I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 228 All Beauties
Late at night, at the summit of Sanxing Peak, in the Wangshan Pavilion.

At the banquet, Xue Xiang intentionally elevated Xie Haiya's status, giving Xie Haiya ample face throughout the event.

At the banquet, he drank his wine in one go and composed several excellent poems, which caused a sensation among the audience.

After this banquet, Xie Haiya's influence in Tongcheng was completely established.

In particular, at the height of the banquet, Lu Dongxing arrived in a panic. In front of so many people, he bowed and apologized to Xie Haiya, downing three bowls of wine in a row, making a grand gesture.

From then on, Xue Xiang no longer worried about Xie Haiya's official career in Tongcheng.

After the banquet, Xie Haiya invited Xue Xiang to the mountain-viewing pavilion atop Sanxing Peak.

Standing at the highest point in the city and gazing at the city lights offers a unique experience.

The wind and snow were fierce, and the world was covered in one color.

Inside the pavilion, a charcoal fire burned, its flames as small as beans, illuminating the eaves with a red glow.

The copper kettle on the stove made a soft sound, and water vapor slowly rose, condensing into white mist in the cold air.

Xue Xiang and Xie Haiya sat across the stove from each other.

Outside the pavilion, pine branches were laden with snow, and the wind rustled through the leaves.

Xie Haiya was no longer drunk and looked at Xue Xiang with a look of satisfaction.

Xue Xiang was also looking at Xie Haiya. He saw that Xie Haiya's face was still the same, but there were wrinkles on his forehead and a few more strands of white hair at his temples.

Xue Xiang said, "Senior brother's hair has turned white rather quickly."

Xie Haiya waved his hand, “Two or three years is nothing more than a snap of the fingers for a cultivator. But these past few years, I have been walking in the arena of fame and fortune, working day and night, rarely having a day of leisure, so naturally I have aged quickly.”

This is a clumsy approach; please don't take it.

Xue Xiang looked towards the distant mountain ridge. "Then, senior brother, which path do you think I should take?"

Xie Haiya poked at the fire, "You're still lying in ambush with your senior brother. Others don't know you, but your senior brother doesn't know either."

You're the kind of guy who never gets up early for nothing. Making you play those refined, elegant games is worse than killing you.

The so-called innocent and carefree attitude of "coming with high spirits and leaving when the high spirits are gone" is just a halo that the boy put on himself.

Just like Xie Menlixue last night, tsk tsk, you're building a golden statue for yourself.

If I'm not mistaken, you're thinking of going down the special admission route, aren't you?

Xue Xiang gave a thumbs up, "No matter when, senior brother is always senior brother."

Xie Haiya said, "This is a golden road, and I originally wanted to tell you about it, but your cultivation level is not high enough, and it would be quite risky to participate in the competition rashly."

However, fortune is always found in danger, so once you've decided to take this path, you should stride forward boldly.

If you follow the normal path of evaluation like I have, perhaps even after thirty years, you'll only be stuck at the fifth or sixth rank.

Now that the central government has a strategy, you should actively move forward whenever there is an opportunity to be promoted.

Regardless of position, the most important thing is to improve the grade of the Immortal Talisman.

So, you made the right choice by taking the special admission route..."

Xue Xiang and Xie Haiya were reunited after a long separation, and they had so much to talk about that they chatted until dawn.

As the sun rose, Xue Xiang knew it was time to take his leave.

Xie Haiya asked him to stay a few more days, but Xue Xiang said, "Even if I wanted to stay, I wouldn't have any peace and quiet."

Xie Haiya laughed heartily, knowing that Xue Xiang was referring to last night when he received countless invitations to a banquet.

Xie Haiya pointed at Xue Xiang and laughed, "You're famous all over the world now, and you've finally tasted the bitterness of being burdened by fame."

…………

In the backyard of Prince Yong's Mansion, there are winding ponds and terraces, and layered pavilions and towers.

The snow had just stopped overnight, but the snow on the eaves had not yet melted, and the mountain rocks were all covered in white.

A red plum tree leans out to the side, its fallen petals scattered in the icy pond, swaying gently with the ripples.

In the waterside pavilion by the pond, Xiao Ye stood leaning against the railing.

Dressed in a heavy white silk robe, she gazed at the thin snow in the distance, as if a pavilion had sprung up from the vast water.

