Chapter 518
Emperor Duan indeed felt that his little Thirteenth Prince was too devoted to the young man from the Zhai family. Even though he had many princes and princesses, he couldn't help feeling a little jealous when he saw that his son treated outsiders better than him, his father.
Fortunately, Duan Linzhi did not come back without doing anything this time. After a deep conversation with Emperor Duan, Duan Linzhi left behind a development plan on how to enhance the national strength of Fengyan Kingdom so that Fengyan Kingdom would not be annexed by other countries or replaced by other families on the Xuanwu Continent in the future. This is what he, as a prince protected by the Duan royal family, can do for the Duan family.
In addition to strict discipline for the royal children, Duan Linzhi proposed to set up a training academy from top to bottom, and first try it out in the imperial capital. The students would be selected from the young warriors who performed well in this competition.
In fact, the royal family and various aristocratic families all have their own way of training warriors, otherwise there would not be a steady supply of warriors. However, Duan Linzhi and Yuan Jing believe that this method has great limitations. Ordinary people benefit very little and it is difficult for them to have a chance to succeed. But who says that there are no talented people among the common people?
Only by becoming vassals of a family or other forces can the common people get the opportunity to learn and practice. Otherwise, if they are lucky, they can become martial artists by relying on the practice skills they have acquired by chance. If they are even luckier, they can become warriors, which is very remarkable.
Although some small family forces are better off than ordinary people, they have no way to obtain more advanced skills and combat techniques, so their room for improvement is limited.
For Fengyan Country, the best martial arts, combat skills and other skills and knowledge are monopolized by the royal family and major families.
Duan Linzhi wants to break this cage and allow Fengyan Country to cultivate more and better warriors. If the virtuous cycle continues, the national strength of Fengyan Country will also increase.
Even if these warriors leave Fengyan Country, not everyone will forget about Fengyan Country. There will always be people willing to protect the country where they grew up and the Royal Academy's cultivation of them.
Emperor Duan read the plan for the entire night without sleeping. He made a decision at dawn the next day. He would implement the method proposed by Xiao Shisan. Compared with the other princes and princesses who were still fighting for power in Fengyan Kingdom, Emperor Duan felt that Xiao Shisan, who had left Fengyan Kingdom, had a much higher vision and perspective than them, and was a prince who truly cared about him, his father, and Fengyan Kingdom.
Emperor Duan placed Duan Linzhi in a higher position in his mind, so even though he was jealous, he still secretly took care of the Zhai family in Linyang City.
When the competition ended, the Royal Academy was announced to be established. Therefore, when Zhai Yuanhao rushed to Qimumen with Mu Xuanning and others, and Duan Linzhi and Feng Jing were about to return to Xingjian Sect, Zhai Yuanhai and another member of the Zhai family were selected into the Royal Academy along with other young warriors who performed well in this competition.
When this news came out, it was unknown what the big families in the imperial capital thought, but the Zhai family was ecstatic, because the conditions that the Zhai family could offer could not be compared with the Royal Academy, and the cultivation environment in the imperial capital was better than that in Linyang City, and there were more outstanding children of the same age competing with each other. Only a fool would give up such a good opportunity. Even though it was only the first session, Uncle Zhai decided to let both of them stay, and after he returned to Linyang City, he would come to the imperial capital again to bring them daily necessities.
Other families in Linyang City were equally excited. Moreover, this kind of enrollment would not be just once, but would continue in the future. This was such a precious opportunity for promotion for them who came from a small place. So before leaving, they all told the children who stayed behind to be obedient, study hard and practice, and they didn't need to worry about their families.
Some big families in the imperial capital objected, but they were all suppressed by Emperor Duan. Since they did not occupy the resources of these big families, what could they use to oppose? If they were not convinced, they could also send their children to study in the Royal Academy.
Once the Royal Academy has taken root, Emperor Duan will promote this model according to Duan Linzhi's plan, striving to have an academy in every place that can accept all talents and help train talents for Fengyan Country. Then the local geniuses will be sent to the imperial capital. It is believed that there will be more and more talented people in the future.
Why do those big families oppose it? Because once these selected geniuses enter the Royal Academy, they will be given the title of royal rather than the big families. They will naturally stand on the side of the Duan royal family. In the long run, the weight and power of the Duan royal family will continue to grow, and eventually surpass the alliance of the big families.
Originally, the major aristocratic families and the Duan royal family were in a delicate state of balance, but once the royal family became stronger, it would inevitably suppress the major aristocratic families in turn, which would make them feel a sense of crisis.
