Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 148 A Letter from the Taoist Priest
Not to mention the four foxes in the Civil Engineering group, other foxes were also very interested when they heard that there would be a fox studies test today.

But now, looking at the questions, I was completely dumbfounded.

This question was much more difficult than what the Civil Engineering Four Foxes group had told them.

The foxes in the library held pens, sweat beading on their ears, unsure how to begin.

On stage, Ms. Bai and Mr. Su were somewhat surprised as they looked through the exam papers.

"Didn't the teacher prepare several sets of exam papers? Why did he choose the most difficult one today?"

"Wouldn't such an exam undermine their confidence in studying foxes?"

Chen Ji smiled slightly and asked them in return.

"How many times did Mr. Su take the imperial examination to become a scholar?"

"Naturally, it's once."

Mr. Su said smugly.

"Although I did not pass the provincial examination, my talent and learning were not lacking, so I naturally passed the county-level examination on my first try."

"Mr. Su is very talented. No wonder I didn't know he had these methods."

"Oh?"

Mr. Su looked puzzled.

Chen Ji then looked at him and smiled.

“In our area, if students are not at a high level when participating in the imperial examinations, the academy teachers will prepare exam papers in advance, which are called mock exams.”

"This exam is divided into several sessions. The initial preparation is the most difficult, called the first mock exam. The purpose is to let students know that the exam is not easy and that they should take it seriously."

"After studying for a period of time, we will use a test paper of moderate difficulty to conduct a second mock exam. This will allow us to assess the students' true performance and let them feel that they have made progress."

"We only present the simplest exam paper right before the exam to give students confidence, so they will have a different kind of confidence when they enter the exam room."

The ghost and the fox remained silent for a long time before sighing with emotion.

"It is a good method. If they practice in this way, there should be many more foxes who enter the fox school this year."

"Indeed."

A moment later, something else came to mind.

"If it's this difficult, as you said before, won't it dampen the foxes' confidence?"

"Probably not."

"Why?"

"Isn't there Miss Bai?"

"I?"

"Exactly."

Chen Ji smiled slightly.

"As long as Miss Bai tells them that this exam paper is indeed more difficult than the one she took, they will be relieved."

"Sir, you are here!"

Miss Bai smiled and shook her head, but did not reject this approach.

"There's something else I need to explain to Miss Bai."

"What's the matter?"

Chen Ji then revealed what he almost let slip after bringing the four foxes there.

Both Miss Bai and Mr. Su shook their heads, trying not to laugh.

"Understood, sir. Don't worry, we won't let anything slip. Just go back and settle those demons and ghosts in the courtyard."

"nature."

Chen Ji nodded, his gaze sweeping over the fox pack, and he spotted Bai Shijiu's figure.

"Is Nineteen already recovered?"

"Yes."

Miss Bai nodded in response.

"Having obtained the Heavenly Fox bloodline to suppress the Dream Eater's bloodline, the Dream Marriage Technique can now achieve daytime entry into dreams, making illusion and dream one, which is extremely rare."

"Moreover, with the methods taught by the teacher, I have read more than ten storybooks and learned a lot about the betrayal of lovers. Now I am not as easily influenced as before."

"That's certainly not simple."

Chen Ji was also aware of the difficulty of practicing the Dream Marriage Technique.

In all his years of cultivation, the only time he had ever dreamt of something during the day was when the Taoist Master Xuanshan was giving a sermon.

But Xuanshan is, after all, a place that even the Emperor considered inferior in terms of laws, so it's not surprising that it possesses such supernatural powers.

Bai Shijiu is still a young girl, so to have such abilities is truly remarkable.

"Congratulations, Miss Bai."

Chen Ji smiled and bowed.

"With such talent as Nineteen, even if he is lacking in other subjects, he will be specially admitted to the Fox School."

The white girl shook her head.

"I don't want her to enter the field of fox studies in this way."

"Oh... I see, you're worried about the tree standing out from the crowd, right?"

"Exactly."

Miss Bai nodded and sighed.

"Foxes have their own teachings and can teach many techniques, but ultimately, the most suitable technique for foxes is illusion."

"The Nineteen Dream Cultivation Technique is more difficult than Illusion Technique, but requires a higher level of talent."

"This should be a good thing. Does the Fox Academy have to contend with the human academies?"

Mr. Su asked in confusion.

"If there weren't any, why would Your Highness think that there are too many fox spirits?"

Miss Bai asked a question in return, and before Chen Ji and Mr. Su could speak, she took the initiative to explain.

"As I told you before, there are both celestial foxes and wild foxes in Fox Academy. Nineteen's talent... not to mention celestial foxes, he is among the best in the entire Fox Academy."

"If we're talking about dream manipulation and illusion magic, it's probably number one."

"If one enters the Fox School without a good teacher to guide them, they will likely face constant troubles and hinder their cultivation."

"trouble?"

