Yefutidaolu

Chapter 354 Manifestation
The stiffness on Fang Qian's face and the waning enthusiasm of Fang Jun instantly transformed into even more fervent passion and awe after Gao Jian uttered the words "graduated from the Imperial Academy".

The true teachings of the Netherworld are already beyond reach, and with the added background of the Imperial Academy, this is no ordinary scholar; he is clearly a nobleman with connections to the heavens!
The Fang family members naturally didn't believe it so easily, but... what if it were true? Right?
Furthermore, we will definitely have to discuss this in detail later. It would be inappropriate to verify their identities at this moment. It would be better to assume that Gao Jian and Xia Youdu are real for now, and then test them later.

Therefore, after Fang Qian's stiff expression instantly transformed into an incredibly enthusiastic smile, the other members of the Fang family also seemed to wake from a dream. They dismounted, abandoned all their arrogance, and their faces were filled with smiles as they offered apologies and compliments all at once.
"A distinguished scholar from the Imperial Academy! No wonder he possesses such an extraordinary demeanor!"

"Fairy Xia possesses an ethereal beauty, and we mere mortals were rude upon first sight. Please forgive us!"

"It is truly an honor for our family that Mr. Gao and Fairy Xia have graced this remote place of Youzhou with their presence! How could we allow you to stand here in this desolate wilderness? Please do not leave us here, so that we may extend our hospitality!"

"Your beauty is exquisite, and we mortals have offended you greatly. Please forgive us!"

"Please come in, sir! This place is desolate and not suitable for entertaining guests. My humble abode has a temporary residence nearby. Please come in so that we may extend our hospitality!"

In an instant, the atmosphere became incredibly lively, and the previous hostility and arrogance were completely forgotten.

Gao Jian smiled and responded politely, while Xia Youdu remained expressionless, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with her, and simply followed behind in silence.

The group rode their horses to lead the way, and soon arrived at a secluded spot nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

Unable to refuse such hospitality, or rather, as this was exactly what Gao Jian sought, he and Xia Youdu, surrounded by a group of Fang family members who were extremely attentive, left the noisy meadow and soon arrived at a place nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with a wide view.

Here, a magnificent palace stands proudly!

With its carved beams and painted rafters, soaring eaves and bracket sets, the main structure of the palace is built of massive timbers and covered with glazed golden tiles that shimmer and sparkle in the sunlight. The pillars are all inlaid with white jade, carved with birds, beasts, auspicious clouds, and plants. The doors and windows are adorned with colorful glazed tiles, creating a constantly shifting play of light and shadow.

A magnificent palace rises above the water, its cloud-like steps connecting to the mountain slopes.

In this place, there is a palace that, though not grand, is exquisitely crafted!

A pearl hung from the ceiling, its light filtering through, creating a hazy glow. Dozens of servants in blue robes stood respectfully before the steps. Upon seeing the arrival of the guests, they bowed in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized: "Welcome back, gentlemen! Welcome, distinguished guests!"

Although the scale was not grand, it was still luxurious and exquisite, with strict rules and regulations.

The attendants were numerous, all dressed in uniform blue brocade outfits, standing respectfully with their hands at their sides, their movements swift and silent.

Seeing Gao Jian surrounded by a crowd, the servants, seeing their master leading a distinguished guest, immediately bowed in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, and shouted in unison, "Welcome, distinguished guest!" The sound was not loud, but it had its own solemn aura.

Clever servants had already spread out a scarlet felt carpet, extending from the palace gate all the way inside.

However, Gao Jian, with his keen insight, immediately saw through the clues.

Gao Jian's sharp eyes swept over the "temporary headquarters." Its magnificence was undeniable, but upon closer inspection, some clues became apparent.

At the joints between the palace buildings, the mortise and tenon joints appeared somewhat deliberate, rather than naturally formed.

Although some of the beams and columns are made of good materials, their color and texture are slightly different, indicating that they are not from the same batch of giant trees.

The size and color of glazed tiles are not entirely uniform.

Although the palace is magnificent, the joints of many beams and columns show obvious signs of mortise and tenon joints, indicating that it is not a seamless whole. Some decorative components are of slightly different sizes, suggesting that they were pieced together. The foundation is supported by a huge, flat black iron base, rather than being buried deep underground.

It can be seen that this is not a fixed palace, but a mobile palace that can be disassembled and reassembled.

In the most conspicuous place, beside the palace, a colossal beast lay panting. It resembled a giant rhinoceros, nine zhang long, covered in thick, dark blue scales, with a single, ferocious horn on its head, exuding a fierce aura.

However, several thick iron chains, each as thick as an arm, were locked around its thick neck, deeply embedded in the gaps of its scales.

