I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 65 Tiger Brother
Wei Wendao nodded, "The Academy of Literature also thought so, but they couldn't bear to throw it away for nothing, so they opened up the exchange. You only need the lowest grade of blue literary token to exchange for a piece of local goods."

They promised that after the exchange, one only needed to wait for the saint's birthday to awaken the Black Tiger of Literary Qi and help cleanse it of worldly dust.

Some people were willing to take advantage of the situation, and a considerable amount of local goods were exchanged.

"Why don't you search inside, Brother Wei? You might find a great bargain."

"We wouldn't dare dream of that. There are definitely leaks, but there are even more pitfalls."

"I see, I've learned a lesson."

"It's rare for Brother Xue to learn from me like this, I'd like to offer him a big toast."

Wei Wendao left with a smile, leaving the huge warehouse to Xue Xiang.

Xue Xiang wandered around again, feeling truly troubled.

The blue tokens he liked were too low-level to exchange for.

He was eligible to exchange it, but he didn't want it.

Left with no other choice, he turned his attention to the pile of dirt.

He picked up a palm-sized stone, its surface covered in patterns, but obscured by a thick layer of dust.

The dust couldn't be removed at all by wiping with his hands; he couldn't see the true appearance of the stone.

With a thought, Xue Xiang summoned his literary energy, which enveloped the stone without producing any unusual phenomena.

Xue Xiang was in despair. He thought his golden literary aura was unique, but now it seemed that it was no different.

Since he didn't find anything he liked, he didn't bother wasting the token and planned to go to Jiahe Trading Company to sell it for spirit stones.

As I stepped out of the storeroom and was about to close the door, I suddenly caught a glimpse of the statue of the saint in the main hall.

Xue Xiang had a sudden inspiration: "If I can't do it, my brother Hu can! Let's invite my brother Hu over for a spin, maybe that will help?"

Once this thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.

He looked around and found that even the sweeping boy had left, leaving him all alone in the courtyard.

Xue Xiang returned to the storeroom and recited softly, "Those in ancient times who wished to manifest their virtue to the world first governed their states. Those who wished to govern their states first regulated their families..."

As Xue Xiang chanted, a gentle breeze suddenly rose in the spacious hall.

A gentle breeze blew by, and a giant black tiger, three zhang long, suddenly appeared in the hall.

Xue Xiang was secretly delighted. Clearly, the works of Confucian sages from his previous life were a rigid requirement for this literary black tiger.

As long as you use this to entice it, it will come every time.

So Xue Xiang changed direction and walked towards the shelves filled with local products.

Sure enough, Wenqi Black Tiger followed behind him, listening to his recitation.

His enormous body swept across the shelves.

Wherever the black tiger's body went, the dust covering the local goods began to loosen.

Ten breaths later, two sharp auras suddenly appeared in the arena, and he hurried over.

The energy emanated from a palm-sized jade tablet and a ring with an antique design.

The two items were dusty and covered in a thick layer of dust, which almost materialized on them.

At this moment, with the arrival of the Wenqi Black Tiger, a layer of dust on the two items was shaken off, slightly revealing their original appearance.

"Snow-covered plum blossoms".

Xue Xiang was taken aback.

On the upper left corner of that jade tablet, there was a faint trace of snow-white plum blossoms.

Previously, the plum blossoms were obscured by thick dust and grime.

Now, much of the dust has been scattered, revealing its traces.

"The emblem of Tian Shu Pavilion".

The Wind Breathing Sword Technique that Xue Xiang practiced came from the Tian Shu Pavilion, and there was such a mark on that jade pendant.

He had heard Qian Ming say that those who could enter the Tian Shu Pavilion were all good people.

Although the ring looked nice, Xue Xiang decided to stick with familiar items and set his sights on this jade tablet.

As he examined the jade tablet, he did not read it aloud. The black tiger, with its literary aura, circled him twice before dispersing.

With the departure of the Black Tiger, the dust and stagnation he had dispelled returned to their original state. The jade tablet in Xue Xiang's hand regained its hazy, indistinct appearance.

After much deliberation, Xue Xiang took out a piece of white paper and a charcoal pencil from his sleeve.

This was something he always kept on hand, after all, "The Mortal World" was waiting for him to update, and whenever he had free time, he would inevitably write a section.

