Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 141 The world changes, let us share poetry and fine wine.
Chen Xu returned to Yunjiang City at 4:45 PM, before sunset.

He held the mouse to his chest, and there seemed to be a trace of Daoist energy lingering in his mind.

The so-called Way is like this evening breeze, the green trees by the roadside, the setting sun in the sky, and the hustle and bustle of the world.

[Cultivation Level: Late Stage of Meridian Opening Realm 13%]

The primordial Qi flows silently, naturally enhancing one's cultivation; spiritual practice is omnipresent.

He then recalled the spiritual material analysis he had just seen: "[The 'Illuminating Fate' is a collection of the most intense emotions in the world, including love, hate, passion, birth, old age, sickness, and death. It is condensed into forty-nine streams and then cooked with rootless water, unrestrained wind, and the fire of desire.]"

One can obtain a Shadow of the Soul.

It can be hidden within one's own shadow. When merged, it can double one's strength. When separated, this soul shadow can travel thousands of miles and be commanded at will.

Within a hundred miles, the strength of the soul shadow can reach 90% of its own, within two hundred miles, it can reach 80%, and so on.

In a critical moment, releasing the "Life-Covering Curse" allows one to die in someone else's place.

The effects of this product are truly wondrous and extraordinary, leaving one in awe.

The two rats in his household went to great lengths to deliver the [Life-Substitute Pearl] to him, little did they know that he would obtain a [Life-Illuminating Fiend] after killing the Ghost King.

The two have similar effects, but it has been a hardship for the two rat demons.

Chen Xu had been walking along the way, both trying to understand the Dao and pondering the wisp of the Life-Illuminating Aura.

At this moment, it suddenly occurred to me that it is said that the "Destiny Star" can collect the most extreme emotions in the world, regardless of love, hate, passion, birth, aging, sickness, or death.

Could this substance collect the illness from the mice and Ninth Master, absorb it, and help the two mice recover as soon as possible?

After pondering and observing for a long time, until he returned to the city and listened to the lively sounds of the city streets, Chen Xu finally came to a conclusion:

It definitely works!

However, this kind of data collection requires matching Chen Xu's strength; for example, Ninth Master's strength is unfathomable.

Although Chen Xu did not know exactly how high his cultivation level was, he vaguely knew from the comparison of the two that he could not save Ninth Master now.

The mice, however, were not very strong.

However, its bloodline is special, and it swallowed Ninth Master in its belly. Although Chen Xu can absorb the evil spirits from its body, it is not something that can be accomplished overnight.

Even so, they finally had a clue and a direction to help the two mice.

It can truly be said that just when you think you've reached a dead end, a new path opens up before you!
Chen Xu let out a soft breath, and looking at the streets on both sides, his mood was different from before.

On the street, passersby and vendors were haggling over prices, and there were also couples arguing and children making noise.

Occasionally, idle people would chatter about local gossip with great interest: "Do you know Old Scarface Xiao from the North Street intersection? He recently got married."

"What's so strange about getting a wife? Is it even worth talking about?"

"What if the woman he married wasn't human, but actually a fish he caught from the river?"

"What? Fish? What nonsense! How can a person live with a fish!"

"What if the fish turned into a beautiful woman? A lovely and charming woman, who would even help him sell fish at his stall."

Tsk tsk tsk, if you ever met him, you'd understand why he married a fish..."

These strange tales from the streets are indeed quite extraordinary.

Chen Xu found it interesting. With little Ashi in his arms, he walked this stretch of road, turned a few more corners, and finally saw Gaosheng Inn.

With the inn in sight, Chen Xu suddenly felt a little guilty.

He wondered to himself: I wonder if Master Wu has found out that I left the inn quietly.
If discovered—

Well, at worst I'll just get a scolding.

In short, whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll still get stabbed.

Chen Xu immediately composed himself, making himself appear calm and collected, and then strode into the inn.

There were many people having dinner in the inn's lobby. When they saw Chen Xu, the previous noise suddenly quieted down.

