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0.42% Way of Choices / Chapter 5: Heavenly Dao Academy

Chapter 5: Heavenly Dao Academy

Just like every morning for the past fourteen years, Chen Changsheng woke up at five o'clock. Before he opened his eyes, he took five breaths to calm his mind. He got out of bed, put on his shoes and clothes, made the bed, then began to wash his face and rinse his mouth. This done, he went to the front hall of the inn and ate a bowl of duck meat porridge and four meat buns piping hot from the first batch. He returned to his room and used last night's old tea to rinse his mouth. He looked at a copper mirror and tidied up his clothes, and then he walked out into the small courtyard.

This was not Xining Village's small temple, so he didn't need to cut firewood and fetch water. He turned to the newborn morning fog and the distant daylight which passed through it, closed his eyes, and began to calmly think. In his mind, he silently began to recite the scrolls of the Dao. Only when he felt refreshed did he consider his homework complete. He exited a side door and walked onto the street which was gradually beginning to get more lively. In an extremely unremarkable fashion, he mixed into the crowd and started his day.

In his hand was a list naming various schools in the capital. After asking for directions to the first school from the market manager, he quickened his steps. He did not notice that a carriage followed behind him, nor did he realize that the horse had the blood of a Unicorn. And he even less noticed that the shaft of the carriage carried the gloomy crest of a blood-red Phoenix.

Countless years ago, the Heavenly Tomes descended to the earth and the minds of the people were opened. They developed into countless areas of study, but despite countless changes, none of them departed far from the original. They were all chasing the original source, and they were all included in the Daoist Canon—agriculture, business, and every other subject. As for the standard for evaluating these things, it was publicly acknowledged that the most authoritative standard was the Grand Examination held by the Great Zhou Dynasty each year.

The Grand Examination was first created by Emperor Taizu of the Zhou Dynasty. Whether entering the court to become an official, entering the army to become a general, or entering the Orthodoxy to become a priest, the scores from the Grand Examination were the most important criterion. Crucially, Emperor Taizu decreed that only those who ranked in the three banners had the qualifications to enter the Mausoleum of Books and look upon the Heavenly Tomes. Because of this rule, innumerable experts from around the world would congregate at the beginning of the year in the capital. In the very first Grand Examination, Emperor Taizu stood on the city wall and looked down at the geniuses of the various sects of the continent as they swarmed like fish to get in. He laughed and said a set of very famous words that also established the status of the Grand Examination.

The various kingdoms of the south, especially the Longevity Sect and other sects, were naturally extremely displeased by this rule. In their view, although the Mausoleum of Books was in the capital of the Great Zhou, the Heavenly Tomes were divine rocks that had descended to earth, so it was only natural to think that they were the shared wealth of the entire continent. For this reason, the south boycotted the Grand Examination several times, and the relations between both sides grew even worse.

However, the Mausoleum of Books was far too important to cultivators. Although the Great Zhou Dynasty was powerful, it could not risk facing condemnation for its monopoly over the mausoleum. The various powers of the south were also incapable of resisting the enticement of entering the Mausoleum of Books and viewing the Heavenly Tomes. Even in that period when the demons were pushed back and the two sides began to gradually distance themselves from each other, the south continued to resist on the surface, but there were still many experts from various sects who came in a private capacity to participate in the Grand Examination.

Finally, when the Divine Empress took power, the Zhou Dynasty at last reached an agreement with the southern powers. The various kingdoms and sects of the south could voluntarily send a diplomatic mission to take part in the Zhou Dynasty's Grand Examination. The evaluation would also be performed jointly by both sides. In addition, the students from the south could not accept the titles and offices conferred by the Zhou Dynasty. Everything else was considered equal. In the same way, under this new agreement, the Grand Examination received a new name.

