Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

A middle-aged man heaved a sigh, saying helplessly:

"I'll tell you the truth."

"Our boss has already consulted experts, and he has to open his business on the day of the Changan Festival. But the Changan Festival is only half a month away, and you still haven't moved out! You must understand that connecting all your shops and setting up a new one takes quite a bit of time."

"So this is the final ultimatum from our boss, you have to move out within the next two days."

On hearing this, the smile on Father Zhang's face gradually froze.

He bowed slightly and said very politely:

"My young friend, even if we were to move, we couldn't do so in just two or three days. After all, you see all these medicinal materials here, it took me half a month to sort them out, and there is still so much left."

"I can't help with that."

The man spread his hands and said:

"After all, as I've said before, our boss is in a hurry."

"Anyway, I've conveyed what our boss has requested, whether to move out or not is now a decision for Doctor Zhang."

Having said this, the man walked out briskly.

Only Father Zhang and Mother Zhang were left standing there, staring at each other.

There was deathly silence in the pharmacy.

Finally.

"Husband, what can we do?" Mother Zhang's voice broke the silence.

"Ah—" Father Zhang sighed deeply and said mournfully, "It's come to this, we really have no choice but to move."

"What about when Jing'er comes back?"

"My wife, let's do this. You sort out the medicinal materials in the pharmacy and these tables, chairs, and furniture, and I'll ask Manager Dou to come over and give us an estimate. We'll sell these things and get as much silver as we can."

"By then, you and I will wait at the door. As soon as Jing'er comes back, we'll leave Yong'an City immediately."

"Is there really... no other way?"

Mother Zhang asked a little nervously.

She had fled to Yong'an City from Yunzhou when she was young and was fortunate enough to meet Father Zhang. They finally managed to build a home together.

But now, the only home they had was being taken away.

"There's no other way, the silver we have is not enough to buy another place in Yong'an City." Father Zhang answered with a bitter smile.

However, when he raised his head and saw the look of fear on Mother Zhang's face, his heart ached for no apparent reason.

...

Meanwhile.

At Yong'an Academy.

Teacher Liu was anxiously pacing back and forth in the courtyard, a far cry from his usual calm demeanor.

In his hand, he was tightly holding a jade slip.

"The results of this year's examination at the Dao Institute should have been released by now. Why hasn't there been any news? Could something have gone wrong?"

Even though he had anticipated the outcome, Teacher Liu couldn't help but feel nervous.

Time slowly went by.

Suddenly, the jade slip in his hand shivered slightly and a ray of white light shone from it.

"It's here!"

Teacher Liu took a deep breath and promptly looked at the jade slip.

[Yong'an Academy students who passed the examination]

[Zhang Jing (3rd)]

[Ji Bochang (15th)]

Upon seeing the results, Teacher Liu thought he was seeing things. He quickly rubbed his eyes and looked at the jade slip again.

He had not seen wrongly!

But... he found it hard to believe!

Was Zhang Jing actually placed in the top three of the comprehensive exam ranking?

If he remembered correctly, this seemed to break the record that Yong'an Academy set in three hundred years!

Excitement! Unparalleled excitement!

"Hahaha, good, very good! Our Yong'an Academy has finally produced a genius!"

Teacher Liu couldn't help but laugh heartily.

He then shouted loudly: "Someone! Quickly go to Zhang's Pharmacy in Yanping Lane, and inform Zhang Jing's parents... No, I must go there myself! Hahaha~"

As he was speaking.

Teacher Liu quickly headed out, paying no heed to the darkening sky.

However, the moment he stepped out, he saw a man in elaborate clothing coming towards him. With just one glance, Teacher Liu recognized him as the Family Head of the Ji Family, Ji Xianming, the father of Ji Bochang.

Seeing Teacher Liu, Ji Xianming was startled and then asked:

"Taoist Brother Liu, where are you off to?"

"It's Taoist Friend Ji, you must be here about Bochang...no, Bochang should have informed you about passing the exam."

