Minor Schemes (Please support and bookmark!)

"This... this is impossible!" Teng Zhi's face changed dramatically, his voice trembling. "The highest score is only two hundred and sixteen. How could you possibly surpass three hundred?!"

Fang Liuxian frowned. "Who told you that's the full score?"

Teng Zhi replied, "I need to collect one hundred and eight golden leaves in the forest, each leaf worth two points. That adds up to two hundred and sixteen, doesn't it?"

Fang Liuxian asked, displeased, "Didn't you hear about the time bonus when you entered?"

Teng Zhi paused. "Of course there was... but the time was so tight, how could anyone finish ahead of schedule?"

Fang Liuxian grew even more dissatisfied. "Just because you can't, doesn't mean others can't!"

Earlier, all the students of Ancient Vine Martial Hall had entered the exam grounds, leaving only the martial instructor outside. He had been watching coldly from the sidelines, and now he stepped forward, interjecting, "I have something I'd like to ask the examiners."

Fang Liuxian glanced at him icily, while Qu Chun, more amiable, said, "Please speak."

The instructor asked, "Each question in the earth trial is different. How can you ensure the difficulty is equal for all candidates? If you can't, isn't that... rather unfair?"

This year, the exam system had changed. The grand exam was preceded by a ritual, drawing power from the heavens to ensure fairness and justice. The two examiners had been sent here mainly to supervise the exam, preventing any injustice.

Now, the instructor's question, combined with Fang Liuxian's earlier attempt to recruit a disciple, was clearly an accusation of favoritism!

Both examiners' expressions turned cold. Fang Liuxian asked coolly, "May I ask what you mean by that?"

The instructor waved his hands nervously. "I wouldn't dare mean anything! I'm just curious, that's all."

Qu Chun pointed at the Door of Faulty Drawings. "Do you know what that is?"

The instructor ventured, "The Door of Faulty Drawings? A county-level treasure?"

Qu Chun barked, "Since you know, what is there left to say? The Door of Faulty Drawings was crafted by Master Fang specifically for the county exam earth trial. All its standards have been calibrated by the academy..."

Fang Liuxian cut him off with a wave, speaking coolly, "If you feel there's any unfairness, you can appeal to higher authorities. After all, you are not without connections..."

He gave a contemptuous smile and turned away, clearly unwilling to engage further.

The instructor gritted his teeth. "I... I will definitely appeal!"

Qu Chun waved a hand. "Next round of candidates, listen for your names!"

The two examiners ignored him, leaving the instructor's face alternating between pale and flushed. He stepped back, grabbing Teng Zhi. "Listen up, you lot!"

He embellished the account of Fang Liuxian personally observing Jiang Feng's exam and Jiang Feng's performance afterwards, adding, "Find a way to spread this to the other candidates! Hmph, examiners or not, they're not above oversight!"

Teng Zhi frowned. "Did Examiner Fang really say that?"

The instructor nodded. Teng Zhi muttered, "Examiner Qu's words implied the Door of Faulty Drawings was crafted by Examiner Fang for the county exam. That means Examiner Fang is a treasure craftsman?"

At this, the instructor's eyes widened, his mouth twitching as if struck by a toothache. Only now did he recall Qu Chun had indeed said so.

"A treasure craftsman... Well, never mind, let's leave it at that for now. Don't take any action yet!"

A treasure craftsman, wanting to take that Jiang as a disciple?

Teng Zhi lifted his gaze toward Jiang Feng, his expression growing darker.

...

At this moment, two groups remained to take the earth trial, while those who had finished relaxed somewhat.

Ping Luan Shan grabbed Jiang Feng, shouting excitedly, "Three hundred points?! Did I see that right? How did you manage it?"

Jiang Feng smiled. "Don't talk about me, your scores aren't low either."

Ping Luan Shan, Hong Cheng, and the others all had scores around one hundred eighty or ninety—a rare, impressive achievement. Especially Wang Erhu and Xiang Sheng, whose scores hadn't stood out after the sky trial, now had surged forward, nearly breaking into the top ten!

The three laughed until their faces ached. With such results, as long as their performance in the human trial was steady, they'd pass the county exam and become martial cultivators!

For five to achieve high scores at once was no coincidence.

Jiang Feng aside, Ping Luan Shan and the other four had deeply felt the benefits of Hua Su's messy training methods during the exam. Each method Hua Su devised trained their sensitivity and control over Ming Force, abilities that were crucial in the earth trial. As long as the power from heaven ensured fairness, their scores couldn't be low!

Ping Luan Shan scratched his head, embarrassed. "When we get back, I'll cook a grand meal for Teacher Hua..." He slapped Hong Cheng's shoulder. "When the time comes, we'll feast together, not stopping until we're drunk!"

Hong Cheng laughed heartily. "Excellent! We'll take turns treating, three days of feasting!"

Their joy naturally drew some resentment.

Ancient Vine Martial Hall had ten candidates. Now that Ping Luan Shan's group had risen in scores, several Ancient Vine members would be pushed out of the top ten. They hadn't come just to pass and earn martialist status—their goal was the provincial exam!

