The Heavens: A Qing, the Yue Girl at the beginning

At first, they were still a mile away, but as soon as the words were spoken, a tall, dark figure broke through the fog and stood in the center of the stone platform.

It was Zhu Jiyang, who had severely extorted money from Marquis Xu last night.

The old ape scratched his head, indicating that he did not recognize him. He glanced at Zhao Qing beside him and then walked ahead, stepping directly onto the stone platform.

"What's going on?!" In the next instant, it leaped up in astonishment, only to find that it had no foothold. Not only had the shape of a rock disappeared, but even the air seemed to have vanished. With nothing to lean on, the ape fell rapidly without its own control.

Its hands and feet flailed wildly in the air, its white fur billowing against the wind, making it look quite disheveled.

At the same time, Zhao Qing happened to step onto the edge of the stone platform.

"...Is it a product of the Dharma image transforming the illusory into the real? A piece of Bian stone?"

She showed no sign of panic. Sensing the subtle and profound mysteries of the surroundings, she instantly understood the reason. She realized that the fall was actually a sensory illusion, a reversal of Yin and Yang, a reversal of the Five Elements, and a sudden emptiness in the celestial and terrestrial order. This was due to the rising and falling of the Lesser Yang and Yangming Qi, which were of different natures.

She observed that the surrounding environment began to magnify, but then gradually became hazy and indistinct, and her own and the ape's suspended figures became increasingly faint.

The stone slab seemed to have been reduced to an empty outline, though it grew ever wider and larger, becoming a colossal object spanning thousands of acres. Yet, when the five-colored spiritual rain, inexplicably falling from the high heavens, touched its ethereal form, it emitted a clear, melodious sound, like the striking of jade chimes.

"Relax, it's not a trap, it's a test."

Zhao Qing informed the ape.

The latter calmed down, stabilized his posture slightly, and suddenly his eyes flashed with golden light. Layers of cloud-like characters unfolded, reflecting and transforming into countless illusory eyes, surveying the mysteries of this place.

However, Zhao Qing did not attempt to decipher anything.

She simply visualized herself as a raindrop in her mind.

A gentle drop of water, naturally radiating spiritual light and Taoist charm.

Completely selfless, adapting to circumstances.

The ape immediately followed suit, imitating this state of mind, and instantly entered a state of complete absorption, becoming one with the universe.

Millions of drops of spiritual rain flowed through the vicinity, exceptionally dense, churning with an ever-fresh and vibrant halo of light.

It was probably due to the combined effects of spiritual pressure and many other factors that they formed a stable laminar flow, striking an elegant rhythm on the huge cross-section of the Bian stone, occasionally interspersed with turbulence, stirring up a few strings of tremolos.

It took about 15 minutes before it finally stopped.

The rain dissipated in an instant, and the stone slab returned to its solid state, its size shrinking to about an acre, black with a hint of yellow, rough and simple, without a trace of water.

Zhao Qing and the white ape landed steadily.

"...Using the two of you as the core, place them within the 'blood' of heaven and earth, let them flow through the body for a cycle and then examine them. This will allow you to diagnose the deep-seated problems in your cultivation, observe the disharmony of various cultivation methods, distinguish the closeness or bias of the principles, and understand the spiritual order and phenomena."

Zhu Jiyang gave a brief introduction: "At present, both of you have no lesions, your vital energy is balanced, and you are very healthy."

"Thank you!" Zhao Qing bowed.

Nearly 15 minutes is the time it takes for the vital energy to circulate once.

In her view, this method is profoundly mysterious, reaching the realm of "cutting the pulse of heaven and earth," mapping the order of the human body onto the order of heaven and earth, and then reading the information of the human body from the feedback of heaven and earth.

This is the so-called cyclical mutual verification of "using human understanding to examine the heavens, and using the heavens to examine human understanding," a profound and subtle interaction between humanity and the heavens. It is truly subtle, profound, and ineffable!

The pulse of heaven and earth is perfectly impartial and highly responsive. When vital energy flows through it, it is as if heaven and earth are a mirror and yin and yang are the standard. All hidden biases and all nascent lesions have nowhere to hide.

The fact that the other party could set up this situation with a wave of their hand is truly awe-inspiring, demonstrating their exceptional medical skills and profound understanding of the arts.

His hidden cultivation level seemed to have been seen through.

Judging from appearances, the celestial field cultivated by this person should be a vast meridian system covering nearly a thousand miles.

