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nTranslator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

nChangan’s view was breathtaking in mid-autumn. The lush greens had transformed into a gorgeous shade of yellow, hanging on trees like shimmering gold leaves.

nThe sun was burning brightly in the afternoon, showering its passionate warmth onto the earth.

nDeep inside the courts of the palace.

nA branch peeked out from the secured walls of the palace with leaves rustling in the afternoon breeze. There was a small courtyard behind the wall, the entrance was heavily guarded by palace guards in full armor. No one was allowed to enter or exit the courtyard.

nThere was a beautiful garden in the courtyard—an elegant pavilion sat amidst a rippling pond surrounded by flowery bushes. Koi fish swam in the clear waters, creating ripples when they maneuvered their tails.

nWhen fish food was sprinkled onto the pond, the peaceful surface started to bubble as if the water was boiling. The Kois were scrambling for food.

nThe third prince, Li Liancheng, was wearing a plain white robe. His hair was disheveled and a few tousled strands covered his forehead.

nA blue-robed eunuch was standing behind the third prince with his back hunched. The eunuch described the final battle that was happening in the square before the Taiji Palace.

nThe third prince was grounded and was not allowed to attend the final section of the Imperial Examination.

n“You killed Lin Yun; your policy shook the entire nation; you strongly opposed the individual border regiment policy; you were also the one who stabbed me three times…”

nThe third prince stared at the Koi fish in the point and grinned menacingly.

nThere was so much bad blood between them.

nThat policy essay was especially troublesome—it deeply impacted his political strategy.

nThe foreigners were separated into pure blood and impure blood. Most of the pure-blood foreigners in the Tang Dynasty helped control the demon portals surrounding the borders and they were major supporters of the third prince’s campaign.

nThe policy was the main reason he personally went to Qiuling Demon Portal.

nIf Fang Lang became the grand champion and was summoned by the Emperor to discuss this policy, many of Li Liancheng’s plots and schemes would be disrupted.

nHe had yet to fully grasp his father’s thinking.

nMoreover, he could not figure out why he was grounded. Was it because of the individual border regiment policy or because he laid hands on Fang Lang?

n“Your Highness, there are eighty candidates who successfully entered the second segment of the final battle. The first draw of the Royal Battle is… Li Yuanzhen against Fang Lang.” The little eunuch conveyed the message sent to them.

nRight after he finished his sentence, he could feel the chilly mid-autumn air freeze in an instant. The eunuch felt a suffocating sensation in the atmosphere. The third prince turned his head and glared at him with an icy expression.

n“Who was drawn for the first battle?” Li Liancheng asked.

nThe little eunuch immediately dropped to his knees, trembling and unable to utter a word.

nThe third prince ignored him and lifted his head to look in the direction of the Taiji Palace, a grin spread across his face slowly.

n“Are you doing this on purpose, my dear father?”

n…

nBefore the Taiji Palace, the noise of the tumultuous crowd was deafening as if it could pierce the sky and strike down the wild geese soaring above.

nThe first Royal Battle would have the theory and combat champion, Fang Lang against Changan’s well-known right administrator’s son, Li Yuanzhen.

nIt caught everyone by surprise.

nIt was as if the draws were rigged.

nHowever, the Emperor was the one who drew their names. Even if others felt it was rigged, no one dared to speak up.

nThe first prince raised an eyebrow and put on an ambiguous smile.

nLi Puyi’s expression was dark and serious. After a long while, he relaxed his frown and maintained a calm demeanor.

nIf only one could be the winner, so be it.

nAfter all, it was just a matter of time before they had to battle one another. What difference was there if they were the first or last pair?

nAll of the sect leaders watched curiously. The surrounding crowd was excited for the first Royal Battle.

n…

nThe battle would be between the two of them. The winner would have a pristine nameplate while the loser would have a crack on theirs. If the nameplate did not shatter, the candidate could continue competing for the title of grand champion.

nThis was the rule of the final battle.

nTherefore, it was inevitable they would meet in battle.

nLi Yuanzhen’s restlessness caused by the space maze dissipated immediately when he heard his name.

nWhy should he worry?

nAs long as he beat Fang Lang, all of his distress would be gone with the wind.

n“Li Yuanzhen of the Imperial Academy, enter the ring,” the court eunuch waved his horsetail whisk and announced.

n“Understood.” Li Yuanzhen cupped his hands together and bowed before the Taiji Palace.

nThen, he turned around and separated from the group of candidates. He walked toward the elevated battle ring right before the White Jade Court.

nThe ring was very wide, enough to contain the upcoming vigorous battle.

nLi Yuanzhen stepped onto the ring, looking downward with his eyes half-closed.

n“Fang Lang of Luojiang Academy, enter the ring.”

