Early the next morning, the three of them hurriedly left the Dilongkeng Ghost Market.
On the way back, Zhang Xiucai's habit of bragging happened again.
This time, he boasted much longer than usual.
He took the trouble to describe the whole process of how Lord Long met him, how he encouraged him, and finally how he presented the great scholar with paintings and calligraphy treasures.
Huang Fugui was fascinated and envious after hearing this.
"Xiucai, are you saying that Lord Long gave you a precious scroll of great scholar's paintings and calligraphy as a favor?"
Zhang Xiucai raised his head slightly and nodded with great pride.
He comes from a scholarly family and a farming and reading family. Compared to ordinary people in the city and the countryside, he comes from a good background. He has enough food and clothing, can study and study, and his family background is quite good.
However, in the world of spiritual practice, the family background of a scholar seems to be very ordinary.
This can be seen from the moment he entered the Ghosts and Gods Division.
Ordinary Confucian monks always take the imperial examination route.
Only by competing in talent and knowledge with students from all over the world can we unite our supreme literary heart, and the path of cultivation for Confucian monks will become wider and wider.
Entering the Immortal Palace of Ghosts and Gods Department is not an easy path for Confucian and Taoist monks.
In order to balance the power of the Confucian and Taoist sects, Confucian monks can only hold deputy positions in the local Ghosts and Gods Department throughout their lives and cannot rule one party. There is an extremely obvious ceiling.
The scholar keeps saying that he likes ghost wives, fox girls and the like and joins the Department of Ghosts and Gods, but this is actually just an excuse.
The real reason was that his qualifications in Confucianism and Classics were mediocre, he was only good at painting, and he had no hope of taking the imperial examination, so he entered the Xin'an County Ghost and God Department to seek a future.
Zhang Xiucai was proud and inferior in his heart. He wanted to achieve something, but he had no direction to work hard.
This time, by chance, I attended the Dragon Lord's dinner, and was fortunate enough to receive the Dragon Lord's approval and a scroll of calligraphy by a great scholar. This was tantamount to a new life for Zhang Xiucai.
Firstly, it was Lord Long's approval that boosted his morale.
Secondly, the Confucian painting and calligraphy treasure contains a cultivation method of Confucian painting, which is the treasure that Zhang Xiucai dreamed of.
No matter from which perspective, this night, Zhang Xiucai's life trajectory changed.
"I'm so envious~ Why don't I have one!"
Huang Fugui touched his head naively, feeling quite disappointed.
He was quite talented at home, but when he went outside, he realized that there are people outside the world and there is a heaven outside the world.
"Wealth, don't belittle yourself. Your talent is pretty good. You are a lineage of immortals with a bright future. Don't think about what you have. You are different from people like me who have no teacher or inheritance."
Seeing that Huang Fugui was not favored by Lord Long, Zhang Xiucai somehow felt more relaxed and confident, so he looked at Chu Chen again.
"Brother Chu, what about you? I see that you drank a lot of Yuehua wine, but have you won the favor of Lord Long?"
Chu Chen spread his hands and felt the breeze on his sleeves.
"Look at me, there is no treasure given to me by the Dragon Lord!"
"Oh, it doesn't matter. You all have inheritance, so it doesn't matter."
Zhang Xiucai comforted the two of them, half sincerely and half secretly happy.
Seeing Zhang Xiucai holding back his joy and excitement while pretending to be calm, Chu Chen couldn't help but snicker to himself.
He did not answer the call, nor did he say anything about his refusal of Lord Long's gift.
He could see that this encounter was a baptism for the scholar, a sublimation from the inside out.
At this time, he said all these things, and it would be too stupid to hurt a young man who has rebuilt his confidence and high morale.
...
Two hours later, the three of them returned to Xin'an County.
After returning from the bizarre and bustling ghost market, the three of them had no intention of wandering around anymore and went back to their respective homes.
When Chu Chen returned to Xu Mansion, his master Xu Ping and the little devil were not there.
So, he took the yellow talisman and practiced the calligraphy talisman.
