On the eighteenth day of winter, the sky grew cold.
That night.
In Yanping Lane, south of Yong'an City, stood Zhang's Pharmacy.
The lights were bright, casting shadows of movement.
"Jing'er, once you go to the Dao Institute, you must be careful and avoid conflict with the immortals there."
Within the room.
A graceful middle-aged woman, stuffing clothes into a bag efficiently, constantly repeated her advice. The furrowing of her brows and the traces of worry on her face refused to fade.
As the saying goes: a mother worries when her child embarks on a long journey.
And is not their child's impending journey far more extensive than a thousand miles?
Across from the woman.
"Mother," said Zhang Jing, touched by her bustling figure, "I understand all of this."
But Mother Zhang seemed not to hear, continuing:
"Although you've earned the regard of your teacher, you must remember that there are always people better than you and mountains taller than your own. Dragon Lake Dao Institute is nothing like Yong'an Academy. It's a place where countless talents from the thirteen states and sixty-five provinces of Nanli Country gather, many of whom surpass you in natural ability."
"...In particular, you must be wary of those sons of noble families. If trouble arises, step back to avoid unnecessary trouble."
"You're my only child, Jing'er. I don't need you to pass the Dao Institute examination and become an immortal. I just want you to be safe—"
At this, Mother Zhang gently wiped a tear from her eye.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful," responded Zhang Jing hurriedly.
"Jing'er, don't pressure yourself."
Across the room, Father Zhang, setting aside a medical book, chuckled, "Just do your best on this journey."
Under the comforting gazes of his parents, Zhang Jing nodded earnestly, "Father, Mother, don't worry. I'll take good care of myself."
...
Bang—Bang! Bang!
"Midnight has come. All—is—well—"
The distant voice of the night-watchman came, drowsily lulling one to sleep.
However, everyone in the room remained wide awake.
"Wife, I remember you once said your family was from Li of Yunzhou's Cangwu region. You said you fled to Yong'an after encountering a demon disaster. Did your family ever take part in the Dao Institute examination?"
Father Zhang asked cautiously, his voice betraying a hint of trepidation.
"What you really want to know is whether our Jing'er has a chance to pass the examination, isn't it?"
Without waiting for Father Zhang to respond, Mother Zhang sighed, her voice embedding a hint of sadness:
"Our chances are slim. Of the five members who took the exam from the main branch of the Li family, not one passed."
"In fact, even among those of noble birth, few pass. We are but of a humble background and can offer Jing'er very little support..."
The room fell silent.
After a while...
"Ah, indeed!" murmured Father Zhang bitterly, "The Dragon Lake Dao Institute after all, stands as the legacy of immortals, towering mightily for a thousand years. If the examination were easy, that would actually be abnormal."
Then, with a slight change in his tone, he asked, "Wife, have you given Jing'er the silver?"
"Don't worry, I've taken out all the silver we have at home, even borrowed some from the neighbors. Altogether it's twenty-seven taels, all placed in Jing'er's bag."
"That's good...that's very good."
"All we can do for Jing'er is this much. By the way, wife, after much consideration, I think we should agree to their proposal for the pharmacy."
"Did the people from Hundred Herbs Pavilion come to see you again?"
Upon hearing this, Mother Zhang's expression filled with worry.
"Yes, they did! I think we should lower the price if necessary... if we drag this out any longer, we may end up losing not only the silver, but our lives. Jing'er is still young after all. The proprietor from Hundred Herbs Pavilion has made acquaintance with an Immortal recently and has considerable sway even in the government office. We can't afford to offend him."
Father Zhang sighed and continued:
"With the money from selling the pharmacy, after paying back our neighbors, we should still have a little left. When Jing'er returns, the three of us will leave Yong'an and keep out of this murky water. Ha, I'll definitely be able to support the two of you with my skills."
...
...
Meanwhile, at the same time.
Separated by two walls.
On the table, the lamp flickers, puffing strands of black smoke.
'In the eighteenth year of the Wanxing era of Nanli, there was an immortal named Mingyoudao who passed through Qingmu County of Yuanzhou. Touched by the hardship of the common folks' journeys, he wielded a flying sword and split the hundred mile long Iron Curtain Mountain. Ever since then, the once impassable became a route. Every commoner was grateful for his deed; each household set up a temple to honor him and the smoke from their incense offering permeated without cease.'
