Chapter 540: Just Paint Another One

My 'bird'?

Still 'bird'?

All the renowned teachers in the room, not yet realizing those birds were gone for good, thought Elder Yun was referring to something else. They glanced in unison at his crotch, shuddering with disgust.

It seemed... Teacher Zhang only gave a lecture. What did that have to do with your 'bird'?

And besides, it was still there!

A dignified four-star teacher, in public, repeatedly asking someone for their 'bird'... how disgraceful!

Many female teachers blushed with shame... Elder Yun, who studied calligraphy and painting, was extraordinary and elegant, appearing quite proper and dashing—who would have thought he was such an old lecher!

"No, Elder Yun might be referring to those birds just now!"

Someone caught on.

"Huh?" Everyone was stunned.

"Those birds, after listening to Teacher Zhang's lecture, seemed to come alive, breaking free from the painting's constraints... and flew away!" The person explained what they had noticed.

"Flew away? This 'Flocks of Birds Soaring' painting is made up of birds. The most valuable part, the most precious, is these birds with spiritual intelligence. Once they fly away... all that's left is blank paper..."

"Exactly, that's why Elder Yun is frantic! This is a calligraphy and painting work with spiritual intelligence, worth a fortune..."

"A treasure as dear as life itself, turned into blank paper... anyone would go mad!"

...

Hearing the explanation, they finally understood. Everyone exchanged glances, their mouths twitching.

Elder Wu and Elder Bai by the wall also looked at each other, their faces twisted.

They were just injured and could recover with rest, but this painting was Elder Yun's lifeline, now completely ruined. It was already good of him not to tear the guy apart on the spot...

"A lecture that made spiritual intelligence break through the mortal realm and fly away..."

Ruohuan Gongzi, who had been so smug moments ago, thinking first place was easy, was now crying his heart out.

He had calculated earlier that his lecture could definitely keep the spiritual intelligence alive for over ten minutes, but this guy... had made it fly away, never to return...

I'll be damned!

Did he have to be so ruthless?

Playing like this, how could anyone compete? Keep this up, and you'll have no friends...

"Ahem, Elder Yun, calm down, calm down..."

Seeing his usually steady old friend on the verge of murder, Elder Su hurried forward to dissuade him.

"Calm down? Calm down my ass! This was left to me by my calligraphy and painting mentor. I was hoping to study it daily and break through to four-star calligrapher and painter... Now, how am I supposed to break through?"

Looking down at the blank paper on the table, Elder Yun gnashed his teeth.

Who said it was just an assessment, very simple?

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

Just as he was fuming with frustration, he heard the young man across from him speak with a slightly puzzled tone: "I haven't finished my lecture yet, and you scared these birds away... How are you going to calculate my time?"

Actually, it wasn't just Elder Yun who was angry; Zhang Xuan was also somewhat frustrated.

This old man was too unreliable!

He was teaching Heavenly Dao calligraphy and painting, helping these spiritual intelligences gather power. According to reason, once they fully transformed, they could fly freely and stay as long as they wanted. But before it was over, this guy shouted for him to stop, scaring the birds away.

Now, the sky was vast for the birds to fly, and they were nowhere to be found. How could his score be calculated?

What if he lost because of this? What a loss!

After all, he had put in quite some effort...

"Still calculating time... The 'Flocks of Birds Soaring' painting is gone, what time is there to calculate!"

Elder Yun nearly spat blood.

Calculate my ass!

You destroyed my treasure without a shred of guilt, and you're still thinking about your assessment... Are you thick-skinned or just brainless?

"Ahem, Teacher Zhang, say no more. The value of the 'Flocks of Birds Soaring' painting lies solely in those birds. Now that they've flown away, the treasure is ruined. It's only natural for Elder Yun to be in a bad mood!"

Kang Tangzhu came over and advised.

"Treasure ruined?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Since the painting is still here, just paint those birds back on. What's there to fuss about?"

"That's a sixth-level work, something only a five-star calligrapher and painter could produce... Unique in Wanguo City. Paint it back? Easy for you to say!"

Seeing an opportunity, Ruohuan Gongzi stepped forward to rebuke, then cupped his fists toward Kang Tangzhu and said righteously: "Teacher, since the 'Flocks of Birds Soaring' painting is destroyed, those of us after cannot continue the assessment. I suggest we change the format for this competition..."

If the other guy's lecture could make spiritual intelligence break through the mortal realm, continuing this assessment would mean certain defeat. Better to use this as an excuse to back out.

"Hmm, that's true... A work capable of producing spiritual intelligence is unique in Wanguo City. Now that it's ruined, you all indeed cannot continue the assessment..."

Kang Tangzhu nodded.

If he had known this would happen, he shouldn't have let this guy go first. Now the painting was gone, and those after had no way to take the test.

Spiritual intelligence retention was the best method for assessing lectures. Changing it on the spot, he really couldn't think of a good alternative.

"If it's really not possible, we could have students attend the lectures, blindfolded so they don't know who we are, and even disguise our voices. That would also be fair..."

Ruohuan Gongzi suggested.

