The Great Shang Empire was the most powerful cultivation empire on this continent.
Its history stretched back several thousand years.
An empire ruled by cultivators was almost eternal, so long as the emperor did not fall. Even if the empire had already decayed from within, under the governance of cultivators it could still function steadily.
For poor commoners to rebel was nearly impossible. The cultivators of the realm had long since gathered within the imperial court. They controlled the empire and formed an incomparably vast and enduring superpower.
An empire built by cultivators could only be overthrown by another force of cultivators. As for mortals, they were merely accompanying slaves beneath the cultivator empire.
Every ambitious cultivator longed to step into the court and share in the cultivation resources of the realm. All cultivation resources within the Great Shang Empire were tightly controlled by the state. For independent cultivators to obtain such resources was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Only by attaching themselves to the empire and becoming its hounds could they gain access to those incomparably precious resources.
The spiritual veins within the empire were monopolized by the imperial clan. Independent cultivators had no opportunity to approach them. The medicinal pills within the empire were likewise under imperial control. Countless alchemy cultivators were absorbed into the empire, continuously refining pills for its use.
Talismans, weapons, formation arrays—almost nothing escaped the empire’s control. This was the primary reason the Great Shang Empire had endured for thousands of years. No one could shake this towering superstructure.
The Imperial Capital, Southern District, was where all cultivators gathered. It was also the site of the Imperial Capital examination grounds.
Within the Great Shang Empire, a cultivator’s origin was not investigated. Cultivators and mortals existed on entirely different levels. In the eyes of cultivators, mortal families were nothing more than roadside inns, insignificant and fleeting.
As long as one possessed a Spiritual Root, one could begin anew as a cultivator.
The Southern District was extraordinarily prosperous. Everywhere one looked, Spiritual Root cultivators casually displayed minor techniques. They dressed in fine clothing and were respected wherever they went. Even when staying at inns, proprietors offered them discounts or free lodging. Their treatment was exceptionally favorable.
“Those cultivators arriving from other regions must possess a local Spiritual Practitioner evaluation certificate to participate in the metropolitan examination.”
“And if someone doesn’t have one, or has lost it?”
“If they do not, they must apply for re-evaluation at the Southern District Examination Hall. Only after passing the assessment may they participate in the metropolitan examination.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Returning to the Imperial Capital once again, Li Changsheng had restored his youthful and handsome original appearance. He now looked like a talented young man of about 20 years.
It had been 30 years since he last left the Imperial Capital.
To re-enter it, he had deliberately waited until Sun Shan of the Western District passed away from old age before returning. Zhou Zhi’s granddaughter, Sun Shan, had already died of old age. Sun Xing and Liu Shan of the Liu Family had never seen him in his youth and naturally did not recognize him now.
Thus, in the Imperial Capital, no mortal knew Li Changsheng anymore. He had returned under a completely new identity.
Imperial Capital, Southern District, Examination Hall.
When Li Changsheng arrived, he saw a long line of people waiting. Men and women, young and old, stood in endless succession.
He had not expected that so many people would come each year for evaluation. These were cultivators pouring in from cities across the empire.
A Spiritual Practitioner’s lifespan generally ranged between 100 and 500 years. The higher the cultivation level, the longer the lifespan. When one’s lifespan exceeded 400 years, it meant that the cultivator had at least reached the high-tier Spiritual Practitioner level.
Of course, one could not judge age from appearance alone. Some looked like teenagers; they were first-time participants in the metropolitan examination. Others appeared older. Some had struggled for decades, lacking talent. With lifespans of only a little over 100 years, their age showed plainly.
“Next group.”
At the entrance of the Examination Hall, dozens of clerks called out. Immediately, dozens stepped forward to register their names, addresses, and identities.
When it was Li Changsheng’s turn, he said calmly, “My name is Li Wu, an independent cultivator.”
Independent cultivators were the most numerous in the Great Shang Empire and occupied the lowest tier of the cultivation world. They were usually born into poor families. Without cultivation resources, their lives were barely better than ordinary commoners.
