The surrounding elders immediately followed. Thousands of people bowed simultaneously.

The scene was incomparably spectacular. Lin Feng merely smiled.

To him, what they had seen was less than one-billionth of the true profundity contained within that stroke.

If he had revealed the complete Dao hidden inside it, everyone present including the heavens above them would have been unable to bear it.

The effects of what Lin Feng had done might have differed for everyone present, but for Tang Jingyan, the impact was nothing short of world-shattering.

She had devoted her entire life to the Dao of Painting.

From the day she first picked up a brush, she had walked this path with unwavering determination.

While others pursued the sword, the saber, alchemy, formations, or cultivation itself, she had chosen painting.

Countless years had been spent studying ancient masterpieces, comprehending artistic intent, and searching for the elusive peak that every painter dreamed of reaching.

Yet no matter how talented she was, no matter how many praises she received, there had always been a feeling deep within her heart.

A feeling that something was missing.

A feeling that the true peak of the Dao of Painting still lay beyond her sight.

And now, standing before Lin Feng’s single stroke, she finally understood why.

Everything she had pursued throughout her life was contained within that simple line.

No.

It surpassed everything she had pursued.

"Oh..."

A soft sound escaped her lips.

Her beautiful eyes widened as she recalled what Lin Feng showed her.

In her vision, the ordinary stroke was no longer a stroke. It became a river. Then a mountain.

Then the heavens themselves.

The black ink seemed to transform endlessly, containing the birth of stars, the rise of civilizations, the passage of time, and the endless cycle of life and death.

Every time she thought she had grasped its meaning, another layer of profundity revealed itself.

Every moment brought new enlightenment. Every breath deepened her understanding.

Tang Jingyan felt as though her consciousness had been pulled into an entirely different realm.

A realm where painting was no longer merely painting.

It was Dao.

Pure Dao.

The highest expression of truth itself. Her body trembled lightly.

The brush intent she had cultivated for countless years suddenly stirred on its own.

The spiritual energy within her body began to circulate uncontrollably.

Her cultivation, which had remained stagnant for many years, started moving once more.

Crack.

An invisible bottleneck shattered.

Then another.

And another.

Tang Jingyan did not even notice. Her entire being was focused on the masterpiece before her.

At that moment, she forgot her identity. She forgot her status. She forgot the world around her.

There was only what Lin Feng had shown her. Only the Dao. Only enlightenment.

Tears slowly gathered within her eyes. Not tears of sadness. Not tears of pain.

But tears born from overwhelming joy.

A lifetime of pursuit. A lifetime of searching. A lifetime of dedication. All of it had finally been rewarded.

She felt like a blind person seeing the sun for the first time.

Like a traveler lost in the desert discovering an endless ocean.

Like a mortal suddenly gazing upon the face of a god.

Her heart pounded wildly. Her breathing became uneven.

Her elegant face turned completely red as waves of emotion surged through her.

All of them mixed together until she could no longer separate one from another.

At that moment, Lin Feng’s figure appeared infinitely tall in her eyes.

He was no longer merely a cultivator. No longer merely a senior.

He had become the embodiment of the Dao of Painting itself.

Someone who stood at a height she could not even begin to imagine.

The gap between them was simply too great. Like the difference between a firefly and the moon.

Between a stream and the endless sea. Tang Jingyan’s gaze remained fixed on the memory of that single line.

The more she looked, the more insignificant she felt.

The more she understood, the more she realized how little she truly knew.

Everything she had once been proud of. Every painting she had created.

Every achievement she had celebrated. All of it suddenly appeared laughable.

Compared to this single stroke, her life’s work resembled the crude scribbles of a child who had only just learned how to hold a brush.

Yet instead of discouraging her, the realization filled her with excitement.

For the first time, she could clearly see the road ahead.

For the first time, she knew what true greatness looked like.

Her Dao Heart, which had remained unchanged for centuries, underwent a complete transformation.

A profound sense of clarity descended upon her.

The fog that had obscured her path vanished.

The future that had once seemed unreachable now appeared before her eyes.

And all of it had been granted by a single casual stroke from Lin Feng.

At that moment, Tang Jingyan finally understood.

This was no masterpiece. This was no supreme painting.

This was a divine revelation.

And deep within her heart, a thought emerged. A thought so powerful that it shook her soul.

If she could learn even one ten-thousandth of what Lin Feng understood...

Then every achievement she had ever dreamed of would become possible.

Tang Jingyan desperately hoped that nobody would notice the strange changes occurring within her.

Fortunately for her, nobody did.

The surrounding experts were all completely captivated by the stroke Lin Feng had left behind.

Every single one of them was staring at the paper with widened eyes, trying to comprehend even a fraction of the mysteries hidden within it.

