The annual examination ended

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, there's no need to worry about me. Just mind your own affairs."

Jiang Yan's words were so cold and hard that Zhang Yunhong was taken aback.

He had not forgotten that when Jiang Chi came that day, he had been in Zhang Yunhong's room.

The two had acted like old acquaintances, and their relationship seemed far from shallow.

Perhaps Zhang Yunhong was in league with Jiang Chi, and Jiang Chi had arranged for him to live here to make him easier to watch.

Naturally, he would not show her a pleasant face.

"Why such a temper, Fellow Daoist Jiang? Did one of the sisters outside give you the cold shoulder?

"If so, why not come to your big sister's room and cool off?"

Zhang Yunhong only faltered for a moment before she resumed her teasing.

"I still have a use for my primordial Yang, so there's no need to trouble yourself, Fellow Daoist."

With that, Jiang Yan ignored her, opened his door, and went straight inside.

Zhang Yunhong was left standing there with her smoking pipe in hand.

She stared at Jiang Yan's door, a trace of hesitation in her eyes, as though wavering over something.

After a long while, she still made no move, leaning against her door and returning to her pipe.

After closing his door, Jiang Yan took out an alarm talisman and pasted it up.

He had bought this at the market as well. After all, there was no shortage of people scurrying like flies and spying like rats in this town.

He also had several enemies of his own, so he needed to take some precautions.

Activating the Spirit Gathering Formation, he sat cross-legged on the bed and recalled his entire encounter with Zhang Yunhong.

It was not that he had any interest in the woman.

Nor had his remark about preserving his primordial Yang been idle talk. There was indeed such a matter.

Primordial Yang was also known as true Yang, or life gate true fire.

It was Qi formed innately within a male body, its counterpart naturally being the primordial Yin formed innately within a female body.

Aside from certain special cultivation methods, however, a Daoist's cultivation generally did not require preserving primordial Yang.

Jiang Yan had no other reason for wanting to keep his primordial Yang.

It was simply that primordial Yang was unique. If he could learn a Dual Cultivation Technique in the future, then choose a female Daoist who practiced Furnace Refining and Cauldron Command,

the effect of their union would be no less than that of an excellent great medicine.

After all, the help the Jiang Household could provide was limited, so he could not afford to waste his primordial Yang.

Although he had no interest in Zhang Yunhong, she had seemed to be waiting deliberately at her door just now.

He did not know what she was planning. Could Jiang Chi have some scheme?

Or were she and Jiang Chi outwardly united but inwardly divided, and she wanted to join forces with him against Jiang Chi?

Whatever the case, Zhang Yunhong certainly had a purpose. Jiang Yan could do nothing about it, however, beyond keeping a little more caution in his heart.

Even if he really intended to deal with Jiang Chi, he would have to wait until he broke through to eighth grade. Otherwise, it would only be wasted effort.

Having settled his plans, Jiang Yan could not help sighing.

"Ah..."

He had only been at the Prefecture Academy for a few days, yet already there were several potential threats both within and without.

Not only could he not resolve them, he had to do his utmost to avoid them.

If his strength were not so lacking, why would he need to do this?

If his cultivation could rival Green Fox High Person's, never mind the threats posed by Li Shun and Jiang Chi-

even Desire Corpse Daoist, who stood behind Jiang Chi, could be destroyed with a turn of his palm.

Cultivate!

Cultivate!

Thinking of this only strengthened Jiang Yan's resolve.

He closed his eyes, circulating his law power through the heavenly circuit prescribed by the Guiding Method.

The various metal pellets in his stomach were also being steadily digested under the effects of the Ingestion Method, their essence refined and absorbed by his body.

Nothing else happened over the next few days. Jiang Yan stayed in his room each day, either cultivating or studying the Fire-Element Pill Refining Method.

Until this day.

Jiang Yan was using the Stone Book to study the pill refining method in his hands.

Dong... dong... dong...

Three peals of a bell rang in his ears.

"Hmm?"

Drawn out of his absorption in the pill refining method, Jiang Yan felt no annoyance.

As he listened to the bell, a smile appeared on his lips.

