Chapter 306
Chapter 306
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: Duel of the Top Scholar
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“Sir! The hour for the martial examination has passed. It’s unwise to stir up further complications!”
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The Minister of War, Ren Yao, stepped forward and bowed. “The civil and martial examinations have both concluded. Please have the Cabinet decide on the top scholar! The soldiers of the Five Armies, Divine Mechanism Battalion, and Divine Pivot Battalion under the Ministry of War are all awaiting Your Excellency to proclaim the results of the civil and martial trials!”
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Zhang Fuzheng’s expression darkened slightly. He glanced at him and said flatly, “Minister Ren, you’ve overstepped. You can’t command the Five Armies, nor the Divine Pivot or Divine Mechanism Battalions. You pose no threat to the Cabinet. The Divine Mechanism and Divine Pivot Camps are under the Seal-Holding Eunuch’s command. Without the Western King’s Jade Seal, who can mobilize them?”
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Ren Yao looked toward the Xia brothers, Xia Fanghe and Xia Shouying. They stood motionless among the civil and martial officials.
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Ren Yao’s heart jolted. He turned his gaze to the commander of the Divine Mechanism Battalion, Ma Weimin. Ma Weimin gave a faint smile but said nothing.
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Zhang Fuzheng said coolly, “Minister Ren, don’t misunderstand one thing. The Five Armies Camp, the Capital Guard Command, the Overall Command, the Guard Commands, the Thousand Household Offices, the Recruitment Offices—all the troops that seem to be under your command as Minister of War—are actually under the Cabinet’s jurisdiction. The only forces you can mobilize are the border armies through the Provincial Commands, but those Provincial Commanders are all controlled by the Thirteen Great Families.”
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He no longer looked at Ren Yao. His gaze fell upon the young master. The young master knelt on the ground, his face expressionless.
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He had originally been waiting to receive the decree and claim the title of top scholar, only for Chen Shi to arrive with three hundred and fifty examination candidates, accompanied by the righteous qi of heaven and earth. This shook the capital and filled it with his fame, sweeping away all the prestige and reputation he had painstakingly built over many days.
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If he could not defeat Chen Shi, even obtaining the top scholar title now would lead people to say he had only claimed it without daring to face Chen Shi in battle.
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Zhang Fuzheng said, “Young Master, what you want is momentum, what you want is fame. Without fame or momentum, what use is this top scholar title to you?”
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A surge of anger rose in the young master’s heart. He stood up.
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Shui Xuanzhi hurriedly shook his head at him repeatedly, signaling him not to rise.
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Ignoring his gesture, the young master turned around. His gaze met Chen Shi’s from outside the hall. His voice boomed, “My lords, Chen Shi and the others fell into the underworld during the metropolitan examination, yet they have returned alive from it. This is merit without fault—they should be made imperial graduates. I believe they should also participate in this palace examination. If I cannot defeat the heroes of the realm in this palace examination, then my claim to top scholar would be undeserved!”
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Shui Xuanzhi and the others gritted their teeth in secret.
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The young master absolutely should not have stepped forward to agree. At this moment, they should let the civil and martial officials bicker and stall for time—ten days or half a month—and Chen Shi’s prestige would gradually fade.
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The people of the capital would shift from revering Chen Shi to viewing him ordinarily, treating his righteous deeds as mere after-dinner chatter.
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By then, they would have all sorts of excuses and methods to manipulate Chen Shi, granting him second place as an act of mercy.
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But with the young master’s words now, he had introduced far too many variables into the matter!
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“Good!”
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Chen Shi’s voice rang out clearly. “Then I’ll wait for you outside!”
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Zhang Fuzheng looked toward the other twelve Cabinet ministers. They hesitated briefly before silently acquiescing. The young master was now in a bind—he needed fame, and Chen Shi had seized it all. Even if he became top scholar, there would be idle talk. The only way to gain fame now was to defeat Chen Shi squarely and claim the title openly.
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“A month ago, the metropolitan examination underwent a drastic change, causing the candidates to face calamity and fall into the underworld. Now, Chen Shi has led three hundred and fifty candidates back to the capital. The Cabinet decrees that Chen Shi and his three hundred and fifty companions shall enter the palace examination.”
