Chapter 2

"Indeed, there is no obscurity." Ye Qing bowed and continued.

In his previous life, he should have had great fortune, but even with this retreat, he still could not keep up with the trend. Now, even if he lost all his Daoist techniques, some spiritual senses remained. He felt that he might be without any fortune, and if he were to retreat again, he might not even achieve what he did in his previous life.

This time, there was no reason to retreat.

Ye Zifan, upon hearing this, his face turned cold, and gradually, there was not a trace of a smile. After a while, he said, "Good! Today, let your uncle set the questions, and you answer them on the spot. You are still young, don't think I am bullying you. Remember, the child examination is a matter of great importance, and there can be no slackness."

Qianqian, hearing this from inside, looked somewhat nervous.

Ye Qing, upon hearing this, merely smiled. He then fetched the writing desk, ink, and brush, and spread out a long scroll next to Ye Zifan.

He formally saluted Ye Zifan, the "teacher," with a scholar's bow, "Please set the questions, Uncle. If there are any errors, it is because I am not familiar with the classics. If not..."

Hearing this, Ye Zifan felt a surge of anger.

The child examination had limited slots, and the Ye clan had only three. Ye Zifan's son was older, and despite his efforts to delay Ye Qing, it was to reduce internal competition.

He thought it was a sure thing, but unexpectedly, this child had shed his former timidity and dared to defy.

"Fine, I'll set the questions for you, to show you the seriousness of the matter!" Saying this, Ye Zifan closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then dipped his brush in ink and wrote on the blank scroll.

After a quarter of an hour, four questions were already set. Ye Zifan handed the brush to Ye Qing and said slowly, "Since you have such confidence, let's see if you can pass this test. If you can't even pass this, why go to the child examination and embarrass yourself!"

Ye Qing, upon hearing this, his eyes flickered, and he said nothing. He dipped the brush in ink again, looked at the questions for a moment, and then began to write quickly.

In his previous life, he had already read the Daoist theories thoroughly, and his real level had reached that of a juren (advanced scholar). He had memorized countless famous passages, and writing these was just a small test.

Ye Zifan watched Ye Qing write quickly, initially not paying much attention. Ye Qing was still young, and remembering the classics was already a challenge. Moreover, the questions he set, though within the scope of the child examination, were all obscure and difficult.

However, as he watched Ye Qing write quickly, his eyes narrowed, and he was startled. Not only were the classics filled in correctly, but the writing itself was extraordinary.

"Uncle, please review." Ye Qing, after finishing, was slightly sweating, as this body was still too weak.

After his parents passed away, though he was in a large clan, he was neglected. The fields were managed by the clan, and he could not get even a few silver coins. Though food was not a problem, there was little meat, which explained his weak and sickly condition. Thinking of this, his eyes turned cold.

At this moment, as Ye Zifan looked at the scroll, he saw the graceful and powerful writing, like dragons and snakes, with a sense of clouds and mist. He was startled.

As he read on, the classics were filled in without a single error, and the writing was clear and natural.

Finally, there were insightful comments on the classics, not just fill-in-the-blanks, but each word was a gem. He could hardly believe it, so he spread out the scroll and leaned in to examine it closely. After a long time, sweat appeared on his forehead, and he slowly closed his eyes, sitting down in the chair, his mind in turmoil.

Ye Zifan himself was just a xiucai (scholar), but after decades of immersion, he had a good appreciation for writing. He immediately understood the weight of this work.

This writing and the content were enough to pass the xiucai examination. He never thought this neglected nephew was a true scholar!

However, the Daoist examination not only required literary talent but also fortune. In practice, only one or two candidates were selected from each clan. With this child, the chances of his son passing would be greatly reduced!

After a moment of thought, he could not resist his shock and said, "This... this is your writing?"

"Of course, it is my work," Ye Qing replied.

He knew his own capabilities; he was not a genius, but the child examination mainly tested memory of the classics, known as "ink art." In his previous life, he had been proficient in this for fifteen years, and after two days of review, he could ensure no errors.

At this moment, both were silent. Qianqian stood in the corner, carefully observing the expression of this second uncle, and the atmosphere in the room was heavy.

Suddenly, she turned and glanced at the door crack, hearing a faint sound. She exchanged a glance with the young master and, moved by the moment, quietly moved towards the door...

Ye Zifan pondered for a long time, opened his eyes, flipped the scroll, and placed it aside. He looked at Ye Qing and said slowly, "Ying'er, these years you have been weak and unable to farm, and too young to handle affairs. Your food and shelter have been provided by the clan. You must understand this!"

"I know!" Ye Qing bowed in response. He could not say that his family's hundred acres of land, even if rented out, would be better than the current situation.

