Gate of God

It was less than a month to the preliminary examinations of the court examinations. It would take about two weeks to reach the capital.

Fang Zhengzhi did not waste anymore time in the village. After making sure everything was in place, he went to pray at the shrine, accompanied by Zhang Yangping and his parents.

After everything was done, he began the journey back to the capital.

Just as he left the village, he heard of some shocking news. Chi Guyan did not return to the Divine Constabulary, choosing instead to go straight to the Heaven Dao Pavillion.

She also made an oath there.

She would accept Fang Zhengzhi’s challenge. However, Fang Zhengzhi had to qualify as a Heaven Dao Pavilion disciple. Furthermore, the duel would be held in public.

The loser would be a slave for a month.

When the news was broken, it swept across the entire empire like a tornado. In the camps, in the restaurants, in the alleys, even at schools and in homes, everyone was talking about it.

Is Fang Zhengzhi insane?

He actually challenged Chi Guyan!

If Fang Zhengzhi had just kept to their deal eight years ago and waited another two years, he could just lose quietly.

However, Fang Zhengzhi had no plans to do that.

Not only had he reminded the world of the challenge, he had brought it forward by two years?!

Someone could overestimate themselves, but they shouldn’t use their shamelessness and overconfidence to insult the top talent of the empire.

This was akin to someone announcing their scorn for a well respected god, denouncing the god and splashing the god with dirty water.

Who could ever accept that?

Even if the challenge was to be held two years later, everyone thought that it was impossible for Fang Zhengzhi to win this duel.

"That is ridiculous!"

"You would expect him to know himself better than that!"

"How overconfident!"

"Yes, someone who doesn’t even know where he stands is worse than scum!"

Intense discussions were held in every residence across the Great Xia Dynasty. The news was like a spark which ignited a pile of dry tinder.

In actual fact, any other duel would not have riled up the public this much.

However, the duel was between Chi Guyan and a villager. Furthermore, this villager had just broken through into the Heavenly Reflection State.

This had resulted in a very different reaction.

Everyone felt that their goddess was being insulted. They could not help but want to stand up for her.

Furthermore, the difference in their status and the stakes of the challenge fueled the fire in many hearts.

A servant!

Chi Guyan was the treasured daughter of the Divine Constabulary, the top talent of the empire, the future commander-in-chief, and the dream girl of the public. How could she ever be the servant of such a shameless person?!

No one would accept it, even if it was just for a day!

In fact...

It was unimaginable!

Chi Guyan was innocent, generous and classy. She could accept Fang Zhengzhi’s challenge calmly, but the public could not.

In times like this, there were people just waiting to fuel the flames.

Ping Yang was one of them.

Ping Yang had no idea that Chi Guyan had accepted Fang Zhengzhi’s challenge. When it had happened, she was sleeping soundly.

However, after knowing about it, Ping Yang ‘gladly’ took advantage of it.

"This shameless fella is also a bully. When we stayed there, he demanded that Sister Yan pay him 15,000 silvers a night!"

Ping Yang began to use this story to defame Fang Zhengzhi.

She successfully enraged the entire community. She then said that Chi Guyan probably only accepted this challenge out of fury.

"Fang Zhengzhi has to atone for his sins at the Heaven Dao Pavilion!"

"He has to start kowtowing from the foot of the pavilion all the way to the pinnacle!"

"He is incredibly shameless!"

Words of fury continued to spread in the capital.

Everyone was condemning Fang Zhengzhi for using such shameless methods to ‘force’ Chi Guyan into accepting his challenge.

Ping Yang was extremely happy with this result. She saw it as revenge for Fang Zhengzhi’s unwillingness to tell her about how he had managed to turn those 50 sensei. Fang Zhengzhi had it coming.

"When he is in the sh*t, I will ‘generously’ get him out of that sticky situation, hahaha..."

She smiled radiantly as she imagined Fang Zhengzhi’s expression when pleading with her to explain the situation to everyone. She couldn’t wait for that day.

Is this love and hate?

Ew!

Who would ever fall in love with that shameless guy?!

Ping Yang’s words began to gain traction. Many of the disciples of the most influential families discussed about gathering in the capital, preparing to ‘welcome’ Fang Zhengzhi.

Some of them were the top ten ranking youths in both the Hidden Dragon and Rising Dragon rolls.

Those on the Hidden Dragon Roll were furious, however, they knew that Fang Zhengzhi was already in the Heavenly Reflection State. As such, they could only speak, but they did not take any actions.

However, the Rising Dragon Roll was a different story.

Which of the top 10 on the Rising Dragon Roll was not at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Reflection State?

Anyone of them would easily defeat Su Donglin, who Fang Zhengzhi defeated in a 4v1 scenario. It was extremely difficult to climb the upper echelons of the Rising Dragon Roll.

This represented the differences in power even within the same state. Anyone in the top 10 was definitely a talent.

Each of this talents began to announce their participation in the court examinations and the Heaven Dao Pavilion disciple selection.

After all, some of them had already passed the court examinations and qualified for the Heaven Dao Pavilion disciple selection.

It was a pity...

The most highly anticipated piece of news failed to arrive.

The Rising Dragon Roll’s second ranked talent, Nangong Hao, never announced any intention to participate in this edition of the court examinations.

Whether Nangong Hao would be participating was something that everyone was concerned about.

After all, as long as Nangong Hao participated in the court examinations, he would definitely challenge Fang Zhengzhi.

