Dewlit Ancestral Court

Faced with Fang Xu's enthusiastic invitation, Jiang Yang's thoughts twisted and turned a hundred times.

It was not that he was excessively suspicious, but that they had never met before. For this man to act this way right from the start, speaking so intimately on such slight acquaintance, was a grave taboo.

It was a good opportunity, certainly, but with Fang Xu's true intentions unclear, Jiang Yang absolutely would not go with him.

After silently considering it for a while, Jiang Yang opened his eyes. Rather than refusing outright, he feigned interest and asked:

"Do you truly mean that, senior brother?"

Fang Xu smiled faintly, lending warmth even to his long, unapproachable face. He slapped the armrest and declared:

"Of course. Once a word is spoken, even the Weakwater cannot draw it back."

Jiang Yang cupped his hands in praise. "Your generosity commands my admiration, Senior Brother Fang."

But then a troubled look came over Jiang Yang's face.

"I'm honored that you think so highly of me, senior brother, but I've only just entered Qi Refining. I'm poor at magical combat, unable to fly, and ignorant of breaking formations. Not only would I get in your way if I went along, but wouldn't I be ashamed to accept a share of any treasures afterward?"

Jiang Yang did not know what lay behind the invitation. Although he had no intention of going, he did not want his refusal to be too blunt, so he employed an open stratagem: retreating to advance.

You're inviting me to lend a hand, but I'm mediocre at everything. I can neither fight nor break formations, so I'd be no help. If you can breach the cave abode, it makes no difference whether I'm there; if you can't, my coming along would be useless too.

Either way, I'd just be dangling along like an ornament. Surely he couldn't ask me to come just to stand there watching?

"Well..."

Fang Xu clearly had not considered this. His smile froze for a moment, but then he declared expansively:

"No matter. I, Fang Xu, have always kept my word. If you trust me, Junior Brother Jiang, feel free to come. There will certainly be something you can help with."

"But let me make this clear first: if we make the trip for nothing and find no rewards, don't blame me."

A warning beforehand and a safeguard afterward, soundly reasoned and convincing—it seemed almost rude to keep refusing. Yet Jiang Yang remained deeply moved and firmly unwilling.

"Of course not. How could I be someone who repays kindness with ingratitude?"

Jiang Yang waved his hands repeatedly, looking as though he had taken every word to heart, while secretly sighing.

With the conversation having reached this point, he had no choice but to bring out his final trump card. Sighing deeply, he put on a regretful expression and said:

"To think you would share such an opportunity, Senior Brother Fang. Unfortunately, my blessings are too meager. I fear I'm not destined to partake..."

Hearing this, Fang Xu asked in puzzlement:

"What do you mean, junior brother? Are you facing some difficulty?"

Jiang Yang naturally offered the excuse he had prepared long beforehand:

"It's not exactly a difficulty. It's just that I currently have a sect duty that I cannot leave unattended even for a day, and it will last two or three months. The timing truly is unfortunate. I can't accompany you, senior brother."

"What? What duty can't be left unattended for even a day?"

Startled, Fang Xu hurriedly pressed him:

"Forgive my bluntness, but didn't Senior Brother Zhou say he'd arranged an easy assignment for you?"

His surprise was understandable. As a longstanding disciple, he had encountered at least half the sect's duties, and they were generally fairly relaxed and flexible. Under normal circumstances, once the basic requirements were met, the remaining time was theirs to use as they pleased.

If the duties consumed too much time and encroached on cultivation, everyone would have thrown down their burdens and quit long ago.

His previous assignment, patrolling and maintaining order in the market, had been particularly leisurely. The market sat right beneath Rain Xiang Mountain's nose and was covered by a formation, so ordinary people would never dare cause trouble.

He only needed to report for roll call, agree on a patrol time with the others, and make a round. Then he had nothing else to do until the shift changed.

Unaware that his own assignment was unusual, Jiang Yang thought Fang Xu had misunderstood and explained:

"Senior Brother Zhou looked after me and assigned me to grow Spirit Plants. It really is quite easy. It's just that the seedlings are fragile and need someone there to watch over them."

He genuinely found it easy, and he could even take advantage of the spiritual energy there to cultivate. He was so content that he had all but forgotten home; unless necessary, he did not want to return here at all.

