Chapter 224 Fifth Rank!
Chen Yi was genuinely surprised that Xie Tingyun would bring so many disciples to Shuzhou, and he couldn't help but feel a bit amused and exasperated.
Baicaotang does need to expand right now, but Yan Hai and the others have just left the prefectural city.
Information regarding the situation in other counties and towns in Shuzhou has not yet been received.
Chen Yi hasn't yet decided in which direction Baicaotang should expand, or specifically in which counties and towns of Shuzhou.
There was no way any arrangements were made for the disciples of the Tianshan Sect.
However, Chen Yi also knew that thinking too much at this moment would be of no use.
Xie Tingyun had already brought the Tianshan Sect disciples, so he needed to settle them in first.
Thinking about all this, Chen Yi said that he would go to Baicaotang early tomorrow morning to ease the mind of Xie Tingyun, the senior sister of Tianshan Sect.
Where are they now?
Xie Tingyun felt a little relieved and smiled, "There are quite a few people here, so I'll let them find their own place to stay first."
"Find a solution yourself?"
"Young master, you may not know this, but the Tianshan Sect doesn't have much money."
"When we came down the mountain, we didn't have much money on us, so..."
"..."
Immediately, images of a group of naive Tianshan Sect disciples flashed through Chen Yi's mind, performing in the East Market, begging in the West Market, and sleeping under bridges in the north of the city.
After thinking for a moment, he asked Xie Tingyun to wait a moment and asked Pei Guanli and Xiaodie to hold an umbrella for Xiao Wuge and go to Jiaxing Garden first.
He returned to his study, took out two silver notes, and handed them to Xie Tingyun.
"Two thousand taels? Young master, you...you're so rich!"
Chen Yi said with a smile, "I wrote a congratulatory poem for the Duke of Gan's birthday and received some silver from him."
"Let me make this clear first, this two thousand taels of silver is a loan to you. Use it to settle your fellow disciples first."
"After I've discussed it with Manager Wang, you can pay me back once you've earned the money."
Xie Tingyun put away the silver notes, smiled, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you, son-in-law."
"You're welcome..."
As the behind-the-scenes boss of Baicaotang, Chen Yi naturally didn't want the disciples of Tianshan Sect to encounter trouble in Shuzhou.
After all, he still needs to rely on the disciples of the Tianshan Sect to protect Baicaotang.
It's only right to sell in advance to ensure a good market performance.
Not long after.
Chen Yi arrived at Jiaxing Garden and went straight to the wooden building where Xiao Wan'er was, entering the living room.
When Xiao Wan'er saw him come in, she smiled and stood up to invite him to sit down.
Just as she was about to greet Xie Tingyun, she said, "Miss, I need to settle down a hundred... and my junior brothers first, so I'm afraid I won't be able to have a meal with you."
Xiao Wan'er was slightly taken aback, glanced at Shen Huatang who looked bewildered, and asked:
"Have your junior brothers already settled in Fengchun Tower?"
Xie Tingyun's smile froze. He didn't dare look at her, much less at Shen Huatang, and stammered:
"A few other junior sisters have also come, so it wouldn't be right to keep troubling you, Miss."
Chen Yi chuckled to himself upon hearing this, knowing all too well that this senior sister of the Tianshan Sect had played a trick of "acting first and reporting later" and "deceiving superiors and subordinates."
Shen Huatang noticed it too.
Based on her understanding of her fellow disciple, she naturally realized that Xie Tingyun had been hiding a lot.
Only Xiao Wan'er remained unsuspecting and even instructed Juan'er to fetch some silver.
Xie Tingyun waved her hands repeatedly: "No need, no need for money, the second son-in-law gave me quite a lot just now."
Xiao Wan'er paused, her eyes falling on Chen Yi, "Second son-in-law?"
Chen Yi cursed Xie Tingyun inwardly for being unreliable, and had no choice but to repeat his previous explanation.
After hearing this, Xiao Wan'er was somewhat puzzled, but since business was important, she simply told Xie Tingyun to be careful and not to hesitate to ask if he needed anything.
