Gu Xun looked at Nie Boyi: "You choose a box."

  Nie Bao Yi glanced at Nie Bao Wen and then casually pointed to a box.

  Yu Fei is one rank lower than Nie's Huang Guifei, and it's not like she's particularly favored. But as the emperor's consort, even Nie Zhongkun has to show her respect in front of her. Even if she's a master of the Northern Yu School, which is at odds with the Southern School, this match will still be held under her command.

  Two maids holding boxes, today specially wore red and green clothes to avoid confusion when choosing the box, causing unnecessary disputes. At this time, Gu Xun saw Nie Bo Yi choose a box, and pointed at the maid again, asking: "Is Master Nie choosing the box held by the maid in red?"

  "That's right. Chapter 132: Sudden Enlightenment. It was only in front of Master Gu that he broke through, but as a humble commoner, he didn't dare to call himself a master." Nie Bo Yi bowed and said.

  Gu Dun smiled: "The two words 'master', is just a respectful title for our jade carvers, it doesn't matter." After finishing, he signaled the maid in red to open the box, then carried it and walked to the front of the crowd to ask everyone to take a closer look at the jade material inside.

  I thought that with Gu Chen's dual identity as the Jade Concubine and Master Gu, whatever she would take out should be a top-grade jade material. However, what was lying in the brocade box was just a piece of flower green jade material, with some cyan-green spots mixed in.

  Nie Boyi looked at his own jade material, his face somewhat unsightly. However, in front of Gu Chen, he didn't dare say anything, and only said: "I don't know what kind of jade material Ye's young lady has, I'm very curious."

  Gu Xuan smiled slightly and gestured for the maid in green to open the brocade box in her hand and present it to everyone.

  Nie Bo Yi took a look at the jade material. His face suddenly looked better. The piece of jade material that Ye Zhuo had, although it was said to be better in quality than his own, was a commonly used Hetian seed jade from the north, but it was a completely white piece of jade material. Moreover, it was also flat in shape. Ye Zhuo's previous works were renowned because she was good at making clever use of colors, that is, using different colors of the jade material for design and carving. To achieve the effect of cleverly stealing from nature, one had to have a sudden realization and breakthrough. But with this completely white piece of jade material, its shape was also a regular flat shape, so it was impossible to make clever use of colors. Wanting to utilize its natural shape to design something was also not possible. It could be said that with such a piece of jade material, no matter how many clever ideas you had, it would not be possible to create any stunning works.

  It's that piece of emerald jade material, as long as he uses his brain and applies exquisite carving skills, without saying that he can create a stunning work that surpasses Ye Chong. That should be a no-brainer.

  Nie Bowen and Du Haoran looked at the two pieces of jade, with different expressions on their faces. Nie Bowen had a joyful look, while Du Haoran's face showed a hint of regret. However, when his gaze fell on Ye Zhuo's face, he saw that she not only didn't show any disappointment but also seemed to be thinking deeply, as if considering how to design and carve the jade. His expression relaxed instantly.

  As soon as the brocade box was opened, Gu Chen looked at Ye Zhuo. Seeing her like this, a satisfied smile appeared on Gu Chen's face, and he said: "These two pieces of jade are not big, please use the time of one incense stick to carve them. No matter what kind of work you carve out, if you don't hand it in after the time is up, you lose. Are you two ready? If you're ready, follow the two maids into the flower hall now."

  Nie Bowen stood up straight, full of confidence: "Ready."

  "I'm fine too," said Ye Zhuo.

  "I wish you both create perfect works." Gu Chen nodded.

  The woman behind her walked out, made a gesture: "Please follow me." After finishing, she turned around and walked towards the door. Nie Bo Yi looked at Nie Bo Wen, then followed up, and the little servant behind him carrying the toolbox also hurried to catch up. Ye Zhuo saluted Gu Dun with a bow, then brought Autumn Moon to follow behind.

  The flower hall of the Gu residence was not far from the main hall, and Ye Zhuo arrived there after turning left out of the door. As she entered the flower hall, she secretly felt grateful to Gu Chen. It seemed that when she proposed to carve with Nie Bo in the same place, Gu Chen had already understood her idea, so he arranged this flower hall, which was not large in size, and the furnishings inside seemed to have been specially arranged for this competition. Two carving machines were placed side by side. Due to the small size of the room, the distance between them was only a little over one zhang. Next to the carving machines, two tables were placed near the window, each with a chair in front of it, and apart from the water basins and other essential items for carving, there was nothing else.

  Everything is the same, and there's nothing good to choose from. Nie Boyi directly walked to the left side of the machine and gestured for the young servant to put things down.

  The old lady had the maid bring out the jade material and place it on each of their tables. Then she lit an incense stick, inserted it into the incense burner, and performed a ritual, saying: "I'll have the maid wait outside with me. If Master Nie or Miss Ye need anything, or if they finish carving ahead of time, just call out." After finishing speaking, she took the maid and withdrew. Only Nie Bo Yi, Ye Zhuo, and their respective attendants remained. This was Gu Dun's deliberate attempt to avoid suspicion, lest the Nie family think that the Northern school wanted to steal the Southern school's carving techniques, so none of the Gu family's attendants stayed behind.

