Chapter 137: The Shallow River
This year’s Grand Examination, the martial arts segment was designed to eliminate candidates. For many, the Boiling Forest and the Curved River were insurmountable chasms. The Education Hub had privately leaked this segment to the National Teaching Academy. Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po had long prepared for it. To help Chen Changsheng reach the final combat round, even knowing his goal of claiming the top rank was nearly illusory, they were still willing to do something, to give something. Yet, while making these preparations, like everyone else, they assumed the Fallen Princess would not participate in this Grand Examination.
Thus, they hadn’t anticipated that the Fallen Princess would intervene, grabbing Xuan Yuan Po’s hand.
“Did you never consider why I joined the Grand Examination? I’m also a student of the National Teaching Academy. You didn’t think I could do something—that disappoints me a little,” Fallen said, looking at Xuan Yuan Po and Tang Thirty-Six. Though she spoke of disappointment, the girl’s eyes sparkled like stars; there was no trace of such emotion.
With that, her sleeve trembled slightly, her small hand gripping Xuan Yuan Po’s with sudden force.
A whoosh sounded, and Xuan Yuan Po vanished from his spot, becoming a dark shadow in the air.
Caught off guard, he had no mental preparation, screaming in panic midair, drawing the attention of many candidates along the Curved River’s banks.
At the Chaoyang Garden, the Curved River was at its widest, with at least several dozen zhang between the forest and the sparse woods and meadows on the opposite bank.
Under countless gazes, Xuan Yuan Po hurtled through the air, flailing his limbs, tracing a long arc as he fell toward the southern bank’s grassland.
Silence fell over both banks of the Curved River, broken only by his panicked shouts, faintly sounding like he was calling for his mother.
Boom.
The southern bank’s grassland trembled for an instant. Countless dust clouds erupted, the early spring’s yellowish grass torn up, black soil spraying outward like water.
Xuan Yuan Po landed heavily, like a stone.
After a moment, the dust settled. He stood up, brushing dirt and grass from his clothes, looking around in a daze, seemingly stunned by the fall but completely unharmed.
Watching this, the palace clergy and candidates on both banks were speechless with shock. What was this demon youth’s body made of? How could it be so tough?
Gou Hanshi, Zhuang Huanyu, and the others had already turned their gaze to the forest edge on the opposite bank, staring at the small figure with extremely complex expressions.
Truly worthy of the second on the Azure Cloud List—the power the Fallen Princess displayed in that casual throw was astonishing.
On the Curved River’s northern bank, Fallen looked at Tang Thirty-Six, her fine brows slightly raised, signaling with her eyes.
Tang Thirty-Six quickly stepped away from Chen Changsheng, hastily saying, “I don’t need help.”
He didn’t want to be thrown across the river like Xuan Yuan Po—getting hurt was one thing, but the real issue was how embarrassing it would look.
“I’ll go first, then,” Tang Thirty-Six said to Chen Changsheng. Only now did he realize that he and Xuan Yuan Po’s private arrangements had forgotten the Fallen Princess’s presence. Since she was stepping in, there was no need for him to worry. His only concern was whether Fallen might get addicted to throwing people and ignore his objections. He dashed toward the Curved River as if fleeing.
Though his escape was a bit clumsy and his figure looked comical, the moment he stepped into the Curved River, he regained his elegance.
Evening clouds receded.
The Wenshui Sword remained in its sheath at his waist as he executed the Wenshui Three Forms barehanded.
A scorching aura instantly enveloped the Curved River’s northern bank. Though the hour was early, it seemed as if evening glow had appeared.
Within that glow, his figure transformed into a streak of golden light on the river’s surface, darting several dozen zhang in an instant, reaching the southern bank.
Aside from the four from Lishan Sword Sect, he was the only candidate today to cross the river directly with sword momentum.
Watching this, Zhuang Huanyu’s expression grew even more solemn. Guan Feibai and Liang Banhu were also surprised.
From the last night of the Green Vine Banquet to now, only a few days had passed, yet Tang Thirty-Six’s strength had risen again, surpassing many’s expectations. Thinking of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion’s commentary on this Wenshui youth when the Azure Cloud List was updated, the candidates on the southern bank’s meadow felt mixed emotions, silently wondering: if he truly trained diligently, could he really have the strength to enter the Azure Cloud List’s top ten?
“Sir, forgive my rudeness,” Fallen said, walking before Chen Changsheng and bowing.
She didn’t know how strong Chen Changsheng’s body was after his marrow cleansing, assuming it was far inferior to Xuan Yuan Po’s. But at this moment, aside from throwing him to the opposite bank, she could think of no other method. Besides, Tang Thirty-Six had already gone ahead and could figure out a way to catch him. Still, as a student about to throw her teacher like a child, she worried Chen Changsheng might be displeased.
Chen Changsheng didn’t have time to respond, as an examiner hurried over, stopping Fallen’s action.
That palace clergy member said nervously to Fallen, “Your Highness, doing this violates the Grand Examination’s rules, so…”
Fallen noticed that on the southern bank’s meadow, several Huaiyuan Academy scholars were speaking before the invigilators. She vaguely understood something, raised an eyebrow, and said displeasedly, “I listened to the martial arts rules earlier—there’s no such clause. Besides, I’ve already thrown one person across; doesn’t that count?”
