Chapter 40: The First Night
That day, due to the words and attitude of the Heavenly Academy instructor, Chen Changsheng had indeed been very displeased, but as time passed, it had already dissipated. For him, rather than wasting time on anger, it was better to use it for something truly meaningful, like studying and cultivating, cultivating and studying.
He really didn't care much about the Ivy Banquet. To become famous overnight and make those who once looked down on him stunned and bewildered, their faces stinging? First, he had to honestly admit that, having not even succeeded in marrow cleansing, it was difficult for him to achieve this. And even if he could... he didn't want to.
Gaining empty fame and vanity was certainly not a bad thing. The problem was that when that day truly came, his peaceful cultivation life would definitely be disturbed. It would be impossible to continue as he had these past days, ignoring and not thinking about the outside world, using all his time for cultivation and study.
Luo Luo? First of all, whatever Chen Changsheng thought, she supported him. Although his not taking her shopping made her a bit unhappy, a single popsicle could soothe her, let alone such a serious matter. As for using the Ivy Banquet to gain fame... with her background and origins, how could she consider such a thing?
This was Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo's attitude toward the Ivy Banquet. They truly didn't care, even if they were forgotten. Based on past years' experience, it was normal for the National Teaching Academy to be forgotten again. But this year had one major difference: the existence of Priest Xin.
Reminded by the Bishop, Priest Xin had been silently contemplating the spirit hidden behind the Pope's signature. Although he hadn't discerned anything so far, nor seen any changes in the capital due to the new student of the National Teaching Academy, at least he could no longer forget that new student.
One day in early summer, a carriage drove into Hundred Flowers Lane and entered the National Teaching Academy. At dusk, bathed in rose-red twilight, the carriage drove out of the National Teaching Academy, out of Hundred Flowers Lane, followed the streets of the capital, arrived at the Heavenly Academy, and entered that ink-jade stone gate.
Luo Luo lifted the carriage curtain, looked at both sides of the road, and gazed at the buildings, pavilions, and terraces. Her eyes were wide open, full of curiosity. She had been to the Heavenly Academy many times before, but always heavily surrounded by her clan and the palace's attendants, coming quietly through the back door and leaving silently. Apart from the professors and the outstanding students they personally taught, she had never interacted with anyone else. This was her first time entering through the main gate of the Heavenly Academy.
Chen Changsheng had been to the Heavenly Academy twice. The initial registration was an extremely unpleasant experience. The second time, soaked through and disheveled, was hardly a fond memory. He had long lost his former respect and admiration for this academy, but he didn't deny that the scenery here was truly beautiful.
Green trees formed shade, streams meandered in nine bends, summer flowers bloomed brilliantly. Sitting by the carriage window, looking at these beautiful scenes, the frustration brought by having to attend the Ivy Banquet, meet so many strangers, and waste an entire night of cultivation time vanished completely. Thinking that he might run into Tang Thirty-Six, his mood improved even more.
Priest Xin didn't know his personality. Seeing him silently gazing out the window with a somewhat melancholic look, he misunderstood and grew worried. He reached out and patted his shoulder, comforting him, "It's just sitting around. It doesn't matter if you don't participate."
Chen Changsheng turned around, nodded to show he understood, and sincerely thanked him.
Priest Xin was silent for a moment, then said, "Don't take the instructor's words that day in the National Teaching Academy too seriously... I really suggest you don't participate in the competition, because this year's Ivy Banquet might be different from previous years. You really need to be careful."
Chen Changsheng knew he meant well and said, "Don't worry, I'm already prepared to sit through the whole night."
"Huh? One night?"
Priest Xin was relieved that his goodwill hadn't been misunderstood, but then he noticed the problem in his words. After a moment of stunned silence, he asked, "You don't know?"
Chen Changsheng was a bit confused and asked, "Know what?"
Priest Xin glanced at Luo Luo, who had just withdrawn her gaze from the window.
Luo Luo was also confused and asked, "What should we know?"
"The Ivy Banquet... is a self-organized activity by the various academies, but it's actually a rehearsal for the Grand Examination. All the rules are the same as the Grand Examination. The Grand Examination lasts three days, so the Ivy Banquet spans three nights. You really didn't know? Then you probably don't know that these three nights aren't consecutive either?"
Priest Xin looked at them like they were monsters and said, "What exactly are you planning to do here?"
Chen Changsheng completely ignored his question, his mind entirely on what he had just said. He felt quite troubled. Not just one night, but three? How much time would that waste? How many books would he miss reading? This was really inappropriate, wasn't it?
Seeing him in a daze, Luo Luo said to Priest Xin, "Don't worry, we're already prepared. We didn't even eat lunch. Tonight, we'll definitely eat very well."
Priest Xin was speechless, thinking, what a pair of strange people. He said to Chen Changsheng, "Anyway, be careful tonight. It's not certain yet, but some news has come in. There might be some unexpected people attending the Ivy Banquet, but maybe nothing will happen."
