Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 587 – Today, the Starlight Is Glorious

Liang Xiaoxiao, disciple of the Mount Li Sword Sect, former member of the Divine Kingdom’s Seven Laws.

Out of hatred, this young genius who originally had a limitless future of light before him ultimately stepped on the path of betraying humanity and collaborated with the demons. In the Garden of Zhou, he had stirred up a storm of blood and attempted to assassinate Chen Changsheng, Qi Jian and the others. After his failure, he refused to give up, using his own death as a sacrifice for the most unyielding of plans.

But with the return of Su Li to Mount Li, the conclusion of Mount Li’s internal strife, Chen Changsheng’s return to the capital, and Zhuang Huanyu’s suicide to escape punishment, all controversies and doubts came to a sudden end. Now, Liang Xiaoxiao had become Mount Li’s greatest dishonor, or perhaps its easiest point of attack—the expert from the Emotion-Severing Sect from a while ago had done just this.

The Mount Li Sword Sect’s response had been very tough, very clear.

According to the rules of the Mount Li Sword Sect, even though Liang Xiaoxiao was dead, he should still have been expelled from the sect and no longer be regarded as a disciple of Mount Li. But in the eyes of Gou Hanshi and the others, this once-brilliant young swordsman was still one of their fellow disciples, let alone the fact that Liang Banhu had originally been his brother.

Hatred and dishonor were just one thing, but how could they so quickly forget the full ten years they spent cultivating together with their fellow disciple?

Tang Thirty-Six asked in confusion, “You really think they aren’t targeting you?”

Liang Xiaoxiao had died outside the Garden of Zhou on the outskirts of Hanqiu City at his own hand, but from another angle, didn’t he basically die at Chen Changsheng’s sword?

It was just like how Zhuang Huanyu had killed himself by the well in the Heavenly Dao Academy, but the teachers and students of the Heavenly Dao Academy, including Famous Name Guan Bai, had still placed the blame squarely on Chen Changsheng’s shoulders.

No one had ever talked about whether Chen Changsheng had done anything wrong in this matter, but just as was said a moment ago, grudges had always been clear-cut and had never based themselves on reason.

It was precisely because Tang Thirty-Six had thought of this point that he warned Chen Changsheng.

Chen Changsheng shook his head, musing, “Perhaps…it’s just in remembrance.”

Tang Thirty-Six raised his brows, not very convinced by this theory.

Zhexiu explained, “What Chen Changsheng means is that if you died, no matter how you died, he would never forget you. Occasionally he would also use the Three Forms of Wenshui to remember you.”

Tang Thirty-Six shot him a glare and retorted, “When did you begin to talk so much?”

……

……

An old grudge existed between Tianliang County and the Mount Li Sword Sect, thus causing Scholar Hu and the others to challenge them, yet they had lost three in a row. The cultivators originating from other regions would naturally not seek unwanted attention for themselves, so the scene momentarily became rather deserted.

Then, Zhong Hui stood up.

This was a right and inevitable matter, so right and inevitable that when the crowd saw him walk to the platform and then shifted their gazes to Gou Hanshi, they subconsciously exhaled.

In last year’s Grand Examination, Chen Changsheng was first rank of the first banner, Gou Hanshi was second, and Zhong Hui was third. On the newly issued Proclamation of Golden Distinction, Zhong Hui was still right behind these two people.

In the one and a half years after the conclusion of that Grand Examination, Zhong Hui advanced with lightning speed. He had already cultivated to the peak of Ethereal Opening. Compared with the third rank on the first banner that he had obtained almost by a fluke, his position on the Proclamation of Golden Distinction was the true representation of his status amongst this generation of youths. However, he was still below Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi. So in the Boiling Stone Summit, he naturally wanted to challenge Gou Hanshi and then Chen Changsheng.

He calmly gazed at Gou Hanshi while looking at Chen Changsheng out of the corner of his eyes.

This calm signified his self-confidence.

Guan Feibai was also very self-confident, at the same time very proud. He had always looked down on Zhong Hui, felt like this scholar from Scholartree Manor was feigning calm. With two cold laughs, he prepared to step onto the stage to take the challenge.

