I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 177 Painting Collection
"Hahaha... Kid, your broken door can't withstand a punch from me."

You, being human, are even less susceptible.

Yue Bai tilted his head, revealing a row of big teeth.

Xue Xiang remained unmoved, his eyes slightly cold. He pushed the paper back and tapped the edge of the table with his fingertips. "You two can still leave now."

"Gan Ning's mother! Still faking it!"

Pan Suo roared, his thin, bony fist thrusting forward, aiming straight for Xue Xiang's forehead.

The moment he threw his punch, Xue Xiang's body shifted slightly, as if pushed by the wind, without making a sound.

At the same time, Yue Bai swung his iron-hammer-like fist, bringing a wave of heat as it pressed down on him.

The cave is narrow, and fist and foot attacks are more effective than spiritual power.

The two punches, delivered in unison, completely blocked Xue Xiang's escape route.

Xue raised his left arm, his elbow like a wedge, and struck the ulna of Pan Suo's wrist with a soft "crack," as if the bone had been bitten off with teeth.

Before Pan Suo could even utter a scream, Xue Xiang had already met Yue Bai's right fist with a powerful strike. Even before the fist arrived, the force of the punch was already there, like a cold knife slicing through his finger bones.

The two fists collided head-on. Yue Bai's nose wrinkled, his eyes widened, and the flesh on the back of his hand bulged and collapsed in an instant. A series of dense cracking sounds came from his fist bones. His entire arm seemed to have suddenly lost its backbone and slumped down.

"This is impossible!"

Pansuo cried out in pain.

He spent his life diligently cultivating secret body techniques, reaching the pinnacle of mastery, and was able to physically contend with cultivators at the Core Formation stage.

At this moment, the force and hardness of Xue Xiang's fist far exceeded that of a Core Formation Realm cultivator.

Whoosh! Xue Xiang's fierce whip kick swept out, and the two of them instantly turned into rolling gourds on the ground.

"Fine, you have guts! You, you, you're finished!"

Pan Su coughed up blood, panting heavily, his ferocious aura undiminished. "You, you wait... if you have the guts, kill me... otherwise, I'll skin you alive..."

Despite such a crushing defeat, they still dared to make boastful remarks, which shows their viciousness.

Xue Xiang's greatest pleasure in life was tormenting evil people. "Kill you? I'm afraid I'll dirty my hands."

Skinning them? That's a good idea.

Amidst their angry curses, Xue Xiang stripped them of their storage rings, then quickly ripped off their clothes, grabbed one of their ankles with each hand, lifted them up, and escaped from the cave, flying to the main square.

"You, what do you want to do?"

"You're crazy, crazy! This is a public square. If you dare to do this, the academy will definitely not let you off the hook."

"..."

The two finally panicked, realizing what Xue Xiang was about to do.

If they were allowed to do that, the two knew they would be socially ruined and would no longer have the means to cause trouble at the academy.

"Yes, it was Yin Tianci. He paid us to do it..."

"He hates that you attracted Miss Song's attention, suspects that your previous relationship was not pure, and wants us to take the evidence of your prostitution and go to Miss Song to embarrass you."

"Master Xu, we surrender, please give us a way out..."

"Every step in life is calculated. It's too late to beg for mercy now."

After Xue Xiang coldly shouted, he released his grip, and the two fell to the ground in the middle of the square.

It was dusk, and the square was bathed in a gentle breeze and the moonlight was soft. Many scholars and ladies gathered there, reciting poems.

The two pale, fleshy lumps had barely fallen when they attracted attention.

Upon realizing there were two people, screams immediately echoed throughout the academy.

Xue Xiang had no interest in watching the two men's disgraceful behavior. He went straight back to his cave, cleaned up the fallen stones, and repaired the stone door.

Let the wind from the mountainside flow into the cave and cleanse it of all bad luck.

The copper bell under the eaves jingled as Xue Xiang sat down at the stone table, staring at the embers in the tea stove, and began to consider his situation.