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Zhang Fuzheng walked out of the Central Extreme Hall. His voice was grave as it boomed through the skies over the capital. “Young Master Ren Mu is the top of the current palace examination in both civil and martial trials, witnessed by all the officials with no objections. For fairness, the first place among the remaining three hundred and fifty-one candidates shall be decided to compete with Young Master Ren Mu for the top scholar position.”
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As his words fell, the three hundred and fifty candidates outside the hall—including Zhang You, Guo Daozi, and Yu Lingzi—all declared, “Chen Shi is first! No need for a contest!”
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Zhang Fuzheng said, “In that case, Chen Shi shall face Young Master Ren Mu. Young Master Ren Mu has already bested three hundred men, and Chen Shi has traveled far. Both imperial graduates need rest...”
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Chen Shi shook his head. “I don’t need rest.”
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The young master stepped forward and shook his head. “Nor do I.”
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Zhang Fuzheng turned back, surveying the surroundings with a smile. “My lords, since both imperial graduates say so, then today, outside this Central Extreme Hall, let the two decide victory. What say you?” The civil and martial officials nodded one after another.
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Zhang Fuzheng smiled. “Very well, then. Let the two imperial graduates have at it. The range shall not exceed the True King’s Nine Halls: Wenhua, Wuying, Huagai, Zhongji, Wenyan, Dongge, Zhengyi, Jingshen, and Jianji.”
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The civil and martial officials exited the Central Extreme Hall and withdrew from the True King’s Nine Halls.
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Beneath the Meridian Gate, Eunuch Feng smiled. “Lord Chen Tang, are you waiting here under the Meridian Gate in hopes your son loses and gets beheaded outside?”
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Chen Tang’s expression remained calm. “Eunuch Feng, please don’t jest.”
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Eunuch Feng’s smile faded, and he said earnestly, “During the metropolitan exam, you said your son’s chances of beating the young master then were slim, but a month later, defeat was certain for him. Are you still so sure?”
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“Certain,” Chen Tang said.
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The eunuch let out a breath and smiled. “Then my positions as Seal-Holding Eunuch and Eastern Depot Supervisor are secure.”
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Chen Tang saw the officials emerging from the Central Extreme Hall. His expression shifted slightly. “Eunuch Feng, you’d best prepare. When my son clashes with the young master, I fear the scene won’t stay calm.”
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Feng Tianhuan was momentarily stunned. “What do you mean not calm? Chen Tang! Chen Tang! Where are you going?” He hurriedly spun his wheelchair, only to see Chen Tang striding away swiftly.
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“This kid runs so fast! Doesn’t he know these legs of mine were broken by your father? Still running...” Eunuch Feng muttered in surprise. “Strange. It’s just a contest for top scholar—no one’s going to die. Why wouldn’t the scene stay calm?”
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Suddenly, his heart trembled. His face paled, and his hands shook. Chen Tang arrived swiftly at the Chen residence.
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Chen Shi’s wooden cart was still parked outside the residence’s carriage area, obediently huddled in the corner. These days, while Chen Tang and Blackie Pot had ventured deep into the underworld searching for Chen Shi, they hadn’t taken the cart, so it had remained there.
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However, Chen Shi had made arrangements: every morning and evening, people from Red Mountain Hall would bring exotic beast meat to feed the cart, so there was no worry of it starving.
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As Chen Tang approached, the wooden cart suddenly stirred alertly. Its frame cracked open faintly, revealing a ferocious maw that glowed red within.
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The huagai canopy inserted atop the cart shifted from closed to unfurled, its radiant light swirling beneath. The Nether Spring Soaring Dragon Sword darted back and forth under the umbrella.
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“I’m Chen Shi’s father,” Chen Tang said cautiously.
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The cart’s frame sprouted large eyes that fixed on him. The red glow in its mouth dimmed slightly.
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Chen Tang drew closer slowly. He knew the artifact talismans created by his father were all bizarre. Many of the things they produced resembled evils and spirits, not to be understood with ordinary human logic—especially after they absorbed moonlight, when they could easily lose control and become pure evils, wreaking havoc everywhere.
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He reached the cart, and it showed no further movement. Only then did he relax.
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Chen Tang rummaged through the cart for a moment and found the Western King’s Jade Seal in a pile of junk in a dusty corner.
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Chen Tang stared in astonishment, examining it repeatedly. He didn’t recognize the Western King’s Jade Seal and couldn’t confirm if this was it.
