Against the sky starts from copying

Chapter 22 Zhong Kui Ghost Hunting Picture

On Meiyuan Square, three cannon salutes resounded through the sky, marking the official start of the painting fair.

The Plum Garden Painting Fair is divided into three exams. The first exam is the assessment of copying painting skills. Every year, the organizer of the painting fair will select a painting for display and let the participating students copy it.

After all, it is an exam for teenagers, and the selected paintings will not be of a high level, and the master-level paintings are already the most difficult.

Three mahogany grand master chairs were set up in front of the main hall, and the three old men sat down one by one. Looking around the square, the old man in the middle pinched his fingers, and a golden light shot into the void immediately.

The golden light flew in the air, twirled for a few weeks as if with wisdom, and suddenly exploded, turning into a long painting ten feet square, which was displayed in front of everyone in the void like a banner blown by the wind.

Everyone concentrated their attention and carefully observed the paintings floating in the air.

The painting is rich in color, and it depicts an extremely ugly middle-aged man with a disheveled head and beard, a leopard head with ring eyes, a black face and a bull nose, wearing a tattered fiery red robe, with one arm exposed, leather feet, and holding his hand upside down. The three-foot sharp sword chased the two pitch-black little ghosts in front of him with angry eyes and scolding. At first glance, it seemed that he was the most vicious ghost.

This strange and ugly man suddenly appeared in the void, and many people outside the garden turned pale in fright. After seeing the painting clearly, they immediately burst into applause.

"Zhong Kui's picture of catching ghosts!"

Everyone recognized the painting in the void, which was the handed down painting made by the painting saint Wu Daozi in his early years.

According to legend, Wu Daozi was a court painter of the Tang Dynasty before he entered the good fortune. One night, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was seriously ill and fell asleep. He couldn't catch it, but at this time, suddenly there appeared a strange ugly man with a horn belt on his head, his face was terrifying and fierce, he grabbed the little ghost with one hand, gouged out his eyes and ate him, the little ghost died.

The emperor asked in surprise: "Who is Qing?"

The ugly man replied, "I am Zhong Kui."

After waking up from the dream, the emperor summoned Wu Daozi, told him about the dream, and ordered Wu Daozi to draw the man in the dream.

Wu Daozi went away according to the order, and it took three days to paint the picture of Zhong Kui catching ghosts, which was handed down from generation to generation.

The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty took a look at the painting and sighed: "Qing and I are in the same dream? How can you be like this!"

Emperor Dayue ordered the Chinese painters to copy this picture of Zhong Kui catching ghosts, and distributed it to the common people. The painting is handed down from generation to generation, and the reputation spreads far and wide.

The Plum Garden Art Fair was held during the Lantern Festival, and it was appropriate to take this picture of Zhong Kui catching ghosts as the title.

Lin Tianyang knew the allusion of Zhong Kui's picture of catching ghosts, which was similar to what was passed down in his previous life. However, in his previous life, Zhong Kui's image was posted on New Year's Eve, but in Tianyan Mainland, it was 15 Lantern Festival.

"Master Painter, how did you draw Zhong Kui in the emperor's dream so much like it?" Lin Tianyang couldn't help asking curiously.

Wu Daozi's plain voice came from next to his ear: "The emperor said that he dreamed of a ghost. Of course, the uglier the painting, the more he resembles it. As long as the painting is ugly enough, even if he doesn't look like it, he will naturally look like it in the eyes of the emperor."

"...So you drew a self-portrait?" Lin Tianyang said suddenly.

Wu Daozi no longer had any voice.

The exam question has been given out. The picture of Zhong Kui catching ghosts in Wu Daozi's hand is a painting handed down from generation to generation. Although the picture in front of him is lifelike, the gap is still not small. It is obviously copied by others.

"Master paintings detected, scanning..."

"Scanned..."

"Copying a painting requires [-] points of thought power..."

"Improving a painting requires [-] points of thought power..."

"The host's current mental strength is insufficient, it can only be copied, not improved..."

Tiansheng illustrated book quickly responded.

