221 The First to Comprehend the Monolith

Viewing the monoliths of the Mausoleum of Books and comprehending the Dao.This was the fastest method for cultivators to break through into the nextrealm. This point had been confirmed countless years ago, so obviously none ofthe examinees from the Grand Examination needed to confirm it. In thistree-covered mausoleum mountain, it was very common to see monolith viewersbreak into the next realm. Occasionally, there would even be someone breakingthrough into the Star Condensation Realm, not even speaking of the EtherealOpening Realm. Logically, even if Zhong Hui only needed one night to break through, it stilldid not necessitate such a huge response, and yet besides those new entrants tothe mausoleum like Su Moyu and Ye Xiaolian, those who had stayed in themausoleum, as well as several senior Monolith attendants, all had seriousexpressions plastered on their faces. This was because if Zhong Hui succeeded,he would be the first amongst this new batch to break through. It was alsobecause, regardless of any suspicious circumstances, he had only seen the firstmonolith of the mausoleum and obtained great benefits to his cultivation.Perhaps this was an indication that his powers of comprehension wereastonishingly extraordinary. Chen Changsheng did nott lock gazes with Ji Jin for long before turning toZhong Hui, who still sat cross-legged before the monolith hut. As he watchedthe mist curl around Zhong Hui’s body and listened to the increasingly franticsounds of boiling water, he thought to himself, in the end what had reallyhappened? Last night Zhong Hui had not even found a method to comprehend themonolith, not even thinking about the possibility of breaking through. Howcould it be that over the course of one night, such great change occurred? “Apparently Zhong Hui sat in front of the monolith hut for the entire night, Ialso heard…that senior Ji Jin guarded him for the entire night as well.” SuMoyu walked from the edge of the woods to stand by Chen Changsheng and TangThirty-Six. Chen Changsheng frowned slightly as he thought of a certain incident that hadbeen brought up in Xun Mei’s notebook. Around twenty years ago, there was oncea Monolith Guardian that originated from the Heavenly Dao Academy that had usedsome sort of method to help a Heavenly Dao Academy student viewing themonoliths to break into the next realm. As he looked at Ji Jin’s face, hethought to himself that maybe this person had unstintingly used an enormousamount of true essence and spirit and transferred it to Zhong Hui. “I’m thinking the same as you, but the problem is that it’s just a bit toowasteful.” Gou Hanshi walked over. He had seen Chen Changsheng’s expression andcould guess what he was thinking. “Senior Ji Jin consumed, at the very least,half of his true essence, but Zhong Hui can only maintain it for half a day.After that, the true essence will disperse from his body.” Chen Changsheng replied. “But you can still remember the sensations. Atdifferent realms of cultivation, what the eyes see in the monolith inscriptionswill naturally be different.” Gou Hanshi nodded in agreement. “If it’s to forcefully increase comprehensionspeed, then this course of action would actually make some sense.” There were some people around the monolith hut that had taken note of ChenChangsheng’s arrival. Seeing him converse with Gou Hanshi caused theirexpressions to subtly shift. In the eyes of those people, the discussion taking place was far too calm andcollected. There was no sense of anxiety whatsoever. There were even somepeople who began to grow anxious on their behalf. Tang Thirty-Six and Zhexiucalmly watched Chen Changsheng. Guan Feibai and the other two from Mount Licalmly watched Gou Hanshi. None of them said anything, but their meaning wascrystal clear: It’s time for you two to start working harder!” Su Moyu said, “Breaking into Ethereal Opening and then successfullycomprehending the monolith. If this really is what Zhong Hui did, then you fromGrass Hut Seven will unavoidably be a little embarrassed.” Chen Changsheng was taken aback by those words. “What is this Grass HutSeven?” he asked in confusion. Su Moyu looked at the group of seven and explained, “Amongst this year’sexaminees, you seven are the ones that have received the most attention. Afterall of you entered the mausoleum, all of you ended up staying in the same grasshut. Some people feel that you separated yourselves from the rest of us onpurpose. Some people feel that you’re all arrogant and aloof. I don’t know whostarted it, but this name has already begun circulating.” Tang Thirty-Six proudly said, “Let them be jealous.” Guan Feibai indifferently said, “To not cause jealousy in others ismediocrity.” The two glanced at each other, then suddenly felt that something was notright. They