227 The Broken Monolith

“Fourteen years without cultivation, only reading, then only one year wasneeded to break into Ethereal Opening. Twenty days without comprehending themonoliths, only calmly sitting… then in one day he saw and comprehended all themonoliths in the entire front mausoleum.” After the Pope had learned of what had happened in the mausoleum, he deliveredthese two lines of commentary on Chen Changsheng. Assisted by several powerfulfigures within the Orthodoxy, these two lines of commentary, like the glow ofthe sunset, quickly spread throughout the capital. The shocked populace onceagain looked to the south, towards the Mausoleum of Books, with every kind ofemotion. The last time someone had been able to view all the monoliths of the frontmausoleum in a single day was countless years ago, and that man was Zhou Dufu.Today, Chen Changsheng had performed the same deed. Did that mean that he wasthe second coming of Zhou Dufu? Yet there was a certain incomprehensible matterthat some people took note of. According the news that had come out of theMausoleum of Books, Chen Changsheng’s cultivation did not change as he viewedthe monoliths. He still remained at the initial stage of Ethereal Opening. Itmust be known that the year that Zhou Dufu rambled about in the mausoleum,whenever his eyes rested on a monolith and his foot entered a hut, hiscultivation would incessantly change. To take what those who had entered themausoleum just this year had said, even Scholartree Manor’s Zhong Hui hadbroken through into Ethereal Opening. There were also many people like TangThirty-Six who could see the possibility of breaking through. Logically, afterChen Changsheng had finished viewing seventeen monoliths, as a matter ofcourse, he should have obtained some sort of enlightenment. Even if he did notbreak through into a completely new realm, he should still have received somebenefit. Priest Xin supported Archbishop Mei Lisha to the Li Palace. After payinghomage to the Pope, Mei Lisha brought up the discussion currently spreadingaround the capital. After a moment’s hesitation he also added, “There are manypeople who are suspicious. They believe that perhaps Chen Changsheng used somesort of trick, or even that we in the Orthodoxy taken some sort of action inthe Mausoleum of Books.” “Enlightenment is enlightenment. Comprehending the monoliths has alwaysdepended on the cultivation of the individual cultivator. No one is able toreally change that.” The Pope took up a wooden ladle and began watering the Green Leaf as he spoke.“I don’t believe that child will have the chance to catch up Zhou Dufu’sperformance that year. After all, it requires extraordinary courage, as well asthe right temperament. His performance is already outstanding and I am quitesatisfied, one could even say that I’m surprised.” Mei Lisha responded, “What I most want to know is what his response will bewhen he sees that last monolith. Will he be as shocked and surprised as we wereby his actions today?” The Pope’s wooden ladle hovered above the Green Leaf, slightly tilted, as ifhe were thinking about something and had gotten lost in thought. Miraculously,not a drop of water spilled from the ladle. Priest Xin stood startled at one side, uncomprehendingly wondering, ChenChangsheng had already deciphered all seventeen monoliths of the frontmausoleum, how could there be one more? The Pope shook his head and resumed watering. “Even if he does see it, don’ttell me he’ll be able to decipher it as well?” Mei Lisha smiled. “That child has already amazed us so many times. To do soone more time is not that unthinkable.” In the crimson twilight, the Dew Platform seemed to be ablaze, as if it were amassive torch. The Divine Empress stood at the edge of the platform, her handsclasped behind her back, as she looked towards the Mausoleum of Books. On herindifferent expression appeared a trace of ridicule. “They both viewed theentire front mausoleum in one day, but that year Zhou Dufu actually understoodthe monoliths. Chen Changsheng is still far away from comparing to him.” Of the people living on the continent today, only she and the Pope could beconsidered to have actually met Zhou Dufu. They could even be consideredacquaintances. Only they understood the terrifying degree of strength that thecontinent’s strongest cultivator had held, so they believed it was simplyimpossible for Chen Changsheng’s name to even be said in the same sentence asthat man. Mo Yu stood behind her and could not help but say, “But viewing seventeenmonoliths in one day can already be considered rather extraordinary. At thevery least, it’s much better than my performance.” The Divine Empress did not turn around. She continued to gaze at the Mausoleumof Books, remembering all those aged and white-haired cultivators that, sinceancient times, had viewed the monoliths, and the sense of derision about hergrew increasingly more distinct. “In the end, why is it that cultivators viewthe monoliths? Why is it that some people never understand that viewing themonoliths is not the purpose of cultivating the Dao, but a method forcultivating the Dao?” “When Empress ordered the rankings to be destroyed that year, it was to teachthe people of the world to not go astray. It is a pity that no one understoodthe Empress’s labors.” Mo Yu softly said. “Yes, if one’s cultivation or enlightenment in the Dao has not advanced, theneven if one comprehended every monolith in the mausoleum, what use would it be?That year when I ordered Zhou Tong to destroy that ranking in front of themausoleum. Many of those old fools in the Orthodoxy came to me weeping tearssaying that I wasn’t respecting the ancestors. Now that I think of it, I shouldhave had that lot of senile fools killed.” The Divine Empress continued indifferently, “Even if the Heavenly TomeMonoliths are sacred objects, it is only when they are used by the people dothey actually have meaning. True, Chen Changsheng’s speed in comprehending themonoliths was certainly faster than yours, but that year in the mausoleum yousucceeded in entering the Star Condensation realm. And him? Even if hecomprehended every last one of the Heavenly Tome Monoliths, if none of it didanything for his cultivation, then it isn’t worth a damn thing.” These words had come up twice and they held the same meaning, but the firstwas for the cultivators of the world, while the second was aimed directly atChen Changsheng. Mo Yu was alarmed, but then smiled. So even the Divine Empress could use suchvulgar language, she thought to herself. It would seem that