Five minutes past dawn.
Xu Qingnian sped along the official road.
Now that he had been promoted to the ninth rank, coupled with his Great Sun Sacred Body, Xu Qingnian was physically able to keep his strength up almost all the time.
He was so fast that it would have taken him two days to get back to South Yufu.
But now, with Xu Qingnian’s speed, it would only take him three or four hours to reach South Yufu.
The difference between these two was too great.
At least the money for the horses had been saved.
It was also while Xu Qingnian was speeding along that the voice of the Dan God rang out.
“You’ve condensed the Great Sun Saint Body?”
The Dan God’s voice was somewhat surprised as it inquired about Xu Qingnian.
“En, senior, is there any problem?”
Xu Qingnian asked.
“There’s no problem, it’s just that the herbs you need to find are different.”
“The Great Sun Saint Physique is an extraordinary physique, you are now of the ninth grade, if you are of the eighth grade you will need to gather all four herbs.”
The Dan God replied.
“Which four?”
Xu Qingnian was straightforward.
“Thousand year old Purple Jade Coral, Golden Yang Jade Gra*s, three thousand year old Spirit Tree Root Heart, and a jar of Seventh Grade Beast King Heart Blood.”
The Dan God named the four medicinal herbs.
After hearing the recipe, Xu Qingnian was somewhat dumbfounded.
Thousand-year purple jade coral, he didn’t know what it was.
Golden Yang Jade Gra*s, he didn’t know what it was either.
Spirit Tree Root Heart he knew even less about what it was.
But the Seventh Grade Beast King’s Heart Blood, Xu Qingnian knew what it was.
A seventh-grade demonic beast, and a beast king at that, a jar of heart blood? A beast king’s heart blood was almost one jar, right?
What was the concept of a seventh grade demonic beast?
If a seventh-grade martial artist was strong, then a seventh-grade demonic beast was inherently several times stronger than a human, not to mention a beast king?
Although this kind of thing was called a seventh grade, its value was actually no weaker than a sixth grade, right?
“Want ten copies?”
Xu Qingnian frowned slightly and said.
“There’s no need for this, the Realm Breaking Pill doesn’t need ten portions, five is fine, and if you can’t find similar herbs, just count the rest as sixth grade.”
The Dan God replied calmly.
But those words were not calm in Xu Qingnian’s heart.
By the sixth grade?
Xu Qingnian did not know how expensive the sixth grade herbs were, but they were certainly not cheap.
Something that could bring down a titled Martial Emperor was truly worthy of its name.
Xu Qingnian didn’t speak anymore.
This price was too harsh, and to be honest getting all these herbs was not as easy and convenient as using a foreign art to improve one’s strength.
The difficulty of both, at least Xu Qingnian thought it was harder to collect the herbs.
Seeing that Xu Qingnian did not say anything, after a while, Dan Shen’s voice rang out.
“Actually, you shouldn’t think it’s much, you should know that this Realm Breaking Pill doesn’t have any side effects, it directly breaks through the realm, and the later you get, the more terrifying it is.”
“Not to mention the others, it’s like cultivating a different art, the front feels fast, after you reach the fifth grade, one grade, one heaven, at that time you will find that without my help, no matter how many herbs you have, you won’t be able to rise one grade.”
The Dan God was very confident, but these words just slightly seemed like a bit of brainwashing.
Xu Qingnian didn’t reply to anything.
The reason was simple, after the fifth grade was a matter for the fifth grade, what was the point of thinking so long term about oneself now?
It was fine to take one step and look at three steps.
To take one step and see three hundred steps, was this still human?
“Senior, if someone cultivates a foreign art and reaches the first grade, can they solve the scourge of foreign arts?”
Xu Qingnian did not continue to discuss the matter of medicinal herbs, but asked about this matter.
“I don’t know, in the past and present, there are not many people who have cultivated the supernatural arts to the first grade, and when they reach the first grade, the level is completely different, they might have cultivated the supernatural arts and you wouldn’t be able to tell.”
Dan Shen’s reply made Xu Qingnian’s heart sink.
But he didn’t think much about it and continued to rush towards the South Yufu.
It was only after half an hour.
Xu Qingnian suddenly spoke.
“Senior, can you refine a poison? The colourless and tasteless kind.”
He suddenly opened his mouth.
This asked.
“A poison pill? What do you need such a thing for?”
“I know all the dan recipes in the world, and I naturally know about poisons, just ……”
Dan Shen was somewhat curious, not knowing what Xu Qingnian wanted poison for.