Without resources, their fate differed little from mortals. Most lived just over 100 years, only slightly longer than ordinary people.
In the Great Shang Empire, to obtain cultivation resources, one had to attach oneself to the empire. Otherwise, independent cultivators had little opportunity.
Only by participating in the imperial examinations and earning official rank could one step into higher cultivation fields and gradually gain limited resources.
The clerk glanced at Li Changsheng and swiftly recorded his name and identity before waving him inside.
Within the Examination Hall was a Spirit Testing Plaza. Dozens of crystal steles, each over 1 meter tall, stood there, faint spiritual energy swirling around them.
Many out-of-town cultivators lined up, waiting for their names to be called.
“spiritual energy density, low. Unqualified. Next.”
Beside a crystal stele, a testing official spoke coldly. The elderly man standing before it flushed with embarrassment.
spiritual energy density referred to the stele’s ability to detect the amount of spiritual energy stored within a cultivator’s body. The more abundant the spiritual energy, the higher the talent and foundation.
Talent was innate and unrelated to age or experience. Some were young yet possessed high spiritual energy density. Others were old but, despite effort, could never increase their internal spiritual energy significantly.
“Li Wu!”
After waiting about 30 minutes, Li Changsheng’s name was called.
“I’m here,” he replied and stepped forward.
“Place your hand on the crystal stele.”
Li Changsheng complied. The moment his hand touched it, he began burning his lifespan. A faint surge of soul power spread outward.
As the soul power circulated, the crystal stele emitted a weak glow.
Seeing the dim light, Li Changsheng frowned slightly. The testing official beside him watched lazily. The light was clearly too faint.
“spiritual energy density… hm?”
Just as the official prepared to announce the result, his expression shifted. The stele suddenly brightened.
Li Changsheng silently activated the [Longevity Spirit Sea], increasing the consumption of lifespan. The more lifespan he burned, the stronger the converted soul power became.
“spiritual energy density, medium. Qualified.”
After maintaining the glow for about half a minute, the official nodded in satisfaction and marked his name.
“Go collect your testing certificate over there.”
Following the instructions, Li Changsheng joined the queue at another exit. Those who passed received a testing certificate; those who failed simply left.
When he stepped out, he held a certificate resembling an award document.
With it, he could participate in this year’s metropolitan examination in one month.
Back when he had served as a servant in the Western District Liu Family, Li Changsheng had learned much about the examination. Liu Qi, Sun Shan’s son, had taken it multiple times, once each year.
The examination tested not only spiritual energy talent but also strategy essays, combat strength, alchemy, talisman crafting, formation arrays, and forging. Mastery in any one field could allow someone to stand out.
Liu Qi’s talent was average. He could only rely on seniority. After at most 100 years, he might be admitted exceptionally. With connections and money, he might remain in the Imperial Capital, though the probability was low.
The Great Shang Empire was vast beyond measure. There were countless official posts available to cultivators.
Across the empire’s cities and counties, positions such as magistrates, city lords, imperial guards, spirit suppression officials, and guardians of cultivation resource mines all required cultivators. Vacancies were plentiful.
When Li Changsheng entered an inn, the sharp-eyed attendant immediately noticed the certificate in his hand.
“Immortal sir, this way please. Are you staying the night?”
The moment the certificate appeared, mortals became respectful and obsequious.
This single Spirit Testing certificate was enough to live comfortably in the Imperial Capital. Even if one accumulated heavy debts, no one would dare press for repayment recklessly.
Of course, it depended on circumstance. Liu Qi of the Western District had also possessed such a certificate, yet to the powerful figures of the Imperial Capital, it meant little.
“Yes. A room.”
Inside the inn were many cultivators. Some murmured while reading books. Some wrote with brushes. Others manipulated small objects, practicing spirit control techniques.
With one month remaining before the metropolitan examination, everyone was preparing intensely. The atmosphere was lively and tense.
Li Changsheng had now truly stepped into the cultivation world. He rented a room, closed the door, and sat cross-legged on the bed.
Soon, an invisible energy spread from his body. It was the faint spiritual energy produced by burning his lifespan.
