Courage, Loyalty, and Glory  

Glory is forged through courage and loyalty, the fervent blood of the academy's predecessors ensuring that their achievements endure through time. 

The voices of the border tribes, the Golden Spoons, and the local bumpkins resonated in song, their dreams and the brilliance of their forebears imbuing the melody with a profoundly stirring power. 

The song echoed repeatedly, gradually fading only as the night deepened. 

Meng Bai, Zhang Ping, and the others had chosen nearby tents to rest. 

"Beef jerky... so delicious..." 

Occasionally, from the tent beside Lin Xi, Meng Bai murmured a few words in his sleep. 

Though Lin Xi felt utterly fatigued, he found himself unable to succumb to slumber with his eyes closed. 

The prolonged song gradually painted a vivid picture of the "Director Zhang" he longed to know. 

Sixty years ago, a middle-aged man accompanied by a grotesque creature covered in lumps and a duck-like beast first entered the imperial city of Zhongzhou. 

That year, the middle-aged man traversed the main mountain range, entered the Four Seasons Plain, and stepped into the then-unknown Qingluan Academy. 

Fifty years ago, as the fifteen tribes of the Western Barbarians advanced eastward, threatening the imperial city of Zhongzhou, this middle-aged man, along with seventeen students from Qingluan Academy, emerged from the academy and, in a single night, beheaded thirty generals of the Western Barbarians, driving them back beyond Biluo Ridge and expanding the territory of the Yunqin Empire by a third. 

In the same year, taking advantage of the situation, the Kingdom of Namo launched a northern invasion, exploiting the vulnerability of the southern border forces of the Yunqin Empire. The middle-aged man and his seventeen students, accompanied by five thousand border troops, held steadfast at Falling Star Ridge for thirteen days, leaving a mound of corpses from the Namo army, numbering three hundred thousand, as high as the walls of Falling Star Ridge, ultimately forcing the Namo forces to retreat, resulting in fifty years of peace. 

Still that year, the middle-aged man circumnavigated the borders of the Yunqin Empire, vanquishing notorious bandits and robbers without a trace. 

In those ten years, Qingluan Academy transformed from an obscure institution into a sacred place of glory for the empire. The precarious borders of the Yunqin Empire doubled in size during that decade. 

The songs celebrating these accomplishments became a fervent belief, ignited by legendary tales and the blood that stained Falling Star Lake, inspiring the youth of the Yunqin Empire to pursue this glory and pledge their lives to defend it. 

"There are geniuses everywhere; in my previous class, there were those who rarely studied, sleeping through engineering math lectures, yet managed to achieve full marks after cramming for a few nights before finals. Having attained such glory, you must also be a prodigy, but why did you change 'palace' to 'department' and refer to instructors as lecturers and professors?" 

With his eyes closed, Lin Xi couldn't help but chuckle, his heart racing. If entering the academy meant meeting this middle-aged man from fifty years ago, he was determined to pass the entrance exam tomorrow and step into the sacred realm of Qingluan Academy, as envisioned by the youth of the empire. 

The camp was enveloped in silence, the campfire gradually extinguishing, leaving only the ethereal dance of fireflies. Lin Xi began counting sheep, slowly drifting into slumber. 

"Sister... Mom and Dad, I miss you... Sister... this Qingluan Academy is quite fascinating..." The long journey had truly exhausted Lin Xi, and within the tent, muffled murmurs of dreams occasionally escaped. 

... 

"Lin Xi, are you still not awake? It's time to prepare; the entrance exam is about to commence." The following morning, Lin Xi was roused by such a voice. 

When he finally managed to open his eyes, he saw Meng Bai, Li Kaiyun, Zhang Ping, and Xiang Lin standing at the entrance of his tent, all freshly groomed. A gentle beam of sunlight streamed through the gaps between them. 

The four were clad in brand new attire, their hair neatly arranged, and their faces radiated excitement and nervousness. 

The cacophony of voices from outside the tent made Lin Xi, still groggy from insufficient sleep, feel a bit disoriented. 

"He arrived a tad late," Zhang Ping remarked, observing Lin Xi as he blinked heavily. He understood the agony of not having enough rest after a month of relentless travel, but he was more concerned about Lin Xi being dazed and eliminated before the exam began. "Lin Xi, go wash up by the lake; it will help you feel more alert." 

"Get up quickly; there are plenty of delicious treats prepared outside," Meng Bai added, his cheeks bulging as he munched on something. 

"Alright, I'll change into something new." Lin Xi rubbed his eyes, smiling as he gradually sat up and retrieved a light red silk garment from his pack. 

"Why red? Lin Xi, your complexion is already fair; wearing such a color makes you look a bit effeminate." 

"My mother chose it for me, claiming that red brings good fortune." 

"You're not even getting married, but there are indeed many charming ladies here for the entrance exam. Who knows, you might just catch the eye of some noble maiden and end up a groom after all." 

As Lin Xi stepped out of the tent, the first ray of sunlight kissed his face, warming his heart. These four "local bumpkins" were as endearing as his former university classmates. Although the new light red silk garment seemed somewhat gaudy, it was carefully selected by his mother, each corner meticulously ironed smooth, making him feel that the world was indeed a beautiful place. 