Just then, the carriage arrived at the main venue of tonight's Ivy Banquet.
Priest Xin said, "I still have matters to attend to, so I can only see you off here."
Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo thanked him and got off the carriage. Night had already fallen. The previously verdant forest was now a shadowy, ghostly presence. He was slightly startled, feeling an inexplicable pressure emanating from this academy.
"This way, please." A Heavenly Academy student in a black uniform politely pointed the way.
At the end of the stone path stood a massive building. Outside, several hundred red lanterns hung, casting light in all directions. As expected of the most renowned academy on the continent, this building was unremarkable within the Heavenly Academy yet could accommodate hundreds or even thousands of guests.
Looking at the dense red lanterns in the night sky, Chen Changsheng's feeling didn't improve; instead, the pressure felt more real.
Inside the building, light curtains fluttered gently. Before tables made of horizontal-grained hardwood sat hundreds of young students. These were the successful candidates from the Grand Examination preparatory exams a few days ago. They came from all over the world, not all subjects of the Zhou Dynasty, and not all belonging to the Six Ivies. Students from the Six Ivies could directly participate in the Grand Examination without taking the preparatory exams, as if they were naturally a cut above these young students. Sitting here in the Heavenly Academy, they couldn't help but feel nervous and restrained.
Before the hundred or so dining tables scattered among the curtains was a large open space. Yellow rosewood railings separated several individual areas, reserved for tonight's hosts, guests, and students of the Six Ivies.
In name, the Ivy Banquet was a ceremony where these representative academies of the capital welcomed students who had passed the Grand Examination preparatory exams. In reality, it was a stage for these academies to showcase their strength. Every year after the Ivy Banquet, some preparatory exam students would be absorbed by these academies.
For these reasons, the students of the Six Ivies naturally had a vastly different mindset from those sitting in the main hall. On their faces, there was no sign of restraint or nervousness, only undisguised pride, indifference, or blank expressions. Their gazes toward their peers in the hall carried a scrutinizing quality.
This year, the best positions belonged to the Heavenly Academy. The young people in black uniforms looked calm, not deliberately proud, yet proud to the extreme. In the adjacent area of the Heavenly Academy sat students from Star Seizing Academy, their expressions composed, their postures steady as mountains.
Beside them were three other academies: Ancestral Temple, the Attached Academy of the Detached Palace, and the Thirteen Divisions of Azure Radiance.
The Heavenly Academy needed no introduction. With a long history, it was always hailed as the strongest on the continent. The current Pope and the former Saintess of the Southern Sect both came from here. The State Religion had no central headquarters or main hall; the Pope handled ecclesiastical affairs from the Detached Palace, so its attached academy was naturally powerful. The Ancestral Temple, in charge of rituals and holding the nation's heavy instruments, was also extraordinary.
Star Seizing Academy was the cradle of the Zhou Dynasty's military stars, making the greatest contribution in humanity's war against the demons, holding a very special status.
The Thirteen Divisions of Azure Radiance was even more special. This academy specialized in studying the Thirteen Scriptures of Azure Radiance, primarily for women, and had close ties with the Southern Saintess Peak, often exchanging students. When Xu Yourong began her early education, she studied and cultivated here.
This was the legendary Ivy Alliance.
The ivy in front of the Detached Palace was the most famous sight in the capital. On the stone walls at the gates of the aforementioned academies grew extremely dense ivy—a testament to history. For countless years, aside from the southern sects, almost all other powerful figures had backgrounds in the Ivy Alliance.
The Ivy Academies occupying the best areas of the Ivy Banquet seemed only natural. People had long been accustomed to this. Those nervous ordinary students knew this from their predecessors, so they weren't surprised. But... tonight's Ivy Banquet had changed in one detail compared to previous years.
Someone had already noticed that change.
Next to the best positions of the Ivy Academies, in an inconspicuous corner, a small area was also separated by yellow rosewood.
That area was very small, with only one small table.
But that position was parallel to those of the Ivy Academies.
Position was very important.
This was tradition.
More and more gazes turned toward that area, toward that small table.
Someone remembered that before the Ivy Alliance, before the Ivy Academies, the most common term still passed down by word of mouth was:
"The Six Ivies"
The Six Ivies naturally had six academies.
The Heavenly Academy, Star Seizing Academy, and the others added up to only five.
What was the name of the sixth one?
Finally, we welcome the first time in Ze Tian Ji...
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Well, this is also quite commemorative.
In fact, earlier I said five days of double updates, and I still owe everyone seven thousand words.
Today, I'm really too tired. I took a nap in the afternoon, but I still couldn't recover. My brain is completely mush.
And coincidentally, it's the Ivy Banquet plot. I really can't write anything up to standard. After thinking it over, I decided it's better not to force it.
Taking the day off today.
Fortunately, truly, all tasks and work are done.
Starting tomorrow, I'll have at least a month to focus entirely on writing.
Everyone, please bear with me.
See you tomorrow. @@
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