Although he has the Heart Temple by his side, he does not want to develop the habit of relying on the Heart Temple.
The talismans are broad and profound, and the basic skills must never be missed.
Otherwise, you will never be able to reach the "eye seal" state of "writing spiritual talismans with your eyes" in the rest of your life.
This hard practice of Shu Ling Talisman lasts all day long.
In the evening, the sunset passed through the window and was printed on the yellow talisman paper. Taoist Xu Ping and the little ghost boy still did not return home.
Chu Chen was worried, so he put down his writing and strode out to the Ghost and God's Office on the street.
As soon as he entered the Yamen of Ghosts and Gods Division, Chu Chen had not yet found his master, Taoist Master Xu Ping, but his ears were filled with discussions about Zhang Xiucai, him and wealth.
"These three boys are so lucky. They took two days off to go to Dilongkeng Ghost Market, and they unexpectedly happened upon Lord Long's dinner party."
"People are so annoying. I've been there dozens of times and I haven't bumped into them once."
"It's useless to go to the Dragon Lord's night banquet. I went there, drank a glass of wine, and improved my cultivation a little. There is no way, my cultivation qualifications are limited, and I can't win the favor of the Dragon Lord."
"Hehehe, it's interesting to say that among these three boys, the disciple of Du Guan and the nephew of Deputy Du Guan failed to win the favor of Lord Long, but it was Zhang Xiucai who became a blockbuster!"
"Isn't this strange? Those two boys are from such good backgrounds, but their cultivation is not top-notch. You can imagine their qualifications."
"To be favored by Lord Long, a scholar will soar to the sky. It's amazing. He might become our immediate boss in the future."
"I really don't know. You should be more careful next time you see a scholar."
...
The inspection of each squad room in the Department of Ghosts and Gods caused colleagues to talk a lot, and their words were full of envy for Zhang Xiucai.
Chu Chen pretended not to hear, ignored the gossip of the veteran inspectors in the department, and went straight to the small courtyard in the yamen that belonged to his master, Taoist Master Xu Ping.
"Senior brother, you go to the ghost market without me!"
The little devil looked at Chu Chen with a resentful look. He was so playful that he couldn't go to the ghost market, and he felt aggrieved.
"Hahahaha~ Next time, senior brother will explore the way for you."
"Really, is that true? Then next time, senior brother, you must take me to play."
"Hmm~"
The little devil is easy to coax, and he can be dismissed with just a few words.
Soon, Chu Chen met his master, Taoist Master Xu Ping.
"Go to Dilongkeng Ghost Market?"
Taoist priest Xu Ping asked calmly.
"Hmm~"
Chu Chen nodded.
Taoist priest Xu Ping turned his head and said, "Did Mr. Long support you?"
Chu Chen was surprised: "Master, why are you so sure that I will win Lord Long's favor?"
Taoist priest Xu Ping gave a rare smile.
Although he didn't speak a word, his meaning was clearly expressed.
Chu Chen was very aware of Master Xu's style of being uptight and serious. He never praised him openly and smiled, which was a great compliment and affirmation.
Chu Chen smiled and said:
"Lord Long wants to give me three treasures, a volume of the "Secret Edict of Thunder", a practice method for cultivating a third-level immortal official, a spiritual fruit that can increase my cultivation, and an Earth Dragon Mother Stone."
Taoist Xu Ping remained calm at first, but as he listened, he showed surprise as he remained calm.
"The "Secret Edict of Thunder" should be the first half. I heard that someone has obtained it and can practice it to the seventh level. The middle part can be cultivated to the fifth level. The second half can be cultivated to the third level. Such inheritance is orderly.
The inheritance of orthodox Dharma lineage is extremely precious."
"The Earth Dragon Mother Stone is also quite precious, worth tens of thousands of jade coins. The Spirit Fruit is also very suitable for you. If you get it, it will be a piece of cake for you."
Taoist priest Xu Ping spoke eloquently.
"You kid, you are very lucky."
Chu Chen shook his head: "Master, I refuse."
Taoist priest Xu Ping was stunned for a moment, with a look of surprise on his face.