“When sensing the Heavenly Book, there will first be a tiny glimmer, fleeting like a shooting star.”
“Those with affinity can easily follow the light and be led close to the Heavenly Dao. At that time, all the great Daos of the world will manifest above your head, but the time is very short. You will comprehend as much as you can.”
“However, if you have no affinity with the Heavenly Book, you won’t be able to catch up even if you try your best. Several of my Same period brothers and sisters were like this.”
“Six years ago, some of them saw that light multiple times, but ultimately couldn't enter.”
The next morning, in the Wudao Field, Inner Courtyard Disciple Ban Yangshu received letters from Chu River and Lu Qingqiu. He came to the Wudao Field and meticulously explained the method of sensing the Heavenly Book to Chu River and Lu Qingqiu.
They had all met in Prince Chong's Mansion, both being individuals highly regarded by Chong Wang.
Chu River and Lu Qingqiu tried for two days but were still unable to sense the Heavenly Book, so they could only seek his help.
This was because Senior Brother Ban was the one who had sensed the Heavenly Book in the Outer Courtyard, successfully entered the Inner Courtyard, and was now already in the Profound Connection Realm.
Following in the footsteps of a Senior is the fastest way to cultivate the Dao.
Ban Yangshu was quite upright, and Chong Wang also paid close attention to the matter of sensing the Heavenly Book, so he didn't hold anything back, speaking freely about everything he knew.
Lu Qingqiu and Chu River listened thoughtfully, seemingly having some insights.
“By the way, what about that Junior Third Realm Completion named Ji You? Why haven't I seen him?”
“He… he went to the Trial Sword Forest again today.”
Ban Yangshu was slightly startled: “Dual Cultivation of Martial Dao?”
Lu Qingqiu nodded, feeling very puzzled herself.
She believed that Ji You had already felt the difficulty of comprehending the Dao in the Wudao Field last night, and she thought he would give up the minor path of Martial Skill and cultivate the Dao from morning till night like them.
But the truth was, he still went to the Trial Sword Forest today, which was truly baffling.
And it wasn't just Lu Qingqiu who found it unexpected; Instructor Wang in the Trial Sword Forest was also very curious about what this unique competitor for an Inner Courtyard spot was thinking.
“I heard that Lu Qingqiu and Chu River have already gathered a Mystic Light. Why do you still have the mind to come here to learn martial arts?”
“Didn't they say that if one consistently fails to break through, they might be expelled by Tianshu Academy? I always need a skill to fall back on; maybe I can even go up the mountain and become a fierce bandit.”
“?”
Ji You held a wooden sword, constantly thrusting and slashing in the forest: “Instructor Wang, have you ever seen a fierce bandit?”
Instructor Wang heard him and laughed: “This Shengjing City is the capital of Great Xia, and with my Tianshu Academy stationed here, what bandits would dare to act ferociously here?”
“Interested in meeting one? I heard fierce bandits also practice Dual Cultivation of Martial Dao, and their sword techniques are quite exquisite.”
“Could it be that the Meng Xinghun you mentioned is actually a fierce bandit?”
Ji You wiped the sweat from his head after sheathing his sword: “For just one silver tael, I can introduce Instructor Wang to one.”
Instructor Wang looked at him for a long time, then pulled out one silver tael from his sleeve: “When shall we meet?”
“Now.”
“?”
Ji You threw down his wooden sword and ran, turning back from a distance: “Instructor, I don't have money for food. Consider this a loan from me; I will definitely return it with both hands in the future.”
Wang Xin'an froze in place for a moment, then his eyes suddenly widened. Holy cow, this is a real fierce bandit!
In a flash, Ji You was already at the Immortal Meal Workshop, filling his stomach with the silver.
However, this couldn't go on forever; he still needed to find a way out.
He was an anomaly who had infiltrated a legitimate great sect as a rural private cultivator, with no Family behind him, and even his livelihood was an issue.
It wasn't as embarrassing to find it difficult to enter the Dao; starving to death would be a bit embarrassing...
After Ji You finished eating, seeing that it was still early, he got up and went down the mountain, deciding to go check on Old Kuang, who was currently preparing for his exams.
He wasn't familiar with Shengjing City and only knew that the place where Kuang Cheng lived was called Chunhua Inn, so he asked for directions all the way and finally arrived at a very familiar place.
This place was full of playful Young Masters; this place was full of unsettling hearts...
?
Ji You wasn't sure at first, until he found Kuang Cheng in that inn. At that time, he was studying diligently in his room, with his head hanging from the beam and a needle pricking his thigh.
“Brother Ji, why are you here?”
“Didn't you say you found a quiet and cultured place?”
