Chapter 292: Zhao Ya and the Others Arrive

"The winter plum absorbs spiritual energy to grow... this is a fifth-level painting?"

"He spat some water, and it became fifth-level?"

"Isn't that a bit too exaggerated?"

Everyone's faces twisted, eyes wide with shock.

A wild beast just ran around on the rice paper, rolled over, and it was nothing at all, but then it shook itself and became a third-level work!

And it didn't stop there—a torch dried it to fourth-level... a spray of water added a scene of falling snow, advancing to fifth-level...

Damn!

You're not a calligrapher... you're a juggler, right?

A fifth-level painting is something only a three-star calligrapher can produce, yet he did it with a wild beast...

How crazy is that?

Everyone looked at Zhang Xuan again, as if staring at a monster.

Previously, they had dismissed him as a boastful, pretentious ignorant youth, but now they realized he might truly be a master of uncanny skill and unfathomable depth.

A work that seemed unremarkable was forcibly elevated to fifth-level!

It was like magic, dazzling and unbelievable.

"This... this..."

The two vice presidents' lips trembled.

This was too outrageous!

Under twenty years old, producing a fifth-level work—such talent would rank highly even in the Calligraphers' Association!

And most crucially, anyone else, even a three-star calligrapher, would need to fast and bathe, make various preparations to produce a fifth-level work, but this guy just spat some water and did it...

Since when was a fifth-level work so easy?

"I actually competed with someone who can produce a fifth-level work?"

Young Master Ji Mo's face turned pale, wishing he could smash his head against a wall.

He cursed the other, and the other brought a wild beast to paint; he mocked the painting as worthless, and the other elevated it to third-level; he said cooperation wasn't worthy of a draw, and the other advanced it to fourth-level; now he even produced a fifth-level...

Are you here specifically to slap my face?

If I had known you were a super grandmaster of the fifth-level, I would never have provoked you, even if I were courting death!

Now look—trying to show off only made me look like a fool, everyone's laughing at me. From now on, forget about picking up girls, I probably won't even have the face to live...

"Check it—is it a fifth-level painting?"

Ignoring everyone's shock, Zhang Xuan returned to the two vice presidents.

"No need to check, it is."

The two vice presidents were already too stunned to speak.

A fifth-level painting can autonomously absorb spiritual energy and manifest form. Though it has no intelligence of its own, it can leave the painting and spread outward. Seeing this doesn't require much understanding of calligraphy—just not being blind...

As vice presidents and two-star peak calligraphers, how could they not see it?

"Then... can I receive the three-star calligrapher and painter badge?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

"This..."

Vice President Wu steadied the excitement in his heart, hesitated for a moment, and said, "In principle, yes. However, our branch only has one three-star calligrapher and painter, the president, and he's not here... He's not qualified to assess such a high level!"

"Not qualified?"

"Don't worry, Grandmaster Zhang..." Vice President Wu quickly waved his hand.

Previously addressing him as 'young brother,' he now changed to 'grandmaster.'

Being able to produce a fifth-level work meant his skill far surpassed theirs; even if they were older, they dared not overstep and call him 'brother.'

If they did, it would be a breach of etiquette.

Treating rank as nothing.

"As long as we send your painting to headquarters and have it reviewed by specialists, the rank badge will come down soon," Vice President Wu continued. "This... will take about ten days."

"Ten days?"

"Yes. However, we can't give you the three-star badge right now, but we can give you the two-star badge immediately."

Vice President Wu beckoned, and an apprentice came over. Before long, he brought a badge with two stars shining brightly.

The two-star calligrapher and painter badge! It represented the identity of a two-star calligrapher and painter.

"Hmm!" Zhang Xuan's face lit up with joy.

Clearly, he hadn't expected the assessment for calligrapher and painter to be so simple—just produce a work and directly receive the rank, unlike other professions with all sorts of tedious examinations.

"Grandmaster Zhang has produced a fifth-level work. Although he hasn't received the rank badge, he already possesses the strength of a three-star calligrapher and painter and can exercise his authority!"

