Jixian County City is even taller than Fengyang County City and Shanyang County City that Zhang Jian had seen.
The Dragon and Tiger Qi is thick and majestic.
After presenting the travel permit and paying a considerable entry fee, the master and servant smoothly entered the commandery city.
Zhang Jian noticed that there were quite a few advanced scholars preparing to head to the capital for examinations, seemingly ready to travel together.
"Young Master, why don't we go take a look? Maybe some of these people will be your peers in the future?"
Beside him, Zhang Lu's eyes were darting around, yet they landed on the delectable foods and drinks in the restaurant.
Zhang Jian smiled and then stepped forward as well.
During the imperial exams, candidates who pass in the same year are actually considered peers!
However, in terms of significance, peers from the Ministry of Rites Examination carry more weight.
Because after passing, they are almost prepared to become advanced scholars, with a great chance of becoming officials!
Although Zhang Jian is a cultivator, since he walks the worldly path, gathering the essence of Heaven and Earth for cultivation, he naturally wouldn't refuse such matters.
He himself at this moment possessed a Life Plate of Dragon Robe and Phoenix Attitude, innately carrying an affinity, and quickly mingled with many advanced scholars.
Regarding Zhang Jian, a young scholar from Fengyang County, the other advanced scholars from Jixian County originally had some resistance.
Not yet of weak crown age, at fourteen, he had already passed the provincial exam and earned the title of advanced scholar, which was much stronger than many of them.
But after some probing words, a group of advanced scholars calmed their competitive spirits.
Zhang Jian, being skillful in social interactions, provided everyone a way out, quickly integrating himself and winning the sincere recognition of many scholars.
Having gained the approval of these people, the group of scholars immediately opened up completely.
From various topics across the land, they conversed easily.
Zhang Lu, being tall, was at a table with several servants, relying on his sturdy build and straightforward nature to quickly become the leader among the many servants.
They ate, drank, laughed, and sometimes boasted about their military accomplishments, drawing envious gazes from several servants.
Beside them, an extraordinary advanced scholar looked at Zhang Lu and couldn't help but speak.
"Brother Zhang, your scholar's attendant is truly extraordinary, even going to the battlefield?"
This was an advanced scholar named Shi Lun.
This scholar had sharp brows and bright eyes, dressed in brocade, wearing a fur coat, with a scholarly aura on his face.
The Shi Family was also a major family in Jixian County, equally of the noble lineage, and had a great liking for Zhang Jian, a fellow young scholar from a noble family.
"My family member is carefree and quite rash, making my brother laugh!"
Zhang Jian smiled slightly, but Shi Lun laughed and said.
"Not at all, your family member is truly genuine!"
Zhang Jian sighed in his heart.
How many people can truly be genuine?
He wished to maintain a pure and innocent heart, but successive upheavals forced him to become more seasoned and smooth, protecting himself and nurturing his wings to shield his family.
At this moment, Zhang Jian glanced at Shi Lun and suddenly spoke.
"Brother Shi, have you encountered any strange events recently?"
Upon hearing this, Shi Lun was surprised.
"Brother Zhang can read fortunes?"
Zhang Jian shook his head and said: "I can't read fortunes, but I know a bit of medicine. I observe Brother Shi, though appearing healthy, with a rapid breath and a floating step, indicating a deficiency of energy and blood. However, with Brother Shi's family status, it shouldn't be due to irregular meals. You also have guards with you. It seems something happened recently causing such symptoms!"
Upon hearing this, Shi Lun gave Zhang Jian a surprised look and said: "Brother Zhang has sharp eyes. I have indeed encountered some strange incidents recently, with nightly nightmares making it hard to sleep. Does Brother Zhang have any methods for calming the mind? If I can't adjust my state, I probably won't make it to the Golden List even if I head to the capital for exams!"
Shi Lun was a bit troubled.
He looked at Zhang Jian expectantly.
Zhang Jian thought to himself that he actually wanted to say it seemed that the Power of Nightmare existed on Shi Lun.
This was similar to the symptoms on Madam Qi Zhou but was relatively mild on Shi Lun.
The aftereffects were much weaker.
It might be that the opponent wasn't targeting Shi Lun's life.
This might involve privacy within a mansion. Zhang Jian had learned his lesson before, so this time he was more cautious, not directly revealing the matter, and after thinking for a moment, he said.
"I once encountered a master who gifted me a Longevity Talisman, saying it could calm the mind and protect the body, shielding one from evil. Why not borrow it for a few days to try!"
Zhang Jian took out a talisman folded into a corner from his sleeve and handed it to Shi Lun.
The talisman in his hand was a Soul Purification Spell.
The Soul Purification Spell he had cultivated out with the Divine Image of the Ten Directions' Suffering Relief Celestial Venerable, able to subdue ghosts and gods. Using it to calm the mind was truly overkill.
Seeing this, Shi Lun was a bit moved and couldn't help but say: "This is your protective talisman, Brother Zhang, how can I take it?!"
"No worries!"
Zhang Jian smiled slightly.
He observed that Shi Lun was generally righteous, so he decided to help him this time.
A moment later, Zhang Jian walked out of the restaurant; he next had to find some Red Lotus Daoists in Jixian County.
Having transformed Lady Honghua into his Lifebound Spirit Ghost, he naturally couldn't let Red Lotus Dao continue to fester.
Red Lotus Dao, as a collection of heterodox and Zuo Dao practices, couldn't accomplish much.
To reenact the old Yellow Turban affair, one needed to create a true system of theocracy, equipping followers' minds with comprehensive doctrines rather than just sabotage.
Of course, he also intended to expand the faith in the Kitchen God through this.
Now in the lands of the Southern Provinces, there were vast fertile grounds of potential faith.
If used well, Red Lotus Dao could accelerate the penetration of Kitchen God worship.
Once the Sheji Divine Dao's decrees come down, with this foundation, Lady Honghua might become a powerful True God in one step.
This would be a tremendous help to him.
...
Meanwhile, deep within Tongshan, Tie Xin Daoist encountered a problem.
"Uncle Tie Xin, have you encountered a problem?"
Bai Xianyin stood beside him, frowning.
Upon hearing this, Tie Xin Daoist shook his head slightly and sighed. Going to the Sheji Divine Dao to request the consecration of the Kitchen God's divine position for Zhang Jian wasn't problematic; many high cultivators within the sect had agreed on this.
But among the sect's gods, several Fire Gods eyed the position of the Kitchen God, attempting to intervene.
Unfortunately, those gods were quite powerful, and he alone couldn't suppress them.
He also couldn't take action.
Because those True Gods were also core strong figures of the sect, having rendered great service to the sect.
Tie Xin Daoist felt overwhelmed!
He understood too well that the opportunity contained within the Kitchen God's position was immense, especially for the Fire Gods. Those True Gods of the sect wouldn't easily let it go.
Tie Xin Daoist knew clearly that only True Monarch Zhanmo's intervention could suppress these gods.