Chapter 472 – The Storm of Enrolling Students (I) (2/2)

Not only was Tang Thirty-Six not upset, he was actually elated. I forgot yesterday to have the Heavenly Fragrance Market place a few professional plants in the crowd, but who would have thought that such a question would appear on its own! With a clear voice, he said, ”Although the preparatory examination for the Grand Examination has been delayed, it's already just around the corner. There's only a few more days left, or are you saying that none of you want to advance by leaps and bounds, that none of you want to display your splendor at the Ivy Festival?”

A suntanned youth, possibly from some private school in the countryside, gathered up his courage and said, ”There's a high chance that we can enter some other school.”

What he said was true. Besides the famed Six Ivies, the capital was home to countless other schools.

Tang Thirty-Six turned to the young student from the countryside and said scornfully, ”Just what school are you comparing to my Orthodox Academy?”

At these words, no matter if they had come to spectate or if they had come to laugh, everyone nodded their heads and thought, no matter how much the Orthodox Academy has declined, since it's reopened its doors, it's already incomparable to normal schools. Soon after, someone asked, ”Then why can't we just enter the other five academies?”

”The Ivy Academies customarily only take in students after the conclusion of the preparatory examination. Only…everybody pay attention now…only our Orthodox Academy will enroll new students before the preparatory examination.”

Tang Thirty-Six had extracted a folding fan from somewhere. While fanning himself, he said, ”If you guys can't even pass the preparatory examination, which school is going to take you? When all's said and done, applying for our Orthodox Academy is the safest.”

”We don't want safety,” a rather gloomy-looking young scholar piped up. ”Since we've already traveled a thousand li to get here, we've naturally made preparations to crash through the gates with a magnificent army. We would prefer to wait for the conclusion of the preparatory examination, and then apply to other schools.”

It was obvious that this young scholar was extremely confident in his cultivation and education.

Tang Thirty-Six turned to that youth and asked, ”How old are you this year?”

The young scholar replied, ”This year, I am twenty and four months.”

”Then you're still young, so why don't you have any of the edge of youth?”

Tang Thirty-Six perked his eyebrows as he looked the young scholar, seeming to view him with a little contempt.

The young scholar wanted to say a few words in refutation, but Tang Thirty-Six didn't give him the chance. Turning back to the crowd, he declared, ”Just why must you all enter the Heavenly Dao Academy? Because His Holiness came from the Heavenly Dao Academy? Why must you get into the Temple Seminary or the Li Palace Academy? Because His Holiness's elderly self is somewhat closer by? Why must you get into the Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green? Because of all the pretty senior sisters within?”

These words elicited roars of laughter from the crowd.

”If you guys insist on entering Star Seizer Academy, I have no objections, only well-wishes and respect. But if you originally wanted to enter those schools…” Tang Thirty-Six folded his fan and slapped it against his palm, proudly declaring to the crowd, ”Then why don't you choose my Orthodox Academy? Ladies and gentlemen, we are all youths, fresh and clean, bright and cheerful! We don't follow the conventional pattern, don't walk the common path! My Orthodox Academy has many things that need to be done. A white sheet of paper is incomparably clean. For what reason do you not wish to take part in this grand undertaking? Moreover, how can those schools measure up to my Orthodox Academy?”

That young scholar felt like that fan had struck him in the heart. He inadvertently became much more serious and completely absorbed every word, and even felt this argument rather reasonable.

Those students that had come from the counties, the countryside, and even the distant south, had truthfully only heard rumors of the academies of the capital and weren't clear at all on the differences between them. As a result, they didn't think any part of Tang Thirty-Six's talk especially stood out. However, to the Tianhai clan experts in front of the awning and the many officials in their carriages, this talk was particularly grating on the ear.

The Heavenly Dao Academy, the Temple Seminary, the Li Palace Academy, the Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green…all of them were inferior to the Orthodox Academy? It must be known that these several dozen experts that were prepared to challenge the Orthodox Academy today were basically all from these four schools. Even the as-of-yet missing Bie Tianxin, although his family was extraordinary, had always considered himself a disciple of the Li Palace Academy.

In the tea house, Mao Qiuyu and Daoist Siyuan also could not help but wrinkle their foreheads. Daoist Siyuan had also come from the Li Palace Academy. As for Mao Qiuyu, he had first been a student at the Heavenly Dao Academy, and then a teacher, all the way until he became its principal, spanning a period of several centuries. It was impossible for them to accept Tang Thirty-Six's words.

As expected, a furious question arose from the crowd, ”And just what basis do you have to say this?”

Tang Thirty-Six didn't even look at the questioner, continuing, ”His Holiness truly did come from the Heavenly Dao Academy. The Li Palace Academy and the Temple Seminary truly are within the Li Palace. But you all have to get one thing straight, the Principal of our Orthodox Academy is called Chen Changsheng…you guys can study your entire lives in the Li Palace Academy and the Temple Seminary and never meet His Holiness, but if you enter the Orthodox Academy?”

Here, he paused. He began to laugh and it seemed like there was some profound meaning in this laugh.

Everyone knew what attitude the Pope had to Chen Changsheng.

Many young students glanced at each other and there were whispered discussions. It seemed that they were gradually coming around to the idea.

”Let us say it even more directly…everyone, look! This mountainous little friend of mine is Xuanyuan Po, an ordinary demi-human youth of the bear tribe.”

Tang Thirty-Six used the folding fan to point at Xuanyuan Po, saying, ”In terms of talent, he has none. In terms of achievement, he has none. In terms of background, he has none. You can even say that if you want it, he doesn't haven't it. Even he's very ashamed of it, so much so that he voluntarily dropped out of Star Seizer Academy and then…was picked from the night market by Chen Changsheng and Princess Luoluo! The result?”

The crowd grew quiet.

He was very satisfied with this outcome, continuing, ”The result? He entered the Orthodox Academy. Without even recovering from his injury, without even participating in the Grand Examination, the Pavilion of Divination ranked him in the Proclamation of Azure Sky!”

These words made those students from the counties turn pensive. Seeing Xuanyuan Po behind the table, they became even more willing.

This matter was known to many, and it truly was very persuasive. Perhaps the Orthodox Academy really was a place where touching a stone could turn it into gold?