However, this move made Emperor Duan supported by many small and medium-sized families and forces. This can be seen from the reactions of the families and warriors who came to participate in the competition this time. Before there is a better way, how can these big families oppose it? They cannot ignore the small and medium-sized forces.
"Xiao Ba, don't be discouraged. You will have a chance next year. Besides, don't you like studying alchemy now? I heard that the Royal Academy will also add alchemy courses next year." Uncle Zhai was afraid that Yuan Jing would be disappointed, so he comforted Yuan Jing on the way back.
Yuan Jing laughed. How did his uncle know that he was discouraged? Duan Linzhi had mentioned this plan to him. Yuan Jing certainly knew what the plan was for. He also guessed that Duan Huang would definitely see the benefits and would not miss this opportunity. Brother Zhai and the others would stay.
"Don't worry, Uncle San. I will try my best."
Uncle Zhai was relieved, and Zhai Xiaoliu, Zhai Xiaoqi and others were also very excited and expressed their desire to join the Royal Academy.
Before they returned to Linyang City, news about the imperial capital had already spread back to Linyang City. Like Uncle Zhai and the others, everyone was very excited, especially those families whose children were left in the imperial capital. They were even happier.
The head of the Zhai family patted Uncle Zhai on the shoulder and said, "Well, you did a good job this time. Three of our Zhai family's young people have left. In the future, there will be more young people leaving Linyang City. The Zhai family will become stronger and stronger."
This is much better than the original plan. At first, I thought only Zhai Yuanhao could go out and get better development opportunities, so this time I was very surprised.
Zhai Yuanhao's mother Zhai Qulin had been mentally prepared. Even if she did not leave home this time, she would leave the family to venture out in the future due to experience or other reasons. Besides, she also had her own things to do in the family and was not a waste who needed to be supported by others.
After reporting to his parents, Yuan Jing returned to his own yard. He remembered Zhai Yuanhao's words, and although he guessed what was left behind, he did not open it in advance. Instead, he followed his instructions and took out the box from the storage bag after returning to Linyang City.
When the box was opened, the piece of paper on the top was a letter to Yuan Jing.
Zhai Yuanhao said in the letter that he had some adventures in the imperial city, and originally wanted to hand over the skills and martial arts he had obtained to the family personally. However, because he had to go to Qimumen and could not come back with Yuan Jing and the others, he solemnly entrusted this matter to Yuan Jing, who would pass it on to the grandfather of the head of the family on his behalf. He hoped that the children of the Zhai family would become strong and make the Zhai family a powerful family, and would not end up like those families that disappeared at the order of Xie Shuchun.
After reading the letter, Yuan Jing looked at the papers below, flipping through them one by one. Sure enough, they were all skills and martial arts, and the grades were marked. Although Zhai Yuanhao did not say it, Yuan Jing knew that the so-called adventure must have come from the ebony bracelet. When he was in the imperial capital, although he knew that the bracelet had some history, Yuan Jing did not want to find out the truth. Zhai Yuanhao did not say in the letter that the adventure was the bracelet. Yuan Jing did not feel disappointed. Instead, he felt that this was just right. He should be more vigilant, because sometimes some secrets are not revealed voluntarily.
All the skills and martial arts were copied by Zhai Yuanhao himself. Yuan Jing flipped through them and found that there were four skills and martial arts. Two of the skills were of the top level of Xuan grade, and two were of the basic level of Di grade, which were very suitable for the current Zhai family. The same was true for the quality of the martial arts.
Yuan Jing flipped through the box and memorized all the contents in his heart, and he would never forget them. Then he closed the box and took it to the head of the family, who was the grandfather of Yuan Jing and Zhai Yuanhao.
"Grandpa, this is what my fifth brother asked me to pass on to you. He told me to read it when I return to Linyang City, so I just found out what's in the box. This is a letter from my fifth brother."
At first, Master Zhai thought it was just an ordinary letter, but when he finished reading the contents of the letter, he suddenly stood up and looked at the box, not daring to touch it: "What's in the box?"
"They are all manuals of cultivation techniques and martial arts. The two best of the four manuals are of the elementary level of earth level, and the same is true for martial arts."
"Really?" Patriarch Zhai's voice rose involuntarily, his hands trembling with excitement.
"Really, I just flipped over it."
