"However, you have only come into contact with painting for a short period of time. If you were to draw now, not only would it be ineffective, it would also be an insult to the profession of painting. Thus, Yuanyu and I discussed for a moment and came up with a test method."
Huang Yu and Bai Xun had only come into contact with painting for less than a month. If they were to draw now, what could they possibly draw? If they were to do so, they would surely be embarrassed. Thus, Master Lu Chen's test wasn't for them to draw.
At this point, he chuckled before continuing, "That is... I, Yuanyu, and Little Brother Zhang Xuan will create the painting. The rest of you will appraise and comment on the painting, and the one whose comments are the most pertinent will take the Ink Daylily Canvas!"
"Draw? Un? "
Zhang Xuan, who was sipping on his tea and intending to make up the numbers, staggered upon hearing those words. He nearly spat out the tea in his mouth onto the old man's face.
You must be joking. I am just a bystander. You want me to draw... Are you testing them or testing me?
I don't even know how to hold a brush, what am I supposed to draw?
"I don't think there's a need for me to draw..." With a depressed expression, Zhang Xuan said.
"Don't reject it. Many literary gatherings require one to compose poems. It's rare that you and Brother Yuanyu are here, so let's have an exchange through painting as well. This way, we can show these juniors the true charm of painting. Perhaps, they might really take a liking to it and become a master in the future."
Master Lu Chen stroked his beard and chuckled.
Zhang Xuan was on the verge of tears.
Are you listening to my words seriously?
What I mean is that I don't want to participate in any painting competition. Yet, you want to have an exchange through painting...
'Communicate my ass!'
"Cough cough, there's really no need for that. The two of you can just draw. Look, I didn't prepare anything today..."
Zhang Xuan could only make his words clearer.
"I have already prepared the brush, ink, paper and inkstone. Little brother, there's no need for you to be so reserved. Just treat this as your own home and draw as you wish. This is also a good opportunity for them to broaden their horizons!" Master Lu Chen continued.
"Reserved? Broaden their horizons? "
That's not what I'm talking about, alright?
"Alright, Ah Cheng, prepare the brush, ink, paper and inkstone. Little Yu and Bai Xun, when we are drawing, take a good look and learn from us!"
Lu Chen thought that he was embarrassed and waved his hand with a smile.
"Yes!" Butler Cheng waved his hand, and several maids brought in three sets of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, placing them in front of him.
Zhang Xuan's eyebrows twitched.
He doesn't even know how to draw with a pencil, let alone a brush …
If he had known that today's test would be like this, he would never have come.
"Let's make friends through painting, so there's no need to set a topic!" After the preparations are done, Master Lu Chen looks at Master Yuanyu with a smile, "Brother Yuanyu, since you are a guest, you should go first!"
"Alright, I'll embarrass myself!"
Stroking his beard, Master Yuanyu smiled. Standing before the table, he picked up a brush and pondered for a moment before starting to paint.
His brush moved like dragons and snakes. Originally, his face was full of kindness, but as soon as he started painting, his temperament changed. He was like a great master who was difficult to find a soulmate in the mountains and rivers, making people admire him.
"Painting is divided into four levels, namely Reality Depiction, Spiritual Painting, Infused Intentions, and Breathtaking Beauty. Reality Depiction refers to the recording of facts. The painting is no different from the scenery seen in real life. Although the painting is vivid, it is the lowest level."
As Master Yuanyu started to paint, Lu Chen explained to the crowd with a smile.
"Spiritual Painting refers to the scenery being painted. It is no longer rigid, but contains spiritual energy, making one feel as though it is alive. For example, if you were to paint a fish, you would feel as though the fish is alive, as though it would come to life at any moment."
"The third level is Infused Intentions. Infused Intentions is the start of the brush, and the intention is present in the painting! At this level, before one can paint, one must first have the intent in one's heart. Only then can the painting be able to move one's heart, causing one to be immersed in it. My [Summer-Autumn Painting] and [Chixiong Howling to the Heavens] are fortunate enough to have reached this level. Thus, when one looks at it, it feels as though the painting is unfurled before one's eyes, making one feel as though one is immersed in it. "
"Brother Yuanyu and I have both reached this level. If we are lucky, we might be able to create a painting of the fourth level. The fourth level, Breathtaking Beauty, refers to a breathtaking painting. The people and objects in the painting possess an aura that makes it impossible to differentiate between animals and savage beasts. Xiao Yu's Ink Daylily Painting is such, and Brother Yuanyu's River Bird Painting is also such. "
"Oh!"
Zhang Xuan nods his head.
He thought that in painting, whoever can paint a realistic painting would be able to do so. However, after hearing Yuanyu's explanation, he realizes that painting a realistic painting... is only at the lowest level.
Only when a painting possesses its own spirit and contains a unique intent, can it be considered as a true famous painting.
In the midst of their conversation, the painting under Master Yuanyu's brush gradually unfurls.
It is a painting of a forest and sparrows. In the silent forest, two birds are flying about. Even though they are motionless in the air, it feels as though the birds are chirping loudly, causing one to feel as though they are in the forest.
"Master Lu, could this be the painting of the Infused Intentions realm?"
Huang Yu can't help but ask.
To be able to give off such a feeling, it means that this painting already contains an extremely deep intent, causing one to be unable to part with it.
