Chapter 41

That day, Chen Changsheng was indeed very unhappy due to the words and attitude of the Dean of the Heavenly Dao Academy, but as time passed, his displeasure had long dissipated. To him, it was better to use his time for truly meaningful things, such as reading and cultivation, rather than wasting it on anger.

He really didn't care much about the Qingteng Banquet. Would one day of fame shock those who once looked down on him, making them speechless and embarrassed? First, he had to admit honestly that with his current inability to even complete the bone-washing stage, it was very difficult for him to achieve this. Even if he could... he didn't want to.

Gaining a false reputation and vanity was not a bad thing, but the problem was that once that day arrived, his peaceful life of cultivation would certainly be disturbed. It would be impossible to spend all his time on cultivation and reading, as he had been doing recently, without being distracted by external affairs.

Luo Luo? No matter what Chen Changsheng thought, she supported him. Although she was a bit unhappy that he didn't take her shopping, a single ice cream could easily soothe her, let alone such a serious matter. As for using the Qingteng Banquet to gain fame... given her background, she would never consider such a thing.

This was Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo's attitude towards the Qingteng Banquet. They really didn't care, even if they were forgotten. Based on the experience of the past few years, it was very normal for the National Teaching Academy to be forgotten again. The only difference this year was the presence of Minister Xin.

Reminded by the Bishop, Minister Xin had been quietly pondering the spirit behind the Bishop's signature, although he still hadn't figured it out. He hadn't seen any changes in the capital due to the new student at the National Teaching Academy, but at least he couldn't forget that student anymore.

On a late spring day, a carriage drove into Baihua Lane and entered the National Teaching Academy. In the evening, as the sky turned a rosy red, the carriage left the National Teaching Academy and Baihua Lane, and followed the streets of the capital to the Heavenly Dao Academy, entering through the black jade gate.

Luo Luo lifted the curtain of the carriage window and looked out at the road, her eyes wide with curiosity as she gazed at the buildings and pavilions. She had been to the Heavenly Dao Academy many times before, but always accompanied by her clan members and the palace's attendants, entering and leaving quietly through the back gate. She had never interacted with anyone except the professors and the outstanding students they personally taught. This was the first time she entered through the main gate.

Chen Changsheng had visited the Heavenly Dao Academy twice. The first time was a terrible experience, and the second time, when he was drenched and disheveled, was not a pleasant memory either. He had long lost his former respect and admiration for the academy, but he couldn't deny that the scenery here was really beautiful.

Green trees formed a canopy, the stream wound around, and the summer flowers were in full bloom. Sitting by the carriage window, watching these beautiful scenes, the gloom from having to attend the Qingteng Banquet, meet so many strangers, and waste a whole night of cultivation time, completely disappeared. Thinking about the possibility of meeting Tang Sanshi later, his mood improved even more.

Minister Xin, not knowing his character, saw him silently gazing out the window, looking somewhat melancholy, and misunderstood. He was a bit worried and patted his shoulder, comforting him, "It's just a sit-in, and it doesn't matter if you don't participate."

Chen Changsheng turned around, nodded to show he understood, and thanked him sincerely.

Minister Xin was silent for a moment and then said, "Don't take what the Dean said at the National Teaching Academy too seriously... I really advise you not to participate in the competition, because this year's Qingteng Banquet might be different from previous years. You need to be careful."

Chen Changsheng knew he meant well and said, "Don't worry, I'm prepared to sit through the whole night."

"Huh? The whole night?"

Minister Xin, relieved that his good intentions were understood, suddenly realized there was a problem with his words and asked, "You don't know?"

Chen Changsheng was a bit confused and asked, "What?"

Minister Xin glanced at Luo Luo, who had just收回目光 from the window.

Luo Luo was also confused and asked, "What should we know?"

"The Qingteng Banquet... is an activity organized by the various academies, but in reality, it's a rehearsal for the Great Imperial Examination. All the rules are the same as the Great Imperial Examination. The Great Imperial Examination lasts three days, so the Qingteng Banquet lasts three nights. You really didn't know? And you probably don't know that these three nights are not consecutive?"

Minister Xin looked at them as if they were strange creatures and asked, "What exactly are you here to do?"

Chen Changsheng was completely focused on the information he had just given, feeling troubled. It wasn't just one night, but three nights? That would waste so much time, and he would miss out on so much reading. This was too inappropriate.

Luo Luo, seeing him lost in thought, said to Minister Xin, "Don't worry, we're prepared. We didn't even have lunch today, so we'll definitely eat well tonight."

