Chapter 159: A Fraud?

"Reading?"

Lu Chen and Yuan Yu exchanged glances, full of bewilderment.

We asked you to paint, anything at all, just show your true skill...

Reading?

What does that have to do with painting?

Bai Xun and Huang Yu, who were waiting to witness Zhang Xuan's grand display, were also completely dumbfounded.

He's about to paint, and only now thinks of reading... That's a bit too late to cram!

The key is... big brother, at your level, is reading even useful?

"Yes!"

Seeing everyone's strange looks, Zhang Xuan suppressed his embarrassment.

He really had no other choice.

Painting?

He wished he were a master, able to instantly paint at the third or fourth realm, showing off his prowess and cutting a fine figure.

But in reality... he couldn't even hold a brush properly, didn't know how to use a paintbrush... How could he paint?

The Library of Heaven's Path could see all flaws and copy all books for his use, but it couldn't instantly turn him into a true master of calligraphy and painting—unless he saw enough painting methods to form a special Heaven's Path manual!

Things formed by the library from correct methods were very easy to cultivate, yielding twice the result with half the effort... If it worked, he might truly become a master in a short time.

"What kind of books do you want to read? Could it be that young friend... has hit a bottleneck in calligraphy and painting?"

After a long while, Master Lu Chen couldn't help asking.

Calligraphy and painting, like martial arts, also have bottlenecks. Many people can reach the third realm after a few years of study, but many more spend their entire lives unable to reach even the first realm.

He really couldn't figure it out. After hesitating for a long time, he thought perhaps this young man had hit a bottleneck and was seeking a breakthrough.

Otherwise, why would he want to read just as he was about to paint?

The two were completely unrelated, poles apart!

"It's not that... it's... my state of mind still can't freely transition. Before each painting, I need to read a lot of books to relax, so I can produce higher quality works!"

After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xuan came up with a reason.

He couldn't very well tell them that he didn't even know how to hold a brush at his age, and that he wanted to read... to learn...

If he actually said that, he'd probably be beaten to death on the spot as a lunatic.

Calligraphy and painting are even harder than martial arts. To reach the level of Lu Chen and Yuan Yu, decades of effort, countless wasted sheets of paper, and many worn-out brushes are necessary. To know nothing and think you can learn just by reading for a while...

Isn't that a dream?

Even if you want to lie, at least make it somewhat plausible...

"A good work is related to state of mind, luck, opportunity... At your young age, if you can't adjust your state of mind, it's indeed hard to paint impressive works."

Master Yuan Yu on the side nodded in agreement.

Master Lu Chen didn't object either.

Calligraphy and painting are art, not fists. You can't exert a certain force; even if you're in a bad state, you can still get close to your best.

If you can't find the right state, no matter how well you paint, it will only have form without spirit, not a true treasure.

"It's my habit... Huh?"

Just as he was about to continue explaining, he was surprised that the two masters didn't refute him. Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

But then he understood.

Art is universal across worlds.

Back then, Wang Xizhi wrote the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection while drunk, and when he sobered up and tried to rewrite it, he found he couldn't surpass it. That's state of mind.

It's like Master Yuan Yu here; his best work is that painting of river birds. Even if you gave him paper and brush now and asked him to repaint it, he definitely couldn't.

Everyone has a peak work that involves many factors. Saying he's not in the right state and wants to read to adjust is perfectly reasonable.

"Lu Chen, don't you have quite a few books and rare editions on calligraphy and painting in your study? Let young friend Zhang Xuan go in and take a look. We'll wait here for him to adjust, and then he can show us his painting skills!"

Master Yuan Yu said.

"My study?"

Lu Chen's mouth twitched.

Last time this guy broke through, he left the study in a mess, and he's still shaken by the memory.

But he also wanted to see what level the other had reached, so he nodded: "Alright, A Cheng, take young friend Zhang there!"

"Thank you, Master!"

Seeing he had bluffed his way through, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and followed the steward Cheng Bo to the study again.

Last time he came, he was looking for martial arts manuals for the sixth level of the Martial Artist realm, the Aperture Opening Realm. This time, it was to read books on calligraphy and painting—something he himself hadn't expected.

...

As Zhang Xuan entered the study, the atmosphere in the reception hall was somewhat strange.

"Adjusting state of mind by reading... Master Lu, I've never heard of such a precedent before," Huang Yu couldn't help saying.

As an apprentice of a master teacher, she was well-traveled and knowledgeable. To be honest, she had never seen such an odd behavior in all her life.

"State of mind adjustment varies from person to person; it's hard to say." Lu Chen didn't answer. Master Yuan Yu pondered for a moment and then spoke: "Actually, it's related to habits. There was once a strong practitioner who, before becoming famous, was a woodcutter..."

"I know, Master, are you referring to the Old Man Deerwood?" Bai Xun said.

The Old Man Deerwood's real name was Lu Chuan. Because he made a living selling firewood before becoming famous, he was called Deerwood.

He reached the peak of the Profound Connection Realm, unmatched in the entire Tianxuan Kingdom, and was renowned for a time.

