Chapter 426: with translation of title

Hong Zun and the others each stared at Qi Xiong with strange expressions. Just now, wasn't it you yourself who repeatedly urged, saying not to cause trouble? Now how come you want to overturn the table again?

Facing the gazes of several people, Qi Xiong said calmly.

"They've bullied Ye Zhangqing to this point—can you tolerate it?"

Upon hearing that, Hong Zun and the others immediately laughed and nodded repeatedly, saying.

"Hehe, Senior Brother makes sense."

"Cut the nonsense; later I'll act according to my expression."

Qi Xiong narrowed his eyes, observing the situation on the field, having already made up his mind; as long as Ye Zhangqing even slightly falls into a disadvantage later...

Without hesitation, he was about to overturn the table, even digging out the floor tiles.

Under everyone's gaze, Ye Zhangqing and this Menial Disciple of the Wenxue Palace formally began their contest.

The two locked eyes, and this Menial Disciple of the Wenxue Palace made the first move.

"Clear water brings forth lotus."

"In troubled times, heroes emerge."

He responded offhandedly; this level, Ye Zhangqing is not lacking at all. Don't bully the cook for being uncultured—everyone has nine years of compulsory education, and I've lived two lifetimes; what are you afraid of?

But upon seeing that, the Menial Disciple of the Wenxue Palace flashed a look of astonishment in his eyes.

How fast! And so neat—he immediately put aside his contempt; this kid has something, but this is just the beginning—let's see what you do next.

"Friends come from afar."

The difficulty suddenly spiked, yet Ye Zhangqing didn't even flinch.

"I have no money in my pocket."

Huh???

It's a bit strange, but no problem; continue.

"When poor, one cultivates oneself alone."

"When rich, one gathers many wives and concubines."

"Not recognizing the true face of Mount Lu."

"Only knowing how to draw the bow to shoot the great eagle."

"Grape wine, luminous cup at night."

"Heaps of money and beauties."

"Without the twin wings of a phoenix."

"A plucked phoenix is no better than a chicken."

The two exchanged blows back and forth—truly a master meeting a masked hero, incredibly exciting.

And Qi Xiong, Hong Zun, and the others, at this point, shifted from initial worry to excitement, clapping and cheering.

"Good, Ye Zhangqing indeed has fine literary talent."

"I said it—Ye Zhangqing surely knows poetry and prose; he ought to join my Literature Institute Peak."

"Junior brother, if you want to die, just say so."

"That's right—staying under your Shī xiōng is simply wasting heavenly talent."

"Heh, it seems you really want to die."

"What a fine 'a plucked phoenix is no better than a chicken'."

Bai Hua Xianzi gazed at Ye Zhangqing with a deep affection, her eyes full of light.

As for Ye Zhangqing himself, though he was clearly being praised, for some reason his old face couldn't help but turn red.

Is this considered good literary talent? You damn lot, do you have some misunderstanding about literary talent?

And as for that Menial Disciple of the Wenxue Palace, he no longer shows any of that earlier emotion; his forehead is already covered in sweat.

His mouth opening and closing, stammering, unable to say anything.

Seeing this, the instructors of the Wenxue Palace and the strong ones of the Qing Yun Sect became somewhat anxious.

Chen Qingyu even more fiercely gritted his teeth and said.

"Damn it, why don't you speak?"

"Speak quickly!"

Faced with everyone's urging, this disciple also became anxious, and blurted out.

"One two three four five.........."

Huh???

Now this actually leaves Ye Zhangqing baffled? Damn, it even lowers the difficulty? The numbers are already out!

Without even thinking, he blurted out a reply.

"Going up the mountain to beat the tiger?"

"Good, Ye Zhangqing, well done."

As expected, another round of praise arose, but facing such praise, Ye Zhangqing really couldn't muster interest—this stuff was at most elementary school level in his previous life.

