"Next one."
In Kanwen Hall.
A group of Daoists lined up to verify their Cultivation of Literature progress, waiting one after another for the Master inside to check their cultivation.
This is a special place designated for all Daoists to check their cultivation progress.
The difficulty of verifying Cultivation of Literature is well-known. So we can only look for high-level practitioners.
"Speaking of which, how do they verify Cultivation of Literature? Do they have to feel your bones or check your eyes?"
Zhang Rongfang looked at the slowly moving line ahead and asked doubtfully.
He was still studying Alchemy when suddenly dragged over for a group cultivation check.
Not only him but Chui Xi was also brought over.
"I checked last ti; they just pointed here and there on your body, watched your reaction, while asking questions. The check is quite quick, and the questions vary depending on where and how hard they press." Chui Xi replied.
She glanced at Zhang Rongfang.
"Actually, cultivation of literature and such, unless one is a top-notch genius, we just practice casually. As the saying goes: Until the Golden Core, all are ants!"
She mimicked soone’s tone for the last sentence, holding her chin up with a disdainful look and a wave of her hand.
"Haha, you seem quite open-minded." Zhang Rongfang laughed, "Isn’t mastering Cultivation of Literature quite appealing? It can prolong life and strengthen the body."
"That’s true, but it takes too much ti. For those of us with no talent, what we need isn’t longevity; it’s enjoynt.
After all, this world isn’t harmful only because of age, but also bad people. Without martial arts, everything is aningless."
Ever since she almost fell badly last ti, Chui Xi’s attitude towards martial arts seed to have changed.
Recently, she started practicing diligently every day, wearing tight, short clothes suitable for martial arts under her Daoist robe.
"After I returned last ti, I started serious learning with my father, practicing the martial arts and Talismanic Skill of the Great Dao Teaching. Striving to beco a martial arts expert!" Chui Xi declared fiercely with a fist.
"You go for it then." Zhang Rongfang encouraged.
"Don’t worry, when I beco a Ninth-Grade Expert, climb up in ranks, I’ll definitely give you a hand!" Chui Xi laughed.
She is just starting to shape her body now, and everyone knows, at this age, training in martial arts is considered late. Being able to reach second or third grade before thirty would be good.
It’s just for strengthening the body.
At this mont, an old Daoist approached from the right side of the line.
"Listen up, everyone. To speed things up, high-level practitioners have been dispatched to verify.
Now, those called, co out for individual verification."
Many Daoists in the long line looked at him.
The old Daoist seed accustod to being stared at by a large crowd, indifferent, picking up the list in his hand, calling nas one by one.
"Zhang Wenjun."
"Mo Xiangdong."
"Huang Ke."
"Tang Li."
"Shangguan Jing’Er."
"Zhang Ying."
"Li Cunyi."
Suddenly hearing his own na, Zhang Rongfang waved at Chui Xi, stepped out, and followed a special Daoist guide slowly departing.
The old Daoist continued calling on the side, and the Daoists called out were led away by designated guides.
The direction they went seed different for each.
The people in the line saw this and didn’t mind.
This was very much like different high-level practitioners in the palace, each assigned a few people for checking.
There used to be similar arrangents, so no one cared.
Zhang Rongfang, seeing no unusual reactions, felt relieved and followed the guide through alleys surrounded by high walls, soon arriving in front of a small building between two temples.
The small building had five floors, dark and quiet inside, with only the third floor featuring a semi-circular balcony.
A white-haired, chubby old man with a friendly face was sitting on the balcony.
The old man had sparse hair, only two or three strands hanging over his forehead, leisurely fanning himself with a palm fan.
The guiding Daoist brought Zhang Rongfang to the front of the small building, pointed at the balcony, and left without saying a word.
Zhang Rongfang understood the aning, that the high-level practitioner for checking was up there.
Without delay, he followed the entrance inside.
Inside the building was dimly lit, with black and white portraits hanging all over the three walls.
In such lighting, these black and white portraits felt sowhat like...
Zhang Rongfang shook his head. But considering the era, it’s impossible to have caras, so the portraits likely didn’t imply this.
As he walked, he observed these portraits, noticing they all featured one person.
A long-haired woman in a purple dress, with a cold yet alluring face.
The woman’s eyes were very cold, as if piercing like an icy sword to whoever she looked at.
Yet her features exude an indescribable charm, with her alluring and cold presence embodying two extre and contradictory qualities flowing and transforming together like yin and yang.
This strange sensation made Zhang Rongfang feel as if these portraits were like three-dinsional photographs.
He proceeded upstairs to the second floor.
The second floor featured the woman in an imperial long dress, appearing slightly younger and sowhat softer than on the first floor.
Various styles and colors of imperial long dresses, with different fur hats, cloud collars, holding weapons or small animals.
Then ca the third floor.
The third floor depicted the woman with her hair styled as a young girl, wearing skirts, long pants, even riding a horse for outings.
At this ti, the woman showed softer brows but still retained a sowhat cold temperant.
However, her eyes revealed a pure and naive gaze.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?"
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