Their eyes met.
Everyone saw the undisguised chill in Fang Yun's gaze, along with his bone-deep indifference toward treacherous men.
Fang Yun respected and treated every ordinary person of the human race kindly. From the day the Left Prime Minister's faction had harmed Yang Yuhuan, Liu Shan had lost even Fang Yun's most basic respect, Grand Academician or not.
Liu Shan's gaze remained as warm as ever, as though Fang Yun were not a political enemy and rival on the Sacred Way whom he longed to eliminate, but rather a partner in competition.
Liu Shan was still the same Liu Shan, but Fang Yun was no longer that cautious young scholar.
Liu Shan smiled faintly and said, "The Ji King is renowned throughout the world and has rendered great service to the human race. With his standing as a Void Sage as well, his becoming the human race's Zhuangyuan fulfills everyone's expectations. However, the Ji King is still young. If he could enter the Sacred Academy and cultivate in seclusion for three to five years, he would surely rise like a hidden dragon ascending to the heavens, his momentum unstoppable."
"The northern front is hard-pressed. I fear I cannot wait three years." Fang Yun looked straight at Liu Shan, his gaze like a sword.
"What is too rigid breaks easily. If the Ji King does not learn to conceal his brilliance and bide his time, but instead bares his edge too openly, he will surely incur Heaven's jealousy!"
"Heaven and earth can accommodate all living beings and all things, so they can accommodate me, Fang Yun. I do not fear Heaven's jealousy, only men's," Fang Yun said.
"Man can indeed prevail over Heaven," Liu Shan said.
"Yes, man can prevail over Heaven!" Fang Yun's voice rang with fervor.
The two