Chapter 10: The Hierarchy of Three-Six-Nine
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
After the founding of Great Xia, the Central Plains lay in ruins, yearning for revival. To seek out talent and virtue, the imperial court established the Imperial Examinations. Initially held annually, the frequency was later reduced to once every three years. However, with the resurgence of the Immortal Way and the rise of the Struggle for the Sect’s Fate, countless scions of noble families abandoned scholarly pursuits for the path of cultivation. With fewer participants, the examinations reverted to an annual schedule. Yet even with these adjustments, the court’s pool of talent continued to wither.
Thus, when Kuang Cheng uttered the words “Imperial Examinations,” Ji You was visibly stunned before recalling that such a system still existed in this world.
Kuang Cheng rolled up his wide sleeves, placing them on his knees as he explained, “According to Great Xia’s Iron Law, if one achieves the rank of Fourth-Class Official, their direct descendants or heirs are granted the right to cultivate. My father says that whether the Kuang clan can endure rests entirely on my shoulders.”
In the hierarchy of the Azure Clouds Dominion, immortals wield power surpassing even the imperial throne. Under the current Ritual of Offerings, commoners exhaust every means to escape their status as laborers and break free from servitude.
Born into a modestly wealthy family with fields and assets, Kuang Cheng was groomed from a young age with this sole aspiration: to become an official and eventually cultivate. Such families often sought prosperity through successive generations of cultivation, where one immortal kin could ensure the family’s elevation from the lowest strata.
Ji You pondered this for a moment before voicing his doubt: “But if only the heirs of fourth-class officials are permitted to cultivate, how did Fang Ruo Yao gain entry into the Heavenly Script Academy when her father, Fang Zhong Zheng, is merely a seventh-rank county prefect?”
“Her admission had nothing to do with Fang Zhong Zheng,” Kuang Cheng replied. “It was thanks to her elder brother, Fang Ruo Ming. The eldest son of the Fang family left home to join the army at the age of fourteen. Seven years later, he has risen to prominence in the Northern Garrison, earning their family a cultivation quota that Fang Ruo Yao claimed.”
Hearing this, Ji You nodded in understanding.
Though Great Xia had reigned over the Central Plains for many years, smaller kingdoms and barbaric tribes still lurked on its borders like crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Among these, the warlike Mystic Wilding Tribes launched persistent incursions on the northern frontier, while the Demon Clan’s ambiguous stance further fueled the emperor’s fears.
As a result, the status of officers within the Northern Garrison had risen steadily over the years. Though they could not rival immortals, they certainly stood above commoners.
“It seems the Fang family’s ambitions mirror those of the Kuang clan,” Ji You remarked. “Whether through civil service or military service, the ultimate goal remains the same: to produce a cultivator within the family.”
Kuang Cheng pursed his lips and said quietly, “The world knows that only by becoming a cultivator can one escape servitude.”
Ji You let out a derisive laugh. “Great Xia forbids commoners from cultivating, forces them into labor, and demands that they offer the fruits of their toil to immortals. And yet, with the growing number of cultivators, the burden of these offerings only grows heavier. Will they ever stop?”
“Great Xia has persisted for millennia. Hasn’t it always been this way?” Kuang Cheng countered.
“Old Kuang,” Ji You said with a faint smile, “if one day you held sway over the imperial court, would you dare overturn this old order?”
Kuang Cheng froze, his eyes widening in shock as he grasped Ji You’s meaning. “Such reckless talk could get you killed!”
“And what if it did? Hasn’t it been said, ‘Since ancient times, who has escaped death? Better to leave one’s loyal heart shining in the annals of history.’”
In the Azure Clouds Dominion, where immortals were revered, poetry was considered a trivial pursuit and rarely flourished. Yet, a succinct verse could still stir the soul. For a thousand years, no one had dared to utter such audacious words, and it sent shivers down Kuang Cheng’s spine.
Kuang Cheng’s gaze shifted, his emotions in turmoil. After a long silence, he asked, “Is that your ambition?”
“Me?” Ji You blinked, then burst into a sheepish grin. “No, I’m only brave enough to encourage others to leave their mark on history. I’m too scared of death to do it myself.”
When one is rendered utterly speechless, they can only remain silent. Kuang Cheng’s lips twitched twice in exasperation.
Moments later, his eyes fell on Ji You’s blood-soaked clothing, and he paused, lost in thought. The words lingered in his mind: Since ancient times, who has escaped death? Better to leave one’s loyal heart shining in the annals of history…
As Kuang Cheng contemplated these words, he suddenly felt a feeble pat on his shoulder.
“Hey, does your family have any red dates? Bring me some to replenish my blood,” Ji You muttered weakly.
“Ah, I’ll fetch some right away. Wait here,” Kuang Cheng replied, starting to rise.
“Hold on!” Ji You stopped him, thought for a moment, and added, “If there’s a banquet being prepared, a chicken leg would be even better.”