When designing this year’s Grand Examination’s process, no one had anticipated the National Teaching Academy’s response. The examiners dared not offend Fallen but felt this conflicted with the Grand Examination’s long-standing spirit of prohibiting mutual aid between academies and sects. Coupled with complaints from candidates like those Huaiyuan scholars, they were at a loss.
It didn’t take long for a final decision to come from the Zhaowen Hall: since the Fallen Princess had already thrown Xuan Yuan Po across the Curved River and the examiners hadn’t explicitly stated the rule beforehand, it had to be accepted. However, from now on, candidates were strictly forbidden from helping each other; they could only cross the river by their own power. It was especially reiterated that using any magical artifacts was prohibited.
Clearly, people in the Zhaowen Hall, like Mo Yu and the dean of the palace’s attached academy, had thought of the Fallen Princess’s habit of carrying countless treasures. If she gave Chen Changsheng a Thousand-Mile Button, crossing the Curved River—or even instantly appearing at the River of Forgetfulness—would be no problem.
Fallen was furious. “Let’s see who dares stop me,” she said.
With that, she moved to take Chen Changsheng’s hand.
Just as Tang Thirty-Six had gracefully crossed the river with his Evening Clouds Recede technique, a bell tolled from the forest, signaling that time was up. Candidates still in the forest were eliminated. Then, those remaining on the northern bank made final attempts but all fell into the emerald-green river water.
Only Chen Changsheng and Fallen were left by the riverbank.
Besides them, there were dozens of palace clergy, who dared not forcibly stop her and could only plead earnestly.
Chen Changsheng also urged her, “I have a way to cross the river; don’t worry.”
No one noticed that as he said this, he quietly tucked a Thousand-Mile Button into his sleeve. But he wasn’t lying—since the clergy member Xin had leaked the test in advance, how could he be unprepared? At his current level of cultivation, he had at least three methods to cross the river, but some trump cards had to be saved for the combat rounds.
Fallen widened her eyes, looking at him seriously. “Sir, are you truly confident?”
Chen Changsheng reached out and ruffled her hair. “Aren’t you always the most confident in me? If I can’t even cross this river, how could I claim the top rank?”
The palace clergy, watching his intimate gesture with the Fallen Princess, were stunned. Hearing his words, they were left speechless. But seeing that the Fallen Princess seemed persuaded, they finally relaxed, left the riverbank, and returned to their posts, awaiting the martial arts segment’s final moment.
Fallen always listened to Chen Changsheng. Since he had decided, she said no more. She walked to a stone by the riverbank, bent her knees slightly, and pushed off.
A sharp crack sounded as the stone, its lower half covered in moss, split in two from the middle.
A piercing whoosh tore through the clear sky.
On the Curved River’s southern bank meadow, it seemed an invisible bell had been struck, humming.
That was the sound of space being broken.
Her skirt fluttered lightly, then settled.
Fallen appeared on the meadow, two small puffs of dust beneath her skirt like flowers.
The palace clergy and candidates, watching this, gaped in shock, unable to speak—she was simply too strong.
Fallen paid no heed to the astonished gazes fixed on her. She immediately turned to look at the opposite bank, her eyes full of worry.
She had always trusted Chen Changsheng’s strength, even worshipped it, feeling her teacher hid many things. Yet she still worried, because she couldn’t figure out how he would cross.
Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po walked to her side, gazing at the opposite bank.
Gou Hanshi, Tianhai Shengxue, Zhuang Huanyu, Qijian… all the candidates who had passed the martial arts segment appeared by the river, looking toward the northern bank.
Chen Changsheng stood there alone, isolated.
Even Fallen was worried, let alone the others.
No one could fathom how Chen Changsheng would cross the river.
Even if he had succeeded in marrow cleansing, even if his spiritual sense was powerful, without sufficient true essence reserves, he couldn’t break the limits imposed by heaven and earth.
Some candidates wore expressions of schadenfreude.
The four Huaiyuan Academy scholars looked cold, their eyes full of contempt and mockery.
That little junior sister from the Holy Maiden Peak’s Tiger Ravine Monastery smiled gleefully.
The entire continent knew Chen Changsheng aimed for the Grand Examination’s top rank. If he couldn’t even pass this stage, it would be a joke.
Guan Feibai suddenly said, “I hope he makes it.”
Qijian and Liang Banhu nodded.
Gou Hanshi said, “I never worried he wouldn’t cross.”
The three turned to their senior brother, puzzled.
Gou Hanshi continued, “Those with true lofty ambitions overlook no detail. If he wants the top rank, how could he fail to cross this shallow river?”
Just then, Chen Changsheng finally moved.
Under countless gazes, he didn’t walk toward the Curved River but looked up at the azure sky.
Amid the early spring clouds, he seemed to be searching for something.
Then, from afar, came the cry of a crane.
(Over a dozen minutes late; the next chapter’s timing is uncertain, but I’ll write it. Everyone, rest early; you can read it tomorrow.)