I was just making up techniques... how did all of you become Emperors?

Chapter 256 – Chu Feng: I Don't Want to Be Accused of Outshining the Qingqiu Retirement Home

"Young man, don't be so arrogant!"

The Great Sage of Demon Chess spoke with a sharp tone, his gaze toward Chu Feng now visibly changed.

Though the other three Great Sages remained silent, their spiritual pressure had already begun to radiate uncontrollably.

Bai Yu stood frozen—utterly dumbfounded. He knew this Half Saint Chu had achieved fame at a young age and was widely regarded as the foremost among the younger generation.

But even so, you can't openly insult the Four Elders of Qingqiu like this. Let's see how you clean up this mess now.

What shocked him even more, however, was that the Golden-Winged Great Sage and Elder Bing, who had come along with Chu Feng, not only showed no trace of concern—they even looked expectant.

Chu Feng cupped his hands toward the four elders of Qingqiu and said earnestly, "Seniors, please do not be angered. I merely wished to challenge my own limits. If I were to face you one by one, the world would surely say I lack propriety and that I've humiliated the honored elders of Qingqiu with my skill."

Bai Yu's face darkened even further. You brat, you'd have done better not to explain at all. Can't you see the four clan elders' expressions are as black as the bottom of a pot?

This isn't a formal visit—you're clearly here to cause trouble.

The Great Sage of Thunder Calligraphy spoke coldly, "Seems the world has truly forgotten our names, the names of us four old relics. Very well, Daoist Chu, since you have such confidence, we'll grant your wish!"

Chu Feng acted as if he hadn't noticed the raging flames in the elders' eyes and continued calmly, "Then I ask the four clan elders to please present your challenges."

Humiliation—barefaced humiliation.

Over the years, the four elders had crossed paths with many great sages. But never had they encountered someone so arrogant.

Challenging all four at once was already outrageous. And to demand they set the tests themselves—who did he think he was?

The four elders exchanged glances. Then, the Great Sage of Demon Chess spoke, "We won't take advantage of you. Let's proceed according to our traditional rules."

The Great Sage of Soul Zither said, "We'll duel with music—whoever's melody summons a greater heavenly phenomenon wins. You'll have three days."

The Great Sage of Demon Chess added, "We'll play one game of chess—decide the winner within three days."

The Great Sage of Thunder Calligraphy said, "We'll each compose an essay. Within three days, whoever's literary light shines brighter wins."

The Great Sage of Dharma Painting said, "We'll each paint a visualization scroll. Let's see whose artistic intent runs deeper—again, three days."

"Good. It's settled."

Chu Feng agreed, then added, "Seniors, I'm fond of poetic companionship. May I ask Bingyan to prepare the ink for me? I hope the four of you won't mind."

"Granted."

The four Great Sages agreed without a second thought.

Chu Feng then retrieved brushes, ink, paper, an inkstone, and a zither from his storage ring. Bingyan stepped forward to begin grinding the ink.

The four Great Sages across from him also took out their own treasured tools.

The Great Sage of Demon Chess waved his sleeve, summoning a chessboard before them and said, "You may begin, honored guest."

"Please."

Chu Feng replied, channeling his divine sense into a single chess piece and placing it on the board.

At the moment the piece landed, the chessboard instantly transformed into a boundless world. In it, a single sword stood tall between heaven and earth.

Upon seeing that sword, the Great Sage of Demon Chess grew visibly solemn. So the brat truly had some skill. He responded with a move of his own, summoning a nine-tailed fox within the realm of the chessboard.

Chu Feng placed another piece—another sword appeared.

Meanwhile, the Great Sage of Soul Zither had already begun to pluck the strings.

Dong—dong...

A graceful zither melody echoed throughout the entire royal city.

Chu Feng also began to play, his right hand gently brushing the strings with a single hand.

In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Chu Feng had already entered direct competition with two Great Sages.

