Chen Chang Sheng waved his hand, but didn’t turn his head, this was because he didn’t have a way to explain himself; even though he was still young, he didn’t have many years left to squander.
He did a formal gesture towards the Li Palace clergyman and walked to the top of the stone steps.
In the first match, his right boot had been destroyed, at this time, he had a pair of new boots on.
These boots were brought over by Lady Official Li from her chambers, they were new, but very comfortable. The size was just right; Luo Luo had probably recorded his measurements privately.
Wearing these boots, he felt rather well-grounded, full of confidence.
By the woodlands, Xuan Yuan Po said to Tang Thirty-Six: “Do you need to rest for a while?”
Tang Thirty-Six looked at Chen Chang Sheng, who was standing faraway, upon the stone steps. He remained quiet for a moment, then said: “No need, give me the crystal.”
As stated in Elder Tian Ji’s evaluation at the time of the proclamation’s update, he had been influenced by Chen Chang Sheng quite strongly; such as, at this moment and time, seeing the figure of Chen Chang Sheng, he quickly removed himself from the misery he was previously mired in; preparing to meditate and recover his True Essence.
Since there was the possibility of a second tournament, he had to at least make it into the Third Grade, otherwise, he really would start to feel diminished in front of Chen Chang Sheng.
This wasn’t a matter of achievement in realms, but a matter of will.
The tower door opened, Chen Chang Sheng and that scholar named Huo Guang walked in.
They were separated by a distance of tens of metres; standing upon the sand covered floor, they quietly faced each other.
If one were to carefully observe, they would perhaps be able to see the faint existence of blood stains below the yellow sand near their feet, these were probably left behind by the examinees in the previous duel.
“I’ve heard about you,” Huo Guang broke the silence, staring at him and continued, “from before arriving at the Capital.”
That scholar from Cassia Mansion looked to be around 18, 19 years of age, his expression was cold; he and his other fellow students looked as if they had been carved out from a single mould; in truth, their features were not similar at all, the only reason why they gave this feeling was because the young scholars from Cassia Mansion gave off a hard to describe type of aura.
Chen Chang Sheng didn’t answer; he didn’t feel the need to.
“I knew that I would run into you at the Grand Examination,” Huo Guang looked at him calmly and continued, “from before arriving at the Capital.”
It was at this moment that Chen Chang Sheng finally knew, the suppression applied upon Orthodox Academy today at the Grand Examination, wasn’t just interference from the Zhou Dynasty, or more specifically, from within the Orthodoxy, it even involved the far off Southern Domain.
Yet, he continued to remain silent, calmly adjusting his breathing and True Essence flow.
“In order to resist the demon race’s invasion, the human world needs to be united, an overflowing momentum, unstoppable by all; anyone seeking to prevent this, would only be flushed into the fetid gutter of history itself. As for you… you have already affected the progress towards an alliance between the North and South, therefore, you cannot take first place upon the First Banner, more importantly, neither can you marry Xu You Rong.”
Huo Guang looked at him while talking, with an expressionless face.
Chen Chang Sheng finally understood what that hard to describe aura was.
Like at the last night of the Ivy League gathering, the words from that rural scholar gave him the same kind of feeling.
In this world, there has always been a certain number of people, a certain number of scholars, that believed in some very strange logic.
For Heaven and Earth, a pledge of the heart; for life itself, a pledge of life; for past sages, the continuation of secret teachings; for all ages, the forging of peace; therefore, will you kindly go and die.
Iron shoulders, burdened with justice; after your death, I’ll look after your family; this entire world will also be cared for by me.
Chen Chang Sheng shook his head; if there was only the first half, it would be very worthy of respect; if the latter half was to be included, then it becomes bad.
He didn’t like that type of aura.
He disliked it even more than the bloodthirsty aura that Xu Shi Ji gave off.
“Don’t worry, I won’t use words to insult you, because that’s meaningless and very dull,” said Huo Guang, while looking at him indifferently, yet, the faintest hint of movement could be seen in his brows for an instant.
Perhaps at this moment, he remembered the mean and callous words Tang Thirty-Six had said to him when they were arguing over the path back in the forest during the Martial Trial.
“I will simply just defeat you.”