I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 125 The Cultivation Trial Begins
The bell tolled three times, marking the end of the three written examinations.

The literary influence that Xue Xiang had stirred up was now waning, and the literary spirit he had released was once again gathered back by a poem of such literary brilliance, "Ascending the Heights."

The dark clouds dispersed, and the sky was clear and bright above the stone slab in the square.

High above, the incense sticks in the incense burner had long since burned out.

All the exam papers have been collected into each person's ceremonial bag.

The candidates sat quietly on the prayer cushions, waiting for the release of the final written test scores and for their fate to be decided.

Half an incense stick later, all the paper talismans emitted a hazy light, which shone into the foreheads of all the examinees.

The results of the poetry test have been announced, and the final list of scores for the written test has also been released.

As expected, Xue Xiang won the championship.

Unexpectedly, the second place was neither Shen Ansheng nor Lou Changqing, but Ling Xueyi.

This person, being a demon, actually gained twelve points in one fell swoop.

Including the bonus points, he surpassed Lou Changqing and Shen Ansheng in one fell swoop, attracting everyone's attention.

Wang Zongjing's expression shifted constantly, as if he had been slashed by a sharp blade, and his eyes trembled slightly.

Xu Changying stood beside him, silent, her back straight as a stiff arrow, her eyes filled with disappointment and resentment.

Shen Mingzhou lowered his head and remained silent, feeling extremely depressed.

Some people laughed loudly, some cried bitterly, some sang loudly, and some danced wildly.

The true nature of officialdom is revealed, and so is that of the examination hall.

Xue Xiang returned to his cell first, and soon after, Wei Wendao and the other three came looking for him.

Wei Wendao ranked twenty-third, while Meng De, Lu Weimin, and Zhou Mengyu failed to make the list.

Despite having prepared themselves mentally, Meng De and Zhou Mengyu were still able to chat and laugh, but Lu Weimin could not hide his melancholy.

After the written exam, only 213 students were selected.

Those who did not pass the test remained in the examination cells, waiting for the successful candidates to undergo their spiritual practice test.

Those who pass will be moved to a different examination hall.

The group gathered here to say a brief farewell.

Half an incense stick later, Xue Xiang and Wei Wendao received new information from their document rings. After bowing to each other, Xue Xiang and Wei Wendao left together.

A moment later, the two arrived at the square, guided by the proctor.

Runes were already visible in the center of the square, shimmering with light and shadow, and a teleportation array had been formed.

Soon, a message came from Xue Xiangwen's ring, instructing the top ten in the written examination to step into the teleportation array first and go to the Armory Hall to select equipment.

Xue Xiang and nine others were the first to step into the teleportation array. The array, shrouded in runes, flashed, and when Xue Xiang looked again, they were already in front of the Martial Arts Hall.

It was a colossal stone palace that seemed to have been carved out of the mountain rocks, standing above the canyon, with white clouds swirling around it below, and gnarled pine branches leaning out from the cliff like dragons exploring the abyss.

The hall gate is three zhang high, and above it hangs a plaque with the three characters "Wubei Hall" written in ancient seal script, as sharp as a knife, and with golden light casting its soul.

As the main gate opened, the inner hall stretched out like a mountain, with shelves lined up like a forest. Countless weapons, magical treasures, talismans, and elixirs were all contained in golden silk and jade boxes, neatly arranged and dazzling to the eye.

An elderly man in white robes stood in front of the hall and gestured with his hand, "The top ten in the written examination will enter in turn to choose one item, each person may choose only one item."

Xue Xiang led the way, followed by Ling Xueyi, Shen Nansheng, and Lou Changqing, with Ning Qianjun trailing behind.

Speaking of Ning Qianjun, he certainly has the right to be arrogant.

In the policy essay exam, Xue Xiang stole a lot of his literary talent and tricked him badly, yet he still managed to firmly hold onto tenth place.

Upon entering, everyone was dazzled by the various treasures.

Suddenly, a talisman flew through the air and hovered in front of Xue Xiang.

Everyone knew that this must be a teleportation talisman, a special reward for the top scholar in the written examination.

The old man in white robes said, "Who is Xue Xiang? Take the talisman."