Wang Mochuan and Xu Wenyuan were also there. Xu Wenyuan asked with delight, "Brother Chen, your injury is healed?"

Chen Xu nodded to everyone and said, "Yes, gentlemen, please enjoy your meal."

He then walked up to the second floor of the inn and returned to his room.

He sensed something was amiss as he pushed the door open. His heart skipped a beat, and he flung the door open. The two people sitting inside immediately turned their gazes toward him.

Hey, who are those two inside the door if not Wu Zhengze and Feng Yuanbai?

Chen Xu felt the air around him become heavy and the pressure immense as he was stared at by two pairs of burning eyes.

He unconsciously straightened his posture, stepped forward into the room, and closed the door behind him.

boom!
As soon as the door closed, Chen Xu hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Master; greetings, Brother Feng."

"Sigh." A sigh was heard, and Wu Zheng shook his head, saying, "You!"

He said nothing, yet it was as if he had guessed everything; a thousand words were contained in that one sigh.

Chen Xu felt that something was off about the Master's attitude, and then he heard Wu Zhengze say, "We already know about the fire at Pufeng Mountain. You... did you invite the great Confucian scholar Ji Weizi to help you?"

That's it!

No wonder Wu Zhengze had such a knowing look on his face; he had indeed guessed everything, yet he had guessed nothing at all.

Chen Xu was momentarily at a loss for how to respond, and his strange expression only made Wu Zheng more certain of his guess.

Wu Zhengze added, “Although you are favored by the great Confucian scholar, there are limitations to summoning heroic spirits. The path of cultivation is long, and some favors should be used in crucial places.”

However, this life-or-death crisis cannot be said to be unimportant.

"That's enough, it's good that the matter is resolved, so as to avoid being controlled in the future."

What else could Chen Xu do?
He gave a very faint smile, a smile that surprisingly carried a hint of shyness and youthful charm.

You can't exactly tell Confucius that you didn't summon the spirits of great Confucian scholars, but instead single-handedly conquered Pufeng Mountain, can you?
If this were said aloud, I dare not imagine how the Master would react. Wu Zhengze then said, "Come and sit down. The matter of Pufeng Mountain has been resolved, but Magistrate Feng has some new information to tell you."

What's the latest news?

After Chen Xu sat down, he heard Feng Yuanbai say, "Xuzhi, the provincial examination has been moved up to July this year."

This sentence is truly astonishing.

Chen Xu immediately blurted out, "Doesn't this mean that the provincial examination will be held in at most two months?"

It's already April 21st. After more than two months of preparation for the provincial examination, it's hard to imagine anyone daring to accept the offer.

Feng Yuanbo said, "Recently, there have been some special circumstances. First, the imperial examination will be moved up to early February next year."

Secondly, the scourge of evil spirits and demons intensified in various regions, prompting the imperial court to consider increasing the number of successful candidates in the provincial and metropolitan examinations to address the chaos.

Wu Zhengze said, "The preparation time has been shortened, but the number of successful candidates has increased. It's hard to say whether this is a good thing or a bad thing."

“I think there are drawbacks,” Feng Yuanbo said. “Although the number of places has increased, I predict that there is a 60-70% chance that the provincial examination will test the policy of suppressing demons.”

Chen Xu held the little mouse demon in his hand, and unconsciously pulled his hand further into his sleeve.

He remained calm and composed during his life-or-death battle with the Ghost King Xie Huaizheng, but at this moment he suddenly felt the little demon in his palm was heavy.

But at the same time, a soaring, upward force, like a raging fire, took over his mind even more.

If the storm is fierce, then break through the waves and scatter all the dark clouds!
Chen Xu felt a fire burning in his chest, but he remained silent, only listening to Feng Yuanbai continue:

"If we only consider the interpretation of classics in essays, there is no problem with the narration. If we only consider policy essays, the narration is also very well written."

However, you lack understanding of the world and have not encountered any demonic or ghostly afflictions or evil spirits in various places.

