Maiden Galaxy

Chapter 472: Good Tastes In The World Are Pure Joy

"My flower will bloom when all others are gone!! What an ingenious poem!!"

Jiang Kui mulled over the poem the woman recited just now, faintly gasping.

"My surging fragrance will flood Chang'an, filling the city with golden armor…It feels rebellious." Mi Ji clicked her tongue. This golden silk armored woman was very overbearing. In Star World, Chang'an had the meaning of "lasting peace." Currently, Star World was considered very peaceful and secure. This woman's words seemed displeased with this peaceful world and wished to stir great waves.

"But it is truly a great composition. Average spiritual power Star Generals could not make this." Jiang Kui sighed. 

What the woman recited was Huang Chao's "Ode to Chrysanthemums," an extremely allegorical novelty. It was a peculiarly imaginative, magnificently creative, and a majestically bold poem on chrysanthemums.

Could she be Huang Chao? In Chinese History, Huang Chao led an uprising near the end of the Tang Dynasty. He invaded Chang'an and seized the imperial throne, establishing the "Great Qi" Dynasty. It could be said this was considered a name with potential on the level of the Purple Rose Star Emperor. However, in Star World, Huang Chao had no fame at all. The Book Of Casting that Chen Mo's mother created did not have record of her Destined Star Weapon.

If she was Huang Chao, then she should not be able to participate in the Literary Excellence Convention.

Chen Mo thought.

…

The golden silk armored woman arrived at the stern of the boat and watched the city grow nearer and nearer. Even from tens of thousands of meters above, Qu Yuan City was still enormous, with palaces, pavilions, and forests as far as the eye could see.

"Huang Chao, you were too reckless just now!"

Two women walked to the golden armored woman's side with quiet steps. One was timid in appearance, extremely fragile and weak. The other was neatly dressed. She had clear eyes, a complexion like snow, and an ice-cold expression.

"The khan made us come here to disturb this Literary Excellence Convention. Now is not the time for you to stand out. Do not attract attention or alarm the Central Star Field." The ice-cold woman curtly said.

Huang Chao's expression was strange. She disdainfully answered: "They were just a crowd of laymen, nothing to be too worried about."

"Laymen? That man criticized you just now, and you were but speechless." The woman arrogantly said. "Can someone like you even be shaken by a layman, Sky Soaring General?"

"Hmph." Huang Chao disdained to explain.

"Dragons that stay in water later become gods, the masses that masters stay among become their might. Xi Han, these words are indeed very good." The fragile woman timidly spoke. Her gaze was still recalling that scene from a moment ago.

"Chan'er, could it be that you admire that man as well?" Xi Han was displeased.

Chan'er lowered her head.

"I will not fail the Heavenly Khan in this Literary Excellence Convention. Hou Junji, Yu Shinan, have you completed your own tasks." Huang Chao strangely laughed.

These two women were named Yu Shinan Yu Chan¹ and Hou Junji Hou Xihan.² They were both from the Heavenly Tang Star Kingdom's Lingyan Pavilion Twenty-four Officials. Despite Yu Chan's timid appearance, she was virtuous, loyal, learned, cultured, and studious, with an exceptional reputation in the Heavenly Tang Kingdom. She was nicknamed the "Official Of Five Absolutes," a rare genius.

The other Hou Junji was ranked in the top ten martial generals of the Lingyan Pavilion and was known as "Spread Fear To Subdue Enemies."

"I do not want to mind you, but if you delay the Heavenly Khan's plan, I will make you pay the price." Hou Xihan's tone was strict. "Huang Chao, do you understand?!"

Yu Shinan tugged on her herm: "Xihan, do not be so violent."

Huang Chao noncomittally shrugged.

"This is not only to make you all Star Marquis, this is also for my Star Name. I will impress all under Heaven."

The woman sauntered away, her voice calling from afar.

Hou Junji's expression was very hateful. If not for the fact this woman was a representative of Li Liangyi, she honestly did not wish to correspond with her a single bit. She did not know why this Huang Chao woman had such a densely vicious aura about her, generally feeling this would bring their plan trouble.

"Xihan, treat her a bit more kindly." Yu Shinan felt she was pitiful.

"Did you not hear that poem of hers? My surging fragrance will flood Chang'an, filling the city with golden armor!" Hou Xihan said resentfully: "The Zhenguan Star Field also bears the name Chang'an. This Huang Chao harbors ill intentions."

