All of the officials stared at Fang Zhengzhi and Nangong Mu in disbelief as they recalled the scene that had just taken place.
After all, Nangong Mu was in the pinnacle Heavenly Reflection State. He used the Green and Blue Secret Art, which was on the same level as the Million Sword Illustration. He also wielded the Green and Blue Dual Blades. Fang Zhengzhi had nothing.
But...
Nangong Mu was slightly weaker.
He had just reached the Heavenly Reflection State half a year ago. Half a year later, he was already stronger than Nangong Mu? This rate of improvement was terrifying.
King Duan Lin Xinjue clenched his fists tightly. Fang Zhengzhi's display of strength had already made him restless. If this continued, it might really be possible for him to …
King Duan felt a chill down his spine when he thought about what Chi Guyan had said in the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
What if Fang Zhengzhi really defeated Chi Guyan?
Then with the current feud between him and Fang Zhengzhi …
"No, we cannot let that happen!"
The officials were also worried. What happened in the Northern Mountain Village was still fresh in their minds. They all thought of what Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping had said. This kid was born to be rebellious. If he was allowed to develop, what would happen in the courts in the future?
Ping Yang was not concerned about what would happen in the courts.
She was more concerned about how Fang Zhengzhi learned the Million Sword Illustration. This was a secret technique of the Divine Constabulary. Did Sister Yan really teach him the Million Sword Illustration?
If there was one person who was not surprised, it would be Yan Xiu.
During the River of Trust Capital Examination, he was similarly shocked. But now, he was clearly much less shocked. The Divine Constabulary's Million Sword Illustration?
Even though the Yan Family's Asura Sword and Wind Shadow Technique were not as good as the Million Sword Illustration and the Green and Blue Secret Art, but how far apart were they? If he could see through the Asura Sword and Wind Shadow Technique... It was only a matter of time before he saw through the Million Sword Illustration and the Green and Blue Secret Art.
Xing Qingsui was the calmest person other than Yan Xiu. He had always been a simple-minded person. He would fight. The stronger his opponent, the stronger his will to fight.
...
In the arena.
Nangong Mu's chest rose and fell as he gripped his Green and Blue Dual Blades tightly. He had already lost, but he was unwilling.
He was not willing to stop here. He wanted to go further. He wanted to defeat Nangong Hao.
Four years ago, Nangong Hao topped the Imperial Examination.
Two years ago, he had the chance to participate in the Imperial Examinations. However, he met the Heaven's Pride, Chi Guyan. Hence, he had no choice but to give up. Because he had to take the number one spot, the same as Nangong Hao.
With the pinnacle of the Heavenly Reflection State and the Green and Blue Secret Art of the Nangong Family, it was not impossible for him to top the imperial examinations.
But now …
He met Fang Zhengzhi.
The person who was destined to stand in his way.
"I cannot lose!" Nangong Mu took a step forward and the crack under his feet was completely crushed. A powerful aura surged out from his body.
Nangong Mu's face had already turned ferocious.
"Why can't you lose?" Fang Zhengzhi did not notice the hideous expression on Nangong Mu's face. Instead, he was curious about Nangong Mu's words.
Because … Nangong Mu didn't mean that he didn't want to lose, or that he wouldn't lose, but that he couldn't lose!
"None of your business!"
"Aren't we friends?"
"Friends?! I, Nangong Mu, have no friends! "
"Then why did you plead for me the last time?"
"To repay your kindness, to repay the World of the Sage for saving my life!"
"Oh, I see. As the saying goes, a drop of water should be repaid with a spring of water. Although you pleaded for me previously, you didn't really help me, right? "Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
"What do you want?" Nangong Mu was taken aback for a moment before he asked.
"Tell me. Why can't you lose? I'll take it as you repaying me. "Fang Zhengzhi replied casually.
"Why do you want to know?"
"If I said I'm just curious, would you believe me?"
"Okay, because I want to top the imperial examinations."
"Why do you want to be number one?" Fang Zhengzhi asked again. Even though he had not interacted with Nangong Mu for long, he did not think that Nangong Mu was someone who cared about fame and fortune.
