Ze Tian Ji Chapter 135-136

Chapter 135 – Like Walking on Thin Ice

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

(TN: Way of Choices will be on break from December 25th, 2017 – January 7, 2018)

The martial test consisted of passing through the sea of trees and crossing the green river. The former tested the examinee’s spiritual sense and perception while the latter tested the examinee’s quantity of true essence and skill in using it. This seemingly simple assessment almost seemed like a child’s game, but its aim and standards were plainly set. The Grand Examination was truly deserving of its title.

Upon walking out of the Dallying Forest, one would emerge in the northeastern region of the Li Palace. The so-called ‘other shore’ was the southern shore, and how could one reach the region south of the river?

Chen Changsheng looked at the solemn-faced examinees standing at the shore of the Qu River and then listened to the footsteps, some near and some far, coming from the sea of trees behind him. He knew that many examinees would assuredly be unable to walk out of this sea of trees and many would be unable to cross the Qu River. It seemed that the martial test phase would eliminate many people.

He ignored the strange gazes aimed at himself as he quietly stood on a stone on the shore. He looked at the meadow on the southern shore and looked at the barely discernible figures in the pavilion within the distant forest, seeming to be thinking of something.

Liang Banhu had already crossed the river, as had Zhuang Huanyu, Guan Feibai, and Qi Jian. Just as he had walked out of the forest, he had just so happened to spy Gou Hanshi and Tianhai Shengxue almost simultaneously reach the grass on the southern shore. What of the thinly-clothed youth who had been the first to finish the literary test? Was he in the forest?

To cross this wide river without assistance from magical artifacts was not too difficult a feat to these people blessed with abundant true essence and exquisite Daoist techniques, but to ordinary examinees, this was one of the hardest tasks in the world. Those examinees who were confident that they could cross the river had rushed across as soon as they had walked out of the sea of trees. Those that remained on this side were all hesitating.

Just then, a female examinee from the Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green walked out of the forest. After hearing the rules from the examiner, she walked straight towards the Qu River without a second thought. As a slightly chilly spring breeze blew in from upstream, wafting the girl’s dress in the breeze and causing it to dance like a leaf, she just very straightforwardly walked across the river!

Those examinees on the shore could only sigh in envy. The Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green specialized in the teaching of Sacred techniques, but its students were also skilled in body-lightening movement techniques. However, those techniques were like the sword style of Mount Li, never transmitted to outsiders. Examinees of other schools could only envy in vain while those ordinary students who had never had a chance to interact with such profound techniques could only be overcome by helplessness.

A disciple of the Longevity Sect’s Purple Qi Cliff angrily said, “Every cultivation method is different. This test is far too unfair.”

The examiner said, “As long as you can cross, it counts as a pass. Nothing could be fairer.”

The Purple Qi Cliff disciple raged, “So you’re saying if I brought the mount of my sect’s elder here and mounted it to fly across, I would pass?”

The examiner coldly said, “If you brought it, then it could count as your ability.”

The disciple was at a loss for words. Many magical artifacts could assist a cultivator in flying across a short distance, but the rules of today’s martial test had forbidden the use of magical artifacts. As for those birds that could fly with a person on their back…they were extremely rare. Other than the Red Eagles used by the military, the vast majority of them acted as mounts for the elders of various sects. How could one be just casually taken on a journey by a disciple? Most critically, the format of the Grand Examination was kept under a strict layer of secrecy and this year’s examination was far too different from the ones of the past. Which examinee could have known that participating in the Grand Examination required a bird at their side?

The sight of the girl from the Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green easily crossing the river had caused people to go green with envy, but it had also given some wavering examinees much more self-confidence and courage. An examinee from the Snow Mountain Sect in the northwest began his own attempt. His right foot descended towards the Qu River and right as it touched the water, the surface of the river froze into ice.

“The cold Qi of the Snow Mountain Sect! Truly extraordinary!” an examinee exclaimed in praise.

With a grave expression, the Snow Mountain Sect disciple carefully walked into the river. When his left foot touched the river, another layer of ice formed beneath it.

He slowly walked across the Qu River, sheets of ice forming beneath his two feet. It was sublimely beautiful, these lotuses of snow blooming in the river, yet it made the spectators extremely nervous, as if he really was walking on thin ice. Everyone had already stopped speaking, holding their breaths and nervously staring, afraid to disturb this disciple.

After a while, when this Snow Mountain Sect disciple had walked ten-some zhang, a sudden vexing gust of wind blew from upstream, causing his body to sway. After just barely holding on for a few moments, he realized that he could no longer last. With a shout, he gathered his energy and rushed towards the opposite shore, leaving extremely thin shards of ice on the rippling waters of the river.

Regretfully, he did not have sufficient true essence to last for too long. When he was about seven zhang away from the southern shore, he finally fell into the river.

“Aiya!”

The spectating examinees on the shore felt a great pity. Their confidence in passing the martial test had been dealt another heavy blow.