“Er ….. Nothing, if it is inconvenient for senior, forget it, it is the junior who has taken the liberty.”
Xu Qingnian thought about it, something like the Dan God’s Ancient Scripture knew all the dan recipes of heaven and earth, if he were to let it refine poison, it would indeed be a bit of a big deal, furthermore, things with spirits would generally not do such things, so Xu Qingnian felt he was being a bit presumptuous.
“It’s not inconvenient.”
“Refining poisons is not a problem.”
“But ……”
“The herbs will have to be added.”
Dan Shen spoke out seriously.
Xu Qingnian: “……”
Good man, I thought it was something, but I didn’t think it was just this?
At this moment, Xu Qingnian was curious as to why this Dan Shen Gu Jing wanted more medicinal herbs?
Although he couldn’t help for nothing, what did he need so many herbs for?
It would be fine to exchange them for an equal price, he would help him with his work and he would help him with his pills, this was justifiable.
“Does this guy need herbs to restore his vitality?”
Suddenly, Xu Qingnian thought of a possibility.
But yes or no, there was no need to consider anything for the time being, he couldn’t use it for the time being, he could put it aside, and when he had completely calmed down, he could study this Dan God Ancient Scripture.
And so it was.
An hour and a half later.
Outside South Yufu City.
Xu Qingnian had returned.
Having sped all the way, Xu Qingnian’s body was stained with a lot of ash, and his clean white clothes had become somewhat untidy.
When he came to the entrance of the city, a familiar figure appeared.
“Old Brother Xu, oh no, now we’re going to call him Xu Wangu, what’s going on? What has happened? Did you encounter bandits and robbers?”
It was Yang Bao’s voice.
He was guarding the city today.
He was bragging with his fellow officers, but he didn’t expect to see Xu Qingnian with a casual glance.
When he met Xu Qingnian again, Yang Bao was extremely excited. Some time ago, Xu Qingnian had made a big splash in the South Yufu, and he had followed suit.
After all, he had personally escorted Xu Qingnian to the South Yu Mansion, so he knew each other, and many of his colleagues envied him.
But he never expected to meet Xu Qingnian here.
In an instant, the guards in the city heard the three words Xu Qingnian, and instantly their eyes were cast over, and a few of those who were resourceful, even gathered around, full of curiosity.
“It’s alright, I ran too fast and got some dust on me, it’s alright, it’s alright, Old Brother Yang, why are you here guarding the city?”
Xu Qingnian gave a laugh and came in front of Yang Bao, looking very cordial.
“Don’t don’t don’t, you are now Xu Wangu, I can’t bear the title of old brother, I can’t afford it.”
When he heard Xu Qingnian call himself Older Brother, Yang Bao was extremely happy, but he also knew how to respect his superiors and inferiors.
Who was Xu Qingnian now?
He was just a constable, he couldn’t afford to be called Xu Qingnian’s elder brother.
“The first thing you need to do is to call me an old man.
Xu Qingnian didn’t care, instead he casually put his shoulder on Yang Bao.
It was still rather simple between martial artists and martial artists, and it was more than a little unnatural to salute when you see someone.
“Fine, thanks to old brother’s kindness, I’ll cheekily oblige with this old brother.”
“But, old brother Xu, where have you been all this time? The whole Nan Yu Mansion is talking about you, I thought you were in the Mansion, but I didn’t expect you to go out, huh?”
Yang Bao opened his mouth with a smile, he didn’t have much on his mind, Xu Qingnian was so generous with his face, his heart was touched and admired ah.
This is a real scholar, a real talent, unlike those literati, who have their noses to the sky when they have some achievements, and when they have some status, they want everyone to pay compliments.
When compared to Xu Qingnian, it was a world apart.
Especially when the other guards around them saw how well Xu Qingnian was getting along with Yang Bao, their eyes turned green.
Green with acid.
This status of Xu Qingnian, who called Yang Bao brother and brother, was not worthy of envy?
To put it bluntly, as long as Xu Qingnian was willing to ask the Prefect to open up, Yang Pao would immediately be promoted, this was the benefit of connections.
“They’re all talking about me? What’s being discussed about me? Has the government exams been unveiled?”
Xu Qingnian was a bit curious, people should be discussing themselves, after all, the best article, but it’s been six or seven days since then, why are they still discussing themselves?
There is no topic?
The first thing you need to do is to create some conversation.
“It’s not because the imperial court issued an imperial decree saying that you, what with your essay’s intention, are a superb essay, so that all literati in the world have to learn from you and so on.”
“As a result, a group of scholars came from Tianming House, aggressively, wanting to discuss something with you.”
