Chapter 78

The silence before the hall was broken by Gou Hanshi. He looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, "Is this the story recorded in the Gu Yuan Daozang?"

Chen Changsheng nodded and said, "The second volume's endnote."

Gou Hanshi raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "The names of these four sword techniques are indeed recorded, but the author did not specify the order."

Chen Changsheng said, "In the Western Capital Miscellaneous Records and the Youyang Local Gazetteer, a Daoist observer is mentioned. According to the Daoist's account, the actual sequence of events is the same as recorded in the Gu Yuan Daozang."

Gou Hanshi thought for a moment. Indeed, those two texts had such records, but before Chen Changsheng mentioned it, few people would have associated it with the story in the Gu Yuan Daozang. The main reason was that the Gu Yuan Daozang was not an officially recognized scripture of the state religion. After several hundred years, very few people had read it.

The people listening were completely baffled, not understanding what Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi were talking about. Even the well-versed teachers of the various academies and figures like the head of the Qiushan family felt as if they were listening to a heavenly book.

The bishop frowned slightly and asked the Prince of Chenliu beside him, "What Daozang are they talking about?"

The Prince of Chenliu was uncertain and said, "It seems to be something called the Gu Yuan Daozang."

The bishop was somewhat annoyed and said, "Why haven't I heard of it?"

Only Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng remembered that the Gu Yuan Daozang, which had been forgotten by people, recorded a story from a distant past. A certain ancestor of the Wen Shui Tang family fought a powerful demon in Xinxiang County. Despite the unfavorable odds, that ancestor of the Tang family used four sword techniques to kill the demon on the spot.

Those four sword techniques were: Inverted Vase, Sea Mist Sinks, Window Shadow Lamp, and finally, Hanging Sword in the Long Forest.

The battle became a story recorded and passed down because all the observers could not understand how these four sword techniques could be used in succession. Despite the seemingly abrupt and rigid transitions, they suddenly became fluid and spontaneous when facing the demon's cold and fierce moves.

"Why did you think of using these four techniques?" Gou Hanshi asked.

"The first technique, Inverted Vase, is because of Tang Sanshi's personality. He likes unconventional moves, but you immediately responded with Mountain Ghost Splitting Rock... too aggressive."

Chen Changsheng explained, "Your three moves, from start to finish, are all about power and severity. In the end, the splendor fades, and frost covers the mountains. The severity lies in the force."

Gou Hanshi said, "That's correct."

Chen Changsheng said, "I couldn't think of any Tang family sword techniques that could withstand your three moves. Unless we used the Wen Shui Three Swords again... but you know Tang Sanshi's personality; he would never do that, and there was no time to persuade him."

Tang Sanshi was somewhat annoyed and said, "What exactly is my personality?"

Chen Changsheng ignored him and continued looking at Gou Hanshi, "It's quite a coincidence. I mentioned Inverted Vase casually, but your response was so severe and forceful that it left me with few choices. So, I naturally thought of the story in the Gu Yuan Daozang, where the ancestor of the Tang family used those four swords."

Gou Hanshi thought for a moment and said, "The demon who was defeated by the ancestor of the Tang family was indeed of the severe and cold school, with a style that leaned towards cold and gloom, but it was different from my Lishan Sword Technique. I remember those four swords in the Gu Yuan Daozang, but I never thought they could be used in that situation."

Chen Changsheng said, "I didn't know if those four swords would work, but... you came too aggressively, and Qijian's sword was too steady. I couldn't think of any other way to break through, so I had to try."

"Few people know about the Gu Yuan Daozang, and even fewer remember those four swords. In that situation, even fewer people could think of them and dare to try."

Gou Hanshi looked at him and said, "You're quite impressive."

Chen Changsheng said, "I made the first move and had one more move. If you had made the first move, the result might have been different."

Gou Hanshi said, "That's true. Fortunately, this is just the first match."

Chen Changsheng said, "I heard from Tang Sanshi that you have read the Daozang and are a remarkable person."

Gou Hanshi thought for a moment and, unable to be modest in this regard, said, "As I mentioned earlier, I just read more books."

Chen Changsheng said, "I also mentioned earlier that I have read some books."

Gou Hanshi looked at him, paused for a moment, and said, "It seems you are very confident."

Chen Changsheng's expression was calm. He bowed and said, "Please instruct me."

A gentle night breeze blew, and starlight fell on his face.

Earlier in the hall, Gou Hanshi had said these three words to him.

Now, it was his turn to say them to Gou Hanshi.

Just a change in order, but it represented many things.

The crowd on the stone steps before the hall had been whispering when Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng first began their conversation. The whispers gradually became quieter until there was complete silence.

Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng did not deliberately create a scene of mutual admiration.

But for the crowd, the fact that Gou Hanshi considered Chen Changsheng an opponent was already a very shocking thing.

The second match of the Lishan Sword Sect's challenge to the National Teaching Academy began in this atmosphere, quietly.

The one representing the National Teaching Academy was naturally Princess Luoluo.

Since Tang Sanshi had defeated Qijian, to avoid Chen Changsheng having to participate, she needed to win this second match.

She was full of confidence about this.

But it was clear that no one in the hall thought so.

Even Jin Yulv's brows furrowed, not optimistic about the princess's chances of winning.

Because her opponent was Guan Feibai.

The fourth of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom.

At the same time, he was also fourth on the Qingyun List.

Guan Feibai walked to the center of the field, bowed to Luoluo, and raised an eyebrow, not out of fear, but rather out of frustration.

Luoluo understood what he was thinking and said, "Do you feel that fighting me is a very annoying thing? Because you're worried about hurting me, you can't use your full strength, and you feel constrained, which doesn't match your proud and domineering personality, and you think I'm taking advantage of you?"

"I dare not."

Guan Feibai said expressionlessly, "But Your Highness should be very clear that no matter what, I dare not hurt you."

"I am a student of the National Teaching Academy. Since your Lishan Sword Sect is challenging the National Teaching Academy, I naturally have to stand up. If you can treat me as an ordinary student and use your full strength, that would be best. If you can't do that and are overly cautious, and end up being beaten like a dog, you can't blame me."

Luoluo looked at him and said, "Because that would be your own choice."

The little girl was much shorter than Guan Feibai, but she looked up at him with a blank face, as if she were looking down from a height.

A cold expression appeared on Guan Feibai's face. "Your Highness's words are reasonable."

In the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, he was in the middle in terms of rank, but his personality was the most narrow-minded, proud, and cold, and easily angered. Even facing Luoluo, he became angry.

"Everyone says the ranking on the Qingyun List changes all the time, but people often forget one point: before the change, the Tianji Pavilion will never be wrong."

He stared into Luoluo's eyes and said, word by word, "Four is four, nine is nine. No matter what, nine can never surpass four."