Setting Out for the Prefectural Dao Academy

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the first rays of dawn pierced the morning mist.

The Chu Household's courtyard was quiet. Only the occasional crow of an early-rising rooster broke the silence.

Chu Bai sighed softly.

Even after cultivating immortality and becoming a revered "immortal master," he could not sever the ties of blood and family.

If he said goodbye in person, his parents would likely find it too hard to let him go. It would only add to their worry.

He took a letter he had written earlier from his robes and placed it where it would be seen, beneath the corner of the table.

Then he took out a weighty envelope containing twenty taels of silver and gently laid it on top of the letter.

Once, his parents had begged people everywhere to raise the ten taels for his tuition, nearly emptying the family's coffers.

Now, that same sum was something he could leave behind for household expenses without a second thought.

The divide between immortals and mortals sometimes showed itself in this vulgar stuff called money. It was both real and bitterly ironic.

Time to go.

Chu Bai turned and gently closed the door behind him. With a flicker of movement, he vanished into the thin morning mist.

On the way to the city gate, Chu Bai walked at an unhurried pace, but his mind drifted back to the banquet the day before.

It had been held at the most lavish restaurant in Anping County. Amid the clinking cups, countless eyes had watched the newly crowned top candidate.

Several wealthy merchants of the city, including the owner of its largest bookstore, had approached him with broad smiles, openly or subtly offering him large sums of money.

The bookstore owner had even offered an astonishing hundred taels of silver, asking only that Chu Bai write a few words for the shop—even "Good books" would do.

A hundred taels of silver would have kept any ordinary family in Anping County fed and clothed for generations.

But Chu Bai remembered the meaningful look in his master Daoist Zhang's eyes, and his warning: "A cultivator must guard his reputation and avoid entangling himself in too many sordid debts."

So he had turned them all down with a smile.

Taking the money would mean selling his name. If the bookstore got up to anything dubious later, the consequences would fall on his head.

He had only just set foot on the immortal path. Letting this affect him would be a poor bargain indeed.

Chu Bai could not be bothered to investigate whether the bookstore's business truly had problems. Even spending a little time on it would not be worth it.

Later, though, several village elders and local gentry had pooled a little over twenty taels in loose silver and brought it to him. Chu Bai had accepted every coin.

It was not much money, but it represented their desire to build a small bond of goodwill with the "top candidate."

By taking the money, he owed them a favor.

Only then would those elders feel at ease. In the future, they would take greater care of Chu Bai's parents and would not dare neglect them, for fear of losing that connection.

That was the benefit of choosing to owe someone a favor.

The ways of this world are sometimes even more complicated than cultivation.

Chu Bai gave a wry smile and shook his head, casting those stray thoughts aside.

Outside the gate of Anping County, beside the official road.

Several finely appointed carriages had been waiting for some time. The horses pulling them all had glossy coats and were clearly no ordinary steeds.

When Chu Bai appeared, Li Han, who had been waiting there, waved to him with a smile.

A group of Anping County's truly important figures also stood beside the carriages.

There was Daoist Zhang of Azure Cloud Academy, the head of Azure Feather Academy, and the examination officials Li Wenyuan and Zhang Cheng.

As Chu Bai approached, Daoist Zhang gave him a pleased smile and a slight nod.

Just then, the curtain of the largest and most splendid official carriage at the front was lifted.

A dignified middle-aged man in official robes stepped down.

Everyone's expressions grew solemn, and they bowed. "Greetings, County Magistrate!"

It was Qian Shen, the magistrate of Anping County.

Chu Bai was startled. He had not expected his departure, as a mere top candidate, to bring the county's highest official out to see him off in person.

"No need for ceremony." Qian Shen waved a hand. His gaze settled on Chu Bai and Li Han, and approval showed in his eyes. "You two are the outstanding talents Anping County has chosen this time. When you reach Great Plains Prefecture, devote yourselves to cultivation. Do not tarnish Anping County's good name."

"We will not fail your expectations, County Magistrate," Chu Bai and Li Han answered together.

Qian Shen nodded and said no more. His appearance in person had already spoken louder than a thousand words. It signified official recognition and support, securing the two young men's unshakable standing in Anping County.

The group escorted them a hundred paces, as custom required, before stopping.

"Go on. The immortal path is long, and you must take this first step steadily." Daoist Zhang gave Chu Bai's shoulder a final pat, his words earnest.

Chu Bai took a deep breath and bowed deeply to his master. Then, without further hesitation, he turned and climbed into the spacious Dao Academy carriage.

"Hyah!"

The driver cracked his whip. The carriage set off slowly, then gathered speed along the official road toward Great Plains Prefecture.

The compartment was roomy and lined with thick cushions. Even at a gallop, the ride was barely bumpy.

Inside, besides Chu Bai and Li Han, were only the examination officials escorting them, Li Wenyuan and Zhang Cheng.

Seeing that the mood was a little subdued, Li Wenyuan smiled and said, "Great Plains Prefecture is three hundred li from here. But these are Wind-Chasing Horses, with Demon Beast blood in their veins. They're exceptionally swift. We should arrive by the afternoon, in less than half a day."

Three hundred li in less than half a day. The speed was astonishing.

Chu Bai looked through the window at the scenery racing backward and gained a new appreciation for what the cultivation world could do.

"The rules at the Prefectural Dao Academy differ from those in the county," Li Wenyuan continued, seemingly intent on giving them a warning. "When it opens its gates this time, three hundred new disciples will receive Ordination."

"Three hundred?" Li Han paused. "If all seventy-two counties have places, then that number..."

"That's right." Li Wenyuan saw their confusion, and something unreadable crossed his face. "Great Plains Prefecture governs seventy-two counties. Each county gets only two places. Even counting every one, that barely comes to a little over a hundred."

Chu Bai frowned slightly and calculated in silence.

A little over a hundred out of three hundred. Then the rest...

"The remaining places all go to locals from the Prefectural City," Li Wenyuan said flatly, dropping the staggering truth into their laps.

The carriage fell silent.

Chu Bai's heart tightened.

He had fought with everything he had for Anping County's mere two places. The slightest slip would have cost him his chance.

Yet in Great Plains Prefectural City, places were so plentiful they practically overflowed!

No wonder Zhang Cheng had once said the number of places had been cut. So much of the opportunity had already been kept in the Prefectural City, leaving the seventy-two counties below to fight over scraps.

"That also means..." Zhang Wu added abruptly from the side, "you'll meet a great many disciples from the Prefectural City at the Dao Academy. Their family backgrounds, resources, and experience all give them a head start. But you two have fine talent. Don't let that intimidate you."

Though Zhang Wu did not say it outright, Chu Bai keenly sensed the conflict and class divide beneath his words.

Chu Bai and Li Han exchanged a glance. Each saw the gravity in the other's eyes.

Seeing that they understood what was at stake, Li Wenyuan smiled and reassured them:

"There's no need to worry. The Dao Academy is a place to pass on teachings and answer questions. There may be competition, but it won't go too far."

"Where is it any different? The immortal path comes down to one word: fight!"