Chapter 190 A Talented Individual, Weighed by Fortune!
turn out to be…
Over a hundred years ago, ten golden scales descended from the sky and fell into the pond. A powerful clan pumped water and dug the ground, hoping to find a [treasure].
However, the "golden scales" seemed both real and illusory, and no matter what methods the powerful clans used, they could not find them.
After discussions among the various tribes, it was discovered that the "Golden Scales" preferred to eat the talents of the proud young.
Using this as bait, they might be lured out.
The prominent families of Fucheng have spent lavishly over the years organizing the "Grand Banquet of the Prodigies," meticulously crafting a grand spectacle and exquisite dishes, all to inspire their prodigies to display their talents and abilities.
Below the Tianren Tower stands an ancient bronze cauldron, used to hold the talents of outstanding young men.
Years, decades… countless brilliant minds have feasted and drunk to their hearts' content in this building, displaying their talents to the fullest. In their words and actions, their brilliance shines forth, gathering in the great cauldron at the bottom of the lake.
In return, golden carp leaped into the pool, their golden light shining everywhere.
Golden light splashed, and all was silent. The goldfish swam swiftly in the pond, their movements shimmering with iridescent light.
The prodigies in the building all looked towards the lake, exclaiming in astonishment. One of them exclaimed, "The one hundred and sixth yellow-haired one is the golden carp in the pond! It is the golden carp in the pond!"
"These rare treasures are said to contain magical techniques, and one might even gain the opportunity to comprehend extraordinary arts!"
The golden light was alluring. Countless wonders and wondrous things existed in the world. The golden light illuminated Li Xian's face. He gazed at the golden scales for a long time, thinking:
"The appearance of these golden scales is no coincidence. The flesh of demons, after being boiled in a great fire, can be detoxified and transformed into pure [essence of heaven and earth], hence it is also called [essence treasure]."
"However, anything made from the flesh of demons and monsters is only considered a low-grade treasure. True treasures require the nurturing of heaven and earth and come in various shapes. This... [Golden Scales] is an excellent treasure. It is truly my good fortune to see it today!"
Li Xian sighed…
The top of Longmen Tower.
Ou Yezi laughed loudly several times and said, "The golden carp in the 106 ponds is a treasure of heaven and earth. Who obtains it and who uses it ultimately depends on the word 'fate'. I have just arrived in Qiongtianfu City and have already seen such a treasure, which shows that I have a deep connection with it."
He had waited for this moment for a long time. He immediately took a leap, soaring through the air towards the pond, reaching out to grab it.
The golden-scaled creature flicked its tail and darted to one side, dodging the attacking claw with incredible speed, like a streak of light.
Ou Yezi laughed and scolded, "Good fish, don't run away!" He was about to catch it again when a soft whip came lashing out. He dodged to the side. At the end of the whip was a small silver awl. It struck the surface of the lake, and with a loud "boom," waves surged and rose more than ten feet high.
Ou Yezi flicked his hand, shaking off the water curtain, and seized the opportunity to grab the soft whip and pull hard.
The one who just wielded the soft whip was an old woman from the Cao family. She possessed profound skill and was highly adept at whip techniques, moving like a nimble snake. This martial art was called 'Tail Whip'.
When a whip strikes, the force travels along the whip's shaft, becoming stronger towards the end! She wielded the whip like a hand, not striking with the shaft, but rather using the small silver awl at the end to poke and strike. Her skill was exceptionally refined.
However, Ou Yezi's martial arts skills, cultivation, experience, and knowledge far surpassed hers. Her first strike missed, and it was too late for her to retract her whip. Ou Yezi knew that anyone wielding a whip possessed immense power, but the drawbacks were equally obvious:
The whip was too long, and the transmission of force and energy required intervals, making it difficult to deliver the desired effect instantly. He seized this opportunity, grabbed the whip, and pulled hard. The old woman cried out in danger, about to fall into the lake.
Several members of the Cao family rushed out, using the boat to catch the old woman. She reacted quickly, dropping her whip and fleeing, thus avoiding falling into the water.
The Cao, Chu, Yuwen, Lin, and Jun families from the prefectural city arrived by boat, confronting Ou Yezi with furrowed brows.
