Chapter 136

The city of Jixian Prefecture was even more imposing than the Fengyang and Sanyang Prefectural Cities that Zhang Jian had seen.

The dragon and tiger aura was heavy, solemn, and towering.

After presenting their travel permits and paying a substantial entry fee, the master and servant smoothly entered the prefectural city.

Zhang Jian noticed that there were also many candidates preparing to go to the capital for the examinations staying here, seemingly intending to travel together.

"Master, why don't we go up and take a look? Who knows, among these people there might even be your future fellow examinees?"

Beside him, Zhang Lu's eyes darted back and forth, but his gaze fell on the food and wine in the restaurant.

Zhang Jian smiled and stepped forward.

Actually, examinees who passed the same imperial examination in the same year are considered fellow examinees!

But in terms of value, fellow examinees who passed the Ministry of Rites' provincial examination are obviously more prestigious.

Because after passing, almost everyone is preparing to become a presented scholar, with a high probability of becoming an official!

Although Zhang Jian is a cultivator, since he walks the path of the red dust, absorbing the spiritual essence of heaven and earth to cultivate, he naturally would not refuse such a thing.

At this moment, he himself possessed the auspicious appearance of dragon patterns and phoenixes, naturally affable, and quickly got along well with many examinees.

For Zhang Jian, this young examinee from Fengyang Prefecture, the other examinees from Jixian Prefecture in the restaurant originally had some exclusion.

Not yet having reached the age of weak crown, at fourteen years old he had successfully passed the provincial examination and obtained the status of examinee, which was already much stronger than theirs.

But after a few probing words, the group of examinees had their competitive spirit dampened.

Zhang Jian was also adept at socializing and gave everyone face, instantly blending in and earning the sincere recognition of many examinees.

Having gained their recognition, the group of examinees immediately let loose completely.

Topics from south to north flowed effortlessly.

Zhang Lu was tall and sturdy, but at this moment he was sitting at a table with a few servants, relying on his burly frame and bold personality, he had already become close with several servants and was clearly their leader.

Eating, drinking, chatting and laughing, occasionally boasting about his military exploits, drawing many envious glances from the servants.

At this moment, a refined examinee beside him glanced at Zhang Lu and could not help but say.

"Brother Zhang, your servant boy is truly remarkable, even having gone to battle and killed enemies?"

This is an examinee named Shi Lun.

This scholar has sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, dressed in fine silk, wearing a fur coat, his face full of scholarly air.

The Shi family is also a major clan in Jixian Prefecture, likewise a family of the cap-and-gown aristocracy, and for Zhang Jian, who likewise comes from a prominent aristocratic family, they are actually full of goodwill.

"My family is unconstrained by trivialities, and our nature is rash, so I have embarrassed you, brother!"

Zhang Jian smiled faintly, but Shi Lun laughed and said.

"Otherwise, your family can truly be said to possess genuine sincerity!"

Zhang Jian sighed in his heart.

How many people can truly possess genuine sincerity?

He actually wanted to always maintain a pure and innocent childlike heart, but repeated changes have forced him to become worldly-wise, smooth, to protect himself, to let his wings grow full, so he can shelter his family.

At this moment, Zhang Jian glanced at Shi Lun and suddenly spoke.

"Brother Shi, have you recently encountered any strange matters?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Lun's expression showed surprise.

"Brother Zhang, do you also know how to read physiognomy?"

Zhang Jian shook his head and said: "I don't actually read physiognomy, but I know a little medicine. I observe that Brother Shi, although appearing healthy, has hurried breath and light steps—clearly a sign of deficient qi and blood. However, given your family background, you shouldn't be suffering from hunger one meal and full the next, and you have guards around you, so I suspect you have recently encountered something that caused these symptoms!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Lun looked at Zhang Jian in surprise and said: "Brother Zhang, your eyes are like torches—I have indeed recently encountered some strange matters, nightly nightmares, unable to sleep. If Brother Zhang has any calming method, if the condition cannot be harmonized, even if I go to the capital for the examination, I fear I will miss the golden list!"

Shi Lun was somewhat troubled.

He looked at Zhang Jian with some anticipation.

Zhang Jian thought to himself, he actually wanted to say that Shi Lun seemed to have the power of a dream demon on him.

This is similar to the symptoms of Lady Qi Zhou of the Qi family, though Shi Lun's condition is milder.

The aftereffects are much weaker.

Just insomnia!

Perhaps the other party is not targeting Shi Lun's life.

This might be related to privacy in the mansion. Zhang Jian had learned his lesson last time, so this time he naturally acted more cautiously, did not directly expose this matter, thought for a moment, and then said.

"I once encountered a high person who gave me a longevity talisman, saying it could calm the spirit and protect the body, guarding against evil influences. Why not lend it to you for a few days to try?"

Zhang Jian took out a folded talisman from his sleeve and gave it to Shi Lun.

This talisman in his hand is the Purifying Soul Spell.

The Purifying Soul Spell has already been cultivated by him into the divine aspect of the Ten Directions Savior of Suffering Heavenly Venerable, capable of suppressing ghosts and gods—using it to calm the spirit is truly overkill.

Seeing this, Shi Lun felt somewhat moved and could not help but say: "This is Brother Zhang's protective talisman—how can I take it?!"

"No problem!"

Zhang Jian smiled faintly.

He observed that Shi Lun was still a decent person, so he simply decided to help him once.

After a moment, Zhang Jian walked out of this restaurant; he still needs to go find some Red Lotus Dao practitioners in Jixian Prefecture.

He has transformed Red Lotus Maiden into his natal spirit ghost, so he naturally cannot allow the Red Lotus Dao to continue its corrupt development.

Pure Red Lotus Dao, as an organization collecting heterodox and left-wing paths, cannot amount to much.

To reenact the Yellow Turban uprising, one must forge a truly **** system, arm believers' minds with complete doctrine, rather than having heads full of Jianghu nonsense, only knowing how to cause destruction.

Of course, one must also use this to expand the faith in the Kitchen God.

Nowadays, in the southern prefectures, there are vast areas of belief blank slate with enormous potential.

If the Red Lotus Dao is used well, it can accelerate the deepening of Kitchen God faith.

Once the imperial edicts of the State and Ancestral Gods Dao are issued, with this foundation, the Red Flower Lady may well attain a powerful divine position in a single step.

This would be a tremendous boon for him.

……

At this moment, deep in the Tong Mountains, Ironheart Daoist encountered a problem.

"Ironheart Uncle-Master, have you encountered some difficulty?"

Bai Xianyin stood to the side, frowning at this moment.

Upon hearing this, Ironheart Daoist shook his head slightly, he sighed; requesting the Kitchen God's position for Zhang Jian from the State and Ancestral Gods Dao posed no problem, and the senior cultivators within the sect had already reached a consensus.

However, several fire deities among the sect's gods also set their sights on the Kitchen God's post, attempting to interfere.

Moreover, those few deities were quite formidable; relying on him alone, he could not overpower them.

Nor could he resort to force.

Because those several true gods are also core powerhouses of the sect, having rendered great service to it.

Ironheart Daoist found himself unable to suppress them!

He actually knew that the Kitchen God's position contained immense opportunity, especially for fire deities—how could the sect's true gods easily let it go?

Ironheart Daoist clearly understood that only the Slay-Demon True Lord stepping forward could suppress these deities.