Sixteen years later.

Yan Han.

Within Weiyang Palace.

The current system of employing people in Yan Han is a parallel arrangement of inspection and imperial examination.

Every year, talents are recommended by County Magistrates from each county to enter Changluo.

In addition, there is also the imperial examination selection.

The county exam occurs once a year, and those who pass are called 'Scholars,' who then qualify to participate in the triennial 'Palace Examination,' which is also Yan Han's grand talent selection ceremony.

At this moment, it is once again time for the triennial Palace Examination.

Emperor Shenwu, now in middle age, sits high on the main seat, looking down at the scholars below.

As part of the emperor's instinctive nature, he would not give the chief examiner position to his ministers, preferring to personally control the fate of these scholars to forge connections with them.

At this moment, his expression is solemn, as if he were a Heavenly God, overlooking the examination hall.

All the scholars sit upright and alert, with only the faint sound of writing echoing slightly.

Among them, a sixteen-year-old scholar in a blue robe, with distinct lips and white teeth, handsome features, is exceptionally remarkable.

Jiang Liu'er writes smoothly and effortlessly, expressing the thoughts in his heart, suddenly feeling a great sense of satisfaction.

He briefly looks up, noticing the Emperor's gaze fall upon him, quickly lowering his head to show respect.

Simultaneously, a hint of glimmer flashes in his eyes.

From a brief glance before, the Emperor's image appears in the depths of his heart.

A middle-aged appearance, slightly thin lips, stern eyebrows and eyes, carrying a hint of a soldierly presence, evoking a sense of life and death.

At the same time, one can feel that this is a mean-spirited monarch.

'Since childhood, I have encountered strange fates, stepping onto the path of immortality, initially wishing to retreat into seclusion, yet burdened by parents, I must still seek fame…'

Jiang Liu'er sighed inwardly, silently performing a spell, causing the Emperor in his eyes to blur, with a bright light suddenly arising above, its aura crimson, transforming into the shape of a dragon.

'The Emperor's dragon fortune is indeed extraordinary, only some threads of it spill over, indicating an unstable foundation.'

Jiang Liu'er is indeed a talent in Daoism, possessing a unique Divine Skill that can conceal his own cultivation, thus daring to be so audacious within Weiyang Palace: 'With such fortune in Yan Han, the nation's destiny might also be…'

It was at this moment that his eyes suddenly focused.

He saw within the Emperor's fortune, a mysterious light appeared, transforming into a bronze mirror.

This mirror, with just one reflection, broke all of Jiang Liu'er's spells, causing his throat to feel sweet, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Despite this, he feels the scene before his eyes blur, his nose growing warm.

"Not good!"

He hurriedly stretched out his hand, barely catching a drop of nosebleed, preventing it from falling onto the examination paper.

"This scholar…"

A nearby official was almost stunned seeing Jiang Liu'er's plight.

In past years, scholars had succumbed to excessive stress, going mad or fainting during exams, but this grotesque situation with bleeding from seven orifices was truly unprecedented.

"Sir, I have already finished writing!"

Jiang Liu'er wiped his nose with his sleeve, spoke muffled.

Even the atypical condition was noticed by Emperor Shenwu on the dragon throne, who nodded and instructed a young eunuch to guide the scholar out to rest, also ordering the imperial doctor for treatment.

"Time's up, scholars stop writing."

After a while, a eunuch proclaimed loudly, and the scholars expressed gratitude and left, receiving rewards like imperial meals without mentioning.

Emperor Shenwu and several ministers still had to laboriously review the papers.

Unaware of how much time had passed, Emperor Shenwu rubbed his eyes, tiredly setting down a paper: "Empty and unrealistic, not practical at all, though flowery in language, but serves no purpose in governance?"

Annoyed, he put down the vermilion brush and asked: "Anyone to highly recommend?"

Minister of Rites Zhang Sishi stepped forward at this moment, holding a paper high: "I have a recommendation, this person's writing is solid, conduct mature, possesses the abilities of a top scorer!"

"Oh?"

Emperor Shenwu took the paper, eyes shining.

Without mentioning anything else, the scholar's handwriting is truly excellent, resembling Vajra Muni Beads, pleasing to the eye.

Reading further into the text, Emperor Shenwu felt moved and looked at the name: "Fan County Jiang Liu'er? Is it the one who demeaned themselves in the hall, bleeding from seven orifices?"

"Your Majesty's wisdom, it is him indeed!"

Zhang Sishi bowed.

"Only sixteen-year-old, truly a prodigy, but unfortunately too frail…" Emperor Shenwu felt regret: "With such writing and text, a top scorer's talent it is, but the frail body may not withstand wealth's pressure. If appointed as top scorer, he might die within days, affecting public opinion… let's appoint as third place!"

"Your Majesty's wisdom!"

Once the emperor had spoken, there was no room for further adjustments.

…

A few days later.

New scholars parade through the streets, flaunting their appointments.

Jiang Liu'er rides a fine steed, wearing official robes, second only to the top scorer and second place, but in terms of elegance and charm, far surpasses those two middle-aged men, drawing numerous admiring glances from young maidens along the way.

If Yan Han had the practice of marrying scholars, Jiang Liu'er might have already caught the eye of some high-ranking dignitary, completing a fortunate match.

However, for some reason, Jiang Liu'er felt no joy inside.

This bustling and lavish earthly wealth filled him with discomfort.

Comparatively, the ancient scrolls under the blue lamp could bring him peace and joy.

After flaunting his appointment, Jiang Liu'er took advantage of the waiting period for his office assignment to explore Changluo.

This is Yan Han Imperial City, with a population exceeding ten million, the largest city in the world.

Inside are five palaces, twelve pathways, forty-six wards, streets crisscrossing, constructed with great order.

Fine drizzle envelops the sky.

Jiang Liu'er strolls leisurely, under an oil-paper umbrella.

Soon, he was suddenly moved, stopping in front of a dilapidated ancient temple.

It seemed like a shrine, but with no incense offerings, a stone censer was overturned on the ground.

"What is this place?"

Jiang Liu'er felt puzzled and asked a nearby passerby.

"This is a—Buddhist Temple!"

The passerby laughed: "Not sure why, belief suddenly rose, but there was no spiritual response, gradually it just lost the incense…"

Nowadays in the world, as long as it's not Kunlun line's deities, they aren't considered orthodox.

But Jiang Liu'er gazed at the abandoned ancient temple, unable to help but linger for a long time, eventually walking inside.

He pushed open the door, enduring the thick dust and cobwebs, seeing the Lotus Divine Seat, and upon it—a Buddha?

With more people from the second Yan Han Empire reincarnated, there arose a few Buddhist believers, leading thus to the emergence of this Buddha faith.

However, everyone forgot their past life, occasionally some fragments of memory appear, unable to break through the mystery of birth, hence the Buddha's image seemed peculiar, more resembling a deity.

"Buddha… isn't like this."

Jiang Liu'er gazed at this sight, strangely feeling his eyes moisten.

He silently stared at Buddha's shrine for a long, long time.

Outside, it was already nightfall without realizing.

Suddenly, Jiang Liu'er's expression changed, performing a spell, instantly concealing himself, disappearing without a trace.

Not long after, two figures climbed over the wall, swaggering as they entered the Buddha hall.