Chapter 56: Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill

The Holy Hall was very quiet.

Everyone was somewhat silent, looking at Gu Jin Nian and Su Huaiyu.

Gu Jin Nian's answer earlier made them admire him.

But Su Huaiyu's answer left everyone silent.

You said to remember the top ten mountains; everyone could accept that, counting you as someone who reads a lot.

But you said even the three hundredth?

On the lecture platform.

Su Wenjing was momentarily at a loss for words, but ultimately didn't say much more.

Some heartfelt words could not be spoken at this moment.

He simply stood up and said to everyone.

"You go to your lodgings first; the library boys outside will take you there."

"We'll have the first class tomorrow."

Su Wenjing spoke, then rose and left, not wanting to stay any longer.

Not even a moment.

"Master, wasn't that just the first class?"

Gu Jin Nian spoke, asking Su Wenjing.

As soon as he said that, everyone fell silent again.

After the military officers, each couldn't help but give Gu Jin Nian a thumbs-up.

After the civil officials, some frowned, feeling Gu Jin Nian was a bit too unconventional.

However, Su Wenjing didn't speak; instead, he gave a meaningful smile and turned to leave.

Su Wenjing left.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a hint of resentment.

For a moment, Gu Jin Nian didn't know whether to praise Su Wenjing's noble character or something else.

But from this one can see that Su Wenjing is truly different from ordinary people.

The breadth of a Half Saint is just great.

After Su Wenjing left.

Wang Fugui then spoke.

"Brother Su, how do you know Xiao Yue Shan is ranked 365th?"

Wang Fugui simply couldn't help being curious.

That ranking is too far off, and there aren't any corresponding books, right?

After all, who would do this test for no reason?

As Wang Fugui spoke, everyone also became curious.

However, Gu Jin Nian calmly spoke.

"Then how are you sure Xiao Yue Shan isn't 365th?"

Gu Jin Nian spoke, answering on behalf of Su Huaiyu.

To be honest, if you said you could name the top one hundred, Gu Jin Nian would believe you.

But if you said you could name the 365th, Gu Jin Nian truly wouldn't believe it.

Su Huaiyu's method is simple: since neither you nor I know, if you think I'm wrong, show evidence; if you can't produce evidence, then you can't deny I'm wrong.

Upon hearing that, everyone suddenly understood.

And Su Huaiyu spoke a little.

"Truly worthy of the Crown Prince."

He spoke, endorsing Gu Jin Nian's words.

"That's enough."

"Hurry up and pick your lodgings."

Gu Jin Nian rose; for someone like him who had attended university, the first thing upon enrollment was definitely not to show off, but to hurry and pick a dormitory.

Soon, everyone rose and followed the library boys outside to their lodgings.

About half an hour later.

Everyone arrived at the lodgings.

All the students lived together; fortunately, they were all single rooms, though of course, if willing, they could share.

The lodging environment of Da Xia Academy resembles a huge siheyuan, also in a 'hui' shape, with four layers inside and out; each room is the same size, the central area is very spacious, providing a place for students to gather.

There are twelve pavilions, suitable for playing chess and writing.

"Gentlemen."

"This is the northern part of the academy; the school hall is in the eastern zone, the southern zone is the Discourse Classics Hall; each month a lecture will be held, and the masters will notify you in advance."

"The western zone is the garden lakeside; in your free time you can go there to relax and read, and the dining area is also in the western zone."

The guiding library boy spoke.

He introduced the lodgings.

At the same time, two groups of people appeared from behind.

They were respectively the students of the Morning Holy Hall and the Knowledge Holy Hall.

At a glance, the Morning Holy Hall had more people, about seventy or eighty, while the Knowledge Holy Hall had fewer, around forty.

All told, Da Xia Academy apparently admitted about two hundred students this time.

However, most of these people are descendants of civil officials, or from aristocratic clans; if one had to say, this group is precisely the kind of students the Da Xia Academy needs.

Similar to Immortal Dao, Buddhist Gate, and people like Gu Jin Nian, according to past requirements, they probably wouldn't be able to enter.

Of course, let's not talk about ancient literature.

