12 (Thanks to Alliance Leader adrianfufu)

The next morning.

As the morning bell rang, Daoists throughout Qinghe Temple emerged from their quarters. Those on patrol went on patrol, those assigned to cleaning cleaned, and those paying respects paid their respects.

The Martial Cultivators who had gone out to the Back Mountain to practice also returned in twos and threes, changing clothes in preparation for morning lessons.

"Heaven and Earth in the Furnace-Setting Cauldron-Establishing Method, refining essence to forge the soul; gathering and scattering mist into transformation, who dares speak lightly of such profundity?"

"Swallowing saliva and drawing in breath is the path of man; only with medicine can transformation give birth. If there is no true seed within the cauldron, it is but boiling an empty pot with water and fire."

Passage after passage of Daoists chanting scriptures carried through the air.

Palace Master Chen Heqiu stood before the Profound Heart Hall, quietly surveying the Direct Lineage Disciples as they recited scriptures during their morning lessons.

Chen Heqiu had a stern, old-fashioned temperament. Though he was now over eighty, he still walked with the speed of the wind.

Because he cultivated both literary and martial arts, had mastered the twelve talisman arts of the Returning Spring Purifying Time Talisman Classic, and had once ventured out into the world and made a name for himself, people of the Jianghu had given him the nickname: Heart Talisman Daoist.

At that moment, Chen Heqiu stood at the hall entrance. After watching the Direct Lineage Disciples for a while, his gaze shifted toward the temple gate.

Before long, outside the temple gate, a Greeting Daoist from the Mountain Gate led a squad of five into the temple.

Every member of the squad wore official messenger uniforms, official sabers hanging at their waists, bamboo-hat-shaped iron helmets, and brown hardened leather armor.

This was the typical attire of Great Ling officers and soldiers.

The leader wore a green robe with narrow sleeves and a winged official hat. Broad-bodied and fat, he strode into the square before the Profound Heart Hall.

"Brother Heqiu, it has been many days. Have you been well?" The man looked over sixty, yet his voice was full and powerful.

"Lord Zheng, have you come because of the mountain bandits?" Chen Heqiu smiled faintly, descended the steps, and went forward to meet him.

"Precisely. After the rebel army was defeated, it split into nine main streams. One of them came to our Shan Province. After being defeated by the provincial garrison, it scattered again into dozens of groups, and quite a few have now flowed into Huaxin County." Lord Zheng sighed. "These days, this official has been so overwhelmed that even when resting, I cannot rest easy."

"Lord Zheng, please speak freely. If Qinghe Temple can contribute even a small measure of strength, we will naturally do our utmost." Chen Heqiu's smile faded as he spoke solemnly.

"Thank you for your understanding, Brother Heqiu. It is like this..." Lord Zheng lowered his voice and spoke with Chen Heqiu at length.

"We shall certainly do our utmost." Chen Heqiu's expression grew grave as he agreed without hesitation.

"That would be best." Lord Zheng revealed a smile.

Not long after, Lord Zheng departed.

Qinghe Temple sounded the assembly drum, summoning the temple's Dharma Masters and stewards to the Profound Heart Hall.

Before long, the Daoists dispersed and spread the Palace Master's new Dao decree.

Between Shangde Garden and the Back Mountain lay a transitional stretch of land. Within it stood a pavilion known as the Nourishing Life Pavilion.

Incense Guests and dignitaries often came to the pavilion to inscribe messages.

At that moment, a handsome young man with sword-like brows sat facing an old Daoist with a goatee inside the Nourishing Life Pavilion.

A charcoal brazier sat between them, with a purple clay teapot resting above it, slowly brewing.

One was young and the other old, yet their facial features bore a slight resemblance.

"Wuyou, have you still not won over Xiao Qingying?"

The old Daoist reached out and lifted the teapot lid. Rich steam mixed with the scent of milk poured out, billowing into white vapor.

This was the salt milk tea popular in Great Ling.

Several bright-red goji berries occasionally rolled through the milky-white tea.

"The last two attempts failed, so I planned to wear her down with affection. Xiao Qingying likes me more and more, but whenever we reach the crucial moment, she always strictly observes propriety. It is not easy to force things."

The young Daoist was Xiao Rong's Second Disciple, Chen Wuyou.

"The Palace Master's succession is imminent. Xiao Rong's attitude is crucial. He has seniority and broad connections, and several stewards support him." The old Daoist grabbed a small pinch of salt from a seasoning tray beside him and sprinkled it into the teapot.

"Do not always think of using force. Those who accomplish great things cannot leave flaws behind. Find an opening and slip in, then give a small push, and your wish will come easily."

