Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improved Spirit Rice

Chapter 40: A Reward of 5 Spirit Stones

After a good while, Zhao Cheng'an was getting tired from carrying so many things, and Shen Yanshan finally took a deep breath and came back to his senses from his dazed state.

He reached out his trembling hand, wanting to touch the sample copy.

But it stopped in mid-air.

The expression on his face...

Zhao Cheng'an, well, he's just like in a TV drama.

It's like an old man in his seventies or eighties suddenly seeing an old photo of his beloved from his youth.

The light in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Qi Weizhao's reaction was no better.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, and his eyes even reddened slightly.

A storm raged within them.

Even when they were practicing their respective Taoist traditions and full of vigor, they never dared to hope that one of their articles would be included in the Taoist Canon.

For many years, having their names recorded in the Daoist Canon was their lifelong dream. But even after they were assigned to these seven impoverished kingdoms, this dream remained unfulfilled.

And now, this seemingly unattainable dream has been realized by this young man who has only been a student for a year and a half.

This was Zhao Cheng'an's first article; he hadn't even graduated from the Imperial Academy yet.

The overwhelming surprise and disbelief left the two old men, who had lived for nearly three hundred years combined, speechless for a long time.

Shen Yanshan suppressed the turmoil in his heart.

He first looked at the sample magazine Zhao Cheng'an was holding, and then at Zhao Cheng'an, whose expression was calm.

Shen Yanshan suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. At that moment, he spoke in a serious tone, "Cheng'an, from now on, when you meditate and cultivate in the bamboo house at night, you won't need to light any lamps anymore."

"Just hang this reply on the wall."

Zhao Chengan was stunned for a moment and didn't react immediately.

"Master, why is that?"

Qi Weizhao stroked his beard and replied quietly.

"Because in this way, even if you don't light a lamp, the night will be illuminated by your own bright future."

"This way, the school can save some money on lamp oil."

"..."

Zhao Cheng'an's lips twitched slightly.

He never expected that these two usually respected old men would tell him such lame jokes in such a serious manner.

Seeing Zhao Cheng'an's speechless expression, Shen Yanshan and Qi Weizhao finally couldn't help but burst into laughter. The laughter echoed through Qiansui Valley, startling several birds flying away from the distant woods.

"Just kidding. Although the Seven Kingdoms Academy is poor, it can still afford this little bit of expense." After laughing, Shen Yanshan's expression became serious.

He pointed to the sample copy and began to explain to Zhao Chengan in detail the significance of the article being included in the Daoist Canon.

"The Daoist Canon is the most authoritative compilation of scriptures in the entire East China Sea cultivation community. Being included in it means that your research results have been recognized by the highest levels of the Daoist court."

"This is not just an honor, but a passport to a first-class lineage. With this qualification, the doors to those first-class lineages will already be half open for you during the future assessments by the Dao Court."

"Even after you enter the Taoist tradition, this article can still bring you many conveniences."

After Shen Yanshan's explanation.

Zhao Cheng'an finally slowly realized that the Daoist Canon was somewhat similar to the scientific citation index in his previous life, whether he wanted to compete to stay in the original Daoist lineage or go out to find a good place.

These articles represent their own research level, almost like another face of a monk.

Its significance is paramount.

Shen Yanshan and Qi Weizhao were able to reach the maximum age limit for the Daoist lineage.

Because they couldn't produce research that would be recognized by the Daoist Canon, they were forcibly assigned to places like the Imperial Academy of the Seven Kingdoms.

In a sense, it was almost equivalent to exile, wasting over a hundred years.

Think of it...

Zhao Cheng'an felt the sample copy in his hand become heavy.

Seemingly able to guess what Zhao Cheng'an was thinking, Shen Yanshan said with a smile, "We've been here for over a hundred years and have long since accepted reality. And being able to teach a disciple like you before leaving the Imperial Academy... is already more than enough."

"Don't worry about us two old men, let's see what's left inside," Qi Weizhao chimed in.

"Yes, thank you both, teachers."

Zhao Cheng'an composed himself and turned his gaze to the remaining items in the cloth bag.

Besides the sample magazine and letters, there were also two exquisite jade bottles. Upon uncorking, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out. These were Qi-Nourishing Pills, a complimentary gift from the Qingmu Dao Academy, specifically designed to assist Qi Refining cultivators in advancing their cultivation.

What shocked Zhao Cheng'an the most were the five stones lying quietly at the bottom of the bag.

These five stones are crystal clear, radiating a soft glow, and contain such rich spiritual energy that they seem to drip water.

"This is... a mid-grade spirit stone?"

Zhao Cheng'an's breath hitched.

One mid-grade spirit stone is equivalent to one hundred ordinary spirit stones.

These five mid-grade spirit stones are equivalent to a full five hundred ordinary spirit stones. For Zhao Cheng'an at this point, this wealth is an enormous sum.

With these spirit stones, he could not only meet his daily cultivation needs more than enough, but he could even purchase some precious materials needed for cultivating the Grass Sword Technique from the outside world, such as Green Edge Grass, Sword Embryo Bamboo, and so on.

"These spirit stones must be the royalties you received after the Evergreen Spirit Manual was completed. As expected of a first-rate lineage, they are very generous," Shen Yanshan added, secretly admiring the generosity. He was currently serving as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and also received subsidies from the low-spirit area.

After a year, his salary was barely equivalent to one mid-grade spirit stone.

Thinking of this, Zhao Cheng'an couldn't help but look up at the gray-feathered spirit pigeon that was squatting on the rock preening its feathers.

Zhao Cheng'an withdrew his gaze.

"Master, these spirit stones are more than enough for my cultivation over the next few years. I'd like to purchase some materials for cultivation or spellcasting. I wonder if the Seven Kingdoms region has such resources?"

"That's easy."

Shen Yanshan smiled and pointed to the fat pigeon.

"This Star-Picking Mystic Bird, besides delivering messages, also has the ability to transport goods. You only need to give it the list of the required spiritual materials and the corresponding spirit stones, and Flying Star Pavilion will naturally help you purchase everything and send it back to the Imperial Academy."

Zhao Cheng'an's eyes lit up; this was practically the express delivery service of the cultivation world.

He stayed in Thousand Ears Valley until noon, asking the two masters many questions about the details of his subsequent cultivation and the purchase of spiritual materials.

When he emerged from the valley carrying the wooden box, he looked up. The midday sun pierced through the clouds, pouring down on Mount Cangwu without reservation.

Zhao Cheng'an squinted, feeling that the sunlight today was particularly bright.