Martial Saint through Reading

Chapter 376: Chapter 280: Delving into Abstract Art, Reversing Ancient Shell Script

Upon keen observation, the line drawing casts itself into the Sea of Consciousness as the waters in the Book collection Lake ripple, followed by the rippling of the Mountain Scripture Lake.

At a certain moment.

Chu Ming’s eyes suddenly shone with Condensing Light.

The ink strokes connected, giving broad and fine lines the semblance of pictographic meaning.

Pictograph... Ancient Shell Script...

So that’s how it is.

What seems like a painting is actually using colors as a disguise, sketching out pictographic patterns, or rather, pictographic texts.

The pictographic text is not Ancient Armor Script, though it is similar.

Pictographic characters... Patterns... Painting...

All three are meant for exhibit and communication, with no essential difference.

And Ancient Shell Script is both a script and a carrier of information.

By stepping away from the line drawing itself, using reverie to probe, one can understand the hidden words within.

A hundred and thirty-three characters, similar to Ancient Armor Script.

Whether this text was Tang Bai’s own creation through evolution or pre-existing, Chu Ming does not know.

But the hundred and thirty-three characters hidden in the lines, he has deduced them all.

"Don’t be surpassed by anyone."

Tang Bai returned to his seat in the hall, bent over his desk, continuing his deductions.

The two people in the front row, upon hearing these words, rolled up their sleeves and bowed their heads over their desks.

At first, the two seemed pained, appearing quite resistant.

But as the deducing continued, they gradually entered the right state, a state of complete immersion and diligent writing.

Tang Bai glanced at them, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

The two not only had a knack for researching documents, strange objects, and painting, their temperament was also exceptional.

What initially seemed inscrutable about the line drawing could be fathomed if one delves deep into study.

Then, looking at the young man in white, the already white brows of Tang Bai furrowed.

Chu Ming sat at the desk, hands resting on top, seemingly pondering yet appearing absent-minded.

Tang Bai shook his head lightly.

To deduce words from a line drawing, pure thought is insufficient; one must seek its mysteries with pen and ink on paper.

If mere pondering could deduce imagination, then the floor beneath his desk wouldn’t be piled with stacks of waste paper.

From this perspective, this so-called hundred-year prodigy in Xirong County, who was highly recommended by Xiao He and Shen Yu as an Ancient Shell Script genius, is limited to a county’s scale.

Across the Great Qin Thirteen Prefectures, there remains a disparity.

Tang Bai took another look before lowering his head back to his desk, waiting for the two hours to end.

With the time limit halfway through, the supposed tranquility around Wenlin Garden was suddenly broken by approaching footsteps, more than one person.

Tang Bai looked towards the doorway and then got up to walk out.

"Left Minister." The Crown Prince’s Commandant Lu Ji first saluted.

"Prime Minister, what brings you to Wenlin Garden today?" Tang Bai followed with his voice.

Left Minister?

Zuo Yuan?

Chu Ming had already sensed two people arriving, yet he did not know that one was Zuo Yuan, the Left Minister, and the mentor of slanderous rumors.

"Just happened to pass by Wenlin Garden today and thought to report to Lord Tang about the progress in researching the previous ancient document."

Then came a voice old yet steady.

"You flatter, Left Minister, reporting... I’m unworthy."

"Appointed by His Majesty, Lord Tang spearheads the research on ancient documents and artifacts at Wenlin Garden as the chief, while I assist, hence my report."

"..."

"Oh, I see an extra person inside?" Zuo Yuan feigned surprise.

He did not come here by mere chance.

"A talent recommended by the Crown Prince to enter the Garden," Tang Bai replied with a smile.

"A talent entering the Garden?" Zuo Yuan feigned joy and said, "Lord Tang, this time, you can’t compete with me. You have Qi Chen, Pei Yi, and I only have this Luu Xi fellow."

Qi Chen and Pei Yi, sitting at the front row of the hall, are the well-dressed young man and woman, whereas Luu Xi came along with Zuo Yuan.

Upon hearing this, Chu Ming’s heart stirred slightly, raising his eyes towards the front row.

The names of the two were mentioned to him before, the first time was by Hoong Ying, who told him that under Tang Bai’s tutelage, there were three disciples participating in the Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition.

It seems the two in front are among them.

Only Tang Zhe, who is suspected to be Tang Bai’s private disciple, mastering his Painting Dao, was not present.

Then, he controlled the Sword Gourd Spirit to lock onto Luu Xi, the young man outside the hall.

Similarly impressive in appearance, with a remarkable presence.

Investigating this person is prompted by his surname Luu.

In the metal box at Jiping Cloth Shop, there was evidence of letters and account books proving collusion between Cui Ye, the River Transport Headquarters, and the Imperial Secretariat.

The River Transport Headquarters was Tang Xuan, and the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat had the surname Luu, named Luu Shizhong.

He only exposed the crimes of Tang Xuan while sparing Luu Shizhong’s because Luu Shizhong belonged to Left Minister Zuo Yuan’s faction.

This youth named Luu Xi should indeed be part of Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat Luu Shizhong’s Luu Family.

Outside the hall.

"Left Minister, unlike this idle old fellow, seeks someone who can assist the Prime Minister in alleviating troubles, not just someone talented in researching ancient documents and artifacts. The young man inside hails from Xirong County, named Chu Ming, who has previously encountered Ancient Shell Script."

"Chu Ming from Xirong County?" Zuo Yuan’s eyes showed contemplation, then as if recollecting something, "I think I’ve heard, isn’t he the one hailed as Xirong County’s greatest prodigy in a century, highly recommended by County Magistrate Xiao He?"

"Left Minister is indeed well-informed."

"Haha, how could I not keep an eye on such a talent?" Zuo Yuan glanced inside the hall, "It looks like Lord Tang intends to test Chu Ming?"

"Yes," Tang Bai nodded, "though Xiao He and Shen Yu both recommend Chu Ming, his true talent requires further testing; the abilities will naturally manifest through results."

"Rightly so, the ancient texts and artifacts within Wenlin Garden are of great importance, so entrants must be thoroughly tested. What kind of test does Lord Tang have in mind?" Zuo Yuan asked with a grin.

"A line drawing, one hundred thirty-three pictographic characters, with a time limit of two hours. If he deciphers twenty characters, I’ll consider him to have passed."