Maiden Galaxy

This hall was seemed to lay in an ancient river, quietly slumbering. Each detail in the hall was suffused with a serene tranquility.

"Wanyang, you are in good spirits. A while ago, Elder Sister was honestly worried to see you lock yourself in your room." Su Mian adorably smiled.

"Hmph, I merely wanted to calm down to properly understand."

Su Mian smiled. This little sister's personality was normally not like this. She, who had been incomparably self-confident in poetry composition, would actually speak of calming her mind to attain a proper understanding. It seemed that a certain man in this Literary Excellence Convention had delivered to her a significant blow.

Just as she thought about that man.

He was coming here.

"Su Mian." Chen Mo cupped his fist.

"Little Sister Su Wanyang, are you well? Su Mian told me that you locked yourself in your room in depression?" Chen Mo then said to Su Wanyang.

"I hate you. I do not wish to speak with you…I will have you know my might soon enough." Su Shi looked away, not at all inclined to look at this man's face.

"Your absolute for the ages turned out to be an ancient sage's couplet. Hmph, it was nothing special." Su Wanyang could not help blurting out more. She had later heard about this from Su Mian, finally alleviating her loss a bit. Losing to a sage was better than losing to a man.

"Good, then. I am very eager to see if you can make Hundred Sages Simultaneously Shout, Wanyang." Chen Mo expressed his sincere hopes. He also knew how formidable Su Shi's Star Name was. The Sage Of Poetry was worthy of her title. "However, I will strive for this sage energy against you with all my might."

"My opponent is Liu of the Wells, do not imagine yourself to be my match." Su Wanyang had an expression that disdained to treat him as an opponent. This was honestly too cute.

"And who was it that said she did not want to speak to Chen Mo." Mi Fu chuckled and winked at Jiang Kui and Qin Weiyu.

Su Wanyang ground her teeth, "Elder Sister, I will go prepare the Ten Thousand Sages Hall." Saying this, she waved her sleeve, the refined level of "good tastes in the world are pure joy," then turned and left.

"We greet Your Majesty."

Qin Weiyu and the others gave Su Mian their salutations.

"No need to stand on ceremony, This Palace never imagined your jade pendant could also reach a purple color, Chen Mo. This Palace is truly impressed." Chen Mo smiled.

"Let us go." Qin Weiyu tugged on Mi Fu. The other girls also understood, and they no longer bothered them.

"Su Mian, I have a question for you." Chen Mo wondered.

"Hm? What question?"

"Will Zhu Yuanzhang come to the Literary Excellence Convention?" Chen Mo decided he had better inform her of what happened in the alleyway last time. The originator of the line, "my petals will spread everywhere as golden armor" was none other than Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Chen Mo, why do you ask such a thing?" Su Mian was confused.

Chen Mo summarized what had happened.

Dream In A Millennium's brow beautifully furrowed. "The Sun And Moon True Dragon is the third Star Marquis. Although she covets the Central Star Field, attending the Literary Excellence Convention avails her no advantage." The sages' aspirations would not empower a Star General who was already at the level of Star Marquis. Only if she renounced cultivation of Purple Rose Qi and became a sage like Emperor Of Poetry Li Yu could she obtain the sages' aspirations.

But to Zhu Yuanzhang, this was practically killing a goose that laid golden eggs.

"This Palace actually heard Zhu Jiujiu once compose, ‘the rooster's first crow is a cock-a, its second a doodle. With its third and fourth, the sky is bright, ridding it of stars and the dawn moon,' but this type of poem could not qualify for the convention."

Zhu Jiujiu?¹

True Name? Chen Mo thought to himself that Zhu Yuanzhang's name was Zhu Baba.² This True Name of Zhu Jiujiu was awfully flippant.

"I also heard that Zhu Yuanzhang apparently also has the intent to replace you. I don't know what purpose she has attending the Literary Excellence Convention."

Chen Mo's words were filled with deep concern, making Su Mian take pause.

"Su Mian, did you remember something?"

"En, the person you described is not at all like Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang is very short, not tall as you said. Unless she grew that way."

Very small.

This description made Chen Mo very naturally picture someone even more tiny than a loli.

