Chapter 195: 188 A Thousand Threads and Ten Thousand Clues

Suddenly being named, Tang Zhao was startled. He pointed at himself and said, "Me?"

What kind of joke is this? I am not... I didn't coordinate with you!

Tang Zhao was truly astonished. The others had agreed readily because they were prepared, and their agreement was just a formality. Tang Zhao, however, had no preparation at all; how could he prepare a manuscript sufficient for lecturing on a podium in just one day?

Qi Yuheng smiled and said, "Exactly. You are a top figure among the young Disciples and come from the Northern Sea, thousands of miles away. You must possess unique knowledge entirely different from the Central Plains. Why not take the stage and share some with your peers? When you came upstairs just now, everyone cheered so enthusiastically, like a roaring mountain or a surging sea. If you take the stage, you will surely be awaited by the masses."

Awaited by the masses... to watch me make a fool of myself?

Tang Zhao refused flatly, saying, "Head Jushouzuo, you are joking. How could I take the stage? It is not that I am stingy with my knowledge, but the time is too rushed, and it is a set-topic essay..."

Qi Yuheng suddenly left his seat, grabbed his hand, and said with eyes full of sincerity, "Do not worry about time. As long as you have the heart, we will solve everything else. We have the materials, and we have the time. We must assist you in completing a masterpiece."

Tang Zhao stared at his face, which was inches away, feeling complicated. On one hand, this "kindness that is hard to refuse" was truly troublesome; on the other hand, when he heard the words "we have the time," his heart stirred, and he thought of Ping Jiangqiu's Time Jar.

Could Longyuan have a similar Dharma Artifact?

Qi Yuheng was about to say more when Jiang Shenyi leaned in and said, "Head, this isn't something you can force, right?"

At this moment, Yun Xiyan also stood up and smiled, "Old Qi, can you let go of your hand? You can't just refuse to let go because you see my brother is shy; that is too improper."

Qi Yuheng did not go too far; he released his hand, turned his head, and said, "How can there be forcing in matters without fate? Forgive my rudeness, Brother Tang, do not take offense. Then, Junior Sister Yun, are you interested?"

Yun Xiyan was startled, as if avoiding a snake or scorpion, and said, "Are you kidding? Don't you know me? Are you asking me to take the stage to show off some sword moves or tell a bad joke to everyone?"

Qi Yuheng smiled bitterly and said, "Forget it. Such things cannot be forced. Among so many young talents here, is there really no one who wants to challenge themselves?"

He looked at Yue Shen again. Yue Shen hesitated for a moment and said, "What this student has learned is all the legacy of the sages; there is nothing groundbreaking. How can I take the stage and speak recklessly, misleading the Disciples?"

Qi Yuheng was disappointed again. He asked around, but in the end, no one volunteered.

In truth, everyone's personality is different; some are cautious and shy, while others like to show off and are willing to perform on stage. But time was too tight, and after weighing it, everyone decided that being safe was better. Even someone like Jiang Shenyi, who never lacked confidence, had just found his own path and was filled with confusion, making him even less able to preach and teach. In the end, he could only say, "Since that is the case, everyone disperse first. The meeting schedule will be sent to the guesthouses in the evening. See you at the venue tomorrow."

Everyone dispersed one after another. When Tang Zhao walked past Qi Yuheng, Qi Yuheng gently pulled his sleeve.

Tang Zhao turned his head, saw his heavy expression, paused slightly, and eventually sat back down, saying, "I want to see the topics."

Qi Yuheng was overjoyed and said, "In the end, it is Brother Tang who saves me. You are naturally suited for the stage. As long as you stand on the podium, without needing to speak, you will add luster to the Rune List. Moreover, with your knowledge, what difficulty is there in a half-hour lecture?"

Having said that, he took out a sheet of paper and said, "This is the topic I prepared for Brother Tang. If Brother Tang does not agree, this is the theme chosen by the Libationer; you can prepare your own topic within the scope, as long as it touches upon the theme. We will never interfere. Take your time to look at it. I will come to find you in the evening. Tell me the topic, and I will personally invite you to the Cangshuguan to perfect it. Do not worry about time; it will definitely be more generous than you think."

He added in a low voice, "You do not need to feel too much pressure. Because the Libationer's lecture is before yours. He has high-level admonitions that will surely be earth-shattering! If you speak after him, I fear everyone will not have recovered their senses and may not necessarily focus their minds on you. You only need to write a steady and balanced article to let everyone appreciate the style of the Rune List's top scholar."

After giving instructions, he excused himself and went downstairs.

Tang Zhao remained alone upstairs, let out a breath, and opened the topic, which read: "Insights on the Forging of Close-fitting Art Tool Armor."

This... he really did not understand.

Art Armor is a common type of Art Tool. Tang Zhao could naturally forge it, but he could not say he had any special insights. And close-fitting Art Tool armor... it seemed to refer specifically to the kind of auxiliary armor driven by Origin Stones, similar to the exoskeleton Chen Zong mentioned?

Tang Zhao had the concept, but he had never played with it. Come to think of it, the only similar Art Armor he had seen was Ai Xin's Golden Armor.

At that time, Ai Xin's limbs were blown off, yet he could still move freely relying on the Golden Armor and could even fight Tang Zhao. Thinking about it, it was indeed practical. After observing it, he was not entirely uninterested. But to make him write an article on the spot, and one good enough to take the stage, that was too difficult.

Better to look at the theme and think for himself.

Opening the theme, Tang Zhao glanced at it and found that the large sheet of paper only had two characters written on it.

"Self-strengthening."