"The difference between copying and improvement is a full sixty times?" Lin Tianyang was shocked when he saw such a huge difference in options in the Tiansheng illustrated book: "After this improvement, will it reach the level of handed down or the level of tomorrow? "

With his current mental strength, he couldn't verify the answer, so he could only silently choose the only option, copy.

In the blink of an eye, the picture of Zhong Kui catching ghosts has been completed on the blank drawing paper in front of him.

Just as Lin Tianyang finished copying the painting, the three old men in front of the hall all looked over to him, their eyes sparkling.

"Perfect copying, you can enter the list." The old man on the left seemed to see his painting, and said leisurely.

The old man on the right had a smile in his eyes: "This kid's skills are astonishing, he must be a god-given painting skill, he can paint with one stroke, a genius."

"With my strength, I can't spy on this child's aura. It's strange." The old man in the middle frowned slightly. He was surprised that he couldn't find out the depth of Lin Tianyang's strength with his cultivation base: "Could it be that there is a spirit treasure?" Help him cover up his aura?"

Lin Tianyang was unaware of the attention of the three old men, because Wu Daozi appeared again in the sea of ​​knowledge.

"What kind of tricks are you doing? How can you be so miraculous!" Wu Daozi's voice was full of shock.

Even the most powerful painting sage in ten thousand years was impressed by the methods of Tiansheng illustrated book, Lin Tianyang couldn't help but proudly said: "Heaven-given painting skills, haven't you seen it? Make a fuss."

Wu Daozi said: "You kid, don't try to hide it from me. I am in your sea of ​​consciousness. Even if you are a god-given painting skill, you have to use your mind power to perform it. But you just took a few glances, and you have copied it perfectly. This is definitely not something that God-given painting skills can do!"

Lin Tianyang was speechless for a moment, he just wanted to use the god-given painting skills as an excuse to hide the world, but he forgot to use his mind to cooperate. Fortunately, Wu Daozi could only stay in his sea of ​​consciousness, and he was not afraid of revealing the secret.

"Lord Huasheng, you just know what I know about this matter, so you don't need to delve into it." Lin Tianyang couldn't find a suitable explanation, so he had to pretend to be profound and vague.

Wu Daozi was silent for a while, knowing that he would not tell him the truth, so he stopped pestering him and asked, "Can you do the same with drawing talismans?"

"Yes." Lin Tianyang didn't intend to hide this from him. In the future, he will draw countless celestial symbols. It is absolutely impossible to hide the truth from Wu Daozi who is in the sea of ​​consciousness.

"...Give you another 20 years to grow up, maybe I will give up my position as a saint of painting." Wu Daozi seemed to be sighing.

Wu Daozi's sudden high evaluation did not make Lin Tianyang let go of his guard, and he said vigilantly: "Do you want to say next that I will become a master of painting in 20 years, and after decades of practice, my strength will be far superior to yours? You may not lose in the battle of Heaven and Dao?"

"...how do you know?" Wu Daozi's voice weakened a little.

"I know you have no good intentions!" Lin Tianyang ended the conversation angrily, and stopped talking to him.

There was still half an hour left for the copying test to end, and Lin Tianyang had nothing to do. He regretted that he finished the painting too early. Bored, he began to look around, guessing who would be his opponent in the next round.

All the painting geniuses in Mobei City gathered here today, painting on the spot, with all kinds of expressions, some students are calm and concentrated, some students are biting their brushes, trembling nervously, and more students are like Wu Xiaoling , Braving cold sweat to paint, his complexion became paler and paler.

Looking at the other students in the Qingjiang Art Gallery, almost all of them were pale, and the drawing paper was blank. The boy who had been Wu Xiaoling's predecessor hadn't even dipped in ink.

"If the students in previous years were of this quality, it would be strange for Qingjiang Art Museum to have a student on the list." Lin Tianyang couldn't help but sighed, and felt sorry for Lu Huanyu silently.

When he was feeling sad, a student on the northeast corner also stopped his paintbrush, causing him to look over again.

This student was dressed in a light blue gown, with sword eyebrows and starry eyes, full of heroism. He was about fifteen or sixteen years old. His eyes were full of confidence, and he seemed very satisfied with his paintings.

