"These are your clothes and books. Rember to co to class tomorrow," a servant in the Origin Flow Academy said with an air of indifference after taking Wang Linchi’s one thousand Liang silver note and handing him the corresponding items.
After Wang Linchi completed the fusion of his Spiritual Bone and Spiritual ridian, he faked the appearance of his family’s declining fortunes, sold his dical clinic, and moved far away.
This didn’t draw much attention, as it was quite normal. After all, with business so bad it was unbearable to watch, selling it off was to be expected.
His two Spiritual Talents, combined with the abilities of Fanciful and Fickle, enhanced its various effects, making him even more... indescribable.
The Innate Talent of his Spirit Bone was Restless Heart, and the Innate Talent of his Spirit Vein was Wild Horse.
With these two Innate Talents, his evolution into sothing non-human and indescribable was complete. When he first acquired them, his ga character was almost unable to contain the leakage.
If not for his quick reaction to imdiately make repairs, disaster would have struck then and there.
He even suspected sothing was amiss with his body. Creating a clone possessing Innate Talents that aligned with Fanciful and Fickle wasn’t the issue; the problem was why it made him even more indescribable.
Fanciful and Fickle shouldn’t have such a function, should it?
To say these two Spiritual Talents were trash, well, they certainly were. They were more like abilities that enhanced Skills. Yet, they kicked him towards the indescribable path precisely when he had a chance to avoid it.
Even if he uninstalls these two Innate Talents now, it’s already too late. The enhancent is complete. Unless he splits himself apart, he has thoroughly beco like those world-polluting evil gods—just a smaller, less threatening version.
Therefore, Wang Linchi suspected it might be because of his origins in the Soul Aspect World. After all, once one becos an Awakener there, everyone, on average, possesses rule-based abilities.
They’re like rule incarnates, not normal human beings.
It’s as if the raw materials for his Spiritual Bone and Spiritual ridian were flawed.
Having created the Erroneous Sin in the ga world, using himself as material now and being kicked towards the path of an indescribable evil god also seed quite reasonable.
So, Wang Linchi didn’t dwell on it too much. Anyway, as long as nothing leaked out, he appeared perfectly human on the outside.
And so, he packed his things, changed maps, arrived in Zhenhai City, paid his fee, and entered the Origin Flow Academy.
"Thank you. Where do I go for class tomorrow?" Wang Linchi asked.
"That building over there," the man replied impatiently. Like a petty official at a pri minister’s gate, Wang Linchi thought. Though the man wasn’t a Spirit Master, anyone working here was surely a family mber of a Spirit Master.
Seeing this, Wang Linchi offered an ingot of Silver and said, "Please enlighten further."
He’d seen this sort of thing countless tis in the Soul Aspect World. It was simply a matter of not offering enough benefits.
The man’s eyes lit up when he saw what Wang Linchi offered. He snatched it and stuffed it into his pocket, his attitude changing noticeably. "Ahem, ’enlighten’ is too strong a word. Just a few minor points to note."
Soon, the man gave Wang Linchi a very detailed account of class schedules, the habits of so instructors, the Academy’s unspoken rules, taboos, and the like.
"Thank you for the advice, Brother. Without it, I would indeed have had a hard ti," Wang Linchi naturally flattered.
Although this man was a bit greedy, he was genuinely willing to talk.
"Not at all! I think, out of all the newcors this year, you’re the only one who will pass." The man wasn’t stingy with his praise, though who knows how many people he’d said that to.
After all, to change one’s attitude for money without fear of ridicule showed a certain unique thickness of skin.
After so more idle chatter, Wang Linchi took his leave, carrying his things back to the small courtyard he had previously purchased.
Coming to Zhenhai City ant a long-term stay, so he needed a place to live. He couldn’t possibly stay in an inn; he wouldn’t be able to keep any secrets there.
The Origin Flow Academy’s accommodations and als were not available to people like them. They were only for students nurtured by the Academy since childhood, so these newcors had to fend for themselves.
One was like a biological son, the other an outsider of unknown origin. How could they possibly receive the sa treatnt as the ’biological sons’?
After buying the courtyard, Wang Linchi naturally used his recording ability to construct an underground laboratory beneath it to et his daily experintal needs.
After returning, he examined the clothes and books.
There were three Enlightennt Books: the "Filial Piety Sutra," "Minister’s Caution," and "Nationality." Wang Linchi skimd through them and found the level of indoctrination to be quite high. If taught from a young age and properly controlled, these could indeed cultivate a group of individuals loyal to the monarch and devoted to the state. Even their descendants might inherit such thinking.