Xue Xiang took the teleportation talisman, an ancient-looking talisman that landed in his palm, almost weightless.

The white-robed elder said, "This teleportation talisman is a single-use consumable item. After use, it will teleport you a thousand feet away."

Now is your observation time, limited to one incense stick's time.

After one incense stick has burned, participants will choose one treasure according to their ranking.

Upon hearing this, the crowd quickly dispersed.

Before long, a long spear in the northwest direction attracted everyone's attention.

"It's a flamethrower!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise that it was a long, crimson-gold spear, its entire body wreathed in flame patterns, as if real fire were flowing within it, with a line of text beside it: "Flame Spear - Blazing Mystic Weapon - Armor-Piercing and Qi-Breaking".

Ning Qianjun strode forward, but was stopped by the white-robed elder, who said in a flat tone, "The first priority has not yet been chosen; the rest are not allowed to make a move."

Ning Qianjun grunted, then turned his head and saw Xue Xiang's hand lightly pausing in front of the flame gun, as if he intended to take it.

The crowd held their breath, with Shen Nansheng, Lou Changqing, Ling Xueyi, and others all staring intently at Xue Xiang.

Xue Xiang suddenly moved his hand away and continued walking.

A moment later, he stopped in front of a box of jade bottles. Inside the box was only a bottle of crystal-clear pills, each containing thirty pills, the color of which was like spring dew and as warm and smooth as the first rays of the sun.

The side note reads: "Rejuvenation Pill - can quickly restore spiritual power."

Xue Xiang's eyes lit up slightly, and he took the Rejuvenation Pill without hesitation.

He had taken the Rejuvenation Pill before, and still had quite a few left, all stored in the Wenxu Blessed Land.

However, upon entering the Trial Realm, one cannot bring anything with them; even the Spirit Serpent Sword at one's waist was left behind in the Blessed Land of Literary Ruins.

Trying to exploit a bug by entering the Wenxu Blessed Land from the Trial Grounds is obviously too naive.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Xue Xiang concluded that the Rejuvenation Pill, which helps restore spiritual energy, was the most practical.

After all, compared to divine weapons, he lacked supplements more.

"good eyesight."

Ling Xueyi said softly.

"What knowledge do you little demons have? How powerful is the Flame Gun? In the Trial Realm, monsters roam freely. What use are ten bottles of Rejuvenation Pills if you don't have a divine weapon in hand?"

Ning Qianjun stared coldly at Xue Xiang, "Xue Xiang, you don't naively think that the Trial Realm is still a place where you can run rampant just by relying on your pedantic writings, do you?"

Once we get there, I'll show you just how vast the difference is between a poor kid like you and a true scion of a prestigious family like me.

Brother Shen, Brother Lou, in the struggle for supremacy in the Trial Realm, we must not hold back.

Shen Nansheng remained silent, and Lou Changqing was also speechless.

Ning Qianjun's face flushed red. He could easily see that these two seemed to be impressed by Xue Xiangwen's performance in the civil service exam.

"Shen Nansheng and Lou Changqing, do you two still have any integrity? You've actually been tamed by someone from a poor family."

Ning Qianjun shouted sternly, "A disgrace, a disgrace! I never imagined that the face of the Canaan family would ultimately depend on me, Ning Qianjun, to maintain it, Xue Xiang..."

As he roared, Xue Xiang had already turned and walked towards the door.

Shen Nansheng readily took the flamethrower, while Lou Changqing went to the west shelf and took a snow-white longsword.

The others took their desired treasures in turn, while Ning Qianjun was so angry he almost exploded on the spot.

Xue Xiang walked out of the Armory Hall. Sunlight fell from the clouds and shone on his back, casting a golden glow in the light and shadow.

The old man in white robes pointed to the rows of wooden cabins in the woods, indicating that he should choose one to rest for a while.

The wooden cabin is built in the dense forest, not far from the cliff. Behind the cabin are ancient pine trees, and in front of the cabin is a secluded path with jagged rocks. A few wisps of mist float among the trees, as if dancing with the shadows of the pines.

Xue Xiang chose a room, pushed the door open, and gently closed it with a creak.

