infodatos Chapter 66 Perhaps we should just give this spot to Zhang Qingyang.
Chapter 66 Perhaps we should just give this spot to Zhang Qingyang.
Soon, the space in the attic was divided up.
Some people stayed on the upper floor, spread out paper and ink, and began to contemplate, some writing rapidly, others frowning and pondering, thus starting a literary debate.
Many others, unable to contain their excitement, got up and went downstairs to the spacious training ground below Tingtao Pavilion.
Shouts, the sound of weapons cutting through the air, and the clash of energies immediately rang out on the riverbank, and the martial arts battle had begun.
Zhang Yuan stood quietly by the pillars, not participating in any of the events.
His dark, deep eyes calmly swept over the scholars upstairs, engrossed in their writing, and then over the fighting crowd downstairs, where fists and feet clashed and swords flashed.
What he saw and heard was clearly reflected in his mind, and he silently compared it with what he had learned, understood, and possessed as "talent."
Upstairs, the intellectual debaters painstakingly recited classical texts, carefully choosing their words; downstairs, the martial arts fighters displayed sluggishness and flaws in the flow of their internal energy amidst their moves…
All of this appeared so...slow and inefficient in his perception, which seemed to be able to dissect everything.
He clearly realized how extraordinary his "talent" was—the ability to deduce martial arts techniques by consuming his lifespan and instantly comprehend the essence of forging by observing masters!
What others might spend their entire lives studying and enduring hardship to achieve even the smallest insights and breakthroughs, he could easily grasp as a fleeting thought or as his lifespan burned.
Even if these so-called talents in front of us are fighting hard for a spot right now, the end of their life's hard work will probably be far from the starting point that his golden touch can pave.
After a short while, the noise subsided.
A scholar from a humble background, known for his brilliant strategies and unique insights, and a robust young man who defeated several skilled opponents in a brawl downstairs, won the championships in the literary and martial arts competitions, respectively.
Just then, Li Jintang's gaze fell on Zhang Yuan, who had been silently observing from the side.
He cleared his throat and said loudly, "Gentlemen, regarding the third candidate who is both literate and skilled in martial arts, I would like to recommend someone."
He pointed to Zhang Yuan: "This is my worthy brother Zhang Yuan, Zhang Qingyang. Although he is only eight years old, his literary talent has been personally taught by Counselor Chen, and his martial arts have been truly passed down by Master Zheng. He is exceptionally talented and has extraordinary courage and strength. He is capable of shouldering this important task."
Upon hearing this, the attic instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
All eyes, filled with surprise, doubt, scrutiny, and even amusement as if watching a play, were like countless needles piercing Zhang Yuan.
Why should an eight-year-old child occupy such an important spot?
Even if he has some fame, it is still too unbelievable!
The competitors of the four major families, in particular, had faces filled with absurdity and resentment.
Zhang Yuan could clearly feel the weight of those gazes and the subtle oppressive atmosphere in the air.
He sat motionless, like a rock in the eye of a storm.
He knew that Li Jintang's recommendation of him was not really to have him participate in the Qingyun Ranking selection, but to let the Wang family see his potential.
"Gentlemen, who agrees and who disagrees?" Li Jintang looked at the crowd calmly and spoke slowly again.
A faint trace of innate true energy circulated within his body, transforming into a heavy, oppressive force.
In the ensuing silence, no one echoed or directly opposed the idea.
The stone that Li Jintang threw out seemed to sink into a deep pool, only creating a ripple before returning to stillness.
Wang Chenglin frowned slightly, but remained silent.
He didn't quite understand why Li Jintang would recommend Zhang Yuan.
An eight-year-old child, with that little bit of fame, what real ability does he have?
"Oh."
A snicker finally broke the suffocating silence.
Wang Chengyu slowly stood up, his handsome face full of undisguised contempt and mockery.
He surveyed his surroundings, his gaze sweeping over them as if they were ants. His voice, though not loud, pierced the silence clearly, reaching everyone's ears: "What? A kid who can throw a few punches is enough to scare you all? It's just one spot, and you're all too scared to compete?"
