Chapter 50: Peer Discussions

“It’s quite simple!” Zhang Xuan, unaware of the shock and thoughts swirling in everyone’s minds, smiled faintly. “Though the Chixiong Beast possesses invincible defense, its entire body is streamlined, like a sharp sword. It excels at swift attacks, defeating opponents with speed, not by relying on brute force or crushing them with sheer weight. From this, one can deduce that its aura should be sharp as a sword, not heavy like a mountain! To paint a ferocious beast yet completely misrepresent its essence—what else could that be but guesswork?”

Master Lu Chen’s body swayed.

The young man wasn't wrong; he was absolutely right!

Lu Chen had always believed that the Chixiong Beast, with its invincible defense, should appear as heavy as a mountain. But with the youth’s reminder, he suddenly recalled a book that had described this beast as incredibly swift, killing enemies unseen. It was precisely because of this that very few people had ever seen its true form!

For a master painter, getting the essence wrong was the greatest taboo. If that was incorrect, even the most precious artwork became worthless. Lu Chen realized he had been quite lenient by merely saying the painting was “not bad,” already giving the artist significant face.

“Good, good!” Master Lu Chen’s face flushed with excitement as he repeated his praise.

One painting might be a lucky guess, a coincidence, but two, analyzed consecutively and accurately to the core, proved that this seemingly young man was a genuine master of painting and calligraphy! His skill was no lower than, and perhaps even superior to, his own!

Friends were easy to find, but a true kindred spirit was rare. As the Imperial Tutor, his mastery of painting and calligraphy was unrivaled throughout the Tianxuan Kingdom. When he usually lectured others, they would merely offer polite remarks and effusive praise; no one truly understood, let alone could point out his flaws! This was why he often felt a sense of melancholy and frequently opened his doors to diligent juniors, hoping to find a successor.

Now, encountering someone who could articulate flaws and point out mistakes was like finding a soulmate. How could he not be excited? That he didn't leap up on the spot was a testament to his strong willpower and remarkable restraint.

Seeing the master’s excited demeanor, Huang Yu and Bai Xun exchanged glances. Their earlier bickering forgotten, their eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets.

They had known this master since childhood; he had always been unperturbed, even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him, never taking anything to heart. The last time His Majesty the King had sent someone specifically to deliver a priceless Arctic Night Pearl, he hadn't even glanced at it, letting his servants casually put it away in a room! Yet, the young man simply answered a question, and he reacted like this… Could what he said really be true?

Thinking this, both of them simultaneously looked at the young man not far away, but no matter how they looked, he appeared perfectly ordinary, with nothing special about him.

“Xiaoyu, why aren’t you quickly introducing this young master to me?”

Just as they were pondering, Master Lu Chen’s question rang out.

“Introduce? He…” Questioned directly, Huang Yu froze for a moment. Only then did she remember that she hadn't even asked for his name. Her pretty face flushed, she couldn't help but scratch her head and look at Zhang Xuan. “Oh, right, what was your name again…?”

Hearing this, Bai Xun, who was sitting to the side, looked as if he was suffering from constipation. Just moments ago, he had been consumed by jealousy, thinking his goddess had been snatched by someone else, and he had longed to give the young man a good beating. Now he realized… Huang Yu didn't even know his name! If he had known that, why would he have gotten so angry?

However, his internal struggle hadn't ended when Master Lu Chen’s stern voice rang out, “What is this ‘you’ and ‘me’? You have no manners! This young brother here is my peer. From now on, you must address him as Master!”

“Peer?”

This time, not only Huang Yu and Bai Xun were stunned, but even Steward Cheng Bo, standing to one side, was taken aback, looking at Zhang Xuan as if he were a monster. What was Master Lu Chen’s status? He was His Majesty Shen Zhui’s teacher, a true Imperial Tutor! No one in the entire kingdom dared to treat him as a peer, because doing so would imply being an elder to His Majesty the King! Yet, a person of such status was now declaring a young man not yet twenty years old his peer? Had they misheard?

