Conquering Cultivators with Talent

Qin Yudie smiled and said, "We'd like to ask a question. Who wrote the characters on this plaque?"

She didn't hold out much hope. Anyone capable of leaving such Dao charm on a plaque must be a reclusive expert, someone who wouldn't easily reveal their whereabouts or name.

"You mean the words 'What are you looking at'?" Xu Yan couldn't understand why this beautiful girl wasn't coming into the shop to buy something but was instead asking about this. Still, thinking she might be a rich woman, he answered honestly, "I wrote it. After all, this is my shop, so of course, I wrote it myself."

After speaking, he noticed that the two girls, especially the one who asked the question, seemed a bit off. The expression on her face was somewhat frozen, mixed with astonishment.

Could it be that they were stunned by my peerless beauty?

A moment later, Qin Yudie realized she had lost her composure and asked with a smile, "Are you sure you wrote the characters yourself?"

She had her doubts. The person before her had no cultivation, was clearly just a mortal, and was very young. How could he possibly be the one who wrote characters imbued with Dao charm?

Xu Yan felt inexplicably confused. "Of course, I wrote it myself. Why don't you two stop dwelling on the characters on the plaque? If you don't like how it looks, I can rewrite it anytime."

He was starting to panic a little, thinking these two might have been provoked by the words "What are you looking at," otherwise why would they be fixated on asking him about the plaque?

Upon hearing Lin Yansheng's affirmative reply, Qin Yudie and Mu'er exchanged glances, seeing the astonishment and confusion in each other's eyes.

Then, Mu'er's eyes darted around, a flash of intelligence appearing. She said to Lin Yansheng, "Are the calligraphy and paintings in your shop all your own work?"

Hearing her say this, Qin Yudie understood her intention.

If this young man was indeed the one who wrote the words "What are you looking at," then it was highly likely that there were other calligraphy and paintings imbued with Dao charm in the shop. They could tell at a glance whether they came from the same hand as the words "What are you looking at."

"All the works in this shop are my own. Would you two like to come in and take a look?" Xu Yan said, walking into the small shop and opening the door wide.

The walls inside were adorned with quite a few pieces of calligraphy and paintings. This was just the outer hall; there were other items in the inner hall.

Qin Yudie and Mu'er followed him into the small shop. As they looked at the calligraphy and paintings hanging inside, the world before their eyes suddenly changed.

Endless Dao intent surged from the artworks, encompassing the Way of landscape, the Way of living beings, and many other Great Daos.

Rivers imbued with Dao charm surged, and towering mountains that reached into the clouds shifted. In an instant, all of it vanished.

A magnificent, towering vine, like a Heavenly Abyss, bore seven gourds. The gourds then fell to the ground, transforming into human boys.

This was the evolution of life, the supreme Great Dao.

Qin Yudie and Mu'er emerged from the Dao charm of the artworks, their eyes filled with unimaginable shock.

All these calligraphy and paintings contained Dao charm, surpassing even the few words on the plaque.

Mu'er looked at Qin Yudie and transmitted her voice, "Senior Sister, have we encountered a reclusive expert?"

"Shh!" Qin Yudie's expression suddenly turned serious. She also transmitted her voice using spiritual energy, "This shop owner must be a reclusive expert, a true powerhouse. Such a senior figure must be living in seclusion to experience the mortal world. We absolutely must not mention cultivation or Dao charm to them."

"Also, stop transmitting your voice. Such trivial tricks are hardly capable of deceiving a senior, it's like showing off in front of an expert, and might even displease them."

After communicating with Mu'er, her gaze towards Xu Yan held an undisguised respect and admiration.

A person who could comprehend numerous Great Daos and integrate them into calligraphy and paintings was undoubtedly an unimaginable powerhouse.

To be able to meet such a powerful individual was her good fortune.

Xu Yan felt a little uncomfortable under Qin Yudie's gaze and asked, "Miss, is there any calligraphy or painting you like?"

He, however, was muttering to himself, Why is this girl looking at me with such intense eyes? Could she really be conquered by my peerless beauty?

Qin Yudie unconsciously regarded herself as a junior. "I really like Senior's calligraphy and paintings, but these artworks are priceless treasures. I'm afraid Yudie cannot afford them..."

Each of these artworks contained Dao charm and were true treasures of the cultivation world, their value immeasurable. Even as the granddaughter of the Tianren Sect Master, she absolutely could not afford such treasures.

"Senior? Priceless treasures?" Xu Yan was stunned at first, not quite understanding what this girl was getting at.

But then he noticed Qin Yudie and Mu'er's gazes fall upon his paintings again, their expressions rapturous.

He understood. He understood everything.

So these two girls were also art enthusiasts, but perhaps their skill level was quite ordinary. Seeing a master like himself in the realm of calligraphy and painting, it was understandable for them to call him "Senior" and the works "priceless treasures."

Otherwise, outsiders looking at his "A wolf fighting five sheep," "Straw hat boy travels the world," or "Electric mouse's 100,000 volts" wouldn't even know what they were supposed to be.

Only an insider would know how amazing he was.

It wasn't him bragging; apart from cultivation, he had basically reached the level of returning to simplicity and transcending the mundane in all other skills.

Heh, so they're art enthusiasts. I'd better put on my best "senior" demeanor, Xu Yan thought. He then said, "Since you both enjoy calligraphy and paintings, I'll give you one."

Saying this, he walked over to the painting desk, picked up the Calabash Brothers Save Grandpa he had finished earlier, and offered it to Qin Yudie.

Qin Yudie was overjoyed and couldn't believe it. "Senior, is... is this really for me?"

She thought to herself, To give away such a priceless treasure so casually, they truly are a reclusive expert, unconcerned with worldly possessions. They act purely on their whims. When will I ever reach this level?

"Of course, it's just a painting. Look how many I have here, would I lie to you?" Xu Yan said nonchalantly.

This person had an extraordinary aura; perhaps they were a cultivator. Being able to conquer a cultivator girl with his talent and have her call him "Senior" made him very happy. Giving away a casually painted piece wasn't a big deal.

After all, his paintings usually only sold for a few copper coins. Gaining an art enthusiast was worth it.

"Thank you so much, Senior!" Qin Yudie was exceptionally pleased. She took the Calabash Brothers Save Grandpa and examined it carefully. Only then did she notice a signature in a corner of the artwork: Xu Yan.

She looked up at Xu Yan and asked, "Is Xu Yan Senior's name?"

Xu Yan quite enjoyed the title "Senior" and said somewhat smugly, "Of course. If you're an art enthusiast, would you put someone else's name on your own artwork?"

He found this girl more and more likable. Her beauty was secondary; what mattered most was that she recognized his talent.

The ordinary people who bought his calligraphy and paintings usually didn't understand calligraphy or painting at all, which always made him feel like he had few kindred spirits.