Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 128: Chapter 113: Such a Comfortable Book Flipping Wind, with Junior Brother’s Scent

“The exam is over. Hand in your papers.”

As the three incense sticks finished burning, the proctor shouted to the crowd.

The candidates’ exam papers were collected one by one.

“HUFF…”

Xiao Mo let out a sigh of relief, using his sleeve to wipe the hot sweat from his forehead.

In fact, compared to the others, Xiao Mo was already in good shape.

Many scholars didn’t even have the strength to stand up after finishing the exam.

Even if they could stand, their steps were unsteady, and their pale faces looked as if they’d been entertained by every woman in the brothel, one after another.

Xiao Mo received a token and headed to one of the Academy’s side courtyards to rest. At seven in the morning tomorrow, the list of those who passed the first round of the assessment would be announced.

That night.

The teachers of the Academy were grading the candidates’ exam papers.

Whether the candidates had persevered to the end or not, all their papers had to be reviewed.

It was just that the candidates who hadn’t lasted until the end basically had no chance of passing the first round.

However, even among the scholars who submitted their papers at the end, not all of them were guaranteed to pass.

Among the candidates who had lasted for the duration of three incense sticks,

some candidates’ handwriting started out neat and proper, but toward the end, it was clear their stamina was failing as their writing became a wild and messy scrawl.p>

Some candidates, despite lasting until the three incense sticks burned out, didn’t finish all the questions.

Some candidates’ handwriting was good from start to finish and they answered all the questions, but it was obvious their thoughts had become muddled toward the end.

Of course, there was no shortage of scholars who had truly completed the exam paper. There weren’t many, only about fifty, making up just one-tenth of the total candidates.

“This scholar’s answers are quite good.” An Academic Palace Dean named Sima Yun looked at the exam paper, full of praise.

“Indeed, very good.” An Academic Palace Dean named Xu Ke nodded. “I’ve also read this paper. Setting aside the neat handwriting and clear thinking from beginning to end, his research into Confucianism is profound. There’s even a sense of seasoned maturity to it.”

“Isn’t this Xiao Mo Mr. Qi’s disciple?” asked Yu Wen.

“Yes.” Sima Yun nodded. “Mr. Qi certainly took on a good disciple. And this Xiao Mo seems to be the sweetheart of the Lord of the North Sea. Now that’s a wealthy, powerful, and great beauty. Truly enviable.”

“I also heard from Wang Spring that this kid is researching something called ’Heart Learning’.”

“Heart Learning? What kind of discipline is that?”

“It’s a discipline he created himself. Wang Spring and I were drinking and chatting after he returned to the Academy, and I heard a little about it. I can only say… it’s a bit unorthodox.”

“But Mr. Qi also said that if he truly succeeds on this path, he could become the first Confucian Saint in twenty-six hundred years.”

“Hahaha, become a Saint? He should focus on passing the day-after-tomorrow’s assessment first.” Yu Wen shook his head and wrote the word “Pass” on Xiao Mo’s exam paper. “We are only responsible for grading their papers. We assess only their knowledge and nothing else.”

…

The next day, Xiao Mo woke up early and received a letter.

The letter informed him that he had passed the assessment and was to go to the summit of Sea of Learning Peak at seven in the morning tomorrow for the second and final round.

Xiao Mo wasn’t particularly overjoyed about passing the assessment.

On the contrary, ’If I couldn’t even pass the first round, I would have truly disgraced Mr. Qi. I’d be too ashamed to go back.’

At seven in the morning on his third day at the Confucian Academy, Xiao Mo headed for the summit of Sea of Learning Peak.

Compared to the several hundred scholars from two days ago,

only sixty-three people had made it here.

“The second assessment is about to begin.”

The old teacher from yesterday stepped forward and explained the rules to the crowd.

“Do you all see that mountain peak straight ahead? That peak is called Qiuxue Peak, and there are some trees on its summit. What you must do is simple: unleash a Book Flipping Wind. If you can make more than ten trees rustle, you pass.”

Hearing the old teacher’s words, everyone’s brows furrowed.

The so-called Book Flipping Wind was a Technique that scholars of the Confucian School would naturally master upon reaching a certain level of cultivation.

The strength of the Book Flipping Wind was related to a Confucian scholar’s Realm and their comprehension of the Confucian Dao.

The old teacher made it sound simple, but in reality, Qiuxue Peak was a full five thousand feet away from Sea of Learning Peak, and the mountain was also protected by an isolation Array.

Furthermore, their group was all at the Dragon Gate Realm, so their Book Flipping Wind was very weak. Making the trees move would be no easy task.

“The assessment begins. Come up in order.” The old teacher, Yu Wen, stood with his hands behind his back and cleared the way.

The first scholar stepped forward. He took a deep breath and, with a wave of his sleeve, an invisible Book Flipping Wind blew toward Qiuxue Peak. But the trees and flowers on the summit remained perfectly still.

The scholar’s face instantly turned pale.

“Next,” Yu Wen said, shaking his head.

The second scholar stepped forward and waved his sleeve. This time, there was a stir on the summit of Qiuxue Peak, but it was merely three or four trees that stirred in the wind.

“Next.”

“Next.”

As Yu Wen called out again and again, half the scholars had attempted the assessment.

Of these thirty-some scholars, only three passed.

Soon, only Xiao Mo was left on the entire mountain peak.

Excluding Xiao Mo, a total of seven scholars had passed the assessment. The best performer had managed to move fifteen trees on the summit.

“You’re Xiao Mo, correct? You’re the last one.” Yu Wen stroked his beard and looked at Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo gave a respectful bow and walked to the edge of the cliff.

Looking at the mountain peak in the distance, Xiao Mo raised his arm and gave a light flick of his green sleeve.

…

「Meanwhile, at Huaming Peak of the Confucian Academy.」

All the “Righteous Gentlemen” were sitting on cattail cushions, their heads bowed as they worked on their exam papers.

The scorching sun beat down on their foreheads. Unable to use Spiritual Power to ward off the heat, they could only wipe away their own hot sweat.

“Damn it! The day I become the head of the Four Great Academies, I’m definitely going to change this rule! What’s this nonsense about ’toiling the muscles and starving the body’? This is just pointless suffering!”

“Shang Jiuli, no muttering during the exam!” a Sacrificial Officer of the Academy at the front reminded her.

Many people looked toward Shang Jiuli.

“Bleh!” Shang Jiuli stuck her tongue out and made a face at the Academic Palace Sacrificial Officer.

Luo Yang, who was sitting next to Shang Jiuli, shook his head. Feeling a bit ashamed, he pretended not to know his junior sister.

But just then, a gentle breeze wafted over.

This breeze was more refreshing than an ordinary summer wind, and it even carried a faint scent of ink.

The Confucian classic that the Academic Palace Sacrificial Officer had placed at the very front was slowly turned by the gentle breeze.

“What a comfortable Book Flipping Wind.”

Shang Jiuli’s eyes couldn’t help but narrow in comfort as the pleasant Book Flipping Wind blew over her.

’It seems to have Junior Brother Xiao’s scent, too.’

The Academic Palace Sacrificial Officer also raised his head, looking toward the distant Qiuxue Peak.

On the entire mountain peak, the flowers, grass, and trees were all dancing as if in joy.