Chapter 1027: Chapter 375: Childhood Book Talk
When Ning Zhuo arrived at the summit of Dianmo Peak, Chu Xuangu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
However, he did not rush to start the trial, instead filling the blank spaces of the ink paper before him.
Once he had finished practicing on this paper, he slowly lifted his head, faced the dozens of cultivators at the summit, and solemnly announced, “The time has come, commence the trial.”
He pointed his finger towards the sky, and Mana condensed into the exam questions — using the art of talisman making, create sections from the “Childhood Book Talk.”
Upon hearing these questions, the cultivators in the field couldn’t help but look at each other in amazement.
So bizarre!
This style of questioning is vastly different from previous years!
The content of the question is quite peculiar, requiring them to use talisman crafting brush techniques to write a Confucian classic.
“Childhood Book Talk” is not profound; on the contrary, its content is very simple. The so-called “Childhood” refers to enlightening children and is an educational book for children’s enlightenment.
It is a primer on calligraphic styles, mainly involving four of the five major scripts: clerical script, regular script, running script, and cursive script. Seal script is deliberately excluded due to its complexity.
The five major scripts are the main content of calligraphy, aimed at various Confucian works.
Talisman crafting focuses on spells, the details of each stroke, pause, and other nuances, the preparation of talisman paper and ink, and the cultivator’s understanding of spells.
Brushstroke style?
It has never been a consideration.
As long as the talisman works, it is considered successful.
“Why use talisman crafting brushstrokes to write a Confucian work?”
“What exactly is Chu Xuangu trying to test?”
“I have been cultivating for decades and have never thought about the script style of talisman making.”
These are unrelated matters. For a while, the cultivators couldn’t fathom why Chu Xuangu would entangle these two together.
Bai Jiyun, a contemporary representative figure of the Foundation Establishment Confucian cultivators in the Flying Cloud Country, enjoyed traveling and admiring beautiful landscapes, and was considered knowledgeable.
At this moment, he also felt puzzled: “According to rumors, when Cang Zu created characters, he referenced talismans and thus created seal script. But ‘Childhood Book Talk’ specifically excludes seal script.”
Liu Fushu, on the other hand, admired Chu Xuangu greatly and thought to himself, “Mr. Chu’s actions must have profound meaning, it’s just that my aptitude is dull and I can’t comprehend it yet.”
Chu Xuangu scanned the crowd, taking in their puzzled expressions.
This situation was within his expectations.
Being unable to understand is normal.
The true purpose of Chu Xuangu’s peculiar question design was to support Ning Zhuo.
Without waiting for further thought from the crowd, Chu Xuangu took a writing brush from his sleeve.
He infused a stream of Mana, levitating the brush into the air for the crowd to see.
“The winner of this Flying Cloud Minor Trial will receive this Ideograph Brush.”
Ning Zhuo raised an eyebrow: “Magic Treasure Level?”
He was quite surprised; he hadn’t expected such a significant reward for a mere Flying Cloud Minor Trial.
The cultivators around him buzzed into even more intense discussion.
“My heavens! Did I see right? It’s really an Ideograph Brush?!”
“What’s with today’s minor trial? Why would Mr. Chu offer such a prize?”
“Creating an Ideograph Brush isn’t easy; acquiring the main material, He Luo Jade, requires enduring a lightning tribulation.”
“It’s more than that. This brush is a Magic Treasure Level, which means at least three tribulations must be overcome.”
“The main material is usually He Luo Jade; passing the lightning tribulation equates to passing the heavenly tribulation. But the earth tribulation and human tribulation must also be surpassed. Otherwise, it’s impossible to achieve such a level!”
Ning Zhuo remained silent.
He understood from the cultivators’ discussions that he had underestimated the significance of this brush.
Bai Jiyun squinted, already realizing: “This Flying Cloud Minor Trial is no ordinary event. Bringing out the Ideograph Brush, those at the Golden Core Stage might regret missing this.”
The Flying Cloud Minor Trials were many, and the presence of Confucian cultivator groups in the Myriad Images Sect had always been weak; prizes were never so substantial before.
“It’s foreseeable that, once this trial concludes, the happenings of this minor trial will spread like wildfire within and outside the Myriad Images Sect.”
Liu Fushu was the most excited.
He stared intently at the Ideograph Brush floating in midair, clenching his fists, breathing heavily, bloodshot veins visible in his eyes: “Rumor has it that the number of Ideograph Brushes is limited.”
“Because when cultivators use this treasured brush to replicate, they can perceive the author’s deep intent from works and character sheets. Over time, this accumulation can enhance a certain aspect of their realm!”
“This kind of treasured brush is the ultimate treasure for cultivation. This particular one isn’t Magic Artifact Level, but Magic Treasure Level. For most cultivators, it’s almost suitable for a lifetime!”
“It’s because this Magic Treasure can augment realms that it goes against heavenly order.”
“The total number of Ideograph Brushes in existence can never exceed ten thousand! Each subsequent Ideograph Brush created will encounter calamities. Only by overcoming them can the treasure be successfully refined.”
“Moreover, the difficulty of creating each Ideograph Brush increases with each one.”
Liu Fushu, adept at calligraphy, was intimately familiar with the world’s famed brushes. Among the thirty-six Great Spirit Brushes, there was an All Marvels Meaningful Brush, ranking twenty-seventh.
The so-called thirty-six Great Spirit Brushes are the most renowned treasured brushes throughout the history of the Cultivation World, with the lowest quality being Spirit Treasure Level!
All Ideograph Brushes in the world are imitations crafted after the All Marvels Meaningful Brush. Although replicas, their rarity makes them exceptional and highly sought after by any Confucian scholar who has the opportunity!
Kong Ran’s eyes gleamed, his chest heaving, breathing became rapid: “A treasure, a wonderful treasure!”
“This time, my joining the Myriad Images Sect was truly the right decision.”