Over countless years, the Grand Examination had selected countless experts. It was said that every one of the present experts who stood at the peak of the continent had once come to the capital of the Great Zhou and participated in the Grand Examination. And everyone knew for a fact that the present Pope of the Orthodoxy and the elder of the south's Holy Maiden Peak had both once been well-known figures in the Grand Examination. Not to mention how several geniuses from the Demi-human race in the west had transformed into humans and taken part in the test. Even a certain prince of the demons had risked coming to the capital, but the previous Pope had seen through his disguise, and the demon prince was turned into gray ash by the Pope's divine technique.

Those were all stories from many years ago. Now there were different questions on everyone's minds. Would the Longevity Sect's Qiushan Jun take part in next year's Grand Examination? How many of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws would enter the first banner? Would Xu Yourong break through beforehand and leave Holy Maiden Peak to return to the capital? Would that cold-blooded and mysterious genius expert in the wastelands of the demons appear before the common people for the first time, or would he continue his bloody mutual chase with the demon experts? Besides these things, what most concerned the people of the capital was which geniuses from the schools of the capital would cause their eyes to light up.

Yes, the capital had many schools. When the Divine Empress took power, the government was ruled harshly, but the style of government was well ordered and the lives of the people began to gradually improve. Over the past several decades, the world had been at peace and had entered a period of prosperity. Many schools had popped up like spring bamboo after the rain. In the last few years, there were even many private schools that especially focused on the Grand Examination, where experts of the Orthodoxy taught in secret. Of course, the most famous schools were also the most powerful, or those whose history was the longest. Amongst them, there were two schools whose history was even longer than that of the Zhou Dynasty.

Chen Changsheng's list had six schools. The Heavenly Dao Academy which he was heading to was ranked first on the list. The fact was that in the entire continent, the Heavenly Dao Academy had the qualifications to be ranked far in front—for almost two hundred years, students of the Heavenly Dao Academy had obtained the first rank of the first banner in the Grand Examination twenty-four times. The students that studied here were all extraordinarily gifted. This academy had produced many priests of important positions for the Orthodoxy, had consecrated countless cultivating geniuses for various sects. Most importantly, the current Pope of the Orthodoxy had once been a student of this academy.

The Heavenly Dao Academy had obtained the best scores throughout the history of the Grand Examination, so it was naturally the most difficult to enter, yet it still had the greatest number of people attempting its examination. Chen Changsheng walked over to the entrance of the Heavenly Dao Academy and saw the majestic and imposing school gate constructed of dark jade. When he saw the academy name which had been personally written by Emperor Taizu, he very naturally began to feel admiration and yearning. But soon after, this sensation was completely dispelled by the bustling market-like environment around the gate and the pungent smell of sweat and ink. He subconsciously lowered his head.

Before he left Xining, he had already calculated the time. The moment when he arrived in the capital was precisely when the great schools were recruiting new students for the springtime. He could also imagine that the people applying for the Heavenly Dao Academy would be many, but he could not imagine that there would be such a frightening number. Especially that crowd of youths leaning around by the gate with naughty expressions, pointing at people in the crowd. Their presence made him feel somewhat out of place.

The clothing those youths were wearing was all very similar. It was mostly black with a golden belt tied around the waist. It was probably the uniform of the Heavenly Dao Academy. Chen Changsheng knew that these youths were likely those old students that had not passed the Grand Examination at the beginning of the year. These people were proud and arrogant, but because they had failed the Grand Examination, they had rather foul moods. They would definitely not show a good face to these new students that had come to take the examination for the Heavenly Dao Academy. Hearing their sharp and unkind words, seeing the mockery in their eyes, he inadvertently lowered his head even more.

He didn't lower his head because he was afraid, but rather because he was somewhat of a clean freak, both physically and mentally. So he did not want to smell the stench of sweat coming from the crowd, nor did he want to hear those words.

"Look at that idiot over there, he looks just like a pig! There are still even some pockmarks on his face! Why does he want to stick a fan in his neck? Does he think he's Lord Huanyu? He didn't even think about how those layers of fat on his neck are almost about to snap that fan in two."

