How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

This is a direct counterattack.

You say the person behind you gets the advantage? Fine, I'll go first.

Leave the cheapest option to Li Yuecheng.

Li Yuecheng waved his hand gently: "Brother Zhou, please don't take my words to heart. The poem topic is given on short notice, and everyone only has a quarter of an hour after the topic is given to have real time to come up with ideas. What difference does it make who comes first or last? Please ask the great scholar Dai to give me the topic."

Zhou Wenju didn't insist any further. He smiled faintly, leaned back in his chair, and gently raised his hand, gesturing for him to come.

He knew, of course, that as long as he stepped forward and took the lead, Li Yuecheng would insist on going first, because given his literary reputation and status, it was absolutely impossible for him to be accused of taking advantage of others.

As expected, Li Muyun's thrust was blocked by Li Yuecheng.

Although it was just a minor incident, Zhou Wenju's words, which turned the dynasty's shield into a shield against the dynasty's spear, still gave some of the mature and prudent scholars present a strange feeling.

Whether this kid has poetic talent or not is unknown, but his intelligence in the heat of battle is clearly online.

Dai Shucheng said, "Listen carefully, Scholar Tan, the question I'm posing for you is about the spirit of autumn!"

"Integrity!" The people below exchanged bewildered glances. "Starting to be difficult again?"

"Indeed, this question for the third-ranked scholar is extraordinary! The previous questions were all related to emotions, but this one is about integrity."

"When it comes to integrity and character, any scholar of their caliber could argue for three days and three nights. However, to embody this in autumn poetry, and for the poetry to truly stand out, is as difficult as ascending to heaven..."

"Having passed the preliminary examinations, the provincial examinations, the metropolitan examinations, and the palace examinations, achieving the highest rank among the top three scholars, he has weathered many storms and possesses profound knowledge and experience, making him a leader of his era. Shouldn't he be able to take on this responsibility?"

"If he had plenty of time, there wouldn't be a problem, but unfortunately, he only has fifteen minutes..."

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on the face of Li Yuecheng, the third-ranked scholar.

Li Yuecheng stood up and took a step forward on the high platform...

Two steps...

Three steps...

Step 7!

After seven steps, he returned to his seat, picked up his pen, and wrote two words...

"Ying Chrysanthemum"

As soon as the two words were uttered, the eyes of the scholars below lit up simultaneously.

What a brilliant way to solve this problem!

What the examiner said reflects one's character!

However, it did not say how to react.

Autumn is elusive and uncertain; we must find a starting point.

The chrysanthemum is precisely such a starting point; it is a flower of late autumn, and the chrysanthemum symbolizes nobility and purity.

The principles have been established, and the fulcrum has been found.

Now, let's see how he performs.

As expected of the third-ranked scholar, his speed and accuracy in solving the problem are unparalleled!

Li Yuecheng picked up his pen and wrote: "Who sent the golden blossoms to break through the dawn frost..."

As he wrote this, his pen tip blossomed with literary flowers, a symbol of his literary mastery. As a master of literary flowers, wielding a precious pen and writing on golden paper, each character was a literary treasure imbued with the great power of the Way of Literature. When he displayed it in public, everyone was captivated and mesmerized.

The courtesans on all sides all had strange looks in their eyes.

The third-ranked scholar is so handsome and his literary fame is renowned throughout the land. If he could become one of their intimate companions, the possibilities would be endless. It doesn't matter if he's rich or poor; even if he's penniless, just writing a few words would fetch a hundred gold pieces...

Li Yuecheng wrote again: "Alone in autumn, I embrace the yellow sunset..."

"Wonderful!" exclaimed an old scholar below, clapping his hands in praise.

"Golden blossoms" describes its color; "breaking the frost" indicates its time; "autumn" clarifies its season; "embracing alone" depicts its pride.

In just two lines of poetry, the chrysanthemum's form is depicted in all its aspects.

He truly is a literary prodigy.

As if to confirm the old man's statement, after writing these two lines of poetry, a silver light bloomed on the tip of the pen, creating a literary flower...

Everyone exclaimed in surprise: "The poem wasn't finished, yet silver light appeared?"

Li Yuecheng's brush moved swiftly and powerfully, finishing the last two lines: "Why should I vie with the vibrant reds for the warmth of the season? I simply stand amidst the dewy expanse!"

A soft buzzing sound!

The room was filled with golden light!

Suddenly, it shone with golden light!

In the blink of an eye, the golden light completely transformed into a five-colored light...

"A beautiful poem!" The whole building erupted in cheers.

"Why should I vie with the vibrant reds for the warmth of the season? I stand alone amidst the dewy expanse!" The poetic genius Du Yuxin slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed, "Such spirit, a timeless masterpiece!"

