and insisted on a complete defeat.

Now, without even lifting a finger, the other party had elevated the painting to the Fourth Realm, leaving no choice but to concede.

However... once he conceded, he would have to fulfill the previous bet, and that bet represented too great a loss, both for a genius and for the Guild.

"Nullified? Excuse me, but I don't have the habit of being bullied without fighting back!"

Zhang Xuan waved his hand, "Kneel and apologize, then get out of the Painter Guild and never return."

This fellow had provoked him once or twice, and he had ignored it. But repeated provocations meant he wouldn't be polite any longer.

"This..."

Hearing this, Vice Guild Leaders Wu and Cheng exchanged glances, shook their heads simultaneously, and said nothing more.

If a bet was lost, it had to be honored. Otherwise, if word got out that the dignified Painter Guild was protecting a loser, how could they maintain their standing in Tianwu Royal City?

Seeing that Zhang Xuan didn't budge even after the Vice Guild Leader's plea, Ji Mo's face turned ashen. "I apologize to you!"

He then knelt on the ground, his eyes fixed on Zhang Xuan as if staring at a sworn enemy. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have provoked you. I apologize to you!"

"Scram!"

Knowing that the other party's apology was not sincere, Zhang Xuan didn't care. To him, Ji Mo was merely a clown.

"Scram?"

Young Master Ji Mo stood up, a malicious look in his eyes, and sneered, "Hmph, I lost the bet, but do you have the authority to ban me from the Painter Guild? Even if I leave today, I can still come back tomorrow. As an official painter of the Guild, do you really think a small bet can restrict me? Dream on!"

"This..."

Hearing his sneer, many of the surrounding crowd showed disdain but also nodded in agreement.

Even if Young Master Ji Mo was terrible, he was still an officially certified painter. While a bet might make him leave temporarily, it was clearly impossible to ban him from entering the Guild permanently.

"Can't restrict me?" Zhang Xuan stroked his chin, lost in thought.

"That's right, unless you guard the Guild every day, I'll still come back! Haha, I lost this time, but you haven't truly won either!" Young Master Ji Mo said with a defiant look.

Young Master Ji Mo had a look that said, "What can you do about it?"

Indeed, no one could guard the Painter Guild indefinitely. As long as Zhang Xuan left, Ji Mo could simply return.

"It's just a bet. If I don't follow it, what can you do to me?"

"I won't guard this place every day, and if you really sneak in when I'm gone, it would indeed make me lose face!"

Shamelessness makes one invincible. He had thought this guy, who could captivate so many beauties, would value his reputation.

He didn't expect such brazenness. Seeing the other party's utter shamelessness, Zhang Xuan could only nod. "This is indeed a problem, but... it's not a big deal. It's quite simple to solve!"

"Simple? Unless you're a three-star painter and qualified to issue a ban, otherwise, you're dreaming if you think you can stop me from entering..."

Young Master Ji Mo sneered.

Only a three-star painter had the privilege to issue a ban, permanently preventing certain individuals from entering. Even if Zhang Xuan was skilled in painting, he was at most a two-star. Achieving this was simply impossible for him.

If he couldn't do that, how could he restrict him?

"A three-star painter can issue a ban and ban you?" Zhang Xuan pondered, then nodded moments later. "Then... I'll just take the exam for a three-star painter first!"

"Take the exam for a three-star painter first?"

"Is this guy still asleep? He actually said he's going to take the three-star painter exam?"

"What a joke! While it's true he can produce Fourth Realm paintings, he's still a long way from a three-star painter!"

Everyone was stunned, almost fainting.

A three-star painter—only the Guild Leader in the entire Tianwu Kingdom Painter Guild had reached that level. The difficulty was immense. And you say you'll just take the exam?

Such arrogance! Aren't you afraid of overreaching yourself?

Even the two Vice Guild Leaders exchanged glances and couldn't help but shake their heads.

These young people today truly see themselves above everything, not knowing their own limitations.

Although there was only one level between three-star and two-star, there was a world of difference. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been stuck at the peak of two-star for so many years without breaking through.

It wasn't just them; in the entire Tianwu Kingdom Painter Guild, there were over ten two-star painters, but only one three-star. The difficulty was evident.

Just say 'take the exam'... and take it?

