Destined Entwining: Capturing My Devoted Beau

Chapter 912: Chapter 447: Drawing Hatred (First Update, Seeking Recommendation Ticket)

She could tell that in the preliminary round, what they were testing was all basic knowledge.

Only whoever had the most solid foundation could go further, enter the top eight, and take part in the official matches.

From this angle, the patriarchs of the Grant Branch really did have brains.

If this Mr. Zhuge could knock the arena master off his platform, then his fundamentals were anything but ordinary.

It would also mean his abilities might be even greater than he was letting on.

This kind of contest is always like that: insiders watch the technique, outsiders watch the spectacle.

Lawrence Winters quietly raised his guard.

According to the rules, the arena master first posed questions to the challenger.

Mr. Shu thought for a moment, then twirled his beard and said, ”The Three Cave Pearl Bag Essence compiled by King Yan of Northern Zhou—how many fascicles are there in total?”

Mr. Zhuge answered without a second’s thought: ”Eight thousand and thirty fascicles in all.”

Mr. Shu: ”Divided into how many categories?”

Mr. Zhuge: ”In total it is divided into the Three Caverns, Four Supplements, and Seven Sections.”

Mr. Shu immediately followed up, asking: ”In the sixteenth fascicle, the Supreme Exorcism Scripture, what Exorcism Method is mentioned?”

Mr. Zhuge spoke at once: ”In the Supreme Exorcism Scripture it is said: Langjian Yuhua, Seven Suns Sun-Infant, Nine Lin Fluids, Eight Jade Essence, Four-Stamen Purple Nectar, Five Pearl Red Birth, Three Flowers Flying Steel, Double Pearl Moonlight, Orchid Fluid Golden Pivot, Sweet Dew Jade Bottle, Floating Mushroom Flowing Spirit, Divine Channel Pill Powder, Dark Bough Linked and Entwined, Langgan Morning Knots, Western August Pure Fullness. With these one can vault into the Vermilion Firmament, fly into Jade Clarity; call and inhale them, reaching to the Netherworld Spirit; rinse and transform them, entering the Purple Court.”

Mr. Shu nodded in approval and asked again: ”How does The Classic of Great Peace expound auspicious omens?”

Mr. Zhuge still answered instantly: ”By studying the Way of Great Auspiciousness from dawn to dusk, one only then attains Medium Auspiciousness. By studying Medium Auspiciousness, one only then attains Small Auspiciousness. To study Small Auspiciousness—this has already entered the path of misfortune. When a king deeply obtains Heaven’s intent and the utmost Way’s abiding blessing, then he has a hundred auspicious signs and not a single inauspicious event.”

After two rounds of questions, Mr. Shu hurriedly said: ”All correct. I ask Mr. Zhuge to pose his questions now.”

Mr. Zhuge cupped his hands. ”I accept your graciousness.”

Then he quickly asked: ”In the Supreme Embryonic Karma Scripture, what is the ’floating fondness for the Three Treasures’?”

Mr. Shu also answered without thinking: ”There are those who have a floating fondness for the Three Treasures, whose faith is not focused, who abandon themselves to debauchery, sink into lust, and falsely borrow the scriptures to seek fame and profit, thereby gathering followers and mixing in wrongdoing. Such people, when they see the infant subjected to repeated examinations, die into the Three Evil Realms, and for all heaven and time there is no release.”

Mr. Zhuge nodded in appreciation, then asked his second question: ”In the Supreme Wisdom Exorcism Scripture, how is drunkenness described?”

Surprisingly, Mr. Shu hesitated for a moment before saying: ”The Supreme One says: Wine is the essence of water and grain, proficient in disseminating and communicating the fluids of qi. If taken in moderation, it connects with spirit and benefits nature; if indulged in, it confuses the spirit and harms life; wallowing in it unto death is not wisdom.”

Mr. Zhuge burst out laughing. ”Mr. Shu really lives up to the name ’Mr. Shu’! I just happened to see that passage last night by chance, and I never thought Mr. Shu would already know it!”

Praised by Mr. Zhuge, Mr. Shu was quite pleased and said, ”You flatter me, Mr. Zhuge. I merely like reading, that’s all.”

Since Mr. Zhuge’s second question had almost stumped him, it also stirred up Mr. Shu’s desire to win.

He posed a rather tricky question: ”In the Supreme Hidden Book Dragon Scripture, how is slander expounded?”

Mr. Zhuge was also caught short; he focused his mind and thought for over ten seconds before saying: ”Most people are deceitful and shallow, not understanding the utmost principles; the roots of their karmic obstructions are deep, and they doubt what is true. Should they hear something subtle and wondrous, they instead give rise to slander, treating it lightly and disbelieving it, thereby falling into evil destinies, suffering the bitter torment of wind and blades, and across kalpas they will not escape.”

Hearing this, Mr. Shu was filled with admiration. He cupped his hands and saluted, saying: ”I just saw this when flipping through the books a moment ago, and I never imagined Mr. Zhuge would remember it as well!”

Mr. Zhuge smiled faintly, and he and Mr. Shu went back and forth, asking and answering dozens more questions about the Daoist canon. With five minutes about to be up, if he couldn’t make Mr. Shu unable to answer one of his questions, he would be the one to lose.

When it came around again to Mr. Zhuge’s turn to ask, he tilted his head slightly, clasped his hands behind his back, and said: ”In the Kaiyuan Daoist Canon, what is the opening preface of The Scripture of Profound Truth?”

Mr. Shu was suddenly stunned.

He raised his head and stared blankly at Mr. Zhuge, frowning as he said: ”The Kaiyuan Daoist Canon has a total of seven thousand three hundred fascicles, but it was long ago destroyed in the flames of war near the end of the Tang and in the Five Dynasties period. I, Shu, am ashamed—I have never had the chance to see this canon!”

”So Mr. Shu does not know the opening preface of The Scripture of Profound Truth?” Mr. Zhuge asked with a smile.

Mr. Shu closed his eyes for a moment and let out a long sigh. ”...I, Shu, concede defeat.”

He gave Mr. Zhuge a deep bow from the waist, then lifted the sleeves of his Daoist robe, flew down from the platform, and left the hall.

On Arena A, an electronic female voice immediately rang out: ”On Arena A, Mr. Shu loses, Mr. Zhuge wins!”