The painting was complete, and all who saw it were awestruck.

The arrival of the Dragon Cavalry Army forced the qin competition to come to an abrupt halt.

The people’s attention was likewise drawn to the other star of the day.

When the soldiers of the Dragon Cavalry Army appeared before the crowd in perfect formation, they spoke not a word, yet their presence alone overpowered the tens of thousands before them.

Before Su Lie even opened his mouth, the people took the initiative and made way, clearing a broad passage.

Su Lie then led the soldiers forward with calm composure, under the watchful eyes of the common folk.

Throughout the entire procession, there was no sound but the soldiers’ orderly footsteps.

Once the entire formation had passed through the crowd, Su Lie raised a hand in signal.

At once, the soldiers dispersed swiftly.

The imposing pressure that had hung over the spectators vanished in an instant, as though it had never existed at all.

The atmosphere at the scene soon returned to normal, and the competition resumed.

Inside, Li Zhi was also rapidly working his brush, and a delicate painting gradually took shape upon the paper.

From outside, the qin performance occasionally drew bursts of applause from the audience, yet none of it affected the competitors within.

Before long, some had already finished their paintings.

They each presented their work to the four judges seated to one side.

These students were generally young, and few possessed any special talent in painting.

As a result, their works failed to earn much favor from the judges.

After a brief look, the four offered a few polite and measured comments.

Those students knew full well how capable they were, and after receiving some guidance, they withdrew obediently to prepare for the next contest.

Li Tai did not finish especially early, though this was not because his painting was poor.

He was in fact quite skilled in painting.

The reason it took him longer was that he wanted to secure a better ranking, so he spent extra time refining his work.

As the saying goes, diligence rewards the earnest. His painting was highly polished and fully captured the lively atmosphere of the competition grounds.

The figures and the surrounding setting were integrated just right, and as a result, his work received the only highest praise given so far.

Having achieved the result he desired, Li Tai cast a proud glance around him.

His eyes lingered deliberately on Li Zhi.

When he saw that Li Zhi was still painting earnestly, he gave a contemptuous smile and turned away to prepare for the qin contest to come.

Among the students who finished after him, two also received good marks, but neither surpassed Li Tai.

By the time Li Zhi completed his painting, Fang Yizhi not far away had almost finished his own at the same moment.

The two exchanged a glance, then walked together toward the four judges and handed in their works.

Yan Liben knew Li Zhi’s level very well, so he did not hasten to examine Li Zhi’s painting first, but instead reached out and took Fang Yizhi’s.

Very few of the students had been fortunate enough to witness the Dragon Cavalry Army’s arrival, and Fang Yizhi and Li Zhi were among the earlier ones to finish.

Thus, when Yan Liben saw the Dragon Cavalry Army in Fang Yizhi’s painting, he could not help but exclaim softly in surprise.

But after studying the work more carefully, he shook his head and sighed. “My young friend has captured the majesty of the Dragon Cavalry Army very well, but because of that, the style of the whole painting drifts somewhat away from the theme.”

He lifted his head and said to Fang Yizhi, “It seems you have forgotten that today’s subject is a bustling scene.”

Fang Yizhi looked a little embarrassed at the verdict and said, “After seeing the Dragon Cavalry Army’s bearing, I could not bear to leave it out. But my skill is limited, so I could only manage this much.”

Yan Liben smiled and shook his head. “Though the conception is somewhat off-theme, the rendering of the figures does have certain merits.”

With that, he passed the painting to Yu Shinan beside him and said, “Elder Yu, please have a look as well and see how this work should be judged.”

After taking it, Yu Shinan gave it a glance and said, “Without the influence of the Dragon Cavalry Army, this painting would be quite fine. It is a pity, though...”

He then handed the painting to Xiao Ji and said to Fang Yizhi, “The work strays somewhat from the theme, so I can only give it a mark between good and very good.”

Yan Liben on the side also nodded. “I agree with Elder Yu.”

At that moment Xiao Ji also said, “I think likewise.”

He then passed the painting to Zhao Yeli.

Zhao Yeli had just taken the work and was about to examine it when he suddenly heard Yan Liben cry out, “Wonderful... truly wonderful!”

The people inside all turned toward him in surprise.

Yan Liben himself seemed not to realize his own lapse at all.

His gaze was fixed tightly on the painting before him, his face filled with admiration.

After a long while, he finally tore his eyes away with great reluctance.

Yan Liben, visibly excited, said to Li Zhi, “I never imagined Your Highness could use the method of light and shadow to soften the aura of the Dragon Cavalry Army, thereby shifting the focus of the painting to the crowd outside Purple Cloud Tower.”

As he spoke, he handed the painting to Yu Shinan and continued, “The treatment of light in the foreground is clearly brighter, and then gradually darkens outward.”

He clapped his hand once and went on, “In this way, the Dragon Cavalry Army’s presence remains, yet it does not in the least overshadow the foreground. What a marvelous approach, truly marvelous!”

His praise immediately aroused the interest of Yu Shinan and the others.

So the three of them simply gathered around to admire the painting together.

The figures and scenery in the foreground seemed to be bathed in blazing sunlight.

Not only were the colors of the clothing distinct and the expressions clearly visible, even the surrounding scenery was rendered with striking clarity.

As the scene extended outward, the light seemed to grow dimmer and dimmer, and by the time the eye reached the Dragon Cavalry Army, it had returned to normal.

All the scenery had become more impressionistic, leaving only the Dragon Cavalry Army’s imposing spirit leaping vividly from the page.

Almost at the same moment, the three of them exclaimed, “Wonderful... wonderful...”

Afterward, Yu Shinan turned to Yan Liben and asked, “Master Yan, how do you think this painting compares to your own?”

Yan Liben said with evident shame, “This painting by Prince Jin has already taken on a distinct style. By my own estimation, I was only about this level five years ago.”

His words caused a sharp intake of breath among the other students who had just finished their own paintings.

Who among them did not know that Yan Liben had risen to fame while still young?

His skill in painting had continued to advance, and by now he stood among the finest in the world.

And yet he had just personally admitted that Li Zhi’s painting had already reached the level he himself had possessed five years ago.

Did that not mean the Li Zhi of today already possessed the skill of a master of the age?