After years of cultivation, he had basically mastered the subtle uses of the [Longevity Spirit Sea].
By his calculation, maintaining basic spiritual energy control while burning lifespan for one full day would consume about 100 years of lifespan.
If he wished to increase the intensity of his soul power, he would need to consume even more lifespan. Excessive consumption would produce a sensation like blood being drained—his body would grow cold, tremble, and grow dizzy. In severe cases, splitting headaches and total weakness would cause him to faint.
Over the years, through constant exploration, he had discovered his current upper limit of lifespan consumption—30,000 years.
That was one hundred times his current lifespan.
He was now 300 years old, so his maximum lifespan expenditure was 30,000 years. As his age increased, this upper limit would also increase to one hundred times his lifespan. Beyond that threshold, he risked losing consciousness.
This threshold could be gradually expanded through training and adaptation, increasing tolerance over time.
When he killed the city lord of Jiuluo city, he had consumed over 20,000 years of lifespan in one strike.
The city lord had merely been a high-tier Spiritual Practitioner, with at most 400 to 500 years of lifespan. Li Changsheng’s Longevity True Flame had instantly extracted 500 years from him.
Luo Ce did not possess 500 years to offset the attack and died instantly, without even the chance to react.
As for the soldiers, it had been simpler. Each lost 50 to 60 years of lifespan. Mortals rarely lived beyond 70 or 80 years. Even if they did, they were already near death. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
This divine ability, Longevity True Flame, was his ultimate life-preserving trump card. At present, it was the only heaven-defying ability he could display.
As for other techniques, he understood none. Fortunately, the imperial examination did not require the display of spells.
Under normal circumstances, he could not use his divine ability recklessly. Unless absolutely necessary, it was better not to reveal it.
The second divine ability, [Longevity Spirit Sea], was extremely useful. As long as he maintained a basic level of lifespan consumption each day, his body would continuously emit a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy.
In this way, no one could tell that he was originally just an ordinary mortal. This divine ability could perfectly simulate the exact state of a normal cultivator.
Whether it was talent, spiritual sense, soul strength, spiritual patterns, or even telekinesis, he could reproduce them flawlessly. The only difference was that others used spiritual energy and spiritual patterns, while he consumed his own lifespan.
In the Southern District of the Imperial Capital, the number of candidates exceeded 10,000. In truth, half of them would be eliminated outright, and the remaining half would still have to compete with local cultivators.
One month later, Li Changsheng followed the flow of people into the Examination Hall.
With his Spirit Testing Certificate, he received a numbered token and thus qualified to participate in the metropolitan examination.
The metropolitan examination lasted three days. These three days would determine the fate of every cultivator.
…
The moment he entered the examination grounds, Li Changsheng saw more than 10,000 tribute stones standing across the plaza.
Seven to eight thousand candidates stood inside the Examination Hall in neat formation, orderly and not crowded.
“The first round of the metropolitan examination, telekinetic manipulation. Begin!”
Across the plaza were more than 10,000 square stones. Dense spiritual patterns covered their surfaces. Each stone weighed 500 kilograms.
At the examiner’s command, the seven to eight thousand cultivators each stepped before a stone and began performing telekinetic control.
Telekinesis was the most direct way to test a cultivator’s soul strength. The stronger the soul power, the heavier the object one could manipulate.
For cultivators of average talent, their soul power was fragile. Not to mention a 500-kilogram boulder—even a 50-kilogram stone might be impossible for them to lift.
“Rise!”
Shouts echoed across the plaza. Some were drenched in sweat, teeth clenched, staring intently at the massive stones before them. Others exerted every ounce of strength yet could not move the stone even a fraction.
This was not brute force. It required no hands or feet, no physical contact at all—only pure will, soul force, spiritual sense, and mental strength to control the stone from a distance.
Clearly, this first round alone eliminated half the candidates.
Most who failed were newcomers. Ordinary beginner Spiritual Practitioners did not possess strong soul power. Only through continuous cultivation and tempering could soul strength gradually increase.