He definitely needed to contemplate the Wendao Stele, and he certainly didn't want to wait three years.

Therefore, completing the purple-level mission is also necessary.

Time is already very tight. Relying solely on purple-level missions, at least three must be completed to have a chance of breaking into the top 100 before the settlement date.

In short, time is running out.

Instead of blindly analyzing things yourself, it's better to ask someone knowledgeable; they might offer some new insights.

He then changed into a simple blue robe, straightened his hat and belt, and headed straight to the market at the foot of the mountain to buy four kinds of gifts before heading to Feilai Peak.

Elder Hongwen, Wei Fan, lives there.

When Xue Xiang played the role of the Master of Mingde Dongxuan, he was quite familiar with Ni Quanwen, Wei Fan and other high-ranking members of Canglan Academy.

As for Xue Xiang's identity as a student, he could only be most closely associated with Wei Fan.

After all, Wei Fan was his chief examiner when he took the county examination.

From this perspective, Wei Fan was his mentor.

After he entered Canglan Academy, Wei Fan personally received him and suggested that he change his name to reduce his profile.

Such a close relationship must be maintained.

…………

Compared to the cave that Xue Xiang was allocated, Yin Tianci's residence in Canglan Academy was a secluded courtyard, which was not large but extremely quiet.

Yin Tianci stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, his face cold and stern, staring coldly at Pan Suo and Yue Bai kneeling below the steps.

Both of them had bruises and swelling on their faces, were weak and dispirited.

The two of them ran away from the square naked, losing all face.

Although the two had already taken miraculous medicines, their injuries were only slightly relieved.

But emotional wounds are incurable.

The two were known as tough guys at Canglan Academy, with incredibly strong mental defenses.

Even the strongest mental defenses can't withstand being naked in front of others.

"Disgraceful, utterly disgraceful! A mere Xu Yi managed to turn you all upside down?"

Yin Tianci turned around abruptly, his sleeves fluttering, his eyes like knives, "You two are usually the best at bragging, saying that you're not even afraid of Core Formation stage experts in close combat."

What's going on now? They can't even handle Xu Yi?"

Pan Su gritted his teeth and said, "This Xu guy is too ruthless. His fists are like raindrops, fast and fierce, and the power is astonishing."

"Core Formation Realm? I think even the physical bodies of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators are nothing special. They're incredibly strong; a mere graze and they're injured, a direct hit and their bones are broken."

Yue Bai gritted his teeth and said, "I think I can see it now. This kid has a fierce streak. He's a fearless rascal."

"Young Master Yin, why not just let it go? Why bother arguing with this brat?"

Pan Suo and Yue Bai had dealt with many Confucian scholars.

It's not that we haven't run into a brick wall before, but we usually just give them a light punishment and let them go.

However, Xue Xiang's reaction was too explosive and his methods too ruthless, and they really didn't want to continue fighting with such a troublemaker.

"He's a tiger?"

Yin Tianci's eyes turned fierce, "When I, Yin, get angry, I'm as fierce as a tiger."

Originally, I only suspected that this kid had something to do with Tingfang.

Now that it's confirmed, I knew Tingfang wouldn't associate with such worthless idiots. This scoundrel has such abilities; he's clearly here to compete with me for Tingfang.

"When you encounter such a scoundrel, if you don't smooth things over, where will I, Yin, put my face? He's arrogant, but I, Yin, am even more arrogant. He refuses to write a confession, doesn't he? I'll just force him on him. You two, quickly bring Captain Chen over here."

"promise."

The two answered loudly and turned to leave.

... Xue Xiang arrived at Wei Fan's residence around dusk, when night had fallen and the moonlight was pale.

The Wei Fan residence is quietly hidden among the pine trees.

Xue Xiang had been here when he first came to Canglan Academy. The gatekeeper had an excellent memory and knew that his master valued Xue Xiang, so he led Xue Xiang into the courtyard to wait while he went to inform the master.

Wei Fan's courtyard was not large, but it was decorated very elegantly.

