Making the List Calls for Celebration, Leave a Gap in the Encirclement

"First place in the Dao Examination? The results have been released?"

The neighbors looked at each other in bewilderment upon hearing this.

A neighbor asked hesitantly, "Does Dao Examination first place in the imperial examination mean you've passed?"

The messenger immediately replied, "Of course! The top Dao Examination is the top scholar in our Yuanning Prefecture! If no one can pass, then no one can!"

Upon hearing this, the neighbors all gasped in astonishment. "The top scholar in Yuanning Prefecture! Does that mean Qiu Sheng passed the imperial examination and became Xiucai?"

"More than just Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). I've never heard of anyone who topped the list failing to become a Juren (a scholar who passed the highest level of the imperial examinations). Master Qiu is currently at the top, and in a few months, he'll be a Juren!"

"Sir, you are a scholar who has passed the imperial examination!"

Upon hearing this, the neighbors were completely stunned.

"Head Liu's about to strike it rich! With a scholar as his son, things are really going to get interesting!"

At this moment, their contempt, disdain, and ridicule of the Liu Household vanished, replaced by lingering fear and dread. Thinking of their own faces when they moved out of Old Liu Household, and the cold words they had heard these past two days, they couldn't help but feel that disaster was imminent. One by one, they hurriedly returned home to hide and escape.

The person delivering the good news naturally paid no attention to the neighbors' reactions and continued to make a scene outside the Liu Household's house.

With such a commotion, Qiu Yan couldn't possibly have missed it. He calmly got up, tidied his appearance, and opened the courtyard gate. He knew the results would be released today, so he wasn't surprised.

"Master Qiu! Congratulations! Congratulations on passing the imperial examination!"

"The Qiu case is handled by a highly talented individual!"

"Young Master Qiu, Literary Star descended to earth!"

The courtyard gate opened, and everyone offered their congratulations. Qiu Yan then took out some copper coins and distributed them to them, and they were all overjoyed.

"I didn't expect that Kong, the Academic Commissioner would be so generous, directly appointing me as the top scholar. That's good, it will enhance my reputation and help me build up my People's Prestige..." Qiu Yan was still thinking when a few tugging interrupted his thoughts.

"Master Qiu, do you need any help? We'd like to serve you..." The men pulling him pretended to kneel, wanting to register under Qiu Yan's name and become his servants.

Now that Qiu Yan has passed the Dao Examination, he is Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination). According to the Great Rui Code, Xiucai can receive a monthly stipend and tax reductions. Even his servants can benefit from this. Idle people are most happy about this and often take the opportunity to find a newly promoted Xiucai to attach themselves to for convenience.

Qiu Yan was aware of these things and naturally wouldn't invite such people to tarnish his reputation, so he refused them all.

Not long after the people who brought the good news left, Zhang Zhen came to visit, bringing some gifts, mostly books and writing implements, and congratulated Qiu Yan.

"Brother, you've made a name for yourself! You've taken the top spot! Now we can take the Autumn Examination together this year." Zhang Zhen was overjoyed. He already had the title of Xiucai who passed the county-level imperial examination) and was planning to try his luck in the provincial-level Provincial Examination this year.

After exchanging a few words, Zhang Zhen said, "I just had someone check the list and found out that Zhou Guan, whom you and I talked to the other day, also ranked fourth in the first class. Perhaps we should get closer to him in the future."

"Zhou Guan ..." Hearing this name, Qiu Yan remembered the young boy who had studied under him.

After talking for a while, Zhang Zhen suddenly said, "Brother, you don't look too well. Could it be that you've been working too hard and haven't taken care of your health? It's inconvenient for you to live here alone, and you don't want to come to my residence. So, I'll just send you two beautiful concubines, as a way of..."

Zhang Zhen spoke, a knowing smile appeared on his face.

Just as Qiu Yan was about to reply, a dense stream of People's Wishes fell from the sky, filling his body, penetrating his skin and bones, and merging into his Living Soul!

These popular Votive Thoughts differ from the Incense Thoughts that have gathered over the past few days. They are chaotic and disordered, filled with emotions such as envy, longing, and reverence, as well as negative thoughts such as jealousy, envy, and resentment.

After a moment's thought, Qiu Yan understood.

"After the results were announced, the name of the top scorer spread, and the People's Wishes it inspired gathered, though not as strong as it was during the porridge distribution years ago, it was still quite considerable."

Suddenly thrust into the position of People's Wishes, Qiu Yan had something on his mind and lost interest in idle chatter. He exchanged a few words with Zhang Zhen and then saw the guest out.

