Saying they would go, Chen Xiao headed for the Tianfeng Martial Academy after breakfast. As he was unfamiliar with the way, Xiao Liuzi accompanied him.
Xiao Liuzi was extremely excited along the way, chattering incessantly, seeming more excited than Chen Xiao. He was a year younger than Chen Xiao and at an age where he loved to play, but he usually had to stay at the Zhengyi Pavilion and rarely had the chance to go out. Although he was only accompanying Chen Xiao to register today, it felt like an outing to him.
The western suburbs of Tianfeng City bordered the Daqi Mountain Range. At the foot of Daqi Mountain stood a magnificent and grand complex of buildings, which was the Tianfeng Martial Academy.
The Tianfeng Martial Academy was built against the mountain. When Chen Xiao and Xiao Liuzi arrived, the square in front of the mountain gate was already crowded with people, forming several long queues. It was clear they were all there to register.
"There are so many people. I should have come later. How long will we have to wait?" Xiao Liuzi looked at the long queues with a tone of helplessness.
Chen Xiao also did not expect so many people. After observing carefully, he said, "Does the Tianfeng Academy's assessment have no age requirement?"
"Of course, it does. You cannot register if you are over eighteen," Xiao Liuzi did not understand the intention behind Chen Xiao's question. Chen Xiao was only seventeen, so age was not an issue for him.
"Oh, then let's wait. I believe it will be our turn soon. Although the queue is long, many people are not here to register," Chen Xiao said confidently.
"Not here to register?" Xiao Liuzi was a bit puzzled. After observing the crowd carefully, he understood, "Ah, I see. Many people are accompanying their children."
It turned out that in addition to the teenagers, there were many adults in the queue. They could not possibly be there to register, so they must be accompanying their children to register.
These people came from all over the empire. Judging by their attire, most of them were ordinary people. Under the scorching sun, many had beads of sweat on their faces, but their eyes were filled with eager hope.
Undoubtedly, they all hoped their children could be admitted to the Tianfeng Martial Academy to change their fate. However, reality was cruel. As the most reputable martial academy in the empire, the difficulty of the Tianfeng Martial Academy's assessment was imaginable. The vast majority of them would fail.
Chen Xiao did not have the leisure to feel pity for them. He suddenly remembered that Xiao Liuzi was about his age and wondered if he had ever participated in the assessment. He asked, "Liuzi, have you ever participated in the Tianfeng Martial Academy's assessment?"
Xiao Liuzi was stunned, then stammered, "No, Old Wang... he wouldn't let me register."
Chen Xiao's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and he said with some displeasure, "Why is that old man so harsh on you?"
Xiao Liuzi quickly said, "No, Old Wang is very good to me. It's just that my cultivation talent is too low... Besides, my greatest wish in this life is to learn the art of formations and talismans."
Chen Xiao shook his head helplessly, "Alright, one day I will make you the most powerful formation and talisman master in the Tianfeng Empire."
"Hehe." Xiao Liuzi chuckled. If others said this, he would definitely think they were bragging, but when Chen Xiao said it, he believed it one hundred percent.
Just then, several tall horses galloped from not far behind them. The riders were several young men in luxurious attire. They did not slow down at all due to the crowdedness ahead, speeding through the crowd as if no one was there, heading towards the mountain gate.
"Damn it, get out of the way! Anyone who bumps into my horse will have to pay dearly!" one of them shouted loudly, not feeling that he was riding too fast at all. Instead, he blamed the crowd for blocking his way.
Seeing these people in fine clothes and on fine horses, they looked like they came from distinguished families. Everyone dared not speak out despite their anger.
Chen Xiao, however, was furious because he recognized Wang Hao among these young masters.
"Damn it, are you rushing to reincarnate?" Xiao Liuzi dared to curse only after the horses had sped away. Seeing Chen Xiao's displeased expression, he quickly comforted him, "Brother Xiao, don't bother with them. They're just a bunch of second-generation rich kids. They're not even worthy of carrying your shoes."
Chen Xiao was still staring at those people. After they dismounted at the mountain gate, they went to the registration area. It turned out they were also here to register. However, they completely ignored the hardship of the people queuing and brazenly cut in line to the very front.
Wang Hao whispered a few words to the reception disciple. The portly reception disciple immediately bowed and scraped to Wang Hao, ignoring those who had been queuing for a long time and turned to receive Wang Hao and his companions.
"Damn, they're barging through and cutting in line. These guys are too arrogant," Xiao Liuzi said indignantly.
Those at the front of the queue were naturally very displeased. They had queued diligently for a long time, and just as it was their turn, someone cut in line.
A dark-faced man, whose bulging muscles made his outer garment stretch taut, was very strong. Beside him stood a dark-skinned, robust young man who looked like a smaller version of him.
Wang Hao and his companions turned to look at the person who shouted. Before they could speak, the reception disciple exploded, shouting sternly, "What are you shouting about? Do you understand the rules? Nobles don't have to queue. Do you think everyone is a bumpkin like you? If you shout again, I'll cancel your registration qualifications."
It turned out that there were mainly two types of disciples in the Tianfeng Martial Academy: one type was admitted based on their own cultivation talent, and the other type was descendants of nobles.
The Tianfeng Martial Academy was a martial academy established by the Tianfeng Sect in the Tianfeng Empire. The imperial family supplied a large amount of resources to the Tianfeng Sect every year, so the Tianfeng Sect naturally gave the imperial family some face.
Nobles were enfeoffed by the imperial family, and their descendants inherited their titles. There were intricate connections between them. Therefore, descendants of nobles not only did not need to pass an assessment to enter the Tianfeng Martial Academy but also enjoyed many privileges.
However, as far as Chen Xiao knew, the Wang family of Qingyuan City was not a noble family. He did not know how Wang Hao had pulled strings to obtain noble status.
"You..." The dark-faced man, also hot-tempered, turned even darker when the reception disciple spoke so rudely, his eyes filled with rage. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to step forward.
At this moment, the robust young man beside him quickly grabbed him, "Father, forget it. We've waited so long, this little while won't matter."
Although this young man was trying to dissuade the dark-faced man, his gaze towards Wang Hao and his companions was also filled with flames of anger. His fists clenched and unclenched, clearly suppressing his rage.
"I... alas!" The dark-faced man sighed and listened to the young man's advice, quieting down.
"Hmph." Wang Hao snorted contemptuously and said to the reception disciple, "Don't mind them. I have things to do after registering."