Retirement begins with summoning Yuan Tiangang

The next thirteen days were peaceful.

The calm was so profound that Lin Feng felt somewhat dazed, as if the inn that night and the towering flames were nothing but a nightmare.

They set off before dawn every day and only rested when the sun was setting.

Sometimes you can find a village to stay in, and sometimes you have to sleep in the wild.

They ate mostly dry rations: hard, dry biscuits and pickled vegetables, with the occasional wild rabbit they could hunt to improve their diet.

Qinglong and Mowen took turns keeping watch at night.

The Azure Dragon's night watch has been significantly extended.

He always sat not far from the camp, his back ramrod straight, his eyes fixed on the darkness, motionless, like a statue.

Master Yu Yuan still occasionally nags in his mind, but he only talks about common sense about alchemy and the basics of cultivation, and occasionally boasts about his past glory.

Lin Feng gradually got used to it, and sometimes he would even ask a couple of questions in his mind.

"Old man, what comes after the Innate Realm?"

"A Grandmaster! A Grandmaster's true energy transforms into essence, capable of injuring others, and they live for five hundred years! Amazing, isn't it?"

"What about the Grandmasters?"

"A Grandmaster's Yuan Power is solidified, allowing them to briefly fly! Their lifespan is eight hundred years! Even more powerful!"

"Where are the Celestials?"

"A Celestial Being? A Celestial Being is truly extraordinary! They can manipulate the power of heaven and earth and live for a thousand years! They are prominent figures throughout the entire Central Court!"

"Where are the land-dwelling immortals?"

"A terrestrial immortal..." Master Yu Yuan's voice was unusually serious.

"That's the pinnacle of this realm. A single thought can shake heaven and earth, and a lifespan of several thousand years is the minimum. But those are all legendary figures. In all my years, I've only seen fewer than five..."

He stopped abruptly at this point.

"Can't see five what?" Lin Feng pressed.

"It's nothing," Master Yu Yuan mumbled, brushing it off.

"It's too early for you to think about these things now. Let's focus on building a solid foundation first."

Lin Feng didn't ask any more questions.

He knew that the old man sometimes spoke truthfully and falsehoods, and that he couldn't believe everything he said.

Thirteen days later, one afternoon, they finally saw Qingyang County City.

They had just crossed a ridge and stood on it when a breathtaking view suddenly opened up before them.

It was a vast, boundless plain, and in the center of the plain stood a huge city.

The city walls soared into the clouds, their bluish-gray bricks gleaming with a cold, hard luster in the afternoon sun.

The city wall stretches endlessly, as far as the eye can see, like a sleeping dragon coiled on the earth.

Banners fluttered on the city wall, and the figures of patrolling soldiers could be vaguely seen.

The city gate was bustling with traffic and pedestrians.

All sorts of horse-drawn carriages, oxcarts, and donkey carts lined up to enter and exit, creating a lively scene.

Further away, the city's houses stand in dense rows, with upturned eaves and corners, layer upon layer, stretching all the way to the horizon.

Several exceptionally tall buildings rose from the ground, as if they were about to pierce the sky.

That is Qingyang County.

Mo Wen stood on the beam, pointing ahead.

"The second largest city in Yunhai Prefecture, second only to the prefectural capital, Yunhai City."

The children were stunned.

Lin Feng's mouth was agape, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

He thought Yuanyang County was big enough and prosperous enough, but compared to the city in front of him, Yuanyang County was like... like an earthen walled village.

He opened his eyes wide, nearly dropping the wooden stick in his hand.

Li Qianqian stood on tiptoe, her little face filled with amazement. Zhao Mingxuan was also moved. Although he had long heard of the prosperity of Qingyang County, he was still shocked to see it with his own eyes.

Only Chen Jing'an remained quietly watching, her eyes vacant, as if the magnificent scene before her was no different from the weeds by the roadside.

"Let's go," Qinglong said.

"We must get into the city before dark."

The group descended the mountain ridge and headed towards the city gate.

The closer you get to the city, the more people and vehicles there are, and the noisier it gets.

The sounds of vendors hawking their wares in various dialects, haggling over prices, and the noise of carriages and horses mingled together, creating a huge wave of sound that rushed towards us.

A long queue formed at the city gate, where soldiers were conducting inspections. When it was their turn, the soldier glanced at Mo Wen and Qinglong, then at the children, asked no further questions, and waved them through.