Some were frowning in concentration. Some were trembling in excitement.

Others were already entering states of enlightenment.

None of them had the spare attention to observe Tang Jingyan.

Nobody noticed. Except for Lin Feng.

With his cultivation and perception, even the slightest fluctuation in a person’s emotions could not escape his senses.

Tang Jingyan’s racing heartbeat, her flushed face, and the increasingly admiring gaze she directed toward him were all obvious in his eyes.

Lin Feng glanced at her before inwardly sighing.

"Sigh. Being too awesome is truly troublesome."

His expression remained calm and indifferent, perfectly befitting an unfathomable grandmaster.

However, his thoughts were entirely different.

"I merely displayed a tiny fraction of my abilities, yet another beautiful woman is already having her Dao Heart shaken."

Lin Feng almost felt wronged.

What could he do?

He was simply too outstanding. His talent was heaven-defying. His appearance was peerless.

His temperament was extraordinary. His wisdom transcended mortal understanding.

And now his accomplishments in the Dao of Painting had been revealed as well.

Under such circumstances, wasn’t it only natural for women to admire him?

Lin Feng felt that the situation was completely understandable.

In fact, he felt that Tang Jingyan had lasted quite a long time already.

Most women would have been overwhelmed much sooner.

"It really isn’t my fault."

Lin Feng silently nodded to himself.

"The blame lies entirely with my excessive excellence."

His gaze drifted toward Tang Jingyan once more.

The beautiful woman was still staring at the painting.

However, Lin Feng noticed that every so often her eyes would unconsciously shift toward him.

The moment she realized what she was doing, she would hurriedly look away before returning her attention to the painting.

Then a few moments later it would happen again. Lin Feng found the sight rather adorable.

After all, Tang Jingyan was not some inexperienced young girl.

She was a respected master of the Dao of Painting. A renowned beauty.

An expert admired by countless cultivators.

Yet now she was behaving like a young maiden who had just discovered her first love.

The contrast was amusing.

"It seems this fairy has fallen quite deeply."

Lin Feng stroked his chin inwardly.

His original plan had been simple.

After becoming a judge for the assembly, he would spend some time getting to know Tang Jingyan.

If their personalities were compatible, perhaps their relationship could naturally develop further.

Lin Feng had never been someone who liked to force matters.

When it came to romance, patience was important. There was no need to rush. After all, he possessed endless time.

However, judging by the current situation, it seemed he would not need to put in much effort at all.

The opportunity had practically presented itself. Tang Jingyan’s lifelong pursuit was the Dao of Painting.

And Lin Feng just happened to stand at the absolute peak of that Dao.

To someone like her, his existence was irresistible. It was like a mortal discovering a path to immortality.

Like a scholar finding the answer to every mystery he had ever studied.

Like a starving traveler discovering an endless feast.

How could she not be affected? How could she not admire him?

How could she not become curious about him?

The more Lin Feng thought about it, the more optimistic he became.

His mood improved considerably.

"Excellent."

He almost wanted to laugh.

"It appears attending this assembly was the correct decision after all."

Not only would he be able to help the younger generation of painters.

Not only would he gain some entertainment.

But he might also leave with another beautiful companion.

Truly, life was wonderful.

Lin Feng’s gaze swept across Tang Jingyan’s elegant figure.

Her graceful posture. Her refined temperament. Her peerless beauty.

Combined with her devotion to painting, she possessed a unique charm that was difficult to find elsewhere.

The more he looked, the more satisfied he became.

"Very good."

Lin Feng silently nodded.

"I approve."

Of course, he would not act hastily.

Women like Tang Jingyan were not won through impatience.

Fortunately, patience was one of Lin Feng’s greatest strengths.

After achieving the peak of power, he had learned many things.

One of those things was that the sweetest fruits were often worth waiting for.

Besides, judging from the way Tang Jingyan occasionally stole glances at him, he strongly suspected that she was already halfway convinced.

All he needed to do now was continue being himself.

A difficult task for most people.

But for Lin Feng?

It was effortless.

After all, how hard could it be to remain overwhelmingly talented, impossibly handsome, and endlessly charming?

Lin Feng nearly laughed at the absurdity of his own circumstances.

Sometimes he genuinely felt sorry for the women who encountered him.

How were they supposed to resist?

Fortunately, Tang Jingyan was still completely absorbed in her enlightenment and had no idea what thoughts were currently running through his mind.

Otherwise, the dignified painting master might have been so embarrassed that she would immediately flee the assembly.

Lin Feng maintained his calm and transcendent expression as he stood with his hands behind his back.

Outwardly, he appeared like an immortal detached from worldly affairs.

Inwardly, however, he was already considering how to become better acquainted with Tang Jingyan before the Myriad Dao Brush Assembly came to an end.