Chapter 442: Admission

Looking from the Star-Plucking Building yesterday, friends had pointed out the pieces of starlight in this boundless city to Seeing Pei Ye.

These square groups of lights, like a chessboard, nearby and in the distance, were exactly the 108 big wards in the Divine Capital. Only the Great Tang Emperor's city had such regulations, building a city of several million people so neatly, like a sea of lights on land, which was "The white jade capital in the sky, the Chang'an city in the human world."

And right in this neatness, looking north, it was a vast and boundless group of buildings that did not follow the ward system. The atmosphere was majestic, deep, and beautiful. The continuous golden eaves and green tiles reflected shimmering light under the moon, still showing a higher level of architectural specifications in the already prosperous and majestic Heavenly Capital... which was the undisputed center of the Divine Capital, the Great Tang Imperial City.

And the Palace City was embedded in the Imperial City, with dim lights. Friends pointed it out for a long time, but Seeing Pei Ye, who lacked basic knowledge, still didn't understand where the Saint lived.

But he was clear about another thing—it was that surrounding this Imperial City, all kinds of government offices stood in great numbers, forming the absolute core of the whole city, and even the whole country.

The mansions of princes, princesses, high officials, and aristocratic sons were lined up, and the Three Departments, Six Ministries, Nine Temples, and Five Directorates were filled with blue and purple officials. This circle of chess squares was often called the "Saint's Front Ward." With white stone as streets and vermilion walls, although it didn't restrict entry and exit, it was rare to see the figures of ordinary people.

The Great Tang Dao-Opening Society was an institution established by the Emperor's vermilion approval and the Immortal Terrace's edict. The Sword Academy was the carrier and proof of the Dao-Opening Society's operation. It was built right in this area, on the southern edge of Xingdao Ward.

But when Seeing Pei Ye stood in front of this gate, he almost suspected he had gone to the wrong place.

This was a piece of quietness surrounded by the center of the Heavenly Capital. A piece of quiet forest and small pond separated it from the long street and government offices. Through the branches and leaves, one could see white walls and black tiles, cool and quiet.

It had none of the majestic prosperity of the government offices seen along the way. The gate was just a simple black wood small door. It was very clean and should have been very quiet. It stood outside all power and didn't need any pomp.

But now there were at least twenty people standing in front of the gate.

They must be like Seeing Pei Ye, coming from all over the world, with clothes he had never seen before, and ways of carrying swords he had never seen before—there was one person carrying a full six swords on his back, like a general in a play. Not everyone was dusty and alone; some brought old servants, and Seeing Pei Ye even saw rows of carriages.

Seeing Pei Ye frowned and hesitated for a moment, but Tang law only allowed government offices or officials above the third rank to open doors facing the street outside the ward. He stood to the front of the gate and looked up. There was no plaque, only a line of fierce and sharp carved characters outlined on the stone beam: "Chang'an Sword Academy."

A line of small characters below on the right: "Great Tang Thirty-Three Sword Bearers Dao-Opening Society."

It was indeed here.

But soon he was no longer puzzled. Being close, he saw a small desk placed in front of the open wooden door. A middle-aged man in Daoist robes sat in front of the desk, looking through something with peaceful eyes. His hair was slightly messy, and his clothes and boots were not very neat, but he didn't look sloppy. Instead, he revealed a kind of easygoing dashingness.

A young back carrying a sword was standing in front of the desk, talking and answering something with him.

Soon the question and answer were finished. The middle-aged man in Daoist robes wrote a note and some registers and handed them to the young man. The young man bowed twice solemnly, took them, and walked into the door.

Seeing Pei Ye then saw that there was an old man holding a wine gourd standing behind the middle-aged man in Daoist robes. He also had gray hair tied in a bun, wearing cloth clothes and cloth shoes, leaning against the wall and watching quietly, with a somewhat broken sword leaning against his leg.

So he quickly understood what he had encountered.

The Sword Academy's annual autumn recruitment happened to be today.

"It's such a coincidence."

"That's why I told you to get up." The black cat said, "The first day of school, you have to have a good relationship with your classmates."

". Little cat."

"Hmm?"

