After the Great Xia Dynasty was established, the Central Plains region was in ruins, and to select the virtuous and capable, the imperial examination system was created.
Initially, it was held once a year, but later changed to once every three years.
When the Immortal Dao flourished and the struggle for teaching fortunes began, a large number of Worldly Family Disciples chose to cultivate immortality, and very few participated in the imperial examinations, so it was changed back to once a year.
But even so, the talents in the Great Xia imperial court gradually withered.
So when Kuang Cheng said the words “imperial examination,” Ji You was clearly stunned, and then remembered that there was indeed an imperial examination in this world.
Kuang Cheng rolled up his wide sleeves, resting them on his knees, and explained, “According to Great Xia law, if one is fortunate enough to become an official of the fourth rank, one direct relative or descendant in the Family can cultivate immortality. Father said that the key to whether the Kuang Family can continue to exist lies with me.”
In the Qingyun World, Immortal authority is higher than the Great Xia imperial authority. Under the current system of offerings, commoners are racking their brains to change their class and escape their status as human slaves.
This commoner Young Master of the Kuang Family, who had been well-read since childhood, was entrusted with such high hopes.
Becoming an official, achieving Immortal Ascension, then frantically procreating, and direct relatives of Immortals can also cultivate immortality, allowing the Family to gradually prosper.
This is the only way of survival that a Family like the Kuang Family, though possessing some Family property and good land, but always living at the lowest level, could find.
After pondering for a moment, Ji You felt a hint of doubt: “If only direct relatives of a fourth-rank official can cultivate immortality, then Fang Zhongzheng is merely a seventh-rank county magistrate. Why can Fang Ruoyao enter Tianshu Academy?”
“Her entry into Tianshu Academy has nothing to do with Grandfather Fang, but rather because of her elder brother, Fang Ruoming. The eldest son of the Fang Family left home at fourteen to join the army, and after seven years, he is highly regarded in the Zhenbei Army, which earned Fang Ruoyao a spot.”
Ji You suddenly understood after hearing this.
Although Great Xia has ruled the Central Plains for many years, there are still many small countries and tribes like crouching tigers and hidden Dragons around. Among them, the warlike Witch Barbarian Race has been invading year after year, causing continuous warfare in the northern borders, and the Yao Race's ambiguous attitude has made the current emperor deeply wary.
Therefore, the status of officers in the Zhenbei Army has risen year after year. Although they are not as high as Immortals on the mountain, they are certainly higher than commoners.
“It seems his Fang Family and your Kuang Family share the same goal. Whether it’s becoming an official or joining the army, ultimately it’s all to have someone in the Family become an Immortal cultivator.”
Kuang Cheng pursed his lips upon hearing this: “Everyone knows that only by becoming an Immortal cultivator can one have a chance to escape their lowly status.”
Ji You couldn't help but sneer, “Great Xia strictly forbids commoners from cultivating immortality, enslaving them for production, and offering most of their income to Immortals. As more and more Immortal cultivators appear, the offerings become heavier and heavier. Is there more to come?”
“Great Xia has existed for thousands of years; hasn’t it always been this way?”
“Old Kuang, if one day you hold immense power in the court, would you dare to make the sun and moon shine anew?”
Kuang Cheng froze for a moment, then understood his meaning, and couldn't help but widen his eyes: “How can you utter such nonsense? This could lead to death!”
“What’s wrong with death? From ancient times, who has not died? Let a loyal heart illuminate the annals of history.”
In the Qingyun World, Immortals are revered, and poetry is a minor Dao that no one pays attention to, so it is not well-developed. However, concise words can still touch the heart. But for thousands of years, no one has ever dared to speak such arrogant words, which made people tremble.
Kuang Cheng’s gaze changed repeatedly, and after a long time, he finally spoke: “Is this your ambition?”
“Me?”
Ji You was stunned for a moment, then chuckled foolishly: “No, I only dare to advise others to illuminate the annals of history; I can't do it myself, I'm afraid of death.”
When people are extremely speechless, they are usually extremely speechless, so the corners of Kuang Cheng's mouth twitched twice.
However, a moment later, seeing Ji You's blood-splattered collar, he couldn't help but be slightly stunned again.
From ancient times, who has not died? Let a loyal heart illuminate the annals of history...
Just as Kuang Cheng was pondering the true meaning of this, he suddenly felt a weak pat on his shoulder.
“Hey, do you have any red dates at home? Bring some for me to replenish...”
“Uh, I'll go get them now, please wait a moment.”
“Wait!”
Ji You stopped the scholar who had already risen, and after pondering for a moment, said, “Is your Family holding a banquet? A chicken leg would be even better...”
Kuang Cheng was stunned for a moment: “Okay.”
Seeing him leave, Ji You couldn't help but sigh.
Seriously, he had lived for so long and never thought that one day he would be eating red dates to replenish blood.
