Feng Yuanbai asked Chen Xu:

"Wang Ji was nearly castrated in the dungeon. Upon hearing this, did you first suspect who might be behind this incident?"

"I would guess it's the Wei Family."

"Exactly, most people would first suspect the Wei Family, and I too suspected them. But if you think deeper..." Feng Yuanbai paused slightly.

"The Wei Family might not necessarily have that capability?"

"Perhaps they do, perhaps they don't. The world is full of unexpected events, who knows?" Feng Yuanbai said, "However, things are getting more chaotic, and I fear there might be another hand behind this, taking advantage of the situation."

Chen Xu understood the implication and immediately said, "You mean, I might also become a pawn in this scheme?"

"Yes. I can't come over for the next few nights. Stay at the inn, study hard, be mindful of your meals, and don't go out casually.

If you need anything, consult your Master. We'll discuss everything after the two examinations are over.

Wang Xian is a conservative person who carefully weighs pros and cons. Though it's unlikely he'll act against you, the current situation may lead others to frame him."

Chen Xu understood and responded solemnly.

Actually, even without Feng Yuanbai's reminder, he wouldn't have gone out casually.

Before leaving, Feng Yuanbai praised him, "Your poem 'Ten Steps Kill One', a thousand miles with no trace, is truly excellent."

Feng Mingfu came in the night and left quietly.

When the winds of change were stirring in Yunjiang Prefecture, Chen Xu checked his Food Cauldron Celestial Book and noticed that his total praise count had increased by over three thousand in just the past few days.

The Fireworks Value, which had been nearly depleted due to frequent visits to the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, was once again replenished.

The Attribute Points were both consumed and increased; aided by the Primordial Qi Jade Dew, Chen Xu's cultivation improved rapidly, and in a day or two, he would surely break through to the mid-stage of the Meridian Passage Realm.

[Cumulative Likes: 9505]

[Free Attribute Points: 75]

[Fireworks Value: 3276]

[Cultivation: Early Stage of Meridian Passage Realm 95%]

Currently, it was the fifth of April, and tomorrow would be the start of the Prefecture Examination.

At night, Wu Zhengze called all the students of the County School together, giving them a brief reminder, mainly urging everyone to double-check the items they would bring into the exam hall.

He then said, "Do not study tonight. Rest well and be full of energy for the exam tomorrow."

"Yes, Master." Everyone responded.

Chen Xu also decided to rest well that night, not even entering the Fire and Smoke Kitchen, and planned to sleep peacefully.

For a peaceful sleep, Chen Xu even released his Mud Ball Daoist Soldier to stand guard by his bedside like a protector.

In the middle of the night, however, Chen Xu was suddenly awakened by a sensation of warmth.

It was a sudden alert; Chen Xu leapt up, almost blurting out: "Oh no, there's a fire!"

But upon opening his eyes, there was no fire to be seen.

Outside the window, the faint light of stars and moon made the surroundings even more tranquil.

Chen Xu walked to the window to look out, but couldn't see anything amiss. Yet his Divine Thought extended faintly, following a peculiar sense, suddenly reaching a room ten zhang (about 33 meters) away!

It was a room on the first floor of the inn. Theoretically, Chen Xu could only sense within five zhang (about 17 meters), so he shouldn't be able to sense that room.

But at this moment, Chen Xu could sense it.

It turned out that a lamp had been overturned by the table leg in that room, starting a fire!

When a certain special energy fluctuation was nearby, Chen Xu's unilateral sensing range could actually double.

He had an insight, instinctively wanting to shout loudly and wake everyone to put out the fire.

But on second thought, everyone had to take the exam tomorrow. Waking them now would surely affect their exam performance.

Chen Xu swallowed his shout, while his Heart and Spirit reached out to connect with the universe, extending his Divine Thought as far as possible.

Within him, the Innate Qi circulated rapidly, and every subtle atmospheric change in the small world within his mind entered his perception.

Chen Xu suddenly realized that he should now be able to control all the flames within his sensing range.

If he wanted them to grow, they would grow. If he wanted them to shrink, they would shrink.

Fire—

Extinguish!

With a breath, the flame by the table leg, under Chen Xu's mental command, swayed slightly and was extinguished.

No one was disturbed, not even Master Wu in the next room seemed to notice.

With relief, Chen Xu felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

The Innate Qi within his body flowed through the Twelve Main Meridians, faintly beginning to move towards the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

This is the Meridian Passage Realm!

Chen Xu felt as if he could float, and if he were to jump from the second floor, a breeze would surely lift him.

[Cultivation: Early Stage of Meridian Passage Realm 95%]

Although he had not yet crossed into the mid-stage, every small step within a realm brought noticeable strength growth.

Having extinguished the fire, Chen Xu slept peacefully for the rest of the night.

Upon waking the next day, he felt refreshed.

With the first light of dawn, Chen Xu, along with everyone else, took a carriage and safely arrived outside the exam hall.

The roads were crowded with people, the air filled with mixed energies, so Chen Xu didn't notice that twenty zhang (about 67 meters) away on the street by, Cui Fu, posing as a passerby, was reporting to Cui Yunqi:

"Master, Master Chen has entered the exam hall smoothly. You can rest assured now."

Cui Yunqi had been even more worried than Chen Xu himself that he might not be able to enter the exam hall.

Releasing a long sigh, Cui Yunqi murmured a prayer, "Brother Chen, you must top the exam again.

County Exam top, Prefecture Exam top, Imperial Exam top, first achieve the small three elements, then accomplish the big three elements.

You would be an unparalleled genius through history, the second person to achieve all six top ranks!"

To be bested by such a genius, Cui Yunqi felt his life would not be in vain.

At this moment, anyone who dared to hinder Chen Xu's exam was hindering Cui Yunqi's path.

To block one's path is an unforgivable enmity!

Cui Yunqi, with a sharp gaze, instructed the guards to scatter and vigilantly watch the streets, ensuring no "accidents" could occur.

At this moment, after a period of waiting, Chen Xu finally passed the exam verification.

Holding his exam basket, Chen Xu stepped into the Imperial Examination Hall.

The various noises outside the hall were completely shut off by the four surrounding walls. Stepping into the hall felt like entering another world.

The patrolling soldiers stood in strict formation, and a minor official led the way upfront. Chen Xu quickly found his assigned room.

He wasn't far from his classmate Xu Wenyuan. Their rooms were just in adjacent rows, three rooms apart, allowing them to catch sight of each other diagonally.

Originally full of nervousness, Xu Wenyuan relaxed upon seeing Chen Xu not far away.

The two couldn't speak, but exchanged a distant greeting with their eyes.

Nearby, a student seemed to have also met an acquaintance, uttering only, "Brother Zhou, you're also here..."

But was interrupted by a patrolling soldier, "Silence! Silence! No talking, no noise, speak again and you'll be marked!"

All chatter ceased instantly. Chen Xu saw another familiar figure in a nearby aisle, it was Chang Song.

Chang Song raised his hand intending to speak, but upon hearing the soldier's harsh command, he quickly retracted back into his room, not daring to reveal even a shadow.

Dong, dong, dong—

Suddenly, three long bells rang.

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