(I've received the handwritten copies of Choosing Heaven from a few of my book friends. I'm very touched. This New Year gift is really nice and meaningful. I'll talk about it in detail another day. Thank you, everyone.)
…
…
Using the array left behind by Zhou Dufu to display the true power of the Heavenly Tome Monoliths to resist Shang Xingzhou was Chen Changsheng's plan.
In those nights in the stone room of the Li Palace, this plan had already matured to perfection.
But in the original plan, the South Stream Temple sword array should have already been set up around the Mausoleum of Zhou.
The several thousand famed swords that had returned to the plains would once more form a balance with the four Heavenly Tome Monoliths, ensuring that the Garden of Zhou would not collapse.
If all of these were put into practice, he would have a 70% chance of defeating his master.
Unfortunately, all of his swords had been snatched away by Shang Xingzhou, so his chances of winning were naturally much lower.
More importantly, without the suppression of several thousand ancient sword intents, the clear light emitted by the Heavenly Tome Monoliths would most likely destroy the Garden of Zhou before it could defeat Shang Xingzhou.
Shang Xingzhou only needed a single glance to understand Chen Chang Sheng's intentions, as well as the current situation.
Therefore, he would not back down, nor would he admit defeat.
He would persevere to the end, even if he did not hesitate to touch the seal of the Garden of Zhou.
Chen Changsheng could continue to use the Heavenly Tome Monoliths to attack until he defeated him, but the Garden of Zhou could be destroyed ahead of time.
Otherwise, Chen Changsheng would have to take the four Heavenly Tome Monoliths and leave the Garden of Zhou as quickly as possible.
However, when he returned to the real world, without the restrictions of the Garden of Zhou, he was unable to display the power of the Heavenly Tome Monoliths, and he had no sword …
How could Chen Chang Sheng defeat him?
It was a multiple-choice question.
Shang Xingzhou looked at him quietly.
The clear light falling from the sky was blocked by his palm. Endless winds and clouds were born and destroyed within it.
In the end, everything in the world was often a multiple choice question.
It was easy to get tired of it.
Chen Chang Sheng looked at Shang Xingzhou and asked, "Why do I always have to make the choice?"
He was really angry, or rather annoyed.
The angry question was carried far away by the wind.
Shang Xingzhou's expression was indifferent. He had no intention of answering him.
From Xining Village to the capital, from the age of ten until now, he had done far too many multiple-choice questions. He was truly annoyed.
He really wanted to ask his master if it was annoying to do this all the time.
But in the end, he didn't ask because he knew it was useless.
Just like in the past few years, he was used to doing, not talking.
No matter what choice he made.
Or, no choice at all.
Yes, he really didn't want to choose today.
His eyes were incomparably bright, just like the moonlight of Xunyang City.
His divine sense spread across the air and landed on Shang Xingzhou's sleeve.
He tried to regain control of the Vault Sheath.
Even if he couldn't, he could at least reconnect with the swords in the scabbard.
He believed that as long as those swords sensed his divine sense, they would definitely follow his will and break out of the sheath, returning to this world.
However, he failed.
His face became even paler, like the snow in the wilderness.
A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his lips. He looked like a lonely wintersweet in the snowfield.
Shang Xingzhou's right hand was still supporting the sky.
The wind ruffled his sleeves, and the scabbard in his left hand could be vaguely seen.
Chen Chang Sheng's gaze fell upon that direction.
"When making a choice, you can often see a person's truest courage, wisdom, and temperament."
Shang Xingzhou looked at him and said, "You have disappointed me today, because you don't even have the courage to make a choice."
Chen Chang Sheng said, "Since I will lose no matter what I choose, why should I choose?"
Shang Xingzhou replied, "Because that is your fate."
Many years ago, in Xining Village's old temple, he had said something to Chen Chang Sheng.
You have an illness that cannot be cured. That is your fate.
Today, he had said something similar again.
No matter what you choose, you will lose. That is also your fate.
Chen Chang Sheng gazed at the distant plains, saying nothing for a long time.
Shang Xingzhou calmly looked back, also saying nothing.
After some time, Chen Chang Sheng drew back his gaze and said to Shang Xingzhou, "My illness has already been cured."
Yes, his illness had already been cured.
He was still alive.
Thus, there was no such thing as fate.
Thus, choice had its meaning.
Whether he won or lost.
… …
… …
It was very quiet both inside and outside the Orthodox Academy.
People were everywhere in Hundred Flowers Lane, but not a single noise could be heard.
