[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-86":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Roaring Dragon",{"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},2281942,4463,"Chapter 86: Fame Never Lies","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-86",86,"\u003Cp>Thud~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure landed in a blink!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone turned to see a young young master, followed immediately by a white-robed beauty descending behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All along both riverbanks, eyes locked onto the woman—dressed in a plain white dress, tall and elegant, coldly beautiful, holding a sheathed sword like a heroine stepped from a book, even radiating a hint of the divine grace of “the First Beauty of the Daoist Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the white-robed young master beside her carried an even more formidable aura!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dressed in cloud-patterned brocade robes, with two weapons hanging at his waist, his icy gaze like a frozen spring; upon landing, he showed neither fear nor arrogance, merely glancing casually about, searching for a seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contestants on the central river platform all held notable status; seeing such a brazen entrance, they muttered among themselves:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This guy’s got no respect for anyone…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flew out from the Prince’s viewing platform, carrying a sword—looks like someone from Ziwei Mountain…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How come we can’t read his cultivation? Is he even cultivated?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who dares jump from five stories down if they have no cultivation?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Lu, as the grandson of the Great Gan’s martial champion, had sharp discernment; after a quick glance, he recognized the woman as Ziwei Mountain’s direct disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the man, though appearing nonchalant, radiated an unnervingly powerful aura—he was utterly unknown to him, and his gaze grew grave:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo, undaunted by the countless stares, drew her sword and performed a standard martial salute:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ziwei Mountain, Linghu Qingmo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xie Jin, pleasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his words faded, the arena fell silent for an instant—then erupted into thunderous drumming:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump-thump… thump-thump…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Echo Drum tested composure; any emotional fluctuation exceeding the threshold—whether shock, fear, excitement, or elation—would trigger a resonance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the dozens of contestants present, most had spent the past days discussing the Dan Yang case and the Corpse Case; suddenly seeing the very man who had broken through the enemy formation appear before them, it was only natural to be startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along both riverbanks, spectators began murmuring:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this the Dan Yang Divine Constable who single-handedly stormed the pirate ship and fainted County Magistrate Wu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is he so young? Looks barely twenty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say he’s the lover of Princess Changning—damn, he’s handsome…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Xie! Over here! Look! Wannan’s here…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo had been standing tall, proud and honored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But hearing that familiar voice, her heart jolted; she spun sharply toward the riverbank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood Lin Wanyi, the “lawful wife,” dressed in a dazzling, elegant dark green gown, watching her and Xie Jin from a window of a riverside tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this very setting, seeing Lin Wanyi so suddenly felt to Linghu Qingmo like a mistress accompanying her man on a trip, only to run into the wife on the street—she froze with panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But stepping down now was impossible; she could only force a nod in response, silently cursing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh no… oh no…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I get off this stage, will Lady Lin come over and yank my hair out?…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t she in Dan Yang? How clingy can she be?…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin, however, remained calm; he smiled at the woman with glasses, scanned the area, saw no empty seats, then leapt onto a boat on the river’s surface, found two vacant spots, sat cross-legged, and settled into quiet stillness, awaiting the contest’s start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Huaiyu, who had been watching Xie Jin all along, seeing he offered no opening remarks, spoke up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Xie, you’re the standard-bearer of the righteous path—willing to risk your life for the people, yet now you’ve come down to play games with us? That’s a bit excessive, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin would never have entered today if not to earn silver for upgrading; he bowed slightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhang, you flatter me—I’ve merely done what I could. I’m hardly even righteous, let alone a standard-bearer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were sincere, utterly devoid of pretense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Echo Drum, steady as an old dog, confirmed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Huaiyu, seeing this, felt sudden pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew full well his own achievements and reputation, yet he insisted he “wasn’t even righteous”—this was excessive false modesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were merely pretending humility, some inner pride, self-satisfaction, or secret delight would inevitably stir—enough to cause faint ripples in the Echo Drum, though not exceeding the threshold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xie Jin’s heart was utterly still—meaning either he harbored some hidden truth, genuinely believed he wasn’t righteous, and was speaking plainly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or he was a true gentleman, who, despite having sacrificed everything for the people, still felt he hadn’t done enough, and was too ashamed to claim credit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jin had taken pills and charged onto the boat to fight demon bandits—what hidden truth could make him believe he wasn’t righteous?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this was genuine gentlemanly heart, unblemished Dao-heart…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, fame never lies…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Lu hadn’t even begun his trial—he already knew he’d lost today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But losing to Xie Jin, a madman who risked his life to slay demons, he had no complaint; losing to Zhang Huaiyu, this hypocrite—he could not accept it. After cultivating his emotions, he spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding~—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prince of Dan Wang stood atop the top floor, personally striking the golden gong, signaling the official start of today’s “public humiliation match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along both riverbanks, silence fell—only the steady, rhythmic whisper of drums remained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump-thump… thump-thump…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over thirty contestants sat upon the Echo Drum, waiting in quiet anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Li, owner of the Golden Pavilion, delivered two brief opening remarks, then turned to the subject:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The test questions were devised under the leadership of the Dan Wang Prince and deliberated by the young masters of Wenzheng Street. There are three rounds; the first two determine qualification: defeat is declared for any who cause the drum to thunder, leave the drum surface, or disturb others. Round One begins now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he waved toward the Golden Pavilion, and several capable men carried a red-cloth-covered platform to the center of the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The object for this first round was brought by each young master from their ancestral temple—a sacred treasure. Every monarch of past dynasties has paid homage to it; even the Martial Ancestor once burned incense before it. Great Confucians and scholars have hailed it as ‘the foundation of the state, the root of the people.’ I hope you will not be overly astonished when you see it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hum…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spectators along the riverbanks, stirred by this description, began whispering among themselves, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All contestants were stirred too, silently guessing what it might be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Li, after setting the platform down, assumed a solemn expression, wiped his hands with a towel—as if preparing to unveil a treasure of incalculable value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, everyone’s hearts rose to their throats; several contestants, overcome by tension, triggered the Echo Drum outright and were eliminated on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Xie Jin, witnessing this spectacle, furrowed his brow in thought:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could they have brought out the original copy of the Dragon Soaring Decree? Would the ghost bride just… freely take it?…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or the Great Gan’s secret divine weapon—the Imperial Command…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even as everyone speculated to the most outrageous extremes, what followed still proved they’d underestimated the depravity of these aristocratic brats!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the suspense sufficiently built, Fan Li seized the corner of the red cloth and yanked it away with a sudden motion:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the cloth appeared a lifelike yangguan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The yangguan originated from fertility worship—indeed, “procreation” was the foundation of the state, the root of the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This yangguan was astonishingly realistic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entirely formed from natural black jade, one foot in diameter, three feet tall, its jade rich and dense, its veins clear and distinct, standing tall and proud toward the heavens!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It radiated an aura of “Who among the celestial immortals would dare approach this mortal realm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So solemn and dignified was its presence, that the moment it appeared, the stage’s atmosphere shattered instantly; the entire Golden Pavilion fell silent—then erupted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump-thump-thump-thump~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drumming surged like a tide…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1345,"2026-06-20T01:38:11.747Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","475d06fae212aedbc45e6040b57752a94b04704d25ed5e8d11b695dedb726fcc","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-87","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-85",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]