She had been standing there for a long time, as if waiting for someone, or perhaps deep in thought.

Suddenly, there were light footsteps outside the door, and Xue Jian entered.

She was covered in frost and held a folded newspaper in her hand.

As he approached, he beamed and waved the document in his hand, saying, "My Lord, this is the 'News from the Clouds' that has just arrived."

Xiao Ye's usually cold face immediately showed color. "Give it to me now."

Xue Jian chuckled, “They were in such a hurry to bring it to you that they haven’t even looked at it themselves. I’ll read it and you can listen, it’s convenient for both of us.”

Then she said loudly, "On the eighth day of this month, a traveler named Beiqiu arrived at the foot of Wangdang Mountain and heard that bandits had occupied the mountain stronghold, robbing merchants and plundering people, causing disaster to spread to three counties."

The man went alone to the foot of the mountain to explore its lair, and entered disguised as a traveler.

In the dead of night, amidst wind and snow, the melancholy traveler secretly crossed the ravine, alone on horseback, sword in hand, and charged in. In a single night, the bandit camp was burned as bright as day.

The ringleaders Hu Qi and Lu Xiong were all captured, and the remaining gang members were scattered.

The mountain people were spared from the arrows, and the area was restored to peace.

The next morning, the government troops followed the trail and arrived, only to find that the smoke on the mountaintop had not yet dissipated, and several lines of writing were left on the rock wall: "Anyone who instigates a rebellion will be struck down." The writing was vigorous and powerful, and the spirit permeated the mountain rocks.

The elders of the village praised him, and scholars recounted his deeds, saying that the man who lamented the autumn was as swift as the wind, and that he did not claim credit for his achievements, truly embodying the spirit of a Confucian scholar…

Xiao Ye was filled with longing, thinking to herself that if she didn't become a princess, but instead accompanied him on horseback, roaming the world with a sword, it would be a great blessing in her life.

"Your Highness, in the past two months, Young Master Xue has wiped out twenty-three bandit strongholds, traveled through three prefectures, and saved countless lives. His merits are truly immeasurable."

But shouldn't he be preparing for the imperial examinations? Why is he so free?

Xue Jian was puzzled.

Xiao Ye said, "I don't know either, but his reputation has been growing day by day lately."

In Shilin, there are stories about him visiting friends on a snowy night and about him standing in the snow at Xie's door.

Some say he is straightforward and innocent, honest and simple, a true Confucian scholar.

Some say he's just seeking fame and fortune, stirring up trouble.

I don't know what he's up to, but reading "News from the Clouds" every day has added some enjoyment to it.

Xue Jian laughed, "Young Master Xue is really interesting. He's been killing bandits all the way, and the 'Cloud News' even sent that reporter along to record everything. This is much more interesting than the illustrated legends."

"It is interesting."

Xiao Yejun's eyes narrowed slightly, wishing he could turn into a snowflake and drift away with the wind for thousands of miles.

…………

In the Qin state, in Weicheng, there was a restaurant facing the street.

The year-end had just passed, and icicles dripped from the eaves, while the bamboo lanterns in the taverns on the street swayed gently in the breeze.

The storytelling upstairs was in full swing, and the guests leaned against the table, listening intently.

The storyteller, dressed in a blue robe, had a copper kettle steaming on his desk. He struck the gavel, his voice booming like a bell, "My dear listeners, you may not know this, but Xue Xiang, the melancholy autumn traveler, has always had the world in his heart since he left Canglan."

In the battle of Wangdang Mountain last month, thirteen bandit strongholds were wiped out overnight, and the firelight illuminated three counties.

Recently, he has had a series of extraordinary encounters. First, he left Tongguan and killed the transformed python spirit. Then, he entered Huaiyang City and had a gambling match with Du Shuji, a wealthy merchant who was famous throughout the world.

A lament for autumn, a masterpiece passed down through the ages, was exchanged for ten thousand bushels of grain from Du Fu.

The poet, who was saddened by autumn, composed more than thirty poems in one go, each of which was considered a masterpiece, forcing Du Shuji to beg for mercy.

At this point, Cardinal Du donated 350,000 shi of grain, saving the lives of millions of starving people on both sides of the Yellow River.

What's even more remarkable is that Beiqiu Ke didn't take credit for it. He immediately bowed to Du Shuji to express his gratitude for the relief the people received.