However, the amount of blood was actually just like one period, it just looked more alarming.
Young Master Ji struggled to sit up, closed his eyes, and began Divine Thought introspection. After a long time, he opened his eyes, revealing an expression of utter despair.
The Spiritual Spring was truly shattered, shattered beyond recognition, like a blooming lotus...
But the good news was that he could still absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, preventing him from falling in realm.
He would make do with it for now; perhaps this was the price of being too reckless. However, Tianshu Academy is a revered Sect, so when he goes to Shengjing, he might find some methods for repair.
In the blink of an eye, it was the fifth day of the eighth month, the poplars had fallen early, and the cold grass withered prematurely.
Ji You continuously cleansed his physique with Spiritual Qi, and his Qi and blood gradually recovered. Aside from his shattered Spiritual Spring, he was no different from an ordinary person.
At this time, Tianshu Academy also set the date for their departure to the capital, which was the following day at the hour of Mao.
Along with the message came an invitation, from the county magistrate Fang Zhongzheng, who was hosting a farewell banquet for him and Fang Ruoyao, inviting him as a guest.
Although Fang Zhongzheng was not a good person, he was an extremely smart one, very skilled at assessing the situation. From Cao Xianren's attitude, he had already vaguely sensed that Ji You was not the same as his daughter, who entered Tianshu Academy through a quota.
Ji You had, after all, entered Tianshu Academy. Although he disliked the Fang Family, he still had to maintain appearances, so he accepted the invitation.
However, after three rounds of drinks, Fang Zhongzheng was almost pulled by him into becoming sworn brothers, which made Fang Ruoyao's face turn ashen throughout the entire banquet.
But fortunately, Ji You didn't stay long at the banquet. He ate both chicken legs, said some words of praise to Cao Jinsong and Pei Ruyi, and then hurried away.
“Ji You always acts so hastily. What is he going to do now?”
“He should be going to the threshing ground. A stage is being set up there, and everyone else has arrived. Now, only Young Master Ji is missing.”
The young servant attending nearby came with drinks and reported after hearing the question.
Pei Ruyi was slightly stunned: “Setting up a stage? Could it be for a play?”
Fang Ruoyao smiled sweetly, pouring wine as she spoke, “I heard someone say that Ji You was chatting with someone on the street this morning, saying that now that he has become an Immortal of Tianshu Academy, if he lets a wealthy Family in the city recognize him as a god-relative for protection, it would definitely… uh, it would definitely make a fortune. He's probably busy with this now.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Ruyi's brows immediately furrowed, her expression displeased.
This fellow named Ji, who hasn't even truly become a Disciple of Tianshu Academy, is already using this title to collect offerings. This is a bit too arrogant.
One must know that the Villa Master of Fengxian Mountain Manor is an Upper Five Realms expert, who finally separated from the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion and chose a place to establish his Villa, only then gaining this qualification.
However, before Pei Ruyi could speak, the young servant holding the wine immediately waved his hand: “Young Miss misheard, it's not the wealthy families in the city.”
“It's not?”
“Those called to the threshing ground are all children from poor families.”
“?”
Fang Ruoyao was slightly stunned, and subtly glanced at Pei Ruyi: “I didn't expect him to even take offerings from poor families.”
The young servant was slightly stunned again: “Young Master Ji doesn't accept offerings.”
“How do you know he doesn't accept offerings? You talk too much.”
“Because… because my Family's dog also went, to acknowledge Young Master Ji as a godfather.”
Fang Ruoyao stiffened for a moment, realizing the topic was not favorable to her, and quickly changed the subject: “By the way, Senior Sister, speaking of offerings, my share of offerings was already transported to the capital yesterday. I wonder how Ji You's offerings will be taken away? Why not ask my father to arrange another carriage to accompany him?”
Paying money to study, and studying to pay money, such things remain unchanged even in this Qingyun World.
Although Fang Ruoyao's elder brother had many military achievements and was highly regarded by the Town Protector Divine General, Fang Ruoyao was still a Mortal after all, and offerings could not be exempted.
However, the Ji Family had been in decline for a long time, and she didn't believe Ji You could afford this offering.
Pei Ruyi looked at her when she asked about this, and then said, “A Junior Third Realm Completion who is not yet twenty does not need to pay offerings to the Sect.”
“Ah?”
“Not to mention paying, with his cultivation, if he had chosen the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, he could even receive a monthly allowance from the Sect.”
Pei Ruyi raised her half-full wine glass: “Otherwise, why do you think Instructor Cao guards the city gate every day like he's guarding against a thief, fearing that Ji You would be poached?”
Upon hearing this, Fang Ruoyao's expression was slightly stunned.
She had originally thought that all students of Tianshu Academy were the same, but only now did she realize that even after entering Tianshu Academy, there were still different ranks.