Struggle for Possession

"That is incorrect!"

Gao Song glanced at Han Wei'er and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Young Master Han, your visit this time was already impolite, and your revealing Shen Zhi's identity just now was full of malice. I don't think Shen Zhi's attitude towards you is that of a friend. Why do you have to tell these lies? Let go quickly, so you don't have an easy time backing down."

As soon as Qiu Yan left, Gao Song immediately regained his composure and once again became the leading figure of the Ritual Reverence Academy.

He was naturally aware of Han Wei'er's identity. The term "Young Master Han" was what Han Wei'er called when she was dressed as a man, and now that Gao Song was using it, it carried a hint of threat.

That's normal. So many things have happened just now. Gao Song received guidance from Qiu Yan and felt respect for him, just like when he was being instructed by a teacher. Of course, he should treat him with respect. This is not only a respect for Qiu Yan, but also a respect for Qiu Yan's knowledge.

Once Qiu Yan left, the room was filled with people who were either disciples from other academies or scattered scholars—all potential rivals of Gao Song. Their knowledge might not match his, so how could they possibly lower themselves?

Lost in thought, he turned to look at the chessboard, intending to recall the previous scene and sort out his thoughts. Unexpectedly, he noticed the article on the chessboard. Just one glance was enough to calm his mind and restore his slightly turbulent State of Mind to normal.

In that case, how could he not see the value of the article on the chessboard? He immediately had the urge to snatch it, to get his hands on the article before anyone else noticed, and to tell Qiu Yan afterwards, hoping to get Ritual Reverence Academy back.

In fact, his guess was similar to Han Wei'er's. They both believed that Qiu Yan's article was written by fortuitous opportunity, under the Heavenly Timing, Earthly Advantage, and Human Harmony. Even if it wasn't, he didn't think that his friendship with Qiu Yan would allow him to obtain an article, especially since he had a conflict with Qiu Yan not long ago.

However, the more this was the case, the more he couldn't let this opportunity pass him by. Therefore, when he spoke, he addressed Qiu Yan by his courtesy name, "Shen Zhi," to show his intimacy and closeness. Unconsciously, he wanted to bring himself closer to Qiu Yan, or at least make others feel that he was close to Qiu Yan.

Despite Gao Song's threat, Han Wei'er's smile remained unchanged, though her gaze grew increasingly cold. Instead of retaliating, she turned to look at another person.

Now, three people reached out and each grabbed a corner of the chessboard. Besides Han Wei'er and Gao Song, there was also a Confucian scholar.

Noticing Han Wei'er's actions, Gao Song also sensed something and turned to look over.

The first thing that caught my eye was an ordinary face. He was just an average scholar, neither fat nor thin, neither tall nor short, with an appearance that was neither handsome nor ugly. He was the kind of person who would not stand out in a crowd.

Yet, this very person, at this moment, reached out to compete with the prime minister's granddaughter and a leading figure among the younger generation of the academy for the same thing, showing no sign of backing down even under their gazes and auras.

This person noticed things that others missed, which shows their keen insight;

Facing the silent threat from two individuals of extraordinary status, their unwavering stance demonstrates remarkable courage.

"When did such a person emerge in Eastern Capital? There's no way I wouldn't remember him." Gao Song stared at the ordinary-looking man, his thoughts racing, but he didn't look away, his cold gaze intended to create pressure in the other man's heart.

He understood Han Wei'er's meaning: to force this person back first, and then the two of them could compete, so as to avoid any complications. Given their status and the aura they had cultivated, he knew that ordinary people would find it difficult to withstand them. However, he did not expect that this man who suddenly appeared would be completely unaware of the situation, and would hold on tightly to a corner of the chessboard, showing no intention of letting go.

Just then, Han Wei'er spoke up—

"I never expected someone like you to slip into this evaluation."

She smiled slightly, looking at the man. "Your facial expression is stiff, your mouth is slightly crooked, and your nose droops. Are you wearing a human skin mask?"

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Gao Song's heart skipped a beat. When he looked again, he noticed several things Han Wei'er had mentioned and indeed found something amiss.

"Is this person really wearing a human skin mask? But if he's here, why bother hiding his identity?"

The Literary Pavilion Appraisal are an opportunity for the literary world. People come here not only to savor the atmosphere of the Scholar Forest, but also to make a name for themselves. To hide one's true intentions is to go against the grain.

"Literary Pavilion Appraisal, though open to all, requires at least a certain level of Literary Thought. Otherwise, one won't even be allowed in; they'll be turned away by the Literary Pavilion staff. Yet, those with even a modicum of Literary Thought are eager to become famous throughout the world. Why would they hide their identities? I'm quite curious, what is your background? You possess Literary Thought but are unwilling to reveal your identity, yet you've come here. Is it truly for the purpose of seeking knowledge?"

Everyone has Literary Thought, but to enter the Literary Pavilion, one's Literary Thought must have a certain Qi Manifestation.

Han Wei'er's words gave Gao Song some ideas, and his thoughts gradually opened up.

The actions of the three people did not escape the notice of others, attracting much attention. Subsequently, they discovered the peculiarity of the article on the chessboard.

