On this day, many people are looking up to the sky.
There is one less cloud in the sky in Xijing.
That cloud has shrouded Xijing for eight months. It grew from nothing and grew bigger and bigger, turning into a dark cloud in everyone's heart. It is difficult to clear up.
When Yunlai came, there was an earthquake in the Xijing officialdom. The chief minister of the cabinet resigned, the eunuch who held the seal resigned, the three princes resigned, the Taibao Taishi resigned, the five army commanders resigned, the civil and military left and right Zhu Guo resigned, the left and right censors resigned, and a small part of the six ministers resigned!
After the cloud arrived, many people in Xijing did die. Some people could not escape even if they resigned from their positions, and became guests in the cloud, hanging lifelike in the sky dozens of miles away.
People in Xijing are panicked, and everyone wants to find the culprit and hand them over so as not to implicate themselves. But they didn’t know much about what happened eleven years ago. Under such pressure, they spent eight months.
Now, this cloud has finally gone. Many people were relieved.
Si Tianjian's Chief Supervisor and Deputy Supervisor hurriedly ordered Si Chenguan and a group of doctors and junior officials under him to get busy and search for the whereabouts of the cloud.
Many Heavenly Listeners have also become busier. Whenever you look up, you can always see several Heavenly Listeners with big ears flying around in the sky. Outside Xijing City, there are many ears growing on some trees and grass, and even large and small ears grow on the cliffs. The King and Lord among the Heavenly Listeners are also out.
There are also some magnificent spirits that go deep into the underworld and patrol around, searching to see if the cloud is hidden in the underworld.
When the cloud was there, they were terrified, lest they would be found.
After the cloud left, they worried about gains and losses again. They felt that it was always dangerous if it was not under their control, and they always wanted to find the cloud again. This busyness did not affect Chen Shi.
He came to the Xinxiang Guild Hall and found Hu Feifei and other scholars from Xinxiang. He also found Tian Yue'e, Huang Fengnian, Fu Xiu and other Juren who were traveling with him on the way to Beijing to take the exam, and invited them to enter Xiaozhutian to practice together
< br/> these days, Tian Yue'e, Huang Fengnian and others are staying in Xijing, and they have to spend money for food and clothing. They come from the countryside and can barely scrape together enough travel expenses before rushing for the exam.
When they arrived in Xijing, Hu Feifei took them to the Hongshan Hall and asked them to join the Hongshan Hall as talisman masters. These days, they help the people around Xijing to eliminate evil spirits and make a living. Their cultivation strength has also improved a lot.
Little Zhutian is hidden in the Fox Grape Mirror. It looks like just a mirror, but the internal space is extremely vast, even larger than Xijing City. The righteousness of the heaven and earth inside is extremely abundant, and practicing inside is dozens of times better than outside.
Everyone entered the small heavens, looked around, and marveled again and again.
"The sun, moon, and stars here are all wrong. When you have cultivated to the realm of returning to emptiness, do not practice according to them." Chen Shi ordered.
Hu Guanghan smiled and said: "Returning to the Void Realm? Chen Jieyuan, you think too highly of us. In our lifetime, we can never cultivate to the Returning to the Void Realm. It is already a great thing to be able to practice the Transformation of Gods and Divine Descendants. Even if we follow the right person, we will only be able to practice the Void at best."
As soon as these words came out, Fang Wuji, Pan Ga and others nodded and Chen Shi was confused and asked: "Why is this?"
Tian Yue'e smiled heartily and said: "Those of us who have practiced to the realm of transformation into gods should have reached the top. But the next two realms, the realm of divine descent and the realm of refining the void, are both controlled by the true god of heaven. The realm given has nothing to do with cultivation. Therefore, you can cultivate to the Void Realm at most. Going forward will require a lot of skills, money, Taoist companions, resources and other things. Without money, no one can go up.
Chen Shi suddenly said: "That's it. No wonder Master Sun Yisheng has been stuck in the Void Realm and has never been able to break through."
Sun Yisheng is the ambassador of Guanghuiku. He has cultivated to the peak of Lianxu Realm. It is estimated that he is missing three kinds of money, lovers, land and law, and he has never been able to break through.
Chen Shi also thought that many officials in Xijing, such as Sun Yisheng, seemed to be trapped in the Void Refining Realm and could not go any further. For example, some of the soldiers from the Shenji Camp who were chasing them on the road were in this realm.
It can be seen that the blessing of the true God and the two realms have narrowed the gap between ordinary monks and children of aristocratic families.
