"Survival. The scope is too broad. The topic isn't constrained in any direction—not even the type is defined. Survival encompasses far too many aspects. It allows complete freedom. One could write anything; one could craft an essay from countless angles."
The dark-skinned youth murmured to himself.
His expression showed deep contemplation as he closed his eyes, silently making his decision.
Survival—it means to live, to continue existing. A simple concept on the surface. But precisely because no limitations were placed, it became far more complex. Ordinary candidates might not think much of it, but some had already begun to think deeply, pondering how best to approach the essay and craft something truly remarkable.
"Survival... His Majesty truly remains alert even in times of peace, thinking far into the future."
In one of the exam cells, a youth in a green robe nodded slightly to himself, a trace of confident calm in his gaze.
Inside the examination grounds, every candidate reacted differently, each absorbed in their own thoughts.
On the Azure Cloud Tower, Cai Yong and others waited in silence, their gaze sweeping across the entire examination field. They were waiting—for a true prodigy to emerge. Not for anything else, but for sheer literary brilliance. Such individuals, walking the path of the Confucian or Hundred Schools of Thought, could rise like meteors. The Way of Writing was, after all, one of the great Dao of the heavens.
As long as one possessed awe-inspiring literary talent, they could advance swiftly on the literary path, becoming top-tier powerhouses. Cultivate such individuals well, and they'd become pillars of the Great Yi.
That was the true purpose of this imperial exam—to seek out true talent.
Naturally, Cai Yong and his peers took this matter with the utmost seriousness. They knew, however, that this was just the beginning. The final explosion had yet to come. Still, they believed that a true genius would reveal himself this time—someone like Zhuge Liang.
The name Zhuge Liang was known to both Cai Yong and Huang Chengyan. They were well aware of his talents.
All they had to do now was wait—wait and see what kind of essay he would produce.
Time passed without notice.
An hour slipped by unnoticed.
One by one, candidates who had been meditating now opened their eyes, confident expressions forming on their faces. In their minds, a complete draft had already taken shape. Their thoughts were clear.
They reached for their brushes, unfolded the blank paper, ground the ink—and began writing fervently.
On the Celestial Spirit Paper, empowered by each examinee's literary aura and brush control, the characters they wrote began to shine with light, glowing brightly as the literary essence manifested itself.
At that moment, the green-robed scholar also began to write.
His wrist moved with poise, and bold, perfectly formed characters flowed onto the page. Each word shimmered with gem-like light.
The characters didn't just lie flat on the page—they hovered above it, glowing intensely. The light radiated from the exam cell, resembling the dazzling light of night pearls bursting through the confines of a sealed chamber.
"Hmm? Words glowing, suspended in the air… Who could this prodigy be? Only those whose writing has reached an extraordinary realm can cause such a transformation. From the characters alone, we can see this is someone of unshakable integrity and immense talent."
This phenomenon did not escape the eyes of Cai Yong and the others atop the Azure Cloud Tower. The light was impossible to conceal. They saw it spilling from the exam cell, spreading outward in all directions.
"Indeed, words carry character. When writing, the spirit, energy, and soul must all focus at the tip of the brush and flow into the words. Each character carries one's essence. The person shapes the words, and the words shape the article. It all reflects the writer. This person's characters already possess divine rhythm. Nearly sentient in form. He's close to creating a unique style of his own. Remarkable. Truly remarkable. It seems our Great Yi still harbors hidden dragons among its youth."
Cai Yong spoke with heartfelt admiration.
In the Immortal Academy, countless ancient tomes and doctrines of the Hundred Schools were preserved. The mysteries of the Confucian path were profound and beyond the grasp of ordinary cultivators.
If words could enter the Dao, then a single character could suppress demons and exorcise evil.
So it was for words. So it was for essays.
"Survival lies in teaching, warfare, and defense."
With this first sentence, the writer boldly established the theme, laying out his stance. The opening was simple and direct—designed to grab attention and leave a thunderous impact.
As soon as this sentence was written, literary aura surged skyward from the page. The entire scroll began to glow. The literary energy erupted unrestrained from the exam cell—its presence undeniably eye-catching within the entire examination ground.
"Who is this candidate? To cause such a commotion with just the first line... This essay must be truly extraordinary."
Cai Yong and the others wore expressions of shock and curiosity. To cause such a reaction from the very first stroke indicated a level of mastery that was anything but ordinary. They were already itching to read it firsthand.
From that moment, the young man wrote without hesitation. His brush flowed as if divinely guided.
