Chapter 416: Water-Fire True Force Fills the Body, and the County Inspector's Promotion Arrives!

Chapter 416: Water-Fire True Force Fills the Body, and the County Inspector's Promotion Arrives!

February 17, 2025

The night grew thick with darkness, the fog thickened, and the temperature dropped.

When Jiang Ning returned to his room, the hour had already passed midnight.

The events of the night left him unable to sleep.

He decided to stay awake and went to the courtyard to practice his skills.

The next morning.

At the entrance of the mansion.

The sky was overcast, and the weather was clearly not good.

Liu Wanwan straightened Jiang Yiming's scholar's robe and patted the non-existent dust from his clothes.

"Remember to follow your uncle later, and when you enter the Sacred Temple for worship, be sure to observe the proper etiquette!"

"I know, Mother!" Jiang Yiming nodded calmly.

"Also, don't make a loud fuss!" Liu Wanwan reminded him again.

Jiang Yiming grew a little impatient.

Liu Wanwan couldn't help but feel helpless.

Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile.

At Jiang Yiming's age, he was in a phase of rebellion and finding his parents' nagging annoying.

"Big brother, you look so handsome today!" The little bean bun, holding onto Liu Wanwan's clothes, stood on his tiptoes and suddenly spoke.

Hearing this sudden praise.

Jiang Yiming scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Hehe!"

After a moment, the two walked towards the front courtyard of the Sacred Temple.

Today was the day to achieve success in the imperial examinations and the final step for the literary scholars to gain official positions.

It was also the last step for the literary talents to gain fame and glory.

After completing the worship ceremony, they would be registered and gain their official positions.

They could enjoy the various benefits of becoming a high-ranking scholar.

They didn't need to kneel before officials.

Their family of four would be exempt from taxes.

They would be free from corvee labor.

Scholars couldn't be punished without first revoking their official positions.

If they faced difficulties, they could receive monthly food subsidies from the government.

Sacred Temple.

The temple enshrined several great scholars from the early days of the Xia Dynasty, who were revered as saints.

The fourth hour.

"Wang Sheng! Enter the temple for worship!"

A solemn voice echoed within the Sacred Temple.

Hearing this voice.

The leader of the crowd, a scholar in a green robe, flicked his sleeves, straightened his appearance, adjusted the Confucian scholar's hat on his head, and then stepped over the threshold of the Sacred Temple with his head held high.

At this moment, in the front courtyard of the Sacred Temple, the crowd was silent, with no whispers or discussions.

In the Sacred Temple, a place of solemnity and reverence, loud noises were prohibited.

As the top literary scholar, Wang Sheng was the first to cross the threshold and enter the temple, greeted by the scent of sandalwood incense.

On the altar, seven long-burning lamps flickered, casting shadows on the five clay statues of the saints in the center, making their faces appear blurred.

The voice of the chief officiant was deep and low.

"Are you Wang Sheng?"

"Yes, I am Wang Sheng!" Wang Sheng replied respectfully.

"Wang Sheng, please come forward and offer incense!" The chief officiant's voice sounded again.

Upon hearing this.

Wang Sheng stepped forward, holding three sticks of two-foot-long incense, and bowed three times towards the five clay statues of the saints before him. Then, he inserted the three sticks of incense into the censer.

He then took three steps back and bowed again.

In that instant.

A faint white light descended and poured into Wang Sheng's head.

"Close your eyes, concentrate, and accept the baptism of the Great and Righteous Qi!" The chief officiant's voice sounded in his ear.

Wang Sheng immediately followed the chief officiant's instructions, but his heart was filled with excitement.

The baptism of the Great and Righteous Qi had the effect of opening wisdom and enlightenment, greatly benefiting the human body!

Especially for scholars, the benefits were even greater.

It made the mind sharp and the thinking agile.

The effect was greatest for the first person to receive the baptism each year.

As the rankings went down, the effect gradually weakened.

In the front courtyard outside the temple.

Jiang Ning looked up at the sky above the Sacred Temple.

He could sense that the air above the temple was unusual, with constant ripples of agitation.

"Is this the Great and Righteous Qi?" he wondered in his heart.

After a moment.

"Xu Miaozhen, enter the temple for worship!"

As Wang Sheng exited the Sacred Temple, another solemn voice called out.

Xu Miaozhen, the second-ranked literary talent, was calmer than the first-ranked Wang Sheng.

He stepped over the threshold of the Sacred Temple with steady and unhurried strides and entered the temple.

After another moment.

Xu Miaozhen walked out of the Sacred Temple, her eyes bright and radiant, as if emitting a glow.

Then, the third person's name was called.

As the third person entered the Sacred Temple, Jiang Yiming stood beside Jiang Ning.

"Uncle, it's almost your turn!"

"Mmm!" Jiang Ning nodded.

Looking at the sandalwood incense with its curling blue smoke, he was very curious.

He had learned from books that the Great and Righteous Qi could enhance psycho-energy and strengthen the divine soul.

