Chapter 1108: The Meaning of Choice
(I was deeply moved to receive handwritten copies of the Ze Tian Ji sent by several readers. This New Year's gift is truly wonderful and meaningful. I'll talk about it in detail another day. Thank you, everyone.)
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Using the formation left behind by Zhou Du|Fu to unleash the true power of the Heavenly Book Monuments, thereby countering Shang Xingzhou—this was Chen Changsheng's plan.
In those nights within the stone chamber of the Li Palace, this plan had become very mature.
But in the original plan, by this time, the area around Zhou's Tomb should have already been set up with the Nanxi Zhai sword formation.
The thousands of renowned swords returning to the grasslands would once again form a balance with the four Heavenly Book Monuments, ensuring that the Zhou Garden would not collapse.
If all of this had been put into practice, he would have had a seventy percent chance of defeating his master.
Unfortunately, all his swords had been taken away by Shang Xingzhou, so naturally, his chances of victory had greatly diminished.
More critically, without the suppression of thousands of ancient sword intents, the pure light radiating from the Heavenly Book Monuments would likely cause the Zhou Garden to be destroyed before it could defeat Shang Xingzhou.
Shang Xingzhou understood Chen Changsheng's intention with a single glance, and he also understood the current situation.
So he would not yield, and even less would he admit defeat.
He would persist until the end, even if it meant triggering the prohibitions of the Zhou Garden.
Chen Changsheng could continue to use the Heavenly Book Monuments to attack until he defeated him, but the Zhou Garden might be destroyed prematurely.
Otherwise, Chen Changsheng would have to take the four Heavenly Book Monuments and leave the Zhou Garden as soon as possible.
But back in the real world, without the prohibitions of the Zhou Garden, he couldn't unleash the power of the Heavenly Book Monuments, and he had no swords…
How could Chen Changsheng still defeat him?
It was still a multiple-choice question.
Shang Xingzhou looked at him calmly.
The pure light falling from the sky was blocked by his palm, and endless wind and clouds were born and extinguished within it.
In the end, everything in the world often comes down to a multiple-choice question.
This really can easily make one feel weary.
Chen Changsheng looked at Shang Xingzhou and asked, "Why do you always make me choose?"
He was truly angry, or rather, furious.
His angry question drifted far away in the wind.
Shang Xingzhou's expression was indifferent, with no intention of answering him.
From Xining Town to the capital, from the age of ten to now, he had made too many choices, and he was truly tired of it.
He wanted to ask his master, doing this all the time, aren't you tired?
But in the end, he didn't ask, because he knew it would be useless to ask.
Just like in the past years, he was used to doing, not saying.
No matter what choice he made.
Or, not making a choice.
Yes, today he really didn't want to choose anymore.
His eyes were incredibly bright, like the moonlight over Xunyang City.
His spiritual sense traveled through the air and landed on Shang Xingzhou's sleeve.
He tried to regain control of the Hidden Edge Sword Sheath.
Even if he couldn't, at least he wanted to reconnect with the swords inside the sheath.
He believed that as long as those swords sensed his spiritual sense, they would surely follow his will, break out of the sheath, and return to this world.
However, he failed.
His face became even paler, like snow on the wasteland.
A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his lips, like a lonely winter plum blossom in a snowy plain.
Shang Xingzhou's right hand still held up the sky.
The wind stirred his sleeve, and the sword sheath in his left hand was faintly visible.
Chen Changsheng's gaze fell there.
"When making a choice, one can often see a person's truest courage, wisdom, and character."
Shang Xingzhou looked at him and said, "Today, you have disappointed me, because you don't even have the courage to make a choice."
Chen Changsheng said, "Since no matter how I choose, I will lose, why should I choose?"
Shang Xingzhou said, "Because that is your fate."
Many years ago, in the old temple of Xining Town, he had said something to Chen Changsheng.
You are sick, and it cannot be cured—that is your fate.
Today, he said something similar.
No matter how you choose, you will lose—that is also your fate.
Chen Changsheng looked towards the distant grasslands and was silent for a long time.
Shang Xingzhou looked at him quietly, also saying nothing.
No one knew how much time had passed. Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze, looked at Shang Xingzhou, and said, "My illness has been cured."
Yes, his illness had been cured.
He was still alive.
Therefore, there was no such thing as fate.
Then choice had its meaning.
Regardless of victory or defeat.
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Inside and outside the National Teaching Academy, it was very quiet.