Cardinal Du thus became famous throughout the world.

When a person like the Lamenter of Autumn descends upon a country, it is an auspicious omen for that country.

It's a pity that such heroes and extraordinary figures were not born in my Qin state..."

The storyteller was articulate and spoke clearly. He first gave an introduction, and then began to recount in detail the various bizarre experiences of the melancholy traveler.

Of course, the event itself is true, but the details are fabricated in as much as 70-80% of the way.

However, the current popularity of "News from the Clouds" among travelers across the world has made it a super hot topic spanning several countries. The patrons listened with rapt attention, occasionally slapping the table and exclaiming in surprise, creating an extremely lively scene in the restaurant.

Amidst the bustling noise, a corner seat by the window was surprisingly quiet.

The man wore a cloak with the hood hanging low, revealing only a section of his delicate nose and the lines of his lips. His skin was slightly white, and his fingers were long and slender.

The cloaked man neither drank nor spoke, but listened quietly.

Suddenly, a servant peeked out from the stairwell and whispered, "A secondhand monthly bound edition of 'Cloud News' just transferred from the Great Xia Dynasty, 1,000 spirit silk per set. Buy it while you can."

These words caused a sensation in the restaurant.

The cloaked man raised his hand, tossed out a spirit stone, and said, "Keep the change."

The servant who had called out was overjoyed and immediately disregarded everyone else, hurriedly serving a portion to the cloaked man.

The cloaked traveler unfolded the old newspaper and immediately saw the headline "Autumn-Sorrowful Traveler Tramples Wangdang Mountain," before finally finding the name "Xue Xiang." His gaze softened.

She gently touched the two characters "Xue Xiang" with her fingertips, as if those characters had a special warmth to them.

Suddenly a cold wind swept in, and a black-clad attendant hurried over, approached, and whispered, "My lord, Qingluan and Bailong are trapped at the entrance of Yigu Valley in the west of the city, and the enemy is coming on strong."

The cloaked figure looked up, his eyes suddenly turning cold.

She stuffed the old newspaper into her bosom, the hem of her clothes gleaming in the snow, and before she could be seen, her shadow had already dissipated into a wisp of smoke in the wind.

Before long, she appeared on a mountain peak.

The mountain wind howled, her cloak billowed, and she looked down into the western valley, where a fierce battle raged.

Eight people in the valley formed a semicircle, trapping two men in black inside.

The two stood back to back, both tall and thin, with fine scale-like patterns between their brows, which shimmered with gold in the snow.

Both men were handsome, yet cold and aloof, and were members of the Spirit Clan.

At this moment, only four of the eight people were cultivators, participating in the siege of the two spirit race members.

The other four stood by, watching from the sidelines.

All four who participated in the attack were at the Core Formation stage. Their attacks were accompanied by a surge of spiritual energy, making them incredibly powerful.

Even though they had clearly gained the upper hand, they never went all out. Instead, they played cat and mouse, deliberately keeping the two Spirit Clan cultivators hanging.

With a long "whoosh," the cloaked figure standing on the mountaintop swooped down.

She lightly touched the snow with her toes and landed almost silently, causing the wind and snow to swirl back and the temperature around her to plummet.

An old man in a red robe raised an eyebrow, and a formation plate flew out from his sleeve, transforming into a protective array that locked down all directions.

The one-eyed old man to the left of the red-robed old man chuckled, "Finally, you've shown yourself. I've been chasing you for months, all you want is a little bit of spiritual blood to be used as a medicinal ingredient for my master. Why is it so difficult?"

"If we don't trap these two, we really won't be able to lure you out."

"My lord, don't worry about us."

The two spirits shouted in unison, both of them already exhausted and unable to stand.

The cloaked woman looked up, and the wind lifted her hood, revealing a section of her jade-like chin. Her eyes reflected a glint of light, calm and undisturbed.

The purple-robed elder sneered, his eyes flashing with cold light, and steadily attacked the cloaked figure. With a wave of his hand, the surrounding spiritual energy surged forth, unleashing a powerful wave of energy. He uttered a low growl: "If you won't give me blood, then give me your life! The Spirit Race is destined not to exist in this world!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly struck out with his palm, which shone with a dark blue light and transformed into a vast spiritual energy attack that rushed straight towards the cloaked man.

