Library of Heaven's Path - Chapter 250

Discourse is the most difficult mode of assessment in the beast tamer theoretical examination.
Instead of answering using a brush, one answered by speaking with his mouth.
When answering through writing, one is free to contemplate over the question for as long as they wish. Even if they were to write wrongly, they are able change their answers. However, a discourse is not like that.
The examinees aren’t given thinking time or an opportunity to change their answers. The moment it starts, the examinee will have to answer all questions correctly. If he were to spout a single erroneous word, it would mean his failure.
This examination model is similar to the Pill Debate of the Apothecary Guild. It is specially prepared for master teachers so as to reduce the time required for the examination. At the same time, it assesses how well-versed one was in the knowledge of beast taming, as well as how fast one can access those knowledge.
A normal written theoretical examination takes two hours while a discourse is only an hour long.
Even so, the difficulty of a discourse is way higher than that of a written paper. It has high demands on a person's reaction speed and their grasp on their knowledge. Virtually no one dares to take it on, and there is also no need for them to. As such, for the past thousand years since this branch's founding, no one had ever took up the challenge.
封堂主等人做梦都没想到,这个累的随时都会晕倒的家伙,居然选择这种方法!
Hall Master Feng and the others didn't expect that this fellow, who seemed as though he would collapse at any moment, would choose to challenge the beast tamer examination in such a format!
"Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded his head.
"You should think it through. You aren't allowed thinking time during a discourse, and the moment you make a mistake, you will be disqualified..." Hall Master Feng advised.
"I understand, but I'm really too tired to use a brush. Thus, I can only opt for this method!" Zhang Xuan nodded.
"Since you insist, let's start then!" Seeing the determination in Zhang Xuan's eyes, Hall Master Feng decided to follow his wishes. Thus, he stepped forward, retrieved the examination papers, and looked at Zhang Xuan. "Tell me about the defining characteristics of Gold Armored Steel Fang Beast!"
"金甲铁齿兽,全身被金色鳞片包裹,防御极强,是辟穴境蛮兽的一种.生活在沼泽和山川之间,以青竹草为食,昼伏夜出...这是胡瑶前辈"驯兽概略"中的记述.白真驯兽师留下的"铁齿兽大全",记载略有不同,根据他的观察,金甲铁齿兽,喜凉,居住之地,多位于背阴之所..."
"The Gold Armored Steel Fang Beast is a Pixue realm savage beast whose entire body is covered by golden scales, providing it with powerful defensive ability. It usually dwells in the marshlands or near mountain streams, feeding on Green Bamboo Grass which grows around those area. Also, it is nocturnal... This is what Senior Hu Yao mentions as in "Stratagem to Beast Taming". In the "Encyclopedia on Gold Armored Steel Fang Beast" written by Beast Tamer Bai Zhen, his descriptions of the savage beast is slightly different from Senior Hu Yao. Based on his observations, the Gold Armored Steel Fang Beast prefers cooling places. As such, it often lives in shadowy places where the sun doesn't reach..."
"三十年前,兽堂的多杰前辈,将前人的理论全部集中了起来,又经过多年的研究发现,咱们口中的金身铁齿兽,其实并不是同一种,一共可以分为三个类别.生活在沼泽地的,可以成为沼泽铁齿兽,山川的叫做山川铁齿兽,背阴之处的,则可以称呼背阴铁齿兽."
"Thirty years ago, numerous outstanding seniors of the Beast Hall gathered the theories of all of the predecessors and after many years of research, they realized that the Gold Armored Steel Fang Beast they spoke of wasn't of the same species. There were a total of three different species, namely the Marsh Steel Fang Beast which resides in the marshlands, the Mountain Steel Fang Beast which lives near mountain streams, and the Shadow Steel Fang Beast which dwells in the colder regions."
"这三种铁齿兽有着很明显的差距,第一,脑门最中间,一处鳞片不相同;第二,尾部结构不同...如果想查询特征,可以翻阅他留下的"金身铁齿兽详解",就在书库第十七排靠近左手的地方!"
"There are clear differences among these three Steel Fang Beasts. Firstly, the scales on their the center of their foreheads are different. Secondly, the structure of their tails are different... If you wish to check on my answer, you can browse through the "Detailed Explanation on Gold Armored Steel Fang Beasts" left behind by them. It is toward the left of the 17th bookshelf in the library!"
张悬神色淡然的看过来.
Zhang Xuan replied calmly.
"这...完全正确!"
"His answer is... completely correct!"
金身铁齿兽,不是常见蛮兽,分类更是复杂,一般人看到这道题,能回答出,体貌特征,就基本判定正确,对方不但全说出来,甚至将前辈留下的书籍也介绍了一遍,更将...书籍在书库所在的位置都说了出来...