The Cao family sent three elders, dressed in brocade robes, looking as noble as celestial beings. Cao Shuang said, "Senior Ou Yezi, we respect your skills, but why did you suddenly resort to this move? Are you trying to seize it by force?"
"You're spouting nonsense! This golden carp was waiting for me. I took it as promised. How can that be considered robbery?" Ou Yezi stood on the water, drinking heavily. His beard was stained with wine, making him look very disheveled.
"You shameless old woman, you're truly despicable!" The old woman who had just suffered a loss was furious.
Ou Yezi said, "What, am I wrong? Tell me, this golden carp doesn't appear early or late. It just so happens that it appeared right when I traveled here. What a coincidence!"
"If this isn't fate, then what is it?"
“You are clearly plotting this…” the old woman said angrily, and, provoked by this, she wanted to expose Ou Yezi’s thoughts.
But halfway through her story, Cao Shuang pulled her back. The matter of the golden scales in the pond was a secret of the Cao, Lin, Yuwen, and Chu clans. Every year, there was a grand banquet for the elite, but very few people knew the connection between the banquet and the "golden scales."
Cao Shuang thought to himself, "This Ou Yezi may seem rough and uncouth, but he is actually cunning and shrewd. He knows exactly what we dare not say. However, he is extremely strong. He has already shown a few moves, and he is already very powerful. He will not be easy to deal with. None of us elders of the various clans in the prefecture can defeat him in a one-on-one fight."
"When bad luck is truly at its worst, after accumulating for more than ten years, it is finally time for a golden fish to emerge from the pond, only to encounter this person."
After much deliberation, Cao Shuang asked, "Senior Ou Yezi, are you determined to keep this golden carp all to yourself?"
"Vulgar, so very vulgar."
Ou Yezi said smugly, "The way you say it makes it sound like I'm forcibly taking away your precious opportunities. Who am I, Ou Yezi? I have forged countless precious artifacts and divine tools, and I am revered by the world and loved by the people. It is not that I want to keep the golden carp for myself, but rather that the golden carp is inspired by my talent and wants to follow me."
"Such a treasure of heaven and earth will naturally choose its master."
Yuwen, Chu, Cao, and Lin were speechless.
Jinlin enjoys the air of pride and talent, and is fond of promising young people who are full of vigor and ambition.
Although Ou Yezi was exceptionally talented and full of vigor, he was no longer young and could not be considered "young and promising." Therefore, when Ou Yezi forcibly grabbed Jin Lin, Jin Lin tried his best to evade.
Lin Bei of the Lin family said, "According to what Senior Ou Yezi said, if the golden carp does not choose you as its master, you will never lay a finger on it?"
“Who am I, Ou Yezi? My word is my bond,” Ou Yezi said with a smile.
Cao Shuang said, "Very well, then we shall stand here and see which one the goldfish chooses as its master." The elders of each tribe stood in the lake, their feet on boats.
Jin Lin was lively and energetic, like a newly risen sun. He quickly noticed the group and swam towards an elder of the Cao family. Suddenly, Ou Yezi struck, unleashing a palm strike from a distance of ten zhang, shattering the boat beneath the elder's feet. Startled, Jin Lin fled into the distance.
The elder leaped onto someone else's boat, utterly enraged and ashamed.
"Senior Ou Yezi, what do you mean by this?" the Cao family member demanded angrily. "Didn't you say that the golden carp would choose its master?!"
"Hmph! You've gone too far!" Ou Yezi said angrily, "Seeing that I was all alone, you set a trap to cheat me!"
"What cheating? Don't talk nonsense." The Cao family retorted, feeling uneasy. The Cao family members were covered in a strange fragrance that would indeed attract the golden scales.
“I am so full of vigor, yet Jin Lin chooses your Cao family instead of me. If this is not cheating, then what is it?” Ou Yezi retorted, paused, and then said, “Let’s do it again, let’s start over and let Jin Lin choose again.”
Upon hearing this, the Cao family was both pleased and furious. They were pleased that their scheme had not been exposed, but furious that Ou Yezi was acting unscrupulously and would have to resort to robbery.
Jin Lin would choose again and again. As long as that person wasn't him, he would definitely cause trouble until Jin Lin chose him as his master.
