Chapter 826
Chapter 826
Chapter 826
A new year, new lessons.
After the start of the semester, the academy first conducted a diagnostic test, mainly because too many students went out to gain experience last year and did not even participate in the year-end exam.
Although the students who participated in the training all brought back excellent training reports, in order to be responsible for the students, the academy still believed that a comprehensive assessment should be conducted to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation and passing off inferior candidates as qualified ones.
"To prevent you from graduating and going out into the world ignorant of Taoism and magic, and instead using the name of my Longhu Mountain Academy to swindle and deceive people!" Zhang Ziming said with a stern face, "The Academy's grand exam will be held in three days. You all have three days to pray to the gods and study hard."
The entire school was filled with wails.
Even Pan Yun dug out the textbooks from the previous academic year and went into seclusion in the Doumu Palace.
Miaozhen went to Xuanli to ask for the notes.
After a school year apart, Xuan Li had grown up quite a bit and her cultivation had improved. She kept only one notebook and gave the rest to Miao Zhen: "Take turns reading them, and return one to me every two hours."
Miaozhen agreed and invited, "We are in seclusion in the Doumu Hall to review our knowledge. Would you like to join us? That way, if you have any questions about Taoist magic, you can ask my junior uncle."
Xuan Li hesitated for a moment before saying, "I have two other close friends..."
Miaozhen warmly invited, "Call them along! Although we junior disciples weren't at the academy last school year, our studies never fell behind. You know my junior uncle's abilities, so feel free to ask him anything you don't understand."
Xuan Li was intrigued: "I have to ask them."
They were naturally more than willing.
Studying with Pan Yun~~
Although she wasn't at the academy last semester, who didn't know that her cultivation was the best in the entire academy? She had already broken through to the first Marquis level, making her even more powerful than the fifth-grade senior brothers and sisters.
So everyone happily went.
Miaohe also gathered several classmates from Taisu Academy, and they all went into seclusion in Doumu Hall.
Everyone sat cross-legged in perfect unison, and if they wanted to discuss something, they would go outside to the courtyard.
Pan Yun focused intently, turning a page in a single breath. Her page-turning frequency was the highest among everyone present, making the students who occasionally looked up and closed their eyes to rest extremely envious.
Are all the First Marquis's spiritual senses this strong?
Can you memorize the content at a glance?
Although Pan Yun did not return to school, she still read the books. At this moment, she was just reviewing them, and she could roughly recall the contents as soon as she flipped through them.
After reviewing the knowledge in her mind, she went to look at the notes that Miaozhen and the others had found.
In the academy, much of the content is not in the textbooks but is taught in class, so taking notes is extremely important.
Pan Yun also flipped through the pages quickly. Some of the pages were ones she had learned in her past or present life, while others were ones she had never heard of before, so her speed varied.
But given her level of cultivation and knowledge, she can grasp things quickly even without prior training.
Xuan Li sat next to her, occasionally asking a question in a low voice, which she could answer with just a glance at her notes.
She was the one who took the notes, but at the time she didn't understand; she simply wrote down what the teacher had said...
Whose notebook is this anyway?
Xuan Li couldn't even feel jealousy.
If the distance between them were not too great, she would have the courage to catch up; if it were great, she might feel jealous; but now there is an insurmountable gap between them, and she can't catch up at all, so where would she feel jealous?
She directly excluded Pan Yun from the category of human beings.
At first, Pan Yun explained to Xuan Li in a low voice, while Miao Zhen and the others listened attentively. Later, someone caught a key word, and their ears twitched as they moved closer to listen as well.
Inside the Doumu Hall, everyone's gazes toward Pan Yun gradually brightened.
What to do? They can actually understand what Pan Yun is saying, but they just can't understand these two points in Mr. Ming's class at all...
Has it been that they've improved and things are different now, or...?
The crowd dared not think any further, shook their heads, and crowded around to audit the class.
Three days passed in a flash, and apart from eating and using the toilet, they hardly left the Doumu Palace.
During these three days, the people formed deep friendships, and their feelings progressed rapidly. The three days felt like three autumns, something even the teachers at the academy had not anticipated.
Zhang Liuzhen gently placed a piece on the chessboard and chuckled, "I was worried that they wouldn't have much time to spend with their classmates and that their friendships wouldn't be strong after graduation. But it seems I was overthinking it. This exam went well, and we can hold another one next year."
Lin Jingle placed a piece on the chessboard, directly blocking the path he had just opened up, and said calmly, "The sea ban has been lifted, and the navy along the southeast coast is vigorously cracking down on pirates. They have no reason to go out for training this year. They don't need to take a big test, and their friendship can deepen."
Zhang Liuzhen smiled and slowly placed a piece on the board: "The world is unpredictable, and it's hard to say what will happen tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Lin Jingle looked up at Zhang Liuzhen and said, "When Pan Yun returned to the mountain, she went to the Celestial Master's Mansion, and Deng Jin helped her extend the time limit for taking the ordination certificate to nine years."
