Volume Two: Winds Rise in An西 Prefecture - Chapter 144: Daoist White Cloud

"It's Master Xu!"

In the crowd, someone caught sight of the great Confucian scholar Xu Zhengyun and exclaimed in surprise.

"Greetings, Master Xu!"

The scholars lowered their heads one after another, bowing toward the figure in the sky.

"No need for such formality, everyone!"

Master Xu waved his hand. "Someone is breaking through to the eighth rank of the Confucian path today. You may observe quietly, but do no shouting!"

At Master Xu's words, carrying an inexplicable Confucian suppression, many people who wanted to speak out freely suddenly found they couldn't even open their mouths!

Is this the power of a great Confucian scholar?

With a single word, the surrounding laws of nature shifted, and none could disobey.

"Master Xu, once his breakthrough is finished, I'll go and inquire about his background," President Bai said softly, standing unaffected by the restriction. "This young man should not be from Anxi Academy, but with such capability, it would be a fine thing to recruit him into Anxi Academy!"

"Do not rush, let us observe his breakthrough first."

Master Xu was growing interested in Lu Jiuzhang.

In the ninth rank of the Confucian path, a pool forms within the sea of consciousness, continuously accumulating Confucian fortune. Once it accumulates to a certain extent, one can break through to the eighth rank.

Alternatively, one could pass the imperial examinations to become a Juren.

The academies of Beilu Prefecture would channel Confucian fortune to irrigate and aid them in breaking through in one stroke.

Though it sounded easy, achieving the rank of Juren through the imperial examination system as a ninth-rank Confucian scholar was no small challenge.

By the time one reached the level of Juren, the possibility of holding an official post was already within reach!

Such individuals were exempt from taxation and received a regular annual salary.

Depending on the prefecture, this generally ranged from one hundred to three hundred shi of grain. Twenty copper coins made one dou of rice, and ten dou made one shi, meaning one shi of rice was worth two hundred coins.

One hundred shi amounted to two taels of silver, while three hundred shi equaled six taels.

Most importantly, their income was not limited to salary alone; they could also open private schools or even be hired by high-ranking officials and nobles as tutors to educate their children.

...

Inside Kuixing Tower, the Confucian fortune surging around Lu Jiuzhang grew increasingly intense. The pool within his sea of consciousness had expanded to ten zhang square, its scholarly aura churning with an overwhelming momentum as if about to overflow.

The Confucian fortune housed within Kuixing Tower poured down once again.

Lu Jiuzhang's entire body trembled. The sea of consciousness within expanded continuously, enveloping the illusory Kuixing Tower.

The Kuixing Tower within his sea of consciousness seemed wrapped in a white light.

After an unknown passage of time, the white light gradually faded, the scholarly pool vanished, and the once dim and lusterless Kuixing Tower in his sea of consciousness saw its first and second floors grow bright, as if awakening to life.

Lu Jiuzhang stood up, every word and movement carrying a faint scholarly elegance.

He resembled a true scholar, brimming with vast knowledge, every gesture imbued with an inexplicable poise.

The eighth rank of the Confucian path—he had finally broken through!

Long ago, Lu Jiuzhang had already broken through the ninth rank of the Confucian path.

At that time, Lu Jiuzhang had not yet cultivated martial arts.

He had never expected that even his martial arts would break through to the eighth rank while his Confucian path remained stagnant at the same level.

Now, with a single breakthrough, he had attained insight into all things!

"Whoosh..."

Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared before Lu Jiuzhang.

An aged figure materialized in front of him.

The old man was profound and mysterious, with dao rhythms seemingly circulating around his body.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Immediately following, a rapid sound of footsteps echoed as a middle-aged man climbed up from downstairs.

"Master Xu, when you stepped inside just now, you really should have brought me along."

The middle-aged man muttered a complaint.

Climbing the stairs was simply far too tiring.

"Ahem..."

