Chapter 317: Again Appreciating the Painting and the Letter from the Great Uncle

The Collection Hall is located in the outer gate's Myriad Bees Nest, close to the mountain gate's Ventilation Ridge; it is used not only to collect the medicinal herbs cultivated and ores mined by outer disciples, but also to gather information, materials, and letters from outside.

In the cultivation world, those with high cultivation can communicate using the Jade Slip Transmission technique, but most low-level cultivators and some people still maintain the tradition of letter correspondence.

Yang Hao is the steward of the Collection Hall; he has worked there for five or six years, and in his free time he likes to paint and earn a little money.

At this moment, he was earnestly painting a picture of court ladies in the courtyard of the Collection Hall.

A group of boys and girls gathered around, watching nervously: "Senior Brother Yang's painting skill seems to have improved again!"

Yes, this court lady likely depicts a female official from the palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty a hundred years ago; under Senior Brother Yang's brush, she seems to have come to life.

Senior Brother Yang, I must buy this painting!

Sell it to me! Though I am untalented, I also want to make rapid progress in strength like the Nineteen Sages of the Bamboo Grove!

That statement is rather childish!

How is that childish? The Nineteen Sages of the Bamboo Grove—those nineteen senior brothers and sisters—had bought Senior Brother Yang's paintings back then; in just four years they leapt from Qi Condensation all the way to the Qi Sea Realm, right, Uncle Yang?

Exactly! Yang Hao gave a light smile, lifted his brush to continue sketching, "But they also succeeded through their own efforts!"

Senior Brother Yang is truly amazing!" the boys and girls exclaimed in admiration.

At that moment, a young inner disciple hesitated and said: "I heard that the newly promoted first in the Earth Ranking, Senior Brother Heng, also participated in that painting of the Nineteen Sages of the Bamboo Grove back then?"

Yang Hao's eyes flickered, his brush paused, and he gave a light smile: "That's right! I and the Earth Ranking's first, Junior Brother Heng, are close friends; back then we often discussed paintings together, he would consult me whenever he had difficulties, and I would guide him with my art. I dare say his present achievements owe some assistance to me—hehe, I accept your praise!"

Senior Brother Yang/Senior Uncle Yang truly has divine skill, worthy of being called peerless!" everyone praised.

You flatter me, it's not worth mentioning!" Yang Hao modestly shook his head and continued painting.

At this moment a female disciple curiously asked: "I've heard someone question Senior Brother Heng's ability, saying that when he left the sect back then he merely defeated Liu Yu of Pine Peak, taking over her eighty-seventh place on the Earth Ranking."

'But this time, after four years away, he suddenly became first in the Earth Ranking—this is simply too hard to accept!'"

Yang Hao frowned slightly; to doubt Heng Xian is to doubt my own paintings, he immediately said solemnly: "Junior Brother Heng's talent is such that even I must yield him three points; these four years he has endured hardship, his cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds!"

You aren't doubting him? Now he relies on absolute strength to shatter everyone's expectations, returning with integrity and honor, seizing first place in the Earth Ranking by force—do you understand this kind of resolve?

The boys and girls were bewildered, about to answer, when a voice laughed: "I didn't expect Senior Brother Yang to be not only top-notch in painting but also skilled at reading people's hearts—truly extraordinary!"

"'Uh!' Yang Hao's body stiffened suddenly, and his brush left a heavy stroke on the painting."

"'Who is it?' The boys and girls turned around and saw a youth wearing the robes of a true disciple, his appearance handsome and unmatched."

The group of girls immediately had their eyes light up.

Yang Hao finally reacted, threw down his brush, turned to face the youth, his body trembling slightly, and clasped his hands in salute: "Greetings, Junior Brother Heng Xian!"

As a senior brother there was no need to bow to a junior, but first, I didn't know when Heng Xian arrived, nor whether he had heard my earlier boasting.

Second, he is the first in the Earth Ranking! He will surely enter the Heaven Ranking later, and may even break through to Nascent Soul, becoming a venerable expert; I am already nearly forty and still stuck in the Qi Sea Realm—I'll probably remain like this for life, and I can't afford to offend him!

