Chapter 482: Drunken Dream Awakening

“You?”

Everyone was stunned.

Pavilion Master Sai even rolled his eyes. From Sun Qiang, he knew the man was a calligrapher and painter, but even for someone in that profession, it would be almost impossible to uncover the true meaning of Wu Xuanzi’s painting from 800 years ago! What’s more, the birds in the painting were neither spirit beasts nor savage beasts; no one could identify them. How could one possibly title it? If it were wrong, not only would it be unsellable, but it would also mean completely destroying such a valuable work.

“Well…” Luo Qin also looked extremely awkward. He had explained in such detail, hoping this fellow would abandon his wild ideas. Who knew that after listening, he’d actually want to title it himself? You must be crazy for money! If titling could so easily reveal the true essence, then in all these years, it wouldn’t have been unheard of for someone to succeed.

Ignoring their changing expressions, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist, took out his brush and ink, and placed the painting on the desk in the room. Others trying to identify the painting’s name would need to ponder the artist’s intent, a mentally exhausting task, and it would be hard to get it exactly right. He was different! He could directly provide the name, without any error. If he really wrote it, it would certainly reveal the true essence, increasing the painting’s value.

“You… you’re not serious, are you?!” Seeing him dip his brush in ink, about to start writing, Pavilion Master Sai couldn’t help but step forward. “Think twice! This is… a treasure left by our ancestors…” This treasure had been passed down in the Appraisal Pavilion for so many years; to witness it being destroyed before his eyes… he truly couldn’t bear it.

“If it can increase in value, why not title it?” Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

“But what if it fails…” Pavilion Master Sai was anxious, about to continue speaking, when he saw Sun Qiang approach, full of enthusiasm. “Pavilion Master Sai, judging by your expression, you don’t believe my young master can reveal the true essence? How about… we make a bet, not a big one, just three thousand spirit stones!”

“…” Pavilion Master Sai staggered. What in the world was this?! Could one of them, master or servant, be normal? One insists on titling, the other confidently bets… Were they kidding him? His face was grim, and he really wanted to accept the bet, but remembering the miserable Elder Chen, he felt a bit guilty and timid. This fellow was a super powerful figure whom even the Flowing Goblet Gaming Console recognized… perhaps he really could reveal the true essence of this painting.

“A bet… let’s just forget it!” His face paled, and he quickly retreated.

“Huh?” Seeing this scene, Luo Qin’s eyes widened. Pavilion Master Sai clearly didn’t believe Master Zhang could provide the correct name and had intended to dissuade him. Who knew that a single sentence from his subordinate would scare him into retreating directly? What was going on? When had the Pavilion Master become so agreeable?

As he wondered, he suddenly felt the spiritual energy around him surging wildly, converging not far away, and a chorus of chirping sounds, like birds, suddenly emerged. Chirp! Chirp! Chirp! The sound shook the heavens, resounding throughout the entire auction house.

“Uh…” He quickly looked in the direction of the sound. In the brief moment of his hesitation, Master Zhang had, at some unknown point, already written the name on the scroll. The birds in the painting, "seeing" it, seemed to confirm their identity, chirping excitedly and fluttering in mid-air. “This is… true essence stirring, spirit awakened to transcendence? My goodness… what, what the hell is going on?!” His lips twitched, and Luo Qin’s body trembled violently.

“Spirit awakened to transcendence… This is a Seventh Realm work, something only a six-star calligrapher and painter can achieve…” Pavilion Master Sai also felt his vision darken. He had just thought success was impossible, yet as soon as the name was added, it not only revealed the true essence but also caused the true essence to surge and the spirit to awaken to transcendence. This… this… it couldn’t be real, could it?

The first six realms of calligraphy and painting were Record, Agility, Intent, Startle, Spirit Transformation, and Spirit! An ordinary three-star calligrapher and painter only reached the Spirit Transformation level, while the Spirit Realm was only achievable by four-star and five-star calligraphers and painters. After the Sixth Realm of Spirit, there was still the Seventh Realm, which Pavilion Master Sai referred to: Spirit Awakened to Transcendence, achievable only by six-star calligraphers and painters. At this point, the animals and plants in the painting came alive, possessing their own sentience. They could even recognize a master and fly out of the painting, not disappearing for a day or two. In other words, a calligrapher and painter who had comprehended this artistic conception could easily paint birds that would soar through the sky and traverse the clouds. It is said that there was once a powerful six-star calligrapher and painter who drew a crane on a wall, which then broke through the wall and flew away with the clouds, leaving behind the legend of an immortal riding a bird.

Originally, this painting was only at the peak of the Sixth Realm, still a long way from a breakthrough. Titling it to reveal its true essence would, at most, only keep it from clashing or dropping in quality. Unexpectedly, with a single title, this fellow not only surpassed this limit but also made it break through instantly, reaching the Seventh Realm. Holy cow! Am I crazy, or is this guy crazy? Are you a monster? How… how did you do it? His body was stiff, his eyes wide with disbelief, and at the same time, he secretly rejoiced that he hadn't bet with Sun Qiang. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be Elder Chen who lost everything; he too would be completely impoverished, left with nothing but his underwear.

