https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-33-The-Ancient-Stone-Carving-and-the-Eight-Treasures-Compass-/12831173/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-35-Wei-Cang-s-Unshakable-Confidence-/12831175/
Chapter 34: Mastery of the Four Arts, the Great Completion of the Scholar Path!
Chapter 34: Mastery of the Four Arts, the Great Completion of the Scholar Path!
Inside the room.
After dinner, Su Changqing returned to his room and carefully examined the Eight Treasures Compass.
The entire compass was a deep bronze color, with Dao patterns etched into its surface, intricate and mysterious.
At the center of the compass, rows of tiny seal script were intricately engraved.
This script was similar to the immortal script Su Changqing had studied before, but with subtle differences, resembling the ancient Zen texts of Buddhism.
"Is this a secret technique? Or some other incantation?"
Su Changqing took a cursory look but found no clues, so he set it aside for now, planning to ask his teacher about it the next day.
After putting the compass down, Su Changqing fetched his writing tools and began practicing calligraphy and painting.
In the past, he always thought he learned quickly, so even without his teacher's praise, he felt proud of himself.
However, seeing his senior brother, who had only been with the teacher for half a year, made him realize that his skills were nothing special.
In the four arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he lost in all four. Although his senior brother didn't criticize him harshly, it fueled his competitive spirit.
"We are the same age, and I've been with the teacher longer. There's no reason I should lose."
"If talent isn't enough, then I'll make up for it with effort!"
"The teacher said there will be a literary competition soon. Even though the odds are slim, I must try my best!"
With a determined look, Su Changqing practiced even more diligently.
The night passed quickly.
As soon as it was light, Su Changqing left home early and headed straight for the study.
On the way, he encountered Second Bull, which made him pause.
"Second Bull, who beat you up?"
Seeing Second Bull's bruised face, Su Changqing was stunned.
"Hmph, just a little fall on the road."
Second Bull winced in pain and gritted his teeth. "Changqing, remember to pass my regards to your senior brother."
"By the way, you must teach me the Starlight Sword Technique these next few days. I need to learn it as soon as possible!"
With that, Second Bull limped away.
Su Changqing was lost in thought.
He couldn't understand how a fall could result in such injuries, nor could he fathom the connection between a fall and sword techniques.
After a while, Su Changqing shook his head and continued to the study.
When he arrived, he saw Shuhan with two black eyes and immediately widened his eyes.
"Senior Brother, you didn't fall too, did you?"
Shuhan was taken aback, then gritted his teeth and said, "No, I ran into a bear and got beaten up!"
He then looked at Changqing seriously. "Changqing, practice calligraphy with me today. I need to reclaim my honor!"
Li Qingchen, who was nearby, couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
Yesterday, Second Bull and Shuhan had a fierce battle, resulting in a draw.
Although Shuhan's cultivation was slightly higher, Second Bull was a top sword cultivator. Without delivering a killing blow, neither could gain the upper hand.
In the end, they fought to exhaustion, like street thugs, exchanging punches and kicks, with neither gaining an advantage.
Shuhan asking Changqing to practice calligraphy with him was also to improve his skills.
After all, while Changqing's calligraphy was slightly inferior to Shuhan's, the difference wasn't significant.
Given Changqing's insight, surpassing Shuhan was only a matter of time. Practicing together would help Shuhan improve his calligraphy skills.
"Senior Brother, you and Second Bull fought, didn't you?"
Su Changqing said, trying not to laugh. "You're pretty tough, beating Second Bull like that."
Shuhan grinned. "Hey, when a scholar gets angry, it can be quite terrifying."
"Enough talk, let's practice calligraphy."
...
Days passed.
With Shuhan's arrival, Green Hill Village became much livelier, and Su Changqing gradually busied himself.
He spent his days practicing music, chess, calligraphy, and painting with Shuhan, and in the evenings, he trained sword techniques with Second Bull in the small forest.
After a brief rest at night, he would continue to study the mysterious compass.
Although exhausted, Su Changqing felt incredibly fulfilled. He could sense his daily improvement.
Five days later, at dusk, in a small forest.
Su Changqing wielded a wooden sword, dancing swiftly through the woods, his feet tracing the pattern of the Seven Stars, which shimmered with a brilliant light. Above, the stars in the sky sparkled brightly.
Within a hundred-meter radius, withered leaves flew up, arranging themselves around Su Changqing in the pattern of the stars.
Bathed in the endless starlight, a breathtaking scene unfolded.
As the momentum of his sword technique reached its peak, Su Changqing swept his wooden sword horizontally and shouted, "Slash!"
Boom!
In an instant, a hundred stars in the sky flickered, casting a dazzling light that transformed into a silver sword beam over ten feet long. It descended into the forest in a flash.
With a thunderous roar, more than a dozen trees were cut in half at the waist.
As the sword beam swept out, specks of starlight converged above Su Changqing's crown, forming a shimmering Dao Seal that slowly emerged.
"Life Essence Technique!"
Shuhuan, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but exclaim, "A mid-tier Heaven-grade sword technique, and he has already condensed a Life Essence Technique in just five days?"
"If he were to use his cultivation and heart method to drive it, wouldn't it draw the brilliance of ten thousand stars?"
Shuhuan's face was filled with shock. Even though he knew Su Changqing's insight was extraordinary, it still felt unreal every time he saw it.
This kind of talent was simply more formidable than any physical constitution.
"Ha, it's done!"
Erniu's face also lit up with joy.
As an observer and a fellow sword cultivator practicing the same secret technique, Su Changqing's process of condensing the Life Essence Technique was immensely beneficial to him.
"From today on, I will be one step closer to mastering the Starlight Sword!"
Excited, Erniu couldn't resist taunting Shuhuan, "How about it, Bookworm? Want to find a place to practice?"
With his newfound power, he had to reclaim his pride!
"Arrogant!"
Shuhuan gritted his teeth and said, "Just because Changqing is teaching you?"
"Even if you master the Starlight Sword, I can still beat you!"
"Wait until you can condense a Life Essence Technique like Changqing before you start boasting."
Erniu sneered, "Pfft, do you think I don't know?"
"During the day, you claim Changqing is engaging in friendly competition with you in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but in reality, you're secretly learning from him."
"Considering you're Changqing's senior, that's pretty disappointing."
Shuhuan's face turned red.
Admittedly, observing Changqing's learning had been immensely beneficial to him.
The visible progress he made was even more enlightening than direct teaching from a master.
However, he wasn't about to lose face, so he said firmly, "Changqing teaches me and you, so let's practice together!"
Erniu chuckled, "I was just about to suggest that."
...
Erniu and Shuhuan seemed to have found each other's match, sparring every three days and battling every five days.
Although the results were always grim, their progress was undeniable.
This was at least ten times faster than if they were practicing alone.
However, Su Changqing's progress was even more terrifying!
In the first month of sparring with Shuhuan, his painting skills reached the Dao, making his brushstrokes bring mountains and rivers to life, as if creating a world.
In the third month, his chess skills reached the Dao, allowing him to sit at the chessboard and turn his moves into dragons, gathering pieces into immortals.
In the sixth month, his music skills merged with the Dao, making his strings capture the hearts and minds of listeners, as if in a dream.
By the end of two years, Su Changqing had perfected all four arts of the immortals, achieving great mastery in the Scholar path!
And on the day Su Changqing finally achieved Dao perfection, a message from Li Qingchen arrived.
"Junior Brother, the two-year deadline is up. The Literary Competition is about to begin. Will you bring your disciples to the challenge?!"
PS: A new month has started. Please give me your votes and recommendations. Thank you!
(End of Chapter)
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