The cock crowed abruptly.
In the dim light of daybreak, a few wisps of smoke from cooking fires slowly drifted up into the sky.
In the room.
The oil lamp had long since cooled.
Zhang Jing was holding a script, unmoving.
After reading it over and over, he had completely immersed himself in the world within the book.
At a certain moment, Zhang Jing's consciousness began to blur as the room's interior slowly faded away.
He found himself in an ancient school.
In front of him was the podium, upon which stood three elderly figures with white hair and beards, their expressions genteel.
Zhang Jing sat beneath them, his expression puzzled.
"Where am I?"
As he questioned.
One after another, the characters began to continuously flow from the mouths of the three old men, forming into sentences of truth. Listening closely, he realized that it was content from the Three Character Classic and Six Classics uttered, yet it was significantly more profound!
"The Chapter of Five Elements."
"The Five Elements, are indeed the roots of creation and the origin of human relationships. All things are subject to their changing and alternating…"
"Everything is arranged under the Five Elements. Values exceeding these five will change. The true essence of the five elements equalize and harmonize the four seasons, giving birth to myriad living things and molding the universe…"
"..."
Countless insights surged like waves in Zhang Jing's mind.
…
[The Three Character Classic and Six Classics·Level 9 (9999/10000)]
…
[The Three Character Classic and Six Classics·Level 9 (10000/10000)]
An intense white light suddenly lit up on the Jade Talisman. It then drilled directly into Zhang Jing's forehead, turning into a brand made of profound symbols.
Like a seed, it took root in his mind, emitting a faint light.
"What's this?" Zhang Jing woke up from his revelation and immediately noticed something unusual about himself, "...My mind? How come there is a strange seed out of nowhere?"
Then he saw that the skill displayed on the Jade Talisman had changed too.
The original symbol [Three Character Classic and Six Classics], including the experience value and skill characteristics, had all disappeared without a trace at this moment. In their place stood the lone symbol [Low-level Dharma Seed: Mind's Eye].
"What exactly is going on?" Zhang Jing widened his eyes, "Hold on, this feeling..."
...
Time slowly passed by.
Hoo——
A drawn-out breath broke the silence.
"Does the skill on the Jade Talisman, when exceeding level 9, transform into the so-called 'Dharma Seed'? No! Rather than transforming, it would be more accurate to say it metamorphosed."
Zhang Jing's heartbeat accelerated.
Because he found that the bonus that the [Low-level Dharma Seed: Mind's Eye] brought to him far surpassed the effects of the previous three skill characteristics. His thoughts were clear and penetrated everything, insights were constantly emerging from the depths of his mind.
This enlightening feeling simply fascinated him.
Moreover——
He followed an indistinct feeling.
"Mind's Eye!" Zhang Jing called out.
The next moment, he felt as if his mind were an open floodgate. His mental strength was rapidly draining.
Inside his mind, the once quiet Mind's Eye Dharma Seed now burst forth in radiant light.
Within Zhang Jing's soul, an illusory eye suddenly opened.
In the outside world, the paths of the wind, the dust, the insects on the ground, the minute cracks on the window... Traces that his physical eyes could not perceive, instantly filled Zhang Jing's field of vision.
It was as if some barrier had been broken through.
A large amount of information was continuously captured by the Mind's Eye, transmitted to Zhang Jing's heart, and instantly digested by him.
Things that used to seem obscure, were now clear and bright.
"Is this the Mind's Eye Dharma Seed?" Zhang Jing struggled to adapt to this new perspective.
However, before he could fully adapt, a deep sense of fatigue abruptly pulled Zhang Jing out of his Mind's Eye state.
Stunned and standing in place for a good while, it took some time for Zhang Jing to come back to his senses.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Zhang Jing began to slowly recall that strange feeling just now.
The Mind's Eye Dharma Seed offered a passive boost that truly elevated his cognitive abilities to the level of a genius, while actively opening the Mind's Eye put him into a terrifying state of rapid cycling between observation, analysis, learning, and gaining insights.
It was much like the Divine Skills of legend from his previous life!
One could say that apart from the massive consumption of mental energy and the inability to maintain the Mind's Eye state for more than a few moments, the Mind's Eye Dharma Seed had no other drawbacks.
Of course, this didn't really matter. Zhang Jing believed that once he stepped into the Immortal Way, he would definitely be able to last longer, and it might even be possible for him to keep the Mind's Eye open all the time.
The prerequisite was that he would pass the upcoming Dragon Lake Dao Institute exam.
"With the Mind's Eye Dharma Seed, plus the Jade Talisman, I've got this nailed down!"
Thinking this, Zhang Jing, as if he had put down a massive burden, let his body drop back heavily into the chair.
He stretched lazily and, turning his head, looked outside through the window.
The sky was bright.
"It's time now."
Zhang Jing's face became serious, he gathered his energy, quickly dressed himself, and walked out of the room.
Outside the door was the main hall.
A busy figure came into view.
"Jing'er, you're up. Your mother was just about to come and get you," Mother Zhang gently rubbed her somewhat swollen eyes and smiled, "Hurry and eat, don't miss the timings."
On the table.
Two peeled eggs glittered translucently. Millet porridge and buns were steaming, sending out savory aromas.
"Your eyes?"
"Oh, it's nothing. The wind just got to them," Mother Zhang flusteredly turned around and whispered back.
