Liu Household

The Imperial Academy begins its term.

It was bustling with activity; hundreds of thousands of people were gathered here.

Three people were admitted after this exam, and they will report for admission today.

From all the heavens and myriad realms, including countless territories of Human Path, including Li Qi, there were probably millions of candidates, but only three were selected to be qualified to study at the Imperial Academy.

That's what makes it valuable.

Whether it was the media, family members, or just people joining in the fun, hundreds of thousands of people came to the scene, and countless others watched the live broadcast from their homes.

Only by passing the imperial examination can one truly understand the True Intention of that sentence and know what it means to be:

"Riding Will Horse, one can see all the flowers of Chang'an in a single day."

Birds sing in the green trees, the scenery is elegant and beautiful, and the people are bustling.

This is still an outdoor shot.

Looking inside, it was like a holiday.

Brocade cables and dragon boats, ten miles of red buildings, beaded curtains and golden hooks.

Horseshoe-shaped steps, tortoise-shell-shaped embroidered patterns, and people looking up seem as numerous as ants.

The commotion was so loud that it blurred day and night, and people wrapped their heads in red brocade.

Embroidered curtains and painted boats float on the water, their scales like fish swimming alongside.

The singing was melodious and the atmosphere was prosperous.

Boats on the water, cars on the land, and people on the streets, all crowded together, one after another, in circles, everyone standing on tiptoe, heads held high. Some of the shorter girls would even ask their male companions to let them sit on their shoulders.

Among them are many alien races, including common demons and gods, as well as various strange races from beyond the realm.

These strange races are so numerous and bizarre that they are difficult to describe. Some have skin like mud, some have no hands, some shimmer with scales, and some have double joints on their legs.

Horned, hornless, exoskeletal, endoskeletal, compound-eyed, unicornuate, all kinds of skin, all kinds of species, all different.

The only thing they had in common was that all of these alien races practiced the Human Path way without exception.

The fact that they were able to come to Chang'an suggests that their world has become a completely Human Path territory.

In short, almost everyone in Chang'an who had free time came to see the new students of the Imperial Academy, a new program that only comes around once every ten years. The area around the Imperial Academy was packed with millions of people.

Fortunately, everyone here is a cultivator; otherwise, holding it in would be unbearable.

Because everyone knows that even in the Human Path, even in Chang'an, these students are the pride of heaven, and the best among them will surely achieve high positions in the future.

Besides watching the spectacle, there was another thing that would prompt them to come.

That is, when students enter the Imperial Academy, there will be a sermon by teachers and outstanding senior students for the new students. It serves as a welcoming ceremony and also as a warning to the new students.

This sermon made them realize the immensity of heaven and earth, and that entering the Imperial Academy was just the beginning. They had to study diligently and strive to keep up with their classmates. They must not become complacent or arrogant because of their admission to the Imperial Academy, and thus lose their previous dedication to learning.

This sermon used to be a private lecture, but at some point it became a public one, seemingly intended to enlighten new students.

Therefore, it is estimated that about a third of these people were there to watch the spectacle and see how the new students were being disciplined by the others from the Imperial Academy.

And those who are left are here to learn.

Although it was called a reprimand, it was actually a public sermon, and even just listening from the sidelines could greatly benefit these ordinary cultivators.

Therefore, it can be said that before it even started, the crowd grew larger and larger.

Li Qi wiped away his cold sweat.

Of course he wanted to go in, but with so many people surrounding him, he couldn't get in. It was so crowded, how could he possibly get in?

He dared not say that he wanted to go in to listen to the sermon, or he would be surrounded by people.

With over a million people surrounding them, there's no way they can leave.

However, since the sermon wouldn't begin for a while, he decided to wait on the street to see how the other two students got in and learn from them.

If neither of them can get in, then there's even less to worry about; the Imperial Academy will definitely send someone to drag them in.

As for using Technique Method to clear the crowd or flying in directly, he never even considered it.

First of all, there is a no-fly zone over Chang'an; you can't fly anywhere except in specific locations.

Furthermore, using Technique Method to disperse the crowd, given the density of people being squeezed to death, could easily cause a stampede.

So Li Qi stayed obediently outside the crowd, waiting to learn from others' advanced experiences.

However, Li Qi soon discovered something.

The reason I can't get in is simply because he's too low-key.

Soon, Li Qi saw another classmate, one of the three who were admitted in the same batch as him.

