Chapter 1208: Our Journey Should Be the Great Ocean of Stars!
Translator: Lordbluefire
“Yet another famous painting?”
Everyone stared at Xia Taikang and exclaimed in shock.
If it wasn’t for Sun Mo’s reminder, everyone might have inadvertently disturbed Wei Wu`an and prevented the birth of a famous painting. So now, everyone had learned their lesson and didn’t gather over at Xia Taikang’s area.
“If there are no unexpected incidents, the champion would be Prince Taikang!”
Zou Yin was someone from the Great Xia, so he naturally would speak for their crown prince.
Everyone nodded in agreement!
Usually speaking, as long as one could invoke the Wondrous Blossoms Realm, they would be able to suppress others. There was no exception even if their opponent was a famous artist.
“That might not be for certain. The time hasn’t ended yet, maybe others can also produce a famous painting!”
The Qi Emperor argued.
Zou Yan was a famous artist and had a certain status in society. Commoners would not dare to refute him, but the Qi Emperor clearly wasn’t a commoner.
“Your Majesty is correct!”
Although Zou Yin’s words were being rebutted, he had to endure it and even smile.
“I feel that Ziqi isn’t bad. Look at how focused she is when she’s painting.”
The Qi Emperor was a classic example of loving someone’s dog because they loved someone. He transferred his admiration for Sun Mo onto the little sunny egg.
“Your majesty!’
Grand Tutor Su felt helpless and reminded in a low voice.
(You are the emperor of the organizing country, so you shouldn’t display your likes and dislikes so easily.)
Zou Yin’s face stiffened. He wanted to say that famous paintings weren’t so easily produced but at this very moment, spirit qi started to gather around Li Ziqi.
This…
Zou Yin was stunned. After that, he felt a lingering fear and joy for not making the statement in his mind. Luckily, he didn’t say anything or his face would be smacked.
“Haha, what day is it today? There are actually three famous paintings being produced?”
Wang Zan was greatly joyful.
The Qi Emperor also felt somewhat impatient as he wanted to quickly admire the painting. He simply loved to admire zither, chess, painting, calligraphy, flowers, birds, and bugs.
Three hours later, the participants gradually finished their paintings.
Although there were princes and princesses who felt that their work wasn’t bad, their work was simply trash compared to famous paintings. They weren’t even qualified to be compared.
“From the looks of things, the champion should either be Taikang, Ziqi, or Wu`an!”
The Qi Emperor walked over.
“Your Majesty, I’m not convinced!”
A prince of Wei Country walked out with large strides.
“Although I didn’t produce a famous painting, this painting was created through all my efforts and it contains an extremely high inner quality. I feel that it is qualified to be compared to the others!”
As the prince spoke, he lifted his painting to show everyone.
Si~
Many people inhaled a breath of cold air when they saw the painting.
Wasn’t the concept of this painting a little too tragic? Hunger swept over the land, while children and women lay dead on the roadside with countless locusts flying in the air.
This fellow even painted scenes of people exchanging their kids for food!
“This is my ‘Song Dynasty Hunger Painting’, could it be that the concept within isn’t lofty enough?”
The prince argued, “I hope that all major characters here can lower your status to look at the life that these poor people are leading.”
“The three of you, what do you think?”
The Qi Emperor glanced at Zeng Gongnian and the other two.
“Since Great Teacher Sun is a great teacher and also a famous artist, I think he will be better suited to answer this question.”
Zeng Gongnian dug a hole for Sun Mo.
If he didn’t answer this question properly, he would have to offend people.
“Yeah, Great Teacher Sun, would you please answer it?”
Wang Zan urged. However, he had no malicious intentions and only wanted to hear Sun Mo’s unique perspective.
As for Zou Yin, he stood to the side and glanced over coldly, preparing to ‘stab Sun Mo’ at any moment.
“I feel that the current painting world has detoured from the correct path. Why do we have to judge the quality of a painting based on whether or not Wondrous Blossom is invoked?”
