A Painting Stuns the Academy of Literature, Drawing Bamboo at Skywave Waterside Pavilion Again

Madam Hua's cultivation was profound. Her Spirit Refinement cultivation was considered remarkable throughout Great Zhao. She was a disciple of the Wife of the First Mountain Lord of Sacred Mountain and possessed the Spirit Refinement inheritance of Ganye Temple. Her Primordial Spirit was so powerful that it could leave her body and roam thirty thousand li in the void, viewing the suspended, blazing sun as nothing.

With such cultivation, she was currently unable to perceive An Le's cultivation realm. This was truly incredible.

Upon closer inspection, she noticed the Bamboo Breaking Sword, which the young man wore at his waist, emitting a faint, almost imperceptible sword intent that flowed around the youth, blocking her Primordial Spirit's probing.

"Where did this bamboo sword come from?"

Madam Hua took a deep breath, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. She closed the great scholar's book in her hands, her expression becoming considerably more serious.

The bamboo sword appeared tattered and ordinary, but it contained an indestructible sword qi within, like a mountain pressing down on heaven and earth.

The Bamboo Breaking Sword...

Madam Hua's mind immediately went to that existence in Great Zhao.

A hundred years ago, the Old Imperial Uncle of Great Zhao, who dared to fight the Emperor of Yuan Meng, the foremost expert in the world, with nothing but a tattered bamboo sword!

But how could the sword of such a powerful individual be worn at An Le's waist?

"It was a gift from an elder. My Ink Wash Bamboo and Stone Painting was greatly appreciated by that elder, so he gifted me this bamboo sword. It signifies his hope that my character will be like the noble bamboo, standing tall in the world, unbent by hardship."

An Le placed his hand on the bamboo sword and smiled.

Madam Hua glanced at An Le. A gift from an elder? Could this elder be that Old Imperial Uncle?

However, Madam Hua did not ask further. In terms of seniority and cultivation, that Old Imperial Uncle was far superior to her.

Placing the book on the couch, Madam Hua stood up, slipping her slender, fair feet into embroidered shoes. She looked at An Le, "Young Master An, may I examine the sword?"

An Le did not refuse. He also did not worry that Madam Hua would try to snatch the sword.

If Madam Hua could gift him the Sword Waterfall Diagram for a mere painting, she would naturally not try to steal the bamboo sword without reason.

An Le removed the bamboo sword from his waist, supporting its body with one hand and its hilt with the other, and handed it to Madam Hua.

Madam Hua stood up and accepted it solemnly.

A powerful Primordial Spirit surged forth silently. A hurricane suddenly swept through the water pavilion's main hall, causing Madam Hua's sleeves and hair to fly.

Madam Hua carefully examined the Bamboo Breaking Sword. After a long while, she finally sighed.

Without saying more, she returned the sword to An Le. "The elder gifting you this sword is your fortune. Cherish it with your heart and soul. Although this is a bamboo sword, it is like a gentleman's backbone – incomparably tenacious, unbreakable, and indestructible."

"As long as a gentleman's inner pride remains unbroken and his spine unbent, the sword will not bend nor break."

"I hope you can soon be worthy of this sword."

Admiration flickered in Madam Hua's eyes.

An Le held the bamboo sword. He did not yet possess the great cultivation to truly appreciate the sword's essence. However, since even Madam Hua praised it so highly, this sword must be extraordinary.

"Madam Hua, I came to request leave from you. The elder who gifted me the sword will take me to a certain place in three days. I fear I will be unable to paint for the young masters at the Lin residence."

An Le cupped his fists.

Madam Hua's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she narrowed her eyes. "In three days? I understand. Leave is naturally granted."

Three days later was precisely when the Sixth Mountain would open its gates.

It seemed that senior had intended to nurture An Le, planning to personally take him to the Sixth Mountain to see if he could be favored by the Mountain Lord and become a guardian.

This was An Le's opportunity, and Madam Hua naturally would not interfere.

An Le had not expected the leave request to be so easy. The people of the Lin residence were indeed kind-hearted.

"Thank you for your understanding, Madam Hua."

An Le expressed his sincere gratitude.

Madam Hua's red lips curved slightly. "There's no need to thank me. The young masters would have been too busy to have you paint for them in three days anyway, so this leave is simply a matter of course."

