I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 38 The Pre-Examination

Xue Xiang was stunned.

Given his status and limited perspective, he could never have seen the world that Xie Haiya could see.

At this moment, Xie Haiya revealed a corner of the real cultivation world to him, which immediately shocked him and completely changed his worldview.

"Your Excellency's teachings today were truly enlightening, and I will never forget them."

Xue Xiang rose from his seat and bowed respectfully to Xie Haiya.

Xie Haiya waved his hand, "You are a promising talent. I wouldn't say these things to anyone else."

Furthermore, the competition for this city-level examination is unprecedented.

More than 3,000 people took the exam, but only 200 were accepted.

Yesterday, all the officials in charge of Yunmeng City attended a meeting in the prefecture. The core topic of the meeting was this year's city examination.

The rumors are true; the top twenty in each city's examinations will be directly awarded a silver flying fish badge, granting them the status of high-ranking officials, instantly transforming them from commoners into officials.

As for you, your situation is special. You are the only one in the entire Canaan Commandery who is participating in the imperial examination as an incumbent high-ranking official.

Such extreme circumstances were not considered when the policy was formulated.

Fortunately, when I attended the meeting, I mentioned your situation. The person presiding over the meeting said that since the common people had already been encouraged, they should encourage their own people even more. He promised that if you pass the test, your flying fish badge will be upgraded from silver to gold.

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

Xue was extremely grateful.

Xie Haiya waved his hand, "That's not the point. The point is that the top twenty people have the opportunity to ascend to the Qingyun Terrace."

If there is an opportunity to fight for it, we must fight for it.

This is absolutely a chance to change one's fate and destiny.

"I will do my utmost."

Xue Xiang shouted loudly, but he was really unsure of himself, blaming God for not giving him a lucky break.

Xie Haiya nodded, "Although the news of beheading the two thieves has spread far and wide, that person will most likely restrain himself."

But we must not underestimate the thieves' ferocity. I will have someone keep an eye on your place.

You can focus on your exam without worry.

Xue thanked him again, took his leave, and as he reached the hall door, he turned around and asked, "Why didn't you ask who that mysterious person was, Your Excellency?"

"You've already said it's a mysterious person, what else can I possibly find out?"

Xie Haiya took a sip of tea and chuckled, "Isn't it nice to have a mysterious person around?"

Xue Xiang smiled nonchalantly and strode away.

………………

April 3rd, Suiyang Lake, Lake Pavilion.

In mid-spring, hundreds of flowers bloom along the banks, their vibrant colors turning the mirror-like surface of Suiyang Lake into a beautiful woman in full regalia.

A lake breeze blew, causing the woman in the yellow dress to flutter, revealing her voluptuous and graceful curves.

As she flipped through the drafts of "The Mortal World," she posed a question: "Treat it like an infant, with the proper etiquette."

Xue Xiang took more than ten steps, then stopped and said, "The benevolence of nurturing is embodied in the swaddling clothes, and the wisdom of benefiting and harming is understood through the four seasons; the pivot of the rites has already turned. Therefore..."

Xue Xiang spoke clearly and loudly, and Xue Jian nodded slightly, inwardly praising Xue Xiang's rapid progress.

After Xue Xiang answered, the woman in the yellow dress posed another question: "Without transgression or forgetfulness, the matter is governed by old rules..."

This time, Xue Xiang answered even faster, "Maintaining the status quo is not about being bound by the past; investigating things is the foundation of innovation..."

For more than a month, he stayed until the very end of each day after school, and after everyone else had left, he would take a boat to the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

The woman in the yellow dress then trained him in problem-solving skills in the pavilion.

The payment he made was merely the manuscript of "The Mortal World".

After more than a month of intensive training, the woman in the yellow dress experienced Xue Xiang's extraordinary memory ability, while Xue Xiang also experienced the woman in the yellow dress's profound knowledge.

Over the past month, the woman in the yellow dress created thousands of questions, and through sheer practice, she raised Xue Xiang's ability to solve and apply those questions to a whole new level.

Xue Xiang was particularly familiar with the questions about excerpts from "Feng Ya".

The two engaged in a question-and-answer session from sunset to the moon reaching its zenith.

Suddenly, the woman in the yellow dress blew out the candle, put down the manuscript of "The Mortal World," looked up at the starry sky, and said, "The day after tomorrow is the day of the imperial examination. With your level, you will surely pass the exam if nothing unexpected happens."