Moments later—

The Great Sage of Dharma Painting and the Great Sage of Thunder Calligraphy finished grinding their ink. One began painting, while the other started writing.

Chu Feng took the brush and paper from Bingyan and began painting as well.

His left hand played the zither, his right hand painted, and his divine sense continued dueling on the chessboard with the Great Sage of Demon Chess. He no longer held back.

The onlookers instinctively stepped out of the courtyard where the five were engaged, quietly observing from beyond the walls.

Watching the scene unfold, Bai Yu murmured, "I once heard that the Invincible Sword reigned supreme among heroes, and the Peerless Tyrant Fist was wild and unrestrained. I always thought those were exaggerated tales. But after seeing Head Chu today, I now realize those two merely inherited half his teachings."

The Golden-Winged Great Sage laughed. "Daoist, don't speak nonsense. My big brother's already quite low-key. Those two kids couldn't possibly have inherited half his teachings—just a bit of surface-level flair, that's all."

Chen Qianqian echoed proudly, "Exactly! Exactly! Master said himself—his best skills are zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I'm the disciple who's inherited half of those!"

"…"

Bai Yu stared blankly at the little girl in front of him. You don't even have cultivation—how dare you claim to be stronger than those two prodigies? Arrogance... that part, you really did inherit half from Half Saint Chu.

Time passed, second by second.

On the chessboard, the Great Sage of Demon Chess was already in a tight spot. He had to deliberate a long while before each move. Meanwhile, Chu Feng made his moves quickly and without hesitation—every time he dropped a piece, the other had no choice but to respond swiftly.

The Great Sage of Soul Zither was also beginning to feel the pressure. Normally, it took him only a few incense sticks' time to summon a heavenly phenomenon with his music.

But Chu Feng's melody kept disrupting his rhythm, drawing him into its flow and making it difficult to concentrate on his own piece.

Worse still, Chu Feng's music had begun to manifest a vision of "Lofty Mountains and Flowing Waters."

And that vision was expanding. If it continued, it would take full form—and once it did, it would provoke awe from all beings.

Ironically, the most relaxed of the group were the Great Sage of Dharma Painting and the Great Sage of Thunder Calligraphy. Though Chu Feng's music intoxicated them, it also seemed to guide their hands—their brushes moved with divine inspiration.

This battle—they were certain to win!

Chu Feng, on the other hand, sat calmly, completely at ease. Every now and then, he would glance at Bingyan behind him.

This scene left Bai Yu at a loss for words. Daoist, could you at least try to take this seriously? You're up against four Great Sages, for heaven's sake!

But Bai Yu's confusion quickly turned to shock—because Chu Feng's visualization painting was none other than Elder Bing, who stood nearby.

Has this kid lost his mind? He was supposed to draw a visualization scroll—and instead, he paints a portrait of a beautiful woman?

Elder Bing also saw the painting. Her cheeks flushed faintly. If anyone else had done this, she would've flown into a rage, stabbed them with her sword, and shouted, "Scoundrel! I'll kill you!"

But now, her heart pounded like a frightened fawn, and she had the sudden urge to run away.

Chen Qianqian looked at the painted beauty and murmured, "Master's wife, you're so beautiful… just like a celestial maiden from the heavens."

Elder Bing replied coldly, "You should be asleep by now."

Chen Qianqian: "…"

Staring at the painting before him, Chu Feng felt something was still missing. Soon, a thought flashed in his mind—a single word: Dao.

Without Dao, how could it be called a true visualization scroll?

He resumed painting. On the sword-wielding beauty, he added a Taiji Diagram to serve as a Daoist meditative focus. Done.

Now it was time to compose a poem. But what to write?

Just then, Chu Feng noticed that before the Great Sage of Thunder Calligraphy, his essay was already radiating a several-zhang-high light of the literary path.

Looks like he'd need to borrow—no, draw inspiration from—a timeless masterpiece from his previous life.

Chu Feng glanced at the beauty in his painting and thought to himself: Got it!

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