High above in the sky, the few gathered figures could naturally see Gu Fangchen's astonishing performance.
Within a hundred breaths, he had cleared six floors, taking on both the civil and martial trials simultaneously, and it wasn't a narrow success either. His literary work had even stirred the Literary Qi of Heaven!
This was unprecedented. There had never been anyone like him before, and most likely, there never would be again.
If not for the fact that Gu Fangchen stood in the way of their plan, even Lu Mingyuan himself would have admired and cherished such a youth.
In this world, there were many geniuses. But one who was both a prodigy of letters and arms? Perhaps only this single man existed.
A pity that, for the sake of their grand endeavor, that missing dragon vein had to be secured at all costs.
Liu Wenqing turned the sandalwood prayer beads in his hand and said gently, "Dean, your compassion for talent is admirable. When 'Heaven's Equal Through Eternity' is complete, teacher and student can always be reunited again. There's no need to dwell on this moment."
"With the child's intelligence, he is certain to understand our intentions."
"When that time comes, all will end perfectly for both sides."
The meaning behind his words was clear: should Gu Fangchen survive and prove sensible enough, he could yet become one of the academy's own and serve beneath the Sage of the Heart.
But if he failed to understand, if he were not "clever" enough, then fate simply was not on his side.
"So be it," Lu Mingyuan sighed softly, then narrowed his eyes. "Speaking of which, what of the rumor regarding the hidden dragon vein? Has its authenticity been confirmed?"
Dugu Yu's gaze flickered. "I fear it's eighty percent true. The Dugu Family of Gushu has been quite close with Gu Yuye lately. It seems the two intend to use the dragon vein to execute some literary ritual."
Lu Mingyuan clasped his hands behind his back. "It was bound to happen sooner or later. Gu Yuye has waited long enough for this day. The rebel armies have already begun to rise. We should strike within the next few days, before they grow into a real threat."
"If Gu Yuye truly intends to rebel, then that would be ideal. Such a victory could win the hearts of the people for His Highness the Crown Prince, and secure the dynasty's fortune."
"When the time comes, merging the five dragon veins into his body will be far easier and safer."
"Enough talk. It's about time. Are the preparations below complete?"
Dugu Yu nodded. "All is ready."
He smiled faintly, glancing down at the tower that was glowing once again.
"A riot in the Demon-Suppressing Prison, using the grand formation beneath the Tower of Civil and Martial Trials to suppress it, perfectly reasonable."
The Dugu Family's Demon-Suppressing Prison, built for subduing evil spirits, was kept a strict secret to prevent jailbreaks. No one outside knew its true location.
In truth, that prison lay directly beneath the Tower of Civil and Martial Trials itself.
Within it were countless demons and resentful ghosts, any leak of their aura would bring devastating harm to ordinary people.
Hence, the tower's transmission monuments, along with the youthful vitality and Righteous Qi of the Vast Heavens from generations of cultivators, were used to sustain a powerful formation.
Even Lu Mingyuan himself could not guarantee that the Sky-Piercing Sword of the Seventy-Two Peaks, forged from the earth's veins, could suppress everything within. Thus, the formation's assistance was indispensable.
Letting Gu Fangchen challenge the tower was their way of luring him to enter the formation willingly.
During their brief exchange, the eighth floor of the tower lit up below.
The trials of the Tower of Civil and Martial Trials did not fully represent strength, but they perfectly measured potential.
To clear both paths up to the eighth floor meant that Gu Fangchen's future potential was at least of the Second Grade.
That was the level of a future Heavenly Sovereignty Realm!
Liu Wenqing's beads ceased their turning, and he sighed softly. "Truly... a pity."
Dugu Yu chuckled. "No need for pity. If you truly feel regret, then let's finish our great work sooner, and see, in time, which of us he would have chosen as his teacher."
Liu Wenqing laughed quietly and shook his head. "Indeed. Let's get it done quickly."
The two men spoke in relaxed tones, discussing who this soon-to-be-slain youth might have chosen as a mentor.
To an outsider, they would have seemed utterly mad.
