"Could it be that my Soul Refining Sect will never rise again? That there is no chance for it to continue …" The middle-aged man seemed to have gone crazy as he let out a sad laugh. However, just at this moment, his expression suddenly changed and he turned his head to look into the distance.
"Eh?!" His eyes narrowed as his hands formed a seal and he began to calculate like crazy.
"This is … This … This is …" The middle-aged man's expression rapidly changed. In this short period of time, he had consumed a large amount of his life force to calculate nine times, but the result was the same!
This was a conclusion that he couldn't believe, and it was even somewhat absurd!
While pondering, his body flickered and disappeared without a trace. He had used a teleportation technique to head toward the country of Zhao.
In a county in the country of Zhao, the world was quiet. The only sound was Wang Lin, who was standing in front of the window on the second floor of an inn. His voice was faintly echoing.
"Karma, what is … Karma …" The night slowly passed. Wang Lin had returned to the table at an unknown time. He stared at the extinguished candlestick in a daze. The voice that had existed in his mind continued to echo and gradually replaced everything else.
He had forgotten to close the window. At this moment, there was no wind or rain.
As the sky brightened and the sun rose, light covered the earth. The people who woke up early were pleasantly surprised to find that the dark clouds that had covered the sky for half a month had all disappeared.
The bright sky was cloudless. The gentle sunlight shined on people's bodies, causing their rusty bodies to be filled with vitality.
It seemed like this year's summer had come a bit earlier and the rainy season had left a bit earlier.
Big Fortune also woke up. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the sky outside the window. He immediately smiled and pointed outside the window with pride as he shouted at Wang Lin, "I had a dream last night.
In the dream, I pointed my finger and the Thunder dissipated. Haha, I'm still the best. Hmph, it looks like I'm not an ordinary person. Ah, what a pity, what a pity. "
Wang Lin's thoughts slowly disappeared as the sky brightened. He hadn't slept all night, but he didn't feel tired at all. However, there was a faint pain between his eyebrows.
He rubbed the space between his eyebrows and glanced at Big Fortune. When he saw the smile on Big Fortune's face, he felt happy.
"You're amazing. You were the one who dreamt of the Heavenly Court and made the thunderstorm disappear. Is that enough?"
Big Fortune was quite excited and proud.
Time passed quickly, and the county's Imperial Examination would be held in five days. The scholars who had rushed here waited nervously for five days. On the morning of the sixth day, under the bright and sunny sky, they walked out of their respective inns and headed towards the various exam venues in the county.
During these five days, apart from going to the county yamen to deliver the exam invitation and arranging for the exam venue, Wang Lin barely left the inn. Instead, he seized all the time he had to study and make the final preparations. He was also very nervous. If he could perform well in this exam, he could continue.
However, if they failed, they would have to start all over again. They would have no choice but to return to the village and wait for the next imperial examination a few years later.
Wang Lin didn't want to fail. He couldn't bear to see the gloomy looks in his parents' eyes. He also didn't want his failure to cause his parents to feel the seemingly comforting but actually mocking gazes from their arrogant relatives.
During these five days, Big Fortune was extremely stifled. He was a very active person, so while Wang Lin was studying, he would go out by himself and wander around the county. Gradually, he got to know a few people and learned to be even more stingy.
On the sixth day, Wang Lin took a bath and burned incense. After changing into a white scholar's robe, he took a deep breath and left the inn with Big Fortune, who was carrying a bamboo backpack. They headed towards the exam venue.
He was going to the third exam venue on the west side of the county. Along the way, the streets were very lively, and there were many early morning stalls on both sides of the street. The hawkers had already set up their stalls so that the scholars heading to the exam could buy some food from them.
At a glance, there were many scholars heading to the exam venue. They all seemed to be in a hurry, either worried or nervous. Even when they were eating, they would quickly leave after a few bites.
Wang Lin took a few deep breaths and slowly calmed himself down. After eating a few buns, he and Big Fortune arrived outside the exam venue. There were many people there, but there was no noise. Most of them were resting with their eyes closed, recalling the books they had read.
Two officials wearing embroidered robes were coldly looking at the candidates. Because of their presence, a heavy atmosphere gradually filled the air. Wang Lin stood there calmly, looking at the sky above the exam venue. His mind slowly calmed down.
Big Fortune, who was behind him, looked around. However, as he looked around, his expression became gloomy. He saw that the other attendants were all quite young. In comparison, he seemed to be out of place.
After muttering a few words, Big Fortune took out a steamed bun and fiercely took a few bites.
Not long after, it was time for the exam. The sound of the bell seemed to be coming from afar. The sound echoed throughout the entire county, revealing a heavy feeling.
The moment the bell rang, the scholars opened their eyes one by one. Their expressions were solemn, and the nervousness that they felt reappeared.
"Enter the examination hall!
If you have any copies, take them out yourself. If you are discovered, you will be disqualified, "one of the brocade-robed officials said slowly.