The Gold Armored Steel Fang Beast was a rare savage beast. Furthermore, its classification was extremely confusing. Most people would only be able to answer the basic characteristics on the savage beast, and the examiner would already consider their answer to be correct. However, not only did Zhang Xuan provide a complete answer, he even introduced the various books left behind by the senior beast tamers, even... pointing out the exact locations of those books...
尼玛,还是人吗?
The heck, was he still a human?
周围众人全都瞪大了眼睛,鸦雀无声.
The crowd widened their eyes in shock. The entire room was deathly silent.
"蛮兽铁脊猴的特征!"
"The defining characteristics of Steelbacked Monkey!"
"铁脊猴,背部有一根巨大脊椎,高高隆起,全身力量大部分都来自这个特殊的骨头,脚掌粗大,奔跑迅速,虽然是猴,却无法上树,体型和一些了大型的猿类蛮兽相似...这些特征,收录在"杂山蛮兽说",杂山前辈是一百四十年前的兽堂比较有名的一位驯兽师..."
"The Steelbacked Monkey has a massive spinal bone that towers up high. Most of the strength the Steelbacked Monkey possess originate from its unique bone. Also, it possesses large feet which grants it swift speed. Even though it is an monkey, it is unable to scale trees. Instead, its body structure seem to resemble larger ape-like savage beasts... These defining characteristics are recorded in "Zashan's Savage Beasts Exposition". Senior Zashan is a famous beast tamer of the Beast Hall 140 years ago..."
众人还没清醒过来,封堂主的问题再次问出,对面青年没有丝毫犹豫,再次作答.
Before everyone could recover, Hall Master Feng posed another question, and without any hesitation, the young man answered once more.
二人一问一答,速度极快,往往上一题众人还在思索答案正确与否,下一题就已经问出,并且回答了.
Just like that, with a person asking the question and the other one answering it, the discourse proceeded extremely swiftly. Most of the time, while the crowd was still pondering whether the answer to the question was correct or not, the next question was already answered.
众人眼中,这个年龄不到二十的青年,就好像一个看着正确答案一般,回答的不但详细,还将各种可能,各种推论甚至书籍中记载不详的猜测,都说了出来.
In the eyes of the crowd, this young man who wasn't in his twenties yet felt like an answer sheet. Not only was his answers detailed, he even listed out the various possibilities and theories written in the books out.
滴水不露,找不到任何错误.
There wasn't a single flaw that could be picked out in his answers.
"完全正确!"
"Completely correct!"
"完全正确!"
"Completely correct!"
"蛮兽游江昆虫生存环境...正确!"
"The River Worm's living habitat... correct!"
"为何三江虫和蛮兽杜明鸟,无法共存...回答正确!"
"Why the Three Stream River and the Erudite Bird is unable to co-exist... correct!"
...
...
一个个问题从封堂主口中问出,一句句惊叹让他快要麻木.
As Hall Master Feng raised question after question, the replies he received left him in so much so much shock that his mind was about to go blank.
刚开始还觉得对方只是碰巧会一两道题,只要问道后面难的,必然回答不了这么快了.
Initially, he thought that the other party only happened to know the answer to the questions he raised. As long as he upped the difficulty later on, the other party would surely be unable to reply so swiftly.
结果...对方明明看起来昏昏欲睡,随时都会晕倒,却越回答越快,连他都有些反应不过来.
However... Despite the other party seeming as though he was on the verge of fainting, his replies only came faster and faster. Hall Master Feng felt as though he was unable to keep up with the situation.
最重要的是...
More importantly...
回答的快,还没有错.
Not only was he fast, his answer was flawless.
不是亲眼所见,都不敢相信,世界上竟然有如此怪胎!
If Hall Master Feng didn't see it for himself, he wouldn't dare believe it to be true. To think that there would be such a monster in the world!
难怪能认出云电古雀,单对驯兽基础知识的记忆,就算是他们,恐怕都远远不如.
It was no wonder why the other party could recognize the Ancient Lightning Cloud Sparrow. In terms of fundamental knowledge on savage beasts, it was likely that Zhang Xuan far surpassed the three 2-star beast tamers.
"这...这不可能!"
"This... This is impossible!"
"这些问题...好难!"
"These questions are... so difficult!"
三大驯兽师震惊的无以复加,一侧的周宣,朱锦煌,目瞪口呆,都从对方眼中看出了惊恐.
While the three 2-star beast tamers were overwhelmed by shock, Zhou Xuan and Zhu Jinhuang were dumbfounded by the sight before them. They could see fear in each other's eyes.
