A black crow carrying a letter ascends to a magnificent height, granting me permission to

Outside Yanxuan Hall, two black crows cackled, startling the Taoist priests guarding the gate.

He hurriedly looked up, peering towards the second floor of the hall, his eyes gleaming, muttering to himself:

"The cawing of a black crow is quite rare... Could it be that one of the senior disciples in the 'Dao Pavilion' has broken through to the fourth or even fifth level!?"

Before the Yanxuan Hall, every blade of grass, every tree, every mountain, and every stream holds a mystical aura. It is said that eight "superior cultivators" once surveyed the earth's veins here, set up formations, and drew in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Over the years, this mysterious phenomenon was created.

The two black crows were originally ordinary birds raised by Senior Sister Zhu. However, because they hovered on the roof of the palace all year round, they were also imbued with some spiritual light and developed a unique and mysterious quality.

Therefore, they are clear-headed and insightful, good at understanding people's intentions, and able to perceive what others cannot.

Whenever someone in the "Dao Pavilion" breaks through a cultivation level, these two black crows will flap their wings and cry out.

This is because the vast majority of the stewards in the valley are at the third level of Qi Refining.

Therefore, each cry of the black crow indicated which level of cultivation the person inside the hall had broken through to.

Four tones have four stresses, and five tones have five stresses!

The former can be a pillar of the Molten Gold Valley, while the latter, if he breaks through to the sixth level of Qi Refining in one go, will have the opportunity to step into the Eight Meridians and join the ranks of "Daoist Transmission" disciples!

For this reason, whenever the crows cry out, it will startle Sister Zhu inside the Huacai Tower.

"The senior brother who last triggered the cawing of the black crows is now in seclusion, attempting to break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining... I wonder who this one is now?"

A hint of envy flashed in the eyes of the Taoist priest in charge.

However, he quickly came to his senses, and his gaze gradually became confused.

"One, two... why were there only two screams?"

While I was completely puzzled...

Then one of the black crows was seen to have returned after it had gone away.

From a balustrade on Huacai Tower, it took flight and in the blink of an eye, it had already reached a "Taoist Pavilion" on the second floor of Yanxuan Palace, where it flapped its wings and circled.

……

Inside the Jingsi Pavilion.

The crane-headed eternal lamp burned on its own, while the incense burners of the Yin and Yang deities wafted incessantly, their fragrance refreshing and invigorating, bringing unparalleled comfort.

Yan Chen suddenly opened his eyes, and a spark of fiery light burst open with a loud bang. Strands of scorching heat passed through the Jade Pillow Gate and dissipated and steamed at the fontanelle, creating a white mist that resembled billowing smoke!

But in an instant, the strange phenomenon gradually subsided.

"Heh—shh—"

Yan Chen's chest swelled up, then gradually calmed down, and the hot, turbid air in his mouth was exhaled completely, disappearing without a trace.

A short while later.

The handsome young man, with his refined features and bright eyes, gradually smiled and sighed leisurely:

"Though the process of sifting through sand a thousand times is arduous, only after blowing away the wild sand can gold be found... The second stage of refining has been completed."

After a moment of reflection, Yan Chen shook his head and smiled, thinking to himself:

"Why are you sighing so much at just the second level of Qi Refining? You should at least be at..."

Before the thought was finished, suddenly, a knocking sound seemed to come from outside the window behind the crane-headed eternal lamp.

Yan Chen frowned. This was the "Dao Pavilion" of Yanxuan Palace, a place for quiet cultivation. Why would anyone disturb it for no reason?

With a sense of doubt, he got up and moved closer, raising his hand to lift the curtain in front of the window.

Just then, the crashing sounds outside the window grew louder.

Before Yan Chen could react, the carved wooden window suddenly swung open.

A black raven, its plumage shimmering with an inexplicable brilliance, swooped down and entered the Jingsi Pavilion, circling once around the surrounding walls.

Then, to Yan Chen's astonishment, it raised its paw and dropped a letter.

Then it flapped its wings and flew through the window as if nothing had happened, leaving the Jingsi Pavilion.

"Isn't this one of the two black crows we saw on the way here...?"

Before Yan Chen could figure out the situation, he had no choice but to close the wooden window and draw the curtains.

He then turned back to the prayer mat, gently picked up the letter, and gazed at it intently.

Then one could see a piece of sealing wax branded onto the seal, with a black raven tail feather branded on it.

Yan Chen circulated his Bing Fire True Qi to catalyze the sealing wax, then immediately opened the letter and took out the letter paper.

A line of sharp handwriting immediately catches the eye.

Concise and to the point, just four words—

"Ascend the magnificent pavilion!"

……

Outside Yanxuan Palace.

The Taoist priest sat on the steps, his brow furrowed in confusion, still pondering the strange events that had just occurred.

Suddenly noticing someone passing by behind him, he stood up to look and saw Yan Chen walking out of the hall.

"So it's Junior Brother Yan. You... you've successfully broken through?"

The steward estimated the time and realized that the other party had been inside the hall for less than two hours.

In such a short time, he broke through the cycle of Qi twice and entered the second level of Qi Refining. Such talent is indeed superb.

