"Getting first place in the imperial examination is very important to me; I have no way out."
Gou Hanshi smiled upon hearing this and said, "Congratulations on winning your opportunity." After saying this, he bowed to Chen Changsheng and the others, turned around and left. Chen Changsheng and the others also bowed in return.
Watching the departing members of the Lishan Sword Sect, Tang Thirty-Six, with his hands clasped around his sword, couldn't help but say, "The Lishan Sword Sect lost with such arrogance, truly befitting a prestigious sect. It's a pity they encountered a monster like you. You really made our National Academy Dean look bad. I wonder what reward the Master will give us this time? I'd be happy if he gave me a pair of wings, then my Pengcheng could retire with honor."
"I was just lucky, but Gou Hanshi is indeed a gentleman and a very good opponent. Speaking of rewards, this is what I'm most looking forward to." Chen Changsheng recalled his original intention for coming down the mountain. Now the opportunity was right in front of him. If he hadn't met Mo Mo, the top spot in the Grand Examination would have been his only chance. Now that he had the opportunity, even his usually calm heart couldn't help but be stirred.
"Lingxu Pavilion, I've arrived. I hope that the method to change one's fate left behind by the number one person in the world really exists inside."
“Yes, the reward from the master is indeed tempting. That halberd from last time was really perfect for me, but it’s a pity I couldn’t use it in this imperial examination.” Xuan Yuanpo couldn’t help but sigh.
"Weapons? Although the weapons the master gave you are indeed precious, the rings that each of you received are the real grand gesture. The scabbard of the Longevity Sword, which can hold a hundred items, is already a rare treasure. But look at the rings the master casually gave us. They could easily empty the Tang family's coffers. They're even more amazing than divine artifacts." Tang Thirty-Six said, unable to resist touching the simple, unadorned ring on his finger—the storage ring that Mo Mo had wholesaled to them.
“Now that you mention it, it’s true. Does that mean the Master has many treasures? I’m even more excited for the Master’s reward. Let’s go, let’s hurry back and ask the Master for his reward.” Xuan Yuanpo urged Chen Changsheng and the others impatiently to go back.
After the competition, Mo Mo and the Pope left together. Taking advantage of the Grand Examination, the Holy Empress Tianhai Youxue hosted a banquet for Mo Mo, which he accepted. He left with Mo Yu and the others instead of returning to the academy with Chen Changsheng and the others. Xu Yourong and the little black dragon had gone off to play somewhere and had not returned yet.
The banquet was not attended by many people. Apart from Mo Mo, only Qiu Shan Jun and the Pope were invited. Xu You Rong and Qing Yue were also invited, but Xu You Rong was nowhere to be found, and Qing Yue declined to attend because she was looking for Xu You Rong.
The main purpose of the banquet held by the Holy Empress, besides getting closer to Mo Mo, was also to deal with the restless Demon Clan. With Zhou Yuan about to be born, the Demon Clan was stirring, and the Star Array was unstable. The Holy Empress hoped to find a solution through this banquet and find the key to Zhou Yuan. After all, Mo Mo was too mysterious, as if he had appeared out of thin air. There was no news of him before his appearance, yet his strength was so great that the Holy Empress could not help but suspect that he might be connected with the deceased Zhou Du and Fu.
Because in the whole world, apart from Zhou Du and Fu, she couldn't think of anyone else who could produce so many treasures. However, the reality might be completely different from what she imagined, because Mo Mo appeared out of thin air and didn't belong to this world at all.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 201 Little White Rabbit? Little White Rabbit
The banquet was held in the Imperial Garden. When Mo Mo and his group arrived at the Imperial Garden, the banquet had already been set up. There were maids waiting for them at the entrance of the Imperial Garden. After seeing Mo Mo and his group, the maid led them directly to the banquet venue.
The banquet was held in a pavilion in the Imperial Garden, which was located in the middle of the lake and connected by a covered bridge. A banquet had already been set up in the pavilion, and a graceful and beautiful woman dressed in her finest clothes stood quietly in it, with her back to the covered bridge, seemingly watching the koi in the lake.