"You are becoming more and more useful."

Seeing Pei Ye looked carefully again, and the people outside the door were indeed vaguely lined up in order. He held the cat and retreated to the back, standing curiously behind a sword practitioner.

This person was also very young, about twenty years old, in light-colored robes, with neat sideburns, looking like a scholarly scholar, but not carrying a book box, but carrying a very new sword.

He turned his head and looked at Seeing Pei Ye curiously: "Is Brother also a sword student entering the academy this year?"

Seeing Pei Ye was stunned and looked up: "Ah, yes, nice to meet you."

"I thought I had recognized all the fellow students this year." This person smiled, "I am Wang Wang Shousi, a disciple of the Jin Wu. May I ask your honorable name?"

"My name is Seeing Pei Ye, from Shaolong." Seeing Pei Ye cupped his fists and saluted. He had temporarily supplemented the names of the Thirty-Three Sword Gates on the road, remembering that the Jin Wu Sect was a Southeast Jianmen, specializing in the sword of extreme Yang. On the Golden Book, it was in the same list as Great Kongdong, and there should be no Heavenly Tower in the sect.

Wang Wang Shousi was stunned for a moment, raised his eyes as if searching for something, and hesitated: "Is your Excellency a high disciple of Great Kongdong?"

"No, I am a loose practitioner." Seeing Pei Ye smiled, "Not a sect master."

". Oh." Wang Wang Shousi frowned slightly, smiled apologetically, "Excuse me, I really haven't heard of your name... Then is your Excellency using the quota of the Great Tang?"

Seeing Pei Ye was stunned. This stumped him. He was not a planned sword student, and he didn't know what quota he counted as. At this time, he came abruptly and didn't say hello to the Sword Academy first. He had to touch his head and said vaguely: "Should... be."

Wang Wang Shousi looked at him suspiciously twice, but he didn't pursue it politely. Instead, Seeing Pei Ye raised his head and asked curiously: "Do you recognize all the new sword students entering the academy this year?"

"A total of twenty-four or twenty-five people. Who is a disciple of which sect can be known by a little distinction." Wang Wang Shousi smiled, "Just remember the other six Great Tang quotas."

The Dao-Opening Society recruited more than twenty-five people every year, but those who came to the Divine Capital Sword Academy were indeed those geniuses among geniuses. And for these people, they had been traveling with their masters since childhood, and after growing up, they had been discussing swords everywhere, so their names were actually not unfamiliar. Many of them had met each other.

Especially after the Thirty-Three Sword Gates were formed, this circulation became even closer.

Naturally, an outsider like Seeing Pei Ye, who came from the mountains, was not known to anyone.

"Look, that is Huashan's Wen Zheng." Wang Wang Shousi indicated the person walking to the desk.

Seeing Pei Ye looked over. It was a delicate and smiling woman with a very white face. She tied her sword behind her waist, which was rare. She had been leaning against a jujube red horse before.

He obviously hadn't heard this name, but Wang Wang Shousi thought it didn't need explanation. He looked at the two figures behind the desk and muttered curiously: "I don't know which two Dao-Opening people are receiving..."

At this time, a voice came from behind: "May I ask if this is where the Dao-Opening Society admits students?"

Seeing Pei Ye turned his head and saw a dashing and generous woman carrying a curious girl—this girl was obviously younger than him.

"Exactly." Seeing Pei Ye nodded. These two were dressed in general attire and carried swords of general style. The woman was originally a gentle and delicate appearance, but her brows and eyes were soaring, so she looked bright and heroic.

The girl was not yet fully grown. She combed a bun, her features were small and exquisite, but she had two quite short eyebrows, so she looked a bit stupid and cute. She didn't carry any luggage, just held a short sword in her hand.

The woman breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: "Thank you. Then we found the right place. The Divine Capital city is too big. We knew it was in Xingdao Ward early, but we still turned around several times."

Seeing Pei Ye smiled: "You must have turned over from the Zhu Que Thoroughfare. With this forest here, it just happened to be blocked from that side. If you walked from the East First Street, you would have seen it."

