Chapter 349 - 166: Noble Clans, Noble Generals, Arrival of a Title, 1 Jiazi Ago, Dragon Elephant Martial Saint

Chapter 349: Chapter 166: Noble Clans, Noble Generals, Arrival of a Title, 1 Jiazi Ago, Dragon Elephant Martial Saint

A young man in a blue headband pushed his way through the crowd, eyes wide, and shouted, successfully catching Ji Xiu’s attention and making him pause.

Seeing this, some of the more arrogant youths in the crowd were immediately displeased, unwilling to be outdone.

They all began speaking at once, scrambling to introduce their own "sisters." This made Ye Ningzhi and Cai Ling’Er’s faces darken; they felt these pampered young masters truly deserved a good thrashing.

In Jiangyin Prefecture, within the Thirty-Six Professions, these young masters were born into a circle of the rich and powerful.

It was common for the Young Masters and Young Ladies in this circle to affect an air of sophistication and chase the latest gossip.

They had all heard the rumors about Ji Xiu from before.

But those old feuds were matters of the previous generation. What did they have to do with them? Some of them weren’t even connected to it at all.

As for the here and now...

Breaking through the Three Limits was a certainty for this man. At the absolute worst, he would become another ’Duan Chenzhou’!

But this young man cultivated both the divine and martial paths, advancing in both simultaneously. He was already unstoppable. If he managed to cultivate the Purple Ribbon and condense a Daoist Seed...

...there was a very high probability he could form a ’Flesh Treasure Body’!

This was a gift bestowed after reaching the Perfection of the Power Stage of the Human Immortal Martial Dao—a reward for opening the Physical Body Treasure Vault. It allowed a person to become like a Divine Demon, gaining the ability of ’Transporting Dragon Elephants,’ a power rivaling even those Outer Dao Alien Species!

It was a state that truly compensated for any innate physical frailty. Only True Sect Disciples and those of the Celestial Pillar Lineage could ever hope to achieve it!

If they could just get close to a figure like him, they would have something to brag about to their peers on future hunting trips in Jiangyin Prefecture. It would be a shared honor.

"Brother Ji, I’m from the main family of the Post House! My older brother, Di Yuan, heard you were coming to the Prefecture City and asked me to send his regards. He also said that whenever you’re ready, Brother Ji, the sea trade route between the County Government he promised you is yours to use. He’s waiting for your word and won’t charge a single coin!"

Seeing Bai Xia from the Tea House get a head start, a black-robed youth not far away, Di Ying, refused to be outdone. He pushed aside the people on either side of him, stuck his head out of the crowd, and bellowed.

Hearing this, Ji Xiu glanced over. He recalled meeting the head of the Post House’s main branch back when he dealt with Huang the Seventh, Huang Xiuwen, in Anning County. He couldn’t help but give this younger clansman a slight nod.

Di Ying saw Ji Xiu’s acknowledgement and grew excited. He thumped his chest twice and shot a provocative glare at the indignant-looking Bai Xia nearby.

The sight made Ji Xiu chuckle in spite of himself.

These Grand Lineage Members entering the Jiangyin Prefecture Courtyard had all known each other since they were children. Full of youthful pride, they were clearly treating an acquaintance with him as a chip to show off with.

It was like they were forming factions and pledging allegiance to a patron, a contest to see whose connections were broader and more powerful, just so they could one-up each other.

The only difference was,

...the person they were all fawning over and scrambling to associate with...

...was none other than him!

But before he could speak.

The Educational Official at the threshold could no longer contain himself. The pressure of a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster flared out, and his grim gaze swept over the crowd, causing the hecklers to fall as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to make another sound.

"The Mansion Courtyard is a place of importance! How dare you cause such a ruckus?"

"Anyone who doesn’t want to earn the title of ’Prefecture Student’ and study at the Jiangyin Prefecture Courtyard can leave right now. Or, this Instructor can personally throw you out. Make your choice!"

The moment he spoke, the commotion died down. Not another person dared to make a sound.

Then, the Educational Official’s expression completely changed. He looked at Ji Xiu as if he were gazing upon a priceless treasure, his eyes fervent as he immediately beckoned:

"You’re Ji Xiu, correct? Excellent!"

"My name is Yao Hong. I am a Jiangyin Prefecture Official and an Instructor here at the Mansion Courtyard. All new Prefecture Students, before they take the Prefecture Official Examination or complete their three years of study, must choose a Master to study under for their Cultivation."

"Once you’re enrolled, if you’re interested, you should consider me. If you choose me as your Master, there are many unspoken advantages. I can explain the details to you later."

After finishing his pleasantries with Ji Xiu,

Yao Hong clapped his hands, his expression hardening once more. He scanned Cai Ling’Er and the few others who had entered the Mansion Courtyard via ’exemption,’ a look of disdain in his eyes:

"Alright, those of you with exemptions, Ji Xiu included, head into the Mansion Courtyard. You won’t be needing the subsequent assessments."

As Ji Xiu, Cai Ling’Er, and Ye Ningzhi walked through the envious crowd toward the Mansion Courtyard’s main gate, Ji Xiu couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity:

"Instructor Yao, if one doesn’t have an exemption, don’t they still need to pass an assessment after clearing the Martial Stele and Divine Stele to become a ’Prefecture Student’?"

"So why do I..."

Yao Hong laughed, patting Ji Xiu’s shoulder and cutting him off with a scoff.

"That’s for the mediocre."

"When a true prodigy appears, countless ordinary people are left staring at their back, spending a lifetime unable to catch up."

"And you are the genuine article. In the entire history of the Mansion Courtyard, you are the youngest examinee with the highest achievements in the last sixty years."

"A dual ’A-plus’ rating... do you have any idea what that means?"

"In the three hundred years since Jiangyin Prefecture was founded, there have only been a handful!"

"And most of them were just big shots from up top, coming here to pad their resumes and snatch a Prefecture Official position. They don’t count, not like someone homegrown from our own Prefecture and County."

"With the commotion you just caused, you’ve probably even alarmed the Dean—one of the ’Three Heads’ of Jiangyin Prefecture, kid."

"Our Jiangyin Prefecture has fallen far behind the other prefectures in the ’Grand Examinations’ for generations, and the Dean has been simmering with frustration over it."

"But now that you’ve shown up, Ji Xiu, the champion’s seat in the next Prefecture Official Examination... after decades, Jiangyin finally has a shot."