90: Chapter 089 Master of Literature Lv Zhong!
_1 90: Chapter 089 Master of Literature Lv Zhong!
_1 Zheng Tianle received the scroll from his granddaughter, his eyes flooding with an intense radiance.
He carefully unfolded the calligraphy and painting in his hands, and the moment his gaze fell on this piece, it could no longer be diverted.
Actually, he didn’t even need to look at it closely to feel the aura emanating from the image!
Yes, it was the kind of aura that only high-level works of calligraphy or painting could give off!
Such a situation, Zheng Tianle, had only previously experienced from the works left by grandmaster-level figures in history.
Moreover, such works passed down from the vast history were extremely rare.
Upon seeing this painting, Zheng Tianle truly felt their powerful aura indeed, grasping the sentiments conveyed by the painter in an instant.
Zheng Tianle believed that even if it was not himself, anyone with a slight discerning ability could perceive the extraordinary nature of this piece.
Such a painting could only be made by a grandmaster-level figure, and even they happened upon rather than sought out.
Because to make one’s work reach this level and degree requires the author’s vitality, emotional energy, and spirit to reach a bursting pinnacle.
Sometimes, even authentic masters of painting find it challenging to produce more works of this caliber.
Moreover, this piece incorporates two different types of traditional Chinese scholarly skills — painting and calligraphy.
The level of the painting was shocking enough to Zheng Tianle, but Lv Zhong’s piece, “Divination; Ode to the Plum Blossoms,” also reached the realm of a masterpiece.
Zheng Tianle was stupefied, almost driven mad by Lv Zhong’s work.
“How…How is this possible?
Little Zhong is not yet eighteen; how can his achievements in calligraphy and painting be so astonishing?
This Xuan Paper was sold to Little Zhong from my shop yesterday afternoon.
I didn’t expect him to complete such a masterpiece overnight…” Zheng Tianle murmured to himself.
In his eyes, there was a deep disbelieve.
However, Zheng Tianle knew that this piece was indeed completed yesterday!
That is to say, Lv Zhong created a masterpiece at the level of grandmasters in traditional academia overnight – or even less.
Moreover, it was a genuine double masterpiece, representing two types of traditional academic achievements.
If Zheng Tianle didn’t recognize the paper and ink as his store’s products, and the ink was still a bit wet, Zheng Tianle would have assumed that Lv Zhong had somebody else write it for him.
But since this painting was completed last night, and to Zheng Tianle’s knowledge, no painter in Yan City has such astonishing painting skills, and none could achieve such a high level in calligraphy after having astonishing painting skills.
In modern China, the number of scholars who have reached such heights in both painting and calligraphy would not exceed three.
Zheng Tianle could be more confident that even if these three grandmasters collaborated for Lv Zhong, they would not finish such a masterpiece so hurriedly.
Thinking of Lv Zhong’s divine medical skills, and now his astonishing painting and calligraphy skills, Zheng Tianle – despite being wide-read and seeing all kinds of winds and waves – couldn’t keep calm at this moment.
“Uncle Zheng, may I see it?” At this time, Zhao Yuanyi also stood up, looking at the scroll in Zheng Tianle’s hand excitedly.
Zhao Yuanyi, although a government official, was also a real aficionado of calligraphy.
Furthermore, his competence in Chinese classical studies was considerable.
Though his ability to appreciate calligraphy and paintings couldn’t compare to Zheng Tianle’s, he nevertheless possessed a solid foundation in this area.
“Ah, do have a look,” said Zheng Tianle in a somewhat mesmerized manner, passing the painting back to Zhao Yuanyi.
After carefully examining it for several minutes, Zhao Yuanyi also became somewhat flustered.
He couldn’t help but exclaim loudly, “What a painting!
By then, many people had flocked over, including Leng Feng and Zheng Hongmei, who also congregated with Zhao Yuanyi to view the calligraphy.
Although these two were not very proficient in appreciating calligraphy and paintings, the moment they beheld this painting, they also felt it was an exceptional piece; it was on par with many renowned paintings from ancient times they had seen before.
Leng Feng was amazed that such a talented individual was among his daughter’s classmates, while Zheng Hongmei and another middle-aged lady looked at Lv Zhong with a complex expression, appearing somewhat weighed down with thoughts.
