Not only Tushan Qing won, but Zhang Chen’s lottery stick also hit the mark.
How is this possible? How could this be possible?
Not to mention Mr. Zhou Yi, everyone present was stunned.
No one has ever heard of drawing two lottery sticks at once, and both hitting the mark.
"Zhang, you truly are a person of great fortune. I was not mistaken," Tushan Qing said, his eyes filled with fervor.
Although he had gathered some fortune through gambling, that fortune was meant to seize the authority of the Water God in the future, not to be squandered at this moment.
"What an impressive feat! It’s simply terrifying," Song Yi took a glance at the lottery stick in Zhang Chen’s hand, a hint of seriousness in his gaze.
He did not know Zhang Chen’s methods, only assuming that such grand fortune was inconceivable.
"This brother, I salute you. I wonder if you could draw a stick on my behalf? I am willing to offer any terms—gold, silver, jewels, beauties of all kinds—just say the word, and I will have no objections. As long as you ask, I will not haggle!" The scholar who was behind Zhang Chen, having witnessed Zhang’s methods, was captivated and quickly proposed various conditions to Zhang Chen.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen glanced at the scholar, then shook his head, sitting down by himself: "I lack none of what you mentioned, you should seek your own fortune."
"This friend, I am the eldest son of Marquis Wei Wu. Do you really refuse to sell this favor to the Wei Wu Marquis Mansion?" The scholar, displeased by Zhang Chen’s refusal, quickly tried to threaten him.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen smiled slightly, indifferently saying, "Your father can’t even buy favor from the Chongzheng Academy, it seems your father’s favor isn’t worth much."
"You... hmph!" The man, angered by Zhang Chen’s words, turned pale, then with a swift flick of his sleeve, reached into the box to search.
Zhang Chen seeing this scene shook his head: "See, you’re embarrassed and angry, aren’t you? People like you, it’s no wonder the Academy looks down on you. No skills of your own, completely relying on others to sell your family’s favor. When that doesn’t work, you get embarrassed and angry. With conduct like this, it’s hard to make anything of yourself. The Academy was right to dismiss you."
"Sharp-tongued, how do you know I will be dismissed?" The scholar, getting agitated by Zhang Chen’s words, became embarrassed and angry as he reached into the box to rummage randomly, and indeed pulled out a blank tile, turning pale with anger, and threw the blank tile back into the box, gritting his teeth almost to the point of shattering.
Seeing Zhang Chen with an unapproachable expression, though many desired his methods, they were too embarrassed to step forward and face rejection.
Over there, Zhang Gaoqiu and others stared at Zhang Chen, eyes filled with disbelief. Shen Ling’s mouth was agape as if he could swallow a duck egg, his gaze full of astonishment: "He has such luck?"
"Absolutely impossible! If he had such luck, why would he resort to seeking refuge with the Shen Family when cornered? There’s definitely a cheating method we don’t know about," Zhang Gaoqiu’s eyes were full of struggle.
For Zhang Chen to obtain the qualification was more distressing than death, did it not imply that he was inferior to Zhang Chen? Regardless of whether Zhang Chen cheated or by what means he secured the spot, at least he obtained it.
Even if Zhang Chen cheated, as long as so many people didn’t realize it, then it was because he secured the fortune through his own fortuity.
Watching the teacher’s retreating figure, Tushan Qing joyfully approached, nudging Zhang Chen’s shoulder: "Zhang, how did you do it?"
"What do you mean, how did I do it?" Zhang Chen looked at Tushan Qing.
"How did you manage to get two numbered lottery sticks?" Tushan Qing asked in a low voice.
"Of course, it was through fortuity, didn’t you say I have great blessings?" Zhang Chen replied nonchalantly.
"I believe you’re lying, even great blessings aren’t played out like this. But none of that matters now. Since I’ve already obtained the qualification to enter the Inner Courtyard, nothing else is important," Tushan Qing caressed the lottery stick, his eyes filled with joy.
With the teacher leaving Room A, only six people in the entire room received lottery sticks.
Everyone’s eyes turned to Zhang Chen, their gazes filled with unspeakable complexities, but fortunately, most people in Room A had reserved spots, so no trouble arose over the allocation.
As the dismissal time arrived, the people in Room A seemed unaffected, leaving one by one, whereas the other classrooms occasionally erupted in exclamations, their sounds spreading from afar, causing everyone to glance back.
Zhang Chen twirled the wooden plaque representing the qualification to enter the Inner Courtyard in his hand, a thoughtful look in his eyes, contemplating how to proceed.
"The three little ones are too young, their cultivation in the Divine Soul Dao has not yet proven the Yin Spirit. If they come into contact with the mysterious too early and thereby harm their divine soul, it would delay their progress. Given that I’m here, the three little ones lack no resources for cultivation, and will not lack magical treasures in the future either. If I give them the medallion, it would only distract them and harm their progress. The Divine Soul Dao is not like the great road to immortality; its lifespan is limited. If one is distracted and loses focus, delaying their cultivation, they will regret it later."
