In Anping County, there was a courtyard residence that was typically quiet and secluded.
Its main gate was usually shut tight, with only the occasional birdsong to break the silence. But today, it was bustling with voices and extraordinarily lively.
As the temporary registration point for the Daoist School selection, a short line had already formed in front of the residence’s gate, stretching all the way to the mouth of the alley.
About a dozen young men had gathered inside the courtyard. They were either from the city’s academies or were Noble Family Descendants with deep-rooted scholarly traditions.
Some were dressed in opulent clothing, attended by page boys and servants, and fanned themselves with an arrogant air. Others were dressed shabbily and simply, standing alone while tightly clutching the hems of their clothes, their eyes filled with nervousness and anxiety.
But regardless of their origins, their faces all held the same mixture of nervousness and anticipation. This gate was the starting point, the divide between the mortal and the immortal.
Chu Bai stood in the line, his expression calm as he silently observed his surroundings.
’Anping County has thousands of students of the right age each year, but the ones who actually dare to register, and are qualified to do so, probably number only in the dozens.’
’This very first hurdle sifts out ninety-nine percent of the applicants. It’s cruel, but it’s reality.’
In the center of the courtyard was a wide Purple Sandalwood desk. A middle-aged man in the standard cyan robe of the Daoist School sat formally behind it.
His features were stern and his eyes sharp. With a solemn expression, he radiated an oppressive Spiritual Pressure. He was clearly a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a profound Cultivation, perhaps even an Instructor from the Daoist School.
"Next," the middle-aged man said indifferently. His voice wasn’t loud, but it held an unquestionable authority.
A young man in brocade robes, who had been in front of Chu Bai, stepped forward. He looked to be about eighteen or nineteen and was dressed in expensive silks, but he seemed exceptionally nervous at the moment. As he handed over his Seal and Ribbon, his hand trembled slightly, and his eyes darted about, unable to meet the examiner’s gaze.
The middle-aged man took the Seal and Ribbon and glanced at it, but he didn’t inspect it right away. Instead, he raised his head, his eyes—which seemed capable of piercing a person’s very soul—stared intently at the young man, his gaze as sharp as a bolt of lightning.
"The Daoist School selection prioritizes bone age and foundation. According to Great Zhou Law, all who enter the Daoist School must have a bone age no greater than eighteen."
The middle-aged man’s voice was level, yet it reached the ears of everyone present with perfect clarity, like a tolling alarm. "If anyone attempts to cheat, not only will their eligibility be revoked on the spot, but the act will be officially recorded, announced to the entire County, and they will be blacklisted. Their future path of cultivation will be effectively severed, and they may even implicate their family."
"Have you thought this through?"
Upon hearing this, the brocade-robed youth trembled violently, as if struck by lightning. Beads of cold sweat instantly formed on his forehead and trickled down his cheeks. Under the pressure of a true Cultivator, his petty scheme to bluff his way through was laid bare, and his psychological defenses crumbled in an instant.
"I... I..."
The youth stretched out a trembling hand, frantically snatched his Seal and Ribbon back from the desk, and stammered, "I... I just remembered I have urgent business at home! I... I’m not registering! I’m withdrawing my application!"
After speaking, he didn’t even dare to meet the eyes of the people around him. Hiding his face with his sleeve, he scurried away in disgrace, his retreating figure a portrait of panic.
A wave of whispers immediately rippled through the crowd. Some people scoffed, while others sighed.
Chu Bai let out a soft sigh, feeling no sense of mockery.
’Bone age is an unchangeable flaw, an irreversible fact.’
’The young man was clearly unwilling to accept his fate and wanted to gamble on slipping through. But this first stage of screening is just that cruel; it leaves no room for luck.’
’It’s a good thing he took the hint. Otherwise, things would have gotten really ugly.’
"Next." The middle-aged man remained expressionless, as if the scene that had just unfolded was a common occurrence. He didn’t even bat an eye.
It was Chu Bai’s turn.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward. With a composed expression, he presented the Seal and Ribbon of Cyan Cloud Academy and the wooden token that identified him as an Inner Sect Disciple.
