Fang Zhengzhi thought that it was great idea to eliminate Yan Xiu’s rivals, so as to reduce the competition. At least until Yan Xiu was able to enter the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
Fine...
I should just eliminate all these lads in a breath.
No matter who they are, be it dukes or heirs, or even Princes. Kong Qing had already eliminated the Sixth Highness of the Radiant Moon Empire. Who else would he be afraid of?
The Heaven Dao Pavilion was able to protect him, if there were any trouble.
Hold up!
There was one more person.
Fang Zhengzhi suddenly thought of this person. That person was almost unnoticeable even when he was standing under a tree.
Not to mention, he was standing among the crowd?
But Fang Zhengzhi knew that he was here.
Nangong Mu.
A person with ordinary looks, an ordinary figure, and one with average traits.
He looked just like any ordinary person, but managed to become one of Fang Zhengzhi’s best friends. And he was standing among the crowd.
Fang Zhengzhi would never miss out on Nangong Hao at the thought of Nangong Mu. Nangong Hao was one of the best talents in the Great Xia Dynasty to emerge top two, together with himself, in the Theory examinations two years ago.
And now...
Nangong Hao should be at the Heaven Dao Pavilion?
Fang Zhengzhi looked up and stared at the sharp walls as he reminisced about the fateful night two years ago. They had yet to complete their final competition with one another.
"Brother Kong Qing..." One of the disciples spoke up gently behind him.
"Yes." Fang Zhengzhi nodded as the voice had seemed to remind him about the time. In fact, "he" had indeed spent a long time in the wooden house.
Let’s start the elimination.
Fang Zhengzhi quietly scanned through the 31 young men standing around. They were basically all dressed in their coats and emitting arrogant vibes, due to the fact that they were all heirs of their families.
Although it seemed normal just thinking about it.
Moreover, being able to emerge from the crowd in such a big country they were not just any ordinary person, since they were given the opportunity to participate in the Heaven Dao Pavilion Selection test.
"You, stand out." Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t picky as well. He pointed at a young man dressed in an elegant coat.
"I’m Shi Weiyi from the War Pinnacle Empire, envoy please ask your questions!" The young man stood up confidently, and it seemed like he knew that it was the time to answer examination questions.
"I didn’t even mention anything about asking questions, and you asked me to do it? You’re so full of yourself, out!" Fang Zhengzhi waved his head and gave a discerning look.
"Out?!" The young man did not have time to react over the situation.
At least half of the remaining contestants’ eyes were wide open, staring at Fang Zhengzhi in disbelief.
Getting eliminated just like this?
That was just too harsh!
"I’m not happy about this. The first round of Heavenly Dao Selection test was always about asking examination questions. I might be a little off from the criteria but this shouldn’t get me eliminated!" The young man rebuked.
"So you’re saying, that was just a minor mistake?" Fang Zhengzhi flashed a smile.
"Yes!" The young man nodded his head, looking very determined.
The rest of the contestants fixed their eyes at Fang Zhengzhi. "Fang Zhengzhi" did show his power by eliminating the Sixth Highness of the Radiant Moon Empire.
Even so...
It seemed pretty absurd to abuse one’s power like this?
Even if this were the Heaven Dao Pavilion, there had to be some degree of reason and principle. By eliminating someone without reason, what would be the difference between this and the bandits?
"Do you guys think the same as him?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the remaining candidates.
None of them spoke up. Everyone was standing with their chest out, and heads up, but nobody opened their mouth.
"There is a saying, not sure if anyone of you can remember. When the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which is their great dread will come on them. Let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on. It is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does not arise. Therefore the sage knows these things of himself, but does not parade his knowledge; loves, but does not appear to set a value on, himself. And thus he puts the latter alternative away and makes choice of the former." Fang Zhengzhi looked up at the crowd after speaking.
There was something different from earlier.....
Upon hearing the sentence, everyone had a change in their expressions.