Kuang Cheng couldn't help but sigh: “Opposite was originally a bookstore, but who knew it changed into a brothel five years ago, and my Family's map of Shengjing City is eight years old.”
Ji You pulled up a stool and sat down: “Was it intentional or intentionally careless? You could always change to another place, right?”
“But only this place offers such a fair price, a desk, and lamp oil.”
“So, how are your preparations going?”
Kuang Cheng pondered for a long time before speaking: “Before, I had only 60% certainty, now it can reach 80%.”
Ji You raised an eyebrow slightly: “So confident?”
“Your Majesty will greatly open the Imperial Examinations this year, and the number of people recruited will far exceed previous years.”
“Why such a change?”
“There are rumors that Your Majesty feels the current imperial court is too stagnant and wants to select a batch of new officials to rectify the bureaucracy.”
Ji You remained expressionless after hearing this, merely nodding slightly, thinking to himself that the emperor's so-called new policy was indeed this cautious.
However, this was also normal.
Although that Town Protector Divine General was invincible below the Linxian Realm, he was still like an ant in front of the Seven Great Immortal Sects.
The emperor recalling him to Shengjing City to consolidate the bureaucracy of his own imperial court should not be a problem, but it was limited to that.
Ji You didn't particularly like politics, but thinking about it from another perspective, with such a disparity in strength, he could only make the people around him more agreeable and continue to dream his imperial dream.
However, bureaucratic reform also involved many matters of the immortal sects.
For example, the collection and supervision of tax offerings, the harvesting and transportation of Spiritual Plant mines, and the circulation and turnover of Medicinal Pills.
If there was any mistake, it would affect the whole situation and might cause more trouble. Perhaps in a while, Shengjing City would be in turmoil.
“Brother Ji? Brother Ji?”
“Hmm?”
Kuang Cheng saw him return to his senses and couldn't help but say: “Don't just talk about me. How are you doing at Tianshu Academy now? Is your cultivation going smoothly?”
Ji You rested his hands on his knees: “Everyone is now competing for an Inner Courtyard spot, going to sense the Heavenly Book every day. It is said that if you can successfully sense it, you're basically in.”
“Has anyone succeeded?”
“A miss is as good as a mile.”
Kuang Cheng nodded after hearing this: “It seems that cultivation, like studying, is not easy, but in the end, Brother Ji will always win. There will be no surprise there.”
Ji You chuckled after hearing this: “Do you know who those people are? Young Masters from immortal Worldly Sect, Young Misses whose Sect own mines, they gulp down thousands of taels of Medicinal Pills without a second thought!”
“But Brother Ji is still confident, isn't he? You just have a habit of never speaking out until things are done.”
Kuang Cheng was even more confident than him: “Perhaps you are actually already contemplating becoming the sect master.”
Ji You was silent for a moment: “Actually, I don't have money for food, and I'm contemplating robbing you of five silver taels.”
“?”
“Hurry up!”
Kuang Cheng's mouth twitched, and finally, he took out a deflated money pouch from his own bag, from which he pulled out about eight taels of Small change.
Seeing this, Ji You instantly frowned and stared, feeling as uncomfortable as if his own money had been stolen and spent, seeing his once bulging wallet now deflated.
He pointed to the red-light district outside the window and couldn't help but say: “You scholar, can you not be so unsettled all day?”
“Unsettled all day? Indeed, my heart cannot settle until I enter the examination hall.”
“No, what I mean is, does your day not end unless you're unsettled?”
Kuang Cheng was stunned for a long time, then finally followed his finger to look out the window, his face instantly flushed red, and he immediately understood his subtext: “Nonsense, I, Kuang, am a righteous gentleman!”
“Then my money… no, where did your money go?”
Ji You felt the words were a bit hot, and immediately spun 360 degrees, almost saying the right thing.
Kuang Cheng glanced at his money pouch, incredulous: “This is my money!”
“Never mind whose money it is, you've only been in the capital for less than three days, how could such a large bag of silver be spent so quickly?”
“I donated it.”
Kuang Cheng mumbled while tying his money pouch: “Winter is coming in a few months, and there's an orphanage for the disabled in the west city that doesn't even have quilts. I saw it when I went to the bookstore to buy books, and on a whim, I donated.”
Ji You was silent for a moment, still feeling a bit heartbroken about his money.
Uh, no, his money.
The two outstanding young men from Yuyang County now only had these few taels of Small change left, and they were still talking about facing the winds of fate, it was hilarious.
Ji You pushed back the small amount he handed over: “Forget it, Brother Zhuangyuan, don't starve to death before the exam. I'm leaving.”
“Brother Ji, don't just focus on Inner Courtyard Disciples. Remember to aim bigger, to become the sect master!”
“Got it.”