Do you truly think the Yin Spirit is so easily cultivated?
Wrong!
If you truly believe that cultivation of the Divine Soul Dao is easy, then you are gravely mistaken. To cultivate to the point of divine soul manifestation and possession is achieved by very few and is only possible for those with great fortuity.
Interfering with the material realm through spirit—how incredibly difficult such a thing is!
For ordinary people, it is nearly unbelievable.
Moreover, to have the three little ones join the inner courtyard, what need is there for a wooden medallion? However many wooden medallions there are, as many disciples can be recruited, isn’t it but a word from Zhou Qiucheng?
"The sooner the cause and effect are resolved, the better; otherwise, the more troublesome it becomes in the end."
"I can use this item to resolve cause and effect." With a plan gradually forming in Zhang Chen’s heart, the next moment his figure flickered and he disappeared from the original place.
Now, in the carriage of the Shen Mansion, on the road to the Shen Mansion, the inside of the carriage was deathly silent.
Shen Qiu was expressionless, Zhang Gaoqiu beside him looked dejected, and Shen Ling, holding Zhang Gaoqiu’s arm, was constantly alleviating Zhang Gaoqiu’s embarrassment. Besides her, Jiang Nan’s eyes were filled with confusion, unsure of what to do. Especially thinking of the scene today where Zhang Chen casually pulled out two medallions with sequence numbers, causing Jiang Nan’s heart to skip and even a vague sense of regret, thinking he shouldn’t have spoken so absolutely back then.
"Cousin, don’t lose heart. Although you didn’t get the sequence number, we can find a way to purchase one. With our Shen Family’s influence, there is hope to purchase one in Jinling. As the saying goes, a strong dragon does not crush a local snake. As long as we show strength, we aren’t afraid those people won’t agree. We can find a soft target and eventually buy that medallion." Shen Ling’s voice was full of coldness.
Her so-called purchase, it’s likely not a simple purchase, but involves threats and inducements.
"Those people aren’t fools, having obtained the medallion, they surely wouldn’t step out of the academy, giving us the chance to purchase it." Shen Qiu remained rational, speaking, "If not for the backing of the Shen Family, I would probably hide in the academy too, refusing to come out. You want to threaten and induce, you have to have the chance to contact the other party."
Hearing Shen Qiu’s words, Shen Ling glared at him fiercely: "You know how to blabber! Zhang Chen obtained a medallion, didn’t he? What does he need a medallion for, being a wild man? We should seize his medallion."
"Ridiculous! If this matter were to spread, how could our Shen Family face others? How could we account to the Zhang Family in Kyoto?" Upon hearing this, Shen Qiu snapped, his voice rarely carried a hint of seriousness.
He had heard that Zhang Chen almost took his qualification. If the fellow hadn’t regretted it, he’d have lost the chance to enter the academy. If Shen Ling, for Zhang Gaoqiu, seized Zhang Chen’s medallion, when Zhang Chen went to the Matriarch for help, his spot would be at risk.
Therefore, Shen Ling wanting to take Zhang Chen’s medallion, he was the first to disagree.
For a moment, the carriage fell silent, everyone looked at each other, revealing a trace of peculiarity in their eyes.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen traversed stealthily, using an escape technique to arrive at Jiang Nan’s courtyard, then quietly entered Jiang Nan’s room. He intended to reach Jiang Nan quietly to avoid stirring trouble if seen.
For example, if someone witnesses him giving Jiang Nan the wooden medallion, would it raise suspicions?
Or should he appear in Jiang Nan’s courtyard, might others overthink it.
So when Zhang Chen appeared in Jiang Nan’s courtyard, he again used Wood Escape to get into Jiang Nan’s room.
After Jiang Nan parted from the others, he was filled with frustration and disappointment. Entering Chongzheng Academy was a rare opportunity, an exceptional chance to become an outer courtyard disciple, and with excellent performance, to join the academy as a disciple of the esteemed teachers, which would elevate his status remarkably.
But unfortunately, even knowing the opportunity was rare, it wasn’t something Jiang Nan could seize; everything wasn’t subject to his will.
When Jiang Nan returned to his room, exhausted, he noticed Zhang Chen sitting there reading, startling him. Hastily closing the door, he looked at him with impatience: "How did you get in? Didn’t I tell you we shall never meet? I want nothing to do with you, no ties between us in the future. We are strangers from now on! I don’t want Shen Qiu to misunderstand."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen could only smile wryly, closing the book: "This might be the last time I see you. You gave me an elixir back on the ship, though it was useless to me, it was a form of cause and effect I need to acknowledge."
"Resolving cause and effect? Not pestering me and staying far away is kindness enough, ending all cause and effect between us. We owe each other nothing in the future." Jiang Nan’s voice was filled with impatience: "Don’t think joining the inner courtyard grants you rights over me, or gives you me. I won’t marry you. You’d better forget such inappropriate thoughts."