Chen Xu and Wu Zhengze chatted idly for a few more sentences.

When they talked about the little porcupine Wei Yuan, Wu Zhengze had never actually met Wei Yuan.

But since Wu Zhengze lived next door to Chen Xu, when the Little Demon visited at night, although the other's aura was clear and without any demonic energy, Wu Zhengze still caught the movement.

Since Qi Mechanism Sensing was mentioned, it naturally led to a discussion about the technique to investigate auras.

Wu Zhengze said, "Some people are born with a hidden aura, like you.

Without actively employing a technique to probe, I indeed did not notice before that you were cultivating Qi.

And some people, due to either their own characteristics or the characteristics of their cultivation techniques, you will naturally sense a vigorous Qi Mechanism and abundant Qi Blood at a glance.

These individuals are mostly martial artists... Of course, surface perception does not represent true strength.

And nothing in the world is absolute, in any case, no matter who you associate with, it's best to be a little more cautious.

By the way, are you still learning the Tide Observation Skill?"

The topic from Master Wu suddenly jumped, and only then did Chen Xu remember that after returning from the examination hall yesterday, he was urged by Wu Zhengze to rest.

The Tide Observation Skill that was promised to be taught to him, he had not yet had the chance to truly learn.

The Master's private lesson was so unexpected and direct, how could Chen Xu refuse? He quickly expressed his willingness to learn.

Thereafter, Chen Xu learned the Tide Observation Skill from Wu Zhengze.

The Tide Observation Skill, as the name suggests, is a technique to observe and judge all auras in the world as the tide rises and falls.

Of course, due to the limited learning capacity of humans, the technique's summarizing capability is also limited, hence the main effect of this technique is still "to observe people."

Rather than genuinely as the general principles imagine—

"Observe all auras in the world."

Wu Zhengze said, "Although it's just about observing people, this method is already considered one of the rarest in the world.

You must first know how many types of people there are, what the specific divisions of cultivation realms are.

Which people can observe the tides, which people cannot, etc.

You must also learn how to judge people's characteristics and inclinations without using the technique, just by relying on the naked eye and vague intuition…"

Chen Xu did not expect that although he was clearly only studying the Tide Observation Skill, the more he learned, the more it seemed like he was studying "Face Reading Art."

The world outside the inn was very noisy, but the Master's room seemed to have tranquility amid chaos.

Chen Xu calmed his mind and earnestly studied the Tide Observation Skill.

He studied for a full hour, first committing the spell to memory.

Wu Zhengze said, "The great Dao is like a tide, where extreme emptiness gives rise to waves. The eye watches the form, but the heart perceives the formless.

Chen Xu, you are an extremely intelligent person by nature, but you must know that intelligent people are often more easily blinded by their own eyes.

You must see with your eyes, but also perceive with your heart. Do you understand?"

Without waiting for Chen Xu to respond, Wu Zhengze continued, "It doesn't matter if you don't understand. The Tide Observation Skill is a great technique that requires long-term cultivation to begin understanding.

Since you have memorized the incantations, just go back and practice slowly. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me.

Alright, you may go."

The lesson of the day ended there.

The Master's technique imparted was simple in words, yet truly deep in meaning.

In the morning, Chen Xu tutored the little porcupine, and during the day, obediently received instruction from his own Master, feeling the cycles of worldly affairs, a delightful peculiarity.

He hastily stood up to salute, expressing his appreciation for the teaching.

His heart vaguely pondered what it meant to see with the eyes and perceive with the heart, suddenly sensing a spark of spiritual light arise in his consciousness.

He raised his eyes, only to feel that Master Wu in front of him no longer seemed like a person but rather like a deep and dazzling red cloud of aura.

The cloud mass gathered and circulated, majestic and magnificent.

Chen Xu just had this brief glance, feeling delighted, when suddenly there was a sharp pain between his brows.

When he opened his eyes again, all the previous visions had vanished.

Master was still Master, but he was staring, appearing surprised and slightly annoyed at him.

Oops, Chen Xu realized it now.

He had unintentionally grasped a moment of heart perception and used the Tide Observation Skill to "see through" his Master once.

Master had said that this was an extremely impolite behavior.

Even Master Wu had always maintained etiquette and never deliberately probed Chen Xu, but unexpectedly, Chen Xu first used the mystical sensing from the Tide Observation Skill to "see through" the Master!

How could this be such a reverse of the heavenly and earthly orders?

Chen Xu was momentarily stunned, hurriedly apologizing: "Master, this student…"

Wu Zhengze didn't want to listen to Chen Xu anymore.

