The woman over fifty, donning glasses, is nad Ming Lan.
She is the official in charge of the Blue Star Literature and Art Association’s Fantasy Novel Departnt.
Most official fantasy literature activities are led by her.
At this mont, Ming Lan began reading the first chapter of "Journey to the West."
The title raised her eyebrows slightly: "From Precious Root is Birthed, by Heart and Nature is the Way Acquired."
"Humankind rises to benevolence, the substances of creation molded into form. To understand the primal work of creation, behold the Journey to the West, the deliverance from hardship."
Journey to deliverance from hardship?
This seems to be the na of the classical version.
Whereas "Journey to the West" is the na of the popular version.
Why are there two versions?
Ming Lan continued reading with curiosity:
"It is said that the universe cycles every 129,600 years. Divide this cycle into twelve eras, thus the twelve earthly branches: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. Each era lasts 10,800 years.
Considering a day: at the hour of the Rat cos the Yang energy, and the hour of the Ox begins with the cocks crow; the Tiger’s hour is still dark, while the sun rises in the hour of the Rabbit; after eating at the hour of the Dragon, resting cos with the hour of the Snake; the sun is overhead at noon, in the Horse’s hour, but it starts falling in the Sheep’s hour; the Monkey’s hour begins the afternoon, and the sun sets at the hour of the Rooster; the darkness of evening begins in the hour of the Dog, and people are settled for the night by the Pig’s hour.
If you compare this to the grand cycle, when it reaches the end of the Dog’s era, both heaven and earth will sink into twilight and all things cease to be..."
Just from the first paragraph, Ming Lan was sure of one thing:
The classical version is not suited for ordinary people.
The threshold for reading is too high.
Even the aning of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, etc., many people have no clear concept.
They only know these are different hours of the day.
Not to ntion sentences like "If you compare this to the grand cycle, when it reaches the end of the Dog’s era, both heaven and earth will sink into twilight and all things cease to be."
As Ming Lan continued to read, she beca more and more astounded!
Classical writing and even the techniques of classical Chinese were all employed.
The profundity of Chu Kuang’s classical literature was terrifying, discarding over ninety percent of fantasy writers!
Furthermore.
The book also contained a wealth of poetry.
For example, the description of the Waterfall Cave on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit:
"A shelter from the wind, and safe from rain’s harm. Fearless in frost and snow, deaf to thunder’s alarm."
"Consistently bathed in misty glow, with auspicious signs that blossom and grow. Pines and bamboo that annually show, beautiful flowers that daily stow."
There were many more similar verses.
Among these various techniques, the story of the birth of Sun Wukong likewise erged before her.
This is a naturally born stone monkey.
Reigned over the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit as the Handso Monkey King, yet yearned for the cultivation of Tao.
He traveled across the sea, conquering difficulties and obstacles, until he t Master Bodhi, entering the mountain of miniatures, the cave of the crescent moon and three stars.
"The chaos of the beginning bears no na, shattering the obstinate void requires enlightennt."
Master Bodhi gave the Handso Monkey King a na.
Sun! Wu! Kong!
At this point, the first chapter ended.
Ming Lan read very slowly, so slow that she was reading word by word, phrase by phrase. By the end of the first volu, her eyes were filled with waves of shock.
Though the opening story was actually rather simple.
Its literary value was too strong, with each sentence carefully chosen and composed!
There were several lines of verse, that left Ming Lan clapping in admiration:
"Mountains know not the lunar years, unknown is the quantity of the cold’s severities!"
"Observing chess, firewood diligently chopped, by the valley’s mouth move slowly. Selling firewood and selling wine, drunk with mirth and madness all the ti. Autumn scenery high on the desolate road, with moon as the pillow and pine as the abode, waking with the dawn’s glode. Recognizing the old woods, climbing cliffs and crossing ridges, cutting dry vines with the axe’s smidge."
"..."
Not only its literary rit.
In just a short chapter, there were also so original sayings of Taoism, and even so non-original sayings of Taoism!
Its setting was extrely rigorous!
The world view was extrely grand!
An elaborately detailed, sweeping epic unfolds —
She continued reading.
...
To Ming Lan’s side was a male leader of the Literature and Art Association. This man, nad Chi Rui, was the deputy director of the departnt.
