On the Avenue.

Chapter 254: People from Xijing
On the first day of the new year, people in the village visited each other to wish each other a happy new year. Chen Shi also got up early and went out to greet the elderly in the village and say a few festive words.

The young people in the village were also very happy. When they saw Chen Shi, they paid their respects to Mr. Jieyuan and tried to get some of the literary aura of Wenquxing.

——The old men and women in the village all said that Chen Shi was the Wenquxing from heaven who had descended to earth, which was why he was able to pass the imperial examination. There was also a rumor that on the day Chen Shi was born, his mother dreamed of an old woman chasing a group of rabbits, and one of the rabbits jumped into her belly, which showed that it was a star from heaven who had descended to earth.

After making one round, Chen Shi went to burn incense for his godmother and Zhu Xiucai. He also invited Shiji Niangniang to come out and asked Shiji to burn three incense sticks for his godmother and one for Zhu Xiucai as well.

"This scholar has received so much worship from me that he might burst into pieces," said Niangniang Shiji.

However, when she lit the incense stick, Zhu Xiucai was still hanging on the crooked tree intact, swaying in the wind, and showed no sign of bursting.

Niangniang Shiji was surprised: "The scholar ghost has some skills."

Chen Shi went to pay homage to his grandfather again and expressed his longing for him.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, he brought fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs to Gangzi Village to pay New Year's greetings to Granny Sha. Granny Sha had become younger and more beautiful. Young men from various villages crowded at the door, as well as some matchmakers. When they saw Chen Shi, they all started to make a scene: "You haven't even grown all your hair yet, and you're trying to propose marriage! Get out, get out!"

Chen Shi shouted, and a wisp of aura spread out, pressing everyone to the ground, and only then could he walk into Grandma Sha's house.

Granny Sha changed her clothes. She wore a pink cross-collared short jacket with a white collar, and a gold-woven horse-faced skirt. She wore butterfly and peach blossom hairpins on her head, red hairstrings with gold beads on her temples, and a tied waist, making her look slender.

Seeing this, Chen Shi thought to himself, "No wonder so many people came to propose marriage."

Granny Sha was also very happy to see him coming to pay New Year's greetings. She chatted with him and wanted to keep him for lunch. Chen Shi smiled and said, "Granny... Sister Sha, I still have to go to Granny Zhuang and Xuanshan to pay New Year's greetings, so I won't stay."

When Granny Sha heard him calling her sister, she was overjoyed and said with a smile, "Good! Good! By the way, you should also go to Qingyang. It has been dead for many years and is all alone. In the past, your grandfather would go to chat with it during the New Year."

Chen Shi said yes.

Granny Sha added, "Take these people away from the door. They are annoying me to death."

Chen Shi asked in confusion: "Weren't they seduced by Sister Sha? Look at the peach blossoms and butterflies hanging on your temples, and the pink clothes on your body..."

"I just want to dress up beautifully, but I don't want people to block my door every day to propose marriage!"

Chen Shi sacrificed his Yuanying, lifted everyone up, and sent them several miles away, scaring them, "That woman is a demon, she wants to eat people in the middle of the night, eating the toes first, chewing them carefully. I am a talisman master, how could I lie to you?"

Everyone dispersed in a hurry.

Chen Shi went to Granny Zhuang's house again. Granny Zhuang was so happy to see him coming to wish her a happy new year that she couldn't stop smiling and said, "Xiao Shi, how about Granny staying at your temple for a few days?"

Chen Shi was also surprised and happy, and quickly agreed.

Granny Zhuang packed some snacks, probably planning to eat them in the small temple, and placed the incense burner in a conspicuous place, thinking that people from other villages would come to her to wish her a happy new year, and placing the incense burner here could collect incense.

Granny Zhuang entered the temple, climbed up onto the shrine and sat down.

Chen Shi continued his journey and came to the top of the mountain where the great snake Xuanshan was located. The mountain was named after him, Xuanshan.

At this time, many villagers and spirits from Qianyang Mountain had come to Xuanshan to burn incense and kowtow to the big snake Xuanshan.