As these scholars entered the examination hall one by one, almost every one of them would be searched. After confirming that they did not have any notes, they were allowed to enter.
When it came to Wang Lin, it was the same. After inspecting the bamboo suitcase and other items, he was allowed to enter.
Dafu waved at Wang Lin from outside and shouted.
Even if the people around him frowned in disgust, he didn't care.
A smile appeared on Wang Lin's face. He waved at Dafu and turned to enter.
After finding the seat with his name written on it, Wang Lin calmly sat down. Under the watchful eyes of the examination hall's supervisor, all the examinees who sat down opened the rice paper on the table and focused their minds.
Not long after the supervisor took out the examination paper that was sealed with wax, the sound of rustling writing echoed.
Wang Lin calmly ground the ink and looked at the rice paper in front of him. However, he didn't write for a long time. The time for the exam was a whole day. It was very loose, leaving enough time for people to think.
Slowly, the scholars who were in deep thought like Wang Lin also began to think. One by one, they began to write. In the end, only Wang Lin was left in the examination hall, still thinking.
The topic of the exam was a painting. The painting was very simple. There was only a mountain, and on the mountain was a tall tree. There seemed to be wind in the sky, and the tree seemed to be swaying.
At the foot of the mountain, there seemed to be a house of a family guarding the mountain.
The meaning of this painting was very clear. It was talking about the four words "pillars of the country."
Almost all the examinees could see that the essays they wrote revolved around these four words.
However, when Wang Lin saw the painting, the voice that echoed in his mind five days ago appeared again.
"Cause and effect … What is … cause and effect …"
Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was noon. Some people had already finished their essays and were holding the rice paper to dry the ink. They revealed a happy expression and shook their heads as they began to recite in their hearts.
Only Wang Lin silently sat there with confusion in his eyes. He still hadn't written anything. This kind of thing was rare, and the supervisors couldn't help but look at Wang Lin a few more times.
Gradually, people began to leave the exam room. Some were proud, some were disappointed. After leaving, they were accompanied by their attendants, and some were alone.
The sun gradually set, and the exam room grew dark. There wasn't much time left. There was less than an hour left. Other than Wang Lin, the last scholar let out a long sigh and stood up. Before leaving, he looked at Wang Lin, shook his head, and left.
One of the supervisors frowned and walked up to Wang Lin. "If you can't write it, then hurry up and leave. Don't waste time." He rapped his right hand on the table.
Wang Lin didn't look up. He closed his eyes, and after the space of a few breaths, his eyes snapped open. He licked the ink off his right hand and dipped it into his brush. His eyes shone brightly, and he began to write on the rice paper.
"What is Karma? If I look for a house, but there is no wood on this mountain, I plant a tree. At the beginning, I pluck the branches. At the middle, I pluck the wood. At the end, I pluck the roots …" Wang Lin seemed to have forgotten everything around him. The ancient voice echoed in his mind, and the picture he had seen in the morning appeared in his mind. He continued to write down his thoughts and questions.
"Eh?" The supervisor standing next to Wang Lin glanced at him and was startled. He began to read more carefully.
Even the other supervisors in the distance were attracted by the soft sound of surprise. They all walked over to take a look, and one of them sneered and left with a flick of his sleeve.
Not long after, the others also shook their heads and left.
"… What is Karma? Planting a tree is the cause, and taking a tree is the effect … If the house is made of wood, then it is also a form of Karma …"
Wang Lin put down the brush and took a deep look. The light in his eyes disappeared and was replaced with confusion. He sighed and clasped his hands at the old supervisor, who was still standing behind him. He packed up his bamboo raft and walked out of the examination room.
After he left, the old supervisor picked up Wang Lin's brush, ink, and rice paper and carefully looked at it again. His eyes were in a trance as if he had gained some enlightenment. He remembered Wang Lin's name on the test paper.
The old supervisor pondered for a long time before he picked up the brush and drew a circle around Wang Lin's name. "This level of thinking about Karma actually appeared in a young man. This person might not be able to become a pillar of the Imperial Court, but he will be able to dominate a generation of scholars!"
Wang Lin walked out of the examination room and immediately saw Big Fortune leaning against a tree. He had been waiting all day and was sleeping soundly. Wang Lin smiled and walked next to Big Fortune. Just as he was about to wake him up, the sky suddenly darkened and a gust of wind blew. Ghostly cries echoed as a black wind descended from the sky and surrounded Wang Lin and Big Fortune. It seemed to separate them from the city.
A middle-aged man wearing a black robe walked out of the black wind. A cold aura surrounded his body, and he looked at Wang Lin with suspicion.
"The Old Man won't hurt you, you only need to answer one question."
He was the Soul Refining Sect's senior brother, Dun Tian!
Almost all of the examinees in this county had been found by him in the past few days. Everyone had been asked the same question, and in the end, he had erased their memories of this matter. In his disappointment, he had searched for the next person.