The main gate of the Imperial Examination Hall slowly opened.

Zhang Yu was startled. He was about to cover his face and retreat to the side, but then thought of reaching out to grab Chen Xu.

After all, those like them who had their examination qualifications revoked prematurely would find it difficult to face the many eyes outside the Imperial Examination Hall.

Nevertheless, just as the gate opened, a well-dressed youth in luxurious attire unexpectedly stepped forward and walked straight in.

The young man wore a jade crown and a golden belt, followed by a grand entourage of guards.

As he rushed across the square and up the steps towards the main gate of the examination hall, the people waiting on both sides of the small square couldn't help but make way for him.

Zhang Yu felt a pang of jealousy and muttered, "Such great pomp."

Before he could finish speaking, the guards outside the examination hall had already brandished their long spears and shouted, "Step back, do not approach!"

The youth in fine clothes did not force his way, but instead clasped his hands in greeting towards the gate from a distance and shouted, "Brother Chen, have you finished the examination?"

Chen Xu returned the greeting and then said to the two clerks, "Gentlemen, since the gate is open, I shall leave first."

He also bid farewell to Zhang Yu, saying, "Brother Zhang, I wish you success next year. Until we meet again."

With that said, his green robe fluttering, Chen Xu left the examination hall in large strides.

He walked away so briskly, without hesitation or covering his face.

Zhang Yu, standing sideways, couldn't help but peek again and heard a laugh from outside the gate. It was the well-dressed youth asking, "Brother Chen, was it because of you that the Bookworm Accident happened at the hall today?"

Chen Xu replied, "Yes."

"Hahaha!" Cui Yunqi could no longer hold back and burst into a hearty laugh.

"The Bookworm Accident, unprecedented in a hundred years, Brother Chen is the first in a century!"

By approximation, Cui Yunqi considered himself the second in a hundred years and felt delightful.

"Congratulations to Brother Chen for becoming the top scholar of the provincial exam," Cui Yunqi said exuberantly. "The academy exam is in seven days. I won't rush to arrange your celebration feast just yet.

Once you achieve excellent results in seven days, I'll set up the banquet again, and by then, Brother Chen, you mustn't decline."

Chen Xu said, "Why waste good things?"

"Ah, that's not how it should be said..."

As the conversation between the two drifted away, Zhang Yu stood by the examination hall gate, still a bit stunned.

His mind was muddled, unable to comprehend—what was the Bookworm Accident, and what did a hundred-year-first mean?

Was this boasting a bit too much?

No, that's not right.

The provincial exam had just been completed, but the examiners had not yet finished grading, and the red list had not been posted, so how could there be a top scholar of the provincial exam?

Where did the top scholar of the provincial exam come from?

Confounded, it made him feel embarrassed for others.

Zhang Yu initially thought it was quite disgraceful to have his examination qualification revoked in advance, but now, with Chen Xu seeming even more embarrassed, he himself seemed less shamefaced.

Not until a large group of students exited the exam hall from behind him.

Zhang Yu stepped back, intending to bow his head quietly and blend in with the students as they headed out the main gate, when suddenly he heard people discussing:

"The Bookworm Accident, the top scholar of this session.

Hiss, what kind of answer sheet could it be to even enlighten such a supernatural phenomenon like the Bookworm? It's truly unimaginable."

"Once the red list is posted, the top scholar's and the top ten exam papers of this session will be displayed, and then we'll naturally see what kind of answer sheet it actually was."

Hearing the earlier part, Zhang Yu was already in shock.

Then he heard another sentence:

"Jichuan County, Chen Xu.

Ah, this name... from now on, just thinking of it will probably make my scalp tingle."

Zhang Yu: ...

He belatedly realized, and at this moment, he felt a bolt from the blue.

It was all over. He wasn't sure if the person speaking would really feel their scalp tingle, but his own scalp was already exploding.

Truly wanting to cry out to the heavens, yearning for a seam in the ground to crawl into.

The clamorous noise could no longer penetrate his ears as Zhang Yu, feeling heavy-headed and light-footed, stepped out of the examination hall gate, then toppled to the ground.

All around were muffled cries of alarm, "Oh no, someone has fainted over here! Quickly, someone call the doctor."

"Coming, coming, the doctor is here."

"Ah, it's from overexerting the mind and worrying excessively, leading to a deficiency in Qi Blood. Take him to my clinic, a few acupuncture sessions and some medicine will do the trick. Come, let's lift him..."

Indeed, someone came to lift him.

Zhang Yu finally felt reassured and fainted completely, his consciousness descending into a tranquil darkness.

The two-day, one-night examination ended, with Chen Xu remaining clear-minded and refreshed afterwards. But many others truly suffered, having drained their Essence Qi tremendously.

Thus, after escorting him back to the inn, Cui Yunqi, according to usual practice, did not disturb him much more but left with his guards.

What followed was a rare time of peace.

Other students from the county school, upon returning to the inn, mostly fell asleep at once. Chen Xu, though not particularly sleepy, was filled with contemplations.

Fame and fortune, cultivating truth and seeking the path.

These are clearly two diverging roads, yet Chen Xu somehow strives to unite them.

The hustle of the day, the moonlight appreciation at night—this didn't seem contradictory.

Or perhaps, in this world, there is no eternal contradiction, only the question of whether you can transform it.

Chen Xu, in his room, deeply sensed himself, observing the domain of his mind.

Then he discovered that unknowingly, his cultivation had directly broken through to the mid-stage of the Meridian Passage Realm.

[Cultivation: Meridian Passage Realm, mid-stage 3.5%]

How did he break through? When did it happen?

Oh, it turns out it was when he broke through the ignorance of the Bookworm, finding clarity in the path, that he was able to break through.

[You refine yourself with Heart Fire, tasting the flavors of the mortal world, breakthrough in cultivation.]

Unbeknownst to him, the complete cycle of Innate Qi had penetrated the Twelve Main Meridians and started entering the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

The flow of Qi grew strong, like a mountain stream gurgling along.

The mountain stream branched out, flowing orderly.

Chen Xu began to understand more, decisively spending 100 Fireworks Value to enter the Fire and Smoke Kitchen for a vigorous cultivation session.

After completing a twelve-hour cycle of cultivation, Chen Xu, upon exiting the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, wanted to do nothing.

[Cultivation: Meridian Passage Realm, mid-stage 5.1%]

Though his Essence Qi and spirit were full, Chen Xu felt like sleeping.

Much like his fellow county school students, he lay on the bed, ignoring everything, just to sleep.

At this moment, his emotions coincided with the sky; no matter, he was like an Immortal!

This slumber lasted until midnight when Chen Xu suddenly awoke. He heard the quietness outside, yet moonlight shone on the mortal world, gentle like frost and snow.

There were also human sounds, breathing, snoring, teeth grinding, sleep-talking...

But this did not disturb the tranquility of the night.

From the window sill as well, there came a fine, tapping sound.

This time Chen Xu listened clearly, his perception naturally flowing, realizing there was actually a small creature lying on the window sill.

That small creature carried a tiny bookcase on its back, tapping softly on Chen Xu's window.

While tapping, it also shrank back towards the window sill, as if ready to flee at any moment.

One couldn't tell whether it wanted Chen Xu to open the window or not.

Meanwhile, a youthful voice sounded by Chen Xu's ear: "Mr. Chen, I am Wei Yuan, having once cultivated in Jiling Mountain. Coming to visit late at night is impolite, but I have important news to share, and I hope Mr. Chen won't mind."

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