Chapter 33: Huang Rang
\nAs soon as Zhi Hua stepped out the main gate, she saw an Old Man in a Daoist robe hovering midair. Across from him stood a young man carrying a Long Sword on his back.
\nCould people fly?
\nHow was that possible!
\nThe memory of the terrifying giant eye she’d seen at the volcanic crater in the painting space suddenly flooded Zhi Hua’s mind, bringing another wave of headache. Strangely, as the image of that eye reappeared, a mysterious power awakened within her body, circulating through specific pathways on its own.
\nCould she… fly too?
\nAlmost unconsciously, Zhi Hua took a step. Her feet actually left the ground.
\nShe only rose slightly before settling back down, escaping others’ notice.
\nHer heart pounded at this discovery.
\n“What’s happening?”
\nMeanwhile, after prolonged discussion, the two figures in the sky finally clashed. The swordsman drew his Long Sword and pointed skyward with his index finger. Sword energy erupted, coalescing into ten identical blades that shot toward the Daoist. The Old Man swung his dust whisk, tracing a yin and yang symbol in the air as the attack forced him backward.
\n“Stay here!”
\nThe swordsman roared, giving chase.
\n“Immortals!”
\n“Look! Immortals fighting!”
\nCrowds gathered to watch the distant figures shrinking in the sky. Standing among them, Zhi Hua sensed the world had fundamentally changed.
\nGlobal upheavals care little for individual lives.
\nBeyond famous experts, countless others like Zhi Hua who’d gained special inheritances emerged. Their numbers swelled from dozens to hundreds within weeks. By fortnight’s end, Foundation Establishment stage strong individuals multiplied beyond counting, chaos brewing everywhere.
\nImperial Palace
\nHuang Rang shelved the final ancient text from his Daoist compilation task.
\n“Last one.”
\nThis world held too many secrets – each revelation magnified his insignificance.
\nAt thirty, this Hanlin Academy sixth-grade compiler already surpassed his peers and even his mentor Chancellor Gao Sheng. His stellar exam results had secured immediate capital posting, where he’d devoured nearly every text in the Royal Library, including rare manuscripts.
\nHis mentor had groomed him as successor. Following the planned path would make Huang Rang the dynasty’s youngest Grand Scholar, future Chancellor material.
\n“Had I remained ignorant, I might’ve walked that road…”
\nHurried footsteps interrupted. Adjusting his official uniform, Huang Rang opened the door.
\n“Compiler Huang! His Majesty summons you immediately.”
\nAn old eunuch stepped forward, bowing.
\n“Eunuch Ma.”
\nHuang Rang returned the courtesy but focused on the elder beside the eunuch.
\n“Teacher.”
\n“Huang Rang! What have you done?!”
\nAn old man with a white beard looked at Huang Rang emerging from the house, appearing deeply pained.
\n“I’m afraid I’ll fail to meet my teacher’s expectations.”
\nHuang Rang calmly gazed at his mentor who had treated him like family, memories of their past flashing through his mind.
\n“Do you want to kill me with rage?!”
\nSeeing Huang Rang’s complete lack of remorse, Chancellor Gao Sheng’s white beard quivered violently. The prot\u00e9g\u00e9 he’d poured so much effort into cultivating had gone astray – this wouldn’t just affect his retirement plans, but even his current position. How would the Emperor view a mentor whose student turned traitor? Especially during these turbulent times when the ruler had mastered the Supreme Heavenly Book to become peerless in the world, growing more tyrannical with power.
\nHuang Rang produced a stone from his sleeve. Had Zuo Meng been present, he’d have recognized it as one of the Seven Stones sealed at the end of his first epoch.
\nThrough countless eras, the Sealed stones had resurfaced.
\n“Teacher, do you know? This world contains immortal beings.”
\nAfter uttering this cryptic statement, Huang Rang took a light step forward.
\n“Stop him!!”
\nThe old eunuch reacted first, barking orders at the imperial guards.
\n“Show no mercy! Take him dead or alive!”
\nClearly he’d received direct orders beforehand.
\n“Useless. Mortals cannot fight immortals.”
\nHuang Rang watched the incoming arrows with detached calm. His body rippled like disturbed water, warping strangely twice before becoming translucent. Countless arrows pierced through his fading shadow, leaving the cabinet courtyard in disarray. Before the crowd’s stunned eyes, Huang Rang vanished from the doorway.
\n“Search!”
\nThe old eunuch snapped coldly.
\nGuards swarmed the compound, overturning everything without success.
\n“Damnation!”
\nThe eunuch stormed back to palace, sleeves flaring.
\n“Failed to capture him?”
\nThe Emperor’s voice drifted from behind the curtain, unreadable.
\n“This worthless servant begs punishment.”
\nEunuch Ma pressed his forehead to the floor, offering no excuses.
\n“Expected from my chosen top scholar. Fools like you could never catch him.”
\nThe Emperor’s silence that followed made cold sweat drench the prostrate eunuch. Since mastering the Supreme Heavenly Book, the ruler had grown merciless – over a dozen officials already executed for minor offenses.
\n“Dismissed.”
\n“Grateful thanks, Your Majesty!” The eunuch scrambled backward out.
\nBehind the curtain, the Emperor opened his eyes.
\nBefore him lay a stone identical to Huang Rang’s.
\n“Immortals?” he murmured, eyes glinting. After lengthy contemplation, he summoned attendants.
\n“Proclaim Our decree: Hanlin Scholar Huang Rang stands accused of stealing national treasures and colluding with foreigners. Whoever captures this criminal shall receive three-rank promotion, hereditary nobility, and ten thousand gold taels.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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