Chapter 121 - 121: Talent Inscription
Forgot to draw the halo?
A group of people exchanged doubtful glances, their eyes twitching with disbelief. What did this kind of painting need a halo for? And what would a halo even do for it?
Just as everyone was at a loss, Yang Zhen, with a serious expression, drew a circle on the Phoenix Divine Bird’s head and added a few points of light.
“Hmm, this indeed looks much more superior now!”
Yang Zhen muttered to himself as if he were quite satisfied. Sun Yushi couldn’t even laugh, looking at Yang Zhen with a baffled expression and said angrily “Are you messing with me?”? ’
What happened to the promised ferocious Roaring Tiger Mountain Forest Painting or the proud divine Phoenix painting? Were these chubby, chicken-like creatures supposed to be the ferocious tiger and the divine Phoenix?
Ji Shulin didn’t say a word, but his face mirrored Sun Yushi’s displeasure as he looked at Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen shook his head, sounding somewhat disappointed, “It seems that indeed, no one in this world understands how to appreciate art!” Everyone’s eyes twitched. Hua Youyue found it hard not to laugh as she watched Yang Zhen. If this could be called art, then wouldn’t there be too much of it in the world?
Yang Zhen, with an expression full of admiration, carefully picked up the Roaring Tiger Mountain Forest Painting and displayed it to everyone. He explained, “Look at these lines, so graceful yet resounding with power. And these expressions, these movements – they bring this ferocious tiger to life in such a vivid and intense manner. This is the true king of the mountain forest!” When everyone saw the Roaring Tiger Mountain Forest Painting displayed by Yang Zhen, they wanted to laugh but didn’t dare to. After all, Yang Zhen was the one who managed to help Tian Rou enhance her aura with a few simple strokes. It was impossible to deny his achievements in the literary field.
Having thought this far, everyone subconsciously looked over at Tian Rou. As expected, Tian Rou was looking at the painting in Yang Zhen’s hands with a shocked expression, her face flashing with a thoughtful expression that left everyone uncertain.
Although nobody understood, they didn’t dare to comment recklessly Everyone was being very careful. In fact, quite a few of them were subconsciously nodding their heads as if this chubby and cute creature was indeed a real mountain forest tiger.
“Now, let’s take a look at this divine Phoenix painting. In my hometown, this priceless picture has a name – the Pecking Phoenix Painting!” At this, everyone around could no longer hold back their laughter. One by one, they turned their heads away, not wanting to look any longer. Wouldn’t the Grass-Eating Chicken Painting be a more accurate title?
“You see these lines…”
Not this again!
For some reason, everyone suddenly felt an irritating urge to fight. They turned their heads and found every single person present irritating, even the Sea Tower became irritating.
While Yang Zhen continued talking, Ji shulin abruptly spoke in a deep voice, “Enough of all this nonsense, Yang Zhen!”
Everyone in the room was shocked. They excitedly looked at Ji Shulin, glad that finally someone was going to put Yang Zhen in his place.
Sun Yushi was most thrilled. As long as elder Ji took a firm stand beside him, he would remain unbeatable!
With Ji Shulin starting to show disapproval towards Yang Zhen’s actions Sun Yushi knew that even if Yang Zhen was indeed promising, he would not be able to attain Ji Shulin’s approval anymore.
Yang Zhen looked at Ji Shulin with a puzzled expression, not understanding, What nonsense am I talking? Can you understand these two paintings?” At Yang Zhen’s bold challenge to Ji Shulin, everyone inhaled sharply, staring alarmed at the two confronting each other.
Standing amid the crowd, Hua Youyue wasn’t worried. She knew Yang Zhen wouldn’t take actions he wasn’t confident about, but she really didn’t understand why Yang Zhen was so sure of himself to dare to confront Ji Shulin.
Ji Shulin scoffed coldly, saying, “If I can’t even understand your random doodles, then I don’t deserve to be the Great Elder of Turtle Serpent Island!” Yang Zhen simply responded, and turned to Tian Rou, asking, “Do you understand these two paintings?”
Tian Rou trembled slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded thoughtfully, “Brother Yang, I think I understand some of it!”