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This object was far too precious. In past years, the Divine Mechanism Battalion guarded it but had no right to use it—only the Seal-Holding Eunuch did. Even then, deploying the Western King’s Jade Seal required an extraordinarily grave matter.
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Sometimes, it went unused for ten or twenty years. “My son truly harbors thoughts of rebellion!”
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He thought for a moment, then placed the Western King’s Jade Seal back in the cart and entered the Chen residence.
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A moment later, he emerged carrying a wooden chest and headed straight for the inner city’s Meridian Gate. The chest in his hand was not large—about two feet long, one foot and three inches wide, and seven inches high.
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It appeared to be ordinary sandalwood, lacquered black to obscure the natural grain, with intricate patterns drawn on its surface using cinnabar and exotic beast blood, depicting forms of gods and demons.
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The chest had no lock or clasp, only a handle. To an outsider, it would be impossible to figure out how to open it. But to a talisman master versed in the Southern School, the entire chest was a supremely precise lock, requiring specialized unlocking techniques. The talisman master who designed it would incorporate unpredictable micro-structures inside. A single wrong step, and the chest would devour the intruder instantly.
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Destroying the chest wouldn’t yield its contents either—it would only enrage it, turning it into an evil that devoured the destroyer.
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Even shattering it with superior strength would leave nothing inside but a pile of flesh and blood.
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The chest’s creator need only craft an identical new one, and upon opening it, the contents would be right there—never lost.
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Such bizarre chests were favored by Southern School talisman masters, free from worry of loss. Carrying this chest put Chen Tang’s mind much more at ease.
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He passed through the Meridian Gate, past the Supreme Harmony Hall, and headed toward the Nine Halls.
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Minister of Revenue Cui Baihe and Left Vice Minister Jiang Mo approached from the opposite direction, their gazes flickering.
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Cui Baihe smiled. “Brother Chen Tang, when did you return? You haven’t attended court or gone to the Ministry these days—you’re guilty of dereliction of duty.”
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Jiang Mo stared at the chest in his hand and said warily, “What’s that chest you’re carrying?” The two flanked him, one on each side.
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Chen Tang said flatly, “Have the two lords been asked by someone to block my path?”
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Cui Baihe and Jiang Mo both looked somewhat awkward.
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Jiang Mo said, “Set the chest down and open it. We need to see what’s inside.”
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Chen Tang said, “I’m going to the Nine Halls to reason. I carry this chest only so that if they won’t reason, they’ll calm down and do so.”
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Jiang Mo reached for the chest. “Hand it over. I’ll keep it safe!”
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Before he touched it, Chen Tang’s other hand had already drawn his sword, its tip pressed to Jiang Mo’s throat.
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Jiang Mo smiled. “Lord Chen, this is...” “Thwack!”
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The sword flat struck his neck heavily, smashing him to the ground. Sword qi sealed all his acupoints, blocking his heavenly gate so his soul couldn’t escape.
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Sword qi filled his major acupoints, preventing him from reassembling his body. It stifled this Refining God Realm expert into unconsciousness!
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Chen Tang sheathed his sword and said coolly, “Minister Cui, no need to waste your effort. I’ve served you well for so many years, managing the Ministry of Revenue impeccably. No merit, but plenty of toil. If you block me, this official has no choice but to overstep and let you nap with him.”
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Cui Baihe hesitated, then smiled. “My name is Baihe—naturally, I seek harmony in all things. Lord Chen, you’ve hidden your edge for so long, but baring it today may not be wise. Since your sword is drawn, I won’t stop you. Please, go ahead!”
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Chen Tang carried the chest past him with one hand. Cui Baihe’s eyes flickered, but he dared not act, letting him reach the Nine Halls.
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“Little Ten, you want to be top scholar, you want to kill the young master—I’ll naturally support you fully!”
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Chen Tang arrived beside Eunuch Feng and thought silently, “The moment you kill the young master, your father will act together with Eunuch Feng to block everyone who tries to stop you!”
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Eunuch Feng looked up at his face and whispered, “Little Tang, I keep feeling like you’re hiding something from me. Come clean so I can die with eyes closed. Us eunuchs in the palace always fear dying without knowing why.”
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“Nothing’s wrong, my lord. Nothing at all,” Chen Tang reassured him.
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Eunuch Feng still felt that with him standing nearby, he’d die with eyes wide open.
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Outside the Nine Halls, the civil and martial officials each manifested their grand Primordial Spirits, floating in the air to watch the fight.
