Chapter 158: Your Turn

"However, since you've only been exposed to calligraphy and painting for a very short time, asking you to pick up a brush and paint as an assessment would not only be ineffective but also an insult to the profession of calligraphy and painting. So, Yuan Yu and I discussed it and came up with a method of assessment."

Huang Yu and Bai Xun had been exposed to calligraphy and painting for less than a month at most. If they were asked to paint now, what could they produce? If they really did that, they would surely embarrass themselves. So, Master Lu Chen's assessment was not to have them paint.

Having said this, he smiled and continued, "That is... I, Yuan Yu, and young friend Zhang Xuan will paint, and you will appreciate and comment. Whoever's comments are the most pertinent will take the Ink Pavilion Painting!"

"Paint? Huh?"

Zhang Xuan, who was sitting drinking tea and planning to just make up the numbers, stumbled upon hearing this, nearly spraying a mouthful of tea all over the old man's face.

"Are you kidding me? I'm just here to fill a spot. Asking me to paint... are you testing them or testing me?"

"I don't even know how to hold a brush. How can I paint?"

"I think... I'd better not paint..." Zhang Xuan said, looking dejected.

"Don't refuse. In literary gatherings, people often write poems and compose verses. It's rare that you and Brother Yuan are both here. Let's also have an exchange through painting, so these youngsters can see the true charm of calligraphy and painting. Who knows, they might truly take a liking to it and become great masters in the future."

Master Lu Chen stroked his beard and smiled.

Zhang Xuan was about to cry.

"Did you even listen to me?"

"I mean, I don't want to participate in any painting, nor do I want to paint. And you go on about exchanging through painting..."

"Exchange my foot!"

"Ahem, really, no need. You two just paint. Look, I haven't prepared anything today..."

Zhang Xuan had to make himself clearer.

"I've prepared the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Young friend, don't be so formal. Treat this place as your own home. Paint freely, and let them see!" Master Lu Chen continued.

"Formal? See?"

"That's not my point at all, okay?"

"Alright, A Cheng, go prepare the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Xiao Yu, Bai Xun, while we paint, watch carefully and treat it as a learning experience!"

Lu Chen, thinking he was just being shy, waved his hand with a smile.

"Yes!" Steward Cheng Bo waved his hand, and several maids brought three sets of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, placing them in front of them.

Zhang Xuan's eyebrows twitched.

He couldn't even draw with a pencil, let alone a brush...

If he had known today's assessment would be like this, he would never have come even if it killed him.

"Since we're meeting through painting, we won't set a theme!" Once everything was ready, Master Lu Chen looked smilingly at Master Yuan Yu: "Brother Yuan, you're the guest, so you go first!"

"Alright, I'll make a fool of myself!"

Master Yuan Yu smiled, stroked his beard, stood in front of the table, picked up the brush, pondered for a moment, and began to paint.

His brush moved like a dragon and snake. Originally, his face was full of kindness, but once he started painting, his demeanor changed completely, like a master who finds it hard to meet a kindred spirit in the high mountains and flowing waters, inspiring admiration.

"Painting is divided into four levels: Recording Reality, Vitality, Conception, and Startling Beauty. Recording Reality means recording facts; the painting is identical to the scene seen in reality. Although it is vivid, it is the lowest level."

As Master Yuan Yu began to paint, Master Lu Chen smiled and explained to everyone.

"Vitality means the painted scene is no longer rigid but imbued with spiritual energy, making it seem alive at a glance. For example, if you paint a fish, you feel the fish is alive and could swim out of the paper at any moment."

"The third level, Conception, means the conception precedes the brush, and the painting's meaning lingers after the brush stops! At this level, before painting, one must first have a conception in mind, so the painted picture can move people and make them immersed. My 'Summer-Autumn Painting' and 'Crimson Roar to the Sky' fortunately reached this level, so at a glance, it's as if the scroll is unfolding before you, giving a sense of being there."

"Brother Yuan and I have both reached this level. With luck and coincidence, we might create a fourth-level painting. The fourth level, Startling Beauty, refers to paintings where the people or objects in the painting have their own aura, to the point that even animals and savage beasts cannot distinguish them. The Ink Pavilion Painting that Xiao Yu wants is like this, as is Brother Yuan's 'River Bird Painting'."

"Oh!"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

He had thought that in painting, whoever painted more realistically was better. Only after hearing the explanation did he realize that painting realistically... was just the lowest level.

Only when a work contains one's own spirit and embodies a unique conception can it be considered a true masterpiece.

As they spoke, the picture under Master Yuan Yu's brush gradually unfolded.

It was a painting of a mountain forest with birds. In a quiet forest, two birds were flying. Although they were motionless in the air, it gave a feeling of melodious birdsong, as if one were instantly in the forest, surrounded by birdsong and the fragrance of flowers.

"Master Lu, is this a painting of the Conception level?"

Huang Yu couldn't help asking.

Being able to give such a feeling indicated that this painting already contained a profound conception, making it hard to let go at first glance.

"Yes!" Master Lu Chen nodded: "This painting has indeed reached the Conception level, but it has only just reached it. As for why I say that, you need to appreciate and comment. Whoever answers correctly wins."