A covered walkway runs along the stream, with white stone railings, vines hanging from the eaves, and a few ancient plum trees adding to the ambiance.

In the center of the courtyard is a small pond, with lotus leaves floating on the water and dragonflies perched on it.

When a gentle breeze comes, the fragrance of ink mingles with the scent of fresh ink, drifting leisurely into the night.

Previously, Xue had come during the day and already found the scenery inside quite delightful.

This time, I came in the evening, and I experienced a different kind of enjoyment.

He was standing in the front yard, admiring the calligraphy and paintings in the main hall, when the gatekeeper rushed over to report that Wei Fan was entertaining guests in the back yard and that he needed to go there immediately.

Xue Xiang then followed the gatekeeper to the backyard.

Then one could see that in the pavilion by the pond, the lights were flickering, and the tea stove was emitting wisps of smoke, the firelight casting shadows on several faces.

Wei Fan, dressed in a plain scholar's robe and with a beard as white as snow, was sitting opposite his guests when he saw Xue Xiang waving from afar.

When Xue Xiang entered the pavilion, he saw five people inside: two elderly men with white hair and two middle-aged men dressed in neat clothes.
A young man with a pure and elegant appearance, as beautiful as snow. One glance was enough to make him forget the mundane world.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is my most outstanding student, Xu Yi, who is also a newly promoted county student."

Wei Fan smiled and pointed to Xue Xiang as he introduced him.

Xue Xiang bowed and greeted the elders and sages.

Everyone returned the greeting with clasped hands.

Wei Fan chuckled and said, "Kid, you're right. Those present are not only your elders but also recognized wise and virtuous people."

After saying that, Wei Fan began to introduce everyone's identities.

The elderly man, with a slender build and sharp features, wore a seal bearing the inscription "Jiangzuo Academy" on his sleeve. His gentle gaze held a hint of ruthlessness. This man was known as Gu Huaisu.

The elderly man with a broad forehead, long beard, and a low, slow voice was none other than the Dean of the Ritual Department of the Jiannan Academy. His name was Shen Baoshi, and he was an expert in both calligraphy and painting, with a very high reputation.

The two middle-aged men, Zhou Jing'an and Liu Chengli, along with the elegant man named Su Ning, were all from the Great Zhou Divine Kingdom, an allied nation of the Great Xia Divine Kingdom.

"In my memory, Brother Wei has always been arrogant and has very few people who can meet his standards."

Today, they solemnly introduce this young man to us, calling him their most outstanding disciple; surely this young man must possess extraordinary abilities.

Gu Huaisu stared at Xue Xiang and said with a smile, "Brother Wei, would you be willing to let me test you?"

Wei Fan chuckled and said, "As an elder, I can't stop Brother Gu from testing this junior."

I know Brother Gu values ​​his reputation, and he wouldn't let his fine disciple undergo such a test for nothing.

Gu Huaisu sneered, "You want rewards before you've even done anything. Brother Wei, that's not how a teacher should act."

Wei Fan snorted coldly.

Xue Xiangchong bowed to Gu Huaisu and said, "Please give me a question, sir."

Xue Xiang was by no means a person who was oblivious to the world around him and only focused on studying the classics.

He has his own information network.

As the distribution network of Cloud News expanded, the number of contributors increased dramatically, as did the number of people selling news to newspapers.

Every day, Cloud Messages compiles important news for editors to edit and tailor news materials.

Zhou Mengyu would then send a copy of the compiled information to Xue Xiang every three to five days through a third person.

Therefore, although Xue Xiang was confined to the Canglan Academy, he had no shortage of sources of information.

He was well aware of the fierce competition among the various university palaces.

He secretly found it hard to believe that Wei Fan, Gu Huaisu, and Shen Baoshi could sit together.

The presence of these three from Da Zhou was clearly the reason why the three of them were able to sit together.

Regardless, at this moment, Xue Xiang, representing Wei Fan, represents the Canglan Academy.

