Chapter 129: The Youths Before the Dawn
The Mausoleum of Books was in the capital, and the capital was the center of the Great Zhou Dynasty, as well as the center of the human world—indeed, it could be said to be the center of the continent. Whether it was the various powers in the south or the demon race allied with humanity, all had to acknowledge the orthodox status of the Great Zhou's Central Plains dynasty, making many concessions amidst the tangled web of interests.
Only those who passed the Grand Examination, along with a very few exceptional individuals, were qualified to enter the Mausoleum of Books to seek enlightenment. Thus, the Grand Examination was the most important event in the world, even more significant than the Alchemy Conference, which was held only once every three or five years. This year's Grand Examination was still held at the Detached Palace. In the early morning, before the stone pillars of the Detached Palace, tens of thousands of people had already gathered. There were vendors selling melon seeds and fruit, others selling flatbread and meat, and some selling stools. Looking closely, the most numerous stalls were those selling water. The citizens of the capital watched the Grand Examination every year and were well-versed in the rules; most were still at home. The crowd that had gathered now was mostly tourists from all over the continent. One could imagine how lively the scene would be when the Grand Examination officially began and everyone came outside the Detached Palace.
The students participating in the Grand Examination naturally arrived earlier than the spectators. An area spanning over a thousand zhang had been cordoned off before the stone pillars of the Detached Palace, filled with all kinds of vehicles. In the faint light of dawn, teachers from various academies were giving final reminders to their students, while some students closed their eyes to rest.
Separating this area from the crowd of onlookers was a long yellow cloth barrier. In theory, this cloth barrier could never contain the enthusiasm of the people, nor could it stop the vendors' instinct to seize territory. But strangely enough, not a single person, whether among the crowd or the vendors, dared to cross that barrier even a step.
This was because hundreds of officials and imperial guards stood solemnly outside the barrier, and even more so because at the end of the barrier, there was a carriage pulled by a black rhinoceros. Everyone on the continent knew that there was only one carriage in the world drawn by a black rhinoceros, and that carriage would always carry only one person—Lord Zhoutong of the Cleansing Office.
The students from the south arrived earliest. All the mountain gates of the Longevity Sect had sent people. Gou Hanshi and the other three disciples of Lishan stood at the forefront, their expressions calm, as if today were just an ordinary day. The morning light fell on their faces, and the morning breeze gently stirred their robes, exuding an indescribable ease and composure, drawing countless gazes.
Disciples from various sects under the Holy Maiden Peak had also come. The young junior sister from Tiger Gully Temple, who had been scolded into tears by Tang Thirty-Six, stood in the crowd, looking at the Detached Palace complex in the morning light, her childish face filled with tension and confusion. An older senior sister patted her head and said a few words with a smile.
A young girl dressed in the outer sect attire of the Southern Stream Convent furrowed her brow slightly, as if bearing great pressure. The Southern Stream Convent was divided into inner and outer sects. The inner sect had only Xu Yourong, but the outer sect had many members. She had been selected by her sect to participate in the Grand Examination, so she naturally had to shoulder certain responsibilities.
South of the River of Forgetfulness, there were countless sects, most of which could be categorized under the Longevity Sect or the Holy Maiden Peak. Both of these lineages belonged to the Southern Sect and could be considered fellow disciples. The young men and women stood together, occasionally speaking in low voices, their unease about being in a foreign land and the impending examination greatly alleviated.
Only a few young men in ochre-colored robes stood in a relatively distant spot. These young scholars all came from the legendary Sophora Court.
Opposite the southern students, the young students from the various academies of the capital, as well as those who had passed the preparatory exams for the Grand Examination, stood on the eastern side of the square. They were a bit closer to the rising sun and could endure less of the cold western wind, so their position was much better. Their numbers were also far greater than those on the opposite side, forming a vast, dark mass that was impossible to count.
Zhuang Huanyu stood expressionless at the forefront of the Celestial Academy students. The Celestial Academy's position was also at the very front of everyone, followed by the Star Picking Academy, the Ancestral Temple, and other Ivy Academies. Amidst the silence, the chattering girls from the Azure Thirteen Divisions were very conspicuous, followed by the ordinary students who had passed the preparatory exams.
The Grand Examination selected the top three ranks. The favorites were naturally the disciples of the academies and major sects. For example, Zhuang Huanyu of the Celestial Academy, Su Moyu of the Detached Palace Affiliated Academy, two young junior officers from the Star Picking Academy, and a senior sister from the Azure Thirteen Divisions. In recent years, the southern sects had dominated the younger generation and naturally attracted more attention. The four disciples of the Lishan Sword Sect and the young scholars of the Sophora Court were seen as sure bets to make the top three.
What people cared about more was who could enter the first rank.
Like the history of human cultivation, the Grand Examination had both big years and small years. This year was clearly a big year, with competition fiercer than ever before. To think that last year's top candidate of the first rank was the third of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, yet if he were to participate in this year's Grand Examination, he might not even make the first rank.
This year, the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom sent four members at once, the Sophora Court sent four, and the Holy Maiden Peak also dispatched its most promising female disciple. In the capital, proud figures like Zhuang Huanyu finally decided to wait no longer, and strong individuals like Tianhai Shengxue also resolved to stop waiting, aiming to shine in this year's Grand Examination. Only the young cultivators of the demon race, perhaps due to Princess Luoluo being in the capital, did not send anyone to participate this year. Of course, this did not count the honest and simple youth from the National Academy.
Tianhai Shengxue had not participated in the Grand Examination before because he had not yet reached the Tongyou realm and lacked the confidence to defeat the legendary Qiushan Jun and claim the top spot.
