Chapter 27

After listening to Yue Heng's introduction, Wen Xin Yue clicked her tongue and said, "I didn't expect you to have such good luck. Besides the basic 'Sword' and 'Spear' literary symbols, you even have the rare 'Armor' symbol. It's clear how much you fear death. The magic array sensed the fear in your heart and gave you the 'Armor' symbol as an option to save your life. How considerate!"

"Miss Wen, you make it sound like you're not afraid of death!"

Yue Heng was at a loss, his divine palace still contained a 'Life' symbol. In theory, as long as his head wasn't cut off, he could recover with the vitality brought by the 'Life' symbol. How could he be afraid of death? He just didn't want to die pointlessly.

"If you're not afraid of death, then why did the illusion continuously offer you 'Armor' and 'Drum'? I've heard that most literary candidates only have two symbols to choose from, and most of them are basic symbols. But you are different. You have four, and two of them are special types that don't require you to fight on the front lines. Indeed, this great illusion array is set according to one's true heart!"

Wen Xin Yue couldn't help but add a sarcastic remark. In her heart, she had another unspoken thought: This must be the County Magistrate Qi's deliberate manipulation to favor his illegitimate son!

"Bullshit! Since ancient times, who can escape death? I want to leave a loyal heart to shine in history! I'm not afraid of death, but I must die with clarity! What's the situation on your side? Which one should I choose to cooperate with you?"

"Of course, you should choose 'Armor'! In the battlefield, you just need to protect your own life and don't drag me down!"

"Why should I choose 'Armor'? I'm really very strong! Can't I choose 'Sword' or 'Spear'? After all, this is just an illusion, and we won't really die. Isn't the purpose of the academy to let us experience the real and brutal battlefield? Hey, hey, hey, what are you choosing?"

"Mind your own business! You must choose 'Armor'! That's settled!"

"You..."

Just as the two were arguing, a red light flashed in the Hong County Academy's illusion array. This time, it was an extremely blinding red. The surrounding examiners were completely unprepared and were blinded by the intense red light, quickly raising their hands to shield their eyes.

"What's going on, Magistrate Qi?"

"Why is there a blinding red light?"

"There's no abnormality in the illusion, what happened?"

Many craftsmen and martial examiners asked in confusion. The county academy was the domain of literati, and only Magistrate Qi and a few others knew what had happened.

"Another resonant text... My goodness... Emperor Fuxi, please protect us, divine beings above..."

Magistrate Qi clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling, and his lips quivering. He didn't dare to reveal the truth.

That blinding red light must have been triggered by a powerful resonant text, but it flashed and disappeared, indicating that the text was not fully written, possibly just a sentence or a small part.

The head of the literary academy was shocked. The first person he thought of was Yue Heng, but the rules of the illusion prevented them from interfering, so they could only let the situation unfold.

"Magistrate Qi, after the exam, it's best to find a way to keep him in the county academy and let me personally take care of him."

"It might be too late. Do you think the literary department of Qi Prefecture hasn't noticed the various anomalies in today's re-exam? Just the fact that the Yinshan stone's energy was partially consumed is enough to prompt an investigation. Lord Wen, it's best to send him away as soon as possible. How long has it been? Another strong red light from a resonant text, no, even though it's just half a text, I'm already terrified!"

"Magistrate Qi is right. I was greedy and lost my judgment! This boy is a demon, and I dare not ask for too much. I hope the literary department takes him away as soon as possible to save us from the constant fear of leaking a resonant text and committing a grave sin."

"Indeed, who isn't living in fear? Well, let's inspect the illusion. This time, I want to see him in action! Just a moment of distraction, and he produced another great work. I wonder how many more surprises he will have in this re-exam!"

The two examiners no longer dared to have any ulterior motives regarding Yue Heng. They only hoped the illusion would end soon, and the literary department of Qi Prefecture would take this demon away from Hong County, the farther the better!

Yue Heng spent a long time choosing in the square divine palace, thinking back and forth, but he still couldn't make a decision easily.

He asked, "Miss Wen, do you know the full text of 'The Book of Songs - Great Odes - Constant Martial'? What story does it tell?"

Wen Xin Yue sneered disdainfully, "I'm a martial artist, and you're a literatus. Why are you asking me about such literary works? Isn't 'The Book of Songs' the most revered literary classic among poor scholars?"

Yue Heng was speechless, but he really didn't know what the text was about.

'The Book of Songs' has over 300 poems, and its popularity in China is far less than that of Tang poetry, Song lyrics, and Ming-Qing novels. Occasionally, only some famous lines are known, such as "The turtledoves coo, on the riverbank, the graceful lady, the gentleman's ideal mate."

After coming to this world, Yue Heng had also read all the literary classics he could find and searched his memory. He found that the poems and songs he brought from his previous life were deeply imprinted in his mind. Anything he had seen or heard in his previous life was remembered clearly in this life. He attributed this phenomenon to the focus of the literati in the Central Yuan world and the divine power of Emperor Fuxi.

However, in both his lifetimes, he had never seen 'Constant Martial'.

