On the imperial highway, Left Prime Minister Liu Shan stood in green robes, scholarly and composed, watching the scholars charging toward him with a smile.
His three Literary Platforms radiated a terrifying aura, sending wave after wave of faint white ripples visible to the naked eye spreading in every direction.
Within a ten-mile radius, every Metropolitan Graduate opposing Liu Shan felt his strength being inexplicably drained away. They wanted to attack him, yet could not rouse their spirits. Their thoughts grew confused, as though they were trapped in a dream.
Some Metropolitan Graduates realized that Liu Shan's Literary Platforms were affecting them. Fury assaulted their hearts, and resentment seethed within them. None had expected Liu Shan to be so powerful. An ordinary Grand Academician could never have achieved this.
The Hanlin Academicians fared slightly better, but they, too, felt unable to muster their full strength. Strange thoughts even arose in their minds: they kept feeling that Liu Shan represented the legitimate authority of the Human Race and the sovereign might of Jing Kingdom, and that attacking him would ruin their names and reputations.
The Grand Academicians had Literary Platforms suspended high above their heads, and none were affected by Liu Shan's Literary Platforms.
Unfazed, Zhou Junhu sneered back. "As expected of the mole Qing Kingdom spared no effort to cultivate. You've finally shown your fox's tail! Harnessing the strength of Jing Kingdom and exploiting your position as Left Prime Minister to form three Literary Platforms-what a fine scheme! Unless I'm mistaken, you only recently formed that Grand Unification Literary Platform."
Liu Shan stroked his beard and replied calmly, "Indeed. Not long ago, I slept on brushwood and tasted gall, enduring hardship until I finally made a breakthrough and formed the Grand Unification Literary Platform. Come to think of it, had