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In the capital’s court, the officials’ cultivation realms were extraordinarily high. Three Corpses Realm, Refining God Realm, Void Returning Realm—not a few among them. Primordial Spirits of various sizes floated in the sky, some with Grand Void Realms hanging behind like arcs of light, their Primordial Spirits concealed within.
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Even several family ancestors from the great clans hadn’t left and now manifested their Primordial Spirits, chuckling as they spectated.
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Their Grand Void Realms were impressive—often reduced to mere arcs of light floating behind the head. Weaker ones were but an acre in size.
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To them, this was mere child’s play. Watching two youngsters spar was just entertainment.
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“Chen Tang.”
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The Li family’s great ancestor Li Yiran spotted Chen Tang and beckoned him over with a smile. “Today is your son’s big day, but you, your son, your father, your family’s Chen Wu—they all make me uneasy. Sit beside me to watch, and I’ll feel better.”
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Chen Tang assented. His Primordial Spirit, chest in hand, sat beside Li Yiran—quite the odd sight, standing out awkwardly.
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The Li family ancestor Li Ganyun, the Ma family ancestor Ma Jun, and the Fei family’s former sect master Fei Buyi also sat nearby.
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“This guy really thinks carrying a chest lets him overturn the capital.”
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Minister of Revenue Cui Baihe saw Chen Tang still carrying the chest and muttered, “Even his dad couldn’t manage it.” He was deeply curious about what was in Chen Tang’s chest.
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Li Yiran smiled. “Chen Tang, your family has no one reassuring, but your son challenging Young Master Zhu Mu is overreaching. The young master is different from you all. When his mother was pregnant, palace experts guided her in cultivating the Jade Emperor Embryonic Breathing Scripture—not for her, but for him. It gathered prenatal qi, making him superior from birth. The Jade Emperor Embryonic Breathing Scripture is the foremost immortal art.”
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Chen Tang said, “He didn’t obtain the Congenital Dao Embryo.”
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Li Yiran frowned slightly. “I know the young master didn’t obtain the Congenital Dao Embryo, but the Jade Emperor Embryonic Breathing Scripture gave him foundations no worse than your son’s. From birth, Refining God Realm cultivators washed his marrow and tendons. His milk came from Three Corpses Realm wet nurses, never tainted by yin qi. At six, he was cleansed body and soul with all manner of spirit pills. At nine, his body was like jade, and only then did he begin cultivating the Eight Gates Reversal of Life and Death Art. At ten, he communed with heaven and received true god blessings. See the gap...”
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Chen Tang said, “He didn’t obtain the Congenital Dao Embryo.”
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Li Yiran laughed in exasperation. “The Eight Gates Reversal of Life and Death Art is also an immortal art! The profound technique the True King cultivated back then! What do you know of immortal arts?”
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“He didn’t obtain the Congenital Dao Embryo,” Chen Tang said.
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Li Yiran was furious, blowing his beard and glaring. “You know shit!”
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Nearby, Fei family former sect master Fei Buyi smiled. “Chen Tang, don’t rely on mere words. The young master visits the great families, and they impart their supreme arts to him. He visits the sacred grounds, welcomed from a hundred li away, free to peruse their scriptures. Even renowned elders offer pointers. We old bones teach him cultivation secrets too.”
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Ma family ancestor Ma Jun said, “He’s no less than the heirs of the great families—in fact, stronger.”
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Chen Tang said, “He didn’t obtain the Congenital Dao Embryo.”
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The ancestors all laughed in irritation. “One Congenital Dao Embryo this, one that—but your son doesn’t have one either! Someone stole your son’s Congenital Dao Embryo!”
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Chen Tang said gravely, “The Thirteen Families stole my son’s Congenital Dao Embryo. The capital owes my son a top scholar title.”
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The ancestors’ faces soured. They cursed into the void a few times and fell silent. Before the Central Extreme Hall, only Chen Shi and the young master remained.
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Chen Shi strode forward, inspecting the nine grand halls one by one.
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The nine supreme treasures left by the True King to suppress the destiny of West Niu New Continent—some even called them the nine immortal artifacts. With them, no upheavals would erupt in West Niu New Continent.
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Surrounded by the True King’s Nine Halls, Chen Shi and the young master could unleash themselves freely without damaging anything.