He sat on the edge of the couch, let out a long breath, and the teleportation talisman in his palm glowed with an ancient light.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating a bronze oil lamp in the room. The wick was unlit, yet the lamp itself seemed to radiate warmth, and a sense of bygone years wafted from all around.

There was a soft blue quilt and mattress on the couch, and a shallow teacup by the stove. The right wall was covered with talismans, and a calligraphy scroll hung on the left wall: "The heart is like an ancient well, undisturbed by all things."

Xue Xiang silently recited this sentence, lay down fully clothed, and slept until the next day.

The next morning, he had just gotten up and was eating a lard cake when there was a knock on the door.

Immediately afterwards, Wei Wendao's greeting came through.

Xue Xiang opened the door and saw Wei Wendao standing in front of it, with nine other people standing on the forest path behind him.

Xue Xiang had a photographic memory and recognized these people at a glance; they were all Confucian scholars who had participated in the Qingyuntai trial in the last city examination.

This county examination selected the best of the best for Xue Xiang and his fellow students from the city.

Of the 213 people who passed the county examination this time, those who were in the same year as Xue Xiang were all Confucian scholars who had participated in the Qingyuntai Trial.

They were already the elite of the first cohort of city students, but they still appeared isolated and outnumbered among the large number of students taking the exam under the patronage of privileged students and previous graduates.

At this moment, Wei Wendao brought these nine people with him. Although they had not yet spoken, their intention to stick together for warmth was already clear.

Xue Xiang greeted everyone warmly, while Wei Wendao stirred up the atmosphere, immediately making the scene very lively.

Just then, a clear light emanated from the document ring, and a message entered everyone's minds: the cultivation test is about to begin, and all candidates should return to their rooms.

Immediately afterwards, a series of detailed rules were issued:

First, the trial information will be updated in real time according to the situation. All students should pay close attention to the written instructions and precepts, and not harbor any侥幸 (侥幸 means taking chances or hoping for luck).

Second, this trial realm is a "land of demonic obstacles" formed by the entanglement of lost literary traditions and impurities after the literary traditions merged with the Heavenly Dao.
The academy set aside a corner to create a testing ground.

Within the land of demons, monsters roam, each possessing a crystal core.

Its crystal nucleus is formed from pure literary energy.

Those who fail to achieve literary talent in the city examinations can still refine their poetic talent into a crystal core, absorb it, and open up a literary palace.

Those who possess literary talent can also use their talent or aspirations to refine the crystal core and expand their literary talent.

Upon hearing this, Xue Xiang was suddenly struck by a jolt—"Xie Haiya was absolutely right when he said that 'there are huge benefits in the imperial examinations'!"

Under normal circumstances, one cannot obtain monster crystal cores from anywhere; one must rely on accumulating talent and willpower little by little, and painstakingly refining words to cultivate literary energy.

Meanwhile, acquiring crystal cores can directly enhance one's literary energy, which is no less than ten years of arduous cultivation.

As he was still reeling, the ritual ring continued to generate rules:

Third, the total amount of crystal nuclei collected is the sole scoring criterion.

The monster is of the fifth rank, and its crystal core is of five colors, from top to bottom: gold, purple, black, white, and cyan.

The price difference is five times for each tier.

Fourth, the land of demons is fraught with danger; once you enter, you bear all the risks yourself.

The academy has shown you kindness by bestowing upon you written records and precepts, which are crucial for your survival.

If you crush it in danger, you will exit the trial world, which is also considered the end of your training test.

Fifth, the only way to obtain crystal cores is by hunting monsters; you must not steal them from other examinees.

The rules of the game only come to an end here.

Immediately afterwards, the runes on the walls of the wooden house began to emit white light, and the teleportation was activated again.

A burst of light, like a waterfall, followed by a dizzying sensation. When Xue Xiang opened his eyes, he found himself standing on a desolate, dark wasteland.

The sky was as dark as iron, thick clouds hung down, black winds howled, and the ground was a mixture of gray-white gravel and scorched earth.

The rotting trees stood withered like ghosts, the ravines crisscrossed like ant nests, and the ground trembled slightly, with miasma occasionally escaping from the cracks in the ground, as if whispering curses.

