Dao Academy's Ruling

Meanwhile, deep within the Examination Institute, the atmosphere in a secret chamber was so heavy it seemed ready to drip.

Bright lamps cast the three examiners' shadows long across the room.

The results of the first two Dao Academy Selection trials had been settled beyond dispute.

But the third trial was different.

There was no fixed standard for grading the Heart Inquiry Trial. Its result rested with the examiners.

Each of the three gave his assessment. Once they reached agreement, the grade was set.

That was why its results could not be announced on the spot. The rankings required several rounds of discussion.

And now, the three disagreed.

Zhang Cheng, Li Wenyuan, and Zhao Wu sat around a round table. A Law Net projection hovered above it, replaying the instant Chu Bai broke free of the delusion in the Heart Inquiry Trial.

"Freeze the image."

Zhang Cheng spoke gravely and tapped the tabletop.

The projection stopped at the instant Chu Bai opened his eyes.

His eyes were clear to their depths. There was not a trace of confusion in them, only unwavering resolve to press forward.

"What do you two think?" Zhang Cheng asked, looking from one to the other.

"What else is there to think?" Li Wenyuan slapped his folded fan against his palm. "He broke free in less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and his Dao Heart is crystal clear, untouched by a speck of dust. Even at the Dao Academy in Prefectural City, a temperament like that is as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns! I say we award him Grade A!"

"Grade A?"

Zhang Cheng frowned, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of his teacup. "Brother Li, do you know what those two words carry?

"It's been ten years since anyone earned Grade A in the Heart Inquiry Trial at the Anping County Dao Academy Selection. By custom, that grade is reserved for geniuses with Foundation Establishment potential, perhaps even the makings of a Purple Abode cultivator."

"And doesn't he qualify?" Li Wenyuan shot back. "Upper A in Qi Gathering, Lower A in Spirit Control—if he earns Grade A in the third trial too, he'll be the undisputed top candidate! Wouldn't giving a talent like him Upper B be burying him?"

"Whether he qualifies isn't for us to decide."

Zhao Wu, silent until now, finally spoke in his rumbling voice. "Old Li, don't forget the rules. To award Grade A in the Heart Inquiry Trial, we must report it to the Provincial Government's Dao Academy and ask the official on duty to rule on it personally. If that official approves, fine. But if the recommendation is rejected..."

Zhao Wu glanced at Zhang Cheng. "They'll brand us 'poor judges of character who recklessly assessed a candidate's talent.' That would ruin all three of our performance reviews this year. We might even be held accountable."

He was not exaggerating. He valued Chu Bai highly too, but requesting a ruling carried no small risk.

Zhang Cheng nodded. That was precisely his concern.

He had always acted cautiously. Now that he was County Commandant, he walked as though on thin ice, afraid of the slightest mistake.

Chu Bai was indeed outstanding. But was it worth risking his future for a young man from a humble family?

"Upper B is already an exceptionally high grade," Zhang Cheng said slowly. "Combined with his first two results, his total will still put him first. It won't affect his admission. Why insist on a hollow honor?"

"It isn't a hollow honor! It's respect for a genius, and a chance to secure more resources for him!"

Li Wenyuan rose and looked Zhang Cheng straight in the eye. His voice sharpened. "County Commandant Zhang, you know how many places were cut this year. You know how little those in Prefectural City think of counties like ours!

"If we won't even stand up for a promising talent, what kind of people will Anping County produce in the future? Are we supposed to keep watching children of Aristocratic Clans claim every resource?"

"Well..." Zhang Cheng had no answer.

"And when that boy shouted 'Forward!' in the Illusion Realm—didn't his pure Dao Heart move either of you?" Li Wenyuan's voice dropped. "If cowardice makes us give him Upper B, and the Dao Academy later reviews the results and finds we underestimated him, that would be a true failure of duty! I, Li Wenyuan, am willing to bear that responsibility!"

Dead silence held the chamber for a moment.

Zhang Cheng looked at the determination in Li Wenyuan's eyes, then at the young face in the projection.

He remembered a time in his own youth when he too had possessed such spirit, before years in officialdom had gradually worn him smooth and worldly.

Indeed, whether or not they gave Chu Bai Grade A, his admission to the Dao Academy was already set in stone.

But admission with three A-grade results would bring a very different measure of attention and resources.

One choice could shape the future growth of a fine young seedling.

An examiner's role was not merely to assign grades. Why else would he be called a Mentor?

Students entered his hall to learn, seated before him.

Those who went on to achieve great cultivation acknowledged their debt to their Mentor because he had recognized a pearl and not left it buried in dust.

And as Li Wenyuan had said, if a moment of cowardice led them to an unjust ruling, would that not also be a failure of duty?

"Ah..."

Zhang Cheng let out a long sigh. The hesitation in his eyes faded, replaced by a decisiveness he had not felt in years.

"Very well. Brother Li is right. The number of places may have been cut, but we cannot let that break our spirit. If there truly is a hidden dragon in the depths, we elders ought to give him a push."

He slammed his palm on the table. "Good! If you dare shoulder the responsibility, I, Zhang Cheng, won't stand in his way. We'll give him Grade A! We'll submit a joint report and ask the Dao Academy to rule!"

Zhao Wu grinned, showing a row of white teeth. "If you two have gone mad, then Old Zhao will go mad with you! Damn it, I've long been sick of those fellows in Prefectural City who look down their noses at everyone. Let's use Chu Bai to shake them up!"

They were agreed.

Zhang Cheng hesitated no longer. He took out the Official Seal that represented his authority as County Commandant and placed it in the center of the table. Li Wenyuan and Zhao Wu each produced his Instructor's seal.

"Call upon the Law Net!"

All three poured in their Spell Power at once.

The three seals trembled. A beam of golden light shot upward, pierced the thick masonry in an instant, and soared into the clouds, connecting to the distant Provincial Government's Dao Academy.

In the blink of an eye,

the air in the secret chamber seemed to congeal. A vast, supreme will crossed an immeasurable distance and descended in an instant.

A breeze seemed to sweep through the entire examination grounds, yet the pressure within it made all three cultivators bow. None dared draw a deep breath.

That will did not linger. It swept across the images recorded by the Law Net and saw the boy who had shouted "Forward!" in the Illusion Realm.

For an instant, time seemed to stop.

Then a cool, majestic voice sounded from the void.

It spoke only one word, yet that word rang like a great bronze bell, shaking their hearts and echoing deep within their seas of consciousness.

"Approved!"

With that word, the golden light dispersed and the pressure vanished.

Zhang Cheng and the others straightened, their clothes soaked through with sweat. But when they looked at one another, none could suppress his joy.

"We did it!"