"The entangled interests between officials and cultivator clans are incredibly complex, making it difficult to find any official willing to support me. Moreover, my failure in the filial and honest person examination makes me look like a clown in the eyes of the cultivator clans in the City of Seeking Immortality. Not only will no one propose to me, but there might even be people who will kick me when I'm down, crushing me like an ant."
Shang Shan Qiusuo nodded in agreement:
"My father is a tax official in the Ministry of Revenue in the City of Seeking Immortality, but I can't guarantee that I can persuade him to support you."
Zhu Xiaosuo said:
"Daoist Shang Shan, your goodwill alone is enough for me to be deeply grateful. Gaining the support of three officials is too difficult and not feasible. It seems I have no choice but to take a gamble at the academy in the City of Seeking Immortality."
Chen Pusuo said:
"Daoist Zhu, I still want to advise you to go with the flow. If you apply to be an instructor and fail, it could mean the end of your life and path. Being a canary in a cultivator clan might not be so free, but it's not necessarily a bad thing."
"Indeed, Daoist Chen makes a valid point. Daoist Zhu, I can't bear to see you take such a risk."
Zhu Xiaosuo said:
"I truly appreciate the sincere intentions of both of you. It's not that I, Zhu Xiaosuo, am too proud to be a gigolo, but I've experienced firsthand the brutal infighting in the backyard. The Zhu Clan is weak, and I have no foundation. The entire Zhu Clan might end up buried with me. So, I've long decided that I'd rather be a ghost in the hall than a person in the backyard."
The reasons Zhu Xiaosuo gave were things he had pondered for a long time.
Perhaps it was the influence of Old Huang and the Shop Assistant, or the shock from the Zhu Clan's cemetery, or maybe the impact of Zhu Sixiu's unresolved death.
Once entangled in the disputes of a cultivator clan, death never claims just one person.
If I die, so be it, but there's no need to drag Zhuang Yun and the others down with me.
Rather than marrying into a cultivator clan and living in fear without peace, it's better to have a swift end.
Life is just about dying, so why fear it?
"Since Daoist Zhu has put it this way, I have nothing more to say. Your concerns are valid; the backyard is not a peaceful place either. I've already lost eighteen siblings. Ah, I hope everything goes well for you, Daoist Zhu."
"Indeed, I also have seven brothers and five sisters who died mysteriously. That's how it is with cultivator clans. Since Daoist Zhu doesn't want to wade into troubled waters, I wish you success in passing the academy's examination."
"Thank you both. As I embark on this uncertain journey of life and death, I won't compete for the Rebirth Pill to avoid waste."
Chen Pusuo said:
"No. If you're going to the academy, you must take the Rebirth Pill first."
"Why?"
"Because since the academies across the land of the Exiled Immortals were established, the instructor with the lowest cultivation level has been at the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer. He was the former crown prince, the current emperor. Now, anyone below the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer, cannot join the academy; it's an open secret."
Zhu Xiaosuo understood immediately.
To avoid taboo.
How could you possibly be more outstanding than the current emperor?
Wouldn't that imply you might become the next emperor?
Zhu Xiaosuo said:
"Then if I take the Rebirth Pill, how will you two divide it?"
The two fell silent.
After a moment, Shang Shan Qiusuo said:
"I can forgo this Rebirth Pill. The situation in my family is quite complicated, and breaking through too early would attract the attention of my brothers, which isn't a good thing."
Chen Pusuo knew Shang Shan Qiusuo was just being polite.
Who wouldn't want a Rebirth Pill?
But Chen Pusuo was not someone who didn't know his limits.
"Thank you, Daoist Shang Shan! I, Chen Pusuo, swear that after breaking through, I'll immediately save resources to buy a Rebirth Pill. If you don't break through, I won't cultivate!"
Zhu Xiaosuo also said:
"Daoist Chen, saving enough Spirit Stones for a Rebirth Pill might be difficult. Rest assured, Daoist Shang Shan, if I pass the academy's instructor examination and stabilize the situation, I'll use the Zhu Clan's resources to help you gather the necessary resources."
