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It's not that Wang Xiaoqiang's literary talent is so high; this little farmer with only a middle school education just has a few ancient poems memorized. But in the Immortal Realm where art isn't thriving, those few poems allow him to thrive like a fish in water.

Realizing how crucial this round is, Long Yin immediately decides to employ cunning, quickly recalling a poem he had once created through deep meditation, a poem about willow.

This poem can be said to be the highest level poem he has ever produced in his life, and since its creation, it has received countless praise.

Although many people know this poem, he thinks Wang Xiaoqiang probably doesn't know it. However, even if Wang does know it, so what?

After all, it's his own poem, not copied from others, just not composed on the spot.

Having thought of this poem, Long points at the distant drooping willows and says, "Wang Xiaoqiang, let's improvise on-site and compose a poem about willow."

Wang Xiaoqiang raises his eyes and looks at those drooping willows, seeing how in the spring light they've already sprouted tender buds, their new green leaves like jade, thousands of strands swaying with the wind like a woman's dance steps, exceptionally beautiful. A poem thus comes to his mind, and he says, "Good. Your Highness Long Yin, why don't you start first..."

In order to be fast, Long Yin immediately holds his hands behind him and recites the poem he had prepared long ago:

"Green trees radiating jade color, half-hidden village bridge, half-brushing creek, few trees newly sprouting emerald shadows in unison, leaning against the wind with a delicate posture courting spring..."

Because it's a poem he had already made, Long Yin almost recites it all in one breath, without pausing, even faster than Wang Xiaoqiang's poem about Wing Chun earlier. After reciting, there's a moment of silence at the scene, followed by discussions:

"Hmm, His Highness's poem about willow is good, better than the one earlier."

"This poem is finely crafted and thought-provoking, applause!"

...

There is much discussion among the crowd, all praising endlessly.

After the series of compliments, everyone's gaze turns to Wang Xiaoqiang. Long Yin sweeps away his earlier dark expression, proudly puffs out his chest, and looks triumphantly at Wang Xiaoqiang, saying, "Wang Xiaoqiang, it's your turn now..."

Wang Xiaoqiang says nothing more and directly recites, "Arrayed like jade the willow stands tall, thousands of strands droop into green silk tapestry, who carves the fine leaves I know not, February's spring breeze like scissors..."

Wang Xiaoqiang also recites in one go, smoothly and with fluency, completely natural.

After Wang Xiaoqiang finishes, the scene falls silent again, then bursts into enthusiastic applause and discussion:

"Wang Xiaoqiang's poem is even better, it's simply divine..."

"Indeed, February's spring breeze like scissors, so vivid."

"Yes, in comparison, Long Yin's poem seems too cumbersome, not as simple, brisk, popular, and Wang Xiaoqiang's poem is extremely fitting and vividly portrays the image, simply so beautiful, so classic." Someone analyzes in detail, comparing the two poems.

"Hmm, this fellow's analysis is spot on, and His Highness's poem seems like a reused old poem, right? Using it now to suit the occasion reeks of cheating!" Someone directly exposes Long Yin.

Long Yin's face shifts, retorting, "Never said beforehand that old poems couldn't be used for the wager."

Wang Xiaoqiang gestures as if he doesn't mind, saying, "Doesn't matter, if it's composed on-the-spot, he wouldn't have been this fast."

Long Yin hears this, sees a slight flush on his yin-soft face, pointing at Wang Xiaoqiang saying, "You..."

"Am I wrong?" Wang Xiaoqiang sneers, "In the previous poem about Wing Chun, you took three steps to finish and paused twice, whereas this poem you finished in one go, and this poem is even better than the last, what does it show, quite obviously this is an old poem!"

Upon hearing this, Long Yin's face turns red, opening his mouth but with no reason to refute, and thus lowers his head in despondence.

"Okay, esteemed judges, you may judge now, I trust your fairness; students present can also make judgment, I believe everyone's eyes are sharp..." Wang Xiaoqiang gestures to the ten judges and the onlooking students.