Today, he could personally verify this claim.

"Jiang Ning! Enter the temple for worship!"

Inside the Sacred Temple, as the third person exited, a solemn voice called out.

Jiang Ning followed suit.

After crossing the threshold of the Sacred Temple, he saw the seven flickering long-burning lamps on the altar.

Jiang Ning stood before five statues of saints, their features obscured by clay.

"Are you Jiang Ning?" the chief officiant's voice rumbled.

"Yes, I am Jiang Ning!" Jiang Ning replied.

"Jiang Ning, step forward and offer your incense!" the chief officiant's voice boomed again.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning picked up the three sticks of incense placed nearby and lit them. As he moved forward, he held the three sticks of two-chi-long incense in his hands and bowed three times to the five statues of the saints before him.

After completing the ritual, he stepped forward again and inserted the three sticks of incense into the cauldron.

He then took three steps back and bowed once more.

In that instant, he felt a surge of energy on his head, causing the loose strands of hair on his forehead to become disheveled.

The next moment, a pillar of light descended.

Suddenly, Jiang Ning felt a pure and ethereal energy emerging in his mind.

"Close your eyes and concentrate. Receive the baptism of the Great and Righteous Qi!" the chief officiant's voice instructed.

There was a problem! Jiang Ning's heart sank as he suddenly realized something was amiss.

The so-called Great and Righteous Qi that was being infused into his mind was nothing but countless flying imprints.

Just like the imprints he had previously embedded in Xiao Emei's body.

At this moment, those imprints entered his body and instantly dissolved within him.

They were completely unable to merge with his body.

Realizing this change, Jiang Ning understood.

He now understood why those who had passed the imperial examinations were required to offer incense at the Holy Temple.

He realized that by offering incense and receiving the baptism of the Great and Righteous Qi, one could strengthen their divine soul and enhance their spiritual power.

Among the five clay statues of saints, there must be one that was problematic.

It was a clay statue of a divine being.

And this divine being belonged to Daxia.

Offering incense to the clay statue was a way to strengthen the divine being.

Just like how he had gone to Luoshui County the night before to absorb the incense offerings meant for him.

The students who offered incense and worshipped could receive feedback, strengthening their divine souls and enhancing their spiritual power.

The means employed were clearly similar to his own, or even to the Blood and Flesh God of the Worship God Sect.

One was a divine soul, and the other was a physical body.

On the surface, they seemed to differ only in this way.

However, the consequence was that they became subordinates, just as Xiao Emei had been controlled by him.

Those students who had offered incense at the Holy Temple were likely in a similar situation as Xiao Emei.

Feeling the flying imprints in his mind being dissolved, Jiang Ning's heart raced with fear.

If he had truly been imprinted,

Breaking free would not be as simple.

Thinking of the countless scholars and students from the thirty prefectures of the Nine Provinces who had passed the imperial examinations and possibly been imprinted by the Holy Temple, Jiang Ning felt the sheer power of Daxia.

This was an incredibly powerful means of control.

Once on board, it would be difficult to get off.

Regardless of how far the officials in the court had gone, once they turned against the system, they would find themselves at the mercy of others.

At the same time, Jiang Ning thought of the requirements for the position of county inspector.

One of the requirements was for him to pass the imperial examinations.

Was this a way to control him? Upon realizing this, Jiang Ning felt even more apprehensive.

If he hadn't been an ordinary genius, he might have fallen into this trap.

In the future, breaking free from this restraint would not be as easy.

For hundreds of years, countless students had offered incense and their spiritual energy as offerings.

It was clear that the divine being belonging to Daxia must be a formidable existence.

After a moment, Jiang Ning opened his eyes.

He walked towards the Holy Temple, pondering a question.

Recently, he had fed a lot of blood to Long Xingyun, the master.

However, it had been to no avail.

It was evident that the imprints belonging to him had not taken effect in Long Xingyun's body and had been dissolved.

Previously, he had thought it was due to the master's strength.

But now, looking back, it was possible that it was the same as what was happening at this moment.

Thoughts of the True Dragon Hall, the True Dragon's precious blood, the dragon clan's bloodline, and the secret treasure of the king swirled in his mind.

In the front courtyard of the Holy Temple.

"Uncle, how is it?" Jiang Yiming asked.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning turned to look at his nephew.

According to the order, Jiang Yiming would also be entering the Holy Temple to offer incense soon.

A thought flashed through Jiang Ning's mind.

He shook his head, rejecting the idea.

Daxia was still a formidable power, and he was too weak to confront it directly.

"Uncle, what's wrong?" Jiang Yiming asked, noticing the subtle change in Jiang Ning's expression.

Jiang Ning shook his head.

He didn't plan to tell Jiang Yiming about this matter.

He himself didn't have the qualifications to confront it head-on, let alone Jiang Yiming.

Telling Jiang Yiming would only add to his worries.

At this moment, seeing that Jiang Ning didn't want to elaborate, Jiang Yiming didn't ask further.

