In the future, Earth becomes a relic of the mythical era.

Chapter 172 Ancient Dragon Abyss, Trial Grounds

The Hall of Debating the Sun is much smaller now.

All around were piles of books.

Oracle bones, bamboo slips, cloth, bark paper, wooden paper...

It seems that all forms of written records have been found here since ancient times.

In the middle was a low couch, and someone was already kneeling on it.

He was a middle-aged man dressed in a white scholar's robe with three long strands of beard under his chin.

He has a scholarly air about him, and a refined and elegant demeanor.

"Young man, would you like to debate with me?"

Seeing Xie Lingxin enter, he simply stroked his beard and smiled.

He didn't even glance at the crowd following closely behind him.

It seemed that Xie Lingxin was determined to take on the challenge.

Xie Lingxin sat down directly opposite him: "Since you're already here..."

The middle-aged man chuckled: "Very well, young man, listen to this. Today's debate between us: Destiny cannot be defied!"

After saying that, she just looked at him and smiled without saying anything.

"What do you mean? What's going on?"

Among the crowd watching from afar, Tong Huohuo couldn't help but whisper a question to Leng Qingci.

Leng Qingci shook her head and didn't reply.

Xie Lingxin glanced at the middle-aged man and then smiled, "I believe that human will can overcome nature."

A glimmer of light appeared in the middle-aged man's eyes: "The human race has a sage who said: 'Without knowing destiny, one cannot be a gentleman.'"

"If a person does not know his or hereditary destiny, he or she is destined to live a mediocre life. Knowing his or her destiny and acting in accordance with it is the way of a gentleman."

"The highest realm of Confucianism, the so-called unity of heaven and man, is precisely the way of conforming to the mandate of heaven."

"Does this young man think the sage was wrong?"

Xie Lingxin quickly said, "Don't talk nonsense! The sage is right!"

He used to be able to talk nonsense.

But he wouldn't dare now.

Who knows if I'll actually meet a "saint" in the future?
middle aged:"……"

"The words of Confucius are never wrong!"

Xie Lingxin said firmly.

Seemingly knowing that he couldn't get away with it this way, he thought for a moment and then said, "Heaven's will is natural, but humanity strives for self-improvement."

"Heaven has its way, and man has his way. If one is born as a human being, knows the difference between heaven and man, and strives for self-improvement, then one is a perfect person."

"First, strive to be the best human being. A saint? A human is just a human. Why do we need to become gods or saints?"

Of course, if I had the chance to become an immortal, I would still do it.

Xie Lingxin thought to herself.

They can talk a good game, but when it comes to themselves, they'll do whatever's most advantageous!
The middle-aged man stroked his beard, his eyes seeming to grow brighter and brighter.

"Man can conquer nature..."

After a long pause, he looked up again and said, "You've passed."

Xie Lingxin: "..."

He's still itching to get started.

Are you done now?
It feels like punching cotton.

The others were also a bit confused.

What the hell?

Such a high speed is not unheard of.

I've heard that people who tried to pass this test were always kicked out by this middle-aged man after just a few words.

They didn't understand a word they heard, so how did they pass the test?

The middle-aged man ignored them and said to Xie Lingxin, "If you can get past me, you can make one request."

He laughed and said, "You may ask. There shouldn't be many things here that I can't do."

"Young man, what do you want?"

Xie Lingxin said without hesitation, "I want to see the Dragon King."

He really wanted to make some unreasonable demands.

For example, I want to become an immortal...

I'll probably get beaten up.

For example, give me lots and lots of money...

This shouldn't be a problem, but he's afraid something unexpected might happen later, and it would be terrible if he didn't get to see the Dragon King.

The middle-aged man asked in surprise, "Oh? Why do you wish to see the King?"

Xie Ling thought to himself, "I have heard that the form of a true dragon is naturally sacred and possesses the true essence of the Dao. As a cultivator, I naturally wish to see it."

The middle-aged man chuckled, "Heh, you're quite direct."

Xie Lingxin asked doubtfully, "Can you do it?"

The middle-aged man said proudly, "There's nothing here that I can't do."

"When?"

"Hehehe... You'll know when the time comes."

The middle-aged man mumbled something, then added, "You don't need to go to the remaining two trials; consider them passed."

"Ok?"

Xie Lingxin frowned.

The middle-aged man laughed and said, "When I said that destiny cannot be defied, I didn't say it was Confucius's words, but you've hit the nail on the head."

"Heaven moves forever, it does not exist for Yao, nor does it perish for Jie."

"One who understands the distinction between Heaven and humanity can be called a perfect person."

"All of these are derived from Xunzi's 'Discourse on Heaven'."

"Looking at your cultivation in Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, you are knowledgeable and well-versed in all three teachings. You are capable of handling all of them."

"If that's the case, why go through all this trouble?"

This guy has a sharp eye...

He originally practiced the Mountain-Carrying and Thunder-Bearing Diagram, which was definitely an authentic Taoist method.

Although the Divine Emperor Diagram is a Buddhist teaching, it is a supernatural power and does not involve fundamental principles.

However, after he used "Journey to the West" as a framework to create Kanyuan Mountain, Yingchou Stream, and the White Dragon Yin Spirit, his methods underwent a fundamental transformation.

Although he still possessed the essence of Taoism, he was implicitly well-versed in the three teachings.

I've seen quite a few experts, but not a single one of them could figure it out.

This includes Teacher Bai, who taught me, and Kim So.

Xie Lingxin had a vague idea of ​​the identity of the middle-aged man in front of her.