"In terms of content, they are far inferior to the ’Bright Heart Treasure Mirror’,"
"The ’Bright Heart Treasure Mirror’ feels like a superior version of these three Enlightennt Books." Wang Linchi knew that these three Enlightennt Books were primarily intended to ensure that the scholars cultivated by the Academy remained loyal to the Court. Whether they could beco Spirit Masters through the Enlightennt Examination was actually not that important.
With such a large base, as long as a single Academy produced ten students annually who passed the Enlightennt Examination to beco Spirit Masters, the numbers would accumulate significantly across the entire dynasty’s domain.
More importantly, these students, nurtured since childhood—unlike those who joined midway—would not be expelled from the Academy if they failed the Enlightennt Examination; they could continue to participate.
"So, what exactly is this Enlightennt Examination?" Wang Linchi was sowhat puzzled.
It wasn’t that these books were bad. But if the Spirit Masters’ Spirit Law truly involved practicing the contents of these books, then the world would genuinely be a utopian era of great harmony.
A group of people possessing Extraordinary Power, including the ruling class, all striving for truth, goodness, and beauty as their path to strength? How could there still be such chaos?
Therefore, the Enlightennt Examination must inevitably involve so hidden circumstances.
It was just that he had no way of finding out yet.
"I need to gather so relevant intelligence." Wang Linchi planned to participate next year and naturally intended to pass in one attempt, using this opportunity to glimpse the truth of this world.
Otherwise, why would he bother taking the Enlightennt Examination for no reason?
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
"Open up!"
Around dusk, there was a knock on the door.
Wang Linchi found the voice sowhat familiar.
He opened the door, and the two n locked eyes.
"Boss Li, have you clawed your way out of the roiling sea of comrce and joined the governnt?" Wang Linchi was utterly astonished.
No wonder the voice sounded familiar. Wasn’t this the owner of the shop next to his dical clinic, the one who had been missing for several months? The man had actually beco an Official!
When the other man saw Wang Linchi, he too was incredulous.
"Doctor Wang, weren’t you running a dical clinic in Baihe County? How did you end up in Zhenhai City as a student at the Origin Flow Academy?" Boss Li was equally surprised.
"As you know, after my master passed away, the clinic’s business went from bad to worse. Then the Cheng Family stirred up trouble a few tis, and I really couldn’t keep it going. I had no choice but to sell it and co to Zhenhai City."
"The competition in Zhenhai City is even fiercer. After looking at the prospects for dical clinics here, I figured my only option was to try and beco a Spirit Master and find a position in the governnt to earn a living. I didn’t expect you, Boss Li, to be ahead of in that regard," Wang Linchi briefly explained.
Wang Linchi didn’t know Boss Li’s actual na, as the man had never revealed it. Custors always addressed him as Boss Li. One could say this fellow had hidden himself quite well.
"What a coincidence! Since we’re acquaintances, I’ll waive your Ho Protection Tax. But don’t tell anyone," Boss Li said quietly, then added, "From now on, don’t call Boss Li. Just call Old Li or Clerk Li."
"Haha, in that case, I won’t stand on ceremony!" Wang Linchi laughed. It really is easier to get things done with acquaintances. He then asked, "Care to co in for a drink?"
"Next ti, next ti. I still have a few households that haven’t paid their Ho Protection Tax yet," Old Li said imdiately.
From the looks of it, this so-called Ho Protection Tax wasn’t an official levy but more akin to protection money—definitely a gray area business.
"Don’t go yet. If you don’t collect it, won’t that make things difficult for you, Old Li? How much is it?" Wang Linchi asked.
He didn’t want to be an exception. Besides, this money was rely a mory construct; it would disappear on its own in a month or so anyway.
"What trouble could it be? We’re fellow townsn, after all. No need to pay," Old Li insisted, refusing to take the money.
"Really not taking it? Don’t get yourself reprimanded when you get back," Wang Linchi remarked wryly.
"Don’t worry," Old Li chuckled. "We only fleece the poor."
"That’s quite unscrupulous," Wang Linchi teased. He beca even more certain that Old Li must be here on so kind of mission, and it was related to this so-called Ho Protection Tax.
"Anyway, the Ho Protection Tax doesn’t end up in my hands, so I’m not the unscrupulous one," Old Li said, unfazed by Wang Linchi’s teasing. "Alright, I’ll make a move then. I’ll find you for a drink when I’m free."
With that, he turned and left for the next house.
Reviews
All reviews (0)