Chapter 36: Public Test (Part One)

Haotian Empire, Royal Academy!

The long-awaited annual day for enrolling new students had finally arrived. The reason for admissions being held in November was that the twenty-sixth of November marked the founding day of the Royal Academy. With new students joining that month, they would soon be able to participate in the academy’s anniversary celebrations, a thoughtful arrangement meant to foster a sense of belonging among the newcomers.

For the citizens of the Haotian Empire, gaining entry into the Royal Academy was a lifelong aspiration. Graduating from the academy was tantamount to receiving the empire’s highest recognition, and it served as the essential ticket to step into the empire’s political and military spheres. Nearly all major officials in both the government and military across the Haotian Empire held diplomas from the Royal Academy; this certificate was the empire’s most prestigious qualification.

Located on the southwestern outskirts of the capital, the Royal Academy nestled beside the Azure Dragon Mountains, surrounded on three sides by picturesque hills. Today, the academy welcomed a great number of hopeful students who had traveled from all over the empire’s provinces to register.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a carriage adorned with the Du clan’s crest moved forward at a slow pace. Inside sat Lady Zhou Ruoxue of the Du family with her cherished son, Du Long, accompanied by Xia Qinglian and Du Caini. The four made their way into the depths of the Royal Academy.

Students from every corner of the empire looked on with envy at the carriage bearing the clan insignia. On a day like today, only the most illustrious clans of the empire could arrive in such style, and the children of these families, unless they performed abysmally, were virtually guaranteed a bright future and high status.

Those of humble birth, lacking connections, could spend a lifetime toiling at the bottom if no benefactor took notice.

The Du family’s carriage did not stop at the registration point at the gate but continued onward into the academy. Lifting the curtain, Du Long gazed at the sea of people and sighed, “There must be at least ten thousand people registering! Even with a dozen lines processing them simultaneously, it would take days to get through this crowd.”

“Most of them are applying to the Literary Arts Class, followed by the Military Arts Class. As for the Martial Arts Class, the numbers are much smaller. Only those between sixteen and twenty who have reached the ninth tier of Qi Nurturing can hope to join. Those at the eighth tier must rely on luck, and as for those who’ve attained the Qi Cyclone stage, not even one appears every few years!” explained Du Caini, who, being a senior student, knew the academy well.

“Indeed,” Xia Qinglian added softly. “Those who reach their twenties or thirties and are still stuck at the Qi Nurturing stage know that martial cultivation is hopeless for them, so they switch to the Literary or Military Arts. But those paths require years of effort, which is why you even see some applicants with gray hair.”

While the four chatted in the carriage, they soon arrived at the academy’s rear training grounds, where rows of carriages were already parked. Officials from the capital and other provinces had all brought their children to register.

Most of these privileged youths simply wanted the academy’s diploma to gild their resumes. With that and their family’s influence, rising through the ranks or acquiring titles would be a mere formality.

After disembarking, Du Caini led the group toward the registration area by the field. Several gazes followed them from afar—some friendly, some hostile.

“See that beautiful woman in the white dress? That’s Xia Qinglian, once the famed star of Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.”

“Brother Wei, look! That’s Du Long and Xia Qinglian. Who would have thought, without her veil, Xia Qinglian is as stunning as a celestial maiden! Such a beauty, and she’s been claimed by Du Long of all people—it’s a crime against nature!”

“Exactly! I bet that wretch has been with Du Long for ages now. She may be beautiful, but she’s already a fallen flower!”

Fan Wei’s face darkened as he stared at Du Long’s group, his eyes lingering malevolently on Xia Qinglian. He had always regarded her as his destined prize, never imagining that she would become another man’s woman. Jealousy burned within him.

“Caini! Over here!” The Princess of Fire Phoenix and her companions spotted Du Caini from a distance and greeted her with beaming faces, waving her over.

Yue Xiaoshan had long since fallen in with this crowd. Over the past year, he had taken a shine to Lin Shi, daughter of a third-rank Minister of Rites. Lin Shi was gentle and petite; if the two truly became a pair, it would be the classic beauty and the beast!

Seeing Lady Zhou Ruoxue with them, everyone greeted her politely. Zhou Ruoxue’s eyes lit up at the sight of so many lovely young women. Smiling, she nodded to them all before saying, “Well then, I’ll go say hello to some old friends. I’ll let you young people enjoy yourselves—I won’t intrude.”

As Lady Zhou Ruoxue walked off toward a group of official’s wives, the young people collectively breathed a sigh of relief. After all, young people found it hard to be at ease with elders present.

“Du Long, let’s go register! After that, we’ll have to wait a bit before the public test of cultivation begins,” the Princess of Fire Phoenix, seemingly back to her lively self, took Du Long by the arm and practically pulled him toward the registration point.

With the princess herself bringing Du Long to register, the process was simple. The academy’s instructor in charge of registration merely asked a few questions about Du Long and Xia Qinglian’s identities, recorded their details, and told them to wait for the public test.