"You're right, look at how unstable and weak his footsteps are. At most, he only went through Purification two months ago. It's highly likely that he hasn't even toughened his muscles and bones before. To actually dare to come test for my Heavenly Dao Academy, just what does he think this place is? The Orthodox Academy? Haha…I really don't understand just what all these idiots are thinking. Could it be that with that weak and pitiful spiritual sense, they can become well-read in the Daoist Canon?"

"Well-read in the Daoist Canon? Even that bookworm Gou Hanshi would not dare to say these words, right? You sympathize with the bitter experience that idiot will go through in a while, but I sympathize with his father and mother. To suffer some humiliation is only second in importance, while the money spent beforehand can't be gotten back. If I were that idiot fatty's parents, I might as well take the money and go to the altar and buy a few pills for him to eat, make him lose some weight, and at least get him a wife."

"And so what if he gets a wife? Even the Cold Plum Pill only affects himself. In the future when he has seven or eight sons and daughters who are all as fat and stupid as him, raising a pack of pigs, are you telling me that's a good thing?"

Those students were heartily laughing while unrestrainedly discussing these examinees. Their words were exceptionally difficult to listen to, and they didn't even attempt to control their volume. Perhaps they even meant for the targets of their jeers to hear their commentary. It was extraordinarily repulsive. The fat youth that was the subject of their discussion was blushing, but he didn't dare to protest, because what those students said was the truth. He truly had only gone through Purification some ten-odd days ago. To get into the Heavenly Dao Academy had always been a near impossibility. Crucially, even if his luck was so good that it defied fate and he was able to enter the academy, he still would not be able to offend these seniors.

As Chen Changsheng walked through the crowd, he heard these filthy words and his brows slightly rose up. He thought to himself that if they were talking about him, he didn't know if he could hold back. Fortunately, his head was lowered and his air was far too normal. Amidst the crowd, he was very unremarkable and very difficult to notice. Luckily, he avoided being ridiculed and very smoothly passed through the dark jade gate and entered the academy.

Because he was thinking about these things and had his head lowered, he did not notice that on the two sides of the stone path that led into the Heavenly Dao Academy, there were two huge stone walls. On these walls were carved strange flowers and spirits, and in the middle, tightly packed together, several hundred names were written. It seemed like some sort of list. Many gazes rested on these names, fervent and admiring.

The family members and servants that followed all the prospective students were forbidden from entering the Heavenly Dao Academy, so once he walked into the academy, the environment suddenly became much quieter. Chen Changsheng extracted a pure white handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the fine beads of sweat off his forehead. After taking a breath, he felt somewhat more comfortable. Following the student in front of him, he lined up at the end of a very long queue.

The people taking the test to enter the Heavenly Dao Academy were many and the line was very long. It looked just like the legendary Hundred Zhang Branching Snake said to live in the west in the land of the demi-humans. It extended from that distant building all the way to this grass lawn. In the middle, it even passed through a clear stream. Many prospective students stood on the wooden bridge crossing the stream. Struck by the cold wind of the beginning of spring, their faces were so frozen that they seemed a little ashen.

Very quickly, people emerged from that distant building, all young men and women. Their faces were as ashen as those of the people on the bridge and were extremely unsightly. Since they weren't frozen, they had definitely not done very well on the examination. When the people still in line saw their dazed expressions, they instantly grew more nervous and were no longer in the mood to chatter.

Chen Changsheng didn't know anyone, so he naturally didn't chat with anyone. He looked at the distant building and thought it was rather interesting. Right now, he was concerned about whether the entrance exam for Heavenly Dao Academy was like what was described in the books, whether it still used that sort of method. Why was it that the people that had failed had come out so quickly in a wave? Or was it that the Heavenly Dao Academy's test really had changed?

The crowd incessantly moved forward, crossing the lawn and stream, but before they had even gotten close to the building, the line came to a bamboo shed. Seeing the solemn-faced Heavenly Dao Academy teacher sitting behind the stone table, seeing that rock on the table that was black as obsidian, Chen Changsheng realized what it was. He remembered an old lawsuit he had seen in a scroll and was a little stunned.