The head of the Zhai family quickly grabbed a booklet and started looking at it. What he got happened to be one of the local-level skills. After reading the first page, he was so excited that his eyes turned red. He cheered repeatedly, then carefully put down the booklet and looked at his grandson Yuan Jing.
"Xiao Ba, you did a good job on this matter. Does anyone else know about it?"
"No, my fifth brother told me to wait until I come back to check it. Even my parents don't know about this."
"Okay, Xiao Ba, don't tell anyone else about this matter after you hand it over to grandpa. I will handle these things properly for you. Xiao Ba, just forget about this matter completely, okay? This is related to the safety of your fifth brother." The head of the Zhai family touched his grandson's head kindly.
Yuan Jingzhi nodded: "Don't worry, Grandpa, I don't remember anything. I'm going back."
The head of the Zhai family smiled. Although the Zhai family was not strong enough, these children were all good. He didn't want to think about what kind of adventures Yuan Hao had outside, but as long as he was safe, it was fine.
Yuan Jing's original plan was to create a few books of martial arts after integrating different kinds of cultivation, and then set up a place like the ruins left by his predecessors, using the excuse that he accidentally broke in, and then he could pass the martial arts to the family. Now, with the things Zhai Yuanhao brought out, he can save himself the trouble. It takes a lot of effort to set up a ruins, because it has to be arranged in a way that no one can see through it and become suspicious.
Yuan Jing felt much more relaxed in the following days. The head of the family was watching over the improvement of the Zhai family's strength, and the martial arts would definitely play the greatest role in his hands. Even Yuan Jing was called over by the head of the family and asked privately if he wanted to choose a new martial arts method. Yuan Jing smiled like a little fox and said that he had read all four martial arts books and memorized them in his mind. The head of the family rubbed his head in amusement and then drove him away.
After this incident, the head of the family also discovered that his eighth grandson had become much calmer than before. Perhaps the trip to the imperial capital had broadened his horizons and he was no longer as impetuous as before. People all grow up.
The grown-up Zhai Xiaoba started to tinker with various Yuan plants to learn the art of alchemy, and he did not ask the alchemist Qi from the Zhai family for advice, but instead locked himself in his room and tinkered with it.
At first, the elders in the clan were worried that he would waste those Yuan Zhi, but after a few days, they found out that he did not take any Yuan Zhi from the clan, which was strange. They sent Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi, who were on good terms with him, to find out the situation. As a result, the two of them went for a walk in Yuan Jing's yard, and came back to tell the elders an astonishing news: Xiaoba had a bag full of Yuan Zhi, which were given to him by the Thirteenth Prince whom he met in the Imperial Capital, and even a furnace was equipped with it.
The first thought of several elders was to rush to Zhai Xiaoba's yard immediately and snatch the full storage bag of Yuanzhi from him. It would be a great waste to leave it in Zhai Xiaoba's hands. How much use could it play in the clan? It is easy to imagine how valuable the storage bag of Yuanzhi is. Even the head of the Zhai family was a little jealous.
But the head of the family still gave the order, and no one was allowed to disturb Xiao Ba. Xiao Ba's things belonged to him. If he had the ability, he could make friends with the Thirteenth Prince himself and ask the Thirteenth Prince to give him a full bag of Yuanzhi. No one in the clan would snatch a single Yuanzhi.
As soon as these words came out, Yuan Jing's father Zhai Quxiang was immediately beaming with joy. His smug look made other brothers of the same generation want to beat him up, knowing that he had given birth to a promising son. Tang Honghui was also a protective person. She didn't even want to take the things in her son's hands, so why should she give them to the clan? Now that the father-in-law has spoken, no one can be jealous.
Zhai Quxiang was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling. He said, "Don't worry, Dad. Xiao Ba will definitely be able to refine the elixir. I will ask Xiao Ba to bring it to you when the time comes."
Others looked down on Zhai Quxiang. Would anyone dare to take the pills he sent? Without anyone to teach him, everyone thought Yuan Jing was fooling around in the yard alone, and didn't think he would produce any results. Even Qi Danshi, the alchemist worshipped by the Zhai family, was disdainful of him. He also urged Yuan Jing to hand over Yuan Zhi, but now he didn't get any. He was so distressed. It was said that the Eighth Young Master would not produce any results.
Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi ran over and told Yuan Jing what the man surnamed Qi had said. They felt very sorry for Yuan Jing because they all didn't have much good feelings towards this alchemist Qi. If anyone in the tribe wanted to ask him to make pills, they would have to ask him three or four times, and it would cost a lot of Yuanzhi and Yuanshi. Even then it might not succeed. If the Yuanzhi was wasted, they couldn't hold him accountable because no alchemist could guarantee the success rate of making pills. If they didn't want him to make pills for them, they could find someone else to do it.
Of course Yuan Jing didn't like the attitude of Master Qi. When he became a yellow-level alchemist, it would be time for this Qi to leave. Then he would train a few more alchemists for the Zhai family.
He had this consideration, of course, because he didn't want to be tied to the Zhai family for the rest of his life. One day he would go out with Duan Linzhi, and the Zhai family couldn't always rely on him and Zhai Yuanhao for protection. They had to become stronger on their own.
So Yuan Jing locked himself in the room. Occasionally, there were "bang bang" sounds coming from his yard. After making sure that his life was not in danger, Zhai Quxiang and Tang Honghui turned a blind eye. Yuan Zhi wasted it, so it was wasted. Anyway, it was not occupying the clan's resources. As long as their son was happy, it was enough.
A month later, when Yuan Jing received the first letter sent by Duan Linzhi from Xingjian Sect via Skylark, he finally came out of the yard with a dusty face, grinning and showing a mouthful of white teeth, and placed two bottles of pills in front of the patriarch: "Grandpa, these are the bone tempering pills and vein strengthening pills that I refined."
The head of the family was happy: "My dear grandson, you have been refining the elixir for a month and it has finally produced results? Let grandpa see how Xiaoba has refined it."
Zhai Quxiang followed in. In case his son was hit, he wanted to protect him first, so he kept staring at the bottle in his father's hand.
There were other people in the room, and they all laughed at Yuan Jing's mischief. Although they felt sorry for Yuan Zhi, they still indulged Xiao Ba, thinking that he would learn his lesson after a lesson.
The patriarch opened the two bottles together, poured out a pill from each bottle and rolled it around in his palm. The smell of the pill wafted out, and before the patriarch could react, Zhai Quxiang shouted, "These are really the Bone Tempering Pill and the Vein Strengthening Pill, son! You really made it."
Yuan Jing pretended not to understand the expressions of these people, and said as a matter of course: "Of course I made it. Didn't I say I wanted to make the elixir? Brother Duan also said that I have the talent to be an alchemist. I gave it to Grandpa only after I made it. These two kinds of elixirs are only suitable for martial artists. I don't need them now."
Zhai Quxiang certainly couldn't say that he was worried about his son before, and happily patted his son's shoulder: "Yes, yes, my son has the talent to be an alchemist. Even the Thirteenth Prince can see it, otherwise why would he give him such a bag of Yuanzhi? My son is amazing."
Others couldn't stand his smug look and wanted to drag him out, but now everyone's attention was on the pill in the patriarch's hand. That pill looked no different from the ones they had eaten before, no, it seemed to be of even better quality. Could it be that it was just for show?
The owner of the house thought so too, so he put both of them into his mouth and ate them.
After taking the pills, his eyes lit up and he said excitedly, "Great! Great pills! Both pills are top quality. Haha, our Zhai family is finally going to have an alchemist."
"Let me see it quickly." Others rushed to grab the remaining pills in the bottle.
"My son smashed it, so it should be given to me!" This is Zhai Quxiang, Yuan Jing's biological father.
Yuan Jing smiled and watched for a while, then shook his head and walked out. He had to go wash up. In order to gradually show his alchemy skills, was it easy for him to do this? He even made himself dirty and exploded the furnace.
After washing himself, Yuan Jing sat in front of the window, fed Ji Yunque some special spiritual rice, and then began to read the letter from Duan Linzhi.
The skylark is a flying bird with no other abilities except one characteristic: it is extremely fast, so it is cultivated by some sects and forces to be used for delivering messages.
In the letter, Duan Linzhi talked about everything about his return to Xingjian Sect and his longing for Yuan Jing. Yuan Jing's eyes were red. He knew where his lover was, but he couldn't be with them. He had to wait for a year before they could see each other.
However, they hadn't exchanged letters like this for a long time, and when he mentioned writing back to Duan Linzhi, he felt a special feeling in his heart.
In his reply, Yuan Jing muttered a lot, talking about some of the things he had done after returning to the Zhai family, including some embarrassing things he had done. Of course, Duan Linzhi knew at a glance that Yuan Jing had done it on purpose, so he wrote a lot of trivial content before handing the letter to Jiyunque and letting it fly away.
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