Transcendent Dawn

Chapter 720: Chapter 0720: Examination (Additional 2400, Request for Monthly Tickets)

“Weird Creatures?”

The young scholar strode away, to a deserted spot. Looking at the small knife in his hand, he murmured to himself, “I didn’t expect… such creatures to be active outside the city.”

The next moment, he grabbed his face and slowly peeled it off.

A layer of human skin and the attached clothes were stripped off, revealing a jade-like face underneath. It was Xu Changqing!

“It was not easy to get this identity… I can’t ruin it…”

He muttered to himself, and a dark green tentacle reached out from behind him, holding the black knife, instantly sinking into his back.

...

His muscles pulsated, as if chewing something.

On his face, there was a satisfying expression like having a fulfilling meal.

“You are now fully accomplished in the Buddhist aspect, and you don’t need to worry about the miscellaneous issues while swallowing these wicked things, it’s just for enhancing your strength…”

Su Lu said, “But now you are close to the city and something like this has happened, the Demon Bureau will probably arrive soon, be careful to hide your identity…”

“I remember.”

Xu Changqing put on the human skin, quickly transforming into an ordinary-looking scholar, and arrived at the outskirts of Lingzhou City.

As one of the nine states of Great Luo, the city here was built quite large, with gates nearly five fathoms high. The gates appeared to be imbued with the power of talisman, the patrolling soldiers were very strong, and there were even some captains from the Demon Bureau mixed in.

Xu Changqing took out his passage proof. At this time, he was a candidate from Hongyun County heading to examinations – Fang Yan.

The gate-keeping soldiers checked his passage proof, and let him through directly.

“As expected of the city… it’s truly prosperous.”

Xu Changqing walked the streets, looking at the crowded scenes on both sides and couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

The first thing candidates from outside the city did was go to the Imperial Examination Hall to register. The Imperial Examination Hall, which could accommodate thousands of people taking the examination at the same time, was one of the most prominent buildings in the city.

When Xu Changqing arrived at the entrance to the Imperial Examination Hall, he saw many young scholars.

They were elegant in green robes, served by young boys and pretty maids, clearly of noble origin; at worst, they were still accompanied by bodyguards. It was rare to see anyone alone like him.

Once he entered the yamen and proved his identity, he received a token, which he could use to enter the Imperial Examination Hall on the day of the examination.

As for the detection check, of course, it did not trouble Feathers Transforming Immortal like him at all. He easily fooled them all.

“The examination is divided into two parts, one is the written examination, the other is the qualification examination… the written examination comes first.”

Xu Changqing walked out of the yamen and let out a long sigh.

His family had passed down a few books, presumably their ancestors had a desire to pass the examination, but in reality, it was almost impossible to succeed.

But now, he was really standing in front of the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall.

For a moment, he couldn’t help but indulge in many thoughts.

Just then, his alertness was triggered, and he turned towards a horse-drawn carriage.

The curtain of brocade was raised, and a rich young master walked down.

He was graceful and handsome, radiant, and seemed to have a unique charm that attracted the attention of everyone present.

“It’s actually the second young master of the Lv Family, Lv Sen?”

From the side, there came the exclamation of a scholar, “He is also here to participate in the examination… one less spot for us, sigh…”

‘So his name is Lv Sen?’

The light in Xu Changqing’s eyes flickered.

He intuitively knew that the other party was a cultivator, and his cultivation was not weak.

It was indeed strange that such a person was participating in the examination.

‘But… it doesn’t concern me.’

Xu Changqing chuckled lightly, and went to find an inn to stay at.

The inn he found was the reputed hundred-year-old Tongfu Inn. The shopkeepers and boys were enthusiastically attending to him, especially after finding out that he was a scholar here for the examination.

After all, even if he looked humble, there was still that bit of hope of passing the exam.

Those who scorn and look down on others were absolutely not what good hosts should do.

…

The day of the examination.

Xu Changqing arrived early outside the Imperial Examination Hall, saw a circle of soldiers around, but didn’t hurry, just quietly waited for the gong to open the gate.

Since there were too many exam takers, many procedures had to be followed such as the identity verification, frisking, etc. So, it often took from the morning when the gates opened for the candidates to enter, until the afternoon when they finished entry. The examination only officially began the next day.

Many candidates prepared special ‘exam bags’, akin to treasure chests, even containing things like mini stoves for cooking meals within the examination room.

Xu Changqing, to blend in, brought a large bamboo basket and was waiting in line for the check.

Just then, he glanced at a young man looking pale as if he was ill. His eyes narrowed slightly: ‘Another one…is there some trick to this examination?’

…

The moon was bright but the stars sparse.

The occasional rustling broke the silence within the examination venue, mostly from the restless candidates tossing and turning.

In the cramped examination room, Xu Changqing was seated cross-legged, asking in his mind, “In such a mere examination, there are several people with cultivation, even many warriors, which seems very wrong, Grandfather…what do you think?”

“Indeed, that’s true. But there’s nothing to worry about, let’s wait and see… don’t forget your main purpose.”

Su Lu said.

“How could I forget?” Xu Changqing sneered, “The main examiner this time is Linfeng Immortal… Grandfather, the talisman you taught me, I have mastered it well, catching him off guard, there will be opportunities.”

In fact, although he had studied a bit of talisman arts before, after ascending to Feather Transforming Immortal, he could use any method with just one principle.

What makes so-called ‘talismans’ and ‘charms’ work is not the correct materials and ancient words, but the spirituality and strength infused by the creator!

When he was in the tea shed earlier, he seized a ghost-thing just with a symbol he casually wrote. It wasn’t a real talismanic word.

“In that case… Just wait patiently.”

Su Lu said indifferently.

Xu Changqing lay down on the desk, his legs stretched outside the examination room, feeling very cramped.

Rustle!

Rustle!

In the quiet night, some subtle noises suddenly rang out, coming from the wooden rafter.

In the darkness, several pairs of red eyes flickered, they were a few large rats.

They scurried around the examination room confidently, as if inspecting something.

When they reached Xu Changqing’s examination room, suddenly, a green-black shadow flashed.

“Squeak!”

A large rat screamed, falling down from the wooden rafter, its limbs still twitching.

“It’s so late at night, can’t you let people sleep?”

Xu Changqing turned over and sat up.

He thought for a moment, then stretched out his finger to probe.

Tendrils of green light emerged from between his fingers, penetrating the rat’s body.

The rat continued to convulse, the visible tendrils snaked into it through its orifices, even the sound of broken bones could be heard, as if these tendrils were corroding and replacing its skeleton.

After a while, the rat flipped over and got up, like a controlled walking dead, its originally crimson rat eyes now had a hint of ink-green color.

“Let’s see… exactly what kind of wicked thing you are up to.”

Xu Changqing murmured, and the rat immediately climbed up the wooden rafter, blending in with its kind.