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Moreover, even if tempers flared and they sought to kill, the assembled officials could instantly activate the Nine Halls’ might to suppress them both, preventing casualties.
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Clashing amid the Nine Halls was utterly safe!
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The young master followed unhurriedly behind him and sighed wistfully, “Chen Shi, how I envy you. If you hadn’t died once, we’d be about the same age now, but our fates are so unjust.”
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Chen Shi said nothing. He arrived before Wenyan Pavilion, scrutinizing the treasure pavilion as he awaited the Cabinet’s announcement to begin.
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The young master sighed wistfully. “All my life, I’ve lived like a puppet on strings. In the Ren family, Ren Yao and the others taught me etiquette, how to speak and act, how to smile, breathe, walk—how to be refined, courteous, poised, and elegant. Even my clothes, shoes, and undergarments were strictly regulated!”
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He gave a self-mocking smile. “I couldn’t have friends, couldn’t show true emotions, couldn’t have my own thoughts. I thought I was imprisoned, with the Ren family as my cage. Later, for my safety, they sent me to Prince Zheng’s Bath Capital Mansion. I thought I’d fly free, but it was even worse there.”
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Even his self-mocking smile was intoxicating, stirring spring feelings in any girl who saw it, willing to do anything for him.
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Chen Shi remained unmoved. He circled Wenyan Pavilion once, then entered it. After reaching the third floor, he pushed open a window and jumped down, heading toward the nearby Jianji Hall.
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“They began demanding I learn how to win hearts, manipulate situations, expand influence—how to be flawless in public while ruthless and pitiless in private!”
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The young master followed him and sighed. “I learned hypocrisy, cunning, hype-building—how to capture a girl’s heart in moments, how to make a self-proclaimed hero pledge loyalty in a few words! I gained the power to manipulate hearts, but I’m not happy.”
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Chen Shi measured the perimeter of Jianji Hall, then manifested his Primordial Spirit to fly inside and familiarize himself with its layout.
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The young master said, “I’m not happy at all. My surname is Zhu—I’m the Son of Heaven, the future True King! I want to be myself. I want to win uprightly—not through Shui Xuanzhi’s schemes, not the Thirteen Families’ backing and favors!”
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His voice carried anger as he declared loudly, “Shui Xuanzhi and the others have always avoided a direct clash between us. Xia Fanghe and Xia Shouying have done everything to weaken your advantages. Ren Yao even tried using authority to pressure Chen Tang into making you withdraw from the top scholar contest. They night-raided your residence to cripple you. Such despicable, vile tactics disgust me!”
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Chen Shi arrived at Huagai Hall next, checking its layout.
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The young master’s chest heaved violently as he said to him, “They doubt my abilities, my efforts all these years! They raise me as the True King yet question if I can rule the realm! So I must fight this battle myself—win it brilliantly!”
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“I don’t want to be arranged every step of my life without ever choosing for myself!” Pride filled his face. “This time, I choose!”
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Chen Shi said nothing, sweeping through all nine halls, memorizing every item’s position. Then he waited quietly for the Cabinet’s order.
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The young master watched him, his emotions calming. He slowly circulated his technique, his Primordial Spirit emerging behind him.
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His Primordial Spirit stood sixteen feet tall, bearing an emperor’s majesty with heavenly dragons coiling around it. Eight Gates stood within its force field. The technique’s intricacy and subtlety were breathtaking!
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At that moment, the acting Minister of Rites’ voice rang out: “Martial trial—begin!”
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As the word “martial” was uttered, Chen Shi’s Sky Lang Emperor Canon Art reached its peak. With “trial,” his Primordial Spirit manifested behind him, as tall as his fleshly body.
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With “be,” the Primordial Spirit force field unfurled, and Chen Shi stepped forward.
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With “gin,” wind-thunder shift, mountain-swamp shift, and water-fire shift activated in his Primordial Spirit force field. At the same instant, Chen Shi’s right hand shot out, clamping the young master’s face and shoving his body with a boom into the vermilion wall of Zhengyi Hall several dozen feet behind him!
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Eunuch Feng rose from his wheelchair, eyes bulging as he cried out, “He’s formed his Primordial Spirit!” The Cabinet, Six Ministries, Three Dukes, Three Marquises, and other officials were shocked beyond measure, rising in alarm. “Bad! Save him!”
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Chen Tang’s face twisted ferociously as he reached to open the chest.