Chapter 3

Jiang Yuanchen focused his mind and completed the green bamboo painting in one breath, then went to the Golden Spring Pavilion to present it to Elder Sikong for review. By this time, several bamboo paintings were already laid out in front of Elder Sikong. Apart from one ink bamboo painting that was conventional and proper, the other bamboo paintings had been rejected by Elder Sikong. Some had broken and twisted brushstrokes, while others had bamboo marks on the leaves that did not match the green bamboo potted plant.

Elder Sikong Changming took a look at Jiang Yuanchen's green bamboo painting and said, "After a few days, your painting skills have become even more proficient. If you were in the mortal world, you could be a renowned painter."

The green bamboo painted by Jiang Yuanchen was vivid and lifelike, exactly like the potted plant beside Elder Sikong Changming. Compared to the qualified work, it had an additional layer of artistic conception.

Jiang Yuanchen smiled modestly and waited for Elder Sikong Changming's judgment.

Of course, his painting skills were good; otherwise, the decades of experience in his dream would have been in vain. Jiang Yuanchen thought to himself.

Jiang Yuanchen had a deeply buried secret in his heart. When he was seven years old, he encountered a mystical encounter while chasing a butterfly for fun. When he caught the colorful butterfly, he fell into a deep sleep for three days and three nights.

In his dream, Jiang Yuanchen felt as if he had entered another world, experiencing the cycle of life, aging, illness, and death, and the myriad aspects of human life. It was this great dream that led him to aspire to become an immortal.

The two worlds were vastly different. In the other world, there were bustling streets and towering skyscrapers, and even the sun, moon, stars, geographical environment, and civilization system were different from the vast land of Shen Zhou. However, there were also many similarities between the two worlds. For example, during a certain period in the history of the other world, the cultural and clothing styles were similar to those of Shen Zhou, and even the painting techniques of Shen Zhou could be found in the other world. The reason Jiang Yuanchen appeared precocious and had a high level of painting skills was entirely due to the experience in that dream world.

What was real and what was a dream? Was the butterfly world a dream, or was he still in the butterfly world? Even now, Jiang Yuanchen found it hard to figure out. After waking up from the three-day dream, Jiang Yuanchen was dazed and was sent to the nearby Tai Xu Daoist Temple for treatment by his family. This experience also led him to aspire to become an immortal. His initial purpose in seeking the Dao was to find the "truth."

Fortunately, the decades of experience in his dream made Jiang Yuanchen quite mature. He understood that such matters should not be spoken of lightly and did not tell anyone, only claiming that he had slept for three days and three nights.

Because there were many spirits and monsters in the vast land of Shen Zhou, the abbot of the Tai Xu Daoist Temple simply thought that Jiang Yuanchen had offended a spirit or monster and was being toyed with, without giving it much thought.

After that, Jiang Yuanchen, with the aspiration to seek the Dao and longevity, often went to the Tai Xu Daoist Temple to seek guidance from the abbot. It was through the abbot's recommendation that he joined the outer sect of the Tai Xu Daoist Sect at the age of ten.

"Is it the morning dew? It seems to be an illusion?" Elder Sikong Changming compared the two qualified works. The painting by the other disciple was also qualified, but compared to Jiang Yuanchen's, it seemed conventional and lacked vitality.

"Very good!" Jiang Yuanchen said proudly, "I painted a few drops of morning dew on the green bamboo and set up an illusionary array according to the Miro Small Illusion Array, making the painting more lively when viewed."

Using an illusion to influence the viewer's mood was a good idea, but unfortunately, such a small trick was of little use to a Golden Core cultivator like Elder Sikong. However, the fact that this young man deliberately captured the vitality and artistic conception of the potted bamboo and expressed it through an illusion was quite commendable. With further progress, he might be able to enter the Dao through painting.

To be fair, Elder Sikong Changming's test today was to examine attention and focus. As long as the bamboo was accurately depicted according to the potted plant, it was sufficient. However, the room for development was significant. One could either depict the bamboo in detail, including every leaf's veins, or capture the vibrant vitality and artistic conception.

Although the few drops of morning dew were not part of the bamboo, Jiang Yuanchen's approach of capturing the bamboo's artistic conception was clearly superior to the first qualified work.

"Alright, come up and sit down," Elder Sikong Changming pointed to the mat next to Shen Pingcheng.

Today, there were only three slots for seeking the Dao, so Elder Sikong had prepared only three mats in front of him. On the left, Shen Pingcheng was sitting upright, and Jiang Yuanchen walked to the middle position.

Just a moment later, another young man presented a bamboo painting. His name was Shen Yan, with a cold and stern face and a slender build. He had joined the sect at the age of nine, only one year younger than Jiang Yuanchen, but his cultivation had steadily reached the Qi Cultivation stage.

Elder Sikong's expression turned unpleasant when he saw the bamboo painting, and Jiang Yuanchen, glancing at the painting, also showed a strange look.

"Is this painting too poor?" Jiang Yuanchen, who was also a master of painting in the dream world, could see that the painting was indeed poor. It made sense, as Shen Yan preferred sword techniques and had no skill in this art.

"Sorry, Elder!" Shen Yan apologized to Elder Sikong and then took the brush in his hand and slashed at the potted bamboo in front of Elder Sikong.

