Chapter 293: His Name Is Zhang Xuan

"Hoo!"

Letting out a breath, Zhang Xuan rubbed his brow.

Although the books in the Calligraphers Guild library were numerous, for him it was just a matter of spending a bit more time; in less than half an hour, he had already absorbed them all into his mind.

"I could already produce fifth-level paintings before, but my understanding of calligraphy and painting was still somewhat lacking. With these books to supplement, my knowledge has expanded several times over, enough to live up to my status as a three-star calligrapher!"

Looking at the neatly arranged books in the Library of Heaven's Path, Zhang Xuan stretched.

Previously, with the various techniques gathered from Master Lu Chen, he could produce fifth-level works, but in truth, he didn't know much about the so-called basics, history, styles, schools, and so on.

It was like Duan Yu, who could execute the supreme Six Meridian Divine Sword, sending Gusu Murong Fu fleeing in panic, yet knew not a single crude martial art; if he fought with ruffians, he might not even be a match.

Zhang Xuan was the same. He could effortlessly paint a fifth-level work, but ask him to paint a lifelike-level one, and he truly couldn't.

However, with so many books, this problem was no longer an issue.

Once he finished reading them all, in terms of knowledge reserves, even the most accomplished three-star calligrapher would be far inferior, and it was even hard to say whether four-star calligraphers could match his insight.

"But... I've already collected tens of millions of manuals from the Tianxuan Kingdom library, the Beast Hall, the Poison Hall, the Calligraphers Guild... If I rely solely on reading, when will I ever finish?"

After collecting the books, a new problem emerged, giving him a headache.

Since leaving Tianxuan Kingdom, the books he had recorded into the Library of Heaven's Path exceeded ten million. Although he read in his mind whenever he had free time, and he was fast, reading one or two thousand a day was his limit. Faced with ten million volumes... it was like a drop in the bucket.

Moreover, as he mastered more professions and rose in status, there would be even more books. Turning all this into his own knowledge would take years, if not impossible.

"If only I had more golden pages..."

His mind stirred.

Golden pages were formed from the Book of Heaven's Path.

They could instantly convert the knowledge in the library into his own. If he had them, he could easily remember so much content without having to painstakingly flip through each book.

"I thought they formed from gratitude, but now it seems that's not the case! When I impersonated Teacher Yang, I received plenty of gratitude, but none formed, so it's not just that factor!"

Thinking of the golden pages of the Book of Heaven's Path, he began to recall when they had appeared.

He didn't know when the first one appeared, but the second appeared when Zhao Ya and the others challenged Lu Xun on the competition stage to clear his name.

At that time, their gratitude toward him was mixed with deep teacher-student affection.

Could it be... only gratitude between teacher and student could make them appear?

When he impersonated Teacher Yang, the gratitude was more about awe, not mixed with that kind of feeling.

"I can test it!"

With this thought, his eyes lit up.

For things he couldn't confirm, others had no way, but he did.

He casually took out a blank book, wrote down his conjecture, and pressed his palm lightly.

Hum!

With a tremor, a similar book appeared in the library.

He opened it casually.

"Sincere teacher-student gratitude can form golden pages... Correct! So that's it!"

Seeing the result in the book, Zhang Xuan was filled with excitement.

If he had known earlier that golden books formed this way, he wouldn't have been reading like crazy all this way, exhausting himself and still not remembering much.

"Looks like I need to take on a couple of students and find a way... to make them grateful!"

He smiled lightly.

Once golden pages formed, the books collected in the library could be easily converted into his knowledge.

What he lacked now was knowledge accumulation.

With enough knowledge, even without the Library of Heaven's Path, he could easily spot others' flaws and problems.

"I wonder if Zhao Ya and the others have arrived. I'll have to ask at the Master Teacher Hall tomorrow. Since I'm free now, I'll take a walk. Maybe I'll find someone to guide and incidentally take on a student..."

With this thought, Zhang Xuan stopped dwelling in the library and walked out.

Leaving the library, he met the two vice presidents again, chatted a bit, and then didn't linger, stepping out of the Calligraphers Guild.

Time was precious; forming golden pages was the most important thing.

Just as he left the guild, a youth entered from the other side.

It was Lu Xun, who had just arrived at Tianwu Royal City.

The [Tianwu Inn] where he was staying was only a few hundred meters away. Seeing that Master Liu had settled everyone, he came over.

"To take the master teacher exam, I must have an auxiliary profession. I've been learning painting from my father since childhood and can already produce lifelike-level works. I'll first take the calligraphy apprentice exam, then later try for the formal calligrapher!"

