Chapter 826

A new year, a new curriculum.

After the semester began, the academy held a diagnostic exam, primarily because too many students had gone out for cultivation trials last year and failed to take the year-end exam.

Although the students who went on trials brought back excellent trial reports, out of responsibility toward the students, the academy still deemed it necessary to hold a diagnostic exam, to prevent anyone from cutting corners or pretending to be qualified.

"To avoid graduating and going out into the world ignorant of Daoist principles and unable to perform spells, yet still exploiting the name of Long Hushan Academy to swindle others!" Zhang Ziming said grimly: "The academy's major exam will be held in three days. You have three days to pray and study hard."

The entire campus groaned in unison.

Even Pan Yun dug out last year's textbooks and sealed herself inside Doumu Hall without stepping out.

Seeing Miao Zhen went to Sister Xuan Li for her notes.

After a year apart, Sister Xuan Li had grown considerably and improved her cultivation; she left only one notebook and handed the rest to Seeing Miao Zhen: "Take turns. Return one notebook every two hours."

Seeing Miao Zhen agreed and invited: "We're sealing ourselves in Doumu Hall to review. Won't you join us? That way, if you have questions about Daoist principles, you can ask my junior uncle."

Sister Xuan Li hesitated, then said: "I have two close friends…"

Seeing Miao Zhen enthusiastically urged: "Bring them along too! Even though we weren't at the academy last year, we never fell behind in our studies—you know how skilled my junior uncle is. If you have any difficulties, speak up."

Sister Xuan Li was deeply tempted: "I'll ask them."

They naturally agreed wholeheartedly.

Studying with Pan Yun~~

Even though she wasn't at the academy last year, who didn't know her cultivation was the highest in the entire academy? She had already broken through the First Marquis rank, surpassing even the fifth-year senior students.

So everyone gladly joined.

Seeing He also gathered several classmates from Taisu Academy, and they all sealed themselves together in Doumu Hall.

Everyone sat cross-legged in perfect unison; if they needed to discuss something, they went outside to the courtyard.

Pan Yun settled her mind, turning one page per breath—her page-turning pace was the fastest among everyone present, leaving classmates who occasionally lifted their heads to rest in envy.

Is the spiritual awareness of a First Marquis really this strong?

Can she scan a page and memorize it instantly?

Although Pan Yun hadn't returned to attend classes, she had read the books—now she was merely reviewing, and once she flipped a page, she could recall its content roughly.

After the knowledge passed through her mind once, she turned to the notes Seeing Miao Zhen and the others had gathered.

The academy's lessons often covered material not in the textbooks, only explained during class—so notes were extremely important.

Pan Yun flipped through them just as quickly; some content she had learned in her past or current life, some entirely new—so her pace varied between fast and slow.

But her cultivation and knowledge base were unmatched here; even if she hadn't learned it before, she grasped it instantly.

Sister Xuan Li sat beside her, occasionally whispering a question; Pan Yun only needed to glance at the notes to answer.

The notes were hers, yet she hadn't understood them at the time—she'd merely copied down what Mr. said…

Whose notes are these, really?

Sister Xuan Li couldn't even summon envy.

If the gap weren't so vast, she might have the courage to catch up; if it were large, she might feel envy—but between them now lay an unbridgeable chasm; she couldn't even see the dust of Pan Yun's heels—how could she feel envy?

She simply excluded Pan Yun from the category of human beings.

At first, Pan Yun quietly explained to Sister Xuan Li; Seeing Miao Zhen and the others strained their ears to listen; then someone caught a key term, perked up, and moved closer to listen.

In Doumu Hall, everyone's gaze toward Pan Yun gradually grew luminous.

What's going on? They could actually understand what Pan Yun was explaining—yet when Mr. taught, they'd struggled desperately to grasp these two points…

Had they improved? Was it truly different now…?

No one dared to think further; they all shook their heads and crowded around to eavesdrop.

Three days passed in a flash; aside from eating and using the toilet, they barely left Doumu Hall.

In those three days, the students forged deep bonds, their friendships surging forward—three days felt like three autumns, a development even the academy's instructors hadn't anticipated.

Zhang Liuzhen gently placed a stone on the board and smiled lightly: "I was worried they'd have little interaction with classmates, and after graduation, their bonds would be shallow. But now it seems I overestimated the problem—this diagnostic exam was excellent. We should hold it again next year."

Lin Jing placed a stone on the board, directly blocking the new path Zhang Liuzhen had opened, and said calmly: "The maritime ban has been lifted; the navy along the southeast coast is aggressively suppressing pirates. This year, they have no reason to go out for trials—no diagnostic exam is needed for bonds to deepen."

