Chapter 11: Three, Six, Nine Grades

After the founding of Great Xia, the Central Plains were waiting to be rebuilt. To select the virtuous and capable, the imperial examination system was created.

At first, it was once a year, later changed to every three years.

By the time the immortal Dao flourished and the struggle for religious fortune began, a large number of wealthy family children began to choose to cultivate immortality, and those participating in the imperial examination were few and far between, so it was changed back to once a year.

But even so, the talents in the Great Xia imperial court were withering day by day.

So when Xiang Kuangcheng said the words "imperial examination," Ji You was obviously stunned, and only then did he remember that there was actually an imperial examination in this world.

Xiang Kuangcheng rolled up his wide sleeves, rested them on his knees, and explained: "Great Xia law, if one can be lucky enough to reach the fourth rank of official status, one person among the direct relatives or descendants of the family can cultivate immortality. Father said that whether the Kuang family can continue to exist depends on me."

Azure Cloud Immortal Power is higher than Great Xia Imperial Power. Under the current offering system, commoners are racking their brains to change their class and get rid of the status of human slaves.

This young master of the Kuang family, a commoner, had studied poetry and books since childhood and was entrusted with such high hopes.

Being an official, becoming an immortal, and then frantically giving birth—the direct relatives of immortals can cultivate immortality, and the family can gradually flourish.

This is the only way of survival that families like the Kuang family, who have some family property and good fields but have always lived in the lowest class, can find.

Ji You thought for a moment and felt a trace of doubt: "If only fourth-rank officials' direct relatives can cultivate immortality, Fang Zhongzheng is only a seventh-rank county magistrate, why can Fang Ruoyao enter the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan?"

"Her ability to enter the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan has nothing to do with Magistrate Fang, but because of her brother, Fang Ruoming. The eldest son of the Fang family left home to join the army at fourteen and has been used heavily in the Zhenbei Army for seven years, so one quota fell on Fang Ruoyao."

Ji You suddenly realized after hearing this.

Although the Great Xia has ruled the Central Plains for many years, there are still many small nations and tribes lurking around like tigers. Among them, the warlike Wu-Man tribe has invaded year after year, causing constant flames of war in the northern border, and the demon race also maintains an ambiguous attitude, making the current Emperor deeply wary.

So the status of the Zhenbei Army officers has risen year after year, although not as good as the immortals on the mountain, it is definitely higher than commoners.

"It seems that his Fang family and your Kuang family have the same idea. Whether it's being an official or joining the army, in the end, it's all to let someone in the family become a cultivator."

Xiang Kuangcheng pursed his lips after hearing this: "Everyone knows that only by becoming a cultivator can one have a chance to get rid of the humble register."

Ji You couldn't help but sneer: "Great Xia strictly forbids commoners from cultivating immortality, enslaves them to engage in production, and offers most of their income to the immortals. And as there are more and more cultivators, the offerings become heavier and heavier, and they still come?"

"Great Xia has existed for thousands of years; haven't they all lived like this?"

"Old Kuang, if one day you can hold power in the imperial court, do you dare to call for this sun and moon to change into a new sky?"

Xiang Kuangcheng paused, only then understanding his meaning, and couldn't help but open his eyes wide: "How can one say such nonsense? This will kill people!"

"What if you die? Life has always been death since ancient times, leaving a loyal heart to shine on the history books."

The Azure Cloud World respects immortals, and poetry and lyrics belong to the minor path that no one asks about, so they are not developed. But concise words can still touch the bottom of the heart. However, for thousands of years, no one has dared to speak such crazy words, which made people feel a chill in their hearts.

Xiang Kuangcheng's eyes changed again and again, and only after a long time did he open his mouth: "Is this your ambition?"

"Me?"

Ji You paused, then smiled honestly: "No, I only dare to persuade others to shine on the history books. I can't do it myself; I'm afraid of death."

People are usually extremely speechless when they are extremely speechless, so Xiang Kuangcheng twitched his mouth twice.

However, a moment later, seeing the blood flowers all over Ji You's clothes, he couldn't help but pause slightly.

Life has always been death since ancient times, leaving a loyal heart to shine on the history books...

Just as Xiang Kuangcheng was pondering the true meaning of this, he suddenly felt a weak pat on his shoulder.

"Eh, does your family have red dates? Take some for me to replenish..."

"Uh, I'll go get them, you wait a moment."

"Wait a moment!"

Ji You called out to the scholar who had already stood up, thought for a moment and said: "Your family is holding a banquet? It would be even better if there was a chicken leg..."

Xiang Kuangcheng paused: "Okay."

Seeing him leave, Ji You couldn't help but sigh.