Seeing the bold characters above the Calligraphers Guild entrance, Lu Xun's heart surged.

His current ability was still a bit lacking for the formal calligrapher exam, but the apprentice exam should be no problem.

Entering the guild, he saw paintings hanging on the walls—landscapes, birds, spring breezes, bright sun—all reaching the lifelike level. Clearly, the painters were no weaker than him in their understanding of calligraphy and painting.

"As expected of the Calligraphers Guild, impressive..."

Unable to help marveling, Lu Xun's eyes shone.

This guild hadn't been established long; even Master Lu Chen had never visited, so naturally he didn't know what was inside. He hadn't expected to see so many impressive works upon entering, refreshing his eyes.

He silently admired.

"Young master, what painting do you need? I can show you around!"

As he walked, the young attendant in blue who had greeted Zhang Xuan approached, looking respectful.

"I'm not here to buy, but... to take the calligraphy apprentice exam! Where should I go?" Lu Xun smiled.

"Apprentice exam?"

The young attendant was startled.

Usually, months would pass without a single candidate for calligrapher or apprentice. What was going on today? They were coming in droves!

Just after examining Young Master Ji Mo, Master Zhang arrived. Master Zhang had just left, and now another one wanted to take the apprentice exam...

What a lively day!

"This way, please!"

Though puzzled, he didn't dare be negligent.

He was just a service worker at the guild, while an apprentice had the potential to become a formal calligrapher; there was a big gap in status.

"Mm!" Lu Xun followed.

"So impressive! That was a fifth-level work!"

"Yeah, passing the exam on the first try with a fifth-level work, and he's not even twenty—what a genius!"

"Even Young Master Ji Mo lost and was expelled from the guild. Such talent is truly admirable!"

"The scene of his painting is still lingering in my mind. It was so brilliant!"

"I never thought a beast could paint—something I'd never even dared to imagine..."

...

Walking through the spacious hall, hushed discussions came from all directions.

Half an hour ago, during the duel, though there were many supporters of Young Master Ji Mo, there were also many nobles and dignitaries who truly loved calligraphy and painting.

That Master Zhang, on his first appearance at the guild, had stunned almost everyone.

"What do they mean by 'passing the exam on the first try with a fifth-level work'?"

Hearing more and more discussions around him, Lu Xun couldn't suppress his curiosity and turned to the young attendant.

"Oh, they're talking about the duel just now!" Hearing the question, the attendant's eyes also lit up.

He had watched the duel clearly from the side, and even personally received that master, feeling immense pride.

"Duel?"

"Yes, just now..." The young attendant quickly recounted what had happened in detail.

"You mean... that master had a beast dip in ink, walk across the paper, then picked it up and shook it casually, and the painting became a third-level work?"

Lu Xun's eyes widened.

Having studied painting with his father for years, he knew the difficulty of a third-level work.

Even his father couldn't guarantee producing one every time. This man had a beast walk randomly and shook it once to achieve that... wasn't that bragging?

But the surprises weren't over.

"Roasted over a torch... and it became fourth-level?"

"Spit some water, and it became fifth-level?"

The more he heard, the more Lu Xun felt his mind couldn't keep up, and he was almost going crazy.

How did this sound like a story from a storyteller?

If it was true, this master's control over calligraphy and painting was terrifying!

"Of course it's true. I personally received that master, and I witnessed the whole duel with my own eyes. There's absolutely no mistake!"

Seeing his disbelief, the young attendant spoke earnestly.

"That's incredible... If what he says is true, and I could become that master's student, I'd surely make rapid progress in calligraphy and painting, and becoming a true calligrapher would be easy!"

Hearing the other's certainty, Lu Xun's heart stirred, and a thought emerged that he couldn't suppress.

To take the master teacher exam, being an apprentice wasn't enough; he needed a formal auxiliary profession.

Though he had learned painting since childhood, he knew there was a huge gap between the lifelike level and the spirit level. If he only studied on his own, it would take years or even decades.

But... with a good teacher's guidance, it would be simple.

He didn't know about other masters, but what the attendant had just described was breathtaking.

To make a painting advance levels at will and reach the fifth level—how deep must his understanding of calligraphy and painting be to achieve that?

If he took him as a teacher, he could definitely resolve his doubts, and maybe the path to becoming a calligrapher would become much easier.

"What is this master's name? Where is he now? Does he take students?"

Thinking this, suppressing his excitement, Lu Xun's face flushed, and he couldn't help asking.

"This master... his name seems to be... Zhang Xuan!" The young attendant thought for a moment and said.

"Zhang Xuan?"

Lu Xun's body trembled, and his eyes went wide.