293: Chapter 145 Painting and Calligraphy Both Blossom_2 293: Chapter 145 Painting and Calligraphy Both Blossom_2 “There’s no need.”
“Peak Master Cao, it’s best if you write for them yourself.”
“Although the Dao of Calligraphy shares some commonalities with the Painting Way, they are nonetheless different.
A person’s energy is limited; to reach the pinnacle in one is already extraordinary, let alone both?
Does Peak Master Cao really think so highly of himself?”
“Peak Master Cao is being somewhat presumptuous.”
One by one, the masters of the painting peaks pointed in the direction of Bai Fengzi and said, “Sect Leader, the disciples of the Pen and Ink Sect will soon return to our Hundred Peaks Sect.
Unless there are other matters, we will take our leave now, as we need to discuss how to engage in discourse with our counterparts.”
Those peaks that focused on calligraphy didn’t have Cao Zhen’s work, and they needed to figure out a way to face the upcoming debates.
Bai Fengzi nodded gently, “Peak Masters, it’s best to go and prepare.”
As the people from those painting peaks left, many other peak masters also departed one after another.
Still, there were some peak masters who stayed, although it was unclear whether it was out of a love for calligraphy or simply to watch the excitement.
Chen Qingluan did like calligraphy, yet she walked resolutely towards the outside.
Why should she stay if not to watch Tu Zhuque show off before her?
Seeing Chen Qingluan rising to leave, Tu Zhuque immediately called out, “Peak Master Chen, why are you leaving so soon?
Don’t you always enjoy calligraphy?
Why not stay and appreciate it?”
Within the Hundred Peaks Sect, there were other peak masters with the surname Chen, but as soon as Tu Zhuque spoke, the other Chens didn’t even pause in their stride.
When Tu Zhuque spoke, it was clear who she was addressing: Chen Qingluan.
Chen Qingluan acted as if she hadn’t heard Tu Zhuque’s words and didn’t stop, hurrying outwards.
Tu Zhuque watched Chen Qingluan’s retreating figure with satisfaction spreading in her chest.
Although she didn’t understand calligraphy, she stayed because Cao Zhen had been chosen by her disciple as a worthy partner.
It must be said that during the last grand competition of the Hundred Peaks, Cao Zhen’s Four Treasures Peak only managed to finish last.
But today, Cao Zhen had regained his honor.
Out of the Hundred Peaks Sect’s many sword cultivation peaks, not one could retain Wu Jianzi; they were utterly defeated in sword discourse.
In the end, wasn’t it Cao Zhen who salvaged the sect’s honor?
Now with the anticipated arrival of the Pen and Ink Sect for discourse, weren’t all these peak masters seeking Cao Zhen’s assistance?
Looking at it now, Ke’s choice of Cao Zhen wasn’t entirely without merit; there were indeed qualities to admire about him, though it was a pity that his cultivation base was weaker.
Despite the departure of several peak masters who excelled in the Painting Way, two who advanced equally in both the Dao of Calligraphy and the Painting Way remained.
The three peak masters soon had their ink and brushes prepared.
Cao Zhen picked up his brush and began to write on the Xuan paper laid out before him.
Although he wasn’t as serious as the time he had written plaques for Immortal Pen Peak and Wonderful Pen Peak, he still put forth ninety percent of his effort.
Character by character emerged atop the Xuan paper.
The two masters from Calligraphy and Painting Peak, even though they hadn’t requested Cao Zhen’s calligraphy, pushed to the front to look over his shoulder.
Upon seeing his work, they both stood stunned.
The characters dipped left and rose right, with sharp strokes and a fine, vigorous style; the hook ends were sharp, revealing sharp edges.
The narrow and flexible brushwork moved with a stiff, sharp vigor, possessing an elegant, free-spirited character; the technique of the brush was lively, carrying the essence of soaring through clouds…
In the next moment, limitless mana surged within the two of them, and nearby, Song Xianbi, He Miaobi, and Liang Juebi alike fell into a stupor, their mana swirling rapidly.
Enlightenment!
All five fell into a state of sudden enlightenment.
Around them, the other peak masters, even though they held the title themselves, watched the five entranced figures with disbelief.
This was five peak masters experiencing enlightenment simultaneously!
If it had been just one or two masters enlightened by calligraphy, they might have understood, but for five to do so was truly astonishing!
All five of these peak masters specialized in calligraphy, and each had a different style.
The same piece of calligraphy might resonate with one master’s Dao of Calligraphy, prompting enlightenment, but it certainly couldn’t align with all five, could it?
Moreover, the masters of Immortal Pen Peak and Wonderful Pen Peak had seen Cao Zhen’s calligraphy before and had experienced enlightenment from it.
Under such conditions, it would be even more difficult for them to reach a new enlightenment from Cao Zhen’s writing.
Yet they had, all the same.
This meant that what Cao Zhen had written this time surpassed even his previous work at Vermilion Bird Peak!
“No, that’s not right!”
“Peak Master Cao, he wrote three separate pieces, each in a different script style!”
“This… for one person to excel in a single script style and reach the pinnacle of it is incredibly difficult, let alone mastering three different scripts…”
“Why hasn’t Peak Master Cao dedicated himself solely to the Dao of Calligraphy!”
“Peak Master Cao should indeed follow the Dao of Calligraphy.”
Bai Fengzi gazed at Cao Zhen, who had set his brush aside after finishing, a look of gratitude in his eyes.
Peak Master Cao had done this deliberately, for the good of the Hundred Peaks Sect.
It was an act of intention.
He was a Great Ability reborn; such arrogantly proud beings capable of being reborn would normally not concern themselves with the affairs of the sect, let alone cast aside their own pride to engage a junior like Wu Jianzi in discourse of the sword, just for the reputation of the Hundred Peaks Sect.
All he had done was for the sake of the Hundred Peaks Sect.
Just as he himself had said, he now considered himself a part of the Hundred Peaks Sect.
He had planted his roots deeply within the Hundred Peaks Sect!
Aside from a few disciples of the Hundred Peaks Sect present, the crowd was composed of peak masters.
Even they, as peak masters, looked upon the five experiencing enlightenment with envy on their faces.