His name... Li Qi remembered it was Mo Benglan.

This person is not Human Race, but a different race from beyond the realm, from a third-grade world. However, that world has long been integrated with the Human Path, and it can be said that it is basically no different from the Human Path.

He was not Human Race, but due to the long-standing intermarriage between the local natives and the world, he looked not much different from Human Race, except that his hair was blue and his pupils were not round, but square like a sheep's.

Mo Benglan seemed to have received support from the world he was born in. He was surrounded by a group of his people, making a huge show of force with banners waving around him.

The incense of Baihe was burned, and the curtains of Yunjin were drawn. Several hundred members of the Mo Benglan clan formed a circle, beating gongs and drums, raising banners and flags, shouting loudly, forcing those in front to make way, and even those at the very front used shields to push people through.

"Make way! Make way!"

"What are you doing blocking the way! Are you going in to receive the sermon?!"

"Make way! Make way!"

Several hundred people formed a circle, surrounding Mo Benglan in the middle. He struggled to squeeze into the crowd and fought against the throng.

Fortunately, the commotion was large enough to attract enough people to make way for them.

However, when people are packed together, it is difficult to make way. Everyone is a practitioner, which means that no one is a practitioner. In the end, you still have to rely on strength to push, because there is nowhere to make way and you can only be forced to move with the crowd.

No one dared to actually use their Technique Method to harm those around them, so this was the only outcome.

Moreover, they cannot fly, because Chang'an will prohibit air travel in all areas except for air traffic zones, so they cannot fly even if they want to.

Under these circumstances, Mo Benglan was protected in the middle and slowly squeezed towards the center.

When Li Qi saw him make his first appearance, he was exceptionally radiant and surrounded by many clansmen. He had a refined and elegant appearance, wore a large sash, a sword at his waist, a small crown on his head, and his clothes were flowing gracefully.

But at this moment, he was squeezed in the crowd and almost had his crown squeezed off. This was only because hundreds of tribesmen helped him squeeze in. If he had gone in alone, his clothes would probably have been torn to shreds.

This made Li Qi's scalp tingle.

Mo Benglan had her clansmen help her squeeze through, and even then, it still ended up like this...

He's not known for his physical strength, so rushing into the crowd would likely be difficult; he might get stuck, unable to get in or out, and have his hair pulled out.

Li Qi didn't wear a Human Path headdress or belt; his hair was always disheveled, giving him a Shaman appearance. Of course, in the Human Path, this kind of attire was called "madman."

He looks pretty handsome, but it must be really painful if someone grabs your hair when you're in a crowded place.

This method is not advisable.

However, although Li Qi was not a good option, Mo Benglan still managed to squeeze in using this tactic.

What was once a handsome young man with flowing blue hair is now disheveled, his hair ornaments are undone, and his clothes are in disarray, making him look utterly wretched. He even has to be surrounded by his clansmen to secretly straighten his clothes.

Since this one won't work, Li Qi decided to wait and see if another classmate could offer some useful information.

After a while, Li Qi finally saw his second classmate.

This student had also learned about it on the terminal.

Her name is Li Lieqi. Although it sounds like a powerful name, she is actually a woman. It is said that she cultivates martial arts, but also studies the methods of Human Path Military School. She is a master of both martial arts and military strategy, and is quite powerful.

I just don't know how thick this girl's arms are.

So far, all the martial artists Li Qi has seen are strong men, so he figured women wouldn't be much different. After all, if you practice martial arts, you'll definitely have muscles, and your body will be incredibly firm.

A delicate, frail young woman would certainly not appear among martial arts practitioners.

Li Qi huddled on the outskirts of the crowd, searching for an opportunity to get in while also looking for his classmate Li Lieqi to see how she managed to get in.

However, he soon found Li Lieqi.

She was a woman, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit. She was pretty but not seductive, and had a piercing gaze, making her look quite heroic.

She even noticed Li Qi's gaze and nodded in acknowledgment. Her expression wasn't particularly cold, but it wasn't exactly enthusiastic either.

She was about the same height as Li Qi, but her physique was not particularly robust. Instead, she was slender and strong, and looked agile and reliable, with the demeanor of a female knight-errant. A huge bow hung on her back, which was extremely eye-catching.

After only glancing at her method of getting in, Li Qi shook his head with a wry smile.

This method... is useless!

It turned out that although Li Lieqi came alone, he was riding a large horse, which was ten feet tall and even more majestic than the Old Ma.