Behind the behemoth was an enormous platform base made of refined steel, with obvious fixing holes and traces of sliding rails. Clearly, this magnificent palace was routinely disassembled and loaded onto this platform, then transported by the behemoth on its back! Once it reached this location, the palace components would be unloaded and quickly reassembled at a chosen spot!

Assembled goods!
Gao Jian instantly understood and made his own judgment.

This is the difference in cultural heritage. Such "mobile palaces," while seemingly convenient and luxurious, actually expose the Fang family's lack of cultural depth.

True aristocratic families, such as the Jin family of Liangzhou and the Zuo family of Cangzhou, travel with far more domineering and direct entourages—they keep even more powerful, intelligent, and docile beasts of other species. These beasts are much larger, with astonishing strength and endurance, capable of carrying an entire fixed, integrated palace on their backs! The palace is a fortress on the back of the beast, requiring no disassembly or reassembly, ready for occupancy at any time, and its stability, luxury, and intimidation far surpass what this "assembled" palace looks like.

Assembly and original parts are a direct reflection of one's foundation and strength.

Raising a living behemoth capable of carrying a fixed palace requires astronomical sums of money. Its daily diet consists of only spiritual herbs and immortal mushrooms, as well as the flesh and blood of exotic beasts. Its habitat requires the support of a vast spiritual vein, and its taming and care require top-notch beast tamers and powerful cultivators to oversee it.

The Fang family was clearly unable to afford such a huge, long-term, and extremely risky investment. As a second choice, they opted for this model of "a smaller behemoth pulling the platform, the platform carrying the components, and then assembling them on the ground." Although it was still extravagant, it was essentially a compromise made by weighing costs and capabilities.

Just as a wealthy household decorates a luxurious carriage with precious wood and gold and silver, the difference between that and a true king's exclusive, mobile palace-like imperial carriage is immediately apparent. Moreover, a fixed palace atop a living behemoth is itself a symbol of power and dominance. As the behemoth moves, the earth trembles and all living beings flee, its power enough to intimidate the wicked and demonstrate status.

While the Fang family's "assembled palace" was indeed magnificent, it lacked a natural and imposing aura. It was more like a deliberate imitation of the grandeur of top-tier aristocratic families, ultimately falling short.

This scene and these objects say it all.

Although the Fang family has the financial resources to build such mobile palaces and behemoths, they lack the capacity to maintain a fixed palace that can carry the entire structure for an extended period. This aligns with their status, as their ancestor was only at the seventh realm, placing them among the lowest ranks of aristocratic families.

In the blink of an eye, Gao Jian was warmly welcomed to the main seat in the hall. Xia Youdu was also seated to his left. A grand feast had already been prepared in the hall, with jade platters of delicacies and golden goblets of fine wine, the air filled with their fragrance.

The faint sounds of string and wind instruments drifted over, and servants moved about respectfully.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. The Third Young Master Fang Qian put down his wine cup, looked intently at Gao Jian, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, asking, "Mr. Gao, earlier on the meadow, you mentioned a wonderful method that could help us brothers distinguish our strengths and weaknesses. We wonder what this method is...? We are all eager to hear your answer!" His tone was sincere and expectant.

The seventh young master, Fang Jun, couldn't wait any longer and slammed his hand on the table, saying, "Yes, Mr. Gao! Stop keeping us in suspense! Tell us quickly, how exactly will the competition be held? We can't wait any longer!" The other members of the Fang family also put down their chopsticks and cups, their eyes all focused on Gao Jian, full of curiosity and eagerness.

Gao Jian smiled slightly, raised the crystal-clear glass in his hand, and swirled the amber-colored wine in the glass in the bright sunlight outside the hall, seemingly still admiring it.

This leisurely demeanor made Fang Jun scratch his head in frustration.

"Mr. Gao!" Fang Jun couldn't help but call out again.

Gao Jian then slowly put down his wine glass, his gaze sweeping over the eager young men present, a knowing smile playing on his lips, and said loudly:

"All of you gentlemen are skilled in archery and horsemanship and are full of vigor. Ordinary competitions such as target shooting and speed racing may not be able to fully demonstrate your strengths, nor may they convince the public."

“So—” Gao Jian said, his gaze sweeping over the prey that the servants outside the hall were processing—a antelope, a rabbit, a falcon, and a wild boar with menacing tusks.

He rose, walked slowly to the palace entrance, and instructed the attendants: "Clean up the antelopes, rabbits, and wild boar that the gentlemen just hunted, and place them on the open ground of the terrace. As I have instructed, have the attendants on either side recreate their postures before they were shot by the arrows."