Many monsters from the mountain also came. It has become the custom of Qianyang Mountain to come and pay homage to Xuanshan at the beginning of the new year.

In Qianyang Mountain, humans, spirit beasts and monsters experience birth and death, but Xuanshan is the only one that survives forever, unshakable. In Ling's heart, Xuanshan is a god, so all good wishes are placed on him, and therefore he must be worshipped.

Chen Shi was offering incense to the big snake Xuanshan. At this time, Xuanshan in black walked down from the big snake Xuanshan's head and said, "Xiao Shi, I heard that you once captured Granny Zhuang and put her in your small temple to help you practice. Is this true?"

Chen Shi's heart was pounding, his mouth was dry, and he gritted his teeth and said, "It is true."

He secretly groaned. This time, Granny Zhuang was in the temple, helping him to practice, and she was caught red-handed by Xuanshan!

Xuanshan in black remained silent.

Chen Shi was uneasy and didn't say anything.

Black-clothed Xuanshan wondered, "Why haven't you arrested me yet?"

After a while, Chen Shi felt a strong sense of oppression, which almost made him unable to breathe. Just as he was about to release Granny Zhuang, Xuanshan in black clothes said, "Why don't you capture me and let me practice in the small temple?"

Chen Shi was stunned.

Xuanshan in black repeated it again.

Chen Shi finally heard it clearly and said timidly: "I dare not. Besides, the temple is already full..."

"full?"

Xuanshan in black was startled for a moment, then walked into the small temple behind him. Granny Zhuang and Niangniang Shiji were both sitting on the shrines in the small temple, and on another shrine sat a cross-legged black dog, looking very serious, as if it was practicing some extraordinary skills.

Xuanshan in black had a gloomy expression on his face, and it was indeed full.

He could drive out Granny Zhuang and the black pot, but he couldn't drive out Niangniang Shiji. But wouldn't that be bullying the good and fearing the evil?

At this time, Hei Guo opened his eyes, jumped off the shrine, patted the shrine, and indicated that he could sit on it.

Xuanshan in black was startled, and saw the dog quickly coming to the outside of the temple. Outside the temple, there was only an acre of land and black sandy space.

The dog leaped forward, disappeared from the small temple, and appeared outside.

Seeing this, Xuanshan in black hesitated for a moment, nodded to Granny Zhuang and Niangniang Shiji, gave them a friendly smile, and then came to the shrine and sat cross-legged.

As soon as he sat down, he felt the light of the sun, moon and stars transform into the righteousness of heaven and earth, which came to him one after another, like a raging sea tide, surging in!

He slightly adjusted his sitting position and assisted Chen Shi in his practice. He felt the positive energy of heaven and earth flowing through his body, and unknowingly refined the evil energy and devilish nature that had accumulated in himself, making his mind clear and transparent, like a bright mirror hanging high in the sky, and he felt indescribably comfortable.

"What a great place!" Black-clothed Xuanshan exclaimed.

Chen Shi continued to walk into the mountains with the black pot. When he arrived at the Qianyang Mountain God Temple, he burned incense to the Qianyang Mountain God and placed a fruit plate on the table.

Qianyang Mountain Lord woke up and restrained his breath. Huang Hu also woke up and had some fun with Chen Shi. He wanted to play the tiger hunting game with Gou Zi, but Hei Guo flatly refused.

Chen Shi came to the mountain village where the green sheep lived. Just as Grandma Sha said, the green sheep was indeed in a miserable state, hiding in a tree hole and crying loudly.

When he saw Chen Shi coming to pay New Year's greetings, he pretended to be tough again and acted as if he didn't care about anything.

Heiguo cooked and Chen Shi accompanied him for lunch. Qingyang was very excited and talked nonstop during the meal, talking about his past with Chen Yindu.

Chen Shi brought him several jars of wine, which he drank up. Perhaps because he was drunk, he started to treat Chen Shi as his brother.

In the afternoon, Chen Shi went to visit the Hu family compound again. The whole Hu family gave him a grand welcome, and it was extremely lively. Chen Shi was flattered and didn't know what had happened.

