Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 140: Qingshan Temple
The Instructor quickly found Lin Miaomiao's exam paper and saw line after line of elegant writing. He read through it from beginning to end and discovered that Lin Miaomiao had indeed completed all the questions.
Suppressing his astonishment, the Instructor glanced at a few of the more obscure questions. After reading Lin Miaomiao's answers, he trembled as he said, "This is a person."
These four words carried immense weight, higher than any other praise could convey.
What is a person? A celestial being!
Upon hearing this, the disciples from various sects and their elders turned to look at Lin Miaomiao. The Instructor had been supervising examinations for many years, and his words naturally held great significance.
"Is this the Ethereal Body Lin Miaomiao from Solitary Moon City?"
"In just two short years, she has cultivated at a terrifying speed to the peak of Fate Realization Realm, ranking first on the stele?"
Some disciples exclaimed in surprise. Even those who were ranked on the stele looked at Lin Miaomiao with serious expressions.
Lin Feng joked, "Gold shines wherever it goes; it's always the center of attention."
Lin Miaomiao smiled awkwardly and said, "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have answered all the questions. Unfortunately, I couldn't hold back at that time."
"Do you regret it?"
"I do regret it," Lin Miaomiao nodded.
He Rongsheng walked through the crowd and approached Lin Miaomiao, saying, "Lin Miaomiao, congratulations. You ranked first in this Examination; it seems it was meant to be."
Lin Feng looked at He Rongsheng with displeasure, a hint of murderous intent in his heart. He coldly asked, "Miaomiao, we don't converse with shameless people."
He Rongsheng frowned, anger rising within him as he replied, "Who could be more shameless than you? Lin Feng, is this how you treat your savior?"
Lin Feng's expression soured further as he retorted, "I nearly died at your hands. What nonsense about a savior are you talking about?"
He Rongsheng sneered, "If you entered Dusi Mansion, it was only because I had my father intervene on your behalf. Do you think you could have come out to participate in the Examination otherwise?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Feng couldn't help but glance at Lin Miaomiao.
Lin Miaomiao noticed the confusion in Lin Feng's eyes and felt apologetic. "Lin Feng, I'm sorry, I..."
"Enough," Lin Feng interrupted Miaomiao's response. He understood that it wasn't like her to seek help from an enemy; everything she did was for his sake.
A sense of guilt washed over Lin Feng for putting Miaomiao in such a position. He took her hand and said, "Miaomiao, the one who should be sorry is me."
"Then I won't hold back," Lin Miaomiao replied with a smile, revealing two faint dimples.
Lin Feng turned his serious gaze back to He Rongsheng and said, "You tried to kill me before but saved me this time. I, Lin Feng, am a person who distinguishes between gratitude and grudges. Let's consider our past grievances settled."
With that, Lin Feng led Lin Miaomiao away. The reason he chose to let things go was partly to honor Miaomiao's plea to He Rongsheng; he wanted her efforts to be meaningful. Secondly, since he had come out unscathed, Magenta was also unharmed.
After the Examination concluded, everyone returned to rest and prepare for the second half of the Examination in the afternoon.
At the hour of Shen, disciples from various sects gathered once again at the Divine General Manor's Xiaoxiang Academy. The topic for the afternoon Examination was relatively simple, consisting of just four words: "Observations on the Painting."
Following the seating order from the morning Examination, the disciples proceeded to a private chamber within Xiaoxiang Academy to view the painting.
Inside that chamber hung a massive mural, large enough to cover an entire wall. The painting depicted numerous elements, such as a setting sun, towering mountains, flowing rivers, houses, flowers, trees, and flying birds and insects, seemingly encompassing everything.
This painting was titled The Many Paths of the Dao. It was said that Elder Ji created it during his cultivation journey to the Sage Realm, inspired by his profound insights. One could imagine the extraordinary significance of this artwork.
The first to enter was Princess Wutashan from the Barbarian tribe.
Accompanied by the delicate sound of her earrings swaying in the breeze, Wutashan stepped into the chamber. She noticed that it was empty except for the enormous painting.
"Observations on the Painting" meant simply this: when you gaze upon The Many Paths of the Dao, what do you see?
Wutashan placed great importance on this painting. Her reason for participating in the Examination was to witness this masterpiece created by Elder Ji with his Essence Blood. She vividly remembered her father's parting words.
"Child, during your visit to Zhongzhou, I have three pieces of advice for you. First, fight well and do not bring shame. Second, your life is paramount. Third, make sure to see that painting and observe it closely."
The greatest aspiration in Wutashan's life was to earn the recognition of the Barbarian King. The Barbarian King desired a son, but fate had given him a daughter instead, with no other heirs.
Wutashan wanted to prove to her father that she could accomplish what any son could do—and even do it better.
She had never considered herself merely a girl; she trained relentlessly every day, enduring hardships that even the fiercest Barbarians would find daunting.
Thus, Wutashan paid close attention to every word and instruction from the Barbarian King. She aimed to fulfill each one meticulously and strive for excellence in all her endeavors.
For a long time, Wutashan stared ahead, suddenly realizing she was in an open space. The sunset before her had vanished, the river had disappeared, and many things within the vast painting were slowly fading away.
Only the towering mountains gradually emerged, becoming clearer. It felt as if the mountains were pressing down on her. Wutashan immediately felt an overwhelming pressure, sensing a life-threatening crisis.
