"What is happening? There are no rules at all!" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the golden dragon, and tried to analyse its movements and trajectory. However, after staring at it for a full minute, he did not manage to point out any patterns or extract any rules from it. ???
This led him to feel even more anxious.
The Seventh Heaven…..
He was unable to even pass the Seventh Heaven, how was he able to overtake Chi Guyan, and to enter the Ninth Heaven?
Was he really going to be Chi Guyan's lowly servant? He was unsure how Chi Guyan would torture him. If his duties merely included the pouring of tea or water, it would still be bearable for him.
What if it involved wax play or the whipping of his body?
Fang Zhengzhi felt that this possibility was very small, but there was nothing definite in this world. Who would be able to guarantee that such an event would never occur?
Even if Chi Guyan had no such hobbies herself, but if she really wanted to try them out, as a lowly servant, he would not be able to resist.
No!
He definitely could not allow such things to happen!
But, how could he solve it? It was just a dragon, one which did not have any patterns or rules on it. No matter from which perspective, he was unable to see how this was related to any "Dao"?
Rules…..
No rules?
If there were no rules, was this then related to the dragon itself?
No, no!
He had informed Chi Guyan about the Illustration of All Creation, and it was because of his reminder that Chi Guyan had managed to solve the Seventh Heaven.
This was a very important point!
What was the Illustration of All Creation? It was the evolution, the evolution of the different pictures!
Dragon…..
Evolution!
"Could it be….." Suddenly, a daring idea appeared in Fang Zhengzhi's mind, and it became increasingly clear to him.
Actually he had a certain level of understanding towards dragons.
As the legend goes, dragons were always mythical existences, and nobody had actually seen one. Of course, that was in the previous universe. In this current universe, Fang Zhengzhi did not dare to affirm such a belief.
But, according to the book records, the physical shape of dragons was actually an example of evolution.
As recorded, "The dragon is the king of reptiles. There are 81 scales on its back, and its sound is like the beating of gongs. It has a beard near its mouth, and a pearl on its chin. It can produce water, and it can also generate fire."
In the romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao had also mentioned about the specialties of the dragon, "A dragon can be big or small, and can rise up or hide itself. When enlarged it can emit fog, and can make itself invisible when compressed."
These were all the special capabilities of a dragon. Besides all these, the physical shape of the dragon was also an evidence of evolution. There was a common expression which could be split into nine commonalities: horns like that of a deer, head like that of a cattle, eyes like that of a prawn, mouth like that of a mule, abdomen like that of a snake, scales like that of a carp, claws like that of a hawk, beard like that of a human, and ears like that of an elephant.
As such, it could be said that dragons themselves were a form of evolution, or rather, a combination of all living species, as they encompassed all the special traits.
"Understood, understood!" Fang Zhengzhi's eyes lit up, as numerous golden symbols shimmered in his eyes.
It was the same sight as when Chi Guyan had solved the Seventh Heaven.
And just when the golden symbols had lit up, Fang Zhengzhi felt that the dragon in front of him had became increasingly clearer to him, and it was as if the dragon was living inside his body.
"So it's like that…..are these the nine Heavens?" Upon reaching this point, Fang Zhengzhi seemed to have understood the hidden meaning in these nine Heavens.
As for the bottom three Heavens, the hidden meaning was the characteristic of Dao.
And as for the middle three Heavens, they focused on the importance of evolution and the multiple evolutions of Dao.
As for the upper three Heavens…..
It was the importance of fusion, and the fusion of the different Daos, as well as how evolution had led to fusion.
It was possible for everything to fuse into one.
"Yan Qing has entered the Seventh Heaven!"
"Yan Qing has entered….."
"...."
At this moment, the majestic voice rang in the air again. Next, Yang Qing's figure appeared in front of Fang Zhengzhi instantly.
"Fang Zhengzhi, you have yet to solve the Seventh Heaven….." Yan Qing looked towards Fang Zhengzhi immediately upon arrival.
However, he was unable to complete his sentence because the majestic voice in the air had interrupted him.
"Fang Zhengzhi has entered the Eighth Heaven!"
"Fang Zhengzhi has entered…."
"....."
After the voice rang in the air, Fang Zhengzhi's body disappeared from its original position.
"....." Yan Qing's mouth moved, but after realising that the Seventh Heaven was empty except for the seven round pillars, he did not know what else to say.
But at this moment, he heard a voice.
"A thousand processes of evolution, fused into one!"
"A thousand processes of evolution…..fused into one?" Yan Qing was able to recognise that the voice originated from Fang Zhengzhi, but he did not understand the meaning behind his sentence.
However, his vision landed on the suspending picture above his forehead.
"Dragon?!" After Yan Qing saw the picture, he seemed as anxious as Fang Zhengzhi when the latter had initially seen the picture. In fact, his expression was even more exaggerated, "Why is there a dragon? This dragon…..what does it mean?"
