Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 795 August 9th
The autumn imperial examinations were held in three sessions, on the 9th, 12th, and 15th days of the eighth lunar month, respectively.

When August 9th finally arrived after many ups and downs, Xu Xuan did not sleep all night.

He wasn't nervous for his disciples; rather, he remained extremely vigilant.

He spent the night almost in a state of combat readiness—the hilt of the Shengxie Sword hung at his waist, paper butterflies were hidden in his sleeves, and a brocade cassock was concealed beneath his coat.

They even secretly mobilized the elite forces of the Baoan Hall to deploy defenses throughout Shouchun.

“Every major event is bound to bring unexpected changes…” He murmured to himself, standing by the window of the inn and gazing at the gradually brightening sky.

This is the experience accumulated over the past three years of dealing with all sorts of demons and monsters, and more importantly, the awareness of being the "protagonist"—it would be abnormal if no demons or monsters came out to cause trouble at such an important moment.

However, the anticipated accident did not occur until sunrise.

Xu Xuan raised an eyebrow: "It seems that even someone as complicated as me has my lucky moments. Is it really true that gods and ghosts have given up today?" He shook his head and laughed self-deprecatingly, "Peace and quiet is the best thing. These past few years, I've been a bit stressed by those sudden calamities."

Before going downstairs, he stuffed all the equipment he carried, which was not belonging to ordinary scholars, into the jade pot, and then threw it towards the clouds outside the city.

Then he tidied his appearance, regained his teacherly demeanor, and carefully checked each student's exam basket—pens, ink, paper, inkstone, dry food, water, and a change of clothes, leaving nothing out.

He was also worried that some people might bring extra things that could cause misunderstandings, and even if Professor Gu gave him face, it wouldn't be of any use.

Fortunately, most people are obedient, it's just that...

"Remember, there are three exams, each lasting three days and two nights." Xu Xuan instructed while organizing the exam materials. "The first exam tests classical texts, the second tests policy essays, and the third tests practical skills. Don't panic if you encounter difficult questions; just follow the approach the professor taught you..."

Ok?
"Commercial drafts, banknotes, gold, pearls, and jade?"

Ji Rui felt the weight of the basket as soon as he picked it up; he hadn't expected it to be so full of contents.

Are you planning to forcefully bribe the examiner in front of hundreds or thousands of people?

Or are you planning to use something yellow or white as a paperweight?

"These are emergency supplies, and I don't even know if they're compliant with regulations..." Ji Rui was also somewhat bewildered. He had never dreamed of participating in the autumn imperial examinations before, so he was unsure when packing his things.

In the end, they were all entrusted to Professor Gu for safekeeping.

With this farce unfolding, everyone else felt much more relaxed.

"set off!"

This command seemed to open a floodgate.

Countless candidates poured out of the streets and alleys of Shouchun City at the same time, converging on the examination hall like rivers flowing into the sea.

He had only taken two steps when he suddenly felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him like a mountain.

"This is..." Xu Xuan subconsciously activated his spiritual senses, and his eyes were immediately stung by the sight.

Looking up, thousands of students gathered outside the examination hall, their blue robes like a forest and their official hats like clouds.

Under the morning sunlight, countless streams of literary energy rose from the heads of the examinees, weaving together into a vast, invisible canopy above the examination hall.

The pure air surged and billowed, soaring straight into the sky like a giant dragon, even scattering some of the clouds on the horizon.

Even having witnessed the grandeur of the Jiangnan Literary Gathering, the scene at this moment still far exceeded my imagination—the vast literary atmosphere surged like the ocean and the Milky Way, and every wisp of pure air contained the accumulation of ten years of hard study by scholars.

The closer one gets to the examination hall, the more subdued one's spiritual energy becomes.

Then, several candidates were seen suddenly emitting black smoke and fleeing the crowd in panic.

Those who were unwilling to give up and wanted to cheat with evil magic must have been exposed under the impact of the vast literary energy.

Even the white lotus dharma image within his body consciously restrained its sharpness, wrapping itself layer upon layer with pure white lotus petals, not daring to reveal even the slightest aura.

In such a place where the literary fortunes of the world converge, any evil or demonic means are tantamount to courting disaster.

Before the gates of the examination hall, a troop of armored soldiers stood guard, their gleaming blades flashing coldly in the morning light. Thousands of students gathered here, forming several distinct groups—some whispering in small groups, some pacing alone and muttering to themselves, and others closing their eyes to rest and feign composure.

Xu Xuan raised an eyebrow as his gaze swept across the crowd; there were quite a few familiar faces among the examinees.

Among them were more than a dozen elderly men with white hair who sat in the first three rows of the academy classroom. They had difficulty even getting up at night, yet they still came to participate in such a high-intensity exam, relying entirely on their perseverance and determination.

His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, yet he still held the book with unwavering determination, silently reciting scriptures even at the very last moment before entering the venue.

When someone is so obsessed, there's no need to try to persuade them anymore.

Although one could sense through their spiritual senses that their life force had dimmed to the point of being practically dead.

The atmosphere among the crowd was subtle and tense.

Candidates who knew each other simply nodded to each other, while those who were not familiar with each other were even more wary of one another.

Today's exam can be described as a fierce battle with thousands of soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge.

Passing the provincial examination meant obtaining the title of Juren, a path that would lead to a bright future.

It meant the privilege of tax exemption and exemption from corvée labor, the preferential treatment from local officials, and the possibility of becoming a wealthy man even in the worst circumstances.

If one could get registered with the Ministry of Personnel or find some connections, obtaining an official position would be a piece of cake.

Qiao Feng's father-in-law only managed to gain a foothold in the local area by skillfully maneuvering his status as a successful candidate in the imperial examinations.

As for those who passed the imperial examination, it was an even higher ladder to success. Even those who were among the top three in the imperial examinations would at least be appointed as county magistrates when they were assigned to a post outside the capital.

Magistrate Ximen took this path, but unfortunately, he was too upright and encountered that tragic case of filial piety...

"One exam determines your entire life."

While I was sighing, I didn't realize that I had become the most conspicuous person.

"Greetings, Master Xu." The three most famous disciples came up to greet him, attracting a lot of attention.

"Hello, Professor Xu," a regular student greeted.

"Teacher Xu, you look so radiant today! I've been feeling uneasy without your instruction at the academy these past few days," a lively, ordinary student greeted.

One batch after another, it was quite a lively scene.

It's not that there aren't teachers and students taking the exam together, but Xu Xuan is the most famous.

After all, he was the only one among the three academies known for his low level of education, so it was normal for people to come and greet him.

The result was that countless resentful gazes were directed at them.

Xu Xuan, who was forced to take the spotlight, had no choice but to accept it; he was, after all, a man with the protagonist's halo.

Fortunately, the time was up.

"quiet!"

A loud command pierced the morning air, and the vermilion gates of the examination hall slowly opened with a creak.

Two ceremonial guards stood in neat rows as the two chief examiners of the provincial examination led eighteen tutors out in single file.

Dressed in formal court attire, their clothes were neat and tidy, making them appear particularly solemn in the morning light.

"The governor of Yangzhou has come in person?" Xu Xuan's gaze sharpened.

The official in purple robes leading the group was none other than the military governor of Yangzhou, whom Lu Dan had once served.

(End of this chapter)