Yes, Qiushan Jun did not participate in the Grand Examination. He had no interest in it, and neither did Zhuang Huanyu. The scholars of the Sophora Court likely came to the capital only this year for the same reason.
All the proud young geniuses of the continent had always aimed at Qiushan Jun.
Unfortunately, Qiushan Jun still did not appear this year.
But they could no longer afford to wait. The Mausoleum of Books had been waiting for them for years. If they did not enter it to seek enlightenment soon, it could very well affect their cultivation careers.
Since Qiushan Jun would not participate in this year's Grand Examination, many believed the two most likely to take the top spot were Gou Hanshi and Tianhai Shengxue. The odds set by the continent's major gambling houses reflected this view. The young scholars of the Sophora Court and Zhuang Huanyu were seen as contenders for the first rank.
The name that had been causing such a stir recently was deliberately forgotten. When discussing the prospects of the Grand Examination, people rarely mentioned the name of that academy.
As if to prove that this attitude was correct, in the odds lists released by the major gambling houses for the Grand Examination, that name was always at the very bottom, with odds so high they were almost unbelievable. Yet, for some reason, last night, the odds for the top candidate of the Grand Examination had fluctuated wildly. That name's odds kept dropping, eventually landing in fourth place.
This year's Grand Examination was a gathering of strong contenders, the most competitive in a decade, with endless topics for discussion—like that academy and that person. But there were still some regrets. The much-anticipated Qiushan Jun and Xu Yourong still did not attend. Everyone knew they were absolutely qualified to enter the Mausoleum of Books at will, but if they had also participated, this year would have been truly earth-shattering.
No one knew why Qiushan Jun did not participate in this year's Grand Examination, not even his closest junior brothers like Gou Hanshi.
In theory, given his strength and realm, he should have participated in the previous Grand Examinations. People had always thought he was waiting to enter the Mausoleum of Books with his junior sister Xu Yourong to seek enlightenment together. They had assumed Xu Yourong would participate this year, but she did not, so Qiushan Jun also did not?
Why did Xu Yourong not come? Because of the marriage proposal at the Ivy Banquet, or because of the engagement her grandfather had arranged for her?
Just then, a carriage passed through the yellow cloth barrier and arrived at the scene.
Murmurs arose from the crowd before the Detached Palace. Some recognized the identities of those who alighted from the carriage.
The youth walking at the very back—was he Chen Changsheng, who had been causing such turmoil in the capital lately?
That youth looked so ordinary, and he was Xu Yourong's fiancé?
This was the youth who wanted to take the top spot in the Grand Examination?
Countless pairs of eyes fell on Chen Changsheng.
He seemed completely unaware. Following the procedures that Priest Xin had told him in advance, he took out the roster and relevant documents to register, then stood in the position assigned to the National Academy.
The administrative work for the Grand Examination was handled by the Ecclesiastical Office, so naturally, the positions were arranged by them as well.
The National Academy's position… was at the very front.
Even ahead of the Celestial Academy.
Facing the rising sun, it was extremely conspicuous.
Whether it was the crowd of onlookers or the southern youths opposite, everyone could easily see them.
Under the gaze of ten thousand eyes, it was very convenient.
A brief silence fell over the scene. Everyone looked at the three youths of the National Academy.
Then… a roar of discussion erupted.
They had heard that the youth hadn't even succeeded in marrow cleansing, yet he wanted to take the top spot? Was this a joke? That young man was the sole grandson of the Wenshui Tang family? How much money had Old Master Tang spent on him? Who was that brutish-looking fellow? Only thirteen years old? So he was a dim-witted demon youth.
The students of the Celestial Academy were the most angered by the National Academy's position at the front. Ever since the National Academy had fallen into disrepair over a decade ago, the Celestial Academy had been the undisputed leader among the Ivy Academies. Who would have thought that the position they had held in previous years would be taken by the National Academy this year? Zhuang Huanyu said nothing, but a Celestial Academy student rebuked, "And you're late today?"
Tang Thirty-Six had deliberately dressed up today. His green robe fluttered, a jade belt cinched his waist, and he held a paper fan in his hand, his expression cold and aloof beyond words.
He didn't even acknowledge his former classmate. He lightly waved his paper fan, feeling quite dashing, when suddenly he heard a burp from beside him.
Somewhat annoyed, he turned around, covering his nose with his fan, and said to Xuanyuan Po, "I told you not to eat so much, but you wouldn't listen. What's so good about leftover venison?"
Xuanyuan Po rubbed his chest and said sheepishly, "I heard the Grand Examination sometimes lasts three days and three nights without giving you anything to eat. How terrifying is that? Besides, even though it's been cold lately, that venison has been sitting for two days. If it sits for another three, it'll go bad. Wasting food isn't good."
Hearing this exchange, the students nearby had expressions that were incredibly varied.
The Grand Examination was imminent, and these two from the National Academy still had the mood to discuss such things?
Chen Changsheng had no mood to discuss them.
At this moment, under the gaze of countless people, he felt a bit lonely.
He wanted to go back to Xining Town.
He was particularly sensitive to gazes right now.
He noticed that someone was not looking at him.
It was a youth.
That youth stood in the ranks of the Star Picking Academy but did not wear the military-like uniform of that academy.
Despite the cold weather, the youth wore only a single layer of clothing, even rolling up his sleeves, exposing his forearms to the chilly wind.
At this moment, everyone before the Detached Palace was looking at Chen Changsheng, but that youth was gazing at the distant sun about to leap over the horizon.
Amidst the sea of people, that youth looked especially lonely.
Chen Changsheng suddenly felt that this youth was a kindred spirit.
(The first cool guy of "The Legend of the Selection of Heaven" makes his appearance, cooler than Tang Tang, because he's genuinely cool. I like this chapter.)