Xie Tingyun nodded, feeling slightly relieved.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, she saw Shen Huatang also apologize and leave the wooden building together.
Xie Tingyun grinned and said in a low voice, "Junior Sister, it's raining so hard, you don't need to come along, do you?"
Shen Huatang picked up two oil-paper umbrellas and handed them to her, saying:
"Senior sister, it's getting late, hurry back."
Seeing this, Xie Tingyun pouted and took the umbrella, muttering to himself.
This can't be hidden anymore.
If Shen Huatang found out that so many junior brothers and sisters had come, she would probably get a scolding.
Shen Huatang walked quite a distance, and seeing that she hadn't followed, she turned her head and asked, "Senior Sister?"
"Coming, coming, what's the rush?"
Hearing the two walk away, Chen Yi shook his head inwardly, letting Xie Tingyun worry about it on her own.
Looking out the window, Xiao Wan'er watched Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang walk away. Remembering her earlier doubts, she asked:
"Brother-in-law, is it related to you that the disciples of the Tianshan Sect came to Shu Prefecture?"
Chen Yi was taken aback, but he didn't intend to hide it. He nodded and said, "It's somewhat related, but not much."
As he spoke, he recounted how Xie Tingyun had asked him for help earlier, and said with a smile:
"It just so happened that Baicaotang needed manpower for its expansion, so I went along with it and said a few words in its defense."
Xiao Wan'er said knowingly, "As the senior sister of the Tianshan Sect, it is understandable that Tingyun would seek some convenience for her fellow disciples."
She paused for a moment, then asked, "How is the situation at the Hundred Herbs Hall border?"
"Judging by the time, Manager Yan should have just arrived in Guangyuan not long ago, and news should come in a few days."
"The progress is very fast. Yesterday, Grandpa asked about Baicaotang and said he wanted to meet Boss Chen."
While eating, Chen Yi calmly replied, "I'll ask Manager Wang when I go over tomorrow to see when Boss Chen will be back."
Xiao Wan'er took a sip of hot soup and said with a smile, "It would be best if Boss Chen could come back soon."
“These past two days, the government has spent quite a bit of money because of the grain tax in the three towns, and Grandfather is worried.”
Chen Yi was aware of this as well, and said, "Wait for my news."
After chatting for a while, Xiao Wan'er remembered the annual examination and couldn't help but offer some advice:
"Brother-in-law, the annual examination is crucial to your academic success."
"If you don't have anything important to do, you should still go and participate. As long as your grades aren't too bad, you'll only get a few words of advice at most."
Before Chen Yi could speak, Xiao Wuge raised his head and said, "Brother-in-law will definitely get first place in the annual examination."
Pei Guanli chimed in, "Brother-in-law has no problem with that."
"He's good enough to be the chief examiner, let alone the top scorer."
Chen Yi chuckled and said, "I haven't touched those classic texts for a long time, so I'm not confident I can pass the annual examination."
However, seeing Xiao Wan'er's eager eyes, he didn't directly say he wouldn't go, but only said:
"I have about two months left, I'll think about it some more."
Xiao Wan'er smiled, her bright eyes reflecting his image, and said with a hint of joy, "That's right."
"You are now not only a teacher at Guiyun Academy, but also the renowned Qingzhou Master, whose fame spreads throughout the three prefectures of the Great Wei. If you did not have an official title, you would inevitably be the subject of gossip among scholars."
Go ahead and say it.
Chen Yi wanted to reply with this.
But upon further reflection, he realized that what Xiao Wan'er said was not untrue.
He truly didn't care about fame and fortune, but there are many mediocre and vulgar people in the world.
If he didn't have any official rank or title, some people might come to his door to annoy him.
Those with official positions were made to bow, those with academic achievements were belittled and ridiculed, and those from prominent families were mocked and ridiculed.
The thought of those situations bothered him.
"After some time, I will go to the academy to look at some classics and historical texts."
"Okay..."
Not long after, the group finished their dinner.