"Last night, the Sixth Mountain of Sacred Mountain issued the Sword Qi Mountain Opening Order, announcing that it would open its gates in three days to recruit mountain guardians. You must know the mystery and transcendence of Sacred Mountain. Cultivators from the Central Plains all consider it an honor to enter Sacred Mountain. Even becoming a mountain guardian there is an excellent choice, attracting many."

"That senior undoubtedly wants you to try your luck there."

Madam Hua chuckled lightly.

An Le suddenly understood. "So, in three days, the young masters will also go to try?"

Madam Hua smiled without speaking and nodded.

An Le understood and cupped his fists, about to take his leave. However, Madam Hua called out to him.

"Young Master An, you need not paint for the young masters today. How about you paint your ink bamboo here at the Heavenly Wave Water Pavilion?"

Madam Hua said softly. She was increasingly curious about the ink bamboo that had earned the Old Imperial Uncle's admiration and even the gift of the bamboo sword.

An Le was taken aback but stopped his departure. He cupped his fists, "That is certainly possible. However, I will need to trouble Miss Xi Xiang to inform the young masters at the Training Hall, as well as Miss Zhuifeng and Miss Qingyin."

Madam Hua looked at Xi Xiang. Xi Xiang bowed slightly to An Le and Madam Hua. She then held up her oiled paper umbrella and her graceful figure disappeared into the misty spring rain.

Madam Hua instructed a servant to prepare the painting table, as well as the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Outside the water pavilion, the spring rain was hazy, bringing with it a cool spring breeze.

Madam Hua and An Le drank tea and conversed, with her inquiring about his Spirit Refinement. An Le raised any questions he had about the Sword Waterfall Diagram, and Madam Hua provided accurate answers.

Coupled with the augmentation from An Le's [Innate Swordsman] Dao Fruit, he quickly gained comprehension, reaping significant rewards in a short time.

An Le pondered for a moment. Since he likely wouldn't see the young masters today, he decided to directly draw Time Qi from Madam Hua.

With a thought, the "Time Qi" column on the screen began to fluctuate.

Instantly, a wisp of Time Qi detached itself from Madam Hua, swaying unsteadily, and finally hovered at An Le's fingertips.

Unfortunately, it was a wisp of gray Time Qi.

An Le wasn't discouraged. Flowing Gold Time Qi wasn't that easy to obtain. He continued to draw with effort, succeeding twice more and acquiring two wisps of Time Qi.

An Le suddenly rejoiced, discovering that one of these two wisps of Time Qi was actually Flowing Gold Time Qi.

Having drawn three wisps of Time Qi from Madam Hua and obtaining one wisp of Flowing Gold Time Qi was already considered excellent luck. It seemed the higher the cultivation, the greater the probability of obtaining Flowing Gold Time Qi.

Even though An Le's Spirit Refinement realm had advanced to Fetal Respiration, greatly strengthening his mind, he couldn't continue after drawing three wisps of Time Qi from Madam Hua. He was unable to draw any more.

An Le was already very satisfied and didn't rush to immediately examine the wisp of Flowing Gold Time Qi he had drawn from Madam Hua.

This was because everything was ready in the Water Pavilion: fresh Xuan paper spread on the table, ink with lingering fragrance, all awaiting An Le's brush.

Outside the pavilion, a few oil-paper umbrellas moved gracefully, like flowers blooming in the misty rain.

Lin Zhuifeng and Lin Qingyin, upon learning that An Le would be painting in the Water Pavilion, came along with Xi Xiang.

Everyone entered the pavilion in silence.

An Le, with his bamboo sword tucked at his waist, had rolled up his plain white, wide sleeves. He held a wolf-hair brush, saturated with thick ink, and was already splashing ink onto the fresh Xuan paper.

Madam Hua sat upright on the couch, extending her long, jade-like neck to watch the ink spread across the Xuan paper.

Her eyes held a hint of curiosity.

The spring river, after a new rain, reaches the west of the window; the dark clouds obscure the mountain light, and the distant trees are hazy.

Lin'an, after the rain, is hazy.

A luxurious carriage slowly approached the white jade stone archway of the Academy of Literature and stopped.

The burly coachman, wearing a conical hat and a straw cape, took an oil-paper umbrella and handed it to the youth who lifted the curtain.

