Chapter 60

Cui Shilang said, "First, what you said is correct. The Qicheng Prefecture Academy gathers the most outstanding young people from Qicheng. There are indeed the best teachers, the best environment, and the best treatment. If everything goes as planned, you will become a second-level student in a few years, and then a third-level scholar in a few more years, entering the military for training. Many scholars and students follow this path."

"But if you want to follow this path step by step and eventually become a high-ranking official, leaving your name in history, the prerequisite is that you are sufficiently excellent and will not be overlooked. Although you are the first and second in Hong County this year, do you know what kind of competitors you will face after entering the Prefecture Academy?"

"Chu State has eight prefectures, and Qicheng is located in the inland of Chu, far from the surrounding demon beast mountains. It has always been one of the three least competitive prefectures in Chu. Qicheng has thirty-nine counties of various sizes, and each county selects several outstanding individuals to enter the Prefecture Academy. Most of these students from impoverished areas are highly capable, knowing that only diligent study can lead to success. They value this hard-won opportunity more than the students from wealthy Hong County."

"You will face over three hundred geniuses from various counties in Qicheng each year, over a hundred local students from Qicheng with superior family backgrounds, and an unknown number of senior students who have been practicing for many years, as well as experienced combat students who have transferred from the military or other industries. It's no exaggeration to say that you will have to fight your way through a thousand obstacles!"

"Perhaps you can also wait slowly. Once you enter the Prefecture Academy, the Qicheng Department of Literature will arrange your life, ensuring no worries about food, clothing, and shelter. You can spend ten years to become a second-level student, or twenty years to become a third-level scholar, and if you are lucky enough not to die in battle, you can try to find a vacancy and be transferred to various places, living a stable life."

"But you must remember, the path of a scholar is one you have chosen yourself, like a boat against the current, extremely difficult. The longer you delay, the greater the competition you will face. Besides external pressure, there is also pressure from within. The fact has proven that those who are lazy and aimless will ultimately meet a tragic end!"

Cui Shilang spoke eloquently, educating them with deep concern. The Prefecture Academy he described seemed to be a place of fire and brimstone.

Yue Heng listened while observing Ji Cong's reaction. He noticed that Ji Cong remained calm throughout, showing no surprise, fear, or anxiety, which made him even more confident.

A short while passed, and when the carriage door opened again, a new face appeared, and the reception was taken over by the station master of the Qicheng post station.

"Perhaps there is a way to improve the ability to transmit the 'wen' talisman, which could be a great contribution to the human race!" Yue Heng thought to himself, following Cui Shilang into the soul beast carriage, heading straight for the Qicheng Prefecture Academy.

The streets of Qicheng were clearly much wider and cleaner than those of Hong County. In Hong County, the county office was adjacent to the commercial street, where officials and merchants worked closely together, often appearing vulgar and low-class.

In Qicheng, the Prefecture Academy was clearly re-planned, built on a branch of the Qimang Mountains, far from the prefecture office and secular places, creating a quiet environment for study.

The road to the Prefecture Academy was lined with towering trees, and the flat stone road could accommodate four soul beast carriages side by side. Along the way, they even saw military vehicles carrying large amounts of broken mechanical beasts, bumping and jostling, with some fragments falling off.

"Cui大人, what are these...?"

"The Prefecture Academy is not just for scholars. There are also many craftsmen who study in the mountain's craft division, and warriors who train in the warrior division. These broken mechanical beasts are mostly completely useless. Ah, it's the energy of the young that can do such things..."

Yue Heng was astonished, imagining countless apprentice craftsmen collecting materials from the massive debris, assembling powerful mechanical beasts, while scholars and warrior students stood by, ready to use various talisman and martial techniques to destroy the newly assembled mechanical beasts into pieces again.

Besides the garbage transport vehicles, there were many sealed grain transport vehicles. Cui Shilang said that there were thousands of people in the academy, and daily supplies were crucial.

There were also many soul beast carriages with incredible speed, modified in various strange ways. One high-speed descending carriage almost collided with them, and Cui Shilang sighed, saying that it was the craftsmen's mischief, likely improving the speed and handling of the soul beast carriages.

The three young people were quickly attracted by the new sights, ignoring Cui Shilang's presence, pointing and commenting on everything outside.

After passing a winding road, a wide and flat square platform appeared before the soul beast carriage. Two massive stones, too large for several people to embrace, rose into the sky. A stone tablet in the middle bore the four large characters "Qicheng Prefecture Academy," with powerful and majestic strokes, almost too awe-inspiring to look at for long.

