Chapter 9

In today's world, cultivation is primarily based on the orthodox Daoist sects of the state religion, with true essence mainly coming from the countless stars in the sky. The Church of Light emphasizes the words "light" and "brightness," as the stars illuminate the night sky. The process of cultivation involves breaking through the initial stages, gathering the stars, and relying on the energy scattered by the myriad stars to transform the bodies and spirits of ordinary people. This is the ultimate goal of cultivation, and from this, one can imagine the status of the word "star" in the cultivation world. Every country and sect has an observatory, and countless scenic spots and rivers have star-gazing pavilions, but it is rare to see names like "Star Plucking" or "Star Seizing," as these would seem disrespectful to the stars.

But the second college on Chen Changsheng's list is called the Star Plucking Academy.

The Star Plucking Academy, with such a domineering name, has faced no objections from the state religion, which in itself is a very domineering thing.

Only this academy has the courage and the right to use such a name.

Because this academy is directly under the command of the Great Zhou military, and over the years, it has produced countless brave and resolute young people, with generals as numerous as the stars. Many years ago, during the shocking war against the demons, when humanity was on the brink of extinction, the Star Plucking Academy, from the dean to the ordinary students, rushed to the battlefield one after another, with the vast majority of them dying in battle. After the war, the once grand academy became as desolate as a graveyard. For this reason, the Star Plucking Academy has earned unparalleled respect in the human world and possesses an unimaginable aura.

Such an academy, let alone plucking stars, even if it wanted to use "Burning Stars" as its name, who would dare to object?

Everyone in the world understands the bloody, cruel, and glorious history of the Star Plucking Academy, and Chen Changsheng is no exception. His master listed the Star Plucking Academy as the second choice, but in his heart, it was the top choice. So, although he was a bit disappointed for not getting into the Heavenly Dao Academy, he was not overly concerned.

He believed that the Star Plucking Academy would not be as biased as the Heavenly Dao Academy, at least not to such an extent.

With this in mind, he came to the Star Plucking Academy, which exuded a solemn and deadly aura, and began preparing for the second exam.

The Star Plucking Academy is indeed different from the Heavenly Dao Academy. Although the entrance was also surrounded by a crowd, the silence was due to the sharp gazes of the fully armed elite soldiers at the gate or the stone tablet inscribed with the names of martyred generals, which made the atmosphere extremely solemn. There was no noise at all.

After filling out a simple application form and receiving a number, over six hundred young candidates, led by several officers, entered the gate.

Similar to the Heavenly Dao Academy, the Star Plucking Academy also had a preliminary exam, aimed at eliminating ordinary young people who had not successfully cleansed their marrow, to reduce the pressure on the formal admission exam. However, since the academy has a military nature, the method was much simpler and more direct—there was no感应石 (induction stone), only a stone disc.

The stone disc was very large, resembling a millstone—in fact, it was a millstone temporarily removed from the academy's kitchen, weighing three hundred pounds. Candidates who could lift this millstone and walk up thirty stone steps would pass the first round of the exam and be eligible to participate in the formal admission exam.

Lifting a three-hundred-pound millstone is extremely difficult for ordinary people, let alone walking up such a long flight of stone steps. Many young people who had not successfully cleansed their marrow looked at the millstone and immediately changed their expressions, with many of them dejectedly leaving. Even some who had cleansed their marrow but were not stable enough in their cultivation judged that they could not do it this year and reluctantly gave up. Of course, some ordinary young people bravely attempted to challenge it with their original strength, but none succeeded.

Not cleansing the marrow and lifting this millstone is not uncommon in the Star Plucking Academy's admission exam. For example, the current White Tiger General guarding the Jialan Pass had not cleansed his marrow when he first entered the academy but, relying on his innate strength, easily threw the millstone across the lake...

But such cases are not very common.

The instructor was a bit regretful, looked at the time, and decided to speed up the process, allowing candidates to report their own levels and having those who had cleansed their marrow take the exam first, followed by the ordinary young people.

Unfortunately, until midday, no ordinary young person had created a miracle.

Just as people were getting bored and many onlookers were about to leave, a tall and robust young man with a number plate walked into the field, easily lifted the millstone, and climbed the thirty stone steps without breaking a sweat, even carrying the millstone back to its original place!

The crowd was stunned.

The young man raised his hand to signal the crowd, proudly walked up the stone steps again, and headed deeper into the academy. Interestingly, he looked so honest and simple that, no matter how he tried to appear proud and satisfied, the onlookers only found him cute, with no ridicule, only friendly laughter.

After the robust young man left, many people began to speculate about his background. It was only when someone suddenly mentioned the faint blue patterns visible on his ankles that everyone fell silent in shock, because... that indicated the young man might have demon blood, possibly even from the Western Demon Realm!