At the peak of Zhao Qing's cultivation in the dream, he was not far from achieving the minor completion of the sixth level of Qi cultivation, but he was completely unsure of being able to fully analyze this method.

This made her put aside her previous arrogance.

"I've heard that auspicious omens have appeared in Wanwei Mountain? The stone that appears to break through the earth and awaken a spirit?" Zhu Jiyang's gaze narrowed slightly, his tone casual. "The villages guarding the tomb are all discussing it, saying that this is an auspicious omen that is rare in a thousand years."

"And I also heard that there were two foreign guests present at that time. One had not yet left the mausoleum, and the other—at this moment, was standing in front of Yang."

Zhao Qing remained unmoved, saying only, "I merely entered the Mausoleum Domain by chance, following the natural way of the mountains and rivers. The spirit stone was activated by chance, which is its inherent opportunity, not something that can be forced by human power. The auspicious signs emerging from the mountains and rivers are a blessing for the Great Yue nation and a sign of the prosperity of the country. It is not my personal fortune, and I dare not claim credit for it."

"However, beside auspicious omens, there must be a person who responds to them." Zhu Jiyang smiled and said, "When this matter reaches the King's ears, he will surely inquire about it and reward him handsomely. This is a golden opportunity that should not be missed."

After briefly explaining and reminding Zhao Qing to prepare, he changed the subject: "I'm not here tonight for any other reason. Brother Wuci is busy with important matters and asked me to pass on two martial arts manuals to you."

Zhu Jiyang flipped his right hand, and a ball of mysterious light condensed in his palm. It was clear and bright, perfectly round and without gaps, and it also had a sense of chaotic silence, containing a kind of Daoist charm that had no beginning and no end.

"The 'Heavenly Soldiers' Refining Form and Guiding Qi Method' and the 'Five Symbols Yin Yang Transformation of Spirit Chapter' sound quite profound. Unfortunately, this 'Seed of No Birth or Death' imprinted with the Qian Heaven Number Qi is too cleverly sealed, leaving no room for observation or discovery. Otherwise, I might have been tempted to explore it myself."

He made a couple of half-joking remarks.

Zhao Qing's heart stirred slightly. The Qian Tian Shu Creation Qi was one of the twelve high-level Void Qi that preceded the Void Qi Golden Embryo! Although it was just an imprint and not its original form, it still revealed a lot of important information.

It's highly likely that Master Zhu Ji Wuci's current level is about to break through to the Six Qi Returning to Form, a half-card level.

Zhu Jiyang continued, "These two scriptures are slightly more complete than those previously given to you. What was transmitted before was only a general outline, and many of the essential meanings, side branches, and variations were not fully explained. Now that your cultivation has improved and your spirit is capable of bearing a deeper level of mystery, these supplementary and enhanced parts are being transmitted to you as well."

He twirled the seed between his fingers and said, “Of course, it’s still not the complete text. Your current soul cannot bear the true meaning of the complete text. What you have supplemented this time is more than a hundred times more than what you obtained before. You need to break through to the Six Qi Realm before you can see what follows.”

“However,” Zhu Jiyang infused runes into the outer edge of the seed, and the originally solid, kernel-like mystic light gradually unfolded, transforming into a tangible, clear, and translucent jade slip, about three inches long, as smooth and lustrous as jade:

"Judging from your sluggish mental state, directly imprinting the mind seal into your sea of ​​consciousness, while convenient, may cause obstruction."

"But you received too much inheritance in the tomb just now, and you didn't have time to digest it?" He asked casually, handing the jade slip to Zhao Qing: "We can only change the method... This should be appropriate."

"...Immerse yourself in it with your divine sense, and you can browse through each chapter. Although this method is not as instantaneous as the direct transmission of the mind seal, it has the advantage of being less burdensome and can be approached step by step, pondering it repeatedly. This jade slip can last for at least a hundred years without dissipating, so there is no need to rush it."

A single magical power that can last for a hundred years is truly extraordinary.

Zhao Qing took the jade slip, wrapped it in his true essence, and let it enter his meridians: "Thank you for your hard work late into the night, Doctor. I will remember it forever."

"No need for formalities."

Zhu Jiyang waved his hand and praised, "Your progress in cultivation over the past few days has far exceeded my expectations."

"I have had a few lucky encounters, but I dare not call it advancement," Zhao Qing replied.

