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...

It was a hazy and rainy dawn.

A layer of faint mist lightly enveloped the River of Trust Capital, like a lady just out from the shower, emanating an otherworldly sense of beauty.

The capital examination was, as usual, split into the theory examination and combat examination. But what was different from the county examination was that this time, the capital examination had some changes. There was only one round of theory examination, and hence whoever was leaving would be determined by just one round of theory examination.

It was rather cruel.

But, to those who could travel great distances to the River of Trust, this cruel reality was rather insignificant.

Definitely, there were always exceptions. For example, at this moment, Li Zhuangshi was rather gloomy. Staring at the dense mass of scholars participating in the River of Trust Capital at the capital office, he didn’t even have the mood to try anymore.

Can it not be so extreme?

It’s just a capital examination, why are there so many people?

The Great Xia Dynasty had set clear rules for the Law of Dao examinations. The number of people accepted every capital’s Law of Dao examination was fixed. No matter how many people were in the capital, the final name list of accepted people would remain the same.

Hence, the consequences were simple. The more people participating in the capital examination, the lower the chances of being accepted.

Eight years...

Li Zhuangshi exclaimed that Heavens was messing with him. He had prepared for eight years, and used two years to pass the county examination of the Law of Dao examination. After being flushed with success, he then failed two times in the capital examination.

It could be said that he had fallen into a deep ravine in an instant.

And this year, was the last year of the eight years he had, and was the year that Li Zhuangshi believed he had the most confidence.

Yet, why did such a thing just had to happen?

He wasn’t satisfied, he really wasn’t satisfied. Gazing at the indistinct yet fine drops of rain falling from the skies, Li Zhuangshi’s hand instinctively felt a letter in his pocket.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"I’m sorry!" At this moment, Li Zhuangshi seemed to have made a very difficult decision.

...

As time passed, the number of scholars gathered in the River of Trust Capital office became more and more, not at all affected by the drizzling rain. Instead, it surged a sense of enthusiasm in the scholars.

Everybody were discussing spiritedly about what questions would come out in this theory examination, and also guessed what kind of rankings would result from this time’s theory examination.

"The capital examination questions had always been very tough, furthermore, there always would be a complete recitation of text from the Law of Dao! The three thousand volumes of the Law of Dao, how many people on this world would be able to recite it completely? It has to depend on luck."

"Even though luck plays a part, but true ability is the most important! The recitation of the Law of Dao only brings out the question, the main point is still the usage and understanding of the Law of Dao!"

"Who do you think this time’s theory examination Roll Champion would be?"

"Does that even need any guessing? Hua Kangan’s ability is the strongest, number twenty in the Hidden Dragon Roll and with the Star Conglomerate Enlightenment State, and at the same time ranked in the Rising Dragon Roll! But discussing about the theory examination, I instead seem to believe that it would be Zhang Hetong!"

"I also believe that it would be Zhang Hetong. The Zhang family had been involved in the government all along and is a family with literary reputation. Furthermore, I heard that he had been personally praised by the Chief Examiner in the county examinations, and his comments were "Outstanding literary talent"!"

"What do you all think about Fang Zhengzhi? I heard that he had attained Roll Champion in the Huai An County! And, seems like it was full marks..."

"Fang Zhengzhi? Full marks? Ha ha ha... who had ever seen his examination paper before? Only Heavens would know how he had gotten this full mark. I only heard that he reported this opponent called Meng Yushu, and barely made it to the First-Class Roll in the first round. Such a theory examination Roll Champion is nothing more than a frog in the well!"

"Ha ha ha... Brother Chen’s wise observations, I indeed agree!"

...

As the crowd discussed, two people approached slowly from afar.

One was dressed in brocade clothes, holding a Golden Bone Silver Thread Fan, his expression cold as ice. The other wore a slight smile on his face, wearing a blue robe that danced lightly in the drizzling rain.

It was Yan Xiu and Fang Zhengzhi.

"Fang Zhengzhi is here!"

"Yan Xiu is actually walking with him?! Don’t tell me Yan Xiu is participating in this capital examination as well?"

