Chapter 164: This Wretched Beast

"What, don't want it anymore?"

Seeing the silence around, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"No..."

Huang Yu quickly waved his hand.

"Good, then I'll paint it now..."

Zhang Xuan wasted no time. He took out a piece of white paper, held the brush with both hands, and splashed ink with bold strokes. Before long, another image appeared.

This time it was no longer a courtyard but a meadow. On it stood a wild deer, warily grazing, surrounded by wildflowers. As the scene took shape, countless bees were drawn to it, and then the deer seemed to come alive, leaping out of the painting and gradually dissipating into the air.

"Another fifth-level work!"

"This..."

Master Yuan Yu and the others were dumbfounded.

When others painted a fifth-level work, even grandmasters struggled desperately, sparing no effort, and a single painting cost half their life. But this fellow, after painting one as if nothing happened, immediately painted another...

Did he have to be so freakish?

Did he have to be so arrogant?

Had the world changed, or was he just too strong, making fifth-level paintings as easy as eating and drinking?

"Do you two want one? Also two hundred thousand each..."

While they were stunned, they saw this Grandmaster Zhang looking at them expectantly, eyes shining.

For him, fifth-level or fourth-level just took a bit more effort. He happened to be short of money, and painting to sell was much easier than showing off.

If you show off badly, you might get beaten to death...

"We... can also have one?" Yuan Yu and Lu Chen swallowed their saliva.

"As long as you pay, it's fine..." Zhang Xuan said.

"..."

The two staggered.

These were fifth-level paintings, not even found in the royal city, yet he casually painted and sold them for money...

Pfft!

Who said calligraphy and painting grandmasters all had lofty aspirations, were unsullied by the world, and regarded money as dirt?

Come out, and I'll beat you to death...

Before long, Zhang Xuan painted two more, both fifth-level works, moving the two masters to tears of excitement.

Such precious paintings, they actually bought them, and each got one...

In the past, this was something they wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Since Huang Yu and the others no longer wanted the Mo Xuan painting, the assessment lost its meaning. Moreover, the commotion Zhang Xuan caused was too great, making the two masters lose interest in continuing the assessment.

"Grandmaster Zhang, I'll prepare the two hundred thousand gold coins as soon as possible and deliver them to you!"

"I'll send them to the academy tomorrow!"

Yuan Yu and Lu Chen, with their abundant wealth, paid the two hundred thousand on the spot. Huang Yu and Bai Xun didn't have that much cash, but given their status, two hundred thousand wasn't enough for them to default.

Looking at the four hundred thousand in gold notes in hand, Zhang Xuan beamed like a flower.

He thought coming today was to repay a favor, but never dreamed he would still make a full profit.

If he added Huang Yu and Bai Xun's payments, this trip alone netted him eight hundred thousand gold coins!

When he cured Ling Tianyu's wife, he received one hundred thousand. From Du Miao Xuan, Wang Chong, Master Chen Xiao, Luo Chong... each gave about three hundred thousand on average. Adding it all up, the wealth in his hands had already reached over two million.

He was not far from the twenty-three million he needed to gather.

"Great!"

Clenching his fists, Zhang Xuan's eyes shone.

He thought earning over two million would be impossible without ten or eight years, but now it seemed not so difficult...

If others heard this, they would surely spit blood in his face.

Damn it, showing off like this, why don't you just die...

"Young friend Zhang Xuan, I'll take the liberty to call you younger brother. King Shen Zhuo will return tonight. I've sent word, and barring accidents, tomorrow I can take you to the royal library to read!"

Carefully putting away the paintings, Lu Chen said.

"Tomorrow? Good!"

Zhang Xuan quickly nodded.

His first visit to the Lu residence was to find books. If he could go to the royal library, he would surely be able to form the complete sixth-level Heavenly Dao technique, and even... the seventh-level technique!

The seventh level of martial arts, the Tongxuan realm, connects the acupoints, allowing true qi to flow through the body, with qi reaching the mysterious, greatly multiplying combat power. With such strength, even if he left the academy, he could be like a dragon entering the sea, an eagle soaring in the sky, roaming freely.

With Huang Yu and Bai Xun no longer assessing, and Yuan Yu and Lu Chen each obtaining fifth-level paintings, they were too excited to contain themselves. Zhang Xuan had no reason to stay, so he waved goodbye to everyone.

Leaving the Lu residence, the sky was already pitch black.

He had arrived at noon and spent the entire half day.

But it was worth it. The Heavenly Dao Library formed the [Heavenly Dao Calligraphy and Painting Manual], making him, who originally knew nothing about calligraphy and painting, a master no less than Lu Chen. Although this profession ranked only in the middle-nine streams and was not considered high, it still carried considerable status.

Especially in a place like Tianxuan Kingdom, which valued literary style, being able to paint impressive works easily earned respect.

Of course, for Zhang Xuan, making money was the most important. Originally waiting in the courtyard with no one coming, a single trip earned him eight hundred thousand, which was a huge gain.

Returning to his residence, Sun Qiang greeted him.

"Did anyone come today?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Reporting to master, after you left, no one came to visit."

"Mm." Zhang Xuan nodded.