At that moment, he quickly wrote a Confucian classic on each sheet of paper.

After writing, he used a jade tablet to cover the text.

He then stopped reciting and placed a piece of paper with writing on it on the jade tablet.

Sure enough, the black tiger with literary talent was attracted by the words on the jade tablet and turned to take a look.

After he finished reading, Xue Xiang pulled away the paper, revealing the jade tablet and the paper that was pressed down under the jade tablet.

Only a portion of the text on the paper is visible.

Sure enough, the black tiger with literary aura raised its paw and began to manipulate the jade tablet.

However, he was an ethereal being; the tiger's claws pierced through the jade tablet, yet they couldn't shake it in the slightest.

The moment its tiger claw touched the jade tablet, the earth's energy and dust on the tablet scattered in a flurry.

After dozens of swipes, Xue Xiang worried that the Black Tiger of Literature would run out of patience, so he quickly moved the jade tablet away, allowing the Black Tiger of Literature to pounce on the paper.

After reading it, Xue Xiang released the paper and replaced it with another sheet, still using the jade tablet to hold it in place.

After more than a hundred breaths of this process, the dust on the jade tablet was completely shaken off, revealing its true form.

The yellowed jade tablet had long lost its luster, and its back was covered with mottled marks.

The front is covered with crisscrossing lines of latitude and longitude, and the four corners are like a base, just enough to hold a spirit stone.

Xue Xiang put away the papers, and Wen Qi Hei Hu retreated.

Xue Xiang stared intently at the jade tablet, and sure enough, the dust that had been completely shattered did not reattach itself.

Xue Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, took out the cyan token, and attached it to the restriction emblem on the jade tablet.

In an instant, the document vaporized, and the restrictive emblem disappeared.

Xue Xiang tucked the jade tablet into his sleeve, glanced longingly at the black ring, and hoped that the Academy would reopen later than usual.

I hope even more that no one will accidentally buy that black ring.

Xue Xiang, who was eating from his bowl while eyeing the food in the basin, reluctantly left the Academy of Arts. Looking up at the sky, he saw the setting sun.

He guessed that even if Wei Wendao and the others' drinking party ended, it would definitely continue into the second half.

He didn't intend to get involved, but went straight to the West Market, bought some snacks, and took them to see Qian Ming.

After the city exam, he hadn't even had a chance to visit Qian Ming.

Qian Ming was very pleased with Xue Xiang's arrival.

He already knew about Xue Xiang's high school, but his pride prevented him from actively joining in the fun.

At this moment, Xue Xiang arrived, still behaving with great courtesy, which greatly comforted him.

The two sat in Qian Ming's courtyard and drank tea for a while before Xue Xiang changed the subject to Tian Shu Pavilion.
"What, you're still not giving up on the Breath of Wind Sword Technique?"

"I'm mainly interested in the Tian Shu Pavilion. Does Master Qian know anyone who specializes in studying the Tian Shu Pavilion?"

"Even I know about the Tian Shu Pavilion, so there are naturally many people who study it. There's a society in the south that studies the Tian Shu Pavilion, and they often make a fuss about it. What, you want to start with the Tian Shu Pavilion and learn the Breath of Wind Sword Technique?"

From Qian Ming's perspective, it was impossible for Xue Xiang to learn the Wind-Stopping Sword Technique.

As for Xue Xiang, he had given Qian Ming the opportunity to practice the Breath of Wind Sword Technique.

Qian Ming couldn't learn it, and he couldn't be so saintly as to reveal his own secret to help Qian Ming learn it.

"Not entirely, it's mainly out of interest. Professor Qian, do you have any channels to contact the Tian Shu Pavilion Research Society?"

"No, there really isn't one. By the way, weren't you working with the newspapers? Try placing an ad there. I've seen a lot of missing person/item notices and thank-you notes in the newspapers lately, so I think there will be some results."

"Thank you, Professor Qian."

Xue Xiang got the idea and reported back to the newspaper, whereupon a reward was offered.

Three days after the newspaper published the story, the result was in: a wandering swordsman carrying a satchel came to the door. Judging from his accent, he was a southerner and claimed to be surnamed Yan.

(End of this chapter)