Under normal circumstances, lifting small stones, tables, chairs, roof tiles, or bricks was manageable. But a 500-kilogram boulder at the outset—its difficulty was obvious.
Li Changsheng stood before his stone. Around him, several candidates were already sweating profusely. This type of mental consumption was even more exhausting than physically lifting heavy weights.
No hands. No feet. No contact. Pure spiritual control. It was almost surreal.
Some candidates managed to slightly lift their stones, but moving them even a little farther became nearly impossible.
Li Changsheng’s thoughts shifted, and the invisible energy of lifespan within his body surged upward.
As lifespan burned away, soul power was converted. A strand of invisible force locked onto the boulder before him. He calmed his breathing and focused. Almost instantly, a wave of mental fatigue pressed down upon him.
He could clearly feel the weight transmitted back through the spiritual link. Controlling it through pure will was far more difficult than lifting it with hands and feet.
“Rise…”
With a low breath and clenched teeth, Li Changsheng unleashed his soul power. Slowly, the boulder began to tremble.
He calculated the lifespan consumption in his mind. Simply lifting the stone required roughly 100 years of lifespan.
Candidates who had already failed looked over, shock and envy filling their eyes as they saw him raise the stone.
Sweat beaded on Li Changsheng’s forehead. Although he could endure this constant mental drain, he deliberately made it appear strenuous.
Ahead of him, a middle-aged candidate had already lifted his stone and was inching forward step by agonizing step.
Li Changsheng followed at the same pace, advancing gradually.
Those eliminated in the first round could only stand in despair. They had already failed and did not even qualify to enter the main hall. They would have to wait until next year.
Some candidates came merely to accumulate seniority. Even if they failed to lift the stone, they could add another year to their record.
If one accumulated 100 years, exceptional admission was possible. But even then, they would likely be assigned to a remote corner of the empire to fend for themselves.
To secure an official post within the empire without real ability was no easy matter.
The remaining 3,000-plus candidates controlled their boulders toward the main hall.
Inside, 5,000 benches were already arranged. Each candidate had to place their boulder beside a bench to serve as a desk.
Some could not make it halfway. Once the boulder fell to the ground, it meant immediate failure.
During the transport alone, more than half of the 3,000 were eliminated again.
“Hm?”
As Li Changsheng continued controlling his stone, his gaze casually swept across the candidates.
Suddenly, his expression shifted. In the distance, he saw a familiar figure.
Liu Qi of the Liu Family had come to take the examination again.
Li Changsheng had watched Liu Qi grow up. When he left the Liu Family, Liu Qi had been 28 years old. Now more than 20 years had passed. Liu Qi was in his fifties or sixties.
He now looked like a middle-aged uncle. Time had not been kind. Because Liu Qi lacked diligence in cultivation and wasted his days in trivial pursuits, his cultivation level had barely improved. His lifespan would likely not exceed a little over 100 years.
If he continued this way, his limit might reach only around 200 years.
As Li Changsheng watched, Liu Qi controlled his boulder only halfway before it crashed down with a loud thud. Exhausted, Liu Qi collapsed onto the ground, completely spent.
Back then, Liu Qi had committed murder alongside him, yet he still qualified for the metropolitan examination. It seemed he had spent a considerable amount of money.
In the end, only a little over 1,000 candidates successfully entered the main hall.
Li Changsheng followed the middle-aged man inside.
He could clearly see that the man’s entire body was trembling. Each step looked as though he were afflicted with paralysis, his whole body shaking violently, sweat pouring down like rain.
At last, the man gritted his teeth and staggered into the hall. The boulder landed safely beside a bench.
He collapsed onto the bench, gasping heavily in relief. Then his gaze shifted and landed on Li Changsheng.
The man had sensed Li Changsheng following behind him all along, but he had not expected him to endure until the end.
And he was so young. The middle-aged man’s heart filled with astonishment and envy. Li Changsheng’s displayed soul strength and talent were clearly formidable.
“Fellow Daoist, I am Gu Jinpeng. May I ask your honored name?”
“Just call me Li Wu,” Li Changsheng replied with a calm smile as he gently lowered his boulder and wiped the sweat from his brow before sitting down.