"Chu Bai of Cyan Cloud Academy pays his respects, Senior."
The middle-aged man accepted the documents. After verifying them, he looked up at Chu Bai. Seeing the young man’s calm and steady demeanor, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
Then, he extended a long, slender finger and placed it on Chu Bai’s wrist.
A gentle yet irresistible stream of Spiritual Power probed Chu Bai’s body, circulating swiftly through his meridians.
A moment later, the middle-aged man withdrew his finger. A faint smile touched his previously stern face, and a glint of appreciation appeared in his eyes.
"Qi Cultivation First Layer. Your Spiritual Power is pure and condensed, and your foundation is exceptionally solid. You cultivated using Pure Qi, and there’s not the slightest trace of Evil Qi or Demon Power mixed in. It’s clear you’ve trained painstakingly."
’To break through to the Qi Cultivation Stage at his age with such a pure foundation, showing no signs of having used any forceful, shortcut-taking elixirs... truly a rarity.’
The middle-aged man nodded slightly. He picked up a vermilion brush, made a heavy checkmark next to Chu Bai’s name on the register, and handed him a numbered iron waist-token.
"You meet the standard. Registration approved. Be here at 7:00 AM tomorrow with this token to enter the grounds. Do not be late."
"Thank you, Senior."
Chu Bai accepted the registration token with both hands, a great weight finally lifting from his heart. This waist-token was his ticket to a much wider world.
As he walked out of the residence’s main gate, the sunlight was a bit dazzling. The streets were bustling with carts and horses, and a wave of noise washed over him.
Chu Bai was weighing the silver in his pockets, pondering what sort of gift would be appropriate to bring to his Second Uncle’s home. After all, he would be staying there for a few days, and it was important to be courteous. Just as he stepped off the stairs, he bumped right into someone who was rushing toward the gate.
"Sorry, my apologies..."
The person had his head down and was about to apologize, but when he looked up and saw Chu Bai, he froze. A moment later, a delighted smile bloomed across his face—the pure joy of meeting an old friend in an unfamiliar place.
"Brother Chu! You’re here too!"
It was Gu Qinghe.
He was travel-worn and his clothes were slightly disheveled. His shoes were even speckled with mud, a clear sign he had rushed all the way here.
But his entire being radiated an unprecedented level of Spirit, Essence, and Qi. The gloominess that usually clouded his brow had lifted, replaced by the confidence and sharp aura that radiates from within after breaking through to a new Realm.
"Brother Gu?" Chu Bai was surprised. He then sensed the aura his friend had yet to fully restrain. Although the Spiritual Power fluctuations were still a bit unstable, they were unmistakably characteristic of the Qi Cultivation Stage.
He smiled. "You broke through?"
"Yes!" Gu Qinghe nodded emphatically, his eyes shining with excitement, even welling up with tears. "Just last night! I finally managed to break through that last barrier! That’s why I rushed over to register. I almost thought I wouldn’t make it in time."
The past half-year of bitter training, the resilience he showed being knocked down and getting back up time and again at the Zhao Mansion, the days he went without even a bite of meat just to save money—it had all finally borne fruit at the very last moment.
"Excellent! I knew you were destined for greater things, Brother Gu. The Celestial Dao rewards the diligent. The ancients were right." Chu Bai was genuinely happy for his classmate. They were both Lower-class Youths, and it wasn’t easy for them to have made it this far.
Gu Qinghe seemed to have a million things he wanted to share with Chu Bai: the perils of his breakthrough, his hopes for the future. But Chu Bai glanced at the sundial in the courtyard; its shadow had already grown quite long.
He clapped Gu Qinghe on the shoulder and reminded him, "We can catch up later. The registration is about to close, and that Senior is a stickler for the rules. Don’t miss your chance."
Gu Qinghe snapped back to reality and smiled gratefully. "Thanks for the reminder, Brother Chu! I’ll head in now. See you at the examination grounds tomorrow!"
With that, he hurried into the courtyard, his steps so light he seemed about to take flight.

Comments

Loading...