Chapter 495 - 309: Duke Xirong! Golden Painting Competition! Once Again Named on the Golden List?!

Chu Ming stood in front of the hall, his eyes deep and profound.

Under the probing of the Sword Gourd Spirit, the recent events concerning Hoong Ying were clear to him.

"If that’s the case... let’s give Sister Hoong Ying some help."

Murmuring to himself, Chu Ming walked into the Floating Painting Hall, where many people were already present.

They sat in clusters, either whispering or discussing painting techniques, and most knew each other to some extent.

At the front and center, there were two familiar figures, Qi Chen and Pei Yi from Wenlin Garden.

Between them sat another person, in a scholar’s robe and cap, with eyebrows somewhat resembling Tang Bai’s; likely it was Tang Zhe, known as the one most likely to make the Golden List.

Clad in black, Chu Ming entered the hall, drawing several glances, but most eyes soon shifted away.

As Hoong Jun, he was virtually unknown, and nobody recognized him.

Chu Ming chose a spot at the back of the hall to sit, then spread out the Sword Gourd Spirit to check on Hoong Ying’s situation.

Hoong Ying had adjusted her emotions quite well and was already at the Hall of Exquisite Craftsmanship, having chosen a spot.

Hoong Dan and Hoong Bin glared at Hoong Ying angrily, while Tang Yan watched the scene unfold with amusement.

As for Red Flame Clan Elder Hoong Zhuo, he was not in the Hall of Exquisite Craftsmanship.

Further probing revealed that this person was one of the supervisors for the Artifact Refining Golden Competition, with the power to judge the refining results.

Chu Ming’s eyes flickered slightly, and he sighed inwardly.

If nothing unexpected happened, Hoong Ying, despite having top twenty refining skills, would find it difficult to make the top twenty.

It was evident that Hoong Zhuo was hostile towards Hoong Ying, making this competition inherently unfair for her.

Thus, the only option was to create some unexpected events.

Chu Ming remained expressionless, splitting his Heart Spirit, and delved into his Sea of Consciousness.

The painting scroll in the sky had an anomaly the moment he entered the Floating Painting Hall, perhaps due to being closer to the Star Golden List.

"Golden List title... Golden Pillar Toppling."

The unexpected element for Chu Ming was to make Hoong Ying score a Golden List title.

Although his control over the Star Golden List wasn’t much, he could manage to control the Golden Pillar Toppling...

...

Soon, both the painting and artifact refining competitions began almost simultaneously.

"The theme of the painting is snow, with a time limit of two hours."

The content of the competition was similar to yesterday’s poetry competition, focusing on the theme of snow.

The artifact refining competition also allowed two hours for creating a treasure.

Seated among them, Chu Ming picked up his brush and began to paint.

He wasn’t painting particularly fast, with the Sword Gourd Spirit observing Tang Zhe ahead.

After a moment.

"Exceptional painting skills, he seems to have really grasped his own Painting Dao."

After observing, it was clear Tang Zhe’s artistry far surpassed everyone in the hall.

"It’s about right."

Having gauged Tang Zhe’s level, Chu Ming no longer paid him any attention, quickening his brush strokes.

In less than half an hour, a scene of the snowy Qin Capital emerged on the paper.

Another half an hour passed, and Tang Zhe completed his painting at the front of the hall, also a scene of snow in the Qin Capital.

Afterward, Qi Chen and Pei Yi also put down their brushes.

Outside the hall.

"In yesterday’s poetry competition, Chu Ming achieved a Golden List title, but it was unfortunately sabotaged. I hope a Golden Pillar will fall today!" Minister of the Ministry of Rites Qi Nankai’s eyes were fervent as he gazed at the hall.

Scholar Lu Jin of the Xue Lin Pavilion nodded emphatically: "Among Lord Tang’s three disciples, Tang Zhe is exceptionally gifted, realizing his own Painting Dao at such a young age, and Qi Chen and Pei Yi are rare talents sure to achieve Golden List titles."

This painting competition was overseen by Minister of the Ministry of Rites Qi Nankai, Minister of the Ministry of Industry Shangguan Kang, Scholar Lu Jin of the Xue Lin Pavilion, Huangfu Qian, and Tang Bai.

"Speaking of yesterday’s events, I am reminded of the Left Minister." Huangfu Qian’s expression grew grave. "To think the Left Minister condoned Luu Xi... alas!"

"I heard His Majesty was furious over this and eradicated the Left Minister’s entire family."

"The entire family?" Minister of the Ministry of Industry Shangguan Kang shook his head, "Minister Qi, Lord Lu, Lord Huangfu, in my view, wiping out the entire family isn’t enough."

"What Luu Xi destroyed wasn’t just Chu Ming’s opportunity, but the fortune of our Great Qin Dynasty!"

"..."

Qi Nankai, Lu Jin, and Huangfu Qian fell silent simultaneously.

Although they said nothing, they basically agreed with Minister of the Ministry of Industry Shangguan Kang’s statement.

"By the way, Lord Tang, it seems Chu Ming has joined Wenlin Garden, which makes him your disciple too." Shangguan Kang looked towards Tang Bai.

Tang Bai, clad in white robes with his hands clasped behind him, silently watched the snowflakes dance in the sky.

"Minister Shangguan, please don’t continue." Qi Nankai quietly reminded him.

"Alright... alright..." It wasn’t until then that Shangguan Kang realized his misstep.

Time flew by, and the two hours soon ended.