The Shifting Tide

P.S.: Please give Confucian Sage more support!

The importance of Literary Guts came second only to Literary Qi. If a person's Literary Guts were strong, their rate of advancement would far surpass that of their peers!

There were thirty-four Hanlin Academicians present. In the end, fewer than three would be promoted to Grand Academicians, and that was already a considerable proportion, because these Hanlin Academicians were the cream of Jing Kingdom's crop. With the Ritual Music Chime Bells strengthening everyone's Literary Guts this time, at least six of these Hanlin Academicians would advance to Grand Academician!

There was even less need to mention the Metropolitan Graduate officials present. Originally, at most ten or twenty percent could advance to Hanlin Academicians, but now that number would at least double!

Suddenly, the Literary Prime Minister held his Official Seal and exclaimed in delight, "An omen of the Human Race's great flourishing! As the Ritual Music Chime Bells sound, every Academy Student has formed a Literary Guts Vortex!"

"What!" Dozens of officials cried out in unison, unable to believe it.

A Great Scholar had once said that the true gap between those of high Literary Rank and low Literary Rank was neither intellect nor wisdom, but willpower—the ability to control oneself. Aside from the tiny number of geniuses beyond the reach of ordinary people, all those of high Literary Rank possessed terrifying self-control and unwavering determination. They could accomplish everything they ought to do, or wished to do.

Among people with equal intelligence, some advanced while others remained where they were simply because the latter failed to finish what they ought to have done—or did not do it at all—not because they were inferior to others.

Literary Guts were a spiritual power unique to the Human Race, something formed from humanity's spirit and