However, since he didn't say anything, there was no need for me to expose it.

But his so-called debate topic...

The will of Heaven cannot be defied...

This is an interesting point.

Especially when combined with an existence like the Dead Zone.

This is a world where the rules of time have died.

Everything that exists here will be trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation.

For those of us in the material world, this is naturally a treasure trove that can be refreshed infinitely. But what about the people inside?

They are not real game NPCs.

Legend has it that living beings are also living beings.

In essence, they are no different from each other.

"What? Young man, do you still have any concerns?"

The middle-aged man's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Xie Lingxin dismissed the thought, somewhat dissatisfied, and said, "Then wouldn't I be at a loss? There are rewards for the next two levels."

middle aged:"……"

He laughed in anger, pointing to the string of talismans around Xie Lingxin's waist and saying, "You've almost wiped out all the talismans my Dragon Palace was preparing to distribute this time, and you're still not satisfied?"

"Could it be that they really intend to raid the Dragon Palace?"

"I'm telling you, once you get out of here, this maze will end, and the four halls of the Lost World Garden will close! You can forget about going back in!"

Xie Lingxin pouted and said, "This is money I earned through my own abilities. I have to say, your Dragon Palace is too stingy."

"Another abandoned garden, another four main halls, another underwater maze, and this is all?"

"Can't take a beating, huh?"

The middle-aged man's beard trembled intermittently.

How can there be such a person?

He was now quite certain that the kid had no idea what the talismans on his body were for.

However, he had no intention of explaining, and said angrily, "If you still want to see the Dragon King, get out of here right now!"

"Let's go!"

Xie Lingxin didn't put up a fight. He had only been hoping to get some more benefits, but now it seemed impossible.

After all, he had already guessed who this middle-aged man was, and offending him would not be a wise move.

He got up, took a couple of steps, then turned back and tossed out a remark: "Stingy!"

"..."

The middle-aged man constantly tells himself to maintain his composure and not to bully the weak...

At the entrance of the palace.

Xie Lingxin smiled brightly: "Aunt Bai, shall we continue?"

Bai Xuanji's face was extremely ugly.

In fact, she already had this face when she was in the Wenyun Hall.

I had been hoping that this kid must know so much about poetry and literature, so he must be good at other things too, right?
The next three levels are not something you can learn just by memorizing.

Jing Shiqi is a once-in-a-century genius in classical studies; there's no way he could lose to him.

Unexpectedly, this kid passed the second test so easily, while the middle-aged man actually wanted to close all four halls, treating it like child's play.

"No need."

The one who spoke was Jing Shiqi. Although his face wasn't as bad as Bai Xuanji's, it was still a bit pale.

"Even if I had argued with you just now, I wouldn't have done a better job than you."

Others might not understand what the two of them were saying.

But his genius in classical studies was not something he boasted about.

The will of Heaven cannot be defied...

If he were to argue this point, he would simply follow that line of reasoning.

Can man conquer heaven?

This is indeed the mainstream view in the Federation.

The fact that humanity is where it is today, and that federations exist today, is seen by the vast majority of people as a result of human determination to overcome nature.

But actually...

He was an expert in ancient classics, yet he knew many truths.

All of this today seems to be the result of human effort, but in reality, it is nothing more than an inevitability.

It is an inevitable destiny ordained by Heaven.

The will of Heaven is vast and unfathomable; destiny is like a knife.

Where can human intervention change things?
He did not believe that what Xie Lingxin said was correct.

But it is not important.

The important thing is that he "answered correctly".

"You win, I surrender."

Jing Shiqi let out a long breath.

Although he didn't think Xie Lingxin was right, he could tell from her words that she was "erudite".

At least in the study of ancient classics, he is no less capable than him.

"You are very strong. I hope we'll have the chance to meet again in the future."

Jing Shiqi looked at Xie Lingxin and said seriously, "Next time, I will definitely not lose again!"

Before he finished speaking, he turned and left.

That was decisive and efficient.

Xie Lingxin didn't take it too seriously and stretched out her hand to Bai Xuanji: "Give it to me."

"……what?"

Xie Lingxin's expression changed: "You want to renege on your debt? The mountains and rivers will shake!"

Bai Xuanji gritted her teeth: "Don't worry, the Bai family always keeps their word! After we get out, I will naturally present Shanhe Dong to you!"

"Humph!"

Turn around and leave.

He looked a bit disheveled.

This time, she ended up losing more than she gained by trying to steal a chicken.

He wanted to trick Xie Lingxin into working for him, so he spent a lot of money to bring the World-Class Artifact, but ended up losing everything and even the Bai family's most prized possession.

If Bai Donglai finds out, she's probably in for a rough time.

"What are you looking at? Let's go!"

Xie Lingxin shrugged and left the Bianri Hall.

The onlookers were getting numb.

Xie Lingxin broke too many conventions today.

Just like before when he fought two against one, or three against four.

Their actions are enough to shatter people's worldviews.

Genius?

Can a genius really be so lawless and omnipotent?

Is that too much?

"Xie Lingxin!"

Li Miaoyin chased after him, saying, "You don't need so many of those Dragon Abyss Tokens, sell them all to me!"

She actually wanted to get something for free and share in the profits, but she had seen enough of this guy's awfulness and knew that was impossible, so she could only offer to buy it herself.

"Tell me first, what is this thing used for?"

Xie Lingxin jingled a string of talismans at her waist, making Li Miaoyin's heart itch.

Li Jingzhe walked over at this moment: "This is the pass token for the ancient Dragon Abyss, the Trial Grounds."

(End of this chapter)