With Zheng Tianle, Zhao Yuanyi, and Leng Feng coming over to admire the painting, more and more influential officials and wealthy folks also joined them.
Although most of them had no specific talent for appreciating calligraphy and paintings, they had seen much more of the world than the average person and encountered many famous scrolls and pieces of calligraphy more often than not.
In their eyes, the “Song of Plum Painting” that appeared in the Leng household this time was definitely not inferior to the artworks they had seen before.
The little Dongfang Baoyu, who had stealthily come over, also finished viewing the artwork.
Though he had no ability to appreciate it, he seemed to sense his spirit becoming extremely agitated, with an inkling of comprehension.
Following that, he ecstatically discovered that his Inner Qi cultivation had suddenly advanced a level, reaching the realm of Inner Qi Second Level.
For a moment, he was shocked to his core.
He had never imagined that his mere attendance at his cousin’s eighteenth birthday could yield such a huge harvest.
The mere sight of a simple painting allowed his Inner Qi to advance by one level.
He felt like shouting out loud in his excitement.
However, after his Inner Qi cultivation was enhanced, Dongfang Baoyu stared at Lv Zhong with greedy eyes, much like a wolf beholding a beauty or like a bull seeing a red cloth, almost wanting to seize Lv Zhong and make him draw for him every day.
The sudden increase in Dongfang Baoyu’s Inner Qi attracted Ao Yuling’s attention.
Initially, she, being at the Inner Qi Second Level, was stronger than Dongfang Baoyu by a notch or two.
But Dongfang Baoyu’s inexplicable advancement in his Inner Qi cultivation rankled Ao Yuling.
However, although Ao Yuling had a volatile temper, she was indeed very intelligent.
Otherwise, she couldn’t be the top female student in No.
Upon discovering that Dongfang Baoyu’s strength had increased, she immediately suspected the painting.
This is because, Dongfang Baoyu’s Inner Qi cultivation suddenly increased exactly after he viewed the painting.
“Sister Leng Mei, let me have a look at your painting…”
Ao Yuling’s gaze fell on Leng Mei, and she quickly snatched the scroll of calligraphy from Dongfang Linglong and Liu Wanqiong, who were still admiring it.
Given her skill, she managed to seize the scroll without damaging it.
“Be careful, don’t ruin it…” Leng Mei instinctively cried out in alarm, her eyes filled with resentment.
This was the most precious gift she had received, and it was truly to her liking.
Plum and ‘Mei’ in her name were homonyms in Chinese, Leng Mei knew that the plum blossoms in Lv Zhong’s “Song of Plum Painting” were metaphorically depicting her.
She was confident that anyone would grasp this implication on seeing the painting.
Therefore, such a satisfactory painting was naturally very precious, and she did not want it to be damaged by someone else.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry…
” Ao Yuling waved at Leng Mei, her attention completely immersed in the painting.
Indeed, as soon as she viewed the painting, Ao Yuling’s eyes widened in shock, as her Inner Qi started to fluctuate violently and began to circulate wildly.
In an instant, the True Qi inside Ao Yuling’s body boiled up, feeling as if something inside was breaking.
Then, she felt her whole body relax.
Her Inner Qi subsequently advanced from the Inner Qi Second Level to the Inner Qi Third level.
Could it be that my paintings can actually enhance the Inner Qi cultivation level of ancient martial artists?
this is absolutely ridiculous!” Upon detecting that two ancient martial artists had made breakthroughs in their cultivation after viewing his painting, Lv Zhong was so astonished he gaped open his mouth with shock.
It must be due to the scope of influence of the grandmaster level in the literary world.
This painting has indeed reached the level of a true world-renowned masterpiece.
Perhaps only such works could provide mysterious insights to ancient martial artists and cultivators, inducing breakthroughs in their cultivation.” To the side, Xiaoyufeì, who was also viewing the painting, was likewise inwardly shocked.
Although her cultivation had not yet advanced from the Inner Qi Sixth Level to the Inner Qi Seventh Level, she did sense that her True Qi had considerably increased after viewing the painting.
After the shock, Xiaoyufeì gave Lv Zhong a complex look.
She couldn’t have imagined that there would be such a prodigy among her students, comparable to a grandmaster in the literary world.
For a moment, Xiaoyufeì suddenly took a great interest in her student.