'The thirty-third year of Zhongyuan, Yin State.'
'A great demon, called the Black Mountain Lord, led a horde of beasts out from Black Mountain. He devoured all life from three thousand households. The three counties were shrouded in white as each household emitted inconsolable wails. Every listener shed tears upon hearing the news.'
'A Daoist from the Deng clan of Dragon Lake upon hearing this, traversed a thousand miles to slay countless demons. Black Mountain Lord transformed into a three-headed black tiger rising ten feet tall, manipulating black wind and yellow sand to block out the sun. Despite all, he was outmatched and fled in fear.'
'In the third year of Longhua, in Yunzhou.'
'The Ghost Kingdom emerged in the mortal realm, swallowing up the lands of Cangwu and Langya. The common people fell prey to blood-eating ghosts, their bones piled up into mountains. A mysterious immortal from the Dragon Lake Dao Institute rose in the wind, turned into a dragon, held a jade wall in his mouth, and killed a hundred thousand ghost soldiers.'
'In the seventeenth year of Longhua...'
...
With a 'snap'.
Zhang Jing gently closed the nearly tattered book of "Three Five Seeking Immortals Record Examination", exhaled lightly, and sighed:
"The Immortal Way is magnificent, and there are demons everywhere!"
"Being a mortal in this world is indeed a bit dangerous. Who knows when an unexplained disaster may befall, fade into 'the common people suffered' or 'became food for blood' and other trivial records in books, without even leaving a name behind."
"Common beings are like ants, their lives are not their own! If one must stand out--"
Zhang Jing quietly clenched his fists.
"Only through the Immortal Way!"
"Besides, since I've crossed into this world where gods and immortals exist, the Path of Immortality is right before my eyes, how can I willingly be an ordinary person? This trip to Dragon Lake Dao Institute is an opportunity!"
Exactly!
Zhang Jing is an unremarkable traveler. The Dragon Lake Dao Institute he is heading to is the same 'Dragon Lake Dao Institute' mentioned in "Three Five Seeking Immortals Record Examination".
The book records thirteen legends of immortals, nine of which are related to the Dragon Lake Dao Institute.
What this implies, Zhang Jing knows even if he thinks with his toes.
This is why the exam to enter the Dragon Lake Dao Institute is referred to as 'Leaping Dragon Gate', and only the top talents from each county are eligible to participate.
The difficulty is immense, and the competition is fierce, beyond imagination.
In theory, given Zhang Jing's background and qualifications, there was no hope.
However...
Zhang Jing inhaled deeply.
"Thankfully, I have the Jade Talisman!"
The next moment, he closed his eyes and saw a seemingly real and illusory square jade talisman in front of him.
The jade talisman crossed over with him.
The exact origins are unknown, and Zhang Jing has no intention of delving into them just yet.
His attention was instead directed at two lines of gold, ancient-looking characters on the front of the jade symbol, shimmering softly.
[Three Character Classic and Six Classics· Level 9 (9997/10000)])
[Skill Properties: Hearing Ability (Mortal), Clear Vision (Mortal), Calm Mind (Mortal)])
The Three Character Classic and Six Classics refer to the nine classics taught by the master of Yong'an Academy.
Zhang Jing was able to stand out among thousands of students in Yong'an Academy and won the qualification for the Dragon Lake Dao Institute examination. The jade talisman, similar to a proficiency panel, has been his most relied-upon tool.
"Just 3 more experience points, I won't sleep tonight and try to max out my skill level... I wonder what effects will occur at level 10?"
"Perhaps a new skill effect will appear?" A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Zhang Jing's eyes.
Previously, when the skills [Three Character Classic and Six Classics] leveled up to levels 1, 4, and 7, the three skill effects of Hearing Ability, Clear Vision, and Calm Mind emerged respectively.
With the support of these three skill effects, Zhang Jing was barely able to step into the category of a genius.
If another effect appears at level 10, then his chances of passing the Dragon Lake Dao Institute examination will be even greater.
With these thoughts in mind.
Zhang Jing calmed his emotions, then opened the book "Speaking to Knowledge" in front of him, immersing his mind into its content.
Time slowly passed.
On top of the jade talisman.
[Three Character Classic and Six Classics· Level 9 (9998/10000)])
The golden characters danced silently.
PS: The internal investment period is over, bosses can safely invest now~