Chapter 244 – Outside the Garden of Zhou, a Storm Came (Part One) (1/2)

Chapter 244 - Outside the Garden of Zhou, a Storm Came (Part One)

“Although no one has ever seen the Yellow Paper Umbrella with their own eyes, this umbrella is extremely famous. There are even some people in the Pavilion of Divination that say that if the Tier of Legendary Weapons was ever revised, amongst the various famous weapons and tools of this era, this umbrella is most qualified to enter the Tier.”

Zhexiu continued, “Don’t say that you and Tang Thirty-Six are friends… even if we considered that you are the new Principal of the Orthodox Academy and Tang Thirty-Six is a student of the Orthodox Academy, the Tang clan still wouldn’t need to use this umbrella to win your favor. Not to mention… the Tang clan has never bribed or curried the favor of anyone.”

Recalling those angry words that Tang Thirty-Six had said back at the Mausoleum of Books, Chen Changsheng felt that they were correct. Regardless of if it was the Heavenly Dao Academy or the Temple Seminary, a third of their expenditures were paid by the Wenshui Tangs every year. Even if the Old Master’s most precious grandson was a student of the Orthodox Academy, he still did not need to show such special care.

However, just at this moment, Chen Changsheng began to think of something else.

“If that Junior Martial Uncle were to see this magical artifact, which he had spent such painstaking effort on, appear in the hands of a junior like me, would he be unhappy?”

“If it were you, would you be unhappy?”

“Of course.”

“So, he will also be unhappy.”

“Then… would he steal or even kill somebody for it?”

“Stop thinking that your seniors are all so reckless. In addition, back there in front of the hall, how could any of those priests imagine that the Tang Family’s Old Master would give you the Yellow Paper Umbrella as a commemorative gift? As long as the Tang clan says nothing and you say nothing, who will know?”

“You know.”

“But fine, since it’s such a potent magical artifact, in the future, there will be definitely be a time where I have to use it.”

“When that time comes, we’ll talk about it.”

“I’m just afraid that on the day I do use it, what if I provoke the Mount Li Sword Sect?”

“The Ivy Festival, the Grand Examination, your engagement with Xu Yourong… haven’t you provoked them enough?”

“That’s true. The next problem is… how do you use this Yellow Paper Umbrella?”

Zhexiu thought about it, then said, “Try pouring your true essence into it.”

That was the most common method of using a magical artifact.

Chen Changsheng complied with these instructions and he slowly sent a wisp of his true essence into the metal ball.

As he sent true essence into the ball, the ball sent back a sort of wondrous feeling into his sea of consciousness.

Within the metal ball, he sensed an undulating surface, like countless hills.

Using his eyes, it was very clear that the outside of the metal ball was very smooth, so these undulations should be on the inside of the ball.

His true essence slowly followed the contours of the hills, finally arriving at the central area of the ball.

A flash of brilliant light sparkled there, like thunder and lightning, or like a star coming into being.

A gentle breeze rose up in the hall. The metal ball in his palms trembled as the lines on its surface split apart.

Accompanied by metallic clacks, the opening metal ball underwent endless transformations, constantly reforming itself.

Several metallic membranes, which formed the canopy of an umbrella, appeared.

That was closely followed by the shaft, and then the handle.

Not long after, an umbrella had appeared in Chen Changsheng’s hands.

From the canopy to the handle, the entire umbrella was constructed of metal. It practically shined in his hands, like a piece of silver that had just come out of a furnace.

The gentle breeze continued to circulate around the hall.

Soon after, something happened which made both Chen Changsheng and Zhexiu very worried.

When the gentle breeze touched the bright metal surface, it began to change. Some places on the umbrella turned black, while other places on the umbrella turned dark. In a few breaths of time, the formerly shiny surface had become mottled all over. It was like it was constructed from plain oil paper then submerged in layers and layers of dust, making it extraordinarily filthy.

“What happened?” Chen Changsheng nervously asked.

Even the handle he was grasping had turned black and old, like it was made of wood.

“Don’t panic yet.”

As he saw the umbrella change, Zhexiu was also shocked at first, then he calmed down. However, his eyes seemed to grow brighter and brighter.

He thrust out his hand to Chen Changsheng and asked, “Let me use your dagger for a moment.”

Chen Changsheng glanced at the dagger on his waist, then shook his head. This was a treasure gifted to him by the Old Master of the Tang family, there was no way that he could have it be slashed at.

“Even Qiushan Jun’s Dragonscale Sword would probably be unable to scratch this umbrella.”

Zhexiu expressionlessly said, but he did not push the matter. Instead, he lifted his right and said, “Hold the umbrella tight, I’m going to attack it with all my might.”

Chen Changsheng hurriedly grabbed the handle tight. Just as he had done this, he saw Zhexiu send his fist flying towards him.

After breaking into Ethereal Opening in the Mausoleum of Books, Zhexiu was much stronger now than he had been at the Grand Examination.

Chen Changsheng could only see several straight line piercing through the air and heading directly at his face.

For a split second, Chen Changsheng could even faintly make out the knife-like claws at the heads of those lines.

He even felt like Zhexiu really wanted to kill him.

However, at this moment, it was too late for him to do anything but tightly hold onto the umbrella.

Swish.

The handle of the umbrella slightly trembled.

Suspended in the air in front of him were five distinct scratches, but then the scratches slowly dissipated.