"Because I can't lose to someone."
"Who?"
"My brother!" Nangong Mu's tone was agitated.
"Your brother? Who? Is he very powerful? " Fang Zhengzhi asked curiously. He did not know who Nangong Mu's brother was. After all, four years ago, he was only 11 years old and spent his days on the Cang Ling Mountain.
None of the villagers in the Northern Mountain Village had ever mentioned anything about the outside world.
The only things they cared about were clothes and parents. For example, did the price of meat in Huai An County increase? What kind of animal hide did the rich like? Or did something big happen in the River of Trust Capital?
At most, they would learn about the new policies of the Divine Constabulary.
As for Fang Zhengzhi himself, apart from occasionally asking the waiters for the whereabouts of the daughter of the Divine Constabulary when he was in high spirits, he basically did not care about anything else.
"You don't know who my brother is?" Nangong Mu's eyes were filled with shock.
"Should I know?" Fang Zhengzhi waved him off.
"You really don't know?"
"Mm."
"Okay, my brother is Nangong Hao!"
"Oh."
"Aren't you surprised?"
"Why should I be surprised?"
"Because my brother is Nangong Hao! Everyone in the Great Xia Dynasty knows him!"
"But I really don't know him. This is the first time I've heard of Nangong Hao. I've heard of Nangong Mu a lot! Am I right? Haha … "Fang Zhengzhi joked and gave a smile that he thought was the brightest.
All of the officials had a strange expression on their faces when they heard Fang Zhengzhi's laughter.
They could tell that Fang Zhengzhi was mocking Nangong Hao.
Who was Nangong Hao?
He was the eldest son of the Nangong Family. He was the brightest star in the family.
And, most importantly.
Nangong Hao was Nangong Mu's brother!
Fang Zhengzhi said that he did not know Nangong Hao in front of Nangong Mu? How was this any different from saying that he looked down on the Nangong Family?
Everyone thought that Nangong Mu would be furious.
But in reality...
When Nangong Mu heard this, he stood rooted to the ground in a daze.
"This is the first time I've heard of Nangong Hao. I've heard of Nangong Mu a lot!"
"A lot!"
Nangong Mu kept repeating this sentence in his mind. He did not know if Fang Zhengzhi was telling the truth. But... This was the first time he had heard of someone who only knew Nangong Mu but not Nangong Hao.
Knew Nangong Mu but not Nangong Hao?!
Nangong Mu tightened his grip on his Green and Blue Dual Blade. This was an emotion that he had suppressed for more than a decade. He was so excited that he could finally unleash it.
After some time, Nangong Mu's expression returned to normal.
His expression was no longer menacing. It was replaced by his usual calmness.
"Can you do me a favor?" Nangong Mu looked at Fang Zhengzhi, as if he had made up his mind.
"Sure!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
"Don't you need to ask me what favor?"
"Do I? I've said it before. We are friends. "
"Friends? Yes... we are indeed friends! " Nangong Mu murmured. Then, he loosened his grip on his Green and Blue Dual Blade. "I want you to help me defeat Nangong Hao!"
"Sure, call him over. I will beat him up so badly that he won't even recognize him!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded. Then, he felt that something was amiss.
Wasn't Nangong Hao Nangong Mu's brother? Why was he helping him?
Just as he was about to ask, Nangong Mu had already turned and walked off the stage.
"Thank you! I've lost! "Nangong Mu's eyes were calm, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He seemed to be much more relaxed.
"Oh? Didn't you say you can't lose? "Fang Zhengzhi looked at Nangong Mu, who was walking down the stage, in confusion.
"I can lose!" Nangong Mu looked into the distance. That was where the Nangong Nobles were. Not long ago, he came to Flame Capital City from there.
At that time, he only had one goal. To defeat everyone and top the imperial examinations.
But now, he did not regret his decision.
"I can lose?" Fang Zhengzhi did not understand what Nangong Mu meant.
The officials did not understand what Nangong Mu meant. What was going on? Why did Nangong Mu suddenly admit defeat? What did Fang Zhengzhi do to Nangong Mu?
