Chapter 24 - 24: The 4 Arts of Immortals
"Mr. Ru, are we finally going to learn something new?"
Chang Qing asked with delight.
More than three months have passed since he apprenticed, and aside from reading, he has been reading.
Although the rapid accumulation of knowledge felt satisfying, it was also somewhat monotonous.
In three months, he had read every book in the library, but all he learned were theories.
Now, it's finally time for practice.
"Books are endless, and what you've done so far is enough."
"What you gain from paper is ultimately shallow. Those things need to be validated by you later on."
Li Qingchen picked up a writing brush from the desk and looked at Chang Qing.
"Today, I will teach you calligraphy, one of the four arts."
With that, Li Qingchen rolled up his sleeves, raised the brush, his expression calm and serene, and wrote a line of small characters with dragon-and-serpent-like strokes.
[Immortal Seal: Fish Dragon Dance]
"Such impressive calligraphy." Chang Qing couldn't help but praise.
Li Qingchen's calligraphy was vigorous and powerful yet gracefully elegant. Each character was as exquisite as a work of art.
More importantly, the characters appeared infused with a soul. Upon closer inspection, they seemed to transform into carp turning into dragons, ascending heavenwards, dancing atop the paper.
Chang Qing did not understand, only felt the calligraphy was beautiful.
But if a master in Confucianism was present, they would immediately recognize it as the famous calligraphy, Immortal Seal: Fish Dragon Dance.
When Li Qingchen wrote this calligraphy, he did not employ any cultivation, for once cultivation was infused, they would no longer be mere characters but truly transform into clouds and dragons!
"There are many calligraphy styles in the world, but most can be divided into four levels."
Li Qingchen again raised the brush and wrote four characters.
Shape, skill, intention, path.
Chang Qing focused his gaze, and with a single glance, discerned the differences among the characters.
The first character, shape, had form, although beautifully written, it was extremely rigid.
The second character, skill, showed significant improvement from the first; while beautiful, it also gained some carefree elegance.
By the third character, intention, the letters gained spirit, as if infused with the writer's will, coming alive.
And the fourth character, path, returned to simplicity, appearing no different from the first character 'shape' unless looked at intently.
But upon close observation, it felt like a giant dragon soaring, fish leaping the dragon gate, containing profound truths.
Insight flickered in Chang Qing's eyes, seeming to grasp a bit of understanding.
"Many scholars are stuck at 'shape' their entire lives; the smarter ones may advance to 'skill'."
"Yet 'intention' and 'path' cannot be achieved through mere practice; they arise from personal enlightenment or fortuitous encounters."
Li Qingchen looked at Chang Qing, smiling lightly:
"Those who reach 'intention' are one in a thousand; those who attain 'path' are exceedingly rare."
"If you wish to learn my Fish Dragon Dance, it's only possible if you've grasped the essence of 'intention'."
"Would you like to try?"
Immortal Seal: Fish Dragon Dance, this technique is very strong!
Its strength lies not only in the free-flowing elegance of its script but also in its formidable power during battles.
With a single stroke, fish and dragons surround, heavens and earth overturn; the script, though free and elegant, is extraordinarily domineering.
However, though powerful, among Li Qingchen's three disciples, none have received its true teachings.
Because those who have learned other calligraphy styles can never master Fish Dragon Dance; only beginners who study solely this calligraphy from start to finish can achieve great mastery.
But the entrance to Fish Dragon Dance is extraordinarily high, a common person cannot learn it, which is why, for so many years, this calligraphy has never been passed down.
Chang Qing did not speak, just looked at the four characters for a long time, his eyes growing increasingly insightful.
After a while, Chang Qing rolled up his sleeves and raised the brush.
One brush stroke: shape!
Two strokes: skill!
As the third stroke landed, although slightly immature and weak, the resolute and unyielding intention clearly leapt upon the paper!
"Three strokes to condense intention!"
Li Qingchen's lips curved into a smile, and the smile gradually expanded until he could no longer suppress the loud laughter that echoed across the entire green mountain,
"Hahaha, good! Very good!"
"My Immortal's four arts finally have a successor!"