Having finished, Du Long began to survey the grandest academy of the Haotian Empire. Outwardly calm, his heart was anything but tranquil.

In his previous life, due to his constitution, he had been unable to enter the Royal Academy. Even joining the Literary Arts Class was a struggle, competing with countless students nationwide for a few precious spots. The Royal Academy did not allow for backdoor entries—not even for princes or princesses.

That was precisely why the Royal Academy of the Haotian Empire was so renowned across the Star Continent. Even foreigners were willing to travel great distances to study there. As long as they met the academy’s requirements, they would be treated equally.

Of course, foreigners had to pay tuition many times higher than the empire’s own citizens.

“Hmph! Isn’t this just an ordinary school in a primitive society? What’s there to be so excited about? Anything they teach here, I already know. Why waste time in such a place? Wouldn’t it be better to focus on cultivation? Once you reach the pinnacle of personal strength, so-called power and influence are nothing but jokes!” A disdainful laugh echoed in Du Long’s mind—it was, of course, the spirit of the ring, expressing her unsolicited opinions as usual.

“Be that as it may, since I live in this world, I must abide by its customs. Just as you once said, if I fail to meet expectations, you’ll seek out another master. So I need to secure my own place in this world, and it’s always wise to prepare for the worst. The more paths I have, the more choices I’ll have for the future, right?”

“You… Hmph! There’s no point in arguing with you. Do as you like—just don’t regret it later!” Clearly angered, the spirit of the ring stamped her foot and fell silent.

While they chatted, a group of more than ten people arrived on the platform of the training field. One of them, a white-bearded old man with a slightly lazy air, stepped forward, stood in the center, and announced in a loud voice, “Attention, everyone! The special admissions test for the Martial Arts Class of the Royal Academy of Haotian Empire, Star Calendar year 1006, is about to begin. All candidates, prepare yourselves—when your name is called, come up to the stage for testing!”

With those words, the white-bearded old man turned with a wave of his sleeve, found a chair, and sat down with an air of lazy indifference, savoring a cup of fragrant tea.

“That old man is the headmaster of the Royal Academy, Du Long. Remember, whatever you do, don’t offend him, or your days here will be very difficult,” Du Caini whispered with a hint of awe in her eyes as she watched the old man.

Du Long nodded quietly, eyes fixed on the white-bearded headmaster. Despite his nonchalant demeanor, an invisible aura of authority radiated from him.

Sensing Du Long’s gaze, the headmaster looked back, and in that brief exchange, a sharp glint seemed to flash in his eyes before he quickly looked away, murmuring to himself, “Just as Old Du said, this grandson’s cultivation is perfectly concealed—even I can’t see through it. How strange!”

“Does the headmaster always personally attend the academy’s admission events?” Du Long asked Du Caini, puzzled.

“No, he usually doesn’t get involved in admissions. He only appears when recruiting martial cultivators, as he seems to value the martial path highly,” Du Caini replied quietly.

At that moment, one of the instructors on stage pulled a red cloth aside, revealing a transparent crystal over two meters tall. Another instructor, holding a register, began to call names. As each candidate was called, they went up to the stage to have their cultivation tested.

The process was simple: the candidate placed their hand on a circular bulge at the center of the crystal and channeled their Haotian True Qi into it. A brilliant white light would rise from the base of the crystal, climbing upward.

The crystal displayed three major scales, each subdivided into nine smaller degrees. Engraved on the main scales were three bold labels: Qi Nurturing Stage, Qi Cyclone Stage, and Qi Sea Stage.

Beside the nine sub-divisions on each scale were markings for first, second… up to ninth tier.

“Zhang Kai, son of the sixth-rank Martial Commandant Zhang Jingbian, nineteen years old. Test result: Ninth-tier Qi Nurturing, complete!”

A young man withdrew his hand from the crystal, turning with a hint of pride to look at the crowd. Behind him, the white light had stopped at the eighth mark of the Qi Nurturing scale. The instructor recorded the result impartially—such public tests left no room for deceit.

The testing proceeded briskly. Most candidates were the children of military officers, with a few from civil service families. Results clustered around the eighth and ninth tiers of Qi Nurturing, though a few sixth or seventh-tier candidates also took part, drawing occasional jeers.

“Li Xiaojun, son of the second-rank General Li, eighteen years old, early ninth-tier Qi Nurturing!”

Li Xiaojun withdrew his hand from the crystal, bowed proudly to the audience, and, with a provocative glance at Du Long, left the stage to rejoin his circle.

“Congratulations, Brother Xiaojun! To reach ninth-tier Qi Nurturing before twenty guarantees your entry into the Martial Arts Class! Ha ha!”

Many hurried up to congratulate him. Zhao Liner, in particular, was delighted, clinging to his arm and pressing close as if eager for all to see their relationship, all while sneaking glances at Du Long.

Du Long, however, didn’t spare them a single glance, ignoring them completely.

“Next, Xia Qinglian! Please come up for your test!”