Even when an examinee from Star Seizer Academy rode a sword across the river a little while later, the examinees were still unable to regain confidence. Riding a sword across a river seemed very natural and unrestrained, but it had very high demands on the true essence and skill of these people crossing the river. Of the examinees that had succeeded in crossing the river, only the four disciples of Mount Li and Zhuang Huanyu had used this method.

On the southern shore of the river, examinees from Star Seizer Academy and some examinees from the capital who knew the fellow who had crossed just now on his sword were waiting and were now stepping forward to offer their congratulations.

As time passed, a stream of examinees walked out of the forest, listened to the rules for crossing the river, and instantly had the joy they felt in emerging from the sea of trees banished.

Just then, the crowd suddenly parted and examinees began to bow.

Luoluo had arrived.

Luoluo walked up to Chen Changsheng and asked, “Teacher?”

Her eyes carried a questioning gaze.

Chen Changsheng replied, “Wait for Xuanyuan and Tang first.”

After a few moments, Tang Thirty-Six walked out of the sea of trees. His blue gown drifted about, with no fallen leaves attached to it, and his fan gently waved. He exuded an indescribable elegance and arrogance, but Chen Changsheng could clearly tell that there was a hint of impatience about his appearance. It was very obvious that he had encountered some sort of incident in the sea of trees.

This made sense. After all, Tang Thirty-Six had been part of the second-to-last batch of examinees to leave the Hall of Shining Words. Logically speaking, he should have come out long ago.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Changsheng asked.

Tang Thirty-Six replied, “I met a scholar from Scholartree Manor in the forest.”

Chen Changsheng was rather shocked. The Dallying Forest was massive and held countless paths. It was very rare for two examinees to meet on the same path. For instance, he had not met a single person on his journey through the forest.

“And then? You didn’t fight over the path, did you?”

Tang Thirty-Six impassively said, “We naturally didn’t fight. One, an examiner was watching. Two, I wasn’t guaranteed to beat that person. But since they dared to fight over the path with this young master, perhaps we had to engage in a debate. Relax, I’ve never lost in an argument.”

When he thought of how Tang Thirty-Six and Luoluo had humiliated Xiao Songgong, Chen Changsheng was unconcerned about Tang Thirty-Six’s ability to out-curse someone. On the contrary, he felt some sympathy towards that scholar. However, when he thought about how Tang Thirty-Six had admitted that he might not be able to beat that scholar, Chen Changsheng also could not suppress his wariness.

It was right then that one of the scholars from Scholartree Manor walked out of the sea of trees.

After a few moments, the rest of the scholars also walked out.

The four scholars gathered together and engaged in a whispered discussion. Then they all turned to where the students of the Orthodox Academy were standing, one of them carrying an expression of absolute fury.

It was plain to see that this was the one that Tang Thirty-Six had quarreled over the path with and that had been disciplined by his words.

Chapter 136 – Holding Hands

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

(TN: Way of Choices will be on break from December 25th, 2017 – January 7, 2018)

Fighting over a path had always been one of the easiest matters to fall into conflict over, let alone in such a tense affair as the Grand Examination where the rules forbade examinees from using the same path. Thus, one side would be forced to change their path. The Dallying Forest encompassed a vast area and so it was very difficult for two examinees to walk the same path, so it could only be said that Tang Thirty-Six or that scholar from Scholartree Manor had poor luck.

With the understanding that Chen Changsheng and the others had of Tang Thirty-Six, it was definitely not his luck that was bad. Reality bore this out, as it was ultimately the scholar that had been forced to change paths. This scholar was now staring at the Orthodox Academy’s group with a face filled with anger. He wanted to step forward and engage in a debate, but he was stymied by his schoolmates. Only then did he notice Princess Luoluo’s presence, so he could only coldly laugh.

The students of Scholartree Manor passed by the Orthodox Academy’s group. Displaying their techniques, they walked with extreme elegance and ease across the Qu River. Before leaving, they gave somewhat mocking glances to Chen Changsheng and the rest.

At this moment, Su Moyu also walked out of the sea of trees and up to Chen Changsheng’s group. For some reason, this young expert of the Li Palace Academy was not in good condition today, and the time he had needed to walk out of the Dallying Forest was much longer than expected. Tang Thirty-Six did not like this wooden and stubborn fellow, but Chen Changsheng didn’t have much ill will against him. Seeing Su Moyu’s slightly pale face, he asked, “Are you okay?”

Su Moyu explained, “Last night, I suddenly felt a sign that I was about to break through. In forcefully suppressing it, my true Qi flowed backward and my sea of consciousness was somewhat shaken.”

The top fifty young experts on the Proclamation of Azure Sky were basically all at the upper level of Meditation. As long as they were willing, they could attempt to break through into Ethereal Opening at any time. However, the threshold was too high and breaking through too dangerous, so very few people would rashly choose to break through without completely making preparations. Su Moyu was a diligent cultivator and had reached that threshold a long time ago, but because of the Grand Examination, he had controlled it this entire time. He had not expected that right as the Grand Examination was about to begin, he would sense a sign of breakthrough, and what should have been a cause for celebration became a trouble.