The middle-aged man looked toward Lu Jiuzhang and spoke first, "Your Excellency seems rather unfamiliar. You don't appear to be from Anxi Prefecture, do you?"

"I am Lu Jiuzhang, a demon-slaying officer from the Demon Slayer Bureau of Changshui County. Having recently arrived here, I was perusing books and achieved a breakthrough inadvertently. I apologize for disturbing everyone at the academy."

Lu Jiuzhang hurriedly cupped his hands in salute.

After all, Anxi Academy was not his own territory, and using someone else's place to make a breakthrough was bound to be somewhat discourteous.

"Lu... Lu Jiuzhang? You are Lu Jiuzhang?"

Master Xu lost his composure.

"Found after a long search where one least expected to find it."

Master Xu had originally intended to make a personal trip to Changshui County himself, never expecting Lu Jiuzhang to appear right before his eyes.

"Weren't you reported missing?"

President Bai was equally astonished.

"A while back, the Demon Slayer Bureau underwent some changes, and I was trapped deep within the mountains and forests, taking quite some time to break free and leave," Lu Jiuzhang explained.

What Lu Jiuzhang had not anticipated was that his reputation within Anxi Prefecture was actually not small.

"No matter. As long as you've made it out safely," President Bai said, brushing the matter aside without the slightest concern.

Anxi Academy was not a government office, let alone one of those powerful institutions with stagnant intelligence networks; news from Changshui County simply could not travel across distances quickly.

The news of Lu Jiuzhang's return to Changshui County and his arrival in Anxi Prefecture was something they were only learning of now.

"There are too many people here. Come chat in my residence!"

As the president of Anxi Academy, President Bai naturally possessed his own independent courtyard for rest, located right within the academy grounds.

"We ought to appear in President Bai's home!"

Master Xu murmured under his breath.

Before Lu Jiuzhang could react, the surrounding scenery shifted rapidly.

The very next second, Lu Jiuzhang found himself standing within a simple yet elegant small courtyard.

At the exact center of the courtyard grew a patch of bamboo.

The bamboo was thriving, remaining verdant through all four seasons.

Scholars held a special fondness for bamboo, and President Bai was no exception.

What truly shocked Lu Jiuzhang was that the old man known as Master Xu had brought them all here with a single utterance.

Was this a divine ability akin to [Declining Distances into Inches]?

Yet such divine abilities required vast amounts of spiritual energy to sustain.

The other party had merely muttered a few words under his breath and instantly transported people here—truly an eye-opening experience.

"I am the president of Anxi Academy, surnamed Bai; young friend Lu may simply address me as President Bai. This is the Imperial Tutor, whose honorable name I cannot casually utter; young friend Lu may address him as Master Xu."

"Master Xu is a great Confucian scholar, whose words carry the weight of law and can alter the laws of nature around him. Young friend Lu need not be surprised."

President Bai offered an introduction.

Hearing this, Lu Jiuzhang felt even more shaken!

Standing before him was one person who was the president of Anxi Academy—a remarkable and influential figure.

And the other was actually a living great Confucian scholar! Furthermore, an Imperial Tutor!

Such a status was supremely noble!

This was someone from the very inner circle of the Emperor!

"Master Xu, President Bai!"

Lu Jiuzhang cupped his hands and bowed respectfully.

"Young scholar Lu, no need for such formality!" Master Xu waved his hand. "President Bai's introduction was slightly off. Names and titles are meant to be spoken and addressed by others—how can there be any reason why they cannot be uttered?"

"My name is Xu Zhengyun, style name Chengzhai, and my sobriquet is the White Cloud Daoist."

"Young scholar Lu possesses extraordinary talent. On the Confucian path, with my guidance, you will surely shine brilliantly in the future!" Master Xu said with a smile. "Since you already address me as Master Xu, you shall henceforth be considered my student!"

???

Huh?

President Bai failed to react for a moment.

He's taking a disciple just like that? That makes no sense!

Moreover, Master Xu had previously stated that he was of advanced age and had no intentions of taking on disciples.