It seemed like...
Hang on. Fang Zhengzhi just said that he wanted to defeat Nangong Hao!
"Did I hear that right? Fang Zhengzhi just declared war on Nangong Hao?! "
"That seems to be the case. He even said that he wanted to beat him up so badly that he wouldn't recognize him?"
"This is an insult to the gentry! But... what is he thinking? That is Nangong Hao, the Nangong Nobles. Where did he get the guts to do this? "
All of the officials looked at the fearless Fang Zhengzhi in the arena. It was impossible to guess what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking.
"He's challenging Nangong Hao? And he's doing it in front of my father. This shameless fella is getting bolder! "Ping Yang murmured to herself, but she was very excited.
"Is he going to challenge Nangong Hao?" Xing Qingsui looked at Yan Xiu. Yan Xiu's expression did not change. He did not seem to be surprised at all.
King Duan Lin Xinjue's originally gloomy face suddenly broke into a smile. "What an arrogant villager! It looks like Nangong Hao is going to announce his participation in the court examinations? "
Everyone had their own thoughts. Only Emperor Lin Mubai did not make a move. As the Emperor, he did not need to guess what was going to happen.
All he needed to do was observe and wait for the final result.
...
After the invigilator announced the results of Fang Zhengzhi and Nangong Mu's duel, the remaining four contestants were announced.
Fang Zhengzhi's luck was not bad. He was matched against a heavily injured candidate.
Yan Xiu was matched against Xing Qingsui.
Yan Xiu was not a talkative person. Xing Qingsui was the same. As such, a huge battle ensued.
Xing Qingsui was the first to attack. This was not surprising. The Stabilization Constabulary's motto was to attack, attack, and attack...
Yan Xiu attacked as well. He did not retreat.
This was a battle of offense against offense.
Compared to Fang Zhengzhi and Nangong Mu's duel, this duel was more appropriate for the court examinations. It was far more exciting and intense than the previous one.
After attacking each other for a full quarter of an hour, the rhythm of both sides slowly slowed down.
Yan Xiu's expression was still cold.
On the other hand, Nangong Mu's face was somewhat pale, and the chest area of his black clothes was soaked with sweat.
"It looks like Xing Qingsui has not fully recovered!"
"Broken bones and tendons take a hundred days to recover. Xing Qingsui's injuries were internal. I'm afraid he will need at least half a year to recover."
"Mm, Xing Qingsui was the most severely injured candidate in the World of the Sage. It is already a miracle that he survived. There is no doubt about this duel."
"I just did not expect Yan Xiu to be able to match Xing Qingsui's attacks in just a few months. He is a genius!"
The civil and military officials looked at the two people standing on the stage, and they were all in a heated discussion.
On the other hand, Fang Zhengzhi stood below the stage and loudly cheered for Yan Xiu. His nondescript slogans caused the surrounding people to frown.
"Is this guy really the top scorer in the theory examinations?!"
"How could the six sets of exam papers be written by such a person?"
"I am ashamed to be associated with him!"
All of the talents behind the soldiers were filled with disdain when they heard Fang Zhengzhi's cheers.
Only Ping Yang was not surprised by Fang Zhengzhi's actions. Instead, she cheered just like Fang Zhengzhi, "Go, go, go... go harder!"
...
The battle on the stage was reaching its climax.
However, Xing Qingsui and Yan Xiu had not spoken a single word to each other.
Xing Qingsui raised the huge black sword in his hand, his fighting spirit soaring. Yan Xiu stood silently, the Mountain and River, Heaven and Earth Fan in his hand glimmering.
"Fight!" Xing Qingsui roared and attacked again. He stabbed forward with his black sword, his fighting spirit as sharp as a knife.
Just as he charged out, Yan Xiu suddenly disappeared.
He disappeared.
In other words, the entire world had disappeared and turned into a field of white, snow-white, without the slightest other color.
All of the officials felt a piercing pain in their eyes. They felt like they were being stabbed by thousands of needles. However, all of them had the same thought in their minds.
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