The Prefecture Examination Draws Near

With the two set side by side like this, the difference became even clearer. He felt that Li Shun looked utterly ordinary from head to toe.

He had originally intended to appeal to his feelings and offer more lenient terms, but stung by this, he instead gritted his teeth and said:

"You shameless brat, Li Shun! Trying to play the rogue? Don't forget that we signed a written agreement back then and left it on file at the Dao Academy!

I can't be bothered to waste words on you. Come along, then. We'll ask the Dao Academy to adjudicate!"

Jiang Yan had no idea that the contrast with him had caused such a great change in the Chen Lineage Chief's attitude toward Li Shun.

He left the Dao Academy and headed toward the restaurant the Jiang Household ran in the county town.

Although the Jiang Household mainly developed its affairs in the town, it also owned businesses in the county town.

The closer the Prefecture Examination drew, the more chaotic the Dao Academy became.

People probing for information and currying connections cropped up endlessly, making it a poor place to stay instead.

Naturally, Jiang Yan chose to return home for some peace and quiet.

Besides, now that he had mastered a cultivation method, he ought to write to his second uncle and the others.

He made his way along the familiar route to the Jiang Household's restaurant in the county town.

The restaurant usually relied on wild game sent from the town to specialize in uncommon meat dishes, and business was fairly brisk.

Behind it stood a courtyard residence two courtyards deep. Whenever members of the Jiang Household came to the county town on business, they usually stayed here.

The waiter was also a member of the Jiang Household and naturally recognized Jiang Yan. He led him upstairs into a private room and attended to his every need with great diligence.

Having gone many days without eating, Jiang Yan ordered more than a dozen dishes in one go, filling the table to the brim.

After he wolfed down his food, sweeping through it like a gale through scattered clouds, Jinbao polished off everything left on the table.

His cravings satisfied, Jiang Yan paid the bill and tipped the waiter a few talisman coins before heading downstairs.

There was no one in the courtyard behind the restaurant, only a few servants who occasionally came to clean.

After sending off his letter to his second uncle, Jiang Yan left Jinbao guarding the door, went inside, lay down on the bed, and fell fast asleep.

He had spent these past days constantly using the stone book to analyze cultivation methods. Although it had tempered his mind, it had truly been rather exhausting.

He slept until the next morning. After that, Jiang Yan settled into a very regular routine.

Every day at mealtimes, he went to the restaurant out front to eat, then returned to his room to practice the Guiding Method and study Fushi along the way.

Two days passed like this before the lineage chief arrived with his second uncle's family.

Once again, they gathered in a circle in a private room at the restaurant.

Jiang Huannian held himself back again and again, but in the end, he could not resist asking for confirmation once more.

"Yan'er, have you truly mastered a cultivation method?"

Jiang Yan shook his head helplessly and released another wisp of Law Power.

"Second Uncle, how many times have you asked me already?"

"Hahaha, Huannian is just happy for you, Yan."

Jiang Hanzhi stroked his chin and smiled beside them. He, too, was deeply excited. The Jiang Household had not seen talent like Jiang Yan's for more than a dozen generations.

If Jiang Yan truly revitalized the lineage and accomplished something in the future, then he, as lineage chief, would deserve a prominent mention in the records of later generations.

They celebrated heartily, everyone in high spirits.

Only the little chubby boy, Jiang Li, clung to his elder brother's leg and refused to let go, afraid he would leave again.

Once the meal was over, his second uncle and the others returned to their rooms first, while the lineage chief called Jiang Yan into his room alone.

"Yan, you have a promising future. These days, the lineage... may not be what it once was, but we cannot hold you back."

Jiang Hanzhi took a jade thumb ring from his robe and set it on the table.

"Could this be...?" Looking at the thumb ring on the table, Jiang Yan had a guess.

"That's right. This thumb ring is a Storage Law Artifact. I fetched it from the treasury for you. Though you have that golden toad to use, having this ring as well will make everyday things more convenient."

"Didn't the lineage say that only those who reach the Eighth Grade can receive a Storage Law Artifact...?"

Seeing Jiang Yan hesitate, Jiang Hanzhi gave him an exasperated pat on the back and said:

"What, do you suspect your Fourth Grandfather of using lineage property to do personal favors?"

"Of course not! Fourth Grandfather has always been fair and selfless. Who in the lineage doesn't know that?"