刚才封堂主问出的那些问题,就算是他们,也有不少模棱两可,难以回答.
The questions which Hall Master Feng just raised were of such great difficulty that even they would be unable to answer them.
不是他们基础知识掌握的不牢,而是不少题目中,很多蛮兽的特性相似,稍有不慎就会出错.
It wasn't that their fundamental knowledge of savage beasts was weak. Rather, in several questions, the defining characteristics of the savage beast was extremely similar. With just the slightest lapse in judgement, they would make an error.
就好像刚才说的游江昆虫,虽然听起来像是一种野兽,实际上却是一种极其强大的蛮兽,骨骼长在外面,力量十足.
For example, the River Worm which was just mentioned may sound like an insect, but it was actually an extremely powerful savage beast. Its bones grew on its surface and it possessed immense strength.
这么凶猛的蛮兽,偏偏可以悬浮在水面不下沉,听到"游江",不少人会以为这东西生活在水面,让人无奈的是,适合它生存的环境,却是崇山峻岭...
Yet, such a ferocious and immense savage beast was able to float on the surface of the river. Most people would think that this savage beast lived on the surface of the water upon hearing the word 'river'. Yet, contrary to all expectations, the habitat it was compatible with was the mountains...

不得不说,封堂主出的这些题目,的确没有一个简单的,他们用笔作答,都需要仔细考虑,斟酌再斟酌才行,眼前这家伙却随口回答,好像根本没经过脑子一般...
None of the questions that Hall Master Feng raised was simple. Even on a written paper, they would have to contemplate for a long moment before they could jot down their answer. On the other hand, the other party was able to answer immediately, as though he didn't need to muse over the question at all...
怎么做到的?
How did he do it?
如此快速的回答,连想都不用想,别说他们,就算一侧的超级天才,莫雨小姐肯定都做不到!
Putting aside them, even the super genius Mo Yu would be incapable of answering such a question on the spot!
这绝对是对这些基础知识记忆到了骨髓里,才有的表现!
This was the performance of someone who has assimilated all of the fundamental knowledge thoroughly into their bones!
朱锦煌,周宣不由自主的哆嗦.
Zhu Jinhuang and Zhou Xuan shuddered.
他们竟然质疑这种人,啥都不会,装模作样?
They actually accused a person of such great means on knowing nothing at all and putting on an act?
和他一比,他们所谓的掌握基础知识,真和什么都不懂一样可笑.
Compared to him, the knowledge within their grasps was laughably pathetic.
辩答,看起来和书面作答一样,只要回答正确即可,时间长短无所谓,但作为对驯兽了解极多的人,他们知道,根本就是两个概念.
While passing the apprentice theoretical examination through discourse and written paper seemed like the same thing, as someone who had studied beast taming for several years, they knew that it wasn't that simple.
驯兽师驯兽过程中,很容易出现突发事件,脑中知识提取的速度快,就能很快得出结论,做出最有利的判断.
Often, while taming a savage beast, unexpected situations would occur. Under such circumstances, one would have to swiftly organize the situation and knowledge in their arsenal to decide on the optimal course of action.
这个时候,基本是分秒必争的,一旦错过了先机,很多事情就会变得复杂无比,再难完成.
Every second count. If they were to miss the timing, it was likely for the situation to complicate, causing the difficulty of the taming process to multiply several folds.
正因为如此,所谓的辩答,听起来鸡肋,实际上却是无数驯兽师,梦寐以求的答题方式.
This was precisely the reason why a beast tamer who passed the theoretical examination through discourse was highly respected by the others.
每一个能够完成的驯兽师,以后,必定名动诸多王国.
Every single beast tamer who passed the theoretical examination would eventually go on and achieve incredible feats.
本来以为这位张悬就是个沽名钓誉的小丑,其实对驯兽啥都不懂,怎么都没想到...不光辩答正确,还没有任何思索,回答的完整无缺...
Initially, they thought that Zhang Xuan was only a clown who wished to make a name for himself. Never in their dreams could they have imagined that... not only did was his answers perfect, he didn't need to think at all...
简直就不是人!
This wasn't something a human could do!
二人颤抖,一侧的沈碧茹也玉唇张开.
While the two of them was trembling in fear, Shen Bi Ru's mouth was wide opened.
一个时辰前,连兽林都不知道是啥的家伙,现在却侃侃而谈,气势十足,再傻她也明白,肯定有问题.
The fellow who didn't know what the Beast Forest was two hours ago was currently spouting innumerable theories and facts as though they were nothing at all. No matter how foolish she could be, it was clear that something was amiss.
