45 Complete Victory

Owen adjusted his monocle and studied Xia Ming's painting for a while. After some thought, he said, "But judging from the details of the paintings, the two of you are evenly matched. However, Luo Jia completed his in one fluid stroke, showing great proficiency, and both his speed and time were far ahead of this new student's. So I think this painting should go to you, Luo Jia..."

Luo Jia had won!

It was the expected outcome. As everyone nodded, they could not help feeling somewhat regretful.

"Hold on!"

Xia Ming, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. Walking before the crowd with a smile, he said, "I'm not finished yet. Why are you announcing the result so quickly?"

He wasn't finished yet?!

That single sentence immediately set the crowd buzzing again, and pairs of expectant eyes focused on Xia Ming.

Even Su Weiwei's eyes brightened slightly, her clear, distant gaze settling on Xia Ming's face.

Luo Jia's expression shifted slightly as he asked coldly, "Oh? You're not finished, junior? Surely not. From what I can see, this painting of yours is already complete."

Xia Ming smiled noncommittally. "The time limit we set was a quarter of an hour, wasn't it? There's still time left. Senior, are you unwilling to allow even a tiny adjustment from me? Or are you afraid?"

"Hmph, afraid of you?" Luo Jia snorted. "Fine, then let me see what it can become after you finish it." He did not believe this brat could somehow paint flowers out of thin air. The overall composition of a painting had already taken shape; changing it now would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

"No rush." Xia Ming did not immediately put brush to paper. Instead, he shook his head with a smile. "Senior Luo Jia, what do you think of your own painting?"

"Hmph. I wouldn't dare call it exquisitely unmatched, but it is certainly among the finest!" Luo Jia declared confidently.

Yet Xia Ming let out a derisive laugh. "I don't think so. In my view, senior's painting is only passable at best—barely a decent work. Compared with a truly excellent piece, it falls far short!"

As soon as those words came out, the crowd erupted.

In everyone's eyes, Luo Jia's magic painting had been executed with the utmost mastery. His use and control of magic power all demonstrated his formidable strength. He truly deserved his eleventh-place ranking in the previous Magic Martial Tournament.

Yet Xia Ming had just said that Luo Jia's work was merely barely decent, not even worthy of being called an excellent piece. Wasn't that the same as delivering Luo Jia a resounding slap across the face?

"That's not right. No matter whether it is the conception or the application of magic, Luo Jia's painting displays astonishing command. For you to insult such a work is truly inappropriate!" Owen, the appraisal expert, could no longer stand by and watch. He stepped forward, speaking loudly.

Xia Ming replied calmly, "That is because you have never seen true magic painting. In my eyes, this painting really is only barely decent."

Luo Jia's face turned livid as he sneered. "So, junior, you're confident that what you painted is better than mine?"

"Of course."

"Fine, then please enlighten us and broaden our horizons!"

"I wouldn't dare claim to broaden anyone's horizons, but I can manage to paint something slightly better than Senior Luo Jia's." Xia Ming had no intention of being polite to Luo Jia; his words were enough to infuriate someone to death without paying for the burial.

Walking up to the Dragonblood Paper, Xia Ming suddenly asked, "In your eyes, what makes an excellent work?"

"Is that even a question? Any excellent work must possess lofty artistic conception and vivid imagery, making one feel as though they were truly there! As for magic painting, that means not a trace of magic power leaking out. Though formed through magic, it must be no different from the real thing—lifelike enough to pass false for true!" Owen answered without hesitation, speaking at length. Sure enough, he had his own unique insights into appraising magic paintings.

Xia Ming nodded approvingly, then turned to ask Luo Jia, "Senior Luo Jia, what do you think of the Thunderhawk you painted?"

With some pride, Luo Jia stroked the pet Thunderhawk on his shoulder and said firmly, "I spend day and night with Thunderhawks and understand their habits and movements perfectly. I'm confident that while the Thunderhawk I painted may not be able to pass false for true, it has at least captured a portion of its true essence."

"Is that so?" Xia Ming smiled dismissively. "Senior Luo Jia, don't speak too soon. Let's talk after I finish this painting."

"I'll wait and see." Xia Ming's words earned only Luo Jia's cold snort—and the wide-eyed stares of everyone else.

Holding the magic brush, Xia Ming stepped before the Dragonblood Paper. With a slight movement of the tip, magic elements rippled forth amid the trembling strokes. Yet everyone clearly noticed that this time, the magic elements were exceptionally lively, while the brush in Xia Ming's hand danced at incredible speed. Within just a few strokes, the Fire Luo Snake in the painting began to change!

The already lifelike Fire Luo Snake gleamed faintly beneath the magic lights. Its crimson scales shimmered, its forked tongue flicked out, and it looked as though it were crawling through the grass.

With only a few strokes, the Fire Luo Snake seemed to leap from the paper, as if it might burst straight out of the painting. It was unbelievably realistic!

"This..."

Everyone was stunned beyond belief. Such control over magic was simply inconceivable—the Fire Luo Snake had been painted "alive"!

While the crowd was still marveling, the pet Thunderhawk on Luo Jia's shoulder suddenly beat its wings and shot off from its master's shoulder. It landed directly before Xia Ming's painting, every feather standing on end. Its long, sharp beak opened as it flapped its wings frantically, acting as though it faced a deadly enemy.

Fire Luo Snakes and Thunderhawks had always been mortal enemies. Clearly, Luo Jia's pet Thunderhawk had mistaken the Fire Luo Snake in Xia Ming's painting for the real thing and revealed its hostility!

A smile appeared on Xia Ming's face as he drawled, "Senior Luo Jia, you said the Thunderhawk you painted already bore some resemblance to the real thing. Then what about this Fire Luo Snake I painted?"

"..."

The entire crowd broke into an uproar.

"This... this is far too inconceivable..."

"I simply can't believe it..."

"Ah..." This was the scream of girls terrified of snakes.

"To make a Thunderhawk mistake it for its true nemesis, a real Fire Luo Snake—this level of magic painting truly passes false for true..."

"Today has truly opened my eyes! What a feast for the eyes!"

Cries of astonishment rose without end, and the excitement of the scene far surpassed all the praise Luo Jia had received earlier.

Owen, famed for his skill in appraisal, stared with his eyes wide in utter disbelief. He stood frozen for a long time before finally seeming to wake from a dream, his face full of shame. "This student's control of magic power is simply breathtaking. This magic painting truly is..." He no longer knew what words could describe it, and could only say, "I am ashamed. I am impressed!"

Xia Ming shook his head slightly. He still had a somewhat favorable impression of Owen; the man truly was a painting fanatic.

"Damn, Brother Xia Ming, you're incredible!" Tang Ge was so excited that it was as if he himself had won the contest. He was sincerely happy for Xia Ming.

Xia Ming returned his smile, then turned to face Luo Jia, whose expression was somewhat dazed and dejected. Still smiling, he asked, "What do you think, Senior Luo Jia?"