Chapter 222: The First Tablet Interpreter
Contemplating the tablets and seeking enlightenment in the Heavenly Book Mausoleum has long been proven over countless years to be the fastest path for cultivators to elevate their cultivation levels. This is also why the top three in the Grand Examination enter the mausoleum before taking official posts or joining a sect. In this mountain tomb covered in green forests, it is common for tablet observers to break through cultivation barriers. Breaking through to the Gathering Stars realm happens occasionally, let alone breaking through to the Penetrating Profundity realm.
Logically speaking, even if Zhong Hui broke through overnight, it shouldn't have caused such a commotion. Yet, aside from new observers like Su Moyu and Ye Xiaolian, even the old-timers in the mausoleum—and even the several senior tablet attendants outside the crowd—wore very serious expressions. If Zhong Hui succeeded, he would be the first among this year's new entrants to break through. Also, for other reasons, he had only looked at the first tablet in the mausoleum, yet his realm and strength could improve so dramatically, proving his comprehension and talent were truly exceptional.
Chen Changsheng did not lock eyes with Ji Jin for too long. He looked at Zhong Hui, who sat cross-legged before the tablet hut, observed the mist swirling around him, and listened to the increasingly rapid boiling sounds coming from within his body. He wondered what had happened. Last night, Zhong Hui had not yet found a way to interpret the tablet, let alone seen the possibility of breaking through. How could such a huge change occur overnight?
"Last night, Zhong Hui sat before the tablet all night. I heard... Senior Ji Jin also guarded him all night," Su Moyu said, walking from the edge of the forest to stand beside him and Tang Thirty-Six.
Chen Changsheng frowned slightly, recalling an old incident mentioned in Senior Xun Mei's notes. Over twenty years ago, a tablet attendant from the Heavenly Academy had used a certain method to help a student from the academy who was observing tablets successfully break through. He looked at Ji Jin's pale face and thought, could it be that this man had sacrificed a great deal of his true essence and mental energy last night to forcibly transmit power to Zhong Hui?
"I thought of that possibility too, but... it's a bit too wasteful," Gou Hanshi said, walking over. Seeing Chen Changsheng's expression, he knew what he was thinking. "Senior Ji Jin has lost at least half of his true essence, but Zhong Hui can only maintain it for half a day. When the time is up, that true essence will dissipate into the world."
Chen Changsheng said, "But some insights can remain. At different cultivation levels, the inscriptions on the tablets naturally appear different."
Gou Hanshi nodded and said, "If the goal is merely to speed up tablet interpretation, this approach does make some sense."
Some people near the tablet hut noticed Chen Changsheng's arrival and watched him converse with Gou Hanshi, their expressions shifting slightly.
In the eyes of others, their discussion was too calm, even cold, without any sense of urgency. Some began to feel anxious for them. Tang Thirty-Six and Zhe Xiu quietly watched Chen Changsheng, while Guan Feibai and the other two silently watched Gou Hanshi. None of them spoke, but their meaning was very clear—you two need to hurry up.
Su Moyu said, "If Zhong Hui breaks through to Penetrating Profundity and then successfully interprets the tablet, you seven from the Thatched Cottage might find yourselves in an awkward position."
Chen Changsheng was taken aback and asked in confusion, "What 'Seven from the Thatched Cottage'?"
Su Moyu looked at the seven of them and said, "You seven are the most watched among this year's examinees. After entering the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, you've been living in that thatched cottage. Some people think you're deliberately isolating yourselves from the crowd, others think you're aloof and hard to approach. Someone started calling you that, and it's gradually spread."
Tang Thirty-Six said with slight pride, "Let them be jealous."
Guan Feibai said expressionlessly, "Those who aren't envied are mediocrities."
The two glanced at each other, suddenly felt something was off, turned their faces away, and said in unison, "But we're not on the same side."
This ridiculous argument did not change the atmosphere around the tablet hut. The gazes directed at the seven of them remained complex with emotion.