The cloaked woman's expression remained unchanged. She quickly raised her hand, and her palm shone with a bluish-green light. Spiritual energy surged and rippled, meeting the purple-robed elder's attack head-on.

The two spiritual energies collided violently in the air, producing a deafening roar. The shockwaves swept around, and the air seemed to tear apart in the collision of the two forces. The ground cracked and rocks flew everywhere.

The two stood facing each other, neither giving way, and forcefully neutralized each other's attacks.

"How come you also know my Annihilation Palm?"

The old man in purple robes was extremely shocked.

The cloaked man said, "I learned it from you. You used it last time, and I remembered it."

"This is impossible!"

The old man in purple robes was going mad.

His Annihilation Palm technique isn't just about moves; more importantly, it's about the underlying principles. How could you possibly learn it just by looking at the moves?

"Don't believe me? Then try your next move."

The cloaked figure suddenly took the initiative, his palm surging with blue light like a sweeping river.

The purple-robed elder was shocked and overwhelmed, so much so that he was speechless with disbelief.

He could tell, of course, that the cloaked man was using the Annihilation Palm, but his technique was incomplete.

It seems I used these same tricks when I captured her last time.

However, the power of the Annihilation Palm in the hands of the cloaked man was greatly amplified, to the point that even though he was already at the Nascent Soul Realm, he could barely fight the cloaked man to a draw.

"It's terrible, it's terrible."

The purple-robed elder murmured, "According to the information I received, you are the new young master of the Cangqiu Spirit Clan, and you were once stranded among the human race."

They distinguished themselves in the last Eldar trial.

At that time, you were only in the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Who would have thought that you would break through to the Core Formation stage so soon?

What's even more terrifying is that every time we fight, you become stronger than the last time.

I truly don't know how pure your spiritual blood must be to possess such divine power.

"Stop talking nonsense, let's attack together, capture this young master of the Cangqiu Spirit Clan, and we'll have everything we need."

At the one-eyed old man's command, everyone sprang into action.

Everyone attacked together, their spiritual energy coalescing into a tremendous shockwave that swept across the land.

In the air, the spiritual energy compressed and converged, almost transforming into a burning sun.

The cloaked woman was as calm as still water, and golden scales appeared on her face, as dazzling as glass.

She gave a deep shout, her palm trembled, and a stream of spiritual energy emanated, forming a huge halo.

The halo had barely formed when the "sun" cast by everyone arrived.

Strangely, after passing through the "halo," the "sun" turned and shot towards the array plate high in the sky.

"boom!"

With a deafening roar, the array plate suddenly exploded, scattering spiritual energy in all directions. The entire restrictive array was destroyed in an instant, and the massive shockwave shattered the array plate into pieces, leaving the surrounding area in chaos.

A cloud of dust rose up across the field, and when it cleared, the three spirit race members had vanished without a trace.

"This, this is impossible!"

The old man in the red robe murmured.

The one-eyed old man said, "Even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't have blocked our combined attack like that, yet she managed to stop it. Is that her innate divine power?"
But what kind of innate supernatural power is it that has become so evil?

This is even more powerful than the legendary "Star Shifting" technique!

…………

Time passed day by day, and before we knew it, summer had turned into autumn.

Xue Xiang's footprints have already crossed nine of the thirteen states of the Great Xia Dynasty, spanning two hundred thousand miles from east to west.

Wherever he went, his literary talent and elegance remained undiminished, and he readily helped those in distress and in need.

The Cloud News has a column dedicated to his travelogue of the Great Xia Dynasty, and its popularity has now surpassed that of the serialized "I Came From the Mortal World".

Thanks to the spread of "News from the Clouds," Xue Xiang has become a top figure in the country.

All his hard work paid off, as evidenced by the fact that the newly gathered talents and aspirations within his literary palace were like dragons.

On September 13th, Xue Xiang arrived at the Guoluo River. Looking at the autumn leaves covering the river and the vast river, he felt quite tired.

He decided to stop playing the game of grinding reputation in Daxia; it was too boring and not something a decent person would do.

Because he decided to boost his international reputation.

His letter to Su Ning received a reply; Su Ning invited him to join the Great Zhou.

In mid-October, in the capital region of the Great Zhou Dynasty, on Danfeng Road in Chang'an, when the streets were filled with red leaves, Xue Xiang met Su Ning.

(End of this chapter)