The elders' faces turned cold. One of the Yuwen family elders said in a cold voice, "Since you, Senior Ou, are so confident in your martial arts and resort to force, why not just say it outright? It's true that you are highly skilled, but do you think our families, working together, are afraid of you?"
"Hmph, then I'll have to learn from you properly," Ou Yezi replied.
"Wait!"
Lin Bei stepped forward. Seeing that Ou Yezi seemed to be stopping after shouting "Wait!", Lin Bei's suspicions were confirmed.
He guessed, "This Ou Yezi may seem fierce, but he is unwilling to fight us fiercely for the sake of gold. All he does is seek a share of the spoils."
He secretly estimated the strength of both sides.
With the power of the prefectural city, Ou Yezi's forceful seizures would not be easy. Although his martial arts level was superior, the prefectural city's clan elders, soldiers' formations, and various traps and mechanisms would be difficult for Ou Yezi to handle.
Warriors possess immense strength and enjoy long lifespans. Like towering mountains, they stand guard over their domains. Yet, with the combined power of many, they can even move mountains!
Moreover, Ou Yezi may appear rough, but he is meticulous. His seemingly tough stance and willingness to take action at the slightest provocation are actually a means to seize the initiative, demonstrate his stance, and await negotiations.
Lin Bei, seeing through his thoughts, said, "Treasures of heaven and earth are for those with the right fate. Everyone here can be considered one of those with the right fate. Senior Ou, how about this: we divide them equally?"
Ou Yezi's expression softened considerably; he had been waiting for this question. He asked, "How should we divide it equally? If you can explain your reasoning, and if it makes sense, then it's not impossible."
Lin Bei said, "There are four powerful families here: Lin, Cao, Yuwen, and Chu. Adding Senior Ou Ye, that makes five families."
"When the golden carp is born, it splits into five parts: eyes, head, belly, body, and tail. We will each take one part. What do you all think?"
Ou Yezi was secretly pleased, nodded slightly, stroked his beard and said, "Enough, enough, I am not a domineering person. What you say makes sense, and it is not impossible."
Although the clansmen were displeased, they refrained from objecting to avoid trouble.
"Gentlemen, if I may interject, I think there's something inappropriate," a voice suddenly rang out. Zhou Shijie stood on the rooftop and addressed the crowd.
Ou Yezi, Lin Bei, Cao Shuang, Yuwen Hou, and the others were taken aback. Zhou Shijie said, "This golden scale contains a scale pearl. In my opinion, it should be divided into another portion."
"Since the fish's body, eyes, belly, tail, and head already have owners, shouldn't we have a share of this [scale pearl]?"
"Scales?" Everyone was taken aback.
The golden scales shimmered and sparkled. A golden pearl dangled from its mouth, unnoticed by anyone.
Among the golden carp in the pond, those that hold golden pearls in their mouths are the finest [golden carp], containing even richer magical essence.
“Redistribute them!” Cao Jiayan said.
“I’m afraid that’s not appropriate,” Zhou Shijie said proudly. “Although I am young, I have some experience. The golden scale is a treasure nurtured by heaven and earth, and it likes to feed on the energy of the proud talents of the human world. In the end, this golden scale is for us young talents, and even… to put it bluntly, it is for me, Zhou Shijie.”
"Just now, the elders and seniors said that it should be distributed according to fate. I think my fate with this thing is no less than yours. Since you have all received the fish head, fish tail, and fish body... logically speaking, shouldn't this scale pearl be mine?"
He was neither humble nor arrogant, and his words were sharp.
“You brat, what does this have to do with you?” Ou Yezi shouted.
In the impoverished province of Sichuan, there was a prominent Zhou family, but Zhou Shijie was not a member of that family. He had his roots elsewhere, but in such a vast region as Sichuan, he was not without support.
Zhou Shijie said loudly, "Senior Ou Yezi, is what I said unreasonable?"
"I don't care about your bullshit logic." Ou Yezi's eyes gleamed with anger.
"Is that so?" Zhou Shijie laughed. His shoulders twitched, and a unique aura emanated from his body.
He used "luck" as a scale to weigh the principles of this matter.
(End of this chapter)
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