"That's right! Among all the poems of integrity and spirit throughout history, Brother Li's two lines deserve a place..." Wang Luoshui also spared no effort in praising him highly.

Dai Daru stroked the tip of his beard, his face filled with rapt attention, murmuring these two lines...

The entire building was filled with soft, gentle music, then suddenly fell silent, and all the courtesans were captivated and their spirits were captivated.

The owner of Biyanlou was beaming with ecstasy.

It's worth spending so much money to have a colorful poem born on this building!

From today onwards, Biyanlou should perhaps be renamed "Cangmanglou" or "Qinglulou." Wherever this colorful poem spreads, people will know about his restaurant; the GG effect is too good...

Amidst the enthusiastic praise, the calm and approachable demeanor that had been suppressed on Li Yuecheng's face for so long was finally replaced by a feeling of pride.

At the same time, he also had a strong expectation.

Rumor has it that colorful poems can open up the Dao Sea.

Five colors are the threshold.

My poem is a perfect example of five colors; will the Dao Hai (the Way of the Sea) open?

If the Dao Sea opens, his reputation as a third-place scholar in poetry will spread throughout the Jiangnan region for a hundred years. That is the reward he has been preparing for for so long and most hopes to receive.

However, there was no unusual movement in the sky, and the Dao Sea remained unopened...

The Five-Colored Poem is merely the threshold to opening the Dao Sea; it is not necessarily required to open it. What can truly guarantee opening it is the Half-Step Seven-Colored Poem.

Heaven is still against us!

He sighed and turned his gaze to the left...

There is one last person on the left.

Zhou Wenju!

The exclamations of praise from the entire building fell silent...

All eyes turned to the last person, a guest elder from the Mo Sheng family.

The first five people all lived up to expectations.

So far, one silver, two gold, half a step of the color poem, and one standard color poem...

It can be said that this truly embodies the profound poetic essence of "no one is without merit despite their great reputation."

So, what about the sole representative of the Mohist school?

What can be done in this situation?

The Mohists did not pass down their knowledge through poetry; their main focus was on the art of tools and implements.

However, as a member of the eighteen sage families of literature and Taoism, one cannot be completely ignorant of poetry, as it is the most common medium for literature.

If his poems lack the brilliance of literature and morality, then the Mohist school will have suffered a great disgrace...

"Young Master Zhou!" Dai Shucheng spoke up, "Now it's your turn!"

"Please, Master Dai, set the questions!" Zhou Wenju said with a smile.

Everyone fell silent.

Dai Shucheng said, "Autumn evokes a variety of emotions, all of which have been described before. I would like to invite you, young master, to describe another emotion, which is... optimism!"

The question was presented...

Mo Ziyi's expression changed.

optimism?

The main themes of autumn are sorrow, loneliness, solitude, the desolation of a traveler's homesickness as their clothes grow thinner, and the cruelty of fallen leaves drifting from the branches...

These emotions are readily available to poets, and everyone is adept at them.

However, how does optimism relate to this season?

The old man seemed fair, and the question he asked wasn't tricky. In fact, as a scholar who also studied poetry, he knew that the question was extremely obscure!

It could even be said that it completely defies people's preconceived notions.

Up in the restaurant, the Seventh Princess, who had claimed she would no longer look at him, broke her own vow and fixed her gaze on Zhou Wenju's face: "Can he even write it?"

"Your Highness, I have already made myself very clear. He went to the outer sect of the Mohist school to learn weapon crafting because his literary foundation was insufficient. How can Your Highness have any hope for him..."

On the high platform, Zhou Wenju suddenly smiled: "Autumn optimism, so simple!"

I picked up my pen and wrote...

"Since ancient times, autumn has been associated with sorrow and desolation, but I say that autumn days surpass even spring mornings..."

The fourteen characters were uttered!

Golden light shines from his brush!

All eyes simultaneously fell on the tip of his pen, as if they had seen a ghost...

"With just a few lines of calligraphy, golden light appeared?"

"How is that possible?"

"this……"

Up in the restaurant, the Seventh Princess's eyes widened suddenly. She couldn't see what he was writing, but she could see the golden light!

Golden Light Poem?

No way?

This princess just told herself not to be fooled by your pretty boy appearance. You're trying to pull this trick on me? Write a poem of golden light?

The palace maid's mouth gaped open, and she fell silent for a moment.

The expressions of the five prodigies beside Zhou Wenju changed simultaneously.

The first two lines of his writing are golden, and if things don't fall apart, it's very likely to become a hit!

Absolutely not!

Don't get colored!

However, Zhou Wenju's last two lines came out casually, with ease and grace...

"A crane soars into the clear sky, its flight inspiring poetic thoughts that reach the heavens!"

When he finished writing the last word, his pen tip was already radiating colorful light, not five colors, but seven colors!