Chapter 291: Five-Realm Painting, Done!

"There's such a saying?"

"He can even know the composition of the ink and the wet soil on the savage beast before painting? Is he even human?"

…

The others, hearing the explanation, also widened their eyes as if listening to a celestial book.

Casually grabbing a savage beast to paint, and directly producing a Startling Swan Realm work that only a two-star calligrapher could make... Brother, do you have to be so heaven-defying?

"Vice President Cheng, your eyesight is truly exceptional!"

Hearing the other state the reason, Zhang Xuan praised.

Although what the other said differed somewhat from the truth, it was roughly similar.

The Green Plague Beast indeed had wet soil on it—how could it be so coincidental that it all appeared beside the plum blossoms?

Naturally, he had secretly manipulated it.

However, since the other said so, he didn't bother to explain.

"You just said that if this is a four-realm painting, you would admit defeat. Do you still have anything 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 went weak, and he fell to the ground, his face turning pale.

He had thought the finished work was set in stone, with no possibility of change, never dreaming that the other had hidden a backup plan in the painting!

A torch's heat, and it rose a realm...

Young Master Ji Mo felt thunderclaps in his head and nearly burst into tears.

Why, when you had nothing better to do, did you have to provoke this guy? Even if you did, the draw earlier was fine, but you had to show off—now look at the mess: you dug a pit for yourself, and you have to jump in whether you like it or not.

Full of dejection, he couldn't help looking at Vice President Cheng.

Vice President Cheng initially didn't want to bother, but after hesitating, he finally sighed: "May I ask how this young friend is called?"

"Zhang Xuan!"

"Young friend Zhang, both you and Calligrapher Ji are pillars of the guild. Could you, for my sake... let the bet be dropped?" Vice President Cheng Feng said.

Ji Mo had brought this on himself; declaring a draw had already helped him, yet he was still unsatisfied and insisted on pushing to the death.

Now, with the other not even moving and elevating the painting to four realms, there was no way to avoid admitting defeat.

But once he admitted defeat, he would have to fulfill the previous bet, and this bet, whether for a genius or for the guild, was too great a loss.

"Drop it? Sorry, 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 Calligrapher Guild and never come back."

This guy provoked him once or twice; he couldn't be bothered to care, but repeated provocations—then don't blame him for being rude.

"This..."

Hearing this, Vice Presidents Wu and Cheng exchanged glances, shook their heads simultaneously, and said no more.

If you lose a bet, you have to honor it; otherwise, if word gets out that the dignified Calligrapher Guild is shielding a loser, how can it stand in Tianwu Royal City?

Seeing that Zhang Xuan didn't yield even after the vice president pleaded, Ji Mo's face turned ashen: "I apologize to you!"

With that, he knelt down, his eyes glaring as if at a mortal enemy: "I was wrong; I shouldn't have provoked you. I apologize to you!"

"Get lost!"

Knowing the apology wasn't sincere, Zhang Xuan didn't care; to him, the other was just a clown.

"Get lost?"

Young Master Ji Mo stood up, a venomous look in his eyes, and sneered coldly: "Hmph, I lost the bet, but do you have the right to keep me out of the Calligrapher Guild? Even if I leave today, I can come back tomorrow. As a formal calligrapher of the guild, a mere bet wants to restrict me? Dream on!"

"This..."

Hearing his sneer, the surrounding crowd mostly felt contempt but also nodded in agreement.

No matter how bad Young Master Ji Mo was, he was still a calligrapher who had passed the formal assessment. A bet might make him leave temporarily, but it was obviously impossible to keep him from entering the guild.

"Can't restrict you?" Zhang Xuan stroked his chin, thoughtful.

"That's right, unless you guard the guild every day, I'll still come back! Haha, I lost this time, but you didn't win either!"

Young Master Ji Mo wore an expression of 'what can you do to me?'

Indeed, no one could stay at the Calligrapher Guild forever; as soon as he left, he could come back.

A mere bet—if I don't follow it, what can you do to me?

"I won't guard here every day. If you really come in while I'm away, it would indeed make me lose face!"

When a man is shameless, he's invincible. He had thought this guy, who had so many beauties smitten, would care about face.

Unexpectedly, he was so brazen. Seeing the other's shamelessness, Zhang Xuan had to nod: "This is indeed a problem... but it's not a big deal; solving it is simple!"

"Simple? Unless you're a three-star calligrapher and have the authority to issue a ban order, otherwise, wanting to keep me out is a dream..."

Young Master Ji Mo snorted.

Only a three-star calligrapher had the privilege to issue a ban order, banning certain people from ever entering. Even if Zhang Xuan was very skilled in painting, he was at most a two-star; it was impossible for him to achieve that.

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

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

"Take the exam for three-star calligrapher first?"