Unable to contain herself, Wutashan unleashed her cultivation, spreading her arms wide in an attempt to hold back the encroaching mountains.
But the mountains were too high and endless, stretching far beyond her sight. They slowly bent her arms down. Wutashan could only brace herself against the weight of the mountains with her shoulders.
With an angry roar, she planted her feet firmly on the ground, tensing her entire body, trying to lift her arms and support the descending peaks.
The mountains were too heavy and high, causing her legs to start bending under the strain. She quickly activated the Manifestation of Divine Powers, transforming herself into a giant towering over the land.
Finally, Wutashan managed to hold up the Mountain. She let out a triumphant roar. Just as that sound escaped her lips, another layer of Mountain pressed down upon her. With two layers combined, Wutashan found herself struggling under the immense weight.
Then she saw a third layer, a fourth... astonishingly, nine layers of relentless Mountain bore down on her.
The giant Wutashan displayed a complex mix of confusion, unwillingness, and fear. She stood frozen in place as the nine layers of mountains descended upon her, threatening to crush her.
Wutashan chose to resist rather than succumb.
Ahhh...
Wutashan let out a desperate scream. With all her strength, she pushed her hands outward. Even though she knew she could never hold up nine layers of mountains and that she would inevitably fall.
"Even if I die, I will die standing!"
Thunderous Roar...
The second layer of the Mountain pressed down, and the giant Wutashan's arm bent under the weight, her head forced tightly against her shoulder.
Thunderous Roar...
The third layer of the Mountain descended, causing Wutashan to drop to her knees, struggling to resist the collapse of the Mountain.
Thunderous Roar...
The fourth layer of the Mountain came crashing down, overwhelming Wutashan. She fell to the ground, burdened by four layers of the Mountain.
Ahhh...
Wutashan thrashed and roared, and as the fifth layer of the Mountain bore down upon her, she miraculously managed to push herself up. At that moment, she was on all fours, her knees on the ground, just managing to bear the weight of the Mountain. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.
Wutashan's head remained pressed tightly against her left shoulder; she could not lift it. She couldn't see how far away the fifth layer of the Mountain was, but she knew she had reached her limit.
Thunderous Roar...
Just as the fifth layer of the Mountain appeared, a terrifying shadow emerged, shattering it with an overwhelming force. Then, one by one, the four layers of the Mountain atop Wutashan crumbled away.
Finally, Wutashan lifted her head and beheld that enormous shadow.
It was a stick—its length unknown. It seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky, piercing through the sixth layer above her head, then the seventh, eighth, and ninth layers of the Mountain.
Beneath the Stun Baton stood an extraordinarily refined middle-aged man.
A single stick towering above.
The giant Wutashan gazed at the man, who was no taller than his finger, and suddenly felt so insignificant. It was he who truly embodied greatness.
Wutashan retracted her unusual perception, and everything before her vanished. She remained in the empty chamber, devoid of anything but the grand painting that adorned the wall.
"Who is he?"
With this question lingering in her mind, Wutashan stepped out of the chamber. Outside, there was a table where the Instructor sat. According to the rules of interpreting what one had seen, she needed to write down her observations upon exiting.
Wutashan picked up a brush and wrote four characters on the white surface: One Man, One Stick.
There were fifty disciples participating in the Examination. Each one emerged from their experience as disoriented as Wutashan, their clothes disheveled, some even with blood at the corners of their mouths, as if they had not merely observed a painting but had instead engaged in a fierce battle.
The First Barbarian General Muhan Huo De approached Wutashan as she exited. Observing her contemplative expression, he asked, "Qing, are you alright?"
Seeing Wutashan remain silent, Muhan Huo De pressed on, "Qing, what did you see?"
After a long moment lost in chaotic thoughts, Wutashan finally broke free. "Master, I saw the Nine-Layered Mountain pressing down on me. Just when I could no longer bear it, a man appeared with a stick that had no visible end and held up the Mountain. He saved me."
Muhan Huo De fell into deep thought upon hearing this. He murmured, "The Nine-Layered Mountain is the Divine Ability of the King. You saw the King's Divine Ability bearing down on you? What could this signify? And who is that man with the stick? Why did he help you?"
Wutashan looked at Muhan Huo De with confusion and said, "I do not know either. Master, could it be that my ranking at this Jiuzhou Gathering Conference was too poor? Upon returning, might the Barbarian King be enraged and seek to suppress me?"
"Foolish child, don't overthink it," Muhan Huo De comforted.
Muhan Huo De cared deeply for Wutashan, watching her struggle through the challenges she faced. Her name did not sound like a girl's name, which led Wutashan to refer to herself as Qing Shan.
The character "Qing" implies femininity, while "Shan" does not contradict her father's wishes. Even though she engaged in activities typically reserved for boys, and even accomplished things that boys could not, there was a part of her heart that held a secret: she was a girl.
It was simply because she was born a daughter that the Barbarian King did not acknowledge her. Wutashan could not call the Barbarian King "father." She could only refer to him as the Barbarian King, just like everyone else.
"Qing, let's go back. What you have seen holds special meaning. Until you understand it fully, do not let your thoughts wander," Muhan Huo De said gently. (To be continued...)
Comment 0 Comment Count