If I send you to join the army and marry a woman, will you conquer the Empress?

A divine product!!!

These two words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, making everyone's eardrums buzz and their minds go blank.

The Martial Arts Examination has been passed down for hundreds of years, and the highest ranking for policy essays is "Superior Grade".

When has there ever been a concept of "divine product"?

"There must be a mistake. Did the examiner misread it?"

"Divine quality...above armor? Unheard of!"

"What exactly happened? What earth-shattering content did Qin Feng write on his answer sheet?"

The crowd erupted in chaos!

Questioning, shock, confusion, curiosity...

Countless emotions intertwined, transforming into a deafening roar.

Suddenly, a sharp, piercing voice ripped through the discussion.

"There's something fishy going on! There must be something fishy going on here!"

Yun Feiyang jumped out from the crowd, his face flushed, and pointed at Qin Feng in the distance, shouting like a madman.

"I saw it with my own eyes—just now, Minister of War Li Jing personally called Qin Feng away alone! Who knows what shady things they did inside!"

"How could someone who's down on his luck and a good-for-nothing possibly write an article that surpasses even the best?"

"He must have bribed the examiner!"

These words immediately stirred up a huge wave of controversy!

Champion Hou Linxiao was already unhappy, and hearing these words gave him an outlet for his frustration.

He suddenly turned around and approached Qin Feng step by step, exuding a terrifying aura.

"Qin Feng, I, Lin Xiao, am confident that my military strategy and tactics are second to none!"

"Today, you have used such despicable means to pin me down. This is an insult to me, and a desecration of the Great Xia Martial Arts Examination!"

"I will immediately go to the Emperor and accuse you of bribing the examiners and committing fraud!"

Lin Xiao's voice was powerful and resonant, filled with undeniable anger.

The surrounding examinees were also incited, and their gazes toward Qin Feng were filled with disdain and suspicion.

"snort!"

Facing the condemnation of everyone, Qin Feng merely let out a very soft snort and spoke calmly:

"Firstly, this is the first time I have met Minister Li Jing."

"Secondly, if I, Qin Feng, want to win, I will rely on my true skills and abilities, and I would never stoop to using such underhanded methods."

"Thirdly, and most importantly. Even if I wanted to use connections, a top-tier ranking would suffice. Why go through all this trouble to create an unprecedented 'divine' ranking, putting myself in the spotlight and waiting for your scrutiny?"

"Have your brains been slammed in a door?!"

His words were logically clear and well-organized.

That casual question was like an invisible slap in the face of Yun Feiyang and Lin Xiao!

Yes!

That makes sense!

If it really was cheating, getting a top-tier ranking would have brought glory without drawing so much attention.

Creating an unprecedented "divine product" is just asking for trouble, isn't it?

However, Yun Feiyang and Lin Xiao were blinded by anger and could no longer listen to reason.

"You silver tongue! Don't even think about denying it!" Yun Feiyang continued to shout.

Lin Xiao was even more enraged: "I don't believe it! Today, you must give the world an explanation! Let's go, let's go and appeal to the emperor!"

Having said that, he was about to pull Yun Feiyang along and head straight for the palace.

Just then.

"Who is making such a fuss here?"

A dignified voice rang out, and the crowd automatically parted to make way.

Minister of War Li Jing, with a stern face, strode in with an imposing presence.

Several high-ranking officials from the Ministry of War followed behind him, all with solemn expressions.

Yun Feiyang, who had been incredibly arrogant just moments before, instantly fell silent upon seeing Li Jing, like a duck being choked.

He was as arrogant as he was just moments ago, but now he's cowering, not daring to even breathe loudly.

After all, this is the Minister of War, a first-rank official, who holds the power over the military. Even his father, the Left Prime Minister Yun Song, has to give him some face.

Ding Ding Deng!

Li Jing walked to the center of the arena, his sharp gaze sweeping across the entire area before finally settling on Lin Xiao.

"Champion, do you perhaps have some objection to this result?"

Lin Xiao is still Lin Xiao.

His inherent arrogance prevented him from backing down even when facing Li Jing.

