Chapter 23, Entrance Examination
The thirtieth day of the first lunar month is the last day of January according to the Tianlong calendar. Although it is winter at this time, Chaoge, the capital of the Tianlong Empire, is located in the south and has a mild climate. This day is a beautiful day with good wind and sunshine.
At the end of the day, the square in front of the gate of Tianlong College in the west of the city was crowded with people. People were enjoying the sunshine while waiting to see the students' registration references.
This Tianlong Academy is the first temple for cultivating monks in the Tianlong Dynasty and has a high status.
It was jointly founded by the major forces on the mainland more than 6,000 years ago, and its history is much earlier than the current Tianlong Dynasty.
It was named after Tianlong Continent rather than Tianlong Dynasty, but Tianlong Dynasty also borrowed the name of Tianlong Continent, so it sounds like Tianlong Academy is the royal academy of Tianlong Dynasty, but in fact it is not.
Tianlong Academy is an independent existence. It has its own land, mines, and real estate. It also has the most profitable manufacturing industries such as elixirs and weapon refining, as well as various commercial and service industries such as restaurants, hotels, and department store retail.
These industries continue to bring huge financial income to the college. At the same time, various forces across the continent, including the royal family and major families, will fund the college for a long time, and the college will often receive various donations.
Tianlong Academy covers an area of more than 200 square miles, and its office area is located in the west of the city, covering an area of more than 40 square miles, including a small lake of more than ten square miles.
This small lake is long and narrow, half inside the city and half outside the city. The tall city wall cuts it in half, and the city wall here becomes a bridge embankment of nearly 100 feet.
Nineteen wide bridge holes connect the lakes inside and outside the city. The part outside the city is connected to a large lake of nearly 100 square miles. The big lake is called Dali Lake, and the small lake is called Xiaolu Lake.
Outside the city is the teaching campus without walls. The ancients used the Luxiang River that flows through Dalu Lake outside the city to cut out a wide river channel and surround a large area including these two lakes and the surrounding land, forming a rough It is a rectangle with an area of about 180 square miles. The two campuses outside and inside the city together make up the entire Tianlong Academy.
Tianlong Academy has four gates and several small gates, one gate in each of the north, southwest and south directions outside the city. The east gate of the city is the main entrance. Three wide white jade arch bridges spaced five feet apart span a river and connect the two sides. The west of the bridge is the interior of the college, and the east of the bridge is the main gate of the college.
The stone bridge spans the east bank and extends into a white jade square with an area of thousands of square feet. Opposite the stone bridge, three connected tall stone gate towers are erected. On the middle gate tower, a white jade plaque is engraved with the four ancient simple words of Tianlong Academy. Big letters.
The entire square and gatehouse appear to be simple, but in fact they are made of luxurious materials, majestic and have hidden defensive formations.
Today is the last half day for registration and assessment of new students in the college. The enrollment window for this season will close after noon.
Most of the students taking the exam have taken the exam in the previous six days. There are obviously many fewer candidates coming to take the exam today. However, although there are fewer candidates, the number of people who come to accompany the candidates and watch the excitement has not decreased much, but they cannot rely on the gatehouse area. Too close, a yellow line on the ground blocked them two feet away from the gate tower.
Only candidates can enter the yellow line. Although it is only a line, no one dares to cross it. At this time, most people are gathered outside the yellow line on the left side of the gate tower.
On the left side of the gatehouse inside the yellow line, there are five large mahogany desks lined up. The desks are about five feet apart from each other. There are two young students standing behind each desk, and a teacher sits behind them. There are basically one or two students standing next to the teacher's chair, and behind them there are some various instruments used for testing.
On the far left, near the yellow line, there is a middle-aged teacher standing with three young students. All four of them are wearing red armbands, obviously maintaining order.
As soon as the hour came, candidates came to register one after another. Because it was the last half day, there were very few people who registered. It was almost noon, and there were no candidates who registered in front of the five tables. No one came to see the admissions assessment. They also walked nearly halfway.
Seeing this, the short, fat old man with a short beard behind the third table from left to right stood up from his chair and walked towards the four people on the far left. As he got closer, the old man smiled and said: "Elder Wang, most likely not at this time. Someone will come again, why don't we go for a walk by the river? Just let the boys watch."
