Chapter 9

As the gong in the county office sounded for the third time, it marked the official end of the spring examination in Hong County in the fourteenth year of King Chu You's reign.

The soldiers immediately sealed off the examination hall. All the candidates submitted their papers and left, while the other inspection officials from Qi Prefecture sealed and organized the papers, shuffling them to ensure no order was maintained, and then moved them to the inner chamber of the county academy, affixing the seal of the Ministry of Literature of Chu State. They waited quietly for the examiners to review them.

In the inner chamber of the county office, a large beast soul furnace burned brightly, emitting no smoke, only heat. Outside, the cold spring rain was misty, while inside, it was warm like summer.

Su Tan, the inspector, and the three examiners from Hong County were chatting and discussing various topics, occasionally stealing glances at the Fuxi Wenpan (a mystical artifact) placed beside them, their faces gradually showing signs of joy, feeling an indescribable comfort.

They couldn't help but be delighted. This year, Hong County had produced at least 170 essays of medium quality or higher. If all were genuine, combined with others, there would be at least about 200 students, almost double the number of previous years. Even if some were fake, the number of students would still exceed 100, breaking the record. The examiners from Hong County were well aware of this.

Additionally, a "Resonant Essay" had been produced, which was absolutely impossible to fake. Even if someone had taken the exam on behalf of another, it wouldn't have been possible to produce such an essay in this spring examination, as the substitute would only be a first-level student or a second-level learner. Even if there were third-level scholars, if they had written the same essay before, the resonance would have taken effect immediately, not waiting until now!

"Congratulations, Lord Qi! Your governance is excellent, and your moral education is commendable. Your efforts have resonated with the stars of Fuxi, adding a 'Resonant Essay' to the human race. The Ministry of Literature will certainly reward you, and you are very likely to be appointed to a position in Qi Prefecture. Congratulations, congratulations!"

"I also congratulate Lord Su. Hong County is part of Qi Prefecture. Without the Ministry of Literature's emphasis on the education of young children and the support for the dissemination of literature, Hong County would not have produced such a talented individual. This is the greatest achievement of the Ministry of Literature in Qi Prefecture! We, as officials in Hong County, remember the Ministry's teachings daily, working diligently and conscientiously, merely guiding the students, and we dare not claim more credit."

"Ha ha, Lord Qi is truly remarkable. Let's celebrate together! Why don't we review the papers together and see how this student's work is?"

"I am willing to review the papers with Lord Su!"

The four officials flattered each other, followed by a group of supervisors from Qi Prefecture and Hong County, and they marched to the sealed county academy.

Standing in front of the door with the seal on the exam papers, Inspector Su held up the Fuxi Wenpan and respectfully said, "In the fourteenth year of King Chu You's reign, during the spring examination in Hong County of Qi Prefecture, we request the divine power of the Great Emperor Fuxi to bless us, to distinguish the true from the false, to select the best scholars, and to strengthen the prestige of the human race! Inspector Su Tan of the Ministry of Literature of Chu State, along with the examiners of Hong County, request entry into the inner chamber!"

The crowd behind him shouted in unison, "We are willing to follow the orders of the Ministry of Literature and proceed together!"

With a loud rumble, the sky and earth changed color. The dim, rainy sky suddenly brightened, and the drizzle was blocked by the elemental energy, not a single drop falling.

A beam of light pierced through the dark clouds, seemingly emitted from a star in the sky, directly illuminating the Fuxi Wenpan held high by Inspector Su, and then reflecting onto the seal on the door. A flash of golden light appeared, and the seal automatically rolled up and quickly disappeared into the Fuxi Wenpan.

The sealed door then opened automatically, and the officials who had just taken a great oath entered one by one. The door closed silently, and the entire inner chamber was surrounded by an invisible force, ensuring that no sound could be heard from outside, and no force could disturb them.

As soon as they entered the exam room, the Fuxi Wenpan reacted intensely, casting a faint red light that turned the room red. The other lower-ranking officials, who were unaware of what was happening, were startled and exclaimed in surprise. Many recognized this phenomenon and called it incredible.

"Quiet! Shouting and yelling in the exam room is improper. It's just a 'Resonant Essay.' You can celebrate once we're out!"

County Magistrate Qi scolded with a stern face, but as he spoke, he couldn't help but laugh with satisfaction, causing the other examiners to laugh heartily.

"How many years has it been since I last saw a 'Resonant Essay'? To witness it again in my lifetime, I would die content!"

"This is a blessing for Hong County, Qi Prefecture, and Chu State!"

"Thank you, gentlemen, for your efforts in education. This is a rare and great event for Hong County, not just in ten years, but in a hundred years!"

After the lower-ranking officials finished their flattery and praise, Inspector Su began the inspection. There were thousands of exam papers here, and looking at each one would be overwhelming.

He picked up the Fuxi Wenpan again.

"Eliminate the inferior, retain the superior. Fuxi Wenpan, divide!"

Inspector Su mobilized the divine power within his body, drawing the character "divide" on the disk with his right hand. The pale blue glow on his fingertip moved, leaving a lasting trace. With a stroke and a slash, plus a knife in the middle, the character "divide" in oracle bone script formed a pale blue trace.

