When he returned home, not a single neighbor was outside this time, and Jiang Yan finally managed to enjoy some peace.
He pushed the door open and went inside, first checking the place from top to bottom. Only after confirming it was safe did he lie down on the bed to rest.
Perhaps this breakthrough had truly exhausted him, or perhaps the dizziness from being struck by those two iron hammers earlier had yet to fade.
In any case, Jiang Yan lay on the bed and slept for the first time in a long while.
Ever since arriving at the Prefecture Academy, he had never had a proper sleep except to recover the mental strength consumed by the Stone Book.
This sleep lasted all the way from morning until nightfall.
By the time he got out of bed again, the sky had darkened.
Jiang Yan opened his eyes and felt comfortable and refreshed in every part of his body.
He lay on the bed, looking up at the wooden ceiling overhead.
He took out a tea set and brewed tea for the first time in a long while.
His cultivation had finally advanced, and he could relax a little.
He was in no hurry. Even though the scalding tea meant little to him, Jiang Yan still savored it slowly, one sip at a time.
Once he had finished a pot of tea, Jiang Yan put the tea set away, and his nerves tightened once more.
He was only at the ninth-rank lower realm. This brief moment of relaxation was enough.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Jiang Yan began his first cultivation session since his breakthrough.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Jiang Yan left before the chime sounded in the Preaching Plaza.
Having set out early, there was no need to rush, and Jinbao hopped along at a suitable pace.
Once they left the courtyard, quite a few people were around.
Jiang Yan suddenly remembered that the house he currently lived in had been rented by Jiang Chi back then. The lease would expire in another few months.
I should move somewhere else then. Living here means Jiang Chi will always be watching me.
Yet over the past six months, Jiang Chi had not come looking for him even once. Such an attitude instead left Jiang Yan rather bewildered.
Could that bastard Jiang Chi be preparing something big for me?
As Jiang Yan pondered this, a voice suddenly came from behind him to one side.
"Oh! If it isn't Fellow Daoist Jiang Yan! Why are you out alone? Where are those two neighbors of yours?"
Here we go again!
Jiang Yan felt irritated, but his face remained as calm as still water as he turned to look.
The speaker was Li Shun, and the person beside him was none other than Xiao Sheng.
Ever since joining Xiao Li's team, Li Shun had found a use for his strengths, putting his talent for flattery and fawning on full display.
Even the spirit beast he rode had now been replaced with a Clearcloud Horse. Who knew where his old ox had gone?
But why had these two come out together, rather than accompanying Xiao Li and Li Yunshu?
This was not the first time Li Shun had come looking to pick a fight with him, but he had always come alone before.
As for this business with Li Shun, the blame had to be laid at Jiang Chi's door.
Who knew where Li Shun had learned about the matter between Jiang Yan and Jiang Chi?
Jiang Yan had offended a Seventh-Rank Daoist just after arriving at the Prefecture Academy, whereas Li Shun himself had recently mastered a cultivation method and registered his name.
Comparing their circumstances, Li Shun felt that his current situation was even better than Jiang Yan's.
Since then, he had begun finding fault with Jiang Yan frequently.
The feeling of surpassing a former genius simply intoxicated Li Shun.
Seeing Li Shun's somewhat provocative manner behind him, Jiang Yan did not respond.
With his breakthrough, the countdown on Li Shun's life had already begun. He could let the man live another couple of days.
Without speaking to either of them, he urged Jinbao to speed up and leave.
In Li Shun's eyes, was this not Jiang Yan "fleeing in panic"?
He was instantly satisfied, and the corners of his mouth curled up smugly.
"Li Shun, why are you still bothering with him at a time like this? Don't delay the plan!"
The speaker was Xiao Sheng beside him.
"All right, all right, what are you so anxious about? Since you've decided to do it, be steadier. Don't lose your nerve for nothing!"