From a lowly woodcutter to a great master shaking the kingdom, the Old Man Deerwood was always an inspiration, motivating young people. Many knew his story.

"Correct, it's the Old Man Deerwood. You know his rise to fame and his hard training, but you don't know that before fighting, he also adjusted his state of mind. His method was chopping wood. He often locked himself in a room and chopped wood for a whole day, allowing his state of mind and condition to reach their peak."

"Now that Brother Yuan mentions it, I recall too. A hundred years ago, there was a famous master known as 'One Sword Calms the River,' the lone swordsman Wu Jiangping. I heard that before becoming famous, he was a bamboo weaver. Before every battle, he adjusted his state of mind by weaving baskets, which allowed his strength to reach the Profound Connection Realm, earning everyone's respect!"

Master Lu Chen said.

"Yes, there are many such examples. This young friend Zhang Xuan needing to read to adjust his state of mind is not strange, but..."

Yuan Yu paused here.

"Brother Yuan, please speak freely!"

Lu Chen smiled and looked over.

"Just now when you were painting, I watched him for a while and deliberately questioned Huang Yu and Bai Xun. I found that... he seemed completely clueless, as if he knew nothing about calligraphy and painting, and even... didn't see anything!"

Recalling the earlier incident, Yuan Yu shook his head: "Brother Lu previously said that he could even see through your 'Summer-Autumn Painting' and 'Red Rooster Crowing at Heaven,' so he shouldn't have had that expression!"

Master Yuan Yu was a physician, skilled in keen observation. Zhang Xuan's shocked expression when he saw Master Lu Chen painting, without much concealment, was clearly seen by him.

"Doesn't understand? That's impossible, right?"

Master Lu Chen, lacking his observational skills, found it hard to believe.

This Zhang Xuan, as soon as he entered his courtyard, saw through his arrangement, which was like a painting. Then he peeled off the paper of the Summer-Autumn Painting, saw the hidden content, and even pointed out the mistake in the Red Rooster Crowing at Heaven painting...

Such insight was even stronger than his own. How could he know nothing about calligraphy and painting?

"I just feel that way; I might be mistaken..."

Master Yuan Yu shook his head.

As for Zhang Xuan, he was really curious.

Before he came in, Master Lu Chen had described him as rare on earth and scarce in heaven, which piqued his curiosity. But when he actually saw him, to be honest, he was somewhat disappointed.

Masters of calligraphy and painting all have a unique temperament. This guy showed none of it. When talking about painting, he was hesitant and stammering, making one suspect—if not for the sake of his old friend's face—he would have directly asked.

If he truly understood calligraphy and painting at a level not inferior to theirs, he shouldn't be like this.

"Could it be... he knows nothing? Is he actually pretending?"

A thought suddenly emerged, and Master Yuan Yu frowned.

If he reasoned this way, many things would make sense.

Because he knew nothing, when asked to paint, he made excuses and claimed he needed to read.

Completely ignorant of painting, seeing Lu Chen paint, he was utterly confused, even inferior to Huang Yu and Bai Xun.

Indeed, under twenty, even if he knew a lot about calligraphy and painting, what level could he reach?

He probably investigated his old friend's paintings beforehand, deliberately spoke them out, pretended to know everything, but was actually a fraud.

If so, he needed to warn his old friend to be careful. He would have to remind him later.

"Brother Yuan, aren't you supposed to visit someone this afternoon? Won't waiting like this delay you?"

Just as he was thinking how to broach the subject, he heard Master Lu Chen's voice.

"Oh, I heard a master teacher named Yang Xuan has come to the royal city. He solved the problems of Ling Tianyu's wife and Du Miaoxuan, with extraordinary methods. So I want to go and see."

Master Yuan Yu nodded.

Ling Tianyu's wife and Du Miaoxuan were both his patients. He had tried to solve their physical problems but never succeeded. Unexpectedly, this master teacher named Yang Xuan solved them all in a short time. As a medical master, he naturally wanted to visit, hoping to receive guidance and advance further in the medical path.

"Master teacher?" Master Lu Chen was full of disbelief.

He usually lived in seclusion; he didn't know that Yang Xuan had become famous in the royal city.

"Yes, how about we go visit together this afternoon? I know in calligraphy and painting, you've always wanted to break through to the fourth realm but haven't succeeded. Perhaps with guidance from a master teacher, you can make a breakthrough!"

Master Yuan Yu laughed.

"Alright, it's settled. After testing them, we'll go!" Master Lu Chen nodded excitedly.

...

Zhang Xuan arrived at Master Lu Chen's residence to test Huang Yu and the others, but in the classroom came a youth carrying a long spear, Mo Xiao, Zheng Yang's childhood friend and close companion.

The two had both apprenticed under Wang Chao. Mo Xiao succeeded, while Zheng Yang became Zhang Xuan's student.

"I just learned a spear technique these days and came specifically to spar with you!"

Mo Xiao shook his long spear, his whole body seeming to merge with it, emitting a sharp aura that chilled the brows.

"Good!"

Zheng Yang also raised his long spear, standing proudly, unyielding.