The woman nodded in realization and smiled: "I am Ning Shurong from Emei, and this is my Junior Sister Zhu Zhu Shishi. May I ask which sword land your Excellency is from?"

Seeing Pei Ye had to say again: "I have no sect, I don't know anyone, I was just listening to Brother Wang's introduction."

"Oh." Ning Shurong pulled her Junior Sister to meet Wang Wang Shousi again. Both sides were obviously only hearing their names and had never met, and showed some surprise.

Seeing Pei Ye didn't know that this fresh-tempered scholar had been the champion of the same level in the Southeast Thirty Sects for nine years since he was twelve, and was regarded as the hope of the Jin Wu's revival by both inside and outside. Nor did he know that this woman had single-handedly killed through twenty-three bandit strongholds in the Ten Mountains last year, killing 271 people in one night, with blood soaking her clothes. People said "A tree of red on the top of Cui Mountain."

These were all names he had heard but never seen. At this time, he also felt the same "long-admired" feeling as the two people beside him, not expecting that one day he would be studying swords with these people.

The queue moved forward bit by bit. Sword practitioners passed by the desk one by one. From afar, one could see Yang Yang Zhenbing and Zuoqiu Zuoqiu Longhua clearly having a few more questions and answers when delivering, and the old man with the wine gourd behind also asked a few questions.

When several people almost came to the door, there were not many people left in the queue. At this time, standing in front of the desk was a man who was not old but had a bronze face, looking like he had seen common wind and rain.

He was the Jianghu person Seeing Pei Ye was most familiar with. He was dusty from a long journey, with his sleeves tied and his clothes and boots washed somewhat white, only holding a sword in his arms.

"That is Zhang Shixiong Chu Chu Shuiting from Shushan." Ning Shurong said. Being in the Southwest, she recognized him at a glance and smiled, "Zhang Shixiong Chu's sword attainment is extremely deep. I can still communicate with him when sitting and talking about swords, but if we fight with swords, I won't be able to take ten moves."

Chu Chu Shuiting seemed to hear it, turned his head and smiled at them, revealing white teeth.

The middle-aged man in Daoist robes in front of him lowered his head and read: "Chu Chu Shuiting, true disciple of Shushan Sunset Hall, master Captain Xie Keji, age 21, Sword Dao Spirit Realm, Life Vein Eight Lives, 'Silkworm Fish Scripture' proficient. Shushan recommendation: 'Chu Shuiting is the talent of Shushan for a hundred years in chess swords. Although the sword principle is slightly clumsy, the heart is sensitive and the meaning is agile. Willing to accept Dao-Opening, seeking the true essence of the sword'—did Qi Ziyun write this for you?"

"Returning to the Sword Initiator, it is the Sect Master Senior Uncle."

"Haven't seen his handwriting for a long time. He has high hopes for you."

"Disciple is ashamed."

"Native place document."

Chu Chu Shuiting took out another booklet.

"Xia Die."

Chu Chu Shuiting unbuckled a silver plaque.

"Admission test qualification note."

"."

It was at this time that Seeing Pei Ye began to feel somewhat stiff. He looked at the people in front and behind him somewhat hesitantly, opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.

But soon Chu Chu Shuiting went in, and another noble woman in gorgeous clothes walked up.

She was the owner of that row of carriages, walking up with a green-sheathed jade-handled long sword. Her behavior had a kind of indescribable reserved elegance.

That was not one or two movements, but behavior cultivated in a certain environment for a long time. Even in front of the outer street gate, she also performed the most precise etiquette.

Sect people were easy to recognize. Their clothes were inevitably dusty. Even if they were all geniuses in their respective sects, they were full of curiosity and strangeness about places like the Divine Capital. The white jade long street and red walls and high government offices were not places they often moved in, and various blue and purple officials were also relatively unfamiliar attire.

And this noble woman must have grown up in such an environment. She didn't know if she was a relative of a high official or a daughter of an aristocratic family. Several people didn't speak. Seeing Pei Ye watched her walk up. The middle-aged man in front of the desk took her documents and lowered his head: "Lu Xiu..."

Watching this person walk in with the same standard process, Seeing Pei Ye couldn't stand it anymore. He asked in a low voice hesitantly: "Brother Wang, what proof do I need to prepare for this admission registration?"