Zhang Liuzhen looked down at the chessboard.
Lin Jingle asked directly, "Is this your idea?"
Zhang Liuzhen lifted her eyelids to glance at him, a smile playing on her lips: "Is it not allowed?"
Lin Jingyue lowered her eyes, picked up a white chess piece and placed it down, saying in a deep voice, "I just feel that you are too good to her."
Zhang Liuzhen remained noncommittal, lightly tapping the chessboard with his finger and calmly placing a piece, directly capturing a group of his white pieces.
Lin Jingle watched silently, pausing for a long time without making a move. Instead, he hesitated, holding the white piece in his hand, and asked, "The Master is urging you to get married. What do you think of Pan Yun?"
Seeing that he hadn't made a move for a long time, Zhang Liuzhen picked up his teacup to drink some tea. Upon hearing this, he spat out a mouthful of tea and quickly turned his head to avoid spraying it onto the chessboard, but he choked on the tea and couldn't help but cough violently.
Lin Jingle stared at him intently, and seeing that he truly had no idea whatsoever, she withdrew her gaze with some disappointment, but murmured to herself, "Pan Yun is highly talented, and her cultivation is among the best of her generation. Even going back to our generation, she is no less outstanding. Now, whether in the martial arts world or the imperial court, her influence is growing day by day..."
"No," Zhang Liuzhen quickly stopped him from continuing, looking at him with a laugh, "Just because I want to marry her, does that mean she has to marry me?"
Lin Jingle gripped the chess piece tightly: "You're not bad at all..."
Zhang Liuzhen: "Who said that just because it's not bad, we have to get married?"
He shook his head and said, "If you've already cultivated immortality, and you're still burdened by worldly marriage, what kind of immortality or path are you cultivating?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Jingle retorted irritably, "Can you really refuse to leave any people for the direct descendants of the Zhang family?"
Zhang Liuzhen smiled but did not answer. He simply put down his teacup, picked up a black piece, placed it down, and then stood up to wipe the water droplets off his robe, saying, "You lost. Remember to pick up the pieces."
Lin Jingle looked down at the chessboard and remained silent for a long time.
By the time he was about to speak, Zhang Liuzhen had already gone upstairs to change her clothes.
When the exam results came out, Pan Yun was still the top student in the third grade. Because she had not studied at the academy for most of the previous year, she still got first place and was called a genius.
Even the Celestial Master's Mansion at the foot of the mountain was abuzz with excitement.
Even Master Zhang couldn't help but call Zhang Ziwang over to ask, "Since Pan Yun was able to get first place in the academy's grand examination, how come he still hasn't obtained the qualification certificate to take the ordination exam? Next year is the year for the ordination exam, isn't it?"
Is the value of academies so low now?
Zhang Ziwang said, "Master, this year she tied for first place with seven other people in the qualification exam, but she wasn't chosen when the lot was drawn."
Zhang Ziwang paused for a moment and then said, "She is a disciple of the Mountain God of Sanqing Mountain."
That's no problem.
Master Zhang asked, "I've heard that she and Liu Zhen have a very good relationship?"
Zhang Ziwang: "Perhaps it's because of Zhang Li." Master Zhang sighed upon hearing this and asked, "Still no news of Zhang Li?"
Zhang Ziwang: "A month ago, a caravan saw the two men in the Kunlun Mountains area..."
He paused for a moment and then said in a low voice, "Master, news has come back that the Blood Lotus collected by the Kunlun Yu family five years ago is now in the hands of the Chen family in Fujian. The Chen family in Fujian has already been raided. Perhaps the Celestial Master's Mansion can ask His Majesty for this item."
Master Zhang: "Even if you obtain the Blood-Dripping Snow Lotus, a prescription with an exorbitant price and unknown efficacy still requires two other rare and precious medicinal herbs to complete it. Are you sure you can find them?"
Zhang Ziwang: "We should at least give it a try."
Master Zhang nodded and said, "I understand. I will send someone to look for it."
But Zhang Ziwang always felt that Master Zhang was not very concerned about this matter.
They had tried every possible method to heal the young master's injuries, and Wang Feiyin had finally come up with a prescription. Why didn't they do their best to find it?
Zhang Ziwang hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
"If you have anything to say, just say it."
Zhang Ziwang could only lower his head and say, "Lin Jingle said that Liu Zhen is unwilling to get married."
Master Zhang said calmly, "This is his responsibility."
Zhang Ziwang's heart tightened, and he whispered, "Liu Zhen... he's always been very opinionated. If he's unwilling, no one can force him. We think that rather than letting him get emotional and hurt himself, it's better to go along with him..."
Master Zhang's gaze fell indifferently upon him.
Zhang Ziwang stammered and said in a low voice, "I mean, if we find him a woman he likes, and everyone compromises, he might be willing."
Master Zhang asked directly, "Does he have a woman he likes?"
Zhang Ziwang whispered, "Among the junior sisters of the He Gong Sect, he is closest to Pan Yun, and they discuss things together..."