Combining this with what Jiang Shenyi recounted about his pleasant conversation with the current Libationer on the top of Sixiang Mountain, Tang Zhao fell into deep thought.

This self-strengthening... could it be referring to that meaning?

Tang Zhao shook his head. Whether or not it was the discussion that Jiang Shenyi made him pay special attention to, he had no need to delve into it; that was not his path. Better to choose a steady and balanced topic and speak for a full hour.

Regardless, this theme was still very broad, and basically, any topic could be linked to it. He only needed to choose the topic he was most proficient in.

So, what was he good at now that was enough for him to be a teacher to others?

Or, if given a chance to lecture to the most outstanding group of his peers, what would he want to say?

"Has Xiao Guangwang still not been found?" Qi Yuheng came down from Zhuangyuan Tower, shedding all the previous composure and earnestness, leaving only anxiety on his face.

A Longyuan Disciple shook his head and said, "The Head of Yaoguang has been investigating, but there is no result. It is only known that he seems to have snuck out by himself last night, possibly having an appointment with someone, and then never returned. Head Min says... it is likely that he is in grave danger."

Qi Yuheng pressed his head and said, "Damn it, why was he running around in the middle of the night? Was any letter found that invited him out?" Seeing the little Disciple looking blank, he shook his head and said, "I am confused too. If there were such obvious evidence, how could Junior Brother Min not find it? If the person who invited him out really had malicious intent, they would naturally clean up the traces; how could they leave a name? No wonder they say he is in grave danger. If he really dies here, how can we explain it to the Northern Sea?"

He shook his head repeatedly and said angrily, "Don't even mention the Northern Sea; there is a pile of messes right in front of us. If he hadn't disappeared before the battle, why would I have to thicken my face and beg everyone for manuscripts? It was only because people gave me face that I managed to muddle through. Asking others to write a draft overnight and take the stage tomorrow, they are in a difficult position, and so am I. I have boasted, spent so many resources, and owed so many favors; if something goes wrong tomorrow and the Rune List becomes a laughingstock, the responsibility will all fall on me."

"And Senior Sister Ju..."

Realizing he was complaining a bit too much and should not criticize his fellow sect members in front of a little Disciple, Qi Yuheng regained his composure and asked, "What about Jiu Yuan? How is the investigation going?"

The Disciple shook his head again and said, "The Head of Yaoguang has not sent any news back. The last news was two days ago, only saying that it was turned to dust and ashes, the situation was too horrible to look at, and there was truly no way to start."

Qi Yuheng clicked his tongue and said, "Misfortunes never come singly. It seems we have to investigate blindly, and we can't even withdraw manpower before the Rune List..."

Just then, another Disciple entered and said, "The Head of Tianxuan has sent a message."

Qi Yuheng said impatiently, "Isn't she out on private business? Why send a message? Can't she just come back? Just because she is out on private business, I couldn't pull her out to fill the gap when the Xiao Guangwang incident happened. None of us are on the New Rune Ranking; only she is on the list, so she can take the stage to lecture with justification. We have no standing to go up. As a result, she is not here, leaving a hole for me. Now I have already invited someone, so I don't need her to take the stage. But she should also know that things are now a thousand threads and ten thousand clues, and we are short of manpower. What is she doing wasting time outside? Send a message to call her back immediately."

The Disciple said in a low voice, "Head, there is bad news... The Libationer was injured last night."

Qi Yuheng stood up with a start and said in a choked voice, "The Libationer? How was the Libationer injured? Is the injury serious? Can he attend the Rune List tomorrow?"

The Disciple said, "Head Jushouzuo is talking about this. The Libationer was struck by someone and was not lightly injured; he has been in a coma. Fortunately, Head Jushouzuo rescued him in time, and with Spirit Medicine and Spirit Talismans, he is not in danger, but I fear he cannot attend tomorrow. He asks Head Qi Yuheng to postpone the Rune List by one day."

A curse was on the tip of Qi Yuheng's tongue, but he forced himself not to say anything ugly, only saying, "I postpone it? The meeting is tomorrow, and you ask me to postpone it? I am already having a headache trying to fill one hole, and they have poked a hole in the sky for me! Whoever wants to handle this Rune List can do it, I am... wait, the Libationer was injured yesterday? Also last night? The timing is quite coincidental; could it be related to the disappearance of Xiao Guangwang..."

The Disciple looked troubled and said, "I am afraid not. Head Jushouzuo said he was injured in Maze City, and she saw with her own eyes who injured him. If it weren't for Head Jushouzuo's rescue, he would have almost stayed in Maze City forever. Later, he stayed there and never came back."

Qi Yuheng deflated and said, "As a Libationer, why not stay in Jianzhou and go to Maze City? One after another, they only know how to find trouble. Is there anyone who is worry-free? Has the murderer been caught? Daring to injure the Libationer invited by Longyuan, I will make them pay back a hundredfold."

The Disciple whispered, "Head Jushouzuo said to stop worrying about the murderer. In this matter, the Libationer... is in the wrong; if he can survive, don't worry about so much."

Qi Yuheng was stunned, speechless for a moment.

At this time, he heard someone shouting: "Head, Head—" The voice was louder and more urgent than the previous messenger.

Qi Yuheng was numb; he couldn't help but shiver, almost wanting to turn and leave, saying, "What disaster is it now? Slow down... ah, no, speak quickly."

A Longyuan Disciple dressed differently entered and said, "Head, the Hall Master has arrived! The Hall Master has already arrived at the sea. Accompanying him on the same boat is also an honored guest, said to be extremely precious. Please, Head, go out to welcome him together with all the Heads in Jianzhou."