Martial Saint through Reading

Chapter 381: Chapter 281: Old Fox (Part 2)

Tang Bai’s eyes reflected Condensing Light.

The young man in the hall had started his line drawing test at the last half stick of incense, but this time he began much earlier.

On the paper, it seemed as if a row of Ancient Shell Script characters were emerging beneath the ink.

Yet, this time, a white sleeve obstructed the view, making it hard to discern the writing.

But seeing the pen moving incessantly, methodically, it was likely not random scribbles.

Tang Bai felt waves in his heart.

Could it be true that this young man in white, like the line drawing, could deduce the Ancient Shell Script solely from imagination without being influenced by subsequent phrases and completely memorize them?

If so, Chu Ming’s talent might not be inferior to that of the younger member in the clan.

Thinking of this, a spark of brilliance flashed across his usually deep eyes.

Imagination construction, logic beyond ordinary, this is an outstanding talent for painting!

Perhaps he could cultivate another disciple capable of making it onto the Golden List.

Zuo Yuan also focused his gaze when Chu Ming began writing, and a barely noticeable look of surprise flashed across his brow.

The illegitimate son started writing only now, does he have ink in his chest, or is he scribbling randomly?

He looked at the desk obscured by the white sleeve, and suddenly felt something strange in his heart.

The illegitimate son, could it be...

His brows furrowed darkly as he attempted to change his angle to see.

Unfortunately, he still couldn’t clearly see what was under the white sleeve.

"Lord Tang, I see Qi Chen has already written thirteen lines, almost catching up to Luu Xi, he’s made great progress recently." Zuo Yuan shifted his focus to Qi Chen.

"Qi Chen and Pei Yi want to participate in the Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition, so they’ve been diligent recently." Tang Bai smiled: "I remember Luu Xi also wants to join the Golden Hundred Knowledge Grand Competition, right?"

"Yes, Luu Xi wants to try poetry, but he’s a bit inexperienced with hieroglyphs."

"..."

The current Prime Minister chatting leisurely with a Master of Painting Dao in Wenlin Garden is indeed rare.

Quickly.

"Time is up." Tang Bai stood in the hall.

The four in the hall stopped writing in response, none writing an extra word.

Talented figures from thirteen counties, in the Wenlin Garden of the Imperial City, naturally scorn taking that fleeting moment.

Tang Bai walked towards Luu Xi, while Zuo Yuan looked towards Qi Chen.

"Luu Xi, twenty groups of phrases, deduced fourteen and a half groups of Ancient Shell Script." Tang Bai announced.

Fourteen and a half groups?

Qi Chen and Pei Yi beside him heard this and faces showed joy.

"Qi Chen, deduced fourteen and a half groups of Ancient Profound Text, fourteen and a half groups of Ancient Qian Text." Zuo Yuan was somewhat surprised.

"Pei Yi, deduced thirteen groups of Ancient Profound Text, twelve and a half groups of Ancient Qian Text." Zuo Yuan looked at Pei Yi’s paper next.

Both Ancient Profound Text and Ancient Qian Text are hieroglyphic scripts like Ancient Shell Script.

Pei Yi gave Qi Chen a look of admiration.

The same fourteen and a half, could be considered to have regained...

"Deduce eighteen groups of Ancient Profound Text."

Just as the two were secretly pleased, Tang Bai spoke again.

Smiles froze perfectly, then turned a bit stiff.

Fourteen and a half groups of Ancient Shell Script, eighteen groups of Ancient Profound Text?

Ancient Profound Text is the primary ancient script they research in the literature, followed by Ancient Qian Text.

As for Ancient Shell Script, apart from the "Mountain and Sea Great Wilderness Scripture", it appears in no other ancient texts, hence it’s the least encountered.

Luu Xi’s mastery of the most difficult Ancient Shell Script matched Qi Chen’s most familiar Ancient Profound Text and Ancient Qian Text, surpassing Pei Yi.

The superiority was instantly clear.

Luu Xi bowed respectfully to the elder in front of him; Tang Bai glanced and nodded slightly.

Though he disliked Luu Xi, he had to acknowledge the high talent.

Thus, Tang Bai made his way to the back row, his mind filled with anticipation.

Zuo Yuan maintained his stature, didn’t go over, but his gaze did land there.

Chu Ming stood up, bowed, and handed over the paper.

Without the white sleeve to obstruct, Tang Bai finally saw the content on the paper clearly.

Hmm?

A look of surprise swiftly swept across his face.

At a glance, there were fully twenty lines.

He read from the beginning, line by line.

Because it was Ancient Shell Script, not an area of deep study for Tang Bai, he didn’t read quickly.

First line correct... second line correct... third line correct...

Reached seventeen lines, a cup of tea’s time passed, all had been confirmed correct.

Qi Chen and Pei Yi turned around puzzledly, staring at the back row; Luu Xi, proud and reserved, had doubts but didn’t turn.

Zuo Yuan wanted to go over and have a look, considering but ultimately didn’t move, simply asked aloud: "Lord Tang, how is it?"

"Wait, there’re three groups left to confirm."

Tang Bai stared intently, laboriously verifying the eighteenth, nineteenth lines.

Correct.

Reaching the final twentieth line, he was uncertain.

This line of phrases, posed by Zuo Yuan, the deduced Ancient Shell Script was rather complex.

Tang Bai paused, turned to the left side, where books lined the shelves.

He reached for a book from the middle, holding it as he checked against it.

The Sword Gourd Spirit swept aside, the book Tang Bai used for comparison was a collection of Ancient Shell Script phrases, the page he flipped to was Chu Ming’s previously contributed method of ideographic component deduction.

Zuo Yuan observed with a frown.

He had some understanding of Ancient Shell Script, but not deeply; for ten lines of phrases, he couldn’t completely deduce them into Ancient Shell Script himself.

Moments later, Tang Bai returned the comparison book and walked back to Chu Ming, his expression appearing somewhat grave.

Beneath that serious look, his eyes were subtly flickering.

"Chu Ming, deduced Ancient Shell Script..." He paused deliberately, his gaze scanning over Qi Chen, Pei Yi, Luu Xi.

Qi Chen and Pei Yi had been with Tang Bai for years and seeing his expression, a number instantly flashed in their minds.

Could it be fully deduced?

Twen...ty groups?

As the two were incredulous, Tang Bai cleared his throat and casually said with a smile: "Twenty groups."

It truly was twenty groups!

Qi Chen and Pei Yi’s hearts sharply throbbed.

In Wenlin Garden, they study five or six types of ancient scripts, among them Ancient Shell Script is undoubtedly the most complex and obscure hieroglyphic script.