sjar Chapter 115 The Ink Rain Forms Ripples in the Mountain's Brushstrokes
Chapter 115 The Ink Rain Forms Ripples in the Mountain's Brushstrokes
Chapter 115 The Ink Rain Forms Ripples in the Mountain's Brushstrokes
When Ye Ru saw this first checkpoint, there was a piece of Xuan paper below the plaque, which was faintly glowing.
"What is this thing?"
One character, one sheet of Xuan paper.
"Welcome to the Mirage. I am the Mirage Spirit of the First Floor, and I am here to present the test questions."
Suddenly, a transparent worm appeared in front of Ye Ru, startling him:
"This is a poem with one character. Each line of the poem must contain at least two 'one' characters and must also have a meaningful artistic conception. Each person going upstairs only has two chances."
"The mirage spirit spoke."
Ye Ru nodded and began to write. This one-character poem is a type of poetry that contains elements of wordplay. The character "一" (one) has the fewest strokes, but if one is quick-witted, it can transform the mundane into something magical.
"Brother Ye Ru, we've come in too."
While Ye Ru was pondering, several voices came. When they saw the poem with just one character, they were also stunned. It seemed simple, but it was extremely difficult to compose a poem with it.
"Brother Kong, you've arrived."
Ye Ru bowed to Kong Hexuan and the others.
"Is this the test question for this time?"
Kong Hexuan frowned as he looked at the Xuan paper and the single character on the plaque, and said softly.
"Yes, it must contain at least two 'one' characters, otherwise it doesn't count."
Ye Ru nodded.
"How can the first level be so difficult?"
Dong Qi scratched his head and began to think.
"This question may be difficult, but it's nothing compared to Ye the Scholar's skill, isn't it?"
Su Liu spoke with a kind smile, but it always felt insincere.
"Su Liu, that's enough! A gentleman doesn't speak ill of others. What's wrong with you?"
Kong Hexuan turned to look at Su Liu and scolded her.
"Brother Kong, please don't be angry. Brother Su is absolutely right. We scholars all like to emulate the virtuous. So let Brother Ye set an example for us."
Lu Feng, a student of the Miscellaneous School, stood between the two, bowed to Kong Hexuan and Ye Ru, and then spoke.
"Ugh."
Han Lu's eyes flashed, a hint of malice in them.
"Then let me go first."
Ye Ru walked in, then picked up his pen. When he saw the one-character poem of the person in front of him, he was also stunned, because Xiao Ke of the Yin-Yang School had very delicate handwriting, which did not look like the handwriting of a boy at all.
However, in this Confucian and Taoist world, reading and writing poetry were considered men's affairs, and women could not participate in the imperial examinations, which meant that women could not obtain literary rank or talent.
"Hmph, how difficult is a poem with just one character? Yet Ye Anshou composed a poem without even thinking about it. He is truly skilled and daring."
Su Liu shook her head and sighed in a pretentious manner.
"Who knows? A poor scholar is a poor scholar. Poverty is ingrained in his bones. No matter what, he can never be considered refined. Compared to our esteemed families, he is far inferior."
Lu Feng shook his head and said disdainfully.
"Little man!"
Meng Qingyang cursed under his breath.
Ye Ru remained unmoved. He hadn't expected that after dealing with Han Lu, he would now have two more flies in his path.
He then began to read the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), and then began to write:
"A sail, an oar, a small boat; a fisherman, a fishing hook."
A bow, a rise, a laugh; a river of bright moon, a river of autumn.
As Ye Ru wrote, the mirage spirit slowly began to read aloud. Each sentence struck the hearts of everyone like a giant hammer, causing the playful expressions of Su Liu, Han Lu, and the others to gradually freeze and finally turn into shock.
"This poem not only describes the requirements of this time, but also uses a single word to thoroughly express the image of a contented fisherman. It integrates poetry, scenery, and art into one, and is simply a superior poem."
Kong Hexuan pondered for a moment, then sighed.