n“Understood,” Fang Lang replied with a bow as well. He turned around and walked towards the ring with his rosewood sword box.

nJiang Linglong, Liu Bubai, Ni Wen and the others kept their eyes on him and cheered him on.

nFang Lang chuckled before walking up to the ring. He stood opposite Li Yuanzhen.

nSuddenly, the clear blue sky was filled with looming rain clouds. The clouds were blown by the autumn winds, surrounding them with a deadly atmosphere.

nThe entire Taiji Palace and the White Jade Square fell silent. Even though this could be the premature battle for the title of grand champion, they had to contain their exhilaration once the battle started.

nEverybody was watching the ring closely, including the Emperor in the Taiji Palace.

n…

nThud, thud, thud!

nThe anticipation built as the golden drums sounded.

nThis meant the battle had begun.

nHowever, there were no movements in the ring, only fallen leaves tumbling in the wind.

nLi Yuanzhen stared at Fang Lang calmly and confidently.

n“The third prince ordered me to defeat you. You have no clue the damage you’ve done with the essay you wrote for the policy exam. Your lowly existence has hindered the progressive wave that was going to bring the Tang Dynasty into a new era. Someone like you… can’t be the grand champion,” Li Yuanzhen shook his head and said.

nFang Lang was stunned. The written policy examination?

nThe reason the third prince tormented him was because of that essay?

nFang Lang thought it was ridiculous.

nEven though he had yet to experience the individual border regiment policy himself, the current situation suggested history might repeat itself if the Tang Dynasty implemented this policy.

nAlthough the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty seemed to be an almighty leader, Fang Lang was still a strong believer in history and fate.

nUnless the Emperor was a deity who could change the fate of the world.

nUnfortunately, he was just a man.

nFang Lang burst out in laughter. His low-pitched laughter resonated through the ring. He raised his head to look at Li Yuanzhen.

n“People like you are no different from robbers… using ambition and your so-called logic as an absurd excuse. What if I said that to ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth, to secure life and fortune for the people, to continue lost teachings of past sages, to establish peace for all future generations, I need you to end your life. Will you kill yourself? Do you have the courage to do so? Do you?” Fang Lang asked without pausing for breath.

nHis heavy words echoed through the ring, spreading across the Taiji Palace and its surroundings.

nBoom!

nIt was as though a mighty tide washed over the ears and hearts of every official, cultivator and student.

nIn the preparation area, Ximen Xianxian’s entire body began trembling. He stood up with the paper fan in his hand, lips quivering and eyes sparkling with euphoria.

n“What a great speech… To ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth. Even though it was not quite appropriate in this setting, the first half of his speech was impeccable. No wonder he came first in the theory exam! That’s my brother!”

n…

nLi Yuanzhen was taken aback by Fang Lang’s interrogation.

nThe words struck his soul and made him question his own intentions. The speech was so powerful he started doubting himself.

nBoth of them had their own principles.

nSuddenly, a chill swept over Li Yuanzhen and made his hair stand up. His spiritual sense was alarmed.

nFang Lang started moving!

nHe charged across the ring without drawing his sword, closing the distance between him and Li Yuanzhen.

n“It’s useless. Even though you’re good with words, you’re still far from my level. The grand champion is just beyond your reach. I am a ninth-grade spell master and I’ve transformed ninety percent of my spiritual energy into mana energy and incorporated it into my spiritual sense. I’m just a step away from being the third-class spell advisor. How can you beat me?” Li Yuanzhen looked at Fang Lang proudly.

nFang Lang was just a sixth-grade sword master. There was a significant three-grade difference—one would need to cultivate for a year or two to catch up.

nIt was still dangerous if a sword master or martial arts master got too close to a spell master.

nHowever, Fang Lang stood no chance since the disparity between them was too great.

nHe would not be able to get through Li Yuanzhen’s defense.

nLi Yuanzhen lifted both his hands and gestured quickly with his slender fingers.

nWaves of spiritual sense spread out from him like ringing bells.

nBoom! Boom! Boom!

nIt was as if walls of air rose from the ground.

nLi Yuanzhen pushed his palm forward—a complicated rune started spinning rapidly in the middle of his palm. Then, it shot up above the ring and formed a dome.

nAt that moment, Fang Lang was just 30 meters away from Li Yuanzhen.

nFang Lang was expressionless. His green robe rustled against the strong turbulence at high speed.

nHe stared at the defenses around Li Yuanzhen and ignored the rising rune above his head.

nLi Yuanzhen was really powerful. The only chance Fang Lang could win was to catch him off guard!

nThe polite smile on Li Yuanzhen’s face disappeared. He had a cold expression as he stared at Fang Lang. he aimed his hand at Fang Lang and pressed downwards.

nThe rune above the ring started spinning!

nA cold rain droplet fell from the rune.