He stiffened his face, as if returning to his former seriousness, simply saying, "Enough, do you think your Master is such a petty person?

"Since I've taught you the technique, naturally, I should permit you to use it."

"Alright, go, go, go, you better leave quickly."

Chen Xu was forcibly driven away by Master Wu.

What he didn't know was that just as he left, Wu Zhengze's expression could no longer remain composed.

"Alas!" This Master abruptly stood up, pounding his hand on the desk beside him.

Bang! It hurt, and Wu Zhengze chuckled softly.

After laughing, he muttered, "You brat, so unreasonable, hurry up and leave! Ouch, hiss..."

Master Wu was, after all, a mortal body and had never practiced martial arts, so hitting the table with his hand was somewhat painful.

Chen Xu returned to his room, pondered for a moment, but still lacked the audacity to trouble the Master again.

He decided to calm down, contemplating the Tide Observation Skill while also keeping an eye on the movements of his Mud Ball Daoist Soldier.

It was now April 17th, the day after the prefectural examination had ended.

The entire Yunjiang Prefecture was as lively as usual, with the sounds of commotion occasionally reaching his ears.

Yet Chen Xu's heart gradually calmed.

He didn't go out, simply waiting quietly.

Meanwhile, those locked inside the Imperial Examination Hall included the examiners who were not allowed to leave before the results of the academy examination were announced, according to the rules of the Great Li Dynasty.

The candidates only need to endure for three days, but the examiners must stay at the examination hall for at least thirteen days in total.

Thirteen days, seemingly ordinary.

Just like many days and nights before.

Some people hustle for a living, repeating the monotony of each day;

Some indulge in luxury, still singing and dancing in that corner of prosperity;

Some are busy, some watch the tides, some toss and turn...

People anticipate and wait for the good news of the spring examination on April 21st.

In the process, it's always unavoidable to feel a sense of torment, with each day feeling as long as a year.

For instance, after the exam ended, Wei Song fainted at the gate of the examination hall, and for him, time was very harsh.

That day he slowly woke up, realizing he had fainted for an entire day and night, and immediately felt out of breath, almost fainting again.

Wei Song's first question was to the aunt watching over him at his bedside, "Aunt, where is Father? Has he come to see me?"

The aunt wiped away her tears, deliberately putting on a happy face, saying, "After you returned, your father invited a famous doctor for you and sent some spiritual food for you.

Quick, bring the Red Jade Spirit Rice Porridge over to nourish the second young master well."

Upon hearing "Red Jade Spirit Rice," Wei Song's face suddenly darkened.

"Only Red Jade Spirit Rice, Father didn't come to see me, did he?"

Wei Song suddenly leaned forward, grabbing the aunt's hand, his expression one of suppressed turmoil.

The aunt exclaimed, unable to reply before her sleeve flipped back, revealing a red mark on her skinny wrist.

Wei Song immediately pulled the sleeve back, sitting upright on the bed, his breathing gradually rapid, and his eyes turning red.

"Good, very good!" he muttered, "Only Wei Tang is considered human, even if he's useless, the moment I falter, I'm to be discarded, right?"

"Meow——"

No one answered Wei Song, but outside the window, a shrill cat cry somehow echoed.

The Yunjiang Prefecture seemed calm, yet troubles never ceased.

At times natural disasters, at times human misfortunes, but the impact varies.

Many storms passed by, unnoticed by ordinary people.

They would only sigh, saying things like, "Why did the price of new tea suddenly drop this year?"

"Grain is cheap too, farming thirty acres yet unable to fill the stomach, oh heavens, how can one live like this?"

"The new landlord has arrived, and reduced our rents, wonderful!"

As long as the common folk could avoid starvation, life seemed survivable.

Chen Xu sat at the table, his divine thought wandering with the Puppet Daoist Soldier, for the first time seeing the world of stray cats from a strange perspective.

Now his mind was split, half directing and observing the Puppet Daoist Soldier, the other half checking on the new spiritual materials he had obtained.

One was a drop of Demon Flowing Juice, the second, the bones and skin of a Demon Puppet!

[Demon Flowing Juice: Drop into Spirit Wine, and when consumed by the Demon Race, there is a certain chance to gain a slight increase in spiritual nature, with enhanced comprehension ability for a quarter of an hour.]

Demon Flowing Juice indeed is something for the use of demons.

This item was obtained from a hedgehog little demon, and Chen Xu decided to use it to invite Wei Yuan for a drink the next time the little hedgehog comes over.

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