But Fang Zhengzhi did not have the mood to appreciate Chi Guyan's beauty. Afterall, he only had less than an hour left to solve the difficult problem at hand.
An empty piece of paper…..
What did it refer to?
Following Chi Guyan's concept, all things came from nothing and would disappear into nothing. Such a logic was not difficult to understand.
However, was this really the case?
Fang Zhengzhi was not sure of that, and he had no way of confirming it, because if that was true, he would have been in the Ninth Heaven by now.
There was a problem, definitely a problem, but what was it? Was Chi Guyan's concept not complete, or were there other meanings to it?
Fang Zhengzhi looked at the suspending blank piece of paper again.
It was needless to say that the paper was indeed very white, and there was nothing special to it. If it had not been in the Eighth Heaven, he would not have given it a second look.
"So difficult indeed!" Fang Zhengzhi's heart gave out a sigh internally.
Actually, when he had first seen the piece of blank paper in the Eighth Heaven, he immediately understood that it was definitely not a random occurrence that only one person managed to enter the Ninth Heaven in the history of the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
A piece of blank paper, that was too difficult. He had nothing to start with…..
Wait!
Start?
Suddenly, an inexplicable yet daring idea flashed across Fang Zhengzhi's mind. Or rather, it was an idea that no one had thought of before, and would not think of.
And that was…..
To draw on the painting.
Of course, it was not difficult to think of such an idea. However, the Divine Rain Pond was considered to be a sacred place of the Heaven Dao Pavilion.
As a disciple of the Heaven Dao Pavilion, who would dare to draw on it?
If Fang Zhengzhi had already joined the Heaven Dao Pavilion, or if he did not have such a gamble with Chi Guyan, even if he were to think of this idea, he would not dare to do it.
Because, if he were to fail, the consequences would be unimaginable.
It could be said that Fang Zhengzhi was the first "outsider" to ever enter the Divine Rain Pond.
Upon having such a thought, Fang Zhengzhi's eyes lit up, and it felt as though he had seen a ray of light in the dark.
"Give it a try? I have already reached here anyway, and I won't be pregnant even if I give it a try. If I were to really spoil it…..then I'll run!" Fang Zhengzhi felt no pressure at all.
Since he was definitely leaving this place, he had to give it a try before leaving. Of course, the more important reason was that he felt that the Nine Heavens could not have been designed so poorly, having existed for such a long time.
The picture would be ruined just from his drawings?
It should not happen!
Fang Zhengzhi had always been a rash person, and he seldom hesitated for long before acting. As for the brush…..as a scholar himself, naturally he would bring one along with him at all times.
The Four Treasures of the Study appeared before him.
"Stop laughing, prepare the ink for me!" Fang Zhengzhi envisioned that he was about to enter the Ninth Heaven soon, thus he ordered Chi Guyan around and treated her like his servant.
"Ink?" Chi Guyan stopped her laughter as her bright eyes looked towards the Four Treasures of the Study in front of Fang Zhengzhi. Next, she looked at the suspending empty piece of paper and seemed to have instantly figured it out, "Are you thinking of drawing on the paper?"
"Can't I?" Fang Zhengzhi asked her back.
"You can give it a try." Chi Guyan nodded her head after a short period of silence, before sitting beside Fang Zhengzhi and preparing the ink for him.
Such an action.
Undoubtedly led Fang Zhengzhi to feel a little astonished, because he did not expect Chi Guyan to approve of his actions so casually.
Did this girl not have any intention of protecting the "public property"?
Of course, all these were not important anymore, since Chi Guyan had already agreed to it. Next, it was time to think of what to draw.
Draw a dragon?
Or maybe, a phoenix, or even a red grouper. How about a grouper leaping over a dragon gate, so as to demonstrate his spectacular brush skills.
Hmm, too complex….
Just give it a try then, just like the First Heaven. A stroke was sufficient to demonstrate the different complex logics.
He saw the ink pouring out from the inkstone and he picked up his brush and dipped it inside.
Next, he leapt up.
It could be said that Fang Zhengzhi's stance was very elegant, as his shoulders were extended and his eyes filled with energy. He resembled a swan goose flying in the sky.
Of course, it would be perfect if not for his tattered blue gown.
Chi Guyan did not make any moves upon seeing that, and she merely looked at Fang Zhengzhi quietly. A smile could be seen hidden in her face.
Closer, closer…..
In just a breath of stroke, he wielded his brush across the paper.
The ink from Fang Zhengzhi's brush left a sword-like mark on the blank white paper.
