"So this is the child prodigy from the Fang family of Heng Zhou who became an Elementary Scholar at the age of five, a High Scholar at the age of seven, and is now participating in the Imperial Examinations at the age of eight? I thought he was just a little more literate and had been nurtured by his family, but now it seems that he is much more than that! "
Hong Yi was shocked to see the seven or eight-year-old boy alight from the sedan at the entrance of the street.
Although he had long heard of the name 'Little Prodigy' Fang Yuan from the Fang family of Heng Zhou, Hong Yi did not think much of it.
A person needed experience to develop a temperament. Although the Little Prodigy was quick-witted, he would not be too experienced in handling things. He was still immature.
Just like the Hong Yi from a year ago, even though he was smart and quick-witted, it was inevitable that he would be childish in the way he handled things. He would still be short of breath when he encountered a big shot, and he would tremble in fear when he encountered Hong Xuanji. But after a year of experience and slaughter, Hong Yi had changed completely. Even if the Emperor was sitting on the Dragon Throne, not only would he not feel the slightest bit of fear, he would even think of slapping down a Grand Vacuum Palm Imprint. He was really lawless.
However, now that this' Little Prodigy 'Fang Yuan had appeared at the entrance of the Tribute Courtyard, Hong Yi did not feel the slightest bit immature.
"All of you, carry the sedan back. I'll leave one person with me. Fang Tie, you stay. The rest of you can go back. Today is the National Ceremony, and it should be solemn. Servants, don't crowd around here and cause trouble."
"Eight-year-old Little Prodigy," Fang Yuan said to the servants beside him as he alighted from the sedan.
His voice was extremely clear, and each word was like pearls falling onto a jade plate. However, it was incomparably firm, and there was a dignified and unquestionable authority to it!
"Yes!"
The group of servants who were skilled in martial arts replied in unison, and then quietly carried the sedan back.
Strangely, the crowd, the shouting servants, and the arrogant High Scholars all slowed down involuntarily when they heard this voice. Their voices were much quieter, and the entire street became much quieter.
It was as if this voice had some kind of magic that could bind people unknowingly, and even affect their souls.
"Amazing! The words were like pearls and jade, like rules and etiquette, binding one's soul. What kind of Dao technique was this? But this was really too arrogant. There were so many highly skilled High Scholars present today, and there were many unfathomable people among them. How could he be so arrogant? What intentions do you have? "
Hong Yi's eyes flickered. He had already seen some things clearly.
It turned out that when the eight-year-old prodigy, Fangyuan, spoke, Hong Yi sensed something that ordinary people could not. The words that Fangyuan spoke were condensed into a shape. They were glowing and leaping like flames. All of a sudden, they spread in all directions and entered the souls of many people around them. These people could not help but be affected.
This was obviously a very advanced Dao technique. Those words were also condensed from thoughts. However, the thoughts of ordinary cultivators were filled with Yin Qi, while those who had gone through the Lightning Tribulations had the warmth of pure Yang. The thoughts of ghost immortals who had not gone through the Lightning Tribulations could harm others, while those who had gone through the Lightning Tribulations could protect others with their thoughts.
However, the eight-year-old prodigy, Fangyuan's thoughts were neither pure Yin nor pure Yang. It seemed to be of a different nature, invisible and unfathomable.
Hong Yi even saw a few disciples from aristocratic families with profound cultivation, but none of them could sense that Fangyuan had used a Dao technique. Instead, they looked over, their eyes filled with doubt.
"What a powerful Infinite Heavenly Melody. Hong Yi, this kid is not simple …"
The ninja monk said.
"The Infinite Heavenly Melody?" Chi Zhuiyang asked.
"This is an ancient sound technique. It's like a Dao technique, but it's not. It's in between the fist will of martial arts and the Divine Will of Dao techniques. The combination of the two makes it invisible and extremely powerful. The Spirit Speech Sect's Incantation of Mantra that the Godly Eagle King cultivated is also a type of technique. However, the Godly Eagle King's Dao technique is profound, but his physical cultivation has not condensed the fist will, so he can't master it. The Crimson Prefecture's Three Tones Sect's trump card is the Three Tones Technique. However, be it the Incantation of Mantra or the Three Tones Technique, they are nothing compared to the Infinite Heavenly Melody. This is because the Infinite Heavenly Melody is a Dao technique cultivated by the ancient Divine Emperor, Ji. The only thing that can compare to the Infinite Heavenly Melody is the Three Realms Great Prophecy that the Supreme Pontiff of the Essence Temple secretly cultivated! "
Hong Yi used an emotionless voice to narrate the story.
