I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 57 Entering the sect
With a thought, Xue Xiang's literary energy transformed into a ball of golden light, which swirled around his body, rising and falling with his will.

With a thought, the golden light transformed into the shape of a book; with another thought, it transformed into a long sword.

He discovered that the golden light could change at will, but it could neither materialize nor possess any power.

After playing with it for a while, he lost interest. Then, with another thought, the golden light transformed into azure literary energy.

"It can also disguise itself, so it's not entirely useless."

Xue Xiang muttered something to himself, then withdrew his literary energy at the slightest thought.

Currently, his knowledge of literary style is almost zero.

He planned to obtain this knowledge from Xie Haiya.

I couldn't sleep well all night; I kept dreaming about the old man Han Gu.

The next morning, Xue Xiang rushed to Jiufen Mountain to report the good news to Xie Haiya.

Xie Haiya was away on official business, and Xue Xiang was surrounded by a group of colleagues who celebrated with him.

At three quarters past Chen hour, he finally arrived at Suiyuan.

Today's garden party is being held at that location.

During the grand garden party, Xue Xiang didn't steal the spotlight and remained hidden throughout.

Even so, everyone from Wei Wendao down regarded him as the leader.

Xue Xiang repeatedly declined, and Wei Wendao was finally pushed to the front.

Xue Xiang knew when to be dignified and when to be humble.

At the garden party, he didn't stand out at all, but was instead pushed forward to compose an impromptu poem to enhance the atmosphere.

Xue Xiang only composed an ordinary poem to get by.

As the garden party drew to a close, Xue Xiang, along with Wei Wendao and others, served tea to Feng Jing.

In Shihlin, this process is generally regarded as a seating arrangement.

These Confucian scholars, barring any unforeseen circumstances, would recognize the chief examiner as their new mentor in every level of the imperial examinations they passed.

The mentor was not a teacher in the strict sense, but he had a naturally close relationship with the scholars and was regarded as a community where they shared prosperity and adversity.

Xue Xiang disagreed, but was happy to expand his social circle and treated Feng Jing with great respect.

Feng Jing also seemed to favor him, talking to him more than Wei Wendao throughout the entire conversation.

As the license plates were being issued, the park party ended.

A group of people surrounded Xue Xiang, inviting him to a banquet.

Xue Xiang immediately noticed a carriage parked at the entrance, and the servant in blue standing beside it was Xie Haiya's confidant.

Xue Xiang pointed to the carriage shaft embroidered with the Seventh Academy's emblem, apologized to everyone, and climbed into the carriage.

At 5:15 PM, Xue Xiang arrived at the Plum Blossom Hall and met Xie Haiya in the West Warm Pavilion.

He was eating, wearing a plain-colored thin shirt, his hair was loose, and he looked extremely relaxed.

"What are you..."

"I went back to Pubei for someone's sake and just got back. My spiritual energy was depleted, and I'm in pain all over from overexerting myself. I need to clear my head. Have you eaten? Would you like a bowl?"

Xue Xiang glanced at Xie Haiya's bowl and saw that the spirit rice in Xie Haiya's bowl was glistening with oil, mixed with chopped red peppers and thinly sliced ​​scallions, looking like a bowl of rice mixed with lard.

"Judging from the way you're looking around, are you going to eat or not?"

"Eat, eat. The garden party isn't very interesting. It's all cold food, either fruit or cloyingly sweet pastries. I'm starving."

Xue Xiang cooked for himself, and the steamed rice and various condiments on the tea table were plentiful.

Before long, he was eating from a large bowl.

Xie Haiya was amused and annoyed, "You're really not polite. I only had my first bowl, and you've already eaten all the rice."

Xue Xiang shoveled rice down his throat, and in no time, the bowl was as clean as if it had been washed. He even licked his lips, still wanting more.

His lazy appearance amused Xie Haiya, who pointed at Xue Xiang and said, "You used to be quite well-behaved."

They've completely lost their manners today. Perhaps they've gained confidence after becoming Professor Feng's apprentices and now they don't respect me, their superior.

Xue Xiang fetched tea and brewed it himself, saying without looking up, "Professor Feng is indeed my mentor, but in my heart, you are my true teacher."