"Not bad, my stroke is powerful, very imposing indeed!" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the mark on the paper, and seemed satisfied.
Then…..
Nothing happened.
A stroke of ink indeed appeared on the picture, but there was no majestic sound, and Fang Zhengzhi was still in the Eighth Heaven.
"....." Fang Zhengzhi blinked his eyes upon landing on the ground. "Is one stroke not enough, do I need to draw a few more strokes? Or do I really need to draw a grouper leaping over the dragon gate?"
While he was thinking about all these, the picture suddenly started emitting rays of light, just like that of a crystal white jade.
"Eh?" Chi Guyan seemed a little shocked upon seeing what had happened, as she stared intently at the picture.
Fang Zhengzhi's face was filled with joyous expression too.
"There's movement, I'm indeed a genius!" Fang Zhengzhi gave himself 32 praises. Afterall, nobody would have thought of such an abnormal idea. "Seems like…..it's time for me to be basked in glory in the Ninth Heaven!"
Waiting.
Fang Zhengzhi was waiting for the majestic voice to ring in the air.
But the fact was that the majestic voice never appeared, and that Fang Zhengzhi's stroke on the picture slowly disappeared.
It seemed as though the white paper had absorbed it.
"Disappeared? From something into nothing? Should be this!" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the picture which had once again turned white, as he felt even more confident.
And at this moment, a loud howling sound reverberated across the quiet horizon.
It was the sound of a thunder.
Next, a purple ray of lightning struck across the horizon, as it approached Fang Zhengzhi swiftly.
"Eh? Is this the proper method of entering the Ninth Heaven?" Fang Zhengzhi was a little bewildered, as the lightning struck onto his body.
"Hong!" The ground vibrated.
Fang Zhengzhi felt immortalised for a moment, as the lightning wrapped around his body, causing him to feel numb all over.
And, more importantly…..
Fang Zhengzhi's face was very black.
Of course, any other person would have their face turned black too, after being struck by lightning.
Then…..
Nothing happened again.
The horizon restored its light, and the wind was still as refreshing as ever. The eight white pillars were still erected in front of him, and the suspending picture was still as white as ever.
"....." Fang Zhengzhi's expression turned black, and he seemed confused. "So, that's all? I thought one stroke was sufficient? Will I not fly up to the Ninth Heaven?"
"Hahaha….." Chi Guyan laughed loudly, and she did not even bother to conceal her unscrupulous laughter. Even her body was palpitating.
"....." Fang Zhengzhi was speechless, and felt extremely depressed. He was never as depressed as he was currently before.
All along, he had always felt that his ideas were superior to others.
Take this incident as an example…..
Such a daring yet creative idea, who would be able to think of that? Even if others were able to think of such ideas, who would dare to do it?
No one!
Impossible for anyone to do it!
Fang Zhengzhi was very sure that his ideas and methods were extremely unique, but unfortunately, the reality was ruthless.
Not only did he not manage to enter the Ninth Heaven, he was still struck by lightning?
What was this meaning!
Wait!
It would be wrong to say that he did not receive anything from that experience. At least he was struck by lightning, that was a fact for sure?
"Very funny?" Fang Zhengzhi turned around to look at Chi Guyan.
"Is it not funny?" Chi Guyan asked him back. Her eyes were filled with joy, and the laughter was genuine and coming from her heart.
"At least, there were movements, no?" Fang Zhengzhi refuted.
"Since that's what you say, it seems….. Ok, maybe that's really one method!" Chi Guyan stopped laughing as her face seemed to turn serious once again, as if she was considering about the issue.
Fang Zhengzhi curled his lips, as he mumbled in his heart, "One method? Why don't you try this method then!"
Chi Guyan walked to Fang Zhengzhi's side as she looked up at the picture contemplating the issue.
"Maybe…..there's a problem with your drawing." Chi Guyan did not look at Fang Zhengzhi as she said that, and it seemed as though she was talking to herself.
"What problem?" Fang Zhengzhi refuted.
"Recall the situation carefully, from the First Heaven to the Seventh Heaven, did it not turn complex along the way, before fusing into one?" Chi Guyan proceeded to reply him.
"Hmm?" Fang Zhengzhi seemed a little bewildered, as his mind recalled the drawings from the First Heaven to the Seventh.
It was indeed what Chi Guyan had said.
From the First Heaven to the Third, there was only one stroke, and it did not seem to fluctuate much.
From the Fourth Heaven onwards, there were more fluctuations, with even more numerous changes. The fluctuations had reached its peak at the Sixth Heaven.