The middle-aged teacher who was the first of the four people standing on the left looked at the sun and said: "If Mr. Du is bored, I will accompany you for a walk by the river. It is unlikely that anyone will come at this time, but anyway it is only half It’s been an hour, so we’d better withdraw when the time comes.”
As he spoke, Elder Wang accompanied Elder Du to walk under the shade of the trees by the river. As he walked, he turned back and said to a young student in white clothes behind him: "Fang Yi, please take care of your two junior brothers. Don't neglect it just because the time is almost up." ”
Zheng Fangyi agreed and still stood still with his waist straight.
At this moment, a fourteen-year-old girl in red among the crowd of onlookers crossed the yellow line and walked towards Zheng Fangyi. Zheng Fanyi frowned slightly and said: "Junior sister Duan, although you are a student of the academy, you are still not here right now." It’s time to cross the yellow line.”
The girl Duan Xiaoyu didn't care so much and said loudly: "Senior Brother, why did you, Elder Wang, leave? The time has not come yet. You just withdrew?"
"Who said Elder Wang was gone? He was taking a walk and talking with Elder Du," Zheng Fangyi said, "We didn't evacuate either."
"That's not bad," Duan Xiaoyu said, "If you dare to withdraw early, I will tell the master to go."
"No," Zheng Fangyi said hurriedly, and then said to Duan Xiaoyu, "Junior sister, I understand how you feel. That brother is a man, and I admire him very much, but he...Junior sister, you where to?"
Duan Xiaoyu suddenly rushed into the crowd like a gust of wind, pulling a tall young man in blue and shouting excitedly: "Brother Shitou, you are here! You are really here! Great, great! I knew you would not If something happens, I will definitely come to take the assessment. Come with me!" After saying that, he dragged him and ran towards Zheng Fangyi.
While running, he cheered and shouted at Zheng Fanyi: "I said he would definitely come, Senior Brother, I didn't lie to you."
This young man in blue is Qingshi. He traveled day and night to get to Yaowu and boarded the spaceship coming to Chao Ge.
After asking the crew, he found out that he could catch up with the last registration opportunity on the day he arrived. He found out the direction and route of Tianlong Academy. After getting off the boat, he hurried to the gate of Tianlong Academy. Little did he know that he had just arrived here. Before he could see the situation clearly, Duan Xiaoyu discovered him and dragged him in.
Qingshi was also very happy to see Duan Xiaoyu, but at this time he just wanted to sign up quickly, but Duan Xiaoyu couldn't stop talking. She introduced the two of them to each other and then started to ask Qingshi what happened after falling off the spaceship. Qingshi couldn't help but A bit dumbfounded.
Zheng Fangyi already understood the situation and quickly stopped Xiaoyu and said: "Junior sister, you have been waiting for this person for so long, don't delay the registration by just talking!"
Duan Xiaoyu said quickly: "Yes, yes, sign up first." Then he pulled Qingshi to the first table on the left and shouted, "Sign up."
The two disciples and the teacher behind them all seemed to recognize Duan Xiaoyu, and they all nodded and smiled to say hello. Seeing another person sign up, they also cheered up. Those watching the excitement outside also became excited. The assessments were often exciting, which naturally attracted a lot of people. Watch.
A yellow-haired student behind the table picked up a writing brush and asked, "May I ask your name?"
Duan Xiaoyu replied: "Blue stone."
The student raised his head and said with a smile: "Junior sister Xiaoyu, would you rather ask the candidates to answer the questions themselves?"
Xiaoyu curled her lips and stopped talking.
Qingshi smiled slightly and replied: "Blue stone, blue blue, stone stone."
"Well, Qingshi," the yellow-haired student filled in his name and asked, "Where is your place of origin?"
"Maozhu Town, Huadu Prefecture, Jiangyang County, Mingshan State."
"age?"
"Eighteen years old."
"Well, eighteen...what? Eighteen!" The yellow-haired student looked up at the bluestone and said, "Are you kidding?"
"What's wrong?" Qingshi asked, but he already guessed why?
"The age limit for new students in the outer courtyard of our martial arts academy is sixteen years old. If you come here when you are eighteen years old, what are you causing trouble?"
"I don't know about this?" Qingshi replied.
"Oh, I went wrong," Duan Xiaoyu pulled Qingshi and ran to the second table, "Here, here, report directly to the inner courtyard. I am from the inner courtyard, but..." She seemed to feel Something is wrong.