"No matter what, this also bodes ill for her." Yu Shinan shook her head with great pity. Although she appeared weak, her tone sounding feeble, she was nevertheless much calmer than Hou Junji.

"Hmph, this is fine. To be able to achieve something to move all under Heaven in this life, death would be worth it. I am also willing to do so." Xihan righteously said.

…

After the Godly Poise Boat traversed the void sea of stars and entered the Miluo Star Field, it docked at a star river port on the border of Qu Yuan City. This port was able to accommodate ten thousand ships, and at this time, many boats were already arriving in succession.

Countless cultivators flew towards Qu Yuan City after disembarking from their vessels.

"Let us first go obtain the ‘Airs Of The State Pendant.'"³ Mi Fu said.

"Sure."

To show reverence for Qu Yuan, flight was forbidden around Qu Yuan City. Whether they were cultivators or Star Generals, everyone was required to travel and communicate like an ordianry person.

The tide of people going to Qu Yuan City was already like a dragon; there were people as far as the eye could see.

Upon reaching Qu Yuan City, the people inside the city surged like a tide, rubbing shoulder to shoulder.

Mi Fu went to find an inn to stay while Chen Mo accompanied Jiang Kui to the "Airs Of The State Hall" for the "Airs Of The State Pendant." The Airs Of The State Pendant was a kind of proof that once had participated in the Literary Excellence Convention. After a Star General or cultivator received a Airs Of The State Pendant, everything they did in the city pertaining to writing, including compositions, exchanges, and talent would react with the jade pendant. The power of the sages would be added into the jade pendant as well.

The pendant started white in color. Afterwards, it would change colors to azure, green, blue, red, gold, and purple.

The color of the jade pendant represented the degree of power from the sages. When it became purple, one had the qualifcations to go to the Hundred Sages Stele at the Lesser Court Hymns "Ten Thousand Sages Hall" and challenge the Hundred Sages Simultaneously Shout.

The Literary Excellence Convention altogether lasted fifteen days. During these fifteen days, everyone could move about as they pleased in Qu Yuan City, pariticipating in every kind of exchange and challenge without restriction. However, to obtain the Airs Of The State Pendant was not simple. One was required to participate in the convention's selection process.

Selection in the Inner Star Fields was held once a year.

As a result, Chen Mo had no way to participate in the Literary Excellence Convention, after all, he was unable to partcipate in the selection by the time he learned about the Literary Excellence Convention. However, Chen Mo was not depressed at all, for he was not a spiritual power Star General anyways. He purely wanted to see the festivities this time around.

The Airs Of The State Hall was a vast building. There were statues of sages several zhang in height outside the hall, incomparably immense.

Qu Yuan City's guards, known as the "Poem And Ode Army," were not so-called Star Soldiers. They were all Star Warriors who cultivated Star Energy. They were dressed in white robes and silver armor, their brows like swords, full of an upright and scholarly air.

Jiang Kui entered the Airs Of The State Hall to obtain a jade pendant while Chen Mo waited outside.

Chen Mo say on a stone seat outside the hall and watched passersby, his gaze scanning the crowd. He remembered Qin Weiyu had also come participate in the convention, and he wondered where she was right now.

However, so long as she was participating in the Literary Excellence Convention, there would always be opportunity to meet.

Outside the Airs Of The State Hall, stone steles stood in great numbers.

Chen Mo arrived in front of a stele. These steles were left by people who came before. They recorded poems, songs, and calligraphy. Tere were many girls crowding around the steles, carefully looking over them, hoping to use the things left by others to achieve some comprehension.

Star World's verses were not ordinary verses. Rather, they had a kind of Realm that linked to Heaven, Earth, Dark, and Yellow. It was very profound, and spiritual power Star Generals used these writings to bolster their own Realm. Legend said that the Primordial Star Names had a "Heaven Earth Dark Yellow Skill" that was derived precisely from these verses. Each Heaven Earth Dark Yellow Skill was the highst pinnacle of verse mastery.

But this was not the highest Realm. To be able to leave writing among the Ten Thousand Sages Hall's Sage Steles was a true accomplishment.

"Fret not for having no friends in the coming days, everyone in the world will know you soon enough!"

Chen Mo saw this familiar verse. For a time, he was dazed. A scene seemed to emerge in his mind, and in it, there was a woman offering him condolences for his frozen prospects, her words filled with faith and strength.

No matter how frustrated one was, a blank state of mind vanished like smoke before this verse. The world seemed to become bright and clear, and the heart would have lasting vigor.

"How poignant, how powerful!"

