Chapter 195: 125. A Ridiculous Way to Clear the Stage
The wind was gentle, and the sun was bright; it was early dawn.
The scene within this Inheritance Space was vastly different from what Xu Yuan had imagined.
The grass was green as jade, and the water shimmered like ripples.
Instead of calling this a cemetery, it was more akin to a perfect spot for a spring outing.
The two of them stood in the void, facing each other.
The wind attempted to squeeze in between them, but some unknown force pushed it back, causing it to roll backward.
The girl's eyes, like pools of autumn water, silently stared at him.
"What's wrong?"
Xu Yuan felt somewhat guilty under her gaze and couldn't help but divert his eyes.
Ever since they entered, Tian Liuli had been silent, only staring at him, making him undoubtedly feel eerie inside.
Tian Liuli smiled faintly, her smile possessing an ethereal and distant elegance.
The aqua-colored eyes under the sunlight emitted multicolored lights, their pupils flowing with ripples.
"It's nothing," she said.
She shook her head, seemingly satisfied.
However, the more she did this, the more panicked Xu Yuan felt at the bottom of his heart.
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Tian Liuli was definitely planning some grand scheme.
"Speaking of which, Mr. Xu, what do you think the trial in this Inheritance Space is related to?"
Seemingly sensing his uneasy heart, Tian Liuli actively changed the subject and spoke.
"This Inheritance Space?"
Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then shifted his gaze over.
However, after looking for a while, he too was somewhat puzzled.
"I can't tell either," Xu Yuan paused and then added, "but perhaps... this has something to do with our virtues, with the Azure Dragon Spirit Leader, Vermilion Bird Heart Leader, Xuanwu Virtue Leader..."
"Virtue?"
At his words, Tian Liuli was momentarily stunned, a contemplative look flashing across her beautiful eyes.
She, who had ascended by gaining the Dao, had never cared about the concept of virtue before.
Even if she possessed neither virtue nor achievements, her subordinates would create them out of nothing, singing praises of her virtues; thus, she really didn't know what this so-called virtue was all about.
...
Atop the grand hall, everyone gazing at their furrowed brows also fell into deep thought.
The scholar from the Confucian-Mo Pavilion, watching the two through the Water Mirror, suddenly revealed a smile.
"I understand now," he proclaimed.
This statement immediately drew many to gather around.
"Oh?"
Jing Lixue lightly raised her eyes to look at him.
"Supreme Goodness is like water, a great virtue bears all things."
"The ruler's relation with his subjects is as light as water; water can carry a boat, so too can it overturn one."
He boasted, "The Divine Emperor's intention must be just this; only those with great virtue are suited to ascend the throne and lead mankind. Unfortunately, these two have talents but lack virtue, which is why they haven't even found the entrance to the trial."
As he spoke, the scholar carefully observed Mu Qianyan's expression.
But Mu Qianyan completely ignored him.
The scholar White Ink then breathed a sigh of relief and immediately pointed laughing at one of the Water Mirrors, "Ladies and gentlemen, please look, there is my fellow from the Confucian-Mo Pavilion, and he is currently in the place of the Xuanwu inheritance."
Upon hearing this, the crowd glanced sideways.
But they saw a different scene where a young man in white robes, who had just passed the inheritance, had come before another Stone Tablet, and indeed, the tablet bore the phrases he had just spoken.
"My dear sir is not wrong, but there's still a slight mistake," said Jing Lixue, supporting her chin, her eyes slightly closed as she spoke softly.
"Oh, do tell," White Ink narrowed his eyes, showing a snake-like dangerous gaze.
"A great virtue bears all things?"
Jing Lixue's lips revealed a slight smile, then she waved her hand.
Suddenly, ripples appeared on the Water Mirror, and the scene in the painting abruptly changed.
It shifted from the front of the stone tablet to the back.
And on the back, there were also a line of red characters.
"If there are dissenters, then kill until there are none. If there are those who don't perceive the great virtue, then kill until everyone sings praises! If water dares to overturn the boat, then burn the sky and boil the sea!"
The words were filled with a sense of madness, as if this was really what he wanted to say.
Everyone was taken aback.
"So that's how it is," White Ink's pupils constricted, his expression quickly returned to normal.
"Those with great virtue have their ways to pass, and naturally, those without virtue have their ways too."
Jing Lixue's eyes revealed scorn: "The position of Divine Emperor, even those without virtue may occupy it."
"What the Divine Emperor seeks, is not virtue," murmured White Ink, his eyes darkening.
"Doesn't that mean everyone can be this Divine Emperor!"
A fiery desire surged in his heart.
...
The two of them trampled on the lush green grass, walking up a small hill that was a high point, but still did not see any useful clues.
The hidden nature of the trial in this Inheritance Space was somewhat unexpected to both of them.
Regardless, since the methods of inheritance trials are diverse, they didn't dwell too much on this issue.
Xu Yuan stared at the only water source in this space, and suddenly, inspiration struck; thus, he raised his hand, pointing gently.
The surface of the water immediately rippled under the effect of his mana, gradually forming the character for "virtue."
Just as the character for "virtue" formed, the Firmament suddenly trembled, and deep within the Cloud Sea, roars echoed.
A water-bucket-thick bolt of lightning fiercely struck down.
But it didn't strike the two of them; instead, it hit the "virtue" character on the surface of the water.
Almost at the moment when the lightning hit the water, vast volumes of water vapor also steamed up.
At that moment, the contents of this trial simultaneously emerged in both of their minds.
"To protect this body of water, to prevent it from disappearing, is that it?"
Xu Yuan and Tian Liuli looked at each other.
As a qualified king, one should be able to protect his subjects, and this body of water... was their subjects.