Ranks and Classes

After Great Xia was founded, the Central Plains lay in ruins, waiting to be rebuilt. To select worthy talents, the Imperial Examination system was established.

At first, it was held once a year, then later changed to once every three years.

When the Immortal Dao flourished anew and the struggle for religious fortune began, large numbers of Aristocratic Clan scions chose to cultivate instead. Few still took the Imperial Examination, so it was changed back to once a year.

Yet even so, the talent within the Great Xia imperial court continued to wither day by day.

Thus, when Kuang Cheng spoke the words "Imperial Examination," Ji You visibly froze before remembering that such a thing still existed in this world.

Kuang Cheng rolled up his wide sleeves and rested them on his knees as he explained, "Great Xia law states that if one is fortunate enough to become an official of the fourth rank, one of their immediate family members or descendants may cultivate immortality. My father said whether the Kuang Family can continue to survive rests on me."

The authority of Qingyun immortals stood above Great Xia's imperial power. Under the current Attendant system, commoners all racked their brains trying to change their class and cast off the status of human slaves.

This young master of the Kuang Family, though dressed in plain cloth, had been steeped in books since childhood precisely because such great hopes had been placed upon him.

Become an official, become immortal, then breed madly. The immediate family of immortals could cultivate as well, and the Lineage would gradually flourish.

For families like the Kuang Family, who possessed some property and fertile fields yet forever lived at the lowest and meanest level, this was the sole means of survival they could find.

After pondering for a moment, Ji You felt a trace of confusion. "If only the immediate family of fourth-rank officials may cultivate, then Fang Zhongzheng is merely a seventh-rank County Magistrate. Why was Fang Ruoyao able to enter Celestial Academy?"

"Her entry into Celestial Academy has nothing to do with Lord Fang. It is because of her elder brother, Fang Ruoming. The eldest son of the Fang Family left home to join the army at fourteen. Seven years have passed, and he is highly valued in the Northern Garrison, so a quota fell to Fang Ruoyao."

Ji You came to a sudden realization after hearing this.

Though Great Xia had ruled the Central Plains for many years, many small nations and tribes still crouched like tigers and coiled like dragons around it. Among them, the warlike Witch Barbarians had invaded year after year, leaving the northern border's beacon fires unceasing. The Demon Race, too, held an ambiguous stance, making the reigning emperor deeply wary.

That was why the status of Northern Garrison officers had risen year after year. Though they could not compare to immortals on the mountain, they certainly stood above commoners.

"It seems the Fang Family and your Kuang Family share the same thoughts. Whether becoming an official or joining the army, in the end it is all to make someone in the Household a cultivator."

Kuang Cheng pressed his lips together. "Everyone knows that only by becoming a cultivator can one have a chance to escape a lowly registry."

Ji You could not help but sneer. "Great Xia strictly forbids commoners from cultivating, enslaves them for production, then offers up most of what they earn to immortals. As cultivators become more numerous, the offerings only grow heavier. And still they want more?"

"Great Xia has existed for thousands of years. Has it not always been this way?"

"Old Kuang, if one day you could hold sway over the court and the realm, would you dare to make the sun and moon shine upon a new heaven?"

Kuang Cheng froze. Only then did he understand Ji You's meaning, and his eyes widened. "How can you speak such wild nonsense? People will die for this!"

"So what if they die? Since ancient times, who has not died? Let a loyal heart shine upon history."

In Qingyun World, immortals were revered above all. Poetry was an obscure minor path that nobody cared for, and it was not well developed. Yet concise words could still touch the depths of one's heart. For a thousand years, no one had ever dared utter such mad words, and they made one's heart tremble.

Kuang Cheng's expression changed again and again. Only after a long while did he speak. "Is this your ambition?"

"Mine?"

Ji You blanked for a moment, then gave a foolish grin. "No. I only dare urge others to shine upon history. I can't do it myself. I'm afraid of death."

When someone was extremely speechless, they were usually extremely speechless. Thus, the corners of Kuang Cheng's mouth twitched twice.

Yet a moment later, when he saw Ji You's lapels blooming with blood flowers, he could not help but stare blankly.

Since ancient times, who has not died? Let a loyal heart shine upon history...

Just as Kuang Cheng was pondering the true meaning within those words, he suddenly felt a feeble pat on his shoulder.

"Hey, does your Household have any Red Dates? Bring me some to replenish myself..."

"Uh, I'll get them right away. Please wait a moment."

"Wait!"

Ji You called out to the scholar who had already risen. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Is your Household holding a feast? A chicken leg would be even better..."

Kuang Cheng paused. "All right."

Watching him leave, Ji You could not help sighing.

Honestly, after living this long, he had never imagined that one day he would be eating Red Dates to replenish his blood.