The two people behind this table are obviously older, but they obviously recognize Duan Xiaoyu. They all smiled and nodded in greeting.
"Hey, Fourth Qin," Duan Xiaoyu said, "What's the age limit in our inner courtyard?"
"Twenty-two." Qin Laosi replied.
"That's great," Duan Xiaoyu said with a smile, and then asked hesitantly, "Is there any limit to the cultivation level? I seem to remember that there is, but I can't remember the level."
"The cultivation limit is high-level Qi Gathering Realm, which is above the seventh level," Qin Laosi said, "I don't know what level this brother is in, so he might as well show his true energy."
Qingshi smiled awkwardly and said: "No need, I am in the third level of Qi Gathering Realm. Sorry, I came in a hurry, and I don't know the specific admissions rules of your hospital."
Duan Xiaoyu was discouraged and looked at Qingshi and said: "Brother Qingshi, what should I do? Why don't you come back in three years? I'll ask my grandfather to give you guidance. You will definitely be admitted to the inner academy in three years. Or go back to Liangyuan College first." That’s fine, I’ll just ask grandpa to say hello.”
Qingshi had other plans and smiled at Xiaoyu and said thank you. Then he turned to Zheng Fanyi, who had been following him, and said: "Brother Zheng, I see that these two places are respectively written as the outer courtyard of the martial arts academy and the inner courtyard of the martial arts academy. It seems that I am not qualified. What are the conditions of the three places over there? , please introduce me to Brother Zheng, so as not to make a joke again."
What he said was true. Now he has become the subject of jokes among the few martial arts inner and outer academy students and the onlookers.
Zheng Fanyi knew that he was afraid that Duan Xiaoyu would not explain clearly and be careless and ask him. He had already known about Qingshi's airship's deeds of sacrificing himself to save others, and he admired Qingshi. When Qingshi asked, he stepped forward to introduce him.
It turns out that the three desks here are the admissions offices of Shudao Academy, namely the Formation Branch, Qidao Branch and Dandao Branch of Shudao Academy.
More than 90% of the students in the academy are martial arts practitioners. Therefore, the martial arts academy is divided into outer academy, inner academy and high academy. The higher academy only selects students from within the academy and does not recruit students directly.
The Shudao Academy has a small population and is divided into three branches. Therefore, admissions are not divided into grades. After admission, students will be assigned to the inner or outer hospital depending on the assessment.
Those who practice martial arts are unique among thousands, so they are naturally very valuable, so they have a higher status within the academy. The outer courtyard of the martial arts academy is on par with the inner courtyard of the martial arts academy, and the inner courtyard is equivalent to the high academy of the martial arts academy.
After listening to Zheng Fangyi's introduction, Qingshi smiled slightly and said, "Then I'll go to the academy to try it out." Then he walked towards the admissions office of the Formation Branch.
Now those who were watching the fun and laughing were even more excited, and all the people outside the yellow line crowded towards the Zhendao branch.
Duan Xiaoyu clapped her hands and shouted: "Oh, I almost forgot, Brother Shitou is originally a formation master." Her shout immediately caused a commotion. The magic practice is unique among thousands. This time, the enrollment of the formation master is also Not twenty people were recruited, so when she called out, even several students from the Formation Academy and the teacher became slightly excited.
Qingshi came to the table of the Formation Academy and asked respectfully to a fat student: "Excuse me, big brother, what are the requirements to enter the Formation Academy? This kid is very interested in the Formation Academy and wants to give it a try."
The student from the Formation Academy who was questioned saw Duan Xiaoyu and Zheng Fangyi personally accompanying the young man to inquire, and heard Duan Xiaoyu say that he was originally a Xuan Formation Master. He did not dare to neglect at that moment and quickly answered: "From the Formation Academy The requirements are that you are no more than twenty-one years old, your cultivation level is no lower than Qi Gathering Realm, and you are a first-level array mage. Of course, you still need to be assessed and verified."
Duan Xiaoyu cheered and said: "Great, now Brother Shitou has no problem entering the academy," he said to the fat student, "His name is Qingshi, he is eighteen years old, he is in the third level of Qi Gathering Realm, and he is an array master."
The fat student nodded repeatedly and said with a smile: "That's great. In that case, just sign up for the assessment immediately." He then picked up a pen to write the registration.