However, Gu Jin Nian's gaze fell upon a person in an instant.

He was the first to have walked the People's Dao.

He dressed plainly, in his early thirties, and his age made him slightly out of place among the crowd.

However, he possessed a rare temperament all over.

The feeling of emerging from the mire unstained.

Gu Jin Nian directed his gaze toward the other person.

The other seemed to sense it; his gaze likewise met his, then he nodded slightly, gave a modest bow, neither humble nor arrogant.

Gu Jin Nian also returned a slight salute, counting it as having met.

Soon.

The guide student took out the dormitory keys, distributed them at random, one each.

The dormitories had four categories, divided into Heaven, Earth, Xuan, Huang, and were further subdivided with numbers one, two, three, four, five, etc.

Gu Jin Nian received the key to Earth Category Room Seven.

Wang Fugui was Earth Category Twelve, a short distance away, but it was no problem.

Su Huaiyu was Earth Category Nineteen, which is a bit far.

Just then, Zhao Siqing's voice sounded.

"Brother Jin Nian, I am Earth Category Six, Shangguan older sister is Earth Category Eight; we truly have fate."

As Zhao Siqing spoke.

Gu Jin Nian was slightly surprised; a glance confirmed it really was.

This really is rather wonderful.

"Brother Jin Nian, if I have nothing to do at night I'll come find you; when do you usually sleep?"

Zhao Siqing spoke, his words direct, with no other thoughts.

But once those words were spoken, they somehow sounded strange to everyone's ears.

Many gazes fell upon them, carrying a hint of envy, and also a touch of resentment.

After all, the academy has over two hundred students, only about ten of whom are female; the two most beautiful ones are around Gu Jin Nian's age, truly making people envy them immensely.

As for Gu Jin Nian, seeing the resentment welling up, he immediately changed his demeanor.

"It's fine."

"I usually don't sleep."

"You can come find me whenever you like; you may even bring your sister along. Gu Mou most enjoys heart-to-heart conversations."

Gu Jin Nian said with a serious expression.

In that instant, Xu Ya, Shangguan Baiyu, Xu Changge, and others were somewhat stunned.

Especially Shangguan Baiyu. What does 'you may bring your sister along' mean? Though the remark isn't really a big deal, it left Shangguan Baiyu momentarily unsure what to say.

Resentment welled up.

Gu Jin Nian didn't think much of it and headed straight for his lodgings.

Inside the dorm, soft bedding, some toiletries, clothing and the like had already been laid out; after the clansmen sent them, these student attendants would deliver them.

He entered the room.

Gu Jin Nian closed the door and then lay flat down.

There wasn't much to do in the afternoon; better to get a good sleep.

If something came up at night, that would be a loss; so he decided to sleep.

Away from some of the noise, Gu Jin Nian gradually fell asleep.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Suddenly.

A knocking sounded at the door.

Bang bang.

Bang bang.

The door's knocking was somewhat urgent, causing Gu Jin Nian to wake instantly.

"Who?"

Gu Jin Nian rose from the bed, didn't bother tidying up, flung the door open, curious as to who had come.

When the door opened.

A familiar figure appeared.

It was his sixth uncle.

Gu Ningya.

"Great nephew."

"It's me."

Gu Ningya wore the Suspended Lamp Directorate's brocade robe, though the knife at his waist had been removed; he held a wooden box, smiling at him at this moment.

"Sixth Uncle, how did you come here?"

Looking at his sixth uncle, Gu Jin Nian glanced at the sky; he had slept for almost two hours, and the sky was somewhat dim.

"There's good news."

Gu Ningya walked straight into the room and then also closed the door behind him.

"What's up, Sixth Uncle?"

Seeing Gu Ningya's sudden visit, Gu Jin Nian was genuinely curious.

What's more, he brought a wooden box, and I don't know what it's for.

"Jin Nian, this is what the old master had me bring to you."

"Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill."

"This is a pill just freshly made by the Changchun Daoist Temple; you're quite fortunate."

Gu Ningya placed the wooden box on the table.

Then he opened it.

Inside the wooden box were twelve jade bottles, each containing a pill.

"Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill?"