"Oh, I had forgotten Yan Xiu... he seems to be sixteen this year, based on the Yan family traditions, leaving at sixteen, he might really be able to participate!"

"If Yan Xiu also participates in this capital examination, then it is indeed going to be interesting! I don’t know what enlightenment state Yan Xiu has already reached."

"Even though Yan Xiu’s name is famous, but nobody had ever seen him fight. He isn’t even ranked in the Hidden Dragon Roll, no matter how strong he can be, I believe he shouldn’t have reached Star Conglomerate?"

Fang Zhengzhi’s appearance didn’t cause any shock to the crowd, but Yan Xiu’s appearance caused the crowd to start guessing. After all, the Yan family’s reputation was something everybody in the Great Xia Dynasty was familiar with.

Hearing the discussion going around them, Yan Xiu’s cold expression seemed to have a rare change. He frowned slightly, but very quickly returned to its original calm.

"Looks like you don’t seem to like other people associating you and the Yan family." Fang Zhengzhi easily noticed Yan Xiu’s change in expression.

"Yes." Yan Xiu nodded.

"Then, you need to have some proof, and is this the reason you left the Western Liang and came to the faraway Northern Desert to participate in the Law of Dao examination?" Fang Zhengzhi guessed.

"Yes." Yan Xiu nodded again.

Fang Zhengzhi didn’t inquire further. After he got to know Yan Xiu, he managed to infer that the Yan family didn’t belong to the Northern Desert. Under normal circumstances, giving up what was near to pursue what was far wasn’t a wise move.

But since Yan Xiu gave it up, he naturally had enough good reasons.

"Gong!"

The gong signifying the start of the examination sounded, and the theory examination had official begun.

Due to the large number of people participating in the capital examination, the amount of space in the River of Trust Academy naturally wasn’t enough. Hence, the venue of this theory examination is held in the capital office of the River of Trust Capital.

The two red wood doors carved with animal figures represented the prestige of the capital office. Four rows of armoured capital guards stood at the north, south, east and west of the capital office, each armed with a spear and awaited with military discipline.

A few other invigilators wearing black official clothes also patrolled about the capital office door.

From this, it could be inferred that the capital examination was indeed much stricter than the county examination.

Definitely, passing the capital examination was like crossing the dragon’s gate, leaving one’s name in the Great Xia Dynasty’s record books, and most of all, receiving the protection of the law.

As long as one didn’t commit any serious crimes, one would likely not face any punishments.

Furthermore, one would even receive the invitations of powers from all around, becoming an advisor, or even being given some appointments and enjoy special treatment.

The crowd of scholars walked in in a line.

Fang Zhengzhi naturally walked shoulder to shoulder with Yan Xiu. At the door that led into the capital office, Fang Zhengzhi noticed Li Zhuangshi, whose brows were threaded together in a deep frown.

Li Zhuangshi similarly also noticed Fang Zhengzhi, and his eyes instantly lit up.

"Zhengzhi, our fates are indeed different routes to the same destination! This capital examination, to have met such a situation, is indeed Heaven playing with us!" Li Zhuangshi, for the first time, somehow didn’t mock Fang Zhengzhi, and instead expressed his empathy.

Fang Zhengzhi nodded, expressing his agreement.

When Li Zhuangshi saw Fang Zhengzhi nod, a cold glint inadvertently flashed in his eyes.

"Sigh... never mind! Your father and I have a deep bond with one another, and I really cannot bear to see you miss the roll today, hence I wish to help you out a bit. A few days ago, I have received an answer sheet through a friend, I’ll give one to you!" As Li Zhuangshi spoke, he carefully fished out a letter from his pocket and stealthily stuffed it into Fang Zhengzhi’s hands.

Fang Zhengzhi was slightly taken aback. He looked at Li Zhuangshi, then looked at the letter in his hands.

"Uncle Li, you really wish to do this?"

"I hope that you can understand me!" Li Zhuangshi’s expression was filled with sincerity.

"Oh, then thank you Uncle Li!" Fang Zhengzhi didn’t speak further and directly stuffed the letter into his pocket, and with big strides, walked into the door of the capital office.