Chapter 94: Enter the Palace, Meet the Emperor!

The first snow in the late autumn arrived unexpectedly in the quiet night.

Fluffy snow fell on the earth, landing on the cherry blossom buds that sat on the tips of the bare branches. The colored tiles on the palace roof were dusted with snow. Changan gave off a different poetic vibe.

The White Jade Square that laid before the majestic Taiji Palace was silent.

The night sky had a dark to light gradient, similar to the fading black ink on rice paper as the brush continued its stroke.

The boy in green raised his head to enjoy the first snowfall, a bright grin on his face.

He had the entire world’s eyes on him at that moment.

Everyone was speechless. The final battle had ended without bloodshed. Instead, people felt comforted and refreshed after watching the match.

It was more like a dance than a fight.

Especially when Fang Lang tore apart Jiang Linglong’s veil, her extraordinary beauty dulled the stars.

In front of the Taiji Palace, the first prince sat quietly. Li Puyi remained expressionless while Lu Taixuan chugged alcohol in audible gulps. The hundreds of officials around them were in awe, some rubbed their palms together as they played back the great battle they just witnessed.

Among the ten great sect leaders, some frowned, some were smiling with shining eyes.

This year’s battle for the grand champion title was slightly different from the past. The opponents were not at each other’s throats, fighting for their lives. Instead, they danced a beautiful duet. It was uniquely interesting.

Nonetheless, the grand champion of the Imperial Examination of the Tang Dynasty was determined after this match.

Chao Xiaojian hugged his sword as he stood in the scattered snow. He stared at the dazed boy in the battle ring. Then, the man’s features twisted.

How did this kid… become the grand champion?

Chao Xiaojian was expecting Fang Lang to fail in the Imperial Examination and crawl back to the Sword Guild.

He had to fight for the boy!

Chao Xiaojian was dejected when he thought about having to fight others for Fang Lang.

He glanced at Su Yunyu whose eyes were shining brilliantly. Then, he turned and saw other sect leaders who were eager to compete.

Chao Xiaojian fell into deep thought. Fang Lang was born to wield a sword. He would never let the boy fall to the other sects and let his sword talents go to waste.

This kid was fated for the Sword Guild!

The snowfall had lowered the temperature.

Fang Lang reached out to help Jiang Linglong up.

The delicate skin between her eyes was red from Fang Lang’s gentle flick and looked like the sunset in the evening sky.

He should stick with fighting! Why did he flick my forehead!

Jiang Linglong was not too bothered by the loss. However, she felt the flick at the end was just too much.

It seemed so out of place, ruining the poetic setting they were in.

Jiang Linglong was slightly annoyed but after a while, her anger was replaced with amusement. Fang Lang was as mischievous as her mother at times.

“Congratulations,” Jiang Linglong reverted to her usual aloof demeanor and said calmly.

Fang Lang won. The boy who looked up at her back in the Jade Pavilion had made a spectacular entrance before her and the whole world, slicing through the snowstorm with his sword.

He was a nobody throughout the three academy years. With the grand champion title, he would be known by the world.

Jiang Linglong did not hold back and was impressed by Fang Lang’s eccentric moves.

Swords mastery, martial arts mastery, spell mastery and Ruism… Fang Lang had incorporated all four disciplines. He seemed to possess the ability to replicate others’ skills and techniques, acquire the gist of each discipline and integrate them.

Jiang Linglong lost to him because of this.

Perhaps it was due to the unique qualities of Fang Lang’s rare purple core?

The main reason Fang Lang won was that he managed to suppress her sword intent for the Four Seasons In One at the very last moment.

If he did not block this sword intent, Jiang Linglong could complete the Four Seasons In One and she would have been indestructible.

There must be a secret Fang Lang was hiding. He had demonstrated his outstanding abilities from the moment he withdrew the Blooming Lotus Sword.

Therefore, Jiang Linglong accepted her defeat after his last move. However, she was slightly irritated that Fang Lang fought against her in the form of a martial arts master. It was just too crass.

“Likewise,” Fang Lang answered with a laugh.

This match was just a battle for the grand champion title. Although Jiang Linglong had lost in this battle, her name would still be on the honor roll.

Jiang Linglong’s cherry lips curved slightly and her eyes turned into crescents.

Fang Lang smiled warmly.

