Ding Qian was glowing with divine vigor, leading the charge.

Among the numerous examination rooms ahead, only one had the faint image of a giant bell hovering above it.

Ding Qian walked quickly at the forefront, following the guidance, and then he saw that in the examination room pointed out by the giant bell, the young man was just putting down his pen and ink.

A sheet of snow-white examination paper was laid flat in the middle of the desk, and the ink on it was still fresh.

And Ding Qian remembered the appearance of the young man; it was precisely Chen Xu from Jichuan County, whom he had checked in advance.

On both sides of the examination room, all the candidates were a bit stunned.

What on earth was happening?

But no one dared to make a commotion; they just watched wide-eyed as the main and vice examiners walked to the front of an examination room.

Ding Qian, the prefect, was full of vernal smiles, but he was deliberately restrained.

With a smile, he asked, "In today's exam, you attracted the Bookworm to strike the bell. Do you know what this means?"

Chen Xu sat in the examination room and clasped his hands, saying, "Student apologizes for the rudeness. I have met the Grandmaster and ask for guidance from the Grandmaster."

Ding Qian was very satisfied with his response and immediately said, "In the examination hall of old, the Bookworm was an unusual phenomenon.

This phenomenon naturally selects the student with the best answers in the exam, blinds their perception, as a test.

If the student can pass the test, break through the blindness, comprehend in the exam hall, complete the unfinished answers, and even the Bookworm is moved by this, it can lead to the Bookworm striking the bell.

The Heaven-Equalizing Bell struck by the Bookworm rings four times for passing, five times for excellence, and six times for perfection.

Anyone who causes the Bookworm to strike the bell can immediately be determined as the top scorer of this exam. And six bell rings have not been seen in a hundred years.

Stand up now, this is your time to finalize and seal your paper. According to the current examination rules, you are already the top scorer of this exam.

By the way, now you can tell the story behind your name."

After his words, the entire place fell into complete silence.

The students on both sides were dumbfounded, they hadn't finished the exam, and yet someone had already been named the top scorer?

Is there still fairness in this world?

But judging by what the prefect implied, the Bookworm striking the bell was a supernatural event from the examination hall itself. What is left to dispute about this top scorer?

The students dared not whisper in the face of the examiners, but each had very expressive faces.

Some were already aware of the legend of the Bookworm striking the bell and felt only envy and admiration at this moment.

Some, with less knowledge, did not fully understand the significance of the Bookworm striking the bell but knew to remain silent and endure.

Others showed clear discontent on their faces—

What use is discontent?

They could only watch helplessly as the man stood up from the examination room, bowed once more to the chief examiner, and, under everyone's gaze, stated his name.

"Honored Grandmaster, the student is Chen Xu from Jichuan County."

Jichuan County, Chen Xu!

From this day forth, this name would become well-known like thunder.

Chen Xu's examination paper was collected and placed into a box with runes.

He followed the examiners to the front of the examination hall, exchanging a few words with the examiners briefly.

It was primarily Ding Qian asking questions, and the two vice examiners were mostly silent.

It was not until Ding Qian instructed a clerk to escort Chen Xu to wait at the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall for its release, that the vice examiner Shi Wentao, with an exceptionally pale face, squeezed his voice to say, "It is rare for Yunjiang Prefecture to have such a talent, you must not neglect him."

The instructed clerk quickly bowed in response, "Certainly dare not, please rest assured, my lord."

Ding Qian chuckled lightly.

Shi Wentao then closed his mouth and said no more.

Chen Xu followed the clerk out of the examination hall—

Actually, it was only leaving the examination room area, not exiting the Imperial Examination Hall.

The Imperial Examination Hall cannot be exited early, all must wait until the end of the final examination time for a unified release.

And on that small piece of empty ground by the gate, several people were crouching at this time.

A few soldiers guarding the gate stood by with weapons, while those crouching were all looking dejected and haggard.

It turned out that these few had made mistakes in the exam hall earlier, having their exam qualifications revoked in advance and being expelled to this gate.

Though expelled, they still could not leave the Imperial Examination Hall as well.

One of them had originally been sitting not far from Chen Xu. Only after writing more than half of his paper, it was suddenly blown away by a gust of wind.

Though his paper was retrieved by the guards, his exam qualification was canceled.

He had some impression of Chen Xu's appearance. Seeing Chen Xu showing up, he blurted out, "You came out before finishing too, what did you do wrong?"

His expression was surprisingly cheerful.

It was clearly: seeing someone doing worse than me makes me happy.

The two clerks who brought Chen Xu out both frowned, about to reprimand him.

But then they heard Chen Xu sigh and say, "I finished my paper early and thus came out early. Is that considered wrongdoing?"

"Oh, I see." The student whose paper was blown away stood up awkwardly, "Why did you hand in so early? Couldn't you write well, decided to simply hand it in early?

By the way, earlier there were six bell rings inside, do you know what that's about?"

Chen Xu: "I know, but I suppose you probably wouldn't want to know."

"What?" The wind-blown student asked, a bit confused and stunned, "Hey, are you planning to take the exam again next year? I can't seem to pass and am almost thinking of quitting. By the way, how many times have you taken the prefectural exam this year?"

Chen Xu said: "The fourth year."

The other gave a long sigh and looked at Chen Xu with a more subtle sense of pity: "Fourth year? I'm doing better, this is my third year. You're having an even harder time than I am.

If that's the case, I suppose I will try again next year too.

Next year I must be thoroughly prepared and won't let my paper be blown away again!"

The wind student spoke through slightly gritted teeth, and finally told Chen Xu his name: "Brother, I'm Zhang Yu from Yunheng County, may I know your name?"

He didn't notice that the two clerks were looking at him with the same sympathetic eyes they had for Chen Xu.

Chen Xu pondered for a moment, thought about how he didn't change his name when he walks or sits, and eventually said, "I am Chen Xu, from Jichuan County."

Zhang Yu patted Chen Xu's shoulder, comforting him: "You don't look too old, another try next year isn't too late, unlike these here brothers, some of whom are getting on in years.

If not burdened by family obligations, it would surely be more convenient.

These folks are all hesitating whether to take the exam again next year."

Chen Xu: ...

The few who were squatting had very gloomy expressions, and no one spoke up despite Zhang Yu talking to Chen Xu for so long.

It wasn't until Zhang Yu mentioned them that one of them sighed, "Forget it, I shouldn't take it again. That divination path, I can't understand it no matter what, and the same would likely be true if I tried for several more years.

My family isn't particularly affluent either, if I keep taking the exams, I'd have to rely on my wife's dowry to get by. I'm better off finding a way to earn a living."

The others still didn't speak much, so Zhang Yu said, "Then it's time to find an occupation, isn't it beneath you to live off your wife?"

That person: ...

One of the clerks couldn't hold back any longer and let out a snicker.

Zhang Yu turned his head, about to ask what the clerk was laughing at, when three bells rang out: dong, dong, dong—

It turned out that the exam had finally ended, and the gates of the Imperial Examination Hall were slowly opened by the soldiers outside.

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