Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 57: Advanced Scholar Exam

All these years, though Chang’sheng rarely spoke to her, her keen mind still picked up on the pressure weighing on him.

Being a Child Scholar seemed to resolve their struggle for survival, but in truth, it only gave everyone a moment to catch their breath.

Now, with Black Mountain Prefecture in obvious turmoil all around, just relying on the status of Child Scholar wasn’t nearly enough to keep everyone safe. Besides, she could see Lu Chang’sheng’s true intentions.

Everything he was doing now was just to secure a peaceful environment for future martial arts cultivation.

Naturally, she also wanted to do her best in handling things by his side.

This was exactly why she’d refused the seat at the Martial Artist Council and instead chose to stay with Lu Chang’sheng.

"Managing a council is nothing compared to taking care of Chang’sheng," she said with a bright smile, her hands behind her back.

The Imperial Examination tested pretty much the same things as the Child Examination—books, the classics, poetry, essays—but the difficulty was way beyond the Child Scholar level.

On top of that, there was a new subject: archery!

This actually took Lu Chang’sheng by surprise.

Because, as far as he remembered, Jixia Academy’s curriculum didn’t mention testing the "archery" art of the gentleman’s Six Arts.

Coincidence?

Or was there intent behind it?

Out of nowhere, he recalled the "corrupt official" incident from a couple days back, and his heart sank a little.

"Just hoping, after everything that’s happened, those lords will rein themselves in for once!"

Lu Chang’sheng sighed inwardly.

The six-year agreement had been a have-to moment, but if possible, he’d like to trim three years off and build up his capital sooner—so that if anything unexpected happened, he’d have extra time to respond.

Luckily, his archery skills had already reached Great Success, so scoring well in the archery exam shouldn’t be a problem!

The exam lasted three whole days.

Resting, eating—all had to happen inside the exam hall.

Lu Chang’sheng was already prepared; when he reached his spot, he sat down right away, waited for the exam officials to hand out the papers, carefully read through them, then started writing.

"Huh? This time the essay topics even include ’war and disaster’?"

At the final paper’s essay question, something stirred in his heart.

As for the new ruler of Great Yuan, far away in Jinghua Prefecture, he found his view was different than before.

To openly put the issue of war disasters front and center in the exam as a prompt—it really took some guts and resolve.

That kind of boldness wasn’t something any regular emperor could pull off.

After all, there were tons of Great Yuan officials, and all the court’s people believed themselves wise ministers. Setting such questions in the exams, asking all the scholars of the realm—wasn’t this just pointing fingers at the court’s incompetence?

"Right now, I bet there’s all kinds of undercurrents swirling in the imperial court. But with an emperor like this, maybe the Great Yuan dynasty can stretch its fate a bit longer."

Thinking this, Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t help but recall the sudden upheavals in all the prefectures, suspecting it had everything to do with power struggles in the capital.

"I’m here for Martial Dao and strengthening the body—that court intrigue stuff, I need to stay out of it."

He thought to himself: this was definitely his last time taking the exam.

According to Great Yuan law, passing the Imperial Exam earned you official status—usually Ninth Grade, though with good maneuvering, you could get Eighth Grade. Then it’s a matter of building up seniority, working your way up, waiting for the right moment to climb higher.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t a path Lu Chang’sheng could ever take.

Ninth Grade status was enough for the resources he needed to train in Martial Dao—anything more would just be a burden.

"Let’s start with poetry."

Straightening his back, he began writing carefully.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the morning of the third day, and examinees began turning in their papers early.

If you pushed yourself just a bit over the last two days and nights, you could finish; if you couldn’t, there was really nothing you could do.

May as well turn in your paper early, go rest a bit, and prepare for the upcoming archery test.

At noon, Lu Chang’sheng also handed in his exam, then went to the lounge area set up for resting.

He’d just closed his eyes for a moment when he heard Du Meng sighing nearby.

"Chang’sheng, how’d it go?"

"Not bad. How about you?"

"I didn’t do well on the books or the classics. Might be over for me this time."