Flower Alley was full of people, but no noisy sounds could be heard.
People's faces were filled with tension, anxiety, and worry.
By now, everyone knew that the battle between Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng was taking place in the Zhou Garden.
People couldn't see the sword light, nor could they hear the sword chime. No one knew the specific situation.
But for divine-level experts like Wang Po and the Prince of Xiang, space could not completely isolate all information.
Why wasn't there even a trace of sword intent in the National Teaching Academy?
The Prince of Xiang's expression was ambiguous, like a smile or a cry, his true emotions unreadable. His hands, resting on his belly fat, unconsciously rubbed back and forth.
Wang Po thought of a certain possibility, and his expression became somewhat grave.
With Tang Thirty-Six's cultivation level, he naturally couldn't know the situation inside the Zhou Garden, but he kept paying attention to Wang Po's expression changes.
From the beginning until now, his gaze had been fixed on Wang Po's face through the crack in the window.
This was his only source of information now.
Seeing Wang Po's expression, he vaguely guessed that the situation was unfavorable, and his face turned somewhat pale.
On the floor lay a Ru kiln sky-blue teacup broken into several pieces, along with some water stains and tea leaves.
A teapot was in his hand, the tea inside already cold.
He picked up the teapot and poured half a pot of cold tea into his mouth, but it still couldn't calm his wildly beating heart, nor could it extinguish the fire in his heart.
He rushed down from the teahouse. Su Moyu couldn't stop him, and he ran straight to the gate of the National Teaching Academy.
Linghai Zhiwang and the others looked slightly surprised, wondering what he was doing here.
The imperial court and the Li Palace had jointly decided to seal the National Teaching Academy, allowing only Wang Zhice, Shang Xingzhou, and Chen Changsheng, master and disciple, to be inside.
National Teaching cavalry and Black Armored cavalry guarded the surroundings. Countless cultivation experts had gathered, and there were even experts of Wang Po and the Prince of Xiang's level.
No one could enter the National Teaching Academy at a time like this.
Tang Thirty-Six completely ignored those gazes filled with hostility and warning, and even started cursing before those princes could speak.
"All of you, shut up!"
"This is the National Teaching Academy. I am the Superintendent. Since Chen Changsheng isn't here, I'm in charge!"
"No one can enter because no one agreed. If I want to go in myself, who needs anyone's agreement?"
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Flower Alley was in a state of chaos. Sword intents rose in all directions, and even a few crossbow bolts streaked diagonally across the sky.
Wang Zhice turned his head from the lakeside and saw Tang Thirty-Six.
Tang Thirty-Six naturally guessed that he was Wang Zhice, but he didn't step forward to pay his respects. He directly asked, "How do I enter the Zhou Garden?"
In countless years, Wang Zhice had never met someone who knew his identity yet didn't care at all. He found it somewhat unexpected, and then interesting.
He opened his palm, revealing the black stone, and said, "Enter through this gate."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "Give it to me."
His request was very concise and clear.
So much so that Wang Zhice was momentarily stunned before reacting.
"Why?"
"The Zhou Garden belongs to Chen Changsheng, so naturally, this thing is also his."
"He gave it to me, and besides, this thing was originally mine."
This time, it was Tang Thirty-Six's turn to be stunned for a moment before reacting.
"It was originally yours, which means it's not yours now. And how old are you? If he gives it to you, you just take it!"
Wang Zhice had never seen such an unreasonable person, and he quickly guessed the background of this young man.
He said, "Even your grandfather wouldn't dare speak to me like this."
"Nonsense. Besides Emperor Taizong, who would dare to disrespect you?"
Tang Thirty-Six changed the subject and said, "But today, I want to congratulate you."
Wang Zhice asked, "For what?"
"Congratulations that besides Emperor Taizong, you've finally met another person who dares to talk back to you."
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him seriously and said, "If you don't give this thing to me, I'll curse your mother."
Wang Zhice raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "I am the referee for this battle."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "You were invited by Shang Xingzhou. I don't trust you."
Wang Zhice said, "The Pope trusts me."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "What the hell do I care?"
Wang Zhice said calmly, "If I don't give it to you, what can you do?"
Tang Thirty-Six's answer was still just as concise and clear.
The Wenshui Sword left its sheath, and ten thousand golden leaves appeared on the lake's surface.
Wang Zhice's expression changed slightly.
Not because Tang Thirty-Six drew his sword.
But because Tang Thirty-Six turned the sword back.
Towards his own throat.