Becoming a Sage Starts From Condensing the Essence of Time

Chapter 86: Holding Two Swords in the Spring Quarter

Examination Hall, A Discussion on the Northern Expedition (2)

Translator: Atlas Studios       Editor: Atlas Studios

This surveillance officer was a cultivator. His shout contained mental power, vaguely forming a might. If not for cultivators or those with weak mental power, they would probably lose their mind after being shouted at.

However, An Le’s mental power was already at the Shedding Mortality Realm, so it naturally did not affect him at all.

Faced with the surveillance officer’s question, An Le bent his finger and knocked on the Ink Pool Sword. The Ink Pool Sword swept up, and a faint intent burst forth.

“This contains the Little Sacred Token. It has some privileges and I can enter with a sword. I don’t have to bow to officials either.” An Le said calmly.

The surveillance officer instantly retracted his mental power. Facing the Ink Pool Sword which had released its aura, he instantly thought of the famous Master An in Lin’an.

After all, the matter of Wang Qinhe challenging Master An and being crushed was still a joke.

“So it’s Master An. Then I’m sorry for being rude. You can naturally enter with your sword.”

The surveillance officer cupped his fists and bowed.

Ink Pool Sword returned to his waist, and An Le bowed in return. The surveillance officer routinely searched An Le’s luggage to prevent cheating and some small items on him. He immediately let him in and ordered someone to personally bring An Le to the examination hall registered on the examination card.

This scene naturally caused the Confucian scholars in the line to be shocked and in an uproar.

“Master An.”

That overly young Provincial Scholar was actually Master An, who was famous in Lin’an and was the ink bamboo and galloping horse painter?

Or was it someone on the Little Sacred Ranking?

Even Liu Yue was shocked. He knew that Master An was a cultivator, but he did not expect such a prestigious cultivator to be able to enter the examination hall with a sword…

As for Provincial Scholar Xu, who had just completed the search and was still collecting the messy luggage, his expression immediately turned ugly. He secretly regretted missing the opportunity to curry favor.

That was Master An!

However, this examinee surnamed Xu quickly restrained his emotions, and a glint flashed in his eyes. When he entered List B, he would be introduced by Liu Yue. He would naturally be able to build a relationship again.

As for the Spring Quarter Examination questions this time, he was very confident!

After An Le bade farewell to Liu Yue, he followed the soldiers sent by the surveillance officer to the examination hall.

The individual small rooms arranged according to the number on the examination card were called numbered rooms.

Over the past few days, the examinees had been answering questions and eating there.

Only when all the Spring Quarter Examination questions were answered could they see any other candidates.

Fortunately, the Literary Department occupied a large enough area and had enough buildings to arrange more than 3,000 candidates’ numbered rooms.

An Le sat quietly in the numbered room and looked at the scenery outside.

The environment of the Literary Department was quite good. It was a spring rain baptism, and the winding path was quiet. There were peach blossom trees blooming with spring peaches along the path, and some apricot flowers were blooming beautifully to welcome spring.

The light rain pattered on the black tiles of the numbered room, making a crisp sound. It was rather quiet.

An Le slowly closed his eyes and waited for the exam to begin.

Between the peach forest and apricot trees in the Literary Department, one could see a thatched cottage.

The spring rain was blown by the spring wind, slanting and scattering. Under the thatched eaves, someone was brewing tea. The carbon stove was boiling water, and the rising steam was like curling clouds that surged up.

Third Headmaster Wang Banshan’s straw hut had an important guest today, so he made tea to welcome him.

The person was dressed in extremely luxurious clothes. His face was solemn, and his gray beard was gently stroked. There was a hint of sharpness in his eyes as he quietly waited for the Third Headmaster’s tea.

He seemed to be very patient and was not in a hurry at all, even though the

Spring Quarter Examination in the Literary Department was about to begin.

“Does the Headmaster have anyone in mind for the Spring Quarter

Examination this time?”

After a long time, when the Third Headmaster pushed an ordinary cup of tea in front of him, the person picked it up and took a sip.

“Prime Minister Qin, you’re being too serious. The disciples of the Literary Department are all my students. I naturally think highly of them participating in the Spring Quarter Examination.” The Third Headmaster held the hot tea with both hands and chuckled.

“There are differences in knowledge, and it’s all about the students. Everyone has someone they choose to believe in and someone they think highly of in their hearts. Third Headmaster is also a human, so how can he be fair and not be biased?”

Qin Lishi smiled faintly, but there was a hidden meaning in his words.

Third Headmaster Wang Banshan had a lazy look on his face. He glanced at Qin Lishi and said, “Since Prime Minister Qin has said so, I’ll be straightforward. That Master An, whose name shocked Lin’an, has impressed me. I think he has what it takes to top the Hall Examination.”

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere instantly became colder and more solemn.

The smile on Qin Lishi’s face disappeared. His slender eyes seemed to be cold as he stared at the Third Headmaster.

“Third Headmaster, this Master An seems to have a deep relationship with the

Lin Residence.”

The Third Headmaster took a sip of hot tea. “I don’t care about background, but only talent. Ink bamboo shows his character and determination. This child is indeed not bad.”

“Just because he’s good at painting doesn’t mean that he’s good at learning. The

Spring Quarter Examination’s Imperial Examination isn’t about painting.” Qin Lishi shook his head. “Headmaster thinks highly of an artist. What will the scholars on the Literary Department’s Literary Music Ranking think?” He stood up and stopped drinking tea.

He had already gotten the answer he wanted from the Third Headmaster.

Qin Lishi naturally lost interest in drinking tea.

He really couldn’t admire the famous Master An in Lin’an.

Qin Lishi naturally looked down on the person whom Hua Jiebing admired.

“Take care, Prime Minister Qin. I won’t send you off.”

The Third Headmaster chuckled.

Qin Lishi slammed into the spring rain with his hands behind his back. His figure gradually blurred into the mountain fog..