Yet even so, this Menial Disciple of the Wenxue Palace panicked even more—could he even match this?

Meanwhile, Chen Qingyu and the others behind were still urging, and this disciple, throwing caution to the wind, just spouted nonsense following Ye Zhangqing's words.

"Didn't manage to hit the tiger."

Huh???

"Hit a little squirrel?"

Damn, are you playing this idiom chain with me? Ye Zhangqing's expression grew ever more complex, while this Menial Disciple of the Wenxue Palace had sweat pouring down in big drops.

"Rat........ rat............ rat..........."

"Speak up."

"You damn well speak up."

"Speak, I........... mouse.......... mouse clan, don't go."

"Huh???"

"As expected, you damn well want to play idiom chain, right? Ye Zhangqing was speechless, but still said without missing a beat."

""Retreat is the best plan.""

""Plan......... plan......... plan to gallop on horseback.""

""Riding clouds and driving mist.""

""Mist........... mist........... mist, looking at flowers in the mist.""

""Revelry and feasting.""

"What was supposed to be a poetry gathering turned into an idiom chain; Ye Zhangqing never expected it to end like this."

"Even so, this menial disciple of the East Literature Palace still lost."

"He was so anxious he jumped up and down, but couldn't continue; seeing this, Ye Zhangqing kindly said."

""Junior brother, why not take a break? For a poetry gathering, it's enough to stop when you've made your point.""

"He meant to comfort him, but upon hearing this, the menial disciple's eyes instantly turned red as he glared at Ye Zhangqing, furious."

""What's going on?""

"The next second, with a puff, fresh blood spurted from his mouth, and then he collapsed straight down."

"Huh???"

"Seeing this, a strong cultivator from the East Literature Palace rushed forward, and shortly after shook his head."

""He's beyond saving.""

"Then he fiercely glared at Ye Zhangqing, leaving Ye Zhangqing completely bewildered."

"No, did they actually stake their lives on this idiom chain?"

"He gave a complicated look to the menial disciple being carried away, asking, 'Why go to such lengths?'"

"He turned and returned to his seat; as soon as he sat down, Bai Hua Xianzi couldn't wait and lunged at him."

""Husband, you're amazing.""

""Amazing?""

"As for that, Ye Zhangqing felt nothing of the sort."

""Of course it's amazing.""

""Hah, fine.""

"He didn't want to explain further, and with the death of that menial disciple, the East Literature Palace's poetry, song, and prose segment utterly lost face."

"Chen Qingyu and the academy's strong cultivators' faces darkened to the extreme."

"They had thought they could slap the face of the Dao Yi Sect, but who would have thought it would turn out like this."

""A bunch of trash.""

"Chen Qingyu, in no good mood, scolded the academy's instructor; hearing this, the instructor hurriedly offered an apologetic smile."

""Rest assured, Upper Sect, the debate segment will definitely make the Dao Yi Sect look bad.""

""Best that way.""

"Seeing Chen Qingyu in a bad mood, the instructor didn't dare say more, quickly stood up and said."

""Next is the debate segment; this topic: under all the heavens, is the ruler more important or the people?""

"A debate? Upon hearing this, Ye Zhangqing also became interested, and the topic finally sounded normal."

"It's certainly better than that idiom chain before."

""Whether the ruler or the people are more important—this is indeed a question worth pondering. Watching the proceedings with interest, I don't know how these Confucian cultivators will explain this topic, or whether they'll offer any novel perspectives.""

"Soon, the East Literature Palace side took the lead, with the head inner disciple standing up to speak."

This topic, in my view, naturally places the ruler as weighty; the ruler is the head of the state; only with a ruler does a state exist; at the same time the ruler is father, the people are children; father heavy, child light; therefore the ruler ought to be weighty.

At last, there is some proficiency; although Ye Zhangqing does not agree, compared to the earlier idiom chain, it is indeed much better, at least reaching the level of middle school in his previous life, right?