Although the servants were puzzled, seeing that their young master treated this person with great respect, they immediately agreed and quickly carried the prey onto the jade floor of the terrace, carefully adjusting their positions:
One antelope is poised to leap forward with its neck slightly turned; another antelope appears to have stopped abruptly in fright and is about to turn around; a cunning rabbit is poised to leap up; and the wild boar is depicted as a fierce creature with its head lowered and tusks exposed.

The Fang family members looked at each other, wondering what Gao Jian was up to.

Xia Youdu remained quietly seated at the table, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the prey before returning to Gao Jian, a faint hint of inquiry seemingly flickering in his eyes.

Gao Jian walked to the prey and carefully directed the servants on how to pose, pointing out the location, angle, and depth of each arrow wound. He seemed to be doing it casually, finishing in no time, as if he really was just posing. His fingers casually traced the trajectory of the arrow in the air, and after a moment, a knowing look appeared in his eyes.

“Young Master Fang,” Gao Jian suddenly turned around, his gaze landing precisely on Fang Qian. At the same time, he reached out with lightning speed, snatching the dragon-tendon iron bow and a white-feathered arrow that Fang Qian had placed on the weapon rack beside him!

"May I borrow your bow?"

Everyone was stunned. Before they could react, Gao Jian had already turned to the side, lowered his waist, and drawn his bow! His movements were fluid and natural, without any hesitation. In an instant, he drew the hard bow, which required extremely strong arm strength to draw, to its full extent! His posture and demeanor were exactly the same as when Fang Qian shot and killed the leaping wind antelope on the meadow!
call out--!
The arrow left the bowstring with a piercing whistle, its target aimed directly at the wind antelope on the terrace, which was leaping forward with all its might!

"Ah!" a member of the Fang family exclaimed instinctively, thinking Gao Jian was about to ruin their prey. However, in the next instant, everyone's pupils contracted sharply!

The white-feathered arrow, as if it had eyes, pierced the existing wound on Feng Ling's neck with perfect accuracy! Absolutely perfect! Even more astonishingly, the trajectory of the arrow, the depth of the wound, and even the amplitude of the white feathers trembling at the end were exactly the same as the arrow Fang Qian had shot earlier!
It was as if time had reversed, perfectly reenacting Fang Qian's arrow! It caused no unnecessary damage, but simply "filled" the original wound seamlessly!
The terrace was deathly silent! Fang Qian suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the trembling arrow on Feng Ling's neck, as if he were witnessing the most unbelievable sight in the world!
He knows his own archery skills best! Gao Jian's arrow not only hit the old wound, but also perfectly replicated every detail of his exertion, aiming, and even the flight of the arrow! This requires a terrifying insight and control over power, angle, timing, and even the prey's dynamics at that moment!

If you don't do it, you will never stop!

Gao Jian didn't stop moving! Without even glancing at the astonished crowd, he moved across the terrace like the wind, precisely passing by the other Fang family members and casually taking their bows and arrows!
"Seventh Young Master, may I borrow this bow?" Before the words were even finished, he had already grabbed Fang Jun's equally extraordinary bow and a specially made armor-piercing arrow. With a swift movement, he mimicked Fang Jun's posture of galloping on horseback and firing a shot from the side! The bow was drawn like lightning, and the arrow flew like the wind!

"Thud!" The arrow pierced the ear of the cunning rabbit that was leaping up with perfect accuracy. It was Fang Jun's proud "Wind Chaser" arrow! The location, depth, and angle of the wound were all perfect!

"Sixth Brother's rapid-fire arrows!"

"Fifth Brother's eye-piercing arrow!"

"Eighth Brother's Falling Star Arrow!"

A series of breathtaking, thunderous sounds of bowstrings rang out!

Every time the bow was drawn, every time an arrow was nocked, every shift in posture perfectly replicated the signature movements of every attacker on the meadow! And every arrow shot, without exception, pierced the prey's existing fatal wounds with unparalleled precision, as if nested in the most precise mold, without the slightest deviation!

At times, he was as steady as a mountain, like Fang Qian, drawing his bow like a full moon; at other times, he was as unrestrained as a raging fire, shooting arrows like shooting stars; sometimes he imitated the swiftness of others' double-arrow strikes, and sometimes he displayed ruthlessness from tricky angles...

Different bows, different arrows, different archery techniques—he handles them with ease and fluidity, as if he has been immersed in this art for decades, mastering each archery technique to the bone!
In just a dozen or so breaths, a brand new arrow was seamlessly inserted into the fatal wounds of the prey on the terrace, each in a different pose! The white, black, and colorful feathers of the arrow fletching trembled gently in the wind, silently recounting the shocking scene that had just occurred!
The entire terrace of the palace was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

(End of this chapter)