Chapter 416: Assumed Name Enters Changancheng

The Southern Continent of Jambudvīpa, within the territory of the Great Tang.

Su Chen stood with his hands behind his back atop the clouds, gazing down.

At the edge of the plain rose a mighty city, its walls stretching a hundred li—this was the capital of the Great Tang, Changancheng.

Above the heavens, in the invisible void unseen by mortal eyes, coiled a golden dragon of fortune, ten thousand zhang in length.

The dragon's entire body was dark gold, each scale engraved with the prayers and vitality of countless millions.

It circled above Changancheng, its eyes blazing, surveying all directions with disdain.

With the founding of the Great Tang, the four seas were united, and the human destiny's fortune reached its zenith.

Su Chen looked at the golden dragon of fortune, his expression calm.

He took a step forward, walking toward Changancheng.

The instant he entered the range of the golden dragon's aura, a crushing pressure, like a mountain collapsing, slammed down upon him.

The golden dragon in the void let out a silent roar, its divine aura striking straight at Su Chen's spiritual altar.

Within Su Chen's dantian, the Primordial Supreme Dao Fruit turned slightly.

Simultaneously, the Chaotic Bell suspended deep within his mind-realm emitted a low hum.

A thread of xuanhuang qi flowed through his meridians, enveloping his entire body in a thin, invisible barrier.

The violent human destiny pressure struck the xuanhuang qi and vanished instantly.

A primordial treasure, suppressing space and time, impervious to all arts—this nation's fortune could not suppress a primordial treasure.

Su Chen suppressed all his spiritual signatures, donned a simple blue robe, assumed the guise of a wandering Daoist priest, followed the imperial road, blended into the crowd entering the city, and walked through Mingde Gate into Changancheng.

The fourth year of Wude, the realm had just been pacified (Note: Since the original text places Chen Chen Guangrui's imperial examination success and Tang Seng's pilgrimage both in the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, creating a clear temporal paradox, this timeline has been slightly adjusted to make Chen Chen Guangrui's Top Graduate achievement more plausible.).

After the wars ended, the Great Tang reopened the imperial examinations.

Scholars from across the land flooded into Changancheng; inns were packed to capacity, and the city buzzed with the vibrant energy of mortal life.

Su Chen passed through the bustling Zhujue Street and entered an inn named "Pingkang."

The inn's main hall was filled with noise; dozens of square tables were crowded with scholars dressed in robes of various hues.

Some debated the grand affairs of state, others recited poetry and prose under their breath, spittle flying, faces flushed.

Su Chen sat at an empty table in the corner and ordered a pot of coarse tea.

He lifted the teacup, took a small sip, and the bitter liquid slid down his throat.

Su Chen's gaze swept the hall, his Dharma Eye activated.

The fortune auras of everyone in the hall lay bare before him.

Most had only thin strands of white qi above their heads, signifying a life of mediocrity; a few had swirling red qi, indicating future official rank.

Su Chen's gaze settled on a table by the window.

There sat a young scholar.

The scholar wore a faded blue Confucian robe, his face handsome, eyebrows sharp as swords, eyes bright as stars, bearing an air of noble distinction.

He sat alone, engrossed in a scroll of classical histories, utterly undisturbed by the surrounding clamor.

Above his head swirled a thick mass of purple qi—the destiny of a literary star rising, destined to become Top Graduate.

Yet beneath that purple qi coiled a dense, inescapable mass of black death qi.

His fate was entangled with calamity—ten deaths, no escape.

Su Chen set down his teacup and smiled faintly—he had found his target.

Chen Chen Guangrui, of Hongnong in Haizhou, was the biological father of the tenth reincarnation of Jin Jin Chanzi.

According to the original destiny of the Journey to the West, Chen Chen Guangrui would pass the imperial examination as Top Graduate, ride through the streets on horseback, be struck by a embroidered ball thrown by Yin Yin Wenjiao, daughter of Chancellor Yin Kaishan, and marry her.

He would then depart for his post as Department Magistrate of Jiangzhou, be murdered by river bandit Liu Hong on the way, and thrown into the river.

Yin Yin Wenjiao would endure humiliation and bear a posthumous son, Jiang Liuer—who would become Tang Seng.

All of this was a script arranged by the Fomen.

Chen Chen Guangrui's death was meant to provide Jin Jin Chanzi with a tragic beginning, severing worldly ties so he could walk the Western Journey with unwavering focus.

Su Chen's fingers tapped lightly on the table.

The Fomen treated mortal lives as chess pieces, moving them at will—he would use this to challenge them.

Su Chen rose, carrying the teapot, and walked to Chen Chen Guangrui's table.

"Young Master, the inn is crowded—may I join you?" Su Chen smiled, his tone gentle.

Chen Chen Guangrui set down his scroll and looked up at Su Chen.

The Daoist before him wore a simple blue robe, his face lean, a three-strand beard hanging down.

Though his attire was plain, his presence radiated an otherworldly detachment.

Chen Chen Guangrui did not dare to be careless; he immediately rose and bowed: "Master Daoist, please sit. I am Chen E, courtesy name Chen Guangrui."

"I am Master Yichen, a wandering Daoist. I came to Changancheng to witness its flourishing literary spirit." Su Chen sat and poured Chen Chen Guangrui a cup of tea.

