Chapter 33 - 033: Brilliant Literary Talent
In the gloomy environment, even a bit of brightness could sting the eyes so badly that people instinctively closed them for protection.
However, the luminous sphere that Yang Zhen had suddenly conjured was too large and too bright for anyone to evade in time.
This was particularly true for those who, due to the dim environment, had purposely widened their eyes to see clearly how many star forces Yang Zhen had encountered. They let out a shriek and covered their eyes.
“Damn it, this shameless trick by Yang Zhen must be intentional. No one could possibly encounter such terrifying starlight. It’s… it’s even more horrific than the light from ten stars,” one person argued.
“Isn’t there a limit to how much one can lie?” another said. “This bright starlight; has he obtained a godly Cultivation Method or something?” A group of people grumbled incessantly, glaring fiercely at Yang Zhen, wishing they could strike him dead on the spot.
Princess Changyang, having perceived Yang Zhen’s crafty blink slyly in advance, had shut her eyes beforehand. Nevertheless, she was taken aback, and looking at Yang Zhen in astonishment, she asked, “Young… Young Master Yang, is the starlight you saw truly like this?”
Before Yang Zhen could respond, Zhang Zongjin to his side coldly huffed and disdainfully said, “Nonsense. If he could see such starlight, then how about me, Zhang Zongjin, never being able to break through the Foundation Establishment phase in my whole life?”
Yang Zhen laughed at these words, looked at Zhang Zongjin meaningfully, and said, “Big brother, have you ever heard of a saying?”
“What saying?” Zhang Zongjin sneered. The light from ten stars was the most powerful inheritance within the Dao Comprehension Stele. During all these ages, many had set about successfully comprehending it, yet none had ever surpassed the light of ten stars.
Yang Zhen had seen such a large cluster of starlight?
Zhang Zongjin had one million certainties; Yang Zhen was simply talking nonsense.
Yang Zhen clucked his tongue in astonishment, sizing up Zhang Zongjin from head to toe, and then said: “The saying goes, ‘Heaven’s calamities can still be forgiven, one’s own misdoings bring about disaster.’ I hope your haunting devil comes even fiercer. Staying in the Foundation Establishment for the rest of your life would also be quite good. You may avoid a big loss in the future with your intelligence.”
“You…” Zhang Zongjin’s face turned ashen as he coldly huffed and fell silent.
Quite clearly, he had realized that arguing with Yang Zhen wouldn’t give him any advantage.
Zhang Zongjin was about to speak when Su Qingyu and Fang Shenhe walked past him and came to Yang Zhen. They looked at him with strange expressions.
Yang Zhen’s face changed slightly, he moved away from Fang Shenhe and almost stuck to Su Qingyu, keeping his eyes on Fang Shenhe with extreme caution, “What are you doing? Don’t look at me with that kind of look, I don’t like men!”
Fang Shenhe, who was about to speak, was choked by Yang Zhen’s words and coughed violently. He stared at Yang Zhen speechlessly.
This kid really had some issues!
Seeing Fang Shenhe’s effeminate look, Yang Zhen’s expression changed again.
He leaned closer to Su Qingyu, their distance now less than a fist.
Su Qingyu had a scent as refreshing as an orchid, which was quite different from the rich and sweet scent of Princess Changyang. Su Qingyu’s fresh and clean scent was refreshing.
Perhaps it was because Yang Zhen came too close, Su Qingyu felt a little uncomfortable. She stiffened in place and subtly retreated a small step before smiling and looking at Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen couldn’t help but marvel. The male talents of these Great Sects were much lacking compared to the women.
Princess Changyang was friendly and approachable. Even though she always kept some distance, she easily gained people’s trust. Su Qingyu, on the other hand, knew how to gauge men’s thoughts just right. Her small step drew enough distance to avoid being overly awkward and also finely avoided embarrassing Yang Zhen in public.
After observing Yang Zhen for quite some time, Su Qingyu spoke slowly: “Although Young Master Yang’s words are a bit exaggerated, they are not impossible.”
“Ah!” Princess Changyang exclaimed as if she had remembered something. She looked at Yang Zhen in shock and said, “Are you talking about the legend of the Dao Comprehension Stele, Sister Su?”
