The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 230 - 121 County Exam_3

Chapter 230: Chapter 121 County Exam_3

After the routine ceremony, Xu Qing came to his examination room. He opened his scroll bag and took out the examination papers within.

The three questions on the Four Books and the four questions on "The Book of Changes" for the first examination were all inside.

Because one had to register information in advance before signing up for the local preliminary examination and submit one’s chosen core classic.

There are a total of seven questions, and seven essays have to be written.

"The local preliminary examination first and foremost places importance on the first examination session, and within the first session, priority is given to the three questions on the Four Books. As for the four questions on the Five Classics, their larger role is to categorize the papers. Of course, when the level of the essays is very high and it is difficult to discern superiority, the level of the Five Classics questions can play a decisive role. Particularly, the personal predisposition of the chief examiner towards the Five Classics can also influence the ranking."

"This local examination is brimming with talent. Essays of the caliber of Five Classics Leader are certainly difficult to rank based on the Four Books questions alone. Ultimately, distinctions will be made on the Five Classics questions. By choosing "The Book of Changes," I have already gained an advantage."

Xu Qing had already grasped the intricacies of the local examination very clearly and thoroughly but did not take it lightly.

He first looked over the three questions on the Four Books, but he did not consider the decisive Four Questions of the Five Classics.

Because the level of the Four Books questions determines whether his essays can be presented before the chief examiner.

With his ability, naturally, he was not worried about slipping up, but to refine perfection was obviously the best.

Xu Qing struck with full force even when hunting a rabbit as if he were a lion.

First, he ate some refreshments and replenishing Elixirs to restore Qi-Blood, then after digestion, when his body and mental state had reached their peak, he started to tackle the questions.

The biggest difference between the local examination and the child student test is that many of the child student test questions are tricky and unorthodox, even often the content of the questions mismatches, while the questions of the local examination are upright and straightforward, even the originating paragraphs are provided, so there is no chance for candidates to misunderstand and fail to even deconstruct the questions.

The Dao is simplicity.

It’s often such simple and upright questions that test the essay skills of the scholar candidates the most.

Xu Qing entered a state of Absolute Focus, first brainstorming until he had a clear plan, then began to answer the questions.

Starting from the first sentence of deconstructing the question, Xu Qing’s writing did not possess the breakaway force of "a common man becoming the teacher for a hundred generations" but was filled with the ancient simplicity of the Pre-Qin writing style.

A heavy sword without edge surpasses the art of the sword.

This principle is not only applicable to Martial Arts but equally to writing.

A flashy and flamboyant piece is not necessarily a good essay. Being able to use plain language to articulate precisely what one wishes to explain, creating an unforgettable and comprehensible impression, that is the true intent of a Saint in writing.

The writings of the Pre-Qin philosophers often embody this quality.

Concise and to the point, directly addressing the essence of the discourse.

Xu Qing wrote out the three Four Books questions in one breath.

Wherever his writing touched, it was fitting, with no novelty or trickery, the language simple, yet perfectly integrated with the topics of the essays, leaving not a single word that could be changed.

Even if some scholars saw it, they would think it was an essay written by ancient Saints, not expecting it to be the work of someone from the present age.

Yet, the structure of the essays impeccably followed the rigid format of the eight-legged essay.

This is like a Martial Artist, shackled with heavy chains, yet executing punches with strict discipline that capture the essence of superior Martial Arts, without any inconsistency in the joints.

After finishing the three Four Books questions, Xu Qing read through them and couldn’t help but get lost in thought.

Did I really write this essay?

It even resembled the underlying essays that seemed to be written through his hands by the Holy Images in the Examination Hall.

"Yes, I have sensed the utmost firmness of the Holy Image, felt the ’principles’ of the Saint, and naturally, my writing was influenced, becoming imbued with the spirit seen in their past essays."

He repeatedly examined his own essays, and even his Divine Soul benefited from it, gaining a hint of the utmost firm and solid aura.

"My essays from the previous county-level examination were enough to Shock the Saint’s Image, so logically, I should be able to do the same this time. However, the Holy Images in the Examination Hall seem to have not changed in the slightest."

"Could it be that, like in the county-level test, I need to read them in front of everyone for it to work?"

Xu Qing harbored a strange thought in his mind.

However, the local examination is all about being straightforward, and resorting to the gimmick of Shocking the Saint’s Image again would be akin to invoking the supernatural, which may not be a good thing.

At least, it feels out of place.

There is nothing in his essay that could be criticized.

"To criticize me is to criticize the Saints." Xu Qing did not believe that other examiners upon seeing his essay would have the audacity.

Because the ability to write such an essay signifies the level of a contemporary Great Scholar, or if not, one must be the most crucial focus of training in a major academy.

Under the local examination system, examiners reading the papers cannot see the information of the person who wrote them.

Moreover, his essays on the Four Books have taken a straightforward path without any hidden meanings in the text.

After completing the Four Books questions, Xu Qing was still spirited.

However, he did not continue with the Five Classics questions while riding this wave of spirit.

Xu Qing closed his eyes to rest his mind, gradually forgetting the words he wrote for the Four Books questions.

If the Four Books questions were about breaking the problem with a heavy sword, then the Five Classics questions required a sharp sword to break through.

It was not until the afternoon of the following day that Xu Qing started on the Five Classics questions.

He still began by closing his eyes to contemplate, planning in his mind.

Once the draft in his mind was well-formed, Xu Qing began to write.

His writing flowed freely, completing the four Five Classics questions without the need for further modification or hesitation.

After finishing, he looked back on his essays. They could be described as exuberantly unrestrained and sinuously intricate. With such complex technique and flamboyance in writing, they would be considered rare gems even in the examination or Imperial Examination.

"I have forged the style of these Five Classics essays drawing upon the understanding of "The Book of Changes" from the chief examiner Shen Mo. Under the same question, my essays are more skillfully crafted, and despite the complex techniques, the entire text seems exceedingly profound, with true and old methods, finding not the slightest fault."

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