I forge immortality with spiritual treasures.

Chapter 30 Listening to Shanlan

"Boom..."

Just as the State Council was about to announce its decision, the opening bell rang.

We can't collect the purple aura now, but we'll still be busy today.

A brief review of the class schedule is necessary.

He remembered that Taoist priests had been giving lectures in the courtyard this morning and afternoon.

The morning session will focus on wind techniques at the Xuanming Altar, while the afternoon session will focus on swordsmanship at the Zhengyuan Altar. Both topics are of interest to Ying Chan, and he should not miss them.

Ignoring the fact that the Qiankun Bow was still on his shoulder, he strode off toward the Xuanming Altar.

The Xuanming Altar covers a vast area and can accommodate up to a thousand people. It is one of the most commonly used preaching platforms for the Taoist masters in the academy.

In the past six months, Ying Chan has attended many lectures at Xuanmingtan, so he is quite familiar with the place.

He walked through the mountains, following a main road. More and more people joined him along the way, and soon he arrived at a wide square.

The plaza is located halfway up the mountain and is paved entirely with pure white rocks that have a jade-like luster.

By this time, there were already many people in the hall. Fortunately, there were many stone stools in the square for the disciples to sit on. Although the seats were not very spacious, they were not so crowded that they were shoulder to shoulder.

Ying Chan followed the crowd into the square, looking for an empty seat, when he suddenly heard a soft female voice: "Brother Daoist, Brother Daoist!"

Ying Chan glanced to the side and realized that the person who had called him was a young girl.

The girl had her hair styled in a bun and wasn't wearing Taoist robes. She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. She had bright eyes and white teeth. Although she wasn't exactly a beauty, she was still quite charming and lovely.

"Li Jingqiu?"

The girl was Li Jingqiu, who had once received the same guidance from Master Qi.

Ying Chan was somewhat surprised. He didn't seem to have much interaction with Li Jingqiu, and he hadn't seen her since receiving guidance from Master Qi. He didn't expect her to call out to him.

"Brother, there are empty seats here."

When Li Jingqiu saw his gaze turn to her, she called out again.

Ying Chan thought for a moment, then stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, it's been a long time."

"Huh?" Li Jingqiu was taken aback. "Do I know your name, fellow Daoist?"

"Uh." Ying Chan then remembered that he had learned Li Jingqiu's name from Academician Qi, but the other party did not know it.

But before he could speak, Li Jingqiu exclaimed apologetically, "I'm always so silly... I'm afraid I've forgotten your name, fellow Daoist!"

"May I ask you for further guidance, fellow Daoist?"

He does look somewhat guilty.

Ying Chan was embarrassed and hurriedly said, "My name is Ying Chan, the Chan of 'Chan You Ming Wei'. I really didn't know your name before, it was by accident..."

He gave a brief explanation, and Li Jingqiu was neither embarrassed nor annoyed. Instead, she said happily, "I see. It's good that you didn't forget."

Ying Chan was speechless.

At this moment, Li Jingqiu quickly said, "Brother, please take a seat."

"Thank you, fellow Daoist." Ying Chan bowed and thanked her before sitting down on the stone stool beside her and asking, "May I ask why you called me that?"

"Huh?" Li Jingqiu was stunned. "I just saw you looking for an empty seat, and there happened to be one next to me..."

As he spoke, he hurriedly explained, "I have very few friends in the courtyard. I thought I knew you quite well, so I didn't think much of it. Please don't take it to heart, brother."

"Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand." Ying Chan quickly added, "I meant no displeasure."

Li Jingqiu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and then said, "This is the first time I've met you, fellow Daoist, while listening to a lecture?"

Ying Chan simply said, "Perhaps it was just a coincidence."

“Yes, yes.” Li Jingqiu nodded repeatedly: “Brother Huang and I have met several times… twice of them at Xuanming Altar.”

Ying Chan felt that Li Jingqiu seemed much more cheerful than when Master Qi was giving his lectures, which surprised him somewhat.

Fortunately, he wasn't shy by nature, and readily replied, "Oh, how have you been lately, Brother Huang?"

“Hmm.” Li Jingqiu said, “Brother Huang is in good spirits. He said he is making great progress and will definitely be able to break through to the Profound Light realm before his lifespan ends…” Ying Chan was somewhat surprised.

When a person grows old and frail, the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) all decline, which does have a certain impact on spiritual practice.

However, Huang Hesheng is indeed very determined in his pursuit of the Dao, and it is not impossible for him to break through the Xuan Guang realm.

If one can achieve this and complete the convergence of the inner and outer worlds, one can gradually replenish one's primordial essence and extend one's lifespan to two hundred years.

At that time, the great road will suddenly open up.

He sincerely said, "I wish Brother Huang all the best in achieving his goals."

Li Jingqiu nodded repeatedly: "Brother Huang said that he should be able to open the nine orifices this year and has a chance to pass the examination at the Capital Examination Academy."

"I've heard that the examinations at the Capital Examination Academy are extremely rigorous. Most of the disciples who pass the examinations every year are able to break through to the Profound Light realm and join our sect."

"Oh, by the way," she said, glancing at Ying Chan again, "I haven't asked yet, brother, how's your progress? Do you think you can pass the exam this year?"

"Ok?"

After thinking for a moment, Ying Chan realized he had no intention of being modest, nor did he want to lie, so he frankly said, "I have passed the exam."

"Hmm." Li Jingqiu nodded subconsciously, then her tone suddenly rose: "Hmm?"

She stared with her almond-shaped eyes, as if she doubted that she had misheard: "What did you say, fellow Daoist?"

Ying Chan had no choice but to repeat himself: "I have already passed the exam."

"Oh……"

The girl was silent for a moment, then murmured, "Does that mean I'm the only one who can't pass the exam?"

Ying Chan shook his head: "There's still half a year left in the year, and you're already saying this, fellow Daoist. Isn't that tantamount to giving up on yourself?"

“Brother Dao is right.” Li Jingqiu’s spirits lifted. “There’s still half a year left. I must work hard in my cultivation. There’s still half a year left…”

"Hey, doesn't that mean that there's still half a year left in the year, and you've already passed the imperial examination?"

Ying Chan heard this, but only smiled and remained silent.

As the two spoke, the sun rose higher and higher through the clouds, and the Xuanming Altar gradually filled up with people.

With a resounding chime, the room fell silent, and no one dared to utter a sound.

Immediately, a middle-aged female Taoist priest ascended the high platform, slowly sat down, and began to speak: "Today, I will discuss the art of wind."

Taoist masters do not often preach or perform magic in Taoist temples.

In particular, wind magic was the spell that Ying Chan was currently studying the most, so this was a rare opportunity, and he listened attentively.

"Wind is the energy of heaven and earth."

"Wind has no form, but takes shape according to the circumstances; Qi has no form, but manifests itself in response to things."

"Its softness is fleeting, its strength is boundless, its speed is swift and turbulent, its intensity is fierce and furious..."

As the professor spoke eloquently, Ying Chan suddenly felt a strange sensation.

He had been practicing the art of controlling wind and qi for some time now, and naturally he had gained some understanding of wind techniques.

However, this kind of insight is not concrete and cannot be described.

But at this moment, the Taoist master's words seemed to unravel the mystery for him, thoroughly clarifying this insight.

Ying Chan was immediately captivated by it.

He gradually forgot me, forgot his classmates present, forgot the outline of Xuanming Altar, and even the appearance of the academy teacher gradually faded away.

I could only sense another voice, still slowly narrating.

Later on, even that voice disappeared.

Between heaven and earth, only the sound of mountain mists remained.

(End of this chapter)