Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 81: The Provincial Exam? You Gotta Be Kidding

In Courtyard Jia, all was silent.

Su Ming stood bare-chested, his muscle lines beginning to show their outline under the moonlight. He lifted the wooden bucket, and cold well water poured over his head from above, jolting his entire body with a shiver, every inch of his skin instantly tensing.

Su Ming sat cross-legged beside the well, closing his eyes as the "Aura Concealment Art" automatically circulated.

The cool spiritual energy dissipating from the well mouth seemed drawn by some invisible force, transforming into streams barely visible to the naked eye, scrambling to rush into his body.

Within his Dantian, that faint sensation of qi, like a candle flame in the wind, grew bit by bit under the nourishment of the spiritual energy, becoming stable and bright.

Although the crack on the Spirit Gathering Array still existed, the spiritual light around it was no longer dim; it even faintly showed signs of repair.

Lin Yu was overjoyed in his heart: "Suck it in! Suck it in hard for your master! You just focus on cultivating diligently, your master I... ahem, your master's safety depends entirely on you! Go for it, my good disciple!"

Verbally, however, his voice remained as unruffled as ever: "Disciple, not bad. Only with a mind as still as water can it contain a hundred rivers. This mental state of yours is very suitable for cultivation."

Days flowed by slowly in this strange rhythm of movement and stillness.

The summer cicadas' chirping grew from sparse to noisy, then gradually fell silent. The locust trees in the County School turned a deep green, casting dense, mottled shadows on the ground.During the day, Su Ming was the most eye-catching presence in the County School.

But at night, after washing away the day's dust, this dazzling top scorer became the most inconspicuous shadow in Courtyard Jia.

Besides diligently cultivating by the well, Su Ming spent most of his spare time immersed in the County School's library.

The library was one of the oldest buildings in the County School, with two-story flying eaves and a wooden structure, emitting a unique scent that mixed aged books and timber.

The manager of the library was an old man surnamed Sun. He spent his days slumped over the counter napping, his frame dry and thin as if a gust of wind could blow him over, his presence even lower than Su Ming who practiced the "Aura Concealment Art."

Every time Su Ming entered, he would just cup his hands in salute to him, then plunge headfirst into the sea of books.

The books he read were varied.

From orthodox classics, histories, philosophies, and literary collections, to neglected local county records, geographical accounts of mountains and rivers, and collections of strange tales, he browsed them all one by one.

Relying on the memory far surpassing ordinary people brought by meditation, Su Ming could almost read ten lines at a glance and remember everything after seeing it once.

He was like a dry sponge, frantically absorbing information about this world.

"Master, still haven't found anything." At night, Su Ming spoke to Lin Yu in his mind, "All records about 'immortals' and 'gods' are vague and unclear, either attributed to ancient myths or dismissed as nonsense from ignorant country folk. Even the character for 'qi' mostly refers to solar terms or moral integrity, having nothing to do with cultivation."

"Normal." Lin Yu replied lazily, "If methods for cultivating immortality could be casually found in a county library, then this immortality would be far too worthless. This indicates two things."

"First, there is a huge chasm between mortals and cultivators; information is completely isolated. Second, the cultivators in this world are either extremely few in number or act with extreme discretion and secrecy."

Lin Yu mentally added: "Whichever it is, it's good news for us! The fewer enemies, the better; the deeper they hide, the better! Best if you're the only cultivator in the world, and we can just close our doors and cultivate in peace ourselves!"

"But disciple, have you noticed something interesting?" Lin Yu abruptly changed the subject.

"What?"

"Those county records and miscellaneous tales mention 'spirits,' 'fox demons,' and 'mountain ghosts' far more often than 'immortals.' And most have clear times, locations, and even constable investigation records."

Su Ming's heart stirred.

He recalled an old book called "Qingshi Records of Strange Tales" which recorded that thirty years ago, a woodcutter encountered a tiger in the northern mountains of the county town. That tiger actually spoke human words, scaring the woodcutter out of his wits. Later, the county office sent people to hunt it down, but only found a few huge claw marks in the mountains, with no further trace.

At the time, he had dismissed it as a supernatural story and laughed it off.

"Master, you mean..."

followed." Lin Yu's voice carried a hint of patient guidance, "Sometimes, to find

Su Ming adjust his direction. He no longer stubbornly searched for direct terms like "immortal gates" or "Daoist

afternoon, Su Ming came to the library

through the carved wooden windows, pulling beams of light through the air, countless tiny dust

slumped over the counter,

second floor,

autumn wind gradually rose, yellowing the leaves of the parasol trees

study, the fragrance of tea

biological son Zhou Yulin, who had shed some of his youthful immaturity, becoming increasingly steady. The other was Su Ming, the top scorer he had personally selected,

Your progress in classical interpretation and policy discussions has been substantial." Zhou Wenhai set

triennial Provincial Examination. I have already registered both of you

"I intend for both of you to go to Anyuan Prefecture together to participate

Yulin's face instantly lit up with

The Provincial Examination!

gate! Once you passed, you became a Provincial Graduate,

up

Excellent! With your talent, you're

gazes focused

Zhou Yulin's eagerness, all felt like invisible

Su Ming's heart sank.

concealing the turmoil within, and bowed in salute: "Teacher, Senior Brother... regarding this

the

Zhou Yulin's face stiffened.

immense honor this was! Su Ming actually wanted

also furrowed imperceptibly. He didn't speak, just quietly looked at Su

Ming closed the courtyard

what do you

absolutely cannot go now!" Lin Yu's voice was

No! Absolutely not! Besides, you're only fourteen! A fourteen-year-old Provincial Graduate? What are you trying to do? Trying to reach for the heavens? Believe me, tomorrow the eyes of the entire world will be fixed on you, stripping you bare from the inside out! The Way of Survival! What is the spirit of our Way of Survival? It's

Yu's Soul Body fluctuated

took a deep "breath," forcibly calming himself down, and spoke in a

regarding this matter, your master believes

Su Ming asked, though he already had the

the 'Aura Concealment Art,' the qi sensation in your Dantian is still like a firefly's light, unable to withstand a single blow. This spiritual well is your only cultivation resource at present. Once you leave, it would be no different than a fish leaving water; your cultivation would come to a complete

"You becoming the top scorer at fourteen was already earth-shattering. If you then become a Provincial Graduate at fourteen, you will no longer be a 'genius,' but a 'monstrosity.' At that time, what will be directed at you won't just be admiration and envy, but countless suspicions, investigations, and even murderous intent. All your secrets, including your master's existence,

true interpretation of the Way of Survival? Build high walls, amass vast provisions, and slowly claim the throne. Your walls aren't even built yet, your provisions aren't stored up, and you want

Su Ming fell silent.

words coincided perfectly with his own inner

that policy discussion essay rejected by the County Magistrate, and Professor Liu's teachings about authority

of a Provincial

seemed it could

power, a young Provincial Graduate without a foundation

He needed time.

to accumulate true strength. Time to investigate, one

his head, his

came alone to Zhou

He bowed in

Zhou Wenhai was practicing calligraphy and didn't

requests

happened to be entering from outside and, hearing these words, the book scroll in his hand fell to the ground

of shock and confusion, "This is the Provincial Examination! The opportunity countless scholars dream of, why