Still, this amount of blood was really only about one period. It merely looked rather terrifying.

Young Master Ji forced himself upright, closed his eyes, and began inspecting himself with Divine Sense. After a long while, he opened his eyes and revealed an expression utterly devoid of desire for life.

His spiritual origin had truly shattered—shattered beyond all recognition, like a lotus flower in bloom...

The good news was that he could still draw in and exhale the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. At least he would not fall in cultivation.

He would make do with it. Perhaps this was the price of being too reckless. But Celestial Academy was a holy sect, and once he reached Shengjing, perhaps he could find a way to repair it.

In the blink of an eye, it was the fifth day of the eighth month. Poplars shed their leaves early, and cold grass withered before its time.

Ji You continually washed his body with spiritual energy, and his vitality gradually recovered. Other than his shattered spiritual origin, he was no different from an ordinary person.

At this time, Celestial Academy also set the date for their departure to the capital: the hour of the Rabbit on the following day.

Together with the notice came an invitation. County Magistrate Fang Zhongzheng intended to hold a farewell banquet for him and Fang Ruoyao, inviting him as a guest.

Fang Zhongzheng might not have been a good man, but he was thoroughly clever and deeply understood how to judge the times. From Immortal Cao's attitude, he had already vaguely sensed that Ji You was not the same as his daughter, who had entered Celestial Academy through a quota.

Ji You had, after all, formally entered Celestial Academy. Though he disliked the Fang Family, he still had to maintain appearances, so he accepted the invitation.

But after three rounds of wine, Fang Zhongzheng had nearly been dragged into becoming sworn brothers with him. The matter left Fang Ruoyao's face iron-blue throughout the entire banquet.

Fortunately, Ji You did not remain long at the feast. He ate both chicken legs, offered Cao Jinsong and Pei Ruyi some words of praise, then hurried away.

"This Ji You always does things in such a frantic rush. What is he off to do now?"

"He should be heading to the threshing ground. They are setting up a stage over there, and everyone has arrived. Only Young Master Ji is missing now."

A servant beside them approached carrying wine. Hearing the question, he spoke up to report.

Pei Ruyi was slightly stunned. "Setting up a stage? Could it be for opera?"

Fang Ruoyao smiled faintly and spoke as she poured wine. "I heard that Ji You was chatting with someone on the street this morning. He said that now that he was an immortal of Celestial Academy, if the wealthy households in town acknowledged him as godfather and received his protection, they would definitely... uh, definitely make a fortune. He is probably busy with that matter now."

Upon hearing this, Pei Ruyi's brows immediately furrowed, and displeasure appeared on her face.

This Ji fellow had not even truly become a disciple of Celestial Academy, yet he was already using its name to collect offerings. He was rather arrogant and conceited.

One had to know that the master of Fengxian Mountain Villa was an expert of the Upper Five Realms. Only after leaving Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion and choosing a place to establish his own villa had he gained such qualifications.

Before Pei Ruyi could speak, however, the wine-bearing servant immediately waved his hands. "Miss heard wrong. They are not wealthy households in town."

"They are not?"

"The ones called to the threshing ground are all children from poor households."

"?"

Fang Ruoyao was slightly startled. Without betraying it, she glanced at Pei Ruyi. "I did not expect him to demand offerings even from poor households."

The servant was stunned again. "Young Master Ji is not collecting offerings."

"How do you know he is not collecting offerings? Stop talking nonsense."

"Because... because my Gouer went too. He is going to acknowledge Young Master Ji as his godfather."

Fang Ruoyao stiffened for a moment. Knowing the topic did not favor her, she swiftly changed it. "Right, Senior Sister, speaking of offerings, my offering was transported to the capital yesterday. How will Ji You take his offering with him? Why not have my father arrange another carriage to travel alongside us?"

Pay money to attend school, attend school to pay money—such things remained unchanged even in Qingyun World.

Though Fang Ruoyao's elder brother was covered in military merit and highly valued by the Divine General of the North, Fang Ruoyao was still a mortal, and her offering could not be waived.

But the Ji Family had long since fallen into poverty. She did not believe Ji You could afford this offering.

When Pei Ruyi heard her ask about this, she could not help looking at her before replying, "Those who reach Perfection of the Lower Three Realms before coming of age need not pay offerings to the sect."

"Ah?"

"Forget handing one over. With his cultivation, if he chose Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, he could even receive a monthly stipend from the sect."

Pei Ruyi lifted her half-filled wine cup. "Otherwise, why do you think Instructor Cao squats at the city gate every day like he is guarding against thieves, terrified that Ji You will be poached?"

Fang Ruoyao was left slightly stunned.

She had thought all Celestial Academy students were the same. Yet only now did she learn that even after entering Celestial Academy, there were still ranks and classes.