Qingshi thought of a question and asked with a wry smile: "This elder brother said that it is enough to be a first-level array mage. Should you conduct the assessment directly based on the difficulty of the first-level array or do you need to provide the registration certificate of a first-level array mage first?" ?”
"Of course you have to provide the registration certificate first," said the fat student. "How else can we recognize that you have the assessment qualifications?"
"Alas," Qingshi shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I can set up a level one or even a level two magic circle, but I have never taken the exam and registered." He turned around and left. Fatty, other classmates, teachers, Xiaoyu, Zheng Fangyi and others were all stunned on the spot.
There was a burst of laughter from outside the yellow line, and then a burst of laughter and ridicule:
"I'm afraid this guy is here to show off, hahaha..."
"I'm afraid he came here specifically to tease Tianlong Academy!"
"Hey, buddy, you might as well go to the recruitment office in the hospital and give it a try. They are also looking for tutors!"
Duan Xiaoyu was furious, waved his fist at the crowd and said, "Whoever dares to laugh again will see me break his front teeth." Seeing that the crowd calmed down a little, he quickly went to look at Qingshi, only to see him walking towards Dan under everyone's astonished gaze. Taoist College Admissions Office.
"May I ask this young lady, what are the registration requirements for the Alchemy Academy? I want to see if I am qualified." Qingshi walked to the table and said to a small girl.
The girl, like everyone else, had been watching Qingshi making jokes everywhere, and she had roughly guessed what he was going to do when he came over.
Seeing that he really asked, she had no choice but to answer. However, before she could speak, the teacher behind her spoke: "Boy, it's time for you to have fun. Go away quickly. If you try to flatter others again, be careful, I'll slap you. Believe it or not."
Qingshi frowned slightly and said: "This senior has misunderstood. I didn't mean to please everyone, and I don't dare to tease you. I really want to enter the academy to practice. I don't understand the admissions rules and disturbed everyone in the first three places. I am also very sorry. . But I still want to try again, please help me, senior."
The teacher wanted to continue scolding, but he hesitated after hearing his sincerity. At this time, I heard a voice next to me: "Elder Xu, please be patient." Looking up, it was Elder Wang, the admissions supervisor, who had returned from a walk with Elder Du.
Elder Wang already understood the situation and came over just in time to see this scene, so he intervened.
Just listen to Elder Wang saying: "Please introduce the rules to this candidate according to the rules. If he is really here to cause trouble, I will break his legs myself without Elder Xu taking action." After speaking, he turned to Qingshi and said coldly, "I will speak Forget it, if you really dare to cause trouble, even the Duan family's face won't be able to save you." After saying that, he glanced at Duan Xiaoyu, and it seemed that he actually knew about the Bluestone Spaceship rescuing people.
Duan Xiaoyu was confused: Why isn't Qingshi an array master? Why is he here to take the exam at the Alchemy Academy again?
Qingshi smiled slightly, nodded, and said to the dumbfounded little girl, "Please tell me."
The girl came back to her senses and said quickly: "The requirements of the Alchemy Academy are that you are no more than 18 years old, and your cultivation level is no lower than the seventh level of the Qi Training Realm. You can sign up if you are a first-level alchemist."
Qingshi seemed a little hesitant, and Duan Xiaoyu jumped anxiously. Then Elder Xu said: "You didn't say you could refine one-star or even two-star elixirs but didn't register, right?" After saying that, he sneered.
Qingshi said: "That's not possible." After saying that, he waved his hand and took out the jade pendant representing the identity of the second-level alchemist from the storage ring. Everyone's mental power swept over it, and they couldn't help but have different expressions, including surprise, excitement, disappointment, etc. One thing is enough.
For a moment, there was another commotion among the crowd. Elder Xu's expression softened and he said, "It seems that I have wrongly blamed you, so I will give you some trouble."
Qingshi quickly returned the gift and said he didn't dare.
Elder Xu said: "Your cultivation should have reached the third level of Qi Gathering Realm. Please show it to us according to the rules."
"Okay," Qingshi let out his true energy. There was another commotion among the onlookers. Eighteen-year-old second-level alchemists are still very rare, and magicians generally have low cultivation levels. It is also relatively rare for Qingshi to reach the third level of Qi Gathering Realm, so the onlookers broke out again:
"Bald Qian, you idiot. Your eyes are covered with cow shit and you still laugh at others for showing off. This guy is obviously an alchemy genius."