"When this person was painting just now, his mind was calm and steady, and now he finished it early. It seems that he is very strong." Lin Tianyang secretly remembered this student in his heart.

As if feeling that someone was watching him, the student looked towards him.

Lin Tianyang did not avoid his eyes, and looked away from him.

Seeing that the person observing him was also a student, and a boy at that, he was obviously stunned for a moment, but he seemed to be well-mannered, instead of turning his head away immediately, he nodded slightly in greeting, which was regarded as a greeting.

The other party was polite, and Lin Tianyang nodded in return, and stopped looking at him.

After another half an hour, the sound of golden gongs sounded in the square, and the exam time ended.

The old man in the middle stood up and waved his hand, and the drawing paper in front of everyone's eyes disappeared immediately, causing a lot of ghosts and wolves howling.

Almost all of them are students who haven't finished drawing, or haven't started to draw.

The first assessment was officially over. Candidates had to leave the arena and wait for the rankings to be released. Under the supervision of ten Meiyuan guards, more than [-] students packed up the pens, ink, paper and inkstones on the table with joy or sorrow, and began to leave the arena one after another.

Lin Tianyang exited the Meiyuan Square, and there was already a sea of ​​people outside the door. The students who had finished their exams and their family members who were waiting gathered together.

It took a lot of effort for him to squeeze to the place where the carriage of Qingjiang Art Museum was. Lu Huanyu and others were already waiting for him in front of the carriage.

"Tianyang, how are you doing?" Lu Huanyu frowned deeply, worried.

Lin Tianyang looked at it, and the other nine students were ashamed, and even Wu Xiaoling, who was enlightened, had tears in his eyes, presumably because he didn't perform well.

"Don't worry, the owner, I've bet [-] taels on myself, and I'm sure to win the title of Meiyuan Ten Outstanding!" Lin Tianyang already had a transfer plan in mind, so he naturally wanted to make a contribution at the Meiyuan Painting Fair. Lu Huanyu earned a lot of face, and his words were so loud that the teachers and students of the nearby art galleries all looked sideways.

A bright light flashed in Lu Huanyu's eyes, and he praised loudly: "Okay, you are ambitious, you are indeed my student!"

The other nine students were dumbfounded when they knew that he had bet [-] taels on themselves, but when they thought that Wang Ziyan was leaning on the man's back, they immediately showed expressions of relief.

"Hmph, it's a fool's dream, only your Qingjiang Art Museum can teach students who become the top ten in Meiyuan?"

A disdainful cold snort came over, and everyone in the Qingjiang Art Gallery looked at it, only to see a middle-aged man with acne marks walking over with a group of students, with an arrogant look on his face.

"Cao Ruohai, what does our Qingjiang Art Gallery have to do with you?" Lu Huanyu looked at him coldly.

This person's name is Cao Ruohai, he was his former classmate, and now he is in charge of the Xuanmo Painting Gallery in Mobei City, and he has always been at odds with Lu Huanyu.

Although his own strength is not as good as Lu Huanyu's, the Xuanmo Art Gallery he works in is the most powerful art gallery in Mobei City. There are many talented students under his school. In the past ten years, three leaders of the Meiyuan Art Association have emerged, which is superior to his peers.

However, the Qingjiang Art Museum has lost all face in the Meiyuan Art Fair all the year round. Cao Ruohai seized this point to make use of it, and ridiculed Lu Huanyu for misleading his children year after year.

Lu Huanyu was so eager for Lin Tianyang to be able to shine at the Plum Garden Art Fair, probably because of this person's relationship.

Cao Ruohai held his head high and looked at Lin Tianyang with his nostrils: "I heard that you were a famous waste before, but now that your painting skills have only improved a little, do you dare to expect to be listed as one of the ten heroes of Meiyuan?"

"Cao Ruohai, there is something coming at me, what's the point of playing tricks on my students!" Lu Huanyu pulled Lin Tianyang behind him with a solemn expression.

"Hmph, what kind of teacher is really teaching what kind of students, your student is just like you, you don't know the heights of heaven and earth!" Cao Ruohai looked disdainful, turned around and greeted: "Ye Qiu, come here!"