"Three peals from the Dao Seed? It seems this year's Yearly Examination has ended! Most of the senior disciples should be back by now."

Naturally, Jiang Yan was not happy because the Yearly Examination had ended. He hardly knew any senior disciples at the Prefecture Academy.

There was only his older cousin Jiang Yunyao, but she had not gone out to take the Prefecture Examination, instead staying in Spring Breeze Tower every day.

He was happy because he would soon be able to attend lectures at the Preaching Plaza.

He had now been at the Prefecture Academy for more than half a month, and the Preaching Plaza's rule was to expound upon two Daos every ten days.

By rights, Jiang Yan should have attended a lecture by now.

In reality, however, the Preaching Plaza had yet to open.

Using the Stone Book to analyze cultivation methods every day, Jiang Yan not only progressed at tremendous speed but also accumulated more questions than most people.

He looked forward to lectures every day, yet no instructor began teaching. Naturally, he could not find Green Fox High Person to ask.

He could only go to Spring Breeze Tower and ask Jiang Yunyao. The answer he received was:

"The first half month after new disciples arrive at the Prefecture Academy is meant for everyone to get accustomed to the place.

"Even if lectures began, there might not be many people attending. Just wait a little longer.

"The senior disciples' Yearly Examination will end soon. Once they return, lectures will naturally begin."

With that answer, Jiang Yan could only return and wait.

Thinking it over carefully, it made sense. His schedule had indeed been packed these past few days.

He had to practice the Ingestion Method and study the pill refining method, but all this was thanks to Jiang Chi and Jiang Yunyao.

Without that sucker Jiang Chi renting a room for him, he probably could not have settled in so quickly.

Without Jiang Yunyao clearing up his confusion, understanding the Prefecture Academy's various affairs would not have been something he could accomplish in three or five days.

By now, many disciples without connections, unable to learn the details of the Prefecture Academy, were probably on the verge of collapse.

Looking at it another way, this might well have been deliberate on the Prefecture Academy's part.

After all, if these people went to other planes, would they not find themselves in much the same situation?

When that time came, those with backing would have their own life-saving trump cards, while those without would have this experience to help them.

Not long after the first bell rang, three chime sounds followed.

The sound was clear, delicate, and lingering, ringing throughout the town.

As expected, these chime sounds signaled the start of lectures at the Preaching Plaza.

After hearing the bell, Jiang Yan had tidied himself up from head to toe and even changed into a brand-new Daoist robe.

Now he immediately headed out, hurrying toward the Preaching Plaza.

This time, Jinbao encountered more people on Spirit Beast Road.

And they looked different from the exhausted, wretched figures seen on previous days.

Many people on the road today wore composed expressions, carrying themselves with a natural confidence. At a glance, they were clearly senior disciples who had just returned.

Among these senior disciples, those who practiced the sinew-shifting and bone-transmuting Dao were the most conspicuous.

Most cultivators of this Dao whom Jiang Yan had seen in town over the past few days had fitted themselves with ox hooves or horse legs to make working easier.

What he saw today was vastly different, with all manner of mutant varieties appearing one after another.

Jiang Yan saw one Daoist with white hair growing over his body, a rounded head, and sharp teeth. His left hand was a snow-white tiger's paw.

As he moved his arms, his muscles bulged impressively, giving him considerable might. Presumably, he had transplanted a mutant bloodline, and this White Tiger Left Arm was certain to possess considerable power.

Another female Daoist rode a strange beast with a jiaolong's head and a leopard's body.

A single horn grew from her own head, and the exposed skin of her arms and legs was covered in scales. The bloodline she had transplanted was presumably some aquatic mutant variety, most likely a jiaolong bloodline.

Moreover, just from the sense of seamless unity between her and the strange beast beneath her, one could tell that she must also practice the netherworld-penetrating and beast-commanding Dao.

"So this is the Prefecture Academy's true face."

Seeing the might of these senior disciples, Jiang Yan was filled with emotion, and all the more yearned for it.

He repeatedly urged Jinbao to pick up the pace.

With lectures beginning today, there would be no shortage of listeners. He needed to secure a better seat.