Chen Changsheng understood that Ji Jin had spent the whole night forcibly protecting Zhong Hui's breakthrough just to make him interpret the tablet faster than himself and Gou Hanshi. The words Tang Thirty-Six had quoted from Her Holiness the Empress last night were essentially meaningless. Whoever became the first among this year's examinees to interpret a tablet would gain the greatest glory.
Just then, another change occurred before the tablet hut. Ji Jin lightly moved to Zhong Hui's side, shouted sharply to wake him, stuffed a pill into his mouth, and then brought his right hand down as a palm strike onto his back.
Gou Hanshi's expression tightened slightly. "The Ji Tian Pill from the Huai Academy?"
Chen Changsheng didn't know what the Ji Tian Pill was, but most people near the tablet hut did. Upon hearing Gou Hanshi's words, their expressions changed slightly. They thought that the Huai Academy would use such a precious spiritual medicine to help Zhong Hui break through, showing how much they valued this young scholar, and how strongly Ji Jin wanted to frustrate Chen Changsheng and the others.
Zhong Hui took the pill, and with Ji Jin's true essence helping to dissolve it, his face instantly flushed red. The next moment, his complexion returned to normal. The mist swirling around him also thickened and thinned, then, like smoke returning to a mountain peak, slowly flowed back into his body!
A pure, supreme aura appeared within the tablet hut.
The oil lamp hanging from the treetop had long gone out, but now it suddenly swayed up and down. A gentle breeze came from nowhere, and the flowers and grass around the Illuminated Clarity Tablet bent low.
Zhong Hui opened his eyes, stood up, slowly turned around, and looked at the crowd around the tablet hut. His gaze was serene, carrying far more depth than usual.
A Huai Academy scholar exclaimed joyfully, "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on breaking through!"
Among the older observers in the mausoleum, discussions arose. Someone said, "The Huai Academy's foundation is indeed deep. Admirable, admirable."
Zhong Hui was very calm. His handsome face showed no ecstasy or arrogance. He clasped his hands and bowed to the crowd around the tablet hut, his demeanor composed and at ease.
An older observer praised, "Though aided by external force, it is ultimately his own realm. Observing the first tablet and comprehending a breakthrough is indeed impressive."
"Thank you, Master, for your help," Zhong Hui said, turning to Ji Jin and bowing deeply, his words sincere.
A flush of red appeared on Ji Jin's pale face. He stroked his short beard without speaking, looking very satisfied.
As the crowd discussed, if Zhong Hui hadn't possessed excellent natural talent and comprehension, even with the loss of true essence, Ji Jin couldn't have achieved this scene.
Suddenly, the area around the tablet hut fell silent.
Because Zhong Hui was looking toward the mountain path where Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi stood.
Among the top three of this year's Grand Examination, Chen Changsheng ranked first, Gou Hanshi second, and Zhong Hui third. After this result came out, those who knew the details of the battles felt regret for Gou Hanshi. More were shocked by Chen Changsheng's incredible improvement in strength, but few mentioned Zhong Hui. When they occasionally did, it was with a hint of mockery, saying he was extremely lucky.
Zhong Hui's luck in the Grand Examination was indeed very good. In the battle draws, aside from his final loss to Luo Luo, he encountered no strong opponents. As for Guan Feibai, Liang Banhu, Qi Jian, Zhuang Huanyu—those whose strength was not inferior to his, or even clearly stronger like Zhe Xiu—they either lost to each other or were defeated by Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng. Otherwise, he would have struggled to make the top three.
Of course, the main reason people thought he couldn't compare to Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi was the difference in cultivation levels. Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi were both at the Penetrating Profundity realm, while he was only at the late stage of Sitting Illumination. Even if he took one step to Penetrating Profundity, he was still missing the most important and distant step. Naturally, he was overlooked.
But today, he had finally succeeded in reaching Penetrating Profundity.