Elder Sikong's fingers moved slightly, but he seemed to think of something and did not act. Jiang Yuanchen, seeing Shen Yan's action, suddenly understood and stared at the bamboo painting and the potted bamboo, comparing them. Shen Pingcheng, seeing this, scolded Shen Yan, "Performing sword techniques in front of the Elder, what crime do you deserve?"

Although both were surnamed Shen, it was merely a coincidence, and they were not from the same family.

Shen Yan said nothing, cut the potted bamboo, and stood aside.

Jiang Yuanchen, seeing that Shen Pingcheng was about to speak, stopped him, "Senior Brother Shen, the Elder has not spoken yet. Do not overstep your bounds."

Shen Pingcheng, as his name suggested, was honest and straightforward. His painting was conventional and lacked the talent and skill of Jiang Yuanchen in capturing the bamboo's artistic conception. Unlike Shen Yan's unconventional approach, Shen Pingcheng carefully depicted every branch and vein of the bamboo, which Elder Sikong found dull and lifeless.

"What do you think of Junior Brother Shen Yan's approach?" Jiang Yuanchen, who had come to seek the Dao several times and was familiar with Elder Sikong, asked directly.

"What do you think?" Elder Sikong Changming pointed to the now bare potted bamboo and asked Jiang Yuanchen.

"Everything is destroyed, leaving no path for life, except for one sword to fight for survival." Jiang Yuanchen smiled, "Junior Brother Shen Yan knew his painting skills were poor and could not fully depict the bamboo, so he decided not to paint a single leaf, only the bamboo stem, and then removed the leaves from the potted bamboo. Although his approach was extreme, isn't his 'bamboo painting' exactly the same as the current potted bamboo?"

Shen Yan's bamboo painting, even with just the stem, was crooked, so he also cut the bamboo stem in front of him to match.

Elder Sikong looked at the lifeless bamboo and remained silent. Flexibility, like Shen Yan's approach, was not uncommon. Jiang Yuanchen and Li Wen had also done similar things, using small tricks to deceive others and obtain a slot for seeking the Dao. The path of cultivation was full of obstacles, and without adaptability, it was hard to go far.

Elder Sikong struck the jade chime and shouted to the disciples outside, "The three slots are now full. Come back tomorrow."

The disciples paused, sighed, and bowed to leave.

"Another wasted day. I guess I need to wake up early tomorrow."

"Unfortunately, the time for seeking the Dao at the Golden Spring Pavilion coincides with the end of the Spirit Mist Gathering. I guess I'll have to get up early and come here, putting aside the Spirit Mist Gathering for now."

"But Shen Yan is quite ruthless. Isn't he afraid of offending Elder Sikong?"

"To be honest, Junior Brother Jiang's painting skills are the most profound. He even captured the artistic conception."

The outer sect disciples, in groups, discussed as they went down the mountain to work.

Since the time for seeking the Dao at the Golden Spring Pavilion was daily, they were not in a hurry. Moreover, most of their questions were similar, so once one person asked, many could benefit. For tasks like finding tokens, the more people, the better. They had not expected much from the painting test.

After the disciples left, Jiang Yuanchen asked Elder Sikong for permission and then cleaned up the ink, brushes, and tables.

Having experienced a different life in his dream, Jiang Yuanchen knew how to please his elders.

While Jiang Yuanchen was busy, Shen Pingcheng had already finished asking his cultivation questions and left to continue his practice. Before leaving, he gave Jiang Yuanchen a strange look. No wonder the elders like this junior brother; his understanding and respect for etiquette were far better than those of the young disciples. Perhaps he should also be more respectful to the elders in the future.

When Jiang Yuanchen returned to the mat, Elder Sikong was explaining some sword techniques to Shen Yan.

As outer sect disciples, the Tai Xu Daoist Sect could not teach them true immortal sword techniques. The outer sect disciples only learned three sets of sword techniques: "Clear Wind Demon Subduing Sword," "Bright Light Demon Slaying Sword," and "Dawn Moon Sky Piercing Sword." These three sets of sword techniques were sufficient for the outer sect disciples to use outside and were derived from an inner sect sword technique, making them a required course for the outer sect disciples.

However, the sword technique questions Shen Yan asked had a touch of immortal sword techniques. Jiang Yuanchen, not very proficient in sword techniques, only used the three sets of sword techniques for show. Listening to the sword techniques, he only understood a little.

Elder Sikong, noticing Jiang Yuanchen's confusion, said, "The three sets of sword techniques taught to the outer sect are derived from the inner sect immortal sword technique 'Bright Moon Sky Piercing Sword.' Shen Yan, your preference for sword techniques allows you to understand some innate sword intent, which will greatly benefit your future foundation building."

Elder Sikong's right index and middle fingers condensed into a sword aura and demonstrated the three sets of sword techniques in front of them. Finally, the three different sword techniques merged into one, and he performed a single sword technique. The sword aura cut through a row of green bamboo in the nearby bamboo forest.

"Enough! This immortal sword technique is beyond your current understanding. Go down now."

After demonstrating the starting move of the Bright Moon Sky Piercing Sword, Elder Sikong dismissed Shen Yan.

Shen Yan, being taciturn, bowed to the elder and left, leaving Jiang Yuanchen, who was pondering the sword technique. Although he did not understand the sword techniques, he was good at capturing artistic conceptions. He felt the cold and clear moonlight in the sword aura, which was a deliberate hint from Elder Sikong.

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