According to 'The Collection of Literary Masters', only about 100 poems from 'The Book of Songs' existed in this world. The rest were destroyed in the great event of the burning of books and burying of scholars, or were hidden in various ruins, waiting to be discovered. Those ancient texts that had been unearthed were all precious, and each country treasured them, unwilling to let them easily circulate.

As a poor scholar, how could he afford to buy such literary classics?

He really didn't know what 'Constant Martial' was about!

"Hmph, you're really an uneducated person, not even knowing 'Constant Martial'! I'll be merciful and tell you!" Wen Xin Yue finally spoke when Yue Heng remained silent for a long time.

Yue Heng sighed in relief, "Thank you, Miss Wen! I have read few books, please enlighten me!"

Wen Xin Yue couldn't recite the full text of 'Constant Martial', but the head of the literary academy had privately told her that it was a story of King Xuan of Zhou personally leading an expedition to subdue the state of Xu. It was written by a historian, with passionate and stirring language, openly praising the strength and morale of the royal army, the wealth and confidence of the Zhou kingdom, and the certainty of victory.

Yue Heng roughly guessed that it was a common praise poem for the ruling class, almost fawning, but it was indeed a decisive victory.

Moreover, this victory was achieved with overwhelming superiority, so the illusion would not be too difficult. It should be a favorable situation, easy to handle, and very suitable for candidates like them, who were first-level child scholars, first-level practitioners, and first-level apprentices.

If it were too difficult, like 'The Ballad of Mulan' with lines like "Generals die after a hundred battles, and heroes return after ten years," or other poems with heavy casualties, the elimination rate would be too high, making it unsuitable for first-level child scholars. 'The Ballad of Mulan' would be for second-level students or third-level scholars.

"Alright, I've got it. This illusion is just to let us experience what a battlefield is like. I won't be a hero, because heroes usually die tragically."

"You're smart. Remember to choose the 'Armor' symbol. You just need to survive on the battlefield!"

Yue Heng pouted but ultimately chose the 'Armor' symbol. The defensive power of 'Armor' and the recovery ability of 'Life' could complement each other, ensuring his survival and combat effectiveness. Although Wen Xin Yue called it "surviving by any means," Yue Heng, who had died once and never wanted to die again, didn't care about others' opinions.

After choosing the symbol, Yue Heng's body emitted a faint blue light. The 'Armor' symbol block shot into his forehead, entering his divine palace, where it remained stationary, floating in mid-air, unlike the 'Life' symbol, which moved along a trajectory.

At the same time, his oval-shaped divine palace became much brighter and larger. Originally, he could use the 'Life' symbol about three to four times, but now he could use it seven to eight times.

After choosing the symbol, he had some time to experience it. At the beginning of the illusion, his divine palace seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of talent. No matter how many times he summoned the 'Life' symbol, the blue light remained bright.

"Armor!"

With a mental command, Yue Heng activated the 'Armor' symbol in his divine palace. He heard a clanging sound, and he felt a hard shell-like substance enveloping his body, including his limbs, torso, and even his head.

He tried to touch his neck with his hand, but he couldn't feel his skin. A thin, smooth, transparent layer blocked his fingers, as if he were wrapped in a transparent, insulating, and airtight membrane.

"I wonder how thick it is and how durable. Perhaps this is a talent armor formed by the talent in the divine palace. Ah, I get it. The 'Armor' symbol must also have a duration, like 'Life,' and it consumes talent to maintain, with a limited duration."

Yue Heng understood this point and had a clearer idea.

He would have to wait until he was on the battlefield to see what it was really like. Speculating now was useless.

The personal ability experience time was over, and Yue Heng was pushed out of the divine palace consciousness area, surrounded by darkness.

At this moment, a voice sounded in his ear, and the 'Constant Martial' illusion officially began!

"The state of Xu rebelled, and the Eastern Yi tribes followed. Xu conspired with the Yi beasts and various tribal lords, continuously invading the Jiang and Han regions. King Xuan of Zhou ordered Duke Mu of Zhao and the minister Nan Zhong, Grand Master Huangfu, and Grand Marshal Cheng Bo Xiufu to lead the army to subdue them. King Xuan of Zhou personally led the expedition!"

Moo...

Moo...

The long ox horn sounded, and the scouts on the border brought back shocking news, which raised the alert of the border general.

Among the many vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty, the powerful Eastern Yi tribe, the state of Xu, intended to rebel against the Zhou Dynasty. They were constantly contacting and allying with neighboring small states, plotting rebellion. The border general sent spies to quickly ride to Haojing.

"Great and wise, the king ordered the minister, Nan Zhong, and Grand Master Huangfu. Organize the six armies, prepare for war, be vigilant, and protect the southern kingdom."

The first scene of 'Constant Martial' showed King Xuan of Zhou sitting on his throne in Haojing, receiving the news of Xu's rebellion and making strategic deployments.

He went to the ancestral temple and summoned ministers Nan Zhong and Grand Master Huangfu, ordering them, "You two must quickly organize the six armies, prepare for war, and be vigilant. Soon, we will advance to the southern state of Xu to capture King Xu and eliminate the beasts!"

Ministers Nan Zhong and Grand Master Huangfu agreed and immediately began military preparations in Haojing.

At this moment, the eyes of the 3,000 candidates gradually brightened.

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