Immortal Creation.

Chapter 714 A Small Test of Confucian Cultivation
Ning Zhuo put down the jade slip containing his school notes, frowned, and muttered to himself, "This won't do..."

"My comprehension of formations is not as good as the eldest brother's, and probably not as good as Shen Xi's either."

"While I am not as good as Qing Chi in talisman making, there are definitely many geniuses of my age who have left me behind."

"To be honest, it's quite embarrassing. My Ning family is good at making talismans, but I can't even figure out how to make these two magic talismans."

"If I don't find some methods, my cultivation will always be lagging behind."

"Furthermore, all three of my cultivation techniques are closely related to mechanical arts, and my mother has also instructed me to focus on mechanical arts. Mechanical arts are a collection of all the arts of cultivation, so I must learn all of them!"

"My comprehension is lacking. How can I possibly learn all the arts of cultivation at this pace? It would take forever!"

Just as he thought of this, a flying letter, following Ning Zhuo's scent, arrived outside the Qing Shi Cave.

Ning Zhuo sensed the message and immediately manipulated the token to open the cave door slightly, then placed the message inside.

The message traveled through the cave and eventually landed in Ning Zhuo's hands.

Ning Zhuo first checked everything and found nothing suspicious before probing with his divine sense.

"As expected, it's a letter from Wen Ruanyu." The magical aura emanating from the letter already revealed the sender's identity.

In his second letter, Wen Ruanyu mentioned that his reporting period would take much longer than he had anticipated. Based on the current trend, he would likely remain under house arrest for some time.

Through various subtle movements, Wen Ruanyu was certain that all factions within the Myriad Manifestations Sect were actively trying to interfere in the White Paper Immortal City.

Previously, it was just a few major powers, but now many smaller powers are also squeezing in.

The reason is that among the major powers, the weaker ones took the initiative to enlist the help of some smaller powers. As a result, the news leaked out.

Wen Ruanyu used coded language to warn Ning Zhuo: his existence was not far from being exposed. Although Wen Ruanyu tried her best to conceal it, her secrecy was almost at its limit.

Wen Ruanyu once again urged Ning Zhuo to make more preparations.

Furthermore, he also proactively found a way out for Ning Zhuo—

"Although I was forced to stay at home, I was able to reconnect with some old friends and learn about the current situation within many sects."

Wen Ruanyu did not elaborate further here, as it was inconvenient to say these things in the letter. He simply advised Ning Zhuo not to get involved in the internal strife of the Wanxiang Sect.

Especially the old four peaks.

Those involving the Purple Thunder Peak among the old Four Peaks must be handled with utmost caution!

Wen Ruanyu's reminder was consistent with Ning Zhuo's previous insight.

Ning Zhuo was much more composed than he had imagined.

"It's a pity I can't send a message to Wen Ruanyu via Feixin. I can only let him worry for a while."

Wen Ruanyu could send Ning Zhuofei a message because he had connections and old friendships, which allowed him to keep it a secret for a while.

If Ning Zhuo sent him a private message, it would be tantamount to voluntarily exposing himself and admitting defeat without being asked.

At the end of the message, Wen Ruanyu mentioned: "Within the Myriad Manifestations Sect, the number of Confucian cultivators is neither too many nor too few, but they have always been closely united, making friends through literature and exchanging ideas frequently."

"In this preliminary trial of Xingyun, many Confucian cultivators are selecting juniors, hoping to bring in new blood to the Confucian cultivation circle."

“Young friend Ning, although you have majored in other cultivation methods and cannot practice Confucianism, I have already spoken to you. You can use this opportunity to try your luck and join the Confucian cultivation community. They will provide you with some protection in the short term.”

"Of course, they won't come out in person, they'll just take care of you secretly."

Ning Zhuo understood the concerns of these Confucian scholars.

He and Wen Ruanyu will both become the center of the vortex of internal strife within the sect, with various forces, large and small, vying and competing around them.

If they get too close beforehand, these Confucian scholars will also be drawn into the trouble.

As a group of Confucian scholars, they usually observe the situation from the sidelines. The people who take the lead in charging into battle are rarely people like them.

But Ning Zhuo was already quite satisfied!
The warmth and softness of jade are truly comforting!
They are definitely one of us!

Judging from Wen Ruanyu's arrangements and the Confucian cultivators' reaction, this group is not large within the Myriad Manifestations Sect. If they truly had a powerful backer, the Confucian cultivators would have already begun vying for Ning Zhuo's attention.

The benefits of the White Paper Immortal City are truly enormous!
The methods of Confucian practitioners are already limited, so they cannot completely change their practice of the "Myriad Images Scripture". Therefore, the vast majority of them practice it as a supplementary method.

Confucian scholars have their own pursuits, or perhaps their path to enlightenment already has its limitations. From this perspective, it is also difficult for them to enter the core of the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

Even so, the Confucian scholars were still willing to protect Ning Zhuo, using the Xingyun trial as a means to take care of him. This method was quite ingenious.

