We said we would experience life, fairy, how did you become real?

"Exam over, collect your papers."

As the three incense sticks burned out, the proctor called out to the crowd.

The candidates' exam papers were collected one after another.

"call"

Xiao Mo also breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

Actually, compared to others, Xiao Mo is already considered good.

Many scholars were so exhausted after the exams that they didn't even have the strength to stand up.

Even when he could stand up, he walked very unsteadily, his pale face looking as if he had been harassed by all the women in the brothel.

Xiao Mo received a token and went to rest in the academy's detached courtyard. The list of those who passed the first round of assessments would be announced tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM).

That night.

The teachers at the academy are grading the students' exam papers.

Regardless of whether these candidates persevered to the end, their exam papers still need to be reviewed.

However, candidates who don't persevere to the end generally don't pass the first round.

However, it doesn't mean that all the scholars who handed in their papers last would pass.

Among these candidates who persisted for three incense sticks.

Some candidates started with neat and tidy handwriting, but later it was obvious that they lacked stamina and their handwriting became messy and illegible.

Some candidates persisted until the end of the three incense sticks burning period, but still did not finish answering the questions.

Some candidates wrote neatly from beginning to end and finished answering all the questions, but their thoughts clearly started to become confused later on.

Of course, there were also scholars who actually completed the exam papers, but their numbers were small, only about fifty people, accounting for only one-tenth of the candidates.

"This scholar did quite well on the exam." Sima Yun, the head of the academy, looked at the exam paper with great approval.

“Indeed excellent.” Xu Ke, the head of the academy, nodded. “I have also read this exam paper. Not to mention that the handwriting is neat and the thinking is clear from beginning to end, his research on Confucianism is profound, and he even has a kind of mature air about him.”

"Isn't this Xiao Mo Qi Senior Brother's disciple?" Yu Wen asked.

“Yes.” Sima Yun nodded. “Senior Brother Qi has indeed taken on a good disciple, and this Xiao Mo seems to be the sweetheart of the Lord of the North Sea. She is a beautiful woman with wealth and power. It’s truly enviable.”

"I also heard from Wang Quan that this kid is studying some kind of 'philosophy of mind'."

"The philosophy of mind? What kind of knowledge is that?"

"I heard about his self-created scholarship when Wang Quan returned to the academy and chatted with me over drinks. All I can say is that it is somewhat unorthodox."

"But Senior Brother Qi also said that if he really succeeds on this path, he might become the first Confucian sage in the last two thousand six hundred years."

"Haha, becoming a saint? He'll have to pass the test the day after tomorrow first." Yu Wen shook his head and wrote "pass" on Xiao Mo's test paper. "We're only responsible for grading other people's test papers. We only test their knowledge and don't ask about anything else."

The next day, Xiao Mo got up early in the morning and received a letter.

The letter informed him that he had passed the assessment and that he would go to the summit of Xuehai Peak at Chenshi (7-9 AM) the next day to participate in the second and final assessment.

Xiao Mo wasn't particularly happy about passing the test.

On the contrary, if I fail even the first test, I will really embarrass Mr. Qi and be too ashamed to go back.

On the third day after arriving at the Confucian Academy, at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), Xiao Mo headed to the summit of Xuehai Peak.

Compared to the hundreds of scholars there the day before yesterday.

Only sixty-three people came here.

"The second test is about to begin."

The old gentleman from yesterday stepped forward and explained the rules to everyone.

"Do you all see that mountain peak directly in front of you? That mountain peak is called Seeking Knowledge Peak. There are some trees on the top of the peak. What you all need to do is very simple: just wave your hand and let the wind of the book turn. If more than ten trees are blown, then you have passed."

Hearing the old man's words, everyone frowned.

The so-called "book-turning style" is a technique that Confucian scholars naturally master when they reach a certain level of cultivation.

The intensity of the book-turning style is related to the realm of Confucian scholars and their understanding of Confucianism and Taoism.

The old man made it sound simple, but in reality, the Peak of Seeking Knowledge was a full five hundred feet away from the Peak of Learning Sea, and the peak also had an isolation array.

Their cultivation levels were all at the Dragon Gate Realm, and their wind was very weak, so it would be no easy task to move the trees.

"The assessment begins. Proceed in order." Mr. Yu Wen, with his hands behind his back, stepped aside.

The first scholar stepped forward, took a deep breath, and with a flick of his sleeve, an invisible wind blew towards the Peak of Learning, but the trees and flowers on the summit remained completely still.

The scholar's face turned pale instantly.

“Next,” Yu Wen said, shaking his head.

The second scholar stepped forward and waved his sleeve. This time, there was movement at the summit of Seeking Knowledge Peak, but only three or four trees moved in response.

"next."

"next."

As Yu Wen recited the instructions, half of the scholars gradually participated in the assessment.

Of the thirty-odd scholars, only three passed.

Soon, only Xiao Mo remained on the entire mountain.

Apart from Xiao Mo, a total of seven scholars passed the test, and the one with the best score blew up fifteen trees on the mountaintop.

"Xiao Mo, right? You're the last one." Yu Wen stroked his beard and looked at Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo bowed and walked to the edge of the cliff.

Looking at the mountain peak not far away, Xiao Mo raised his arm and gently waved his blue robe.

Meanwhile, Hua Mingfeng of the Confucian Academy.

All the "gentlemen" were sitting on prayer cushions, heads bowed, working on their exam papers.

The scorching sun beat down on their foreheads, and unable to use their spiritual power to resist the heat, they could only wipe away their sweat.

"Damn it! When I become the dean of the four great academies, I will definitely change this rule. What do you mean by 'strengthening their muscles and bones and starving their bodies'? This is just making them suffer without any real hardship!"

Shang Jiuli exhaled a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Shang Jiuli, no talking during the exam!" a high-ranking academy official at the front reminded him.

Many people looked at Shang Jiuli.

"Hehehe!!!" Shang Jiuli made a face at the academy's chief priest.

Luo Yang, sitting next to Shang Jiuli, shook his head, feeling somewhat ashamed, and pretended not to know this junior sister.

But just then, a gentle breeze blew by.

This breeze was much more refreshing than the usual summer breeze, and even carried a hint of ink fragrance.

The Confucian classic placed at the very front by the academy's chief priest was gently turned by the breeze.

"What a comfortable way to turn the pages of a book."

As Shang Jiuli enjoyed the pleasant breeze while turning the pages, his eyes involuntarily narrowed.

"It seems to carry the scent of Junior Brother Xiao as well."

The academy's chief priest also raised his head and looked towards the direction of the Study Peak not far away.

The entire mountain peak, with its flowers, grasses, and trees, seemed to be dancing, as if in joy.