After passing through the city gate, a bright and beautiful scene unfolded before my eyes.

The streets were wide enough for four horse-drawn carriages to walk side by side, and the bluestone slabs were as smooth as a mirror.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their flags fluttering in the breeze, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Restaurants, teahouses, cloth shops, pharmacies, pawnshops, banks... everything was available, and the storefronts were all decorated in a grand and impressive manner.

The streets were crowded with pedestrians, dressed in all sorts of clothes.

There were scholars in long gowns waving fans, laborers in short jackets carrying loads, wealthy merchants in silk riding in carriages, and wandering swordsmen in martial arts attire... all sorts of people, bustling about.

The air was filled with various aromas: the fragrance of freshly baked pastries, the aroma of brewing tea, the smoky scent of fried food, and the warm, cozy atmosphere unique to a gathering of people.

There aren't enough eyes for all the children.

Lin Feng saw a three-story restaurant with upturned eaves and large red lanterns hanging at the entrance. Waiters in uniform stood at the door to greet customers, their voices booming, "Please come in, sir!"

He saw a fabric shop with a spacious storefront, filled with all kinds of silks and satins, their colors so bright they were dazzling. Several women were selecting fabrics, and a shop assistant was introducing them to the shop with great enthusiasm.

He saw a pharmacy with rows of tall medicine cabinets behind the counter, each drawer labeled with the name of a medicine. An old doctor sat at the door, taking a child's pulse with a focused expression.

All of this is more prosperous, more bustling, and more... dazzling than Yuanyang County.

"Let's find a place to stay first."

Mo Wen said, "Let's go to the academy tomorrow."

They found an inn in the city called "Yuelai Inn." The name was ordinary, but it was quite large, with three floors and dozens of rooms.

We booked four rooms: one for Mo Wen, one for Qinglong, one for Li Qianqian, and one for the three boys.

After settling in, Zhao Mingxuan said, "I need to go to my family's property. I'll be back tonight."

Lin Feng knew that the Zhao family had businesses in Qingyang County.

Zhao Mingxuan's uncle is in charge of it; it seems to be a restaurant.

"Go ahead." Mo Wen nodded.

"Remember to come back soon."

Zhao Mingxuan is gone.

Lin Feng and the others stayed at the inn to rest.

After traveling for thirteen days, everyone was exhausted.

Lin Feng took a hot bath, his first proper bath in thirteen days, and he felt so comfortable that he almost fell asleep in the tub.

After changing into clean clothes, he lay down on the bed and quickly fell asleep.

Zhao Mingxuan returned in the evening.

His expression was somewhat complicated, making it difficult to tell whether he was happy or unhappy.

Lin Feng asked him what was wrong, but he shook his head and didn't say anything more.

We ate dinner downstairs at the guesthouse.

Four dishes and a soup, with fish and meat, a very generous meal.

During the meal, Zhao Mingxuan finally spoke up: "My uncle said that it's not easy to get into Qingyang Academy. Even with a recommendation letter from Master Lin, you still have to pass the exam."

"Assessment?" Lin Feng asked.

"Mm." Zhao Mingxuan nodded.

"The academy opens its doors to accept only one hundred disciples each year. However, there are at least a thousand applicants. Therefore, most people must pass a preliminary test to be eliminated, and only the remaining people can participate in the formal assessment."

"What's the exam about?" Zhang Kai asked.

"I don't know," Zhao Mingxuan shook his head.

"The content of the exam varies every year. Sometimes it tests literary talent, sometimes martial arts skills, and sometimes character."

He paused, a hint of smugness in his expression, and continued, "My uncle also said that if I can't finish my studies, I should go back and inherit the family business. Dewang Restaurant is quite large; it'll be enough for me to live on for the rest of my life."

Lin Feng understood.

Lin Feng nodded without saying anything.

After dinner, everyone went to bed early. We need to be well-rested for our trip to Qingyang Academy tomorrow.

At night, Lin Feng lay in bed, listening to the even snoring from the bed next to him and the faint sounds of the street outside the window, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

He thought of Hexi Town, his father, Aunt Yao, and Uncle Xiao Hei.

I thought back on the journey I've taken.

It all felt like a dream.

But he knew it wasn't a dream.

Tomorrow, he will be going to Qingyang Academy.

I don't know if I'll be able to get in.

But since we're here, we might as well give it a try.

He turned over and closed his eyes.

Outside the window, the lights of Qingyang County City burned all night long.