“If I am not mistaken,” Zhu Jiyang said slowly, “the young lady has another cultivation system within her body. Although it is not the orthodox one that we follow, its spirit is complete and its will is firm, its methods are comprehensive and its principles are sound, and its realm has reached an extremely high level—almost no less than the ordinary Lower Six Qi Great Completion.”

In just over a day, Zhao Qing had recovered to the peak of the eighth realm of Qitian. Although he was in a weakened state, his strength had doubled.

In his view, this absurd progress was contrary to common sense about cultivation, being more than ten million times faster than normal cultivation. However, considering that the Sensation Stone was a remnant of such an existence, it was not inexplicable.

What truly astonished Zhu Jiyang was that he saw so much in the other person and examined countless details, yet he never noticed the presence of the sword, which should have been the most prominent feature of the artistic conception.

The absolute suppression of the Sword Heart and Sword Realm! There can only be this reason.

This must be an incredible power that transcends the barriers of ordinary realms! It carries the essence of the Dao!
Having practiced swordsmanship for several years, he has surpassed a hundred years of diligent practice, which is truly admirable! Admiration and reverence arise instantly, filling one's mind and spirit.

"...But no matter what, I must remind you of something." Zhu Jiyang sighed deeply, his brows furrowing slightly, and said earnestly, "This kind of alternative system should be a fusion of the Earthly Origin Method and the Heavenly Origin Method, originating from imitating the forms of the spirit beasts of heaven and earth. Although it is exquisite, it is ultimately not the right path."

"In the universe, the primordial energy is diverse, and the methods of practice are numerous."

"Throughout history, countless cultivators have been misled by the quick results of unorthodox methods and indulged in the convenience of unorthodox paths, abandoning the righteous path for shortcuts. At first, their progress is rapid, but later, their foundation becomes unstable and their realm becomes superficial, ultimately trapping them at the gate of the Great Dao, making it difficult to enter again, and by then it is too late to regret!"

"Since you have the true Dharma with you, you should know what to accept and what to reject."

"Stones from other mountains may be used to polish jade, but if the foundation is not solid before the branches and leaves grow too numerous, and if the size is large but the essence is not pure, then if this continues, there is a risk of drowning: the right path is not completed, and the wrong path has already gone too far!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qing's expression turned solemn: "I have learned a great deal! I will never forget these wise words."

"I suppose you know your limits and won't go astray." Zhu Jiyang further advised, "With your current foundation, it will only take you a year or two to reach the Six Qi Realm. At that time, you will be able to create a new world, return to the six directions, and establish the three realms. Your orthodox foundation will then be firmly established."

"When you need to focus, focus; when you need to let go, let go! After breaking through a barrier, you can then select the good aspects of what you have learned from other sources and incorporate them into your own path without any hindrance."

Simply put, if an alternative system is completely different from the orthodox system, it becomes incompatible and instead becomes a barrier.

However, he still greatly underestimated Zhao Qing's true speed of breaking through to the next realm.

Why would we need to wait a year or two?
"Since we've met here, it must be fate."

After glancing at the ape-like figure scratching his head and ears beside him, looking utterly bored, Zhu Ji Yang hesitated for a moment, then conjured another jade slip in his palm:

"The 'Pulse Death Sign Prediction' can be combined with the secret teachings of the Jinyun Clan's Divine Eye to remotely examine the location of death signs in the celestial veins and calculate the specific outbreak point, which can be used to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, and to search for opportunities."

The white ape immediately leaped over and accepted it, bowing and thanking him several times.

Then, it started browsing directly.

Jinli poked her head out from Zhao Qing's sleeve and muttered sourly, "That ape is lucky, getting a secret technique for free. I've accompanied you all this way, and I haven't received any reward."

Having finished discussing official business, Zhu Jiyang pulled out a leather pouch from somewhere, took a sip of his homemade wild wine, and casually asked, "Have you heard any news during the festival these past few days?"

Zhao Qing shook his head: "I've been in the mountains these past few days and haven't heard anything about the outside world."

"Do you know that His Majesty has already made a grand plan—in three months, he will send out a naval expedition overseas." Zhu Jiyang placed the leather bag on his lap and cast his gaze toward the distant mountains shrouded in rain and mist.

"Overseas?" Zhao Qing seemed to be thinking.

“This matter is highly controversial in the court,” said Zhu Jiyang. “Most of the senior ministers believe that Yue has just suffered a major war and its strength has not yet recovered, so it is not advisable to start a foreign war lightly. However, His Majesty’s mind is very firm and cannot be swayed by a few words of advice. Minister She Yong and Minister Fan Li also strongly agree.”