When Gu Huaisu called out the order, he certainly couldn't embarrass Wei Fan, nor could he tarnish the prestige of Canglan Academy.

Gu Huaisu calmly took out a scroll from his bosom.

The scroll slowly unfurled.

A touch of crimson spreads from the paper, gradually outlining a grassy slope.

The grassy slopes are brightly colored, their verdant green still vibrant, reflecting the white clouds on the horizon like silk. The wind blows from the distant mountains, stirring up waves of grass.

At the heart of the hill, a man sat upright, a zither lying across his lap. His spirit was high, his eyes gleaming, as if his heart held the vastness of mountains and valleys. His ten fingers lightly touched the red strings, their movements as fluid as flowing clouds.

The listeners, scattered around, some sitting upright, others leaning against rocks, were all completely absorbed in the music, their faces radiant and lively, as if captivated by its sound.

Further away, the frosty grassland stretched out in a silvery white expanse, where a herd of cattle leisurely grazed on the withered grass, their backs glistening with a thin layer of frost that seemed to tremble gently in sync with the music.

The image is not static.

Everyone stared intently, and they saw the musician's sleeves twitch slightly, and the shadows of the clouds shifted subtly.

Even more miraculously, if one is fully absorbed in the painting, one can hear faint, ethereal music emanating from it, clear, melodious, and penetrating straight to the heart.

At the very bottom of the scroll, a poem is neatly inscribed, the first half of which is complete:

Jade fingers gliding across the water, scattering pure jade-like light.
The sound of the zither resonates, and colorful clouds appear.

The guests were all smiles and chatting happily.

The cloud shadows shift,
We, regardless of our social standing, share this sentiment.

The second half of the poem is blank, as if washed away by wind and rain, or as if it had never been written.

Upon seeing the scroll clearly, Wei Fan's expression immediately turned cold. He frowned and said in a deep voice, "Gu Huaisu, even when you're trying to make things difficult for someone, you don't do it like this."

Gu Huaisu snorted coldly and said, "Wei Fan, you yourself admit that this is your most outstanding disciple."

Since it's been raised so high, it must possess extraordinary abilities.

Even if we can't unlock the secrets of this painting, don't we even have the courage to try?

What is art collection?

"It's as pure and aloof as frost and snow," Su Ning said in a low voice.

Zhou Jing'an slowly shook his head, and Liu Chengli cupped his hands to Wei Fan and said, "Please enlighten me, Fellow Daoist Wei, our Great Zhou truly has no such item."

Wei Fan sighed, put down his teacup, and said leisurely, "The treasured paintings are formed from the undying spirit and desires of the painters after their passing."

This painting of listening to the zither is a posthumous work by Mr. Fenhe, a zither enthusiast from Lingnan, who lived a hundred years ago.

Master Fenhe loved the zither throughout his life, his music embodying the Dao. In his later years, he ignited a fire within himself, burning himself with the Daoist spirit. In his final moments, he poured his heart's desire into this painting. Therefore, this scroll is no ordinary work of art, but rather the final expression of his innermost thoughts.

Zhou Jing'an said, "If it is a hope, how come it has turned into a poem, only half of which remains?"

Gu Huaisu said, "The ancients left unsaid, which will be filled in by future generations."

Just now, Brother Wei said that I used this painting to test his disciples, which is clearly going too far.

Little did people know that Mr. Fenhe had already reached the Nascent Soul stage before his death.

The paintings he left behind carry his wishes. If this young man can unlock the secrets of the paintings, I am willing to bestow upon him the object contained within them on the spot.

Brother Gu has a magnanimous heart.

Liu Chengli cupped his hands in greeting.

Wei Fan snorted, "You two shouldn't listen to his nonsense."

Mr. Fenhe's collection of paintings has been passed down for a century, and it is almost the longest-standing collection of paintings, yet no one has been able to decipher it to this day.

Using such a hellish problem to test my students, what else is this but making things difficult for them?
To bestow upon someone a reward they are destined to never receive is nothing short of deceiving them.

(End of this chapter)