Seeing that everyone was in place, the examiner walked to an iron frame. There was a nine-hole incense burner placed above the iron frame. He lit the incense inserted in the furnace and said to everyone:

"The painting time is as long as one stick of incense. When the incense burns out, you must stop painting, otherwise it will be regarded as a waiver."

"There is no limit to the type of painting, start now."

After the examiner finished speaking, a soldier raised the gong. The gong sounded, and the test officially began.

Everyone began to paint vigorously, and some young students who looked like scholars were sweating profusely and looked nervous, hoping to perform at their best and seize the opportunity to soar into the sky.

Xiao Yueming slowly picked up the Langhao brush placed next to the wooden easel. Placed together with the brushes were several stone inkstones, each containing ground pigments of various colors. Xiao Yueming placed the inkstone containing ink next to his body.

Previously, this time, he decided to use only the purest black ink to draw the paintings.

When he was on Black Maple Island, Xiao Yueming practiced calligraphy and painting with Chang Muyin since he was a child. He taught Xiao Yueming to hold a pen as a sword and paper as a person. He came here to practice his sword intention and mind. In addition, Xiao Yueming was very interested in these things of dancing with pen and ink.

He has talent, and after so many years of practice, Xiao Yueming's painting is also very good.

Lifting the pen, dipping it in ink, and forming a stroke, the Langhao pen in his hand is vivid and flexible, flowing smoothly, like a dexterous flying sword. Xiao Yueming concentrated on it, and perfectly integrated his sword intention into the painting, less than half a stick of incense

At that time, the writing suddenly stopped, and a painting entirely painted in black ink took shape.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at the painting in front of him carefully. What he painted was the scene when Xiao Yueming met Mu Yin for the first time and showed off his sword skills in the Maple Leaf Forest.

The drizzle continued, and a slender figure stood in the maple forest holding a sword. Standing next to him was a short figure wearing a bamboo hat who was looking up. The fallen leaves around him were cut in half by the sword's will, and fell randomly in the air.

, the entire painting is the pinnacle of perfection, as if you are immersed in the scene.

Gently running his fingers across the rough and yellowed rice paper, Xiao Yueming seemed to have returned to that night again, as if it was the next day.

"唔~"

The last trace of incense in the incense burner turned to ashes, indicating that the time had come. The soldiers sounded the gong, and some people who had not finished the painting had to stop writing and sighed heavily, showing regret on their faces.

The examiner looked at everyone and then spoke slowly: "The paintings are rated in four categories: A, B, C, and D. Only those with grades C and above can climb the White Moon Tower. The judging starts from the first one on the left."

The first person to take the stage was a poor scholar, holding his own painting in both hands.

Standing in front of everyone, what he painted was a landscape painting.

The scholar looked at the examiner nervously, his hands trembling slightly.

The examiner frowned slightly, glanced at it, and then judged: "The artistic conception is good, but the skill is a little lacking. Let's consider it a C grade. When dusk comes, you can go upstairs."

The poor scholar was overjoyed when he heard this. He danced happily and ran down the stage, shouting as he ran: "I, I can go up the stairs, I can go up the stairs!"

Seeing this person's behavior, no one laughed at him. Being able to get a C grade proved that this person's painting skills were quite good. The first person on stage was qualified to climb the stairs, which made everyone present slightly.

He breathed a sigh of relief, but the next scene destroyed all the confidence he had just accumulated.

The examiner stood on the stage with an expressionless face, glanced at the second place's painting, and then said calmly: "There is no brushwork at all, Ding, wait."

The man was slightly dissatisfied and clamored to argue with the examiner. He was knocked unconscious on the spot by several soldiers responsible for guarding him, dragged out of the venue like a dead dog, and then dumped in the middle of the street.

The next dozens of people were not qualified to climb the building, and there were even a few people whose examiners did not give any comments, but just waved their hands to signal them to leave the scene.

"Next."

At this time, more than half of the selection process had been completed, and an old man with gray hair walked onto the stage tremblingly. His wrinkled hands slowly opened his paintings for the examiners and everyone to appreciate.

"Huh?"

The examiner looked at it calmly, and his originally calm eyes exuded a little sparkle. After observing for a long time, he looked at the old man with a slight smile and said, "Yes, this painting of a tiger descending from the mountain is exquisitely crafted and vivid, and it can be rated as B grade."

"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was in an uproar. This was the first B-class painting today. Before the discussion could stop, the examiner continued and said: "I wonder if the old gentleman is willing to join the painting pavilion. There is still a lack of a responsible person in the painting pavilion."

As a painter who teaches his disciples, I feel that the old gentleman will definitely be qualified."

"Okay, old man, it's really an honor for me to be able to enter the Painting Pavilion in my seventies."

The old man's voice was hoarse and he saluted the examiner tremblingly. When two soldiers came forward and carefully helped the old man down, the examiner said expressionlessly: "Next."

Xiao Yueming was waiting calmly under the stage when he saw a handsome young man wearing a Chinese robe and holding a folding fan walking up to the stage with his head held high and a look of confidence on his face.

Not waiting for this person yet

After walking completely onto the stage, the originally indifferent and taciturn examiner's face was suddenly filled with a smile. He walked towards the examiner with a bow, and said flatteringly: "I respectfully welcome the third prince."

The third prince smiled slightly and opened the painting in his hand: "Examiner Lin, you don't need to be polite, how about you come and look at this prince's painting."

"Don't dare, don't dare"

Examiner Lin leaned forward and looked at the painting carefully. It was a painting, and then he exclaimed: "Wonderful, wonderful, it's such a wonderful brushwork, and the writing is like a god. The level of the third prince is already inferior to that of the official."

It’s in, it’s definitely a second-class level.”

When the third prince heard this, he laughed immediately and felt very happy: "Okay, Examiner Lin really has a sharp eye for pearls."

Patting Examiner Lin's arm, the third prince laughed and walked all the way to Baiyue Tower.

In the main hall on the first floor, some officials and the Sixth Young Master were observing the movements of the people below. At this time, the third prince walked into the main hall at a fast pace, and all the officials stood up and saluted.

The Third Prince walked up to the Sixth Young Master and said with a smile: "Sixth Brother, how come you have time to come to the White Moon Party this year?"

The Sixth Young Master rubbed a dragon-shaped jade pendant with one hand and joked: "Of course I'm here to see you. Why, Sixth Brother isn't welcome yet?"

"How can that be possible? We brothers haven't seen each other for a while. I won't come home until I'm drunk today."

The third prince put his arm around the other person's shoulders and smiled.

In the examination room, everyone was talking about everything that had just happened. Xiao Yueming's ears were very good, so he could naturally hear everyone's conversation clearly.

"Who was that young master just now? I saw that the painting was only a C grade, so why did it get a B grade?" someone commented.

"Shhh, keep your voice down, that person is the third son of King Zhennan, and he is a veritable big shot. We cannot afford to offend him."

"This person has such a distinguished status, why can't he be given a first-class rating?"

"Is this your first time coming to Baiyuehui? What are the first-class paintings? Each one is a peerless masterpiece. It can be collected in the Imperial City Painting Pavilion. It is said that the entire painting pavilion only has no more than three hundred paintings.

A first-class painting, even the painters in the painting pavilion who can produce first-class paintings cannot exceed the number of hands."

Xiao Yueming listened to everyone's discussion and gradually gained a basic understanding of the Painting Pavilion. It didn't matter whether his works entered the Painting Pavilion or not. All he needed was the reputation of the Bai Yue Society.

"Next person"
Chapter completed!