For centuries, due to their joint resistance against the demons, the relationship between humans and demons, though not particularly harmonious, has been relatively peaceful. Some demon nobles who can transform into human form even live in the human world, and there are definitely some in the capital of Great Zhou—though, given the fundamental differences between humans and demons, the human world, both officially and unofficially, does not often mention this, as long as the demons do not cause trouble.

The robust young man, suspected to be a demon, successfully lifted the millstone, as if opening a door. Immediately after, two young hunters from the Old Ridge also managed to lift the millstone and climb the steps using only their original strength, though they looked very strained, they still won applause.

The officer at the top of the steps, holding a pen and recording the results, nodded in satisfaction, clearly pleased with this year's performance.

As time passed, it was finally Chen Changsheng's turn. The crowd, seeing the young man with a childish face, gave him a few encouraging cheers but did not pay much attention, as he was clearly too young and underdeveloped. He was neither as robust as the demon youth nor as strong as the two hunter youths, and it seemed impossible for him to lift such a heavy millstone.

At the Heavenly Dao Academy, Chen Changsheng had bypassed the marrow cleansing selection by being familiar with the academy's rules. At the Star Plucking Academy, he might have thought of other methods, but perhaps influenced by the academy's solemn yet passionate atmosphere, or just wanting to try, he did nothing.

He walked to the millstone, slowly squatted down, and firmly grasped the sides of the millstone. He took five deep, steady breaths, channeling all his strength into his waist, abdomen, and arms, and with a low grunt, he exerted all his might!

Suddenly, the area in front of the slanted stone steps became quiet. The people who were chatting were stunned, their mouths agape, staring at the scene.

The millstone slowly rose, and Chen Changsheng lifted it to his chest, just an inch above the required height!

His face was a bit red, but his expression was calm, with no signs of panic or tension in his eyes.

The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers, continuously encouraging the young man with rhythmic shouts, trying to help him move his feet.

Chen Changsheng took a step forward, but his knees trembled.

Lifting the millstone was one thing, but carrying such a heavy millstone up the steps was another.

His breathing became erratic, and his face turned even redder.

He made no sound, but from his slightly bulging cheeks, it was clear he was clenching his teeth.

He took one step, then another, and another.

...

...

Chen Changsheng had not successfully cleansed his marrow. His muscles and bones should have been as weak as an ordinary young person, and due to his illness since childhood, he should have been even weaker. However, because of his illness, which was difficult to cure, the three people in the dilapidated temple outside Xining Town, including himself, were most concerned about his health.

As soon as he could understand, he was forced to memorize the three thousand Daoist scriptures in the temple. His somewhat eccentric Daoist master dug up countless herbs to boil into medicinal baths for him, and his senior brother Yu Ren constantly helped him strengthen his body with thorny branches and wooden sticks. Over the years, the three people in the temple were the ones he knew best, and the smells he was most familiar with were those of books, medicine, and sticks.

Despite the long treatment and physical training, his illness was not cured, and he could not become as strong as the demon youth. However, he, who should have been extremely weak, was now not weaker than an ordinary person, and even a bit stronger, though this was only superficial health and strength, it made him very happy.

A young man who had been ill since childhood and was shrouded in darkness after the age of ten would be more concerned about his physical condition and pay great attention to the details. Therefore, today at the Star Plucking Academy, he silently walked to the millstone, determined to pass the exam with his own strength.

He wanted to lift the heavy millstone to prove something to himself and express gratitude to his master and senior brother.

...

...

One step, two steps, three steps, four steps.

Chen Changsheng's breathing became heavier, his face more strained, and his tightly bound black hair was drenched in sweat, but his eyes remained calm and determined.

The cheers and encouragement from the sides of the steps had stopped. Everyone watched the young man, who was struggling to climb the steps, with concern and admiration. Several times, it seemed he was about to fall, but some unknown strength kept him going!

The instructor, watching Chen Changsheng from the steps, showed a look of appreciation.

...

...

Seven steps, eight steps, nine steps.

Chen Changsheng's steps became slower.

The instructor's admiration grew stronger. He was surprised by the young man's performance—being a soldier, he valued Chen Changsheng's perseverance and courage. He had already decided that even if Chen Changsheng did not lift the millstone to the top of the steps, he would let him pass the preliminary exam. As for whether this would affect the academy's and the Great Zhou military's reputation...

The instructor, seeing the tense crowd, felt reassured, thinking it would not, as most people seemed to agree.

A diligent and hardworking child deserves special recognition.

...

...

Thinking about these things, the instructor was a bit distracted and did not keep his eyes on the steps. Until a moment later, he snapped back to reality and noticed a change in people's expressions.

He turned his head and saw someone standing beside him.

It was a young man, drenched and extremely exhausted.

The instructor thought he no longer needed to worry and smiled, patting the young man's shoulder.

Chen Changsheng had reached the top of the steps.

The heavy millstone was at his feet.

He had succeeded.