In fact, it wasn't just them acting as if in a daze; the entire auction house erupted in an uproar, and even the auction for the Cold Yin Sword, which was underway, couldn't help but pause. The birds from the painting fluttered, not confined to the private room, but flew out through the window into the auction hall. Each fiery red bird resembled the evening glow, illuminating all directions, radiating brilliant, dazzling light.

“What… is this?”

“These birds are illusory beings; someone has created a Seventh Realm painting…”

“A Seventh Realm painting? A six-star calligrapher and painter? This, this…”

“Who is this senior? If this painting is for sale, I’m willing to pay any price…”

“Yes, I’m willing too!”

Seeing the sky filled with birds, and such a magnificent scene appearing in the auction hall, everyone was ecstatic, their faces alight with excitement. The most powerful calligrapher and painter in the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance was only at the peak of the four-star realm. Only the legendary Wu Xuanzi, 800 years ago, was said to have reached five stars, but unfortunately… he left no works behind. How could people not be excited by the sudden appearance of a painting only a six-star calligrapher and painter could produce?

“This… couldn’t be something Master Zhang conjured up again, could it?” Elder Chen, who was hosting the auction, saw that the atmosphere had gone completely cold, with no one paying attention to him anymore. He couldn't help but look towards the room from which the birds had appeared. Upon seeing it, he frowned. This was the Pavilion Master’s private room… He truly couldn’t think of anyone else who could cause such a huge commotion… It was probably only that unfathomable young man.

While the outside was in an uproar, Zhang Xuan put away his brush, smiled slightly, and looked at the dumbfounded Luo Qin to his side: “I wonder if this is worth five thousand [spirit stones]?”

“Five thousand? Worth it, absolutely worth it…” Only then did Luo Qin snap out of his daze and quickly nodded. A Sixth Realm peak painting with a proper title would be worth five thousand spirit stones. This Seventh Realm one… even if sold for ten thousand, someone would probably be willing to buy it! Just a few casually written words had increased the painting’s value twentyfold. This… was more than just a single word worth ten thousand gold; it could be said a single word was worth a hundred thousand, a million, or even more! Terrifying!

Unable to resist, he looked at the scroll, wanting to know what name could make a Sixth Realm peak work reach the Seventh Realm. Upon seeing it, his body swayed, and he nearly fell. He saw five crooked, sprawling characters: “Drunk, a dream, then awake!” These five characters didn’t belong to any particular script. They looked as if left by someone who had just woken from a drunken stupor, still in a state of confusion. Though crooked, they contained a unique charm. They harmonized with the strange birds in the painting, complementing each other perfectly. Far from clashing, they created a sense of perfect integration and serene unity.

“Drunk, a dream, then awake? Waking from a great dream… This, this is the name of this painting?” Luo Qin clutched his hair. When others saw the strange birds in the painting, they would surely think about what the birds were called, their origin, and use that as the name. But this guy, of all people, simply wrote “waking from a drunken dream”… and who would have thought it was actually… correct! Could it be… that the legendary Wu Xuanzi painted this after waking from a drunken dream? If that were true, it would be far too difficult to guess! And… how on earth did this guy know? And how did he know it so accurately and in such detail?

“That’s right, Wu Xuanzi painted this while drunk. After waking up, he left this name!” Zhang Xuan said.

“But… but… what kind of spirit beast are those birds? Why have I never heard of them?” Unexpectedly, it had such a history. Pavilion Master Sai couldn’t help but ask. When he himself had attempted the Flowing Goblet Gaming Console challenge, he had encountered this painting and had searched countless books for an answer, but found nothing. Since it was painted by Wu Xuanzi, these birds should have a name.

“They… Oh, they are Bái Xī birds!” Zhang Xuan said.

“Bái Xī birds? That’s not right, Bái Xī birds have long wings, purple beaks, golden claws, red heads, and are slightly plump. These birds not only lack those features but are also slender…” This time, not only did Pavilion Master Sai see the problem, but Zhao Feiwu, who was nearby, also couldn’t help but speak. The Bái Xī bird is an extremely common spirit beast; its main characteristics are easily recognizable. Yet these strange birds in front of them had nothing in common. How could they be Bái Xī birds? If it truly were that, he wouldn’t need to say it; Pavilion Master Sai and the others would certainly have recognized the work long ago.

“Oh, when Wu Xuanzi painted this, he was drunk and drew the Bái Xī bird incorrectly, so it ended up looking like this…” Zhang Xuan explained.

“Drew it incorrectly?” Everyone trembled simultaneously. A dignified five-star calligrapher and painter, drawing the most ordinary Bái Xī bird incorrectly?

“Yes, he drew this picture incorrectly. After titling it, he found it absurd. When he sobered up, he felt that if it circulated, it would definitely damage his reputation. But tearing it up would be a pity, like a chicken rib – tasteless to eat, yet a shame to discard. So… he simply removed the name and his signature, which is why this work had no beginning or end!” Zhang Xuan said. The record of flaws contained detailed notes; when he first saw it, he also found it absurd. But that’s how it was. If not for such an absurd incident, how could Wu Xuanzi, who never left ink traces, have left behind such a valuable piece of calligraphy and painting? And how could the Appraisal Pavilion have obtained such a work?

“This, this… you appraised all this?” Pavilion Master Sai’s teeth chattered, as if he had seen an unknown monster.