A student in a light yellow gown came out, it was the boy who had been nodding with Lin Tianyang in the examination room earlier.

Ye Qiu was taken aback when he saw Lin Tianyang, but he still respectfully walked to Cao Ruohai's side: "Cao Guanshi."

Cao Ruohai pulled Ye Qiu, feeling very proud: "Look carefully, Ye Qiu is the most outstanding student of our Xuanmo Painting Museum this year, and now he has reached the middle-level state of enlightenment, and he must be the leader of this Meiyuan Painting Association. It's better to pack up and go home as soon as possible, so as not to lose face again in front of so many people!"

Lu Huanyu's face turned red, and he was speechless for a long time. He could see through Ye Qiu's state at a glance, and wanted to fight back, but there were only two enlightened people in Qingjiang Art Gallery, how could he compare with Ye Qiu who was already a painter!

"Enlightened Zhongpin, is it very strong?" Lin Tianyang suddenly asked.

No one understood the true meaning of his words, thinking that he asked such a question because he had no idea of ​​the artist's strength, and they all frowned.

Cao Ruohai laughed loudly, and sarcastically said: "Lu Huanyu, look at the students you have taught. They don't even know what it means to be enlightened, and they dare to dream of becoming one of the ten heroes of Meiyuan. It's ridiculous. Qingjiang painting The restaurant is really rubbish!"

Lu Huanyu was trembling with anger, wishing he could kick his hateful face to pieces!

"Are you strong?" Lin Tianyang looked at Ye Qiu and asked again.

Ye Qiu was taken aback for a moment. He had read poetry and books since he was a child. Although he was not ashamed of Cao Ruohai humiliating others like this, Lin Tianyang asked so directly. His pride as a painter made him impolite, so he nodded naturally: "Follow me!" Compared to you, I should be considered strong."

"Ye Qiu, how can this kind of useless trash compare to you, let's go, don't talk to people from this trash gallery!" Cao Ruohai has already achieved his goal, and he doesn't want to waste time here.

"Wait," Lin Tianyang stepped forward and said, "Since you think you are better than me, how about we compare?"

Cao Ruohai said disdainfully, "You are worthy?"

"You know if you compare it?" Lin Tianyang smiled slightly, provoking: "Could it be that the people in Xuanmo Art Museum only play tricks on their lips, and dare not compete with others openly?"

"What did you say?" Ye Qiu's face darkened, and his brows raised: "Are you humiliating my Xuanmo Art Gallery?"

Lin Tianyang looked him straight in the eyes and said, "Then what do you think Guanshi Cao was doing earlier? He has humiliated my Qingjiang Art Gallery as trash, and I still need to be polite?"

Cao Ruohai gritted his teeth angrily: "Trash, do you believe that I killed you?"

"Try if you have the ability!" Lu Huanyu took a step forward, his momentum erupted, Cao Ruohai was startled by him, and immediately fell silent.

"Okay! Since you want to compete with me, I will compete with you!" Ye Qiu also became angry and said, "How do you want to compare?"

Lin Tianyang glanced at him appreciatively, as if admiring his courage, and said, "It's very simple, Cao Ruohai said that you must be the leader of this painting fair, so whoever can get it compared to you and me?" Chief!"

As soon as this remark came out, it seemed that the whole audience fell silent.

Everyone looked at him in disbelief, even Lu Huanyu, who had great hopes for him, was no exception.

Ye Qiu is the chief hero of Xuanmo Painting Gallery, and he is also a middle-grade painter who is enlightened. He can be regarded as a leader among his generation. It is reasonable for him to compete for the top spot, but what are you, Lin Tianyang?
He has not been admitted for ten years in Qingjiang Art Gallery, which is the lowest ranked art gallery, and he is notoriously weak and useless. Now he suddenly wants to compete with Ye Qiu and point his sword at the leader of the Plum Garden Art Association. Come out, no one really dares to believe it.

If it weren't for his clear eyes when he spoke, others would probably think that he was suffering from insanity.

"It seems that you are not only insulting Xuanmo Art Museum, but also me." Ye Qiu's face was expressionless, and anger surged in his voice.

