Lin Xun didn’t expect the old man to take him to Haze City, the capital of the Southwest Province!  

“To cultivators in the empire, including the children of the powerful and prestigious families and the children at the bottom of the society, the national exam is the fairest system to select talents,” the old man patiently explained as though he noticed Lin Xun’s puzzlement. 

“If the poor grasped such an opportunity, they could leap to the dragon’s gate, soar to the top and break free from the life of poverty. Similarly, the examination could identify the true pillars among the younger generation of the prestigious and noble families and not the incompetent youngsters who only know how to drink and spend extravagantly.”

“When you can enter Qinglu Academy, you may perhaps have the mind and power to understand the truth.”

Lin Xun felt a chill in his heart. “Elder, what kind of truth?”   

The old man smiled, a secretive look in his unfathomable, wrinkly eyes. “The truth you want to know.” 

Lin Xun was first taken aback and fell into deep thoughts.

Emotions...