[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-lies-hidden":3,"chapter-the-dragon-lies-hidden-the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-8":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon Lies Hidden",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2289306,4477,"Chapter 8: Fairness","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-8",8,"\u003Cp>In a quiet hall, Zhang Sheng and Sun Yu sat on either side. After taking their seats, Sun Yu handed him a jade-colored sheet and a black jade box, saying, “This is the new charter, and this is Li Quan San.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jade-colored sheet had been blank, but as it entered Zhang Sheng’s hands, dense rows of tiny characters emerged, layered upon layers, stacked dozens deep. The charter spanned tens of thousands of characters, yet Zhang Sheng needed only a few breaths to read it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a single glance, Zhang Sheng said, “Such drastic changes—this is the work of the Dingxin Faction?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu lifted his teacup and took a sip. “When you descended the mountain, the Dingxin Faction already held the upper hand. Over these years, many young disciples have joined them, and their influence has grown ever stronger, while the Zhigu Faction has steadily lost ground. This examination charter was indeed drafted by the Dingxin Faction, then subtly altered by numerous noble houses, and this is the final result.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng frowned. “Isn’t this martial test designed solely for the noble houses? They merely declare their status and assemble entire squads, while ordinary children are reduced to foot soldiers. And how could an ordinary child ever learn military strategy? Even if they wanted to, where would they find a true master—someone who actually understands strategy and has won battles? Even if they somehow assembled a squad, they’d only become stepping stones for others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The martial test was indeed created for the aristocracy—without it, the new charter could never have been enacted. The Dingxin Faction’s ambitions run deep; this charter is merely the first step, and thus they require the support of the noble houses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng spoke slowly. “But the palace specifically allocated these slots to capture children of destiny. Now they’ve become nothing more than possessions of the noble houses—what difference does that make?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu sighed. “When your Dao cultivation reaches its peak one day, if you still disapprove of such things, you can always change them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu spoke tactfully, but Zhang Sheng understood his meaning perfectly. He sighed. “Forget it. I can’t meddle in others’ affairs. At least my Tianqing Hall has a dedicated slot reserved for Weiyuan. Let me finish the exam quickly and return to the mountain to restore my Dao power—better than sitting here, annoyed by all this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu said nothing, merely gazing straight ahead as if the wall opposite held the Dao Ancestor teaching the heavens and immortals revealing their wonders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng’s smile faded. His voice turned grave. “Someone dares to lay hands on Weiyuan’s slot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu’s expression was blank. “Brother, this examination is a matter of great importance—countless eyes are watching. It cannot be manipulated for favoritism.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Favoritism? I reported this slot to the palace a month ago—it was granted by Grandmaster Xuan Yue of my Tianqing Hall. It belongs to no one else. How is that favoritism?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu clenched his teeth. “I’ll be blunt with you. The palace originally issued two slots to recruit children of destiny. But too many sought them, and they couldn’t be distributed fairly—so someone set their sights on your Tianqing Hall’s slot. Several noble houses united to pressure the palace, demanding all slots be awarded strictly by merit, no private allocations allowed. The charter does indeed require this, and the palace had no choice—they’ve opened all three slots for fair competition based on performance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Their appetite grows ever greater—they’ve even turned to my Tianqing Hall…” Zhang Sheng’s eyes slowly sharpened, cold and lethal. “How many houses are competing for these three slots?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As far as I know, five disciples are evenly matched in strength and preparation—no clear advantage among them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Zhang Sheng understood perfectly. At least five noble houses were vying for the palace’s three slots, each equally matched, each possessing hidden means—so they must eliminate all extraneous advantages and force a fair contest among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhang Sheng’s expression, Sun Yu hurried to add, “Master Fenhai also instructed me to deliver eight words to you: ‘Do not exceed the rules; follow nature’s course.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng’s face showed no expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu clenched his teeth and lowered his voice. “Your disciple is still young—he won’t be eligible for another five years. By then, we’ll find a way to get him assigned to a county with a slot. Others find blood relatives—we can’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, when you returned, several True Persons were delighted and appointed you as one of the seven examiners for this unified examination. With this position, your disciple’s chances next cycle will be secure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Sun Yu handed him a jade tablet. The size of a palm, it was carved with immortal mountains and auspicious beasts; in the center, the characters “Examiner” were etched, their strokes suffused with Dao power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the examination charter, the examiner’s position was crucial—it could raise or lower candidates’ scores within a certain range. Holding such a post brought both overt and covert advantages: every candidate who passed would regard the examiners as half their teachers, and their families would seek to cultivate goodwill. This year, Feng Yuanjun was a nexus of destiny, with fiercer competition than ever before, gathering the most renowned clans—not unlike the most famed great counties in the realm. Thus, the weight of this examiner’s position was ten or even a hundred times greater than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As examiner, the noble houses vying for the slots would owe Zhang Sheng a favor. When next cycle came and he sought to send Weiyuan to the palace, they would be compelled to lend some aid—and with proper maneuvering, securing one slot would carry a six- or seven-tenths chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng knew this was compensation for Tianqing Hall’s lost slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng’s gaze grew deep and dark. “Weiyuan carries destiny—how can we wait five years? If his destiny fades, his Dao path ends. The Immortal Path is arduous; every moment counts. This is a struggle for the Great Dao—I, as his teacher, must stand before it! If their appetite is so great, let me test their methods!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother…” Sun Yu began to plead, but Zhang Sheng raised a hand to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng rose and paced the hall, walking back and forth several circles before halting, his clear gaze locking onto Sun Yu. “Brother, you are the chief supervisor of this unified examination, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu nodded. “Merely overseeing mundane affairs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does the Tai Chu Palace have any other examiners?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One other—Brother Fufeng of the Tianji Hall. He’s straightforward and though we rarely interact, he’ll likely side with us during the examination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng shook his head. “Not necessarily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu froze, then understood. Fufeng was no ordinary man—he held the examiner position because he had clear allegiances. Otherwise, how would the noble houses have let him sit there? Now that little Weiyuan is stealing from their mouths, Fufeng is naturally opposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Sheng extended his hand. “Give me the list of candidates for this examination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu was stunned. “This—that’s against protocol! I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Zhang Sheng’s piercing gaze, Sun Yu’s expression shifted several times. Finally, he clenched his teeth and growled, “If we’re to have fairness, then let it be absolute fairness! They’ve already turned the rules into a sieve—why should we remain naive? Wait a moment—I’ll fetch it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, Sun Yu returned and handed Zhang Sheng a jade sheet, detailing every candidate’s information. Zhang Sheng took it and studied it carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yu poured himself tea, his hand trembling slightly, spilling a few drops. But when the cup reached his lips, it steadied like an old dog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1283,"2026-06-20T03:38:27.933Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","01980409d9bfd0497ee9d44d2fcf3b110b8678502904acfc47e716e55f76902b","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-9","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-7",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-lies-hidden-cover.jpg"]