Mount Han was this mountain range, and it also referred to the tallest, solitary peak.
Chen Changsheng raised the curtain and silently gazed at that solitary peak. He compared it to the solitary peak behind Xining Village, but he didn't know which peak was taller.
The solitary peak he was familiar with in the Cloud Grave occupied an incomparably vast area, but he would never know how high it was, as it was obscured by clouds.
Suddenly, he somewhat missed the old temple outside Xining Village, missed his teacher and senior brother.
Before entering Mount Han, there was a small village. It was said that this was the last place that ordinary people could settle down for a long time.
Perhaps because there were cultivators all year round from the Heaven Lake, the small village was not desolate. It was rather lively, with more than two thousand people living there.
Unlike the ordinary people of other places, the people of this small village were well aware of the matters of the Boiling Stone Summit. When they saw the convoy from the Li Palace and the Orthodoxy cavalry, they had long since respectfully moved aside. They were under the care and jurisdiction of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, but they were also believers of the Orthodoxy, so they did not dare show the slightest disrespect.
Somewhat unexpectedly, the convoy stopped outside the small village.
After a while, Chen Changsheng heard Mao Qiuyu's message, "The people of the village heard that you were also in the convoy and wanted to see you."
Chen Changsheng was a little surprised, but he didn't think too much about it. He thought, since they want to see me, then so be it. He got up and prepared to walk out of the carriage, but he was stopped by Tang Thirty-Six.
"You're prepared to go out like this?" Tang Thirty-Six asked him.
Zhexiu looked at Chen Changsheng and also shook his head.
"What's wrong with me like this?" Chen Changsheng looked at himself. Because of the long journey, he was wearing the most comfortable cotton uniform. After sitting for a long time, it was unavoidably wrinkled, but it was still very clean. He did not feel that there was anything wrong with this attire.
Tang Thirty-Six took out a new set of clothes and threw it over. "You have to be a little more serious at a time like this, because they're very serious."
Chen Changsheng took the clothes and realized that it was a Daoist robe that the Li Palace had sent over in the spring.
The materials used for this Daoist robe were extremely particular and meticulously tailored. Most importantly, it was embroidered with a brocade design that represented one's status.
He was still not the Pope, so he could not wear the Divine Robe. This robe was specially made to represent his status as the future Pope.
Linghai Zhiwang had refused to meet him on the entire journey, probably because he did not want to see him wearing this Daoist robe.
Who would have thought that Chen Chang Sheng had never worn it even once.
Chen Chang Sheng put on the new Taoist robe and with Tang Thirty Six's help, he arranged all the details. Chen Chang Sheng's expression became more and more serious.
Tang Thirty Six was right. The people who were waiting to greet him were very serious and solemn, so he really should be more serious and solemn.
"Is that okay?"
After putting on his Daoist robe, he looked at Tang Thirty-Six and Zhexiu and asked.
Zhexiu nodded. Tang Thirty-Six said, "You've also forgotten the most important thing."
Chen Chang Sheng's hand landed on the hilt of his sword, then slowly left.
A wooden staff exuding a faint holy aura appeared in his hand.
"I'm going," he said to Tang Thirty-Six and Zhexiu.
Then he took the wand and walked out of the carriage with steady steps.
The world outside the small village instantly grew quiet. In the distant snowy mountains of Mount Han, the cries of young eagles resounded.
Countless believers knelt down like a tidal wave, forming a dense mass of people.
Several hundred Orthodoxy cavalry also kneeled.
Chen Chang Sheng wore a Daoist robe and held a Divine Staff in his hand. He stood in front of the tide, his youthful face somewhat nervous.
He did not know how to handle this sort of situation.
He strove to recall those important figures he had met: the Pope, Su Li, and the Holy Maiden.
In the end, he thought of Xu Yourong, and his nervousness gradually faded, transforming into calm and sincere gratitude.
He gazed at those ordinary people piously bowing to him and said in a voice as steady as he could, "May the Sacred Light be with all of you."
… …
… …
"Bastard, where did he learn those words from? Really … this time, I can't watch him make a fool of himself. "
Tang Thirty-Six used his finger to lift a crack in the curtain and looked out in shock at the activity outside.
Zhexiu did not get off the carriage, because he had no interest in this sort of situation.
Tang Thirty-Six did not get off the carriage for another reason.
In this sort of situation, he would not go out even if he was beaten to death, because the moment he appeared, he would have to kneel and pay his respects to Chen Chang Sheng.
Last year, after the Pope had confirmed Chen Chang Sheng's position, Tang Thirty-Six had called an urgent meeting in the Orthodox Academy. In that meeting, he had clearly stated that if there really was no other way and he had to kneel and pay his respects to Chen Chang Sheng outside, then once they returned to the Orthodox Academy, Chen Chang Sheng would have to kneel back.
Zhexiu was well aware of the reason Tang Thirty-Six had not gotten off the carriage, but he was somewhat confused as to why he had not mocked and ridiculed Chen Chang Sheng like he usually did.
Tang Thirty-Six gazed at the scene outside the carriage, his expression very calm and content, his thoughts inscrutable.
He was thinking back to that conversation he had with Chen Chang Sheng on the great banyan tree in the Orthodox Academy.
Perhaps in a little while, he would have to return to Wenshui to inherit his family's business, to shoulder his responsibilities. To be rich in the world, but to be trapped in a single city. But before this, he had been frivolous, had worked hard, had struggled together with his companions, and had even fulfilled his promise.