There were many people on the square platform. The four of them got off the carriage, and Cui Shilang said with a touch of nostalgia, "Twenty years ago, I was also a student here. This place carries the dreams of my youth. Although I have been working in the Qicheng Department of Literature for many years, I have never come here, feeling quite guilty..."

The three of them did not dare to respond. Yue Heng noticed many young guards standing at attention below the stone tablet, as well as young scholars in long robes and warriors in tight clothing setting up a stone platform. He immediately guessed that they were preparing for the new students' welcome ceremony.

"Cui大人, my cousin is over there... I..." Ji Cong said somewhat awkwardly.

Cui Shilang looked over and smiled. The Ji family was a prominent family in Qicheng and even Chu, although they had been suppressed in recent years, they were still formidable. Even he did not dare to underestimate them.

"Ji Cong, you go ahead. Xiaoyue, your father entrusted you to me, and I will personally arrange your enrollment."

"Cui大人, can I go in by myself?"

"Oh? Since you are so determined, then go ahead. Yue Heng, will you go with Xiaoyue?"

"Student follows orders! Thank you, Cui大人, for your escort. Once I settle in the prefecture, I will visit the Department of Literature to thank you!"

"Ha ha! Yue Heng, you are a smooth talker. Here is my name card. Go directly to the head of the Scholar Academy, Mr. Huo, and give him this stone tablet. He will arrange everything."

"Student respectfully sends off Cui大人..."

Cui Shilang seemed to lack the courage to enter the stone gate, leaving with a mix of regret and fear. The three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ji兄, shall we meet again after enrollment?"

"Yue兄, Wen女士, I will take my leave first. Yue兄, you must protect Wen女士 well. Although the Prefecture Academy is not a den of wolves and tigers, it is not a peaceful place either. Various conflicts are inevitable..."

"Ha ha, Ji兄, you are mistaken. Wen女士 is the top student in Hong County this year. I have always been protected by her, even in the re-examination, I benefited from her!"

"Yue兄, you are too modest. Goodbye! See you later!"

Ji Cong smiled meaningfully and walked towards the people waiting for him.

Yue Heng shrugged. Since Ji Cong had someone to take care of him, he, a rootless rural student, had to rely on himself.

He put the name card and stone tablet into his Qiankun bag. This Qiankun bag only required a small amount of divine palace talent to open, with a storage space of about two cubic meters. He could quickly find items using his divine sense, and even large weapons would shrink to take up minimal space.

"Yue公子, it is unwise to wear the Qiankun bag around your waist. Do you know how valuable it is and how many people will covet it?" Wen Xinyue said.

Yue Heng thought it made sense. It's best not to show off wealth.

He adjusted his waist, lifting the hem of his scholar's robe, feeling it was inappropriate, and then reached into his chest, glancing at Wen Xinyue and sighing, "Ah, I'll find someone to borrow some needle and thread and sew a silk pouch in my chest... I'm a man, ah..."

This comment left Wen Xinyue speechless. The goodwill she had just felt towards him turned into anger. This guy, who only knows how to pick on her lack of needlework skills, was infuriating!

The two of them walked towards the stone gate, as it was still early morning, just after the fourth hour.

Yesterday, the re-examination for the various counties of Qicheng took place. According to the distance from each county to Qicheng, even the closest county would take half a day to reach via the official road. Therefore, the welcome ceremony at the Prefecture Academy was not in a hurry, and only a few senior students and instructors responsible for setting up the platform had arrived.

Yue Heng wore a first-level student's uniform, although he had already cultivated two talismans, making him a second-level student. However, for his protection, the county magistrate and others still gave him a regular student's uniform.

Wen Xinyue's first-level practitioner's uniform was dark red. She should also have a Qiankun bag or similar storage container given by the head of the academy. The mysterious red snake whip was nowhere to be seen. The two of them walked with empty hands, curiously observing everything.

A first-level student with a rather ugly appearance, accompanied by a well-endowed first-level practitioner, this odd couple walking under the stone gate quickly attracted many people's attention.

"Hey! Good morning! I am Bao Tianxin, happy to serve you!" A person suddenly jumped out, appearing before them, greeting them with a laugh.

Yue Heng looked closely and saw that Bao Tianxin wore a second-level warrior's uniform, with dark skin, a slim build, and a somewhat lecherous appearance. His eyes darted over the two of them, lingering more on Wen Xinyue's chest. Yue Heng knew that Bao Tianxin was not a good person.

He thought to himself, indeed, Ji Cong was right; the Prefecture Academy is not a peaceful place!