"恐怕他...真有天机师天赋!"
"Does he really... possess the talent of a seer?"
要说之前还有所怀疑,现在已经没了任何疑惑.
It was just a doubt before, but at this moment, she was completely certain of the matter.
如果不是提前知道了考题,怎么可能回答的这么迅速,连想都不用想?
How could he have answered all of the questions so swiftly if he didn't know the questions beforehand?
她产生怀疑,不远处的莫雨小姐,也秀眉皱成疙瘩,不知想到了什么,眼中带着疑虑.
On the other hand, a frown was etched on Mo Yu's forehead. Doubt flashed across her eyes as she pondered over a matter.
"...就这么多,封堂主,两位兽师,我回答的可否正确?"
"...This is all. Hall Master Feng, Beast Tamer Lu, Beast Tamer Wang, are my answers correct?"
不知过了多久,张悬将最后一题回答完毕,淡淡一笑看了过来.
After a moment, Zhang Xuan finally finished answering the final question and smiled at them.
"你...回答的全部正确,没有一点错误!"
"Your... answers are completely correct!"
和其他两位兽师对望了一眼,封堂主点点头.
The three of them glanced at one another before Hall Master Feng nodded his head.
半个时辰不到,对方就将他试卷上的内容全部回答了一遍,非但,还将每一道答案的来历都说了出来.
The other party has answered all of the questions in the theoretical examination in less than an hour. Not only so, he even brought up the history of how the answers were derived.
记忆之精确之详细,就连他们都不得不佩服.
They couldn't help but admire how detailed and precise his answers were.
"全部回答正确,第一关考核通过!"
"Since you've answered all of the questions correctly, you've passed the first test!"
停顿了没有太多时间,封堂主给出结果,紧接着再次看过来:"第一关通过,现在进行第二关,驯服一头蛮兽.这一关,有半个月的时间,只要能达到初步驯服就算通过."
It didn't take long for Hall Master Feng to announce the result. Then, he gazed at Zhang Xuan once more and said, "Since you've passed the first test, let's go on to the second one, taming a savage beast. You have half a month, and you only have to achieve Inceptive Taming to pass."
"半个月?时间太长了...你们这里有没认主的蛮兽吗?可否让我驯一下?"
"Half a month? That's too long... Do you all have any untamed savage beast here? Can you allow me to tame it?"
玄落山脉这么大,虽然其中蛮兽很多,但想找一头合适的,并没那么容易,真要出去寻找,又不知要浪费多少时间,既然这里是兽堂,应该有这种蛮兽吧!
Even though there was countless savage beast in Xuanluo Mountain Range, it wasn't easy to find a specific one which fits the examination criteria. If Zhang Xuan were to head out to look for one, it would definitely take up plenty of time. Since he was in the Beast Hall now, there was likely to be a suitable savage beast here that fits his criteria.
说着,张悬站起身来,经过辩答这段时间的调整,疲倦的身体也逐渐恢复了一些.
As he said so, Zhang Xuan stood up. Throughout the duration of the discourse, Zhang Xuan's fatigued physical body has recovered slightly.
虽然依旧看起来状态不太好,却比刚才要强了不少.
Even though his condition still wasn't good, he was clearly in a much better state than before.
"让你驯服一下?"
"Allow you to tame it?"
听到这话,众人一阵无语.
Hearing those words, everyone was speechless.
"开什么玩笑!蛮兽每一头都珍贵无比,怎么可能让你驯服?再说,只有驯服的蛮兽才能进入兽堂,否则,引起动乱,谁都承担不起!"
"What a joke! Every single savage beast is valuable, how can we possibly allow you to tame it? Besides, only tamed beasts are allowed to enter the Beast Hall! Otherwise, if a stampede were to occur, no one could bear the responsibility!"
见他居然说出如此外行的话,一侧的莫雨小姐,一声冷哼,满是不悦.
Hearing Zhang Xuan spout such amateurish words, Mo Yu harrumphed coldly in displeasure.
"是这样啊..."
"Is that the case..."
听到她这样说,张悬忍不住摇头,考核个驯兽师真麻烦,现在让他去哪里找一个没被驯服的蛮兽?
Zhang Xuan shook his head. He didn't expect the beast tamer examination to turn out to be so troublesome. Where in the world could he look for an untamed savage beast now?
"哎,对了,你这头青鹰兽,可以借我驯一下吗?"
"Ah, right! Can I borrow your Viridescent Eagle to tame?"
眼睛一亮,张悬想起什么,忍不住看了过来.
Suddenly, a thought flashed in Zhang Xuan's mind. He immediately turned to Mo Yu and asked.