… …
… …
Not far from the small village was the gate to Mount Han.
Chen Chang Sheng was rather curious and asked, "Is the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets after this place?"
The Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets was the most famous place in the world, but interestingly, very few people knew where the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets was.
With Chen Chang Sheng's current status, if he wanted to investigate, he would naturally be able to, but just like when he first entered the capital, he would often display his ignorance of the common knowledge of the cultivation world. He truly was not too interested in these matters. In comparison, the knowledge in books was much more important.
"You idiot, if the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets were here, it would take so long to update the rankings."
Without even asking, it was obvious that the only person who dared to speak to Chen Chang Sheng like this, and who liked to speak like this, was naturally Tang Thirty-Six.
Chen Chang Sheng pointed at the mountain gate and said, "But the three words' Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets' are written on it."
Tang Thirty-Six had had enough of his stupidity in this aspect. "The Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets presides over whatever matter, and that place is the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. For example, if the Boiling Stone Summit is being held right now, then this place is the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. If the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets is holding an auction in Dongchuan, then Dongchuan is the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets."
Chen Chang Sheng very seriously thought this over, but he still could not understand what was going on.
On the side, Zhexiu commented, "Deliberately mystifying."
In front of the mountain gate, the Orthodoxy cavalry stopped.
Linghai Zhiwang expressionlessly said to Chen Chang Sheng, "Don't lose face for the Li Palace."
After saying this, he turned and walked down the mountain path.
Chen Chang Sheng was somewhat confused.
Mao Qiuyu said to him, "We will escort you up to here. You will have to walk the rest of the path by yourselves."
"Ah?" This was clearly the first time Tang Thirty-Six had heard of this rule. "Why?"
Mao Qiuyu replied, "This is the rule of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. No one is allowed to enter five hundred li from Mount Han without permission."
Chen Chang Sheng asked, "Could it be that besides the people on the list, no one else is allowed to enter?"
Tang Thirty-Six replied, "Of course not. When my father participated in the Boiling Stone Summit, the Guardians of my clan followed him the entire time."
"No one is allowed to enter without permission. The Elder of Heavenly Secrets did not invite us into Mount Han, so we naturally cannot enter."
As Mao Qiuyu spoke of this matter, his emotions became rather complex.
Chen Chang Sheng was even more confused, thinking, the Orthodoxy is the world's Daoist sect. No matter how strong the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets is, what right does it have to treat the Orthodoxy with such disdain?
Tang Thirty-Six casually said, "Something must have happened between His Holiness the Pope and the Elder of Heavenly Secrets."
Mao Qiuyu glanced at him, then smiled and shook his head. He turned and walked down the mountain with the Orthodoxy cavalry.
… …
… …
Upon entering Mount Han, they were within the range of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, so safety was naturally the responsibility of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets.
Tang Thirty-Six had guessed correctly. There was assuredly some unknown grudge between the Pope and the Elder of Heavenly Secrets, so the Elder of Heavenly Secrets was very impolite to the Orthodoxy, forbidding Mao Qiuyu, Linghai Zhiwang, and the others from entering Mount Han. However, he still did not lose his etiquette to the future Pope.
A steward of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets was already waiting on the mountain path, his expression very respectful.
Chen Chang Sheng recognized this person. It was the Star Condensation painter responsible for recording the martial exhibition in front of the Orthodox Academy.
Today, Mount Han was opening, and cultivators from all over the continent were on the path into the mountain.
Chen Chang Sheng's group of three, led by the steward of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, did not get very far before encountering several groups of cultivators.
As expected, that rule of not entering without permission was directed at the Orthodoxy. It was obvious that some of these cultivators were experts that had come to hold down the line for their junior disciples.
But whether it was senior experts with profound cultivations or confident and proud young experts, when they saw Chen Chang Sheng's group approaching, they all hurriedly gave way.
Those that could enter Mount Han were no ordinary people, so their eyes were naturally extraordinary. None of the cultivators had anyone to guide them, so they walked along the mountain path. Only Chen Chang Sheng's group of three had a high-ranking steward from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets to guide them, so they were naturally not ordinary people.
When Chen Chang Sheng's group of three walked past them, they were recognized by someone. The mountain path was instantly filled with the sound of inhaling and suppressed exclamations. It wasn't enough for them to avoid Chen Chang Sheng. Everyone hurriedly saluted him. There was even a devout lone cultivator who directly knelt down on the mountain path and gave Chen Chang Sheng a big salute.
Just when Chen Chang Sheng was prepared to do something, he suddenly saw a person in front of him.
This person had a handsome face, a chill faintly visible on his brow. He wore a long yellow gown. It was Scholartree Manor's Zhong Hui.
The young scholar from last year's Grand Examination had already become much steadier, and the Qi exuding from his body had also become much stronger.
The mountain path suddenly grew quiet.
In last year's Grand Examination, the story between Chen Chang Sheng and the people of the Orthodox Academy and the students of Scholartree Manor, and even the subsequent events in the Mausoleum of Books, had long since been known by others.
The atmosphere became rather tense. No one knew what Zhong Hui would do next, what Chen Chang Sheng would do next.
After some time, Zhong Hui slowly bent his waist and clasped his hands to the ground.
His posture was abnormally standard, his etiquette impeccable.
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