Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 839 The Ecology of the General Public

He then handed over a fish bladder that gleamed with a cold light, which was the proof of the demon's existence.

Xu Xuan took the fish maw, stroking the fine patterns on it with his fingertips, and nodded thoughtfully: "It seems that the demon race has been driven to desperation, and they can't even care about taboos like leaving the water."

He immediately wrote a letter requesting that Baoan Temple also set up a defensive line along the land along the coast.

Three days later, the day finally arrived for the results of the provincial examination to be posted outside the examination hall.

This "list of honors" marks the moment when a fish leaps over the dragon gate (a symbol of success in the imperial examinations).

The entire city of Shouchun was in an uproar, with streets and alleys packed with students of all kinds of expressions.

Some faces were ashen, some cheeks were flushed, and some trembled uncontrollably. The fate of all the students in Yangzhou rested on this list.

Although the Baoantang branch has not yet officially opened, Xu Xuan has already ordered people to prepare wine and pastries, and decorated the hall in a warm and elegant manner.

I specially invited familiar students to wait here for the results to be released, so that we could look out for each other, and someone would come to report the good news and ask for a reward later.

At this moment, a dozen students sat in the hall, all with solemn expressions, not daring to even breathe loudly.

These self-proclaimed geniuses, who usually pride themselves on their exceptional talent, are no exception to the common human tendency. All notions of self-cultivation and gentlemanly conduct have long been forgotten.

After all, this list is a watershed moment that makes all the difference.

Even the "Three Wonders," who had just returned from the front lines of Dongting Lake, had different expressions.

Ji Rui, who was usually the most lively, was now dumbfounded, just like the inscribed stone tablet in the academy that remained unmoved by wind and rain.

He mechanically picked up the teacup and gulped down the tea; he grabbed pastries and stuffed them into his mouth one after another; he even unconsciously tugged at the white deer's mane to wipe his mouth—the poor white deer rolled its eyes but dared not move.

As the weakest of the "Three Wonders," Ji Rui's tension was practically overflowing from every pore.

In a province as important as Yangzhou in the imperial examination system, only about a hundred people were admitted to the provincial examination.

Although the three major academies have profound traditions, there are also many hidden talents among the common people. In addition, there are various variables in the examination room. Who can guarantee that they will definitely pass?
Three years ago, given his level of ability, he wouldn't even have been qualified to participate, and naturally he could have continued his carefree and pleasure-seeking life.

But since he started practicing under Master Xu, not only has his knowledge improved by leaps and bounds, but his ambition has also risen accordingly.

Now that ambitions have been born, I fear...

Stealing glances at Zao and Ning Caichen—what if these two close friends pass the exam with flying colors, while I am the only one who fails? Wouldn't the "three wonders" become "two wonders"?
Just thinking about that possibility made him feel like the sky was falling.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the courtyard, followed by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

No one dared to move, so Xu Xuan could only signal the Stone King to open the door.

The messenger had just opened the door when he was met with a giant nine feet tall with a cold, hard face, which startled him so much that he almost fell over.

He hurriedly checked the roster in his hand—had he gone to the wrong place?
He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the large number of students gathered in the courtyard.

Under the scorching gazes of the crowd, he swallowed hard and announced loudly, "Good news! Master Ji has ranked ninety-second in the imperial examination!"

Ji Rui felt a "buzz" sound, as if a million bees were flapping their wings in his ears at the same time.

I won?! I won! I actually won!!

The moment that thought exploded in my mind, I sprang up from my chair as if I were springy.

First, he pinched himself in disbelief, then—"Hahahaha!"

Ji Rui laughed loudly, put his hands on his hips, and spun around in the courtyard, shouting, "I! Ji Rui! Ji Hanqing! I've passed the imperial examination!"

Overjoyed, he pulled out his purse and stuffed it into the hand of the messenger without even looking at it.

The sheer weight startled the other person, who waved his hands repeatedly—this thickness could probably seriously injure someone!
You'd die seven or eight times if you walked less than 300 meters from home.

In the end, Xu Xuan couldn't stand it anymore and smiled as he took most of it back, leaving only a reasonable amount of celebratory money.

The messenger accepted the reward with profuse thanks, overjoyed—he had really made the right choice in taking this job; the reward from just this one family was enough to buy a small courtyard in Shouchun.