"Speaking of, Chen Mo, why would you be certain she is Zhu Yuanzhang?" Su Mian asked curiously. Dream In A Millennium had an expression that said, "Do not dare say you seen her before." A Star Marquis' position was sublime. Unless they personally approached the Star General, generally very few people could see them.

"I heard that Zhu Yuanzhang wrote this poem."

"Is that so?" Su Mian was a bit confused. She had never heard of it.

"I am not very certain either. Either way, I heard it somewhere before." Chen Mo said.

Seeing Chen Mo was not willing to explain, Su Mian would not force him

"Qian, you have seen Zhu Yuanzhang, go find her, see just what she wants to do." The girl said.

Not far away, Sima Qian assented.

The two of them stared wordlessly at each other. Chen Mo looked around the theater. This place's layout was a bit like a gymnasium, with all the seats layered alternately like fish scales. "Is that the Ten Thousand Sages Hall in the center?" Chen Mo looked with the Deva Eyes. With such an imposing name as the Ten Thousand Sages Hall, the building appeared somewhat unremarkable.

"Entering the Ten Thousand Sages Hall, there will be sages' aspirations. Nine steles stand above the Ten Thousand Sages Hall, and one of them is blank. The other eight are the power of the sages' aspirations. These eight have topics on them, and the blank one is for the spiritual power Star Generals to write on.

"Once the eight topics are answered, if in the end the Star General is still able to write something that can stun the sages, then it is said the hundred sages will all cry out at once…" Su Mian pointed at the statues of the sages surrounding the Ten Thousand Sages Hall.

"Legend says the Ten Thousand Sages Hall is the power of the ancient sages, aspirations concentrated over millennia. That is a domain that not even the Purple Rose Star Emperor can encroach upon, comparable to Maiden Mountain's barrier."

Suddenly, a relaxed voice explained in place of Su Mian.

Chen Mo turned his gaze. He saw a man in green clothes stroll over. The man had sharp brows and bright eyes, a neat appearance. His pace was steady and measured, like a dragon or tiger, very imposing.

"You obtained a purple level jade pendant yet surprisingly are unaware of even the history of the Ten Thousand Sages Hall? How can this move the sages?" The man faintly smiled. 

"If one holds a sincere heart, things will work out." Chen Mo was undisturbed.

The man stared at Chen Mo, his expression a bit unfathomable. "As expected, you are the Peach Blossom Green Emperor. We finally meet face to face. Indeed, you are an extraordinary genius, and I am ashamed of my inferiority, ha, ha."

"Your Servant is ‘Eternal Scholar' Huang Yuheng, third Star Warrior of the Xuannü Seven Stars as well as your opponent." Huang Yuheng took out a jade pendant which was surprisingly also purple in color.

"Long have I heard of the Xuannü Seven Stars' fame." Chen Mo smiled. The Eternal Scholar, this nickname was a bit imposing.

"Huang Yuheng studied under ‘Hundred Generations Exemplary Writer' Han Yu and has attended the Literary Excellence Convention many times in the past. He is also currently considered the number one Star Warrior in terms of spiritual power…" Su Mian gracefully made introductions. "This time, you have nevertheless met your match, Huang Yuheng."

"Ha, ha, I fear His Distinguished Self Chen Mo will have only Su Shi and Liu Yong as matches. This Huang is unable to enter his gaze." Huang Yuheng laughed.

"Not number one in writing, nor number two in martial arts. Since the Literary Excellence Convention attaches great importance to mutual exchange, we should cooperate and improve together." Chen Mo flaunted a bureaucratic manner.

These words left Huang Yuheng a bit uncomfortable.

"To have such thinking is very good. I am very eager to interact with you during the Ten Thousand Sages Hall. Your Servant shall go find Fuqing now." Huang Yuheng cupped his fist.

After Chen Mo watched him leave, he asked Su Mian: "Just now, he said that even the Purple Rose Star Emperor was unable to encroach on the Ten Thousand Sages Hall, that it can be compared to Maiden Mountain's barrier. Is this true?"