Li Qingchen knew Chang Qing had strong enlightenment capabilities, but reading quickly and mastering an art are two entirely different concepts.
From the outset, he wasn't sure if Chang Qing could inherit his true legacy.
But as Chang Qing condensed intention in three strokes and maintained strong enlightenment potential, this worry instantly dissipated.
Li Qingchen was very pleased, not just because of accepting a disciple, but because his legacy had hope.
For scholars, legacy is a sacred matter.
If a particular inheritance ends with oneself, it would be an affront to Confucianism and literature.
"Three centuries waiting for a successor, at last, I've found one."
Li Qingchen murmured, gazing into the distance, his always calm eyes suddenly sharp,
"This life feels complete, it's time I set aside to settle old scores."
The world knows Immortal once obtained an incredible inheritance, and it's truly not without reason.
Whether the miraculous Celestial Doctor scroll or the Immortal's four arts, all these originate from one place.
The Dark Forbidden Area!
A young Li Qingchen inadvertently strayed into the forbidden area, though thus becoming Immortal, he also lost his lifelong love there.
Countless times, he wished to re-enter the forbidden area but found that he could never locate the entrance again.
Now, with accomplished cultivation and passed down path, his sole regret lay within that forbidden area.
"Wait for me, the day won't be far."
Immortal took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions.
"Teacher, is something wrong?"
Seeing the usually calm Li Qingchen's somewhat cold demeanor, Chang Qing asked in surprise.
"It's nothing, just recalling some past matters."
Li Qingchen waved it off without explanation but instead raised the brush again, saying:
"Now, I shall teach you the Immortal Seal."
Fish Dragon Dance is a writing method, and Immortal Seal is a font of terrifying power.
Such a font cannot be taught through manuals; it can only be imparted personally by a teacher, through intention, which is why this method's threshold is extremely high.
Chang Qing was not suspicious and seriously began to learn.
In the following time, he practiced calligraphy daily, learning the Immortal Seal.
Given his exceptionally strong enlightenment capabilities, he learned at a remarkably fast pace.
In one month, achieved minor achievement in calligraphy intention, practicing ten Immortal Seals.
In two months, reached major achievement in calligraphy intention, practiced more than fifty Immortal Seals.
In three months, perfected calligraphy intention, thoroughly learned one hundred and twenty-nine Immortal Seals.
In just three months, Chang Qing was but a step away from breaking through to the 'path' character, but was halted by Li Qingchen.
"Learning too quickly is not beneficial, first follow me and learn painting."
After thoroughly passing down calligraphy, Li Qingchen began teaching Chang Qing painting.
Every art among the Immortal's four arts is complex and profound, filled with the utmost truths of the heavens and earth.
Immortal Seal: Fish Dragon Dance, Ink Rhythm - the Immortal in the Painting.
Chess Realm·Immortal Finger, Qinsha: Ghost God Abyss.
These four arts are great life and death techniques, and likewise are extremely high in artistic Dao, even if ordinary people immersed themselves in one art for a lifetime, they might not achieve great mastery.
But Chang Qing only needed three months for each Immortal art!
——
The sun rose and the moon set, a year passed in the blink of an eye.
At the foot of the green mountain, within the library.
Chang Qing, now with the demeanor of a great Confucian scholar, stood at the desk, his expression serene, brush raised.
In the briefest moment, an animated painting of a cloud-wrapped mountain emerged upon the paper.
As Qing Feng passed by, the paper slightly moved, causing the mist in the painting to appear to drift with the wind.
Not far away, seeing this scene, Li Qingchen smiled with satisfaction and nodded.
In this past year, Chang Qing had made immense progress, to such an extent that there was hardly anything Li Qingchen could teach him.
But he did not allow Chang Qing to break through to 'path' directly, instead having him remain at the final step of 'intention'.
"Now it's only art techniques, but if endowed with grandeur, they'd all become great killing techniques."
Li Qingchen gazed at the horizon, softly murmuring,
"With a sharp weapon, the will to kill arises naturally. This year, Chang Qing's path has been too smooth."
"It's also time for Chang Qing to meet his senior brother..."