"Imperial examinations, are they this corrupt too?" Zhu Zhengwei was somewhat surprised, yet not entirely unexpected.

Thinking carefully, monopolies exist in every era, and this is a common historical trait. What is before his eyes does indeed perfectly replicate the period of the Tang Dynasty examinations.

At that time, large noble families occupy the court of the Great Tang, and indeed, talents emerge in great numbers.

"Brother, I come from a small world in Xixiang Town, a small town of three billion people." At this moment, a scholar approaches, trying to engage in conversation.

Zhu Zhengwei was a bit surprised, cupping his hands and saluting, "I come from the Spirit Realm, with a population of seventeen billion."

"Is it that place from Journey to the West? I heard it was originally a grand continent, very prosperous, what a pity..." The scholar revealed a look of regret.

"You know about it?"

Zhu Zhengwei was a bit surprised.

"Not much, His Majesty's Imperial brother traveled west to fetch scriptures, seems to contain some content, specifics unknown to us mere mortals..." He seemed to know only the surface, yet boasted, "To be honest, common people without some connections wouldn't know this. My uncle's distant relative is a master, currently in Wuji Kingdom, heard that Tang Sanzang is also going to pass through in the future..."

Zhu Zhengwei's expression turned peculiar.

Still a long way off.

Soon, it'll pass by my family's Wuzhuang Temple, won't it!

The lands of the Great Tang are indeed vast. The Shu State has a mountain range that stretches endlessly, occupied by Witch Race remnants and countless fierce beasts, a vast danger zone.

And along the coastline in various coastal states, Starry Sky Beasts also occupy, very eerie.

Of course, each state has its own specialties, unique products of their world's Celestial Dao Rules, frequently traded... For example, their Spirit Realm's specialty must be Fish Coin.

Each small world is classified into counties, counties, states, prefectures, each with their own world specialties, truly astonishing.

Soon, as they talked, they arrived at a station in one county world, with only three million people. High up on the world's membrane hung a delicate flag with the words "Yun County Station" written on it.

"General Li, bringing in this batch of candidates, please."

A servant at the station quickly served them, respectful and deferential.

After a brief half-day pause, experiencing the local customs along the street, the ship continued its flight.

Throughout the journey, there was no pretentious grandstanding; everyone was very humble, vaguely intending to band together, knowing their prospects wouldn't be that bright given their low backgrounds.

Soon, the gathered candidates reached their destination.

Not Chang'an City, but... Eastern Capital Luoyang.

This is a bustling central city of the Great Tang.

It was then that Zhu Zhengwei learned that their cohort's imperial examinations couldn't even enter Chang'an City; the capital was not a place for ordinary people to set foot in.

They would be taking exams here.

"This cohort is divided into A, B, C, D... major examination areas. We are in the A district of the East capital, with 1,093,651 people taking part, and the A district is divided into top, middle, and bottom subcategories. Each of you should check your assigned number tag."

"Then, we will enter the 'Examination Palace' for the provincial exam."

From above, someone explained.

...

As the ship descended, there were all kinds of creatures and figures.

Technological humans, sub-humans, those dressed as mages; people from all the worlds of the heavens came to take the exam, all of them peerless talents of their worlds, various elites.

"Hey, brother, why are we separated?" That fellow from Wuji Kingdom looked distressed.

"Fate will bring us together again." Zhu Zhengwei cupped his hands, glancing at the minotaur and Qingxia beside him; they too were assigned to other exam areas, and they parted ways immediately.

After leaving, Zhu Zhengwei looked at the entire enormous city of the Eastern Capital.

This city, a grand world, stood square in the dark cosmic void, far more terrifying than the Red Moon World he had encountered before... giving a truly awe-inspiring mythological sense.

It was then he realized how rare it was for him to have seen Emperor Tang even once.

The emperor is not someone you can just meet easily.

Moreover, he had even scolded him once.

It was said that only the top hundred people whose names were on the honor list could enter Chang'an for the palace exam and be assessed by Emperor Tang.