"Why the rush?" Zhao Qing asked.

"Urgent? It's not exactly urgent."

Zhu Jiyang shook his head: "Your Majesty has been waiting for this day for several years. However, before that, the internal affairs were not well managed, the treasury was not replenished, and the navy was not trained. Although you have lofty ambitions, you lack the strength to set sail. Now that all preparations are gradually in place, and the auspicious occasion of the sacrificial ceremony has arrived, the right time, the right place, and the right people are all in place. If you don't start now, when will you?"

The auspicious omen here does not refer to the spiritual awakening of the Life-Generating Stone, but rather to the great migration of the Wen Rays deliberately created by the Tongue Manipulator.

“However—” he changed the subject, his tone becoming serious, “Your Majesty’s insistence on launching a military campaign has its own far-sighted plans, but behind this lies another hidden reason that cannot be told to outsiders.”

Zhao Qingjing awaits the next installment.

Zhu Jiyang's gaze was deep and thoughtful: "In recent years, the Yue Kingdom has opened its doors wide to recruit talented people, and scholars from all directions have flocked here. People from Xu, Chu, Wu, Huaiyi, and even exiled officials from the Central Plains and scattered tribes from the East Sea have crossed the river to Yue and taken refuge in the royal court."

"Among these people, there are indeed those with genuine talent and learning, but there are also many who are deceitful and charlatan. Some of them want to obtain the salary of a high-ranking official just by relying on their silver tongues, some of them are not capable enough to govern a city but presumptuously discuss national affairs, and there are even those of despicable character who are only interested in profit. Seeing that the Yue Kingdom is rising, they flock here like flies to carrion."

"Although Your Majesty is discerning, there are so many who wish to join you that it is not something that can be done overnight. In order to reassure them and show the world that Your Majesty is benevolent, it is necessary to grant them some honorary titles and some leisurely salaries to demonstrate your sincerity in recruiting them."

"As time went on, the number of redundant officials gradually increased, and although the treasury was still full, it was inevitable that there would be a sense of wastefulness."

"Throughout history, governing a country has always involved nothing more than the two tools of reward and punishment. Unfair rewards breed resentment, and unfair punishments provoke anger. Senior doctors and officials may not say it aloud, but they are quite indignant in their hearts."

"No reward without merit—everyone knows this principle. But these people have neither military achievements nor administrative accomplishments, so why do they occupy high positions?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qing understood.

"If it were merely a matter of resentment on the part of an old minister, that would be fine."

Zhu Jiyang said, "What's more important is that among the newly promoted people, there are quite a few who are corrupt, derelict in their duties, and colluding with foreign countries! These parasites will not only be of no use in the court, but will also corrupt the atmosphere."

"In times of peace, we can slowly screen and eliminate people one by one. However, the Yue Kingdom is rising and is in need of talent. If we conduct a large-scale investigation, firstly, it will discourage the virtuous men from all directions, and secondly, it may be taken advantage of by enemy countries."

Therefore, it is difficult to abolish it abruptly!

"An expedition overseas is the perfect opportunity to break this deadlock," Zhao Qing said calmly. "On the battlefield, swords have no eyes. Those who are useless will naturally 'die in battle,' and their disposal will be 'justified'!"

"Exactly." Zhu Jiyang smiled slightly. "Those of low character and incorrigible people are only wasting salaries in the court, and sending them away might cause resentment. If they are unlucky enough to die on the battlefield, that is to be loyal to the country, and Your Majesty should take good care of their families. If they are fortunate enough to make meritorious contributions, that is to have turned over a new leaf and become capable of great responsibilities, which is also a good thing."

He paused, then continued, "And foreign conquests are the only way to quickly establish merits that can convince the people of the achievements of these newly promoted soldiers. Veteran officials and generals will naturally have nothing to say when they see the merits earned by these newcomers through bloodshed and risking their lives on the battlefield. Military merits and rewards have always been the way they are, and no one can say anything about it."

This was a carefully designed selection process.

The battlefield is the most ruthless sieve.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Jiyang brought up another matter: "A few days ago, the king issued a decree to establish the 'Department of Music,' which is contrary to the usual laws and is used to educate the common people. Are you aware of this matter?"