Ye Zifan nodded in satisfaction and said, "Your uncle will not hide it from you. Your literary talent is indeed excellent. To pass the child examination, you are already more than qualified in this aspect."

"But this time, the slots for the child examination are limited. You have this talent and are only fifteen, so why not let the younger ones? Give this opportunity to the clan's brothers?"

Seeing Ye Qing ponder, Ye Zifan added earnestly, "This is also the clan's wish."

The so-called clan brothers were the son of the second family. He did not know how much his uncle had paid to influence the clan.

Ye Qing's face remained calm, but his eyes caught the girl quietly moving at the door, and he clenched his fists: "This is a big decision. Please forgive me, Uncle, and allow me to consider it."

"Huh? Still considering!" Ye Zifan was stunned and was about to lose his temper!

At the door, Qianqian took a deep breath and suddenly opened the wooden door.

"Whoosh!" A group of young men tumbled in, arms and legs entangled, exclaiming and scrambling to their feet, embarrassedly saying, "Continue..."

"These brats!" Ye Zifan's face turned red, realizing that his words had been overheard. He felt a surge of anger but could not act on it.

Ye Qing, who had clenched his fists, relaxed and secretly gave Qianqian a thumbs up. He had been out for several days to create this situation.

Forcing a nephew to give up the examination was a major scandal. These eavesdropping students would not keep quiet, and once the news spread, it would have an impact.

Putting himself in their shoes, if his own son had to "sacrifice" for the clan, what would he do?

He could not bear it, and they would rise up in protest!

In such a public opinion environment, if the clan still pressured a very promising young man to sacrifice, there would be no more words to say.

"Give you three days to consider and give me your answer. Don't disappoint me." Ye Zifan thought of this and, not realizing that the eavesdroppers were intentionally brought in, coldly said this and disappeared.

Watching Ye Zifan's retreating back, Ye Qing sneered.

Then, he returned, sat in the chair, and fell into deep thought.

"Ultimate fortune, heaven and earth collapse, the four seas merge, and the universe is destroyed!" This was a prophecy that existed at this time, but no one, at least no one Ye Qing knew, believed it.

In this world, three Dao Jun (Dao Lords) had monopolized the world's power, claiming to be in harmony with the Dao, indestructible, and the embodiment of the Dao. They were high above, and the specific jurisdiction was delegated to the Heavenly Court.

The Heavenly Court, however, was not ruled by a single sovereign but by five Emperors representing the five elements, taking turns to rule.

From one comes two, from two comes three, and from three come all things.

The virtue of all things lies in the five elements, which are the five virtues that govern the world's fortune.

This structure of three generating all things and the five virtues circulating has been stable for a million years, deeply rooted, and no one thought it could be shaken.

Of course, the private teaching of the Immortal Dao and the protection of disciples formed a vast system of close relatives, leaving the common people with no chance of advancement. This led to several revolutions and the emergence of new Daoist lineages, but all were easily suppressed by the Heavenly Court.

What was particularly noteworthy was that 300,000 years ago, a third-place winner reformed the system, no longer transmitting the Dao based on talent or Daoist connections, but selecting people with clear Daoist hearts through the imperial examination. This prioritized the Dao over techniques and public over private interests, laying the foundation for the Daoist Court. Over time, the various Daoist lineages were gradually reduced, and the Daoist path was no longer obstructed!

And he himself became the last Emperor, the Red Emperor!

Such a Daoist path, no one would have thought that a great calamity was quietly approaching.

By the time of his previous life, the Daoist Court had already ordered that most Daoist techniques be freely distributed to any Daoist, at any cost, to enhance their power to resist the calamity.

The Six Yang Diagram, the Earthly Gate Golden Leaf, the Purple Mansion Heavenly Book, the Upper Qing Dan Book, the Ten Thousand Scenery Return to the Source... these once priceless Daoist texts were now freely distributed...

Thinking of this, Ye Qing could not help but smile bitterly. He could not remember a single word of these classics now, only some basic Daoist techniques. If it were not for a glimmer of hope, he would have been furious and spitting blood.

Calming himself, Ye Qing silently recited a divine spell, and his eyes instantly glowed with a strange light, ready to see his fortune. But at that moment, he heard a "buzz," and his vision went dark, as if he had been stimulated, and tears streamed down his face. The sneer immediately turned into a bitter smile.

"Master, what's wrong?" Qianqian, seeing Ye Qing's tears, quickly asked.

"Nothing, just got something in my eye," Ye Qing continued to smile bitterly, but his heart sank.

Before the great calamity, the million-year order had merged with the Dao, and without any titles, one could not use magic. Though he had hoped for a chance, reality had given him a harsh blow.

It seemed that many things could be seen but not cultivated.