Chen Chen Guangrui thanked him and accepted it; the two began to converse.

At first, Chen Chen Guangrui assumed Su Chen was merely an ordinary wandering Daoist.

But after only a few exchanges, he realized he was wrong.

Su Chen casually offered insights on governance, public welfare, and education—views sharp, original, striking straight at the core of the Great Tang's current problems.

Chen Chen Guangrui listened with wide eyes, clapping his hands in admiration.

"Master Daoist, your wisdom is profound! I am deeply instructed!" Chen Chen Guangrui raised his teacup and toasted Su Chen as if it were wine.

Su Chen drank quietly.

This was merely a dimensional crush.

He was a Luo Jinxian who had cultivated the Primordial Supreme Dao and possessed modern knowledge—dropping even a fraction of his understanding was enough to awe a Tang Dynasty scholar.

"Young Master Chen, your talent is exceptional. This examination, you will surely top the list." Su Chen set down his cup, his tone certain.

Chen Chen Guangrui smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Scholars from across the land have gathered in Changancheng. I dare not hope to top the list—only to secure a minor post and serve the people, that would satisfy me."

"With such a noble aspiration, heaven itself will protect you." Su Chen gazed deeply at Chen Chen Guangrui.

They spoke until late into the night; the hall gradually emptied.

Chen Chen Guangrui was reluctant to end the conversation and wished to ask more.

Su Chen rose and waved his hand: "It is late. Young Master, you must rest for tomorrow's studies. I shall not disturb you further."

With that, Su Chen turned and ascended to the second-floor rooms.

Chen Chen Guangrui watched Su Chen's retreating back, silently awed.

Changancheng truly harbored dragons and tigers—just a chance encounter with a Daoist revealed a mind capable of shaping heaven and earth.

For the next half-month, Su Chen visited Chen Chen Guangrui in the hall each day for a brief chat.

Their friendship deepened; Chen Chen Guangrui grew ever more respectful toward the "Master Master Yichen."

Soon, the eve of the spring imperial examination arrived.

The inn was unusually quiet; all scholars were locked in their rooms, last-minute cramming or praying to heaven and gods.

Chen Chen Guangrui's door was knocked upon.

He opened it and saw Su Chen; he immediately ushered him inside.

"Master Master Yichen, visiting so late—is there something you need?" Chen Chen Guangrui asked respectfully.

Su Chen did not sit. He stood before the table, gazing at Chen Chen Guangrui.

"Tomorrow is the great examination. I have come to give you something."

Su Chen flicked his wrist and withdrew a talisman from his sleeve.

The talisman was made of yellow paper and cinnabar, bearing no complex script—only a single, simple line.

It was a Chaotic Talisman, formed by Su Chen's Primordial power, condensed from a thread of chaotic qi.

Su Chen handed the talisman to Chen Chen Guangrui.

"In my view, you will top this examination," Su Chen said with a smile.

Chen Chen Guangrui's heart jolted; he accepted the talisman with both hands, about to thank him.

Su Chen's tone shifted, his eyes sharpening.

"But your fate carries a life-or-death calamity. Bloodshed is imminent—ten deaths, no escape."

Chen Chen Guangrui turned pale, his grip tightening on the talisman.

"Master Daoist… is this true?" His voice trembled.

Though he studied the sages and avoided talk of ghosts and spirits, Su Chen's inexplicable depth left him no choice but to believe.

"I never speak falsely." Su Chen pointed to the talisman. "Keep this close to your body. Never remove it—not even when bathing or sleeping. When calamity strikes, it will save your life."

Chen Chen Guangrui took a deep breath, carefully folded the talisman, and placed it inside his inner garment.

"Thank you, Master Daoist, for this talisman. If I survive this calamity, I will repay you even unto death!" Chen Chen Guangrui bowed deeply.

Su Chen accepted the bow.

"Rest now."

Su Chen turned and left the room, returning to his own. He walked to the window, pushed open the wooden pane, and gazed at Changancheng beneath the night sky.

The Chaotic Talisman could not only block a fatal blow—it could also shield against heavenly fate.

So long as Chen Chen Guangrui wore it, the Fomen's great ones who probed destiny could not perceive any change in his fate.

The Fomen wanted Chen Chen Guangrui dead—Su Chen would make him live.

Soon after, the spring examination ended.

On the day of results, bells and drums rang throughout Changancheng; streets and alleys overflowed with crowds gathered to view the list.

"Good news! Good news!"

A rapid clatter of hooves shattered the bustle of Zhūquè Street.

Several officials in red robes rode fast horses, holding up red banners with black characters announcing the victory, galloping through the streets.

The horse team raced to the front of Pingkang Inn and reined in sharply.

The lead official dismounted, threw back his head, and shouted with a loud, piercing voice.

"Good news! Congratulations to Master Chen Chen Guangrui of Hongnong, Haizhou, who has ranked first in the First Class of the Renxu Imperial Examination!"

Boom!

The entire inn erupted in an instant; countless examination candidates burst from their rooms, staring up at the second floor with envy and jealousy.

Chen Chen Guangrui stood on the corridor, listening to the announcement below, frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

He passed!

Master Master Yichen, truly a divine being!