Xiao Wan'er saw him, Xiao Wuge, and Pei Guanli out of the wooden building. Looking at the rain falling outside, she hesitated and said:
"I plan to go to my fiefdom in a couple of days. I wonder if my brother-in-law has time?"
During this time, she had made all the preparations for the Medical Academy and wanted to go to her fiefdom to find a suitable location to build the academy.
However, since it was her first time doing something like this, she was inevitably unsure of herself.
Chen Yi guessed what she was thinking and nodded with a smile, saying, "If you're not in a hurry, let's set it for three days from now."
"Tomorrow I will go to Baicaotang to discuss the matter of the 127 disciples of Tianshan Sect with Wang Ji."
"There will be two calligraphy classes at the academy the day after tomorrow."
Xiao Wan'er was about to nod when she suddenly realized what he meant and stared at him with wide, beautiful eyes:
One hundred and twenty-seven?
"Are there so many disciples from the Tianshan Sect?"
"I don't know how Fairy Tingyun convinced those elders of the Tianshan Sect to make the decision."
"Hua Tang, she doesn't know about this yet, does she?"
Chen Yi spread his hands, "I reckon Fairy Tingyun is going to suffer a bit tonight."
Xiao Wan'er smiled gently, "Hua Tang's personality is indeed a bit cold."
"However, I think everything should be fine. Baicaotang and Boss Chen can at least provide a place for the disciples of Tianshan Sect to stay."
"That's true..."
As it turns out.
Xiao Wan'er underestimated Shen Huatang.
Even with her usual aloofness, she was on the verge of erupting like a volcano in this situation.
After Shen Huatang and Xie Tingyun left the Xiao residence by carriage.
At first, she thought Xie Tingyun had at most concealed the truth from a dozen or so fellow disciples.
Little did they know that the carriage would wander around the city, eventually turning from the north to the west, then from the west to the south, and finally stopping at the West Market.
During the journey, Xie Tingyun kept his head down and notified each of his fellow disciples from the Tianshan Sect.
In the end, Shen Huatang's face was somewhat wooden.
"Tell me, how many people actually came?"
"Fifty?"
Xie Tingyun shook her head: "No."
"eighty?"
"Just a little more."
"one hundred?!"
"More... one hundred and twenty-seven more..."
Shen Huatang asked through gritted teeth, "Senior Sister, did you report to Master before you took them down the mountain?"
Xie Tingyun shrank back. "Master disagreed, so... I had them go down the mountain in batches."
Click.
Shen Huatang nearly ground her teeth to powder. "You just wait! I'll write a letter right now and tell Master everything!"
"Junior sister, no..."
...
Chen Yi also underestimated Xie Tingyun.
But this matter only brought him benefits and no harm, so he simply pretended not to know.
We can ask Baicaotang to give us more money later.
After nightfall.
The rain has lessened somewhat.
But on rainy days in early autumn, the chill is noticeable.
Especially on rainy nights, when the cool breeze blows, flowers, grass, trees, and fallen leaves flutter down.
This gives the evergreen Chunhe Garden a somewhat desolate feel.
Chen Yi glanced at the sky and instructed Xiao Die to add a blanket for Xiao Wuge and Pei Guanli so they wouldn't catch a cold.
After Xiaodie had finished getting ready, he returned to his room and sat cross-legged on the bed.
After a short rest, he began to practice the Four Symbols Technique.
Chen Yi has been cultivating diligently these past few days.
He had already raised his cultivation to the sixth rank of perfection, and was only one step away from breaking through to the fifth rank.
He originally planned to find another time to break through to the house on Chuanxi Street.
Since Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang were both not in the mansion tonight, he no longer hesitated.
True essence surged like mercury throughout the limbs and bones.
Strands of spiritual energy from heaven and earth then gathered at the three major energy centers: the glabella, the sternum, and the dantian.
It rapidly improved his cultivation level.
"Draw spiritual energy from all directions into the Qi Sea, and open the four divine positions..."
As he chanted the incantation for the Four Symbols Technique, the phantoms of the four divine beasts—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—in Chen Yi's Yintang acupoint became increasingly solid.
