Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improved Spirit Rice

Chapter 34 Lowering the Mindset

Zhao Cheng'an showed a sincere expression.

"Please enlighten me, Master."

Qi Weizhao waved his hand and sighed.

"Your research on spirit seed cultivation has surpassed mine. At my current level, it's not worth offering any guidance."

Qi Weizhao felt a mix of emotions. After all, he had been researching this area for over a century without any significant results, while Zhao Cheng'an had only been at it for a year and a half…

Is this the difference between ordinary people and geniuses?

It was so overwhelming that it made him despair and even start to doubt the meaning of his past efforts.

Zhao Cheng'an said sincerely, "Master is too modest. Without your guidance, I would never have been able to understand that professional knowledge, let alone complete this project."

Zhao Cheng'an's words were not flattery. Even with the Qiankun Cauldron in hand, without specialized knowledge in the relevant field, it would be impossible to fully unleash its potential. In this respect, Qi Weizhao's contribution is immense.

Seeing Zhao Cheng'an's obedient appearance, Qi Weizhao's mood improved considerably.

He laughed heartily.

"Since you put it that way, then I'll swallow my pride and try to benefit from your generosity."

Qi Weizhao then changed the subject.

"However, Cheng'an, although you have already achieved results, you still need to take some steps to obtain support in the assessment. The most important thing is to publish your research results in a suitable Taoist journal."

Zhao Cheng'an's expression shifted, and he adopted a posture of being willing to hear the details.

"Please enlighten me, Master."

Qi Weizhao continued speaking.

"A Daoist journal is a place specifically for cultivators to publish their cultivation achievements and insights, explain their understanding of the Dao, and exchange ideas with each other. Some Daoist traditions publish their own Daoist journals in order to expand their influence."

"I suggest you publish it in the 'Evergreen Spiritual Records' of Qingmu Academy."

This is a practical publication specifically for Qi Refining cultivators. If your article is included in the *Evergreen Spiritual Manual*, you will receive extra points when applying to the Green Wood Academy.

"Qingmu Academy is very influential throughout the entire East Sea region and is a first-class lineage. Many great cultivators of alchemy have emerged from it, and it holds free clinics every year. The overall cultivation atmosphere is also very good."

Qi Weizhao paused and looked at Zhao Chengan.

"If you can achieve a passing grade in the Daoist Court's assessment a few years from now, coupled with the bonus points and priority admission from your essays, then you have a very high probability of joining a first-class Daoist lineage."

At this point, Qi Weizhao's face showed a hint of longing.

That is a first-rate lineage with abundant resources and a complete training system. If one could enter it to study, it would undoubtedly lead to a bright future.

For over a hundred years that Qi Weizhao and Shen Yanshan have taught in the Seven Kingdoms Imperial Academy region, not a single student has been able to enter the first-class lineage... There's really nothing they can do about it now.

On the one hand, it was inconvenient to expand the influence of the Imperial Academy and recruit students more widely.

On the other hand, low-spirit areas also affect the quantity and quality of spiritual root birth.

The two reasons combined have resulted in them consistently ranking at the bottom in terms of teaching outcomes.

Fortunately, the Daoist court was aware of the situation here and did not impose too much criticism on them. Instead, it held the belief that the Heavenly Evolution is 49, the Great Dao is 50, and humanity escapes to one, thus giving the people in these "impoverished" areas an opportunity to cultivate.

Zhao Cheng'an knew that Qi Weizhao would never harm him, so he nodded in agreement without hesitation.

"We will listen to the Master."

Qi Weizhao nodded with a smile.

"Then I'll teach you the format of the paper first: the introduction, abstract, table of contents, and keywords. And then, the experimental data should be processed like this..."

Time passed by unnoticed, and Zhao Chengan recorded all of this.

……

……

Following Qi Weizhao's instructions, Zhao Cheng'an further organized the content and data. Because there were some omissions in the previous records that needed to be corrected, this process took longer than expected.

Meanwhile, Shen Yanshan, who had been traveling back and forth for more than half a year, finally returned from Fulin Cave Heaven, looking travel-worn.