"Yes!" Huang Yu and Bai Xun both focused their gazes on it.

After a short while, Master Yuan Yu stopped his brush.

This mountain forest bird painting was completely finished.

"Hehe, I haven't painted for many days, so my brushwork has become a bit rusty. I've made a fool of myself!" Putting down the brush, Master Yuan Yu smiled: "Lu Chen, your turn!"

"Alright!" Master Lu Chen did not decline. He stepped up to the table, and his brush moved swiftly, the ink penetrating the paper.

Although both were third-level masters of calligraphy and painting, Lu Chen was clearly more adept and relaxed in his painting.

His painting was of a river, with a small boat floating in it. There were no towering waves, no violent storms, yet it gave a feeling of sailing against the wind and battling the huge waves. The person on the boat, though sketched with just a few strokes, carried a resolute determination to face dangers and forge ahead, inspiring excitement at a glance.

"Brother Lu is still the more skilled!"

Before the painting was even finished, Master Yuan Yu couldn't help sighing in admiration.

Although he was also good at painting and had a considerable reputation, compared to Lu Chen, he was still far behind.

The mountain forest bird painting was not weak, and its conception was not bad, but when carefully examined, it fell short compared to the conception of Lu Chen's painting.

He had only depicted the tranquility and bustle of the mountain forest, while the other had revealed the inner struggle, showing a level of skill that was more than a notch higher.

"So? Can you see anything?"

After his exclamation, Master Yuan Yu looked smilingly at Bai Xun and Huang Yu.

"In Master Lu's River Flow Painting, I can see that he used three painting methods and twelve brush techniques, and it seems to bear the influence of the renowned calligraphy and painting master Chen Jiao from eighty years ago." Huang Yu thought for a moment and said.

Chen Jiao was a famous female calligraphy and painting master in the Tianxuan Kingdom, renowned for a time. Her brushwork was delicate, and she excelled in landscapes, especially painting water, which was considered unparalleled. She was hailed as the best in the Tianxuan Kingdom in three hundred years.

"I see it too..." Bai Xun quickly chimed in.

"Hmm, you have some discernment!"

Master Yuan Yu nodded with a smile.

"Three painting methods? Twelve brush techniques?"

Zhang Xuan on the side was speechless.

As far as he could tell, Master Lu Chen was just scribbling with a brush; he couldn't see anything special.

Although through the golden books, he had converted all the books he had read since his rebirth into his own knowledge, they were almost all about techniques, martial skills, and alchemy. He had basically never read books on calligraphy and painting, so he was almost completely ignorant.

"Haha, Brother Yuan is being modest!"

As he spoke, Master Lu Chen also finished painting this River Flow Painting. He laughed and walked over: "I traveled along the Benma River a few days ago and accumulated many days of emotions. Inspired by that, I could be a bit better. Brother Yuan spends all his time treating patients and saving lives; he doesn't have as much leisure as I do. If he could open his heart and devote himself to calligraphy and painting like me, I'm afraid I would be far behind!"

"Painting requires talent. I feel that my talent is inferior to yours, which is why I turned to medicine!"

Master Yuan Yu shook his head.

"Alright, let's not flatter each other, us two old fellows. If we're talking about true talent, it has to be young friend Zhang Xuan. Under twenty, with such profound insights into the art of painting, he must be no weaker than us two old fogies in painting itself."

Master Lu Chen smiled and shook his head, then looked over and made a 'please' gesture: "Now that we've both finished painting, young friend Zhang Xuan, your turn!"

Swish.

As his words fell, everyone's gazes turned to him.

Master Yuan Yu also nodded, his eyes filled with curiosity.

He had heard about Zhang Xuan from Lu Chen. Although he had no doubt about the latter's words, seeing how young he was, he still found it hard to believe.

The art of calligraphy and painting is different from martial arts. It's not just about high talent; one also needs many insights into life and existence to deepen one's understanding. Even he himself, after treating countless patients and gaining new insights, had made rapid progress in calligraphy and painting to reach his current level.

This Zhang Xuan was under twenty. Even if he was naturally suited for calligraphy and painting, he could at most have a solid foundation and reach the Recording Reality level. To reach Vitality or Conception... he would probably need much more tempering.

Of course, he didn't say this out loud, as it would be impolite.

Now, hearing Master Lu Chen ask him to paint, he couldn't help wanting to see what level this guy could achieve.

Even Bai Xun and Huang Yu looked excited.

Last time, Zhang Xuan had displayed great prowess, pointing out errors and flaws in the painting, commanding the scene with eloquence, earning everyone's admiration. They also wanted to know what level this Teacher Zhang, not much older than them, had reached to make even Master Lu sincerely convinced.

"Me?"

Seeing everyone's eager gazes, Zhang Xuan's head started to ache again.

He had thought the other was just casually saying it, but they really wanted him to paint.

How could he paint when he knew nothing?

He couldn't just draw a chick, add a halo, and call it a divine bird phoenix.

If he did that, he probably wouldn't need to leave today; he'd be beaten to death on the spot.

"This... this... can I read a book first before painting?"

Scratching his head, suppressing his embarrassment, Zhang Xuan said.