CHAPTER 129: CHAPTER 129 QINGTIAN ACADEMY

Before noon, at the North Gate, Xin Lin entered Purple Cloud City with Shi Guiren.

Before entering the city, Xin Lin was somewhat worried that she might be recognized, especially since she was carrying the burden of a murder.

However, it turned out that Xin Lin’s concerns were entirely unnecessary.

She didn’t find any wanted notices when entering or leaving Purple Cloud City.

In hindsight, though both were within Longteng Country, with Bai Niao City far from the Emperor’s reach, a minor rural homicide case was nowhere near significant enough to make it to Purple Cloud City.

Compared to Bai Niao City, Purple Cloud City was much safer.

The reactions of the three individuals entering the city were all different.

Shi Guiren had a worried expression. Despite the journey here being smooth, the impending challenges that she and her son were about to face were clearly distressing her.

Little Xinzhuo looked excited; having been a wandering ghost for decades, he had never visited such a bustling place and was looking around everywhere.

"Sister, look!"

Little Xinzhuo immediately noticed the notice board at the city gate, with various postings on it.

"Ah Zhuo, how many times have I told you."

Xin Lin warned him, and Little Xinzhuo shrank his neck, not daring to make a sound anymore.

"Brother, look, it’s the notice for the Zixiao Palace Exam."

Crowds had already gathered in front of the notice board, including Purple Cloud City residents and Longteng people who had come from afar.

Pushing through the crowd required some effort for Xin Lin and Little Xinzhuo.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: On the 10th day of August, in front of the Imperial Palace in Purple Cloud City, the Zixiao Palace Exam will be held. Dragon Ascension Citizens aged between six and sixteen years are eligible to participate in the examination. The top three ranks of the examination will be granted an audience with the Emperor and awarded generously. Any participants found to have a spirit root or dark root during the examination will be admitted to Qingtian Academy to become students of Qingtian."

Hearing the proclamation, all the citizens present were overjoyed and excited.

"Qingtian Academy, isn’t that the top academy in Longteng?"

"Indeed, they say that Qingtian Academy has always only admitted the children of imperial relatives, government officials, and merchants. I didn’t expect that this year they would open enrollment to outsiders. This truly is fantastic news."

After reading the decree, Xin Lin and Little Xinzhuo walked away.

"Mother, do you know about Qingtian Academy?"

Little Xinzhuo, curious, inquired of Shi Guiren.

"Qingtian Academy? Isn’t that the Spirit Martial Academy founded by the ancestor Emperor?"

Shi Guiren hailed from a family with a general; even though she didn’t pursue martial arts herself, General Shi had told her plenty before she entered the palace.

Regarding matters in Purple Cloud City, Shi Guiren knew much more than Xin Lin and others.

She explained to Little Xinzhuo that Qingtian Academy was the largest academy in Longteng Country.

Within Longteng Country, there were many Spirit Martial Academies, big and small. So-called Spirit Martial Academies were places where Spirit Warriors or Martial Artists undertook cultivation and learning.

"What’s the difference between an academy and a sect?"

Xin Lin thought of Sikong Ran, who had gone to Xuantian Sect. Since Qingtian Academy also recruited Spirit Warriors and Martial Artists, why had Sikong Ran never mentioned it before?

"Fundamentally, there’s no difference. However, in the past, Qingtian Academy didn’t recruit commoners. Only direct descendants of officials of at least Ninth Grade with a spirit root or dark root could qualify to undergo Qingtian Academy’s assessment. Therefore, many offspring from poor families or commoners would be turned away. Those who don’t come from official backgrounds could only seek other options, like the assessments from the sects. That being said, some powerful sects have far greater influence than Qingtian Academy, but those commoners who are noticed by these sects are truly extraordinary."

Shi Guiren spoke truthfully.