“So it is Fellow Daoist Li. I hope we both stand out in this examination. May you take first place.”
Gu Jinpeng exchanged a few polite words, and Li Changsheng returned the courtesy with a faint smile.
“My lord, the results of the first round have been announced. A total of 1,569 candidates have qualified.”
“Mm.”
At the front of the main hall, several middle-aged and elderly officials sat inside the inner chamber. Spiritual tea and spiritual fruits were placed on the table before them as they lounged in leisure.
“Begin.”
One official swept his gaze indifferently across the hall. More than half of the stone benches were already empty.
With his order, the second round of the examination commenced.
Over 100 junior examiners waved their hands, and sheets of blank paper flew out from their grasp. The papers drifted gently through the air and landed precisely on each candidate’s stone desk.
Along with the blank sheets, brushes and inkstones floated across the hall, settling neatly before every candidate.
“The second round, written examination. The topic is: the Demon Race.”
As the examiner’s voice fell, the hall grew silent. All candidates held their breath and focused.
From the moment the topic was announced, over 100 proctors began strict surveillance. Anyone caught whispering would be eliminated immediately.
Some candidates instantly began scratching their heads in anxiety. The topic was obscure and difficult. Some knew nothing about the Demon Race, not even what they looked like.
When Li Changsheng heard the topic, his heart trembled slightly.
The cultivation world was divided between the Human Race and the Demon Race. Since humans existed on this continent, so too did demons. Though the Human Race was strong in the cultivation world, compared to the Demon Race they were merely average.
Li Changsheng stared at the blank paper, deep in thought.
Beside him, the rustling sound of Gu Jinpeng’s brush moved steadily across the page. Gu Jinpeng appeared learned and confident, calm and assured as he wrote.
Li Changsheng had never read the books of this world. He knew nothing of the Demon Race.
But he understood one thing clearly—handing in a blank sheet was absolutely unacceptable.
Before transmigrating, his teacher had once said that even writing the word “solution” on a blank sheet could earn at least one point for presentation.
After brief contemplation, Li Changsheng lifted the brush and began to write.
“First Strategy: Deceive the Heavens to Cross the Sea.”
“Second Strategy: Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao.”
“Third Strategy: Kill with a Borrowed Knife.”
“Fourth Strategy: …”
…
“Thirty-Sixth Strategy: Retreat Is the Best Option.”
In a smooth and flowing hand, Li Changsheng wrote down all Thirty-Six Strategies from The Art of War.
While others agonized for half a day over policy arguments, he finished in the time it took for a stick of incense to burn.
He did not know whether it would be correct. He did not expect to take first place.
But this was the only military treatise he truly knew. Before transmigrating, he had memorized it thoroughly and understood it by heart.
Especially the Beauty Trap and Retreat Is the Best Option—even a three-year-old child knew those two strategies.
After finishing, Li Changsheng glanced at Gu Jinpeng. The latter was still writing diligently. One page had been filled, and he requested another.
Under normal circumstances, this examination would last a full day and night, ending only the next day.
Feeling bored, Li Changsheng raised his hand and submitted his paper.
Inside the inner chamber, the officials were drinking tea and chatting leisurely when one of them suddenly remarked, “Oh? Someone submitted so quickly.”
Another middle-aged official glanced outside and chuckled faintly. “Anyone who submits that quickly must be an incompetent fool who couldn’t write anything. He’s merely here to accumulate seniority.”
Every year, countless cultivators came simply to build seniority.
Those who reached the written examination stage were already doing well. They might even gain exceptional admission a few years earlier, though the probability was low.
The officials had witnessed such cases tens of thousands of times. It was routine to them.
“My lords, a candidate has submitted his paper.”
A proctor entered, holding the paper.
“Leave it there.”
“He must have handed in a blank sheet,” one official scoffed.
“My lord is mistaken. It is not blank,” the proctor replied with a faint smile.
“Even if it isn’t blank, it’s likely nonsense written to fill space,” another middle-aged man laughed lightly and gestured.
The proctor respectfully handed it over.
