Shocking News of Rankings, Rich Rewards, Part Two

Rustle--

The sound of Zhang Jing's slowly moving footsteps abruptly vanished, and even his breath became barely perceptible.

Within the vast and boundless, formless inheritance secret treasure space, a deathly silence descended once more. Upon a white jade pillar within it, a bright light slowly began to gleam.

A line of small characters quietly materialized upon the illusory jade talisman.

[Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary · Uninitiated (0/70)]

Contemplating the newly acquired cultivation technique information in detail, a strange glint flashed through Zhang Jing's eyes.

"It truly is a water-attribute cultivation method. The five viscera refer to the five organs and the five phases. Spiritual power transforms into a long river, with the five phases revolving, beginning with kidney water and ending with lung Gold, then returning once more to kidney water, transforming into pure spiritual power to be incorporated into the dantian."

"In this way, the five organs endlessly nourish each other, and the spiritual power flows unceasingly. Moreover, as cultivation deepens, the five organs will only grow stronger, with spiritual power revolving like a great river and the dantian billowing like an abyssal sea."

"Is this... a Middle Grade cultivation method? Truly formidable!"

A trace of shock involuntarily appeared in Zhang Jing's eyes.

At this moment, he could already fully imagine how terrifying the spiritual power within the bodies of cultivators who practiced the [Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary] to profound depths would be-once mobilized, it would be as continuous and endless as a surging river.

To be crushed to death by an opponent using pure, billowing spiritual power, what kind of despairing experience would that be?

Zhang Jing did not know, nor did he need to know.

Because he was one of us now!

So it was better to leave this problem for future enemies to rack their brains over. Oh, wait, he, Zhang Mou, had always been kind to others; how could he have any enemies?

His gaze drooped slightly.

The jade key had lost its luster, and the light upon the white jade pillar that recorded the [Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary] inheritance dissipated, returning to its original state.

That was about enough.

Shouldn't Senior Brother Liu and the others be getting impatient?

Zhang Jing shook his head and smiled, suppressing the excitement within his heart as he walked at a steady pace toward the Bronze Gate not far away.

Yet before he had walked very far.

Zhang Jing's figure came to a sudden halt, and then he slowly retreated, finally stopping beside the third row of inheritance jade pillars on his right hand.

He took a deep breath and turned directly to walk inward.

That's right! It was this exact feeling!

As the distance continuously closed, Zhang Jing could clearly sense that the previously dormant Nether Flood Dragon Devouring the Void Dao Rhythm was beginning to grow active, as if something were causing a resonance with the Dao Rhythm.

Finally.

At the place where the Dao Rhythm fluctuations were most intense, Zhang Jing stopped in his tracks, gazing intently forward.

Upper-grade inheritance--[Sea-Covering Flood Dragon Void-Seizing True Method]!

"The Sea-Covering Flood Dragon Void-Seizing True Method, the Nether Flood Dragon Devouring the Void Dao Rhythm; there must be some connection between the two, or perhaps the Nether Flood Dragon Devouring the Void Dao Rhythm was simply cultivated from this upper-grade cultivation technique?"

Zhang Jing thought thoughtfully.

If so, it made sense that the incomplete Nether Flood Dragon Devouring the Void Dao Rhythm within his body would faintly resonate with its corresponding inheritance.

Knowing was one thing, but Zhang Jing truly had no solution at the moment.

He also desired an upper-grade cultivation method.

After all, having just witnessed the formidable nature of the Middle Grade cultivation method [Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary], an even higher-tier upper-grade cultivation method naturally filled Zhang Jing with even greater yearning.

Wait, what was I--

Coming back to his senses.

Only then did Zhang Jing notice that he had unconsciously walked right up close to the jade pillar recording the [Sea-Covering Flood Dragon Void-Seizing True Method] inheritance.

The distance between the two of them was less than a foot!

What Senior Brother Liu had mentioned—the one-in-ten-thousand Supreme Compatibility—along with the upper-grade cultivation inheritance...

Thump, thump, thump!