“I’ve heard a little about it,” Zhao Qing nodded. “I heard it’s about using music and dance to unify the customs and language of the vagrants from all directions? There are also shamans discussing it in the mausoleum.” “That’s right,” Zhu Jiyang said. “This policy is called ‘Rectifying Music,’ but in reality, it aims to solve a more fundamental problem: how to dissolve the boundaries between ethnic groups. In your travels around Kuaiji City these days, have you witnessed any conflicts between the Yue people and the vagrants from other places?”

"I've seen quite a few," Zhao Qing replied truthfully.

“The effect of music as a form of education is slow and gradual; its success cannot be seen without years of accumulation.” Zhu Jiyang said, “Therefore, She Yong offered a plan called ‘separate residence,’ but secretly there was another scheme.”

"Separate apartment?"

"To separate means to part; to reside means to entrust."

"...rather than letting migrants live together with the local Yue people, constantly causing friction due to language barriers and different customs, it would be better to relocate them in batches, set aside territory for each of them in remote areas, and let them form their own villages and towns. Define their boundaries, appoint respected members of their own tribes as leaders, and let them govern themselves."

“Use Han people to govern Han people, Wu people to govern Wu people, and Xu people to govern Xu people. In this way, the Yue people and outsiders will not mix, and conflicts will naturally decrease. And since the outsiders live in clans, with scale and cohesion, they can quickly form industries and generate income.”

"Compared to being scattered in various places, the efficiency is far greater."

Clearly, the enfeoffment of the Marquis of Xu is a prime example of this.

The descendants of Wu Gongzi Qingji were also among the targets of this strategy.

“But if it were only this, then the place of migration would become increasingly estranged from the Yue homeland, and over time it would become a barren land, merely having the name but not the substance.” He added, “Therefore, the Grand Master She Yong had a deeper meaning, not just ‘separation,’ but also ‘guidance.’”

"How do we cite the method?" Zhao Qing asked.

"It's based on the contrast and disparity before and after the relocation."

Zhu Jiyang slowly said, "For example, the newly enfeoffed Houxu is a remote and desolate border region. Although it has various preferential policies, in terms of prosperity and flourishing, it is far less comfortable than the place where we lived in the Shanyin Plain before!"

"The land was barren, merchants and travelers did not come, and all industries were in decline, so life suddenly became much worse. The contrast between the two situations was stark."

"At that time, these Xu people will realize that they only felt ostracized by the Yue people and living under their roof. But after leaving, they will realize that their grievances were nothing compared to the hardships of life in the desolate land."

“Once the gap is created, regret follows,” Zhao Qing interjected.

“Exactly,” Zhu Jiyang continued. “People tend to value what they have lost more than what they have gained. Once regret arises, the desire to return home will spread like wildfire and cannot be stopped. After they have suffered enough in Houxu, Yue can then release some information at the right time—allowing them to return and move back to Kuaiji. However, the number of places is limited, and only the most talented people from Xu can be allowed.”

"At that time, those talented and capable people from Xu who are unwilling to be buried in the wilderness will rush back. Yue will be able to take over the elites accumulated by Xu over generations without losing a single soldier."

"And once this matter spreads," Zhao Qing continued, "the reputation of the Yue Kingdom will only improve—'The King of Yue is benevolent and does not hold those who left accountable. Instead, he opens the door to their return.' And those Xu people who returned will surely praise the King's kindness to show their loyalty, which will become the most powerful word of mouth."

The old ape scratched his head and muttered, "Isn't this just playing a trick on people?"

"Whether to move or not, it is initially voluntary. As long as one is willing to accept the constraints of the 'proper music' law, and is willing to learn the Yue language, learn Yue customs, and follow Yue etiquette, one will still be a citizen of Kuaiji, and no one will force one to move."

Zhu Jiyang said calmly, “However, people are driven by self-interest. When they see the opportunity to be granted a title and land, and to form their own state, they think it is a great bargain and rush to do so, fearing that they will fall behind. Since you are the one who wants to leave, you can’t blame others.”

"If you choose to move out, you must bear the consequences!"

"Furthermore, there is an even deeper arrangement involved, which falls on the newly appointed Marquis Xu Ciliu, and he is irreplaceable."

"At first, he spoke with great fervor and passion, vowing to restore the Great Xu and continue the ancestral temple. His words were quite persuasive. The scattered people of Xu, hearing his passionate words and seeing his magnificent entourage, naturally thought that they had joined a wise ruler and that there was hope for revival. As a result, those who came to return were numerous and came in droves."

