Chapter 215 – Viewing the Monoliths in the Night by Lantern Light (Part One) (1/2)

Chapter 215 - Viewing the Monoliths in the Night by Lantern Light (Part One)

The night was dark.

Unlike last night, there were no longer many people sitting intoxicated before the monolith unwilling to leave. Those who still remained in front of the monolith all had relatively strong spiritual senses, thus being able to hold out until now. Chen Changsheng looked as far out as he could and saw two students from the Star Seizer Academy: the senior sister from the Holy Maiden Peak, as well as that girl called Ye Xiaolian. There were also several examinees from the Grand Examination that Chen Changsheng had seen before, but had failed to remember the names or origins of. The most prominent ones were the three scholars from Scholartree Manor that had ended up closest to the monolith. In the dark, their plain white robes were especially eye-catching.

With only a glance, one could tell that there was a problem with this scene——the farther one was from the monolith hut, the stronger their level of cultivation was. He did not know if this was some hidden rule, or if some dispute had already taken place.

The three scholars from Scholartree Manor were closest to the monolith hut.

Zhong Hui stood in front of the hut, viewing the monolith in silence. His two schoolmates stood at his side, watching Chen Changsheng warily. Chen Changsheng was not surprised by this. In the Grand Examination, Zhong Hui had been defeated by Luo Luo, while Huo Guang had been severely injured by Chen Changsheng to the point where Huo Guang had been unable to continue. The Scholartree Manor’s hostility towards the Orthodox Academy was well-deserved.

Gou Hanshi and he had read the experiences that Xun Mei had concealed in his notebook. They had come to view the monolith by the starlight, so they naturally began to move towards the hut. To their surprise, their movement gave rise to another disturbance. A dozen pairs of eyes followed their footsteps, each filled with different emotions——in order to stand in front of the Heavenly Tome Monolith, they would have to take the places currently occupied by the three from Scholartree Manor.

Two Scholartree Manor scholars did not let them through. Looking at Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng, they coldly said, “First come, first served.”

These words seemed to be very reasonable, but the crowd outside the hut could only sneer. “Before, you wanted us to let you through because you said that your senior was on the Grand Examination’s First Banner. Why didn’t you say anything about ‘first come, first served’ then? Now, that the Grand Examination’s first and second place holders have arrived, are you really not going to let them through?”

The two scholars from Scholartree Manor were infuriated by these words.

Only now did Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng realize what had happened here. They both disapproved of the conduct of the two scholars from Scholartree Manor and continued walking forward, not even glancing at them. Proceeding directly to the front of the monolith hut, they took up positions behind Zhong Hui.

Those two scholars were even more enraged by this. Just as they seemed about to say something, they suddenly remembered the jeers from the crowd. They did not dare speak, much less personally take action.

Zhong Hui took his eyes off the monolith, then turned around and saluted Gou Hanshi. However, when he looked at Chen Changsheng by his side, his eyes did not carry any traces of respect.

No long-reputed young geniuses like Zhong Hui would ever have very good impressions of Chen Changsheng even if Chen Changsheng had broken through into the Ethereal Opening level during the Grand Examination, thus surpassing them in level of cultivation. Instead, they continued to feel that he had merely gotten lucky. It was either that or because he had received the care and attention of several powerful figures in the Orthodoxy.

“I didn’t see you during these past two days, is it that you’re confident you’ll be able to comprehend the monoliths? Or is it that you’ve realized that you’ve used up all your luck, like a fragile, damaged vase that has finally fallen to pieces?”

Zhong Hui looked at him with an indifferent expression. “In previous years, the first rank in the First Banner of the Grand Examination took, at the very least, five days to comprehend this first Heavenly Tome Monolith. You are this year’s first rank of the First Banner. If you spend too much time on this, it will cause the rest of us to lose face. I hope you don’t disappoint me.”

Chen Changsheng had been viewing the starlit monolith, his heart and soul engrossed in studying the changes amongst those complex lines. Chen Changsheng was very perplexed by what Zhong Hui had said, so he very casually asked, “We don’t really know each other, so even if I can’t comprehend this Heavenly Tome Monolith, what does that have to do with you? Why would you be disappointed?”

Zhong Hui was stunned by these words. Taking a deep breath, he could barely restrain his anger as he said, “It seems like you have quite the mouth.”

Chen Changsheng did not respond, instead walking directly to his side and saying, “Excuse me, could you move?”

Zhong Hui had been standing in the best position. He was closest to the monolith and was not obstructing the starlight. At Chen Changsheng’s words, he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and clenched his hands into fists.