For a time, many people were intrigued. After all, just a glance, a few sentences, and a glimpse into the article's meaning could enlighten their minds and resolve their doubts. This effect was comparable to that of a renowned teacher, which held immense appeal for scholars who had not yet entered an academy.

However, the students of the academy were equally tempted. Although the academies had been passed down for decades, hundreds, or even thousands of years and their cultural heritage was vast, with so many students, how could they always have renowned teachers to guide them?

Even though they were tempted, they didn't step forward. Instead, they decided to observe. Even if they weren't afraid of Han Wei'er and Gao Song, they had to consider that if they obtained the chessboard article, they would become the target of public criticism. "A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

"This is bad; it has attracted everyone's attention. However, I have the academy as my backing, so I'm not afraid of others causing trouble afterward. But this matter must be resolved as soon as possible, otherwise it will be difficult to handle once the gentlemen step in."

Gao Song was making his plans, just then...

"As expected of Legalist School descendant, even such a trivial matter cannot escape your eyes." The ordinary-looking man suddenly spoke up. "I did come here to seek your guidance and hear the Grand Confucian scholar's comments, but now that I have seen this, I am willing to expose myself. The Scholar Forest is indeed enviable, but it is beyond my reach. In comparison, this chessboard is priceless. You two are people of status, why compete with me? Be generous and give it to me."

As he spoke, there was a strange, almost imperceptible movement, as if his face were coated with wax. His words made Han Wei'er's heart skip a beat. Just as she was about to respond, the man flicked his sleeve, and in his free hand appeared a jade pendant with two seal characters inscribed on it—

Situation!

The moment the token touched the ground, a mysterious aura emanated from it. Han Wei'er and Gao Song, who were standing close by, felt a jolt of familiarity within the unfamiliar aura.

"The Sage Spirit..."

Just as the two were surprised, they realized the situation was dire and tried to snatch the chessboard away. But as soon as they moved their wrists, a sentence flew out from the jade tablet in the man's hand—

"The questions posed by the wandering tumbleweed are not for those who seek refuge; the gatherings of sparrows and swallows are not for those who follow the Way."

Unfounded rumors need not be heeded; passersby disregard trivial matters such as sparrows gathering.

In an instant, the scene distorted, and Han Wei'er and Gao Song felt a strange sensation in their hearts. They felt like rootless duckweed or chattering birds, insignificant, while the ordinary-looking man seemed like a passerby, simply passing by without stopping.

Immediately afterwards, the man's figure became increasingly blurry and transparent, and the chessboard he was pulling also moved, showing signs of disappearing.

In a moment of urgency, Han Wei'er and Gao Song each mobilized a portion of their Incomplete Sage Spirit —that is, the Incomplete Sage Spirit Sage Spirit.

However, these two Incomplete Sage Spirit, one a "technique" and the other a "sacrifice," while profound, were not the right remedy and were immediately at a disadvantage compared to the opponent's complete Sage Spirit.

Not long after, the Force of Order surged around them, enveloping the man's figure. With a "snap," he and the chessboard vanished without a trace.

Then the Order dissipated, the surrounding distortions returned to normal, leaving only Han Wei'er with an angry face and Gao Song with an expressionless face.

"Who is this person?! They actually pulled something out of a tiger's mouth!"

Those around were equally shocked and began speculating about the man's identity.

But soon, their attention was drawn to a table—the very same table where the chessboard had been set up earlier.

"What's this!"

The table was covered with ink marks, forming a chessboard shape, with each square clearly defined and filled with bold and vivid characters.

Upon seeing this, Han Wei'er and Gao Song immediately came to their senses.

"His brushstrokes are powerful and penetrating! Indeed, Qiu Yan's strength is penetrating, his brushstrokes possess a divine charm; it's only natural that his characters would appear on the table through the cloth!"

However, before the two could even step forward, the table was already surrounded by people, and several scholars even rushed forward, scrambling and fighting over it!

"Hmm? There's a fluctuation of Sage Spirit coming up from below!"

On the second floor of the Literary Pavilion, as the gentlemen were discussing and appraising the ancient scenes, they sensed a slight ripple downstairs, but no one paid any attention to it. Each of them was focused and attentively experiencing the High Antiquity landscape.

As Qiu Yan gathered his Literary Thought, the scene shattered. If they hadn't maintained it with their Force of Order, it would have already ceased to exist. Even so, it had now reached its limit!

"This scene is too realistic. Where did Qiu Sheng get this information from? At his age, there's absolutely no way he could have such knowledge. Even if he deduced it from the book, there's no reason why he could reconstruct the living environment and species changes!"

The more the Grand Confucian comprehended and gained insights, the more doubts they felt. Just then, a wave of spiritual energy filled with the meaning of "walking" swept over them, causing a Force of Order to vibrate. This vibration was significant, as it shattered the balance!

The High Antiquity landscape maintained by the Force of Order shattered instantly!

"How dare you!"

One by one, the highly respected elders were filled with rage!

ps:

Thanks to "oceanpop", "Wanxiaxiaola", "Xunfengbu", and "Chifengchengyu" for the rewards!