"Don't rush. Let me discuss with the other elders... Ah? What's going on..."

Kang Tangzhu nodded, rubbing his brow, worrying about how to proceed. Suddenly, he glanced sideways and was startled.

"Teacher, what's wrong?"

Seeing him so flustered, Ruohuan Gongzi was taken aback. Following his gaze, he almost jumped up, choked, and nearly fainted on the spot.

The young man he had just rebuked was now standing in front of the scroll, holding a brush in each hand. The previously blank 'Flocks of Birds Soaring' painting now showed birds flying and chirping, exactly as before.

"Did all these birds come back?"

His voice was hoarse.

"They didn't come back... but... Teacher Zhang just painted them!"

Fu Xiaochen's throat went dry.

"Just painted..." Ruohuan Gongzi swayed.

This was a spiritual intelligence-level work, a masterpiece only a five-star calligrapher and painter could produce... He painted it with just a brush? Was that real?

More importantly... even a five-star master would need days to conceive and months to refine such a work, exhausting all their energy... This guy, before I could even say two words, had finished it...

Was he that fast?

"What brush technique did he use?"

Unable to contain himself, he asked.

A painting in just a few dozen breaths? What technique could be that fast?

"Left-Right Swimming Dragon..." Fu Xiaochen said.

"The street artisan's... Left-Right Swimming Dragon..." Ruohuan Gongzi's vision went dark.

If you had used some advanced technique, I'd admire you...

But using the Left-Right Swimming Dragon, which street artisans use for mass production, to paint a sixth-level work... Bro, are you really a three-star calligrapher and painter, or are you six-star or higher?

How laughable—he had been thrilled when he heard about spiritual intelligence retention, thinking the other guy would definitely fail by going first...

If he had known he was such a formidable calligrapher and painter, he would never have tried to show off!

"Alright, Elder Yun, I've repainted your picture for you. It doesn't seem too difficult!"

Putting the brushes and ink back into his storage ring, Zhang Xuan said calmly.

Seeing Elder Yun shouting and carrying on, he thought it was something major. Wasn't it just a painting? The birds flew away, so just paint another one. Why make such a big fuss?

"This..."

Hurrying over, Elder Yun looked down at the painting before him.

After staring for a while, his lips trembled, and he looked at the young man as if he were a monster.

This painting was identical to his previous one, not a single difference. If the ink weren't still wet, he would have doubted whether everything before had been a dream.

Having seen it only briefly, he could replicate it perfectly—not just the pattern, but even the amount of ink used, its distribution, and the artistic conception were exactly the same...

How did he do it?

Every calligrapher and painter had their own insights. Copying someone else's work usually left one's own style, making it hard to achieve exact duplication. But this painting matched not only the weight of ink but also the artistic conception, showing no signs of forgery... Such skill was already heaven-defying.

Even a six-star calligrapher and painter couldn't do it!

In truth, Zhang Xuan's current ability was limited to copying. If he had to create an original painting, he could barely produce a spiritual intelligence work, but he would fall short of the artistic conception in 'Flocks of Birds Soaring.'

After all, although he had learned quite a bit of Heavenly Dao calligraphy and painting, his true skill was only at the peak of four-star, early five-star.

The reason he could replicate it exactly was due to the Eye of Insight.

The Eye of Insight could see subtle changes invisible to the naked eye. When the other party had taken out the painting earlier, he had observed it carefully. Reconstructing the details became very simple.

If it weren't a copy, but an original creation, he would have found it very difficult to complete.

However, Elder Yun didn't know this, which made him even more astonished and full of admiration.

"How is it?"

Kang Tangzhu came over.

"It's exactly the same as before. The assessment can proceed..."

Recovering from his shock, Elder Yun swallowed and said.

"Elder Yun says it's fine. Teacher Zhang has finished his assessment. You all may continue!"

Relieved, Kang Tangzhu looked at the others.

Since the 'Flocks of Birds Soaring' painting was restored, there was no need to go through the trouble of changing the rules.

... Ruohuan Gongzi felt like crying but had no tears.

After all that fuss, it was all for nothing. If he had known, why bother running over to spout nonsense...

Full of frustration, he gritted his teeth and took the assessment. But due to his state of mind, he performed poorly, only lasting eleven minutes before the spiritual intelligence dissipated.

Then Fu Xiaochen, Feng Mosheng, and others took their turns.

Unexpectedly, Luo Xi shone this time, lasting twelve minutes, even surpassing Ruohuan Gongzi's score.

"Alright, I announce the final results. Teacher Zhang, through his lecture, made the spiritual intelligence fly away... and it hasn't returned. He takes first place. Does anyone object?"

After all assessments were done, Kang Tangzhu looked around.

"No objections..."

Everyone's mouths twitched. A lecture that made all spiritual intelligence fly away, and he casually painted a sixth-level work... If he wasn't first, who dared claim first?

"Then, second place Luo Xi, third Ruohuan, fourth Fu Xiaochen, fifth Feng Mosheng, sixth Du Hu..."

After announcing the results, Kang Tangzhu continued: "Now for the fourth round: understanding of cultivation."