“I don’t understand exactly what it is, anyway, these people are not good guys, the Tianming House has been pressing our South Yu House, and now it’s good that we’re pressing back.”
“They’re probably not convinced and want to get you in trouble.”
“But old brother, other than that, we have a group of people in the government office who all support you, if that group of readers can’t say no to you and play rough and dirty, you just say hello.”
“Guaranteed to make them never want to come back to South Yufu for the rest of their lives.”
Yang Bao briefly elaborated, but he didn’t understand it very well and could only make a general statement.
The last few words even made it clear that if the people of Tianming House dared to really find trouble with Xu Qingnian, they would definitely not let these guys off either.
Xu Qingnian was somewhat moved.
But more than that, he was still amazed.
An essay of intent?
When had he ever written an essay of intent?
“Alright, with this word from old brother, old brother, I’ll go into the city first, I’ll treat you to a drink later, and some days later the Prefect will invite me into the banquet.”
“Older brother will definitely put in a good word for you two older brothers, my brother Xu, I have to take care of them no matter what.”
Xu Qingnian did not say anything too direct, but the meaning was obvious.
As a matter of fact, once this was said, Yang Bao was so excited that he almost cried out.
“Older brother, I understand your feelings, anyway, in any case, in the future, if you need us two brothers somewhere, you can just say the word, we two brothers will definitely help you do it.”
“No matter how dirty or tiring the work is, my two brothers will not have a word of complaint.”
Yang Bao was touched.
He was really touched.
There was no other reason. What was his status?
To be honest, if Xu Qingnian saw himself, he would be happy to nod his head, and he would not even dare to think about calling him brother.
But what Xu Qingnian had done had completely convinced him.
“Let’s go, old brother.”
Xu Qingnian didn’t say much more and walked towards the city.
After Xu Qingnian left, the group of guards could not help but surround Yang Bao, one by one, to say happy celebrations.
With Xu Qingnian’s recommendation, it was impossible for the two brothers, Yang Bao and Yang Hu, to not go up.
But the crowd understood even more, Xu Qingnian is really a person of noble character, not forgetting his poor relatives when he is rich, noble.
Inside the Nan Yu Mansion.
Xu Qingnian was a bit ashamed.
But he did not go directly to the inn, but went to the Li residence.
He probably understood some of what Yang Bao said just now, but he could not understand what Yang Bao said clearly, leading to his own inability to understand what had happened at all.
Going straight back to the inn would not lead to any enquiries, so he might as well go straight to Li Xin.
The door of the Li mansion.
Although covered in dust, when Xu Qingnian arrived at the mansion gate, a moment later the guards at the entrance were instantly surprised.
“Xu Qingnian?”
“Isn’t this Xu Wangu?”
“Mr Xu, what brings you here? How did you get like this? Did that group of scholars from the Tianming Mansion do this?”
“Mr. Xu, have you been bullied? Brothers, hurry up and shout for someone, D*mn it, that gang of literati from Tianming Academy don’t speak of martial virtue and dare to bully our great genius.”
When they saw Xu Qingnian covered in dust, the guards’ first reaction was surprise, and their second reaction was that Xu Qingnian had been bullied.
After all, right now in the South Yufu, all of them were discussing the matter of the Tianming Academy.
This Tianming Academy did not come to Nan Yu Mansion in the morning, but at this time? We all know what the intention is.
Isn’t it just to step on Xu Qingnian’s to the top?
The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of what you’re doing.
It was not easy for a great talent to emerge from the South Yu House.
Who could bear it if someone from the Tianming Academy came and smashed the court?
The group started to shout when Xu Qingnian didn’t show up and met with the students of Tianming Academy.
What Xu Qingnian is afraid of.
They also said that Xu Qingnian was afraid, or that he was able to write a great article, but did not dare to come out to meet with him.
Although such comments were suppressed by a Confucian scholar from the Tianming Academy and the group was reprimanded, the words had been spoken, you reprimanded them, and I was upset.
It was impossible to let it go like that.
Now that Xu Qingnian is dusty and covered in mud and dust, it is inevitable that people will think that Xu Qingnian has been beaten up.
So with the old hatred and the new, the guards were furious.
Although they were only officials, they knew the principle of “all glory goes with the territory, all loss goes with the territory”.
Xu Qingnian was now the face of the South Yufu, if Xu Qingnian was aggrieved, they would not do it.
“It’s alright, it’s alright, don’t misunderstand, I’m here to find Brother Li.”
Xu Qingnian was a little puzzled, why did he feel like he had been beaten up when he saw that he was a little hasty?
