An Eighth-Rank Literary Artifact

The Eighth Rank of the Confucian Dao.

It was the realm of self-cultivation.

One cultivated the body and nurtured one's fortune, tending to essence, qi, and spirit.

The greatest benefit of reaching this realm was immunity to all illnesses and protection against evil spirits.

The Confucian Dao's system was inherently less direct than the Martial Dao's. Its primary focus was governing the nation and bringing peace to the world, with some ability to counter Demonic Evils. It could not turn lips into spears and tongues into swords, or suppress demons with poetry.

Even extending one's lifespan was rather difficult. Immunity to all illnesses was already its limit.

If it could both command the forces of nature and extend one's lifespan, everyone would cultivate the Confucian Dao. Who would bother with the Immortal Dao or Martial Dao?

Every Dao had its strengths and weaknesses, and some people even walked two paths.

That was manageable in the early stages, but once they advanced beyond the Seventh Rank, even peerless talent would be dragged down to its death.

Xu Qingxiao was an exception.

In twenty-nine days, he had advanced three ranks, reaching the Eighth-Rank Self-Cultivation Realm outright. He could cultivate two paths simultaneously, but in the later stages, he would still have to choose one as his main path. That day would come sooner or later.

Inside the examination room.

No one knew what to say.

Zhao Yuan was even more at a loss for words. Xu Qingxiao had advanced to the Eighth Rank, while he himself was only Ninth Rank. Though he came from the Hanlin Academy, the academy did not judge people solely by rank.

Across the entire Southern Yu Prefecture, only three masters were Eighth Rank. Now there was another, and one so young that no one could afford to overlook him.

But what shocked Zhao Yuan even more was that Xu Qingxiao had actually written a peerless essay.

That was what truly stunned him.

"Xu Qingxiao-no, Master Xu, might I read your essay?"

Coming to his senses, Zhao Yuan approached Xu Qingxiao. He called him by name at first, but remembering that Xu Qingxiao was now Eighth Rank, he immediately corrected himself and addressed him as a master.

He felt not the slightest resentment.

Heaven and earth had acknowledged him. What was there to resent?

"You are too kind, my lord. I do not deserve to be called a master. My name will do."

Xu Qingxiao did not put on airs. His rapid advancement to the Eighth Rank was chiefly thanks to the Heaven and Earth Literary Palace. How could he presume to act superior?

"Not so, not so. Eighth-Rank self-cultivation is acknowledged by heaven and earth. You deserve to be called a master."

Zhao Yuan shook his head. He bowed respectfully to Xu Qingxiao, then bowed to the essay on the desk.

His bow to Xu Qingxiao honored heaven and earth.

His bow to the essay honored the way of the common people.

After the two bows, Zhao Yuan looked at the white paper. Yet rainbow light still enveloped it, concealing the words.

"Ah."

Zhao Yuan sighed, unable to keep himself from speaking.

"Master Xu has written a peerless essay. Such essays shake heaven and earth and move ghosts and gods to tears. They either establish principles for all the world's people or benefit the nation and its dynasty. Ordinary mortals like us cannot glimpse even a word. Only Grand Confucians or His Majesty may read them."

Zhao Yuan's explanation also accounted for the rainbow light still lingering over the paper.

Everyone was astonished again. They had never imagined such a rule existed.

A peerless essay was no trivial thing. Ordinary people could not read it.

"Then do I still need to make another copy?"

Xu Qingxiao asked.

"No. A peerless essay is a flawless creation of heaven. Master Xu, I intend to seal the essay in a box, then report to the court and request that a Grand Confucian personally escort it."

Zhao Yuan's words threw the entire room into an uproar.

Invite a Grand Confucian to escort an essay?

Did it really warrant such grandeur?

"Would inviting a Grand Confucian not be somewhat excessive?"

Xu Qingxiao frowned slightly.

There were two concerns. First, such a grand arrangement seemed rather excessive.

Second, what was a Grand Confucian? A true scholar, someone who could impeach the emperor. Never mind the Prefectural Lord of Southern Yu Prefecture-even the prince of Changping Commandery would have to treat one with utmost respect.

There was no helping it; scholars held far too high a status. But what Xu Qingxiao feared was that a Grand Confucian might notice he had cultivated an unorthodox art. That would spell trouble.

"No, it is not excessive at all."

"Master Xu, you may not know this, but every peerless essay either establishes principles or addresses the governance of a nation. Today's Prefectural Examination topic was 'Secure the Nation,' so I presume your essay concerns governance."

"For heaven and earth to acknowledge it, this essay must be of immense importance. It affects Great Wei's national fortune. News of this will probably spread throughout Southern Yu Prefecture within half a day, and it will not take long for your name to become known across the world."

"And this world does not belong to Great Wei alone. Countless people would love to see our national fortune decline. To them, such an essay is a thorn in the flesh, a nail in the eye. Without a Grand Confucian to hold them in check, I am certain this essay will never reach His Majesty."

Zhao Yuan's expression was utterly solemn.

Every word he spoke carried the utmost gravity.

After hearing this, Xu Qingxiao understood.

Indeed, heaven and earth's acknowledgment of an essay on governance was enough to prove that it could strengthen Great Wei's national fortune. But Great Wei was not the world's only nation.

Though Great Wei was the strongest, seven Northern Expeditions had emptied its coffers and considerably diminished the prestige it had enjoyed at its peak.

