Chapter Forty-Six: Understanding

(A new week is about to begin, and Southern Dynasty solemnly asks everyone for recommendation votes to climb the rankings; for Sanjiang votes to defend the chrysanthemum. This struggle is not to prove how remarkable I am, but to say: even an author who is down and out can have a springtime! And to all the readers who support this book and Southern Dynasty, you are the brilliant sunshine that brings the breath of spring!)

The brush and ink were successfully hung on the wall of Snow Slush Studio for consignment, but there might not be any results in the short term. Chen Jianchen was not anxious and continued his life at the academy as usual, living steadily and regularly.

During this period, after repeated deductions, Chen Jianchen grasped some secrets about condensing righteous energy from the “True Chapter of Triple Establishment”—

Righteous energy, physical strength, and magical power are essentially the same, merely differing in their manifestations and effects. When righteous energy is used up excessively, a person’s spirit grows weary, becomes listless, and loses motivation; it needs time to recover, to nurture the righteous energy anew.

The current strength of righteous energy condensed within the body could be seen through the “True Chapter of Triple Establishment” inside the Mud Pill Palace. The text, composed of nine hundred and ninety-nine characters, appeared one by one to form a complete article, hovering in the center of the sea of consciousness Chen Jianchen had opened within his Mud Pill Palace. As long as he closed his eyes and reflected, he could sense it—much like a cultivator’s inner vision.

A text suspended within the Mud Pill Palace—such a strange circumstance is utterly unimaginable for ordinary people.

When the article first emerged, each character was as large as a bucket; once stabilized, they shrank to fist-sized and their brilliance faded, becoming dull, indistinct, and featureless. From afar, it resembled a stone stele standing in the void, unmoving as a mountain.

Yet, when Chen Jianchen made a breakthrough and finally condensed righteous energy, the first character—“Tai”—sparked to life, glowing brightly like a star in the heavens.

The sensation was wondrous; Chen Jianchen’s first thought was of those neon-lit street signs from his previous life.

Later, at home, he wrote the character “Suppress” to subdue the local earth spirit, depleting his condensed righteous energy, causing the “Tai” character to fade once more. Fortunately, after several days of rest, the character’s light returned.

Through this experience, Chen Jianchen discerned the difference between refining and nurturing energy. Refining is creation, nurturing is restoration, and the latter is much easier than the former. To use a simple analogy: refining energy is like digging a spring; when the water from the spring runs dry, it needs time before it gushes forth again.

That waiting period is the nurturing of energy.

—Finding the spring is hard, but waiting for the water to flow is easier.

If each of the nine hundred and ninety-nine characters in the “True Chapter of Triple Establishment” requires a thread of righteous energy to activate, then ultimately, Chen Jianchen must condense nine hundred and ninety-nine threads of righteous energy—a daunting task.

Moreover, he discovered that possessing only one thread of righteous energy allowed him to write just one character to embody it; exceeding that number meant the righteous energy could not manifest, and the whole piece would be wasted, reduced to mere ordinary calligraphy.

The reason he could summarize this rule was because, ever since he received the true transmission of the “True Chapter of Triple Establishment” and condensed righteous energy, he could directly perceive its presence within brush and ink.

It was a spiritual radiance, a quality only discerned on the mental plane, invisible to ordinary people.

Vast righteous energy, if cultivated to the highest “Establish Virtue” realm, would not be inferior to Daoist arts.

Earlier, both Qingyun and Guanghan had intentionally demonstrated the mysteries of Daoist arts before Chen Jianchen, hoping to initiate him. But how could entering the Daoist path be so easy?

In this world, no one would pass all their years of cultivation to you without reason, making you invincible.

To enter the Dao, one’s heart must be as iron—cutting off mortal ties, severing mundane roots, closing oneself in bitter cultivation, enduring endless trials and loneliness before achieving even a modest success.

Chen Jianchen did not fear loneliness, but he did not agree with the Daoist principle of carefree non-action.

By contrast, the “True Chapter of Triple Establishment” suited his temperament far better: “When alone, cultivate oneself; when successful, aid the world”—advancing and retreating at will.

After that night, Chen Jianchen and Guanghan never established a master-disciple bond. Qingyun Daoist had lamented that Chen Jianchen missed his Daoist fate.

Yet Chen Jianchen did not see it that way; since he had chosen his own path, he would steadfastly walk it, unwilling to change direction lightly.

Without persistence, how can there be results?

—After a period of sorting and experimentation, Chen Jianchen finally understood the basic principles of the “True Chapter of Triple Establishment,” and was more confident in its application.

Just yesterday, Young Master Wu finally arrived late at the academy, becoming Chen Jianchen’s classmate. His arrival instantly caused a stir in the classroom, with many students gathering around him like ants drawn to sugar, treating Wu Wencai as the center of attention.

As the son of the current Minister of Rites, his status alone was enough to attract many sycophants. Only a few students, ignorant of worldly ways, stood aside without reacting.

Chen Jianchen was among them.

But it wasn’t ignorance of worldly matters—he simply disdained it. In fact, with his current status, he could be considered a “cultivator” himself, though not the same kind as others.

Scholars ought to have their own backbone; wealth and honor should not sway them. Yet the academy’s atmosphere was mostly corrupted, with opportunism written across every forehead. Everyone had mastered the art of going with the wind—where was any pride left?

No wonder the underworld spirits could freely enter and exit the academy.

Where scholars congregate, the vital blood is already thin; without righteous energy and backbone, what remains? What is there for the spirits to fear?

Wang Fu did not approach Young Master Wu either, which surprised Chen Jianchen. Upon asking, Wang Fu simply answered, “I do not like him.”

Those three words made Chen Jianchen look at him anew.

Day rises, day falls; day falls, day rises.

The long-awaited day for Wang Fu’s spring outing finally arrived—tomorrow was March 15th. Plans had long been laid, the destination being the Jiangtan Beach, a scenic spot near Brush Rack Mountain. Each spring, many talented men and beautiful women flock there to showcase their allure.

For group outings, students had to pay a fee—one hundred coins each, not a coin less, and even Chen Jianchen, as a scholarship student, was no exception.

Handing over such a sum, Chen Jianchen felt a pinch. In just over two months since the start of term, the money he carried was nearly spent, even with his scholarship status. He could hardly imagine how regular students managed their finances...

Studying truly drains money!

Chen Jianchen had little interest in the outing—it was merely a group trip. Yet among that crowd, he felt out of place, so what joy was there? His only anticipation was to finally meet Nie Xiaoqian of this world tomorrow, though he wondered whether she was the same Nie Xiaoqian who once recited, “I envy only lovers, not immortals.”

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I’d like to recommend a new book by a friend: “The School Beauty’s Personal Ghost King,” Book Number: 2256786. What’s that? The title sounds familiar, reminiscent of “The Personal Expert”? No, no, that book was too innocent; this is a far more wild story.

Prince Tashi Kalan of the Vampire Kingdom possesses the body of a high school senior named Liu Yi. Thus, a super student is born: wealth flows in, women queue up, and his life is truly extraordinary!