Was there a need for this?
“Looking for Sir Li? Mr Xu, you can go straight in, I’ll take you to the gongzi, he’s in the mansion.”
As soon as they heard that they were looking for Li Xin, the crowd was relieved, if this was really a beating by someone from the Tianming Academy, they would definitely not be convinced.
Xu Qingnian was willing to put up with it, they couldn’t even.
After Xu Qingnian had entered.
Outside the door, the crowd of guards couldn’t help but murmur.
“Why do I get the feeling that Mr. Xu just got beaten up?”
“You don’t say it yet, I feel the same way.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t make sense that Mr. Xu was so rushed and his clothes are covered in dust.”
“Stop guessing, I’ll go and ask around, if it’s really those guys who are up to no good, let’s play some hardball with them.”
“OK, then go and ask around and let us know if you have any news.”
“I’ll go with you, you four wait here.”
With that, the two left to go and ask around for some information, standing guard for something like that, it wasn’t a big problem to leave for a while now and then, as long as not too many people left.
They were also official officers, and not servants of the Li House.
Inside the Li Mansion.
After pa*sing through several courtyards, finally, Xu Qingnian saw Li Xin.
At this moment, under a tree, Li Xin was carrying a book and was carefully
“My lord, Mr. Xu is here.”
As a voice rang out, Li Xin couldn’t help but turn back from his book and turned his gaze to look at it, revealing a delighted look when he realised that the visitor was Xu Qingnian.
“Brother Xu, what brings you here?”
Seeing Xu Qingnian, Li Xin was indeed a little excited, he had also gone to look for Xu Qingnian in the past few days, but found that Xu Qingnian was not in the inn.
After asking some of his friends, they did not know where Xu Qingnian had gone to. He was a little curious but did not keep looking, after all, Xu Qingnian also had his own affairs.
It was just that he did not expect Xu Qingnian to make a sudden visit.
“Brother Xu, what are you?”
“Are the people from the Tianming Academy looking for trouble with Brother Xu?”
Quickly stepping in front of Xu Qingnian, looking at the dusty body of Xu Qingnian, Li Xin was a little surprised and subconsciously thought that it was the students of the Tianming Academy who were looking for trouble.
“No.”
Xu Qingnian shook his head, before sitting on the stone bench and speaking.
“Many things are inconvenient to talk about.”
“I beg you, Xiandi, have someone prepare some dishes first, I’m a bit hungry.”
“Let’s talk while we eat.”
Having run all the way from Ping’an County to South Yufu, he was indeed hungry, and martial artists themselves had to eat a lot to replenish their energy.
The Great Sun Saint Body needed to replenish food and nourish its essence even more.
“Small problem.”
Li Xin immediately instructed the guard who had led the way in Fang to inform the catering house and prepare some delicacies for Xu Qingnian.
After the order was given.
Li Xin poured a cup of tea for Xu Qingnian, and then he was a little impatient to say.
“Brother Xu, where have you been these days?”
“The South Yufu is going crazy, but I haven’t seen any sign of you.”
Li Xin poured wine and asked so.
“I went out to run some errands.”
“Was it the matter of the Tianming Academy?”
Xu Qingnian asked.
“En, nowadays, the Tianming Academy is explicitly coming to see you to talk about Confucianism, but what exactly is the purpose, we all understand.”
“It’s nothing more than seeing that Brother Xu is so talented that he has overpowered their Tianming School and is somewhat unconvinced.”
“He even invited the old dean of the Tianming Academy, a great man, a sixth-grade Confucian.”
Li Xin replied.
“Sixth-ranked Zhengruan? It shouldn’t be so much to reach this realm, right?”
Xu Qingnian was a little puzzled, the sixth rank of Confucianism, there was no need to be like this, according to reason.
“Brother Xu don’t worry, this gentleman will certainly not actively seek trouble with you, my father made a special visit, but he wanted to come and ask Brother Xu about the article.”
Li Xin replied.
“The article?”
“What did the imperial decree say? Is there a sample?”
Speaking of articles Xu Qingnian remembered, he was clearly on the An Guo policy, how come it had suddenly become a chapter of the establishment again?
“There is, brother Xu wait a moment.”
Li Xin immediately got up, and then took out a piece of rice paper from the room.
It was laid out on the stone table.
This was a topography of the holy decree, and generally speaking when the holy decree came down, all the prefectures and provinces needed to topograph it and post it on the city walls to announce it to the world.
The content was very simple.
It was only after reading it that Xu Qingnian’s brow furrowed.
