"There's such a saying?"
"To be able to tell the composition of the ink and the soil on the savage beast before painting, is he still a human?"
...
Upon hearing the explanation, the others widened their eyes in shock, as though they were listening to a heavenly book.
To casually capture a savage beast to create a Breathtaking Verisimilitude painting... Brother, do you have to be so incredible?
"Vice Guild Leader Cheng's eye of discernment is indeed exceptional!"
Upon hearing the other party's words, Zhang Xuan praised.
Even though there were some discrepancies between the other party's words and the truth, it was still roughly the same.
There was indeed some soil on the Verisimilitude Beast, but how could it be so coincidental that it would appear on the side of the plum blossom?
Naturally, he must have done something to it.
However, since the other party had said so, he chose not to explain.
"You said that you would admit defeat as long as this is a painting of the fourth level. Do you have anything else to say?"
Turning around to look at Ji Mo gongzi, Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed sharply.
"I..."
Ji Mo gongzi's knees caved in and he fell to the ground. His face turned ghastly pale.
Initially, he thought that the painting that had been fixed was already set in stone, and there was no possibility of any changes. Never in his dreams did he expect that the other party would have hidden a trump card in the painting!
Raising his cultivation realm with the help of the torch...
Ji Mo gongzi felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck his head, and he nearly burst into tears.
Why did he have to provoke this fellow? So be it. Even if it was a draw, it wasn't a bad result. Yet, he insisted on acting cool. Look at this... He dug a pit for himself, and he had no choice but to jump into it.
Disheartened, he turned to look at Vice Guild Leader Cheng.
Vice Guild Leader Cheng didn't intend to bother with him, but after a moment of hesitation, he sighed and asked, "May I know how I should address you?"
"Zhang Xuan!"
"Brother Zhang, you and Painter Ji are the pillars of the guild. Can you give me some face and... call off the bet?" Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng asked.
Ji Mo was courting death. He had already helped you by announcing a draw, but you were still unwilling to be content and insisted on killing him.
Now that the other party had raised his painting to the fourth level without moving, he had no choice but to admit defeat.
Just that... if he were to admit defeat, he would have to fulfill the terms of the bet. Regardless of whether it was a genius or the guild, it would be a huge loss.
"Call off the bet? I'm sorry, but I don't have the habit of not fighting back when I'm bullied! "
Zhang Xuan waved his hands. "Kneel down and admit your mistake. After that, scram from the Painter Guild and never return."
It was one thing for this fellow to provoke him once or twice, but if he were to provoke him again and again, then he shouldn't blame him for being impolite.
"This …"
Upon hearing this, Vice President Wu and Vice President Cheng exchanged glances and shook their heads simultaneously, not saying anything more.
Since Zhang Xuan had lost the bet, he had to fulfill his promise. Otherwise, if word were to spread that the Painter Guild was shielding a loser, how could he maintain his standing in Tianwu Royal City?
Seeing how Zhang Xuan refused to budge despite the vice guild leader's pleading, Ji Mo's face turned livid. "I'll apologize to you!"
After which, he kneeled onto the floor and glared at Zhang Xuan as though he was the murderer of his father. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have provoked you. I apologize to you!"
"Scram!"
Zhang Xuan knew that the other party wasn't sincerely apologizing, but he didn't care. To him, the other party was just a clown.
"Scram?"
Ji Mo gongzi stood up. Venomous hatred flashed in his eyes as he sneered coldly, "Hmph, I might have lost the bet, but do you have the right to forbid me from entering the Painter Guild? Even if I leave today, I can still return tomorrow. As an official painter of the guild, do you think that a small bet will restrict me? Dream on! "
"This …"
Hearing his cold sneer, the crowd was filled with disdain, but they nodded their heads in agreement.
No matter how weak this Ji Mo gongzi was, he was still an official painter who had passed the examination. Even if a bet could force him to leave temporarily, it was impossible to prevent him from entering the guild.
"I can't restrict you?" Zhang Xuan stroked his lower jaw in contemplation.
"That's right. Unless you guard the guild every day, I will still return! Haha, I may have lost this time, but you can't be considered to have won either! "
Ji Mo gongzi looked at Zhang Xuan with a 'what can you do about me' expression.
Indeed, no one could guard the Painter Guild forever. As long as he left, he could return anytime he wanted.
It was just a bet. If I don't abide by it, what can you do to me?
"I won't guard the guild every day. If you were to enter while I am away, it would indeed be embarrassing for me!"
Zhang Xuan thought that since this fellow was able to win the hearts of so many beauties, he would be someone who cared a lot about his reputation.
He didn't expect him to be so shameless. Seeing how shameless the other party was, Zhang Xuan could only nod his head, "This is indeed a difficult problem, but … it isn't a huge problem. It's easy to solve!"
"Easy? Unless you are a 3-star painter and have the right to issue a ban on me, you must be dreaming if you think that you can stop me from entering … "
Ji Mo gongzi harrumphed coldly.
Only 3-star painters had the right to issue a ban on certain people forever. Even though Zhang Xuan's painting skills were formidable, he was only a 2-star at best. It was impossible for him to do so.
If he couldn't do so, how could he restrict him?
"A 3-star painter can issue an injunction against you?" Zhang Xuan fell into deep thought. A moment later, he nodded his head, "Then … I will take the 3-star painter examination first!"
"Take the 3-star painter examination first?"
"Is this fellow dreaming? He actually wants to take the 3-star painter examination? "
"You must be joking. It is indeed incredible that he is able to produce a painting of the fourth level. However, he is still far from matching up to a 3-star painter!"
