“Maybe he learned those two lines of poetry from someone else.”

Master Blackriver frowned and said, not believing that Charles Baker could come up with such lines.

“That’s absolutely impossible. If such lines of poetry had ever appeared in the world, they would have been passed down for generations. Even we have never heard them before—how could he have learned them?”

Master Yanshan said with certainty.

“Huh, why is he still walking forward? There are no more Sacred Dao Steles ahead, are there?”

“How not? Isn’t there still one left?”

“You idiot, that’s the Supreme Sacred Dao Stele! The Gong family has had countless geniuses and prodigies try to challenge that stele, all leaving in regret. Charles Baker has already failed the Green Lotus Sacred Dao Stele four times—how could he possibly have the courage to challenge the Supreme Sacred Dao Stele?”

“But aside from that Supreme Sacred Dao Stele, there are no more steles ahead of him.”

“Ah, he’s stepping up—he really is going to challenge the Supreme Sacred Dao Stele!”

“Is he crazy? He’s failed the Upper-Grade Sacred Dao Stele four times already—what’s the point of challenging the Supreme one?”

“Haven’t you heard what people are saying? ‘Live as splendid as summer flowers, die as serene as autumn leaves.’ He’s already mentally prepared. Since he’s bound to fail anyway, he might as well go out with a bang and challenge the Supreme Sacred Dao Stele. At least it sounds better—people will say he failed at the Supreme Sacred Dao Stele, and those who don’t know might think he’s really something.”

“Haha, I see now. I’ve learned something.”

The Gong family disciples all discussed animatedly. Master Yanshan also shook his head with a wry smile. “This really is a dazzling way to die.”

“To knowingly face certain defeat—such a choice can’t be called wrong. It’s just a pity about this year’s time. He’s almost eighteen, isn’t he? If he delays another year, he’ll miss most of the golden period for a scholar’s cultivation.”

Master Blackriver said.

Susan Grant simply watched Charles Baker in silence, feeling that it was her lecturing him in front of everyone that had cost him face and provoked such a drastic action.

“‘Live as splendid as summer flowers, die as serene as autumn leaves.’

To be able to say such lines—if I had taught him with care before, it’s not impossible he could have obtained the Green Lotus True Fate Dao Seal. But now, it’s too late for anything.”

Susan Grant sighed inwardly, feeling that if she tried to persuade Charles Baker not to rashly choose the Supreme Sacred Dao Stele, it would only add fuel to the fire. Charles Baker would never listen to her advice.

Charles Baker paid no attention to the voices outside, quietly studying the Sacred Dao Stele before him.

The massive black ancient stele, over thirty feet tall, stood at the end of the stele forest like a king. The words “Supreme Grade” and “Scholar” at the top of the stele exuded an awe-inspiring, soul-shaking aura.

On the front of the sacred stele, an image of a starry night and an ancient tower was imprinted. The picture was much simpler than Charles Baker had imagined: just a few strokes for the solitary peak and ancient tower, a few points of starlight, and nothing else.

Chapter 5: A Word That Shocks the World

The difficulty of this Supreme Sacred Dao Stele lies precisely in its simplicity. Night, solitary peak, ancient tower, and starlight—these are all common motifs on Sacred Dao Steles, but it’s their very ordinariness that leaves people at a loss for how to begin.

Some describe the loneliness of the peak, some praise the mystery of the night, some extol the beauty of the starlight, and some reminisce about the ancient tower’s sense of history.

Many fine lines have emerged among them, but not a single poem, song, or ode has ever truly gained the recognition of this Supreme Sacred Dao Stele.

Given the Gong family’s strength, keeping the Supreme Sacred Dao Stele is extremely difficult. Fortunately, this is only a scholar-level Supreme Sacred Dao Stele, and with the protection of Nanli Academy, it has been able to remain with the Gong family.

Even so, many powerful figures and nobles have used their influence or authority to bring their exceptionally talented juniors to the Gong family, hoping to conquer this Supreme Sacred Dao Stele—yet all have returned empty-handed.

No one knows how many heroes and prodigies from all over Qingzhou came to the Gong family in their youth to challenge this Supreme Sacred Dao Stele, only to leave in disappointment. Not a single person has ever obtained the Supreme Grade True Fate Dao Seal from this stele.

Charles Baker looked at the picture on the stele for a while, and an idea formed in his mind—he thought of an ancient poem that suited this image perfectly.

Taking a deep breath, he activated the Overlord’s Heavenly Might Technique, his entire being seeming to become the center of the world, his aura merging with heaven and earth. With a single pointed finger, it was as if all the energy in the world surged toward his fingertip, forming a sharp, peerless white beam.

“A perilous tower rises a hundred feet high.”

Charles Baker’s fingertip pierced the supremely hard Supreme Sacred Dao Stele, carving a line of bold, forceful characters upon it.

“What strength! He actually broke through the Supreme Grade Sacred Dao Stele so easily. The Overlord’s Heavenly Might Technique, foundation method of the Sage of the Skies, truly is formidable.”

Master Blackriver raised his eyebrows.

“The wording of the first line is excellent—the word ‘perilous’ is especially vivid.”

Master Yanshan praised, though he only thought it was good. As far as he knew, previous challengers had produced such fine lines before, and not a few of them. At this level, it was still not enough to gain the recognition of the Supreme Sacred Dao Stele.

Susan Grant’s beautiful eyes sparkled, and the look she gave Charles Baker was filled with incredulity. Just this one line had already surpassed her previous understanding of Charles Baker. With such literary talent, how could Charles Baker have failed the Green Lotus Sacred Dao Stele four times in a row?