Just then, Ann Miaoyi standing afar suddenly turns and walks away, even though the final verdict isn't in yet, she knows, Long Yin has lost, Wang Xiaoqiang is sure to win.

At this moment she wears a face of depression, despondence, disappointment, and restlessness,

Depressed that Wang Xiaoqiang is unexpectedly so strong, despondent and disappointed that Long Yin lost the duel, restless for fear that Long Yin might expose her as the mastermind behind the scenes. So she must leave the venue early.

...

"Wang Xiaoqiang, I cast my vote for Wang Xiaoqiang."

"Me too, Wang Xiaoqiang's poem is undoubtedly good."

"I support Wang Xiaoqiang as well. His willow poem is a classic; once I return, I will definitely record and recite it daily."

Sure enough, after Wang Xiaoqiang's words fell, the ten student judges all voted for him, including the surrounding students who unanimously thought Wang Xiaoqiang's poem was superior, far surpassing Long Yin's poem.

The situation is one-sided, everyone believes Wang Xiaoqiang's poem is good, completely overshadowing Long Yin's poem,

Long Yin unable to refute, as he also thinks it's Wang Xiaoqiang's poem that is better, truly classic, so he admits defeat willingly,

However, conceding now means having to kneel before Wang Xiaoqiang. As a noble Prince, how could he maintain his dignity if he kneels before a commoner?

What kind of humiliation is that?!

This is something he hadn't considered beforehand because he never thought Wang Xiaoqiang would win, at the time he believed Wang Xiaoqiang would definitely lose by accepting the literary duel, and thus Wang Xiaoqiang would have to crawl under his legs. How could he possibly anticipate losing?!

At this moment, Long Yin's face flushes red, with muscles twitching at the corners of his eyes, his gaze falling into the distance, Ann Miaoyi's stopping place, but finds Ann Miaoyi already gone. Immediately, regret, anger, despair... various emotions well up in his heart.

Wang Xiaoqiang looks at Long Yin, with an amused smile, saying, "Dear Seventh Prince, now it's time to fulfill your promise."

Upon hearing this, Long Yin's body trembles fiercely, biting his lip tightly, refusing to utter a word.

No one speaks anymore, subjecting a Prince to such a humiliating act?

This is more agonizing than killing him!

"Dear Seventh Prince, you practice the 'Path of Faith,' don't you? You just said, 'A man without faith cannot stand,' surely you haven't forgotten now?!" Wang Xiaoqiang continues staring at Long Yin.

"Wang Xiaoqiang, I'm a Prince, making me kneel and crawl under your legs, haven't you considered the consequences of this?!" Long Yin suddenly roars at Wang Xiaoqiang, looking somewhat grim and hysterical.

"Everyone present can testify for me, I'm not forcing you to kneel, but having you fulfill a promise, of course, you could choose not to kneel,"

Wang Xiaoqiang sneers, saying, "But if so, your 'Path of Faith' would be destroyed, and you would be a person of broken promises, as you said yourself, without faith one cannot stand, I think, although the Immortal Realm is vast, afterward there might not be a place for Long Yin to stand!"

Long Yin's hands tightly clench, his fingernails deeply piercing into the palms, blood pearls seeping out, as he feels excruciated,

Wang Xiaoqiang's words are true; if he doesn't fulfill the promise, the 'Path of Faith' he painstakingly comprehended would collapse, and he, Long Yin, would become a person without faith, not only being spurned by everyone at Yueyang Academy, as a Prince, his actions would greatly dishonor the Imperial Clan.

The consequence of doing so is that he would be abandoned by the Imperial Clan, thus losing Imperial protection.

A Prince like him, having offended many, would really have no footing without protection.

Crawling under legs injures only dignity.

Not crawling, it might jeopardize life and fortune.

Now, there are two paths before him; to kneel and live, or stand and die! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)

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