Their faces were covered in tension, anxiety, and worry.
At this moment, everyone knew that Shang Xingzhou and Chen Chang Sheng were fighting in the Garden of Zhou.
They could not see sword glows or hear sword cries, so no one knew the specifics.
But to experts of the Divine like Wang Po and the Prince of Xiang, space could not isolate all information.
Why was it that there was not even a sliver of sword intent in the Orthodox Academy?
The Prince of Xiang seemed to be laughing and crying, his true emotions impossible to tell. His hands, which were clasping the fat on his abdomen, were subconsciously rubbing against it.
Wang Po thought of a certain possibility, and his expression turned grave.
At Tang Thirty-Six's level of cultivation, it was naturally impossible for him to know what was going on in the Garden of Zhou, but he had always been paying attention to the changes in Wang Po's expression.
From start to now, his gaze had always been fixed on Wang Po's face through the crack in the window.
This was his only source of information.
Seeing Wang Po's expression, he vaguely guessed that the situation was not good, and his face paled.
On the floor was a Ruyao azure cup that had been shattered into several pieces, and there were also some water and tea leaves.
In his hand was a teapot, the tea in the pot already cold.
He picked up the teapot and poured half of the cold tea into his mouth, but he still could not calm his madly beating heart, nor could he extinguish the flames of Dao in his heart.
He charged out of the tea house. Su Moyu could not stop him, allowing him to run straight to the gate of the Orthodox Academy.
Linghai Zhiwang and the others were surprised, thinking, just what is he doing here?
The Imperial Court and the Li Palace had jointly decided that the Orthodox Academy would be sealed, with only Wang Zhice, Shang Xingzhou, and Chen Changsheng allowed inside.
The Orthodoxy cavalry and black-armored cavalry stood guard around the academy, and countless cultivators had gathered, including experts on the level of Wang Po and the Prince of Xiang.
No one could even think about entering the Orthodox Academy at this time.
Tang Thirty-Six paid no attention to those unkind and warning gazes. Before those princes could even open their mouths, he had already begun to curse.
"All of you, shut your mouths!
"This is the Orthodox Academy, and I'm the superintendent. Chen Changsheng isn't here, so I'm the one with the most authority!
"No one can enter because they don't agree. If I want to enter, whose agreement do I need?"
… …
… …
Hundred Flowers Lane was thrown into chaos. Sword intents crisscrossed the air, and there were even a few crossbow bolts streaking across the sky.
Wang Zhice turned his head from the lake shore and saw Tang Thirty-Six.
Tang Thirty-Six had naturally guessed that he was Wang Zhice, but he did not step forward to greet him. He straightforwardly asked, "How do I enter the Garden of Zhou?"
Over the course of countless years, Wang Zhice had never encountered someone who knew his identity but did not care. He couldn't help but feel rather surprised, and then interested.
He opened his palm to reveal the black stone and said, "Enter through this door."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "Give it to me."
His request was very simple and clear.
It took Wang Zhice a few moments to react.
"Why?"
"The Garden of Zhou is Chen Changsheng's, so this thing is naturally his."
"He gave it to me, and this thing was originally mine."
This time, it was Tang Thirty-Six's turn to be stunned before he reacted.
"It was originally yours, which means that it's not yours anymore. And how old are you? If he gave it to you, you should take it! "
Wang Zhice had never met such an unreasonable person, so he quickly guessed at this kid's origins.
He replied, "Not even your grandfather would dare to speak to me like this."
"Nonsense, besides Emperor Taizong, who would dare to disrespect you?"
Tang Thirty-Six changed the topic. "But today, I have to congratulate you."
Wang Zhice asked, "What is it?"
"Congratulations on finally meeting another person besides Emperor Taizong that dares to talk back to you."
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him and seriously said, "If you are not willing to give this thing to me, I will curse your mother."
Wang Zhice arched his brows and said, "I am the referee for this match."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "You were invited by Shang Xingzhou. I don't trust you."
Wang Zhice replied, "The Pope trusts me."
Tang Thirty-Six asked, "What does that have to do with me?"
Wang Zhice calmly replied, "If I don't give it to you, what can you do?"
Tang Thirty-Six's reply was still concise and clear.
The Wenshui Sword was unsheathed, and ten thousand golden leaves appeared on the surface of the lake.
Wang Zhice's expression subtly changed.
It was not because of Tang Thirty-Six's attack.
It was because Tang Thirty-Six had pulled back his sword.
Suicide.
(To be continued …)
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