"However, as time went on, his incompetence in governance became glaringly obvious. Taxes were levied excessively, punishments and rewards were disorderly, and decrees were changed frequently, leaving his subordinates bewildered. The people of Xu who had been relocated gradually realized that this Marquis of Xu was good at grand talk but inept at practical matters, more talk than action, and incapable of governing the country."

"The so-called declaration of 'reviving the family business' is nothing but empty talk made in a drunken frenzy."

"At that time, Yue, under the guise of being a 'friendly nation,' naturally extended a helping hand, sending officials, allocating grain, dispatching troops, and apprehending thieves, gradually taking over the real power of Xu. The people of Xu were utterly disappointed with the Marquis of Xu, but instead felt grateful for the virtue of the King of Yue, and their loyalty naturally followed."

“From beginning to end, the nature, talent, connections, cultivation, and wealth of this Marquis Xu have been thoroughly investigated by Your Majesty since the very beginning of his journey south across the sea, and everything is under Your Majesty’s control!”

“Every choice he made, seemingly voluntary, was actually guided by a pre-planned path, making it difficult to deviate!”

The ape master was dumbfounded: "So, from the moment he was bestowed the title, his role was already predetermined?"

"Not bad!" Zhu Jiyang stood with his hands behind his back, looking into the distance. In the night, the mountains lay prostrate like the spines of beasts. The moonlight was mostly obscured by clouds, leaving only a few rays of clear light to dapple the stone platform.

He said calmly, "His ability to be granted land and titles was not due to any benevolence or virtue of preserving the nation or continuing its lineage—in this world, what benevolence is without cause? It's simply a matter of each taking what they need."

"He gained a nominal title and a fiefdom, while the Yue Kingdom gained the convenience of dealing with the Xu people. As for the later setbacks, regrets, return migration, and loyalty, that's another story. If he really had the ability to govern the later Xu in an orderly manner, the Yue Kingdom would have to think more highly of him—unfortunately, he couldn't do it."

Zhu Jiyang made his pronouncement.

Zhao Qing seemed to be deep in thought.

It's likely that a considerable number of secret guards have been planted around Marquis Xu. Furthermore, are there other members of the Xu royal family secretly acting as spies for Yue, in order to seize related interests and cooperate with the plan?

In addition, shamanistic and divination methods would certainly be indispensable.

An unknown night insect chirped softly and lingeringly.

After a long while, Zhu Jiyang finished the last sip of wine in his bag, tied the empty bag back to his waist, and suddenly took out two scrolls of silk from his sleeve. Under the dim moonlight, with a light stroke of his five fingers, countless fine characters were added to them, and he handed them to Zhao Qing and Yuan Gong respectively.

"The Bian stone examination just now was not just for diagnosing illnesses."

He spoke calmly: "Every meridian in the body, all kinds of martial arts, the internal organs and their energy mechanisms, the fullness and emptiness of the spirit, wherever it goes, is recorded."

"Your detailed medical examination reports are all here."

Zhao Qing unfolded the silk scroll, revealing a neatly arranged list of entries, interspersed with red and black ink.

The first item listed is "The Foundation of the Fetus," which is evaluated in nine grades.

The categories are arranged in order: "Unblocking of Meridians", "Strength and Weakness of Internal Organs", "Clearness and Turbidity of Qi and Blood", "Sharpness and Dullness of Mind", and "Approach and Distance of Laws".

Each section is further divided into several sub-items, some marked with the numbers of Yin and Yang waxing and waning, others with the symbols of the Five Elements' generation and restraint, and each accompanied by a brief discussion of treatment and remedies. It is quite extensive, exceeding ten thousand words.

Although it did not exceed her understanding of her own physical condition, and was even far from it, the prescription she wrote was still of amazing value because she was more knowledgeable about the properties of local medicinal herbs, and could be used as an auxiliary treatment.

"Now that this matter is settled, Yang should take his leave."

Zhu Jiyang stood up, straightened his sleeves, and put the stone platform into his Dharma image, as if he was about to leave, but then suddenly stopped: "Miss, you must have something else to ask? Please ask."

"There are indeed some things I'd like to ask the doctor."

Zhao Qing inquired, "It concerns the matter of graduating from the Kuaiji Martial Academy and entering officialdom. I've heard that all disciples of the academy, once their cultivation reaches a certain level, can be appointed to official positions through examination. But I wonder what the procedures are? As for me now, do I still need to undergo an examination?"