They were all elites from the Great Xia Dynasty, naturally the understood the saying. It referred to the fact that if the citizens were not afraid of the ruling government, then terrible disasters would follow.
Forcing people to live and work in peace is wrong, and so is preventing the citizens from making a living. Only by not oppressing the people would the citizens not hate their rulers.
Therefore, a sage not only had to have self-knowledge, but also be expressive and self-love. He must not be arrogant, and must abandon his self-confidence, yet stay aware of his surroundings and preserve self-love.
"Who else has any other opinion?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled.
"No!" The silence earlier had disappeared when they all replied. The way they looked at Fang Zhengzhi had all changed too.
That feeling...
Was almost like observing the "High Enlightenment State".
Explaining such profound principles from such a small incident, if it was not the High Enlightenment State what would it be referred to as?
Indeed, Heaven Dao Pavilion was the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
Nobody dared to talk back to Fang Zhengzhi again. The three men standing behind Fang Zhengzhi also seemed to understand what he was trying to talk about.
In the Heaven Dao Pavilion, everything was about logic.
Fang Zhengzhi was obviously one who would reason with logic.
The young man did not speak any further. His face turned red after Fang Zhengzhi finished his sentence, looking embarrassed and guilty.
A moment later...
He bowed in front of Fang Zhengzhi.
"I have learnt my lesson!" The young man said, then turned and made his leave. Very soon, he had disappeared into the crowd.
"Good, next." Fang Zhengzhi casually pointed at the second young man.
"I’m Tian Fengyun from the War Pinnacle Empire!" The next young man was smarter this time round. He walked out gingerly, and he made every step carefully. Three steps, no more no less.
"This young man cannot be taught!" Fang Zhengzhi waited till the young man made his three steps, then waved his hand impatiently at the young man.
"Eliminated again?!"
Half of the contestants heard what Fang Zhengzhi had just said and felt baffled. But they merely looked at the young man sympathetically.
Their looks...
Were just like saying to him, ’brother, go peacefully!’
The young man was stunned motionless for a full minute. He cautiously recalled about his actions earlier.
There was no problems at all?
Three steps were definitely neither too many nor too few.
And all he did was to report his name?
Then he got eliminated?
The young man could not figure out the whole situation, what did he do wrong? Although he knew the meaning of the sentence that Fang Zhengzhi had been talking about.
But when used in this situation...
What would be the meaning for that?
"Envoy, please enlighten me?" The young man still decided to asked the question. Afterall, to even participate in the Heaven Dao Pavilion selection test was not an easy task at all.
He had spent 10 years studying vigorously, and had endured numerous difficulties.
Finally reaching this part of the test...
But was eliminated in just one sentence? And he had only reported his name, he had no idea how to get over such a massive setback.
"Remember about what Shi Weiyi had mentioned earlier before he got eliminated?" Fang Zhengzhi naturally knew that it was a logical society, so he need to provide a reason for the elimination.
"Which part are you talking about?" The young man asked softly.
"Precisely, you have learnt nothing. He only managed to say four lines just now, anyone with a brain can understand what I’m referring to. The first round of the Heaven Dao Pavilion selection test is always the ask and answer segment!" Fang Zhengzhi answered with disdain.
The rest of the participants seemed to have realised his mistake after listening to the explanation. They looked at him and shook their heads in dismay. It was an example of not being observant, strict, hence a sign of not having the potential.
"But, I..."
"Nervous? I know you’re nervous. But just like in a war, you can’t possibly tell the other party that you’re nervous, hoping that they let you go lightly? Moreover, he had already mentioned earlier, that the first round is the ask and answer segment. If you knew about this, why didn’t you ask me to give you the questions?"
"..." The young man remained silent.
"Study is just like sailing against the current; either you keep forging ahead or you keep falling behind. It’s the same as training, just leave!" Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t care much about what the young man just said.
"You’re right, teacher. Father had always been correcting me to be cautious in my training. But I have yet to realise all these, till your words teacher. I will always remember your words and strive to break through my own comfort zone. I will focus more in my training!"