Compared to when he deliberately called several students together before leaving, Shen Yanshan returned from outside rather quietly, without disturbing anyone, except to meet with Qi Weizhao immediately.

Shen Yanshan's position was Chancellor, while Qi Weizhao's position was Headmaster. Within the Imperial Academy system, their positions were essentially equal, only their responsibilities differed.

In the warehouse on the edge of the sacred field.

Qi Weizhao poured a cup of tea, and seeing Shen Yanshan's worried expression, he smiled and said:

"Judging from your gloomy face, it seems you didn't get any good news this time you returned to Floating Scale Cave."

"Ugh, don't even mention it."

Shen Yanshan tilted his head back and drank the steaming tea in one gulp before clicking his tongue in approval.

"A major incident has occurred at the Dao Court this time."

Shen Yanshan briefly recounted what had happened on the road and the Dao Court's change in the assessment methods.

"The person most affected by this is Chen Heng. She has a single-attribute top-grade metal spiritual root and is very talented in combat. I originally estimated that she had about a 30% chance of entering a first-class lineage, but now the hope is very slim."

"As for Zhao Cheng'an and Xiang Yunyuan, they were not greatly affected."

"As for Sun Fuli and Xu Baiheng, there's no need to even mention them. These two were originally hopeless, so no matter how the Guan Ting assessment method is changed, it won't affect them at all."

Shen Yanshan sighed.

He had spent over a hundred years on this land, and this was likely his last class of students. Shen Yanshan still hoped to cultivate a student qualified to enter a first-rate lineage, thus giving his life a good ending.

The light that had just appeared was immediately extinguished.

This made Shen Yanshan very depressed, and he looked much older.

However, as he sighed, Shen Yanshan noticed that Qi Weizhao had a smile on his face.

The two stared at each other, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

"No, are you looking for trouble?"

Shen Yanshan and Qi Weizhao were very close, and now that his temper was flaring up, he couldn't help but speak up in a bad mood.

Qi Weizhao remained calm and collected, keeping everyone in suspense and deliberately drawing out his voice as he said, "In my opinion, this reform of the Dao Court may not necessarily be a bad thing."

"After all, the destruction of Hunyuan Cave was a major event. Moving into a new era certainly requires some different requirements. Only by cultivating and discovering talents who can develop in all aspects can we better promote the progress of the cultivation civilization."

Shen Yanshan narrowed his eyes: "Old Qi, why does your face look different than before?"

"What kind of face is that? You're talking so rudely!"

"But you've already spit out ivory from your mouth." Shen Yanshan asked suspiciously, "While I was away, were you secretly doing something behind my back? I'm warning you, don't you dare do anything reckless."

Qi Weizhao chuckled and stopped keeping him in suspense.

"Fine, I'll show you something good."

Qi Weizhao took a small bag from the cabinet next to him and handed it to Shen Yanshan.

The latter reached out and took it.

"What's the big deal? It's just some spirit rice."

"Take another look..."

Shen Yanshan stuffed a handful of dry spirit rice into his mouth and exclaimed in amazement.

"Hmm? This spirit rice seems a bit different from the spirit rice at the Imperial Academy. Could it be that you, Old Qi, secretly grew and cultivated it yourself? I didn't realize you had such abilities."

"I don't have that ability."

Qi Weizhao shook his head.

"This is an improved spirit rice cultivated by Zhao Cheng'an. It can be grown on a large scale in low-spirit environments without the aid of a spirit-gathering array, and the spiritual energy it contains is not much different from that of regular spirit rice."

"ah!?"

Shen Yanshan opened his mouth wide, and there were still some chewed rice grains inside.

His gaze was vacant, as if he had just woken from a dream.

"We've really struck gold this time..." Qi Weizhao exclaimed. Seeing that Shen Yanshan hadn't moved for a while, he reached out and gently waved his hand in front of him.

Shen Yanshan jumped up from his chair and slapped his thigh.

"Great, that's wonderful!"

"I was just being a novice. The Dao Court's examination system is excellent, truly excellent! As expected, the True Lords have a long-term vision and foresight that we novice cultivators cannot match."

Shen Yanshan's previous dejection vanished, replaced by a refreshed and invigorated expression.