"Even if it's a noble family recruiting or a sect inviting them, Fox Academy is different from the wilderness, and there are quite a few lobbyists there."

The young woman looked at them.

“The aristocratic families especially value talented foxes. Previously, when talented wild foxes entered the fox academy, the aristocratic families would try every means to win them over.”

"They might offer you a martial arts manual, rare and precious materials, or even simply take you in as a son-in-law."

"Many wild foxes, even those with talent, will inevitably feel inferior when they see these things. If they have any thoughts, they will either become vassals of the celestial foxes or be ridiculed and have their Dao hearts shattered."

"I was worried that the 19th would encounter these problems, but with your method, I feel much more at ease now."

"only……"

Miss Bai sighed again.

"The content written in the storybooks is all dead, and who knows what methods these fox clans and sects will use."

"Won't Fox Academy handle this matter?"

Chen Ji asked back.

"Didn't they say Her Majesty doesn't like this?"

The white girl shook her head.

"The Fox School is a school for all foxes in the world, and in reality, it is no different from places where ordinary practitioners are common."

"The Celestial Fox, the Instructor, the Fox Studies, the Sects—all the major powers want to snatch up these promising young talents in the Fox Studies field, and students have to walk these paths from the very beginning."

"If it's completely banned, will all the foxes who have achieved mastery of their cultivation have to find their own way out?"

"What do most of the foxes who graduate from fox studies do?"

"That's a lot."

Miss Bai smiled.

"Stay at the Fox Academy as an instructor, travel among humans to continue practicing magic, find a secluded mountain retreat for cultivation, answer summons from the City God and the Underworld, or become a guardian beast of a sect..."

"In short, once you graduate from Fox Academy and have an identity, you can do most things."

"I see, I understand."

Chen Ji felt inexplicably that Fox Studies wasn't so detached after all, and seemed no different from universities that were worried about students' employment rates.

However, it was not easy to say these words aloud. After thinking for a moment, he comforted Miss Bai and told her not to worry too much.

“Nineteen is intelligent and will surely make a decision. If you are really worried, you can ask her alone.”

"Asking is useless. She's so young, and she's only ever practiced asceticism in the mountains. How would she know anything about such things..."

Miss Bai was speechless, but Chen Ji finally asked the question he had wanted to ask earlier.

"Miss Bai just mentioned that there are sects within the study of foxes. I wonder what they are? Are they fox-related?"

Miss Bai paused for a moment, then shook her head with a smile.

"It is my fault that I did not explain it clearly to you, sir." "You know the sect that Fox went to. It was either one of the major Taoist temples in the human world, or the City God of the Underworld, or perhaps he went to befriend the Confucianists."

"It's just that I've been reading storybooks with Nineteen lately, and that's why I've started using that title."

Before Miss Bai could say anything more, she suddenly looked into the distance and nodded.

"Let me ask."

Only then did he look at Chen Ji.

"Sir, the mountain god wishes to invite you to inquire about the outcome of this journey. Would it be convenient for you?"

"I was just about to go and explain this to him, but I'll have to trouble the mountain god."

"No trouble."

As soon as Chen Ji finished speaking, he heard a low, chewing sound replying in his ear.

In a short while, they reached the summit of the mountain.

The mountain god looked the same, except that he now had a distinct layer of pale golden light on his body.

This is a sign that one has accumulated merit.

Chen Ji was taken aback.

It hasn't been long since the agreement was made to officially recognize the mountain god, yet the mountain god has already accumulated merits; this is perhaps a bit too fast.

"Besides what we've already mentioned, what else has the mountain god done?"

"Nothing else, they're all diligently cultivating merit and doing good deeds, but not in a particularly deliberate way..."

That's strange.

Chen Ji frowned.

"The mountain god is shrouded in golden light of merit, which doesn't seem like something you can gain by doing these things."

"unless……"

As Chen Ji was pondering, the golden light on the mountain god flickered, indicating that he had gained even more merit.

"Ok?"

Chen Ji had no time to think anymore; at this moment, he had to rely on the mountain god's abilities.

"Mountain God, please investigate quickly to find out where there is incense and blessings."

"So late, how could there be... There really is!"

After sensing it for a moment, the mountain god's eyes turned strange.

“Sir, the people who actually have time to perform the sacrifice for me are the same villagers who came to me earlier to ask you to repair the road.”

"okay I know."

Chen Ji nodded, already understanding the nature of these merits.

If it were simply road repair, the merit would not be so great. It could only be that it affected the intersection of the North and West Canals, preventing future disasters, which is why there is so much merit now.

However, if such merit is truly attainable...

I and the four foxes should also have a share.

I don't know why it didn't show up.

But considering that the mountain god has been doing good deeds since that day and that's why he has such merits, there's no rush.

With more accumulation over time, it will come eventually.

It was just the right moment to explain to the mountain god.