Seeing this, the other students in the college looked on with envy that was almost tangible.

Zao and Ning Caichen exchanged a smile, both happy for their close friend and even more nervous—who would be the next to bring good news?
Ji Rui was beaming with joy. He beckoned to his servant and told him to hurry home to deliver the good news.

As for myself—of course I'll stay here with my good brothers and wait for the results.

When he sat down again, the newly appointed scholar had completely relaxed.

He crossed his legs and calmly began to reassure his classmates: "Don't panic, everyone. Passing the imperial examination is difficult, but it's not that hard..."

"I was like that back then..."

He even shook his head and tried to recite a poem to liven things up, but was glared at fiercely by Zao, and then shut his mouth sheepishly.

However, his smug expression only made the atmosphere in the courtyard more tense.

The other students began to feel uneasy—comparing the number of people admitted to the Yangzhou provincial examination in previous years with Ji Rui's current level...

"Waaah..."

Suddenly, someone covered their face and wept bitterly. This student from Chongqi Academy suddenly realized that Ji Rui's knowledge had already made great strides after Master Xu's special training, and he was now at an advanced level among this group.

If even he was only ranked ninety-second... the courtyard was instantly filled with both bustling activity and gloomy atmosphere.

Even the usually low-key Ning Caichen unconsciously clenched his sleeves, his knuckles turning white. Zao, though his expression remained unchanged, was completely unaware that the tea in his cup had long since gone cold.

Just when the tension was at its peak, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar. Everyone held their breath in unison.

This time, the sound of horses' hooves stopped in front of the courtyard gate as before.

"Good news—Master Ning ranked 42nd in high school!"

As soon as the messenger finished speaking, several loud cries suddenly erupted in the courtyard—not from Ning Caichen, but from several other classmates.

While Ji Rui's ranking may still be controversial, Ning Caichen's talent is undeniable.

Ten years of hard study ultimately failed the exam, and grief welled up inside me, which I could not control.

It was only then that Xu Xuan understood why everyone liked to gather together to wait for good news.

So this is also part of the winner's game.

It seems I haven't thought things through; I shouldn't have gathered everyone together. The messenger calmly watched the group of scholars, who were both crying and laughing, until Xu Xuan handed him another reward, at which point he thanked them profusely and withdrew.

The atmosphere in the courtyard had shifted from anxious to deathly silent. Some began calculating: out of a hundred to be admitted, two had already applied, what about the remaining spots…?

When the third knock sounded, Zao tried to calmly get up, but accidentally knocked over the stone table, scattering fruit all over the floor.

He took the note announcing the good news, glanced at it, and his lips curled up slightly, then up again, and up again, but ultimately he couldn't maintain the smile and his composure crumbled.

At this moment, the courtyard fell completely silent.

Several students staggered to their feet and were about to take their leave when Xu Xuan stopped them and gestured for Shi Wang to help them to the backyard to rest.

"Your mind is troubled and your luck is low; there may be evil spirits causing trouble on the road." He then personally served each person a cup of calming tea. "Why not rest here for a while and continue your journey once your mind has calmed down?"

Ji Rui and Ning Caichen exchanged a glance, tacitly suppressing their joy, and prepared to go to the backyard to comfort their classmate who had failed the exam.

At this point, several of the more carefree students had already adjusted their emotions and turned their attention to Instructor Xu.

In terms of the depth of knowledge, this instructor is undoubtedly the leader.

Just then, the deafening sound of gongs and drums came from afar. A group of messengers arrived at the courtyard, and the lead officer loudly proclaimed:

"Good news! Master Xu from Qiantang County has achieved first place in the Yangzhou provincial examination!"

Top scholar!

Xu Xuan smiled slightly, somewhat surprised by the result.

He knew that passing the imperial examination was inevitable, but he was able to become the top scholar in the provincial examination, probably because the Confucian sages gave him a helping hand in order to uphold the right path.

As a cultivator, especially one who specializes in spiritual cultivation, he already had a significant advantage in the imperial examinations, so this joy was nothing more than that.

But the other students were unaware of the situation. In an instant, the gloom in the courtyard vanished, and everyone stepped forward to offer their congratulations.

Those students who were just moments ago dejected now suppressed their disappointment and sincerely bowed to Xu Xuan.