Logically speaking, information on one’s cultivation like this was critical information that should never be revealed to other people, and this wasn’t even considering that the Orthodox Academy and the Li Palace Academy were competitors. But for some reason, Su Moyu had seen Chen Changsheng’s sincere expression and very naturally explained.

Tang Thirty-Six’s complexion slightly changed and his impressions of Su Moyu suddenly improved—to be trusted by someone was a very good feeling. He looked at Su Moyu and asked, “How long do you need to recover?”

If one were to ever so improperly forcefully suppress signs of breakthrough, it would cause harm to one’s sea of consciousness. For a short period of time, one’s spiritual sense would be rather unstable. It was no wonder that someone with as deep and sturdy a foundation as Su Moyu needed so much time to cross the Dallying Forest. However, with sufficient time to meditate and calm his mind, this situation would not persist for too long.

“If I can get into the second round of the one-on-one matches, I should be able to recover.”

Su Moyu clasped his hands to the Orthodox Academy’s group, and then also said to Chen Changsheng, “I’ll wait for you south of the river.”

After saying this, he walked to the river, his body slightly blurring as he utilized the wave-walking Daoist technique of the Li Palace Academy. He swayed forward and quickly reached the opposite shore.

His spiritual sense was somewhat unstable, but his true essence had not decreased and his Daoist technique was still exquisite.

As time passed, more and more examinees walked out of the Dallying Forest and began to cross the river. Some examinees crossed to the southern shore with great difficulty while others fell into the river and were then rescued by the Li Palace priests. Fewer and fewer examinees remained standing on the shore, making Chen Changsheng’s group stand out more and more. On the other hand, more and more people came to be standing on the meadow on the southern shore. Some were people who had long since finished the martial test, such as Gou Hanshi and the other three disciples of Mount Li, and had come out of the pavilions and towers in the forest to the meadow. No one knew what they intended to do, but it presumably had something to do with the Orthodox Academy.

Many startled birds suddenly flew out of the two-man-high holly trees, followed closely by the sounds of snapping branches and the slight shaking of the ground. Even the waters of the Qu River began to ripple and dust began to rise. An extremely tall and sturdy figure charged out of the sea of trees, his clothes ripped all over by tree branches.

Xuanyuan Po had finally walked out of the Dallying Forest.

This demi-human youth’s spiritual sense was actually quite strong, or else he would not have been chosen by his tribe to go study in the capital. But he had not received much training in spiritual sense and perception, his personality was too honest and straightforward, and his spatial thinking and calculation ability were rather lacking. It would be very simple for him to run around the mountains searching for prey, but it was truly difficult for him to walk out of this maze deliberately designed by a sage.

Chen Changsheng and the others had been worried precisely about this point. Although he was looking rather worse for wear, they were still very happy to see him walk out of the forest.

Xuanyuan Po ran over to them. Chen Changsheng had just shaved his beard off last night, revealing a young and tender face more appropriate for his age, but after just half a day, perhaps because he was in a rush or for some other reason, a thin layer of stubble had appeared. This coupled with his face full of sweat from running made his appearance seem very apprehensive.

“I’m late, I’m late.”

Xuanyuan Po walked up to Chen Changsheng, seemingly in a great rush. He was worried that he had delayed everything and so extended a hand to grab Chen Changsheng’s hand.

Priest Xin had come especially to the Orthodox Academy to leak this question. This meant that to him or the archbishop, the ‘crossing river’ phase of the martial test posed the most difficulty to Chen Changsheng. Chen Changsheng had said nothing about this, but Xuanyuan Po and Tang Thirty-Six had privately made preparations, preparations to sacrifice Xuanyuan Po.

Xuanyuan Po was prepared to grab Chen Changsheng’s hand and then throw him straight across to the other shore.

Tang Thirty-Six had silently moved to position himself behind Chen Changsheng. Both he and Xuanyuan Po were well aware that Chen Changsheng would never agree to this sort of method and would certainly resist. His mission was to immediately seize Chen Changsheng as soon as he began to resist and tie him up.

Only now did Chen Changsheng react. Guessing at their plans, he said, “Don’t act recklessly.”

At this moment, Tang Thirty-Six’s hand was only a foot from Chen Changsheng’s back, ready at any time to subdue him.

Xuanyuan Po looked at Chen Changsheng and said, “Although we don’t know the reason, we all know that you must have a reason to take first rank of the first banner, but I don’t care. I can wait for the next Grand Examination.”

As he spoke, the demi-human youth still had that simple and honest expression of his, yet he spoke with great resolve.

Chen Changsheng was deeply moved, but he would not accept this heavy act of friendship, saying, “I have my own way.”

He could not finish because Tang Thirty-Six’s hand fell on his shoulder while Xuanyuan Po’s hand extended forward like a bolt of lightning. These two schoolmates both understood Chen Changsheng’s personality very well and would not give him a single chance to convince them, yet in the next moment…they discovered that all their plans had completely failed, because Xuanyuan Po was not able to grab Chen Changsheng’s hand.

A small pair of hands extended from the side and held Xuanyuan Po’s hand.

They were Luoluo’s hands.