Chapter 6, A Joyful Beginning

Tang San Thirty-Six said: "Yes"

The youths waiting behind Chen Changsheng were already somewhat anxious and impatient. At this moment, seeing him unwilling to leave, they thought he was being unreasonable, which made them quite angry. They began to scold him along with the teacher, and some even mocked him for having lost his mind.

Chen Changsheng bowed and said, "The student is determined to take the exam"

The teacher looked at Chen Changsheng with a blank expression and spoke, his demeanor quite stern

The teacher said nothing further, gazing at the remaining students, with a face as cold as frost, and said: "Next."

Tang San Thirty-Six said: "Although it is impossible for him to pass, I am very curious to know how many points he can score"

It is said that the examination questions of the Tiandao Academy are quite difficult. When it comes to the essence of the teachings, they often seek the most obscure passages in the most remote places. But why does this first question on the first page seem so familiar? The analysis of the thirty-one true meanings by Cen Zizi and the seventh generation Pope? When did I see this before? It seems like it was when I was three years old. That was a small, inconspicuous segment in the Huainan commentary on the Dao De Jing, but I am certain I have read it, memorized it, and even revisited and recited it again at the ages of five and eleven. The analysis of the thirty-one true meanings by Cen Zizi and the seventh generation Pope? When did I see this before? It seems like it was when I was three years old. That was a small, inconspicuous segment in the Huainan commentary on the Dao De Jing, but I am certain I have read it, memorized it, and even revisited and recited it again at the ages of five and eleven.

The teacher said: "If you have not successfully washed your marrow, how can you solve those problems? Moreover, you will strain your mind. Are you sure you want to take the exam?"

The vice dean chuckled and said, "Upon entering my Academy of Heavenly Principles, I imagine your name will be changed again."

He can recite all three thousand volumes fluently from memory

The teacher's expression was somewhat unpleasant. He thought to himself, since you are merely wasting your own time and delaying everyone else's because you happened to come across that regulation without understanding it, then so be it. If your mind truly becomes damaged and you turn into a fool, it is your own doing.

Chen Changsheng knew that the other party must have gone to the library to check the regulations beforehand, and had seen the note he had made. He had studied in the temple since childhood without interruption, and the principles of the Dao were firmly etched in his mind. He could recite countless classical texts and articles from memory, and he had read the rules and regulations of various countries, along with the details of their ceremonies, countless times, so he naturally would not remember them incorrectly

How could such an examination possibly pose a challenge to him

Chen Changsheng said, "The student still wants to give it a try"

Chen Changsheng stated: "According to the notes of Article 8 of the Fourth Law of Chapter 17 of the Academy's regulations, the examination paper for admission is the sole standard. Eleven years ago, there was also a precedent set by the Department of Civil Affairs."

Observing Chen Changsheng's calm demeanor, the teacher suddenly felt a pang of insecurity. After hesitating for a moment, he furrowed his brow and scolded a few words towards the back of the line, then unexpectedly turned and left, his destination unknown. The crowd's jeers and mockery gradually subsided, transforming into whispers, leaving everyone puzzled about what had transpired

Chen Changsheng listened to those words and laughter, yet his expression showed no change, making him seem far from a typical fourteen-year-old boy; his calmness was somewhat disconcerting. He looked at the teacher, bowed politely once more, and spoke in a composed manner: "I have not practiced, but I can still apply to the Academy of Heavenly Dao."

This statement is indeed not false. After the cleansing of the marrow and the heart, the greatest difference between oneself and ordinary people lies not only in the strength of the body but also in the strength of the spirit. This is a matter of innate circumstances, which cannot be altered by human effort. Without the cleansing of the marrow, one would certainly be unable to tackle those difficult problems, and it is even highly likely to suffer serious injuries. Thus, the small table in the bamboo shed and the black sensing stone on it have become a necessary hurdle in the assessment. As long as one cannot make the black stone glow, they will be eliminated. This has already become a convention or common knowledge, so initially, no failures raised any objections before the * diagram * book, until an anomaly like Chen Changsheng appeared.

The vice dean glanced at the building, sensing the faint fragrance wafting from the window, and asked, "Are you going to continue waiting?"

Not only is he familiar with them, he has already mastered them thoroughly.

Tang San Thirty-Six said: "I do not believe he can pass the assessment, nor do I think he is the next Wang Zhi Ce. However, I think that to become a remarkable figure like Wang Zhi Ce, one must at least possess the indomitable spirit like that young man just now, and live with sufficient rigor— I have never considered genius to be particularly impressive; the truly formidable individuals are those who are the harshest on themselves"

The Qingli Division was originally an inconspicuous institution under the Ministry of Personnel of the Great Zhou Dynasty. However, with the Empress Dowager beginning to govern, the Qingli Division, managed by the infamous and ruthless official Zhou Tong, whom she favored, suddenly transformed. Countless loyal old ministers and officials loyal to the royal family would inexplicably perish within those seemingly ordinary buildings. Gradually, this name instilled fear in the hearts of all officials and dignitaries of the Zhou Dynasty.

Then you may go

Tang Thirty-Six furrowed his brows slightly and said, "Please call me Tang Thirty-Six"

... ...

... ...