The prince continued to ask.
Several people spectating nearby nodded. They felt that the words of this prince made sense.
“This Highness, can I ask a question? Have you produced a famous painting before?”
Sun Mo asked.
The prince had an awkward expression and shook his head.
“For myself, I’m a realistic person that always adheres to the principle of things before evaluating them. I wouldn’t speak recklessly if I knew nothing.”
Sun Mo didn’t use a lecturing tone. Rather, he was casually chatting. “Since you never entered the Wondrous Blossom Realm before, you naturally wouldn’t understand what it entails!”
The prince was unconvinced.
“When you said that you created this painting through your utmost efforts, that was a blatant lie. If you were truly focused and gave it your all when creating it, you would surely invoke the Wondrous Blossom Realm.”
Sun Mo stared at the prince. “And I will be very responsible and tell you a secret. When you can ‘infuse’ your blood, your flesh, your bone marrow, and your soul into your painting, only then would you have the chance to comprehend the Wondrous Blossom Realm. It wouldn’t be possible even if you are the slightest bit distracted!”
An uproar immediately sprang up in the surroundings as everyone started discussing.
Zeng Gongnian’s countenance became unsightly.
(This damnable Sun Mo, why does he have to divulge such a secret? You are a great teacher and don’t have to rely on painting skills to feed yourself, but I’m different!)
At this moment, Zeng Gongnian wanted to beat Sun Mo to death.
Wang Zan praised. He recalled his own condition when he produced a famous painting. Things were indeed like what Sun Mo had said.
“Impressive!”
Zou Yin sighed. Such a genius truly caused others to feel despair. He had long since discovered this secret.
The prince grew anxious and blurted out, “Are you correct just because you said so?”
Sun Mo didn’t feel annoyed. He smiled calmly and placed his hands behind his back. “As someone that produced seven famous paintings before, I feel that even in the entire great teacher world, I have the qualifications to guide others in this aspect!”
“That’s for sure. Even Saint Artist Wu has only produced 16 famous paintings in his entire life.”
The Qi Emperor fawned.
However, the Qi Emperor felt that rather than wasting time on this, Sun Mo might as well use the time to give him a massage. After that, he would summon a bevy of palace maids and concubines over, so both of them could enjoy themselves for three days and nights!
Mn, the type where they would be fully unclothed!
“You said that the concept of your painting is too lofty. It’s a pity you made a mistake when you came up. You just want to use this excuse to paint the facade that you are someone who loves the commoners like your own child. If you are truly concerned for these people, you will feel empathy for them. Sadly, let alone having tears in your eyes, they didn’t even turn red!”
Sun Mo shook his head. “Student, please remember to put up a complete act in the future and train your acting skills to be better!”
The prince’s expression turned ashen. His thoughts were completely seen through.
“So this is the case!”
The audience was then enlightened. As expected, the nobility would always put up an act. After that, they felt even more worship for Sun Mo. How impressive must a person be in order to create so many famous paintings?
Sadly, they weren’t able to see his work.
Those high officials that were culture snobs also felt regret. Although they were third-grade and fourth-grade high officials, they had no statuses before Sun Mo.
“Can we admire the paintings now?”
Sun Mo reminded the Qi Emperor with a relaxed and carefree expression on his face. However, he was extremely elated in his heart as he had received over 10,000 favorable impression points.
“Who among you wants to be first?”
Although the Qi Emperor wanted to hurry up and view Xia Taikang, Wei Wu`an, and Li Ziqi’s paintings, he still had to show that he cared about the others.
“Allow me!”
Xia Taikang took the initiative.
Two officials wore silk gloves and carefully displayed Xia Taikang’s art piece for everyone to see.
“Masterpiece!”
Zou Yin immediately started flaunting. After that, he looked at Sun Mo with a gaze filled with provocation. “What does Great Teacher Sun think?”
“Excellent!”
Sun Mo nodded.