The top three of the Grand Examination were now at least equal in cultivation level.
The people before the tablet hut watched him look at Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi, knowing he had something to say.
"After the Grand Examination, the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion's Azure Cloud List and Gold Touch List won't be revised. Because the top three examinees all enter the Heavenly Book Mausoleum. In this mountain tomb, there will be countless opportunities and countless setbacks. Some examinees rank very low in the Grand Examination but, after entering the mausoleum, soar like dragons into the sky. Others perform excellently in the Grand Examination but, after entering, can only sit idly before the huts, sighing at these stone tablets, wasting time without any gain. Past rankings no longer mean anything. Everything depends on the present. That's why the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion revises the lists only after people leave the mausoleum."
Zhong Hui looked at Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi and said, "Before entering the mausoleum, everyone said I was inferior to you two. Fortunately, I finally found my own opportunity. Last night, you told me that whether I could interpret the tablet had nothing to do with you, that you didn't know me well, so why would you be disappointed? What I want to say is, if you don't catch up soon, after leaving the mausoleum, you might not even qualify to be my opponent. That would truly disappoint me."
Chen Changsheng remained silent. Gou Hanshi was calm as usual.
Tang Thirty-Six sneered, "Isn't it just breaking through to Penetrating Profundity? Those two have been there for a while. You talk so arrogantly; someone might think you've succeeded in Gathering Stars."
This argument was indeed very reasonable. Even if Zhong Hui broke through to Penetrating Profundity, he was only just catching up to Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng. He had no basis for such words.
Zhong Hui ignored Tang Thirty-Six. He gave Chen Changsheng one last look and said, "I'm afraid I'll have to take the lead."
The two Huai Academy scholars, upon hearing this, vaguely guessed something and exclaimed excitedly, "We respectfully see Senior Brother off!"
Ji Jin still stroked his short beard without speaking, but his smile grew wider.
Even the several tablet attendants outside the crowd nodded in approval.
After saying this, Zhong Hui walked into the tablet hut. He went up to the tablet, extended his right hand, and placed it on the lines on the stone surface.
A clear light appeared. A gentle breeze blew, and the green leaves on the treetops rustled.
Zhong Hui's figure vanished.
Seeing this scene, the new observers who had just entered the mausoleum this year couldn't help but gasp repeatedly.
Those who had entered the mausoleum before paid it no mind.
Yes, the Heavenly Book Tablet had been interpreted.
Among this year's Grand Examination examinees who entered the mausoleum, the first to successfully interpret a tablet had appeared.
It wasn't Gou Hanshi, nor Chen Changsheng. It was Zhong Hui of the Huai Academy.
He should now be standing before the second tablet hut.
The breeze gradually stilled. The area before the Illuminated Clarity Tablet also fell silent. The scene was quiet.
People instinctively looked again at Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng, especially at Chen Changsheng. Their gazes carried many emotions.
As Tang Thirty-Six and Guan Feibai had said earlier, many were jealous of the so-called Seven from the Thatched Cottage. But the most envied target was Chen Changsheng—once unknown, he had burst into brilliance during the Grand Examination and might even marry Xu Yourong in the future. Looking at him, who wouldn't feel secretly bitter and resentful?
The more jealousy and bitterness these people had felt toward him before, the more vindicated they looked at him now, their gazes filled with deliberate sympathy and pity.
...
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(Today, the game "Zhetian Ji OL" begins its non-deletion early access test. Is anyone playing? While the boss was playing, I glanced over and was about to say the graphics are exquisite and the moves are very cool... I'll skip the advertising spiel. Then I saw a cat named Xiao Hei appear and immediately burst out laughing. Now I'll continue writing the next chapter, aiming to update before 12:30. Also, of course Chen Changsheng can't be the first to interpret the tablet. In fact, some readers have already guessed it... Sigh, I really am a writer who can't come up with anything new, but I can write plenty of interesting things!)