Ignorance truly breeds fearlessness!

"Haha! That's the funniest joke I've heard today!" Young Master Ji Mo sneered. "Don't think just because you luckily managed to create a Fourth Realm painting that you're so great. You're still far from qualifying for three-star!"

Too lazy to bother with the self-important Young Master Ji Mo, Zhang Xuan took a few steps towards the two Vice Guild Leaders, hesitated, and looked a bit embarrassed.

"Gentlemen, I came here specifically to be assessed as a painter. So... I'd like to ask first, how does one take the apprentice exam?"

Thud!

Everyone stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

Seriously? Just now he arrogantly declared he'd take the three-star painter exam, and now he's asking how to take the apprentice exam...

Brother, are you still asleep?

Besides, you just produced a Fourth Realm painting, comparable to a two-star painter. How could you not even know how to take an apprentice exam?

"How to take an apprentice exam? You... You're not even a painting apprentice, are you?"

Realizing something, Vice Guild Leader Wu couldn't help but ask.

"Ahem, I haven't actually taken it before. I just came here today to try taking one..."

Zhang Xuan nodded matter-of-factly.

Everyone's eyeballs nearly fell out again.

The two Vice Guild Leaders swayed simultaneously, almost spitting blood.

Not even an apprentice, yet daring to challenge and bet with an official painter... Aren't you a bit too bold?

Furthermore, not even being an apprentice, he could control a savage beast to easily create a Fourth Realm artwork? In terms of knowledge and skill, even they couldn't compare?

Are you sure you're not fooling us?

Most importantly, his tone was casual, as if he didn't care at all...

Others spend countless efforts to become a painter, yet from your tone, it sounds like child's play...

Alright then!

This guy apparently really does have that ability.

Suppressing his frustration, Vice Guild Leader Wu began to explain.

"Unlike other professions, painters aren't as complicated. You don't have to follow a strict step-by-step assessment from apprentice upwards. As long as you can produce a work, it demonstrates your skill. If you can create a First Realm 'Realistic' work, you can become an apprentice. If you can create a Second Realm 'Vivid' work, you can become a one-star painter. You just created a Fourth Realm work, so you can already apply for two-star painter status."

"Huh? That simple?"

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up, not expecting the painter assessment to be so much easier than other professions. He couldn't help but ask, "Then what about assessing for three-star?"

"To be a three-star painter, you must reach the Fifth Realm of painting, where the work comes alive. This realm is worlds apart from the Fourth Realm. Only the Guild Leader in the entire Guild has achieved it!"

Seeing him still intent, Vice Guild Leader Wu advised, "For someone your age to create a Fourth Realm painting, your talent is already exceptional, especially since you haven't formally studied. If you find a mentor and study diligently, you'll absolutely be able to paint Fifth Realm works and successfully become a three-star painter within ten years. For now, there's no need to rush!"

The gap between the Fourth and Fifth Realms is immeasurable, just like the difference between the Tongxuan and Zongshi stages in cultivation.

That 'Cold Plum Blossom' painting you just created, though it reached the Fourth Realm, was achieved through a clever trick, barely making it in.

There's still a long way to go until the Fifth Realm. Trying to run before you can even walk... isn't that a bit too rushed?

"Vice Guild Leader Wu is right. For someone your age to possess such ability, your talent is the greatest I've seen in all my years. As for three-star, you should..."

Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng also quickly chimed in with a word of caution, but he stopped mid-sentence as the young man in front of him turned and walked out, approaching the Cold Plum Blossom painting in a few steps.

The young man produced a bowl of water from somewhere, took a sip, and suddenly sprayed it onto the rice paper in front of him.

Splash!

As water droplets landed on the painting, the previously blank areas instantly revealed patches of white, as if snow were falling from the sky. This accentuated the entire plum blossom, making it stand proudly amidst the ice and snow, defying heaven and earth.

With a soft hum, spiritual energy swirled around it. The plum blossom suddenly seemed to grow out of the rice paper, its petals continuously spreading upwards, as if contending with the heavens and challenging fate.

"Done!"

Placing the bowl on the table, Zhang Xuan clapped his hands, looked at the two Vice Guild Leaders, and gestured casually.

"A Fifth Realm painting..."

"Nailed it!"