newbobooks Chapter 387 Becoming the top scholar?
Chapter 387 Becoming the top scholar?
This formation has limitations. It is impossible for max-level bosses like Jun Ning and Shen Wenxin to enter the novice village. The two can only make preparations outside. It goes without saying that Min Xiao did it on purpose.
However, those people did not dare to escape alone. With the Immortal Master outside, they felt much more at ease. They felt that it was much safer than if they left. Seeing that Jun Ning and the others did not say anything, they simply stayed outside the formation and rested.
When everyone followed the young man and stepped into the edge of the formation, the dusk suddenly and strangely stagnated.
Lead-gray clouds froze into ice crystals in mid-air, and the gravel road beneath his feet suddenly rippled like water waves. Lu Wensheng felt his temple jump violently, and a large area of black and white demonic energy exploded on his retina, which was now weaving a web at the entrance of the formation at a speed visible to the naked eye.
He only had time to reach out and grab Wu Feipeng who was walking beside him. As soon as his fingertips touched the corner of the other's sleeve, his whole body felt like he fell into a pool of ink, and the roar of bells and drums in the golden palace suddenly rang in his ears.
The silver-grey light before my eyes exploded into tiny spots of light, and thousands of overlapping buzzing sounds suddenly rang in my ears.
Amid the rolling black fog, a faint light suddenly appeared in front of his eyes. When he shook his head and opened his eyes, Wu Feipeng, Ji Yanli and others around him had disappeared. What he was stepping on was not clouds, but a wide street paved with bluestone slabs.
What lingers on the tip of your nose is no longer the fishy sweet smell of rotten leaves and evil spirits, but the rich fragrance of agarwood and rouge powder.
Looking up, you will see a vermilion lacquered and gold-painted archway. The four gold-plated characters "Zhuangyuan Jidi" on the plaque sparkle in the sun. The tassels of the palace lanterns on both sides sway in the breeze, making a sound of gold foil colliding.
The gilded eaves cast a shadow above his head, and the vermilion lacquered palace walls reflected the warm afternoon sun. Lu Wensheng stared at his folded hands in a daze - the cuffs of what should have been a black inner garment were now embroidered with a lotus pattern outlined in gold thread, and his outer robe had been replaced with a bright red brocade robe at some point, with a jade belt around his waist buckled with a mutton-fat jade cicada, and a jade crown inlaid with oriental pearls pinned in his hair, with tassels hanging down to just cover his eyebrows.
A crisp laugh came from the side. A maid with two braids in her hair leaned over with a gold-lacquered tray. In the tray was a silver cup filled with sweet-scented osmanthus honey. "Today is the big day for the master to ride a horse and parade through the streets! Let us wear flowers for the master."
Lu Wensheng let the other person put on a fresh red peony for him, and the fluff on the petals rubbed his earlobes, making them itchy.
"The number one scholar has finally come out!" The shrill voice of an eunuch came from behind him. Lu Wensheng turned around and saw eight Jinwu guards clasping their fists in unison, with their red tasseled hats swaying in the wind.
A middle-aged man in official uniform came up to them with a smile, put his hand on Lu Wensheng's elbow, and led him to the side of the street.
"Your Majesty is already waiting in front of Chengtian Gate. Please mount your horse and parade through the streets!"
Lu Wensheng was full of questions: Wait, No. 1 Scholar? Are you talking about him?
Before he could say anything, he was escorted through the vermilion-painted corner gate. The bluestone road was covered with freshly swept locust petals. Twelve snow-blue horses with silver saddles and bridles stood in front of the palace gate. The saddle of the horse in the middle was wrapped with gold tassels.
The sound of golden gongs clearing the way came from outside the palace gate, and the roar of firecrackers exploded in my ears, and a sense of unreality suddenly surged in my heart.
"The number one scholar is parading in the streets—"
Amid the deafening cheers, the noise of the onlookers suddenly became clearer. Through the carved vermilion lacquered fence, one could see that the restaurant across the street was crowded with noble ladies throwing flowers, the pearls and jade on their temples reflecting a colorful halo in the sun.
Lu Wensheng lowered his eyes and looked at the scarlet brocade robe on his body.