"Why are there so many people?" Lin Xi exclaimed in surprise. 

The lakeside camp had been adorned with over a hundred long tables, laden with the delectable treats Meng Bai had mentioned. There was an array of meats, pastries, and fruits, many of which Lin Xi had never seen before. The previous night, the gathering of a thousand carriages had swelled to at least five or six hundred, and in the distance, on the plains and hills, many more people and carriages were approaching. 

The clamor came primarily from the sounds of the carriages and horses, while the lakeside camp remained relatively quiet, still filled with thousands of examinees, most of whom were whispering and exchanging hushed conversations. 

"These are individuals sent by small academies or influential families," Li Kaiyun explained softly beside Lin Xi, wearing a crisp white robe that gave him an air of cleanliness. "Each year, the academy does not necessarily enroll all applicants, and there will certainly be a substantial number who cannot enter. These small academies and influential families will select talents from those who are not admitted." 

"Isn't this akin to selecting from the top-tier institutions first, then moving on to the second and third tiers?" Lin Xi couldn't help but chuckle. 

"Lin Xi, hurry and wash up. Good luck!" Zhang Ping said earnestly, looking at Lin Xi. 

"Wishing everyone good fortune!

Li Kaiyun and Xiang Lin immediately adopted a serious demeanor, patting Zhang Ping, Lin Xi, and Meng Bai on the shoulders, offering their heartfelt blessings.

"Lin Xi, you should try this," Meng Bai said, as the cool lake water splashed against Lin Xi's face, effectively rousing him from his stupor. The fatigue began to dissipate as he finished tidying himself up, but before he could fully gather his composure, Meng Bai had already rushed to his side, presenting him with a bunch of black grapes.

"You're not feeling nervous at all?" Lin Xi remarked, both amused and exasperated, observing the little chubby boy whose cheeks were still puffed up with excitement, as if he hadn't stopped eating since the previous night.

"Being nervous is futile! Besides, these are truly delicious. This black ice grape costs five taels of silver a bunch outside, and they're quite hard to come by," Meng Bai replied earnestly. "If you find them delectable, there are more on that table over there."

With a smile, Lin Xi was about to accept the black grapes from Meng Bai's hand. They were significantly larger than any he had seen before, oval-shaped like a thumb, and glistening with a layer of white frost, appearing refreshingly cold.

"Just a country bumpkin," a derisive voice suddenly echoed, cutting through the air and reaching Lin Xi and Meng Bai's ears.

Turning toward the sound, Lin Xi beheld a pale-faced youth clad in an unusual high-necked black robe, slowly sipping clear lake water from a flat white iron flask. He was tucking away a white flatbread into a small pouch, his expression one of haughty disdain, unbothered by the presence of Lin Xi and Meng Bai.

His hair was golden, reminiscent of midday sunlight, strikingly peculiar.

"Fine wines and exquisite dishes only serve to debase one's will and soul; it is the scars and trials that shine with the most resplendent glory," the pale youth said coldly, observing the somewhat stunned expressions of Lin Xi and Meng Bai before turning away with an air of aloofness, not sparing them another glance.

"Pay him no mind; he is from the Yu Hua clan," Zhang Ping said, hastening over to Lin Xi and Meng Bai, speaking in hushed tones.

"So it's one of those Yu Hua brats; that explains it..." Meng Bai remarked, suddenly enlightened, his teeth clenched in irritation as he glared at the black-robed youth.

"What is the background of the Yu Hua clan?" Lin Xi inquired with curiosity.

"One-third of the priests in our Yunqin Empire hail from the Yu Hua clan. Their members are notoriously stubborn and arrogant, adhering to a philosophy of asceticism. However, they do enjoy a respectable reputation within the empire. Many from the Yu Hua clan perished during the battle at Falling Star Lake, and indeed, most of them maintain a pristine reputation. This particular member of the Yu Hua clan is likely aiming to enter the Spirit Ritual Department of Qingluan Academy, which is a long-standing tradition of theirs," Zhang Ping explained in a low voice.

"In any case, they only consume plain water and hard bread, spouting nonsense, and making life difficult for themselves," Meng Bai muttered in dissatisfaction.

"They believe that is a form of cultivation..." Zhang Ping was about to elaborate further when, suddenly, a loud commotion erupted nearby.

"The entrance examination is about to commence!"

All the candidates participating in the examination surged toward the eastern lakeside.

There, eight large tents stood, from which groups of individuals clad in Qingluan Academy attire began to emerge.

While Lin Xi and Meng Bai remained relatively calm, Zhang Ping, Li Kaiyun, and Xiang Lin trembled slightly with a mix of anxiety and excitement.

A total of six rows of Qingluan Academy personnel came forth, with those at the forefront dressed in pure black garments trimmed in gold. From a distance, Lin Xi spotted Xia Yanbing among them, likely all instructors from the academy.

Xia Yanbing appeared to be the youngest among the six instructors clad in black with golden trim, standing behind him was a row of students adorned in blue robes.