Turning the Rotten into the Miraculous
The painting was closed again.
"Have you finished dealing with everything at the academy?" Pang Chu turned to look at Zhou Dongyi and the others, asking casually, but his words carried a hint of seriousness.
"Enough with the talk, what's the deal with this painting?" Zhou Dongyi ignored everything else and got straight to the point.
Pang Chu was about to reply when he was interrupted by an old voice.
"Now that you're all back, that's good. You're all destined to be recorded in history, so your timely return will improve your reputation."
The one who spoke was none other than Zheng Qiu, the elder of the Spring and Autumn Academy. The word "wake up" that had just been uttered by him had also awakened the disciples who were immersed in their contemplation of the painting, preventing them from becoming lost in their own thoughts.
After he finished speaking, no one else said anything more.
Pang Chu took a deep breath and lifted the painting again. The artistic conception and spirit surged out. The previous scene reappeared, not as a real scene, but as a projection and concrete representation of the ideas and views derived from the painting in the world.
In fact, although this painting depicts a scene and incorporates Qiu Yan's insights, giving rise to its charm, a painting alone is meaningless. It needs to be seen by people and leave an impression on their hearts in order to achieve its purpose.
It's like drawing a line on a blank sheet of paper. If no one sees it, it's almost as if it doesn't exist. But once someone sees it, some people see it as a "one," while others see it as a crack. Because of different impressions, their understanding will also be different.
At present, Qiu Yan's painting expresses everything he has seen, heard, and thought in one painting.
Looking at the painting and feeling the projected artistic conception is like listening to Qiu Yan express his own views.
The scenery resides in the heart, and the painting holds the sentiment.
This painting not only contains Qiu Yan's explanation, but also contains the oppression of a god-like power and the resistance of the tribesmen like fledglings, giving it a natural and seamless feel.
This surprised many Grand Confucian.
Someone whispered, "Does Qiu Yan perhaps intend to establish his own school of thought?"
The phrase "one school of thought" here does not refer to the opinion of a single person, but rather to someone establishing New Learning and expounding on the meaning of classical texts.
In fact, this painting is less a reflection of Qiu Yan's personal views and more a frame that encapsulates a multitude of ideas.
The imposing presence and danger of that day were inspired by Lü Liang's arrogance and the crisis in the Netherworld Domain. The resistance of the people, in turn, drew upon Qiu Yan's own will and the emotions of many scholars.
Carving is done as you please.
After watching for a while, some people nodded to themselves, while others frowned.
Xu Shi suddenly said, "That's too arbitrary. Qiu Yan's words make sense, and the scene in the painting is based on evidence, but history is weighty, and the world is unpredictable. How can everything be as he says? Judging from this young man's painting, he clearly intends to interpret the Ancient Scene in his own unique way!"
"Not bad. This painting seems reasonable, but it's too abrupt. How can it possibly summarize the changes in the development of Human Path?" Zhou Dongyi also said.
As soon as he finished speaking, several thuds came from inside the room, clearly indicating that something had fallen to the ground.
"Hmm?" Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that what had fallen to the ground were several scrolls, all of which were works by Qiu Yan and had been taken away by someone.
"How did these paintings start moving on their own?"
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the scrolls that had been lying on the ground were unfurled one after another, from the earliest one to the one from yesterday, arranged in a remarkable sequence, recording Qiu Yan's improvement in painting skills and gradually unfolding the Ancient Scene, encompassing everything.
"This is..."
Their gazes swept over the numerous paintings in turn, and everyone froze on the spot, deeply shocked!
Everyone present had a distinguished background and had seen it all in their lives. They were usually unmoved even by a collapsing mountain, but now, noticing the content of each painting and vaguely discerning the hidden meaning behind them, they couldn't help but feel a tremendous shock in their hearts!
"I see, I see!" Han Yi's eyes gleamed as he looked at the paintings, his face full of admiration.
"Truly a prodigy! That day, when we activated the Human Path Order, this boy contemplated the Ancient Scene, which shocked us and captivated our minds. Afterwards, we wanted to repeat the same trick, but we were preoccupied with our thoughts and could not be surprised by the same thing again. The enlightenment was difficult to reproduce. I didn't expect..." Pang Chu said with a look of surprise.
"This move can be described as turning something rotten into something magical!" Junior Chen shook his head and sighed.
Even Zhou Dongyi stared wide-eyed at the paintings, speechless.
The actions of the other great Grand Confucian were similar to his. Their gazes swept over several paintings, their eyes gradually becoming hazy, and a sense of artistic conception rose from their bodies, enveloping them. Each of them exuded an artistic conception according to their learning, which was clearly distinguishable from the aura of others.
Qiu Yan's paintings, including today's, total nine. The earliest ones were technically immature and had a rough spirit. In comparison, this latest one blends a variety of emotions and spirits, and is perfectly natural.
This stark contrast is dramatically altered by the connection with the other seven paintings. These paintings, arranged in a continuous sequence, record the long process of Human Path from immaturity and crudeness to maturity and perfection, condensed into just nine paintings.
Each picture, like a Historical Scroll, reveals a different artistic conception, but when put together, they create a sense of weight and profoundness, as if they weigh a thousand pounds!
Although the earliest paintings were not perfect in terms of technique and spirit, when the nine of them were placed together, they created different values!
The roughness and naivety, combined with the charm that follows, create a unique artistic conception!
Turning the rotten into the miraculous!
This transformation once again shocked the minds of the Confucian scholars!
