294: Chapter 145 Painting and Calligraphy Bloom in Pair_3 294: Chapter 145 Painting and Calligraphy Bloom in Pair_3 The higher they reached in their realm, the more difficult it was to achieve enlightenment.
Yet these five had done just that, truly a stroke of good fortune!
After not too long, the five disciples concluded their enlightenment and bowed towards Cao Zhen in unison.
The two Peak Masters from the Upper Fifty Peaks even expressly thanked him, “Thank you, Peak Master Cao.”
“Peak Master Cao, although our two Peaks have not asked you for a script, we have also gained enlightenment thanks to you.
We wonder what kind of treasures you might need, Peak Master Cao, and we are willing to offer them.”
“Medicinal herbs, I am indeed short on medicinal herbs lately.”
Cao Zhen was truly in need of medicinal herbs as he still had to gather the materials for his own Dragon and Tiger Golden Pill.
It remained to be seen how much these Peak Masters would contribute to his needs.
While some of the materials needed for making the Dragon and Tiger Golden Pill were not expensive, and to many people even useless, they were extremely rare.
Cao Zhen turned to Purple Feather Peak Master and the others with a smile and said, “Shall we go?”
The expression on Purple Feather Peak Master’s face darkened instantly.
Although he resented Cao Zhen in his heart, he still stepped forward and said, “Peak Master Cao, please show mercy later.”
His Purple Feather Peak, originally ranked twentieth, was challenged by a disciple of Cao Zhen, as well as Chao Zi Zai from Seven Star Peak challenging his disciple.
This resulted in his Purple Feather Peak securing fewer Peak Bamboos than expected, and they were surpassed by Zither Music Peak, falling to the twenty-first position.
And the number of Peak Bamboos collected by their two peaks differed by just one!
He later found out that Chao Zi Zai challenged Purple Feather Peak on purpose due to his close relationship with Cao Zhen.
If it were not for Cao Zhen, their Purple Feather Peak would have remained in the twentieth position!
He was truly furious, so much so that he openly mocked Cao Zhen with a few words that day.
Who knew that now he would have to look upon Cao Zhen’s face?
He had spoken the words himself, so if Cao Zhen truly took a liking to something and claimed it, he had no choice but to accept it.
“Don’t worry, I’m only there for the medicinal herbs.”
Cao Zhen was indeed going for the medicinal herbs this time.
Even if some Peaks offered other treasures, he had them exchanged for medicinal herbs instead.
After making the rounds, he found out that there was a great disparity between the Upper Fifty Peaks and the Lower Fifty Peaks; every one of the Upper Fifty Peaks was exceedingly wealthy.
On this trip, he not only acquired a Fourth-Grade Spirit Field but also gathered all the materials needed for making his own Dragon and Tiger Golden Pill.
Once he obtained the materials, he directly entered the Five-Element Pill Ground.
With the end of the Hundred Peaks competition, the Hidden Dragon Immortal Palace and Hidden Dragon Observatory naturally reopened.
Within the Pill Ground, Gu Chengyu was still helping him make Pills.
He took a quick glance, saw there were no issues, and then began to make Pills.
Before he knew it, two days and nights had passed.
It was noon on the third day.
“Yi Sheng?
What are you doing here?
Have you made a breakthrough?” Cao Zhen looked at Yi Sheng, who had approached, with surprise, as well as at Chang Tiance following behind Yi Sheng.
“Master, your disciple has made a breakthrough.
I have come to seek your assistance this time, on their behalf…” Yi Sheng indicated towards Chang Tiance standing behind him.
Chang Tiance observed Cao Zhen who was in the midst of Alchemy, displaying no surprise given the previous rumors of Peak Master Cao’s proficiency in alchemy.
He immediately stepped forward without any pleasantries, urgently saying, “Peak Master Cao, Qing Mozi, a disciple of the Pen and Ink Sect, has come to our Hundred Peaks Sect to engage in Dao discussions.
Qing Mozi is unparalleled in both painting and calligraphy.
After our Master and two other Peak Masters viewed your calligraphy, he was immediately convinced.
However, being consummate in both painting and calligraphy, he still wishes to compete with us in painting.
We are not skilled in the Painting Dao, and the other painting peaks haven’t held out against him.
His proficiency in the Painting Dao means that even several Peak Masters have not been able to stop him!
Now, only Mountain Painting Peak remains, and if defeated, our Hundred Peaks Sect would be completely bested by him.
Therefore, Master specifically sent me to request your assistance, asking you, Peak Master Cao, to take action.”
They truly had no other option left; the opponent was simply too strong and incredibly proud.
After the disciples lost, Qing Mozi even boldly declared that he wished to compete with the Peak Masters.
The Peak Masters had to step in, but they too lost to Qing Mozi.
Initially, if Qing Mozi had only won in painting against the disciples of the Hundred Peaks Sect, while they had won in calligraphy, it would not be considered a loss for the Hundred Peaks Sect, merely a draw.
But since several Peak Masters personally stepped forward and still lost, the disgrace would spread far and wide if word got out.
Nobody would care that they had won over Qing Mozi in calligraphy; people would only say that the Hundred Peaks Sect used their higher status in vain, still losing to the visitor despite the Peak Masters’ participation.
With no other recourse, they had to seek Cao Zhen’s help.
After all, Cao Zhen had once mentioned he wanted to paint, seemingly an expert in the Painting Dao as well.
Now, they had to clutch at straws, hoping that Peak Master Cao was equally skilled in painting.
“You… refused to purchase paintings when I told you to, and now you come to me for help.
Luckily, this time, Yi Sheng is here with you.” Cao Zhen turned to look at Yi Sheng, quickly instructed him to watch the Pill Furnace, and without further regard for Chang Tiance, he whisked away towards Mountain Painting Peak atop his Divine Weapon with utmost speed.
At the base of Mountain Painting Peak, on the Dao discussion platform, a man dressed in a half-black, half-white robe looked down with arrogance and said, “It seems that the Painting Dao of the Hundred Peaks Sect leaves much to be desired.
Such skills in the Painting Dao can’t even compare to mine from five years ago.
Enough, there’s no point in staying any longer at the Hundred Peaks Sect.
I bid you farewell.”
With that, Qing Mozi turned around and started to walk away.