No wonder Wang Fu treated him differently.

"Thanks to the care of the valley, my junior brother was allowed to enter the 'Dao Pavilion' to cultivate, which is why I have made some progress. It is truly a stroke of luck."

Yan Chen held the letter in his hand, bowed slightly, and spoke in a humble tone.

The deacon chuckled and said:

"Junior brother, what are you saying? Breaking through the realm in less than two hours is definitely not due to the 'Dao Pavilion'; it's entirely due to talent and hard work. However, there's no way you'll get a refund for the remaining hour's worth of magic fees, haha!"

"That's how it should be."

After exchanging a few polite words...

Yan Chen bowed and took his leave, then turned around leisurely and strolled toward Huacai Tower, which stood opposite Yanxuan Palace.

"How could such a talent for cultivation emerge from such a corrupting influence as the Lower Three Courtyards?"

"If one works diligently and assiduously, one day one may become one of us..."

Watching Yan Chen leave, the steward sighed and was about to look away.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the letter in Yan Chen's hand.

Then one could see that the black raven's tail feather was trembling slightly in the wind, its branches fluttering and revealing its strange colors.

Upon seeing this, the Taoist priest in charge was immediately stunned, muttering to himself:

"Could it be... that the one who triggered the crows' cawing just now was this Junior Brother Yan!?"

……

……

Huacai Tower.

A quiet room.

The air is filled with fragrance and warmth.

Zhu Zhilan wore a moon-white fox fur cloak, her long black hair flowing freely, loosely tied back with a single ribbon, unconventional and natural.

She was sitting upright at the table, gazing at the clouds drifting by outside the window. Her slender, white fingers were hidden in her sleeves as she casually fiddled with a spirit seed the size of a bean, appearing preoccupied with her thoughts.

Dengdengdeng-

Just then, hurried footsteps appeared in the corridor outside the door, initially rapid, then gradually slowing down, and finally almost silent.

After about several breaths, a notification sounded.

"Reporting to the steward, that ordinary servant from the Forging Institute is already waiting with a letter in hand."

dong dong!

There was no response in the quiet room, only the sound of two knuckles tapping on the table.

The messenger immediately understood and agreed, then silently retreated into the corridor.

A short while later, a clear voice rang out from outside the quiet room—

"Yan Chen, a novice servant of the Forging Institute, greets Steward Zhu."

"Come in and talk."

The sound was crisp and clear in the quiet room, like ice cubes striking each other or pearls falling onto a plate.

"Yes."

Yan Chen remained composed and calm as he slowly entered the quiet room. With a quick glance, he took in the room's furnishings.

The quiet room is classically elegant, with only a tea table and a long table as decorations. A few potted plants and bamboo groves stand side by side, creating a simple, comfortable, and serene atmosphere.

On one side of the long table, stacks of documents lay, and a graceful figure sat upright, backlit by the dappled light, her figure hazy and enigmatic.

Yan Chen glanced at him once and then looked away, his eyelids lowered, not looking around.

Immediately, a brief silence fell over the quiet room.

After several breaths, the beautiful figure spoke casually:

"How long have you been a member of the Jade Sleeve Sect?"

Yan Chen replied without hesitation:

"It has been almost a month since I reported back to the person in charge."

"Nearly a month later, I've reached the second level of Qi Refining..."

Zhu Zhilan sighed inexplicably, without turning around, and said softly:

"Then let me ask you, of the hundreds of servants in the three lower academies, more than 30% have reached the first level of Qi Refining, and many of them have been in the academy for a year or even longer."

"If we talk about diligence, hard work, and natural talent, they may not lack any of these, but they are still stuck at the first level of Qi cultivation and can hardly make any progress."

"And what did you rely on to break through two realms and reach the second level of Qi Refining in less than a month?"

Yan Chen's expression remained unchanged, but his mind raced, and he dared not relax or be careless in the slightest.

The other party's words were like a barrage of bullets, subtly containing a sense of pressure. Those with slightly weak wills would likely lose their composure and become confused.

However, if you calm down and think carefully, you can clearly understand the meaning of the words.

Why am I able to stand out from the crowd and surpass others?

Ultimately.

Isn't it because he demonstrated "value" so that Rongjin Valley would understand that he is a "talent" worthy of being cultivated?

If that's the case, then this questioning immediately becomes utterly pointless.

After all, anyone with a modicum of sense could guess why the other party would choose to send a letter to summon him right after his breakthrough.

Therefore, what you answer is not important.

All the other party wanted was an "attitude".

In the Jade Sleeve Sect, no one would help someone out for no reason; the reason is simply that they are "useful".

In a flash, having gathered his thoughts, Yan Chen spoke calmly and respectfully:

"This disciple is dull-witted and lacks wisdom. I should have wasted half my life and died in a daze. Fortunately, I was favored by the master and became his concubine. Therefore, I am willing to serve as his servant to repay this kindness!"

"However, no effort is wasted. With the help of others, I have achieved success. In less than a month, I have broken through several passes and reached the second level by sheer luck. I am still apprehensive, but fortunately, my abilities are still sufficient, and I have enough strength to give back to Yu Xiu."