“This painting is truly unparalleled in terms of imposingness!”
The Qi Emperor sighed.
All males present felt the same way.
Xia Taikang drew a palace. Outside it, there were warriors clad in heavy armor, and long spears littered the area like trees in a forest. Inside the palace, at the end of a long flight of steps, there was only an emperor taking a slow walk.
These stairs weren’t made of stones but numerous corpses. There were corpses of ordinary folks, rich merchants, high officials, and even emperors from rival nations.
Through the majestic palace gate, one could see that there was a dragon throne inside. Under the dragon throne, there was the country that the Emperor was reigning over and the citizens of the Nine Provinces.
In terms of painting technique, this painting might be somewhat insufficient. However, the artistic concept was fully displayed. Anyone who saw it would imagine themselves as an emperor that was about to ascend to the throne.
The entire painting exuded the aura of a regent.
“Painting something like this with the status of a crown prince isn’t easy at all!”
Zeng Gongnian praised loudly.
“Sadly, it lacked an emperor verse!”
Zou Yin sighed.
After that, everyone subconsciously glanced at Sun Mo.
“Teacher Sun, please evaluate this.”
Xia Taikang implored.
“Your painting is very well done, but the branding of your personal character is too heavy. It will cause many people to feel ambition birthing in their hearts when they look at it.”
Sun Mo stared at Xia Taikang. “Your dreams are good, but I hope that you can conceal your strength and bide your time well instead of fully revealing your sharpness!”
“As for the emperor verse, I won’t suggest that. I’m not an emperor after all and don’t have the mentality!”
Sun Mo rejected.
The spectators all nodded. Sun Mo’s words were very correct. The ambitiousness of this painting was too much. Those looking at it would have unrealistic thoughts running through their minds.
Xia Taikang frowned and felt somewhat unhappy. After Li Ziqi’s hundred poems recital, who didn’t know that Sun Mo was skilled in both calligraphy and painting? He had unmatched poetry talent. It was just an emperor verse, and he definitely would be able to write it if he wanted to.
He didn’t write it because he didn’t want to write for him!
“Let’s check out the next painting?”
Grand Tutor Su suggested.
“I’ll give up!”
Jiang Yuzhen conceded.
Everyone turned to look at Wei Wu`an and Xiang Zhao.
“I…”
Wei Wu`an sighed. “I’ll give up!”
“Ah?”
Everyone was stunned. (You have produced a famous painting, so why do you have to give up?)
“Could it be that the famous painting isn’t complete?”
Zeng Gongnian shook his head. “What a pity!”
Wei Wu`an had thought of a few humble sentences, but in the end, when he saw Sun Mo’s gaze on him, he wasn’t able to say them.
It was truly too difficult to cheat Sun Mo’s intelligent eyes.
“Let’s take a look at Her Highness Ziqi’s painting?”
Xiang Zhao suggested.
The little sunny egg had no objections.
The two eunuchs carefully took Li Ziqi’s painting over.
After everyone saw it, they were dumbstruck.
“What is this?”
Even great teachers with broad horizons were stunned at this moment.
“My beloved subjects, do you guys know what this is?”
The Qi Emperor asked. He looked around and his gaze finally landed on Grand Tutor Su. However, Grand Tutor Su shook his head.
Li Ziqi didn’t care about the thoughts of others. Rather, she was sneaking glances at Sun Mo. When she saw her teacher smiling, her heart finally relaxed.
In this world, she only cared for her teacher’s evaluation.
“Ziqi, what is this?”
The Qi Emperor was curious.
“The starry sky!”
Li Ziqi introduced.
On the white paper, there was a nebula on the upper part. It was mysterious, magnificent, and profound. Because Wondrous Blossom was invoked, it had color. Hence, this nebula fully displayed the mystery of the starry space.
When looking closer, one could see a blue planet. A human was floating in outer space staring at the nebula in the distance, and the human was as tiny as a particle of dust!