Kapitel 27: Zheng Tao
"Go to your place for a drink? I'd be lucky to come out alive. No, thanks!"
Mo Qingkuang shook his head, disregarding the admiring gazes of the crowd. He turned to the stupefied attendant and said, "Continue."
The attendant finally regained his senses and nodded hastily, saying, "Yes, I will handle it for Young Master Kuang."
The registration process for enrollment was not complicated. Participants only needed to provide some information and have their portraits drawn by an artist. After that, the most crucial step followed —age verification.
The martial examination aimed to recruit young talents, and only those under the age of eighteen were eligible to participate. However, some individuals exceeded the age limit and attempted to gain a reputation by falsely reporting their age.
Therefore, many were disqualified during the examination due to their age.
There were also those who, afraid of surpassing eighteen in the next three years and losing their qualification, participated in the martial examination right after turning fifteen. These candidates were simply unlucky.
Life was never entirely fair. If the timing of one's birth was unfortunate, it was just another manifestation of insufficient luck.
Guided by the attendant, Mo Qingkuang entered a side hall where he had observed many participants waiting in line earlier. Most likely, it was the place for age verification.
Upon entering the side hall, Mo Qingkuang saw many people still queuing up. There were two channels for age verification —one on the left for men and the other on the right for women.
Just as Mo Qingkuang was about to join the line, he noticed a person dressed as a servant whispering something to the attendant.
The attendant's expression changed after hearing the words, but he quickly put on a more friendly smile. He then approached Mo Qingkuang with a deep bow. "Young Master Kuang, the line here is quite long. I will take you to another place for verification."
Mo Qingkuang hesitated for a moment, cautiously asking, "Is there some backdoor entrance?"
He didn't like waiting in line. From childhood to adulthood, there weren't many things that required his personal attention, let alone queuing up.
The attendant smiled and replied, "Young Master Kuang, distinguished figures naturally receive special treatment. Look at Ninth Princess and Young Master Li; they don't need to register personally either."
Mo Qingkuang considered it and found it acceptable. After all, the privileged received special treatment. Back in Tiannan City, he had experienced the same.
"In that case, let's go."
The attendant led Mo Qingkuang around the side hall and into the inner courtyard.
The inner courtyard wasn't large. Typically, it served as a resting place for officials when they needed a break. It consisted of a courtyard with several rooms. At this moment, the courtyard was empty, except for one door partially obscured. Inside, the lighting was dim, making it impossible to discern what was happening.
The attendant looked a bit fearful as he glanced at the partially concealed door. He then turned to Mo Qingkuang and bowed, "Young Master Kuang, I've brought you here. You can go inside that room for the examination."
With that, the attendant hurriedly left, and Mo Qingkuang didn't even get a chance to stop him.
Since he was here, Mo Qingkuang decided to go along with it. He approached the door, and the silence in this place seemed to isolate the hustle and bustle of the outer hall, creating a stifling atmosphere.
Unconsciously, Mo Qingkuang felt a mysterious pressure emerging from his heart.
"There's a master inside," Mo Fan reminded in a slow and deliberate manner. He sensed that there was no one else in the courtyard, only a powerful aura concealed behind the partially concealed door.
Upon hearing this, Mo Qingkuang's steps faltered. "How powerful is he?"
"Judging by aura, probably around the King level, likely an upper-rank King realm," Mo Fan replied. Having regained his strength, even though he couldn't use the physical body, his sensing ability remained unaffected.
Inside the room, the aura indicated at least a fifth-rank Martial King.
Mo Qingkuang stopped in his tracks, "Do I go in or not?"
Mo Qingkuang hesitated. Facing a Martial King figure, someone who could dominate a region, his insignificant cultivation might crumble with just a breath.
Now, observing the quiet and pitch-black room, not even a breath was heard.
A vague feeling swept over Mo Qingkuang that within that room lay a primordial beast, selectively choosing its prey, making him hesitant.
"Go. He doesn't harbor ill intentions toward you," Mo Fan spoke softly.
Central Province was a territory controlled by the Tianxuan Empire, and the capital city was the political center of the Tianxuan Empire. Dignitaries and aristocrats here were all individuals with formidable strength.
Because of the narrative constraints, Mo Fan hadn't delved much into the high-level experts of the Tianxuan Empire, briefly mentioning a few who either perished or surrendered after the fall of the kingdom.
Now, the person who had invited Mo Qingkuang here was undoubtedly one of them. As for which one, even Mo Fan was curious.
Encouraged by Mo Fan's words, Mo Qingkuang pushed aside his worries and approached the door. With a respectful tone, he knocked, "Junior Kuang Qing pays respects to the senior."
A gentle voice from within responded, "I haven't seen you yet, come in."
The voice was soothing, akin to a gentle breeze, and for a moment, the fear in Mo Qingkuang's heart dissipated.
He pushed open the door and stepped inside, revealing a man seated at the middle of the hall.
As sunlight spilled into the room, Mo Qingkuang observed that the man had a fair complexion, no facial hair, and his skin was smooth. With slightly graying temples, he appeared to be of considerable age.
He was dressed in a coarse linen robe, and on the table beside him, a pot of clear tea wafted with gentle white smoke, giving the impression of a recluse expert.
Although his clothing was plain, and his appearance seemed young, the eyes that appeared to have weathered many vicissitudes sparkled like brilliant stars, as if capable of seeing through Mo Qingkuang.
"Kuang Qing greets to the senior," Mo Qingkuang respectfully bowed again. This was his first encounter with a living King-realm expert.
"No need for so much courtesy. I am Zheng Tao, the head of the Martial Arts Division of the Imperial Academy. With your abilities, entering our academy won't be a problem, and in the future, you can be considered my disciple," the man, Zheng Tao, said with a gentle smile, waving his hand to signal that Mo Qingkuang need not be overly formal.
"So, it's him?" Mo Fan expressed some surprise.
Zheng Tao was the Director of the Martial Arts Division of the Imperial Academy, possessing strength at the eighth rank of Martial King.
He was the second-place in the martial examination during the same year as Headmaster Fu Qing, who died in battle during the fall of Tianxuan Empire. Mo Fan had described him as an important character. In the Battle of the Fall of Tianxuan Empire, along with Fu Qing, Zheng Tao fought bravely but eventually perished.
During that time, there was also the current head of the Literature Division, Hua Ge, who achieved the top spot in the literary examination, and ranked third in the martial examination. The three of them swept the top three positions in both the literary and martial examinations of their year, earning them the title of the 'Three Heroes of Tianxuan,' representing the golden generation.
The era they rose in was also a period when Tianxuan Empire showed signs of resurgence. However, due to certain changes, Tianxuan did not flourish and instead faced further decline.
"Come over and sit, just brewed some good tea," Zheng Tao's eyes were slightly closed as he gestured toward a seat beside the table.
Mo Qingkuang hesitated at the invitation.
"Young man, why so restrained? I told you to sit, so just sit. This old man isn't some ferocious beast that's going to eat you," Zheng Tao laughed when he noticed Mo Qingkuang's hesitation.
"Well, then, I'll obey your command." Mo Qingkuang chuckled and moved to take the offered seat.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein