Brandishing a Broken Bamboo Sword, You Dare Confront the Yuan Meng Emperor

Madam Hua was indeed a bit surprised. He had only started his cultivation enlightenment at eighteen, with extremely poor innate talent. Yet, how could the young man's current performance be indicative of poor talent?

A few days ago, at the Tianbo Water Pavilion, he entered samadhi in just fifteen minutes.

Today, observing him again, he had already reached fetal respiration.

The second stage of Spirit Refinement, Fetal Respiration, was not something one could easily step into. It required a kind of accumulation of mental energy, where everyone cultivated step by step, refining their spirit.

Even she, Hua Jiebing, hailed as a prodigy of Spirit Refinement, had taken a full three days and three nights with the aid of her master's Spirit Refinement magical artifact to truly complete Fetal Respiration!

An Le certainly couldn't have the condition of being assisted by a Spirit Refinement magical artifact. So how had he achieved it himself?

Madam Hua became interested.

"Xi Xiang, go invite Young Master An here."

Sitting up from her couch, Madam Hua smiled and looked at Xi Xiang, her personal maidservant, who was standing quietly behind her.

"Yes, Madam."

Xi Xiang was stunned for a moment, then bowed in assent. Without asking further questions, she left the main hall of the water pavilion and crossed the white jade arch bridge.

Under the guidance of the maidservant Liu Xiang, An Le passed through the Lin Manor with practiced ease.

Spring mountains, warm sun, gentle breeze, balustrades, pavilions, curtains, and screens. Willow trees and swings in the courtyard.

Singing orioles and dancing swallows, small bridges, flowing water, and flying petals.

The scenery of the Lin Manor was not limited to the Tianbo Water Pavilion. Each courtyard and pavilion within the manor had its own unique charm. Walking on the bluestone paths felt like being in a miniature garden. After all, it was a Duke's manor, truly dazzling.

Suddenly, a beautiful woman approached gracefully from a distance. Upon seeing her, Liu Xiang bowed respectfully.

"Young Master An, Madam requests your presence. Please follow Xi Xiang to the Tianbo Water Pavilion."

Xi Xiang said with a smile.

As Madam Hua's personal maidservant, her status among the servants of the Lin Manor was second only to "Ji Ying" by the Old Madam's side and Lin Zhuifeng.

Compared to them, Liu Xiang was far inferior, thus she maintained a very humble demeanor.

An Le paused for a moment, then nodded. "Then I shall trouble Miss Xi Xiang to lead the way."

Towards the handsome, refined, and courteous An Le, Xi Xiang chuckled, covering her mouth. Her eyes flickered with charm as she turned, her graceful figure leading the way ahead.

After thanking Miss Liu Xiang, An Le followed Xi Xiang to the water pavilion.

In the main hall of the water pavilion, Madam Hua no longer had the inclination to study the works of great scholars. Instead, she squatted by the pond, scattering fish food to feed the beautiful koi in the water.

"They're here."

Madam Hua finished scattering the last handful of fish food from her palm and gracefully stood up. The spring sunlight shone down, illuminating the peerless beauty of the Madam, whose age was unknown, making her look unlike an earthly woman.

"You've reached Fetal Respiration in your Spirit Refinement?" Madam Hua lifted her steps lightly and steadily returned from the rockery by the pond to the flat ground of the main hall.

An Le was not surprised that Madam Hua had discovered his breakthrough. Madam Hua's strength was unfathomable; she was definitely a cultivator far beyond the fifth realm.

"I had a fortunate encounter last night and managed to break through."

An Le did not conceal anything and stated it truthfully.

"Oh? How did you break through? Is it convenient to elaborate?" Madam Hua was very interested, a hint of inquiry appearing in her bright eyes.

An Le smiled. "Yesterday, a painting friend visited, and I painted an Ink Wash Bamboo and Stone Painting. During the process of painting, I had a sudden realization. Perhaps the technique for painting bamboo resonated with the Sword Waterfall Diagram, and I managed to achieve Fetal Respiration in one go."

"Painting?" Madam Hua did not expect An Le to give such an answer.

"Ink Wash Bamboo and Stone Painting? Painting bamboo with ink wash?"

Madam Hua's heart was filled with doubt. She also had research in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In Great Zhao, very few people painted bamboo with ink wash; most preferred meticulous brushwork for painting bamboo.

"Never mind. It seems you have extraordinary talent in painting. I could already tell from your sketching, which is good. However, gaining enlightenment through painting is ultimately an accident. The path of Spirit Refinement ahead is still fraught with difficulties. You must visualize the sword diagrams daily and not slack off."

Madam Hua spoke sincerely. She had glimpsed An Le's talent for late blooming and did not want him to bury or waste this gift.

An Le's expression turned solemn, and he cupped his fist in a salute. "Thank you, Madam, for your guidance. This humble student will surely keep it in mind."

"I didn't expect you to also understand ink wash painting techniques. I would have liked you to do some ink splashing on the spot, but unfortunately, I have visitors soon. I'll appreciate your ink wash dance another day."

Madam Hua said with a hint of regret.

An Le smiled. "This humble student comes to the Lin Manor every day. If Madam wishes to view my paintings, I will create them after my return."

Madam Hua nodded slightly.

An Le took his leave and departed from the Tianbo Water Pavilion, heading towards the Training Hall to paint for the young masters.

The Tianbo Water Pavilion returned to silence.

The spring breeze blowing through the hall gently swayed Madam Hua's clothes.

"The young man painted bamboo, causing a resonance with the Sword Waterfall Diagram?"

"The Four Gentlemen—plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum—have countless painters, but only a few can be called true masters. The Four Gentlemen correspond to the qualities of pride, seclusion, indifference, and elegance. To evoke spiritual resonance, one must use these qualities as a guide during painting... Can the young man grasp the quality of bamboo?"

"If his ink wash bamboo painting is truly unique, perhaps I can recommend him to the great masters of bamboo painting in Great Zhao. In Great Zhao, there are only three people who can be called masters of bamboo painting: the three tutors of the Academy of Literature, Vice Premier Ouyang Xiangru, and... that old imperial uncle who dared to face the Yuan Meng emperor with nothing but a broken bamboo sword."

Madam Hua murmured softly, reviewing the great masters of bamboo painting in Great Zhao in her mind.

Suddenly, the maidservant Xi Xiang respectfully said, "Madam, the carriage is ready."

"Can the visiting card be sent to the Ye Manor?" Madam Hua asked.

"This servant personally delivered it yesterday," Xi Xiang replied solemnly. As Madam Hua's personal maid, she naturally knew why Madam Hua was sending a visiting card to the Ye Manor.

The Ye Manor, like the Lin Manor, was a distinguished family with military merit, holding a significant position in Lin'an Prefecture.

News of the Palace Examination had spread, and Madam Hua intended to make her move.

"Did Madam Ye refuse?" Madam Hua asked softly.

Xi Xiang paused, then hesitated, "She did not refuse, but she also... did not agree."

Madam Hua nodded and walked gracefully past the white jade balustrade.

"If she didn't refuse, then she agreed. Let's go, we mustn't keep Madam Ye waiting."

The sun rises from the valley, ascending the ancient, gnarled tree, and the dense, cold mist gathers around the slender bamboo.

Sixth Mountain.

An unnamed idle pavilion on the large flat ground.

Inside the pavilion, three people sat opposite each other, still savoring An Le's Ink Wash Bamboo and Stone Painting. The morning sun cast its light from the horizon onto the scroll, making it shine brilliantly.

"One can understand a person by viewing their painting. The creator of this Ink Wash Bamboo and Stone Painting has a tiger in their heart, with contained spirit and the bearing of a gentleman. It resonates with their own Spirit Refinement sword intent, making them a rare and excellent prospect for sword cultivation."

The middle-aged man in white, carrying a large pine wood sword box on his back, was a man of few words, but he finally offered his critique of the painting.

The elder in scholarly robes stroked his beard and also nodded, "Painting bamboo with ink is quite rare in Great Zhao, and even rarer are those who can paint it with style. The excellence of this painting lies not only in the bamboo but also in the poetic talent and calligraphy."

"'Through a thousand trials and tribulations, it remains strong and unyielding, facing winds from all directions...' The painter must have endured hardships but does not fear them, letting them come and remaining steadfast. The backbone of a gentleman is as upright as a celestial pillar. And this calligraphy, strangely elegant and unrestrained, yet it draws from the strengths of many schools and possesses considerable structure."

"Viewing the painting, appreciating the poetry, and seeing the calligraphy... one can truly glimpse the painter's true nature. Excellent."

The white-clothed man with the pine wood sword box thought for a moment and said, "It's just that the spiritual power integrated into the painting is a bit lacking. Otherwise, this painting would be worth more, perhaps comparable to a fifth-grade magic treasure."

Zhao Huangting, the elder from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, couldn't help but laugh heartily, "If you both think it's good, then it's good. As for the lacking spiritual power, it's because the young painter has only just reached Entering Samadhi in their Spirit Refinement, and through this painting, has just stepped into Fetal Respiration..."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the scholarly elder and the white-clothed man changed.

Are you joking, Zhao Huangting?

The painter... is only at Fetal Respiration?

Zhao Huangting chuckled and said, "I have a good feeling about this young friend. Unfortunately, this young friend has offended the Qin Manor. Although they are now protected by Hua Jiebing of the Lin Manor, you also know that the Lin Manor is facing imminent disaster and will soon be unable to protect themselves. I've been thinking of finding a fallback for him."

"I went to the Academy of Literature to find you, old rascal, intending to have this painting allow the young friend to become a Mr. Ink Bamboo at the Academy. But since you've come to Sixth Mountain, Mountain Lord, please take a look. Can this painting of the young friend secure a spot as a mountain guardian for Sixth Mountain?"

The first rays of sun illuminated the tall forest, and Zhao Huangting's words echoed in the ancient pavilion.

The elder in scholarly robes narrowed his eyes, reflecting the early morning light as he examined the bamboo and stone painting.

"Zhao Huangting, you are mistaken. The mountain guardian spots are extremely precious. The Sixth Mountain Lord is peerless in his magnificence. This child is merely at Fetal Respiration in Spirit Refinement, how can he bother the Sixth Mountain Lord? He should enter my Academy of Literature's Painting Pavilion and teach the art of ink bamboo, starting an ink bamboo craze."

The white-clothed man with the pine wood sword box slowly turned his head to look at the elderly scholar.

"A good painting can be broken. The Academy of Literature is not solely yours. If Qin Lishi comes, you will be restricted, and it will be stifling to join your Academy. With me, it's different. On Sixth Mountain, I have my sword, and Qin Lishi will not dare to come. It will be exhilarating."

Inside the idle pavilion.

Zhao Huangting was also quite stunned.

He hadn't expected these two influential figures in Great Zhao to be… fighting over someone right in front of him!