Upon hearing the voice, the beautiful woman turned around. Only then did Mo Mo realize that the Empress, dressed in magnificent attire, was dignified, elegant, and noble, like a proud phoenix, high above, exuding an aura of inviolable majesty. This awe-inspiring demeanor, coupled with her serene composure honed by the years, and her beautiful face and mature, sensual body, stirred within him an irresistible urge to conquer her.
"The Empress is truly stunningly beautiful, her charm undiminished from her youth. I really don't know how Emperor Taizong managed to fight his way through thousands of troops to win her heart." After stopping, Mo Mo couldn't help but admire the Empress, who had turned around.
Mo Mo's words shocked the palace maids and guards, who immediately knelt on the ground. Even the Pope couldn't help but change color. Mo Yu was so shocked that she opened her mouth wide. She knew that Mo Mo was audacious, but she never expected that Mo Mo would dare to flirt with the Holy Empress in public.
Empress Tianhai Youxue was visibly taken aback by Mo Mo's words, but quickly recovered and said with a smile, "Thank you for your praise, sir. However, Youxue is too old to deserve such praise. On the contrary, you are truly a man of exceptional talent. If Youxue were still a young girl like Mo Yu, I might also be captivated by you."
"Your Majesty is joking. How can you be old? If you and Yu stand together, if you didn't know your identities, you would definitely think you were sisters. Moreover, the elegance and grace that comes with the passage of time is something that this young girl can't compare to. Don't you think so?" As she spoke, Mo Mo turned to look at the Pope and the others.
The Pope and his entourage were not like Mo Mo; they dared not be as bold as Mo Mo. They all said "yes," praising Mo Mo for being right. The palace maids and guards also began to praise the Holy Empress desperately, practically exaggerating her into the most beautiful woman on the continent, capable of captivating a city with a smile and a country with another.
"Alright, you've praised me so much, aren't you afraid the master will laugh at you?" Empress Tianhai Youxue said sternly, lightly reprimanding the palace maids and guards to stop. Then she turned to Mo Mo with a smile and said, "Please forgive my rudeness, sir. Please take your seats, or the food and wine will get cold."
As the Empress spoke, a palace maid pulled out chairs for Mo Mo and the Pope to sit down, while Mo Yu stood quietly behind the Empress. After the three of them sat down, two chairs remained empty. The Empress glanced at the two empty chairs and frowned slightly, saying, "Why hasn't Lord Qiushan arrived yet? Has something delayed him?"
"I don't know," replied the palace maid waiting nearby.
As soon as the palace maid finished speaking, Mo Yu asked the Empress, "Your Majesty, should I send someone to take a look?"
"No need. He must be tied up with something. Since he didn't come, let's leave it at that. Let's begin. Mo Yu, please take a seat as well." Empress Tianhai Youxue rejected Mo Yu's suggestion and asked her to sit down as well.
Mo Yu hesitated for a moment, but still sat down next to Mo Mo. The palace maids and guards present were not surprised at all, as if it were all expected. This was actually normal. As a female official of the Emperor's decree, Mo Yu's power was comparable to, or even greater than, that of the Pope. Moreover, she was the Empress's most trusted person, whom the Empress had raised like a daughter. Therefore, Mo Yu's status was extremely high, and she was qualified to sit in this position.
"Alright, everyone's here, let's begin." With that, the Empress raised her wine cup and said to Mo Mo, "This cup is a toast to your National Academy's victory in this Grand Examination." After saying that, the Empress raised her wine cup with great gusto and drank the wine in one gulp.
Seeing this, Mo Mo also raised his wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. Although they are indeed good and excellent, they are still far from being able to stand on their own and need more polishing." After putting down his wine cup, the palace maid next to him quickly filled it with wine.
Half an hour later, they had already drunk two jugs of wine, but barely touched any food. Perhaps because she hadn't drunk enough, Mo Yu's cheeks were already flushed, and her eyes were starting to look blurry. Seeing this, the three men let her go and stopped urging her to drink.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the Empress's cheeks were flushed. Seeing this, Mo Mo waved for the palace maids to remove the banquet, but then asked them to bring another pot of wine and place it in the middle of the table.
