plumnovel Chapter 6 Spirit Stones
Chapter 6 Spirit Stones
Shen Yanshan looked up during the lecture, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing directly on Chen Heng, who was sitting in the front row.
"Chen Heng, do you have any questions about today's scripture?"
Chen Heng stood up and bowed respectfully.
"Master, I have always found the phrase 'dispersing and transforming into the five forms and myriad spirits' somewhat obscure. I wonder what exactly these 'five forms' refer to?"
Shen Yanshan nodded slightly, his tone softening considerably, and began to answer her questions in detail.
Zhao Cheng'an sat in the corner, listening to the two's questions and answers, and he also had many questions he wanted to ask.
For example, some interpretations of the scriptures, and the wonderful rhythm of the reading just now.
But he opened his mouth, and in the end, he swallowed his words.
The original owner spent three years at the Imperial Academy without ever asking a single question in the ancient teachings class. If he suddenly showed a strong interest in the scriptures now, it would definitely arouse Shen Yanshan's suspicion.
Before we figure out the details of the Imperial Academy, it's best to keep a low profile.
Another half incense stick's time passed.
After answering Chen Heng's questions, Shen Yanshan immediately announced the end of get out of class.
Push open the door and leave the classroom.
The remaining people cheered and a cacophony of voices arose.
For most of the students in this class, the ancient teachings lesson was extremely boring, yet Shen Yanshan was personally in charge of teaching it. Moreover, Shen Yanshan held an extremely high position in the Imperial Academy and even throughout the Seven Kingdoms. He exuded an aura of authority without needing to be angry, so everyone had to force themselves to concentrate on the lesson.
Often, a single class feels like two hours of running under the sun.
I felt a strange soreness all over my body, and my head was spinning.
The students rose one by one, packed their books, and left the school.
Zhao Cheng'an also followed the crowd out.
……
……
Zhao Cheng'an returned to the bamboo house, bolted the door shut, and before he could even take off his outer clothes, he eagerly sat cross-legged on the couch.
He closed his eyes and began to recite the Huangting Neijing Jing in the tone of Shen Yanshan, following the posture he remembered from his time in the school.
"Before the Supreme Purity Purple Cloud Void Emperor, the Jade Morning Lord of the Great Dao..."
The sound echoed in the empty room, carrying a hint of awkwardness.
After reciting it once, Zhao Chengan stopped and carefully felt the changes in his body.
It did have a slight effect. The chest, which had been aching slightly from the aggravation of the wound, felt a faint warmth flowing through it, relieving some of the discomfort.
But inwardly he shook his head.
This effect is worlds apart from the exhilarating feeling that resonates throughout the body and seems to uproot toxins when the teacher leads the class in reading aloud.
One is a drizzle, the other is a river overflowing its banks; they are not even in the same league.
Zhao Cheng'an sighed, opened his eyes, and helplessly rubbed his aching neck.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a strong sense of regret. The original owner hadn't cherished such a good opportunity as the Imperial Academy, and had spent the past three years drifting aimlessly. Now, he wanted to cram at the last minute, but he couldn't even find the basics.
I will cry if I continue.
As night deepened, the wind outside the window rustled through the bamboo forest.
Until two muffled "dong, dong" sounds of a night watchman's gong came from afar.
It's midnight.
Zhao Cheng'an, who was lying flat on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes, rolled over and got out of bed, and lit the oil lamp on the table.
The dim light flickered, casting his shadow on the wall.
He took a deep breath, his mind racing.
The hazy, gray cloud deep in his mind surged and dispersed rapidly, and the profound and ancient Qiankun Cauldron reappeared in the center of his consciousness.
The lustrous light on the cauldron's mouth flickered briefly.
With a thought, Zhao Cheng'an caused the two fragments of spirit stones that had been placed inside to disappear, replaced by a slightly larger stone.
Instead of taking it out to play with, he immediately threw the newly synthesized broken spirit stone, along with the other broken spirit stone he had on hand, back into the illusory image of the Qiankun Cauldron.
Two pieces of progress information converged in my mind.
Two broken spirit stones are fusing into one complete spirit stone.
Estimated time: 72 hours
It lasted for three whole days and three nights.
