"Come on, there are still several rounds of competition ahead. This first round is just a warm-up. I don't believe he can be fiercer than the poets from our Poetry Association."
The vice president of the Poetry Association said with a smile. Although the poem Wang Shu had just written in the competition was amazing, he didn't believe that Wang Shu could maintain the same level in the subsequent rounds.
It was said that with an increase in quantity, quality was bound to decline. As for the veterans under him, they were all contestants with strong stamina.
To put it bluntly, the veterans from their Poetry Association had not yet shown their full potential.
"Stop boasting. If you can't even win the first round, don't expect anything from the later ones. Do you think this kid has weak stamina?"
The old station director was very unhappy to hear this. After all, he had just felt that Wang Shu would definitely take one of the top positions this time.
But this old fellow had offended him by belittling Wang Shu.
"Then let's just wait and see. The one who shines brightest is not necessarily the ultimate winner!"
The vice president of the Poetry Association said with a smug smile.
After that, the old station director ignored him and focused all his attention on the big screen.
This time, the question setter was the vice president from before. Moreover, as the competition had entered its second phase, the difficulty had also been upgraded.
The topic had changed from poetry creation to *ci* (lyric poetry) creation.
The task was to be given a *cipai* (tune pattern) and then compose a *ci* based on that *cipai*.
Although poetry and *ci* had always belonged to the same field, in most cases, composing a good *ci* was somewhat more difficult than writing a good poem.
This was because writing poetry only required an understanding of the rules of meter and tone to fool laymen. However, composing *ci* also required an understanding of musicality on top of that.
Especially composing *ci* based on a *cipai*, this directly tested a lyricist's mastery of the musicality of the *cipai*.
And this time, the *cipai* was "Ding Feng Bo" (Calming the Wind and Waves).
"This time, I'd like to see if this kid from your TV station can still take the lead!"
The vice president couldn't help but say with a smile after setting the topic.
After all, in general poetry and *ci* creation, those who were good at poetry were often mediocre at *ci*, and those who were good at *ci* were slightly inferior in poetry. It was very rare to excel in both.
Given Wang Shu's profound skill in seven-character quatrains earlier, he was bound to be slightly weaker in *ci* creation.
This was why he had directly changed the second phase of the competition to *ci* composition.
"It's time to write *ci*. This is finally my strong suit. My poetry writing is indeed not good, but I'm very confident in my *ci* writing!"
"I've finally reached the *ci* writing section. I've been so frustrated."
"I'm very curious now. The kid from the TV station who won first place in poetry earlier, can he still win first place in *ci* writing?"
"Dream on. Although poetry and *ci* are related, it's very difficult to master both. If he can win first place in *ci* writing too, I'll quit writing forever!"
Many contestants who were skilled in *ci* composition were very excited and thrilled after the host announced the topic.
This was because they had felt too stifled in the previous two rounds, where they might have been eliminated if their field was not strong enough.
Now that it was finally their strong suit, they had to make a comeback and earn some face for the Poetry Association!
Thus, after the *cipai* name was revealed, they all began to write, composing their *ci*.
Wang Shu did not hesitate. After searching his mind for a moment, he directly bent over and began to answer on the screen in front of him.
"Good heavens, could this guy be proficient in both poetry and *ci*?"
"Unbelievable. I feel like he just thought about it for a moment and started writing!"
"This is really too much. If he does this, I'll suspect he already knew the topic beforehand!"
Many viewers were once again shocked to see Wang Shu start writing so quickly after thinking for only a few seconds.
They had originally thought that Wang Shu's high level of poetry writing would mean his *ci* writing would be weaker, but they did not expect him to be so swift in composing *ci*.
As the competition changed from poetry to *ci* composition, the old station director, who had been somewhat worried, now saw Wang Shu diligently and steadily composing, and his suspended heart finally settled.
"Old fellow, your judgment might not be correct. Who says one cannot excel in both poetry and *ci*?"
The old station director mumbled to the vice president beside him again.
"Writing fast doesn't mean anything. Quality is king!"
The vice president smiled faintly. In his opinion, Wang Shu was merely trying to avoid embarrassment by pretending to be composing.
Then, before anyone had submitted their works, a complete *ci* suddenly appeared on the big screen.
"Ding Feng Bo"
"Do not hear the sound of wind and leaves rustling through the forest, why not chant and walk leisurely."
"A bamboo staff and straw sandals are lighter than a horse, who fears? A straw cloak in the rain allows one to live freely through life."
On the judging panel, the vice president couldn't help but read the first half of the *ci* very seriously.