Hu Feifei whispered, "The two ginseng fruits you gave the chief brought him back to life. He wishes he could turn into a female fox and marry you."

Hu Xiaoliang was originally in a state of being neither alive nor dead, and could only rely on the realm of ghosts and gods to save his life. He was naturally very happy when he got two ginseng fruits from Chen Shi and gained several hundred more years of life.

Chen Shi was drunk by the vixens and did not go home at night, but stayed in the Hu family compound. Late at night, many female vixens tried to attack Chen Shi's room, but were beaten back by Hu Feifei who was guarding the door.

"Hu Feifei, you want to eat alone! Even if Mr. Chen wins the first place in the imperial examination, you can't expect us to call you grandma!"

The fox spirits were very angry. They stood with their hands on their hips and cursed nasty things, such as stealing chickens and only stealing sick chickens, and turning into humans and revealing fox tails.

The next day Chen Shi woke up and still had a headache.

Hu Feifei asked: "When will Brother Chen leave for Xijing?"

Chen Shi said: "It's too early to go to Xijing now, right? If you want to go out, you have to wait until after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month."

Hu Feifei looked solemn and said, "Our Xinxiang is very far from Xijing, which is on the west coast. It takes at least 40 to 50 days to get there from here. If something happens on the way, it will take even longer, maybe half a year. Many candidates from provinces east of Xinxiang set out before the New Year."

Chen Shi thought for a moment and said, "Then we will set out after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month."

Hu Feifei asked, "What should we do with the little King of Hell?"

Hei Guo heard the sound and turned his head to look. Nannan turned the dog's face back and let it continue to play with her.

Chen Shi hesitated for a moment and said, "Take him with you to Xijing!"

Hu Feifei said worriedly, "I have no choice but to take him with me. If I leave him at home, we won't be able to rest assured."

Chen Shi went out again and visited Fu Leisheng in Qiaowan Town. Fu Leisheng was surprised and delighted to see him. He smiled and said, "I was also planning to go to Huangpo Village to see you. It just so happened that you came. When are you leaving for Xijing to take the exam?"

Chen Shi said: "It will be over after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month."

"It is better to take the exam sooner rather than later. There are many evil spirits and robbers on the road, all waiting to open their business."

Fu Leisheng said, "If you don't open for three years, you will be able to make ends meet for three years after you open. There are quite a few candidates in the fifty provinces of Xiniu and Xinzhou, but only 50% to 60% of them can make it to Xijing alive. Many candidates died on the way."

Chen Shi was startled and said, "Shouldn't the government send the candidates to Beijing to take the exam?"

"That was the old rule. During the time of the True King, all regions would escort candidates to the capital. They did so for a while, but they stopped doing so later."

Fu Leisheng said, "There are so many candidates every year, but there are no official positions for them. If a group of them die on the way, the pressure on Xijing will be less. When you go to Beijing to take the exam, you must be careful on the way."

Chen Shi took out a few volumes of scriptures and said with a smile: "I am now in the Nascent Soul stage, and my cultivation is also extraordinary. I think I can handle it. Mr. Fu, I copied down a few exercises. Do you think there are any suitable for you?"

Fu Leisheng laughed and said, "Kung Fu? At my age, it would be the best if I could cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage. What other Kung Fu can I practice?"

He took the scriptures, the first one was "The Mantra of the Precious Moonlight Peacock King". He opened it and looked at it, his face suddenly changed. This method was to cultivate the golden body of the Precious Moonlight Peacock King, and it included the mantra.

The skills are divided into nine kinds of spells and mantras. Each kind of spell and mantra is both a skill and a spell, as well as a way to temper the body and become a god!
After making some achievements, he cultivated the true body of Peacock King. Behind him, five-colored light stood like a sword. Anyone who was in the five elements would be hurt by the five-colored light sword!
When fighting, the golden body of the Peacock King is even more terrifying and is known to be indestructible!

Fu Leisheng calmed down and opened the second volume of scriptures. This volume of scriptures was called "Inner Secrets of the True Treasures", which was a method of internal cultivation of the five internal organs. It belonged to the Taoist school and could see the hidden scenes of the five internal organs. It was a method that was almost like a fairy art.