"Un!" Master Lu Chen nods his head. "This painting has indeed reached the Infused Intentions realm. However, it is only at the beginning. As for why I say so, I still need you all to appraise it. Whoever can answer correctly will be the winner."
"Yes!" Huang Yu and Bai Xun focus their gazes on him.
Not too long later, Master Yuanyu stops his brush.
The painting of the forest and sparrows has been completed.
"Hehe, after not painting for a long time, my brushwork has become rusty. I have embarrassed myself!" Putting down his brush, Master Yuanyu chuckles. "Lu Chen, it's your turn!"
"Alright!" Master Lu Chen doesn't turn down his request. He walks over to the table and starts moving his brush, causing the ink to seep through the paper.
Even though they are both third level master painters, Lu Chen is clearly more proficient in painting and his strokes are smoother.
His painting is of a river and a small boat is floating on it. There are no raging waves, no storm, and yet, it gives one the feeling as though the boat is moving against the wind, fighting against the huge waves. Even though the person on the boat has only drawn two strokes, it carries with it a sense of fearlessness and determination, causing one's blood to boil.
"Brother Lu is still a notch above me!"
Before finishing the painting, Master Yuanyu couldn't help but feel impressed.
Even though he is skilled in painting and has a great reputation, he is still lacking compared to Lu Chen.
The painting of the forest and sparrows isn't weak, and the concept behind it isn't bad either. However, if one were to examine it carefully, it is still lacking compared to Lu Chen's painting.
He is only able to depict the silence and commotion of the forest, but the other party is able to reveal the inner conflict within. His standard is much higher than Lu Chen.
"How is it? Are you able to see anything? "
After lamenting, Master Yuanyu looks at Bai Xun and Huang Yu with a smile.
"I can see that Master Lu used three painting methods and twelve brush strokes in his Flowing River Painting. There seems to be traces of the famous painter Chen Jiao from eighty years ago as well." Huang Yu ponders for a moment before saying.
Chen Jiao is a famous female painter in Tianxuan Kingdom. Her brush strokes are exquisite and she specializes in painting landscapes, especially water. She is known as the number one painter in Tianxuan Kingdom in the past three hundred years.
"I can see it too..." Bai Xun hurriedly added.
"Un, you do have a good eye!"
Master Yuanyu nods his head with a smile.
"Three painting methods? Twelve brush strokes? "
Zhang Xuan is speechless.
In his view, this Master Lu Chen is just randomly drawing with a brush. There is nothing special about it.
Even though he has converted all of the books he has read since his reincarnation into his own knowledge through the golden book, most of them are related to cultivation techniques, battle techniques, and pill forging. He has never read any books related to painting, so he knows nothing about it.
"Haha, Brother Yuanyu is too humble!"
In the time it takes for them to speak, Master Lu Chen has also finished drawing the Flowing River Painting. Chuckling, he walks over and says, "I have been traveling along the Benma River for the past few days, and after accumulating a lot of emotions, I was able to express my feelings. Brother Yuanyu spends most of your time treating patients, so you don't have as much free time as I do. If you were to open your mind and immerse yourself in painting like me, I might really be unable to catch up to you!"
"Painting is all about talent. It is because I feel that my talent is inferior to yours that I chose to walk down the path of medicine!"
Master Yuanyu shakes his head.
"Alright, there's no need for us two old fellows to flatter each other here. If we want to talk about true talent, we have to talk about Little Brother Zhang Xuan. Despite not even being twenty years old, he already possesses such a profound understanding of painting. I believe that in terms of painting, he won't lose out to the two of us."
Master Lu Chen shakes his head with a smile. Looking over, he makes a 'please' gesture and says, "Now that the both of us are done, Brother Zhang Xuan, you can start!"
Huala.
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's gazes turned to him in unison.
Master Yuanyu nods his head with curiosity in his eyes.
He has heard of Zhang Xuan's matter from Lu Chen. Even though he doesn't doubt the latter's words, when he sees how young the other party is, he still finds it hard to believe.
Painting was different from martial arts in that it wasn't just a matter of talent. It required one to have a deep understanding of life, and only then would one be able to comprehend more and more. Even for Zhang Xuan, it was only after treating countless patients and gaining new insights that he was able to advance his painting skills by leaps and bounds to reach his current level.
This Zhang Xuan isn't even twenty yet. Even if he is naturally suited for painting, he would at most have a solid foundation and reach the level of Reality Depiction. If he wants to reach Spiritual Canvas and Infused Intentions...
Of course, he didn't say those words out loud. After all, it is impolite of him to do so.
At this moment, upon hearing that Master Lu Chen wants him to paint, he couldn't help but want to see what level this fellow has reached.
Even Bai Xun and Huang Yu's eyes are filled with excitement.
Zhang Xuan displayed his prowess previously. He was able to see through the mistakes and loopholes in the painting, and he was able to point out the flaws in the painting. They are also curious to know what level this Miss Zhang, who isn't much older than them, has reached for Master Lu Chen to be convinced.
"Me?"
Seeing everyone's earnest gazes, Zhang Xuan feels a headache coming on.
Initially, he thought that the other party was just casually asking him to paint.
How can he paint if he doesn't know anything?
He can't possibly draw a little chick, add a halo, and call it the Divine Bird Phoenix.
If he were to do so, he might not even be able to leave today. He would definitely be beaten to death.
"This... This... Can I take a look at the book before painting?"
Scratching his head, Zhang Xuan suppresses his awkwardness.
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