Honestly, he had lived so long and never thought that one day he would actually eat red dates to replenish blood.

But this amount of blood was actually just a period, it just looked more terrifying.

Young Master Ji stood up with difficulty, closed his eyes and began to look inside with his divine sense. After a long time, he opened his eyes and showed a loveless expression.

The spiritual spring is really broken, broken to the point of being unbearable to look at, like a blooming lotus...

But the good news is that he can still breathe in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, so he won't fall from the realm.

Just make do with it. This is probably the price of being too reckless. However, the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan is a Sacred Sect. After he goes to Shengjing, maybe he can find some way to repair it.

In the blink of an eye, it was the fifth day of the eighth month, white poplars fell early, and cold grass withered first.

Ji You continuously washed his physique with spiritual energy, and his blood and energy gradually recovered. Except for the broken spiritual spring, he was no different from an ordinary person.

At this time, the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan also set the day to set off for the capital, which was the hour of the rabbit (5-7 AM) the next day.

The news was sent along with an invitation card, which was a farewell banquet held by County Magistrate Fang Zhongzheng for him and Fang Ruoyao, inviting him to be a guest.

Although Fang Zhongzheng is not a good person, he is a very smart person who understands the situation. From the attitude of Instructor Cao, he had already vaguely felt that Ji You and his daughter, who entered the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan by quota, were not the same thing.

Ji You had already entered the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan. Although he didn't like the Fang family, he still had to make a gesture on the surface, so he accepted the invitation.

It was just that after three rounds of wine, Fang Zhongzheng was almost dragged by him to worship as sworn brothers, which made Fang Ruoyao's face iron-blue throughout the banquet.

But fortunately, Ji You didn't sit for long at the banquet, ate the two legs of the chicken, said some words of praise to Cao Jingsong and Pei Ruyi, and then left in a hurry.

"This Ji You always does things in a hurry. What is he going to do now?"

"Should be going to the grain field. The stage is being set up there, and everyone has arrived. Now only Young Master Ji is missing."

The servant responsible for serving wine came over, and after hearing the inquiry, reported.

Pei Ruyi paused slightly: "Setting up a stage? Could it be singing an opera?"

Fang Ruoyao smiled, and while pouring wine, opened her mouth: "I heard people say that Ji You chatted with people on the street this morning, saying that now that he has become a Heavenly Tian Shuyuan immortal, if he lets the wealthy families in the city recognize a god-son as protection, he will... uh, definitely get rich. I'm afraid he's busy with this matter now."

Pei Ruyi frowned after hearing this, her expression unhappy.

This guy surnamed Ji, clearly hasn't truly become a disciple of the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan yet, and he has already started to use this name to collect offerings. It's a bit too arrogant.

You must know that the Villa Master of Fengxian Mountain Villa is an Upper Five Realms expert, and only after leaving the Xuanyuan Immortal Mansion and choosing a place to form a villa did he have this qualification.

However, before Pei Ruyi could open her mouth, the servant who served the wine waved his hand: "Young Lady heard wrong, not the wealthy families in the city."

"Not?"

"Because... the ones called to the grain field are all children from poor families."

"?"

Fang Ruoyao paused slightly, looked at Pei Ruyi without a trace: "Unexpectedly, he even wants the offerings of poor families."

The servant was stunned again: "Young Master Ji doesn't collect offerings."

"How do you know he doesn't collect offerings? Talkative."

"Because... because my family's dog also went, wanting to worship Young Master Ji as a godfather."

Fang

Paying to attend school, attending school to pay—this kind of thing remains unchanged even in this Azure Cloud world.

Although Fang Ruoyao's elder brother is covered in military merits and is highly valued by the Divine General of the North, Fang Ruoyao is, after all, a mortal, and the tribute cannot be exempted.

However, the Ji family has been down-and-out for a long time, and she does not believe Ji You can afford this tribute.

When Pei Ruyi heard her ask about this, she couldn't help but glance at her before saying: "Those under twenty years old who have reached the perfection of the Lower Three Realms do not need to pay tribute to the sect."

"Ah?"

"Not to mention paying tribute, with his cultivation base, if he chooses the Xuanyuan Immortal Mansion, he can even receive a monthly allowance from the sect."

Pei Ruyi raised her half-full wine glass: "Otherwise, why do you think Instructor Cao squats at the city gate every day like he's guarding against a thief, terrified that Ji You might be poached away?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Ruoyao's expression was slightly dazed.

She had originally thought that all students of the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan were the same, but only after hearing this did she realize that even after entering the Heavenly Tian Shuyuan, there are still different ranks.

(End of chapter)