Su Mian nodded: "Aye, the Ten Thousand Sages Hall was formed from the condensed will of tens of thousands of years of sages and spiritual power Star Generals. Its might is very formidable, and this will already saturates the Miluo Star Field. Others have no way to enter the Ten Thousand Sages Hall, so one must have the purple jade pendant qualification.

"Whatever power the cultivators who come to the Literary Excellence Convention can sense is the remnant of the sages' aspirations, but even these are sufficient to allow spiritual power Star Generals to reap endless benefits. However, they are paltry compared to the Ten Thousand Sages Hall."

"They say that the Ten Thousand Sages Hall may even be a Universe Eternity Level Spirit Treasure."

"What, Universe Eternity Level Spirit Treasure?" Chen Mo was astounded.

Heaven, Earth, Dark, and Yellow, Universe Eternity, Primeval Chaos.

Universe Eternity Level was the strongest tier of Spirit Treasure. They were existences older than even the Star Fields; they were Star World's most primal power. Legend said that they were a portion of Maiden Mountain's power. These types of treasures were never insignificant, and the emergence of one always turned Star World upside-down.

However, Universe Eternity Spirit Treasures were rare in Star World, and the average person could not possibly control one.

This type of power was too vast. Even a Star Marquis would find it very challenging to refine one.

"Could Zhu Yuanzhang have designs on this Universe Eternity Spirit Treasure?" Cen Mo suddenly had an idea he could not dismiss.

"Back in the day, my father could not break the Ten Thousand Sages Hall if he did not use ‘Romance Of The World.' Zhu Yuanzhang could not do this." Su Mian smiled.

"Unless the Sixteen Star Marquis all joined hands, perhaps it may be possible to break the Ten Thousand Sages Hall's outer formation, but refining it would be useless. The Ten Thousand Sages Hall is formed from the power of sages. Star Marquis could not obtain it."

"Right." Chen Mo nodded.

"If Zhu Yuanzhang truly has come to the Literary Excellence Convention, there is no need to worry. This Palace can trade a few blows with her. There are also a few of the Seven Sages present to provide assistance. If she dares cause a ruckus, This Palace can take her Star Marquis Seal." Su Mian's eyes glimmered.

To be able to trade blows with Zhu Yuanzhang, Chen Mo inwardly sighed. Just how strong was this Dream In A Millennium.

"Legend says that the Ten Thousand Sages Hall has a Four Symbols Azure Dragon spirit inside it standing guard. If you can obtain it, your Four Symbols would be missing only the Vermilion Bird, Chen Mo."

"The Azure Dragon?"

"The Azure Dragon presides over the east, the sage emerges from the east."

Eastern sage was an address of historical China for those of the highest virtue. Chen Mo knew about this.

"If this is true, then I feel the Four Symbols cannot be refined." Chen Mo forced a smile. If even the Purple Rose Star Emperor could hardly break the Ten Thousand Sages Hall, then the Azure Dragon guardian within was definitely fused together with the Ten Thousand Sages Hall. How could he obtain it.

Su Mian agreed. She could not help but feel a bit regretful.

The Four Symbols in Star World were unique. Only when the current symbol's soul was completely destroyed would it be reborn. But this birth process would take several thousand years, not something the ordinary person could wait for.

"In short, it will be good if you can make the Hundred Sages Simultaneously Shout. Right now, Mount Hua stands on the brink of crisis. Dong Zhongshu intends to destroy Mount Hua, the root of Daoism. This Palace just had an ill premonition and fears that Dong Zhongshu has seized the chance to act without permission against Mount Hua while This Palace is not present in the Central Star Field."

"Is she so brazen?" Chen Mo was also surprised.

"So long as she destroys Mount Hua's Daoism, Dong Zhongshu can more or less make Buddhism reign supreme. This feat is sufficient to last for lifetimes, eternally indestructible." Su Mian was a bit worried.

Hearing her words, Chen Mo also sensed that matters were far graver than he had imagined. Besides Yang Guang, surprisingly Dong Zhongshu also wanted to confront Mount Hua.

1. 朱九九 ↩
2. 朱八八. The joke is that the real life Zhu's nickname is "Eighty-eight" while the True Name of the Star General is "Ninety-nine." ↩