His eyes were disdainful, filled with an arrogant condescension. His gaze finally locked onto Zhang Yuan like a venomous snake, brimming with blatant provocation: "Since you're all so hesitant and timid, then this last spot is mine, Wang Chengyu's!"
Before he finished speaking, the two boys who were determined to get the last spot suddenly stood up, their faces flushed red, clearly angered by Wang Chengyu's arrogance and contempt.
However, before they could even speak—
Zhang Yuan calmly stood up.
A suppressed power, like a dormant volcano, awakened and surged within his small body.
He ignored the two enraged teenagers, his gaze like two cold, sharp beams, piercing through the chaotic crowd and directly targeting Wang Chengyu, who stood proudly in the center of the arena.
He spoke, his voice not loud, yet like the clash of metal, carrying a resolute and unwavering tone that resonated clearly throughout the entire attic:
"You want to argue?"
"Then I will contend with you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Yuan strode confidently into the center of the field.
His steps were slow, each step on the wooden floor making a dull but clear sound, as if carrying the heavy pressure of a collapsing mountain, each step heavily pressing on everyone's heartbeats.
The small figure unleashed a chilling aura at this moment, actually holding its own against Wang Chengyu, who was at the half-step innate realm, and was in no way inferior!
In the attic, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breath, their eyes glued to the two figures about to collide, their hearts clenched by an invisible tension.
Wang Chengyu watched Zhang Yuan walk towards him step by step. His arrogant expression remained, but a hint of undisguised surprise and a cold seriousness that had finally been ignited flashed deep in his eyes.
"Waaah—waaah—"
Suddenly, a deep and urgent bugle call, accompanied by the faint sound of war drums like rolling thunder, came from the direction of Blackwater Ferry!
On Tingtao Pavilion, everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the sudden sound, and they all turned towards the direction of Heishui Ferry downstream of Chensha River.
The sky, which had been clear, was now covered with an eerie gray.
Blinding flashes of light, like tearing fabric, exploded and flickered in the gloom, each flash accompanied by a muffled roar.
Even more chilling was the thick, filthy, and fishy blackish-purple demonic aura that surged and rose in that area like boiling ink, violently colliding and entangled with the sword light!
"It's Big Brother!" Wang Chenglin exclaimed in shock, his face instantly filled with astonishment and joy. "Big Brother has made his move! He's suppressing the evil spirits of Blackwater Ferry!"
"Hiss—Captain Wang has personally taken action!"
"Such a powerful demonic aura! That fiend is indeed ferocious!"
"As expected of Chief Wang! As one of the three grandmasters of Fengming County, I will surely quell this scoundrel!"
"Judging from this commotion, if we can capture this troublesome demon, Chief Wang will be promoted again for his meritorious service, right?"
"Of course! This is a genuine achievement in exorcising demons!"
A commotion erupted in the attic, with everyone's attention focused on the extraordinary battle between masters in the distance.
The surging demonic energy and the sky-splitting sword light were so direct and terrifying that they instantly made the earlier dispute in the pavilion about the quota for the Azure Cloud Ranking seem like child's play.
The two young men, who had been fired up by Wang Chengyu's provocation and eager to compete for the last spot, now had all their color drain from their faces, and their eyes were filled with awe at the battle in the distance and a sense of their own insignificance.
The oppressive aura of soaring demonic energy and sharp sword intent instantly extinguished their newly risen competitive spirit, causing them to involuntarily retreat and completely abandon any thought of competing.
The Wang family is someone they cannot afford to offend.
Wang Chenglin looked at the churning battlefield in the distance, then glanced at Zhang Yuan standing in the middle of the field, his brows furrowed.
He took a deep breath, seemingly weighing his options, and turned to Wang Chengyu, saying in a deep voice, "Chengyu, stop arguing. Your elder brother has already made plans for you, and will soon send you to the Rock Martial Sect for cultivation."
"This spot on the Qingyun Ranking is no longer of any real significance to you; it's merely icing on the cake."
He turned his gaze to Zhang Yuan, his tone carrying a hint of decisiveness: "How about we give this spot to Zhang Qingyang?"