Although Chen Shi taught them in accordance with their aptitude and taught them various exercises from Zhenwang Tomb, it was still not possible with the method. He also needed money, a wife, and land.
The so-called money is naturally not difficult to understand. During practice, money is needed to consolidate and break through the realm. Refining elixirs to treat injuries and illnesses, and creating talismans, talismans, and even magic weapons also require a huge amount of wealth.
Land is a treasured land like Xiaozhutian and Dongtian Blessed Land. Even Chen Shi found it very inconvenient when practicing at home or in Guangjiku. He has blessed places like Xiaozhutian and Xiaomiao. Even so, others don't even have treasured places for cultivation.
And companion does not simply refer to a companion, but a Taoist companion. The so-called Taoist companions are people in the same Taoist sect. They can be elders in the sect, brothers, or partners who practice together. They can call back their own soul and soul when they leave the body, they can save their lives when they go crazy, and they can also fight side by side when encountering enemies. Moreover, the greatest role of a Taoist companion is to help oneself break through the realm during critical periods.
Wealth and Earth Dharma, these four are crucial to spiritual practice.
If you lack one or two things, there is still a possibility of breakthrough, but most monks often lack all four.
Chen Shi smiled and said: "If you can't cultivate, just come to me. I'll help you to cultivate!"
There are only three days left before the exam. During these three days, two to three hundred people have gathered in Xiaozhutian, all of whom are practicing hard. It is rare for everyone to encounter a blessed land and practice in the small heavens, forgetting to eat or sleep.
Chen Shi is also cultivating in Xiaozhutian. Yuanying is gradually getting bigger and now looks like a four or five-year-old child. The Nascent Soul body is the limit of his cultivation. Only then can he be compatible with the soul and become the Yuanshen.
Chen Tang didn't care that he didn't go home in the past few days. He continued to go to and from court every day, go to the Ministry of Household Affairs for business, and didn't return until evening.
On the afternoon of the third day, Chen Shi invited everyone out of Xiaozhutian and said: "Everyone, please study hard in the cold window, practice three nines in winter, and practice three summers in summer, all for the sake of fame. Tomorrow, in the examination room, I wish you all a gold medal. Title! ”
More than 200 candidates bowed in return and said with a smile: “If it weren’t for Chen Jieyuan’s cultivation, we would have lost our reputation, and we don’t know when we would have the chance to stand out.”
"I dare not forget the kindness of cultivation in this life!"
Chen Shi separated from them and walked towards Chen Mansion.
As he was passing by Chengdu Street, he suddenly heard a voice laughing: "Chen Jieyuan, stay." When Chen Shi heard this voice, his mind was slightly shaken, he stopped and looked at the sound.
He saw a young man in his twenties standing across the street in Chengdu, facing him across a two-foot-wide road. Between the two of them, there was a bustling city.
The young master was followed by several people, two of whom were familiar faces, namely Fang Tan and Wei Xize, the meritorious officers of the auxiliary cabinet. The young master is handsome, tall and well-proportioned, with no excess muscles visible on his body.
His skin is fair, his facial features are just right, his nose is straight, neither big nor small, his eyes are bright, his upper and lower lips are neither thick nor thin, his earlobes are plump, and his beard is cleanly shaven.
There is a red mole between his eyebrows, whether it is a cinnabar dot or a natural one. He wears a purple gold crown on his head, ties up his hair, and decorates it with a red ball. When he walks, the red ball sways, which is really eye-catching.
He wears long white clothes and trousers, a red jacket on the outside, a green jade belt around his waist, and a pair of cloud boots with white soles and black tops. They are embroidered with gold dragons and silver threads. They should be talismans that have been tempered for thousands of times.
When Chen Shi saw these boots, he knew that there must be six Ding Liujia inside the boots. "Young Master?"
Chen Shi continued to walk forward and said calmly, "I was on Fenghuang Ridge, after killing all Taipingmen, I heard your voice through the Thousand Miles Telephone Talisman.
The young master was walking on the road across the street, separated from the crowd, and said with a smile: "Since I entered Beijing, I have been practicing in seclusion these days, and I am leaving today. Many people in the Fuzheng Pavilion knew that I was coming to see you, and they all tried to dissuade me, saying that you are a lawless person. "It's not appropriate for me to come to see you. But I'm here anyway. I must meet the famous scholar in person and have a heart-to-heart talk with you." Chen Shi said: "You have seen it now. You can go back."
