Chapter 744: Chapter 145: The Holy Land of Wen Ancestor, Eighth Extreme Realm_3
“Discussing paintings?”
Zhao Qingshu was taken aback, suddenly thinking of his own master who had a fondness for painting and could be considered unparalleled in artistic skill.
Thinking of Li Hao, who had taken some time to paint during the previous Solo Battle, Zhao Qingshu realized it must have been for this reason that his master took notice.
“You’ve just won first place, aren’t you going to enter seclusion? Even though you defeated Chi Guang, you shouldn’t underestimate the other Saint Heirs,” Zhao Qingshu asked Li Hao.
Ever since the Solo Battle between Li Hao and Chi Guang ended, and the news spread, the brother from Shu Hai also started to enter seclusion. Yet, surprisingly, Li Hao was leisurely accepting an invitation to discuss paintings.
“You’re right.”
Li Hao nodded.
Zhao Qingshu: “…”
Since it was an invitation from the master, he couldn’t say much more. Besides, with his own strength, he really couldn’t afford to be arrogant in front of Li Hao, whose single sword strike had made him feel pressured. If he met Li Hao in battle, he would most likely have to keep silent and admit defeat.
Li Hao followed Yue Ying to meet Zhan Tan. As soon as Li Hao left, several disciples who had fought earlier approached, one of them curiously asking:
“Senior brother Qing Shu, who is that person?”
“The first in the Solo Battle.”
Zhao Qingshu looked at the retreating figure, let out a sigh, feeling somewhat unwilling in his heart, but more helpless.
With the strength of that one sword, Li Hao indeed had the talent to be proud. While others were in seclusion, he was at leisure… Hmph, just wait until you meet the Twin Buddha Child, then you’ll be crying!
In the back courtyard of Tiantan Peak.
Zhan Tan had already sensed the presence of Li Hao; upon Li Hao’s arrival, she greeted him with a smile: “You’ve come.”
Previously in the Intentional Space at the Flower Travel Association, one could only see a grey silhouette. Now seeing Zhan Tan in reality, Li Hao saw that she appeared to be in her mid-twenties, like a wandering fairy, yet embodied a noble aura. Though her demeanor was gentle, there was an inviolable nobility to her.
The mere silhouette had seemed like that of an Imperial Princess, but now that he saw her in person, there was an added sense of loneliness and detachment.
Li Hao’s eyes displayed surprise; the last person that gave him such a stunning feeling was Yao Ancestor, who had loneliness and detachment, as if she was isolated from the world, whereas Zhan Tan conveyed more of an Imperial Family’s aura.
“Do you prefer painting landscapes or dragon beasts and reptiles?”
Zhan Tan inquired.
Li Hao came back to his senses, saw that the pavilion was already prepared with painting supplies and scrolls, and he felt a sense of relief. He smiled and replied, “I paint everything.”
“Oh?”
Zhan Tan was quite interested. Although both enjoyed the Artistic Path, the subjects they preferred to paint were different. For instance, she liked to paint dragon beasts, reptiles, and such, especially those with odd appearances.
“Then today let’s paint an Earth Deceit Dragon Clan.”
Zhan Tan suggested.
She raised her hand, opened the Heaven and Earth Space, and drew forth a dying, bizarre-looking dragon.
This Dragon Demon looked fierce, as if deformed, with dense scales and many reversed scales. Its claws resembled those of an eagle, and its tail spikes were as densely packed as those of a porcupine.
“Let’s paint this beast, and see who can capture its might, how about it?”
Zhan Tan asked.
Li Hao nodded. To paint might was simple, that was only Seventh Stage of Artistic Path, but to paint the essence was more difficult. However, after careful observation, he had already discerned the root and cultivation of the Dragon Demon.
Without saying much, Li Hao went to the easel Zhan Tan had prepared for him. Both became focused, and started to paint.
Yue Ying stood by, curiously peering over.
The courtyard was very serene; light fell on the tree shadows, casting dappled gold patterns on the ground.
Time quietly elapsed, with only the occasional sound of grinding ink.
After two hours, both finished their painting almost simultaneously. Li Hao set down his brush and looked at the Dragon Demon in his painting which was still languishing, showing no making any threat, but the dragon’s eyes hinted at fierceness, and its might was restrained as if ready to explode with a life-threatening strike at any moment.
At first glance, it looked like a sick dragon, but upon closer inspection, it induced palpable fear.
On the other side, Zhan Tan had completed her painting as well. Besides the posture of the painted Dragon Demon being similar to the real one in front of her, the ambiance was commanding and seemed as if it might roar and leap out of the painting at any moment.
Zhan Tan painted with great detail and satisfaction. After she put down her brush, she stretched lazily, revealing a proud curvature, and a light fragrance wafted from her.
She stood up, glanced at her own painting with a slight smile, then turned to see Li Hao’s easel.
Upon seeing Li Hao’s completion, she was slightly surprised. The painting of the Dragon Demon was vivid, much like the real one, but this level of details was only basic in the Artistic Path.
With Li Hao’s painting skills, it shouldn’t be so; she looked more closely and suddenly felt a sharpness, as if a dragon’s killing intent echoed in her mind. Her expression subtly changed, and she involuntarily stepped back half a step.
The real Dragon Demon, being merely of the Dao Law Realm, was caught effortlessly by her and posed no threat, but the Dragon Demon in Li Hao’s painting now made her feel a chill, actually causing her to retreat half a step.
Zhan Tan regained her composure, somewhat shocked, and looked again, realizing more and more the profound vastness of Li Hao’s work. It was not simple strokes of a brush but the entire essence!
This essence was hidden within the Dragon Demon, within the intention, and intention embedded in the Dao.
Zhan Tan grew more and more shaken, realizing that Li Hao’s painting skills far surpassed her own. The paintings in the Emperor Hall seemed like a casual effort, not showing the true level of Li Hao’s Artistic Path.
Is this the real achievement of entering the Dao with painting skills?
Zhan Tan couldn’t help but feel admiration and sighed deeply, addressing Li Hao: “Sir, even if I were to practice for another ten years, I would still fall short compared to your painting.”
Li Hao asked, “How long have you been practicing painting?”
“Three hundred years.”
Zhan Tan’s face suddenly blushed slightly. After speaking, she collected the Dragon Demon, dispelled the stench in the courtyard with a gesture, and asked Li Hao, “You’ve just arrived; the journey must have been tiring, would you like something to eat?”