Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 327 Top Scholar, Exam Questions
At this moment, an extremely absurd scene unfolded in the examination hall.

Just as Chen Xu was announced as the top scholar in the provincial examination, Mo Huaizhang suddenly spoke in cell number 17 of the Jiazi section of the western examination hall.

Just like Luo Wenhuan, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

However, when Luo Wenhuan coughed up blood, he tried his best to avoid showing his answer sheet, fearing that he would soil the paper and be disqualified from the ranking.

Mo Huaizhang spat out a mouthful of blood, which landed precisely on his own answer sheet.

"puff!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, and then his whole body suddenly fell backward.

boom!
The sound of him falling to the ground was so loud that it immediately attracted the attention of the clerks collecting the papers and the soldiers inspecting the examinations.

A series of footsteps approached.

"Another one has fallen, sigh..."

This was a soldier's soft sigh.

They were used to seeing test takers collapse, but collapsing before handing in their papers was still a cause for regret.

Most importantly: "This answer sheet has been stained with blood, it's a pity, this answer sheet must be discarded."

"What's the pity? Enough with the nonsense. Hurry up and put it in the box, seal it, there's another one coming up, let's go!"

The soiled toilet paper was sealed separately in another runic box, and then underwent several cross-checkings before it was confirmed to have been discarded.

But at this moment, Mo Huaizhang, who had "fainted," still secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Well then, this is for the best.

Rather than being outdone by Chen Xu in the exam and ending up as the runner-up, it's better to skip it and take the next exam.

With such a brilliant top scholar as Chen Xu, who would remember the runner-up who was overshadowed by him?
Mo Huaizhang didn't want to be second; he only wanted to be first.

This time, being dismissed "due to illness" is better than having one's poems and articles publicly compared to Chen Xu's.

Mo Huaizhang's idea wasn't entirely unreasonable, but its absurdity was something that couldn't be explained to outsiders.

Thus, the provincial examination unfolded in a grand manner, and then drew its curtain in a equally grand manner.

However, the impact of Chen Xu's article "Purple Smoke" has not yet faded; in fact, it can be said that this is only the beginning.

Outside the examination hall, the bustling and noisy atmosphere, the laughter, tears, greed, anger, and other human emotions—the myriad aspects of human life—are too numerous to mention.

News of Chen Xu's essay on the Purple Smoke policy, written during the provincial examination, quickly spread like wildfire as the examination hall opened.

In short, the whole city was in an uproar.

But this is just the beginning.

Inside the examination hall, the bell rang three more times.

The candidates are still leaving the venue in an orderly manner, while the exam papers have already been sealed and stored.

Only Chen Xu remained in the examination hall. He was invited to the Observatory by the chief examiner, Feng Xing, where he was answering questions about specific issues in some of the essays.

At first, Chen Xu stood.

Feng Xing sat in the examiner's chair, his gaze filled with admiration mixed with a complex expression. He asked, "How exactly did you come up with such a plan to exterminate demons?"

This is actually a compliment.

Of course, there is also a deeper meaning behind this: to investigate Chen Xu's foundation.

Chen Xu came from an ordinary farming family, a background that many people know. Theoretically speaking, even if he is exceptionally talented, he should still lack insight on certain issues.

However, the plan to exterminate demons mentioned in Chen Xu's strategy can be considered the best kingly strategy in the world.

Many of the issues dissected and analyzed in the policy essays are even things that some important figures in the Jade Capital had vaguely touched upon but could not understand!

Feng Xing, who came from Yujing and was temporarily in charge of the provincial examination for Tiannan Circuit, was naturally well aware of the problems that had troubled everyone for so long. Undeniably, after reading the article, he was also deeply impressed by Chen Xu's policy essay.

Killing a demon is easy, eradicating a demon is difficult, and severing its root is even more difficult.

However, if we follow Chen Xu's strategy and eliminate the root cause of the locust plague, it is indeed possible.

Feng Xing carefully read the article. At first glance, it was amazing; at second glance, it was shocking; but when he read it a third time, he suddenly felt that this was not a provincial examination strategy for suppressing demons at all.

This is clearly an "Initial Explanation of the Way of Heaven," containing profound meanings in its subtle words, and each analysis can give the reader a completely new understanding.

As they exchanged questions, Feng Xing became increasingly alarmed.

Unable to resist any longer, he tentatively spoke up.

Chen Xu understood Feng Xing's implication. For a moment, he actually had the idea of ​​exposing the true nature of the great Confucian scholar Ji Weizi.

But the establishment of one lie often requires more lies to complete it.

Ji Weizi's spirit still lives on. Chen Xu has exposed his true colors today. Who knows if this news will reach Ji Weizi's ears in the future?

Although Ji Weizi had long intended to be Chen Xu's backer, he probably wouldn't expose Chen Xu's intentions.

But why bother?
Sometimes, it's better to leave room for others' imagination rather than giving a clear answer to a question.

Chen Xu pondered for a moment, appearing thoughtful, and then said:
"Please enlighten me, Master. I have always enjoyed reading in my dreams. Sometimes in my dreams, I even have the feeling of seeing past lives and gaining insight into my past wisdom."

I also enjoy listening to the wind and watching the rain. I have seen toads hiding by the shallow mudflats after the rain, eating mosquitoes and catching grasshoppers.

After watching for a while, you'll find venomous snakes lurking in the grass, preying on toads and frogs.

As the saying goes, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind." The oriole preys on the mantis, but is then preyed upon by the snake, and the snake is then preyed upon by the eagle.

Eagles are the rulers of the sky and seem to have almost no natural enemies. However, if insects, snakes, grass, and beasts on the ground are all hunted down, eagles will not have enough food and will find it difficult to reproduce.

Everything in nature is interconnected.

Since locusts are among all living things, how could they not be caught in the trap?
Upon closer reflection, all of this is simply learning from nature.

These are my humble opinions; I humbly request the master's correction.

What a wonderful phrase, "Learn from Heaven and Earth"!
Chen Xu spoke slowly and deliberately.

Although his article attracted much attention, he was not arrogant like someone who had achieved fame at a young age. At this moment, he was composed and showed due humility to the examiners.

After speaking, he bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

Feng Xing remained seated, listening intently.

Only after Chen Xu cupped his hands in greeting did he hurriedly stand up, reaching out to support Chen Xu, saying, "I dare not accept this title of Grandmaster!"
"Narrative... By the way, may I call you that?"

Chen Xu naturally replied, "How could I refuse such a high honor from a master?"

Feng Xing laughed heartily, then looked at Chen Xu and suddenly realized that he had stood up a little too late.

He should have stood up the moment Chen Xu stepped onto the Star Observation Platform!
Feng Xing felt a bit annoyed, and as he savored the content of Chen Xu's article, he truly regretted that he was still on the Star-Gazing Platform.

After all, it was under the watchful eyes of many people, so some things were better left unsaid.

In the end, Feng Xing still managed to get Chen Xu to leave before the examination hall closed again.

Although Chen Xu's position as the top scholar in the provincial examination was already secured because of his essay's auspicious purple smoke effect, the remaining rankings still needed to be carefully reviewed by the examiners before a final selection was made.

Chen Xu left the examination room at the very back of the crowd.

Meanwhile, in Yujing Tiandu.

At the Tiannan Road provincial examination hall, someone wrote an article that caused purple smoke to rise into the sky. This news has already been transmitted through a secret array of runes.

(End of this chapter)