18: Ancient trees teem with life, young children embark on their learning journey

After Qi Yuan left Su Wantang, he did not return to his Immortal Cave. Instead, he took a leisurely stroll to the town's "Qi Family Hundred Herb Hall."

Seeing the Master arrive in person, the pharmacy assistant hurriedly welcomed him into the inner room and served fragrant tea.

Qi Yuan dismissed the others, his gaze falling upon several aged medicinal herbs stored in the inner room.

Among them was a fifty-year-old Solomon's Seal of decent quality, a thick piece of Aged Mountain Ginseng, and several pieces of dark-colored Poria Cocos.

With a slight thought, the inch-long Green Wood Sword Qi emerged from his fingertip once more, hovering above these medicinal herbs.

Immediately, a faint suction force emanated from it.

The color of the Solomon's Seal dimmed by a fraction at a speed barely perceptible to the naked eye, and the rhizome head of the Aged Mountain Ginseng also seemed to lose a bit of its spiritual charm.

The vegetation essence contained within several medicinal herbs was extracted thread by thread, merging into that emerald-green sword light.

However, the change in the sword light was far less obvious than when it absorbed spirit plants in the Immortal Cave; it only solidified slightly, with a negligible increase in size.

Qi Yuan sighed softly in his heart.

"The vegetation essence contained in ten such aged mundane medicinal herbs likely cannot compare to even a single lowest-tier Rank One Low Grade Spiritual Material."

On second thought, he felt it was only natural.

Mundane medicine and Spiritual Materials were as different as mud and clouds, like common stones and fine jade; the degree of Spiritual Qi and vitality essence within them was worlds apart.

Relying on these ordinary medicinal herbs to repair his Dantian was too inefficient—a mere drop in the bucket. Ultimately, it could not compare to directly refining Spiritual Materials or finding ancient trees rich in Spiritual Qi.

"It seems that while this method is ingenious, it also has high requirements for resources."

He thought to himself.

"Take care, Master."

The pharmacy assistant respectfully saw him to the door.

Qi Yuan pondered for a moment. Instead of returning directly to the mountain, he strolled out of town to a barren slope several miles away.

A solitary, massive ancient Locust Tree grew on the slope. Its trunk was so thick it would take several people to encircle it with their arms. Its bark was cracked like dragon scales, and its gnarled branches resembled the claws of an ancient dragon. It was said to be three or four hundred years old.

Walking up to the ancient locust, Qi Yuan could feel the dormant vitality within its massive frame.

He activated the Green Wood Sword Qi once again.

This time, the effect was completely different!

Like sweet rain after a long drought, or a small stream merging into a river, the vegetation essence that had accumulated within the ancient locust for hundreds of years flowed forth.

Though it was no longer active or pure, its total volume was far beyond what those medicinal herbs could offer. It was steadily absorbed by the Green Wood Sword Qi!

The emerald-green sword light solidified and brightened at a visible rate, slowly growing from about an inch to nearly an inch and a half. Its radiance flowed, and its aura became significantly stronger!

What shook Qi Yuan's mind even more was that when he withdrew this significantly bolstered Sword Qi into his body, the warm current of vitality that fed back into him was much more abundant.

Like warm spring water, it more powerfully nourished the stubborn damaged areas within his Dantian. The sensations of numbness and stinging became even clearer!

Carefully sensing the changes in his Dantian, he quickly made an assessment, and an irrepressible joy surged in his heart.

"It works! It really works! Even if such an ancient tree of several hundred years isn't a spirit plant, the vegetation essence it contains is far beyond imagination!"

"If... if I can find a few hundred ancient trees of this age to absorb their vegetation essence..."

"Perhaps... perhaps it really will be enough to completely repair the old injuries in my Dantian that have been dormant for many years!"

...On this morning, in Ye Yao's room.

"Fenger, hurry up. Don't make Brother Jin wait for you."

Ye Yao personally adjusted Qi Xuanfeng's newly tailored green student robe, her eyes filled with earnest expectation and a hint of nervousness.

She turned her son around, carefully smoothing a wrinkle on his collar while constantly lecturing him.

"Once you enter the private school, you must respect your teacher and the Dao, and focus on your studies."

"You must know that pen and ink are hard-won, and knowledge is the foundation of one's life... More importantly, you must be modest in all things. Listen to your Brother Jin more and do not try to show off. Do you understand?"