Mo Mo did not explain why, despite the three people's questioning gazes.
Seeing that Mo Mo had no intention of explaining, the Empress did not ask any questions. After taking a sip of the hangover tea brought by a palace maid, she slowly said, "Actually, besides thanking you for taking care of Princess Luoluo and cultivating these talents during this time, the main purpose of this banquet is to ask you for a solution."
"Is it about the demon race?" Although it was a question, Mo Mo's tone was quite certain.
"Sir, your foresight is truly remarkable. This matter actually concerns the Demon Clan. The Zhou Garden is about to open, and the Demon Clan is also stirring, especially the Black Robe. They have repeatedly sent people to infiltrate the capital, and they are also searching for the key to the Zhou Garden. There are many things in the Zhou Garden that are extremely important to the Great Zhou. If they fall into the hands of the Demon Clan, it will likely be a disaster for the human race. Therefore, I would like to ask you if you have any good countermeasures." It was clear that the Holy Empress was very concerned about the whereabouts of the key to the Zhou Garden.
"Hold this on my arm, but before that, we need to take care of a small matter."
Mo Mo's answer was so straightforward that it surprised the Holy Empress. What surprised her even more was that Mo Mo had put another matter before finding the key to Zhou Garden. The key to Zhou Garden was extremely difficult to find. Even with her Holy Realm cultivation and the power of the Star Array, she had no clue how to find it. Yet Mo Mo answered so readily, clearly having already figured it out. This made her even more curious about what Mo Mo wanted to solve first.
Just then, led by a palace maid, Qiushan Jun entered. Seeing the empty table, Qiushan Jun knew he was late, so he respectfully bowed to Mo Mo and the others, saying, "Qiushan is late. Please forgive me, Your Majesty, Pope, and Saint Mo."
The Empress Dowager gestured for Qiushan Jun to rise, saying, "It's alright. Were you held up by something?"
"On his way to the palace, Akiyama saw the demons' southern guests and chased after them, but unfortunately they escaped, which is why he arrived too late," Akiyama explained.
“I see. In that case, I can’t blame Akiyama-kun. But you’re late after all, so you’ll have to drink three cups of wine as punishment.” Mo Mo said with a smile, pointing to the wine pot on the table.
Only then did the Empress and the others realize the purpose of Mo Mo's wine. If it was a coincidence, that would be fine, but if Mo Mo really knew that Qiu Shan Jun was coming and deliberately left it there, that would be terrible. It meant that Mo Mo was far more powerful than they had imagined.
Qiushan Jun hesitated for less than a second before picking up the wine pot on the table and drinking three cups in one go. Just as he was about to put down the wine cup, Mo Mo suddenly waved at Qiushan Jun. In an instant, Qiushan Jun was surrounded by dense demonic energy. While everyone was shocked, Mo Mo suddenly slapped Qiushan Jun on the head, causing him to fall headfirst into the lake.
Ignoring the shocked looks on everyone's faces, Mo Mo clapped his hands nonchalantly and said, "He's too dirty. I'll let him wash in the lake."
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(End of this chapter)
Chapter 202 The Little White Rabbit Who Walked into the Trap
"dirty?"
Everyone present except Mo Mo had a big question mark on their heads. Judging from Qiu Shan Jun's condition, he should have been possessed by a demon. Although he was surrounded by demonic energy, it couldn't be associated with dirt, could it? Besides, how could demonic energy be washed away by throwing it into a lake?
Qiushan-jun, who fell into the lake, was not seriously injured. After regaining his senses, he leaped back into the pavilion, splashing water and tempting the palace maids nearby with a wet look. However, before Qiushan-jun landed, Mo Mo casually waved his hand, removing the moisture from his clothes and making him dry again. Mo Mo also checked whether the demonic energy on Qiushan-jun's body had been completely removed, which greatly disappointed the palace maids nearby.
"Mo Sheng, what do you mean by this?" Qiu Shan Jun questioned Mo Mo directly as soon as they landed in the pavilion.
