Ultimately, Zhang Rongfang's Daoist Certificate was changed back to show him as thirty-five years old.
This is what Zhang Rongfang himself said.
Rather than having someone guess randomly and calculate his age to be forty based on bone reading, he'd rather determine a younger age himself.
But this is for the best.
He comforted himself, thinking that at least his bone age was changing, but his life was not.
Based on the meaning of life points in relation to lifespan, he at this point only looks old physically.
Bone age assessment is simply calculating age based on the number of times bones have changed and developed.
He has practiced so many skills, and his physique has already Breaking Limits to the Tenth Grade. If his bones hadn't changed, how could he have achieved these Breaking Limits? Therefore, the bone age calculation was wrong for him from the start.
"Here you go. Senior brother, don't mess around like that next time."
Zhang Qingzhi returned the Daoist Certificate to Zhang Rongfang.
"Thank you." Zhang Rongfang took it, looked at the altered birth year on it, and felt a little melancholy.
Fortunately, this Daoist Certificate was just Zhang Ying.
"Senior brother is unwilling to participate in this round of Asking Master. There will be another round in a couple of days, which will be led by a different Mage. Senior brother can go and take a look."
Zhang Qingzhi said gently.
"Of course, if you really don't like it, you can Hua Qian to find other high-ranking cultivators in the palace to pass on your precepts. However, many high-ranking cultivators are not available, so they can only issue a symbolic document, and the Daoist Title will be given one by one according to the dictionary order."
Zhang Rongfang blinked.
"May I Asking Master, how is the ordination ceremony for a high-level cultivator conducted?"
"Here, I have some." Zhang Qingzhi looked around.
The two were not at the Asking Master event; they had come out separately and were standing in the corridor beside a side hall.
There were many Daoist priests and pilgrims coming and going around.
Seeing that no one was paying attention, Zhang Qingzhi quickly stuffed a Paper Scroll into Zhang Rongfang.
"Senior brother, this is the price list. Take a look. Everyone follows this."
Zhang Rongfang was certain that as long as Hua Qian, it was a good thing.
He took out the Paper Scroll, unfolded it, and quickly glanced at it.
From the Grand Master to the Palace Master, to the hall Hall Master and high-ranking cultivators, each has a clearly stated price tag.
How much does it cost to become their disciple and receive their precepts?
'Grand Master —The complete ordination ceremony requires one thousand taels of gold.'
' The Third Palace Lord —the complete ordination ceremony requires five thousand taels of silver.'
'The complete ordination ceremony for the Twelve Hall Masters requires three thousand taels of silver.'
Below that are a whole bunch of miscellaneous titles Scripture Master, Hall Master, Tranquility Master, Transformation Master, Head of the Estate, Warehouse Head, Drum Head, and so on.
"This ancestral court truly lives up to its name; so many of its members are highly skilled cultivators," Zhang Rongfang remarked.
The list above is entirely composed of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.
Moreover, they were all at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, without exception. However, their backgrounds came from all over the country, from all provinces and regions.
"That's normal. My Great Dao Sect currently has Twelve Provinces under its jurisdiction, and each province has an Upright Official Judge in charge of the region. In addition, this place is the ancestral home of the sect."
Zhang Qingzhi smiled.
"Many people who are stuck in a bottleneck in their Wen Xiu come here to exchange ideas and seek advice in order to break through."
"I see." Zhang Rongfang nodded. "Also, I have another question, and I wonder if you could answer it for me, junior brother."
He felt that Zhang Qingzhi was really good-tempered, and it was rare to meet such a kind-hearted person, so he should take advantage of the opportunity to get something for himself.
"Senior brother, please ask. I will try my best to answer." Zhang Qingzhi nodded earnestly.
"That's how it is." Zhang Rongfang recalled, "You mentioned before that those with high Civilian Skill can receive protection from experts in the Snow Rainbow Pavilion here. Why didn't my previous Dao Palace offer this benefit? I remember there were also Nascent Soul cultivators in my previous Dao Palace."
