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 gave him the painting and calligraphy treasure of the great scholar.
Huang Fugui was fascinated and envious after hearing this.
"Xiucai, are you telling me 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 with ordinary people in the city and the countryside, he comes from a good background. He has no worries about food and clothing, can study and study, and his family background is quite good.
However, in the world of spiritual practice, the family background and talent of a scholar seem to be very ordinary.
This can be seen from the time 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 gather our supreme literary aspirations 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 road for Confucian and Taoist monks.
In order to balance the Confucian sect and the Taoist sect, the Confucian sect monks can only hold deputy positions in the local ghosts and gods department throughout their lives and cannot rule one side. There is an extremely obvious ceiling.
The scholar keeps saying that he likes ghost wives, fox girls, etc. before joining the Ghosts and Gods Division, but this is actually just an excuse.
The real reason was that his qualifications in Confucianism 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 was helpless because he had no direction to work hard.
This time, by chance, I attended the Dragon Lord's dinner, and was fortunate enough to be recognized by the Dragon Lord, who presented him with a scroll of calligraphy by a great scholar. This was tantamount to a new life for Zhang Xiucai.
Firstly, it was Lord Long's recognition that allowed him to rebuild his confidence and boost 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 were people outside the world, and there was a heaven outside the world.
"Wealth, don't belittle yourself. Your talent is pretty good. You are a lineage of Chuma Immortals and have a bright future. Don't think about what you have. You are different from people like me who have no teachers 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 in 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 conversation, nor did he say anything about his rejection 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 was too stupid to hurt a young man who had rebuilt his confidence and had 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 continuing to wander around and went back to their respective homes.
When Chu Chen returned to Xu Mansion, his master Xu Ping and Xiao Guizai were not there.
So, he took the yellow talisman and practiced the Shuling 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 talisman is broad and profound, and the basic skills must never be missed.
Otherwise, you will never be able to reach the "Muzhuan" state of "writing spiritual talismans with your eyes" in the rest of your life.
This hard practice of Shuling Talisman lasts all day long.
In the evening, the sunset shines through the window and is printed on the yellow talisman paper. Taoist Xu Ping and the little ghost boy still haven't returned home.
Chu Chen was worried, so he put down his writing and strode out to the Ghost and God Si Yamen facing 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 and drank a glass of wine and improved my cultivation a little. I have no choice but to win the Dragon Lord's favor because of my limited qualifications."
"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 it 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, the scholar will soar to the sky. It's amazing. He might become our immediate boss in the future."
"It's really possible. 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~ I'll definitely do it next time. This time, senior brother is going to 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 gets rid of him in just a few words.
Soon, Chu Chen met his master, Taoist Master Xu Ping.
"Go to Dilongkeng Ghost Market?"
Taoist priest Xu Ping asked indifferently.
"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 Xu Ping gave a rare smile.
Although he didn't speak, his meaning was clearly expressed.
Chu Chen was very aware of Master Xu's style of being uptight and serious. He would never praise him openly, and if he smiled, it would be a great compliment and affirmation.
Chu Chen also 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 was always calm.
"The "Secret of Thunder" given to you by Lord Long should be the first half. I heard that someone got 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. This The orthodox dharma lineage that has been passed down in an orderly manner 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 high-quality product for you."
Taoist priest Xu Ping commented one by one.
"You have good luck, kid."
Chu Chen shook his head: "Master, I refuse."
Taoist priest Xu Ping was startled and froze on the spot.
