In the heart of the Central Plains, north of Shengjing.
Looking from Yong'an Avenue, there are endless forests on the peaks, and below them, a divine path, cut through the mountain, leads directly up the mountainside. There, one can see a Baiyu Mountain Gate higher than the forest, and on the mountaintop, five grand halls are scattered, hidden within the clouds and mist.
This is the Tianshu Academy of the Great Xia Holy Sect, a Legacy dating back to ancient times, with profound foundations.
At this moment, two opulent carriages arrived before the divine path, and two individuals disembarked.
One was nearly sixty, with white hair but a ruddy complexion and sharp eyes, dressed in a purple robe. The other was a towering figure, adorned with a pearl crown and jade belt, wearing an embroidered robe, exuding extraordinary nobility.
"This old man, Wei Li, greets Your Highness Chong Wang."
"Wei Xiang, please rise quickly. There's no need for such formality between us."
Chong Wang stepped forward and helped the old official, who had served two dynasties, to his feet: "I heard Your Majesty has been overworking himself lately, and his health is not well?"
Wei Li narrowed his eyes and chuckled: "He's still pondering over new policies to restore imperial power, thinking himself into sickness."
"Your Majesty, like my imperial brother, still doesn't understand that this world is not his world, but the world of Immortals. How can there be imperial power under Immortal power?"
"Your Highness Chong Wang is absolutely right." After Wei Li finished speaking, he suddenly rolled his eyes, "However, I heard that Your Majesty issued a secret decree the day before yesterday, recalling Ye Sheng from Hantie Pass. I wonder if it's related to this new policy?"
Upon hearing this, Chong Wang frowned slightly and said, "Has the war in Beiyuan ended?"
"It is said that General Ye broke through in the battlefield and is now at Upper Five Realms Perfection. He slew the enemy general with a single strike, and the Barbarian tribes have temporarily retreated."
"He has no Dao Legacy, so Upper Five Realms Perfection is the end of his life."
Wei Li repeatedly affirmed, then pulled out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Chong Wang.
The bottle contained a Medicinal Pill refined by an Elder of the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, which Wei Li delivered monthly to the hundred officials of the Pro-Immortal Faction. It could nourish their root bones and aid their cultivation.
After giving the Medicinal Pill, Wei Li turned to look at the Tianshu Academy's divine path: "This old man has been busy collecting tribute recently and hasn't inquired, why was the Tianshu Academy's entrance ceremony suddenly postponed?"
"This King just learned that this year, during the Tianshu Academy's selection of new Disciples, there was an additional Junior Third Realm Completion who is not yet twenty, and he has just arrived in Shengjing."
"So that's it. Then Your Highness Chong Wang will gain another fierce general?"
If Outer Courtyard Disciples of Tianshu Academy do not enter the Upper Five Realms, they cannot enjoy the offerings of the common people.
However, there were always high-ranking officials in the capital or powerful Worldly Families vying to offer support and build connections. After all, Immortals who could enter the Upper Five Realms were already top-tier existences among mortals. Chong Wang was well-versed in this Dao, spending vast sums of money each year to support Tianshu Academy Disciples.
This time, however, he shook his head.
"This one, let's leave him for others."
"Oh? This is strange. You know, in the past, all Junior Third Realm Completion who were not yet twenty were snatched up by you."
"This time, this one is different from the past. He is not a descendant of an Immortal clan or a Worldly Family Disciple, but a private cultivator from the countryside."
Wei Li was slightly stunned: "A private cultivator?"
Chong Wang stood with his hands behind his back: "I have supported thousands of Outer Courtyard Disciples, and the expenses are enormous each year, but very few truly succeed. This is because after entering the Upper Five Realms, each Rank requires a large supply of Immortal Plants and Spirit Medicine, which even I cannot afford."
"So, Chong Wang is not interested in them anymore?"
"No, I am determined to get the other two students."
Chong Wang couldn't help but raise the corner of his mouth: "Chu River, the younger brother of Chu Xian, the Personal Disciple of the Xuan Yuan Head Teacher. This family all have extraordinary talent. The other one is backed by the Yunzhou Lu Family, who controls countless Spiritual Veins."
Wei Li narrowed his eyes: "Your Highness Chong Wang has grand ambitions."
"Hey, let's not say such disrespectful things anymore. Let's go, it's time for the ceremony."
Chong Wang stopped Wei Li from speaking, turned his back, and entered the courtyard. At this moment, the Five Hall Masters, Personal Disciples of the Tianshu Academy Head Teacher, also arrived and ascended the Ascension White Jade Platform behind Bi Shui Lake. Various Worldly Families and powerful clans also arrived, gathering here.
In the center of the Baiyu Platform, young talents from the Nine Provinces had changed into white Immortal robes and were whispering to each other, looking around.
