The Mount Tai Trial Academy.
The original intention behind its establishment was for the authorities to gather an elite cadre.
These elites were selected from the various Zhendan Academies across the five super cities. As long as one proved outstanding enough, one could enter and receive preferential cultivation with greater resources tilted in their favor.
Figures such as Zhu Qingyu and the Young Celestial Master Chunyang had all started out in the Trial Academy. However, with the establishment of the Heavenly Court, the Trial Academy also became a reserve base for Heavenly Court personnel. Completing the trials at the academy offered a chance to enter the Heavenly Court.
Whether students or individuals from outside, anyone could be selected. Yet such individuals were exceedingly rare.
In the Trial Academy, the student body numbered in the tens of thousands, but those who could ultimately join the Heavenly Court were few and far between.
Not long ago, the students received word that the higher-ups would select thirty-six individuals to enter the Heavenly Court.
Current strength could be modest, but one's potential had to be sufficient, and this was an instruction personally handed down by King Lu. In response, numerous students signed up with great enthusiasm.
After several days of screening, over three thousand qualified to advance to the next round of testing, overseen personally by Elder Ji, Zhu Qingyu, and the others.
Naturally, as the number of qualifying candidates dwindled, the competition grew increasingly fierce. A large batch was eliminated each day.
To this end, many students gave their all, determined to stand until the very end. On this day, testing proceeded as usual on the Trial Academy's square. It was a round of nine hundred advancing to one hundred—meaning eight out of every nine candidates would be eliminated. The students on the square were extraordinarily tense.
"Chen Song, we heard that back in the old era, you were King Lu's college classmate."
"You could actually go to the higher-ups and bring up this connection." Among the crowd, a student spoke with a grin.
Beside him was a young man who appeared somewhat shy and had very ordinary looks. It was none other than Chen Song.
Back then, he had followed Lu Yuan's advice and returned to his hometown, where he found spiritual fruits and exotic herbs. Not only had he cured his father's illness, but he had also become an Awakened, reaching the Shackle Realm after several years.
Eventually, he successfully entered Zhendan Academy and the Trial Academy. Of course, in the New Era, Chen Song was still very ordinary.
"Wouldn't... wouldn't that be improper?" Hearing his classmate's words, he was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head.
"What's improper about it? Given your strength, it's already a stretch for you to have made it this far. In today's test, the odds are heavily stacked toward you getting eliminated." Another person chimed in, continuing, "Don't tell me you and King Lu weren't actually classmates at all?"
Hearing this, the others also turned their heads, their expressions turning strange.
Not many of King Lu's classmates had ever been heard of. The most renowned among them was the Zhou family's eldest young mistress, Zhou Yunqiong.
As for Chen Song's connection to Lu Yuan, it had only been discovered by chance. At first, everyone was intensely interested, making inquiries and urging him to reach out.
They all wanted to get close to the invincible King Lu. Yet Chen Song was exceptionally unassuming and honest, consistently refusing.
Over time, the students at the Trial Academy began to harbor doubts.
"I... I..." Chen Song did not know what to say, feeling a bit awkward. He indeed had a connection with Lu Yuan, but they had never been particularly close, and had only spent a short time around each other.
Under such circumstances, he naturally had no desire to leverage the other's reputation. Hearing his classmates say this, he offered no defense.
In his heart, the gap between himself and Lu Yuan was simply too vast. In the New Era, it was virtually the difference between a celestial and a mortal.
Thus, Chen Song had long adjusted his mindset: if he could make it to the end, he would keep going; if not, it was no big deal, and he would simply continue cultivating and evolving.
Soon, the testing resumed. As for bloodline requirements, they were not overly strict—meeting a reasonable standard was enough.
On the high platform, Zhu Qingyu and the Ice Fairy watched over everything. Elder Ji and the other high-ranking officials sat behind them.
For candidates requested personally by King Lu, they naturally had to be attentive.
"Those who could make it this far are actually all quite remarkable. It's just a pity that only thirty-six are needed," the Ice Fairy remarked, looking at the students on the field. She could not help sighing; that she could stand here was not because she was inherently so superior, but simply because she had obtained resources back in the old era, giving her a head start over everyone else.
Hearing this, Zhu Qingyu nodded beside her without saying much. There was no helping it; the selection called for thirty-six people.
That was simply how it was. Cruel, yet reality. Just as it would be when the extraterrestrials made their full-scale descent in the future.
They would not care about anything else—strength was everything.
In the future, the Heavenly Court would be the primary force dealing with extraterrestrial beings, and its members had to possess sufficient strength. Gradually, as time passed, more and more people were eliminated.
Yet midway through the testing, Elder Ji and the others sitting steadily on the high platform suddenly stood up. The students, too, all turned to look in the same direction, their eyes brimming with excitement.
Some could not even stop themselves from trembling, sheer reverent awe written across everyone's face.
It was the kind of expression that appeared only upon beholding a true powerhouse, someone truly revered.
There, Lu Yuan strolled forward at an unhurried pace, looking composed.
He had spent the past few days cultivating, but had made little headway. He decided to step out for a walk, and having happened to learn that the Thirty-six Heavenly Generals he needed were being selected, he came over to take a look.
"King Lu." Elder Ji and the others immediately went forward to greet him, adding, "In just a few more days, the candidates you need should be chosen."
"Mm, thank you for your hard work." Lu Yuan smiled, gesturing for the selection to continue. After watching for a short while, he did not linger, preparing to head to Jade Emperor Peak to see the Golden-Winged Great Peng, as he had matters to entrust to it.
However, just as he was about to leave, he noticed a familiar face among the crowd.
It was Chen Song.
His college classmate.
Actually, that alone was nothing remarkable; the crucial part was back then, when he had bought the small green copper cauldron from him for five hundred thousand.
That small green copper cauldron had played a monumental role on his path of evolution. Without it, he could never have entered places like the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum or the Shennong Altar.
Originally, Lu Yuan had planned to look for him once the overall situation had completely stabilized, offering assistance if needed.
He had never expected to run directly into him at the Trial Academy.
This karmic tie was due to be repaid.
"King Lu, is that your classmate?" Elder Ji noticed Lu Yuan's gaze at this moment and continued, "We were aware of this connection, so we gave him special admission into the Trial Academy back then. For this selection, should we place him directly among the thirty-six?"
After Lu Yuan rose to prominence, the higher-ups had paid him the closest attention, naturally understanding many of his relationships.
"No need. Since it's a selection, it should remain fair." Lu Yuan shook his head. Direct intervention was improper.
He could handle it another way.
Immediately, he whispered a few words into Elder Ji's ear and walked straight away.
Elder Ji then walked over to Zhu Qingyu and passed along the message.
Zhu Qingyu nodded. She stepped to the very front and signaled for all testing participants to halt once more.
The students were mystified. Could King Lu have given further instructions?
"Chen Song, could King Lu have spotted you and decided to pass you directly?" someone spoke up.
The people nearby also turned their eyes toward him with smiles, though none took it seriously, treating it purely as a joke.
Chen Song said nothing, though a slight sense of loss touched his heart. This had been the closest he had ever come to Lu Yuan.
Yet right at that moment, Zhu Qingyu spoke, her voice clear and measured:
"Would the person named Chen Song please step forward from the crowd? King Lu has just instructed that you may enter the Heavenly Court directly, without taking up one of the thirty-six spots. Furthermore, he wishes to speak with you in private."
Chapter 229