Chapter 226 – The Broken Monolith (1/2)
Chapter 226 - The Broken Monolith
“Fourteen years without cultivation, only reading, then only one year was needed to break into Ethereal Opening. Twenty days without comprehending the monoliths, only calmly sitting… then in one day he saw and comprehended all the monoliths in the entire front mausoleum.”
After the Pope had learned of what had happened in the mausoleum, he delivered these two lines of commentary on Chen Changsheng. Assisted by several powerful figures within the Orthodoxy, these two lines of commentary, like the glow of the sunset, quickly spread throughout the capital. The shocked populace once again looked to the south, towards the Mausoleum of Books, with every kind of emotion.
The last time someone had been able to view all the monoliths of the front mausoleum in a single day was countless years ago, and that man was Zhou Dufu. Today, Chen Changsheng had performed the same deed. Did that mean that he was the second coming of Zhou Dufu? Yet there was a certain incomprehensible matter that some people took note of. According the news that had come out of the Mausoleum of Books, Chen Changsheng’s cultivation did not change as he viewed the monoliths. He still remained at the initial stage of Ethereal Opening. It must be known that the year that Zhou Dufu rambled about in the mausoleum, whenever his eyes rested on a monolith and his foot entered a hut, his cultivation would incessantly change. To take what those who had entered the mausoleum just this year had said, even Scholartree Manor’s Zhong Hui had broken through into Ethereal Opening. There were also many people like Tang Thirty-Six who could see the possibility of breaking through. Logically, after Chen Changsheng had finished viewing seventeen monoliths, as a matter of course, he should have obtained some sort of enlightenment. Even if he did not break through into a completely new realm, he should still have received some benefit.
Priest Xin supported Archbishop Mei Lisha to the Li Palace. After paying homage to the Pope, Mei Lisha brought up the discussion currently spreading around the capital. After a moment’s hesitation he also added, “There are many people who are suspicious. They believe that perhaps Chen Changsheng used some sort of trick, or even that we in the Orthodoxy taken some sort of action in the Mausoleum of Books.”
“Enlightenment is enlightenment. Comprehending the monoliths has always depended on the cultivation of the individual cultivator. No one is able to really change that.”
The Pope took up a wooden ladle and began watering the Green Leaf as he spoke. “I don’t believe that child will have the chance to catch up Zhou Dufu’s performance that year. After all, it requires extraordinary courage, as well as the right temperament. His performance is already outstanding and I am quite satisfied, one could even say that I’m surprised.”
Mei Lisha responded, “What I most want to know is what his response will be when he sees that last monolith. Will he be as shocked and surprised as we were by his actions today?”
The Pope’s wooden ladle hovered above the Green Leaf, slightly tilted, as if he were thinking about something and had gotten lost in thought. Miraculously, not a drop of water spilled from the ladle.
Priest Xin stood startled at one side, uncomprehendingly wondering, Chen Changsheng had already deciphered all seventeen monoliths of the front mausoleum, how could there be one more?
The Pope shook his head and resumed watering. “Even if he does see it, don’t tell me he’ll be able to decipher it as well?”
Mei Lisha smiled. “That child has already amazed us so many times. To do so one more time is not that unthinkable.”
In the crimson twilight, the Dew Platform seemed to be ablaze, as if it were a massive torch. The Divine Empress stood at the edge of the platform, her hands clasped behind her back, as she looked towards the Mausoleum of Books. On her indifferent expression appeared a trace of ridicule. “They both viewed the entire front mausoleum in one day, but that year Zhou Dufu actually understood the monoliths. Chen Changsheng is still far away from comparing to him.”
Of the people living on the continent today, only she and the Pope could be considered to have actually met Zhou Dufu. They could even be considered acquaintances. Only they understood the terrifying degree of strength that the continent’s strongest cultivator had held, so they believed it was simply impossible for Chen Changsheng’s name to even be said in the same sentence as that man.
Mo Yu stood behind her and could not help but say, “But viewing seventeen monoliths in one day can already be considered rather extraordinary. At the very least, it’s much better than my performance.”
The Divine Empress did not turn around. She continued to gaze at the Mausoleum of Books, remembering all those aged and white-haired cultivators that, since ancient times, had viewed the monoliths, and the sense of derision about her grew increasingly more distinct. “In the end, why is it that cultivators view the monoliths? Why is it that some people never understand that viewing the monoliths is not the purpose of cultivating the Dao, but a method for cultivating the Dao?”
“When Empress ordered the rankings to be destroyed that year, it was to teach the people of the world to not go astray. It is a pity that no one understood the Empress’s labors.” Mo Yu softly said.
“Yes, if one’s cultivation or enlightenment in the Dao has not advanced, then even if one comprehended every monolith in the mausoleum, what use would it be? That year when I ordered Zhou Tong to destroy that ranking in front of the mausoleum. Many of those old fools in the Orthodoxy came to me weeping tears saying that I wasn’t respecting the ancestors. Now that I think of it, I should have had that lot of senile fools killed.”
The Divine Empress continued indifferently, “Even if the Heavenly Tome Monoliths are sacred objects, it is only when they are used by the people do they actually have meaning. True, Chen Changsheng’s speed in comprehending the monoliths was certainly faster than yours, but that year in the mausoleum you succeeded in entering the Star Condensation realm. And him? Even if he comprehended every last one of the Heavenly Tome Monoliths, if none of it did anything for his cultivation, then it isn’t worth a damn thing.”
These words had come up twice and they held the same meaning, but the first was for the cultivators of the world, while the second was aimed directly at Chen Changsheng.
Mo Yu was alarmed, but then smiled. So even the Divine Empress could use such vulgar language, she thought to herself. It would seem that Chen Changsheng’s performance in the mausoleum still caused the Empress to be somewhat vigilant.
Of course, what she was wary of was not Chen Changsheng himself, but the Orthodoxy who stood behind him.
Mo Yu did not conceal her emotions. This was why she had been able to earn the favor and dotage of the Empress.
She opened her large eyes and asked curiously, “Then in Empress’s view…will Chen Changsheng have a chance?”
The Divine Empress contemplated the Mausoleum of Books in silence, then said, “Perhaps if he is able to view that final monolith, only…he is too unflustered, yet so young. He gives off the unlikeable scent of sour decay, completely unlike the Zhou Dufu of that year. He was as glorious as the morning sun, as vigorous as a hurricane. He would berate the heavens and curse the earth, all to ask a single question.”
Mo Yu slightly frowned. She always felt that whenever the Empress brought up that peerless expert, her mood would seemingly become unsteady.
“To cultivate the Dao is to cultivate the heart. One’s nature determines one’s fate, and it will also decide how far one is able to walk in the Dao.”
The Divine Empress announced her final conclusion. “Chen Changsheng…is not able.”
After comprehending the seventeenth monolith, Chen Changsheng arrived at a lush and verdant meadow.
In the twilight, the entire Mausoleum of Books seemed to be on fire, this meadow being no exception. An intangible wildfire rolled across the meadow, creating a breathtaking scene.
From the cliff under the meadow came the rumbling of water. He realized that he had arrived at the southwest face of the mausoleum, where that waterfall originated.
The wind from the cliffs carried up a mist of water, which landed on his face. It was a little wet and a little cold, but it washed away his exhaustion.
He thought back to today’s course of events. Although there were some places where he was not satisfied, he could not but feel somewhat happy, to think that he was pretty good.
Suddenly, he felt something, and the cheer on his face gradually retreated to be replaced with confusion.