Food System in Cultivation World

Chapter 320

On the Observatory, there were as many as eight examiners.

But the chief examiner among them was none other than this right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, Feng Xing.

Although he was not a Great Scholar, his literary fame was widespread, having authored over a dozen volumes. To some extent, Feng Xing was only a step away from being a Great Scholar.

What he lacked was not power or cultivation, but some mysterious and profound key point.

As the saying goes, to establish virtue, merit, and words.

Or to propose an academic theory, become a leader, make it a school of thought, and spread it across the world;

Or to walk one's unique path, author books, and establish theories, gaining recognition from the world;

Or to practice ideals, impacting a period or a region, even influence the entire world...

Only thus, perhaps, could one truly be called a Great Scholar.

Before Feng Xing became the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, he had served in the Hanlin Academy, working as an editor and a reader-academic.

He had also been dispatched to serve in various places, sometimes as an assistant official, sometimes governing a region.

He had enough experience, yet it was this one breath he lacked.

However, this single breath created a gap as vast as ten thousand eight hundred miles.

There are countless scholars in the world, yet only three to five Great Scholars might emerge in several decades.

The difficulty lay not only in talent and cultivation but sometimes it seemed that fortune and opportunities were more important.

On the Observatory, Feng Xing sighed, and under the watchful eyes of all, he said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have read Chen Xu's poems, indeed more than one or two.

This young man possesses extraordinary talent, his poetic nature is astonishingly unique. While others might not produce a single Cyan Smoke Poem in a dozen years, he casually crafts them, surpassing others' countless days and nights of pondering.

Among them, one in particular, 'Knight's Journey', truly leaves a lingering taste, as if it were dictated by the heavens, unlike mortal craftsmanship.

I still love the line 'Ten steps kill one, travel a thousand miles without a trace'.

Or 'Three cups speak a promise, the Five Peaks become as light.'

How free-spirited and unrestrained, otherworldly."

At this point, a smile emerged on Feng Xing's face, and his words carried a liberating and exuberant undertone.

Yet at this moment, he suddenly shifted his tone and said:

"But today, I'm genuinely afraid that Chen Xu might write another poem with imagery similar to 'Knight's Journey'.

Ladies and gentlemen, 'Knight's Journey' carries too much murderous intent.

In the provincial examination venue, if 'Knight's Journey' were to appear, turning into purple smoke upon completion, who among you would dare to select it?"

The other examiners were rendered speechless.

No one expected Feng Xing to interpret Chen Xu's poem today from this angle.

But upon careful consideration, Feng Xing's reasoning was indeed valid.

Luckily, Feng Xing did not require everyone's response, he provided his own answer:

"I am particularly fond of today's poem 'Summer Solstice in the Countryside'.

Though Chen Xu can write 'Ten steps kill one', he also knows how to compose 'Plums turn golden, apricots grow plump'.

The young man is not solely bloodthirsty, he understands when to cultivate oneself.

In my view, this work could be chosen as the top test poem. I rate it as grade A, what do you think?"

What else could the others think?

From below, the white-haired examiner bowed and replied, "Excellent, I also rate it as grade A."

Feng Xing quickly said, "I dare not accept your title of 'subordinate', Elder Su. Since Elder Su also grades it as A, I am at ease."

He gave enough face to the white-haired examiner.

The other examiners immediately echoed in agreement, thus, in this examination, Feng Xing, albeit subtly, raised his authority another notch.

Yes, Feng Xing was the chief examiner, but in the provincial examination, it was by no means solely his personal domain.

Numerous vice examiners acted as checks and balances. While they seemed harmonious, ever since Feng Xing parachuted into the Celestial South Dao, the confrontation between the two sides had never ceased.

The title of chief examiner was indeed one level higher, but there were actually seven vice examiners.

If all seven vice examiners were determined to oppose Feng Xing, Feng Xing would find it difficult to assert control.

Yet today, by discussing Chen Xu's poem, Feng Xing subtly suppressed them once more.

This round of invisible contention was not something outsiders would know about.

Within the examination hall, the candidates were unaware of the contest unfolding on the Observatory.

The Observatory occupied a special position, with several formations crafted upon it.

From this high vantage point, the examiners could clearly observe the candidates' examination progress, but not a single candidate within the examination booths could see the movements on the Observatory.

The Observatory stood tall and majestic, the Imperial Examination Hall mysterious and ancient.

Candidates were trapped in their booths, knowing only their little worlds, while having to produce essays filled with magnificent words within.

The agony they endured was nothing short of being tormented by fire and water.

The storm of the Cyan Smoke Poem had finally passed.

No matter how perplexed or agonized the candidates were, even doubting themselves, they had no choice but to accept the fact.

That night, many candidates did not sleep well.

In the vast examination booths, countless people tossed and turned, their anxieties growing.

The air became increasingly unbearable, the heat rising day by day.

Until July 4th, arriving as scheduled.

Which means the second major examination of the provincial test was finally about to commence.

The second major examination differed vastly from the first.

This time, papers were not collected daily; instead, all questions were issued right at the start.

All the questions revolved around various forms of official document writing.

There were ten questions in total.

Do not underestimate these ten questions; it must be known that in the imperial examination, the fewer the questions, the harder they are to answer.

Completing ten official document writing questions within three days was far from easy.

As a result, when July 4th arrived and the second major examination began, the atmosphere of the entire examination venue changed once more.