The young master looked at the road ahead and said sincerely: "I think there must be a misunderstanding between you and me. Chen Jieyuan, I am convinced that you are a man with great ambitions. You were born in the countryside and have seen evil spirits causing harm to the countryside. You have also seen the struggles of all living beings under the influence of demons. You have also seen Being an official is worse than being evil. This world is like a cage, trapping you and me. I think you also have the desire to change the world."
His voice has a convincing power, which always attracts the attention of others.
"However, this was not the case in the era of the true king. In the era of the true king, the demons gave their heads, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, their old age was fulfilled, their strength was useful, their children were prosperous, and their illnesses were cured."
The young master said, "At that time, there were few evil spirits and could not form a climate. But all this changed with the death of the true king. Over the years, the people have become increasingly miserable, the evil spirits have become increasingly rampant, and demons have bloomed like flowers, everywhere. The government and the public have accumulated abuses. For a long time, officials did not make decisions for the people, but wanted to maintain their dominance and make their descendants prosperous. The big families controlled the court, and the small families controlled the local areas. Scholars became the clear stream, only talking and boasting. "
He sighed sadly: "I believe that you, like me, are saddened to see this scene, and feel the same when seeing the suffering of the people. The people died of evil spirits before they had time to grow old. Finally, under the harsh government, the young and ambitious men had no place to work, and the court was full of pure water. Children and women were sold, and they had nothing to do. The plague was rampant and the diseases were untreatable. The Ming Dynasty has decayed!"
The young master turned his face and looked at Chen Shi, his eyes enthusiastic: "I think you, like me, want to change everything! You want to get rid of corruption, you want to suppress the demons, you want to overthrow everything that caused the suffering in the world! You want to restore the glory of the true king's era! Likewise, this is what I want!"
He said excitedly: "They told me not to come to see you, they They say you are a stubborn person, an evil person, and a heinous gangster. But I know you are not! You and I are the same kind of people! "
"You have great intentions, but you are misunderstood. You have a desire to change the world but have no place to use it. Chen Jieyuan, you and I are the same kind of people. You and I are not enemies!"
The young master said loudly: "You and I should join forces to influence the current situation, bring order to chaos, win out of chaos, change the world, and work together to build an ideal era of true kings!"
He extended his hand to Chen Shi Come, the words are serious: "Chen Jieyuan, there are not many people in this world who understand you. You and I are not strangers. Come, come over here and help me!"
Fang Tan and Wei Xize were so moved by his words that they couldn't help but have red eyes. The young master's heartfelt words also aroused their resonance.
Chen Shi looked forward and said calmly: "Are you done?" The sincere expression on the young master's face solidified.
Chen Shi ignored his hand and continued to walk forward, saying, "When you're done, go back and wash your neck, and I'll kill you like a chicken during the big exam."
The young master's face darkened, he stopped and watched him walking further and further away.
In the early morning of the next day, Chen Shi woke up early. Chen Tang did not go to court. Instead, he took him to wash up, burn incense, and burn incense on the memorial tablet of his grandfather Chen Yindu. He also asked Chen Shi to pay homage to his mother-in-law and said: "You can't carry it with you during the examination. If you have any talismans, talismans and magic weapons on you, take them down to avoid being embarrassed and easily lost."
Chen Shi took out the Youquan Dragon Sword and some of the treasures on his body and gave them to him.
"The clothes must be changed into ordinary clothes. You cannot wear talisman-type clothes, and you cannot draw talismans on your body." Chen Tang thought for a while and said, "Firearms are not allowed either."
Chen Shi muttered and took out some caltrops from the small temple.
Chen Tang looked at these iron caltrops that were taller than himself, and the corners of his eyes twitched, and he said: "The artillery can't do it, and there are dragon-head rockets, and we can't bring them over."
Chen Shi was slumped, and took out two general cannons and a dozen rockets.
Chen Tang couldn't help but have a headache looking at these two-foot-long behemoths. Is the small temple behind this child's head that big? Why are there so many things packed in? "If there is a general cannon, there must be projectiles. Take out the projectiles."
Chen Shi took out the projectiles again and said, "There is nothing left this time."
Chen Tang entered his small temple, rummaged around a bit, and invited Fu Shen Tianji and Empress Shi Ji out. He then said, "You plant these elixirs in Xiao Zhutian. You can't take these with you. Don't worry, you can keep these things in Xiao Zhutian. I will help you keep them and you won't be able to throw them away."