"What do you mean, Father?" Chen Wuyou did not understand.

"Today, the Palace Master issued a Dao decree ordering Martial Cultivation Disciples to patrol the surrounding mountains and forests. He also wants skilled disciples of the ranks assigned to work with the officers and soldiers in patrolling all parts of Huaxin County." The old Daoist replied, "Not only us—White Bell Temple and Black Spring Gate must also send people to cooperate. This is an opportunity."

"Should we have those same people act as last time?" Chen Wuyou asked quietly.

The old Daoist shot him a look.

"Fool! Your mother has already arranged everything. Stop always thinking about forcing yourself on her. Given Xiao Qingying's character and her feelings for you, you only need to create an opportunity to see her entire body. Could she still marry someone else afterward? When the time comes, simply go with the flow. Even if Xiao Rong learns the truth, he can only swallow it."

"Father is wise!" Chen Wuyou instantly understood, as though clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

"As Patrol Inspector, I can interfere with how the personnel are divided into squads for this patrol. Tell me later who you want moved." The old Daoist finished.

A Patrol Inspector was a steward in the Dao Palace specifically responsible for security and protection. Directly subordinate to the Supervisor, they were among the true holders of power in Qinghe Temple, aside from the Three Great Hall Masters, the Palace Master, and the Supervisor.

And among them, the Patrol Inspector in charge of security and defense held the greatest power of all the stewards.

"Understood." Upon hearing this, Chen Wuyou suddenly thought of Xiao Qingying's Follower, the one who had ruined his good thing before.

If not for that man reporting the news ahead of time and releasing the Message Tube in time, his scheme would have succeeded long ago.

So for this plan, he had to deal with that man first.

He had heard that the fellow had also begun cultivating a Martial Cultivation Method. And danger was common during patrols, especially now that rebel soldiers had turned into mountain bandits and entered Huaxin County.

Knock, knock, knock.

The urgent knocking jolted Zhang Rongfang awake from his afternoon nap.

"Zhang Rongfang, are you awake? Going to the training ground?" A vigorous voice came through the door.

Zhang Rongfang let out a breath, rubbed his eyes, and climbed down from his bed.

"I'm coming. Going."

"Wait while I wash my face." He walked over and pulled open the door. Outside stood a young man who looked like a fair-faced scholar.

The man wore the ordinary short outfit of a Martial Cultivation Disciple. He held a gourd as a water flask in one hand, while a gray cotton towel hung over his shoulder.

"You've been asleep for nearly half a shichen and still haven't gotten up?"

Great Ling used the Twelve Hour System, but for convenience in keeping time, Zhang Rongfang had made his own conversion and still calculated according to the Twenty-four Hour System.

"I overdid it this morning." Zhang Rongfang replied, pulling a wooden basin from beneath his bed and placing the towel inside, preparing to fetch water.

The real reason was that he had just upgraded the Yue Type Talisman and could not resist practicing a little longer.

"Can you still manage?" The young man was speechless.

"If you, Dong Dafang, can manage, how could I say I can't?" Zhang Rongfang smiled.

Dong Dafang was a fellow practitioner who occasionally trained martial arts with him during this period.

Like him, Dong Dafang was also a Fourth Class Man Person. However, because he was not from a Confucian Household, he was slightly better off than Zhang Rongfang.

After washing up and changing clothes, the two left their room together and headed for the training ground.

Quite a few people had already begun training and cultivating on the grounds.

Zhang Rongfang and Dong Dafang made their way with practiced ease to a corner, joining the other two who had already been cultivating there.

"You're a little late today."

A dark-skinned Female Daoist greeted them familiarly. Her name was Xu Mingyu. Her name sounded lovely, but her skin was truly dark; rumor had it that she had Black Person ancestry.

"I didn't rest well. Why are there so many people today?" Zhang Rongfang replied.

"Looks like the Palace Master's Dao decree affected everyone. Most Martial Cultivators have to go out on patrol. If we don't hurry up and train, we might end up falling outside and that'll be the end of us."

Another Female Daoist said with a smile. She had a slender figure, evenly proportioned limbs, a straight and powerful back, and healthy, rosy skin that gleamed with vitality.

Other than her rather ordinary face, she had no real flaws. Her chest was especially well-endowed. Though she could not compare to Xiao Qingying, she was still impressive.

Her name was Li Fuhua, and she had also begun with the Yue Type Talisman.

"Do you Female Daoists have to go too?" Dong Dafang asked.

"Yes. Many of us cultivate the latter five talismans, which focus on healing, so we also have to accompany the squads." Li Fuhua nodded, her face showing worry as well.