"Assessment?" Zhu Jiyang replied calmly, "Your current cultivation level has already far exceeded the standards for graduation from the Martial Academy—not to mention the students and instructors of the Martial Academy, even those hired masters might not be able to find many who are on par with you."

"According to the regulations set by Doctor Wen Zhong, martial arts academy disciples were required to undergo three levels of examination before graduating and entering officialdom:"
The first is "martial arts assessment," to verify their cultivation level and combat skills; the second is "strategy test," to examine their strategies for governing the people, managing troops, and deploying troops; the third is "conduct observation," to observe their daily conduct and interpersonal relationships.

"Only after passing all three tests can one be granted the rank of Senior Scholar, enter the court as an official, join the army to command soldiers, or be sent to a county as a magistrate."

"However, given your current level, young lady, you can be exempted from all assessments and trials. With your cultivation, it won't be long before you are directly appointed as a Grand Doctor and granted titles and honors."

"However—rules are rules, and cheap deals are cheap deals. Although the assessment can be waived, there is another benefit to going through it."

"What are the benefits?" the ape asked eagerly.

"If you can perform well in the 'Test of Strategy' assessment, there are additional rewards to be received, including several good items. For example, the 'Six Qi of Yin and Yang of the Earth' used for external refinement, various auxiliary materials for refining divine weapons, and a quota for renting divine jade to comprehend the Dao, etc."

Zhu Jiyang explained: "All disciples of the Martial Academy, from their entry into the academy to their graduation, learn and practice what they have learned, which is all for the public good. Since it is for the public good, the state should also support and nurture them with public funds."

"Therefore, the court established this extra reward at the end of the course to reward their diligence and commend their ability. This is incomparable to ordinary gifts—gifts are private favors; rewards for performance evaluation are national laws."

"It is rightfully ours, and we deserve it without shame."

"However, the real key point is not so surprising. It is to let you leave the martial arts academy, travel thousands of miles, and observe the world."

"The purpose of the Martial Academy is not to train martial artists, but to cultivate pillars of the nation. The students who graduate will not be trained to fight one-on-one, compete for fame and fortune, or seek revenge, but to govern cities, care for the people, and lead soldiers."

"The wandering cultivators and knights-errant in the martial arts world only need to have high enough cultivation and sharp swordsmanship—they don't need to know about taxation, the essentials of criminal justice, or the terrain, population size, or granary conditions. But an official appointed by the court, a scholar-official who must be able to stand alone, cannot be ignorant of these things."

Zhao Qing listened quietly.

"To govern is like to steer a boat on a great river."

"If one is unfamiliar with swimming but holds an oar, or cannot discern the wind direction but raises a sail, even with the strength of a strongman or the sharpness of a swordsman, few can avoid capsizing!" Zhu Jiyang's tone grew increasingly solemn: "What benefit are those who are eccentric, unruly, and disregard the law, even if they possess extraordinary abilities, to the country and the people?"

"Do you know that the higher one's cultivation level, the easier it is for them to become alienated from ordinary people in this mortal world?"

“Highly accomplished cultivators often seclude themselves for months or years to meditate and comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth and the profound principles of laws. Naturally, they are a layer away from the mundane affairs of the marketplace and the joys and sorrows of ordinary people.”

"At first, they may be able to understand, but over time, they become blind and deaf. At that point, even if they have the heart to bring peace to the people, they will lack the strategies to do so; even if they have the desire to save the world, they will be unaware of the people's suffering."

“The decrees issued were either too detailed or too vague; the laws and regulations established were either contrary to human nature or contrary to common sense.”

"This is not because their hearts are evil, but because their understanding is flawed."

He paused, his gaze falling on Zhao Qing's young face: "I observe that your cultivation progress is unparalleled in the world. However, precisely because of this speed, you must be more careful—the danger of 'transcending the mundane world' may come to you even faster than others."

"Therefore, although I said that the assessment could be waived, I felt in my heart that precisely because it could be waived, it might be worthwhile to go through it. The matter of worldly experience should be done sooner rather than later. Even if it slows down my progress a little, it doesn't matter."

"If you don't hone your skills in dealing with people early on, it will be difficult to learn them again once you reach a higher level."

"At that time, you will be in a high position of power, and every move you make will be watched by countless eyes. Even if you want to make mistakes or try new things, you won't be able to afford it."

Zhao Qing nodded, thinking to himself that this was nothing more than doubting his own psychological maturity and fearing that young people would have difficulty adapting to the rapid increase in power in a short period of time, and that they would become unrestrained and unruly.