Kuang Cheng froze for a moment before nodding. “Alright.”
As Kuang Cheng left, Ji You sighed deeply.
To be honest, he had never imagined himself relying on red dates to restore blood.
[But really, this blood loss is no worse than a heavy period. It just looks more alarming.]
Summoning what little strength remained, Young Master Ji sat upright and closed his eyes to meditate. After a long time, he opened them again with a look of utter despair.
His spiritual spring had shattered—completely obliterated, like a lotus bloom torn asunder.
Fortunately, Ji You could still breathe in and circulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Though his realm hadn’t plummeted, the state of his shattered spiritual spring was a harsh price to pay for recklessness. However, considering the Heavenly Script Academy’s lofty status as a Divine Sect, he might find ways to mend it once he reached the capital, Shengjing.
August 5th arrived in a blink. The poplar leaves had long since fallen, and the cold grasses withered prematurely. Ji You had now fully recovered. Aside from the broken spiritual spring, no other signs of his ordeal remained.
The first step out of his home felt surreal. Archway Street seemed quieter than usual, and the once-familiar faces he passed now bowed their heads and avoided his gaze. They carried an air of awe and reverence.
The news of Ji You exiting seclusion quickly reached Cao Jin Song, the instructor from the Heavenly Script Academy. Without delay, he scheduled their departure for the early hours of August 6th. After all, Ji You’s predicament had already caused considerable delay.
In honor of their departure, Fang Zhong Zheng hosted a farewell banquet at the Fang Manor, extending an invitation to Ji You as well. Though Ji You harbored little goodwill toward the Fang Clan, etiquette dictated he attend.
After several rounds of drinks, Fang Zhong Zheng nearly managed to make Ji You his sworn brother. The incident left Fang Ruo Yao fuming with a dark expression throughout the banquet. Fortunately, Ji You didn’t linger long. After devouring two chicken legs, he complimented Cao Jin Song and Pei Ru Yi with a few words of praise before taking his leave in haste.
“Why is Ji You always in such a rush? What is he up to this time?”
“He’s likely heading to the Grain Yard,” a servant attending nearby replied as he carried a tray of wine. “I heard they’re setting up a stage, and the gathering’s waiting on Young Master Ji to arrive.”
Pei Ru Yi raised an eyebrow. “A stage? Are they putting on a play?”
Fang Ruo Yao chuckled lightly as she poured herself another drink. “I heard from someone this morning that Ji You was chatting on the street, boasting about how he’s now an Immortal of the Heavenly Script Academy. He even suggested that aligning with a prominent family as a sworn godson would guarantee boundless wealth. Perhaps he’s working on that scheme now.”
Pei Ru Yi frowned, her displeasure evident. This Ji character hadn’t even formally become a disciple of the academy and was already flaunting its name to collect offerings. His arrogance was distasteful.
After all, even the Manor Lord of the Immortal Worship Mountain was a cultivator of the Upper Five Realms, earning the right to his station by severing ties with the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace.
Before Pei Ru Yi could respond, the servant quickly interjected. “You’ve misunderstood, Miss. It’s not the prominent families he’s meeting.”
“Oh? Then who?”
“The ones gathering at the Grain Yard are children from poor families.”
Fang Ruo Yao’s expression stiffened as she exchanged a glance with Pei Ru Yi. “I didn’t expect him to stoop so low, even soliciting offerings from the impoverished.”
The servant hesitated before adding, “Young Master Ji isn’t accepting offerings.”
“And how do you know he isn’t? Mind your tongue.”
“Well… because my family’s dog has gone there too, hoping to make Young Master Ji his godfather.”
Fang Ruo Yao froze for a moment, realizing the topic was becoming unflattering for her. She quickly changed the subject. “By the way, Senior Sister, speaking of offerings, I’ve already sent mine to the capital. I wonder how Ji You plans to cover his? Should we have my father arrange for a cart to assist him?”
Paying offerings to study, or studying to pay offerings—such customs remained unchanged in the Azure Clouds Dominion. Although Fang Ruo Yao’s elder brother held a prominent military position under the Divine General of the Northern Garrison, she herself was an ordinary mortal and not exempt from these dues. However, the Ji family had long fallen into decline. She doubted Ji You could afford it.
Pei Ru Yi glanced at her but replied calmly, “Disciples who achieve Lower Three Realm perfection before reaching their twenties are exempt from offering payments.”
“Really?”
“Not only that, but with his level of cultivation, if he joined the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace, he might even receive a monthly stipend from the sect.”
She raised her cup. “Why else do you think Instructor Cao hovers by the city gate every day like a thief-catcher, afraid someone might lure Ji You away?”
Fang Ruo Yao was momentarily dumbstruck. She had assumed all Heavenly Script Academy disciples were treated equally. Only now did she understand how status varied even within its gates.