"Hmph, the elder acts like a hands-off boss, and the younger one doesn’t listen, both are heartless..." Mrs. Cai muttered, flinging her sleeves as she turned and left.
Zhao Zheng, after sitting down, looked at his father: "Mother’s temper has been getting worse these past few years."
Zhao Ruide sipped his tea: "Ignore her. That’s how it is when one gets older, even the smallest things can lead to endless nagging."
"Speaking of which, what’s going on with you? It’s been nine years at Bishui Daoist School, why haven’t you graduated yet?"
Just as Zhao Zheng was about to answer, Zhao Xing walked in. He quickly stood up and respectfully saluted Zhao Xing: "Brother."
Zhao Xing also sat down and drank some tea: "Why are you standing there? Didn’t father just ask you a question?"
Indeed, Zhao Zheng seemed a bit more nervous in his presence.
It had been more fun back when they were kids.
"Father, brother." Zhao Zheng said: "I should have graduated this year, but Teacher Jing Ming from the Martial Arts Academy suggested that I aim for the Upper Courtyard this year."
"You are currently in the Middle Courtyard of the Inner Academy. How many more years will it take to reach the Upper Courtyard?"
"At least three to five years, at most seven to eight years. If I pass the exams sooner, it might be a bit quicker."
"Another seven to eight years?" Zhao Ruide said in surprise: "Why so long? Xing’er, is this normal?"
Seeing Zhao Ruide ask, Zhao Xing nodded and said: "That’s the situation."
"New students at Bishui Daoist School start in the Three Lower Courtyards of the Outer Academy. They can complete their studies in as little as three years. Upon graduation, they are assigned as Daoists and can become ninth-rank officials."
"If they have talent, they can take exams to enter the Inner Academy. Graduates from the Lower Courtyard of the Inner Academy can become eighth-rank officials."
"Graduates from the Middle Courtyard can become seventh-rank officials, and those from the Upper Courtyard can become sixth-rank officials."
Zhao Ruide’s eyes widened: "Wouldn’t that mean coming out with a higher rank than mine?"
Zhao Xing smiled and said: "He’s in one of the main academies. There are only seventy-two such Daoist academies in the world, the best of the best, so the starting point is naturally high."
"Graduating from the Upper Courtyard of the Inner Academy is no easy task. As he said, it takes at least three to five years, at most seven to eight years, with some taking more than ten years."
"If you calculate the total length of his studies, it wouldn’t be surprising."
After some mental math, Zhao Ruide found it to be true.
Having already studied for eight years, another eight years would make sixteen years in total.
Sixteen years to come out as a sixth-rank official seemed reasonable.
"If he graduates now, he would come out as a secondary seventh-rank official. After working for eight years, he might reach sixth-rank." Zhao Ruide said, "Does he really want to stay in the academy?"
Zhao Xing thought for a moment: "Let’s leave it to Zheng’er. I suggest he stays in the academy. It’s not easy to become an official. Martial artists either join the army, the Inspection Bureau, or the Ministry of Justice."
"With the East Sea being unstable nowadays, staying in the academy is better."
Since Zhao Xing advised this, Zhao Ruide had no objections.
The three of them chatted some more and had a family reunion meal.
Four days later, Zhao Zheng had to return to the academy.
Zhao Xing stayed at Huai Liu Courtyard to continue his cultivation.
"My progress is faster than the foolish bird anticipated. In just four days, I’ve consumed one-fiftieth." Zhao Xing looked at the partially consumed Primordial Spirit Fruit and let out a long sigh.
Just this one-fiftieth had elevated his Life Soul from the late stage of the fifth grade to the perfection stage.
"At this rate, I will need only 200 days to finish it, maybe even less."
After completing his daily cultivation, Zhao Xing went to the study to read ancient texts.
Another four days passed, and Zhao Xing finally figured out the ancient token given to him by the Heavenly Destiny Mysterious Bird.
The two characters on the pale golden token were not from the Li Dynasty but were ’Divine Court Golden Script’ from Ancient Times.
"So, it’s the Golden Script of the Great Xia Divine Court."
"The Golden Script of the Divine Court is both a script and a magic spell, and the two characters mean: Start of Spring."
Upon understanding this, Zhao Xing picked up the token with some astonishment, finally realizing why it felt so familiar.
"This is a replica of the Twenty-four Solar Terms Order passed down from the ’Xia’ of the Ancient Divine Dynasty, which is why it seemed familiar."
The Minister of Agriculture’s classic magic treasures included many common mid-to-low grade ones, such as the Golden Raincoat, the Flowers Fighting Umbrella, the Cloud Boots, the Cloud Rain Pearl, the Magic Staff, and the Cloud Rain Ship.
The Solar Terms Order, as a classic cultivation treasure of the Minister of Agriculture, also had corresponding magic treasures.
Zhao Xing read from the classics: "In ancient times, the Divine Court forged twenty-four Solar Terms Orders to stabilize the solar terms of the entire Xuanhuang Realm. That era, known as the Spiritual Energy Era, was much more splendid than the present."
"It’s said that after the Divine Court ascended, the twenty-four Solar Terms Orders disappeared with it, causing the timing in the Xuanhuang Realm to gradually become chaotic."
"These historian records are quite accurate." Zhao Xing smiled.
The Divine Court’s ascension was not just a rumor!
In fact, the historical records of the Xuanhuang Realm continued to show gaps due to the Fortune Dynasty’s ascension during the Spiritual Energy Era.
With the revival of spiritual energy, reaching its peak marked the fulfillment of the conditions for ascension, leading to the ’Divine Dynasty Ascension’ era.
And performing a consecration at the Southern Desolate Divine Mountain was one of the conditions for the Divine Dynasty Ascension.
Each emperor of the Fortune Dynasty knew about the ascension legend.
Every emperor pursued this legend, as it was the only way to break the millennium lifespan limit of an emperor.
Emperor Jing’s suppression of the barbarians was not only for merit but also because, being the emperor of the Fortune Dynasty, he naturally knew this secret.
However, Zhao Xing firmly believed that Emperor Jing couldn’t win the war against the barbarians because the timing was not right.