Chapter 184 Approaching the Divine (Part Six)
Liu Sheng had originally thought that as the Grand Divine Official, she would have a better office environment.
She didn't expect it to be luxurious.
After all, given the dusty cloth robes worn by her and the middle-aged Dawn Priest, and the rustic, old-fashioned study and corridor they had just seen, it couldn't possibly be that luxurious.
However, the room Liu Sheng was currently in was as small, simple, and dim as the study she had just left, and there was a strong, persistent smell of rheumatic ointment due to the lack of ventilation.
"Grand Divine Official, I heard you wished to give me instructions?" Liu Sheng respectfully clasped her fist to her left chest, as she recalled, and bowed to the old man in front of her, who was also dressed in a gray robe.
The old man had shakily gotten up and moved for a long time to open the door for Liu Sheng, and now he was trembling as he moved his legs back behind the desk, slowly sitting down with his hands pressed on the desktop.
He was about to speak when a burst of Qi escaped from his throat, causing him to cough repeatedly. He could only manage to say to Liu Sheng: "Cough, cough, wait."
According to the memories implanted in Liu Sheng's mind by this illusion, this frail and aged old man was the Grand Divine Official, her current Manager.
"Dawn mentioned you've been copying the divine book recently, so I assume you've studied it thoroughly," the Grand Divine Official said, having suppressed her cough.
When Liu Sheng heard "Dawn," she almost didn't realize who that was, then remembered it was the name of the middle-aged Dawn Priest she had just met.
That Dawn Priest was both her colleague and her current mentor.
And Liu Sheng was a trainee divine official at the lowest level, having just been assigned from the temple, arranged by her mentor to copy the divine book.
Therefore, when the Grand Divine Official said that, Liu Sheng could only manage to reply: "Yes, I'm quite familiar with it."
"Then I'll ask you a question to see if you are truly familiar," the Grand Divine Official said, a smile on her gentle and kind face, looking at Liu Sheng with anticipation. "Are you ready?"
Ah? Ready for what?
Liu Sheng's expression remained calm on the surface, but inwardly, she was panicking.
【But I didn't read that divine book just now!】
【Did any of you read it?】
【If one person didn't read it, then no one read it.】
【Miscalculation, miscalculation!】
【Mainly, I hadn't regained my senses when I woke up and was completely led by the nose.】
But she wasn't the only one panicking.
In all the illusions, things had progressed to this point, and almost all the candidates were caught off guard by the question.
Except for those who had prepared in advance.
For example, Wen Xuanning, who happened to memorize the entire divine book just before leaving.
And Chu Shudu, who was a bookworm with an obsessive reading habit, so he couldn't help but devour the entire book as soon as he saw it on the table.
If his mentor hadn't returned to urge him to follow the procedure, he probably would have read everything on the bookshelf.
Outside the illusion, pairs of eyes watched, anticipating how the candidates inside would respond.
...
【Don't worry, I'll help you.】 The world's cold voice arrived as expected.
【You've read the divine book?】
【Yes, in that 'Work Log,' there's a complete version available for download in the latest patch notes.】
【What exactly is that thing?】
【You can understand it as the Supreme God's operational maintenance status.】
【You mean...】 Liu Sheng was terrified by the implications.
【Yes, it's just as you imagine.】 The world did not deny it.
All the Liu Shengs simultaneously gasped. The world behind this was probably beyond her imagination.
But now was not the time for shock, because the Grand Divine Official was still waiting for her response.
"Divine Official Liu, are you ready?" The Grand Divine Official's expression hadn't changed at all, maintaining the same smiling curve as she asked again.
Liu Sheng nodded: "I'm ready."
Since the world said there was a complete version, she figured she should be able to answer.
"Good."
"What is the Supreme God?" the Grand Divine Official asked.
Right from the start, it was a profound question.
Liu Sheng seemed to ponder for a long while before cautiously and slowly beginning to speak: "The divine book does not explicitly define the Supreme God, because the Supreme God cannot be observed, cannot be described, and cannot be defined. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and eternal, creating the heavens and earth we depend on for survival, and bestowing upon us the spiritual essence to communicate with the heavens, allowing us to find salvation from the manifestation of sin. Supreme Will, Supreme Power, Supreme Dimension, all we can do is call, listen, and follow, ultimately achieving unity."
After all, to outsiders, she hadn't read the book, so Liu Sheng didn't want to answer exactly the same way, so she made a slight adjustment.
As a result, the Grand Divine Official was very satisfied with this.
Her answer met the standard, yet it wasn't a direct copy from the book, clearly showing her own Comprehension Ability.
And the examiners outside the illusion were also very surprised.
In this segment, most people failed to answer the question.
Some were more rational, directly admitting they hadn't studied enough and lacked confidence, choosing to temporarily abandon this part and go back to read the book.
However, those candidates who accepted the Q&A session, hoping to take a chance, but failed to answer, would face the Grand Divine Official's wrath.
Not only that, the Grand Divine Official would also summon the Dawn Priest, scolding her for not teaching well, and then the Dawn Priest's face would grow increasingly sour, with more and more dissatisfaction accumulating in her heart...
In this round, only three people could answer: Wen Xuanning, Chu Shudu, and Liu Sheng.
Wen Xuanning's and Chu Shudu's answers were quick and accurate, without even a moment's thought, completely recited from memory, consistent with the divine book.
At the time, Li Shangshu even praised: "Your Majesty bestowed the divine book upon me five days ago, but I confess I have not yet memorized it completely."
Mei Yuanzheng and Yan Xueshi had just received the divine book borrowed from Li Shangshu and Hanshan Jun, and they were feeling resentful.
"Since this is part of the exam content, why didn't Li Shangshu produce it earlier for us to see?" Yan Xueshi asked coldly.
"This was bestowed by Your Majesty. Without Your Majesty's permission, how dare I lend it out haphazardly? What if it caused the exam questions to be leaked?" Li Shangshu smiled warmly, deftly pushing the blame onto an entity no one dared to criticize.
"Let's continue watching," Mei Yuanzheng seemed to have inexplicably lost the will to contend with Li Shangshu, watching the mirage with a calm expression.
What Mei Yuanzheng said was correct, because next came Liu Sheng's thoughtful answer.
After hearing Liu Sheng's words, a single thought suddenly flashed through everyone's minds simultaneously.
...
"This girl might be a born Divine Communicator."
In the imperial palace, the Emperor said, frowning as he looked at the mirage.
Next to him, the Princess, whose jade fingers were stained with balsam, picked up a grape and put it into her mouth, asking casually: "How can you tell?"
"She hasn't even read the divine book, yet she can articulate such an understanding. She can only be a born Divine Communicator, able to subtly receive the content of the divine book through Divine Communication."
He didn't know what he was thinking, but he picked up the list of candidates for this examination, sent by the Ministry of Rites, and began flipping through it by seat number.
It wasn't until he reached the line for "xuan thirty-nine" that he slammed the book down in shock, muttering: "How is this possible? How is this possible?"
The Princess hadn't seen her imperial brother so flustered in a long time, and she asked, both confused and curious: "What's wrong?"
"Take a look, thirty-ninth xuan candidate."
The book was handed to the Princess.
The Princess's gaze fell directly on the line the Emperor had mentioned.
Upon seeing it, her originally unruffled pupils suddenly constricted.
【xuan thirty-nine, Liu Sheng, from Little Green Garden, eighteen years old, graduated from Hanshan Academy, Spiritual Essence eight, Resilience ninety-five, Comprehension Ability ninety-two, currently Initial Realm sixth-tier.】