Vice President Cheng Feng interjected.

"I can exercise my authority? Excellent. This calligrapher and painter, Ji Mo, has repeatedly provoked me. Now I declare that he be expelled from the guild and never allowed to return!"

Zhang Xuan turned to look over.

Hearing this, Ji Mo's face turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground.

The other party was a three-star calligrapher and painter, already able to issue a ban. Once recorded, every branch of the calligrapher and painter guild would receive the order and forbid him entry.

If he violated it, it would be tantamount to challenging the guild, and he could be killed on the spot!

He had thought that this bumpkin who appeared out of nowhere would be an easy target to slap in the face and make a name for himself, but he never dreamed he'd hit a rock... and end up battered and bruised!

"Calligrapher and painter Ji, you may leave now."

Hearing Zhang Xuan issue the order, Vice President Wu shook his head and had no choice but to speak.

Although they also found it somewhat harsh, since the two had competed, losing meant losing—there was nothing to say.

Moreover, compared to this Zhang Xuan, Ji Mo's so-called talent seemed utterly laughable.

Even a fool could see which one to choose.

"Yes!"

Full of reluctance, Ji Mo knew that once the ban was issued, there was no room for reversal. Unless he surpassed the other party's level, he would never be able to lift it.

"Swish!"

He stood up and walked out.

Staying here any longer would only bring more shame!

"Damn it, damn it!"

As soon as he left the guild's gate, Ji Mo looked up to the sky and let out a long roar, his eyes filled with intense murderous intent. "To have suffered such humiliation, I will never rest until you are dead! Come!"

"Young master!"

After he shouted, a figure appeared not far away.

"Investigate for me, find out exactly who this fellow is. If necessary, you may... kill him!"

He waved his hand grandly.

As the young master of the Ji family, one of the three great families in the royal city, to be so harshly humiliated by an unknown nobody—the fury in his heart could no longer be contained.

"Yes!"

The figure nodded, then with a flicker of his body, vanished into the darkness.

...

"Where is your library?"

Having obtained the status of a formal painter, Zhang Xuan did not leave in haste but instead asked.

Previously, he had only read books on painting and calligraphy at Master Luchen's home; these were merely basics, sufficient for low-level works, but not enough for further improvement.

Since he was now a formal painter and here at the guild, he might as well take a look and see if he could learn more.

"Grandmaster Zhang, this way please!"

Vice President Wu led the way.

Before long, they arrived at a massive room.

"This is our guild's library!" Vice President Wu pointed inside.

Zhang Xuan nodded. "I'll go in and look around for a while. Don't let anyone disturb me!"

With that, he walked in with his hands behind his back.

The library of the Painters' Guild was indeed much larger than Master Luchen's; it was filled with countless books and works, an immense collection.

Seeing that Vice President Wu and the others had not followed him in, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and began to run his fingers over the books on the first shelf, one after another.

One by one, the books were absorbed into his mind.

...

While Zhang Xuan was continuously collecting books in the Painters' Guild, outside the Tianwu Royal City, a huge flying beast descended, and several figures jumped off its back.

"So this is Tianwu Royal City?"

A young man looked at the towering city walls, his eyes filled with excitement.

"Yes!"

An old man in the crowd stroked his beard and smiled.

"First we took a carriage to the North Wu Kingdom, then borrowed their royal flying beast, traveled without rest, and it took a whole month to get here. The territory of the Tianwu Kingdom is truly vast!"

Another girl smiled, revealing her beautiful face, and blinked her eyes. "Do you think Teacher has arrived yet?"

"I heard from Teacher Shen that after Teacher Zhang left the Beast Hall, he was heading to the Red Lotus Mountain Range. He probably has some business to attend to, so he might not be here yet. But it doesn't matter—he will definitely come to take the master teacher exam. We just need to wait here!"

Another girl spoke.