turned their faces away from each other than simultaneously said,“But don’t think we’re on the same track.” This humorous dispute did nothing to dispel the mood around the monolith hut.Those people, whose gazes rested on the group of seven, held rather complexemotions. Chen Changsheng clearly felt that Ji Jin had used that one night’s time toallow Zhong Hui forcefully break through, so that Zhong Hui would comprehendthe monolith faster than him and Gou Hanshi. The Divine Empress’ words thatTang Thirty-Six had used last night essentially had no effect. To become thefirst among this year’s examinees to comprehend a monolith, that was thegreatest glory. Right then, something happened in front of the monolith hut. Ji Jin lightlymoved over to Zhong Hui’s, gave a shout to wake him up, then stuck a pill inhis mouth. Then, his hand began to path Zhong Hui’s back. Gou Hanshi’s expression was somewhat apprehensive. “Scholartree Manor’sCrossing Heaven Pill?’” Chen Changsheng did not know what this ‘Crossing Heaven Pill’ was, but thevast majority of the people in front of the monolith hut did. Hearing GouHanshi’s words, their faces could not help but change color. To think thatScholartree Manor would use such a precious medicine to help Zhong Hui breakthrough. It was easy to see how much Scholartree Manor valued this youthfulscholar, and it was also because of Ji Jin’s intense desire to see ChenChangsheng and the others thwarted. Zhong Hui swallowed the pill, then used the true essence that he had obtainedfrom Ji Jin to digest the pill. In a flash, his face took on a deep redcomplexion, then after a moment returned to normal. The mist that pervaded hisbody grew much darker. Then, like smoke returning to the mountaintop, it slowlymade its way back into his body. An extremely pure breath of Qi appeared around the monolith hut. The oil lantern that was hung up on the tree had long since gone out, but nowit suddenly began to sway back and forth. A cool breeze was blowing from someunknown place, and the flowers and plants around the Reflecting Monolith swayedwith the wind. Zhong Hui opened his eyes and stood up. He slowly turned around and looked atthe crowd around him. His gaze seemed much more serene, much more profound thanusual. A Scholartree Manor student happily shouted, “Congratulations to senior forbreaking through!” Those monolith viewers that had stayed in the mausoleum voiced theiragreement. One of them said, “Scholartree Manor’s hidden reserves are trulyprofound. Excellent, excellent!” Zhong Hui was very tranquil. His handsome face bore not a hint of ecstasy andnot a trace of arrogance. He clasped his hands in salutation to the crowd, hismanner and behavior both unhurried. One of the old timers praised, “Although he had outside help, in the end hestill entered a new realm. To break through into a new realm after viewing onlythe first monolith is by no means an easy feat.” “Many thanks to Martial Uncle for his assistance.” Zhong Hui turned to Ji Jin,clasped his hands, and bowed down to the ground, his voice filled withsincerity. Ji Jin’s pale face showed a hint of red. He lightly stroked his hair and saidnothing, extremely satisfied. It was just as the crowd had said, if Zhong Hui did not have such excellentinnate perception, then even if he had used up all the true essence, he wouldhave been incapable of producing this scene. The area around the monolith hut suddenly grew quiet. Because Zhong Hui had begun walking towards the mountain path where ChenChangsheng and Gou Hanshi were standing. Of the three people in the First Banner of this year’s Grand Examination, ChenChangsheng was first, Gou Hanshi was second, and Zhong Hui had placed third.When this result had come out, those who knew the details of the battle feltsorry for Gou Hanshi, and even more were surprised at how inconceivable ChenChangsheng’s growth in power was, but very few people thought about Zhong Hui.Even if they brought him up, it was usually with a hint of ridicule, sayingthat he really was extremely lucky. Zhong Hui’s luck in the Grand Examination really had been too good. In thedrawing of lots for battle, besides his final loss to Luo Luo, he had actuallynot faced any strong opponents. Guan Feibai, Liang Banhu, Qi Jian, ZhuangHuanyu; he had faced none of these opponents, who were not any weaker than him,and if he had matched up against the obviously stronger Zhexiu, he would mostlikely have lost. Perhaps he would have been defeated by Gou Hanshi or ChenChangsheng. It was luck that he had not encountered any of these opponents, orelse it would have been very difficult for him to enter the top three. Of course, no one would have placed him on the same level as Gou Hanshi andChen Changsheng. The most important reason was because he was not at the samerealm of cultivation. Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi were both at the EtherealOpening realm, while he had been at Meditation. Even if he was only one stepaway from Ethereal Opening, he was still missing the most important thing, theimmense gap of that step, so it was a matter, of course, that he was ignored. But today, he had finally entered into Ethereal Opening. Of the First Banner of the Grand Examination’s top three, at the very leastthey were now equal in terms of cultivation. When those people around the monolith hut saw him walk towards Chen Changshengand Gou Hanshi, they knew he would have something to say. “After the Grand Examination, the Pavilion of Divination will make no changesto the Proclamations of Azure Sky and Golden Distinction. This is due to thefact that the Three Banners of the Grand Examination will all enter theMausoleum of Books. Within this mountain mausoleum, there are countless chancesfor good fortune and countless setbacks. There were many examinees in the GrandExamination who would have performed poorly, but once they entered themausoleum, they would soar like a dragon into the azure sky. There were alsoexaminees who would have had a good showing in the Grand Examination, but oncethey entered the mausoleum they could do nothing but sit in front of the huts,moaning and groaning before the monoliths, using up the entire day with nothingto show for it. In the face of all of this, the previous rankings weremeaningless. Everything depended on this moment, so the Pavilion of Divinationwould wait until the examinees had left the mausoleum before adjusting therankings.” Zhong Hui looked at Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi as he spoke. “Before Ientered the mausoleum, everyone said that I was on par with the two of you.Luckily, I finally found my good fortune. Last night you told me, what doesyour ability to comprehend the monoliths have to do with me, that we were notfamiliar with each, so why would I be disappointed. What I want to say to youis this. If you can no longer keep up with me, then once we leave themausoleum, perhaps you won't even have the qualifications to be my opponent,then I will truly be disappointed.” Chen Changsheng gave no response while Gou Hanshi was as calm as ever. Tang Thirty-Six coldly mocked, “Isn’t it just breaking into Ethereal Opening?Those two reached Ethereal Opening long ago. With such arrogance, a passersbymight think that you had broken into Star Condensation.” These words were actually very reasonable. Even if Zhong Hui had broken intoEthereal Opening, it could only be finally considered catching up to Gou Hanshiand Chen Changsheng, not worthy of speaking such words. Zhong Hui paid no attention to Tang Thirty-Six. At the very end, he glanced atChen Changsheng and said, “That’s all I have to say. I will be taking a stepahead of you.” Upon hearing this, the two scholars from Scholartree Manor vaguely guessed atsomething and became extremely excited. They loudly shouted, “Respectfullysending off senior!” Ji Jin was still running his hands through his hair. Though he said nothing,the smile on his face continued to grow. Even those several monolith guardians surrounding crowd nodded their heads, asif in praise. Saying these words, Zhong Hui walked back to the monolith hut, stopping infront of the monolith. He rested his right hand on the lines on the surface ofthe monolith. A bright light appeared. A gust of wind swept through, causing the leaves onthe tree branches to rustle. Zhong Hui’s body vanished. Seeing what had just happened, the new entrants to the mausoleum could nothelp but cry out in surprise. However, those who had already been in the mausoleum for some time turned ablind eye towards this event. Yes, the Heavenly Tome Monolith had been comprehended. Among this year’s examinees from the Grand Examination who had entered themausoleum, the first person to successfully comprehend the monolith hadappeared. It was not Gou Hanshi, nor was it Chen Changsheng. It was Scholartree Manor’sZhong Hui. Right now he was probably standing before the second monolith hut. The cool breeze gradually calmed down. The area in front of the ReflectingMonolith also gradually calmed down and peace returned to the monolith hut. Everyone subconsciously looked towards Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng.Particularly the gazes towards Chen Changsheng contained a variety of emotions. It was just as Tang Thirty-Six and Guan Feibai had said. Many people werejealous of the so-called Grass Hut Seven. Of course the target of most of theirjealousy was him, who had been barely known, who had suddenly risen toprominence in the Grand Examination, who was potentially going to marry XuYourong: Chen Changsheng. Seeing him, who would not secretly hold someresentment in their heart?