Shock!
Above Literary Pavilion, the winds and clouds shifted dramatically, and various Human Path Order manifested, echoing several Grand Confucian from afar, gathering around the tower and gradually permeating it.
Inside and outside the building, those who wanted to purchase the painting, those who admired it, and passersby all sensed it at that moment, yet could not catch a trace of it.
"Just as you said, young master!" Dai Guo said in a low voice in the lobby on the first floor.
Unlike others, Hu Qi and Dai Guo, who had refined several souls, could clearly perceive the arrival of the Human Path Order and feel the terrifying pressure emanating from Order!
"Don't make a sound. Do as the young master says. Don't let anyone disturb the people upstairs," Hu Qi immediately reminded them.
Leaving aside the various incidents caused by the changes in the Human Path Order, let's talk about the nine paintings. At this moment, guided by the energy, they extracted a sliver of the Human Path Order from inside the building and gathered it onto the Name Seal in the paintings!
The seal is deep and bright red.
In a humble hut in the Lin Zhong far outside the city, Qiu Yan immediately noticed that he was still holding the Name Seal. After a moment of contemplation, Myriad People's Heart Fire, his Seven Souls surged, and his Divine Sense surged out, carrying the Masters Section Bookshelf with him, crashing into the Name Seal!
The next moment, the Name Seal shattered, and a wisp of Human Path Order shot out. Guided by the several Sage Spirit obtained by Qiu Yan, surrounded by the Seven Souls, and transported by ten Divine Sense, it went straight into the Soul Aperture!
The Netherworld, the Circuit City God Domain of Law.
Behind Lü Liang, the Yin-Yang Road opened, and the surging People's Wishes, like a mighty river, flowed down endlessly, pouring into the Yin-Yang Pagoda. He took control of it and manipulated the tower to press down on Qiu Yan.
Beneath the Yin-Yang Pagoda, a vibrant life force burst forth, enveloping Qiu Yan and making it difficult for him to escape. This vitality seemed so out of place in this desolate world.
"We've finally reached this point; success or failure hinges on this!"
Watching the tower fall, Qiu Yan's mind raced, stirring up Heart Demon Fragment.
Chain reaction.
One piece, two pieces, three pieces...
Heart Demon Fragment manifested along the Yin-Yang Road.
Suddenly, a storm brewed on this road.
After his own divine power was exhausted, Lü Liang needed to mobilize other forces to forcibly activate the Yin-Yang Pagoda. As a channel for communication between Yin-Yang, the Yin-Yang Road contained a great deal of People's Wishes and became the target.
Previously, he had also mobilized People's Wishes to form sharp words, but that kind of mobilization relied on Divine Office, Incense Faith, and the thoughts of believers in the Mortal Realm, directly contacting them. He changed the consciousness and understanding of the believers, thereby shaking the foundation of Qiu Yan. Sharp words were only a manifestation in the Netherworld; the actual battlefield was still in the Mortal Realm.
This kind of struggle is similar to a conceptual battle, and does not involve an absolute contest of strength.
However, when operating a treasure like the Yin-Yang Pagoda, the concept of Divine Office alone cannot be used as a means of consumption. Only divine power and People's Wishes can be used. Since both the divine power and the divine power stored in the tower are already depleted, Lü Liang's choices of targets are very limited.
Among these limited targets, the People's Wishes within the Yin-Yang Road was undoubtedly the most ideal choice. Firstly, it was very close to the Netherworld and could be reached in an instant; secondly, it was bound by Lü Liang's Divine Office, and if mobilized, it could be used as easily as an extension of one's own arm.
All these things, with a single Divine Sense, caused the People's Wishes in the Yin-Yang Road to surge forth like a flood bursting its banks.
But as the floodwaters of People's Wishes surged forth, Heart Demon Fragment surfaced.
These fragments were hidden within, keeping a low profile and not trying to influence People's Wishes. They were constantly controlling their appetite and desires, not trying to devour too much of the People's Wishes, so as not to attract Lü Liang's attention.
But at that moment, as Qiu Yan's thought reached them, the Heart Demon Fragment immediately tore off their disguises, unleashed their ferocity, and no longer suppressed their instincts. One by one, they transformed into Taotie, frantically devouring everything in their path!
The People's Wishes along the way were quickly absorbed into it, their emotions were stirred up, and the thought of praying to the gods became clear.
These desires are not all the same, and the reasons for their arising are not entirely the same.
Some are unwilling to put in their own effort, instead placing their hopes for success on divine intervention;
Some, however, lack the power to do so and, in utter desperation, can only place their hopes on the Divine Spirit Body.
Some drift along with the tide, struggling to survive in the sea of human suffering, and can only rely on their devotion to the divine to sustain their spirits;
A myriad of shapes and forms.
However, whatever the reason, whether it is unwavering belief or a way to find peace of mind, the wishes of believers are inevitably mixed with a degree of dependence on the gods.
Now, driven by his Heart Demon, this dependence has been rapidly amplified, and the pleading within has been distorted into extreme greed!
Craving the power of the gods!
ps: Thanks to "Qin Muyun" and "し☆veヤ" for their monthly votes!
There will be two updates tomorrow, the exact time is uncertain, but I will try to be on time. I have to catch a train tomorrow morning, which will be more than nine hours long, and it will be tough. I hope you can understand.
Due to author training and unforeseen circumstances, there may be no extra chapters this month, but they will accumulate until May. Finally, double monthly votes will begin tomorrow, so please give me your votes...