This horse was actually a seventh-rank! Moreover, a special route was specially approved for it to take off. Li Lieqi on the horse, leaped over, and landed directly over the heads of the crowd in the central Dao Field. Then he opened his terminal and confirmed the cancellation of the special route.

Li Qi was dumbfounded.

It seems she knew in advance that it would be crowded like this, and applied for a flight route specifically for today to fly in!

Is she that confident? It's common for special approval routes to take two or three years to apply for, and even with the Tang Kingdom's efficiency, there are multiple review processes. This means she started applying two or three years before the exam, and she's just waiting to use it today!

And the same goes for that horse. You can't just apply for one; you need a special license to do this, to make sure it's a special operation.

In other words, that horse also had a special operations license!

Even if Old Ma weren't with Li Qi right now, he wouldn't have the authority to grant a special approval for a flight route...

Really...

Did these people anticipate this? They started preparing two or three years in advance!

I've been taken advantage of by the country folk... I've never seen anything like this before.

Li Qi was stuck there, not knowing how to get in.

Fortunately, suddenly, someone patted Li Qi on the shoulder.

Li Qi turned his head to look, but he already knew who it was before he even saw it.

The enhanced True Knowledge had completely become his sixth sense, allowing him to know without turning around who the aura behind him belonged to.

"Ah... Brother Liu." Li Qi turned around, cupped his hands in a wry smile, and looked at his classmate behind him, Liu Shenzhi.

That's the one who forged weapons, the one who initially invited Li Qi to visit the Imperial Academy's study rooms.

Liu Shenzhi was still as flamboyant as ever. Today, instead of wearing a pink robe, he wore a floral outfit with pink, blue, and purple stripes, making him look like a monster. He also had strange decorations on his head, including feathers stuck on top of his head.

The only thing that remained unchanged was the flower still tucked behind his ear.

"Brother Li, why are you standing here? Is it because you can't get in?" Liu Shenzhi asked with a smile, clearly knowing the answer already.

For someone like him, who is a seasoned student, this kind of thing is not unusual.

Basically, someone will feel awkward like this every time. Except for those specially admitted students who can directly enroll and do not need to come to this sermon, all other students who are admitted through the entrance exam will have to come.

People outside of Chang'an wouldn't know the customs here.

These things need to be investigated beforehand to find out, but Li Qi has been busy sorting out his personal inner world these days and hasn't had time...

"Alas, Brother Liu is right, but I was just about to muster up the courage to venture inside," Li Qi sighed.

There was no other way; I had to go in. I couldn't be the only one missing out among the three of us, could I?

Upon seeing Li Qi's appearance, Liu Shenzhi burst into laughter, then pulled Li Qi along, saying, "Haha, I knew it! Don't worry, that's exactly why I came. Brother Li, come with me. Get in my carriage, and we'll take another route!"

"Brother Liu, did you come all this way to pick me up?" Li Qi asked, somewhat surprised.

"I was worried you'd get stuck here, so I came to check. I was right, haha." Liu Shenzhi looked delighted.

Despite his amusement, he still led Li Qi toward his bicycle. "Although it's not widely reported in the news, it's just like New Year's Eve; there are always idle people gathering to watch, which has caused a lot of students trouble."

Li Qi Qishen agreed.

This situation is really difficult to handle. We can't use Technique Method. If we try to squeeze through with our bare hands, even barbarian warriors might not be able to overcome these more than a million people. These people are not ants; they are all cultivators, and many of them have incredibly strong physical bodies.

Li Qi then thanked Liu Shenzhi once again.

Liu Shenzhi also chuckled as he talked about his recent affairs, and the two exchanged pleasantries before heading down another road.

At the street corner, Liu Shenzhi's carriage was right there.

It was pulled by two strange beasts of unknown origin, with six legs, similar to mules, and very tall, over two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) high.

Li Qi and Liu Shenzhi chatted idly with smiles before getting into the vehicle.

However, as soon as Li Qi entered, the smile on his face froze.

There is another person inside this car.

And he knows him.

The eighth-grade genius who fought against them back then, Liu Junyi.

This refined gentleman was sitting at the table, head down, making tea, exuding a gentle and composed aura.

Moreover, Liu Shenzhi said directly, "Elder brother, this is my friend, Li Qi. Come, Li Qi, let me introduce you. This is my cousin, named Junyi."