Inside the examination hall, the long bell tolled.
The deep, resonant sound, like an invisible wave, swept across the entire examination hall.
Chen Xu suddenly sensed something amiss.
He felt that the Innate Qi in his dantian seemed to be suppressed by some invisible force. After the bell sounded, there was an indescribable sense of heaviness, making it extremely difficult to circulate.
He recalled Feng Yuanbai once saying, "The first bell of the prefectural exam is called the Heaven-Equalizing Bell. When this bell tolls, all beings are equal.
Some scholars come from prestigious families and learn Qi Cultivation techniques before they gain recognition, nurturing a breath of Qi in their dantian that distinguishes them from others.
To restrict these scholars who cultivate Qi early to prevent them from disrupting the examination with their cultivation, the prefectural and county-level exams both have the Heaven-Equalizing Bell."