Then, as if to change the subject, she added, "Jing'er, your mother has packed the things for you. There is some silver inside, be careful with it."
"I know, mother."
Zhang Jing hesitated for a moment.
Watching his mother, whose eyes were welling up with tears even before she could finish her sentence, he opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
A moment later.
Outside the pharmacy.
"Dad, mom, I'm leaving first. Do take care of yourselves. By the way, since both of you are in such good health, why not have another child!"
Zhang Jing, carrying a fully packed parcel, smiled broadly as he said his goodbyes.
"What nonsense are you talking about in broad daylight?" The rebuke came from Mother Zhang behind him.
"Haha, wife, I think there's some truth to what Jing'er said, why don't we...."
"Ouch, wife, be gentle, my ear is going to fall off..."
A sudden shriek echoed in the air, startling two greedy sparrows off the eaves.
...
The sun had just risen.
Yong'an City, as the county seat of Linshan County in Huizhou Province, was already buzzing with activity.
West city market.
On the three-foot-wide bluestone-paved street, horse-drawn and ox-drawn carts struggled to move forward in the crowded flow of people. Among them were merchants and knights, moving residents and scholarly individuals. Still, most of them were peasants from the nearby countryside coming into the city early to trade.
The noise of haggling and bargaining was unceasing.
"Excuse me~ Excuse me!"
Zhang Jing was skillfully weaving his way through the crowd, picking up speed.
Meanwhile, five miles away in the East City, inside the Yong'an Academy.
Teacher Liu stood with his hands behind his back under an ancient and vigorous tree, his eyes slightly unfocused, completely oblivious to the fact that his long robe had been soaked by the mist.
Not far from him.
A dozen or so seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys, each carrying luggage, stood silently, uttering not a word.
Only a hint of excitement could be seen in their eyes.
Moving his gaze away from these boys' faces without a trace, Teacher Liu couldn't help shaking his head, a complicated expression showing on his face.
There was some anticipation, but it was mostly calm.
He knew all too well what these people were thinking.
Only... having been in charge of Yong'an Academy for over twenty years.
Once every three years.
During this period, Teacher Liu had selected countless students, all with exceptional talent and aptitude, but there were only a few who've made it through.
In the end, the path of the Immortal Way required both natural talent and the opportunity of good luck, without either, one couldn't achieve it.
Based on Teacher Liu's estimation, the chances of these boys passing were almost none. But then again, he hadn't placed his hopes on these boys either.
"This time, it won't be that all the students from my Yong'an Academy fail again, will it?"
Teacher Liu heaved a soft sigh and an image flashed across his mind.
"Teacher!"
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
Looking toward the source of the sound.
A friendly smile appeared on Teacher Liu's face: "Zhang Jing is here, have everything been settled at home? Didn't they come to see you off?"
"Teacher, everything is settled. It's not far, I can go alone," Zhang Jing replied respectfully.
Zhang Jing had great respect for Teacher Liu, who had always taken care of him.
"Haha, well done, well done, such ambition at a young age. The people from the Dao Institute will be here soon, wait a bit."
"Yes, Teacher."
Meanwhile.
"Teacher."
A young lad with bushy eyebrows, dressed in a fancy embroidered cloak, walked up with a painting fan in his hand, swinging it ostentatiously as he came near and greeted with a smile.
"Bochang is here too, just wait a bit."
"OK."
The young man in the cloak looked around, then walked straight over to Zhang Jing and leaned over to speak in familiar tones:
"Brother Zhang, even though you live further away, you always arrive earlier than me."
"Because my mother gets up early. By the way Brother Ji, where's your luggage?" Zhang Jing asked curiously.
"Luggage? What luggage?" The young man in the cloak slapped his fan, pointed at the luggage on Zhang Jing's back, and said in sudden realization: "Ah, you mean this? No need."
"No need?"
Zhang Jing remembered the teacher's instructions and looked at the others who were also carrying luggage, but didn't ask any further.
He knew that Ji Bochang came from an extraordinary family background and that he might have his own arrangements.
"Brother Zhang, what do you think of my designed painting fan?"
At this point, Ji Bochang seemed to remember something, raised his fan in his hand, and asked with pride.
"This pose, it's average."
"Just average? Darn, I knew there was a flaw... If there's time, Brother Zhang, don't hesitate to teach me!"
Ji Bochang's enthusiasm dimmed at first but then quickly regained vigor as he requested earnestly of Zhang Jing.
...
Under the ancient tree, Teacher Liu withdrew his gaze.
The lad named Ji Bochang was the hope of the Yong'an Academy this year.
The Ji Family in Linshan County was a powerful family with cultivators in every generation.
With Ji Bochang's excellent natural talent, plus his cultivation guidance from a young age, it was a matter of course that he would pass the examination at the Dragon Lake Dao Institute.
"As for Zhang Jing," his tone changed slightly, and Teacher Liu couldn't help but sigh, "if only he had the same resources as Bochang."
Over the past two decades.
He had never seen a student as unique as Zhang Jing.
Whether in the heat of summer or the rain of winter, he improved every day. Although the pace was not fast, it was scary steady. Once he learned something, it seemed like he would never forget it.
It's just a pity that his luck wasn't very good.
Just as he was sighing.
Leee——
Out of nowhere, a lovely crane's cry sounded, and a gust of wind blew through the air all of a sudden.
"They're here!" Teacher Liu's expression turned solemn.