…..
When the news of Fang Zhengzhi entering the Eighth Heaven had reached outside the Divine Rain Pond, it naturally brought shock to Sixth Elder and the Heaven Dao Pavilion disciples.
Afterall, in the history of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, there were only a few who had managed to enter the Eighth Heaven. In fact, the numbers were extremely extremely small.
Only seven of them.
And now, this number was successfully altered, from the initial seven to the current nine, and it was altered on the same day.
How could one not feel astounded?
However, the selection test in the Divine Rain Pond had already ended. The Eighth Heaven was then everyone's final destination.
"This fellow really did it? Entered the Eighth Heaven! How did he manage to do it?"
"I'm not sure, but I am sure that this fellow is indeed a rare prodigy. He is very strong, really very strong!"
"Yeah, one who is able to enter the Eighth Heaven…..must be capable?"
While the Heaven Dao Pavilion disciples were feeling shocked, each one of them slowly looked at the Divine Rain Pond, feeling a little more respectful towards him.
Even Sixth Elder, upon hearing the news, felt astounded too, as he sighed softly under his breath, "Such a capable successor! What a pity, what a pity indeed….."
"Regarding that, Yan Qing had also entered the Seventh Heaven, not sure if there's any possibility that he would reach the Eighth Heaven. Afterall, there is still some an hour left before the Divine Rain Pond closes!"
"If Yan Qing were to really enter the Eighth Heaven, it would be a real miracle!"
"Hahaha…..yes true. To have three person entering the Eighth Heaven within a single day, I do not even dare to envision such a scenario!"
The disciples looked up at the sky, as they turned their attention towards another person, which would then be Yan Qing who had entered Seventh Heaven.
Afterall, in their hearts, Chi Guyan and Fang Zhengzhi had already reached the limit.
It was impossible for them to continue!
…..
In the Eighth Heaven of the Divine Rain Pond.
Upon entering, Fang Zhengzhi saw that there were white pillars which were identical to that in the Seventh Heaven. Chi Guyan was standing in front of the pillars.
A pink dress fluttering lightly in the air.
It was a beautiful scenario, but Fang Zhengzhi did not spend too much effort admiring it, because it was obvious that Chi Guyan was starting attentively at the suspending picture.
She did not bother to greet Fang Zhengzhi, unlike what had happened previously in the Seventh Heaven.
"Oh? You're looking at the picture, if you have any knowledge you can share them with me. Who knows, you may even receive my guidance, just like what had happened in the Seventh Heaven. You must understand, that you owe it to me that you manage to enter the Eighth Heaven, yes?" Fang Zhengzhi said as he strode towards Chi Guyan.
Of course, while he was walking over, he looked up towards the suspending picture.
He gave it a look…..
Fang Zhengzhi's footsteps halted immediately.
Because, the suspending picture did not contain any ink or drawings. It was an empty piece of paper.
Empty paper?!
Fang Zhengzhi had a sudden feeling, that this world was void of any existence of trust and love. To have a dragon appear in front of him the Seventh Heaven was already frustrating enough for him.
And in the Eighth Heaven, there was an empty white paper?
How?
It was as if he had waited confidently for the examiner to question him, but the examiner did not even utter a single word, and merely threw him a piece of empty paper.
Without any questions…..
How would he answer it?
The range of questions were far too broad, and he could only rely on his luck to guess what the examiner was thinking.
However, Fang Zhengzhi did not even know who the examiner of this question was. So, how could he guess the examiner's thought process?
Chi Guyan, upon hearing Fang Zhengzhi's words, retracted her vision, before slowly turning towards Fang Zhengzhi.
"My thinking is that everything started from nothing and evolved into something, before disappearing into nothing again. All things came from nothing and will disappear into nothing. You? Do you have a different thinking?" Chi Guyan opened her mouth after turning her body around. She did not seem to hesitate at all.
"All things came from nothing and will disappear into nothing?" Fang Zhengzhi shuddered slightly, as he could not help but repeat Chi Guyan's words.
Chi Guyan's words undoubtedly caused him to be slightly shocked, as afterall, he did not expect her to share her ideas so generously.
It was obvious that she seemed different from her behaviour in the Seventh Heaven.
"If you do not have any ideas for now, you can first take a look at it." Chi Guyan found a place to sit down, and did not bother to look at the suspending picture.
"Why must you express your ideas?" Fang Zhengzhi felt even more bewildered after seeing Chi Guyan sitting down.
Initially, he had prepared to use words to provocate Chi Guyan with his reasonings and principles in an imposing manner, so as to disturb her thought process.
He did not intend to show any mercy, until Chi Guyan has fallen to the ground.
But…..