The youth, holding the umbrella, alighted from the carriage. His fine silk robes exuded nobility.

"I'm going to see the Second Master and will return shortly. Wait for me under the stone archway."

Luo Qingchen said, holding the umbrella. The beads of spring rain dripped like a curtain from the umbrella's edge.

"Understood," the coachman nodded respectfully.

Luo Qingchen then held his umbrella, hands clasped behind his back, and strolled through the spring rain. He walked up the long bluestone steps towards the many pavilions of the Academy of Literature, hidden within the misty spring scenery.

Last night, the Sixth Mountain issued a Mountain Opening Order, and the Lord of the Sixth Mountain would be taking his second guardian. The entire Lin'an Prefecture was shaken.

And he, Luo Qingchen, naturally knew about it.

Luo Qingchen was well aware that after his defeat by Li You'an, a single move shattering his Dao heart, he had lost the qualification and courage to ascend the Sacred Mountain and converse with the Sacred Master.

However, cultivators of the Central Plains all took pride in entering the Sacred Mountain, and he, Luo Qingchen, was no exception. The Lord of the Sixth Mountain was recruiting guardians, and he was somewhat tempted.

This was also his opportunity. If he could enter the Sacred Mountain, his increasingly belittled status and position might flourish like a withered tree in spring.

Ascending eight hundred steps along the mountain path, the spring rain splashed fine, layered ripples on the muddy ground. He reached a Jiangnan-style building with white walls, black tiles, and upturned eaves, where Luo Qingchen closed his umbrella and pushed open the door.

Inside the main hall, people were crowded, and the atmosphere of discussion and conversation was lively.

This formed a unique contrast with the chill of early spring brought by the biting spring rain outside.

A charcoal stove was heating water, and a young attendant was waiting. Once the water boiled, he would make tea and refill water for the cultivators within the Academy of Literature's pavilions.

At the main table, two elderly men in scholar's robes sat, sipping hot tea. They were looking at a painting, chatting and laughing, full of praise.

Upon entering, Luo Qingchen was startled to see the two elders in the hall.

He hadn't expected two Masters to be present in the lecture hall today.

It was rare for both the Second Master and the Third Master to be present together.

Without saying much, he slowly walked through the room, intending to find an empty seat.

The lively discussions of the surrounding Academy of Literature scholars reached his ears.

"This painting is the Ink Wash Bamboo and Stone Painting. It depicts bamboo using ink wash, with alternating light and dark ink creating the image. The slender stalks reveal the bamboo's upright character, truly embodying the noble qualities of bamboo. It's truly marvelous!"

"The Third Master brought the painting for us to admire and learn the art of ink wash bamboo painting. I was astonished by the painting; I've never seen ink wash bamboo painting like this. This painting should establish a new genre."

"It's not just the painting; the poem on it, 'Through a thousand trials and tribulations, it remains strong, no matter the winds from east, west, south, or north,' complements the bamboo's character perfectly. It's truly extraordinary!"

The scholars of the Academy of Literature praised and discussed. They had clearly already viewed the painting.

"Excuse me."

Luo Qingchen said to the scholars in front of him.

Several scholars quickly made way, allowing Luo Qingchen to pass, and bowed respectfully.

Luo Qingchen returned the bow and listened to everyone discuss the painting, a touch of curiosity rising in his heart.

After Luo Qingchen passed, the Masters of the Academy of Literature continued their conversation:

"Although the meaning contained within the painting is quite weak, more like a painter's casual sketch, the sword intent hidden within the bamboo leaves is incredibly harmonious. This fusion of painting, poetry, calligraphy, and meaning is truly exceptional!"

"I'm truly curious, who painted this masterpiece? Could it be the Third Master's own hand?"

"The Third Master is known for his meticulous brushwork when painting bamboo; painting bamboo in a freehand style doesn't align with his habits. Furthermore, don't you see the inscription on the painting? The artist's name is An Le..."

"If his painting is in the Third Master's hands, he must be a senior with whom the Third Master is very close."

"I wonder which renowned master of bamboo painting this Mr. An Le is?"

Outside, the spring rain fell like pearls on a jade plate, unable to drown out the fervent discussion within the room.

Luo Qingchen's leisurely steps suddenly froze.