Upon completing the last stroke, a pale blue flame ignited throughout the room, enveloping not only the paper exam papers but also the people.

The original meaning of the character "divide" is to cut an object in half with a knife. When used by scholars, it can achieve the purpose of separation in an appropriate way according to their thoughts.

When Inspector Su used the power of the Fuxi Wenpan, his intention was to burn the worthless, trashy exam papers to ashes, expelling them, and leaving only the excellent works that could mobilize elemental energy, the lowest being of inferior quality. Therefore, the most suitable method was to use fire.

None of the examiners were alarmed, as they knew the fire would not harm them.

About a thousand papers remained, meaning that these candidates had passed the first round and had the qualifications to become students, entering the second round of re-examination.

Next, all the papers needed to be classified into lower, middle, upper, and excellent categories, which was not a small task.

The head of the literature department and County Magistrate Cai personally moved the papers, while Inspector Su and County Magistrate Qi held the Fuxi Wenpan together, slowly walking and scanning the papers. The other supervising officials performed their duties, watching the four chief examiners closely.

The Fuxi Wenpan could make the most precise judgments. After scanning, the papers would automatically fly up and land on the back desk, automatically dividing into areas according to their quality and talent, forming neat piles without any errors.

When the Fuxi Wenpan suddenly emitted a red light, everyone stopped and stared at the paper, eager to see it. However, Inspector Su resisted the temptation, picked it up himself, and respectfully placed it aside before it could fly up.

"This is the 'Resonant Essay' I, Su Tan, hold in my hands!"

Suppressing his excitement, Inspector Su turned and instructed, "Speed up!"

With a sense of purpose, the identification of the remaining papers was significantly faster, but it still took half an hour. The head of the literature department and County Magistrate Cai were almost exhausted, as the total number of a thousand papers was substantial, but they finally finished.

Inspector Su and County Magistrate Qi, who had activated the Fuxi Wenpan, also looked tired, as their divine palaces had consumed a lot of energy. However, both were third-level scholars and could endure for half an hour.

"Please, Lord Su, take a rest before carefully reading and appreciating the essays!" County Magistrate Qi bowed, as he was also tired and needed a break.

Inspector Su waved his hand and said, eager and itchy, "No need, I can't wait to appreciate them. However, after the Fuxi Wenpan automatically determines the level of the papers, all the content has been recorded. The supervisory duties of the other colleagues have been completed, and they can leave the study."

"What? Lord Su, are you dismissing us?"

"The 'Resonant Essay' hasn't been appreciated yet, we won't leave!"

"Lord Su, a 'Resonant Essay' is a rare event. We sincerely seek to learn!"

The lower-ranking officials were surprised, puzzled, and then began to plead, their faces full of bitterness.

An old scholar, who looked to be about seventy, but was only a second-level learner, stepped forward trembling and said, "Lord Su, I am nearly eighty, and I have dedicated my life to the county academy, working tirelessly without ever asking for anything. Due to bad luck and lack of opportunity, I have missed out on good essays several times, and in over sixty years, I have only conceived three literary symbols, just one step away from becoming a third-level scholar. Today, hearing that a 'Resonant Essay' has been produced, I am willing to exchange my remaining life for the opportunity to listen. If I can make further progress today, I will be eternally grateful to you!"

Seeing the old scholar about to kneel, Inspector Su hurriedly held him up, saying, "You mustn't! You'll kill me!"

"Please, Lord Su, fulfill our request!"

A large group of people knelt down, and Inspector Su could stop one but not all, watching helplessly as the scholars of Hong County knelt and pleaded.

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Oh!"

Inspector Su looked helpless, looking at County Magistrate Qi, the head of the literature department, and County Magistrate Cai, and said sternly, "The Ministry of Literature has a clear and strict rule: only the chief examiners can view and appreciate the 'Resonant Essay.' It must then be submitted to the Ministry for archiving, often used as a strategic resource for Chu State, or exchanged with other countries, or kept for internal use. Even if it is used internally, it must be transmitted under the witness of the stars of Fuxi, with a solemn oath made in the name of the divine palace, before it can be passed on."

County Magistrate Qi, who also knew this rule, added, "Colleagues, it's not that we are unwilling to share, but this matter must go through the Ministry first. If it's an ordinary 'Resonant Essay' with little significance, it's not worth seeing. If it's rare or new, and it leaks out easily, we would be traitors to Chu State, and the Ministry would hold all those who know accountable. Who among us can bear that?"

His words left everyone speechless. In the world of scholars, the Ministry of Literature was supreme. If they said you could see it, you could see it; if they said you couldn't, no one could see it, and if something went wrong, the one who saw it would be in trouble.

This paper that could activate the red light was like a beehive full of honey, making everyone yearn but afraid to open it, filled with contradictions.

After the emotions of the crowd had calmed down, Inspector Su persuaded them again, "The appearance of a 'Resonant Essay' in this spring examination is a great achievement for all of you. In most cases, after submitting it to the Ministry, it will also be rewarded to you. So please, be patient and don't get too excited. I and Lord Qi will certainly find a way to satisfy everyone!"

The page turns, and the advertisement begins.

The page turns, and the advertisement ends.