Chapter 99: Prime Minister Qin's Overt Scheme, the Palace Examination Brought Forward, Sister, He Is Truly Fast!

Lin Zhuifeng's boisterous voice echoed throughout the Lin Estate, instantly shattering its usual tranquility.

An Le, having just stepped onto the waterside pavilion and intending to exchange a few polite words with Madam Hua, caught sight of Lin Zhuifeng. He was bouncing excitedly like a monkey in the forest, dragging Lin Qingyin along with a fire poker tucked at his waist.

The maids, Xixiang and Liuxiang, were filled with curiosity, their eyes fixed on Lin Zhuifeng with investigative interest.

Liuxiang’s small eyes sparkled like stars. “Young Master An, you made the first-grade list? What’s your exact rank?”

Even a maid like Liuxiang was quite knowledgeable about the rankings of the spring imperial examinations.

The spring exam was divided into the first-grade and second-grade lists; the latter had been announced two days earlier.

At the top of the second-grade list was a scholar named Liu Yue, the unfortunate intellectual who had been implicated in a cheating scandal and imprisoned in the Dali Temple’s jail alongside An Le.

Everyone had assumed Liu Yue’s chances were lost, yet when the second-grade list was unveiled, Liu Yue’s name stood boldly at the very top.

That day, the entire Lin’an Prefecture buzzed with commotion. Many literati were moved deeply; to top the second-grade list meant that after investigation, Liu Yue was found innocent of cheating.

Otherwise, Prime Minister Qin would not have allowed Liu Yue to be first on the second-grade list. After his triumph, Master Zhu Huoxi of the Imperial Academy accepted Liu Yue as his disciple.

This news stirred envy among many scholars.

Master Zhu Huoxi was a renowned Confucian scholar, a literary giant who specialized in Neo-Confucianism, and one of the most prominent figures in the Great Zhao Empire’s literary circles.

Many high-ranking scholars and officials in the imperial court were his students.

Being personally accepted by Master Zhu Huoxi meant Liu Yue’s political connections at court were firmly established, and his future rise was all but guaranteed.

Though his cultivation was lacking, at least with the honor of topping the second-grade list, he would secure an official rank of seventh grade or higher.

Liu Yue’s ascent was truly meteoric.

Yet the true spotlight was not on the second-grade list, but the first-grade list, announced two days after the second, and displayed prominently on the public notice board at Jing Street.

At the very top of the first-grade list was a name that had recently stirred waves across Lin’an Prefecture, gaining widespread acclaim: An Le.

An Le, ranked first on the first-grade list.

The first-grade list was reserved exclusively for cultivators, and only the top ten had the chance to enter the palace-level examination, competing for the highest honors.

Not only did this require exceptional talent but also significant cultivation.

This member of the illustrious An family, famed across Lin’an for his ink bamboo paintings, now stood atop the first-grade list, a name destined to sweep through the vast city like a storm.

Ranked first on the first-grade list and entering the palace-level examination meant that even if An Le faltered, he could still expect an official rank no lower than seventh grade.

Should he become the top scholar of the examination, his future would be unimaginable, potentially becoming another legendary figure like Li You’an.

Inside the Lin Estate.

Lin Zhuifeng was bursting with excitement. She had noticed An Le at the waterside pavilion and quickly approached with bright eyes.

“Mr. An, you’re first on the first-grade list! That’s incredible!”

Lin Zhuifeng now regarded An Le with genuine admiration. Beyond appreciating his handsome appearance, she now held him in awe.

Truly remarkable—he had dared to kill Qin Qianqiu atop Wanghu Tower, and had even wagered with Prime Minister Qin that he would enter the palace-level examination’s top three.

Now the first-grade list was out, and An Le was indeed top-ranked.

His entrance to the palace-level exam was indisputable.

Lin Qingyin, slightly out of breath from being dragged by Lin Zhuifeng, looked at An Le with excitement and reverence. “Sir, congratulations.”

An Le smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

Madam Hua, reclining on a couch, had already risen and closed her book, a graceful smile playing across her lovely face.

“Not bad. But the real test is the palace-level examination.”

“If you fail to enter the top three in the palace-level exam, the laws of Great Zhao will indeed punish you. But so long as you reach the top three, or even become the champion scholar, nothing will be a problem.”

“Also, you now gather an invincible aura. Should you fail at the palace exam, the blow will be severe. Therefore, do not be complacent just because you topped the first-grade list. Prepare well and never underestimate the palace-level examination,” Madam Hua said earnestly.

A spring breeze blew through the hall, rustling An Le’s wide sleeves.