Minister Xin was speechless, thinking, "What a strange pair." He looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "Be careful tonight. We can't be sure, but there are rumors that some unexpected people might attend the Qingteng Banquet, though it might not happen."

Just then, the carriage arrived at the main venue of tonight's Qingteng Banquet.

Minister Xin said, "I have some business to attend to, so I can only see you off here."

Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo thanked him and got out of the carriage. The night had already fallen, and the previously green trees now cast dark, shadowy shapes, like the shadows of demons. He was slightly startled, feeling a vague pressure in the air.

"Please this way," a student from the Heavenly Dao Academy, dressed in black, politely directed them.

At the end of the stone path was a massive building, with hundreds of red lanterns hanging outside, casting light in all directions. As the most prestigious academy on the continent, this building, while not the most impressive in the Heavenly Dao Academy, was large enough to accommodate hundreds or even thousands of guests.

Looking at the dense red lanterns in the night sky, Chen Changsheng's feeling didn't improve; instead, the pressure felt more real.

Inside the building, light curtains fluttered, and at the tables made of cross-grained hardwood, hundreds of young students were already seated. These were the successful candidates from the preliminary exams of the Great Imperial Examination, coming from all over the country, not all of whom were citizens of the Great Zhou Dynasty. They did not belong to the six academies of the Qingteng Alliance, which had the privilege of directly participating in the Great Imperial Examination without the need for the preliminary exams. They sat in the Heavenly Dao Academy, feeling somewhat nervous and tense.

In front of the hundreds of dining tables scattered among the curtains, there was a large area separated by yellow-flowered apricot wood, designated for the hosts, guests, and students of the six academies of the Qingteng Alliance.

The Qingteng Banquet, nominally a welcome ceremony for the successful candidates of the preliminary exams, was actually a stage for the academies to showcase their strength. After each year's Qingteng Banquet, some of the successful candidates would be absorbed by these academies.

Because of this, the students of the six academies of the Qingteng Alliance had a very different mindset from those sitting in the hall. There was no sign of nervousness or tension on their faces, only unmasked pride, or indifference, or a blank expression, as they looked at the other young students with a scrutinizing gaze.

This year, the best seats belonged to the Heavenly Dao Academy. The young men in black uniforms were calm, not deliberately proud, but extremely proud. In the adjacent area, students from the Star Plucking Academy sat with a composed and steady demeanor.

Next to them were three other academies: the Ancestral Worship Institute, the Palace Annex, and the Qingyao Thirteenth Bureau.

The Heavenly Dao Academy, with its long history, was always considered the strongest on the continent. The current and former Southern Holy Maidens both came from here. The National Teaching Academy had no central temple, and the Bishop's residence, where he handled church affairs, was in the Palace Annex, which was naturally very powerful. The Ancestral Worship Institute, responsible for national rituals, was also extraordinary.

The Star Plucking Academy was the cradle of military stars in the Great Zhou Dynasty and had made the greatest contribution in the war against the demons, holding a very special status.

The Qingyao Thirteenth Bureau was even more special, specializing in the cultivation of the Qingyao Thirteen Scriptures, primarily for women, and had close ties with the Southern Holy Maiden Peak, often exchanging students. Xu Yourong, in her early days, had studied and cultivated at this academy.

This was the legendary Qingteng Alliance.

The ivy-covered walls at the gates of these academies, especially the ivy at the gate of the Palace Annex, were the most famous sights in the capital. For countless years, except for the southern sects, most of the strong figures had a background in the Qingteng Alliance.

The best seats at the Qingteng Banquet, occupied by the academies of the Qingteng Alliance, were naturally the most prestigious, and people had long been accustomed to this. The ordinary students, who were nervous and uneasy, knew this from their seniors, so they were not surprised. However, there was a change in the details of this year's Qingteng Banquet.

Some people had already noticed the change.

Next to the best seats of the Qingteng Alliance, in a seemingly inconspicuous corner, a small area was separated by yellow-flowered apricot wood.

The area was very small, with only one small table.

But that position was parallel to the seats of the Qingteng Alliance.

Position was a very important matter.

This was a tradition.

More and more people were looking at that area, at that small table.

Someone remembered that before the Qingteng Alliance, before the Qingteng academies, the most common and still widely used term was:

"Qingteng Six Academies"

The Qingteng Six Academies naturally had six academies.

The Heavenly Dao Academy, the Star Plucking Academy, and the others added up to only five.

What was the name of the sixth one?