After that, Fang Lang stowed away the Blooming Lotus Sword and the Obsidian Sword into the sword box and descended from the battle ring together with Jiang Linglong.

…

Across the White Jade Square, a red-cloaked Princess Pei Shi rubbed her hands together, her lips pouting.

Her eyes were slightly widened, bewildered by the battle between Fang Lang and Jiang Linglong. The last tornado that grew from the ground swept them both up in the air. They fell back to the earth under a snowing sky.

“What a breath-taking scene,” Princess Pei Shi mumbled.

A battle like this was so immersive.

“Little Fang won? Little Fang’s the grand champion?”

Beside her, Pei Liao had a swollen ear. He held his leather sheath and said nonchalantly, “You can say that Linglong lost but one could argue otherwise. She had a trump card. She might’ve won if she used it but there was no need to. Linglong’s pride wouldn’t allow her to anyways.”

Princess Pei Shi did not hear his explanation.

Soon after, she turned around in shock and pinched Pei Liao’s ear. “My goodness! Ling’er lost!”

Pei Liao was speechless.

‘I do not wish to speak with you, my silly second sister.’

…

Although the battle for the grand champion title had come to an end, the final section of the Imperial Examination was still ongoing.

Next was the battle for third place.

Wei Sheng was up against Ximen Xianxian. This battle was not for the title of the grand champion but the match-up was worth a view.

Wei Sheng activated his bloodline ability and his body started expanding. His black falchion sliced through the air and ripped through the snow, covering the ring with bits of snow.

“The righteous spirit that pervades Heaven and Earth manifests in various forms.”

Ximen Xianxian chanted sincerely. He raised his hand and pushed downward. Three tornados stemmed from the ground and merged with the dark clouds looming over the city.

Speckles of snow were swept into the tornado, increasing its strength.

The tornados transformed into three white dragons and launched towards Wei Sheng. His body was pumped with vital energy. A thunderous noise erupted when the two candidates collided.

Wei Sheng stepped on the snow and leaped, swinging his sword at the three dragons.

Their battle was intense. Without Fang Lang’s poetic hindrance, Ximen Xianxian’s poetry chanting enabled him to cast spells coherently, releasing his true capabilities.

Wei Sheng had none of that. Hence, he just waved his falchion and roared like a normal martial arts master.

However, the final outcome was beyond anyone’s expectations.

Wei Shend was covered in wounds. He left a trail of blood on the floor but managed to get close to Ximen Xianxian.

Ximen Xianxian looked pale, his robes billowed in the air as he surrendered willingly.

In contrast to Wei Sheng’s bleeding body, Ximen Xianxian’s pallor was characteristic of someone who had overindulged in his desires.

This left Wei Sheng deeply unsatisfied with his victory.

‘It’s much better to fight against a martial arts master. I hate scholars!’

The first three winners of the Imperial Examination were decided.

Fang Lang was the grand champion, Jiang Linglong took second place and Wei Sheng was the third.

The other candidates’ names were announced according to their ranking but the public did not pay much attention to them.

By the time all battles had ended, the sun was rising again. The white snow covered Changan City with a silver veil.

Dang!

The bell from deep within the palace rang.

It marked the end of the triennial Imperial Examination.

…

The high palace walls and the lapis lazuli roof tiles were covered in a thin layer of snow. Most of the golden leaves fell off the branches due to the added weight of the snow.

In the pavilion under the falling snow, the third prince was seated upright as he listened to the trembling eunuch in blue speak about the outcomes of the final battle in the White Jade Square.

“Fang Lang defeated Ximen Xianxian and proceeded to beat Jiang Linglong… making him the winner of the final battle, the grand champion?”

“He’s… the grand champion?” The third prince was not as furious as he expected himself to be when he received the news.

He watched the surface of the snow-covered lake serenely.

No one expected Fang Lang to win the grand championship.

The third prince was baffled by the outcome.

However, he knew if Fang Lang had become the grand champion, there would be a storm approaching Changan.

He turned around to look in the direction of the Martial Arts King Manor. His gaze surpassed the cornices, beyond the lapis lazuli tiles and reached the snowing sky. He saw a giant disheveled figure sitting cross-legged in a lonely courtyard.

“Will the Jiang family rise up again because of him?”

His party had been oppressing Martial Arts King Jiang for such a long time. Would the Jiang family change their fate because of Fang Lang?

The third prince forbade it!

His gaze sharpened.

