Chapter 97: The Buddhist Nation Trial Grounds

Entering the Grand Void Illusion.

Lv Fang transformed into a form of consciousness, a single thought, arriving at the first level of Grand Void Mountain.

The number of people here had increased significantly, causing this area to expand several times over; with everyone keeping to their own corners, it was actually less crowded than before.

Some of their scholarly aura was only the size of a finger, while others were seven inches long.

What surprised Lv Fang somewhat was that Li Yu possessed the most scholarly aura; she was sitting cross-legged before a rock, silently reciting the beautiful verses of *Dream of the Red Chamber* over and over.

Next was Chen Ji.

Chen Ji, dressed in military attire, had sent a letter back to Lv Fang after going to the Southern Frontier, sharing anecdotes from the border and mentioning that he had been highly valued in the army and had become a Squad Leader.

He even boasted that he had learned much about warfare in the army and stated bluntly that the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* written by Lv Fang was extremely useful for combat.

If Lv Fang were to join the army, he would surely be a great general capable of devising strategies from within a tent.

"There aren't many people of my generation that I, Lv Fang, admire, but you are one of them! You clearly had a boundless future after entering the Wenyuan Academy, yet you chose to risk your life to join the army in the Southern Frontier."

Lv Fang thought for a moment; he currently had five strands of scholarly aura and decided to spend the cost of one strand, having the Realm Spirit convert it into half a strand to give to Chen Ji.

A multicolored half-strand of scholarly aura appeared, lingering around Chen Ji and drawing gasps from everyone on the first level.

"What's going on?"

"What did he just do? How could he obtain so much scholarly aura?"

"It's truly enviable; why am I not that lucky?"

"Look quickly, a climbing ladder has condensed!"

After Chen Ji absorbed the half-strand of scholarly aura, mysterious light flickered on his body, and a staircase leading to the second level of Grand Void Mountain actually appeared above him.

Someone tried to take advantage of the situation and leaped onto the staircase, only to find they had grabbed at empty air; the staircase was as if it had no physical substance.

This person's failure.

Also dispelled the restless impulses of many others.

Chen Ji was only startled at first, but quickly regained his composure. He reached out to touch the staircase, grabbed it firmly, lifted his foot, and stepped up; the staircase, composed of mysterious light and scholarly aura, automatically flew toward the second level.

"So, half a strand of scholarly aura is enough to enter the second level of Grand Void Mountain."

Lv Fang's consciousness arrived beside Li Yu and muttered to himself: "I am her Junior Martial Uncle, after all; as one of our own, I must take care of her."

Li Yu, who was wearing an envious expression, shook her head and was just about to continue reciting when half a strand of scholarly aura began to linger around her as well.

Li Yu blinked her eyes, her face full of disbelief; she carefully recalled that she hadn't seemed to do anything just now, right?

How did she gain half a strand of scholarly aura for no reason?

This was truly baffling.

"Someone else has obtained so much scholarly aura!"

"What did those two trigger?"

"Two people have already obtained a large amount of scholarly aura; will this situation continue?"

Everyone on the first level hoped in their hearts that they would be the next lucky one, but unfortunately, until Li Yu ascended to the second level with the staircase, no one else obtained a large amount of scholarly aura for a long time.

Let alone waiting for a long time.

Even if they waited for a whole day, they would not obtain a large amount of scholarly aura.

Because by this time, Lv Fang had already exited the Grand Void Illusion.

The 29th Year of Tianfeng.

December 19th.

It was snowing heavily outside, while inside the room, a group of people was eating hotpot.

He Zixuan gave a thumbs up and said: "Lord Wenguan, this way of eating is truly superb, especially the beef tripe; heavens, this is just too delicious."

Tao Yidie teased: "You didn't seem to want to eat it just a moment ago. You're already so fat; eat a little less. If you eat your fill alone, we won't get any."

He Zixuan rolled his eyes: "You have the nerve to talk about me? You didn't eat any less than I did; even Lord Wenguan couldn't snatch any from you."

Lv Fang chuckled; these two were truly incompatible, bickering the moment they met, but with these two around, the atmosphere was quite good.

Lu Ling laughingly pulled on Tao Yidie and shook her head, changing the subject: "Sister Tao, what do you think Sister Li has been busy with lately? I asked Xiao Tao to call her over, but the people at the Li Fu said she was in seclusion and couldn't come."

Tao Yidie was just about to speak.

He Zixuan interrupted: "She is preparing for the Buddhist Nation Trial Grounds half a year from now."

"Buddhist Nation Trial Grounds?"

Lv Fang became interested. Although the Buddhist Nation could not build temples in the Great Zhou, its relationship with the Great Zhou was not too bad, and it would pay tribute to the Great Zhou with local specialties every year; he knew this much.

Seeing that her words had been snatched, Tao Yidie was not in a hurry this time; it seemed she didn't know the specifics either.

He Zixuan explained: "Before we entered the Lower Upper Realm, the special envoy from the Buddhist Nation came to Jingcheng, saying they were inviting the heaven-gifted talents of the Scholarly Adept Realm of the Great Zhou to enter the Buddhist Nation Trial Grounds."

"It is said that this Buddhist Nation Trial Ground is a special Lower Upper Realm."

"Entering it not only allows one to obtain ownerless destiny and a chance at great opportunities, but also a chance to break through one's realm."

"I don't know the specifics very well, but His Majesty agreed to it, and my cousin just happened to be on the first list of people going to the trial."

"She has been at the Fifth Rank, Third Stage for a long time, and she wants to try and see if she can successfully break through her realm, so she will likely be in seclusion for the next half year."

Lv Fang frowned: "Can only those in the Scholarly Adept Realm enter the Buddhist Nation's Lower Upper Realm? There is ownerless destiny, but will there be danger?"

He Zixuan shook his head: "It counts as a Lower Upper Realm for the Scholarly Adept Realm. The Buddhist Nation envoy said the danger is very small; I estimate that without any Barbarian Demons entering, the danger won't be too great."

Tao Yidie smiled: "What? Lord Wenguan, you want to go and try? I'm afraid you don't have much of a chance; I heard you are restricted by the Heavenly Dao, and breaking through to the Sixth Rank Realm in half a year is probably not very likely."

He Zixuan chuckled: "Even if Lord Wenguan enters the Sixth Rank, I estimate there won't be much of a chance; the quotas have already been distributed, and there are only thirty-some spots in total."

Lv Fang smiled gently: "I really do want a spot. Brother He, I have to trouble you again to see if you can talk to Minister Wen and get me a spot as well."

There was no danger, and one could obtain ownerless destiny.

He didn't want to miss such a good opportunity.

As for raising his realm, he had so many mid-grade crystals, and after the *Da Zhou Wen Bao* was gradually popularized across the nineteen provinces, there would be no shortage of scholarly aura.

Breaking through to the Sixth Rank Realm and becoming a Scholarly Adept in half a year was really not a big problem.

He Zixuan pondered: "I will try my best."

Lv Fang thanked him, raised his wine cup, and smiled: "Come, let everyone have a drink together, wishing that in the new year, we all have good opportunities."

In their happiness, everyone drank a few extra cups.

Lu Ling helped Tao Yidie see the guests off, while He Zixuan came to the study with Lv Fang and took out three portraits: "Lord Wenguan, how are these three young ladies? Do they meet your requirements?"

"They have been learning dance since they were young, and I have also gone to see them; they are even more beautiful in person than in the portraits." ===== CHAPTER 98 =====