Chapter 183: Approaching the Divine (Part Five) (Bonus Chapter)
"Get up, don't sleep."
In her dream, someone was gently patting her shoulder.
Liu Sheng slowly lifted her head from the desk, letting out a big yawn.
"Get up! The Grand Divine Official told you to copy the divine book properly, and what did you do? Fell asleep while copying?"
Liu Sheng's head was still foggy when she was suddenly scolded.
She struggled to lift her heavy eyelids, and a thin female face appeared before Liu Sheng, with high cheekbones and two squinted eyes full of disdain.
She was dressed in simple, plain gray cloth.
"Mm, okay." Liu Sheng vaguely remembered having such a task and felt a bit embarrassed.
"Forget it, the Grand Divine Official is calling you." The woman seemed displeased, and Liu Sheng even detected a hint of jealousy. "Go find her first. Leave the scriptures for now; you can continue copying when you return."
With that, the woman hurried away.
She pinched her neck, looking at the woman's retreating back, feeling utterly bewildered.
Having slept with her face pressed against the desk, her cheek was numb and her neck was sore.
Just now, it felt like she had a very, very long dream, dreaming that she went to take some imperial Examination.
It was a truly strange world, one where cultivation existed and weird objects roamed.
Liu Sheng savored everything from her dream, chuckling to herself.
【Do you think it was a dream?】
Liu Sheng was startled, but looking around, she was the only one in the dim study.
The study was very simple, with a small window on the wall letting in a sliver of light. There were only two bookshelves, with a few books haphazardly placed on them, and many empty shelves.
In the center were a desk and a cushion.
This was where she had been sleeping.
On the table was an oil lamp, illuminating a thick, large book and a half-copied parchment.
The only living thing in here was herself.
Oh, and perhaps a family of mice scurrying between the bookshelves.
She almost instinctively wanted to ask who was speaking, but a strong premonition told her absolutely not to.
【Who are you?】
【You said it yourself, you are the only one alive. So, of course, I am you.】
Liu Sheng was utterly confused.
She pretended nothing was amiss, walked out of the study, and headed towards the Grand Divine Official's office, as she remembered it.
As she walked, she continued to converse with the presence in her mind.
【Let's go back to the beginning. Are you saying my dream wasn't a dream?】
【Think about it yourself, would a dream have so many details?】
At this moment, a solemn and sacred bell chime echoed from beyond the long corridor.
She paused, and Liu Sheng suddenly remembered that when she entered the Examination hall in her dream, there were also sounds, but not bells, rather some kind of...
【The sound of a jade chime.】
【I haven't seen one...】
【And then what? Think again.】
Then, Liu Sheng continued her steps along the long corridor.
She recalled walking down a corridor between rows of desks in her dream, along with many, many people.
Everyone was looking for their seats according to their Examination pass.
【What is an Examination pass?】
Liu Sheng was puzzled.
【Continue.】
Then, according to the 'Xuan' column and 'thirty-nine' number on the Examination pass, she found her desk and sat on the cushion beside it.
【This is a bit like the desk in the study just now.】
On the desk were brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone. She waited quietly for the Examination questions to be revealed.
But they had to wait for everyone to enter before starting, and it would take some time for thousands of people to enter the Examination hall simultaneously.
She looked up, and far ahead, where pearl curtains hung, were five indistinct figures.
Presumably, those were the examiners.
Liu Sheng could still smell the faint, lingering scent of incense in the Examination hall, which seemed to contain special ingredients that were quite calming.
Once everyone was seated, the officials stood around.
The pearl curtains stirred slightly, and a voice from within said, "The Jinghe Ninth Year Examination officially begins."
The voice was very old and vicissitudes of life, and Liu Sheng thought it must belong to an elder.
As soon as the words fell, the sound of the jade chime rang out again.
The incense grew stronger, and purple Qi swirled throughout the Examination hall, making people drowsy.
And then, Liu Sheng fell asleep...
【So, with so many details, do you still think it was a dream?】
This time, Liu Sheng didn't need a reminder; she was wide awake.
Her eyes instantly shifted from dazed to sharp.
【So, this Examination is an illusion.】
She thought with certainty.
【What kind of illusion it is, we'll find out later.】
At the end of the corridor was the Grand Divine Official's room.
...
"This examinee should be the quickest to awaken, right?"
Li Shangshu exclaimed, the change in his eyes a very clear signal.
"Yes, it's only been the time it takes to brew a cup of tea." Yan Xueshi also noticed.
At this moment, the jade box in front of them was open, and brilliant divine light poured out. Above it were thousands of mirages, covering the sky, displaying the performance of these examinees, who were now sleeping and dreaming at their desks, within the illusion.
Although there were many mirages, for those above the Dongxuan Realm, they could still keep track.
Currently, most examinees were still in the hazy stage of being awakened, not yet realizing they were in an Examination, but they were acting in an orderly fashion based on the memories the illusion had given them.
"This is the first time we're using this format. I wonder if they can adapt."
Hanshan Jun casually glanced at the examinee who had awakened fastest in the illusion. Seeing "Xuan thirty-nine, Liu Sheng" written in the bottom right corner of the mirage, he silently nodded.
"Whether they can adapt or not, this is His Majesty's will."
Mei Yuanzheng said lazily, leaning back and looking upwards.
The roof blocked his view, so he couldn't see anything.
But he knew that presence was also looking down.
...
"This is not only my will."
"It is also the will of the gods."
A middle-aged man, sitting upright on the imperial couch, said.
He wore a golden Dragon robe, a golden silk and jade crown on his head, and in his hands, he rapidly twirled two smooth, lustrous jade beads, gazing intently and seriously at the wide expanse of thousands of mirages before him.
To the left of the imperial couch sat a fair-skinned, beautiful, and graceful middle-aged woman, dressed in a crimson-red, gold-embroidered long skirt and wearing a red coral and gold peacock imperial crown. From the Dragon patterns embroidered on her clothes, it was clear she was of the royal family, just like the middle-aged man.
She was currently facing the tea table, her fair neck bowed, meticulously brewing tea. Occasionally, she would glance at the mirages, seemingly not very interested.
"Imperial Brother's painstaking efforts, I believe the people of the world will eventually understand."
The Emperor knew his sister's words were just casual comfort and smiled bitterly, shaking his head: "You, you don't worry about anything."
"Imperial Brother worries enough. As a mere woman, why should I think so much?"
"Then aren't you worried about your..."
"No need to worry. With over a hundred spiritual points, the existence closest to a god, is there still a need to worry?" The woman smiled gently, with no fine lines around her eyes, her demeanor still like that of a young girl.
"Haha, indeed." The Emperor laughed heartily.
Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and he let out a soft "Eh?"
"What is it? Did you see someone interesting?" the woman asked, still lowering her head to pour tea.
"Indeed interesting." The Emperor's gaze was fixed on one of the mirages, and he said casually, "She has already awakened, but Xuanning hasn't yet. How interesting."
Hearing this, the woman's slender, fair hand, pouring tea, trembled slightly, spilling a few drops onto the rim of the teacup.
"Really?" She smiled faintly, gently wiping away the tea stains with a handkerchief, and looked up.
Thank you all for casting your monthly votes at the beginning of the month during the double points event! I am extremely grateful!
This is a bonus chapter. I wish everyone a happy May Fourth Youth Day and hope you can all be good youths!