Chapter 81: The Grand Examination (Part 5)

Bai Fan was stunned, not understanding why he had suddenly erupted with such powerful strength.

He frowned, and could only attribute it to his internal potential being forced into Awakening under the crisis of life and death.

Without overthinking it, he quickly sat cross-legged, formed seals with his hands, and circulated the unique internal Qi of Medicine God Valley.

As his internal Qi slowly circulated, a faint green halo emerged around his wounds, and the blood stopped flowing.

Immediately after, wisps of black smoke emerged from the wound on his leg, quietly dissipating into the air.

"Poison?" Bai Fan's expression tightened, but he quickly calmed down.

Fortunately, he was a successor of Medicine God Valley, and his internal Qi was specifically designed to counteract toxins.

If it were someone else, even if they had managed to win by luck, they would not have escaped the fate of being eroded by the toxins, eventually dying from the poison.

He focused all his attention and continued to circulate his internal Qi; the toxins in his body were thoroughly forced out, and the healing speed of his wounds also increased significantly.

A moment later, the bleeding had completely stopped, leaving only slightly scabbed wounds.

Bai Fan slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, stood up slowly, stretched his limbs, and confirmed that he was unharmed.

He looked up at the horizon; the night had faded, the sky was slightly pale, and the radiance of the morning sun began to illuminate the entire city of Liangjing.

"Oh no!"

Bai Fan was startled, quickly turned back to pick up the bag that had fallen to the ground, and without bothering to wipe the sweat from his face, hurried in the direction of Wenlin Hall.

Wenlin Hall was one of the examination sites for the Grand Examination in Liangjing, gathering scholars and students from prestigious families from all over.

This Grand Examination was not only an opportunity for Bai Fan to achieve fame, but also an important path for his future.

Walking on the bustling streets of Liangjing, a beautiful figure appeared in Bai Fan's mind; it was the silhouette of Bai Youyou.

Thinking of her expectations, his chest tightened, and his fists clenched unconsciously.

"I absolutely cannot be late!" He quickened his pace, constantly encouraging himself in his heart.

Although his still-healing wounds caused some faint stinging pain when he moved, he forcibly suppressed that discomfort and quickened his pace even more.

When Bai Fan hurried to Wenlin Hall, the scene that greeted him made him frown slightly.

In front of Wenlin Hall, the surroundings were tightly surrounded by layers of imperial soldiers, with blades and spears standing like a forest, flickering with cold light.

"Wenlin Hall before the Grand Examination… why are there so many imperial soldiers?"

He saw that the soldiers were dragging several ragged, disheveled men; they were the very accomplices who had assassinated the Ninth Prince last night.

"No wonder the Ninth Prince was forced out of the palace yesterday; this was a planned, large-scale assassination operation…" Bai Fan thought to himself, but did not linger.

He knew well that the current situation was complex, and he was too deeply entangled with these assassins; if he were noticed by the soldiers, it would only add unnecessary trouble.

At this time, a large number of students who had come to participate in the Grand Examination had gathered at the entrance of Wenlin Hall, each with a nervous and anxious expression.

They were blocked outside by the soldiers and could not enter, whispering to each other and discussing the situation.

"I heard that the Ninth Prince was assassinated in the city last night, and they still haven't found the mastermind, which is why they have imposed martial law around the examination hall today, guarding it strictly."

"These assassins are truly daring, actually daring to make a move in Liangjing! The Ninth Prince was perfectly fine, yet was almost harmed by them!"

"They have also arrested quite a few suspicious people now, and I heard the investigation will last until this morning. If anyone is found problematic, I'm afraid they won't even be able to enter the examination hall!"

The discussions of the students reached Bai Fan's ears, but he only smiled slightly and walked towards the entrance of Wenlin Hall.

As one of the participants, he naturally knew how dangerous the situation was last night.

But now that the Ninth Prince was safe and sound, and those assassins had been captured, he no longer needed to get involved in it.

The soldiers at the entrance saw Bai Fan approaching, their eyes immediately narrowed, and they raised their spears to block his path: "Stop! Who are you?!"

Bai Fan stopped, his expression calm, and he cupped his hands in a salute: "I am Bai Fan, a scholar here to participate in the Grand Examination."

"Participate in the Grand Examination?"

The guarding soldier looked Bai Fan up and down, seeing his calm expression and neat attire, he didn't look like an ordinary commoner.

Seeing the examination registration tag hanging from his waist, his expression relaxed slightly, but he still asked cautiously: "Where were you last night, and is there anyone to testify for you?"

Bai Fan's heart tightened; he knew they were investigating the assassination last night. A slight carelessness could lead to him being treated as an accomplice of the assassins.

"Last night, I was studying and preparing for the exam in a small alley in the city, and only set off to come here this morning. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to the nearby tea stall to inquire."

The soldier stared at Bai Fan suspiciously, as if wanting to see something in his eyes, but Bai Fan's expression was indifferent, without any fluctuation.

After a while, the soldier finally nodded.

"Go ahead, don't hinder the Grand Examination."

Bai Fan nodded slightly, performed a salute, exhaled gently, and walked slowly into Wenlin Hall along with the crowd.

The eyes of the surrounding students turned towards him, some curious, some vigilant, and some carrying a hint of disdain and contempt.

"This person… seems like I haven't seen him before?"

"He must be from out of town. Not preparing for the exam at an inn the night before the Grand Examination, but actually studying in a small alley—what a weirdo."

"Even if he has no issues, he's so calculating; who knows if he'll be a menace in the future."

Listening to the whispers around him, Bai Fan remained composed, as if he had heard nothing.

Under everyone's gaze, he walked straight to the front of Wenlin Hall, heading to the registration desk with undivided focus.

An examiner dressed in a green robe was registering candidate information in front of the hall. He held a brush and ink, and upon seeing Bai Fan, he looked up and asked indifferently: "Name and place of origin."

Bai Fan cupped his hands steadily: "I am Bai Fan, from Baishui Town, Luozhou."

The examiner nodded, flipped through the roster slightly, finally stopped at a certain place, took the seal from the side, and stamped it heavily on Bai Fan's name.

"Bai Fan, your examination pass has been registered."

The examiner looked up at him, his tone cold but not lacking in authority, "During the examination, you are not allowed to leave the examination hall without permission. If there is any unusual activity, it will be treated as cheating. Do you understand?"

Bai Fan nodded solemnly: "I understand."

The examiner waved his hand and handed an examination pass with the Wenlin Hall logo on it to Bai Fan: "Go on. Do not converse with others before entering the examination hall. Cherish your future."

Bai Fan took the pass and smiled slightly: "Thank you for your instruction, Examiner."

He turned and left, looking at the gate of the examination hall with bright eyes, secretly encouraging himself in his heart.

"Bai Youyou, I will definitely do it… I will definitely succeed!"

Bai Fan walked through the gate of the examination hall. The surroundings were buzzing with noise; the candidates were either nervous or excited, each discussing the upcoming examination.

Above the gate hung a plaque with the words "Wenlin Hall" written in large golden characters, the calligraphy vigorous and powerful, revealing a sense of authority and solemnity.

He took a deep breath, raised his hand to gently push open the gate, and stepped into that strange yet sacred examination hall.

What came into view was a spacious and bright hall, with calligraphy works hanging all over the surrounding walls, filled with a scholarly atmosphere that made one's mind calm and peaceful.