"Well... all right. Then let's leave it at that."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu knew the invitation could not come to anything. He did not press further, merely advising:

"Even if your duties are easy, don't neglect your cultivation, junior brother. As it happens, the sect will hold a Court Examination at the end of the year. If you perform brilliantly and stand out, you may win the favor of a True Person patriarch and be brought into their peak as a direct disciple.

"Although the True Persons don't choose disciples simply by ranking them from highest to lowest, cultivation is still a major consideration. A higher level gives you a better chance. It certainly does no harm."

Jiang Yang had inadvertently gained another important piece of information, and hurriedly asked:

"A Court Examination? Please tell me more, senior brother."

Knowing that Jiang Yang, as a newly admitted disciple, was likely unfamiliar with the details, Fang Xu explained:

"The Court Examination is the ladder of advancement for inner disciples. Our Rain Xiang Mountain holds it once every ten years at the Dewlit Ancestral Court, to sift out the chaff and preserve the finest grain, pass on our legacy, and keep our Dao lineage unbroken."

Understanding dawned on Jiang Yang's face as he listened. Shang Qingzheng had actually mentioned this in passing before, but after asking about his aptitude, she had said no more.

Setting the matter of aptitude aside for now, he immediately seized on the key question:

"Then how does one place in this Court Examination?"

Fang Xu shook his head. "They don't select a top three. As for exactly how they conduct it, I don't know either."

Then he lowered his gaze and said:

"The deep thoughts of Violet Palace True Persons are hard to fathom. They act entirely according to their preferences, and the judging criteria differ each time. From previous years, it might be aptitude, Dao Discourse, skill in magical combat, or an assessment of temperament.

"I heard a martial uncle say that one year, they even judged by looks and bone structure, disregarding aptitude and cultivation altogether. It was truly a farce."

Jiang Yang found this quite novel. Judging by magical combat or aptitude made sense; the results were plain to see, and whoever had the biggest fist took first place. But judging who looked best was acceptable too?

Violet Palace True Persons were taking disciples, not marrying wives or acquiring concubines. Did they choose good-looking disciples simply because they were pleasing to the eye? Jiang Yang had no idea.

There was a distinctly indignant note in Fang Xu's words. He was not good-looking himself, and by that standard he would have no chance whatsoever, so naturally he deeply resented the practice.

Gathering his thoughts, Fang Xu continued earnestly:

"In any case, whatever they consider, cultivation is of paramount importance. Unless it's magical combat, when two candidates are otherwise evenly matched, they usually favor the one with slightly higher cultivation."

Whatever had come before, upon hearing this, Jiang Yang rose and bowed with genuine sincerity.

"Your advice is worth its weight in gold, senior brother. I'll take it to heart."

"Well, it's getting late. I should take my leave."

Fang Xu sighed and stood, preparing to depart.

"I'll see you out, Senior Brother Fang."

Jiang Yang rose as well, and the two walked out side by side.

"You can stop here, junior brother. No need to see me any farther. When you have time, come to my Lone Chant Residence for a visit. We can invite Senior Brother Zhou and talk through the night again."

At the mountain path, Fang Xu raised a hand to stop Jiang Yang.

"Certainly, certainly. As long as you don't find me a nuisance, senior brother."

Jiang Yang had nothing against lengthy conversations, since he always heard knowledge or news unavailable in the Lower Court. They called it a conversation, but he could hardly get a word in; for him, a lengthy listening session was more like it.

"Take care, senior brother. Please forgive any shortcomings in my hospitality."

The two said their farewells. Fang Xu was already in late-stage Qi Refining and had no need to use the Lightness Technique as Jiang Yang did. He sprang up, rode a magical wind, and flew off into the distance.

Once Fang Xu had left, Jiang Yang turned and returned to his Cave Abode.

Entering the inner room, Jiang Yang bypassed the meditation cushion and flopped onto the bed, placing both hands behind his head and emptying his mind.

It was growing dark, but he could not be bothered to light a lamp. He kicked off his boots and lay flat, reviewing his conversation with Fang Xu. Overall, he had managed to get through it.

I avoided the potential risks without giving him the cold shoulder or offending him. That counts as a pass.

Before closing his eyes, Jiang Yang gave himself that assessment.