Du Meng raked his hair, frustration etched across his face.

"And then there’s archery—we haven’t prepared at all. How are we supposed to do this?"

Lu Chang’sheng comforted him: "Take it easy. Everyone else is in the same boat."

"Hard to say. Gao Teng, Mo Zihua and their crowd don’t seem the least bit worried!" Du Meng’s face brimmed with envy.

Gao Teng, Mo Zihua were nobles; they could train directly at the Martial Artist Institute and always had martial masters teaching them. Their skills were absolutely leagues above guys like us, who can only get into Jixia Academy with our scholar status.

Lu Chang’sheng felt a bit envious himself, but he knew that such things were inevitable in any world, so he could take it in stride.

"Once Du passes the exam, your descendants can call themselves nobles too!" Lu Chang’sheng teased.

"Hey, it’s not that easy. Still, I hope what you say comes true!"

Du Meng forced a bitter smile.

The pressure was honestly huge—his whole family saw him as their best bet, expectations sky-high. And ever since Lu Chang’sheng backed out of the agreement with the Lin Family and those other big houses, most of the stress landed right on him.

If he doesn’t pass, it’ll cost him—one way or another.

"By the way, didn’t you say last time the Lin Family would try to get you into the Martial Artist Institute for training?" Lu Chang’sheng suddenly remembered.

"They said so, but it’s been quiet ever since. The price is probably too steep, and the family isn’t willing."

Lu Chang’sheng nodded.

The Martial Artist Institute’s entry threshold was sky-high; even the big houses like the Lin Family would pay dearly to get in but if they did, better to use it on their own kin.

Just then, a few figures walked in; it was those noble kids—Gao Teng, Mo Zihua, and company.

Xun Zimo didn’t appear among them.

Xun Zimo just became a Child Scholar this year, so he couldn’t take part in the Imperial Exam yet.

The group of Child Scholars who’d been resting quickly got up and went over to greet the nobles.

Lu Chang’sheng simply narrowed his eyes, pretending not to notice.

He’d dealt with enough exclusion at the Academy these years—no point chasing after people who’d never accept him.

Du Meng, who counted Lu Chang’sheng as a friend, naturally stayed put too. He just watched Gao Teng and the others, eyes full of envy.

"Nobles really have the upper hand, you know. They’ve all been named ’disciples’ by their teachers!"

’Disciple’ meant professor or tutor had personally recognized you—it counted as earning a teacher’s favor, and in official circles, you could invoke your mentor’s name if asked.

Normal students like them couldn’t do that—if they tried, it’d be considered overstepping.

Lu Chang’sheng smiled, "Who knows, maybe in a couple years all the professors will be proud of you!"

Du Meng let a smile slip. "Lu, you always sugarcoat your words—makes it hard not to love talking to you!"

Then he added, "A few days from now, Huiying Building is hosting a Lantern Festival. You wanna check it out?"

"What’s there to see at a lantern festival?" Lu Chang’sheng shook his head lightly.

Huiying’s Lantern Festival came quite a few days before the real one. The point was to draw in all those taking the Imperial Exam. If anyone passed, Huiying’s reputation would skyrocket.

The most famous story was when Xun Family’s Xunzi took first place, making Huiying a high-class venue almost overnight.

This earlier lantern festival was a tradition carried down ever since.

"Lu, you really should go. I mean, you’re unattached—who knows, you might catch the eye of some highborn lady. If so, you wouldn’t need to worry about paying for school at Jixia Academy ever again!"

Du Meng said.

Lu Chang’sheng shot him a glare, "Why do you sound like I’m not gonna pass this year?"

"Haha, all right, all right! Lu’s talent is unmatched—there’s no way your name won’t be on the Imperial Exam list!" Du Meng was just joking, but Lu Chang’sheng replied earnestly, "Du, you’ve got a sharp eye!"

Du Meng’s expression froze, then he sighed and shook his head.

I was just kidding, did you really have to take me seriously?

"Lu’s usually so modest and easygoing—how come at critical moments he loses all those virtues and turns razor-sharp?"

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