Zhang Jing's heart instantly leapt into his throat.

"I must find a way to obtain this upper-grade inheritance, I must!" he shouted in his heart.

Time ticked by bit by bit.

Zhang Jing's thoughts gradually calmed.

He cast one last lingering, reluctant look at the [Sea-Covering Flood Dragon Void-Seizing True Method] before decisively turning and leaving.

Without the corresponding jade key to open the inheritance, what good would it do even if he guarded this place for a hundred years?

Seeing it without being able to eat it was worse than not looking at it at all.

It saved him the heartache!

Outside the Bronze Gate.

"Senior Brother." Zhang Jing walked up to Senior Brother Liu: "I have chosen."

"It seems Junior Brother Zhang has found the inheritance most suitable for himself on this trip." A warm smile appeared on Senior Brother Liu's face, his words affirmative.

"I dare not conceal anything from Senior Brother; I tried out all the Middle Grade cultivation methods and ultimately chose the most suitable [Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary]."

Zhang Jing replied.

"[Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary]?" Hearing this, Senior Brother Liu stroked his chin and said approvingly, "This technique is indeed quite good; it is one of the most upright water-attribute cultivation methods."

Seeming to recall the characteristics of the [Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary] technique once more.

The gaze Senior Brother Liu cast toward Zhang Jing involuntarily turned somewhat peculiar.

At this moment.

"Senior Brother, I wish..." Zhang Jing trailed off, hesitating.

He thought of the [Sea-Covering Flood Dragon Void-Seizing True Method] and had the urge to ask Senior Brother Liu how it could be exchanged for and how many Dao Merits were required, yet he did not know how to broach the subject.

After all, someone who had just passed the examination...

"Junior Brother, speak freely."

"Well, Senior Brother, I just wanted to ask—for Middle Grade cultivation methods like the ones we chose, if a Dao Academy disciple were to exchange for one normally, how many Dao Merits would it actually require?" Zhang Jing asked by way of a roundabout inquiry.

"Exchange for a Middle Grade cultivation method normally?"

Hearing this, Senior Brother Liu's expression turned somewhat odd, and he could not help advising, "Junior Brother, you wouldn't be thinking of rubbing a copy of the [Five Viscera Water-Origin Guiding Commentary] to trade for Dao Merits, would you? You mustn't do such a thing!"

"Besides, all the techniques within the Inheritance Pavilion have restrictions, and you cannot leak them out either."

"Senior Brother, where has your mind gone? I was just curious... purely curious."

Zhang Jing hurriedly explained.

"So that's how it is," Senior Brother Liu smiled helplessly: "Junior Brother Zhang, there's no harm in telling you this. All middle-grade inheritances in the Inheritance Hall require different amounts of Dao Merits depending on their category. Among them, cultivation methods are the most expensive, requiring one thousand five hundred Dao Merits before they can be exchanged."

"One thousand five hundred Dao Merits?" A trace of bewilderment flashed deep within Zhang Jing's eyes.

Seeing this, Senior Brother Liu had no choice but to continue explaining:

"Let me give you an example. Take those ordinary disciples who obtained Grade D ratings in the examination; discounting what is required for normal cultivation, it takes them roughly seventy years to barely scrape together one thousand five hundred Dao Merits. Therefore, generally speaking, they basically have no hope of exchanging for a middle-grade inheritance, nor is there any need for it."

"Middle-grade inheritances are like this, so wouldn't upper-grade inheritances be..." Zhang Jing was startled.

"Correct."

Senior Brother Liu nodded, sighing with emotion: "Thus, it is generally only Inner Academy disciples who possess sufficient Dao Merits to exchange for upper-grade inheritances. Of course, there are exceptions, just like the two First-Grade Prodigies who appeared in your assessment this time; they can directly choose upper-grade inheritances."

"However, what Senior Brother is saying is not absolute either."

A trace of comforting intent laced Senior Brother Liu's tone:

"'Earning Dao Merits' is as difficult as ascending to heaven for most disciples in most Dao Academies, yet for certain people, it is exceptionally easy. If Junior Brother has set his sights on some upper-grade inheritance, he need only cultivate diligently. The higher the cultivation realm, the easier it is to acquire Dao Merits."