"Hasn't this guy woken up yet? He says he wants to take the three-star calligrapher exam?"

"What a joke! He can produce a four-realm painting, which is indeed impressive, but compared to a three-star calligrapher, he's still far off!"

Everyone was stunned, nearly fainting.

A three-star calligrapher—only the president of the entire Tianwu Kingdom Calligrapher Guild had achieved that. The difficulty was unimaginable. You say you'll take the exam just like that?

Such a big mouth—aren't you afraid of hurting your back?

Even the two vice presidents exchanged glances and couldn't help shaking their heads.

Young people nowadays are truly arrogant and ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth.

Although three-star and two-star differ by only one level, there's a vast chasm between them; otherwise, they wouldn't have been stuck at the peak of two-star for so many years without breaking through.

Not just them—in the entire Tianwu Kingdom Calligrapher Guild, there were over ten two-stars, but only one three-star. The difficulty was evident.

Take the exam just like that?

Truly, the ignorant have no fear!

"Haha! That's the funniest joke I've heard today!" Young Master Ji Mo sneered: "Don't think that just because you managed to produce a four-realm painting by luck, you can feel good about yourself. You're still far from taking the three-star exam!"

Ignoring this self-righteous Young Master Ji Mo, Zhang Xuan walked over to the two vice presidents, hesitated, and looked a bit embarrassed.

"Both of you, I came here to take the calligrapher exam. Um... I'd like to ask first, how do I take the apprentice exam?"

Thud!

Everyone fell to the ground.

Damn it, just now you arrogantly said you'd take the three-star calligrapher exam, and now you're asking how to take the apprentice exam...

Brother, haven't you woken up yet?

Besides, you just produced a four-realm painting, comparable to a two-star calligrapher—how could you not even know how to take the apprentice exam?

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

Realizing something, Vice President Wu couldn't help asking.

"Ahem, I really haven't taken the exam. I came here today to try taking it..."

Zhang Xuan nodded matter-of-factly.

Pfft!

Eyes popped out again.

The two vice presidents swayed simultaneously, almost spitting blood.

Not even an apprentice, and you dare to challenge and bet with a formal calligrapher... You're way too bold!

And, not even an apprentice, yet you can control a savage beast to easily produce a four-realm work, with insight and skill that even they can't match?

Are you sure you're not messing with us?

Most importantly, your tone is relaxed, as if you don't care at all...

Others spend who knows how much effort to become a calligrapher, but from your tone, it's like playing around...

Well!

This guy does seem to have that ability.

Suppressing his frustration, Vice President Wu explained.

"Calligraphy isn't like other professions, which require step-by-step progression from apprentice. As long as you can produce a work, it shows your strength. Being able to produce a one-realm realistic work qualifies you as an apprentice. Being able to produce a two-realm lively work qualifies you as a one-star calligrapher. Since you just produced a four-realm work, you can apply for a two-star calligrapher identity."

"Eh? That simple?"

Unexpectedly, the calligrapher exam was much easier than other professions. Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help asking: "What about the three-star exam?"

"For three-star calligrapher, you must reach the fifth realm of painting, where the work becomes animated. This realm is as different from the fourth as heaven and earth. Only the president of the guild has achieved it!"

Seeing he was still fixated, Vice President Wu advised: "At your age, being able to produce a four-realm painting is already very talented, and you haven't even studied formally. If you find a teacher and study hard, within ten years, you'll definitely be able to paint a five-realm work and pass the three-star exam. For now, there's no need to rush!"

The gap between the fourth and fifth realms is immeasurable, like the difference between Tongxuan and Grandmaster in cultivation.

The Cold Plum Painting you just made, though it reached the fourth realm, was only achieved through opportunism and barely entered it.

There's still a long way to go before the fifth realm. Wanting to run before learning to walk... isn't that a bit too hasty?

"Vice President Wu is right. At your age, having such ability and such strong talent is the first I've seen in all my years. As for three-star, it's better to..."

Vice President Cheng Feng also chimed in to dissuade, but before he finished, he saw the young man turn and walk out, stopping before the 'Cold Plum Painting.'

From somewhere, he brought a bowl of water, took a sip, and then fiercely sprayed it onto the rice paper before him.

Splash!

Water droplets fell on the painting, and the previously blank areas instantly revealed patches of white, like falling snow, setting off the entire plum tree standing proudly in the snow, defying heaven and earth.

Hum!

With a soft chime, spiritual energy swirled around, and plum blossoms suddenly grew out of the rice paper, the flowers spreading upward endlessly, as if contending with the sky and dueling with fate.

"Done!"

Putting the bowl on the table, Zhang Xuan clapped his hands, looked at the two vice presidents, and pointed casually.

"A five-realm painting..."

"Done!"