"Who said someone else came to tease the academy? Haven't they been so sincere and humble?"
"That's right, whoever was saying weird things and making fun of others just now is showing off now!"
Elder Xu nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "Okay, let's register for the assessment. According to the rules, even though you have a registration certificate, you still have to take the assessment." In a blink of an eye, he saw Qingshi's hesitant look, and couldn't help but frown and asked tentatively. He said, "You're not over 18 years old, are you?"
Qingshi smiled bitterly and said, "To be honest, I don't know."
"Why is this?" Elder Xu asked in confusion.
"To be honest," Qingshi looked at Elder Xu and said sincerely, "I was originally an orphan. When my master adopted me, he only knew that I was about seven years old and did not know the specific time of my birth, so it is not bad that I am eighteen years old this year. Yes, but it’s not like you’re over eighteen and you don’t really know it.”
"This is easy to do, you will know after you try it." Elder Wang said from the side, then took two steps and held Qingshi's palm with one hand. Qingshi and everyone looked at Elder Wang in silence.
After a few breaths, Elder Wang let go of the blue stone palm and sighed: "It's a pity, it's more than half a month, and the error is no more than three days."
"What?" Everyone's jaw dropped again.
Elder Wang felt regretful and couldn't help but think: This kid is too unlucky. He is obviously a good young man, but why is it that he is either unqualified or not up to standard? If he can really achieve level one or even level two Xuan Zhen, that means his attributes of Qi include fire, wood, and earth. This kind of talent is relatively rare.
Elder Wang wanted to find a way to admit him into the academy, but as the admissions supervisor, he was unable to speak out.
Elder Xu sighed and said, "Hey, what a pity." He looked up and saw that the time had come, and then said, "Enrollment is over this year, let's withdraw." Everyone sighed.
Qingshi didn't expect that he would get such a result after all the hard work, so he couldn't help but let out a long sigh, but he was unwilling to do so and shook his head with a cold snort.
Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he heard Elder Xu say: "Kid, please go slowly. I see you are dissatisfied, but do you blame me for being unfair?"
"Don't dare," Qingshi said loudly, "How dare Qingshi blame the elders for doing things according to the rules. However, the boy is indeed unwilling. To say that he is dissatisfied, I have some doubts about the age regulations of your hospital. I am older than the stipulated age. I am more than ten days older, so I have no chance to take the exam to enter the academy. However, I dare to say that among the students in your academy, there are naturally some students who are older than me, but when it comes to alchemy, not all of them may be older than me. Strong. To be honest, although I am a second-level alchemist, my alchemy level has already reached the third level, but I have not yet participated in the third-level assessment."
"These are two different things," Elder Xu said flatly, "The rules are the rules. No matter how talented you are, I have no right to accept you even if you are one day older."
"Hahaha, you dare to question the rules of Tianlong Academy, okay!" Suddenly there was a burst of laughter, but it was that Elder Du.
Elder Du is the vice-president of the Array Dao Academy and has a respected position. When he spoke now, everyone didn't know whether he was really applauding or saying something sarcastic. For a moment, they didn't dare to answer the words and just listened with bated breath.
Elder Du touched his short beard under his chin and said: "You have great courage. There are not many young people who dare to question the rules of Tianlong Academy. That's good! But Elder Xu is right. The rules are the rules and cannot be changed." No one knew that. What did he mean? Qingshi just stood silently and listened.
"Although our Tianlong Academy has rules, we are not inflexible," Du Lao said eloquently, "In such a situation where we need to break the rules but cannot break them, we have another rule! Why? , Elder Xu, have you forgotten?"
Elder Xu suddenly realized: "What Elder Du is talking about is a special move?"
Elder Wang also reacted and said repeatedly: "Yes, today's situation is suitable for special examinations."
Elder Xu hesitated and said: "Yes, it is applicable. There has been no special admission for a long time. I almost forgot that there is such a rule. I am really ashamed. However, this kid is only a second-level alchemist. I am afraid he will not take the special examination even if he is given the opportunity." But."
"Whether he passes the exam or not is his business," Elder Wang said. "Whether he is given a chance or not is our responsibility. Okay, as the current admissions supervisor, I announce that the special exam will be implemented."
