Ti passed little by little.
Lin Luoyin seed to have found inspiration, her hand continuously wielding the brush, painting a mountain peak, a mighty river, a solitary boat, and a lone figure standing with hands clasped on the boat.
If paired with a couplet from a poem, "Monkey cries fill the riverbanks incessantly, as the lone boat passes ten thousand hills" would be fitting.
This painting was one of Lin Luoyin's specialties and the one she had copied the most.
"This painting conveys a sense of desolation and solitude. The towering mountains and mighty rivers, with a small boat descending, a person with hands behind, all embody the vastness of the world and a natural grandeur, inexplicably creating a sense of majesty."
Shi Lei looked at the painting and felt sowhat resonant with it, especially the majestic aura it exuded.
"Hmm, I think it's good too."
Yuan Bin nodded, although he couldn't articulate what was good about it. Being able to draw it out with a decent resemblance and feel, indeed made it good.
Lin Luoyin was not overly pleased by their praise, she picked up the brush and wrote down two lines of poetry, giving the painting its soul, even though she hadn't touched a brush in a while, this was already the best she could achieve.
Lin Luoyin put down the brush.
"Is the painting done?"
The attendant student beside her spoke.
Lin Luoyin nodded: "Yes, but I wonder if this painting can pass."
The boy raised his eyes to Lin Luoyin: "If the painting is done, I'm sorry, your painting cannot pass."
"Why? This painting clearly holds great atmosphere, even I felt moved." Yuan Bin glared at the boy, as if challenging him to say more.
The boy ignored Yuan Bin's glare threat, straightforwardly said: "This painting is superficially pleasing but lacks true artistic essence. Lin Immortal, as I ntioned before, a painting needs to express intent, but your painting only shows the picture, not the aning, therefore it cannot pass."
"Lin Immortal, you have over an hour left now, will you create another painting or attempt another trial?"
The boy spoke without a hint of rcy.
Lin Luoyin furrowed her brows slightly, this painting was already her masterpiece, creating another better one might be impossible.
At this mont, the girl spoke up: "To paint, one must infuse one's own aning, only then can it transport the viewer inside the painting, as though they were there."
"See the painting as a painting, see the painting as not a painting, see the painting as a painting still, the art beneath the brush, the person within the painting."
After speaking, the girl glanced at Shi Lei and Yuan Bin.
"Would you like to try? You two have already comprehended aning and grasped the presence of force, if you express what's in your heart, there might still be a chance."
Yuan Bin seed to understand the girl's words but after looking at the paper and brush, he shook his head vigorously like a rattle drum.
"No, no, I'm fine with fighting, but I've never held a brush, let alone painted."
"Brother Shi, why don't you try it?"
Yuan Bin turned to Shi Lei, Shi Lei also frowned. He understood the girl's words, that expressing one's aning, even rging one's grasp of presence into the painting, was key, but how to do it, he had no clue.
After all, he had never painted.
Specialization matters, and he was no better than Yuan Bin. His family was rely third-rate, hardly prioritizing "useless" skills like these.
"I can't do it either, it seems we have to try another trial."
Shi Lei finished and turned to Lin Luoyin: "Lin Immortal, we still have tokens, why don't we try another way."
Lin Luoyin was conflicted; if painting was this hard, would the remaining three tasks be easier?
Regarding the guqin, though her na included 'music,' she had never played one before. Though she hailed from an Ancient Martial Family, the external environnt caused arts like music, chess, and painting to fade, almost turning into niche hobbies.
A few children might learn, but sticking with it was rare.
In terms of chess, Lin Luoyin didn't play much and lacked interest, as for poetry, do modern poems count?
If modern poems were acceptable, Lin Luoyin could borrow a few lines, since in Kunlun World, ancient styles were prominent. Even if outsiders entered, they couldn't stir much of a wave.
Sigh.
The boy noticed, and glanced towards Li Feng in the distance: "If you can't, isn't there still one more person there? Why not ask him?"
"Maybe he can succeed?"
"Him?"
Yuan Bin turned to the transparent-like Li Feng in the distance. Despite the initial conflict between Li Feng and Shi Lei, demonstrating considerable strength, Shi Lei hadn't truly exerted himself. Once he intervened, the opponent imdiately "retreated".
In his view, if Lin Luoyin hadn't spoken, had he and Shi Lei fought, the first to be eliminated would be Li Feng.
It's like business competition, first and second fight, and the third is gone.
To Yuan Bin, Li Feng was just a small fry.
Remaining in the team was rely as cannon fodder, destined to be kicked out eventually.
Shi Lei also glanced at Li Feng, though silent he held similar thoughts as Yuan Bin.
Lin Luoyin turned toward Li Feng as well, though during the journey their presence obstructed Li Feng with no complaints.
Even Lin Luoyin hardly paid attention.
Given Shi Lei and Yuan Bin's brilliance, both possessing the Golden Core, mastering intent and presence, their talent seed unmatched.
"He probably can't handle it either."
Without asking, Lin Luoyin assud Li Feng wasn't capable.
At this mont, Li Feng escaped the painting, hearing the conversation, swiftly moved toward the center.
"Without trying, how do you know I can't?"
Li Feng smiled at Lin Luoyin, then headed to the desk: "Prepare the paper and ink."
Yuan Bin noticed Li Feng's relaxed deanor, seemingly wanting to show off, frowned slightly: "Hey, if you can't do it, you can't do it. Why waste ti here, better try the other three trials."
"By now, soone might have already passed, we can't afford this waste."
Li Feng raised his eyes to Yuan Bin.
"If you can't, then shut up."
Yuan Bin's temper flared upon hearing this from Li Feng: "Do you know who you're speaking to?"
Shi Lei extended a hand to block Yuan Bin: "Calm down, if he wants to try, let him. If he fails."
"Ha, then don't bla us for kicking you out."
Li Feng glanced at Shi Lei, chuckled, didn't elaborate, threw the painting scroll into the air, grabbed the ink slab, and splashed ink onto the scroll.
Seeing Li Feng's rash moves, Yuan Bin's face darkened, doubting anything could erge, posing as graceful and showy.
"The brush, please."
Li Feng reached out, the attendant's brush flew mid-air to the scroll, then like a sword's edge danced across the scroll.
Mind unwavering, Li Feng released his inner intent freely, having scrutinized multiple paintings before.
The art of painting.
My intent is the painting.
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