Chapter 977: Chapter 605: Apprenticeship (Additional Update for Alliance Leader Feng Junshi Haoran)

Let’s not talk about the matters of Chongzheng Academy. Zhang Chen, holding a lantern, walked towards the backyard with thoughts swirling in his mind: "That eight-thousand-year-old ginseng is enough to transform the fortunes of that lucky boy. In the future, refining Qi Blood or even breaking through to higher realms of Martial Dao will be no difficult task."

That is, after all, an eight-thousand-year-old ginseng, containing who knows how much Innate Qi. He originally thought it would be difficult to obtain the spot to enter the academy, so he spared no expense. Who would have thought it would actually be so easy? He purely overexerted himself.

But for Zhang Chen, it wasn’t a big deal. At most, he lost some Innate Qi, but if he could obtain the reincarnation of the Beast Dao within Chongzheng Academy, the loss would mean nothing to him.

Furthermore, the apprenticeships of the three little ones were a weight off his mind for Zhang Chen.

The three little ones had already entered the cultivation of the Divine Soul Dao, with the least accomplished already capable of Soul Emergence. Their talent was extraordinary, and if learning from Zhou Qiucheng, it wouldn’t take long—just a year would be enough for transformation, supplementing their cultural foundation.

Zhang Chen arrived at the backyard, waking the three little ones from their meditation, and informed them of the apprenticeship arrangements for the next day. The three little ones’ faces lit up with excitement, except for Chengyu, whose face showed a hint of hesitation. Seeing Chengyu’s expression, Zhang Chen understood that the other was worried about identity issues, so he said, "Don’t worry, I’ve already thought of a solution."

Then he took Chengyu’s hand and went next door. Zhang Chen took a leaf from the Heaven-Reaching Jianmu, which was as large as a li in size, and cut a small piece from it. Using the Authority of Wood Element, he crafted it into a mask, then imbued it with the Power of Reincarnation, handing the mask to Chengyu: "This mask can shield all divine techniques’ probing. Not even a Tier Twelve Divine Being can see through your true appearance. Wear the mask when you apprentice, and keep it on while studying at the academy. As long as you don’t remove it, no one in Jinling City can discern your true form. Even if faced with the True God of the Yellow Heaven Dao, they won’t recognize you."

This was Zhang Chen’s devised plan, and with the clever use of the Invisibility Rune, it was enough to allow Chengyu to study safely at the academy.

Moreover, Chengyu’s Martial Dao cultivation was not weak, having already generated Qi Blood within, stepping into the realm of Martial Dao Qi Blood. It’s safe to say that even a Yin God Strong Person would retreat threefold when faced with Chengyu.

Chengyu had already reached the realm of Seeing God Unbreakable in Martial Dao, and with consuming demon beasts in the Northern Land day and night for nourishment, his Qi Blood grew ever stronger, naturally stepping into the Martial Dao Qi Blood realm.

Chengyu took the mask, which was a cute little bunny, delighting Chengyu when he saw it. Putting the mask on, a stream of Innate Qi flowed within, permeating his Forehead Ancestral Acupoint, nourishing his soul and aiding its advancement—a true soul-nourishing Divine Artifact.

"What a treasure! This item even nourishes the soul. With it, in three to five years, I should be able to reach the realm of the Yin God." Chengyu’s voice was full of joy.

"As long as you like it! We’re currently weak and facing the grand current of the Yellow Heaven Dao, you’ll have to bear some grievances. Once we grow stronger, crushing the Yellow Heaven Dao will be as easy as snapping fingers." Zhang Chen said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

Hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Chengyu took off the mask and comforted him, "You’ve already done enough for me!"

Zhang Chen patted Chengyu’s head, "Go to sleep. Tomorrow we’ll go for the apprenticeship."

Chengyu hopped away, and Zhang Chen prepared some gifts for the apprenticeship, then sat in the room to comprehend the Law of Heaven and Earth.

Now, Zhang Chen had stepped into the realm of the Primordial Spirit, where cultivation had already replaced sleep for him.

The next day

Zhang Chen hired a carriage. Under Mrs. Zhang’s expectant gaze, the four of them boarded the carriage and headed towards Chongzheng Academy.

"From now on, the three little ones will attend Chongzheng Academy. I should prepare a carriage in advance." Zhang Chen thought as he watched the street landscape recede, "The Blood God Child left at the Shen Family is unnecessary. I might as well summon it back and find a suitable target in Jinling City, possess it with the Blood God Child, and use it as a driver to take the three little ones to school?"

The Zhang Family’s secrets were too many, and Zhang Chen would not rest easy hiring a driver.

The most crucial thing was Zhang Chen wanted to leave a Blood God Child to ensure the safety of the three little ones, as Jinling City was about to fall into chaos, and he wasn’t reassured about their journey to and from school.

As for Zhang Chen, he planned to reside within Chongzheng Academy permanently, seeking ways to obtain the reincarnation of the Beast Dao.

"People from the Salt Gang and Cao Bang have already arrived in Jinling City. I might as well start with the Salt Gang and collect some small interest," Zhang Chen thought.