Everyone was taken aback, and they nearly fainted.
Of the entire Tianwu Kingdom Painter Guild, only the guild leader was a 3-star painter. The difficulty of the examination was unimaginable. Yet, he wanted to take the examination just because he said so?
Aren't you afraid of getting sprained on your waist?
Even the two vice guild leaders stared at one another and shook their heads.
Youngsters nowadays were really supercilious and did not know the immensity of heaven and earth.
Even though there was only a single level of difference between 3-star and 2-star, it was a world apart. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been stuck at 2-star pinnacle for so many years.
They weren't the only ones. There were more than ten 2-star painters in the entire Tianwu Kingdom Painter Guild, but there was only a single 3-star painter. The difficulty of the examination was unimaginable.
Taking the examination just because he said so?
Truly, the ignorant are fearless!
"Haha! This is the funniest joke I have heard today! " Ji Mo gongzi sneered coldly. "Don't think that just because you managed to produce a painting of the fourth level, you are still far from being qualified to take the 3-star examination!"
Paying no heed to the arrogant Ji Mo gongzi, Zhang Xuan walked up to the two vice guild leaders and hesitated for a moment in embarrassment.
"The two of you, the reason why I am here is to take the painter examination. This... I would like to ask how the apprentice painter examination is conducted?"
Putong!
Everyone fell to the ground.
The heck, just a moment ago, you arrogantly declared that you wanted to take the 3-star painter examination. Yet now, you are asking how the apprentice painter examination is conducted...
Big Brother, don't tell me you're still sleeping?
Besides, you just produced a painting of the fourth level, which is comparable to a 2-star painter. How can you not know how the apprentice painter examination is conducted?
"How do you take the apprentice painter examination? You... can it be that you aren't even an apprentice painter? "
Realizing something, Vice Guild Leader Wu couldn't help but ask.
"Cough cough, it's true that I haven't taken the examination before. The reason why I am here today is to give it a try..."
Zhang Xuan nodded his head matter-of-factly.
Pu!
Their eyeballs fell to the ground once more.
The two vice guild leaders staggered and they nearly spurted blood.
To dare to challenge and wager with an official painter when you aren't even an apprentice painter... Aren't you being too gutsy!
Furthermore, to be able to control a savage beast to easily produce a painting of the fourth level without being an apprentice painter... Be it in terms of knowledge or means, you are inferior to us?
Are you sure you aren't lying to us?
More importantly, your tone is relaxed, as though you don't care about it at all...
Other people have to put in a lot of effort just to take the painter examination. Yet, from your tone, it seems as though you are doing it for fun...
Alright!
This fellow does seem to possess such capability.
Suppressing his dismay, Vice Guild Leader Wu explained.
"Unlike other occupations, painters aren't as complicated as other occupations. One has to take the examination step by step, starting from apprentice. As long as one is able to produce a painting, it means that one's capability has reached the required level. If one is able to produce a painting of the first level, one can become an apprentice painter. If one is able to produce a painting of the second level, one can become a 1-star painter. Since you have produced a painting of the fourth level, you can apply for the identity of a 2-star painter. "
"Ah? So simple? "
Not expecting the painter examination to be so much easier than the other occupations, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. He couldn't help but ask, "What about the 3-star painter examination?"
"To become a 3-star painter, one has to reach the fifth level of painting and create a painting of Spirit. There is a world of difference between this realm and the fourth level, and in the entire guild, only the guild leader has reached this level! "
Seeing that the other party was still thinking about it, Vice Guild Leader Wu tried to persuade him, "To be able to produce a painting of the fourth level at such a young age, your talent is already impressive. Furthermore, you haven't studied painting before. If you were to find someone to groom you, you would definitely be able to produce a painting of the fifth level within ten years and pass the 3-star painter examination. But for now, there's no need to be so anxious!"
The difference between the fourth and fifth level is just like the difference between Tongxuan and Zongshi in cultivation.
Even though the Winter Plum Blossoms Painting you produced previously has reached the fourth level, it is only due to luck that you barely managed to qualify.
You are still a long way from reaching the fifth level. To think that you can run before learning how to walk... Aren't you being a little too anxious?
"Vice Guild Leader Wu is right. For you to possess such capability at such a young age, you are the first person I have seen in so many years. As for the 3-star painter examination, it's still..."
Vice Guild Leader Cheng Feng also tried to dissuade the other party. However, halfway through his words, the young man before him suddenly turned around and walked over to the [Winter Plum Blossoms Painting].
Out of nowhere, a bowl of water appeared in the young man's hands. He drank a mouthful of it and then spat it onto the xuan paper.
Hualala!
The water droplets fell onto the painting, and the previously blank space was immediately filled with patches of white. It was as though snow had descended from the heavens, and the entire plum blossom stood proudly in the snow, as though it was defying the heavens.
Weng!
A light buzz sounded, and spiritual energy swirled in the surroundings. The plum blossom abruptly sprouted from the xuan paper, and its petals continued to extend into the sky, as though it was defying the heavens and fighting against fate.
"Done!"
Placing the bowl on the table, Zhang Xuan clapped his hands. Then, looking at the two vice guild leaders, he pointed casually.
"A painting of the fifth level..."
"Done!"
(I wrote five thousand words in the afternoon, but I felt that something was amiss, so I deleted three thousand and rewrote it. Sweat, I'm really sorry that I only finished it now! Seeing how dedicated Laoya is, please forgive me! Wuuuuu!)
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