Chapter 78: Chapter 77: Aura Like an Inkstone, Aura Gathered on the Pen’s Tip
County Magistrate Feng left with Wang Ji, and the people at the long pavilion didn’t linger much longer either.
After declining everyone’s invitations, Chen Xu found an inn with the scholars from Jichuan County to stay.
As for Wang Mochuan’s earlier invitation for Chen Xu to stay at the Wang family’s mansion in Prefecture City, that was no longer possible.
Wang Mochuan didn’t dare to mention his family anymore, let alone tell Chen Xu that Wang Ji was the very little master he had previously referred to, who was set to take the scholar examination this year.
In fact, Wang Mochuan himself wished to cut all ties with his main family line.
He could already foresee that the great turmoil of the Wang family was imminent.
It remained to be seen how the key figures within the family would make their choices and if they could overcome the current crisis.
As night fell, Wu Zhengze gathered the scholars from Jichuan County at the inn for another discussion.
Firstly, they exchanged a few words about the Ghost Market incident.
Wu Zhengze said, "It’s hard to say whether this matter was a coincidence or if there’s more to it, but regardless, we’re just passing by and did not intend to get involved.
Once it’s over, it’s over. Even if there is more to it, it’s not something we can get involved with.
Do you understand what I’m implying?"
Wang Mochuan quickly spoke up, "Yes, Master, starting today, I’ll treat the previous events as nothing more than a dream.
Apart from Brother Chen’s great kindness, I remember nothing else."
These words were quite amusing and immediately drew a bout of laughter.
The serious atmosphere in the room relaxed considerably, and Wu Zhengze nodded, then advised everyone not to be affected by the Ghost Market and to focus on the examination at hand.
The scholars hastily responded, "Yes, Master, we came here only to take the exam, and we won’t cause any distractions!"
In fact, among the eleven from Jichuan County, the three drivers need not be mentioned. Although they too were dragged into the Ghost Market, their transactions with the ghosts were straightforward.
One spent more than ten taels of silver, while the other two each gave a few strings of copper coins.
This was exactly all the wealth they had on them. The one who spent ten taels of silver did so because Cui Jingxian had compensated him with ten taels.
In the blink of an eye, those ten taels of silver were cleanly spent in the Ghost Market, but at least they got out unscathed, which was better than losing both people and money.
Afterward, Wang Mochuan also stepped forward, offering each of them two strings of copper coins as consolation.
As for the scholars, both Master Wu and Yao Qing had no issue composing poetry, they just couldn’t make it appear as if mist and smoke were manifesting from the paper.
Among the rest of the examinees, one lost a toe, and another had severe abdominal pain for a while in the Ghost Market.
The one with the severe abdominal pain was Wang Mochuan’s cousin, Wang Xin. Fortunately, it was just a bout of pain and didn’t result in lost limbs.
The one who lost a toe, though physically impaired, wasn’t hindered by the dynasty’s regulation, which allowed for academic advancement as long as there were no obvious physical defects on the surface.
A damaged toe could be covered by shoes, thus it didn’t affect their future prospects.
Overall, the scholars from Jichuan County were in relatively good shape. After Wu Zhengze’s instructions, they dispersed.
In the end, Wu Zhengze held back Chen Xu and suggested, "Tonight, why not stay with me... no, until the exam day, you should stay with me."
This indeed shocked Chen Xu.
After the shock came a sense of gratitude.
He understood the meaning behind Wu Zhengze’s words; the instructor was concerned that Chen Xu had made a grand appearance at the Ghost Market and feared he would attract resentment, hence he wished to offer protection for a while.
Before acquiring the Netherworld’s Unbreakable Divine Power, Chen Xu would have seriously considered Master Wu’s proposal.
Especially since County Magistrate Feng Yuanbai had given him a meaningful glance earlier, which inevitably left Chen Xu with doubts.
But considering Wu Zhengze only had the Scholar title, in terms of status, position, or cultivation, he couldn’t compare to Feng Yuanbai.
If Feng Yuanbai really came, even if Wu Zhengze wanted to protect Chen Xu, to what extent could he do so? He might end up harming Master Wu instead.
However, now that Chen Xu possessed the Netherworld’s Unbreakable Divine Power, even if he couldn’t win... he could always run, right?