There is no life here, no sunlight, only a silent "deathly stillness".

Xue Xiang released his Dark Night Eyes, and the dark world immediately became clear.

He amplified his five senses and six perceptions to the limit of his abilities, scanning everywhere, but found neither demons nor other Confucian scholars.

He could only cautiously explore in one direction, tightly gripping the teleportation talisman in his hand.

After walking for more than ten miles, the scenery changed again.

Above the desolate wilderness, the fog was thick, the branches were withered and craggy, and the sky was as pale as still water.

In the distance, a blood moon seemed to be swallowed by foul air, revealing only a small curved corner, hanging in the sky like a sickle.

Xue Xiang walked through this desolate forest valley, surrounded by an atmosphere of death. The only sounds were the rustling of the wind through the dry grass and branches, carrying with it a faint, eerie green glow.

After walking for another half hour, still without any success, Xue Xiang leaned against a pile of rocks to rest and drink water.

They had only drunk half of the water when they heard chaotic sounds of fleeing people coming from the west, rapidly approaching them.

A scholar came running like a mad tiger, his face full of fear, his robes tattered, his left arm a bloody mess, but a monster with a black body, a human head and a spider body was hot on his heels!

The monster was over nine feet tall, with eight legs that grew blades and menacing pincers.

Most terrifying of all were those faces, resembling the cries and laughter of children, embedded in the spider's abdomen. Blurred yet with complete features, they could even speak when they opened their mouths.
"Poetry, poetry can break through the formation?... To, to kill me with words?... Wrong, wrong..."

"The chapters and sentences are meaningless, why kill, why kill at all... Hehehe..."

The voice was eerie, a mixture of crying and laughing, chilling to the bone!

"Brother Xue, save me!"

The scholar was overjoyed when he saw Xue Xiang.

Having finally found a bargain, he didn't need to shout; Xue Xiang was about to make a move too, especially since he could also gain a favor.

Then Xue Xiang activated the Wind-Stopping Step, his feet sinking as he suddenly rose up, taking a step and blocking the scholar's path.

"sword!"

He shouted in a deep voice, and a stream of literary energy transformed into a sword in mid-air. The sword was sharp and fierce, and it slashed towards the human-faced spider monster.

The spider-faced monster let out a shriek and spat out a stream of green liquid, which emitted a foul stench even while still in the air.

Xue Xiang dared not greet him and shouted sharply, "Shield!"

Instantly, the literary energy transformed into a shield, completely protecting his body.

Some of the falling venom dripped onto the ground, immediately corroding several large holes in the surface.

"Knife!"

Xue Xiang roared, and a huge Guan Dao (a type of halberd) appeared, slashing straight down on the head of the human-faced spider monster.

The spider-faced monster let out a shrill scream, and then its entire body was cleaved into a bloody mist.

A faint blue light flew out from its abdomen and hovered in the air. It was a hexagonal crystal about the size of a finger joint, with blue writing flowing around it like smoke and mist.

"Crystal core!"

Xue Xiang's gaze narrowed slightly, and he quickly removed the crystal core and placed it into his document ring.

"Thank you, Brother Xue. If it weren't for you, I would have already crushed the talisman and fled for my life."

The scholar cupped his hands and said, "My name is Pan Feng, and I am also a student of the Imperial Academy, but I am different from Ning Qianjun and the others."

I sincerely admire your skills, Brother Xue.

I originally thought Brother Xue was only unparalleled in poetry and prose, but I never expected his literary talent to be so sharp as well…

Pan Feng was praising Xue Xiang without any excuses when suddenly a strange sound came from the bushes. Countless green eyes lit up at the same time and turned towards Xue Xiang from the gaps in the trees, the strange rocks, and the high branches!
Eight more human-faced spiders attacked!
"Ouch!" Pan Feng cried out and took off running. "Brother Xue, run!"

Xue Xiang remained motionless. The human-faced spiders did not rush to attack; instead, they silently formed a semi-circle, chanting fragmented verses in low, hoarse voices: "Climbing high or not... Heaven and earth mourn... I am not a demon... You are not a saint..."