Without the academy's guidance, my bronze flying fish emblem would surely have been taken by Jiang Kun.

At best, they would be exiled; at worst, they would be killed and their families wiped out.

With the help of the Dean, I was promoted to deputy head of the department and gained the honor of being a city student.

All of this is so profound that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a second life.

While brewing tea, Xue Xiang dissected his liver and gallbladder.

"I admire you, kid. You can speak your heart so easily."

Xie Haiya waved his hand, "I've tried to promote many people, but I haven't seen another Xue Xiang. In the end, it's because you proved yourself."

As for the idea of ​​becoming my disciple, don't mention it again. You are exceptionally talented and possess innate wisdom, which I cannot teach you.

Forcing you to learn will only harm you.

This time, I returned to Pubei to take care of your entry into the sect.

Our lineage does not value lineage or teacher-student relationships, but rather those who share the same ideals and beliefs.

"Now that you've paid your respects to the ancestral master's image, we can address each other as fellow disciples from now on."

As he spoke, Xie Haiya returned to his bedroom and took out an old, yellowed portrait.

In the portrait, a handsome scholar riding backwards on a blue ox is smiling while holding a flower, his gaze gentle and warm.

The entire painting is in a realistic style, and it is not only lifelike but also expressive.

"This is our Tongjiang School's Master Hong Yi."

"The Tongjiang School! The Tongjiang School, which advocates the theory of innate spirituality, proposed that 'everyone can be educated and everyone can become a sage.' I didn't expect our school to be so famous, a mainstream school of thought."

Although Xue Xiang was a newcomer to Confucianism, he had heard of the Tongjiang School.

"Then hurry up and pay homage to the patriarch."

As they spoke, Xie Haiya changed into his official robes and had someone set up an incense table and prayer cushions.

After washing his hands and face, Xue Xiang, guided by Xie Haiya, bowed three times to the portrait of Master Hong Yi.

"It's done."

Xie Haiya helped Xue Xiang up and said with a smile, "Now that you've joined the sect, we are fellow disciples."

Xue Xiang acknowledged and bowed, saying, "Xue Xiang greets Senior Brother."

"No need for formalities, no need for formalities, haha..."

Xie Haiya was greatly relieved.

He felt that the most wonderful thing about his trip to Yunmeng was meeting Xue Xiang, and even more wonderful was introducing Xue Xiang to the Tongjiang School.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for the treasure."

Xue Xiang suddenly spread his hands.

"What treasure will be bestowed?"

Xie Haiya was baffled.

Xue Xiang said, "The treasures I used to join the sect? You wouldn't tell me that my prestigious Tongjiang School is so meager, would you?"

"I knew you'd take advantage of the situation."

Xie Haiya smiled and said, "Let's put the gift aside for now. What are your thoughts on this city exam?"

Xue Xiang's smile vanished. "Senior brother, do you know who suggested introducing spiritual root assessment into the city trials?"

"Why are you asking this?"

Xue Xiang started by recounting how Su Zimo secretly used five-colored soil to test his spiritual root, and continued until Su Zimo was arrested.

Xie Haiya's expression suddenly turned cold. "So that's how it is?"

"How come?"

"It was Hong Tianxia who suggested including the test of candidates' spiritual roots in the city examination."

Xue Xiang gasped.

He has been in Jiufenshan for quite some time and has almost figured out the power structure there.

Wei Yang was indeed the city magistrate, but he came from a military background and was not a Confucian scholar, so his influence among civil officials was naturally limited.

The two deputy city magistrates, one old and one ill, often take leave.

Although Hong Tianxia did not hold the title of Deputy City Commander, he was the second-ranked Commander, wielding immense power.

If it was he who suggested including the testing of spiritual roots in the city examination, then without a doubt, he is the big shot behind Su Suiran.

Xue Xiangdao said, "Senior brother, the guy surnamed Su started by burning the account books to make things difficult for you."

And he also condoned Jiang Kun's schemes against me.

Then, they even sent assassins to kill him.

And then Su Ziming stirs up trouble again and again, and we just stay calm and collected?

If I were compared to Xu Yi from "Mortal World", wouldn't I be a bit too pathetic?

If my life were a book, and the protagonist was tortured like this, which reader could possibly finish reading it?

(End of this chapter)