"Oh? Let's go take a look then! "
Zhang Xuan also wanted to understand how the painter examination worked. Thus, he followed behind the green-robed attendant and headed in the direction of the commotion.
At the very front of the crowd, a dark green table was placed against the wall. An eighteen to nineteen-year-old young man dressed in white was seated on the chair with his eyes tightly shut.
"Ji Mo gongzi, I love you! I want to bear your child!"
"Shameless! Ji gongzi is mine! I'll tear apart her clothes if anyone dares to snatch him from me!"
"Young mistress, there's a beauty over there who insists on snatching him from you. Hurry up and tear her clothes, we'll cheer for you!"
"..."
While Ji Mo gongzi's eyes were still closed, the ladies below had already gone mad.
"Ji gongzi might be young, but he has a tender heart for the fairer sex. More importantly, he has a handsome face, and there are many ladies who look up to him!" the green-robed attendant said with a hushed voice.
Zhang Xuan nodded his head. He turned to look at Ji Mo gongzi. That fellow's skin was fair and he had a handsome face. Even though his eyes were closed, the edges of his lips were slightly curled up, giving off the impression of a smile.
He had talent, strength, a good family background, and most importantly, he had good looks. It was no wonder why so many ladies would go crazy for him.
"What... is he doing?"
Seeing the other party sitting there with his eyes tightly shut, ignoring the commotion around him, Zhang Xuan asked.
"Ji Mo gongzi is going to paint, so he should be calming his mind and adjusting his state of mind!" the green-robed attendant said.
"Adjusting his state of mind? Here? "Zhang Xuan was perplexed.
It was just a painting, and he usually grabbed the brush to start it. This thing... Why would he need to adjust his state of mind?
Besides, even if he were to adjust his state of mind, wouldn't it be better to do it somewhere quiet? There were so many people here, so what was the point of adjusting his state of mind?
"Ji gongzi has become a master painter before he's even twenty, and his actions carry deep meaning. How can a country bumpkin like you understand?"
Hearing Zhang Xuan's doubtful voice, before the green-robed attendant could speak, a lady turned around and glared at him furiously.
"Indeed, an outsider who popped out from nowhere. Scram to the side, don't sully Ji gongzi's painting!" Another lady harrumphed.
Hualala!
In an empty space, the surrounding ladies stared at Zhang Xuan coldly with disgust.
"Huh?"
Zhang Xuan didn't expect that he would be targeted by so many people without saying anything at all.
"There is a Painter Guild in Tianwu Kingdom, and there are many people who are interested in painting. As such, painters enjoy high standing in the Tianwu Kingdom. Furthermore, Li Mo gongzi is one of the top geniuses among them, and he's sought after by countless people. It's best that you don't say anything here, or else you'll be cursed to death! "
The green-clothed manservant lowered his voice with a bitter smile.
Zhang Xuan nodded his head. Just as he was about to speak, Ji gongzi, whose eyes were tightly shut, opened his eyes and stood up slowly.
"Look, Young Master Ji is going to paint!"
"I wonder what level of painting he will produce!"
"Isn't that obvious? Ji gongzi is an official painter. He will definitely be able to create a second level painting."
…
Seeing Zhang Xuan open his eyes, the people who were glaring at him earlier could not be bothered with him anymore. They looked ahead again, and stars appeared in their eyes.
Official painters were also known as master painters. Just like Lu Chen and Yuanyu, they were able to easily create a second level or even third level painting. As for whether they could achieve Breathtaking Verisimilitude or not, that would depend on their luck and condition.
The first four levels of painting were: Reality Depiction, Spiritual Canvas, Infused Intentions, and Breathtaking Verisimilitude.
"I, Li Mo, will be presenting my incompetence!"
Ji Mo gongzi stood before the study table, and with a flick of his wrist, a folding fan appeared before him. Fanning himself twice, his black hair fluttered in the wind, and his white robe fluttered in the wind. "I will be auctioning off my painting on the spot. However, I won't be taking a single cent of the money. I will use it to build a Painter Pavilion and invite apprentice painters to teach them, so that more people can appreciate and understand painting!"
"As expected of Ji gongzi, to view money as dirt..."
"The character of a scholar is truly admirable!"
…
Hearing those words, a commotion broke out in the crowd. Especially so for the ladies, they shrieked.
"This fellow sure knows how to win the hearts of others!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.