His eyes immediately lit up. Judging solely by the first half, this was a very good *ci*. It not only met the requirements of the *cipai* but also had a strong sense of imagery.
However, when he looked at the submitter, he was once again shocked to see that the submitter was Jiangnan Television.
"I'm impressed, I'm truly impressed. Is this guy a monster? How can he write *ci* so well too?"
"I simply cannot understand. Which window did God close for him? It's one thing that his poetry is so good, but why is his *ci* so amazing?"
"Brothers, do you remember you said you'd quit writing if he wrote one? It looks like you're really going to quit now."
At this moment, the contestants who had been so confident and self-assured were all looking up and seeing the work on the big screen.
This time, Wang Shu was not only the first to submit, but the quality of this *ci* was completely beyond what they could write.
"The biting spring wind blows awake the wine, a slight chill, the setting sun on the mountaintop still welcomes."
"Looking back at the bleak path just traversed, returning, there is neither wind nor rain, nor is it clear."
Everyone looked at the big screen and read the entire *ci* from beginning to end, their faces filled with shock.
Even laymen who didn't understand poetry and *ci* could feel that this *ci* was written exceptionally well after reading it carefully.
Even without annotations, they could conjure the scene described by the *ci* in their minds.
"Can someone tell me if this *ci* is amazing?"
"Oh my god, this guy is too strong. He's made those old guys so angry their faces have turned black!"
"Putting aside everything else, although I don't understand poetry and *ci* very well, after reading this, I can only say, it's written incredibly well!"
Many viewers expressed their amazement. Since the competition began, Wang Shu had basically dominated the entire event, with no one able to contend with him.
It was worth noting that this was a poetry conference held only once every three years nationwide, attracting the best from all walks of life, including official contestants from the China Poetry Association.
Yet, among such masters of the poetry and *ci* world, Wang Shu was able to stand out. How powerful was this?
"How about that? Convinced now? Someone can truly excel in both poetry and *ci*!"
The old station director said triumphantly to the vice president beside him after reading Wang Shu's work.
At this moment, he had completely believed that Wang Shu had the ability to win first place in this grand competition.
He remembered meeting Wang Shu yesterday and thinking that the young man was too arrogant. He didn't expect that arrogance would require ability.
Wang Shu had the confidence because he had the talent, which was why he dared to be arrogant. His judgment was indeed not bad.
The old station director couldn't help but think that if he hadn't taken a gamble yesterday, Jiangnan Television might have been just a participant in this year's poetry conference.
But he had gambled correctly, and Wang Shu had exceeded his expectations, even having the chance to win first place directly.
The vice president's expression was a little grim. Wang Shu's work was indeed top-notch. Even if he were to compose a *ci* on the spot, he admitted that he couldn't surpass Wang Shu's.
Therefore, he had already made up his mind that the outcome of today's competition was basically decided. If Wang Shu continued to produce works of this caliber, it was unlikely that other contestants could catch up to him.
Thus, the subsequent rounds of the competition were essentially battles among other contestants, while Wang Shu had already secured the first place.
Even so, the required procedures still had to be followed.
Wang Shu continued to complete his creations one by one according to the competition's process.
But without exception, he consistently secured first place in almost every round.
After all, the works he copied were the famous poems of historical masters from Earth, timeless masterpieces that had been passed down for thousands of years.
The people present, even with their lifetime of learning, had no chance of reaching that level.
As the competition progressed, by the end of the fourth phase, only twenty contestants remained.
According to the competition's progression, the next stage was a challenge match.
Contestants would need to choose their opponents to determine their final rankings.
However, Wang Shu found that this time, no one chose him as an opponent to challenge.
This made Wang Shu feel helpless.
Some contestants even chose to forfeit directly because they encountered Wang Shu.
After several rounds of challenge matches, Wang Shu advanced directly to the top five finals without writing a single poem.
And this time, Wang Shu directly won first place with his poem "Deng Gao" (Ascending the Heights).
"The wind is fierce, the sky is high, and the monkeys cry mournfully. The clear islet and white sand are where the birds fly back."
"Boundless falling leaves rustle down, the endless Yangtze River rolls on."
"For ten thousand miles, in this autumnal sorrow, I am a perpetual guest. For a hundred years, with many ailments, I ascend this terrace alone."
"In hardship and bitterness, I regret my frost-white temples. Down on my luck, I have newly stopped raising my cup of turbid wine."
When everyone present finished reading the poem "Deng Gao," their mouths hung open in shock.
This poem was not only concise in language but also paired throughout. The first two lines even had internal parallelism, fully demonstrating that the creator's mastery of poetic language and rhythm had reached a state of perfection.