This was their mentor, and also their most reliable connection for their future careers.

With Instructor Xu's talent, he would be a top figure even in Luoyang. Perhaps in three years, they will all be relying on this bigwig for support.

Chongqi Academy recruits only the best of the best, and after a brief moment of losing his composure, reason quickly regained its grip.

Young people are generally open-minded; if it were those old scholars who had spent their entire lives taking the imperial examinations, they would probably be spitting with envy right now.

Ji Rui excitedly patted the shoulder of the Stone King, whom he was meeting for the first time: "I knew it! With Master Xu's help, we're bound to be number one!"

The stone man was struck with a loud thud, but he wasn't annoyed. He simply went to prepare some tea and snacks.

Looking at Xu Xuan surrounded by the crowd, Zao suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to Ning Caichen in a low voice, "You said... Master Xu is leading the team to participate in next year's imperial examination..."

Ning Caichen nodded slightly. The two smiled knowingly.

If you go to Luoyang, that would be really interesting.

According to post-event statistics, a total of fifteen students from Chongqi Academy passed the provincial examination, an unprecedented achievement that far surpassed that of Jintian Academy.

What's even more astonishing is that out of the twenty students enrolled in the teaching reform project led by Instructor Xu and Professor Gu, five of them achieved top marks in the college entrance examination. Such a success rate is nothing short of miraculous.

Although Xu Xuan no longer needs to rely on his academic achievements to solidify his position in the academy, such results undoubtedly provide the strongest proof for his teaching philosophy.

The path of reform is finally seeing the light of day.

On the day he passed the imperial examination, guests came in droves to congratulate him. So he simply held a banquet at the best restaurant under the Baoan Hall, sent out invitations widely, and invited celebrities from all walks of life in Shouchun to enjoy the flowers and drinks, which served as a farewell banquet.

The banquet was a grand affair, with dignitaries in attendance, including Prefect He, who came in person to offer his congratulations, leaving the guests speechless with astonishment. This Scholar Xu was truly a man of immense influence and unfathomable background.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, Ji Rui, his face flushed with drink, led his classmates to toast Xu Xuan one by one, always joining in the teasing and jeering.

Then his father gave him a beating, calling him a disrespectful brat. After that, he and his friends raised their wine cups to toast Lord Xu.

To be honest, if he hadn't known that Lord Xu didn't like people kneeling before him, Ji's father would have really wanted to kowtow to him hundreds of times.

Everyone knows what kind of person their son is, but he turned his life around and soared to great heights.

This is a huge profit!

Since the ancestral graves are gone anyway, it doesn't matter who we worship.

Ning Caichen discussed with several newly appointed candidates the arrangements for going to the capital for the imperial examinations the following year, and they planned to travel to Luoyang together.

At this point, someone suggested that it would be best if they could travel with Master Xu, which drew widespread agreement.

However, Ning seemed troubled. He felt that the Three Wonders combination was already in great danger, and he couldn't possibly go to Luoyang lying in a sea of ​​blood if he followed Master Xu.

Zao was chatting with the three heroes. It was quite a coincidence that the two famous groups in the academy could shine together.

Qian Zhongyu still doesn't understand how someone like Ji Rui could pass the exam.

Xie Yu, however, felt this was to be expected; he had always paid close attention to Ji Rui's growth rate. After all, the growth path of a mediocre talent was more valuable.

Then I turned to Zao and discussed with him whether the six of us should go together, as this was a crucial study tour.

He didn't like the route arranged by the Xie family, so he preferred to travel north with his classmates. Besides, he was from the north and had some connections and experience.

Zao said he needed to think about it, and his reason was the same as Ning Caichen's: he was afraid of dragging down the three heroes.

But he also felt that with his own strength, he should be able to handle most of the troubles in the world, and if necessary, he could just ask Master Xu for help.

I'm caught in a dilemma.

After several days of hustle and bustle, Xu Xuan stood on a high place in the restaurant, looking at the lights on the river and letting out a long sigh of relief.

The first half of the imperial examinations has finally come to an end.

Now it's time to head back to Qiantang and try to make it through the final stretch of the year.

Why do I feel a little panicked?

Xu Bailian, who always made her enemies uneasy, felt a little nervous.

(End of this chapter)