Jiang Yan hurried to explain. He truly believed this; it was not flattery.

"You little rascal, you've even learned to butter people up. Don't worry, this ring is yours.

Anyone admitted to the Prefecture Academy who fails to reach the Eighth Grade cannot graduate. They will only be dismissed.

Even graduating at the Eighth Grade merely meets the minimum requirement. If you wish to take the examination for the Commandery Academy, you cannot even register without reaching the Seventh Grade."

"Besides, the Prefecture Academy is far away, and travel is inconvenient, so the lineage gives a Storage Law Artifact to everyone who gains admission.

You're not the only one. Every lineage member currently at the Prefecture Academy has one.

Of course, if you leave the academy without having broken through to the Eighth Grade, you have to return it."

So that was how it worked. In that case, it was only natural for the lineage to make such a decision.

It was probably very difficult to return home after entering the Prefecture Academy. At least, in all these years, Jiang Yan had only seen two return, and both had been dismissed after reaching the end of their allotted time.

The lineage had no way to contact them of its own accord, either. It only occasionally received letters from them and learned a little about their recent circumstances.

"Take it." Jiang Hanzhi interrupted Jiang Yan's recollections.

"The lineage has also increased your monthly allowance, but once you reach the Prefecture Academy, we won't be able to send it to you.

This ring holds ten years of your monthly allowance. Take it all with you at once."

Jiang Yan nodded and put on the thumb ring. With a thought, he sensed a peculiar space.

The space was roughly ten feet across, with a small pile of Spirit Stones heaped in its center.

Several bundles were piled beside the Spirit Stones.

"The Spirit Stones all came from the lineage. Jiang Chi said that carrying Spirit Stones would be the most convenient.

Those bundles came from the individual branches. They're tokens of their goodwill, however much they contain."

Jiang Chi was the Jiang Household's Eighth Grade cultivator at the Prefecture Academy, as well as Jiang Hanzhi's grandson. He could be considered the leading figure among the Jiang Household members there.

Jiang Yan swept through it with a thought and gained a rough idea of these resources.

Five hundred Spirit Stones. This was a considerable fortune.

After all, even Second Uncle Jiang, who was in the Upper Ninth-Rank Realm, received a monthly allowance of only three Spirit Stones. Including a little extra income, he earned just forty or fifty a year.

In other words, five hundred Spirit Stones amounted to more than ten years of Second Uncle Jiang's income.

For instance, Jiang Yan had used a total of ten Spirit Stones to practice his cultivation method this time, more than two months of Second Uncle Jiang's income.

Had they not been pressed for time, his second uncle and the lineage chief would never have allowed him to be so wasteful.

Still, it would not be easy for Second Uncle Jiang to advance his realm further, whereas Jiang Yan's future held limitless possibilities. It was only natural for the lineage to give Jiang Yan these resources.

As for the bundles, a single thought revealed their contents as well: all manner of resources to aid cultivation.

These gifts carried weight, but Jiang Yan did not refuse them.

There was no need. Refusing would only make them seem estranged. Having accepted these resources now, he would repay them in the future.

"Also, I'm sorry to trouble you, but I'll need you to act as a messenger. Give these letters to Jiang Chi and the others."

Jiang Hanzhi took out another bundle. This time, it was not from the lineage; it contained family letters and the like.

Naturally, Jiang Yan would not refuse such a small task. He put the bundle into the thumb ring and chatted with Jiang Hanzhi a while longer.

Only when the old man lost interest did he rise and return to his own room.

Knock, knock, knock.

He had only just sat down when someone knocked, and his second uncle's voice came from outside.

"Yan'er, are you asleep?"

His second uncle did not stay long, perhaps afraid of disturbing Jiang Yan's rest. After a few brief reminders, he left a bundle on the table and departed.

After seeing his second uncle off, Jiang Yan turned back and opened the bundle.

Inside the small bundle lay forty-three Spirit Stones piled together.

Beside the Spirit Stones lay a wooden toy in the shape of a sword-immortal Daoist.

He remembered carving it for Jiang Li. That little fatty must have put it in.

Jiang Yan reached out to touch it, then picked up the wooden toy and turned it over in his hands.

Jiang Li loved this wooden carving and took it out to play every day, leaving quite a few scratches and marks.

After toying with it for a while, Jiang Yan put the toy away separately.

Thinking no more about it, he sat cross-legged on the bed and continued cultivating.