When Xu Yan saw that the old man was no longer as calm and composed as before, he smiled and said, "Of course I painted it myself. Are you satisfied, old sir?"
It seemed even the old man thought his painting was excellent, but that was within his expectations.
The old man looked at Xu Yan with an uncertain, astonished gaze, but in the end, he still believed that Xu Yan had painted it himself.
After all, only Xu Yan often came here to look at the Green-Haired Turtle and him. Anyone who had not personally seen him and the Green-Haired Turtle naturally could not have painted it so realistically.
After hesitating for a moment, he apologized to Xu Yan. "Senior, I was too narrow-minded. I'll give this turtle to you as compensation for my disrespect."
This time, it was Xu Yan's turn to be surprised.
Why had the old man suddenly started calling him senior and even decided to give him the Green-Haired Turtle? Could it be that he had once again been conquered by Xu Yan's talent?
Regardless, Xu Yan was delighted. He said, "Old sir, you must have some understanding of Calligraphy and Painting as well. Please accept this painting."
The old man hesitated for a moment before saying, "This... In that case, I'll accept it respectfully."
His hands trembling, he took the painting The Old Man and the Green-Haired Turtle, his heart surging with excitement and joy.
A painting containing the Supreme Great Dao had actually been given to him. It seemed that the person before him truly was an otherworldly expert living in seclusion. Thinking this, he looked at Xu Yan with even greater awe.
Xu Yan pointed at the Green-Haired Turtle in the water tank. "Then I can take this Green-Haired Turtle with me?"
He had traded a painting for a Green-Haired Turtle worth a hundred thousand copper coins. He felt it was well worth it.
The old man rolled up the painting and said, "The Green-Haired Turtle is fated to be with you, senior. It is its honor to follow you."
He could hardly wait to leave. The Supreme Great Dao contained within this painting would be of great help to him.
Perhaps even his cultivation realm, which had been stagnant for a thousand years, might break through.
Xu Yan felt that there was something strange about the old man's words. "Old sir, you really know how to speak."
Saying that the Green-Haired Turtle was fated to be with him was meant kindly, but why did it sound so strange?
However, he did not dwell on it. Carrying the little water tank, he left the marketplace.
After Xu Yan left, the old man shot into the sky in an instant. Without attracting anyone's attention, he vanished from above Tianren City.
After Xu Yan returned to his little shop, he placed the little water tank on a table in the front hall. This counted as the first pet he had ever raised.
He was quite satisfied that he had obtained the Green-Haired Turtle without spending a single coin. The only thing that was somewhat glaring was the turtle's eye-catching green color.
Outside the little shop, a young woman walked to the entrance. She leaned forward to look at Xu Yan inside and called out, "Senior Xu, may I come in?"
Xu Yan looked toward the entrance. Seeing that it was Qin Yudie, he said, "Come in, Miss Qin."
He admired Qin Yudie quite a bit. She had come again today—she truly had a deep love for Calligraphy and Painting. She would certainly achieve great things in the future.
After Qin Yudie entered, she immediately spotted the Green-Haired Turtle, which was green enough to glow. She walked over with great interest and looked at the turtle in the water tank. "What an adorable Green-Haired Turtle."
She secretly thought, As expected of Senior Xu. Even the pet he raises is so close to nature. This is the bearing of an otherworldly expert living in seclusion.
Xu Yan asked, "Did you come today to study Calligraphy and Painting, or...?"
If someone sought his guidance in Calligraphy and Painting, he was quite willing to teach them. After all, Calligraphy and Painting also needed to be passed down.
Qin Yudie felt somewhat nervous. "I just came to pay Senior Xu a visit. I don't have any other intentions."
She did not understand Calligraphy and Painting very well. If Xu Yan really taught her, he would certainly see through her as a fake enthusiast.
Therefore, she had to find a way to make Xu Yan abandon this frightening idea. At the same time, after returning this time, she really ought to learn more about Calligraphy and Painting.
Xu Yan did not think there was anything worth visiting in his shop. It was only this big, and sitting around doing nothing was boring, so he said, "Why don't we play chess?"
He was rather fond of chess as well. At first, he often played against the people here, but the gap between them was far too great. They were no match for him at all, and later, they rarely asked him to play.
After all, chess was about matching wits with an opponent. If the gap was too great, the game lost its meaning.
Upon hearing that they would play chess, Qin Yudie brightened and said proudly, "All right. I'm quite proficient at chess. In our Household... I'm also at the very top."
In her excitement, she had almost said the three words "our Sect," but fortunately, she reacted quickly and instantly changed them to "our Household."
And she was speaking truthfully. In the Tianren Sect, there was only one person who could beat her at chess.
Hearing this, Xu Yan felt a flicker of anticipation. "Wait a moment!"
He entered the back hall. After a moment, he brought out a chess set and placed it on the table in the front hall.
The two sat opposite each other at the table. Xu Yan said, "You go first."
He had not played chess in some time. He was happy to play today and hoped to enjoy a truly satisfying battle.
"Okay!"
Qin Yudie did not refuse. Since Senior Xu had asked her to go first, she had to show him her strength and make him see her in a new light.
Without much thought, she placed the first piece.
Xu Yan then placed a piece as well.
Only then did Qin Yudie realize how naïve she had been. The moment Xu Yan placed his piece, the Great Dao manifested and crashed into both her body and mind.
This was not a chess match at all. It was a battle of the Great Dao.
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind. Could Senior Xu be guiding her cultivation? Yes, that had to be it. Normally, how could she ever find a way to experience the Great Dao so intimately, let alone engage in a battle of the Great Dao?
She put away all her complacency and made her next move with the utmost caution.
However, in Xu Yan's eyes, Qin Yudie's move was truly awful—she was so bad she was practically scraping the bottom of the barrel.
He even wondered whether Qin Yudie lived alone. Otherwise, with her level of chess, how could she dare claim to be at the top of her Household? Unless everyone else in her Household played even worse.
After six rounds from the start of the game, the match was over.
Even though Xu Yan had released enough water to drown the entire Tianren Mountain, he still won in a crushing fashion.
He could not even imagine how he could have released any more water. Yet Qin Yudie had still played an utter mess, too painful to watch.
Qin Yudie's mood was completely opposite to Xu Yan's. She was incredibly excited. Her cultivation had advanced considerably during the match just now.
As expected, Senior Xu had been guiding her. She absolutely could not disappoint him. Thinking this, she took the initiative to say, "Senior Xu, let's play another round!"
What? Another one? Miss, do you have any idea that the water I released was enough to drown the entire Tianren Mountain?
Xu Yan really wanted to say that, but Qin Yudie had kindly come to visit him. Besides, he was a graceful and handsome young man, so he held his tongue.
This time, despite his utmost efforts to hold back, Qin Yudie did not lose until the seventh round.
Yet for Xu Yan, it had been even more difficult than playing a match against an unparalleled expert. He was mentally exhausted and really wanted to ask: Miss, who taught you chess? Can I take him mountain climbing?
Before you continue