C131 (1/2)

The brush glided across the snohite paper, siiving out the scraping sound of brush on paper; occasionally silent as it smoothly drifted past

The Hall of Zhao Wen was to akin to being filled withcountless silkworms

Chen Chang Sheng grasped his brush and earnestly answered the questions on the paper, his brush didn’t , one stroke to one character, serious to the point of being rigid

Due to being rigid, it looked nervous, but in reality he was feeling cal, drifted across hiseach question, he would choose one fro doas prescribed ithin Questions that required greater consideration; those had yet to appear

Having gone through a substantial portion of the questions, there had yet to be any that strayed outside the knowledge contained within the Scripture of The Way, the clergy who set the questions had yet to dee beyond that of past forebears

Gou Han shi+, as situated nearby, lowered his brush and brieflyto answer the questions His expression was cal back within the study at Li Mountain, revising and creating study notes

The Hall of Zhao Wen was quiet within, only the sound of writing and the scuffling of scrolls could be heard, with the occasional cough arising from those ere nervous

It was at thisunexpected occurred: someone handed in their paper early

The one handing in was obviously not Gou Han shi+ or Chen Chang Sheng; their brushes had only just landed upon paper and started writing; as the most hopeful examinees of the academic phase, wouldn’t they at least answer all the questions in their entirety?

It also wasn’t Xuan Yuan Po Disqualification did not exist for the Acadeive up on this part of the exa Thirty-Six had told hi many teachers or elders from the various schools and sects had also told their students or disciples

The benefit of experience: if your results in the Martial and Duelling phases were to be exceptional, then even if you had no results in the academic phase, you could still enter within the Three Grades

The handing in of papers early was so often seen for the Grand Examination, but for this year, people were still surprised: this was far too early

The first person to hand in their paper was the youth Chen Chang Sheng had been keeping his eye on This youth had not even read the questions, or more specifically, the moment the paper had been placed upon his desk, he left his seat and took it towards the seating area for examiners

He had effectively abandoned the test

In past years, though there were ive up on this academic phase based on the advice of their elders and teachers, they would at least take into consideration the prestige of the I for an hour before handing in their paper

Yet this youth, without an ounce of hesitation, had abandoned the test the ht for huazed at his back in shock, with so over the idea that he would have left a bad impression upon the examiners

That youth walked up to the seating area for examiners and placed down his answer paper

That thick stack of papers was obviously blank

The examiners that had been appointed by the Imperial Court and Orthodoxy all stared at the youth in silence, the atmosphere was a little aard

One of the examiners broke the silence and said, “you are certain that you wish to hand in your paper?”

The youth had delicate features, with a distinctive pair of brows that were very sht line; strangely, this did not detract fro the sense of someone that was cold and detached

Upon hearing the question of the examiner, the youth continued to have an expressionless face, asking: “Not allowed?”

While saying those words, his eyebrows lightly twitched, showing so with others

His voice was cold like ice, the tone was flat like barren plains, spoken slowly, akin to having to throw out each word; it was as if he hadn’t spoken to anyone for a long time

The clergy htly unhappy tone, “According to the regulations of the Grand Exa in your paper early is allowed, but…”

Not waiting for the clergyit in”

His words were still slow, the tone was still flat and his expression still cold His intent was clear and fir

The clergy me else; another examiner harshly repri the Second Grade, anyone that had any sense of shaht now, but for you to act in such a gloatingyou?”

The youth remained expressionless and didn’t answer

He did not have a teacher and had entered the Grand Examination in order to participate in the duels, he wanted to defeat everyone, especially that girl from White Emperor City, this was to affirest As for the Imperial Court and Orthodoxy’s selection of first place upon the First Banner, this did not interest him

Shortly after, so for the site of the Martial Trial

The hundreds of exaure of the youth with cos

Gou Han shi+ could vaguely deduce the identity of the youth; his expression became a little sombre

Zhuang Huan Yu’s brow lightly twitched, his expression was still calm, but his eyes betrayed a sense of unease

After an hour, exa in their papers

These examinees were taken from the Hall of Zhao Wen and down the divine avenue, after walking for a long period of time, they arrived at the location for the Martial Trial: The Garden of Dawn

The Garden of Daas a park located in the Eastern section of Li Palace, under the tranquil Spring season and clear scenery, greenery blanketed across like a sea of green Countless trees dotted the landscape, birds could be heard chirping in the ht; the scene was extre and the buds of Spring sprouting, the earth was still covered in hints of brown, yet this did nothing to detract from its allure

What was the true purpose behind the Grand Examination?