Scholars from all walks of life gathered here, each with a different expression.
Street vendors were shouting at the top of their lungs, hawking their writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, as if using them would guarantee them the highest honors.
Some early-arriving candidates had already formed a long queue in front of the Dragon Gate, waiting with solemn expressions.
Zheng Yu silently joined the back of the line, his ears filled with various whispers of suppressed excitement or nervousness.
"I have studied diligently for nine years for this day! I am determined to win first place this year!"
"Alas, I wonder what my fortunes will be like this year..." An old man with white hair and beard sighed while stroking his beard.
Some were full of confidence, while others were filled with anxiety.
Zheng Yu looked around and felt that there were more candidates this year than in previous years.
The crowds were overwhelming, and the chances of winning were slim.
The atmosphere at the entrance of the examination hall was somber.
Zheng Yu and Sha Pingwei moved slowly forward with the flow of people, and soon it was their turn.
The soldiers conducting the search had eyes like eagles, meticulously examining every candidate entering the examination hall, their strictness bordering on humiliation.
When Zheng Yu finally completed all the procedures and stepped through the Dragon Gate that determined the fate of countless people, he took a deep breath.
He found his cell.
Narrow, cramped.
A wooden board and a table would be his world for the next three days, where he would eat, drink, and relieve himself.
Soldiers patrolled back and forth, their footsteps heavy and suppressed.
The examiners paced back and forth expressionlessly, their sharp eyes sweeping over each cell; any slight deviation could mean being permanently rejected.
Zheng Yu slowly sat down, forcing himself to clear his mind of all distractions and sinking his spirit into the stillness of an ancient well.
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