So incredible.

Chen Mo was inwardly shocked. The Realm of this phrase was sufficient to dispel all kinds of confusion and bottlenecks a Star General would encounter during their cultivation. This simply could allow a Star General to obtain a breakthrough in an instant. However, Chen Mo noticed at a glance that the people in front of the stele had tightly furrowed brows, expressions of rapt attention. Clearly, they were trying to comprehend this power.

They lacked Chen Mo's Bodhi Soul Technique and were unable to arrive at an epiphany in moments. However, so long as they persevered, a breakthrough was actually not a problem.

Chen Mo looked over other steles.

Among the steles, the verses, calligraphy, and musical scores all stood out. Each stele had a vivid quality to it.

Drizzle and an oblique wind make for a chilly morning, mist and bare willows charm the beach. Clear waters flow endlessly into the Huai River as one savors milky tea and green herbs as spring dishes, good tastes in the world are pure joy.

The last came from Su Shi's "Huanxisha,"⁴ giving a sort of refined feeling.

"This was what Su Shi left at the previous Literary Excellence Convention. Good tastes in the world are pure joy, en, this feels quite dull."

"That is because your Realm is insufficient. Back then, the realm Su Shi's verse could be said to be refined before the Ten Thousand Sages Hall, just a step away from becoming a sage.

"So incredible!!"

"En, a wonderful woman."

Chen Mo looked at this phrase. The last two words, "pure joy" were simply a finishing touch, as if one saw a woman's clean, elegant aesthetics and her lively mannerisms, giving one beautiful pleasure and endless fancy.

"But to enter the world through tastes, no wonder one can only be elegant and not become a sage." Chen Mu muttered. A pity, truly a pity.

The woman who wrote this was so close.

"Oh, I did not expect that Young Lord Chen Mo would have some understanding of this Heaven Earth Dark Yellow Verse?"

All of a sudden, a warm laugh came from behind him.

Chen Mo turned his head back to see a young woman in a purple long skirt appear before him with a smile.

"Su Mian!"

Chen Mo was taken aback.

"Why are you also here at the Literary Excellence Convention?"

"This Palace should be asking you that question, no?" Su Mian's eyes glowed, a bit curious. She was already very certain that Chen Mo's martial prowess was exceptional, his talent distinguished, not losing out to first-rate martial generals. But seeing Chen Mo participate in the Literary Excellence Convention was too surprising.

The scene of Chen Mo stopping just now to gaze at and admire the Airs Of The State Steles with a relaxed expression had all ben caught by Su Mian.

The girl distinctly sensed that compared to those people in the surrounding racking their brains, Chen Mo's attitude while watching appeared very quick. But his browsing was neither careless nor detailed in the slightest. That was a kind of mentality that seemed to resonate with the verse's writer at a glance, simply inconceivable.

Of course, how could Su Mian have known that the reason Chen Mo was able to comprehend these so quickly was because he was deeply entwined with these familiar verses from his previous life. Practically every word was etched into Chen Mo's memory. In addition to the Bodhi Soul Technique, he naturally reached a realm of rapid understanding.

However, from Su Mian's perspective, Chen Mo was like a genius.

After hearing his evaluation, the girl could not sit any longer.

"Your understanding of Su Shi's ‘good tastes in the world are pure joy' seemed to be even deeper than hers. How did you manage this?" Su Mian asked.

"Lady Su Mian has never met Su Shi, how would you know that my understanding is deeper than hers." Chen Mo smiled.

Su Mian craftily grinned.

Chen Mo noticed that there was a young woman at her side. She had icy skin and jade bones, a fresh and clean appearance of sophistication. Her pupils were as blue as the sky, as clear as a lake, bright as stones, beautiful to the extreme.

The girl gave people a kind of feeling that she was free of the mundane, a bit distant.

All of a sudden, Chen Mo distinctly recalled the image that appeared in his mind as he pondered upon the phrase. That woman's figure surprisingly overlapped with this girl's.

"Oh, could this lady perhaps be…" Chen Mo was hoarse.

"Many apologies, I am that writer who can only enjoy good tastes in the world and not see the Realm of a sage." The woman lifted her chin, like an arrogant peacock displaying its feathers.

Gorgeous, elegant, and a bit haughty.

She.

Was "Peerless Star Hero" Su Shi.

1. 虞世南, 虞嬋 ↩
2. 侯君集, 侯兮寒 ↩
3. 國風佩 ↩
4. 麋溪沙 ↩