Sword from the Immortal Mountain

Chapter 118: Provincial Examination Difficulties, Killing and Protecting the Dao

Room No. 1 is small and has simple facilities.

A horizontal board can be used as a desk when taking exams and as a bed when sleeping.

While on the mountain, in order to practice, Chen Jin once entered a deep and empty stone cave to face the wall.

In comparison, the environment in the cell was nothing special and it was easy to adapt to it.

Today, we entered the examination room early, and the examination did not officially start. However, the examination room was very strict, and no noise or movement was allowed, so most of the candidates began to lie down and rest after entering the room, to gather their energy and prepare for tomorrow's examination.

There are three provincial examinations, each lasting three days. Eating, drinking, defecating and urinating all take place in this small cell, so the intensity is very high.

Under such circumstances, it is difficult for people with weak bodies to persevere.

In every provincial examination, there would be some candidates who could not bear it and fainted on the spot and had to be sent away for treatment.

Once this person leaves, there is no possibility for him to return, which means that all his three years of hard study will be wasted.

The day passed quickly. On the second day, the chief examiner led a group of deputy examiners to the scene. They first distributed the four treasures of the study, and then announced today's test questions:

Confucius said: "Sacrifice to the gods as if they were present. How should we sacrifice to them?"

This topic is very strange and obscure, and it is very difficult for normal Confucian scholars. Just solving the topic is enough to rack one's brains.

The three orthodox religions, although Confucianism is extremely tolerant and can seamlessly integrate the theories of Taoism and Buddhism, there are natural contradictions and conflicts between humanity and theology. It is not that they cannot coexist, but one will gain while the other will lose, and there is always a trade-off.

In the Qian Dynasty, in the current world, it is obvious that Shintoism is flourishing and there are many religions, which has posed a great threat and harm to human rule.

Therefore, there are considerations behind setting such a big question this year.

The examination room was lined with numbered rooms, separated by a thin wall, so the sound insulation was not very good. Those with keen hearing could hear the inhalation and sighing of the people next door.

Obviously, faced with such a topic, everyone felt difficult and had no idea where to start.

"quiet!"

An official who was maintaining order shouted majestically.

All of a sudden, the sighing sound quickly disappeared.

Chen Jin sat upright, brewing his thoughts. Before long, he picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and began writing on the draft paper. The first sentence was:
"There is no God in the world..."

I came here to take the exam, firstly for the scholar's obsession, and secondly for the experience.

Both need expression.

Expression means speaking directly about your own opinions and writing down your own arguments.

Chen Jin had no expectations for the exam results, so he didn't care. He just wanted to let his thoughts flow and write freely.

It only took me more than an hour to write a very satisfying article.

Next, make some minor modifications and rewrite it neatly.

The provincial examination was conducted under the anonymous examination system, which meant that after candidates had finished writing their essays and submitted them, they would be given to a special clerk to rewrite them before being reviewed and graded by the examiners.

This practice is mainly to prevent handwriting cheating.

Even so, candidates must still write their original essays carefully and write their characters well, so that they will have an extra impression when the candidates are ranked.

One day passed like this, followed by the second day, the third day...

The first exam is over, the examination hall opens, and the candidates can go outside to rest and adjust for a day, which is equivalent to "taking some fresh air".

So those who wanted to go home went home, and those who wanted to go back to the inn went back to the inn.

Zhang Tong waited for Chen Jin to come back together, and talked about his "post-test thoughts" in a nervous mood. He said that when he was writing the big essay, he suddenly remembered the situation of carrying the mountain god statue on his back that day, and what he said when he asked Chen Jin to judge the matter. The questions involved logical relationships such as "great disrespect", "the more gods you worship, the more gods will protect you", and "the gods will sacrifice themselves to repay your offerings".

It can be heard that this "gentleman" is no longer so "square" after experiencing many things.

The world is like a cage, and the world is like a furnace. When people live in it, their edges and corners will always be rubbed and become smooth.

Those who don't know how to adapt will only end up with broken heads.

In fact, this is not considered to be smooth, it should be said that it is becoming "smarter".

"Brother Chen, do you think I wrote it right?" Chen Jin nodded and said, "At least it is stable and has a sense of sophistication. But the specifics will depend on the examiner's opinion. Although the first test essay accounts for a high proportion of the score, there are still two more tests to come, so I have to do well."

"Well, I will."

After receiving Chen Jin's affirmation, Zhang Tong's emotions stabilized at once.

Zhang Tong was desperate for this provincial examination and could not afford to lose. Given his family's financial situation, if he failed, he would not know what his life would be like in three years, and he might not even be able to raise money for the trip.

After all, he is not young, and Cheng Yi, a wealthy local gentry, will not give it all over again.

When it is no longer favored, the sponsorship will be gone.

With only one day to adjust, everyone stayed in their rooms obediently and tried to eat well and sleep well.

Avoid other things if possible.

One day later, I had to go in again...

……

Boji Lane.

Things have been changing a lot these days, and someone has come to Changsheng Temple.

Only one person.

A thin middle-aged Taoist priest, with the Taoist name "Chidan", is the Taoist priest guarding the main temple of Changsheng Temple.

The Changsheng Temple was founded on the alchemy of the cauldron, but the sect also has people who are good at killing and fighting, called "protectors of the Tao."

Taoist Chidan is one of the best among them. He is a cultivator in the fifth realm.

If Taoist Song, who is in charge of external affairs, has a smooth temperament like a businessman, Taoist Chidan has a stiff temper and always looks unapproachable.

The fifth stage of cultivation is the middle stage of "Refining Qi into Spirit", and is respected in the world as "Spiritual Transformation Cultivator".

Strictly speaking, it is not accurate, after all, the transformation into a god has not yet been fully accomplished.

But when one practices to this point, one's realm will be elevated and one will possess extraordinary power.

For example, Taoist Yunshan, at the fifth level, established the foundation of Yunshan Temple and became the master of the temple. In any case, it can be regarded as "founding a sect".

Chen Shizhi and others prepared a grand welcome ceremony for the arrival of Taoist Chidan.

However, Taoist Chidan did not seem to buy it and soon began to investigate the cause of Taoist Song's death. He was then invited to Chen Guizhong's house and the two sides had a secret talk.

Then Taoist Chidan came to Chen Shizhen's house to inquire.

Chen Shizhen responded calmly and without any mistakes, but after sending the other party away, he felt worried.

Changsheng Temple is a well-known Taoist sect in the Qian Dynasty, and its power should not be underestimated. How could they let it go when their Taoist priest was assassinated in Boji Lane for unknown reasons?

As a powerful family in the state and county, Taoist Chidan would not do anything to the Chen family of Changletang. At most, he would condemn them openly so as to claim the right and obtain compensation.

What Chen Shizhen was worried about was that the other party would do something bad to Chen Jin.

At this point, the so-called evidence is no longer important. And Taoist Chidan doesn't look like a reasonable person.

Fortunately, Chen Jin was in the examination room, at least he was safe.

But calculating the time, it should be time for the third exam now.

Chen Jin will have to come out in three days at most.

What will the situation be like then?
Should we send someone to inform Chen Jin not to return to Boji Lane for the time being after he finishes the exam?

Chen Shizhen couldn't be sure of Chen Jin's abilities. According to his understanding, he knew that Taoist Chidan was a very powerful cultivator.

Therefore, the first thing I hoped was that Chen Jin could avoid this storm.

When the results of the provincial examination are announced, if Chen Jin can pass the examination and obtain the title of Juren, then things will take a turn for the better.

A juren is equivalent to an official position. Without solid evidence, Taoist Chidan cannot act recklessly.

(End of this chapter)