Simply put, during the Martial Emperor's Era, especially the first few Northern Expeditions, the world had not been nearly so chaotic. Where had all these demons wreaking havoc been then? Yet toward the end, all manner of strange occurrences had emerged.

Who was responsible did not matter. It proved one thing: some people did not want Great Wei's national fortune to recover.

Now that a peerless essay had appeared, would those people act?

The answer was obvious.

"In that case, could I not write several copies and solve the problem?"

Xu Qingxiao considered it. If they feared someone would destroy the essay, he could write several copies to send out. At worst, they could split into a hundred groups. It would merely mean more work for him.

"Not so."

Zhao Yuan shook his head again, but rather than elaborate, he said,

"Master Xu, there are matters I cannot discuss yet. Let me seal the box first."

Zhao Yuan did not answer the question. After all, there were many examinees present. Though they were talented scholars from various places, that did not necessarily mean they possessed good character.

Such matters could not be discussed carelessly. Too much was at stake. Those who understood, understood.

"Very well."

Xu Qingxiao nodded. Zhao Yuan immediately ordered someone to bring a jade box. He lifted the white paper with solemn reverence, slowly placed it inside, and affixed the Great Wei Imperial Dao Ancient Talisman. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"Lord Zhao, I have just broken through to a new realm. I would like to leave first and rest at the inn to adjust to the changes in my body."

Using his breakthrough to the Eighth Rank as an excuse, Xu Qingxiao wanted to hurry back and inscribe his piece.

"Master Xu, the Prefectural Examination Hall has rooms for resting. Please rest inside."

Zhao Yuan said nothing more, but Xu Qingxiao understood his meaning.

Nodding, Xu Qingxiao rose and followed Zhao Yuan.

"The remaining examinees are to continue the examination. Once it concludes, no one may leave. The Examination Hall will arrange all meals."

Zhao Yuan's voice rang out, reminding everyone to continue their work.

No one dared delay. They hurriedly picked up their brushes, but everything Xu Qingxiao had just done remained imprinted in their minds. It was difficult to regain their composure and focus on the examination.

The inner courtyard.

Xu Qingxiao arrived at his lodging. Zhao Yuan and the others could not leave the examination room, as their duties kept them there, so he had sent someone to lead Xu Qingxiao to a room to rest.

"Master Xu, this place is quiet, and no outsiders will disturb you. Zhao Da said that once you have recovered, you need only call out, and I will ask him to come discuss certain matters with you. They are of the utmost importance."

The subordinate guiding him explained that Zhao Yuan had important matters to discuss.

"Very well."

Xu Qingxiao nodded.

Writing a peerless essay today had brought extraordinary things, but it would undoubtedly bring trouble as well. What exactly would happen, however, would have to wait until Zhao Yuan came in person.

"Please rest, Master Xu."

After saying this, the man closed the door for Xu Qingxiao and departed.

Once he had left.

Inside the room.

Xu Qingxiao rested briefly for half a quarter-hour, then closed his eyes and entered the Heaven and Earth Literary Palace.

The Heaven and Earth Literary Palace.

Xu Qingxiao entered the Great Hall. At this moment, Zhaoge had not manifested his true form, but stood inside as a statue.

Perhaps he was still pondering his memories.

Xu Qingxiao did not wake him. Instead, he leaped into the Literary Pool.

Having advanced to the Eighth Rank.

Xu Qingxiao needed to inscribe another essay or poem within his body.

At the Tenth Rank, it had been the Song of Righteousness.

At the Ninth Rank, Man Jiang Hong.

Xu Qingxiao had already decided what to use for the Eighth Rank, but now that he had entered it through an essay, he could only abandon his original choice.

For the moment, Xu Qingxiao still did not know what benefits inscribing a piece within his body would bring.

He knew plenty of poems that had endured through the ages, but since his advancement to the Eighth Rank had relied on an essay about governance, he decided after some thought to inscribe something fitting.

What he inscribed at the Eighth Rank was neither a poem nor an essay, but a song.

[Sheep on the Hillside · Reflections on the Past at Tong Pass]

Many people might not recognize the title alone, but it contained an exceptionally famous line-the finishing touch that brought the entire piece to life.

"In prosperity, the people suffer; in ruin, the people suffer."

It matched the theme of his essay.

Whether a dynasty flourished or declined, it was always the common people who suffered.

At the Eighth Rank of self-cultivation, Xu Qingxiao would use the suffering of the world's people as a warning bell, constantly reminding himself never to forget a scholar's original purpose.

Thus, Xu Qingxiao drew in qi and began the inscription.

As the piece was inscribed.

Terrifying righteous Haoran qi swept through the entire Literary Palace.

In an instant, a deafening roar erupted throughout the Literary Palace.

Yet Xu Qingxiao remained wholly focused on his inscription, free of distractions, and noticed nothing.

Once the inscription was complete, all the righteous Haoran qi gathered of its own accord, transforming into an ancient azure bell.

Upon the bell were engraved the rise and fall of dynasties, the rise and fall of the common people.

This was an Eighth-Rank Literary Artifact.

Yet this time, it had formed on its own, without requiring him to visualize it.

In that instant, Xu Qingxiao realized he must have chosen the right theme.

Just then, before Xu Qingxiao could examine the Literary Artifact closely.

A familiar voice rang out.

"I remember!"

"I remember!"

"I finally remember!"

As that intensely excited voice rang out, Xu Qingxiao grew excited as well.

It was Brother Zhaoge's voice.