Luoyun Kingdom valued both civil and martial arts, excelling in culture and martial prowess alike. However, to become a true powerhouse, one had to cultivate the immortal path.
Cultivation was the mainstream on this planet; it was the only way to grow stronger. As for breaking through the heavens with martial arts alone, it was not feasible in this world.
Every world had its own Heavenly Dao rules. On the Canglan Continent, any path could lead to strength.
This was the difference between the two worlds.
The Canglan Continent was considered a relatively high-level world among the myriad realms.
The poetry gathering they were attending was the annual Grand Competition of Poetry hosted by the Luoyun Imperial City. Every year on this day, many talented scholars and beautiful ladies gathered to recite poems and compose couplets.
"Can you write poetry?" Zhang Xiyan asked Zhou Yan curiously.
"I can copy, and I can also compose if I try, but in terms of artistic conception, I'm not capable," Zhou Yan said frankly.
"Copy?" Zhang Xiyan was speechless. "Who can't copy? I can copy too."
Zhou Yan chuckled. His copying was not of poems from this world, but from China. As a transmigrator, being a literary plagiarist was a normal operation.
After all, there were no copyright fees to pay.
Li Bai: Burn it for me.
Su Shi: Me too.
Du Fu: Don't forget mine.
...
Zhou Yan felt that he might be able to summon these figures, and then, wouldn't all transmigrators in the world have to pay him royalties?
Transmigrators: You are truly a genius!
Upon arriving at the Poetry Appreciation gathering, Zhou Yan looked around. Although he couldn't understand the characters, he could translate them. The sign read [Moonlit Pavilion].
The place was quite elegant. Zhou Yan had initially thought only the wealthy would be able to enter, but he discovered that anyone with talent could gain entry.
Zhou Yan saw many impoverished scholars in patched clothes walking inside.
However, to participate in the Grand Poetry Competition, entry was not that simple. One had to recite poems and compose couplets, possessing a certain level of talent.
Of course, the difficulty was not too high. Anyone with a bit of scholarly knowledge could get in.
The topics were chosen by drawing lots. This meant that to enter, you had to draw a slip of paper from a box, and whatever was written on it, you had to compose a poem or couplet accordingly. Passing the assessment granted entry.
This piqued Zhou Yan's interest. "You guys should be fine, right?"
"Although I'm not a great talent, I can handle this requirement," Zhang Xiyan replied.
"I have no problem either." As the Crown Prince of Luoyun Kingdom, it would be too pathetic if he lacked talent.
The group stepped forward. Zhou Yan did not use any special abilities. Since he was in the mortal world, he could not use any means, which was beneficial for his cultivation.
"I'll go first." Zhang Xiyan stepped forward and drew a slip of paper from the box.
The elder responsible for the assessment smiled and said, "Young lady, it says 'Lake'. Please compose a poem with the lake as the theme."
Zhang Xiyan nodded, then pondered for a moment before reciting, "A lone boat drifts into West Lake..."
The elder smiled. While not a masterpiece, it was much better than what ordinary scholars and ladies could produce. He said to Zhang Xiyan, "Miss, please proceed."
"It's okay, I'll wait for the two of them," Zhang Xiyan said with a smile towards the other two. "I've passed. Brother, you can't even get past the door, can you?"
"Are you hoping to see your brother make a fool of himself?" Zhang Hua said.
"I didn't say that. You're the one who thought that, hee hee." Zhang Xiyan waited for Zhang Hua to step forward.
Zhang Hua stepped forward and drew a slip of paper. It was quite long. After the elder opened it, he said, "This is a couplet. Young sir, you only need to provide the responding line."
"Oh, this is interesting. There are couplets too, so there must be many other ways to play," Zhou Yan was indeed a bit curious.
"Naturally. Some challenges require reciting ancient poems or scriptures. It depends on luck. As long as one is not merely faking it, they can usually pass," the elder said.
Zhou Yan felt awkward. If he drew an ancient poem or famous verse from this world, wouldn't he be unable to enter?
Although Zhou Yan had many ways to enter the Poetry Appreciation gathering, he felt it would be less interesting that way.
"Hee hee hee, you haven't read any of the so-called ancient poems or sacred sayings, have you?" Zhang Xiyan teased from the side.
"Of course, I haven't read things from your world," Zhou Yan replied.
Zhang Xiyan: ⊙(・◇・)?
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hua seemed to understand Zhou Yan's background a little. He still looked at the couplet to see what it said.
The upper line was: Magnificent plans unfold, national fortune prospers.
Zhang Hua looked at it and was very satisfied. He didn't know who came up with this upper line, but it was indeed very good.
This upper line was not difficult. Zhang Hua quickly responded: Peace reigns supreme, the people are at ease.
The elder heard this and nodded repeatedly, "Good, good. Young and promising. I can feel the soaring ambition in your heart. I hope it will be as you say."
"I will. I promise, I will prove it with my life," Zhang Hua said solemnly.
Zhou Yan sensed a surge of destiny entering Zhang Hua's body, which surprised him.
After thinking for a moment, he found it quite interesting. It seemed that experiencing certain events could lead to growth, and in the process, one would inexplicably gain something.
Ordinary people like Zhang Hua naturally couldn't perceive or see these things.
But Zhou Yan's current realm was peculiar. Although he hadn't reached the divine realm, his strength far surpassed that of a normal divine realm expert.
Moreover, as he immersed himself in worldly experiences and encountered more people and affairs, observed and understood more, and participated in solving problems, he would gain different rewards.
Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes is not as good as ten years in the mortal world.
This saying was not without reason.
This was a kind of artistic conception that only those who reached Zhou Yan's level could comprehend.
This made Zhou Yan even more certain that he was on the right path.
The stronger his foundation became now, the greater his gains would be upon truly ascending to the divine realm.
Zhou Yan also noticed that he and Zhang Hua had developed a stronger connection. The longer they interacted, the more their paths would intersect in the future.
This was a "Dao" that was difficult to describe, much like those who could divine the future. They used various formations to deduce certain events, finding answers from the trajectories of different lives.
However, these trajectories could be altered. Since they were understood and known, the future would inevitably deviate from these established paths.
Because fate is unpredictable, and the future is unknowable, anything could happen.
Zhou Yan finally understood why great cultivators did not wish to know too much about the future. Even if you knew, the future was still unpredictable. What if it turned out differently from what you knew? Wouldn't that be painful?
Zhou Yan also did not wish to know too much about the future. He believed in going with the flow, following his natural course, and walking the path he deemed right. Why bother dwelling on the future?