This was definitely not an illusion. With Jiutian (Neuf Heaven) Daoist Sovereign's abilities, he could confirm this without doubt. Just now, someone had definitely peered into their Jiutian World using some special method. In fact, the peeping had already been completed before they even noticed—proof that the one responsible was no ordinary being. The one who acted must be among the top most existences in the Eternal World.
"Who was it?"
"Was it the Grand Supreme, Shangqing, or Yuqing?"
"Was it the Western Receiver, or one of the peak-level powerhouses of the myriad races?"
Countless thoughts flashed through Cangtian Daoist Sovereign's mind, but his expression remained ugly. Regardless of who it was, this spying was a blatant disregard for their dignity. It was far too arrogant—utterly disrespectful.
Still, no matter how angry he was, this wasn't the time to erupt.
He understood clearly: the Jiutian Daoist Sovereigns were already under suspicion in the Eternal World. Any rash move could lead to them being labeled agents of Eternal Night. The powerhouses of the Eternal World were far more numerous than imagined. Even as Daoist Sovereigns, they couldn't withstand the pressure of beings on their same level. Any humiliation they had to suffer—they could only bear it for now.
"Which one of us is the demon? I know I'm not, but no one else can be cleared of suspicion," Cangtian muttered inwardly, his expression grave.
He knew better than anyone whether he was a creature of Eternal Night. But as for who among the others was the real infiltrator—he still couldn't tell. Everyone hid themselves too well. This kind of thorn buried among them was utterly intolerable. It had to be pulled out.
Otherwise, the consequences would be too severe.
"I'll see who the real demon is. Maybe our earlier baiting attempt will yield results."
Cangtian Daoist Sovereign closed his eyes and fell silent, waiting.
Unconsciously, time had come to the 14th day of the 11th month, Eternal Era Year 51.
The Imperial Examination was set for the 15th—the next day.
Before the exams, one could see waves of scholars and examinees streaming into the capital from all corners of the realms. Students from all the academies, especially from the Immortal Academy, were eager and ready, determined to showcase their lifetime of learning. The Immortal Academy taught practical skills that could be applied to governance and civil life. Scholars of Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism in particular held unique insights into managing people and nations. Those who came to participate were confident—they aimed to make the rankings.
In the central plaza of Xuanhuang Immortal City, the teleportation array glowed nonstop.
One group of examinees after another stepped out of the portal. As they entered Xuanhuang, they all looked around with curiosity.
"So this is our Great Yi's Sacred City. I came once before to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a cultivation method, but didn't have a chance to explore. This time, I'll finally get a proper look."
"It's truly vast. Standing here, you realize just how small you are. This is the heart of the entire Sacred Dynasty. If I make it onto the list in this exam, I'll finally step onto the grand stage and get the chance to fulfill my ambitions. I've studied for decades—this is the moment it all comes down to."
Though in awe of Xuanhuang Sacred City's grandeur, every scholar silently vowed to stand out in the examination. No one wanted to leave empty-handed.
"As long as you're verified, you can enter the examination compound. Lodging and food are fully covered—arranged by the Sacred Court. All you examinees need to do is focus on your prep. You can now head up the Cloud Ladder to the Cloud Realm where the compound is located. Feel free to tour and prepare,"
a constable explained to the arriving scholars.
Everyone in Xuanhuang already knew this—it had long been announced on the StarNet. The exam process was widely understood. Although many were interested in exploring the city, no one dared let that distract them from the imperial exams.
"So many examinees—like fish in a stream. This is truly a golden age of human civilization. I wonder how many brilliant talents will emerge. I envy them. When I return to Great Qin, I will petition my father to adopt the imperial exam system—so that no true gem goes unnoticed."
In a nearby restaurant, several young nobles sat together, sipping wine and watching the scholars arrive. The speaker was none other than the Crown Prince of Great Qin, Fusu.
Accompanying him were Yi Ziyang and Yi Xianhuang.
Fusu had been studying at the Immortal Academy, but upon hearing that Great Yi would hold the imperial exams, he came out to observe. Yi Xianhuang and Yi Ziyang had accompanied him. The three had grown familiar with each other in recent days.
"The exam does help gather talents from across the world," Yi Ziyang said with a smile. "But true top-tier talents are still rare. We'll see how many city-lord-level talents emerge from this batch. Those are the backbone. In the end, talent is everything."
Great Yi urgently needed more talent capable of ruling cities. In the StarNet's simulation space, all citizens were given the chance to virtually govern their own city. The real test was now: this exam would reveal whether that new system bore fruit.
If successful, it would be rolled out on a massive scale.
"I've heard you'll be participating too, Brother Ziyang?" Fusu asked curiously.
There was a rumor at the Immortal Academy that even the royal family would participate in this imperial exam.
"That's right. Not just me—my five elder sisters and my seventh brother will also be taking part. This is Father's direct order, as a form of test. However, our results won't be included in the official rankings. We're assessed separately," Yi Ziyang replied seriously.
Though sudden, this decision sparked interest. The royal siblings weren't spoiled wastrels—they were battlefield-hardened elites. This was a rare opportunity to measure themselves against the scholars of the world and see whether they had what it took to govern a nation.
If not, they'd step back, focus on cultivation, or pursue personal interests. Or just live idle lives.
This was their chance to truly gauge their capabilities.
"In Great Yi, women can also take the imperial exams? They can become officials too?" Fusu asked, noticing many female scholars among the examinees.
"Of course," Yi Xianhuang said calmly. "Women can join the military and even command entire armies. If a woman has the talent, she'll be given status and a platform to shine. In fact, many cities in Great Yi are ruled by women. Their innate attentiveness often makes them better governors than men."
Women holding office was no longer unusual.
"Reliable sources say quite a few extraordinary women are taking part this year—like Xie Daoyun, Ban Zhao, Su Xiaomei, Feng Suzhen, Su Xiaoxiao, Liu Rushi… All registered. Their talents are no less than the finest male scholars. If one of them becomes the top scorer, many men may be left speechless. It'll be quite a show."
Yi Ziyang chuckled. He was well-informed—these names were already hot topics among those in the know. Several female examinees were outstanding talents. If the men underperformed, it wouldn't be surprising to see a female Zhuangyuan (top scorer).
"By the way, Fusu, how about you join the exam too? You'll get a firsthand feel for our Great Yi system. Watching is nothing compared to experiencing it yourself," Yi Xianhuang said with a teasing smile.
"Would that be allowed? I'm not a Great Yi citizen," Fusu asked with surprise.
"Why not? You won't count in the official rankings either. Just take it as an experience. Join us. Let's see how you measure up," Yi Ziyang said encouragingly.
"Then I'll gladly accept. Thanks, Brother Ziyang."
The next day: November 15.
The examination compound opened its gates.
A sea of scholars entered. As soon as they stepped inside, they were automatically teleported to their assigned cubicles—no need to find them manually. Everything was arranged in advance, saving a lot of time.
Each booth had all essentials: brushes, ink, paper, food, and drink—provided by Great Yi at no cost. Candidates had nothing to worry about except the exam.
The exam included ten categories: Literature, Education, Agriculture, Law & Punishment, Commerce, Military, Engineering, Medicine, Bureaucracy, and Civil Affairs.
The first subject: Political Essay.
There was no need to write about the Four Books and Five Classics, nor to compose poetry. Only one thing mattered: writing a policy essay—demonstrating broad vision and governing philosophy.
There were no security checks upon entry. In the examination compound, cheating was impossible. Everything was monitored through the StarNet.
High above, in the Azure Cloud Tower, the chief examiner Bao Zheng opened the first scroll.