I Don't Agree to the Terms
Chapter 241 - 146: Heritage - Ten Days Before the Tribute Exam_2

Chapter 241: Chapter 146: Heritage - Ten Days Before the Tribute Exam_2

"Just taking a look at the prosperity, if I fail this Imperial Examination, it shouldn’t break me down." Gu Shanhai replied, left with no memory, what else could he do?

Moreover, there was no clue about this inheritance. Gu Shanhai had absolutely no idea what to do, not even a means to extricate himself.

This was where the ferocity of the ominous hexagram began to show its power, otherwise it would just be like playing house. How could it qualify as ominous?

"Is that so? I thought Brother Gu had everything well planned. I didn’t expect you to have worries too," Deng Zhida teased, seemingly surprised as well.

From this, Gu Shanhai knew that the person he had replaced was originally set up as a scholarly tycoon. As for who it was originally, Gu Shanhai wasn’t sure because of the inheritance reason, so he used his real name instead of that bigwig’s name.

"This Imperial Examination gathers scholars from all over, I’m just an ordinary person after all, where would I get such confidence," Gu Shanhai modestly expressed that we mustn’t be arrogant.

After chatting for a few more moments, Deng Zhida said he was going back to continue reading.

Gu Shanhai breathed a sigh of relief at this, fearing that continuing the conversation might give him away.

This world was definitely not the world of two rivaled rivers and lakes. He had just indirectly learned that there were no rivers and lakes in this world, so it wasn’t the Martial World.

A hallmark of the Martial World is the existence of rivers and lakes.

He had asked around quite a bit during this time, but ended up with nothing, no Immortals flying or burrowing into the ground, nor any strange rumors.

It might be because of some barrier between mortals and Cultivators, or possibly because this inheritance wasn’t enough to evolve these incidences.

Turning back to his inn, just when he was worried about his accommodation, his room location emerged in his mind.

’Arriving at a certain location or engaging in a specific action triggers relevant hints, so would participating in the Imperial Examination give me corresponding hints?’

After returning to his room, he pondered this and tried some more, only to find it highly unlikely. Such hints were limited and simply insufficient to produce a lengthy article, so he had to rely on himself.

He picked up a book and flipped through—it contained texts like the Four Books and Five Classics which were generally the eight-legged essays, requiring breaking the topic, bearing the topic, starting the lecture, entering the topic, initiating, middle, concluding sections, and the final bundle. Thinking of this made his head ache.

In ten days, he couldn’t memorize these books or master the eight-legged essays while also refining his calligraphy. Each of these things required plenty of time, especially since his body was still that of an ordinary person, making many things inconvenient.

He tried breathing exercises to see if he could cultivate the "Green Emperor Longevity Scripture" again, but alas, there was no response. There was a ninety percent chance it was due to the lack of an energy environment. He also tried Martial Arts, which turned out worse, more like physical training; he couldn’t generate True Qi, so he couldn’t think about getting stronger quickly but had to train slowly.

’I guess I need to pass the Advanced Scholar examination to unlock the next stage, otherwise, there might be danger if I fail.’

’Well, passing might also bring danger.’

’Rather than methodically trying to pass, it might be reliable for me to transform into a maverick and smash this inheritance.’

’So I need to find a very strict move to make.’

The severe move Gu Shanhai spoke of, of course, was obtaining the examination questions. With the questions in hand, he would then seek references from other scholars, add some focus points of his own, and primarily he just needed to practice his calligraphy.

Scoring high in the imperial examination system was crucial; if he showed up with shoddy handwriting, even good content wouldn’t survive the first screening. Gu Shanhai was okay with it but just okay, standing out wouldn’t be easy.

’Wait for nightfall to act, just in time to adjust to this body, the ups and downs make me a bit uneasy,’ Gu Shanhai certainly wouldn’t act during broad daylight.

First, he needed to inquire about the location of the Ministry of Rites. The examination place was at the Ministry of Rites, and the place where the examination questions were stored should also be there. When the time came, he would see where the most troops were gathered.

The examination questions themselves were regarded as a national treasure, naturally heavily guarded.

Although the examination questions might be placed elsewhere, now that the Imperial Examination was nearing, it was very likely they had already been moved there. If he guessed wrong, he could just let it go; visiting the Ministry of War and Ministry of Personnel later in the night was also an option.

It must be in one of these places anyway, where else could it go?

If all else failed, he would just have to find a way to inquire at that time.

"Gu Xuezhi, are you busy?" First, there came a knock on the door, and then these words followed.

Gu Shanhai recognized the voice; it was the inn’s shopkeeper, whom he had encountered when he entered the inn, triggering a notification.

’Strange, what does he want with me?’ Gu Shanhai was quite puzzled; there was not supposed to be much interaction between them.

"I am here, Shopkeeper, what is the matter?" Gu Shanhai responded as he rose to open the door.

"It’s like this, the Eastern Palace sent someone with a decree, saying that the Crown Prince wishes to host a banquet at the Yuzhu Pavilion for all scholars tonight, specifically instructing me to inform all of you, and it’s imperative that every scholar attends," the shopkeeper said without any secrecy.

Yuzhu Pavilion, a place used by the Crown Prince to recruit talented individuals.

Gu Shanhai triggered the keyword once more; it seemed his plans to explore the Ministry of Rites tonight would fall through... No, this was the perfect cover for his absence.

It was only natural for the Crown Prince to think this way; those who participated in the Imperial Examination were all scholars, and even if they failed this time, they remained scholars, possessed capable talents, and were potential County Magistrates, worth courting.

While the main goal was those who would pass the examination, the Crown Prince would not treat them unfairly before that.

"I see, thank you for the notice, Shopkeeper," Gu Shanhai replied politely.

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all," the shopkeeper seemed quite happy. Previously when he knocked and spoke, many scholars had looked uncomfortable, probably due to disrupting their revision, which was understandable given the pressure of the imminent examination.

The shopkeeper couldn’t afford to offend them; each one was a scholar, and if any of them passed as an Advanced Scholar, offending them could jeopardize his business.

Even though someone powerful backed his inn, those patrons hardly valued him, just an old shopkeeper replaceable at any notice. Offending an Advanced Scholar just wasn’t worth it.

After the man left, Gu Shanhai started to concoct his plan.

’I need to prepare some items for self-defense.’ After thinking it over, Gu Shanhai decided to purchase some items for self-defense.

Swords would not do unless he bought them as decorations, for in his condition as a commoner, he would certainly not be able to use them on a large scale; a dagger, however, would be better.

’Aside from a dagger, let’s get some gunpowder. Explosions are an art form, and I do have some artistic cells in me.’

Gu Shanhai considered that a dagger for self-defense was unproblematic, but in case of trouble, a dagger wouldn’t solve everything. If he could just blow the trouble sky-high, that would settle matters.

What next? That would be a concern for later. If it really came to using gunpowder, then it wasn’t a problem Gu Shanhai could solve at present.

Of course, he wasn’t using the most basic gunpowder composed of sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal, but the latest improved version of black gunpowder.

And it was the concentrated version; however, he needed to verify first if, in this illusory inherited world, gunpowder would explode as expected. If it didn’t, then he would have to revise his plans accordingly.

If he didn’t test it, and it failed to explode when needed, the consequences could be severe, potentially disastrous for him.

’Next, I need to figure out what black gunpowder is called in this world, and look in a drugstore,’ Gu Shanhai resolved, rising from his seat and leaving the inn.

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