"Are you here for Zhang Jing?" Teacher Liu asked tentatively.

"Haha, my intentions couldn't be kept secret from Taoist Brother Liu. A top-tier genius has emerged in Linshan Prefecture, and naturally, our Ji Family must show our respect."

"The Ji Family has quite an acute sense of smell."

Teacher Liu uttered meaningfully:

"I'm also going to Zhang Jing's house to bring them the good news. Do you want to join, Taoist Friend Ji?"

"Alright."

As he finished speaking, the two of them set off, one leading and the other following, towards Zhang's Pharmacy.

Soon.

Teacher Liu and Ji Xianming were standing opposite Zhang's Pharmacy.

They gazed at the busy scene where the shop's assistants were moving things out; they were unintentionally stunned by it.

"What on earth has happened to Zhang's Pharmacy?"

Teacher Liu murmured.

"Could it be that they are moving out? But why? And who moves out at night?"

Ji Xianming felt a slight jump in his heart, a pang of unease tingling within.

Please, let it be not... an accident!

"Taoist Brother Liu, let me find out what's going on." Ji Xianming said gravely.

Without further ado, he headed towards the surrounding shops.

Soon.

Ji Xianming returned with a much more relaxed expression on his face.

"Taoist Friend Ji, did you find out what happened?"

"Thankfully, no one got hurt. A company named Hundred Herbs Pavilion took interest in this spot and used some tricks. Hmm, it's said that the owner of Hundred Herbs Pavilion is a loose cultivator, who is quite daring."

"Then we have to be careful when dealing with this situation."

Teacher Liu breathed a sigh of relief, reminding him.

Ji Xianming's face was icy.

Of course, he understood this.

Although no harm was done, the pride was damaged after all. If this was not handled properly, when our man returns, wrath might be unavoidable.

And the Ji Family's plan of cozying up would probably be difficult to proceed smoothly.

After a moment of contemplation.

The two men walked into Zhang's Pharmacy.

...

"Gentlemen, if you're here for medicine, please go elsewhere. Zhang's Pharmacy is moving."

Seeing the two slowly walking in, Father Zhang quickly stepped forward and apologized.

"Dr. Zhang, my surname is Liu. I've come from Yong'an Academy."

Upon seeing Father Zhang, Teacher Liu greeted him before Ji Xianming, saying politely.

"Teacher Liu?"

Father Zhang stiffened at the words, testing his reaction, "Teacher Liu is visiting, I apologize for not greeting you outside the door. May I ask if there is any problem with my son Jing'er?"

Mother Zhang likewise showed worry on her face from behind.

"Haha, you're mistaken. I came today to congratulate you both. Zhang Jing has passed the Dao Institute's examination, and from now on, he will be the Immortal of the Dao Institute."

Boom——

At this moment.

It's as if a thunderclap passed through Father Zhang and Mother Zhang's minds. Both of them were stunned and took a long time to recover.

Ji Xianming and Teacher Liu quietly waited on the spot.

After a while.

Finally, Father Zhang stuttered, "My Lord, you mean... Our... Our Jing'er passed... the legendary Dragon Lake Dao Institute's examination?"

"Yes!"

"He's an Immortal now?"

"Yes!"

...

That night.

Father Zhang and Mother Zhang stared at more than ten boxes of gold, silver, silk and satin on the ground, the five thousand acres of fertile land deeds in a single sandalwood box, and the deeds to a courtyard house in East Yong'an City. They felt as if they were dreaming.

But the things in front of them were real.

Sigh——

"My wife, I think we should lock up these gifts from the head of the Ji family for now until Jing'er returns. I'm worried that accepting these gifts might affect Jing'er, what do you think?"

Father Zhang asked cautiously.

"You're right, but we're moving soon, where should we put all these?"

"Yes, these valuable items, what if they are not stored properly?"

They anxiously spent the whole sleepless night over the issue.

Until the next day——

A middle-aged man respectfully delivered the land deed of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

——

ps: There's an 8k update tomorrow as we stride into Volume II~