Wang Wang Shousi turned his head slowly, and Ning Shurong also fixed her gaze on him. The two looked at him silently and in astonishment.

". No, no, I mean... this process of entering the academy." Seeing Pei Ye was also a bit nervous, "Besides checking one by one like this, is there a way of recommendation..."

Wang Wang Shousi was silent for a long time. That gaze seemed to have regarded him as a strange person who wanted to mix into the Sword Academy: ". Everyone is recommended by their respective sects. Brother Pei is Great Tang, so that is Great Tang's recommendation. But no matter who recommends, the admission test must be passed. What needs to be prepared are four: first, the native place document proving to be a citizen of Great Tang; second, the admission recommendation letter from the sect or the imperial court; third, the qualification note issued after passing the admission test; fourth, the Xia Die. Those who don't have it can go to the Immortal Terrace to handle it with the recommendation letter... Brother Pei, which one are you missing?"

"."

Seeing Pei Ye pursed a smile and touched the waist plaque without a trace—he was in such a hurry that he didn't even bring the Copper Sparrow Plaque.

No one had ever told him that he would need so many things!

Just like this, with a feeling of anxiety, carrying the strange gaze of his newly met friends, he finally came to the desk.

Wang Wang Shousi had already gone in and was waiting in the courtyard. Ning Shurong was watching him quietly from half a foot away.

Seeing Pei Ye stood in front of the desk with empty hands. The middle-aged man in Daoist robes frowned and raised his head, reaching out to him.

". Sir, it's like this. I didn't bring the native place document, and I didn't take the admission test... I also forgot to bring the Xia Die." Seeing Pei Ye was also blushing, and went to touch the recommendation letter at his waist, "I can make up for it later. Someone recommended me to come..."

The old man behind suddenly tilted his head: "What is your name?"

"My name is Seeing Pei Ye."

The middle-aged man in Daoist robes had an unchanged expression, obviously never having heard of it. But this old man "Oh"ed and smiled slightly, lowering his head to meet the middle-aged man's gaze, signaling: "File it. That Tong Jun came to say hello."

Seeing Pei Ye's hand that was pulling the letter froze blankly at his waist.

At this time, he remembered Xu Chuo's sentence: "Cultivation is the first priority, you go and handle the admission to the Sword Academy first."

She obviously didn't know that Ming Ming Qitian had given him a recommendation letter. ===== CHAPTER 443 =====

Seeing Pei Ye squeezed out a smile and raised his hand to touch his waist without a trace; he had left in such a hurry that he hadn't even brought his Copper Sparrow Tablet.

Truly, no one had ever told him he would need so many things!

Just like this, carrying a nervous mood and bearing the strange gazes of friends he had just met, it was finally his turn to come before the desk.

Wang Wang Shousi was already waiting in the courtyard, and Ning Ning Shuhong was watching him quietly from half a zhang away.

Seeing Pei Ye stood before the desk empty-handed. The middle-aged man in Daoist robes frowned and raised his head, reaching out toward him.

". Greetings, sir, it's like this. I didn't bring my household registration documents, nor did I take the entrance exam... and I forgot my Hero Tablet too." Seeing Pei Ye felt a bit embarrassed himself, awkwardly going to touch the recommendation letter at his waist. "I can make up for it all later; someone recommended me to come..."

The old man behind suddenly tilted his head: "What is your name?"

"My name is Seeing Pei Ye."

The middle-aged man in Daoist robes had an unchanging expression, obviously having never heard of him. The old man, however, looked up and said "Oh."

"It's you, go in first. Bring the Hero Tablet tomorrow to get a stamp," the old man smiled slightly, lowered his head to meet the middle-aged man's gaze, and signaled, "File it. That Tong Jun has already greeted us."

Seeing Pei Ye's hand, which was pulling out the letter, froze at his waist in a daze.

At this moment, he remembered Xu Chuo's words: "Cultivation is the first priority; go and handle your entrance to the Sword Cultivation Academy first."

She obviously didn't know that Ming Ming Qitian had given him a recommendation letter.