Yang Zhen laughed heartily, glanced deeply at Ji Shulin, patted Tian Rou’s head, and said, “Why don’t you explain these two paintings to our Great Elder of Turtle Serpent Island!”
“You impudent…!”
Ji Shulin shouted angrily, clearly provoked. He pointed at Yang Zhen and said “You young man, do not think that just because you have some skill, you can ’ show off in front of me! Conveying the Dao through literature is the most profound and mysterious path in the universe. How could your random doodles make you think you’re above anyone else?”
Yang Zhen didn’t even bother to speak, signaling that Tian Rou could proceed. Tian Rou hesitantly glanced at the furiously enraged Ji Shulin, cleared her throat, and stated in a crisp voice, “These two paintings are the most prized ones here in Sea Tower, including…including the one hanging in the Sea Tower itself!”
Boom!
As soon as she spoke, everyone in front of the Sea Tower was stunned, looking at her with an extremely complex expression on their faces.
Even Hua Youyue’s expression faltered, and by the time she thought to stop it it was too late.??????????????????????? ’
She didn’t expect Tian Rou to say such a thing, and she certainly didn’t expect Yang Zhen to be so audacious.
Yang Zhen himself was somewhat surprised. He didn’t expect Tian Rou to be so bold as to openly challenge the Sea Tower. This…this girl was definitely a go-getter!
Hua Youyue’s mind became a tumultuous sea; she didn’t know what to do.
The painting hanging in the Sea Tower was drawn by the master (gentleman) in his younger days and contained an inscription of talent, which was why many people came to the Sea Tower to create and understand art.
This painting was the most treasured piece in the Coast of the East Sea. For this painting, all of the practitioners of the Coast would willingly do anything. Now, Tian Rou was saying that Yang Zhen’s two rough sketches were more valuable than the painting the master, in his youth, had created with its inscription of talent. They were unaware that with this single statement, she was offending everyone on the Coast, including the master.
How would someone who’d offended everyone, including the master, survive on the Coast of the East Sea?
It was nearly impossible, as no one would look kindly on such a person. “This is absurd, simply absurd! Miss Tian Rou, you…you…you are ridiculously absurd! While Yang Zhen has some talent, you must not follow in his footsteps!” Ji Shulin was heartbroken, and he turned to look angrily at Yang Zhen.??? °
Without a doubt, Tian Rou had great talent in articulating doctrine through literature, her potential even surpassing Sun Yushi. Nobody wanted such a gifted person like Tian Rou to be led astray by Yang Zhen.
Sun Yushi watched Yang Zhen with schadenfreude. He was already preparing the essence of his talent to face inner demons. This time, he was sure to win!
However, at this moment, Tian Rou shook her head and confidently moved towards Yang Zhen. Although she didn’t speak, her actions made everything clear. This infuriated Ji Shulin to the point where his beard quivered.
Yang Zhen suddenly took a deep breath, and violently shook the two paintings on his desk!
Boom! Boom!
Two waves of sky-high talent surged out, enveloping the Sea Tower’s airspace in a blink of an eye.
In the midst of the tumultuous roiling sky, thunderbolts cut across the world emitting a dazzling light. Their ten-thousand feet of brilliance illuminated everything, a surge of immense power!
Roar!
A deafening roar echoed, and amidst the bursts of thunder, a chubby, adorable tiger appeared. It emitted a golden light while the inscription of talent shone brightly. Gusts of sky and earth literacy energy came surging out.
Screech!
A resounding cry followed. In the midst of the rolling black clouds, a large bird with a golden crown spread its wings and screeched. The inscription flowed around its body. The ferocious golden light emitted was like the sun, evaporating the surrounding black clouds and turbulence!
Boom!
The two manifestations of inscribed talent collided, and it seemed like the whole world had changed color. The turbulent energy wave was so fierce that no one dared to look directly at it.
“This…” Sun Yushi suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. His whole body stiffened, and he collapsed backwards.
Ji Shulin screamed. His eyes bulged, and he muttered to himself, “Inscription, talent inscription…how is it possible!”
The tiger and the phoenix were so ugly, yet these two ugly creatures exuded terrifying waves of talent inscriptions. It seemed as if they were entirely composed of talent inscriptions, far more powerful than the one hung up in the Sea Tower..