The Discourse Ranking was awash with clamor, while undercurrents stirred within Baling City.
The various sage clans and kingdoms exhausted every means to compete for places at the Little Apricot Altar. To scholars above the rank of Hanlin Academician and those of exceptional talent, the Little Apricot Altar was an Imperial Examination on a higher plane.
Had the Sacred Academy not forbidden trading Imperial Examination places, every kingdom would have gladly exchanged them for places at the Little Apricot Altar.
The Little Apricot Altar could increase the number of Great Scholars among the major powers, whereas the Imperial Examination could at most select Metropolitan Graduates. Anyone with the potential to become a Great Scholar was certain to become a Metropolitan Graduate.
Some households rejoiced; others grieved.
After learning that the Qing Kingdom's special envoy had been driven away, the entire kingdom sank into gloom and misery. Scholars whose literary ranks exceeded Metropolitan Graduate were especially prone to venting their discontent with the Zong Family and the Qing Lord at literary assemblies, on the Discourse Ranking, and in their correspondence.
A sacred land bore the word "sacred" precisely because it was immensely important and could aid in Saint Enfeoffment.
The scholars of the Qing Kingdom had reached a consensus: the Qing Lord and the Zong Family had cut off one of their paths to advancement.
Like the Lei Family, the members of the Clan of the Sage Zong never even went to Baling City. Both families knew that going would only invite humiliation.
Some people continued posting attacks against Fang Yun on the Discourse Ranking, accusing him of all manner of things and insisting that the Little Apricot Altar should be shared with every scholar under heaven.
A few began to echo them, but most mocked the Zong and Lei families