He wanted to be polite at first, but when he heard Lin Tianyang's provocation, he felt that he knew that he was not strong enough, and he proposed this competition deliberately to mess around. He couldn't help but look down on Lin Tianyang a bit.

"Whether it's an insult or not, you can only know by comparing yourself." Lin Tianyang ignored the anger in his eyes and said, "If you want to prove that you are better than me, what you say doesn't count."

What you say doesn't count, so naturally it depends on your strength!

"Okay, so what if I'll just compete with you, I hope you won't regret it then!" Ye Qiu agreed coldly.

Lin Tianyang shrugged nonchalantly, and said, "Since it's a competition, it's natural that there will be some prizes. If I win, this manager Cao will have to admit his mistake to the Master Lu. Is there a problem?"

Ye Qiu glanced at Cao Ruohai, saw the other party nodded repeatedly, and said, "Okay, no problem, but if you lose, you also need to apologize in front of everyone for insulting Xuanmo Art Gallery!"

"This kid has a good personality!" Seeing that Lin Tianyang's request was not too much, he just wanted to win back the respect for Xuanmo Art Museum, so he couldn't help feeling a little admiration.

"Hmph, you trash, Ye Qiu is an enlightened middle-grade painter, why do you win him?" Cao Ruohai said with fierce eyes, "If you can win, so what if I kneel down in public and apologize to Lu Huanyu? But this Is it possible? Waste!"

"Okay, remember what you said!" Lin Tianyang was very satisfied. He increased the lottery again. If there is not enough lottery, how can he say this?
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three gongs sounded, and the room was filled with excitement: "The results of the first assessment are out!"

The crowd immediately flocked towards the gate of the plum garden, Cao Ruohai hurriedly said: "Ye Qiu, let's go to the list first, and don't spend too much time talking with these trash!"

Everyone in the Qingjiang Art Gallery also hurried over, but Lu Huanyu was a step behind and grabbed Lin Tianyang: "Tianyang, you are too impulsive, I also know the talent of Ye Qiu, he belongs to the Mobei City Art Gallery No.1 among the students, and now you are in the mid-level realm of enlightenment, you have no chance of winning at all!"

Lin Tianyang said helplessly: "Master, don't you have confidence in me?"

"That's not what you said, but you've only just opened up, so how can you compare with Ye Qiu?" Lu Huanyu was worried.

"Master, please relax, will I do something I'm not sure about?" Lin Tianyang winked at him mischievously, and said: "Let's go to the list first, maybe we can find the first surprise? "

Lu Huanyu didn't know why, seeing his running figure, a thought suddenly flashed in his mind: "Could it be that he has become a painter?"

In front of the plum garden gate, there was a sea of ​​people. Uncle Chen had already found a good place on the tree in front of the gate. There were more than sixty people, and they climbed up the tree and stood there. Lin Tianwan and Granny Chen stood under the tree and looked at him anxiously.

Lin Tian saw them from afar, hurried over, looked at Uncle Chen with a wry smile and said, "Uncle Chen, take it easy, I won't be able to compensate you if you fall down!"

"Bah, bah, what are you talking about!" Granny Chen gave him an annoyed look, and said, "Isn't this just to see your grades, young master!"

Lin Tianwan pulled him nervously and said, "Tianyang, are you sure?"

Lin Tianyang patted the back of her hand, and said softly: "Don't worry, I will definitely be on the list!"

"Boom!"

Another gong sounded, and a yellow paper list immediately appeared in midair in front of the door, with the names of fifty students written on it according to their ranking.

The crowded crowd immediately became more crowded, and everyone desperately raised their heads and leaned forward, as if they could see more clearly.

"What! Ye Qiu is actually No.2!" A voice of extreme surprise resounded from the crowd.

Lin Tianyang heard that it was Cao Ruohai's voice.

"What? Ye Qiu from Xuanmo Art Gallery is actually No.2?"

"Isn't he already an enlightened middle-grade painter?"

"Then who is No.1?"

There was a lot of discussion in the crowd, Qiqi looked up at the name at the top of the list, and after seeing it, the audience exclaimed!

"The top winner in the first assessment——Qingjiang Art Museum, Lin Tianyang, become a master of painting!"

(End of this chapter)