After Chen Shi finished dealing with it, Chen Tang said: "You can't bring dogs with you either." Black Pot barked several times in protest, but Chen Tang firmly refused.
He checked several more times to confirm that Chen Shi was not involved, and then personally sent Chen Shi to the Rites Yamen. The examination was conducted by the Ministry of Rites, the literary examination was held at the Ministry of Rites, and the martial arts examination was held at the Shenji Camp.
The Rites Yamen had begun to free up many Yamen mansions a few days ago to allow candidates from all over the country to have a place to hold exams. The literary test is divided into three sessions, the first session is about meaning, the second session is about theory, and the third session is about questioning. The martial arts test is divided into three rounds, the first is a martial arts test, the second is a skill test, and the third is a fighting test.
Test the essay in the morning and the martial arts test in the afternoon, three days in a row. The results will be known after the results are released one month later.
After that comes the imperial examination.
Chen Shi arrived at the yamen of the Ministry of Rites and saw that the place was full of masters from the Ministry of Rites and the Shenji Camp. The soldiers of the Shenji Camp had swords on their waists, bird strings on their backs, medicine pots hanging on them, lead bullets in cloth bags, and caltrops hanging on their backs.
In the sky, there stood a tall yellow scarf warrior who was more than ten feet tall. He leaned down and glanced at the candidates who entered the examination room one by one. Officials from the Ministry of Rites worshiped the soul and inspected each person's body to see if there were any prohibited items.
In addition, there are huge stone statues of mythical beasts in each examination room. They are two kinds of mythical beasts. One is like a dragon and has four legs. Its body is shorter than that of a dragon, and it has a festive appearance and a smile. The other one looks like a tiger with dragon horns and scales, with a mane on its back, a majestic appearance, and suspicious eyes.
When Chen Shi arrived, several officials from the Ministry of Rites were offering incense to the stone statues and offering sacrifices such as cattle and sheep.
Suddenly, the stone statues began to move with sonorous sounds, transformed from stone into flesh and blood, jumped down from the altar, and began to examine each candidate. "Those are 狴紴 and negative quality. Any cheater, even if he invites ghosts and gods, cannot escape their eyes and ears."
Chen Tang said, "Go in, take the exam well, don't feel too much pressure."
Chen Shi said yes, and stepped forward to announce his name. An examiner heard his name and led him into the examination room.
Chen Shi was sitting on a futon and saw that the examination room he was in was a large hall. Besides him, there were more than a dozen desks and futons, most of which were empty. There were only two desks with people in front of them, one was a young man and the other was a strange young man.
There were only three of them in the entire examination room. "I, Zhang You, have met Chen Jieyuan."
The strange young man sat on the futon, bowed slightly to Chen Shi, and said with a smile, "I don't live in Qixiaguan, I am staying at my uncle's house." "No whispering!" shouted an examiner.
Then, two divine beasts, Biyan and Negizhi, stepped in, walked around majestically, and looked at the three of them.
With the sound of a bell, an examiner came to the front of the three of them, with a majestic look on his face, and said loudly: "The first question in today's exam is divided into four book meanings, Yi Yi, Shi Yi, and Chun Qiu Yi. There are six questions in the Four Book Yi, three questions each for Yi, Shi, and Spring and Autumn. Each of you will choose one question, explain it and answer it, and one hour is the limit."
Then, some minor officials came from the opposite side and entered the temple pushing signs. One of the signs read: "The meaning of the Four Books: 1. When traveling to Xia, ride on the chariot of Yin, wear the crown of Zhou, and dance with Shao for music. 2. , Be kind to the people, be kind to the people, and love things. 3..."
Chen Shi checked them one by one and found that a small official had handed out pens, ink, paper and inkstones. The paper was rice paper, the ink had been polished, and the pens were ready. The topic Chen Shi chose was "Thunder in the Sky, Big and Strong". A gentleman cannot act with impropriety.
"Zhu Xiucai once talked about this topic!"
He was quite excited and immediately wrote down his name, place of origin and topic before starting to write.
At this time, a clerk came over, took the rice paper away from his hands, carefully studied his handwriting, and thought carefully about his agenda. The other two clerks also came over, took away the papers from Zhang You and the young master, and studied the handwriting and topics beside them.
After a while, the three clerks sat down and scrawled the explanation of their topic on the paper with their pens like the wind! Chen Shi was stunned and hurriedly said to Biuan and Negi: "Fraud! We cheated!"
The two mythical beasts turned a deaf ear and turned a blind eye to this scene.