"Even among highly skilled cultivators, there are different conditions." Zhang Qingzhi smiled wryly. "Actually, many people who come here have this question. But with so many Civilian Skill cultivators across the country, how can we send experts to protect them all?"
Those who naturally receive protection are the most outstanding among all the Wen Xiu.
"Then what constitutes being outstanding?" Zhang Rongfang asked again.
"Young in age, highly skilled, and with a calm and composed mind." Zhang Qingzhi summarized all these characteristics in just a few words.
"Is he young?"
"That's right. To stand out among the vast number of Wen Xiu, talent is naturally a key factor."
Ordinary people cultivate their Civilian Skill mainly through accumulation. But those with extraordinary talent accumulate skills far faster than ordinary people. One day of practice can be equivalent to two or three days for others.
However, such speed also comes with expenses several times higher than the average person. Most people simply can't afford it.
Zhang Qingzhi sighed.
Zhang Rongfang finally understood.
Even in terms of Civilian Skill, talent, and wealth, everyone is naturally divided into different classes.
"Then what is the boundary that the Snow Rainbow Pavilion protects?" He was still somewhat curious.
"Before the age of thirty, one should enter the Nascent Soul," Zhang Qingzhi replied in a deep voice.
Seeing that Zhang Rongfang didn't seem to think it was difficult, he added a sentence.
"Senior brother, do you know how many Wen Xiu under the age of thirty are currently stuck in the Golden Core Stage within our Heavenly Treasure Palace?"
"I'd like to hear the details." Zhang Rongfang frowned slightly.
"More than two hundred people!" Zhang Qingzhi exclaimed. "Every year, hundreds of geniuses recommended from the Twelve Provinces across the country come here. These are all people who have devoted themselves to Civilian Skill since childhood and are extremely focused."
Even so, only one in a hundred can break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.
Zhang Rongfang seemed to be deep in thought.
Indeed, it was the same in Qinghe Temple and Mingjing Palace before. The Nascent Soul Cultivator who served as Hall Master had been cultivating there for decades, and there was simply no one to succeed them.
In the Mingjing Palace, even a Nascent Soul Cultivator Void One Daoist was already a big shot within the palace.
He had never even seen Nascent Soul under the age of thirty!
"Do you understand now?" Zhang Qingzhi sighed. "So you should also know that many people come to the Heavenly Treasure Palace every year, but very few of them can stay."
Most of them, after Asking Master and undergoing further training, reluctantly give up, then Hua Qian to buy the status of a high-level disciple, which serves as a qualification back in their hometowns.
"Understood. May I ask a question?" Zhang Rongfang said knowingly, "If I buy the status of the Grand Master's disciple, will I be able to meet the Grand Master?"
"Our Grand Master is very busy. He often communicates with the Upright Official of the twelve provinces, and he also serves as the examiner and educator of the Assembled Sages Institute. He is busy revising and proofreading the assessment system of the national Academy and schools. He also has to attend meetings everywhere, be received by the imperial court, and go out to visit friends and discuss philosophy. He is often so busy that we can hardly see him," Zhang Qingzhi said hesitantly.
Although the Grand Master was his teacher, he himself hadn't seen him for almost two years.
He guessed that his master must have been really too busy.
After all, someone in that position must have a lot to consider.
"That must be quite a busy time." Zhang Rongfang immediately became serious. "So, even if I spend the money, I won't be able to see the person; I can only take their name back with me?"
"You can't say that. At least when you go back, when you talk to people and introduce yourself, you can rightfully say that you are a disciple of the Grand Master of the Great Dao Sect and a registered righteous person in the Heavenly Treasure Palace. Doesn't that sound impressive?" Zhang Qingzhi comforted him.
Although it was a bit awkward to say, isn't this what many people come here for? He himself felt a little uncomfortable, but he still said it anyway.
Zhang Rongfang was speechless.
Bow with hands clasped.
"Thank you for your help, junior brother. Alas, it's a pity. I am naturally inclined to quiet and not to move. I originally only wanted to come to the Heavenly Treasure Palace to find a leisurely and meager job to cultivate myself."
