Chapter 221 – The Gate of Myriad Wonders (2/2)
Upon hearing this, Liang Xiaoxiao turned his head and gave Tang Thirty-Six a cold stare.
Tang Thirty-Six stared back.
Qi Jian suggested, “Third brother, he’s just that sort of person, no need to worry about him.”
Liang Xiaoxiao took this advice to heart, and turned away from Tang Thirty-Six.
Zhexiu glanced at Qi Jian, his gaze somewhat odd.
Qi Jian sensed his gaze, then as if he were stung by a scorpion, he quickly retreated behind Liang Banhu.
As Gou Hanshi explained to Chen Changsheng, originally the Fifth Law, Liang Banhu, was the elder brother, and the higher ranked, Liang Xiaoxiao, was the family’s younger brother. Then Chen Changsheng recalled that Liang Xiaoxiao had said that half a year ago he had broken through, so he understood that this person was already at the Ethereal Opening. In other words, the moment he left the mausoleum, would he leave the Proclamation of Azure Sky and enter the Proclamation of Golden Distinction?
“I would have to trouble you with telling Her Highness Luo Luo, I will not be fourth place on the Proclamation of Azure Sky.”
Liang Xiaoxiao apathetically delivered these words to Chen Changsheng. He did not wait for a response, nor did he wait for Tang Thirty-Six to open his mouth. He turned to Gou Hanshi and seriously said, “Senior, although we came from the South with Scholartree Manor together, being in Mount Li is still Mount Li. How can we fall behind?”
Gou Hanshi replied, “I have my own way of keeping score. You continue to meditate on the monoliths. There’s only one month’s time left before we have to leave. Time is of the essence.”
Liang Xiaoxiao said nothing more.
It was just as he said. Although that ranking in front of the Mausoleum of Books had long been destroyed by Zhou Tong on the order of the Divine Empress, in matters of competition and even glory, there was no way to forcefully wipe it from the hearts of the people. The speed at which one comprehended the monoliths and the total number of monoliths comprehended, within the hearts of the people, there still remained a formless ranking.
This year, there was no unparalleled genius that had comprehended a monolith on the first day, nor was there one that succeeded on the second day, but on the third day, Zhong Hui had successfully comprehended a monolith. This could already be considered as not bad, but those old entrants, who already knew who Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi were, already knew that they were the top two from this year’s Grand Examination. In addition to this, rumors from outside had already trickled in, that these two were reputed for their profound knowledge of the Daoist Canon. Naturally, the two youths attracted quite a bit of attention. And yet, up to this point, neither of the two had managed to comprehend the first Heavenly Tome Monolith. Inevitably, this would stir up some discussion.
“After Wang Zhice, the people who are most praised for their erudition in the Daoist Canon are these two people. But who would think that they would be beaten by that scholar from Scholartree Manor.”
“Not all rumors are true. What well-read in the Daoist Canon? It’s more like at a young age they broke into Ethereal Opening. From what I see, some facts were likely over exaggerated.”
The monolith viewers all went back to their respective monoliths to achieve enlightenment. Liang Xiaoxiao also took his leave. The crowd in front of the Reflecting Monolith gradually dispersed, and the mountain forest regained its tranquility. Chen Changsheng walked up to the front of the monolith hut and stared at the black monolith. After a long period of silence, he suddenly asked, “How did he disappear? Don’t tell me that the back of the monolith contains a miniature world?
Tang Thirty-Six and the others thought he was ruminating over some important matter, not pondering this sort of question. They could not help but be struck speechless.
Gou Hanshi said, “It is said the Heavenly Tome Monoliths are pieces of some miniature world that have now scattered all over the true world. Although the space that they were once a part of is now destroyed, these pieces are still somehow interlinked. It can also be understood like so: each monolith is a sliding door, but these sliding doors don’t lead to anywhere except other sliding doors, which are the other Heavenly Tome Monoliths. In addition, the sequence of monoliths is eternal and unchanging.”
Chen Changsheng replied, “So it was like that. No wonder it’s said that the Mausoleum of Books only has one path, but, how do the Heavenly Tome Monoliths decide whether the key in the hands of the monolith viewer is the right one?”
The Daoist Canons did not record how one moved from one Heavenly Tome Monolith to another. As for those previous great experts that had recorded their time in the Mausoleum of Books, they had also not mentioned such details. This was because in the view of cultivators, this sort of thing was common knowledge and there was no need to explain it.
Chen Changsheng knew many bits of esoterica from the three thousand classics of the Daoist Canon, but he was somewhat lacking in knowledge of the world or cultivation. This was because he was a self-made genius.
Gou Hanshi answered, “The Heavenly Tomes cannot comprehend. In many ways, the Heavenly Tome Monoliths themselves are mystical and maybe even incomprehensible.Whether one’s interpretation of the monolith inscriptions is correct or not, this is something that the cultivator can never decide, nor can a spectator. Only the Heavenly Tome Monolith itself has the right to decide.”
“Decides by itself?” Chen Changsheng did not understand so he repeated the words.
Gou Hanshi explained, “The monolith viewer touches the monolith. If the Heavenly Tome Monolith feels that you understand, then you have really understood it.”
Chen Changsheng thought of that famous description of the Heavenly Dao in the Daoist Canon: Mystery of mysteries, the gate of myriad wonders.
If the Heavenly Tome Monolith was a door, what sort of wondrous world would be behind it?
Seeing him with such a pensive expression before the monolith, Tang Thirty-Six and the others decided to stay silent.
Zhong Hui had already deciphered the first Heavenly Tome Monolith. Was Chen Changsheng now interested, or was he content on continuing tosit on the sidelines. Could it be that he was still in no rush?
“Ah!” Chen Changsheng suddenly thought of something and said, “I have to go back.”
Tang Thirty-Six asked in surprise, “What is it?”
Somewhat anxious, Chen Changsheng replied, “You dragged me out in such a rush that I forgot that I was still boiling water on the stove. What will we do if it boils dry?”