Four-colored light surged from their bodies, condensing with the true essence, flowing along the twelve meridians, drawing the true essence of the three great seas of qi, and converging on the four divine beast phantoms.
I don't know how much time has passed.
"roar!"
"cracking!"
"Yin!"
"Buzz!"
Chen Yi heard four deafening sounds resounding in his mind, echoing endlessly.
The next moment, he suddenly felt something unusual about the true essence in his body—the true essence, which was like mercury water, condensed further.
Amidst the flickering of four-colored fluorescence, the true essence, like crystals, became increasingly crystalline and dazzling.
In just one cycle, his true essence more than doubled.
Its grade is far superior to before.
Before he could investigate, Chen Yi saw several lines of large golden characters float past his eyes:
[Cultivation successful. Cultivation level: Lower Fifth Rank.]
[The Four Symbols Technique (Earth Rank) has improved the spiritual essence of the divine position, increasing the power of the wood, water, fire, and metal spiritual energies by 50%.]
Chen Yi glanced at it, a smile appearing on his face, and then guided his true essence back to his three great seas.
It was through this that he discovered that the divine beasts on the four divine positions within his Yintang acupoint had completely solidified.
Previously it was just a phantom, but now it has a physical form, and even every single hair is clearly visible.
I looked inside for a moment.
Chen Yi understood, slowly stopped his practice, and spat out a pale white sword of energy.
My whole being felt as if I had been reborn, and I felt much lighter.
He stood up lightly, looked down, and a clear smile appeared on his face.
"Martial arts are truly wondrous. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth manifests as divinity. Although it is still formless, once my cultivation is further refined, perhaps I can make the divine beast completely condense its internal organs and flesh."
That's what I think.
Chen Yi was already very happy that his cultivation level had been raised to the fifth rank.
In particular, the blessing of the Four Directions Divine Essence increased his skill by 50%, which greatly improved his various techniques.
Even techniques like the Four Symbols Skill, the Great Spear Stance Skill, and the Xuanwu Breath Concealing Technique, which had reached a dead end, showed significant improvement.
Take a short rest.
Chen Yi changed into some light clothes and quietly came to the Purple Bamboo Forest.
He studied everything he had learned.
The techniques include the Mountain Collapse Fist, Hundred Flowers Palm, Dragon Playing with Phoenix Body Technique, Meteor Butterfly Step, Falling Dragon Spear Technique, and Embroidered Spring Knife Technique.
Apart from the Falling Dragon Spear Technique, which has not yet fully integrated all its mysteries due to its Heavenly Rank and the perfection of the Spear Dao, he has cultivated all other techniques to their current limits.
As soon as he began to use it, Chen Yi noticed the difference.
Not only did the power of each technique increase significantly, but the blessing of the divine spiritual energy was like divine assistance.
Just like the Falling Dragon Spear Technique—even if he doesn't connect with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth or unleash his spear intent, its power is comparable to the enhancement level of a fully mastered spear technique.
If he were to use his full strength, he estimated that the power of a single spear thrust would be enough to instantly kill Yan Fusha of the Five Poisons Sect.
"If I had been a fifth-grade cultivator on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, how could Yan Fusha possibly have injured me?"
Just then, at midnight, a dazzling golden light shone—
[Daily Intelligence - Mid-Grade Profound: At 3:45 PM, at the wonton shop on Kangning Street, a hidden guard collects a secret letter. A small amount of good fortune may be obtained.]
Wonton shop...
Chen Yi's smile widened as he tidied up the purple bamboo grove, silently thinking to himself:
"Lou Yuxue, she's quite something now."
Because of Ma Guan's calligraphy copybook, a wonton shop in Yunbian became very popular.
A constant stream of guests came and went.
Chen Yi had glimpsed it when he went to the academy to teach earlier, and he almost burst out laughing when he saw Lou Yuxue, disguised as the proprietress, bustling around.
"It has indeed been a while since I've gone to say hello to my old friends."
Coincidentally, that matter also required the help of these White Tiger Guards...
(End of this chapter)
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