"'Senior Brother, you're too polite!' Heng Xian helped him up."

Yang Hao was flattered and startled: "Ah, Junior Brother Heng… look, I've prepared some food and drink!"

Heng Xian smiled: "No need, I came to collect the letters!"

Yang Hao slapped his forehead: "Look at my memory—I thought you'd come this afternoon, please wait a moment."

He turned and went to the main hall of the Collection Hall.

The surrounding boys and girls stared blankly at Heng Xian.

Junior Brother Heng Xian?

Within the sect, the one called Heng Xian who earns such respect from Senior Brother Yang—there's no doubt it's that first-place Earth Ranking holder.

Everyone instantly grew tense; they didn't dare approach, gazing from afar and all bowing deeply.

Even if the Earth Ranking's first place has some water content, it's still not something they can provoke!

At that moment Yang Hao hurried out holding two letters, smiling: "They just arrived this morning; I already had someone notify Junior Brother Heng, hoping not to delay his affairs."

"'No problem, thank you!' Heng Xian took the letters and turned to leave."

Yang Hao's eyes suddenly blazed: "Junior Brother Heng, why not give my painting some further guidance?"

Heng Xian glanced at him; the botched painting from four years ago had been quite embarrassing, and he had originally wanted to ignore it, but Yang Hao's recent words struck a chord in his heart.

"'You weren't doubting him? Now he relies on absolute strength to shatter everyone's expectations, returning with integrity and honor!'"

This truly reflects my own four years!

He picked up his brush and, on the painting of court ladies, wrote a line of poetry with a flourish.

He threw down the brush and turned to walk away.

The moment he left the gate of the Collection Hall, the boys and girls immediately gathered around the painting of court ladies, and someone softly recited the verse Heng Xian had written: 'Radiant beauty unmatched in the world, whose fragrance does it carry?'

A male disciple well-versed in literature shook his head and swayed, saying: 'Radiant beauty means a lovely lady; unmatched in the world refers to an unparalleled, peerless beauty. Fragrance signifies charm; together they mean a peerless beauty who exudes charm for whom?'

'Marvelous! Marvelous! This brief line of poetry fully captures the essence of the painting of court ladies, even bearing a trace of the Dao—Senior Brother Heng Xian, you are a great talent!'

With Senior Brother Heng Xian's inscription and Senior Brother Yang's own calligraphy and painting, this work is simply……

The group of boys and girls all had their eyes light up.

Yang Hao suddenly snapped up the painting with a 'whoosh': 'Not for sale! This painting is absolutely not for sale!'

Someone like Heng Xian will surely soar to great heights someday, while I may have to leave the mountain and return to my family in a few years; if Junior Brother Heng later competes for the position of Tianyuan Sect sect leader or becomes a mighty figure, this painting could bring prosperity to the Yang family for generations!

……

Heng Xian had no idea what those people in the Collection Hall were thinking; he had merely casually copied a line from an Immortal Poet's poem, walked out of the Collection Hall, took out the two letters, and looked at them—one was from Ji Yaoyue, the other from his uncle Heng Wei.

It had been four years since he last contacted his family, he didn't know how they were doing, and wondered why the letter came from his uncle.

He couldn't wait to return to Bitter Willow Peak; as he walked he tore open the letter, only to see a long, rambling mess: all the letters his family had sent these years had been rejected by Tianyuan Sect, he didn't know what was going on, this was already the ninth letter, hoping his nephew could receive it……

Otherwise there's nothing major; mainly, Heng Ruze has married into Southern Taiyang City, yet for some reason is looked down upon, then Grandfather Heng Xiu broke through a layer of the Qi Sea Realm, and also I heard that Heng Xian has been wanted by the authorities, with several surrounding cities beginning to squeeze out Donglan City, and the Sun family is also colluding with outsiders.

In short, the Heng family's days are not easy; if you, worthy nephew, have time, come back to see the family and make a decision……

(End of chapter)