An Le rose and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Madam Hua, for your warning. An Le understands.”

Madam Hua nodded approvingly, admiring An Le’s blend of confidence and humility.

“The palace-level exam has two parts: the literary test and the martial test. The format is unknown until the emperor sets it, as the number of candidates is small, and the exam is held directly within Tianxuan Palace. The final ranking is based on combined scores, determining the champion scholar, second place, and third place.”

“Though you top the first-grade list now, this is not the true final ranking.”

An Le was well aware; the second-grade list represented the actual ranking. The first-grade list was arranged by scores but ultimately depended on the palace-level exam, so it was not the final order.

“How is your invincible aura coming along?” Madam Hua did not dwell further on the palace exam, trusting An Le to prepare his own way.

An Le smiled. “After defeating the demon hunter from outside Lin’an, the invincible aura has grown even more powerful. My body refining has reached the fourth realm, and I have realized profound insights. I feel confident in the coming palace-level exam.”

Madam Hua’s eyes brightened, her lips parting slightly, revealing her inner unrest.

Fourth realm of body refining?

This young man had only recently condensed his internal elixir of qi and blood.

Her repeated amazement had dulled her emotions somewhat, but she quickly regained her composure and said no more.

Those who gather an invincible aura naturally experience remarkable cultivation boosts. Li You’an, after all, had rapidly advanced to become top scholar through this path.

Yet it carried great risk; a single failure could ruin everything.

This path was not easy, but if successful, it would forge a legend.

As they conversed, Master Lin, dressed in plain clothes, slowly entered the pavilion carrying a yellow booklet from the Lesser Saint Ranking.

“An family’s young master, your position on the Lesser Saint Ranking has risen again,” he said, waving the yellow booklet with a smile.

“You have now climbed to ninth place, following your previous nineteenth.”

A flicker of surprise and awe shone in Master Lin’s eyes.

Too fast.

This rapid ascent was astonishing.

An Le had moved from nineteenth to ninth place in less than half a month.

His cultivation had also reached the fourth realm in both body refining and spirit refining.

He had surpassed many single fifth realm cultivators ranked between fifteenth and ninth.

Most notably, his victory over the disciple of the sea-crossing saint monk, Monk Fakkong, had demonstrated formidable combat prowess, prompting successive revisions to the Lesser Saint Ranking, culminating in his rise to ninth place with dual fourth realm cultivation.

The next rank, eighth place, was Ye Yinping.

Her cultivation: fifth realm body refining and fifth realm spirit refining.

A genuine dual fifth realm cultivator.

Previously, An Le had been far behind Ye Yinping on the rankings, but now, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, he was nearly there.

“What will you do next? You killed Qin Qianqiu. Qin Lishi is enduring the loss for now but plans to use Great Zhao law to suppress you if you fail to enter the top three of the palace exam. Should you fall into the Dali Temple’s prison, their officials will easily destroy you.”

“Moreover, I have learned that Qin Lishi has entered Tianxuan Palace to petition the emperor with his supporters, proposing to move the palace exam earlier, leaving you less time to gather your invincible aura.”

Master Lin looked seriously at An Le.

Since that day when he fiercely wielded a firewood cleaver to slay several of Qin Lishi’s spies monitoring the Lin Estate, Master Lin seemed to have regained his vigor in Lin’an.

He had rekindled connections with many old friends and no longer chose to keep a low profile.

Having fully cast off his burdens like a wild horse unbridled, he could now act freely in Lin’an.

His status as Prince Consort of Yuanmeng granted him significant leeway.

Even Qin Lishi and many Great Zhao officials dared not act against him lightly, fearing to provoke the Yuanmeng Empire north of the Canglang River and disrupt the current stalemate between north and south.

“Moving the palace exam earlier,” Madam Hua’s brows knitted tightly.

This news was unfavorable for An Le.

From the announcement of the first-grade list, only ten days remained before the palace exam—a tight window.

An Le needed to have dual fifth realm cultivation to guarantee a top three finish.

His competitors were peak dual fifth realm geniuses like Qin Hua’an, Ye Wenxi, Sima Pudu, and Wang Jia Qilin’er.

“Is the news reliable?” Madam Hua asked, eyes sharp.

Master Lin nodded. “Deputy Prime Minister Ouyang Xiangru told me. Qin Lishi and his faction have petitioned the emperor at Tianxuan Palace. The Crown Prince supports advancing the date. The Sima and Wang families have no objections. This will almost certainly happen.”

Madam Hua stood and walked to the large pond, her fist clenched tightly beneath her black veil.