Chapter 6: The Blue-Clothed Youth Thirty-Six

The youths that attended the Heavenly Dao Academy's new student examination, under the orders of that solemn-faced teacher, came forward one by one, took up the stone, and tightly held it for three breaths of time. In the vast majority of the cases, the black stone would faintly glow in their hands, with very subtle differences of brightness. There was only a small minority of cases where a person took up the stone and the stone did not change whatsoever.

That black stone had a very ordinary name: the Sensory Stone. In the Daoist Canon, there was a scripture that described all sorts of fantastic items that could be found in the world. This scripture was called the "Classic of All Things". In that scripture, Chen Changsheng had once seen a picture of this stone and understood its magical properties—this black stone innately contained an energy similar to spiritual intent. It only needed to touch the body of a human for it to send a strand of energy into the body and stimulate the body's true essence. Then, similar to fishing, it would take a strand of that person's true essence and return to the black stone. The more abundant the true essence of the stone's holder, the stronger the spiritual sense, the more the black stone would take and the brighter it would glow. After many years of attempts, humanity had finally figured out a set of rules, allowing them to use the degree to which the black stone shone to determine how strong a person was.

Every year, the Heavenly Dao Academy's entrance exam had too many applicants, resulting in this extra entrance assessment. There was a constant line of people stretching out their hands to grip the black stone, which would perhaps grow brightly or dimly. Some people continued forward into the building ahead while others were coldly instructed by the teacher to leave the line.The atmosphere of the line was very oppressive.

One youth gripped the black stone, but the black stone gave no reaction. When it was indicated that he should leave, the youth became exceptionally desperate. He wailed and asked for another chance as he tightly gripped the stone, unwilling to let go. He was quickly dragged off by the Heavenly Dao Academy's handymen. Besides provoking a burst of ridicule, it had been meaningless.

The assessment continued. Those people that could make the stone glow had expressions filled with joy. Those that could not make the stone glow were disheartened to the extreme.

From the other side of the stream, the sneers of the old students could be faintly heard. The face of the teacher overseeing the Sensory Stone assessment was growing increasingly unsightly. From the beginning of the assessment in the morning until now, several hundred people had already held the Sensory Stone. Although there were many people that were able to make the Sensory Stone glow, proving that they had already succeeded at Purification, compared to previous years, this year's examinees were far too ordinary. In this batch of examinees, there had been only one at the third grade of Purification, and there was not even one person that had accomplished a perfect Purification. As for the prospect of a genius who had managed to enter Meditation at a tender age, they were completely impossible to find. The teacher's mood was naturally not very good.

The cultivation of humans was very different from that of the demi-humans and the demons. At the very beginning, they would focus on opening the heart and mind, becoming aware of and nurturing the spiritual sense. By means of knowledge, they would understand the principles of heaven and earth. By borrowing the spiritual sense and the strength of heaven and earth, they could use this energy to temper and refine their bodies, starting from the skin and the hair, and then the muscles and flesh, until finally the energy penetrated into the marrows of the bone. The body was refined until it became strong and sturdy, possessing enough strength to lift a stone. The body was so healthy that it was unafraid of normal illnesses. For this reason, it was called Purification.

(TN: The Chinese term for Purification is '洗髓', which literally means marrow-washing.)

The demons were naturally born with bodies as hard as metal or stone. If a human had not gone through the step of Purification, it would simply be impossible to stand up to a demon in hand-to-hand combat. For this reason, in the human armies, a soldier would at least have to succeed at Purification before satisfying the requirements for becoming one of the elites. Apart from this, Purification had an even more crucial importance which reflected itself in another aspect—besides strengthening the muscles and bones, Purification could also open the mind, substantially increasing one's ability to remember and analyze. To use a remark from the Daoist Canon to summarize, it was to see a whole new world!