"Therefore, I humbly request that you grant me an opportunity for advancement!"

These words were sincere and well-organized, and the word "loyalty" was evident in every line.

This surprised Zhu Zhilan, who raised an eyebrow slightly.

He secretly thought that this little servant whom he had "picked up" halfway through was surprisingly sensible and truly a talent.

Since that's the case, there's no need to waste words or further admonishment.

"Fine, anyway I've always thought these trivial rules are meaningless."

As Zhu Zhilan's thoughts flashed through her mind, her brows gradually relaxed.

She turned her face slightly to the side, her hair falling loosely at her temples, and for the first time, her bright eyes looked directly at the young man in front of her.

Her gaze first fell on the ordinary cotton robe, her brows furrowing slightly. Then she looked Yan Chen over from head to toe to assess his cultivation progress before turning her gaze away.

He said in a calm tone:

"Having reached the second level of cultivation, that one Qi-guiding technique alone is not enough. Have you had any other fortuitous encounters these past few days?"

Yan Chen already had a plan in mind, so he slightly revised the story of the two bottles of spiritual liquid and the opportunity in Xiangzhi Forest and told Zhu Zhilan about it.

—He only said that when he escaped the pursuit of the calamity cultivators, he was trapped outside the market. In the heavy snow, he happened to see two figures hiding something, but he did not stay for long.

It wasn't until he joined the Jade Sleeve Sect that he suddenly remembered this matter, and went down the mountain to search for it, and indeed obtained a fortuitous opportunity!

After listening, Zhu Zhilan looked thoughtful and asked:

"Could you make out their faces?"

Yan Chen shook his head and said:

"The wind and snow were too strong, and I couldn't see clearly."

Zhu Zhilan hesitated for a moment, then dropped the matter. She turned to Yan Chen, her tone becoming more serious, and said:

"Speaking of the market, the position of manager of Cui Shu Lou has been vacant for a long time."

"Today, I intend to promote you to manager of the establishment, Junior Brother Yan. Are you willing?"

Is he the shopkeeper of the market?

Yan Chen knew there was no time to think, so he immediately bowed respectfully and said:

"Thank you, Yuxiu, for your grace; thank you, Lord Zhu, for your favor!"

Zhu Zhilan waved her hand and said:

"Let's skip the formalities. The position of manager sounds glamorous, but it's a tough job. You'll understand when you get there."

"If you are capable, you will manage Xuchunfang in an orderly manner."

"When your cultivation reaches the third level of Qi Refining, I may be able to request a decree from the Eight Meridians to appoint you as a steward of the Melting Gold Valley."

As she spoke, she took two Taoist books from the table behind her, waved them in front of her, and said:

"Now that you have reached the second level of Qi Refining, it is time to learn some Taoist techniques for self-protection."

"One of these two Taoist books contains the Taoist techniques and methods of my Melting Gold Valley. If you master them, they will have miraculous effects, whether you are fighting enemies or assisting in your cultivation."

"As for the other one, it is a pill-making manual, which comes from Manager Zheng of Danlan Valley."

At this point, Zhu Zhilan couldn't help but say in a strange tone, with a hint of teasing:

"Old Zheng is a real miser. He values ​​his alchemy inheritance more than his own life. Although this alchemy technique is only at the beginner level, it is quite remarkable that he would willingly give it away."

Yan Chen felt ashamed upon hearing this, but did not respond. He simply stepped forward, respectfully accepted the two Taoist books, and stood quietly to one side.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhilan immediately lost interest.

He then turned away and casually gave some minor instructions.

Yan Chen immediately understood, bowed respectfully, and took his leave.

……

As I strolled away from Huacai Tower, the sun had already set and twilight was falling.

On the roof of Yanxuan Hall, black crows either circle or stand still, their stillness and movement possessing a mysterious charm.

Yan Chen opened his mouth and inhaled a large breath of icy air, then exhaled it in a long, scorching stream, billowing with mist.

The pent-up frustration that had been building up inside seemed to be released all at once, leaving him feeling refreshed and relaxed.

According to Zhu, the imperial edict appointing the manager of Cui Shu Lou will be drafted and delivered to him shortly.

Prior to this, all the necessary personnel for the affairs of the market had been prepared, and he was just waiting to take up his post.

As the saying goes, "If you plant flowers with care, they may not bloom; if you plant willows without care, they may thrive."

"I didn't really crave this position of manager, but after going around in circles, it still ended up in my hands. In the end, it must be a matter of fate for me!"

"As long as one reaches the third level of Qi Refining, one may be promoted to a steward of the Molten Gold Valley... Why does this have a sense of 'going to the countryside to gain experience'?"

"Is he just making empty promises to me?!"

As the thought flashed through his mind, Yan Chen flicked his sleeves, turned his palm up, and looked down to examine it closely.

Then they saw the two Taoist calligraphy manuals, one of which was called "The Divine Furnace's Fire Burns Passion and Desire Curse";

The other book is "Qingyuan Chengming Danjue".

Now, it all belongs to him.

……