Sound technique was one of the most amazing Dao techniques. Martial arts cultivators could use sound and combine it with their fist will of martial arts to break through all Dao techniques.
On the other hand, Dao techniques used thoughts to produce sound. They could confuse one's mind and control one's soul.
The supreme scripture of the Essence Primordial Temple, "Essence Blood and Yuan Qi Accumulation", talked about the most subtle connection between the soul and the body. Even the body, blood and Qi Martial Dao, and the spirit Dao Technique could cooperate with each other to bring out the greatest power.
Over the past few days, Hong Yi had read many books in the Cosmos Sack. He had read the translations of the classic works of Chara by the senior monks of the Daizen Temple. Some of the works secretly recorded the highest Dao technique cultivated by the Supreme Pontiff of the Essence Temple!
The combination of the fist will of martial arts and Dao technique cultivation could condense the highest technique, the Three Realms Great Prophecy.
However, the Western Region's sacred grounds had unparalleled secret manuals. In the ancient times of the Middle Earth Heavenly Province, the Divine Emperor cultivated the Infinite Heavenly Melody, which was also a Dao technique that was as famous as the Three Realms Great Prophecy.
Legend had it that after the ancient Divine Emperor abdicated the throne, he let out a loud roar and opened up the Boundless Universe. Then, he directly ascended to the heavens and disappeared.
The requirements to cultivate this mystique were very strict. Not everyone could cultivate it. First, one's physical body had to be able to condense fist will. After that, one's soul had to become a ghost immortal. Then, one's soul and fist will had to be combined and tempered by a secret technique. The combination would become a type of Heavenly Melody. It was like the decree of the heavens.
It was extremely powerful! In other words, this eight-year-old prodigy, Fangyuan, cultivated the ancient Dao technique, the Infinite Heavenly Melody. In that case, he must have entered the Thoughtless Tranquility realm. His physical body had also condensed fist will, and his Dao technique had also reached the ghost immortal level!
"Good, good, good! Another unparalleled prodigy, just like the Champion Marquis. The Champion Marquis and Hong Xuanji are both in the Thoughtless Tranquility realm. I'm also in the Thoughtless Tranquility realm, and so is this Fangyuan. Such a prodigy could very well be the person that the Monogatari, the Taishang Daoist Su Mu mentioned. I wonder if there are any other High Scholars that the Monogatari has been grooming? "
Hong Yi looked at Fangyuan calmly. After Fangyuan had ordered his servant to leave, he walked to the front of the crowd. He did not make any moves.
Today, the Tribute Courtyard Street was crowded, and Hong Yi saw many experts.
Among them, there were some High Scholars who walked calmly. Their bodies and aura were condensed, and their eyes were sharp. They were either scholars who had cultivated their Qi to an extremely high level, or had extremely high achievements in martial arts. Their ages ranged from 50 to 60 years old, 30 to 40 years old, 17 to 18 years old, and even 20 years old.
Hong Yi would definitely not show off his prowess in such a situation and become the target of public criticism.
Although he knew that he had passed the Martial Examinations and had attracted the attention of many powers, today was the Literary Examinations, and the influence of it was a hundred times greater than the Martial Examinations.
"The Tribute Courtyard has started their inspection. All of you, carry the palanquins back."
At this moment, there was a huge commotion in front of them. More and more soldiers started to gather, and lined up neatly on both sides of the street.
Hong Yi knew that the Tribute Courtyard had opened. All 9,000 High Scholars were being inspected, and their identities were verified. No one was allowed to smuggle anything, and no one was allowed to hire a substitute.
"Brother Zhu, did you really see what Dao technique that kid from the Fang family, Fangyuan, used?"
At the same time, on the other side of the Tribute Courtyard Street, a few palanquins made of traditional Chinese music descended. A few middle-aged Confucian scholars in their forties walked out of the palanquins.
Looking at the palanquins, they were not inlaid with gold or silver, nor were they fitted with pearls. However, those with good taste would be able to tell that the palanquins were exquisitely crafted. They did not reveal anything, but they were of high class.
"It should be a sound technique. If I'm not wrong, it should be an ancient Dao technique, the Limitless Heavenly Melody!" A middle-aged Confucian scholar who had been addressed as Brother Zhu held a folding fan in his hand and waved it slowly.
"The Limitless Heavenly Melody? This ancient Dao technique has been lost for a long time, and is extremely difficult to cultivate. Only those with great talent can master it! How could it appear on a kid? How is that possible! However, Brother Zhu is after all a descendant of a sage, and is very knowledgeable. "
The other Confucian scholar was empty-handed, but he was also very deep in thought. His gaze was focused, and his eyes seemed to have the power to pierce through the soul.