In this way, by the time the complete spirit stone is produced, there will be less than two days left before the ancient teachings exam.
Thinking about this, Zhao Cheng'an felt a bit anxious, wondering if it would be too late.
……
……
Two more days passed, and it was evening.
study.
Zhao Cheng'an sat by the window, rolled up the bamboo slips in his hand and placed them on the table, then picked up his teacup and took a sip of the tea that had already cooled down.
He looked up at Xiao Wu, who was practicing his boxing in the courtyard, and asked, "Xiao Wu, what day of the month are you today?"
Xiao Wu put away his stance, wiped the sweat from his forehead, walked to the window, and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, today is already the seventh day of the Xu month."
The months here correspond to the twelve Earthly Branches; the month of Xu (戌) is the ninth month.
Zhao Cheng'an tapped his fingers lightly on the rim of the teacup, his brows furrowing slightly.
Every three months, the Dayin royal family would send a special envoy to the Imperial Academy to deliver supplies and money. This should have arrived on the first day of the month, but it's already the seventh. Six whole days have passed, and there's still no sign of anyone delivering the supplies.
While there have been occasional delays in the past, this has never been this long.
This gave him a bad feeling.
"Has something happened outside these past few days?" Zhao Cheng'an glanced at Xiao Wu and asked tentatively in a calm tone.
Xiao Wu's eyes darted around for a moment. "Your Highness, news just came from down the mountain... The borders of Baishan and Heitu provinces have been breached and turned into battlefields. The official roads have been cut off by the rebel army, and the post stations are paralyzed. It's probably because of this that our supplies have been delayed halfway."
Zhao Cheng'an's fingers suddenly stopped.
He raised his hand and rubbed his temples vigorously.
It turned out to be the case.
The provinces of Baishan and Heitu, located in the northern part of the Great Yin Dynasty, were not densely populated, but they were the most important granaries and major iron ore producing areas for the entire dynasty. For these two places to fall into enemy hands was tantamount to having their throats strangled.
The current situation is not just worsening; it's more like a terminal illness.
Zhao Cheng'an leaned back in his chair, looking at the withered yellow leaves outside the window, and felt a bitter smile in his heart.
The Imperial Academy held a prestigious position, yet every aspect of its food, clothing, and daily necessities required a hefty price tag.
He hasn't even fully grasped the basics of cultivating immortality yet, and he might already be facing a financial crisis where he can't afford to eat.
Fortunately, the original owner wasn't completely stupid; he knew to keep some money as a last resort for survival.
If I'm careful with my savings, the money I have on hand is barely enough to cover my expenses for the next month or two.
But if the situation at the front cannot be reversed and the royal family's supplies are completely cut off, then life will truly become unbearable.
"Forget it, we can worry about the future later."
Zhao Cheng'an shook his head, banishing these heavy topics from his mind.
……
The night was as dark as ink.
The window was half open, and bright moonlight poured into the room, like a layer of frost and snow on the bluestone floor.
Zhao Cheng'an lay stiffly on the bed, his eyes fixed on the gauze curtains above the bed, showing no sign of sleepiness.
Those eyes shone brightly in the dim room.
It even carried a fanatical quality, which was somewhat frightening at first glance.
His chest rose and fell slightly, his breathing was much heavier than usual, and his hands gripped the blankets tightly beneath him.
almost.
The time is almost up.
"Clang—clang—clang—"
The ancient sound of bells drifted in, echoing into the somewhat deserted bamboo house.
The moment the bell rang, Zhao Cheng'an on the bed sprang up as if he had springs in his body, flipping himself straight up.
"Add more! Add more!"
"Qiankun Cauldron, give me some points! Let me see your limits!"
Zhao Cheng'an shouted in his heart, as a fog of confusion churned violently in his mind.
The ancient and mysterious Qiankun Cauldron reappeared, its mouth spewing forth a precious light that appeared much more intense than before.
Zhao Cheng'an swallowed hard, his heart sinking.
The next moment, a slightly cool sensation appeared out of nowhere in his palm.
He slowly opened his tightly clenched right hand.
In the dark room, a stone, only half the size of his palm and with a translucent, jade-like texture, lay quietly in his hand.
It emitted a faint glow in the darkness.