"Then I thank both of you in advance!"
Thus, the three young men of similar age and names completed their first meeting.
What awaited them was an uncertain future.
In the end, the five who received the Rebirth Pill were Wan Xiu, Leng Lu, Zhu Xiaosuo, Chen Pusuo, and the lucky one guaranteed by the three of them.
He Buru distributed the Rebirth Pills to the five and then addressed the sixteen cultivators participating in the examination:
"This time, ten of you passed the examination. However, due to the shortage of Rebirth Pills, only five can receive them. Your next examination deadline is also three years later, requiring you to break through to the Rebirth Stage, Seventh Layer. The cultivation resources gifted by the Immortal Sect will be forwarded to you by Song Zhong. I hope you continue to strive. The remaining six must complete missions for the Immortal Sect to repay the twelve Spirit Stones gifted by the sect."
"Yes. Thank you, Elder He!"
"Alright, you may leave now. Song Zhong will take you home later. Zhu Xiaosuo, stay behind."
Hearing He Buru call his name, Zhu Xiaosuo wasn't sure if it was a blessing or a curse.
Once the others had left, He Buru said:
"So you're Zhu Xiaosuo. I was wondering who this cultivator at the early Rebirth Stage was, poring over the sect's laws. You're known as 'Law Zhu' in the sect now; it seems it's not just empty talk."
"Elder He, you're too kind."
"Managing to deal with Sun Qingde is impressive. I have a niece who has admired you for a long time after hearing about your deeds and has always wanted to meet you. Do you have time?"
Zhu Xiaosuo said:
"It would be an honor! However, I must immediately take the Rebirth Pill and then participate in the selection for the academy instructors in the City of Seeking Immortality. I might have to meet your niece another day."
Hearing Zhu Xiaosuo mention participating in the academy instructor examination, He Buru's long eyes widened in surprise.
"You... want to take the academy instructor examination?"
"Indeed."
"Do you know that if you fail, it could mean the end of your life and path?"
"I am aware."
After confirming, He Buru nodded.
"Well, it seems my niece and you are not destined to meet. No meeting, then."
"It's my lack of fortune."
"Alright, you may go."
"Yes."
Zhu Xiaosuo walked out of the examination hall, feeling a heavy weight in his heart.
Even an Immortal Sect Elder at the Humbling the Present Stage wanted to win him over.
It seemed the announcement of the Black Snow Ridge spirit collapse incident by the Immortal Sect wasn't far off.
When that time came, he would have to face a flood of suitors.
A quick look at tinyurl.com/2p9emv8w will leave you more fulfilled.
He must quickly take the Rebirth Pill and break through.
Boarding Song Zhong's coffin flying artifact, he immediately received sixty Spirit Stones and a manual on breaking through the mid-stage Rebirth Stage bottleneck—"Fetal Refinement Technique."
Along the way, he learned about the academy instructor examination from Shang Shan Qiusuo and Chen Pusuo.
As he expected, it mainly involved answering questions.
Ensuring you have the ability to teach the knowledge of the sages.
Mountain Chicken County, located in the most remote northern border of the City of Seeking Immortality, meant he was the last cultivator Song Zhong sent home.
"Thank you, Senior Song."
The usually silent Song Zhong spoke:
"You're taking the academy instructor examination?"
"Yes."
"To avoid marriage proposals from other clans?"
"This... yes."
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't expect even Song Zhong to know about his situation.
It seemed Shang Shan Qiusuo and Chen Pusuo weren't exaggerating when they said his story was well-known.
"You're quite ruthless."
"I'm forced by circumstances."
"Regardless of success or failure, I admire you."
"You're too kind, Senior Song."
Song Zhong pulled out a book and tossed it to Zhu Xiaosuo:
"This is a collection of practice questions for Rebirth Stage cultivators breaking through to the Honoring the Ancient Stage. I hope it helps you."
Holding the "Honoring the Ancient Stage Sprint Practice Collection," Zhu Xiaosuo was incredulous.
Was someone really handing him a pillow when he was sleepy?
"Return it after the examination."
With that, Song Zhong flew off in the coffin.