Because this is precisely the rule of the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

Using rules to pursue personal interests is also a tendency of Confucian scholars when handling affairs—it's both effortless and safe.

"The Confucian sect is in an awkward position, neither high nor low, and cannot be a suitable entry point for me to join the Myriad Manifestations Sect."

"But since it was Wen Ruanyu who recommended and arranged it, we should go!"

"In the short term, it would be to my advantage to gain their protection."

"Furthermore... among the thousands of cultivation schools, the Confucian school is the most adept at learning! Perhaps I can find a way to accelerate my learning of the various cultivation arts within them."

The four arts of a gentleman—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—are almost standard requirements for Confucian scholars.

In other words, a Confucian scholar must master at least four skills, and the more proficient they are, the better. This does not even include the traditional four arts: alchemy, weaponry, array formation, and talisman.

One reason why Confucianism has so many schools of thought, far exceeding ordinary schools, is that Confucianism has made significant achievements in the study of learning.

Many Confucian doctrines were specifically designed for learning.

The next day.

Dotted Ink Peak.

The dark rock walls are covered with natural ink marks, black pines stand tall, the mountain mist is moist, and the winding path is like a green jade ribbon.

The three monks were ascending the stone steps, which were soaked with morning dew.

The oldest among them was a young man.

The young cultivator did not conceal his peak Foundation Establishment aura; his eyes were bluish-black, and although his hair was tied up, a few stray strands were still visible.

As he walked, the bamboo sticks in the poetry tube hanging from his waist clanged against each other, making a sound.

The young Confucian scholar, named Bai Jiyun, walked at the very front of the three, and at this moment he slowly stopped and looked into the distance.

The distant peaks held half a golden sun, dyeing the sea of ​​clouds into a magnificent scene like molten gold and splashed jade. I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Even if today's attempt was unsuccessful, being able to see such a beautiful view again makes the trip worthwhile."

Bai Jiyun was lazy and easygoing, loved to travel and appreciate beautiful scenery, and was renowned for his literary talent.

The two cultivators who were walking behind Bai Jiyun caught up.

The young Confucian scholar Liu Fushu said, "Brother Bai is too modest. You are the most prominent figure among Foundation Establishment Confucian scholars in our Flying Cloud Kingdom. If you fail, none of us will succeed." Liu Fushu was tall and thin like a bamboo pole, and the cuffs of his washed-out blue shirt were frayed. His right index finger was calloused, and there was a faint ink stain on the side of his neck.

He was only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, but Bai Jiyun already knew his name.

Although Liu Fushu came from a poor family, he was quite talented in practicing Confucianism and was especially skilled in calligraphy.

Unfortunately, this preliminary test set up at Dianmo Peak was a written exam. If he were careless, he might very well lose to Liu Fushu.

Liu Fushu was not flattering Bai Jiyun, but rather praising him from the bottom of his heart.

He was much younger than Bai Jiyun, and after he began his cultivation, he often heard about Bai Jiyun's talent from his teachers. Every now and then, news would circulate in the literary circle about where Bai Jiyun was and what poems he had created.

It can be said that Bai Jiyun was Liu Fushu's idol.

“Brother Bai, such a beautiful scene deserves a poem to match your talent! I’m all ears.” The third person in the room spoke up at this moment.

He was a child.

His cultivation level was only at the Qi Refining stage. His cheeks were still chubby, and he wore an apricot-yellow short jacket. His eyes were as black and bright as lacquer.

His name is Kong Ran, a famous child prodigy in the Feiyun Kingdom. He is really only ten years old, not an old cultivator who uses methods to preserve his youth.

Both Bai Jiyun and Liu Fushu treated Kong Ran equally, firstly because Kong Ran came from an outstanding family and was the son of the prime minister of Feiyun Kingdom, and secondly because he possessed exceptional talent—a huge advantage that neither Bai Jiyun nor Liu Fushu had.

Bai Jiyun smiled at Kong Ran first, then shook his head: "I must conserve my energy to prepare for today's Xingyun mini-test. I can only blame myself for not being talented enough to appreciate the beautiful scenery before me."

Kong Ran's face turned serious, and she couldn't help but feel a little worried: "Mr. Chu Xuangui, is he really that strict?"

Bai Jiyun nodded: "I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Chu Xuangui at several literary gatherings. He is a rigid, fair, and meticulous person. Although we only had a few brief conversations, they all made me break out in a cold sweat."

Bai Jiyun's temperament is significantly different from Chu Xuangui's; they are clearly not compatible.

Liu Fushu, however, looked towards the mountaintop with an admiring tone: "It is truly an honor to be able to personally pay my respects to Mr. Chu Xuangui today!"

"Mr. Chu once wrote the 'Great Harmony Chapter' of the Book of Rites, and built a hundred-mile-long cloud wall in the sea of ​​clouds to resist fierce demons and monsters for many years."

"Unfortunately, after resigning from his official post in Feiyun Kingdom, he went into seclusion in the Wanxiang Sect."

The summit of Dianmo Peak was shrouded in a bluish-gray morning mist.

