Chapter 221 (2/2)

‘He is just at the first transition…’

…

All the remaining fifty Knights went back to the dining hall and dormitory to rest and prepare for the third stage, the Pantheon Monument Observation, which would be held the next day.

Excitement flashed past the eyes of numerous people. The Pantheon Monument Observation… Comprehending the martial arts of a Divine level expert… How exciting was this?

There were a total of eight Pantheon Monuments across the Empire, with one in each Regional Academy, that had been created by the eight Divine level experts who had founded the Empire. The one in the Great Western Region had been created by the Melancholic Monarch, and it contained his martial arts.

However, the Knights who had remained had gone all out during the fight in the maze and thus had expanded a large amount of their energies. Although they were all excited to be able to observe the Pantheon Monument the next day, when it was time for their meal, they still needed to eat. Moreover, the food in the Regional Academy was not only free, but they also tasted good, and the ingredients were all precious heavenly and earthly treasures as well as ferocious beasts.

Manny, Fang Xingjian and Rota sat once again at the same table. Fang Xingjian looked at Manny and said, “I heard that you had also observed the Pantheon Monument the last time you participated in the Regional Selection?”

Manny smiled, nodded and said, “The Pantheon Monument has messages left behind by a Divine level expert. In this stage, Wei Leng and yourself, having attained Heaven’s Perception, would definitely be at a better advantage.

“It’s said that if you have outstanding talent, you’ll be able to comprehend one set of martial arts from that Pantheon Monument. If your talent is unrivalled across ten thousand people, you’ll be able to comprehend a second level, and the martial arts you pick up will be even greater.

“If yours is a rare talent that comes along once every hundred years, then you will have the chance to comprehend the third level martial arts. It’s a pity that I had only comprehended up to the second level. It’s also unlikely for my outcome to be different this time around. As for the variations for the third level and onward, I have no idea.”

As the two of them were chatting, giant plates of roasted meat, braised meat, black pepper chops, meat soup, meat burgers and other foods were served. Rota frowned and asked, “Why is the food different from the yesterday’s? And they are all meat?”

Fang Xingjian picked up a piece of black pepper chop and started eating. The meat was very tender, showing the chef’s excellent grasp on meat texture. It was neither too dry nor too raw, and it went well with the strong black pepper taste, causing the corners of Fang Xingjian’s lips to curl up slightly.

After taking a bite of the chop, he said, “I got them to make some dishes with that Colossal Armed Ape. It’s a level 21 ferocious beast. We can’t possibly let it go to waste.”

Instantly, Rota and Manny started to feel a little bit disgusted. It was still a bit hard for them to eat an ape.

Just then, another two huge egg-like objects were sent up. Puzzled, Manny asked, “Do Colossal Armed Apes lay eggs?”

“These aren’t eggs; they’re eyeballs. I got the chefs to prepare it specially.” Fang Xingjian grabbed an eyeball and took a bite out of it. Instantly, a spicy taste exploded out in his mouth. It was probably the chef’s first time cooking the eyes of a Colossal Armed Ape, and he had used a large amount of spices, chillies, sesame oil and other ingredients to try to cover up the raw taste. It tasted very fragrant and spicy, and when matched with the eyeball’s springy and smooth texture, Fang Xingjian could not help but nod in satisfaction after eating it.

“Aren’t you guys eating?”

Both Manny and Rota immediately shook their heads. When the other Knights in the vicinity saw Fang Xingjian eating these foods, they could not help but frown as well. Some of them even had their mouths agape, as if they had seen something terrifying.

Just then, another string of chopped up sausages was sent up. Rota exhaled, thinking that a normal dish had finally been served.

She picked up a piece of sausage with her fork and started eating. However, after a few bites, she said, “Why does this sausage seems overcooked? Mmm… and why does it have a stench…”

Fang Xingjian said with indifference, “Those aren’t sausages. That is the part on the lower body of the Colossal Armed Ape…”

Pffft….

“Fang Xingjian! I’m going to kill you!”

“Alright, alright. Rota, put down your spear. Xingjian didn’t do this on purpose.”

“But look at him! This guy is actually still eating it! I’m going to burn them all up!”

Having eaten and drank his fill, another night passed by, and Fang Xingjian and the others finally welcomed the third stage of the Regional Selection, Pantheon Monument Observation.