However, this journey is very dangerous. Even when taking the post roads, it’s hard to avoid encountering Evil Spirits. Hence, scholars traveling on foot often gather in groups of three to five to look out for each other.
So are in their twenties or thirties, others are in their forties or fifties, and there are even those with white hair, aged and frail, heading to the Western Capital.
"Those walking to the capital to take the exam must travel continuously for more than three months, but only about forty to fifty percent of them actually make it there alive," Sun Yisheng said.
Chen Shi looked at those dusty scholars, n and won among them, so with their faces sunburnt to a dark red, sweat droplets hanging on their faces, and the white salt stains left by evaporated sweat, and said, "Since the journey is so perilous, why do they still head to the capital?"
"Because it can change one’s destiny."
Sun Yisheng spoke indifferently, "If one succeeds in becoming an Advanced Scholar, the court will provide a ration from the imperial granary. It won’t bring extre wealth, but it’s enough to sustain a family and bring honor to one’s ancestors. Even if one doesn’t beco an Advanced Scholar, it’s still possible to secure a respectable status. After all, there are plenty of opportunities in the vicinity of the Emperor."
He himself had been one of the many scholars traveling to the capital for the examination, and he felt a profound understanding of this.
As more travelers joined the road, the wooden cart unconsciously slowed down. Chen Shi watched as they passed group after group of scholars headed for the capital, who moved along the post roads like ants tirelessly moving in the sa direction!
A profound sense of awe arose in his heart—awe at the insignificance of human strength, at the indomitable spirit of the human heart, and awe for the willpower of the people.
"Change one’s destiny... change one’s destiny!"
"Can destiny truly be changed?"
"Can the Western Capital really change the destiny of us scholars?"
With these deep questions, he followed the wooden cart as it journeyed farther and farther away.
Ahead lay towering mountains and grand lakes nestled among the hills, with rugged roads cutting through lands infested with Evil Spirits.
The wooden cart was much faster than the standard governnt carriages; after a few days, they arrived at the southern end of the Great West Lake, Wind City.
Wind City is the largest city in the Five Great Lakes region and is also the final place for scholars from the eastern provinces of the West Bull New Continent to rest and recover.
Beyond Wind City lay a vast plain of wilderness stretching west for tens of thousands of miles, mostly deserted, with Evil Spirits roaming widely, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.
Although there are many provinces across this wilderness, the strength of the human race has waned, the post roads are long neglected, and post stations are pitifully scarce.
As such, one must rest well in Wind City, procure enough supplies, prepare food and water, as well as talismans and talismanic weapons, and perhaps even hire more brocaded guards before hitting the road again.
Chen Shi was running low on money, so he decided to stay in Wind City for a day and took up his old trade of painting talismans to sell for silver, earning a few silver taels to make up for his provisions.
Seeing this, Sun Yisheng felt deeply ashad, thinking to himself, "Had I been a little greedier, I wouldn’t be in such a difficult situation now."
He was the ambassador of the Guanghui Warehouse, overseeing the entry and exit of the court’s money. He handled silver notes amounting to hundreds of thousands of taels daily, yet he didn’t own a single note of it. Even if he had taken one or two notes, it would’ve gone unnoticed.
But having followed Chen Tang for over twenty years, Sun Yisheng had developed a character like Chen Tang’s—never touching money that wasn’t rightfully his. He had been an official for many years, still holding a Ninth Grade position, with a salary just enough to make ends et for his family.
After they had packed up, they left Wind City with a group of Scholars from official families.
These people also had governnt officers for protection, often clad in fine garnts and mounted on spirited horses.
Everyone stayed at the sa post station, where officials were good at networking. Sun Yisheng quickly beca familiar with them.
Upon hearing that he had co from the Ministry of Revenue and was responsible for welcoming Chen Tang, the son of the Vice Minister, to the capital for the examinations, they all showed considerable respect.
Chen Shi and Sun Yisheng, feeling unwell, huddled around a copper lamp to warm themselves by the fire, while the other Scholars were astonished to see them injured.
Next to the wooden cart was the Zhou Family’s carriage. Two mbers of the Zhou Family were taking part in the exams, a man and a woman. The woman, nad Zhou Qianying, in her early twenties, preferred dressing as a man and disliked sitting in the carriage. Instead, she rode on horseback, observing Chen Shi’s Nascent Soul and exclaid in praise, "Little brother, your Nascent Soul is so big! Was it blown up by the wind?"
Sitting inside the cart, Chen Shi, still wary of the cold, replied earnestly, "From reading books."
Zhou Qianying was puzzled, "How did you get hurt from reading books?"
Chen Shi explained, "Overexerting my mind."
Zhou Qianying asked, "How old are you this year to have refined your Nascent Soul to such a size?"
Chen Shi answered, "Twelve years old, but by calculation, I should be thirteen now."
Zhou Qianying was taken aback and laughed, "When I was thirteen, I certainly didn’t have your abilities."
She was also of the Nascent Soul Realm, showing her own Nascent Soul that was only two to three inches tall.
The Scholars traveling to the capital for the exam were often of the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Realms, with the majority being of the Golden Core Realm, while Nascent Soul Realm Scholars only accounted for about thirty percent, and were usually from noble families.
The Zhou Family was a small family in Wind City, having kinship with the Zhang Family from the Thirteen Families, their lineage was considered decent.
Seeing Chen Shi injured, Zhou Qianying took out a small jade bottle and said, "I have so Resurrection Pills here, do you need them? They can quickly heal the wounds on your Nascent Soul. My father had soone buy them in Xinxiang!"
Chen Shi shook his head and said, "They’re of no use to ."
Zhou Qianying put away the Resurrection Pills and then offered him so spirit at, laughing, "The one who ca to take the exam with is my uncle, who didn’t pass the last ti and is too ashad to show his face."
Coughing sounds erged from her uncle inside the carriage.
Zhou Qianying giggled non-stop, "I tease him, and he gets shy!"
The other Scholars en route to the capital, seeing this young woman’s dignified beauty and bold character, felt a sense of affinity and gradually gathered around to introduce themselves to each other, chatting and laughing.
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