"What afflicts the people of our time? Do they know peace but not peril? Do they indulge in comfort but forget hardship? If so, then calamity shall surely follow. Not immediately, but inevitably. If no action is taken today, then tomorrow may offer no remedy."
This paragraph struck directly at the heart of the issue. Through rhetorical questioning, he challenged the prevailing complacency.
He asked whether the people of Great Yi truly believed themselves safe and secure, free to live in peace, no longer needing vigilance or struggle. If so, then hidden dangers would take root. These dangers might not erupt now—but when they did, they would become irrevocable disasters.
"Our wise king, at the brink of heaven's collapse, rose with divine courage, bathed in blood and battle. He fought beasts, clashed with foreign races, and carved out a foothold for humanity. Yet our survival is far from secure. Foes remain beyond, demons lurk within. With internal and external threats looming, Great Yi must remain vigilant in times of peace, addressing small ills before they become great ones. Only thus can we endure."
From there, the essay flowed like a torrent.
The entire argument was structured around the theme of survival—particularly the survival of Great Yi. The writer proposed that survival rested on three pillars: Teaching, War, and Defense.
Teaching (教): Education, enlightenment, clear governance. Ensuring that the people lived in peace, talent was nurtured, and the nation's strength flourished.
War (战): The courage to strike first against external threats. Never retreating. Willing and able to wage war against foreign races, with victory as the goal.
Defense (守): The sacred duty of protecting the homeland. Cities must not be abandoned. Immortal Cities formed the backbone of Great Yi's territorial control. Defense must never be lax.
From these three points, he conducted thorough argumentation from multiple angles.
The entire essay was brilliantly crafted, word by word, each line deeply thought-provoking.
Swish!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, the literary aura on the page exploded.
It shot out of the exam cell. Out of the examination yard. Into the sky itself—over the very heart of Xuanhuang City.
Radiant lights erupted in the air, bursting like fireworks across the heavens.
Brilliant displays unfolded above. Colorful, dazzling—blossoms of light appeared like fireworks blooming in the sky. So vivid, so immense, that anyone in or near Xuanhuang City could see them clearly. It didn't matter if it was day or night—they shone as if it were the grandest of festivals.
"Fireworks? Why are there fireworks now?"
"So beautiful! What kind of fireworks are these?"
"Wait—this light is coming from the examination grounds! What on earth is happening?"
Citizens of the city stared, mouths agape, as the lights painted the sky with wonder. Even under the daylight, they dazzled like eternal constellations.
In the imperial palace, the scene was equally clear.
Yi Tianxing was walking through the imperial gardens with Cai Yan and three other women. As they gazed up at the fireworks over the examination hall, smiles formed on their faces.
"Congratulations, my lord. It seems we may have discovered a peerless talent. To cause such a celestial phenomenon during a literary test—this is no ordinary man," Cai Yan said with a laugh, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
From their elevated vantage point, they had a clear view of everything. This was unmistakably literary aura manifesting as fireworks—a rare and potent phenomenon.
"A Blooming Spectacle"—this vision is already among the highest of omens. The essay that produced it must be extraordinary. I'll definitely have to read it personally."
Yi Tianxing nodded, unable to hide his joy.
Holding the imperial exams was, after all, a way to recruit talent. The more geniuses they found, the stronger Great Yi would become. The stronger the dynasty, the stronger he became. This was indisputable. No one could be more pleased than he was.
Of course, he hoped this "Blooming Spectacle" was only the beginning—not a singular brilliance, but a spark that would inspire an avalanche of excellence.
"Good! Good! Good! A Blooming Spectacle! This is a true heir of the Confucian path. If he follows the path of the scholar, he's bound to become a Great Confucian one day."
Cai Yong beamed with delight. A talent capable of evoking such literary phenomena was undoubtedly a true seed of the Confucian tradition—destined to become a pillar of the school, someone who could carry it forward and expand its influence. Such individuals were rare gems.
Three consecutive "good"s showed just how thrilled he was.
"Indeed. Outstanding. I can't wait to read his essay," Huang Chengyan nodded, smiling as well.
In the realm of Confucian cultivation, literary aura was akin to talent itself—a natural gift. Other mediocrities could never hope to catch up, no matter how hard they tried.
Suddenly—
"Look! Another phenomenon! Good heavens—this one's no weaker than the Blooming Spectacle! It's... Fire Trees and Silver Flowers!"
Wu Yong blinked and pointed to the sky.
Sure enough, at that very moment, another surge of literary aura pierced the heavens.
This time, it coalesced into a tree ablaze with fire, its branches laden with silver blossoms. The blooms swayed in the flames, drifting gently downward—dreamlike and surreal.