Chen Changsheng’sperformance in the mausoleum still caused the Empress to be somewhat vigilant. Of course, what she was wary of was not Chen Changsheng himself, but theOrthodoxy who stood behind him. Mo Yu did not conceal her emotions. This was why she had been able to earn thefavor and dotage of the Empress. She opened her large eyes and asked curiously, “Then in Empress’s view…willChen Changsheng have a chance?” The Divine Empress contemplated the Mausoleum of Books in silence, then said,“Perhaps if he is able to view that final monolith, only…he is too unflustered,yet so young. He gives off the unlikeable scent of sour decay, completelyunlike the Zhou Dufu of that year. He was as glorious as the morning sun, asvigorous as a hurricane. He would berate the heavens and curse the earth, allto ask a single question.” Mo Yu slightly frowned. She always felt that whenever the Empress brought upthat peerless expert, her mood would seemingly become unsteady. “To cultivate the Dao is to cultivate the heart. One’s nature determines one’sfate, and it will also decide how far one is able to walk in the Dao.” The Divine Empress announced her final conclusion. “Chen Changsheng…is notable.” After comprehending the seventeenth monolith, Chen Changsheng arrived at alush and verdant meadow. In the twilight, the entire Mausoleum of Books seemed to be on fire, thismeadow being no exception. An intangible wildfire rolled across the meadow,creating a breathtaking scene. From the cliff under the meadow came the rumbling of water. He realized thathe had arrived at the southwest face of the mausoleum, where that waterfalloriginated. The wind from the cliffs carried up a mist of water, which landed on his face.It was a little wet and a little cold, but it washed away his exhaustion. He thought back to today’s course of events. Although there were some placeswhere he was not satisfied, he could not but feel somewhat happy, to think thathe was pretty good. Suddenly, he felt something, and the cheer on his face gradually retreated tobe replaced with confusion. He turned around, and saw that, in the meadow, under a white cliff, wasanother monolith hut. He had deciphered the seventeen monoliths of the front mausoleum, so accordingto the records of the Daoist Canon, he should have been sent to the nextmausoleum. But this was definitely still the front mausoleum. The structure of that monolith hut was no different than that of theReflecting Monolith or the River Guiding Monolith. Chen Changsheng was rather surprised. Could there possibly be another HeavenlyTome Monolith in the front mausoleum? Front mausoleum of the Mausoleum of Books had seventeen monoliths. This was afact that everyone knew. Unless someone had been concealing this fact, but whowould conceal it? Chen Changsheng suddenly remembered when he was studying theDaoist Classics back in Xining Village, with regards to the world’s way ofspeaking, at the very beginning the Mausoleum of Books did not have any sort offront or back mausoleum. Standing amidst the blazing meadow, he did not hesitate for long. He steppedforward and began walking towards the monolith hut. As he broke through theweeds, it was as if he was stamping out the fire, or a fishing boat rowingthrough a river as thousands of fish scales gleamed in the light. Walking in front of the monolith hut, he stopped and looked in. What he sawwas a scene he could never have imagined, and could not help but stare. This monolith hut had no Heavenly Tome Monolith. To be more precise, thismonolith hut once had a Heavenly Tome Monolith, but now that monolith haddisappeared without a trace, only leaving a pedestal.  On this pedestal was asomewhat conspicuous protrusion of spoiled stone, about half a palm wide andvery short. Perhaps it was all that remained of the Heavenly Tome Monolith? Chen Changsheng’s body became as incredibly rigid. The previous joy andrelaxation had long since been replaced by shock and surprise. The front mausoleum of the Mausoleum of Book actually had eighteen monoliths.This was already surprising already. Yet what was even more unfathomable wasthat the last monolith was actually this broken monolith! He stood in front of the monolith hut in a daze for a very long time, thengradually was able to collect his wits and suppress that fierce shock andunease. He walked up to that broken monolith and realized that on this smallchunk, there were no lines or characters. In other words, the monolithinscriptions were all on the piece of the monolith that had been broken off. He rubbed the surface of that broken monolith, feeling the hardness of themonolith stone, how after countless years of wind and snow, its edges stillremained as sharp as ever. An expression of frustration slowly grew on his face. This monolith had clearly been broken by some extremely great power. In the beginning, when the Heavenly Tome Monoliths fell to the earth, the baseof the monoliths began to grow roots that connected them deep into the earth ontheir own. In the three thousand classics of the Daoist Canons, amongst countlessstories, there was not a single one that said that the Heavenly Tome Monolithscould be broken and carried out of the mausoleum. Then where did this power come from to be powerful enough to break thisHeavenly Tome Monolith? If it was a human, then who was this human? How did that person do it? Where did he take that piece of the Heavenly Tome Monolith? Chen Changsheng looked around in frustration at the blazing meadow. The twilight deepened and the night seeped in. The mountain winds graduallybecame colder. He felt somewhat chilly. The joy and satisfaction he felt had long since departed. The shock fromseeing the broken monolith had also vanished without a trace. His mind had already become somewhat numb. His heart was filled with boundless reverence and even fear. Is that what real power was like? The Mausoleum of Books became shrouded in darkness. Along with the disappearance of the last rays of sunset, the stars in the skyonce again occupied the sky as well as the eyes of man. Chen Changsheng stood outside the monolith hut, staring motionlessly at thestarry sky. He remained in this position for a very long time. He had been accompanied by that shadow for so many years, that in the end, hewas no ordinary youth. Although he had not reached the point where he was able to laugh in the faceof death, but after using so much time, an even stronger power would be unableto affect his mind. He turned around and walked into the monolith hut, and once again stood beforethe broken monolith.