"Minister Li, this junior is not convinced! This junior suspects that someone has committed fraud, and I implore Your Excellency to investigate thoroughly!"

"A thorough investigation?"

Upon hearing this, Li Jing let out a cold laugh.

"Very well, I support your investigation! You can file a complaint with the Emperor right now, the sooner the better!"

Looking at the bewildered Lin Xiao, Li Jing said, word by word, "I also want you to know that this 'divine grade' was not determined by me!"

"Instead, His Majesty personally read the answers, was greatly pleased, and personally wrote his comments in vermilion ink!"

……

What?!

His Majesty… personally approved it with his vermilion brush?!

boom!

This statement is a hundred times more shocking than the "divine work" mentioned earlier!

His Majesty the Emperor actually reviewed Qin Feng's exam paper in person?

He even personally approved this unprecedented, and possibly never-to-be-repeated, "divine" rating.

What an amazing and brilliant answer sheet it must have been to receive such an honor!

Yun Qingya stood in the crowd, her delicate body trembling slightly.

She had to cover her mouth to suppress her gasp.

She knew Qin Feng was talented, but she never imagined that he was so talented that he would alarm the Emperor!

"No...impossible!"

Lin Xiao trembled violently, his face turning deathly pale: "How could His Majesty...?"

You don't believe me?

Li Jing snorted coldly and waved his hand behind him: "Someone, take a copy of Qin Feng's answer sheet and show it to the Marquis of Champion!"

"yes!"

Soon, a copied exam paper was delivered to Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao's hands trembled as he took the thin piece of paper and stared intently at the words on it.

The strategies to break the deadlock can be categorized into three levels: superior, medium, and inferior.

[The worst strategy: a feint to the east while attacking in the west!]

[Middle Strategy: Create something from nothing!]

[The best strategy: The Empty City Stratagem! Subduing the enemy without fighting!]

……

Lin Xiao's body began to tremble violently and uncontrollably.

His breathing became increasingly rapid, and the veins on his hand holding the answer sheet bulged.

When he saw the last few lines, he was struck dumb, frozen in place.

These are three strategies for answering exam questions.

There are thirty-three more such strategies!

[Collected as—The Thirty-Six Stratagems!]

a long time.

Lin Xiao slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all his anger and resentment had turned into deep helplessness and frustration.

He lost, he lost utterly and completely, and he accepted his defeat wholeheartedly.

Compared to such a brilliant and ingenious plan that encompasses the universe and the human heart, my own smug answer sheet is nothing more than a child's scribbles!

"Qin Feng...you're pretty good!"

Lin Xiaojian's voice was hoarse: "Today, I concede defeat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he flung his sleeves and left in a sorry state, not even bothering to stay a moment longer.

hiss……

A collective gasp filled the room.

The champion, who was always arrogant and looked down on everyone, actually took the initiative to admit defeat?

What exactly was written on that answer sheet?

"Quick! Let us see too!"

Someone shouted, and everyone snapped out of their daze, instantly swarming forward to surround the copy.

The Yun siblings were also swept up by the crowd and pushed to the front.

When they saw what was written on the paper, they, like Lin Xiao before them, stood frozen in place.

"The Empty City Stratagem... one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems... Good heavens!"

"Such a brilliant plan is simply the work of a god! No wonder it was awarded a divine title!"

"Compared to this strategy, what we have written is nothing more than the scribbles of a three-year-old!"

"Qin Feng is a man of great talent and leadership potential!"

"The Thirty-Six Stratagems... If this method were true, what would my Great Xia have to worry about in unifying the world?!"

Exclamations of praise and gasps of surprise rose and fell.

All the doubts and disdain that had been directed at Qin Feng before turned into heartfelt respect and admiration at this moment!

Looking at the scene before him, Qin Feng seemed oblivious, finding it rather noisy.

With the results out, Qin Feng just wanted to go home as soon as possible.

However, just as he turned to leave.

A steady and powerful voice came from behind.

"Qin Feng, please wait!"

Minister of War Li Jing suddenly called out to him.