“Lord Zhang, such prematurely submitted papers are hardly worth your personal attention. It would stain your eyes.”
“Indeed. We handle affairs daily. How can we possibly examine every paper? Let us select the decent ones at the end and assign rankings. That would be far more efficient.”
The middle-aged man, Zhang Zian, smiled faintly at the teasing and casually scanned the page.
At first, he paid little attention. But when his eyes fell upon the contents, his brow furrowed.
“The Art of War…”
What kind of military treatise was this? He had never seen it before. Thirty-six strategies?
“Wait at ease for the exhausted enemy, seize opportunities amid chaos, feint east and strike west, hide a dagger behind a smile… Beauty Trap, Empty City Stratagem…”
The paper contained only the names of thirty-six strategies, without explanations.
Yet each one, when pondered, carried a certain depth. Some he could not fully comprehend. Some he had never even heard of.
In other words, the candidate who wrote this possessed thirty-six methods to deal with the Demon Race?
A trace of astonishment flickered in his eyes as he saw the name—Li Wu.
With a flick of his wrist, Zhang Zian retrieved the candidate registry and quickly flipped through it until he found Li Wu’s entry—an independent cultivator.
He looked toward the hall. Li Wu was lying face-down on the desk, fast asleep.
“My lords, take a look at this paper.”
The officials were startled and passed it around.
“What is this? Are these thirty-six strategies methods for dealing with the Demon Race?”
“It appears to be military doctrine—thirty-six tactics against demons.”
“What does ‘Opportunistic Theft’ mean? What does that have to do with sheep?”
“I have never heard of these strategies. Forgive my limited knowledge. I understand every character, yet when combined, the meaning is profoundly obscure.”
The officials stared at one another, examining the paper repeatedly, pondering it from every angle. Yet none could fully grasp its implications.
“This candidate is extraordinarily talented.”
Shock filled their hearts. To compose such a heaven-defying military classic—something even they could not fully comprehend—was unheard of.
Even in modern times, this would be considered a supreme strategic work studied across ages. If someone truly mastered it, he would be worthy of the rank of grand general.
Placed within the cultivation world, this Art of War was nothing short of a rare and wondrous text.
If applied to cultivation, it could enhance one’s realm and sharpen comprehension. It was practically a supreme technique.
For a moment, the officials were filled with awe. Some even felt faint hints of enlightenment stirring within their own cultivation.
“Qualified!”
Zhang Zian seized the paper and quietly put it away.
“Make a copy of this. I will take it back for careful study.”
“Make a copy for me as well.”
“And for me.”
In the inner chamber, the officials all demanded copies.
While Li Changsheng slept soundly, his paper had already been deemed qualified.
Time passed quickly. By nightfall, open flames and spirit light stones illuminated the hall like electric lamps.
Gu Jinpeng had finished writing three full pages. He carefully reviewed them, ensuring there were no errors or smudges, and felt deeply satisfied.
When he glanced to the side, he saw Li Changsheng still sleeping, having already submitted his paper.
Gu Jinpeng was slightly stunned and sighed inwardly. It seemed that Li Wu was merely another mediocre candidate accumulating seniority.
The Great Shang Empire’s metropolitan examination tested not only soul strength but also literary skill and scholarship.
The topic of the Demon Race clearly reflected the friction along the empire’s borders. The empire sought to expand its territory and seize demon resources. This topic surely concerned strategies for war against the Demon Race.
Drawing upon his knowledge of formations, talismans, and alchemy, Gu Jinpeng had written at length about strategies for battling demons—how to use formations and talismans to suppress them, which spiritual patterns countered different types of demons. He described everything in detail.
He firmly believed his lengthy discourse would earn the court’s favor and secure him a place on the rankings, helping the Great Shang Empire expand its frontiers.
At dawn, the examination concluded, and the proctors began collecting the papers.
Once all were gathered, hundreds of examiners in the rear hall began reviewing them swiftly.
After four hours, the screening was complete.
Of the 1,569 candidates, only 785 qualified. In this round alone, half were eliminated and dismissed from the examination.
…