Fu Leisheng's hands were shaking as he opened the third volume of the scriptures.

This volume is called "Eight Powers to Summon the Dragon", which is a fighting method that includes spear techniques, which is extremely exquisite.

"Can you have all three?" Fu Leisheng asked with his heart trembling, looking up.

Chen Shi smiled and said, "It's originally a New Year's gift for you, just accept it."

Fu Leisheng's heart was pounding. Just now he said that he was old and had no interest in any martial arts, but now he seemed to be interested again.

These three skills are obviously top-level skills. If he can practice them successfully, the Nascent Soul Stage will definitely not be his final destination!
Even transformation into a god, divine descent, refining the void, and fusion may not necessarily be his end!
"Mr. Fu, we Sanren have a small organization under us called Tianting..."

Chen Shi spoke eloquently, explaining the philosophy of Heavenly Court, and said with a smile, "I wonder if Mr. Fu is interested in joining Heavenly Court?"

Fu Leisheng smiled and said, "This is a righteous act, of course I will join. When will the true king raise the banner of rebellion?"

Chen Shi laughed and said, "Sir, what nonsense are you talking about? I am loyal to the court and have no second thoughts! Our goal in heaven is to restore the orthodoxy of the Chinese gods and to help the court. Who doesn't know the loyalty of Xinxiang Xiaoshi? Don't say such nonsense again in the future!"

Fu Leisheng smiled and said, "Of course I won't mention it."

He also has his own celestial code name, sir.

Chen Shi said goodbye to him and returned to Huangpo Village. When Sang Yu saw him, he hurriedly said, "Master Jie Yuan, there are guests in your house."

Chen Shi was puzzled: "Guests? What guests? Where did they come from?"

"I have never seen him before. He only said that he came here on orders."

Chen Shi was even more confused, thinking, "Could it be that Lord Wuwang sent someone here? He was being hunted by many ghosts and gods in the underworld, so he was desperate and tried every possible means. My place may not be safer than the underworld."

When he returned home, he saw a man standing outside the door waiting in a rather reserved manner. He was wearing a black gauze hat and a round-necked robe. He was an official, no more than 30 or 40 years old. When he saw Chen Shi, he took out a portrait, compared it with the portrait, quickly put away the portrait, and quickly stepped forward to greet him.

"Your humble servant Sun Yisheng has been ordered to come and welcome you to Xijing."

Chen Shi was even more surprised when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Master Sun, did you recognize the wrong person? My name is Chen Shi, not some young master."

Sun Yisheng smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, please don't joke. I came from Xijing, exhausted, and walked for several months before arriving at Huangpo Village, Qianyang Mountain, Xinxiang. Mr. Chen Tang repeatedly instructed me and gave me a portrait of you, so how could I make a mistake?"

"Chen Tang?"

Chen Shi felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart and said, "Were you sent by Chen Tang? Chen Tang said that I was resurrected from the dead and was a monster created by my grandfather, a ghost from the underworld. Go back and tell him that I am living a good life and there is no need for him to pity me!"

Sun Yisheng hesitated for a moment and said, "Lord Chen Tang knew that you were going to Xijing to take the exam and was worried about your safety, so he ordered me to come. There are many people in Xijing who are planning to harm you..."

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "Go back and tell him that I don't need him to care about me!"

He opened the door, walked into the yard, and locked Sun Yisheng outside.

Chen Shi sat on Hei Guo's rocking chair, lost in thought, while Hei Guo lay beside him.

After a long time, Chen Shi came to the east room, rummaged through his grandfather's box of sundries, and took out the portrait of the whole family.

Grandpa was sitting on a chair, and young Chen Shi was sitting on his lap, being held by him.

Behind him were Chen Tang and a beautiful woman, and everyone was laughing happily.

Chen Shi looked at it for a long time, carefully rolled up the painting, and solemnly put it back into the box.

The people in the painting are his family.

He has never met Chen Tang or his mother.

(End of this chapter)