How strange. Li Shun, who played the role of a servant and errand boy in Xiao Li's team,
actually reprimanded Xiao Sheng outright, while Xiao Sheng behaved very obediently.
And judging by their words, who knew just what dealings these two had between them?
Meanwhile, Jiang Yan left Li Shun and Xiao Sheng behind. Jinbao no longer held back, and before long, they reached the Preaching Plaza.
Now that his cultivation had advanced, Jiang Yan chose a spot slightly farther forward.
Disciples were scattered across the Preaching Plaza, filling roughly half the seats.
Another hour passed before the lecture officially began.
The lecturer teaching the witchcraft and Gu ritual path looked like a beautiful married woman. She held a jade bottle and called herself the Jade Bottle Daoist.
The Jade Bottle Daoist was not as frightening as the Gu-Eating Daoist Boy.
A faint smile always graced her face, and she looked harmless to man and beast alike.
Jiang Yan rather enjoyed listening to her lectures, not because of her looks, but because he was interested in the witchcraft and Gu ritual path and intended to take it up as a secondary practice.
Moreover, the Jade Bottle Daoist had a gentle temperament. When she grew tired of lecturing, she often shared secrets that ordinary disciples would struggle to learn.
Sure enough, after spending a whole day teaching the "curse-subjugation discipline" of the witchcraft and Gu ritual path, the Jade Bottle Daoist lightly rubbed her forehead.
She began chatting with the disciples below again.
Most of those attending today knew her temperament. Though they remained respectful in their speech, they dared to ask whatever questions they had.
A disciple below suddenly spoke up with a question.
"Instructor, this disciple recently heard that there are further realms beyond the first rank. Is that true?"
There are further realms beyond the first rank? Hearing this question, Jiang Yan perked up and turned his gaze toward the Jade Bottle Daoist.
"You are well informed. Indeed, there are further realms above the first rank.
"As you all know, our current cultivation realms were adapted from the Qi-refining path of High Antiquity.
"The first through ninth ranks correspond to the three realms of essence refining and Qi transformation, Qi refining and spirit transformation, and spirit refining and void return.
"Beyond the first rank lies the immortal-grade realm, which corresponds to the Qi refiners' realm of 'void refining and Dao union.'"
Such information was generally learned after breaking through to the seventh rank and joining the Dao Army.
Still, the Jade Bottle Daoist broke no taboos by sharing it ahead of time today.
"Otherwise, why do you think our Dao Realm can conquer so many great worlds, and even devour them, turning each into a province of land?"
"You must understand that any world worthy of being called a great world has countless powerful beings who are no weaker than high-ranking Daoists.
"If high-ranking Daoists are the pillars that hold the Dao Realm steady against the current, then only those of the immortal grade are its true heavens!"
"The heavens of the Dao Realm..."
Jiang Yan murmured to himself. This was the first time he had heard about the immortal grade.
Yet judging by the unsurprised expressions of some disciples around him, quite a few clearly knew about the immortal-grade realm.
In fact, the Jiang Household Jiang Yan came from had enjoyed a period of glory, and its archives should have contained records about the immortal grade.
It was just that such a realm was far too distant from the Jiang Household as it was now.
Even if the clan head knew, he would not necessarily speak of it.
Jiang Hanzhi hoped only that one of their disciples at the Prefecture Academy could reach the seventh-rank realm.
If one could reach the sixth-rank realm, it would truly be blue smoke rising from their ancestral graves. Even with ten times the courage, he would not dare dream of anything higher.
"All right, it is best not to speak too much of such realms.
"If, with a lifetime of effort, you can break through to the sixth-rank realm and enjoy three thousand years on the Dao Path, you will already count among the geniuses."
The Jade Bottle Daoist spoke, interrupting everyone's wistful reveries.
"We'll end today's lecture here. Today, I can impart a 'Gu-Eating Technique.' Those seeking the method may come forward."
Jiang Yan also emerged from his excited fantasies. Hearing this, he immediately rose and stepped forward.
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