Chen Changsheng stopped in his tracks and turned to look at his teacher, feeling somewhat puzzled. Then he recalled the individuals he had seen earlier and understood the source of the other's anger—those candidates who had failed to successfully cleanse their marrow had all dejectedly retreated after this stage. The teacher assumed that he should do the same, yet he continued to move forward on his own, which likely displeased the other party

After a considerable amount of time, the teacher finally returned, and the gaze directed at Chen Changsheng became somewhat complex

Chen Changsheng bowed once more, said no more, and walked out of the bamboo shed, heading towards the deeper part of the Heavenly Dao Academy where that building was located

Upon seeing his simple attire, the teacher instinctively prepared to reprimand him, not out of a disdain for poverty or a love for wealth, but simply because he could not believe that this boy, clearly from a remote and impoverished area, could possibly understand the rules of the Academy of Heavenly Principles better than he, who had been responsible for the first round of examinations for many years... What additional notes... ? ... Is there such a clause in the academy's regulations? Why does he have no recollection of it?

Having failed the assessment of the sensing stone, Chen Changsheng nonetheless continued to participate in the entrance examination of the Tiandao Academy. For over a decade, he was the first person to do so. The young candidates watching him depart from a distance could not comprehend what had transpired. Those who were privy to some of the details did not take the matter seriously either—after all, exploiting loopholes is merely exploiting loopholes. Without having undergone the cleansing of marrow, both his memory and analytical abilities were merely ordinary, making it impossible for him to solve the entrance examination questions of the Tiandao Academy. Chen Changsheng's actions were at most an interesting episode.

The vice president shook his head and said: "Back in the day, Wang Zhi's strategy was to study at the clan school, enduring the icy cold and eating frozen porridge, never parting with his books. How much could that young man learn?"

He sat at the desk, closed his eyes to rest for five breaths, then opened them and reached out to lift the first page of the exam paper. As he performed this action, his emotions were somewhat complex, filled with curiosity about the unknown and an inexplicable sense of unease, yet there was also a hint of anticipation for reasons he could not quite grasp

Tang San Thirty-Six said with certainty: "That is an inevitable matter"

However, just as he was about to summon someone to take the young man away, he suddenly heard the term "Qingli Division," which startled him and caused him to retract the words he was about to speak

Although the Tiandao Institute is not under the jurisdiction of the Qingli Division, it cannot help but feel some trepidation. What makes this teacher particularly uneasy is that the Qingli Division, in order to wash away its notorious reputation, places great emphasis on its public image. When faced with the grievances of the populace, it is most concerned with the so-called "principles." If there truly is a provision in the institute's regulations mentioned by the youth, then it is likely that trouble will ensue

The teacher was taken aback, unsure of what the young man intended to say. Since you have not even succeeded in washing your marrow, what qualifications do you have to continue participating in the examination? Over the years, have there been any exceptions? Even if there were, what makes you think it would apply to you?

The Great Way encompasses all things, and the examination questions for admission to the Academy of Heavenly Principles are almost entirely contained within the three thousand volumes

The examination papers on the desk were extremely thick, resembling a small mountain. Chen Changsheng was unaware of the specific content of the papers, and it was inevitable that he felt somewhat anxious—everyone knew that the reason the Heavenly Dao Academy was so difficult to enter was that the entrance examination questions were all-encompassing, covering everything from the true meaning of the Dao to the initial discussions of celestial texts, and even military strategies. There were often questions related to agriculture as well. Even for someone at the perfected stage of marrow washing, it would be a challenging task to complete all these questions before the incense burned out, let alone for him, who was just an ordinary person.

... ...

He was unwilling to waste time on pointless arguments and misunderstandings, and with a serious bow to the teacher who was getting up, he directly explained: "Teacher, I am not causing trouble"

Wang Zhi Ce was a legendary figure of this continent. In the late years of the Taizu era, he entered the Tiandao Academy at the tender age of sixteen, despite being an ordinary person who had never practiced cultivation. After graduating from the Tiandao Academy, he worked as a regular clerk in the court until the age of forty, when a long howl echoed through the capital at night. In a single night, Wang Zhi Ce attained enlightenment and began his cultivation. Within just a few short years, he reached the pinnacle of power and ultimately became the vice commander of the Human Allied Forces, playing a decisive role in the battle that resulted in the great defeat of the demon race. Even to this day, his portrait still hangs in the Lingyan and the library loft.

... ...

Tang San Thirty-Six said: "At the very least, that young man is far superior to the other mediocre individuals."

The teacher was about to reprimand him for causing a disturbance in this solemn examination hall when he suddenly heard him speak up first. Momentarily taken aback and feeling somewhat choked, he coughed twice and exclaimed, "Then why don't you hurry and leave!"

It has been a long time since Wang Zhi's strategy has been seen in the world

His fingers suddenly stiffened, and a trace of confusion flashed in his bright, mirror-like eyes

Chen Changsheng was somewhat puzzled, but after all, he was still a youth, and more than anything, he felt a sense of surprise. He did not dwell on it any longer, picked up the ink brush, and began to transcribe the fragments of chapters that were in his mind... the profound insights expressed by the wise and powerful predecessors onto the paper. Then he turned to the second page, and as expected, he saw yet another familiar chapter.

The vice dean asked: "Why?"

Even if you continue the exam, there is no chance at all, so why waste time

The building is the A-class building of the Tiandao Academy. As Chen Changsheng walked into the building, many people were indifferent, while Tang San Thirty-Six, who had successfully entered the Tiandao Academy by ending the assessment early, looked at Chen Changsheng with deep interest. He did not believe that Chen Changsheng could pass the assessment, but he greatly admired the seriousness and even stubbornness of the other party, as it easily reminded him of himself. At that moment, the vice president of the Tiandao Academy appeared beside him and smiled, saying: "Do you think that young man has a chance? I do not believe so. Who was the last person to enter the Tiandao Academy as an ordinary person? That person was Wang Zhi Ce, and in this continent, no one like Wang Zhi Ce has appeared for hundreds of years."

The deputy dean glanced at him and said, "Indeed, it is Tang Tang; the way he perceives matters and people is truly exceptional."