Zhang Liuzhen smiled and slowly placed another stone: "The world is ever-changing—today cannot predict tomorrow."

Lin Jing looked up at Zhang Liuzhen and said: "When Pan Yun returned to Huishan, she visited the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion. Deng Jin extended her examination eligibility to nine years."

Zhang Liuzhen lowered his eyes to the board.

Lin Jing asked directly: "Was that your doing?"

Zhang Liuzhen lifted his eyelids slightly, a faint smile on his lips: "Is that not allowed?"

Lin Jing lowered his gaze, pinched a white stone, and placed it down with a solemn voice: "I just think you've been too kind to her."

Zhang Liuzhen said nothing, tapped the board lightly with his finger, and silently placed a stone, wiping out a whole group of Lin Jing's white stones.

Lin Jing merely stared silently, paused for a long while, then held the white stone in his hand and hesitated: "True Person urges you to marry. What do you think of Pan Yun?"

Zhang Liuzhen, seeing Lin Jing hadn't moved, had just lifted his teacup to drink; upon hearing this, he spat out the tea, quickly turned his head to avoid spilling it on the board, but choked on the tea and burst into violent coughing.

Lin Jing watched him steadily; seeing he truly had no thoughts on the matter, he withdrew his gaze with slight disappointment, yet murmured: "Pan Yun has exceptional talent, and her cultivation surpasses even her peers—going back even to our generation, she matches them. Now, whether in the martial world or the imperial court, her influence grows daily…"

"No," Zhang Liuzhen quickly cut him off, laughing wryly: "Just because I want to marry doesn't mean she must marry me."

Lin Jing clenched the stone: "You're not lacking…"

Zhang Liuzhen: "Who says lacking means you must marry?"

He shook his head: "We've cultivated the Dao—if we're still bound by worldly marriage, what Dao are we cultivating?"

Lin Jing retorted irritably: "But can you not leave an heir for the Zhang family's main branch?"

Zhang Liuzhen smiled, said nothing, set down his teacup, picked up a black stone at random, placed it, then rose and brushed the water droplets from his robe: "You lost. Remember to pick up the stones."

Lin Jing stared at the board, silent for a long while.

By the time he wanted to speak, Zhang Liuzhen had already gone upstairs to change clothes.

When the exam results were announced, Pan Yun remained the top student among third-years—despite spending most of last year away from the academy, she still ranked first, earning her the title of "Academy God."

Even the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion at the foot of the mountain was stirred up.

The True Person couldn't help calling Zhang Ziwang to ask: "If Pan Yun ranked first in the Academy's grand examination, why hasn't she yet obtained her qualification certificate for the rite examination? Isn't next year the year of the rite examination?"

Has the Academy's prestige fallen so low?

Zhang Ziwang said: "Master, this year her qualification exam tied for first place with seven others, but she wasn't chosen in the lottery."

After a pause, Zhang Ziwang added: "She is a disciple of the Mountain God of Mount Sanqing."

Then there's no issue.

The True Person asked: "I heard she is close to Liu Zhen?"

Zhang Ziwang: "Perhaps because of Zhang Li." The True Person sighed and asked: "Still no news of Zhang Li?"

Zhang Ziwang: "A month ago, a caravan saw the two near the Kunlun Mountains…"

He paused, then whispered: "Master, word has come that the Blood-Dripping Snow Lotus, once hoarded by the Yu family of Kunlun, is now in the hands of the Chen family of Fujian. The Chen family has been seized; perhaps the Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion could petition Your Majesty for this item."

The True Person: "A priceless prescription of unknown efficacy—even if we obtain the Blood-Dripping Snow Lotus, we still need two other rare medicinal ingredients. Can you be certain we'll find them?"

Zhang Ziwang: "We must at least try."

The True Person nodded: "I understand. I'll send people to search for it."

But Zhang Ziwang always felt the True Person wasn't truly invested in this matter.

They had exhausted every possible method to treat the Young Master's injury, and Wang Feiyin finally produced a prescription—why not spare no effort to find the ingredients?

Zhang Ziwang opened his mouth but held back.

"Say what you have to say outright."

Zhang Ziwang could only bow his head: "Lin Jingle said Liu Zhen doesn't wish to marry."

The True Person's expression remained calm: "It is his duty."

Zhang Ziwang's heart tightened; he whispered: "Liu Zhen has always been independent. If he refuses, no one can force him. We think it better to yield to him—rather than let him become emotionally agitated, harming his body and spirit…"

The True Person's cold gaze settled on him.

Zhang Ziwang stammered: "I mean… find him a woman he likes. Let both sides compromise—he might agree."