Gou Hanshi held back his junior brother—he wanted to show his opponent sufficient respect. Zhong Hui had not opened his mouth, but everyone knew who the true person he wanted to challenge was.

The wind off the lake gently blew against Zhong Hui’s sleeves and the fine sand on the stone platform.

Gou Hanshi walked upon the fine sand, leaving a shallow footprint on its surface.

Zhong Hui gazed at him, his expression calm, even somewhat stiff as he unsheathed his sword.

With this action, his sleeves instantly ceased to flutter. This was because the wind had ceased to blow from the lake, chopped into pieces by the sword intent he emitted and vanishing into the air.

Gou Hanshi slightly raised his brows, somewhat surprised.

In the end, rumors and what one saw with one’s own eyes were two different things.

Everyone said that Zhong Hui had cultivated to the peak of Ethereal Opening and even had a chance of being the second-fastest extraordinary individual after Qiushan Jun to succeed in Star Condensation. However, only after seeing him with their own eyes and sensing the vanishing of the lake wind could the crowd finally confirm that his sword intent had actually reached such a powerful state, that he was only a step from the threshold.

Gou Hanshi’s expression grew more solemn.

The mood over the platform also grew solemn.

However, different from what the crowd imagined, Gou Hanshi’s solemnity was not because he realized that he might lose, but because he was thinking about how it seemed that he could no longer conceal his strength.

Not too much time was needed for him to make his decision.

A nearly indiscernible, extremely faint Qi began to emerge from his body.

The fragments of lake wind that had drifted into the sky seemed to be impelled by some force to slowly, yet distinctly, come together once more and leisurely surround his body.

The splendid sun was currently overhead. Although they were at the high and cold summit, the temperature gradually began to warm. The blazing rays of light fell upon the lake and the stones, reflecting and scattering apart, somewhat dazzling to the eyes.

Those bright rays of light could not directly fall on Gou Hanshi’s body.

Because his body was surrounded by the silky threads of the lake wind.

The rays of light once more reflected and scattered, still bright, but no longer as dazzling. Moreover, they were sliced by the lake wind into countless specks of light. When these specks of light shone upon his blue garments, it seemed like he was under a tree.

And also like countless stars.

The faintly discernible Qi suddenly became incomparably calm, incomparably clear. Countless bits of stars danced around his face and his clothes, yet did not drift too far away.

The stone platform by the lake was deathly still.

For a very long time, nobody could open their mouths to speak.

Just when those fragments of star began to dance, Zhong Hui’s expression changed.

His calm and almost stiff expression was instantly supplanted by shock and a feeling of defeat.

His face was extremely pale, with not a hint of blood to be seen.

After a long time passed, he finally awoke from his daze and shakily said, “I have lost.”

As he spoke these three words, he seemed to be in deep suffering.

After saying it, he actually seemed to relax, returning his sword to its sheath and departing.

The stone platform was still quiet.

A clear and gentle voice spoke.

“Congratulations to Senior Brother.”

The speaker was Xu Yourong.

Many people had already guessed, or perhaps understood, why Zhong Hui had conceded, but only when she spoke did those people truly dare to believe it, because this fact was truly somewhat inconceivable.

The entire audience was still quiet, a silence that had already persisted for a very long time.

Gou Hanshi had already succeeded in entering Star Condensation.

He himself was very calm, but the disciples of the Mount Li Sword Sect found it hard to conceal their pride. Guan Feibai still had that corpse-like face of his, but the gaze he aimed at the people of the Orthodox Academy was rather different.

Chen Changsheng sighed, “Admirable.”

Zhexiu noted, “Second fastest.”

In this generation of youths, the speed at which Gou Hanshi succeeded in Star Condensation could be ranked second. Mo Yu and Tianhai Shengxue had succeeded in Star Condensation at slightly older ages.

As for the person ranked first, it was naturally Qiushan Jun.

Tang Thirty-Six was expressionless as he whispered, “You have to hurry up.”

He was naturally speaking to Chen Changsheng.

Gou Hanshi turned in the direction of the Orthodox Academy and slowly nodded at Chen Changsheng.

He had not spoken, but Chen Changsheng understood his meaning.

After a moment of silence, he stood up.

The crowd was in an uproar.