It seemed the three hundred thousand visiting fee scared off many people. That was fine, saving him a lot of trouble. Since he had almost gathered enough money, he wasn't as anxious as before.

Back in his room, Zhang Xuan did not continue cultivating. Although the Heavenly Dao Calligraphy and Painting Manual provided a foundation, painting four fifth-level works in a row still left him exhausted. He lay down and soon fell asleep.

...

Lu residence.

After Zhang Xuan took his leave, Master Yuan Yu, Huang Yu, and the others were still there, not yet departed.

"It's definitely too late to visit Master Yang Xuan today..." Lu Chen said, looking at the sky outside.

Visiting after dark would seem disrespectful. For others it might be fine, but the other party was a master teacher. Even though they were of high status, they dared not be presumptuous.

"It's fine to go tomorrow." Master Yuan Yu nodded.

Lu Chen responded, then looked at the paintings Zhang Xuan had left behind, still finding it hard to believe: "I originally thought this younger brother Zhang was just a young man fond of calligraphy and painting, with some talent. I even considered testing him and taking him as a disciple. Never in my dreams did I expect he was a grandmaster of calligraphy and painting..."

Saying this, he shook his head with a bitter smile.

Planning to take a grandmaster of calligraphy and painting as a disciple—once the news got out, he would definitely be laughed at.

"A grandmaster of painting so young—what background does this younger brother Zhang have?" Master Yuan Yu couldn't help asking.

Calligraphy and painting were even harder to progress in than cultivation. If Zhang Xuan were in his seventies or eighties and could paint a fifth-level work, although shocking, it wouldn't be surprising. But being under twenty and able to do so made one ponder.

There were only two possibilities for this: first, his talent was indeed so high that it was awe-inspiring; second, he had a master teacher guiding him behind the scenes.

Of these two possibilities, Yuan Yu leaned toward the second.

"I don't know the specifics either. Huang Yu, Bai Xun, you two have been to Hongtian Academy. Do you know more about this younger brother Zhang? Tell us." Lu Chen looked at the two before him.

"I do know a bit... but I'm afraid you won't believe it, and... you might get angry."

Huang Yu looked embarrassed.

"Angry? Why would I be angry? Just say it!" Master Lu Chen was puzzled.

Even if Zhang Xuan was a teacher at Hongtian Academy, there was nothing unbelievable or anger-inducing about it.

A young genius so proficient in calligraphy and painting would surely be popular and sought after.

"Then I'll say it. This Teacher Zhang Xuan... is known as a useless teacher at Hongtian Academy, insulted by others..." Huang Yu recounted Zhang Xuan's previous situation.

"Scored zero in the teacher assessment? Taught students who went berserk? This... how is that possible?"

Yuan Yu and Lu Chen's eyes went wide, dumbfounded, full of disbelief.

Was this a joke? A grandmaster of calligraphy and painting who could paint fifth-level works... was useless?

How did that sound so fantastical?

"It should be the Academic Affairs Office deliberately targeting him..." Huang Yu then told them about what he saw during the Xuexin interrogation.

"Despicable! I've met this Shang Chen before. I thought he was an upright and impartial man, but I never expected him to be so vile."

"Xiao Yu, aren't you a master teacher apprentice? And your father is the president of the Teacher Association. You must teach such a black sheep a good lesson."

Hearing about Elder Shang Chen's "unfair treatment" and "actions," Masters Yuan Yu and Lu Chen were nearly furious.

They had witnessed Zhang Xuan's "skill" firsthand. How could someone so capable be useless? That must be Elder Shang Chen and the others deliberately causing trouble.

How could Hongtian Academy have such a teacher?

"This matter indeed makes me very angry... It seems I'll have to find time to talk to Dean Hong and have him properly manage the academy's atmosphere." Master Lu Chen waved his hand and snorted.

"Uh... actually... what I said would make you angry is not this matter."

Hearing this, Huang Yu scratched his head.

"Not this matter? Has younger brother Zhang suffered some other unfair punishment?"

Lu Chen looked over again.

Although he stayed deep in his residence and didn't concern himself with outside affairs, with his status as imperial tutor and master of calligraphy and painting, if he really wanted to teach someone a lesson, even the dean of Hongtian Academy wouldn't dare stop him.

"No... it's that someone at the academy plans to challenge him in a few days, for a teacher evaluation..."

Huang Yu hesitated, then said.

"Challenge? Teacher evaluation?"

Lu Chen was startled.

"I know about teacher evaluations. Although they are contests between students, they involve the teacher's identity and dignity. Who is this challenger? If he knew younger brother Zhang's true ability, he probably wouldn't do this!" Master Yuan Yu laughed.

"That's not necessarily true. The teacher who issued the challenge... is very famous at Hongtian Academy, a true star teacher. Moreover, he has many students; at least two hundred of the top three hundred in the entrance exam are under him!" Huang Yu's voice grew softer.

"What is this teacher's name?"

Lu Chen's breathing became rapid.

"Ahem, it's Master Lu's son... Teacher Lu Xun!"

After hesitating, Huang Yu said.

"This wretched beast... damn it!" Master Lu Chen's body swayed, then he burst into a roar.