Mortal Mage

This emperor is really good at bragging. The local people are living in poverty, and taxes have been increasing year by year, yet he still talks about his great achievements.

Zhang Mingxuan knelt on the ground with a pout on his face, muttering to himself.

A group of eunuchs have handed over the three copied test questions to the candidates.

Zhang Mingxuan sat upright at the desk, opened the test paper, and read attentively.

The first question is to ask for strategies.

The second question is about politics.

When it came to the last question, doubts arose in his mind.

The question was in an envelope sealed with wax, with an imperial decree on it. The general meaning was that one could answer the question or not, but was not allowed to reveal it after leaving the palace, otherwise the entire nine generations of the family would be exterminated.

No need to unpack.

Zhang Mingxuan held the wax envelope in his hand, his expression focused and his thoughts in confusion.

"Since the palace has come up with the test questions, even if they are secrets, they will not remain secret for long."

After thinking for a long time, he carefully opened the envelope.

"Spiritual veins."

He stared at the two words in the envelope in astonishment.

He had gradually given up on the idea of ​​becoming an immortal from the upper realm or practicing Taoism.

He looked dazed, staring doubtfully at the four words in the wax envelope.

-

Four big bright red characters were printed on rice paper in the header.

"Secrets of the Imperial Dynasty"

The entire title was copied in bright red handwriting, neatly, clearly and explicitly, detailing the core content and issues of the entire secret.

The sun rises slowly and a gentle breeze blows across my face.

After a long while, he trembled as he flattened the rice paper in the envelope, pressed it with a paperweight, and began to read the question carefully:

---

"Secrets of the Imperial Dynasty"

"For five thousand years, the previous dynasty relied on the spirit veins and monopolized the resources of longevity, causing the world to be in chaos. The people did not want to farm, and they could not make a living. There were starving people everywhere."

"Today, there is only one low-grade spiritual vein left in our dynasty."

"This spiritual vein is no longer sufficient to support the cultivators of our dynasty, so our ancestors decided to destroy all documents and history books related to cultivation."

"Therefore, this path of cultivation has been forcefully blocked by me to prevent unrest in the country."

"Today, an immortal from the upper realm has come down to earth and wants to buy the only lower-grade spiritual vein in our dynasty for 100,000 middle-grade spiritual stones."

"This price is equivalent to our dynasty's production in a thousand years. If we can sell it for 100,000 medium-quality spirit stones, we can use them to annihilate the Tianze Kingdom in one fell swoop."

"The problem I'm facing now."

"One, sell it. After obtaining the spirit stone, start a national war and occupy the Tianze Empire."

"Secondly, if it is not sold, the spiritual vein will continue to support the heroic generals in the court."

-

Zhang Mingxuan finished reading it calmly and took a deep breath.

-

"The emperor is concerned about which method can maximize the benefits. He said it was a confidential question. It is likely that there is a disagreement within the court, so he just threw it out and let the candidates of this year vote."

"I don't understand spiritual veins, but I know a little about fighting wars. I'll write it along the lines of 'Currency Wars', 'The Great Game' and 'The Crash of 1929'. If we can rely on economic warfare to win, it's better not to lose lives."

He calmed his expression and thought intently for a long time, muttering to himself.

After reading it again, he began to write his answers.

"It might be better to summarize the war and integrate some advanced ideas and concepts."

"The answer that can help the emperor make money should be the best answer."

The setting sun dyed the clouds red, it was sunset.

Zhang Mingxuan carefully copied the paper in classical Chinese and blew the ink dry.

Rows of young eunuchs slowly entered the square from the periphery and began to collect the test papers of the candidates one by one in order.

"The world of cultivating immortals took me ten years to take the imperial examinations."

Zhang Mingxuan looked tired and walked out of Taihe Palace with gritted teeth, then returned to the inn with his sleeves swinging.

Just wait for the palace examination results to be announced in three days.