Competing with Tian Feng in Calligraphy

...But you proved yourself with your powerful painting skills! You shocked them all and made them feel ashamed!

That was because they all knew that when it came to painting, not a single one of them could compare to you!

Your painting had already entered the Sage Realm! These ordinary mortals were no match for you!

Another Achievement Medal.

Ding Ling steadied himself slightly, now having a clear idea in his heart.

Sure enough.

Before long.

Ju Shou set down his brush and conceded defeat, saying with great admiration:

"In painting, I admit that I am inferior. I will not compete with you any further, lest I bring humiliation upon myself."

His painting had not even been finished.

However, after witnessing Ding Ling's work, he had been deeply moved. He felt that even if he worked for another ten years, he might not be able to catch up to Ding Ling in painting. There was no point in stubbornly continuing. Instead, people would merely laugh at him for being unable to accept defeat.

Ju Shou was clearly someone who could accept defeat and let things go. He immediately expressed his opinion to Han Fu:

"I think General Pan is right. A talent like Ding Ling would have no problem serving as a general."

Achievement Medal acquired: You have won Ju Shou's respect and recognition.

Note: Without question, you defeated him head-on in painting. You made him choose silence and surrender.

Ding Ling's eyes lit up slightly.

Another one.

It seemed his earlier guess had indeed been correct.

Famous people were the best and fastest source of medals!

"Mm."

Han Fu nodded and was about to agree.

Tian Feng stepped forward, bowed to Han Fu, then pointed at Ding Ling and said:

"Lord, I would like to exchange a few moves with General Ding."

He directly addressed him as General Ding.

That showed Tian Feng had already acknowledged Ding Ling's status, talent, and martial prowess.

"Oh?"

Han Fu grew even more interested.

"What do you wish to compete in?"

"That depends on what General Ding says."

Tian Feng looked at Ding Ling, paused, then added, "Of course, we cannot compete in painting again."

Ding Ling smiled. "Then let us compete in calligraphy."

Competitions could earn Achievement Medals.

Ding Ling could not have wanted it more.

Last time, he had wanted to activate the legendary Storage Space.

But he did not have enough Achievement Medals and could not activate it.

This time, he intended to earn more and give it a try.

"Good. Someone, quickly prepare brush and ink."

Han Fu shouted excitedly like a spectator watching a show.

Scholars enjoyed competitions involving music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

It was much like how basketball players enjoyed watching basketball games. Nothing strange about it.

A moment later.

Ding Ling wrote a line in sweeping strokes:

The mountain of books has a path: diligence is the way!

The sea of learning has no shore: hardship is the boat!

His brushwork was forceful and grand, its vigor as vast as the sea!

A dozen or so characters, each one like a saber or sword, as though carved upon one's Heart Gate!

It was a calligraphy work exquisite down to the finest detail.

Not only could no flaw be found in it.

It even carried a unique artistic conception.

Everyone stared in shock.

"Th-this... this is a peerless masterpiece!"

"Unbelievable. It would have been enough if Ding Ling's martial arts were so formidable, but how had his painting and calligraphy both reached the Transformation Realm as well?!"

"Exactly. It is already extraordinary for an ordinary person to reach the Transformation Realm in a single field over a lifetime. How could Ding Ling be this incredible?!"

Ju Shou, Tian Feng, Han Fu, and the others were all stunned. The way they looked at Ding Ling changed once again.

This time, their gazes became even more solemn. There was not only admiration, but also shock and disbelief.

Achievement Medal acquired: Your calligraphy has received the highest recognition from Ji Province's civil and military officials!

Note: Your calligraphy has entered the Transformation Realm. You have reached a pinnacle that many people could never attain in their entire lives! Even rarer, your work combines the finest essences of calligraphy from every dynasty.

Competing against Tian Feng of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms era was like a strike from a higher dimension!

Hearing the prompt, Ding Ling nodded inwardly. It seemed that grinding calligraphy skills from every era in the Real World had been extremely useful!

The various scripts and calligraphic works created by top calligraphers from different eras, such as Wang Xizhi, Yan Zhenqing, and Zhang Zhi.

Ding Ling had used them all to grind his calligraphy skill!

One could well imagine just how high Ding Ling's calligraphy level was now!

"I lost."

Tian Feng looked dejected, but he quickly swept away his negative emotions and looked at Ding Ling with admiration.

"At your age, reaching such an extraordinary level in calligraphy is truly rare. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly!"

Achievement Medal acquired: You have convinced Tian Feng.

Note: Tian Feng had merely wanted to test your limits. But your weight nearly dealt a devastating blow to his confidence! For a time, he even doubted his own life and felt that his title as a famed scholar was undeserved!

Otherwise, how could he have been crushed by a mere martial man in the field of calligraphy he excelled at?

Ding Ling smiled faintly when he heard that.

They were all honest people.

Each of these Achievement Medals had been "given" quite readily.

"Does anyone else want to compete?"

Ding Ling looked eagerly at the other civil officials.

"...!"

Ju Shou and the others looked at one another, clearly seeing the confusion, bewilderment, shame, awkwardness, and guilt in each other's eyes...

They were confused because Ding Ling was actually so eager to compete?!

What kind of pace was this?

They felt ashamed and awkward because so many famed scholars had been suppressed by a military general. It would be utterly humiliating if word got out!

"I will."

Xun Chen stepped out confidently, stared straight at Ding Ling, and declared, "I want to compete with you in chess! I wonder if you dare?"

"What is there to fear?"

Ding Ling still smiled slightly. "I accept!"

"Hm?"

Xun Chen was startled. After confirming that he had not misheard, he saw Ding Ling's calm expression and could not help feeling somewhat uneasy. However, he soon regained his confidence, because he did not believe anyone could reach the pinnacle in martial arts, painting, calligraphy, and chess all at once!

And at such a young age!

Moreover, chess was the Xun Family's greatest specialty. How could he possibly lose?

He was not the only one who thought so.

Han Fu, Ju Shou, Tian Feng, and the others were also convinced that Xun Chen would win. Each of them thought:

"Xun Chen is from the Yingchuan Xun Family. His father, Xun Gun, is one of the Eight Dragons of the Xun Family! He received an excellent education from childhood and gained the title of famed scholar at an early age. There is no reason for him to lose to Ding Ling in his own field of expertise!"

After Han Fu ordered someone to bring chess pieces, tables, chairs, and other equipment.

Xun Chen and Ding Ling began their contest in the hall.

The two played Go.

During the opening, they placed their stones especially quickly!

All the scholars watched without blinking.

This included Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province, who watched with great interest. He did not even have time to take a sip of tea, staring fixedly at the match.

The generals, on the other hand, were somewhat miserable.

It was fine for those who understood the game.

Those who did not truly felt as though they were sitting on pins and needles, wishing they could leave immediately and go home.

Pan Feng was among them.

Pan Feng did not understand chess.

Looking at the scholars around him, Tian Feng and Ju Shou, as well as generals like Zhang He and Gao Lan, he could not help feeling rather gloomy. What on earth are they looking at?