Chapter 83: Tonight the Stars Shine Bright
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Liang Xiaoxiao, a disciple of Lishan Sword Sect, once one of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom.
Because of hatred, this young genius, who should have had a boundless future, ultimately chose the path of betraying humanity, colluding with the demon race, stirring up bloodshed in the Zhou Garden, attempting to assassinate Chen Changsheng and Qijian and others. After his failure, he still refused to give up, using his own death to unleash the most ruthless means.
But as Su Li returned to Lishan, the internal strife within Lishan ended, Chen Changsheng returned to the capital, Zhuang Huanyu committed suicide out of fear, and all debates and suspicions came to an abrupt halt. From then on, Liang Xiaoxiao became the greatest shame of Lishan, or rather, the most vulnerable point of attack—as the expert from the Heartless Sect had just done.
The response from Lishan Sword Sect was firm and clear.
According to the sect’s rules, Liang Xiaoxiao had died and had been expelled from the sect, no longer considered a disciple of Lishan. But in the eyes of Gou Hanshi and the others, that once brilliant young swordsman was still their fellow disciple, not to mention that Liang Banhu was his own blood brother.
Hatred and shame were one thing, but after ten years of studying together, how could they forget so quickly?
Tang Thirty-Six said with confusion, “Do you really think they weren’t targeting you?”
Liang Xiaoxiao died outside the Zhou Garden in Hanqiu City, by his own hand, but from another perspective, wasn’t it as if he had died by Chen Changsheng’s sword?
Just like Zhuang Huanyu, who committed suicide by the well in the Heavenly Dao Academy, the teachers and students there, including the great scholar Guan Bai, would still hold Chen Changsheng accountable.
No one said Chen Changsheng had done anything wrong in these matters, but as mentioned before, the lines of gratitude and grievance were always stark and unreasonable.
Tang Thirty-Six thought of this and reminded Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, “Maybe… it’s just remembrance.”
Tang Thirty-Six raised an eyebrow, not quite believing this explanation.
Zhe Xiu said, “What Chen Changsheng means is, if you died, no matter how, he wouldn’t forget you, and occasionally he’d use the Wenshui Three Swords to remember you.”
Tang Thirty-Six glared at him and said, “Since when did you become so talkative?”
……
……
Tianliang Commandery had a long-standing feud with Lishan Sword Sect, so Hu Shusheng and his men took the initiative to challenge but lost three matches in a row. The cultivators from other places naturally wouldn’t seek trouble, and the scene grew somewhat quiet.
Then, Zhong Hui stepped forward.
This was only natural—so natural that the watching crowd, seeing him walk to the center and look at Gou Hanshi, unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
In last year’s Grand Examination, Chen Changsheng was first, Gou Hanshi second, and Zhong Hui third. On the newly issued Golden List, Zhong Hui still followed closely behind these two.
In the year and a half since the Grand Examination, Zhong Hui had progressed rapidly, reaching the peak of the Penetrating Obscurity realm. Compared to his somewhat fortuitous third place on the first list, his position on the Golden List now truly reflected his standing among the younger generation of cultivators. But he was still beneath Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi. So, of course, he would challenge Gou Hanshi at the Boiling Stone Assembly, and then Chen Changsheng.
He looked calmly at Gou Hanshi, his peripheral vision falling on Chen Changsheng.
This calmness represented confidence.
Guan Feibai was also confident and proud. He had always looked down on Zhong Hui, thinking this scholar from Huaiyuan was merely pretending to be calm. He sneered twice and prepared to step forward to meet the challenge.
Gou Hanshi stopped his junior brother. Zhong Hui hadn’t spoken, but everyone knew his target was Gou Hanshi—and Gou Hanshi wanted to give him the respect he deserved.
The lake breeze gently brushed Zhong Hui’s robes and the fine sand on the stone platform.
Gou Hanshi walked across the sand, leaving shallow footprints.
Zhong Hui looked at him, his expression calm, even somewhat dull, as he drew the sword from its sheath.
With his movement, his robes instantly stilled. Because the wind blowing from the lake had stopped, cut into shreds by the sword intent he radiated, vanishing into the air.
Gou Hanshi raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised.
Rumors and firsthand observation were ultimately different.
Everyone said Zhong Hui had reached the peak of Penetrating Obscurity and might even become the second fastest to achieve Star Condensation after Qiu Shanjun. But only by seeing it with their own eyes, feeling the vanished lake breeze, could people confirm that his sword intent had grown so powerful, just one step away from that threshold.
Gou Hanshi’s expression grew serious.
The atmosphere on the field also became heavy.
But contrary to what people imagined, Gou Hanshi’s seriousness wasn’t because he realized he might lose, but because he thought he could no longer hide his strength.
Without much deliberation, he made a decision.
A faint, almost imperceptible aura emanated from him.
The lake breeze that had dissipated in the air seemed to be summoned by some force, slowly yet clearly forming again, drifting around him.
The sun blazed overhead, and though it was the peak of a high, cold mountain, the temperature gradually warmed. The intense light fell on the lake and the stones, refracting and scattering, somewhat dazzling.
Those bright rays didn’t directly land on Gou Hanshi.
Because around him drifted wisps of lake breeze.
The light refracted again, then scattered, still bright but no longer so glaring. Cut into countless specks of light by the breeze, they reflected on his green robes like a forest scene.
Or like countless stars.
That faint aura suddenly became pure and clear. Countless star fragments danced lightly between his brows and on his robes, never drifting away.
The stone platform by the lake fell into dead silence.
For a long time, no one spoke.
From the moment those star fragments began to dance, Zhong Hui’s expression changed.
His calm, even dull look was instantly replaced by shock and a sense of defeat.
His face turned pale, devoid of any color.
No one knew how long passed before he finally came to his senses and said in a trembling voice, “I am defeated.”
When he said those three words, he seemed in great pain.
But after speaking, he appeared much more relaxed. He sheathed his sword and turned to leave.
The stone platform by the lake remained quiet.
A gentle voice rang out.
“Congratulations, Senior Brother.”
The speaker was Xu Yourong.
Many had guessed or understood why Zhong Hui conceded, but only after she spoke did they dare to truly believe it, because it was indeed somewhat unbelievable.
The entire venue was silent, and the quiet had lasted a long time.
So Gou Hanshi had already succeeded in Star Condensation.
His own expression was calm, but the disciples of Lishan Sword Sect could hardly hide their pride. Guan Feibai still wore that deadpan face, but the way he looked at the National Academy crowd was clearly different.
Chen Changsheng said with emotion, “Impressive.”
Zhe Xiu said, “Second fastest.”
Among the younger generation, Gou Hanshi’s speed in achieving Star Condensation ranked second. Mo Yu and Tianhai Shengxue were both older when they succeeded.
As for the first, it was, of course, Qiu Shanjun.
Tang Thirty-Six’s face was expressionless as he muttered, “You need to hurry up.”
This was naturally directed at Chen Changsheng.
Gou Hanshi looked toward the National Academy group, nodded slowly at Chen Changsheng.
He didn’t speak, but Chen Changsheng understood his meaning.
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then stood up.
The scene erupted in uproar.