“Bring me a pen and paper, as well as the space messaging flight sword,” the third prince stood up and said.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The little eunuch under the pavilion let out a sigh of relief. He was glad the third prince did not lose his temper upon hearing Fang Lang had won the grand champion title.

He was relieved and proceeded to prepare the things the third prince ordered.

The little eunuch left while the third prince walked toward the study.

The writing paper was left open in the study. The third prince picked up the brush and started writing with a serious expression on his face.

Then, he stopped.

Swish! Slash! Swoosh!

The space energy formed a riff, the strong rune started spinning and warped the space, forming another rune several hundred miles away. In an explosion, a swarm of flight swords flew out from the rune at great speed and flew through several hundred miles to enter the space rune on the other end.

They flew past mountains and rivers toward the boundaries of the Tang Dynasty.

…

The light snow silenced the atmosphere.

Below the White Jade Court, the candidates of the Imperial Examination stood in line as they waited patiently for the next arrangement.

Snowflakes fell on the candidates’ shoulders. Snow melted on the tip of their noses and the ends of their hair. However, everybody stood quietly without moving.

Fang Lang stood at the very front, he was slightly lost in a trance.

He was checking the rewards from this mission.

‘Ding! Congratulations, the battle with your binding partner, Jiang Linglong has triggered the passive ability. You have acquired Minor Forbidden Spell: Sword Thunder.

‘Ding! Congratulations, you have ranked in the top three with your binding partner, Jiang Linglong. As a reward for the meaningful exchange in cultivation, you’re awarded three Meditation Cards.

‘Ding! Congratulations, you have ranked in the top three with your binding partner, Wei Sheng. As a reward for the meaningful exchange in cultivation, you’ve acquired Alchemy (Alchemist Specialty).

‘Ding! Congratulations on winning the grand champion title. Mission accomplished, Ten Thousand Blade Scripture (Part One) acquired.’

…

The notification chime of the System kept ringing in his head.

The sound of rewards!

Fang Lang felt rejuvenated.

Out of all the notifications, two of them were from Jiang LInglong. He knew she would be the most beneficial.

He was surprised to find Wei Sheng who won third place also managed to trigger a handout.

His other binding partners, Liu Bubai and Ni Wen, did not trigger any rewards as their ranks were lower.

This round of rewards was incredible. Fang Lang briefly glanced through them, his heart racing.

He finally acquired a practice method from his rewards after accomplishing the mission.

Practice methods were very important in the Tang Dynasty. They were controlled by sects and the Imperial Court.

An ordinary person did not have the right to practice the cultivation method. Without passing the Imperial Examination or entering a sect, they would never get their hands on any practice methods.

Fang Lang continued to check the rewards.

The atmosphere surrounding them was becoming merrier.

Officials and the sect leaders stood up and looked towards the Taiji Palace.

The court eunuch wrote down the list of candidates by rank on the yellow paper before bringing it into the court.

Shortly after, the court eunuch emerged.

The old court eunuch glanced at the candidates below the White Jade Court.

He waved the horsetail whip and announced, “Behold! The top three winners are to enter the court!”

He announced in a thunderous voice that shook the snow. His voice rippled through every corner of the palace grounds, along the imperial pathway, past the Vermillion Bird Gate and all the way down the Vermillion Street.

His voice echoed in all the houses of Changan, waking the city in the dawn of winter with the news of the top three candidates awaiting to meet the Emperor!

The eldest prince stared from the White Jade Court.

Hundreds of officials had their hands clasped as they bowed before the court.

The court eunuch gazed at Fang Lang, Jiang Linglong and Wei Sheng, a smile was on his wrinkled face.

“Please go ahead,” he said smilingly.

The White Jade Court reflected the rays of the first snow.

The entire world was quiet.

Fang Lang looked at Jiang Linglong, where she nodded in return.

Then, Fang Lang flicked his green robe and took a step forward with the scabbard on his back.

They walked on the snow-covered White Jade Court, showered by fine snowflakes in the wind.

The breeze almost blew away the snow on the ivory staircase.

Fang Lang took one step after another, his eyes filled with determination. Jiang Linglong and Wei Sheng followed behind him.

The top three candidates of the Tang Dynasty’s Imperial Examination were the greatest cultivators of this cohort!

Finally, they stepped foot on the grand palace court that overlooked the entire Tang Dynasty.