A thunderclap tore through the heavens.
Not only did it shatter the oppressive aura emanating from the Holy Academy, but it also scared Zhang Shengcai to death—literally. His body lay lifeless, his spirit extinguished in an instant.
Nearby, Sun Wenyuan fared only marginally better. After Lin Yi recited a passage from The Ode to Righteousness, the county magistrate coughed up a mouthful of blood. His vitality visibly drained away, leaving him pallid and broken.
"Zhang Shengcai succumbed to the backlash of righteous energy, while Sun Wenyuan clings to life—but his official aura has dissipated. He’s no longer fit to govern this county."
Chen Jinbei surveyed the fallen men, quickly discerning their respective fates.
Then he turned his gaze toward Lin Yi, eyes ablaze with admiration.
Using such a passage to answer the Holy Academy’s interrogation was nothing short of extraordinary. Lin Yi had exceeded all expectations.
The righteous energy he summoned had not only warded off the Academy's suppression but also evoked a thunderbolt from the heavens—a testament to the verse's power.
"No wonder he could resonate with such profound righteous energy. He must have carried this moral integrity in his heart all along. Without it, composing this verse would have been impossible!"
Chen Jinbei restrained himself from jubilant celebration, though his excitement was barely contained. Glancing at the still-dumbfounded officials gathered at the county office, he allowed himself a small, proud smile.
This was the triumph of a scholar’s spirit.
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On the Star Observation Platform of the Holy Academy, an elderly man with flowing white hair stood amidst a shattered galaxy of starlight. He lingered on Lin Yi’s response, a faint smile forming on his weathered face.
"It’s been years—decades, perhaps—since I’ve encountered someone this intriguing," he murmured, his voice touched with nostalgia.
"I look forward to the day you set foot in the Academy."
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In Jinzhou, at Pingzhou Academy, a white-haired headmaster dressed in a black scholar's robe turned his gaze toward Anyang County. His expression was solemn.
"To compose a verse that shakes the heavens without yet being inducted into the Holy Academy—this is the mark of a true recluse."
Returning to his quarters, the headmaster donned the scholarly robes of his youth. As he stepped outside, a fellow tutor, pale and beardless, could not hide his astonishment.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"Headmaster, why are you wearing a scholar’s robe?"
The headmaster’s reply was calm yet reverent:
"In the presence of such a master, I am but a student."
With that, he departed, leaving the tutor visibly shaken.
The headmaster saddled a horse in the academy’s stable. With a soft utterance, he declared, "My steed shall have eight legs!"
As the words left his lips, the air shimmered. The horse, enveloped in a halo of scholarly energy, grew an additional set of legs.
Neighing sharply, the magical steed galloped off with a speed that defied the wind.
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Meanwhile, in the southern province of Yunzhou, the headmaster of Qingping Academy made his decision.
"To summon righteous energy so potent that even the Holy Master was compelled to respond—it is imperative to pay respects to this sage."
Without hesitation, he set out for Anyang.
At the same time, the headmaster of Junji Academy abandoned his lecture mid-session, still clad in his formal robes. Like a beacon, the lingering righteous energy in the heavens guided these scholarly luminaries toward Lin Yi.
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Back at the county office, Lin Yi stood bathed in a radiant golden light, his eyes closed as he absorbed the righteous energy flowing into him.
Unaware of the eminent figures racing to meet him, he reflected inwardly.
"The Ode to Righteousness is truly formidable. If I had composed the full poem, its impact might have been even greater."
His senses heightened. Though his eyes were closed, he could perceive every sound around him—the officials’ breathing, the whispers of the wind, the skittering of insects in the corners, and even the hushed murmurs of those nearby.
"According to the texts on the Path of the Scholar, this must be the Ninth Rank of Enlightenment."
When Lin Yi opened his eyes, the heightened sensory perception vanished, yet his vision and hearing remained significantly sharper. Beyond that, he now felt an intimate connection to the world around him, as though a translucent filter had been lifted.
The ambient scholarly energy he once found cold and lifeless now seemed warm and invigorating, resonating with him in perfect harmony.
Chen Jinbei stepped forward, smiling as he clasped his hands in salute.
"Congratulations, Lin Yi! You’ve achieved the Ninth Rank of Enlightenment, embodying righteous energy. Your future is boundless!"
"Thank you, Teacher Chen," Lin Yi replied, his mood lightened by the resolution of his ordeal.
With righteous energy fortifying his path, his journey in the Way of the Scholar would undoubtedly be smoother.
"Now that your name has been cleared, what are your plans for the future?" Chen Jinbei asked, his tone expectant.
Lin Yi hesitated. The future? He hadn’t given it much thought.
"Zhang Shengcai falsely accused me of stealing a technique. Sun Wenyuan, to evade responsibility, sentenced me to exile. I’ll ensure justice is served before making further plans."
His path seemed clear—enroll in a prestigious academy, continue his scholarly cultivation, and earn enough silver to provide for his foster father, Su Huaizhi.
Lin Yi thought of Su Huaizhi’s sacrifices. For over a decade, the man had raised him single-handedly, living in poverty and forgoing his own happiness.
It was time to repay that kindness.
"Zhang Shengcai has already paid the price for his crimes," Chen Jinbei remarked, glancing at the lifeless body. "The backlash of righteous energy terrified him to death. As for Magistrate Sun, his scholarly heart is shattered, his official aura extinguished. He’s lucky to be alive."
"Terrified to death?" Lin Yi repeated, startled.
Looking down at Zhang Shengcai’s lifeless form, he felt no pity.
The scales of justice had finally tipped.