'The Three Thousand Great Daos' was only a general way of speaking. The world's ancient books and records were as boundless as the sea. Countless ink characters represented countless pieces of knowledge. If one did not undergo Purification, opening the mind and clearing the heart, how could one possibly dare to step into the sea in search of knowledge? If one relied only on bravery to charge in, then it was highly likely that one would instantly get lost, have their bones and muscles dashed to pieces by waves ten thousand zhang high, and then die. This assessment that the Heavenly Dao Academy had added in recent years, when considered from this angle, was extremely reasonable. If someone was unable even to succeed at Purification, then what qualifications did they have to cultivate those profound methods?

Yesterday in the Divine General's estate, Chen Changsheng had admitted twice that he had never cultivated. Naturally, he had also not succeeded in Purification. This also indicated that in a short while when he went to hold that black stone, the stone would not change at all, and he would be expelled from the line of examinees by the teacher. Yet strangely, his expression was very calm as if he wasn't very concerned at all.

At this time, he was already very close to the table. In front of him, there were only three people. At the very front of the line was a youth dressed in a very thin set of blue clothes. That youth walked up to the table and, without waiting for the Heavenly Dao Academy teacher to speak, directly reached out and lifted up the inky Sensory Stone. For some reason, everyone suddenly felt a bit nervous.

Perhaps it was because that youth seemed far too calm.

The capital at the beginning of spring was covered in a layer of clouds and the sun was obscured behind them. The Heavenly Dao Academy was quiet and beautiful, when suddenly, the grass on both sides of the stream began to shine with a dazzling radiance. The tender green shoots of grass seemed to turn into fine branches of jade, the remnants of the morning dew becoming pearls. In the clear waters of the stream, the slender fish swimming about turned their eyes to the sky and went stiff from the sudden burst of light.

The people subconsciously covered their eyes, thinking that this was light from the sun breaking through the clouds. In the next moment, they realized that even the loveliest spring sunshine could still not possibly be this bright. If this was not sunlight…then where did this light come from?

The light gradually faded and everyone's eyes also began to somewhat adapt. The crowd put down the hands they had used to cover their eyes and saw that the teacher from the Heavenly Dao Academy had opened his mouth wide, his face looking like it had just witnessed something inconceivable. Simultaneously, they also discovered the origin of the light—it had come from that blue-clothed youth's palm. At this moment, the pitch-black Sensory Stone seemed to have become a blazing rock taken from the mouth of a volcano, emitting countless rays of light from between that youth's fingers. It was almost like it was on fire!

"Meditation Realm…it's actually…Meditation Realm?"

So said the teacher from the Heavenly Dao Academy, his voice shaking. At the moment, he was looking at the blue-clothed youth like he was a precious piece of jade. He quickly stood up and walked over to the youth, then lowered his head to greedily examine the youth's palm and the light leaking from it. No one felt like this teacher was lacking self-control. It must be known…that blue-clothed youth's complexion was still a little childish. It was very obvious that he was no older than sixteen, and yet he was already at the Meditation Realm!

What did this mean? What was a genius? This was a genius? The old students at the other side of the stream had long since ceased their mocking and ridicule. As they stared at the bamboo shed, they looked like they had seen a ghost. The student that had previously said the most difficult words to listen to was even so shocked that he slid down the stone stool he had been sitting on. He didn't even notice the pain being sent from his butt and said in a stunned and trembling voice, "How could it be? Senior Guan Bai only entered Meditation at sixteen… This kid…this kid maybe grew up with a young face? Or else how could it be possible?"

At this time, a cold and elderly voice came from behind them.

"Is it still impossible if I say he's Tang Thirty-Six?"

"Tang Thirty-Six? He's Tang Thirty-Six?" When the crowd heard this name, they were even more shocked. Somebody said, "He's already ranked thirty-sixth on the Proclamation of Azure Sky…why did he leave Wenshui and come to the capital? For next year's Grand Examination? Ah, but with his ability, there shouldn't be a problem if he wanted to enter the Mausoleum of Books."

