https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-38-The-Carp-Transforms-into-a-Dragon-Giving-It-All-/12831178/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-40-The-Spirit-of-Inspiration-is-About-to-Shatter/12831180/
Chapter 39: Blank Page? Mo Lan's Shock!
Chapter 39: Blank Page? Mo Lan's Shock!
In the center of the classroom, at a simple desk, Ling Si watched Su Changqing write with intense focus, her own pen hesitating.
"Brother Su said to go easy on him, but how am I supposed to do that?"
"The ink, brush, paper, and inkstone are all the most basic, and he didn't even evoke the Scholarly Aura. How can his calligraphy be considered perfect in form?"
"Or is it even less than that?"
Ling Si was troubled. She could only offer leniency if the gap between them wasn't too great. But now, even if she gave him the ocean, Su Changqing would still struggle to match her level.
"Fine, I'll write at the level of 'perfect technique.' That way, I can encourage my junior brother and save some face."
With that thought, she dipped her brush and began to write, elegant characters flowing onto the paper.
...
At the front of the classroom, Wei Cang, despite knowing he would win, still looked displeased.
He glanced at Li Qingchen, who seemed relaxed, and said coldly, "Don't think I don't know you came here to deliberately lose to me."
"Is this charity? Or an insult?"
"I, Wei Cang, will not accept charity. I will win you fair and square, one day!"
Wei Cang's voice was filled with anger. Li Qingchen's actions clearly showed he looked down on him.
What? Did he think Wei Cang was old and pitiful, so he was giving him a victory?
He didn't need it!
Li Qingchen and Shu Han, standing nearby, were momentarily stunned.
Charity?
Who's giving you charity?
And a free victory? If Su Changqing, who has mastery in the Four Arts, were to give a free victory, it would only be to the Literary Emperor.
"Cough, Senior Brother."
Li Qingchen's face was a mix of emotions. "I'm not giving you charity, and I don't plan on letting you win."
Wei Cang laughed in anger, "Not planning on letting me win?"
"Are you expecting a child who can't even evoke the Scholarly Aura to win against Ling Si?"
"Without the Scholarly Aura and using the worst writing tools, this is clearly a setup for you to lose."
Beside him, Mo Lan and Yi Xian, two great scholars, nodded in agreement.
That was indeed too obvious.
Li Qingchen opened his mouth to speak but found himself at a loss for words, feeling a headache coming on.
Just then, Su Changqing raised his hand, and Ling Si, who had just finished writing, said in unison, "I'm done."
Li Qingchen, hearing this, decided not to explain further. "Let's see the results."
...
To prevent cheating, Shu Han collected Ling Si's work, while Qingfeng from the White Deer Academy collected Su Changqing's.
Shu Han's task was smooth. He looked at the elegant handwriting and nodded with a smile.
"Little Sister has made great progress. She has a promising future in the Dao."
Ling Si beamed with confidence, "Thank you, Senior Brother. I will keep working hard."
Shu Han nodded and handed the work to the two great scholars for evaluation.
Meanwhile, Qingfeng, who had gone to collect Su Changqing's work, suddenly burst into laughter.
"Junior Brother, is this what you're submitting?"
Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh at the blank sheet of paper in his hand.
"Exactly, thank you, Senior Brother!"
Su Changqing nodded seriously. He had given it his all; whether he would win was now up to fate.
"You may be a relation, but you're being too arrogant."
Qingfeng shook his head, his smile turning cold.
Even if you are a relation, you can't submit a blank sheet of paper. That's just too disrespectful!
"Relation? Arrogant?"
Su Changqing was confused, not understanding what Qingfeng meant.
"Qingfeng, what's going on?"
Wei Cang frowned and asked, "Dean, did Zhiyu's answer sheet come back blank?"
Qingfeng replied honestly, "Yes, Dean, Zhiyu's answer sheet is completely blank."
Upon hearing this, Wei Cang and the two Great Scholars furrowed their brows.
This wasn't just about the quality of the writing; it was a matter of attitude! As Qingfeng had said, it was far too arrogant!
Outside, under the vast sky, Su Zian covered his face with his hand.
...
"Blank?"
Su Changqing was taken aback, looking at the plain paper in Qingfeng's hand. He pointed and asked, "Brother, can't you see it?"
"See what?"
Qingfeng replied irritably, "Your arrogant and domineering attitude, that's what I can see."
"Never mind, Brother."
Ling Si, seeing the situation, hurriedly whispered, "It's just a writing competition. There's no need to be so aggressive."
Su Changqing was even more confused, still not understanding what had happened.
However, Shuhan, standing in front, slapped his forehead, realizing something.
Of course, Qingfeng would see a blank sheet.
Calligraphy that transcended the mundane, where the characters didn't appear ordinary, was already impressive. To put it simply, it was like a wild boar that couldn't digest fine grain.
"Brother Qingfeng, don't worry about it. Just submit the answer sheet, and the elders will judge it."
Shuhan spoke up.
"What's the point of submitting it? The outcome is obvious, isn't it?" Qingfeng said angrily.
Above, Wei Cang's face turned completely serious as he looked at Li Qingchen, "If you didn't want to compete, you didn't have to do this. Submitting a blank sheet? What a ridiculous idea!"
Wei Cang was nearly fuming. He had prepared for this competition for two years, and now the other side didn't even care. How could he not be angry?
"Qingchen, this is going too far!"
At this point, even the Great Scholars Mo Lan and Yi Xian's faces darkened.
Li Qingchen sighed deeply.
Indeed, opponents at different levels shouldn't compete. The more advanced techniques were simply beyond their comprehension.
"Changqing, go and hand the answer sheet to the two elders. Let them see your 'blank sheet.'"
Li Qingchen waved his hand and instructed.
"Yes, Brother."
Su Changqing, still full of questions, took the answer sheet and placed it on the desks of the two Great Scholars.
Mo Lan and Yi Xian's expressions were grim. What was there to see in a blank sheet? Wouldn't it just make them look foolish?
However, seeing Li Qingchen, Mo Lan sighed, deciding to give Ruxian some face and picked up the blank paper.
But the next moment, "Clang!"
Mo Lan suddenly stood up so abruptly that he knocked over the wooden chair behind him without even noticing.
His eyes wide open, he stared at the answer sheet in his hand, his beard trembling with excitement.
What appeared as a blank sheet to Qingfeng now revealed a scene of fish and dragons dancing together, with the essence of the Dao flowing through it!
The characters were connected in a graceful and flowing manner, like carp swimming together.
The strokes were powerful, like iron and silver hooks, resembling a mighty dragon in flight!
Two opposing and distinct realms of meaning were perfectly fused, fish and dragons coexisting!
As his mind fully immersed in the characters, they seemed to rise to the sky, and the sound of a dragon's roar echoed in his ears.
"Ao!"
Great Scholar Mo Lan's face was filled with shock, and he took a step back, his body trembling!
Seeing this, Great Scholar Yi Xian and Wei Cang both frowned.
Mo Lan, a respected elder of the Scholarly Dao, was acting completely out of character.
Moreover, what was so special about a blank sheet of paper?
Even if he was giving Ruxian some face, this was going too far!
"Great Scholar Mo Lan, aren't you overacting a bit?"
Wei Cang said irritably.
Mo Lan ignored him, his eyes fixed on the answer sheet, and he murmured as if in a daze, "Celestial Script: Dance of Fish and Dragons!"
(End of Chapter)
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