Su Qianyu nodded, saying, “Because no one has been able to trigger that entity for such a long time, people have likely forgotten about that legend. If Young Master Zhang is telling the truth, then the starlight he encountered in the Enlightenment Stele may be that legend.”
“What?”
Zhang Zongjin staggered backward three steps, spurting out a mouthful of fresh blood. The blood sprayed onto the face of his fellow sect member, like a fountain. He plopped down to the ground, his face as pale as death.
“How is that possible? That legend… How could Yang Zhen have such extraordinary talent? No, this must be a trick… Ha ha, I’m not crazy. It’s all fake. You’re all fake. You are all specters of my mind. Master, help me…”
Zhang Zongjin, frightened out of his mind, ran towards the distance. He stumbled and tripped but moved surprisingly fast. His fellow sect members who were in hot pursuit finally lost sight of him.
Yang Zhen watched with astonishment and was left puzzled by Su Qianyu’s words. He asked, “What legend?”
Su Qianyu spoke in a deep voice, “According to the legend, in addition to the inheritance of the Saint-level or below in the Enlightenment Stele, there is an entity that connects with the celestial realm. This can only be triggered by exceedingly rare and talented individuals. If you truly saw such a bright light…wait, you saw it, but didn’t obtain it?”
Yang Zhen waved his hand dejectedly, “That thing was as fast as a shooting star. I tried grabbing it, but couldn’t hold on.”
Hisss!
The crowd all around inhaled sharply, looking at Yang Zhen with pity. However, their expressions seemed to exude a sense of schadenfreude.
Su Qianyu blinked in surprise, looking a bit disappointed. Shaking her head, she said, “That’s truly a pity. Those secret treasures are what everyone in the world dreams of obtaining. It’s said that they encompass at least Saint-level cultivation methods, and even God-level cultivation methods or forbidden skills!”
Saint-level cultivation methods, God-level cultivation methods, forbidden skills!
With each word that left Su Qianyu’s mouth, the crowd took another sharp intake of breath, looking at Yang Zhen with even more pity.
Poor kid, he let these treasures slip right under his nose. He must be regretting it now.
Any one of these things, if made known to the cultivation world, could cause shockwaves in the Great Sect. And Yang Zhen just let them slip away?
While Yang Zhen appeared unfazed, everyone else’s hearts ached with regret. “Well, there’s nothing I can do about it. Having it would be my luck, losing it is my destiny. Perhaps those secret treasures were never meant for me,” Yang Zhen said, looking into Su Qianyu’s eyes with a sense of dejection.
“Having it would be my luck, losing it is my destiny,” Su Qianyu murmured, her eyes lighting up. Looking at Yang Zhen, she said, “Young Master Yang’s understanding is indeed profound. Although it’s a pity, maybe as you said, it’s not yet time for these secret treasures to emerge.”
With this, Su Qianyu gave Yang Zhen a penetrating look. A playful smile appeared on her face, “After conversing with you, I realize that your state of mind surpasses us all. I’m truly fortunate to have met you. I can’t help but feel that it’s such a pity we didn’t meet sooner.”
“It’s not too late! Not too late at all!” Yang Zhen was thrilled, he quickly said, “They say ‘Ten years of cultivation to cross the river together, a hundred years of cultivation to share the same bed.’ We’ll have plenty of time to interact in the future. How about I treat you to Malatang tonight?”
Su Qianyu’s eyes suddenly blazed, and she stared at Yang Zhen, stunned. Thinking that Su Qianyu was moved by his Malatang offer, just as Yang Zhen was about to push his advantage, Su Qianyu said, “Ten years of cultivation to cross the river together, a hundred years of cultivation to share… the same bed. Young Master Yang, your words are full of poetic charm. Are you by any chance affiliated with Buddhism? And what is Malatang?”
Seeing Su Qianyu’s slightly flushed face, Yang Zhen felt a surge of satisfaction. Indeed, age-old maxims from his profound and extensive Blue Planet were the most practical.
Listening to Su Qianyu and Yang Zhen’s back and forth engagement, the group of men around them almost dislocated their jaws in disbelief.
Fang Shenhe cleared his throat: “Both of you, we should discuss how we’re going to get out of here..”