Congratulations in advance!

"Congratulations, Mr. Xue."

Xue Jian cupped his hands in congratulations.

She had a very good impression of Xue Xiang, simply because Xue Xiang never treated her as a servant of a female Taoist priest, and was always respectful and polite. "Thank you both. If I succeed in the imperial examination, I will definitely hold a banquet to express my gratitude."

Xue returned the greeting with a cupped hand and then took his leave.

Watching Xue Xiang sail away, Xue Jian said leisurely, "Such a handsome young man, with unparalleled talent, is truly like a figure in a painting."

It's a pity our time together was so short. I wonder if Jiannan will ever watch "The Mortal World" again.

…………

The fifth day of the fourth lunar month is the day of the city examination.

Since the day before yesterday, the entire Yunmeng City has been in a state of inexplicable restlessness.

A large number of students preparing for exams flooded into the city, and all the inns were fully booked.

Bookstores and teahouses were filled with students socializing, and the city examination became the only topic of conversation in the entire city.

The Xue family also inevitably entered a state of emergency. A week ago, Xue's mother sent Fan Youyi to visit the neighbors with gifts, asking them to keep their voices down and not disturb Xue Xiang's rest.

Chief Xue's reputation was well-known throughout the entire Qianjie Street, so even without gifts, no family would dare to refuse.

On the night of the third day of the Lunar New Year, in order to ensure Xue Xiang's sleep, Xue's mother, Liu Mei, and Xiao Shi moved to Xiao Wan's house overnight.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Xue's mother took her family to Biyun Temple to make a wish.

On the morning of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Xue Xiang opened his eyes as dawn was just breaking.

Xue Xiang didn't rush to get up. Instead, he endured the pain and completed the process of guiding the spirit into his body before getting out of bed.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Enter!"

Liu Mei walked in, her striking beauty still evident despite her simple white robe.

"Why so early? Isn't Xiaowan's bed nice to sleep in?"

"Naturally, it's not as comfortable as sleeping in a bed at home."

Liu Mei deftly helped him change his clothes.

Twenty breaths later, Xue Xiang came out of the room. The little guy, holding a bowl of red eggs, jumped into his arms and said, "Big brother, may everything go smoothly for you."

Xue Xiang pinched her nose and then realized that Xue's mother, Xiao Wan, and Fan Youyi were all gathered in the hall.

Chicken soup was simmering on the stove in the main room. Xue Xiang glanced at the sky and figured it was no later than 3:45 AM.

Xiao Wan brought him hot water to wash up, and Fan Youyi said, "I'll go make dumplings, how many would you like, brother?"

"Ten. Perfect in every way."

Liu Mei answered quickly.

Xue Xiang smiled wryly. Lately, this family has become extremely superstitious.

Xue Xiang had just finished eating dumplings and eggs, and before he could even put down his bowl, there was a commotion outside the gate.

"It's Sister Yuan."

The little guy rushed over to open the door.

However, it was his maternal uncle Song Yuan, his aunt Zhang, his cousin Song Zijie, and his cousin Song Yuan who had all arrived.

"Oh my, who would have thought my nephew would take the exam today? What an honor..."

Zhang raised her voice an octave higher and quickly approached Xue Xiang. She held a thorny branch tied with rooster feathers, circling it around him while chanting, "Good fortune and literary luck stay, bad luck and misfortune quickly depart, great fortune and prosperity, boundless heavenly deity..."

After performing a series of rituals, she stopped and boasted to everyone that she had gone to the East City Third Aunt overnight to obtain this method of getting rid of bad luck and keeping good luck, and that it was extremely effective.

At this juncture, even Song Yuan, who had always disliked her, dared not say that she was being unreasonable.

Song Yuan patted Xue Xiang on the shoulder and said, "Our precious tree has grown up. Study hard and don't worry too much."

"Thank you, uncle."

Xue bowed.

"Big brother, keep it up!"

Song Zijie bowed deeply.

"Brother, here's the lucky sachet I embroidered for you."

Song Yuan timidly stepped forward and handed Xue Xiang a beautifully embroidered sachet.

"Thank you, Zijie. Thank you, Xiaoyuan."

Xue Xiang accepted the sachet.

(End of this chapter)