Deep within these three characters lay the very essence of martial arts. This was not rely calligraphy; it had surpassed the boundaries of art itself. In other words, even soone who knew nothing about calligraphy could, by grasping the essence of martial arts, produce penmanship that overshadowed the works of revered calligraphy masters.
Guo Xiancheng called Guo Fu impatient because she was using her superior abilities to oppress ordinary people who were just practicing calligraphy.
"Grandfather! I was just trying to make a point!" Guo Fu said softly, setting down her brush.
Guo Xiancheng shook his head. His granddaughter was brilliant in every way, but she was far too conceited. Her tone suggested that Chen Zheng should be thanking her.
Chen Zheng was no fool. He understood exactly what Guo Fu was implying.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully triggering a selection mission.]
[Option One: Crush Guo Fu with the power of calligraphy and receive the following reward: Condense True Qi.]
[Option Two: Admit defeat and receive the following reward: 1 billion in cash.]
Upon hearing this, Chen Zheng instantly chose the first option. Money ant little to him, and he certainly wouldn’t bow to adversity.
After making his choice, he said nothing more, walking toward the desk with a determined stride. Guo Fu had already cleared a path for him. So things required no words; action was the most powerful proof.
All eyes once again focused on Chen Zheng.
Without wasting a mont, he took the brush, lowered his gaze, and began to write with fluid grace. Deep within him, an unrivaled, domineering aura was quietly brewing.
Guo Xiancheng felt his heart skip a beat. He could sense an irresistible montum emanating from Chen Zheng. The others, however, felt nothing special, rely thinking that Chen Zheng was taking a long ti to concentrate.
Suddenly, Chen Zheng’s eyes snapped open, shining with two brilliant beams of divine light! His brush descended, then began to dance like a tiger’s shadow in a howling gale. Lines of ink interwove into beautiful patterns on the rice paper, extending farther with his every movent. His brushstrokes danced across the paper like a spirited dragon, one mont soaring into the sky, the next diving into the sea.
He took a deep breath, then gently set down the brush.
His heart was filled with an unparalleled sense of command. This powerful aura, like a tempest, surged from the tip of his brush and infused every single character.
The crowd surged forward, their eyes glued to the rice paper. On it were three bold characters: "I Am Heaven!"
Like a clap of thunder, the three characters struck everyone to their very souls. Awe filled their hearts, as if they stood before an insurmountable mountain.
An air of wild arrogance filled the heavens! To disregard all living beings, to stand alone in supremacy! I am the supre Heaven!
"Such magnificent penmanship, such profound intent, such heroic spirit—I Am Heaven!" The astonishnt on Guo Xiancheng’s face was impossible to hide; his aged heart felt as if it were being tossed on a turbulent sea.
These characters contained no true essence of martial arts. They were born purely from endless, heroic ambition, wielded with an unparalleled, domineering will. And yet, they surpassed any martial truth. It was as if they held the very power to defy the heavens and rewrite fate!
No one was more stunned than he, for only he could perceive the true aning behind the strokes.
"My girl, you have lost, and it was a complete defeat," Guo Xiancheng declared. "This calligraphy is unprecedented and will never be surpassed. It is an eternal masterpiece!"
Guo Xiancheng’s words were like a bolt of lightning, leaving everyone present utterly shocked.
"What? Unprecedented and never to be surpassed? A-A peerless work?"
"Who in the world is this guy?"
Everyone’s hearts were shocked to the core, as if they had witnessed a myth brought to life. Endless adoration shone in Xiao Yi’s eyes, as if the man before him was a living god. Though Guo Fu’s expression remained outwardly calm, her face had grown pale. She could also perceive a fraction of the truth. While she couldn’t see as deeply as Guo Xiancheng, what she saw was enough to place an unbearable pressure upon her.
"Uncle, let’s go." Chen Zheng’s voice was like a cool breeze, snapping Xiao Yi out of his stupor.
"Right." Xiao Yi promptly stepped forward. Amid the eager gazes of the calligraphers, he gently lifted the rice paper as if holding a dazzling pearl.
Chen Zheng walked to the entrance of the association. At that mont, no one dared to stop him, nor did anyone have the right to.
The people of the Calligraphy Association were still lost in their shock, as if in a daze. None of them had ever imagined they would witness the birth of a peerless masterpiece, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Suddenly, a white-haired old man cried out in excitent, "I’ll take the master’s ’Frog in the Well’!"
The crowd snapped out of their daze and surged toward the desk, all clamoring for that legacy-defining work. Soon, in the elegant hall of the Calligraphy Association, a group of white-haired but rosy-cheeked elders and renowned masters were arguing heatedly over Chen Zheng’s "Frog in the Well." These luminaries of the calligraphy world, whose nas were known far and wide, were now squabbling like red-faced children.
Guo Xiancheng watched this scene with a bitter smile, shaking his head. His gaze turned to Guo Fu, who looked back at him. As if he knew what she was about to say, Guo Xiancheng gently shook his head. "The pinnacle of calligraphy, the height of legendary skill... it is to pour one’s heroic passion into the characters themselves. Only then can one create sothing truly peerless. I am not his match."
Guo Fu was stunned into silence.
Chen Zheng knew nothing of the commotion at the association, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have cared.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for your success. You have received the chosen reward: Condense True Qi.]
Chen Zheng was puzzled. He had no idea what "Condense True Qi" even ant. However, the mystery was soon solved for him.
As the notification sound faded, he felt the True Qi in his body begin to spin on its own, reaching an unbelievable speed. A terrifying power built up inside him, threatening to burst out at any mont. Chen Zheng’s expression shifted. He hurriedly used his Inner Strength to suppress the power, otherwise, he couldn’t predict what might happen. After all, he was still in the car, and Xiao Yi was driving.
Xiao Yi remained completely oblivious, his eyes still fixed excitedly on the treasured calligraphy sitting on the passenger seat.
Soon, they arrived at Xiao Yi’s ho. Just as they parked, Liu Ya, Wei Zixuan, and others ca out to greet them.
"How did it go?" Liu Ya asked, gazing intently at Xiao Yi.
"With Chen Zheng on the case, it was a guaranteed success! My dear, you can’t even imagine how magnificent Chen Zheng was at the association tonight..."
"Uncle!" Chen Zheng quickly interrupted before Xiao Yi could finish. "Ahem, I have sothing to take care of, so Zi Xuan and I will head back first."
"Leaving so soon? Why not stay a bit longer? We can chat!"
"Today was enough. We’ll et again tomorrow," Chen Zheng said with a smile, taking his leave.
"Then this piece..."
"It’s a gift for you, Uncle."
"Ah! This... How could I possibly accept this?" Xiao Yi said, feigning refusal even as his hand tightened around the piece of calligraphy as if it were his most prized possession.
"There’s no need to be so humble, Uncle," Chen Zheng said with a light shake of his head. "We’ll be on our way now!"
With that, he took Wei Zixuan’s hand and left.
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