"I heard that Zhou Ze entered the ranks yesterday. He passed the First Grade assessment and now leads a squad on his own. I wonder whether it's true?" she added softly.

"It's true. Zhou Ze is known for having exceptional talent among our batches. One year to nourish the blood, one year to forge the tendons, then two months to enter the ranks—he really is formidable!" Dong Dafang nodded.

"I've practiced the Yue Type Talisman for two years now, and there's still no sign of anything. I wonder how much longer it will take. Is nourishing the blood really so difficult?" Li Fuhua sighed.

"I've practiced for a year and a half too. Just wait. Do not even think about it taking less than three years. People like Zhou Ze are ultimately extremely rare." Dong Dafang comforted her.

"The key to nourishing the blood is nourishment. Martial practice invigorates the blood, but one must eat more, drink more, and rest more to nourish it. If we could eat better, perhaps we could nourish our blood faster." Xu Mingyu said.

"Like Tao Mengjie? Throwing money at it? Pouring all kinds of Blood Nourishing Pills into herself—medicinal baths every three days, a large medicine pill every five?" Li Fuhua asked in return.

Zhang Rongfang said nothing beside them, merely listening. Yet his heart stirred.

If he had better meals and powerful tonic medicine pills, perhaps he could further shorten the time needed to gain Attribute Points.

He looked at the three around him. Including himself, all four of them were Martial Cultivators with no background, no talent, and no money.

Dong Dafang, Xu Mingyu, and Li Fuhua had each only just begun one talisman art martial skill.

They still needed at least one or two years, perhaps even longer, before completely mastering it.

Because completely mastering a talisman art was the mark of reaching the Blood Nourishing level.

Otherwise, if one's qi and blood had not reached that point, there was simply no way to smoothly perform an entire set of talisman arts in succession.

So does that mean I've reached Blood Nourishing already? Zhang Rongfang pondered inwardly.

If that was the case, with Attribute Points and his own hard training, he could cross Tendon Forging and enter the ranks in half a year at most.

At this thought, Zhang Rongfang suddenly asked, "Once you enter the ranks and pass the Spirit Official Hall assessment, you can hold an official post in the Imperial Court?"

"To be precise, you hold a post at the Hundred Household Office." Dong Dafang replied. "But forget it for people like us." He sighed.

"Why?" Zhang Rongfang asked in confusion.

"Fourth Class Man People are not permitted to hold military posts." Dong Dafang's answer froze Zhang Rongfang's expression.

Man People, Man People, Man People—Man People again!?

"Even if our rank rises in the future, we still cannot hold posts in local Government Office military affairs divisions. We can only take the retainer route announced by the Assembled Sages Institute." Dong Dafang replied.

"Retainers?" Zhang Rongfang did not understand.

"It means following other ranked officials, serving as their guards, attendants, bodyguards, or ritual masters." Dong Dafang's words suddenly made Zhang Rongfang understand.

Only then did he understand why Xiao Rong had been able to so easily promote him to Cultivation Disciple, and even make a Cultivation Disciple serve as his daughter's attendant.

So that was where the root of it lay?

"Then aside from becoming retainers, do we Man People have any other route upward?" Zhang Rongfang could not help asking.

After Xiao Rong's handling of him last time, he felt that he had to find a way to escape his current status.

But once a teacher, a father for life. Great Ling placed enormous importance on the master-disciple relationship.

Trying to break free from such a relationship was extremely difficult.

On the other hand, if he merely stopped being Xiao Qingying's Follower, it might still be possible.

Therefore, if he could enter the ranks and take office, even Xiao Rong could not keep making him follow Xiao Qingying forever.

"Yes. You can take the Assembled Sages Institute's special authorization route, but the assessment is difficult. You need to reach at least Second Grade before you can hold office, and even then, the post is much lower than those of other peoples. Our Second Grade is equivalent to their First Grade." Dong Dafang said.

Thank you all for your donations last week. I am very happy that this new book has received everyone's support so early on. Below is the list of those who donated more than ten thousand points; there are too many others to list one by one. Finally, some people have said this book is Ten Directions Two, but that is not what Old Gun wants to write. Just wait and you will know later.

1 Jia Yi Deng Yu San

Chen Cijiudiao Ouyang Zhan

adrianfufu Chen Feng Cuo Yu Night of Cramps

Zui Shizhe

Rainy Night Scenery Cannot Say Primordial Great Luo Heaven Buddhist-Minded 3 My Bro Is Three-Fold

Toothache Drinks More Cola Chaos Flame Young Master Tiger Thirteen

Sui Feng Piaoyang f Suolani

Pingchuwu

Shen Chao_Chuang Shu