This immortal was clearly ordinary, yet he was unusually confident.

"Mengchen, you speak," Meng Chang called out to the outside of the study.

"Alright!" Liu Mengchen responded as she entered, bowed to Zheng Zhuang, and said, "Greetings, Mr. Zheng!"

Meng Chang introduced, "This is my disciple. Mr. Zheng met her before. She is the daughter of Lord Liu and has been studying at the academy."

Zheng Zhuang nodded, glancing at Liu Mengchen's chest with amusement, and said, "I recognize you, Miss Meng. I admire your magnanimity."

Liu Mengchen subconsciously took a step back. Seeing Meng Chang and Chen Chui looking at her with some surprise, she quickly took a deep breath, suppressing her resentment, and said:

"I apologize for my rudeness last time, Mr. Zheng. This poetry gathering will be held at the lakeside pavilion in the academy. The specific content of the competition needs to be discussed with the Rising Sun Delegation. However, it should be the same as last time, a competition of poetry."

Zheng Zhuang's eyes lit up slightly. There was a lake. Should he cast a spell to freeze a layer of ice on the lake's surface, and then perform a "Seven Steps to Poetry" to manifest it on the ice? Or should he simply freeze water into ice to form large characters? That would definitely be incredibly impressive.

But he quickly rejected the plan, arguing that it would be unfair to win by using magic in a contest against a mortal.

"Then how do we determine who wins and who loses?" Zheng Zhuang asked.

Liu Mengchen glanced at Meng Chang and said, "At that time, each side will send a learned and fair scholar, such as a teacher, to judge the poetry together. If the two disagree, the judges will be judged by all the participants in the poetry gathering. The one with the most votes wins. Of course, the other side's consent is also required."

Zheng Zhuang remained silent, looking at Liu Mengchen with some surprise. It seemed this girl wasn't just all looks and no brains; she was quite the clever little devil.

If one's work is slightly inferior, Mengchang can boast a little, thus making it seem as if the two judges have differing opinions. Since almost everyone present is from Cangyue Kingdom, there is quite a bit of room for manipulation; there's something fishy going on!

Zheng Zhuang didn't believe that the people of the Rising Sun Kingdom wouldn't have thought of this, but for now, it seemed that the rules were in his favor, which was ultimately a good thing.

However, I went to elementary school in my past life, how could I possibly lose?

Believe it or not, many of the poems you still remember were memorized in elementary school.

Just then, a student came to report that the Rising Sun Mission had arrived.

"In that case, you all go ahead and make preparations. I will be there shortly."

Zheng Zhuang cupped his hands in greeting and stepped out of the room first, because the scholar who came to deliver the news was also dressed in white robes with a jade flute hanging from his waist...

I can't wear this outfit anymore!

"Is he planning to run away?" Liu Mengchen muttered to herself as Zheng Zhuang deserted his post.

“You’re overthinking it, Meng girl. I know Fellow Daoist Zheng well. With his literary talent, even if he can’t win, he certainly won’t lose,” Chen Chui said with a smile.

Liu Mengchen felt much calmer when she thought of the poem "Peach Blossom". The person who could write such a poem must have been quite talented.

Chen Chui did not go with Meng Chang and the other man. As the Grand Preceptor, his status as an envoy was not high enough for him to go and greet them.

Meng Chang and Liu Mengchen followed the messenger and soon encountered the Rising Sun Mission.

Before Mengchang could speak, Li Zhushi said:

"Dean Meng, who did the academy send to fight today? It's this young lady again! Who would have thought that Cangyue Kingdom not only has an empress, but the academy also has a talented woman? Truly, women are just as capable as men!"

Meng Chang could easily understand the implied meaning: the Cangyue Kingdom was dominated by women and lacked men, making the men useless.

"Who says otherwise? It is said that all affairs of the Rising Sun Kingdom are overseen by the Regent Empress Dowager. Oh, I almost forgot, Your Majesty is also from my Azure Moon Kingdom, so you are of the same lineage!"

Meng Chang immediately retorted, implying that Cang Yue, a mere woman, was capable of ruling the Kingdom of Xuri.

"Haha, Dean Meng is quite the smooth talker. Let's settle this with a fight then. And let's not talk about the poem being unfinished today," Chief Li said with a dry laugh.

"That's natural. Today's poetry gathering will be held at the lakeside pavilion in the academy. Our representative is the youngest visiting professor in the academy, who recently returned from his studies abroad. The poem 'Peach Blossom Poem' was actually written by him, but he was not at the academy that day, so my student Meng wrote it on his behalf. Please, everyone!" Meng Chang explained in general terms.

"Oh?"

Chief Li was about to speak again, but Yang Minghan interrupted him, saying:

"Please, Dean Meng!"

The group headed towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake, but when they arrived at the lake, they found that the shore was already packed with people.

Liu Mengchen sighed, thinking to herself that she had been very careful, but the news still leaked out.

As is customary, Yang Minghan did not appear immediately. Instead, two other people from the delegation were sent out to compete in calligraphy and chess, respectively, as a warm-up.

Both sides had their wins and losses, and the audience's reaction to the poetry recital was lukewarm.

Before long, Yang Minghan stepped forward, and the scene immediately became lively, with everyone starting to argue.

"Is that Yang Minghan? I heard that he fought the entire academy single-handedly three days ago and almost won!"

"Nonsense! It must be that the most powerful figures in the academy haven't shown up yet."

"Hey! The academy has indeed produced quite a few remarkable figures, but the younger generation isn't all that great!"

"What do you know? The competition hasn't even started yet, how do you know it's not going to work?"

"..."

Master Li raised an eyebrow at Yang Minghan with satisfaction, it was obvious that he had bribed these troublemakers in advance. Yang Minghan, however, shook his head with a wry smile.

As the premier academy in Cangzhou, Quliang Academy naturally attracts students from the Xuri Kingdom. Some even planted spies within the academy, and the poetry gathering held at the Lake Pavilion was also a result of someone secretly passing on the information.

"I'd like to see who the academy sends to make an appearance? Or should Dean Meng go himself?"

"That's right, Dean Meng is very knowledgeable and will definitely win!"

"Dean Meng should teach him a lesson!"

A shrill voice stood out, and people around immediately joined in the jeering.

"Woooo..."

A melodious flute tune quietly rose up; the sound wasn't loud, but it instantly drowned out all the noise.

Following the sound, everyone looked and saw a sturdy yellow ox slowly walking towards them from a distance. On the ox's back sat a man in a green robe, his back to the crowd, playing a jade flute with a contented air.

Niu Daben walked at a leisurely pace, the "human" mark on his forehead particularly eye-catching. He stared wide-eyed, his nostrils pointing upwards, looking arrogant and haughty.

It's finally my turn, Niu Daben, to make his appearance!

Mortals, tremble!

The ox slowly approached, carrying the man in the green robe, and the noise from the crowd had stopped abruptly.

Everyone had a strange feeling. Despite being surrounded by so many people, they felt an unprecedented sense of peace, as if they were alone by a tranquil lake, quietly herding cattle, smelling the grass, and feeling the gentle breeze.

So relaxed, carefree, peaceful, and pure...