"Bravo!"
"He could look right through the problem in just one glance. Such skills, really impressive!"
"If there’s an opportunity to enter the Heaven Dao Pavilion, I will definitely learn more from Brother Kong Qing!"
Everyone was stunned upon listening to what the young man said before they managed to react over the situation.
That was the first time Fang Zhengzhi made everyone felt impressed with his logic.
And this one time.....
Fang Zhengzhi’s "great foresight" had made them felt so impressed. He was able to differentiate one’s inability, with just one sentence and one glance.
That was so appalling!
Heaven Dao Pavilion was indeed the best holy place for training.
As for the strong elites, such challenges would often push them to greater heights. Therefore, while the two of them were eliminated, they did not choose to retreat.
Faced with difficulties,
Then solve them.
That was how one can become a strong warrior!
Fang Zhengzhi was taken aback by their determination.
Huh?
That was possible?!
If it wasn’t because he knew that he was going to eliminate these guys one by one, he would have almost believed that he was actually helping them.
"Next."
"Xun Fei from the Radiant Moon Empire, please ask the questions." A light blue coat young man walked out from the crowd, filled with confidence.
"What’s the meaning of "clear"?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded his head and asked.
The young man, as well as the crowd, heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing that, as he had finally passed through the first round of test.
"To be clear against injustice, to be elegant, upright, honest, uncorrupted, all these are to be considered as clear. To be distinct and sober among the corrupted and drunk..." Xun Fei swiftly answered Fang Zhengzhi’s question.
"Eliminated!" Fang Zhengzhi interrupted Xun Fei’s answer.
"AH?!" Xun Fei stuttered, as his mouth was wide open and he looked extremely dumbfounded.
He was right?
His answer was absolutely right!
Xun Fei did not think that there was any problem with his answer. He elaborated from the word "clear" and those were all the right values.
He sticked to the word "clear" throughout the whole explanation.
That kind of explanation would be one of the most appropriate answers in any situation. But why would he be eliminated in this Heaven Dao Pavilion selection test?
Xun Fei was puzzled.
The rest of the participants were also confused by it, as they did not find any flaws in Xun Fei’s answer.
"Are you unhappy?" Fang Zhengzhi laughed as he looked at Xun Fei.
"Not at all, just that... I really don’t understand where did I say wrong, please enlighten me!" Xun Fei shook his head and bowed at Fang Zhengzhi.
"Firstly, do you really think my question is that easy?"
"This..."
"I wanted to ask if you know the meaning of clear, turbit, shallow and deep. But you went ahead to answer without waiting for me to finish the question. This overconfidence failed you even before you started."
"..." Xun Fei went silent.
"Furthermore, while you mentioned turbidity, but you did not elaborate on it, and merely discussed about ’clear’. You may look confident, but actually you had subcounsciously avoided some "mistakes". You’re afraid of failure, and constantly seek perfection. But in this world, how can there be perfection?" Fang Zhengzhi continued.
"In this world, how can there be perfection?" Xun Fei mumbled softly as his eyes suddenly brightened up.
After awhile, just like a big door opening, Xun Fei began leaping around crazily, as he continued to chant.
"I think I might have achieved the state, the logic......No real perfection, I finally understood, I get it. Ha ha ha..." He burst into laughter, as a ray of light brightened up around Xun Fei’s body.
The ray of light was of a thick green colour.
"Rumble!"
Xun Fei’s hair began flying, as the aura around him started changing.
"No way?!"
"He really broke through?!"
"There were rumours about Xun Fei being stuck in the Supernatural State for 5 years, but he actually broke through when he’s here? That was unbelievable!"
The majority of them was flabbergasted, as they watched the brilliant light burst out around Xun Fei’s body. They would never have believed it, if they hadn’t seen that before their eyes.
Just one sentence...
Could result in his breakthrough?!
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