Qi Xuanfeng's small face was full of longing for the new environment. He was somewhat impatient with his mother's repetitive nagging but did not dare to show it openly.

He just lowered his head, unconsciously picking at the cuff of his new clothes, and replied vaguely.

"I know, Mother."

Despite his young age, he vaguely understood that although his father doted on him, he could not openly defy the family rules and his mother's teachings.

In contrast, Liu Yueer's courtyard appeared much calmer.

Qi Xuanjin was already fully dressed. The same-colored student robe made him look quite composed despite his young age.

Looking at her well-behaved eldest son, Liu Yueer was filled with gratification. She only gently tidied his hair bun and said softly:

"When you go to the school, take good care of yourself and look after Brother Feng as well."

"He is young and has a lively personality; be more patient with him."

She paused, as if remembering something, and added:

"Your younger maternal uncle is also studying with Master Xu now. If you have time, you can get closer to him."

When mentioning her parents' home, Liu Yueer's tone was calm.

Over the years, as the Qi family's assets grew and their reputation rose, the Liu Family had now completely attached themselves to them.

Her parents and brothers treated her with increasing respect, and the relationship had actually become more harmonious and simple than before.

She saw this change and her state of mind remained peaceful.

Before long, the two young boys, escorted by family servants, walked together to the private school in town.

Cuiyun Town had only this one private school. The schoolmaster, Master Xu, was an old scholar who had earned the rank of Tongsheng.

Many people in Cuiyun Town were his students, so he was usually highly respected.

In this vast Zhao Kingdom with its billions of people, the path of studying for the imperial examinations was like thousands of troops and horses competing to cross a single-log bridge.

To stand out in the county examination and obtain the Tongsheng qualification was already considered an extraordinary feat for this remote small town, enough to earn great respect.

Although Qi Xuanjin was young, he was sharp-minded.

He knew that his eldest maternal uncle, whom his grandfather's family had high hopes for, had spent more than a thousand taels of the family's silver for the sake of imperial honors, yet he was still only a Tongsheng.

He had once overheard the old family servants chatting, mentioning how the generous betrothal gift from back when his mother married into the Qi family had solved the Liu Family's urgent need.

After he told his father about what he had ignorantly heard, he never saw those talkative servant women again.

Before long, the two arrived at the private school at the east end of town.

This was a courtyard with blue tiles and white walls. Before even entering the gate, one could hear the bursts of childish reading voices coming from inside.

The leading servant greeted the gatekeeper familiarly and led the two Young Masters inside.

Inside the main hall of the school, an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a faded green scholar's robe, sat behind a desk holding a book. He was the schoolmaster, Master Xu.

His face was lean, with deep wrinkles like ravines. Though his eyes were slightly clouded, a glimmer of clarity from a lifetime of experience would occasionally flash through them.

Hearing the movement, he slowly looked up.

Qi Xuanjin immediately stepped forward a few paces and performed a proper deep bow, his voice clear and respectful.

"Student Qi Xuanjin, along with my younger brother Qi Xuanfeng, pays respects to the Master."

His movements were already quite disciplined.

Master Xu nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Qi Xuanjin for a moment, a flash of admiration in his eyes.

He had taught in Cuiyun Town for decades and had seen many children. It was truly rare to find one so composed and polite at such an age.

"Mm, rise."

Master Xu's voice was hoarse but did not lack authority.

His gaze then fell upon Qi Xuanfeng, who was standing nearby.

At this moment, Qi Xuanfeng's attention had already been completely captured by the scene inside the classroom.

He saw over forty students of various ages sitting in the hall; some were swaying their heads while reciting, some were buried in calligraphy practice, and a few were peeking over at him.

Since he was born, besides his elder brother, when had he ever seen so many peers?

His small face immediately lit up with excitement. His large, dark eyes looked around curiously, forgetting where he was, and he didn't even hear his brother's or the Master's words.

It wasn't until Qi Xuanjin quietly tugged on his sleeve that he suddenly snapped back to his senses. He hurriedly bowed in a bit of a fluster, but his voice was loud.

"Student Qi Xuanfeng, pays respects to the Master!"

Master Xu saw all of his excitement and recklessness but did not scold him, only saying calmly:

"Once you enter this door, you must follow the school rules. Remember, only with an undivided mind can one obtain the true essence of knowledge."

These words were clearly meant for the distracted Qi Xuanfeng.