“He doesn’t have romantic feelings for Pan Yun. Besides, even if he did, would you dare let them get married? Don’t forget whose disciple Pan Yun is,” Master Zhang said. “Given the speed and scale of trouble she’s causing now, aren’t you afraid she’ll choke on water or trip and fall to her death in the future?”
Zhang Ziwang opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a rebuttal.
Master Zhang thought they were giving him completely random advice, so he waved him away and said, "My mind is made up. When Qingming Festival comes, I will go to Fengyang and ask him to marry Chen Mao's granddaughter."
Zhang Ziwang sighed, "It's a pity His Majesty is so young, otherwise it would have been perfect to marry a princess. But if a princess isn't suitable, then what about a county princess or a princess?"
Master Zhang: "Chen Mao's granddaughter is the most suitable."
Zhang Ziwang then withdrew.
The Celestial Master's Mansion has not only had one generation of princes marrying princesses; going back to the Song Dynasty, several generations of Celestial Masters have married princesses.
After the establishment of this dynasty, there was a princess and a county princess. Strictly speaking, they were cousins of the current emperor.
However, the Zhang family had no need to use this to show off their glory, so few people in the general public knew about it.
The Zhang family of Longhu Mountain is a family that can be compared with the Northern Confucius family. Not only did they have a third-rank official position as the Celestial Master, a position that many officials could not reach in their entire lives, but they also had a thousand years of accumulated wealth.
The Zhang family placed great emphasis on primogeniture, passing on the vast majority of their wealth, connections, martial arts techniques, and even precious swords to their sole heir, with the remaining children receiving only a pittance.
Let alone the saying "it's passed down only to men, but not to women," even if a man isn't the eldest son, he won't be able to learn many of the techniques.
This is also why Zhang Li and others were very dissatisfied back then and wanted to reform.
The reason the Zhang family has been able to survive to this day is that the vast majority of things are passed down to the heirs.
Resources are concentrated in the eldest son's lineage, which inevitably brings to mind the Han Dynasty's Edict of Grace, a law that is the opposite of the Edict of Grace.
Emperor Wu of Han used this method to subtly and quietly resolve the problem of concentrated power among vassal kings.
However, placing too much emphasis on primogeniture also has its problems. For example, if one wants to take over the throne, the best way is to kill the eldest son.
This was the reason why Zhang Liuzhen got into trouble back then.
Unless he dies, no one else can surpass him to become the Zhang family's heir.
After Zhang Ziwang left, Master Zhang meditated for a long time. When the moon rose above the willow branches, he still got up and went to the academy.
He came quietly, without disturbing a single person.
Zhang Liuzhen had the kitchen prepare a lot of delicious food and entertained Pan Yun, Xue Shao, and others in the courtyard.
These past few days have been filled with review and exams, and the food in the cafeteria has gotten worse every day. Now, they eat meat like it's nothing, and as soon as they sit down, they bury their heads in it and start eating.
Zhang Liuzhen had a poor appetite and only drank alcohol. Seeing how much they were enjoying their food, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Cultivating the Tao requires reducing desires, and the desire for food and drink is the first thing to give up. But I've seen you all every year, and it seems you've never given it up."
“Although we haven’t given up, we’ve restrained ourselves,” Pan Yun immediately explained. “We never overeat, right?”
Miao and the others nodded repeatedly.
Zhang Liuzhen looked at Miaohe's increasingly round face and remained silent.
Pan Yun: "She was born with rounder skin."
Miaohe nodded.
Zhang Liuzhen smiled and shook her head, then got down to business: "I heard you're asking for leave right after the start of the semester?"
Pan Yun: "...They even tell you such trivial things?"
Zhang Liuzhen: "Now, in the eyes of everyone in the academy, you are on my side. Some of my people come to report to me, and some people who are not on my side come to make fun of you. As a result, I have received more information."
Pan Yun pondered for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "So, you're sitting in the courtyard, and yet your rivals still come to deliver messages?"
Zhang Liuzhen smiled and nodded: "That happens often."
He steered the conversation back on track, asking, "What are you going to do, taking one day off before and after the Qingming Festival holiday?"
Pan Yun: "Sweeping the tombs~~"
Zhang Liuzhen watched her quietly.
Pan Yun shrugged: "If it's really a tomb sweeping trip, I'd be a dog if I lied to you."
Zhang Liuzhen: "You're already the First Marquis, why are you getting involved in such mundane matters? I don't believe it, and outsiders certainly won't believe it either."
Xue Shao glanced at Pan Yun and explained on her behalf, "It was indeed a trip to sweep the tombs, but the tombs are in Japan."
Pan Yun: "They all followed me to Japan last year to seek revenge..."
“Didn’t you say no one died?” Zhang Liuzhen interrupted the two, raising an eyebrow: “What, were there casualties later?”
Pan Yun coughed lightly and whispered, "They are allies of Japan. I'm going to sweep their graves."
(End of this chapter)