The three cultivators ascended to the summit together and saw a middle-aged cultivator sitting cross-legged on a stone table in front of him, meticulously practicing calligraphy with a magic weapon-grade brush in his hand.

The three cultivators exchanged glances, slowed their pace, and silently walked to stand before the middle-aged cultivator.

Only after the middle-aged monk put down his brush did the three of them quietly bow and introduce themselves.

The middle-aged cultivator was none other than Chu Xuangui. He wore a white robe with wide sleeves, his eyebrows were like hanging needles, his cheekbones were like inkstones, his five fingers were calloused, and his posture was extremely upright and meticulous.

"Bai Jiyun, Liu Fushu, and Kong Ran." Chu Xuangui's serious expression softened a bit. "The exam hasn't started yet, and you're the first to arrive. Good. Getting up at the crack of dawn shows your sincerity in learning."

His praise immediately made Sanxiu's heart leap with joy.

"You all wait patiently." After giving the order, Chu Xuangui said nothing more, took a second sheet of paper, and continued to practice his calligraphy.

Bai Jiyun could only stand quietly in place, wanting to move, but knowing Chu Xuangui's temperament, she could only endure it.

Liu Fushu stared intently at Chu Xuangui. Although he couldn't make out the details, he could still deduce the mysteries of calligraphy from the movements of Chu Xuangui's arms and wrists, and he was completely absorbed in it for a moment.

Kong Ran was only ten years old and wanted to sit on the ground to rest, but seeing Bai Jiyun and Liu Fushu like this, he could only suppress his playfulness.

As time passed, cultivators climbed the mountain step by step and eventually reached the summit.

Like Bai Jiyun and the others, they first bowed and then stood still to wait.

Many monks gradually became anxious.

Fortunately, the time for the test is getting closer.

Kong Ran had long been impatient and repeatedly used his divine sense to send messages to Bai Jiyun and Liu Fushu.

Liu Fushu had long been immersed in Chu Xuangui's calligraphy.

Although Bai Jiyun was also impatient, he still comforted Kong Ran: This may be a hidden test of our character that Mr. Chu Xuangui specially arranged.

Hearing this, Kong Ran felt a chill run down his spine and forced himself not to move.

Everyone was speculating, unaware that Chu Xuangui was also feeling somewhat anxious.

"Why hasn't Ning Zhuo arrived yet? It's almost time."

Within the Confucian circles of the Myriad Manifestations Sect, Chu Xuangui was one of the pillars. However, he was recognized as a pillar not because of his Golden Core level cultivation, but because of his calligraphy skills.

Wen Ruanyu is also a pillar. His painting skills are widely praised among Confucian cultivators. Just Wen Ruanyu's self-portrait alone demonstrates his combat strength, something that most Confucian cultivators cannot achieve.

Therefore, although Wen Ruanyu cultivated in the White Paper Immortal City for many years, it did not affect his status in the Confucian cultivation circle.

Wen Ruanyu had notified the Confucian cultivation circle in advance by sending a private message before returning to report on her duties.

That's why Wen Ruanyu had previously instructed Ning Zhuo to give him some time to figure out the inside story of the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

Although the Confucian scholars of the Myriad Manifestations Sect do not hold high positions, their status is not low either, belonging to the most united group among the middle ranks. Their numerous literary gatherings allow them to make friends through literature while exchanging information with each other.

Therefore, they have a deep understanding of the overall situation of the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

The fact that Wen Ruanyu was placed under house arrest while reporting for duty immediately alerted and drew attention from Confucian circles.

Each of them took action, secretly working for Wen Ruanyu.

Wen Ruanyu's request to take good care of Ning Zhuo was taken very seriously.

Because they were also very clear about how enormous the benefits represented by the White Paper Immortal City were. Those precious materials from ghosts and the yin and cold realms were commonplace in the underworld, but rare and precious in the mortal realm.

The unique geographical environment of the damp, black, and swampy land can be regarded as a huge, perpetually developed gateway to hell, without requiring massive resources to maintain its operation!
If this place weren't located between the Flying Cloud Kingdom and the Northern Wind Kingdom, but instead situated in the heart of either kingdom, it would have long lost its autonomy.

The Confucian scholar circle is not without its own interests!
The existence of Wenruanyu already gives them a huge innate advantage.

Wen Ruanyu's high regard for Meng Yaoyin is well-known. Now that Meng Yaoyin's son is also joining the Myriad Manifestations Sect, the Confucian scholars value Ning Zhuo because of Wen Ruanyu.

The Confucian cultivators were unaware that Ning Zhuo's status in the White Paper Immortal City was even higher than that of Wen Ruanyu.

They chose to use Xingyun's trial run to elevate Ning Zhuo's status.

"Let this lucky kid become famous early and stand on the stage. Just that alone will make many ill-intentioned people hesitate to act."

After discussing it, the Confucian scholars came up with this idea.

Therefore, Chu Xuangui, who had not organized a Xingyun trial for many years, specially held this event this year.

"If Ning Zhuo doesn't come... I'll have to hold a second event."

(End of this chapter)