This Ji Mo gongzi might seem young, but he was well-versed in the ways of officialdom. He knew what could attract the attention of others.
This was similar to the charity auctions of celebrities in his previous life. To put it bluntly, it was nothing more than a gimmick.
If he really wanted to build a Painter Pavilion so that everyone could appreciate and love painting, he could have done it discreetly. There was no need for him to create such a huge commotion. Not to mention... It was already late autumn, and it was night time. It was a little cold to stand on the spot, and he even fanned himself...
"Silence!"
Closing his fan, Ji Mo gongzi gestured grandly, "Alright, I won't waste any more words. I'll start painting now. I hope that everyone can remain silent!"
Hearing his words, the shrieking crowd immediately quietened down.
Chuckling softly, Ji Mo gongzi flung his sleeves, and a brush appeared in his hands.
Spreading out the xuan paper, his left hand pressed on the table. Under the surge of zhenqi, the ink in the inkstone dripped onto the tip of the brush. Then, his right hand danced, and the brush landed on the paper.
It was a majestic sight to behold.
Hualala!
The brush moved on the paper as though a fish swimming in a pond. As time passed, a painting gradually appeared.
It was a painting of mountains and rivers.
The towering mountain range was filled with strange forests and rocks. Flowing water flowed amidst it, and as it knocked against the surface of the rocks, 'ding dang' sounds could be heard. All of the leaves seemed to be dancing in the same direction, and a slight breeze seemed to be blowing.
"It's a painting of the second level, Spiritual Movement realm!"
Taking a look, Zhang Xuan nodded his head.
After learning the Heaven's Path Painting from Master Lu Chen's residence, he had gained a deep understanding of painting. Even without using the Library of Heaven's Path, he was still able to appreciate some paintings.
This painting of mountains and rivers was beautiful, as though one was looking at a mountain range with one's own eyes. A spiritual aura emanated from it, and it exuded a unique sense of beauty. This meant that it had reached the Spiritual Movement realm.
However, even though it was beautiful, there was no artistic conception or charm within it. In other words, it hadn't reached the level of Infused Intentions.
"It's a pity. If he didn't flaunt his skills and focused on painting, he might have been able to reach this level!" After looking at it for a moment, Zhang Xuan sighed.
Although this Young Master Ji Mo seemed to be putting on an act, his painting skills were indeed not bad. Logically speaking, as long as he focused on painting, it shouldn't be difficult for him to create a painting of the third level, Infused Intentions.
It was a pity that for the sake of looking good, many parts of the painting were too exaggerated, and the original intention of the painting was neglected. In the end, the painting only reached the peak of Spiritual Movement, and was only a step away from Infused Intent.
He sighed in his heart, but he didn't say it out loud.
He was only here to take a look at how the painter examination was conducted. It had nothing to do with Ji Mo gongzi. Besides, he had already been reprimanded by the crowd before he could say anything. He didn't want to be scolded to death by these women.
Soon, the painting was completed.
Young Master Li Mo then threw the brush into the brush holder and hung the painting on the wall.
"This is a painting at the peak of the second level, the Breeze Landscape Painting. The auction will now begin. Everyone can bid freely. The base price will be one million gold coins, and each bid cannot be less than one hundred thousand gold coins."
At this point, the corners of Ji Mo gongzi's lips curled up into a mesmerizing smile. He waved the fan in his hands, accentuating his elegant disposition, "I will accompany the person who buys this painting to dinner for free!"
"Dinner? I'll buy this painting! "
"Don't compete with me, I offer 1.1 million gold coins!"
"You want to buy Ji Mo gongzi's painting with 1.1 million gold coins? You must be joking! 1.3 million!"
"I offer two million gold coins!"
… …
Upon hearing that the painting would be auctioned off, the eyes of the ladies immediately reddened in excitement. They placed their bids frenziedly, and soon, the price skyrocketed.
"2.4 million gold coins?"
Seeing the price swiftly rise to more than two million gold coins, Zhang Xuan widened his eyes in shock.
Previously, when he sold a fifth level painting to Lu Chen, Huang Yu, and the others, he only earned two million gold coins. Yet, this second level painting, which couldn't be any more trashy, actually exceeded this price ….
This was too much!
"This … How much does a fifth level Spirit Creation realm painting cost?"
With a depressed expression, Zhang Xuan turned to the attendant beside him and asked.
