Chapter 1599 - 587: The World’s Finest Calligraphy (Part 3)

Therefore, now that he is imitating this stele, he is incredibly fast, writing more than twenty characters almost in one go,

but even in such a short time, Zhu Fuyao, observing the characters from the side, had her expression change several times.

When Zhou Xuan wrote the four characters "Zhi Yu Shuai’s Book," Zhu Fuyao’s gaze couldn’t help but freeze, thinking, "Master Zhou’s brushwork is truly elegant."

And as Zhou Xuan continued writing, her expression began to show envy,

"Though Master Zhou is of the human world, his writing is heavenly, in no way mundane, in no way mundane."

When Zhou Xuan wrote the "po" from "breaking Qiang bandits," the emotions of Zhu Fuyao were akin to being thunderstruck.

This "po" character was written with just two strokes, the strokes extremely simplified, but the form was complete, full of dynamic motion.

"Are there calligraphy masters in this world capable of forming characters like this? Where did Master Zhou learn this calligraphy, and from whom?"

"No, I often hear Granny Qian say that writing also requires inspiration, and if one’s state is exceptionally good, inspiration comes naturally, achieving such a ’po’ character is not impossible."

"Perhaps it’s just a bit of good luck."

Zhu Fuyao considered the "po" character written by Zhou Xuan with a branch as an incidental inspiration, not because "people in the same trade are enemies,"

but because Zhu Fuyao also understood the ways of calligraphy, the appearance of this "po" character overturned her understanding. She believed it was entirely impossible to write such a character through proper means.

But when Zhou Xuan reached the words "presumably capture it," although the "capture" character was entirely different in form from the "po" character, he still used only two strokes, writing the "capture" character in a manner both form and spirit complete, full of dynamic motion,

"Is it not crafted by a genius hand?"

At this moment, Zhu Fuyao didn’t even know what words to use to describe her feelings,

and towards Zhou Xuan, she felt nothing but admiration,

"Master Zhou’s stature has grown magnificent."

"This kind of character formation and brushwork can be called a divine miracle."

Zhu Fuyao crouched low to the ground, wishing she could bury her head into the line of characters written by Zhou Xuan.

"Would my calligraphy be worth even a small official post in Jade Capital?"

Zhou Xuan threw away the branch in his hand, clapping his hands, and asked.

At this moment, he too, like Zhu Fuyao, lowered his head, admiring the calligraphy,

only Zhu Fuyao was purely in worship,

while Zhou Xuan was very much appreciating his own handwriting,

however, as he continued to gaze at it, the Ink Eye at Zhou Xuan’s brow moved slightly.

His Ink Eye was naturally closed, forming a wavy line hovering at his brow,

but now, after Zhou Xuan gazed at his handwriting for a long time, the Ink Eye suddenly had the urge to open.

"Where does this feeling come from?"

Zhou Xuan looked again at his handwriting, only to feel as if the characters had grown limbs, the strokes and lines moved slightly,

but it was this movement, this extension, that elevated the essence and imagery of this line from the "Breaking Qiang Stele," as if it was chasing Wang Youjun’s authentic works.

"The Book Saint’s Calligraphy was written just like this."

With increasing desire to write, Zhou Xuan unconsciously walked to the characters, stretched out his right foot, traced the earth with his toe, and buried the lines with fresh soil.

"Oh dear, Master Zhou, what are you doing?"

Zhu Fuyao felt as if her heart was bleeding,

she had finally seen such "divine characters" and was already considering how to take this line of characters back to Jade Capital,

but Zhou Xuan covered them with a single step.

"Shh!"

Seeing Zhu Fuyao slightly lost her composure, Zhou Xuan quickly raised a finger to his lips and said, "Dear sister, don’t be hasty, this line of twenty characters has many flaws."

"Flaws, where are the flaws?"

Zhu Fuyao indeed could not discern any trace of flaws,

Zhou Xuan continued, "Wait for me a moment, I need to refocus my mind, and then... write an even better piece."

"What..." Zhu Fuyao couldn’t help but scream, as if she had heard something unbelievable.

Zhou Xuan glanced around Zhu Fuyao a circle and said: "Why yell, did someone step on your tail?"

Zhu Fuyao had no heart to respond to Zhou Xuan’s joke, instead asking, "You mean... you can write an even better one?"

"Of course, I am inspired."

"Master Zhou, then I beg you, hurry and write."

Zhu Fuyao felt a deep itch in her heart—just now, the ’Breaking Qiang Stele’ was already so perfect, and now Zhou Xuan says there’s still something better?

"What will this better one be like?" At this moment, Zhu Fuyao had forgotten what she had come to the human world to do, her whole mind only longing to see how Zhou Xuan would write even better characters.

"Don’t rush me, inspiration needs to settle, I must first think deeply."

Zhou Xuan sat cross-legged on the ground again, thinking of the font changes his Ink Eye had observed earlier,

Zhu Fuyao stood beside, gracefully conjuring a peach leaf the size of a fan to cool Zhou Xuan, fearing he might become overly anxious and hot-tempered.

Her diligent care for Zhou Xuan made the Eternal Life Sect Leader, Tian Can Monk, and Green Robed Buddha’s eyes hot with envy.

Li Changxun further remarked, "This Jade Capital Apostle serving our Mr., how great is Mr.’s charm."

"Sigh, without coercion, without force, just a short interaction, the Jade Capital Apostle voluntarily served as a fan wind maid, Master Zhou, makes us indeed unable to refute it."

The Eternal Life Sect Leader expressed unspeakable envy,

Just then, a cool breeze suddenly wafted by his side, and when he turned to look, he discovered it was Tian Can Monk waving his broken robe.

"What are you doing?"

"What else could I do? The Master has an Apostle young lady to help with the fan, you’re not bad either, you have me to fan for you." Tian Can Monk replied.

"..." Eternal Life Sect Leader.

"I’ll fan for you for a while, and when you’re comfortable enough, you’ll fan for me, so we can both experience Master Zhou’s treatment." Tian Can Monk continued.

Eternal Life Sect Leader: "..."

While Zhou Xuan was contemplating on the "Breaking Qiang Stele," within Jade Capital Xuandu Palace, the "Holy Heart Sutra" stele also subtly quivered for a while,

this kind of vibration unlike the Sequencers of the Holy Sect issuing any commands.

All the people in the palace turned to Granny Qian, asking, "Granny, do the Sequencer Lords have any instructions?"

"Not instructions, but the Sequencer Lords have felt something."

While Granny Qian was explaining to everyone, her body as if taken over by a spirit, unconsciously picked up the bone brush, carving characters upon the stone stele,

"Zhi Yu Shuai’s Book, Huan Gong arrives at Lu..."

This line was none other than the "Breaking Qiang Stele" that Zhou Xuan had earlier written for Zhu Fuyao...