Finally, at the Seventh Heaven…..
They had fused into "one".
Of course, this "one" was not the numerical number "one", but after countless evolution processes, everything fused into one body.
Fang Zhengzhi's eyes lit up, as he realised that everything seemed like a cycle, where everything originated from nothing, before disappearing into nothing.
"I think we can try again!" Chi Guyan opened her mouth again, as her voice was filled with an unusual form of stubbornness.
"How do you want to try?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
"I have observed it carefully just now. After you drew that one stroke on the picture, there was no immediate reaction. It was only after a while that it started emitting light." Chi Guyan analysed out loud.
"So, your meaning is?"
"Maybe…..it was waiting for you to draw another stroke!"
"Draw another stroke? Impossible, so that I'll invite two more lightning bolts?" Fang Zhengzhi replied.
"Maybe!" Chi Guyan nodded her head.
"....." Fang Zhengzhi felt that it was almost definite that such a scenario would happen, and that his body would only be used as a shield. "Why not, you give it a try?"
"Alright!" Chi Guyan nodded her head again without hesitation.
Fang Zhengzhi felt a little shocked.
Really?
Would Chi Guyan really believe that one stroke was insufficient, and that two strokes would suffice? This type of foolishness did not seem to coincide with Chi Guyan's intelligence.
Should he more generous, and allow her to give it a try?
No!
What if the girl really flew up to the Ninth Heaven because she drew on the picture? Even if he followed suit, there was no use then.
As long as Chi Guyan reached the Ninth Heaven before him, then it would mean the end of the competition, as there was no way for him to overtake her again.
He must not let her try!
Fang Zhengzhi wanted to stop her, but he paused for a while as he felt that somewhere was wrong. Could Chi Guyan be deliberately making use of his fear of losing, as to induce him to continue trying to draw on the picture?
And she would then stay at the back and laugh at him?
This possibility was very high, as Chi Guyan was never the naive and foolish person that she was currently.
How?
Should he let Chi Guyan give it a try, or should be give it another try?
Fang Zhengzhi could not make up his mind, as if he were to allow Chi Guyan to try, he might lose the bet. But if he were to try it himself, he may suffer another two lightning bolts…..
"I will go and draw now." Just when Fang Zhengzhi was contemplating, Chi Guyan took out her own brush, and dipped it inside the inkstone.
"Wait a while!" Fang Zhengzhi saw that Chi Guyan was about to leap up, and did not contemplate any longer. He immediately stopped Chi Guyan's "rash" actions, "I am a man, I should do this type of things!"
"You're sure?" Chi Guyan gave him a weird look.
"Of course I am sure!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded his head.
Naturally he had already guessed that it might be a trick, but, what could he do? Should he then stand aside helplessly as Chi Guyan went up to try?
Better to be safe than sorry, what if Chi Guyan really succeeded?
To be a lowly servant for a month, as compared to being struck by two lightning bolts, Fang Zhengzhi preferred to choose the latter.
To take a thousand steps back…..
Why would a real man be afraid of one or two lightning bolts?
He must be able to do it.
Fang Zhengzhi did not wait for Chi Guyan's reply, and he immediately leapt up towards the suspending picture once again.
And Chi Guyan smiled from ear to ear upon such a sight, as a ray of light flashed through her eyes.
At this point, Fang Zhengzhi could not reverse his decision.
He stared intently at the blank piece of paper, as he wielded the brush in his hands, and two strokes of ink appeared on the paper once again.
The ink markings revealed a domineering vibe.
It was needless to say that Fang Zhengzhi had put in his effort this time round, as the two ink strokes incorporated his Dragon Slayer Slash within.
"I don't believe that I still can't succeed this time round!" Fang Zhengzhi landed on the ground softly, as hope filled his eyes.
At this moment, the two strokes on the white painting disappeared once again, just like what had happened previously.
Next…..
Fang Zhengzhi felt that something was not right.
He lifted up his head, and his eyes opened wide in disbelief, because the two lightning bolts struck down from the horizon once again.
"....." Fang Zhengzhi no longer naively believed that this was the symbol for the Ninth Heaven opening up, and he stepped aside to avoid the bolts without hesitation.
However, just when he moved aside to dodge the bolts, they seemed to possess some sort of intelligence and followed suit to his new position.
"Hong!" A loud sound rang in the air.
The hairs on Fang Zhengzhi's body stood up immediately, and he felt extremely sour. He could not tolerate the feeling any longer, "Damn, there's really two lightning bolts!"