Gate of God

One had to prepare before an important event.

Fang Zhengzhi got out of bed early for once. When he got to Yan Xiu’s room, he saw Yan Xiu waiting quietly at his table.

Even though Yan Xiu was still pale, he looked much better than before. For starters, he had his usual iciness.

Yan Xiu pointed to the snacks on the table when he saw Fang Zhengzhi enter.

"Are you better?" Fang Zhengzhi took his seat and began to eat.

"Mm." Yan Xiu nodded lightly and began eating. He had been waiting for Fang Zhengzhi for breakfast.

Fang Zhengzhi knew that Yan Xiu did not like to talk whilst eating, so he did not say anything else.

Very quickly, they finished their breakfast and began walking to the Imperial Academy.

The Imperial Academy was packed with people. Outside the perimeter was a long table.

There was nothing on the table.

However, everyone knew that this table was placed by all the betting houses in the capital. It was used to for people to pay or collect their winnings.

The arrival of Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu attracted much attention.

After all, Fang Zhengzhi’s name reverberated throughout the city after the results of the competition reached the city. From the hawkers on the street to the villagers from nearby villages knew Fang Zhengzhi’s name.

"Look, Fang Zhengzhi is here!"

"Oh my god! It’s Yan Xiu! He’s so handsome, so handsome!" Just as Fang Zhengzhi was expecting a comment on him, he heard a scream by his side.

This was clearly from a girl.

"I really don’t understand why Yan Xiu is always with Fang Zhengzhi."

"Exactly, exactly!"

"However, when I see Fang Zhengzhi, I think that Yan Xiu is even more handsome!"

Many other voices began to overlay over the lady’s voice.

Fang Zhengzhi was slightly saddened. Am I not handsome?

He once had a dream that he would make his name in the court examinations. Then, everyone would be screaming his name.

However, he had only fulfilled half his dreams.

Yan Xiu was the center of attention.

Okay then...

As long as it is not anyone else.

Fang Zhengzhi thought to himself.

Just as he thought of it, he heard an even more intense scream by his ear. It was many times louder than the scream that greeted him and Yan Xiu.

"Oh gosh, look, it’s Wu Feng!"

"It really is Wu Feng. Wow... I have managed to see Wu Feng in person!"

"The rumors are true, Wu Feng is even more handsome than expected!"

In that instant, the voices grew. It was almost as if someone had thrown a bomb into the middle of the crowd.

Fang Zhengzhi looked in that direction.

He saw a youth walk towards them slowly.

All this while, Fang Zhengzhi had found it difficult to believe that anyone could be as handsome as Pan An. After all, he had never been complimented like that despite his looks.

However, when he saw Wu Feng, he finally understood what that meant.

He was exquisite, elegant, and flawless.

He was absolutely flawless. If Fang Zhengzhi had to add another phrase behind it to describe this man...

This man made him gay!

He was dressed in a green flowy robe. He held a green jade flute in his hand. His expression was welcoming and his smile radiant.

He was a complete opposite of Yan Xiu.

This was Wu Feng.

"Ranked fourth on the Rising Dragon Roll. Wu Feng and the Jade Flute." Yan Xiu explained to Fang Zhengzhi.

"Jade Flute? What’s so special about it?" Fang Zhengzhi was rather curious. After all, this was the first time he had seen someone use a flute as a weapon.

"He is the disciple of the "Clear Water Sage". They are incredibly skilled in music, and he is rumored to be the best." Yan Xiu explained.

"Music? Can it be used in a battle?"

"Can."

"How?"

"Blowing into the flute."

"Oh, I see!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded even though he did not really understand. Blow what? How?

Just as he was thinking about it, Wu Feng walked over. From his expression, he looked to be walking towards Yan Xiu and Fang Zhengzhi.

Very soon, Wu Feng stood in front of the two of them.

"Greetings, Young Master Yan!" Wu Feng bowed to Yan Xiu respectfully.

Fang Zhengzhi twitched his lips in disdain. He had seen many people greet Yan Xiu only to be ignored.

Wu Feng must be asking for it.

Just as he was thinking about it, Yan Xiu replied flatly. "Good."

"Oh?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yan Xiu doubtfully.

However, after Yan Xiu replied, he did not seem to want to speak.

Wu Feng did not seem to be perturbed by it, almost as if he had expected this to happen. He continued to smile affectionately.

"If my guess is correct, this must be the famous Fang Zhengzhi, Young Master Fang!" Wu Feng bowed to Fang Zhengzhi.

Fang Zhengzhi had not thought of replying. However, when he saw the jade flute, a scene flashed in his mind.

The markings on Wu Feng’s Jade Flute looked exactly the same as those on the walls of the throne room in The Vast World.

What’s going on?

Images kept flashing in Fang Zhengzhi’s mind. He would think about the wall in that throne room as well as the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet he saw.

He also remembered the ridiculous scene when he had exited The Vast World. He remembered the ancient aura and the ear shaking roars...

"Can you let me take a look at your flute?" Fang Zhengzhi decided to ask.

Everyone around Fang Zhengzhi was stunned by the question. Then, many of the talents looked at Fang Zhengzhi in disdain.

Who asks to look at someone else’s weapon during the first meet?!