They had been at Tianshu Academy for three days, but the entrance ceremony had not yet been held. Then, rumors spread that Tianshu Academy had found a Junior Third Realm Completion who was not yet twenty in the remote Feng Province this year, and he was a private cultivator.
But they still hadn't seen him.
Among the crowd, the deepest gazes belonged to a man and a woman at the very front.
The man wore a high crown and had a long sword tied to his waist. Just by looking at the inlaid Spirit Stones, one knew it was extremely valuable.
This person was Chu River, the second son of the Chu Family, mentioned by Chong Wang. His Elder brother, Chu Xian, was the Personal Disciple of the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion's Head Teacher. This Chu family possessed terrifying cultivation talent.
Because of this, from the day Chu River began cultivating, countless Immortal Sects kept a close eye on him, wanting to recruit him into their academies.
Originally, Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion had the best chance, as his Elder brother was a Personal Disciple of the Immortal Mansion. However, Chu River did not want to live his life in his Elder brother's shadow, so he unexpectedly chose Tianshu Academy.
The other woman was tall and exquisitely made up. Even with the Immortal robe draped over her, it was difficult to conceal her slender waist and long legs. The most striking feature was the Phoenix hairpin on her head, carved from the Spiritual Core deep within a Spiritual Vein. She was Lu Qingqiu of the Yunzhou Lu Family.
The Lu Family's Legacy spanned a thousand years, starting with vein exploration and mining. They possessed immeasurable wealth. Her father was also once a Tianshu Academy Disciple, so her daughter's admission to the academy was a continuation of the family line.
Both were not yet twenty and were Junior Third Realm Completion.
However, Tianshu Academy only had one spot for the Inner Courtyard each year, so they and Ji You were the most direct competitors, and naturally, they wanted to see him with their own eyes.
Soon, as all the students arrived at the Ascension White Jade Platform, Ji You and Fang Ruoyao finally arrived late, accompanied by Pei Ruyi.
They set off from Yuyang County, took an Immortal ship at Changning Crossing, and only arrived at Ni Mountain at Chenshi today. Kuang Cheng, who was with them, left first to prepare for the examination at the inn in Shengjing. This journey was delayed by two days from the start, so they naturally didn't even have time to rest for a moment.
"Ji You, go stand at the front, with those two."
"Ruoyao, come with me to the back..."
Seeing this scene, discussions immediately erupted both on and off the stage. All eyes converged on Ji Hanfei. Chong Wang, Wei Xiang, the capital's Worldly Families, and even the Five Hall Masters of Tianshu Academy couldn't help but slightly raise their eyes.
"His aura is so different, he truly is a Junior Third Realm Completion..."
"A private cultivator can cultivate to this extent?"
"Indeed, there are some exceptionally talented individuals among the common folk, but such a bold private cultivator is rare..."
"Chu River vowed upon entering the academy that he would enter the Inner Courtyard next year. Now he has an opponent."
"He can't be considered an opponent. Charging into the Upper Five Realms requires the aid of Spirit Medicine and Immortal Plants. Chu River can afford it, but he probably can't."
The Tianshu Academy entrance ceremony involved eight Outer Courtyard Instructors awarding them plaques, followed by the Five Hall Masters successively expounding on doctrines and academy rules, lasting about two hours.
However, the crowd did not find it boring, as for many, this might be one of the few opportunities to see the Five Hall Masters of the Inner Courtyard.
After the plaque awarding and lectures concluded, the Five Hall Masters departed, and it became the main event for the high officials and Worldly Families of the capital.
Chong Wang had already prepared many invitations, presenting them to Chu River, Lu Qingqiu, and five other exceptionally talented students, inviting them for a visit to his mansion.
Only Ji You, Fang Ruoyao, and others who obtained their spots through other means stood alone on the Baiyu Platform, appearing somewhat out of place in the setting.
This was the strict Rank system of Great Xia, as rigid as cast iron. Even an extraordinary talent like Ji You would still not be their first choice. There was only a sense of discomfort from the disrupted social hierarchy.
"Is this the most Face-losing Junior Third Realm Completion in Tianshu Academy?"
"Chu River has already received eight invitations..."
"Young Miss Lu also has seven..."
Where there are people, there are comparisons; where there are comparisons, there is harm.
Apart from Ji You, the others who were not from prominent families felt somewhat fortunate that they were not as dazzling as a Junior Third Realm Completion.
Just then, a rapid drumming sound of horses suddenly came from outside Tianshu Academy, attracting everyone's attention.
Subsequently, a armored general dismounted and entered, searching through the crowd. However, he quickly realized that everyone present seemed to be wearing the same Immortal robes, so he could only raise a letter high in his hand.
"May I ask which one is Ji Gongzi?"
"My Divine General Lord is returning to the capital today and will host a banquet for you at his mansion."