This was the highest sovereign that the countless powerful beings of the human world worshiped, the unrivaled ruler of the expansive Great Tang court.

"It seems, the Red Moon World is really just a starting map... After coming out, I am just a minor soldier."

"Everyone, here are this year's test predictions, a chance to predict the right topics!"

"Come and take a look."

"Altering your life's destiny is right here, trying won't cost much."

Just as he got off the ship, someone started shouting.

"It seems, predicting examination topics is also a major aspect of imperial exams."

Zhu Zhengwei, however, was not worried about this; his qualifications at the pseudo-Dao level definitely wouldn't be poor. Moreover, he didn't care to obtain a very high rank, aiming for slightly above average for a local small official position would suffice.

He certainly did not want to encounter the terrifying contemporary Human Emperor.

"Each of you, enjoy the sights for a day; tomorrow, you can go to your examinee rooms according to your number tags for a ten-year exam period, divided into three times..." The leading general left thoroughly.

"Only half a day?"

Zhu Zhengwei took a turn, observing everywhere.

He discovered that all kinds of specialties from different worlds were being sold here.

Not to mention the realistic Celestial Dao, but the varied and strange rules of the fantasy and magical Celestial Dao's, the various instruments they produced, consumable Dharma Artifacts with a limited number of uses, were very impressive.

"This is simply outrageous." Zhu Zhengwei, like a country bumpkin entering the city, toured and wandered everywhere.

This was indeed the real primordial chaos myth!

Stories like the Sun Golden Crow and Hou Yi Shoots the Sun, worlds with tens or hundreds of billions, such ancient primordial worlds, what civilization wouldn't develop there?

Even after billions of years, still being in a time of tribal and uncivilized societies not getting enough to eat, is simply laughable!

Network technology worlds, magical worlds, martial arts worlds; they are everywhere.

"Truly a brilliant mythological universe that one would never tire of exploring throughout life."

Zhu Zhengwei wandered around here, leisurely heading towards the examination site, recalling and gathering information and data about this world, "Hmm, I can confirm... Wuzhuang Temple is on Longevity Mountain."

"Longevity Mountain is also a great world, an extensive journey."

"According to what Emperor Tang said, plus various calculations, it's estimated to be at least a five-hundred-year journey from my Wuzhuang Temple!"

Five hundred years, short yet long, only five days in reality.

But considering having to help Qingfeng Mingyue, take a beating for the teacher, still could buy some time, probably even more.

With these considerations, he relaxed a bit, "Ah, finally able to live a good life, take my imperial exams properly, earn the nine-tiered law early, then break through to the ninth tier within five hundred years first before anything else!"

He felt that his forthcoming experience would be less worrisome.

After all, the previous period was exhausting.

Hiding from the Ancestral Witch world while also evading Emperor Tang's relentless pursuits.

Now that everything was finally resolved, he at least could live peacefully for a stretch of time.

He began taking the exam, which involved entering a Space Dojo, an open-air examination, full of immortal energy, equipped with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, proctors on crane mounts patrolling overhead.

"This scene reminds me of the college entrance exams from back then."

Thinking of this and that, he glanced at the topics, surprisingly many of them, allowing for the selection of one topic for answering.

Even offering the option of not answering at all, directly going next door to the martial practice field for martial exams! That was the pathway into the military camp, purely focusing on combat strength routes, to become the Martial Zhuangyuan.

"Is it this accommodating?"

Zhu Zhengwei was somewhat astounded, "Various topics are offered for you to choose from, allowing for exceptional talents, not so rigid... Of course, I'll choose the topic with the highest score potential."

Zhu Zhengwei looked at the most challenging first topic.

[Discuss, how to break through the suppressive constraints of the high-repressive True Skill universe—Outer Chaos Heaven, allowing other special Celestial Dao's not conforming to its rules to be used?]

"Ah, this?"

Zhu Zhengwei broke into a sweat on his forehead, gripping the pen, noting Emperor Tang's deep hostility towards him in the exam topic.

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