Gu Jin Nian frowned slightly, and the information quickly surfaced in his mind.

The Changchun Daoist Temple is a renowned immortal sect, skilled in alchemy.

The Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill is one of the three famed treasures of the Changchun Daoist Temple, and a batch can be produced only once every sixty years.

The yield per batch is not large, basically kept around one hundred and eight pills.

Each Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill is extremely valuable, the kind that money cannot buy.

It is provided only to the imperial family.

After consuming this treasure pill, it can nurture essence and sharpen spirit, strengthen the foundation, improve constitution, and has almost no side effects.

The temple keeps half, and the other half is basically all provided to the imperial family; moreover, those who can enjoy this pill are basically none other than the crown prince.

"The Changchun Daoist Temple opened three batches this time; the court provided a large amount of medicinal ingredients and demanded one batch."

"The old master received six, and the emperor additionally granted you six, making twelve in total."

"This thing, even your Sixth Uncle can't have it; remember, you can only take one at a time, and after finishing one, wait for its effects to be fully absorbed before taking another; otherwise the effects would overlap, purely a waste, understand?"

Gu Ningya spoke up, informing Gu Jin Nian of the pill's origin.

"Understood."

Upon learning this, Gu Jin Nian nodded.

But this really is a timely gift; I had just wanted to diligently practice martial arts, and unexpectedly the clan sent this fine thing.

Indeed, having a background makes all the difference; if one's status were not so great, who knows what price would have to be paid.

However, Gu Jin Nian does not place much value on such pills.

Instead, he looked at Gu Ningya and said.

"Sixth Uncle."

"What about the crown prince's affair—how was it finally handled?"

Gu Jin Nian spoke.

He has been thinking about this matter all this time.

Because of Cheng Ming's actions, the crown prince was stripped of his regency, and Gu Jin Nian surely knows there are other hidden factors involved.

How could it be because of myself that the crown prince's regency was removed?

But the problem is, the spark was myself, so I can't help but make Gu Jin Nian ponder deeply.

"Great Nephew, who in the court still attends to the crown prince's affairs nowadays?"

"The floods in Jiangning Prefecture are severe; the entire court is concerned about this."

"I've heard the situation is extremely dire; if mishandled, major trouble could ensue. As for the crown prince's matter, it might be that the emperor intends to warn him—after all, it's his own biological son; could he really be acting out?"

Gu Ningya appeared indifferent.

Perhaps he sees through it all, or perhaps he has a "rain I have no melons" attitude, and doesn't care.

"Are the floods in Jiangning Prefecture severe?"

"Indeed, upon hearing this, Gu Jin Nian was actually somewhat surprised."

"Mm."

"The flood has submerged tens of thousands of acres of fertile land; the court is now emergency-allocating funds for disaster relief and has also dispatched a large army there."

"If nothing new happens afterward, that's still manageable."

"But if further complications continue to arise, then it will be utterly troublesome."

Gu Ningya spoke up, his tone no longer so casual.

"Indeed, it's troublesome."

Gu Jin Nian murmured, his own Sixth Uncle being a vice commander of the Lamp-Hanging Bureau, certainly knowing more than he does if spoken bluntly.

Even some details are more than what the emperor knows.

If the tone were casual, that would still be fine; but I fear this solemn tone.

"Great Nephew, this has nothing to do with you; even if the sky fell, the Six Ministries would hold it up—don't treat these people as fools."

"They will have a way to resolve it."

"Jin Nian, I won't linger; Mr. Wen Jing has rules—one can stay at most the time it takes to burn an incense stick."

"Remember well, wait until the pill's effects are fully absorbed before taking another; taking more does no harm, it's just wasteful."

"One Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill cannot be bought even with a hundred thousand taels of gold."

Gu Ningya quickly gave some instructions.

After saying that, he rose and left.

"Take care, Sixth Uncle."

Gu Jin Nian nodded, and then after seeing off his sixth uncle.

His gaze fell again on the wooden box.

However, his thoughts were in River Peace Prefecture.

Because he inexplicably felt that this River Peace Prefecture flood was related to his own drowning incident.

(End of chapter)