Back in his room, he thought for a moment and instead of sending these chaotic People's Wishes into the Central Black Hole, he guided them, letting them circulate around the soul.

"These People's Wishes are too chaotic. Sending them over will only temporarily increase divine power. It's better to keep them in my clone to Cultivating Prestige first, and then send them over when the main body needs them."

Thinking this way, the People's Wishes were nurtured by the Living Soul, undergoing layer upon layer of changes that surrounded them.

Then, deep within his soul, a few lines of literature flowed out, all related to passing the Golden List and resonating with the People's Wishes.

After two years of reflection, Qiu Yan had roughly grasped the characteristics of Confucianism's cultivation of the soul. He knew that Grand Confucian like Ma Yang, though capable of astonishing ghosts and gods at a glance, relied less on their Law Script and more on the hearts of heaven, earth, and the people.

The text itself has no power, but it has been passed down through the ages and become a code of conduct and the right way of heaven and earth. Naturally, it gathers the hearts People's Wishes. Grand Confucian scholars and ministers can also gather the People's Wishes. By using Confucianism to govern the text, they can mobilize the principles of heaven and earth and the People's Wishes, and thus their words can startle even ghosts and gods.

In fact, what truly startled people was not the Grand Confucian, but the popular sentiments People's Wishes he represented.

Qiu Yan's set of soul cultivation Cultivation Method is similar, but it mainly involves mobilizing one's own soul power and thoughts to cultivate one's character and temperament.

"If an article aligns with the People's Wishes, the prestige of the person in question will gradually increase. If he persists, he might even reach the level of Chancellor Ma, wouldn't you agree?"

As Qiu Yan was still thinking, a sudden, sharp pain shot through his head. He then felt a dark shadow appear out of thin air within his Living Soul, transforming into a gaping maw with fangs, lunging towards People's Wishes!

Hunger! Chaos! Devouring!

All sorts of thoughts were clearly conveyed, and then it was seen that the emotions and thoughts of jealousy, resentment, and resentment in the People's Wishes were peeled away bit by bit and swallowed directly by this big mouth!

"You've finally revealed yourself! I was still thinking about what method to use to lure you out on your own, but before I could even think of anything, you've already shown yourself. Perfect!"

Sensing the change within his soul, Qiu Yan remained calm. With a thought, the four bookshelves beside the soul rose up and pressed down on the dark figure. The Classics section transmitted its meaning, the Subsections emitted light, and the Collections section guided it!

Only the History Section Bookshelf remained completely still, as no books had been visited.

In an instant, the dark figure was entangled and suppressed, but then it vanished, surprisingly passing through the gaps between the bookshelves!

"How eerie!"

The moment Qiu Yan made that thought, the black shadow suddenly darted around, abruptly changed direction, and rushed towards the dimly lit History Section Bookshelf. In an instant, it plunged into it, then opened its mouth and bit down, seemingly about to swallow the entire bookshelf whole!

"Leave a Gap in the Encirclement; this is military strategy! We've left this gap precisely so you can fall into the trap!"

Unexpectedly, Qiu Yan was prepared. Under his mental control, the History Section Bookshelf swayed, quickly shrank, sank downwards, went straight into the center of the Living Soul, passed through the Central Black Hole, and disappeared without a trace.

Immediately afterwards, the other three bookshelves shrank, moved through the Black Hole, and disappeared.

Then, Qiu Yan suddenly became listless, tired and sleepy. He took out a bottle from his pocket and uncorked it.

A buzzing sound came from inside the bottle, and several flying insects flew out.

"Let me swallow these thoughts of weariness and drowsiness."

Qiu Yan's thoughts formed waves and spread outwards. Immediately afterwards, the Living Soul faintly emerged from the top of his head, but not fully, so it was unaffected by the sunlight.

Several flying insects flew over, circled the Living Soul a few times, pulled out and swallowed a few wisps of consciousness, and then flew back into the bottle.

After doing all this, Qiu Yan's drowsiness dissipated, but his face grew increasingly pale, and he felt completely exhausted. When he stood up, he swayed.

Just then, there was a sudden knocking sound at the door. Qiu Yan frowned, forced himself to open the door, and what came into view was Song Nu with a big smile on her face.

"Young Master Qiu, congratulations," Song Nu bowed respectfully. "Now that you have achieved fame and success, it is time to fulfill your promise to my princess."

P. S.: Thanks to "I Am No Gentleman" and "I am my own unique firework" for their generous donations!