Hearing this, a trace of awkwardness immediately surfaced on Zhang Jing's face.

"Senior Brother saw through it?"

"Haha, what kind of people has Senior Brother not seen since first entering the Inheritance Pavilion? Junior Brother, you are not the first, nor will you be the last. Young people, after all, are full of vitality; Senior Brother can understand."

Zhang Jing did not press further about the specific Dao Merits required to exchange for an upper-grade inheritance.

Because it lacked significance.

Whether it was the massive sum of one thousand five hundred or the example Senior Brother Liu had just given, both clearly told Zhang Jing one thing:

He currently had zero hope!

Consciousness returned to reality.

"Many thanks to Senior Brother for clearing up my confusion," Zhang Jing said with a grateful expression, before his tone shifted: "That's right, Senior Brother, how is it that I don't see Deng An, who came with me?"

"You mean Junior Brother Deng? I had him go find a place to stay first."

Outside the Inheritance Pavilion.

"Junior Brother Zhang, do you see the houses over there?" Senior Brother Liu pointed toward a vast expanse of buildings nestled within the woods directly ahead.

"I see them, Senior Brother."

"That is where the Heavenly Craft Pavilion has assigned quarters for you newly admitted disciples this time around. Barring any accidents, you will be living there for a long time to come."

"Senior Brother has some matters to attend to, so I won't accompany you over there. Junior Brother can freely choose any of the unoccupied houses."

"I understand, many thanks, Senior Brother!"

Zhang Jing shouldered his luggage and spoke gratefully.

"Haha, it's my duty, Junior Brother needn't stand on ceremony,"

Senior Brother Liu's hearty laughter rang out.

Walking straight ahead along the bluestone-paved path, the area Senior Brother Liu had mentioned lay not far away.

As they drew closer, the trees flanking the stone path gradually increased, and the air rippled with the distinctive refreshing scent of Spirit-Origin Grass.

It involuntarily caused one to calm down.

This forest was vast.

Zhang Jing raised his head to gaze into the distance, seeing only one simple yet ancient small courtyard after another nestled within the jungle.

Tap, tap--

A flurry of footsteps went from faint to distinct.

Two men and two women walked side by side, laughing and talking as they approached Zhang Jing.

Their relationships with one another appeared quite familiar.

Catching sight of Zhang Jing's figure burdened with luggage, they seemed already accustomed to such a sight, yet just as they were about to brush past each other, a gentle woman among the four nodded slightly toward Zhang Jing in acknowledgment.

Zhang Jing smiled and returned the gesture.

"Four people, they should all be 'Grade B geniuses' who just passed the assessment. And judging from the habitual look in their eyes upon seeing me, it's not hard to guess that they must have seen several people just like me who passed the assessment and came to pick out a house," Zhang Jing thought to himself.

Come to think of it.

With all the geniuses from the fifty-seven prefectures across the thirteen prefectures of the Nanli Kingdom about to gather here, how could there not be a crowd?

Thinking of this, Zhang Jing shook his head, as if wanting to shake off his distracting thoughts.

What did other geniuses have to do with him?

The only thing he needed to do right now was cultivate, strive to raise his cultivation realm, and secure Qi Entry as early as possible to achieve the status of a Qi Refining realm cultivator.

Seize every opportunity-'earn Dao Merits'!

"Zhang... Zhang brother?"

Suddenly, a voice of extreme hesitation disrupted Zhang Jing's train of thought.

Following the sound, he looked over.

"Ji Brother," a trace of a smile appeared at the corners of Zhang Jing's eyes, "I knew it was you the moment I heard your voice."

Across from Zhang Jing.

"This shouldn't be happening, could it be that chatting too late with that Senior Sister last night caused me to hallucinate from exhaustion today?... It seems I need to get the [Fish-Dragon Union of Bliss Record] initiated into cultivation as soon as possible, or my body won't be able to hold up."

