Liao Rusheng stepped forward… two steps… three steps: "Helpless, the flowers fall, as if familiar, the swallows return."
"!"
Bystanders: "So neat!"
Yao Li was furious, this was his last chance!: "Head adorned with pearl hairpins, leaping together, eyes bright and open, seeing through!"
Liao Rusheng moved agilely left and right, completing the poem in four steps!: "Without wings of colorful phoenixes flying in pairs, hearts have telepathic connection!"
"Good!"
The applause continued, "Pa pa pa...!"
The clerk announced: "Liao Rusheng wins!"
The crowd began to whisper. Ming Zhitian realized then that this was a feudal practice!
Ten young women, newly eighteen, were the reward for the Poetry Sage, selected from poor families unable to pay taxes, ten beauties.
Seeing them cry like falling pear blossoms, they were born with the best faces and figures, but their birth was a mistake, destined to be playthings for others.
Ming Zhitian stepped forward: "Your lives are your own, they do not belong to others!"
Everyone looked at him in unison: "Who is this person? Do you know him? ...Don't know ...Who is it? Who is it?"
Liao Rusheng was about to claim the beauties, ten of them at once! But he was interrupted by the newcomer, and was immediately displeased.
He stepped forward: "Security! Security!"
The clerk coughed: "Young man, are you also here to participate in this quadrennial poetry duel?"
Ming Zhitian said: "Are there any rewards?"
The clerk saw Ming Zhitian's extraordinary demeanor and thought he was from a noble family, unaware that he had resided among gods for so long that a majestic aura naturally emanated from him.
So he readily replied: "The reward is the lifelong service of ten peerless beauties and the title of Poetry Sage, renowned throughout the Great East and North."
Ming Zhitian nodded: "Since it's the rule, I will reluctantly abide by it, lest you say I am unruly."
Liao Rusheng stepped forward, closing his paper fan and pointing at Ming Zhitian: "So, you want to participate in this poetry competition? Did you register? Did you pass the finals?"
Ming Zhitian shrugged and retorted: "You? Poetry Sage? Are you worthy?"
"You!" Liao Rusheng wanted to say more.
Ming Zhitian directly threw a bottle of hundred-grade pills to the clerk: "I left in a hurry and forgot my money. Will these be enough for the registration fee?"
The clerk was overjoyed: "Of course! Hee hee! Of course!"
Indeed, pills were useful in most places. Compared to the universal currency of various realms, pills might be the most widely accepted.
Liao Rusheng was now the legitimate Poetry Sage, and he was unhappy with this outcome: "This is unfair! This person didn't even make it to the finals, how can he be worthy of dueling me?"
Ming Zhitian sneered: "Worthy or not, one try will tell. Don't waste time, come on, unless you're afraid?"
Liao Rusheng immediately became arrogant: "Fine, I, the Poetry Sage, do not hold grudges against lesser beings. I'll let you lose completely. Since you like making a fool of yourself in front of so many people, I'll grant you your wish! I, Liao Rusheng, accept your challenge! State your name."
Ming Zhitian disdainfully said: "Qiong Chi, I can silence you with a single word!"
"Arrogant enough! But I guess you won't last one round." Liao Rusheng immediately began the duel: "Heaven."
Ming Zhitian casually replied: "Earth."
Liao Rusheng: "Rain."
Ming Zhitian: "Wind."
Liao Rusheng instantly said: "Continent."
Ming Zhitian pointed to the sky: "Vast Sky."
Liao Rusheng waved his hand!: "Mountain Flowers!"
Ming Zhitian remained unhurried: "Sea Trees."
Liao Rusheng: "Red Sun!"
Ming Zhitian instantly answered: "Azure Firmament."