"Qiu Shan, you have truly disappointed me. After fighting the demons for so long, you still didn't realize that someone had planted a demonic seed in you. If it weren't for your master discovering it early, your life would have been ruined. You should try to sense it yourself. You'll stay in the Divine Capital Prison for now. The day your demonic seed is eliminated, I will release you." Before Mo Mo could speak, the Holy Empress spoke first, her words filled with disappointment.
"A demonic seed?" Upon hearing this, Qiu Shanjun quickly sat down cross-legged and used his true essence to thoroughly examine himself inside and out. As for whether the Holy Empress and the others might have made a mistake, Qiu Shanjun didn't even consider that possibility. There were three experts from the Holy Realm gathered here. It would be understandable if one of them made a mistake, but it was impossible for all three to make a mistake at the same time. Therefore, without any hesitation, he sat down cross-legged and began to examine his body.
His true essence and divine sense searched every corner of his body again and again, with his sea of consciousness being the primary target. However, half an hour passed, and Qiushan Jun still did not detect anything unusual. On the contrary, he felt that his divine sense was more acute and refined than before, and his true essence was also more abundant. This was clearly a sign of progress in his cultivation, but there was no indication that a demonic seed had been planted in him.
Suddenly, Qiushan Jun remembered the three cups of wine Mo Mo had asked him to drink and the palm strike he had received when he first arrived. Remembering his master's fear of Mo Mo's strength, he withdrew his divine sense, stopped circulating his energy, and slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Mo Mo with a complex expression, and finally stood up and bowed deeply to him, saying, "Thank you, Senior, for removing the demonic seed from my body. Qiushan is deeply grateful. If you have any requests, Senior, I will go through fire and water for you."
Mo Mo looked at Qiu Shan Jun, whose expression was resolute, and said calmly, "Oh? If I ask you to stop bothering You Rong and let go of this relationship, can you do it?"
“This… Yu Rong is the love of my life. I have made a solemn vow to follow in Yu Rong’s footsteps for the rest of my life, so I cannot fulfill this request from you, senior.” Qiu Shanjun’s eyes dimmed, and he slowly lowered his proud head.
"Sigh, why bother? You can't catch up with her, and continuing will ultimately lead nowhere. Besides, You Rong doesn't even like you." Mo Mo shook his head with regret.
"Even if it takes my whole life, I will have no regrets. I hope you will grant my request, senior." Akiyama-kun lowered his once proud head again.
Mo Mo ignored Qiu Shanjun and stood up, saying to the Empress and the others, "I have agreed to the Empress's request, and I should go back now."
After thinking for a moment, Mo Mo continued, "Yu'er, do you want to come? Thirty-Six has been thinking about you non-stop, eagerly awaiting your arrival every day. It's a pity you've been too busy to go. Now that the Grand Examination is over, they'll definitely be celebrating at the academy. Do you want to go and join the fun?"
"Forget it, although the Grand Examination is over, there are still a lot of things waiting for me to do, and I also have to take care of the Empress, so I won't go. Maybe next time." Mo Yu thought about it and still refused. She had drunk quite a bit of wine today, and her head was still dizzy. If she really went to the National Academy in her current state, Mo Mo would definitely take the opportunity to play pranks on her. She would be furious when she woke up. Besides, Xu Yourong wasn't there, so it would be strange if Mo Mo missed such an opportunity.
Seeing that Mo Yu had rejected his invitation, a look of disappointment flashed in Mo Mo's eyes. He had already prepared all sorts of prank props, such as a bottle of ink that could stay on for a day and a night without fading and would change color with the environment to make himself stand out, and a bag of spicy crystal pears.
These crystal pears are crisp and refreshing. Taking a bite gives you the same refreshing feeling as drinking an ice-cold beverage on a sweltering summer day, and this feeling intensifies over time. However, the most amazing thing is that after you stop for three seconds, the icy feeling instantly turns into a fiery one, and the more you eat, the stronger the fiery feeling becomes, allowing you to instantly enjoy the taste of both ice and fire. However, this feeling does not last long, only about a minute.
Mo Mo had a lot of similar items in his storage space, which he had sorted out over time. Although these items were strange, they were all rare and precious materials, each with its own unique effects. Mo Mo thought these rare and precious materials were a bit unusual, so he picked them out separately, but now he was using them as tools for pranks.