Ji Bochang muttered to himself in disbelief.

Seeing that the hallucination was still there, Ji Bochang snapped his painted fan shut, shoved it into his sleeve, and then vigorously rubbed his eyes with both hands.

Opening them again-hm? Still there!

Not a hallucination...

At this moment, Ji Bochang was utterly dumbfounded. He subconsciously took two steps back and stammered,

"Zhang brother, you... are human?"

"Nonsense." Zhang Jing rolled his eyes and retorted irritably.

"So you've already initiated your visualization method into cultivation? Th-this, how is this possible!" Ji Bochang's pair of expressive little eyes widened into circles.

This was completely different from the Zhang brother in his memory; it felt simply like dreaming.

"Haha, didn't Ji Brother start a day earlier than me? I told you before, my visualization method initiating was purely a stroke of luck."

Following a prolonged and heavy silence.

"My ass!"

Ji Bochang curled his lip, staring at Zhang Jing with complicated eyes as he shouted.

While innate talent was indeed the primary factor allowing their group to obtain Grade B ratings, those cultivation-auxiliary (auxiliary) items had also contributed overwhelmingly!

A courtyard with abundant spiritual qi, spirit beast meat, and spirit pills...

Without these things, it was genuinely hard to say whether he could still have secured a Grade B rating.

And looking at Zhang Jing by contrast-what were the other man's conditions? Could he, Ji Bochang, possibly not know?

He had completely relied on raw talent alone to brute-force his way to a Grade B rating.

"Zhang brother, congratulations on passing the assessment and securing a Grade B rating; your future boundless! Come, come, come, you must still be looking for a house, right? The one right next to mine is quite good."

Under Ji Bochang's dragging and pulling, Zhang Jing had no choice but to follow behind him.

"Right, Ji Brother, I saw you looked like you were heading out just now?"

"Ah yes," Ji Bochang, leading the way in front, turned his head back to explain, "Didn't I mention to Zhang brother before about forgetting to bring spiritual stones? As it happens, people from my clan came to the Dragon Marsh Market to purchase some supplies, and incidentally brought along my spiritual stones."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand toward the grey animal-skin pouch hanging at his waist.

Zhang Jing's gaze locked onto it.

He seemed to have seen this pouch somewhere before, and quite recently at that.

Right, during Instructor Wang's first lecture at the Seventh Temporary Academy, he had taken jade slips out of a similar animal-skin pouch, except that one had been made of black animal skin.

"Is that a storage bag?" Zhang Jing asked in surprise.

"Ah! I originally wanted to keep a low profile, but it was still discovered by the discerning eyes of Zhang brother," Ji Bochang spread his hands and spoke loudly with deliberate helplessness.

Zhang Jing's expression darkened, and he immediately changed the subject. "Brother Ji, I ran into four people on my way here-"

"Two men and two women?" Ji Bochang picked up where he left off.

"You know them?" Zhang Jing asked curiously.

Ji Bochang did not answer. His expression merely grew somewhat grave as he asked in return, "Brother Zhang, do you know how many 'Grade B geniuses' have arrived here as of today?"

Zhang Jing shook his head, indicating that he did not know.

"Including you, Deng An, and someone from the Ninth Temporary Academy who arrived today, seventeen in total. Oh, right, that doesn't include those two 'First-Grade Prodigies.' Who knows how many more will come tomorrow?"

Ji Bochang's tone grew exaggerated.

Seeing no reaction from Zhang Jing, Ji Bochang cleared his throat again and said seriously:

"Brother Zhang, you might not know this. According to the Dao Academy's rules, every assessment will have a final ranking."

"I met a senior sister yesterday. She told me that those in the top ten of the final assessment rankings receive fifty Dao Merit every month during their first year at the Dao Academy. Eleventh through twentieth receive twenty Dao Merit a month, twenty-first through thirtieth receive five Dao Merit a month, and anyone below thirtieth gets no reward at all!"

"What? The top ten get that much Dao Merit?" Zhang Jing exclaimed.