Now it seems there's no chance.
"There are indeed leisurely and meager positions available, but they are truly a waste of time. Senior brother could take on positions such as Medicine Garden, book management, Scripture Master." Seeing the other party's dejected and disappointed expression, Zhang Qingzhi also felt a little sorry for him.
"But these jobs really pay very little and take up a lot of time. Very few people are willing to do them."
"Are there any positions where I can learn alchemy? Junior brother, could you recommend one or two? Don't worry, money is not a problem!" Zhang Rongfang said earnestly.
"It doesn't cost Hua Qian, but the work in the Pill Hall is tough. Managing the fire, distributing medicine, and preparing the cleansing dew—each one is very arduous," Zhang Qingzhi with a hint of helplessness.
"It's alright! Junior brother is both talented and handsome, and it's obvious that he's very popular in this palace. I'll leave everything to you!"
Without saying a word, Zhang Rongfang took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket, shoved them into Zhang Qingzhi's arms in the blink of an eye, and turned to leave.
Before Zhang Qingzhi could react, he saw the other person's figure turn several corners and disappear at the end of the corridor.
That speed—it's obvious they've practiced.
He could only stand there, sighing helplessly.
Actually, he had something else to say: the Pill Hall is divided into inner and outer sections. Generally, the outer section is for doing hard labor, which is very arduous, takes up a lot of time, and interferes with training.
You can indeed learn a lot in the inner hall, but you can't just Hua Qian your way in.
It also requires connections.
In such important places, they wouldn't dare let anyone in unless they were from impeccably virtuous families.
Zhang Qingzhi looked down at the silver notes in his arms.
Hiss! He gasped sharply.
Good heavens! Ten large silver notes, each worth five hundred taels! Five thousand taels!!
This money alone is enough to directly become a disciple of the Palace Master. What a generous offer! "Wait, what are you going to do with this money? I can't accept it!?"
Zhang Qingzhi suddenly realized what was happening and quickly chased after them.
***It was late at night.
Heavenly Treasure Palace.
Hong Yan held a wooden staff in his hand, gazing at the majestic and massive Dao Palace complex in the distance.
"We've finally arrived. Next, it's a one-hit kill, followed by a desperate escape!"
Whoosh! With a light tap of his foot, he transformed into a blur and hurtled rapidly toward the palace complex.
One minute later.
After a muffled impact and explosion.
Hong Yan burst through the high wall at lightning speed. Behind him followed a group of equally swift Shadow.
In no time, he had run several miles away, leaving Yangshuo city, before shaking off the group of Shadow behind him.
Although he had escaped the pursuit, Hong Yan's face was now ashen, and a large hole was clearly visible in his chest and abdomen, which was rapidly healing itself.
Inside the wound, numerous fine metal wires, like a woven fabric, rapidly filled the blood hole.
"As expected of the Great Dao Sect Ancestral Court. I was careless. It seems that I can only proceed slowly and steadily, and cannot confront them head-on."
In that case, we'll see when that kid goes out.
He had originally planned to sneak in, quickly deal with Zhang Ying, and then escape just as quickly.
They had barely entered when they encountered a group of Spirit Vein that appeared out of nowhere.
Moreover, he also bears traces of martial arts from the Lingting Xuehong Pavilion.
He didn't dare to linger and could only turn and run.
He used to think that the Great Dao Sect was weak and docile everywhere and dared not cause trouble at all, so this so-called ancestral court was nothing special.
But this time he understood why a seemingly weak Daoist Sect had stood peacefully here for so many years. The group of Spirit Vein chasing him, although all of them were Ninth Grade, were just ordinary transformed individuals.
But this group, armed with powerful small crossbows, possessed terrifying firepower. "I refuse to believe you'll never come out."
Hong Yan's injuries healed quickly, and his complexion returned to normal, as if he had never been injured.
He gazed in the direction of the Heavenly Treasure Palace, snorted coldly, and turned to disappear into the woods near the Official Road.