"Haha... I’m afraid not!" Wu Feng chuckled, unaffected by Fang Zhengzhi’s seemingly unreasonable request.

"Oh, then what must I do to be able to take a look?" Fang Zhengzhi continued.

"Does Young Master Fang really want to take a look?" Wu Feng’s expression changed slightly. If Fang Zhengzhi had said it as a passing comment, he would not have bothered with it. However, it was clear that Fang Zhengzhi was not making a passing comment.

"Yes." Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

"If Young Master Fang really wants to take a look, you can try snatching it from my hand." Wu Feng smiled.

"Oh? I see." Fang Zhengzhi looked at the Jade Flute in Wu Feng’s hand and smiled.

"Dong!"

Just at this moment, the gong rang out and the doors to the Imperial Academy opened.

Two rows of imperial messengers dressed in black official robes stepped through the gates. Each one of them carried a redwood box in their hands.

Behind them were King Duan and Ninth Prince Lin Yun.

Other than these people, there was a young imperial messenger behind the group. He wore the robes of a rank four official and he held a golden box in his hands.

Everyone held their breaths when they saw this. No one spoke, their gazes fixed on the imperial messengers.

"Su Qing, you shall be the host for the announcement of the results today!" King Duan turned to the youth behind him and said.

"Yes!" Su Qing nodded respectfully.

Then, he walked forward quickly and stood in between the other two imperial messengers.

He cleared his throat and bowed four times. Each time, he faced one of the four directions, North, South, East, and West.

"The imperial examinations were held in two stages, the theory and combat examinations. There have been many trials and tribulations along the way that I am sure everyone is aware of..."

Su Qing began to recount the happenings of this imperial examination.

When he spoke about the World of The Sage, he mourned for the fallen and urged everyone else to do the same.

The entire crowd sighed.

When that was over, Su Qing motioned to the imperial messengers to begin the announcement.

All of them opened up the redwood box in their hands. Each one contained a name and a brief description of the person.

The Imperial Examination.

It was one of the most important parts of the Dao Examinations. The emphasis on it was vastly different from the previous ones. After all, passing this examination meant that one qualified to enter the courts.

"I got it, I got it!"

"Congratulations!"

"Young Master Li has made it, don’t forget us when you become someone notable!"

"Relax, I will never forget the people who I studied with."

Very quickly, sounds of excitement and congratulations rang out in the air.

There were few who made it to the honor rolls in the Imperial Examinations. The second-class roll was reported in a jiffy.

It was now time for the first-class roll.

This got everyone even more excited. Those who made it to the first-class roll were ecstatic.

Fang Zhengzhi heard many familiar names.

The man who he had recruited after the loss to Ping Yang in the first round in the World of the Sage had made it to the first-class roll. That man’s cousin had also made it.

"Official Fang, thank you. If not for your help, we will not be where we are today." Before long, the two middle aged men came over to thank Fang Zhengzhi.

"You are too kind. I still have to thank you." Fang Zhengzhi had a good impression of both of them so he engaged in pleasantries.

Before long, the first-class roll had also been announced.

However, there was no mention of Xing Qingsui and Nangong Mu.

This caused everyone to get suspicious.

Xing Qingsui had gotten to the semifinals of the court examinations. After losing to Yan Xiu, he should have at least made the first-class roll.

Nangong Mu was in the top three for the theory examinations. Even though he had lost to Fang Zhengzhi one round earlier, it was quite impossible for him not to have made the first-class roll.

Could it be...

A thought flashed by in everyone’s mind.

"Did Fang Zhengzhi not make the cut?"

"I don’t think so? Fang Zhengzhi topped the theory examinations and made it to the final round of the combat examinations. He should either be first or second!"

"Could it be Yan Xiu then?"

"I think that’s impossible!"

The crowd burst into chatter.

If Xing Qingsui and Nangong Mu did not make the first-class roll, they must have made the top three.

However, including Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu, there would be four names in the top three!

Was there a tie?!

Just as they thought about it, Su Qing stepped forward watched for a nod from King Duan and the Ninth Prince.

"Announce the top three ranks for the combat examinations!" Su Qing bellowed when he got the approval from King Duan and the Ninth Prince.

The crowd quietened down.

Everyone was waiting for this result.

Su Qing slowly opened the golden box in his hand. He pulled out a small golden parchment.

He opened it up.

Then, he spoke.

"In third position for the combat examinations, we have Xing Qingsui of the Stabilisation Constabulary!" Su Qing scanned the crowd as he spoke.

The entire crowd exploded into chatter upon hearing this announcement.

It was no surprise that Xing Qingsui was third. However, if Xing Qingsui was third, that would mean that there was no tie for third position!

There were four missing names, yet, there was no tie.

What was going on?

No one understood what was happening.

According to the rules of the imperial examination, if there was a tie in the first or second positions, there would be no third place.

Could Nangong Mu be second? Either Yan Xiu or Fang Zhengzhi failed to make the cut?

This did not seem very possible.

Question arose in all the spectators’ minds.

Xing Qingsui, who was dressed in black, walked over to Su Qing with a look of confusion. He clearly had a question on his mind.

"Young Master Xing, congratulations on making the top three!" Su Qing congratulated.

"Mm, Official Su is too kind. May I ask how Nangong Mu fared in this examination?" Xing Qingsui asked. He had always been direct.