Phi-Fic Chapter 106: Famous People
Chapter 106: Famous People
Wenyuan Academy is located at the foot of Yuecheng Mountain, adjacent to Huanyang Lake, surrounded by mountains and water, with beautiful scenery.
The moment Lu Zhaozhao stepped into Yuecheng, she was shocked by the scholarly atmosphere that greeted her.
Perhaps due to the establishment of Wenyuan Academy here, the city's residents, influenced by it, also enjoy poetry and calligraphy. The streets are full of flowing calligraphy, and the blue bricks and gray tiles add a solemnity.
Walking along the main road until you reach the mountains and forests, the appearance of the academy becomes clear.
The courtyard is deep and shaded by green trees, with carved beams and painted buildings, and flying eaves and pointed corners.
Different from the solemnity of Emperor Huizong of Qing Dynasty, it adds a touch of friendliness.
A number of people were already standing in the open space in front of the courtyard. Lu Zhaozhao had arrived early, and the Golden Palace Banquet hadn't started yet, so those who arrived early were temporarily resting in Yuecheng. Of course, the Golden Palace Banquet was a grand event, so many people had come to check it out and observe.
"Times, times, the latest times, hey hey hey, would you like to take a look, fairy? The secrets of famous families, ancient relics, and biographies are all here."
A man who was walking through the crowd, wearing brocade clothes and with a small golden abacus on his waist, saw the newcomer Lu Zhaozhao at a glance and immediately stepped forward to solicit customers.
"Fairy, are you here to watch the game? Or..."
"I'm here to compete."
"Oh, that's perfect! I still have one last copy of Wenrenlu left!"
The merchant slapped his thigh, his eyes sparkling, and he spoke excitedly, "Fairy, do you know who compiled this Wenrenlu?"
Lu Zhaozhao shook his head in agreement with what he meant.
"This Wenrenlu was written by Zhezhi Shanren. I'm sure you've heard of him too. He's the most well-informed person in the world of cultivation! He's a man who sharpens his sword for ten years. Every time there's a Golden Palace Banquet, his Wenrenlu is sold out. This year, it hasn't even started yet, and I only have one copy left."
The vendor spoke cleverly, saying that this book was unique in heaven and on earth, which aroused Lu Zhaozhao's curiosity.
"I want the one you have."
"Alright! Eighty spirit stones in total."
"Your book is really expensive. Eighty spirit stones are not cheap. You can buy some good medicinal herbs and gems with them." Lu Zhaozhao raised his eyebrows, obviously a little surprised by the price. No wonder he still had a surplus on hand after moving around the crowd for so long.
"Oh, fairy, this is the exclusive secret of this year's most sought-after contestant. If you can reach the top, it will be worth a fortune!"
Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao was a little hesitant, the vendor immediately started to promote his product actively.
"How about this, if you buy this book, I'll give you my exclusive interpretation. Although I, the Taoist Fu of Jizhou, may not be as famous as the Hermit Zhezhi, I do have some credibility!"
"That sounds interesting." Lu Zhaozhao took out a bag of spirit stones and threw it to him. The merchant quickly caught it, weighed it, and a flattering smile immediately appeared on his face.
He pulled a red silk-covered book from his bosom and opened it for Lu Zhaozhao, explaining each page one by one. "Look, this book is divided into two parts. The front introduces the top 100 contestants this year, taking into account factors such as cultivation level, skills, and sect support. The back introduces the champions of previous competitions. It is rumored that the Golden Platform has its own consciousness and will select the champion it recognizes. Zhezhishan has made a summary analysis based on the characteristics of these champions."
After he finished his general introduction, he turned to the front and gave a detailed introduction to the people inside.
"The most anticipated figure at this conference is naturally Master Bai Yuan from Wenyuan Academy. He's a young celebrity and playing at home, so he shouldn't be underestimated."
Lu Zhaozhao pointed in the direction of his finger. The three characters "Master Bai Yuan" were prominently listed at the top of the list. Zhezhi Shanren's comment on him was: "Nascent Soul Stage, estimated to have reached perfection. Excellent character, exceptional talent, destined for greatness."
"The second place winner is Emperor Huizong of the Qing Dynasty, who has been entangled with Wenyuan Academy for many years. Lu Zhaozhao, a disciple of Emperor Huizong Yunxian, will also participate in this conference. His senior brother Ying Che has once reached the summit of the Golden Terrace. In addition, Fairy Lu herself is extremely talented and is said to be beautiful. Many people are looking forward to watching the final battle between these two."
Listening to others introduce themselves, Lu Zhaozhao was not shy. She noticed the annotations on the side: "Middle to late Nascent Soul stage. Excellent talent, but lacking in character, barely ranked second."
Lu Zhaozhao didn't know whether to laugh or cry after reading this comment. This mountain man had a really sharp tongue. He clearly said something negative, yet he ranked her second, making her complaints seem unreasonable.
The names on the list are all familiar, and they are basically disciples who have become famous in recent years in various sects.
But what surprised her most was that Yaotong was ranked outside the top five.
"Yao Tong from Tianyin Sect, I heard she has also reached the Nascent Soul stage, so why isn't she ranked among the top five?"
After hearing this, the vendor leaned in closer and whispered, "The Tianyin Sect, while nominally one of the three great sects, mostly has disciples who practice musical instruments, primarily for support purposes. Their offensive capabilities are somewhat weaker. Furthermore, Fairy Yaotong is soft-hearted, so the hermit believes she won't be able to exert her full strength, hence their ranking."
What he said made sense, but Lu Zhaozhao still felt that the lyre was not as gentle as it seemed.
"Do you know this guy's background?"
Lu Zhaozhao looked at the third name on the list. This was the only name on the list that looked unfamiliar to her.
"Liaochou of the Sword Tomb, he first came to prominence at the Heroes' Gathering outside the domain two years ago. No one had ever seen him before."
The vendor said mysteriously, looking around as if he was exploring the surrounding situation.
"A gathering of heroes?"
"This is a trial field outside the domain. Both sides place a bet and send out a duelist. Regardless of life or death, anyone who can make it out of there is no good person."
Lu Zhaozhao lowered her eyes. She had always remembered the Sword Tomb as a well-behaved sect. She had heard that many famous figures had emerged from its ancestral sages, and upon their passing, their weapons, many of which were swords, would automatically return to the sect, hence the name Sword Tomb. However, over the years, the established sects had remained stable, while newer sects had emerged, and the Sword Tomb had become increasingly obscure.
"Since he appeared two years ago, didn't anyone investigate his past?"
There are very few geniuses who hide their identities in the world of cultivation, because as soon as a good seedling appears, all sects will go to investigate, whether to accept him as a disciple or to find out his situation.
"How come no one has investigated? Most of the sect has gone, but they can't find anything. He's been hidden away by the Sword Tomb. Except when he's on stage, he's nowhere to be found. Even the Sword Tomb's disciples don't know much about him."
The vendor wrinkled his nose, his face full of mixed emotions, and it was hard to tell whether he looked more angry or helpless.
"However, just because others can't find out doesn't mean I can't find out."
He changed the subject, smirked, and stopped talking.
Lu Zhaozhao glanced at him and instantly understood what he meant. He took out another bag of spirit stones and threw it to him.
He took the spirit stone and immediately flattered, "Fairy, you are so generous. What a coincidence! I was there when he first appeared at the gathering of heroes."