nThen, the rain started pouring down in torrents from the middle of the rune.

n“It’s over,” Li Yuanzhen said softly.

nSplatter!

nThe rain fell in buckets, dampening everything it touched.

nThis was not ordinary rain, it was made for the sake of killing!

nHiss!

nSmall holes were visible on the bricks of the battle ring. They were pierced through by the rain droplets as if the water was a sharpened blade.

nThey sliced through the air, the sleeves of Fang Lang’s green robe, the floor tiles…

nAs though it was about to split the earth in half.

nThis was the ultimate rune that required the skills of a second-class spell master!

nIt started raining blades.

nSuddenly, Fang Lang vanished, leaving only Li Yuanzhen and the air walls.

nHe watched the rain and smiled.

nThe entire square was dead silent, all of the candidates were focused on the situation in the ring.

nThe skills of the greatest spell master in this Imperial Examination were impeccable.

nIn the preparation area, Wei Sheng was speechless. He had fought against Li Yuanzhen before, it was a close fight as both of their strengths were similar.

nIf he could get close to Li Yuanzhen, he was confident that he could take him down.

nHe had no chance of winning otherwise.

nHe would eventually lose to a spell master in the long run.

nSuddenly, Wei Sheng’s eyes narrowed.

nJiang Linglong’s frown also relaxed slightly.

nThere was a figure bent over at a sharp angle in the middle of the stormy ring. Then, the figure shot out like a spring decked out in blood armor—a defensive skill unique to a martial arts master. There was a damaged Spirit Suit—a sword master special skill—that was drenched in the rain of blades.

nThose with a sharp eye would notice there was a translucent spirit shield beneath the blood armor and spirit suit!

nFang Lang managed to endure the blade rain with the protection of three defense layers!

nHe was like a fish swimming against the current. He leaped upward in a perfect arc and went through the peak of the dome above the ring, higher than the rune!

nEveryone stared in awe at the flying teen in green.

nThen, Fang Lang raised his hand. The fiery red space ring between his fingers flickered. A red flight sword appeared under his feet.

nFlight sword!

nAn ordinary transportation tool that was hardly useful in a battle!

nEverybody was dumbfounded, including Li Yuanzhen.

nWas Fang Lang going to use a flight sword to disarm his defense?

nHe saw Fang Lang gesturing vigorously, forming a mark almost instantly.

nIt was the Flight Sword Crossover Turbo Charge!

nBoom!

nThe runes started spinning in opposite directions.

nFang Lang stirred up a fierce storm of spiritual sense and channeled it into the rune to enhance it significantly.

nFang Lang was like a flaming meteorite in the roaring current accelerating to maximum speed.

nIt was like the judgment arrow that shot out from Changan and sliced through the horizon.

nInstantly, he flew across Li Yuanzhen’s defensive walls and charged at him with immense speed and power!

nLi Yuanzhen was stunned by his speed, unable to react for a moment.

n‘What is this strategy?

n‘Was he planning to kill them both?

nSword master, spell master… or martial arts master?

nNone of the disciplines taught such an absurd strategy.

nShing!

nFang Lang drew the Blooming Lotus Sword from its sheath!

nBoom!

nJust as his flight sword was about to crash into the ground, Fang Lang maneuvered it and drove it upwards sharply.

nDragon Awakening!

nStrong winds started blowing fiercely!

nLi Yuanzhen felt like there was a giant dragon against his body, charging towards the sky!

nFang Lang wielded his sword above him. Li Yuanzhen finally regained his senses when Fang Lang was just inches away from him.

nHe immediately raised his hand to strengthen his defense rune.

nHowever, Fang Lang directed his spiritual sense and cast the Spell: Spirit Awl.

nPop!!

nLi Yuanzhen felt a sharp pain in his spiritual sense and his rune was disabled halfway.

nWith the help of the flight Sword, Fang Lang raised the Blooming Lotus Sword and stabbed Li Yuanzhen’s abdomen!

nThe sword impaled Li Yuanzhen and drove him into the air!

nSecret Technique: Lotus Blade!

nSlash!

nBlood sprayed out from Li Yuanzhen’s back like lotus flower petals.

nFang Lang trembled as Li Yuanzhen slid off the tip of the Blooming Lotus Sword.

nHe came crashing down from the sky, right through the rune he had cast above the ring, shattering it into pieces like a broken mirror.

nBang!

nLi Yuanzhen’s hit the ground. On his back, a blood lotus that had bloomed from the ground.

nThe softened rain droplets fell on his face.

nThe entire square fell into a deadly silence.

nThe top spell master in this Imperial Examination, defeated by Fang Lang’s weird skills.

nIt was totally unexpected.

nHe was thrown up into the air and came crashing down…

nKnocked out!

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