Although it was a bit of a pity, Mo Mo wasn't surprised. After all, Mo Yu had grown up with Xu Yourong and knew him quite well. She must have guessed his little scheme. After all, Mo Mo had been teasing her since they were little, so when Mo Mo finally had the idea, Mo Yu had already guessed what he was going to do and refused very decisively.
With a wave of his hand, Mo Mo walked out of the pavilion with his hands behind his back. Watching Mo Mo's receding figure, Qiu Shanjun's heart was filled with disappointment. Just then, Mo Mo's words floated over, "The Great Dao is fifty, and the Heavenly Dao is forty-nine, but one is lost. Therefore, all things carry a glimmer of hope. If you can break free from this cage one day, I will give you a chance and return Xu Yourong to you." As soon as he finished speaking, a white bead appeared out of thin air in front of Qiu Shanjun.
Looking at the bead radiating a mesmerizing light before him, Qiushan was overjoyed. He paid no attention to the conditions Mo Mo had mentioned. For Qiushan, who was born a prodigy, these conditions were simply not within his consideration. He firmly believed that as long as he was given the opportunity, he could definitely succeed. Unfortunately, he did not know how demanding Mo Mo's conditions were.
In the countless worlds, only a handful could achieve this. With his temperament, let alone breaking free from his shackles, even achieving true immortality would be difficult. This was merely a wishful thought given to him by Mo Mo. After all, in the original story, Qiu Shan Jun had completely fallen into demonic possession. Although his love for Xu You Rong prevented him from becoming entirely like a demon, it was only a matter of time. It was clear that Qiu Shan Jun's temperament was indeed inferior to Chen Chang Sheng's, and there were countless people in the world with better temperament, opportunities, and talents than him.
However, there is always a glimmer of hope in everything. Perhaps one day a powerful figure will take a liking to him and Qiushan-kun will rise to the top in one step. No one can predict the course of fate and destiny.
After leaving behind the bead containing a trace of his divine will, Mo Mo left the palace and headed towards the National Academy. It was already nearing dusk, and the setting sun draped the capital city in a golden cloak. Against the backdrop of the fiery clouds, it was exceptionally beautiful, causing everyone in the capital to slow down their pace. However, three rather beautiful women walked hurriedly on the street, appearing quite out of place.
Sensing the faint demonic energy surrounding the three women, Mo Mo maintained a smile and walked forward calmly. The three women's eyes lit up when they saw Mo Mo, and they pretended to walk towards him as if nothing was wrong, but secretly they were fully circulating their magic power.
"I never expected that just strolling around would lead to such a pleasant surprise. The dean of the National Academy, the master of that dead phoenix, if I were to kill him, I wonder if you would still be laughing." Nan Ke looked at Mo Mo, who walked towards him without a trace of true energy fluctuation and who was no different from an ordinary person except for his outstanding temperament, like a tiger looking at a little white rabbit with nowhere to run. But is that really the case?
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 203 The Feast at Hongmen
As the distance between the two gradually closed, Nan Keyi became more and more excited. Suppressing her ecstasy, she slowed her pace and tried her best to act like an ordinary person. Unfortunately, what she thought was a perfect disguise was as bright as the full moon in the night sky in Mo Mo's eyes.
Twenty meters, ten meters, five meters, three meters. Just then, Nan Ke suddenly made her move, drawing her sword and thrusting it at Mo Mo, who was three meters away. Three meters is a very close distance for an ordinary person, especially since Nan Ke is a master (in the original drama, she was able to overpower Xu Yourong and flirt with Qiu Shan Jun, which shows that her cultivation level is not low). This distance was covered in the blink of an eye. Without any surprise, she pierced Mo Mo's heart with her sword.
However, just as she sheathed her sword and prepared to retreat, she was horrified to discover that the person lying on the ground was none other than Qiushan Jun, whom she had longed for day and night, not Xu Yourong, the master who had always suppressed and beaten her since childhood.
“Nan Ke, perhaps we are destined to be apart. I had just put down You Rong and was about to go find you when I unexpectedly lost my life to your sword. Perhaps this is fate.” “Qiu Shan Jun” said weakly, lying on the ground with blood streaming down his face, his eyes dull and lifeless.