And what Chi Rui was reading was the popular version of "Journey to the West."
At so point, this high-ranking man turned bright red and started trembling slightly!
With the narration of the text.
A series of grand and magnificent scenes seed to unfold before his eyes...
Sun Wukong obtains the Magic Cudgel!
He storms through the underworld and changes the Book of Life and Death!
All mountains and rivers are surrendered, all creatures in the nine underworlds and ten species are eradicated!
While the Heavenly Court welcod him, he created chaos in the peach garden, eventually leaving Heavenly Court and attaining the title:
The! Great! Sage! Heaven’s Equal!
Sun Wukong fights countless Immortals under the siege of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals in the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit.
From the Mighty Spirit God to the Heavenly King Li to Nezha, the Third Prince, and even Erlang Shen…
Even when captured, he shatters the Eight Trigrams Furnace and obtains Fiery Golden Eyes!
The popular version, unlike the classical version.
If the classical version focuses on literariness, the popular version gives importance to the description of the scene, whether it’s the abilities of gods or their magical weapons, the scenes of these battles are described ticulously!
Here cos a point.
The original classical version of Journey to the West, because of its too many poems and songs, is actually weak in its depiction of scenes and plots.
If only the original Journey to the West is published, it definitely wouldn’t be as popular.
But the popular version completely makes up for this deficiency.
Even disregarding its literary nature, just as a novel, Sun Wukong’s experiences are breathtaking!
Just looking at the early plot, it’s completely a showcase of the Monkey King’s invincibility!
Even in online literature, these continuous climactic beginning chapters are enough to excite readers!
That’s why when Sun Wukong cos out from under the Five Finger Mountain, it gives royal expectation and shock to countless people!
At this ti.
Chi Rui is one of those thoroughly excited readers!
What Sun Wukong has done has shocked him trendously, and the popular version’s description of the plot let him lose himself in it as if he were there ——
This monkey is so goddamn domineering!
In addition.
The popular version also retains many features of the original.
For example, famous lines like "In the mountains with no sense of years, we do not know the years" and "Emperors take turns, and next year it will be my turn" were not removed but, against the exhilarating backdrop, are accompanied by bold and dramatic literary embellishnt.
Clearly.
A novel of nearly a million words is not sothing everyone can finish quickly.
But you don’t need to read the whole novel, just revealing the story in the first few chapters already brings about a shock that envelops the entire conference room!
"This novel…"
Ming Lan, reading the part where Sun Wukong thrice defeats the White Bone Demon, finally regretfully put the draft down.
However, when she started speaking, she realized her voice was slightly hoarse, and she subconsciously cleared her throat.
"A masterpiece!"
Chi Rui spoke softly, his expression extrely serious for the first ti.
For a mont, everyone puts down the novel.
The conference room falls silent.
One could hear a pin drop.
Not until Ming Lan cleared her throat again, did everyone glance at each other and gradually start to speak:
"Chu Kuang is absolutely qualified to sit and discuss who will be the Supre God with us this ti."
"This novel, both literary and storytelling, is awe-inspiring when read in comparison with both versions."
"This is more than just a fantasy novel."
"Chu Kuang has broken the ceiling of fantasy novels by himself."
"This novel has the grandeur of The Primordial Chaos, but whether it’s the refinent of the text or the author’s layout, it surpasses that mythological work that’s been passed down for so many years."
"This is what the mythology of Blue Star should look like!"
"The imagination is unique, it ranges from heaven to earth, it is absolutely ingenious. The characters’ personalities are also extrely vivid, which moves away from the low-level humor often seen in fantasy novels. I believe the Literature and Art Association should arrange for promotion."
"..."
Voices full of amazent.
After speaking, everyone looks at Ming Lan.
Ming Lan smiled bitterly: "I dare not casually comnt on this novel, let’s read both versions first, but to specifically state my feelings about reading this novel, I feel like I am reading a masterpiece of Blue Star."
Masterpiece!
Everyone was stunned, but after a mont of silence, no one in the eting room disagreed.
This novel contains nurous religious knowledge, and the text also contains many taphors; those present would not fail to see this, which is why they could more easily feel the magnificent atmosphere of this novel...
This Chu Kuang.
Shocks the world!
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