Xue Xiang showed no fear. He took a deep breath, and with a thought, streams of literary energy swirled around his fingertips.

Suddenly, a strange howl rang out, and the group of human-faced spiders did not hesitate any longer. They leaped up in unison, their eight legs darting about, venom spraying everywhere, their tentacles like halberds, and pounced on Xue.

"shield!"

Xue Xiang shouted, and his literary energy transformed into a ring of shield light, firmly blocking the poison.

His true form had already risen into the air, like a streak of blue lightning flashing across the night sky, shouting, "Sword, come!"

With a whoosh, a sword appeared like lightning.

Sword light flashed, one sword pierced the throat, another pierced the heart, and yet another severed the spider's limbs!

He has entered the third stage of the literary realm, his literary talent has manifested, and he can do whatever he wants.

At this moment, every slash of sword light is like the final stroke of a pen in writing an article, both fierce and dignified.

Blood and filth mingled in the air, and the fierce battle raged intensely in the withered forest.

In the blink of an eye, he slew the eight-headed spider-like monster on the spot.

"Sent!"

Xue Xiang was secretly pleased and quickly gathered the crystal core. Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly.

"hiss--"

The sound was not a whisper, but rather a choked sob of extreme oppression.

In the forest, the fog suddenly thickened, and withered vines danced wildly. A gigantic demonic shadow, at least ten feet tall, slowly appeared.

This is clearly a king-level human-faced spider!

A golden tentacle, resembling an upside-down sword, was growing prominently on its forehead, its sharpness intimidating!

But the face clearly carried a kind of intelligent coldness, as if it were coldly scrutinizing someone.

"Ascending to a high place... the world is vast... my soul returns, but my writing remains incomplete..."

It could even speak, but its voice was hoarse and sharp, like grinding iron, making one's heart tremble.

The Spider King suddenly attacked!

With a flick of its golden tentacle, it resembled a thunderous blade, aiming straight for Xue Xiang's throat.

Xue Xiang retreated hastily, his literary aura transforming back into the light of his shield.

boom!
The shield light was actually shattered by the golden tentacles, and the literary shield shattered into light spots on the spot!

His gaze narrowed slightly, and his literary energy surged, transforming into two swords of energy that struck left and right. The Spider King moved its eight legs, its figure as swift as a ghost, and suddenly closed in.

Xue Xiang rode his sword wildly, but he knew that a direct confrontation would be disadvantageous. With a change of mind, he approached a fallen ancient tree, suddenly used its strength to leap into the air, and turned around to slash fiercely!
"Light!"

A dazzling light shone forth.

Almost simultaneously, the sword energy swept out and struck the Spider King's left eye!
The Spider King roared to the sky, spewing out venom like a thick fog. Xue Xiang had nowhere to stand. He used his shield to shield himself while scrambling through the forest, finally climbing onto a giant tree.

Soon, large white bubbles rose from the ground, many trees fell, and the giant tree he was clinging to crashed to the ground.

In an instant, the giant tree was corroded into a pile of fragments.

Xue Xiang had no choice but to transform his literary energy into a bridge and step onto it to reach the spot where the poison had not yet fallen.

The Spider King merely roared and did not pursue.

Clearly, Xue Xiang's shot to its left eye had injured its vital organs.

The venom continued to spray for more than ten breaths, and the spider king's giant body twitched a few times before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Its golden tentacle detached from its body and fell at Xue Xiang's feet, still radiating a sharp aura.

Xue Xiang slowly approached, his gaze sharpening. He bent down and picked up the golden tentacle. It was warm to the touch, and he could feel the tough, metallic aura contained within it, like a naturally formed sharp sword.

"Since we can't bring the Spirit Serpent Sword in, you're perfect for us."

He murmured softly, and with a wave of his hand, a white crystal core flew into his palm.

Xue Xiang swung the "golden sword" in his hand, slicing through a section of the giant tree as easily as piercing tofu.

Xue Xiang quickly made a sword hilt and inserted the "golden sword" into it.

Thus, a massive, incomparably sharp, golden sword, over a meter long, came into his hand.

Just then, the talisman ring emitted a hazy glow once more.

(End of this chapter)