The hour of the snake had just passed.

"Jiang Yiming!" the voice from the Holy Temple called out again.

"Uncle, I'm going!" Jiang Yiming spoke up.

Jiang Ning handed over the solidified essence blood he had just condensed, placing it in Jiang Yiming's hand.

Jiang Yiming gave Jiang Ning a surprised glance.

Then, without hesitation, he swallowed it like candy.

Afterward, he strode towards the Holy Temple.

"It should be fine!" Jiang Ning muttered to himself, watching Jiang Yiming's departing figure.

When Jiang Yiming emerged and appeared before him, Jiang Ning heaved a sigh of relief.

Through his senses, he could perceive that there was no imprint left by the clay statue in Jiang Yiming's body.

Having just personally experienced all the Great and Righteous Qi, he was very familiar with the Great and Righteous True Qi.

Subsequently, he dispelled the imprint within Jiang Yiming's body that belonged to him.

For this nephew, he didn't want to leave any backup, which was completely unnecessary for him.

That night.

The moonlight was obscured by clouds.

"Uncle, aren't you going to attend the Luming Banquet?"

Jiang Ning shook his head, "I'm not going!"

"If Uncle isn't going, then I won't go either!" Jiang Yiming said.

Jiang Ning smiled and shook his head, "You should go! It's good to broaden your horizons. I'm not going because my identity isn't quite suitable!"

Afterward.

With Jiang Ning's persuasion, Jiang Yiming set off alone to attend the Luming Banquet, also known as the Scholar's Banquet, which was also held on the eighth floor of the Star-Picking Tower.

Jiang Ning shook his head, withdrew his gaze, and returned to his own courtyard to continue his cultivation.

The events he witnessed during the day at the Holy Temple made him even more aware of the hidden undercurrents in Daxia.

Through the incense-offering ceremony at the Scholar Temple, the so-called Great and Righteous Qi baptism allowed Daxia to leave a backup among the scholars.

These backups could ensure that the scholar faction was controlled by Daxia.

This made it seem a bit frightening.

Moreover, it also showed that even without the Martial Saint as its pillar, Daxia still had top-notch power.

The deity who had enjoyed Daxia's incense offerings for hundreds of years, if truly standing by the royal family's side, would be a true existence comparable to the Immortal Gods.

Thinking of all this.

He had already dismissed the idea of continuing to participate in the Scholar's Exam.

Today, at the County City Holy Temple, with the emperor far away, it was normal for him to pass this test without being discovered as unusual.

If he were to continue further, to the prefecture city for the provincial exams and then to the capital city for the imperial exams.

And then go to the Holy Temple to offer incense again.

The chances of being discovered would greatly increase.

Taking such a risk would only bring some benefits in terms of increasing spiritual energy.

In his opinion, it was not worth it at all.

Currently, he didn't lack methods to increase spiritual energy and strengthen his Yin Shen.

Solely relying on the Great Sun Visualization Technique, he could continuously enhance the strength of his Yin Shen and augment his spiritual energy.

Not to mention the improvement in the technique of Script Recognition!

Afterward.

Under the cover of night.

A grinding wheel slowly rose and expanded from within his body.

Completely enveloping him.

[Technique]: Water-Fire True Force (Five Limit Breaks 6000/6000) (Trait: Water and Fire Immortal Robe (First Breakthrough), Mastery of Water and Fire, Stone Boiling, Water and Fire Synergy)



These days, the experience points required for the Water-Fire True Force, this supreme martial art, to break through its limits had already reached perfection.

However, the next limit break required 5,000 Yuan Neng points.

So, what limited him was still the Yuan Neng points.

[Water-Fire True Force Experience +2]



[Water-Fire True Force Experience +4]



[Water-Fire True Force Experience +3]



Even though the experience points were already full, they continued to increase due to his diligent cultivation.

After an incense stick's time.

The grinding wheel dissipated.

Above his head, a waterfall of glowing mist condensed and fell.

One end of the waterfall was connected to the void, and the other end to his head.

It was as if a radiant waterfall was flowing into his body from the void.

His pores emitted radiant light.

At this moment, his body seemed like a divine jade, emitting a pale white glow.

Bathed in the radiance, Jiang Ning's mind wandered far away.

Calculating the time!

The reward for killing that demon should be issued soon!

And I have passed the County Commissioner's assessment.

The higher-ups should send someone to make me official! At this thought, Jiang Ning's heart stirred with excitement.

After becoming official, he would be the new County Commissioner, a sixth-grade official.

His status and position would be on par with Bai Luoyu.

At that time, his position in Dongling County would be incomparable.

He would have the power to supervise all the officials in the county, including ordinary scholars, military officials, and the newly established Inspection Bureau.

Even Zhao Yulong, the master of the county, would theoretically be under his supervision! Moreover, he would have the authority to govern a county, command the military, and lead everyone.

He could also establish his own court, with personnel who would only take orders from him.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end