Chi Guyan was just sitting on the ground currently, and Fang Zhengzhi felt as though he had just punched onto cotton. He felt devoid of energy and strength.
"Didn't you just say it? Thanks to your reminder, I can then enter the Eighth Heaven. So now, of course I will express my ideas and thoughts." Chi Guayn said naturally.
"I almost believe you." Fang Zhengzhi gave her a disdainful look, as he was not willing to believe Chi Guyan's words.
He understood Chi Guyan very well.
According to her disposition, she would never admit defeat. Furthermore, she had spent so much effort planning this game of chess.
If Chi Guyan really wanted him to win, she would not have announced the gamble between them, which resulted in Sixth Elder expelling him into the Jungle of Mysteries.
A trap!
It was very obvious that it was a trap!
Fang Zhengzhi would not fall into it. However, as for Chi Guyan's words just now, he did not manage to find any problems with it.
Because, just like what Chi Guyan had said…..
The empty paper in front of them could possibly meant what she had just said, that all things came from nothing and would disappear into nothing.
But if that were to really be the answer, why would Chi Guyan reveal such information, and more importantly, why was she still waiting in the Eighth Heaven.
A problem.
There must be a problem.
But, where was the crux of the problem?
Fang Zhengzhi did not quite understand. He observed the suspending picture a few more times, and moments later, he reached a conclusion.
It was really a piece of empty paper.
And it was a very common piece of paper. There were no traces of marks or inkings.
Did he have to look at the piece of empty paper for an hour?
Fang Zhengzhi looked towards Chi Guyan who was closing her eyes to recharge her energy. He immediately sat down beside her.
A light breeze blew past, against Chi Guyan's long dress.
Instantly, Fang Zhengzhi could smell the perfume dissipating from Chi Guyan's body, coupled with her breath and her body temperature.
"I have a question to ask you." Fang Zhengzhi laid down as he looked up at the sky above him.
"Ask then." Chi Guyan did not open her eyes but merely nodded her head lightly.
"Would you say, if I suddenly attack you now, resulting in your unconsciousness, I would then win this match?" Fang Zhengzhi adjusted his body slightly into a more comfortable position.
"No, not counted." Chi Guyan's answer was very crisp and direct.
"It's not counted if I beat you into unconsciousness?"
"Of course not, we are comparing as to who can reach a higher Heaven in a shorter time, and I had reached the Eighth Heaven one step ahead of you. If you do not manage to reach the Ninth Heaven, then I would have won this gamble." Chi Guyan answered.
"But that was because I had helped you!" Fang Zhengzhi seemed a little unsatisfied.
"But the fact is that I was faster than you, no?" Chi Guyan followed Fang Zhengzhi and slowly laid her body on the ground.
"....." Fang Zhengzhi did not say anything, because what Chi Guyan had said were all facts, that they were competing as to who could reach a higher Heaven in a shorter time.
Upon thinking till this point, Fang Zhengzhi felt the temperature surrounding him to be warmer than usual. Next, he felt a weight resting on his shoulder.
"Eh?" Fang Zhengzhi looked around instantly, before realising that Chi Guyan's head was actually resting on his shoulder.
Cannot be?
Chi Guyan started developing feelings for me?
His charisma had suddenly became so overwhelming? In such a scenario, should he make use of the opportunity to gain an advantage?
But, during the time when he was staying in Chi Guyan's small wooden house, they had always kept an appropriate distance between each other.
There's a trap!
Chi Guyan's actions seemed abnormal. First, she expressed her ideas generously, next she actually used this tactic to fool around with him.
Wait…..
Was this girl trying to delay the time?
After such a thought flashed past Fang Zhengzhi's mind, he woke up instantly. Next, a drop of cold sweat slid down from his forehead.
Obviously, Chi Guyan was deliberately trying to delay the time.
First, she pretended to be magnanimous, expressing her ideas. Next, to let his guard down, she sat on the ground and closed her eyes, as if she had pretended to give up on the Eighth Heaven.
Indeed, an actress!
More importantly, if Chi Guyan was able to solve the Eighth Heaven, she would not have waited for Fang Zhengzhi to come up before entering the Ninth Heaven herself.
"I'm going to see the picture!" Fang Zhengzhi moved his shoulders before standing up. Next, he looked up at the suspending blank paper.
"Ok, actually I have an insight, do you want to hear?" Chi Guyan's body sat up as a smile revealed across her face.
"It's better if you stop your act now, be more sincere!" Fang Zhengzhi pointed his middle finger at Chi Guyan before giving her a scornful look.
"Hehe…." Upon hearing that, Chi Guyan could not help but started laughing out loud. She resembled a beautiful flower, which had finally fully blossomed.
It was the sort of beauty that would instantly cause even the brightest stars to lose their glow. It was stunning and magnificent.