Chapter 218 – How Much Do You Know About the Past? (Part One) (2/2)
Nian Guang looked at Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng and indifferently said, “Neither the Duke of Wei nor the woodcutter cultivated, yet the two of you are cultivators. When you view the monoliths, it is for the purpose of asking the Heavenly Dao, not for laws or finding the real path up. Sir Ji Jin’s words are not necessarily without reason. Of course, for you two to persevere in opening a new path is truly a courageous course of action, and not necessarily inappropriate.”
From hearing these words, everyone there understood that this virtuous and upstanding personage had come to settle the dispute.
Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng clasped their hands in respect and said nothing more.
Nian Guang then turned to Ji Jin with a slight frown. His voice seemed to take pity on him, yet also seemed o angry. “Back then, you only took a few years to comprehend the first seventeen monoliths of the mausoleum, and we all praised you for your mind as tranquil as water. But now, what has happened to you? Even if your alma mater paid offerings to our cultivation, how could you waste time on such ordinary affairs from outside the mausoleum?”
Ji Jin had attempted to humiliate Chen Changsheng not just because of the urgings of outside forces, but also because he himself had wanted to. Now that Nian Guang had appeared, he was still unreconciled, yet also knew that there were no words that would let him take back control. H coldly e said, “The Orthodoxy seems to really value this young one. They actually allowed someone like you, who has been wronged by the Orthodoxy Academy, to appear.”
Nian Guang frowned.
Ji Jin turned towards Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi and indifferently said, “These words and debate are ultimately meaningless. Your words may seem like a deluge of heavenly flowers, but they might turn out to be a pile of dog shit. Forty-four people from the Grand Examination entered the mausoleum this year. I would really like see who will be the first to comprehend this Reflecting Monolith in the end, and who will be able to comprehend the largest amount of them.”
Tonight, Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng had come to view the monoliths by lantern light, not to take part in a debate. They were also not terribly interested in who would be the first to comprehend the Heavenly Tome Monoliths. As a result, they did not respond to Ji Jin’s provocative and disdainful words, nor did they say anything. However, that did not mean all their peers had such a good temperament.
A bright and especially frivolous voice rose up from the mountain path.
“One hundred years ago, in place of the prior emperor, the Divine Empress ascended to the summit of the mausoleum to offer sacrifices to the heavens. As she carried out this task, she happened to see the monolith that had been set before the Mausoleum of Books, upon which were inscribed the names of those who had comprehended the Heavenly Tome Monoliths the fastest throughout history. This monolith displeased her, because to her, to view the Heavenly Tome Monoliths was to catch a glimpse of the Heavenly Dao. To decide who came first and last and then write these names on a list was extremely vulgar. Hence, she ordered Sir Zhou Tong to personally take up a hatchet and hack off the names on that monolith. I didn’t think that there would be someone who, despite remembering the actions of that year, would talk such nonsense here within the mausoleum tonight. Could it be that you resent the Empress’s decree? Or is that your ignorance has reached the extent where you fail to realize that your proposal profanes the Mausoleum of Books?”
Everyone knew about this piece of history. But truthfully speaking, while that ranking on the monolith was already no more, it existed within the hearts of all cultivators. No one could forget those once highly-placed names, such as Zhou Dufu, or His Holiness the Pope, or Wang Zhice. It was just as Ji Jin had said previously, nobody cared that the listing was no more. It was only that this person coming up from the mountain path did not care for their opinions and raised the Divine Empress’s decree up high. His pompous voice went so as far as to render everyone speechless. As for denouncing the Empress’s decree, who would dare?
Hearing this voice, Chen Changsheng shook his head. Gou Hanshi also recognized the voice and made a somewhat sour smile. The two retreated to the side. They knew that since that guy had arrived, seemingly ready to start a war of words, their turns would not come.
Ji Jin did not know who was coming, but his face became extremely gloomy and seemed about to start dripping with water. Zhong Hui and his two companions from Scholartree Manor also became extremely angry.
Along with the appearance of the youth, the dusky light emanating from the oil lantern on the tree abruptly got brighter. This was because the youth’s belt was inlaid with dozens of precious gems, and also because the sword sheath at his waist was also embedded with a gem. The gems shined with light, just like the youth’s handsome face.
The eyes of the senior from Holy Maiden Peak also lit up.
Tang Thirty-Six had arrived. He looked at the gloomy-faced Ji Jin and arched his brow. “Could it be that you believe my words are unreasonable? Then why don’t you go the Palace of Great Brilliance and ask the Divine Empress what she thinks?”
Nian Guang frowned. His disapproval evident, he declared, “Enough.”
When this virtuous and upstanding Monolith Guardian had previously spoken the words “Enough”, Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng had spoken no more, but Tang Thirty-Six was not that sort of person. In actuality, his brows leapt up even higher as he said, “Sir shouldn’t think about glossing things over, nor should he thinking about parading his seniority before me. This is the Mausoleum of Books. Fighting isn’t allowed, so why should I be scared of you?”
Nian Guang paused at these words.
Tang Thirty-Six turned back to Ji Jin. “Similarly, you can’t fight, let alone kill me. If I mock you with a few words, what can you do about it? Do you want to trade insults with me? Don’t think I’m as taciturn as Chen Changsheng, or a flowery-speaking hypocrite like Gou Hanshi. With regards to insulting others, you really aren’t my match. If you aren’t satisfied, you can have your disciples and grand-disciples bang a gong at my side tomorrow when I’m viewing the monoliths and comprehending the Dao and see if you can affect me the slightest bit. Did you really think I hadn’t prepared a pair of very comfortable, velvet earplugs?”