"I can't say that I'm knowledgeable. This time, the Grandmaster, Xie Wenyuan, is the truly knowledgeable one …" Zhu said. "Brother Lu, you flatter me. On the other hand, ever since you casually took the High Scholar exam thirty years ago, you've been studying at home, refining pills, practicing martial arts, studying history, and translating Huo Luo and Yun Meng's books … Why are you taking the exam this time?"
"Hahahaha, Brother Zhu, are you really muddle-headed, or are you just pretending? The imperial court is making a big move against us aristocratic families. Even Xie Wenyuan can't help but come out. If we don't come out, are we just waiting to be sliced? Passing the High Scholar exam is a sign of obedience to the imperial court. As for becoming a Grand Scholar, even if you pass, how much benefit would you get? Take Brother Zhu, for example. As a descendant of a sage, your family has tens of thousands of acres of land, thousands of servants, tens of thousands of tenants, hundreds of manors, and less than half of the nobility. Even the governor has to treat you with respect. Do you really need the salary of an official from the imperial court? "
"Brother Lu, you're too serious. I don't make decisions in my family. Above me are the ancestors, the Old Master, the Old Matriarch, and my brothers. This time, I'm here for the imperial court's examination. But then again, this little prodigy can't be treated like a child! This time, he's our enemy. Remember, we can't let our guard down! It's very likely that in a few years, this little prodigy will become another Champion Marquis! "
"Another Champion Marquis? You're too serious. The Champion Marquis is famous. My Old Master met him once, and when he came back, he only had four words to say about him!"
"Oh? What four words? "
"King's energy! Domineering! "
"If that's the case, then …"
"Ah, the doors to the Tribute Hall are open. Let's chase the servants away and enter the examination!"
"We have to be searched before entering. How unlucky! What a disgrace! Many great Confucians in the past were unwilling to come because of this hurdle, they couldn't get over their pride. "
"Now that the imperial court is powerful, we can only endure this humiliation. Let's go!"
"This time, the Tribute Hall has been renovated again!" Hong Yi followed the crowd and entered the Tribute Hall. Originally, during the provincial examinations last year, he had also taken the examination here. But now that he had entered, it was a different scene. The venue had been greatly renovated. There was a huge square, and there were experts everywhere. Hong Yi even saw the imperial court's secret "Qiankun Dragon Guards"!
There were also some hidden experts who were hiding somewhere. Although they tried their best to restrain their auras, Hong Yi could vaguely feel their immense vitality!
After going through the process of entering the hall, many of the High Scholars and aristocratic family disciples were originally humiliated. They were cursing in their hearts, or in groups of three to five, discussing amongst themselves. But among them, some of the more intelligent ones could clearly feel that something was amiss. They all quietened down, thinking deeply and solemnly, each with their own thoughts.
But the little prodigy, Fang Yuan, had a calm expression. He stood in the crowd, unfazed by the humiliation.
From afar, Hong Yi saw Xie Wenyuan. However, he did not go through the body search. Instead, he was directly helped into the hall by the officials. This was a privilege bestowed by the Emperor.
After a full four hours, the sky was already bright. After the inspection, the 9000 High Scholars entered the hall one after another.
Every person who took the examination was given a small room.
In the small room, there was a burning incense. This incense was used to kill poisons and illnesses, as well as to get rid of the stench.
Seeing this, Hong Yi nodded his head. He knew that the imperial court had put in a lot of effort into planning this examination.
But Hong Yi did not care about this. After looking around, he closed his eyes and calmed himself down. He cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and sensed his surroundings.
This examination was different from the provincial examinations. The provincial examinations only lasted a day, but the general examinations lasted a full three days. In one examination, there were seven essays, followed by a policy discussion and a poem composition.
During this period of time, the entire hall was locked down. Even if someone died inside, they had to stay inside.
After a while, the examination questions were handed out by the various officials. Hong Yi took a quick look and saw that there were only two words, "Confucius said".
This was the question.
"Eh? This is a difficult question. I have to do it in a grand manner. If I don't say something shocking, I won't give up. "
Hong Yi smiled and picked up his brush. On the paper, he wrote two words, "Ignorant man"!
Following which, he changed the direction of his brush. "Ignorant man is the teacher of a hundred generations. His words are the law of the world!"
His tone was majestic, as though it was alive on the paper. Suddenly, every word was bright and bright.
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