Chapter 52: February th
The plug-in reminded me at the beginning that reputation points can improve skill levels, and achievement points can break through skill limits.

When it was first activated, the plug-in gave out some achievement points, which Ou Zanghua added to his eight-legged essay, directly raising his eight-legged essay to the master level.

If he hadn't met Yang Shen, a genius who appears once every four hundred years, Ou Zanghua felt that he could have won three prizes in a row.

Now, after three months, he finally gained a little.

Ou Zanghua recalled his martial arts, ten levels of the Hengshan Heart Method, ten levels of the Hengshan Sword Method, ten levels of the Huifeng Luoyan Sword Method, ten levels of the Light Body Controlling the Wind, Flying Horse Stepping on Swallows, ten levels of the Hundred Changes and Thousands of Illusions Thirteen Styles of Clouds and Mist, and ten levels of the Seven-String Invisible Sword.

This extra point can cause a qualitative change no matter which martial art it is added to.

"Tsk, why did you come at this time? It really disturbs my mind!" Ou Zanghua complained and started thinking seriously.

What he lacks now is internal strength. If he can improve his internal strength, he will be able to easily control both the "Seven-String Invisible Sword" and the "Song of the Rising Tide of the Blue Sea".

In Jin Yong's novels, the most recommended internal skills are "Nine Yang Divine Art" and "Nine Yin Scriptures", followed by "Divine Art of the North Sea" and "Yi Jin Jing".

As for the "Shenzhaojing", can something like that which can bring people back to life be called internal energy?

Eh?
Ou Zanghua suddenly had an idea. If the "Shenzhaojing" can bring the dead back to life, then can it also allow people to regenerate severed limbs?

Is that also considered a limb?

But Ou Zanghua soon put these thoughts behind him. The most important thing for him now was the upcoming imperial examination.

On the eighth day of the second month of the sixth year of the Zhengde reign, the weather in the capital was not very good and the wind was a bit strong.

Before dawn, Qu Feiyan's eyes were red as she checked the tools that Ou Zanghua brought. The first one was the kaolan, a covered, multi-layered basket with a handle. It had three layers and was square in shape. It was woven with thin bamboo strips, willow twigs, and rattan, and the four corners were wrapped with silver.

In the basket are basic stationery such as pen, ink, paper, inkstone and water decanter.

The inkstone should be light and portable, the pen should have a pen bag, and the paper is used for drafts. It is also often used to record performance texts and ask teachers and friends for comments after the performance.

There are also test paper bags made of oilcloth, which are convenient for candidates to place their test papers flat in and store them high after receiving them to prevent them from being folded and contaminated by ink or tea.

There are also various kinds of hunger-filled and nutritious cakes and snacks, which are also a must-have for admission.

Qu Feiyan prepared dried longans for Ou Zanghua, and even considerately removed the shells and cores, so that they would not take up space and would be convenient for her son to just pick up a few pieces and put them in his mouth to chew.

With Ou Zanghua's current internal strength, it would be no problem for him to survive for nine days relying on water, snacks and dried fruits.

But we don't have to suffer this sin specially, because under the wall opposite the dormitory, the soldiers will set up a stove specifically for cooking tea and meals.

Of course, there is only one soldier to serve and help for every six rooms.

So you also need to bring a pot for cooking rice and porridge, rice, a kettle, tea leaves, soy sauce and vinegar as well as a rice bowl, chopsticks, spoon and tea bowl.

Qu Feiyan checked them one by one and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that they were all there.

She turned around and told Ou Zanghua, "Sir, I have prepared bacon, ham, pickles, and salted fish. The ones cut into triangles are cooked. When the rice is cooked, you can just put them on the rice to heat it up. The ones cut into strips are uncooked. When you cook, put them in the rice and steam them together and you can eat them. I have tried it at home and it works."

"I see."

Ou Zanghua nodded. This scene had been played out before, but the heroine that time was Liu Qing.

At that time, she also helped Ou Zanghua prepare various tools and materials in such a careful and meticulous manner, and then sent him to the examination room.