His earnest admonitions were indeed well-intentioned.

Many students with no social experience get ripped off and cheated when buying groceries, which is absolutely unacceptable and must be taught and corrected.

She then followed up with, "So, what are the main categories of things involved in this graduation assessment? What are the differences between them?"

But Zhu Jiyang replied, "All kinds of training tasks are divided into four grades, A, B, C, and D, according to their difficulty, danger, and scope. Grade A is the highest and Grade D is the lowest. Students of the Martial Academy should choose according to their abilities and talents, and each should follow their assigned task without being forced."

"As for the categories, there are matters of martial arts sects—mediating disputes, taking stock of clan records, or exploring newly discovered secret palaces and ruins; there are matters of governance in border counties—assisting local magistrates in implementing policies, supervising land reclamation and water conservancy projects, or adjudicating long-standing difficult cases; there are matters of rewarding and apprehending criminals—hunting down fugitives who have committed serious crimes and have escaped without a trace, as well as evil spirits and monsters that wreak havoc in the area; in addition, there are military service, diplomatic missions, exploration of mountains and rivers, and so on, and so on."

Feeling he had been rambling on, he casually conjured two jade slips and handed them to Zhao Qing and Yuan Gong to read and explain the details inside.

"...Theoretically, you can receive a maximum of four Rank A or higher missions upon graduation?"

Zhao Qing quickly drew a crucial conclusion. He calculated the difference in bounties between the tasks. Based on the minimum requirements of this "graduation internship," which was four Class D lower-level tasks or equivalent to one Class D upper-level task, the total value should reach four thousand times.

Although the value of the rewards is difficult to assess and cannot be easily converted into money, it should be at least tens of thousands of gold coins.

Furthermore, if the assessment difficulty differs too much from the actual difficulty, additional levels will be added, creating special levels that exceed Grade A.

For example, expanding the scope of investigations to dig deep and uncover the root causes.

Although the Kuaiji Martial Arts Academy has only been established for a few years, the highest record for training missions in the past was only Class A (Lower Grade) created by Wen Gao. However, there are many examples of missions that were upgraded from Class C to Class B due to the number of targets far exceeding the estimate when hunting down mountain bandits. This is not surprising.

"...Could this top-tier mission have been taken from the secret files of the Secret Guard, repackaged, and given a new look? One is in the open, the other in the dark, luring the snake out of its hole, supporting each other, and both benefiting from it?"

Zhao Qing looked at it again and suddenly laughed, "No wonder the doctor was so attentive when he introduced it." Coupled with his previous in-depth analysis of national affairs, it turned out that he was trying to lure him into the secret guard system.

"Good eye!" Zhu Jiyang readily admitted, "The Secret Guard has its own rules for selecting talented individuals. However, the Martial Academy is also a convenient way to observe potential candidates. It can train newcomers and also take care of some long-standing cases. It's a win-win situation, so why not?"

"Furthermore, if you are willing to join our secret guard, you will be able to take on both overt and covert duties, and the reward will be doubled! One job, two rewards, it's truly enviable! Don't worry, there's no need for further assessment, just nod your head."

"Just nod your head and you can get a job?" Master Yuan couldn't help but question, "Entering is so easy, but leaving is so difficult. It sounds like a scam!"

"Why would I lie to you?" Zhu Jiyang said calmly. "The Secret Guard values ​​discernment most when selecting personnel. Since I have personally examined your two skills and we have been talking on this stone platform for so long, the assessment has already been completed in the course of our conversation."

"Does it mean we have to set up an incense table, burn oaths, and go through a set of empty rituals like three kneelings and nine kowtows to count?"

"The tokens and corresponding equipment will be issued when we meet again!"

"Let's wait until we get the talisman equipment before we talk about it," Zhao Qing replied.

The so-called trial and error training, besides serving as a way to make money, can also broaden her horizons and experience, and help her understand the deeper workings of Ning Daoqi's society in the main world: due to the existence of extraordinary cultivation, what are the similarities and differences between it and normal history? This cannot be clearly understood without personal experience.

Moreover, the highest quality of the Six Qi (vital energies) is never openly sold on the market. The Secret Guards and the Martial Academy are excellent places to obtain them.

Looking for the pure, wild, top-quality spirit beast? Almost impossible. Others have already searched for them for centuries, incorporating them into their private gardens.

...(End of this chapter)