The first girl seemed a bit shy, while this one was valiant and spirited, giving off an aura of heroic vigor. Her beauty was extraordinary, as if she had stepped out of a painting.

"Let's not stay here; let's enter the city first!"

Interrupting their discussion, the old man who had spoken earlier said, "Let me say this in advance: the Tianwu Kingdom is a first-class kingdom, not a small place like the Tianxuan Kingdom. Be careful in everything you do. A single misstep might offend some formidable people. Although the Master Teacher Guild can usually resolve ordinary matters, it's still troublesome. Everyone should be cautious!"

"Yes!" several of them responded.

Seeing that they had agreed, the old man nodded and continued, "It's already dark now. Let's enter the royal city, find a place to stay, and rest well. Then tomorrow morning, I'll inquire through the Master Teacher Hall whether Senior Zhang has arrived. Before Senior Zhang returns, all of you must break through to the Strength Realm; otherwise, I won't be able to face him!"

"Rest assured, Teacher Liu!"

Hearing the instructions, they all nodded simultaneously.

If Zhang Xuan had been there, he would surely have recognized them—they were his five students, along with Teacher Liu, Lu Xun, Huang Yu, and the others.

After Zhang Xuan left the Hongtian Academy and entered the forest, they too had headed toward the North Wu Kingdom.

They traveled by carriage for over ten days to get there.

Then Teacher Liu, relying on his connections, borrowed a flying beast from the North Wu royal family, which sped up their journey.

However, this beast was incomparable to Zhang Xuan's Xiaotian Beast; it had only the strength of the Tongxuan Realm and took a full ten days to fly here.

In other words, with all the transfers along the way, they had taken nearly a month to reach the Tianwu Royal City before them.

Over this long period, Zhao Ya and the others had also made considerable progress in their cultivation.

The secret manuals Zhang Xuan had left were all improved by the Library of Heaven's Path, inherently powerful. Coupled with Teacher Liu's constant guidance, it was hard for them not to improve quickly.

Zhao Ya, having awakened her constitution, had already reached the peak of the Strength Realm. Now, with acupoints flickering on her body, she had opened two acupoints, becoming a genuine Acupoint Opening Realm expert.

As for Zheng Yang and the others, they had also made great progress, all reaching the peak of the fourth stage of martial artist, the Skin and Bone Realm, just one step away from the Strength Realm.

The weakest in cultivation was naturally Yuan Tao, but he had also reached the middle stage of the Skin and Bone Realm, with formidable defensive capabilities. Even Zhao Ya's attacks felt like nothing to him. It could be said that even a peak Acupoint Opening Realm expert would find it hard to break through his defense—he was an absolute human shield.

As for their progress, Lu Xun, as an apprentice following Teacher Liu, had also improved considerably. After a month of cultivation, he had broken through his bottleneck and reached the initial stage of the Tongxuan Realm.

As for Huang Yu, she had also smoothly advanced from the peak of the Strength Realm to the Acupoint Opening Realm.

Of course, the one who had improved the most was Teacher Liu, Liu Ling.

Back in the Tianxuan Kingdom, 'Teacher Yang' had given him guidance. Now, he had broken through the bottleneck that had troubled him for years and become a Zongshi Realm expert.

The power within him surged, full of momentum.

"Alright, let's go in!"

Led by Teacher Liu, they did not need to pay an entry fee and smoothly entered the royal city.

Once inside, Zhao Ya and the others were immediately captivated by the prosperity of Tianwu Royal City, their eyes wide with excitement.

"Let's stay here!"

After walking along the street for a while, they spotted an inn in the distance. Teacher Liu led them inside and arranged for their stay.

"Teacher Liu, on the way here, I saw the Painters' Guild nearby. I'd like to... go and take the apprentice exam!"

Just after settling everyone, Lu Xun approached, his face full of anticipation.

"For the master teacher exam later, auxiliary professions must also be studied. Go ahead!"

Teacher Liu waved his hand.

"Yes!" Lu Xun nodded and walked out.