Another person explained, "Tang Thirty-Six is extremely proud and aloof, not putting himself under anyone. Don't even speak of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws, he wouldn't even put himself under that wolf cub in the north. Since he wants to attend next year's Grand Examination, it's definitely because he wants to change his name. As such…he naturally needs to come to the capital ahead of time. Since it's the capital, it's only natural that he enters our Heavenly Dao Academy."

Hearing the name Tang Thirty-Six, all the students began to think about the rumors concerning this youth from Wenshui, and they all couldn't help but gasp in amazement. Another person said, "He may refuse to submit to the other members of the Seven Laws, but would he dare to challenge Qiushan Jun?"

"It's impossible for us to know that, but from the degree to which the black stone lit up, perhaps he held back. Even if he's not at the initial level of Mediation, he must not be very far."

The crowd was caught up in discussion when suddenly they remembered that elderly voice. They turned their heads in amazement and realized that the owner of the voice was the Heavenly Dao Academy's most dreaded Vice Principal Zhuang. They couldn't but yelp in alarm, then clasp their hands and repeatedly bow to him, before scattering like birds and beasts.

...

...

Whether an expert or genius, it was only right and proper that both be baptized by the gazes of the crowd. The young men and young ladies participating in the Heavenly Dao Academy's assessment had not recognized this blue-clothed youth, so they were even more shocked. As they looked at his back, they revealed shocked and reverential emotions. Chen Changsheng looked at the blue-clothed youth with admiration. He didn't have this sort of talent, so he was truthfully rather envious.

The blue-clothed youth walked forward with a cold expression and shortly entered that building in the depths of the Heavenly Dao Academy. However, the assessment for the remaining people had to continue. In a while, it was finally Chen Changsheng's turn. He walked up to the table and looked at the somewhat coarse surface of the black stone on which one could faintly make out countless fine holes. He hesitated for a few moments, then took the black stone, held it up to his eyes, and began to carefully examine it.

He clearly sensed a cool and delightful Qi seep out of one of the small holes on the black stone. Following the course of his palm, it entered his body and then began to quickly circulate through his meridians, attempting to head into an even deeper place in search of his true essence. That cool strand of Qi clearly did not have its own will, so it naturally also had no ill intentions. He did not resist it in any way, letting it search throughout his body. Of course, even if he wanted to resist, he didn't have the ability to. Only he clearly understood that there was a problem with his meridians. Until he began to treat it with his own hands, that strand of Qi would not find anything. Since there was no true essence to bring back, there was no response from the spiritual will, and so the black stone naturally did not glow.

Nothing beyond the expected occurred. The black stone was still a black stone, calmly resting on his palm.

He placed the black stone back on the table and looked at the teacher from the Heavenly Dao Academy. Then he said, "It didn't glow."

In the eyes of the bystanders, he had just taken up the stone and then put it back down again. It was such an obvious fact, and yet he had confirmed it so seriously. Inevitably, it seemed somewhat ridiculous. Strangely, no one laughed. Seeing his upright expression, everyone felt it was a little odd…those youths that previously failed to make the black stone glow would always be somewhat ashamed because of their failure and depression. There would even be people like that shameless youth from before that would weep bitter tears. But he…was far too calm.

Could it be that he didn't realize what this meant? It didn't seem like that was the case.

The teacher wrinkled his brow. He was originally supposed to wave his hand to indicate that Chen Changsheng should leave, but because of the indescribable silence hanging over them, for some reason, he asked, "You don't know how to cultivate?"

"I have not cultivated."

Chen Changsheng said the words that he had repeated twice in the Divine General's estate.

The teacher looked at him expressionlessly, his meaning being, why aren't you leaving on your own?

Chen Changsheng bowed and gave his regards, then left.

However, the direction he left in was not towards the main gate of the Heavenly Dao Academy, but towards that building.

The teacher was stunned, then understood what he was planning to do. He furiously bellowed, "Stop!"


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