Several Ancient Vine members exchanged glances, and two deliberately walked aside to ask the exam guards, "Brother, we're a bit thirsty. Is there any water?"

The guard nodded, called out, and had a cart brought in, carrying two barrels filled with water and stacks of bowls.

The exam had now lasted over three hours, and many candidates were already thirsty. They rushed over, grabbing bowls and guzzling water.

Ping Luan Shan looked on, tempted. "Old Jiang, want a bowl?"

Jiang Feng shook his head. "Better to let things be. If you can endure, endure."

Ping Luan Shan thought it over and nodded. "Alright, I’ll hold out!"

Jiang Feng’s words were few but carried weight. Without noticing, Hong Cheng and the others followed his lead. Since he said to endure, not one from Yuanshan Martial Hall approached the water barrels.

This made some anxious.

After a while, a candidate carrying a bowl approached them, smiling. "Brother Jiang, your score today is astonishing. I offer this bowl in your honor, tea in place of wine!"

His smile was warm. Jiang Feng took the bowl and asked, "May I know your name?"

The man laughed. "I’m from Xitou Town, named Jin Gu. My score isn’t great—if I don’t pass, I’ll try again next year!"

He ranked twenty-fifth—not as impressive as Jiang Feng, but still with a chance of passing the county exam.

Jiang Feng nodded, sniffing the cool tea. "Brother Jin..."

Jin Gu looked a bit nervous, forcing himself to appear unconcerned. He smiled. "The county office's tea is quite decent, very refreshing!"

Jiang Feng replied, "Unfortunately, I don't care much for this sort of tea. You’d better enjoy it yourself."

Suddenly, he stepped forward like an arrow, grabbing Jin Gu and prying open his jaw with one hand, about to force the tea down his throat!

Jin Gu's face changed drastically; he struggled desperately, but Jiang Feng's grip was like iron, forcing his mouth wide as the warm tea was poured in!

"Bang!" A surge of golden light flowed along Jin Gu's arm, abruptly empowering him to shove Jiang Feng away. He had used Ming Force!

He barely had time to curse, clutching his throat and digging into it. After a couple of attempts, he retched violently.

At once, everyone realized the tea was tainted. The crowd by the cart dropped their bowls, staring in shock and confusion.

Jiang Feng sidestepped his vomit, remarking coolly, "The county office's tea is quite decent. Why so disdainful, Brother Jin?"

Jin Gu looked up at Jiang Feng, humiliated. "You—you noticed!"

Jiang Feng replied calmly, "Noticed what?"

Two guards strode over, seizing Jin Gu and demanding, "What happened?"

Ping Luan Shan, who had snatched up a tea bowl earlier, hurriedly handed it over. "This tea seems off!"

One guard tasted it, his face darkening. "You dared drug the tea!"

Jin Gu's face grew even more ashen. He suddenly hunched down, muttering, "I... I need the restroom!"

His stomach gave a loud rumble. Qu Chun walked over, frowning. "Take him away. Check all the tea here—everyone stop drinking!"

No one needed telling; not a soul would touch the tea. Yet a few muttered, "I... my stomach's not feeling right either..."

Qu Chun's brows knit tightly. He would never let a solemn exam become a farce. He looked to Fang Liuxian, who nodded and sighed, "Seal the marks."

Qu Chun drew a token from his robe, raising it high. "By order, release the seal!"

All candidates' foreheads glowed as the Heaven-Connecting Mark emerged, shooting beams toward Qu Chun's token. The token shone with pale white light, which traveled back along the beams, dispersing into their bodies.

The candidates all felt a rush of clarity and relief, any discomfort vanishing, whether it belonged or not.

The white light lasted several breaths before fading. Qu Chun, pale, bowed to Fang Liuxian. "Master Fang, please take over."

Fang Liuxian called out, "Examiner Qu has used his own Ming Force to purge the poison from you all. You must keep this gratitude in your hearts!"

Martial cultivators, armed with Ming Force, had far greater tolerance to drugs than ordinary folk. For this purgative to affect them so strongly, it must be extremely potent. Qu Chun had used his own Ming Force in tandem with the Heaven-Connecting Mark to dispel it, expending tremendous energy. Fortunately, he acted swiftly, quelling the crisis before it could erupt.

"Tch!" Someone whispered in the crowd, "That fellow is cunning, so cautious!"

Teng Zhi suddenly spun around, glaring at the man behind him. "Was it you who put him up to this?"

The man was one of Ancient Vine Martial Hall's candidates. He smirked, "Jin Gu is my townsman, and quite gullible—one word and he acted. Pity we didn't get that Jiang fellow!"

Teng Zhi clenched his fists, barely restraining the urge to slap him. He hissed, "The grand exam should be won by skill. Resorting to such trickery, how are you any different from those corrupt nobles?"

The man glanced at him oddly. "If we don't use 'tricks' like this, we'll lose! Teng Zhi, do you want to crawl all the way back to Water Curtain Town?"