"If anyone comes to the mountain god again in the future and needs road or bridge repairs, the mountain god may give the order."

"How dare I give such an order? If anyone makes another wish, I will inform you immediately."

The mountain god didn't ask many questions and readily agreed.

Afterwards, wine and fruit drinks were served, and then Chen Ji began to slowly discuss the progress of the Mountain God Temple.

"The Five Sacred Mountains Emperors have already prepared three portions of the filth. Once Daoist Xiyun returns from the capital with the soil from the land and grain, we can go to Fenshan Town together to retrieve the Ghost King. Mountain God, there's no need to rush."

The mountain god hurriedly waved his hand.

“I dare not urge you, sir. This matter is not urgent. I just heard that you have recently subdued a ghost messenger, so I am sending you fifty sticks of incense to aid your cultivation.”

Chen Ji was taken aback, then cupped his hands in greeting.

"Mountain God, you are too kind. I would refuse anything else, but I will accept this. It just so happens that the Ghost Messenger needs it. Thank you."

The mountain god laughed heartily.

"Sir, you have helped me so much and I haven't been able to repay you. These are just small things and not worth mentioning. Besides, I don't need so much incense right now..."

As the mountain god spoke, Chen Ji's eyes flickered, recalling the scene of seeing Song San and the others worshipping the Five Sacred Mountains Emperors that day, and he solemnly reminded him.

"If there is still enough incense, you can first offer it to the statues of the Five Sacred Mountains, which is the most important thing."

"Understood, I will make the offering tomorrow."

The mountain god nodded in agreement.

Chen Ji didn't ask any further questions.

He didn't need to worry about these trivial matters; the mountain god would surely handle them.

They chatted for a while longer, exchanging methods of geomancy and aura observation with the mountain god, and also discussing fossilization techniques.

During the event, the mountain god was also invited to perform a fossil-making demonstration.

As dawn broke, Chen Ji bid farewell and prepared to return to Yaotang Mountain.

However, as they were leaving, they happened to pass through the territory of the fox clan, so they stopped to inquire about the results of the assessment.

After learning that most of them were below average, he nodded slightly.

"It's pretty much as I guessed. It seems I can revise the curriculum again in the next few days."

"I'm not on the mountain, so I'll have to trouble Mr. Su."

Mr. Su feigned anger upon hearing this.

"Why bother with all this talk about our relationship? If we're going to be so clear about things, I won't dare use this Peach Fairy Ghost Body anymore. I'd rather my memories fade sooner..."

"Mr. Su, you must not speak carelessly."

Even though it was a joke, Chen Ji still stopped him.

Ordinary people might take it easy to joke, but for spiritual practitioners, who have their own predetermined fate, such remarks are not well-received.

Mr. Su then understood and quickly nodded his thanks.

Chen Ji then rode the wind back to the pharmacy.

After they landed, the time for the purple aura to rise had already passed, but the demons were still diligently doing their morning prayers.

The loach demon lay in the basin absorbing the rising yang energy, its golden scales shimmering faintly with the sunlight, indeed resembling a small dragon.

The copper toad demon is turning the stone in front of it into a copper ingot.

The Stone Mill Demon was the only ghost cultivator who couldn't face the sun like that, so he was currently cultivating in the well water nourished by the moonlight, guided by the Mud Loach Demon.

All three demons practiced purification techniques and had no trace of bloodlust on their bodies. To an unfamiliar person, they would look like geniuses from some sect who had come down from the mountain with a few guardian beasts.

Then, thinking of the sect that Miss Bai had mentioned on the mountain, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The three demons all turned around to look.

Upon seeing Chen Ji, his face lit up with joy.

"The master is back?"

"Where are the foxes?"

The mudfish demon's expression changed, and it swallowed hard in shock.

"Could it be that Fellow Daoist Fox and his companions were not strong enough and encountered demons and ghosts, and were captured and killed because they didn't have time to escape?"

"..."

Chen Ji was taken aback, not knowing how to answer the mudfish demon's question.

He paused for a moment before speaking slowly.

"If you are really that good at thinking, why don't you go to the mortal world and write a storybook?"

"what?"

The mudfish demon stared at Chen Ji in surprise.

Chen Ji shook his head helplessly.

"Bai Qi and the others went up the mountain to prepare for the fox studies exam. Miss Bai accompanied them. I was worried that you might encounter some Taoist priests passing by and take you in, so I rushed down the mountain to check on you."

"No surprises expected recently, right?"

"No."

The three demons answered together, and then the mudfish demon suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, fellow Daoist, a Daoist from the mountain sent you a letter, which I have placed in your room."

“We originally wanted him to stay, but he said that since we weren’t here, there was no point in keeping him around and we could talk about it when we met again.”

"Oh?"

Chen Ji's mind raced, and he immediately guessed what was going on.

When he returned to the room, he saw a letter written by Yan Chixia on the table.

(End of this chapter)