With a clang, Nan Ke's longsword fell to the ground, and he cried out in a trembling voice, "Qiu Shan! How could it be you! I clearly killed that dead phoenix's master, how could it be you? Hold on, I'll take you back to the Demon Clan right now. The strategist can definitely save you, you won't die." As he spoke, he rushed to kneel down in front of "Qiu Shan Jun" and hugged him tightly.
"I...I can't go on anymore. It's so cold. Can you hold me tight?" "Akiyama-kun" said weakly and intermittently.
Tears streamed down Nan Ke's face, each drop falling onto Qiu Shan Jun's cheek. He hugged Qiu Shan Jun even tighter, saying, "Hold on! The strategist is in the capital, and there are alchemists from my demon race there. I will definitely save you. We'll get married after we return to the demon race." With that, Nan Ke tried to pick up Qiu Shan Jun and leave, knowing that in the capital, they would be trapped if they didn't leave soon.
However, at this moment, "Qiushan Jun" suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, causing Nan Ke to hurriedly put "Qiushan Jun" down. At this moment, "Qiushan Jun" trembled and reached out to touch Nan Ke's cheek, panting heavily, "Nan Ke, this is the first time in my life that I have been held in the arms of a girl. I never thought your embrace would be so warm. I really want to lie in your arms for the rest of my life."
"I promise you, as long as you live, I will hold you like this for the rest of my life, never to be separated. Please, don't leave me, okay?" Nan Ke's voice was filled with fear, despair, and deep sorrow, proving that her love for Qiu Shan Jun had indeed penetrated to the bone and was beyond her control.
"Perhaps I'm going to disappoint you." As soon as he finished speaking, "Akiyama-kun's" eyes quickly dimmed and lost focus. "I've never kissed a girl in my life. I really want to know what that feels like."
"Qiushan!" Nan Ke shouted, leaning down to kiss "Qiushan-kun" in his arms. However, just as their lips were less than an inch apart, Nan Ke suddenly stopped, grabbed "Qiushan-kun" by the neck, and said sternly, "You are not Qiushan. Who are you? Tell me."
Nan Ke's eyes flashed with a chilling light, and her jade hand tightly gripped the neck of the "dying" Qiu Shan Jun. Judging from her expression, if Qiu Shan Jun, who was still lying in her arms, made any other move, she would not hesitate to break his neck.
"Oh dear, how ruthless! Just a moment ago you were all so affectionate, like you'd die for me, and now you've turned on me and want to kill your future husband. How cruel!" The "Autumn Mountain Lord," who had been lying in Nan Ke's arms looking like he was on the verge of death, suddenly became energetic and lively upon seeing this, and all the bloodstains on his body disappeared.
Upon seeing this, Nan Ke's eyes flashed with a cold light. With a twist of her slender hand, she tried to snap the neck of this imposter Qiu Shan Jun. However, her twist was as if she had twisted a piece of divine iron. Not only did she fail to damage the divine iron, but she also made her wrist ache.
After being injured in the wrist by the recoil, Nan Ke was extremely shocked. A cold light flashed in her eyes, and a peacock feather appeared in her hand. She then directly stabbed it towards Mo Mo's heart, but she missed. The person in her arms had already disappeared without a trace.
Putting away the peacock feather, Nan Ke turned around and looked around. Only then did she realize that her two maids had been frozen in place, like two statues. If it weren't for their chests still rising and falling, Nan Ke would have thought that they had been casually killed by that mysterious expert.
Seeing the approaching Divine Capital Guards not far away, Nan Ke grabbed her two maids and quickly fled the place. During the escape, the two maids' immobilization status was lifted, which made Nan Ke even faster. In the blink of an eye, she shook off the pursuers. When she looked up, she found that she had unknowingly run to the back gate of the National Academy.
Having just been tricked, Nan Ke decided to leave. She always felt that Xu Yourong, that seemingly harmless master, was a bit eerie. However, after they had circled around the capital, they found that they had returned to the back gate of the National Academy, and this time the back gate was open.