Lu Mingyuan extended his hand, lifting it slightly toward the heavens. His voice turned deep. "Activate the formation."
A thunderous boom shook the air as the ground beneath the tower split open, forming a massive chasm.
From within, several enormous blood-red eyes blinked open, gleaming with greed and delight as they peered out toward the world.
The river's surface heaved; calm waters turned to furious waves that crashed against the banks.
A sprawling array, spanning a thousand feet, blazed into view across the ground.
The crowd cried out in shock, scattering in panic.
But soon, not just the area around the tower and Jiangling River, but the entire region began to tremble.
Then, amid the deafening rumble, a low, echoing dragon's roar resounded across the sky.
Golden light burst across the heavens, scattering through the clouds like scales of a celestial fish.
The golden radiance stretched across all of Jiangnan, forming the shape of an immense golden dragon, magnificent and awe-inspiring.
Every cultivator across Jiangnan felt the tremor of fate and exclaimed one after another:
"The Dragon Vein!"
"It's the Dragon Vein! A new Dragon Vein has appeared!"
And then, someone paled in terror, voice quivering.
"The dynasty has not yet fallen, and a new Dragon Vein has already been born... This is the omen of chaos! Heaven forsakes Great Wei! Heaven forsakes Great Wei!"
...
Gu Fangchen stepped out from the eighth floor of the tower, leaning against the railing as he gazed out at the vast expanse of the Jiangling River.
On the other side, Xue Xiang emerged as well, sword in hand.
At this level, both sides connected; once this floor's trial was cleared, they could claim a wisp of a Sage's Dao Resonance.
The wild wind whipped his white robe and long hair.
Standing atop the hundred-zhang-high tower, the world stretched out endlessly before him. The view was vast, the air sharp and clean, filling his chest with unrestrained pride.
Gu Fangchen squinted toward the river below. The pleasure barges looked no bigger than sesame seeds; as for the people aboard, even the most beautiful woman could no longer be seen clearly from such a height.
With the strength of his puppet body and the power of his soul, he was already on par with a Fourth Grade cultivator.
"Heh... Gu Yuye really planned it all from the start."
Gu Fangchen was not surprised by this outcome.
He knew Gu Yuye too well. That man only ever cared about himself. Everyone else was merely a chess piece to him.
A deep rumble echoed from below. The tower shook, followed by a series of booming responses all around.
Gu Fangchen took a long breath and turned his head, only to see the spectral figure of Ancestor-Matron emerging silently from the stairwell's shadows.
Her gaze locked instantly onto him, ignoring Xue Xiang completely.
For what Xue Xiang held in her hands was only a fake.
Gu Fangchen had tried countless times to throw away the true sword, but it refused to leave him. Because of that, Ancestor-Matron had hunted him relentlessly.
He had only given Xue Xiang the imitation to convince the academy to let her enter.
Sighing, Gu Fangchen drew the genuine Sky-Piercing Sword of the Seventy-Two Peaks and waved it lightly.
"Ancestor-Matron, please look carefully this time, it's not that I don't want to give it to you..."
"It's that someone's trying to steal it!"
Boom!
The entire tower split open from the middle. Beneath it lay the Demon-Suppressing Prison and the enormous binding formation.
The layers of formation light surged upward, connecting the tower to Lu Mingyuan's hand above.
Gu Fangchen immediately released the sword. The weapon transformed into a small dragon, twisting as if unwilling to part from him.
Ancestor-Matron's brows arched sharply. She flashed forward in an instant.
But in that same moment, chains of light extended from the void, coiling around the little dragon and dragging it upward.
Lu Mingyuan reached out, seizing the struggling creature in his hand. A calm smile curved his lips.
"After all our trouble, the dragon vein is finally ours."
Haki Dragon: "?"
Ancestor-Matron: "?!"
Having missed her target, Ancestor-Matron froze. She glanced down at Gu Fangchen, who stood before her with raised hands and an innocent expression.
Then, slowly, she lifted her head, her eyes vast and terrible as the starry heavens themselves, locking squarely onto Lu Mingyuan and his two companions above.