Would the emperor agree?

Most likely yes, considering the relationship between An Le and the Lin family.

The “Calm the Winds” event’s inclusion as a gift for the palace exam was the emperor’s way to see the Lin family’s stance, and An Le’s emergence had already disrupted the status quo.

The emperor naturally wished to restore balance.

“The palace exam is only ten days away from the announcement of the first-grade list, so the impact is minimal. Most first-grade candidates can hardly improve significantly within ten days, except An Le.”

“Gathering invincible aura and walking the path of legends, if An Le wins a couple more battles, he can carry an even greater aura to overwhelm others.”

“This is unfair to An Le.”

This was Qin Lishi’s open stratagem.

Madam Hua sighed. Ultimately, An Le was influenced by the Lin family. Without their support, the emperor might not have agreed to shorten the preparation time, which would have allowed An Le more time to gather his aura.

The spring breeze stirred the willow branches around the pavilion.

An Le, clad in white, rose with a smile.

“As expected, since Prime Minister Qin learned I planned to rely on the palace exam’s top three to clear my name, he wouldn’t sit idly by. He will certainly set obstacles for me.”

“But since I gather an invincible aura, every obstacle only nourishes it. As long as I forge ahead, slashing through barriers, the aura will grow stronger until the dragon rises from the flood.”

An Le’s words radiated youthful ambition and confidence, like the blazing sun.

Madam Hua and Master Lin exchanged looks filled with admiration.

The young man faced injustice not with complaint or anger but with calm determination and a burning spirit, ready to carve a path forward with his sword.

An Le’s white robes fluttered in the spring breeze as he bowed to Madam Hua and Master Lin.

“The time is tight; I will not paint with you gentlemen today,” he said softly.

Lin Zhuifeng’s eyes lit up. “Sir, are you going to challenge Ye Yinping, ranked eighth on the Lesser Saint Ranking?”

All eyes turned to An Le’s shoulder.

He smiled and nodded without denying it.

Excitement surged through the pavilion.

The Ye family and Lin family were on good terms, and An Le’s challenge to Ye Yinping piqued their curiosity.

Madam Hua personally instructed Xixiang to prepare a carriage for An Le to visit the Ye residence.

She and the others also boarded carriages, intending to watch the duel between An Le and Ye Yinping.

Though not as strong as Ye Wenxi, Ye Yinping was still a dual fifth realm cultivator, no weakling.

An Le, a dual fourth realm cultivator, challenging a dual fifth realm—would he prevail?

None could say for certain.

A peach blossom petal fell from a tree branch outside a noble residence on Jing Street, crushed beneath the carriage wheel, leaving faint traces and the delicate fragrance of peach blossoms on the stone pavement.

Inside the luxurious carriage, An Le sat alone, a dossier of detailed information on Ye Yinping provided by Madam Hua before him.

Her cultivation, weapons, and the level of her cultivation techniques were all meticulously recorded.

But after a brief glance, An Le closed the dossier and set it aside, closing his eyes to meditate quietly as the carriage wheels whispered against the stone.

His mind shifted, delving into the bamboo sword at his waist—the Green Mountain.

In an instant, the world seemed to withdraw, leaving only towering verdant mountains and the coiling sword aura that would shape the future.

Visualizing the mountains and sword aura nurtured his spirit.

Gradually, An Le’s mind calmed.

As the Lin Estate came into view, he suddenly opened his eyes.

At that moment, a vast and powerful aura burst forth—his accumulated invincible aura.

A white python coiled above the carriage, raising its head to roar toward the Lin Estate.

A surge of battle intent, like crashing waves, fiercely struck the Ye family residence.

Meanwhile, deep within Jing Street’s Imperial City, the gates stood wide open.

The august figure seated in Tianxuan Palace issued a decree.

To avoid clashing with the Cold Food Festival, the palace-level examination would be moved up by three days—seven days earlier than originally scheduled—so the top ten candidates on the first-grade list could prepare.

Armored imperial guards galloped from the palace along the imperial road, posting the notice beside the two spring exam lists.

In an instant, scholars gathered before the boards, murmuring among themselves.

The news spread like a storm throughout Lin’an.

Some were unfamiliar with the rankings, but martial artists and body cultivators understood the implications.

All connected the news to An Le, well known for gathering invincible aura to prepare for the palace exam.

Yet the palace exam’s advancement by seven days effectively cut short his aura-gathering time, dimming his chances to walk the legendary path.

In a small tavern on Yanchun Lane.

Li You’an and Zhao Huangting sat by the window, sharing a pot of aged yellow wine and a plate of boiled peanuts.