The True Person asked directly: "Does he have a woman he likes?"

Zhang Ziwang whispered: "Among all the female disciples, he is closest to Pan Yun—they consult each other on everything…"

"He doesn't feel romantic affection for Pan Yun. Even if he did, would you dare let them marry? Don't forget who her master is," the True Person said: "At her current pace and scale of causing trouble, aren't you afraid he'll someday choke on water or trip and die?"

Zhang Ziwang opened his mouth but had no reply.

The True Person thought their suggestions were absurd and waved him off: "My decision is final. When Qingming arrives, I shall go to Fengyang and arrange for him to marry Chen Mao's granddaughter."

Zhang Ziwang sighed: "It's a pity Your Majesty is young—if only we could marry him to a Princess. Master, if not a Princess, then a Princess of a Commandery or a County?"

The True Person: "Chen Mao's granddaughter is most suitable."

Zhang Ziwang withdrew.

The Zhang Zhang Tian Shi's Mansion has had more than one generation marry a Princess; since the Song Dynasty, several generations of Celestial Masters have married Princesses.

After our dynasty's founding, one Princess and one Princess of a Commandery were married into our family; strictly speaking, we are now related by blood to the current ruler.

But the Zhang family has no need to flaunt this honor, so few among the common folk know of it.

The Zhang family of Long Hushan is a clan that can rival the Northern Kong family—not only does each Zhang Zhang Tian Shi hold a Third-rank official title, a height many officials never reach in their lifetimes, but they also possess a thousand years of accumulated resources.

The Zhangs place extreme importance on primogeniture: wealth, connections, cultivation techniques, even sacred swords are almost entirely passed to the sole heir; other descendants receive only a fraction.

Not only do they not pass things to daughters—even among sons, if not the eldest, many techniques are inaccessible to them.

This was why Zhang Li and others were once resentful and sought reform.

Yet the Zhang family has endured precisely because most things are given only to the heir.

Concentrating resources in the line of the eldest son inevitably recalls the Han Dynasty's Edict of Enfeoffment—but this method is its exact opposite.

Emperor Wu of Han used that edict to quietly dismantle the power of numerous feudal lords.

But overemphasizing primogeniture has its own problems: the best way to replace the heir is to kill him.

That was precisely why Liu Zhen was targeted years ago.

Unless he dies, no one else can ever surpass him to become the Zhang heir.

After Zhang Ziwang left, the True Person sat in meditation for hours; when the moon rose above the willow branches, he rose and went to the Academy.

He came quietly, without disturbing anyone.

Zhang Liuzhen had the kitchen prepare many delicacies and hosted Pan Yun, Xue Shao, and others in the courtyard.

These past days had been spent reviewing and taking exams, and the cafeteria's food grew worse each day; now, seeing meat was like seeing a miracle—they sat down and immediately buried their faces in their bowls.

Zhang Liuzhen had a modest appetite and drank only wine; seeing them eat so greedily, he smiled: "Cultivation demands few desires—appetite is the first to be renounced. Yet every year I see you, you've never renounced it."

"We haven't renounced it, but we've restrained ourselves," Pan Yun immediately explained: "We never overeat, right?"

Miao He and the others nodded vigorously.

Zhang Liuzhen looked at Miao He's increasingly round face and said nothing.

Pan Yun: "She's naturally round."

Miao He nodded.

Zhang Liuzhen smiled and shook his head, shifting to serious matters: "I heard you're asking for leave right after the semester starts?"

Pan Yun: "... Even this small thing they told you?"

Zhang Liuzhen: "In the Academy's eyes now, you're my faction. Those in my circle report to me; those not in my circle come to mock me. Between the two, I hear plenty."

Pan Yun pondered, thoughtful: "So you sit here in the courtyard, and even your rivals come to deliver you news?"

Zhang Liuzhen nodded with a smile: "It happens often."

He brought the topic back: "You're asking for one day off before Qingming and one after—what are you going to do?"

Pan Yun: "To sweep graves~~~"

Zhang Liuzhen watched her in silence.

Pan Yun spread her hands: "I really went to sweep graves—I'll turn into a puppy if I'm lying."

Zhang Liuzhen: "You're already the First Marquis—why are you getting tangled up in such mundane matters? I don't believe it, and neither will anyone outside."

Xue Shao glanced at Pan Yun and explained for her: "It's true—she went to sweep graves, but the graves are in Wa Country."

Pan Yun: "They all went to Wa Country last year with me to seek revenge..."

"Didn't you lose anyone?" Zhang Liuzhen interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "So, did casualties turn up later?"

Pan Yun cleared her throat softly and whispered: "They were allies of Wa Country—I went to sweep their graves."