Even if one has excellent literary talent and theoretical knowledge, when faced with strategies for pacifying demons and ghosts, one will likely be helpless.

This is not your fault alone; in fact, the vast majority of scholars do not come into contact with these things before passing the imperial examination.

Firstly, such calamities were not common in the past. Secondly, before becoming a scholar, one's studies are only considered to be introductory. If one studies current affairs too deeply, it may affect one's character and hinder the understanding of the classics.

Furthermore, after an ordinary person passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, they need at least three to five years to settle down and learn. With that extended time, they naturally have enough time to learn everything they need.

After a sincere analysis, Feng Yuanbo asked Chen Xu, "Do you still want to take the provincial examination this year?"

Chen Xu replied without hesitation, "Of course I'll take the test."

To be honest, theoretically he shouldn't rush into it in a year or two.

But Mr. Zhou had said earlier that time waits for no one, and that he should take the imperial examinations as soon as possible if he could achieve official rank.

Feng Yuanbo had actually said something similar before, and his question now was probably just to test Chen Xu's resolve.

After Chen Xu answered in this way, Feng Yuanbai smiled and said:

"Since you are going to participate in this year's provincial examination, I suggest that you do not go back to your hometown this time."

If you are worried about your family and elders, you can ask Master Wu to take a message back home.

You need to make the most of your time in the prefectural city. You can learn from the talented students at the prefectural academy, and when you have free time, you can also look at the case files with me and read about the world.

Of course, it would be even better if you could stay at my house.

"Go to that academy if you want; if you don't, your foolish brother can still serve as half a teacher."

After saying that, Feng Yuanbai looked at Wu Zhengze with a smile.

Wu Zhengze immediately let out a "heh," thinking, "Good, this old bastard is waiting here."

The two had argued that day about whether Chen Xu should stay in the prefectural city or return to his hometown. Although Wu Zhengze did not win the argument, he did not lose either.

This time, not only could Feng Yuanbo not persuade Chen Xu to stay, but even Wu Zhengze himself could only reluctantly agree.
"I share the same idea."

A man's ambition lies in all corners of the world. Since you have no important business to attend to when you return home, you might as well press on until you pass the imperial examination with flying colors.

Only when you return home with the plaque of a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) will you truly be considered to have returned home in glory!
As for your home, you can rest assured that I will take care of it.

After speaking, Wu Zhengze's face, which had been somewhat sullen, suddenly broke into a smile.

He stroked his short beard and glanced at Feng Yuanbai.

He then laughed and said, "Xuzhi, I'll leave you a carrier pigeon in a few days."

You may correspond with me often, whether you are troubled by something while you are away or you miss home, you can send a carrier pigeon to keep in touch with me.

Remember, do not be aggressive or violent.

Your husband awaits your good news.

After saying this, he laughed heartily. Unlike Feng Yuanbo, who could only smile slightly when he wanted to laugh, Master Wu was completely uninhibited.

What else could Chen Xu do?
The only option is to agree.

Having finished discussing the main topic, Chen Xu thought of his own spirit wine and hurriedly said, "Master, Brother Feng, I happen to have some fine wine here. It would be fitting to bring it out and share a cup with you both now."

He got up and went to the box by the bed to get some wine, but actually he took out a jar of Liuxia Zui brewed by Mingxin Gourd from the kitchen.

A moment later, the room was filled with an intoxicating aroma of wine.

Wu Zhengze was slightly drunk, and his voice carried a carefree and unrestrained quality he didn't usually have.

"Xuzhi, how can there be good wine without good poetry? Now that we are about to part, do you have a poem to give to the Master?"

Feng Yuanbo said, "Instructor Wu, we haven't parted ways yet, why are you in such a hurry?"

"But we have good wine today, and we'll have to say goodbye sooner or later, so what's wrong with me asking now?"

In my drunken state, a touch of melancholy lingered, difficult to express.

Chen Xu's voice rang out: "Master, I have a poem to share with you after your guidance."

(End of this chapter)