The wide sleeves embroidered with cranes with spread wings in gold thread were tied with a jade belt. A mutton-fat jade pendant with a pair of fish playing with a pearl hung around the waist. Even the hair hanging in front of the chest was wrapped with crimson silk ribbons.
Confusedly, he was riding on a snow-white horse, and the horse's hooves stepped on the bluestone slabs, splashing fine gold foil.
Lu Wensheng's throat tightened and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the jade cicada buckle - the touch was too real, even the patterns on the wings of the jade cicada were clearly visible, but the illusion in the formation should not be so realistic.
The Jinwu Guards had helped him onto the saddle. Just as he stepped firmly into the stirrup, crisp laughter came from the second floor facing the street. A noble lady in a goose yellow skirt threw a plain white handkerchief across the carved railing.
More flowers and sachets followed.
Red peonies fell on the silver saddle, white jasmine wrapped around the horse's bridle, and a young lady with double buns even stood on tiptoe to stuff a bunch of lychees into his arms, the crystal peels still stained with morning dew.
Pink peach blossoms, white pear blossoms, and lavender lilacs fluttered down, and a few petals happened to fall on his lapels, smelling fragrant.
He subconsciously reached out to catch a falling peach blossom, his fingertips touching the delicate lines on the petals. Looking up, he saw rows of shops on both sides of the street, with wine flags waving, selling candied haws, silk, calligraphy and paintings, everything you could think of. The pedestrians were dressed differently, some elegant, some luxurious, all with excited smiles on their faces, without any sign of anything unusual.
People on both sides of the street were crowded on the road, all wanting to catch a glimpse of the scholar. Men wore turbans, women wore flowers in their hair and put on makeup, children rode on their fathers and brothers' shoulders and waved colorful flags, and young girls held silk flowers and stood on tiptoe to look around. Everyone had a joyous smile on their face, as if they were really welcoming the new number one scholar.
"Are you stunned, No. 1 scholar?" The official accompanying him on horseback laughed and joked, "Today is your big day. The people of Xiangsheng City are looking forward to your parade! You are the most handsome No. 1 scholar I have ever seen!"
Lu Wensheng smiled, causing a round of cheers, but he was confused: What on earth was going on? Why did he suddenly end up in such a place? Where did the others go?
Is this city called Xiangsheng City? Lu Wensheng thought the name was strange, but he did know Xiangsheng Flowers. Xiangsheng Flowers? It is an ancient handicraft made of silk fabrics imitating fresh flowers. It is mainly made of materials such as Luo, silk, and silk. It is a kind of artificial flower, also known as velvet silk flower or Beijing flower.
Does it have any meaning...
"Could it be that this formation can not only create illusions, but also create a real space? Or, as that young man said, it can imprison the souls of living beings to maintain the formation, and these residents are the souls of those captured beings."
There are too many doubts. Thinking of this, Lu Wensheng couldn't help but worry about the safety of his companions. He wondered whether they were in Xiangsheng City or somewhere else.
But the scene before him was too real to allow him to think too much.
As the horses moved slowly forward, the cheers on the street grew louder and louder, and people kept crowding to the roadside, wanting to catch a glimpse of the new top scholar.
Lu Wensheng sat on his horse, letting flowers and handkerchiefs continue to fall on his body, but his eyes involuntarily looked towards the palace that was gradually getting farther away. The palace was magnificent with its flying eaves and brackets, and looked particularly solemn against the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds.
Looking up, the Chengtian Gate Tower was looming in the morning mist. The Chengtian Gate Tower was gilded and shining in the sun. The thirty-six glazed lamps hanging under the eaves had not yet been extinguished. I saw that the bright yellow umbrella cover of the so-called His Majesty had been moved to the center of the tower, gilding the figure standing in the corridor with a gilded edge.
In the very center, a bright yellow figure sat upright, his face blocked by the jade strings hanging from his crown. On both sides, the court robes of civil and military officials spread out like colorful clouds. The jade pendants on their waists collided in the wind, but one could not hear clearly what they were whispering.
Lu Wensheng narrowed his eyes slightly: Since he is the top scholar, he will go to the palace to report on his work.