Their minds caught wind of the news spreading through Lin’an.

Li You’an furrowed his brow slightly, lifted his cup, and took a sip.

Zhao Huangting cracked a peanut, a sneer curling his wrinkled face.

“These civil officials are nothing but petty schemers.”

“They claim it’s to avoid conflict with the Cold Food Festival, but their intent is clear.”

“Doing evil deeds yet always seeking excuses to justify their wickedness.”

Zhao Huangting shook his head.

“Yet the one on the throne always falls for it.”

“The Zhao family may have moved south, but this flaw remains unchanged.”

Li You’an silently sipped his wine, memories flashing before his eyes of the future scenes he’d glimpsed on a cliffside.

Some future events happen not without cause, as the Holy Master said: everything in heaven and earth follows cause and effect.

“They just want to shorten An Le’s time gathering invincible aura, making it hard for him to reach the top three at the palace exam, and then have Qin Lishi easily crush him in the Dali Temple prison,” Li You’an said calmly.

“But for An Le, the impact is limited.”

“His aura is already formidable. Walking the legendary path is harder now than when I did it. He’s well prepared.”

“I bet An Le won’t wallow in self-pity but will raise the Green Mountain and strike down obstacles.”

“Cut through all barriers, turning them into invincible aura, forging a path even more legendary than mine.”

Li You’an’s tone was gentle.

Zhao Huangting paused, lifting his eyes to regard Li You’an, sensing a change in him.

He had never before trusted An Le so deeply, almost blindly.

“Are you hiding something from me about An Le?” Zhao Huangting asked slyly between peanut bites.

But Li You’an remained silent.

Suddenly, a roar like a white python echoed from before the Ye residence on Jing Street.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Li You’an’s lips.

The old man was startled, then laughed heartily, pounding the table.

“Hide it if you want. I don’t have much time left anyway. Doesn’t matter.”

“Come, drink!”

At the Ye residence on Jing Street.

Between the garden and pavilion.

Two young ladies, deep in meditation, opened their eyes simultaneously.

Ye Wenxi turned to look outside, eyes sparkling at the magnificent and rising white python aura that seemed poised to transform into a celestial dragon.

She glanced at Ye Yinping beside her, who had also opened her eyes.

A faint smirk curved Ye Wenxi’s lips.

“Didn’t I tell you? I said he’d soon come wielding his sword to stab you, but you refused to believe me.”

Ye Yinping pressed her lips together, slowly rising, staring at the white python aura outside their residence.

Her body trembled slightly, her pale skin flushing crimson.

“From nineteenth to ninth on the Lesser Saint Ranking in a blink.”

“Sister, he’s really fast.”

“But today, I’ll make sure he won’t get any faster.”

Ye Yinping laughed like a silver bell.

She raised her hand, and suddenly a spear as long as a zhang, blazing like flames, shot toward the pavilion’s rockery.

She caught it effortlessly.

The Ye family’s daughters rose like phoenixes.

A fierce battle intent flared in Ye Yinping’s eyes.

“Even if the An family is close to the Lin family, if you want to trample on my gathering of invincible aura,” she said firmly, “you’ll have to rely on skill.”

---

“Brother Shen.”

“Hmm.”

Shen Changqing walked along the street, greeting acquaintances with a nod or brief hello.

But no one’s face showed anything beyond indifference, as if nothing mattered.

He was used to it.

After all, this was the Demon Suppression Division, an institution maintaining stability in Great Qin, tasked mainly with slaying demons and monsters, with other side jobs as well.

Each member was stained with much blood.

Witnessing life and death so often, one naturally grows indifferent to many things.

When Shen Changqing first arrived in this world, he struggled to adjust but gradually became accustomed.

The Demon Suppression Division was vast.

Those who remained were either powerful experts or had the potential to become such.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter.

The division was divided into two professions: Guardian Envoys and Demon Exterminators.

Everyone began as a lowly Demon Exterminator and worked their way up, hoping to become a Guardian Envoy.

Shen Changqing’s former self had been an apprentice Demon Exterminator, the lowest rank.

With memories from his past self, he was very familiar with the division’s environment.

Soon, he stopped before a pavilion.

Unlike the surrounding blood-soaked, grim places, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, emanating a serene calm.

The pavilion’s doors were wide open, with occasional people entering and leaving.

After a brief hesitation, Shen Changqing stepped inside.

The environment changed instantly.

A scent of ink mixed faintly with blood hit him, making him frown instinctively, then relax.

The bloodstains on everyone in the Demon Suppression Division were nearly impossible to cleanse completely.