Of course, Feng Yuanbai might not necessarily resort to forceful measures.
These were just Chen Xu’s proactive considerations to prevent possible troubles.
Chen Xu sincerely thanked Wu Zhengze for his kindness but politely declined, then asked, "Master, I wish to understand the cultivation level differences between scholars and Daoist cultivators. Could you enlighten me?"
"Scholars and Daoist cultivators..." Wu Zhengze paused for a moment, then unexpectedly shook his head and even chuckled, as if something amusing had crossed his mind.
"Did seeing the County Magistrate today, with all his mysterious gestures, fuel your imagination?"
This reason was quite rational, so Chen Xu quickly replied, "Exactly, I hope you can enlighten me, sir."
"In truth, the Qi cultivation of scholars is no different from that of Daoist cultivators." Wu Zhengze surprisingly claimed, before going on to explain in detail:
"It’s just that scholars focus more on the Divine Soul, whereas Daoist cultivators focus more on Essence.
The Divine Soul is both the heart and spirit and the spiritual soul, which is the concentration of a person’s mind and intelligence with their divine soul.
Essence, on the other hand, originates from the innate root of the human body and is the fundamental physical basis. The stronger the Essence, the deeper the foundation, and the more vigorous and vast the vitality naturally becomes.
In simple terms, Daoist cultivators seek to strengthen life and extend lifespan, whereas scholars aspire to communicate with the saints through their Divine Souls. By authoring works and becoming famous in history, even if one’s lifespan is limited to a century in life, their heroic spirits remain eternal after death, which is akin to immortality, isn’t it?
But the Daoist path doesn’t concern itself with past lives or afterlives; it focuses only on this present life!"
Here, Wu Zhengze paused slightly, and for some reason, Chen Xu heard an indescribable passion in his words.
Only focusing on this life, what kind of boldness is that?
Listening to this, Chen Xu felt a slight rise in his spirits.
He felt that his own path on the Food God Technique Scroll was actually aligned with the Daoist path, albeit distinct from the traditional Daoist ways.
Then Wu Zhengze continued, "Still, whether it’s Daoism or Confucianism, Qi cultivation is essentially the same Qi cultivation."
With that, he laughed, "We’re all human; surely, my Qi is no different from yours, yes?"
At this point, Chen Xu couldn’t help but chuckle; Master Wu isn’t always serious, as he could joke as well.
"Master, is this Qi the True Qi or the Innate Qi?"
"Innate Qi? Wishful thinking!" Wu Zhengze let out a hearty laugh, "Once a person is born and draws their first breath of the world’s turbid air, they naturally transition from the Innate to the Acquired. To return Qi to the Innate, how difficult that is.
Those old Daoists pursue this path of returning Qi to the Innate and then condensing the Golden Core from the Innate Qi, which is the Supreme Golden Core!
We scholars, however, begin Qi cultivation with Literary Qi, using it to open the Dantian, then refine Essence into Qi and undergo Meridian Passage to condense the Golden Core.
But only a few scholars can successfully condense the Golden Core; even Great Scholars might not achieve it.
So, after gaining the Scholar title and cultivating Qi up to the point of Meridian Passage, we establish the Upper Dantian in the Sea of Consciousness."
Wu Zhengze pointed to his own forehead.
Then he explained to Chen Xu, "After opening the Upper Dantian, it allows the originally ethereal and elusive Literary Qi to become as dense as substance.
A Scholar’s Literary Qi can be as dense as ink in an inkstone, and the amount of literature within represents the richness of the Literary Qi.
An Advanced Scholar’s Literary Qi can gather at the pen’s tip, capable of forming Silver Hooks and Iron Strokes. At this point, a scholar truly gains the ability to exhibit prowess even without Exotic Treasures.
And when it comes to a Great Scholar, it’s said that their Qi can penetrate the Bell and Tripod, along with various other phenomena, which is beyond what I can specifically know."
Finally, Wu Zhengze emphasized, "Of course, we scholars can never match the fighting strength of Daoists and martial artists. Even if you cultivate Qi in the future, you must remember not to be brash and combative.
Otherwise, it would not only hinder your Literary Qi cultivation but also you might not prevail over those who specialize in combat."
Listening up to this point, Chen Xu fell into a quiet reflection.