Chapter 1607 - 590: He Is an Imitator! (2)

Though ostensibly explaining the reason why those skilled in the Alchemy Dao cannot attain enlightenment from Zhou Xuan’s calligraphy—that their mindset does not align with the one within the calligraphy.

In truth, Mr. Ding had mercilessly scolded the Four Great Families, skillfully employing the peculiar art of sarcasm.

Four Great Families: "..."

Zhu Zhenggang further inquired of the Palace Master of the Heavenly Yuan Palace: "Did that madman with the surname Ding just insult us?"

"Damn it, that Ding fellow really isn’t decent, insulting us in a roundabout way for not using our brains."

"Exactly, if we really weren’t using our brains, would we have realized he was mocking us?"

"Otherwise, should we insult him back?"

Within the Four Great Families, an anonymous suggestion was made, but then silence reigned,

after all, they were figures who had been in Bai Yujing for many years; who among them did not know Mr. Ding was notoriously sharp-tongued? Retaliating would not only gain them no advantage but would also provoke even more intense ridicule,

In the end, they acquiesced, regardless of the embarrassment, all acting as if nothing had happened, continuing to admire Zhou Xuan’s calligraphy,

Meanwhile, the eleven Dan Masters felt a sense of relief, each privately giving Mr. Ding a thumbs up,

Mr. Ding being the foremost in the Alchemy Dao and earning the utmost respect from the other Dan Masters naturally had his reasons.

He smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Continue observing Zhou Dangzheng’s calligraphy; though it does not align with our state of mind, the character structure is exquisite, and the brushwork reaches a peak of subtlety. Reflect carefully, and you will find it is not entirely without gain."

Having said that, upon resuming his observation of the calligraphy, Mr. Ding couldn’t help but sigh, silently remarking,

"Zhou Dangzheng’s calligraphy is indeed excellent, yet how wonderful it would be if, one time, he refrained from writing these battle-filled pieces and instead wrote about mountains and rivers or leisurely wind and moon views..."

Before the gates of Xuandu Palace, while the Four Great Families and those in the Alchemy Dao were all examining the calligraphy,

it was apparent that the person most capable of comprehending Zhou Xuan’s calligraphy among the palace was neither the esteemed elders of the Four Great Families who had attained insight into the Dao nor the insightful Mr. Ding, but rather the Sequencer who had descended into Granny Qian’s body—Yu Ruqing.

While those of the Four Great Families viewed the calligraphy instinctively,

Mr. Ding viewed it from the perspective of "state of mind,"

Yu Ruqing observed it from Zhou Xuan’s viewpoint.

"Aqian, Zhou Xuan’s penmanship doesn’t originate from his own hand but is rather an imitation of some master."

Yu Ruqing’s statement was too sharp,

she directly speculated that Zhou Xuan’s penmanship was not the result of spontaneous skillful brushwork,

She concluded that Zhou Xuan’s initial "Breaking Qiang Stele" originated from imitation.

"May I ask, Lord Yu, how did you discern that Zhou Dangzheng’s marvelous brushwork was borrowed from the styles of others?"

Granny Qian was also puzzled by Yu Ruqing’s conviction,

If it’s imitation, there must be an original piece, but as someone who has seen countless calligraphies,

In Jing Country, whether Heaven or Earth, any ink treasure worth noting had not escaped her Dharma Eye, and she had never encountered such a mystical penmanship as Zhou Xuan’s.

"Age."

Yu Ruqing’s clear voice, coupled with its very curt tone, gave Granny Qian an unquestionable feeling.

It was only after Yu Ruqing descended that Granny Qian realized this legendary Sequencer was actually female, and sounded extremely young.

"Age, then? Marquis, forgive Ghostly Woman Aqian for speaking out of turn, in recent years, in the Heaven and Earth of Jing Country, young talents have frequently emerged,

That Zhou Xuan Zhou Dangzheng, upon coming into the view of Jade Capital, Jade Capital also investigated him, discovering his sister was also a genius, young yet profound in her cultivation, harboring incredibly frightening energy."

Granny Qian believed that geniuses are such that they require no signs of growth, what ordinary people cannot achieve in one strong effort, for a genius, it’s an effortless endeavor,

A genius is one who transcends age, accomplishing what ordinary people cannot.

Yu Ruqing, however, sweetly smiled, patiently explaining to Granny Qian,

"Aqian, geniuses exist, within cultivation there are geniuses, and within calligraphy, there are also geniuses,

however, regardless of how peerlessly gifted a genius in calligraphy might be, there is still a pattern to it."

She paused for a moment, then continued,

"For any calligrapher, the initial learning of pen and ink must strive for rectitude, whether it is horizontal or vertical strokes, or dots and lines, the pen seeks neatness.

If a calligrapher achieves rectitude, they must then pursue daringness,

In this phase of cursive script, the ’dots’ are like stones falling from high mountains, seemingly fragile yet monumental, ’horizontal’ like an endless mountain cliff, full of ups and downs within, ’slanting’ like a startling swan in the sky, a silver hook hanging upside down,

Once the calligrapher achieves daringness, they will comprehend "simplifying complexity," for all the great paths in the world reside in the simplest, most rustic strokes, thus reverting back to rectitude,

If one realizes this great path, Man and Book are both old."

Yu Ruqing’s remarks were somewhat obscure, and after Granny Qian contemplated them for a long time, she finally understood what ’old’ in "Man and Book are both old" referred to.

Book wise, it refers to expertise and maturity in brushwork.

Manwise, it speaks to having a calm mind and mature thoughts, it also implies an increase in age and years.

It is precisely because both man and book are old that Zhou Xuan, at a mere twenty-something, categorically could not have written such a masterpiece.

Granny Qian gained much insight from Yu Ruqing’s words, and after a prolonged silence, she could not help but speak,

"Within the understanding of the Book Tao, Lord Sequencer is far beyond the people of Yu Jing City, I certainly would never have guessed that Zhou Dangzheng’s calligraphy had reached the state of "Man and Book are both old"?