  Nie Bowen had the upper hand, and he looked down on Ye Zhuo, who was a roughneck from a humble background. So he didn't say a word, sat down at the table, picked up the jade material and examined it carefully. No matter how tight the time was, before carving, he would thoroughly understand the characteristics of the jade material, and then design its shape based on this, thinking through every detail of the carving process in his mind, which was what every jade carver needed to do before starting to carve.

  Ye Zhuo came to participate in this competition, and she wasn't very concerned about winning or losing. Winning wouldn't bring any benefits to Yu Zhuo Fang, but if she could win, she wouldn't intentionally lose to Nie Boyi either. So she was under no pressure at all. However, when selecting the jade material, it wasn't because she didn't care about winning or losing that she was calm, but rather because she always believed that an excellent jade carver should be able to carve out the most satisfactory work regardless of what kind of jade material they received, and not just do their own specialty. So this piece of jade material, she only saw it as a challenge.

  So she sat down at this time, holding the jade material, quietly feeling the characteristics of the jade material. The warm and smooth feeling flowed from her palms to the depths of her soul. This is the feeling of jade, soft, peaceful, comfortable, quiet, soothing her restless heart, letting her soul slowly settle and calm down.

  Little by little, the texture of the jade was transmitted to her mind through her fingers. Where there were flaws, where it was warm and smooth, where there was a crack, and where it was as delicate as congealed fat, she knew clearly. Slowly, this piece of jade changed bit by bit in her mind, finally forming a perfect jade carving work.

  She opened her eyes and looked at Nie Boyi. Although the idea just now gave her a kind of impulse, she couldn't wait to pick up the engraving knife immediately, put the thoughts in her mind into reality, and turn the jade material into what she wanted. But she didn't forget the original intention of coming to try out today, she wanted to secretly learn Nie's family carving techniques.

  With a tight deadline, Nie Boyi carefully examined the jade material once again before walking over to the grinding machine and starting to work on it. He needed to first grind the jade into the shape he wanted, then use a carving knife for fine processing.

  Ye Chou's eyes were half-closed, as if she was sleeping but not quite. She seemed to have entered a state of meditation. In reality, through her half-open eyelids, she took in every move of Nie Bo Yi. Her practice with the incense had made her eyesight better than anyone else's, and it wasn't an exaggeration to say that she could see even the smallest details. So even though Nie Bo Yi was at a certain distance from her, none of his subtle movements escaped her notice.

  Nie Bao Yi picked up the engraving knife, his expression becoming focused and serious. His entire being was like a precious sword that had just been unsheathed, its sharpness and power unstoppable. His engraving knife accurately and forcefully pressed against the jade material, his wrist raised, and an arc line appeared on the jade material, smooth and beautiful. Immediately afterwards, his hand rose and the knife danced, the movements becoming faster and faster, the engraving knife seemingly becoming a part of his body, merging with him into one entity. His body moved in rhythm with the engraving knife, dancing gracefully, wherever his hands went, the shadow of the knife flashed, stone chips fell, and the jade material changed continuously according to his will. Where to use what knife technique, where to carve how, he seemed to not need to think at all, the pure skill brought about a state of thoughtlessness, his heart moving freely, following his desires...

  Follow your heart and do what you want!

  It's just as one pleases. The mind has a shape, but jade is formless; the hand follows the heart, and the heart follows the will. When the hands, eyes, heart, and will are in perfect harmony without any hindrance, the jade carving you create will be exactly what your brain thinks of. You can make it whatever shape you want...

  Suddenly, a flash of insight illuminated Ye Zhuo's mind, and she instantly grasped the essence of Nie family's jade carving technique.

  She suddenly opened her eyes, and the bright light in them was like the brightest star in the dark. She picked up the engraving knife and jade material on the table and moved quickly. The entangled carving techniques were all thrown out of her mind, she just wanted to use the engraving knife in her hand as a pen, freely drawing out what she wanted to express from the bottom of her heart, it would merge into her soul, completely unrelated to technique. She was no longer in the state of being calm and peaceful as before, she had entered a new realm, this realm was also undistracted, but at this time her heart was joyful and flowing like a long river, rushing to the extreme, she came alive like a river, her goal was the vast blue sea.

  The ups and downs of the movement fell without a trace, the swinging arm had already become a heavy shadow, the stone dust was like fog, enveloping Ye Zhuo in it. A jade plaque slowly took shape in her hand. When she finished carving and polishing, and put down her tools, the old woman who had been burning incense walked in, saying "Time's up."

  (Today is our women's day, I wish all the sisters eternal youth and beauty!)

  (Thank you for your support, it's my biggest motivation.)

  RV!!!!!

  Jade carving