Qu Feiyan looked up at Ou Zanghua and asked, "Oh, and there are also ID cards and candidate IDs. Sir, please check if they are with you?"

"Yes, yes." Ou Zanghua nodded and responded gently.

"That's good, that's good. Is there anything else we need to prepare?" Qu Feiyan looked at everything and asked herself nervously.

"Fei Yan." "Hmm? Sir, is there anything else you haven't prepared?"

Ou Zanghua gently touched the little girl's forehead, smiled and comforted her: "Don't panic, I'm your young master, nothing will happen."

Qu Feiyan was stunned for a moment, then pouted and said, "Sir, it's already this time, stop pretending to be cool!"

"Hahaha"

Ou Zanghua laughed heartily, which made Xiang Danian and Qu Yang, who were at a loss, feel that the tension in their hearts had dissipated a lot.

"bang~"

"Bang bang tie~"

At this time, the fourth watch drum sounded, the sky was still pitch dark, and it was time for Ou Zanghua to set off.

When he opened the door, Wang Qin was standing in the yard. He bowed deeply to Ou Zanghua and said, "I wish Mr. Ou a successful exam and a bright future!"

"Thank you."

Ou Zanghua smiled and nodded, then got on the carriage with the help of Xiang Danian.

Qu Yang and Xiang Danian drove the carriage together, and Qu Feiyan sat next to Ou Zanghua, with her hands nervously clasped together.

It was still pitch black outside, but Qu Feiyan felt as if there was a giant beast lying in the night sky, staring at the ground below with a pair of eyes that saw through everything.

The wheels rolled through the streets, and there was gradually movement around. The sounds of carriages and footsteps came from every corner of the capital and converged towards the direction of the Imperial Examination Hall.

This is the first day of the imperial examination. Candidates from all over the Ming Dynasty are facing the most important test in their lives. Whether they will make a breakthrough or continue to study hard will be decided in the next nine days.

The Imperial Examination Hall is located in the southeast of the inner city of Beijing, and its name means "purple air coming from the east".

When they were almost at the Imperial Examination Hall, the carriages of the candidates had caused a traffic jam ahead, so soldiers set up barriers at the intersection and asked the candidates who arrived later to get off their carriages and walk across.

Ou Zanghua was a latecomer. He sat in the carriage, finished eating the fried rice that Qu Feiyan had made before she went out, drank a sip of water, then wiped his mouth and got off the carriage.

Xiang Danian immediately helped him carry the examination basket, bedding and other things. Qu Yang followed the officers' and soldiers' instructions, drove the carriage to the open space nearby, then quickly got off the carriage and used his Qinggong skills to catch up with the three men.

The four of them walked along the stone path towards the Imperial Examination Hall, and suddenly heard a voice from the side: "Jingyu, why are you walking again? Do you want to go with us?"

Ou Zanghua turned his head and saw Zou Shouyi in the carriage, waving at them.

His movements were a little excited, his words a little proud, and he had quite a bit of the charm of a Husky.

So, Ou Zanghua smiled and reminded him: "Qianzhi, when there is a traffic jam, waiting for the road to clear is the most challenging thing for your character. Try your best."

"Hmm? What Jingyu said makes sense. No wonder I felt restless after sitting for a while." Zou Shouyi laughed and said immediately, "Then Jingyu, wait for me. I will go with you."

As he spoke, he got off the carriage, followed by a page boy and a servant.

The original team of four people suddenly expanded to seven people.

Ou Zanghua was somewhat speechless, and only hoped that he would not run into any familiar faces again. Otherwise, if the team expanded further, it would feel like they were going to rob the Imperial Examination Hall.

"Eh? Jingyu, Qianzhi, why are you walking? Do you want to get in the car and meet up?"

Ou Zanghua and Zou Shouyi turned their heads and saw Wang Dao sitting in the carriage, waving at them.

The movements were a little excited, and the words were a little proud.
(End of this chapter)