"The old fisherman fishing under the moon may seem lonely on the surface, but he is actually enjoying it."
Dong Qi nodded as well.
"This poem is extremely vivid. If a master painter were to come and paint it, he would surely create a picture of a tranquil and comfortable life for a fisherman."
Meng Qingyang looked at Ye Ru with envy.
At this moment, Su Liu and the others wisely shut their mouths.
"The poem is excellent; you've passed the first test."
The Mirage Spirit nodded, and a beam of light enveloped Ye Ru, who then sped towards the second floor.
On the second floor, there is a plaque with the character "书" (book), and on the ground is a desk with only a sheet of Xuan paper on it.
"A book? Could it be a calligraphy test?"
Ye Ru guessed that if the first challenge was poetry and the second challenge was books, then the questions for the first seven levels would be easy to guess.
Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea.
"This test is about the fragrance of calligraphy. This is the 'Changfeng Tie' written by the great scholar Zhong Yao. You must write another one. If you can complete half of it, you will win."
At this moment, a voice came, and an old man looked at Ye Ru and then said softly. Immediately afterwards, a page of Zhong Yao's authentic calligraphy was revealed.
“Whenever I think of Changfeng, I cannot bear it. Yesterday I received his letter, which was both devastating and inspiring. This is deeply worrying.”
"Half done?"
Ye Ru frowned. He remembered hearing Zhao Qingfeng mention Zhong Yao during the imperial examination gathering.
Zhong Yao was a great calligrapher during the Wei and Jin Dynasties. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, he was known as one of the "Four Sages" along with Zhang Zhi, Wang Xizhi, and Wang Xianzhi. Later, he was often referred to as "Zhong Wang" together with Wang Xizhi. Moreover, he was most famous in history for his small regular script, and was known as the "Ancestor of Regular Script".
This "Changfeng Tie" is a calligraphy work by Zhong Yao and one of his representative works in small regular script.
"Senior, was that fellow from the Yin-Yang School the same one who wrote this?"
Ye Ru frowned and asked.
"No, the second round is a random question draw."
The elder shook his head.
"It's just finishing this one piece, what's so difficult about that..."
Ye Ru smiled slightly. He had practiced small regular script before, and he also possessed the Wolf Wind Brush, which perfectly complemented the small regular script.
"Great things in the world must be done by starting with the easy ones, and difficult things in the world must be done by starting with the small ones. As the saying goes, humility brings benefits, while pride invites loss. Young scholar, do not underestimate this question."
Seeing Ye Ru's disdainful look, the old man shook his head and sneered.
Ye Ru smiled gently at the old man, then ground the ink, dipped his brush, and began to write:
"Every time I think of the long wind..."
As Ye Ru finished writing the fourth character, Zhong Yao's authentic work, "Changfeng Tie," suddenly burst forth with a sacred light, and the characters seemed to pour down like a torrential rain, dripping towards Ye Ru.
Each and every word contained immense energy. This sight caused Ye Ru's eyes to widen in astonishment, and he exclaimed:
"The Five Realms of Calligraphy? Ink Rain Becomes Ripples? And the Meaning of Brushstrokes: 'Looking Up to a Lofty Mountain'?"
The old man in the mirage wore an even more mocking expression.
The original "Changfeng Tie" calligraphy, imbued with the five realms of calligraphy and powerful brushstrokes, blocked Ye Ru's calligraphy and brushwork, making Ye Ru feel as if his calligraphy and body were being suppressed by a high mountain.
This brushstroke, somewhat similar to the imagery of poetry, can only be seen in the works of great calligraphers. Zhong Yao's small regular script is unparalleled in the world. Regular script signifies uprightness. Legend has it that when he observed all things in the world and wrote them down, he comprehended the meaning of "looking up to a high mountain".
At this moment, the "Changfeng Post" made Ye Ru feel as if he saw countless high mountains. The brushstrokes emanating from the mountains, accompanied by a powerful calligraphic force, made Ye Ru's brushstrokes stop in place for a moment.