As for tracking down the whereabouts of the Salt Gang and Cao Bang? Zhang Chen already had a strategy. The Yellow Heaven Dao planned to act against the Shen Family, and there would definitely be collusion with Cao Bang and Salt Gang. As long as he monitored Liu Ji, he wouldn’t have trouble locating those mice.

Zhang Chen’s Blood God Child, after its hunts in the Northern Land, had all advanced to Tier Seven Blood God Child, considered strong wherever they were placed.

The crucial point was the Blood God Child served as Zhang Chen’s avatar, wielding all of Zhang Chen’s Blood Dao skills.

The carriage traveled straight to Chongzheng Academy. As Zhang Chen and the other three alighted from the carriage, they were met by a middle-aged man in white: "Are you Mr. Shen Chen?"

Zhang Chen looked at the young man in a white robe. The man was dressed in luxurious clothing and appeared to be only forty-seven or forty-eight years old, cultured, with a natural nobility.

Zhang Chen asked, "Who are you?"

"I am Chen Qi. The dean instructed me to guide you, sir, here," the middle-aged man replied, glancing at Zhang Chen. He didn’t see anything particularly special about Zhang Chen and wondered why the dean was so interested in him, personally asking him to come down the mountain to greet him.

"Please lead the way, Mr. Chen," Zhang Chen said.

Chen Qi led the way, followed by the Zhang family. The air in the mountain was fresh, and there were clouds drifting by—indeed, a wonderful place.

The buildings of the academy were hidden among the clouds, looking like the residences of immortals, exuding mystery. Birds chirped in the mountain, creating a scene of natural harmony.

Zhang Chen and his entourage walked to the back of the mountain, where they saw buildings hidden in the mist. They entered a small courtyard in the rear and found Zhou Qiucheng already standing there awaiting them. Besides Zhou Qiucheng, there was his son and his wife.

They walked into the courtyard, and Chen Qi, seeing Zhou Qiucheng leading his family to greet them, couldn’t help but widen his pupils. As the chief steward of Zhou Qiucheng, when had he ever seen Zhou Qiucheng conduct himself in such a manner? Even when great scholars visited, Zhou never greeted them personally.

This made Chen Qi pay even more attention to the children in front of him.

Chen Qi led them into the courtyard and was about to announce them, but Zhou Qiucheng waved for him to retreat and said, "You have come. Are these your younger siblings?"

As Zhou Qiucheng spoke, his gaze fell on Chengyu.

"My younger sister is suffering from an illness and cannot see strangers. She must wear a mask, I ask you not to mind," Zhang Chen apologized.

Zhou Qiucheng gave Zhang Chen a meaningful look but did not mind and introduced the lady beside him, "This is my wife."

"Madam," Zhang Chen led his younger siblings in greeting her.

"Good children, no need for formalities, please rise," Madam Zhou said with a gentle smile.

Zhang Chen had saved her son with ginseng. She felt grateful to Zhang Chen’s group and was very cordial.

Zhang Chen straightened himself, and Zhou Qiucheng pointed at the young man beside him, "This is my son, Zhou Zhen. He should be about three years older than you. You can call him elder brother."

Zhou Zhen hurriedly greeted them, his attitude was very courteous and humble, "Greetings, virtuous brother."

"Greetings, elder brother Zhou," Zhang Chen led his younger siblings in a bow.

Then Zhou Qiucheng said, "The matter of accepting disciples will be kept low-profile—only our family will conduct the ceremony to avoid any disruptions. I usually uphold justice impartially and have few friends. In Jinling City, I have no real friends. It’s better to have the family ceremony within our gates. Moreover, my strict justice has offended many. To prevent revenge, keep your discipleship quiet."

Zhang Chen had heard of Zhou Qiucheng’s reputation; his path was one of strict, impartial justice, creating many adversaries.

Zhang Chen was then invited inside, where a simple discipleship ceremony was held. After it concluded, Zhou Qiucheng called the four into the study, "The Chongzheng Academy begins in three days. Chen Qi will guide you through the procedures. During the day, you will study with the gentlemen, and at night, come to me for a quarter-hour of lecture."

Zhou Qiucheng looked at Zhang Chen, "The inner gate has not yet been established. You will first join the regular classes, and I will inform you when the inner yard opens."

Zhang Chen nodded at this, and Zhou Qiucheng gave further instructions before having Chen Qi personally escort them down the mountain.

As they passed through the gate, Zhang Chen saw the servant who previously took ten taels of silver from him. The servant also saw Zhang Chen and was especially shocked to see Chen Qi personally escorting him. "Did that young man really accomplish it? Incredible, he is quite fortunate. I took ten taels from him; I wonder if he will resent me and make things difficult?"

While the servant’s mind was filled with apprehension, he saw Zhang Chen smiling at him from afar. That smile, like a spring breeze, swept away the doubts in his heart. He immediately understood that he had underestimated Zhang Chen’s character with petty suspicion.

PS: Added an update for the alliance master ’Feng Junshi Haoran.’ Fifth addition.

(All additions have been completed for alliance masters ’Zhu Ye Zi Su’ and ’Feng Junshi Haoran.’)