“Did you not hear me?” Seeing the two staring blankly, Lu Chen reprimanded them again.

“Yes!” Bai Xun and Huang Yu quickly lowered their heads and bowed. “Greetings, Master!”

“Please, don’t be so polite!” Not expecting Lu Chen to be so courteous, Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly. “My name is Zhang Xuan. I merely stumbled upon an understanding of the master’s painting by chance. I don’t deserve the title of Master!”

“So it’s Young Brother Zhang Xuan. You mustn’t speak like that. Rules are rules! Your ability to immediately point out my mistake shows a profound understanding of painting and calligraphy, and exceptional insight. If that doesn’t qualify you, then wouldn’t I, a master, also be a master in name only?” Lu Chen said.

Zhang Xuan let out a dry laugh. It was true that he had pointed out the mistake, but he hadn't done so based on his own skill. He had used the Heaven’s Path Library, a cheat tool. Without it, let alone pointing out the mistake, he probably wouldn't even have understood what the painting depicted, completely baffled.

“Enough, stop being so modest. As for these juniors, you may scold them as you please when you see them in the future!” Master Lu Chen said casually, unaware of Zhang Xuan’s thoughts.

“Juniors? Scold us as he pleases?” Bai Xun and Huang Yu were on the verge of tears. Damn it, they were roughly the same age, and suddenly they’d become his ‘grand-junior’ generation… Big brother, you’re too fierce!

Ignoring the two郁闷-faced individuals, Master Lu Chen looked at Zhang Xuan with a questioning gaze. “Young Brother came here with Xiaoyu, so I presume it wasn’t just a casual visit. What can I help you with?”

“I heard that Master has a vast collection of books. I came hoping to find some cultivation techniques for Martial Artist Six-dan…” Zhang Xuan quickly explained, hearing him ask about his purpose. This was his reason for coming, and he couldn't miss this opportunity.

“I do indeed have quite a few books here, but they are mostly works on painting and calligraphy. There aren’t many cultivation techniques. As for those for Martial Artist Six-dan, I only have a few, and they are all in my study. Come, I’ll show you!” Master Lu Chen stroked his beard with a smile and stood up first.

“Master, your study…” Steward Cheng Bo couldn’t help but step forward. The master’s study contained many rare single copies from renowned artists, incredibly precious. Outsiders were never allowed inside; even His Majesty Shen Zhui had been stopped at the door last time! A maid who unknowingly entered to clean had even been summarily executed! Because of this, the study was an absolute forbidden zone within the Lu manor; no one dared to enter… Yet now, the master was taking a young man he had just met inside, which left the steward bewildered.

“I don’t allow others into my study to avoid worldly auras. Young Brother Zhang Xuan is one of my generation, a master of painting and calligraphy. It would be an honor for him to enter and offer his guidance. What is there to prevent that?” Master Lu Chen’s expression turned stern.

“Yes!” Cheng Bo quickly retreated to the side. Although he knew nothing about painting and calligraphy, he understood at that moment that there was definitely no problem with what the young man had just said! Otherwise, the master’s attitude would not have done a complete 180, becoming so amiable.

“Let’s go!” Master Lu Chen led the way forward, with Zhang Xuan following behind. After walking for a while, they arrived at a spacious room.

True to Huang Yu’s effusive praise, the study’s collection of books was indeed vast. The shelves were filled with all kinds of books, at least several hundred thousand volumes. Entering it was like stepping into a library. Walking among the bookshelves, a casual glance confirmed what the other person had said: almost all the books were related to painting and calligraphy, with hardly any cultivation techniques or secret manuals.

“The cultivation techniques are over here. There are only a few, just ones I casually discarded after I finished cultivating them!” Master Lu Chen said with a smile, leading Zhang Xuan towards a corner of the study.