"Fifth level? That is a painting left behind by a 2-star Zongshi realm master painter. Furthermore, it isn't possible to successfully paint it every time. It requires luck and the right state of mind …. Even here, this kind of painting is considered a treasure of the guild. It can be said to be … priceless! "
The attendant hesitated for a moment before saying.
"Priceless?" Zhang Xuan's body swayed.
"Indeed. If we really have to set a price, the starting bid is probably ten million gold coins. I don't know how much it will rise to in the end, but I do know that half a year ago, there was an auction here, and the final price was thirty-four million gold coins."
The green-robed attendant.
The corners of Zhang Xuan's mouth twitched. He felt as if he was on the verge of tears.
For a painting worth thirty-four million gold coins, he was going to sell four of them for two million gold coins …. Did he have to be so greedy?
"The Painter Guild has only been established in the capital for less than thirty years, and the price of paintings has also skyrocketed in this period of time. If it was thirty years ago, no one would have placed much importance on it. Even a fifth level painting would only be worth one or two million. "The attendant continued," No one would be willing to buy anything higher than that! "
"Thirty years ago, one or two million?"
Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
"Indeed!" The attendant nodded his head.
Upon receiving the other party's confirmation, Zhang Xuan finally calmed down and felt a little more at ease.
Tianxuan Kingdom was a closed off place, and there wasn't a Painter Guild either. It seemed like the price that Huang Yu and the others had quoted to him was thirty years ago. Two million … was already a huge sum.
"Gongzi wants to buy a fifth level painting?" The green-robed attendant asked doubtfully. "Only the guild leader is capable of painting a fifth level painting. However, the guild leader left in search of inspiration half a month ago, and he hasn't returned yet …."
"I'm just asking casually …."
Suppressing his frustration, Zhang Xuan shook his head.
"Then …"
The attendant turned to look at Zhang Xuan. "Why don't gongzi … buy Ji Mo gongzi's Breeze by the Mountain and Stream Painting as well! It's a second level pinnacle painting, and it's a product of Ji gongzi. It will surely rise in value in the future! "
"Forget it!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "I'm not here to buy a painting … Besides, it's just a second level painting, I'm not interested in it!"
"Just a second level painting? How arrogant! "
Before the green-robed attendant could reply, a cold harrumph sounded. Lifting his head, he saw Ji Mo gongzi staring at him coldly.
"Ah?"
Not expecting the other party to hear his soft voice, Zhang Xuan awkwardly said, "I'm sorry, I was just speaking casually. Please don't take it to heart!"
It wasn't easy for the other party to be sweating profusely from the exhaustion of his painting. His words were indeed inappropriate.
"Hmph, do you think that a simple 'please don't take it to heart' will suffice?"
Ji Mo gongzi flung his sleeves and his eyebrows shot up. "Interrupting the auction and disregarding my painting, you are insulting the painting profession and belittling an official painter!"
"Then … what do you suggest I do?"
He had only spoken casually, and he had already apologized. Yet, the other party actually went to the extent of insulting the painting profession and belittling an official painter. Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly.
"Simple. Buy this painting of mine for five million gold coins!"
Placing his hands behind his back, Ji Mo gongzi looked at Zhang Xuan impassively. "Don't worry, I won't take a single cent from you. I'll donate all of it to rebuild the Painter Hall. This way, you will be able to make up for your mistake!"
"Five million gold coins?"
Zhang Xuan was taken aback.
He was only here to take a look and casually said a few words. Yet, the other party wanted to force him to buy it. What kind of joke was this?
There are so many ladies here who admire you, why don't you just force them to buy it …
"Why? You don't want to buy it? "
Ji Mo gongzi sneered coldly. Waving his hands, he said, "It's fine if you don't want to buy it, but apologize immediately and don't step into the Painter Guild ever again! Our Painter Guild doesn't welcome people like you! "
"Don't step into the Painter Guild?" Zhang Xuan was speechless.
It was true that a kind person would be bullied, and a kind horse would be ridden.
He had only casually said a few words and apologized, but the other party was still unwilling to forgive him.
"You can apologize, refuse to step into the Painter Guild, or even buy it for five million gold coins. However, the prerequisite is that … the painting is worth the price!"
Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Do you think that a painting that can be drawn by any apprentice is worth it?"
(The monthly tickets are about to fall out of the top ten. Does anyone still have it?)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