The reason was obvious.

As long as Nangong Hao challenged Fang Zhengzhi, Fang Zhengzhi would not have a chance to participate in the Heaven Dao Pavillion disciple selection.

If he could not attend that, how could he challenge Chi Guyan?

Everything would just be a joke.

...

Fang Zhengzhi had calculated the time required to reach the capital carefully. It did not require much brain power. He simply needed to know his speed.

Even so, he failed to account for the inconveniences he would meet along the way.

The last time, he had travelled with Yan Xiu. They rode the Snow Treading Dragon Stallion, so no one dared to antagonize them along the way. They reached the capital in record time.

This time however...

His entire path seemed to be lit brightly. There were groups of people pointing at him wherever he went.

As such, a curious Fang Zhengzhi spent some silvers to have some tea in a teahouse. He wanted to understand what the commotion was about.

He quickly understood.

Chi Guyan had indeed announced the terms of the challenge to the public. His Snow Treading Stallion became a signpost.

As such, he decided to go by the smaller roads instead.

He would tour the area.

Fang Zhengzhi had nice dreams, but reality was rarely so nice. He did not know why, but all of the bridges he wanted to cross were broken. Furthermore, he kept running into mudslides, torrential rain...

"What the f*ck is going on?" Fang Zhengzhi saw yet another broken bridge. He cursed, dismounted, and took off his clothes.

He had to swim across.

...

Not far from the bridge, a barefooted all man in a white robe observed Fang Zhengzhi as he swam across the river whilst leading the Snow Treading Dragon Stallion.

He was expressionless.

He watched as Fang Zhengzhi changed into new clothes and remounted his stallion. Then, he began walking towards the bridge. His steps were slow and small, but strangely...

He reached the bridge in no time.

Even more strangely, he did not swim across the river. He simply stepped on it. The moment his feet landed on the wood, the broken bridge seem to come to life, returning to its original state.

There was something formed in chaos before Heaven and Earth existed. It stands unchanging in silence and solitude. It may be the Mother of the world. I do not know its name, so I can only term it Dao. Its greatness is far-reaching... Humans should strive to understand nature, and respect it."

"If your fate is as such, you should accept it! Going against it will only result in tragedy!"

The elderly man continued to chant as his figure disappeared from sight. Within moments, the bridge had disappeared and everything returned to normal.

...

It was no exaggeration to say that Fang Zhengzhi’s journey was filled with problems at every turn. As such, when he arrived at the border city of Dong Lin, he decided to change his appearance.

"Now that I have changed to a lady’s disguise, I would like to see who can recognize me!"

Being envied by others showed that he was not mediocre. Fang Zhengzhi had never felt that he was mediocre, so he was not too angered by the trials. After all, he was prepared for those.

However, he was a little short on time.

If he had to go through so many barriers, he may not make it in time for the court examinations.

However...

He had underestimated the influence of Chi Guyan. He had also underestimated the number of admirers Chi Guyan had.

When he stepped into Dong Lin City with his Snow Treading Dragon Stallion, he was stopped.

"Fang Zhengzhi, I think that you should go back to your village. You should not partake in the court examinations. You might break your limbs if you participate!"

A young man stepped out from amidst the raucous laughter.

He was about 26 years old, slightly tanned, had thick eyebrows, but donned a pristine white robe.

"Aish... I’m in a rush, you can all come at me together!" Fang Zhengzhi sighed. He had lost count of the number of people he had to defeat along the way. It was getting boring.

"All together?! Hahaha... Fang Zhengzhi, open your eyes wide! This is Yu Wengu, ranked 10 on the Rising Dragon Roll. He is at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Reflection State!" One of the youths standing next to the white robed man nearly burst out laughing.

"Ranked 10 on the Rising Dragon Roll?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled as he looked at Yu Wengu.

"Fang Zhengzhi, I do not know if I am the unlucky one, or you are. I had already announced that I will participate in the court examinations and defeat you there. I never expected to meet you here." Yu Wengu beamed.

"And so?" Fang Zhengzhi asked curiously.

"I am exasperated too, but I guess it is Heaven’s will that you don’t make it to the capital!"

"Why?"

"How can someone with a broken leg participate in the court examinations? Don’t you agree? Oh... I almost forgot, you’re a rank four official now. I can’t just break your leg like that. It would be an insult to you. Let me change my clothes."

As Yu Wengu spoke, someone presented him a set of official robes and put it on him. He beamed as he put his arms through the sleeves, "I may not be as high ranking as you, but that’s no problem, I can just add my hereditary knighthood. That’s about right isn’t it? Sword Envoy, your honor!"

"I think... what you say makes sense!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded his approval.

...

Nothing in this world ever went according to plan.

Countless talents were making their way into the capital, trying to have a go at Fang Zhengzhi. They all wanted to be the one to defeat him.

Just as the discussions were reaching a peak, a piece of shocking news rocked the capital. Many of the talents were rooted in their places.

The reason was...

Yu Wengu, ranked 10 on the Rising Dragon Roll, met Fang Zhengzhi in Dong Lin City. Yu Wengu’s legs had been broken and he exasperatingly announced his withdrawal from the court examinations.

Fang Zhengzhi rose from rank 53 to rank 10 on the Rising Dragon Roll.

He became the first person in the history of the Great Xia Dynasty to rank amongst the top 10 on the Rising Dragon Roll within six months of breaking through into the Heavenly Reflection State.